Cave Living Andalucia

The Aperitivo

2008-06-25T15:59:00.003+02:00

Mmm, the aperitivo... a daily couple of beers with tapas and good company! It has been an interesting 4 years since we moved to Andalucia, now though it feels like this blog is all "caved out" No doubt it will have a second wind in the future with extensions/events and extra digging forecast... maybe not this year though.

New ideas, a passion for Spanish gourmet and a new turn of events have given rise to TOP SPANISH TAPAS a new blog with a big emphasis on Andalucian food with plenty of culture thrown in for good measure as well as the odd story from the village and plenty of fiestas!

A bit of this...

..something juicy...

...a little "fire"

...something sweet...

and a silly amount of tapas ideas!

Pop in and say hello! From the cave blog its adios for now and a big thanks to everyone who read the odd post from time to time.

Top Spanish Tapas

Rain & Hail...

2008-05-31T14:42:00.002+02:00

Flood! It had been threatening all day, black sky and obvious downpours over the mountain range in front of the cave. Mid afternoon the neighbours dropped by to collect a parcel - this is when the first onslaught came. Hail and big hail at that! Assesing the damage the day after revealed almost every plant in the garden being peppered as if it had met a shotgun.

After that we decided a good old beer was in order so we helped shifting the parcel (any excuse:) around to the neighbours house other side of the hamlet. What happened next was something I have never seen before in my life.... The rain came, gradually at first, then heavier and heavier and heavier. At that point for some reason everyone piled into the bathroom - apparently this is where you can guage the rain by the gutter above the bathroom window in this particular cave....

A minute later you couldnt see out of the window, similar to a mudslide we realised very quickly that it was the roof that was passing before our eyes and then,
GET A MOP!!!!!! the rain came down so heavy is put 3 inches of water on the patio within minutes and it all came through the front door.

Imagine the volume of water from a full bath suddenly being released by your front door, mops towels, anything we could get our hands on to stop that water! Eventually of course we did, drenched having used farmyard brushes to get the water away from outside we won - just. Then it was time to go home sharpish to see our own cave and how the patio had faired....

Adios for now

2008-05-12T18:25:00.001+02:00

Fire Dance

2008-05-06T17:28:00.003+02:00

To be honest I am no real enthusiast of dancing, theatre, shows etc but a little bit of Riverdance does do something...if not make the cave shudder at full volume. Maria Pages is the dancer normally associated with the "Fire dance" but in this video we have a lady (Yolanda) just as good and that is some acheivement.

Enjoy 6 minutes of toe tapping:

A Fresh Lick of ....Plastic paint

2008-05-04T18:20:00.002+02:00

Its amazing how dis-coloured cave walls can become, especially if your running an open fire or wood burning stove. Caves are predominantly painted white on the interior to enhance the natural light which generally comes from doors and windows at the front.

The type of paint to use internally can be an issue - it depends who you talk to.

For us, plastic paint has been the way to go. Practicality wise it does not leave a residue unlike "Cal" which has been used in old Spanish buildings for years now, however the paint is not "breathable" so ultimately its is a matter of personal choice. Our cave has been painted with plastic paint for over 4 years with no detrimental effect.

A 25ltr tub of paint will cost in the region of 25 euros, how far will that go? Well it can be watered down slightly but we painted two rooms - surface area approx 120m2

Not a bad deal and what a difference!

Going Green..

2008-04-29T15:34:00.002+02:00

One aspect of the garden that always amazes me during the spring is how plants and trees appear to have a growth spurt after some good old Andalucian rain. It was the same in the UK although I dont remember such a significant difference in growth after even the briefest of showers - maybe our Spanish gardens are taking advantage of what rain we get.

Above: Cherry tree, looks like cherry pie this year! The first year it has had any significant fruit. Below: Almond tree - if you have one of these the almonds are tremendously sweet, the locals can be seen shelling the almonds in season.

Out in the campo the soil quality is not the best so manure is great when first planting. Funny thing is you can stand for hours every day with the hose pipe watering your garden but after some quality "lluvia" everything seems to be a foot higher the next morning!

Childhood Persuasion...

2008-04-22T17:18:00.003+02:00

Well here we go again, nothing to do with caves but a certain CR Junior keeps saying to me "DADDY! DADDY! CAN I SEE MY SCALEXTRIC ON THE COMPUTER AGAIN? - PLEEEEASE...

What can you do eh? The now named "Fuente Nueva" circuit has undergone some changes, new cars, barriers, a 5m extension, the odd petrol pump and even a pond - made from an old Ford Capri fan belt and some wire mesh.

Enjoy the pics, I know he will :))

Goats Eat Anything...

2008-04-17T18:30:00.002+02:00

"Now then these cactus look like a decent enough tapa"

Goats eat anything...

This fine feller was photographed by a neighbour whilst on holiday, this goat may be more versed in Catalan but his Andalucian cousins are just as hungry - goats can be seen regularly in the "campo" devouring the countryside in droves.

Olive trees, cardboard boxes, cactus..? You have to admire the goat - a beast that will never go hungry!

Do you eat rustic?

2008-04-14T17:25:00.002+02:00

What is it about Andalucia and her food? I was watching a tv programme last week about Spanish food and the presenter described Spanish food in general as being commonly regarded as second tier to that of Italian food etc. Nonsense!

Food plays and almost is Andalucian culture in some respects... Granada, the only region in Spain that hands out free tapas, the paella - a poor mans campo meal which is now world famous, cured hams etc etc

Cooking on the BBQ... No fancy serviettes, gas bottles or even charcoal - just wood, the true rustic way to cook your Spanish meal should you choose.

Watch out for those flavours! Smokey outdoor BBQ's add a real Spanish taste...funny how food tastes different outside as a pose to being cooked in the kitchen.

...and sardines, regularly available and great lunchtime racione, plenty of bread and of course the all essential olive oil.

Cooking rustic may not be for everyone, sometimes though along with the neighbours, Spanish sun, some music, a bottle of tinto and real basic food packed full of flavour along the the atmosphere is good enough!

The dollar dictates...

2008-04-11T16:35:00.002+02:00

Much discussion on the cave message board recently about the current exchange rates and apparent market downturn... Everything is born from the dollar, or so they say..

Just for laughs, it could have been GWB or Gordon Brown on this video but Youtube as always provides something that little different. Enjoy.

One of the best things in life is laughter :-))

Market slow down?

2008-04-09T15:05:00.002+02:00

A cave is one of the most unique properties anyone can buy, as with all things though a cave is only worth what someone is prepared to pay for it. Given the fact that every cave is unique prices so far have risen steadily over the years with estate agents enjoying good business...

However, (dare I say it) there seems to be a down turn in the cave market. External factors effecting prices, exchange rate etc. People are now being more careful with their money. Predominantly UK cave buyers are now looking at mortgage increases back home and if the media is to be believed devaluation on their own conventional UK house.

Now, I am no expert on the financial/housing market but what I can do is mention a few examples of how the cave "boom" appears to have peaked and is now on a modest slide. For example 3 caves in Orce that were on sale in 2006/7 are now reduced in price by as much as 15000 euros (average 10k) New caves to the market are being more reasonably priced from Spanish sellers - no more overpriced daftness. Estate agents are no longer flooded with serious buyers with money to spend and with the US economy giving most the jitters for the future cave sales have calmed down a lot.

The Boom (if thats what it could be called) appears to be over, prices have risen significantly over the past 4 years but every property growth must peak at some stage in the short term. That said, positivity reigns... there may be the beginnings of a downturn in the market but as always it will swing in roundabouts - next time around it may well be the average cave price could be 20% higher than it is now.

The publicity legwork has been done, tv exposure, press articles, magazine articles - the expat orientated Joe bloggs in the main now knows what a cave actually is having done his research on rural Andalucian property (hopefully)

Caves are different, the investment is different, sound investment for the future? Yes, then again some of us come here to live and start a new life in which case no problem on the selling front.

No doubt many will disagree! But hey, its only a blog! Feel free to leave your comments.

Its getting warmer....

2008-04-04T14:41:00.002+02:00

and that means....FIESTA!

Por Arriba,

Por Abajo,

Por el centro..

y por dentro!

CHEERS!!!

Easter Paella

2008-03-25T16:28:00.002+01:00

Paella for 8. Easter Saturday was quite warm so presented the opportunity to make an outdoor paella. Now normally we do this on the BBQ but there were 8 people coming which naturally means you need a paella pan for at least 12!

An outdoor gas burner is a handy piece of kit, all you need is a length of gas hose and a regulator (unless you nick the reg from the gas oven like we did)

Bubbling away and nearly ready....recipe - chicken breast and pork rib paella, the best paella is when you can get your hands all messy..! Very nice and a great occasion for the family visitors and th neighbours.

More Stuff - More Storage

2008-02-26T17:41:00.002+01:00

Since building the new office, shifting bedrooms and creating store rooms we havnt had a great deal of time to finish off some off the cosmetics we had planned for the new year. However, a free day landed and there I was clad with the most knackered pair of tracky bottoms and torn, paint covered t-shirt... Bring back the old days!

A relatively simple job that was born the evening before - CD/DVD storage, up until now all our media was stored in boxes so we decided to build a bookcase.

Tools required..very little, 4 wooden ham boxes, 12 stones from the campo and that bag of yeso that is always in stock.

Still needs a lick of paint but basicly stacked boxes, secured and wedged, plastered in with a decorative stone effect and stained.

Total cost: yeso 8e / stones free / paint 8e / ham boxes...6e each

Cheap and effective storage, nice and rustic to suit the cave bar...

Carnival!

2008-02-19T19:56:00.003+01:00

Today was the turn of the childrens "Carnival" Anyone who who has kids in Spain will know all about this! A great event where all the kids get dressed up and parade through the village, loud music, lots of fun and the kids realy enjoy the event.

Nicolas - our friendly local policeman with CR Junior...

Through the streets.. one of the themes this year was "grapes" so how do you dress your kids in grapes? Balloons!

No-one escapes, even the older generation are up for it.

Living in a cave - a typical conversation...

2008-02-11T18:43:00.000+01:00

1) Alright mate, pleased to meet ya"
2) Hi, hows it going, nice to meet you"

...bla bla bla (usual pleasantries)

1) So where you from then?
2) Newcastle originaly but now living in Spain

1) Oh right, made the move then and buggered off to better climes, good on ya
2) Yeah, it was a good move, certainly better weather!

1) So where in Spain?
2) In the south, Andalucia in the Granada region, pretty rural...

1) Not on the costa del crime then?
2) No, up in the hills, you know, real Spain..

1) Champion, always wanted to do that. So What kind of place you got then?
2) Nice place up in the hills, great views, 10 rooms, big garden, love the place - we live in a cave.

1) Eh?
2) A Spanish cave house

.......contemplation.....

1) Heard about Carol Smillie talking about one of them places a few years back.., so you live in one of them caves?
2) Yup

1) Do you have, like, water and all that?
2) Funnily enough, yes. On mains

1) And what about electric? You got proper lights and everything? Is it not damp? and what about the windows? Any windows?
2) Three windows, a front door, lights, internet, electrics the lot.

1) Christ! Internet aswell! hows that like?
2) A box that bounces signals...sits on the cave roof..

1) Hells teeth, so non of them staglegtitty things hanging off the roof dripping water then?
2) No

1) So....errrrm do you go underground?
2) Not so much under but "in" the cave is dug into the mountain side

1) Bloody hell, is it not claustrophobic?
2) No not unless you are, high ceilings, big rooms and just like a house - imagine a bungalow in the UK... just underground.

1) Aye right, must be dark though being under ground and all that..
2) Not really, slightly darker than a matchbox built semi that costs 3 times the price maybe.

1) Council tax?
2) Yup, went up last year, not happy

1) Stuffed on ours and they never even get the bins every week now 25 different coloured bins to fill an all!, costs us 130 quid a month, whats yours up to?
2) About 8 quid in UK pounds..

1) Eh? bloody madness that!
2) A year..

1)...@@#$$%%^*&(&^^ hell!

To be continued...

It's a boy thing...

2008-02-09T11:56:00.000+01:00

Since last Christmas we have had friends and family asking for photos of the Scalextric so we thought a few on the blog would be good as well. CR Junior has been hounding me ever since Boxing day for "a couple of laps" every five minutes and the collection is building up quite nicely too.

...the circuit has even managed to gain some local business sponsorship!

and just for a hoot take a look at this video,

Adios, off back to England

2008-02-03T14:33:00.000+01:00

Well not me, no way in hell!! There are however an increasing number of british ex-pats deciding not to be ex-pats anymore.. The law of numbers would dictate that the more people who move to the area, the more who will decide to sell up and leave.

Work tends to be a real issue in some circumstances, there isnt much opportunity about for employment so if money is something you need acheive once here its definatly worth planning way ahead, organising something up front before the big move and an absolute essential is a basic grasp of the lingo - without that getting a job will be very hard to say the least.

Sometimes the area doesnt turn out to be what people expected. Very rural, too cold in winter, mad hot in the summer and again, the lingo makes everyday tasks a challenge. Whatever the reason people return to the UK there is no substitute for planning (and lots of it)

It always amazes me, those who sell up and move lock stock - then 3 months later they are off again back to the place they left behind in the first place. Makes no sense to me at all. Everyone makes mistakes, its a fact of life but what a big mistake to make...

Shouldnt you be in bed?

2008-01-24T17:34:00.000+01:00

Even in the winter months rural village residents still tend to have a siesta - seems like summer habits die hard! However we did catch this guy at around 4.00pm tending to his horse in the street... everywhere else was deserted. Accommodating as ever this Orce resident offered to get out of the way for the photo. Mrs CR just caught him though as he saw us.

Nobody here... even in summer the streets are deserted, nightime though the picture below would be full of colour and atmosphere. Winter is a cold and dreary season (as with everywhere else) in Orce though spirits are just the same as in the Summer season - the locals never seem to suffer from grey weather sydrome! Lively as ever in the shops come rain or shine, only difference is the odd cry of "Madre Mia, Que Frio!) same in summer mind when its "ooof Que Calor!"

Roll on Spring, no doubt we will have snow before then though...

I'm Blue..

2008-01-14T18:32:00.000+01:00

There has been some recent discussion on the Cave Forum about photography in Andalucia. In my opinion there is never a bad time to get the camera in action - be quick in Spring and Autumn though - they never seem to last that long!

Far from a "pro" I took these snaps the other morning around 11ish using a simple digital camera (Olympus FE 120)

Its Blue...

Wait until mid February when those mountains get dusted with snow. In our old terraced house in the UK the view was...well the next terrace.

I never get tired of the view

Cave Storage

2008-01-11T19:03:00.000+01:00

Once the office was built we had to start on the other side of the partition wall, not as finely finished but it didnt have to be...just neat enough.

Plenty of bricks, no cement.

A friend gave me a tip on yeso mixing - DONT. Contrary in most cases to everything else about yeso on the blog (we live and learn) if you dont mix yeso - even Rapido it doesnt set as quick as is easier to manage as it gives you more time, something the Spanish builders have known since yeso was invented. There is nothing wrong with mixing yeso - depends on the application but for most work just sprinkle it into the water and it will do the rest itself (notice the small "island of yeso powder" in the above pic, thats just about right.)

Shelf Racking, big items are stored elsewhere but a small stock room for smaller items is ideal. Here we used yeso as if it were cement, just clagging the bricks together in all the joins (particularly to the cave wall) smoothed off and painted with plastic paint for easier cleaning.

Just the job, total cost 67 euros

Adios for a short while, catchup time now!

Cave Office - finishing off

2007-12-30T16:22:00.000+01:00

The total cost for the materials was 238.00 euros, that included all the yeso, tile adhesive, floor tiles, paint, bricks and terracotta shelving. The desk units were not cemented but yeso'd in with rapido - strong enough for units that are only ging to be subjected to typing and paperwork.

Cava comes in cases of six, nice untreated wooden boxes so with a good coat of dark varnish, two holes drilled in the front and some ham cord tied through makes for the perfect deep drawer.

Wooden beam above the door varnished in the same colour and carefully painted around with a small brush. A great contrast to the the white paint as seen in most caves, hang the curtain and job's done.

And the finished room with enough room for a sofa. Loads more storage! Biggest problem was the existing internet cable which had to be chipped out of the wall (previously yeso'd through into the now new bedroom) that took some time as we had to be constantly online - damage the cable and a complete disater.

And a champagne book case, more cava boxes used, varnished and yeso'd on top of a brick base. Blending the book case into the corner took some time but by the time the gaps either side were chocked with broken brick, relativly little plaster was used to finish off. Topped with a whisky decanter set...handy for those times of stress!!

Total time was three days for the whole job, 8 hours a day. 24 hours, not complicated just messy.

Unfortunatly the office became an even bigger mess after it was finished...due to the next job, a storage room, floor to ceiling racking, more bricks and of course YESO.

Cave office

2007-12-28T19:00:00.000+01:00

When you work from home a cave office is a good idea if you have the space. Transforming a room can create a huge mess but a mess is all it is - no structural work involved and no major renovations, its all interior.

So here is what we did, the master bedroom was some 25m2, nice to have a big main bedroom but nicer to have a bigger office which after all is where most our time these days is spent. So the swap was on, first we moved the big bedroom into the small office on December 22nd (a little cramped for a couple of days but... well worth the end result.

Best laid plans (which went out the window) but a guide non the less.

We also needed storage so up went a block wall on day 1 which was rendered and plastered. The beam above the door is an offcut from our summer project the pergola - it almost went into sticks for the fire but it always pays to keep such lengths of wood just in case!

Naturally there is a gap at the top of the beam so bricks, broken block and stones where hammered in to support both the wall and the roof at this point - plenty of cement and yeso rapido.

Transformations: The beam viewed from the other side is now plastered in, covered in yeso and looking tatty. Yeso can be removed from wood very easily, see through the mess and imagine a painted rustic wall and a reclaimed beam from a finca and we are in business!

Interior wall built it was time to set about the office, no fancy granite or marble tops - this was all about rustic, a rustic cave needs a rustic office. My personal preference, the last thing I wanted to create was a perfect call centre desk environment in the very room from which our business runs. So....bricks, yeso, shelves and more measuring on the way...

A real mess, working with yeso/plaster and broken bricks always is. However, it looks horrendous - a disaster in fact but a few hours later...clean as a whistle!

Next up: Finishing off, Champagne box bookcases and plastic paint

Scalextric - Cave Style

2007-12-26T14:27:00.000+01:00

Well here it is! a small games room for CR Junior (and me) The room was eventually big enough for the track (11m long) we needed 3.2m x 2.1m and had just an inch either way to spare.

Now I can say I own a Ferrari...

...and an Aston Martin

Guess what the little feller was doing all day Christmas and Boxing day! of course he needed someone to race with so I managed to pull myself away from the Queens speech and give him a few laps. Definatly worth the effort digging out the room, better than a playstation and hours of entertainment. Brilliant.

Next up: Moving offices in 24 hours. Yeso, electrics, interior walls, bricks, tiles and paint (and fast)

The night before Christmas.....

2007-12-24T18:10:00.000+01:00

Santa is on his way...! so best get prepared. CR Junior is so excited he is about to burst so what better than to leave Santa his traditional tapa to show our appreciation for all his hard efforts.

In true Andaluz style CR junior thought it best to leave one of Orce's finest chorizo "picantes" to warm Santa up and a glass of 50 year old Jerez sherry!

Its great having kids :)

Merry Christmas