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| With Elliot on my birthday yesterday morning |
How have you all been? Well, I hope. I am feeling great after our winter break in Santa Pola and yesterday's birthday celebrations. I can hardly believe I turned 63 yesterday. But let me rewind to last Sunday.
Last Sunday we spent a quiet day at our little apartment on the Costa Blanca which is a small home away from home with most of the creature comforts we need. It's a great bolt hole to escape the colder weather in Madrid. That day while the highest temperature was 18c in the Spanish capital, it was 25c in Santa Pola. Wow, how lovely to welcome proper sunshine and some warmth on our skins and bodies, especially during the winter.
One of the funny things I read that day was to do with last Sunday's date: 02/02/2020. According to this article, it was a rare palindrome date and there has not been one like it since, It didn't seem like a normal palindrome to me, but more about it in the article above.
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| The odd palindrome figure for last Sunday's date |
Over the pond it was also Groundhog day and the Superbowl, neither of which mean anything to me at all although both events were on the news.
Of much more interest to me was the digging out of more news from my mother's past with the help of my friend Andy. When WW2 finished, my mother found herself in Austria working for the French Control Commission and when that job, helping displaced people, ended she had to decide where to go. She could not go home to Sofia as Bulgaria was now in the hands of the Communists. Her parents, older sister, Olga, and younger sister Masha, were stuck there as her father, a priest, decided not to escape communist rule and be loyal to his parishioners. He would live to regret the decision and when they did try to get out it was too late. Thus my mother never saw her father again and only saw her sister Olga when they were both old and in their 70s. After much debate she decided not to follow her brother Sasha and sister Daria to Canada, nor her younger brother, Nicki, to France. No, she wanted to go to England to add English to her string of languages; Russian, Bulgarian, French and German and off she went. I knew something of her time in London as a young woman and refugee fending for herself. In order to get residency, as a refugee, she was obliged to do menial work for 2 years and thus she found herself working as a maid and as a cleaner at the Middlesex hospital. Andy reminded me she had told him that the hospital specialised in "hermaprodites". Knowing my mother, I can imagine that appealing to her sense of humour. After this difficult period she found a job with the BBC as a presenter for their Russian and Bulgarian services.
She arrived at Victoria station in London as a young woman, aged about 25 with not a word of English but quite a bit of courage. The first thing she did was go to the front of a taxi queue only to be told to go to the back. "Queue" was the first word she learned in English. My mother always talked about an Aunty Mary (not an aunt at all) and an Aunty Alika (a distant cousin on the Lieven side) who were Anglo Russian and Russian and her friends in London, Aunty Mary especially. Both must have helped her a lot but with their connections and position I would love to know why she was so penniless in that period. I also know that nearly every penny she earned she sent back to Bulgaria to her family even skimping on public transport. This helped her to get to know the streets of the metropolis, something she was very proud of. Aunty Mary (Mary Britnieva), of English origin (father English, mother Russian) who married a Russian doctor, was a friend of her Uncle Sasha (mother's brother). It was Aunty Mary who first welcomed my mother in London. She was born in Russia but escaped to England when the revolution came. I remember my mother having a book written by her: "One Woman's story" where, among other things she tells of her life as a nurse on the Russian front in the 1st World War. I must have read it when I was about 15 and remember being impressed. Amazingly, this week, I found the book online which I shall read avidly. This is the link. Her daughter, also Mary, who married Lord St. Just, was an Anglo Russian actress - not a very good one - according to my mother. The daughter was also a great friend of Tennessee Williams. That must be why Aunty Mary's house was full of friends from the theatre world. My mother remembers people like Michael Redgrave or John Gielgud coming to tea. I gather Aunty Mary was quite eccentric - well the mixture of Russian and English blood often causes that (my case hahahhaa) - but at the same time a wonderful help and comfort to my mother in those difficult post war years in London.
He also found the mysterious Aunty Alika who figured too during that period of my mother's life. She must have been a friend of Aunty Mary's. My mother always talked about Alika Studd being the wife of the Lord Mayor of London and of having tea at Mansion House. I wanted to know more about her too and Andy found out for me that she was actually an Auntie or rather a distant cousin.
She arrived at Victoria station in London as a young woman, aged about 25 with not a word of English but quite a bit of courage. The first thing she did was go to the front of a taxi queue only to be told to go to the back. "Queue" was the first word she learned in English. My mother always talked about an Aunty Mary (not an aunt at all) and an Aunty Alika (a distant cousin on the Lieven side) who were Anglo Russian and Russian and her friends in London, Aunty Mary especially. Both must have helped her a lot but with their connections and position I would love to know why she was so penniless in that period. I also know that nearly every penny she earned she sent back to Bulgaria to her family even skimping on public transport. This helped her to get to know the streets of the metropolis, something she was very proud of. Aunty Mary (Mary Britnieva), of English origin (father English, mother Russian) who married a Russian doctor, was a friend of her Uncle Sasha (mother's brother). It was Aunty Mary who first welcomed my mother in London. She was born in Russia but escaped to England when the revolution came. I remember my mother having a book written by her: "One Woman's story" where, among other things she tells of her life as a nurse on the Russian front in the 1st World War. I must have read it when I was about 15 and remember being impressed. Amazingly, this week, I found the book online which I shall read avidly. This is the link. Her daughter, also Mary, who married Lord St. Just, was an Anglo Russian actress - not a very good one - according to my mother. The daughter was also a great friend of Tennessee Williams. That must be why Aunty Mary's house was full of friends from the theatre world. My mother remembers people like Michael Redgrave or John Gielgud coming to tea. I gather Aunty Mary was quite eccentric - well the mixture of Russian and English blood often causes that (my case hahahhaa) - but at the same time a wonderful help and comfort to my mother in those difficult post war years in London.
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| Aunty Mary as a young nurse on the Russian front during WW1 |
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| Aunty Alika |
Through Andy's research I found out she was born Alexandra Pavlovna, Princess Lieven (1879-1974), so a distant cousin. How she ended up in London I can only guess. The interesting thing is that she married an Englishman, the cricketer Sir John Edward Kynaston Studd. She was 45 at the time and he was 20 years older! He was the Lord Mayor of London in 1939. I remember my mother telling me that Aunty Alika dressed her in better clothes for tea at Mansion House. I can only imagine my poor mother who never had any dress sense allowing her to do so and finding the situation rather funny.
So, there you have it, more interesting facts about my mother's past. I wonder now why my mother didn't keep up with the two "aunts" after she married my father and formed our family. Maybe she did and I just didn't know about it.
Andy's findings last Sunday were most interesting and vital to the writing of my mother's book. There is so much we are finding out, it goes on and on and I wonder when I shall actually begin to write. What an amazing past I am unraveling.
My mother who loved the sea and sunshine, would have enjoyed last Sunday when we went down to the beach. However, we were in for a shock to find it nearly completely destroyed by the effects of the recent Storm Gloria which battered the South East of Spain and much of its coast. We couldn't believe the heaps and heaps of dry seaweed instead of clean sand. The width of the beach had narrowed to a quarter of what it was. It was depressing to look at. Here you can see what the beach looks like in a photo I took of Eladio. We wondered how on earth the local authorities were going to be able to deal with that and restore the beach to its former glory at least in time for the Easter season.
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| Eladio on the destroyed beach |
It was pretty difficult walking along the shore but walk along it we did; me in bare feet. We reached the end where people were fishing and I sat on "our rock" to contemplate the horizon and views of the sea and nearby island of Tabarca. That is another of my favourite places to be. Of course Pippa joined me. As you already know; where I go, she goes and I wouldn't have it any other way.
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| On my rock on "our beach" last Sunday |
It was lovely to be in short sleeves in the warm weather and to breathe in the sea air. It was not so nice to walk on the ugly dry seaweed but we still enjoyed our walk.
We came home to make our lunch, a simple meal of gazpacho and bitki (Russian hamburgers) with artichokes, my favourite vegetable. The rest of the day was spent lazily, watching the news and reading. The sun had gone to the other side of our building in the afternoon so I sat on the terrace, kindle in hand, with a blanket to cover me, enjoying the Churchill biography I am currently reading.
We didn't venture out again and later after supper watched the news, No doubt Aunty Mary, Aunty Alika and my mother would have been horrified to hear about the terrorist attack in Streatham, South London that day. A Muslim fanatic armed with a kitchen knife attacked passsersby randomly, injuring three people until the police caught up with him and shot him dead. There was no terrorism in England in the 40s and 50s and I'm sure my Mother and her "aunts" would have been horrified at news like this on the streets of London they were so familiar with.
Later we watched a new programme conducted by a journalist I always like, Jordi Evole. It's about people in prison, famous and not famous and I know I am going to enjoy it. My mother, a past fan of "Prison Break" and who was once in prison herself in Vienna at the hands of the Gestapo, would have been interested too. There was a programme about Brexit afterwards, but being sick of the subject which depresses me, I suggested we continue with our series, "You cannot hide" (Note puedes esconder). We binge watched it on my iPad plus until we nearly finished the series and it was late and time to go to bed.
Later we watched a new programme conducted by a journalist I always like, Jordi Evole. It's about people in prison, famous and not famous and I know I am going to enjoy it. My mother, a past fan of "Prison Break" and who was once in prison herself in Vienna at the hands of the Gestapo, would have been interested too. There was a programme about Brexit afterwards, but being sick of the subject which depresses me, I suggested we continue with our series, "You cannot hide" (Note puedes esconder). We binge watched it on my iPad plus until we nearly finished the series and it was late and time to go to bed.
I woke up at 7.25 (not bad) on Monday morning. It was to be another glorious sunny day. We decided to drive to the nearest town, Santa Pola. I say our flat is there but in actual fact we are on a cliff about 5km away. We parked at the end of the promenade near the port and walked, basking in the sun towards the centre admiring the boats on our way. We decided on coffee in the main square for old times sake - we do like our traditions - and had it at a little café called Juande. Here I am enjoying the moment.
We couldn't believe how warm it was considering it was the beginning of February. As I have said many times here, the weather in Spain is one of the things I most like about this country. Some of my countrymen must agree as there were plenty of them sitting around and reading tabloids. Eladio commented it was the perfect place to retire to. I'm not sure I want to retire here but I certainly want to spend more time here when the time comes.
Before walking to the sea front, I had to buy some mosquito bite relief cream and a battery for my watch. I was plagued by the "*astards" in October when we last came but didn't expect any in the winter. The pharmacist said there were plenty around. Oh damn them, they always target me.
Our walk on the sea front with Pippa was very enjoyable. When we first bought our apartment in 1999, the year my mother died, we looked at some on the beach front which we actually could have afforded. However we didn't want to be in the town centre as it can get very crowded in the summer but also vital for us was a place with a garden of some sort and a pool. Besides, living in a high rise block, in a flat is something I could not contemplate. We only did that once when we lived in Madrid for 4 years after getting married and we both hated it. I am a house person and would find living in a high rise block stifling and claustrophobic. They remind me of bee hives. You could argue that our apartment here is a flat too. Ah, but the building is only 4 stories high and all of them have a terraces overlooking the gardens and with views of the sea. But we loved our walk along the sea shore. Again, the beach was partially damaged by Storm Gloria. Even so, some people were bathing in the sea as it was such a balmy day. The temperature reached 25ºc. Here is Eladio with Pippa posing for the camera on our walk that day.
On our way home we stopped off at a little shop in Arenales to buy some big juicy, non waxed and locally sourced oranges. The lady who sold them at 0.8 cents a kilo told us they were from her orchard in Orihuela. It's high season for oranges at this time of year and they were delicious.
We would have them for dessert for days to come. Lunch was in order when we came home after which we watched the news. I later sat on our lovely terrace reading my book and from time to time consulting my mobile. It was at around 5 pm I read that an Air Canada 767 Boeing, destination Ottawa, with 128 passengers and 5 crew members on board, was circling over Madrid. It had taken off at around 3 pm and suffered the puncture of one of its tyres the remains of which had gone into one of the engines and damaged the undercarriage. The pilot had no other option than to return to Madrid and make an emergency landing. However, in order to do so he had to get rid of much of the fuel. That could be up to 10 tons of fuel which you can't just dump over a city. Thus he had to fly round and round the city and the outskirts for 4 hours. He had enough fuel to get to Canada, so to burn even more he had to rev the engines and witnesses said the noise was horrendous. He also flew really low scaring many who lived in houses below. As soon as we heard about the incident, we switched on the TV and sat glued to the screen with bated breath until the 767 landed at just after 7 pm. Our thoughts were with the passengers on board who must have been pretty terrified. Many of them used their mobile phones while flying over the city and were in touch with their loved ones. Many posted photos and comments on the atmosphere on board which was tense but calm. I'm sure that helped calm both them and their families down. It's the not knowing that is most worrying in a situation like this so thumbs up to the pilot and his team for keeping everyone informed and for letting the passengers use their phones. Thankfully the emergency landing procedure was successful and all was well that ended well. Later the Minister of Transport, praised the efforts of the emergency team's impeccable coordination which was obvious to all who were following the story.
Everyone was relieved, especially the airport authorities. It had been a complicated day for Madrid Barajas airport not just because of the Air Canada flight but also because in the morning a private drone had caused chaos and the delay of many flights. Not a good day for flying from Madrid I have to conclude.
It was amazing to watch the whole story live on TV, especially the landing. So thumbs too to modern technology for that. Later thanks to technology - my iPad, hotspot wifi sharing and video streaming - we finished the series "You cannot hide" (we loved it) and started watching season 2 of "Vivir sin permiso" (Unauthorised living) which would keep us entertained all week.
Tuesday came and I was up again at 7.30 am. I had several whatsapp messages but the one I liked best was from Olivia of little Elliot and his father. He has such an impish look on his face doesn't he? No doubt he will be quite a character.
It was on Tuesday that we decided to visit the small town of Biar about an hour's drive north of Santa Pola. It is on several lists of the prettiest villages in the province of Alicante and is famous for its castle. We also had another motive to visit Biar. I have a friend or rather ex colleague who lives there, Isabel. She once worked for my PR agency, Burson Marsteller, when I was the Communications Director of Motorola more than 20 years ago. Not so long after that she upped and left the corporate life of Madrid to restore an old house belonging to a family member on the outskirts of Biar and turn it into a "rural" hotel. So our visit would not only be visiting Biar but also a reunion with Isabel who I remember very fondly as one of the best Accoùnt Managers of all the PR agencies that worked for me.
Biar is a small village with some 3.600 inhabitants, very much inland and in the mountains which on Tuesday were populated with almond trees in flower making a very pretty site. Many many towns in Alicante have castles from the era of the Moors and the Reconquering of Spain. There are some 200 castles built either by the Arab leaders of Christian monarchs. The castle in Biar was built by the Arabs in the 12th century and was an important part of the town's defence until the famous King Jaume I of Aragon conquered it after a six month siege. The castle was also key in the wars between Castille and Aragon in the 14th and 15th century. As we approached the small town we could see how it dominates the landscape as it stands majestically on the top of the hill.
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| Enjoying a coffee in the sun in Santa Pola on Monday morning |
Before walking to the sea front, I had to buy some mosquito bite relief cream and a battery for my watch. I was plagued by the "*astards" in October when we last came but didn't expect any in the winter. The pharmacist said there were plenty around. Oh damn them, they always target me.
Our walk on the sea front with Pippa was very enjoyable. When we first bought our apartment in 1999, the year my mother died, we looked at some on the beach front which we actually could have afforded. However we didn't want to be in the town centre as it can get very crowded in the summer but also vital for us was a place with a garden of some sort and a pool. Besides, living in a high rise block, in a flat is something I could not contemplate. We only did that once when we lived in Madrid for 4 years after getting married and we both hated it. I am a house person and would find living in a high rise block stifling and claustrophobic. They remind me of bee hives. You could argue that our apartment here is a flat too. Ah, but the building is only 4 stories high and all of them have a terraces overlooking the gardens and with views of the sea. But we loved our walk along the sea shore. Again, the beach was partially damaged by Storm Gloria. Even so, some people were bathing in the sea as it was such a balmy day. The temperature reached 25ºc. Here is Eladio with Pippa posing for the camera on our walk that day.
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| Eladio and Pippa by the sea front in Santa Pola on Monday morning. |
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| Locally sourced big juicy oranges |
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| The Air Canada Boeing 767 after its emergency landing on Tuesday evening at Madrid airport |
It was amazing to watch the whole story live on TV, especially the landing. So thumbs too to modern technology for that. Later thanks to technology - my iPad, hotspot wifi sharing and video streaming - we finished the series "You cannot hide" (we loved it) and started watching season 2 of "Vivir sin permiso" (Unauthorised living) which would keep us entertained all week.
Tuesday came and I was up again at 7.30 am. I had several whatsapp messages but the one I liked best was from Olivia of little Elliot and his father. He has such an impish look on his face doesn't he? No doubt he will be quite a character.
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| Father and son - little Elliot with an impish look on his face. |
Biar is a small village with some 3.600 inhabitants, very much inland and in the mountains which on Tuesday were populated with almond trees in flower making a very pretty site. Many many towns in Alicante have castles from the era of the Moors and the Reconquering of Spain. There are some 200 castles built either by the Arab leaders of Christian monarchs. The castle in Biar was built by the Arabs in the 12th century and was an important part of the town's defence until the famous King Jaume I of Aragon conquered it after a six month siege. The castle was also key in the wars between Castille and Aragon in the 14th and 15th century. As we approached the small town we could see how it dominates the landscape as it stands majestically on the top of the hill.
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| The castle of Biar from afar |
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| The castle close up |
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| The pottery shop outside Biar |
From Cerámica Maestre we drove into the old town which was not easy as many of the little roads leading into the centre were cut off. We managed however to park near the main square, Plaza de la Constitución. Here we had a coffee at a bar and restaurant, La Fasana, recommended to us by Isabel.
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| Plaza de la Constitución - Bar Fasana is just to the right. |
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| View from the castle |
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| Eladio and Pippa at the top of the castle |
When we had had our fill of the views, we walked down the old stone steps with great care - I am a bit clumsy and have a tendency to fall hahahhaa - and enjoyed the views of the castle on our way down. Eladio took a few photos and here is one I quite like of myself.
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| Outside the castle of Biar |
We walked down some steep and charming streets to reach the centre of the town again, all of them well kempt and adorned with lots of flowers and plants.
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| Eladio and Pippa walking down a pretty street from the castle with Pippa |
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| The church of Our Lady in Biar |
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| The impressive chapel of communion in the church of Biar |
Thanking our guide for his time and explanations we continued our visit of this pretty little village or town. We walked along the main street, Calle Mayor, passing numerous steep and pretty streets until we reached the Paseo del Plátano (banana walk if you want hahaha). The "plátano" tree has nothing to do with bananas though and is similar to the London Plane. From here we went in search of a restaurant called Serreta again recommended to us by Isabel. We had a so-so menu of the day but enough to survive on. Later we killed time before heading to see my friend and by chance came across another landmark of Biar, a 250 year old "plátano" tree that gives its name to the street. It is not only 250 years old, it is the largest of its kind in the whole of the region of Valencia and is apparently one of the main meeting points of the village. Being winter of course it wasn't at its best and no doubt looks magnificent in spring. I had to have a photo of that too and Eladio kindly posed.
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| The 250 year old "plátano" tree a symbol of Biar |
The hotel (Mas Fontanelles) is about 4km outside the village and we drove along fields populated with more pretty almond trees in flower, We soon found it as there were plenty of signs for it and it's on the main road. We pulled up just outside the very impressive looking old house which was built 200 years ago by Isabel's family.
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| The Mas Fontanelles hotel owned by my friend Isabel |
We spent a lovely two hours or so at this quaint hotel in the middle of nowhere yet in beautiful surroundings. Sitting in her great big lounge with the fire on, we reminisced on the Motorola days. Isabel reminded me of our press trip to Scotland when we stayed at the amazing Gleneagles hotel and of a trip to Mallorca for a cycling race. What fun times. We could have talked until midnight but we had to leave before it got dark. We also had to have a photo together and Eladio obliged.
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| Isabel and I 20 years later |
The drive back was quick and uneventful and soon we were in our apartment making dinner. Again we watched our latest series on my iPad until it was time for bed.
I woke up at 7.45 on Wednesday morning after a really good night's sleep. No doubt the sun and mountain air of Biar had done me the world of good. The weather had changed as per the forecast and that day the temperatures dropped by 10º and rain threatened. Eladio suggested we go home and that's what we did. We didn't have much cleaning to do as we had left the apartment in a very good condition on our last visit. Thus at about 11.15 we were set to go, except that I had one last thing to do and that was to visit the English supermarket across the way called Quicksave. There I bought some decaf tea for me and lots of things for my father: Yorkshire tea, Imperial Leather soap, lots of biscuits including classic "jammy dodgers" as well as some of his favourite sweets - bounty bar, turkish delight, milky way, galaxy chocolate, etc. Ah and then I spotted some Cadbury chocolate creme eggs and couldn't resist getting some for Suzy and I as we both adore them. I planned to eat one on my birthday and the other on Easter Day.
The roads were quiet, it was sunny and by 2.15 we were just 125km from Madrid when we stopped off for lunch at a place we have been before; Mesón San José in a village called Zafra de Záncara. There we had a splendid meal which was a little expensive but worth it. We were home by 5ish to greet my father, Lucy and of course the other dogs. My father was delighted with his bounty of chocolate, etc and after thanking me, immediately asked me for "my blog". He meant he wanted a printed copy of last Sunday's. He is my number one reader and fan and I instantly obliged.
While Lucy was unpacking all the food, etc including my Nespresso machine (won't go anywhere without it), I unpacked our clothes and my pillow which I take everywhere too. With the job finished I saw just what lovely weather it was outside and decided to go on my walk. Eladio refrained. No doubt he was tired after all the driving. I thanked him for his chauffering efforts and set off with Pippa wearing my headphones and listening to one of my favourite play lists on Spotify. It was about 15ºc and sunny so no need for a coat. We were home by about 7ish which gave me some time to read (my Churchill biography) and also get one of the rooms ready or rather supervise its readiness (thanks Lucy) before our new guests arrived. Gelia and Manuel from Barcelona who had been here in October arrived at around 8 pm. It felt like seeing old friends again. They had come to see their son who lives and works nearby at the Santander bank world HQ.
It was lovely to have dinner on our own in the kitchen watching the news on my iPad. We were shocked to see another plane making an emergency landing, or rather a skidded landing in bad weather. A plane run by a budget airline, Pegasus, had crashed on landing in Turkey. The aircraft split into three. Miraculously there were only 3 fatalities but a lot of people injured. The big news that day of course was the non impeachment of the one and only D. Trump. But that was expected of course. Coronavirus continued to dominate the headlines with increasing numbers of those dying and those infected and the spread of the virus abroad. That day we heard how the Tokyo Olympic games may be affected as well as the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in a few week's time where of course many many Chinese people and companies participate. The South Korean giant, LG, has already pulled out. All the Chinese companies taking part will put their employees into quarantine for two weeks both before and after the event.
It was good to continue watching our latest series (Sin permiso para vivir) on Neftlix on our great big TV screen rather than on my iPad.
I woke up on Thursday at about 7 - not bad. I had the kitchen to myself with the dogs of course which is a moment in the day I always treasure. I spent most of the morning on research for my mother's book - all very enlightening but I wasn't doing what I should have been doing which is correcting the tape transcriptions.
All in all Thursday was a quiet day except for the acting world. That day saw the news of the death of Kirk Douglas, aged 103, of Spartacus fame. Of course, he is also the father of Michael Douglas. I have to say I loved that film which is eternal.
The news in Spain was of the much awaited meeting between the Spanish PM, Pedro Sánchez and the head of the Catalán government, Quim Torra whose presidency is a bit questioned after he lost his local parliamentary status. It was supposed to be the beginning of talks and dialogue but any success will be conditioned by Torra's demands for a referendum. So our Catalan issue continues. Ever since I have lived in Spain and that's a while ago now - since 1981 - the Catalan independence issue has dominated politics in this country and will no doubt continue to do so. It's our Brexit and like Brexit it divides society.
It was cold on our walk that afternoon but at least the sun came out. Suzy joined us as she did for dinner too. That night we binge watched 3 whole episodes of our series. Eladio says we waste our time. I say I like to be entertained and have any worries taken off my mind. Thus we didn't hear our latest guest arrive.
Friday came, the eve of my birthday and it was a quiet day. I spent most of the day correcting the transcriptions of my mother's tapes and I am embarrassed to say I only finished tape 1 which has 19 pages. I now have to continue with 11 more transcriptions which is going to take me ages. Of great interest that day was a link Andy came up with that describes the life of my mother's family at their "Spasskoye" estate in Voskrosenk (about an hour from Moscow). From it, I learned more about the lives of my mother's Aunt Masha and Uncle Petr; her father's sister and brother. In this article from a local newspaper, Masha is remembered for her "beauty, her cheerful disposition, for her willfulness. They remembered that she loved to offer food to peasants such as sweets on trays". In notes on my mother's family, my mother recounts how as a young girl at her first ball, her pearl necklace snapped and broke with all the pearls falling everywhere. She was so embarrassed she said that not to worry they would be swept up the next morning! Imagine!
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| The Lieven family home in Voskrosenk |
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| Aunty Masha who married Julius Conus and her mother, my great grandmother, in Paris in exile years later |
I read a bit about Julius Conus and found out he was actually French born, hence his surname. I also read he studied the violin at the Moscow Conservatory receiving a gold medal in 1888. Interestingly too, he studied composition along with Tchaikovsky!
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| Julius Conus, the Franco Russian violinist and composer and my great uncle |
Of note we went for our much needed walk of the day and joy of joys the sun was out. We went quite late enjoying the light until sunset which is now at about 7 pm. In most parts of Europe sunset is much earlier. One of the things I love most about Spain are the long hours of sunlight.
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| Sunset on our walk on Thursday |
Dinner was a quiet affair and we didn't go out even though it was Friday night as the next day we would spend most of my birthday eating hahahahaa. As to the news, it was again dominated by the spread of the coronavirus. That day, the Swedish telecoms equipment giant, Ericsson, announced its withdrawal from the Mobile World Congress to take place in Barcelona at the end of this month. That is big coming from perhaps the largest participant at the fair, the biggest of its kind in the industry. Wow! I can only imagine how hard it must have been to take that decision but the decision was taken because the Swedish company cannot not guarantee the health of its employees or guests to their gigantic stand. Will that create a domino effect I wonder? Well, maybe and it comes after the decision of the South Korean firm LG who also announced pulling out this week. I have attended the MWC for many years and I know for a fact that a large majority of delegates and visitors come from China, so there you are. On Friday I felt a little guilty about discrimination towards the Chinese myself when I cancelled a reservation at an Asian Chinese restaurant where we had planned to celebrate my birthday on Saturday night. Both Eladio and Suzy warned me not to go there, especially with little Elliot. Perhaps the decision was a little radical and it wasn't mine.
On the subject of the Coranavirus, it was on Friday that we heard the young Chinese Doctor, Li Wenliang had died of the virus. He was the first person to detect the virus many weeks before it became official and was punished for "spreading rumours" and told to stop making false comments. The Chinese government most obviously were trying to keep the epidemic a secret. If only they had listened to him and taken action immediately. If they had, no doubt the spread of the virus could have been largely stopped. If we are being told that the mortality rate is similar to common flu and the symptoms too, I am wondering how a young and healthy man died of it. Does that mean it is more deadly than we are being told? In very controlled China vs a vs public opinion, the normally hesitant population has shown its fury at the reaction of their government to this very brave doctor. That perhaps is the only good news to come out of this sad story.
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| The young Chinese Doctor, Li Wenliang, who died yesterday was the first person to detect the virus. |
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| Smart little Elliot in his new puffer waistcoat and his jeans and boots |
Saturday 8th February finally came and I turned 63. How can that be true? I don't feel 63 but of course I am. My commiseration is that I feel good for my age and who wouldn't feel good with the life I have where I couldn't ask for more? I would be greedy if I did. On my birthday I was surrounded by those I love most, my beautiful family: my father, Eladio, my darling girls, little Elliot and his father Miguel. They were with me all day and made it extra special as did all the messages that kept coming through all day long.
I was busying myself laying the table for breakfast when in came little Elliot carrying a great big balloon with the words "wonderful grandma". It melted my heart and I had to hold my darling grandson for a picture of the moment.
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| Elliot's present to me |
Breakfast was wonderful and I was touched again by my lovely presents; small gold stud earrings from Eladio and my father, a much needed coffee and water flask from Suzy and a huge set of thick white towels from Zara Home from Oli and Miguel.
But the day had just begun and was going to get even better. The birthday menu for lunch was one of our favourite meals; fish and chips with mushy peas. Lucy made the crispy chips and I did the beer battered fish and the peas. It was all much appreciated by everyone. We hardly ever have chips, not to mention fish in batter, so it was a real treat.
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| Fish and chips was my chosen meal for our birthday lunch |
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| My birthday cake |
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| The cake moment |
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| Suzy and Pippa having a siesta |
I had booked a table at Casa Iván, one of our local favourites. It's also the restaurant where we had the farewell dinners for my great friend Fátima (RIP) with her ex Motorola and ex Nokia colleagues. I hadn't been back since and would remember her throughout the night. Her sister, Gloria, rang to say happy birthday that morning and told me just how much she misses her beloved sister. I too miss my beloved friend. This will be my first birthday without her in many years. Julio, Fátima and I (the 3 musketeers) always celebrated our birthdays with a lunch out together and an exchange of presents. I shall miss that beautiful tradition.
I turned my mind to more positive thinking and enjoyed the meal although little Elliot played up a bit hahaha. We all took it in turns to hold and entertain him. None of us was very hungry so we just had a first course, or rather we shared 5 first courses between us and 2 desserts. It was all accompanied by a lovely bottle of Rioja wine called "Letargo" which means lethargy in English hahaha but it didn't leave me lethargic!
All good things come to an end and we got up and left the restaurant at around 11 pm all going our separate ways. Suzy was going to see her friend Mónica and Oli and Miguel were going back to their flat. All in all it had been a wonderful day and a wonderful birthday. As I said above, what else can I ask for?
Today will be a quiet day without the girls and little Elliot but we shall see them again tomorrow night I think.
Who knows what the week will bring? Good things to all of us I hope.
On that note, I shall leave you now and get on with the day. Cheers till next week,
Masha
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