The daily life of a bore
Being in a contemplative mood I think to myself .. Why do I bother with this monthly missive, which I started partly to please Pamela – who is now on Parnassus, or wherever? Is it partly to lend structure? and thus meaning – to my existence, which probably has less significance than that of a virus. On the other hand who gives a toss.
Received today the wedding invite from Sharon. Must tie up the loose ends, and climb back into the rut. And there’s. Alex and Peri with birthdays this month Life goes on. Sat to the market got some earrings Peri wanted and 5kg of grapefruit – pomelo – for 3E. Last for a bit, read the paper, El Pais in the café the PP are having their annual conference – must admit the more I see of Aznar the less I like him. The Latin Americans are leaning towards a EU type federation with Brasil, Argentina, Venezuela and Bolivia, but Columbia and Peru are in the USA camp, so we’ll see. In Valencia they are having the pre Fallera fireworks – in a bloody great cage – that go off automatically , along side the screen they have the decibel scale it ran from 96 to 124 – I think 100 is the point where you get ear damage!. Then they hugged each other ---- no one was killed !! .
Sunday – gloomy grey might as well be in England , that strange foreign land! Wed today for the 1st time and ate lunch with the door to the balcony open , a warm sunny day. Spring is almost here. Phone call to say that someone had dropped out of the trip to the Fuentes De Algar on the 21st so had to go in and pay my 12 euros , also pick up the two pairs of trousers I took in for alteration. Thinking about it I´ve had those 2 suits for over 25 yrs . So I guess my waist has only expanded a small amount in that time , because I could still wear them , but uncomfortable.
I wanted to be comfortable at the wedding.
Feeling fit! – two sessions of gym one at 9 in the morning and one at 12 but in the Parc de Retiros in the sunshine and open air As I´m of to Barcelona at 5.20 in the morning did the weekend wash to day as well as some shopping .
Pain in the ass going to Barca left home at 5 and got back at 10 , just in time to see the Valencia – R Madrid match which turned into a draw 0 – 0 so they are still both on the same points and further behind Barcelona.
Well Mon was a write off after a wonderful Sun , started fine and went bad – grey and overcast .Thurs much better good mornings bowls – but lost.
17th bailar – dance – class, again , this am paid community charge and pm went to Altea to see Flamenco to find it was cancelled , but got a refund. This is St Patricks day and it is a real fiesta in Spain , the Fallas start and this year the king and queen were in Valencia to open them. We have our own Falla at the top of the hill. The TV is full of the Macrobotellon - ie street parety , piss up mostly Univ Students in all the big towns.
There does seem to be a “machismo “ in España . The ex Pres of Valencia Zaplana , asked a rather insulting question in Parliament about her visit to Africa . She had appeared dressed in a local costume. There was big row and all the female PSOE Members walked out. Big mistake , she took him to task and won hands down . The PP seems to be set on “suicidarse “ . A PP Alcalde was in the papers for living in a house provided by a developer – who also supplied the Rolls Royce he drove – he gave permission to develop a large tract of land for housing.
Interesting item in the paper about Opus Dei , the catholic freemasonic organisation – the former Minister Of War was a member , and responsible for the events leading to the crash and death of 62 soldiers – but I had not realised that 55% of the members were Women!.
21st today – trip to Fuentes D.Algar , where I climbed up to the place where I went swimming with Gisela years ago. Had a nice day but some rain in the pm while we were eating so no harm. Peri,s birthday – didn’t ring her before I left as it would have been about 6 am in the UK, rang after I got back about 6pm.
Went to evening class but after a day trying to speak Spanish to a coach load I was a bit fuzzy roubd the edges. Today Is warm up towards 70 and the ETA have declared a truce and will lay down their arms . If this comes off and Zapatero settles the Basque problem as well a the Catalan problem which is nearly in the clear – I shall start to credit that idealists can have an effect on things.
To Elx pronounced Elsh or Elche, where we went to a musical show in an old theatre , quite good. Nice day tho most of Spain gad rain we had warm sun. Then off to a 2 hr meal and finish up with a hors dance session. Home about 8.
Sat , off to market after putting the wash in, sunny day and all dry by 5. Evening to Altea to see the Barber of Seville - by a Very good Rumanian Company who really played it for laughs as well as being marvellous singers , home just before midnight. Funny really the Italian opera performed in the country of its setting by Rumanians – perhaps one day we shall really be Europeans.
Ive probably mentioned it before , but putting the clock on it struck me again , why the hell does anyone make an electric clock with a TICK !. The damn thing kept me awake when I first got and when it finally breaks down and I replace it with a non tick clock I shall probably miss the tick!.
From one point of view life consists of a succession of expirees and renewals , cards need it, licences need it , passports, residencies , bank ac limits , tax years , bus passes ad infinitum until the final expiry – when it all fades from view . No I,m not being gloomy just a reflection of everyday life .
Well, well , Tomorrow is me cumpleaños and right on time I get a card from Leigh , her presy has already got here , an email from my brother and presy from Denzil . My birthday also covers an eclipse of the sun – according to NASA . I am sorting things out to go to UK on Tues .
The paper El Pais , has an article on hospital infection and there,s still plenty of MRSA about – originated in Australia in 1971 . They say that 5 – 15 % of patients get an infection I n hospital and that 1% die ! -- which is more than 3,200 people a year in Spain alone!. Stay away from hospitals!
Solar eclipse supposed to be visible – marginally . from Spain – didn’t see a thing.
