It was a good party last night with a nice mix of English and Spanish folks there. We had a finger buffet with wine and beer. My party piece (teaching them to dance Strip the Willow) fell a bit flat because the CD Player that Fernando used last night could not get enough volume to enable all thirty, very noisy, or so people at the party to hear the tune. It turned out quite strange teaching the dance without music. It all broke up in total chaos with everyone killing them selves laughing and getting very tangled up (a bit like Menston Church dance, actually ;-)) After that we broke into the ‘hokey kokey’ and absolutely everyone joined in, it was very funny. Fernando then had us do some very long sessions of the Melange and the Machete, he did some crazy partner swapping moves and again every one got it very wrong. Just before we finished, we Brits sang ‘We wish you a Merry Christmas’ to our Spanish friends and they sang an equivalent short carol, which was very lovely and sweet. In all it was a good evening of dance, music and mixing with our host neighboroughs.
As we left the hostel (where the party took place)last night ,the wind was picking up quite a bit. We sat in silence as we drove home, dreading what strength it would be when we got back to the high ground and caravan. What sort of night may be in front of us? I quipped that sometimes it is windy down in Taberno but not too bad up on the campo. This was more to cheer me and Elayne up rather than anything else. When we got back home indeed the wind was not too bad and by the time we went to bed it was dying altogether. So we actually had a relieved, good and restful night.
This morning we set off for Roquetas De Mar (at the far side of Almeria, where there is a fabulous shopping plaza). This shopping centre was the brain child of the local mayor, who had it put up in very fast time as a show piece of his term of office. The debate now is, was it all constructed illegally. The opinion is yes it was constructed illegally, however because it employs over four thousand people and support troops, perhaps they should not knock it all down but connive to make it legal. We found this centre way back in February when we holiday’d in Roquetas. It is fabulous inside, see pictures. We have bought each other expensive Christmas presents, but I’m not allowed to tell you what they are until we open them on Christmas morning (now there’s a new twist).
On the way back to base we called in at El Pinar to have a pint and to see if there was any residual mail for us, there was so it was worth while. We drove down past Eric and Isobel’s house to see if all was OK ( because they are in England until mid January), pleased to tell that all seems to be well in order. We admired their new porch/room conversion and the new windows on the garage (making it into a very nice computer and work room). Have a happy Christmas, you two. We look forward to catching up with you both in the New Year.
Back at base once more we had a call from Bob and Pam (Lighthouse Properties), could we go down to talk to them about our requirements for the house. The builder is keen to proceed and we don’t want to stop him. It would seem that by the end of this week we could have the foot print orientation marked out and maybe by next week they may want to start digging out the footings for the foundations. We must keep rein on our excitement (of course) but it does look as though the build will perhaps/maybe start before the New Year. There will be a six month penalty clause in the contract for completion, this allowing for bad weather. We will see.
Also tonight we learned that Paco, who owns Lentisco’s, will buy our olives from us. We will take down our twelve kg (so far) tomorrow and see what we get in return. Evidently he has an olive press in Taberno.
Watch this space. The pace of life quickens.
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