Merry Christmas to those who like that sort of thing. We’re pretty low key here, off to friends for Kedgeree and Cava and then other friends for the full English Turkey and stuffing. Not that low key then really just letting everyone else do the work!
baby-hoopoes
Tom went back to the Hoopoes and two are still alive, she took this lovely picture. Since then we’ve had very high winds and the container has blown over so the hole in the top is now at the bottom, safer for them hopefully. The mother feeds them through the side opening.
What a start to life, fingers crossed that they survive.
Our friend Tom found a bird, probably a Hoopoe, which had had her chicks in an old petrol container. December is not the normal time for breeding so we were a bit concerned about them, it has really been like Spring here since October. The next night we had a big thunder storm and the chicks were dead in the morning.
If you know the area they were near Asprodalba, I’ve stolen the following photos from her blog, she won’t mind, if I don’t tell her!
The only way to avoid Ryanair credit card charges has been to use an Electron card, it seems that these are to be phased out.
The charges for using a credit or debit card are £5 per person, per flight so return trip to Finca Arboleda for a family of 4 costs £40 in charges!!!
What can we do ?
Prepaid cards seems to be the way to go. Moneyweek has an article here and Martyn Lewis here.
You could also use them for spending while on holiday, load up at a known exchange rate and no nasty shock when the bill comes in afterwards.
If you have a better idea let me know and we can spread the word.
Remember what O’Leary does today the others will follow.
Top Tip for a Dream Trip
This Winter, Your Holiday Matters launches a new Seal of Approval in a bid to eliminate unpleasant surprises for holiday makers.
Inspired by the growing trend of people choosing to rent out their holiday home, Your Holiday Matters is devoted to identifying holiday rentals and B&Bs backed by “Owners who Care”.
A rigorous accreditation process, supported by ongoing reviews, ensures every owner is genuine, has a proven track record of satisfied guests and is focused on delivering a quality experience from initial booking enquiry until holiday departure.
In order to attain the Seal of Approval, rental owners have shown that they are willing to go that extra mile for the guests: anything from ensuring a same-day response to the initial enquiry through to providing the most exact directions to reach the property. Then, on arrival the holidaymaker can kick back and unwind knowing that the finer details of the holiday have been thoughtfully taken care of. These could be restaurant recommendations, parking permits, a local point of contact, even a bottle of the region’s wine, and all on hand to make the stay feel extra special. It’s those aspects one would expect from a holiday home and much more.
Deb Kleber, Managing Director of Your Holiday Matters said:
“It’s very easy to look on the internet and find a holiday home. The tricky part is ensuring that you have made the right choice. Holidays are hard-earned, and with time away from the workplace so precious, there isn’t room for mistakes and sloppy standards. At Your Holiday Matters we look beyond the aesthetic to ensure that every detail is considered and your only surprises will be pleasant ones.”
So far, 94 properties have been approved, and each one of them wears the badge with pride. More are being added weekly, and the full portfolio of “Owners who Care” can be reviewed at www.YourHolidayMatters.com
As a gooner I was amazed at how poor France were last night against an Irish side who deserve to be heading to South Africa. Thierry who do you think you are trying to fool. I want to remember you as a really great player, amongst the best to grace Highbury, not as a cheat.
Still if you are Irish look on the bright side you could do worse than get away and visit Finca Arboleda this summer. I promise not to mention the “F Word”
25 Euros for a 3 bedroom Villa and a 2 bedroom Apartment !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Coming soon, with benifets exclusive to Finca Arboleda, a lottery with the chance to win two properties in Vera and Arboleas.
Please contact us for details.
Easyjet have released their summer schedule today, early birds and all that.
25 degrees again today, why wait till then!
2009 was a lot kinder than last year, dry, sunny, warm but very windy. The crop was pretty good but the press demanded a minimum of 1000 kilos for an individual pressing so we picked and pressed with a few neighbours.
In total we had 1114 kgs which yielded 220 litres of your finest Extra Virgin Olive Oil. We started picking on Friday morning and finished with lunch on Sunday and then pressed at 11Am on Monday, on time for the 1st time.
The oil tastes fantastic, maybe the best yet. I’ve seen an ad online where they charge 25 pounds for half a litre of the fresh stuff!
We went up to Saliente monastery on Monday, it has a cafe which serves great coffee and buns, unfortuanately we can’t confirm this as we went on “All Saints Day” when it is closed! Still it only took an hour due to road works.
We went with our friends Pat and Pete and their dog Sami. Sami and Stig had a bit of excitment when the Dog guard in the car collapsed on them.
SALIENTE MONASTERY: El Santuario de la Virgen del Saliente is perched 1,000m high on an outcrop of the Sierra Estancias mountain range. It was built 300 years ago.
