Tuesday, 22-09-26: Spain outings

Our stay in Spain wasn't in anyway a touristy experience.  A lot of what we did was at the Mill - social, fitness related, short walks, etc - but there were a few outings.

The first one I didn't go on, partly because Diane wasn't going, partly because neither of us is good with long walks on uneven surfaces and partly because my knee hurt.  However, the others said it was really lovely.  I can't find anything specific about it on Google and only know it is the Enchanted Forest, of which there are loads.

On Wednesday we went to the spa at Cela.

https://www.visit-andalucia.com/balsa-de-cela-roman-baths/

It's a natural springs lido with green space to chill and eating places nearby.

The 'grass' was artificial but lovely and soft and the trees kept it shady and cool.

The actual pool was huge with a stony bottom.  I didn't go in but someone said it was quite warm but quite slippery underfoot.

In the morning, there was a group of youngsters having what looked like a boating lesson and they were having a wonderful time.

It was just a lovely, family oriented place with everyone chilling and enjoying the vibe.

Just another view of the grass.

This was the night of the Big Storm.  Sorry I have no videos - I thought I had saves some but no.  It was, I gather, very dramatic.  I slept through it!

After some more rain last week, Lindsey posted a video she was sent of the rambla where we were supposed to - er - ramble the next day.  The guide cancelled as she said it would be dangerous after the rain - and you can see why, can't you?  

The following day, we were supposed to visit a local planetarium that Lindsey said was really good.  However, the owner and guide was unwell so it was cancelled so instead we went to Baza where they had post fiesta celebrations.

In random order - a model railway to celebrate the opening of a local line fifty (I think) years ago.

A food and drink area that was absolutely packed with youngsters and families having an amazing time.  Not rowdy, not in any way intimidating, just lively and happy.

A really good big wheel that cost four euros for a long ride.  Yes, I did.  

Proof!!

Lots of bright lights.

Restaurants under canvas.

This stall sold shots of Madeira.  Yes, we did.  It was lovely.

This was such a good evening.

On the last evening we went to Seron.

https://www.andalucia.com/province/almeria/seron/home.htm

There's a lot of interesting info about Seron here - well worth a read.

https://www.eyeonspain.com/blogs/remarkable/9115/seron-what-a-beautiful-town-.aspx

This is the view from Seron, right across the Almanzora valley to the mountains the other side.  To get there we went through marble quarries and desert areas, very dramatic.

We went up to the Castle to catch the views.  I found it hard going because of my knee but it was well worth it.

Diane and I didn't do the last bit to the very top . . . 

But the others did and there we are!!

After that we wandered through cobbled paths that were quite scary to negotiate with a wonky knee, past Spanish homes . . . 

And rather more modern things until we found the restaurant and that was the last trip.  We went home the next day.

I'm glad I'm going back again.  As I said, it wasn't a touristy finding-things-out kind of holiday but I felt we got a little taste of Spanish life even so.

Seron was particularly lovely  and well worth another visit.

So that's my Spanish holiday.  I was tired when I got home but, at the same time, felt rejuvenated and energised.  It was lovely, well worth it.  xx

Monday, 20-09-26

    Morning, all.  No more Spain yet, sorry, but I did get quite a lot done yesterday - washing, ironing, housework and a big old freezer tidy up.

And I ate The Pear.  The single pear from my pear tree.  And it was delicious.  Looking forward to next year now, fingers crossed.

Today starts, as always, with circuits and then, fingers crossed, Kay is coming.  It's not been a great summer for housework help for various reasons but, hopefully, tomorrow will work.

And that's about it - it is a quiet life at the moment.  xx

Sunday, 20-09-26

Morning, all.  We're into the last third of September now and aren't the days getting shorter now!  And cooler mornings and evenings too; it's so nice to snuggle under the covers in bed now - very cosy.

Sorry, I haven't done the Spain blog yet.  Maybe today, I'll see.

What I do have is a downstairs to tidy (it's a right mess) and ironing to get finished.  I'll start with that, I think, and get it done.
Then I need to sort out the freezer again - it's bursting at the seams and needs some reorganising.
And bread to make.

Better got going, hadn't I?  

xx

Saturday, 19-09-26

Morning, everyone.  Welcome to Saturday's blog.

We had the best time at Aqua Springs yesterday - in an understated way.  We didn't have any packages or treatments although there's plenty on offer, we just went for the joy of relaxing  in warm bubbles, steam rooms, saunas, etc.  Beth had had a stressful couple of weeks - nothing bad, just things ramping up temporarily - and she very much needed some chilled time.
We chatted, soaked, relaxed, had a nice lunch of cheesy jacket potato and salad, coffee before we left and it was just lovely!

I got a bit of a shock when I drew my curtains back this morning.

This is the view across my garden, back of next door's house to the right, corner of garden room, the dividing fence and two trees which are outside my neighbours' boundary on the other side.  So there's trees on a small slope, a road and the countryside.
Yesterday morning the view was of solid leaves from side to side, meeting in the middle and cutting down significantly on my neighbours' light and a bit on mine too (but not that bad).
As they are on council land, they're not GT and T's responsibility but they were not only greatly impacting on light but also there were branches dangerously close to the corner of their house.

Obviously, yesterday, it was their turn for the chop!  I didn't notice yesterday because I didn't look out when I got home.

Poor trees - what a massacre!  However, they will recover in a few years.  It's happened before and five years later you would never have known.  In the meanwhile, we will enjoy the extra light and an enhanced country view.
And there won't be any leaves to sweep up this autumn!

There's absolutely nothing in the diary over this week.  I have the usual stuff - bread to make, washing, drying and ironing, meal planning, etc, but I've started off with a cafetiere of good coffee rather than just a mug and I'm going to chill.
Later on, I will work on the last bit of the Spain recount but that will be fun to remember.  It'll probably go up tomorrow.

Hoping you have a lovely weekend too.  xx

Friday, 18-09-26

Morning.  It feels chilly this morning but the sun is almost shining so fingers crossed.

Another quick one because it's nearly time to leave for Slimming World and I'm leaving early because Beth has a day off and we are going to Aqua Springs in Colchester for a spa day.  No treatments, just lots of swimming/soaking in bubbles, sauna, etc and a lunch there.
And lots and lots of catch up and chat.

I'm looking forward to it very much.  xx

17-09-26: Food at the Old Spanish Mill

When you use the Old Spanish Mill. there's several different ways to do it.  It used to be on a bookings site, like an air B&B  but the owner found that there was an unacceptable amount of damage done and mistreatment of the facilities so it is let more on personal recommendation and through their own site now.  

People can book just a room or two, plus the facilities as extras, it can be used as a self catering or catering can be done for you.
Lindsey booked the full Monty - all the rooms, use of the studio and the pool and all food included plus trips out and transport.  Completely inclusive, in fact.

The meals were a mix of UK with a Spanish slant and proper Spanish that would be 'acceptable' to a group of Brits.

So breakfasts were always fruit, yogurt, cereals, toast, plus blueberry pancakes for a few days and pastries (croissants, pain au chocolat, etc) on a couple of days.  Sausage and bacon were Spanish!
Lunch and dinners started with what was basically tapas - Spanish cured meats, dips, always a big platter of salad, cheeses, bread, etc.  To be honest, that would have been enough!  Then there was some sort of main and then dessert.  And drinks with wine in the evenings.
And there was always food on the side - fruit, nuts, crisps, cake and 'bars' - there was a particularly nice orange flapjack sort of thing and I might possibly had had too many of them!

I took a few photos of the meals at the Mill and when eating out.

As I said, meals were a mix of UK and Spanish - Darren was from the UK and, while not a 'proper chef', he was a jolly good cook.
This was one of the Spanish dishes - a proper, authentic Spanish tortilla de patatas and it was so delicious.
I made one this week but couldn't bring myself to use anything near the amount of evoo the recipe demanded so it wasn't quite the same but jolly good, all the same.

One evening, we had paella - or a version of it.  Like many local dishes, there are regional variations.

Darren made a chicken one (below) and a vegetarian one and both were superb.

He used a proper paella set up with that large shallow pan over a burner - I wish I'd taken a photo of it.

A sample of the salads.  Such a lovely mix of ingredients.

Self explanatory!

We went out for a few meals . . . 

When we went to the natural spa at Balsa de Cela (more about that in another post), we had lunch is a local restaurant, the Caseta Tia Matilde, a very friendly place with nice servers who were very understanding of our ignorance of Spanish (Lindsey did GCSE Spanish so had a bit).

This what I had and, while it looks like burger an chips, the pork burger wasn't made of pork mince, it was proper pork and the add ons were spicy and flavoursome while the patatas < grin > were NOT chips!

Fish is a local industry and Dan had a fish platter which was amazing!

There was one outing we couldn't do so instead we went to Baza.
On the 6th (the day we were travelling out), Baza held a traditional Fiesta which sounded extremely raucous and messy ( https://www.andalucia.com/province/granada/altiplano/baza/cascamorras-festival )

On Thursday evening we headed there to experience post Fiesta celebrations - basically a big fair in the town centre.

There weren't many street food stalls; instead there were proper restaurants under canvas but we did sample some Madeira (I think it was Madeira anyway) .

Afterwards, after dark, we had coffee/wine/beer and nibbles at a street café.  Great atmosphere.

On Saturday night we went to a restaurant in Seron and the rest of the photos are what some people had - I didn't take any of these photos.

Cod with prawns and brie (and various seasonings)

Salad

Steak

and the most amazingly plated calamari!!

Again, the staff were very accommodating and understanding of the language issue.

After all that, it seems almost unfair to say the Mill food was a bit of a disappointment, but only because I'd have loved full on Spanish and it wasn't, it was a fusion.

However, it was still amazing, beautifully cooked, not the least bit fancy, we ate a ton (and gained a ton, I expect) and now I am having fun looking up authentic Spanish cuisine.

('Disappointment' really isn't the right word at all, is it? )

I am NOT looking forward to getting on those scales at Slimming World tomorrow.

Coman bien todos 

(Google tells me it is Spanish for 'eat well, everyone')

Thursday, 17-09-26

 Morning, one and all.  Thursday has landed and so has some fairly heavy rain.  It's very dark and gloomy out there right now so I guess the solar panels wont be given much to work on for a while.  Yesterday was very pleasant though and we still need loads of rain down here so absolutely no grumbles whatsoever.
I feel for teachers though - wet playtimes are no fun!

This is just a quick post as I have PT soon and then coffee with Chris but after that I'd like to work on the next bit of my Spanish holiday.  Maybe there will be another post later on today.

Yesterday was a pleasant day - I got all the ironing done but the washing basket is already filling up again what with clothes, towels, bedding, etc.  

Sharon came round, chopped at my hair and I feel civilised again!

Right, better go, bathe and get ready for an energetic forty five minutes.  Have a really lovely day, everyone, whatever the weather throws at us!  😊  xx