Energetic Vet

Today I had an appointment with the vet. Nope none of the animals are unwell, and not with our usual gorgeous vet (Oscar) either, but with Jan-Willem, the Dutch vet up in the mountains. And guess what I came away feeling so much better- painless in fact!

A little while back Jan-Willem did a Bioenergy course and has been looking for clients since. I'd heard that this could cure sciatica, and quite frankly having been 'suffering' for over six weeks now I have been willing to try almost anything.

The treatment was little like a Reiki session, with energy flying around, but so much more powerful than anything I've experienced before, and without a word of a lie I really did leave there painless. I now have three more sessions over the next three days, and have high hopes that by the weekend I will be sciatica free. And here's the deal - if it doesn't work I don't pay- I so know I'll be paying (this is the first time I've been able to sit at the PC for a prolonged period without jumping up every now and then to relieve the pain), and am so happy for that too. Watch this space.....

On the way back I drove down the cherry tree lined Rambla that I mentioned just the other day:

BTW- this was taken trough the car windscreen, so not a perfect pic.

BAKING

Today was the first 'TulStig Baking Masterclass' here at Casa TulStig. Some time back Christine - The French teacher from S/N had told me she'd like to come round and learn how to bake muffins just like wot I do. I think I mentioned it in the Carnaval Blog entry.  So after having given her a list of ingredients she arrived with provisions bag in hand ready to bake. We set her up with an apron (now there's an idea for further merchandising!) and set to in the kitchen.

Christine wanted to bake chocolate muffins, and plain muffins- easy, and I think she thinks so too now. She's said she'll be off out to get a muffin tin soon and who knows will perhaps brings some into school too, I'd relish the competition.

So here are Christine's first efforts, and both Tony and I can confirm that they are just as delicious as those made here before. (for some reason no matter what I do I can't get it to spin round for the correct view?!?)

SO if you want a master-class in any of the recipes you've had here, or at any of the venues I've cooked at/for, or any of the recipes on my other blog http://grubnstuff.blogspot.com.es/ just let me know and we can arrange it!!!

Oh and Pauline I may be onto you for a master-class in some of the goodies you cook too- your cakes on Facebook today looked D-licious!

Waking

Over the past few days the sun has been rising noticeably earlier, which means I am waking earlier, which is a good thing as during the longer nights of the winter months I have become a bit of a stay-a-bed. Waking earlier means I either have the opportunity to rest and enjoy the peace of the early mornings, or that I can get up and start my day.

For the past couple of days I have chosen the later, being up and  out with Xali and Cuddy earlier than they have recently been used to.  Whilst walking I have also notice that so many of the plants and trees are waking after their winter slumbers too. The main rambla which crosses our walk of a morning is lined by cherry trees which are starting to become festooned with blossom, making the world a prettier, brighter and more wonderful place.

On a deeper level I am also grateful that the inner author in me has been awoken from its slumbers over the past year, and continues to fill me more and more. I'm not saying that I no longer have doubts about my writing ability, but more that I trust that what I write is 'good enough', and anyway I'm doing something I love, whether this later translate to my first best-seller, well we'll have to wait and see.

My back/leg continues to be a source of pain and annoyance, but this week I am stepping into the unknown and seeing a local practitioner who has success in the past in totally curing a bad case of sciatica- I have my fingers crossed and my hopes high. The treatment will be over four days, and is much like Reiki, alongside the homoeopathic remedy I'm taking I hope I shall be back to fully functioning soon. My biggest fear being that this condition will not improve enough for me to be able to walk in the summer- no scratch that -I will walk, I may just have to take it slower and carry more painkillers than before!!

Career Choices

This morning I had a meeting with the owners of the school to talk about what I wanted for next year. Yes they really are that facilitative!

We talked about this year, and they thanked me profusely for my work  - now do you get the idea why I like working for S/N?

I said I want to pretty much do the same as I have been doing this year, and it was pretty much agreed. Of course it will depend on the needs of the business come September, but the future still looks rosy.

Whilst I was chatting with them we talked about my writing. One of them has already bought 'The Magic', but they didn't realise it was a one off. They were most impressed when I said I already have a second published, and am writing a sequel, with a kids book in hand for a future project.  They were a bit worried they might lose me to the heady world of best-sellers, nice dream but one step too far a the moment, notice I'm not saying never! I hadn't realised that I hadn't already told them of my 4th cousin relationship to Mr William Shakespeare, (I thought everyone knew by now!) they thought that could be a good selling point for my books and should appear on the dust cover, and also wondered about using it for a school's promotion!! (hahaha) It did make me think though- just how much I love writing, so as soon as I got home I attached myself to the PC and set down a few more thousand words. In my daydreams I am already a wildly successful author, and I guess that's the biggest career choice for me!

BACK

Well I guess today's title for the blog says it all! So I'll shut up then- yeah and you all know that'll be the day.

I've been a little (read 'a hell of a lot' for that) uncommunicative of late as I've been busy concentrating on excruciating pain- there I've said it. Short of detailing everything just to say I have had, and still have sciatica. But I'll not moan about it (unless you ask). It's being alleviated now by a heat pad for which I am more than grateful. I thought I had a high pain threshold but by golly this one sucker punched me for sure. But enough of my back - I'm back.

Yesterday for the first time in over a week I took the dogs for their morning walk- lucky we have a garden or the flat could have got a bit messy!!  I enjoyed a gentle walk round the fields and was amazed and delighted to find spring blossoming out all over the place.

I'm not sure what these flowers are, but they remind me of my nan's favourites 'cowslips'.

Whilst out I decided to hug, well touch up more than hug, a tree- and was amazed by the jolt of energy I received from it. It was amazing and so so pleasant. I used to 'chat' to this tree quite regularly, but we kinda fell out of conversation- having renewed our acquaintance I'll be keeping well in touch- it really was/is good for me. 

I'm hoping our back garden will be blooming well soon too -I bought 101 bulbs some time back and planted them so we're waiting expectantly. There area few sprouts peeking out of the ground and as soon as there's anything to report pics will be on here. Tony's been busy out there re-varnishing the table and chairs etc -and a blooming good job he's done too. 

Welcome Liliana....

Yesterday at 11.40 Sue gave birth to Liliana Ivy - 3.2kgs.  Being in a meeting at school meant that we didn't get the message until later on,. Happy to report the whole Jimenez family are doing well. They will be in hospital for a few days though as Liliana wouldn't turn round (breach) so Sue had to have a cesarean, and thus has to wait until everything is healed a bit before they'll let her home. As further updates come in I will keep you all posted , as proud Daddy Jordi is happy to keep us all informed -Sue would just like to get home and join Tony for a burger in Burger King- The food at the hospital being of the usual standard one comes to expect.

And here's a pic Jordi sent us yesterday:

Aside from that there is very little to report from Sunny Spain at the moment. Today was my weekend to work- classes as enjoyable as ever. This evening we are planning a romantic dinner in- well we'll have dinner at home, and the rest of the weekend we'll see how we go on.

Fortunately my sciatica seems under better control, thanks to Liam's little muscle relaxant pills and the pain is negligible, although at night it still kicks in on ad off- perhaps it's time for a new mattress- I shall check out the Internet for something.....

UPs and DOWNs

An interesting couple of days here at Casa TulStig!

Today was the twins birthday - my boys are six years old now!! That's them on the right (with Tommy on the left) so they had tuna for breakfast, chicken for lunch and by teatime none of them were hungry so they've spent the evening lolling around the house- Yup they are spoilt. BTW the tuna and chicken went to all the animals- Tone and I had soup for lunch and veggie burgers with all the trimmings for dinner

Yesterday during the early hours the bar next door was ram-raided. All very odd. We heard a big bang and thought nothing more of it, then our bedroom was lit up by blue lights -The local police had arrived. Just how a car could ram-raid the bar is incredible- the road is so narrow, the bar had heavy flower pots in front of it and it's hardly a fort Knox full of dosh.

Today I've spent a lot of time with Sue. we went shopping and had a coffee, then this evening I picked up her and Jordi to take them to the hospital in readiness for their baby daughter to make her appearance- all very exciting. She's due to pop out tomorrow- I await a text!!

On top of that the Camino Primitivo plans are all up in the air. Nick might not be able to make it, well it's looking less and less likely cos of thing occurring in his life, and maybe Janey will cos of changes in hers. I'm still going, but at the moment the question is will I go alone, with Janey, or with Nick, or even with Nick and Janey.... watch this space!!

Oh and my back/leg  -sciatica. At last I've had a good night's sleep, and even woke up pain free for the first time in about a month. Yesterday Liam gave me a muscle relaxant to take before bedtime. I did and slept well. Today the pain has been minimal. I shall be taking another tonight and hopefully the pain will be on its way for good.

So there you go that's the good and not so good news from Casa TulStig -on balance at least for us things are good.