sometimes when i post twice - like now - it seems like no one responds to the first post - but maybe that's just blog exhaustion - we're feeling it a bit - although not holiday exhaustion - although there are moments when it feels like work
although i know that it's not ok to say that, when you're all freezing and trying not to become submerged in the rain. there were a few showers in madrid yesterday, causing us concern as we'd left the brollies in the hotel. luckily by the time we emerged from the thyssen museu - which is an absolutely ripping art gallery - it was warm and sunny again (still).
however, it was a wee bit cool tonight in Leon and Geoff insisted that we eat indoors as he'd left his warm top behind and was only in shirt sleeves and shorts. yes, how we suffer.
we've seen a few frazzled teachers shepherding groups of spanish teens around various cultural sites as we've tripped around. they gave us pause - and we've been sparing a thought for the STCA negotiations (about which i know nothing) - and also for union solidarity generally, thanks to witnessing a spirited protest (they had whistles) at the madrid train station yesterday... we think it was either train mechanics, or the spanish branch of service and food workers YAY
it's great to hear what's happening at home - even when it involves broken bones, floods and flu... if you can't comment for whatever reason you can still find us at geoffchilds@xtra.co.nz and we hope this finds all of you that don't have broken bones, etc, well and happy - and that those of you who are currently indisposed will soon be on the mend.
Julia - don't worry about the house being like a fridge (it will serve us right) - andnwe're confident we can warm it up quick smart when we get back - and also it involves pilot lights and fiddling about...
I have also caught Geoff checking his work emails which we both agreed would be a no go area on the holiday - so am sticking to my side of the bargain (one of the few occasions i have found moral high ground so i'm well and truly occupying it)... just in case the moral high ground proves ineffective, i have other plans (less moral, but possibly more effective).
anyhoo... it's late, we're kind of tired, and there is a high chance of sleep tonight - so i'll close - we can hear cicadas, or their local equivalents, compared with street cleaners, drunken revellers and discos (in Madrid - ok, Fuenlabrada) - plus we have twin beds at this establishment...
nighty night...
Phew. Have just returned to Ma's after a trip to Moore Wilsons with K and M where bread and cheese was procured along with some wine. We also visited the upstairs bit where we found a lovely solid bottomed jam pan and I got some plastic containers with which to further organise my food cupboard. I bought two books and a (bright purple) laptop baggy at Borders and a pair of almost flat courts at Hannah's. Kirk's yielded a purple and green thin striped cotton scarf, but no bottle green opaques, damn their eyes. We're intending to lunch upon the bread and cheese, along with the rest of the beef from last night (Ma cooked a roast) then sod off to the beach with the dogs. The weather's not particularly fab. The southerly brings rain in patches and it's pretty windy: about 14 or 15ish. Yay for sleep! It can be so tricky when one's on holiday to get enough sleep to feel energetic for sightseeing. Do try and spend lots of money: the E.E.C needs it. XX
ReplyDeleteSounds like another lovely place to put on the Places to see list...
ReplyDeletePersonally the boil up didn't do it for me, but when in Spain...
I can honestly say hand on heart I went into every room in your house at the weekend and sniffed for moisture and checked the places it might have come in but you look to be dry as a bone. Even the garage - I had thought there might be a wee trickle through it given the amount we'd had, but nothing. (Had had a quick check during the week but thought I should be super careful under the circumstances!)Your neighbours are their usual cheerful selves. And the chilis, parsley and tomatoes continue to grow. Poor wee things.
The STCA negotiations are hideous. I understand there were sharpish words exchanged last week - that was Trevor's interpretation to me anyway.
I also went to moore Wilsons (local not town) and bought jet planes but i have just tipped them into the jar and trialled one and it isn't at all nice- not the same recipe methinks. Too jellyish and no flavour. I expect some resistance!
No comment re Geoff using his work email!!!
But given that i will send you a link you need to see - will make your day! Bulgarian idol...
enough - hope the sleep worked out and the fun continues
Maybe it's time I posted a comment, since you're starting to sound desperate to hear from us! It all sounds absolutely fabulous, and it must be wonderful to be warm. It got nasty so suddenly here, it's been hard to adjust to. Lots of action around behaviour stuff because of yet another attack on a teacher. The media seem to want a bit of Kate every day at the moment, on one thing or another, and that often means yet another disruption to my plans to knock off two conference papers before you return. But that's the price of having a President who makes good copy and some good issues. It was very quiet for over a week when you, Bron and Jane were all away. We didn't know what had hit us down our end. Now Bron and Jane are back the noise level has risen again, but we await your further contribution to that with great impatience. Missing you!
ReplyDeleteJudie
nice to hear from neighbourhood, family and work... even tho not all the news is good. glad to know the house held up to the weather - not good about negotiations but i guess we expected that and it's really hard to work up too much grief about it all from this distance. hard to believe we only have a few more days in spain and that we leave the car, forever, on saturday, at Bordeaux. Just as we get the hang of our few pitiful words of spanish we have to start polishing up our feeble french! thanks for all the catch-ups etc
ReplyDeletecheers, Sarah
Yep Judie doesn't make enough noise on her own :-) but I can hear her phone-calls which have this phrase along the lines of ... when Sarah gets back... Cheers
ReplyDelete