What was that dish called?

The sun is still shining.

We've even seen some chaps making hay while the sun shines: making it the old fashioned way, chopping the grass with a scythe and tossing it around.

When we go down to lunch here at the hotel, practically the first thing we do is ask what the three courses are going to be today. This is a precautionary measure to prevent us from being faced with something we really just can’t eat. It also gives us an idea of how much is coming so that we can pace ourselves and just have two courses if we feel like it. 

Today we asked our usual question and received the reply, “Mejillones”, after which the waiter disappeared. So the mussels came and Phil didn’t fancy them so his were taken away again, to be replaced by the second course: “Croquetas”, accompanied by the thinnest chips imaginable, potato sticks in fact. We managed to pin the waiter down long enough to enquire about the third course. What he said sounded something like “fee day WA”, which meant nothing to me at all and which I found difficult to imagine how to spell. It soon became clear that it meant little to many of our fellow lunchers, to judge by the “What’s that?” questions that kept popping up. We got an explanation of sorts: a kind of fish stew or soup or something. 

In the meantime they had offered Phil an omelette with salad to replace the mussels, which I thought was very reasonable of them. This did mean, however, that when the third course appeared he was already full and had no room for anything else So I had the fishy stew and asked once more what it was called: “fideuà”. 

It turns out to be a Catalán dish and my enquiring about it got us into conversation with the Cataláns at the next table. Mrs Catalán told me how to make “fideuà”: quite easy but I think that my own fish stew which contains a glass of white wine is superior. 

We finished off with a “tarta de fruta”, which Phil also turned his nose up at. So he had chocolate and vanilla ice cream. 

And then back to the room for last minute prep ready for this afternoon’s chess game. Yesterday’s turned into a draw: not brilliant but better than a loss. We shall see what today brings. 

Yesterday the Celta player who has been sold to Liverpool was interviewed in one of the papers. Asked how he felt about moving to Liverpool he told them: “Será complicado porque llego a un nuevo club, soy un fichaje nuevo, es la primera vez que salgo de casa. Será una liga diferente para mí.” Roughly translated: “It’ll be complicated because I’m going to a new club, I’m a new recruit, it’s the first time I’ve been away from home. I’ll be in a different league.” What struck me was that this is the first time he’s been away from home. And Liverpool have paid £9 million for him. I hope they look after him. It’s too easy for young lads to go haywire the first time they’re away from home. 

And finally, out and about this morning I spotted a shop selling sailing stuff. Here’s a photo of the sign: no prizes for spotting the Spanglish. 

 Back to the drawing board for them, I think.