Two Useful Things

I find myself so often telling people about the Humana shops, that I thought I?d put up the information here for everyone.  Humana is a chain of charity shops selling second-hand clothes.  Not half as nice and interesting as the charity shops that line our High Streets in the UK, but if you like browsing and are patient, you really can find some fantastic bargains.

How To Get Up A Catalan’s Nose

Welcome to 2009. Happy New Year. Feliz A?o. Bon any.

Last June Theresa and I published an article at Expatica.com called Ten Things To Know Before Moving To Spain, based on material from our book In The Garlic. And like the book, it was intended to be both informative and fun.  We never dreamt it would arouse a storm of controversy.

Cheap Thrills

One of my favourite activities is browsing charity and junk shops - it?s so relaxing after being desk-bound all day. And bargain-buying is really a sort of addiction. 

The Steam Of Warm Honey

?All the houses in Jijona smelt of the steam of warm honey,? wrote Francisco Mart?nez Monti?o, chef to Felipe II, in his book ?Conduchos de Navidad? published in 1585.

Turr?n Or Not Turr?n

Thank god for turr?n (torr? in Catalan).  When you?re spending Christmas and New Year frantically slaving in a kitchen that feels like a blast furnace,  at least you can forget about whizzing up puddings and desserts for days or even weeks.