It's CHRISTMAS in Cordoba!!

It maybe Christmas but it is very quiet in Montoro!  Here in Spain, the children may receive one present from Papa Noel, and the three Kings bring most of their gifts on the night of January 5th.

As Christmas can be a little lonely for us here, as all our family are back in the UK we decided to treat ourselves.  It was Alan's idea for us to book into a hotel for a night in Cordoba.  Of course we love our home, but the thought of having central heating and a dog hair free enviroment for just one night was impossible to resist.  Don't worry the animals were all fine, well fed and watered and the dogs had access to the apartment where they always sleep, so they were very comfortable!

We had found the hotel on last minute.com and booked a "secret hotel," that way it's cheaper and rather exciting too.  We were lucky enough to stay in the NH Amistad, which was in the grounds of the city wall, and was rather lovely

We were so lucky, the weather was beautiful.  We relaxed for about an hour then walked into the city.  Cordoba at Christmas is beautiful, with great lights and a small fairground for the children to visit

La plaza de la Tendillas was looking particularly beautiful, with its bars open for the evening crowds.

As well as treating ourselves, there was another very good reason to come into Cordoba over the festive season, to see the Belenes, the nativity scenes.  Most of them were sitauted inside small churches, occasionally hidden down back streets of the city.  When you first enter you just cannotnot believe how beautiful some of these little churches are.  You cannot begin to describe the detail in these nativity scenes, or more than often how tiny they were.

A small part of the nativity below

These gorgeous statues were life size

And how about a real life couple!

Christmas day came and went and it was n't great if I'm honest.  It was the worst weather we had had for weeks, with clouds and drizzle, so we were very cold and did n't even put the television on until the evening.  I did however get to speak to the babies on skype, which was of course the highlight of my day.  Oh and I did n't burn the dinner, that's good for me!

Our Zumba Party

It has taken me practically a year to build up my zumba class.  In a small traditional Spanish town, the ladies like to walk.  They walk around the town, in groups, after dropping their children off at school, and then again in the evening.  Walking means they are are keeping fit, whilst catching up with the latest town gossip and it's all free!  However I think I've cracked it!  I struggled most of last year, but I was determined to keep trying hard. Personally I love zumba, some people knock it, but it works for me.  I have lost a stone and a half over the year teaching it, and I love the music and the dance style.  If other zumba instructors aren't "feeling it"  maybe they need to change their music, and let's be honest it's your own choreography that you are using?  

The ladies that stuck with me through last year where in their 50's and above.  No dilemma for me, I choreographed for them.  If I did n't, I would have lost them too.  I soldiered on with 2 classes a week and I did not want to let my loyal ladies down.  At the end of August I was informed I could only have one class in the future.  In some ways I was quite happy, I personally was n't letting them down, as such.  We arrived  into September and with another great push on advertising my class increased.  One lovely bubbly lady, that we knew from the town hall, insisted she needed 2 classes a week, when I told her it was not possible she spoke quickly to the other ladies in the class, and vanished into the office, to come out 2 minutes later and ask when I would like to do my second class.  Once she was sure the other ladies were going to support me she had it all in hand.

If all my regular ladies attended I would probably have about 20, but of course that does n't happen.  We regularly have between 10 and 12 and I have emails from the ladies who canot attend which I have great fun translating with google! It still seems funny to me that we sign off with a kiss, and they write the words a kiss, un beso!

I decided to have a zumba Christmas party night and have some English nibbles.  We were going down to the coast to visit friends and had a visit to Iceland.  Iceland in Spain carries brands from Iceland to Waitrose, although we usually come out of there with lots of fattening stuff, so try not to go often!   My ladies sauntered in chatting away as per usual, then as they got up to do their first dance they put on santa hats, bless them! They took great delight in asking me all about the salmon and cucumber sandwiches and sausage rolls.  The mince pies were extremely strange to them, although one lady did confess to eating three haha!  I think possibly the favourite were snowballs, the marshmallow balls covered in chocolate and rolled in desiccated coconut...... mmmmm!  I could just eat one or even two of them RIGHT NOW!  The tinto de verano was flowing and we had a lovely fun night, two glasses for me and I could n't remember the dances! Onwards and upwards for this year!

If you want a little chuckle, please remember I was a little typsy, and forgot the end!

                             

Little Pedro moves on :-(

Barb the cat has a litter of kittens once a year, usually around March or April.  At a year to eighteen months old, they gradually leave us.  We rarely know where they have gone, they just up and leave. On occasions they have come and gone for a few weeks, and then one day we realise we haven't seen then for a week or two.  Last year Barb had 3 kitttens, including an adorable little fella we called Pedro.  Pedro was every guests favourite animal, during the summer months, as he was more than happy to be stroked, held, thrown about by the children and occasionally even fall asleep on a lap, pretty good for a feral 'ish cat!.  I think he was the most friendly cat we have ever had.  I thought, and secretly hoped, he may be here for keeps.

One morning a few weeks ago Xavi, a cat still here from last years litter, who we now call Fat Xav, for the reason that he seems to be helping himself to the chicken food, took off with little Pedro.  A few days later Fat Xav came home, but sadly alone.  There were no signs of little Pedro!  It's a horrible thought that he may still be wandering around in the cold night air, hunting for his dinner on little rodents, or whatever else he can find, when he was used to getting fed here, and cuddling up in the barn with his mum or Fat Xav at night.  

Who knows maybe one day he'll pop back for a visit, sometimes they do, I hope so!

Alan wrote a Book... Bloody Hell!

I always knew Alan was a bit on the bright side!  It's quite nice to have someone you can check your spellings etc with, now and again as well as clear alpaca poo and do the general manly stuff around the house!  Since we moved here, as I'm sure many expats will agree, funny things happen, strange things occur and of course sad things too.  We had been saying rather tongue in cheek we should write a book between us to be able to share it with others.  Driving Over Lemons by Chris Stewart is just such a widely read book,  I believe they are making a film out of it next year, and would n't it be great to write the next "Driving Over Lemons!"

To be completely honest, finances pushed us into it, zumba classes for me, and having a go at writing something at least slightly entertaining for Alan.  I had my blogs to refer back to, and I did the first edit.  I am therefore claiming 5% of the credit.  The rest is all down to him indoors!  Alan started in June, and locked himself away in the casita, when we had no guests in there, and wrote and wrote.  Hand written most of that time, as that's the way he rolls!  By September he had finished the book and we sent it out to a few friends,  mainly people that we knew, but not extremely well as we wanted some constructive critism.  Not on the grammar side of things, as we had an editor friend for that, but just to see if it was a reasonably good read.  They said it was, and that gave us the encouragement we needed.

Alan had been contacting other authors of expat books, and came across a lady called Victoria Twead, the author of the "Old Fools" books, they make for hysterical reading by the way!  Victoria was kind enough to reply to Alan, and has encouraged and worked with him, and helped to publish his ebooks, and generally lead him in the right direction, which has been great!  Our great friend Jo is a copy editor, and edited it as quickly as she could for him, and another fab friend Rich designed the front cover of the book, which we just love.  The alpaca on the front is Eduardo!

Since the book has been published, it has had great reviews, plus we have also had emails from readers from all around the world, saying how much they have enjoyed it.  Which is just wonderful to hear.  I first receieved a copy of the papaerback whilst I was in England, in November.  I showed it to my friend Wendy who flicked the pages and said in an really excited voice "Wow!  Look at all those words!"  You know the funny thing is that's the way we still feel about it!  

Of course as time has gone by we have realized quite a lot of things that we have ommitted by accident, so the next one could be started soon.  With a couple of new friends in it (our effeminate friend Justin, and his wife Kylie)  plus two other great friends that we have yet to name!  So watch this space!

If you have bought it... thank you so much, we really do appreciate the fact that people may want to read about our lives, but then I guess maybe you don't take your dog to the vet to be castrated, and have to stay and hold it's legs do you?  Or do you?

Alan's website

The beautiful Kaci turns 3

Where has the time gone?  How can I be a grandmother?  In my mind I feel 21, ok let's say 31, give or take a few years, although I'm sure Alan will jump at the chance to remind me, I'm not!  I headed back to good ole Brighton, for my daughter Frankie's little girl's third birthday.  I was picked up at the airport by Mark my son, and his little beauty Maisie, who was having an afternoon nap.  Mark had a new (to him) car, a BMW sporty number, oh God!  As it is, the A23 is like a white knuckle ride for me.  I'm not used to traffic, well we  only get the odd car and tractor go by!  He's a sensible driver, but it's simply the vast quantity of cars, and why oh why do they have to overtake each other, there should be a law against that! 

Arrived in one piece, all but a little shakey, at my daughter and her boyfriends lovely new flat in Hove.  Had lovely cuddles with Maisie, and she managed to play with all Kaci's toys in secret.  Frankie was working, then went to pick up Kaci from nursery.  As they entered the flat I could hear "Nanny, Nanny!"  it melted my heart.  Kaci ran straight to me and gave me the biggest cuddle.... heaven!  Thank goodness for skype as the grandgirlies see me regularly, so I'm not so much of a stranger.

I could n't make many plans this trip back as I had a dental appointment, and there was a chance something absolutely horrendous was going to happen.  It did n't, it's going to happen in March.... yikes!  I'll fill you in then!  Bloody hell, I'm such a wuss with the dentist!

The first weekend was Kaci's birthday and party.  A fab time was had by all, well done Frankie.  Great to see so many family and friends there, including a first introduction of the gorgeous Toby and his mummy Kelly, who used to teach dancing with me.  I was very lucky in the fact that Mark had got most of November off work, due to shift's and holidays, so it was great to spend so much time with him and the beautiful Maisie Moo. 

The Birthday Girl

Party Time!

 My Gorgeous Girlies

I had a whole day with Maisie one day, when both Mark and her mummy, Callie were working.  She was a star and we had great fun on the beach together.  It was a beautiful sunny day and she said "Take my clothes off?"  Bless her heart!

It was an extremely exciting visit this time as I had two brand new, lovely squeaky clean babies to visit.  Two of my closest friends Wendy and Cathy, had just become nanny's for the first time, and obviously adoring their new role in life.  Baby Mia and baby Daisy were totally beautiful, and are both very lucky to have such wonderful parents, and grandparents.... sigh!  I can't wait for my March cuddles!

Mark, Frankie, myself and the girls had an afternoon at a local soft play area.  Great for us to all catch up and the girls had a great time.  Parents were allowed in to "assist" their children.  I think Mark enjoyed "assisting!" 

 Hmmm enjoying himself!

We had an invitation to Shelley's house for dinner one evening.  Shelley is Frankie's boyfriends mum.  I hope she wont mind me sharing this, but she is an extremely inspirational lady.  She sadly fell off a horse a few years ago and has been left paralysed.  Shelley is permanently in a wheelchair, however her house is always full of fun and laughter and she is a great lesson to us all.  When she invited us, I had n't realised she had also secretly invited Mark and Maisie, and she had cooked us all a delicious Christmas dinner, as of course we are not together at Christmas.  This really meant so much to me.  Thank you Shelley you truly are an inspiration!

Dinner at Grandma Shelleys

Towards the end of my stay I was lucky enough to watch Kaci in her ballet class.  At just 3 years old I was gobsmacked at how well she concentrated and she did n't look at me once!  One proud nanny!

The rain in Spain.....

Well this country, or at least the area we live in certainly has its extremes!  A Spanish friend of ours, who lives in the town once said to us" Why would you chose to live here?  It's too hot in the summer and so cold in the winter!"  He's not wrong there.  I'm sitting typing this wearing woolly gloves and actually have five layers of clothes on, and I'm still chilled to me ole bones!  It's the stone walls and floors that do it.  I can't wait for about six in the evening when we can justify lighting a fire.  A warm cozy open fire, that has us squinting through tears in our eyes, from the thick smoke, as we attempt to watch the television.  After a long steaming hot bath of course.  That seems the only way to really warm you through.

I'm digressing as usual.  Literally three days after our lovely walk to the lake to plan our alpaca trek for next year, along came the rain.  In Spain you don't seem to get the drizzle we used to get in England, it just comes down in buckets.  As we live off grid, if it's cloudy we can't simply put the tele on and snuggle up as we have no solar, so we stood and watched the rain. Riveting!

Well as it happens, yes it was!  We noticed Miguel our local farmer for some strange reason had parked his car at the bottom on the track, beside the little "arroyo" or tiny river.  This is the little river that washed away our bridge two years ago, when the heavens opened, and we were stranded until the farmers, cut down a huge eucalyptus tree, that fell across the river, for people to walk across.  Since then our little bridge has had huge boulders set in place to try and keep it intact, and touch wood, crossing everything it has so far!

So the excitement was watching Miguel's car slowly getting covered in water, as the river rose higher and higher. We never dreamt that it would actually get washed away down the river, but blow me down it did!  Alan and I were practically running from room to room watching the water rise at different parts of the river  and then we noticed the car slowly start to move.  As if it was in reverse it got pushed backwards until in finally toppled over the edge of the bridge due to the sheer force of the water. 

The water on the far side was gushing down from our track

View from the bedrooms in the apartment

Miguel's car, as the water rises!

Oooopsy!

The car getting pushed backwards

Finally topples into the river

The alpacas don't get what the fuss is about!

Lots of the farmers were having a weekend in the country with their families so many came to check out the situation.  A few of the children were very excited to be told they would have to stay at their country house and not go to school the following day!  Once the rain stopped, Alan and I had a little wander to check out the bridge for ourselves!

Well it stayed in place!!!

When the water subsided two men took off their socks and shoes and walked across, hand in hand!

Arthur was so fed up in the rain he broke in to the apartment, and made himself comfy!

Poor alpacas were soaked, but quite happy!

Oh and Miguel's car was found about half a kilometre down the river!

Planning our alpaca Trek

We love it when children, or adults want to walk our alpacas, usually around their paddock but occasionally outside too.  We have decided to go further, why not!  We are not too far from a stunning lake, which we often drive to.  Oi! Who are you calling lazy bones?  To be honest I was never quite sure I would make it back up the hill, without the need of oxygen, a fireman's lift... or both!

The day was perfect, a few fluffy "Simpsons" clouds and some slightly warm sunshine.  I could n't get out of it.  We did the walk alone, just Alan and I.  Our mastins Blue and Arthur and very lazy and would never walk that far. Actually they would, but they would n't make it back!  Geri is an old lady now, Miliko has a wonky leg and cannot open his mouth to pant.  Carlos would have loved it, but there would be no way we would get him out alone, sadly.

It took us only about half an hour to reach the lake, and about 45 minutes to walk back, but that was my fault, struggling up the hill!  We could not believe how low the water level was, due to the fact of having had an incredibly dry winter, and everything looked beautiful.  

Our plan is during spring and autumn to take guests on a trek, if they wish of course, however also to do little day excursions.  I'm sure they are many people that would love to come for a morning or afternoon, walk our gorgeous animals with us and have a drink and tapas beside the lake.  Or even spend the day with us, to include an alpaca trek and a barbeque.  We are still in the planning stage, and the good news is I did indeed make it back up the hill, in one piece, with just a couple of stops.  I must admit I thoroughly enjoyed it, and cannot wait to do it again.  I hope you enjoy the photos of our beautiful countryside.

Three donkeys on route (the 3rd is hiding)

Half way there

Over the brow of the hill

You can just see the lake

These trees are usually under water!

On our way back home, we came across some horses

One particularly friendly young foal !

Yikes... the steep hill back!