Santa Susanna

January 2, 2012November 19, 2014 ~ Kate Wilson ~ 2 Comments

Such a strange place – a lovely long beach and a caravan and camping site right on the edge of the sand

Then a railway track. Then the main road and then a large nothingness and further inland a very new town which seems as if it was plonked here just to serve the coastal tourist part

But if you just stay close to the beach it’s very pleasant and I can imagine coming back again and trying to get a beach side plot so I can put my breakfast table outside the van to sit there watching the sea and the sun rise.
And it’s only 32km from Granollers.
There are hundreds of camper vans – some enormous – some even more basic than mine. Mostly they have come from Germany and Belgium. Because of this it wasn’t too noisy on New Years Eve – about an hour of petardos thrown by local children and then peaceful silence

Petardos are firecrackers and I wasn’t aware of them before coming to Catalunya where they are commonly used by children of all ages to celebrate such things as the feast of St John in midsummer, Barça winning a football match and on New Years Eve. I just discovered that firecrackers were invented in China in the 9th century and were banned in the UK from 1997. They are designed to make noise rather than light and some of them are mini explosions which you just have to get used to if you live in Spain!
Blue is pleased to report one great advantage of being deaf – she is no longer bothered by fireworks!

One of the closed restaurants has a resident colony of cats

Bonnie enjoyed the beach but continues to have battles with Duna who is struggling to accept the changes this last month has brought to her life

Mediteranean Sea

December 18, 2011November 19, 2014 ~ Kate Wilson ~ 5 Comments

I have never forgotten my first contact with the Mediterranean sea. It was in the south of Italy. After travelling down by train from Rome to Brindisi on a student rail pass, I finally reached the beach and sat with my feet in the water turning my face to the sun like a sunflower. I felt my body and all its layers of defense, melting into butter.

Today Blue and Bonnie had their first meeting with this blue warm enchanted sea. The waves came to find them and the winter sun stroked their backs. Blue was dancing with joy and found new energy to run and jump and of course bark.

A mixture

November 23, 2011December 7, 2014 ~ Kate Wilson ~ 2 Comments

My furniture arrived.

Safely.

It took several hours to unload as they had only sent ONE MAN! Luckily we were able to supply another!

The police were also in evidence due to traffic control. When all was unpacked the van wouldn’t start and the first police had to call for back up to come with jump leads! Tea was served. And now the piano is sitting in place waiting to be retuned. What a change from the damp atmosphere of Cornwall.

Meanwhile here is a picture of the walk I took with Bonnie yesterday in the beautiful sunshine down by Lamorna Cove. It was a great distraction from all the worries of moving house.

……..and another of the cows crossing the road from dairy to field on my way down to Lamorna. Never forget the life of these dairy cattle – their fully stretched udders from over production of milk and their lameness as they slowly and painfully walk the short distance from the yard to the grass. This herd is very well looked after – the farmers don’t shout or hit them, they walk beside them with a gentle hand resting on the back of the last and most crippled one to cross the road. But it is not an easy life for these animals as they provide us with our milk.
I always watch with sadness at the same time as pleasure at the old fashioned scene.

The Pack

August 24, 2011November 19, 2014 ~ Kate Wilson ~ 3 Comments

Today we took the three dogs to Treen and walked across the fields towards Logan Rock.
Duna is watching the others all the time – learning how to be a member of a pack. Always an only dog, she hasn’t had much experience with other dogs but is picking things up quickly.
Some things she has noticed – like barking when the leads and harnesses appear, and lying on the sofa – are being discouraged but here she is, finally accepting that walking behind the leader is the best way to go! Blue clambered over three cornish stiles in spite of her arthritic joints, and enjoyed the sea breeze through her thick black fur.