Rafa Nadal the champion, Oli’s programme on Norway, a towering inferno in London, 60th birthday weekend and party and other stories.

Monday 19th June 2017

The 4 of us after my daughters amazing performance at the party

Hi everyone,

I have been writing this post during the week as at the weekend I would be very busy with guests and my 60th birthday party on Saturday night.

I spent most of the week preparing for it with the help of Olivia who is off work until August as her new programme shuts down for the summer. It's a well deserved break for her  especially as last summer she hardly had any holiday. But she and Miguel will be making up for that big time and in July are off to Thailand and Cambodia for a 20 day holiday.

It is has been a very hot week with temperatures soaring to  40ºc. Thank God for the air conditioning in our bedrooms and the pool.

You may remember that when I left off last Sunday, Rafa Nadal was in the throes of a history making Roland Garros final against Stan Warwinka. He thrashed the Swiss man in 3 straight sets: 6-2, 6-3, 6-1 who never had a chance against the Spaniard who was on a personal mission to win his 10th French Open. He did it and there was no one more pleased than himself. He is only 31 and still has a lot of sporting life left in him but in recent years has been plagued by injury. So this comeback and winning "la décima" were sweet revenge and a warning to anyone who thought the champion was at the end of his career. He is considered in Spain to be the country's best sports person ever. He is also the only tennis player to have won the same Grand Slam more than 9 times in what is called the "Open Era".

Rafa Nada just after he had won his 10th Roland Garros last Sunday

It was the perfect end of the day for any tennis fan. For me the picture above was the picture of the week.

I spent much of Monday morning writing my birthday party speech and planning for the party. On Monday afternoon I was joined by our Airbnb guest, Aurea, from Barcelona. She had booked to stay for 5 nights and had come to the area to spend time with her daughter who was preparing for her first year medical exams at the local university. However, in the end she stayed at her daughter's residence and only spent Monday afternoon with us.

Tuesday was the 13th June, an unlucky day in Spain. Tuesday 13th is like Friday 13th elsewhere. I hoped that nothing would go wrong and nothing did at least for us. We went for our morning walk with the dogs and were joined by Oli. It was just after the walk that Suzy sent us pictures from the photo shoot she had been in for the private nutrition clinic she works for in Harley Street at the weekends, the Britzke Nutrition Clinic. I particularly like the one of her with her colleagues which I am happy to share with you in this week's post.

Suzy and her colleagues in the Britzke Nutrition Clinic photo shoot

I look forward to seeing them on clinic's website shortly. 

I spent the morning with Oli compiling a list of music on Spotify for the party. In fact we had to do 2 lists, one for background music and the other for dancing. In the end the former includes 85 songs many of which either mean something to me or are from the 60's and 70s. I do hope people don't find them too cheesy.

I spent the afternoon by the pool after lunch as I have done everyday this week. On Tuesday afternoon I was joined by Lucy, our Paraguayan home help. I had to persuade her to go in but when she did she loved it although she stayed by the steps as she can't swim. And here is a photo I took of her to send to her children.

Lucy in the pool on Tuesday

Whilst we were there, Aurea, my Airbnb guest, arrived by taxi. I thought she had come to stay or use the pool. But no, she had come especially to bring me a present probably because Eladio had invited her to the birthday party. I was gobsmacked to receive a beautiful Swarosvki bracelet from her when I hardly know her and when, although she had paid, has made no use of her booking. Isn't it absolutely lovely?

The surprise present from Aurea, a beautiful bracelet

I should add I was equally gobsmacked a few moments later when there and then my previous "bad egg" British Airbnb guests had posted a glowing review of their stay here. It was perhaps the best I have had. It left me wondering whether they had realised just how badly they had behaved. But I will never know. I just hope they never come back.

Oli loved the bracelet too and later the two of us went food shopping. I would go twice this week, on Tuesday to get lots of basics for the weekend and on Thursday with Eladio for all the drinks and the perishable food.

That night I made the perfect summer salad, a dish I would be making at the weekend too. It is one of the house specialities.

The tuna and egg salad I made for dinner on Tuesday night. 

As you can probably see from the photo, the ingredients are: lettuce, hard boiled eggs, tuna fish, spring onion, tomatoes, peppers, asparagus and avocado.

That night we did not go to bed as early as usual as we were to watch Oli's first programme with Madrileños por el Mundo which was about Norway or rather Bergen and Stavanger, the gateway to the famous fjords. We were so proud of her and loved watching it with her. She had been out there to film and was also responsible for all the editing. Isn't she a clever girly?

Spot Oli on top of the famous Preiskestolen rock

Madrileños por el Mundo is about people from Madrid who live abroad and in the programme she shot and interviewed 4 of them. Perhaps the most spectacular part was the beginning where she is at the top of the Preiskestolen rock overlooking the Lysefjorden fjord. It stands 604 metres high. To get there it is a hard 3.8km trek upwards but the views once there are to die for. The rock is called both the preacher's rook or preacher's pulpit. People go there to take selfies and even sit at the edge. Oli, very daringly, lay down to observe the views. I wouldn't have dared. If you are interested, you can watch the whole programme here. My Father did, but then he has a vested interest in Norway and of course his granddaughter. As I have written many times, he lived there after the war and also studied Scandinavian languages at Cambridge University.

On Wednesday, I was awake at 5.45. It was going to be even hotter than the day before. After breakfast and our walk, I accompanied Oli to the job centre where she was applying for the "dole" while her programme shuts down for the summer. Amazingly all went well, not one hitch or missing document and we were out within 20 minutes. On our way home we stopped off at the Tres Aguas shopping centre (naughty naughty). We went into various shops but it was at Zara that I found a lovely pink dress I would wear for my party.  I have to say it looks better on me than on the skinny model and that the puffy sleeves actually suit me.

My new pink dress

I later bought 2 puffy sleeved t-shirts at H&M in pink and white like the one below.

Puffy sleeved t-shirt from H&M

We were home for lunch. The midday news programme warned the population that a heat wave was coming. For God's sake, we were in the middle of one. I wondered how it could get any hotter. The temperatures this week are not normal for the first half of June. 

But of course the worst news that day was about the burning tower block, Grenfell Tower, a public housing block of flats in North Kensington. Fire had started just after midnight, possibly after someone's fridge exploded (can that happen?).  Between 400 and 600 people lived in the block and not all could get out from the 24 floors. Later we would hear it spread so quickly because the cladding on the exterior was very inflammable. The whole thing was dantesco and looked like a scene after the US film, The Towering Inferno.

Grenfell Tower on fire 

The death toll has risen to 79 but it could be higher. It is a huge tragedy and many questions are being asked about how it could have happened. There was no fire alarm, no sprinklers and most people were caught unawares in bed. It doesn't bare thinking about. Awful, awful. 

Wednesday, thus, was not a good day. Thursday, though, was a quiet day. We went for our walk then did more shopping. Lunch was left over lentils in the air conditioned dining room. Later in the day, Ludy a friend and her son Pedro came for his lesson in philosophy with Eladio while Ludy and I chatted by the pool in the heat, cooled off with tea and fruit. 

Finally Friday was here, the day before my 60th birthday party and the day our friends were arriving. The first to arrive was my darling Sandra, my University friend who lives in Brussels. It was so exciting to see her again. We were home for lunch with the family and some quality time with her before everyone else arrived.  Just after lunch, Kathy and Phil announced their arrival by bus which amazed me as getting a bus here is quite a feat if you don't know the area. I went to pick them up in the sweltering heat and we came back to cool off by the pool. Sandra caught me unawares on her phone camera sitting under the trees in the shade and I like it.

By the pool in the shade with my English speaking friends on Friday afternoon

Soon I had to leave for the airport again, this time to pick up Adele who makes up the threesome friendship from our times at Nottingham University. This time darling Sandra came with me. When Adele finally came out we were overjoyed to be together again. The last time we had seen each other was at Sandra's place in Brussels in February 2016.

Again I was home just on time to make another meal; dinner for the 6 of us. My friends all helped me to make the tuna summer salad. At about 9.45 it was Eladio who had to drive to the airport, this time to pick up our last guests, dear Pernille and Thomas coming from Copenhagen. Pernille was the girls' au pair when they were 5 and 6 and we have been in touch ever since. Pernille was 19 when she came to live with us. I saw her last about 3 years ago and when I saw her that night night it felt like time had stood still as she melted into my arms. Age wise she is in between the girls and me. She is like another daughter to me but also a friend.  I love everyone who came but I have to say Pernille was and is our star guest. She holds a place in all of our hearts and I know the feeling is mutual.

We all gathered by the pool drinking gallons of wine and water - I only drank water hahaha - and Pernille and Thomas gave me a beautiful Danish present. But it was the words on the card that made me cry with emotion. They were so loving and touching. Of course I loved the Royal Copenhagen blue and white plate and it shall be placed in prime position in our dining room.

We didn't get to bed until 1 in the morning. I was pretty shattered as I had got up at 5.20. On Saturday morning I managed to sleep until 6.30. That would be the beginning of what I have called "the big day", the day of my 60th birthday party with nearly everyone I love around me. The person missing of course was Suzy but she too would be arriving. She caught an early morning flight from London and I managed to talk to her on the phone while she was at Stansted about to catch the Ryan Air flight. I couldn't wait to see her.

We all spent the day at home, chilling or trying to chill by the pool as it was so hot. It would reach 39ºc that day and 40ºc on Sunday.  That morning my dear friend Juana and her daughter Pati came to bring and set up her present, a sweet table for the party. I was most impressed and now know how to make one myself. It was a touching present and would help decorate the party a lot. Here are Juana and Pati when they had finished their job.

Juana and her daughter Pati and the lovely sweet table. 

But before the party I had to feed the house guests and at lunch on Saturday it was all hands on deck to make pizzas and salads for everyone. We were 11 around the table and it was one of the highlights of the weekend. I had no words to describe how happy the gathering made me.

My dearest University friends, Adele and Sandra

Kathy and Phil

With my dear husband

Suzy and her father

The girls with Thomas and Pernille, their au pair when they were little

Everything was planned and the only thing left to do before the party was to decorate the garden with bunting and white helium balloons. We left the balloons till the end and again it was all hands on deck to do so. But we had to do it in the dining rooms as the balloons tended to fly away hahaha. 

Blowing up the helium balloons 

Taking them down to the garden

At about 7.15 the caterers arrived. I had invited the guests to come at 20h but Spaniards are notoriously unpunctual and they arrived at all sorts of times. One, my ex Nokia boss, Félix, arrived at 1.30 in the morning hahaha. 

As we waited for our everyone to arrive, it was time to take some photos of ourselves in party dress.

The girls ready for the party

With Thomas and Pernille, our Danish family

With Sandra and Adele. 

People trickled in, the first guests being our dear neighbours, Katya and her husband Julio who provided the sound system without which the party would not have been the same. 

The party in full swing

Thank goodness we had caterers as I wouldn't have been able to concentrate on our guests and on the night's activities. I had friends and colleagues from Motorola, Nokia and of course Yoigo and even my Airbnb guest, Aurea. 

With my Nokia colleagues

When the party was in full swing the speeches began. Kathryn did a speech on me at school, St. Joseph's College in Bradford, Sandra did one on our times at Nottingham University. Then Eladio did a wonderful one on how he met me, followed by Oli who did a hilarious one on what it's like to be my daughter. Mine was the last, an emotional and funny recap on my life. My Father was with us too and enjoyed every moment of the evening.

With my wonderful 98 year old father at my 60th birthday party. 

The girls sang afterwards for me and had chosen a very special song, Dona Dona Dona. It was a song I used to sing to them when they were small for them to fall asleep. It was, I thought, a lovely end to the planned activities.

But more was to come. Suddenly both girls came out from the house to the  patio where the party was taking place, dressed as nuns!!! They stunned us all. Suzy had bought the habits from London where she had bought them on Amazon. 

The girls Sound of Music performance. What a hilarious present. 

I knew immediately which song they would sing. It was to be "how to solve a problem like Maria", in reference to me hahaha. Suzy knew I would love it as the three of us adore the film and have watched it many many times and used to sing lots of the songs together. The performance left the whole audience gobsmacked as it was wonderfully done and made us all fall around laughing in stitches. Thankfully someone took a video which you can see here. Afterwards Eladio and I went up to our darling girls to show our thanks. The photo of that moment is the one I have chosen to illustrate this week's post. I shall never forget their performance and we are still talking about it. 

But there was still the cake moment to come. I had ordered the biggest cake I have ever seen from a local cake shop in Boadilla. It's our favourite and is made with sponge, cream and fruit and covered in white chocolate. There was not much of that left over afterwards hahaha. The candles were of course the firework type I love so much.

The birthday cake 

Just before 2 in the morning the police arrived which is a sure sign of success for a party haha. Some neighbours had complained about the music which is only allowed until midnight. The policemen were actually very polite and even congratulated me on my birthday. Adele told them they were far nicer than the French gendarmes. So we had to stop the music but that didn't stop the fun.  I think the phrase of the night was "fuck the neighbours" which was pronounced also by Adele and which also had us in stitches. The party went on until 4 in the morning believe it or not and I had been up for nearly 24 hours. The worst part was the end when the caterers had gone and I had to deal with all the left over food in the kitchen with hardly any room in our fridges. But somehow I managed it with the help of my friends. 

On Sunday we were all shattered.  I could hardly attend to my guests breakfast but thankfully Suzy came to the rescue and served everyone. Thank you darling. All I could keep saying was what a wonderful party it had been and what fun we had all had. Our first guests to leave were our darling Pernille and Thomas. We were sad to see them go but so happy they had made the effort. You don't have to guess what lunch was that day. Yes you got it right, all the left overs hahaha. 

We spent the day by the pool. There was nowhere else to escape the heat and in the photo below Adele, Sandra and I are enjoying the water and of course being together.

In the pool with my University friends Sandra and Adele yesterday

The girls were there too with some of their friends and in a rather debauched moment, they served us some of the sweets from Juana's table. Oh how I love the marshmallows (nubes). My friends being mostly English enjoyed the wine a lot this weekend and drank copious amounts. I wish I could have joined them but I can hardly take just one glass as alcohol gives me a headache. 

My dear friends invited us out to dinner last night. I was very grateful as I couldn't face more leftovers or cooking again. And here we are all ready to go out with the girls who were even more tired than us and didn't join us. Suzy would go and sleep with Oli at her flat as she had an early morning fight today and the flat is nearer the airport than our house.

With our friends ready to go out last night, and the girls in the picture.

I wore my blue turquoise dress that I had bought in Hong Kong and was still not sure whether I should have worn it to the party as I like the pink one and this one equally. 

We took our friends to La Txitxarrería in Pozuelo and I got lost on the way in the Mini with Adele and Sandra as we were talking nineteen to the dozen and I got distracted.  We were so distracted in fact we forgot to leave keys for Lucy who was returning from her time off. So poor Eladio had to drive home, open the gate for her and come back. That will not happen again hahaha. 

Dinner as always at this restaurant was splendid and again our friends drank copious amounts of wine. I wish I could but had to suffice myself with the Basque cider which is lovely but I would far prefer wine.

At dinner last night

We were home by just after midnight and I all I could do was go to bed. I had hoped to be up in the morning to see Kathy and Phil off, the first to leave, but I'm afraid I overslept until 7.30, quite a record. I had a quiet breakfast with Sandra, Adele and Eladio. Sadly I read this morning about the dreadful forest fire in inland Portugal that has already taken away more than 60 lives. What an awful way to die. 

Everything was coming to an end, after so much planning and I have to admit I am now feeling a little flat. Sandra left at around 10.30 and as Adele wasn't leaving until 2.30  guess what we did? Yes you guessed right, we went clothes shopping to El Corte Inglés, Spain's main chain of department stores. I wanted to buy some cool white trousers which I actually didn't find. But thanks to Adele I found some lovely pink ones at Gap. In fact I love them so much I went to their online website and found them in white too and have just bought them:-)

Thankfully the temperatures dropped from around 40 to around 30 today giving us a respite. After our shopping and a welcome coffee from Starbucks we drove home happy with our purchases. I should add Adele bought an elegant colourful scarf from Bimba y Lola.

It was great not to have to cook today. Lucy made us lentils again, a healthy option and a favourite dish with all of us. Adele, though was so full of food she couldn't eat hahaha. Just as we finished her taxi came. She was the last to leave and suddenly the house seemed empty. Well, not quite empty as Oli was home and her friend Laura from the Scouts came with her two year old toddler Maya.  

And that my friends and readers is the end of the story of this week.  I'm sorry I'm late with my blog this week but I think you will understand why after you have read this post.  

 I shall leave you now, publish it and print it out for my number one reader; my dear Father.

Meanwhile I wish you all a great week wherever you are and whatever you are doing,

Cheers till next week,

Masha. 

PS Here is the link to more photos of this weekend. 

Our first bad Airbnb guests,the Spanish skateboard hero, Pippa gave us a scare, a hung parliament in the UK and other stories.

Sunday 11th June 2017

Cooling off in the pool this week with Oli

Hi again everyone.

It's Sunday again and blog time and what a hot Sunday it is. We've been having a heat wave here this week and the forecast is for the hot weather to continue.  It will reach 37ºc (over 98 Fahrenheit!) today and the only way to cool off is either shut inside with the air conditioning on,  in the pool or under the trees in the garden. That is where I have spent most afternoons.

Last Sunday I continued to chill out after the exhausting week working for for my most recent customer. That night Eladio and I went out for dinner instead of on Friday when I was just too tired. We went to Ginos where we have been very often recently.

On Monday I had more work to do for my new customer. I had to compile the final media coverage report. It took me quite a while but I was over the moon with the results which were pretty amazing for a relatively unknown company or brand. In all we got 10 offline clippings, 8 of them from nationwide media, 118 online clippings, 3 TV and 4 radio. The tone was both neutral and positive and it all added up to an equivalent advertising spend of approximately 308.000 euros! 

Oli and Miguel were here for dinner that night. I hadn't seen Oli since her birthday so we it was great to be together again. What spoiled the night a bit were the awful Airbnb guests, the only bad eggs we've had so far. Since the end of February we have had more than 26 sets of guests from all over the world and I am sad to say that the only bad ones were  this group from England. Actually one of them was from South Africa and he was by far the best behaved of the group. They had organised a barbecue and with my reluctant permission had invited 4 girls to come - will never allow that again - The only thing I asked them was to leave everything as they had found it.  My words fell on deaf ears. They didn't trash anything but the next morning it took us a good half hour to clear up. They had left at 5 in the morning without saying goodbye, all the lights on and without paying for breakfast. They were not unpleasant people, just very untidy, messy and  rather cheeky I should add.  There was no respect for us or the house and they treated the place like their own. I sincerely think they are more suited to staying at a hotel. I mused about writing a negative opinion on their stay and in the end decided not to write one at all, rather than getting into a possible online verbal fight. It was their attitude I didn't like. I really think they have no idea that they behaved badly but that's probably because of their arrogance and lack of manners; something obviously inborn in them.  I was happy to see them go.  Thankfully our next guests who arrived on Friday from France, were a delightful group of people. 

After clearing up the mess they left, I had another unpleasant task to perform. I had an appointment at the job centre for the umpteenth time. I had to take along some corrected Social Security tax receipts; part of the process of becoming unemployed. It's a long story and I hope I have now come to the end of the tunnel. This time I didn't get lost coming home from their offices in Alcorcón; an area I always get lost in, despite my sat nav hahaha. That was because Eladio took me, bless him.  

That afternoon Lucy joined me on my walk as she often does. She loves to get out and is a country girl a bit like me. She was brought up on a farm and is always outside, either clearing the leaves, sweeping the terraces or even planting roses, jasmine or potatoes. Her company is always pleasant. She may have been brought up in a modest Paraguayan farmstead, but her attitude and manners are impeccable. She's a great addition to this household. 

Lucy with my Father who she looks after so well. 

On Wednesday Spain mourned the death of one of its citizens, Ignacio Echaverría from Las Rozas in Madrid. He had died on London Bridge last Sunday trying to help a woman being stabbed by the terrorists. He had only his skate board to help him. But it wasn't until Wednesday that his death was official, although his family and friends had informed the British authorities of his actions and his being missing since that dreadful night.

Ignacio Echaverría, the Spanish skateboarder who died trying to help a woman being stabbed by the terrorists last Sunday night. 

He was in the news all week and the British press dubbed him the "skateboard hero". Of course he was a hero. What he did was very courageous but this 39 year old Spaniard who worked for the HSBC trailing down terrorist funding around the world, didn't think twice before defending the woman only to be killed himself. I kept thinking all week that he could have been Suzy or any of her friends. So when she told me this morning that she and her friends Chati and Anita had actually been on London Bridge 2 hours before the attack a shudder went down my spine. They had been to Brighton for the day and took the train back to London Bridge station where they picked up bicycles, just like Ignacio and his friends at the Tate Gallery. But instead of Suzy it was Ignacio. Life is a question of chance and these days there is a lot more chance, at least in London, of dying from terrorism than there ever was before. My heart goes out to Ignacio's family and friends. If I had a hat which I don't, I would take it off to him, this brave and decided Spaniard who will now go down in history as a hero. Chapeau is all I can say and I say it sadly as his was a horrible way to die. 

Wednesday 7th May did not go unnoticed by my Father, nor by me. It was of course the date of my beloved Mother's birthday. She would have turned 97, one year younger than my Father but, sadly she passed away on 1st October 1999, aged 79, after fighting cancer. She would have enjoyed the sunshine on Wednesday. Oh that she were still here to enjoy our family life, the girls and our dogs and of course be company to my Father who has missed her sorely ever since she took her last breath. Her last words I was told,  were "siof paratki" (everything is ok) in her native Russian. I wish I had been there but I wasn't and that's something I have to live with. So throughout the day, she was on my mind as she often is. My beloved, bohemian, life embracing, rebellious, aristocratic, witty and also clever linguist of a Mother was missed on Wednesday, her birthday, as we miss her always. Thinking of you Mummy. Can never ever forget you. 

My amazing Mother whose birthday it would have been this week

She would have been worried about Norah our beagle who has leishmaniasis, an illness caused by the deadly mosquito of the same name. There are many of them in this area. Eladio took Norah to the vet a while ago after we had noticed she looked a little down and wasn't eating as hurriedly as before, or barking at motorbikes and bicycles on our walk. A little test showed she had been infected by the dreaded mosquito whose bite is life threatening. We had an appointment that day to get her treated after receiving the results. We also took along Elsa our lab and little Pippa, our adored chocolate coloured miniature dachshund to takes tests on them too and also protect the three of them from the mosquito by way of a special collar and pipette. The tests proved Elsa was possibly infected but would need more tests and thankfully little Pippa was free of it. So there and then the vet spread liquid from a pipette along their backs and placed a special white anti tic collar around their necks. We felt pretty bad we hadn't done that before. We had, but not often enough. 

We came home and life continued as normal or so we thought that morning. Eladio and I read on the wicker sofas on our swimming pool terrace and little Pippa, with her new collar, joined us.

Eladio and Pippa sitting peacefully on the sofa on the swimming pool terrace on Wednesday

That night she wasn't so peaceful and just couldn't seem to relax and fall asleep. She kept having funny spasms although she didn't look in pain but her behaviour was very strange. On Thursday morning, the day of the British General Elections, I rang the vet to tell her about Pippa. We were sure it was a consequence of either the collar or the anti tic pipette. At the clinic they took it very seriously saying she could be intoxicated by either of them. I felt like asking why they hadn't pointed out the possible side effects before giving her the protective treatment which could potentially kill her. They insisted in keeping her in "hospital" for 24h for observation. I protested, saying we could observe her at home to which the vet said she should stay as she was in mortal danger. Mortal danger! Oh those words made me cry.  Maybe I was being over dramatic in my response but I love her so much I just can't envisage her dying. What an awful word. 

Darling Pippa, a photo of her on our walk this week.

It seemed so ironic as we had tried to protect her but had in fact harmed her. They took her from my arms to remove the collar and bathe her to get rid of the poison from the pipette and I left her with a very heavy heart, feeling like a criminal. Poor little thing, she depends on us and we had let her down. How could she understand? I cringed knowing she would be in a cage for 24 hours not understanding why I wasn't there. I offered to stay with her but they wouldn't let me. In order to see her that afternoon I even had to have an appointment. I immediately made one for 19.30 that evening.

The day seemed so long afterwards with Pippa at the hospital. I had a lunch date that day with an English colleague, Corinne. It was Corinne who passed on her Valencian customer to me recently for which I was very grateful. We had lunch at La Txitxarrería and got up to speed on each other's lives in the past few years. It was great to see her and I hope we will do lunch again if only to chat in English to a friend here in Madrid. I don't have many English friends here and those I do I cherish, like my ex colleague at Yoigo, Tony. 

I couldn't wait for the day to pass by quickly enough for it to be 19.30, the time to visit Pippa. Oli and MIguel would join me when the time finally came. The moment came and I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw that she was visibly better. We had a huge cuddle and then it was Oli's turn and mine again until we all calmed down. We had to wait a while to see the vet who gave us the great news that we could take her home as she was better, although we had to look out for any further symptoms. I don't know who was happier, Pippa or I as we drove home and she trotted into the house to greet her canine friends, Norah and Elsa. It's now over thank goodness but what a scare she gave us. We shall now have to see how to protect her from the dreaded mosquito as she is allergic to or can't tolerate the collar or pipette. 

Meanwhile in England, it was the General Elections in which I cannot vote as I have lived outside the UK for more than 15 years. But of course it affects me because of Brexit. We wouldn't get the full results until Friday. I had actually predicted a hung parliament and that is what we got. Theresa May's strategy of calling the elections to increase her majority in order to have more clout in her own party when negotiating Brexit, backfired. Instead of increasing it, it decreased, much to her amazement. Her party, the Tories, lost 13 seats, down from 331 to 318, not enough to govern alone. For that they would have needed 326. Labour did well but not enough to form a coalition with the Liberal Democrats and the latter won't go down that road again with the Tories. By the by, Nick Clegg of the coalition with Cameron fame, lost his seat. So did many others. 

The results of the General Elections in the UK this week

I could hardly believe Theresa May who the Sun called "Theresa Dismay", kept on her talk of unity and strength as if denying the obvious and is now going to govern with the help of the DUP (Northern Ireland Unionist Party) who got 10 valuable seats. She should resign instead of clinging onto power via a pact with the radical Irish party founded by the infamous Ian Paisley.  The DUP is anti gay marriage, anti abortion, even for rape victims and even denies the climate change. I mean who would want to cohort with them? Well yes, obviously Theresa May as it seems all she is interested is in keeping power. But I wonder for how long. I also wonder if the alternative in for example Boris Johnson may be even worse. Whatever the case it is interesting times ahead for Blighty. My only hope now is for a soft Brexit and not a hard Brexit as proposed by this now very unpopular PM. Only time will tell although it is not exactly as if the PM has lots of it. Quite the contrary in fact. 

Life continued of course and on Friday I decided it was time to concentrate efforts on my upcoming 60th birthday party. The caterers came this week and I really had to know exactly how many we would be. 

Talking about guests, I also had to prepare for the arrival of a group of 6 French people coming by car from Bordeaux. They said they would arrive at 20.30 and at 20.35 they arrived, unlike the English group who got lost and arrived at 2 in the morning! I was amused they were coming to take part in a Chinese martial arts tournament in nearby Villaviciosa this weekend. They brought with them a huge Chinese guy who only spoke Chinese. I only know one word in Chinese so I said it: "nihau" to which he smiled. They told me he was a Kung Fu champion. They certainly added to the unique list of guests I have had so far who have come for lots of different reasons, such as drone racing or drone piloting. 

We left them at home making their dinner in the kitchen whilst we popped out again to Ginos for our own dinner. 

Yesterday was another scorcher. I was up at 6.30 as usual, enjoying a quiet breakfast with The Times online on my own with all 3 dogs. 

We took the time on Saturday morning to go and do some party shopping for next week and went off to a shop called Fiesta Party. Here we bought helium gas and balloons, garlands for the swings and bunting to hang on the trees, as well as lots of candles to put on the steps and even paper flowers with t lights to float on the pool. 

Talking about parties, Oli had one yesterday at home, another birthday party, this time for her colleagues from the programme she used to work for; Aquí en Madrid. She invited 17 people. What with all her guests and my French guests we felt a little invaded and perhaps should have gone out to dinner on Saturday instead of Friday. Of note it was my dear friend Sandra's birthday yesterday. We shall celebrate that too when she comes next week. 

As if I didn't have enough guests already, yesterday afternoon I got a firm booking from 6 Mexican students who are coming for 2 weeks at the beginning of September to attend a course in sports physiotherapy at the nearby University (UEM) where Oli studied. Our house is certainly popular with Airbnb travellers:-) 

And today is Sunday and as I write Rafa Nadal is playing in the Roland Garros French tennis open final. With both Djokovic and Andy Murray out, his opponent is Swiss, not Federer, but 32 year old Stan Warwinka. If the Spaniard wins it will be the 10th time he picks up the coveted Coupe des Mousquetaires, quite a feat.  As you can imagine I am on the Spaniard's side. 

I was up early again today and spent the first hour of the day clearing up after yesterday's party, so that the French guests wouldn't wake up to see any mess. I was worried as they had told me one of the reasons they had chosen our house was because it was quiet and peaceful - well it wasn't yesterday I am afraid. 

As soon as we could, Eladio and I took the dogs for our walk and before 10 am it was already boiling hot. When we got home, Eladio's pupil, Luciano was waiting for him to receive a lesson on Nietzsche!!!

I did more mundane things like organise lunch - bitki (Russian hamburgers) and chips which we had outside where it was far to hot. I think from now on we shall be having lunch in the dining room with the air con on. 

And that my friends is the end of the tales of this week. So let me leave you to publish this post and print it out for my Father and also check to see how Rafa is doing.

So, from here, cheers to you all until next week.

Have a good one/Masha 

Garden lights, Santander with Adamo, press trip and press conference, Oli at a wedding, We are the Champions, more terror in London and other stories.

Sunday 4th June 2017

In my element, moderating the Adamo press conference in Santander this week

Hello  everyone, 

It's Sunday again and we are now in the month of June, well on our way to summer. 

Last Sunday we had the pleasure of the company of Irene and Tomás for lunch. Irene was one of the daughters of the family where I was a sort of au-pair in Madrid in my 3rd year at University. Forever after my year with the González-Gálvez family, I considered them my Spanish family and we have been in contact ever since. Irene was about 12 when I first went to live with them.  She married her lovely teenage boyfriend Tomas and they are both now in their early 50's and  proud parents of 4. They came because their youngest, Nacho, had come to compete in a golf tournament near our house. 

With Irene and Tomás.

Oli and Miguel joined us. In the photo we are having coffee after the meal by the swimming pool terrace which we had opened just a couple of days before. 

When they left, I pressed on with preparations for the press activities I was planning for my new customer Adamo, a Swedish Internet Optical Fiber operator in Spain with the fastest internet speed I should add.  I would work hard for Adamo all week. I don't remember having worked so hard in one big spurt like that for a long time. 

There were so many little details to take care of I nearly forgot to book a flight for one of the journalists. Thankfully I remembered on time. On Monday morning I sent off the presentation for the press conference which would be later shared on Google docs for review by all those involved. The press release had finally been approved but the worst part was to come when it would have to be reviewed by partners and collaborators too. I can tell you from experience that it is no easy task to get a press release finalised. Funnily enough the easiest part is writing it.

Adamo had taken me on to organise everything for their announcement in Santander on Friday but they had really taken me on to gain press coverage about them and the news to be announced. Well, the press coverage actually started on Monday when one of the journalists invited wrote an article about the return of Johan A., the "father of Yoigo", my ex Swedish boss. It also said that he had hired me again which was rather sweet. He has returned of course to head up a Spanish operator, but as Chairman of the Board. I had, and have to point out to everyone, that it is actually another Swede, Fredrik G who is the founder and CEO of Adamo. Believe it or not this 36 year old entrepreneur set up his first company when he was just 16 and sold it at 18. He is quite something and very cool to work with. So when the journalist told me he was going to write the article, I said fine so long as he included who Fredrik was:-)

On Monday too a new Airbnb guest arrived, Miguel, a Spaniard who lives in Switzerland and who was doing a tour of Spain in his sparkling Swiss number plated Audi car which no doubt he drives very fast on the German autobahns, hahahaha. He was a pleasure to host; he didn't cook and in fact we didn't really see much of him. 

On Tuesday I worked non stop again. I was a bit stressed too I should add but decided to take everything in my stride.  That day I did the all important question and answer document, the one you do to prepare the speakers for difficult questions from the press. I also did the timing for the conference and finished the programme. I also got a lesson on seating protocol for politicians from the Santander Government press office. You learn something new everyday, even this late in life hahaha. 

By Wednesday nearly everything I had to do was done. I just had to finish a few things such as the new Swedish CEO's bio to add to the press kit. I never missed my morning walk with Eladio this week but often had to miss the afternoon ones. We were running out of fruit that day, so we went food shopping. This is just some of the lovely summer fruit we bought and which of course has since dwindled.

Summer fruit, we can't get enough of it. 

I also got an anti mosquito strap as they are eating me alive on my walks. It's the time of year for them I am afraid. Thank goodness we haven't had any more snakes though. 

Whilst I had been working on the Adamo project, Eladio was working on the garden lights which we hadn't used for years and which I need for my upcoming 60th birthday party. They were working badly, the was a short circuit somewhere. The cause came from a lump of grass growing in one of the lamps. Eladio also changed all the bulbs for led lighting which is much more economical. On Wednesday night, when it was finally dark at 10pm, we went into the garden to see them lit up. I was so pleased to see them all working and the garden well illuminated. I can't wait for my party. Thanks Eladio. You are a real brick.

Thanks to Eladio the garden and pool lights are all working again now. 

Thursday came and it was D Day for me. Before I left for Santander though I was pleasantly surprised by a video Oli sent to the family. It was a re-encounter with her University TV lecturer who was doing a series of them for the UEM (Universidad Europea de Madrid) website. She graduated there 9 years ago and hadn't been back since. I'm so proud of her as was her lecturer who said she had worked very hard and that he knew from the first time she went in front of a camera that she would be a success. And a success she has been. I think she only realised that when she did the video. You can see it here (in Spanish). I'm so proud of Olivia I have no words. Of course I am her Mother so why should I not be proud. Well done darling. I am of course your greatest Ambassador. I can't wait to see her first programme with Madrileños por el Mundo, all about the Norwegian fjords. It's on 13th June. So watch out for it. 

I left late for the airport as I was still finalising all sorts of things for the press conference the next day. Eladio took me to Barajas and I met up with my 11 journalists (1 would be travelling later and another would be travelling from Bilbao) at security at 13h. Gloria, from my events agency, QuintaEsencia, was there to give us the boarding cards as well as the lovely press kit. As our flight was at 14h which is lunchtime here, we had included a salad and some fruit in the mini ruck sacks made for the occasion.

The travel press kit we prepared for the press trip

Thankfully my journalists were on time and our flight left punctually too. We arrived in Santander 40 minutes later to good weather, an astonishing 26ºc which is pretty high for this time of year. A bus was waiting to take us to our hotel, my favourite, the Silken Rio right in front of the famous Sardinero beach.  I settled into my room with a sea view and admired the beach from my room.

The elegant Sardinero beach in Santander

We had "free time" until dinner, so at about 5 I went down to the beach with my bathing costume on and hotel towel to find some of the journalists who had had the same idea. We even bathed believe  it or not and the water was not as cold as we had expected. Remember this is the north coast of Spain which is the Atlantic not the Mediterranean. And here we are together on the beach.

On the beach with some of the journalists. 

But my free time didn't last long. No sooner had I bathed then I was sent a press clipping which sent a chill down my spine. The President of the local government who had been shown the joint press release to be issued on Friday, earlier in the day had spilled the beans at lunch that day in a town called Potes. Not only had he told the news we were going to announce the next day but he got some of it wrong. The news was that Adamo was deploying fiber internet in the whole region and investing 40m euros. He got it wrong and said it was Adamo together with 2 local companies when the only company investing the money was ours!.  So I had to leave the beach, quickly shower and wash my hair and go and meet some of the management team members of the company in secret at a café nearby away from my journalists. Our objective was to add news for the next day and turn the situation around to our benefit. That meant of course that I had to re-write the press release and presentation, send it internally for feedback, correct it again and then send it to my events agency for them to add to the usbs in the press kits and more importantly have 50 copies of each printed in colour the next morning on time for the press conference starting at 10.30 when some printing shops only open at 10 am.  It wasn't until 1 in the morning, after the press dinner, that I was able to send the final documents to Cristina from QuintaEsencia. Thanks Cris and thanks Julia. 

So I didn't get down to reception to meet my journalists until 9pm when I should have been there by 9 to to walk them to the restaurant. Stressed was not the word and I didn't quite know what to tell them when they said they had seen the news. I could only promise there would be more news the next day.

But now I had to concentrate on the dinner. I had chosen one of my favourite places in Santander, the Deluz restaurant which is a beautiful house in lush grounds and looks actually very English. My events team, Cristina and Julia, had been there before to decorate and the lawn was full of orange balloons and the dinner table set with lovely flowers and of course the specially printed menu.

Before we walked in I organised a group photo. It was the best time to take one and the only opportunity we would get. 

Adamo press dinner gourp photo.

Dinner started with cocktails on the lawn. It felt like old times being at a press event with my ex Yoigo Swedish boss, Johan. They call him the "father of Yoigo" and the press were joking that I was the "mother of Yoigo" or his Mother. I often feel like it hahaha. Here we are together. It's a pleasure to work with him again. The only thing is that instead of saying Adamo I often found myself nearly saying Yoigo by mistake hahhaha, it's so ingrained in me I'm afraid.

With my ex Yoigo Swedish boss Johan at the press dinner

We were all having such a good time, I nearly forgot we had to go in to have dinner and it was past 10pm when we started. The dinner was to be lovely as was the menu card which shall be a keepsake of my beginnings with Adamo. Adamo by the way, means to fall in love in Latin:-)

The press dinner menu

In order for all the press to be able to talk to the members of the company, at each course I made the latter change places which caused a bit of hilarity and chaos at times but the press appreciated it. 

Soon we were joined by Fredrik, the CEO who had had to travel from Stockholm that day. And here we are around the press dinner table at Deluz. It felt like old times and could well have been a Yoigo press event:-)

The press dinner

Afterwards it was Fredrik and I who let off the Adamo balloons and watched them disappear into the sky. It was a lovely end to a super dinner.

Fredrik and I letting off the Adamo balloons after the dinner

When the dinner ended everyone went off for drinks but I had to go back to my hotel to add the final corrections to the press documents and send the final documents to Cristina.  I didn't get into bed until nearly 2 in the morning.

I was up later than usual the next day, at 7.30. I put on my shorts and a t-shirt and went down to breakfast feeling pretty shattered. I was soon up in my room again as I had yet to draft another document, this time my welcoming speech and introduction of the speakers at the press conference. Thankfully I didn't have to worry about setting that up as Cris and Julia took good care of that.  The journalists went by bus with one of the company employees and I sneaked out to go on my own to the venue, the beautiful Palacio de la Magdalena, a symbol of Cantabria. I just love that place. I needed time to be on my own and prepare for my part of the press conference; being the moderator and getting it right. 

The stunning Palacio de la Magdalena where our press conference took place

Built in 1908 as a summer residence by the sea in Santander for the Spanish Royal Family, it is a stunning piece of architecture with a combination of English, French and regional styles. I love it and always have. It was the British wife of Alfonso XIII, Queen Victoria Eugenia (Ena) who particularly wanted the English style,  inspired apparently by her love of the Isle of Wight. We had hired the "sala real", the royal hall for our press conference, perhaps the most beautiful in the palace. 

The beautiful Sala Real where we held our press conference. 

Everything was ready when I arrived, the photo call, the sweets, the press materials and many people were already there. 

Soon all the journalists were there, mine and the local press from Santander who had been invited by the local government.

Full house at the press conference on Friday

I was the press conference moderator as someone had to introduce the 6 speakers to everyone as well as explain the order of speeches and then moderate the question and answer session. That's the photo I have chosen for this week's post. I was at my most serious. All the speakers were men, including the President of the Government of Cantabria, the rather famous politician, Miguel Angel Revilla, yes the guy who gave the game away the day before. I was the only woman and I had to stand whilst they all sat. The telecoms sector is a notoriously male dominated sector. 

Me moderating the press conference

The whole thing lasted over an hour, with lots and lots of questions. Afterwards there was coffee and snacks for everyone as well as time for more questions and the odd interview. It was all over by 12.30 when the bus came to pick our group up. I was already beginning to see articles published by the journalists I had brought on my mobile. I was overwhelmed really as I wasn't sure what their reaction would be.   Thanks to them  for coming and for the media coverage they provided. I cannot thank them enough. Adamo has a very bright future as a fiber operator here deploying infrastructure in areas where other operators don't go and I look forward to more PR projects with them in other areas. Nor can I thank Johan or Fredrik enough for their belief in me and for giving me this project. I now feel a lot more confident as I grow into my new professional role in life as a communications consultant. 

I was dying to get home as I was absolutely exhausted after 12 days of non stop work, not the mention the responsibility lying on my shoulders for everything to go according to plan. The plane left half an hour late and we arrived at 3.30 to 32ºc at Barajas airport. That was warm. I booked a ride with Cabify and about one hour later I was home. I fell into the arms of my lovely rock solid husband, unpacked, washed and then just flaked out for the rest of the day. I needed to rest so much.

We were to be alone this weekend as Oli went off to a wedding, the wedding of her best friend at school, Paula. She would be going with other school friends, Sonia, Elena and Virginia (I think). It was to be  a 3 day affair in boiling hot Huelva.  Her going to her friend's wedding had me thinking whether she would get married too soon. I really hope so.

Despite my need for rest, I was in for a bad night's sleep unfortunately as my British and South African Airbnb guests were arriving late. They were supposed to touch down at Barajas airport at midnight. They got lost in their hired car having put in the wrong address in the satnav and I was talking to them on and off from 12 to 2 in the morning when they finally arrived. What a night. Even so I was still up early on Saturday morning and was tired all day of course.

I made their breakfasts at about 9.30 and then we went for our walk. They had come to attend the Cross fit games at the Caja Mágica stadium and I wouldn't see them again until this morning. People come to stay here from all over the world and for all sorts of reasons. Whilst on the walk, I got photos of Oli and her group all ready for the wedding. They all looked lovely; so smart in the wedding outfits.

Oli and her friends from school ready for Paula's wedding. 

Later Oli would send us one of her with the bride.  Wow she looked so different as I hadn't seen Paula since they left school.

Oli with Paula her best friend at school, at Paula's wedding yesterday

I spent most of Saturday chilling out. After the walk, I joined Eladio on the terrace and started reading a new book on my kindle. But after a few pages I think I fell asleep. Eladio caught me on the camera just a few moments before.

Chilling out on the terrace yesterday

Suzy, meanwhile, was in Brighton with her flat mates but I never got a photo. Apparently they had great weather. It was warm here too but we have had lots of showers and thunder storms which I suppose is typical of late spring. 

My best friend Fátima came for dinner yesterday. She stayed to watch the match of the year, at least for Real Madrid. They were playing the Juventus team in the Champions League final held in Cardiff. I was a bit upset to see Gareth Bale only come on at the end as obviously the location was his home town. I heard it's because he was injured. He's a great player but always seems to be injured. The match went well for Real Madrid who won 4-1 with 2 goals from Ronaldo.  It was to be their 12th cup, 2nd in a row and 3rd in 4 seasons. I suppose Juventus never had a chance. They had a chance in 1998 the last time the two teams met each other in the final. I was there at the Amsterdam Arena when I worked for Motorola who sponsored the Champions League and took 100 guests with me. I will never forget Pedja Mijatovic's goal, the only one in the match but enough to give Real their 7th cup. Well yesterday was their 12th! Well done Real, "hala Madrid". 

Real Madrid celebrating their win last night in Cardiff. 

But there was nothing to celebrate this morning when I woke up to news of yet another terrorist attack in London. It happened last night on London Bridge, probably just after the match. A white van with 3 terrorists aboard wearing fake suicide jackets rammed into passersby on the pavements of the busy bridge, killing and injuring them. They then got out wielding long knives and went under the bridge to the famous Borough food Market and started stabbing people at random. The Police were alerted 8 minutes after the attack began and soon hounded them down and shot them, but by then they had already killed 6 innocent people and injured 22. 

The white van the terrorists used for the attack

Yet another terrorist attack of this kind had happened again in London as it has before and also in Berlin, Stockholm and Nice. There is no way of stopping these sort of attacks despite putting the Army on the street.  I have no words. I am only comforted by the fact that my daughter Suzy who lives in London is safe but my heart goes out to those who weren't safe last night and to their families and friends. What dreadful times we live in. 

On a lighter note, this morning we went to our neighbours' house, Julio and Ekaterina who were holding a party to introduce his new band. We had to come home for lunch though to join my Father and during the meal it began to rain heavily. I can only imagine my neighbours had to move everyone and everything inside. Poor them.

Just before I come to the end of this week's blog, let me include the news that Suzy took part in a photo shoot this morning for the website of the nutrition clinic she works for at Harley Street at the weekends, when she is not at Ipswich hospital where she works as a dietitian for the NHS. The clinic is called Raquel Britzke and Suzy loves working for them. The photo shoot is for the dietitians who work there. So I look forward to seeing her profile on it soon. Meanwhile here is one of the photos she sent, obviously with a healthy vegetable smoothie in her hands hahaha. 

Suzy during the  photo shoot this morning for the Raquel Britzke nutrition clinic she collaborates with 

Now I am at the end of this week's post and it's time to sign off and to carry on resting and chilling out. Next week we may well be going to our apartment by the beach for a well deserved break, a break both of us really need right now.

So my friends, let me leave you here until next time,

Cheers till then,

All the best Masha. 

PS You can see more photos of my PR events in Santander here on Facebook.