Rocking Your World 2016; Week 25

Hi again folks. I warn you now this post is a bit photo heavy but I will start with my smile which is this.

I am smiling because it is a photo of Jonathan, our son number four, playing his drums at the Eindhoven Psych lab festival in Holland last week. I don't pretend to particularly like or understand his style of music, but it makes me smile to see him play. He looks so fierce at times, but he puts his heart and soul into it, and he was so thrilled when his band was invited to play at this festival.

It makes a change for me to feature him rather than his younger brother Ben, whose own compositions, and covers of power ballads, I can relate to. He came home from work this week to hear the news of the tragedy in Orlando, and straight way sat down to write a song as a tribute to the fallen there. He always turns to his music to express his feelings, and it might not be the best song he has ever written, but I love the fact that he cared enough to write it. I can't share it here as he has only uploaded it to Facebook and not youtube, so not everyone can access it.

Well we have had quite a week here. The temperature has hit a high for June with the thermometer on our shady porch, showing almost 40º on Monday. Add to that a strong wind that felt like the air steam from a hot hair-dryer, and you can tell that it was more comfortable staying indoors on that day. Most other days it has been well into the thirties, but I can cope with that. I am not keen on hot wind though!

We do stay in on the worst afternoons but there have been a few events to take us out too, starting with last Saturday. The nearby town of Mojacar had its annual Moors and Christians Fiesta. We have been to the main acting and parades up in the pueblo on other years, but we have never been to see the horses down on the beach, so this year I managed to prise Chris away from the football for a while and we drove down to Mojacar Playa. Needless to say nothing happened until at least an hour after the advertised time, but you come to expect that in Spain, in fact it can really catch you out when something actually starts on time!! However, there are plenty of beach bars where you can sit and wait, and eventually various groups of girls in elaborate costumes started to arrive.

The clothes are amazing but I am glad I didn't have to wear them under the relentless sun.

Then a group of horses that had been mustering to our left, started walking along the beach in front of our bar, and on to the far side of a metal gantry that had been set up in front of a small platform with rows of chairs on it. The horses where all shapes, sizes and colours, and they stepped carefully across the hot sand.

They were all beautiful beasts but this one was my favourite.

When they arrived at the area marked off with plastic tape, the riders donned their costumes and walked the horses around to keep them settled. We were able to walk among them and take photos.

Then the 'jousting' began. A wire was stretched across the gantry, and on it were wound lots of coloured sashes with a loop at the end. The horses took it in turns to gallop under the wire as their riders tried to catch a loop with a long wooden pole. If they caught one, then one of the girls, who were now sitting on the rows of shaded seats, tied it around the man's arm and off he went to try again. 

We watched the men who were dressed to represent the Moors. Then it was the turn of the Christians, but by then we had had enough sun, and we decided to go home to cool down and see the next football match!

Also on Saturday, in the morning, I met up with my friend Cati for coffee, and then we went to a local shop to buy some equipment for the speech therapist to use with the children of ASADIS.

The money for these items was part of the donation made by a group of lady bowlers. I posted a few weeks ago about our visit to the school to take them the main items, and I agreed to look after the balance of their donation while the staff chose suitable items for the classroom and the therapist. As Cati was unable to go to the therapy session this week, I then agreed to go there on Monday and give the books and games to her. It was Jose Antonio's session with the therapist when I got there, and he was eager to see what was inside the boxes.

On Wednesday I went to my sewing group as usual but I came home early so that we could drive over to Palamares to collect a second-hand barbecue that we had bought through a local internet sale page. It is big and robust, and we are going to enjoy using it. Fortunately the man selling it had warned me that it was too big to go in our car and we would need two men to lift it, so I was very grateful to our friend Phil, who agreed to come with us with his courier van. Between them, Chris and Phil got it into the van and home safely.

Then in the evening we had a choir practice. It was important to be there as there are only two more before our big summer concerts. It was very windy and I didn't enjoy the drive to get there. We saw a small van get blown off the road, and I could feel my car being pushed out of its lane. I was grateful that I had just filled the tank with diesel, which gave it a bit more weight and stability. I'm glad it has calmed down a bit since then.

Thursday was another big day as it started with my long awaited hospital appointment for the problems I have with my arms. I set out at 8.30 as I was picking up a friend to translate for me on the way. (I could have told him most of what I wanted to, but I couldn't be sure I would understand what he said to me, so for something as important as that, it was worth taking a translator along). As the sun was rising we noticed an interesting pattern of clouds in the sky. They seemed to be in separate strips, all funnelling into one. I took a quick photo of them before we went on to the hospital.

We were there all morning, but in one visit I saw the consultant, had an X-ray, saw the consultant again and had a chat with him, had a cortizone injection in my shoulder, and was given a prescription for analgesia, and an appointment with the physiotherapist. I was sure the problem was caused by tearing muscles which resulted in major surgery for me twelve years ago, so I was surprised when he said it was not muscular, but I have severe degenerative arthritis in my right shoulder and moderate in the left. So not wonderful news but at least he took me seriously and did what he could for me, and you can't fault the service which was excellent. So I guess I keep taking the pills and rattle along doing what I can, and leaving what I can't!

I was glad to get home by lunchtime, because that afternoon I was on the fund-raising committee that had organised an "Ascot Ladies Day" to raise funds for our church. The clouds had all gone by then, but it was hot and unfortunately too windy to keep up any parasols, but we managed. It was a wonderful afternoon and everyone who came really enjoyed it. It was good to see lots of 'non-church' people there too. Everyone joined in with the spirit of the occasion, with the men looking smart, and the ladies in their 'posh frocks' with hats or fascinators to match.

It was held alongside the church, and the railings had been decked with flags and bunting.

Each of the committee members had a job to do.

Sylvia looked after the lucky dip for the children. She found a shady corner to sit in!

Three gentlemen looked after the Royal Enclosure where cava and canapés, beer and wine could be purchased. Sadly we had to abandon the idea of their pergola for shade.

No-one got through the door passed Dudley, without buying a raffle ticket!

Margie and Chris were heading up the catering team who prepared and served the sandwiches and cakes that were a part of the entry ticket.

Honest Al and his helper Jasmine took the bets (one euro only allowed) for each race.

Chris and I look like we are just enjoying the sunshine here, but we were ready at our table to pay out on all the winning tickets at the end of each race.

The whole idea for the day was down to Di who did an excellent job of organising it all, and carefully explained to everyone how the races would work. I love the names she thought up for each one.

We needed six 'horses' for each race so we encouraged the children to be these, though some of the adults enjoyed having a go too, (and they were equally as excited as the children when they  won one of the winners rosettes I had made for them). There were plenty of helpers on hand to get them ready at the starting gate.

Each had a number and they moved forward one floor tile each time their number was rolled on a dice. It kept things moving quite quickly, and was a lot of fun.

Here are a few our guests. Some pretty ladies trying to find some shade from the surrounding shrubs.

My friends Sue and Keith showing us what this dressing-up lark is all about.

Jean is the oldest, and a much-loved member of the church. Didn't she just look the part! I believe she is eighty- eight now, and she is one lovely lady.

The whole afternoon was a great success, and I am sure on Sunday we will hear how much we raised. The funds will be useful but the real aim was to show the local community that we are an active and lively church, and I think we managed to do that very well. (Disclaimer - some of these photos are my own, but most were taken by our 'Press Photographer', a friend who gave me permission to use them here).

We got back home at around 7.00, so the dogs were getting anxious about their tea. I quickly fed them and made a cup of tea, and then I promptly fell asleep for the next three hours! Amazingly I still slept when I finally got to bed, so I must have needed it.

I think that is about it for this week. I do have some pretty, tranquil sky photos to close with, taken early on Monday evening, when the wind had whipped up a few clouds - but only very little ones.

That's a nice peaceful ending isn't it? Now I will link up with Annie's Friday Smiles, and Rocking Your World. Keep smiling everyone, and have a good week.

Rocking Your World 2016: Week 24

Here's a little smile to start my post with. Yesterday Miki went to the groomers to have her annual haircut. The temperature is teetering around 30º now and she was beginning to feel uncomfortable. Every year she comes back looking a little different so I like to take a 'before' and 'after' picture each time, so here she is.

This time they have trimmed her ears a bit too close for my liking,  and left her with her side whiskers, but it is quite cute and I am getting used to her new look. She has to go back for a tidy-up next week, because the water was cut off before they had time to bath her and give a final trim where needed, but I think she is already feeling the benefit. As one of my friends on Facebook commented, "It must be like throwing off the duvet", and we did that a few weeks ago!

None of our dogs are very keen on the camera, but when the other two saw that Miki got a little treat every time she looked at the camera, they wanted to pose too. Kim looks a bit reluctant but Foxy is alert and bright as usual. The photo's a bit deceiving because Foxy (on the right) is actually about a third of the size of Kim. In fact he can stand across her like a bridge. Kim is huge now, but he is a handsome fellow, and probably the most gentle of them all. We call him our gentle giant.

I know some of my faithful followers, (and I do appreciate you reading my sprawling post each week), like to hear about the fiestas in the village, so here is another one that took place on Sunday. It is not a big fiesta for everyone this time, but a more personal one, especially for the folk who regularly attend the catholic church in the village. It was the celebration for Corpus Christi, which begins with a mass inside the church.

The young boys and girls sitting each side at the front, are the ones who took their first communion last month.

The little plaza outside the church is decorated with a long carpet and an altar set at the head of it. The local band are on hand to provide the music. The village guadia were also there but their only task was to make sure no vehicles came along at the wrong moment.

After the mass, this plaza was suddenly full of people. The priest came out with his little group of helpers who held a canopy over him, and he knelt at the altar to pray.

On this day, anyone else from the village can build a similar altar outside their home. The priest and his retinue, including the children, and anyone else who wants to, then slowly make their way around the village, stopping at each altar as they go.

The altars are lovely, usually covered in a white or red cloth, and decorated with red and white flowers, candles or other religious items. Other plants and flowers are arranged around them, and each one has a carpet or white pillow in front of it so the priest can kneel and pray, I assume asking for a blessing on the home and the people who live there.

We had gone out for a little while that evening, so we stopped in a street that had two altars in it. I spent a while talking to the lady who was setting this one up. She was very friendly and explained a little about what was happening, and told me I was welcome to take photos. I love the white and red gladioli and carnations that she tied up her window railings.

The lady setting this one up was also very friendly. It was around nine o'clock before the procession arrived at the street. Just before they got to her, she lit the candles, and threw flower petals all around. She had a large poster on her railings depicting Virgen del Carmen, the patron saint of our village.

The priest knelt say a prayer at each altar and when he stood up, the little boys rang hand-bells - they obviously enjoyed this bit of the ceremony - and the little girls scattered more petals from the baskets that they carried.

The white dresses and little sailor suits are the clothes the children wore for their first communion. This always takes place on the first Sunday in May. I love the beautiful embroidery on the priest's shawl.

As soon as the procession had moved on to the next street, the ladies began to dismantle everything, and within the hour, you wouldn't know there had been anything there, except for the flower petals drifting around in the breeze.

Apart from that, it has been a fairly quiet week. As the weather is hotting up, I do less and less, and spend most afternoons sitting under the fan doing some crochet etc, and dipping in the pool for a cool down. I still have a couple of busy weeks ahead, but July and August are very quiet, except for the village's main fiesta mid-July.

I completed the latest part of my Crochet-along in good time, and the next part is not released until next Tuesday, so I have had time to finish off another blanket for my Africa project. I shall try to get some more squares sewn together, but the edging may have to wait until the weather is cool enough for me to have a blanket on my lap again. In the meantime, I have plenty of other projects to be working on.

During the week Chris again worked on covering our back door. We used to have a curtain of chains across it to keep out the flies, but I often nearly strangled myself on it when I went through with washing to hang out etc. So recently he took out part of the bottom railing and fitted a cat flap, which the cats all ignored and walked around it to squeeze through the next rails! But they can't do that now because he has fitted the lower half of the door with a perspex cover, and the top half with a fly screen. This gives me a lot more light in the kitchen and utility area, and makes it easier for me to go in and out with my hands full. However the cats have not yet mastered the flap, and just sit next to it waiting for me to open the door for them. I have tried tying it open during the day, and they have come through a couple of times, but they are not impressed. Tango and Paco sat and watched the work being done, but their lack of interest in the end product is fairly obvious!

I am enjoying the garden for a few more weeks. It is a lot of work watering all the pots, but I do like to see all the flowers, so it is worth it. Out at the back the stephanotis is again in bloom and the scent in the evenings is heavenly. Also at the back, the cactus that we threw away over the railings because we were tired of its tiny hair like spines getting us whenever we passed it, is continuing to flourish on neglect. Once again it has lots of buds and new 'ears'.

All the time it was being a nuisance by the front gate, it never had any flowers on it. But they are actually very pretty, and at least where they are now, they can't do anyone any harm.

Out in the front, where most of the plants are, (because the dogs are only out there if we are), my osteospermums are doing well. When I bought them at Albox market a few weeks ago, I also bought a lovely wide pot for them, with daisies painted round the sides, and I was disappointed because all the flowers died really quickly. But I have continued to water them regularly and they have come alive again, and now all four colours have blooms on them.

Next to them, the verbena that I planted last year has also grown again. It trails rather nicely over the side of the pot, and is flowering really well.

And finally our little Bird of Paradise tree is doing amazingly well. We had to give it some support in the high winds last month, but it is a mass of flowers now, and there are still lots of new buds coming, so I think it will continue to greet me as I open the sitting room window each morning, for quite a while to come.

Other highlights this week have been a long chat with one son on Skype, hearing all about his holiday, and a long telephone conversation with another son to hear his exciting news.

Discovering that our current favourite local bar has opened a new outside area. We were able to sit out there for our intercambio group this week, and it was a very lively, fun evening. 

A couple of impromtu trips out with Chris, late evening, for a drink before bed, when we ending up sitting chatting to friends until late.

Just the general slowing down of life, and a season to relax and forget our usual rather hectic routine.

There are no more nice skies these days. There are not enough clouds to catch the rays as the sun sets, but maybe I will be in the right place at the right time again soon.

Now I will link up with Annie's Friday Smiles, and Rocking Your World, and see what has been making you smile this week.