Surrounded as we are by olive groves, whose colour - a lovely soft, silvery green - is pretty constant all year round, I have already realised in previous years, that autumn is not much more than the name of the season - it doesn't conjure up rich reds, yellows and oranges, nor crispy piles of fallen leaves (there are some...don't let me overstate this) nor the promise of Bonfire Night coming soon. And whilst the schools do now talk about Halloween and the shops are trying to make us buy costumes, maps and bags of sweets, here, it's All Saints' Day that is really celebrated and florists work hard to supply bouquets for families to take to their dear departed ones.
Having a place on the land this year, we might be tempted to have a bonfire on 5th November with some homemade toffee, some parkin (a traditional Yorkshire cake made with ginger and treacle...) and maybe baked potatoes - and marshmallows to roast. It won't be the same without sparklers and Roman Candles and Catherine Wheels....I used to so love Bonfire - or Plot - Night as we used to call it. Anyone not entirely familiar with this will have to wait til next week when I shall write a bit more about it all. (You'll have to wait because I shall have to check out a few facts before I start with 'A few hundred years or so ago...')
This week has seen me walking more. I used to walk a good hour and a half a day - though not all in one go - when we lived in the Calle Bolivia. Now, I hardly walk anywhere even though I rarely sit down. It's obviously not quite the same and my waistline - well, it's disappeared is what it's done! So, whilst at my sister's, I plotted a couple of circular walks that I can do. So far, when I have taken Darwin out for a walk, we've gone for about 20 minutes or so in one direction, then turned round and come back and I don't like doing that. On Monday, we did a 5.8km route along the river towards La Pedriza, across the bridge before arriving home on the other side of the river. And we did it again today.
And today, it was really hot! I was quite sweaty when I returned and really felt as though I'd been exercising - Darwin made a dash for his water as I opened the gate! I only had my phone with me, but want to share some of my photos of Andalucia in the autumn.
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| A bit blurry, but blue skies and empty fields |
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| Trees following the river and a big, ploughed empty field in front |
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| Lots of green still...and blue... and the blurry bit in the foreground is yellowy, frondy asparagus |
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| Again, rather blurred...but this may just shows signs of autumn next time I pass... |
I have noticed some lovely posts on some of my favourite blogs about autumn - how is it looking where you are?
I've lost a couple of inches off my waist since he arrival of Jake the dog. I don't think we manage 5.8kms though.
ReplyDeleteWhen we got Darwin, I really toned up, but now, he has all the run of the garden and my son likes to take him out in the evening...I've spread dreadfully. I shall need a lot of 5.8kms to really sort it out! Ax
DeleteBetter go easy on the parkin and "plot toffee" Annie!
ReplyDeleteOK, Nilly but heavens, sometimes if feels like there's no fun in life! Axxx
DeleteI'm afraid I don't get enough exercise. Now I have 5 dogs it's impossible to walk them all. Although 3 of them refuse to walk on leads anyway, and are much happier going for a run over the hill and around the village themselves morning and night. Now it's cooler I should really just go out walking anyway, even without the dogs, because my waistline has also disappeared.
ReplyDeleteIt still feels like summer here during the day, but the temps really drop at night. Love the photos, even though they are blurry (blurry is considered normal for my photos)
Walking is good - though with 5 dogs, I can imagine it could be difficult! During the summer it's just too hot to exercise but now, there's no excuse so I am going to keep it up - twice a week, we will have a really long walk and the other days, a slightly shorter one. Darwin already expects the long one...how quickly they learn!
DeleteAxxx
The locals are commenting on the unusually high temperatures, still around 27/28C, but like you there is a nip in the air in the evenings. I really liked the autuminal colours of the landscape, but I certainly don't miss the cold, damp and rain
ReplyDeleteMy husband says for it to be as hot as it has been, it must be raining somewhere quite close...not sure of the logic of this but it's certainly been very hot the last couple of days. Today is chillier and last night we had a lot of rain. I love knowing that tomorrow will be bright and sunny again!
DeleteAxxx
Waistline....?
ReplyDeletePeople told me that I would miss the seasons moving to the tropics...but there are seasons...just different.
I wonder if I could interest friends here in Bonfire Night...their parliament is not too popular at the moment, not to speak of the President...and there are plenty of fireworks available - the sort of things that would have health and safety running for the hills.
I can assure you that I do not miss the cold one bit.
Waistline - yes, the bit that used to go in but now blobs out.
DeleteThere are seasons here but they are different - I am enjoying the cooler bits after a very hot summer but take a great delight in any day that has a beautiful blue sky.
Yes, Bonfire Night where you are could be 'interesting'....
Stay warm! Axxx
Hi Annie,
ReplyDeleteI love to read the delight that comes through in every post you write about your joy and contentment with your life. Whether it be about your family, your lovely home, your friends, Darwin and your walks together or even your anticipation of November 5th.
Long may it continue
Thank you Gaynor - I have to say that I think it's quite a long time since I felt so settled and happy. I have always had the tendency to think the sun shines brighter on the other side. Must have crossed over at some point - and not to the dark side! Axxx
DeleteYou are clearly a glass half full person! X
ReplyDeleteIt runneth over, Gaynor...runneth over. Axxx
DeleteWhat happened there???
ReplyDeleteI have no idea but it's lovely to carry on a conversation ..:-) Axxx
DeleteAnnie, I am so looking forward to reading your next blog....and will be mortified if it doesn't start with......" a few hundred years ago..." I really really don't care about dates...just chronology, cause and effect, trends....honestly !
ReplyDeleteIt is so good to see these pictures, and know where some of them are, and to be able to imagine Darwin exploring away in front of you. I'm also delighted that blue skies have returned to Alcala for you.
Autumn has been glorious in the Minervois, with the vendange affecting everything, including making the car tyres squeak as they run across the spilt and split grapes dropped along the road. The whole place smells of wine ! We're back in England now though, with storm warnings for the next couple of days. However, its good to see all the children again, and plan our bonfire night celebrations. I'm not sure what we'll be doing ,but it will certainly involve fireworks, baked potatoes and parkin. Love to all. Jxxx
I can assure you, Janice, my story will be told in my usual style...just thought I'd better check a few of 'my' facts first this time!!
DeleteIt certainly has been an Alcala full of beautiful blue skies - you were really quite unlucky with the weather - but it's really quite chilly now each end of the day.
Your last paragraph about being in the Minervois is SO evocative - really excellent writing. Do make sure you include that brilliant phrase about the spilt and split grapes in a blog post...and the resultant smell..it's just fantastic!
I shal think about you on bonfire night and hope the storms have passed before folk start sending up rockets. We always used to go up to Castle Hill to watch the whole spectacle from there - it was a real favourite for us all and one we shall remember on the 5th with fondness (but no regrets!)
Have a great one with your wonderful family. Hugs, Axxx
At the moment it's looking very wet, and with all the wind the trees are definitely having a bad hair day. But overall, now autumn has finally got it's act together, it's actually rather pretty here. Still ridiculously mild though, if not quite as warm as Andalusia. And now they say there'll be snow in November. I'd better get back to my knitting!
ReplyDeleteLovely post Annie :)
Thank you, Annie. I do like the idea of the trees having a bad hair day! I've been watching BBC News on the internet and have seen some of the damage the storm has caused. Apparently the early berries on some trees are like prophets of doom for a rough winter. So yes, get knitting! Axxx
DeleteGreat photos, despite the touch of fuzziness. :-) I too love your contentment with your life, Annie, despite the lack of walks and your spreading waistline. All I can say is "Snap!" and think perhaps I should get a dog too. Unfortunately we don't have much in the way of blue skies at the moment and it's still a fairly muted autumn where colour is concerned - too wet and warm. wW need a good frost. :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you Perpetua. Something has definitely 'happened' since we came to live here - and I rather like it. (Apart from the waistline thing, of course.) Today, Darwin and I went for a long walk...if you had a dog, it would have to be an excellent traveller, wouldn't it? Not just walking either!
DeleteWhatever the weather, we shall feel Christmas is on the way before too much longer, won't we? I rather like this time of year.
Axxx