10 years in this house, Oli in Formentera, alone at home, dinners with Fátima, oh so hot, Hillary Clinton clinched it, retail therapy, the Queen’s official birthday and other stories.

Saturday 11^th June 2016

Oli on the beach on the island of Formentera this week

Hi everyone,

I am writing one day early this week.  That’s because Oli is back tonight and I want to spend time with her tomorrow.  I’ve missed her and Eladio too but more about that later. Now let me get you up to speed with what happened this week.

Monday was 6^th June and it was the 10^th anniversary of our moving into what we still call our new house. 

We moved into our "new house" 10 years ago this week

Imagine 10 years have already gone past.  We moved out of our smaller but lovely house in Rio Tajo where we lived from 1988 to 2006 on 6^th June 10 years ago and I remember it as if it were yesterday.

Our "old house" in Río Tajo in Boadilla where we lived for 18 years

It took 2 days and 2 lorries to move and almost a week to settle into our new house.  There was a heat wave at the time and we didn’t leave the premises for at least a week whilst moving in.

Moving in 10 years ago - a nightmare!

It was a herculean task and I hardly bare to think what it will be like if and when we have to move again as we have so much furniture and stuff that we have accumulated in our nearly 33 years of marriage, not to mention all the things we brought from our house in England when my Father came to live with us in 2005. 

We have been very happy here since the day we moved in. I would like to make some changes; paint it, remove the curtains, change the kitchen, etc but all that will have to wait for a while if it ever happens at all as we don’t really know how much longer we will live here.  It’s an enormous house, far too big for so few of us with 7 bedrooms, 9 bathrooms, 4 lounges, etc, etc.  The most practical way to find each other here is to call on our mobiles. Maybe we should have walkie talkies hahaha.  Anyway we will cross that bridge when we come to it. Meanwhile we can dream of what our perfect retirement plans could bring; maybe stints in Montrondo and England and a smaller place in a nice suburb of Madrid.

On Monday Oli was in Formentera. She and Miguel had travelled there on the Sunday to spend a week in that beautiful island of famous white beaches and turquoise coloured water.  The photo illustrating this week’s post is of Oli on one of the beaches there. They had rented an apartment right by the sea and seem to have had a great time. Oli doesn’t want to come back.  From the photos I have seen it looks like they hired a jet ski, had great meals out and spent a lot of time on the beach. I have only been there twice on day trips from Ibiza but I too loved the island and one day hope to go there with Eladio for longer.  It is Oli and Miguel’s second visit and I suspect it won’t be their last.

Oli and Miguel in Formentera this week

On Tuesday morning I went on my early morning walk and it was warmer than usual.  It was to be a scorching week.  It would have been my Mother’s 96^th birthday as my Father pointed out at lunch that day.  I knew that of course as 7^th June is a date ingrained in my mind and on that day I remember her more especially.

My Russian born Mother - in Cambridge in the 50's.

We miss her every day and my Father more so I am sure.  The girls miss her too and Oli once said that if she could bring one person back to earth it would be her.  I miss her so much at times that it aches.  She would have loved this house, would have loved to see her beloved granddaughters grow up, as I am sure she would have loved to live here with us too.  Ay Mummy, how we miss you.

Life continued of course as it does.  Eladio has been having problems in the garden with the irrigation system.  Water was leaking out of an electricity cable in the garden believe it or not which meant there was not enough pressure for the irrigation to work. Here he is bending down over the leak.

Eladio the gardener

I have to admit I have married not just a philosopher, teacher and ex priest but also a gardener, a plumber, an electrician, a painter, a semi doctor, a chauffeur and general dog’s body who is the rock of my life and the secret of my success.  On top of all that he just never seems to grow old despite being 72.  He still has more black hair than grey and I have to admit I still find him “drop dead gorgeous” haha.  But he was to leave me on Tuesday, alone at home, to go to Montrondo with his brother José Antonio to see to the garden there or rather to create a lawn after the recent building of our house and his sister Pili’s. With Oli gone and then Eladio I really did feel quite alone at home.  Thankfully I had my Father for company at lunch and of course Salud our home help, not to mention the dogs, especially little Pippa.

Pippa kept me company this week

I decided whilst both Oli and Eladio were away that I am not good at being alone.  I don’t mind a few hours or a day or two but definitely do not like getting into bed at night alone.  Pippa saved my day though by sleeping on Eladio’s side of the bed hahaha.

As I said it was a hot day and it was very frustrating sitting by the empty pool that evening.  The painter had just given it the first lick of paint and it looked lovely but rather strange to see it empty. If on Tuesday it reached 32c by Thursday the temperature had soared to 35 and I had to put the air conditioning on in my room. Funnily enough there were floods in France and Germany and freak rainstorms in the UK. Not here thank goodness.  Probably the best thing about living in Madrid is the climate.  I wouldn’t change it for anything.  But oh when it’s hot you do need a pool nearby; having one is no luxury here, it’s a necessity.

It was very hot in Spain this week

Thankfully since then it has dropped to an average maximum of 30 which is bearable and quite pleasant.

The freshly painted but empty pool - very frustrating with all the heat this week

As I am not good at being alone, I called my best friend and neighbour, Fátima, to join me for dinner that night.  She is celiac and cannot eat cow’s milk or beef so I had to think hard about what to serve her. In the end I offered her a tuna fish salad, humus and a plate of our delicious Rueda ham.  We ate on the kitchen patio surrounded by our 3 dogs and our tongues were wagging (excuse the pun) until nearly midnight.  Thanks Fátima for keeping me company that night.

Fátima at dinner on Tuesday night

On Wednesday morning it was funny to wake up without Eladio.  Meanwhile in Montrondo work had started on the garden and he sent me photos of the progress. The land had to be flattened and covered in soil after which the two brothers would sew it with grass seeds, quite a hard task.

The making of a lawn in Montrondo this week

It was on Wednesday that my new order from H+M arrived including 2 pairs of super comfortable espadrilles. I’m in love with them. Yeah, they’re flat and that’s how I like them; flat, pretty and comfortable.  Ah and they only cost 10 euros each which is quite a bonus.

The espadrilles I ordered from H+M and which arrived this week

I was busy working all of this week. There has been so much speculation in the media about the sale of Yoigo to either Masmovil or Zegona but nothing concrete has happened.  It gets very tiring answering journalists’ calls when all you can say is “no comment”.  One thing I can conclude this week is; just don’t believe all you read in the papers as most of it is plain speculation; not truth based.  Funny thing is people always believe the “written word” but when you work in communications like I do, you know otherwise. 

On the international front, history was made that day.  Hillary Clinton, it seems, will be the democratic candidate to run for US presidency in the November elections against that joke of a man, Donald Trump of the Republican Party who wants to build a wall to keep Mexicans out.  He is so racist and bigoted it seems incredible he has got to run for the top job in the US.  All the media were hailing Wednesday as a day in the history of US politics in that Hillary Clinton is the first woman to run for US presidency, the first party woman nominee for the challenge.

Hillary Clinton happy to be making history

However that is actually not true as in 1872, Victoria Woodhull was the first woman to run for the job.  She was an American leader of the women’s suffrage movement and she herself did not have the right to vote at the time.

It was Victoria Woodhull who was actually the first woman to run for the US Presidency in 1872

Be that as it may, it is still a first in recent history. Hillary, mire deep in the email scandal, should, in my mind, win over as many women’s votes as possible.  Of the 2 candidates, I would like her to win; not because I admire her but because she is a woman, she can do politics, she is intelligent and above all because I don’t want that joke of a man Trump to win.

Thursday I did a women’s thing and went and had my nails painted.  I think the method in English is called “gel”.  Here it is called semi-permanent, a much better name as it is true.  The enamel painted on my own natural nails lasts, in my case, just under a month. Whilst at Centro Oeste, I took the time to have a look in at Zara and H+M.  It was not my lucky day at Zara but oh boy I seemed to like nearly everything I saw at H+M.  Talk about retail therapy.  I came home feeling on a high. This is what I bought.

The result of my retail therapy on Thursday

The only person to see me in the news clothes since has been Eladio when he got back yesterday and, typical him, he didn’t even notice they were new.  Oli will though and she will probably borrow some of the stuff.  You are welcome darling. I find it flattering you like the clothes I buy.

Fátima came for dinner again that night; my last night alone.  This time I made a Swedish prawn and avocado salad with sliced oiled egg and served a small plate of Ikea salmon, freshly sliced tomatoes and of course some more of our delicious ham.  Dessert was thick black and juicy cherries, my favourite fruit and Fátima’s too. Here is the table before we sat down to eat.

The table laid for dinner with Fátima on Thursday night

Friday 10^th June was my dear friend Sandra’s birthday.  It was also the beginning of the celebrations of the Queen’s official 90^th birthday which is today Saturday. Funnily enough it was actually her husband, Prince Phillip, the Duke of Edinburgh’s 95^th birthday on Friday, although hers has completely overshadowed his.  For the occasion Buckingham Palace released this lovely photo of the two of them as they are now today; looking just like an ordinary couple. It was taken by Annie Leibovitz who is perhaps the most famous photographer in the world.

The Queen and Prince Phillip - photo by Annie Leibovitz released by Buckingham Palace on the occasion of the Queen's official 90th birthday this weekend.

They have been married for nearly 69 years, the longest marriage in royal history. Aged just 21 the then Princess Elizabeth married her handsome Greek Prince on 20^th November 1947 at Westminster Abbey. 

The Queen and Prince Phillip on the day of their wedding on 20th November 1947

She first set eyes on him when she was 13 and those eyes have never ventured on another man since. I am not quite sure about his.  However they have kept together through thick and thin and seem to be happy and content in each other’s company.  He is an extraordinary man; well you would have to be to marry the Queen and has kept her laughing and sane for nearly 70 years. Both of them were handsome people and still look good today.

It’s funny but the Queen’s real birthday is on 21^st April but her official birthday is held on a Saturday in June – a tradition going back some 250 years – to ensure better weather for the celebrations.  Yesterday she attended a national service of thanksgiving at St. Paul’s Cathedral.  Here she is dressed in yellow and looking as lovely as ever, despite her 90 years.

The Queen in yellow yesterday at the Thanksgiving Service at St. Paul's Cathedral

Today, the annual Trooping the Colour will be held on Horse Guards’ Parade. This is a ceremony with lots of pageantry to officially celebrate the Queen’s birthday. She always used to ride one of her horses on this occasion but not anymore of course. I tried to find out when the last time was but failed in the attempt.  In any case, here is a photo of her on her horse Burmese, a gift from the Canadian Mounted Police, in the 1979 Trooping the Colour.  On one occasion she was shot at during the event but got away unscathed.

The Queen who is horse mad, riding her horse, Burmese, at the Trooping of the Colour in 1979

After the event the Royal family will make their annual appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace and tomorrow, Sunday, the Queen will host a street party for more than 10.000 people in the centre of London.  I would love to be there, if only to sample the 150 pounds worth M+S basket made for the occasion hahaha. Love M+S food as you probably know.

While the Queen was at St. Paul’s Cathedral, I was at home at my desk and at midday had a skype conversation with a Spanish student, Marina, who is on an Erasmus in Helsinki.  She had contacted me via twitter as she wanted to interview me for an essay she had to write on corporate communication based on company values.  Well that was easy peasy for me hahaha.

Just as we were finishing, Eladio and Toño arrived back from Montrondo.  It was great to get my husband back. He curtailed his stay there and rushed back yesterday morning because of the irrigation problems in the garden which still weren’t sorted. Well he worked on them all day yesterday and looked a complete mess afterwards, but he did the job thank goodness.  He also installed the new swimming pool steps he had bought on Amazon and here he is just after doing the job.

Eladio standing by the swimming pool steps he installed yesterday

I’m dying to use them but will have to wait until next Tuesday, a week after the painting, which is when we can fill the pool again. 

Being Friday we went out to dinner and chose Ginos this time.  Here over a dish of pasta, in my case and a dish of “scalopini” in Eladio’s, we talked about the 10 years we had spent in this house and what we want to do in the future.  I think Eladio would quite like to stay in this house till the end of our time.  But as I said above, we will cross that bridge when we come to it.

Dinner at Ginos last night - my favourite dish there

Today is Saturday and it’s another sunny day, but not too hot.  Whilst Eladio was in the garden, off I went for my morning walk.  But first I had left the “fabada” (bean stew) bubbling which will be our lunch today.

The "Fabada" (bean and chorizo stew) I made for lunch today

It will be a quiet afternoon. Oli and Miguel will be back tonight and I look forward to quality time with my younger daughter tomorrow.

So my friends, this is it for this week.  Wishing you all the best, cheers till next time,

Masha

A 4th anniversary, major repairs to the pool, using Wallapop for the first time, the return of Mary Poppins, dinner in Madrid with Americans, a friend from Finland for the weekend, RIP Casius Clay, Spain conquers Paris at Roland Garros, Oli in Formentera and other stories

Monday 6^th June 2014

With Gary and Sue my ex Motorola collagues from the US at the Retiro Park on Thursday evening

Hi everyone.

It’s Monday and I am one day late with my blog.  That’s the fault of my Finnish friend Anne who has been staying with us this weekend. I could hardly spend my morning yesterday writing this post whilst she was with us.  But don’t worry there is plenty to tell.

Last Monday was not a good day.  I was still feeling bad after the wedding with a nasty cold.  Fasting didn’t put me in a better mood nor did the rain.

On Tuesday I was feeling better.  Thankfully the weather had improved too.  I was in the mood for cooking that morning and made “cocido”, a typical dish from Madrid which is more suited to the winter but we love to eat it in any season.

My cocido

It is the season for Labradors to shed their coat of hair.  Did you know they have 2 coats to protect them and that twice a year the outer one sheds completely?  I can’t begin to tell you how it messes up the house.  So, on our walks we take along a special comb by Foolee which efficiently removes dead hair.  And here is Eladio combing Elsa who sits patiently, I suspect actually enjoying the ritual whilst the other dogs look on.

Eladio combing Elsa in his cowboy hat on our walk this week

Unfortunately the next day we realized we had lost the valuable comb and would have to buy another one.  I think it must have fallen out of Eladio’s pocket on our walk.  So instead of ordering another one from Amazon for 45 euros I tried out Wallapop for the first time, a new app for buying and selling things privately.  Believe it or not I found one for 10 euros which was brand new and included a spare razor.  The person selling it was from the north of Spain and I had to pay upfront before she sent it to me by post.  I was a bit skeptical and thought I may be tricked.  But I wasn’t and this morning it arrived as you can see in the photo below.

The Folee comb I bought for 10 euros on Wallapop

We didn’t just lose the comb on Tuesday but also Elsa’s lead which Eladio left where he had been shedding her.  So as soon as we were home, he took the car and drove to pick it up.  On his way back he did a good deed and finally picked up an old and unsightly WC which some uncivilized person had deliberately dumped there quite a while ago.  Good for you Eladio, I was sick of seeing it on our walk.

Wednesday was Olivia and Miguel’s 4^th anniversary (of going out – not marriage hahaha).  They make such a lovely couple and will soon be living together when they move into their new rented flat in July.  He surprised her by sending a beautiful immortal rose to her newsroom which, knowing her would have made her feel slightly embarrassed but of course very pleased at the same time. Here is a photo of that lovely moment at work. I do wish Eladio would follow suit sometimes hahaha.

An immortal rose for Olis 4th anniversary with Miguel

Wednesday was 1^st June and it was beautiful weather as I think it will be from now on until the end of the summer.  We should be bathing in our pool by now, but no. As I have explained here before it had to undergo major repairs for a leak in the main drain which was buried in the ground and cemented in.  This is what the pool looked like last Wednesday; a sorry sight.

The swimming pool being repaired

Facebook reminded me that on that day a year ago Eladio had been bathing in it and posted this lovely photo. 

Eladio in our pool this time last year

It would have been nice to have swum in it this week but we still have to wait.  A new drain pipe has been put in but the pool now it has to be painted.  The men are here today for the first coat and the second one will be done on Wednesday.  After that we have to wait for 7 days for it to dry and only then can we fill it with water.  Eladio reckons it will take about 70.000 litres of water to fill.  Imagine!  I prefer not to think what the water bill will come to.

I read the British press every morning and of course it is full of news of the Brexit referendum.  I am all for the UK staying in Europe as is my Father.  I am not sure what the outcome will be as it looks pretty much 50-50 at the moment.  I was surprised by one piece of news on Wednesday morning, not in the British press but in the Spanish press.  It came from Mariano Rajoy, the Spanish PM.  He pointed out that there are 400,000 Brits in Spain, probably mostly retired people and 100,000 Spaniards in Britain and that the British living here would no longer have the right to live here or take advantage of the benefits of belonging to the EU; the free movement of people and goods and of course health care, to name perhaps the 3 most important of them.  That of course includes my Father and myself.  I may have to adopt Spanish nationality, something I have never contemplated.  I do hope that doesn’t mean I have to give up my British nationality.  Brexit looming is a depressing thought.

On Thursday morning the most notable item for me was the news of a possible vaccine for cancer. Wow, Imagine.

On a totally different note, I was also interested in the story that a sequel film to Mary Poppins has been announced.  If you are my generation you will have been one of the first children ever to see it, like me when my Mother took my brother and I to see it at the Bradford Odeon in 1964 when it premiered.  I have loved Julie Andrews ever since and equally adored The Sound of Music which I seem to remember being released a year later.  I’m not sure I will like to see another actress portray Julie Andrews. It will be an actress called Emily Blunt who I read is supposed to resemble her although I don’t think so.  It seems though that the whole idea has been given Julie Andrew’s blessing.  Of course the film will come from Disney who owns the rights.  Mary Poppins was based on PL Travers first book and the sequel will take up from there.  A spokesperson from Disney said the sequel “would take up the story of a Jane and Michael's three children, who will be visited by Poppins in "Depression-era London... following a personal loss".  It will be interesting to compare the two versions.

Emily Blunt to play Mary Poppins in the new film

Mary Poppins played by Julie Andrews

That evening we had an important dinner date, or rather an important reunion.  My ex colleagues from Motorola, a married couple called Sue and Gary, with their son Gavin, were visiting Madrid in a tour of Barcelona, Madrid and Lisbon and we had agreed to meet up on Thursday.  I hadn’t seen them in some 20 years possibly but thanks to Facebook we had kept in touch more recently.  They live in Chicago, Motorola’s old home city and Gary was head of marketing worldwide.  I got to meet both of them in many a marketing meeting around the world as well as in Chicago. We picked them up from their hotel in the city and took them to see the Retiro Park, our equivalent of Hyde Park or Central Park; even more beautiful in my view.  The photo of the three of us illustrating this week’s post was taken there and below is a photo of the three of them.

Gary, Sue and Gavin in The Retiro last Thursday evening

Dinner was at El Quënco de la Pepa, a good and well patronised restaurant in town where the quality of the food is guaranteed.  If you haven’t been you should go.  Most of the fruit and veg on offer are home grown in the chef, Pepa’s orchard.  The tomatoes are just spectacular. We had a great evening with so much to talk about. Of course we talked about old times at Motorola but also got their view on the health service, maternity leave, vacation leave and of course on the Presidential race in the US from the horse’s mouth so to speak.  I couldn’t believe that in the US private health insurance is obligatory and that it can cost 1.800 dollars per month for a family of 4 or that maternity leave is only 6 weeks.  It seems in the case of the former, there is a huge lobby from the insurance companies against free health care as of course they would lose their lucrative business.  As Sue said later, we could have talked all night and she was right.  It was certainly a night to remember. Great to see you guys.  Maybe we’ll make it to Chicago one day.

Friday was a busy day.  I had PR reports to submit, do my walks and also the weekly shopping with Eladio.  My Finnish friend Anne-Marjut was coming that afternoon to stay for a long weekend.  It was going to be a very relaxed and pleasant one.  I picked her up from Terminal 2 and we were home by past 6.  We spent the time by the empty pool drinking “tinto de verano” (like sangria but just made of red wine and lemonade – typical here in the summer) and some of our Rueda ham.  We had another dinner date that night. I had invited a bachelor friend to join us.  We went to La Txitxarrería and all enjoyed the meal, as Eladio and I always do there.  Funnily enough I forgot to take photos!

We woke up to the news on Saturday that Mohammed Ali, formerly known as Casius Clay, the most famous boxer of all time, had died aged only 74 of that dreadful disease, Parkinson.  The world went into mourning and there was news and obituaries which are still continuing today.  I was a small child when he became world champion and famously beat Sony Liston in a historic fight as in the picture below.

Casius Clay perhaps in his most famous match when he beat the World Champion Sony Lister in 1965

I always remember him on TV before or after a match saying “I am the greatest”.  Well he was but had a sad end to his life.  I presume the boxing had something to do with his illness.  Who knows?  He was perhaps the most colourful figure in sports ever. I mean who doesn’t remember him? All I can say is RIP Casius Clay.  I suspect he would have preferred me to say RIP Muhammad Ali as he was known when he changed faiths, but I will always remember him as Casius Clay, a very original name for a very original person.

A great photo of Casius Clay / Muhammad Ali, perhaps the most colourful sports figure ever 

That morning Anne and I went on my walk which she enjoyed.  I pointed out that the countryside was much more beautiful in Finland which of course it is. Her reply that it was different was very true.  It’s very Mediterranean, dry but green in parts, a bit like Israel as my friend Sandra once pointed out.

A selfie with Anne Marjut on our walk on Saturday morning

Now the good weather is here, both Eladio and I wear shorts around the house and on our walks.  Anne took this photo of the two of us at the gate as we came back from our walk that morning.  I am holding Pippa which is no surprise as we are no longer 2 but 3 in our marriage hahaha.

Eladio and I wearing summer shorts outside our house with Pippa in my arms on Saturday morning

Later we went shopping to Centro Oeste in Majadahonda and Oli came with us.  Oli and I had little time to shop as at 12 we were meeting Paula, an interior designer, but even so managed to shop some items.  For example I bought these lovely blue and white striped espadrilles.

My new striped espadrilles from H+M

They are so comfortable I have since bought more pairs in different colours and patterns on the H+M website.

It was great to see Paula again.  She had designed our kitchen/living room in Montrondo via Ikea but now she works freelance.  We contacted her to ask her to design Oli’s and Miguel’s lounge in the new flat which is a complicated shape and size.  I am looking forward to her first plans.  Meanwhile Anne shopped for gifts to take home for her family and of course for Spanish ham and related products at Carrefour. We were home on time to make the lunch which would be a simple dish of “bitki” (Russian hamburgers), mashed potatoes and salad.

The afternoon was spent sleeping or reading and I joined Anne on the terrace where she was sun bathing hoping to get a sun tan on her legs.  Oli joined us there for tea and of course the dogs were with us.  Wherever we are, they are there too hahaha. 

Oli and Pippa looking happy on our swimming pool terrace on Saturday afternoon

Whilst we were relaxing on the terrace, the women’s final at the Roland Garros French Tennis tournament was being played between reigning champion, the 35 year old Serena Williams and the young Spaniard, Garbiñe Muguruza, a strapping six footer aged just 22.  Garbi is number 4 in the world and has never won a Grand Slam although she played in the final at Wimbledon against Serena last year.  Last week when I wrote that Nadal was out of the tournament because of an injured wrist, little did I suspect that any other Spanish tennis player would give us the pleasure by winning.  I was bowled over when I heard Garbi beat the tennis legend 7-5 6-4.  She is the first Spanish woman to do so since Arantxa Sánchez Vicario in 1998 who by the way won the championship 3 times. If you have not heard of her or seen her before, this is the girl, who by the way is half Spanish and half Venezuelan.

Having won in the French Open has made her the number 2 woman tennis player in the world rankings.  Wow, how did she appear I wonder?  Hard work and determination and a lot of talent I imagine.  Well done Garbi, the whole of Spain is proud of you, Rafa Nadal included.

When I later heard that Spain had also won the Men’s Doubles Final, I was ecstatic with pride and joy for my adopted country and it’s prowess at sport.  Marc and Feliciano López (both called López but not related) had beaten the legendary Bryan brothers and they were ecstatic too. 

Marc and Feliciano López who won the men's doubles final at the French Open this weekend

With that news you will realise what I mean by writing “Spain conquers Paris at Roland Garros”.  As to the Men’s final, it took place the next day between Andrew Murray and Djokovic.  The latter was the hungrier man and played the match of his life to garner the one Grand Slam that had always eluded him, the Grand Slam that Rafa Nadal has won 9 times.  Next we have Wimbledon to look forward to. 

Later we made a special dinner for Anne.  I made 3 Spanish tortillas which we ate with a plate of our wonderful Rueda ham and a salad rustled up by Anne.  Here we are sitting down to dinner on Saturday night.

Dinner at home with Anne-Marjut on Saturday night at home

Sunday was a quiet day and Anne’s last day with us.  It started with a brisk and warm walk where we were joined by Olivia and we chose a different path to escape from the heat.  It is not a well-trodden path and we had to wade through long grass on many an occasion.  Unsurprisingly we took a selfie for my blog.

A selfie with Anne and Oli on our walk on Saturday morning

Oli was a in a very good mood as after our walk she was going on holiday.  She and Miguel are spending this week in the lovely little island famous for its blue water; Formentera in the Balearic Islands.  Eladio took her to the airport where she flew to Ibiza where she would meet up with Miguel who was flying from Valencia.  Here they are on the ferry from Ibiza to Formentera.

Miguel and Oli on the ferry from Ibiza to Formentera yesterday

I made fish and chips for lunch; the house speciality which we all devoured. The afternoon was spent reading, chatting, having a cup of tea and going on another walk. 

And this morning my friend Anne was up at 5.30 to take a taxi to the airport.  I was sorry to see her go as we had a great time together, chatting and catching up. I was up at 7 and left for the office at 8.30 which took me over 1.5hours due to the dreadful traffic.

The traffic in one of the tunnels on the M40 this morning

I am so glad I don’t have to face it every day like most mortals do.  I got to the office to hear that the meeting had been rescheduled for another day and could have kicked myself. Instead I took the opportunity to do various errands and see people I needed to talk to.

While I am fasting today Oli and Miguel will be having lunch at El Gecko Beach Club in Formentera, recommended by me.  It is such a beautiful place and the restaurant offers superb cuisine.  Wouldn’t it be nice to be there too?  I am waiting to hear their opinion  of the place.  Meanwhile Oli sent me a photo of them on what looked like a pretty empty but very beautiful beach.

Oli and Miguel on the beach in Formentera this morning

There will be no beach for me for a while, nor pool for another week or so but I’m not complaining.  Life is good and there is nothing to complain about.

And that my friends, is the end of the tales of last week. I will now get on with life and tell you all about it in my next post.

Cheers till then,

Masha

Family birthday with the girls, Oli’s new flat, roses from our garden, Winnie-the-Pooh and the Queen’s 90th birthdays, Obama visits the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, Lucía’s wedding, Hala Madrid and other stories.

Monday 30^th May 2016

Eladio and I ready to go to the wedding on Saturday

Hi everyone. 

Sorry I didn’t write yesterday.  I meant to but Sunday turned out to be completely KO for me after Lucía’s wedding on Saturday.  I woke up with a cold which both Eladio and Olivia thought was a massive hangover but it wasn’t. I swear I only drank 2 glasses of wine – well maybe 3 – although going to bed at past 3 in the morning only exacerbated how I felt, so I had a terrible day with the cold, my body aching all over the place and absolutely no energy.  I spent the whole day in bed.  It’s so funny for someone like me who is usually hyperactive to have no energy and very frustrating.  One day is one day and thankfully this morning I am better although not yet 100%.   I have to get better this week as we have visitors from the USA and Finland to host on Thursday, Friday and the weekend.  That’s going to be fun. You will hear all about it in next week’s chronicle, but let me tell you about last week first.

Sunday 22^nd May was Oli’s 31^st birthday and Suzy had come to celebrate it with her, their friends and the family.  I left off last week just after the birthday breakfast. The next item on the birthday agenda was shopping with the girls, just the three of us. We went to Plaza Norte where I took a photo of the girls buying and exchanging shoes from a shop there.

The girls shopping last Sunday morning

The family lunch was to be fish and chips at Oli’s request which we made together.  Then of course came the birthday cake ritual; the third of the cakes I had made last weekend and which turned out to be a huge success.  It was also time for a selfie to immortalize the moment and here we are the 5 of us toasting Oli:

The birthday cake moment selfie on Oli's birthday last Sunday

The girls then went to spend some time with their friends “la manada” whilst Eladio and I got on with our Sunday afternoon routine which is usually a siesta after lunch, a cup of tea, some reading and then a walk with the dogs, in that order.  The day would end with a family dinner and I couldn’t believe that Oli wanted egg and chips for dinner.  I mean chips twice in a day, but her wish was my command.  It was to be Suzy’s last night with us.

On Monday I was up at 5.45 to take Suzy to the airport.  My heart always sinks when she goes.  We do miss her so much. I had been to the airport to pick her up and there I was suddenly taking her back; the two and a half days seemed very short.  We had time to talk and she told me about her new job.  It’s so funny that she is the manager not only for training at Hifas da Terra (The Spanish Company from Galicia which specializes in mycology and makes amazing health and beauty products from mushrooms!) but also for social media, press and events.  I never thought Suzy would end up doing a similar job to me.  She is getting lots of mentoring, coaching and help from me at a distance and I am happy to pass on lots of my experience in PR and events to her.  I love to be there for her just as I love to be there for Olivia. 

Meanwhile at home we had the people from the swimming pool company cleaning and scraping the paint which attracted dust to most of the house.  Other people came to give us estimates on mending the leak which seems pretty complicated.  Oh I do hope it will be painted, repaired and ready for use soon; although the weather has not been really warm enough to take the plunge yet.

The pool as it looks now after the cleaning and scraping.  I can't wait for it to be ready

The highlight of Monday was going to see Oli and Miguel’s new flat, the one they will be renting from 1^st July.  It’s in the nice leafy area of Mirasierra, some 28km from home and just 5 stops on the metro to Oli’s place of work in Plaza Castilla.  We liked the flat as soon as we saw it.  It is clean, recently refurbished and very light. 

The lounge in Oli and Miguel's new flat we went to see this week

They would be signing the contract on Wednesday and their main priority from now on is to find everything they need to furnish it.  I can’t really believe Oli will be flying the nest but it has to happen.

Tuesday was another working day.  I went into the office for a management team meeting where we all got up to date on the different areas of the business. I also left my car to be taken for servicing and lucky me I was given a substitute one; a very modern medium sized Merc which needed quite a few instructions before I could drive it hahaha.

One of my jobs at this time of year is keeping the roses looking neat.  I cut them with the rose pruners from our house in Bradford. They must have been my Father’s and are still going strong. As soon I cut them, just a few hours later, more are blooming.  These are the ones I cut on Wednesday morning to adorn the house.  I always give my Father a vase in the dining room and another one for his bedroom.

Roses from our garden

Another daily job of mine is making dinner; or nearly always.  Usually we are 4 for dinner when Miguel is here.  When they go in July, it’ll just be Eladio and me (heave).  That night I made them a tuna fish salad as you can see in the photo below.  It’s one of our favourites for dinners.  Usually it’s made with tuna mayonnaise (with spring onion), peppers, asparagus and tomatoes.  On Wednesday I didn’t have the latter two so substituted them for avocado which was nearly as nice.

My tuna fish salad

That night Eladio and I finished watching Homeland Season 4 for the second time in my case.  There was time to start a new series and we began on The Americans based on the true story of 2 Russian KGB spies living in America as a married couple with 2 children who have no idea who their parents really are.  I mentioned the story not so long ago in my blog which, being the daughter of a Russian mother and parents who taught the language and part of the Cold War generation was right up my street.  We are now half way through.  It’s not as good as Homeland (what is?) but we are enjoying it.

The TV series we are currently watching

Thursday was a special day.  It was Winnie-the-Pooh’s 90^th birthday which of course coincided with the Queen’s 90^th.  And “he”, Pooh, via Disney who owns all the rights wrote a story called Winne-the-Pooh and the Royal Birthday.  Pooh leaves the Hundred Acre Wood for Buckingham Palace with Christopher Robin, Piglet and Eyeore to deliver his special gift to the Queen – a poem or “hum” written for the occasion. I am sure both AA Milne the writer and E.H. Shepherd the illustrator would have been happy with the outcome. 

The Queen and Winnie-the-Pooh  - a celebration of their mutual 90th birthday

This is the “hum”. 

“The Queen lived in her palace, as Queens often do.

Doing all those busy things that busy Queens do.

But the Queen could never know, as you and I do,

That doing nothing much can be the BEST thing to do.

So from a forest far away, for your special day,

We’re sending you some quiet and a little time to play.”

I was interested in this piece of news because I was brought up on the tales of Christopher Robin and Winnie-The-Pooh and always loved the stories and the poems.  It was my Mother who introduced me to them and I had all the books and used to know some of the poems off by heart.  I know the Queen loved them too when she was a child.  I think it was a very befitting gift and I particularly loved that piece of news on Thursday.

I did some shopping on Thursday, yes again.  I must curb my shopaholic instinct which Suzy reprimanded me for that day when I posted on Facebook the photos of the colourful and incredibly comfortable Skecher walking shoes I had bought that morning.  I threw my other walking shoes away as they had so many holes hahaha.

My new skechers, quite a discovery

 On Friday I spent some time with Eladio measuring Oli’s study, the room next to her bedroom which she never really uses and which we want to turn into a new spare bedroom.  That had me browsing Ikea and the Maison du Monde websites.  As I was making the lunch that day – fabada (bean stew) – I came across more red roses in our garden, the one near the kitchen, which I hadn’t spied before.  They were the result of the roses Miguel gave to Olivia for Valentine’s Day quite a few years ago.  They have grown enormously since then as I imagine their love has too.   So I cut them too and since then more have bloomed. They are perfect scented red roses.  You must know by now that roses are my absolute favourite flowers.  If you didn’t, you do now hahaha.

 

Miguel's scented red roses in the front garden

 That night Eladio and I went out to dinner as we nearly always do on Friday nights. I made a reservation via The Fork.  I wanted to try somewhere new but regretted it later that night.  We went to “Entre Capotes” in Majadahonda which was a disappointment.  The food was nothing special, the service unacceptable and the place lacking in atmosphere.  We will not be going back.

It was on Friday that Barack Obama visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial; the first American President in office to do so.  He laid a wreath at the memorial and embraced a survivor of the US atomic bombing that killed 140.000 people. That was a very emotional moment.

 

President Obama embracing the survivor of the atom bombs, Shigeaki Mori who was 8 at the time.

As expected he spoke against the use and building of nuclear weapons but did not apologize or justify the terrible attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  But his very presence and gesture suggest his condemnation of what happened, the most terrible war attack ever.  Of course he didn’t apologise, as it was the Japs who began with their attack on Pearl Harbour which I am sure they have regretted ever since.  Thankfully there has been no nuclear attack ever since and I hope there will never be one. Bravo Barack Obama for your gesture.

On Saturday I was upset to read that Rafa Nadal had pulled out of Roland Garros after reaching the 3^rd round, due to a wrist injury.  Rafa who has won it 9 times out of 11 attempts and was hoping to become the first tennis player to win a grand slam 10 times, was in tears when he announced the news.  I was very sorry for him. 

It was bad news for Nadal on Saturday when he had to pull out of the French Open

That morning I slaved in the kitchen and at times it felt like I was running a restaurant hahaha.  I was making “salmorejo” (a thick type of gazpacho that hails from Córdoba), artichoke hearts and yet another bilberry birthday cake for Olivia who was having another party that day, this time for her work colleagues.  To make the salmorejo I used the Kenwood my Mother bought me for my wedding, nearly 33 years ago.  I am amazed it is still going strong and wonder why kitchen appliances today are not made to last.  It’s called “programmed obsolescence”.  Thankfully when my Kenwood was manufactured that didn’t exist. 

Making "salmorejo" with my 33 year old Kenwood

Then I made the 4^th and last of Oli’s birthday cakes for this year – another bilberry and cream one.

Oli's 4th birthday cake!

Eladio and I helped Oli with the preparations.  The most important part was the barbecue which of course my husband was in charge of.  Unfortunately it rained whilst he was cooking the meat.  Here is the photo of this rather strange moment where he is cooking and holding an umbrella at the same time.

Eladio cooking the meat for Oli's bbq in the rain using an umbrella!

Whilst Olivia continued her party, Eladio and I got ready to go to a wedding. It was to be a very special one.  Lucía, the youngest daughter of the González Gálvez family was to marry Juan Carlos that evening in the chapel at La Moraleja.  I consider this family to be my Spanish family.  I lived with them when I spent my 3^rd year at University in Spain (1978-1979) in Madrid.  Pili and Gerardo, the parents, took me into the bosom of their well-to-do, family.  I was to be an au pair to their children: Gerardo, Irene, Julieta and Toti and teacher of English to Gerardo and Irene. I was 21 and they were in the early teens and we hit it off immediately.  I loved them then and always.  I am eternally grateful to how they accepted Eladio when I first brought him to their summer house in Galapagar.  He was of course a priest and our relationship was a total secret except for my parents and Eladio’s brother and sister-in-law, José Antonio and Dolores.  I wasn’t sure how Pili and Gerardo would react as they were a well off, Catholic and right wing family and having a boyfriend as a priest in the early 80s in Spain would have been a scandal.  But they were wonderful; never criticized and accepted our relationship from the start. 

They were to play a big part in my wedding 33 years ago.  Gerardo would be our chauffeur and Irene and Julieta our bridesmaids.  This morning I dug out a photo of them at our wedding and here it is.

The González Gálvez family, my Spanish family, at our wedding in August 1983

One year later I was pregnant with Susana and Pili was pregnant too with Lucía, late in life and they were born in April and August 1984 respectively. It was to Lucia`s wedding that we were going on Saturday.  I don’t normally like weddings, but if they are for people very close to me, like the González Gálvez family, then of course I do. We dressed up the best we could and just before we left Oli took some photos of us ready to go. She is such a good photographer. The photo illustrating this blog is the one I like best.  Eladio looks great in a suit and bow tie doesn’t he?

Dressed up to go to Lucía's wedding

Spanish weddings are very different to English ones.  They are a lot less formal. At church people hang around talking and when the bride comes in they remain standing gawking at the procession.  Then when the wedding is over, instead of sitting quietly for the bridal procession to leave, they all go out ahead of her. Children run around and people even go outside to chat or to smoke.

The bridal procession arriving

It was a lovely ceremony and thankfully the weather held.  Once the bride and groom were outside everyone threw rice at them.  A quirk of luck had it that Eladio and I would have the honour of taking the bride and groom in our car to the wedding party at the Club de Golf in La Moraleja.  Sadly their driver had to leave in haste as his pregnant wife had been taken into hospital. I hope everything is ok.

The bride and groom in our car

The venue was spectacular and the views from the terrace of the luxury Moraleja complex with the golf course in front view was the best place to take photos.  I took this one of Eladio which got some favourable comments on Facebook.

Eladio looking like James Bond (hahaha) at Lucía's wedding

The best photo I have seen so far is the one of the González Gálvez family all together.

The González Gálvez family at the wedding on Saturday.

My, how they have grown since the photo of them taken at our wedding in 1983!  Gerardo is now the proud father of 5 (Vicky, Lucía, Ana, Gerardo and Irene), Irene the proud mother of 4 (Tomy, Paula, Celia and Nacho) and Toti (Alberto) the father of a brood who I only met on Saturday.  His youngest son, Miguel, aged 3 is the spitting image of him when I first met him aged 5 when I joined the family in 1978.  He is adorable.

Whilst the wedding reception started, believe it or not, many people were glued to the television. Lucía had the bad luck that the all Madrid Champions League final in Milan coincided with her wedding.

Football at the wedding!

At the end of the match the two teams had drawn 1-1 which meant there would be over time and dinner wouldn’t start until 11.  Wisely, however, the family had decided to start the dinner even if there was over time.  Here is the lovely moment when the bride and groom arrive at their table.

The bride and groom arriving at their table

Again I was grateful to the family who could have put us on any old table.  But no, we were placed on table 2 with Gerardo and his wife, Vicky, Irene and her husband Tomas, Julieta and their close friends and cousins.

Our table with Eladio and Gerardo at the forefront clapping at the bride and groom as they arrive at their table

The food was out of this world; strawberry gazpacho, lobster salad, fillet steak and a divine chocolate dessert.  Our table was abuzz with happy conversation.  We talked about the past and the present, including the issue of Brexit.  More importantly we fixed a time for Irene, Tomas, Gerardo and Vicky to visit us in Montrondo in September.

It was during the dinner that Real Madrid played Atlético de Madrid for another agonizing 30 minutes.  Atlético could have won if they had scored the penalty awarded to them.  In the end the final was resolved with a very unfair penalty shootout which Gerardo and I rushed from our table to watch.  As most of the more than 17 million spectators around the world predicted, Real Madrid won the match, albeit with a  penalty shootout, Ronaldo scoring the final goal. I was happy that my team had won the 11^th Cup (“la undécima”) and sorry at the same time for Atlético de Madrid who after 3 attempts in the history of the club have yet to win the most coveted football club championship in the world.

Hala Madrid! They did it again for the 11th time.

Most of the Real Madrid fans were chanting Hala Madrid to which I join my voice.  They really know how to win this championship.  I do wish though that they could win La Liga or La Copa del Rey more often, both of which went to their eternal rival, Barcelona this year. 

After dinner the dancing started. Here the Spaniards are traditional and the first dance was a waltz by the bride and groom, followed by Pili and her son Toti.  Even Eladio and I danced although we are dreadful dancers.  We left at about 2 in the morning, very late for us.  It was in the car on the way home I realised I was getting a cold as I could feel it in my throat.  It took a lot of effort to get ready and finally collapse into bed.

As I told you, yesterday, I woke up feeling k.o. and the day was a wash out.  Thankfully today I am feeling a lot better. 

I wonder how the bride and groom were feeling yesterday.  I always remember feeling exhausted the day after our wedding.  They left for New York and Punta Cana this morning and I was happy to hear that they used the suitcases we had bought for them as a wedding present.  Here is Lucía smiling at the airport this morning with one of the cases.

The happy bride with one of our wedding present suitcases at the airport this morning, destination honeymoon in NY and Cancun.  

Now that I have told you all about last week, I shall get on with publishing this post as I am sure my Father is anxious to read it.  I shall have a rest now and hopefully my cold will fizzle out over the next few days and I shall be fine to host our visitors this week.

Cheers all till next time

Masha.