It is close on midnight and I am finally in my hotel room in Malaga! Flight was slightly delayed so arrived 8.45pm. I am now 1 hour closer to NZ time for those that need to know and it is nice and warm here at midnight! I was warned about heat.
An expat English couple helped me find a taxi after I had found the right bus from Aeroporto to city and 7 euros later the taxi had me at the hotel safely. Not much English spoken but I got by. First rookie mistake.... leaving my very important diary with contacts on the seat of the taxi! I realised just as he was about to pull out into traffic so very lucky!Too much stuff out of my bag so lesson learnt. Hotel more than adequate and air con so all good. On with the adventure. Tomorrow Seville.
Saturday 29 June 2013
Tuesday 25 June 2013
Plugged the gap!
Just to fill in for those who have asked about Helpx.....
On 13th July I am off to near Marseille for 2 nights before flying from there up to the west of France, Nantes to stay with a family and help them prepare for a move right across the country (800k) near the Swiss border and Geneva. That is the fill in job I was hoping for to plug the gap left when I was gazzumped on another placement! A little stressful until last week when things fell into place rather well!
From the East of France I travel to the North of Italy on about 29th July and am hopeful of spending a couple of days helping to put Vernazza back together after their terrible mudslide a while back. I was going to walk the Cinque Terra but this seems a more worthwhile way to spend the time! Actually I think I mentioned that earlier! Oops
Catching up also with David and London cousins then to Bath for a week before Bristol to Edinburgh with David for some Taylor time. Hiring a car to drive down to Sheffield for a wedding early September then heading back to Edinburgh via Yorkshire moors to fly home (where is that again?) on 7th September! Will try to keep this up to date while travelling. Good discipline for me!
On 13th July I am off to near Marseille for 2 nights before flying from there up to the west of France, Nantes to stay with a family and help them prepare for a move right across the country (800k) near the Swiss border and Geneva. That is the fill in job I was hoping for to plug the gap left when I was gazzumped on another placement! A little stressful until last week when things fell into place rather well!
From the East of France I travel to the North of Italy on about 29th July and am hopeful of spending a couple of days helping to put Vernazza back together after their terrible mudslide a while back. I was going to walk the Cinque Terra but this seems a more worthwhile way to spend the time! Actually I think I mentioned that earlier! Oops
Catching up also with David and London cousins then to Bath for a week before Bristol to Edinburgh with David for some Taylor time. Hiring a car to drive down to Sheffield for a wedding early September then heading back to Edinburgh via Yorkshire moors to fly home (where is that again?) on 7th September! Will try to keep this up to date while travelling. Good discipline for me!
The Clachan Yell
Last weekend I had the experience of a lifetime. Planned trip to Aberdeen (I went up by bus Friday morning) to visit Megan Linwood turned into the ultimate Scottish immersion. Megan had just flown in from a week in Copenhagen and quickly got her gear together to drive us out to Strathdon where we caught the end of a Ceilidh. Danced a couple of reels and had a fab time in the tartan clad Lonach Hall. This place is quite a long way from anywhere and is in the Cairngorms National Park. We left the Ceilidh after midnight and headed for Helens home to light a bonfire and see in the dawn at 4am when the rooster crowed and the Curlews started to call! It was the summer solstice we were celebrating and I cant believe I didnt feel a bit tired. Must have been the Scottish air and possibly the Scotch Mist that was falling most of the time? Helen is an extremely talented sculptor and a wonderful host. We were made very welcome and all bunked into her amazing farm house and studio even more in the Wops than the Strathdon Hall. For those who have visited Edinburgh and been to the top of Leith walk, you will have seen her huge giraffes sculpted from bits of machinery and vehicle parts. Awesome!
We were vey close to the area Davids grandfather grew up in and it felt very special to be in the company of a close community who obviously took care of each other. The real deal! I had a wonderful weekend and it was lovely to catch up with Megan on her Scottish turf.
Back to Edinburgh on Sunday and then Monday I looked after the daughter of a friend of Sarah. 2 x 9 month old wee girls, played together and had similar patterns for their day so went very well all in all. Usual week for us but I leave for Bristol on Thursday before jetting off to Spain on Saturday. Yay!
We were vey close to the area Davids grandfather grew up in and it felt very special to be in the company of a close community who obviously took care of each other. The real deal! I had a wonderful weekend and it was lovely to catch up with Megan on her Scottish turf.
Back to Edinburgh on Sunday and then Monday I looked after the daughter of a friend of Sarah. 2 x 9 month old wee girls, played together and had similar patterns for their day so went very well all in all. Usual week for us but I leave for Bristol on Thursday before jetting off to Spain on Saturday. Yay!
Wednesday 19 June 2013
Here we go again!
OK OK I heard you! Not. I am on Sarah and Simon's laptop and it is much easier to type than on the "mobile devices" so will just carry on.
I have had a cheeky wee wine with Megan Linwood since I posted on 28th May (and I thought it was 29th - just shows you how confused I am) and am about to go and stay with her in Aberdeen this weekend, 21st 22nd 23rd, so am very much looking forward to that. A ceilidh I believe in a remote place somewhere outside of Aberdeen so am limbering up the singing voice and trying to recall some of the old Scottish tunes Mum used to play on the piano (and which made me cry as a kid, and I am no better now!). Will be fun seeing in the summer solstice up there as it is still light in Edinburgh at 10.45pm and will be even lighter up there, I guess.
Last weekend I had the priviledge of staying with friends in Selkirk in the Borders as it was their Commom Riding which is always held on the first Friday after the second Monday in June! Have a look - search for Selkirk Common Riding and there is a heap about the custom. Enough to say I was awakened at 4.30am on the Friday for the procession ending in the square at 7am (on the dot) with a pipe band and a silver band to follow. Horses leaving then to start the 3 hour riding of the boundaries to ensure no pillaging, reiving and raiding has occured either from other Scots or the English (commony referred to down here as Sassenachs! derogatory term). Also commemorates the return of the solitary surviving Selkirk soldier(my goodness that is a tongue twister) from the battle of Flodden holding his blood soaked flag! The casting of the colours is a magnificent feat - the flags are huge - but I guess you had to be there..... seeing upwards of 380 horses (we lost count) thundering up the gritted streets is spine tingling - only one had to be shot after breaking its leg! After the Casting at midday, we walked to a venue where the Colonials gather (anyone who was a Souter and has now moved overseas) and downed a few bevvies. Some returnn every year just for the Common Riding - from Canada, USA, Oz, NZ and they all do a "turn". Didn't get roped in this year but sang Waltzing Matilda with the aussies. I tried to stay up until midnight (Jim and Mary did!) to go down and observe the "Reel" being danced by kilted bonny lads and their lasses at the Ball, but caved in at 10.45 and slept like a log until 8am.
What a great weekend and the weather was kind this year so all good.
So, that was last weekend. My duties with Maisie have been very pleasurable and I have been here to see her learn so many skills - like blinking at Granny almost on command, sitting on her own, giggling excitedly, shuffling herself forward (in the name of crawling) to reach her goal, clapping her pudgy wee hands and generally just being a happy wee lass. Mind you she doesn't have a lot to complain about, Sarah and Simon are doing a great job with her and I feel priviledged to be entrusted with her care while they are away at work. She did a Personal Best crawl yesterday, from the lounge to the kitchen where I was sewing, (just finished her smocked dress) and she squeaked her way along the floorboards til she could see me. It is quite heartening to have her cry when I disappear from view, she seems to like having me in her sight - very special time, all too soon she will be all grown up and think I know not much at all! (Possibly she will be right?!).
I sit here with the laptop, beside me is the Frog (my Samsung tablet mini which is my new best friend - its green!) and an iphone at the ready!! Surely I have enough technology to keep me in touch when in Europe? I can thoroughly recommend the Tablet (thank you to Geoff Small for his excellent after sales service) as it covers everything I need. I have photos to put on here when I figure out how - the Blue poppies in the Botanics are spectacular and I walk there often with Maisie, sometimes meeting Sarah after school for a coffee. The most special view of the skyline of Edinburgh from there - just wonderful.
Enough already!Watch this space for some exciting (I am a little nervous I admit) adventures in the Med.
M
I have had a cheeky wee wine with Megan Linwood since I posted on 28th May (and I thought it was 29th - just shows you how confused I am) and am about to go and stay with her in Aberdeen this weekend, 21st 22nd 23rd, so am very much looking forward to that. A ceilidh I believe in a remote place somewhere outside of Aberdeen so am limbering up the singing voice and trying to recall some of the old Scottish tunes Mum used to play on the piano (and which made me cry as a kid, and I am no better now!). Will be fun seeing in the summer solstice up there as it is still light in Edinburgh at 10.45pm and will be even lighter up there, I guess.
Last weekend I had the priviledge of staying with friends in Selkirk in the Borders as it was their Commom Riding which is always held on the first Friday after the second Monday in June! Have a look - search for Selkirk Common Riding and there is a heap about the custom. Enough to say I was awakened at 4.30am on the Friday for the procession ending in the square at 7am (on the dot) with a pipe band and a silver band to follow. Horses leaving then to start the 3 hour riding of the boundaries to ensure no pillaging, reiving and raiding has occured either from other Scots or the English (commony referred to down here as Sassenachs! derogatory term). Also commemorates the return of the solitary surviving Selkirk soldier(my goodness that is a tongue twister) from the battle of Flodden holding his blood soaked flag! The casting of the colours is a magnificent feat - the flags are huge - but I guess you had to be there..... seeing upwards of 380 horses (we lost count) thundering up the gritted streets is spine tingling - only one had to be shot after breaking its leg! After the Casting at midday, we walked to a venue where the Colonials gather (anyone who was a Souter and has now moved overseas) and downed a few bevvies. Some returnn every year just for the Common Riding - from Canada, USA, Oz, NZ and they all do a "turn". Didn't get roped in this year but sang Waltzing Matilda with the aussies. I tried to stay up until midnight (Jim and Mary did!) to go down and observe the "Reel" being danced by kilted bonny lads and their lasses at the Ball, but caved in at 10.45 and slept like a log until 8am.
What a great weekend and the weather was kind this year so all good.
So, that was last weekend. My duties with Maisie have been very pleasurable and I have been here to see her learn so many skills - like blinking at Granny almost on command, sitting on her own, giggling excitedly, shuffling herself forward (in the name of crawling) to reach her goal, clapping her pudgy wee hands and generally just being a happy wee lass. Mind you she doesn't have a lot to complain about, Sarah and Simon are doing a great job with her and I feel priviledged to be entrusted with her care while they are away at work. She did a Personal Best crawl yesterday, from the lounge to the kitchen where I was sewing, (just finished her smocked dress) and she squeaked her way along the floorboards til she could see me. It is quite heartening to have her cry when I disappear from view, she seems to like having me in her sight - very special time, all too soon she will be all grown up and think I know not much at all! (Possibly she will be right?!).
I sit here with the laptop, beside me is the Frog (my Samsung tablet mini which is my new best friend - its green!) and an iphone at the ready!! Surely I have enough technology to keep me in touch when in Europe? I can thoroughly recommend the Tablet (thank you to Geoff Small for his excellent after sales service) as it covers everything I need. I have photos to put on here when I figure out how - the Blue poppies in the Botanics are spectacular and I walk there often with Maisie, sometimes meeting Sarah after school for a coffee. The most special view of the skyline of Edinburgh from there - just wonderful.
Enough already!Watch this space for some exciting (I am a little nervous I admit) adventures in the Med.
M
Tempus Fugit (or something)
Somebody told me it is now 19th June? How on earth did that happen, please?
Well since the last post I have been spending every spare minute on the Frog trying to fill in the gap in my schedule that was left when I was gazzumped on the 2 week stint in Provence! Gutted, however never let that hold the intrepid traveller back. I still have not filled it but I could be in Vernazza helping build rock walls to repair some of the damage done by the mudslide a while ago. All I need is a place to put my head and that is the stumbling block. Will keep you all posted as to my movements.
To date I am flying out of Bristol to Malaga in Spain on Saturday 29th June, spending a night there (as EasyJet gets in at night of course!), next day getting to Seville where I am meeting with Fernando Martinez Roman who has kindly offered to show me around the Olive facility where he works and has aranged over 4 days for me to meet with producers of Oil olives and table olives (for the uninitiated there can be a difference in the varieties grown for both although some can be used for either), as well as with the oil tasting panel. I am very excited about this part of the adventure and have booked cheap (but quite adequate and safe) accommodation in a University Hostel as it is holiday time over here. NB worth looking into if you want clean and reasonable accommodation that is affordable!
So, on 5th July I find my way to the region of Granada which is East and North of Seville to stay with a couple (ex Brits I believe) in their homestay business and help out in the garden or wherever else they require help. I have joined an organisation called Helpx which is a little like Woofing but covers the entire planet (including NZ) and offers a roof and sometimes food in exchange for help. Have a look at the site, hundreds of hosts! From there, on 10th July (interesting way to spend a birthday) I find my way across the border to a spot in France near Perpignan to stay with a French lady who needs help in her house which is needing renovations by the sound of it. Not sure what I will be doing but anything to earn my keep. Hopefully with my schoolbook French and her not bad English, we will get along OK. After Perpignan I have my gap from 14th to end of July which I was going to spend in a very posh looking Chateau Hotel but that was where I got gazzumped. soooo I am looking for the fill-in right now. From 1st August I go to Italy (if not already there somewhere) to help a lovely chatty photographer ex UK, who has a new home in Tuscany and needs help building garden structures and is excited that I can build a compost for her!! How hard will that be? She has a blog which I am following and if you are interested she is called Karen Hargadon-Feeney and should be relatively easy to search for? Great photos of the area.
Phew, I fly back to Gatwick, England on 15th from Milan and catch a train down to Lewes to stay with friends Wenda and Allan Bradley and also catch up with Dale Dudman who will be there visiting Susan! How weird is that? Dale is walking a half marathon on Isle of Wight on the Sunday following so I hope she will still be up for a glass of something special the Thursday before? I certainly will be!
I can hear Dad saying "vaccinated with a gramaphone needle" so will stop before I lose you all! Next post will be about what I have done since 29th May - there is quite a lot to tell!
5
Well since the last post I have been spending every spare minute on the Frog trying to fill in the gap in my schedule that was left when I was gazzumped on the 2 week stint in Provence! Gutted, however never let that hold the intrepid traveller back. I still have not filled it but I could be in Vernazza helping build rock walls to repair some of the damage done by the mudslide a while ago. All I need is a place to put my head and that is the stumbling block. Will keep you all posted as to my movements.
To date I am flying out of Bristol to Malaga in Spain on Saturday 29th June, spending a night there (as EasyJet gets in at night of course!), next day getting to Seville where I am meeting with Fernando Martinez Roman who has kindly offered to show me around the Olive facility where he works and has aranged over 4 days for me to meet with producers of Oil olives and table olives (for the uninitiated there can be a difference in the varieties grown for both although some can be used for either), as well as with the oil tasting panel. I am very excited about this part of the adventure and have booked cheap (but quite adequate and safe) accommodation in a University Hostel as it is holiday time over here. NB worth looking into if you want clean and reasonable accommodation that is affordable!
So, on 5th July I find my way to the region of Granada which is East and North of Seville to stay with a couple (ex Brits I believe) in their homestay business and help out in the garden or wherever else they require help. I have joined an organisation called Helpx which is a little like Woofing but covers the entire planet (including NZ) and offers a roof and sometimes food in exchange for help. Have a look at the site, hundreds of hosts! From there, on 10th July (interesting way to spend a birthday) I find my way across the border to a spot in France near Perpignan to stay with a French lady who needs help in her house which is needing renovations by the sound of it. Not sure what I will be doing but anything to earn my keep. Hopefully with my schoolbook French and her not bad English, we will get along OK. After Perpignan I have my gap from 14th to end of July which I was going to spend in a very posh looking Chateau Hotel but that was where I got gazzumped. soooo I am looking for the fill-in right now. From 1st August I go to Italy (if not already there somewhere) to help a lovely chatty photographer ex UK, who has a new home in Tuscany and needs help building garden structures and is excited that I can build a compost for her!! How hard will that be? She has a blog which I am following and if you are interested she is called Karen Hargadon-Feeney and should be relatively easy to search for? Great photos of the area.
Phew, I fly back to Gatwick, England on 15th from Milan and catch a train down to Lewes to stay with friends Wenda and Allan Bradley and also catch up with Dale Dudman who will be there visiting Susan! How weird is that? Dale is walking a half marathon on Isle of Wight on the Sunday following so I hope she will still be up for a glass of something special the Thursday before? I certainly will be!
I can hear Dad saying "vaccinated with a gramaphone needle" so will stop before I lose you all! Next post will be about what I have done since 29th May - there is quite a lot to tell!
5
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