Lugo Province, lack of electricity and some card games

We visited Lugo province for the first time recently, we stayed in a quiet little campsite at Monterroso, it was adjacent to a lovely little municipal recreation area with a clean looking river swimming pool and stepped waterfall right along side a turquoise chlorinated type of pool and a good sized area for toddlers to play in the water too. We are still having camera troubles so we don't have many pics.

Between the campsite and the pool are some relics of the ancient watermills.

 

The water was cold but the sun was hot so the boys stayed in for quite a while. 

There were also some traditional kids things. They were handy when we realised that our van had a flat battery in the morning...the alternator saga has been going on and on ...

 After a rescue by a local car electrician who amazingly refused to take any money for inspecting the alternator and charging the battery over night we chugged along eyes on the voltmeter and popped into the Zoo near Outeiro de Rei and found some impressive wood carvings starting with the huge entrance gate there are some imaginative enhancements of the natural shapes of ancient trees that have been long dead and some good use of granite starting to emerge as they develop new areas. I don't know who the artists were but we were all impressed. Sam and Mel took more pictures I hope to get some from them to put up here soon.

 

And animals of course

and a play house for Lorena

 and swings for Lorena

 

and more animals

It were a grand day out for sure but stopping at the zoo was a mistake there is a big drain starting a 2.8 diesel engine and we ran out of low tension circuit power after about 20 mins. Sam noticed I was not behind him anymore and backtracked - 15 mins with jump leads from Sam's engine charging our battery and we had enough to make it home.

We have spent weeks trying to sort out replacement medical cards, illness, administrative brick walls and our misunderstanding of the conditions applying in each country leave us with our UK issued cards running out tomorrow just as Rowan gets his second blood test results and they decide what to do next.  Lots of things could have gone wrong today - I battled a nest of angry wasps dressed in shorts and wellies (they had stripy T Shirts on as well) and won with only two  minor stings, it was getting ridiculous we had 5 stings between us in the morning before I accidentally discovered the nest with a strimmer.  I also wielded the new chainsaw's vorpal blade and chopped a dozen trees skillfully managing to keep all of my parts intact, we set off to do a major shop in Ferol armed with two charged batteries and made it back with only minutes of power left then four hours from the dealine wher our medical cards run out I managed to fall quite heavily simply by stepping into a strap handle of the inflatable kayak bag, left carelessly lying across the workshop floor, and turning round and trying to walk back again, both feet were trapped and strapped together at the ankle and down I went a victim of a classic rugby tackle by a big heavy grey bag all my weight onto my left knee on to an edge where the concrete changes level. Its swollen and painful but I don't think I need treatment however it was a timely reminder of how easily accidents can happen...I really need to sort out medical cover of some sort tomorrow morning how ever telefonica have still not agreed to transfer our calls back to talktalk (free calls to to UK for 15 euros a month) so I have to ring the UK via skype and a variable internet connection oh joy I hope I get someone who knows what they are talking about for a change.

Weather continues to be hot but I swear I can hear a swell breaking at Pantin so I expect some weather is on the way in the next few days - the ground could do with a drink.

Trees again

Actually it is quite exciting thinking of what we might do with all of the trees, a small scale fort has some votes a wooden version of Minas Tirinth or the home of the Rohrim or at the least a Swiss family Robinson house soaring up into the treetops is in the boys minds whereas I see a more modest affair more like a large log cabin kind of hut really or a Robinson Crusoe job. I have been looking around at open sided field buildings, there are a few hybrid poly-tunnel sort of constructions, using eucalyptus and plastic instead of steel and plastic, that look quite useful and doable, and I keep thinking of mazes and climbing frames, the veranda idea is now back on the cards - when we first moved here we thought we might build one along the side of the house that looks down towards the lake, we could even have paths and a woodchip drive if we bought a shredder and spent a few weeks feeding it branches. We now have more than enough wood but less than sufficient time to do the work,and eucalyptus does not last long outside in the weather so I need to tread carefully as to how and what I build, at least we won't be cold or relying on the central heating this Winter, I guess a larger stove will be needed.

trees

I have had some requests to keep this one going so I will try and keep the local stuff going on here and post more general info on the valdovino blog.

A law was made a couple of years ago regulating eucalyptus and conifer trees, it has new been modified and the result is that none of either are allowed within 50 meters of the perimeter of land with a house on it. Jolly good we can ask the Junta to ask the owners of adjacent land to chop down the huge trees that pose a hazard should they fall in another great wind or should we get a forest fire sweeping through here. The law is not implemented very well it seems and there are still a lot of properties still surrounded by trees, I guess partly because of the low price of timber just now and partly because people make their living from these crops and want to hang on to it as long as they can. We have a strip of fairly young Eucalyptus on our land that we were planning to use as a sustainable source of biomass. If we ask for adjacent trees to be cut we will also have to cut our own trees. A time limit for complience of around 2 months will be imposed and I will have to spend a lot of time playing with my new chainsaw or the Junta will send men to cut the trees for us and we will be charged and fined for non compliance. If we don't cut our trees our home insurance would not pay up in the event of a fire damaging the property. There are many hundreds of trees of varying sizes - I think there is enough wood to heat our house for about 14 year however cut timber does not store for that long and it would be a rather large pile and many months of wielding an axe to chop it to manageable burning  bits. Neighbors whose trees are far enough away for us to feel they are not a hazard will also have to cut theirs, some of these are not really mature enough to be worth selling and wood is just not selling just now either so there might be some bad feeling created hmm but then it is a criminal offence for them to grow their trees that close - what do we do ? Well we know what we must do its just a case of how soon do we do it really.

Gone

Having been here for just over a year I can safely say we have now actually gone to Galicia so I am moving to a new blog for most new posts although will still keep adding a little to this one. The next blog has no posts as I write but is set up at http://aviewfromvaldovino.blogspot.com/  The idea is to provide a perspective of Galicia and the wider world as seen from our little corner of it.

2 nights

is enough time to spend camping in the garden, the tent works although I wouldn't like to sleep in it anywhere that gets at all cold or too windy as there is a lot of netting and ventilation, definitely a warm weather tent but works well enough for what we need in Summer. Last week we got one of those lights that attracts insects then zaps them with an electric shock, reduced to 4 euros in Al Campo, I really wish I had got half a dozen of them but when I went back the next day there were none left. They work really well in a tent as long as you have a mains electric supply, we heard flies and mosquitoes being zapped all night long and there was a fair collection of them in the bottom this morning including 6 horseflies.

We had planned a lot of weekends away over the last month but illness put the hold on many of our plans however we are still hoping to spend the odd night camping in the hills inland and maybe some sand dune camping too before the boys start back at school on 10 Sept. We would also like to paddle some of the Canyon de Sil; there is so much of Galicia we still need to find our way around and develop a network of favourite spots, that seems essential if we are to feel properly at home here.

camping

We bought a 50 euro tent from al campo cracking bargain and the boys made us spend the night in it - you might recognise the camp site.

things happening in the garden

A year on the garden is a little different, The cabin de bosque is progressing, there is a deck, a bit of a wall or two, a log walkway across to a tight group of three trees and a bit of climb inside them, we have a cargo net hammock and Sam is up a tree here starting to make a rope swing, the lense refracted a handy little arrowhead pointing at him.
Oh look there he is again he has two bits of thick string, a sawn in half log and some good knots as climbing aids to get up a tree that has no branches, drat I put the safety net on the wrong side of the tree ah well never mind Sam is very competent at not falling.

And in the veg garden.....
The pumpkin patch is doing well we have about 18 pumpkins so far and more on the way, the leaves are starting to die back and the first pumpkins are nearly ripe, we also have loads of butternuts and turban looking ones and found our first cucumber today - thanks to Shirley for the plant.


Cabbage patch coming along nicely and hundreds of leeks are about to go in to the fresh dug land at the far end.
Sweet peas growing really well, its a shame we have not got smellovision yet- they smell wonderful as do the Nicotina below.
This is where they mostly start out - in the entrance to the below the butchers shop bit that gets sun most of the day but also is sheltered. Although we inherited some plant pots with the house Jenny uses loads of milk cartons, yoghurt pots and all sorts of other recycled stuff instead of plant pots. Then she puts them in a big pile and uses them again and again.
Barbecue corner is slowly turning into a Zen garden according to some locals, you prob need to be there to see/feel what they mean.
There is always wood needing cut and Senor Madera de Mar is still protecting the hens although he does not do much wood chopping.
We had just started cooking the corn on the cob and the beans had just gone into the freezer when I thought about taking a snap of today's haul. We have been getting a bowl full of strawberries like that every day since late May, its a deep bowl, around a kilo a day I think- not bad for a 6 euro outlay on some scabby dried up little plants. Lemons are not so good this year we prob have around 30, the great wind did a lot of damage we are lucky to have any really as many people lost their lemon trees. The peppers are mixed black ones from jungleseeds, they vary from all black to red and partly green and its a bit of a lottery as to whether they are picante or dulce, that adds an interesting edge to cooking.

beaches and boats

Finally got round to grabing some images of the last few days - we spend an afternoon at Redes where we met the martlet and lots of friends. Callum tried sailing for the first time in Sam's Mirror dingy; here they are bearing away from the Martlet in just perfect wind for learning.


On the beach near Redes there was a great little pirate island with a tiny cave that was left high and dry as the tide went out.

We also went to Pantin yesterday where we met lots of great kids and did lots of snorkling, Rowan managed to find some chicas to share the kayak. Jenny even took a look underwater from the safety of the kayak. Loads of fish to be seen in crystal clear water and little shoals of shrimps like underwater clouds. As always we forgot about the camera for much of the day, we really must buy a new still camera the video one is just that bit too big to carry around in a pocket.

Morning a year on

We were all sitting at the front of the boat watching Cantabria appear on the horizon this time last year full of trepidation and excitement. Today we have to go to hospital to get Rowan's blood text results, he has not developed any secondary symptoms so we are hoping he will be fine. It was Bindle's birthday yesterday and they slaughtered lambsheep ready for a party tonight so we will be heading over to rioforcadas later hopefully for some jamming and other fun and games. It really has been wonderful having friends nearby with out our friends at rioforcadas and Samozas I don't think we would still be here. Learning the language has been way harder than we ever imagined - it is a bit of a catch 22 in that to learn Castilliano and Galego well you need to be out here - to be able to settle in out here you need to be able to speak the languages. We have been a bit too insular really although the locals are really friendly it got reather embarasing spending much of every conversation saying no etinedo no etiendo. We are geting there slowly although it is still really easy to misunderstand people.

We all stood outside about 12.30 laast night watching ice fragments burn up some lovely long trails from the meteors arcing across the sky and a few bright flashes - well worth it. Reminded me of a night years ago back in Cornwall when I saw a shooting star that just got brighter and brighter then appaered to land a couple of fields away - never did find any bits though.

Hens are doing well, still providing more than enough eggs although snowbird is doing being broody for three weeks every three weeks. The garden is flourishing, most days we have meals that are 80 -100% home grown. Summer has been warm but a bit grey at times although no where near as bad as last year in Cornwall still all the locals say they have never known a winter like the one we just had or a summer like this one..I think that is what they said last year too. Climate change is just an acepted fact here - planting and growing patterns have changed considerably over recent years.

best get off to hospital ...back later with some photos of the garden etc.

A year ago today was like.....

http://goingtogalicia.blogspot.com/2008/08/last-days-of-caravaning.html

Today one year ago we were all packed and ready for a sailing on 13th Aug, gale force winds rain rain rain a river running through the caravan site....on the same day this year it is pretty windy in Galicia however it is 28C with a clear blue sky and I have come inside to cool off for a while. A year seems to have been a long epic journey that in some ways seems to have passed by in a flash. We have done a lot and a lot has not got done - will think on it all and try and post an anniversary post tomorrow although we are going to hospital to get Rowan's blood test for Lyme disease results and have a lot on in the afternoon too.

Telefonica troubles

At last my ear infection is on the mend, I can hear well enough to use Skype and the phone actually it is a good job I have been deaf we received a letter from telefonica a while back ignored it recieved another one and a phone call urging us to return it and after some advice we selected the option "deseo realizar las llamadas locales y a numeracion de red intelegente con telefonica" that to me and google translate means "I wish to make local calls and network numbering intelegente with telefonica" Our next bill for one month soared to almost 300 euros, we usually have international calls to the UK for free via TalkTalk... well for 15 euros flat rate a month. I guess whatever it is talktalk do counts as "numeracion de red intelegente" We are now talking to talktalk and intend moving to their full package ADSL + calls leaving only the line in telefonica's hands and if I could move that to another provider I would do it ASAP too.

more plasticine

Callum is really getting into the plasticine modeling, every day new things appear - people, puppies, cats, swans, sheep, pizzas, a beehive and bees, bowl full of bones etc etc. He has not decided on a storyline for a film yet but he is getting a good set of characters ready.

removing ticks

This post contains information relating to potentially serious and long term outcomes from tick bites; the information provided is my own personal opinion and should not be relied on as a sole source of advice. I do not accept any liability for consequences arising for others who follow my own advice.

Removing ticks rapidly and effectively seems to be critical and is also one of the most contentious aspects of the Lyme's disease issue. The advice we received from the hospital was to use a small amount of alcohol or preferably petrol to anaesthetise the tick before removing with tweezers. This goes against the advice on many websites although is endorsed on some. My own trawl of the web has taken me through many hundreds of pages, if ticks are why you have stumbled across this blog I advise taking a look here http://www.lymediseaseaction.org.uk/information/tick_removal.htm the site seems one of the best in my opinion. They sell tick removers that cost very little and should prob be carried by anyone tracking in the hills or bush during warm weather- carrying a couple of little bits of plastic is far more practical than herding your ow flock of guinea fowl wherever you go. The site contains some important advice:
Do Nots

* Do Not use your fingers.
* Do Not squeeze the tick.
* Do Not use a burning match.
* Do Not use a cigarette.
* Do Not use petroleum jelly.
* Do Not use cleaning fluid.

Again the following advice is my own opinion - it seems rapid removal is important; rapid as in within a few hours of the tick attaching, if you don't notice a tick I guess under armpits or groin or anywhere it is likely that it will be squeezed accidentally in some way by natural body movements or even undressing, this might well increase the chance of infection.
1. If you are in tick country be self aware of any irritation and carry out a whole body inspection especially of children within 4 hours or every 4 hours.
2. if you find a tick and do not have a removal device to hand you may have to use tweezers or if you have them long fingernails. Personally I have removed a fair few over the last 40 years intact by using long fingernails. I start a few mm away from the tick rucking the skin into a little ridge as I close in on it. As the nail contacts the tick I start twisting anticlockwise as I lift the tick out via a fairly rapid extraction. Keep the tick if possible, this might be useful for medics if you do get an infection.
3. Inspect with a magnifying lense if possible - a Swiss Army knife comes in handy. You are looking to see if any mouth parts have been left behind - these are really tiny but can cause a range of infections. I have seen these destroyed in the field by a red hot knife end and also cut out with a sharp knife end - I do not know if either strategy is advisable but they would seem sensible actions to me. If anyone has any advice on this please leave a comment.
4. If you are in an area where Lyme's disease is known to be prevalent take the tick with you to a medic and explain what has happened. If you don't have any grounds for suspecting Lyme's infection you should keep an eye out for a spreading rash that can develop over the next 3 - 7 days. This is characterised by a red outer ring expanding away from the bite site. If the rash develops go straight to a medic do not delay but do not panic or rush or call an ambulance either. At this stage antibiotic treatment should defeat any infections and reduce the potential for any long term problems.
5. Not every one develops the rash, keep vigilant for other symptoms - aching joints, fever, irrational or unusually moody behaviour seem to be prime symptoms - not relating these (or a host of other nervous system symptoms) to the tick bite episode seems to be one of the main causes of misdiagnosis. Unfortunately these symptoms may not manifest for weeks, months or even years.

Lyme's disease is serious and can lead to heart block, facial paralysis, para or quadriplegia, and a very wide range of conditions associated with the nervous system. it is thought that many cases go unreported and undiagnosed - if you are at all suspicious of any insect bite you should seek medical advice - being wrong and finding there is no problem is a great outcome; if you ignore a potentially life changing bite you might regret it for the rest of your life.

Clover windmills

Since we found our first four leaved clover in the garden the van stopped working, we have had two bouts of chicken pox, one of Lyme's Disease and I have the worst ear infection I have ever had, we have now found the plant that produces the four leafed clovers and have started giving them to our friends. Hopefully things will be looking up soon, I have always taken a scientific outlook but occasionally would love to believe things are otherwise than they seem however the clover does seem to be turning out to be just another plant. Ah well life is what you make it and relying on luck and good fortune may well be less effective than many of us would like to believe.
However I have been reading Don Quixote, a large old version with the Dore illustrations, he is about to set out on a flying wooden horse; as a reader the deception is so obvious - to the good Don it is a feasible reality, poor Sancho sees the deception but his belief in his fate to be one day the governor of an island draws him into the accepting the journey and overriding his own judgement he mounts Clavinelo behind his master and abandons his life to a fate beyond his own understanding. Striving to take an objective view of life can help us see through the deceptions of others and those self-imposed by our own underlying governing values, that seems a sensible approach. If we always acted out life based on objective perceptions it could help us avoid appearing as fools but it could also take us down routes less rich, less diverse and where chance might not provide the opportunity to experience the governorship of whatever islands, real or imagined, we aspire too.