Author: Kate Wilson

Catalan – the film

~ Kate Wilson ~ 2 Comments

Ok so here we go again!
It was Catalan week and I managed to do the video on Sunday.
Just in time.
And now it is HERE  on YouTube where you can see me on the beach fumbling around in Catalan while Bonnie cavorts behind me – amongst other things!
She is the star of the film and it is worth watching just for the beautiful light by the sea.

If anything this attempt is worse than the first one but I have to let you see it as I promised I would!
I am not being falsely modest – it really is much worse than I am capable of but I get terribly nervous in front of the camera.
I am writing this on Monday/Tuesday which means I am now back in Castellano. All this changing about is making me feel like this

Crazier and crazier. So please be patient. Soon I hope this blog – and life – will soon return to normal.
Whatever that means.

Music in Granollers

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Only a couple of days ago I was saying that Granollers needs more music in the streets.
This morning they arrived

I think they were officially sanctioned as they were standing on a mat, and I had been thinking of something more spontaneous like the man who plays Bob Dylan songs in Penzance, but it was nice anyway. 
And a good start!
People were walking past humming……

PS Catalan video coming soon – I just need to film it and today it was A/too hot to stand outdoors and B/too wet to go out in the storm.
Changeable in fact.

A sensible dog

~ Kate Wilson ~ 4 Comments

Blue on the beach today at Caldetes.
She had a little swim then settled down in the shade to sleep. As if she’d been doing it all her life.

Bonnie on the other hand……… chased things into the water, dug holes all around our spot on the sand, barked at anyone who smiled at her when passing (well they were all completely naked and she was shocked) and got so hot and bothered than no amount of water would quench her thirst.
Duna had her own umbrella and as usual sat quietly except when she dragged the whole thing behind her in an attempt to get at Bonnie.
I swam
Pep had a dip.
We had lunch in the beach cafe and at last all three dogs were quiet and orderly as they waited for sardine heads to descend from the table.
The waitress warned us that if the police came they would give an instant fine of 100 euros per dog. We’ve never had a problem in the past and noone seems to mind their presence.
But perhaps taking 3 is pushing our luck.

Market Day Granollers

~ Kate Wilson ~ 2 Comments

For the first time this year I had to cross the road to get into the shade – it’s hot!

No need to get undressed though!

Still not finding peaches in the market so I bought some apricots – summer is coming!




I am in a Catalan week and practised by talking about tango to the vegetable stall holder and bees to the honey man. The bees in Tarragona are doing very well – so it’s not all bad news!

Tango in the Park

~ Kate Wilson ~ 4 Comments

Took the train to Arc de Triumf this evening to go dancing. In Ciutadella Park.
Isn’t that a lovely way to spell Triumf?

It took me over an hour to sort out the dogs first as they each have different needs – Blue a 10 minute meander down the road. Duna a 20 minute race around the block. Bonnie a 40 minute fast walk to the Park Ponent, keeping her beside the wall where possible to stop her getting panicky when anyone came behind us. (That happens a lot – it is a city!)   I have to really plan my dog walks these days.

Then half an hour to walk to the train station at Canovelles. You have to walk across the tracks there to arrive on your platform and you never know till the last minute which platform the train will come into.

In Barcelona it is a happy stroll down to the Park and the Glorietta where free outdoor tango is happening again. Summer is coming!

Gorgeous gorgeousness!  It was lovely to be there and to dance with three of my favourite partners. The breeze caresses your face as the sun goes down and the ancient wooden floor catches your heels as you spin round the bandstand. It was always a place I love to dance tango. I have very happy memories of my first time there as well as some more uncomfortable ones of times when I stood at the edge feeling lonely and awkward.
But generally now I feel at home there and tonight it was lovely and welcoming. The music drifts out across the park and people stop to watch which is very gratifying to the exhibitionist in me.  I know more people, I can speak better Spanish, I am also happy to watch and just be part of the scene.

In exactly one week it will be my birthday and the thought passed through my head to come back and dance that evening.   But who knows what the future will bring?  I decided to live for the present and celebrate tonight as my birthday and to enjoy the dance now.

 

‘Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we’re here we should dance.’  
~Author Unknown