General Chat

Good morning

It really is a good morning here because....now wait for it...it is COOL! I think the temp must be around 24 or 25. The air felt cool as I walked around the garden and down to the lower half of the house. Maybe, just maybe the really hot weather has finished. Maybe, just maybe we will have some of that much needed RAIN!!!

Yesterday it was suggested that I wrote a little more about where I live so here goes

Part two.

Beside the castle stands the Baroque Chapel of La Mere de Deu de Ermitana, the patron Saint of the city. All towns cities and villages have patron Saints. This is at the top of the peininsula and next to the castle. From the outside it is interesting but not ground and there is a delightful square where one can sit and have coffee, a snack, a meal etc form one of the many coffee shops. TO enter you have to climb the steps and on entering for the first time I was amazed because it was not what I was expecting! The chapel issmall, beautiful, well maintained, has a wonderful statue of the Blesssed Virgin and is so calm it almost took my breath away and Yes there were other people there as well!. You are invited to look around. In fact it has become a place where people come to get married and I have heard but cannot verify this that people come from all over the world to be married here.

As one walks back down the rock there is a myraid of alley was and small streets. In the summer these are full of shops selling anything from very cheap souvenirs to beautiful expensive jewlery, momentis of every description and of course cafes' restaurants, ice cream parlours and bars. Above these are the dwellings and as you raise your eyes the tiny terraces ar full of tumbling flowers and the streets become a photographers delight.
About half way down is a large hole in the rock face and this is protected by wire fencing, at Christmas this is wher the manger is and the statues are life size as are the sheep etc. People gather here day and night to take photos' sing carols and to contemplate. Not everyone of coures is a believer but still they enjoy the artistry of it all.

Further down is the recently refurbished Parish church which for some reason was painted pale blue on the outside at the end of the refurbishments This is called The Parish Church of El Perpetua Socorro .
Gothic in style it was built in the 15th century and extended in the 18th century.
A museum is attached and has a good collection of gold and silver also going back to the 15th century.

Leaving the Peninsula and coming into what is the main part of the small town there are many old apaprtments which look very shappy, and several kilometres along the north beach are taken up by newly buil apartments and whilst many are for holiday lets so are many the new homes of the indiginous population. As one gentelman said to me"why should it only be holiday makers who have modern facilities? We Spanish also want indoor toilets, warm rooms in the winter, air conditioning in the summer, to have electicity guaranteed to our dwelling, to have comfort and our wives want modern kitchens and fridges and freezers. we also want better conditions for our children and grand children. For us the apartments keep family and friends nearby. Our schools are being rebuilt to provif=de excellent education, we want our family to progress".

The area surrounding us is called the Sierra de Irta and these mountains are close to the sea and it is on one of those that I live.On the tops are hermit huts, small towers and watch towers.

Inland is stunning and I will write about some places if you would like me to do so.


If you google Peniscola Spain I think you may be able to view some of the places I have written about.


Trying to file all family research, started yesterday and need to finish today or tomorrow, as more visitors coming soon.

Valin SA

Must be last injection for OH today. How is he progressing?

Frances,

From your post I assume that you have visited Peniscila, much has changed in the last few years, mostly for the better of the community, and the Mayor is actually quite good at controling new building. Although there still are the rogues in the building trade!!!

I sat in the garden a few minutes ago and thought how lucky I am on the whole to be so content, to have a loving family who although somewthat well dispersed are still in contact with each other and care about each other, and to know that I have choices in life.

I had my usual positive thoughts for all those who are suffering in any wa yand special thought for those who have asked for me to think about them.

Well enough now as I have to look at the Culinary site and see what I have said I will do and then get on with it


Bye to you all for now

Bridget

Hello again

Forgot to ask, does anyone keep a Life Story Book for either themselves or memebrs of their family?

In my work we use them a lot and they have been very succesful,

Bridget

Thanks for the messages, and if anyone does decide to visit my home town please let me know, I would be delighted to show you around. You would of course have to have sensible walking shoes or trainers so that you do not slip on the original cobbles/The first time we were here was on a Sunday in Nvemeber 6 years ago so there we were all dressed up and within 5 minutes we had taken our shoes off and were walking shoeless. Now I do NOT recommend this as ithurts!

I have never smiled or laughed at the local aagin.

I will write some more tomorrow.

Ann in Glos...no I am not board at all BUT the money is very good and all the expenses are paid. This rtime it will be easier as the place is not "in trouble" in fact it has very good reports, I simply need to be there to introduce new sysytems etc, and to help staff through the transition from one owner to another. There is going to be a small extention built but that should not be a problem.

If I moan about it Anne, then you have my permission to >>>>>>>>>


I will still be able to stay on the threds.

I may even be able to persuade the company to finance a cook book Just thought about that!!

Val, I hope you have an entertaining meeting with your friend. My longest known friend apart from my OH whom I have known since he was 14 and is now 62, is a lady called June, we have been friends since the day she knocked on the door of nursing home I used to own in Wanstead London and asked if we needed RNs. That was 37 years ago, we still giggle, we have had disagreements, we have cried together, laughed together and shared deep emotions and confidences.
I had a message today from her telling me that she had just called the hotel in Italy where one of her sons is getting married in 10 days time to check that they have arranged for a car to pick her up from the airport and they can't find her room booking let alone the car!!!
I will call her tonight.

I am going to have to stop as I am trying to organise all my research paperwork before I leave for good old Hastings at the end of the month. OH has said that he will visit frequently or even stay for a month or so either side of Xmas.

How od you all keep your paperwork do you have a system, I wish I had learnt motre from my PA>!!!

Bridget

Good afternoon all, Bridget, you have made me want to visit your area, it sounds wonderful. We have never been to mainland Spain, only Tenerife and Lanzarote which we love. Thank you for the excellent description.
Pleased that your son is home and hope he continues to heal well.

What is this about returning to work? Not bored with retirement already?

Ann x

Good morning Bridget and all,
I read all sorts of books , though I do give Catherine Cookson a miss! Have not read the Glassmaker's Daughter but will look out for it. Will have a look at the Greaders thread.
Weather today is once again hot and sunny though we have been promised rain next weekend but am not going to hold my breath. Glad to hear your son is doing so well, doesn't matter how big they grow we still worry about them don't we?
If any of you do come to Spain I would suggest you go to Peñiscola where Bridget lives, the walk up to the castle is fascinating and the place itself is really nice.
Hope you will still manage to look in on your thread when you are in the UK, Bridget.
Enjoy the day.
Frances.

Good morning Bridget

The sky was so pink this morning and the sea quite calm that was at about 6.30a.m. A slight breeze has come up since.

So pleased that your son is OK and is being looked after hope his recovery goes well.

Not boring at all, in fact very interesting so if there is more do carry on please.

I am expecting a friend (we have been friends for 5l years) to spend a few days with us later in the month, so that is something to look forward to.
.
Will be thinking of you all.



Val in SA.

Good morning everyone.

I promised on one occassion to describe where I live rather than simply the views from my home. so here is my attempt to describe the small town.

Peniscola is a very old hamlet which has grown very quickly over the last 40 yeras. It is reknowned in Spain for its' amazing beaches where there are miles of wonderful soft sand to the morth and then truly wonderful rugged coastline with many coves to the south. It is known as "the city in the sea" because the historic centre is built on a tiny peninsula connected to the mainland by a narrow strip of land. This was the defensive position and kept unwanted visitors at bay for hundreds of years. Even today all the narrow street "avenidas" are made of the old cobbled stones, the avenues are very narrow and on a steep incline. The white houses are between 4 and 6 stories high with just one room on each level, hence the occupants are very fit. Until 2 years ago these properties could only be sold to the indigenous Spanish. There are VERY strict rules as to how they have to be mainted etc and in the summer every balcony is smothered in hanging baskets full of wonderful coloured plants. The peninsula is topped by a fortress which was also built by the Moors although the castle was built on the instructions of the Templars and Papa Luna or the Anti Pope
From 1411 to 1423 the Anti Pope lived there. He was Pope Benedict and split from the Catholic church during the Great Western Schism. When Papa Luna < the enlightned pope died he was succeeded by Pope Clementt V111, who also lived in the Castle. He abandoned his claim as Pope in 1429 and the schism ended.

Entrance tyo the whole enclosure is through the Sant Pere, Papa Luna, Felipe11 or Santa Maria Gates. Visitors flock to see one of the great geological curiosity the " Bufador! or Blower. This is a large hole in the rock and on windy days the seawater surges making a very loud and strange noise as it erupts, can be evry errie on a dark night!!

In recent times, well as far as the history is concerned, the oustanding beauty has provided splendid sites for a number of films including the Spanish film " Calabuig" and most famously El Cid starring Charlton Heston. Every person who lived in Peniscola starred in the film, even the babies who were born during its making. I am fortunate to have many of the original black and white still photos, kindly given to me by someone who lives here.


Just in case I have bored any of you I will stop now.


I am going to make my coffee and sit and think a while.

It looks as if I MAY return to the UK for about 6 months, but with regular visits back home and OH will spend a lot of time with me. Yes, it looks as if I may be working shhhhhh, in Hastings, a place where I was sent to a convent for many months when I was 3 years old. My mother was very ill and my father knew the Mother Superior there.
I actually have fond memories of the place and recently tried to find it but without luck...so it seems that coincidence arrives again and I will be able to look for it myself!!

I am now gouing to have the cup of coffee and my quiet time, as you all know this is a precious time of my day, i shall think of you all, raise a prayer or two that my son is making good progress, so OK he will be in Plaster for about 3 months but he is fine.

Youngest son, the Army twin is best man at a wedding today nad he will be wearing his Blues and his Sword, can't wait to see the photos.

Val I am so pleased to hear that your OH is improving and hope that all goes well at the next hospital visit.

To everyone I can only say THANK YOU for keeping this thread alive and interesting

Bridget

Son has been dishcarged and he is OK. Will be in plaster for some weeks and then a special cast. He had excellent treatment by the hospiatl, with very good information to take away with him. Is being well looked after by friends especially the females, and has a ground floor apartment available to him to stay in so everything looking better now. Many thanks to you all for your kind thoughts

Bridget

Good morning Bridget and everyone, a very brisk although sunny morning here today, quite autumnal in temperature though so starting to add layers, don't want the heating on yet.
I have the joy of the chiropodist today so have to go into town. OH will be playing golf in a match.
Bridget, thinking of your son, hope he is improving.
Frances, there is a thread on the board which is titled Greaders, books read in past two months there are book reviews on there, otherwise there are also many Greaders six weekly review threads of books we have read as a group. Bridget, glad that you enjoyed The Glassmaker's daughter, good wasn't it?

Ann
Glos

Good morning Bridget,

Hope you and your son are feeling better to-day. Will be thinking of you all again to-day.

After yesterday's wind this morning is quite calm and I think it is going to be quite a pleasant day.

I am always glad when summer is over as I much prefer the cold weather

My husband needs to go to the bank to-day and I am the chauffeur as he cannot drive the car for at least another 3 weeks. Only 2 more injections to give, I'm not sure which one of us is more pleased!

Have a good day everyone.




Val ion SA.

Good morning everyone

A quick visit this morning to say thanks for keeping everything going. Ann in Glos and Val in SA many thanks for your messages.
Yesterday was very hot and humid, we are all feeling worn ou with the humidity...every day we hope it will rain...

Last night was cooler than recently and I managed to sleep for about 6 hrs, so maybe that is the first sign that the weather is changing......
We do normall have cold winters from around Jan to March, so I am sure that I will be complaing then that it is to cold!!!

Today we are having curry for dinner so will try to find the time to put the recipe on the Culinary thread.

Frances, what sort of books do you read. Somewhere on here is a thread about reading and the write up for the Glass Makers daughter was so good that I asked a friend to bring it over from UK, she did and it was a wonderful read.

Well time for coffee and contemplation.

Happy days everyone


Bridget

Hello Bridget,

Sorry to hear about your son, will be remembering you all in prayer.

it's a very windy day again to-day, from a distance the sea looks almost navy-blue and is very choppy.

For lunch to-day I will be making curried eggs, one of my daughter's favourites. Although she doesn't live with us her workshop is here so she has lunch with us most days.

I see there are a few more buds on my pansies and the lobelias are also starting to flower , they are so lovely when they are flowering and hang over the side of the pot..




Val in SA.

Bridget, family must come first, sorry to hear about son's problems. Come back to the thread and the culinary thread when you have time. Will be thinking of you and your son.

Ann xx

Sorry for being so late everyone.
Son in Barcelona caklled again yesterday, he is now in hospital having had an opereation on his torn tendon and is in plaster. Now this son is really not the most patient of people and is talking about 2nd opinions etc. Ssorry to say I cut him short and old hime that at almost 38 yrs old he should have learnt to listen more!! Not quite what he was expecting. I do understand his position as he lives in one of the very old appartmesnt in Barcelona on the 6th floor and no lift so he can't go back there! He split up from his ;ong term partner about 18mths ago, and would you beleive it , it was her he called for help and because she is absolutley still in love with him, off she went and organised everything. Then she called me ti say she couldn't manage to have him at their old residence as there are no lifts there either. Anyway he has to stay in hospital for while and I have suggested that he comes to stay with us.
He has had a vey difficult year as far as business goes and h and his business partner are VERY worried about the future..they have two shops wiithch sell very avent gard clothes, they are still selling but not at the same volume and all the service charges have almost doubled. For the last few months they have taken very little earnings for them selves.

So I am not quiet my usual self so will have to ask you all to say a little prayer for us today and also to give me some help in keeping this and the Culinary thread going for a few days.

Black Rose, Well done, just keep exercising and moving around as much as you can safely do, it is so pleaseing to hear that you are making progress.


Off to phone hospital now
so bye everyone

Bridget

Afternoon, Bridget and everyone,
Another lovely day on the Costa Blanca. Walked down into the village this morning to take some 'stuff'' to the charity shop and to see if they had any books I haven't read, luckily they had one or two and are doing a special offer 3 paperbacks for 1euro.
This is purely coincidence but we are watching 'Family at War' at the moment, our neighbours have kindly lent us the dvds. Don't know if you remember the series but it came out in about 1970 which was the 25th anniversary of the end of WW2. We can't actually remember it the first time round but that could be because we were newly married!!!!
Enjoy the day
Frances

Glad you are making a good recovery after your stroke Blackrose.
My sister-in-law had a stroke in April and after 6 weeks in a rehabilitation centre she too has made remarkable progress. I trust you will improve a little more each day.

Good wishes.


Val in SA..

well its the first of september and a lovely morning here in cumbria. Five months tonight since my stroke and I am glad I'm making a good recovery and can just enjoy although with a few frustrations this lovely day

Just popped in to say Hi to everyone. It is the first day of Spring here in Australia. Lovely day. Don't know what happened to Winter. It was the mildest one I have ever known. We kept waiting for the torrential rains and the cold - but got nothing. Admittedly, some places got the rain, but not in outer Sydney, where I am. We didn't even feel the cold air coming from the snow on the mountains - although they did get some snow - not a lot. Thankfully, the snowfields in southern NSW had enough for the skiiers to enjoy.

Amazingly, our temperatures were averaging 18 to 23 at a time when they would normally be 12 to 16. We are not complaining, but it does mean that we will be more likely to have fires in Summer and more water restrictions.

However, the gardens are looking lovely and making me miss my old garden (I now live in a villa complex with a paved courtyard) but I bought yet another plant in a pot to-day, so that's my 'fix' for this week!

Hope you are all enjoying your life/retirement. I slept late this morning - but what the heck! that's one of the advantages of being retired, isn't it?

Good morning Val,
When the pansies come through they always seem to be so optomistic.

So many people musthave the same thoughts as you, about fathers, brothers etc who left home one day because of the WAR and then didn't come back for a long time, if ever. I know that my elder siser missed her father, and that my mother who was only 16 when she married also missed him terribly and found when he returned that he simply wasn't the same person that she remembered. Sadly they divorced in 1948, the death of their only son when he was 4 hours old finally was the straw to far and yet whenever they met it was so obvious that all the feelings were still there.

He is still alive and in his nineties and I visit hime everytime I go to the UK.

I shall think of him this week along with my own uncles, and my in laws. My MIL was a Land Army girl and my FIL served all across Europe.


" We shall remember them" I shall also think of all those in Afghan including my sons colleagues and friends.



Bye for now

Bridget

Good morning,

Spring Day to-day, but it is such a blustery day and also cloudy, not at all like Spring. The first of my pansies are flowering, a lovely bright yellow - that's more like Spring. My lonely lettuce is coming along nicely as are my spring onions. I would like to plant some green beans next.

I haven't seen my frog yet, but he was very noisy last night at about 11.30pm, I think something must have upset him!

I often wonder how different life would have been had my father not been taken prisoner in World War 2 and spent so many years away from us.

Do take care.


Val in SA.