Christmas and stuff

This morning's first task, which I really love, was to cook up the Christmas cake. It's a special last minute, easy and fast recipe, that I really enjoyed last year, and have loved filling the house with Christmassy cooking smells by baking again today.
If things work out like last year I'll be eating most of it myself, but hey ho I think I'll manage, especially if Tone brings home a little strong cheddar to go with it, an of course the obligatory glass of port!

While the cake was baking I grabbed the pressies I bought yesterday and the wrapping paper and wrapped some goodies up  and put them under the tree. The cats and Cuddy were really interested in what was going on and a couple of times tired to unwrap my wrapping. After chiding them severely (not) I balled up the wrapping they'd ruined and they spent the next five or so minutes chasing that and each other around the room. We was having fun!!!

The next task was to finish printing off the Christmas cards. Tone took a load back to the UK to post, but one of the printer cartridges ran out, another arrived on Friday so I could get back to the task. All done now, and tomorrow after a trip to the post office they will all be wending their way to greet family and friends all over.


This afternoon after a short siesta- much needed as I twisted my back again whilst mopping the yard - I watched a teleworkshop. I found the intro a little long, but stuck with it. Then there was a visualisation- I've never managed to go there - but the suggestions and energy work I really got, and was moved enough to tear up a past life-script adn am in the process of throwing that in the rubbish for good. I am good enough!!

One of the blogs (Marc and Angel Hack Life) I watch had an update today of 30 things to stop doing to yourself.  I think the Universe was consolidating my message from the teleworkshop with this. Whilst the suggestions were almost all starting with 'Stop doing....' and I would have preferred 'Start doing...' I took the message on board.

Here's to Christmas, stuff, and new beginnings!! ....

As an aside I've just seen that 'The Help' is out now -a great book and I so want to see the film (so if you're reading this dear husband of mine.. well you get the message). And I've just seen an advert for 'The girl with a dragon tattoo' film coming out this month too. I even liked the trailers for both films -fingers crossed the film is as good  as the book. Looks like a trip to the BCN English language cinema could be on the cards this Christmas holidays.

A Day out in BCN

After walking the dogs today I planned for a day out in Barcelona to do a little bit of Christmas Shopping.
MY first task was to drop Julie's glasses off at school, as she left them here yesterday evening. She popped in after work so I could help her set up an XL spreadsheet and we shared a pizza and jacket tatties. A lovely way to spend a Friday evening. 

 Getting off the train in Passeo de Gracia I walked down to Plaça Catalunya where there was a huge marquee. Inside there was an Ice-rink. I've never seen that here before and the joy emanating from inside was almost palpable. IT drew me close and I stayed a while watching people doing laps around the rink. It was really uplifting.

  Next stop was the Boqueria, the large  municipal fruit and veg market just off the Ramblas. I love it in here. The only things I can't handle are the meat and fish stalls so I generally negotiate a path around to avoid these as much as possible.  The colours are so vibrant and the people on the stall so friendly. This time of year mushrooms of various types are filling the stalls and adding their own richness to the place. I usually buy some fruit to munch on while I wander, as it's so fresh and almost impossible to resist.

Afterwards I headed for the Christmas Market beside the Cathedral. The stalls here we re just as interesting and colourful, and the Christmas spirit was so much in evidence. However the crowds were all a little too much for me so I headed off down the side streets to check out some of the smaller shops. There are so many interesting shops in this area that I completely lost track of time, and still I'd only bought the fruit to eat -no Christmas shopping done as yet. 

 

In one of the shops there was a splendid Christmas Tree that I couldn't resist photographing. However it was packed with people and although I'd have loved to buy some things in there the queues for the tills were too overwhelming so I have left that treat for another day.

I eventually found a  couple of my favourite shops and inside some items that were just the kind of things I was looking for, and some things that I didn't even realise I was looking for them. SO for the first time in the day my credit card saw the light of day. Ker- ching...

Tomorrow I'm planning a festive day indoors- Christmas cake to bake and other Christmassy things to sort out too.....

Celebrations

Yesterday evening I had one class- one student turned up so it wasn't a difficult class. Then we went for a quick drink in the Pupot bar, before moving on to Oganquit for dinner. It was a great evening. Good food (although I was a little disappointed with my pizza- they are usually excellent, but we can all have off days so no worries), good wine, and great friends.  These aid great friends showered me in gifts- all unexpected, and all wonderful.

Not only were these friends thinking of me I also had 52 birthday messages on Facebook,  22 birthday text messages, 12 birthday e-mail messages and a selection  of phone calls and face to face good wishes. How wonderful taht so many people were wishing me well. I feel so lucky.

Today I dropped Tony off at the airport in BCN first thing for his flight to Hull to visit his mum and family for a week of Christmas celebrations.  I've just spoken to him and the weather is atrocious- wet and windy, and ultra cold. His flight was pretty much uneventful, despite having to pay €22.00 for his boarding pass to be reprinted (did I say rip-off?!!) and he's comfortably ensconced at his mum's. 




I then drove down to Cubelles to meet up with Julie, Christine and Jordi, where we were catching the train (already aboard were Bill, June and Ian) for  Cambrills. On arrival in Cambrills, and after a frotifyi8ng coffee, we walked back to Salou (about an hour and a half's walk) where June's brother has a bar and had laid on a Christmas lunch for us. The walk in the warm winter sunshine was a treat, along the seafront and into Salou Town.

Lunch was really wonderful. A full Christmas roast. Starting with Leek and Potato Soup, Roast dinner (without the Turkey or gravy for me) and ending with Apple Crumble. We all had a great time as you can see from the photos.At the end of the meal they even brought out a plate of mince-pies (the fruity ones) with a couple of candles in and sang happy birthday again.

Have I mentioned how lucky I am to be surrounded by so many wonderful souls, both here and around the world.

And talking of friends around the world. Steve from Canada whop bought a copy of my book has had a case made especially for it by a friend of his. How cool is that? MY writing preserved for posterity across the other side of the Atlantic. I am really amazed and thrilled how well my book has been received. At dinner last night Paolo was telling me how far he has got (page 254 I think) and how he was enjoying it and even gave some more detailed feedback which was really great to get. I am truly humbled by the way 'The Magic' is 'flying off the shelves' and being accepted and talked about.

A day for finishing...

First I finished the conversion process for 'The Magic of  The Camino' into an E-book. It wasn't too difficult a process, but the instructions weren't too clear and meant I had to carry out the same process a few times over. I now have both the paperback and the e-book on my Lulu 'Author Spotlight' page. How cool is that - I, yes little old Mark T from Staples Barn, Henfield, has an AUTHOR PAGE- yup I am shouting it (an author page!!!! indeed). I amaze myself sometimes!! And now I've made myself giggle. Life is great and oh so funny how things work out sometimes.

Next I finished the book I've been reading- The girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I really enjoyed the book, and am looking forward to reading the sequel soon. But for now I'm starting 'Angels in my hair' as recommended by Janey and others.


And finally I'm finishing my year at age 50. In less than an hour I shall enter my birthday -not quite 51 yet as I wasn't born till around 8.00am. Amazingly I've already had some good wishes from Michelle and Kerry in Australia, where it i already tomorrow. Isn't that just too cool too.

Christmas Preparations

A bit of a christmassy day today.


First of all, after walking the dogs of course, we went of to Splau, for a bit of retail therapy. It was supposed to be a  day out including lunch, but Tony had had enough afetr an hour- well he'd got what he wanted- and we came home. Me disappointed - yeah of course, but I got over it! We did get a good look around Primark (or course) and I even found a waistcoat -which up until now have been rare here in BCN.
I spent the afternoon printing Christmas Cards, then we did the cutting to size and the signing and addressing the envelopes, then one of the printer cartridges ran out, so that stopped that little game.
I did manage to get R2 a new hair-band in Primark and we spent a goo half hour playing fetch. By which time I'd had enough of the game, even though he was ready to carry on indefinitely.

Then a little 'ME' time. I made myself a hot chocolate and settled down with my book The girl with the dragon tattoo. It's a great red, and I'm pleased that even though I'm near the end of the book I haven't sussed out the plot, which is what I often do when reading.  The number of times I've said to Tony "I could write one of these"- Oops now I have.

And on to books- I've been busy today trying to convert 'The Magic' into an E-book. I thought it would be a few clicks and viola, but no I have to re-jig the whole manuscript, so it'll take a while longer than I thought. Still it's not an impossible task, and one I shall achieve before Santa pops down the chimney. Ho Ho Ho....

Ups and Downs

 

Well the trees up, but I'm down.  I've hit my insomnia cycle again, and am getting only a few hours sleep, waking at four at the latest. Fortunately the next couple of days are holidays so I can take it easy, just like Vinnie is here on top of the chocolate chest (not made of but full of!). 

Book two goes to press

Today I finally finished the process of uploading 'WINNER' to the publisher's site and can confirm I now have published my second book. Alan sent me the final copy of the cover, which I love again, I finished the proofing and everything else that was necessary. I am now waiting for a proof copy in the post, after which I will release the book for general sale.

I am now getting into the Christmas preparation mode. Today I finished the Newsletter and sent that out.  Then spent a few hours printing off Christmas cards. As Tony's off to Yorkshire next week we need to be ready. Sunday we will be putting up the tree, and then we'll really be in the mood....for Christmas that is.

I think Xali's had enough already...