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| June 28th, 2010
It’s not all plain sailing here. I mentioned the feral cats. I went to feed them last night only to discover several huge dishes of delicous-looking paella – the temptation to scoop it up and take it home for dinner – Okay, only joking. But in spite of being the best-fed cats on the island I have been adopted by one particular cat whom I have named Geoffrey, for reasons which I’m afraid, must remain confidential – and here he is I think the best thing I can do – though it may not help this affectionate little cat directly, is to give a donation before I leave to the association which arranges for cats on the island to be neutered. Sxx June 26th, 2010
I was really affected by the sight of so many volunteers giving up their precious spare time to bring about a miracle on a crumbling old building on the Isla del Rey – King’s Island – The man who drives this enthusiasm is General Luis Alejandre Sintos -and the photo above shows the general and me with another guiding light of this project, Beverley Ward.
This is just one project you can find on the island – a stylised garden typical of the period in which the old hospital was in full use – the ground is sifted to a depth of eighteen inches by the volunteers before planting – and all by hand – to ensure that any ancient artefacts are preserved There is also a garden full of medicinal plants as well as gardens created to preserve the local plant life The history of this island dates back to 1287 and the invasion of Alfons the Third – hence the name, King’s island There is so much to see, including one of the finest collection of medical instruments found anywhere – a wonderful library of maritime books, and a memorial room created by one of the Italian descendants of a sailor who was lost when a battleship was lost off the coast during the war – and this is just the start. You can see how the sailors were cared for in – what to us might seem harsh conditions, but when you think about the conditions they suffered at sea, they must have thought they were in absolute luxury. The work goes on and will do for many years thanks to the general and his army of volunteers Do try to visit if you can – free boat tours leave from Cala Fontanillias (EL Castell) ever Sunday at 9am prompt – returning at 11am (donations for breakfast appreciated!) If you get your microscope out you can find me just left of centre in the second row – Sxx June 25th, 2010
This is The World - floating apartments for the super-rich who can never settle long enough to decide just where on earth they would like to pay tax – You can get on and off as and when you please – Just so long as you don’t stay on land too long. Fantastic, huh?!
What can I say?
Sxx June 24th, 2010
Or the title of this Blog could just have easily been, Grit and bear it. Or even Grit and bare it, had we decided to strip off our matching fleeces – What? Me, on the sea at night without arctic gear? This might be the Med, but I am a fully paid-up wuss, ladies Thankfully, there are always husky sailors around to help the old girl down – And this is the fabulous liner we followed out of port to a backdrop of fireworks –
It can’t have been that bad, as I’m off again today – this time in daylight, so hopefully more pics – and not of your truly falling in the drink, I trust! Have a good one, ladies! June 22nd, 2010 I was going to tell you something more about the cats today, but I don’t want to make this all doom and gloom. I went down ‘Cat Alley’ and, joining the legion of people here who care for these unwanted moggies, I fed and watered them. But it was so depressing that I thought I would leaven our thoughts and give us something to be cheerful about instead. After all, if I sank into a depression nothing would ever get done. So, ladies – you think you’re hooked up to a dinosaur? And on to a totally different type of yacht altogether – And, believe me, I had to run for my camera to catch this one as it went past the villa – Ladies, I give you, the Wally boat. Oh, well – dreaming is what I do best June 22nd, 2010
And neither is the problem of the local feral cats. There is a terrible problem here and many warm-hearted people, both caring for, and arranging to have cats neutered, where this is possible. Here are just four of the ten I’ve counted in what I call ‘Cat Alley’ across the road from here. Sad. Wishing you a safe and happy day June 21st, 2010
Exactly how much time is spent writing and how much dreaming, chin on hand, as I watch the ships and yachts float past the pool? Please. Let’s not go into that.
Did I tell you about the accident prone dog?
Just before I came away Holly bolted and ran in front of a Range Rover was thrown into the air and somehow – I have no idea how – survived without any injury at all. Wishing you all a stress-free start to your week. Sxx June 20th, 2010
From the land of passion, love and flamenco, beautiful women and stunning-looking men, I have to tell you that I have a new name. ‘Pin-head Belly-Monster’. Yes, my friends – in a baseball cap it would appear I have a pin head – And I would be the first to admit that my belly is coming along nicely, thanks to the deliciousness of the local ice cream Let’s just call this ‘Before the Belly’ And Pin Head? Have the family noticed my shortcomings? Wishing you the best of days with lots of smiles and sunshine and NO name calling! June 18th, 2010 Ole! Don’t you feel like dancing already? Okay, so back to the kitchen isn’t where it’s at – so let’s visit the outdoor market before we go there for our ingredients
Take 2 gorgeous sweet onions – I used the local white still with the soil on them – though I washed it off before I cooked them, she explained hastily. One small courgette. One small aubergine. One red pepper. So many tomatoes I staggered beneath the weight. I serve as a regular vegetable or as a pasta sauce with lots of shavings of good parmesan. Buon gusto! I think that’s right – anyway, it’s close enough for you to get me, yes? Sxx June 17th, 2010 This is my fellow – Dorada, a fish caught locally.
Method: Then you mime madly – Here I have an advantage, having learned general stage skills at Miss Pinchmead’s School for Young Ladies. However, I digress – Now you signal wildly to indicate that you would like the strikingly attractive young Spanish girl to gut your fish. Okay, she says, scaling frenetically – At which point, if you’ve any sense at all (hard luck for me) you stand back – or you will leave the fish market gleaming like… well, a fish. And don’t put your best suede purse down on the counter either as I did. (who’d have guessed) As that water you just lifted it out of is fish juice. Nice, huh?! Off with it’s head! you mime with a dramatic slash across your throat – I don’t want that fishy eye staring at me as I tuck in
And now let’s get down to the real carnage – fillet it please – Take your own route to achieve this in translation – I favour the soundtrack method, followed by a slump as I indicate that my backbone has been removed (did I ever have any?) Now you have two delicious looking fillets which you can put on the barbie, or, as I did, wrap in a loose foil parcel, having oiled the foil first – add some butter, rock salt and a scrabble of pepper, squeeze a lemon in your hands, catching the pips – no need for fancy juicers – add whatever fresh herbs you happen to have around, and now bung in a fairly hot oven for 15 minutes.
The result, ladies, is the most delicately flavoured white fish – watch out for any remaining bones – serve with crushed new potatoes slathered in butter and seasoned with black pepper, rock salt and herbs, and escalivada – more of which tomorrow Escalivada – which the French call ratatouille – and I call delicious Have a great day with plenty of delicious food to eat |
This is the boat I thought I’d better not catch in case all that ice cream tipped the balance and the volunteers into the drink! 
It was the most fantastic morning in the midst of great spirit and enthusiasm and I can’t recommend it highly enough.
This was my toughest assignment yet. Capturing this mammoth vessel in one photograph for you meant I had to hike for miles – lie on my back to take the shot -
Aye Aye, Cap’n
You remember Holly the Dog – the rescue hound Wiggy collected from the pound this Christmas, the moment she and the Robster signed the deeds on their new home? 
