Afterthought-odds, sods and Christmas presents

(Tricia in some of Esther's Christmas presents. There were more pictures uploaded but they seem to have been lost in the ether! Next time, hopefully.)




So excited about getting a comment on our blog this morning (thanks Naomi)that we are posting again. Keep up the rest of you!

First, to increase the educational content of this blog, a note on La Roche-see previous post about the restaurant. This is a private urbanicazion between Chiclana and Conil, the next town down the coast.Like all urbanicaziones (including ours) house owners pay a community charge, in addition to the local town tax, that pays for general maintenance. In our case, we have a man who comes round and sweeps up pine needles, a machine that looks a bit like an ancient steam engine and that goes up and down the streets a few times each year puffing out smoke, which we think is meant to act as a sort of pesticide, and a summer party with bouncy castle, sweeties and a disco. In the case of La Roche, which is a much bigger urbanicazion we think the cost is probably higher, benefits greater and we believe (on the authority of our friend Clare) that there are RULES!!!! All the gardens are immaculate. All the houses are freshly painted. Very Stepford!

And now for a little language session! The Spanish tradition is for mum and the kids to live at the seaside or in the country during the summer and for dad to stay at home during the week-so much so that there is even a phrase in Spanish-estar de Rodriguez-to describe dad's solitary state (although, curiously, no equivalent for mum!). La Roche is the bolt hole for rich Madrilenos and Sevillanos who want to indulge in this lifestyle.

OK,OK,OK, we will go away and leave you alone now till next year.

Hasta luego, chicos (or ninos if you are in Sevilla)

Tricia and Mike