Ivan made three beautiful cakes for a communion held this afternoon. I have some great shots of the cakes which I will add to this space some time this coming week.

The weather has not been cooperating of late. The temperature in the last few days has been well below normal... and Dutch & English clients have said how the weather here has been just about the same as theirs at home. So most uncooperative of the weather to be this chilly in late May. I just checked with a weather service on-line and it shows that we will have no rain for the next week which is good news. While rain is always welcome, normally, it is not now as I am a bit fed up with this cool weather. It should be warmer already. Come on!! Move in you warm air from where ever.

We have a couple of English couples staying with us who've been here since last Tuesday and will be here for a couple more nights. They're here for a week exploring the area and perhaps buying something in the village, a new holiday home. They like the dogs and have taken Pasky out for a few walks as one of the couples used to have a German Shepherd themselves. We also had Nicky here for a few days with her friend Helen. Nicky is one of our artists who had planned to be here now with a group of painters and walkers and wine tasters but that did not materialise as there was no interest. Just as our American friends had to cancel the painting workshop they had scheduled with us for the first full week of May due to lack of interest. I think the lack of interest is really lack of funds at this point.

Many people here in Spain are suffering as a result of the high interest rate on the Euro. Many people discovered new found freedom (of the wallet) when Spanish banks made qualifying for loans so easy over the last few years. So many people went out and bought new cars and apartments/homes with these loans and now they are paying for them. And with higher interest rates, more of their disposable incomes are going toward their monthly payments leaving less money to spend on weekends away in Hotel Bandolero. Now, of course, all that lending has come to a grinding halt with this credit crisis created by American bankers and their London friends in the UK banking community as well. Spanish bankers are no less guilty in my view as they are still offering low interest credit card specials. I personally receive a solicitation every few weeks from a bank here in Spain. In general, monthly salaries have not increased but expenses certainly have... we all feel the negative effects of the price of fuel, whether you are a air traveller or a driver on the packed roads, one has to pay for fuel.