Diary of a Nobody

It is a tradition amongst Spanish male workers to drink a spirit with their early morning coffee. This may be anís, patxarán, miura or something stronger.

For a few years I was in the habit of partaking of a miura (licor de guindas - cherries) with my café con leche, and I found (or imagined) that it pepped me up for the rest of the morning.

[© Amazon.es]    

Now that I have become an alcohol-free human being - for medical reasons - I no longer indulge. A good thing.

The other advantages of giving up the booze are that I have lost 11 kilos in 6 months and I sleep better and longer.

[© Taking Charge of Your Wellbeing]    

There is more about early morning coffee and about the beverage's origins below.

Links:

Early morning coffee in Spain - Secret Serranía de Ronda

HAS BEAN: International Day of Coffee. Did you miss it too? - Secret Serrania de Ronda

© Mr Nobody MMXXVI

Pictures:

Amazon.es, Karl Smallman, Taking Charge of Your Wellbeing

Thanks:

Secret Serrania de Ronda, 

Tags:

alcohol-free, Amazon.es, anis, booze, cherries, cafe con leche, coffee, Diary of a Nobody, licor de guindas, Mr Nobody, miura, patxaran, Paul Whitelock, Secret Serrania de Ronda, spirit, Taking Charge of Your Wellbeing

á é í ó ú

Christopher Columbus - Cristóbal Colón - discovered the New World in 1492, thereby proving that the Earth was round and not flat and opening up the Americas for further discovery.

[Wikipedia]    

This day is celebrated throughout the Hispanic world on October 12th. In Spain it has been amalgamated with that country's National Day/Día de la Hispanidad and is an obligatory bank holiday (feria).

In order to celebrate this important date in the Spanish calendar, a group of us guiris assembled at our place near Ronda to swim, chat and partake of Rita's paella.

Gathered together were two Maltese, one Englishwoman, one Welshman, one Northern Irishman and one German, the aforementioned Rita. The 7th guest, Hovis, was suffering from a stinking cold, so didn't come.

Blessed with late afternoon sun at the start and Autumn warmth after sundown, the braver souls went swimming - the water was a refreshing 19C - while the others quaffed cava.

Time to eat and seated comfortably on the terrace, we started with sopa fría de pepino - cold cucumber soup - one of Rita's many specialities, followed by her "famous" paella.

As the wine and beer flowed and the conversation got increasingly lively, we learned more about the bird-watching activities of Hovis and Jacqui, John's and Lorraine's plans for their next visit and Richard's shoulder injury.

As the only permanent residents our life will continue more or less as normal, notwithstanding a visit by my daughter and two grandsons in a few days time. After that we start the run-up to Christmas, when it's off to Germany.

Pudding was Apfelstrudel with ice cream accompanied by assorted digestifs from my collection and coffee.

As we broke up - it was now dark - we made tentative plans to meet up when they are next in town in 2027.

Links:

Are "guiris" liked in Spain ..... or just tolerated?  - Eye on Spain​​​​​​​

"Guiris" galore - Eye on Spain

What is a guiri? It's what the Spanish call us foreigners - but is it good or bad? - Eye on Spain

© Diary of a Nobody MMXXVI

Picture:

Wikipedia

Thanks:

Rita Whitelock

Tags:

1492, Apfelstrudel, bank holiday, Christopher Columbus, Columbus Day, Cristobal Colon, cucumber, Dia de la Hispanidad, feria, October 12th, Paul Whitelock, pepino, Rita Whitelock, sopa fria de pepino, Wikipedia

áéíóú

No, not the German Beer Festival in Munich. As keen readers of my blogs will know, I'm a sucker for a bit of barter or 'working for free'. No tax to pay, you see.

So, in return for a week's house- and pet-sitting in September, while they were away in England, friends Nick and Julia offered us a couple of nights in their frontline house on the Costa del Sol.

In the end, wife Rita couldn't come because of commitments at home, so I decided to take a mini-break on my own in any case. A time to relax and reflect in a different environment.

October Fest

I drove down from Ronda, reinforced by three coffees en route, arriving around midday. I stopped off at a couple of shops to stock up on essentials, got into the house and unloaded my stuff.

Went for a snack lunch at Bahia de Casares, a nearby cafe, where I had my usual cerveza sin tostada and a couple of tapas - paella and ensaladilla rusa - before heading back. Time for an afternoon stroll along the seafront.

Found some attractive stones washed smooth by the sea, before haading back for a swim in the pool. The water was lovely, warmer than at home in Ronda, yet I was the lone bather, despite others lying on sunbeds outside the pool area.

Back to the upstairs terrace to lie in the sun and dry off. Hoped for a siesta but I couldn't drop off. Too hot I thInk, for I had no shade.

Did some prep for dinner and cut my long beard to a more reasonable length, before driving to San Luis de Sabinillas to look for O'Callaghan's Irish Pub.

Had my first ever pint of alcohol free Guinness, the last can they had. It tasted just as good as the real thing. And at 3.50 euros, way cheaper than Dublin

The barmaid was clearly not Irish; Manchester area, I thought. I was right. Lisa hails from the Staleybridge area, although she's been out here 12 years.

I walked miles, through some not very pleasant areas. It's very built-up and there's loads of traffic. Not like peaceful Ronda.

Safely back I finished preparing my dinner - tortilla española followed by fruit for dessert. De-lish-ous!

Friday

After a good night's sleep, two cups of tea and breakfast, I set off to find something to do. Rain was forecast so that might restrict my activities. Let's hope for the best.

Well, the rain didn't materialise. As for my 'adventures' I found the most expensive Chinese bazarre in the world; waited a record 15 minutes to get served a coffee; looked around a furniture/decor store and bought three cheap items in their sale; bought three fridge magnets from a souvenir shop; and called into a charity shop where I got three books and a floppy hat for 3 euros!

In between times I went to an Irish pub and a Spanish restaurant for liquid refreshment.

I was served my alcohol free beers by Russian and Ukrainian waitresses in short skirts.

This area is definitely not for this linguistic snob!

[Notes Tied On The Sagebrush]    

2.00 pm and it was 'back to the ranch' for my second breakfast/brunch, a swim and a siesta in the sun.

Dinner

I decided to treat myself and went to the QG Belgian Brasserie in Puerto de la Duquesa, a restaurant I've been to before. Very tasty.

Saturday

After breakfast I spent the morning stripping the beds, cleaning up and loading the car. Julia, mine hostess, was due after lunch to prepare the house for their next paying guests. I have to wait for her, as I have all the keys and the remote control for the car park!!!

Then it will be off back to Ronda in time to watch the Nations League football match between Croatia and England.

The End

I enjoyed my couple of nights on the coast.

Nick and Julia's house, Casita del Mar, is superbly located, spacious and well-appointed. Everything you could wish for is there: balcony, terrace, table and chairs, sunbeds, and shared pool, not to mention the lounge, dining area and kitchen, two double bedrooms and two bathrooms.

Perfect for a holiday by the sea.

See the link below for more details.

Links:

http://www.casitamar.com

Working for free? Why? Er… why not?

Working for free? Why? Er… why not? Part 2.

© Diary of a Nobody

Pictures:

All photos © Paul Whitelock

Cartoon © Notes Tied On The Sagebrush

Thanks:

Nick and Julia Flynn, Paul Whitelock

Tags:

Bahia de Casares, barter, Casares, Casitamar, cerveza sin tostada, Diary of a Nobody, ensaladilla rusa, eye on spain, Nick and Julia Flynn, Notes Tied On The Sagebrush, October Fest, paella, Paul Whitelock, QG Brasserie, Ronda, tapa, tortilla española, working for free

There are a number of ways of keeping a diary.

Writing long-hand in a book, like Samuel Pepys and Anne Frank; writing a blog like 'Diary of a Nobody', my record of what is happening in my life; or via photos and home movies, either home-made or created professionally.

[© Wikipedia]    

I've just taken delivery of my photodiary for 2023. There are several companies that offer such a service. I chose PastBook, based in The Netherlands, who compile your photo album based on photos posted to Facebook.

So far I've bought albums covering 2010, 2011, 2021 and 2023. You may be asking what happened to 2012 to 2020, and I don't know.

Perhaps I didn't take so many photos in those years, although we regularly receive albums as gifts from both sides of our families. Besides, these albums aren't cheap!

My 2023 in pictures

Starting in January with winter patterns taken post-New Year in Germany, then snapshots of drinks and signs I particularly like, including the three featured here:

    [Above photos © Paul Whitelock]

Mid-January found me in San Pedro de Alcántara (Málaga) and Ronda while February featured my garden and a visit from my daughter and two grandsons, as well as a Press Club event in Málaga. 

March was busy too: a live music session at Allioli Bar Y Más in Jimera de Libar; and photos of the murals of Debbie Harry at the Ronda Valley Hotel;

    [© Trip Advisor]                                                                                   [© Quehoteles.com]

The month concluded with photos of the stunning roof terrace of my house in Montejaque.

April kicked in with live music at Allioli Bar Y Más, and photos of signs pointing to places around the world which are important to us. The month also featured pictures of the animals around my house and garden, mainly elephants, seahorses and geckoes, but also teddy bears. The end of April was given over to photos of Spring bursting out all over the garden.

   [All above photos © Paul Whitelock]

May highlighted scenery around Montejaque and a visit to the neolithic caves at Cueva de la Pileta near Benaoján. Also a visit to the coast near Manilva and the fiesta de Ronda Romántica in the Barrio San Francisco in Ronda.

    [video © Canal Sur]                                                           Ronda Romantica [© YouTube]

June's photos were a diary of a visit by my brother Simon and his wife Marilyn. We visited the lake in Montejaque; Tarifa (Cádiz) where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic; Cádiz city; and Arcos de la Frontera (Cádiz). After which we were all ill with food poisoning (no photos of that misfortune!)

    [© Los Viajes de Margalliver]         Cadiz [© Hertz]                                          Arcos de la Frontera [© Turismo de Cadiz]

July started with a concert in Ronda "cathedral" and ended with a trip to England, specifically Stratford (East London) and Hastings (East Sussex), to visit my two children and four grandchildren.

    [© Stratford Cross]                                                    Hastings Old Town [© TA]  Hastings beach [© The Guardian]

August was devoted to the Pueblos Blancos Music Festival in Montejaque with shots of the artistes playing and the villagers having a great time.

September featured tree-felling next-door and little else, while October had publicity shots for Casa Real, more elephants and a gecko.

Early November focused on Autumn flora and fauna, Mijas Costa and patterns in and around Casares Costa.  

December began with photos of interesting pictures taken in Cafetería-Churrería Dólar (Ronda) and then it was off to Germany where we spent the close of the year in Uitersen (Schleswig-Holstein) and Dresden (Saxony) where we got to visit the Bechstein piano shop and museum and got caught up in a huge demonstration by the ultra right-wing AfD party.

    [© Paul Whitelock]                                                                          AfD demo - time to go [© Paul Whitelock]

***

So, I'm pleased with my 2023 album, containing hundreds of photos and full of happy memories of that year.

Links:

Christmas Tour of Deutschland Part 2 – Dresden I

Christmas Tour of Deutschland Part 3 – Dresden II

"Signs of the Times" - Deutsche Version

"Signs of the Times" - English Version

“FRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER”

© Diary of a Nobody

Pictures:

Canal Sur, Hertz, Los Viajes de Margalliver, Paul Whitelock, Quehoteles.com, Stratford Cross, The Guardian, Trip Advisor, Turismo de Cadiz, Wikipedia, YouTube

Thanks:

Paul Whitelock

Tags:

2023, A1 Inmobiliaria, AfD, Allioli Bar Y Mas, Arcos de la Frontera, Barrio San Francisco, Bechstein, Benaojan, Cadiz, Cafeteria Dolar, Canal Sur, Cueva de la Pileta, Diary of a Nobody, Dresden, Hastings, Hertz, Jimera de Libar, Los Viajes de Margalliver, Montejaque, Paul Whitelock, Pueblos Blancos Music Festival, Quehoteles.com, Ronda, San Pedro de Alcantara, Stratford, Stratford Cross, Tarifa, The Guardian, Trip Advisor, Turismo de Cadiz, Uitersen, Wikipedia, YouTube

áéíóú

In a shop? By telephone? Or online?

If in a shop, locally? In the city? Or on the coast?

Unlike in times gone by, the ways to buy stuff in 2026 are many and varied.

[© Barcelo]    

Since Covid-19

Since the lockdowns, going to a shop to shop has declined. At that time we got used to ordering our groceries online or by phone and having them delivered by our local supermarket the same or following day.

My daughter in England, who is in her 40s and a busy career woman and single mum, still orders her main shop from Tesco or Sainsbury's.

[© Tesco]    

In Spain we were allowed to shop for groceries - alone - during lockdown, so I guess there are fewer home deliveries here than in the UK.

Bookshops in Spain were out of bounds, so we turned to Amazon, Goodreads or other similar websites to order our books.

What's more Amazon and its collaborators also sell most things, from water filters to coffee beans, and usually cheaper than in shops. Delivery is often free (eg with Amazon Prime), or very cheap, and quick.

    [© El Cronista]

A personal note - part 1

Over the last few years I've turned to Amazon for a range of products and, until recently, have been pleased with their service. The various delivery drivers know where we live.

All of a sudden Amazon seems to have lost the plot. They've started to not meet deadlines or to not deliver at all. I am currently awaiting two separate products - no delivery and no messages from either Amazon nor the suppliers / delivery company.

    [© Espacio Furgo]

Pros and cons

A personal note - part 2

Where I live in Ronda (Malaga) - pop. 34,000 - certain products are not available or there is insufficient choice. Whilst we have two Mercadonas, a Dia, an Aldi, a LIDL and a Supeco (Carrefour), we don't have a major DIY store like Leroy Merlin or Bauhaus.

So, occasionally it's off to the coast, to Marbella or Malaga.

    [© Leroy Merlin]

This is fraught with complications, eg the distance, fuel costs, delivery charges if the item is too big for the hatchback and returning faulty or unwanted goods.

So, how to shop?

I guess a mixture of approaches.

I enjoy the personal aspects of shopping in a shop, yet I am attracted by online prices and the range of choices available on the coast.

[© Adobe Stock]    

So, I shall continue to do as I do now, although .....

..... I need to sort Amazon out!

© Diary of a Nobody MMXXVI

Pictures:

Adobe Stock, Barcelo, El Cronista, Espacio Furgo, Leroy Merlin, Tesco

Thanks:

Paul Whitelock

Tags:

Adobe Stock, Aldi, Amazon, Barcelo, Bauhaus, bookshop. Carrefour, Covid-19, Dia, Diary of a Nobody, El Cronista, Espacio Furgo, Eye on Spain, Goodreads, Leroy Merlin, LIDL, lockdown, Prime, shop by phone, shop online, Supeco, Tesco, 

One feria ends and another begins. Hard on the heels of the Pueblos Blancos Music Festival at the beginning of August came Culture Week (Semana Cultural) which has just ended. Now it's the turn of the Feria de Agosto, which runs from 14 -16 of August. 

[Photo: © Karl Smallman]    

As I sit in the square sipping coffee I watch as the workers move the stage through 45 degrees to locate it directly in front of the Town Hall (Ayuntamiento).

D & J Sounds, sonido e iluminacion, from Puerto Serrano (Cadiz), are setting up the sound and lighting systems, but I am puzzled as to why the village isn't using a company local to the Montejaque/Ronda area. There are surely enough to choose from.

It's a real to-and-fro with visitors leaving their accommodation after Culture Week; a dumper truck ferrying fridges and beer engines for the temporary bar; locals coming and going; and then the arrival of two trucks belonging to the electric company Instaluz/Serrania Electrica, to see to the power supply and to put up decorations using their cherry pickers.

[© YardLink]    

Will the village be ready on time?

Of course, it's a well-oiled machine.

© Diary of a Nobody MMXXVI

Pictures:

Karl Smallman, Paul Whitelock, YardLink

Thanks:

Paul Whitelock

Tags:

Culture Week, D & J Sounds, feria, Instaluz, Karl Smallman, Montejaque, Pueblos Blancos Music Festival, Ronda, Semana Cultural, Serrania Electrica, YardLink

These letter and number combinations are all models of objects I own or have owned/had use of in the past. Four are cars, one is a pool robot and another is a kitchen appliance.

Austin A40

This was the family car when I passed my driving test aged 17.

So, I got to drive it a bit, although dad was a bit possessive and not keen on me driving at night or when I went out with friends.

Worried I might drink and drive, I guess, although there were no breathalysers in those days.

[Dreamstime]    

Toyota MR2

This tiny sports roadster was ahead of its time.

Discontinued in the 1980s this car briefly became notorious in France, where the pronunciation of MR2 is "emmerdeux" which means "shitty".

Not a great name for a car. Toyota promptly renamed it for the French-speaking market.

[Collecting Cars]    

Mazda MX5

Strictly speaking this was my girlfriend's car, but I got to drive it a lot until we split up after three years.

That was sadly that. The relationship was over ..... 

I mean, I was sad about the car.

[Periodismo del Motor]    

Zodiac MX8

This is the robot vacuum cleaner for the swimming pool that I purchased recently.

It's amazing and fully automatic.

My latest toy. I love it!

[Zodiac]    

Mazda RX8

Of all the cars I've had in nearly six decades of driving, my RX8 was my favourite. A rotary-engined car with suicide doors, I bought it second-hand when it was less than a year old. The lady first owner didn't like it!

I had it for some three years and only sold it because I needed a hatchback to ferry stuff around.

From a Mazda RX8 to a Ford Focus was a bit of a come-down!

[Coches.net]    

Thermomix TM31

This marvellous kitchen appliance does every kitchen task. Manufactured by Vorwerk in Germany and only available new through sales agents, it is a chopper, dicer, mincer, liquidiser and cooker all rolled into one.

My German wife has always had one since she became a "Hausfrau". Her current model is the TM31 which also has a built-in timer. We got it second-hand five years ago from a young Spanish couple who had used it only once.

[Vorwerk]    

I think we only paid 500 euros for it, which is around half the new price.

Rita is thrilled with her TM31 and uses it a lot. I have used it on occasion in the preparation of soups and stews and I am very impressed.

Links:

HOW TO ..... CLEAN YOUR SWIMMING POOL - Eye on Spain

Lost in translation? Marketing cock-ups and brand name howlers - Secret Serrania

© Paul Whitelock

Pictures:

Coches.net, Collecting Cars, Dreamstime, Periodismo del Motor, Vorwerk, Zodiac

Thanks:

Google Images, Paul Whitelock, Vorwerk, Zodiac

Tags:

A40, Austin A40, Coches.net, Collecting Cars, Dreamstime, Eye on Spain, Google Images, How to?, lost in translation,  marketing cock-ups, Mazda MX5, Mazda RX8, MR2, MX5, MX8, Paul Whitelock, Periodismo del Motor, pool robot, RX8, Secret Serrania de Ronda, TM31, Thermomix, Thermomix TM31, Toyota MR2, Vorwerk, Zodiac, Zodiac MX8

There are three Glorias in my life. Gloria 1 is my cousin; Gloria 2 is the landlady of my "local" and Gloria 3 is my eye doctor.

Gloria 1

My cousin is in her mid-80s, is still going quite strong and lives in south Devon, near Newton Abbot.

A retired midwife she delivered 100s of babies in her career. She had one child of her own from her marriage to Mike.

Sadly her son committed suicide when he was in his early 20s.

[cartoon courtesy of Vecteezy]    

Gloria 2

This Gloria is the owner, with her husband David, of the newly re-opened Hotel Don Manuel, my "local" just outside Ronda, down south in Malaga province in Andalucia.

This couple are also the owners of Hotel Virgen de los Reyes in Ronda town centre and have recently formed the G & D Hotels Group.

Gloria and David are young, ambitious and destined to "go places".

[photo: Central de Reservas]    

Gloria 3

Dr Gloria Carretero is the optalmologa of my wife and me. Her practice is in Marbella.

Although I have cataracts encroaching on both my eyeballs, they are not sufficiently bad to need surgery yet!

Rita, on the other hand, had 80% loss of vision in both eyes and needed urgent treatment. She had both pupils lasered out and replaced with new ones. That was in January. Rita now has perfect long sight and only needs glasses for reading.

[with thanks to Shutterstock]    

And, finally .....

There are plenty of other Glorias, eg

Gloria Estefan, the Cuban singer;

Gloria Gaynor, the American singer;

Gloria Hunniford, the Irish TV personality;

and Gloria Steinem, the American feminist.

But, I don't know them .....

[Photo of Gloria Gaynor courtesy of the New York Times]    

© Diary of a Nobody

Pictures:

Central de Reservas, New York Times, Shutterstock, Vecteezy

Thanks:

Google, Paul Whitelock

Tags:

Dr Gloria Carretero, G & D Hotels, Gloria Estefan, Gloria Gaynor, Gloria Hunniford, Gloria Steinem, Hotel Don Manuel, Hotel Virgen de los Reyes, optalmologa, 

The hot weather has continued from May into June, so it looks like the Spanish saying "No quites el sayo hasta el 40 de mayo!" * will not apply this year, as we gave up our "sayos" (woollies) a good week ago.

June is also a busy time for eventos, fiestas and ferias. Take a look:

1-30 June 2026   Programme of cultural activities, Ronda

2 June                   Romeria, Cortes de la Frontera 

2-6 June                X Ronda Guitar Festival

4-14 June              Feria del Libro, Ronda

5-7 June                Fiesta de la Virgen del Prado, Los Prados, near Arriate

5-7 June                 Art Gaucin, Open studios in Gaucin

6-7 June                Fiesta La Indiana, near Ronda

7 June                    "Corpus Cristi" Procession, Ronda 

Until 12 June        Art exhibition "Pinceladas con alma", Ronda

Until 29 June        Photographic exhibition "Tajogaite", Ronda

[Both above images courtesy of Instagram]    

6-13 June              Pope Leo XIV visits Spain (Madrid, Barcelona, Canaries)

7 June                    V Festival "40 de Mayo", Benadalid, near Gaucin

8-11 June              Music recitals: VIII competition for female composers, Ronda

12-13 June           Musical "Moises" by Entre Bambolinas, Ronda

[Facebook]    

A number of events are scheduled for July and August, including:

Pueblos Blancos Music Festival (Montejaque, Ronda, Olvera, Cortes de la Fra., Jimera de Libar)

Verbena del Tren (Benaojan)

and

Feria de San Roque y San Sebastian (Cortes de la Frontera)

[LH Magazin]    

Enjoy!

© Diary of a Nobody

Thanks:

Google, Paul Whitelock, Secret Serrania de Ronda

Pictures:

Instagram, LH Magazin

Tags:

Art Gaucin, Barcelona, Benaojan, Canaries, Cortes de la Frontera, Feria de San Roque y San Sebastian, Gaucin, Google, Instagram, Jimera de Libar, La Indiana, LH Magazin, Madrid, Montejaque, Olvera, Paul Whitelock, Pope Leo XIV, Pueblos Blancos Music Festival, Romeria, Ronda, Secret Serrania de Ronda, Verbena del Tren, X Ronda Guitar Festival

The number 18 is a significant one for most people;

for me it takes on even greater importance.

    [Amazon]

18th Birthday

The first milestone towards adulthood.

You can become a soldier, sailor or airperson and possibly die fighting for your country (or while peace-keeping).

You can marry without the permission of your parents/guardian.

You can legally buy alcoholic drinks in a pub, bar, restaurant or off-licence. (Note: in most states of the USA you may not do this legally until you are 21 - so you can die fighting for your country but you can't have a drink! Doh!)

[BBC]    

You can get a driving licence for a car, if you pass your driving test. In my day it was 17, but they put the age up.

You can vote in elections in the UK. In Spain 18-year-olds have had this right for the first time since 2025.

[eBay UK]    

18 in my life

In addition to the above, the number 18 has other significances.

My birthday falls on the 18th - of May - today, in fact.

I shall be off out to celebrate shortly.

I lost my virginity aged 18.

Not on my birthday - I had to wait until October and university.

I have lived full-time in Spain for 18 years, having moved here in 2008

    [123 RF]

I swam in my pool earlier. The water temperature was a bracing 18 degrees Celsius!

The air temperature at midday was double that - the hottest day so far of 2026 in Andalucia.

More about 18?

18 refers to the number of years a whisky is allowed to mature before release. I spotted an 18-year old single malt whisky in a local wholesalers in Ronda priced at 800-and-something euros a bottle!

***

I'm sure 18 is a significant number in other ways. If anyone has further examples, please add a comment below.

© Diary of a Nobody

Pictures:

123 RF, Amazon, BBC, eBay UK

Thanks:

Paul Whitelock

Tags:

123 RF, 18, 18 degrees Celsius, airperson, Amazon, BBC, buy alcoholic drinks, driving licence, eBay UK, fighting for your country, marry, pool, sailor, single malt whisky, soldier, virginity, vote