Christmas and New Year

As if she didn't already have more than enough to do at the bar June decided she, John, Nick and I would spend christmas day together at their house, and a lovely day it was too. I helped where and when I could, both with prep for the bar and our own christmas lunch, which was lovely - June always remembers those little extra touches that make the difference. I'd already given Nick his gifts - an electric heater with a remote control for his bedroom, plus assorted little bits and pieces - and he'd given me mine - a voucher for a pampering session at the local beauty salon (much appreciated too!). When we arrived at John and June's we sat out on their naya with a glass of cava each and unwrapped the rest of our pressies before settling down to lunch.....

..... which went on for some considerable time! I think we'd just about cleared the table when the first of the 'evening' friends arrived (Margaret and Gerry). Another couple were half expected but didn't come (Gary and Niki) - found out later that they'd just 'slumped' after their lunch and couldn't be a*sed to move! No matter, it was a casual invitation - 'come if you feel like it' - as so many are out here!

We played a couple of very amusing party games suggested by Margaret which had us in fits of laughter because one needed good balance and the other good eyesight, and you can imagine the results as by that time we'd all consumed a considerable amount of alcohol.

'Boxing Day' doesn't exist in Spain so on Saturday the rastro was in full swing in Jalon which meant June and John opening the bar at lunchtime. I seem to remember there was a steady flow of customers.

The day following Boxing Day (Sunday) Nick and I cooked dinner for John and June. June walked down to ours late in the afternoon and John followed after finishing his radio programme.

The New Year's Eve party at the bar was a huge success. June and I spent a day and a half preparing and cooking in her kitchen and later in the little kitchen at the bar, as well as setting up the tables etc. The feedback from the customers was very encouraging and I'm sure the bar will get busier and busier as the weeks go on and the weather improves.

Talking of which - we've had more snow on the mountains, followed by lashing rain, gales and it's been so cold. As in the UK, the winter here has really dragged on and it's only this week that the temperature has begun to rise significantly. We're all so fed up with it. The worst thing was when I found that the rain had got into the underbuild - not via a leak, just under the door - and had reached two suitcases in which I had all my summer clothes and 'posh' frocks. Everything was damp if not wringing wet and I had to dry it all out, which took days because the atmosphere was so damp even when it wasn't actually raining. The whole lot will need washing but not until the better weather is here to stay!

Next blog I'll tell you about our new road and hopefully have some pictures of the valley now it's turned pink!

At last ......

.... Never meant to leave it this long - but then I always say that! Can't believe it will be 1st March next Monday. So, on with the update.....



My last entry was written the day before Dave Semthurst's funeral service. Found it a little un-nerving to be back at Denia crematorium to begin with. Dave and Brenda have/had lots of friends and were involved in various different activities locally, particularly bowling and golf. So the crematorium was full of friends, in fact it could well have been standing room only, so around 200 people present. Three or four of their closest friends recalled their memories of David, but I think for everyone the most moving and significant moment was when local opera singer Izzy sang 'Time to say goodbye'. Izzy used to live next door to Dave and Brenda, she came over from England to live with her grandmother several years ago and now spends a lot of her time singing on cruise ships. Not only is she stunningly beautiful, but her voice is amazing and she is such a sweet girl to talk to - click on the red link above to go to her website.

In a former life Brenda was a Redcoat and I have to say that side of her is still in evidence today, so we shouldn't have been surprised that she chose 'Always look on the bright side of life' to end the service, after rather bravely saying her own public goodbye to David.

Everyone was invited to return to Brenda and David's house for refreshments after the service - copious amounts of food and drink flowed and whilst there was sadness there was also lots of laughter and I enjoyed meeting more of the folk who live in this village and surroundings; I was still very much the new girl on the block and maybe the object of more than a little speculation.

I'll tell you how we celebrated christmas and new year in my next update.