Hi All. We are both having a good time at present. The MVC performed to a packed house at the very up-market Paradour Hotel in Javea on Wednesday, we have the private view of the art exhibition at the Art House at Benidoleig tonight, and a concert in a massive shopping centre tomorrow. On Sunday we are attending a classical concert at the Fisherman’s church in Javea which is an amazing building with great acoustics, then out to dinner with friends. Tuesday is a charity concert at El Verger. It will be good to see Ann and Alun Price, who have been back in Wales for a month, again. Alun may be very terse and dressed all in black after Wales play South Africa on Saturday, but the baritones will be pleased to have him back.
Good to chat to Simon Hillyard on the phone last night. Looks like an exciting year coming up for them, and I hope they can make it out to Spain to see us in February.
After a ridiculously warm few weeks the weather has now changed, with strong winds and temperatures down to ten or eleven at night, but still only a smattering of rain which gets dried off the surface before it can do any good. Crops of all major agricultural products have been halved or worse. The grapes were tiny, and the oranges and lemons didn’t set properly, so the crop will be terrible. Almonds which are a staple of the local turron industry have doubled in price because there is such a shortage, and fruit and veg are more expensive at the market. Another year of drought would be a complete catastrophe.
I loved reading in the English press that Prime Minister Rajoy is claiming that Spanish politicians are not corrupt. There can never have been a more venal, immoral and self-serving bunch of bandits in power anywhere since around the fall of the Roman Empire. The Spanish people seem to have reached the point where they shrug their shoulders, give a rueful grin and get on with life but stories emerge every day of expats who have been rolled over for their entire life savings by local mayors, planning officers, party representatives and councillors. The longer we are here the more we think that buying is simply not a sensible option, but there is no doubt that we both feel better and are thoroughly enjoying being here. All the best, Andy.
ann and andy lawrenson 