Puigdemont’s circus arrives in Brussels, I was sexually harassed too, a cake for Lucy, All Saints’ Day with Oli, RIP Aitor and other tales of the week.

Sunday 5^th November 2017

Making home made pizza on Saturday. Cooking and baking are such rewarding and relaxing activities. 

Hi everyone.

It's November again. I have lived 60 Novembers and it's never been my favourite month. My favourite month is definitely June when spring turns to summer. Today though is 5th November, a date etched in my mind with good memories as a child in Yorkshire enjoying the activities of Guy Fawkes day aka bonfire night. That's one of the English things I miss while living in Spain. Another date I miss is Shrove Tuesday, aka pancake day. I brought my girls up on many English traditions but sadly not those two. What I don' like though is Halloween, that American tradition that started after I left England in the early 80's and which has caught on here too in Spain. It was Halloween this week and I largely ignored it. 

But let me go back to last Sunday when it was still October and the first day of "daylight saving" time, another day which I don't like as it plays around with my body clock. It certainly didn't stop the huge crowds of anti independence supporters demonstrating for unity in Spain that day in Barcelona. 

An image of the huge demonstration in Barcelona last Sunday in favour of the unity of Spain. 

What was a bit embarrassing for its supporters was the defeat of Real Madrid by the Gerona football team - a team at the bottom of the league and which is Puigdemont's home town and of course he is a supporter. That win was a symbolic win by Catalonia against Madrid.  Who was to know that the deposed ex President of the proclaimed and dismissed Republic of the region, was to flee from facing the courts the next day to Belgium?  He was to cause a diplomatic headache between Spain and Belgium, make a complete fool of himself as well as anger his political allies for having abandoned the ship so to speak. He brought the whole independence circus to Brussels. That was the story of the week in Spain and in Europe. 

But another story was being told on the TV that night on a different channel. The Undercover Boss programme I had featured in for Yoigo in September 2015 was being broadcast for the umpteenth time. I wish I was being paid royalties hahaha but I signed my rights away when I signed a contract with the producer Warner Bros. They didn't give me any other option. 

A shot of me featuring in the Undercover Boss programme for Yoigo which was broadcast again on TV last Sunday for the umpteenth time. 

Immediately people started writing to me on all the different social media platforms, many asking for a job or to help with a problem with their deficient phone of phone line. All I could do was tell them I had been fired from the company so lovingly portrayed on the TV that night.  On the other hand some people wrote just to tell me how much they liked me in the programme which was much appreciated. 

If the biggest story in Spain was the flight of Puigdemont, the biggest story, at least in the US and the UK were about sexual harassment in Hollywood and at the Houses of Parliament in London. If I haven't written about this before, when the news unfolded after accusations against Hollywood producer, the now infamous Harvey Weinstein, it was because it's not my favourite subject. 

Harvey Weinstein, the dirty old man from Hollywood. 

It's sordid and unpleasant and brings back nasty personal memories I largely try to forget. However as actor upon actor, be that Kevin Spacey of House of Cards or my once beloved Dustin Hoffman and now Members of Parliament, including the Minister for Defense, Michael Fallon, have been accused of sexual harassment, I think it is about time I also came out from the cold. Recently there was a campaign on social media where women all over the world posted two words on their status; "me too" meaning they too had been subjected to sexual harassment.  I posted those words and so did many of my friends. No, it's not just Hollywood actresses, it is probably the majority of women. All my life I have been the target of what I call "dirty old men". At the age of 12, I was groomed by our local and middleaged postman, Mr. Fox who finally dragged me into a shed and lunged at me with his horrible slobbery mouth and thick moustache. I screamed so much I must have surprised him and was able to get away. I never told anyone. I never told anyone either when I was 17 and our local Anglican priest forced another slobbery and unwanted kiss on me. At school a young Irish teacher tried to sexually assault me and thanks to my brother who walked in at the precise moment I was saved. In France, on school and on inter rail trips, I was leered at by Algerian men at  train stations in Paris. At University I was leered at too by Professor Tate, head of Spanish at Nottingham University as well as by Dr. Cardwell also of the Spanish department who once lunged at me too and I had to force his horrible fat arms off me. And no I never told anyone about that either. I even began to think it was my fault when aged only 15, my Mother's lecherous colleagues, prestigious lecturers of Russian at Leeds University, ogled at me at my parent's parties. Their wives noticed I can tell you but no one else. They made me feel guilty as if it was my fault that I attracted these sleazy dirty old men. Sexual harassment continued to happen to me even at work. But only, thankfully until I was married. But of course, by then I was 26 and not so attractive to these predators who had their eyes on younger women. Perhaps by then, I was more aware of how to deal with them and of course would no longer keep it to myself. These sleazes know that too and thus harass the young and vulnerable as it's easier to get away with.   And, so as women all over the world are coming out from the cold, I too hope that with my story, we can all contribute to the fall of this disgusting behaviour by sleazy and dirty old men who will now find it more and more difficult to get away with.  It has taken me more than 40 years to tell this story and I only wish I had told it before, to my Mother when I was aged 12. Then perhaps there would be fewer Mr. Foxes around. Hopefully young girls and boys will have more courage than me and the practice will not only wain but will be no longer acceptable as people thought it probably was 40 years ago. I can tell you that it was not acceptable to me when I was aged 12. It devastated me and has lived with me forever after. 

But my mind wasn't on that story on Monday. That morning I was busy  compiling a media coverage report for my Barcelona based telco operator customer. I was pretty happy to report that I had garnered 37 articles, the equivalent advertising spend of just under 100.000 euros.  My work was interrupted though when I heard that Carles Puigdemont and 5 of his ex-counsellors had fled to Brussels, presumably to request political asylum. He astounded everyone in Spain. What the hell was he doing there? The obvious reason was to escape facing the courts for rebellion, sedition, embezzlement, disobedience and prevarication after organising an illegal referendum and declaring independence,  crimes that he faces justice for. He is a coward and a clown. But more about him later. 

On our walk that evening and, sadly, it now gets dark at just after 6pm, we found someone's smartphone on the path. I picked it up just as someone called it; the wife of the owner who had been on the same walk as us and was out looking for it. When we gave it back to him, both he and his wife were extremely grateful. I could imagine his relief, as I too had recently lost my phone and thanks to an honest person, got it back again. The incident made me reflect on how well brought up I was. My parents instilled honesty in me and for the most part of my life I have been honest. However, I also reflected to myself, what would I have done if I had found an envelope with a large amount of money in it? So far it has never happened so I have no answer to my own question hahaha. 

On Tuesday, Halloween, Puigdemont held a surprise press conference in Brussels. The Belgian government refused to let him use their press premises so the chaotic event was held at the Brussels Press association, a venue fit for 80 people, not the more than 300 present. The whole event was chaotic and badly organised. 

Puigdemont's circus arrives in Brussels as portrayed by this chaotic press conference he held there at the beginning of the week. 

The man himself, as ambiguous and disorganised as ever, arrived late and then decided to speak in 4 languages, French, Catalán, English and Spanish. Eladio and I watched it live on my iPad finding it very difficult to understand what he was trying to say. He then only allowed questions from chosen international and Catalan media. He told the astonished press that he was in the Belgian capital not to seek asylum or escape justice. That was a total lie as his first call of port was to see the Belgian lawyer famous in Spain for representing Basque terrorists. He also said he was in the EU capital to internationalise the cause for  Catalonia and that he would not return to Spain until he had guarantees of a fair trial. He accuses the Spanish courts of being in cahoots with the Government and there he is totally wrong. What he doesn't want to face to is imprisonment for his deeds and he is a coward and also a clown as he is turning into being the laughing stock of Spain and many parts of Europe. Neither the EU nor the Belgian government have given him shelter. There are lots of jokes going around and the one I like best is the one that likens him to Tintin, the Belgian comic hero.

Puigdemont fleeing like Tintin

Eladio and I have been glued to the news this week as Puigdemont and his circus are like a an addictive soap opera. You never know what is coming next and it gets more and more absurd. 

Totally oblivious to the main subject of news in Spain, was Paulo, our Airbnb triathlon Brazilian guest. It was his last day with us on Tuesday. He wasn't flying back to Brazil until late that night but I happily let him stay with us until he needed to go instead of "checking out" at 1pm. He has been a pleasure to host and a bundle of fun. It was quite a coincidence that that day Eladio would be giving his weekly lesson in philosophy to his Brazilian pupil, Luciano. So on Tuesday afternoon we had 2 Brazilians in our house and of course we introduced them both to each other. It was quite a fun moment. Lucy, our Paraguayan home help and my Father's carer, was there too and I thought it would be very appropriate to immortalise the moment with a selfie of all of us together. So here we are, Europe and South America united in one photo.

The fun moment when our Brazilian Airbnb guest Paulo meets Eladio's Brazilian student Luciano. Europe and South America united in one photo at our house hahaha. 

As Paulo was preparing to leave, I was in the middle of making a cake for Lucy's birthday the next day and also making more bread. It was a busy and happy afternoon for me. My bread turned out wonderfully. This time I made multi cereal loaves. And here they are. Olivia would be coming the next day, All Saints' Day, and she is the person who most appreciates my new addiction hahaha.

My multi cereal bread loaves

Just as Paulo was probably starting his flight back to Brazil, people all over the world were celebrating Halloween and perhaps nowhere as intensely as in the US. However it was to be a nightmare and bloodshed night in New York when a lone wolf ISIS terrorist drove a hired van into a cycling lane in lower Manhattan, near the memorial to the Twin Towers. He killed 8 people and injured many more. 5 of the dead were a group of Argentinian friends. After smashing into a school bus, 29 year old Sayfullo Saipov, an Uzbek citizen, who cried out "Allahu Akbar" (God is great), was shot and caught by the police before he could do more harm. 

The terrorist ban in Manhattan on Tuesday night after it smashed into a school bus. 

These lone wolf ISIS van attacks of pedestrians are the new way of creating terror and they are difficult to predict or to stop. What an awful night for New Yorkers.

Wednesday was All Saint's Day and Oli would be joining us for the day which was a national holiday in Spain. It was also Lucy's birthday, her 53rd. Knowing she had to work that day and that she is so far from her kids in Paraguay, I went all out to make it a special day for her. She would,  though, also be celebrating this weekend with her sisters in Madrid. I had made the victoria sponge cake the day before and in the morning, before our walk and Oli came, I turned it into a proper birthday cake. I sliced it into two to make a "sandwich" which I filled with raspberry jam and whipped cream. I then put icing made with fresh raspberries on the top and decorated it with miniature meringues and more raspberries. Here you can see all the steps taken to create Lucy's birthday cake.

The steps to make Lucy's birthday cake. 

Lucy loved it and so did Oli when she came but of course we wouldn't touch it until lunch. We also had presents and a card which are mandatory in our house for birthdays. Lucy was very happy and emotional to receive them. I was happy to see her happy and she deserved all the efforts we made for her that day as she looks after my Father so well.

Suzy was also working that day but in London, for the NHS. 1st November is not a bank holiday in the UK. She sent me this photo of her at work which I am happy to share with you here. 

Suzy at work on Wednesday 

So I had the pleasure of the company of one daughter, Olivia, that day.  We went for a walk with together with Eladio and the dogs and then she helped me to make lunch. I can't remember what we had but I do remember how happy we made Lucy when we lit the candles on her cake. Here she is having her birthday cake moment. The cake, by the way, was out of this world.

Lucy's birthday cake moment. 

Apart from our walk and lunch together, we went shopping to Ikea in the afternoon. Shopping with my girls is one of  my favourite pastimes and of course Oli and I both love Ikea. We went to get towels for her flat and also new bed linen for her bed here at home. Hers, from Zara Home, was getting very old as we bought it in 2006 when we moved into this house. Shopping at Ikea is always dangerous for your purse and although I tried to restrain myself, there was no way I was leaving without shopping at the food store. There I got chocolates for my Father, smoked salmon, meat balls, jams of all sorts, especially cloudberry jam, again for my Father, as well as prawns. Its difficult to find peeled and cooked prawns or shrimps in Spain but you can always get them at Ikea. And here is a photo to record our trip to Ikea on All Saints Day this Wednesday.

Shopping with Oli  at Ikea on All Saints' Day

We came home with our purchases and the first thing we did, after giving my Father his chocolates, was to change Oli's bed linen. This is the new look; black and white stripes. In fact it's the same duvet cover as the one we have in our room in Montrondo but Oli and I both agreed it was the one we liked best for her room which has a lot of black and white.

New bed linen for Oli's bedroom 

The option for dinner that night was an easy decision to make. I served a lovely prawn salad which we all enjoyed, made the Swedish way.  

If Wednesday was All Saint's' Day, Thursday was All Souls' Day, the day people traditionally visit their loved ones' graves. However, in Spain, at least, they do this much more now a days on All Saints' Day. So the news was full of images of cemeteries and people taking flowers to graves. 

All Souls' Day here in Spain will be remembered for because it was the day Judge Carmen Lamela remanded in custody, the VP of the ex Catalan Government, Oriol Junqueras and 7 of the ex counsellors, including two of those who accompanied Puigdemont to Belgium. 

The ex members of the Catalan government as they arrived at the courts on Thursday

They were remanded in custody, i.e. sent to jail, pending a court case, because the judge feared they would flee the country, like Puigdemont. Only one of them was given bail, Santi Villa, who had resigned from his post one day before the illegal proclamation of independence. Another reason for remanding them in custody was the fear of their destroying evidence and continuing their crimes. Their being sent to jail is no favour to the Spanish government because it will be fuel for the followers of independence. Many of the separatists denounced the move as anti democratic and accused the government of the harsh judicial treatment. However, they forget it is not the government who has a say in the legal system here, however much they want that to be portrayed abroad. Really I was not sorry for them. They knew the consequences they faced when they started their defiant fight for legal independence and were warned many times. Ada Colau, the left wing mayoress of Barcelona, said on Twitter it was a black day for Catalonia as the democratically elected government members had been imprisoned and she called for the freedom of "political prisoners". Many people pointed out they were not political prisoners but "politician prisoners". Socialist politician, Guillermo Fernandez Vara replied it was a black day, the consequence of black days caused because some people decided to act against the law. I totally agree. Meanwhile, the same judge began preparations for a European arrest warrant for the fugitives in Brussels. 

From the moment of the ex government members' detainment, Eladio and I remained glued to the TV through the afternoon and until late after dinner until we could take no more.  The plot was thickening and no one knew or knows how the story will end. 

Friday was a grey day but we got some sun on our walk. Devoid of any more interesting news in the Puigdemont tales, I turned to reading again. I started reading the book I had bought for my Father, Thirteeen Years at the Russian Court (a Personal Record of the Last Years and Death of the Czar Nicholas II And His Family) by the last Tsar's children's French tutor, Pierre Gilliard. It is very interesting but it's a book and the typeface is small which is difficult for my eyes. I far prefer reading on my Kindle where I can enlarge the typeface to my heart's content.  This month is the 100th anniversary of the start of the Russian revolution so it seems fitting to be reading these stories from a 100 years ago. As I commented to my Father at lunch this week, there are no longer any people left who were alive then and all we have now are history books. It is the same for the sinking of the Titanic and the First World War and very soon there will be no one left alive who remembers the Second World War. I find that very sad.  

Oli made our day on Friday by suggesting dinner out with her. In fact she treated us to a wonderful dinner at an Asturian restaurant in Pozuelo. Called Carus, it has one of the biggest menus I have ever seen at a restaurant. 

The tables at the restaurant called Carus in Pozuelo where we went with Oli on Friday night.

We loved the place, and although we had been once a while ago, we shall now probably add it to our list of favourite places to have dinner at on Fridays. Thanks Oli, it was wonderful. 

We came home to more news about Puigdemont's flight to Belgium. On Friday evening he appeared in an interview on Belgium TV. He told the spectators he would stand as his party candidate to govern Catalonia (PdeCat) in the elections to take place on 21st December. On the one side he says he is the legitimate leader of the Republic of Catalonia and on the other that he will take part in the elections for the Catalonian autonomy of Spain. It's difficult to know what he is playing at. As he was talking, the European arrest warrant was issued. He also said, as he has said repeatedly, that he wants guarantees of a fair trial in Spain. What he wants is freedom and immunity. But that he must understand this is not in the hands of Rajoy but in the hands of the Judges. I found out that night on TV that when he had negotiated with Rajoy before the application for direct rule (article 155 of the Spanish constitution), he had agreed to call elections if it was not applied. If he had done that he would still be in power but he asked for the impossible too: that his status stayed the same, that his money and property would remain intact and that he would have legal immunity.  Doesn't he realise that politics and the legal system are separate in a democratic country like Spain? He is trying to tell the world otherwise. He and his cronies have brought this upon themselves. The international media, who don't usually really understand the whole story and have a somewhat sympathetic view of Puigdemont as a victim of "Spanish fascism", have an exception in Robert Schrimsley, a journalist from the Financial Times. He wrote an excellent and tongue in cheek article this week which I urge you to read, if only for you to have a laugh. The BBC, on the other hand, have disappointed me with their bias in reporting and I even saw a Twitter post from them asking their audience to vote on whether Spain was fascist or not!! Franco died more than 40 years ago and there has been no fascism since then but call a dog a bad name is what it's all about, apart from gaining luring headlines.  

Saturday came and while Oli went swimming, Eladio, the dogs and I went on our walk. I came home to make a pizza, including the dough and Oli was back on time to help me with the final stages. She caught me on camera too and that is the photo I have chosen to illustrate this week's post. Cooking and baking are so relaxing and rewarding. I'm afraid the shape is not perfect but I must say the pizza tasted delicious.

Yesterday's home made pizza

A bit put off by the tiny typeface of my book, I turned to Netflix yesterday for my afternoon entertainment.  I chose to watch a documentary called The Keepers about the killing of a nun and school teacher Cathy Cesnik, aged just 25, in 1969 in Baltimore. I had no idea it was also about sexual abuse and am finding it rather uphill. 

And today of course is 5th November, Guy Fawkes day and I'm at the end of the tales of this week. But not quite. I was upset to hear this morning from a journalist colleague, MAM, that another journalist colleague, Aitor Urraca, had died yesterday, aged just 51, of a heart attack in Boadilla near where we live. 

RIP Aitor Urraca

I was shocked and upset. I have known Aitor since my Motorola days when he always came to my press events. He wrote for a publication called On Off and he continued to come to my press events when I went on to be the Nokia and latterly the Yoigo Comms Director. He was a charming man, very polite, the perfect gentleman and loved by everyone. He was of course a good journalist but he was also a wonderful, kind and caring person. If I conjure up in my mind, as I do every now and again, images of my professional past, he is in those images. All I can say is RIP Aitor, you will be sorely missed by us all in the sector and so much more by your family.  

The story of Puigdemont turned an exciting page again today just before lunch. He and his fellow counsellers, turned themselves into the Belgian police. The chief Belgian prosecutor made a statement on TV at midday to say they had been detained and would be put before an investigative judge who would have 24 hours to decide whether to execute the warrant issued by Spain. They could either  be arrested, released under conditions or granted bail and we now have to wait until Monday for the next chapter in this Catalonian soap opera story.  

And now I really have come to the end of my story of this week. But just let me finish today's post by giving you the heads up that Eladio and I will be off on a jolly tomorrow until Wednesday.  We will be going to stay at the Parador in Segovia to use the smartbox voucher my ex Yoigo colleagues gave me for my birthday as well as the points I had from their loyalty scheme "amigos del parador". We will have to wrap up well as the lowest temperatures are going to be around zero. No doubt, next Sunday, you will read all about our adventures in medieval Segovia and surroundings. As they say, a change is as good as a rest, and I am looking forward to our little winter break. 

Cheers till next week,
Masha

The end of Suzy’s time with us, lots of cooking, a goodbye family dinner, more Airbnb hosting, a rushed PR job, the pantomime declaration of independence followed by the stripping of regional power in Catalonia, the clocks go back and other stories of the week.

Sunday 29^th October 2017

The 4 of us, a family portrait . Dinner at Oli's the night before Suzy left for London

Good  morning everyone.

How is your body clock behaving this morning after the clocks went back last night? Mine didn't react to the end of summer time. For most people it meant an hour more in bed but not for me. We changed the clock in our bedroom last night and when it showed 5.15 (6.15 today) early this morning, both Pippa and I were wide awake. Well, at least it probably means an hour more awake and a more productive day. I have lots to do today; first write this blog post, go for our walk and come back to make a family lunch when we will be joined by Oli and Miguel. We won't be joined by Suzy though who left for London after a month's break at home, on Monday morning. We miss her already and the house has felt very empty this week, apart from my Airbnb guests  of whom there have been plenty this week.

Let me start from where I left off, last Sunday, Suzy's last Sunday at home. On this day last week, my morning was pretty similar to this morning. I wrote my blog, went for our walk and then made lunch. Lunch that day was home made pizza, including the base. For that I made dough out of strong flour and left it to rise for an hour. I rolled it out and covered it with tomato sauce, chopped onion and red pepper and then mozzarella  (the only cheese I can tolerate). The base turned out to be just how I like it, slightly thick and spongy. 

Last Sunday's delicious home made pizza

Neither of the girls were with us for lunch, Suzy was still sleeping after a night out on the tiles and Olivia and Miguel were at his brother's house.  Thus I would have to make pizza for them another time, today in fact. I would spend the afternoon cooking too - there has been lots of cooking this week - and was joined by Suzy, briefly, who came home to pack as she was leaving the next day. She would spend the night at Oli's house which is nearer the airport. Before she embarked on deciding what to pack in her, or should I say my large Samsonite suitcase, she enjoyed a coffee under what would probably be the last rays of sunshine for quite some time. The dogs joined her as she sat soaking in a bit of Spanish sunlight in our garden.

Suzy soaking in the last rays of Spanish sunshine last Sunday afternoon

While she packed I cooked. We were going to Oli's for dinner that night, our last night family dinner and I wanted the make a dessert. I also wanted to make bread to take along as both girls love it. I have so much of it sliced and frozen in the deep freeze that I haven't made any more this week. Besides, Eladio finally confessed he prefers Mercadona (local supermarket) bread to mine:-(

The dessert would depend on what ingredients I had in the house. There were lots of "reineta" (bramley type) apples so I decided on apple pie. I'm not good at making pies as I'm not good with pastry but as I have been making so much bread, I thought it wouldn't be too difficult. Of course I had to find a recipe online and this is the one I used. It is called "the perfect apple pie". I hoped it would be.

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The "perfect apple pie"  recipe I found online and used. 

It worked out ok but would have been easier if the butter I used hadn't been frozen hahaha. The worst part is transferring the rolled out pastry into the tin. Here Suzy helped. I then realised there was not enough filling which by the way I had par cooked in case the apples turned out to be a bit hard.  It would take 45 minutes to bake. I wondered if the pastry would cave in but it didn't. This is the finished product:

My apple pie

So how did it taste you may be wondering? Well, not quite perfect but good. There was probably not enough filling and I think the pastry was too thick. In any case we ate half of it that night, saving some for my Father and the rest for Oli to take to work to share with her colleagues. 

I then embarked on making whole meal bread but didn't have much time for proving. So instead of proving it twice for an hour, I did so for half an hour each time. Actually it didn't turn out too bad. At least the girls loved it. 

About 15 minutes before we were leaving for Oli's house, I got a sudden Airbnb booking. Christian, the student who had stayed with us the week before, was bringing his mother to stay 2 nights. While with us he had bought a flat and his mother had come to see it  and help him move in but had nowhere to sleep as they had no furniture yet. I had to react quickly, mainly get Suzy and her luggage out of her room and tidy it up before they arrived. They came as we left and we greeted them, gave them the keys and told them to feel at home which I think they did, according to the lovely review Cristian posted on Airbnb afterwards. He gave me 5 stars and apart from all the other positive things he wrote, what I liked best was his writing that we make our guests feel as if they were in their own home. Thanks Cristian! Of course we do, that's how we are.  I would be very busy with my Airbnb hosting this week which I am really enjoying most of the time. 

We left our guests to settle in, after all Cristian knew the place, and off we went to Oli's flat further north from where we live. 

Miguel and Oli had gone all out and made a wonderful spread for our dinner. It consisted of many little platters of delicious vegetables, rice and also fillet steak, all to be washed down with sparkling cider which Eladio and I love, or wine. This is what the table looked like groaning with lovely food at Miguel and Oli's cozy and comfortable apartment. We hope to be going back again soon as we love having dinner there.

The dinner table at Oli and Miguel's last Sunday night.

It was to be our last dinner together and the last time we would be together until Christmas so we made the most of it. We took lots of photos and laughed a lot taking animated gifs using the camera on my Samsung S7. The evening ended all too soon and at 10.30, very late for us, Eladio and I reluctantly said our goodbyes as we hugged both girls. It was a great end to a month with Suzy home in Spain. We wished her all the luck in the world in her new job and new accommodation. News from her since her return to London has been positive I am glad to tell you. 

On Monday, while Suzy was beginning her journey back to London, our Catalan Airbnb guests from Tarragona were also preparing to leave. They are against independence and I wonder what they have made of the events this week. We helped them finish packing their very full van and then said our goodbyes. They also would write me a fantastic review. That morning our next guest, Paulo, from Brazil was supposed to be arriving but his flight was delayed and he didn't get here until Tuesday poor guy. He had come to do a course for Triathlon national coaches at the UEM University and wow was he sporty hahaha. He eats a lot of hard boiled eggs too, at least 10 over 2 or 3 days, mixed with cheese, curry and mustard - what an awful concoction hahaha. 

As Suzy arrived to cloudy skies in London, I got my first Home Away reservation. Home Away is similar to Airbnb and I recently posted an ad there for accommodation at our house which as you know is my main job and source of income at the moment. This is the ad. 

The main photo in my Home Away ad

3 adult couples will be staying here around New Year's Eve. After they made the reservation they rang me - guests cannot know the hosts' contact details until they make a booking, and I was surprised to learn that they were from Madrid centre, just 20km from here. All they wanted was a place to be together to celebrate NYE and they thought our house was perfect for the occasion. They will have it to themselves apart from Lucy and my Father as we will no doubt be in Montrondo for NYE. I was chuffed to get my first Home Away reservation. I hope it's the first of many.  

It was good news for Cristiano Ronaldo, the RM and Portuguese striker, or forward, however you want to call it, when that night in London he was named Fifa's best male player of the year. It's the 4th time he has won the award in 5 years. The awards are called "Best FIFA Awards" so yes, Cristiano is simply the best! 

Ronaldo, best player of the year in the FIFA awards in London this week

He beat rival Lionel Messi who was also up for the award. In a way it was a win from Real Madrid against their eternal rival, "El Barça". Real Madrid and Barcelona are forever rivals in football as they are in politics. I'm sure that was on many people's minds as the awards were handed out. And by the way, Zinedine Zidane, the French Algerian RM coach, was voted best coach of the year too. 

Tuesday was another beautiful day. It may be the end of summer time today but this week has been just like summer with temperatures unusually high for the period. Mercury rose to 30ºc at times in Madrid this week and even higher in the south. Today we will be down to 24ºc but I'm not complaining. 

That morning, Cristian's Mother, Norma, left after having a coffee with us. And while we were on our walk, our Brazilian Airbnb guest, Paulo, finally arrived. He was received and greeted by Lucy who is from Paraguay and from very near the Brazilian border. She is from Ciudad del Este and he is from a wonderful looking place called Florianopolis, an island in the south of the country. Both Lucy and I know some Portuguese but Paulo, who is here for the triathlon course, is also here to practice his Spanish. It's funny trying to understand each other but we do. I came home to have a coffee with him and was amazed at how Pippa didn't bark as she always does with anyone she is not familiar with. He loves dogs and seems a bit like a dog enchanter or so I thought when I saw Pippa licking his hand and all 3 dogs surrounding him and wagging their tails. 

He caught me making lunch and we would chat later. It was a sunny afternoon and I spent some of it reading by the pool which is a lovely thing to do when the weather is so good. I was starting on a book called Rasputin by the US historian and expert on Russia, Douglas Smith. His biography of Rasputin is supposed to be the definitive one. I downloaded a sample of it from Amazon after having read "our cousin" Felix Yusupov's biography, "Lost Splendour", recently.  It's interesting reading but a bit heavy going so I'm not sure if I will buy it on my kindle although I may well buy a printed version for my Father. 

Meanwhile, Eladio was giving his weekly lesson in philosophy to his Brazilian pupil Luciano. It would have been interesting if he and Paulo had met but it was not to be.  When it was over he joined me by the pool. Pippa loves to find us together  there and we love having her. Here she is sitting on Elado's lap. What she only ever wants, apart from food hahaha, is to be with us and we are always happy to oblige. As I told Paulo, I don't have grandchildren and she is my substitute for the moment:-)

Pippa with Eladio, Eladio with Pippa - by the pool on Tuesday

On Wednesday Suzy started her new job as a locum dietitian with the NELT (North East London Trust) where she will be working three times a day. The other days she will be working at the health clinic in Harley Street. I spoke to her at the end of the day and was happy to hear all had gone well. It was very familiar to her as her first job with the NHS had been with the same trust. Also she will be working directly under her ex mentor, Adam, with whom she gets on very well. She is also happy in her new accommodation. She will be sharing a flat with an Angolan nurse, Sandra, who is a friend and also colleague of her Spanish nurse flat mate, Chati. However she will be alone in November and December while Chati and Sandra travel the world, starting with India.  Suzy told me the flat did not have a shower and that she had to wash the "African way". I wondered what that meant. It means using the bath and a jug for rinsing or that's what my daughter probably thinks because she is living with a lady from Africa.  Actually that's what I did as a child and teenager at our house in Bradford which I never thought was strange as we only had a bath and no shower. I just thought it was cleaner to use fresh tap water to rinse my body and hair rather than the soapy bath water. But I suppose it is strange today. I wonder whether the majority of the British population still prefer the bath tub to the shower?

I'm sure they don't bathe the "African way" in Seville, in the south of Spain which this week was voted the number one city to visit in the world according to Lonely Planet (Best Travel 2018)  I'm not sure if it's the best city in the world but it is certainly one of my favourite Spanish cities. It is pure magic, beauty and history with a niff of the past of what Spain used to be like, especially in Andalusia. Chile, by the way, was voted top country. Don't ask me why. I have been there once and yes it was nice, but the top country? Well no. My top countries would be (in no particular order and excluding Spain and the UK): India, Vietnam, Morocco, South Africa, Finland, Iceland, the US, Greece, Cuba and all of Scandinavia.  But I'm proud for Spain that Seville got top place.

The stunning Plaza de España in Seville. 

I had a quiet day. I gave up on Rasputin for the moment - I may go back to him hahahah, and chose a new book after looking up the WH Smith's top fiction list for 2017. There I found a book called Behind her eyes. By the British writer, Sarah Pinborough, it's a suspense story told by different characters, jumping backwards and forwards which seems to be the norm these days. It's similar in style to Gone Girl or the Girl on the Train and is famous for its very surprising ending. I now know the ending so won't tell you anything more. I actually prefer books written in chronological order and hate flash backs. It's the same with films. Perhaps I am simplistic but I find jumping backwawrds and forwards is often confusing. 

My fictional book of the week

On Thursday the temperature rose to 30ºc. It also rose in the political climate where the crisis in Catalonia deepened. Article 155 for direct rule was to be approved by the Senate the next day and meanwhile there were a lot of negotiations going on between Madrid and Barcelona as well as Bilbao. Puigdemont and his unruly group were obviously not united as to which way to go: call elections or declare independence and on Thursday he ruled the latter out. It was expected that the next day in the Catalan parliament there would be a vote for independence. He didn't dare proclaim it himself because of the criminal charges it would mean so handed over the decision to all his cronies. He would have us on tenterhooks once again, until Friday. 

Life continued for me and I got a call from Catalonia that day too. But it had to do with work. My Swedish but Barcelona based customer wanted me to do their nationwide communication for news to be announced the next day about the powering up of the first phase of their network in the Cantabrian region. They didn't give me much time to react nor much information. I had to draw up a press release which would have sufficient meat on it for the Madrid and Barcelona media to buy; no easy feat. I started work there and then and within a few hours had a draft which I had to put on google docs. I also had to go to the dentist that afternoon, at 5pm, just as Puigdemont went on TV to announce there would be no elections. But my mind was on my client, Adamo. It was to be a really rushed PR job and I only wish I had been given more time.  But still, you know me, I love a challenge. 

That night I slept really badly and was awake at 5 in the morning, my mind on the Adamo press release. I was still introducing minor changes to the press release until mid morning. I then had to draft an email text introducing the news and prepare the mails to be sent to my media list. I decided to send each one individually with a personalised text and I had until 12.30 to do so which was one big rush. It finally went out and this was it. It was very local news and I didn't have much hope of coverage on a national level but I did my best. I had to sort of grovel in my emails which is not my style but on Friday I had to use all the tools I had. I kept googling to see if anything had been published and it wasn't until Saturday morning that I would see the fruits of my labour.

Meanwhile, our new Airbnb guest arrived, Borja, a sports master student from Navarra near the Rioja region attending a weekend course at the UEM University. It was bad luck but the hot water had stopped working the night before which is not good for my Airbnb hosting. Thankfully it was warm weather and the plumber came later that evening and things were sorted. I never used to worry about breakdowns in the house but now do because of my guests. Poor Eladio is the one in charge of maintenance so I'm afraid he gets a bit more badgering than before. 

My problems, stress, work, etc paled into insignificance when that morning the vote for independence took place in the Catalan parliament. It was just a pantomime as 1 day later the parliament would be dissolved. But the separatists had to have the last word and the picture of victory which would be sweet but very short. The whole thing was a farce not to mention void of any legality. The constitutional parties (PP, PSOE and Ciudadanos) left their seats in disgust covering them with the Spanish and Catalan normal "senyera" flag - not the "estellada" the independence flag - and the separatists continued their farce. 

The Senyera Catalan flag and on the right the Estelada the pro independence Catalan flag

In order not to be discovered, they voted in secret. Yes in secret (very undemocratic) and of course the bill went through. Less than 70 people were to decide the future of the unity of Spain!!!!  

Puigdemont voting in secret for independence and ilegaly

Outside, pro independence supporters popped their bottles of cava in celebration while the rest of Spain and of course the Catalans not in favour of independence and who are a majority, looked on aghast. Meanwhile Rajoy told the nation on his Twitter account that order would be restored. Well it would but they still got their picture which was published the world around.  I couldn't believe what was happening. I mean can you imagine Angela Merkel or Emanuel Macron letting independence be proclaimed in a German Land or French region? No, of course not.  I would have sent the Army in I was furious. It was a sad day for Spain and a very ugly picture that was painted on Friday and a fractured society in Catalonia. 

Eladio and I went out to dinner to commiserate. We went to Ginos where I mostly enjoyed a few glasses of rosé lambrusco wine which weren't very good for the headache I had before and after dinner. But it was nice to get out and try and not think about the Catalan crisis although of course we did talk about it. That's all there is on in the TV these days anyway. 

Saturday morning was very much the day after the night before. I had breakfast reading the international headlines about Catalonia. I have been surprised by the BBC's coverage so far which seems to sympathise with the separatists and so many international publications that compare this crisis to times under Franco. That is just so "old hat" I'm afraid and far far from the truth as Catalonia as a region has probably the most autonomy in Europe after the Basque country and is far from repressed. What pleased me though was to see quite a bit of media coverage resulting from my efforts the day before. I was happy to see Adamo's news in La Vanguardia, El Periodico de Cataluña, El Economista, Expansión and quite a few others. That was one huge sigh of relief as I had expected far less. It was quite a feather in my cap on Saturday morning. 

It was on Saturday morning that the Government announced the application of Article 155. Meanwhile, Puigdemont, refusing to accept being sacked, released a previously recorded speech announcing he would continue the fight. Elections will take place on 21st December and my fear is that the result will be very similar to the power share today and that the separatists may get even more support. I wonder where that would leave us then. Hopefully, by then he and his cronies will be in prison.  I am astonished at events this week and sad for the Spain I love. I only want peace and unity. One good thing to come out of all this is more unity in the rest of Spain and also that the Spanish red and yellow flag has finally become a symbol of unity rather than of fascism. People are flying it everywhere after this week's and the previous week's political commotion and crisis, the worst since the Spanish Civil War and I don't write that lightly. 

Just before lunch, a book I had ordered from Amazon for my Father, Eladio and I, arrived although my Father will be the first to read it.  I also bought it after reading Felix Yusupov's memoirs. Called "Thirteen Years at the Russian Court" - The last years of the Romanov Tsar and his family by an eyewitness" it is a biography by Pierre Gilliard a Swiss who was the Tsar's childrens tutor of French. He was with the family when they were imprisoned by the Bolsheviks and was one of the few who was with them and whose life was spared. 

As far as I know, he is the only eyewitness of the end of the life of the Tsar and his family to have survived and written a book. I look forward to reading it. Looking at the cover at the picture of Tsar Nicholas II it is uncanny how similar in appearance he was to his cousin George V.  One thing I learned though from Yusupov's autobiography was that the King of England did indeed invite the Tsar and his family to take exile at Buckingham Palace but it was the Russian Emperor who declined saying he would never leave Mother Russia. I had always thought that it had been the other way round. But wouldn't things have been different if the Russian Royal family had taken exile in England? You must be a bit tired of my writing fleetingly but often about this time in Russia but of course it's in my blood and genes and I was brought up on the stories of those times. 

I said the book came before lunch but I didn't tell you what I made for lunch. Well, more cooking of course took place yesterday and we had the most delicious roast meal - lamb and all the trimmings including some baxters mint jelly bought a while back at the English shop in Madrid. You're right if you think it is odd to have a Sunday roast on a Saturday. Well I just felt like doing it ok.

Yesterday's roast lamb which we all adored.

The rest of the day was quiet, we read, did the weekly shopping, had a light dinner, interacted with our Airbnb guests and went to bed early to watch the news about Catalonia - no films or series on Netflix at the moment I'm afraid.  This is far more dramatic I can tell you.

And today is Sunday, the end of the week and blog day to quote my Father. As I said at the beginning too the clocks went back last night and this morning we all woke up to find it was one hour earlier and the end of summer time and beginning of what is called "daylight saving time". 

The clocks went back last night

I'm not sure what it saves. There are cases both against and for the change in time. It was apparently introduced in many parts of Europe during the War to help the economy. I'm not sure the pros outweigh the cons as it can affect your health. Apparently we get longer daylight hours although I prefer more light in the evening rather than in the morning. It is said it decrease the number of car accidents but that it can also give you a heart attack. The debate is eternal. All I know is that each time the clocks go back I hate it. I far prefer it when in March they go forward and we gain more evening light.  

So today will be a very long one. The best part about today was having Oli and Miguel for lunch. As I said earlier, I decided to make my new home made pizza with home made dough. We ate nearly all of it - I actually made 2 - and I forgot to take a photo. 

Now everyone is sleeping a siesta and instead of sleeping, here I am finishing this week's post which, by the way, is a bit late today. Sorry about that everyone.

Who knows what next week will bring? You can find out about mine next Sunday of course. Hopefully things will have calmed down in Catalonia by then. 

Cheers everyone till then,

Masha