Bliss. Gorgeous body rejuvinating dreamy bliss. I was horizontal on my comfy bed and slowly coming too after a well deserved afternoon nap.
"Y'know that's the first time I've used the sun cream this year."
I sleepily mused to myself remembering yesterdays equally blissful nap in the sun where my face later gave good warning via the mirror of not yet being fully acclimatized. I gave a lazy stretch and decided another few minutes of bliss were perfectly in order. That is when the first raindrops noisily hit Sadie's roof.
I stumbled and crashed outside Sadie, still not fully awake. I threw cushions and doggy bed back inside. I stuffed folding chair underneath and leapt back in pulling the door shut behind me with a bang. This was no messing about .... "I'm slowly coming to get you rain" .... Oh no! This was instantly, and out of nowhere, an incredible thunder plump of violent wind and heavy rain. In the few seconds it took me I was soaked to the skin but now, inside and with the rain thundering down on Sadies roof, I gleefully and while still dripping water watched as other motorhohomers on this Aire at 'Simat de la Valldigna' were equally caught out and getting thoroughly soaked. I mused to myself once again as I towelled down and changed.
"Serves you right for getting the sun cream out eh!"
The rain is needed in this dry but fertile Orange growing valley north of 'Gandia'. The Cistercians monks recognised its potential centuries ago. The refurbished remains of their large and magnificent monastery was well worth the visit.
The plan on waking this morning was to move on but as usual plans have a way of losing solidity and, like melting butter, going with the flow of a hot swirling pan. Consequently the warm and sun blessed morning found bike, Tanya in green bucket and myself cycling the back roads and maze like tracks through Orange groves headed for the neighbouring, and larger village of, 'Taverness'.
There was 'reason' behind this buttery swirling plan fluidity. Tanya was wearing one of my shorty sports socks on her right rear leg. She had an abrasion on her foot pad which was causing her to limp. After two days of treatment and cleaning it did not seem to be improving and Tanya herself was starting to look a bit down in the dumps. I suspected an infection and had enquired as to the nearest vet from one of the local dog walkers. "Taverness, dos Veterinairia." She said smilingly to which I replied. "Ahh gracias senora." I was chatting to another English motorhoming couple as this exchange took place and they were most impressed at my grasp of the language. I just shrugged and kept very quiet. Why let them know I had just used virtually the only two words of Spanish I know.
With further enquiries in Taverness consisting of pointing to Tanya, saying 'Veterinairia' and looking helplessly around, I was soon pushing my way through the engraved glass doors of a smart, very modern 'Veterinair' surgery. This is where things operate slightly differently, and from my perspective better, than in the UK. None of this ringing for an appointment or having to be logged in on the computer, which always has a glitch just at that point or an operator who says: "I only started yesterday, I need to go ask ... etc etc". Oh no sir! Here you are met by no less than two attractive young female vets who escort you straight to a consulting room where Tanya is thoroughly examined and suspected infection confirmed. She is treated, complete with injection in the bum, there and then and prescription written out for purchase of required meds from the local pharmacy. All done and dusted in fifteen minutes for a very reasonable fee of €20 plus €9 at the pharmacy. Oh! And senior lady veterinaire was most impressed by my use of sports sock and velcro attachment band. "Clean sock each very day." She advised, to which I smilingly, and genuinely, returned praise for her good grasp of English bearing in mind my own apalling lack of Spanish.
The plan for tomorrow? Well move on of course ..... unlesssss .....
..........
We have moved on, a little further North toward Valencia on my way to Barcelona airport for a week Sunday where I will collect Barbara. I'm looking forward to that.
And Tanya? ... Well I'm pleased to say she is better than she was and hopefully the ongoing course of Anti-biotics will soon effect a full recovery.
Now is my smoked Haddock done?
