Bedrock

Archive for the ‘Galera’ Category

What a cracking day yesterday in Huescar and at the Orce pool -  and at the end of it the usual culprits met in the Galera Hotel for drinks as is customary on a Thursday night.

After a day that saw temperatures as high as 36c, the evening was marvellous as you’ll see from the night shot. Clear skies and easily warm enough to sit outside past midnight.

And so it was that some of us ended up at La Posa restaurant and bar and after some excruciating singing from some of the guys, Simon and I ended up agreeing to a charity shave – except the charity bit never took off, probably due to alcohol. We did try to enlist others but with Simon bursting out into singing mode every now and then I think people were too busy laughing to take anything we said seriously.

I’m writing this first thing and I’ve just posted the pic on Facebook to ensure that Simon holds to his end of the bargain.  I’ve had the beard and moustache ever since someone pointed out to me that I bore a slight resemblance to the crook in the excellent 2011 “TinTin” movie from which point on I made sure the beard exactly matched the cartoon character!

But that is all history now, for a few days at least, it’s back to basics! My right ribs are aching again this morning -  no doubt from lifting stuff I should not – and up to now It looks like I’m the only one up and about.

Been catching up with emails and now the sun is up, a spot of breakfast in the Pergola before checking out Huelva for our short trip next week.

(That’s No More Nails in case you were wondering). Popped down to the Galera market (every Wednesday) today for coffee and after a little work on lighting, I’ve just put a cloths tube into the cupboard upstairs for Maureen. Can’t do much with that now until the glue sets so I can see a trip to Orce pool coming on.

Despite the spectacular weather yesterday, there was a mist coming in last night and I noted some condensation on the hub-tub this morning – whether it was a one-off or a sign of things to come we’ll soon know but right now it’s 33c out there and clear skies so we’re going to make the best of it.

We’re on our second day in Spain and the weather is wonderful – as yet not too hot and crystal clear skies.

We arrived last night and had a couple of drinks Before heading off to bed.

Today, well we didn’t do much really, I didn’t surface until 11am and got on with ensuring my remote controls were working (updating software to new mesh code I’ve been playing with at home and installed both at the house and the cottage) – as well as finding a leak in the watering system for the plants and fixing up some solar lights.

We were planning nothing for the night when our neighbours dropped in early evening to say we’re going out! So we all went off to Orce and had a nice, quiet meal and drink – very pleasant.

Tomorrow we’re off in a 2-car convoy to Albox where we will find a garden centre, a supermarket, a general hardware store and one of the largest Chinese shops in the area – all in all everything you need for a good shopping day out.

I need some shelving, we need a TV cabinet and a whole boatload of supplies. Shops close at 2pm so we’re making an early start.

Click on images to expand.

Having open fires is not something you’d do in Spain in the summer – and in fact some forms of BBQ are banned from June 1st to save burning the whole place down!

And so it was we set off around the back of Sagra near Pueblo De Don Fadrique for a BBQ – it’s around 26c in the shade and has been most of the day and deep in the woods is a cracking area for BBQs complete with stone tables and chairs – as it happens our small group were the only ones around so we had the whole place to ourselves, including a very picturesque nearby church. I’m writing this around teatime having spent the whole afternoon down there, around 12 of us.

As pictures in these situations are more important than words, I’ll let the pictures do the job. Click on any smaller ones to enlarge.

The afternoon ended with a visit by a herd of goats – which was fun!

Arrived here in Galera last weekend just for a short trip. Everyone here has been really nice.  We’ve not really done a lot this week but relax and in my case a little work. The weather has been superb for the time of year with the sun out every day though now you can tell the time of year as it’s starting to get chilly at night – maybe down to 10c or so overnight.

The first night we got here (late), friends Karen and Dave were on their last day of their trip and kindly put some tapas together for us so we had a great first night up at their place. Since then we’ve discovered a little kitten I call Manuel who is unique among the many cats out here in that he’s not yet zombified (feral). Most of them have no intention of being friendly – all they want is food. Manuel is the exact opposite and is far more interested in being cuddled. 

I’m hoping someone here will find a home for him before the cold weather or the nasty habits of the other cats kicks in. If you’re in the area and you see him – please think about taking him on – really friendly little fellow.

Other than popping in to see friends, the usual trips to Huescar and surrounding area but generally just relaxing this time – there are a couple of repairs to do around the place but they will wait. I have a bunch of meetings I really have to attend in the next few days but depending on the weather and flights I could be back again any time – outside of school holidays the flights can be dirt cheap.

Popped down to the lake today with our good Friends Aidan and Helen – today was their last day here and they’re off very first thing in the morning. It rained this evening but we’re hoping the weather will pick up tomorrow so Maureen and I can get back to the lake tomorrow – missed a trip to the Chinese store today as we were too late getting out of the water. 

We found a new place to go on lake Negratin today – just being built but already usable – no-one there but 3 kids one of which was female and somewhat deranged as she never shut up all the time we were there –often screaming for no apparent reason even though the boys were elsewhere – at one point I developed a serious fantasy about throwing a grenade in her direction – but I let it pass mainly as I don’t keep grenades handy, Thanks to Brian and others here in Galera for that information – very pleasant and there’s a nice floating barge to swim to.

I need a plastic sleeve to protect my external temperature sensor here hence the need to visit the Chinese store in Baza tomorrow. Tonight for the first time, my light up time and dawn timing software is working as part of the remote control system I’m putting together for the cave – inside solar lights are still on while the outside lights are due to turn off in a few minutes. Spent a little time with Aidan at teatime researching cricket generation software and we have a little chip making a fine impersonation of a little cricket – something to take home – the idea being to make it solar powered so the sound comes on at night without needing wires etc.

It’s approaching midnight and I’m shot – time to give up – just waiting for midnight to ensure my lighting is working as it should be – tomorrow, as they say, is another day – hopefully a beautifully hot and sunny one.