Pictures as promised last post. The past 10 days have been hectic as usual. We have spent time sorting bedrooms so that Alex has somewhere to sleep while he is here. Michael has also been finishing the painting of the garage.

Last Sunday we drove to Murcia airport to collect Alex for the Christmas holidays. He had had a good flight but when we walked out of the airport the rain had started. We were aware of the chance of rain but had driven to the airport in fine weather so were quite surprised to find that so much rain had fallen while we were waiting (only about 20 minutes). On the way back we managed to ourdrive the weather and arrived about half an hour before it did in Los Llanos. It continued through Monday together with some very cold weather (for here). The weather finally improved Wednesday and we have arrived again at temperatures during the day of 18 - 20.

We have finally succumbed to having a satellite dish set up so I expect we will be watching a fair amount over Christmas - many of our favourite film appear to be on over the holiday period so we will spend some time relaxing before Alex's return to the UK just before the New Year.

Our 8th week in Los Llanos

We started the week with a return visit from our locksmith, who finished changing the locks on the garage doors. We then asked him to change the locks on the front and rear doors of the villa - you never know what has happened to keys during the building process, so it's always a good idea to get them all changed - just in case! The electrician also returned to fit the heated towel rails in the bathrooms. They take the chill off during the cooler mornings and evenings and don't consume much electricity. We have reaped the benefit already as the temperatures have dropped over the last few days, especially at the beginning of the week when it was very windy. We also had some rain on Sunday, although not the cold rain one gets in the UK.

Monday was a lazy day as it was too blowy to continue with the painting so we poodled around inside of the house. Our main activity was resetting the master trip on the electricity supply as the wind seemed to be causing spikes in the supply (not uncommon around here!) which caused the trips to go off, either on ours or our neighbours. In the evening we joined another Spanish class, this one in La Alfoquia (our nearest big village), which is free and run by the Junta de Andalucia. However this also seemed to beset by electricity problems with the power going off twice. Marion provided some light with our wind up torch, but eventually we had to finish early! We joined this class because our other teacher is going to the States for about five weeks and we didn't want to get rusty in the meantime.

Tuesday was less blustery (and not unpleasant out of the wind) so we managed to get on with painting the garage. Marion started creating space inside the garage so that we can get on with the interior when the outside is finished. Afternoon was spent shopping and the evening was quiz night; although we did quite well we weren't amongst the prize winners.

Wednesday we had a phone call from Senor Lopez to say that we could pick up our car that evening. So some time was spent finalising the insurance before finishing off the garage wall. Michael started with two shirts and a pullover as per the previous day, but the wind had dropped and the sun was very warm so he soon stripped down to just a T shirt ( well not "just!"). The outside is now finished, well at least the first coat. When we have finished the interior we will come back outside and give it a top coat in the same colour as the villa. Then it was off to Albox for the main highlight - collecting the new car! It is another Xsara Picasso, this time the colour is "nocciola" - it's like our old one "sahara gold" but with a tan! It's a sort of bronze with a hint of olive or mink depending on your point of view. We will post a picture when blogger eventually allows us to so you can make up your own mind.

Thursday morning we had to go and check the local property inventory to get our new house number and to check that house, garage and pool were all on it, in the event none of them were! There was no rhyme or reason to it, some of the first to be finished weren't on whilst some of the later ones were. But that was the purpose of the exercise to make sure it was all accurate! We now know that we are No 6; although don't write to us at that as it will be a week or two (or six months or so) before the corrected list gets to the Post Office and another 6 before they start deliveries up here!. We will probably call the house Casa Paloma - this is the Spanish equivalent of Dove Cottage and Paloma was the name of Picasso's daughter. We had thought of Casa Perdiz (Partridge) as Los Llanos del Peral means "Plain of the Pear Trees" so we would have been "a partridge in the pear trees," but we thought that was a bit too subtle and the Woolnoughs have never been known for doing subtle! Following this little trip, when we also joined the neighbourhood watch scheme, we went off to our usual Spanish lesson. The afternoon was spent returning the hire car and in the evening we were joined by a neighbour for a session of games on the Wii!

Friday we had to go to the bank as Marion's cash card had been guzzled by a cash machine at another branch; we had been topping up our mobile phone when the phone rang, whilst dealing with that the machine returned the card and because we didn't retrieve it in time it took it back! The message told us to go to our own branch, which we did only to find that it was still at the other one and we now have to wait until next Friday to get it back! (Monday and Tuesday next week are bank holidays.) To cap it all Brad's Bar was closed so we missed out on our bacon sarnie!! But it was very nice down on the promenade, no wind, calm sea and pleasantly warm sunshine(19deg C). It was a chance to try out the car though! We also bought some more paint and a nice No 6 tile, we were going to get the letters for the name but they didn't have any 'A's so that will have to wait. We compromised with bacon sarnies at our local chippy, quite nice but without the sea view!

Weekly update

Sorry folks but over the week since our last entry - could be we've been busy or could be we've nothing to write about. As it happens we've been busy. 'Again' I hear you cry, 'but you are retired.'

Saturday spent a lot of the day putting our new computer table together and sorting the room out and doing a bit of housework Spent a lovely evening with our friends Carole and Ken in Palomares enjoying a lovely roast dinner and choice of pudding - Carole knows Marion's penchant for puddings.

Sunday started later than usual as we had had a late night - we set to to prepare the wall for painting. The builders had left great dollops of builders muck at the base of the wall and the retaining stone wall which was unsightly and spoiled the whole thing so we spent the day with a bolster chisel and hammer removing as much as possible - next door's is nicely finished!!!


Monday we started painting in earnest and managed the whole length of the wall and the front of the garage. It was quite pleasant with the sun on our backs etc.


Tuesday was a different day - we had made an appointment to take Tiffy for her 1st Spanish trim - an early start as we had originally had a Spanish lesson arranged for after lunch. Fortunately this had been rearranged for Thursday. We hadn't got very far along the main road when the car died. It literally cut out and couldn't be coaxed to restart. I couldn't pull too far over as there was a ditch at the side of the road. We duly rang the hire car company and after a while of waiting at the side of the road another car was brought. At this point in time the Guardia decided to take an interest in the procedings - until then there had been no problem with traffic so thought we were doing something wrong. However they had just come to see if we needed help and proceded to take charge of passing traffic causing slight queues of traffic (a queue in these parts means having to stop on a road with at least one other vehicle in front of you). On their arrival we said to the hire car chappie if he spoke Spanish and he said, "yes a bit, leave it to me." When asked what was up he just said 'Coche kaput' which brought more than a wry smile from our faces and the Guardia's. The breakdown truck soon arrived, we took possession of the new car (as in new to us) the Guardia stopped all passing traffic to let us out safely and we were on our way again arriving for Tiffy's appointment just over an hour late. We treated ourselves to one of Brad's bacon sandwiches (Brad's bar being a favourite cafe in Mojacar where we go to have breakfast when we have to visit the bank which is a couple of doors away.

Eventually went to pick Tiffy up and returned home in time to have a quick cuppa before venturing off with Jean and Lyn to the afternoon La Alfoquia quiz - where we were runners up and won a couple of bottles of wine.

Wednesday saw us driving to Albox to see Snr Lopez, the local Citroen dealer to see about a car after which we visited the vets to get syringes and needles for Wellie as well as checking out procedures for getting Insulin for him. All relatively easy jobs but somehow they take so much longer out here not least of all because the vet has moved premises since the last time our friends went a few weeks ago and we had to play hunt the building in an unfamiliar area. All part of the fun of starting life in a foreign country. Michael spent the afternoon painting whilst Marion caught up with a bit of ironong. Had a quiet evening catching up on Spanish homework for Thursday.


Thursday morning arrived and we had to make a trip into Vera to renew car hire, we arrived back just in time for our Spanish lesson. Only 5 of us this week so pressure was on. We then came home for a cuppa and took some more paperwork to Snr. Lopez who greeted us like old friends. After a quick rest we made our way back to Albox with Lyn and Jean for a quiz in aid of Puppy Rescue in the evening.

Friday we chilled out, well what passes for it here. We made a further trip to see Snr Lopez to sign papers etc, after dropping the window frames from the garage in to be fitted with glass. We picked the glazed windows up on the way home having met the locksmith there and showed him the way up to our villa. He managed to unlock the garage but has to come back Monday to finish the job as it was more difficult than he thought!

Today we have been into Arboleas, to the market and done some grocery shopping and this afternoon we went for a walk around 'the loop' but the loop became extended and we arrived home nearly 2 hours after we left, but we had a lovely time exploring the ramblas.

So tonight we have lit the fire as it is starting to feel chilly in the evenings. I am off to cook a carbonara for tea and then a real chill out with a good book is in order.

Another week in Los Llanos

and yet another busy one. Meetings with developer, 3 quizes and a local guided walk together with the normal shopping, Spanish lessons and housekeeping (which unfortunately still has to be done).

6 weeks have now passed since we left the UK but we feel as if we have been here for longer. The weather has cooled slightly over the past 2 days although the days are warm enough to sit in tshirt and shorts, the evenings are cooler and require long sleeves and even a cardigan when venturing out. The thermometer shows the temperature at 16.8 outside at the moment so its still not cold.

Wednesday saw us taking part in a new venture - a guided walk. We have been for many walks in the local vicinity but have tended to go where the tracks and roads take us but thought it would be an idea to join in a group walk and find some new places to visit. It also acts as a social gathering which is its main function. We started in the newer part of La Alfoquia and circumnavigated the village and walked across the rambla to the adjacent village of Zurgena after which the municipality is named. Everybody stopped for coffee here - except us as we thought that if we stopped we may not get going again so we continued and returned to La Alfoquia via the main road which runs across the rambla via a lengthy bridge. At the end of the bridge we stopped to watch a local farmer and 2 helpers stripping the olives off the trees into nets which had been layed on the ground around the trees.

We have found that much of Spain still sets store by labour intensive methods. In fact the main trunk road which passes nearby is being upgraded at the moment and there are many individuals being utilised as crossing guards where the works traffic has to cross the public road. Another example of this is a young man who has been pruning the local trees. In many places around here the main streets are lined with palm trees and as they grow up they have to be trimmed as the trunks become quite rough. Over the past few weeks as we have passed through La Alfoquia we have watched a young man painstakingly trim trunks. He doesn't have many of the main street in Alfoquia left to do but I'm sure he will work on some of the other streets when these ones are finished.

Out here the local unemployed people are put to work on local projects - we have seen a team of people in Arboleas restoring the local church helped by a group of youngsters who have not got jobs so they 'earn' their benefits. So there is always much of this type of work going on - at the same time they are working alongside specialist people and picking up skills which they would otherwise have missed. Alot to be said for the experience and discipline of earning rather than just being given. ( Sorry will now get off the old soapbox).

Mid November and all is well.

Today we are halfway through November and we have eaten all three meals of the day on our terrace in T-shirt and shorts. I know we aren't acclimatised yet but the sun shone and we felt lucky that light cloud provided a certain amount of shade allowing us to do some pool cleaning, weeding and ironing. You see life goes on much the same as back in the old country - it's just a bit warmer and more relaxed. We do admit to missing our friends and family and probably the odd British idiosynchrasy but today was one of the days when we realise why we made the move in the first place. Some longer term residence have resorted to lighting fires for the evening but we are still finding the temperature mild and just resorting to a cardigan for the cooler evenings. At 8.15 pm (the time of writing) the temperature stands at around 19+ degrees which many of us would consider to be a warm balmy summers evening.

We are noticing a lot more wildlife. Now that the weather is cooling down - the birds are around most of the day. We watched a black wheatear (with white tail feathers) doing the light fandango in the back garden. On looking around for another of it's species to find out if there was a response I noticed that it appeared to be all alone. Practising for a later date maybe? It was only on closer inspection that I noticed that the bird was actually squaring up to a rather large butterfly. It was dipping and diving displaying outspread wings and hopping sideways, in fact, almost cartoon material. I then noticed that the said butterfly was actually defending itself and the bird was trying to distract it with the dance before going in for the kill. He finally succeded in overcoming the butterfly - by the way he was going he probably made it dizzy to put it off guard.

Yesterday when we went out we spotted our first snake slithering along the road - think we had just saved him from becoming someones tea as there was a bird having a go at him as we drove up - our passage giving him the time to disappear into the undergrowth at the side of the road while the bird flew out of our way. The snake wasn't very big probably about a foot (30cm to those of a European persuasion).

While we sat and ate our meal this evening the clouds gave the promise of a rather spectacular sunset. It is very easy to become immune to sunsets here because each evening we watch the sun disappear behind the distant mountains and watch the sky to see what will develop - we are rarely disappointed. However, they tend to be all the more spectactular if the right cover of cloud is present. As the number of days with cloud present are few and far between then the right proportion of cover happens even more rarely. Luckily it seems to be the right time of year for them.

We are looking forward to seeing Alex out here in 4 weeks after his first semester at Uni. Wondering what the animals' reactions will be like when we arrive back from the airport. I suspect that Tiffy will have a few scatty moments and will follow him around incessantly.

Another busy week

Well when aren't they. It is very different out here and we have to 'start from scratch' with all the formalities. This week was meant to be sorting the Spanish Health system and having the windows fitted in the garage. The latter should have been last week or even the week before but our garage is obviously not high on the priority list even though it is probably only a 15 minute job.

We awoke Monday morning with grim determination to get to grips with the Spanish Health System. We had already started the process by getting hold of the padron which in effect says that you live in a certain municipality. This gives you the go ahead to join the health service, without it you aren't allowed, and also buy a car. Although completely unrelated neither can be achieved without being in possession of ths A4 sheet relevantly stamped and signed by the mayor.

Copies of all stated documents together with the originals were gathered together and we made our way to the Securidad Social following some very good directions given by Lynne our neighbour, only to be flummoxed by having to negotiate some unexpected road works. In the process of negotiation we missed the building the first time around the town but managed to spot the building we needed ten minutes later on the 2nd time around exactly where she had said it was. We found a parking space adjacent and entered and took a number for our turn. We managed to find our way to a counter at the right time only to be asked if we had brought a copy of our marriage certificate. Now I don't have any problem with being married or showing a certificate to prove the fact but nowhere on any of the paperwork were we asked to produce our marriage certificate. We had assumed that the pieces of paper which had been issued by the UK Social Security to say we were entitled to full Health care in Spain was the equivalent of proof as I was stated to be a dependant. However, my papers were thrust back at me when I said the certificate was 'en mi casa' and Michael was duly issued with his new papers to be presented at the Centro de Salud or local medical centre (equivalent to a cottage hospital really) for the walking wounded. Well there was not much use going through the next process for Michael without me as we'd end up duplicating everything so we decided we would have time to get home and back before the Securidad Social office closed.

We duly returned and when our turn came we were ushered to a different desk - a kindly gentleman who had an OCD tendency to have all his rubber stamps lined up in a particular way at a certain distance apart. This had been my source of entertainment to watch him during our earlier wait. He queried why we weren't doing the papers at the same time. I just showed him the marriage certificate, said we hadn't had it earlier and pointed to the other desk where we had sat. He smiled and duly issued the papers that I needed.

We left Huercal Overa with the promise that we would return one day to explore the town in more depth as we had been quite taken in by the town which is actually probably the nearest large town to where we live but so far we have gravitated to two others. This thought was perhaps to be an omen.

Now, all our fellow neighbours have been here for longer than us and the only way they could get there 'padron' because of the naming of streets etc. was by declaring the developers flat as their residence. This is an easy process but just recently the town hall there have realised that there are quite an exceptional number of people living in this 2 bedroom flat - but that is another story for another day. Anyway the next set of instructions we had received were that we were to go to the Centro de Salud in Albox to register the papers which we had just got from Huercal Overa only to find that they closed an hour before the Securidad Social so that was it for Monday.

Monday night was as windy as ever and not much sleep was had by the female members of the Woolnough household. Rekjas and shutters make very effective whistles but not very tuneful especially at 2 o clock in the morning. However we braved the day and decided to make our way to Albox Centro de Salud to effectively apply for our Green Card - without which no medical attention other than emergency can be sought. We arrived and queued and eventually were ushered into the office where they issue the cards. The lady dealing with us was having a discussion with her colleague whilst looking through our paperwork and the copies. She stopped and apologised and made a phone call. Now we are getting quite good at understanding Spanish to a minor degree but when they get excited they speak too fast and my poor old ears just can't listen that fast. Anyway after the brief call she explained that there was not a problem so not to worry and drew a map on a piece of paper to show that our padron is not actually in their area. I have never heard anyone aplogise so much in my life - it was almost as if it was her fault. We told her it wasn't a problem and we would go to the right Centro which was after all in - Hueral Overa. I know we had said that we wanted to go and see more of it but not quite that soon! With our Spanish lesson half an hour away followed by a quiz at the Pool Bar in La Alfoquia there was definitely not enough time to return to Huercal that day.

We came 3rd in the quiz and won a terracotta outside thermometer. We had been looking for one so that will save us one job. It was a nice social occassion - next week they are doing a local walk which we hope to join in on so we can get to know some of the nooks and crannies of the local village.

An early night was had after our return from the quiz - lack of sleep and the howling winds were taking their toll on me - I managed to sleep the clock around apart fom the odd trip into the en suite....

We awoke early again on Wednesday armed with google maps of the Centro de Salud in Huercal Overa. Don't ever trust google in foreign areas - we made several passes of the town center finally deciding that we would perhaps be better on foot when we could ask for directions of real human beings. So we found a parking space and made our way to the nearby farmacia to ask for directions. The mood of the day was totally lifted when the young lady behind the counter understood my plea for help (OK cynics she was Spanish and the whole conversation was conducted in Spanish and I thought I understood her reply!) We left the farmacia and followed the road in the direction we had taken earlier in the car and we walked for quite a way and no sign of the Centro. The Theatre, the town hall and the courthouse were there - I started doubting my understanding of the conversation - had what I took as todo recto (straight on) really been derecho (right). That would have been quite easy to muddle really. So we duly retraced our steps and took the right turn at the roundabout (had she really meant the roundabout?) It was Michael's turn to ask as we were not having any success and wondered if we were on candid camera and being filmed when he asked and was told by a young man in uniform a completely different direction. When we rounded the corner and found ourselves back where we started Michael spied a couple sporting poppies. They looked decidedly English so he took the chance and approached them. They were a lovely Norwich couple from our own nearby village. They were indeed going in that direction anyway so escorted us, pointing out several shops and cafes they frequent which are particularly good value. We found ourselves once again by the Theatre and the court house. The Centro was indeed behind us - it's facade obscured from view by works being carried out on the neighbouring property. It was much smaller than the one we had been to in error the day before which had been like a mini hospital. We entered after bidding our new found friends thanks and farewell to be greeted by another very nice smiley gentleman who dealt with us most efficiently and issued us with yet another piece of paper with a stamp which was to be given to the doctor in the local village. The green cards are to follow in the post (at least I think that is what he said - again in Spanish). By this time it was too late to visit the doctors - so we drove home, had some lunch, spent some time cleaning the pool and took the dog for a longer than usual walk as the wind had reduced to normal levels and it was very pleasant.

Thursday - we went to find the doctors - never where you expect them to be especially if you are following Google maps - and weneeded an interpreter to go with us as our Spanish is definitely not up to it. We arranged to use James the local tnterpreter and left our contact details so he could get back to us to make final arrangements including telling us where it actually was.

We decided to make the final onslaught on the Health System today with James's help.
Today duly arrived and strategies were put into place so that James would only have to join us for the actual Doctor bit - waiting around in Spanish Doctors waiting rooms is an experience in itself. More of a social occassion when people catch up on all the local gossip.... We arrived at 11 but had been warned already by James that Dr. would be taking his break soon but we went and got our number (similar system to Sainbury's deli counter really). When he came out putting his coat on at 11.45 there were 3 patients before us yet to go in. Everybody adjourned to their various places ( we had a cuppa at a cafe) and we all met back at the surgery 45 minutes later. We finally went in. To our amazement when he went into his computer system our details were already updated and all he had to do was to write up our current medications and issue us with our prescriptions which we took to the farmacia and had made up. We arrived home at about 2.

Despite a facade to the contrary the system is very efficient and we were welcomed at all stages of the process - but then the Spanish are brought up with a great respect for the elderly!

We duly renewed the car hire and have had a relaxing rest of the day catching up on a mixture of correspondence and Spanish homework - but we are starting to see the fruits of our efforts.

Still no windows in the garage.

Market day tomorrow then we hope to start the painting of the wall and garage now that the wind has dropped.

Next week we have to go through the process of taking the animals to the vets for their checks, and rearranging the living room to accommodate the computer and printer whilst hopefully finishing painting the garage. We will go into Albox to join the local Group of Friends and already have 2 charity quizzes and a walk lined up. You should see the pile of ironing which has built up.

When did we ever find time to go to work?

Another lazy day in sunnyland....

Well not quite lazy although we didn't wake up until late - we hadn't slept well and sleeping late is easy to do as we have shutters on all the windows which block the sunlight completely. At least there was water trickling through the taps so that was a good start. Mind you the flow is still not as good as it was before it went off Wednesday morning. We availed ourselves of a neighbours kind offer of using her shower ( no the smell had not got that bad!) Friday morning - another neighbour was on standby if the water hadn't returned today. Hopefully the problem has been overcome so should not be such a problem in the future.

We returned with a couple of buckets of water to clean the kitchen thoroughly and did some more sorting out there.

The wind has continued blowing again today, although not constant at times it is quite fierce. It is due to get worse again tomorrow then improve for the rest of the week. Then perhaps we will be able to get the paintbrushes out and start on the garage. Also planned for the week is a trip into Huercal Overa and then Albox to register with Spanish health system and get ourselves a local doctor. We have kept quiet about this so that they don't all go into hiding LOL.

Despite the wind the weather has been warm enough for short sleeves. Unfortunately the newly planted trees have suffered from the lack of water and high winds - one of them has lost half its leaves. I can see we'll have to give them some real TLC in the next few weeks along with some of their new plant food and plenty of water.