I have been walking here in this beautiful place at least 3 times a week during past 5 months and very soon I shall pack my belongings and return home. I wonder, as usual, how it is possible that all this time spent here just vanished in one second? It must be because I love being here? And how it is possible that I didn´t find a moment to update my blog even once? Is it because I´m always busy doing something more important?
Anyway, here I am trying to write something in English though my head is full of Spanish words. Learning this complicated language has become my new hobby and I can see a reasonable improvement since last year. But I have a looong way ahead before I can manage to say what I wish to say and how I would like to say it.
My dogs enjoy being here as well. I haven´t been able to find a place to train obedience but somehow we can survive without it. Instead we walk a lot in the mountains, on beaches and around my favourite lake of Vinuela.
We have also become a part of the family in the little village where we live, or so it feels for me anyway.
I know all the neighbours, dogs and even cats. I have been helping feeding the street cats here and they are not afraid of me anymore. There is one woman here who had opened her heart for unwanted cats and ended up with about 20 of them. It feels so right to be able to support her!
Some of the cats are tame, some of them half wild but they all come out when they see me. Some would like to follow me home but my dogs have shown an absolut lack of hospitality!
The weather has been a bit unpredictable this winter. At least when I compare with last year. We had some very cold periods a bit unusual for Andalusia. I have seen snow on the nearest mountain quite often this year. And now, the whole March has been unusually hot.
March last year was a bit cold and wet, this time we have been swimming every day, the dogs in the lake and I in our pool. Every day the temperature has been well above 20 degrees. Like Swedish summer.
The only thing that worries me is the lack of water. Not only for the plants in my little garden but generally. Since I came here in November it rained a couple of days in middle December and half a day in February. That´s all.
The dogs have been very healthy and balanced all the time. No worries, just pure happiness.
Only lately I noticed Ruda had worms and had to deworm them all earlier than planned. I always do it just before we return home from travelling abroad but I suppose I have to do it once more time this year and keep doing it twice every time we are here.
They all had their Birthdays while being here.
Prima turned 7 in December.
Then Ruda turned 9 in February
And little Brita is now 3 years old!
On our walks we sometimes have company of two chicos living across the street - a chihuahua Bruto and a some kind of Spaniel Roy.
I must say I am impressed by Brutos strong personality and Roys infinite patience with this little guy. The boys sometimes follow us on our walks in the nearest area without their owner.
Well, I could say I made friends among people here and my girls among the dogs but that partially would be a lie. The girls hardly accept them though finally the boys have learned to show a total respect.
I try to convince myself that it will be nice to return to Sweden, resume our normal activities, rejoin the family and old friends back at home. But it is hard to leave all the new friends and places we enjoy so much!
Life is about making choices and it´s never easy.
I will miss the paths around Vinuela, sound of singing birds, nightly frog concerts, ringing bells of grazing goats , the sea waves and SUN!
Everyone says summer in Andalusia is unbearable so we are so lucky to be able to take the best of two different worlds! Lets enjoy beautiful Swedish summer then!
See You soon sunny Andalusia!
