In the afternoon I went to finally order my glasses. Due to my high prescription I need to get quite small glasses, which don’t seem to be all that common these days, so the final shortlist came down to a couple of adult pairs that looked as close to my old pair (thick black plastic […]
Desperately sad
I am feeling really cast down about Brexit, really genuinely sad. Not that I have much affection for the country, but the dream of integration, open borders, cooperation, is one that I can care for. The other country which I care far more for, Pakistan, stabs me in the heart so often that I can […]
On the Plateau
I arrived in Montreal early yesterday morning. It was all fairly smooth despite the long journey and an unexpectedly rude immigration official – maybe they learn from the Americans? Anyway, I took a taxi to the Plateau to wake up the Gentleman Friend to be let in, and here I am. We’re staying in a […]
Shock, horror, terror
Much to our horror, the seller has almost accepted our offer – he’s given a strong indication that he’ll accept something only slightly above our offer, whereas previously he’d refused to even consider budging. This has put us in a tizzy and we’ve been talking about it all day, veering between a yes and a […]
Bidding
We put in an informal bid for the land we liked. It’s far lower than the seller is asking, but it’s what we can currently afford. The chances are that he’ll say no, in which case we will see how regretful we are. And if he says yes, we will consider whether to move on […]
Unforced error
I went for my first class yesterday. I have to admit, I have my doubts about it. It is run by an American woman who is fluent in Spanish, but her style of teaching is very much of a unversity class, heavily dependent upon grammar terms and memorising conditions when one form is used or […]
Farewells
Last day in Oaxaca. I’ve been feeling rather sad. The city is overflowing with people and cars and dancers and music and excitement, which is making it feel like I’ll really miss out but also the city is starting to be unrecognisable. There are vast tents set up on some streets, and filled with stalls […]
The dance of the feather
At 9 I met the Instagrammer at the spot from where one can catch colectivos to Tlacolula’s Sunday market. It was a pleasant journey, quite chatty. I told hre about my limpia, she told me about her limpia, and with this early morning exchange of innermost secrets it was easy to get along. We arrived […]
Worst end of farmyard
It was the 14th birthday of my Spanish school and in the break there were two cakes. One, a tres leches cake, the other a jelly made with cream and with bits of regular green and red jelly suspended in it. It looked like something out of a 1950s American cookbook. Glad to have tried […]
Miniso, to my shame
Yesterday, I went and got a few bits and pieces for my room, including a cushion from Miniso as there is nowhere to sit in my room other than a rickety chair, and there is a lot of floor. I also bought a spoon for my avocado dinners. Then today I went again, intending to […]