Merry Christmas!

After the early morning church service...

...it's time for a photo session. Well, it's not every day I get to wear my black hat.

And while the turkey cooks, it's time for a walk up the camino.

I built this cairn!

Behind us in the distance, the Ports de Beceite, the mountains between us and the Mediterranean.

It's present opening time! (With a bottle of Cava of course!)

And then it is time for Christmas dinner with sprouts! (And the special bottle of wine we bought in Galicia in July.)

Hona gets her teeth into her Christmas present from Aunty Eileen.

Christmas pudding, a Christmas candle table decoration and a Pointsettia - could this be any other day?

Note my change of jumper, a special Christmas jumper from Eileen and then the crackers, a present from Sara,...

...and another present from Sara, a piece of Cornish Serpentine - what a brilliant gift!

But just like any other day it must end. Pity, it was so good.

My best Christmas present ever!

Last March, just before we visited Rome, I noticed that the vision in my left eye had deteriorated so I popped into our optician who took a look and suggested I visit my doctor. The doctor conducted his eye test by asking me how many fingers he was holding up just to make sure I wasn't totally blind. However, he referred me to the local hospital which I visited in June and they confirmed I had a cataract and I was put on the waiting list.

A month ago I was given the choice of having the operation carried out at our local hospital sometime next summer or at a hospital in Zaragoza in around 1 month.

The Hospital Nuestra Señora de Gracia is like no other hospital I have ever seen. It is in the very heart of Zaragoza and resembles a Parador, the exclusive state run hotels, rather than a normal hospital.

The staff are very friendly and efficient and are certainly not stressed or harassed as you often find in ordinary hospitals.

The operation yesterday morning went very smoothly and I had a checkup this morning just to make sure everything was OK. The procedure involved replacing the lens so when everything settles down I shall have virtually perfect sight in my left eye.

However, I was told that within 6 weeks I am due to have the same operation on my right eye so that I won't need to wear spectacles for the first time for 55 years. Now that is a great Christmas present! I give all the doctors, nurses and staff at the hospital my most grateful thanks, every Christmas blessing and wish them continued success in the future with the wonderful work they are performing.

The photo above is of the inside of the Parroquia de Santiago el Mayor and the 2 above that are of the Christmas Crib on display. The first 3 photos are of the hospital.

We stayed at the Hotel Melía Zaragoza just around the corner from the hospital for the 2 nights. Can't wait to return in a few weeks time!

Archery for beginners!

Years ago archery was quite an expensive hobby, a bow and set of arrows would cost a lot. However, now they are much cheaper and just as good, if not better, for the beginner so I thought I would give it a go.

I even made the frame for the target which I put in front of the woodpile - stray arrows can easily be recovered!

I have only had a couple of attempts at this new 'hobby' as you can tell by the holes in the target above. You can see my efforts by clicking HERE.

My greenhouse

When we had the hail storm on the 31st August, my greenhouse was one of the casualties in our garden. 

The panels had been smashed and the aluminium frame had actually been bent where it had been struck by the hail stones. It was beyond repair!

A few weeks later, the new greenhouse arrived and I started to construct it which took 3 days.

It was similar to my previous greenhouse, which had lasted several years, the main differences being that this one was actually 'green',...

...it had polycarbonate panels which slotted into the framework rather than plastic panels held in with plastic strips...

 ...and had double doors.

So, a couple weeks ago we put all the tender plants inside for protection against the low temperatures and wind which were forecast...

...and on the 21st November the wind was so strong the doors blew off and 5 of the panels were blown out! 2 of these panels were blown out of the garden and were lost into the surrounding countryside. We bought 2 panels to replace them but were not able to fit them as it was still quite windy. However, I was able to reinforce some of the remaining panels by fixing them with nuts, bolts and washers onto the frame.

But then it became very windy again and with missing panels the greenhouse collapsed with many of the parts of the frame being bent and most of the panels being blown away.

The replacement for this greenhouse should arrive this week! Just hope the plants can survive.

MOT, (ITV) failure!

In Spain there is the ITV, (MOT), test for 4 year old cars. Our Evoque is 4 years old next month so we went for the test today. 

It failed! And the reason:- They have to be able to read the chassis number which is stamped into the panel behind and under the rear seats. Go into the boot, you should be able to see it from there. 

However, Land Rover, in their wisdom, had fitted a polystyrene multi-container in the boot where the spare wheel should be and this obliterates any access to the panel underneath at the back of the rear seats. 

I have to take the car back once the chassis number car be seen. Armed with a carving knife I cut the polystyrene away and it can now be seen. 

Land Rover should have thought ahead for cars meant for the export market even if this particular feature of being able to read the chassis number is not applicable to their cars in some parts of the world.

Double birthday parties!

Today was a double birthday party for Ariadna...

...5 years old a couple of weeks ago...

...and her mother, Carmen, whose birthday was today.

Ariadna really liked her presents...

...and so did Carmen.

Perfume...

an ebook...

...a necklace...

...and chocolates because AmazonVIP haven't delivered her actual birthday present from us yet.

The food for the meal was wonderful as usual.

How about that for starters...

...followed by delicious chicken...

...and a superb birthday cake!

A very good time was had by all!

Up the tower at Torre

The church in our village of Torre del Compte is still undergoing restoration work. However, the work on the tower has been completed.

With our friend Lola, who is now the mayor of the village, we paid a visit to the top of the tower.

The views are amazing in every direction.

Looking east, in the far distance are the Ports de Beceite, the range of mountains which separate us from the Mediterranean.

To the south our house on the right with the ermita to the left look as though they're in the middle of the countryside - well, ours is the last, or maybe the first, house in the village.

To the north you can see the viaduct which was the old railway line crossing the Rio Matarraña and is now the Via Verde.

To the west, you can see along the Matarraña valley and make out the road bridge which leads into the village.

The inside of the church still needs a lot of work...

...but the tower will be standing for a few hundred years more.

To see all of the photos on Facebook, click HERE.