"Easy like Sunday morning"

Sunday again, they keep coming around. The day here started overcast and indeed so black was the sky at one point we thought it might actually rain, sadly not so the garden gets grey water again. The olive tree will get fresh water and my how big the olives are this year. We did harvest a crop last year, you can read all about this in an earlier blog. Because of the pruning and extra watering the olives this year are looking bigger and fatter so we eagerly anticipate a better yield of oil.

As I say it was cloudy first thing but still warm enough for our pre breakfast swim.  The pool gives us a good all around view of the sky and hills and its not uncommon for us to spot something interesting whilst swimming. We have a routine going for if one of us is outside and spots something worth sharing. Not wanting to shouting or run around and scare off whatever we have spied we whistle to get attention. Today was a cracker as John noticed an eagle flying quite close by. We never cease to be astounded by the variety of bird life here. Whilst watching the eagle we could hear Golden orioles nearby as  well as Bee eaters. What I cannot understand is why the Ricote area is not inundated with twitchers from all around the world.

We now have our river view and John is clearly going to enjoy living here even more. Fishing on the door step without needing to get the car out. It seems that new trees will be planted along side the river too. We do wonder how the reeds will be keep down though as they have already started to sprout only days after being cut back to the ground.

The Phones With No Name

If you have not registered your prepaid Spanish phone then you had better get cracking because all unregistered pre-paid mobile phone lines in Spain will be permanently disconnected at midnight Sunday night. Despite the objection made by the phone companies the Spanish government insists that all pre-paid mobile phones numbers which have not been registered by midnight on Sunday night will disappear forever. The phone companies wanted to delay the switch off of what they say will be some three million lines. Its seems to me the date of the action has been in the public arena for some time. The measure comes as a result of the Madrid train bombings in 2004 where anonymous pre-paid phones were used to set off the explosives. The Law for the Conservation of Data in Electronic Communications came into effect in Spain two years ago and obliges the phone companies to keep all the data on the destination and origin of calls, as well as the identity of all the people implicated in the communication. Any one who has not registered there phone will find it no longer works and that any credit they have is lost. For some time now any one who purchased a phone or new sim had to give details and show prove of who they are and where they live.
What we need now is for other countries to do likewise for the actions to be fully effective.

A night out of town

As I said in an earlier blog we really want to move to Guardamar del segura. With this in mind we decided on saturday to spend sunday night there. Little realizing how lucky it was to find a room, it was a major spanish holiday, we set off on sunday morning for our very mini break. When we got to the town it became a little clearer how crazy it was. The place was full the beach road was closed by the police as there was no more parking space. We had booked into the Las Dunas right down by the beach, luckily they found us a space under the washing line!. The hotel is only open for a short time during the year. The staff are so so helpful and friendly the rooms are very very clean as are the public area. The room facilities are simple, beds are comfortable and each room has a balcony. Lots of variety in the continental breakfast. The Bar prices are amazing a beer is only a euros so is a good cup of coffee. We enjoyed a stroll through the night market a meal near the park and an evening stroll along the beach. Next morning we had an early walk on the beach, we always find it strange to see the sun rising from the seas horizon, it was always the other way around when we lived in Cornwall.

Bumper to Bumper

As ever last Sunday night saw a big influx of clubbers, most of which arrive by car. It has been quiet for a few weeks as the place to be was wherever a fiesta was happening, but this Sunday it was back to Formentera and its assorted disco bars.
Sitting out enjoying another barmy evening is always entertaining on a busy night. Why is that you might ask, quite simply it is the parking methods these drivers employ.
Now we have a 21 year old car, went through its last ITV (Spanish MOT) no problem, cost 400 euros three years ago, and worth every penny. Some of our neighbours are more up market in the car stakes but we are by no means green eyed with envy. We see some of them nervously hanging over their balustrades come evening, even going out into the street at times. They are playing the mind my car game, which is less interesting to our mind than the find a car with out a dent game.
It seems to us that the norm on parking is find a space, and if its to small nudge the cars at front and rear till you fit in. No honestly, we see it happen all the time. In the space of 5 minutes last Sunday two people got their car dented. Which is why we have, as I said, a 21 year old 400 euro car that’s always parked with the hand brake off. Moral of the story is if you’re coming over and hiring a car pay the extra insurance, you could park a few streets away but I have a strong feeling this particular style of parking is not confined to the disco drivers of this world. Or you could if you have the time and inclination stand guard when the threat is greatest. Didn’t do the guy over the road any good on Sunday, his car got the bump, bump treatment and when challenged the offender just shrugged his shoulders and left.