Psychobilly, Geneva and BBQs



It's only been 25 days since my last post. That's not too bad, considering.

Most people assume that it must be life of Riley (whatever the heck that means) living here in Spain. They assume that we spend our days down the beach, sipping sangria and cava, playing in the surf and spend our evenings relaxing on some beach terrace somewhere, sipping more sangria and cava. It couldn't be further from the truth. Sure, I figured we'd relax here in Spain, not that we were even Not Relaxing. But wow, if these past few weeks are anything to go by, it's tempting to say life was so much less busy in the UK.

Less busy. Not worse though. I'm certainly not complaining - I'm just sayin'.

For my birthday we went out to dinner with some friends to a lovely Persian restaurant in Peretallada called La Persa. If you read this blog regularly, you'll know how much I love anything different. It was wonderful. Oddly enough, I realized I'd met the woman who runs it about 2 or more years ago when we first moved to Spain when she contacted me through a Moving to Spain email list. What a small world, no? Excellent and highly recommended food and I can't wait to get back there again. The following day, Steve and I took off for Calella for the Psychobilly Festival. We had a blast - went back to the fabulous tapas-y restaurant where we had Sangria de Cava and fabulous selection of fuet and pernil. Saw the Space Cadets (Hi, Mouse!) and the Meteors play but managed to miss the band that Steve really wanted to see, the Long Tall Texans. Bollocks. Steve used to drive/roadie for them about 18 years ago in Brighton and he was really looking forward to seeing them after all those years. Damn those Calella bartenders and their free shots of Jagermeister and Absinthe!
We zoomed home the following morning, changed and hopped right back into the car to go to the beach for a beach party which was just what we needed after such a difficult weekend. (!)

The following weekend we went to another party on sunday for Peter's birthday (what is it with july?) and then picked up Steve's daughter and her friend from the airport. Steve had the week off so they managed to get to the beach a number of times and generally relax/goof off for a few days. I, of course, was working on The Big Project so missed out on the beach unfortunately. Steve promises to take me this week after work though, as we've discovered a nice quiet beach that we've not been to before - and no, I'm not telling where it is.

Thursday we dropped the girls off at the airport, left our car in the carpark and picked up a rental car. We zipped home, loaded up and took off in the direction of Switzerland. We stayed in France on thursday night and arrived in Geneva friday afternoon to stay with some friends. Oddly enough, we've known this couple for about 7 or 8 years - having met them in Thurso the night before one of the Orkney Ravin' Mad rallys, but this was only the third time we've seen them. The second being when they came to visit us here a few months ago. How weird is that! We had a great time in Geneva - pizza, bowling, beer, guinness, crispy duck, boat trips, etc. But wow, that city is expensive compared to Spain! I suppose we are spoiled, because had we arrived from London or something, we probably wouldn't have thought anything of it.

Got home sunday, returned the rental car with it's lovely air conditioner and bundled back into the Patrol. Monday saw Steve going back to work and me back at the computer working hard. Tomorrow a friend arrives from the States who I don't think I've seen for at least 15 years. Steve is hoping to get some more work done on the house, but not quite sure what (as usual). I take back anything I mentioned earlier about his woodworking skills as the table he made from the old house beams is absolutely perfect and finishes off the terrace just right. Honest, I WILL take pictures soon. It's just, well, it's just too hot to go up there!

Posted: Tue - July 26, 2005 at 11:42 AM        

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