New, new, new experiences...

As part of our regular 'trying out new restaurants' last night we went off, with the wonderful Julie, to the new Indian restaurant at the bottom of the Rambla - The Taj Mahal.

We started with another new experience with pre-dinner drinks in a bar we hadn't used before on the Passeo Maritim - Envy.

The Indian restaurant has only been open a short while, and when we arrived we noticed the manager (owner?) was the same as the Indian restaurant that used to be in the centre of town.

The restaurant has a varied menu including pizzas and Spanish style dishes with a rather limited Indian listing, which was a little disappointing.

We started with pakora and samosas, followed by vegetable biryani and cheese nan, with lentil dahl. Whilst we were eating the chef came out to chat with us, telling us that he likes cooking for English customers as we know what curry is all about.
The food was good and the service fair and the price excellent -the three of us were full, and had a good bottle of wine all for under €40. We will go back, but with the limited choice on the menu may not be super-regular visitors.

After dinner we tried yet another new place - Sa Caleta - a new cocktail bar on the seafront- and had cocktails before returning home. now this is a place we will be returning to. The cocktails were fun and scrummy and the service excellent.

Saint George's day

Or as we say here in Cataluña -El Dia San Jordi, where it's an important day in the calendar. It's traditional here to give roses to the lady you love, or a book to the man in your life. 

I started the day off well with a couple of slices of toast slathered with the homemade strawberry jam I made yesterday. Then I did a few bits and pieces round the house before meeting Sue and Liliana for a coffee and natter down the road in Granja Neus. 

 After a good chat and catch up I walked back up the hill home for a delicious green veggie soup.

 This afternoon I had a couple of classes so walked along the Rambla to see the rose stalls and the book stalls, all overlooked by the Giants of VnG.

 Ah yes- VnG on another fiesta day -anyone getting the message why we so love living here?

Warmth, Weekend & Website updates

We had a great weekend, or at least Friday and Saturday with Caroline staying at Casa TulStig.
On Friday I walked the dogs an the blossom, as pictured on here the other day was loaded down with Bees. It was beautiful, scented and noisy with the bees buzzing- Spring is pretty much here!

Can you see the Bee top centre?

Caroline arrived in town after her conference in BCN and we had a delicious dinner at Espai Carmen, after a few pictures around town.

Saturday left some time for Caroline to do a  bit of shopping in Sitges , after breakfast out (of course), for pressies for her girls. We then had lunch in the garden, before having to drop back to the airport for Caroline's evening flight back to Murcia.

On the way back from the airport I was feeling a little off, and sure enough by the time I had been home a little while I flagged and hit my bed where I stayed for the next two days. A little bit of a chill methinks. Most of you will know that I don't react well to being unwell, and poor old Tony usually ends up taking the brunt of that. But her I am back to almost as good as new. I just need to be rid of this blessèd Sciatica, which has been hanging around for the last month now, and I'll be flying along again.

Finally can I beg of you a small favour. The other Editors and I have recently produced the new edition of The Joyful Warrior, along with some wonderful guest contributions, Please head on over there and take a look at this month's articles of JOY.

Oh and if you've a couple more spare minutes I've been busy updating our personal website too - Casa TulStig.

Comments and feedback welcome on both sites, pleeaassee.....

Spring is springing!!

Whilst out walking with Cuddy and Xali yesterday morning I noticed the bloom on the trees is starting to appear. The temperatures are starting to rise, and creativity is in the air. TO me that all means spring is on the doorstep, knocking and will be in soon.

Ball de Mascarots

Yes last night we were at the Ball de Mascarots in the Town Square, after a few visits en route.

First of all we dropped in on Jordi and Maria and their son (yes Jordi too), at Cal Jordi:

From here we had a wander down the Rambla interacting with all the other disfazados. It's so much fun when you're dressed up - everyone chats to you -usually nonsensical stuff about your character, but all with bon humor! Many times Tony was stopped for a photo -He must be on many people's facebook pages today!

Our next port of call was 'Beverly Hills' - Just as in other years they had no idea who we were when we entered and took a seat at the bar. When we raised our masks they all hooted and laughed and there was much hugging, kissing and hand-shaking. Just how long have we been using this restaurant?- well probably about 25 years!

After a beer and a plate of chips, and an obligatory toilet stop- do you know how difficult it is to use the loo when you're a star-wars storm-trooper??!! - we were off to the square, where the band/orchestra were limbering up. Soon after we settled into our space it was midnight and the band started with a Beatles set piece , followed by some Abba- they must have known we were there.

After enjoying the spectacle - and I don't mean just the one on the stage, and having a bit of a dance around, and yes another beer we decided to make a break for it before we got too cold or too tired. Home again around 1.30/2 ish - the animals were pleased to see us. As for us -  Happy and Tired and SOOOO enjoying our Carnaval 2012.

Carnaval Saturday update

So last night we had a great time.
I started the evening off with a massage and acupuncture from Jordi (Sue's Jordi) and left feeling quite bruised, but within an hour or so a lot more comfortable than I ave been in days.

I met Tony outside the Rambla school building where we were meeting up with some of the other teacher's for a little party in the classroom which overlooks the Rambla Principal, where the parade would be passing soon after. 

Snacking on crisps etc and drinking a delightful white wine we watched the parade:

 Even the dogs were getting in on the act. This one was out with his vampire owners.

The streets were packed with revellers. I sometimes find it hard to believe that anyone can be at home during the night of arrivó in Vilanova.

The costumes were from the very plain, but inventive to the brightly coloured, and all worn with a sense of fun.  Some of the costume and floats were political, ridiculing the current council members and their policies of cutting services.

Many had themes, from terrorists against the cuts to outer space visitors, to nurses to Robin Hood

After watching the parade and seeing the lads and lasses from our Barrio go by on their floats we headed off to the Indian restaurant where we had a delicious and fairly spicy curry. It seemed the entertainment was going to continue as the waiter had no idea how to use a waiter's friend corkscrew and ave us moments of enjoyment as he file and fumbled his way through opening bottles of wine as different customers arrived and ordered. 

As we prepared to leave and pay our very, VERY reasonable bill, Christine and Jordi (a very popular name here) came in for dinner. Christine had had a few more than she could manage and proceeded to apologise for her condition. I'm sure the poor girl will be most embarrassed and contrite next time we meet. During our conversation Christine asked if I would teach her to cook muffins, and also how to make the beef and steak pie I made for a party once. SO we agreed to set a cook-date once we're back at school on Wednesday.

Next we had a bit of a long walk home, through the detritus of the evening, and along the way we were still entertained by various characters in their evening's outfits. As a break we dropped off at Cal Jordi, to see Jordi and Maria (yes a very popular name here). From here we wend our way up the hill arriving home later than intended.

This morning I had a couple of classes. The first class only one student turned up, so we played a game of scrabble, and after an hour he was happy to go off home again- that's the pleasure of teaching adults. This allowed me a chance to whizz round the market and get a tray of strawberries and a couple of bunches of asparagus- all for bargain prices - How I love the market- Fresh veggies for next to nothing. Over half of the second class were in attendance so we had a more or less normal class. I was teaching Homophones which always amuses me.

This afternoon we've had a quick siesta, and have tried on our costumes. We're now taking a little time to relax before we begin again.... Fancy dress ball at Midnight here we come.

Arrivo

An early post today,a s things at Casa TulStig are heating up as we get ready to play our parts in Carnaval. Tonight we will be spectators at the big parade, tomorrow we will take an active part in the fancy dress ball in the town square, but all that's for later...........

Today is Arrivó -The arrival of the King of Carnaval- Carnestoltes- This afternoon the kids will be parading round town in fancy dress, and this evening it's the adults turn- the Parade of the King will be passing up the main Rambla for all to see, and we will be there watching,a s per usual. This year we are planning to watch from the balcony of the school building with some of the other teachers at around 7.30-8.00 for couple of hours. Then we're planning to have dinner somewhere with Jordi and Sue.

Before that I have a two hour class -not sure how many of the students will turn up though, as they'll be getting ready for the evening's festivities. Then I'm having an other massage and Acupuncture session from Jordi- my sciatica just wont budge at the moment!

And we've already had a busy morning -Tony's been down town to shop for some essential odds and ends, and to pop into the chemist for painkillers. I've been to Lidl and got important supplies in for the weekend.

We've just been in the street decorating the front window with a Manton (Carnaval Shawl) and streamers, as is our tradition, and now we're planning on a spot of lunch before the rest of the above starts to kick in. Today broccoli soup sounds ideal.

The photos on her are from last year's festivities for Arrivó and front window deckies from then too - there will be more from this year on our website and Picasa site later, over the weekend or early next week.

Brrrrr

This morning Tony and I were out early -in the car for 7.30 to be off and we were more than shocked to see the temperature gauge registering at 3º -we were even more shocked when a little later as we headed inland into the hills that it dropped to 2º.
This evening the temperature is dropping back and is expected to hit zero, or even just below. There's been a lot of talk of snow coming our way, and the schools even closed at 3.00pm just in case -ours didn't of course -we're made of sturdier stuff than that.

We've the heating on full tilt and we're happy indoors, but goodness knows what tomorrow may bring- will it snow, or just be a cold day again. Well lets wait and see....

Just another wonderful day in El Tacó

So this was the last sunset of January 2012- How come the first month of the New Year is over already? Where on earth did that one go? It's been a good month -are there really any other sorts to be honest? We've had a couple of festivals and my little bro turned 50. February looks like it'll be a fun month, a little travelling around, Cuddy's 4th Birthday, Carnaval and that's just for starters....

We've just been watching a programme about Monte Carlo, and have both said we'd not swap it for our wonderful lives here.
This evening on the way home one of my ex-students (Agustin who lives opposite) rushed along to  catch up with me and chat as we both walked home. He's recently started catering college, so we have a bit in common, although he's just 17 and I'm not. He's a delightful young man and a pleasure to talk to. The fact that he rushed, arriving by my side almost out of breath, just so he could walk up the hill with me, made my heart swell. That's just the way things are round here- would that happen in Monte Carlo? I seriously doubt it! Life in El Tacó is the BEST.

Not only that I've also received some  wonderful feedback about both my books today.

The Magic: Hah!
But I'm walking with one Mark Tullett and thoroughly enjoying 'The Magic' of it.

There aren't many things that can make me laugh aloud in bed at twelve o'clock at night (or maybe just the one). The image of all those pilgrims bedding down in the 'dormitorio' and 'tuning up' for the night-time symphony had me in stitches!.... Following that guy's tightly-clad buttocks up the mountain... catching the other guy shuffling his deck under the bedclothes (Could Power Animal oracle cards possibly have been 'entre manos'?).

Well done you. I'm loving it. It's readable, approachable and I'm in there re-living it with you. I was tempted to reach out and offer a helping hand to stop you slipping over you shorts in the shower stall.
It's all just so YOU.  I only wish I had more time to be able to read it all in one go, without interruptions.

Now, I hope you're feeling suitably chuffed with yourself. Skip off and nurse that cold, I've got a good book calling me away.

Winner:
Jane told me she had taken it on holiday with he, but hadn't had much chance to read. Amy her friend asked to take a look at it after finding out it was my work, then when Jane thought she'd get it back Amy said she'd started reading it and was enjoying it so much that Jane would have to wait till she'd finished.  How good is that?

Back

Yup I'm back after a week of hardly any PC action at all - As mentioned in the last post on here we had Michael staying last weekend which was a lot of fun. But I ended up the weekend with a cold and lack of energy, then got a sore back so couldn't sit for long here and update- Ahhh I can hear across the world as the sympathy vote increases. Well I'm much better now after having a great back Massage with Sue's Jordi and a touch of acupuncture too.

 So first of all lets reverse wheels a moment to last weekend -a great weekend with Mr Michael, whose flight was completely without incident- remember last year he left his mobile on the flight, and the year before he got the flight times wrong leaving me at the airport three hours early to pick him up, and the year before .... well you get the picture.


 After picking Michael up at the airport we went directly to Sitges and the Montroig café-bar, where Paolo joined us just in time for dinner at the Wok (yes the Wok again, well it is good food and at a reasonable price!)

Saturday morning I was working so we met in the Rambla for a light lunch. After which Michael and I made a trip to Decathlon (a large sports store just on the edge of town) whilst Tony had a siesta. In preparation for this year's Camino I bought a new pair of trainers, which have yet to be broken in.

Saturday evening we went back into town and had dinner at the new Indian restaurant where we bumped into Sue and Jordi who were just leaving, and a student of mine who was eating there with his girlfriends and looked quite embarrassed that I had turned up - Poor lad!
We all chose the menu of the day, and you can see from the pic on the right where Michael is tucking in, that there was plenty for all of us.
After dinner we popped into 'Nostalgic' -a local bar and then dropped in on Jordi (yes another one) at his bar just up the road, before trawling all the way up the hill home.
By Sunday we were all a little jaded, and as Michael didn't surface until lunchtime we had a lazy day in the house, until Michael's flight later that evening.

This week we've done very little, but as I've spent a lot of time lazing on the bed I've had plenty of time for one of my passions- reading, there you go every cloud has a silver lining, and I've managed to get through my first book of the year-  Therapy by David Lodge -a present gifted me a while back by Christine, and it wasn't until the final part that the clue as to why she had thought of me when gifting me the book. 

First guest of 2012

We've been busy bees today cleaning up the flat, and preparing the guest room for our first guest of 2012. In just a few moments we're off to pick up Michael from BCN airport. Hopefully his flight will have been without incident, but quite frankly I quite doubt that. Whenever Michael comes over he always has some sort of drama.
The first time he came he almost missed the flight and ran through the gates skidding into a seat (well almost)
The second time he gave us the wrong timings and I was at the airport in the middle of the day when he actually arrived later that evening.
Last time he came over he lost his mobile on the plane, with all the trauma that causes.
So this time we've our fingers crossed.

Once we've met him we're decamping to Sitges where we will be taking a cocktail in Café Bar Montroig, followed by dinner in the Chinese restaurant. 

Michael is here until late Sunday evening, so it's just a flying visit, but we're bound to pack plenty into the weekend, although most of that will involve eating and drinking in some of our favourite haunts. So if I don't post for a few days please forgive me I am either really busy entertaining (and working -it's my weekend to work) or I'm simply recovering from the weekend.

Thanks again

This morning I had to be up early for an appointment in Barcelona, which meant catching the train at around 08.00am this morning. So I set my alarm for 6.30ish and was up like a lark and out. At first I thought what a palaver, but getting up and seeing the sunrise for the first time in ages was wonderful. Riding the train along the coast seeing the sun stretching it's warming rays across the sea little by little was amazing. As I sat there watching the new day beginning I once again realised how lucky I am to be living where and how I do.

St Anthony's Day

Today was St Anthony Abbatt's day, and as h is the patron saint of our town we had a day off and a a fiesta. Apparently St Anthony Abbatt was a bit like Saint Francis of Assisi and an animal lover. So for us that mean s that animals are allowed in the church for blessings- no we don't take ours they are truly blessed already!  - and there's a parade around town of horse, donkey, mules etc. some being ridden, some pulling carts and some pulling fine carriages. Even our neighbour has a Shetland pony that he parades around the town with Mrs Next door-neighbour in the back and grand-kids.
 

Of course we don't just watch the animals around town, although that is part of the enjoyment of the day-we also make a day out of it. Today we met Sue in Beverly Hills for a beer and a  plate of fries. Sue couldn't stay out all day but we did, so our next port of call was 'The Pupot' - one of our favourite bars, and where we had our stag-party before we wed.
Next we stopped of a few doors up the road at the 'Sentit's bar and then had quite a wander up the road. We dropped in on Jordi, just to say hello, as his bar wasn't officially open- him the missus and son were just tucking into their (late) lunch.  Our final stop off was at 'Café-Bar Neus' to see the couple who used to run the bar next door -- Inez and her hubby. Their son works there too now- scarily we remember him as a little lad running round with football -and has just returned from 18 months working in London. Interestingly he didn't speak English with us, he's still as timid as ever!
When we got back Tony hunkered down in bed for a quick siesta whilst I sat on the sofa for a while reading, then I too dozed off cuddled up to Cuddy and R2.
Thanks St Anthony, and Tony for a great day - now we've got to work all the way through to Carnaval next month!!

Cupboard love...

Well that's it -all the Christmas celebrations are at last over- Yesterday was Kings' Day -Twelfth night in the UK, but so much more celebrated here. We had dinner at Denise and Paolo's, who incidentally are off this week for a few days in Bologna (Italy).

As is our wont at this time of year, after all the excesses of the Festive period, is to have a 'cupboard menu' month. For the next couple of weeks I will not be seen in any of the local supermarkets. Our cupboards are well (Over?) stocked and its time we used up some of the things in there. Our plan is to make up our meals for whatever we can find in the cupboards, fridges and freezer. WE will of course  still be buying fresh veggies and the staples such as butter, milk and the such like, but otherwise we'll be inventing and testing our ingenuity in the kitchen. Last year we survived, well actually prospered for about five to six weeks, and still hadn't run out of stock. This 'cupboard cooking' also means that we will be using up all the goodies that we acquired over Christmas -Chocolate, biscuits, cakes and not buying any more till they're gone. As for what we're cooking up tonight, why not pop over to our sister-blog  http://grubnstuff.blogspot.com/ later and check it out. I've a few ideas but without checking the cupboards wont know what the ingredients will be until then.

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Yesterday we took on another post Christmas task and gave the garden a bit of a spruce up. Well after the gale force winds of the day before it needed a bit of tidying, and as I found the secateurs I trimmed back our bushes too. (fnaar, fnaar. just for you Nick!!). I don't like doing it too savagely as I worry about hurting and damaging the plants, but yesterday I went for it big-time. I know the plants will grow back, and already it's let a lot of light into the garden.

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Writing: Yesterday at dinner Paolo pointed out a couple of typos in 'The Magic'- How can this be possible- It was proofed at least 5 times by four different people, adn still we've missed some. No matter I've made anote of them and will be updating future editions of the book. So if you're reading it and find any more please let me knwo and I can add those into the next edition too. 

Likewise with anyone reading 'Winner'. 

And whilst I'm talking of writing I am currently in early stage planning to translate 'The Magic' into Spanish. It's likely that dear friend Victoria (also my Spanish Teacher) will be working with me on this interesting project.

I have to admit that writing hasn't been going on much this year so far.  I've written a couple of chapters, and am excited by how it's going but a little part of me is holding back worrying that it wont be as easy as last time. All this notwithstanding I shall be getting back into it in the near future, and will be pushing forward in my second novel, which WILL be published sometime before the summer!!

ART ETC

Now that's what I call graffiti! Over the Festive period a marquee is erected in the Sports centres grounds for various parties and concerts during the Christmas and New Year period. Each year the outside walls are 'painted' by local artists. Some of the graffiti that is on the sides isn't that good -the usual round of skulls etc, but this I thought was brilliant.  I hope the artist is encouraged to explore their talent and paint more than graffiti on the side of an impermanent structure.

Today here is another public holiday- Kings day - traditionally the day the three wise men/ kings delivered their presents to the baby Jesus. Here it's another opportunity to give and get presents- boy are Spanish kids spoilt! Yesterday I dropped in at one of the larger shopping centres on the way tothe airport to pick up Sue who was returning from the UK. The place was packed with panicking parents getting those last minute goodies for their kids for today. I was just filling my trolley with cat food and the such like!

NEW BLOG
As mentioned yesterday I have decided to set up a new 'foody' blog. It is now 'live' and has a couple of entries. take a look and drop me a comment. I want it to have more than entries from me so if you have any foody comments to add or recipes to share bung me an e-mail or add a comment on the site. I'm happy to open it up for other  contributors if you'd like to make regular contributions so here's the site: http://grubnstuff.blogspot.com

Christmas at Casa TulStig TWO

And so on to TODAY -BOXING DAY / ST STEPHEN'S DAY:

This morning we had a walk along the beach with the dogs. We normally do this on Christmas day, but as we were busy cooking we didn't mange it yesterday so treated Cuddy and Xali today. It was a lovely sunny morning and the dogs really enjoyed running mad on the sand, even making friends with a couple of other pups running about. Cuddy found the deepest part of the storm drain and jumped in. She was soaked and then got herself all covered in sand. So we had stop at one of the seafront cafés to have a coffee, before letting her back in the car.

For lunch we had a delicious cauliflower and blue cheese soup (cauli left over from yesterday). In a bit Tony's making bubble and squeak for dinner, after we've finished watching 'The Wizard of Oz' again. Yes I've been welling up- well Somewhere over the rainbow has been our song for so long now, and 'There's no place like home' -I know this and don't even need to click red slippers (which is just as well as I don't have any).

I/We have had a wonderful couple of days, and a most wonderful year. 
For Christmas I got some lovely gifts - my favourite -a Parker pen from Tony- he got it for me as he said all authors need a quality pen !