General Chat

I found this on the internet, it has inspired me to write about a different region, maybe tonight or tomorrow.
By Lawrence Bohme
Here in Montefrío, you are far from the international restaurants and British pubs of the Costa del Sol - the system is andaluzian only. Few small Spanish towns have proper restaurants what people have when they want to eat out is tapas. Tapas are the tasty titbits you are always served free with each drink, one of the nicest things about living here! If you want to have a meal, you simply take a table and order a "ración" a rather large portion or-you can also ask for a "media ración", a half portion) of the various tapas. A few raciones plus a dish of salad and bread will do a hungry couple very nicely. The custom is for everyone to eat from the same dishes by jabbing what they want Arab style, but if you ask, individual plates - platos will be brought to you.
The big favourite (everywhere in Spain, no matter how far from the sea) is deep-fried fish: calamares rings of squid; boquerones are fresh anchovies (you munch the whole crispy thing); lenguado are small sole; gambas are shrimp or prawns of varying sizes, usually served a la plancha(in Spanish, "frito" means deep-fried and "a la plancha" means pan-fried) with heads, legs and all - you peel them yourself (it's messy, but fun). Slices of deep-sea fish are usually done a la plancha: aguja (needlefish), rape (this is the one which makes the Brits howl, especially the usual translation of the dish "rape a la marinera - rape, seaman's style") which is nothing more frightening than angler (what the French call "lotte"), and pez espada (swordfish). Salad is "ensalada" and usually of tomatoes, lettuce, onions and olives and served without dressing - you pour on the aceite (oil) and vinagre yourself.

One thing about Spanish cooking is the inability to make tasty salads- they don't even shake the water out of the lettuce! But they make up for this minor crime with what is perhaps Spain's greatest contribution to world cuisine: gazpacho, a summertime chilled soup which is essentially a liquid salad thickened with bread dough, and flavoured up with lots of rich olive oil, garlic and vinegar (to be good, it must be made with virgin unrefined oil). It can be drunk as a soup, or simply as a beverage to accompany your fried fish (that's the way it's best, I think).

Fried potatoes - patatas fritas, fried in olive oil like everything else - are usually good; the local way of fixing potatoes is "patatas a lo pobre" (potatoes poor man's style) which is delicious but only for those who don't mind large amounts of olive oil!

The Spanish eat lots of eggs, but never boiled - they either fry them (huevos fritos) or make an omelette - tortilla (no relation to the Mexican variety). There are two basic kinds of omelette - "tortilla española" and "tortilla francesa". The Spanish type is a potato omelette, with lots of potato and onions - delicious, very filling and always a good stand-by if you don't know what else to order (it's often served cold, in wedges, as a tapa). The "French" type is a plain omelette with nothing in it (shows what they think of the French -. Lightly-done omelettes are unheard of - they're fried to the consistency of leathery pancakes.

Ham is the great delicacy here, but not the cooked kind you're used to, which, strangely, is called York Ham - jamón de York (pro. The local cured variety is similar to Parma Ham, and is called jamón serrano, mountain-cured ham. Try a bit to see if you like it, it's delicious but takes getting used to - here we like it on the pink, raw side, but in the cities you can get the more cured varieties. Ideally, Spanish ham should be sweet rather than salty. There are several varieties of pork sausage, mainly chorizo (spicey and tender) and salchichón (drier and very similar to Italian salami).

Beef is something of a luxury here and called ternera, which means veal although real baby veal is unknown. You can order a "filete de ternera" in any decent place, this being a thinnish beefsteak fried in... olive oil. You can get lamb chops in most eating places: "chuletas de cordero". They mercilessly over-fry them, for my taste. Strangely, herbs such as rosemary and thyme are not used in Spanish cooking, except to flavour table olives and making medicinal tea;

I cannot say that I wrote all of this because that would be a fib But it does demonstrate everyday life in a particular part of spain.but the special days, etc are wonderful. this real;ly is only chapter one...more to come which I shall write!

Good morning every one.

Val in SA, I have read all your postings sent whilst I was away and I am so delighted that you and others have kept this thread alive. Thank you.
I must say that you do seem to have a lot of friends with birthdays at this time ofthe year! What a wonderful reason or excuse for eating all thoose delicious foods we all seem to enjoy even though we know that perhaps we shouldn't!
below is a short background to the area of Ireland we stayed in. My ysisters' husband have lived in Killkee for as long as anyone can recall. whilst some of his siblings have moved elewhere, 2 in America, one in the UK the othres have stayed local and have thriving businesses, wonderful homes, all at leasts 6 bedrooms with magnificent views across the Atlantic.

Kilkee is situated in County Clare on the West Coast of Ireland. The old Irish name for the long triangular peninsula stretching to Loop Head and forming the northern boundary of the estuary of the River Shannon is 'Corca Baiscinn'. About mid-way on the Atlantic shore on this peninsula is Kilkee. It is situated on Moore Bay, a bay of horse-show shape. The splendid reef known as Duggerna Rocks guards the entrance to this bay.

Development as a Tourist Resort
From the 18th Century Kilkee began to develop as a tourist resort. One of the main reasons for the growing popularity of the area was its climate. It is one of the most westerly seaside resorts in Europe. Across the broad expense of the Atlantic Ocean comes the west wind, warmed by the Gulf Stream. The former gives the resort its bracing, healthy character, the latter its mild and equable climate.

The resort itself developed along a semi-circular strand, nearly one mile in length, with a good stretch of sands between the promenade and the sea. It has long been recognised as the best and safest bathing place on the western coast and although it is exposed to the full force of the Atlantic, the town, is protected on the westward side by the long rocky Duggerna Reef.

Kilkee today continues to attract a large number of visitors. Though situated on the extreme westerly seaboard, it is easily accessible by road and air. 48Km directly inland is Shannon Airport, there are bus services linking Kilkee with all important cities and towns of Ireland and roads connect Kilkee with Ennis (56km), Limerick (92km

Despite what the above blurb says, the whole of Ireland is suffering a depression,with the unemployment level being catstrophically low, visitors to Ireland are well below average, the cost of living has escallted beyond belief and everyone is worried about the next 5 to 10 years.

I will try to add some photos so that yu can picture it in your mind so will write more later.
It is very wet here in Hastings area, with grey sky and a fair amaount of mist, I have even put the heating on and it is AUGUST.
Today is my only daughters birthday and I can recall with great clarity what a wonderful hot sunny day it was when she was born just after 12 mid-day....

Bye for now
Bridget

Goodmorning,

This morning the sun was a large red ball in the sky when I looked out this morning, quite amazing. There is a bit of a breeze at the moment and I think to-day might be cool. Yesterday the sea was very choppy lots of wnite horses as it was windy.

Tess at this time of the year we are an hour ahead of the UK. I didn't hear the bird again so I guess it went looking for pastures new!! It is lovely to watch the birds in the garden especially when they are having a bath, although now that it is so dry they are quite scarce.

Our electricity will be off on Thursday morning for maintenance it is a bit of a nuisance but I guess it must be done or we'd have more moans human nature being what it is.

Am off to yet another birthday tea this morning, all these teas are not good for figure, this particular friend always has a lovely spread.

I did a bit of weeding yesterday as we do not yet have another gardener, boy getting down on the ground is one thing but getting up again is quite another! The weeds certainly grow rain or no rain.

Look forward to hearing all about your holiday Bridget.

Take care everyone.


Val in SA.

Hello to Val in SA, Tess (aka) the fidget, Ann in Gloc and anyone else who posted their stories whilst i was away. we arrived Home about an hour ago so will be going to bed very soon but I will add info about the holiday etc tomorrow.

Bye for now and ggod night

Bridget

Val, somehow it seems strange that although you are thousands of miles away. in a different hemisphere and in fact a diffrent season, you are in (about) the same time as you in the UK.

Perhaps your strange bird got lost because of the mist. Maybe you will hear something in your local news, if a lot of the same type of bird paid an expected visit to J/Bay.

Ann, your dress sounds wonderful. Happy memories fro each of the special times you wore it. I bet that Bridget's and Val's stories bought it all back to you. Have you got any photos of you in the dress? Though of course, photos of that time were mainly black and white.
It might be worth, (if you can find one), writing the story of the dress to go with the photo, both for your own pleasure and for generations to come.
Have you spoken to your OH recently about it, how special it was etc.? I am sure that it would make him feel good that his generosity and good taste are still appreaciated. (Well done Ann's OH).

It was time I went to bed so good-night one and all

Tess

Goodmorning all,

Ann, JBay is Jeffreys Bay, it is a lovely seaside town at the southern part of South Africa,in the Eastern Cape Province on the Indian Ocean, famous for its surfing.


Late yesterday afternoon the town was covered in a very heavy mist which when I opened up the house this morning was still there. I heard a strange bird in the garden yesterday but unfortunately I couldn't find it so couldn't identify it.

I have been sitting in my daughter's workshop patiently waiting for a customer to collect a computer, he has just been so I can now go back into the house and have a cup of tea!

Enjoy your day.



Val in SA.

Val does JBay stand for Jervis Bay? If so that was the name of my parents bungalow, where I grew up. Named after the ship that my Mum sailed to Malta on to join my Dad who was serving there in the R Navy in the thirties.

Your poor friends being robbed. Stay safe wont you?

For Bridget to read when she comes back (sorry Bridget I forgot to add this one.

The Blue Dress
My Father’s favourite colour was midnight blue (a sort of Royal blue). At least that is what my Mother told me when I first wore my blue dress. The dress which my fiancé, later to be my husband, bought me was midnight blue threaded with silver. It was made of a type of soft net material over satin, ballerina length, sleeveless with a boat neck. It was my first evening type dress, it was beautiful, and I loved it. It was bought especially as I had nothing to wear at New Year to a local dance.
I wore it to the New Year’s Eve dance in 1958 and felt so grown up. We couldn’t dance much as it was ‘proper dancing’ but we enjoyed spending the evening together, I was eighteen, he was twenty and we were in love, the evening couldn’t fail. If I concentrate hard enough I can still feel that dress, a bit scratchy and stiff because of the net material but it billowed out when we danced and for once I felt graceful and attractive. I can’t remember what shoes I wore with it but they would certainly have been very high stilettos. I think we probably had a taxi home as I certainly would not have managed to walk in those shoes.
In 1959 the dress had another outing to a good friend’s twenty first birthday party, That must have been in January or February as the pavements were icy and the skies were clear and frosty as I walked back to my Aunt’s house where I stayed the night. She only had electricity downstairs in her house and I remember I had to use a candle to light me to bed. My fiancé didn’t go to the party as he was away on duty in the Royal Navy so my friend’s cousin walked me back to my Aunt’s.
Later in 1959 the dress took me to a Royal Naval function, a summer ball. It was quite a grand affair as all Naval functions were in those days, regardless of whether they were for ratings or officers. The catering was excellent, the food delicious and varied and the band that played for dancing in one area was a Royal Marine band. A disco was in another area. That was a wonderful evening and the dress did me proud.
Being so much in love with my dress you might imagine that I would know what became of it. But sadly I have no recollection at all as to what eventually happened to my dress. I can only assume that it became unfashionable. We were married in 1960 so maybe it was just that we didn’t go to so many dressy functions and I perhaps gave it away, or, more likely, I left it at my parents house and my Mother gave it away. I wish I had kept it though, that dress that held so many happy memories, my special blue dress.

Have been to the nearest shopping centre with the Ring & Ride (a specail free bus service for people who find it difficult to get around).
Managed to get quite a bit of shopping done, but coldn't find the garlic.
However most days I can get to the (very) local (family run), shop, so can get some from there, if needs be.

When my dad was in the (british) army, we lived close to the seaside for two and a half years, in Malaysia.
We didn't even go to the beach once a week!
Not many of the local people sat on the beach there, it just wasn't the thing to do.
We did though go swimming in Pools in Singapore whenever we could. Great fun was had by all.

Have been looking on the internet and catalogues for garden sheds. Now that I have had the weeds cleared, I really need to get a shed, so that I have somewhere to put the garden tools (when I get them ) so that I can keep the garden looking good. (When it is finished).
At the moment, it is just a small patch of soil, eagerly picked over by pigeons.

Hope everyone is well,
Tess

Yes, JBay is truly a lovely place and we are very happy here although would you believe that I don't get to the beach as often as I would like to. I love walking on the beach but sadly it is not safe to walk alone any more especially for a senior citizen!

I had to do a conversion of the temperatures to make a comparison, you are in the middle summer so that tempetature doesn't seem too bad, I think! Summer here is usually about 79 - 97 F, too hot for me.

Have also been thinking about Bridget and hoping she is having a fabulous time, holidays are always too short!

We have the garden service coming to-day to cut the lawn so I cannot do the washing, not sure whether I am pleased or not because now I have it to look forward to to-morrow.

I don't have grandchilden but know how exhausting they can be because I always made do with my brother's grandchildren, especially the two who lived in the same town as us. We did lots of babysitting and they spent a lot of time with us and after we moved here they came for school holidays twice a year, but now that they are all grown up we don't see so much of them.

Think I've waffled on enough for now.

Take care.


Val in SA.

Last night I Googled "JBay SA" It is really beautiful.
I see from the weather forecast that the temp. (yesterday) was around 57 degrees F. Not bad for winter! Hopefully you will soon be getting more hours of daylight.
Here in West Midlands, England it is around 74 degrees F (According to my outside thermometer at the back of the house and 64 on the outside thermometer at the front!

I hope that Bridget is gettin some dry days in Ireland. Have been thinking of her enjoying the peace as well as the company of friends and family and the food.

Had a lazy day today, as will be busy (for me) over the next few days. Last Sunday I was at a first birthday party and the week before I had my two younger grandsons (aged five and six,) here to keep me company, and wear me out!

Sorry to hear about your daughters friends. It must have been really scary for all of them, well done to their little boy who rescued them, he should be proud of himself.

Tess

I remember "I wandered Lonely as a Cloud", I understand that the Lake District is the dampest part of the country. I am still waiting to win the Lotto, maybe to-night????? If only!

It is a really windy day here, was very good for drying the washing though just had to make sure everything was firmly pegged to he line.

Popped in to the Craft Market this morning, there were some lovely things there but all I bought was an orange cake and some fudge which will all end up on my hips!!
I must say the stallholders were having quite a job to keep things from blowing away.

My daughter took her 10 month old pup to a dog show to-day, phoned me to say they had won a first, will find out what it is for when she is back in JBay later this afternoon.

Now something not so good - friends of my daughter were robbed in the early hours of the morning, by two men armed with a butcher's knife and a screwdriver. Fortunately neither them nor their 6 year old son were harmed. They were tied up and left in the garage while the robbers made off with a computer, cash and other items. Their son who had been sent to his room by the robbers when he started crying came to their rescue and untied them. No arrests have been made. This used to be such a quiet town but not any more unfortunately. This sort of thing is really scary.


Look after yourselves.


Val. in SA.

The Lake District is beautiful. It rians a lot there, but that is what helps to keep the lakes full and the grass green.
If you Google (or use another search engine).
Derwentwater or Windermere or Keswick or Buttermere or "English Lakes"you are sure to find a lot of pictures.
Wordsworth's Daffodils "I wandered lonely as a cloud" was written in the Lake District.

Is anyone from Europe reading this thread? I have been watching some of The Athletics from Barcelona, reminds me of the Barcelona Olympics.
I am also reading a (fictional) book, set in Spain at the moment. Maybe I need to go out to a Spanish Restaurant just to fully get in the Spanish mood.

Has anyone got stories about Spain to share?

Another day with a little light rain, not enough to give the gardens a good watering though.
Will have to pop off now because as well as watching the Athletics, I am also doing myself a big dish of mashed potatoes! As my board name suggests, I'm not good at sitting still.

Tess

Hello Tess,

I must admit that I have never been out of South Africa but somewhere I have long wished I could visit is the Lake District, the description sounds lovely and I would love to see Beatrix Potter's home. Of course Henley on Thames, Reading and Southampton the places my ancestors lived are also on my list. One day when I win the Lotto!!!

We are still allowed 400 litres of water per household per day, although we have had a number of visitors since the restrictions were introduced we have managed to stay within the limit because there are hefty fines if we use more. I feel sorry for families with children, I think it is quite difficult for them. I am not a shower person so I am looking forward to the day when I can have a bath in a decent amount of water again! When I was in Grahamstown for my brother's funeral my niece would run my bath for me, lots of water and bubble bath I so enjoyed that.

I have just been to the supermarket to buy milk and butter which were on a special and bought myself a dougnut for tea - all going to the hips no doubt!



Val in SA.
I

The bread pudding sounds yummy Val, I hope that your friend enjoys his time in the U.K. Wales is a lovely country, have you ever been there?

Bridget, enjoy yourself in South-West Ireland. I ahve only been to Ireland four times, on the last occassion I was invited by my sister and brother-in-law, who also took my Mother and my son.
We toured around the country, managing to hook up with some American cousins, who were on a package tour. We met them in Kenmare, and had a lovely meal in a pub/restaurant.
The trouble is that going to Ireland is NOT condusive to weight loss!

My mind has gone blank about special items of clothing at the moment, I will have to stop trying to think of something, then perhaps a memory will pop into my head unbidden.

A light rain here at the moment, hadly even a drizzle, the gardner has come to finish clearing my garden, so hope that the rain doesn't get too bad.

Val, I hope that you get some rain in the catchment areas soon. How strict/stringent are your water restrictions?

Bridget, do you pack a "bare neccessities case" (like my late Mum). or are you like me a "just in case" packer?
Trouble was, my Mum always relied on me having all the added extras she might need! So I had to pack "just in case" items for two! Happy days.

Off to make a cup of coffee for gardener (Joe) and self.
Will try to keep this thread going,

Tess

I also had a dress which I really liked, green with a small white floral pattern which I wore whenever possible. Without telling me, my mother gave it to the daughter of someone she knew. I was really upset when I discovered it missing from my wardrobe and wasn't happy egven when told that these people were really struggling - what a spoilt brat I must have been!

It's cool and cloudy here and we had a little drizzle durig the night. We still have water restrictions in force as we have had no rain in the catchment area yet.

Had a friend to lunch yesterday for dessert I made a bread pudding with marmalade and I must say it was very nice. He will be leaving for the UK on Sunday to visit his sister, can't remember where she lives but he will also be going to Wales for a few days with his family.

Enjoy your time in Ireland Bridget, look forward to hearing about your visit.


Val in SA.

Ah Tess, what a lovely thought! Thank you for adding to my picures.
i am away for about 10 days and may not be able to access a computer...would you be kind enough to keep this thread going for me, even if it is simply to nudge it now and again?
I will be back on Monday week and it seems a shame not to keep it going.
off to pack a snmalmcase now so must dash///
Best wishes
Bridget

Hi Bridget, just a quick look in before I trot off to bed.
Bridget is one of my forenames (I have three), I was often told off for fidgeting when I was young. Thought that it made a good boadr name, as I staill can't sit sit esp when I am nervous or anxious.

So for your special dress, Just imagine it got to Africa, all wrapped up in brown paper and string, a little girl was told "this is for you" eagerly she began to open the parcel, while all around her the other children watched....
The knot in the string was carefully untied and handed to Sister Mary Joseph, who put it in her voluminous pocket.
(which never seemed to get full).
The little girl continued to open the parcel, carefully folding one side of the brown paper and then the other.......

maybe another person in he World has many happy memories of her Special Dress, creamy white with red cherries!

Good-night for now,
Tess

I hoped for a few replies but none so far.....\i guess that everyone is either very busy, away or we have reached a natural end.I do hope it isn't the latter as I have becone rather fond of this thread.

My Favourite Dress.

At the age of 6 years which means that this happend in 1952. i arrived home from school and mum told me that I had a special parcel which had come all the way from America and it was addressed to me from my godfather Patrick Rush.
I had never had a letter sent directly to me let alone a parcel. Now in those days we had to cut the the string carefully so we could use it again, and also the brown paper had to be very carefully opened so that it could be ironed and put away for when we might need it. I was becoming more and more impatient to see what was inside and then I saw creamy white paper and and I was allowed to pick this out of the brown paper and put it on the table...the excitement was growing moment by moment and then I saw my favourite dress, not that I knew it was going to become my favourite dress at the time, a dress with a white background with red cherries in small bunches all over the dress and to go with it was a matching bolero. I had never seen anything so beautiful, so pretty and so special because I had never had a dress that had been bought in a shop,mum made our clothes.

I wore that dress at every opportunity, to parties, on holiday, to go to church and finally on no uniform day at school. Then one day it was to small to do up..no matter how hard I tried the buttons would not do up!! I cried and cried, and then it disappeared, I couldn't believe it. Mum had given it to a charity to go too Africa...I could never undersatnd why a girl in Africa should have MY special dress. My Godfather was never in contact again and we think he died in New York,,,how I wish I still had that dress.

God Bless you Patrick for you made me determined to have pretty clothes and to work hard so I could buy clothes that I liked, i will never forget you or that dress.
Bridget

Forgot to suggest a topic to write about if anyone is still interested, unlike the wonderful thread that encourages people to comment on all amazingly well written subjects this is just a littel something to do. i am going to write about my favourite dress when a child

I hope some others on her also write something because it is fun

Bridget