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Hello again. Hola!

Growing up August was family holiday time. In Wales the first two weeks in August was traditionally holiday fortnight. Though it may have been the last week of July and the first week of August ~ also known as miners fortnight when the mines closed down completely and the pit ponies were put out to grass for their summer holidays. Factories closed down as well. Generally growing up that was when we took the family holiday.

Now I’m retired every week is a holiday. Well. A holiday of sorts.

Hauser & Wirth

It’s been a funny old summer. We haven’t travelled very far, with both of us recuperating from various health issues.

I haven’t been hugely mobile which has been annoyingly restrictive and has meant no overseas trips. That is until now. To be fair trips have largely been limited to hospital, consultant , physio and chiropractor. Don’t even ask about A&E.

It’s been over 3 months since we were last in Spain. For months I’ve been in pain from a prolapse disc and walking hasn’t been easy. And despite my vanity I succumbed to a walking stick. Of course it had to be a flowery one.

The consultant and the physio said that they were surprised I wasn’t in more pain. Ha. More pain. Whilst the pain has now subsided to an manageable level, I had to tell them that was enough. So it’s been a mad old summer. And one we missed in Spain.

Not that I wouldn’t have been complaining if we had been able to travel. The heat here has been hideous ~ and there have been enough people complaining.

But we are back. It’s September.

As Tom said ‘ the old town looks the same ‘ but it has changed a bit. The roundabout that’s actually a roundabout has had structures and a water feature added and a welcome to Competa sign.

There’s been a fake house put up where I believe the donkey will be placed. Not a real one. The real one is on the other side of the valley. Braying daily. ( the donkey has in fact now returned)

Pueblo Blanco Competa

Welcome home

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I bloody love this place. I still get that buzz of excitement when I arrive at the gate. Still grumble ‘ which key is it’ on the set of jail size keychain. Still think that path needs a sweep.

Up the garden path

The windey path does need a sweep but the plants look like they have survived remarkably well during the heat wave.

Yes. They do get a bit of water but not from the irrigation system which has been turned off. Friends check the house and water for us amongst a whole raft of other things. We would be lost without them.

Back to the irrigation – A tree rat ~ like a squirel ~ chewed one of the plastic pipes in the garden and bearing in mind the irrigation came on only for a very short time at night it resulted in us having a hideous water bill.

More for one quarter than we pay in 3/4 years ~ total.

The gardener knew we were arriving and had been in and had cut the hedge. Had shaped the olive tree and had cut the roundabout that’s not a roundabout as well as the rear banks. None of which I am safe to do these days. I’d end up rolling down the hill to the main road and beyond. Not a pretty sight. Me. Not the banks as they look great.

The roundabout that’s not a roundabout
The roundabout that’s not

Can I just say the gardener isn’t in daily or weekly and does the jobs I can’t. His knowledge is brilliant and he knows the plants that should and will grow well.

When we moved in the path was a stunning lavender path which was coming to the end of its days. I tried hard to keep it but it had had its day. The problem was that it hadn’t been cut back regularly and you can’t cut back into old wood. Though I tried.

I replanted. It didn’t work so I’ve planted grasses along with creeping rosemary which is fantastic. Thanks to seeing posts from Pepperpot herbs who sell it in the Uk and from whom I have bought some for Somerset.

Rosemary and grasses
Down the garden path

A few years ago I asked for the olive tree to be pruned. When asked whether I wanted it pruned for olives or looks I said both. Which whilst typical for me it was the wrong answer. It could be one or the other.

We did get a decent crop of olives which when black I would pick, prick and dry salt them. That’s if we were here ~ and it’s a tedious job.

Otherwise they would just drop and make a mess. So shape it was.

Olives and curry

Topiary olive tree

Am I happy. You bet I am. It’s now really taking shape. Pun intended.

Curry topiary

You can now get a strong whiff of curry as you walk up the path past the olive tree. I planted three curry plants under the olive in the raised circular bed and have quickly tidied them up ~ but my attempt at topiary is rough. Just don’t ask me to trim your hair.

There’s obviously been a bit of calima ~ winds and red dust blown over the tables and chairs. Adds ‘ a clean’ to my list.

The agapanthus are over and the seed heads heavy. Some have seed heads. Some don’t. I’m sure someone will tell me why.

Just like the oleander. Some have spectacular long seed heads which when open are fluffy. That’s the correct technical term. Right?

Oleander seed heads
Foxtail agave

I love the foxtail agave which I’ve mentioned once or twice before. It’s a plant that keeps on giving. Young plants have grown alongside which have been replanted elsewhere in the garden. Once the agave flowers the plant dies. This one is over ten years old and I’m hoping it doesn’t flower.

Plumeria

The plumeria/frangipani has flowered well again, I know I haven’t been here but I get photos of what’s flowering. Both are still in flower. . The yellow has a better scent ~ as long as you stick your nose up close. But the colours zing.

Yellow plumeria
Stephanotis

I smile when I look at many of the plants growing in the garden. This is one of them and I have grown it as an indoor plant. The waxy white flowers of the stephanotis. Not enough flowers for a bridal bouquet so Ian fear not. It’s in a large pot, a bit woody but has been flowering for over 8 years. Not continually obviously.

Another plant growing outside is a Swiss cheese plant. In Olden days – my childhood – popular indoor plants included the rubber plant , the Swiss cheese plant and a purple tradescantia. We have the latter two growing in the Mediterranean garden in Cómpeta. I never liked them indoors but they are tolerated in the garden. Unlike the clivia which was an indoor plant in my office which I loved in a pot so I and am happy to have a dozen in the gate bed.

Jasmine sambac

We have 4 different jasmine dotted around the garden. This one is sambac ~ highly scented and one that is used in perfume and tea ~ an evergreen which is grown in a large pot. We also have jasmine azoricum ~ a lemon scented jasmine rambling over some black railings. It is a bit woody but a great scent. There’s a scraggy white one which I’m not sure of its name but it springs up everywhere.

One that’s in so many gardens here and in the uk ~ the star jasmine the one I can’t spell without copying it. Trachelospermum jasminoides which is ok in this garden but not a mad grower.

I’d forgotten the yellow winter jasmine which grows like fury. But it is a harsh yellow with no scent. I know. I want everything. Colour. Shape perpetual flowing and importantly scent. Fickle. Me. Yes.

I have seen a really lovely yellow with much larger flowers growing furiously down a wall in the village. I might borrow a cutting next time I pass.

Aeonium

This aeoniun was a broken limb from one I have in a pot. Shoved in the ground hoping for the best and ignored. It has, along with a few others taken off. It always reminds me of aliens. I have no idea why.

Grewia
Grewia

I’d forgotten about this. Planted in what I call mozzie avenue at the side of the house it’s another straggly plant but has such a beautiful flower. I had to recheck it’s name.~ Grewia occidentalis a shrubby plant that can be grown as a shrub or a small tree. Really pretty purple flowers. My friend Google tells me it beats fruits and it’s common name is Cross berry. Who knew? I didn’t. I’m shallow. I just liked its look.

Mozzie alley

Heaven
Competa sunsets
Plaza almijara

I’d like to say that’s it’s not all been gardening or house stuff. Or paying bills.

But unusually we haven’t been off the mountain the whole time we have been this visit.

Am I complaining. Never. It’s been lovely catching up with our Spanish friends and catching up on the news of the last 3 months. It won’t be as long until the next trip. Dates and Tickets booked.

But first is a visit to Madrid.

Back home to Somerset to a log fire, long trousers and no mozzies.

Competa

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When blogs are like buses and the Popes Hat.

In My experience you wait ages for a bus and then two or three come and once. Also in my experience I have nothing to say ( don’t !) for a while then I do. Sadly my experience with public transport has changed. I have had to hand back my old f***s pass as we have moved out of London. That hurts. But I have applied for my new bus pass which will just cover buses and but not tubes and local trains.

After an absence of 6 months we returned to Spain. I’ve already mentioned the joy of the return to the house and garden. But the visit wasn’t all garden and village life.

The Alhambra from the other side

When we first bought Casa Verano every visitor wanted to go to The Alhambra. 1.5 hours away. In the first year I went 6 times and was so familiar with it that it was a standing joke. I could be a tour guide. Except my Spanish would let me down.

Sadly we couldn’t get tickets this trip ~ so instead we had a day out in Granada itself. I always thought that the Costas were all Sand sea and sangria but trust me. There’s more to them than that. Malaga is a very underrated city with plenty of culture and foodie delights.

Granada is the same. The best thing is that we have the parking sussed. Parking in Spanish cities can be trying. Generally the underground car parks aren’t built for larger modern vehicles. I won’t mention the time I parked in Malaga and couldn’t find the car. Thats history. But in Granada we have found a favourite just 5 mins off the motorway. Large. Easy to find and next to a landmark.

Monasterio San Jerónimo

The parking is just close to the Monasatario san jeronimo ~ a Román Catholic monastery with an interesting history. A lovely church and two cloisters quietly tucked behind some gates it is a hidden gem, and never busy.

Steps to the altar
All that glitters

Despite my dodgy back and having to use a walking stick I managed to get around Granada pretty well. With a few coffee and cake stops thrown in obviously.

Walking uphill in the narrow cobbled streets was easier than on the flat which was a bit of a surprise. We had watched an episode of Michael Portillo travelling around Spain earlier in the week and he had visited Granada. In the episode he visited a bakery where they made a cake ~ which was nicknamed the popes hat ~ the pionono.

I had never seen them before but we happened to stop at a modern cafe and there they were! Not the ones he made ~ he’d admit he wasn’t that good or quick. They were delicious.

Pionono

In Malaga we have seen the farton which I haven’t tried largely because my childish humour stops me asking for them. It’s a long sweet elongated pastry, which I’ll try when we are next in Malaga but I’ve just read it hails from Valancia. One of my favourite places to visit in Spain.

There is so much that is stylish about European cities. Even the street lights. Beats the glow from ours. How I hate the LED’s. We have just one in the hamlet. One too many for me.

Street life

A quick visit to the cathedral ~ where like most other cultural sites you exit through the gift shop.

But it’s quite a magnificent cathedral with not one but two identical organs opposite each other. Reminded me of the church in Camberwell which once a month had organ karaoke. The sound from these two would be awesome.

Cathedral Granada

The streets of Granada

Spanish health and safety
Colours

So it wasn’t all gardening. We did have a trip or two to Nerja. When we first had the house I didn’t particular like Nerja but times have changed. Especially if I want a pizza. Yes. I also like pineapple on pizza. Don’t judge me !

I’d never heard of Nerja but then again I’d never heard of Competa until March 2017. But speaking to an old colleague at the time I mentioned Nerja ~ ‘oh we went there on our honeymoon’ which was 40 years before. Then to an old neighbour from Somerset ~ ‘oh we have been going there for years’. Last to the party !

Nerja
I want that cave house
Balcón de Europe

A trip to Algarrobo for lunch. Algarrobo is down the wiggly road to the coast approx 15 miles away. A long beach with a long promenade dotted with plenty of places to eat. Down To Lidl and Mercadona and the occasional walk along the long promenade. But last year on the walk we stopped at a chiringuito we had walked past many times ~ and have been back numerous times since. Great food. Awesome service with sea views.

View from lunch

Beach baby

Walk to the car

But we needed to be back in Somerset for April and May. It is tulip time after all.

Have I said I like tulips ?

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Viva España ‘25

It’s been a while. 6 months to be exact. We have had a lot going on which meant planning was pretty impossible for a trip to Spain. But things have settled down now ( sort of ) and we are settled in Somerset. Which shouldn’t be a surprise as it’s not a new place for us. Though after 30 odd years we are still not from down ‘ere. I can say that we do have family there though. Grandad who’s not our grandad ~ pushing it ~ but god children count don’t they ?

Like a film set

Nothing like an early start ~ a 6.15 flight. There’s a first time for everything and this ramp to board the plane was one of them. Thankfully we were so far back we were on the tail wing. And only had the normal stair. The bonus for us is that we can manage with a small bag so we can wait until nearly every one boards. Without the pushing and shoving to squeeze a cabin bag into the overhead lockers.

Are we there yet ?

The other good thing about an early flight is that you have the whole day when you arrive. Well almost- obviously.

Welcome home

I’ve said it before I always have a feeling of joy when I arrive at the house. 8 years later this hasn’t dimmed at all. This time we were greeted with an explosion of colour at the gate. The mimosa that has sprouted from old dead remains has gone bonkers. A piercing acid yellow blob of flowers hanging low by the gate. Buzzing with bees. Heavy in scent and lethal in pollen.

Down the garden path

I’ve said it before but I repeat myself. Often. When we completed on the house the gate had no lock. It should have been done before I arrived but me being me got the call at the Chelsea flower show that completion had gone through and two days later I was here. Impatient. Me ?

On my first morning I heard a noise at the gate and went to find that it had been taken off its hinges and was being loaded into the back of a van. My Spanish now isn’t great. But then it was all hola and gracias. In my Spanglish I worked out that they were taking the gate away to fit a lock ~ so I asked how long it would be away. Rudely I got two fingers. Before I said anything , though quite what I could say that they would understand was beyond me it clicked. It would be back in 2 hours. It was. On the dot. Lock fitted and hung.

I spy echiums

Before arriving back I’d been told that it had rained for weeks. There had been flash floods. The reservoirs were no longer a concern and that there was still water outing off the mountain. And through a spring in our garden somewhere. I’d been looking at the garden camera anyway watching the torrential rain battering the plants.

To be fair I wittered all the way up the mountain that I was staggered how green the land was. And it was. Greener than I had seen it in 8 years. But oh. The garden. Ignore the creeping weeds. It was looking fabulous.

Variegated yucca
Curved path

Things had grown. A lot. Scented pelargoniums along the path planted largely to deter mozzies had gone bonkers. Agapanthus springing up everywhere. Sadly three large yucca had become attacked by the nasty grub like beetle, which have devastated the large agave and are now on the attack on yucca. The grubs ~ All white and horrible. So a week later the yucca have been taken down. Whilst the light on the kitchen window flower bed is welcome the majestic form of the extra large yucca is sad to see go. Ian is planning what goes there next.

Rosemary and grasses

The yucca in the above photo are not the ones to have been removed. These are the rather lovely variegated yucca. They may have a year left although I was told that the bugs didn’t seem to be attacking the variegated type. Maybe they don’t taste as good. Who knows? We will see.

When we bought the house the windy path was edged with lavender. A gorgeous sight and scent but over the years the pruning had diminished and we all know that pruning into old wood is a no no. I replanted with new lavender to no success. So I looked for an alternative. Bowled over by a path at Ulting Wick which had gaura ~ I tried that. But that didn’t work here in Spain. I then planted a mix of grasses and creeping and upright rosemary and that has done wonders. Friends who help keep an eye on the house and water the garden call them triffids. The rain and heat has certainly brought them on. The rosemary. Not the friends.

Creeping Rosemary

Don’t look at the path. It needs a clean but I’m waiting for the sun to burn off as much as it can before I start.

Shaped olive

The olive tree is in the process of being shaped. It will continue < when asked if I wanted it cut for olives or shape I of course said both. Not possible. One or the other. So I chose the other. Now it’s beginning to take shape. I asked today whether the one I have planted in a large pot should be replanted into the ground. Where do you want to live. The campo or in an apartment. Which meant the ground. So it will be planted.

Foxtail agave

There are a number of foxtail agaves dotted around the garden. Some taken from the mother plant and replanted. Others brought in by the gardener to fill gaps. They are one of my favourite plants but just as long as they don’t throw out the long flower. Then they will die.

Purple and yellow

I said this was Durante Repens in one of my Instagram posts. I lied. It’s not. It’s Hardenbergia ~ Australian wisteria. which was cut to the ground two years ago and is once again flowering like crazy and enticing the bees to party. Against the yellow of the mimosa and the blue of the sky it’s a beauty.

Curry plant

The topiary of the curry plant ~ I don’t know how it happened but it did. It had grown straggly so I just clipped it and continue to do it. Let’s be honest ; the flowers are insignificant anyway. But in the really hot months you do get the whiff of curry as you walk up the path. Not to everyone’s taste but at least o didn’t do a curry path.

The succulent has sat on this table since September and is a glorious colour. It also looks pretty good. From the front. Look at the back and you see its stuffed in a green pot plonked in the urn. Just don’t look. Don’t judge. !

Tea and biscuits
Freesia

I have previously planted freesia from Peter Nyssen in both pots and in borders. It’s hit and miss whether I see them of not as many years we are not here when they bloom. But this year they are amazing. The colours of both the single and the doubles look fabulous. An overrated word but one that sums these up.

Yellow

The scent is gorgeous and they always make me think of the lovely Karen Lynes at PN who has been the best example of customer service ever. Karen and a dear friend Enid who used to come and check the house and always go away with enough for a small vase. Tony, Enid’s husband continues the tradition. I always teased her she was stealing my flowers.

Underrated.

A very underrated plant in this garden is the osteospenmum < with some brutal dead heading you’ll get flowers for months and they spread. It’s a win win situation.

Ferns

I’ll repeat myself say this again ~ this shouldn’t happen. These ferns are in full sunlight in all winds and weathers but especially the brutal heat of the summer. Fed a little. Watered. Tidied~ they have grown massive. Two at the end of the path and three outside the garage doors. All doing magnificently.

It’s not been all weeding and looking at plants. We have ventured off the mountain. To the coast of Nerja. To Algarrobo costa for lunch.

Coastal

There will be more gardening. More trips to the coast. Eating out and hopefully the continuing sunshine.

Hopefully it won’t be another 6 months before we are back.

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Viva España ‘24

In the words of that well known popular song ~

Oh, this year I’m off to sunny Spain Y Viva españa

I’m taking the costa brava plane Y Viva españa

Well we have arrived. But to the Costa del Sol not Brava

A late flight delayed by an hour pushing our arrival in Malaga after midnight. I slept the whole way, as I can sleep anywhere.

What is it with boarding a plane. A mad rush to stuff as much luggage that you can into the overhead locker whilst blocking the aisles so people can’t take their seats. Luckily we can just take a small bag along to be shoved under the seat.

We arrived at casa verano at 2.30am not meeting any vehicles either up or down the mountain.

Altitude

It’s been a while since we have been here and it was obviously dark when we arrived so garden inspection had to wait.

Up the garden path

It’s been a hot summer. And dry but surprisingly the garden has fared well. Thanks to the help we have when we aren’t here. Yes. A few things singed to an inch of their life. Some beyond. The echiums which were magnificent this year are like firewood. Dry as anything. I suspect they won’t return. Maybe that’s why I have bought two this week as replacements.

The old olive tree.

The gardener asked me two years ago how I wanted the olive pruned. For fruit or shape. Me being me and wanting it all replied both. Nope. One of the other you can’t have both. Mind you it was in Spanish so he could have been saying anything. I replied shape. So he has been shaping it each time it has been pruned. To be fair I love it and it’s a great statement piece in the garden. It’s also stopped me moaning about the ripe olives dropping on the terrace and being squashed when we aren’t here and leaving stains. It also means I can’t dry salt the olives. But they are a plenty around here

Curry plant

Who knew you could do a bit of topiary on the curry plant. There are 3 under the olive and on a whim I trimmed them into shape earlier in the year. On a hot day you get a whiff of curry as you walk up the path. Something different to lavender.

Curry anyone ?

Happy to see that the Durante Repens is in flower. I often miss it as in miss it as it flowers when we aren’t here. That happens a lot. But the good thing is I get sent photos to keep me updated.

Durante Repens.

I need to give it a bit of a prune. As I do a lot of things. It’s just remembering when ~ makes a note in book


Urginea maritima

Oh the joy of being in the right place at the right time. When I was here last the leaves of the sea squill had died back. Right back to the bulb and I thought here we go again. I’ve missed the flower. Hmm. Silly boy – I remembered it only flowers after the leaves die back. I’d planted a few a few years back and they took a while to settle. They sulked a bit. No flowers. So it was a joy to see not just one but four in different stages of flower. The flower spikes are tall and elegant coming from a big fat bulb. One of the biggest I have planted ~ I may need more.

We have one large yucca which has been attacked by the same bug that has hit the large Agave – eats it from the root so often the first you know is when they topple over. It’s a I bummer as so many large plant have succumbed.

The variegated ones seem so far to have been spared. But I’m not counting chickens. Yet.

Foxtail Agave

One of my favourite plants in the garden ~ the foxtail agave. Small plants grow at the base of the mother plant and I have planted half a dozen in the bed at the back of the house. Dry as anything they have all taken and are all at various stages of growth. And so low maintainence.

New Strelitzia

Of course I have bought new plants. It would be wrong not to~ wouldn’t it ?

This one is strelitzia Mandela gold. A new one for me. Of course I bought two. We have a number of strelitzia reginae in the garden. But there is always room for more.

I think we missed the loquats. And the figs. Both roasted on the tree. Not the same one obv, but shrivelled.

Next batch

But the next batch of figs are appearing ~ maybe they will be ripe by the next trip. I could do with some good fig and ginger jam.

Chateau Verano

We have grapes. Singular as in one bunch which I will pick over the weekend. And eat. In previous years when we have had a decent harvest I’ve made grape and rosemary jelly. Not this year though. We also have a quince tree. Which has one remaining quince. Roasted on the tree as well so no Quince and Rosemary jelly this year.

I’ve tried to work on a border a day. It never works as I start with great intentions then move on to the next border and back to the one I started yesterday. A bit like a butterfly.

This is mozzie alley. Alongside of the house where I’m guaranteed to get bitten. Part sunny part shady. Full on mozzie territory.

Almond trees

I have wandered around the back of the house in singularly unattractive old yoga kinda leggings. There are still mozzies about who love my iron overloaded blood. I look like Max Wall. If you are too young to know what I’m talking about. Ask your parents.

We have maybe 5 or 6 almond trees. This year I haven’t picked any of the almonds. To be honest it’s a bit of a faff. Pick the drupe ( who knew). Remove the husk to find the nut. Then dry the nut to extract moisture or they go mouldy. All fine. All doable. The biggest issue. Cracking the dried nuts.

Pomegranate

Two months ago friends and neighbours from Somerset were visiting the area when I was here. That’s the first time we have coordinated our travel plans. They drove up the windey road for lunch which I was preparing. I had warned them it would be like having young children in the car with an ear worm. Are we there yet? How much further. The road. Makes me feel sick.

I decided on what I was cooking. Bought the fresh ingredients. All bar a pomegranate which could not be bought locally. I was looked at strangely and told to look on the tree. I’d see flowers. No local pomegranate. So I drove for an hour to the market in Malaga ~ not a huge issue as it’s fabulous and I could go alone and eat churros and have the sweetest cup of coffee ever * cafe bonbom. Coffee. Hot milk and condensed milk. So sweet you only want one.

I bought a huge pomegranate ~ obviously imported. If you asking it was a

Ballymaloe red quinoa tabouleh

with toasted pine nuts. And pomegranate.

Why am I wittering on. I know it’s usual but there is a point. Today I found not one but two pomegranates on two trees in the garden. In 7 years we haven’t had one. It must be a sign.

Particularly great timing for a new moon bearing my mind the lack of harvest. A glorious Harvest Moon.

I haven’t crossed the road to the roundabout that’s not a roundabout. But I will. I’ve briefly looked at the pine trees and they look fine ~ to be honest would I really know?

I’ve been clearing one of the flower beds and I have planted the new strelitzia. Weeded. Moved two clivia ~ in the wrong place ~ brought some agapanthus pots around and have two new shrubby kind of plants to add over the weekend. We have had a weather warning for an overnight storm so it will make planting easier. Hopefully I won’t need the pick axe. I’m not joking.

We had planned a day out to Ronda but I had read in the Spanish paper that Netflix were filming there for the week at various locations in the town. So it was a no go. Too many restrictions and probably too many people.

So in a whim we decided late in the day to drive to Antequera. An hour and a half away.

The rain in Spain

We arrived in sunshine parked the car and started walking to the cultural sights. Where it chucked it down. Not forecast. Not dressed for rain and who wants to get wet and your hair to go curly ~ so we stopped for lunch and watched other people get wet.

Wet wet wet

Like many Spanish towns the walk to the Alcazar is up steps. Many many steps. With my dodgy back and sciatica it takes longer than it should. But there’s always time to stop and look and whip out the camera which is brought along as well as the phone camera.

View from the steps

The narrow streets

Thankfully a one way street ~ don’t mention the time we drove through Setenil de las Bodegas with its narrow streets, with houses emerging from boulders and cave restaurants. At one point as I was driving through whilst breathing in and as it got narrower I was on the point of abandoning the car.

View to the Torcal

A wander up those steps to the alcazabar and Iglesia del Carmen. Ian in charges of the tickets and he asks for one standard and one for an old person. In Spanish ~ and the tickets are handed over. Whilst I’m happy for a discounted ticket I am disappointed I don’t get asked for proof of age.

The usual view

The views of the town town are spectacular from so many viewing points and the added bonus is that Antequera is a hidden gem. No crowds.

High on a hill

Half woman half serpent

This was part of a float in the church. How scary.

Tarasca ~ half serpent. Half lady used in the Corpus Christi procession. You would t want to meet it in the dark though.

We had planned to go to one of Spain’s many Unesco world heritage sights Antequerra Dolmans

but realised it closed at 3pm. That means we have to go back which is t a hardship. It’s well worth a visit.

So it’s been back to the garden. Supper with friends. More gardening. Tomorrow is a visit to the bank with money laundering documentation. Not to enable me to do it. But the standard regular check up on where funds come from. I’m practicing my Spanish but will take Ian with me.

Yes. Spain have actual banks ~ 3 in the pueblo banco but we will be driving down the wiggly road to ours.

One thing for sure before we head back to Somerset. There will be more ice cream.

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Here and there!

It’s been a funny few weeks. Or months to be honest. Who said retirement would be boring. Who told me I would be bored within six months. Well. I have just celebrated 8 years since I hung up my suit. To be honest I’m not sure where the time has gone. The had been a lot of water under the bridge in that time as well as through the house.with the flood which could have been worse in May. We are still without flooring as the contractors had difficulty getting the floor up. So new contractors were involved. They came and reviewed. Then went away. Two months later they were back to review again and a date was booked to remove the floor.

In the meantime we ordered the floor ( as in ordered the materials) and paid the deposit. To be told. There is a 12 week lead time. Then two weeks ago we found out that the company who were local and been trading since the 70’s had gone bust. A week after we had paid the deposit. Nothing like being told at 4.45 on a Friday. So the saga continues. We then cancelled a week away as the weather forecast was pants. The ground in Somerset was ready to plant rice and the river was high. Thankfully it stayed where it should be.

Bored yet. To be honest I’m bored talking about it. We have a date for the floor to be removed. I have yet not plucked up the enthusiasm to go and see the alternative suppliers which will now have an even longer lead time as they will be picking up the other work as well.

But it gave me time to enjoy the final days of the plants in the garden at the cottage and wait for the first frosts to kill off the coleus pots and the geraniums. This took a while. But when it did it did it quickly. The coleus have been pretty remarkable this year and I had forgotten how much I led the colours. It was probably in the 1970’s ~ 80’s since I last grew them. They will be the staple of the summer pots again next year. Another bonus was that this year there were no poo bags casually thrown into the pots by people walking by. We had removed an old water pump from the front which had been stuffed with poo bags and rubbish. I was lucky as I had said that if it continued there would be no tulips and that would be s**t. Apologies but my language was pretty ripe when having to clear the mess.

Back to nicer things. The canna have been brilliant this year. the new ones have done well and flowered earlier than the ones I left in the ground. To be honest I wasn’t sure they had survived but survive they did. It took the canna Annei a long time to get going but it reached over 5 ft and flowered just before the first frost. This isn’t Annei.

But when it’s over it’s over. The first frost had the leaves. The canna will be cut back. In the meantime I emptied half of the compost from each of the 15 large tulip pots and mulched the canna. Just as well as the temperatures then dropped liked the proverbial stone.

Have I said I like tulips maybe once or a thousand times. So the pots were emptied. Well half each pot was. Then planted up.

As usual I had a plan. A list of all the tulips of which there were many. The number. The height. The colour. When they would flower. And a suggestion of a planting plan for 15 large pots.

Guess what? The plan lasted all of 2 pots. Then I freestyled. So it will be another year of what the lovely Karen at Peter Nyssen calls my “dolly mixture planting” But they are in. I have yet to plant the ones in London. There aren’t any for Spain this year. Last years were a bit as they say on my Saturday night entertainment show a bit of ‘ a disaster darling’

Back in London my attention turned to the tree ferns. They said it was getting colder. Threats of snow. Frost. We were going away for a week. I had put straw in the crowns a week before and sometimes I fleece. Sometimes I don’t. Thankfully I had fleece and the 5 tree ferns are all fleeced. Though I suspect Cybil the resident squirrel will steal parts of each one to make the dray. Last year it was in the large jasmine.

Note to self. Remember to change over the straw if there’s been rain and a heavy frost. It will ice up.

Now it’s Spain where we haven’t been for a while. It’s always a kind of a surprise how we will find the garden. I know. Through the gate is a good start. We do get photos of the garden when we aren’t here which is hugely appreciated. Bearing in mind the weather we have had in Spain with extreme heat and very little rainfall the garden is looking pretty good. Very good. The temperatures have now dropped. There has been sprinklings of rain and on Friday before we arrived it chucked it down. It has also rained a fair bit since.

It’s pretty green. We do have it watered once a week albeit Sparingly. I’ve never appreciated water as much as I do now. ~ back in the uk we take it for granted. We open a tap and out it comes. Both hot and cold. This summer there was a directive from the council. We would have water every three days. In reality sometimes we went 5 days. We should have had it on day 3 but the houses above us had their water deposits topped up first. Then the system overheats. So we don’t get water. A phone call to the town hall and a man on a scooter ( not blowing his hooter) drives to wherever and switches the supply. We then get water. In summer with a high influx of visitors there is a huge demand but thankfully we have a water deposit which can keep us going. I digress. As is usual. I reminded Ian of the 1976 slogan when there were water shortages. ‘Save water. Bath with a friend’. He was not amused. He said save water. Shower by yourself.

Thankfully the grasses have survived in the windey path and are doing really well. Along with the creeping rosemary. I still dream of my lavender path and at some point it may be replanted. But the rosemary does so much better in the dry conditions.

The olive tree is coming along nicely. It’s ancient and we had to make the decision to have it pruned. Either for fruit. Or looks. So we have gone for looks and it’s being shaped and I am really pleased with it. Especially as I’m not the one doing the shapes. It gave us some great olives but it’s only one tree and in the past I have picked and salted them but to be honest it’s a a faff. So I went for looks. Shallow I know.

Excitement. The huge bulbs of Urginea maritima (sea squill) are back again. They throw out the leaves and eventually die back in the summer only to throw out the white spires of flowers in Autumn. Usually when we aren’t here.

The autumnal colours of the dodonea look amazing with the reds. The foliage is the best and the flowers are pretty insignificant.

Many of the pines locally have died off over the last 12 months. A mix of a low water table and some kind of disease. I am so happy that these are still on the drybbank at the entrance to the house. I love them. Except for the pine needles and the procession art caterpillars. Two years ago we cleared the needles from under the trees. 2024 looks like it will happen again. But not around processionary caterpillar season. I also need to get them gently pruned. and any dead wood cut out. Adds to list.

It’s been a week of all seasons. We arrived after heavy rain. Enough sun another day to be in the garden. But today the mist and fog came rolling in from the coast and up to the hills and the valley. It gives a lovely eerie light.

There has been some gardening. A bit of a fork over of the ground to allow the rain to sink in rather than roll off the top. It’s been a while since I’ve seen the ground so wet which made a perfect opportunity to do a bit of planting. A few echium to add to the ones I bought a year ago. I planted 6 opposite the garage and I’m pleased that 5 have survived. Another four planted in the area in front of the garage beds.

I also took the plunge and removed the small baby foxtail agaves from the large parent agave in a pot and have planted them at the rear of the house. It’s a dry area and the 3 new ones have been added to the 4 I planted last year which have grown well.

More rain is forecast. But not the deluges that we are getting in the UK especially the Somerset garden. I’m thinking of using the garden to grow rice. It’s that wet.

I love this time of year in Andalucia ~ although this week has been a bit colder and wetter there have still been some great sunsets. I bore myself with the photos ~ there’s a need to review and delete.

The light at sunset if fabulous and the wall of glass in the casa gets a glorious colour wash when the sun goes down. Ian brought a lot of glass across in his suitcase when we first bought the house. He was bolder than me and packed some delicate pieces.

He only had one time when he was questioned about what he had packed. He had gone through security. Bag checked in. After a while he had his name come over security. Please return to check in. He couldn’t as he was the other side so he found a security guy to take him through the back areas. To be questioned.

What’s this.? It’s a large piece of glass. And this. It’s solar lights for the garden. And these. Tea bags. He had to admit that on the scanner the combination looked suspect. But it shows that security does work.

Back in the summer we commissioned a local artist who was showing in the Cómpeta Art walk to do two portraits of us. She has surprised us with a picture at the art walk which we saw when we visited the exhibition and loved it. it’s now ready to go on the wall when we can stop disagreeing where it’s going.

She has now shown us the two individual ones which are being framed. We love them and they will also go on the wall. The trouble is we are running out of space for the black and white prints I have finally had the courage to be printed and framed.

She has included the love of glass in Ian’s and in mine the background is tulips.

Have I ever mentioned glass and tulips before.!

I haven’t included the joint picture as a copy has been used this year as our Christmas card ~ rather self indulgent I know but it’s too fabulous not to share.

As we prepare to leave to head back to a busy few weeks in the uk the pueblo blanco is preparing for the Christmas festivities.

The lights are going up. The restaurants are booked for Xmas and New year and the village is adorned with red poinsettia. Along the walls of La rampa ~ outside houses. We went to a garden centre in the week and it’s just not red that’s available. The colours are all there and the standard poinsettia are brilliant.

It will be a few weeks before we return. There’s bulbs to plant in London. A sitting room floor to be sorted ~ and colder and wetter weather to return to.

But. Feliz Navidad will be playing in the car along with all of the other festive tunes !

Posted on by happyretiredblog · 2 Comments

A cold & wet Mediterranean garden

Another eventful trip done. A trillion miles walked ~ OK that’s a bit of an exaggeration but that’s what it feels like when you squeeze as much into 4 days as you can. Am I complaining. A bit ~ I need to learn to pace myself better. I’m not as young as I was. Or as I think I am. I was reminded that I have shoes older than some of the people on the paella lesson we had in Valencia.

We were lucky with the weather in Valencia. Warm days but cooler nights. We knew that when we got home and up the mountain it would be cooler. First we had to battle the obligatory boarding chaos that seems to happen often. I blame cabin baggage and the fight to stuff as much as you can in the overhead lockers before anyone else can. We were away for 4 nights only but still had a carry on. A bag that is. When we come straight to La Casa we can travel with a tiny bag.

The drive from Malaga home takes an hour. The main roads in Spain move freely nearly all of the time and this route skirts along the coast of the Costa del Sol with glimpses of the sea and the mountains. It also means that on leaving the airport the temperature was 16/17* When we arrived 2,000 ft up the mountain the temperature had dropped considerably. Some 8 or 9*.

The campo houses aren’t built for winter. They were primarily used for the summer with the families spending winters in town houses. Poor or no insulation means when it’s cold it’s cold. Not ice on the inside windows which we had growing up but cold. Especially when all shuttered up. The sun warms the house during the day even in winter. But when the sun drops. I repeat myself a lot. So does Ian. He tells me often the same thing. Usually. ‘Andrew. You’ve already said that.’ But I’ll say this again. Good neighbours are worth their weight in gold. They are diamonds. We arrive home and there are the basics waiting for us. Bread. Milk. Biscuits for me. Orange juice. And because it’s cold the fire has been lit.

It’s a very small thing but to us it’s huge.

But once the tea is poured I have my own routine. The garden check. It’s been a month and even at this time of year a lot can happen in the garden. We have help. It would be impossible to maintain the garden if we didn’t. There are large parts which look after themselves but not the main area around the house. At this time of the year it’s pruning time. I have nether the knowledge or the time to do all of the pruning. But we are fortunate to know someone that does. We arrived to the grape vine pruned. A lot of the oleander pruned and the transparente cut back hard on a bank I just couldn’t manage myself.

There are two things I’ve learnt about having someone else do the cutting back. They cut far more than I would and two is that it’s ok. It grows back thicker and better. Unlike my hair. The gardener had cut back an Australian wisteria earlier this year. Cut it back to bare wood on the gates. I stood and stared and said to Ian. ‘That will never grow back.’ To be fair it had a lot of bare wood behind some green growth and flowers. Now we had twigs. I went out and bought a new one as I was so unconvinced it would grow back. How wrong was I. We arrived back and bingo ~ one side ~ the sunnier one showing great new growth. A lot. Lesson learnt.

The other thing you get is more light which means better growth for the plants. And a better view of the pine trees and the bank.

There’s no better place to deposit my money. Viveros Florena our local go to place to buy plants. To get advice from Lorraine. I may have told the story of the book. The book bought even before we had exchanged on the house. Expensive as I bought it on line in the Uk. When Ian rolled his eyes at my spending money on yet another gardening book only to unroll them when we arrived at the house for another viewing the book in hand to be told by the vendors that The author of the book was the owner of the above. 10 mins drive from the house. Quicker if you take the short cut. Which I don’t. The book and Lorraine’s advice has been invaluable!

Back to the garden. We have had rain. Some pretty cold spells with sleet and frosts. Expected in the Somerset garden. Not what I expect here. There have been times when the temperature has been colder here than in the garden in London. But it’s green. We both commented on the drive up the wiggly road just how green it was. That’s when I could see straight ahead. I still don’t take my eye off the road for one minute ~ sharp bends and big drops.

I love the variegated yucca in this bed. I much prefer them to the green. But I’m going to have to come to terms that we may lose them. There is a bug that has been attacking the large agave and it’s now moved into the yucca. Not just in this garden but all around. First it was the cochineal fly decimating the prickly pears. Then the large agave were dropping. With cochineal fly you could see them. With the agave and the yucca it’s hidden. I have remove a few smaller ones but I have to realise that these may go the same way. It’s incredibly sad that a lot of large mature plants will die. As you drive from La Casa to the town there are visible signs of the agave problems. We had an access drive with huge agave. Now all gone.

These were Ian’s request. The cactus that’s not a cactus ~ euphorbia candelabrum. growing in two smallish pots and tied to the railings so they don’t blow over. I love them. Good choice Ian. I keep thinking I should plant them in the garden but I don’t know where. They need to be pretty stable and not blow over.

The curry plant. Trimmed back last year which meant I lost the yellow flowers but it had gotten too straggly and pretty ugly. I may give it a slight trim this week to keep it in shape. The cold weather means no curry smell unlike the heat of summer. There are three under the olive tree which has hard a hard trim. It’s been haircut time all round.

It’s almond blossom time and it’s lovely driving through the campo and seeing the pink and white blossom. We have 5 trees at the back of the house. All planted before we arrived and one is flowering. The others are only just budding up. There are two different types of almond trees in the garden but don’t ask. I have no idea. I’m sure the question is in my list somewhere. I think one is a bitter almond. Every year I pick them. Dry them on a tray in the sun. And then do nothing with them. Talk about taking a hammer to crack a nut. I gave up the will to live.

The cape honeysuckle which originates from S Africa is flowering well. It’s at the back of the house up,with the almonds and I don’t get to see it very often. It’s a great evergreen autumn ~ winter flowering stalwart in the Mediterranean garden. I suspect it need a bit of a trim too. I have bought another. Along with a host of other things.

Tecomaria capensis

There is a very old banksia rose climbing through the jacaranda which has starting flowering since we were last here. very delicate yellow,flowers with even more delicate buds scrambling from the tree across to the white walks of the garage. A welcome sight at this time of the year.

I love the leaves of the loquat or nispero as it’s called here. The leaves are large and archtectural. We have two,trees with a third appearing over the last two years. There is fruit in the two,larger trees which is a surprise. Not because it dies t fruit but beaches usually the flowers go mouldy and the fruit dies t form. There is still time for the fruit to do the same. These trees are a fairly common sight in south east London on our walks and I can think of three that we pass regularly. I’d like one for the Somerset garden. Adds to yet another list.

I was hoping this mimosa tree would be flowering when we arrived but I think it will be another few weeks. This wasn’t here when we bought La Casa ~ 6 years ago ~ there was only the remains of the old one. A dead stump. Now we have a sign I can’t tree which will cause more sneezing than I would like. It’s pollen is a real hay fever starter. But it looks absolutely glorious in full bloom.

I have been trying to save this prickly pear for the last 6 years. It was going well until lockdown and we have had a bit of a set back with the lockdowns when we weren’t allowed to travel. It’s a hard task but I’m determined. You can just see a bit of the white fly ~ cochineal fly. Tomorrow that will go.

I mentioned that the oleanders have been cut back hard. Except one or two. This is one and it still has last years seed pods attached. They are fascinating setting off as red seed pods and when ripe bursting to throw the seeds out into the garden. Everything in the Mediterranean garden seems to be poisonous. The oleander particularly so. three years ago I had a run in with one. Don’t ask. I don’t know which one but I rubbed my eye when gardening and it swelled up badly. A singularly unattractive look.

The glorious melianthus major standing tall in the back or front of the border. Depending how you look at it. I pas a large clump on my way to Peckham Rye station in Holly Grove gardens and have wanted some here. These were bought last night and flowered. When we weren’t here. I suspect that will happen again this.

Echium candicans. I’ve tried echium before and last year was my first success. It looks like there will be flowers but not this one as I only planted it today. Along with 5 others. Why leave 5 back at Viveros. When I can find a home for them. Mostly disease free.. Tall. Drought tolerant. With lovely blue flowers. Great. If I get them to flower.

Maybe the massive violet carpenter bee will be attracted. The bee is big and beautiful with gorgeous wings when the sunlight catches them. You can hear them coming. They have the noisiest buzz. A common sight in the Spanish garden.

The sun comes down on another trip. It’s been a busy one. Meeting up with friends. Lunched and suppers. Gardening. More gardening.

Who said retirement would be boring!

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Adiós 2022. Hola ‘23

It’s been a glorious Christmas and New year. We missed being in Spain for Xmas 2021 and this year even the weather was kind. Lovely warm days. Cooler nights. Broken heating in parts but a lovely clean chimney so the fire burned even brighter.

The sunsets at this time of the year are pretty spectacular and this year they didn’t disappoint. Many a night I’d suddenly jump out of the chair ( not literally ~ not with my dodgy hip) to go and stand on the terrace and watch the sun go down. This is our 6th December on the mountain and I never get tired of the sunsets. But then again very little tires me from our Spanish adventure.

But the trip wasn’t all festivals lights and food. Almost. But not quite. I’m still not back to being great in crowded spaces so our festivities were pretty low key as most of them are for us these days. small groups of friends for supper or coffees ( and the obligatory cakes) outdoors. Oh. And the garden. There’s always work to be done in the garden. We do have help ~ there are so many plants which I still am unsure about. The pruning the feeding. The timing of both. But our help knows and appears at the right times to do what is required.

Two weeks before we arrived there had been rain. A lot of it but still not enough. We still don’t have mains water every day out in the campo. . But enough to make the countryside look green again. There was also the signal of a new season. On 1 January we noticed that there was a lot of smoke hanging over the Valley. No. Not a new pope but the signal of a new season where bonfires were officially allowed. I’d forgotten that there are strict rules on the months you can and cannot have a bonfire. My rule is never in our garden. Call it paranoia which is correct but I’m terrified of a lone spark setting the campo alight.

Things are starting to wake up. The first freesia are flowering along the path and there are many more in various stages to continue. The first two were picked and given to a neighbour. Sadly last year we lost a dear friend, his wife who together with her husband checked the house for us during the year we were unable to travel and who would water the garden ifit needed it. I’ve said it before. Good friends are a joy but good neighbours are awesome. When we weren’t at the house she would pick any flowers ~ after my constant nagging at first ~ and freesias were her favourite. So it was appropriate that the first of this season went to her house.

Hiding in amongst various pots or rather languishing there was a surprise. I had thought the colocasia mojito which has been bought and paid for at Vivero Florena before one of the lockdowns and stayed there for months and months had died. It came home when we could return and I had thought it was a another casualty of the drought and severe heat. But I move the pots around. A lot ~ my late sister did the same with furniture ~ and I found that the plant hadn’t died and it’s gorgeous silky leaves were again growing. Fingers crossed it continues.

Another surprise was on the central border. These Carpobrotus edulis were straggly. Dry and almost non existent over the last few years. But I cut ( hacked) them back last year and thought if they recover they stay. If they don’t they go. It looks like they listened and hopefully we will get those glorious pink flowers again this year. Native to South Africa it must have liked last years extreme heat and drought. Also known as sour fig, or ice plant. We also have a large clump on the rear bank which to be honest I largely ignored this visit. The bank. Not just the clump.

Instructions have been left for the almonds to be pruned and I’ve just realised I haven’t mentioned the fig. But I did mention the bottlebrush which needs a good tidy up.

This is a flower from two or three years ago. The problem with not being at the house permanently is we often miss what is flowering. Although we do get sent photos. Seeing how well these are doing I must get some more or split these for the dry bank at the front of the house.

There is an ever increasing bed of these at the side of the house. I always think they are in the way out as the lower parts go dry and crusty. But they never cease to amaze me by throwing up their orange tall flowers. Childish I know but I help saying Aloe Aloe when I pass. But I am. and I do. Nobody is listening anyway.

I love the Strelitzia. Some years we see them. Some we don’t. This one is in full flower and there are eight more flower spikes dotted around the garden in various stages of growth. We will this year at least see some. The ones I want to flower the most this year are the strelitzia Nicolai. They are very tall plants with flowers high up. Blue/black and white flowers. Someone once said you should look up as you walk around London. The upper parts of the buildings are more interesting. Well the same can be said about a lot of plants. Especially this bird of paradise. Huge fat banana type leaves. Shred like mad in the wind. But despite that I’ve planted three more in the garden. By the time I reach 50 ( in my dreams) they will flower.

Theee isn’t much colour at the moment. Well there is but not bright colours. Except for the bird of paradise. The few Clivia. And the start of the freesia. But the foliage is looking good though. The grape leaves turning colour. Well the ones that are still on the vine which they are still this year. They should have all fallen by now ready for pruning. The dodonea is looking great.

Agave Americana

I have also spent time scrubbing up a lot of agave from the garden. First it was the prickly pear. Attacked by the white fly ~ the cochineal fly. Whole swathes of them rotting along the roadside. I have saved two in the garden. It has been a hard slog but worth it. But. There is now something attacking the agave. You don’t know it’s happening until the keel over and die. They attack from below. We had a lot on the communal road but they have all gone. We had a few large ones on the roundabout that’s not a roundabout. Gone. I wandered around the garden scrubbing up more dead ones. This small one will go next. It’s also attacking yucca. Which will be a shame if it gets ours as there are a number of large variegated and non variegated ones. Fingers toes and legs crossed.

We have one of these in London. In a pot. In the top floor bedroom. It makes me chuckle to find plants in the garden in Spain that we have in the UK as house plants. Like the Swiss cheese plant. One of the staples in our house growing up. With a rubber plant which my mother cleaned the leaves with milk. Don’t ask. I have no idea whether it was skimmed full fat or semi skimmed. What I do know is that it wasn’t soya.

Thankfully this prickly cactus is on the bank on the way up to the house. It’s a nightmare if you get to close but it’s redeeming feature is it’s flowers. That’s why it gets a reprise.

I salvaged this Aeonium once again from a falling over in the wind. It’s in a large pot now. Staked. The broken limbs have been planted in the garden. Last years breakages have taken well.

Another house plant we had growing up ~ Tradescantia pallida I think and growing strongly but very brittle in a bed outside the door. Very pretty leaves. Pretty flowers but breaks off every time you pass. There used to be on on our kitchen window.

Foxtail agave

I couldn’t post without putting in a photo of the foxtail agave. This one is in the ground at the rear of the house. I have about half a dozen more that need replanting.

Ian often reminds me of things I’ve said. Like. ‘No more pots ’. As this demonstrates I’m tone deaf. I have had a move around. But I haven’t lost any.

Sometimes things shouldn’t work. These ferns shouldn’t but they are getting bigger and bigger. I can’t repot them again. They have to be moved using a sack truck.

First ignore the irrigation pipe ~ it hasn’t been used this last year. The photograph is of the sea squill ~ Urginea maritima. Planted over three years ago they are all now coming into their own. Green leaves which die down totally. Then later the tall white flower appears. Totally drought tolerant the bulbs are huge. Peter Nyssen supplies me with them. Good old Peter Nyssen.

One bit of colour. A little bit of rain and back comes the flower. Although two bushed have been lost in last years drought.

Finally. The space aliens have reappeared ~ Plectranthus. I’m not sure of the species and it dies have a scented leaf. Spreading slowly and making a bit of ground cover.

That’s it in the Spanish garden for a few weeks. Oh. But I did plant the tulips. The white wall has been planted with palmyra tulips. Last years Armani did well so I hope these do too.

I have planted a few pots with Dutch Dancer ~ black hero and El Nino and a few with a random selection. Which of course I haven’t labelled. Yes. They are late. Yes it’s a risk but at least I didn’t have to defrost the compost of dig three inches of ice off the top.

Photos from Peter Nyssen

Back in London and tulip planting continues. They have almost all been done. Two large pots to finish once the emergency top up from Peter Nyssen arrive. But that’s it for tulip planting. I’m starting to plan early for next years. ( believe that if you will )

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Travels around Spain -Malaga Christmas

This is our 6th Christmas of having la casa Verano. Four of which we have spent here. I always question myself why we come here at Christmas. Then think as I’m sat on the terrace on Christmas Eve in 21* in shorts ( TMI) ~ the weather. But it’s not just the weather. No one is rushing to the shops to buy 10 weeks worth of food even though the shops are only closed for a day. It’s a bit more relaxed. Very family orientated and of course the big day here is 3 Kings. By which time strikes permitting we will be back in Blighty. .

But sat on the terrace I can hear the donkey braying across the valley. Maybe it’s Mary & Joseph arriving. We are off bearing gifts to an early get together but it won’t be gold Frankincense and myrrh. More like wine chocolates and flowers. No. Seriously. There is a donkey. I haven’t been drinking. Useless fact. My first 45rpm was Little Donkey by Nina and Frederick. That’s an admission and an age alert.

We have had 3 nights at the house ~ enough time to warm it up. Do a little shopping. Have coffee with friends. Then it’s time to deivw down the wiggly road again and head to Malaga. It’s only an hour away but we had decided to have an overnight away. A bit of shopping during the day and then the reason for going. The Malaga Christmas lights. Always spectacular and this year they are new. A new theme. New music. Led bulbs and shorter hours.

We had asked about parking at the hotel. Yes there is parking. But there may or may not be space. Come into the historical area. Ring the bell at the barrier and they will let you in. We have to advise the Town hall of your number plate otherwise you will be fined. If we are full you’ll have to go back out to the public car park. Thanks But no thanks. We got fined in Granada for going into the historical part! Once bitten once fined. So we didn’t. We found a car park. Parked and bobs your uncle. But I don’t have an uncle Bob. and in Spain it would make no sense. Tito Pablo maybe. Nice hotel. Soulless checkin. I know hospitality is having a hard time but reception is the face of the hotel. I won’t mention that they thought we were doing a runner when we left. Long story. Great location. Comfy beds. Quiet room but service could have been better.

First stop is always either Casa Aramda near the market or Churreria La Malagueña “the tejeringos of Malaga. Today was Aramda as the other was closing for lunch. Why Aranda. Churros of course. Always with sugar. Never with chocolate for me.

Someone said aren’t churros just churros. Nope. They taste different in different cafes and these are awesome. That’s why we keep coming back. We would have stopped by again in the evening but the queue was massive. I love churros. I loathe queuing.

The waitress told me that this coffee was a coffee Bon Bon. Sweet condensed milk with espresso coffee. Served in a glass so you can see the layers. Then stirred. Yes please I said ~ Ian said you know it’s very sweet. The waitress rolled her eyes as if to say ‘tourist’ but in a friendly way. Did I like it? Hell yes. Very sweet. But I’d have it again. One way of only have one coffee for sure. One is enough.

The main objective of the trip was to see the lights. They looked great during the day hung all along Calle Larios and we knew that they are lit at 6.30 and the music and lights shows are at 7, 8.30 and 10. And last about 7-10 minutes with 7 pieces of music. That’s good for my attention span. And migraines with flashing lights. Looking good during the. Day as well. The lights. Not me.

First a walk through the market. The most amazing produce available. Aisles of fish stalls. Meat. Vegetables, spices and dried fruits. It’s a foodies heaven. Whilst on the outside are great places to perch your bottom and eat.

I don’t know what half of the products are. But they look good. The tomato varieties are immense. The mushrooms look perfect. I could wander around for ages just people watching let alone wanting the food.

Let’s talk Padron peppers. Everyone says aren’t they great. Really lovely chargged small green peppers. Yes they are. But have you had the one in ten that’s spicy hot. Last time I ate here we got to almost the end. Then I thought my mouth was on fire. I had that one in 10. Didn’t help the friend I was with had hysterics laughing at me. This time I almost got to the end of mine. And stopped. I wasn’t going to risk the last few.

So.the lights. What’s the big deal. Oxford street and Regent street have lights. I saw them recently. And Carnaby street. The difference. Is that these are big. With music and attracts huge numbers into Malga just to see the light show. They are designed for Malaga and probably will stay for a few years before being sold off to another city. This years lights is a set of 16 “Angels” in Calle Larios with 32 illuminated pillars. And pretty spectacular they are too. There were 32 pillars. I didn’t count them.

The lights on their own are pretty spectacular but once the music starts you get that feel of Christmas. Set to music. 7 songs including the obligatory Feliz Navidad. The music played at three times during the evening.

There is also a light show on the side of the cathedral. That too is pretty amazing and children ( like me) will especially love the animations. There is music too. Again shows at 7. 8.30 and 10.

Malaga is a vastly underrated destination. There are fabulous museums. Beaches. Restaurants. Markets. One of my favourite museums is the museum of Cristal and glass. A must if you go. We didn’t this time but having been once a year for the last 5 I think I can wait a bit longer to go back.

The cathedral. The Bull ring ( for its architecture) Street art. The architecture. The Picasso museum. The Thyssen museum. The tapas. Flamenco.

I love these cities at night. A walk along the marina. The fabulous overhead cover spanning the length.

I think looking even better at night. in black and white.

The old and the new. Looking up from the marina to the Alcazaber and the covered walkway. I think the buildings are magical lit up at night tho one wonders with the current fuel prices just how long this will last. Spain was one of the first to have office blocks and shop fronts turn off their lights when not in use. They have three different charging periods during a 24hr period.

The view to the cathedral and the AC Marriott hotel alongside. We would have stayed there ~ the hotel not the cathedral ~ had the rate been better. Oh. And of they had availability.

Was it worth a trip down the mountain. It’s always worth it. We will be doing it again next week to see the light show at the botanical gardens which from photos I have seen looks magical.

Guess what. They will be photos.

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A holiday within a holiday ~ Cordoba

Let me get something off my chest for starters. Spanish underground car parks. They give me the creeps. Not because they are scary. But because they scare me. What is it will pillars. These car parks weren’t built for todays modern cars. The spaces are too narrow. The pillars. Well they are everywhere. And the turning circles and ramps down. just don’t go there. That’s my whinge. I’ll go round and round looking for a nice space to drive in and out of ~ but not in the car park in Cordoba and I was t even driving in!

Friends were staying in Seville and we arranged to meet up when they visited Cordoba. Never ones to say no to a trip away we arranged to drive to cordoba and stay over for two nights and to meet up for supper. We are so well positioned in Competa. Granada is about 1:5 miles drive. Seville is about 3. Malaga 1 and Cordoba is 2hrs 20. We have done it as a day trip by car. I’ve done it by train from Malaga as a day trip. This time we decided to stay for two nights.

We managed to stay right next to the Mosque Cathedral ~ really central and easy to find. The hotel not the cathedral. That’s well signposted.

The Roman Bridge has been around since 1st. Century and the existing bridge is largely from 8thc. A lot of locations for Game of Thrones weee filmed in Spain and the majestic roman bridge was featured in series 5. Ian told me. He was a fan. I just watched bits when we happened to be in the same room. In the same house in the same country. But I also understand they also used CGI to make it look bigger. I think it looks pretty amazing as it is.

Córdoba Uber. No we didn’t try ~ but there are lots of them.

I have been to Cordoba three times before. This is visit number four to the Mosque cathedral. Almost as many times as I’ve visited The Alhambra in Granada. Both are stunning. But the Mezquita-Catedral de Córdoba) blows my mind. I think it’s the subtlety of the Mosque; it’s beautiful simplicity with the stunning architecture of its columns Against the bling bling of the cathedral. To have the two in one building is stunning. Spain has 49 UNESCO world Heritage sites and the Mosque Cathedral is one of them.

We visited at night ~ Saturday night its free entrance so why not. It’s a very different experience at night. The lighting is different as is the atmosphere. Oh. And did I say it was free.

I’d have loved to have heard the organ played. In the cathedral and Mosque I’m sure the acoustics would be amazing. Sat under a stunning ceiling. Stunning plasterwork.

The altar was typically grand as you would expect in a Catholic Church. As a vicar friend of mine one replied when I asked which service I should attend at the church where he was officiating ‘ come to the later one. It’s all bells and smells’. That sums me up. Our local vicar once said I was a a festival worshipper . He didn’t mean Glastonbury ~ he meant Christmas and Harvest festival.

The choir seats were a bit spooky. Each arm rest had a figure carved into it. Beautifully carved. All individual. But scary. The seats are carved mainly out of mahogany wood with a row of 30 upper seats and a row of 23 lower seats, all with these carvings.

At the end of the day the brass still needs polishing. I remember my mother getting the brasso out to polish the brass candlesticks and the knocker on the front door. I can smell it still. I remember it made your fingers black.

I would have thought I’d be used to the narrow Spanish streets after five years. But it never ceases to amaze me how narrow they are and how the cars and vans manoeuvre their way through. People have to stand in door ways like sentries. It’s my nightmare having to manoeuvre my way through these streets. Once in Sentil de las Bodegas I threatened to just get out of the car and get the hire company come and collect it. Just where I’d stopped preferably. I was breathing in as we drove through.

The main reason for the trip to Cordoba ~ although Ian and I never need an excuse for a road trip ~ was to meet up with friends who were travelling in Spain. Five us had worked together over the years and had been friends for over 35 years. Ian and Sarah trained together and are birthday twins. Sane day. Same month same year. Four of us were business partners. Four of us are partners. Confused. Don’t be. We know what’s going on and that’s all that counts. The hotel had recommended a restaurant for supper on the Sunday evening. I’m often dubious about hotel recommendations but this was spot on. Great food. Great atmosphere and great conversation. Don’t ask about the plates. It would take an age to explain.

Casa Pepe

Who doesn’t go on a bus tour when travelling in a new city. Ok. Not that new to us but it’s always worth the trip around the city. It helps get your bearings. If we hadn’t been on the bus we wouldn’t have seen this place and hopped off. The Palacio Viana. Is a fabulous Renaissances palace with 12 beautifil and very different patio gardens.

It was was the private residence of the 3rd Marquise of Viana until his death in 1980 and was bought by a Cordoba bank on his death. He died with no heirs.

The wheels on the bus

I love a view through a door in the garden ~ this one draws you in from one patio garden to the next. I love the idea of having the gardens like a series of rooms.

How do they get the plumbago to grow this large. Mine at La Casa is pretty poor. If it’s still alive. I need to check when I’m next there but I’d love for it to cover the garage wall like this.

I can’t imagine this going through the streets of Cordoba but it did. How they manoeuvred around the corners on these small often bumpy streets. I’d be happier being carried around in the smaller one.

There was a lot of wandering. A bit of a bizarre evening where we had booked supper at a restaurant which looked good. We arrived and were shown to a table. A table where you needed a lift to get on the chairs and once you’d managed it you immediately started slipping off. We asked to move. We were considering moving restaurants ~ loud music was coming from the roof top terrace. By loud I mean booming. We were the oldest swingers in town.

We were seated in an alcove. Great table. Tucked away in a corner. The best table for people watching. A huge mirror just in view where the young and trendy had camera phones in hand probably for Instagram or tick toc and were taking their selfies as they passed. Unaware we were watching. I never realised the effort you should put into a pose for these photos. Mine are selfie snaps and not that often. Flicks of the hair. One foot forward. Stand kinda sideways. I might try it. Except my pout would be a gurn and my arthritic hip would give out and I’d ultimately fall over. But the service was excellent. The food really good and the complimentary G& T at the end more than generous in size. The entertainment perfect.

We didn’t do the The Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos this time. We tried on the Saturday night. Another free entry but the queue for the queue was huge and despite the British love of queuing , 10pm on a Saturday night was not for me. Oh. And it’s closed on a Monday. We have been before and I’m not sure what the gardens would have been like. It’s been a long hot dry summer in Spain. As they used to say on Blue Peter ( ask your parents if you are young) here’s one I made earlier. On a previous visit. And not with sticky backed plastic and a squeezey bottle.

We have another Spanish adventure lined up. Next stop Bilbao. One thing is guaranteed. There will be pictures. Maybe a blog. But definitely pictures.

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Hello Andalucia.

Well it’s been a while since we have been to Spain. We were due to go in July but it was too hot. Yes. I know it’s Spain. I know it’s the med. Whilst I like the heat when it’s so hot it’s unpleasant. We always avoid August but this year July was a no no too. I was there in a lockdown two years ago unable to travel back because of quarantine in August. I spent most of the time indoors in my pants watching Netflix with the aircon on. Too hot. Too expensive and not attractive.

The journey started badly. Half way to the airport our flight is cancelled and we are rebooked on a flight the next day. Generally not a disaster but we were travelling with a friend. She had been put on a flight that evening. The disaster was they had also changed our airport. Not hers and her car was already in Heathrow. We also live an hour up the mountain. The car was in my name. I’ve praised our neighbours before and I’ve always valued good neighbours. He’s the best. Drove down the mountain at 11pm. Drove her home. Made sure she was in safely and we arrived the next day. A new flight and delay compensation. Not a great start to the trip but it didn’t matter. Friends for 35 years and she bypasses the house rule. Ian says guests are like fish. They go off after 4 days. Mary stayed for 12.

The garden path
The roundabout that’s not a roundabout

It’s been dry in Spain. Very dry. There has been little rain. A local reservoir supplying Malaga has been declared dead. I feared the worst of the garden. We hadn’t been in two months and driving up the mountain it was clear just how dry it was. Parched landscape. The campo had been on water restrictions. One day on. One day off. In Spain that could mean anything. We are lucky to have a large deposito which fills when we do get water and we then have to pump it into the house. The garden had been watered but not as much as usual. It really hits home just how precious a resource water is. Washing up water has been used to water pots. The washing machine only used when full. The roundabout that’s not a roundabout had worried me all summer. The wildflowers had died back. The grasses were tinder dry and there had been wild fires around the edges of the village so we had arranged for it to be ‘cleaned’. Arranged two months ago I wasn’t sure if it had been done. Of course it had. The water position has changed. We now get mains water. Every three days. If we are lucky. I’m not moaning again about hosepipe bans in the Uk.

Drought tolerant ~ not

The planting is pretty drought tolerant. But I’ll be honest. Even drought tolerant plants need some water when the temperatures get into the 40’s. Every day. The garden path plants looked ok. A bit sad in parts but when and if we get some rain and cooler days they will come back. Some have died or won’t recover. I’m giving up on lavender. Planting number 3 was doing so well up to July. Now it’s very patchy. Most gone over and won’t recover. The creeping Rosemary has fared much better. One or two lost. But a massive Rosemary at the rear of the house Is dead. I must have anticipated as I’d planted two more smaller ones to take over in Spring. Looks like they will survive.

Garden views.

The curry plant ( Helichrysum italicum) which is in poor thin soil has fared better and I was tempted to plant the whole path with it. Not the path ~ the borders along the path. But it does give off a whiff of curry in the heat of the day and I’m not sure, as much as I like curry I want to be sat on a sun lounger at two in the afternoon smelling curry. It’s not quite the effect I want.

Surviving plants

Thankfully the foxtail agaves ( agave attenuate) seem to be doing well. There are some to split in one of the pots and these will go on the dry bank once I don’t need a pick axe to dig them in. Seriously. A pick axe. I was surprised to see the colocasia mojito. It’s in a pot and is looking good. I love the silky leaves and it’s colour. But to be honest I never expected it to be alive. We have quince on the one tree we have. A plentiful crop but very small. I’m hoping enough for quince jelly. The gorgeous aeonium also in a pot has survived. Another plant that has surprised me is the canna. There are two large ones in pots. Despite the heat and the intermittent watering one was still in flower. And the leaves were huge.

Agapanthus seed heads

The agapanthus have done well and I plan to plant even more. I’m lucky that they self seed although it takes a while to get to flowering. I can wait. I’ve cut some of the flower heads and left others if the seeds are about to be scattered.

Still green

I love this time of year in Andalucia. Cooler days and spectacular sunsets. Clear nights where you can see the coast of Malaga from 2000ft up the mountain and also the mountains of Morroco. When stars are clear in the sky. And hopefully the mosquitos are dying.

Terrace views
Terrace sunset views to the coast
Puesta del Sol

The two cactus which aren’t cactus but euphorbia candelabrum are in pots and are tied to the railings to stop them getting toppled over by the wing. Needless to say they are drought tolerant. Needless to,say they are still Ian’s favourite plants in the garden.

Night falls

Whilst I spent time in the garden it wasn’t all about the plants. It can’t be otherwise I’d drive Ian mad. There was cake of course. Lots of cake. Cake for us. Cake for the neighbours. Cake for our friends Ruth & Dave. Whenever I use this cake stand it reminds me that a lot of these things came over in a suitcase. Usually Ian’s when he travelled without me as he knew I wouldn’t risk the breakages, but he happily tells the tale of when he was past Airport security and was called back to check in. Escorted down the stairs by security he was asked to explain what was in his case. “ That” he said “is a large solid glass vase. Alongside it is solar lights for the garden.” “And that” he was asked ~ “the organic matter alongside it all”. “OH Barry’s tea bags” . They suggested next time he checked in anything like that he may want to explain at check in exactly what it was. They saw the contents as a security risk. Looking at it I can see what they mean but it’s good to know that the system works.

There was eating out. We are fortunate to have so many good restaurants locally and we visited our favourites more than once. We also had the annual art walk over the weekend ~ local artists; photographers and all very talented folk exhibiting. We came away with some great black and white prints of local people scenes from our friend Dave and some amazing cards. The prints are being framed and will be hung when we get back. The cards are a mix of cards for the dreaded C word and birthdays. If I can let them go. They are beautiful.

Cortijo Paco

I’m nothing but predictable at the local restaurants. They know what I’ll order before I do. This is one of my favourite starters from the amazing Cortijo Paco. Beetroot & avacado timbale. Beautifully presented and delicious.

Lunch on the coast at El Camarote overlooking the marina is another favourite just down the mountain at Caletta de Velez.

The marina at Caletta de Velez
Lunch on the beach at Chambao de Vicente
La Herrudura
Nerja

It wouldn’t be a trip if we didn’t go to Nerja at least once. Or three times. Lunch overlooking the small beach and a wander through the small streets. With a visit to the bank for a small withdrawal.

It was a busy few weeks. We had a holiday within a holiday ~ a weekend trip to Cordoba to have supper with friends visiting from the Uk. The visit is worth a blog of its own and guess what. There will be one. In Competa there was the Dia del tourists y del residente where our friends NIcky and Paul received an award ~ Residente del Ano ~ from the Ayuntamiento. Nicky and Paul have three holiday rental properties in Competa ~ Competa Escapes and they work tirelessly to promote the pueblo Blanco on social media and within the community supporting the events that happen regularly. A well deserved award.

Nicki & Paul

I’m hoping for a drop of rain and a topping up of the deposito before I’m back. I have a week on my own booked which will give me a chance to get a few things done in the garden. We are lucky to have help looking after the garden when we aren’t there which I’m eternally grateful for.There will be logs delivered for the winter. Chimney sorted. Some wine to be brought back to the Uk. And the inevitable watching of Netflix. But as it’s not August I will be well wrapped up with a nice fire.