Barcelona - August 2012

Well here goes yet another visit to see Michelle in Barcelona, this time it's in the heat of August, gonna be sweaty, but England has been wet all year so a little of own moisture won't hurt, I think.

Fortunately Michelle has had all of August off from work, so we are free to do whatever we decide to get on with, there are a few jobs that need attending to, but nothing that will interrupt our holiday.

First night I had arrived we met up with with a couple of Michelle's friends and headed out to a local festival for some live music, which went on into the small hours, but when they are playing ska, you don't mind, your body just keeps moving to the beat.

So what did we do, managed to sort out a gate for the bottom of the steps to prevent the dogs from getting to the top of the garden and annoy or be annoyed by the other dogs in the area. Drove out to visit a cool bar at the top of Sant Pere, would be great place to spend a night out, huge beer garden with overgrown knooks and secluded crannies.

Had to adjust the gate we had put up, as two of the dogs had managed to scale over it, so a nice bit of picket fencing now adorns the gate and the wall.

Drove out to visit some of the castles in the area, there are quite a few of them scattered about in Anoia, not too far from Masquefa, good for the dogs, somewhere new for them to explore and snuffle about.

Met up with an old friend of Michelle's from her time nursing in Lancaster. Anne was over here with here daughter Amber and her partner David who was over here on holiday in Barcelona. So we couldn't pass up on an opportunity like that, and so we met them at an apartment that they had borrowed, had a couple of drinks then headed out into the night for the Festival in Gracia. The locals decorate the squares and streets with different themes, with music and food available. 

Unfortunately Anne had been bitten by mosquitos a couple days ago and had a bad reaction, and so her legs were a little sore, so they cut their night a little short and left me and Michelle to wander the streets for a little longer, only to find a street all decorated like Star Wars, oh did we laugh. It was so well done, huge papier mache figures and sound effects.

We arranged to meet up again with Anne and Amber later that week up at Sant Pol De Mar, so in the car we went and off we travelled.

What a nice place, a quiet beach with calm water. Met up with the people who Anne had borrowed the apartment from, both their daughters have been pen friends for many years and visit each other from time to time. I spent a little time kayaking in the sea, but there are no photographs to prove it, you will have to take my word for it. We all spent a little time paddling in the sea though, its definately a place I would like to visit again, maybe spend a night or two there.

Well the night was beginning to draw in and we were all on the same flight back to England next day, not Michelle, she was due to fly over later that week for something else.

Michelle drove us back, dropped Anne and Amber off on the way, cracked open a few beers and flew home the next day. Bumped into Anne, David and Amber obviously at the airport, had a brew and went our separate ways.

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Pigwitch - Tockholesbury July 2012

A one day festival on the outskirts of Blackburn, at the Royal Arms Pub, Tockholes, simply called Tockholesbury.

Wasn't able to get there during the day, but got up there just as the sun was going down with Kieran to see a mutual friend play in his new band Pigwitch.

Very good they are too, very reminiscent of early 70's Deep Purple, Focus, with a bit of King Crimson.

Just a pity when they started to play the light was fading and due to unforseen circumstances a light rig was not available, but despite that they played their stuff, got the crowd moving, and everyone had a good time. Despite the swarms of midges.

Hopefully it will be repeated again next year, but maybe to run over the weekend, and not for just one day.





Pigwitch on Facebook

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Amon Tobin - Manchester Academy

Went to See Amon Tobin with Peter and Kris to see his amazing set tonight, what can I say but WOW

That's it, see it if you can, miss it at your peril.

here is a sample of what to expect

Spain and Grand Prix 2012

 It's that time of year when I dust off my formula 1 t-shirt and head off to sunnier locations, and so I did.

With Michelle working for herself, she doesn't have to disappear for the entire day, so for a few hours a day she will pop out for a class, sometimes I will tag along for a change of conversation for those who are learning English.

So these little jaunts out break up the days, where as we would have been lazing about, but one day we would venture forth, meet up with Michelle's friends and have a barbecue.

One trip out for a class and I was doing a quiz with her class and the next, talking with a helicopter mechanic about the helicopters my dad used to work on when he was in the navy.

The barbecue was a proper grand day out, driving out to somewhere Michelle had never been before, to meet up with friends from the village, over here they know how to barbecue, huge grills have been built in the park so you can bring your stuff along and get on with it. Language for me is still very difficult, as I have been so lazy about my Spanish, and it came down to pointing at different object and comparing what the word was in English and Spanish. Some people have some understanding of English and my Spanish is very limited, but eventually conversation is somewhat possible.

Everyone has brought something to eat or drink, so it's all pooled together and the grills fired up. It's funny at all these sort of occasions that certain people gravitate and take over, but as long as they are happy to do it and are good at it, I have no problem, not that I would be able to make myself understood anyway.

Masses of meat is prepared and consumed, wine and beer is handed about, and everyone has a great time. The obligatory guitar is revealed and strummed in Spanish, some sing along, but when one girl sings in English, even I cannot workout what the song is.

As the sun decides to recede, we pack up and leave the park nice and tidy, all respectful like. Well we may want to come back here again sometime.

Obviously we wander about a bit with the dogs and take in the scenery.

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Now to talk about the fast cars.....

What can I say, but we had amazing seats, with a great view of the start finish straight, the noise is incredible and ear plugs are a must for the start. Everyone is in good spirits, the pantomime booing for Hamilton still continues, but no offence is taken, no-one is going to start a fight over what shirt people are wearing, unlike other 'sports'.

Hamilton is stripped of pole due to a fuel irregularity, not having enough for a sample, and is demoted to back of the grid, so seeing him plough through the field made for an entertaining day. Alonso made another lightening start and jumps Madlonado at the start, but there are many more laps to go.

Schumacher screams past us only to collide with Senna just out of view from us, all are ok and the race continues uninterrupted. Alonso has the lead until the final pit stops, Michelle is all excited about the prospect of an Alonso victory, but I have been counting the time during the pit stops, and I tell Michelle no, she looks at me quite puzzled. Maldonado had really put his foot down, and rushes past us as Alonso just exits the pit lane, for Alonso it's not enough and we have a surprise winner of the day in Pastor Maldonado.

Hamilton did his best with his start position, and finishes 8th.

We remove ourselves from our seats, and take up a nice spot under the grandstand to finish off some of the food we brought with us. I go for a wander and pick myself up a new t-shirt. A Catalunya Ciruit one with all the winners on it.

Well that's it for this year, lets hope it's at Barcelona next year, because they want to alternate the Spanish Grand Prix between here and Valencia, fingers crossed

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2012 - Nothing to report

New year came and went, have I done anything, nope not really.

Put windows in extension and fitted door, and give a lick of paint on outside.

Bought an Android Tablet, and so catching up on a lot of old comic books

Weather has been so shite, not able to get out to do anything.

Looking forward to Spain for Grand Prix and a few gigs.

If anything else comes up will post it.

Christmas In Barcelona 2011

Here I am again, Christmas in Barcelona, lots of dog walking, getting out and about, eating good food, drinking too much, and generally having a good time. Built Michelle a bird feeder hanger type thingy, it wasn't until Christmas Day that my insistence became apparent.

Too be honest that's about it really apart from going into the village on Christmas  Eve, meeting up with some of Michelle's friends, drinking many rum n cokes, staggering back to Michelle's, drinking more rum n coke, watching space documentaries until something like 6.30 in the morning, but not waking up until 3 in the afternoon feeling sooo rough.

Michelle had got up around noon, due to the dogs having a bit of a bark, but she left me sleeping, she Skyped her father, and started on dinner. Meanwhile I am oblivious to all this until I eventually got up, feeling slightly embarrassed at the time. Some food later and a quick walk around the village and I began to feel slightly more human. One Michelle pressies I got for her was an iron bird feeder that she could hang on the wooden hanger I built the other day.

Sitting down to a late Christmas dinner we laughed about the day, had a couple glasses of wine and called it a day. Don't want to do that again.

The rest of my stay went without incident, spent Boxing day at Michelle's 'in-laws', met up with Michelle's friends in the village again where they were hanging human cutouts around the place, we retired to a Tapas bar and stuffed ourselves.

The last few days were spent dog walking, and playing on the playstation, with a few more strange science documentaries thrown in.

Probably same again next year, but without the excessive alcohol, I hope.

Abdominal Scan

Finally went to hospital for my scan, couldn't find anything wrong with me.

Hmmm