November 2004 letter from Spain

On the 3rd November we drove up to Reus Airport and to meet cousin Billy Bathurst and Cuz Dave. We parked up our big white van at the airport and hopped into their car hire and whizzed down into Reus town to MAXI's - a large, reputable, second-hand car dealership, for Dave to check out some cars for us. Because we haven't a clue what goes on underneath the bonnet, (Know your limitations, girl!).

Our van is fine, but it is a workhorse and not conducive for setting off on drives or finding somewhere easy to park or near where you want to get…it takes up so much space. But I have driven it all over. Besides it is "Gardeners extra-ordinaire mobile equipment van" at the moment…seeing all our stuff is stored at David's.

Dave and Billy found us a small little Corsa and test drove it for us. Such a small car after what I have been driving previously. Never mind - that is all the budget dictates. Low mileage and after using the kindness of a friend Jeff Greensmith to help with all the haggling over the phone with the car sales people, we had the paperwork filled in and left smiling. Maxi's said the car would be overhauled and other transfer documents and insurance papers etc. would be ready in a week. It was all so easy and I felt much relieved for the cousins checking our the mechanics of it for me.

As we left England, big Brother Alwyn and his wife Linda settled into England. They have since moved up to Darlington to take a post as a consultant and pulmonologist up in the north-east of England. Linda was quite excited about it and I think they were both glad to move away from noisey Kingston-upon-Thames. This is a far cry from Cape Town (South Africa) and a lifetime of working and living a very sociable life in sunnier climes. A cultural change for them indeed. Athol recalls his memories of Darlington as on British rail routed for Scotland and the repetitive announcements " All change at Darlington!"

Alwyn and Linda's home phone is now up and running and we let Mom speak to Linda the other night. Alwyn was out at some meeting, but she says he is so happy there. Furthermore, he is now receiving the respect and recognition he deserves for his experiences and expertise in pulmonolgy. It must have been hard for him to change over from Private Practice and running your own Lung and Sleep clinics to working for the National Health. Long hours prevail once more.

They have even gone and bought a house there, but can't complete for three months and then they plan on doing it up before they move in. So they will be in the flat for about 6 months. Yet, this shows they are settling and adjusting to living in England, while we face new experiences each day in Catalonia and you never know what is around the next bend.

Next week Mom will come back up with us to Figueral and do some more cuttings for me…her last lot have taken. She hasn't lost Granddad Reay's touch and she does so enjoy helping out. Besides we need loads of plants…and the more we can propagate the less we have to buy. Monday will be clean villa day for those "iffey-fishey cousins" arriving. Must let Marmalade know she is on a fish diet for 2 days next week…

We received a phone call this morning from a Graham and Judy who want to pop in and see us this afternoon. We only met them casually along the river front a few months ago in Benifallet and they have kept in touch on and off via email. He owns a fishing tackle shop in Wakefield and they have been looking for a flat to buy as an investment along the river frontage and then to rent out to "Yorkie" fishermen when they are not using it. (news update: they have purchased one in Miravet and have been doing it up.)

Judy surprised me by bringing my favourite bottles of Heinz HP Brown sauce and Morrison's tomato sauce for me. Thank you so much, much appreciated!

This morning we have low cloud, but the sun is trying to come out. We seem to be getting smattering of rain through the night and usually wake up to fog (just so we don't get homesick). The days are still warm and sunny - for short-sleeves and shorts /jeans. The evenings are a little bit chilly and you need a cardigan if you go out. But we don't need to switch radiators on anything like that. But lights are going on at around 7.30 - 8.00 on an evening.

Mom's friends says her post getting through is very erratic. Whereas Geophrey in Sandton, South Africa says he hasn't heard anything from her since she moved to Spain - but she has written! (Just not sure which address she put on and she says he lives in the bundu, but we think she has sent it into cyberspace to Planet Zog!)

A whole bunch of cyclists have swarmed through the village and heading for the mountains. Good luck to them! The trailer has gone out of Benifallet with about a dozen green canoes on, so he must be heading up to Miravet or Mora Nova. The current is very strong in the River Ebro and the canoes only sail down, never up! Gareth reckons they have the wrong type of canoes for these waters!!!

Toni - the lawyer, has put an offer forward for "CasaDoble" in Els Reguers for us. This is a property beneath Mont Caro and borders on the Natural Parklands. Not sure whether the owners will take a drop in the price but the land is very small and the water has to be delivered or you rely on rainwater to full the big cisterne. Rain is not a guarantee! There are other downsides to this option as it is quite remote and some distance from easy access to the hospitals…a necessary evil for our family, I'm afraid. So we will sit it out and see what happens…. We aren't at the panic stage yet.

Been up at El Fig. gardening - if you can call it that - it's more like clearing years and years of neglect off those banks and terraces up there. So far have only been able to put a handful of plants in, as there is so much debris to pull out, cut down, cut out and the sheer rubbish you find underneath it all. The amount of broken wine bottles and sardine tins that are unearthed is staggering, a different diet but not kind to the environment to just throw it over the edge.

Once finished there on a day, one ache's in places one didn't even know those muscles resided there. But enjoyable it is nevertheless and staves off the boredom. The exercise is so good for us and the mountain air and river… it is a pleasure.

It takes a while to become used to the slower pace of life over here and after working long hours in the UK and always having full days and nights, to doing nothing, is a shock to the system. The biggest one that hits me is not having access to books everyday! I used to read 7 in a week and now can hardly get hold of any. Will have to speak kindly to my brother Athol, maybe he will send me over one or two - another kindred spirit of the bookworm club.

No further calls from Gareth, so he must still be in Germany. It is pay day weekend - so we are not likely to hear from him, if he is off-duty…. The whole village is now covered in sunshine so I think we will go for a stroll and chillout.

We have had a lovely stroll along the River bank and marvelled at the amount of small fish under the jetty. You expect only to see giant carp and catfish out here and forget about the small fry that teems the waters as well. Uncle Bill could sit in his deck-chair fishing away to his hearts content, then Aunty Rene and I could go walking down the road "el campo" …see what cuttings were hanging over the walls, waiting for me to snip at. Remember, Kew Gardens, we did enjoy that day!

Hasta luego! Fins dema!

Roseann.

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