Of cars, cats and happy days....
Well that resolve didn't last long did it? Where did April go......
A couple of weeks ago I learned (as if I didn't already know) how important my dear little car is. It broke down, just died on me and refused to start again, in the middle of the village and all but snarled the streets up. The village is small and it doesn't take much, since the streets are mostly one car width.... I did manage to get it into a parking spot so all was well - with the rest of the traffic. In Spain you are not allowed to do your own car repairs on the highway. You have to call a grua (towing service) and this is included in your car insurance. The grua will tow you to a garage of your choice, your home or wherever you wish. I chose to have it brought back home as I wanted a mobile mechanic to look at it and tell me what was wrong before I decided where to take it.
It happened on a Friday and fortunately I didn't need the car over the weekend and it was Monday before I got someone to look at it. Turned out it was the battery, though it wasn't clear from the warning lights or anything else - in fact, I think the battery light was the only one that DIDN'T come on. I had it taken to BusyBees in Benissa and collected it the following day - battery, auxiliary belt etc. etc. and I'm €250 poorer. Next week it goes in for two new tyres .......
Cats ..... I am not a cat person but I have to share the house not only with Nick but these two as well ...
The ginger one is the mother, known as GoodCat. The other one is the daughter, hitherto known as BadCat but now referred to as ASBO Cat - because she deserves it. She couldn't be more stroppy, mouthy, whingey or contrary if she was a human teenager... 'Nuff said.......
And then last week I had one of those randomly fun days that are all the more special because they happen so spontaneously. Especially welcome after the preceding two days... Beginning of the week I discovered my phone had been disconnected. What was that all about? Turned out that Telefonica had not sent me a bill since reconnecting the phone before I moved in here. Well, they might have sent one but I didn't receive it because they hadn't got the buzon (post box) number in the address details. The postmaster in this village will not deliver anything without a buzon number. I owed two bills totalling €282 :( I was told I had to pay at the Post Office. No chance! The post office is open for ONE HOUR a day! I got round it by registering online and paying by credit card. Took me four hours to sort it out and I've emailed the two bills to Europa (with whom I have my ADSL and calls) so they can now apply to take over the line rental as well.
Anyway, back to the 'fun' day .... I'd been in Jalon shopping for June's birthday and was chilling at Luke's with a coffee and the paper when said June and John pulled up, waved at me and said back in 5 for coffee. They had their coffee and then went upstairs to their own bar to do a few things. June was quickly back, asking me if I wanted to drive over to Moraira with them when they'd done, have some lunch etc. The downside was I had to help them clean up the bar first! No prob....
Drove over to Moraira, June said she fancied paella for lunch - sounded good to me! After they'd done their business at the bank we wandered through the village and found a bistro which included paella in their menu del dia (€11.90). The whole meal was delicious, the mixed paella one of the best I've ever had, the house wine (half a bottle included in the menu del dia price) was a decent one (makes a change! it usually tastes like vinegar...). Then we had a wander round the harbour, drooled over a few spectacular boats and wound up at the Club Nautico, upstairs deck, where we had more wine and coffee. The girl and boy tending the bar greeted John with: "ELVIS!" Apparently she'd worked at a bar/restaurant in Calpe where John sang last year and recognised him (once seen, never forgotten!). As with all 'artistes' recognition is key to the survival of the ego! The upstairs deck is sumptuously furnished and could easily become a favourite place to visit when in Moraira, though I've been in the downstairs part several times.
Can't remember what time we left but we went to the shopping centre on the Benitaxell road, had to have another drink as we needed the 'servicios' (loos!). Did some shopping in 'Vanilla and Chocolate' and the Chinese shop, and left about 8 pm to return to Alcalali. Texted Nick to say we were on our way and going to stop off at the Indian Palace, just at the bottom of our street, for something to eat. He joined us and we had 'supper' consisting of a number of starters with naan bread etc. John and June introduced me and Nick to the 'game' 'Mornington Crescent', which Nick got the point of straight away and I failed miserably to catch on at all. I think whenever the four of us are together this will be played at random moments. We seem to have fallen into two pairs for this - Nick and June, and John and me. John's lent me some tapes of 'I'm sorry I haven't a clue' in which 'Mornington Crescent' plays a part and I'm catching on - there are no rules for a start, I can't even begin to explain it to anyone but if you're curious Google it!
I left home that morning at around 10 am - we got home at 11.30 pm!
Two days later it was June's birthday - St. George's Day, 23rd April. She'd arranged a St. George's Day theme evening at the bar with typically English food - roast beef, fish and chips, apple pie, treacle pudding etc. and though UK artists' songs would have probably been more appropriate for John to sing, she had specifically asked him to do Neil Diamond, who also happens to be one of my favourites. For once she took the night off (or almost) and sat with Nick and me to enjoy her meal and the 'entertainment'! Nick and I gave her vouchers to pamper herself as she keeps putting off going to the hairdresser or getting her nails done. I also gave her a bouquet of flowers - big yellow gerberas and white lilies mainly.
The Terrace Regulars won this week's QUIZ NIGHT! Yay! We've lost John from our team as he now has to sing in Javea on Tuesdays, and Gary, Nikki and I were not confident of decent results without him, we've always considered him our strength especially with music but he has a very wide knowledge on a number of subjects (that's private education for you - *envious*). Anyway, we did very well on our music round, played our joker (doubles the points you get) and scored 10 out of 10, doubled to 20. Did well on three other rounds too and were astonished to come out on top with 64 points.
This afternoon we're having a trial run of the new barbecue at the bar. From this weekend all evening meals will be of the BBQ variety with no more Sunday lunches, only Sunday evenings with John singing and hopefully utilising the terrace itself, candlelit - it should be good. So J, J, N and me will be there late this afternoon stuffing our faces (yet again....) and slurping good wine - wonder who draws the short straw for driving this time.... I bet it's me, Nick's vehicle is a disgrace and not to be entered when wearing anything better than 'scruffs'. I think he does it on purpose......
Happy Bank Holiday weekend!
A couple of weeks ago I learned (as if I didn't already know) how important my dear little car is. It broke down, just died on me and refused to start again, in the middle of the village and all but snarled the streets up. The village is small and it doesn't take much, since the streets are mostly one car width.... I did manage to get it into a parking spot so all was well - with the rest of the traffic. In Spain you are not allowed to do your own car repairs on the highway. You have to call a grua (towing service) and this is included in your car insurance. The grua will tow you to a garage of your choice, your home or wherever you wish. I chose to have it brought back home as I wanted a mobile mechanic to look at it and tell me what was wrong before I decided where to take it.
It happened on a Friday and fortunately I didn't need the car over the weekend and it was Monday before I got someone to look at it. Turned out it was the battery, though it wasn't clear from the warning lights or anything else - in fact, I think the battery light was the only one that DIDN'T come on. I had it taken to BusyBees in Benissa and collected it the following day - battery, auxiliary belt etc. etc. and I'm €250 poorer. Next week it goes in for two new tyres .......
Cats ..... I am not a cat person but I have to share the house not only with Nick but these two as well ...
The ginger one is the mother, known as GoodCat. The other one is the daughter, hitherto known as BadCat but now referred to as ASBO Cat - because she deserves it. She couldn't be more stroppy, mouthy, whingey or contrary if she was a human teenager... 'Nuff said.......
And then last week I had one of those randomly fun days that are all the more special because they happen so spontaneously. Especially welcome after the preceding two days... Beginning of the week I discovered my phone had been disconnected. What was that all about? Turned out that Telefonica had not sent me a bill since reconnecting the phone before I moved in here. Well, they might have sent one but I didn't receive it because they hadn't got the buzon (post box) number in the address details. The postmaster in this village will not deliver anything without a buzon number. I owed two bills totalling €282 :( I was told I had to pay at the Post Office. No chance! The post office is open for ONE HOUR a day! I got round it by registering online and paying by credit card. Took me four hours to sort it out and I've emailed the two bills to Europa (with whom I have my ADSL and calls) so they can now apply to take over the line rental as well.
Anyway, back to the 'fun' day .... I'd been in Jalon shopping for June's birthday and was chilling at Luke's with a coffee and the paper when said June and John pulled up, waved at me and said back in 5 for coffee. They had their coffee and then went upstairs to their own bar to do a few things. June was quickly back, asking me if I wanted to drive over to Moraira with them when they'd done, have some lunch etc. The downside was I had to help them clean up the bar first! No prob....
Drove over to Moraira, June said she fancied paella for lunch - sounded good to me! After they'd done their business at the bank we wandered through the village and found a bistro which included paella in their menu del dia (€11.90). The whole meal was delicious, the mixed paella one of the best I've ever had, the house wine (half a bottle included in the menu del dia price) was a decent one (makes a change! it usually tastes like vinegar...). Then we had a wander round the harbour, drooled over a few spectacular boats and wound up at the Club Nautico, upstairs deck, where we had more wine and coffee. The girl and boy tending the bar greeted John with: "ELVIS!" Apparently she'd worked at a bar/restaurant in Calpe where John sang last year and recognised him (once seen, never forgotten!). As with all 'artistes' recognition is key to the survival of the ego! The upstairs deck is sumptuously furnished and could easily become a favourite place to visit when in Moraira, though I've been in the downstairs part several times.
Can't remember what time we left but we went to the shopping centre on the Benitaxell road, had to have another drink as we needed the 'servicios' (loos!). Did some shopping in 'Vanilla and Chocolate' and the Chinese shop, and left about 8 pm to return to Alcalali. Texted Nick to say we were on our way and going to stop off at the Indian Palace, just at the bottom of our street, for something to eat. He joined us and we had 'supper' consisting of a number of starters with naan bread etc. John and June introduced me and Nick to the 'game' 'Mornington Crescent', which Nick got the point of straight away and I failed miserably to catch on at all. I think whenever the four of us are together this will be played at random moments. We seem to have fallen into two pairs for this - Nick and June, and John and me. John's lent me some tapes of 'I'm sorry I haven't a clue' in which 'Mornington Crescent' plays a part and I'm catching on - there are no rules for a start, I can't even begin to explain it to anyone but if you're curious Google it!
I left home that morning at around 10 am - we got home at 11.30 pm!
Two days later it was June's birthday - St. George's Day, 23rd April. She'd arranged a St. George's Day theme evening at the bar with typically English food - roast beef, fish and chips, apple pie, treacle pudding etc. and though UK artists' songs would have probably been more appropriate for John to sing, she had specifically asked him to do Neil Diamond, who also happens to be one of my favourites. For once she took the night off (or almost) and sat with Nick and me to enjoy her meal and the 'entertainment'! Nick and I gave her vouchers to pamper herself as she keeps putting off going to the hairdresser or getting her nails done. I also gave her a bouquet of flowers - big yellow gerberas and white lilies mainly.
The Terrace Regulars won this week's QUIZ NIGHT! Yay! We've lost John from our team as he now has to sing in Javea on Tuesdays, and Gary, Nikki and I were not confident of decent results without him, we've always considered him our strength especially with music but he has a very wide knowledge on a number of subjects (that's private education for you - *envious*). Anyway, we did very well on our music round, played our joker (doubles the points you get) and scored 10 out of 10, doubled to 20. Did well on three other rounds too and were astonished to come out on top with 64 points.
This afternoon we're having a trial run of the new barbecue at the bar. From this weekend all evening meals will be of the BBQ variety with no more Sunday lunches, only Sunday evenings with John singing and hopefully utilising the terrace itself, candlelit - it should be good. So J, J, N and me will be there late this afternoon stuffing our faces (yet again....) and slurping good wine - wonder who draws the short straw for driving this time.... I bet it's me, Nick's vehicle is a disgrace and not to be entered when wearing anything better than 'scruffs'. I think he does it on purpose......
Happy Bank Holiday weekend!
posted by CaroleW at Thursday, April 29, 2010
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