August 2020: the local and the global From here in El Parral to the pretty multicoloured facades of the beach front of La Vila Joiosa it is 12.5 km (seven and a half miles), which is mostly downhill. Descending from 260 metres above sea level to the beach takes 35 minutes on a bicycle. Driving … More Journal of the virus year: Chapter 11
We decided to eat out on Friday. Morris had been reading on the interweb that eating out was patriotic and it would save the hospitality industry. Everyone is doing it, he told us. We asked Morris, “What is the hospitality industry?” “It’s restaurants, hotels, bars and that sort of thing,” he replied. “Everything you sit … More The patriotic eating outs
The “war against Covid-19” is a failure of intelligence As I explained in Chapter 9 I have held back for some time from writing on the wider Covid-19 situation while my thoughts have been gathering. My remarks here have been mostly focused on the local situation, like the welcome recent exit of the British holidaymakers … More Journal of the virus year: Chapter 10
Hello, I’m Rubí donkey and this is my Rubí Tuesday blogue. “Donkey mother,” said Morris yesterday evening when were eating our straw, “do you remember when you didn’t bray?” “How am I expected to remember every time I didn’t bray?” I replied. “Anyway, I told you to avoid controversial topics at meal times. Do you … More No bray today: in praise of introverts
Readers of this blog can probably identify with some of these feelings over these past months. First, I have found the situation quite unreal and, while making all the domestic adjustments that governments have required of us, I have also been watching carefully to assess how much I am being manipulated by the political forces … More Journal of the virus year: Chapter 9
If you are not completely confused then you haven’t been paying attention. From the middle of March and all through the lock-down here in Spain, I have kept completely up-to-date with all Covid-19 developments, adopted all PPE precautions and social distancing, and so has the other main contributor to this blog, Rubí donkey. And yet, … More Journal of the virus year: Chapter 8
The quarantine of UK travellers to Spain has closed Benidorm. Some hotels only opened last Saturday, after the lock down. The UK announcement was made later that same day. For every hotel booking in Benidorm this week there have been 131 cancellations. Tour operators have already switched holidaymakers to Turkey, Croatia and Greece, or given … More Benidorm shuts after a holiday season of six days
I decided to take the De Rosa out for a flat bike ride along the coastal route this morning. Vilajoiosa to Albir and back through the slightly hilly Terra Mitica route. The route took me through Benidorm on the day after the British government told Brits not to come to Spain. So it was a … More Fly away from Benidorm, Brits. Goodbye (again!)
I can’t remember exactly when we came out of the lock down in Alicante, but it was a few weeks ago. What I do know is that I wrote Chapter 6 of this blog series on 25 March 2020 – eleven days into the lock down in Spain – and then things got really busy. … More Journal of the virus year: Chapter 7
Hello, I’m Rubí donkey and this is my Rubí Tuesday blogue It’s the summer heat time again and everyone is flopped. When I say everyone, I just mean the equines. The Peasant has been hiding in the shady pergola, busy on a new secret project. It all went very quiet apart from the occasional “Ouch!” … More How to make a donkey mask-face
El Parral: a hermitage on the way
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El Parral: a hermitage on the way
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El Parral: a hermitage on the way
Dogs, donkeys and life on our farm
Working towards Eco-living in le Marche
