Bedrock

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What would I know – I’ve been in meetings all day, surrounded by heavy machinery!

We had the builders in today… so much in so little time …

In one day we’ve had:

• The kitchen cupboard moved
• A lamp repositioned
• Radiators fitted
• Road fixed
• Bedroom wall fixed
• Jacuzzi moved

The Jacuzzi re-sited (that’s including getting the concrete based done from scratch would you believe).

It all started this morning with this lot digging up my path.. on the left you’ll see the new concrete base… and two strong men breaking their backs to move the Jacuzzi… and Bob’s your uncle – one new place for the pool and one bump in the path where it USED to be – now turned into a “feature”. Here below is the finished version – and remember this WHOLE exercise started this morning…. not bad really…  so next the radiators – so much NOISE pulling old stuff down and putting new stuff up – fortunately I missed the cleaning up bit – far too busy talking on Skype.

Sparkly new radiators with computerised control and blue flashing lights! What more could you want. Of course at 38 degrees outside this might seem a little superfluous but I’ve not forgotten last winter… we’re taking no chances for our next trip back.

The road I can’t show you – but I’ve had a go at repairing a large hole in the main road with my own bare hands and lots of cement – hey, no council here to fix things! I’m waiting to see if someone’s driven over it and smashed the lot.

Finally there is the kitchen – lots done here – the light you can hardly see has been moved up– the open cupboard (doors not on yet) re-sited, blower above the window installed, oh, note the oven hood is now white – fits in MUCH better than before, Maureen did that the other day… we now have room for the Internet radio and Skype phone on top of the Microwave – no point in wasting space….

Meanwhile I must’ve typed 100+ letters today got concrete fingers… can’t use the pool as it has to heat up a little – neighbours are over so I’m off to join Maureen for a chat with them and then I think a little wine and Tapas locally is in order… it’s been a very, very busy and productive day.

Or not. By early afternoon I’d given up on the idea of our lot ringing me up for a conference call and I was just about ready to go to the pool when – they wanted a conference call!

Anyway, WEEDS are a problem our way despite being in the nearest thing to a desert… we can’t get plants to grow but the weeds seem to manage and they’re pretty much immune to the weed killer I tried. So one of the neighbours suggested I try Aqua Fuerte. While at the Chinese junk shop I spotted a bottle for 43p – and as they were offering 30% off everything – I went for it. You won’t believe this if you’re reading this from the uk – but the ingredients – 22% hydrochloric acid. Sure enough it kills the weeds and also has a good go at burning through the concrete – and it STINKS.

Imagine my surprise tonight when in Huescar at a local store – to find a very large bottle – for 75p – only THIS time the percentage of hydrochloric acid – 50% !!!!! This stuff would give “alien” a run for it’s money.

No more weeds for me! Can you imagine the pound store selling that!!

So much has happened in the last couple of days – starting off at dropping off our friend at Murcia Airport – through checking out the local villages – then off to the beautiful Monasterio De Santa Eulalia overnight in Aledo, Totana… then visiting the most fabulous set of statues nearby and travelling onto Lorca… I’ve just for now put the whole lot into a slideshow below – hope you enjoy.

After a very nice evening at the pub with our new friendly neighbours (see picture left) We just took a couple of days away to drop our young friend Fay off at Murcia airport and do a spot of shopping and culture-gathering – but as it happens it turned out to be much more.

Sunday we went off to the local car boot sale in the morning at BAZA – I have to say, it wasn’t that good – some old second hand stuff, mostly not that good – very little dealer surplus (my favourite) – not something I’d do again frankly. Anyway, the weather was lovely so that took up a little time – we then got ourselves ready and went to the ORCE fair – now that was a different kettle of fish altogether – open fair, lots of dealers – people selling every kind of cheese or olive or ham, one guy – I can’t remember what he was selling but he was a master at making bird noises verbally and kept everyone amused. There were some birds of prey there and one of the local bars was doing great business with everyone sitting outside drinking and enjoying free Tapas.

First think on Monday morning we went off first thing to Murcia to the airport and dropped off Fay then went shopping but before that we had a drive around the villages near the airport – ok – touristy – and the developers were FAR too enthusiastic as there are a lot of empty properties – but the place does have a nice bright holiday feel to it. I’ve put a few photos here but the rest I’m banging up on FLICKR with descriptions when I get a minute as I took a LOT.

Here’s a novel shop name – well, I thought so – along the coast at the DEL MAR shopping centre up just from Murcia airport!  I’m sure it means something quite catchy to the Spanish.

We spotted this fellow on our trip back from Lorca this morning – sadly the proper camera was locked away in the boot and there was NO way I was getting out of the car because what looks like a vulture was half my size at least and I did not fancy dying out in the desert at 38 degrees and counting. The photo was taken with my phone and from a distance but this was the largest I’ve EVER seen by far – and he looked MEAN!

More later. We spent the night last night at a Monastery near LORCA and I’ve LOTS to say on that exciting adventure.

Yesterday we went off to the new swimming pool in Huescar. Next time we go I’ll take the camera in as it’s really very nice. Tip for anyone considering a trip – go early afternoon – the locals have all cleared off by then! There’s a nice sheltered area with a burger van for for 3 Euros or so you get a kitchen-sink burger (burger, bacon, egg, cheese, salad, tomato etc and chips)… just the right start to a healthy swimming session.

Today it’s looking like a repair day as I’ve spotted some paint coming off in the bathroom after my miracle cement repairs! Temperatures continue to hover around the 38 degree mark which makes doing anything practical mid-afternoon a challenge – however here inside Bedrock it is very pleasant indeed. I put a little movie together (see previous post) and now I’m off to tackle the people who sold me the PanoramaStudio software as I think I’ve been conned (they don’t tell you until after you upgrade that you need to pay even more for use on commercial sites – now that’s nasty).

Maureen and Fay have been out shopping, Fay is off to Murcia airport on Monday and we’re going to drop her off then have an overnight stay in the area. Meanwhile we’ve festivals and markets coming up over the weekend so it’s going to be a busy few days.