Well, first off apologies for last weeks late feature entry, I hope no one was too upset? But hey, these things are sent to try us, and it wasn’t my fault, honest! It was actually an act of the elements that caused the break in transmission of my editorially based sunshine memoir, or should I say a whopping great thunder storm!

There I was, laptop all plugged in, sat out in the summer room with my mug of cocoa, (laced with Soberano, purely for medicinal reasons you understand!) when ‘Flash and Bang’ went the simultaneous onslaught of the unexpected tropical storm which blew most of the town’s electric boxes, and my laptop with it! (Luckily, the surge protector adapter was being used for Rose’s curling tongs!*|>?:*!)

So after a hasty drive down to a friend in the next village and a quick ‘e’ note to Alan at the Echo, it was left for me to borrow another notepad and try to get back on track. Easier said than done as I soon discovered a number of people crying ‘fried hard drive’ much to everyone’s annoyance. Ah well, got there in the end after throwing a bit of money and a few brandies at my computer friend. I was up and running again within three days, just in time to delete the hundred or so spam messages that appear to get through my firewall informing me of ways to beat the credit crunch! Well, I know how to beat the credit crunch, don’t have any credit!!! Simple.

Oh yes, it’s alright for me I hear you say, strong Euro, weak pound, I must be laughing though remember, most countries including Spain are feeling this glitch in the worlds crumbling economy, it’s just that here, credit cards are somewhat of a new venture for most, so damage has been somewhat limited. But to be fair, it’s been our way for years as apart from the mortgage, we’ve always saved up for anything we needed and always paid off the plastic as soon as possible if used. Anyway, don’t know what all the fuss is about. For the ordinary man in the street, life goes on and this crisis will pass. There are more important things for people to worry about like the health of one’s family and looking after friends, that’s the real challenge. And after my wife losing one of her favourite cousin’s suddenly to cancer last week, well, sort of puts it all into perspective really doesn’t it?

If there’s one thing traditional in our house, it’s the buying, dressing, stuffing and cooking the Christmas turkey, after all, it’s the only time of the year we indulge in that most revered of thanksgiving fowl. This year, no matter where we were, was going to be no exception, all we needed was a supplier that dealt in birds over twenty pounds or more, after all, there may be only two of us for Christmas lunch this year, and we didn’t want to run short!

Iceland food stores were due to open a store on the coast down at Fuengirola in the New Year, so they were out. The local supermarkets did them but nothing as big as I wanted. So it was left to make an enquiry of Josef, (Hosayf) our local butcher as to the availability of said item.

After much patient translation and gesticulation from both parties, we established that indeed a fresh turkey of around 18lb (thankfully already plucked and dead which was unusual) would be available if ordered then and there for us to pick up Xmas Eve which couldn’t have worked out better. It’s funny, but people always ask me the same question as to why I buy such a large turkey when there’s usually only a maximum of four people for dinner. Well I tell them honestly, it’s something of which I now make a mission as, I can remember, as a lot of people can, times in the past when Christmas took a lot of working out balancing a small budget while trying to make ends meet and the time special. So every year since I have been able, I have ventured out and made it a goal to get the biggest bird I could fit in our oven which has now turned into a standing joke in the household and one which I shall uphold ‘til the day I die. After all, the bigger the wishbone the bigger the wish! Ha.

That out of the way, next it was down to the mega-store ‘Corte Ingles’ to sort out the more traditional nibbles like Pringles, cheesey balls and anything with a high salt, high fat value in which to indulge without guilt. No problems there, except noticing the look on the Spanish ladies face at the checkout as she wondered why we had a trolley full of things that were intended to cause havoc with the heart and body weight did make for an amusing moment. That done, it was off to yet another outlet whereby streaky bacon and cocktail sausages needed to be sought to dress our bird and add even more yummy yummy cholesterol, again this was achieved until finally, we finished off by purchasing some mini Xmas puds and double cream just to harden the arteries off!

There, Xmas food shopping complete, just needed to get the booze which was possibly the cheapest and easiest thing to do, and sort out who was doing what and where.

As stated, our son Joseph had confirmed he would be with us but it was now almost certain that Luke wouldn’t. That meant for the first time since having the children, we would not be together as a complete family together at any time over the festive season.

It’s at this time that thoughts turn readily to regret where feelings of depression and remorse grow so they almost take over your rationality. But it’s a fact of life that things change, like we have changed, and some things are sacrificed as part of that parcel, but no matter how down you feel, or how I felt, you must always look at what you have, and not what is missing.

It would be hard not having Luke with us, but he would be there in spirit and we would celebrate Christmas as we always did, with as much yahoo as possible.

Next it was ‘regales de navidad’ or time to sort out the Xmas presents. The internet had made shopping and delivery easy as we had chosen to send festive hampers to those we had decided to buy for in England, though it may not have been the cheapest option! (I had wanted to splash out and treat the mother in law to a weekend at the Baghdad Hilton. No skimping, no expense spared. Bed, breakfast and evening sniper, but Rose refused and I caught a clip!)

As for my Xmas list, well, where do you start! Mercedes, Ferretti, Rolex, a wish list right down to smellies, socks and underwear. Needless to say I usually get the stuff from the bottom of the list up but Rose always seems to surprise me with something out of the ordinary. I however just buy her as much and as many presents as I can, I think it’s because I enjoy wrapping them so much!

As to the decorations which always adorned our homes in England, well, this year was going to be no exception.

We had brought with us a culmination of ten years worth of lights and tinsel which I was determined to wire in, pin up and display anyway I could. Rosa started with the tree which this year would be placed outside in the summer room while I dabbled with a dodgy fusebox and open wiring in an attempt to drain the national grid.

There was however a little concern on our part as we had seen lights and decos’ being put up by the local Ayuntamiento around the streets and town centre, but there appeared little activity with regard to private dwellings. Soon change all that! And so it was that the Davies household now ensconced in Coin, did for the first time ever, light up a Spanish street with as many bulbs and streaming lights as the plugs would take in attempt to win over the neighbours with our rendition of a ‘Gaudy’ Xmas. And it worked!

No sooner had ours gone up and been switched on, than others in the street put out the odd stream and illuminated Santa in driveways and garden walls. Nothing to match ours (chest swollen with Griswold pride) but a start at least. And this year I’m looking to add to it and getting the street to do the same.

So, lights, decos, food, turkey, drink, nibbles, pressie’s all off the checklist. We were ready for Christmas, just waiting for the boy and Santa!

Worth a visit

One of the most traditional and pretty towns on the Costa has to be Mijas Pueblo, not to be confused with Mijas Costa which is close but a different place. We visited the tiny town some four years ago and were captivated by its culture and true Spanish atmosphere. Population is about 7500, a great number of which are actually foreign. This has induced the local council to set up an office to help sort out problems for the non Spanish speaking inhabitants, somewhat of an unprecedented move.

Mijas is 478 meters above sea level with views to die for overlooking the Costa from Malaga to Marbella, truly a wonderful sight, especially if you decide to eat in a quaint little Venta we found for dinner overlooking the bay, though there is no shortage of good quality hostelries. The streets are cobbled and narrow and there are burros to take you around the village where you can visit the smallest Bullring in Spain, which is actually being used this week. And all the craft and gift shops you will ever need for leather and all manner of locally produced goods. But it’s not until you actually walk down it’s streets that you get the feel of what is the real Spain, no matter how many tourists visit, it’s just got that something. Little tip, use the multi story car park at the entrance to the town, and take the lift straight up to the tourist office which is a good place to start off.

Colourful Characters

Sometimes it’s the little things which make life easier and more familiar. It can even be something as simple as a decent pasty or sausage roll. I kid you not, if you’re more of a savoury than sweet person like me, having a pastry chef with a shop just down the road is heaven especially when it is very rare that one can find a Spanish bakery that sells anything but sweet confectionaries.

Bring on Anthony Taylor or ‘Spud’ to his friends and customers. Spud came over to Spain some ten years ago where he now lives with his wife and two children. But more importantly for me, in 2004, Anthony Taylor opened a traditional bakery and delicatessen called simply ‘Taylors’ and has become a very popular and successful businessman in the area.

He first came to my attention though long before I moved out here when I first saw him appearing in an episode of ‘A Place in the Sun’ which detailed his exploits in his attempt to set up his shop selling his unique produce and fare in an area predominantly made up of Spanish business.

With that now in the past and a thriving outlet built on hard work and culinary expertise which is frequented by English and Spanish alike, it’s a fact that ‘Taylors’ is one of those places that for me, has become indispensable, I mean, just tuck into one of his pasties or pies and you’ll see what I mean, nice one!

(‘Taylors’ is situated on the Avenida Libertas on the top road above Alhaurin El Grande).

Next week
Christmas, New Year and Papa Noel Spanish style.