Recovering from flu, Israel and Hamas agree on ceasefire and hostage exchange release, cooking spree and other stories of the week.

Sunday, 26th November, 2023

Coffee at Manolo Bakes on Thursday, the highlight of the week

Good morning everyone. How are you all? 

Did you notice I didn't publish my blog last Sunday? Maybe you did or maybe you didn't. So why you might ask? The real reason is that I have been ill first with flu and then with gastroenteritis and actually had absolutely nothing to report; nor even share a miserly photo. It's as if that week has been erased from my life. I hadn't had flu for many, many years and had forgotten just how it knocks you out. . Not publishing my blog had me feeling guilty as it's one of the very few times I haven't written since I started writing in the summer of 2005. It's been an effort to write this week's post too as I am still recovering but am slowly getting better.

It was only last Sunday that I crawled out of bed for the first time. I had to make an effort as Oli and the kids were coming for lunch and I hadn't seen them for at least 3 weeks. After preparing a simple meal of spagbol, we met them for coffee at Alveran. We walked there as I was in desperate need of some exercise. It was a beautiful sunny day and I was looking forward to coffee out with the family. It's quite a walk - at least 45 minutes and we were a bit late. By then the kids had eaten their croissants (small vigilantes, a speciality of  Alverán),  so as soon as we had had ours, we took them to the nearest park. We had it to ourselves and I spent part of the time on a big wheel shaped swing with both my grandchildren. They were hungry early so we drove straight home to give them their lunch. Juliet is a great eater but Elliot can be very fussy. He wanted ice cream but hadn't eaten his lunch, hahahaha. We gave in, of course, which we usually do.  My appetite was slowly coming back but not wanting an ice cream was a sure sign something was wrong with my stomach. I'm usually so greedy it's been strange losing my appetite. The flu or gastroenteritis also affected my taste buds which could only handle really bland food. It also affected my sense of smell putting me off a lot of food, especially cooked meat. 

Just as Oli and family were  leaving, a new guest, Maria, was arriving. She is Spanish and from La Coruña in Galicia and is staying with us for 2 weeks . She has come to set up some business and look for accommodation. At this moment in time we have guests from Spain (Maria) , China (Robert), Iraq (Mohammad) and Peru (Mileny) - quite the United Nations. In January  or February Mileny's sister will be coming to join her and study at the local University too. They will be sharing her room - the largest one we have which was Suzy's old room. 

Bu then all I wanted to do was to crawl back into bed and rest. On Monday morning we went on our normal walk, my first in about 2 weeks. I felt a bit weak but the exercise was good for me. We then went on a a couple of errands before lunch. We were joined by Oli - without the kids - and I think it was the first time I had felt hungry in a long time. One of our topics of conversation was Spanish politics. You may know that we have a new government, the continuation of the socialist leader, Pedro Sánchez, who was supported by the far right, extremist, Catalan independence led by the fugitive Carlos Puigdemont. To get the latter's votes and become PM again, Sánchez had to agree to an Amnesty for all independence related crimes since 2012. That has the other half of the country up in arms and demonstrating in the streets. But it's a done deal and life will continue, albeit thanks to the country's enemy, Puigdemont who will now come back from Waterloo as a hero in the eyes of some - not mine. He makes my blood boil. What also made my blood boil recently was the unexpected return of David Cameron to politics. He has been appointed as the new Foreign Minister - the very man who brought us bloody Brexit is now in charge of foreign affairs That stinks as I told my dear friend Amanda in our weekly Skype call that afternoon.

It was good to talk to my oldest friend but neither of us had any joyful news to share really. To me it seems as if most of the joy has gone out of my life and that I am going through a bad patch. We both are in a way. I must snap out of it which is easier said than done.

Tuesday came and it seemed as though Eladio had the beginnings of a cold. I was dreading him catching the flu from me; I really was and it seemed a miracle he hadn't, so far. I was on the mend finally and we both enjoyed our walk in the autumn sun that day. 

We had plans to go to Asturias on Wednesday as we have to do some paintwork in the hall before our December bank holiday guests arrives on 7th December. But neither of us were feeling well enough to go so have put it off until the beginning of December. 

Wednesday 22nd November happened to be the 60th anniversary of the assassination of John Fitzgerald Kennedy. If you are in your 60's or over you will remember this. I was about 6 at the time and we were living in Ruskington (Lincolnshire). I remember watching the news with my Mother, George and our Finnish neighbours, Anya and her son Jeremy. The women cried and I think I did too. It was the first international piece of news that I remember and what a terrible thing to remember.

The news this week is all about the negotiations between Israel and Hamas, via Qatar, for the release of 50 hostages in exchange for a short ceasefire and the release of  150 Palestinian prisoners. It's a dreadful situation and this war will not end soon. Meanwhile, the world is forgetting about a war nearer to us, the invasion of the Ukraine by Russia which will soon be into its second year. It's unbelievable that Russia did not win this war outright. No doubt Putin is regretting ever having invaded his neighbour. It has only brought him problems. Oh, how I hate wars. 

Wednesday was another quiet day at home. We managed our walk with me recovering from flu and Eladio starting a cold, poor chap. Did I ever tell you my least favourite month of the year is November? It's basically winter, dark in the evenings and a bit depressing. I can't wait for spring, my favourite season  when life begins again. 

Thursday was shopping day. We didn't feel like going out but had to make the effort. It was our only outing of the week so we made the most of it. I don't normally like doing the weekly food shopping but it was nice to be out and about and the sun was shining which was a plus. Coffee at Manolo Bakes was the highlight. As I had no photos for this week's blog post, I took one of Eladio and he took one of me which is this week's feature photo.

Coffee and mini croissants for me and toast with olive oil and tomato for Eladio at Manolo Bakes on Thursday

I was wearing my new black and white coat I bought in Santa Pola which I love. It makes me look slimmer or I think it does. While at Mercadona (the supermarket) we bumped into 2 neighbours, Inés and Fernando, who live in Parque Boadilla, opposite the girls' school, St. Michael's, where their children also went to. Beatriz, their daughter was in Suzy's class and many an afternoon was spent with the kids at Ines' house or ours. I remember dear Inés making the girls' halloween outfits for them as I am hopeless at sewing. It was Inés who told me I looked "slim". That's because she hasn't seen me for donkey's years but it was nice to hear. What a lovely couple. We spoke for a long time by the fruit section talking about the past. How time has flown!

In the afternoon I went to a very much needed dental appointment to see my dentist, Dr. Garralda. He has been my dentist for about 40 years and I trust him with my life. I had been procrastinating after a crown fell out and two teeth broke during our road trip to Armenia. Finally I plucked up the courage to get an appointment. I should have gone in January but kept putting it off. Now there is an awful lot of work to be done to get my teeth into better shape. I always had lovely teeth but should have looked  after them better in recent years.  Eladio has lovely teeth too but they are much stronger than mine. Would you believe the colour of his teeth is still A1 (the whitest) and that he doesn't even have one filling?  Amazing! He does have good genes. Dr. Garralda agreed. I shall be going back very frequently now after a study of what is needed to be done is ready. Meanwhile I will be having a panoramic x-ray and a scan on Monday. 

I came back feeling pleased with myself as I had finally been to see my dentist; something I should have done much earlier this year but with modern techniques that exist today, there is hope for me still, thank goodness. 

That night both Eladio and I slept really badly owing to our coughs. I take pure codeine when I get a coughing attack - difficult to come by without a prescription and even then doctors are reluctant to prescribe it. It usually does the trick but didn't that night. Oh what a horrible night. Hopefully the day would be better. Friday was another sunny day but we didn't go for a walk as Eladio didn't feel up to it, poor chap. He is going through the worst of it while I am coming out of the rabbit hole but still not feeling one hundred percent. 

Friday was what is now known as Black Friday. a huge commercial phenomenon imported from the US - the sales after Thanksgiving. I didn't take a blind bit of notice. Likewise I am no fan of Halloween either and pray that one day we won't also be cooking turkey at the end of November in thanks for God knows what? Thanksgiving and Black Friday are the precursors of Christmas which these days seems to start in November, a month too early. There will be no Christmas decorations in this house into well into December. I usually love Christmas but have yet to get into the spirit of it. 

Friday this week will go down in the memory of many people who are following the Israeli Hamas War. That day 13 Israeli hostages, mostly women and children and a further 10 or 11 Thai and Philippine nationals were released by Hamas. They were handed over to the International Red Cross on the Rafah border crossing. They looked to be well handled by the terrorists who I bet are regretting ever having attacked Israel and taken the hostages. 

Hostages being released on Friday

Meanwhile Israel released some 150 Palestinian prisoners, all youngsters and mostly female. That day the much awaited 4 day ceasefire began. It is hoped it will continue and that more hostages will be released. At the border on Friday were the Spanish PM, Pedro Sánchez, there also as the President of the European Council, along with the Belgian PM, who will be the next President of the EU Council. Sánchez caused a diplomatic row with Israel as he condemned indiscriminate killing of Palestinians and begged Netanyahu to respect the laws ruling wars. The Israeli PM replied that his country did (!). Sánchez then  announced his wish for the EU to recognise Palestine as an independent state. He added that with or without the EU, it was Spain's wish to do so.  Israel  retaliated by summoning both the Spanish and Belgian Ambassadors  for "false claims of the prime ministers of Spain and Belgium who give support to terrorism". I don't think either give support to terrorism but maybe Spain's PM's words on Friday came at the wrong moment. Right now diplomacy is a must. It didn't help that Hamas then released a statement thanking Spain for its support!!! Approximately 140 countries recognise the State of Palestine. The problem here is Hamas and Hamas is not Palestine. Hamas is an extreme terrorist group that wants to see Israel wiped out. 

By Friday I was feeling a little better but neither of us were up for a walk. Instead I went on a cooking spree which is a sure sign I am getting better. There was a time last week when I couldn't face food and my taste buds and sense of smell were all over the place. Only this week am I enjoying my food again. For the record I made Russian bitki (small meat hamburgers), potato salad - the house speciality - and "perushki" - Russian meat pies. Here is my trademark potato salad made using my grandfather's Swiss recipe.

My trademark potato salad which I made during my cooking spree on Friday

As I had made so much food; a lot of it for batch freezing, I invited Oli and family for an early dinner that night. They came just as we (Tana and I) had finished making the pies and the table was laid heaving with delicious food which reminded me of Christmas Eve when I always serve potato salad and "perushki". Elliot was asleep when they arrived and only woke shortly before they left, in a tantrum I should add - oh dear. Thus they left early which was a shame but gave us a breather to go to bed early as we need lots of rest these days. Thankfully we slept a lot better, thanks mainly to the codeine tablets which I made Eladio take too.  

I was up latish on Saturday morning at around 7.30  and felt a little better. Eladio didn't and promptly went back to bed after breakfast. Thus it was just Pippa and I on our walk yesterday in the bright November sunshine. By the time I was home, Tana had gone and it was up to me to make our lunch - a simple meal of fish with the leftover potato salad. I don't think I saw any of our 4 guests that day. Facebook reminded me this week that I got my first guests 7 years ago this week. 7 years as an Airbnb host has completely transformed our lives. I wonder what I would do with myself if I didn't have my little hospitality business to run. What a journey it has been. I wonder whether in 10 years time the business will still be going strong. The alternative is to sell this house and downsize but we are not yet ready to take that step which, when it comes, will be a very, very big one. 

It wasn't until late last night that Hamas released the next set of hostages in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners. There was a delay when Hamas accused Israel of not keeping to the agreement for aid lorries to enter Gaza. In the end 13 Israeli and 4 Thai nationals were released in exchange for 39 Palestinians. More hostages and prisoners are expected to be released today but timings are not yet known. Today is the third day of the four day ceasefire between Israel and Gaza and hopefully as much humanitarian aid  as possible will reach innocent Gazan citizens before the fighting resumes. What an awful situation. If only this fragile truce could last longer and all hostages be released. But that will not stop the IDF bombing Gaza to smash the Hamas terrorist organisation and at the same time kill innocent civilians. This is just the end of the beginning I'm afraid.

Hoping next week will bring better news both from Israel and the home front, cheers all until then,

Masha

Home from Santa Pola, one month since the Hamas attack in Israel, two years since my father, Charles Courtenay Lloyd, died, a nasty bout of flu and other stories of the week.

Sunday, 12th November

With my dear father on his 101st birthday, 1st May 2020.

Good morning everyone. How has your week been? Mine has been up and down; mostly down as you will read.  Let me tell you about it.

This time last Sunday we were leaving Santa Pola, saying goodbye to Suzy, our older daughter who lives there alone like a hermit and worries us so. We have vowed to visit her at least once a month. Our journey back was quiet and fast and we only stopped for coffee and to fill the tank. We came home to a quiet house with the weekend guests gone. It had been a full house in our absence. That night it was only Mohammad and Mileny. The next day Michelle, a Mexican girl who lives in California came and on Wednesday Klug and his partner who are from Belgium arrived too. Eladio remarked we seem to be having more guests this autumn than usual. I think he is right. 

After spending a week in a 90m2 apartment, it was good to be back in our massive house and especially to sleep in our huge bed. For me it's the most comfortable bed in the world. If only that could help me sleep but it doesn't as I have Suzy on my mind most of the time.

Monday came and we had to fill the cupboards which had emptied during our absence. We also had to go for Eladio's appointment with the eye specialist. He has macular degeneration but thankfully it is the dry type which is less invasive. The good news he got that day is that in one year it had not advanced. He also has the beginnings of cataracts but not bad enough for surgery. So, in a way, he had good news. For his age he sees remarkably well. While there I asked for an appointment with a dermatologist for a small pimple on my neck which keeps growing back. I was amazed to get it for that afternoon. I was even more amazed I got an appointment to remove it  two days later. 

The doctors' appointments and shopping kept us busy most of the day until Olivia and family came for dinner. We hadn't seen the kids for about 10 days and were dying to see them. They came at around 6 and we had an early dinner. I had brought them smarties and jelly babies from Quicksave, the English supermarket in Gran Alacant. We had some quality time with both Elliot and Juliet. I took my little grandson to the swings before dinner and we had a great chat. He told me he wanted a dog but it had to be big, but not a cat as they bite. He also told me wanted a boat, hahahaha. He is a real chatterbox. The next day was parents' night and his teacher told Oli and Miguel he is very intelligent, bright and creative but that he doesn't listen to instructions and needs more boundaries. I think she is right, hahahaha. 

Tuesday was an awful day. I had slept less than 5 hours and got up at 6.30. I felt shattered and went back to bed from 8 to 9. Later we went on a walk and that's when my headache started and all I wanted to do was to go to bed. In fact I spent most of the day in bed for lack of sleep and because of my blinding headache. I hadn't had one like that for a long time. I used to suffer from migraines but thankfully this one was not as bad as in the old days. I was slightly better by dinner time and managed to watch the news. Apart from the war in Israel, this week I was interested to read about Britain's loneliest sheep, Fiona, who made front page news - she was rescued this week - but also by the dreadful Stop Oil people who tried to destroy the wonderful Velázquez painting, the so-called "Rokeby Venus" in the National Gallery in London which had once been damaged by a suffragist over a century ago. Why, I ask myself do people have to destroy art for their causes? There was also news of quite violent protests in Madrid over amnesty for Catalan separatists. The Socialist caretaker government needs  the votes of the independence party led by fugitive Carlos Puigdemont who in exchange want amnesty but also a referendum. It makes my blood boil that the socialists have to make a pact with the devil to form a government. 

Far more worrying is the war in Israel. This week marks one month since the Gaza terrorist group attacked Israel, killing over 1000 and kidnapping some 240 people. Right now Israel is bombing Gaza to smithereens and over 10000 Palestinians have been killed, many of them innocent children.  The rest of the world is calling for a ceasefire. There are negotiations going on to release the hostages in exchange for what? Fuel to reach Gaza and the release of over 600 Palestinians from Israeli prisons. What Hamas did to Israel is awful but what Israel is doing to Hamas is even worse. An eye for an eye never got anyone anywhere. When will this stop? 

I slept better that night and woke up on Wednesday morning with only a bit of a headache. Wednesday, 8th November, marked the second anniversary of the passing away of my dear father who died aged 102 at our home here in Madrid.  He is always, always in my thoughts, but especially this week. I still miss him today. That's why he gets prime position in this week's post. The feature photo is of him with me on his 101st birthday and it was taken by my son-in-law, Miguel. I made him one of his favourite meals, Britain's most famed dish; fish and chips. I thought about him all day and read some of the tributes I wrote for the funerals that took place in Madrid and at Bradford Cathedral. Here is one of them. If only I had said some of those words to him when he was alive. Why didn't I? Here too is a photo of both my parents with me as a baby and my brother George as a toddler. 

My mother and father with George and I in Cambridge in 1957 or 1958. It's one of the few photos I have of us as a family together. 

It was taken in Cambridge where my parents met and fell in love. I imagine it was taken at our first home at 291 Milton Road. I love to see my parents smiling so happily with us in their arms. What amazing parents I had.

Also in my thoughts that day was Pippa, our nearly 9 year old miniature chocolate dachshund. The night before we noticed she was a bit lame and couldn't move her back right paw. She didn't eat that morning either so we took her to the vet. Here she is with me cuddled in my arms and not feeling well.

With Pippa at the vet on Wednesday

She was examined by a young veterinary surgeon who diagnosed her with a hernia without actually taking an x-ray. She wanted to do all sorts of expensive tests which we didn't think were that necessary and in the end she gave Pippa a jab of some anti inflammatory medicine and prescribed a month's rest with no going up and down stairs which is not easy in our 3 story house. We left her in the car while we had a coffee together and bought some provisions at the nearby supermarket. Once we were home, Pippa was back to her usual self and importantly relieved her bladder and ate her food. Dachshunds have a weak spot in their backs so we have to be very careful with her. In my own modest opinion I think she just had a sprain as the limp went away very soon. Pippa is more than a dog to us. She is a constant and loving companion and is part of a threesome in our marriage. That sounds very exaggerated but if you love your dog as much as I love mine, you will understand me.

Lunch was special that day. I made oxtail stew (with carrot and onion sauce and served with chips). It's one of Eladio's favourite dishes. I put it on the stove when we left for the vet and explained to Tana how to cook it. This was the result. 

Oxtail for lunch on Wednesday

As a treat, Pippa got one of the small bones. With the leftover meat and sauce I made delicious croquettes the next day. The recipe comes from Simone Ortega's 1080 recipes cookbook, considered the Bible of Spanish cooking. I bought it when I first came to Spain and set up house with Eladio. 

That afternoon, 2 new guests arrived, Brecht and Dieter. They are Belgians from Bruge, so Flemish speakers, but live in Holland. They seemed a very nice couple. I hope they enjoyed their stay with us. 

I had to go out again in the evening, once again to the HM Hospital (Montepríncipe). It was to surgically remove a pimple which keeps growing back. It's benign so that's good but I want it removed from my back. I was disappointed to hear from the dermatologist that she hadn't been able to remove it all and that I would need proper surgery to get to the base of it. Well, she could have done that first couldn't she? 

Once home we had a simple dinner and then I spent a little bit of time with Mohammad, our new semi long term guest from Iraq. It was his 34th birthday that day. Had I known, I would have got him a little something. He is doing a Master's degree in Sport Management. Next week he is going to an event where he will meet Real Madrid's coach, Carlo Ancelotti. He asked me how he should dress and I advised him to wear a suit which of course he hasn't got. I told him to go to Zara which he was a bit reluctant about but I assured him everyone from all walks of life in Spain has at least one piece of clothing from Spain's most famous retail clothing store. 

I slept on and off that night thanks to a nasty little cough which I thought was the beginning of a cold.  I was up at 6,30 am on Thursday morning. I finally got to meet our Mexican American guest, Michelle in the kitchen a little later. Like our now gone home Canadian Cole, she is also on an English teaching programme and teaches English at a secondary school in Boadilla. Unlike Cole, her experience is that the kids she teaches behave well. I was glad to hear that. She was also here to look for long term accommodation which she told me she found in Usera - miles from here and which  takes nearly 2h on public transport. It's Spain's China Town and rather far from here. Oh well, each to their own.

I managed a walk with Eladio in the morning but my cold was getting worse and all I wanted to was to spend the day in bed which is what I did and I haven't left it since. My cold got worse and by the evening I had a temperature - the sure sign it was flu and not a cold. I wondered why on earth I had got it if I had had a flu jab. Or is it Covid I wonder. The highlight of Thursday was a present from Oli. She came by in the afternoon to drop off a present to cheer me up as she knows I am going through a bad patch. I was delighted to be given a Body Shop advent calendar. This is it.

A surprise present from Olivia - a Body Shop Advent Calendar

Shortly after Oli dropped off the present I had my weekly Skype call with Amanda. We had lots to catch up on. Of course I told her all about our week in Santa Pola and she told me all about her week in Cornwall with their new motorhome.

My flu got gradually worse and I just stayed in bed, nodding on and off, shivering and generally feeling pretty ghastly. 

On Friday I was not better and managed to get through the day in bed feeling a bit sorry for myself. It  has been donkey's years since I last had flu or even a temperature. I was cheered up though by Suzy when she announced she would be here for Christmas. That means so much to me.

On Saturday my temperature continued on and off leaving me with very little appetite and again I spent the day in bed. I managed to make two dishes for our meals that weekend as Tana is off but I hardly ate any of the red lentil and bean stews. I did manage one scrambled egg on toast for dinner though. That is a meal I have always had when feeling unwell, ever since I was a child. Yesterday, of course, was 11th November, "Armistice Day". In London a controversial pro Palestinian march was held which The Times dubbed "Hate, intolerance and arrests as thugs hijack Armistice Day". That would probably make my dear father, a veteran himself, turn in his grave. Not that I don't have feelings for the people of Gaza; I do. But I hate violence in all forms and think it would have been a lot less controversial if the march had not taken place on one of England's most sacred days. I really do.

And today is Sunday and I don't particularly look forward to another day in bed. I do hope this bout of flu doesn't last too long. How long does flu last I wonder? I am hoping I will be better by Tuesday and Wednesday as we have promised to sleep at Oli's house and take the kids to school on Wednesday and Thursday. 

So my friends, that is it for this week, a week to be forgotten frankly and  not one of the best; that's for sure. Here's to hoping next week will be an improvement.

Cheers till next Sunday,

Masha

Unexpected trip to Santa Pola, Crown Princess Leonor swears Constitution oath, quality time with Suzy, visiting Elche and other stories of the week.

 Santa Pola, Sunday, 5th November, 2023

Eladio with his beloved eldest daughter Suzy in Santa Pola (and Pippa, of course)

Good morning dear friends, 

Here I am writing from our apartment in Gran Alacant.  This time last Sunday I had no idea we would have to rush to Santa Pola. After publishing last week's blog post I got a phone call from a woman called Selene. She rang to say she had Suzy's wallet with her passports, credit cards and house keys which she had found in Gran Alacant on Saturday evening. Thankfully the keys had my phone number on them. I couldn't get through to my daughter so rang my neighbour Lucy to ask her to help me to contact Suzy. It turned out she had been robbed, including her mobile. Without her phone and credit cards she would not even be able to buy food. So there and then we decided to drive all the way to Santa Pola to rescue her. It was a long and worrying drive and we didn't even stop for lunch. All I wanted was to be reunited with my daughter and to help her. 

As we drove I was cheered up by Olivia who sent us photos of Elliot and Juliet enjoying their last day in Valencia where they had gone for a wedding. Here is one of the two of them at a fun fair and one of Elliot who is looking so big - and very handsome, I should add.

The kids in Valencia - I particularly love this photo of Elliot who is looking so big and oh so handsome. 

We arrived to an empty flat. Suzy was out - I should add that Lucy gave her her set of keys - We set about cleaning and unpacking until she arrived. She was very surprised to see us and not too happy as she prefers an independent life but we were there to help her. It was good to be back and to eventually be able to hug our daughter who worries us so much.

Monday was spent getting her wallet back and buying her a new phone. For that we went to Elche where the lady who found her keys and wallet lives. What a kind and honest soul, I have to say. To celebrate we went to have coffee at Dalua - the bakery that supplies my favourite cafe in Santa Pola called Chocco&Latte. Suzy loved it and we could not resist buying some cakes to bring home. Here she is with her father during what I call a "happy moment". It is the small things in life that bring happiness, such as coffee with your daughter and husband; at least for me. 

A rare photo of Eladio and his daughter - and Pippa, again, of course. Coffee at Dalua in Elche

We then went to buy a phone for Suzy and to get food at Mercadona as her cupboards were completely bare.  

On Tuesday morning we spent time in Santa Pola - which included coffee at Chocco&Latte, the place my friends Sandra and Adele loved so much. Again I caught my husband and daughter together - with Pippa too, as usual. I love this photo of them reunited and holding hands while they walk towards the fishing port.

Eladio and Suzy (and Pippa) in Santa Pola on Tuesday morning

Meanwhile, in Madrid, an important act was taking place. Spain's Crown Princess Leonor who turned 18 that day was  to swear an oath to the Constitution, an act that formalises her status as the next in line to the crown. The British press reported on what they called "Leonormania" in Spain but I can assure you there wasn't much of that as the country, is divided on its loyalty to the Spanish Royal family which has never ever been as revered as in England.   Miguel, Oli's husband, was there to see her as he was part of the TVE team covering the event. He must have been placed somewhere in Puerta del Sol, to judge from the video he took which I am reproducing here.

The Princess and her sister Sofia going past the crowds in Madrid on Tuesday

The Crown Princess was accompanied by her father and mother, King Felipe and Queen Letizia as well as her younger sister, Sofia. She was not, however accompanied by her paternal grandfather, the disgraced Juan Carlos I, who, as I'm sure you know, lives in exile in Abu Dhabi. I read later he flew into Madrid to be at the private family birthday party but flew back on the same day as his son would not give him permission to stay at the palace; a sorry state of affairs. All families have their issues, don't they? Had I been at home I would probably have watched the ceremony but had to make do with what I saw on my phone. This is the moment Princess Leonor, Spain's future Queen swears the oath. You may have seen some of the pictures - probably not, so here is one for the record to remember that day, a very important day for Spain's Crown Princess.

The Crown Princess Leonor in white on the day she swore the oath to the Spanish constitution

The Spanish Constitution is very much in many people's minds these days. Not because of the oath but because our caretaker socialist Prime Minister needs the votes of the Catalan party headed up by the fugitive Carles Puigdemont who illegally organised a referendum for self determination - not contemplated in the Constitution. To secure his votes Pedro Sánchez has to agree to his conditions, including an amnisty so he can come back from Brussels; again not included in the Constitution.  It's such an irony and paradox that the Spanish government is in his hands. He of course wants a referendum too,  a legal one this time which cannot possibly be on the cards.  I wonder what the future Queen of Spain thinks about this situation privately. I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall at their private family dinner to celebrate her birthday. 

Tuesday was a very important and busy day for the Spanish royal family. For us it was a quiet day with quality time with our daughter Suzy. We had lovely meals together every day and lots of long conversations, a lot of them about history where her father is the "maestro". He is like an encyclopedia for his daughter. That day saw him summarising the Spanish Civil War at Dalua in Santa Pola. He also spent time this week explaining the origins of the New Testament and parts of the old Testament too. I looked on in awe as he recited in Hebrew parts of Genesis. What a memory my husband has and oh how cultured he is. I fell in love with him partly because of this. 

Tuesday also included an excursion to Primark in Elche - again - to kit Suzy out for the winter. It was the first time in ages  we had been clothes shopping together and we had a field day. Suzy was happy, so I was happy too, enjoying  buying lots of casual wear and basics; all in bigger sizes than normal :(

I should add that it was Halloween that night, a festival I was not brought up on. It has Scottish and Irish roots but it was the Americans who turned it into what it has become today and exported it back to Europe and the rest of the world - this trick and treat business, dressing up in scary clothes and lots of pumpkins are frankly not my thing. As I said on social media, I was brought up on Mischief Night and Bonfire night which is today, 5th November, by the way. That's one of the things I miss about England. 

Wednesday was 1st November, All Saints' Day in Spain, when people take flowers to their loved ones' graves. It was a beautiful sunny day and that morning Suzy took us to the end of the coastal road which leads to Santa Pola, or the far east side of the town which is linear. We had never walked along that beautiful promenade with views of the Island of Tabarca. We loved it and will be going back many times. That's where I took the photo of Eladio and Suzy which I have chosen as this week's feature photo. Suzy then took one of us.  Both Suzy and I are wearing our new clothes from Primark.

On our beautiful walk on All Saints' Day

Suzy took us to Ca Pacorro for our morning coffee and we ended up having lunch there; a spur of the moment decision. What a great place.

The week went past so quickly and before I knew it, it was already Thursday. That day we had to get more provisions and where better to get fruit and veg than from the weekly market in Gran Alacant. It used to be  across the way from us but they have changed the location and it's quite far now. Here is Eladio getting some fruit and veg. 

Buying fruit at the market

By then it was coffee time and Suzy took us to a bar on the Arenales beach. Before heading home we stopped at Mercadona. We got through our provisions so fast we kept having to go back hahaha. What a windy day it was on Thursday. Spain was being battered by Storm Ciaran. This being the Levante, the wind can get quite strong. However, it was warm in Santa Pola all week, unlike most of the rest of Spain.

And then suddenly it was Friday. My house at home in Madrid was full of guests but thankfully I had Tana to look after them. So what did we do on Friday? Well, yes, you guessed, we went to Elche again, this time to show Suzy the famous palm tree park, "El Huerto del Cura" and the cathedral, The Basílica de Santa Maria which hosts the famous "Misteri" - The Mystery Play of Elche. It is a liturgical sung drama from the Middle Ages that reenacts the Dormition and Assumption of the Virgin Mary. It is held in August and we have been a few times. What a wonderful spectacle it is. As I had been to both the park and cathedral when my friends Adele and Sandra came, I was the perfect guide that morning. We parked in the centre and then walked to the cathedral square where we had coffee at "Basilica", a very upmarket bistro type terrace.  Unfortunately the Basilica closed at 12.30 which is a ridiculous time to close so Suzy and Eladio were unable to see it. Outside though we came across figures from the Misteri Play - 3 of the apostles and I took a lovely picture.

Suzy and Eladio in Elche, again, on Friday

Elche is famous for this play but also for its palm tree grove, the largest of its kind in Europe, planted by the Romans. It is also famous for the ancient bust of "La Dama de Elche" - the Lady of Elche. It was found in the 1800s  by some farmers and its importance was soon discovered. It is from the 4th century BC and is the most important Spanish sculpture in existence. As to the lady herself, no one knows who she was although some say there is an association with Tanith, the Goddess of Carthage, worshipped by Punic Iberians. Today the bust is on show at the Archaeological Museum in Madrid although, amazingly, upon its discovery in the 19th century it was bought by a Frenchman to be housed in The Louvre. Reproductions of the Lady of Elche bust are everywhere in Elche, including the botanical garden, "El Huerto del Cura", the jewel in the crown of the Palm Tree grove. 

A reproduction of the Dama de Elche bust at the Huerto del Cura palm tree park 

The Huerto del Cura is famed for its palm trees but it is also a botanical garden with amazing flowers and cacti and even bamboo.  There are ponds with tropical ducks, turtles and you are greeted by a family of peacocks as soon as you enter.

Peacocks at the Huerto del Cura

One of them came running after Pippa who we had to scoop in our arms in case she was attacked hahaha. Eladio had been before but everything was new for Suzy. I knew she would love the Imperial Palm Tree, the only one of its kind in the world and which was supposedly named after Sissi the Empress of Austria who was awed by it when she visited Elche.

A bad shot of the Imperial Palm tree in Elche

I wrote about this unique palm tree in September so won't repeat the same information here. But let me tell you it is 180 years old, it weighs over 8 tons and measures 17 metres in height. What is unique about this male date palm tree is that it has 7 stems in the form of a candelabra or so I read. Suzy was impressed and I was glad she enjoyed the visit. We all did as this is such a beautiful place. 

This week we visited Elche at least 4 times - highly unusual for us. Soon it was time for lunch and we headed home. Eladio and I had leftover spagbol - fine by us and the rest of the day panned out peacefully which is just how I like it.

Saturday came and it was to be our last day here.  The temperature reached 25ºc that day. Meanwhile in Madrid it reached 15ºc. No wonder so many British and Scandinavian pensioners spend the winter here. I would too if I didn't have so many obligations at home. Before venturing out for our walk and mid morning coffee, I pre prepared our lunch which would be Spanish tortilla. Our destination yesterday was nearby Santa Pola. We drove once again to the end of the coastal road, parked and made our way to the lovely promenade we had discovered earlier in the week. This time I checked out the name of the promenade and it is "Paseo Vicealmirante Blanco Garcia". What an honour for such a beautiful promenade to be named after a person. 

We had coffee once again at Ca Pacorro with its beautiful views of the sea. Here is just one.

The sea by the lovely promenade in Santa Pola

And here is one of Suzy and Eladio at the cafe, a lovely moment to record.

At Ca Pacorro yesterday 

We came home to make another lunch together, our last until we come again. The afternoon was quiet as they have all been. Suzy went down to the beach but we stayed at home. I only wish I had brought our swimming costumes. I'm not sure we will be able to bathe in December but who knows?

And today is Sunday and time to go home. We hate to leave Suzy here, so alone in the world and living like a hermit, but are glad to have had quality time with her. 

As I come to the end of this week's blog post I can't help but think about the war between Israel and Gaza which gets worse every day. Finally humanitarian aid is getting through and finally Egypt has let some foreign nationals and some injured Palestinians through. I cannot stomach that in its retaliation the Israeli Military forces are bombing refugee camps, ambulances and hospitals. That can never be the way to bring down Hamas. It's sickening. 

Life continues elsewhere, of course, and today we shall make our journey home after a week spent in Santa Pola with Suzy, bless her.

Cheers then friends and readers until next Sunday,

Masha