19 June 2009

O Gawd!! Summer in the Frozen North!!


Its only a short while and I´m off to Sweden for a summer holiday. As the temperature there just now is round 12 degrees and in Spain, where I am, it´s well over 30 degrees I think I´m in for a bit of a shock. No idea really what to take in the clothes line. It can change and get really warm but I´m not exactly holding my breath.

It´s Midsummer there today - just about the biggest festival of the year. The Swedish dream is of a lovely sunny day, sitting outside in a beautiful garden eating the traditional herring with new potatoes and strawberries and whipped cream for afters.

Unfortunately, often the only thing whipped is the trees , which are bending over in the wind, lashed with rain. I lived there for 30 years and in all that time, I maybe experienced the dream a handful of times. Normally, even if there isn´t a gale, it´s too nippy to be outside.

Still, I suppose I get enough sun down here in Spain so I have to be positive and think of all the other things that I´ll do there. Seeing friends, mooching about the town where I used to live and appreciating the lovely, totally different scenery.

Yes, actually, it might be quite a nice holiday. But I still think I´d better pack my thermals!

15 June 2009

Que Aproveche!


My Weightwatchers´Discover Plan took a bit of a knocking this weekend. I was doing quite well, going down slowly but surely. Then Pilar Council´s Tourist Department goes and organises a Ruta de la Tapa!

Twenty Seven bars and restaurants in Pilar and the surrounding area are taking part in the initiative and very successful it is proving to be.

For 2 euros you get a tapas and a drink (wine, beer, soft drink). Each establishment offers a traditional tapas and a newly created one. Customers are given a card, which is stamped at each bar and when the card is full, you write which traditional and which new tapas gets your vote as the best one.

The Tapas Route is on next weekend too (19,20,21 June) and when all the stamped cards have been gathered in, a draw takes place and the winning voter gets a prize - a meal, I think, maybe at the winning establishment?

So far I´ve managed 12 out of the 27 bars so next weekend it´s off again. Weightwatchers is on hold for a bit - this opportunity is too good to miss!