I wish everyone a very Happy and Prosperous New Year.
I thought I would share with you something I received from the Ayuntamiento de Sedella – our first seasons greetings card here in Sedella!
Fembat Unhinged
Journal · Scrapbook · Slippery Soapbox
The end of 2010 is nigh!
December 31, 2010 By
I find it hard to believe the end of another year is upon us. It seems such a short time ago I was not celebrating the start of this one. We had a quiet evening in our little apartment. In fact I think I may actually have gone to bed early. 2009 had not really been all that great although a slight improvement on 2008. 2010 on the other hand, whilst not brilliant, has been considerably better than 2009. I made progress this year in coming to terms with who I am, what I am doing and where, ultimately, I want to go.
By past record I believe 2011 may well be my year!
I was intending to look back and reflect on 2010 but I decided better of it. Instead I opt to simply say the following. At the close of 2010 I am living in a small mountain village somewhat akin to how I imagine heaven would be if I believed it actually existed. Its not perfect but it is as close to it as ever I have found. Its currently pouring with rain, seriously it sounds like someone has turned a giant tap on over the village. I have the light on in my study because it is so dark outside it is failing to give adequate illumination to the room to actually see my computer monitor. As I sit here contemplating what to write next I find myself to be, content, so I shall end it there.
Next year, in the words of Ronald Weasley, will be bloody brilliant.
Incidentally today I completed another life list ambition and the first piece is currently in progress. I have started drawing again.
A Postal Mystery
December 28, 2010 By
I waited in because I held out hope some of our presents may arrive today. They didn´t but I did not catch sight of our friendly local postman either.
One of the downsides of living in rural Spain is the postal service. I´ve read many horror stories over the course of the last few years and many tales of rooms in various communities where post belonging to expats is just heaped up and never delivered. I cannot personally vouch for these stories but, to be perfectly honest, it would not surprise me.
We have had no post (and therefore no presents) for ten days. There was only one bank holiday during that time.
¿Donde está mi correo?
29 December 2010
Postman turned up today and rang my doorbell. I had parcels and post. Not all the expected gifts have turned up as yet – two significant ones are still missing.
Strangely no news of either the hamper or the subsequent refund have as yet been received.
Dear Santa
December 26, 2010 By
Dear Santa,
It appears, from reading the blog of a fellow Sedella resident, that our postie did not turn up for at least two days before Christmas. His deliveries have been a bit hit and miss for the last fortnight with few deliveries to the village and, apparently, a very poor service to those who live in the campo. This explains why two presents sent through normal post some time ago, and expected to arrive around then, were not received.
Our presents from Amazon UK are also still missing. Since, rather unusually, they were sent without accurate tracking we have no idea where they are or when they will arrive. Amazon finally offered us a refund since they would not arrive under the Christmas guaranteed delivery they offered, but since it was two days before Christmas and the refund would not have been processed before what was the point in accepting it? We could hardly have gone out and purchased new gifts to replace the ones coming – we simply dont have the funds for that! Other than that all we have received is their empty apologies and automated responses. Rather ironically people who ordered after us received their gifts just fine.
Needless to say the underneath of our lovely tree was empty yesterday. We did have a lovely day with plenty of food (no thanks to the hamper which failed to arrive too).
I would be grateful if you could give AmazonUK and our local postman a little shove with your sleigh. Maybe get Rudolf to give them a kick up the arse. Also, can you please make sure they receive no gifts next year? They have been very naughty!
Thank you Santa, there is a mince pie and a nice glass of locally produced Moscatel in it if you do,
Love,
Eliza
Happy Holidays
December 25, 2010 By
Four years ago today I was posting from Morayshire in Scotland. Today I am posting from Málaga in Spain. It seems very little time has passed and yet so much has happened, so much has changed.
At the time I wrote the post four years ago I was deeply passionately in love with Scotland. Yet today, sat here at my desk in chilly Málaga, I am more content than I have ever been. I have loved Spain for so long. A passion which arose from mere holidays abroad became an obsession I could not let pass. Only a month after writing my Christmas message in Morayshire I was packing up and leaving for Spain – after very little planning.
It has been an eventful journey these past four years. Full of joy and heartbreak. I have had my share of loss and grief. I have made friends only to lose them a short while later in the most tragic of circumstances. I have made so many mistakes it hardly bares to think of them. I have regreted the move almost as much as I have celebrated it. But I am still here and I am still trying to make it work. I should be fluent in Spanish by now but I am not. Maybe it is my reserved nature which holds me back, something many mistake for shyness. I wish I could be more open but it is not in my nature. Once I know someone well I am open and find talking easy but, until then, I genuinely find it hard. A fear of rejection, an inability to recommend myself to others…If I am going to make a life here work, in a small village, I do need to make more of an effort to socialise, maybe make friends, and improve my Spanish!
I would like to wish my remaining visitors a Happy Holidays. I am not religious, quite the contrary, but I do appreciate a good reason to celebrate the end of another year with plenty of food, drink, family and friends.
Winter Sun in Sedella
December 24, 2010 By
It is showing the signs of being quite a lovely day here in currently sunny Sedella. Its still damn cold inside however! I am sitting here, wrapped in a blanket, holding out the hope (albeit slightly diminished) some gifts or the hamper will make it to us during the course of the day. If it doesnt I am resigned to making the best of tomorrow – after all Christmas isnt just about gifts, its about food as well!
We have food. Not quite the food we had planned to have, but we have it. For that I am grateful. I do not believe I will trust our entire Christmas to internet shopping in future. A lesson well learned!
Update 12:14
We have just heard from the man from whom we purchased our hamper. It is possible that some mishap has occured as it seems our hamper managed to be delivered before it was despatched. Perhaps a time travel mishap occured? Maybe there was a crack in the very fabric of time resulting in this strange occurance. Either way, we do not have said hamper!
But I did receive some wonderful goodies today – thank you Jon.
I am now planning my first sketch. I believe it may be the small shack I fondly dream of buying and turning into my wonky rural retreat!
Its Christmas!
December 23, 2010 By
I now know its Christmas because I have Roscon de Reyes filled with crema de trufa. Yum!
OK, so traditionally its not served until the night before or morning of “Reyes” or Epiphany, January 6th. I intend having this creamy delight now and purchasing another for the eve of January 5th – not only to partake in this delightful tradition but also to serve as my Birthday cake! This is soooo much better than cake, trust me!
Heaven on a mountain
December 23, 2010 By
A few days ago my Mum named Sedella “heaven on a mountain” and with very good reason. It truly is one of the most wonderful places.
People speak of its beauty in summer and magnificant as it is, I do not believe it is anywhere near as captivating as Sedella in winter. Sure, it gets pretty cold, wet and windy. The temperature difference between the coastline (only 30 minutes away by car) can be as much as 10 degrees. But in winter, especially after heavy rains, the surrounding mountainous countryside takes on a whole new level of beauty – dry river beds suddenly become raging torrents as the water comes down from the higher peaks, and waterfalls and streams erupt everywhere.
It is, quite literally, breath taking.
I ventured out into the cold and wet today in order to bring you some of these images but sadly I had neglected to take along my camera! I will however report back as soon as I manage to muster up the courage to step outside the door once more! Brrr!
Update 19:14
Heaven on a mountain has now become a whirling vortex of extremely strong winds. They are howling around our little house and we have been plummeted into darkness several times in the last hour. The very fabric of the building seems to be shaking! Its both awesome and nerve racking in equal measure. The first time the electric went off we had to do a mad dash around the house in search of candles. It is only when plummeted into pitch black do you realise just how many obstacles there are in your path – I am expecting many calf/ankle high bruises in the morning. We found one candle warranting me to dash the ten steps out of the door to our little local store (of the open all hours except siesta but including sunday and bank holidays variety – a godsend!). She laughed when I marched into her own candle lit interior and went straight for candles. But, with so many treasures on hand, I also found myself leaving with a bottle of the locally produced wine – €3.80 and sold in an old plastic water bottle. It is divine!
The Best Laid Plans…
December 20, 2010 By
For the first time in years our Christmas was well planned in advance. Sadly it was a little too reliant on internet orders coming from the UK. The adverse weather there means that most of our Christmas gifts and supplies will not arrive until after Christmas.
Orders from amazon – some of which were despatched at the beginning of the month have not changed their status and are no closer to us. An order we were assured during the order process would arrive before Christmas now wont arrive until December 30th. Amazon never gave us the option to cancel which seems a little bit of a shame, especially knowing the problems we have had with both them and their choice of courier here in Spain (MRW)
Bits and pieces from other places have not been despatched until the last minute and, as such, they wont arrive either.
Just our luck.
A little disapointed.
The Olive Branch, La Viñuela
December 19, 2010 By
Visited La Viñuela yesterday, a beautiful reservoir about 30 minutes from our home. We parked up and admired the view and the olives! Its harvesting time here at the moment.
After a brief interlude in Málaga where we collected a hire car we proceeded to get lost on the way back home and, we believe, took a 80 kilometre detour. Still, the views of the mountains and lake were lovely!