Hasta luego amigas/os - a blog break

We know and appreciate that many of our readers look in daily for pictures of Olvera, places we have visited or just to have a look at the weather. My recent spell of ill health has unfortunately curtailed our activities and it now seems that I was rather optimistic in suggesting that I would be back to something like normal within two or three weeks of leaving hospital. It now appears more likely to be two or three months, possibly more. So, not wishing to disappoint anyone, we thought it best to bring the entries on our blog to a hopefully temporary close, at least for a few months anyway. It's possible that we may pop up occasionally with an entry but regrettably not on such a regular basis as in the past.

There are many things that Anne and I have to adapt to over the coming weeks and months that will take up a lot of our time but we sincerely thank you all for looking in over the years gone by. We have made some wonderful, lasting friendships and we hope to make more in the future. 

We are still here of course to assist and help anyone in any way that we can if you have any local queries about Olvera or the surrounding area as we received so much help prior to and since arriving in this most beautiful part of Andalucia. Please just send us an email either through the "Contact us" option on our blog or directly to us at acrosskey(at)yahoo.com and we will be happy to help if we can.

Until then, "hasta luego amigas y amigos" and thank you for your wonderful support. 

Small steps

Still not up to wandering around at the moment so just a few pictures of the views today from our roof terrace on a misty, sunny day with a temperature of about 12°C.

 Ongoing work on a house reform nearby. I envy the amount of insulation and protection that has gone into the roof alone.

 Looking up Calle Azuaga.

What next

Well, it will take awhile to regain my strength and to catch up with responding to emails and other necessary tasks but slowly over the next few days to a week I hope to regain some sort of routine. Hopefully it won't be too long before we're once again wandering the streets of Olvera and beyond, putting more pictures of the place we love on our blog. Can't wait.

Back home

After an unintentional two week stay in Ronda Hospital I am now back at home. What started as a minor infection in mid January spread quickly through my kidney to my lungs, resulting in pneumonia and other complications developing.
All better now though and I cannot thank the doctors, nurses and all other staff for their magnificent skill and care during my time there. Many thanks also to our friends in Olvera and further afield, and family of course, who rallied around with practical help and good deeds, giving your love and support at the time when we needed it most. No names, you know who you are. Everyone of you outstanding and very special people.
Never least,  to my lovely special wife Anne who has borne the emotional turmoil of the last few weeks with love, fortitude, patience and the strength of the Welsh. I love you to bits.

Después de una involuntaria estancia de dos semanas en el Hospital Ronda, ahora estoy de vuelta en casa. Lo que comenzó como una infección menor a mediados de enero se extendió rápidamente a través de mi riñón para mis pulmones, dando lugar a la neumonía y otras complicaciones en desarrollo. 
Mucho mejor ahora, sin embargo, y no puedo agradecer a los médicos, enfermeras y todo el personal por su magnífica destreza y cuidado durante mi tiempo allí. Muchas gracias también a nuestros amigos en Olvera y en otros lugares, y la familia, por supuesto, que se reunieron en torno a la ayuda práctica y las buenas obras, dando a su amor y apoyo en el momento cuando más lo necesitábamos. No hay nombres, ustedes saben quienes son. Cada uno de ustedes excepcional y gente muy especial. 
Nunca menos, a mi encantadora esposa Anne especial que ha llevado la confusión emocional de las últimas semanas con el amor, la fortaleza, la paciencia y la fuerza de los galeses. Te amo en pedazos.

Rain clouds........

 ......are all around us but despite the sporadic rain over the last couple of days, nothing substantial has fallen......yet!

 Pictures from our terrace this morning.

Veterinary clinic - change of location

It may be of interest to other residents here in Olvera who use the veterinary practice in Algodonales to know that as of 1st January 2014 they are moving from their current location in Calle Ronda, near to the Post Office, to a new location in Avenida de Andalucia No 21, which is on the main road into the town from the Olvera direction.

The name of the clinic has also changed to "Clínica Veterinaria Vitae" (formerly Clínica Veterinaria La Sierra).
More information on their Facebook page here.  

Our temporary lodger,.......

......this little dog, we estimate at about six months old, found shivering and curled up on a bed of leaves this afternoon in the Jardines de la Victoria on Calle Mercado. Despite my protestations, there was no way of convincing Anne to just leave some food and walk away. She was scooped up and hence this evening she is fed, watered and warm and sleeping peacefully on the sofa.

 Tomorrow, a trip to the animal rescue centre near to Villamartin. We've visited before and they really care and look after their dogs until they find permanent homes either here in Spain or elsewhere in Europe. Their website here. Any offers of a home, please get in touch quickly via our email.
Footnote: We took the liitle lady to the rescue centre this morning after she'd had plenty to eat and a good nights sleep.The staff at the centre are really nice. The vet, who was on site this morning, gave her a quick check over and informed us that she would have no problem in finding a good home, possibly in Holland. So, after leaving some sacks of food and a donation, we headed back home knowing that we'd done all we could for her and comforted by the optimism of the vet. Good luck to her and our fingers and toes are crossed for a good home in the future.

Sierra de las Nieves

 The aptly named "Mountains of the Snow", approximately 30 kilometres (19miles) to the south east of Olvera showing the first snows of the winter as I looked out from our terrace this morning.  

Buenos días

 Good morning.

Changes on Pañolillas

 A few pictures of the changes that have taken place over the last few weeks on Calle Pañolillas with the replacement of the old concrete blocks on the road edge with new pillars and railings.

 No doubt in years gone by these old blocks were a source of competition and challenge for local youngsters, jumping between the blocks, ignoring the two or three metre drop on the other side.

 Also, they did provide useful seats to watch the setting sun. 

However, whether for better or worse, change has come. Be nice to have a few benches though.

Cats and dogs

A walk this afternoon featuring a selection of the animals that Anne usually encounters along the way.....none of whom are abandoned I might add. A cloudy though still warm day with a temperature of just over 18°C.

 One of the "Calcetines Fan Club", guardian of the pigs.

This lovely dog belongs to our friend José, normally very friendly but today guarding the house so I didn't venture too close while he was on duty.

 A family of young cats tuck into a few doggy treats.

Looking down over Calle Bellavista here and below.

  North towards Pruna.

 This is Sonia, always ready with a welcome on Mercado.

 Bluish skies over Calle Llana.

All Souls Day

 Yesteday, it neither seemed appropriate or respectful to take pictures of the beautiful floral decorations placed on the graves of loved one's on what was the "Dia de Todos los Santos" (All Saints Day), the day when families honour and remember those that have passed away.  

So, this morning and later this evening when it was a little quieter, I visited the cemetery within the old castle walls to have a look at the floral tributes.

Every resting place was beautifully adorned with flowers.

 I hope that these pictures convey respect for the occasion without intruding upon its dignity and solemnity.