Christmas came and went and brought a lot of joy.

The five of us on Kings' day

 Hi everyone,

Last time I wrote it was just before Christmas, in fact the day we put up all the decorations.  And today is 7^thJanuary, the end of Christmas and, with a heavy heart, and like most of you, we will have to take them down.  Eladio and I have just done so and I, at least, am left with an empty feeling.  The emptiness, though, will probably go away, when we go out to lunch, the two of us today to Le Pain Quotidien. 

It’s been a good Christmas, as good as it can get and in fact I’ve been so busy enjoying it I kept putting off writing my blog.  But now it can’t wait any longer and I have to record all our activities and there have been many.  

So let me start from the beginning, from where I left off, as always.  It was Monday 19^th December, a very busy day for me, I remember.  But it wasn’t just any Monday in December.  It will be remembered for being the day when the world first heard that one of its worst dictators, Kim Jong-iL had died.  The whole of North Korea went into mourning and wept for the cameras.  I suspect that if they didn’t cry in public, they were in fear of being sent to jail in a country which is best known for its stifling and outdated communist regime.  Unfortunately the dictator’s death will not put an end to the anachronism as the dictator’s son will take his place and his countrymen will continue to suffer at the dictatorship’s hands.

Kim Jong-Il, the dictator of North Korea died in December

 I didn’t give a thought to Kim Jong-iL the next day which turned out to be even busier. I had an important meeting at work and then another one at my PR Agency’s office with two rebellious bloggers, after which I had to rush off, this time to another pleasant Christmas lunch.  It was with my ex PR Agency team from Llorente y Cuenca and it was great to exchange news with Susana, Mauricio and Juan at the Indian restaurant Annapurna in Madrid.  They seemed to have matured so much since we first worked together over five years ago when Yoigo was launched in the Spanish market. 

That night Julio and Fátima came to dinner for the first Christmas celebration of the season.  Every year we go to Julio’s house for a traditional dinner, but this year, logistics dictated that it take place at our house.  And a fine time we had, as always, with our exchange of presents and crackers.  This year, I had ordered “party poppers” on one of my new Christmas online sites, and they were a great success, after we figured out how to use them.  Next year I shall order them in bulk!

Dinner with Julio and Fátima

On the Wednesday before Christmas the last of my seasonal work events took place.  It was the Yoigo children’s party and we were to create an outdoor circus.  The girls were to join me as helpers but first we met in town for a quick bit of Christmas shopping and for an unplanned lovely lunch together.  We were in one of Madrid’s most famous shopping streets, Fuencarral and here we happened upon my proverbial favourite, Le Pain Quotidien.  Afterwards and just before we left for Yoigo, we discovered a great little shop called Tiger whose products reminded me of Ikea.  It is apparently a Danish store which sells cheap and original home accessories and thus the resemblance I suppose. 

Soon we had to curtail the girly outing and make our way to Yoigo where preparations were taking place for the original children’s party which was to take place outdoors.  I was afraid of the cold so we ordered an umpteen number of outdoor heaters which in the end were not necessary as it never went below 10ºc.  The party was a huge success and we had even bigger numbers than the year before, with staff taking along up to 6 nieces and nephews!!  I even saw a woman and her child who turned out to be gatecrashers from the neighbouring company Cisco. Here are the photos to prove how much the children enjoyed themselves.  I am now asking myself what on earth we will create for next year’s party!!

The circus we created for the Yoigo children's Christmas party this year

The circus people were amazing but, even more amazing, was Michal Kahn, the English balloon artist who joined us again for the children’s party.  I couldn’t resist having my photo taken with her and it is one I will cherish for a long time.  You can see the whole album of photos of the wonderful circus we created here.

With Michal Khan, the amazing British balloon artist

Whilst the party was in full swing, Spain’s new and right wing Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, announced the names of the people to be included in his cabinet.  On our way back in the car we avidly looked up the news on our mobile phones, and I was immensely happy to see he had appointed his youngest member of staff, Soraya Sanz de Santamaría, as his Vice President.  She has just turned 40 and given birth to her first child and is very well prepared for the job.  I wish them all luck in what is going to be one of the toughest legislations in many years.  One of their first measures has been to put up our income tax, not a very popular decision I am sure.  

The next day was Thursday 22^nd December and famous in Spain for being the draw of the Christmas lottery, commonly called “El Gordo” (the fat one).  Eladio didn’t win a penny but Suzy was lucky with a win of 120 euros for a ticket she bought in Alicante.  Oli was busy at work covering the stories of the winners in Madrid and although she didn’t warn me in advance I caught her live on the television at a fish market in Madrid interviewing some of them.  You can see the video clip at minute 13.35h  here.

Oli reporting on the Christmas lottery winners live on TV

On Friday we returned to the little English restaurant in Pozuelo for dinner, La Pérfida Albión.  We were joined, this time, by José Antonio and Dolores who, I think, enjoyed the fish and chips as much as us.  The portions are big but I’m afraid the platter is not as authentic as I would like, although it tastes very good.  It’s just a bit too “gourmet” for me, being a “Yorkshire lass” with good memories of fish and chips at the local chippy or even better at the famous Harry Ramsdens in Guiseley.

Gourmet fish and chips at the English restaurant in Pozuelo

The dates for Christmas and New Years Eve fell at the weekend this year and it felt strange.  That doesn’t go to say they weren’t as enjoyable as ever.  I had been preparing for the important Christmas Eve dinner for weeks and had ordered food and crackers online and made and frozen our traditional “perushki” (little Russian pies) weeks before, as well as the croquettes.  I had also made the potato salad the day before.    So all I had to do on Christmas Eve  was prepare the rest: salmon and prawns with avocado pear with chopped egg and onion and 1000 island sauce, bacon rolls, potato salad, egg mayonnaise canapés, tuna fish vol au vent, green salad, fresh thick green asparagus, foie and the best “pata negra” ham you could imagine. Needless to say, it was all far too much and we ate the delicious left over’s for days to come. 

The table looked a treat as we sat down for the most important meal at Christmas in Spain. 

The table on Christmas Eve

Afterwards we sat with the girls in the lounge looking at photos of this year until we all fell asleep and made our way, happy to our beds, in wait for the next day to come, Christmas day, a day that I look forward to year after year and which never ever disappoints me.  As we closed our bedroom doors, I took out the girls’ stocking presents from the cupboard where they were hidden and placed them in a big Christmas sack Anne once sent me, instead of the traditional woolen stockings made by my Mother for the girls when they were small.  This was because Susana was unable to find hers at the last moment!

Christmas day was the same as every Christmas.  It is exactly the same as when I was a child and we used to spend Christmas at my Grandmother’s house in Ickenham near London.  I have continued the tradition and I suspect my girls will too when they form their own families. First we have a wonderful breakfast together.  Unfortunately this year I didn’t take any photos.  But for the occasion, out comes one of our wedding gifts, the Royal Albert china tea set which is always laid on my favourite M+S fruit and flower patterned table cloth both of which were gifts I treasure from my parents.

Next we go to the lounge where all the presents around the tree are waiting to be unwrapped and we spend nearly two hours opening big and small parcels with Christmas carols in the background.  This year we were joined by both our dogs, Norah and Elsa. On the table there will always be wonderful chocolates, either  Roses, Heroes or Quality Street.  This year it was Heroes, bought by Suzy at Quicksave in Gran Alacant.  We all go ooh and ah and love every minute of it.  I was happy to open my new Samsonite cabin suitcase and matching pc case which will make my trips to Stockholm or Barcelona much more comfortable.  I also got a black Tous watch from Eladio and a wooden suit hanger stand from the girls for my bedroom to hang my clothes out for the next day.  I always put them on the sofa and this will be very useful for this tidy practice of mine.

Eladio and I with Elsa just before opening the presents on Christmas Day

Then everyone disappears and it’s up to me to get on with making the lunch, another traditional meal, the only difference being that instead of turkey we have “pularda”, a sort of fattened hen which we prefer.  To accompany the bird, there must always be sage and onion stuffing, roast potatoes, gravy, brussel sprouts and cranberry sauce. The table looked great and here you can see my Father and Susana patiently waiting for us all to appear and begin the feast.

Grandpa and Suzy waiting for us to join them at the Christmas day lunch table.  Looks nice eh?

PHOTO LUNCH

What makes the lunch heavy is the Christmas pudding eaten afterwards with traditional sweet white sauce made with brandy, not to mention the endless supply of chocolates and Spanish turrón (a sort of nougat). 

You can see all the photos of our family Christmas here if you want to see some more.

The afternoon is spent sleeping off the lunch and then a brisk walk with the dogs.  Of course dinner is cold leftovers whilst watching a good film on television.

Boxing Day is not a holiday in Spain and both girls had to go to work.  They were to join us later in the evening though for one of our Christmas highlights.   At Olga’s suggestion I had bought tickets for all of us to go to the Strauss Festival New Year concert taking place at the Auditorio Nacional in Madrid (the main music hall). This was to be a huge treat for my Father who is an avid Strauss and Vienna New Year concert fan.  It was also to be his first outing since his operation.  We went in two cars with his wheel chair folded away in ours and as usual, got lost on the way.  We all sat down to listen and watch the concert just as the music started and a bit stressed with the logistics of finding the place and getting the tickets out of the machine which wouldn’t read my credit card.  But soon we were all immersed in the magic of the wonderful music.  Here is a photo of the five of us during the interval.

At the Strauss New Year concert with Grandpa on Boxing Day

It wasn’t until the encore that we were to finally hear the Blue Danube which I had been waiting for throughout, probably Struass’ most famous piece.  Later we were to watch the real concert live on 1st January in León.  That got me thinking that maybe one year we will go. I since looked up how to buy the tickets and you have to register for a draw, so I did.  I will only know in March if we will be lucky enough or not to be able to buy them at the medium level price of over 500 euros each!  Will we go to Vienna for the concert next year?  Watch this space.  Maybe we will.  In any case my Father has now at least seen a smaller version live and I know he thoroughly enjoyed it.  In fact he is now a lot better.  The bedsore on his heel is on the mend and he can now stand up on his own and has even been practicing walking and has been able to do so without being helped.  That is the best news this Christmas for us all.  

The next day, Tuesday 27th December, was another family highlight when we went to dinner to our friends’ house as dictates tradition every Christmas.  We were invited to dinner at Mar and Mariano’s.  When we arrived Mariano had just left to pick up Mar who works for La Vanguardia newspaper in Madrid.  So we were hosted for the first hour, in their absence, by San, their 9 year old adopted Chinese son who has been Suzy’s and is now Oli’s pupil for help with his homework on a nearly daily basis during the school term.   San was the perfect host who, after showing us the album of his adoption and holiday photos to exotic places, suddenly said “don’t you think my parents are taking a bit long?”.  Finally they arrived and we could sit down to dinner served by their delightful non Spanish speaking Filipino maid Cherry.  The dinner was wonderful as usual but our friends had a dilemma.  Mar had just been offered the job as chief communications officer by the newly appointed Spanish Minister of Finance and she was debating whether to take it or not.  The biggest obstacle of course being the sacrifice she would have to make for her family and not being there for San.  Just a few days later they went to Orlando for New Year so I still don’t know whether our friend accepted this must public term of office.  I advised her; to do so as a chance like this was something she could not say no to.  I wonder whether she did.

Dinner at Mar, Mariano and San's

The next day Eladio and I were off to Salamanca to the small village called Peñacaballera near Bejar.  We were going to stay with our friends Javier and Ana and their family for what was supposed to be just a night but they then persuaded us to stay on for another day and we did.  Believe it or not I didn’t take along my pc so only had my mobile phone to rely on.  It was the only time this Christmas I truly disconnected. As soon as we arrived, Javier and his friend Jorge had prepared a table outside with wine and cheese to enjoy before lunch.  It was sunny throughout our stay as it has been all Christmas.  

Drinks in the garden with Javier and Jorge upon arrival in Peñacaballera

After a delicious lunch of homemade cooked stew for which we all needed an hour long siesta, we went off for a walk around the village.  It was a great afternoon for photography and there were plenty of things to catch on my camera, including a magnificent brown cow in one of the fields.

Me captured on camera by Javier, taking a photo of a cow in a field on our walk near the village

We played cards after dinner, where we were joined by Jorge’s wife Maria, and learned a new game, the name of which I only remember begins with “c”.  I love playing cards and Eladio doesn’t so I thoroughly enjoyed the session while he stoically tried to play the best he could.  

The next day, whilst we were having breakfast Jorge came round after a 7 kilometre run to suggest a 10 kilometre walk to a village called Baños de Montemayor which I learned later is famous for its spa. We took up the challenge and had a great morning walking up and down steep slopes and across fields and paths to be rewarded with a cup of coffee in Baños.  By the time we were half way through the walk, it was so sunny our thick coats, scarves and gloves were completely unnecessary.  I took some lovely pictures, but the best of all is the self timer one that Jorge managed to figure out on my camera.  And here we are the five of us posing to capture forever a moment on that marvelous walk.

A moment on our 10 kilometre walk to Baños de Montemayor and back

In the afternoon we lazed around getting to know our friends a bit more with wonderful relaxed conversations.  We are so happy that Javier is now back in Spain from New York and I guess he is too.  Now we will see them much more often.  To celebrate his return Javier and Ana invited us all, and this time Jorge’s candid wife, María joined us, to dinner in the picturesque village of Hervás, famous for its Jewish quarter.  Hervás is actually in the province of Cáceres in the Extramadura region right on the border of Salamanca and some 5 or 10 kilometres away from Peñacaballera, or “Peña” as our friends call it. We went to a charming little place called El Almirez and here we dined like kings.  

The next day we were up early and said our goodbyes. We took Laura and Ignacio, Javier and Ana’s oldest “children” with us as the family were leaving too for Madrid where they would be spending New Year’s Eve.  Thankfully they knew the way better than us and the journey back was made at greater speed than the outbound one. 

You can see all the photos of the New Year concert, dinner at Mar and Mariano’s and our visit to Peñacaballera here.

We were home for lunch and saw our girls later in the afternoon just for a short while before we were to say goodbye again.  They were off to Barcelona by plane that Friday night late, to spend the New Year and a few more days with Laura, their friend from the scouts.  Laura now lives there permanently in a roomy old flat in the Rambla right inside the Boquería Market where I trust they did all their food shopping.  

Suzy took some great pictures of their visit and this is my favourite one.  Here you can see Suzy and Oli jumping on the beach with a rainbow in the background.  It looks like they had a lot of fun.

The girls had a grand time in Barcelona over New Year

The next day was New Year’s Eve and we were off again.  We left my Father at home with Olga.  It was great sacrifice we asked of her to forego her New Year’s Eve but I had offered her to invite a friend along.  I later learned that she had invited three friends and that they had organized a proper party so in the end it didn’t seem too much of a sacrifice. I trust my Father thoroughly enjoyed the evening.

We meanwhile, went off to León, and  took my sister in law, Dolores and our niece and nephew Sara and Juan with us.  As usual we stopped off at Rueda for a glass of delicious white wine and platter of ham and lomo.  Here is a photo of Eladio and I enjoying the moment. 

The obligatory stop at Palacio de Bornos in Rueda on our way to León for NYE

By 1 o’clock we were in León and Andrés, my outgoing and fun loving brother in law, was waiting for me to have a drink in one of the nearby bars before lunch.  I could hardly stomach more food or wine after the stop in Rueda, but obliged the best I could.  Pili had a sumptuous lunch ready for us as she does every year on New Year’s Eve.  Afterwards, yet again, a siesta was in order.  I enjoyed mine on the sofa with Trebol, their adorable Dalmatian who slept on the matching blanket you can see in the photo below.

Trebol, Pili and Andres' adorable dalmatian

Later we all met at Adela’s house, Eladio’s other sister and here we sang happy birthday to her eldest son, Roberto, who had turned 40.  He is the oldest of the cousins who range all the way down to aged 18.  Diana, otherwise known as “pitulines” or “nene”, his two year old daughter, enjoyed blowing out his candles, over and over again as you can see in the  picture below.

"Pitulines" blowing out her Father, Roberto's 40th birthday candles.

Afterwards I joined Pili and Mario, her son, on a last minute shopping expedition.  We were looking for a black bow tie for him to wear with his new suit that night.  The expedition proved fruitless as every shop we visited had run out of them. We did manage, though to get his Kings’ day present, a pair of size 46 (difficult number to find) Panama Jack boots.  That was one pleased Mario I witnessed that evening.  

Soon we were all preparing to get dressed up for the annual family dinner which nearly always takes place at the Amancio Restaurant in the centre of León.  This year we were 20 round the table and it was as good as it gets.  I had taken along party poppers and crackers as well as presents for all and sundry.  I was taken aback when at the end both Eladio and I were presented with gifts from our family and clapped by everyone.  It was a very touching moment. 

New Year's Eve in León was as good as it can get

You can see the rest of the photos I took of the family New Year’s Eve together in this link.

The next day of course was 1^st January 2012.  I always have an empty sort of feeling on that day.  Everything is closed, it’s cold and the streets are empty and it takes a while to get used to it being another new year.   After watching the New Year concert at Pili’s house, where we staying, we made our goodbyes at around midday and set off home.  Sara and Juan joined us as they had to work the next day.  We stopped at the Parador in Benavente for a New Year’s lunch and as always Eladio and I enjoyed a dish of chickpeas (garbanzos) from the village of Fuentesauco, also in the province of Zamora.   There is a local expression which we love which says: “el buen garbanzo y el buen ladrón de Fuentesauco son” and means: “good chickpeas and good thieves are from Fuentesauco”.  In Spanish it sounds much better because it rhymes.  I must look google the expression to find out its origin.

Soon we were home to a very quiet house, just occupied by my Father, Olga and the dogs as the girls didn’t come back until Tuesday night after New Year’s Eve.  There is not much to report about last week.  Eladio and I did routine things like washing the dogs (oh what fun), the weekly shopping at Carrefour and of course went on our walks, read and worked.  

Friday 6^thJanuary was to be a national holiday, Kings’ day in Spain where the main tradition is to exchange presents, even though it is the last day of Christmas.  We celebrate Father Christmas but there is always a little something for everyone on Kings’ day and a lovely family meal.  Funnily enough the food I prepared couldn’t have been more English: roast beef with Yorkshire pudding and all the trimmings.  We are, after all, an Anglo Spanish family.

So on Thursday I dragged Eladio out to Centro Oeste to get presents for us all.  Suzy was in charge of getting mine as when it comes to presents Eladio lives on cloud cuckoo land and thinks I am in charge of all present giving, including my own, hahahaha. There is nothing in all our years of marriage that will ever change that.

Kings’ day came and on this day it is tradition to make or buy the festive “roscón”, a sort of elongated circle made of buttery sponge which is covered in almonds, sugar and crystallized fruit.  Inside there is always a little present which if it lands on your plate means you are supposed to be in charge of buying the following year’s roscón.  Funnily enough it landed on mine.  I suppose that is fitting as it is nearly always me that buys it anyway. We buy two versions, one with thick whipped cream and one without which I like to toast.  We have been having it for breakfast and as dessert ever since.  The cream version is a great hit with my Father.

The Spanish "roscón" which is always eaten on Kings' Day

Lunch was the best part of the day, as after the amazing roast beef, we opened our presents, just one each. 

Our Kings' Day lunch on 6th January

Juli was with us and made a splendid photographer.  The photo illustrating this blog is of the five kings of this house.  Thanks Juli.  You can see the rest of the photos of King’s Day in this album.

We were in such good spirits that day that the girls and I sang carols for my Father, Eladio and Juli.  I have put them here on You Tube.  Our singing is not wonderful but the moment was very special.

Our festivities didn’t end there as after our siesta and walk Eladio and I had a date at the cinema.  We went to see Meryl Streep play Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady.  She was magnificent and I loved every minute of the film.  I would have preferred a biography in chronological order rather than flashbacks of her life when she began to have Alzheimer around the death of her husband, her beloved Dennis Thatcher.  I now look forward to seeing the film in English.

I am almost sure Meryl Streep will win an Oscar for her role as Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady.

After the film Eladio and I went out to dinner and chose De Brasa y Puchero in nearby Boadilla where we ate another copious meal.  If you ever go, do please try the “patatas revolconas” (dish of potatoes impossible to translate the name of).  

And so I am now back from where I began writing yesterday, when Christmas ended in all the houses and Eladio and I put away the decorations.  The day was made less sad, as we went out to lunch to Le Pain Quotidien as I mentioned at the beginning.  My overall favourite dish there is the hummus which has a tang of curry; umm delicious.

Hummus at Le Pain Quotidien in Zielo on Saturday

And now it’s Sunday 8^th January and I am waiting for the girls to turn up to the last family lunch for a while.  

Next week will be busy and I have a trip to Stockholm to look forward to on Tuesday.  But more about that in next week’s edition.

Hope you all had a great Christmas and I wish you a wonderful 2012.

All the best/Masha

Christmas came, good news for Oli, Christmas parties, Christmas shopping and welcome Charlie.

Christmas came to our house last Sunday when we put up all the decorations.  

Hi everyone,

Well this week went past very quickly and was packed with activity and some very good news.  Last Sunday, Christmas finally came to our house with all its magic and which we all so love in this house.   Eladio and I got out all the decorations we have collected over the years, whilst the girls and their friend Juli were still asleep after a late night out.  By the time they were up, we had put up all the decorations and there was only the tree left to do.  That’s the bit Suzy likes best, so to the sound of King’s College Christmas carols, Juli, Suzy and I dressed our little tree. Oli never helps, although she says she loves to hear and see us bringing Christmas into the house.  

Juli and Susana putting the finishing touches on the tree

The photo illustrating this week’s blog post is of me by the tree with Norah looking on.  You can see the rest of the photos here on Facebook.

Monday came and brought with it so much to do, which turned out to be the tonic of the week. I have spent most of the week on Yoigo Christmas activities and in between time I have rushed to prepare our own family Christmas.  

I went into the office early on Monday to meet with the sales and marketing team.  Later I went to Madrid to our PR agency Ketchum and together with the team we posted information on the Yoigo Christmas campaign offer on our social networks.  I stayed in the Ketchum office for their annual seasonal lunch. This time it was to be served by the Peruvian restaurant Astrid and Gastón.  The lunch was sponsored by an NGO that builds schools and helps find jobs for its students in a poor area outside Lima.  The food, lots of “ceviche” type cuisine, was outstanding.

Before going home, I made a dash to an English shop in a nearby street called Príncipe de Vergara, I had been wanting to go to for a long time.  It’s called Living in London and is actually not English owned.  It’s also a tea room but of course there was no time for the luxury of an English afternoon tea.  The shop was full of English memorabilia that Spaniards so love but that I had not much need of with lots of expensive Crabtree cosmetics and delicate china.

The English shop in Madrid called Living in London

I did however find a superb box of crackers which I bought in case my own didn’t arrive on time from the Cracker Shop Online.  I could also have got Christmas pudding and cranberry sauce but they are also on their way to our house from The British Corner Shop.  So what else did I get you might want to know?  A delicious chocolate selection box, Thornton’s chocolates and a small Christmas cake from the edible section.  I also spotted an old fashioned rain scarf, just like my Mother used to have and women wore in the 60’s.  Maybe they still wear them today but it seemed very practical and reminded me of my childhood. My best find was a wonderful singing and dancing hat.  It had us all in stitches when I got home and we immediately put it on Grandpa’s head.  I’m not sure Grandpa realised why we were laughing so much but I know you will laugh when you see the video which I later posted here on You Tube.

Coincidentally when I got home, my huge parcel of crackers, party poppers and sparklers had arrived.  They all look magnificent with more interesting gifts inside than usual, especially this box of 6 giant luxury crackers.  They will be for our Christmas Eve Dinner next week.

The crackers I ordered online came on time and look fantastic.

The highlight of the week and maybe of this year for us, is the good news Olivia gave us on Wednesday.  Her short term contract as a reporter for the TVE morning programme, La Mañana de la 1, was to terminate at the beginning of January and she didn’t have much hope of staying on, mainly because TVE, the state television broadcaster is over staffed.  So she was very surprised and pleased when they rang her to ask her to sign what is known as a “contrato de obra”, which means she has a job with the programme as long as the programme lasts, or for three years after which it can be renewed again.  The programme is bound to last as it has been on the television for years and is the most viewed TV morning programme in Spain.  It was a huge relief for her and for us.  I sincerely think she deserved to stay on as she has proved to be a very good budding TV journalist and has worked very hard to get where she is now.   In my opinion she excels when she reports live partly because of her “gift of the gab” which I suspect she inherited from her very talented and outgoing Grandmother.

That same day, I had an evening do to go to.  It was the Telefónica annual Christmas party and it was the first time I had been invited.  So off I went dressed in an elegant new black dress but on my own.  The party was at a discotheque in town called Gabana 1800.  You probably know I hate discotheques so I didn’t stay very long.  I can’t stand the dark with too many people and music so loud you can’t talk.  I hate them even more when I don’t know many people.  Luckily I quickly found sector friends such as Víctor, Emiliano, Fernando and others but even so, home lured with Eladio on his own waiting for me.  Thus I was back, with an empty stomach, at about 11. In any case I had to be fresh for the next day as Thursday night was the big Yoigo staff Christmas party and I was the facilitator as always.

Thursday was the busiest day of the week.  I was up really early after the Telefónica party and was at the hairdresser by 8.30. By 9 I was on my way to the office for a meeting and a thousand little things to attend to before the evening party.  One of them was the sending of the Yoigo seasonal gift and I was very pleased to see the final product after working so hard on it with the agency and the cake maker, Elena. 

The Yoigo Christmas cup cakes are unique

But before the party I was meeting the balloon artist I had hired for our event, Michal Kahn.  She makes the most amazing balloons, like you’ve never seen before.  Olivia discovered Michal when she was an MC at the Brussels event and came back telling me that I just had to hire her for a Yoigo event.  Well I’m not really into balloons and imagined something similar to the poodle shaped balloon makers you see at parties and in the street.  However Michal is nothing like that.  She is so special you have to see her to believe what I am saying.  In this website they refer to her and to her ex group as “undisputedly the UK's most extravagant balloon artists”.  I decided I wanted to meet her before the party to explain her role and get to know her a little.  We had lunch together in town at Julián de Tolosa.  Later I took her to the nearby Plaza Mayor and Puerta de Sol, the main sites in Madrid, as she had never been before and would have no time to see the city.  Michal is a young Oxford graduate from London who out of fate got into the balloon modeling world where she has made an amazing career for herself.  But of course I wasn’t to see any of this until the evening.

Michal Kahn and Olivia at the Yoigo Christmas party

The Yoigo party was to take place later in the evening at the Hotel Puerta de América on the top floor terrace which is a spectacular location.  Here we showed the premiere of the Yoigo TV campaign, the night before it was going live.  We posted it on our social media pages and if you are interested, you can see it here too. The party was as great as always but different from other years as I decided it was time to make some changes.  

The pretty Mother Christmases at the Yoigo party

The number of people didn’t change though, with some 200 guests, made up of the staff and their partners.  Here Michal came into her own making the amazing balloons.  She even made my caricature, believe it or not.

This balloon was made by Michal Kahn. Spectacular eh?

The balloon caricature Michal Kahn made of me!

The highlight of the night though was The Alphabet Game (Pasapalabra) competition between our 5 departments with tough questions about Yoigo.  The department that won would get to go to out to dinner all together to celebrate.  Silvia Jato, the presenter who is most associated with this TV programme was our surprise guest and presenter. She did a great job.  I, in fact, had never seen or even heard of her but was very impressed with her charisma, her comic side, her beauty and professionalism and found her charming.  

Wtih Silvia Jato at the Yoigo Christmas party

You can see more photos of the party here.

Finally Friday came and I could concentrate on family affairs and on our own Christmas.  In the morning I went with Eladio to Carrefour for the weekly shopping which is an enormous job.  Afterwards we always reward ourselves with a cup of  coffee before taking everything home for unloading and putting away with Olga's help.

Eladio having a well deserved cup of coffee after the food shopping on Friday

Later we went Christmas shopping to El Corte Inglés, after our walk of course (haven’t missed one this week).  Here we got presents for me, I shall have to try and forget about until Christmas day, hahaha.  I was very much looking forward to Friday evening as I had booked a table at La Pérfida Albión , the English restaurant I mentioned last week.  So what did I think? I loved it but Eladio says that’s because I am biased.  Maybe I am.  The décor is simple and semi pub like.  Their website refers to the restaurant as a “gastro pub” and I suppose it is in a way.  The food is good with some very English items on the menu but I was disappointed to see they offer “Eton Mess” with bananas!!  What would Etonians say I wonder?  The fish and chips were not the Harry Ramsden’s type but more “gourmet”.  That doesn’t mean to say they weren’t delicious because they were.  We also tried the apple crumble. It was lovely but covered in nuts rather than crumble made the traditional way.  All in all I loved it and I think it will now be my most popular local restaurant, beating La Alpargatería.  I must remember to book for next Friday when I hope my brother and sister-in-law, José Antonio and Dolores will join us.

Gourmet fish and chips at La Pérfida Albión in Pozuelo

On Saturday they were coming for lunch and to spend the day with us, along with Nuba, their mongrel dog, of course. So whilst Olga was preparing fish and chips for lunch, Eladio and I went off to the Centro Oeste shopping Centre in Majadahonda for what will probably not be my last Christmas shopping session.  Here, apart from buying presents, I bought myself a lovely dress from Trucco.  That was not on the agenda but there you are, I couldn’t resist it.  After our copious lunch and short siesta, we took the dogs out for a long walk, longer than usual.  It was cold but crispy and the sun was shining when we set off, but it was dusk when we returned as the days are so short.  I much prefer walks when it is light until late.  José Antonio and Dolores were persuaded to stay for dinner as we were enjoying each other’s company so much and a good day was had by all, the dogs included.

Whilst we were either eating or out walking, Charlie was born.  Charlie has made my school friend Kathryn, who lives in Keighley in Yorkshire, a grandmother for the first time and she must be so happy.  More than happy, in Facebook she posted “ today I fell in love”. Kathy is my second friend to become a grandmother, after Adele.  So hearty congratulations Kathy and Phil and dying to meet Charlie.  And, welcome Charlie to this world.

Congratulations Kathy on the birth of your first grandson Charlie

Now it’s Sunday and I’ve come to the end of this week’s blog.  Today has been quiet and I spent the whole morning cooking.  I made Fabada for lunch, an Asturian thick bean soup which is ideal for cold winter days.

Fabada in the cooking today

I was feeling very productive, as I often do on Sunday mornings. So whilst the men were reading the papers and the girls had gone to the cinema and then out to lunch with their friends, I started making batches of perushki, little Russian meat pies, which we always eat in this house on Christmas Eve, to the music, once again of Kings College Cambridge and courtesy of Spotify on my computer. However I  couldn’t resist putting some in the oven for lunch today to have with the Fabada.  You can see them being made here; quite a sophisticated process which I learned from my Mother who used to make them for us at Christmas with the girls when they were little.  I can be congratulated as I made 60 which are now in the deep freeze, none to be taken out till Christmas Eve. 

Making perushki for Christmas

I am now nearly all prepared for our own Christmas after all the shopping and cooking this weekend.  However I am not going to have much of a respite this week either, as on Wednesday I am the facilitator of the Yoigo children’s party.  That is the most important item in my diary next week but I can assure you it is as full of activities and meetings, probably just as many as this week’s.  

When I write next it will be Christmas.  However if the 25^th is Christmas day, I may take a day off and write my next blog post on Boxing day or later.  So let me wish you all a great Christmas, happiness and fun and thank you all for following me on my blog.  I have now been writing it for over 6 years and have received over 70.000 visits since I started counting just 2 or 3 years ago.   My visitors are from all over the world and it astonishes me to see the lists of countries my readers are from even though I don’t know them.  So thank you again and I wish you all a Happy Christmas.

Masha

Friends for tea, a family visit, Oli on the TV again, a long bank holiday, Suzy in Santa Pola and the Perfidious Albion

We had a wonderful time with Pili and Andrés last week.  Here we are resting from shopping in La Vaguada

Hello again

I’m sorry for not writing last Sunday but I think you will excuse me when you see just how busy I have been since I last wrote.  

Let me start from where I left off.  It was Sunday 27^th November and a special day at home as we were expecting visitors.  Rocío, the girls’ best friend, came to afternoon tea with her parents Esmeralda and Juan Ignacio.  Juan is the doctor at my Father’s hospital who has been looking after his every need since he first fell ill.  To show our gratitude, we invited them to our home and I went all out in making a splendid English cum Spanish platter of food, including Rioja and Port wine and of course the proverbial pot of English Typhoo tea.  The photo below is of us all enjoying the occasion.  Oli is not in the photo as she joined us later. We have so much in common with Rocío’s parents that I trust one day we will be become proper friends.  As you know, most of our “couple” friends live abroad or outside Madrid and the only ones who live near us have just divorced, so we are well in need of a local replacement.  The same goes for my girlfriends; they all live abroad or far away.  That is a bit of a sad reflection actually.

Rocío and her parents came to tea

I mentioned my Father’s health and you may want to know how he is these days.  In reality his life hasn’t changed very much, habit wise, in that he still enjoys his English newspapers, his books and the BBC news as well as his food and chocolates (oh yes he is a chocolate freak!) but of course he is now bound to a wheel chair.  He was making progress with walking again using a zimmer but unfortunately he developed a bed sore on his heel which is now heavily bandaged and on the mend but it means he cannot even try to walk until it gets better and that could take months.  On the bright side, he is recovering the movement in his right hand which had suffered from a small stroke.  He goes to physiotherapy three or four times a week in the afternoons to Juan’s hospital and they are doing a grand job with him.  Olga tells us he is very popular in the hospital because he is such an “English gentleman” and everyone calls him “Charlés” with the accent on the “es”.  His real name is Charles Courtenay Lloyd and he is known as Courtenay but I have given up trying to explain that to anyone in Spain for obvious pronunciation reasons. So I was very happy the other day when he asked me for a pen to do the Daily Telegraph crossword.  He can now write again, hip hip hurray.

The week commencing the 28^thNovember was full of action for me on the work front, the most important day being Thursday 1^st, Yoigo’s fifth anniversary.  We celebrated it with the staff and here is a great picture of us all with our hands in the air symbolizing Yoigo’s five incredible years making a bigger and bigger niche for itself in the Spanish market as a low cost mobile operator.  I really hope the next 5 years are just as successful and as much fun as the last.

The Yoigo employees celebrating our 5th anniversary on 1st December.  Can you spot me?

The same day as the anniversary I had an appointment with the urologist for a diagnosis after all the ghastly tests I have had to go through in the last few weeks.  The doctor was young and unsympathetic.  He prescribed me a new medicine called Toviaz 8mg and said it had an  80% success rate but I wouldn’t notice any improvement until after 6 weeks of taking the very expensive tablet (76 euros a box!).  I was very disappointed there was no better cure and had absolutely no faith whatsoever in the new medication which I started on 2^nd December.  That was 8 days ago and actually I am already beginning to notice a minor improvement.  I am determined to try it for at least 3 months and then decide whether it really works.  Meanwhile the nights are getting better, you will be glad to read.

The 1^st of December was good and bad, like the curate’s egg.  Most important for me that day though was Olivia on the television, which of course I missed.  Thankfully I can see her live reports later on the programme website, La Mañana de la 1.  This time she was reporting on an initiative by a washing machine manufacturer called Beko who had the great idea of building a fake gigantic washing machine in the centre of Madrid for people to donate clothes for Africa. You can see her report here at minute 12.20.  

A picture of Oli and her TV crew when she reported on the giant washing machine for donating clothes.

I missed her again on Monday last (5^thDecember) when she reported on a gruesome homicide case when a schizophrenic son killed his elderly mother who had terminal cancer.  You can see that report on this link at minute 13.40.  Maybe I am glad I missed it. 

Friday, 2^nd December was much better and a good end to the week.  I went shopping with Eladio to Carrefour in Centro Oeste and we tried the “scan and go” technique for the first time.  I was curious to see that the devices are made by Motorola, the first telecommunications company I worked for.  It worked ok until we got to the till and here it turned out that our heaving trolley had to be inspected before we could pay and go.  We tried again this week and this time the whole trolley had to be inspected just because one item had not been scanned properly.  Frankly we will not be bothering again until the system works better.  

On Friday too we went to the cinema and out to dinner, as our weekly Friday treat.  Saturdays and Sundays are more difficult as Olga is away and we cannot leave my Father alone at home.  We went to see the new Jane Eyre film by Cary Fukunaga who I had never heard of.   Of course you know I am a great Brontë fan, having lived near Haworth and visited it so often, so I was not going to be critical.  I have seen many versions of this wonderful classic by the only Brontë sister, Charlotte, to reach the age of 40.  But wow, what an imagination these girls had and how I would have loved to know them.  I loved the film from beginning to end.  It enthralled me and brought me right back to the Brontë world of gloom, rain, the Yorkshire moors, the strict, cruel and rigid society, the formal language, large, imposing and dark houses and vintage costumes, all woven into an amazing story, one that remains a classic and has fascinated me always. If you are a Brontë fan, go and see it, you won’t be disappointed.  Here, by the way, is the trailer to whet your appetite.

I loved the new Jane Eyre film

Dinner afterwards was at La Alpargatería as usual and here we enjoyed a meal at our table but annoyingly not at table 7, as we hadn't booked in advance.  Afterwards I made the difficult decision of not going to Hagen Dazs for one of their delicious ice creams.

Saturday was spent at home and was very quiet.  Of note that day Mario, my nephew and Eladio’s sister, Pili’s son,  turned 21.  Imagine!  When he was a little boy he was known as “the little terrorist”.  Today he is a groomed, quiet and charming young man.  Gone are the days when he would wreck my parents-in-law’s curtains or groan to his Mother constantly.

Last Sunday was a highlight in the recounting of this week’s blog post.  First we had a bit of an emergency with my Father’s bed sore which had taken a turn for the worse.  Luckily the Samur (Madrid emergency medical service) came to take care of it but we did have a bit of a scare. Up till then we were changing the bandage ourselves every two days but after last Sunday, the local nurse now comes and it has got much better ever since.  Carmen the nurse also calls my Father “Charlés” but is very efficient.

That day we were having visitors for lunch and we were to be 12 around the table.  Pili and Andrés had come to stay with Paula their daughter who now lives and studies in Madrid with her cousin and our god daughter, Alicia.  They were all coming for lunch and we would be joined by Toño and Dolores and little Nuba; a nice canine visitor for Elsa and Norah.   

Elsa and Norah were delighted to see Nuba again.  This is a photo of the three of them exhausted after our walk

I made a huge English roast beef lunch with all the trimmings and spent most of the morning peeling Montrondo potatoes and the sprouts as well as making a wonderful Yorkshire pudding and gravy.I love Eladios’ family coming to visit.  I have practically no immediate family of my own except for my Father, so they are my substitute family and I love them.  This is a picture of us around the table.

Sunday lunch at home when Pili and her family came, joined by Toño and Dolores

Whilst we were having a siesta and going for a walk with the dogs, Spain was playing Argentina in the Davis Cup final.  We were able to watch the exciting end of the match between Spain’s beloved Rafa Nadal and Argentina’s tough opponent Del Potro.  To our joy and relief Nadal won not just the match but the whole championship.  Thus Spain has now garnered 5 Davis Cups, four of them in the last five years.  Well done Spain and what a great sporting country it has turned into.  That was not the case when I first started living in Spain when it was hardly on the sports’ map.  Today Spain excels in cycling, Formula 1, motor cycling, tennis, football, basketball and brings a lot of joy to a country whose sporting victories are often seen as an antidote to its deep financial crisis. 

The Spanish Davis Cup team who last week garnered Spain's fifth victory in this championship

The next day was Monday 5^th and the beginning of a semi holiday week. In Spain the 6^th December is a national holiday to celebrate the Spanish constitution and the 8^this also a holiday to commemorate the Immaculate Conception.  Thus Tuesday and Thursday were “days off” and many people will have chosen to take the whole week off, adding three days of their official holiday days, or maybe just the Monday or the Friday, thus enjoying what people call here a “Puente” or bridge.  I chose to work most of the week taking time off now and then.  Suzy chose to take the whole week off as Gaby her boyfriend was obliged to take two weeks of his annual holiday in November.  They went off on Monday to our apartment in Santa Pola near Alicante and we have not heard much from them since they left.  As I write, today Saturday 10^th, they are on their way home and we are expecting them any minute.  I know they had good weather as there seemed to be sun and temperatures of up to 21ºc every day.  I have also seen some pictures of the food Gaby cooked for them.  He is rather a good cook which is very fortunate for Suzy.  In this photo, Suzy is enjoying a dish he made called “fabes con almejas” (big white beans with clams).

Suzy in Santa Pola this week enjoying Gaby's cooking.

On Monday while Susana was on her way to Santa Pola, I went to the chiropodist and then to the hairdresser for a haircut and my Father went to the hospital for a check-up with Olga who is his constant companion.  In the afternoon we met up with Pili, Andrés and Paula and Oli joined us as did Pedro, Paula’s boyfriend.  We met in Callao, the centre of Madrid which was a bit of a mistake as it was far too crowded.  The women wanted to shop for clothes in Zara and HM and we bored the men stiff of course, so we had to abandon our retail therapy until the next day when we would meet again at La Vaguada shopping centre.  Eladio took the opportunity to buy some more Christmas lottery tickets for what is called “El Gordo” in Spain and which is probably gives the biggest lottery prize money in the world. He did so in one of Madrid’s most famous streets, Alcalá and I caught the moment on my camera.

Eladio buying Christmas lottery tickets in Madrid this week

Later we were joined by José Antonio and Dolores and we had a great meal together in the centre of town.

Tuesday was the first of the two holidays in the week and we had agreed to meet up with Pili, Andrés, Paula and Alicia at La Vaguada, where this time we were able to enjoy our retail therapy whilst the men had a glass of beer and a cup of coffee in one of the numerous bars in this gigantic shopping centre.  Shopping is fun but can be tiring as you can see in the  photo illustrating this week’s blog.

In the picture I am holding a wonderful dress I bought in Zara.  It is a size M tight figure hugging black sequined evening dress with a low back and elbow length sleeves which is very slightly too tight for me.  Yet I adore it and Pili, Paula and Oli urged me to buy it when they saw it on me.  I will be wearing it on New Year's Eve, that is if I don't put on too much weight around Christmas.

Later we all had lunch together.  Guess where?  La Alpargatería of course.  We were joined again by Paula’s beau, Pedro.  They make such a lovely couple and radiate love just by looking at them.  I should mention here, that Andrés treated us, and not only because he is a great fan of this blog but because it’s worth a mention.  !Gracias Andrés!

Lunch in La Alpargatería in La Vaguada on Monday with Pili, Andrés, Paula, Pedro, Alicia, Oli and Eladio

Pili and Andrés were returning to León later that afternoon, so soon we were to part.  It was great spending so much time with them.  After their visit, life was pretty quiet and there is not much to report about the rest of this week really.  We went on our walks, my Father went to his physiotherapy sessions, Oli went to her TV programme and I worked on and off most of the week.  And suddenly the week came to an end and it was Friday again and Eladio and I did the enormous weekly shopping at Carrefour where we had the bad experience I mentioned earlier with the “scan and go” system.  In the evening, for our weekly Friday treat, we skipped on the cinema as there was no new film that caught our fancy.  We did however go out to dinner, but not, I am sure you are happy to read, to La Alpargatería.  No, we went to De Brasa y Puchero in nearby Boadilla where we had the most scrumptious meal in a long time.  Want to know what we had? Feeling hungry?  Well we had “patatas revolconas” (sort of potato bubble and squeak but with paprika) and fried artichokes for starters.  My second course was a sort of bomb as I chose to eat Fabada (Asturian bean dish) as I am a sucker for Spanish pulses.  Eladio, being the moderate guy he is, chose fish.  

As I am on the topic of restaurants, very soon we will be trying an English one in nearby Pozuelo, recommended to us by Rocío and her parents.  For an English restaurant it is very fittingly called La Pérfida Albión (in English: the Perfidious Albion), a term which took me right back to my history books during the period of the Napoleonic Wars but apparently its origin is far older if you read the entry here in Wikipedia.  In Wikipedia it says Albión comes from the Greek for England.  When I told my philosopher husband, he corrected Wikipedia and told me Albion was Latin for white and referred probably to the white cliffs of Dover and thus England.  My Father tended to agree.  Perfidious, of course, means a lack of faith and I am not getting into a discussion here about England having faith or not having faith.  The name reminded me too of my history lessons with my favourite teacher Miss. Scorer at St. Joseph’s College from whom I learned and will never forget that Napoleon called England a “nation of shopkeepers”.  Be that as it may, I look forward to tasting the restaurant’s fish and chips and I am tied between the Eton Mess and Autumn crumble on their dessert menu.  

As I am writing this, it is half past eight and time for our dinner and I’m hungry again.  But no worries, as I have a wonderful broth (sopa de cocido) waiting for me to have with some of my home made ham croquettes with Eladio and my Father.  So, on that gastronomic note I will leave you until next week.  Ah but before I go I must mention that tonight is the “clásico” or derby between Real Madrid and Barcelona which my Father and Eladio will be watching with great interest.  I am less interested in the play and more interested in the result, so will probably be uploading this blog whilst they are enjoying the two teams playing in the Bernabeu stadium this foggy rainy night in November.  
 

Tomorrow Christmas will be coming to this house as it’s time to put up our tree and all the Christmassy things I have collected over the years to decorate the house and bring in some of the season’s magic.  I have only begun to prepare for Christmas but the main ingredients are on their way with crackers from The Christmas Cracker shop and Christmas pudding, cranberry sauce and chocolates  from The British Corner Shop.  I could get neither from Marks and Spencers online or Amazon.co.uk because neither will send crackers abroad as they are now considered fireworks!  M+S won't send food abroad and it was very difficult to chocolates from Amazon too.  So let's hope my orders from the two newly discovered online sources will arrive ok.

And that is it my friends for this edition.  I wish you all a great week.  I will have a busy one, I’m sure. 

Until next week, take care.

Masha

PS You can see more photos of my recent activities here.