tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68383507476430661752024-03-13T10:01:03.170-07:00Mediterranean Life, Interior Design and PhotographyInterior design trends from Spain, France and Italy. Also, art, a new photograph every day, food, fashion and lifestyles.stylemedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10085436215603049616noreply@blogger.comBlogger231125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838350747643066175.post-23954012595003826252016-08-01T13:22:00.000-07:002016-08-01T13:22:01.742-07:00Eddie the Perro RIP<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7-TJpU4Alu7KMWxp_cpwSRMmyd2MwCWOdFv0a72JlXaDXfxBGH8uAx_sq2jQMcYLRKzPSSZzVS1WnYopLY9XJb61bL5YY21cswOMhTsPDv4ziyaG47bejreeWSjfkO0jd_o3wIVleZrw/s1600/edd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7-TJpU4Alu7KMWxp_cpwSRMmyd2MwCWOdFv0a72JlXaDXfxBGH8uAx_sq2jQMcYLRKzPSSZzVS1WnYopLY9XJb61bL5YY21cswOMhTsPDv4ziyaG47bejreeWSjfkO0jd_o3wIVleZrw/s400/edd.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Eddie died two weeks ago. We received his ashes last week and spent yesterday saying goodbye at one of his favourite places, the seaside. Eddie loved water and getting wet. If he could also get muddy then so much the better. It seemed fitting to scatter his ashes over the sea. </div>
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Thank you Eddie for fifteen years of fun, friendship and loyalty. Adios, you are sorely missed.</div>
stylemedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10085436215603049616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838350747643066175.post-79724100230758246532010-05-03T07:33:00.000-07:002010-05-03T09:06:05.280-07:00New Blog - The Negative<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/46087577/bejeweled-bicycle-10x8-inch-photograph"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 318px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHU0miZXoOZV1qjVdBCq8XyptBVawVcBynMYUgcQjS7OIidrOOdOa0PztP8O5_t2GgwJr7So7rrI5_KZwI5XZc3ySHn43y2-TBRc_C4Giw76Hi2P4YDSjUnHBv56zpNgUE75c4qIhCwH4/s400/cam_bike_jewels.jpg" alt="Bejeweled Bicycle. photograph by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467054893739511426" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >Bejeweled Bicycle</span> </div><br />I've been busy since moving back in England, visiting galleries and taking photographs. But this blog and it's Mediterranean theme doesn't seem to be the appropriate place to tell you about these things. So I've created a new blog which is more in step with what I'm doing at this phase of my life. You can visit it here <a href="http://timirving.blogspot.com/">timirving.blogspot.com/</a> and I'd love to have your comments and suggestions.<br /><br />I'll continue to add to Stylemed on an occasional basis and when I have appropriate content.<br /><br />Thank you to everyone who has helped to make this a succesful blog - and I do hope you enjoy my new venture!stylemedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10085436215603049616noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838350747643066175.post-90731603181934924432010-04-15T13:17:00.000-07:002012-07-21T12:48:47.383-07:00A day in Cambridge, England<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4vOwo3iPs0nT3ASVr8NW9djjGli8dTc9nq_5LiHn9kTQ0mx4tFvSM20DGHQmNpWlS4lSUUp2EZ1B_024GDwPFwINbh1iiA4aDuGl7ujqxuI0YLtHTzVA6azUSRDcdAXYhhqKS4gcShvM/s1600/cam_bike.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="bicycles of Cambridge. Photograph by Tim Irving" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460481017408690498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4vOwo3iPs0nT3ASVr8NW9djjGli8dTc9nq_5LiHn9kTQ0mx4tFvSM20DGHQmNpWlS4lSUUp2EZ1B_024GDwPFwINbh1iiA4aDuGl7ujqxuI0YLtHTzVA6azUSRDcdAXYhhqKS4gcShvM/s400/cam_bike.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 317px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
We've worked very hard for the past two months, repairing and decorating the house. The repairs are almost finished but the decorating continues. As of yesterday the kitchen and dining room are finished. All floors, walls and ceilings have been restored or replaced. Next week we move into the lounge and start again. But before then I need to buy a long hose to add water to the garden pond which seems to have sprung a leak.<br />
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As the house progresses I'm starting to plan my other work, taking photographs and showing my work. Today I managed to combine house related business with photo business, or nearly.<br />
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I had to go to Cambridge to buy some materials, including the hose, and pay for some furniture that's being delivered tomorrow, so it seemed convenient to take a photograph while I was there. I've had the photo in mind for some time, it's the ancient market from the roof of the University Church. I spent a couple of hours yesterday making enquiries and arrangements for the photograph. Every problem was overcome and all I had to do was turn up at the church and climb up to the roof.<br />
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I arrived in Cambridge around 10am this morning and quickly got the house tasks completed. Then I made my way to the market square, passing more charity shops than I've ever seen in one street. I stopped off - of course - as I am in pursuit of a particular style of hat, which I feel I will only find in one of these shops. Further into the city I passed more bicycles chained to railings than I've ever seen before. And finally I reached the market square and made my way to the church.<br />
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I introduced myself and I was pointed in the direction of the stairs, and there are many of them, 123 to be exact. On the way up, around halfway, there's the room where the bell ringers ring the four original bells, the bells were installed in 1515, the octave was added during the 17th century. I felt very privileged to be amongst all this history!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCk979ULLkEVhgU8ZS3MUCG-HvnyCtXMUW0bw4TZMTPSPc1NeSTmgif5lNUtjuY1u-qDOVWCWp56v8Ub4xiTTy95HTMPHzbXptz2c7rFyOjSOIYnd0Z95TGO0PXKrqA6lz7YksuQ2_lTU/s1600/cam_bells.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="Bell ringing. Photograph by Tim Irving" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460470682223953938" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCk979ULLkEVhgU8ZS3MUCG-HvnyCtXMUW0bw4TZMTPSPc1NeSTmgif5lNUtjuY1u-qDOVWCWp56v8Ub4xiTTy95HTMPHzbXptz2c7rFyOjSOIYnd0Z95TGO0PXKrqA6lz7YksuQ2_lTU/s400/cam_bells.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a>I was excited when I reached the top of the tower, fabulous views of the city and the universities, but with one problem. Can you spot the scaffolding? To me, it marred a beautiful and classic view of such a famous and important city.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPiZ912xLvP3dge43mPPIb97NwhfqGXsD6zsWJKIo1DpLXcaB2tLgpeK1JxOUMaNK4JR1WH7MJlcY1m0R1-Uo_sq1bBbqOJWKyI8HPk_NMQgSMaz5VqhTiYdSdQ0GZ-6biRoQQrb-QDdk/s1600/cam_blog.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="Market square, Cambridge. Photograph by Tim Irving" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460473363501380242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPiZ912xLvP3dge43mPPIb97NwhfqGXsD6zsWJKIo1DpLXcaB2tLgpeK1JxOUMaNK4JR1WH7MJlcY1m0R1-Uo_sq1bBbqOJWKyI8HPk_NMQgSMaz5VqhTiYdSdQ0GZ-6biRoQQrb-QDdk/s400/cam_blog.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 253px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>So I'll have to go back and do it again in a few weeks, no problem it will still be there - and maybe my hat will be there too.stylemedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10085436215603049616noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838350747643066175.post-35059725783968744082010-03-29T01:28:00.000-07:002010-03-29T02:07:42.088-07:00Easter week<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvA290fhkkcvpnastfLWVusVOQi_JjCJqF0rjP-PaS7P9POb9-KUaAry33LYlwTsRf3-rl3w3lyNEZ6g4BplQkjzPb4T5dJ1Xjvvn0qWhXsL6Yzt1mYqTqBKgK1ySixJsvrXEk3CZTfwc/s1600/pad_colour.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvA290fhkkcvpnastfLWVusVOQi_JjCJqF0rjP-PaS7P9POb9-KUaAry33LYlwTsRf3-rl3w3lyNEZ6g4BplQkjzPb4T5dJ1Xjvvn0qWhXsL6Yzt1mYqTqBKgK1ySixJsvrXEk3CZTfwc/s400/pad_colour.jpg" alt="Semana Santa, Spain. Photograph by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453970088353998658" border="0" /></a>Female Penetents - Spain<br /></div><br />Ever wondered why Easter’s date wanders around? Because it’s determined by the lunar calendar. Easter is celebrated at the first Sunday after the first full Moon, after the Spring Equinox. It can therefore arrive anywhere between March 21st and April 25th.<br /><br />This shifting of dates used to cause me big problems in Spain when I photographed the Easter processions, the reason being that the more dramatic processions take place in the evening or through the night. So if Easter falls in mid to late April I can take photographs until the early evening, but if Easter falls at the end of March it gets dark too early.<br /><br />This year Easter is too early for my style of photography which is just as well because I won't be there. This year I'm celebrating Easter in the UK, swapping fiestas and fireworks for long dog walks in the countryside and garden centres - very British!<br /><br />The Christian meaning aside, Easter (named after a Germanic goddess, Eostre) has elements of fertility, the resurrection of nature and new beginings. Whatever your views on the spring holidays, I wish you a happy holiday.stylemedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10085436215603049616noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838350747643066175.post-24967281585033246732010-03-12T10:57:00.000-08:002010-03-12T11:29:50.220-08:00A Day Off<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=42520048"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 398px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ouqPsS5NPnnrYNa7MABM-qQmebSlgiFEhNdnYcHpOdgqFv-VE0ATDym3OZdNzPIf2TmK_vbZGbsso9Hc-i2wDlwjR2F74v7N23KR8SgPT_i5hnzEOQNy2Q6HIyXJGUCmw8psAmnfEs0/s400/beach_hut.jpg" alt="Blue Beach Huts, Suffolk Coast. Photograph by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447823531102286050" border="0" /></a>The work on the house is continuing at a good pace. The plasterer and plumber have finished and most of Wednesday was spent disposing of the rubble they kindly left us. I've been itching to start taking photographs since we arrived in February, and yesterday with no urgent housey jobs to do I decided to take a drive and take a photo.<br /><br />I have written a long list of photo ideas that I'll explore over the coming months, but yesterday I just wanted to take a walk somewhere new and use up some film. The day was cold with high cloud and flat lighting, typical for this time of year.<br /><br />After 2 hours driving I found myself on the Suffolk coast at Southwold, a seaside town that, except for the cafe's and shops, hasn't changed since Queen Victoria ruled the empire. There are very few visitors in March and I hardly saw a soul. I spent 2 very pleasant hours walking along the promenade and beach, had cheese on toast in a cafe and took about 40 photographs.<br /><br />The beach huts are a delight, evoking childhood memories for me, but they now cost about the same as a small 2 bedroom apartment. The photograph above is available from my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=42520048">Etsy shop</a>.<br /><br />So it's back to work now, laying floors. See you soon.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;">Tim<br /></div>stylemedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10085436215603049616noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838350747643066175.post-65583105175608549902010-03-03T03:18:00.000-08:002010-03-03T04:06:51.592-08:00The William Egglestone ceiling<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77Byug5ofqZlOoNEAh6HAVWvztOPlYJYVXyAwcKkwix2R8hQuGzn4VDzPng-LZsaEZSYYiVrbSNhqVxILPKalYDSWIJ6Luf-qL6f6Z4cG8KHRP2LgVIPffuDB5pR157dvbydjhBNMucI/s1600-h/artex2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77Byug5ofqZlOoNEAh6HAVWvztOPlYJYVXyAwcKkwix2R8hQuGzn4VDzPng-LZsaEZSYYiVrbSNhqVxILPKalYDSWIJ6Luf-qL6f6Z4cG8KHRP2LgVIPffuDB5pR157dvbydjhBNMucI/s400/artex2.jpg" alt="Textured ceiling. Photograph by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444371084501805970" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">The William Egglestone ceiling</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><br />I've had to put my photography on hold for a month or so while we make our new house comfortable. As I write this in the bedroom, the plumber and his mate are above my head in the loft installing a new heating system. Below me are three builders, plasterer, electrician and labourer, they are knocking down walls and putting up ceilings. The current work should be finished on Sunday, then the next phase will start, floors and exterior.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutdGrURKSp6NDHXYtcAtlNxWTeTJdu7oI215NiQMMuLO9M6BQz06-ezYFxeSQdt9VPFNn9-JAs8Yw4QTlpiLnxCaj6sTSQrk-0YPkr1Ly_IXQNF1UEfnZqSih85OA2bKvcbouL9edYwo/s1600-h/plasterer_1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutdGrURKSp6NDHXYtcAtlNxWTeTJdu7oI215NiQMMuLO9M6BQz06-ezYFxeSQdt9VPFNn9-JAs8Yw4QTlpiLnxCaj6sTSQrk-0YPkr1Ly_IXQNF1UEfnZqSih85OA2bKvcbouL9edYwo/s400/plasterer_1.jpg" alt="Plasterer. Photograph by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444367428048071218" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Constructing a new ceiling</span> </div><br />Structurally, the house appears very sound but aesthecially it's a disaster (in my opinion), which made it affordable. It not a big disaster just a product of the previous owners preference for textured ceilings and arches, oh, and a few other little things. There are parts of this house that <a href="http://www.masters-of-photography.com/E/eggleston/eggleston_red_ceiling.html">William Egglestone</a> would pay to photograph, maybe I should call him.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigkj7KOpXhx9WH2RiQYSyoFDSHPXq10y71h8DPY1Rvk8CGb-9XJaD1AEk2gjXCLXDRtSwL-Yz_jrapTlDl3Apvn5O_uESfDvcVqfLJSMTtzzHN-hPzfK4ZrB-8V9PHi-hJV6rUJ_Rgil0/s1600-h/plaster.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigkj7KOpXhx9WH2RiQYSyoFDSHPXq10y71h8DPY1Rvk8CGb-9XJaD1AEk2gjXCLXDRtSwL-Yz_jrapTlDl3Apvn5O_uESfDvcVqfLJSMTtzzHN-hPzfK4ZrB-8V9PHi-hJV6rUJ_Rgil0/s400/plaster.jpg" alt="Plastered ceiling. Photograph by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444373796524932722" border="0" /></a>Nearly finished ceiling<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">When the builders have gone home we try to prepare for the next days events, which is mostly cleaning and disposing of rubble but also planning the next phase, which I'll call the <a href="http://slowpainting.wordpress.com/2008/06/16/cy-twombly-at-tate-modern/">Cy Twombly</a> bathroom.<br /><br />Join me in the bathroom very soon.<br /></div></div>stylemedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10085436215603049616noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838350747643066175.post-3689443448242653722010-02-22T02:04:00.000-08:002010-02-22T03:36:07.086-08:00The house moveJust an up-date to let you all know that I've arrived safely in England.<br /><br />The move has <span style="font-weight: bold;">not</span> gone smoothly, in fact about 20% of our belongings are still in the care of a removals firm, somewhere in Spain! These include my PC and a lot of items I use on a daily basis. So I'm using borrowed PC's to communicate, but I have no way of getting pictures up-loaded for this blog or for work.<br /><br />Still, we are in our new house and looking forward to an exciting year. The journey from Spain to England was straightforward and quick, but very cramped with two adults, a cat a dog and enough clothes and essentials to last two weeks.<br /><br />When we set off, Eddie the dog was in his basket behind a dog guard and Chico the cat kept him company in his locked travelling box. The cat isn't a good traveller so we gave him a tranqueliser pill one hour before we set off.<br /><br />The first half hour of the journey was spent discussing and worrying about what we might have left behind, then we settled down to what was going to be a 19 hour drive, broken up with two overnight stops. Just before our first coffee stop I noticed something in the rearview mirror, something very, very bad!<br /><br />The cat had forced his way out of his travelling box, and in doing so had caused his nose to bleed. What I saw in the mirror was an animal dripping blood with manic eyes making its way to the front of the car.<br /><br />It wasn't that dramatic really and his nose bleed was brief, I pulled over and we put him back in his box but for the next 18 hours Chico sat in his box on the passenger's knee.<br /><br />The only other incident was the cat (again) finding and disappearing into a small gap between the bath panel and wall in a hotel in France. I had visions of him wondering around the heating duct system. I used a key and a pen knife as tools to remove the bath panel and found him tucked into a corner.<br /><br />At this point in my blog I'd normally add a few photos, but I can't.<br />My observations on the journey were that service stations have improved greatly since my last big journey 5 years ago. In a lot of service stations in France there's a franchise called "Paul" which sells fresh baked bread, pastries and very good coffee, quite a luxury on a long journey.<br /><br />The hotels we stayed in, both in Spain and France en route were Ibis which are comfortable and pet friendly.<br /><br />The highlight of the drive was watching the landscape change from the ruggedness of rural Andalucia to the Great Plain south of Madrid and then change again to the alpine landscape of northern Spain and the Basque country. All very grand and dramatic.<br /><br />Driving up through western France there is no drama or hills for that matter. There are hours of forests that give way to the great wine producing regions, finally through the battle fields of the two wars. All very beautiful in the spring and summer but very bleak during the first week of February week. We were relieved and impressed with the Pet Passporting procedures at the Eurotunnel when both animals and paperwork were checked and OK'd for entry into the UK! Similarly, the entire Eurotunnel experience was quick and efficient for us.<br /><br />We have had every type of weather known to man in our first week here, and today are looking out at what can only be described as a Christmas card landscape from our windows!<br /><br />Join me again soon to see if our belonging have turned up!stylemedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10085436215603049616noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838350747643066175.post-66591164101351522842010-01-31T06:10:00.000-08:002010-01-31T07:36:33.538-08:00One thousand kissesI visited the Rubén Afanador, Mil Besos (One Thousand Kisses) exhibition in Granada this morning. The last day of the exhibition and probably the last exhibition I shall attend in Spain.<br /><br />I'm a snob when it comes to viewing art, ideally I like the whole gallery to myself. If the gallery spaces are large I'm content to share it with a few other viewers. Being so fussy makes it difficult to see art in the major galleries, in fact I gave up on the National Gallery (London), in about 1998 after trying three times to see the <a href="http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/hans-holbein-the-younger-the-ambassadors">Ambassadors by Holbein</a>. On each occasion I went to the gallery, people were packed in twenty bodies deep listening (not looking), to a guide describing the painting and the supposed meaning.<br /><br />I did go back to the National a few years later when I had a few hours to kill in London, but it was worse. Even the less popular wings of the gallery were crowded with people shuffling around. But regional galleries are a different story and I can usually see an exhibition without distraction, and so it was this morning.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmxIMNSpD6kKvt0nqzeq-eKNPB5pWPQqUqTH2h-Z66LZHG-SZpavBLyPV1Izfn_dyAQdZVfyq8c4jK9MtPgavNejhtmtbnPklF575Tgm1ihX2UzjulJlqKl4jVGGnrU4JsTRZkqz-ke5k/s1600-h/overview.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmxIMNSpD6kKvt0nqzeq-eKNPB5pWPQqUqTH2h-Z66LZHG-SZpavBLyPV1Izfn_dyAQdZVfyq8c4jK9MtPgavNejhtmtbnPklF575Tgm1ihX2UzjulJlqKl4jVGGnrU4JsTRZkqz-ke5k/s400/overview.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432920644510059122" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6txFsWHMluyaOYRwQd41LJoUu2pUMiSa6IgE1TIuAYhJttPuc9QUNvsfiGnPPvVTr4351-TLtcoRf_jhHhDtHqoYNGWGCGgwahVpULoLOm60R0AhLnVnRDsE89KdrLMgdd74psdjj36E/s1600-h/face_1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6txFsWHMluyaOYRwQd41LJoUu2pUMiSa6IgE1TIuAYhJttPuc9QUNvsfiGnPPvVTr4351-TLtcoRf_jhHhDtHqoYNGWGCGgwahVpULoLOm60R0AhLnVnRDsE89KdrLMgdd74psdjj36E/s400/face_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432920505400823458" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmRrnAqIvxQ8y7UMGqpzp5Th1UYpCfTgFYA5DX0DtK00GvwQgCT9s5pGaQTOJXKBoq78tlf3Kc6yDRfS2J8xOv9og4bd_3gkRb8kmiAlBxDIqLnBl_D7EjR9w9RBoaqjllLnZCLwZt_rc/s1600-h/face_4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmRrnAqIvxQ8y7UMGqpzp5Th1UYpCfTgFYA5DX0DtK00GvwQgCT9s5pGaQTOJXKBoq78tlf3Kc6yDRfS2J8xOv9og4bd_3gkRb8kmiAlBxDIqLnBl_D7EjR9w9RBoaqjllLnZCLwZt_rc/s400/face_4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432920502123248210" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUMA2QfZTa1XV9yxPy0updNw5DXXb-nddm3EFyZq4t46zeRu-Xr1OIIliFAnk3iirftx5boD5gu2oDH7YqdFc_2r1fNgXV9uMXPtjoOc7Awndw2nV94q8DRmkRBgpy0kScQYgnNpStXvw/s1600-h/face_3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUMA2QfZTa1XV9yxPy0updNw5DXXb-nddm3EFyZq4t46zeRu-Xr1OIIliFAnk3iirftx5boD5gu2oDH7YqdFc_2r1fNgXV9uMXPtjoOc7Awndw2nV94q8DRmkRBgpy0kScQYgnNpStXvw/s400/face_3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432920494406852098" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbwQ3WKjmKZwzYfTVo0CWNByPxWE10dEMjjXY_mVMNVXX6lUWn4K244TS03hRj0rYudtpLw7FPjgJz9vCPNg9odFnAsJpHTbYyYkxzQcmkO2n-jZ_jMFONQ8pHZmRKb5e-E9a17CovaRc/s1600-h/face_2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbwQ3WKjmKZwzYfTVo0CWNByPxWE10dEMjjXY_mVMNVXX6lUWn4K244TS03hRj0rYudtpLw7FPjgJz9vCPNg9odFnAsJpHTbYyYkxzQcmkO2n-jZ_jMFONQ8pHZmRKb5e-E9a17CovaRc/s400/face_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432920491364535074" border="0" /></a>I enjoyed the space and the photographs. I think Rubén Afanador is always going to be Rubén Afanador, these are high contrast images but the style remains the same as his earlier work - 'Toreo'. Each one of these images could be a magazine cover which is where I would normally see them.<br /><br />So watch out for this exhibition if it happens to come your way, I'd heartily recommend it. And if you're near Granada you must visit <a href="http://www.memoriadeandalucia.com/home.jsp">Centro Cultural Memoria de Andalucía</a> and see what's on offer.stylemedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10085436215603049616noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838350747643066175.post-18625782040758339282010-01-28T10:20:00.001-08:002010-01-28T11:01:01.376-08:00Memory Lane<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRgWID9n91knjrcBNEK8JoD8usM4sXE88xeg_tyj82-mmsFEtsSBl37iWyBQn8XpTdrSRH0ZylS8FYLms7BvhOx9xMu1DYOkEyTkQTdt1qS3NIfjlYZVKGMg6xTXqAKK07_nR7CCDDJxs/s1600-h/memory_lane.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 282px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRgWID9n91knjrcBNEK8JoD8usM4sXE88xeg_tyj82-mmsFEtsSBl37iWyBQn8XpTdrSRH0ZylS8FYLms7BvhOx9xMu1DYOkEyTkQTdt1qS3NIfjlYZVKGMg6xTXqAKK07_nR7CCDDJxs/s400/memory_lane.jpg" alt="Memory lane. Photograph by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431866396646278578" border="0" /></a>Just over a week left of living in Spain!<br />I'd like to assure everyone that this isn't the end of this blog, far from it, it's just the start of a new chapter.<br /><br />This isn't even the last post from Spain, I should fit in a couple more before I go, but it is time to say goodbye to a lot of friends I've made over eight years. I've had some wonderful times here, Spain is a great country populated with wonderful, warm characters.<br /><br />So without further ado, I present to you a few of the friends whose lives have touched mine over the years.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpc411Q6VohszjD9ZAtBOsvjYEzEr6v6Pr5FwhwoIvaoxbmsQge4RW9kYIE0-3mPyZUiSDgCanPhsJEYZ1K_Q5DWpj2jO4wKzhTRHWENQSXx84Ba0OkRab5s54e1nwOJYSySyZZD7WIck/s1600-h/carmelina.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpc411Q6VohszjD9ZAtBOsvjYEzEr6v6Pr5FwhwoIvaoxbmsQge4RW9kYIE0-3mPyZUiSDgCanPhsJEYZ1K_Q5DWpj2jO4wKzhTRHWENQSXx84Ba0OkRab5s54e1nwOJYSySyZZD7WIck/s400/carmelina.jpg" alt="Portrait by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431860581468291762" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Carmelina filling a bag of lemons for me</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM9yPiIciBx4X8jMN6FccbWuE9gzMrOCsdFidJbzT4OAnavJ4kYVTGR3KHCe1EQHWNKUAkYcPcHsp-_hjFYa4csOEGGPsd2Isf67eiyXM9nERyI83gdAd7_6ZbsBBailRhYHpy-0IQDVk/s1600-h/jasmin.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 329px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM9yPiIciBx4X8jMN6FccbWuE9gzMrOCsdFidJbzT4OAnavJ4kYVTGR3KHCe1EQHWNKUAkYcPcHsp-_hjFYa4csOEGGPsd2Isf67eiyXM9nERyI83gdAd7_6ZbsBBailRhYHpy-0IQDVk/s400/jasmin.jpg" alt="Portrait by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431860440152935970" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">A Morrocan couple visiting their daughter</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVwsn7Ow2v3cM7dh6u-HiaxaWWkcgTfY73hsbzlpTj75r4FBriNpG-cWeoixqSgsvPZy1D8goughGWnV8j3ffceAtyPO7Fi6xHbU3VCf30wLqdGlKfQCSqxLQlekdofelgkBqetgaE7h0/s1600-h/fiesta-ladies2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVwsn7Ow2v3cM7dh6u-HiaxaWWkcgTfY73hsbzlpTj75r4FBriNpG-cWeoixqSgsvPZy1D8goughGWnV8j3ffceAtyPO7Fi6xHbU3VCf30wLqdGlKfQCSqxLQlekdofelgkBqetgaE7h0/s400/fiesta-ladies2.jpg" alt="Portrait by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431860436533485282" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Tres guapas</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8f6Xuz9Q7essaFLBcQx1N2ndIQE1WqHdNz3V8-0GDkWxEZ9l43-_4jgKMcTZoG73qIE5ZpQOSXd3c3wIDIkHfGMGQ52hS2yVCnasJCs858-Wz4urymB_8J6xAesRoZs3Q7b6s0L96F78/s1600-h/dolores.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8f6Xuz9Q7essaFLBcQx1N2ndIQE1WqHdNz3V8-0GDkWxEZ9l43-_4jgKMcTZoG73qIE5ZpQOSXd3c3wIDIkHfGMGQ52hS2yVCnasJCs858-Wz4urymB_8J6xAesRoZs3Q7b6s0L96F78/s400/dolores.jpg" alt="Portrait by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431860430240698002" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Dolores and Pepe<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvyHiH0m4P9sU4mOvJtdL3WbBelt0SA2PTCbfI3uCqvgdfNQTUim_gt3raRNB0nyrt7f1XQx3BWx7zfYodJLuqOevzdnH-ieb5NFvx8c81PeAoyeuBqU8ntln5xNJEA0TrHD_E_a9Ctw/s1600-h/dancer.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvyHiH0m4P9sU4mOvJtdL3WbBelt0SA2PTCbfI3uCqvgdfNQTUim_gt3raRNB0nyrt7f1XQx3BWx7zfYodJLuqOevzdnH-ieb5NFvx8c81PeAoyeuBqU8ntln5xNJEA0TrHD_E_a9Ctw/s400/dancer.jpg" alt="Portrait by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431860427008900146" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Flamenco practice<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJ5rzVubKYLgjGknZ6XMbLMxK67ldGYGS686hg6PtGHgGlHOnaDaDsX3TY4NvUPma1nW3nKyjPHzpQBJWeAn4mbNlMwcADIGSPAvmqXsh5z0qBalM04LQT1rfqN00KewwC0xuXvKetEE/s1600-h/murchas.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJ5rzVubKYLgjGknZ6XMbLMxK67ldGYGS686hg6PtGHgGlHOnaDaDsX3TY4NvUPma1nW3nKyjPHzpQBJWeAn4mbNlMwcADIGSPAvmqXsh5z0qBalM04LQT1rfqN00KewwC0xuXvKetEE/s400/murchas.jpg" alt="Portrait by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431860120642984754" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">A goat herder from the next village</span> </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgATLtXMuW2-5TrlQXp-6-Tw1QS8ZH__666Zm4LeB2LNib2ftlOB5jFvMawsYlxh0LjNe5E9fqZYY1B-A8rKLSmKlksgU8q3Tbf0HdJpXd7KUNuhNBEAAZ8kU1o3C40ln3VBkQo3bsk6p0/s1600-h/lady_flowers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgATLtXMuW2-5TrlQXp-6-Tw1QS8ZH__666Zm4LeB2LNib2ftlOB5jFvMawsYlxh0LjNe5E9fqZYY1B-A8rKLSmKlksgU8q3Tbf0HdJpXd7KUNuhNBEAAZ8kU1o3C40ln3VBkQo3bsk6p0/s400/lady_flowers.jpg" alt="Portrait by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431860443945458882" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Flower picking<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-9CIoUPb1jN9EzmB_XLY7VeDBf7TXsFTkSmsFGR0-uVdM4XWqlWww7_ekLAXLKKAvAtGw1bTQBeKBdm-h5D_4qJKSqLwTPWw3r85tpWXvvJWUyoYSHoYHjN2XY1HYdloF-9F1fgRRkUo/s1600-h/manuel.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-9CIoUPb1jN9EzmB_XLY7VeDBf7TXsFTkSmsFGR0-uVdM4XWqlWww7_ekLAXLKKAvAtGw1bTQBeKBdm-h5D_4qJKSqLwTPWw3r85tpWXvvJWUyoYSHoYHjN2XY1HYdloF-9F1fgRRkUo/s400/manuel.jpg" alt="Portrait by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431860112703421826" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Manuel my neighbour<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4iNMU9fT3vfvlKf8nhl__L0WE4Yn2rD44I-RgOruFCDSJy8mW2JgL0xDmLABVe6rAOyzUXj4PH9q2-ggXQdYXV1Fn8H7XdMbzysAttj285kEDXhyphenhyphenZwDGAQrz5sVaFhQd2DHES1ffFCiM/s1600-h/man_mule.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 292px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4iNMU9fT3vfvlKf8nhl__L0WE4Yn2rD44I-RgOruFCDSJy8mW2JgL0xDmLABVe6rAOyzUXj4PH9q2-ggXQdYXV1Fn8H7XdMbzysAttj285kEDXhyphenhyphenZwDGAQrz5sVaFhQd2DHES1ffFCiM/s400/man_mule.jpg" alt="Portrait by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431860109852722178" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Man and mule<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtnq7pmZsKw69vRbE8pm0Y-GKnQkACYILwntvltOww-r7hSMXwunicYkpWLvO-a7YjBvfdydzUsHSMVcNCCrW2xgZJ7eDyZD4v7Fi3G5c-T7FllJoFd0cF7wxTTkZEMnwBO5cQUrimAFs/s1600-h/man_calle.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtnq7pmZsKw69vRbE8pm0Y-GKnQkACYILwntvltOww-r7hSMXwunicYkpWLvO-a7YjBvfdydzUsHSMVcNCCrW2xgZJ7eDyZD4v7Fi3G5c-T7FllJoFd0cF7wxTTkZEMnwBO5cQUrimAFs/s400/man_calle.jpg" alt="Portrait by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431860103197283522" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Neighbour</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9AS9NqSsIqGF5ZKrsAj77lJJLCfjyP7wA9bfe17_f0s0EKBQ6gShH-lspXZzXyHu-o70xrwMmPWyXTkE5GlP7xaWIEmy9IOhmVVdiUqDtM6RLxZcwNgdFTVQwuXMlrAqcNVr7ohg3Q3E/s1600-h/virginia.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9AS9NqSsIqGF5ZKrsAj77lJJLCfjyP7wA9bfe17_f0s0EKBQ6gShH-lspXZzXyHu-o70xrwMmPWyXTkE5GlP7xaWIEmy9IOhmVVdiUqDtM6RLxZcwNgdFTVQwuXMlrAqcNVr7ohg3Q3E/s400/virginia.jpg" alt="Portrait by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431859795024526482" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Virginia the tobacconist<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4SIiGe0EZNcDo836S3RxrLKL7K1_xjn7GPAUoj82WjVeknIQ37tW9_ISnVprRPDgDtNG_7NcsC_NK8mqn6Z92vVVO3xXC0fgofvl71-cjBbzPgBSfUiA-d0Ueg8-js_7y8_EI4MW4qk/s1600-h/maud.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4SIiGe0EZNcDo836S3RxrLKL7K1_xjn7GPAUoj82WjVeknIQ37tW9_ISnVprRPDgDtNG_7NcsC_NK8mqn6Z92vVVO3xXC0fgofvl71-cjBbzPgBSfUiA-d0Ueg8-js_7y8_EI4MW4qk/s400/maud.jpg" alt="Portrait by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431860116028473426" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Old friends (90 ish years old)</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju08kbUXM1dKE42pUA-iN8zOEKcDc5wB0bxbfrpOxLiGEvSSQGIwISjtH5BIYS_bG7C2BXOGSH-UzAfbBx5QUPDW_JRkM4mRNcWgbrh-jfl_gQ37_aFHOqz-faDbNCUjXCJDm8Uyv3ZDc/s1600-h/trinis_dad.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju08kbUXM1dKE42pUA-iN8zOEKcDc5wB0bxbfrpOxLiGEvSSQGIwISjtH5BIYS_bG7C2BXOGSH-UzAfbBx5QUPDW_JRkM4mRNcWgbrh-jfl_gQ37_aFHOqz-faDbNCUjXCJDm8Uyv3ZDc/s400/trinis_dad.jpg" alt="Portrait by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431859791206043538" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Orange picking</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIdNdv57g_C3Je4vHR8bP-S9Ece_u5LOjEK_9vexJ1Wdzkv0_QkamOz0RAD5rO07ulbhk_7YhiT_owSaj0zdQRi0Ov39KHMfFFldGtyqUNLg8AUOSUxTg9W05sgEREfQitMAYqE63oDIA/s1600-h/the_girls.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIdNdv57g_C3Je4vHR8bP-S9Ece_u5LOjEK_9vexJ1Wdzkv0_QkamOz0RAD5rO07ulbhk_7YhiT_owSaj0zdQRi0Ov39KHMfFFldGtyqUNLg8AUOSUxTg9W05sgEREfQitMAYqE63oDIA/s400/the_girls.jpg" alt="Portrait by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431859787804335346" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Gigglers</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU7ZofqzRAkjsGwt2oev61a-hRFd-g2D443feWBL0a4MZOFm1v5-BHCMUSfgfZydc8Pp1rFVp_oWjiZV3evYpBAXcYsul6S4OKXBJYqyLwfPKW3eiX6MSD5simUpk1nX4Tn2t2r-UJ2ns/s1600-h/rafael.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU7ZofqzRAkjsGwt2oev61a-hRFd-g2D443feWBL0a4MZOFm1v5-BHCMUSfgfZydc8Pp1rFVp_oWjiZV3evYpBAXcYsul6S4OKXBJYqyLwfPKW3eiX6MSD5simUpk1nX4Tn2t2r-UJ2ns/s400/rafael.jpg" alt="Portrait by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431859783191596946" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Rafael with garlic<br /><br /></span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgY1MNnVjOdOadBghIMVUr7ZqeEcmPWJBDHKOe0N1wwHCmehj7OYO_phPOxR0BwqDhxuZYTCkA6fa0CV0BQkMbB_m-d80VKpUkev6ttyeVZTRzdRyY29mZ3TbsLhEsFsnGWbt_Gwe3qrI/s1600-h/paco.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 280px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgY1MNnVjOdOadBghIMVUr7ZqeEcmPWJBDHKOe0N1wwHCmehj7OYO_phPOxR0BwqDhxuZYTCkA6fa0CV0BQkMbB_m-d80VKpUkev6ttyeVZTRzdRyY29mZ3TbsLhEsFsnGWbt_Gwe3qrI/s400/paco.jpg" alt="Portrait by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431859777337654178" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Paco with Linda and Linda!</span> </div>stylemedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10085436215603049616noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838350747643066175.post-2304536870067758652010-01-20T05:14:00.000-08:002010-01-20T06:25:29.542-08:00A fiesta of fire in Andalucia this morning!It's not difficult to see why Spain has produced artists of genius throughout the centuries. There are so many spectacular sights here that must lie deep in the sub-conscious. Dali's crutches come immediately to mind and I used to wonder where the idea came from, until I moved to Spain and saw that crutches are commonly used to support the branches of fruit trees when the fruit becomes too heavy.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPxslHHXbuub3RkklmSFGFJnfxD9asRmwiEzjhkc8C9jz_Ng5q9W-FNmWKn0Hnc8rXMAlAWN1ulhz3TzRPlFz2LlZ1FXNYdcwyYvQaAAzPGMXTsTt57Ctgbr6eUpl6a4e4lNdmouBYzLo/s1600-h/salvador_dali_-_the_dream.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPxslHHXbuub3RkklmSFGFJnfxD9asRmwiEzjhkc8C9jz_Ng5q9W-FNmWKn0Hnc8rXMAlAWN1ulhz3TzRPlFz2LlZ1FXNYdcwyYvQaAAzPGMXTsTt57Ctgbr6eUpl6a4e4lNdmouBYzLo/s400/salvador_dali_-_the_dream.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428813661200436802" border="0" /></a>This morning I came across some imagery that will stay with me forever.<br /><br />Most mornings I drive to the post office in a small town called Padul. Today, like every other day I turned off the main road into the town centre and then boom!!!<br /><br />I thought I had driven into a disaster area, a bomb or perhaps a gasoline tanker explosion. If this was indeed a disaster, the locals were behaving very calmly just like any normal day, except people were dragging what appeared to be bunches of wood.<br /><br />I parked the car and discovered I was in the middle of the second weirdest fiesta I've ever witnessed (see below for the weirdest). The bunches of wood that everyone carried were in fact rosemary, which grows in abundance in this part of Spain. The huge bunches of rosamary were stacked up high - then massive fires were lit in the middle of the streets, all over the town. As you can see some of the fires are big and fierce and as one dies down another will be lit just down the road. Today is a blustery day, and the smoke and fire was being blown every which way! People stood in groups watching and chatting. And that smoke, like a London fog with perfume. I love it, and long may it continue.<br /><br />Unfortunately, the post office was closed for the fiesta...........but tomorrow I shall try and find out from the friendly man who works there what this local fiesta was all about!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4DQ59eEYgGNfIjui5KSgSaYyFItXdlTdTv11Aztxujh0hgrB827soLpP9O8AcVdN7SBG3sJohhL5qZ_STGPMGzELnt7W9QL6gNsw_disB950qqnpayHOscn0do7fK_PNFwpw1upaE6mc/s1600-h/padul_fire_1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4DQ59eEYgGNfIjui5KSgSaYyFItXdlTdTv11Aztxujh0hgrB827soLpP9O8AcVdN7SBG3sJohhL5qZ_STGPMGzELnt7W9QL6gNsw_disB950qqnpayHOscn0do7fK_PNFwpw1upaE6mc/s400/padul_fire_1.jpg" alt="Padul Fiesta. Photograph by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428810188229523858" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Plaza in the town centre</span> </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5QVatJMORrNr7WYkm8WP4A2361fkKF0wZZTGdmMnamIo8-gSRgcSofv1jrtKDmJX9YHGikvEdRjnU5FcvyVnQEKP3Qp5TWEE0pciFVF1-ErFpK05_kWr-VwuX3Aq3AVzVHiCpu4twRfM/s1600-h/padul_fire_2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5QVatJMORrNr7WYkm8WP4A2361fkKF0wZZTGdmMnamIo8-gSRgcSofv1jrtKDmJX9YHGikvEdRjnU5FcvyVnQEKP3Qp5TWEE0pciFVF1-ErFpK05_kWr-VwuX3Aq3AVzVHiCpu4twRfM/s400/padul_fire_2.jpg" alt="Padul Fiesta. Photograph by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428810185424362370" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">The fires</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETq-jNgk_RSrcWQHEMde5VGx4KHVxI8a0MgRowZPZH-5WHvbmHLMMAccwOh1cEN56cn3XvBRH8ZEXklLPO1XTxdegE8kBoXhrUp-uglv7u1NLZEmwwb6lF-mKEwR9Zu4gc6dNGMWf_yw/s1600-h/padul_fire_3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETq-jNgk_RSrcWQHEMde5VGx4KHVxI8a0MgRowZPZH-5WHvbmHLMMAccwOh1cEN56cn3XvBRH8ZEXklLPO1XTxdegE8kBoXhrUp-uglv7u1NLZEmwwb6lF-mKEwR9Zu4gc6dNGMWf_yw/s400/padul_fire_3.jpg" alt="Padul Fiesta. Photograph by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428810179364687938" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">The fireworks</span><br /></div>You may be wondering what is the Number One weird fiesta. Well, that belongs to a small village near Granada where the villagers create life size characters and pose them around the village, then the real villagers seem to disappear. It's like walking around a ghost town!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj36CrPpDeROTSStcgkM1qS_QxNDmejQY2NZBTW1_KnjBEaiKtfa3_k74efTBk7tAa1Gk7e8hj-6Hp_M2byIEEXxX-k_dymespvgjq5AS3cf3ANlwQOGApuyE5v2Zz_gxPhRjxnvNmNOVI/s1600-h/alb_2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj36CrPpDeROTSStcgkM1qS_QxNDmejQY2NZBTW1_KnjBEaiKtfa3_k74efTBk7tAa1Gk7e8hj-6Hp_M2byIEEXxX-k_dymespvgjq5AS3cf3ANlwQOGApuyE5v2Zz_gxPhRjxnvNmNOVI/s400/alb_2.jpg" alt="Strange Fiesta. Photograph by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428824589914785650" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Life size doll<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQJQoByASvuUL_t1gkvpGSl08rnq1qqbBsPGzJRh9DPoYFTlTJZBsEWNBNy9JtaJPhC5oRzIOMJC3XJPamG74JYawAzu7VTPEMTjJo3ufi3_eTlVj6GaMGmSJand1ymKdPCgkvwwixvM/s1600-h/alb_1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 321px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQJQoByASvuUL_t1gkvpGSl08rnq1qqbBsPGzJRh9DPoYFTlTJZBsEWNBNy9JtaJPhC5oRzIOMJC3XJPamG74JYawAzu7VTPEMTjJo3ufi3_eTlVj6GaMGmSJand1ymKdPCgkvwwixvM/s400/alb_1.jpg" alt="Strange Fiesta. Photograph by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428824589049047890" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Lunch</span><br /><br /></div>stylemedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10085436215603049616noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838350747643066175.post-30751787536076085542010-01-18T06:26:00.000-08:002012-07-21T12:49:39.819-07:00The brass bedsWhen we sold our house in December,we decided to sell most of the furniture too. The reasons are, we fancied a change and the furniture wouldn't be entirely appropriate in our next house. However one of the things that we were not sure about selling were the antique brass beds, but in the end they were sold too.<br />
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Was it a mistake to sell the brass beds? Time will tell.<br />
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Here a few nice examples from some of the houses I've photographed.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcqtjLWAcaFqtnOqzvpf9jbgJbI9Kibb9Q3u1SXfIDEIOOve8Bp5q-uOzlk25NxMIJUG-ErbqhimtdRJqKBMaoVvpNdaU3ysOJn_hGGCyTwEdBn2trBehHIHG5cFTOKXHjqqHx9C6qtVw/s1600-h/bed_3.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="Brass bed. Photograph by Tim Irving" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428086767348874034" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcqtjLWAcaFqtnOqzvpf9jbgJbI9Kibb9Q3u1SXfIDEIOOve8Bp5q-uOzlk25NxMIJUG-ErbqhimtdRJqKBMaoVvpNdaU3ysOJn_hGGCyTwEdBn2trBehHIHG5cFTOKXHjqqHx9C6qtVw/s400/bed_3.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh32BK-RrscabKJloHhb-J8Gctt3Ds24trwUdfFwPo1muLf1TYYdecMmpY3FlmtAFrzUPkpB979YU4HisQttOQVZcV3UlrLOPOtg5u8GYg0BDp7Rv90OQz_MYf8f3wTvAnxfHe6dUSTnuA/s1600-h/bed_2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="Brass bed. Photograph by Tim Irving" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428086764594525490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh32BK-RrscabKJloHhb-J8Gctt3Ds24trwUdfFwPo1muLf1TYYdecMmpY3FlmtAFrzUPkpB979YU4HisQttOQVZcV3UlrLOPOtg5u8GYg0BDp7Rv90OQz_MYf8f3wTvAnxfHe6dUSTnuA/s400/bed_2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrYz1W_EJsCyUWnGPHM07QBu-If0aDyLm5BQ84k7-jh3qVa6GNTgNBdtHh9f8f5zn2BmDqv5vL3puy_l2HK0YQDIEWie4YJ2l9Ulw9wuIKnifuOBZ2Bi1vjGUywOaVPWJS20lNpAsl1mo/s1600-h/bed_1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="Brass bed. Photograph by Tim Irving" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428086763012956658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrYz1W_EJsCyUWnGPHM07QBu-If0aDyLm5BQ84k7-jh3qVa6GNTgNBdtHh9f8f5zn2BmDqv5vL3puy_l2HK0YQDIEWie4YJ2l9Ulw9wuIKnifuOBZ2Bi1vjGUywOaVPWJS20lNpAsl1mo/s400/bed_1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a>stylemedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10085436215603049616noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838350747643066175.post-9523027938615301112010-01-16T07:17:00.000-08:002010-01-16T08:27:14.004-08:00Quirky and originalThis week I went shopping for a new hard disk, life doesn't get much more exciting!<br />The purpose of the hard disk is to store all my photos that are currently on CD's, of which I have hundreds.<br /><br />The transfer was easy enough, and I could have done it without looking in the files, but I had to look. I discovered that I have lots of photos that should be shared with you because the design is quirky and original, but they don't fit neatly into a particular category. I'll slip a few of these photos in from time to time to add a little spice to the blog, hope you enjoy them.<br /><br />The house below is known in France as a <span style="font-weight: bold;">pied-à-terre</span> which translated means foot on the ground but really means a very small house. This house is extraordinarily tiny but designed to give a big impression, it even comes with its own pool.<br /><br />The genius of the house is that on each floor is just one small room. On the ground floor is a small sitting room, big enough for a 2 seater sofa, a single chair and an occasional table. The first floor is a tiny bedroom with a double bed. The bay window bulging out is the shower room. On the second floor is another slightly bigger bedroom with an en-suite bathroom. And the kitchen and small dining area is in the cellar, with the wine.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH8d2ujpeJr4edD2QznIcxH9UobIen3M8HjiKPuUyBcNbC7UD4UMNY0SY5Zs1tQBj2d7W9L28QXflM4L0qOPSjvKa48jXZDWodtxHqC_RM_uXPgMdopR3e9rgqz5J8DYcdsHenSTOPqxM/s1600-h/passade_front.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH8d2ujpeJr4edD2QznIcxH9UobIen3M8HjiKPuUyBcNbC7UD4UMNY0SY5Zs1tQBj2d7W9L28QXflM4L0qOPSjvKa48jXZDWodtxHqC_RM_uXPgMdopR3e9rgqz5J8DYcdsHenSTOPqxM/s400/passade_front.jpg" alt="Pied-à-terre. Photograph by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427357506300056818" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Pied-à-terre</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The bathroom below is just brilliant, not a straight line in sight. What I find particularly disturbing yet appealling is the shattered mirror used as a splash back behind the sink.<br /></div></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7gKfcthjEORJZaUaNfXEAPKcXoFfBe80xe3a5soKajeB-fYcQgDfv6vMqYEKCTAvnEq5KN7cEQ7wbPbNwcHkD46EpBUw5_PvV-Qn_AF4AnLm4KUH6c0Si2h7s_GlorCSquLFdboo9ifc/s1600-h/ing_bathroom.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7gKfcthjEORJZaUaNfXEAPKcXoFfBe80xe3a5soKajeB-fYcQgDfv6vMqYEKCTAvnEq5KN7cEQ7wbPbNwcHkD46EpBUw5_PvV-Qn_AF4AnLm4KUH6c0Si2h7s_GlorCSquLFdboo9ifc/s400/ing_bathroom.jpg" alt="Bathroom. Photograph by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427357501527110914" border="0" /></a>Another view inside this house, this is the kitchen/dining room.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOZBfihpBQSzHnIWW9QqQNFkvd79iXERvf45BofHFH25L7NqD7n4rJdZXM_pMbQmm5er-APZO4b-TMA_HCHNbukd3cOxHnB48B6i1TPdbPQzXQfH_P9HDqLtShyphenhyphenjNFL3R8yzfjgoTN1xI/s1600-h/distressed_mirror.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOZBfihpBQSzHnIWW9QqQNFkvd79iXERvf45BofHFH25L7NqD7n4rJdZXM_pMbQmm5er-APZO4b-TMA_HCHNbukd3cOxHnB48B6i1TPdbPQzXQfH_P9HDqLtShyphenhyphenjNFL3R8yzfjgoTN1xI/s400/distressed_mirror.jpg" alt="Breakfast room. Photograph by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427357496914990034" border="0" /></a>stylemedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10085436215603049616noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838350747643066175.post-73066186721164795912010-01-11T11:35:00.000-08:002010-01-11T12:41:41.817-08:00Shopping in the villageWe have about 4 weeks left in Spain, before the big move. We've had a wonderful life here, made a lot of friends and will leave with very happy memories.<br /><br />Besides the interior photos which I've shared with you there have been many snaps of village life, so while I've been pet sitting I've sorted through the photos to give you a look inside village life.<br /><br />Shopping:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Z2mHtCkG23tEmnMLTTiJnFgZdQYa73Gi8l4_bkPZ_ZwmGX2E0Ti4yJeYeRJblZR_HvtqD-FFkgyMAHRnpHi16bAwyv9jk7Pf_jVO68UHMlKAivKaE6qYliOgBHpPRxaBpWTq55bspLw/s1600-h/market.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 339px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Z2mHtCkG23tEmnMLTTiJnFgZdQYa73Gi8l4_bkPZ_ZwmGX2E0Ti4yJeYeRJblZR_HvtqD-FFkgyMAHRnpHi16bAwyv9jk7Pf_jVO68UHMlKAivKaE6qYliOgBHpPRxaBpWTq55bspLw/s400/market.jpg" alt="Spanish village market. Photograph by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425568613516229506" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Market day</span><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Monday is market day! Every Monday 3 or 4 stalls set up in the church plaza selling clothes, shoes and household goods. The traders set up at 9am and leave around 1pm. There are mainly women browsing and buying, a great opportunity to catch up on village news and events - and a godsend to the elderly people who don't have transport or access to the larger shops outside of the valley. The busiest day of the year for the market is the week before the Day of the Dead, when all the villagers buy artificial flowers for the graves of their loved ones.<br /></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0AyMEoF-NRh2wJjtPfXnpcUxVeqB7D7qc8Xy4KvCi2hzlH_jE2DaTIFPCQXA7q7WbHiq2LabxN48dBw4zcg0zFyXp-t242jG7LIj5iQWTgs5DNtYLnJz-g4O9pE-D9jU_T3pn4ELl2x8/s1600-h/encarne.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 281px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0AyMEoF-NRh2wJjtPfXnpcUxVeqB7D7qc8Xy4KvCi2hzlH_jE2DaTIFPCQXA7q7WbHiq2LabxN48dBw4zcg0zFyXp-t242jG7LIj5iQWTgs5DNtYLnJz-g4O9pE-D9jU_T3pn4ELl2x8/s400/encarne.jpg" alt="Village shop. Photograph by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425568611218934802" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">The village shop</span><br /><div style="text-align: left;">This is Encarnacion in her shop where I buy beer and milk. 8 years ago cows milk was a novelty here and you had to visit a supermarket in one of the larger towns. The shop is also a place to hear news. At the back of the shop, next to the toilet rolls are 2 dining chairs where the older customers sit and call out their shopping lists to Encarnacion.<br /><br />After 8 years I thought I understood the shop opening hours, which are Monday to Friday 9am-2pm and 5pm-8pm. Saturday, 9am-1pm. Sunday closed. Holidays and fiestas 9am-1pm. However, I've found there are days when the shop should be open, but is closed, and visa versa. But it seems I'm the only one who gets caught out by these odd days (or I'm the only one who runs out of beer and milk). I've questioned these anomolies as I seem to be the only person in the village who gets confused.<br /></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUakGUV1bJbPlWmyk0MPFNRYrwP-BTb0Tt1ZJxd1f4J0lDFxBxBHUVQ4QmxRPLYPQLNVRPuq8fnTHymJUCmFtrKamSsiS6wagaJQo-ITNzw1uI5Hn3Dl1ekzrjz19jDVKZ5tOhvV3Fvs/s1600-h/cake.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUakGUV1bJbPlWmyk0MPFNRYrwP-BTb0Tt1ZJxd1f4J0lDFxBxBHUVQ4QmxRPLYPQLNVRPuq8fnTHymJUCmFtrKamSsiS6wagaJQo-ITNzw1uI5Hn3Dl1ekzrjz19jDVKZ5tOhvV3Fvs/s400/cake.jpg" alt="Cake party. Photograph by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425568618702261394" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Lala's cake show</span><br /><div style="text-align: left;">If I'm in the market for cake other than the sponge cakes baked by the local panaderia, then I have to travel to the next village where occasionally my friend Lala will hold a cake show. The cake show is one of the highlights of the social calendar, it's where models glide around showing and serving beautiful cakes to a drooling audience.<br /><br />So there you have my brief outline of shopping in my village. We also have deliveries of bread, eggs, and cheese and hams. Once in a while a knife sharpener will appear on a moped and up until a few years ago, a man would call to repair cane seated chairs, but I fear he is now dead.<br /></div></div>stylemedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10085436215603049616noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838350747643066175.post-4385221789917061432010-01-08T04:44:00.000-08:002010-01-08T05:00:27.539-08:00Snow on the sunbeds<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIO3-j9mdP8LEz4hw86SaG2lUWZDS3eTeuGCFGoUfyQa2lQg4lYLjSQV-xeukwlxHCTUGq8Iyipo0sB5KA_5oXqubPaTtUGWDhNbDiMTtdXUKb45Nn3f5gKCsiH2At3Bz90IIii0P8tSg/s1600-h/snow_sunbed.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIO3-j9mdP8LEz4hw86SaG2lUWZDS3eTeuGCFGoUfyQa2lQg4lYLjSQV-xeukwlxHCTUGq8Iyipo0sB5KA_5oXqubPaTtUGWDhNbDiMTtdXUKb45Nn3f5gKCsiH2At3Bz90IIii0P8tSg/s400/snow_sunbed.jpg" alt="Snow on the sunbeds. Photograph by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424349008179889106" border="0" /></a>I promise this is the last time you'll hear me drone on about the weather, I honestly promise not to mention it again. But I must tell you, last night it snowed here in southern <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Andalucia</span>, that's snow on those sunbeds. There's a bitterly cold wind too.<br /><br />Fortunately I have a few items of clothing that I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">acquired</span> for the skiing photo session, so I'm OK. Otherwise, the only outfit I have with long sleeves and long trousers is my all purpose black suit that I wear for funerals and parties, and that's in storage.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpXuXFYw9ubHiUXQOkSY3rzI59nC7zE9hMLFVEy1-v3BbYgO0un-t1VQmkLWPeY7Cvh-ogvi0QFgS9P_dbCaFZlANQzPmOFkUJsFHxdAkDma8ES8rIi6lJfCCQB-n_ZbzhneF4X2X5kIw/s1600-h/snow_terrace.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpXuXFYw9ubHiUXQOkSY3rzI59nC7zE9hMLFVEy1-v3BbYgO0un-t1VQmkLWPeY7Cvh-ogvi0QFgS9P_dbCaFZlANQzPmOFkUJsFHxdAkDma8ES8rIi6lJfCCQB-n_ZbzhneF4X2X5kIw/s400/snow_terrace.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424352394223301234" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Snow on the roof terrace</span><br /></div>stylemedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10085436215603049616noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838350747643066175.post-46045843845329930582010-01-07T12:11:00.000-08:002010-01-07T13:17:20.931-08:00A recipe from Bangkok for you<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH9irN6irGjWbR5KZZ5eEVi785CWJpMQZ2s4ajypeMgwg6Dk1RJ0pm_K3T6gUgN36fD4ZA_t1-aSsNXBNLckn1xZJkZ6DXkTsYoWjfQaXxNpBVE9DBZo0JX0AAnocafBiHSQpuB2Z9NVw/s1600-h/gold_bud_1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH9irN6irGjWbR5KZZ5eEVi785CWJpMQZ2s4ajypeMgwg6Dk1RJ0pm_K3T6gUgN36fD4ZA_t1-aSsNXBNLckn1xZJkZ6DXkTsYoWjfQaXxNpBVE9DBZo0JX0AAnocafBiHSQpuB2Z9NVw/s400/gold_bud_1.jpg" alt="Wrapped Buddhas. Photograph by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424096420927874226" border="0" /></a>With 'Los Reyes' out of the way the holidays are finally over in Spain, for a few weeks anyway. The weather here is like the rest of Europe, wet or worse, it snowed in Madrid and further south today.<br /><br />I ventured out with my dog this morning and the rain reminded me of a week I spent in Glasgow a few years back. Rain so hard it bounces off the pavement so your legs get soaked. To avoid going stir crazy I'm cooking recipes from my travels, tonight it's Pad Thai. This is a very authentic recipe, I made the notes myself on the streets of Bangkok a few years ago and I've added a few Bangkok images for you.<br /><br />Ingredients for 2 people:<br />2 eggs<br />4 teaspoons fish sauce<br />3 cloves of garlic, finely chopped<br />1/2 teaspoon ground dried chilli pepper <br />1 shallot, finely chopped<br />1/2 tablespoon sugar<br />1 tablespoon of tamarind<br />enough cooked noodles for 2 people*<br />2 tablespoons of vegetable oil or sesame oil<br />hot chilli sauce (optional!)<br /><br />Additionally, you can add bean sprouts and chopped peanuts.<br /><br />*In Bangkok you can choose from 4 or 5 different noodles, from very fine to thick, so use what you prefer. The noodles should be slightly under-cooked.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSQXbRtxxzbZRI2ySZzFcuLpy-ipdem9lLf56KsDlce7IrJ2M1H2DW8flDOxIDCOyG6pzBgpMUY0eJjZoXN6C9yPz0UvyfnrRN_sA3B1Koawy6sajdioUBafCz7h3jKKo4RwpuO0rGnE/s1600-h/smoke1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 305px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSQXbRtxxzbZRI2ySZzFcuLpy-ipdem9lLf56KsDlce7IrJ2M1H2DW8flDOxIDCOyG6pzBgpMUY0eJjZoXN6C9yPz0UvyfnrRN_sA3B1Koawy6sajdioUBafCz7h3jKKo4RwpuO0rGnE/s400/smoke1.jpg" alt="Street food, Bangkok. Photograph by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424096414115902258" border="0" /></a>Method:<br />Cooking time 2-3 minutes.<br />Use a wok.<br />On a <span style="font-weight: bold;">high heat</span> add the oil.<br />Add the shallots and garlic and stir until they start to brown. Add the cooked noodles. Stir quickly to keep things from sticking. Add tamarind, sugar, fish sauce and chilli pepper.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The heat should remain high</span>.<br />Crack the egg into the wok and scramble it until it is almost all cooked. Fold the egg into the noodles. Add bean sprouts and peanuts at this stage. Stir a few more times and serve. I add a very hot chilli sauce....you may choose not to!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrtL6y1q0tmuIHmAaDnhezVnjD3otrdfUPUdACMteF5iwXQXNT0wu6vEuFfUf3RW9t4wosUfFWIBDRrhNOFB2MIhM7oYyJDRstRo1Hp3wJbttE8iU7N5Dwo53ZmYvjikZSPqxmg-xJPtM/s1600-h/tuk-tuk.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 285px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrtL6y1q0tmuIHmAaDnhezVnjD3otrdfUPUdACMteF5iwXQXNT0wu6vEuFfUf3RW9t4wosUfFWIBDRrhNOFB2MIhM7oYyJDRstRo1Hp3wJbttE8iU7N5Dwo53ZmYvjikZSPqxmg-xJPtM/s400/tuk-tuk.jpg" alt="Tuk tuk, Bangkok. Photograph by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424096404483928178" border="0" /></a>stylemedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10085436215603049616noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838350747643066175.post-67342672218018350672010-01-06T01:54:00.000-08:002010-01-06T03:09:17.612-08:00What I'm doing at the moment<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-3pp-AeMSDC_Q_5nz9F0Y_wR_NLhJCeq3ctiT4othWDozxAaBluaKkVgmDjfugpOLKmUUJ-Eb2VEZAGfC9n9gRgcbNnp7Laifdt41Qvl-K0eH1EpsN3VGHim83HHyEA3Cxyz4ebx41U/s1600-h/green_fence.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-3pp-AeMSDC_Q_5nz9F0Y_wR_NLhJCeq3ctiT4othWDozxAaBluaKkVgmDjfugpOLKmUUJ-Eb2VEZAGfC9n9gRgcbNnp7Laifdt41Qvl-K0eH1EpsN3VGHim83HHyEA3Cxyz4ebx41U/s400/green_fence.jpg" alt="Yesterday's dog walk. Photograph by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423581865229098210" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">From my walk, yesterday</span><br /></div><br />When I started this blog it was with the intention of showing the photographs of interiors taken around southern Europe and the characters I've met. It was definately not a personal blog, and I tried to keep myself out of it. However, every now and then I need to give you some background information to keep you up to date and this is one such occasion.<br /><br />In December we moved out of our house in Spain. The sale had been agreed in July, with a completion date around the end of November, which dragged on a bit. Because of the quarantine laws and the movement of animals into Britain, the cat and dog have to be 'passported' and free of rabies for six months before they are allowed in the country, this is done by taking a blood test and sampling it over a 6 months period, they also need a micro chip implanted under their skin.<br /><br />Of course we should have had the animals blood tested and micro chipped years ago, and although the pets have had regular check-ups and vaccinations at the vet, we never got around to arranging passports for them. So as soon as the house sale was agreed in July we arranged for the vet to take blood samples and send them to a lab for analysis. When the results and documents were returned to the vets it was the 7th of August, which means we can't travel with the animals until those six months are up, on the 7th of February.<br /><br />In the meantime, as you know, we've been staying in a delightful apartment in a small village a few miles from where we used to live. Everything is nice and comfortable here but all our possesions and books are in storage, so my days are different than they used to be. I have no office or studio and I have to share a computer.<br /><br />I'm filling my days taking long walks, reading borrowed books and cooking. I'm also writing ideas and making sketches for new photographs, and taking snap shots to remind me of the last 8 years in Spain.<br /><br />So there you have it, I have about 4 more weeks of 'pet sitting' before we move on to the next big adventure, and what an adventure it is. I'll start telling you the details over the next few days to bring you fully up to date.stylemedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10085436215603049616noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838350747643066175.post-63693447689497566542009-12-28T06:51:00.000-08:002009-12-28T07:18:14.616-08:00The ski photographsWe've had appalling weather here for the past week, just solid rain. Yesterday the clouds parted and the sun shone, and the ski slopes were opened for the first time in over a week.<br /><br />I arranged to go up the mountain with a friend who is an experienced snow boarder and was happy to guide me around the runs. However this meant that I had to spend five hours on top of the mountain while my guide had his fun.<br /><br />The adventure went smoothly! I was warm enough and I took a couple of photos that pleased me.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://opart.etsy.com/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA5eIxhO_P8YmP47ILNkpK81vW4jaZXSZCrhFEAJAsVu8cUT7AMe-pBBVpQDe7cYteUCYeSkpkjYgGLMNKDUHMlimGy0x7Evuso-A1Myv-sE4gLrp2jeQLY1CWLk59Xmyo0PGy0qSEAWY/s400/skiiers.jpg" alt="Alpine Drama. Photograph by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420304112757360946" border="0" /></a>I'm spending my time now, planning some new photographs for next year. So far I've pencilled in the Tour de France, New York and India for 2010, I hope I manage it.<br /><br />I also hope that you have a wonderful New Year, and fulfill all your wishes for the coming year.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;">All the best<br />Tim<br /></div>stylemedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10085436215603049616noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838350747643066175.post-5733578717785464272009-12-23T08:29:00.000-08:002009-12-23T09:27:42.000-08:00El Gordo and fried chickenThe big loteria, el Gordo, was drawn yesterday in Spain, and as it's a national event I always watch the draw from my favourite bar. I don't buy a ticket, it's too complicated - but I enjoy the atmosphere once a year. I recorded my journey for you, it is a road trip, so I hope you'll enjoy it.<br /><br />The weather has stopped me photographing the ski centre in the Sierra Nevada. Apparently high winds have prevented the skiing, and together with poor visibility it has had to close for the last few days. All is not doom and gloom though! I've used my spare time to perfect Thai red curry and KFC style fried chicken. The Thai curry was easy and it tastes and smells like I remember it in Bangkok. The KFC style chicken was a little trickier and I've been struggling to replicate it since the summer. However a friend of mine let me into the secret of the missing ingredient, it's MSG, and adding it turns the humble fried chicken into a taste of heaven.<br /><br />Here is my gift to you this Christmas:<br /><br /><strong>'KFC' style seasoned flour mix</strong><br />2 tablespoons plain flour<br />1 teaspoon ground oregano<br />1 teaspoon chilli powder<br />1 teaspoon ground sage<br />1 teaspoon dried basil<br />1 teaspoon dried marjoram<br />1 teaspoon pepper<br />2 teaspoons salt<br />1 teaspoon paprika<br />1 teaspoon onion salt<br />1 teaspoon garlic powder<br />2 tablespoons Accent (MSG)<br /><br />Cook the chicken pieces in milk for 10-15 minutes. Allow to cool then coat the pieces in the mixture above. Fry in vegetable oil until golden. Eat and enjoy your spiritual experience.<br /><br /><br /><center><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GI2QYV7rI8g&hl=en_GB&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GI2QYV7rI8g&hl=en_GB&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></center>stylemedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10085436215603049616noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838350747643066175.post-49472834622900581712009-12-15T12:04:00.000-08:002009-12-15T13:07:56.894-08:00A small but special hotelI'm very well thank you! Tired and a little frazzled, but happy as Larry. I've had a very busy week, but things are returning to normal, almost.<br /><br />I hope you are keeping well and happy. Sorry this is a few days late, but I have a good excuse.<br /><br />We (wife, cat, dog and me), moved out of our house last Thursday and into temporary accommodation until next February. You'll have to wait and see what's happening in Februray, but there are some big changes in the air for me.<br /><br />Most of our possessions are now in storage and I'm sharing a computer to blog to you. I've decided that until I get straight, I can only promise to blog once a week and because of my restricted time on the computer the blog will be photo biased.<br /><br />So here goes!<br />Yesterday was Monday and I had to visit the coastal town of Motril. I had some business to do there but I also arranged to visit a small but very special house which has been restored into an equally special hotel, called Casa de los Bates (named after an English gardener).<br /><br />I've restricted the photos to the garden, which is magnificent, I'll blog about the interior another day. Many of the plants and trees were originally brought from the US and Cuba. There are strong links between this part of Spain to Cuba because this coast used to export the sugar cane for the rum.<br /><br />I love this house!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKglfLU_WB8NgWRY4QDBxF1Pps3jHU6I7vjif2cD4Gtrko4G9AFxgAVIHWl8u9-Yn3mS7zB0D6xFTnEQf9f_10Wl66t96pp2h2K0vnjunvO8T8zLgeIJMy-AcIq1uJapw1anJWwUgLfws/s1600-h/entrance.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 282px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKglfLU_WB8NgWRY4QDBxF1Pps3jHU6I7vjif2cD4Gtrko4G9AFxgAVIHWl8u9-Yn3mS7zB0D6xFTnEQf9f_10Wl66t96pp2h2K0vnjunvO8T8zLgeIJMy-AcIq1uJapw1anJWwUgLfws/s400/entrance.jpg" alt="Casa de los Bates. Photograph by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415560086648673714" border="0" /></a>Entrance to the front of the house<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX46OXDpE73egchPTZoMnVZKsfwAyW8kWjH8aw3Z_mW8qz6qHMslNqDQc6hOp84ySQD7jKJzdk_wA8Dse07DaCtAua4hOh4fr6G4b1n8tn1sQVA2YNtdCzolROOoRdLHt12b8rDlggnrU/s1600-h/gargoyle.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX46OXDpE73egchPTZoMnVZKsfwAyW8kWjH8aw3Z_mW8qz6qHMslNqDQc6hOp84ySQD7jKJzdk_wA8Dse07DaCtAua4hOh4fr6G4b1n8tn1sQVA2YNtdCzolROOoRdLHt12b8rDlggnrU/s400/gargoyle.jpg" alt="Casa de los Bates. Photograph by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415560090941296770" border="0" /></a>Spooky gargoyles for drainage<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2EoMSuPPML-Mpr7i4Wba1RQeylWBnlVg29CbR89wXp0UFsXPKJ6Dro48JZzB7UcxkLCHuhmyrJ8B_8A8SpYX73r7Xu5HzJsOumebf-8n5fMLRGxOn2x7I14Xv48V6iIfAagGcFKJiVxU/s1600-h/dog.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2EoMSuPPML-Mpr7i4Wba1RQeylWBnlVg29CbR89wXp0UFsXPKJ6Dro48JZzB7UcxkLCHuhmyrJ8B_8A8SpYX73r7Xu5HzJsOumebf-8n5fMLRGxOn2x7I14Xv48V6iIfAagGcFKJiVxU/s400/dog.jpg" alt="Casa de los Bates. Photograph by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415560081962772994" border="0" /></a>Front terrace<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJgiwiXyXVeibGO-8WkAaiqKG8qzBUiZkbxyC9gjv4pPtJI4lHjl5LTzKEEeJ6tD-J3VOUf2AiYsWAzo-TL3P0r8kEcHBSU4TbGwH0YFK9lqxc0ePm820OlFh85yi57kANOtbKxyCw-u8/s1600-h/urn.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJgiwiXyXVeibGO-8WkAaiqKG8qzBUiZkbxyC9gjv4pPtJI4lHjl5LTzKEEeJ6tD-J3VOUf2AiYsWAzo-TL3P0r8kEcHBSU4TbGwH0YFK9lqxc0ePm820OlFh85yi57kANOtbKxyCw-u8/s400/urn.jpg" alt="Casa de los Bates. Photograph by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415559808413723970" border="0" /></a>Original features<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguylAO5SEmCyxmG85SEfx3tS_PVZrCr0mwnWFY5xXGeRyVGL6rYlrIywo8kM9fcfTCg8PQRjT8gMUQSugDfzz6PwA7YptDstNOtv71-gW8XBLPvXAQgX_BnY3b0wXwsLkpnLR0Nhc9LPc/s1600-h/terrace.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguylAO5SEmCyxmG85SEfx3tS_PVZrCr0mwnWFY5xXGeRyVGL6rYlrIywo8kM9fcfTCg8PQRjT8gMUQSugDfzz6PwA7YptDstNOtv71-gW8XBLPvXAQgX_BnY3b0wXwsLkpnLR0Nhc9LPc/s400/terrace.jpg" alt="Casa de los Bates. Photograph by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415559792576326194" border="0" /></a>Patio furniture<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZfu0Q_R_hP5Ynq-12wGHSvHwDksp2EHqDKHiPtMZ6U0jhEhjoLtkSpV15rCb0rB_ndhOBzC_B68ajLw4LF8AzgZaNCkAaTU_AT1iawlA7USpHYThx4b-u6ygYGUFPHsMLtJNpXDYlHGE/s1600-h/steps.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZfu0Q_R_hP5Ynq-12wGHSvHwDksp2EHqDKHiPtMZ6U0jhEhjoLtkSpV15rCb0rB_ndhOBzC_B68ajLw4LF8AzgZaNCkAaTU_AT1iawlA7USpHYThx4b-u6ygYGUFPHsMLtJNpXDYlHGE/s400/steps.jpg" alt="Casa de los Bates. Photograph by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415559789770396178" border="0" /></a>Steps to the rear entrance of the house<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhO5hdJi6PB3N-w6A1HPyEQJWDgGUMC9esm3KSfLBp1X9cJZUEnu4FNXm6G1h6Xj2p0BpmzxdHvBb-pebcVSxMR1k0OPXO1WLXEDWfhsU0TWxHVA-SVDOnHc-giHnSbRE2a0dgopgQE9I/s1600-h/pond_urn.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhO5hdJi6PB3N-w6A1HPyEQJWDgGUMC9esm3KSfLBp1X9cJZUEnu4FNXm6G1h6Xj2p0BpmzxdHvBb-pebcVSxMR1k0OPXO1WLXEDWfhsU0TWxHVA-SVDOnHc-giHnSbRE2a0dgopgQE9I/s400/pond_urn.jpg" alt="Casa de los Bates. Photograph by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415559783565304050" border="0" /></a>Water features and trees from the new world<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgml9Q1HpI5MUxb1o8jZ07W4Xv6nWXMux8SalJnFa1qaQ41PUjC6vSfaJM5HVJtd5cQeQKjsy0bzfTvcH1Lppx3PT7dZv1pF9_H-nUXXXhX0_y34Hv6DVlh4ht4Y4liziUYv9_jL2k5NZ4/s1600-h/lights.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgml9Q1HpI5MUxb1o8jZ07W4Xv6nWXMux8SalJnFa1qaQ41PUjC6vSfaJM5HVJtd5cQeQKjsy0bzfTvcH1Lppx3PT7dZv1pF9_H-nUXXXhX0_y34Hv6DVlh4ht4Y4liziUYv9_jL2k5NZ4/s400/lights.jpg" alt="Casa de los Bates. Photograph by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415559780378677458" border="0" /></a>Stairway to heaven<br /></div>stylemedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10085436215603049616noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838350747643066175.post-78991229553067114792009-12-04T02:00:00.000-08:002009-12-04T12:52:14.023-08:00Snow on the mountain<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7M2fb8i3ONiCFtQRfRt3oLBMAhyGkzd-l6W0jepVJeOiwl2x_A2FzFkekkG2kicZBVQm9CqbqW3_k3EGDcCQ8gaWKBGkA_mulOukIrOAi88NRF7Lx3IXY4RY69QtwK4oYFmEIsmXCTc/s1600-h/view+of+talara_snow.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7M2fb8i3ONiCFtQRfRt3oLBMAhyGkzd-l6W0jepVJeOiwl2x_A2FzFkekkG2kicZBVQm9CqbqW3_k3EGDcCQ8gaWKBGkA_mulOukIrOAi88NRF7Lx3IXY4RY69QtwK4oYFmEIsmXCTc/s400/view+of+talara_snow.jpg" alt="Sierra Nevada ski resort. Photograph by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411318849215115602" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">View of the mountains, from my village</span><br /></div><br />For the past few days the mountains have been obscured by thick clouds, yesterday they cleared leaving the snow you see above. So it looks like the ski resort will open in a few days and I'll have to go up there and take some snaps.<br /><br />Anyone who doesn't take climate change seriously should take note that until very recently this mountain used to be snow capped all year round, but over recent years the snow comes later and melts earlier.<br /><br />This weekend is the start of a big fiesta in Spain in honour of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immaculate_Conception">Immaculate Conception</a>, so the country shuts down until next Wednesday. The only people who are busy for this period are the priests and nuns who I've seen a lot of this week. Even when you can't see their dog collars you can still recognise them by the light grey <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anorak_%28slang%29">anoraks</a> they wear. I shall probably take a photo or two to show you.<br /><br />I've got a busy weekend ahead, lots of repairs to do around the house. I hope you have a very relaxed weekend and I look forward to meeting up with you again next week.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;">All the best Tim<br /></div>stylemedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10085436215603049616noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838350747643066175.post-32331959253385608402009-12-02T10:23:00.000-08:002009-12-02T14:03:56.620-08:00A wonderful little shopI'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!<br />I can't divulge the secret location of this shop.......... all I can say is, it's in a back street in Granada. It would kill it for me if there was another customer, you see I believe I'm the only person who knows this shop.<br /><br />The shop is very, very small. So small that I have to remove my camera bag to avoid breaking things, and there's a lot of stuff to break. There is treasure everywhere, on the floor, inside drawers, behind cabinets and on the ceiling, plus it's constantly and mysteriously changing from week to week.<br /><br />The contents of the shop comes from all over Europe, and it's all good quality. But it's the diversity that amazes me. I once found a set of 19th century photographs from a vicarage in Hertfordshire, England.<br /><br />The shop is owned by a very elegant lady who always wears a suit, tweed in winter and lightweight in summer. She has big hair that looks hard, and a constant smile on her face. She's a brilliant salesperson. She gives ridiculous discounts and gifts. She hums tunes while she pretends not to be watching me as I pick up valuable china and glass to inspect. Plus she gives you candy, usually small violet scented sweets from Madrid.<br /><br />Anyway, I've given away too much. Here are a few photographs, just to give you a taste.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQb3uIIqxBzY2zu4ZiSPBxmHkI9BuybDm9fO3w0VGfRxfe7oDdd6wKTrFyUyffUrdseUW2Bp5ZfxgppFZJ6vK9HSfkGP9nzhOq4452dh91Ns09-tZ4FOmOyg4Xs0TvePMkdNA_9MSxDuc/s1600-h/wall.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQb3uIIqxBzY2zu4ZiSPBxmHkI9BuybDm9fO3w0VGfRxfe7oDdd6wKTrFyUyffUrdseUW2Bp5ZfxgppFZJ6vK9HSfkGP9nzhOq4452dh91Ns09-tZ4FOmOyg4Xs0TvePMkdNA_9MSxDuc/s400/wall.jpg" alt="shop. Photograph by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410743691938111618" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs11jzhPisbatz1FdG2p7LdJyKSXl-Rv5jaCpn5e-z9cOKb9uy-pBeUjQHSzqCuyhoPVahRQyJTv8QgSRVReqdl9NaD1NDjN5Bav_D6xFZzlYl-KaggGv9J82iBy7f-EIvL5NqJLinx4I/s1600-h/window_1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs11jzhPisbatz1FdG2p7LdJyKSXl-Rv5jaCpn5e-z9cOKb9uy-pBeUjQHSzqCuyhoPVahRQyJTv8QgSRVReqdl9NaD1NDjN5Bav_D6xFZzlYl-KaggGv9J82iBy7f-EIvL5NqJLinx4I/s400/window_1.jpg" alt="shop. Photograph by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410743689257239826" border="0" /><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzvmgLRRAFUwKXUs-metgMCbF5VCZmgg7XOyAdkOPk7V0KC_Qnr6HILUi2lQtXxi_EVit7rP4SZHjYq2wvi5VLnbpw0sDKwZt6ePlX78lBEDbyBYitnMoIQaZK0rBLnmApjJYfUNT__3g/s1600-h/table.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzvmgLRRAFUwKXUs-metgMCbF5VCZmgg7XOyAdkOPk7V0KC_Qnr6HILUi2lQtXxi_EVit7rP4SZHjYq2wvi5VLnbpw0sDKwZt6ePlX78lBEDbyBYitnMoIQaZK0rBLnmApjJYfUNT__3g/s400/table.jpg" alt="shop. Photograph by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410743694638624146" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj723-gxZOjITHDYIuzRC10UFs340k0pL6WlBbnjccJieG5P00spZOq3utv-S7Heinjivbxf4uFhQcCsRLavY45R9i8RU3RNxxHnnX12hJO7so0vBRDZTqaDDhXT1VJhj7LGBAgm8-tlVs/s1600-h/condiments.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj723-gxZOjITHDYIuzRC10UFs340k0pL6WlBbnjccJieG5P00spZOq3utv-S7Heinjivbxf4uFhQcCsRLavY45R9i8RU3RNxxHnnX12hJO7so0vBRDZTqaDDhXT1VJhj7LGBAgm8-tlVs/s400/condiments.jpg" alt="shop. Photograph by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410743213647534338" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN5xwnmlBEDZoqpyM8bUFNjbss1ZYam4F8XEWMDDjOmBGnlqV89SNq6MaOSs8fXX8owE6ygSRKw7JQCTd0aZyRVAyr_icJP60EKYEJnoMDhS3AJ3bfbmhcVMKVAYFEZchYsdww4A5rJWk/s1600-h/condiments_2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN5xwnmlBEDZoqpyM8bUFNjbss1ZYam4F8XEWMDDjOmBGnlqV89SNq6MaOSs8fXX8owE6ygSRKw7JQCTd0aZyRVAyr_icJP60EKYEJnoMDhS3AJ3bfbmhcVMKVAYFEZchYsdww4A5rJWk/s400/condiments_2.jpg" alt="shop. Photograph by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410743209445018786" border="0" /></a><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wHnPcpAxE9oeR5Ny8Xj17SQWRVv237HO2rl2W2yGQSPvf0Fo9Ddt1G8fGSrkQbnx1kJIjpeeORG-lqSdgDs51Xqf7fgUz148tPyo5mX8coRZ-RkuaspYahMEslA1Rfr-lPSD4R8lxFs/s1600-h/icon.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wHnPcpAxE9oeR5Ny8Xj17SQWRVv237HO2rl2W2yGQSPvf0Fo9Ddt1G8fGSrkQbnx1kJIjpeeORG-lqSdgDs51Xqf7fgUz148tPyo5mX8coRZ-RkuaspYahMEslA1Rfr-lPSD4R8lxFs/s400/icon.jpg" alt="shop. Photograph by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410743209646024674" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ6sSjZkLkXY4dnpORC0Ztoq_UuScAPB7t4dsvenSj6s6_G9fubie25e8En5SRO3fRb-O5dEQn-ztA4s9ABqN-t_CYRchhiBoc8lZE-o6iKvg935jI151KbSaKPbpvTPK5uv2DpDz9xX4/s1600-h/mirror.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ6sSjZkLkXY4dnpORC0Ztoq_UuScAPB7t4dsvenSj6s6_G9fubie25e8En5SRO3fRb-O5dEQn-ztA4s9ABqN-t_CYRchhiBoc8lZE-o6iKvg935jI151KbSaKPbpvTPK5uv2DpDz9xX4/s400/mirror.jpg" alt="shop. Photograph by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410743203695740002" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6hdyziTg5cF5oYfMBxCI6mIIPRtsl_RYFp1K5Az9cjMtpug3t1yWXESwBajMR2XiX2tZmUK2AjOCt0rzz2bbE1TGQQvQ0ZE0JUM6GLlJXV2XNqTBkdM4uTOKZ75Kw0YQkj3VFnCh2AU/s1600-h/shop.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6hdyziTg5cF5oYfMBxCI6mIIPRtsl_RYFp1K5Az9cjMtpug3t1yWXESwBajMR2XiX2tZmUK2AjOCt0rzz2bbE1TGQQvQ0ZE0JUM6GLlJXV2XNqTBkdM4uTOKZ75Kw0YQkj3VFnCh2AU/s400/shop.jpg" alt="shop. Photograph by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410743197462882114" border="0" /></a>stylemedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10085436215603049616noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838350747643066175.post-37320901888306799022009-12-01T01:34:00.000-08:002009-12-01T05:19:44.955-08:00Getting to my favourite shop<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiElatNfUTygDD_BsMg9yIUAfXcsBZUWBVXlZKJLDzvF6Jm7mvxh_6Tur6uGIC9qH5g85siRuK2EVrhHCAfakildmqUwmMaBxv904i_kmuN4PaIDWGSp1lhIiwIK7LkcYRToC5rXJt0JGQ/s1600/IMG_3839.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiElatNfUTygDD_BsMg9yIUAfXcsBZUWBVXlZKJLDzvF6Jm7mvxh_6Tur6uGIC9qH5g85siRuK2EVrhHCAfakildmqUwmMaBxv904i_kmuN4PaIDWGSp1lhIiwIK7LkcYRToC5rXJt0JGQ/s400/IMG_3839.jpg" alt="Granada roadworks. Photograph by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410205126186375250" border="0" /></a>This blogging lark is hard!<br />Yesterday I planned to visit a fabulous interior designers shop in Granada. I know the shop well having spent heavily in there over the years. I know the owner and the staff too, so I turned up yesterday morning to be welcomed by the cleaner, who I didn't know.<br /><br />The shop was closed to the public for 2 days and the cleaner wouldn't let me in :-(<br /><br />I'll return to that shop in a week or two. In the meantime I drove to my other favourite shop, the location of which is a secret I'm not prepared to divulge unless you get me drunk, but I'll happily show you my snaps.<br /><br />It was 11 am and quiet, so I decided to take a short cut and cut across Granada, that was my big mistake.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi69KDP8-KEUaPvFNgfEnZHq5EANagTsgQa1mZVujqtAVZnEonC5Xe_okpRS_wstn9vyrWOc7trbk4D8lKDf2M0yBOUy6taO6ahS5_mDGTVYTIoVBQI2kk4XdbAXQa7EgDoYIwvAyEO5rY/s1600/IMG_3821.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi69KDP8-KEUaPvFNgfEnZHq5EANagTsgQa1mZVujqtAVZnEonC5Xe_okpRS_wstn9vyrWOc7trbk4D8lKDf2M0yBOUy6taO6ahS5_mDGTVYTIoVBQI2kk4XdbAXQa7EgDoYIwvAyEO5rY/s400/IMG_3821.jpg" alt="Granada roadworks. Photograph by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410205128263141538" border="0" /></a>The whole city is in chaos because of a new tram system being installed. I know it's a big job but I wonder if every major road in central Granada had to be dug up at the same time! It took ages to get to the shop, being diverted all over the city. After 40 minutes of crawling around I finally parked the car (miles from the shop) and walked. The sillyness made me laugh.<br /><br />But it's not a laughing matter for the empty shops that have been cut off by the road works for the past year or more. On my walk I passed shop after shop with no customers, and a few had already closed up. But my favourite shop is still open and full of wonderful things. See my next post.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7xUZ_Elh6IPBYKs3NbRSCZnRHMJIRauKXcl5qHAk0WrWTBcfsAWIiiwbBWOH319O3wDx2WZQbXSnrpicTiOg3yWku2pmofnbRIEGsNrmLNLs5vXnK0XQY7izrfIT06rlwhIv6D-BBlPw/s1600/IMG_3841.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7xUZ_Elh6IPBYKs3NbRSCZnRHMJIRauKXcl5qHAk0WrWTBcfsAWIiiwbBWOH319O3wDx2WZQbXSnrpicTiOg3yWku2pmofnbRIEGsNrmLNLs5vXnK0XQY7izrfIT06rlwhIv6D-BBlPw/s400/IMG_3841.jpg" alt="Granada roadworks. Photograph by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410205119057155746" border="0" /></a>stylemedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10085436215603049616noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838350747643066175.post-81219271666579619642009-11-26T01:35:00.000-08:002009-11-26T10:03:11.418-08:00The oldest man I know<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKcQ7DbTQDothKVAArKGq_T8BZMh2KvHMMHCEvUasts6jTRxu6im1rq4WvyZ-Rj1wxXw83fF68BZiynAsX4y_Xsa03eFZq0iXFwRJviRpX8SpttjSpxecbRxRxMrTmUqi0DKhZ3TbNTB0/s1600/old_man_1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKcQ7DbTQDothKVAArKGq_T8BZMh2KvHMMHCEvUasts6jTRxu6im1rq4WvyZ-Rj1wxXw83fF68BZiynAsX4y_Xsa03eFZq0iXFwRJviRpX8SpttjSpxecbRxRxMrTmUqi0DKhZ3TbNTB0/s400/old_man_1.jpg" alt="Pepe. Photograph by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408343857042126306" border="0" /></a>This is Pepe, the oldest man in my village. How old? I'm not sure as I can never get a straight answer, but he's old.<br /><br />I'm going to leave you with Pepe while I take a couple of days off. I won't be <a href="http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/phrasal-verbs/skive+off.html">skiving</a>. I plan to use the time to do some work and take some photographs for this blog.<br /><br />I'll be back on Monday. Have a good Thanksgiving and a peaceful weekend!<br /><div style="text-align: right;">All the best<br />Tim<br /></div>stylemedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10085436215603049616noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838350747643066175.post-64921312369240754322009-11-25T01:02:00.000-08:002009-11-25T01:07:35.215-08:00Interesting door<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-osrAejaktpaMYKtCllIJbAJpz9yVnUp8T1NAe-PAqbsYRa2qKqS6jIOqHsFj3ZDVjZ8fWrylfck-Hfo3QllqRisSbdCzK1TY-YATYnyaG_l1QbH-0KuxGD0hNlmXJl3lzf6h52jFVTQ/s1600/door.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-osrAejaktpaMYKtCllIJbAJpz9yVnUp8T1NAe-PAqbsYRa2qKqS6jIOqHsFj3ZDVjZ8fWrylfck-Hfo3QllqRisSbdCzK1TY-YATYnyaG_l1QbH-0KuxGD0hNlmXJl3lzf6h52jFVTQ/s400/door.jpg" alt="creative writing on door. Photograph by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407964317119657394" border="0" /></a>I promise I'll return and knock. We deserve to know who's inside.stylemedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10085436215603049616noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838350747643066175.post-52891581233902344342009-11-24T01:16:00.000-08:002009-11-24T07:49:18.053-08:00Chloride Arizona, murals and tumbleweeds<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://opart.etsy.com/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 321px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji7DxrsYvpEshrr5R9OGOR2DlpGoUi3FfuOX62MBPKPjep7CXr2cXU7ydfdXnqLF82LCuIpWEKMUBNILs1KvJMxjdEVcvkFqyjUy5cSs03UHwJ53tfaaRvvebczfshbPRNhZfvJ2L8oLQ/s400/tumble.jpg" alt="Tumbleweed. Photograph by Tim Irving" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407596673079763554" border="0" /></a>I'm going through a large file of my negatives and slides, the file is marked LA - Phoenix, 2002. It's one of several files I'm wading through at the moment. I'm attempting to do this in an organised way, looking at absolutely everything.<br /><br />Somewhere amongst the files are a set of panoramic negatives of abandoned gas stations in Arizona, which I think may be saleable now. Sometimes I have to wait a long time before fashions change and a photograph becomes desirable. When I find the negatives I'll put a few here and would welcome your opinions.<br /><br />Last night I scanned this negative among others. It's from a series of photographs of <a href="http://www.chlorideaz.com/">Chloride, Arizona</a> (an old silver mining town), which is a weird and wonderful place that I recommend you visit when the opportunity arises. The reason for my visit was to have a look at the Roy Purcell murals, which are painted on rocks in the desert a few miles outside the town. After spending time painting in the desert, Roy found fame and fortune designing neon lights for the strip in Las Vegas.<br /><br />All this rambling to plug a photograph. Anyway, I can tell you that I took the photograph somewhere between the town of Chloride and the murals in the desert, on a bitterly cold day in 2002. It's going on sale today for the first time, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=35192842">check it out here</a>.stylemedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10085436215603049616noreply@blogger.com1