Fantastic!

Following on from last week's camp out, Rob decided that what we really needed to keep us cool and calm, were fans.

When we built the house in 2006, we asked the builder to organise overhead fans while the electrician was on site to prevent hassles at a later date. But our builder 'persuaded' us not to bother as he said that the wind always blew and it never got hot.

Yes, well that was then.

Each year has been getting steadily hotter thanks to Global Warming! We bought a lovely desk fan a couple of years ago for the bedroom and it has helped tremendously, but what we really wanted was a steady downward draft, to help with two things, namely keeping us cool and preventing the ever vigilant mosquitoes from landing! Three fans would be perfect, for the lounge, the office and the bedroom. So on Monday Rob googled fans, found a company in Cape Town and we saw exactly what we wanted. But they didn't supply to the public, only businesses. No problem, there is a wonderful Electrical and Plumbing shop (that doesn't sound right does it really?) in Langebaan, so on Tuesday we went there to order (and have breakfast but not at the shop I hasten to add!) And on Thursday they arrived! That's service. So, on Friday we returned to Langebaan to collect them (and have breakfast (ditto previous brackets)).

However. Rob could not find an electrician. He phoned several but they were all busy for the foreseeable future and we wanted them installed ASAP obviously. So, on Friday as soon as we got home (after a really great breakfast), he set to work, helped by my daughter who was here for a few days. (How wonderful it is to have her close enough to 'pop' over for a quick visit!) Being (a lot) taller than me she was able to hold the fan in place while Rob was balanced up the ladder doing fiddly things with different coloured wires and screws, and I was trying not to think of things like electrocution, falling and hospital.

The Hurdy-Gurdy Lady!

I love markets! Mention the words 'bargains', open air', 'food', 'handmade', and I am at the door before you can say 'would you like to go and have a look?' So when Andrew mentioned that there was a big open-air market in Madrid, with lots of stalls and souvenirs, I was ready and very willing! One bus ride later, we joined the throng of people meandering their way between the stalls, some stopping and changing direction, some stopping and turning back, or some just stopping! It was packed!

See what I mean!?

I was worried about losing Andrew in the crowd as my Spanish is non-existent and I would never have found my way home, but fortunately he had Mateo on his shoulders, so I simply kept my eyes on Mateo's head!