EbroVoice

EbroRose March 22nd, 2008

Happy Easter.

¡ Feliz pascau!

Sabeco Supermarket is open 9.30am -9.30pm today and again resumes 6 days opening from Tuesday.

Murrays´English cafe in Sabeco is open today and until late. New to the area, or feeling at a loss what to do or who to talk to? Pop in there for a brew, a snack or a hearty meal and you will meet some lovely people and make new friends. The staff always have good ideas of what to do and local information.

Don´t forget if you don´t feel like cooking pop along to the Sultan Indian restaurant in Remolins or ring up for a Takeaway – http://www.brighterspain.com/guide.html

Wandering around the River Ebro in Tortosa on the Ferreries side, pop in and see Amparo at Delta Ebre Cafeteria and see some amazing historic photos of the Ebro River and Delta. She will kindly tell you in Spanish, Catalan or very good English the story behind each photo. Address is Carrer Ulldecona6, Tortosa or telephone 977 503 971.

If you are over the other side of town near the Tourist Information Office pop into Amparo´s and Usher´s (hubby) English Tea Gardens for a wide choice of teas, tasty snacks and kids can play a game of pool .

Both the last two have overhead television viewing and dvd´s shown onto a large screen. Ideal to watch the match! Who? Barce` Barce´ of Ronaldino fame- I mean who else would you support if you lived in Catalonia!

Enjoy your weekend and stretch those legs and get out walking or cycling or jogging along the Greenway – Via Verde. Go exploring  and then tell us info@brighterspain.com.

Also this morning the Carboot sale is on in L´Ampolla outside the “Bar Estacion “. See you there, but I am browsing this time not displaying, but that doesn´t mean I won´t next time.

After that, there is the car boot sale, alias social club, meet the locals and expats at Parky´s Casa Madera in Terrapico on the 6th April. More info. on this in a few days time.

Enjoy your weekend.

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EbroRose March 14th, 2008

Oh yes! Rosie can no longer be referred to as a Wooolly sheep. My unruly locks have definitely gone. Whooppee! No more tangled knots to comb out first thing in the morning. No longer do I have a thick blanket of hair making me even hotter as I sleep. No longer do I have to scrape it all up onto the top of my head through the day because it was always in the way.

I now only have to look forward to blissful, no more “bad hair days ” after swimming or days on the beach. Speed and efficiency is just what I like when dealing with my own hair. In and out the shower, fingers run through my hair and I am ready for anything!

But no one escaped at our finca. Even Alan is all neatly mown for the summer ahead. His only disapproval was having his mugshot taken.

Then there was Mom. She just loved the attention and care and detail to style at the expert hands of Amanda from Aldover. “She definitely has angel hands when cutting hair.”

We now catch my Mom keep looking in window reflections at herself, like a “recycled” teenager! She then does the “Brummie shuffle” away and goes back to her weeding. She just loves to weed. Fine by me, there is enough of them.

Yesterday we had to go to Jesus Hospital (Geriatrics one) and they were trying to ask her questions about how she was, what problems, what she recalled. All she wanted to talk about was her new friend Mandy. “Mandy with the horses – but boy, can she cut hair nicely!”

Amanda is really wonderful and loads of patience with everyone and especially difficult thick, wavy hair like mine to cut. I have a double crown at the back and two Tsunami type calf-licks on the front. Amanda was not phased at all.

But we may never have found Amanda if it was not for our friends, Jackie and Terry at “Murray´s” English Cafe in Sabeco who recommended her, after Amanda had been out and cut a group of them. Networking is so important to survive out here.
The beauty of Amanda being mobile is she is flexible and because she doesn’t have the time clock ticking in a salon can give you personal attention as she cuts your hair to suit the shape of your head and how your hair falls.

I always say you can tell a good cut not by how it looks five minutes later, but how it looks after first wash. Amanda’s is a 150% fabulous cut and thank you.

Special group rates in your homes or reduced rates if you fancy a peaceful trip out to her farm in Aldover, to get away from it all.

Please give her a call on 675 515 925. Amanda – Tortosa´s English Hairdresser

http://www.brighterspain.com/guide.html

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EbroRose March 7th, 2008

We have all been there! Moved out to Catalonia in Spain and started a whole new life. We have found the property, which will involve the next 5 years in “doing up” and are trying to settle down to a daily routine in living in a strange, wonderful but some daunting new town, village or countryside.

The boxes are unpacked, we ache all over and then we look in the mirror. Our hair is a mess. Something we have totally disregarded over the last few weeks, months or even years. Where back in the Motherland we went regularly to our favourite hair salon. I personally have let my hair grow long as it was so much easier, I thought, than struggling with the Catalan (perruquer)or even Spanish hairdresser,(peluquera)

I have found “Amanda”. A lovely person with such a friendly disposition and an eye for which style suits a face. She is very qualified  with over 25 years experience . Already has a regular clientel of over 30 English folk. All who have remarked; ” I wish I had found you sooner. It is a nightmare getting your haircut in Tortosa because of the language barrier.”

Amanda does not only Ladies, Gents, children but offers a service in a discount for groups.

WoW! Do we organise a coffee morning or wine and nibbles in the evening, have a few friends over for new hair styles and lots of chatter and networking? What a wonderful idea. Perhaps you could invite a Spanish neighbour to join in too.

Amanda is a mobile hairdresser and covers all areas of the Tortosa region, offering very competitive rates. Maybe you are having your family and friends over from UK for holidays and would like there hair done while here, or just treat your Mum.

I am so glad I found a reliable hairdresser for you my readers. Please give Amanda a call on 675 515 925. You will not be disappointed!

Aside. Watch this space! One woolly looking dishevelled “sheep to be sheared ” next week. Oh, I can´t wait!!

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EbroRose March 3rd, 2008

Yesterday, was a glorious sunny day down here in the Lower Ebro Valley and the old Vauxhall had been loaded up the night before, for another entrepid morning at Parky’s car boot sale at  Casa Madera Club, near Tortosa. Mom was up early and full of the joys of spring, Alan was following on later with our friend Peter from ” The Orange Grove” .

We were given a welcoming second to none by Parky and John. As usual we had more stuff to lay out than the two tressel tables we took with us. No problem, in a jiffy John had another bench strategicaly positioned for us. Mom meticulously displayed a wonderful array of books, (though I had to stop her reading them once or twice!) while I unpacked all the odds and sods, leaving the silver jewellery to last.

We were first there and folk were starting to arrive and I thought “Oh heck, only me here”. Not to worry Stuart and Hazel arrived in their big blue van from Aldover. Out came a beautiful patio table and chairs, not for sale I regret to add, but to display his wares. Well, if you had just moved out here and are doing up your finca this is the man to contact. His project is nearly finished so he has a wonderful assortment of high-power tools and other “finca things”. People were snapping up as he unloaded.

So folks remember, this car boot sale is back on, on the first Sunday of every month. You will be surprised what comes out of the back of 4 x4., cars and vans. We loved to see you there. Aren´t there any plant lovers and veg growers our there with surplus stock to sell. I know I was one of many asking for such a stall. Any takers?

This time I missed the lady Gill from Xerta and I was looking forward to finding a Mother´s day card and taking home some of her lovely fruit crumble. If anyone sees her please tell her she was missed.

Kathy and family had a good selection of kiddies toys and games. These were proving popular with the Spanish. It is so nice to see them arriving and marvelling at this quaint English custom of a “car boot sale”.

My silver jewellery was proving a display of interest and learning in the way the giraffe hair is collected and then threaded through this South African silver. The silver elephant hair bracelets (actual elephant hair is banned from use now) were drooled over. These bracelets look good on all skins and wrist sizes. They are also ideal for a gift with a difference. We will be at the next car boot sale.

Folk were arriving in streams by elevenish and the sun was warm on our faces. Mom had been sent off in the search of some coffees with a promise of one of those tasty homemade burgers at the end of the day. But what I love about this little carboot sale is someone always brings someone else along and introduces them around. So the Expat and local network widens her net. We were so pleased to meet Huw and Amanda from Lower Ebro Riding School at Aldover, originally from Staffordshire. She is a lady of multi-talents and a hairdresser to boot as well, as well a Senior Care Assistant. I have got myself booked to have a complete hair overhaul – long hair is just not ideal for the hot summers. So I am looking forward to that!

Also good to see old friends, Christine and Anthony of Finca Ninfas. Now if you know anyone who loves hiking or bird spotting, they have a wonderful upstairs apartment for rent in the Natural Park near Alfara de Carlas. It is only 1o minutes by car from Tortosa. Please contact us if interested.

My thoughts were interrupted by Alan and Peter laughing, “Look at that chocolate brown one!” It was fate that I looked up. Four adorable puppies rolling around. Oh no…. My feet were jet propelled towards them. Two chocolate brown ones and two mottled ones – aah they were gorgeous. One choclate brown.scratched nose, where he had come off second best with the others, came hurtling towards me.

Brian Parky, who never misses an opportuinity was quick on his loudspeaker, “One free puppy to every stall holder!”

Alan´s face was beaming all over when I put Big Paws” onto his shoulders. I knew he was coming home with us. Strange that I had spare dog leads in the car…honestly I didn´t know he had any puppies. They are gorgeous all male, all weaned and free to a good home.

One down, three to go!

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EbroRose March 2nd, 2008

Newsflash!

Parky’s traditional monthly car boot sale is on this morning. Follow the signposts from Roquetes and Ravel de Crist. Though this car boot sale is not on the grand scale of those sprawled across English fields, yet this one is so friendly. New to the area, passing through, visiting or have been settled awhile I will guarantee you will make lasting new friendships here.

Along the way you will see regular stall holders tempting you with their wares. Do not be mislead to think folk are just trying to off load their junk. You will be surprised to find different things each time and usually with a seasonal variance.

I myself have, amongst other things, a selection of beautiful and professionally made sterling silver elephant hair bracelets. To compliment these I also have sterling silver bangles inlaid with giraffe hair, that has been collected off the thorn trees of Africa. No animals have been harmed in the collection of this hair. These are all genuine sterling silver, new (never worn) and silver marked correctly. These have been designed and made by a well known, award winning gold and silversmith – Geoph Foden of www.SafariGold.com

So please come along and have a look. I showed two friends them the other day as I was unpacking them and they each bought one straight away as a “simply must have” item.

Now is the time to stock up on your reading material for those sunny siestas that are just around the corner. Have a good old rummage on all the stores and if we don´t know you please don´t be shy to come along and introduce yourselves.

Maybe you yourself need to do a “reckie” and then have a store yourself next month, the more the merrier.

If you aren´t able to make to today, please just drop us a line on www.BrighterSpain.com for any information, queries or to share your experiences out here.

Watch this space! The car boot sale in April I am hoping a have a supply of a brand new book by two well known lady authoress´s that you can´t buy off the shelf over here.

Anyway the weather is glorious and we look forward to meeting you all.

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