Baching it alone, a new eye operation, time with my best friend Fátima, Oli in Galicia, James Rhodes and Albert Einstein and other tales of the week.

Sunday 29th July 2018

Me, yes me, cleaning the pool in Eladio's absence .There is a first time for everything

Good morning everyone.

It's Sunday again and I'm still baching it as  Eladio is still in Montrondo looking after his Mother. Our separation has its ups and downs. I am certainly missing him and of course have needed him on many  occasions when things have gone wrong in the house and garden.I have also needed him when the gate to the street broke down, the pool needed cleaning and  to  carry my Father in his wheelchair up the path which is very steep and I can hardly do it even with Lucy. Lucy, by the way is better, thank goodness and things for the moment seem nearly back to normal. 

Last Sunday I was baching it with Olivia who had been so supportive since Eladio left, especially helping me with my Father while Lucy was out of action and being bolshie. I think last weekend if I had had a replacement I would have fired her but I didn't. I think she thinks she is indispensable but actually there are a lot of people out there who would want her job. The downside of changing carers is the difficult learning curve and adapting and integrating into our household. So, at least for the moment and probably until the end of the summer we shall not make any changes.

Oli and I went on a late walk with the dogs; after I had published my blog. 

A selfie with Oli and the dogs on our walk last Sunday

That was an error as it was far to hot. Norah protested and kept stopping to rest in the shady spots. We all came back hot and bothered and I needed a second shower that morning. 

Oli would be leaving that night and from then on I was baching it alone and could not take all three dogs on the walk. I felt very guilty shutting Norah and Elsa in the kitchen after having bribed them with doggy treats and then waltzing off with Pippa and my headphones. They will have to wait now until Eladio is back, poor things. 

We spent the afternoon in the garden while our Dutch guests were enjoying their last day by the pool. Before Oli left we made a delicious dinner of asparagus with "lacón" (cooked ham) Galician style followed by fresh figs and thick black cherries. After I saw her off I spent time with Annelise, the Mother of the Dutch family, a primary school teacher in Holland. They have enjoyed our house enormously and we enjoyed their company. Sweetly they later posted me a 5 star review. 

Later that night I watched Invictus (for the first time) and this time I was able to watch a film in English on terrestrial TV after Oli had shown me which button to press on the remote hahaha. It does make a difference. One of the main advantages of Eladio being away are that I can watch what I want and I can watch it in English.  The downsides of his being away or me "baching it" alone were of course his house and garden maintenance skills but also the lack of his company. I would have needed him too on Monday morning to take me to the hospital for my eye operation and bring me back as I would not be allowed to drive. I was going to take a taxi (it's quiet far) when I thought of ringing my friend Fátima, on the off chance she would be in town. Well she was and would be here all week. Thus she agreed to accompany me the next day to the hospital. She would be a great help all the week. Thank you my dearest friend. We had good quality time together as you will read. 

Monday came, my big day. I was a bit scared of another eye operation, this time a laser one to correct the astigmatism that the cataract surgery had not resolved in my left eye. Unbelievably for me I was awake at 7.20 - that's really late for me. I had the kitchen patio to myself and the dogs. There would be no walk that morning for any of us.

After saying goodbye to my Dutch family who were off to the Basque Country, Fátima soon arrived to pick me up. My operation was at 11.30 and we were then well on time. The operation didn't start until 12. It may be a simpler operation to the cataract surgery but the downside of laser surgery on the eye is that they don't put you to sleep. You can feel everything although it doesn't hurt. They cover your eye completely and then open the rubber covering so only your eyeball is visible. The surgeon put something in my eye to keep the eyelids open and eye drops were poured on constantly. You feel a lot of pressure and then smell the  burning from the laser treatment. I didn't know what they were cutting but it didn't feel good.  Soon it was over and I was told to open my eyes although I could not see anything but shadows out of my left eye. I then had to stay in the waiting room with Fátima with my eye closed for 2 hours after which one of they eye specialists would check that the operation had gone well. It had gone well, thankfully but I still don't know whether I will recover full vision. Right now as I write, without glasses, there is still a fuzzy feeling in my left eye. 

We came home and had lunch together,  a late one without my Father and then went upstairs for a siesta with Pippa. Believe it or not I then slept for 2 full hours, something I never do. I felt better afterwards although my eye did hurt all day. Later I went to see my Father to tell him how everything had gone and he told me had been praying for me, bless him. I asked him if he really believed in God to which he replied " I cannot not believe in God". He said that was because his Father was an Anglican vicar and that he gone to church every Sunday. He mentioned  communion wine hahaha. I told him I found it difficult to believe. It was an interesting conversation.

So Monday was not the best of days. It was much worse elsewhere in the world. I have nothing to complain about. That day in Greece, in the coastal area near Athens wild fires occurred, the worst in a century.

A dantesque scene from one the wild fires in Greece this week

The death toll is over 80, not to mention the houses and vehicles lost. It's a dreadful story, not least because later we heard it was caused by arson; one man provoked it. There have been wild fires and forest fires in many parts of Europe including Sweden where they are nearly unheard of. That's because of the heatwave in Northern Europe. In England this week it reached the high 30's something the country is totally unprepared for. 

On Tuesday my eye felt better. It no longer itched or hurt although I still couldn't see well at all.  Dear sweet Fátima came to take me to the hospital for a next day check up. That was quick and easy. I shall be going back in the middle of August. Hopefully, by then, my vision will have improved. 

On our way back, I took Fátima to my cheap dress shop, "Avanti" in Boadilla where there are garments for 10 euros. It's where I got my "Bereber" trousers from. I bought a lovely spotted dress I had seen when I went with Olivia and love it, even though it shows my arms and all the wrinkles. But it's very cool to wear in this heat as well as sort of romantic.

A lovely new summer dress

Soon I was home for lunch with my Father. Pushing his wheelchair up the path is very difficult  as I said although as Lucy was better she helped. 

Oli had gone on holiday to Galicia with her boyfriend Miguel.  They went that morning and will be back tonight. They have gone to completely different weather as up there it is a bit like England. Tuesday saw them in Lugo, a town I have never visited but will soon I know for sure and for work purposes. Her boyfriend is as great photographer being a TV cameraman so we are spoiled for good quality family photos. Here is my stunning younger daughter in Lugo on Tuesday.

Oli in Lugo on Tuesday

The top she is wearing, by the way, is also from Avanti as we went there together recently. 

On Tuesday we had the house to ourselves. Our next Airbnb guests were not arriving until Wednesday, a couple from France. That day the professional photographer sent me the Airbn photos I had been given for free as a bonus for being a super host four quarters in a row. I like them although they make the house look a little too good. Here is the main one of the front of the house.

The front of the house as taken by the Airbnb professional photographer

They also seem to have a bit too much perspective and the rooms, although large, look even larger, like the kitchen here. I can assure you our kitchen is not as swish as it looks in the picture. 

Professional photo of the kitchen.

That evening, as part of my "baching it" week, I had invited Fátima and our good friend Juliio for dinner. They were supposed to come for a swim at 7 but Julio couldn't make it until dinner time. It was to be Fátima's first bathe of the season. Here she is swimming in our, for once, empty pool.

Fátima swimming in our pool on Tuesday

After drinks by the pool, I served them my mango and avocado prawn salad  for dinner, a light dish, apart from the home made mayonnaise, followed by a platter of delicious fruit all chopped up and including fresh figs and thick cherries. It was a fabulous bachelor dinner and the highlight of the week. 

Fátima and Julio came for dinner on Tuesday evening

None of us are late nighters so by about 10.30 pm, they left. I was just on time to see Oli's programme ("Madrileños por el Mundo") from her Tampa trip. I had no idea that Tampa, in Florida, is known as the sunniest town in the US. 

Oli reporting from Tampa Florida ion Tuesday evening

Afterwards I started watching "Genius", the series on Amazon Prime about the life of Albert Einstein. It would keep me entertained the whole week and I would enjoy it in English. What a man, what a life.

The series that kept me entertained this week, Genius, about the life of Albert Einstein

I was mesmerised by him and the series which is very well done. My Father asked me what he was most famous for and I think it's for his theory that seems to disprove some of  Newton's laws on general relativity. Don't ask me to explain that.  He was a revolutionary of his time and a true genius. But he is also famous for some amazing equation (mass energy equivalence forma E=mc2) dubbed the world's most famous equation.  I encourage you to watch it. He was the most famous scientist of his time and a Jew living in Berlin when Hitler came to power and his life as a man and a scientist is absolutely fascinating. 

On Wednesday I was busy with work. This week I had to prepare a press release for Adamo which was to go out on Friday morning, never a good day for press but that was the day of the signing of a deal which was to be the subject of the release. It had me busy every morning this week apart from the day of my operation. 

But I had time for some errands too. I went to see my Father's doctor to get him some prescriptions and also to the gourmet Carrefour, recently opened here to get a box of thick black cherries, fresh fish and pork ribs. I came home to make baked hake with garlic and basil from the garden accompanied by brocoli, potatoes and my father's favourite vegetable, cauliflower.  It was while my Father was finishing his lunch that I asked Lucy for help to pick some of the greengages from the tree which looked ripe. I brought up Eladio's aluminium ladder from his sacred tool room by the garage and between us we managed to pick at least 2 kilos. We couldn't manage the rest as they are far too high up. I hope some will still be there when my husband comes back but, no doubt, by then the birds will have eaten them all. These were the ones we picked. 

Greengages from our very own tree. 

Some were hard and some were soft. We left the hard ones to ripen and tasted some of the soft ones and my goodness they were delicious. I'm actually not sure whether they are really greengages or just green plums. When I showed them to my Father he said "reine claude" which is what they are called in French. In Spanish they are "reina claudia". God knows what the fruit has to do with Queen Claudia. But they are not "reine claude" which are smaller and darker, like the ones we used to have in our garden in Ruskington (Lincolnshire) when I was a child. There is something romantic and bucolic about picking fruit from your own garden and I loved picking the greengages or plums that day as well as eating them.

Our French Airbnb guests arrived that day, a couple from near Bayonne who had driven here. They had come to look for accommodation for their daughter who will be studying at the UEM University. They tentatively asked whether she could rent a room here but I said no as I get much more from Airbn than from long term rentals. It was their first Airbnb experience and it must have been good as later they gave me 5 stars and asked if they could come again in September.

With work out of the way, I spent the afternoon in the garden with the dogs reading. My choice this week has been the book called "Instrumental", the life story of the young English pianist James Rhodes who was terribly sexually abused as a child and is now a renowned concert player who lives in Spain and has fallen in love with this country. 

My book of the week. Horrific but instrumental in that it teaches you a lesson in classical music

James Rhodes is in love with Spain and claims it has given him a whole new lease of life. He is an advocate for everything Spanish, especially food and I follow him on Twitter while he is learning the language. He has become a sort of hero in this country and is on a mission to make misguided Spaniards see just what a wonderful country they live in. This might surprise you but I totally subscribe to everything he says about Spain because he and I agree that Spaniards have one big inferiority complex about their country and spend their time complaining about life here. They don't see the good things and there are many. You should read this article written by him (in English) in El País. I love the headline: "I have no reason to lie when I tell you that everything is better in Spain". 

His story is horrific but at the same time uplifting. It is also different to a normal biography because he accompanies each chapter with music by famous composers and what that music meant to him. For example he fell in love with music when he first heard Bach's "chaconne". He has hooked me because each time he describes music which means a lot to him, I look it up on You Tube and this week have been listening to some of it on Spotify on my walks. Wow thanks James or Jimmy as your friends call you, for introducing me to some new classical music and the meaning behind the different pieces. I admire you profoundly.

In order to "butter up" Lucy I took her to the cheap dress shop that afternoon, to Avanti but I swear I didn't buy anything again. 

I came home to find my French guests were out so I made a beeline for the pool as it was so hot. I had dinner on my own, another downside of being separated from Eladio. While eating alone I felt for people who live alone and have to eat every meal by themselves. I don't think I could do that. I made scrambled eggs on toast, the nearest to healthy comfort food I know and something I often make when I'm not feeling inspired about dinner. Later I took Pippa to bed with me; she is Eladio's substitute and loves sleeping on his pillows hahaha. 

Pippa on Eladio's pillows haha. She has been my bed partner this week in his absence.

Once in bed I  had a long chat with Olivia. They were having a great time, except for the weather, and that day saw them in places such as San Andrés de Teixeido and Cabo (Cape) Ortegal where the Cantabrian sea meets the Atlantic ocean near a town called "Cariño" (love or endearment in Spanish), They, no doubt had a much better dinner as Galicia has some great food on offer everywhere you go.

Oli in San Andrés de Teixeido on Wednesday

Oli at Cabo Ortegal where the Cantabria sea meets the Atlantic ocean on Wednesday

I continued watching Genius from where I had left off the night before and was up late again as the series is so good. I think I fell asleep by about 1 in the morning. 

Thursday came, the half way mark of my separation with Eladio. Really all these days without him have been all about getting through them until he comes home. But I had to get on with life and be productive. I continued my routines and Thursday morning saw me on my walk again with little Pippa. I always take her on a lead as on her first walks with us when she was a puppy she would run off into the bushes and not come back. On Thursday I decided to let her off her lead and see how she behaved. Well, she got 10 out of 10 for behaviour  as she never strayed from the path or from my side. From that day onward she would walk loose every day. It made me happy for her. Here she is happily walking along the dry path.

Pippa walking loose on our walks this week. 

I came home to have a second shower even though we had left early. By 9.30 it's hot I can tell you although not as hot as last year when it was constantly in the very high 30's and reached 40ºc and more.  I did more work that day, the final touches of the press release and logistics for it going out on Friday. By lunchtime I was free and after a siesta and a bit of the Genius series, I went out to the garden again to continue reading James Rhodes' book and listen to some of the music he recommends. 

Fátima came in the early evening to help me clean the pool. It had to be clean and ready for our English guests coming the next day; Luella and her brood from Northamptonshire  were repeat guests; lovely ones I can tell you. But they were coming mainly for the pool and it needed cleaning. Eladio had cleaned it when he left but that was a week before. We rang him to get instructions which were actually quite easy to follow. What was not so easy was getting the tube of the swimming pool hoover type device into the hole in the pool. But Fátima helped. Without her help I don't think I could have done the job. But between us we did. I chose the photo of me cleaning the pool for the first time in my life as this week's main photo as it was quite an achievement on my part. I have to say though that Fátima did more than me. She is used to living on her own and has to deal with all the maintenance stuff by herself always and I, of course, rely on my husband for nearly everything. Thursday showed me that I could actually do some of the work he does. 

We went out to dinner which was a better option than another meal alone. I took my friend to El Kiosko, our new discovery in Boadilla and we had a great meal and more quality time together.. El Kiosko is now top of my list and I can't wait to take Eladio there when he comes back. 

I came home to find the French guests had left the gates to the street wide open. They are not the first to do it and I don't know why. They had also left the light on in the pool WC!!! I Before retiring to bed I rang Eladio and then later chatted on Whatsapp with Luella. Her little boy, Brody, who is a darling (aged 7) had told her he was too excited to sleep that night. I fell in love with that little boy last year and I think the feeling is mutual.

Meanwhile in Galicia, Olivia and Miguel continued their adventures. That day they were in a town called Viveiro and then visited the most northerly point in Spain, "Estaca de Bares". I had heard the name many times and hope to go there one day. Galicia is one of my favourite parts of Spain.

Miguel and Olivia at Estaca de Bares the most northerly point of Spain.

I then went to bed with Pippa and I suppose in a way, Albert Einstein, who, by the way, was a  great lover of women as I learned from the series. The love of his life was   Mileva Maric, a Serbian mathematician. She was the first and only woman among Einstein's fellow students at the Zurich Poyltechnic. In fact in the entrance exam only she got higher marks than him. Her career which could have been brilliant was cut short by motherhood for which she was not made out. Einstein pursued his career which she helped him with but she was forever frustrated at not being able to carve out a career for herself. She complained about it to  Marie Curie  and the famous French woman scientist told her that she had abandoned her children for her career and that at least Mileva's children loved her. What a story and how hard for women in those days. No doubt had Mileva been able to pursue her career she would also have won a Nobel Prize, although maybe not as women scientists were frowned upon. Marie Curie only got her Nobel Prize when her husband Pierre rejected his unless it was also given to his wife. There, you have it a fascinating story which has had me up late every night. 

On Friday I was up early. Off I went for my walk with Pippa, off her lead and was back well on time for the sending of the press release. The story is that Adamo, the Swedish owned fiber optic operator who I do communications for, had bought Knet an operator in the Rioja area - yes the area where the famous wine comes from. They signed the deal that morning and we announced that between the acquisition and network deployment Adamo would be investing 10 million euros in the area; no mean figure. They will be deploying in areas where there is no fast internet, part of the company's strategy. To accompany the press release, I had arranged for a photo to be taken of the signing of the deal. It's always important to send a relevant photo to the press with a press release, otherwise your news only comes out in black print. This was the photo.

The Adamo deal with Knet which was signed and announced on Friday

And this was the press release I had drafted and worked on all week (in Spanish): I was to see immediate results. These days news is pretty immediate and although this wasn't major news of any kind, it was interesting to some media. The Spanish news agency, Agencia Efe, took it up which is where most of the news came from. So I was pleased. It also came out in the local written press in Logroño the next day. So, a job well done. 

At about 4 0'clock when I was fast asleep my English family arrived, 6 of them and a 7th to come today. It was lovely to greet Luella, her partner Brent, her sister Alyssa, her 14 year old daughter Mia and her friend Maya (Mia and Maya hahha) but above all it was great to see Brody again who immediately gave me a cuddle. He's such a sweetie. Before they had even settled in, he was in the pool which he had been so excited about. When this family came last year they spent nearly the whole time at our house not even visiting Madrid. I think the answer there is that English kids are not used to so much heat and an available pool and that is the attraction. Spaniards nearly all have access to a pool even if it's not their own and it's no big deal here. 

They went out food shopping and I went out too to see my doctor to get my bi monthly sleeping tablet prescription. Without them I would have no quality sleep at all. Dinner was alone again and this time I made no effort and just ate fruit and yogurt.  I went to bed early with Pippa. On Friday night I was looking forward to seeing the lunar eclipse, apparently the longest one this century. I went out and out again to the terrace in my bedroom but somehow missed it. My guests did see it though. I would look again on Saturday night too. Yesterday night I finally got to see it. The night before it must have been covered by the trees: I saw it but it wasn't bloody or orange, just big and bright. I caught it on camera the best I could and this is the result.

The lunar eclipse as seen from my bedroom terrace on Saturday night.

On Friday I finished the series on Einstein and now I am sorely missing Albert. What an amazing man. He died in the USA in 1955 after escaping there from Nazi Germany in the 30's but was forever pursued by that nasty man J. Edgar Hoover, the director of the FBI who was convinced Einstein was a communist. In fact he was really rather apolitical and appalled by the Atom bomb which he wanted to have nothing to do with.  

Saturday came and I was up early and had been and come back from my walk with Pippa all before my English family had even got up. I do wish I could sleep long like them. I gave them a cup of tea before they headed for the market in nearby Majadahonda which may well be one of their few trips away from the house.

In Montrondo yesterday it was the Santa Marta fiesta and the annual family gathering or annual family lunch. I am actually glad I am not there as I far prefer Montrondo when it is quiet.  I shall be going though sometime in August when there are fewer people. Eladio told me this year there wasn't a family lunch so I haven't missed much. 

Saturday was a quiet day. I had lunch with my Father and made fish and chips. I am a bit fed up with healthy food and we hadn't had chips for ages so I thought we deserved it. We all loved yesterday's lunch.

I spent the afternoon reading and writing this blog and once again I would have dinner alone. I made scrambled eggs again. I can't wait for Eladio to come back as dinners are usually the highlight of the day but not when I am on my own. Later we talked on the phone and my dear husband told me he was getting through the days just waiting to come home. So am I. I think it's the longest time we have ever been apart since before we married. He'll be here on Wednesday 1st August and I just can't wait to fold into his arms and get back to normal life.  

Today is Sunday, the last day of this blog. Today Oli and Miguel will be back from their travels in Galicia and I will see Oli tonight after she drops Miguel off at the Atocha train station to return to Valencia. We will be together tomorrow all day after which she will be leaving again, this time to Vitoria to see Copi. 

I woke up this morning to news of an earthquake in Lombok a tourist island in Indonesia not far from Bali where Suzy is living (25km). 20 people had died! God was I worried and rang her immediately. Thankfully she is fine, was on the beach and hadn't felt or noticed the earthquake although her colleagues who were in bed had. The last thing I wanted to hear was that Suzy was involved in a natural disaster and from afar. So I sighed a huge breath of relief and thanked God for her safety. You see when it comes to the crunch my belief in God gets stronger. I suppose that is very normal.  

And so my friends, that's it for this week which as you will have read has had its ups and downs. That's life and as Suzy told me on the phone today I should follow the advice I always gave to my daughters when they were young: when the going gets tough be positive. She's right. I should be. 

On that note, I will love you and leave you now until next Sunday.

Hope you are all enjoying the summer. Happy reading, 

Much love Masha

The World Cup goes to France, Trump meets Putin in Helsinki, a hundred years since the Tsar was killed, enjoying our Mediterranean garden, “baching” it with Olivia and other stories.

Sunday 22nd July, 2018

Reading in the garden, something I have been enjoying in the afternoons this week

Good morning everyone,

This week has had its ups and downs. There have been good bits and bad, just like "the curate's egg" and in a way I'm glad it's over and hope next week will be better. As you will read later I have been "baching" it since Friday when Eladio left for Montrondo to take care of his 96 year old Mother. That is not easy for either of us and there have been lots of challenges since he left as you will hear.

But let's rewind to last Sunday. My Portuguese guest left but he didn't say goodbye. I got a good written review from him but he only gave me 4 stars. The same thing happened with the English family from the week before. 4 stars out of 5 on Airbnb for a host is not good news as it takes down your average. My average so far was always 4.9 but now it's 4.8 and you have to have a minimum of 4.8 to be a "super host". That worried me because if I lose my super host status it means my listing will be less visible. Oh dear.

But that day I got a sudden booking from a French couple who would later give me 5 stars thank goodness. Isabel of Spanish origin and her husband drove from their home town Biarritz (oh how I love that elegant French seaside town where I spent many a summer in my youth thanks to my Uncle's flat there) to be with their daughter who is studying at the local university and take her home on Monday. So I had French guests in my house the day of the World Cup final between France and Croatia. I secretly wanted Croatia to win as France has already won the cup but couldn't tell my guests that. They sat and cheered on their team who would eventually win 4-2 and once again take the world cup back to France. The consolation prizes were the Golden Boot for Karry Kane of England and the Golden Ball for Croatian Real Madrid player Modric. France's win didn't make me particularly happy. Neither did Djokovic winning at Wimbledon again this time against Anderson. As you can guess I would have preferred to see Nadal win but that wasn't to be. 

I didn't watch either match - well I couldn't have watched Wimbledon as it's pay per view here - and read outside on the kitchen patio. It was then that I noticed that our greengage tree actually had some greengages on it. Some years it's really plentiful but this year we thought it wouldn't bear any fruit. But it does and quite a lot. The greengages won't be ripe for quite a while and then it will be battle with the birds who usually eat all the fruit.

Greengages coming along nicely

Our greengage tree

The important news that day was Donald Trump's summit with Putin in Helsinki after he left the UK. No one in Finland welcomed either leader and there were many demonstrations which I was glad to see. I hated the idea of these two oligarchs in my beloved and free press country Finland which I know so well from having worked for a Finnish company, Nokia, for many years. On the eve of his visit, the unfit man for office gave an interview to the CBS describing the European Union as his foe. Then in Finland he acted as though Russia was his friend, denying their meddling in his elections. Oh what an idiot of a president. The United States doesn't deserve to have someone like him as President. So what did the two most powerful men in the world have to say to each other. Well, we don't know as their meeting was held in private except for their interpreters, so for now, we haven't a clue. What we do know though is that Trump has invited Putin to the White House in the autumn. Why is he befriending his enemy?  No one understands. 

Trump meets Putin in Helsinki

Monday 16th July 2018 was the 100th anniversary of the massacre of the Tsar and his family as well as theor doctor and two of their servants. 

My goodness a hundred years. My Mother being Russian and her family exiles,  having fled the Russian revolution, I was brought up on all this. My Mother's family, the Lieven family who have the title  of Prince or Princess, His Her Serene Highness, lived through the Tsar's tragedy until they left Russia in 1920. I always heard from my Mother that they left on the last ship provided by George V along with other nobles, including Prince Felix Yusupov, the richest man in Russia and killer of Rasputin. The Yusupovs were family friends as well as cousins on my Grandmother's side (Stachovich) and Felix' mother was my Mother's God Mother. No doubt they all mourned the massacre which could have been avoided if the Tsar and Tsarina had been willing to leave Russia but they weren't. In the history books we all read that the Tsar met this fate because George V and Lloyd George did not welcome the Russian royal family to England but after having read the latest history book on the subject, it was not quite as simple as that. The book I am reading "The race to save the Romanovs, the Truth behind the secret plans to rescue Russia's imperial family, by Hellen Rappaport 

the prestigious historian, an expert on the Romanovs,  questions that in many ways. 

The Tsar, the Tsarina and their 5 children shot dead by the revolutionaries in Yekaterinburg a 100 years ago.

But my mind was on something very different that Monday morning, not on the fate of the Tsar. As a bonus from Airbnb for having been a super host for 4 quarters in succession, I had applied for a professional photographer to do a proper photo shoot of the house. Eladio thought my photos were fine and so did I, all taken on my mobile photo, until I saw the photos Javier, Airbnb's official photographer in Spain, on his professional camera. He swears that his photos will boost my bookings. I really hope so. I won't get them until next week so I have to wait. The photos will belong to Airbnb and not to me and can only be put on one listing. However I have been able to buy a slightly different version of all of them to keep for myself which I will be able to put on the other listings. I also thought they might come in handy if one day, God forbid,  we sell this house.

This house is far too big for us: 650m2 with 2.500m2 of grounds and no doubt one day we shall rattle around in it and probably it is not suitable for old age but while we are living in it we are enjoying it, even if we have to rent out rooms on Airbnb to keep it up. What I have been enjoying particularly this week, in the afternoons, is our Mediterranean garden as you will read. 

After the photo shoot I had to rush off as I had an MRI on my back and hip both of which are giving me pain on and off.  The appointment was at 12.30 but the MRI didn't start until past 1pm. I had only ever had one many years ago and didn't realise that it would last one whole hour and that I had to be completely still. I could only move my eye lids!! The MRI was a closed type tunnel and I hated every moment of the experience and the damned noise which despite the ear plugs I was given was excruciating. My hands became numb, my body began to feel itchy and I couldn't move to scratch it and I thought the torture would never end. It did end thank goodness though and I was out by 2.30 or so. It was great to feel free and be on my legs. As I lay immobile in that tunnel I thought of the fate of people with tetraplegia and felt for them. It was great to be out in the open and walking to my car afterwards. I will get to see the results on 1st August when I have an appointment with the traumatologist. Keep your fingers crossed it's just a bit of arthritis hahaha. 

I was home late and had lunch on my own - leftovers that day. That afternoon was spent as most afternoons were this week reading. On Monday I read by the pool as I always do, except for when we have Airbnb guests when we go the garden to find a quiet spot under the trees. This week I have been devouring books by a new author for me, Kristin Hannah, famous for her book The Nightingale, about the French Resistance in the 2nd World War. I have read quite a few since then. I buy her books for my kindle via Amazon. It was Amazon Prime day on Monday but I didn't get anything. I heard later there were big strikes at Amazon warehouses by packers who do their work in dreadful conditions. Shame on you Amazon, treat your workers better. 

Tuesday came and Oli would be back from Valencia to brighten up our lives. I was up early that morning as always and had my coffee outside on the kitchen patio where the greengage tree is and where I can contemplate the beautiful adelfa flowers on the hedges. They are so abundant and colourful. I have tried to capture them on camera but they are much better in real life. I do so love them although they say they are poisonous.

The adelfa bushes surrounding the kitchen patio

My favourite moment of the day is my first cup of coffee which I drink outside in the garden. 

Soon Eladio, the dogs and I were ready for our early morning walk. As we walk down the path to the gate I always inspect "my roses" and I love them. This week the miniature red ones came to flower. Aren't they beautiful?

Our miniature red roses are a delight to look at

That morning the antenna people came to fix my Father's TV which had stopped working. It's vital for it to work as he watches the BBC World News everyday on his TV in his lounge/our study. There is always some repair to be made around the house and garden. It's never ending and damned expensive to keep up.

I was cheered up that morning by the arrival of my Emma Bridgewater parcel. I had been seduced by their email promoting their Sale and I am a sucker for their pottery of which I have a lot. This was what arrived on Tuesday morning to add to my collection.

More from Emma Bridgewater for my collection

Joy of joys, Oli was back for lunch. I wasn't inspired as to what to serve so got out some frozen "bitki" (Russian style hamburgers) which are standard in our house. Later the three of us, Eladio, Oli and I and the dogs, of course, spent some quiet time under the horse chestnut trees by the pool. Here are Eladio and Oli that afternoon, Father and daughter together with Pippa (of course). Oh what I would have paid to have Suzy with us if only for the photo.

Oli, Pippa and Eladio and a little bit of Norah  - Tuesday afternoon by the pool

But we weren't there for long. I wanted to go and buy more flowers to replace some of the dead ones that hadn't survived the heat or the lack of irrigation when there was a burst pipe while we were in Santa Pola.  Irrigation is another of Eladio's battles and another expense of course. So off we went to Verdecora a nearby garden centre. I wanted to get blue hydrangeas but there none to be seen. Instead I got lavanda, some yellow and orange flowers I don't know the name of, some jasmin (my favourite) and chrysanthemums  or something similar. Here they are called simply "margaritas".

New flowers for the garden

Eladio planted them all, bless him, when we got home and they are looking good. Let's see how long they last this time. While he planted our new flowers, Oli and I bathed in the pool. I have hardly bathed this season so it was lovely to be in the pool with my daughter. Since then we haven't as when we have Airbnb guests around the pool, we leave them to it and find a quiet corner in the garden so as not to be in their way:-(

Dinner was better than lunch. Oli and I made prawn cocktail with mangoes and avocados, perhaps one of my favourite dishes. This is what it looked like.

My delicious prawn cocktail for dinner on Tuesday

The day ended with us watching a film called "Don't say a word" with Michael Douglas on Netflix comfortably from our bed in our air conditioned room. It was hot that night although the temperatures have been unusually cool most of the week not exceeding 33ºc. This is luxury compared to last year's intensive heat wave which lasted so long. 

I slept reasonably well although I had a headache when I went to bed and it hadn't gone when I woke up on Wednesday morning. My first cup of coffee in one of my new Emma Bridgewater mugs cleared it up though quite quickly. I had a video call with Suzy in Bali that day and it was good to see her and also hear that she is feeling very happy there. Oli joined us on our morning walk after which I had lots of errands to do. It was lovely to do them with my daughter. My new Airbnb guests arrived that day, a family of four from Utrecht, Holland. They are lovely people. They arrived just as we were about to sit down to lunch but I soon showed them around and left them to it. They get up really late, owing to their teenage son and daughter, then go out sightseeing and come back early to use the pool. The pool is the big attraction here. 

Thus we spent the afternoon in the garden and that is where I am discovering and enjoying our Mediterranean garden which we have hardly ever spent time in because of the pool patio. So it was that afternoon I discovered we even have a grape vine amidst the adelfas, hibiscus, an olive tree and God knows how many other shrubs, bushes, trees and even palm trees. I even discovered it has lots of budding bunches of green grapes on it. How come we never saw it before? Thanks to a recipe from my friend Jacky I shall be using the leaves soon to try out her recipe of stuffed vine leaves until the grapes turn ripe; that is if aren't all eaten by the birds.

A grape vine in our garden

A grape vine, palm trees and an olive tree for me are the essential parts of a Mediterranean garden and I don't really know why I never appreciated the garden before. Now I do. I love it in fact and I feel so happy sitting under the big elm tree reading my book on our beach chairs. I would like to replace them with proper garden furniture one day. The photo illustrating this week's blog is of me reading in that particular spot and feeling at peace with the world. 

While I sat, Oli preferred a towel on the grass where she was joined by the dogs. Or rather they hogged the other towel from her hahaha.

Oli reading in the garden with Pippa

Norah and Pippa hogging one of the towels in the garden

Oli went out for dinner that night but of course Eladio and I stayed in. For our meal that night I made a Spanish tortilla (omelet) adding spinach to the traditional ingredients: potatoes and onions. I served it on one of my new Emma Bridgewater plates.

It was tortilla for dinner on Wednesday night

Having finished the Michael Douglas film, we started watching a new espionage series, an Australian one, called "The Secret City". It's not bad but not the best we've seen. And that was the end of Wednesday. 

Thursday came, the day before Eladio would be leaving me for 10 whole days. The morning was a bit of a rush as after our walk I had to race to my appointment with my Father's doctor. For some reason we can't find his health card and have to go to the health centre to get his prescriptions. From there I went to the chemist where I was told the prescriptions were not valid because the doctor hadn't put some stamp somewhere. So I will have to go back. What an archaic system the chemists use here. 

I came home to finish making roast ribs for lunch. Our Dutch family, meanwhile, had taken off to visit Madrid. I should rephrase that as they had gone to visit the Real Madrid stadium, not the city. They are obvious football fans. What is the point of visiting a stadium if there isn't a match going on I wonder? Apparently, after the Alhambra the Bernabeu stadium is the most visited place in Spain for tourists. It's not the Prado, no, it's football that is the lure. 

While they were out we spent more time in the garden and our day on Thursday ended like most days this week, dinner, early to bed and more video streaming.  Our Dutch family, meanwhile, had had their dinner and were playing table tennis which seems to be very popular with them. It's nice to see someone play on it as usually no one ever does. 

Friday came and I was up having my coffee on the kitchen patio at 5.50. Now that is early but I had lots to do as I had to pack Eladio's clothes etc, as well as all the food he had to take. I had made him a list of meals to make with all of it. He is a man capable of many many things but can hardly fry an egg. 

And off he went after our walk at around 10ish and it was goodbye to my husband and Oli's Father for 10 days for me. So both of us were "home alone" and as you say in Spanish "de Rodgriguez" which means you are temporarily without your spouse or partner. I looked up a translation of the expression in Spanish and actually found one in an Urban dictionary  -to "batch it" coming from the world bachelor. So yes,  I have been baching it since Eladio left and Oli has since she left Valencia but only until tomorrow when Miguel, her partner returns. It felt weird but actually quite liberating. We could do nearly what we wanted or so we thought and above all I could watch films and series on Netflix and Amazon Prime in English. With Eladio I have to watch everything dubbed into Spanish. 

After he left, Oli and I went out fruit shopping and brought back the very best we could find, in cherries and select fruit from Carrefour Market and the rest from Mercadona, Spain's mainstream low cost supermarket which I actually quite detest, it's so unexciting. It was funny but by the evening half of them had been eaten but not by us. A mystery. 

Being Friday night I suggested to Oli we go out for dinner and that's what we did. Oli took me to a new restaurant for me, "El Kiosko" in nearby Boadilla. I loved it and we shall be going back. For starters we had artichokes cooked deliciously and served as if they were flowers with some sort of honey sauce, followed by octopus and then guess what? Yes, fish and chips. That is why I shall be going back.

That night, after Oli left me, I went to sleep but not alone. Pippa was to be my bed partner while Eladio was away. It's amazing how she keeps me company God bless her. Ah, but before I went to sleep, I had to do my husband's nightly job of checking all the lights and doors and making sure the dogs were in their baskets in the kitchen. That's my husband's job but it will be mine now until he comes back. 

Saturday was not a good day and when we most missed Eladio. On our walk Elsa got completely covered in sh** and we had to drag her into a bath tub when we got home, no mean feat as she weighs 25 kilos. It's not easy washing her either, a job my husband usually does. She wouldn't let me dry her properly and soon she was running up the stairs wetting everything in sight. 

It was a stressful moment but doable I suppose. More stress was to come as I had to deal with or help Lucy, our housemaid and my Father's carer. She has had back pain for at least two weeks and there was nothing for it but to get medical assistance that day as she couldn't stand the pain more. Getting medical care for her when she has no health insurance, no residency papers, etc is not easy. She is petrified of being deported and I had to think quickly yesterday morning. Do I take her to a private clinic and pay a fortune for an appointment and x-ray or do I risk it at the local state hospital? I asked her to choose and she chose the latter. I was a bit worried she would be reported to the police but thankfully that didn't happen and she was attended to. 2.5 hours later we were outside and had a diagnosis; muscular contraction on her back and she had been injected a pain killer and prescribed more to take orally. She was also told to rest for 48 hours. 

Olivia meanwhile was making our lunch, home made pizza which was delicious. Thank you darling.

Oli's home made pizza

The problem for Oli and I was after lunch. Lucy had disappeared to rest in her room and lie down and we had to take my Father up the path and into the house through the garage and into his room. With Olivia that was ok but I couldn't do it on my own. The problem came when we had to get him out of his wheelchair and into his bed. We asked Lucy how to do and we got a very curt reply that if she had to do it she would leave the house immediately. I was only asking for her guidance. She may be in pain but she has been pretty bolshie recently and has been rude in replies on occasion and I feel as if I am bending down on my knees to keep her happy. That can't go on for much longer.  Eladio has been taking my Father up in the wheel chair every day. If after her 48 hour resting period, she can no longer do the most important tasks of looking after my Father I shall have to find someone else. Olivia is going tomorrow, Eladio is away and I have my eye operation tomorrow so I am in quite a bit of a quandary. What to do? It's not an easy situation. 

Oli and I spoke about it for a long time yesterday afternoon in the garden. Here we are together. Not a good photo but reflects the moment.

Oli and I in the garden yesterday

Oli was joined by some of her friends which I love her to have but stress me a bit when we have Airbnb guests who I want to have a quiet atmosphere. However, the garden is big enough for everyone and I don't think our guests even saw Oli and her group. Later they, Oli and her friends, went out for dinner. I stayed of course, to supervise my Father's going to bed ritual, etc and by 8.45 was in my room with Pippa. What a day. It ended with me watching Mamma Mia (in bloody Spanish - don't know how to change the language on the remote control) on normal TV. I love the songs but the plot is downright stupid. I don't really know why it was such a success as it so so cheesy. 

Today is Sunday and it seems Lucy is a bit better. She has done her chores but has been surly as usual. I don't think I can keep up with her surliness or bolshie attitude. I will have to talk to her but of course, being me and hating confrontation, that will not be easy. Oli, I'm sure could deal with it a lot better than me. 

So my friends that has been my week, not the best week and not the best blog. I'm running late so will love you and leave you until next week.

Masha

PS "baching it" is ok for a day or two only:-(