tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6848224322622304982024-03-05T00:52:58.349-08:00LIFE AFTER SIXTYJournal of "Masia Mum"
Still running my own consultancy business whilst renovating an estate [Masia] in inland Spain, being Grandmother to four and defying current trends by staying married for over 42 years.Masia Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01081444074657171832noreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-684822432262230498.post-89437822769971978512012-10-06T07:38:00.003-07:002012-10-06T07:38:47.659-07:00October Thoughts<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today I am going to indulge myself in a little "Grandma" boasting. Believe it or not this is something I don't often do, in fact I am probably a disgrace as a Grandmother as I don't even carry photos of my brood in a suitably capacious handbag!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">However, my No.1 Granddaughter has just be made Head Girl of her Primary School - voted for by the staff and all the pupils. What a sign of her popularity. No.2 Granddaughter has just started "big school" at the grand age of 4 yrs and 10 months. Photographs were taken of my latest schoolgirl in her uniform, blue and white checked dress, blazer [with room to grow!] and her straw boater set upon her head on rather a jaunty angle. No. 1 Grandson [who will be 14 in December] delights in already towering above his "little Grandma" and the way he is growing he is likely to end up taller than his Papa too. We recently took a photo of him with No. 2 Grandson [at his 8th Birthday tea] and they are both so handsome [OK I am biaised - but they are!]. This year No. 2 Grandson's school play in a small football league and he is really keen to prove he can be good at sport as well as his lessons. Yesterday's highlight was winning "Man of the Match" - one proud lad.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Whenever people ask me whether I would like to move to our home in Spain I always reply that I couldn't be away from my family all year. Our longest time in Spain was probably last year when we clocked up nearly 12 weeks, going out at Christmas, Easter, May Bank Holiday, and approx. 6 weeks in the Summer. Of course the other vital factor is that we haven't retired, we still need to work. No-one these days can exist on a state pension. I have spent most of my working life self-employed so haven't the comfort of any kind of end salary pension. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">To be honest most of the time I enjoy my work and I don't dwell on getting older ..... that way lies depression! Groucho Marx's famous quote for men is that "you are only as old as the woman you feel" - I need to find an appropriate quote for women. </span>Masia Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01081444074657171832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-684822432262230498.post-81021704503256125822012-10-02T07:07:00.000-07:002012-10-02T07:07:23.395-07:00Summer Memories<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since my last post back in April I have been concentrating on trying to win more work projects for my Consultancy and at the same time marketing our holiday apartments in Spain. Evenings, when I used to catch up on my blog, were used for increased marketing efforts for both new projects and bookings for Spain.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We did have a really good Summer in Spain with guests from the North of England, Canada, London, Dublin and Barcelona who shared with us and our family the most fantastic weather and who, to our delight, loved staying at Vista Alegre. We watched the Olympics and most of the Paralympics via TV, as we did not manage to get tickets we thought we might as well be watching from Spain. Even from a distance the excitement of it all gripped us and we added to the crowd noise whenever a British medal was won. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQHeggdBdI4tLXFJ6Aa7kneHTtIDXpesOz2Sykxyje6oHni3xSXclDOhz-AFQHACP6lkg7ktdLeJaDRvU5SGXaQZQxpGphwy3pcDA5mCokyNSyO03CaDH5WKWESwBVmPbzwgg29iq1Lo/s1600/Summer+2012+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQHeggdBdI4tLXFJ6Aa7kneHTtIDXpesOz2Sykxyje6oHni3xSXclDOhz-AFQHACP6lkg7ktdLeJaDRvU5SGXaQZQxpGphwy3pcDA5mCokyNSyO03CaDH5WKWESwBVmPbzwgg29iq1Lo/s320/Summer+2012+004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkFpbZKwGHkDuKf4JfWn3FpT6jfNRVX5LNS9aJIv78GPCrGAmc83-g0Zo_kywMt_hulPVZjT77G5rCoTBBVJ7A1sV6apALhSTnz8B-pmkj8gXtD5doSwf1IjYSW-OnZvGt5Z3zbVJ1vvE/s1600/Summer+2012+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkFpbZKwGHkDuKf4JfWn3FpT6jfNRVX5LNS9aJIv78GPCrGAmc83-g0Zo_kywMt_hulPVZjT77G5rCoTBBVJ7A1sV6apALhSTnz8B-pmkj8gXtD5doSwf1IjYSW-OnZvGt5Z3zbVJ1vvE/s320/Summer+2012+006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMs2aYqXuZ8DWcAx0cZCQWG1faz4BFmpKkanqFVxiLnGgHZS-ASHGPTdr8XV_jLT7wIyMcW20XlaQaKgiB-hyTuo_Nc4cAymCyk-GPWgrb8a2a1FfcziN0gC0qXkPmLZVpLhepmwW_V5Q/s1600/Summer+2012+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMs2aYqXuZ8DWcAx0cZCQWG1faz4BFmpKkanqFVxiLnGgHZS-ASHGPTdr8XV_jLT7wIyMcW20XlaQaKgiB-hyTuo_Nc4cAymCyk-GPWgrb8a2a1FfcziN0gC0qXkPmLZVpLhepmwW_V5Q/s320/Summer+2012+011.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqgHhJ6aBxNp4qv9kdDSzQJ0ewYUP2ZJAgNYwWThkm_ty3p4muyiKnTlVdFt_kLCkBuazHWCuBM1MGpG4APsycP6kM6fDTS8dYues1tufkK85Ra2QHjvmL4Uym75UsFLQGfNMc2wt67fc/s1600/Summer+2012+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqgHhJ6aBxNp4qv9kdDSzQJ0ewYUP2ZJAgNYwWThkm_ty3p4muyiKnTlVdFt_kLCkBuazHWCuBM1MGpG4APsycP6kM6fDTS8dYues1tufkK85Ra2QHjvmL4Uym75UsFLQGfNMc2wt67fc/s320/Summer+2012+012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHNbaHogmsPfcGZxug33PVKKM4C5EYeS5EicomL4vnnd3boBa5mkwJZ_zz0ls29ZAIEtDJz0x7jr5-EU3I53f9H0ctwr2DA3nKeijpSCYKftQpMipQTTox0rODUk1lEXYabps2xxa8iSk/s1600/Summer+2012+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHNbaHogmsPfcGZxug33PVKKM4C5EYeS5EicomL4vnnd3boBa5mkwJZ_zz0ls29ZAIEtDJz0x7jr5-EU3I53f9H0ctwr2DA3nKeijpSCYKftQpMipQTTox0rODUk1lEXYabps2xxa8iSk/s320/Summer+2012+013.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Nwz3w_4W_Ln8GrmU2gfYTOgdHQ60tj1Kd25jrtRV4OE4kxOO2FxXd5sdFk3hQhKyivG23jCW_qL1HBVcR-EQYlm3-QRSxpsuLoOeca2uZ6aEz9Iq3t4UVcs-q7eMJBq9DvMYibjR5Tg/s1600/Summer+2012+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Nwz3w_4W_Ln8GrmU2gfYTOgdHQ60tj1Kd25jrtRV4OE4kxOO2FxXd5sdFk3hQhKyivG23jCW_qL1HBVcR-EQYlm3-QRSxpsuLoOeca2uZ6aEz9Iq3t4UVcs-q7eMJBq9DvMYibjR5Tg/s320/Summer+2012+001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0SiuS-9WXiu1MOcv9VFQ9i57Pk1k2Az06E64x5TVhd616m-MvaeZNjRh1O9o1Sn339IT2SR_eo5_tLc2yUl2I2wmnzbdzurTTjHQOTai7wiUu3gEH6lfWoM07N4xwt_z_3zShkMwyI08/s1600/Summer+2012+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0SiuS-9WXiu1MOcv9VFQ9i57Pk1k2Az06E64x5TVhd616m-MvaeZNjRh1O9o1Sn339IT2SR_eo5_tLc2yUl2I2wmnzbdzurTTjHQOTai7wiUu3gEH6lfWoM07N4xwt_z_3zShkMwyI08/s320/Summer+2012+002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkyKlaaN-wdph3tMMCutRTsZfjVlEmjCsDSjkKHmXGzY0JbXC-kWG0NAfz2E-Sa73i3grihKKrksxVjj9IikMYuUW7QPIDnhv1K0sKDUiPD-iqSW6niO0bYhDGwd-z_1GuD9ndCRpJDyA/s1600/Summer+2012+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkyKlaaN-wdph3tMMCutRTsZfjVlEmjCsDSjkKHmXGzY0JbXC-kWG0NAfz2E-Sa73i3grihKKrksxVjj9IikMYuUW7QPIDnhv1K0sKDUiPD-iqSW6niO0bYhDGwd-z_1GuD9ndCRpJDyA/s320/Summer+2012+003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyy2c61pixfB1fhmJAt8Db4oFoShmaWbLMWkTEInC1xbTV9jF7gH2uZdRckiPvnSFVd-2AxhZZ1RGO5dc995w_KgQobefIo0p9w5c9C5xv8mrheO3I9Ys_P-Tr1SSkOw0sKtB3PPGZjh4/s1600/Summer+2012+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyy2c61pixfB1fhmJAt8Db4oFoShmaWbLMWkTEInC1xbTV9jF7gH2uZdRckiPvnSFVd-2AxhZZ1RGO5dc995w_KgQobefIo0p9w5c9C5xv8mrheO3I9Ys_P-Tr1SSkOw0sKtB3PPGZjh4/s320/Summer+2012+005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7byKI0qUNNR1gdH5TkVx92-j_jnQm10K1MydJPNNhFs4f7zuy91Dj8g3iBb9__CvyoAUpgfWF2el6iTLxdGqDP_z9K7fpx3k5hm8_zeWLY8S5tAgob26V81uEvPp3AoLoJFKpYHr-7io/s1600/Summer+2012+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7byKI0qUNNR1gdH5TkVx92-j_jnQm10K1MydJPNNhFs4f7zuy91Dj8g3iBb9__CvyoAUpgfWF2el6iTLxdGqDP_z9K7fpx3k5hm8_zeWLY8S5tAgob26V81uEvPp3AoLoJFKpYHr-7io/s320/Summer+2012+007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNmJbwE8mhlrClH0DOyygY-gND-5zkMOH2-9iVklLqK3IhX54TTJ80Euwtz3jxh01Xc1qYEWkVW6J3mo6zFHsN0xxtAUMt0E7LFpZdxU3dSQxOWYiZQCdUasYterL1RjHIFFsFbjHxDfc/s1600/Summer+2012+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNmJbwE8mhlrClH0DOyygY-gND-5zkMOH2-9iVklLqK3IhX54TTJ80Euwtz3jxh01Xc1qYEWkVW6J3mo6zFHsN0xxtAUMt0E7LFpZdxU3dSQxOWYiZQCdUasYterL1RjHIFFsFbjHxDfc/s320/Summer+2012+008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT_NuqK7M-Z-MuzrRQxYasKWsj6g8kCi_Ic_xkmObpxwsK-uo5QHqS95kWO8HnO2aA3bgzjrBNT59Py3y-olbONE1U0_wBOPgXaJR8foN5VuJC3ce3akWO4uOYrJG92Jbf7VLWqMzf25s/s1600/Summer+2012+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT_NuqK7M-Z-MuzrRQxYasKWsj6g8kCi_Ic_xkmObpxwsK-uo5QHqS95kWO8HnO2aA3bgzjrBNT59Py3y-olbONE1U0_wBOPgXaJR8foN5VuJC3ce3akWO4uOYrJG92Jbf7VLWqMzf25s/s320/Summer+2012+009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYvmjhwkU6Uigpt3aGOn77SVxArbIRkQizzr3pLu1dsloxRN20CNZT3HpksRm_Q19_gNTBsXSp9YyR_jpofBmDqyVtPvZK4IREgaykX0_1TJrp9a-A1O4DjiOdAA_FBni9Tgfrm905PWQ/s1600/Summer+2012+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYvmjhwkU6Uigpt3aGOn77SVxArbIRkQizzr3pLu1dsloxRN20CNZT3HpksRm_Q19_gNTBsXSp9YyR_jpofBmDqyVtPvZK4IREgaykX0_1TJrp9a-A1O4DjiOdAA_FBni9Tgfrm905PWQ/s320/Summer+2012+010.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The planting we have slowly been doing over the last couple of years at Vista Alegre is now coming into its own and adds to our wonderful views. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sitting here on a surprisingly cold Autumn day in my office in London I do wonder how I manage to drag myself away - here's to Christmas and New Year back in Spain. Let me know if anyone cares to join us.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Masia Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01081444074657171832noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-684822432262230498.post-78235780656778629452012-10-02T07:06:00.000-07:002012-10-02T07:06:22.993-07:00Masia Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01081444074657171832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-684822432262230498.post-6827115182113993522012-04-24T06:51:00.001-07:002012-04-24T06:51:05.330-07:00Slave to TVIt seems I am hooked yet again on a Scandinavian Crime Series - this one is called "The Bridge" and is a joint Swedish/Danish collaboration. Watching expenditure has meant less theatre trips, cinema outings and meals in restaurants and more staying in at the weekend and watching TV. I have gone French watching "Spiral", Danish with "The Killing" [both series so far], "Those who kill" and "Borgen", Italian with "Inspector Montalbano" and now here I go again.
Can someone tell me why the women detectives, whatever the nationality, have to be disfunctional? The latest Swedish detective is clearly very strange [even her colleagues mention it] possibly autistic?
Then we have "Homeland" an American TV import [apparently a version of a previous Israeli series] where we are asked to believe that the CIA would employ a Bipolar operative.......
The fact that I actually care about any of the above is a little bit worrying - I really need to get out more.Masia Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01081444074657171832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-684822432262230498.post-33931032016200554972012-04-18T08:11:00.002-07:002012-04-18T08:19:55.372-07:00Back to workMarch 2012 was not a good month, I, very stupidly by lifting a very heavy rubber plant, damaged my back. To cut a long and painful story short it got progressively worse until I was unable to even sit comfortably. With my Easter break in Spain getting closer and closer, with a two and a half hour plane ride to survive, things were looking decidedly dodgy. I had to stop doing my usual working days rushing around London and work from home between treatments at my osteopath. Thank goodness by 4th April when we were leaving for Spain there was reasonable improvement although I still needed to use a stick as the back problem had caused weakness in my left leg. There is however always a bright side - my walking wounded look gained us first boarding position on Easyjet! April in Spain was great and has completed my recovery so I am now back at work.<br /><br />Apologies for lack of blogs I will try to get back into the normal routine soon once I have caught up with emails etc etc.Masia Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01081444074657171832noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-684822432262230498.post-540974563904090092012-03-02T08:58:00.004-08:002012-03-02T09:06:29.903-08:00IMAGES TO KEEP ME WORKING<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjjQoLva8TP1XegT0pqOKbliZnLxnY4An30429zHb6Yy0MBY5OJnHLygbb9ju1883H7NbxUcuxdFZe051cXOskHianWQy1NXgde4qYEEddg1E2OFwz_5EDGug7ZOhwuxqZzU-YJZJFkOo/s1600/View+of+the+Pool+from+the+Pine+Forest.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjjQoLva8TP1XegT0pqOKbliZnLxnY4An30429zHb6Yy0MBY5OJnHLygbb9ju1883H7NbxUcuxdFZe051cXOskHianWQy1NXgde4qYEEddg1E2OFwz_5EDGug7ZOhwuxqZzU-YJZJFkOo/s200/View+of+the+Pool+from+the+Pine+Forest.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715347262195774466" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04FIbQX-TphUPyz0pu1PllIILwqbSp8m37nDpo4OMXdZiA9FwzeGVSfosmX5aEfNo-_ahaX_AM72y7ma0kNAa6m7_pE2esV61skeU6Ke5dtyn18_LL5e_7jFqwpuN95JeHGD7OMU5blM/s1600/spain2010%252520049.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 173px; height: 115px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04FIbQX-TphUPyz0pu1PllIILwqbSp8m37nDpo4OMXdZiA9FwzeGVSfosmX5aEfNo-_ahaX_AM72y7ma0kNAa6m7_pE2esV61skeU6Ke5dtyn18_LL5e_7jFqwpuN95JeHGD7OMU5blM/s200/spain2010%252520049.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715346994396059474" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlZdI6qjvzRK0HW6cBmC2WmjQOpDKEF39cwx9gA9h8G5saycC0vPeK2_KT6HC_6ca0BWbszjz_dIMwh3eagOkDP6bRw6XL5OcR8q14BHcbZKW8ujxrMi_kgw3frieEV3oj2zW8AfZ5gIU/s1600/2+Loungers+by+Pool.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlZdI6qjvzRK0HW6cBmC2WmjQOpDKEF39cwx9gA9h8G5saycC0vPeK2_KT6HC_6ca0BWbszjz_dIMwh3eagOkDP6bRw6XL5OcR8q14BHcbZKW8ujxrMi_kgw3frieEV3oj2zW8AfZ5gIU/s200/2+Loungers+by+Pool.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715346698354671074" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhio-X4h5sfeNRx9HZKNttuDlb1AwUa2nTiMEWgJ7v_-7tMRgZrBhdCjm6UNBihmmbkgJVYeLDSd_VqBe103uzeEX52P_Nxjy2CTSGqnAxDmwSGN40TYvrA-ZXw1drPT3r4EvWHPcAjx34/s1600/Al+fresco+dining+area.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhio-X4h5sfeNRx9HZKNttuDlb1AwUa2nTiMEWgJ7v_-7tMRgZrBhdCjm6UNBihmmbkgJVYeLDSd_VqBe103uzeEX52P_Nxjy2CTSGqnAxDmwSGN40TYvrA-ZXw1drPT3r4EvWHPcAjx34/s200/Al+fresco+dining+area.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715345484646218386" /></a><br />I just thought I would share with you some of the many photos of our home in Spain that cheer me up on foggy London mornings or when the workload gets too heavy. I just look in my photo gallery and dream I am lounging by the pool, walking in our pine forest or having a picnic overlooking the olive grove ah............... only a few weeks to Easter and our next trip. Some early bookers have reserved the two last weeks in August to rent one of our apartments and hopefully they will be the first of many.Masia Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01081444074657171832noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-684822432262230498.post-56604399446066284632012-02-29T13:14:00.003-08:002012-02-29T13:36:08.064-08:00Fond FarewellToday we attended the funeral of a friend who died far too soon at the tender age of 62. His wishes were to have a Humanist celebration of his life as he was not a religious man and his family followed his instructions. The funeral had one of the largest attendances I have seen over 200 friends and family. It was incredibly moving, the music was perfect, the readings very thoughtfully chosen to reflect the man we all knew, and the tributes from his son and his oldest friend reminded us of the reasons why we had all come to say a fond farewell.<br /><br />He fought his illness so bravely that until very close to the end many of us did not realise how ill he was, his sheer willpower kept him going to see his son married and to have the joy of being Father of the Bride last year when his daughter married. Both his daughter and daughter-in-law are both pregnant and it is truly a tragedy that he will not be around to be the full-of-fun grandpa he would no doubt have been.<br /><br />But he lived life to the full, he was full of good humour, a born raconteur with an endless fund of stories. He was truly a good human being and will be sadly missed.Masia Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01081444074657171832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-684822432262230498.post-3549190205850644812012-02-18T06:41:00.002-08:002012-02-18T06:58:18.707-08:00Twits on TwitterI am officially beginning to act my age - I hate text speak "CU@4" will get the short repost "not if I see you first!", I have no desire to be on Twitter or even follow anyone on Twitter, the minute insignificant details of my own life bore me let alone reading about others.<br /><br />I am just about staying on Facebook but this is mainly to keep my grandchildren happy but frankly this may go soon too. No, I am not turning into a Howard Hughes style recluse but I am beginning to think all this information and personal detail sharing is going to backfire. <br /><br />I like getting hand written letters, cards even - am I alone?<br /><br />I like actually talking to people on the phone not just leaving a voicemail.<br /><br />It's raining, I am on antibiotics for a chest infection and coughing for Britain so perhaps the above rant is an extreme reaction or then again maybe not.Masia Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01081444074657171832noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-684822432262230498.post-38571652102142506702012-02-01T07:50:00.000-08:002012-02-01T07:59:00.614-08:00Winter BluesWinter has arrived with a vengence in London, no snow as yet but very cold with what my American friends call the "chill factor". <br /><br />I am trying to decide if I can face going out again tonight. I should be going to a rehearsal of a Comedy Sketch Show I have been helping to script over the last few weeks. I have contributed generally but in particular supplied lyrics for four songs which I want to make sure are performed well. So...... cold or not I suppose I better get myself to the rehearsal. The trouble with Winter is it encourages me to hibernate.<br /><br />I will cheer myself up by looking through some new photos we took at our place in Spain at Christmas.Masia Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01081444074657171832noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-684822432262230498.post-84370621587621348492012-01-22T08:07:00.000-08:002012-01-22T08:21:55.750-08:00Long Time No Blog!Frankly I do not have a real excuse for this protracted gap in posting - since our Christmas and New Year stay in Spain I have been concentrating on building up additional work projects and everything else has been put to one side. In these extremely difficult economic times and with our Spanish property to finance we needed to ensure finances for the coming few months. Anyhow, hooray I have had several new projects commissioned and the new year is looking much healthier.<br /><br />I shall try to catch up with my blog reading soon too.<br /><br />Highlights since my last posting have been a great time in Spain with beautiful weather and good times with friends, a "Sleepover" with our youngest two grandchildren last Friday where I discovered I could still climb up and sleep in a top bunk bed [not bad eh?] and the start of my work with Volunteer Reading Help.<br /><br />With VRH I have been assigned to work at a local school with three 9 year boys who are "reluctant readers" and I am hoping to make real progress over the next few weeks - I'll keep you informed.Masia Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01081444074657171832noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-684822432262230498.post-32461293343521797472011-11-10T05:50:00.000-08:002011-11-10T06:28:15.881-08:00Escap<div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWmJQg4LHWQPc0E-mjWXAfv2OorDL7tvFKZVgrAvQqq32z9MdFi9TOlVJKEHzHz_ojymzdOnAMymUPYNNTerNzuyJzaexNZ_9fEXyi-XYFxb-xbmdXmQcI7K1mGa4d2y_Glb9dBBCTHrw/s1600/Arriving+at+Vista+Alegre.jpg"><img style="width: 372px; height: 202px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673369429632083122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWmJQg4LHWQPc0E-mjWXAfv2OorDL7tvFKZVgrAvQqq32z9MdFi9TOlVJKEHzHz_ojymzdOnAMymUPYNNTerNzuyJzaexNZ_9fEXyi-XYFxb-xbmdXmQcI7K1mGa4d2y_Glb9dBBCTHrw/s320/Arriving+at+Vista+Alegre.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-EMRn3foTKdzKcqmcJxNv1u0lOY8QSCic7X769MtPlpGWHm0lxMmPT6ndgiute_Kjl_yYjEZ93gXiDTVz0CQ-CTtTdhoiyulU7j2GbdpCJiue2WUPmTsz11RQa_8YYQ0Jsvarasd-mXc/s1600/spain2010%252520049.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 173px; height: 127px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673368314924696146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-EMRn3foTKdzKcqmcJxNv1u0lOY8QSCic7X769MtPlpGWHm0lxMmPT6ndgiute_Kjl_yYjEZ93gXiDTVz0CQ-CTtTdhoiyulU7j2GbdpCJiue2WUPmTsz11RQa_8YYQ0Jsvarasd-mXc/s320/spain2010%252520049.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="justify"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3_VXVg8kpY9HHH32aMZEg1vzVYeoTOFMi9wR__69AhElKrABsogkrhvFlAwwsT4qAbtMUueQM1sifHH5iBkwWKeNrDtJxCubB7Y7RDW6RA9h77YocT2kByHdV9sCveINsYYZPpE55Inw/s1600/2+Loungers+by+Pool.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 320px; height: 213px; float: left; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673364680218754770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3_VXVg8kpY9HHH32aMZEg1vzVYeoTOFMi9wR__69AhElKrABsogkrhvFlAwwsT4qAbtMUueQM1sifHH5iBkwWKeNrDtJxCubB7Y7RDW6RA9h77YocT2kByHdV9sCveINsYYZPpE55Inw/s320/2+Loungers+by+Pool.jpg" /></a>For the last few weeks it has been "heads down" try to drum up more work projects, so I have had less time to keep up to date with my blog. I am feeling a little guilty about this as I know some of my far flung relatives use the blog to keep in touch.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">There is such gloom on all the news programmes currently - will the euro zone survive? will Greece default? will Italy go bankrupt? etc etc etc. Yesterday we had three separate protest marches taking place in London, at least they were predominantly peaceful but still it is hard not to get depressed - hence the photo above. Although I seem to be working just to pay the mortgage on our Spanish property, on grey days like today it cheers me up to know I can escape sometimes. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">I have been promising for ages to show you all more of the property we renovated in Ibi [a town inland from Alicante in Spain] where we created an apartment for ourselves, an apartment for Brother and Sister-in-law, and two apartments for holiday lettings. It was a real labour of love and now, at last, we have started to have guests come to stay and received some great reviews on Trip Advisor.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">For next season we have been approved by a company called Tots to Travel as ideal for family holidays and we are hoping this will lead to more bookings. We really love having people to stay especially as everyone who has come so far have loved Vista Alegre as much as we do. It is always interesting to meet new people, last Summer we had two families come from Holland who were delightful guests. If all our future guests are as nice we will be very lucky.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">We are going out as usual over Christmas and the New Year period and two friends who regularly join us have signed up again. Luckily I booked and paid for our flights and car hire a few weeks ago before the new round of economic gloom hit the headlines so we are going whether we can afford it or not!</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">If anyone else wants to escape - get in touch. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div></div></div>Masia Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01081444074657171832noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-684822432262230498.post-42821160686366116812011-11-01T07:47:00.000-07:002011-11-10T06:28:15.889-08:00City of London ProtestsTravelling to see clients in Central London yesterday I passed the Protest Camp at Finsbury Square and also the camp below the steps of St. Paul's. Big signs saying "Capitalism doesn't work there is another way" - but no signs saying what the other way actually is! Don't get me wrong peaceful protests like these should not be banned but I worry that whenever a spokesperson for the protest groups is interviewed they do not come across coherently.<br /><br />What is the alternative? Communism didn't work, fascism didn't work - just hitting out at Capitalism as all bad, to my mind, is so narrow minded.<br /><br />What is bad is GREED - ethical capitalism is what we need and it can be achieved.<br /><br />We have a great deal of hypocracy in our country, people scream about the high salaries paid to captains of industry but not about the obscene wages paid to footballers. <br /><br />Any new ideas out there? <br /><br /> Masia Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01081444074657171832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-684822432262230498.post-89625842872022707772011-10-06T08:57:00.000-07:002011-11-10T06:28:15.896-08:00The Conference SeasonWe have just completed the Autumn round of Political Party Conferences. I have watched as much as I can take of speeches from Lib Dems, Labour and lastly Conservatives. In these tough times I find myself being hyper critical of the rhetoric. <br /><br />I will keep my comments brief:- Clegg [Lib Dem and Coalition Deputy PM] having a tough time explaining to his party members that being in Government is not as easy as they think. You can promise the earth when you have no chance of getting into power, because you know you'll never have to deliver!<br /><br />Milliband [Labour] the younger getting booed by some of his own party [not a good look], saying sorry for past huge mistakes and banging on about "values" and succeeding in upsetting the unions whose votes helped him into Leadership over his own far more able older brother. [It can't be easy being their Mother.] Somehow he just hasn't got it, his speech writers must be tearing their hair out.<br /><br />Cameron [Conservative] the PM has grown more confident and this shows in his presentation. He has managed to hold the Coalition together [just about] and is sticking to his guns on the economy although it is not an easy sell to party delegates and the country as a whole. Some good common sense policies were outlined but we want to see less talk more action.<br /><br />We are living in difficult times but I can't help thinking that the "doom and gloom" merchants in the media are not helping. I am not sticking my head in the sand but I do believe a little optimism and confidence goes a long way. I am determined to be positive [I just hope that doesn't become my epitaph.]Masia Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01081444074657171832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-684822432262230498.post-32599589070359490702011-09-28T08:05:00.000-07:002011-11-10T06:28:15.901-08:00HAPPY NEW YEARJust when you least expect it Summer returns! Today in London the sky is deep blue, the sun is shining and the temperature is around 27 degrees - heavenly. The grumblers are already saying "it won't last, we'll have snow in October" etc etc. Why can't people just enjoy the moment. I was so lucky to spend my Summer holiday in Spain and have had an entire month of sunshine but London had a dreadful August so this is a real treat.<br /><br />Tomorrow is the Jewish New Year and so I am taking this opportunity to wish you all whatever your religious or non-religious persuasion A HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR. After the Synagogue services we will be celebrating with family [lots of food of course this is, after all, a Jewish festival]. Masia Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01081444074657171832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-684822432262230498.post-16619899083902553272011-09-11T12:54:00.000-07:002011-09-11T13:04:06.944-07:00Being AWOLI have to apologise for being absent without leave for the past month - but in Spain my blogging is severely restricted by the cost of having to use a dial up "dongle" method to use the internet. <br /><br />For those of you who believed the early forecast of a long hot summer [at one time the word drought was even mentioned] and stayed for the wettest August for years I won't make it worse by writing about the superb weather we had in Spain. Sufficient to say on the night we flew home we went from 32 degrees down to 16.<br /><br />I came back to a heavy first few days of work but I should be able to get back to my usual blogging routine soon.<br /><br />Meanwhile I hope you are all OK and I look forward to catching up with my reading.Masia Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01081444074657171832noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-684822432262230498.post-41130765153046056432011-07-24T11:00:00.000-07:002011-07-24T11:09:34.206-07:00Summer 2011 SpainSorry I have been out of touch for a week or so. Crazy busy with work before departing for Spain on 19th and up to my eyes since I have arrived preparing Vista Alegre for our summer guests.<br /><br />The weather, apart from one superb downpour yesterday which only lasted about one hour and watered in all our new plants, has been perfect.<br /><br />The whole estate looks beautiful even if I have to say so myself. We have cleaned all the sun loungers and set them up round the pool. The Man has taken more photos for our web site which we will load on when we return.<br /><br />Our first guests arrive from Holland on Friday next and will be staying for three weeks so we are trying to get all our jobs done before they arrive. Gates have been installed round our private garden and we have spent most of today putting canopy shades up over the barbeque area. New signs are being placed at the junction with the road and also on the beginning of our driveway to make it easier for guests to find us, so you can see it's all go.<br /><br />I hope all of you are enjoying the holiday season too.Masia Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01081444074657171832noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-684822432262230498.post-9932160505036981792011-07-08T09:20:00.000-07:002011-07-09T09:03:35.849-07:00Masia Mum as London Tourist GuideFor the past 3 days we have had our lovely neighbour from Ibi in Spain staying with us with her 11 year old son. The trip was a special treat for his good efforts at School this year so he was having a trip, a chance to see some of London and have his Mother all to himself. This is particularly important as our neighbours have a disabled daughter who requires a great deal of care and attention and, as regretfully is unavoidable, this means the other child does not always get a fair share. He is a sweet boy who is devoted to his little sister and accepts that that's life.<br /><br />So, this trip was very exciting for him. It was full of firsts - his very first flight on an aeroplane, his first experience of the London Underground, a trip on the London Eye, a river journey from Waterloo Bridge to the Tower of London by Thames Clipper, an authentic Indian Meal in Brick Lane in the heart of Whitechapel and that was only Day One!<br /><br />The weather let us down on Day Two with some very heavy rain showers which meant we saw most of the major sites through the top front windows of a Red Double Decker London Bus from Kensington Palace in Kensington Gardens, via Hyde Park Corner, Westminster Cathedral,Westminster Abbey, Parliament Square, Downing Street, Trafalgar Square, Royal Courts of Justice, Fleet Street, St. Paul's Cathedral, the Bank of England before ending up at Liverpool Street Station. Time to eat and recover in Pizza Express - the favourite restaurant of my Grandson No.2 who accompanied us on the day trip.<br /><br />Umbrellas up again we headed back into Oxford Circus by tube to brave the madness that is Hamley's Toy Store after which we were thoroughly exhausted and headed towards the home of The Daughter for a light supper before travelling home.<br /><br />Today was their last day here so we took it easy and stayed local before taking them to the Airport. All in all a very successful trip - I have earned the ultimate accolade of being called "a really cool guy" by my young spanish friend. Because I know London so well I did manage to save them quite a bit of money by knowing which off-peak travelcards to buy and which river boats gave discounts etc etc., not to mention my free London Guide services!<br /><br />I am now intending to put my feet up and have a lazy weekend.Masia Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01081444074657171832noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-684822432262230498.post-29783799202166439412011-06-17T07:19:00.000-07:002011-06-17T07:34:27.356-07:00Born Again VolunteerI've decided to "put my money where my mouth is" so to speak. I recently blogged about my concern on literacy levels and my support for the movement to encourage volunteer reading help in schools. Well I volunteered! I filled in the emailed application form and I have been contacted for interview in a couple of weeks time. Provided they give me a seal of approval and my police check [necessary when working with children] passes muster I will have to attend a two day training course in September after which they will let me loose in a state school somewhere not too far from my home in North London. I will have to commit to a year [school terms] of volunteering up to a maximum of 3 hours a week.<br /><br />Three hours a week will not be that easy to fit into my working life but if I can organise each of the hour and a half sessions at the start of the day then I can go on to see my clients and work on projects.<br /><br />I've done a lot of volunteering in the past working in youth clubs and it is probably about time I got involved again.Masia Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01081444074657171832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-684822432262230498.post-17269766331723337912011-05-31T08:15:00.000-07:002011-05-31T08:49:17.683-07:00Who is deprived?I have been thinking a great deal today of my Mother and Father as 31st May was their Wedding Anniversary. They had a long and happy marriage of over 40 years before my Mother died suddenly in 1979 in her early seventies. They never had much money but were never in debt. They lived within their limited means. They never owned their own home but always rented. But one thing my sister and I never lacked was their love and support. They always made time to help with our education - we both could read before we started Infant School [who taught us Mum and Dad], they encouraged us to work hard and value education. Those were very different times when children were allowed to play outside, travel to school by London Transport [what not chauffeured door to door!!]and if you needed to make a telephone call you used a public telephone box. But, believe me, we did not feel deprived. <br /><br />What children suffer from now is a far more worrying deprivation - their parents' time and attention. Children are not only starting school unable to read but leaving primary school still unable to read. Of course the teachers should be able to achieve success in school classes but nothing substitutes the benefit of encouraging reading at home. Without the ability to read a whole world of knowledge is shut away and as I tell my grandchildren "Knowledge is Power".Masia Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01081444074657171832noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-684822432262230498.post-17045428448805461092011-05-24T08:23:00.000-07:002011-05-24T08:37:44.243-07:00The Best Laid PlansThe best laid plans of mice and men...............<br />I had my next couple of months organised workwise, or so I thought. One of my major projects was due to complete by 1st June - now, through no fault of mine, it will be postpone until June 27th! Worse yet, a project due to commence on site works next week with a completion end of the first week of July has had a legal hitch which, although not a deal breaker, will delay [yes another one] the finish date as far as my work is concerned until late July or possibly early August. Now this is a problem as, in order to get the best possible flight deals and believing [foolishly as it has turned out] that my Spring/early Summer projects would be finalised I booked my outward journey to my place in Spain for 18th July.<br /><br />It now looks like I will be doing a little extra flying in order to come back to the UK to supervise the final move before returning to continue my annual hols.<br /><br />This is the first year I have tried to get away for a longer spell and it seems doomed. If I can't even manage to get longer holidays then retirement looks even further away. Still it is nice to be wanted and considered indispensable.Masia Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01081444074657171832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-684822432262230498.post-3629550004141967722011-05-15T05:00:00.000-07:002011-05-15T05:15:59.896-07:00WOBS ON THE WEBJust a quick post to let you know that, after suggestions from friends, I have started a new Blog Wise Old Birds [wiseoldbirds] to channel the gained wisdom of my and my friends and fellow bloggers mature years. Not "Grumpy Old Women" which is not a flattering title but "Wise Old Birds" or for short Wobs on the Web! Why not be the first to visit and add a word of wisdom.<br /><br />Meanwhile back at the ranch.......Work has been rather busy of late as I am in the process of relocating two major charities and up to my eyes in legals, office fit-outs and furniture sourcing. The current spate of exceedingly good weather has made dashing around London, as I do, very pleasant. I am a train, tube and bus users and a fast walking pedestrian and it is always great not to have to worry about getting drenched by showers in the process.<br /><br />We had a lovely day yesterday with The Daughter and Grandchildren and my mutual Grandmother [The Daughter's Ma-in-law] who all came over to us for lunch and tea. The children were expecting what they call a "Sleep-over" and got a bit tearful when they had to leave. We saved the day by booking one for next Saturday night when we will try to get the other two Grandchildren over as well - I know you all think we must be certifiable but what the hell!<br /><br />All of the family have been very affected by a recent very severe accident to our good friend and mutual Grandfather [The Daughter's Pa-in-law] who has been hospitalised with a spinal injury. He is in the best possible hospital [RNOH] and receiving wonderful care but it will be a long haul and all the family can do is visit and try and encourage his fighting spirit. Bad things do seem to happen to good people.Masia Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01081444074657171832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-684822432262230498.post-27696103480038972242011-04-28T02:21:00.000-07:002011-04-28T02:32:31.731-07:00Envy OK Jealousy Bad!During my 10 day break in Spain I have watched with increasing depression the various 24 hour news channels. The world is not a very stable place at the moment but that accepted I cannot understand why the British, in particular, seem to want to focus on the doom and gloom.<br /><br />When did we become such a nation of moaners? If anyone makes a successful career for themselves or whose business is doing well there are so many jealous comments. People seem to begrudge anyone else having more material wealth no matter how hard they worked to achieve it or from how deprived a background they have risen.<br /><br />Other countries I have visited [particularly the US] celebrate success and yes, perhaps envy those who achieve it, but do not begrudge them their success. This mean spirit does not bode well when we are, as a nation, going through tough times.<br /><br />I am determined personally to applaud those who have worked hard and have the comfortable lifestyle and monetary cushion to ride through recession. These are the people who can create jobs and many do, also many of these people contribute vast sums to the less fortunate via charity donations and their own grant giving trusts.Masia Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01081444074657171832noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-684822432262230498.post-6796382205623467212011-04-18T02:38:00.000-07:002011-04-19T14:12:40.679-07:00Passover in SpainSitting at my beautiful Indian Writing Desk at my Spanish Masia looking at over our land with the sun shining and the sky a stunning deep blue - heaven! We arrived early yesterday after one of those ghastly, up at 2.30 am, early flights. But now we are here it was, as always, worthwhile.<br /><br />This trip it wil be mostly just me and The Man, The Daughter and her crew are in California [Universal Studios, Disneyland, Death Valley Ranch, Yosemite, etc.] and our only visitors will be Big Sister and Brother-in-law who are arriving tomorrow for 4 days.<br /><br />Tonight is the beginning of Passover and the first of two Seder Nights where traditionally families gather together to read the story of the Exodus from Egypt. Tonight we are going into Alicante to attend a Communal Seder with the small Jewish community in the area. We went to one of these about four years ago and found that in addition to the locals it was quite an international gathering with attendees from Britain, France, Belgium, Holland, and America swelling the ranks.<br /><br />Tomorrow when our visitors arrive we will go to another Communal Seder slightly further away along the coast towards Valencia. This means I can be realy lazyMasia Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01081444074657171832noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-684822432262230498.post-19514005588865836992011-04-05T11:16:00.000-07:002011-04-05T11:23:09.822-07:00HumourTravelling today on a very crowded Circle Line train in the evening rush hour my mood was lightened by a Tube Driver with a sense of humour.<br /><br />For those unfamiliar with the London Underground Lines, the Circle Line does what the name suggests - goes round in a circle. So there we were waiting to leave Edgware Road Station when over the tannoy comes "This is a Circle Line train via Baker Street, Kings Cross, Liverpool Street, Tower Hill and Victoria back to Edgware Road - anyone who has nothing better to do is welcome to come for a circular ride with me". I laughed out loud, and another lady passenger near me smiled. Everyone else - no reaction! What a load of dreary, boring people. What has happened to having a sense of humour?Masia Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01081444074657171832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-684822432262230498.post-47210376096591538032011-04-02T06:17:00.000-07:002011-04-02T06:29:18.918-07:00The Bedroom ChairWhy does The Man assume the attractive white chair we have in our bedroom is for his personal use as a depository for all the clothes he cannot be bothered [his version "needs first thing in the morning"!!] to hang up or put away in drawers or straight into the laundry basket? I have been battling for years to wean him off this habit. No matter how often I tidy up, the chair gets refilled.<br /><br />Now we have our property in Spain he is taking the practice to international levels. I created a writing table within our bedroom which naturally needed a chair [hard to write or type standing up]. Within days he had appropriated said chair for the usual purpose. I protested that it was bought to match my writing desk and he was not allowed to leave clothes on it. Next thing I see a folding black plastic chair brought in from the store room placed in a corner rapidly disappearing beneath trousers and tee shirts etc. every night.<br /><br />I know I cannot/and do not expect my bedrooms to look like a Elle Decoracion photoshoot but if anyone has a cure please respond.Masia Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01081444074657171832noreply@blogger.com3