UK isolated from Europe, to the police station with my father, squatters leave, last minute Brexit deal struck, Covid Christmas, The Queen's speech and other stories.

 Sunday, 27th December, 2020.

Our Christmas morning photo with Elliot

Dear all,

How was your Christmas or rather Covid free Christmas? Different right? Not so good of course but still Christmas. I'll be telling you about ours later. But first let me rewind to last Sunday.

As I have done, every Sunday, since Covid appeared in our lives, I record the latest global figures. I hope I won't have to carry on doing this for the whole of next year. I remember being alarmed when Spain recorded 1000 deaths. That was back in March. Today it is over 48.000. I never ever envisaged that. I am sad but also relieved that, so far, we have escaped the virus. But I wonder for how long. Will we be safe until we are inoculated. How long will we be immune once vaccinated? No one knows. We can only hope and keep safe meanwhile.

If last Sunday, the total death toll  was 1.692.114. Today that figure stands at 1.764.794. Last Sunday the total number of cases  was 76.6 million. Today that figure stands at just over 80 million. The US and Europe are the hot spots. I wonder why that is? Or is it because the US and Europe are reporting the correct numbers and other countries aren't? I don't believe the Chinese and Russian figures, nor do I believe the figures coming out of some of the most populated countries in the world such as Indonesia or Pakistan. No, I don't. On Monday we were pleased to hear the EU medical regulatory authority approved the Pfizer vaccine and it would be rolled out from today. Yes, today. Isn't that marvelous? Well, it would be if there were enough doses to go around and if everyone wants to be vaccinated. Not all do. 

Last Sunday I was down in the doll drums. Christmas has helped but I still feel as if I am trapped in a wheel going round and round and not advancing. Every day seems the same. Does it feel the same for you? I feel in a rut but, to quote my friend Sandra, who told me off for complaining, I live in a nice rut. I do, it's true. 

Last Sunday was quiet for us. We were horrified seeing people thronging the streets in Madrid and elsewhere doing their Christmas shopping or the 4000 or so so who attended a music concert here, even if all Covid measures were in place. I hate to think how the numbers are going to spike in January. Apart from one quiet shopping expedition with Oli weeks ago, I had done all my Christmas shopping online. It was a sunny day and we went for a quiet and pleasant walk. I made shepherds' pie for lunch. I spent most of the rest of the day watching Homeland. After finishing the excellent Season 7 (one of the best), missing Carrie and Saul so much, I returned to Season 1 to see Brody, etc. I was enthralled. I only interrupted my watching for a Skype call with my dear friends Sandra (in Brussels) and Adele (in Orleans, France). That was the highlight of my day. My girlfriends cheered me up. They always do.

Meanwhile, no one was feeling cheered up in my home country, the UK. After the bomb shell announcement by Boris Johnson on a clamp down on Christmas and full lockdown in London and the South East owing to the new and more infectious strain of Covid, we began to see the consequences. The new restrictions came into force that day but many flocked to airports and train stations on Saturday and Sunday to try and escape. Not many succeeded. Then came the bans on travelers from the UK. It was France who first imposed the ban. France included accompanied freight traffic. That literally isolated the UK from Europe and had huge consequences in goods entering the country. If you are worried about the vaccine, the Air Force was in place with military planes ready to fly it in. What a state of affairs. After France's announcement, many other countries followed suit and literally isolated the UK from the rest of Europe. No one wants the new strain to enter their countries but it may be too late as cases had already been detected in Denmark, Holland and Belgium, Switzerland, Sweden and Spain (4 cases detected yesterday). You know what? I felt sorry for my country. I really did. In the first wave of the virus it was China, then Italy and then Spain who were the countries pointed at. Today it is the UK and the US. It must have been a dreadful day for Boris Johnson dealing with this. But he also had on his plate the deal or no deal on leaving Europe. It was ironic really that the UK was shut off from the rest of Europe while it also looked like it might crash out with no deal on 31st December. The deadline for coming to an agreement passed again last Sunday and the two sides were still talking. So, as usual, the Brexit saga continued until finally a deal was struck, "in extremis" and announced on Christmas Eve.  But there was not much reason for cheer last Sunday.

On the home front, I had news from Oli that night about the squatters in Miguel's flat in Valencia. After the police refused to follow the judge's order to evict them, his lawyer requested permission from the judge to enter his flat to see what state it was in. Miguel was furious and saddened to know that they had got rid of (and probably sold) everything he owned except for the furniture. Getting compensation won't be easy, especially as the squatters will plead they have no funds. That's not true of course, as they had bought a new TV and playstation and own luxury cars. He would leave at 6 am on Monday morning to get to Valencia on time for the apparent leaving of the squatters. They had said they would leave at 10 am, one day before the "express" trial.  The trial never took place as the squatters left but Miguel is now accusing them of a bigger crime which may at some time come to trial and see proper justice done.

Monday came, the day my father and I were going to the police station to submit our papers to request the new post Brexit residency card for UK citizens in Spain (TIE card). It was a moment of mixed feelings and also a moment that made Brexit become real for us. It was indignant to have to take my 101 year old father to the police station to renew his residency card. I felt sick to the core when I thought how my father had fought in WW2 for unity in Europe and that because of Brexit he had to go through this ordeal when he should be looked after at home and not be dragged out to a police station at his age. Is there no provision for people his age or people who are sick or bed ridden. No, they have to go in person. That is the rule. So on Monday morning, we prepared my father for his first outing from the house since the pandemic began. I didn't feel good about him going out. It's very difficult for him to get in the car and Eladio has to almost lift up his whole body. It felt, to quote my cousin Katty in New Zealand, just so, so wrong. My friend Kathy in Yorkshire said it was diabolical. It was a very cold day, the first day of winter and we had to wrap my father up warm. We tried to put gloves on his arthritic hands and they wouldn't go on of course. Oh how cruel to have to take him to the police station. Eladio drove us to the police station in Carabanchel, a working class area outside Madrid. He double parked his car across the road and with great care and difficulty got my father out and into his wheel chair. I had to push his chair across the road and was very thankful to the policemen there who helped push it up the ramp. I don't think I could have done it on my own and Eladio wouldn't have been let in because of Covid. Once inside we had to wait just under 1 hour for our turn. I discretely took a photo of my dear father patiently waiting and probably wondering what was going on or what the world was coming to. I say discretely because there were signs on the wall not to use mobile phones. But I was damned if I wasn't going to record this unpleasant historic moment. 

My dear poor father waiting at the police station on Monday morning. It was oh so wrong

When our turn was finally called and thankfully I had managed an appointment one after the other, I wheeled my father to the right desk. We were well treated by the clerk there. While handing over all the papers, it felt like some sort of betrayal, betrayal from our birth country because of Brexit. I told the clerk with tears coming down my face that my father had fought in WW2. He was impressed and very sympathetic, bless the man. Not many clerks are. The appointment was to submit the papers but we would have to go back to get the new card. I asked if I could somehow avoid my father coming again and my wish was granted. The way round this was not to fingerprint my father - another indignity for which I was very grateful. In any case I don't think they would have managed with his arthritic fingers. They had problems with mine so imagine with my father. As you get older the prints fade and it was extremely difficult to get mine recorded with the little machine they were using. In the end they had to use my ring finger and middle finger rather than my index finger. Thankfully all our documents were in order - I never told the clerk I had forged my father's signature on the forms - and we were out about 1.5h after arriving. I have to ask for an appointment for after 2nd February to collect our cards that will guarantee our permanent residency status in Spain. 

We were home very shortly aftewards thank goodness. On the way I got good news from Oli; well good and bad. That morning when Miguel and his brother arrived from Madrid to witness the possible departure of the squatters from their flat, they had already gone. Gone too were all his belongings, everything he owned there, apart from the furniture. Miguel and Olivia were very relieved that within a week they had managed to get the squatters to go. They were devastated though about all his possessions which included his coffee machine, TV, music set, diving equipment, clothes and all his household goods. He said it did not feel like his home anymore. During the day he and his brother decided either to rent it or to sell it. Once the squatters had left they had to change the lock, put in an alarm and set about seeking compensation for the robbery and the costs incurred by the squatters. Miguel has insurance but it doesn't cover theft if you have been away from your home for more than a month. Well, he hasn't been able to go back because of Covid. He may or may not get compensation but we have to look on the bright side and be happy that the squatters were evicted in what must be record time. 

Oli took the day off again as she had Elliot to take care of and the nursery doesn't open until 7 am while she has to be at work at 5 am. Thus she took him to the nursery at about 9 and was free for the rest of the day. She was home briefly and then out for lunch with a friend. She was happy that day and so were we. 

It was a great tonic to talk to my cousin Katty in New Zealand that day. New Zealand, being pretty cut off from the rest of the world, is pretty Covid free and they are living a very normal life. She can hardly believe what is happening in Europe and especially in the UK where she lived as a young girl. It was also a tonic to talk to our great friends Kathy and Phil in Yorkshire. Oh how I pine for Yorkshire. They pine for Spain. We can't wait to see each other again. That day was probably one of the worst days in history for the UK what with the blockade with Europe, the problem of freight and of course Brexit looming and still no agreement. We could hardly talk about anything else I'm afraid but at least we had the odd laugh. Laughter is always a great cure when you are down or depressed and Kathy always makes me laugh. Love you my love.

Elliot was home in the afternoon and after my Facetime call with Kathy and Phil, I turned my attention to him. He was playing in the lounge but was much more interested in "my toys" than his. My toys are of course the ornaments we have and the Christmas decorations. The lounge looked like a bomb had hit it by the end of the evening. I quickly cleared everything away - I hate a mess - and tried to think of something for dinner. Oli suggested scrambled eggs, always a good option.

Once again I had to get in the bath with my grandson. It was fun really, splashing and playing with his ducks hahaha. His father had bought him some new extra warm pyjamas as he thinks our house is cold - Eladio always has the temperature on at 22c - and because Elliot always sleeps without a blanket or cover. He looked very funny as they were far too big for him. 

Elliot's big and warm pyjamas

When Eladio called Suzy, she was able to see her nephew and asked whether he was wearing a space suit. It certainly looked like it. She was very happy that day as her new bosses were very pleased with her first translation work. It was a 90 page document. They told her she had done a great job. We were happy for her. Finally Elliot went to bed and we were able to watch the tail end of the news and then relax with Netflix.

Tuesday came, the day of the Spanish Christmas lottery draw, a huge event here. I was up at 6 am in the morning and was soon joined by Olivia. That day her programme would be dedicated to reporting on the lottery.  I waited for it all morning and also waited to see whether we had won anything. We didn't I'm afraid. Other people did though and it was  joy to see people celebrating. It was lovely too that El Gordo was the main news in Spain that day after all the gloom and doom.

Gloom and doom continued in the UK but there was light at the end of the tunnel when the French and British authorities came to an agreement to unblock the frontier, letting lorries through. They could do so as from Wednesday so long as they provided a negative Covid test, not an easy feat for all those European lorry drivers stuck near Dover. I read there were up to 10.000 lorries stuck in England, 3000 of them from Spain. 

Lorries stuck in Kent this week

As there are thousands of them, it was very doubtful they would be able to be on the move on time to join their families for Christmas. My heart went out to them. Meanwhile much of their cargo if it was fresh produce will be rotten by now. People in the UK worried of shortages rushed to the supermarkets to load up, just as many people did in the first wave. This bottleneck can be seen as a picture of what Brexit without a deal could bring or when it comes into full force, I got a glimpse of that on Monday at the police station. Oh, what a mess.

At home we have no issues with supplies so with a house full of food, lunch was made and life continued as usual. We had a nice dinner together too - fresh artichokes, croquettes and ham washed down by Rioja wine. Oli is a great lover of that Spanish tapa, "croquetas" and I was tempted by an ad on Facebook for gourmet croquettes coming from a company called "la cocreta" - named so as many people pronounce the name wrong. My box of 24 duly arrived that day. They were supposed to be for Christmas Eve but as we would have more than enough food, I fried a few of them for our dinner. They were delicious. I could never make them as well. This was the box.

My box of gourmet croquettes

Suzy, all the way away in Costa Rica and 7 hours behind us, wanted a bit of talk time with her mother. We hadn't spoken for ages. So we tried that day to skype. It doesn't always work as it depends on her having a good connection. But we made it that night. Here is my lovely daughter who seems to be in good spirits these days. She is especially happy with her new job - translating which will help supplement her income from teaching English. Thanks Jacky again for your help giving her the right tools. Her "bosses" (an American couple) were delighted with the job she did. I was delighted with their praise. Way to go Suzy.

Skyping with Suzy on Tuesday evening

Miguel was still in Valencia so we had Elliot again that afternoon and night. As Oli had to be up at 4.30 the next morning, it was up to Eladio and I to put him to bed - no mean task. We sent Oli to sleep at 9.30 and then the baby was our responsibility. It's been more than 35 years since we had babies the same age but we still obviously have the skills. Elliot eludes sleep and is very active in the evenings. I remember singing my girls to sleep so that's what we did. I held him in my arms in bed while Eladio sang. I then took him to his cot and he immediately protested and started a tantrum. I repeated the process and then I took him again. He protested of course, but I insisted and kept on singing - Sing a song of Sixpence. Every time he cried, I did not lift him out of the cot, but stroked him and soothed him with the song. It worked! Eladio said it was a miracle. He then slept right through the night and didn't hear his mother leave at 4.45 in the morning.

He woke up just as his father arrived at about 8.15, to take him to the nursery. It was my joy and privilege to be the one to pick him up and he clung to me with love and sleepiness which is when I most love him. I soon handed him to his father who he must have missed. Miguel had missed him too. Oli, ever worried, rang from work to find out if they were together and requested a photo. This is it.

Father and son reunited on Wednesday

All during Wednesday the news from the UK and the EU was hinting at a deal being reached. That would be the greatest Christmas present for the UK and parting gift from the EU. The blockade at the port in Dover continued when tests started on lorry drivers but they would not be back home on time for Christmas. Meanwhile the news about Covid was dire with nearly 40.000 new cases in the UK that day and the announcement of many more counties moving into Tier 4 from Boxing Day. There was also news of yet another new and more contagious strain of the virus which apparently comes from South Africa. 

In Spain the numbers were not good either but not as high as in the UK, Italy, France or Germany, but alarming too. We have yet to know  whether the vaccine will work on the new strains. It's not that clear.

But life went on here in our quiet house. That morning we did our last shopping before Christmas as I wanted to avoid the crowds on 24th December. Friends in my circle, especially from the UK, were asking me whether we celebrate the "Continental way" - i.e. Christmas Eve dinner, or the British way on Christmas day. Well, friends and readers, being a great fan of Christmas and a mixed Anglo Spanish family, we do both. Want to know what we had for dinner on Christmas Eve and for lunch on Christmas Day?  This is the men:

Christmas Eve menu: bacon rolls, potato salad with giant prawns, perushki (small Russian meat pies made with puff pastry), vol au vent with tuna fish spread, foie gras and croquettes. For dessert, trifle and turrón (Spanish nougat)

Our Christmas Eve dinner table

Christmas Day lunch: poularde chicken, sage and onion stuffing, roast potatoes, Brussel sprouts, gravy and cranberry sauce. Dessert was of course Christmas pudding with white sauce. 

Our table on Christmas day 

Crackers were used for both meals. A meal at Christmas wouldn't be the same without them.

We were alone on Thursday and apart from our food shopping outing, we didn't go out again. It was foggy, cold and damp. I spent most of my free time watching more of Homeland. Oh how I love Carrie and Brody and Saul of course.

Christmas Eve came and you know what? It still didn't feel Christmassy, however much I tried with the food preparation and decorations. That's because of Covid. We spent the day waiting for the announcement of the Brexit deal. There were rumours it was ready to be announced but there were lots of last minute glitches. I hoped and prayed there would be one and even if it wasn't perfect it would be better than crashing out. The evidence for the latter was there as the thousands of lorry drivers remained stuck in Kent, nearly all of whom spent Christmas Eve in their lorries. As I said, I felt very sorry for them.

I was awake and up by 5.30 am in the morning. Crazy right? Well, I had lots to do, all food preparations for our Christmas Eve dinner. Very soon after breakfast I was making the trifle and the potato salad. I was worried the jelly would take ages to settle but it didn't. I learned many years ago not to add any tropical food such as pineapple which prevents settling. Much better is to add strawberries or raspberries. I never put in alcohol - some do - but it't not in my traditional trifle. Here is the result my friends. It's news as I only ever make it once a year.

My trifle

The potato salad took longer as there are loads of ingredients. These are: potatoes, carrots, peas, chopped spring onion, hard boiled eggs, prawns and home made mayonnaise. I had forgotten to buy the spring onion so when we went to pick up the croissants for our breakfast on Christmas morning, we got them then. We also had a coffee and I had a little mini cream and strawberry tartlet (yummy) at Alverán, our favourite local bakery. It began to feel like Christmas as Eladio and I walked the streets. We came home for me to finish the potato salad. This is the result friends. I may remind you it is a recipe I inherited from my mother who always told me she got it from her father who got it from a Swiss cookery book. We love it.

My potato salad

It's not traditional Christmas fare either here or in the UK or anywhere else for that matter, but it is a dish we always have on special days. In Spain people go more for roast lamb or suckling pig, fillet steak and very many go for expensive fish or seafood. I heard this week that "merluza" (hake), popular at Christmas was going for 48 euros a kilo when it normally costs about 18 or 20. Crazy right? Prices go up a lot here for meat and fish the days before Christmas. 

I got on with the rest of the food preparations and really had little left to make in the afternoon. Oli joined us for lunch and we had leftovers. I was damned if I was going to cook for lunch too. Besides, we couldn't eat much as we had to save our appetites for dinner. Meanwhile, Eladio got on with his yearly Christmas task which is to light the fire in the TV lounge or library as we sometimes call it. You know it's Christmas Eve when it is lit. I do wish he could light it more often. I love the coziness of it. 

The fire was lit on Christmas Eve

Soon we were joined by Elliot and Miguel which put an end to our siesta or time I would have liked to dedicate to Carry, Saul and Brody in Homeland. No way José with Elliot around. With their arrival, our family for this year's Christmas was complete. We were just 6 people, counting Zena, my father's weekend carer, so adhered to the Christmas Covid restrictions. I hope everyone else did. We were in our Covid bubble as is right. Thankfully, thus, we didn't have to wear masks or open the windows. I felt sorry for other people who couldn't be with their loved ones because of the restrictions but they are there for a reason. Yes, the vaccine is coming but it is not coming fast. One loved one was missing though, Suzy. It was the first time in our lives that she hasn't been with us for Christmas. We sorely missed her but were lucky to have our grandson with us and Oli and Miguel, not to mention my father. It is a privilege that he is still here with us. 

It was in the middle of the afternoon that the last minute Brexit deal was announced. It couldn't have come at a better time, Christmas Eve. I hate Brexit and the fact that the UK has left the EU but I didn't want to see my birth country crash out with all the dreadful consequences. It is nowhere near an ideal deal but at least it will mean free trade; not really freedom of movement though which I think is the worst thing to come out of Brexit. Hopefully I shall have free movement in the EU when I eventually get a Spanish passport. Of course both sides announced victory. It was a bitter sweet moment. 

Soon it was time to lay the Christmas table, a job I love. I try to make it as festive as possible. I found some fun green Christmas hats which we would all wear. Crackers were the finishing touch. 

Our Christmas Eve table

I got out all our finery including our lovely Villeroy & Boch dinner set, the fine dining cutlery and glasses we bought when we married and one of our finest table cloths. Candles were lit everywhere to usher in the Christmas spirit, despite Covid. 

Oli, Miguel and I dressed up for the occasion and when we had, it was time for some photos. Here is Oli and her little family that night. 

Oli, Elliot and Miguel on Christmas Eve

After an aperitif of wine, crisps (glorious crisps - which Elliot tasted for the first time and loved) and vol au vent with tuna fish spread which we had sitting by the fire, it was soon time for dinner, the most special dinner of the year.

Before anyone tucked in, I made sure we had a little photo shoot and made a toast. I actually felt inspired to say grace and I did but no one really listened to me. I think when I was a child we sometimes did at home. At school - my Catholic Convent School, St. Josephs - we would always use the simple Grace words: "For what we are about to receive may the Lord make us truly thankful, Amen". Miguel of course arranged the photo shoot using his little tripod and timer on his camera and here we are all together around the table.

Our official Christmas Eve dinner photo

Soon we were tucking into the delicious food when Suzy rang from Costa Rica. What a joy to see and hear her. But, oh how we missed her. She would be celebrating with her new friends, the US couple who have given her the new translating job. I am very grateful to them. 

At 9 pm on the dot we had to hear the King's speech. It's a must for Eladio as it is a must in the UK to listen to the Queen's speech. Everyone was wondering how or whether he would be mentioning his father, Juan Carlos, the former King who is embroiled in a financial scandal and hiding away in exile in Dubai afraid to come back to Spain to face the consequences.

The King's speech on Christmas Eve

He never mentioned his father specifically but he did do so between the lines when he said the following: "principles that apply to everyone, without exception, and that are above any other considerations, including personal or family bonds". The newspapers interpreted this as his criticism of his father's financial misdemeanors. No doubt his father was watching from afar and probably regretting them. 

We soon forgot about the king and enjoyed the trifle and the tray of Spanish "turrón" (sort of nougat) and other sweet stuff and chocolates. Stuffed with food and wine, I felt bloated. Oh why do we eat so much on these occasions? 

We were all in bed by about 10.30 pm - probably the time many Spaniards were starting their dinner - Spaniards notoriously eat late as you probably know.

I was awake at 6.15 on Christmas morning. Oh how I love Christmas but this Christmas is not one of the best. No it isn't. Even so, we enjoyed it as much as we could, despite Covid. We were lucky to be together in our bubble of 6. Not everyone was able to be with their nearest and dearest or travel to see them. In most places in the world, here too, we have to stay put. Normally in between Christmas and New Year we would travel to our house in Montrondo but not this year of course. 

I made the traditional family breakfast which we all had together. The table was laden with croissants, Danish pastry, "Roscón" and guess what? Yes, crumpets, crumpets I had in the deep freeze. My father and I were the only ones to appreciate them I think hahahaha. They are so British. This is how the table looked when my father arrived. He is flanked by Eladio and little Elliot who, of course, doesn't know what Christmas is yet. 

Our Christmas breakfast

For all our special breakfasts I use a China tea set my parents bought us when we married. I also have theirs which I don't take out as it is just too precious to me. Breakfast is one of the highlights of Christmas day but THE highlight is the moment I have looked forward to every year of my life, the time when we open our presents. This year there were fewer from our side but, my goodness, Oli and Miguel made up for any of my lacking. How generous of them. I think every household is different when it comes to the timing of present giving. I have always followed my paternal grandmother's traditions and ours come after breakfast. She always used to give a stocking to George and I for when we woke up and, until this year, I continued the tradition with the girls. Oli broke the rule by giving a present to Elliot before breakfast and I relented. I mean, if this is a different sort of Christmas, traditions can be broken. Here he is consciously receiving a Christmas present for the first time. It was a little car. Oh, how he loves them.

Oli giving Elliot his very first consciously received Christmas present

Before we gave ours we had to have our official photo shoot, care of Miguel, our in house camera man. I have chosen the one with Elliot as this week's feature photo but he took many and I love this one too with little Pippa.

One of our "official" Christmas morning photos

We dress up on Christmas day for the photo shoot and Eladio always wears one of the bow ties from his collection which make him look so dapper. I usually wear a party dress. This year I chose my black lace one with a hint of orange or  red from the petticoat underneath. 

Soon the present giving started. We missed Suzy who usually is the one to hand them out. This year one of the presents I got for my father was the autobiography of the now famous "Captain Tom" - the 100 year old who walked to fund raise for the NHS during the first wave of the pandemic and who is now Sir Captain Tom. Being my father's contemporary and both having fought in WW2, I thought his story might interest my father. I think it did as he was reading it shortly afterwards.

Photo with my father on Christmas morning with one of his presents, Captain Tom's book

While posing for the picture, I thought that my own best present was still having my 101 year old father with me. I also thought that the book was a fitting gift, from one national treasure and WW2 hero to another. 

We all got lovely presents, more humble than other years, fewer too, but still lovely. But it was Oli and Miguel who bowled us over when they presented us with an enormous Christmas hamper and Spanish ham. Wow, that we didn't expect. We had to have a photo with the hamper of course.

An amazing Christmas hamper from Miguel and Oli

By the time the present opening session was over, it was time for me to start on the lunch which would take a good two hours. I was able to join Eladio and the dogs on a much needed walk while Zena had an eye on the oven. We changed clothes for the walk and I wore the lovely Oysho Christmas jumper Oli had bought me. The sun glasses were a present from her too.

Going on our walk  and wearing my new Christmas jumper

It was all hands on deck when I got back to make sure our lunch was perfect and it was. We ate too much of course. It's the Christmas pudding that finishes me off and the chocolates. Miguel and Elliot were having lunch at his parents, so we were all able to enjoy a nice long siesta afterwards. I couldn't sleep and was happy to continue watching Homeland. I did not miss the Queen's speech though. How could I? Her speech is a constant in my life at Christmas and long may that last. Her speech is always apolitical as it should be and not scrutinised for political nuances as the King's speech is here in Spain. And, unlike the King of Spain, The Queen's speech is just never criticised by the media. It shouldn't be as she is there as a figure of unity. Her speech always brings me comfort. It is always uplifting and this year it was, unusually for her, somewhat emotional too. I loved it as I loved the video put together with the Horse Guards playing the National Anthem on horseback. Wow. That set the tone and sent shivers down my spine, shivers of patriotism I must admit, patriotism I will soon be betraying, albeit on paper only, when I get Spanish nationality due to Brexit. Oh don't get me going on that. So back to the broadcast. 

She never mentioned the words Covid, pandemic or Coronavirus, but they were there everywhere in her speech. Her main messages were how well people have risen to the occasion, and that we are not alone - how right she is - Her belief in God is what has kept her going but I loved her references to the religions over the world, the story of the Good Samaritan (such as Captain Tom) and also how we would all love a hug or a squeeze of the hand this Christmas. That is the most emotional she has ever got I think. It is the first time she is not with the rest of the family so I really do think she knows what others are feeling. She spoke about the light, it was her main theme, the light of the star that led the shepherd's to Jesus, the lights of the Diwali festival and how light will bring us a better future, or at least, that is what I understood. 

 The only photo present in the video was one of Prince Philip. Oh, how much he means to her. I wonder if she ever could have done her job without him beside her? To think the Queen is now 94, yet is as articulate as she was when she first became our sovereign. She has aged very very well. She was a beautiful woman and I think she is now too a beautiful old woman. Whether you like her dress sense or not, she always looks her best. I also loved the Joy for the World song sung by the NHS choir afterwards. For her they were the Good Samaritans too and so they are. P.S. Did you notice how at the beginning of the broadcast the title is "The Queen"? I reflected on that and tend to agree, Her Majesty, is that. She is The Queen, there is no other Queen like her. 

The Queen in the recording of this year's speech. Marvelous. 

By the time I had digested the speech and made Eladio and Oli listen to it, Miguel and Elliot were back. Thus it was grandparent playtime with Elliot. I had bought him a wooden bench with a hammer and xylophone and even a bath bubble making machine. He preferred the former and was much entertained by it as he is with all my Christmas decorations, oh dear. 

We all said we weren't hungry and didn't want any dinner but at about 9.45 pm, we were hitting the fridge to find the Christmas Eve leftovers and tucking into potato salad and even the trifle and chocolates. So once again we went to bed with very heavy stomachs. Christmas shouldn't be all about eating but it is and I am one of the main culprits.

Saturday was Boxing Day and it was probably the quietest ever. Oli and family left us just after we came back from our walk. They were off to lunch at Elenita's and would then go back to their flat. We won't see them again until New Year's Eve. The house seemed so quiet afterwards. Lunch, true to Boxing Day traditions, was leftovers of our Christmas Day lunch, followed by trifle. Dinner was leftovers too but today there are none left, so damn it, I shall have to cook again. 

Today looks like it will be equally quiet. It is cold  but the sun is forecast to come out making our walk more pleasant. 

When I write next Sunday it will already be 2021. I can only hope it will be a better year than 2020. Did you ever imagine in your lifetime that you would live through a global pandemic? I didn't. I want to see this through though and come out safe. I am hoping against hope that the new vaccines will play their part in that happening. Today in Spain the vaccinations are starting and hopefully by the summer enough people will be immune so as to be able to resume normal life as we knew it this time a year ago. 

Keep safe my friends,

Happy New Year

Masha. 

Our own Christmas wonderland, a deal or not a deal, steeped in paperwork for Spanish nationality and new residency card, squatters in Valencia, Christmas cancelled in the UK and other stories

 Sunday, 20th December, 2020

Our small tree and and presents of which there are far fewer than other years. 

Good morning all.

It's Sunday again and the final Sunday before Christmas. Last Sunday I finally got the urge to put up the decorations, something I had put off as I just wasn't inspired. In this new world of Covid, Christmas just won't be the same. For some it will practically be cancelled as you well know. As the vaccines begin to roll out, ever so slowly, there is cause for hope but until up to 70% of the world's population is inoculated, it will continue to spread. This Sunday the figures jumped again of course. The total number of those infected rose from 72.1 to 76,6 million  and the death toll went from 1.611.948 million to 1.692.114. Europe is particularly hard hit, seeing countries like Germany, who were earlier a shining example, moving to the top of the list. 

At about 10 am, Eladio came upstairs with the tree. It's old and small but it will have to do. This Christmas will be an austere one I'm afraid as we have to keep costs down. When I was a child my father would always buy a large real tree which he would drag home towards the 23rd of December. It was always very exciting. The decorations were old but homely and I loved them. My mother was so old fashioned, we had candles on the tree and she was always worried it would light fire. When we first got married we used to buy a real tree too but, fed up of the pine needles drying and falling and the useless task of trying to replant it, we invested in this small artificial tree. Here is Eladio setting it up while I put on Christmas music to try to create the right atmosphere. In the old days, this job was lovely as the girls helped. This year  it was just us and not quite the same. The magic has gone really, especially as Suzy won't be here this year. But we have Elliot for which I am grateful although God knows how he would react to the decorations hahahaha.

Eladio posing as he puts up the tree

Soon afterwards my husband brought up the big Christmas box with all the decorations. There are decorations for the tree and for the three lounges, collected over the years. I have lots of mechanical and musical ones I love and until this year would buy one every season at the Christmas market in town in the Plaza Mayor to add to my collection- not this year though. My collection has got so big, that in the end it's not just a question of putting up the tree and some decorations but a whole private winter wonderland hahahahaha. 

Eladio bringing up the very heavy Christmas box

Instead of the girls, I had Zena to help. She pointed out that half the Christmas tree lights didn't work. We didn't really mind and said they would have to do until next year. All the other lights worked though. After a bit of badgering, Eladio did the difficult job of fixing them to the doors. I only saw the end result in the afternoon when I switched all the lights and candles on and this is what our Christmas winter wonderland looks like. It took us more than 1.5h hours to set up, phew.

Our very own Christmas winter wonderland.

There was time for a cup of coffee, quick preparation of our lunch and a walk before our meal. It was sunny and bright. Elsa, our lab, was better, but not well enough for the walk so she was locked in the kitchen when we went, poor dog.

I spent part of the afternoon reading Jenny Worth's memoirs upon which the Series Call the Midwife is based. I also finished the wonderful film starring Ingrid Bergman, The Inn of Sixth Happiness. Then I started on The King and I, the 1950's famous musical with Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr. It is rather quaint and old fashioned I have to say. Maybe "cheesy" is the modern word to describe it. It was another film my mother and I loved. I didn't finish it. 

There was good news that day. Last Sunday was supposedly the final date for a Brexit deal to happen or not happen. Today is another deadline and we are all on tenterhooks. Will there be a deal or no deal? It's looking like the latter but a glimmer of hope was given when the PM and Ursula von der Leyen, announced they would "go the extra mile" and continue talks. Boris Johnson was not optimistic but the EU President was. It seems 97% of the conditions are agreed and they must find a way to agree on the final 3%. This came after war mongering threats from the UK, warning the R.N. would be used to protect British waters. It felt like a declaration of war on France, our neighbour. Today is the deadline for a deal and fishing is the main obstacle. 

On the topic of Brexit, that morning I got a message from a fellow Brit in Spain, Tony,  who is also seeking Spanish nationality. I heard from him that we, i.e. my father and I and all Brits in Spain, now have to apply for a special TIE residency card, specially for Brits. The card has to replace our current EU card. Oh dear I thought and looked up the process which was quite daunting but doable. The problem was with getting an appointment with the Police as, as far as I could see, there were no appointments available for the moment and the page to get one kept crashing. So, thanks Brexit, more bureaucracy for me and my father with all that that entails. It entailed getting a passport like photo of him but even worse, having to drag him out of the house at 101 years old to go to the police to get his new card. Apparently our EU residency certificate is still valid but not for much longer. So, I can't put this off. I will probably need it too even though I am going for Spanish nationality. But that, I am told, my friends, could take up to 1 year and I still have to receive my coveted non criminal records certificate from the UK to present my case. Oh, this did and does put me in a bad mood. It would you too I'm sure. P.S. For any Brits resident in Spain who are reading this, more information here. 

Monday came and the first thing I did was to start gathering the documents to get our TIE card. I needed the following: Official form, payment form and proof of payment from a bank, photo, copy of our passports and current residency cards as well as a certificate from our town hall to prove that where we live is where we live, as if the authorities don't already know that. Everything had to be in duplicate and I also had to turn each document into a PDF, in case I had to send them by email to request an appointment. This week found me bogged down in gathering the paperwork and pretty cross about it too. 

I also spent time trying to contact Norton who had  charged me 114 euros for an automatic renewal of their anti virus which I don't want as I use McAfee. That had me resorting to Twitter. I also had to get in touch with Webcartucho to try and return the wrong printer toner they had sent me. Buying stuff online has its advantages but when you want to return something then the problems begin. 

So, no Monday, did not start very well I'm afraid. It was raining too which reminded me of The Carpenters' song, "Rainy days and Mondays always get me down".  Eladio and I were out and about on errands including going to the Post Office to pick up, guess what? A letter containing the deeds of the new house in Asturias. Why on earth couldn't the postman have delivered the envelope through our post box at home? That is pretty typical in Spain. While there, I sent 3 of my Christmas calendars to friends abroad.  There was time for a coffee at Alverán with Eladio where I indulged in two mini croissants which we ate sitting outside and next to a gas heater. There are many of them around these days as most people don't want to be inside. I certainly try to avoid it.

Lunch was nothing special and I was busy while eating, texting with Norton. I finally got the problem solved thanks to using Twitter to air my case. I did the same with Webcartucho who asked me to delete my tweet. I said I would when they had resolved my issue. What a cheek I thought. Complaining on Twitter is by far the fastest way to get problems solved these days. If you haven't tried it, do.

The main news of the day came from the US and the UK. That day, a nurse called Sandra who works in Intensive Care in New York, was the first citizen to get the vaccination in the US. In the EU countries, inoculations are expected to begin on 27th of this month. Later in the week the US regulators also approved the Moderna vaccine which will be rolling out soon too. 

Meanwhile the Electoral College voting took place that day and as predicted, their votes confirmed Joe Biden's victory. Trump's pathetic campaign to overturn his victory, thankfully, came to nothing. The UK news was of course the continuation of Brexit deal talks. According to the BBC, here are the three main issues summed up: "Fishing rights, level playing field rules on how far the UK should be able to diverge from EU laws and how any agreement should be policed in the future". I sincerely hope they will solve these last 3 issues and the UK does not crash out of the EU, their biggest trading market and which is right on their doorstep. They would be fools to crash out. We may know the outcome at the end of today or, as has happened now countless times, the talks may continue past the deadline. 

The other news was and is the rise of Covid in Europe. Rising numbers in Germany, Holland, Italy and UK provoked more restrictions, including over Christmas. London was to move into Tier 3 and a new strain of the virus was found in the UK which seems to spread faster. We heard yesterday it is 70% more infectious than previous strains and is to be found mostly in London and nearby areas. In Spain the descent in numbers is at a plateau with areas seeing numbers going up and going down. They are going up in the popular Balearic Islands which saw plans to increase restrictions, even over Christmas. Madrid too is on the rise. We are being reminded to remain vigilant over Christmas if we want to avoid a third wave which would interrupt the vaccination roll out for sure. I wonder if there are plans on how to deal with inoculating people who may already have the virus. Is that something being contemplated? What would happen if people got the jab and already have the virus? Not good news I'm afraid. 

Once again that night we turned to Season 6 of Homeland for our entertainment and to take our minds off this most depressing scenario.

On Tuesday morning I had an appointment at the local Town Hall to get the famous "padrón" certificate, which confirms you live where you live, as if the authorities don't already know that.  I needed one for my father and one for myself for the damned post Brexit TIE card to allow us to live in Spain legally post Brexit.  I then had to go the bank to pay for the process and also get a photo of my father printed. Dear Miguel, Oli's partner, converted one of his photos into a passport size one on a white background using a special app. Thanks to him, I don't have to take my poor dear father to a photo studio but he would have to go in person to the police when the time came.  How pathetic. Thanks David Cameron. Miraculously, the time did come, as totally unexpectedly, after browsing the Ministry of the Interior page for the umpteenth time,  I suddenly found free dates and appointment slots on the site, all after having submitted an email with the pdfs (time wasted). I got them for tomorrow at 9.30 (my father) and 9.45 (myself) at a police station about 20km from home. I feel so sorry for dragging my father there in his wheelchair, not to mention the enormous difficulty of getting him in and out of the car. I will let you know how it goes in my next blog post. The appointment is only for submitting the documents. If they are accepted we shall have to go back in person, again, to pick up the new card. I do feel sorry for my Father. 

That day I also set about trying to apply online for my CRB check (no criminal records) as I am very worried that the procedure to get it via the Ministry of Justice just won't happen now with Brexit looming. I wished I hadn't once I started. The easy part is payment. The Kafkian part is submitting documents which have to be verified. That leads you to a verifying partner online who you also have to pay. I found myself embroiled in one big kafkian mess. Once again, thank you Brexit. Damn it. I gave up after a while and told myself I would resume later. I kept getting emails from the Verify Online site in the UK to make me pay when I already had but no sign on my account there that I had asked for verification of two documents, one being my passport! I tried to ring them but of course because of Covid they are not giving telephone support. So, I resorted to email and did get a reply. I had to resend my passport as the photo of it wasn't good enough. I would resume the process the next day and the next day and the next. 

That had me in a thoroughly bad mood and worried and nervous most of the week.  I joined Eladio watching the news after that but couldn't concentrate. Nor could I sleep and I needed to as I had woken up at 5.50 that day! I really was getting my knickers into a twist wasn't I?  I turned to The Crown to relax my head and mind and it worked. Later I prepared our dinner - artichokes and prawns with garlic  - before my weekly call with Amanda. She heard all about my frustrating efforts with paperwork and commiserated. There is nothing better than a female friend for understanding a woman's problems. 

I was cheered up by Olivia later when she sent us a photo of little Elliot "writing". He is so sweet. 

Elliot "writing" on Tuesday

Later she gave us a shock when she rang her father. She was crying and we feared the worst. She told us that squatters had occupied her partner's flat in Valencia. That is very serious and difficult to deal with and will disrupt their lives until they find a way to get the squatters evicted. We were very sorry for them. Miguel went that very night to Valencia with his elderlyfather and the next day Oli would have to take the day off because of Elliot and would be with us in the afternoon.   In the end she had to take the rest of the week off too. A cousin of Miguel's went to the flat with the police and the police did nothing. They even admitted they had orders not to evict anyone. Poor Miguel and his father had to stay at a hotel while squatters were illegally occupying his own flat bought with his own hard earned money but occupied by scroungers who had entered it illegally. He found out from the neighbour who lives opposite and was told the squatters or the mafia that run the illegal business had sawed a great big hole in the door to get in.  

Needless to say I couldn't sleep after that. I used to be a person who was more carefree and not a worrier. I remember thinking my own mother was a worrier, so maybe it is thanks to age. Whatever the case, I just couldn't sleep. So I binge watched episode after episode of Season 6 of Homeland. I don't know what time I switched the TV off but it must have been late. Then my dreaded cough came and, yes, again I got a bad night's sleep. I actually am beginning to hate the process of going to bed. 

Somehow I got through the night and actually got up at 7 am. It wasn't a good day. There I was dealing with the bloody CRB papers which took up most of my time. We did get our walk in though. I had to go to the post office again as another parcel had not been delivered here but required me to go in person. That's not so easy as our post office is about 9 km away, it is difficult to park and the queues are long. Hate the Spanish postal service. But the journey was worth it as there I was given a lovely Christmas parcel from my friend Joanne with presents for Elliot and my father. How sweet of her. Thanks my dear. I would love to send you something too one day but just can't compete with you hahahaha.  Olivia is overwhelmed by your generosity. She has never seen anything like it.

She arrived on time for lunch which was full of talk and phone calls to do with the damned squatters in Valencia. Later she went to pick up Elliot from the nursery so we had the pleasure of his company that afternoon and evening and the rest of the week until yesterday.  It was lovely to have him but he was a complete danger with the Christmas decorations hahahahhaa. He is also a complete danger when it comes to my bedside table and the drawer. It's like an Aladdin's cave to him. It's full of pills, scissors, nail clippers, lip balm, etc which he delights in. Here he is helping himself to its contents.

Elliot loves my bedside table and drawer. It's like an Aladdin's cave to him. 

I wondered if I would sleep better that night but no, I didn't. I binge watched 3 episodes of Season 7 of Homeland and couldn't sleep again. I must have done though eventually but did not feel rested in the morning.

Thursday came. I woke up to emails from the CRB sent at 6.15 in the morning. Was someone really writing at that time in the morning? The emails were to ask about my name and surname and question proof of my identity; something to prove I live at the address I do (OMG). I had to go into lengthy explanations about why I am commonly called Masha whereas my official name is Maria. I also had to explain that, yes, I was married, but had not changed my surname, telling them in Spain a woman does not take on her husband's. I felt like a criminal justifying my answers. 

The other problem was finding the right  document from their list with my name and address on it. I did not have any on their list as most of our bills, etc are in Eladio's name. It got worse and worse and I felt that my CRB check was proving elusive. Without it I cannot proceed with requesting Spanish nationality. All I can say, is "Bloody Brexit" again. I even went to our bank to try and get a bank statement with my name and address on it which the bank refused to give me as they said they weren't in the business of proving people's identity. I later wrote about 6 emails to the CRB to explain this and to submit other documents I thought might help. 

If I was going through all this and losing sleep over it, Miguel's problems were far worse. He was in Valencia fighting to get his flat back from the squatters. The law always errs on their sides when there are minors involved so the case was not looking good. We heard too that day that the socialist government is going to ban evictions during the pandemic. The 23 year old woman who moved in with her mother in law, two children and a dog, are well known to the social services. The woman claimed she was there legally as she had signed a contract and was paying a monthly fee. Of course the contract is a fake and will have been given to her by mafia groups who seek empty houses to rent them illegally. The amazing thing is that the woman is not penniless, nor does she have nowhere to live. Her own mother has a house and her drug trafficking partner or partners are not without money and neither is her father in law who works. Seen by Miguel were luxury cars owned by the squatters who are just delinquents and not homeless people.  Miguel also heard all his stuff had been removed from the flat so that the squatters could say it was empty when they moved in. But later in the day and rather miraculously, after presenting his case to the judge, he was told there would be a trial this Tuesday. So please cross your fingers it goes his way.

I got good news too that evening when I received an email from the CRB. It was to confirm that the processing of my application had been completed, that the application would be submitted to the police national data base, bla, bla, bla, and that a certificate would be sent to me. When? I don't know but I must say I felt very relieved at the news.

We had a funny sort of dinner to celebrate. Well, it wasn't to celebrate but I did drink some wine and eat some chocolate. I felt I deserved it after all my efforts. I used an English expression with Oli referring to Miguel's fight with the squatter situation: "if at first, you don't succeed, try, try again". It applies to me too and is a mantra of mine. It had worked with Norton, it had worked with Web Cartucho, it had worked getting an appointment for the TIE card and it had worked for the application for my CRB check. However, it always feels like a battle and I tend to feel tired and wounded afterwards. Basically, I was exhausted.

So was Elliot who hates going to bed at night. We had him in and out of our room until very late. Only when he finally left were we able to go to bed ourselves. We watched 2 episodes of Homeland Season 7 and flaked out. I slept well for the first time even though I was awake twice during the night. But, I felt rested on Friday morning. 

Who probably didn't sleep very well was Emanuel Macron, France's Premiere, who this week tested positive for Covid. Wow! That meant other EU leaders who had been with him earlier, such as Spain's PM, Pedro Sánchez, all had to go into quarantine. 

When Oli had left to take Elliot to the nursery, Eladio and I went to do the weekly food shop. The only bit we enjoy is going to have a coffee in between shops. This week I bought a lot of the ingredients for our festive meals but not all. I can't believe Christmas will be here on Thursday. 

Oli came home for lunch but didn't eat any. She was just too worried for her partner and following all the events in Valencia. We heard a little later that the Judge had ordered the squatters to be evicted before the trial and to be evicted imminently.  They are not a vulnerable family as the children go to a fee paying school and the grandmother has her own home. Wow, we were so pleased. But then the police took ages to arrive. 2 plain clothed officers finally took the eviction order to the flat but the squatters refused to budge. The police did not insist. What a let down. Miguel and his lawyer then went to the police and got in touch with the judge or tried to. It's unthinkable that the police did not follow her orders and accepted the squatters' saying they will move out tomorrow. I wonder if they will. In the morning, upon his lawyer's advice, Miguel, his father and friends went to the flat and stood outside to make sure no more of his contents were removed. He send a video to Olivia. One of the squatters told him he was making them feel very uncomfortable to which Miguel replied he felt uncomfortable too as they had occupied his flat. The squatters said he was not the owner!!! All this is on tape. What a situation. Imagine you going on holiday for a few weeks and coming back to find squatters have moved in. Try moving them out. The law is not always on your side. I immediately thought the best thing would be to cut the water, heating and electricity but then learned that is against the law as it is seen as coercing the squatters who have rights. Rights to move into people's private property!!!!!

Oli was upset all this week which is understandable but it was affecting her mood and health and I think Elliot noticed something was wrong as he was crying more than usual. He needs stability and peace. I hope he gets it soon. He will if the squatters are evicted. Cross your fingers again please.

The day ended with an interrupted dinner - thanks Elliot - I had to leave my food and go into the lounge to play with him. I also had to get into the bath for him to accept his bathe. I just wanted peace. I got it at about 22.30 that night when were finally alone and turned to another episode of Homeland.

I was up at 5.45 on Saturday morning. It was raining and would do all day. Elsa, our labrador, was not well. Her mouth infection is on the mend but her foot  (paw, sorry) - due to be operated on soon - was playing her up and she just couldn't move. We had to help her by lifting all 25 kilos of her to go outside to do her doings. Poor thing. 

With no more business in Valencia until tomorrow, Miguel and his father began the drive home to Madrid. Oli and Elliot left us at about midday and we have been alone since. 

Who must feel very alone is my dear friend Julio. Julio was one of the "3 musketeers"  with Fátima who left us sadly last year. Well yesterday, Julio, told me his sister had not made it to Christmas, having passed away after losing the battle to cancer last Sunday. She was a nurse and leaves her husband and daughter a widow and orphan.  Oh how sad! I cried as I listened to him telling me. I wish I could have been at the funeral to comfort him but owing to Covid rules that just wasn't possible. Damn it. I will miss our Christmas dinners together. Each year since we met at Nokia in 2000, we would celebrate with a dinner at our house and a dinner at Julio's. As it is December, Facebook keeps reminding me of them. Yesterday I came across a photo of a dinner at our house in 2015, 2 years before my dear friend Fátima got the cancer she would fight for 3 years. I miss her so much and this year I will miss our Christmas dinners. 

A photo taken of us "the three musketeers" at Christmas at our house in 2015. 

Many many people will be alone at Christmas so I mustn't complain. Restrictions for the Christmas period are being imposed everywhere. In Spain it's difficult to tell you what they are as every region is different. In Madrid though the limit on the number of people meeting has gone down from 10 to 6. It is far worse in the UK where to quote my friend Amanda, "Christmas is cancelled". It was cancelled yesterday after Boris Johnson announced new draconian measures, especially in  London and some surrounding areas which are now to go into Tier 4. Basically that means not leaving your home, not even for Christmas. Thus my friends' daughter and son, Cord and Jake, who had planned to spend Christmas with their mother, will now have to stay in London and Amanda and her husband will be alone on Christmas Day. I felt so sorry for them as I do for all affected. It must be even worse for those living alone as at least Amanda has her husband with her. One of the main reasons for "cancelling Christmas" is the rise of a new strain of the virus which has become the dominant type especially in the London area and Scotland too. 

The headlines in the British press this morning

Our Christmas won't be cancelled as we are very few and Suzy isn't here this year (sniff). Definitely, though, it will be the strangest Christmas in our lifetime. It's not that I don't agree with the restrictions; I do. We need to fight the virus. It's just that it is a little sad. This post is my last post before Christmas, so I would like to wish you all the very best under the circumstances. We can only hope that next Christmas, everything will be back to normal. I sincerely hope we fight this virus with the new vaccines and that our living through this period will become a memory in years to come; tales to tell to our grandchildren. 

Merry Christmas everyone. 

Cheers until next week,

Masha.