Our monkey!

Happy easter! Everyone here buys these cakes with eggs on top. They are called mona. Love to everyone!

Training for the Camino de Santigo

On saturday we walked 20 kilometers. Its just the beginning!


Photo: Albert Vila

The Pavement Stalker

Today, as I was walking along the street with my little trolley on the way to the supermarket, my attention rested on a man whom when he saw me, stopped and hissed through his teeth. I didn't understand the sound, and looked closer at his face. He was smiling in what can only be described as lurid. I ignored him and kept walking.

After a few steps I realised he was following me. In which case I hastened my step, and continued a long the street wondering what I was going to do. If I went to the shops, he could corner me in one of the aisles and to be stuck with such a man in a small area was much worse that being on  a relatively crowded street. I decided, that before I changed my shopping trip strategy, I should be sure if the man was such a creep.

I stopped in front of the fruit and vegetable shop and looked with interest at the oranges on display. The man walked passed, and much to my horror, stopped and turned and started walking towards me hissing.

I turned to him, and said loudly 'stop it. Just stop it.'

He said, in Spanish, that he didn't understand me. I told him to stop it, loudly, and started to turn to passers by in an attempt to embarrass him. He just smiled in such a foul way, I wondered where he came from and for how long he had been doing this for. He was hardened.

I called the attention of two young men walking down the street who stopped and looked at the man. I walked passed them all, and went to a different supermarket a few streets away.

Honestly, I kept looking over my shoulder to see if he was there.

I kept thinking, but, what did he do, actually? Imagine I had to explain to police what happened. And actually, nothing much happened at all. But the feeling he gave me, was oppressive. He had very evil intentions.

Anyway, although I felt unhappy for twenty minutes or so, I was glad I didn't just ignore it. That I faced the man, and said something instead of pretending. I'm not going to walk down the street being afraid, just because of one man.

Photo: Tiffany Jones

Honk Away

I don't know if it was the cortado taking immediate effect, or the too full glass of wine I had for lunch dousing my sensitivity, but I just had an about turn.

I was standing at the lights, waiting to cross when an old woman in a car was hesitating to turn. Another car behind her, beeped loudly and insistently, and I laughed. Well, inside. When the 'beeper' went past, and I saw the look of cool disregard on her face, I laughed a bit more.

Maybe my British heritage is finally loosing up here, as it turns into spring time, melting away as the last of the snow.

However, it could just be the first beep of many to come in the warmer weather. Honking does seem to increase in the warmer weather. Could be a cool statistic to learn and quote at appropriate moments in conversation.  Or not.

Photo taken from C's

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 

The Best Book to Learn Catalan for New Beginners

Passos 1 - Passos 1 Nivell Bàsic: Llibre de classe. (Octaedro Ed.).

So, we've been here for 9 months now, and I still haven't really come far in my Catalan. I'm struggling with everything.

However, one good thing occurred since the last time I wrote about my Catalan classes.   I quit.

Yes, I had a big argument with my partner Albert (who is Catalan to the bones) and I quit my classes.  I asked the school if I could go back to another class. The level was too difficult. I couldn't understand anything. After several weeks, we were called up with a new class.

The text book I'm using is fantastic for learners of Catalan who do not speak Spanish. (that's my category) There is a lot of repetition and it goes easy on the verbs. Perfect.

I have taught English in Japan, Norway and here in Spain, and I'm always on the look out for excellent language books. This one is highly recommended and the best of the four I've seen before.

Wish me good luck!

Oh! and this year, our resolution was to speak Catalan at home on Mondays through to Thursdays. I think its going to make a big difference for us.

Photo: Tiffany Jones

Happy New Year for 2010!!

Its time to say goodbye to 2009 (two thousand and nine) and greet the new year with a big smile of welcome.

At this time of year, many of us spend time remembering the past and promising ourselves not to make the same mistakes for the new year.  We make lists of things we’d like to do, and bad habits we’d like to give up.

In this last year I moved to Granollers from Australia. Its been a year of change, acceptance and adaptation.  In 2009 I’ve begun to learn a new language and discover a new culture while making new friends and exploring a new landscape.

I’ve lived through my first hot granite summer in Granollers, my first St John day (St Joan), my first festa major, my discovery of noisy fire crackers and the devils running through the streets, my first dolmen, the Caganer, the Caga Tio, and soon my first experience of the three kings. I’ve been to the Montsegn in the Autumn, to Montserrat to pay my respects to our lady  the Black Virgin, to the Costa Brava for relief from the sun,  to Tarragona to see the statue of the human castles. And that is just my first 6 months here.

Its time to begin to cast our eyes into the future. To receive my first rose for St George’s Day (St Jordi), to see the spring sunshine begin to warm the city faces of  Granollerians, to discover a new host of fairs and festivals celebrating the history of the area.

My friends and family ask me if I am happy here. I must admit that its difficult sometimes. And yet, yes, I say, I’m happy here. Many people are warm and generous and I love the food.

I like to walk the streets in the middle of the day, when its quiet and there is little traffic on the roads. I like to sit and think of all the people that have passed through these streets on their way to and from Barcelona.  The history of the town walls impresses me every time I think about it. Europeans have only been in Australia for little over 200 years, so our history is really quite different.

Yes, I say, I am happy here. So, in typical Aussie fashion, let me raise my cold beer (its summer back home you know) and say ‘three cheers for the new year’. Wishing you all a happy new year for 2010.

Originally published in Revista del Valles.