Bedrock

Another fine day yesterday. I spent much of the morning setting up my new 5” LCD for the Raspberry Pi (successfully) and then we headed off to the pool for a swim before our trip to Baza for paint and a rather fine Pizza at Venecia Restaurant Pizzeria (Calle de la Puerta de Lorca, 26, 18800 Baza).

Hardly a soul in the pool and despite the water being quite cool, with 30c outside the whole thing just worked.

We spent maybe an hour in the pool before heading off to Baza as I needed some fasteners for the extension to the watering system here at Bedrock – Maureen has been putting up a heightened extension near the steps to keep out intruders and improve that corner – so we’ll soon have cactus up there – which means more piping for watering. The large Chinese store in Baza had the bits I needed. After that we ending up in the restaurant around teatime.

The pool at Orce is different to most of them in that it is full of fish – mostly they mind their own business and certainly are harmless – indeed, rather relaxing to watch.

Today I’ll finish off the watering setup and Maureen can hopefully get some soil and plants in there.

Last year we starting mid-afternoon (as I recall) visiting various wine production facilities in and around Galera, tasting the wines and learning about wine production in the area – a very ancient tradition.

This year started somewhat later. On Thursday June 16, 2016 we started off at 5pm in the middle of the village – stopping at 2 facilities in the village before heading off out of town and then coming back on to our final stop as we learned all about local produce.

When I say “we” – seven of us walked down to the village together and met up with others, some of whom we’d not spent time with before, in the town square –  maybe 20 or more people in total – a very friendly bunch.

The atmosphere throughout the night was good and for the most part, the wine was good – though I’m not a great RED drinker.  The award-winning sparkling white wine, of course, was excellent.  I should stress this is LOCAL stuff made in and around the village and some of it is world class.

We started off in the local museum as we learned how wine has most likely been in production in the area for up to 4,000 years before moving on to actual wine production facilities. In the basements we saw both ancient and modern wine production equipment – as you can imagine much of it is made in stainless tanks today at surprisingly cool temperatures.

On the way we tasted red, white, rose and sparkling wines from the area as well as a decent set of tapas – all for 18 euros a head.

At the end of all of this, some of us ended up in the local bar (La Posa) until the early hours of the morning and so yesterday was a very quiet day…

Suitably added to the June 2016 Flickr album.

This weekend, Maureen and I went on a mini-adventure down to the coast, starting in Galera and heading west towards Puerto Lumbreras before dropping down through Huercal-Overa, Vera and eventually down to the coast. Throughout the trip the temperature rarely dropped below 26c and was excellent with clear blue skies.

We stopped overnight and for dinner in Nijar, specifically at Casa Rural Cortijo La Alberca way up outside of the north end of town. Nijar is great – lots of decent shops and a great atmosphere.

The hotel itself we could hardly fault, from the friendly service to fantastic views and a marvellous pool. We made a point of getting a good look at the coast down there including Aqua Amarga, Las Negras, La Isleta Del Moro and other places on Saturday.

On Sunday we headed off to San Jose, calling in at San Miquel de Cabo de Gata and other small areas before heading off to Almeria before starting the trip home up the far less eventful A92 toward Guadix an then onto Baza and home.

On the way back we say the largest solar installation of it’s kind just outside of Guadix, providing power to up to 200,000 people.  The Andasol Solar Power Installation – https://www.rwe.com/web/cms/mediablob/en/1115150/data/0/1/Further-information-about-Andasol.pdf

Click on any photo for larger versions.

Here is the complete photo album – https://www.flickr.com/photos/scargill/sets/72157669397549575

Very quiet here in our corner of Galera – lovely in fact, haven’t heard a dog bark all day. This morning we went off first thing to see Mrs Sanchez the dentist in Huescar. Very pleasant, the surgery was modern and efficient looking – the service was great considering they generally don’t speak English and I generally don’t speak Spanish. Left there complete with sparkly new smooth filling and headed off to the Huescar market for usual supplies (oranges), a new glue gun and some coffee.

I’ve spent the afternoon working on my timing software, a little glitch somewhere was causing lights to come on at 2am in the morning – hopefully that’s now history. Maureen’s foot is still a bit sore so I have a lonesome trip to the pub coming up – mind you – it’s Thursday so there’s no chance I’ll be on my own for long.

And that really is about it – the weather was cracking – maybe 29-30c at it’s peak – mid-evening it is still very warm, just the job for a walk down the hill.

Tomorrow we have a friend coming over later on and I have to hang around for a delivery but the hope is at the weekend we can get some tourist travel over on the east coast. All down to weather and aching feet.

Wednesday morning, somewhat after the post-lady successfully delivered post as she always does, Fedex van arrived to deliver a parcel of components from SEEED Studio for me – as Fedex always do – after all, that’s what these people do, right?

Sadly I have to add another company to the list of clowns (DRP and MRW) who seem unable to do their job ). DPD. You’ll have seen their ads, big international company. Well, it seems on Friday they attempted to deliver a parcel for me (for which I paid several Euros postage) and failed. They were given my number by the supplier but never attempted to contact me. I looked up the tracking number and it was to be delivered today. But no, this morning the tracking number had changed to tomorrow. No calls, no emails, no apologies.

I tried to contact the company who make it as difficult as possible to contact them – no response – and so eventually I went to their social media, determined to cause havoc if necessary. A very helpful chap responded in English and asked me for the tracking number. I gave it to him and he could not find it – he suggested I ring the Spanish people. I did and they checked the tracking number – they could not find it and suggested I ring the local Granada number. I did that and the lady found the tracking number no problem and that’s when I found out they attempted delivery last Friday.

She told me they’ll deliver THIS Friday. I complained that the tracking service promised Wednesday (after being several days late anyway) then Thursday. This had no effect on her whatsoever. She said her partner would deliver Friday – that says to me that this whole thing has been handed down to a 2-person operation. All that organisational power reduced to nothing at the end.  I was expected to wait in Wednesday, then Thursday – and now Friday – their tracking system is not worth a LIGHT.

Friday June 3 2016 update: Not looking good – I just had a message from the DPS in the Netherlands – it turns out they have a “partner” organisation in Spain (read that as “they palm it off to someone else”) – a company I’ve so far managed to avoid – SEUR. I heard lots of stories about them when we first came here – having immense difficulty delivering anywhere but the local bar! By mid-afternoon the parcel (which started in the van at 10am this morning) had still not arrived. As it happens Maureen was shopping in town later in the afternoon and spotted the van and grabbed the parcel. Had she not done that – I would not have the goods.

Tuesday June 7 2016 update: Today Maureen was expecting a parcel – the tracking note said 6pm to 7pm – guess who got the job of delivering it – SEUR – guess what happened – it did not arrive. It would not surprise me if it’s in the pub!

Friday August 12 2016 Update: Of course it was in the pub and SEUR continue this tradition, despite writing to them several times with at least some form of response. The last package they wanted to deliver to Spanish Inland Properties between 9:30 and 10:30pm. Now bear in mind that Seur just have a very small office, I write in English and Spanish to tell them that no way would Spanish Inland actually be open at that time of night – and NOT to deliver to the pub. Guess where they delivered the package – to the pub.

Wednesday September 13 2017 Update:  For over a year I’ve managed to avoid SEUR – and have been happily receiving packages from various companies and from all over the world – delivered directly here without problem almost on a daily basis – not left in the pub or sent to the wrong town – delivered HERE.  Last week having had issues with a Chinese company wanting me to send credit card detail confirmation via email, I placed an order with Amazon – for guaranteed delivery on Monday gone.  Well, the package didn’t turn up and guess who they have doing the delivery – SEUR.  Next thing we received a communication from Seur to say that the parcel would be delivered between 8pm and 9pm on Tuesday (yesterday). We sat in the pergola enjoying the fine weather (thankfully we didn’t have plans for that period, we often do). Nothing. We were in all night… nothing. Today they sent an email to say the goods could not be delivered last night (no reason given) but would be delivererd today (without a time given).

This company have to be the lousiest excuse for a delivery company on the PLANET. I wonder if today will follow in the tradition of this blog title?

Today was a learning exercise.  Maureen has had issues with her foot for a few days and it’s been getting “extremely” painful.

At first we thought she might have broken something but by yesterday it was looking for all the world like gout.

So – we asked a local translator to go with us to the hospital in Huescar – emergency department. 9:30am this morning we met her there.

Everyone was helpful and friendly but they weren’t having the emergency bit because she was not in the system – something I found incredibly unhelpful at first until I realised what they were doing.

They filled her details into the computer and gave us a sheet of paper with an appointment at the doctor in Galera. At this point I was getting really worried – surely an appointment might take a long time? But no – the translator told us all would be ok as she was now “in the system”. We drove straight from Huescar back to our village and into the doctor’s office. No receptionist, no paperwork – the computer appointment was already in their system – all we had to do was sit and wait. Less than 15 minutes later we went into the doctor’s office complete with translator. The doctor asked all the right questions and I heard the Spanish word for gout!  Our assumptions it seems were correct though we’ll find out in 2 weeks for sure when the tests come back.

Next thing we’re back out in the corridor for another short wait before going into another office – I stayed in the hall to hear within seconds a loud yell from Maureen as the anti-inflammatory injection went into her bum. Out she came armed with a prescription.  Off we went to the chemists in the village for the prescription drug. You ready for this… TWO EUROS!  While sitting in the square drinking coffee I noted that this drug is banned in the UK and US and no-one can understand why as they all find it very effective – over here it is as common as Aspirin.

Anyway to cut a long story short, 2 hours later she’s talking to her sister on the phone in fine spirits, telling her how much better she feels after telling me twice the swelling is going down and the pain is subsiding – sounds like a good drug to me.

All-in time – a couple of hours in the morning – all-in costs – 2 Euros for the drugs, 20 Euros for the translator – who used up the better part of her morning on this and was exceedingly helpful, efficient and friendly. This was FAR less traumatic than we could have imagined – partly because everyone, despite the language barrier, was so helpful – and now she’s in the system – handy for the future – now for the struggle of getting a copy of our medical records out of the British quagmire of a medical system. 

On Wednesday I’m off to the dentist (who speaks a little English) to get my filling fixed and I’m already feeling more relaxed about the whole thing. This will be pay-now, claim-back later unlike the doctor’s visit – but as this lady does a full clean for 30 euros – I’m not expecting a filling repair to break the bank.

While Maureen is on the phone, there are a few clouds forming (weather predictions were MILES out though it is still warm), I’ve used the new ant powder on the driveway – seems to be slaughering ants quiet well – and I’ve just solved another software control problem that’s been plaguing me for days… all is well in Galera.