Greengages from our garden, family time by the pool, off to Montrondo, a stop at Rueda, a quiet time in our village, the Olympic Games begin, TV cameras at home again, a walk with friends and other stories.

 Montrondo, Sunday, 25th July, 2021

The glorious moment in our journey to Montrondo on Monday - a stop at the Palacio de Bornos in Rueda for our lunch and a glass of the best white wine in the world. 

Good morning again. How has your week been? Good I hope. We have had a very quiet and pleasant time in our village. So let me tell you all about it. 

The weeks seem to fly by in the summer. We are now at the end of July, perhaps the hottest period of the summer in Spain. That is why we escaped to Montrondo, to get away from the extreme heat of Madrid.

We escaped Covid to an extent as very few people live here which makes social distancing easy. However it continues to dominate the news. In Spain we are seeing a fifth wave with numbers nearing those of the infections in the UK. The only bright light is that few people are dying and few people are in Intensive Care. But we still have to be careful. 

Last Sunday I wasn't thinking, for once, about Covid as it was a wonderful day for me, one of the days that will stick in my memory. That's because I had all my family with me. Again we couldn't go on our walk because of the heat. Thus it was the perfect time for picking more greengages from our bountiful fruit tree in front of the kitchen. Eladio got up on the ladder and handed me down the delicious green fruit. Of course greengages are actually just green plums and as with all fruit there is a variety. These are not what are known as "Reine Claude" (after a Queen in France) but a bigger version. When I was a child living in Ruskington in Lincolnsire (UK) we had a greengage tree and I first learned the word from my dear father who knows a lot about nature. Everything I know comes from him. When I gave him one of the "plums" for lunch, he said "you know they are called greengage". Of course I did. What I didn't know is why they are called that. There is a simple reason. A certain Sir William Gage of Suffolk imported the tree into England in the 18th century but lost the label. Thus the fruit was named after him. I didn't know either that they are considered the finest dessert plum and that the health benefits they reap are multiple. They help purify the colon and improve the processing of food. They are rich in vitamins C, A and K, sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus and other names I can't pronounce but also protein. Apparently they help with anxiety too, keep heart disease at bay, are rich in antioxidants, reduce blood sugar and are also good for the bones (the calcium of course). Well, we have been eating them for a week now so I hope we have reaped some of these benefits. We have given a lot away and Miguel has made some jam. Of course the birds and our dogs have enjoyed them too. I only wish we had more fruit trees. 

Eladio picked masses and there would be more in the afternoon when the girls were with us. 

Picking greengages last Sunday

Instead of our walk we  went food shopping to leave supplies for my father, Suzy and Lucy. Our group of guests, 4 young men from Vitoria were sleeping off a night on the tiles in Madrid. Lucy told me they had returned at 7 in the morning! Well, that's youth for you but it's also what is contributing to the spread of the virus. 

Sorry to interrupt my tales of last Sunday again with talk of Covid but that day it had affected the family of a dear friend of mine. . Until now I hardly knew anyone who  got it so I was shocked to learn from  Kathy from Keighley in Yorkshire, that her footballer son, Tom, got it on a trip to Scotland. He had had one dose of the vaccine but not two and was actually quite ill. I really hope he recovers soon. Many others are in the same fate or worse. If this time last Sunday the global number of infections and deaths was 190.797.676 and 4.099.170, today's figures have risen again and stand now at 194.425.481 and 4.168.714. In Spain and the UK and to a lesser extent France, the numbers rise every day alarmingly. Thankfully the mortality rate remains low.

In any case I didn't see the "boys" from last weekend's Airbnb group until they got up at about 1.30 (hahahaa). They had some coffee and by lunchtime had left. We had our lunch in peace. I made a beautiful Portuguese dish: "bacalhau á brás" - a fancy name for cod, onions, potatoes and eggs - which everyone loved.

The afternoon was ours for the taking. We slept a restoring siesta and at about 5.30 I went down to the pool with a cuppa (decaf), my kindle, towels and of course Pippa joined me. I had the pool entirely to myself. Soon Eladio came by and I went up to get his bathing suit. He hardly ever goes in the pool and needs coaxing. Once in, he loves it. Here is one of this summer's historic pictures; Eladio in the water.

Eladio in the pool last Sunday - an unusual occurrence 

By about 6 pm, Oli and her family joined us. They had been to lunch at Miguel's parents' house. Miguel goes very often now as his father, sadly, is ill. We were delighted to see Elliot. What a funny little boy he is. At first he didn't want to go in the water, preferring to be with his father and grandfather. Then he took them by the hand and led them to where we "girls" were on the other side of the pool. I had to have a photo.

Three generations: Grandfather, grandson and father - son in law

It was such a lovely relaxing family afternoon together at the best place to be in the heat; our pool. We don't use it much and of course we leave it to all our guests, so maybe I appreciated it a bit more last Sunday when we were all together.

Oli and family stayed for dinner. It was even hot at 8 pm and we had to move the kitchen patio table further into the garden in the shade. We had a make shift dinner of cold dishes: gazpacho, cold vegetable soup, salad, ham, humus and some of the pie leftover from Asturias. To wash it all down we drank some Asturian cider. Dessert should have been greengages and it was but I also brought out the Magnum and mint chocolate ice cream tubs I had bought that morning. The Magnum was gobbled up by all. 

Wanting to give Oli and family more plums, Miguel picked some. Then Eladio had the grand idea of shaking the tree and oh my the result was hilarious. We were all, wrongly, underneath and greengages literally rained on us. I took a video or thought I did but nothing came out. What a pity.

All in all it was a great day. We were in bed by 10 and I slept quite well that night. I was happy to wake up to read an article in which I featured and which  the Swimmy Communications Director, Estafania, sent  me. It was about the sharing economy and different platforms, like Airbnb, that allow people to rent out all sorts of places, such as their swimming pools. Swimmy is an app to rent private pools. The article was the result of an interview with Sputnik News, of all media - the Russian news agency. The journalist, Esther, had interviewed me on the phone the previous week, just as we were leaving El Cuetu. I was very flattered that she had used the photo of my pool as the feature photo. You can read the article here. Hopefully it will be good for business.

My pool, front page news on Sputnik News on Monday

It was on Monday morning that we decided to hit the road to Montrondo, more than anything, to escape  the heat of Madrid. We left at around 11.30 and by lunchtime were in Rueda, the town of the famous white wine growing area. In Rueda we always stop at Palacio de Bornos. It is part of the journey to Montrondo and I wouldn't have it any other way.

We always have a plate of ham, a plate of lomo, a basket of bread and wash it all down with the best white wine in the world from this Bodega (Palacio de Bornos). I prefer the local grape called "verdejo" and Eladio prefers the lighter grape "sauvignan". I had to choose the picture of me that Eladio took for this week's feature photo as at that moment I was happy and cheering  life; living life to the full to quote my friend Kathy.

We got more supplies from this amazing bodega which sells lots of local produce. We bought wine, oil, bread and some of their amazing white chocolate with almonds. We always eat a bit of the chocolate as we resume our journey.

By 5 or so we were in Montrondo where the temperature was  26c,  10 degrees less than Madrid. I only wish it was that temperature all year round everywhere and that it only rained at night. In the UK, my friends were sweltering in the mid 20's which for Spaniards is pleasant weather. But, of course, my countrymen don't have air con or swimming pools. As a child I remember we would get out the hose pipe in the garden on warm summer days of which there weren't very many. In the UK, that day, 19th July, all Covid restrictions were lifted and it was known as "Freedom Day". That is crazy as the number of infected does nothing but rise. In Spain that day the number went above 60.000. However the death rate was very very low as was the number of people in ICUs. Those are the numbers to watch.

While we were travelling to Montrondo, Lucy let me know the technician had fixed internet - there was some problem with the fixed line - but she also told me "we" had left our luggage behind. That's the second time it's happened recently. But it wasn't me, although I should have checked. I do the packing and Eladio puts everything in the car. Well, once again, he forgot. Oh dear, this meant I only had the clothes I was wearing. I do have clothes in Montrondo but they are all winter clothes. I wondered what we would do. My husband didn't feel at all bothered. I did and I felt cross too.

Thus unpacking took a very short time and soon we were outside in the garden behind the house and lying on the sunbeds, reading.  I wasn't at all hungry for dinner but rustled up a simple meal which we had on the front terrace, just outside the kitchen. By then it was cooler as the minimum temperatures are far lower in Montrondo than in Madrid. Eladio put on the heating believe it or not and I put on some long sleeved pyjamas! What a difference from home.

We later slumped in front of the TV and fell asleep very shortly. Unbelievably for me I was in bed by just after 10 pm. I woke up at 5, then at  6 and finally got up just before 7 am. 

It was great to be back in our village and especially to have escaped the heat of Madrid. Pippa was especially pleased. She loves being here just as we do. 

Pippa, happy to be back in Montrondo

That morning we went shopping to the nearest town, Villablino, and came home loaded with provisions for the rest of our stay. Just look at the fruit on the kitchen table. Oh I love summer fruit don't you?

Summer fruit - oh how I love it

I had bought ingredients to make shepherds' pie and we ate it outside on the back terrace where there is shade at lunch time. We sat down to a scrumptious meal and, as usual, I had to have a photo. 

Tuesday's lunch on the cool back terrace

We had a lazy afternoon and I had the added enjoyment of my weekly Skype call with my friend Amanda. She told me the UK was sweltering and I told her we thought 28ºc which was the highest temperature in Montrondo that day, was quite tolerable for us hahahaha. We hung up at about 6.30 as we were both going on walks. Eladio and I hadn't had a walk since we came back from Asturias and we were in need of the exercise. And what a beautiful and peaceful walk it was too.

Eladio and Pippa on our walk on Tuesday

We walked along the old path to Murias and I was amazed at the amount and variety butterflies. More annoying were the ordinary flies. What I also enjoyed was the sound and smell of hay in the making. Add that to zero pollution and our walk was the best moment of our day.

We were all thirsty when we got back to the village. So we stopped at a well where Pippa got her fill of water.

Pippa was thirsty after her walk on Tuesday

Dinner that night was to be my newly found recipe, "almejas a la marinera" - clams in seafood sauce. It is an easy recipe to make but needs at least 40 minutes. Contrary to lunch, we had our evening meal on the front terrace which is much warmer than the back terrace and at that time of night in Montrondo the temperature was lower - about 23ºc. It was another amazing meal in Montrondo. Have I ever told you food tastes better here? It has to be because of the mountain air.

My clams in seafood sauce

Dinner on the terrace on Tuesday evening

By the time we finished our meal the evening news was over but we didn't care. I have sort of lost interest in the news these days. It's only depressing stuff about more and more Covid infections. I should have got excited about the second private and commercial flight into space but I wasn't. If a week or so ago Virgin's owner and CEO, Richard Branson had flown to the edge of space, that day it was the turn of his rival entrepreneur, Amazon's Jeff Bezos. You know why I wasn't impressed? Well I think it is because I do not admire the greed of super rich people. They have done it all and can afford anything in the world yet they need and want to do more. So flying into space is their thing. They remind me of a boss I once had at Yoigo. His secretary told me he wasn't satisfied with 5 star hotels and asked her to find 7 star hotels. That's sheer greed. Don't get me wrong; I like the good life but I detest greed and the fact that people are never satisfied. They always want more. I want more too but with limits and I know how to appreciate what I have. So yes he went into space but I didn't care. Maybe he should have spent some of the money on the people who do the really hard work for Amazon, the packers and the deliverers. I wonder if you agree. 

Instead of the news we watched a film and what a film. Titanic was on, one of our all time favourites. I hadn't seen it for yonks. We enjoyed every minute of it and stayed up till nearly 2 in the morning until the end. In my opinion there are very few great films out there and this is one of the good ones. 

I was awake at 7.30 am on Wednesday morning. I was upset to get a message from our lodger, Felipe. He told me the group that had arrived very late that night, had turned the swimming pool terrace into a loud discotheque. Damn the guys. I wrote to them to say the neighbours had complained and had threatened to call the police (they hadn't) and asked them to refrain from putting on loud music again. I even looked up the rules for music and noise in the Madrid area and sent them to the person who had made the reservation. In all my 4 years or more of experience with hosting guests, I have had very few rowdy groups so I've been lucky but I was not lucky with this group. Damn them again! Luckily after telling them off they didn't do it again.

Wednesday was another quiet and pleasant day. We stayed at home all day until the evening. Lunch was my famed Portuguese cod dish "bacalhau á brás" made with cod, onions, potatoes and eggs. The highlight of the day was my Facetime call with Kathy and family. They were all in their English garden. English gardens in the summer when the weather is warm are unbeatable. It was just as warm here but of course I am used to it. We spent the afternoon on the sunbeds in the back garden until about 8 pm when it just started to get cooler. 

We had booked a table at the only restaurant and bar in Murias, the next village. The main idea was to walk to dinner and walk back afterwards. As to the restaurant, well it was a bit of a disappointment. The menu is very small and there wasn't much on it that we wanted. The bar attendants were not very customer friendly so I doubt we shall be going back. 

The bar in Murias,"El Holandés Errante,  with a limited menu and unfriendly staff

What was divine was the walk back at 10 o'clock at night when it was still light. Here are photos to prove it.

 

Light at past 10 o'clock at night. Our walk home on Tuesday evening. 

Again we went to bed late but happy with our day. 

Thursday came and I had work to do in the morning. I was working on a document for my main client. I also had to organise things back home as TV cameras were coming the next day to our house to do a report on the Swimmy platform. As I wouldn't be there, Suzy would take my place bless her. She even found some fake bathers - her friends, bless her. I also had to get in touch with the pool maintenance guy, Javier, to make sure he was there early on Friday morning and with Lucy to make sure all was clean and tidy. I congratulated Lucy that day when I got a wonderful review from the Mexican group of guests - yes those who made a lot of noise on their first night. In it he praised both me and Lucy. This was his review.

My super Airbnb review this week

In English that roughly reads like: "this house is incredible, everything written in the listing and shown in the photos is real. Masha is an excellent host and Lucy is very attentive. I cannot recommend this house more highly". Reviews like his make spur me on. 

Feeling happy and free, by 11.30 am, we went off to Villablino again. We had some essential errands to do after which we had our mid morning coffee in this town again. In the region of León and some other parts of Spain when you order a drink you often get given a free small tapa and in the case of coffee, a biscuit or piece of home made cake at no extra cost.  That is just so civilised

Coffee in Villablino. So civlised

Just before we drove back we went to a hole in the wall to get some cash. That was when I spied a little boutique where I saw clothes I liked. As we had left our luggage at home I was wearing the same clothes and needed some more. At the little boutique I bought a pair of striped shorts, a summer dress, a white top and some blue and white striped espadrilles. I later felt so much better wearing new clothes.

We  were home by 2 but had lunch later (leftovers - there was no time for more) as I had to work more on the document I had sent to my client that morning. We then spent another pleasant afternoon reading outside. We went for a late walk and were joined by José Manuel and his wife Pepi. José Manuel went to school with Eladio and was also sent to a seminary to become a priest (he didn't in the end). He went on to become a school teacher like his wife and they live near Seville. We hadn't seen them for 2 years owing to the pandemic and it was great to catch up. After our walk they invited us to their home, a house at the top of the village with great views.

View from the village from our friends' house 

Pippa enjoyed her new surroundings, feeling quite at home and it seems she also enjoyed the view of the village. I caught her on camera as you can see below. 

We had so much to talk about and it was pleasant to be with friends but at about 10 pm it was getting cold and so we left agreeing to meet the next day. Very unusually for us we had a very late dinner that night and we had it inside as it was a much cooler night on Thursday. 

I think I went to bed at nearly 2 in the morning but was awake at 8 am on Friday. Friday would be the opening ceremony of the most unusual Olympic Games ever. Held in Tokyo, I think it's the first time in the world there will be no spectators. They were cancelled last year because of Covid and I think there are a lot of people worried they should not have gone ahead. I feel divided. I also feel sorry for the athletes who have been training for years and even sorrier for those who have been infected with Covid at the Olympic village. It must be a catastrophe for them.

We were looking forward to the Opening Ceremony which started at 13. A pleasant moment in the morning was when we drove to Senra to have a coffee at the Cumbres de Omaña bar (with the grumpy owner). It was another wonderful moment and the coffee was served with a biscuit as is the custom in this area.

Coffee at Senra on Friday morning

We were home just on time to watch the start of the Olympic Games opening ceremony.

Eladio watching the Olympic Games opening ceremony

But we had to switch channels as at about 1.45 Suzy was live on TV being interviewed for the report on our pool which we rent out on the Swimmy Platform. I recorded it and you can watch it here on my YouTube channel. The Swimmy Communications Director, Estefania, was there too and sent me some photos. It was an exciting moment. For the record the cameras were from Telecinco and for a programme called Ya es mediodía. 

TV cameras at our house once again

Suzy and her Swimmy bather friends

We then switched channels to watch more of the Opening Ceremony. It was a somber and simple ceremony. For the me the most exciting part is watching the country teams appear, especially the teams from the UK and Spain. There were no paying spectators but about 1000 authorities, including the FLOTUS, Biden's wife. Good for her. 

Meanwhile Eladio was preparing our lunch. He was the chef that day as we were to have a barbecue made with lamb chops and chorizo which we had with a salad. Here he is outside grilling our lunch.

Barbecue in the making on Friday

It was after lunch that I received an email that has been a long time coming. It was from my UK publisher, LR Price Publications to tell me my father's book (the biography I wrote for his 100th birthday two years ago) was now on Amazon UK. This is the link by the way. It only costs 1.99 pounds so please buy a copy and if you do please leave a comment. The more comments I get the more people will see it. There is also a marketing plan in place which looks very humble and shortly the book in printed format will be available in the book shops or at least I hope it will. 

That afternoon I didn't have a siesta. I was busy with some client work and my book keeping. At 6 on the dot, our friends, José Manuel and Pepe came for coffee. We had invited them to come and have coffee and then go on another walk together.

We had the coffee on the front terrace. I had to have a photo of the two men who went to school together. Of their class in Montrondo back in the 60's there were only a handful who went on to study and they were two of them. That they went on to study was thanks to the Catholic Church. Both of them were sent to a Seminary at an early age. The other alternative was to continue life in the village and become either a farmer or a miner. That was life in Spanish villages in the 50's and 60's. So different to life in England where I grew up.

Eladio with his old school friend, José Manuel

At about 7.30 we set off on our walk. We were keen to show our friends a new walk for them, via "El Camino Valle" and along "La Chana" a path above the river overlooking Murias de Paredes. It is a walk we discovered only a few years ago and we love it. I call it the secret or enchanted walk. You go through a birch tree forest with lichen on the tree trunks. Lichen is a sign there is zero pollution. Wonderful.

The walk on the enchanted path with our friends on Friday

The path ends in a field above Murias. From there we walked down  over the bridge where the river runs fast and deep and into the village. In a field I was delighted to come across an extremely friendly white horse that let me stroke it to my heart's content. Oh how I wished I had a lump of sugar to give to it. Pepi took this delightful photo of me with the white horse.

Me with the friendly white horse on Friday

Just after the field with the horse there was  a stable with goats. Oh what joy. I so love farm animals. They are owned by "Emilio" from Montrondo who José Manuel and Eladio know. I dashed inside the stable to see the goats, one of which was a 7 month old kid called Luna. 

7 month old Luna who I fell in love with.

Emilio looks after his goats well. They were so clean and the stable very tidy. While I was stroking Luna and admiring the other goats, in walked a little girl, Emilio's 7 year old granddaughter. She looked just like Heidi to me. She knew and stroked every goat and told me all their names. Lucky girl. 

It was getting cold and late and we soon headed home on the main road to Montrondo. I think we parted ways at nearly 10 pm. Thus dinner was late again but we didn't mind. It's nice to do different things and to change our daily time table sometimes.

But by about half an hour after midnight both of us were bushed and in bed. I woke up at 8 am on Saturday morning. 

That morning saw us up in the mountains. It was a sunny day but much cooler so perfect for hiking. On the way up every nook and cranny has a local name. Eladio pointed out one of the springs (fuente de los paidores) and where he took a drink. There is no need to take a flask of water up this path as there are plenty of natural springs.

Eladio next to a spring called "fuente de los paidores"

We weren't going far that day, just up the edge of the big birch tree forest - "el abedular" - which my father loved so much. When he used to come here he would walk there every day. His love of birch trees comes from his times in Scandinavia and I suppose Russia. In Spain they only grow in high land. From the "abedular" you can just spy the top of the highest mountain, "El Tambarón" which measures 2.100 metres and which I have been up twice. It is a very long trek and we didn't feel like it yesterday.

Up in the mountains yesterday with Pippa, of course

The walk to the birch tree forest and back is just over an hour. I had no cooking to do that day as we were going  out to lunch. But there was time for some ironing, a task I detest and  I thank my lucky stars I don't have to do it at home.

We had booked a table at the grumpy man's bar, Cumbres de Omaña. He may be grumpy but his wife cooks very good local fare. Here is Eladio already munching when I took the photo.

Lunch in Senra yesterday

We came home feeling not too full and had a siesta. The rest of the day was pretty quiet just how we like it. 

Today is Sunday, our last day here as we are going home tomorrow. We shall miss our house in "our village" but not for long as we shall be back in August. We still have today to enjoy which I shall tell you all about in next Sunday's blog post.

Meanwhile, keep well my friends. Till next time, all the best Masha.