Life in Spain
What a relief it is when summer passes and the cooler days of
autumn come at last. The constant sound of chicadas finally ceases
and silence descends upon the campo. We’ve also had some very
welcome rain, saving many plants from terminal decline. The weeds
have started to grow again though as a result, but I shall be glad
to get back to my gardening and am already planning new schemes
for the winter, our major gardening season. Our daughter came to
stay for a week in early October and was delighted to be able to
swim in the pool every day, although she’s young of course, and
tough. The temperature was around 20 – 22 degrees. I prefer it
to be nearer 26 myself. Now it is down to 16, but the days are
still sunny and warm, the beaches are empty, a good time to visit
Spain if you don’t like it too hot.
For the locals it’s a time to dust off
old hobbies and get back to ‘doing things’. The arts class has
started up again, to which I go one morning a week to dabble in
oils, or attempt to. It’s great fun and Noel Gregory, who has
several books out with Search Press, is an excellent teacher.
Spanish language classes start up again, pottery, riding, walking,
golf of course, and bowls, which is very popular here. David is
involved with the local am dram group who are putting on a play
this week in fact. Then there are reading groups, line dancing,
gardening clubs and the equivalent of the WI which is called Dames
in Spain. And people wonder what we find to do here to occupy us.
Is the Book
Dead?
We enjoyed a few days break in London which was all
very bookish. I attended a couple of meetings: one with the RNA
where Freya North gave a fascinating and inspirational talk, and
one with the Society of Authors where it was debated whether the
book was dead. Fortunately it was decided that there was still
life in the analogue, battery-free book. And why not? People still
listen to radio, don’t they, so why shouldn’t they go on
reading real paper books, even if e-books do take off? There’s
more on this subject on my blog. Will the e-book threaten
libraries? Or even the choice of print books available in book
shops, and do you think that would be a good thing? Why not pay a
visit and add your comment.