Dinner

Dinner worked out great yesterday, but I forgot to take photos :-( mainly because we ate it in about 2 minutes (always a good sign!). We had carrot and coriander salad, quail's eggs and dukkah (ground, cumin, coriander etc), courgette and feta fritters, roast baby potatoes with smoked tomato and garlic dip, and aubergine and yoghurt salad, then baklava and mint tea...yum. Even have some baklava leftover for tea today. The builders coming to wall-mount my microwave today, so that will free up more workspace in the kitchen to prepare yet more yummy food. It's amazing how much more inspired I am to cook nice things when people are coming round than I am for me alone..

Friday

I think I've been sleepwalking?? When I woke up this morning, it was weird as I felt I hadn't been sleeping in my bed all night, like I'd been 'somewhere' else (no, not anywhere otherworldly). Then I looked at the pillow next to me, and found the cushions from the living room there- which I swear hadn't been there the night before! (I never take cushions from the living room into the bedroom). Weird. I also have tendonitis, despite not being a footballer or a skier- perhaps in my case it's caused by lack of movement rather than vigourous activity. I'm having some friends round for food tonight, so I'll try and take some arty (non-kebab shop type) photos of whatever I make and post them here.

Flowers

By the way, the beautiful flowers pictured a couple of posts down have died! I killed them somehow! Still, with my new fantabulous retro-style watering can and spray, I'm going to become a gardening goddess!

May drawing to a close...

...and the weather is miserable and rainy, so odd for May. Maybe it's because I said I didn't want sunshine until I was better??!! I haven't written in a while 'cause I'm ashamed to say I've been feeling a little sorry for myself. Yes, I know I haven't had a stroke, or anything life-threatening, but my facial immobility is kind of getting me down. I'm really grateful that I've been able to work from home, as it's provided some distraction from this nightmare. I promise to cheer up soon.

Another bank holiday

Today is 'San Isidro' so everything in Madrid is shut. Yesterday had an impromptu gathering at mine with Kate, Carlos, Sophie and Fabian.... Nice company. A certain builder also made an unannounced arrival, but thankfully didn't stay too long! Spent all of yesterday working, and might do a little more today... God this is boring! I want to be better and out and about.

House proud

It's been a low-key weekend so far. Walks, cups of tea, 'pottering'... The weather is awful, which I'm secretly happy about- as I don't wan't to miss on the balmy summer evenings, and I feel that the BP does make me miss out somehow... I don't enjoy things quite as much. Carlos and Christina came round for tea and snacks last night, they bought a lovely plant (not sure what it is, some kind of Begonia? Really I'm useless with these things) here it is anyway...

When I woke up this morning and went out onto the balcony to see how many drunks there were left over passed out from the night's shennanigans (spelling?) I got a nice surprise. A group of people were setting up flower stalls and hanging bunting on my street. Perhaps it's something to do with the upcoming San Isidro festival on the 15th?

When people come round (like last night) it's a great excuse to tidy up and take some photos of the house- which is just what I did yesterday, so here they are...

I confess to not tidying the kitchen in case you're wondering why it's covered with junk.

I've included this next one because I'm disproportionatly proud of this gingham velro-on cover I made for the storage cubby. I'm easily pleased...

Thr only positive thing about being under the weather is that people buy you flowers :-) I bought these myself though!!

My flat, like most people is far more photogenic at twilight...

Tuesday at home

Has been a stressful day considering I'm not at work. Had a 'refresher' driving lesson at 8.45- I'll need to get used to driving for my new job- a nightmare after a 5 year break + driving on the right + crazy Madrid drivers! At least the instructor is very calm an patient. Then had the builders in as the neighbours shower has been leaking into my bedroom. Now the (worryingly handsome) physiotherapist is coming round to make me do ridiculuously embarrassing facial exercises. And, breath.... ahhhhhhhh.

Saturday craft

Made some pretty corsages for my friends. You all know what you're getting for Christmas :-)

Bank holiday

Well it's bank holiday weekend in Madrid, so four days off work for everyone. The plan had been to go to a 'casa rural', or country house, with a few friends, but I didn't really feel like it with Bell's Palsy. So we decided to keep it local instead. Yesterday we went to see some contemporary dance-then ruined the cultural vein of the evening by going to what was possibly the most unpleasant burger king in the world! Today went to a village near Madrid-Chinchon- for a lovely roast lamb lunch on a terrace with views of the picturesque town square. Tomorrow we're going to Ikea, where I hope to pick up some things to finish off the bathroom.

Here's a photo of Chinchon, and of the flat now that it's starting to look decent...

Kate, Chris, Faith and Catherine.

The living room.

View from the balcony.