Author: Kate Wilson

Warmer

~ Kate Wilson ~ 5 Comments

 

How do I capture the happiness that I feel here?

So many little things that make me smile every day. And how would I photograph that feeling?

Today the sun shone. I took the bike to my first English class and it was still there when I came out after an hour talking about land, inheritance, marihuana and visions – a nice way to earn money. Cycling is such a pleasure in Granollers – there are little back streets to whizz down, you can go on the pavement without anyone seeming to mind, it is flat and within 15 minutes you are out in the countryside.I came home to the back door which is the entrance to Llançadora – the artists association organised by my partner – offering classes in circus, theatre, dance, acrobatics, and more. The space was originally a textile factory owned and run by his family. We are sleeping in sheets at the moment which were made there! Another time I will show you inside.
Later I went to buy vegetables and for the first time in ages it was warm enough to go out without a jacket. Bliss.
I had my hair cut and coloured yesterday for the first time in Catalunya. It went well although I was nervous beforehand about not being able to explain what I wanted in Spanish.

But today I felt much better groomed and less of a scarecrow! People here don’t go out on the street in their slippers like I have been known to do.Small things – sunshine, no coat, new hairdo, shopping with a proper basket, a bike ride to work and crisp clean home made sheets! And coming home – this time to the front door – the blue one! Happiness…

Tiles

~ Kate Wilson ~ 2 Comments
Someone commented here on how lovely the tiles are that you find in modernist buildings in Barcelona. Last week I went back to Carrer Valencia to pick up some last things and took photos of all the tiles I found just in this three bedroom flat. Each room has a different pattern and an individual style. Imagine the work involved, down on hands and knees putting each small tile in place!
The tiles are made of cement and are officially called ‘encaustic cement tiles’. Follow the link I have added to the word ’tiles’ and you will find more information. They are beautiful and practical and decorative and to be found in many houses and shops and bars in Barcelona.

March weather

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On Monday when it snowed the whole town changed. I went for a walk and got very wet as although the snow was spread thick on the streets and in the parks it soon began to melt and before long I was wading through a sea of slush. It would have been a good day for shopping as the town centre was unusually quiet but my trousers were soaked up to the knees and my feet were making squelchy noises inside my trainers so like everyone else I gave up and went home.Passed this snowman on the pavement which everyone had to skirt around….
Lovely to see my first daffodils of the year!

All back to normal now and the sun is beginning to give some warmth. Spring surely must be around the corner!

A River Walk

~ Kate Wilson ~ 5 Comments

Recently I took Duna for a walk – locally – not too far from the house. We walked alongside this river, the Congost, which runs through Granollers. This is how it looks close up.
This is the same view when you stand further backIt made me think about how I look at things and how I can miss beauty if I don’t adjust my vision.
On the other side of the river is this soap factoryGranollers is an industrial town so there are lots of factories along this stretch of river and many have been responsible for polluting the water and the land. What probably was once an idyllic stretch of water is now lined with ugly buildings with little thought for their visual impact. It couldn’t be more different from a walk along the coast path at Lamorna.
But Duna and I had a beautiful walk.
Looking up there was a blue sky and signs of Spring on the bare branchesAnd the most wonderful thing was the art gallery along the walls – urban creativity and energyDuna ran free and poked and pottered,sometimes stopping to sniff the airI watched ducks on the riverIt’s hard to photograph them when a Springer Spaniel keeps arriving to ‘spring’ them….
We were alone which is an unusual blessing in this land where people love to be outside and to gather in big sociable groupsWe ignored the rubbish – for such a deserted place it wasn’t too badand when it was time to go we left by these colourful stepsOutside the towns the countryside is beautiful, there are hills and fields and wild flowers and little quiet lanes. Towns in general seem to be blighted by development but here by the river there was a different kind of beauty and many of these rather desolate places provide homes and food for a lot of wild life. There is now in place an Environmental Action Plan to support the ecosystem of the Congost and to offer some protection to the wild life. Green spaces have been created and the plan is to further integrate the river and its banks into the lives of the local population making it more a place to be used and enjoyed than forgotten and abused.
Along the river bank runs a long cycle path which you can take all the way to Barcelona.
I hope to do this one day and will tell you what it was like. Duna loves to run beside the bikes so it will be a great excursion for her!