however just when i began to dread the chilly winter my adoptive spanish grandparents (they live downstairs and own my flat) stepped in. they kept banging on about this thangy called a 'naguilla' (yep i can't find it in a spanish dictionary either) that is supposed to keep you roasty toasty all winter long... i put if off for a while as i really don't have the faintest idea what they're talking about... until one night they invite me to sit on their rocking chair put my legs under their table (not even joking). all a bit odd. however i go along with it (because that's what you do on your gap yah isn't it) and find my legs & feet delightfully warm and fuzzy under the velour stylee tablecloth (this is a special winter tablecloth, as though the table feels the cold too). so i come to the conclusion that it's some sort of electric tablecloth... i was so wrong. they lift up the special winter table duvet and underneath is a gas heater, that's right with it's bright blue flame burning its little spanish heart out enclosed (yup without oxygen) by a wooden table, a wooden base (for safety appaz) and a fluffy tablecloth.
to be fair it works a treat, i have mine installed and burning bright right now and i'm beautifully cosy. somehow (touch wood - perhaps the wooden table that is within a foot of the naked flame?) i haven't yet set my feet on fire, or the tablecloth, or the flat. i asked my students (just to clarify - as the whole under table gas flame thangy worried me a little bit) if these thingys are dangerous? they say nooo noooo, they used to be, but that's when they were gas, now they're electric. not in my flat. just so long as i remember to turn it off before i go to bed i should wake up the next day. so far so good.
so that's something completely novel to me... speaking of novel - two things that just will NOT wear off and are becoming a little testing. every time it rains/looks like it might rain/the smallest mention of rain - every faaacking person makes a point of saying - éeeeh sofi it's about to rain, why don't you get out there then you'll feel at home? what are you doing inside - it's about to rain, QUICK!! get out there and make the most of it while you can'. funny once. once is enough though. thanks.
my car. and it's steering wheel is a source of constant entertainment. ok so it's on the other side of the car but they just cannee get over it, it induces genuine belly laughs, the kind that hurts the next day. give them a lift and you've made a friend for life.
actual conversation i had on saturday (with someone from seville, no small-town excuses)
so... where can you buy a car like this in spain?
what, a mini?
no, one with the steering wheel on the wrong side and british number plates.
well i don't think you can, i bought it in england.
well, how did you get it here? by plane?
no, no i drove.
but how?
...you get the idea...i will finish here otherwise i'll keep going all night (wahey - definitely ZILCH risk of that here).
spayynish snogs xxxx
PS photos to follow, to bring the description to life.
PPS the bit about the mop - the spanish definitely invented the mop, almost every single spaniard i've met has explicitly told me so. they like to mop the pavement outside their houses, ideally every day. clever me for bagging the first floor flat.
