January '14

New Year Resolutions
Mainly, to have a better year than last year, especially with the olive crop so we can earn some money.

To get the garden worked over and planted up with veg and (maybe) get some chickens.

To see more of our son Alex (once he finishes his University course).

To get some of our friends to come out and visit us (Yes, you know who).

 

Ploughing Early
We have decided to plough under the olive trees earlier this year. The idea is to keep the growth down and then roll it in May while there is still some rain to help flatten the ground. Then the summer will be dry and that will keep the growth down. It's just an idea, like. We will have to see how it works out.

Get those green bits.
Another day in the office.
Looking good.

 

It Rains Here Too

We were given a rain gauge for the finca, which has let us keep daily rainfall records since the beginning of 2011. The monthly totals are interesting, but the devil is in the daily figures. The November 2011 weekend downpour (that word doesn't really describe it properly) with over 220mm on 1 day and over 78mm the next, rather skewed the figures for what was otherwise a very dry year.

All in all December looks like the month with the lowest rainfall while March-April and October-November seem to be the periods that generally get the most.

Month

2011
2012
2013
January
-
38mm
36mm
February
-
3mm
43mm
March
225mm
77mm
78mm
April
121mm
75mm
90mm
May
47mm
9mm
66mm
June
16mm
21mm
143mm
July
24mm
16mm
24mm
August
-
2mm
19mm
September
-
95mm
13mm
October
38mm
120mm
11mm
November
470mm
158mm
66mm
December
-
7mm
-
Yearly Total
941mm
621mm
589mm

 

Diamond Day
Pam & John celebrated their Diamond wedding anniversary this January. Family and friends all joined them for a wonderful celebration and a great speech from PG's brother Graham.

 

 

Flooding hell
The floods in the Henley- Reading area were much worse than in previous years. These pictures were actually taken at a relatively low point in the floods, after which the river rose again making this lane inaccessible. The "water meadows" are well named and the Kennet was getting close to the riverside bars in the centre of Reading.

 

Sunrises still spectacular
Especially when there is some cloud out there. Makes it worth getting up each morning just to see what's happening.

 

Sheepish, Pookyish & Speechless
One of the village shepherds has been grazing his flock on the grassy terraces below our house all winter. Here he is on a grey day. "House" is doing his best to be endearing so he will get taken for a walk. And lastly, well I'm not quite sure, but there are definitely some weird people around.

 

 

 

Early bathers
These guys staked their claim to the sunny side of the pool late in the month. I think they will be disappointed in the lack of in pool restaurant facilities.

Ciao


December 2013

February 2014

PB

 
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