Last week I promised to let you know if scrunching up newspaper and placing it in a smelly plastic container would get rid of those horrible smells. Well... it did somewhat, but not completely. At least the newspaper smelled like the plastic after a couple of days. I added vinegar and let the container sit for a while before washing it again. In the end, I put some food scraps in it and threw it away. So that's my white lie! I didn't try anything else and just threw it away.
You never know if something is going to work until you try it. Here's one that I know works. It's one I forgot to mention last week since I was obsessed with the plastic container. To view your photos on Google +, it's not necessary to go to your Google page. Type in https://photos.google.com and it takes you directly to your photos. My friend Terri shared some hacks on facebook the other day, and one of them was storing a tub of cottage cheese upside down in the fridge to keep it longer. I said that wouldn't be useful for me, because I could eat the whole tub in one sitting. I love cottage cheese that much. It's something that I've loved since I was little, and it's something whose taste or size hasn't changed.
Yesterday was one of the best days we've had this summer. I went out at a time that I don't usually if I can help it. You know what they say about mad dogs and Englishmen. I had looked up the times and places that the Town Council comes around to collect items like used or old oil, used printer cartridges, mobile phones, etc. I saw that they would be at the bullring on Tuesday between 1.30 and 3 pm and a few more places within walking distance. One of the places was on the corner of a park near my house - the one that Zara and I used to go to. Okay I was looking at a PDF file, but it said the van would be there between 12.00 and 1.30, so I went out at about 12.30. I saw nothing that looked like a van where I could leave what I'd chosen to get rid of. According to the file, they didn't operate in August, but it's still July, isn't it? This is the photo I took last night at about 9.30 pm when I went out to throw away some more paper. It was the first time we'd seen clouds for quite a while. You could tell the weather was nice because all the benches were occupied, and the outdoor cafés were full.
Speaking of outdoor cafés, I suppose I'll meet up with friends Chris and Cathy tomorrow at the one round the corner since they've installed a cooling system. I don't know if you have this system in your outdoor cafés. A lot of the bars and restaurants here have installed them where a mist of cool water shoots out and brings down the temperature. Then in the winter the bars have heaters for those who want to sit out, especially smokers.
Enough for this week. Hope everyone has had a good weekend and a good new week ahead.
If only I'd known this before! I don't know if this works, but it's worth a try. It's too late for my laptop as it's on its second battery which doesn't hold a charge for very long now, so the computer is always connected. I do this sometimes with my ipad, but don't know if it works. I do know that if you charge Apple products in airplane mode, they charge quicker.
I forgot the 'before' photo on this plastic container (called 'tupper' here in Spain). Okay, I don't need more plastic containers, but I don't like throwing them out if they can be used again. The 'before' photo would have shown a big sticky label. You know one of those that could be soaked and scraped for a week, and you'd still have globs of glue on it. I removed as much of the paper as possible and then covered the label with my homemade Goo Gone (an oil and baking soda paste), leaving it on overnight. The next morning I wiped off the paste and washed the container. Now there's another problem. The container still smells like what was in it before. Here's the solution:
Place wadded up newspaper inside and leave overnight. Although it did smell better this morning, I think I'll leave it another night. If that fails to get the smell out, I'll try something different. After all this effort, I'm not throwing it away!
What takes zero effort on my part is reading. I've spent a good deal of my life doing that ever since I learned how to. These are two of the books that I've reviewed on goodreads and given 5 stars to.
Margeret's Ark by Daniel G. Keohane is about a woman named Margaret and many others like her who have dreams in which they are instructed by angels to build arks; each ark is to hold 30 people and no animals, and the instructions as to where and how the arks are to be constructed are very precise as is the date the arks are to be finished. Yes, Margaret is a religious person, but don't be fooled in thinking it's only about religion or you have to be a believer. Even an atheist has a heart I hope.
All the Dancing Birds by Auburn McCanta is about a woman who finds herself the victim of alzheimer's in her late 50's. Whether it's a sad movie or story, I tend to cry and I did in this book. Alzheimer's is an evil sad disease that always causes pain for both the sufferers and their families Even though you don't know these people personally, you feel for them.
What impressed me about the writings of these two authors is that this is the first novel for both, and, in my humble opinion, the two are well written. The main characters in both novels are widows too. I'll be looking forward to reading more from these two writers.
Speaking of arks, I've seen a funny caption with two cats that says something like: Noah called and he's picking us up. Another one with a skeleton looking out the window that says: Waiting for the rain to stop. We have the same old story here with extremely high temperatures, only I keep my shades pulled down. The other night, a friend who is going through menopause said she could no longer go to places without air conditioning. I must remember to tell her to keep a light jacket with her at all times when they go to the US this September. I freeze in places there, especially restaurants and supermarkets.
Hope everyone has had a good week despite the weather and the coming week is just as good. Until next time.
The other day I was reading a fun little blog called The Square Peg. The theme of that day's post was terrorists, and not perhaps the kind that you may be associating with the word 'terrorist'. In the author's story (and he is a professional writer), the terrorists were a couple of mockingbirds that were attacking people and this my friends was the 'breaking news' he was watching on his local channel until the signal was lost, which was too bad as by then there was an alligator moving up behind the reporter. A dangerous place to live I fear!
Before I get to the point of 'my story', let me say how much I enjoy S. Stoner Bradley's 'The Square Peg'. The posts are lol's. Anyway before reading about the mockingbirds, my story is that I'd just got an e-mail from the embassy saying they'd raised the threat level to 'high', which is not surprising after the recent attacks on France, Tunisia, Kuwait and Somalia. Also earlier I'd read a joke about a squirrel that attacked a motorcyclist. Of course, the title I've given this post also refers to the weather. It's best not to look at the daily 100º + temperatures in store for us continuing, I guess, as long as we don't get anything, like a storm or air from Norway or somewhere similar, to cool things down. I don't know what you think, but I think these are a lot of coincidences, and don't pay any attention when I say not to look at the temperatures all the time, because I do. Last night my phone said we had electrical storms in the area. They must have been silent and invisible, and there was certainly no rain to be seen, only cloud cover.
What else is orange? Well, the gazpacho and the sauce from the meatballs I had yesterday at the restaurant I go to with friends. I stopped by on Tuesday morning to order the meatballs. You know this is the place that some of us have been going to for years. The new people who have taken the place over after the owners retired will surely do well if they continue treating their customers as well as we've been treated. By the way, if you've seen the photo of gazpacho on my facebook page, mine usually comes out red and not orange.
In my last post, I mentioned weighing the necklace I got. With the chain, it weighs almost half a pound. I say almost, because my kitchen scales are in grams.
That about does it for today. Hope everyone's 4th of July weekend has been good. Have a good week.
Summer begins in earnest. As I begin writing this, it's 99 ºF but that feels like 108º F. My phone says that in my area we have 11% humidity, and that's the only saving grace. I think later on I'll go out and fry a couple of eggs - only joking. I'd have to put on some clothes to do that. My friend Jenny always says what weather they have in New York we get a couple of weeks later. Sure hope she's right, because I've heard some folks are getting temperatures in the 80's. I'm staying in until the sun goes down today that's for sure!
Yesterday I joined the end of term celebration of my old institute in the centre and prepared myself as best I could against the heat. I took a frozen bottle of water and sprayed my body with sunblock. Unfortunately, I forgot my fan. We were going to our favourite Mexican restaurant, but Penny said she'd seen a new Mexican restaurant in a square two minutes' walk from the institute, so we decided to try that. Honestly, I don't think we could have made it to the other restaurant without a few pit stops on the way to cool down. The food was spicier than the dishes we have in the other Mexican but was good too.
On Wednesday evening, I went to a party given by the mothers of my classes for me. All of the kids were there, except one who was studying for his university exams, and one of the dads came too. The food was delicious and plentiful - not much remained though. I might add that we ate out on the patio, because on Wednesday the heat was still bearable. Here's the lovely present I received from them, and is it ever heavy!
Not only is the stone big and heavy but so is the chain. I was going to weigh it on my kitchen scales. When I do, I'll post how much it weighs.There's an animal on the chain. I understood Cielo to say it was a cat, but looking at it I think it's some kind of reptile.
And here are a couple of black and white photos. This first one I've shared before, but have recently made a copy of it and put it in a frame for my friend Chris. It's of our old language institute that was founded in 1949, but the actual photo is from the 1950's. It's part of the pack and album of old photos I came across when I was helping to clean out the institute a couple of years ago.
The last one is from the now longest street in Madrid, Alcalá, from 1886. This was before the Gran Via, or Madrid's Fifth Avenue, was built.
I think I'd best do some clearing out of my bedroom at least, so I'm going to get to work after wishing everyone a good week.
I'm one of those people who love trivia. Although I'm not a gamer, I've always enjoyed Trivial Pursuit. The other day I learned which was the shortest street in Madrid, and it's not this one. This is the longest - Alcalá Street, and this I've known for a long time.
The photo was taken nearly 5 years ago by my nephew when he came to visit. This was the year that Spain won the Soccer World Cup, but let's leave all the FIFA scandals out of this. Actually the building in the photo is located at number 39 of Alcalá, I think, and, on the right, a bit of the Alcalá Gate can be seen. I'm not exactly sure how many numbers the street has, as part of it used to be called Aragón Avenue. It must have 500 and then some, because I live near something like number 211 of Alcalá.
And here's the shortest street - about 20 metres in length:
It's called 'lance breaker' in English, and is on the corner of one of the most commercial streets in the Puerta del Sol area. There are lots of funny names for streets like Globe or Ball Street, Fish Street, etc. Again Rompelanzas is near our old institute that now has an updated version of the same institute in one of the same buildings.
Today I can say that I've done almost nothing. Later on, I'll probably be sifting through more books, papers and things to get rid of. Yesterday I went to a crafts fair in the home of one of the two-beez. Look at the lovely awning, made from scarves, that they put together to keep the garage cooler.
This photo was taken just as they were getting ready to open to the public. I went before anyone else showed up, because I knew later on in the day it would be blazing hot. It was and is even hotter today. Summer has returned to stay I suppose. That means gazpacho weather for me.
Here's something I bought. Can you guess what it is, besides a champagne cork?
So this is the long and short of it for this week. Happy Father's Day and also a happy week for everyone.
Since Thursday when Madrid and much of Spain had more rain in a short period of time than the drains could handle and lots of flooding, it's been cool in Madrid. Okay, it's afternoon and although I'm not dressed for the street, I am wearing long sleeves and enjoying the cooler temperatures while we have them. We'll soon be hot again.
At the end of May there were elections in the Community of Madrid. This building, usually referred to as the Telecommunications Palace, is the Town Hall. It's only been that since 2007. When I came to Spain, it was the central post office.
One of the candidates who actually received more votes than the woman who will be the new mayor (because of a pact with another political party) said she wouldn't use this building as the Town Hall. Madrid has another building that was used for the Town Hall until somebody in Government decided to change it for this magnificent location. Can you imagine how much money it must take to run?
Somebody said that one of the ex-mayors even had a secret apartment in the palace. I don't know whether that's true. Anyway, the building was constructed in the early 20th Century and finished round the same time as my humble block of flats.
The Telecommunications Palace
Curiously the building used by the President of the Community of Madrid (not to be confused with the President of Spain) is also a former post office. It was built in the latter part of the 18th C and is located in what is traditionally called the centre of Madrid, the Puerta del Sol.
Outside this building in the street is the marker for 'Kilometre 0' from which distances are measured in Spain. Everyone at one time or another has stood on Km 0. The clock you see is the one that rings in the new year for the people of Madrid. The Puerta del Sol is the place I always swear not to visit ever again at Christmas, and is where my old institute was located. However, I usually worked in the one near where I live - round the corner really from my house.
The Royal House of Post
That's my history lesson for this week, and I did it without a lot of political references. Politics makes people angry and friends enemies, so it's a subject I try to avoid. Now onto present history.
Last night I went to a housewarming party for our friend Eirian and her husband. We had a lovely time and too much to eat. Cathy and I had similar ideas. I made an onion dip and took chips and Cathy took sour cream and onion chips. Both of us took wine. Chris was the practical one. She took a present for the house in the form of glazed clay cooking dishes. When we left, Eirian gave me enough pasta salad for two meals. Incidentally, housewarming parties are not traditional in Spain.
And on this note, here's where I finish up another week. Hope everyone's weekend has been a pleasant one and hope your next week goes well.
And so summer begins unofficially! It just couldn't wait until the 40th of May! I assume that means we're in for a hot time. My place is still relatively cool no thanks to me. I opened all the windows too early last night hoping some nice cool breezes would come through like they did the night before. I wasn't worried about the noise from people in the street after the bullfights, because I wasn't watching TV or trying to concentrate or sleep. Sleep is something I can do with the windows closed or after everyone finally decides to go home. Anyway, I can't believe how much hot air came in the little time I had the windows open. I'll bet the street was cooler with my windows open though.
Yesterday was our monthly get together, but some of us will be going to one of our friends' house for a housewarming party next weekend. This was my first time in the new old place where we almost always go for our lunches. I don't know if you remember that the family that owns and operates the bar decided to retire and rent it out. The food was nice and well-presented - a bit more expensive mind you. The service was good, maybe since we were the only ones in the restaurant part. I took a photo of my main course which was lamb chops with fries and padrón peppers. Padrón peppers are small peppers and every so often you'll get one that's hot. I didn't this time. I think one of the peppers looks like a mouse's tail peaking out from under the chops. For starters we had either salad or gazpacho. Gazpacho for me is a staple in hot weather, so that was my choice. We were told to put in requests for what we'd like to eat in future, so I'll be the one to stop by and tell them. After all, I live just round the corner.
True to my promise, I went this morning to give one of my students a preparation class for his school exam. I couldn't believe how much English he spoke without me saying 'In English, please!' I hope he does okay on the exam. The material and vocabulary isn't too difficult. Poor kid was scratching the whole time. He had mosquito bites everywhere and made me itch too out of sympathy I hope.
Other than stay out of the heat, go out with friends and the usual things we have to do, I've been sorting out teaching material that is useful and throwing out lots of old stuff. I took a few things to the paper bank when I went out this morning. I may sort through a few more things today, but will hold off throwing them away until tomorrow. All the motorcycles parked obstructing the containers makes it difficult to throw away glass and paper. Thankfully today is the last day of daily bullfights. There will still be some and concerts and other noisemakers in the bullring. The bullring, for your information, is where the Beatles performed their first concert in Madrid. AC/DC gave two concerts here last week, but not in the bullring, of course.
That about does it for me. Hope everyone has had a good first week of June. Enjoy the second week too.
