So we have now moved into our own house after the reform and to tell you the truth it feels like Christmas morning every morning at the moment! I am so happy waking up there every day.

One of the reasons is that it is so nice and warm in our new old house is the log burner we got. I seriously didn’t think that it would make that much of a difference, but it has! My previous winters in Spain have always been fairly cold, even if the Spanish winter weather is nothing compared to northern Europe. But you see, here they build the houses as if it was summer all year round and as if winter comes as a surprise year after year.
“What? It’s cold? That’s a surprise. Really didn’t expect that even if it did happen last year. And the year before that. And the year…”

The always keep the main door open here in the village, so even if the houses were warm, it would all disappear out in the open. Instead they keep coals in a special coal container under the tables and the sit around the table with the extra thick multi layered table cloth tucked around them. I cannot imagine anything worse on those long winter evenings than being forced to sit around a table with the whole family (3 generations of course) the whole evening just in order to stay warm.

After I had El Rubio I had to do a tour-de-neighbour to show him off and was also squashed in between them around their table with the thick table cloth nicely tucked around me. Without sounding too arrogant I felt I was 40-50 years back in time!

But our log burner…I tell you…it is literally heating up the whole house! I have been walking around in a t-shirt and flip-flops when my usual attire is a massive jumper and boots and even a blanket wrapped around me when I sat in front of the computer. Just like an old lady.

This winter I will be dancing around the house enjoying the fresh cool air outside instead of being miserable. Bring on the snow and the frost, because for once I am prepared!