I'm off to Calahonda a little later for a barbie. Our phonecalls are working well, I'm findng it easier with each one, getting used to her accent on the phone and, no doubt, her with mine. Funnily enough I'm finding that I am thinking faster and thinking in Spanish which makes it all the more easy. I still make loads of mistakes though (and probably always will) but who cares, we understand each other sufficiently to successfully organise things between us. Thinking back to that evening on the train with David, when we all went out for meal in Fuengirola and I had been told to ring her from Los Boliches, the bad nerves I had over that little call have disappeared completely. Mind you Katy is not in the background egging Lary on to tease me over my Spanish this time.
She may not be in when I get there (shopping) but Viktor is there to open the door for me (I was wrong to suppose that his holiday would've ended in July it seems.) So, more talk of a Restaurant and The Crimea no doubt over volumes of wine. It might be a long night again!
Wednesday, 27 August 2008
Tuesday, 26 August 2008
Esperando
On Sunday evening I was twiddling my fingers in an empty bar and decided to delete my inbox/outbox on my mobile phone. Immediately I started doing that 2 SMSs came in, one from Larisa and one from Aaron. Larisa's had been sent 30 hours previously on Saturday and Aaron's had also been sent on Saturday. Now I'm wondering if the phone's memory had been too full to receive anymore, although, normally, it will flash-up a message to that effect. Not to worry, Larisa followed up with the phonecall on Sunday afternoon and Aaron had already done what his said he was going to do and sent me an email with his visit dates detailed. Having suggested to Lary that we ought to start talking on the phone I have seen fit to take the bull by the horns and have just called her myself to see if we can meet tomorrow. So, plans are afoot, nothing concrete yet, I'm waiting on a call back from her. But at least I did it, spoke on the phone for once, in spanish and I think that she was more nervous than I was with the spanish language on the blower. It's not easy as I keep telling you. Now I hope that I can look forward to more of my handwritten little ditty waking up my mobile's screen.
Last night was so quiet in the bar that I was able to prep it for today before I locked up for the night so today I don't have to worry about going "in" before opening time. Which means that I have to find something else to do.........where's the kitchen.......
OK. Here's a silly take on scrambled egg. Done because I've time on my hands and I'm all a'dither waiting for Larisa to call back. Life's good, well almost...I still can't get any of my money out of the bank. Anyway.....,
Fun Egg on Toast
A year ago last April (as you know of course) I visited Austen at his caravan in The Cotswolds and very nice it was too. Actually hotter there at the time than it was here; there's Global Warming for'ya!! While I was over there I decided to buy some "egg rings" to use with my plancha, and I did. 6 of 'em. 2 star shaped, 2 rings wiv 'andles and 2 rings, non stick, frying eggs for the use of. The star shape... err, no. Rings wiv 'andles? In regular use, I like them! But the nonstick are the subject of this little exercise, never used before but deep enough to contain
a dose of "scrambled" egg as the photos show so here goes, but let's get the photos imported first.....
INGREDIENTS
2 Eggs
Salt & Pepper
Fresh Parsley
Spanish smoked Paprika
2 slices of Bread
METHOD
Using a ring, cut the crusts off the bread slices to produce a nice, round, shape.
Beat the eggs together with a pinch of salt, some pepper, some paprika and some freshly chopped parsley.
Fry/toast the bread. Pour the egg mixture into the rings and stir as they set until the rings can be removed and the "pancakes" turned over to brown the other side. Turn out onto the toast and serve. As you can see, I also served a burger and a fried tomato.
Last night was so quiet in the bar that I was able to prep it for today before I locked up for the night so today I don't have to worry about going "in" before opening time. Which means that I have to find something else to do.........where's the kitchen.......
OK. Here's a silly take on scrambled egg. Done because I've time on my hands and I'm all a'dither waiting for Larisa to call back. Life's good, well almost...I still can't get any of my money out of the bank. Anyway.....,
Fun Egg on Toast
A year ago last April (as you know of course) I visited Austen at his caravan in The Cotswolds and very nice it was too. Actually hotter there at the time than it was here; there's Global Warming for'ya!! While I was over there I decided to buy some "egg rings" to use with my plancha, and I did. 6 of 'em. 2 star shaped, 2 rings wiv 'andles and 2 rings, non stick, frying eggs for the use of. The star shape... err, no. Rings wiv 'andles? In regular use, I like them! But the nonstick are the subject of this little exercise, never used before but deep enough to contain
a dose of "scrambled" egg as the photos show so here goes, but let's get the photos imported first.....INGREDIENTS
2 Eggs
Salt & Pepper
Fresh Parsley
Spanish smoked Paprika
2 slices of Bread
METHOD
Using a ring, cut the crusts off the bread slices to produce a nice, round, shape.
Beat the eggs together with a pinch of salt, some pepper, some paprika and some freshly chopped parsley.
Fry/toast the bread. Pour the egg mixture into the rings and stir as they set until the rings can be removed and the "pancakes" turned over to brown the other side. Turn out onto the toast and serve. As you can see, I also served a burger and a fried tomato.
Sunday, 24 August 2008
Holiday Time
I've just had an email from Aaron to tell that he is coming for 4 days at the end of November. He tells me to "scrub up well" 'cos he's bringing a friend! Well, he'd better "brush up" on his Spanish because if I can get Larisa to join us on a few sorties here and there...........
Sweet Music
Many moons ago when I bought my mobile phone I discovered amongst its menus a compose function that allowed me to write my own ringtone. I played with it for a little while and assigned the result to a certain young lady's number. It has only ever rung once until today and even not having heard it for ages (that first time was over my confusion about her coming to see me here when I went up to the bus stop and waited in vain, having already been told that she was going to be late, remember?) I recognised it immediately. She has been sending texts which I have not received and today she resorted to a voice call to invite me over today, but I had to tell her that it was too late today (I have to work later), and that Wednesdays are always better for me. Actually I was working in the bar, when her call came through, doing the stock count. Our last contact was on 22 July when she invited me over for the evening etc., but I could only go in the afternoon due to having to be back for work at 7pm to continue showing Teresa the ropes. That proved inconvenient for Lary so she responded by putting it off until another day. And I (supposedly) haven't heard from her since. Now we are sorted. I've just sent a txt to tell her that in future we should use voice and I'll just have to cope without the body language assistance, and, hopefully, this coming Wednesday, we can get together once more. It's a shame, though, missing her previous messages because I didn't get the chance to say goodbye to Katy or Viktor when they returned to Russia, I presume, at the end of July. Anyway, I'll chase her up on Tuesday to see what can be arranged, my day off is always good in Calahonda.
Saturday, 23 August 2008
Its Happened Again
My website at www.sierracazorla.net is down again. The alternate site is up and running in lieu and I think that I'm going to keep it as is from now on because, having tidied up a few glitches with it, I won't be able to tell the difference. Click the link in the side-panel here an reset any bookmark that you have.
Quite cloudy today and, dare I say it, there is a "feel" in the air that some rain is imminent although the forecast is that the cloud will clear later.
Quite cloudy today and, dare I say it, there is a "feel" in the air that some rain is imminent although the forecast is that the cloud will clear later.
Wednesday, 20 August 2008
Lazing Around
Yesterday I took this computer into the bar to show Favio a spreadsheet that I have setup dealing with the Bar Stocks (well, those that I am responsible for). He was impressed enough to tell me that he would like a copy of each week's stockcheck emailed to him. Good as done as they say. And there is the reason why the WebCams were down yesterday...everything was disconnected. Sorry 'bout that!
Today, of course, is my rest day and I'm taking it easy with a few Tinto Veranos (50/50 Red Wine & Lemonade over Ice in a Highball tumbler, although I'm actually using a bitter lemon instead of lemonade) while sorting the Soup cauldron out and thinking about my evening meal. Chicken and Parsley risotto is what I have in mind using the meat pickings after straining the stock. Waste not, want not.
Late last night Hilde came into the bar with a couple of friends. I haven't seen her for a while (to talk to) but she came behind the bar and asked me to dance with her to the background music. Whilst we were doing so Emilio (who was showing off his sooper-dooper Digital SLR camera to all and sundry) took a dozen or more photos of us and, hopefully, I will be able to post a shot or two here soon, having asked him to email me them. Over the course of time hundreds of photos have been taken of me in the bar and I always ask that they be sent to me but, as yet, nobody has ever obliged. But Emilio is a neighbour, not a tourist/visitor, so he won't get off so lightly. Talking of visitors, the first of the Autumn regulars have arrived (Christy & Margaret from Ireland, immediate neighbours of mine you will remember) and I am now the proud owner of a Clonakilty White Pudding, safely stashed in the fridge. Spread on toast, apparantly, it is supposed to very nice.
I was wrong about my Bank Account; I still cannot access my salary. So, tomorrow I'm going back to the accountant to elicit more help from him in clearing the problem. They say that the average day-to-day vocabulary is just 500 words so I'm hoping that I wont need 501 because he doesn't speak any English.
Sun's down, griddle is warming, time to risotto. BTW Cristina came to see me last night to tell me about all that she has had done in the studio below, especially emphasising "the new kitchen including hot water"! I think that she thinks that I like to cook. I must tea-smoke some more salmon and then invite her up to discuss rent levels.
Today, of course, is my rest day and I'm taking it easy with a few Tinto Veranos (50/50 Red Wine & Lemonade over Ice in a Highball tumbler, although I'm actually using a bitter lemon instead of lemonade) while sorting the Soup cauldron out and thinking about my evening meal. Chicken and Parsley risotto is what I have in mind using the meat pickings after straining the stock. Waste not, want not.
Late last night Hilde came into the bar with a couple of friends. I haven't seen her for a while (to talk to) but she came behind the bar and asked me to dance with her to the background music. Whilst we were doing so Emilio (who was showing off his sooper-dooper Digital SLR camera to all and sundry) took a dozen or more photos of us and, hopefully, I will be able to post a shot or two here soon, having asked him to email me them. Over the course of time hundreds of photos have been taken of me in the bar and I always ask that they be sent to me but, as yet, nobody has ever obliged. But Emilio is a neighbour, not a tourist/visitor, so he won't get off so lightly. Talking of visitors, the first of the Autumn regulars have arrived (Christy & Margaret from Ireland, immediate neighbours of mine you will remember) and I am now the proud owner of a Clonakilty White Pudding, safely stashed in the fridge. Spread on toast, apparantly, it is supposed to very nice.
I was wrong about my Bank Account; I still cannot access my salary. So, tomorrow I'm going back to the accountant to elicit more help from him in clearing the problem. They say that the average day-to-day vocabulary is just 500 words so I'm hoping that I wont need 501 because he doesn't speak any English.
Sun's down, griddle is warming, time to risotto. BTW Cristina came to see me last night to tell me about all that she has had done in the studio below, especially emphasising "the new kitchen including hot water"! I think that she thinks that I like to cook. I must tea-smoke some more salmon and then invite her up to discuss rent levels.
Monday, 18 August 2008
Strange Conversation
Yesterday, just after I'd opened the proprietor of the German cafe just up the road called in for a drink, which in itself was strange...the cafe sports its own bar! Anyway, he started talking about things to do with his business and I now know that he has bought the little bar next door (Antonio's as it is known) with the intention of turning it into a seafood restaurant. I also now know how much his staff earn and how many more will be required for the future (he expects to open his new venture next year.) We have never, ever, spoken before; Larisa took a job there just after I moved into this apartment but she didn't like the conditions and left after 8 days or so but while she was there I patronised it, just for her company, and he and I never more than nodded in recognition of each other. But now, all of a sudden, I'm party to info that is really none of my business. Strange.
Last night turned out to be quite good with a late dash for the post so to speak. Teresa and I eventually closed up at around 4am having hosted quite a nice little party including a visit from a Laplander which, for me, was a first in terms of nationalities encountered. A huge guy who, at first sight, seemed to be a little strange but after his second pint he "came round", warmed up to us and proved to be quite pleasant. Hopefully we will see him again during his stay.
Today is changeover day in another sense.....this week's carcass is in the stockpot, boiling, and a fresh Bird is in the oven but if Cristina turns the electrics off........
Last night turned out to be quite good with a late dash for the post so to speak. Teresa and I eventually closed up at around 4am having hosted quite a nice little party including a visit from a Laplander which, for me, was a first in terms of nationalities encountered. A huge guy who, at first sight, seemed to be a little strange but after his second pint he "came round", warmed up to us and proved to be quite pleasant. Hopefully we will see him again during his stay.
Today is changeover day in another sense.....this week's carcass is in the stockpot, boiling, and a fresh Bird is in the oven but if Cristina turns the electrics off........
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