Author: Kate Wilson

The Swallows have arrived!

~ Kate Wilson ~ 3 Comments

I know I have already written two posts today and one on Falset is pending but I can’t not mention that the swallows have arrived in Granollers!
Orenetes!   Lots of them swooping down by the river. So exciting.
I walked with Duna down to the river – as you can see it’s not exactly rural heaven, there is a field of long grass and some ramshackle allotments but it is backed by large blocks of flats and you have to pick your way around the rubbish and dog shit.

However…wherever there are birds there is beauty.

And something else happened – the collie that I always greet as I pass, the one who is tied up in a hen yard and who wags his tail when I call Hola Guapo!, this beautiful black and white collie was out for a free walk and it turns out should be called Guapa.  She was dancing around me and Duna and the other dogs who were also out for the evening. She was obviously on heat and luckily the little one who was most interested couldn’t reach. Her owner seemed pleasant but fairly clueless about the facts of life and worried me by saying he wants to exercise her and let her run free but doesn’t want to have to kill puppies.
All I could do was tell him I think the next week is the most dangerous and  then have a long stroking session with her and a chat about not letting other dogs get too close. She seemed to listen.

It’s hard – you have to accept that’s how it is. I always keep an eye on her and she was one of the most friendly and calm collies I have ever met.  It was good to meet her at last.

Travelling to Falset

~ Kate Wilson ~ 1 Comment

At the weekend we drove south to a town called Falset in the province of Tarragona. On the way we stopped for lunch in Reus, a beautiful town with many modernist buildings. It is the birthplace of Gaudi and although there are no buildings by him there are many by other famous Catalan architects such as Lluís Domènech i Montaner.

The beautifully named Jesus Street

Too much to see in a short hour

There was also this bronze statue  – La Dòna Treballadora – Homage to the Working Woman by Reus born sculptor and printmaker Ramon Ferran i Pagès (1927).
It is in a small square and was inaugurated in 2003. It is an image laden with symbolism as are many of his works. Under her right arm she holds a honeycomb. Her left hand is raised as if crying out. The whole image is one of strength and connection to the earth.  I had never heard of Ramon Ferran before and the information on Wikipaedia was in Catalan – I think the classes are finally bearing fruit – I understood most of it!

The combination of travelling with an eighty-something year old aunt and a hot Springer Spaniel meant we only paused to eat and take a quick stroll around town.  Then onward to Falset.

April fool

~ Kate Wilson ~ 3 Comments

Two good things …on a day when I was counting them!

1. The box I sent from Cornwall finally arrived with lots of goodies including a stir fry sauce for tonights dinner with the family. I hope they won’t find the food too strange to enjoy. It’s a good way to send stuff from the UK if you don’t want to lug it over in a suitcase. It’s a door to door service and normally it arrives the next day.  Then it’s like opening a Christmas present as you have forgotten what you sent.
2. The birthday chocolate cake turned out ok!  I am worrying that it’s a bit British with loads of butter and chocolate and a more heavy sponge that is usual here but….I expect we’ll force it down!

I am sending this from my phone and have no idea where the photo will end up. Hope its not on its side like the last one.
Hope your April fools day was good!

A Little Piece of Me: Wednesday Wings – Sandpiper Flight

~ Kate Wilson ~ Leave a comment

A Little Piece of Me: Wednesday Wings – Sandpiper Flight:

“Exude happiness and you will feel it back a thousand times. – Joan Lunden A Spotted Sandpiper from last May. Wishing you all a Happy Day!”

The link above is to a blog that I visit regularly. The writer takes wonderful photos and links them with a nice thought for the day. This one is amazing – I’ve never seen a Sandpiper flying before and I can’t imagine how you would catch it on camera.
Seems a good way to end the month. See you in April!