Setas y Mercado

Had a busy few days - got confirmation that we can stand the market at Cangas de Onis every Sunday - demonstrating cane and rush seating) hope to sell a few on the side as well). Been to Palencia to collect a few chairs we had in storage at Rita's (Luis' Sister). Went mushroom hunting with Rita and found about 3 kilos of chanterelles and Marasmius....... eaten both and not dead yet!

We have had a few good walks - the Waterfall is along the Chestnut valley in Cabrales, a lovely lovely walks lined with ancient sweet chestnut trees. Garage still needs completion - door not up to standard so having that replaced. Busy collecting our own produce, lettuce, sugarsnap peas, spring onions, beetroot, carrots.........few visitors over the past couple of weeks, weather improving and the warmth returns. The house is filled with the aroma of our own sweet peas - a novelty here in Asturias.

Damp...

It has been a damp and overcast couple of weeks here in Toriello. Plenty of heavy downpours and impressive storms. The village fiesta took place last month and life here is picking up pace again as holiday makers arrive from all parts of Europe. There has been trouble in town since the regional elections......the long-serving Mayor (12 years) has lost his seat, giving way to the Socialist Party in coallition with the communist party. Some feel 12 years of conservative rule is long enough. With a possible conviction pending for planning irregularities, the ex-Mayor has resigned from the party.....

The garage/workshop is completed apart from some fine tuning to the door and a paint job. Lots of hard-landscaping to be getting on with and of course keeping up with the garden and vegetables.

Summer is on it's way

Summer is coming fast, the trees and shrubs are in full leaf and apple blossom, albeit later this year, is emerging. Ribadesella and the other resorts are sprucing up their act getting ready for the tourists and day trippers. A few visitors planned over the coming months. Thinking about a holiday later in the year. Weather mixed but generally pleasant and warm. Lots to do now the Garage/workshop is almost finshed - landscaping, building steps, pond, patio, drive, beds, ........bring shovel.

May Gardening Post....

Spending increasing amounts of time in the garden now with seedlings, young plants and general garden maintenance. Luis has been working hard ensuring our year round supply of vegetables and fruit. Wait for it...including: apples, pears, cherries, lettuce x 4 types, spring onion, onions (300), sugar snap peas, asparagus pea, aubergines, peppers x 2 types, beetroot, carrots, sweetcorn, potatoes, jerusalem artichokes, cauliflower, brocolli, pumpkin, courgettes, cucumbers, tomatoes and beans......PHEW.

The weather is slow to improve but never-the-less pleasant most of the time. The garage/workshop build is progressing well and we are looking forward to having the space.

Hope everyone is well....keep in touch.

One year in the life of.....

We cannot belive it is just one year since we were unpacking the van and beginning our new life here in Spain. It has been a good year with lots of visitors and many happy memories. The house is all we wished for and the area is brilliant......if you have been here you will know. Have been for few walks this last week with friends Geoff and Linda - staying with us for a couple of days. Weather great, garage and workshop build coming on well - vegetable beds producing nicely. No regrets.......

Happy Easter......

Happy Easter to all our family and friends. We have had a relaxing time walking, gardening, visiting friends and spring cleaning. Went to Ribadesella over the weekend to watch horse racing on the beach - why don't we do things like this in the UK? Luis has planted up the borders and I have re-done the pots. The garage is going up as you read this (unless you have insomnia), it is going to be huge but we will get used to it.........keep in touch x

Spring....

Had a busy time in the garden constructing a brushwood fence to enclose the composting area. The plan is to grow wild honeysuckle over it to encourage birds and insects. Mum and Dad just returned home after a nice week here in Asturias. Weather mixed. Seeds sown, orange tree planted. Spent a great evening with Vito, Tino, Luis, Tina et al bottling cider in a neighbour's (Tino's) Llagar.

Don't send easter eggs.......dieting, so eating Orejuelas instead.

Wet and Wild, Warm and Mild....

We have been on a short holiday walking in Limoges for a week. After staying overnight in Bordeaux, we drove north to a small village just outside Limoges in a small cottage owned by Simon and Zoe - fellow downsizers. The weather was wet and wild, cold and unpleasant, not the best for walking but never-the-less enjoyable. We visited Oradour-sur-Glane which if you do not know about please take the time to look it up on the internet - a sobering exprience.

Heading home we drove through Bergerac amongst the many vines and forests. Back for two days then off to Barrios de la Vega (Luis' home village) to visit family. Now back home and getting ready for spring, planting new fruit trees, catching mice in the shed (nibbled through my brand new chainsaw gloves!!!), sewing seeds and planting potatoes. Weather here warm and mild but a few showers and strong winds from time to time..........!hasta pronto!

New beginnings.....

Just to let you know that our own personal web pages are being undated so for the time being, our web address will direct you here. Also, whilst on line why not check out our new venture: www.conveyancing-asturias.com I would be interested to hear your views and comments on the new web site.

Weather here mixed - yesterday 26 degrees c - today, violent winds and torrential rain.......

Winter....?

Well what can I say.....? Winter is upon us and we are still having some great weather. Snow has settled on the mountains and there are terrific views of the Picos de Europa in the distance. Weather generally warm during the day (18 avg) and cool at night - some rain but mostly fine. We are busy in the garden as ever, planting shrubs, a pear tree, 3 peach trees and an avocado seedling (from our neighbour)- they grow well here. We continue to collect wood for the fire and have been given 3 old apple trees that we are gradually felling and cutting up for the stove. It is hard work as they are very mature trees and big to handle. Luis is still teaching english and we are in negotiations with a lawyer regarding some work he wants us to be involved with.....watch this space.

The Highs and Lows......

We hope you have had a great Christmas and New Year - We spent a lot of time walking and gathering over this festive period, collecting driftwood (burns well), winter lettuce (a great success) and Jerusalem Artichokes (lovely roasted). We have had great, but unseasonal weather with highs of 29 and lows of 1 - most days are warm enough for a light jacket with evenings cool enough for a nice log fire. Two deaths over Christmas in the Village - Santos an elderly man who berated us daily for growing things that we can't eat (we will miss him) and Sn Blanco - an experienced runner who collapsed and died during the Ribadesella road race on New Year's Eve. Spring lambs are already gambling in the fields, Eucalyptus is in full blossom and primroses are opushing through at great pace. Coming to UK for two weeks in January - Hope to catch up with one or two of you - until then, hope you have a happy and fulfilled 2007

Merry Christmas to all.....

This year has flown by. It does not seem long since we were moaning that the house sale was slow and we were wondering if it would ever go through. A very Merry Christmas to all and we wish you the best of health for 2007.
May your dreams come true.

Blow by blow........

The tides are high, the south westerly winds extremely strong. Several trees down locally, road signs bent and twisted, heavy rain falling with hailstones. Winter really setting in now - cool during the day and storms overnight. Went to see the buffones (blowholes) down on the cliffs near our house - very impressive (see pics). Christmas will soon be here - looking forward to visitors next week. Don't spend too much on us......

Chop Chop cried Luis........

It's that time of the year when you need a bit of a blaze in the evening. The daytime temperatures continue to reach 22-24 degrees but evening time it can dip as low as 9......So, we've been chopping a bit of wood. The surf is high at the moment and surfers from around the region gather in the sea, bobbing up and down in their wet suits waiting for the 'right' wave. Visitors come and go, the village had another fiesta for our Patron Saint Martin, cider production is in full swing and the winds are gathering momentum.

Busy month.....

We have had a busy month so far, not sure where the time goes. Luis has been at his sister's for a week and I kept busy gardening and re-building the wall at the bottom of the plot. Nights are cool but the daytime temperatures are still reaching low to mid 20s with bright sunshine and strong winds. I have started school........for english people wanting to learn spanish ......what can I say...not a lot really!

Luis has been approached by an antique dealer we know asking if he will teach him english..., a few chairs to re-cane and re-rush; also continuing to translate and interpret for an english couple who are trying to buy a house here. Photo taken this week on a walk near our house.

Did you know?

Missing us so much you need a picture.....? Did you know that you can click on any of the pics posted and get a larger picture to print out for your bedside table.......don't have nightmares.

more pics........

Wanted to bring the baby donkey home but Luis said we didn't have enough room in the freezer........

Update on cider and other edible gifts from nature

What a lot of apples we are going to process for cider.........hic

2000 bottles maybe this year - not us but a neighbour who kindly showed us the art of cider making in Toriello - blending the apples - to ensure the correct acidity, mincing them to ensure maximum juice, pressing them in a llagar and eventually fermentation and bottling. Wonderful stuff. Now just have to learn how to pour it......there are regional competitions in the art of cider pouring (it is flat cider and needs air putting in as you pour).

Another brilliant day was a funghi and mushroom hunt in Infiesto at the weekend. Teamed with a local expert we set off at 10.30am and trekked through open field and natural woodland searching for, identifying and collecting various obscure and not so obscure species of funghi and mushroom. We had a great time with our guide (Luis) and managed to get numerous specimens for consumption and for display at the local town hall. Since then Luis has ventured out locally and has managed to get his hand on loads.....if this is the last blog you know we didn't learn as much as we thought we did.....

Autumn draws in......

Continuing enjoying walks and discovering new paths and trails. The harvesting continues - with lots of hazelnuts and walnuts collected and drying. Chestnuts are next on the gathering list together with any edible mushrooms Luis comes across (god help us - so far the books have been more of a hinderance than a help). Apples are big buisness in this area and it will soon be the harvest time before cider production goes into full force. We have been invited to help a neighbour make cider with his own llagar (cider press). Last year he made 2000 bottles for his own consumption so we might end up having a good time!

Enjoyed visitors throughout September/October. Autumn has brought dark nights and some spectacular storms with impressive lightening and deafening thunder. Still enjoying periods of sunshine and warm, bright days. Keep in touch.

General update contd.....

Whoopee, ADSL connection at home.....what a treat. No more crawling to the receptionist in the cyber room in the hope that she allows you onto one of only two PCs that worked, or hoping that the one you were allocated had the correct resolution.......anyway, hopefully no more visits there then. Back home in Toriello and enjoying late summer with an abundant harvest and lots of jam making and pickling (over 80 jars), collecting hazlenuts and walnuts (over 4 kilos) and eating local fruit. Luis is working for a couple who are buying a house, acting as translator and interpreting when necessary, also has had two commissions to recane/rush chairs. We have had various visitors and had a really good time showing them our new life and surroundings, looking forward to more at the end of this month and at the beginning of October. As for my Spanish.....bien, what can I say......con tiempo. Here are a couple of photos that have been impossible to upload until now. Sue and the children on their recent visit and the local fiesta with the men from the village in traditional costume carrying the Ramu (bread) that will be auctioned to raise funds.

To the Director General

Further to our blog on attempts to have a phone line installed, Luis has now had a pole inserted and we have been wired. After all this time trying to negotiate connection with the staff at telefonica's call centre, we found a simple good old fashion letter of complaint to the director general of telefonica did the trick. Not to mention the full page spread in the regional newspaper of Luis pointing out the error of telefonicas business plan - to waste resources through inefficiency (and a picture!!!!). Well enough said...we are now connected, have phone and adsl pc connection.

We are both well and enjoying the harvest, looking forward to our next visitors and hearing from you all from time to time. Will be updating blog soon.

Wot no phone?

Send cards and letters: Well as you are all aware I am in England and poor old Luis is busy keeping the home veg growing. Did you know he has become a bit of a media star since writing to a regional paper complaining about telefonica. Full page spread, photos, quotes and celeb status. What it does mean of course is he is still on his own without a phone .........just a mobile. So if you do feel like dropping him a line ........please do, I am sure he would like to hear from you. I return early September.

Madness has descended

No it is not as you think...............Luis sat in the middle of his veggie patch repeatedly saying cabbages........catapillars..........bugs and squash the little bxxxxxxx..........Madness has descended on this sleepy little town of Ribadesella as everybody prepares for the 70th International descent of the River Sella. Over 5000 contestants, thousands of spectators along the route, roads blocked, fields full of campers and rubbish everywhere. The event is televised nationally and this year´s event is expected to be bigger and better than previous ones. I was going to enter but have decided to stage a canoe top protest instead. I have got a banner to stretch across the Sella from my canoe to Luis´coracle saying .............Telefonica es una basura. Other than that, we enjoyed a midnight 4 day Jazz festival, visited friends from Holmfirth in their home in Potes, got drunk with friends from the village and continue to enjoy the local area walks and nature. I will be home soon so maybe no messages for a while as Luis will be busy sat in his patch saying cabbages, catapillars...........and the rest.

Rare Sighting......

They do exist..........yes it is true we have seen a rare and wonderful sight.......a Telefonica engineer. He called yesterday and promised us that a line would be installed this week........apparently we need a pole but apart from that it is straight forward. We shall see. If they do not come he will need surgery to remove the pole.
Other news......the children´s descent of the Sella took place this week and in a few days time the disabled descent will take place. Gearing up for the mass descent on the 5th August (5000 plus).
We continue to cycle and walk exploring different coves and bits of countryside. Luis is fairly optimistic that we will have a cucumber by the end of the week. We ate marrow, susgar snap peas and mange tout this week. Tomatoes doing well. Home in August for a while see you all then.

Culture; Vulture

Descent into madness: Had a great week with summer arriving with full force. Luis is running around the garden with mange tout and cherry tomatoes trailing from his pockets. Sue, Ben, Sam and Lucy May have been over for a few days and we had a really great time - we all canoed the River Sella 12km, had a picnic on the bank and spotted lots of wildlife including a vultures and kingfishers. The water battle in the afternoon was great and of course Sue and I (being the fittest) won the race and the battle - although they will dispute this (bad losers). Lucy May turned a few heads amongst the spanish boys in town......... Luis and I have visited a couple of romanesque churches with beautiful carvings and architectural details. Luis tells me there are many more worth visiting.......whooppeee! I have just voted telephonica company of the year. Speak soon, keep in touch.