Well, Here it is

As usual, my day off dawned very wet and very bleak, putting the dampers on my mounting excitement about the day's pending activity...going to see Larisa in order to introduce you two to each other. An early trip to the shops was first on the agenda which bagged some packets of Bomba rice and stuff to finish off the list of ingredients for a sangria followed by an ironing session to try and dry the wet trousers brought in out of the rain earlier. I was worried about driving a strange car (and an automatic to boot), in the rain, all the way to Calahonda but after realizing that my left foot was not required I was soon relatively comfortable poodling along in the inside lane through Torremolinos Centro, then Benalmádena and Fuengirola on the Coast Road, eventually arriving at Lary's open front door rather later than she wanted. Prawns, Baby Squid, Chorizo and Sardines, all cooked on my plancha, started us off and, much to my amazement, you found even the squid tentacles delicious! The sangria, my sangria, wasn't bad either it seems because two jugs (two small jugs, pressed into service quickly because of the disaster with the proper one) disappeared between the three of us. Later, after an hour or so's respite, back into the kitchen we all went where you witnessed one of our "committee jobs" take shape....a paella, and the fun we have together making the thing! After cheesecake and a cup of tea, and just before leaving on our spontaneous tour of the back streets of Benalmádena due to someone moving the road from where I thought it was, I remembered to get the camera out and here it is, something that I have waited 4 years or so for ...... say n'more.

Actually, had I forgotten about the photo (and I nearly did) it wouldn't have mattered would it because on Saturday she wants us all to do it again, out on a terrace, hopefully in some sun, either here or there. And if things pan out in my favour (ie she comes here) I'll get to do my Trout dish.

Some Thanks are Due

To those people who have emailed me about the cam etc. I'm sorry I don't reply personally but there are too many for that and in any case the ADSL connection here in this apartment is very intermittent and I'll be extremely lucky if I get this note published before it goes down again.
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Quite where this blog is going to go now that you are about to meet Larisa I don't know because of course the underlying theme has always been to paint a picture for you about my friendship with her and what we get up to. I have been waiting these last few years for the very moment that is fast approaching, and looking forward to it, but now that it is almost here there is for me a sense of "closure"...my penultimate goal is being achieved. All on hold at the moment of course while she gets over the bad cold that she has but the two postponements so far may be fate taking a hand because it will be better for the three of us if, as she now hopes, she is well enough on Wednesday, my day off. While this ADSL connection is alive tonight I've checked the weather forecast.....more of the same....wet and gloomy, even thundery so Trout Al Fresco, out on the terrace, may not be possible after all. We'll see; whatever happens, the sangria will go down well I promise! And I must remember to collect my camera from my own apartment beforehand, there will be at least one photo that I just have to take!!

Just when We Don't Want It

The celebrations continue on this Saturday of every year with a large paellera uptown in the main plaza providing a taster of paella for the gathered masses and down here Michaela (the self-appointed "queen" of El Bajondillo) always runs a Street Barbecue and party outside her Hostal. The trouble this year is that it is raining. Bad weather has been forecast all this week but it hasn't happened until now and the poor forecast is continuing well on into next week as well, so it's likely that the paella cook-in will be postponed or cancelled. Micheala always has the street shaded at the start of the summer with a giant awning stretched across from one side to the other at 1st floor level so she may be able to carry on as normal if it proves to be an effective umbrella as well. 1330hrs update.....as my photo shows, the paella is being cooked (under cover) but unfortunately for the chef the crowds are missing due to the wet weather. A shame.

1515hrs and a further update....I can hear Micheala's "bash" sounding like it is in full swing just down the road so when my camera has finished charging I am going to pop along for a hotdog and a photo or two..........OK, nothing much going on now (seems it was 2 o'clock) but look at this - a sign advertising some of what was on offer and what's interesting is that, apart from Tripe, there are two paellas - one Spanish and one Philipino and that has fired my imagination. I'm going to investigate on the net and next time Lary and I do paella together maybe I'll be able to ring a change!

Randy has kindly given me a few euros for a new black cartridge as payment for all the printing I have done in recent months for him and Beryl. I haven't been unduly bothered about the lack of ink until now but last night Teresa came up with the idea of having a "give 'n take" bookshelf on the mantlepiece over the fireplace in the bar which, after gaining Ana-Mary's enthusiastic approval, (she'll always welcome any excuse to remove some of the photos of her that are around the bar) is going to be actioned straight away and I've been put in charge of making a sign and I much prefer a DTP document off a computer than a scratchy job with a felt-tip pen. So, I've got to go out and, likely, get wet.

I'm not surprised about the rain though. It had to come this week because I'm trying to move!! I can't get washing dried easily, the plants are soaked through, heavy and wet and having to lug cases along to Ann & Bills' for my temporary move into there won't be fun either in inclement weather.

Romeria/Feria

Since last Sunday, and until next weekend, Torremolinos celebrates its adopted saint, San Miguel (I think). Last Sunday the Romeria took place and a couple of shots of a young lady enjoying herself in the Bullock drawn procession are now posted on the Website Front Page. I took 72 photographs of the procession and some will eventually find their way into the archive at My Gallery but, first, I have to remind myself how to do that.

This coming week is La Feria (the Fair) for which lights have been put up all over the place (including bang in front of my webcam outside my bedroom) and banks and businesses are shut on Monday at least with many taking the whole week off, including my brewery and other suppliers; hence a double delivery of beer today (and that won't probably be enough!) A fun time.

The large delivery earlier today and its attendant workload gave me an appetite that wouldn't wait to be consoled later, so, what to eat for a late lunch? On Thursday morning, seeing me sleepily descending the stairs, Larisa asked "Quieres Pan y Huevas?" That floored me a little until I remembered that she has a habit of using an "A" when there should be an "O". I've read about eggy bread in the past and even seen Worrall-Thompson produce the dish on TV (he has a home not far from here which makes me wonder whether Pan y HuevOs is actually a spanish dish that he has added to his breakfast repertoire.) Her quickly produced offering served with jams and pates was delicious, although I wouldn't buy pates for myself, I'm not too keen. Have a go I thought, do it for yourself, and I have, just now. I know you are not fond of eggs but:

1 egg and a dash of water
2 slices bread
Salt
pepper
Paprika (I just love the Hot , Smoked, Spanish stuff.)

Pour the beaten and seasoned egg and water onto a shallow plate and soak the bread slices (both sides) in it before frying them in hot Olive Oil.

Easy. I didn't bother with jams, marmalade and the like though, I served mine with some bacon rashers, a turkey burger and an extravagant splodge of ketchup.

"O" and "A"?? If you look up the difference in a Spanish dictionary between, say, Pollo and Polla you'll realize why I was careful to look at the Mis en Place before deciding to say "yes please".

I Caught One!!

It couldn't see me at the back of the queue so I managed to get a shot. Left with its tail wagging out on the street a 220 is beginning its next meal. All went well until I got to its mouth. "Espera!" and I had to wait while it checked its belly for more room. With reluctance I was allowed in (along with 3 more behind me) and my journey to Calahonda began. Having had to allow me in it then wanted revenge, which it got at Calahonda by shutting the exit door in my face as I queued to get off. Having none of its fun and games with me I shouted at it and was promptly disgorged out onto the dusty street without further ceremony. What a beast!

I've come home early today because Larisa has taken the girls into Marbella and there was no point in me going with them only to have to turn round and begin the journey back as soon as I got there. Juli goes home on Saturday so they are cramming as much as they can in before she leaves. Katy has yet to buy her return ticket so maybe I'll get to see her again before she goes although I've told Lary that next week will be difficult for me because I will be moving. The trip to Benalmádena and the flamenco show was aborted because, at the door the entrance fee was 35€ and Katy and I immediately started counting the number of days shopping that the spend would deprive us of. Juli was disappointed but we drove to the Marina and had an amble round there instead where, luckily for me, my new socks didn't give me blisters.

Larisa has asked about when you will be arriving and I've told her the story as it stands but, just in case, I've checked out Mesón Salamanca in Fuengirola today on my way home for opening times etc. and hopefully a trip there for a meal together can be arranged because I have been given the use of Ann's car and there is an underground car-park just 50 metres away with a lift back up to Terra Firma. I might even be able to drop you at the door and then park the car. We'll see, one way or another I'm hoping that you will get to see some of our favourite places if you come.

Brighter Horizons

A grey, miserable and damp day has dawned in keeping with the forecast which, for the next few days, is more of the same with rain and possibly thunder to boot. We (Lary, myself and the girls) are going to go to a Flamenco show in Benalmádena this evening and I think that I'm going to have to dry my washing in front of the fire in order to be ready to catch the infamous 220 later this afternoon. It's all go here; Christina has just knocked to tell me who to speak to to get the telephone line moved (I asked her to call Telefonica for me, she has but only I can place the order), a trip to the bank for change is necessary, then prep the bar for Teresa and in-between whiles nibble away at the jobs required here in the apartment in advance of my move downstairs. One day soon I'll get to make the temporary move into Bill & Anns'; things have come all at once and whilst I'm not losing the plot I'm beginning to wonder which way to turn next! The other week when she was here Lary offered to help me clean this apartment as I vacate and I might just take her up on that remembering the help she gave me in Carolina's when Aaron and Lizzie visited a few years back. A woman's touch makes all the difference.

I'm Moving!

Christina has just knocked to tell me that I can move into the studio downstairs on 1st Oct. She took me to see what has been done since I last saw it and I have to say that the little kitchen is a gem, she's really done a nice job with cupboards and workspace, all nicely thought out. I'm looking forward to it although I'll be house-sitting for Bill and Ann and not able to take proper advantage of my new abode until November.