genesuncut

Not A Normal Life

The Wedding

Whilst my hubby and I are happy living in the sunshine, well especially me, as I have found hubby a full time job. Well he shouldn’t have bragged to the neighbours that he had retired. Please don’t’ t feel sorry for him, he’s fine, and he is lucky enough to be working outside, painting, so yes he’s got a nice suntan, in fact at the moment, he’s a slightly darker shade of brown than David Dickinson, but at least it’s natural.

Anyway, I digress, whilst we were experiencing life in the sun, we have left our business premises in the U.K, in the capable? Hands of our 25-year-old son, his 20-year-old fiancée, and their s lightly older business partner who is an ex school friend of my sons.

Now, I have to admit they have done a good job, we were initially worried, would it work out, would they cope, would they pay us any rent.

So far so good, hat’s off to them, there ok. Last weekend, was a pretty hectic one for them. They had a wedding planned to which they were doing the catering for. I panicked, would they buy enough food, would they cook it correctly, would they sleep in.

They text me at 8am, (7am) UK time, I was impressed, everything is fine mum, it’s all under control, my son reassured me. The wedding party was due at mid day I was on tenterhooks.

I need not have worried, they text me to say, that there was lots of food, because, the grooms family had a massive bust up with the brides family at the church, and the grooms family weren’t turning up. Typical, I thought I told you we didn’t have a normal life.

Still it’s all experience.

Not A Normal Life

The Children Are Missed

It has now been two weeks, since our grandchildren visited, and now it must be time to put away all their toys, games, and deflate all their garden and pool inflatables.

Whilst there is no denying that hubby and I love and enjoy their company, it is just nice to have peace and quiet, and have our own routine restored, it’s nice to be able to have a mid afternoon siesta without objects stuffed up my nostrils, or for granddad to awake covered in lipstick. It’s also nice for the lounge floor tiles, and the coffee table not to be mosaiced in macaroni cheese or chocolate mouse, it’s nice that the bathroom, now contains Gillette razors, tampax and shaving foam, without the risk, of them been misused in any some way, and that any possible visit to the ER room has been avoided.

Still it has been nice to see them, and nice to see them safety returned to their parental guardians, safe, sound, fed and most of all unbitten, by all the dangerous, species, lurking in our garden At this moment in time we can rest assured that a return visit is on the cards.

I am sorry to say that we have had a family tragedy over the last couple of days. You may recall hubby, has befriended a lizard in the garden and called him Eddie Lizard. Well this particular day, Eddie, who was obviously relieved that the decibels in the garden had receded, on account, of the children returning home, so he was in his usual spot, waiting for hubby to feed him a cup full of water, which he has become accustomed to.

Fine, no problem, hubby was delighted, that his slippery little friend had returned, he was so chuffed he spoiled him, and swatted an extra couple of flies for him. Hubby turned his back to look for some other creatures he could get Eddie to nibble on, when Eddie disappeared, we could not find him anywhere.

However, next morning, we discovered a trail of ants, and on closer inspection, we sadly discovered Eddie. He had accidentally, been trapped under the electrical extension reel, we used for cleaning the paddling pool, so needless to say, hubby was gutted, near to tears actually, he had really began to love little Eddie Lizard.

We have had a really interesting weekend, Saturday was one of the wettest days in a long time, whilst it was most welcome, water is very precious here in Spain, it’s good for the land, the trees etc, but what is worrying is the electricity cables, outside our bedroom window. When we first bought our house, I thought the wires were old telephone wires, like England used to have, way before Busby, or Beatie, I should imagine you know the type, they look like they have been knitted together by your aunt, but no, these are the main Electricity wires, serving all the houses in our village. Most of the time these wires are sufficient, until it rains.

This last weekend the state of our wiring has brought much concern on two counts. The wires have been arching together, due to the weight of excessive water, and sparks from the wires have actually either fallen onto our very dry grass, or into the children’s paddling pool. Now these are not just little sparks, but enough to bring delight at a standard firework display. We phoned the Electricity company, only to be told, "“Grande Problemo Augusto “, that’s right it’s August, and the Spanish do not work in August, well, hopefully it won’t rain again until September, when we may be able to get someone to look at it.

The second and more important reason to be annoyed with our weather and the electricity, is the power cuts, every two minutes so it seemed. I was just watching an episode of the fantastic Sopranos, a vital Soprano moment, when the power cut, roll on September. Bada Bing!!

Not a Normal Life

A New Week

Mario Mole

I awoke this morning to the sounds of “got it”, hubby yelled whilst coming in from the garden, “what”, I said, my imagination working overtime, after last weekend, and the scorpion incident. I swear if its anything, as sinister, as that, I am definitely heading back to the UK, I don’t care how bad the weather is there, no amount of rain will stop me.

“The mole he said”, referring to the supposed mole, that was furrowing its way around the garden, merrily chewing at the roots of his tomato plants. “I saw it moving so I thought, Mr Mario mole you have had it now”, oh please I thought, is it too early for a gin, anyway to cut a long story short, the so called mole is no more. (I don’t want to steal his thunder but it looked like a mouse to me), still for the moment we can rest assured that our tomatoes are safe.

The Weeks Entertainment

“Don’t think for one minute I am wathching that garbage again tonight”, hubby bellowed from the kitchen. Since moving to Spain we refuse (that and the fact that we can’t afford it) to install a satellite dish, which would enable us to watch all the UK TV channels, and countless more.

Instead we pretend that, by only been able to watch tv in Spanish, that this can only be good for us, supposedly, it improves our grasp of the Spanish language, but all we seem to watch are the same things we saw in the UK, but in Spanish, for example, at 8 PM Monday-Friday, for almost one hour and the highlight of the evening, is a programme called Alla Tu, which roughly translated means, deal or no deal.

Sunday and Monday evening is Factor x, yes you’ve guessed it, x Factor Now I have to admit that I enjoy both of these programmes, they are certainly entertaining, not to mention amusing, and I can also pretend that by watching them, it is improving my Spanish.

However, going back to what my husband was referring to as garbage, is the box of dvd’s kindly lent to us by my obviously nocturnal friend, the complete 1st & 2nd series of 24.

Now at the moment we are just two dvd’s away from the end of the 1st series, I cannot help thinking what awful luck the Bauer family are having, especially since dad is a special agent, (perhaps he needs retraining) they do seem to get themselves into some nasty situations, they have been kidnapped, raped, thrown out of cars, suffered from amnesia, and lots lots , more.

Whilst I admit I do feel some affinity with them, can someone please tell me how they all stay so clean, what is there secret, they are spotless, terrific hair,

Still, all that said we will be watching it again tonight, I don’t care what he says, if it’s a choice between, 24, Alla Tu, or Factor X.

24 it will be.

The Arrival of the Grandchildren

I mentioned earlier, that two of my granddaughters are coming to stay, for at least 2 weeks.

My eldest granddaughter is almost 5, and will soon be starting school full time at the beginning of the new school term.

Well I don’t like to admit this, but I have a confession to make.

Since my granddaughters were born, they think that their grandma (me) is actually Marilyn Monroe, mainly because, I have a handbag, with a picture of Marilyn Monroe on it.

One day the eldest one pointed to it, and said “Grandma”, and it has stuck ever since.

Obviously you cannot blame me for not putting them straight, after it’s quite a compliment, but it has got a bit out of hand, especially, as everytime we see a picture of the wonderful Marilyn my two shout, “Look there’s grandma”.

Yes, I know it’s got to stop, but what is more worrying is the fact that they also think, that I have a tiny tummy, and that Granddad is Jack Nicholson.

Help!

The reconstruction of the scorpian is not my only concern, regarding my husband at the moment. He has befriended a small lizard , in the garden, and what has he named this lizard, who he is constantly overfeeding, on the flies he's squated for it, "eddie", yes you've guessed it Eddie Lizard, its no wonder I'm worried.

Whilst on the subject of hubby, I am seriously concerened about him . At the moment, he is trying to reconstruct the scorpian, which almost inflicted serious injury on him the other day.

The reason he is sat there with pins, and rubber bands , in an attempt to reconstruct this unwelcome monster, is quite rightly , so he can show the children, when they come to visit , that should they see anything like this, that they have not to touch it. I wonder if he will admit, that he actually found this creature in our bathroom. I doubt it.

Our social life has been completely put on hold (It was hardly lively anyway) due to a friend lending me the 1st & 2nd series of 24. Well I know it's all a bit far fetched , but I just cannot stop watching it. Whats going on , I don't know, there are so many different plots in one, it's certainly contaigous. Four hours we spent last thursday afternoon, watching it, and we haven't even got to the end of the 1st series, help, i'm hooked.

Hubby, has just come back from taking some rubbish to the bins, full of glee, he was, there were two white plastic chairs, in the back of the car, I had to laugh, because as soon as he sat down on one, it fell to pieces, surely this is why there original owners , took them to the tip in the first place, no, he likes to think he has got a bargain my hubby.

The one thing I really love about Spain (Rural Spain) is Sunday. It is what I call a proper Sunday. A day of rest, no shops open, no B&Q , no garden centres no last minute dash , to Tesco, It's like the Sunday of my childhood , peaceful.

At least if you want to go to the pub, you know that there will be at least someone, you know there.  Unfortunately, the decline of the once great English local , means that you now do not stand much chance, of bumbing into one of your mates in a UK drinking establishment, the licencing hours, are either, too long, too short, or to confusing.

I know that the reformed  licensing act and the much needed update of the old antiquated licencing laws,  the government in it's wisdom, intended to create a european atmosphere within its many bars clubs etc, but come on,  a european atmoshere, how? with the english weather , and the average person , only able to make his money stretch so far, and now to cap it all, the smoking ban has now come into effect.

From 1st July 2007, as we all know there is a no no, on smoking in a pub, this has had to have had a major effect, on most drinking venus, not to mention the licencees often,  none existent incomes.

Whilst been a non smoker myself , and I can well understand the health issues, I still think this should have been a personal choice.  We should have had the freedom to choose, if we want to drink in a smokey pub etc, continental I think not.

Here in Spain, you can only just see your mates in the pub, they are usually covered in smoke, hovering over their tables, which are often filled, with very black coffee and brandies, and thats only the tables occupied by, the Guardia Civil having one of there all to frequent pit stops, but at least they have the choice. 

Business, Water , Drinking & Smoking

Last week was definately, not a good week, our business premises , were flooded, in a freak storm, which hit the North of England last Wednesday. Whilst the main body of the business was not affected,(fortunately), the basement area, which stores a lot of our personal items was. The business is a bar & Restaurant, currently under the management of our son.

We have not been too concerned , as this water damage has not been to bad as some unfortunate people, many of which have lost, many of their possesions, not to mention their homes.

Unfortunately, it is the one thing none of us can, tame or master and certainly not control, and thats nature, it will simply do as it pleases.

My heart goes out to anyone who has had to deal with this disaster in the last week.

What concerns me is that my hubby's youngest daughter ,together with her daughter, and her sisters daughter, are coming to stay at the weekend, I am considered Grandma, as I have been in there lifes since hubby's youngest was five years old, so I think I have earned that title.

Now what worries me is if a scorpian were to sting, one of them, I don't think my hubby would be as blase about that, and I dont think their mum would be over impressed either.

I know living in rural spain,is not always what it is cracked up to be, its certainly not always like it is portraied on the glossy , buy your home in the sun brochures. Don't worry I am not about to bore you with another "Living the dream " book, I think that particular genre has been well documented. It's just that things that happen to me , just do not seem to happen to anyone else, well not in the same way.

The things that life has thrown at hubby, me and family over the 16 years we have known each other are quite extreme, and to be honest, I think it's a miricle we are still here, let alone still together.

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