Blue Monday, the sinking of the Costa Concordia, double mashed potatoes, Norah’s adventure and other things.

The patatas revolconas we ate at De Brasa y Puchero restaurant this week

Hello again,

Well this week has been full of events, both at home and abroad.  On the international scene, the newspapers have been full of news of the terrible sinking of the Italian cruise liner, the Costa Concordia by the shores of the Island of Giglio.    Some 10 people have died and another 20 or more are missing in an accident, similar to the legendary Titanic.  We have all become familiar with the name of the captain, Francesco Schettino and his extraordinary behaviour.  He has been accused by the media of endangering the lives of 4.200 people by coming too near to the island to salute a former colleague and by apparently abandoning the ship before helping to evacuate the passengers. Just how can a captain abandon his ship?  I always remember the image of the captain of the Titanic, who did just the opposite, staying at the helm until it sank, not even trying to save his life.  Cruise holidays are very popular.  I have never been on one and am not very attracted but even if I ever wanted to go on one I couldn’t as Eladio is a very bad sea traveller, feeling sick just at the sniff of a ship’s engine. 

This week will be remembered for the aftermath of the sinking of the Costa Concordia

Monday started off as being pretty bleak with ghastly weather.  Snow was forecast for that day, which I would have loved for our walk but all we got were  fog and rain here in Madrid which impeded us from going on our daily walk.  That night we watched a programme on the TV about Spaniards living in Terranova, Newfoundland in Canada and learned that in this isolated part of the world, its population has to endure nearly 300 days a year of fog.  So I can hardly complain as the rest of the week was sunny and dry.  As I observed people having lunch outside one day this week, I remembered my Father saying that his favourite month in Spain is January, it being sunny but not hot. Funnily enough I later read that Monday 16^th January is known as Blue Monday, the most depressing day of the year.  It also reminded me of the famous Carpenters' song: "Rainy days and Mondays always get me down"

So it was fitting perhaps that it was on Blue Monday that the founder of Spain’s conservative PP party, died.  The news of the passing away of Manuel Fraga, a larger than life political leader from Galicia, described in the international press, as the last of the Spanish dictator Franco’s ministers, took over as the top news in Spain after the sinking of the Costa Concordia.

Manuel Fraga died this week

On Tuesday I went into the office for a meeting and then had a lunch appointment with a friend, Ramón who had been, until recently,  a well known TV news presenter.  He is now out of a job and my mission during our lunch was to pass him on my experience of picking up your life after losing a job, something that I am very familiar with.  My main advice was to think positive and for him to believe in himself and never give in and that his main job right now was his own marketing plan to find that job which I know he will if he doesn’t give up.  I wish him a lot of luck because it won’t be easy in these times of high unemployment in Spain, not to mention that jobs as TV news presenters do not precisely grow on trees!

If Monday was blue Monday, Tuesday was a red letter day for us because it was the day my Father walked again with his stick.  If you will remember, until recently he couldn’t walk because of the bedsore on his heel and latterly he had been able to do so with a zimmer frame.  So walking with a stick and practically unaided was huge progress.  Soon he will be joining us on our weekly shopping expedition, where I know that what he most looks forward to is a glass of Rueda white wine with a nice Spanish tapa at the Rio Café in El Bosque.

Just for the heck of it I invited Eladio later that night to dinner at the nearby De Brasa y Puchero restaurant where we are very fond of a dish called “patatas revolconas”, This is a Spanish country dish made of potatoes and a sprinkling of paprika and cooked with pork crackling that end up as a sort of mashed potato.  The verb “revolcón” can translate as “a roll in the hay” which of course has a sexual connotation meaning quick and dirty.  However there is nothing quick and dirty about this dish which is absolutely mouth watering.  I looked up the translation on google and came up with “double mashed potatoes”, not quite what it really is but in this link here you have the recipe.  The photo illustrating this week’s blogpost is of the potato dish we had at De Brasa y Puchero on Tuesday night.

The days went past pretty normally, with no trips this week.  On Thursday I was delighted to see Olivia on the television.  She was reporting on the 75^th anniversary of Spain’s national radio station, RNE and on the visit of the Crown Prince of Spain, Don Felipe and his wife, the ex TVE presenter.  Olivia tried to ask her a question but just as the Princess was about to reply, a body guard lifted Olivia literally into the air and out of her sight.  That must have been an unusual experience for Olivia.  I managed to take a photo of Olivia on the TV and in the same screen shot you can see the Prince and Princess.  Funny to think that if she hadn’t married the Prince they may have ended up as colleagues working for the same TV station.  You can see Oli’s live report here at minute 13.50h.

Olivia reporting on the 75th anniversary of RNE and the visit of Prince Felipe and his wife Princess Letizia

It was on Thursday when I finally got on the dreaded scales, weeks after Christmas had begun.  I was a little worried they would tell me a sorry story but got away with murder actually, only having put on just under one kilo over the whole Christmas period.  To get rid of the extra weight I immediately did two days of the strict pure protein intake, from the Dukan diet but actually they didn’t budge. 

Friday was the highlight of the week.  Eladio’s brother, José Antonio and his wife Dolores came to see us in the afternoon, bringing Nuba their sweet mongrel dog with them.  I suspect they come more often these days so that Nuba can enjoy the outdoors.  Whatever the reason, it makes us happy to see them now more often than before.  So off we went for the walk with the three dogs.  Norah is always on a lead as we suspect she would run off after rabbits or motorbikes and never come back.  However, it was such a lovely sunny afternoon and at José Antonio’s suggestion of letting her loose, we did so. We were surprised at how well she behaved, coming back each time we called her, and were delighted that she could go free.

I had booked tickets later for the new Millennium film by David Fincher, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo at the Equinoccio leisure centre in Majadahonda.  I am a great fan of Stieg Larsson’s trilogy and had my doubts that the American version of the film would be as good or better than the Swedish version.  So what did I think?  Actually, that it was just as good; equally entertaining. 

We went to see the new version of The Girl with the dragon tatoo

Afterwards I had planned for us to have dinner at our all time favourite restaurant at Equinoccio, La Alpargatería, so was very upset to hear earlier that it had shut down.  How could they shut down the restaurant we go to most? The last time we went was in December and here for the records is the photo of us there. Little did we know it would be the last time.  Goodbye La Alpargatería we shall dearly miss going there and eating at table number 7.

We were upset to hear that the restaurant we go to most, La Alpargatería has shut down.  This photo was taken on our last visit there in December.

As La Alpargatería had closed down, we opted to take José Antonio and Dolores to De Brasa y Puchero, mostly for them to try the “patatas revolconas”. However I think having that dish twice in a week, is more than enough for a while now.  

Yesterday, Saturday, was a nice quiet sunny day and the girls had guests for lunch.  Juli and Rocío, in fact, spent most of the weekend here.  Olga had made a delicious lasaña and whilst it was cooking the girls and their friends were actually sunbathing outside by the pool.  See what I mean by good weather?

The girls and their friends with Norah enjoying the sun on Saturday. 

Later that day was to be Norah’s biggest adventure ever and a huge scare for us as we nearly lost her.  As she had behaved so well loose on the walk with José Antonio and Dolores the day before, we decided to let her loose again.  Everything was going fine until a cyclist crept up behind us, too late to put the dogs back on their leads.  They immediately ran after the cyclist who I tried to warn in advance.  The dogs disappeared into the distance, only Elsa returning.  We carried on down the path which leads on to a road right by a motorway and Norah was nowhere in sight.  Eladio stayed on the road to look for her and I went back the way we had come taking Elsa with me.  I rang the girls for them to pick us and help us look for Norah.  Both of them were busy either dyeing their hair or showering so dear Juli and Rocío came to our rescue.  To add to the adventure Juli’s car was not fit for off road driving, he was running out of petrol and Rocío didn’t have time to change out of her pyjamas!  Just as they picked me and Elsa up I had a phone call.  Thanks to the tag on Norah's collar, an honest man called me to say he had found her on the M50 motorway at the Boadilla exit and that she had got into the car with him and that he had driven her to his home in Leganés, miles away. She had nearly been run over by the car in front of him!! We went to fetch her in Juli's car and the family, who had already fallen in love with her, gave her back. You can't begin to believe just how happy and relieved we are.  Needless to say Norah will never be let off her lead again when she leaves the house. As my friend Adele said on my Facebook wall: “all’s well that ends well”.  Indeed that is true.

Today has been a quiet family day with both girls at home.  The week coming up will be busy for me and them of course.  That’s it then my friends for this week.  I hope you all have a good one.

Cheers till next time.

Masha

A bombshell, off to Stockholm and home again

Me in Stockholm this week.  The photo is taken from the top of the TeliaSonera's offices in Stureplan

Hello everyone, this cold and quiet Sunday in the middle of January.  

The week has been eventful.  On Monday evening at dinner with the family, Suzy threw a bombshell, when she told us she would be leaving home after the summer to live with Gaby, her boyfriend of now more than 7 years.  Did I expect it?  Well she is certainly at the age or past the age, coming up to 28 next April.  I think I did, as I myself had suggested the idea not so long ago.  It came to me from Bernard, Adele’s French psychiatrist husband who visited us last October.  When he saw that Suzy and Gaby alternated the nights at each other’s home, he observed it must be a dichotomy for them both to have to change houses each night in order to be together.  He was right of course.  What has prevented them so far is the lack of money as neither of them earns very much but my advice to them is that their independence is worth much more than the money they lack.  That was based on my own experience when Eladio and I lived in what was called “sin” in the early 80’s in a flat in Saconia outside Madrid. So am I upset?  In a way of course but my head rules my heart and I think it is time for her to experience independence.  No doubt we will miss her but there is one rule she will have to stick to and that is coming home for lunch every Saturday or Sunday.  Olivia I think will miss her most.  But then it is only a question of time too before Olivia leaves too.  However I hope that bombshell takes a while to come, as losing them both at the same time would certainly bring a lot of emptiness to this enormous house and life would never be the same.

The next day I didn’t have much time to think about it as I was going off into my own little world and travelling to Stockholm for a meeting with the communications team I belong to in TeliaSonera, the main shareholder of my company Yoigo.  I was up at the crack of dawn as I had to catch a plane at just past 10. Unfortunately the direct flight was full so I had to change planes at Geneva airport.  I was to use my new Samsonite luggage, a cabin sized suitcase and pc case which fits snugly at the top and was happy to avoid the bag drop queue as well as waiting for my luggage in Stockholm.  This was not only a time issue but also a means to avoid having the luggage left in Geneva. In my experience if you check in your luggage for a flight with a transfer, it usually ends up getting stuck at the transfer airport.  Being a seasoned traveler, or so I thought, I waited until the queue to get on the plane was down to just a few people and there I learned a new travel trick.  The plane had filled up with too much cabin luggage and I was told the plane was full and that I would have to give in my lovely new Samsonite luggage to be stowed away with the rest of the checked in luggage.  I protested that it would be left in Geneva as I had an ongoing flight and was allowed to board with it only to be given the same instructions by the hostess at the entrance of the plane.  My determination won the day but from now on when I travel with the new luggage, I shall go the front of the queue when boarding a plane before it gets full.

Changing planes at Geneva airport was a doddle, as I got off one and basically got on to the other in a nearby slot without having to change terminals to catch the next SAS flight to Stockholm.  Another travelling tip here is to avoid Frankfurt and Paris CDG airports if you ever have to change planes as they are a nightmare.  Geneva airport is full of chocolates which I didn’t buy although I was tempted.  I had asked for an aisle seat on the flight to Stockholm but unfortunately I was given a window seat.  This ended up being an advantage as I was mesmerized by the views of the Alps and Lake Geneva when we flew out of this very chic Swiss airport.

I got a bird's eye view of the snow capped Alps as I flew out of Geneva towards Stockholm

I arrived in Stockholm after 3 in the afternoon and it was already dark.  It wasn’t particularly cold for this time of year at about -3ºc.  I had hoped for snow on the ground but all I got was a thin coat that later disappeared and turned into rain.  In contrast to Spain where it gets light at 8 in the morning and dusk comes after 18h, in Sweden at this time of year, there is not light until 9 and dusk comes at about 3.  The Swedes need the snow to give them so light.  But so far, they are out of luck and so was I.  

The taxi took me to my hotel, the Skeppsholmen, on the island of the same name just a ten minute walk from the old centre of Stockholm.  It is a hotel I have now stayed at three times and if I could choose, I would stay there every time I go.  I love the place, an old army barracks turned into a very stylish and cosy Scandinavian design hotel with a soul.  It’s like a home away from home.  The rooms, and if you go, make sure you get a sea view, have wooden floors, great lighting, thick white bed linen and have a warm Ikea feel about them. 

The Skeppsholmen is my favourite hotel in Stockholm

The basins in the bathroom have a design I have never seen before and perhaps are a bit over the top.  In any case they are something special.  Judge for yourselves by this photo I took on one of my other trips

The basins in the bathrooms of the Hotel Skeppsholmen are ultra modern

I didn’t have much time to check in as I had to be at the TeliaSonera HQ office in Stureplan by 5.30.  I would have loved to walk but was in a rush so took a taxi, one of the thousands driven by immigrants from all the countries you can imagine in the world: such as Nigeria, Iran, Turkey, Iraq or in this case from Kosovo.  We had a good chat and I told him that Kosovo was really only known for its war and he agreed.  Sweden is home traditionally to immigrants who have suffered wars or political ostracism from all over the world.  But like in most countries, the immigrants live a semi ghetto existence.  It is a story that always fascinates me.

I arrived just on time but funnily enough two of the Swedes, better known for their punctuality, were actually late.  We had been invited along to do a team building exercise.  An agency called the Green Hat Games was to be our host.  We were divided into two teams and with the use of a Samsung Galaxy Tab we took the challenge and competed against each other via a variety of trivial type questions.  The other team won by a close victory but we all enjoyed the exercise.

Afterwards we walked to the nearby Story restaurant where we feasted on delicious fish and wine, as well as some interesting salted peas in a pod.  Our team is made up of members who do my same job in the Nordic and Baltic countries, so it was great to meet up with Indra, Kaja, Mette, Timo, Karen, Anna, Birgitta and the others.  I had missed the last meeting in Vilnius which was when my Father was operated on his hip.  I also missed last year’s meeting in Oslo which coincided with a Yoigo event but I am determined not to miss our next meeting which is scheduled for June in Wonderful Copenhagen.

The Story hotel restaurant in Stockholm where we had our team dinner

I walked back to my hotel afterwards to work off the dinner and enjoy the cool Stockholm air.  The next morning I got up early again in order to go for a short walk before our meeting started at 08.30h.  I would have walked to TS if I hadn’t had my heavy pc to carry with me.

I arrived in the dark and when I left the building at 17h it was dark again, so spent the whole day inside.  Luckily our meeting took place on the top floor which has a terrace so I was able to get some fresh air during the day and enjoy the lovely view of Stockholm from the top of Stureplan 1.  Mette, my Danish colleague took the photo of me on that terrace, the one illustrating this week’s blog.

Our intense and interesting meeting ended too late for me to catch a plane back to Madrid that evening, so I had decided to stay on another night.  My plane back the next day wasn’t until two so I had plenty of time for working quietly on my pc in my hotel room as well doing some shopping.

I left my pc at TS and went for a walk along the streets for a look in the shops.  I love shopping in Stockholm for clothes as you can find Swedish fashion that I love and which is different from anything you can find in Spain.  That afternoon I got as far as the Gallerian shopping centre and my first find was a blue and white tight fitting striped dress in Vero Moda which when I saw it I knew it was for me.  I love stripes, as those of you who know me better, already know.

The blue and white striped dress I bought at Vero Moda in Gallerian

I had been up really early for the last two days and felt very tired, so I took a taxi back to my hotel to relax.  After I had caught up on my emails I was suddenly very hungry but realised why.  We had had lunch at the unearthly Swedish time of 11.45 so no wonder I was hungry at 19.30.  I made my way down to the cozy dining room to sit on my own at a small table by the window, the one I always sit at if it’s free.  And I ordered what I always order at the Skeppsholmen hotel, their wonderful prawn open sandwich with two glasses of sauvignon white wine.  In order not to feel too alone, I whatsapped with Suzy and surfed the news on my phone.  The photo below which I took on my last trip here, shows you just how wonderful this very Swedish platter is and why I order it every time I come.

The Skeppsholmen Hotel serves as great prawn open sandwich

On Thursday morning, the world was mine and after working for an hour or so and packing and leaving my luggage in reception, I walked to the town centre, determined to buy some more new Swedish clothes to add to my wardrobe.

It was cold, rainy and windy and funnily enough my first stop was H+M which we have in Spain of course.  However I was tempted by a beautiful flowery green silk dress I saw in the window.  I tried it on and size M was perfect, so I promptly bought some matching green tights, a cardigan and scarf to go with it.  Here you can see which dress I mean.  

The green flowery dress I bought at H+M in Stockholm this week

Later I walked into Kappahl where I always find something.  Here I bought a striped jumper and matching scarf and this lovely striped cardigan with bright colours.  I must have made the right choice as when I showed all my new clothes to Olivia, she chose this cardigan to wear the next day to work.

The colourful striped cardigan I bought at Kappahl

I also went into Lindex, my all time favourite of Swedish clothes’ shops, but didn’t really find anything that took my fancy except for a pink t-shirt.

I didn’t have much time left or room in my suitcase, so, loaded with my new purchases, I weathered the rain and wind to walk back to the hotel.  Here I managed to get them all into my Samsonite case, said my goodbyes and left in yet another taxi driven by an immigrant for Terminal 5 of Arlanda airport.

Here I had just under an hour and a half to get through customs and security, do some duty free shopping and have a bite to eat.  I also had to make a few phone calls related to work and in the end wished I had left the hotel earlier, as it was all a bit of a rush.  I had promised the family a Swedish dinner that night with food bought at the airport with prawn open sandwich being the main dish.  I got this at one of the lovely bars and the rest at a Swedish delicatessen run by a delightful Iranian immigrant.  He sold me more than I needed and gave me the recipe and ingredients to make a wonderful sauce to accompany the smoked salmon I purchased there. 

I couldn’t face another prawn sandwich so opted for Swedish tapas which turned out to be even more delicious.  I also need to buy a book to read on the plane as I had 4 hours to play with.  I got the English novelist Joanne Troloppe’s two latest books, The Other Family and Daughters in Law which should keep me going for a while.  Sleep overtook me for half of the flight, but for the other half I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of The Other Family.

I was home by just after eight, in time to greet my Father and give him the Swedish newspaper of that day: Svenska Dagbladet and some chocolates.  I had also bought him his favourite cloudberry jam. 

We had a superb family dinner with the Swedish food I had bought and everyone agreed the Iranian man’s recipe for the salmon sauce was out of this world.  For the record it was made of sour cream, horseradish sauce and cloudberry jam. 

The next day was back to normal and it was Friday.  Eladio and I had a dinner date with Eduardo and Graciela who are our neighbours as well as my ex Nokia colleagues.  Eduardo is now the general manager of Blackberry Spain.  It is perhaps fitting that many of my ex Motorola and ex Nokia colleagues are no longer with Motorola or Nokia and now head up or have high positions in companies in the same sector.  Eduardo commented that Blackberry had the best team in Spain and I pointed out that most of its members either came from Motorola or Nokia who in their heydays had the best teams in the sector.  

I had reserved a table at the English restaurant in Pozuelo, La Pérfida Albión which as you know is my current favourite because of the fish and chips on its menu.  We had a great meal together and as we headed home and said our goodbyes, I remarked that we should not let another two years pass by before we repeat the experience.  I hope my words come true.

The weekend has been quiet with very little to report.  We have done the usual things, make nice meals, sleep siestas, go for our walks and watch the news in the evening.  

The dogs missed me while I was in Stockholm as they didn’t get their daily walk.  When I got back, the new giant sized bed I had ordered for Elsa from Amazon.co.uk, finally arrived.  It was meant to be for Elsa as Norah had made it clear that the other new bed I bought recently was to be for her only.  Norah, however, has bagged the new bed too even though it’s far too big for her.. This goes to show that animals, the same as humans, always prefer something new.  In the picture you can also appreciate just how big Elsa has got with Norah fitting neatly in between her legs. 

Both dogs prefer the new giant bed to the old one and they both fit in it snugly.

Next week promises to be quiet too with no trips and hopefully no bombshells either.

Hope yours is a good one. All the best until next week

Masha

Christmas came and went and brought a lot of joy.

The five of us on Kings' day

 Hi everyone,

Last time I wrote it was just before Christmas, in fact the day we put up all the decorations.  And today is 7^th January, the end of Christmas and, with a heavy heart, and like most of you, we will have to take them down.  Eladio and I have just done so and I, at least, am left with an empty feeling.  The emptiness, though, will probably go away, when we go out to lunch, the two of us today to Le Pain Quotidien. 

It’s been a good Christmas, as good as it can get and in fact I’ve been so busy enjoying it I kept putting off writing my blog.  But now it can’t wait any longer and I have to record all our activities and there have been many.  

So let me start from the beginning, from where I left off, as always.  It was Monday 19^th December, a very busy day for me, I remember.  But it wasn’t just any Monday in December.  It will be remembered for being the day when the world first heard that one of its worst dictators, Kim Jong-iL had died.  The whole of North Korea went into mourning and wept for the cameras.  I suspect that if they didn’t cry in public, they were in fear of being sent to jail in a country which is best known for its stifling and outdated communist regime.  Unfortunately the dictator’s death will not put an end to the anachronism as the dictator’s son will take his place and his countrymen will continue to suffer at the dictatorship’s hands.

Kim Jong-Il, the dictator of North Korea died in December

 I didn’t give a thought to Kim Jong-iL the next day which turned out to be even busier. I had an important meeting at work and then another one at my PR Agency’s office with two rebellious bloggers, after which I had to rush off, this time to another pleasant Christmas lunch.  It was with my ex PR Agency team from Llorente y Cuenca and it was great to exchange news with Susana, Mauricio and Juan at the Indian restaurant Annapurna in Madrid.  They seemed to have matured so much since we first worked together over five years ago when Yoigo was launched in the Spanish market. 

That night Julio and Fátima came to dinner for the first Christmas celebration of the season.  Every year we go to Julio’s house for a traditional dinner, but this year, logistics dictated that it take place at our house.  And a fine time we had, as always, with our exchange of presents and crackers.  This year, I had ordered “party poppers” on one of my new Christmas online sites, and they were a great success, after we figured out how to use them.  Next year I shall order them in bulk!

Dinner with Julio and Fátima

On the Wednesday before Christmas the last of my seasonal work events took place.  It was the Yoigo children’s party and we were to create an outdoor circus.  The girls were to join me as helpers but first we met in town for a quick bit of Christmas shopping and for an unplanned lovely lunch together.  We were in one of Madrid’s most famous shopping streets, Fuencarral and here we happened upon my proverbial favourite, Le Pain Quotidien.  Afterwards and just before we left for Yoigo, we discovered a great little shop called Tiger whose products reminded me of Ikea.  It is apparently a Danish store which sells cheap and original home accessories and thus the resemblance I suppose. 

Soon we had to curtail the girly outing and make our way to Yoigo where preparations were taking place for the original children’s party which was to take place outdoors.  I was afraid of the cold so we ordered an umpteen number of outdoor heaters which in the end were not necessary as it never went below 10ºc.  The party was a huge success and we had even bigger numbers than the year before, with staff taking along up to 6 nieces and nephews!!  I even saw a woman and her child who turned out to be gatecrashers from the neighbouring company Cisco. Here are the photos to prove how much the children enjoyed themselves.  I am now asking myself what on earth we will create for next year’s party!!

The circus we created for the Yoigo children's Christmas party this year

The circus people were amazing but, even more amazing, was Michal Kahn, the English balloon artist who joined us again for the children’s party.  I couldn’t resist having my photo taken with her and it is one I will cherish for a long time.  You can see the whole album of photos of the wonderful circus we created here.

With Michal Khan, the amazing British balloon artist

Whilst the party was in full swing, Spain’s new and right wing Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, announced the names of the people to be included in his cabinet.  On our way back in the car we avidly looked up the news on our mobile phones, and I was immensely happy to see he had appointed his youngest member of staff, Soraya Sanz de Santamaría, as his Vice President.  She has just turned 40 and given birth to her first child and is very well prepared for the job.  I wish them all luck in what is going to be one of the toughest legislations in many years.  One of their first measures has been to put up our income tax, not a very popular decision I am sure.  

The next day was Thursday 22^nd December and famous in Spain for being the draw of the Christmas lottery, commonly called “El Gordo” (the fat one).  Eladio didn’t win a penny but Suzy was lucky with a win of 120 euros for a ticket she bought in Alicante.  Oli was busy at work covering the stories of the winners in Madrid and although she didn’t warn me in advance I caught her live on the television at a fish market in Madrid interviewing some of them.  You can see the video clip at minute 13.35h  here.

Oli reporting on the Christmas lottery winners live on TV

On Friday we returned to the little English restaurant in Pozuelo for dinner, La Pérfida Albión.  We were joined, this time, by José Antonio and Dolores who, I think, enjoyed the fish and chips as much as us.  The portions are big but I’m afraid the platter is not as authentic as I would like, although it tastes very good.  It’s just a bit too “gourmet” for me, being a “Yorkshire lass” with good memories of fish and chips at the local chippy or even better at the famous Harry Ramsdens in Guiseley.

Gourmet fish and chips at the English restaurant in Pozuelo

The dates for Christmas and New Years Eve fell at the weekend this year and it felt strange.  That doesn’t go to say they weren’t as enjoyable as ever.  I had been preparing for the important Christmas Eve dinner for weeks and had ordered food and crackers online and made and frozen our traditional “perushki” (little Russian pies) weeks before, as well as the croquettes.  I had also made the potato salad the day before.    So all I had to do on Christmas Eve  was prepare the rest: salmon and prawns with avocado pear with chopped egg and onion and 1000 island sauce, bacon rolls, potato salad, egg mayonnaise canapés, tuna fish vol au vent, green salad, fresh thick green asparagus, foie and the best “pata negra” ham you could imagine. Needless to say, it was all far too much and we ate the delicious left over’s for days to come. 

The table looked a treat as we sat down for the most important meal at Christmas in Spain. 

The table on Christmas Eve

Afterwards we sat with the girls in the lounge looking at photos of this year until we all fell asleep and made our way, happy to our beds, in wait for the next day to come, Christmas day, a day that I look forward to year after year and which never ever disappoints me.  As we closed our bedroom doors, I took out the girls’ stocking presents from the cupboard where they were hidden and placed them in a big Christmas sack Anne once sent me, instead of the traditional woolen stockings made by my Mother for the girls when they were small.  This was because Susana was unable to find hers at the last moment!

Christmas day was the same as every Christmas.  It is exactly the same as when I was a child and we used to spend Christmas at my Grandmother’s house in Ickenham near London.  I have continued the tradition and I suspect my girls will too when they form their own families. First we have a wonderful breakfast together.  Unfortunately this year I didn’t take any photos.  But for the occasion, out comes one of our wedding gifts, the Royal Albert china tea set which is always laid on my favourite M+S fruit and flower patterned table cloth both of which were gifts I treasure from my parents.

Next we go to the lounge where all the presents around the tree are waiting to be unwrapped and we spend nearly two hours opening big and small parcels with Christmas carols in the background.  This year we were joined by both our dogs, Norah and Elsa. On the table there will always be wonderful chocolates, either  Roses, Heroes or Quality Street.  This year it was Heroes, bought by Suzy at Quicksave in Gran Alacant.  We all go ooh and ah and love every minute of it.  I was happy to open my new Samsonite cabin suitcase and matching pc case which will make my trips to Stockholm or Barcelona much more comfortable.  I also got a black Tous watch from Eladio and a wooden suit hanger stand from the girls for my bedroom to hang my clothes out for the next day.  I always put them on the sofa and this will be very useful for this tidy practice of mine.

Eladio and I with Elsa just before opening the presents on Christmas Day

Then everyone disappears and it’s up to me to get on with making the lunch, another traditional meal, the only difference being that instead of turkey we have “pularda”, a sort of fattened hen which we prefer.  To accompany the bird, there must always be sage and onion stuffing, roast potatoes, gravy, brussel sprouts and cranberry sauce. The table looked great and here you can see my Father and Susana patiently waiting for us all to appear and begin the feast.

Grandpa and Suzy waiting for us to join them at the Christmas day lunch table.  Looks nice eh?

PHOTO LUNCH

What makes the lunch heavy is the Christmas pudding eaten afterwards with traditional sweet white sauce made with brandy, not to mention the endless supply of chocolates and Spanish turrón (a sort of nougat). 

You can see all the photos of our family Christmas here if you want to see some more.

The afternoon is spent sleeping off the lunch and then a brisk walk with the dogs.  Of course dinner is cold leftovers whilst watching a good film on television.

Boxing Day is not a holiday in Spain and both girls had to go to work.  They were to join us later in the evening though for one of our Christmas highlights.   At Olga’s suggestion I had bought tickets for all of us to go to the Strauss Festival New Year concert taking place at the Auditorio Nacional in Madrid (the main music hall). This was to be a huge treat for my Father who is an avid Strauss and Vienna New Year concert fan.  It was also to be his first outing since his operation.  We went in two cars with his wheel chair folded away in ours and as usual, got lost on the way.  We all sat down to listen and watch the concert just as the music started and a bit stressed with the logistics of finding the place and getting the tickets out of the machine which wouldn’t read my credit card.  But soon we were all immersed in the magic of the wonderful music.  Here is a photo of the five of us during the interval.

At the Strauss New Year concert with Grandpa on Boxing Day

It wasn’t until the encore that we were to finally hear the Blue Danube which I had been waiting for throughout, probably Struass’ most famous piece.  Later we were to watch the real concert live on 1st January in León.  That got me thinking that maybe one year we will go. I since looked up how to buy the tickets and you have to register for a draw, so I did.  I will only know in March if we will be lucky enough or not to be able to buy them at the medium level price of over 500 euros each!  Will we go to Vienna for the concert next year?  Watch this space.  Maybe we will.  In any case my Father has now at least seen a smaller version live and I know he thoroughly enjoyed it.  In fact he is now a lot better.  The bedsore on his heel is on the mend and he can now stand up on his own and has even been practicing walking and has been able to do so without being helped.  That is the best news this Christmas for us all.  

The next day, Tuesday 27th December, was another family highlight when we went to dinner to our friends’ house as dictates tradition every Christmas.  We were invited to dinner at Mar and Mariano’s.  When we arrived Mariano had just left to pick up Mar who works for La Vanguardia newspaper in Madrid.  So we were hosted for the first hour, in their absence, by San, their 9 year old adopted Chinese son who has been Suzy’s and is now Oli’s pupil for help with his homework on a nearly daily basis during the school term.   San was the perfect host who, after showing us the album of his adoption and holiday photos to exotic places, suddenly said “don’t you think my parents are taking a bit long?”.  Finally they arrived and we could sit down to dinner served by their delightful non Spanish speaking Filipino maid Cherry.  The dinner was wonderful as usual but our friends had a dilemma.  Mar had just been offered the job as chief communications officer by the newly appointed Spanish Minister of Finance and she was debating whether to take it or not.  The biggest obstacle of course being the sacrifice she would have to make for her family and not being there for San.  Just a few days later they went to Orlando for New Year so I still don’t know whether our friend accepted this must public term of office.  I advised her; to do so as a chance like this was something she could not say no to.  I wonder whether she did.

Dinner at Mar, Mariano and San's

The next day Eladio and I were off to Salamanca to the small village called Peñacaballera near Bejar.  We were going to stay with our friends Javier and Ana and their family for what was supposed to be just a night but they then persuaded us to stay on for another day and we did.  Believe it or not I didn’t take along my pc so only had my mobile phone to rely on.  It was the only time this Christmas I truly disconnected. As soon as we arrived, Javier and his friend Jorge had prepared a table outside with wine and cheese to enjoy before lunch.  It was sunny throughout our stay as it has been all Christmas.  

Drinks in the garden with Javier and Jorge upon arrival in Peñacaballera

After a delicious lunch of homemade cooked stew for which we all needed an hour long siesta, we went off for a walk around the village.  It was a great afternoon for photography and there were plenty of things to catch on my camera, including a magnificent brown cow in one of the fields.

Me captured on camera by Javier, taking a photo of a cow in a field on our walk near the village

We played cards after dinner, where we were joined by Jorge’s wife Maria, and learned a new game, the name of which I only remember begins with “c”.  I love playing cards and Eladio doesn’t so I thoroughly enjoyed the session while he stoically tried to play the best he could.  

The next day, whilst we were having breakfast Jorge came round after a 7 kilometre run to suggest a 10 kilometre walk to a village called Baños de Montemayor which I learned later is famous for its spa. We took up the challenge and had a great morning walking up and down steep slopes and across fields and paths to be rewarded with a cup of coffee in Baños.  By the time we were half way through the walk, it was so sunny our thick coats, scarves and gloves were completely unnecessary.  I took some lovely pictures, but the best of all is the self timer one that Jorge managed to figure out on my camera.  And here we are the five of us posing to capture forever a moment on that marvelous walk.

A moment on our 10 kilometre walk to Baños de Montemayor and back

In the afternoon we lazed around getting to know our friends a bit more with wonderful relaxed conversations.  We are so happy that Javier is now back in Spain from New York and I guess he is too.  Now we will see them much more often.  To celebrate his return Javier and Ana invited us all, and this time Jorge’s candid wife, María joined us, to dinner in the picturesque village of Hervás, famous for its Jewish quarter.  Hervás is actually in the province of Cáceres in the Extramadura region right on the border of Salamanca and some 5 or 10 kilometres away from Peñacaballera, or “Peña” as our friends call it. We went to a charming little place called El Almirez and here we dined like kings.  

The next day we were up early and said our goodbyes. We took Laura and Ignacio, Javier and Ana’s oldest “children” with us as the family were leaving too for Madrid where they would be spending New Year’s Eve.  Thankfully they knew the way better than us and the journey back was made at greater speed than the outbound one. 

You can see all the photos of the New Year concert, dinner at Mar and Mariano’s and our visit to Peñacaballera here.

We were home for lunch and saw our girls later in the afternoon just for a short while before we were to say goodbye again.  They were off to Barcelona by plane that Friday night late, to spend the New Year and a few more days with Laura, their friend from the scouts.  Laura now lives there permanently in a roomy old flat in the Rambla right inside the Boquería Market where I trust they did all their food shopping.  

Suzy took some great pictures of their visit and this is my favourite one.  Here you can see Suzy and Oli jumping on the beach with a rainbow in the background.  It looks like they had a lot of fun.

The girls had a grand time in Barcelona over New Year

The next day was New Year’s Eve and we were off again.  We left my Father at home with Olga.  It was great sacrifice we asked of her to forego her New Year’s Eve but I had offered her to invite a friend along.  I later learned that she had invited three friends and that they had organized a proper party so in the end it didn’t seem too much of a sacrifice. I trust my Father thoroughly enjoyed the evening.

We meanwhile, went off to León, and  took my sister in law, Dolores and our niece and nephew Sara and Juan with us.  As usual we stopped off at Rueda for a glass of delicious white wine and platter of ham and lomo.  Here is a photo of Eladio and I enjoying the moment. 

The obligatory stop at Palacio de Bornos in Rueda on our way to León for NYE

By 1 o’clock we were in León and Andrés, my outgoing and fun loving brother in law, was waiting for me to have a drink in one of the nearby bars before lunch.  I could hardly stomach more food or wine after the stop in Rueda, but obliged the best I could.  Pili had a sumptuous lunch ready for us as she does every year on New Year’s Eve.  Afterwards, yet again, a siesta was in order.  I enjoyed mine on the sofa with Trebol, their adorable Dalmatian who slept on the matching blanket you can see in the photo below.

Trebol, Pili and Andres' adorable dalmatian

Later we all met at Adela’s house, Eladio’s other sister and here we sang happy birthday to her eldest son, Roberto, who had turned 40.  He is the oldest of the cousins who range all the way down to aged 18.  Diana, otherwise known as “pitulines” or “nene”, his two year old daughter, enjoyed blowing out his candles, over and over again as you can see in the  picture below.

"Pitulines" blowing out her Father, Roberto's 40th birthday candles.

Afterwards I joined Pili and Mario, her son, on a last minute shopping expedition.  We were looking for a black bow tie for him to wear with his new suit that night.  The expedition proved fruitless as every shop we visited had run out of them. We did manage, though to get his Kings’ day present, a pair of size 46 (difficult number to find) Panama Jack boots.  That was one pleased Mario I witnessed that evening.  

Soon we were all preparing to get dressed up for the annual family dinner which nearly always takes place at the Amancio Restaurant in the centre of León.  This year we were 20 round the table and it was as good as it gets.  I had taken along party poppers and crackers as well as presents for all and sundry.  I was taken aback when at the end both Eladio and I were presented with gifts from our family and clapped by everyone.  It was a very touching moment. 

New Year's Eve in León was as good as it can get

You can see the rest of the photos I took of the family New Year’s Eve together in this link.

The next day of course was 1^st January 2012.  I always have an empty sort of feeling on that day.  Everything is closed, it’s cold and the streets are empty and it takes a while to get used to it being another new year.   After watching the New Year concert at Pili’s house, where we staying, we made our goodbyes at around midday and set off home.  Sara and Juan joined us as they had to work the next day.  We stopped at the Parador in Benavente for a New Year’s lunch and as always Eladio and I enjoyed a dish of chickpeas (garbanzos) from the village of Fuentesauco, also in the province of Zamora.   There is a local expression which we love which says: “el buen garbanzo y el buen ladrón de Fuentesauco son” and means: “good chickpeas and good thieves are from Fuentesauco”.  In Spanish it sounds much better because it rhymes.  I must look google the expression to find out its origin.

Soon we were home to a very quiet house, just occupied by my Father, Olga and the dogs as the girls didn’t come back until Tuesday night after New Year’s Eve.  There is not much to report about last week.  Eladio and I did routine things like washing the dogs (oh what fun), the weekly shopping at Carrefour and of course went on our walks, read and worked.  

Friday 6^th January was to be a national holiday, Kings’ day in Spain where the main tradition is to exchange presents, even though it is the last day of Christmas.  We celebrate Father Christmas but there is always a little something for everyone on Kings’ day and a lovely family meal.  Funnily enough the food I prepared couldn’t have been more English: roast beef with Yorkshire pudding and all the trimmings.  We are, after all, an Anglo Spanish family.

So on Thursday I dragged Eladio out to Centro Oeste to get presents for us all.  Suzy was in charge of getting mine as when it comes to presents Eladio lives on cloud cuckoo land and thinks I am in charge of all present giving, including my own, hahahaha. There is nothing in all our years of marriage that will ever change that.

Kings’ day came and on this day it is tradition to make or buy the festive “roscón”, a sort of elongated circle made of buttery sponge which is covered in almonds, sugar and crystallized fruit.  Inside there is always a little present which if it lands on your plate means you are supposed to be in charge of buying the following year’s roscón.  Funnily enough it landed on mine.  I suppose that is fitting as it is nearly always me that buys it anyway. We buy two versions, one with thick whipped cream and one without which I like to toast.  We have been having it for breakfast and as dessert ever since.  The cream version is a great hit with my Father.

The Spanish "roscón" which is always eaten on Kings' Day

Lunch was the best part of the day, as after the amazing roast beef, we opened our presents, just one each. 

Our Kings' Day lunch on 6th January

Juli was with us and made a splendid photographer.  The photo illustrating this blog is of the five kings of this house.  Thanks Juli.  You can see the rest of the photos of King’s Day in this album.

We were in such good spirits that day that the girls and I sang carols for my Father, Eladio and Juli.  I have put them here on You Tube.  Our singing is not wonderful but the moment was very special.

Our festivities didn’t end there as after our siesta and walk Eladio and I had a date at the cinema.  We went to see Meryl Streep play Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady.  She was magnificent and I loved every minute of the film.  I would have preferred a biography in chronological order rather than flashbacks of her life when she began to have Alzheimer around the death of her husband, her beloved Dennis Thatcher.  I now look forward to seeing the film in English.

I am almost sure Meryl Streep will win an Oscar for her role as Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady.

After the film Eladio and I went out to dinner and chose De Brasa y Puchero in nearby Boadilla where we ate another copious meal.  If you ever go, do please try the “patatas revolconas” (dish of potatoes impossible to translate the name of).  

And so I am now back from where I began writing yesterday, when Christmas ended in all the houses and Eladio and I put away the decorations.  The day was made less sad, as we went out to lunch to Le Pain Quotidien as I mentioned at the beginning.  My overall favourite dish there is the hummus which has a tang of curry; umm delicious.

Hummus at Le Pain Quotidien in Zielo on Saturday

And now it’s Sunday 8^th January and I am waiting for the girls to turn up to the last family lunch for a while.  

Next week will be busy and I have a trip to Stockholm to look forward to on Tuesday.  But more about that in next week’s edition.

Hope you all had a great Christmas and I wish you a wonderful 2012.

All the best/Masha