The end of Bashar Al-Assad's brutal regime in Syria, not much festive spirit, farewell Mohammad, lunch with old friends at Filandón, Eladio at a demonstration, visit to St. George's Christmas fair and other stories of the week.

 Madrid, Sunday, 15th December, 2024

At the St. George's Anglican Church Christmas Fair yesterday morning in Madrid

Good morning everyone. How are you doing? Most of you are probably all ready for Christmas. I have to admit that I am not. For the first time ever I just haven't got into the festive spirit. I think I've had something of an existential crisis this week that has made me feel that way. I won't go into it but it hasn't been a good week.

It has been a great week for many people in Syria though. Last Sunday after I posted my blog it was later confirmed that dictator Bashar Al-Assad had fled the country to Moscow after 13 years of civil war and 50 years of dictatorship which started with his father. We now know the truth of his regime with mass murder of civilians who did not agree with his politics in true Nazi or Stalinist style. 300.000 people were savagely killed and 100.000 displaced. We now all know the name of the already notorious prison Sednaya and what terrible things happened there, on a par with medieval style torture. But how did it happen? How did he lose his power? There are two main reasons; his allies, Russia and Iran had in some way lost interest in holding up the regime because they were and are elsewhere occupied with Ukraine and Israel via Hezbollah. The other reason is the planning of all Bashar's enemies in the country who, although divided in ideas and politics, somehow came together to topple him. The rebels were mainly led by HTS - a semi jihadist group that promises fair rule (we shall see), under a leader called Abu Mohammed al-Jolani now naming himself Ahmed al-Shara.

Abu Mohammed al-Jolani in Damascus after it fell this week

Even they were amazed at just how easy it was to topple Bashar Al-Assad.  Since taking Aleppo, Homa and then Homs at the end of November, within less than a month they took Damascus and Bashar had to scuttle off and away. He leaves a country that wants to be born again that wants to be rebuilt and wants to live in peace. Will that be possible with so many factions involved? Al-Assad is an Alawaite, a branch of Shia Islam. Al Jolani is also a Shia muslim, but what about the Sunnis, the Druze and the Christians. Will their beliefs be respected? Jolani says they will and he also says there will be no strict dress code for women. But can we believe this from a man who once belonged to Al Quaeda?  The world has been watching events from a distance worried as to what will happen. Meanwhile, the Russians want to maintain their military fortresses and ports and the Iranians want their loans that run into the billions back. Israelis bombarded military targets trying to decimate the country's army and weapon stock, especially those most lethal chemical weapons Bashar Al-Assad so famously used on his own people. This week certainly marked the end of his brutal regime but I doubt the future will be a walk in the park for everyday Syrians, especially those who collaborated with the previous regime whether they were for or against it. Most people had to pretend they were. There will be trials as big as Nuremberg and I sincerely hope they catch the monsters who carried out Bashar's orders like the Nazis did under Hitler. What a situation. I can only hope and pray for a brighter future for Syria and its people who have lived under the worst tyranny in the region. Good riddance Bashar. I wish you boring anonymity and obscurity  in some luxury dacha on the outskirts of Moscow thanks to your "friend" Putin. Even he tired of you. Hopefully he will use you as a bargaining chip to curry favour with the new regime. Wouldn't it be good to see the outwardly cultured man sitting at trial and sentenced to prison for all his crimes? 

I couldn't think much about his departure last Sunday as Oli and kids were coming for lunch and wanted my home made fish and chips. It's an awful palaver, especially without Tana, but I did it and the family enjoyed this most British of meals. 

On Monday I should have put up the Christmas decorations but I just didn't have it in me. Instead I went for a solo walk cheered up by seeing Oli live on TV. I wasn't too cheered up about the subject though. She was reporting on a negative aspect of Airbnb. Honestly, as an Airbnb host, I am a bit fed up with all the media hype. Why can't the world or governments accept realities? The shared economy is a reality, especially for people like me who rent out rooms in their own house. I suppose the villains in this story are those who do it on an industrial scale. Anyway, here is her lovely face on TV reporting that day.

Olivia reporting live this week on false Airbnb host profiles

I commiserated with my dear friend Amanda that afternoon during our weekly Skype call. She has been suffering from a bad bout of flu and feeling under the weather; despite having had an anti flu jab. I felt sorry for her. But she always cheers me up because we end up laughing. 

Tuesday came and it was sad. It was the day that my dear guest Mohammad who is originally from Iraq, was leaving after more than a year in our house. It was Mohammad who on Sunday rushed into the kitchen in the morning to tell me about the situation in Syria which, of course, he is watching closely. He has gone home to see his parents on a surprise visit but home is now Muscat as they have retired as teachers of psychology at the University of Baghdad. Years ago they went to live there after Sadam Hussein ordered his uncle's head to be chopped off - yes, as crude as that. When Mohammad first came to live with us, it was his first trip to the west, to Europe and life for him changed radically. I think his outlook did too, very positively and we came became close, like mother and son. I wish I had taken a photo when he left, kitted out in the Real Madrid clothes which he so  loves. But I didn't so am sharing one I saw of him on his Instagram while he was studying  in one of our lounges for his master in sports science.

Mohammad who I will miss sorely

He has promised to come back in three months time and I really hope he does. I hope too that his future will be in Spain and that it will be a bright one in the sports' world. Farewell my friend. You will be sorely missed. When he left on Tuesday it was the first time in a whole year that we were guest free until this Friday when my last two guests of the year came, Leonardo from Brazil and Alan from Ireland. 2024 has been good business wise. I hope 2025 is equally good.

The morning was sad but we had something to look forward to that day. I had booked a table for 4 at Filandón  - one of my favourite restaurants in Madrid.  We were inviting our long time friends, Loli and Benito to lunch. We first met when we were  young in 1981 when we all lived in Saconia on the outskirts of Madrid and have kept in touch ever since although not as often as we should. The last time we had been together was when they invited us to lunch at El Gamo in El Pardo in March 2021 during the pandemic. It was so good to see them and it was also great to be back at Filandon which looks so festive right now. I had to have a photo outside to remember the moment.

At Filandón on Tuesday

We had so much to catch up on after so much time that our chins wagged throughout the delicious lunch. Later we had a photo taken as we parted and we vowed to meet again at Filandón next year on the same date; 10th December. 

A group photo with Loli and Benito

On Wednesday there was not much to report apart from my doing the weekly shopping. Thursday was pretty similar, the only highlight being when I went to have my nails done.  I always enjoy that.

On Friday, Oli and family left for Valencia for a long weekend with friends of Miguel's from when he lived in Valencia and worked for RTVE which is where he and Oli met. The kids must have had a splendid time. Here is a photo of the 4 of them to remember their trip there this weekend.

Oli and family in Valencia this weekend

Saturday came and we did something different. Yesterday was certainly the highlight of the week. I was going to the St. George's Anglican church Christmas fair  with my sister-in-law Dolores and Eladio was going with her husband José Antonio, his second brother down, to a demonstration in the city. Later we would meet for lunch at their house where we used to live too when we got married in 1983. 

The demonstration was a protest about the future of of civil servant health care under the auspices of Muface which has always been private. Health care for civil servants is outsourced to private insurance companies, such as Adeslas, Asisa, etc. The problem is that the government doesn't cover the costs of their health care. The alternative is for them to be part of the public health system which is already under a strain with not enough resources. I argue too that as public workers, if a private health insurance was part of their salary package it can't be taken away just like that. Eladio sent me a photo of him with his brother during the protest which I hope leads somewhere.

José Antonio and Eladio at the protest in Madrid yesterday against private health care for public servants being suspended. 

Meanwhile, Dolores and I were at the Church Christmas fair. It's never really very good and this time there was no jumble sale; most items being new. I did get some chocolates though and Dolores got mince pies. Going there was really an excuse to meet up in Madrid.  Shortly after having a quick look round, we walked to my favourite coffee and cake shop in town, Balbisiana on the upmarket street called Velázquez. It's a bit like a Spanish sort of Betty's. Later I spent 70 odd euros on cakes and such for lunch and to take home. I just couldn't resist them. 

We walked back to their house which will always be our old house and soon we were joined by our husbands who were happy with their experience at the protest. I really hope it bears some fruit. Dolores made a  lovely lunch of fish baked in the oven with some fried potatoes accompanied by delicious wine and then all sorts of sweets and cakes for dessert. We left around 5 before it got dark as it was late. We had had a lovely time and I felt much better than I had all week.

We came home to a quiet house. I hadn't seen my 2 guests, both of whom are repeats and Suzy was with Pippa who rushed out to greet us but then rushed back into Suzy's room. She pines for my daughter and I recently understood one of the reasons is that she gives Pippa massages. Imagine! 

I spent some time writing this post and when I had finished at 7.30 pm I found my husband already in his pyjamas and in bed. He slept a full 12 hours. I wish I could do that. Suzy and I had dinner alone and both enjoyed one of Balbisiana's cakes.

Today is Sunday. It is sunny but cold and frosty and I hope we go on a morning walk as I have been a bit lazy this week. Hoping your Sunday is a good one, cheers for now,

Masha

A quiet week in December, Spain's new Big Brother tourist registration rules, my raspberry mille-feuille tart, José Antonio and Dolores for lunch, babysitting Elliot and Juliet, remembering Fátima and not many other stories to tell this week.

 Madrid, Sunday 8th December, 2024.

Eladio with Pippa who turned 10 this week. 

Good morning everyone this quiet Sunday. It is even quieter today in Spain as it is a holiday to mark the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Spain is officially a secular state so you might wonder why all these holidays to mark Catholic feast days. Traditions die hard and for those who celebrate the real meaning of Christmas; the birth of Jesus Christ, today probably means a lot; the day the mother of God conceived of him via the holy spirit. In our case it will be quiet and will be treated as just another Sunday, made a bit more fun as Oli and family are coming and we shall be having a special lunch to celebrate her new status as a full time employee with RTVE, Spain's national broadcaster.  But I am digressing, so let me backtrack to last Sunday which was quiet too as has most of the  week and as you will read I don't have many stories to tell. Sorry, not much excitement this week. Maybe that is a good thing.

That day our walk took us to La Flaca bar and restaurant for our morning coffee. Recently we seem to unite both events, the walk and our or my morning coffee as Eladio, sadly, does partake of my favourite beverage. The best photo of the week was taken there and I've chosen it as my feature photo. Here is another one of my husband with Pippa. 

Two of the greatest loves of my life; my husband Eladio and Pippa, our miniature dachshund last Sunday at La Flaca

On my social media handles I wrote "with two of the greatest loves of my life". You probably know we are three in this marriage with Pippa being the addition, hahaha.

The afternoon saw me watching a film called Joy on Netflix. It's about how the first test-tube baby was conceived successfully. It's one of those good British made biopics based on a true story which are just up my street. It's also a story I remember as a teenager in England when  Louise Brown, the first test-tube baby was born, in 1978. It was nothing short of a miracle even though society was against the innovation. Since then I read some 2 million babies were born to mothers who, without IVF would have been barren. The brain behind the science, British physiologist Robert Edwards, was later awarded the Nobel prize in Medicine in 2010. Thankfully by then, IVF was no longer considered an aberration of science. 

Monday came and very early that morning, Betty, our lovely Mexican guest left after nearly 3 months in our house. She has been like a mother to Mohammad who is missing her badly. She will be back in January but sadly Mo won't. 

We went to Primark of all places that morning where I bought more leggings - the only thing I wear in the winter, as mysteriously one of mine had disappeared in the wash. Don't ask me how. We also did the weekly shop so as to have all the ingredients for a special lunch the next day when Eladio's brother José Antonio and our sister-in-law, Dolores, were coming to spend part of the day with us. 

The furniture for the newly restored wooden cabin arrived that morning and had Eladio easily assembling the sofa pallets and table. They look lovely but the cabin needed lighting. It turns out our neighbour, Julio, is now an electrician so he has been coming and going this week to do the job. 

That day a new nightmare system came into place in Spain for registering guests in hotels and holiday homes. It's had most holiday home owner left baffled with the amount of information the state requires of all guests. It is supposed to be for security but it's borderline communist like collection of data; a sort of Big Brother. In some cases people have to fill out forms with 42 questions, many of them infringing on personal data. I can hardly imagine what it must be like now when checking into a hotel.   I had to somehow register on the new site which later collapsed and I  am now dreading asking my guests for such detailed information, not to mention the extra work. 

I mulled on this while at the hairdresser that afternoon where Conchi died my roots. I came out looking a lot better I think but there is no photo to prove it.

Pippa turned 10 on Tuesday which is quite a milestone. She means the world to us. As I wrote on Facebook and Instagram the next day, "Darling Pippa turned 10 on Tuesday. She is a true member of our family and my favourite dog of all times. She is loyal to the end, our friend and companion, stubborn, fun and brave. She has all the typical traits of a dachshund: devoted to her family, smart, obstinate, vigilant and courageous. Sometimes I think she thinks she is human and would follow us to the end of the world". I added "Life with Pippa is better". I accompanied the text with this photo taken of her on Eladio's lap one afternoon this week. 

Pippa turned 10 on Tuesday

She is such an integral part of our life  I cannot imagine it without her. I dread the day she gets old and passes away. I really do.

I made a cake that morning which Elliot later asked if it was for Pippa's birthday which made me laugh.  Actually it was for the lunch I made for José Antonio and Dolores. I am not a bad cook in general but am not known as the pastry queen. Thank God you can buy it these days. I made my mother' raspberry and cream mille-feuille tart which my parents used to call "the slice" although I'm not sure why. My mother used to make the puff pastry with lots of butter herself but I got mine from the proverbial Mercadona. Basically it is 4 layers of baked pastry  which when risen you slice into 2 making for 8 layers. I filled the layers with fresh raspberries and whipped cream. All went well except for the icing for which I used a small punnet of raspberries to get the pink colour but it ran a bit. This is what it looked like on the outside and on the inside. It tasted better than it looked and I think it was the best part of the lunch. But then I always judge a meal on its dessert having such a sweet tooth that I inherited from my dear father.

My raspberry mille-feuille tart which tasted better than it looked

The starter was chicken waldorf salad which I served in goblets and the second course was another of my mother's recipes - good old boeuf stroganoff. I wish I had taken a photo of the table in all its finery when it was laid but I forgot.

While I was cooking, Eladio drove to the nearest metro station to pick up our guests whom we hadn't seen since his 80th in September. There was lots to catch up on; my trips to London and New York and their recent trip to Egypt. Here is a photo I took of them while we relaxed in the lounge after lunch.

Dolores and José Antonio, Eladio's next brother down, on Tuesday

I first met them in the 1978 during my year in Madrid as part of my University studies and it was through them that I met Eladio in the summer of 1980. It's thanks to them we met, something I shall always be grateful for. 

Our afternoon would have been quiet except that Olivia brought the kids round while she went to her French lesson. They were excited to see their great uncle and aunt who they know so well from their summers in Montrondo. They rushed in and made a beeline for José Antonio. All small children love him. I remember when Suzy was small she used to call him "tu tío" which means "your uncle" as we used to tell her he was her uncle. My grandchildren who can't pronounce his name yet call him "Toto Antonio" which makes us all laugh.

I gave them some of the tart and put some aside for both Oli and Dolores and later forgot to give it to them. That had me eating some of it every day for lunch I'm afraid.

Elliot and Juliet eating some of my tart on Tuesday

 Elado later took his brother and wife back to the station while I looked after my grandchildren. I took them to my neighbour Julio's house to look at some lighting for the cabin and they followed me like sheep. But first Julio had to tie up their ferocious dog Vito who barks all day. Later he let out the other dog, Lisa, a Pyrenees mountain dog as gentle as a baby but huge in size who I think impressed my grandchildren. 

Soon Suzy was back and Eladio too and I left them with the kids while I went to have the first of two vaccines against Herpes Zoster, more commonly known as shingles. I got it once as did Eladio and never want it again which is why I agreed to having the vaccine. Once home, I found an orderly house. Suzy had bathed the kids with Eladio's help and they were all having dinner in the dining room where I joined them.

On Wednesday we woke up to to news from South Korea where the  President declared martial law which after massive protests he had to annul. Meanwhile, in France, there was a vote of no confidence and the Prime Minister had to step down. Macron, the President, however refuses to resign and is finding it difficult to rule with a minority government. It's not much better in Spain. We haven 't had a vote of no confidence but we are inundated with political corruption cases; one after the other. It just makes me think that many Spanish politicians are corrupt at heart. They do say that power leads to corruption and it generally does because of how we are as humans. One great example from literature is the novel Animal Farm by George Orwell. I am sure there are more. 

We had lunch alone that day as Suzy went to Oli's house - I do like how they have rekindled their sisterly spirit. In the afternoon I enjoyed my weekly Skype call with Amanda where we can laugh or cry and have so many memories from when we were children to comment on. 

Thursday was 5th December and the 5th anniversary of the death of my dearest Spanish friend, Fátima. Oh how I miss her still today and will always miss her. I know she lives on in my heart but that is never enough is it? I wrote to her daughter also called Fátima who, if you read this blog, will know we met while in New York. I knew she would be feeling emotional that day and wanted to reach out to her. 

Remembering and missing my dear friend Fátima who passed away 5 years away this week. 

Of note that day we went on our daily walk, including coffee at La Flaca and looked after the kids in the afternoon again while Oli went to her French lessons.

Friday came and it was the beginning of the December Bank Holiday - the 6th celebrating the Spanish Constitution and the 8th the Immaculate Conception.  A lot of people go away for the weekend and I heard that hotels had reached 90% capacity in Madrid which must have been teeming with people. We were at 100% capacity with 9 guests this weekend. That meant a lot of preparation in the morning. But all was ready for their arrival later in evening.  

The Paraguayan workers came to repaint the wooden cabin which, although the right colour, was not looking equal in many parts. And now they have painted it a supposed "teak" colour which looks more like a very dark brown. I am not happy at all as I wanted a much lighter colour - more of a honey come reddish brown. Now I have to live with the consequences. I am not even going to reproduce a photo of the finished cabin as I am so cross with how it looks. Anyway, I suppose there are worse problems in life.

Saturday dawned and once again we had the pleasure of the company of Oli and the kids as she was alone at home with them and needed a helping hand. With Suzy's help we soon had a table full of food and lunch was more or less orderly, or as much as it can be with children aged 3 and 5 hahaha. They left early enough for us to enjoy our afternoon nap which gave me time to write this post. 

Last night was the official opening of the newly restored Notre Dame cathedral in Paris part of which we watched on TV. I was aghast to see that Donald Trump had been invited by Macron. Rather cleverly, he also invited Ukraine's Zelenski in an attempt to muster support from the incumbent President I suspect.  I also spotted Prince William who I read later had a meeting with Trump to discuss or rather reinforce the "special relationship" between the US and the UK. But what on earth was Elon Musk doing there I wondered? Was Macron pandering to him too? The place was full of world leaders but I have to say the Cathedral looked magnificent.

Far away in Syria lat night,  where no one's eyes were on Paris, the Islamist rebels were in the throes of toppling dictator Bashar al-Assad. This morning many news outlets are reporting he has fled the capital or even maybe the country. Is that a good thing? Of course it is as he is a tyrant on the scale of Gaddafi or Saddam Hussein. What does not seem good to me is who will replace him; an Islamic group that once belonged to Al Qaeda. Will that plunge Syria into Islamic fundamentalism with a government similar to the Taliban in Afghanistan? Oh how my heart pours out to the ordinary people in Syria who only want freedom, peace and prosperity; something most people in the world take for granted.

That was this morning's main news. Today is  Sunday and I have come to the end of my tales so will leave you now until next week. I hope you all have a wonderful day, a day of peace and quiet and freedom. We may complain about our governments but they are heaven compared to places like Syria, Ukraine, Gaza, Lebanon or Afghanistan, to name a few. Let's remember that.

Cheers now until next Sunday,

All the best, Masha

Back from Santa Pola, a tea cabin in the making, a quiet week, time with Elliot and Juliet, ceasefire in Lebanon, Olivia reporting from Valencia one month after the floods, Notre Dame restored and other stories of the week.

 Madrid, Sunday 1st December, 2024

A wrinkly lady enjoying her morning coffee

Good morning again all.

As the title suggests it has been a quiet week. When I have weeks like this one, I often wonder what there is to recount in my blog and find it hard to come up with any interesting content. It's far easier to write about a jolly in London or New York. There were no jollies, as such this week but still life went on as it always does and I am grateful for that.

Last Sunday had us ready to leave our flat in Gran Alacant and waiting for Alicia from the cleaning company we had finally chosen to come and pick up the keys. Would you believe she never came and nor did she ring to say why? In the end we gave the keys to our second favourite candidate, Gina who we liked and is our neighbour Lucy's friend.  We finally left at around 11.30 am with a car full of stuff we don't need there but could be of use in El Cuetu or at home. It was a boring drive home which was punctuated with a very disappointing lunch at El Restaurante Vasco where we shall not return. The food was very expensive and  rather stodgy. 

We came home to find a team of builders from Paraguay who are restoring the wooden cabin in front of the kitchen patio. It's 25 years old and was in a ruinous state. It's a far cry from the garden house we wanted to build but will look lovely when it's finished. This time we are not going to fill it with dustbins, garden tools or barbecue stuff. Instead, we are going to turn it into a little place to sit and read, work or have a cup of tea. That is why I have named it the "tea cabin". This is what it looked like when we arrived home that day.

The wooden cabin being restored

Later in the week we searched online for wooden pallet furniture which has already arrived - 2 small sofas and 1 table plus the cushions to go with it. After much deliberation I went for a pistachio green colour. 

Furniture for the "tea cabin"

We would be thinking about this little project for the next few days. Meanwhile, it was wonderful to be back to our luxurious house, especially our own quarters. I have told Eladio we need a new memory foam mattress in our small bedroom in Santa Pola and a large screen TV. 

I came back to find all my guests well. Jen's son was readmitted to the Uni residence and I was very happy for her. It was to be her last week and also Betty's from Mexico. They have been great guests. Leopoldo who works for the Santander bank arrived late that night and after greeting him I never saw him again.  Suzy was back shortly after we arrived, after having spent the day with her sister. The two of them left the kids at their other grandmother's house and went off to have lunch alone in Madrid. Good for them. 

We had dinner together in our enormous dining room but none of us was hungry. Pippa who had stayed behind with Suzy is now torn between who she sleeps with at night. It's quite funny. Next week, on 3rd December, she will turn 10 which I can hardly believe. It seems like yesterday when she arrived bringing joy to our family. 

On Monday I was awake at 6 am after just 5h sleep - dammit. I can't complain too much though as overall I am sleeping rather better these days. 

It rained all day but did not rob us of a walk as we had to go the local hospital, HM Monteprincipe for Eladio's post cataract surgery check up. He has done quite well and his eyesight has improved overall to about 65% vision. That's not a lot but in his case it is as he has (dry) macular degeneration in both eyes. Thankfully, he won't lose his eyesight completely but I wonder if he will pass his test to renew his driving licence in 2026. I sincerely hope so. 

On Tuesday I woke up after having slept 7.5h and felt on top of the world. We went off on errands which including coffee at Alverán and shopping at Mercadona, the supermarket that feeds most of Spain and which I don't particularly like. If I could I would buy all our food at M+S but I can't hahaha. Oli was with us for lunch and then again when she brought the kids for us to babysit while she went off to her bi-weekly French lessons she takes so seriously. Tres bien ma petite. 

We had fun with our grandchildren. They behaved quite well. Part of the entertainment was time on the swings in our very autumnal looking garden. I am not in the photo as I was wearing my pyjamas, my dressing gown and one of Eladio's coats on top (hahaha). This is the best photo I could get of the kids with Eladio and Suzy who they adore. 

Time with Juliet and Elliot this week

We later adjourned to the TV room which doubles as their toy room. That was when Suzy suggested Elliot might like to watch the film Billy Elliot. He was surprised and delighted his name featured there although we didn't tell him it was the boy's surname. He loved the film which I had to explain as we went along. Thank God for the Geordie accent (set in Durham) as the language was strong for his little ears. But oh,. he loved it. It's a film I have always loved too if only they wouldn't use the "f" word so much. Soon it was their dinner time and they ate the pizza I prepared with gusto. Then it was bath time and we were running late. Suzy bathed them both and Elliot especially enjoyed it when she put the jacuzzi on at the end. Here are the two of the at and after bath time.

Bath time with the kids

I got their pyjamas mixed up, putting  Elliot's on Juliet and vice versa after Juliet instructed me so. Elliot, thankfully, did not make a fuss but later told his mother I had mixed up the pyjamas, hahahaha.

That night a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah of Lebanon was announced after much insistence from the USA. The Lebanese were thrilled but those who returned home, mostly did so to rubble. Mohhamad whose sister is a doctor at the American hospital in Beirut told me the apartment block next to hers was destroyed and that she had moved to the hospital. I can only suppose the Israelies would not dare attack an American hospital in Beirut. I don't have much hope for this ceasefire which has not been confirmed as permanent and feel so sorry for the Lebanese people caught up in it. Aren't we lucky in comparison?

Not so about 1 million people from 78 townships in the Valencia region who one month ago this week on Friday  suffered the worst natural disaster  in Spanish history from voracious flooding. Olivia was sent there on Wednesday as on Friday her programme was broadcasting from the area to mark one month since the floods. It was a tragedy of such a scale that could only happen once in a thousand years. 222 people died in the region, 4 are still missing,  tens of thousands of houses and 100.000 cars were damaged or destroyed as well as countless numbers of businesses. People are in shock and still up to their knees in mud. I ask myself how is that their lives are not being restored faster. Spain is not Syria, we have the resources and why, oh why, couldn't we have avoided so many deaths by sending out an alert far earlier and making resources immediately available. I can understand just how complicated it must be to coordinate the recovery of the region but help has been slow, as is funding.  Olivia who works for TVE, Spain's main broadcaster, had the privilege as a journalist to see the aftermath in Paiporta, the epicentre of the floods this week which I know made a huge impression on her and I was glad she was able to see it. 

While she was on her way to Valencia we went to Leroy Merlin to get wood to mend some of the benches on the kitchen patio which will look a lot nicer now the cabin has been painted. And here is the man on the job later in the week.

Eladio painting and mending the benches on the kitchen patio

Thursday was quiet too and that morning we found time for our supposed daily walk. It was that day that Mohammad, my guest from Iraq who has been here for over a year, announced he would be going to stay with his family who have recently moved to Oman but won't be returning. I will sorely miss him. He has been like a son to me in many ways and I do hope he returns.

That afternoon some crackers I had ordered from Amazon arrived. But would you believe that they didn't contain a snap? No way, I returned them immediately. Even though today is 1st December I am still not into the spirit of Christmas but have made some purchases to make sure I can create a proper English Christmas. More is arriving. In this house we don't put the tree up until well into December but I must begin to think about presents and menus. I must.

Friday came and I was up a bit late, but not too late to watch Olivia live, reporting from Valencia for her programme  La Hora de la 1.  I watched all her reports and found them heartbreaking. 

Olivia reporting from Paiporta Valencia one month after the floods.

She interviewed a teacher whose kindergarden is now closed as many still are, as well as schools. She also interviewed Julio  whose wife, a nurse, lost her life in the floods. This is it. I thought she showed a lot of empathy as she reported and interviewed people.  

It must have been harrowing for her and later she told me it was so impressive it was impossible to transmit the magnitude of the disaster. She posted some photos on Instagram which I want to reproduce here in memory of the floods, a tragedy that has made an impact on the whole country. 

Photos Olivia took in Valencia

 

The afternoon was going to be quiet until we got a message from Olivia asking us to pick up the kids from school as she was arriving a bit late from Valencia. I was in my pyjamas but I was sure no one would notice when I put my coat on, hahahaha. We got to the school but couldn't find Juliet and Elliot as she hadn't told us they were at the gym after their judo class. Elliot was amused to know we had had trouble finding them and anxious also to tell us about his day. His class had planted 200 trees behind the local Mercadona. We took them to their house and never mentioned they were in the back of the car with me without stipulated child seats as we had no time to put them in, plus they are very difficult to fix as I'm most grandparents find.

We were all happy to see Olivia and the kids melted into her arms. She had brought "horchata" a special ground almond drink which I think today is called Tiger Milk and hails from Valencia. Oli loves it as do the kids. Their snack was apple slices with peanut butter. I had   a spoonful of the latter which I think I  hadn't eaten since I was a teenager. Oh, how delicious. I told Oli that in the US they eat it with jam which they call jelly in a sandwich. Oli's recipe is a lot healthier. We spent some time again with our grandchildren who were full of beans and left at around 7 pm, just before dinner which we had with Suzy at home.

Far away in Paris that day, the authorities were to see the recently restored Notre-Dame which was damaged by a shocking fire 5 years ago. When President Macrown saw it he said to the workers "The blaze at Notre-Dame was a national wound and you have been its remedy through will, through work, through commitment. I am deeply grateful" and added "you have brought Notre-Dame back. This is how it looked 5 and a half years ago when the fire started and this is what it looks like today.

Notre-Dame before and after

It will be open to the public on 7th December. I have seen it many times but shall never forget my first visit. It was on a school trip from Bradford to Paris with St. Joseph's College. I remember we climbed to the top and I especially remember the gargoyles. I didn't know much about cathedrals at the time and maybe didn't appreciate it being renowned for its stunning Gothic architecture. Later I saw many more cathedrals which seemed like copies. And when I saw it burning down, I really thought it would turn into ash but a miracle happened and the great dame of France is now back in splendid glory for all to see. Magnifique. 

On Saturday the Paraguyan builders who were supposed to come that morning, didn't turn up which disappointed us a lot. They have promised to come today and I really hope they do. In their absence we went for a walk and had coffee at La Flaca where Eladio took my photo which is this week's feature photo,  for want of a better one. When I enlarged it I was aghast at the wrinkles I saw. My dear husband whose eyes don't see them told me I looked beautiful. While I drank my coffee and smoked my cigarette he made me a paper boat and said "here, so you can travel to America". We won't be going anywhere by boat as neither of us are into cruises but I shall be keeping the paper boat, bless him. 

The afternoon was quiet but not the evening as we were joined by Oli, Elliot and Juliet. In Tana's absence, Suzy and I put hands to deck to come up with something to put on the table. It was what we call in this house a "bits and bobs dinner".  The children came bearing flowers and I had to take a picture to show you. Aren't they sweet? Oli knows I love flowers so thank you darling.

My grandchildren bringing me flowers last night

Dinner was ready when they came.  It was a joy to be all together and I have to say both kids behaved well and ate well. They especially enjoyed the ice cream. Once in the toy and TV room we watched the end of Billy Elliot and my grandson loved it so much we had start it over. He's hooked on it and I'm so glad he doesn't understand the Geordie accent as some of the language is beyond his years and not a good example hahahaha. It even stumps me and the girls found it difficult to understand as well, hahahaha. It's set during the miners' strikes in 1984, something I had to explain to them - not a nice part of the UK's recent history. 

Today is Sunday and will be a quiet day I expect. I have now come to the end of the stories of this week and hope you have enjoyed reading them. Wishing you all a happy Sunday, cheers for now,

Masha

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