Almost Christmas again!
Almost Christmas again ...
So, here we are then and it’s almost Christmas again! I know I’ve said it before, but where on earth did this year go? It has been a busy one, that’s for sure!
At a quick glance, our circle of friends has grown, our Spanish language skills are getting slowly better, we have learned even more about the country we now call home, we have included new pursuits, made changes to the villa and along the way we’ve learned more about ourselves too.
It’s something that we never considered before jumping ship and relocating here in Spain. But over the time that we have been here, we have not only changed ourselves but learned more about ourselves too. I guess that any major change has this effect if you think about it, but how often do we actually take the time to think about who and what we are as individuals, or as a couple? How often have you wondered how you appear to others? It’s just not the sort of subject that crosses the mind under normal circumstances.
Moving to another country is a great stimulus. Our son and daughter-in-law emigrated to Canada this summer past and have found the same thing happening to them. A complete change in everything around you seems to be capable of making you question yourself. Maybe it’s the having to make new friends and contacts from scratch. Maybe it’s the complete change in surroundings, language, the very air that you breathe. Several times this year, we have asked the question, ”Who would have guessed, even ten years ago, that today, we would be soon entering our fourth year of living in another country, loving our life in a beautiful villa complete with pool, terraces, amazing view up the valley, close to a historic town, learning another language that we use daily, a whole different circle of friends, spending most of the year with a healthy tan and actually looking forward to the short months in front of a log fire.” Are we rich folks? Not at all! Sure, we worked hard during our working life, sometimes questioning the long hours and the struggle to pay a mortgage during the earlier years. We never had flashy cars or super expensive holidays, but we had a lovely three bed detached home in a cul-de-sac where our children grew up and eventually left to begin their own journeys. And thanks to the lower cost of equitable properties in Spain, we were able, with the support of the ''For Sale By Sally in Spain'' crew, to literally swap our home and lifestyle for what we now enjoy here in Gandia.
Along the way we have adopted our wonderful ‘Wolfie,’ [that’s me – Ed] peacefully snoozing by my side as I bash the keys, and ‘Borja’ our rescue cat, currently curled up and zedding away on the other side of me. Yep, it’s cold outside here on this eleventh of December and they’re making the most of the warm air blower lifting the temperature up from the lowly twelve degrees outside up to a more liveable twenty-one degrees in the snug.
Next week we are off to the south of Spain, a seven-hour drive to a little place called Medina-Sidonia for a couple of nights away (it is a seven-hour motorway drive! – Ed) for a very good reason! For one night only each year at this time, the entire village turns into the Bethlehem Nativity. Everyone is in character who lives there. A guided walk takes you through the nativity story to the finale of the stable scene. Now we are both utterly non-religious folks, but Christmas is Christmas, and this visit has to be done once in a lifetime. Friends have played a big part in this, and we are going with two of our close friends, who four years ago, we never knew existed.
Talking of close friends, we are sharing Christmas Day and Boxing Day with another couple who live in nearby Oliva, along with their honey of a pooch by the name of Grace. And we are thrilled to learn that another couple who live part of the year just two villas away are coming for Christmas, along with their new bebe, Matthiue, to whom we are proud “Auntie and Uncle.” Roge is Dutch and Jessica is Swedish, and we have grown very close to them over the past three years. They both have their own businesses in the Netherlands, and we share a common interest in good food and deep conversation amongst many other things……….. including Matthiue, of course! Even Wolfie has become part of his admiration squad, being allowed to inspect this human puppy at close quarters and check on his well being whilst in his buggy. In fact during their last visit, he touched our hearts by becoming concerned at the noises uttered by the baby during the diaper change process and patiently watching on until normal service was resumed! But then, he is a Shephard Dog for the goats in his genetic past, and let’s face it, a kid is a kid, whatever it’s shape! (Oh, how droll! – Ed)
So here I sit at the coffee table, with the Christmas tree twinkling away by the side of the fireplace. The ‘deccies’ all up, largely courtesy of Mrs H. Pine and berry garlands over the mantel piece and logs set ready to ignite later on. Yesterday we were customers at many a shop in nearby Denia at the huge shopping mall, doing our individual “stocking shopping” with which to stuff the woolly receptacles hanging off the mantel piece. And of course, a new toy for Wolfie too! (I can read you know! – Ed)
Currently, the only cloud on the horizon is that I am struggling to pass the Spanish motorcycle theory test in order to be tested for my riding ability (after holding a clean bike licence for over fourty years). Initially thanks to our incompetent Government department not providing any way to obtain the normal extension to my UK licence at the age of seventy, thus forcing me to have to start from scratch here all over again, but complicated by having to do the whole process in Spanish be cause the Spanish DGT don’t have an option to do it in English. Russian, yes, Latvian or Portuguese, yes, but English, No! As I’ve said before. Nowhere is perfect!
So, whatever you are doing this festive season, we hope that you have an enjoyable and safe Christmas and start to 2025! It was between Christmas and New Year 2020 that we, in a moment of sheer misery at the grey, cold and wet weather outside, sat at the laptop in the dining room and decided to cheer ourselves up by looking at Spanish properties to add to our “interest” list, and up popped what was to become our new home. Today I sit her, grey, cold and wet outside, but far from miserable, relating the history to you, my avid reader. I’m very pleased that you follow our exploits. It would be even nicer if there were two or even three of you, but it’s very cosy nonetheless.
MERRY CHRISTMAS! And don’t forget, the new Wallace and Grommit is on Christmas Day afternoon! Not to be missed! Pass the sprouts …….
Nos vemos …..
