NEW PORCH

For sometime now we had discussed the possibility of building a porch on the kitchen side of the house. Not only would this be very practical, when dealing with the dogs after a muddy walk, but would also give us another dimension and perspective to that side of the house.

With the interest rate at a virtually all time low and due to the fact that Alvaro’s builders were between jobs and available to complete the work before the end of the month, we decided it would be a perfect time to go ahead with our plans.

Here are a small selection of photographs of the progress so far.

Day 4 - New porch is taking shape

Phase 1 completed....

Day 2 - The ready-mixed cement arrives

Paco (Master builder and our new friend)

Day 1 - The JCB has done an excellent job!

THREE KING'S DAY

On the 5th January Spain celebrates the end of Christmas with a great party where everybody gives and receives presents. It is to celebrate the arrival of the Three Wise Men - Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar to the city where Jesus was born. In the same way that the Three Wise Men gave gifts to baby Christ, here they share out presents amongst children all over Spain. In fact, the Three Kings are more popular than Santa Claus.

There are lots of processions of the Three Wise Men in each town and city throughout Spain, where the children go along with their parents to see the kings and receive sweets from them. The atmosphere is electric.

Here are a few photographs of the procession in Ronda, which started at 9pm from the railway station and finished at the bottom of the Calle de la Bola, nearby to the ancient bullring.

NEW YEARS EVE PARTY

May we take this opportunity of wishing all of our friends and family a Very Happy, Peaceful and Prosperous New Year…..

We saw 2008 out with a blast, but we will let our photographs tell the story…..

Too close for comfort......

Don't even go there!!

Ian's superb impersonation of Johnny Vegas!!!

Lin has just noticed the arrival of the male stripper.....

and his departure..........

Michelle Pfeiffer eat your heart out!!

We should have never taught Ed to text......

Our chauffeur......

My beautiful wife.....

Kathy, Barrie and Karen letting their hair down!!!

CHRISTMAS DAY

Host & Party Games Organiser

From left to right: Ian, Lin, Kathy, Karen, Ginny, Me, Alec, Mary, Ed, Marget & Udo

Christmas Eve - It was my eldest daughter Sophie’s 20th Birthday! My little baby has suddenly become a young woman! Where have all the years gone?

We also picked up our close friends Karen & Eddie, who are staying with us over Christmas, from Jerez Airport following their morning flight from Stansted.

Christmas Day - We were invited to join our newly found friends Ian and Kathy for Christmas Lunch at the Hotel Molino del Puente, located on the outskirts of Ronda. This Hotel is owned by an English couple, Elaine and Ian who have converted a derelict 18th Century Olive Oil and Flour Mill into a beautiful Country House Hotel. Website address: http://www.hotelmolinodelpuente.com/

We were a party of twelve, Ian and Kathy, their son Alex, Ian’s stepmother Mary, Nigel & Ginny Cobb, Udo and Marget (German friends of Ian & Kathy) and the four of us.

Nigel & Ian looking terribly gay!!

Upon arrival at the Hotel we were offered a champagne cocktail followed by the Christmas Day Lunch Menu as follows:-

Tomato and Coriander Soup
or
Roasted Red Pepper stuffed with minced lamb, served with mint yoghurt

Marinated Fresh Salmon

Roast Turkey with all the trimmings

Christmas Pudding and Mince Pies

Coffee & Chocolates

After lunch we all took part in a variety of party games organised by Ian and ‘all in all’ had a fantastic time and a very memorable day, as you can see from the photographs.

CHRISTMAS STREET DECORATIONS

Church Santa Maria la Mayor in the Plaza Duquesa de Parcent

A selection of photographs featuring the Christmas Street Decorations in the City Centre of Ronda this winter, which are quite spectacular......

The famous Rondeño restaurant 'Pedro Romero' opposite the bull ring on the Virgen de la Paz. The walls are covered with memorabilia from the bull fights and include photographs of Orson Wells and Ernest Hemingway, who were frequent diners there.

A VISIT TO GIBRALTAR

A view of Gibraltar from the Spanish mainland

One of the many tanker ships that can be seen on 'The Strait of Gibraltar' that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea.

Who would have ever thought that ‘Supermarket Shopping’ would be considered a treat, but that is exactly what it turned out to be for us last week!

With the pound collapsing against the euro, we decided we would take a trip down to Gibraltar and take the opportunity of stocking up on our groceries that we were able to pay for in sterling.

It took us about an hour and half to get there and being the week before Christmas it was fairly busy. We headed straight for the ‘Morrisons’ super store that is located just on the outskirts of the city centre!

Well, we were like two kids in a candy store!! It had been the first time we had shopped in an English supermarket for nearly 2 years and it was so exciting to be able to buy so many of our favourite items, which obviously we can’t buy locally. Sharwoods sauces, Ambrosia Custard, Carrs Water Biscuits, Soreen Plum Loaf and English Pork Sausages just to name a few………

When we arrived at the check-out with our huge trolley laden with goodies, we had spent much more than we had intended and when we were offered ‘cash-back’ it was all too much for us!!! Petrol and Diesel is also much cheaper in Gibraltar than on mainland Spain, so we took the opportunity of filling up our Discovery before heading home.

On the way back, we popped into to see Barrie and Jeanne (Lin’s brother and sister-in-law) at their apartment in Mirafloras, where they are staying over Christmas, so it was a perfect end to a perfect day……….

WINTER COMETH

The Sierra de Grazalema

The Sierra de Grazalema at sunrise


The 1st December and winter has arrived in Ronda with a dramatic drop in temperature and the first snowfalls of the year!


The stunning mountain range of Grazalema which is set in 52000 hectares of natural park and stands at 1654 metres above sea level

With winter approaching we decided to install two wood burning stoves! As you can see from the photographs, the installation wasn’t as easy as we first thought. We had to virtually demolish the entire fire breast to remove the open fire cassette, but the upheaval was all worthwhile as the new stove is working brilliantly. As it’s fully enclosed with two front opening doors, it allows us the opportunity of running it 24 hours a day, so the house is constantly heated!

Installation of new wood burning stove - November 2008

Original Fireplace - March 2006