I haven’t done too much with Bear these past few days – not since some Spanish guy threatened to punch his lights out when Bear grabbed his girlfriends left boob with both paws. He drags me into everything, Because I was holding him at the time, unbelievably, I got threatened as well!
I need new floor tiles in the lounge here. the furrow between my bed and the sun lounger on the patio is now so deep it breaks health and safety laws. Even Spanish ones.
The pool leak has been repaired. By moi ! For the past year or so water has been lost from the pool but only went down so far till it reached it’s own level. This leak appeared to be from the skimmer which would have meant a fair bit of work and digging up the cement and some tiles etc. A job I had not wanted to get done for the sheer disruption. Dear Christine popped around one day for coffee and, upon hearing the story of the disappearing water, dropped to her knees at the pool, took an expert look and stuck her finger in a hole under the skimmer. Apart from the obvious jokes about having dropped to her knees countless times over the years and many more about sticking her fingers randomly into things- well – she was right on the button …again. (Sorry – couldn’t resist that one).
“Youv’e got a hole” she said.
“I know, I’ve had a few operations on it over the years ” I said.
“No, a hole here under the skimmer” she poked around and made a small finger sized hole even bigger with comparative ease. “I bet that’s your problem”
A plan of action, the right ingredients from the Pool and Spar shop, a small draining of the pool and a breathless me sticking the necessary stodge into the small but offending hole. 2 days later, fill the pool and see if it worked. Lo and behold it did. All seems well. It will save on water bills and I don’t have to repair the skimmer !!
I then rested for three complete days on the lounger admiring the water level.
On Saturday evening, for the European Cup Final I went to a bar in the Old Town.I took Bear but kept him hidden in my bag. The game, the biggest of the year, was in neutral Lisbon as both teams that have made it through were Athletico Madrid and Real Madrid. Arch rivals from ..you’ve guessed it … Madrid.
Everyone there, except me funnily, supported one team or the other. There were no neutrals! Except me… I was there because I love a good game.
The atmosphere in this bar was fantastic. I didn’t have a clue what was being shouted. The commetary on all three screens was drowned out by the noise. I was the only non Spaniard in the bar and ninety five per cent of the crowd were men. I could tell that much of what was being shouted at the screens was abuse to one team or the other. Obvious by the barmaid and the few women there were constantly pulling shocked faces and turning beetroot red. But nothing was going to stop this lot from enjoying the game. When Athletico scored first, their fans took off their red shirts and abused the silenced Real fans. I knew they were abusing them as some hand signals require no translation. The game went to fever pitch as it got nearer the end. Real Madrid fired everything at the opposition as they went for an equaliser to take the game into extra time. They finally got it sixty seconds from the final whistle !! Total and complete uproar. The Athletico fans, in both bar and stadium, who had already started to celebrate a win, were now shell shocked into silence. Real fans – grown men included, were shown on the TV taking their white shirts off , waving them and crying with relief. The cameras may as well have been in this bar as that is what was happening here too. An extra thirty minutes to play now. Another half hour to get yet more drinks in, abuse the other side of the bar, then wave and shout at the tv to tell the twenty two millionairs out on the pitch what they had to do. As if they didn’t know!
The atmosphere was fantastic. There must have been fifty or sixty people in that small bar. The noise incredible. Undescribable. You could smell the beer, sweat and tension.
The next goal, and at the time the presumed winner, came from the most expensive player in the world, Real Madrid and Wales’ own Gareth Bale. I have never heard such noise. I have been to many stadiums in my time but nothing compared to this crowd in such a confined space, going ballistic.
Athletico collapsed. They ran out of legs for the last few minutes and a now rampant Real Madrid tucked away another two goals to make it a 4-1 final score. A score that just did not reflect the true parity of the teams.
I would defy anyone, even those who can’t abide football, not to have been drawn into the passion on display in that bar. The tension, the excitement , the disappointment and the jubilation. Fantastic. What an unbelievable atmosphere !!
And the great thing was ? At the end of the game the Athletico fans in the bar, (unlike the team manager who had a hissy fit on screen), all stood and applauded the victorius Real Madrid fans on the opposite side of the bar. Then joined them for an arms around each other final drink !!
Ahhh, it’s not called the beautiful game for nothing.
I must go now.
There is a dove on my roof.
It is a beuatiful bird.
Although it’s a dove it coos like a pigeon.
I hate that noise with a passion.
I am off to get my catapult.