Paradise Found II
Sunday, August 8, 2021 @ 6:08 AM
Pablo de Ronda thought he knew the area where he has lived for the last 12 years well. You must be joking! The other day he went somewhere he’d never been before. And it’s right on his doorstep in La Indiana, a pedanía of Ronda!
I was in paradise again, for the second time this year. I went with my pal José to get some fresh free-range eggs from his friend Manuel, who lives in a tumble-down finca up a track near Benaoján. What a quiet and beautiful spot!
Then we went to another nearby finca, also set in stunning countryside, to pick up some lawnmowers for my neighbour and friend Julian, who runs the delightful Cortijo La Perla Blanca hotel on the same site as up-and-coming winery Badman Wines and adjacent to my casa rural Villa Indiana.
By lawnmowers I mean lambs, of course. Julian decided that rather than buy an expensive lawn mower – he has lots of lawn – that he would have to push or ride, he would save four lambs from the dinner tables of the Ronda rich by getting them in as ecological gardening equipment.
He also needed 24 straw bales to build his flock a shelter. Because I’m quite well enchufado I was able to organise this within no time. Ellie and Ben, Julian’s children, and wife Jody are delighted.
Interesting that they have moved from the urban impresario life of Leeds, England, to little old Fuente de la Higuera, another pedanía, to become hoteliers and … sheep farmers?
I am currently helping them to obtain the permiso they need from the Junta de Andalucía to operate as owners of livestock!