Creeps Me Out a Bit

And I love it!

A Walk to Viena

Today I walked to the sandwich bar Viena. It took me 59 minutes from door to door. I saw a baby rabbit chasing a bird. Never seen that before.
Happy New Year everyone.

Got the Flu

So finally the 2 months of hectic holidays caught up with me. I'm in bed with a chest cough. Tomorrow Jett starts at ESO and I start work. Good luck.

View from Pops, Lloret de Mar

We've eaten ourselves stupid. Topped up with Sangria and ready for coffees. Looking out over the sea watching the people promenade. Happy Summer afternoon.

Spectacular Sunset over Granollers

Summer in Plaza Corona

It's almost lunch time here. But people are feeling lazy. Summer is truly here. Flies are dancing in the air. It's also market day in Granollers, so there are many more people on the street. There's a breeze, but it's warm.
 I came out to drink Tiger's Nut milk (orxata) but felt so lazy I decided to take a boost of caffeine instead. I'm cleaning the apartment and preparing for our month long road trip to Norway. We leave on Sunday. I can't afford to be lazy this afternoon.
 I'm also strongly aware that when we return it will be to the Festa Major. A week long (loud) party centred 50 metres from our building block.
And my brother arrives. It will be his first visit to Granollers.
Ah, the cafe amb llet is kicking in. It was my emergency coffee for work purposes! Is it me, or is everyone suddenly walking faster?
 Oh, and remember, the sales start here twice a year. The 7th of January and the 1st of July. So if you plan to come for shopping, those are the best days.
My friend Kate said she was feeling in love with this place lately. I guess it's contagious. Arrogant women, lazy appreciative men, hot sun, lots of bars with terraces, people milling about. It's not the Spain of the south, as I have read about, but it's plenty for me.

Market from the Museum to the Library Square

Although this section of the market sells cosmetics, CD's, hand bags and shoes, it is mostly dominated by clothes stalls. In this season they even sell swim wear.

Watermelon Seeds!

Jett asked if we could plant some seeds from a watermelon we ate a few weeks ago. Well, three little sprouts are coming up! Spring is truly remarkable. We even have flowers coming on our tomatoes! :-D

Today is Sant Jordi

Take a look at last years post on the Symbolism of St Jordi.  It's very unusual this year as it falls on the Easter Weekend. The people I have spoken to about it are unhappy about it. They say it doesn't feel right and somehow ruins the day for them. 

The Last Calçotada of the Season

I think this will be our last one. Jett's a total pro these days and unabashedly showed our visitors how it was done. The restaurant even gave us shots on the house. Afterwards we walked by our river and visited Palou Church! It was actually very pleasant. Beautiful day and very green.

My Jasmine

From my bed, during my afternoon nap, I can see my beautiful pot of jasmine. It's in full bloom.

Friday Morning Pastries

So this morning we sat in the sun and had our coffee. Lovely weather. Fair Sarah even caught some rays on her face.

Rain, Make Up and Great Tapas

Today we went to Barcelona. It was the wettest day of the year. We were lucky enough not to be in the city for the early morning down pours. We went shopping, had our make up done, met Albert for lunch and had yummy tapas. Jett stayed with Montse during lunch time.

Cherry Blossoms Along the Street

As we were walking along the street to the station we came across a row of cherry blossom trees in full bloom. Spring is truly here but the temperature dropped and the snow is on the mountain again. It says its 16 degrees but with the wind its more like 10.


Kate wrote about the Cherry Blossoms last week here in 'Is there such a thing as too much Cherry Blossoms?'

Off to Canyelles for the Long Weekend

I doubt we'll be in our swim wear, but to the beach we're going. This is what it looked like last year at about this time - Autumn on the Costa Brava

Autumn Beach Time

It's mid October in the middle of the day, and here in canyelles cove there are people stripped down to their swim wear and bathing in the sun. They are mostly northern Europeans. Many with small children. The sea smells fresh. There's no bite to the sun. The little ones are playing in the shallows. A lovely autumn weekend. Certainly beats more mushroom hunting.


Autumn 2009

First Day of School in Granollers.

Jett went back to school today. I saw a few children crying, but mostly there was hugging and smiles. School began a week earlier than usual. It seems Spain is going to add a weeks holiday somewhere in the year instead of having the usual THREE months holiday. Wow. Three months! Though they do have summer camps here, its true. Where you can do many specialised activities. So far, for Jett at least, so good.

Listen to Aunty Tiffany!

Its cold out there! There are record snow falls and record low temperatures all across Europe. And still, people do not know how to dress for the weather.

I grew up in a sunny corner of the Gold Coast, Australia. We lived by the beach. When it was cold, we put on a jumper. A jumper is what you call a jersey. If it was still cold, we’d swap our thongs and sandals for sneakers or closed toe shoes and wear socks.  

When I was a young adult, I moved to Norway. That year it was the coldest winter since 1955. It was -25 day after day, and I had no idea how to get myself warm.

You may say I’m a slow learner, but it took me a good two years before I understood that a jumper and sneakers were not going to keep me warm in the winter.

There is one phrase I learnt in Norway that has been helpful ever since. ‘There is no bad weather, there is just bad clothing’. And I’m here to share my secrets with you.

First of all, you must wear warm underwear. Girls, forget those skimpy little things that show the flabby part of your bottom, you need to keep your tush warm and rosy, not pinched and blotchy from the cold.

Then, you must wear wool, silk or an equivalent material that breathes, closest to your skin.  That is singlets, t-shirts, stockings, long johns, or long underpants under your normal clothes. That is your first important layer.

After you put your winter clothes on, then you need to be sure you have a scarf, gloves and a hat. Don’t be afraid to mess that hair. You’ll have plenty of time in the spring to let your hair out.  Cover your ears!!

The cold air creeps into the parts of your body that are exposed to the elements, so it’s important to keep as much of your body covered by warm clothing as possible. And remember, if you begin to sweat then remove layers of clothing. Sweating in cold weather seems to be an instant recipe for influenza.

Ok! Enough of the lecture! But, I’ll be watching from my window, making sure you’re all wearing sensible clothing this winter! Signing off this time as Aunty Tiffany.

Originally published in the Revista del Valles