January Edition

Hello all... My blog this month is a little more varied but none the less about our activities here, good and bad!!

SHAVING

In the winter of 1975 I took it upon myself to grow a beard, which after a period of mostly adverse comments on the ginger growth, I shaved off later in the year. The experience of having a beard highlighted so many disadvantages in having one, for example “beardruff”, spots I had only had as a teenager, an inability to eat certain foods without having to wash my face immediately afterwards and also the plethora of unwanted “amusing” comments said of me and my beard.
I was , up until the growing of the ginger (well more reddish) face fungus, a diligent and ritualistic shaver, having almost never missed a days shaving in my shaving life. I think that the mere thought of missing a shave in the army was too terrible to consider. So I shaved day in and day out until the growing period, seeking as I do today, the perfect smooth and baby skinned face after each shave as I can possibly achieve. I have spent a fortune on shave creams, foams, gels and soaps together with every new invention in the shaving world I can think of from one bladed “safety razors” (don't tell me you couldn't cut your throat with one of those little beauties) through to today's four and five bladed (with trimming blade) battery assisted monsters that cost you an arm and a leg today. Let's NOT forget the array other electrical devices I have used but that have failed to win me over from the good old wet shave.
Right, why all this talk of shaving and what's it got to do with Ibiza?
Well, I have not shaved for the past week and now have a rather odd mixture of grey, red and fairish hair now almost matching the rather sharp haircut Val gave me last weekend. “It's strange” she observed “that the hair on your face grows so much faster than that on your head” - I made and make no comment on this observation other than perhaps a slight sigh and a well placed fear of the hair clippers she wields with such abandon!
I will see how long I can go without shaving and see just how well developed this growth on my face becomes..... No photographs will be provided.

PETS

There is a seriously large dog population here in Ibiza (as I have moaned about and apologised for in an earlier blog) but not that many pet shops that I can see. Those pet shops I have seen are rather like those we used to have back in the old days with pets in the window etc. So when passing one recently I couldn't help but wonder what the sleeping animal was in a cage in the window. On closer inspection and being unable to determine from the notice on the cage, other than do not feed or touch, I am certain it was a skunk!!! I have not been back to check. This brings me back to the subject of my grandfather who once, when I thought he was shaving, turned out to be cleaning the pet budgies cage out in the kitchen sink. He did this with great diligence, replacing the sand and grit and disinfecting the whole cage at the same time. It was while he was rinsing a part of the cage that I was stunned to see that “Bobby” the budgie was in his hand and was being vigorously rinsed under the running cold water tap but despite much squawking from him (the budgie that is) he was returned to his cage apparently none the worse for wear. I am sure he lived on for a good number of years after this rather unorthodox cleaning treatment. Despite my desire for a very macho tomcat or a perky little terrier while we are here I'm afraid there wont be pets in our household at any time in the future.

OUR CAR

Our new ( well 2004) Peugeot 204 is sitting out there and so far so good, no problems with it. We have got the various papers and its ITV (MOT to you) until 2009. There is only one problem, the boot wont lock but this is due to be sorted out next week.... Val will take to the road shortly as she has not driven since we left the UK. It's very quiet here on a Sunday so I expect we will be out and about as soon as the chance arises for her introduction to the Spanish road systems.

THE MOVE

At last, we are ready to move and have been getting quotes for the event. However having discovered that the removal company wants to take 2 days (to move us 20 minutes down the main road) and want to charge us 1300€ we said no thanks. So it was back to my old mate Manel who has a van (brand spanking new one) that will do the job for a fraction of the cost. However it will take me three days and I will have to take bed rest for a week! I think it's worth it though as Alix is seeing if she can find a willing helper who will do some of the really heavy lifting for me. On the 15th we get the keys and shift some of the furniture that is already in the house into the garage then on the 16th we will start to move our stuff in, with it all being completed by the 18th (I hope!). This will leave us the 19th to make sure we have left things as we found them when we came here to the apartment. We will be glad to be out of here before the holiday makers arrive to shatter the peace and tranquillity of the apartment block “Bossa Beach”