Unexpected availability

Posted on July 18, 2008 by Veragooner

We now have a week available in the Orange Grove Apartment from 30th August.

1st come, 1st served, who’s going to be lucky?

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Using an ATM in Spain, just say NO.

Posted on July 18, 2008 by Veragooner

People who have stayed here will know how much I bang on about using a Nationwide cash card to withdraw money while abroad. No charges and a great exchange rate, it’s highly rated by Martin Lewis Moneysavingexpert as well.

Now beware.

When you use it, or any card, in Spain you will receive a confusing message telling you that you can see the cost of your withdrawl in GBP if you press yes, this will almost certainly cost you more money due to an inferior exchange rate.

If you want the best rate, remember, just say NO.

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High speed train

Posted on July 13, 2008 by Veragooner

Since before we moved here there have been plans for a high speed rail link between Murcia and Almeria. The plan is to have one station on this route. Last year the Spanish Prime Minister bought a holiday apartment on Vera Playa. The station is going to be in Vera! Plans for the exact location seem to change every month. The train, as long as it doesn’t pass too close, should be good for the area. In general the AVE is a fantastic railway system, a link between Madrid and Barcelona has just opened and the flight route has lost 40% of it’s traffic already. If the train is more than 5 minutes late everyone gets a full refund.

The area had a steam railway system, GSSR, built by the English in the 1880’s and originally intended to link Murcia and Granada. Problems with the terrain and money meant the railway only connected Baza, Aguillas and Lorca. The railway was seized by the Spanish during the Civil War and is now mainly closed except for parts between Aguillas and Lorca.

Visit this link if you are interested in some of the history of this area.

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Local Celebs

Posted on July 4, 2008 by Veragooner

Ben and Margaret, staying here at the moment, have told me that the old bowling greens in the Cabrera mountains were started by David Bryant, they are now disused. I’m trying to find out more about them and will go and see them. Memories of days before Sky tv when a sport fix was watching Bowls, Darts and Snooker.

What other celeb have lived here? Ian Botham has a place in Desert Springs and can often be spotted in Vera where his daughter has a bar. Gordon Goody, the great train robber ran a bar in Mojacar. Tony Christie lives here when not touring. Clive “Robin” Sarstedt plays and lives locally, there must be loads more.

Finca Arboleda is still waiting for it’s first celeb visitor, as far as I know.

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Fireworks in the Campo

Posted on June 27, 2008 by Veragooner

My daughter Gemma arrived on holiday last night and our Spanish neighbours greeted her with a firework display. The Spanish never need much of an excuse to party and generally make a noise but this was a suprise.

Oh wait a minute, what’s that…. apparently a football match was on!

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Have you heard the one about The Nuns, The Orphanage and The Brochure?

Posted on June 17, 2008 by Veragooner

Vera has an Orphanage with 15 kids run by the Nuns. They need funds for the extras that the kids need, such as decent clothes etc.  A fund raising event is being held next Sunday with a fashion show, raffle and auction at Desert Springs Golf course.

We have donated a week in the apartment and it will be the star  lot in the auction! hence we needed to produce a brochure so that people can see what a wonderful place they are bidding for. Fingers crossed that it makes some money for a good cause.

I may post the brochure on-line, we will have to see how big the file is.

ps.  just thought of another reason I’ve been busy, EURO 2008 great fun without boring England!

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Wot No Blog

Posted on June 17, 2008 by Veragooner

There has been a bit of concern from places as far away as the the Isle of Wight about the lack of blog recently, simple answer is we’ve been busy getting things done before the summer arrives, 32 degrees yesterday!

We had friends here from Sweden for 5 days, eventually got the tax sorted, patio for the villa is finished complete with sunbeds. Today we finished fitting a new very smart glass shower screen in the Stables and we are in the middle of refurbishing our own bathroom, phew!

We have also been placing a few new ads on-line including one with Saga who have just launched a new site with software so bad I would be ashamed to own up to it!

Lastly we have produced a brochure for Finca Arboleda, why ? well that’s another blog!

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Spain today

Posted on June 11, 2008 by Veragooner

As you probably know the truckers are on strike here to complain about rising fuel prices.

I thought I ought to make my weekly call to the accountant to see how the tax payment is coming along. We need to get a form from Almeria the lovely lady told me, and ?, “we can’t go because of the truckers strike”, we’re still trying to work that one out!

Everybody is panic buying here so we thought we ought to get some fresh Heart for Stig’s dinner so we went to the supermarket and stocked up with 6kgs, 3 litres of Gin also found it’s way into the trolley, I thought we weren’t going to hoard said Pirkko.

The beauty of living here is that we can normally eat things we produce so tonight we’re having a fig omelette cooked in our Olive Oil followed by Mulberrys and plums with home made ice cream and to drink?  Where did you hide that Gin???

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Figs and Plums

Posted on June 5, 2008 by Veragooner

Figs

Just picked 2 dozen Figs from the garden, the ones that I managed not to eat directly from the tree will be toasted under the grill with a spot of Goats cheese on them.

You can’t have too many Figs, unless you’re paying 70p each in Waitrose for them I imagine! The Chickens love them as well but they’ll have to put up with eating Plums.

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Tall story

Posted on June 1, 2008 by Veragooner

The Tall Boys on stage


Hot on the heels of other major stars playing in the area, Dylan, Stones and Rod the Mod to name a few, Saturday was the turn of the Tall Boys to perform. Dave “Doc” Bawden and Mark Burke reformed for the afternoon and played to an invited audience of about 40 in Los Raimundos.

Some diehard fans were hoping for a few self-penned numbers but instead we were treated to a selection of favourites from the likes of Dylan, of course being Doc’s hero, W. Nelson, J. Cash, Eagles and J.J. Cale amongst others. It was well received with the woman folk taking to the dance floor and the men hiding behind dark or wine glasses. I was particularly pleased to have “Little old wine drinker me” dedicated to me!

Dave and Linda’s home made a fantastic setting in the mountains and I’m sure they were heard for miles around.

View from the house

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