Travel

Border collie on the train to Barcelona

~ Kate Wilson ~ 1 Comment

Yesterday I finally made it up to Barcelona to meet a friend in Ciutadella Park.  I even managed to fit in a tango or 6 in the open air La Glorietta. I haven’t danced for months – it was lovely!
Bonnie came too and we travelled from Granollers Nord Canovelles to Arc de Triumf. It still surprises me that Granollers has three railway stations. From Canovelles you can go in the other direction to the mountains, to Vic and Puigcerda, something we’re planning to do soon.

This was Bonnies second time in Barcelona and only her third and forth journeys on a train. She wears the muzzle only when we are sitting in the carriage, to protect her really as most people don’t try to pat or touch dogs wearing restraints. She doesn’t like to be bothered by strangers.
As before, she was very good, very patient, very quiet and even snuggled up to a man on the next seat, letting him pat her and stroke her ears.
Here she is trying to get comfy and find the best position on a very wobbly and slow train to Barcelona

Heading South

~ Kate Wilson ~ 3 Comments

The swallows are still here in Cornwall and so am I

but we all will be flying south very soon – or in our case we will be driving east then going through the Channel Tunnel and then heading south west through France.
It is always nice to stay until bramble time – or blackberry if you are English!

At last the sun is shining on them and making them sweet.

Our Milk

~ Kate Wilson ~ 3 Comments

On the way into Penzance I am often stopped by the neighbours crossing the road

It’s a small dairy herd, a family farm producing milk and they live just across the lane.
It’s so good to see them, to switch off the engine and watch the brothers gently leading them from the dairy to the pasture, to remember Spot the collie who used to live with them many years ago and who was always sitting at the farm gate, watching the cars pass by.
Dylan, another neighbour from the past, a large Bouvier des Flandres, was in love with Spot and when it was ‘that time of year’ he would stroll down our lane, cross the fields and settle down beside her, moaning gently. He was a gentleman – never tried it on – just wanted to be close.
In those days people allowed their dogs much more freedom to roam. They had independent friendships and adventures.

Memories are always shadowing me here in Lamorna. Quite comforting to be here while I gather strength for the drive south to the sunshine.

Barcelona on a Plate – the Catalan girls

~ Kate Wilson ~ 4 Comments

This is the scene at the entrance of the Newlyn Fish Festival today

Yes, it is raining and although today is supposed to be the worst, that doesn’t mean it is going to be sunny, just that perhaps tomorrow it will rain less.
I feel sorry for everyone – holiday makers, people in tents, anyone trying to organise outdoor events like the theatre in the park or at the Minack, all the people who live here and face a long dark winter without having built up a reserve of Vitamin D, and especially I feel sad for my dear friends from Barcelona who are back in Penzance and running The Catalan Kitchen.
They have a wonderful catering business making authentic paellas in various locations over what is humorously called ‘summer’ – campsites, private parties and local festivals like The Fish Festival.
I went there today to see them and watch a paella being made – from the first sizzling garlic cloves to the final five minutes when it must ‘rest’ under a cover to allow the steam to finish off the cooking

I am very inspired by Marta and Cristina – they had a dream of making Catalan food available in Cornwall when they first came over four years ago.  Marta and I had met at a tango class in Barcelona and when they had a chance to visit the UK they decided to ignore the pull of London and to come and visit me. That friendship led to many things – new relationships, new homes, new lives.
And now seeing them here smiling brightly in rainy Newlyn makes me very happy and glad to be part of something so alive and creative

They have made a great success of the business and managed to do so in one of the worse summers Cornwall has ever known.  What an inspiration!

But for them and for everyone else here in Cornwall I wish for some sunshine and blue skies – we need it now – Please!

New starts

~ Kate Wilson ~ 7 Comments

It’s difficult to know where to begin after a break. We travelled for two weeks and now are here in Lamorna, in beautiful sunshine!
The whole journey was about 1500 miles and along the way there was lots of food for thought and sights to gladden the eye. I don’t know where to begin so lets dive in to the most important part of the journey.

Duna and her new home

If you have been folllowing the blog for the last 6 months you will know there were problems between Duna and Bonnie. We tried everything we could to help Duna accept a new dog in her life but the fights continued and got worse with each passing month. Duna’s life became very restricted – I couldn’t walk both dogs at the same time which meant she spent more and more time at home.  She was kept on the patio which was heartbreaking as she felt abandonned. Bringing her into the house meant she had to be tied to a table leg – more anguish. Walks in the woods or the mountains or by the sea were tense as Duna could only be let off leash with constant vigilance and occasionally we missed the moment when her fury arose and had to pull her snarling angry little body off Bonnie. Bonnie was anxious most of the time and started to be tetchy around other dogs.  She  learnt to defend herself, taking her to places in the canine psyche that she had never visited before.
She often ‘won’ the battles but Duna would never give up, always returning for another tussle.

So, sadly and slowly we realised that living together was no longer possible. Someone or some dog would have to find a new home. Quite often it was touch and go who that would be! But realities were faced – I am the major dog walker in our home and Bonnie is my dog so we decided to look for a new home for Duna. Apart from her hatred of Bonnie she is a wonderful loving, intelligent and beautiful dog.  She clearly would be happier in the countryside with a family who love walking and who give her an outdoor life.

We arrived in the UK not knowing what the solution would be and in the first days found a wonderful new home in Norfolk for Duna. She is living with a couple who have a garden and whose own dog died a few months ago. Andy works outdoors and likes to have his dog with him all day, travelling around farms and gardens. He also is a great walker and regularly does 10 or more miles every day. She is living next door to two close friends of mine so I am hoping we can see her again next time we come back and of course will get news of her often.

Leaving her was very sad. I miss her firm little brown and white body, her silky soft muzzle and her long curly ears.  She was very much loved in Catalunya but the truth is that it is not a good life for a springer spaniel in the centre of a town. It’s not a great place for a border collie either but I take Bonnie for her walks several times a day and at 10 she is more ready for a quiet life than 3 year old Duna.

I would never have seen myself as someone who would re-home a dog but this life in Catalunya shows me more and more  how you can’t ever say never!  And I feel sure of Duna’s happiness in her new life.