• Diary
  • 2006
    • Background
    • June 2006
    • July 2006
    • August 2006
    • October 2006
    • November 2006
    • December 2006
  • 2007
    • January 2007
    • February 2007
    • March 2007
    • April 2007
    • May 2007
    • June 2007
    • July 2007
    • August 2007
    • September 2007
    • October 2007
    • November 2007
    • December 2007
  • 2008
    • January 2008
    • February 2008
    • March 2008
    • April 2008
    • May 2008
    • June 2008
    • July 2008
    • August 2008
    • September 2008
    • October 2008
    • November 2008
    • December 2008
  • 2009
    • January 2009
    • February 2009
    • March 2009
    • April 2009
    • May 2009
    • June 2009
    • July 2009
    • August 2009
    • September 2009
    • October 2009
    • November 2009
    • December 2009
  • 2010
    • January 2010
    • February 2010
    • March 2010
    • April 2010
    • May 2010
    • June 2010
    • July 2010
    • August 2010
    • September 2010
    • October 2010
    • November 2010
    • December 2010
  • 2011
    • January 2011
    • February 2011
    • March 2011
    • April 2011
    • May 2011
    • June 2011
    • July 2011
    • August 2011
    • September 2011
    • October 2011
    • November 2011
    • December 2011
  • 2012
    • January 2012
    • February 2012
    • March 2012
    • April 2012
    • May 2012
    • June 2012
    • July 2012
    • August 2012
    • September 2012
    • October 2012
    • November 2012
    • December 2012
  • 2013
    • January 2013
    • February 2013
    • March 2013
    • April 2013
    • May 2013
    • June 2013
    • July 2013
    • August 2013
    • September 2013
    • October 2013
    • November 2013
    • December 2013
  • 2014
    • January 2014
    • February 2014
    • March 2014
    • April 2014
    • May 2014
    • June 2014
    • July 2014
    • August 2014
    • September 2014
    • October 2014
    • November 2014
    • December 2014
• Finca & Moli
  • Finca
  • Olive Groves
  • Moli
  • Yurt
  • Farm Equipment
  • The Finca Dogs
    • Dillun & Floozie
    • Dillun & Floozie's Puppies
    • Boris & Bran
    • Theo & Cleo
    • Theo & Cleo's Puppies
    • House
    • Cleo, Piglet & Wnn
  • No.11, Av. Catalunya
• Photo Galleries
  • Scenery
    • Els Ports Natural Park
    • Terra Alta
    • Ebro Delta
    • Other places
  • Flora
    • Trees
    • Plants
  • Fauna
    • Wild Animals & Birds
    • Domestic & Farm
• Villages & Towns
  • Mas de Barberans
    • The Village
    • Masovers & Friends
    • The Festes
  • Tortosa
  • Local Villages & Towns
  • Barcelona
  • Valencia
• External Links
  • Google Earth link
  • Els Ports Map

September '13

We're on a Boat
Alex joined us for a week in the beginning of the month in between his Sri Lankan trip and starting his final year at Plymouth University.

By chance, friends had invited us out on their 40+ft motor cruiser which was at the new Marine in St. Carles de Rapita. When we all got there and started motoring out into the bay Mike got on the radio and arranged a meet with another boat they knew. It turned out to be a Princess 67 that dwarfed Mike & Joan's yacht when we pulled alongside.

Then it was party on.

The floating sofa was a great success. After hosting a cava party, it was the basis for high speed rides round the bay. In between times, there was some very professional watersking performed , an impromptu rave on the front deck (I belive the video is available from other websites) as well as lots of jumping off the highest bits of the boat into the sea.

Alex even got to put his new boating qualifications into practice by being allowed to pilot the larger craft back to the marina while we went back with our friends.

Inundacion UK
Unfortunately, while PG's parents were away on holiday, the water tank in their house overflowed and soaked both the bedroom and the kitchen below it. PG immediately arranged to fly back with Alex and help out with the insurance, builders, etc.. It had not been a huge flood, but everything was ruined and needed replacing.

At least PG was able to do a bit of shopping and meet a very nice old dog and join in Roger's birthday celebrations.

BTW check out Aunty Barbara's T-shirt slogan...

Chipping away
As we are now working over 800 trees, chipping the sucker growth (pollisos, chupones) is a herculean task for 1-2 people. One person does between 5-7 per hour. The trees that we were just starting to work had a lot of large undergrowth that needed a chainsaw to cut out. The other 500+ just need the adze like chipping axe and lots of back breaking work. House was always on hand to drag branches around.

With effort, I managed to finish the last 260 trees while PG was in England. Now all we have to do is burn all the cuttings and then we can plough, roll and get ready to what few olives we have on our trees this year.

Bug
This not so little beauty turned up on our terrace at the very end of the month. PG got these pictures and id'ed him as an Egyptian Grasshopper, probably female. Damned neat really.

Sunday sunrise
And off to work I go, but it does make for a wonderfull start to your day.

August 2013
October 2013

PB

Top of Page

Legal stuff

All information provided on this site is given freely, without liability or intent to offend. Graphics may be copied for non commerial use.