2007 December | EbroVoice

Archive for December, 2007

Happy Boxing Day – looking forward to a fitted kitchen in Catalonia!

EbroRose December 26th, 2007

Hello one and all! The stress of Christmas is now behind us. Presents wrapped and unwrapped. Fatted turkey roasted and toasted and cold left-overs or turkey curries to look forward to today.

Whereas, in UK and South Africa 26th December is commonly referred to as “Boxing Day” and one can lie and laze about enjoying another days holiday, folk in California will wake up in a few hours time and they will have to trundle on down to work. Such a shame!

Today is for me a time for reflection on the years’ achievements, of projects not yet finished and need to be tackled before the old year is out. The kitchen ceiling is for sand papering one more time. Then, the final layer of white paint should hide any of the joints. This is something I am really looking forward to, as the stretching high above the double chins will also encourage those muscles around the alledged waist line that have been hibernating.

While Lee is he here we have a roof repair job to do over the connection between the old and new house. Then I can happily undercoat the entire kitchen walls and await the arrival of Xavier from Ginestar and my fitted kitchen.

Through no fault of Xavier´s my kitchen has been a long while coming. Even though we had budgeted for “my dream kitchen” the building work had run over budget and the labour costs had swallowed up the funds. For eighteen months I had despaired and anguished over the fact that I had lost such a huge deposit of euros. How do I approach Xavier and explain I need a revised plan of the kitchen extravaganza I had ordered? Sure, I speak a certain amount of Spanish but felt I could not argue or persuade him to alter the plans.

Then my South African friend, Charlotte of www.RioEbroHouses.com, dropped by for a coffee, listened to my tale of woe, took all the details and hey presto! – we were on our way to see Xavier. He had no issues about re-doing everything . Charlotte has not only made a new contact to aid her clients looking to relocate out here and have a new kitchen installed, she was astounded at the size of Xavier´s showrooms and workshops tucked away in the quiet, (often driven past village of Ginestar off the C12 route), but at his excellent craftsmanship and superb customer service and friendliness. He was more concerned about my family´s health than the delay I had caused him – ¡ Salud is prima ! – (Aside: note that Spanish use of the hyphen instead of the English speech marks.)

Do look Xavier up for your kitchen needs and designs. Xavier speaks Spanish (and Catalan) clearly and slowly, but if you need help of any kind contact Charlotte on her website above, her skills encompasses more than just Real Estate and relocations.

Xaviers’ details are:- Gaseni Fuseia i Mobles, s.c.p., c/Gral.Prim 13 – 18 , 43748 Ginestar, Tarragona. Telephone /Fax 977 409 270. Just tell him, the English lady in Jesus-Tortosa, www.BrighterSpain.com sent you over. Also recommend him to your Catalan neighbours and friends for “Gaseni: Fusteria, Ebenistera, Tendals, Mobles de cuina i Bany” and improve your language skills on the way.

So we have the New Year to look forward to of no longer trying to make meals on doors spread across trestle tables and a sink that I do not have to bend over double to reach and cupboards, glorious cupboards.

Homesteading in southern Catalonia leaps forward into the New Year !

Brian Parkin’s 2nd December Car Boot Sale @Terrapico

EbroRose December 1st, 2007

It is weekend and the tiling and grouting inside is done and dusted on this finca and I can look forward to another enjoyable day out meeting and greeting new and old friends at Casa Madera’s Car Boot Sale this Sunday.

In November I saw my first attempt ever as having a stall and what fun I had (apart from the lovely dineros I made towards my own Christmas table fund). Days before I had Mom help me sort through boxes of stuff we brought from the UK, never opened in all these years and where on earth would we arrange all these ornaments, even if we had done so? Yet, my greatest “crowd puller” was my old Mum who delighted and entertained everyone with what her “little boy” (all 6 foot 3 inch of him and greying around the temples) in California had said to me the night before – “Make a sign reads > Grandma 5 Euros – Deckchair comes free!<”

She enjoyed herself so much especially as a nice crowd (Brian, John and Nicole) were churning out steaming hot tea and coffee and absolutely scrumptious hamburgers (not shop made either!) I am back going for seconds this week if nothing else.

It was encouraging to see more and more of the Spanish communities were dropping buy to browse and did buy – possibly somewhat curious to see why Expats would hold a “merkat” ( a market) so far away from the town. It was a wonderful opportunity to practice the language and for them to see we are embracing their culture. So please do tell your neighbours and bring them along. Everyone is welcomed – a mixture of languages are speckled in amongst us.

There is not many weeks to Christmas, but do browse throught the wonderful array of delicately and very expertedly designed homemade Christmas and greeting cards from Gill of Xerta´s Saturday market fame. Also look inside her huge plastic storage boxes (closed to keep the dust out) next to them. Beautifully home knitted baby clothes to marvel at the craftsmenship. Perhaps you have no babies in your family now, but have you seen a young mother in your village proudly pushing out her new pram and thought how much she would appreciate something warm and cozy for new treasure. Afterall, it is the season of goodwill and giving. Home baking is also on offer here and how nice to round off the Sunday evening with traditional English baking.

The evenings are drawing in dark and cold earlier now so a wonderful chance to leave the chores behind and curl up in front of the roaring fire with a good book. Various stalls here will display a wonderful selection of very good reading across everyone´s interest. Though I must warn you that any of the latest best sellers will go quickly for of us that read so voraciously.

The days and nights are chillier now and folk are looking for “woolies” to purchase. So if you came from your frozen country emburdened with all your winter warmers ” just in case” it turned cold in Catalonia, nowis the time to have a sort through. I only hadone cardigan for sale last month and it wassnappedup asI unpacked my old jalopy.

The stalls vary from month to month and all newcomers are welcomed. Last month I saw wonderfull display cupboards that were bought as the lady unloaded them from her car. We were all watching and wondering how on earth that ever came out of her, while a discerning buyer only saw the product and beat us all to a very good buy.

So you see folks, you can sell absolutely anything and everything here. You don´t need to have fancy tressle tables, travelling dog kennels have shown off many a good article for sale. There is plenty of room and you can just spread it all out as you see fit.

Directions:

Travelling south on the C12 from Terra Alta, Mora Nova, Benifallet, Xerta or Aldover towards Tortesa.continue on past the Jesus turn-off and Sabeco Supermarket to the Hotel Corona Roundabout. Carry on straight ahead south to the next roundabout (Llums) and continue on straight ahead. At the next roundabout (bottom of “new bridge” – where they are erecting a new display of knotted pipes to protect River Ebro´s waters) which gives you directions to Amposta, AP7 and el Rival de Cristo, bear Right to el Rival de Cristo. Stay on this road through the village, going uphill, to a small roundabout at the top of the village. Here signs will indicate Mas de Barbarans and Roquetes. Bear right towards Roquetes and take the first Left turn opposite the Cemetary. This is Cami de Terrapico.From here just follow the signs for the “Casa Madera Car Boot Sale” which will be well sign-posted.