Today is 8th March and International Women's Day. Good for us. Maybe I should be taking part in demonstrations for more equality for women. Many other women will but I hate crowds. Although the world is not equal and never will be, I am glad at least to be a woman in the West. Things have changed in my lifetime. When I was a girl, a woman needed her husband's authorisation to open a bank account, to apply for a passport and countless other things. Women generally had to stop working when they married. Divorce was frowned upon and many women lived in loveless and sometimes violent households. The violence has not gone away but women today are a lot better off than they were. That's not saying there isn't room for improvement. This week more than ever I honestly wish women ruled the world. If we did, I wouldn't be writing about the terrible war in the Middle East at the hands of Trump and Netanyahu. Russia would not have invaded Ukraine, the UK would not have left the EU and women would be free in countries like Yemen or Agfghanistan. Imagine. I'm afraid that is all we can do at the moment, imagine.
Last Sunday was day 2 of the attack on Iran called "Epic Fury" - what violent words and what a violent war it is. Israeli forces killed the President, Khameini and up to 40 top government officials. Together with the USA they are pounding both Iran and Lebanon and Iran, as expected, has retaliated. The war has now affected many Gulf countries, Azerbajan, even Turkey and of course, as we know, Cyprus which is very close to home and part of the EU.
Eladio and I meanwhile, went on our walk and treated ourselves to chocolate con churros. Here is my dear husband partaking in this treat.
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| A moment of peace and joy - chocolate con churros - with Eladio last Sunday |
On
Monday the war raged in the Middle East as it has all week. I'm not sure whether the aggressors have eliminated all Iran's nuclear arsenal but their retaliation and the war itself began to affect the rest of the world. Airspace was closed and many people are trapped and unable to come home. Some have managed it traipsing overland to Oman or Saudi Arabia and some have been rescued but many still remain. I had one guest coming from Israel who obviously had to cancel her stay with us. The price of oil and gas went up also immediately as Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz. That will affect transport and thus goods will soon cost more too. Other than eliminating the repressive government and Iran's nuclear project, there doesn't seem to be a proper plan for what happens next.
Spain's far left PM, Pedro Sánchez, meanwhile prohibited the US from using their bases here for operations against Iran arguing it would violate international law. This infuriated Trump who called Spain all sorts of names and said he would cut off trade with us; except that he can't unless he cuts off trade with the whole of the EU. He went as far as to say no one could stop the US from using them and I gather they still are. I have mixed feelings about the whole thing. I don't like the Iranian repressive regime but I don't like a country with nuclear power ignoring international law by invading another country to remove it of that power. I hate the Ayotollahs and their repression not only of women, but what will become of the people once the attacks seize and the country lies in ruins?
Life continued as normal where we live and that morning saw us do the weekly shop. We bumped into Suzy and seized the moment to have coffee in the sun together at Alverán. I took a picture which I have chosen as this week's feature photo. Love it.
The highlight of Monday was my weekly Facetime call with Amanda. We have so much to look forward to when we meet in May and June and possibly September too.
Tuesday came and brought with it normality and routine. Thus we went on our walk and were blessed with sunshine. Unfortunately the rain came on Wednesday and it robbed us of future walks. It was on Tuesday that our friend Phil sent me a random photo that came up on his phone. It was of Eladio and I walking in the sun in Altea last September arm in arm. It is not a pretty close up and in fact we have our backs to the camera but it is a lovely photo that sums up our companionship and love. This is it.
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| A lovely photo from Phil of Eladio and I with our backs to the camera in Altea walking in the sun last September. |
Of note that day I made chicken Korma for lunch with naans I had bought at Quicksave in Santa Pola and went to my hairdresser to have my roots died and my hair cut, all for a paltry 17 euros. That night we watched a film called Los Domingos. About a 17 year old girl who wants to become a cloistered nun against her family's will, it won the Spanish film awards, The Goyas, last week. I generally love films about nuns but I was a bit disappointed. It lacked oomph.
Wednesday dawned and that day Pedro Sánchez addressed the Congress after the debacle with Trump over the use of their joint bases in Spain. His main message was "No to war" (no a la guerra). He added that Spain would not be complicit in actions against the country's values out of fear of reprisals (from Trump). That unleashed more fury from the US President who I suspect is loving the power he has to invoke war on Iran. He said Spain was a loser, a terrible country and very hostile to NATO. He can't get over the fact that Spain is the only country which has refused to pay 5% of its GDP towards the North Atlantic Alliance. It remains at 2%. Meanwhile, France's Premiere, Macron organised a European response to defend Cyprus where a UK military base had been under attack from Iran. All the big countries in Europe, the UK included, joined in but not Spain. That gave me mixed feelings too.
It was on Wednesday that we had the pleasure of the company of our 6 year old grandson, Elliot in the afternoon after school. Miguel was taking Juliet our granddaughter to a birthday party so he came alone. I don't think we have ever had to babysit for him alone, except when his sister was born. I gave him his afternoon tea, a sandwich and almonds and some special chocolate biscuits and then he told us he had to do his homework, bless him. I had to leave for a routine doctor's appointment but caught him on camera about to start his homework. He really behaved so well when he came this week.
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| Elliot doing his homework at our house this week |
I later heard Suzy whisked him off to her room where she helped him do it. He then did lots of drawing sitting at her desk quietly. Olivia was delighted to hear he had behaved himself, hahaha.
If on Wednesday Pedro Sánchez had said no to war and no to the US using its military bases in Spain. on
Thursday the Spanish government announced it was sending its flagship frigate, Cristóbal Colón, to bolster the Frence led flotilla to Cyprus. He was immediately accused of going back on his word. Who knows what went on there behind the scenes?
Eladio and I went to Primark of all places while all this was going on. I wanted to get him new jeans to replace a pair he had stained with some glue he had used to stick tiles together and which are now ruined. While out, I had coffee at Starbucks with a croissant (divine) and from there we drove to a local telephony shop to order Eladio a new phone. He has been using my Samsung Galaxy S20 which is now dying on him and is in desperate need of a new one. I am pleased to announce he is going to be the proud owner of the Korean firm's latest model, the S26. He deserves it.
Friday dawned and I was happy to get a photo of Juliet ready for school that Olivia sent me. She was wearing a lovely M&S Christmas jumper I had bought her when I was in Devon last November.
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| Juliet wearing the lovely M&S jumper I bought her in Devon last November |
In the photo she looks so sweet butter wouldn't melt in her mouth. But that is only when she wants to. I heard this week that she had called her gym teacher "fat". Oh dear.
On Friday it rained and we only went out on routine errands. It was that day that more of the Epstein files were released. In them there are documents pertaining to an interview with a woman who accused both Trump and Epstein of raping her when she was 12 or 13. She described both ghastly men referring to girls as "untainted" and "young meat". Trump continues to get away with it and many say the Iran military operation is a good smokescreen to do so.
Nothing surprises us about this ghastly man but he did surprise some when he appeared that day in photos and videos in a praying session in his office, the Oval Office.
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| Trump in a praying session in the Oval Office this week |
The pastors there were asking God to protect the American military and to give Trump wisdom. I find that so contradictory - war being blessed by the church and Trump having pastors' hands laid on him as if he were some sort of modern day saint. He is an evil and dangerous man who is destroying the world as we know it. One thing he does need, of course, is wisdom but he is lacking in that and many other departments.
Thankfully I had other things on my mind that day. Oli and family were coming for dinner and that is always an event. This time the kids behaved a bit better, hahaha. I was lucky to have Tana make the dinner so I could spend time with my family and it was a happy time. Elliot was happy too as that night he was going to have his first sleepover, spending the night at his friend Adrian's. No doubt he will be telling me all about it when he comes for lunch today. They are all coming today and this time I don't have Tana but we will manage as we always have.
Saturday came. One piece of news I read that morning I found outrageous and ridiculous. The Spanish Treasury will be taxing newly weds on their wedding presents. Really? This won't work. The Spaniards are too picaresque and will of course just give cash - usually 150 euros per head, instead of making a bank transfer.
We set off on our walk but soon had to come home because of the rain. As we returned I was thinking how un English I have become as Brits walk come rain or shine or they used to at least.
Of note yesterday I booked our 4X4 guided tour of the Doñana National Park for when we go in May. It will be lovely in May I'm sure.
Today is Sunday and I have come to the end of my tales for this week. I will be busy cooking lasagne and another pasta dish for our family lunch today so must sign off now if I am to get anything done this morning.
Cheers then to you all. Have a great day and week,
Masha
