While curing a November cold I have watched a lot of Spanish TV, like Menuda Noche and La Tarde Aqui y Ahora on Canal Sur.
Back
by Marianne Lindahl •
It’s nice to be back in our old house on the hilltop. I didn’t realise until now how much I have missed the Spanish mountains and the view from our terrace to the sea, the sunset with its colourful and sometimes dramatic variations.
Things Happen
by Marianne Lindahl •
Finland has made a new world record. Mrs. Margit Tall, a daredevil lady of 95 is thought to be the world’s oldest woman to bungee jump. She made an old wish come through, after ignoring the organiser’s warning that the leap could kill her. She just went to the jumping site at Kaivopuisto in Helsinki, and asked whether there was an age limit. “We thought she was joking”, one of the organizers said.
Fire!
by Marianne Lindahl •
On August 15th at the fantastic festival Virgen de la Antigua, a spectacular public fireworks display illuminated the sky of Almunecar during 20 minutes. Over 100.000 spectators watched the spectacle.
Tropical Weather & Football Thougths
by Marianne Lindahl •
July in the Nordic countries has been exceptional, with tropical temperatures around 26-30 for almost two weeks now. The hot weather has brought thunder storms in its wake. On golf courses in central Finland, where the thunder storms have been extremely severe, one person died and one was injured after having been struck by lightning. The unfortunate deadly accident occurred when the victim, a pensioner, interrupted the game because of the heavy rain. He was returning to the club house pushing his golf trolley, when a lightning bolt struck the trolley and he fell lifeless to the ground. There were no thunder storm clouds visible. The lightning seemed to strike from an ordinary cumulus cloud. Death was immediate, and attempts to revive him proved hopeless.
D-Day & Royal Events
by Marianne Lindahl •
On June 6, World leaders gathered in Normandy, France, to mark the 70th anniversary of D-Day, the day of the Normandy landings, initiating the Western allied effort to liberate mainland Europe from Nazi occupation during World War II. Normandy was the scene of strong emotions during the first week of June as the dramatic events of 1944 were remembered.
‘Saunamania’
by Marianne Lindahl •
The second best thing I have enjoyed since my return was revisiting the real Finnish sauna with a wood-fired stove and the scent from the leafy birch twigs called vihta, with which we Finns flagellate ourselves after having thrown water on the hot stones in the stove.
Local foods
by Marianne Lindahl •
Although perhaps not the most outstanding feature of local cooking, the tapas served free in all the province’s bars to wash down with a glass of wine or beer are a tasty symbol of the province of Granada, stimulating the senses and wetting the appetite for lunch or dinner.
Spring!
by Marianne Lindahl •
Now is the time when the Spanish landscape dresses up in bright yellow colours. In Taramay, the streets are lined with luscious Mimosa trees in full bloom. Meadows and valleys are covered with the frail, but fierce Buttercup Oxalis.
Fighting Unjust Demolition
by Marianne Lindahl •
They are innocent people who have bought their Spanish property in good faith, with all the correct documentation, having invested their life savings into their dream homes. Most of them are elderly.