We spent last night with the lights out, hiding from crowds of ´brujas´ (witches). None actually came round, which left us with a pile of sweets. I think that last year our tactics were all wrong, Ian paniced and emptied his pockets to the first lot that came around, meaning that word got round the village that the English were giving away loads of euros. This year we were told to give them patatas – potatoes, which we found a little confusing, however this in fact was supposed to be crisps.
Today is a holiday, Day of the Dead. People will be heading off to the cemetry later to decorate it with flowers, and then there are big family meals.
We´ve started to become more interested in Spanish wines. Mum and Dad bought us a book last year about Spanish wines and we noticed that there were several wines that the book suggested sold in the supermarkets, so we´ve been trying to learn more. Our favorites at the moment are Rueda wines which come from Valladolid – in next principality on the right. Ian has realized that not all wines are the same and is in danger of becoming a bit of a wine buff.
Now it is getting cooler we are disappearing under mounds of cats in the evening. It is still very warm during the day, but cold at night and the shorter days mean that things don´t heat up like they did during the summer. The house is getting colder – we are sat outside during the day with t-shirts and shorts on, and come inside and wearing fleeces. We open the windows to let the warmth in! Autumn is new to us really, as last year I was not long out of hospital and not doing much.
I think that a wood burning stove will be moving up to the top of the agenda (again!).