Fiestas in Jesus Pobre - Take 2!

Day 4 - Monday 5th June (More pictures HERE)

We were woken, early, to sounds resembling the start of World War 3 - this was supposed to be the religious day!

The church in Jesus Pobre is located behind my housing complex. Anything parading into town from there will inevitably go past our house. This was to be the case today as a piper and a drummer led a two man procession along the main road. Followed inevitably by a fire storm lasting for about five minutes. No chance of a lie in this day!

At about lunchtime a procession of the village folk, all dressed in their Sunday best passed along the road to the church. They were accompanied by the band as the bells rang out around the village.

It turned out to be a busy day for the band. They were called into action during the early evening as the whole village came out to watch the procession of the Holy Jesus through the streets. By chance the procession walked past my house and gave me the chance to take some areal photos. We then hot footed it round to the village centre and capture some more.

Having lived in the village for over a year I recognised many in the procession and of course all the regulars from the bars - everyone was out to see this event. It all ended at about 10.30pm with a firework display, immediately opposite our house. The top terrace made a great vantage point.  Suddenly you begin to realise what the Fiestas are all about!

Day 5 - Tuesday 6th June (More pictures HERE)

More firecrackers announced the start of a new day, the day people in the village would hook up with those born on the same year, another opportunity for a day on the drink then!

In the afternoon we came across several groups of people gathering around the Riurau accompanied by the same jazzy band which had led the fancy dress parade on the Saturday. There was also a shopping trolley laden down with drinks, well, you never know when your going to get thirsty!

I noticed that people were gathering, drinking and dancing in separate groups. All the groups were wearing different coloured t shirts and each group had a differing date printed on it. So, that's how they do it, what a great tradition. Sadly there were very few, if any, displaying my birth year.

In the evening we decided to have a walk into the centre of the village to check out how all these different age group gangs spend the Tuesday evening of the Fiesta. What met us was a full blown Ibiza style rave/dance night - whatever you want to call it. The locals were enjoying it to the max. So, I've worked it out. You get a group of your peers, design a T Shirt with your birth year printed on it, parade round the town in the afternoon getting drunk, possibly have a meal with all your age group then party on into the night in the village square. No driving to worry about and a short stagger home - result!

These people know how to party and I suspect many were going strong into the early hours.We would've loved to have stayed but work was calling for us the next day. I now appreciate why most of the locals take the full week off.

More Pictures of these two days can be found - HERE

Our first ever Fiesta in Jesus Pobre! "Does that make us virgins?"

This time last year Lynn and me had been in the village approximately a week. We'd missed the Fiesta's however, they'd been on in the middle of May. With Easter being a bit later this time around they've fallen on this first week of June and has given us a chance to soak up this annual music, drink and culture fest - will our livers last the course?

It all started on Thursday 1st June. Not officially though, this was the night of the village decoration, a chance for streets to compete with each other for the best design concept and obviously an opportunity to start where we meant to continue; in the local bars.

On the Friday evening the party got into full swing. Of course, with these Fiesta's all having a religious theme a parade from the village church through the streets, accompanied by the local band heralded the beginning. The whole village was out on the streets to hear the inauguration speech then it was into the bars to meet up with friends and family - a gentle bedding in.

On Saturday afternoon things began to hot up. That's the atmosphere and the weather. A free bar and

tapas was going strong in the middle of the village outside the Casa De Culture. It was manned by the committee or Festeros as they are known. They fund-raise all year round to put on this week of celebrations by organising events in the village. There were also street vendors selling toys, leather goods, food and a darts game - all the fun of the fair!

After a few beers in the local bar (The free beer area was getting very busy) we headed home for a siesta. Well, it was going to be a long night. At 6.30pm (okay about 7.30pm Spanish time) a fancy dress parade got underway through the streets. Sadly there weren't as many floats as in previous years but those that entered made a great effort..

The winning float was designed by a group of thirty somethings from the village. They all had children and thought of using the movie Up as their theme. Dancing girls! Ibiza style ravers and camouflaged hunters were also in attendance as well a a beach themed group. Orange shirted bandsmen played funky jazz and salsa as they slowly made their way through the narrow streets of the village. Sweets and confetti causing all the children to dive into the road to gather it all up.

 With the parade over it was back into the bars for the main event of the evening. Well, that's if you're

a Real Madrid fan. We met up with friends in Casa Rosita. the main Real Madrid bar in the village. It was heaving with supporters and the restaurant was also doing a roaring trade. This was the same for Bar Pedro over the road.

It was fitting, the final on the first weekend of the Fiestas, a great excuse for the village to wander the streets and choose their bar of choice to watch it. The game lived up to the pre-match hype as the Spanish side turned the heat up on their Italian rivals. A 4-1 scoreline ensuring the firecrackers would be exploding all night.

There was still the matter of live music at midnight, but not for us. We thought we'd leave the music

to the youngsters - you need more beauty sleep at our age.

The following morning we headed for the weekly market, temporarily housed in the square outside the village council building. The normal venue,The Rihrau was the setting for a band concert and was packed out. What a lovely way to start a Sunday morning.

The local bars were all doing a brisk mid-morning trade as villagers prepared for another free sponsored bar at 2pm.We decided to give this one a miss. It's going to be a long week ahead, and, as an ex-pub landlord, I was aware of the need to pace myself. One thing is for sure though, these Fiestas are a different thing altogether!

Check out more photo's from the first weekend of Fiestas 2017 here

My Quiznite moves on - to the Arenal

Calling all quizzers in the Javea area!

The Thursday night quiz I hosted in Bar Rosita's in Jesus Pobre has a new night and a new venue. Trev and Julie the amiable hosts of Sandra's Bar on Javea's Arenal have booked me to present fortnightly on a Tuesday night from 8pm.

Working closely in partnership are Scottsdale Overseas - independent financial advisors who have generously offered to sponsor the night and to facilitate a free prize draw.

The quiz will follow a tried and tested format after ten years of my hosting the regular Thursday night quiz in the York Hotel Morecambe. The emphasis being on fun!

Of course there will be a competitive element and the 2 euro cover charge will be used to develop a cash prize pot. But please, no Googling!

I'll also be spinning the soul grooves in the interval and at the end of the quiz - an extra bonus for all you soul fans out there.

So, grab a team of four, put on your thinking caps and show the world how smart you all are - okay, how much you thought you knew! 

Please click on Sandra's Bar and Scottsdale's logos on the right of this post to show your support.

Message Home - via the local evening newspaper.

A chance to read the article I submitted to the Lancashire Evening Post - Here Published on Saturday 25th Feb 2017.

The Montgo - a photographic homage!

"If you love the Montgo - You'll love this!" A quote I used on Facebook to announce the exhibition of photographs currently on display in Casa Del Cable (The Cable House) in Javea Port. A visit to a stuffy old art gallery it isn't!

Jake and Jean

Jake Abbott and Jean Felche have been capturing, on film, the Montgo feature and the surrounding National Park since 2011. A personal project and, as it has developed, a "labour of love." Not only have they photographed the feature every season but almost every day.

Their endeavours have rewarded them, and us with several high quality calendars depicting the Montgo through the months, the seasons and the years - a truly fluid depiction of a beautiful landscape.

The exhibition represents a sheer respect for the Montgo and they invite you to do feel the same towards what they quote as being an "incomparable natural monument." They certainly have reproduced and reflected many parts of its immense beauty. They effectively pay immense respects by showcasing their first twelve images that made up their first calendar.

It's poetic in a way that the exhibition is housed in the Cable House. One of the stunning pictures was taken from a boat out on the sea - a stone's throw from the building. Jake has managed to capture the moment the waves rise above the boat and all that can be seen above it is the top of the Montgo. Surely a view those marine cable layers would have seen in 1860?

Casa Del Cable

The exhibition takes up both floors of this 19th century building, a restoration project the Javea town council should be proud of. As I wandered around I checked out some of the old telecommunications artefacts. Well, I was in that industry for years!

Come along and see for yourselves. The exhibition runs until 13th February 2017 but if you miss it why not visit their studio in Denia on Calle Mejor 11 or visit their website at www.pelutipelat.com Got your own special photo of the Montgo? They can provide a picture framing service.

Check out four stunning views of the Montgo - Here

Javea documentary video

Click on the box below to access an informative video about Javea. It's a must watch if you're considering moving to Spain or just looking for an ideal holiday destination for next summer. Check out a selection of screen grabs below of Total FM's contribution to the video.

Not in the video but a great sunrise over The Med

Chris and Wendy Williams - Owners of Total FM

 

My colleague, Stu Forsyth presenting his Midday Madness Show

Colin Harkness prepares his Fine Wine and Dine Show in the background

Two months off! Now back to the blogging.(Time to catch up)

Hello and welcome back to Costa Del Blogga. I know it's been over two months and these pages have been lying dormant but I feel it's now time to get back to business. Especially since I've not actually been lazing around doing nothing.

Giving it large on Total FM

You may have noticed my last blog post was on the subject of soul music and the start of my new venture as a radio presenter. Well, I'm now on show number twelve and enjoying every minute of it and I've also secured the Saturday afternoon sports show spot - busy lad!

Add to the above the fact I've managed to get bookings for DJ shows in and around the Javea area, it looks as though I've not quite escaped the hospitality trade yet. But did anyone ever think I would?

Another venture I've managed to secure is a go at teaching English as a second language at Lady Elizabeth (Primary) School in Benitaxell, about a fifteen minute drive from where I live. It's basically a Saturday morning job and do you know what? I'm really enjoying it. See, multi-talented after all.

Lynn hasn't been slouching around whilst I look for work. She volunteers in the library of the LES secondary school and house sits the school's boarding villa when the regular staff are away.
All of this frantic activity is allowing us both to network and get our faces seen in the area - vital for any ex-pat who is not yet ready to put their feet up and lay by the pool all day sipping a sangria.

Splashing about in the Med - on Halloween!

A lot of the time it's down to luck how you manage to get on out here, well, that's what I've found. A chance meeting at a Facebook networking night (and party!!) with one of the co-owners of the radio station got me to where I am today. They gave me the opportunity to MC the charity event for the Bomberos at Laguna Ribs during the summer then took me on as one of their presenters. ,

People regularly post on Facebook they are looking for a DJ for parties, events etc.  Because of the radio work I've been recommended and from getting confirmed bookings it's led to others - the "Jungle Telegraph" system works excellently around here.

Enjoying the giant paella in Jesus Pobre

Through a family connection at Lady Elizabeth School I found out they were forming a Saturday club to teach English. I applied, was interviewed and got the job.
As a result of hosting children at our house during the summer (Summer School) we made good contacts with the secondary school admin team which has given Lynn a foothold into hopefully future employment.

You do have to work at it as an ex-pat if you want to keep busy. A far cry of course from our previous ten years running the York Hotel and all the highs and lows associated with that. One overriding factor keeping us both going is waking up most mornings to sunshine filtering through the shutters.
Unbelievably, when my daughter, eldest granddaughter and aunt visited us in October we were out swimming in the Med - on Halloween, it was so hot. OK, I was in the water with my grandchildren and everyone else was sunbathing but still, at the end of October!

It's very obvious then we plan to be here a while. Time to learn the language?
We are fortunate to have a lovely lady in our village (introduced to us by our daughter) and she teaches a class in the village community centre on a Monday morning. Our Spanish is coming along slowly but surely as they say and it's much better having a native teacher putting you right rather than trying to work it out yourself from a book.

Strange how it's worked out. I teach children English on a Saturday and then attend Spanish lessons on a Monday. Method in my madness though - the kids help me out with some Spanish words!

Great November weather.

We have plenty of opportunities to practice the language. The local bars in the village are...well, very local. They wont go out of their way to speak English to you - why should they? One thing though, they appreciate it when you "have a go", plus they are more than happy to correct your pronunciation of words. We shun the pre-packed sections of meat and fish departments in supermarkets and are now more confident of approaching the butchers and fishmongers and improving our ordering skills.

So, Christmas is almost upon us but we haven't totally shunned the British way of life. Our tree is up and decorated and our most valuable decorations came with us in the packing boxes. It's not quite "chestnuts roasting round an open fire" but our calor-gas heater suffices for warmth. a major difference to the pre-Christmas hullabaloo can be found when out and about in town - it's just not there. Well, not in your face.

Don't get me wrong. The Spanish love Christmas, just not in the same in-your-face commercial way we have descended to in the UK. In fact its the ex-pats who are the most enthusiastic about the whole season. We have though arranged for us to host Christmas Lunch this year. Well, our eldest daughter and family are here, my son-in-laws mum and gran are here, my aunt is visiting from the UK - a proper family Christmas Day. We've had plenty of practice over the years.

The final upshot to our first six months here in Spain has been the friendliness of everyone; locals and ex-pats alike. The climate here has been described as one of the best in the world. Maybe that's the reason so many people are content with their lot in this beautiful part of the Costa Blanca. Now I'm more settled I'll get out a bit more myself and get to fully appreciate my new home.