Monday Triple Update

HUGE FANFARE:  (have to add a Fnaarr her for Mr Brennan!!) The carpenter has left the building and the work is done. Of course now I have to spend some goodly time repainting the whole flat- that's the trouble with having work done en-bulk. So today I purchased a pot of paint and am ready to start with a bit of clearing up first. as an added bonus when he (the carpenter) found out I was an English teacher he asked if I'd teach his brother who is failing English at College. He's going to give me a call alter in the week.


DECLUTTERING - we're still checking the cupboards and shelves to get rid of anything we no longer need or want. We've also had a message today that a local animal charity is happy to take everything off us for onward resale- Result. Tomorrow I am tackling the kitchen cupboard -bowls, dishes and assorted unused items will be going the same way as books and other knick nacks etc.

TULSTIG GRUB: This evening we had a delicious curry meal. I made a fresh veggie curry, which we decided to have on crusty slices of bread with cheese on top melted under the grill. It was yummy even if I do say so myself. The only thing was neither of us could finish our plates- over the last few weeks we've both got used to eating less. Having just watched a programme on 'Five a day' food industry scams I am glad we live here and get our fresh veggies, our diet is definitely lacking in processed foods which is a really good thing. 

Arrival

After a journey of about a thousand miles from Brockley to VnG eight years ago today we arrived at our new address- Casa TulStig, España. We were all a little tired and looking fora rest on arrival, and to let the cats out for a run around inside. This was not to be so.

Unfortunately the house wasn't quite as ready as we'd expected or been promised - yet again we had been let down by a builder. I'll not go into the whole sorry story but shall just say that I had to finish off the kitchen myself and let our builder go! 

However within a few days we were more or less shipshape and ready for our first guests -Annie and Emma.

In the last eight years we've had many more guests and enjoyed so many wonderful days and nights, and are obviously looking forward to many more - will our next visitors be you?

Last night we went to a concert in the local auditorium- a Latin concert with musicians from the local music school - an it was excellent.  Afterwards we came home and finished off the leftovers from the picnic/barbie.  An excellent celebratory weekend to round off our eight years in paradise.

Goiong my way

Wednesday and back to school after a wonderful long weekend (puente).

Today we popped round to the lumberyard- yes you did read that right- the lumberyard - to try and get another quote for replacing our doors. The main problem we are having is that the doors are all different sizes- so far from 'standard'- well of course it is our house. We want to standardise the sizes simply so I don't bash my head intermittently, mainly because I don't have any hair on top for protection or to hide the cuts when I do bash my head! So the upshot of our visit to the lumberyard is that we need to get a paleter (builder) in first to resize the frames. Fortunately the man at the lumberyard (yes I do like that word) has a brother in law who is a builder who can help. We got his number, I called him as soon as we got home and he's coming round tomorrow. Let's hope this is the step forward that we want.

This afternoon I finally got on and designed my t-shirt and cap for this year's Camino. I had been putting it off as, although outwardly I was being brave and saying everything was ok, inwardly I was worried that my back/leg problem would prevent me going. After the weekend's walk I'm confirmed back on my Way. Once the designer-ware arrives I shall model it and post pics.

Later on I started a new private class. It's with a previous student of mine who is taking a University entrance exam in a few weeks and needs a bit of revision. I was a bit worried how the lessons would pan out as it's a one-to-one whereas before we had a whole class. Within minutes I realised everything was okay, and it adds a little more to the coffers.

And the upshot of all this rambling.....well I guess I'm just grateful that things are still so much going my way.

From where I'm sitting, everything in the garden looks rosy - and I mean thgat literally as well as figuratively.