Yes, Dear Reader, we have had a week of intermittent heavy showers interspersed with intense thunderstorms and lightning strikes then beautiful blue skies and sun ! Crazy weather but are we down- hearted? Not at all , we have had very lovely weather up until now – but they desperately need the rain here. Normally heavy rain would have fallen in March ( last year it rained more or less continually for three weeks …) but not so this year . Different areas of Spain have differing water reserves at the moment – Catalonia for example , I believe has levels 75% below those expected at this time of year and we are not in Summer yet . However in the Valencia/ Alicante region I believe water reserves are 50% below those required to get through the Summer. Normally they would expect the aquifers to be 80/90% full at this time of year ! So there is a dire need for rain! Why the detail, I hear you saying ? Well , fifty minutes south of here by road lies this tourist resort ….
Can you imagine how many toilets are in this metropolis? Every flush uses ( I understand…) between approximately 5 and 7 litres of water . Now never mind washing machines, dishwashers, showers , baths …toilets alone require an immense amount of water and there is genuine concern here that they may run out of water 💧. ( This has got me thinking – I wonder if there is a water geek who has worked out how much water the toilets of Benidorm use over the Summer season …investigation required , don’t worry, I’m on it 😉🧐)
Now you understand why we are delighted it’s raining …..the lack of rain throughout Spain is also evident in the available fruit ( or lack of ..) and the prices of both fruit and vegetables . However hopefully the nice weather will return next week though….🌞🌞
Now when I left you last week I was rather nervously awaiting a visit to the vets …do you remember? Well I can reassure you that there were no traumas this time – utter chaos, but no trauma! We arrived ( Millie and I) just before our allotted time – I had understood this was the first appointment of the evening surgery . Either I had misunderstood or the morning surgery must have been a nightmare ! We arrived to find a spaniel and Alsatian each with their owners ( mental note to self – you’ve got a wait ahead…). Then a black dog of no particular race appears from the surgery with his German owner – his wife ( not the dog’s wife …she would be the dog’s Mum..) was left to pay and digest the multiple instructions from the vet . In fact she was so engrossed with the vet she left without paying and had to hurry back in with multiple apologies. As this was going on, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier appears from the bowels of the consulting area with owner in tow. Yet more complex instructions ….and the three of us sit patiently waiting ….
Finally, bills paid, instructions ingested, the reception area is cleared and spaniel with lampshade on is called through . I dread to think what surgery they had had …all I’ll say it was to do with their bottom 🙈
One down, two to go, when in comes a beagle ( possibly a pregnant beagle ) with her two owners . She was very interested in Millie – don’t know why – but then is called through. Hang on ….Alsatian is due next …..who am I to understand the system….so be it ! Then the door opens and in walks a character. A lady dressed to go out partying with her “ baby” ….a 16 year old and slightly overweight miniature pincher. The dog wasn’t on a lead ..just followed her at its own pace……however she was told in no uncertain terms by the receptionist to pick it up which she did without complaint, and held it like a babe in arms. She really was a character – clearly an animal lover – talking to all three ( Alsatian, Millie and hers) incessantly! Anyway then Alsatian is called through…my turn next ….when suddenly “ Harding” ….whoa, that’s us , where are we going ? Straight into the same room as Alsatian who at this point is up on the steel table …..honestly it could only happen here🥴🥴🙄🙄
Anyway , Millie had her injection and we paid and left ….not traumatised but certainly slightly frazzled …..whatever next? Watch this space!!! ( which may be a little longer than expected…….the DB has a big birthday coming up …I won’t give his age away but it is half way between sixty and eighty ….and I have one or two excursions planned , no more detail at the moment I’m afraid 😉😉😉)
So I will leave you with the following …
Camino Romero 