Rather a long blog this week ..... but I hope you will see why and can share in the excitement!
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| Via Verde - Bullas to Cehegín |
Sunday May
24
Early
morning walk, before the sun has actually risen! Spent most of the day reading, enjoyable
lunch of smoked turkey, mushroom, courgette and potato stew washed down with a
glass of Manzanilla sherry. Rested and
read all afternoon, chatted briefly to Andy to wish him well on the start of
his new job tomorrow. Bed by 10:00.
Devised my horario (timetable).
Monday May
25.
Up early to
Skype with Nick at 05:30, saddened that our flat owners in Trujillo have
cheated us out of 1 months deposit claiming that we have missed a payment back
in 2013. Completely untrue, but Nick and
I decided that we would sooner walk away than argue. Poor him having to do all
this. I breakfasted and then took the
08:20 bus to Bullas and then walked back to Cehegín on the Via Verde, having
found how to cut out a ridiculous detour.
The walk took me 2.5 hours and thanks to marking on the path I was able
to work out that I walk a kilometre in 10 minutes taking 1,240 paces to do it. So
6 kms an hour, which is a good pace for now (3.75 mph) but hope overtime to
increase that. The walk seemed much
shorter in this direction and more beautiful, and generally the walk was on a
gentle slope down, so again easier. I
met 9 cyclists and 11 fellow walkers on the route, sharing a brief “Buenas
Dias” as we passed. Stupidly didn’t stop
to attend to a slight rub on my left heel and as a consequence have a broken
blister for my efforts.
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| Veggie paella with Swiss chard |
After a rest
and read until lunchtime, had the remains of yesterday’s stew (well there is
still more for tomorrow), started to think about my work plan. Basically my
daily routine will be fixed times for meals with time for study, writing,
cleaning, laundry and walks. With days
generally starting at 6.15am and bed by 10pm (except when I will SKYPE with
Nick at 5:30am).
Decided to
replace the lightbulbs in the main room with energy efficient bulbs so gone
from 120W usage to around 24W with just
three bulbs and also bought a timer for the emersion heater so that I have hot
water in the morning which will stay warm enough all day. But must have my hot shower first thing! Was worried about the heater being on and off
all day and wasting electricity and running up my bill!
Weather was around 21C with the promise of a steady climb to 28C by the weekend. See Cehegin weather stats here.
Weather was around 21C with the promise of a steady climb to 28C by the weekend. See Cehegin weather stats here.
Surprised by
the number of Eastern Europeans hanging around the streets of “new Cehegin” the
seem to be Bulgarians or Rumanians and without work.
Yesterday saw local elections, no idea what the result was for here, but
generally the two main parties have been given a thrashing. But no revolution as there was in Greece, but
maybe people will do that in the general election slater this year.
Have had a
few doubts about what I am doing here, but that is to be expected. I think once
I get stuck into my biography work all will come clearer. Here’s hoping. But loving the place itself.
Tuesday May
26
Up by 6 and
out for my walk by 6:30, today did 100 paces jogging and 100 walking was back
in 40 minutes but a little tired. The
timer worked and had a lovely hot shower. Had breakfast, read then started on
Wild Mind and did some exercise from the book writing without stopping for ten
minutes, no looking back, no correcting spelling, grammar or punctuation you
have to just keep writing. Four exercises
starting “I remember”, “I don’t
remember”, “I think” and “I don’t think” will review these and edit them
tomorrow (edit for spelling grammar and punctuation, not content. The exercises were exhilarating and this
bodes well for the big task ahead!
Went
and sat in one of the small squares near to the house and got talking to my
first local, nice old boy Joaquin, he said how tranquil it was here and that it
was always like this, he said that there were some Norwegians living in the
area and that all the youngsters leave as soon as they can as there is nothing
for them He also said that winter here
was mild around 11 degrees and that if I wanted quiet I had found it. Actually
I think life has not changed here in ages, just everybody is getting older. And
then dying and sadly their houses are abandoned or only lived in for 2 weeks a
year. The council should do something
about offering the houses to younger couples in need of housing, but as there
are no discos, shops or anything other than some uo market tapas bars probably
little to attract anybody on a long term, unless like me you are looking for
the peace and quiet. Where I turn all the
negatives in positives.
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| Old cottage before restoration (with EU money) |
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| After restoration |
Had lunch,
the last of the Sunday stew, and after a nap, realised that my hips were aching
like crazy, not my legs or feet but my hips, despite this went for a stroll
along the main square and realised in
Spanish I am in the “Casco Antiguo” (old quarter). Went for a wander around the
lanes, every time I find new lanes and new views, and every time I realise that
a good percentage of the houses are actually permanently uninhabited with many
falling to ruin.
Wrote to a local and well established
estate agent (since 1945) as I am very curious to see some of the “ruins” or as the estate
agents say “restoration projects”. Have appointment to view tomorrow. Came back feeling very tired, sat and read
an entire Ruth Rendall novel, gripping!
Had supper of toast and anchovy paste with a glass of Manzanilla. All very civilised, now it is nearly 9pm and
I shall go to bed soon as feel; very exhausted and need to rest my aching
hips.
Tomorrow is
market day!
Again been
pondering, but I know that once I am ready to start the writing all will be a
whirl of emotions. But the Wild Mind exercises are very valuable in preparing
me for how to write and find my voice and flow, without being inhibited by
structure style and the like.
The hardest
thing for me at the moment is slowing down, I have time and I need to take my
time and just let one thing flow to the next and not worry about the time or
the next task or any other extraneous thoughts ….. I need to remind myself of
my Zen monks simplicity ……. It is hard to slow down, but I intend to do it. I
have always carried on a very creative internal dialogue with myself (no, not
hearing voices) and I intend to allow that to also slow down and maybe take a
break …….. just need to be patient as I discover the how of it.
Seriously
considering the purchase of a kindle (Euros 79) basic model, but I so love the
feel of a book in my hands I wonder if I can adapt. But as I am also running out of books and the
next flea market is not for 3 weeks …….eeeek! Maybe the Kindle only when I can no longer hold a book.
Wednesday
May 27
Up early,
"Skyped" with Nick, and got all his news and he got mine! Then of for my early
morning walk, which is now a jog well
100 paces jog, 100 paces walk,
but maybe tomorrow I will rest up as my blister is not getting better.
Took a detour to the “Eco parque” which turns out to be the waste recycling
centre, next door to the sewage farm!
There was an interesting section of the Ecoparque full of builders
materials and the like, maybe they have a little business on the side.
There was a group of cats on the roof opposite yowling, shut
them up, with persistent stares. You
have to stare down a cat to show dominance.
Interestingly these feral cats are 60% white and seem to have been
interbred with some Siamese along the way as they are mainly quite sleek. But
run away it you move towards them. One
of the yowlers, white looked at me with his one eye! Must have lost the other in a fight. Also most of the white cats seem to have one
green eye and one blue.
Breakfasted and then went to market. Swiss chard, French beans. courgettes,
apricots and capers and mixed
pickles, has set me up for the
next few days. Came back and read a little.
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| For sale "as seen" |
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| Paseo Cirugeda 17. Next to the restored cottages. |
Made an appointment to view some “ruins” and was offered an
immediate time, so set of for the estate agents and was taken by him and ahis
colleague to see two houses; the first a real wreck for €9900 (Euros) was
palatial, on four floors and if you had £30,000 ($45000 US) for renovations you
would have the most magnificent house to live in. Potential for a stunning roof
terrace overlooking fields and mountains.
The second, €14000, was a three bedroom cottage.
Downstairs, kitchen, bathroom (with bath), living room with
wood burning stove and a bedroom in what would have been a further
living/dining room. Upstairs empty
space, two bedrooms and a store room.
Under a sloping roof. No leaks so
the roof is sound.
The place was still furnished, and was just as it had been
left, the previous owner must have moved downstairs as there are hand grips
into the doorway by the kitchen up from the road. Furnished down to display cabinets with
family photos in them – bit sad.
The house is situated on the hill of the “Hermita of the
Conception” and the road is actually part of a wide terrace giving views over
the valley. There are just seven houses in the terrace, the two to the left of the
property are redeveloped as rental houses owned by the municipality (and done
up with EU rural funds). This house could look the same with some investment, not
a lot as the house is habitable and just need some re-arranging, new wiring and lots of TLC.
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| Kitchen |
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| Front room |
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| Beamed ceilings |
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| Bedroom 2 |
On the agents website the price of the house was €9900 , but
after some investigation I found out that the price of €14000, included all the
fees necessary including taxes, lawyers, notaries, registrations etc. It is
also fairly usual for agents to quote a price with and without taxes etc. But
the total price idea is very helpful. I saw the house as a very interesting project,
buy it, renovate it, resell it (or not) and a project within my capabilities,
time frame and finances.
Wrote to Alfonso, the agent and said my maximum budget was €12500
including all taxes etc, he wrote back to say it would be difficult, but as I also
asked to see the property again, has agreed a time for a second detailed
viewing tomorrow.
In my life opportunities have semi-presented themselves and I
have never regretted any of them (well not at the time) maybe this is another.
Let us wait and see.
I have to register with the authorities to get my NIE
(registration card) absolutely necessary as I plan to be here more then 3
months and it is vital for any transactions I might make, also I can open a
bank account etc. Then I have to get
some health insurance, there are many schemes here in Spain costing around 40
euros a month, after a year it is possible for residents can get registered
with the state scheme. But my UK/EU reciprocal agreement ends after 3 months so
I must do this.
After all this came back and made a vegetarian lunch of,
vegetarian paella with swiss chard cooked in white wine, lemon juice and mixed
with parmesan cheese. All very scrummy!
Took some rest, siesta time (so important). Afterwards took some post that had arrived
for the owners to his office as it was in the same complex as Mercadona, and
saw that he operated a book exchange scheme. So for €1 I can get a second hand
book and if I then exchange it my next book is only €0.50! When I got back I contacted him and asked
when the book exchange scheme was open.
I will be there tomorrow as I am down to my last Ruth Rendell novel.
Did quick bit of shopping in Mercadona, bought bottle of red
Crianza 2012 for €1.29 along with some pate.
Went for a stroll in the early evening, had another look at
the cottage from the outside, thinking about potentialities (interesting word).
Extended the stroll and came back, did some thinking, late supper, Gazpacho and
toast. The Crianza is just drinkable, (note to self – go mad a spend an extra euro
and get really nice wine and for 3 euros more enjoy a wine that would cost £15
in the UK or Soles 50 in Peru.)
I have a budget each week of €50 so far this week €30 has gone on food which I think I
excellent given the quality of what I have been eating and not a processed
product in sight! €30 and I have had
wine with every main meal and brandy in my coffee – I do love Carajillos …..
can’t be bad. Who needs Iceland!
The classical music station here is quite good, there is a
broadcast concert every night at 8pm so am enjoying listening. The TV as such
has been abandoned. If I need news I
have the good old BBC radio 4. Bed by 10:30.
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| Paseo Cirugeda - road down from the Hermita |
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| Paseo Cirugeda - looking up from cottage |
Thursday May 28 WEEK
3.
No walk this morning as my blister was very painful. Went to have extended second look at the
house at 09:30 complete with camera in hand.
The agent said that the family wanted a quick sale but also they felt
that the price on offer was already well below it market value so we would need
to stick to the price, so the final price is in the region of €14400 including
all fees, taxes and expenses.
Once I
gave my confirmation the agent would arrange my NIE for me, and then an
agreement to buy would be made in which I pay €1000 deposit, if I back out I
loose this, if they back out they must pay me €2000 this is Spanish law. The process will all be handled by the agent
whose agency is also a lawyers and in 4 – 6 weeks the house will be mine.
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| Bedroom 1 |
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| Back room downstairs (currently bedroom) with stairs up. |
Looking again at things I feel very good about this. I plan
to first clear the house of everything that is of no use to me (the agent knows
a man with a van) then I think I will paint all the downstairs rooms white just
for cleanliness, then start work on the electrics and sorting out the
kitchen. I would hope to be able to move in live at least
on the ground floor by the end of October.
Upstairs will take a little more time as I want to remove a
non-loadbearing wall, I know it is not load bearing as it does not reach the
roof! In fact non of the walls upstairs are structural in that sense. I have an idea to create 2 bedrooms and a study but most importantly
to have a bathroom upstairs. Once that was done I can then convert the bathroom
downstairs into a toilet, and utility room.
This is all going to take time, but I have that and it is so useful that
I will still have this rental house, so I do not have to live on a building
site.
Went to book exchange and bought three novels for €3. Spent the rest of the day, day dreaming or is that planning? Bed by 10:00
Friday May 29.
Up early to talk to Nick about the house plans, he likes the idea and then went
for a walk/jog. Tried a new route today on the road to Calsparra to the north,
very lovely countryside and lots of farms tracks to explore for walks. About 5 kms.
Today being Friday it was fish buying day. Bought
600 grams of Boquerones (white anchovies) whole and very fresh from
Marcadona alongside fresh bread and three litres of extra virgin olive oil
(€8!). The oil is more expensive than some wine, but still really cheap
compared to UK.
Decided to coat them in seasoned flour and then deep fry
them. I also decided that I would not eat them whole, so I followed the
instructions I found on a Murcian cooking site in Spanish
“take hold of the fish, grab its head and pull it off, it will come
away along with all its innards” …. messy until I got the technique and it
worked. The heads and guts went down very well with the local population of
feral cats! So lunch was Deep fried
Boquerones, lemon juice and a glass of Fino sherry, followed by vegetarian
pasta sauce with spaghetti and a glass of red plonk then a Carajillo. The brandy in the Carajillo is the perfect
way to mask the flavour of instant coffee. Real coffee only in the new place!
After lunch I felt in need of a long siesta, wonder why? I am not usually this boozy but it was the
end of an exciting few days and I needed to relax and celebrate a little. Spent the evening researching things like
electrical house wiring, cement paint, bathroom installation, IKEA Murcia
(yay!) for ideas, ….. light supper of
Anchovy toast then read until bedtime.
10:00pm
Saturday May 30th
Up early decided to take a walk after breakfast, but first I
wanted to clear up the mess outside my front door left by the Swallows who are
nesting in the eaves above. Bucket of
hot water and stiff brush in hand I removed the offending material, and as I
was going back inside slipped and fell, cutting my arm and cracking my back
against the two steps that lead down into the cottage. Felt a bit shaken up and my back hurt so took
some Ibuprofen and dealt with the cuts on my arm. Walk postponed. Hot strong tea administered.
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| A swallows nest (not mine) .... currently building in progress |
Two hours later felt less pained, put washing in the machine
then took a gentle stroll to Mercadona as in need of food for Sunday (here
shops firmly shut on Domingo!)
Purchased half a chicken, for paella, bottle of good 2010 Crianza (local
wine) and international silver award winner 2014
(€4), a block of mature cheddar cheese, pastries for breakfast (Sunday
treat) and some fruit.
Back in time to hang out washing and have a coffee. Lunch would be the remainder of the
Boquerones (but today dipped in a simple water and flour batter alongside some
onion rings, and also will fry them in sunflower oil and not olive oil as the
olive oil smokes at high temperature. Much better idea.
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| Bocquerones and onion rings! |
Snoozed after lunch, watched passing thunderstorm (first rain
since I have been here) then back to my Ruth Rendell novel. Can’t describe how lovely it is to be reading
again, after so many years of losing the habit, to get lost in a book is just
so marvellous. Earl Grey tea and more
Ruth Rendell then started to think about an early supper. Maybe followed by a
gentle stroll (back permitting).
Have taken my eye of the writing exercises, but am thinking
that buying and restoring the cottage which is a future orientated project,
done in the present will be the perfect foil for the biographical work which is
rooted in the past and carried out in the present. Ying-Yang, balance.
In any case my life now is not a race.
Slowing down is really a tonic in itself.
After supper remains of veggie pasta, took a stroll across to
the other hill and sat outside my potential purchase and day dreamed a little,
so quiet and enjoyable in the early evening light and then had to hurry back as
a thunderstorm was threatening and it started to rain again. Back home read and listen to Cosi Fan Tutti
on the radio, EBU broadcast. Bed 10:30, back aching a bit.
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| Paseo Cirugeda 17 ...... ideal location, fantastic views |
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| Could such a view ever be boring ..... I think not. |
