Sun baked to saturated

At the beginning of October we left the sun baked landscape of this little corner of Andalucia and have returned to a land saturated by weeks of torrential rain. Though there is little of it in these parts, where the land does lie flat water is lying on the surface unable to soak any further into the totally saturated ground. Muddied water courses down through the narrow ravines cut through the steep olive groves; the previously dried up streams are now full of gushing muddy water; the deep roadside gutters are full of tumbling, bubbling dirty water - and still the rain falls in stair rods! The state of the roads brings back memories of our first arrival here last January when we had to avoid mud slides and stop here and there to clear the larger rocks off the road in order to pass. The level of the lake at Iznajar has not been so high for some years so perhaps we might even see the return of water sports this summer and the little bridge spanning the narrow end of the lake which last year stood over dry ground is now virtually completely under water. Most frustratingly for the folks around here, the olive harvest is very much hampered by this prolonged and unusual wet weather and even when the rain ceases it must be a nightmare trying to harvest olives from trees in such sodden sticky ground. Then suddenly, just for a couple of days we have a reprieve as the grey skies and low cloud (at times virtually prohibiting anything more than minimal visibility) are replaced with clear skies and very welcome sunshine - temperatures soar and the hours spent curled up in front of the cosy log fire with a good book (or studying Spanish!) are exchanged for relaxing on the roof terrace bathing under the hot sunshine. We've also had one day when the snow fell in big soft tumbling flakes the entire day. To us more fortunate not to have the weather cause us any more than mere inconvenience and the feeling we're being robbed of a few more hours sunshine, it matters not. It's so good to be back in this lovely little village we've come to think of as another home, with such a warm and genuine welcome from the folks we've come to know during the last 12 months here.

We've taken up lessons again with our Spanish teacher and joined the local gym this time around - a newish facility which will serve us well - though not so sure about the shower facility. After our first workout yesterday I discovered that in place of the warm shower cubicles that we've become so used to back home was a row of shower heads set along a long wall within an open area very well ventilated by a row of open windows! Maybe with a view to the hot summer days to come? Maybe the Spanish are tougher than I but I chickened out of that final challenge of the session! Michael however (proving his manhood maybe?) determined he would take a shower - sheepishly reappearing all too soon to possibly have showered - seems the cold water only showers proved just too much!

Already two weeks have flown by and we continue to hope for sufficiently clement weather that will allow us to do a little exploring during the remaining three weeks before we head back again to the UK. Even the dreariest weather cannot thwart the hints of the promise of spring just around the corner and the uplifting of the spirits when one sees the early almond trees already heavy with blossom.

I am visiting our neighbours, Maria and Isidro, across the street who makes me feel so very welcome and Maria is so patient with me as we 'converse' in Spanish. On my previous visits during last summer we would sit in the cool of their beautiful lounge surrounded by family photos, beautiful paintings, exquisite china ornaments - a room that gives so much away of these two lovely people. On my first visit last week I was ushered into a much smaller room, very simply furnished, at the back of the house: walls bare of pictures, a large log burner in the corner, a TV and comfy seats placed around a round wooden table draped with a heavy damask tablecloth reaching to the floor. Once seated, Maria lifted the excess of the tablecloth up onto my lap and as she did so I felt such warmth coming from under the table - no wonder! There underneath the table was a pail of red hot burning coals - the cinders from the log burner. ho's not heard of recycling!! This is apparently the custom in most of these houses during the cold days - might sound a bit querky but brilliantly effective! I've since discovered that in the absence of a pail of hot ashes, they might even use a small electric radiator! It is not very common to find central heating as we know it in the UK in these village houses. Perhaps some of the grander properties might have an air con/CH combo system but they are very expensive to run.

So I look forward to my chats with Maria and sharing the cosy warmth of that little room with its pail of hot coals under the table!