Conversations and post boxes!

Last night we got back quite late from Pontevedra.

The chess tournament came to its end late in the morning. An unconscionable time seemed to go past before the prize giving took place but eventually prizes were given - none to any of our group of players - and finally I was able to answer the question that our “responsibility”, aka junior chess player Xulio, had been asking me since he finished his game mid morning. The oft-repeated conversation went like this;

‘What time does the bus go to get back to Pontevedra?’

‘I don’t know. It depends on when everything finishes.’

‘So how will we know when to go to the bus pick-up place?’

‘Because they will announce it after the prize-giving.’

‘Are you sure?’

 ‘Yes!!!!’

And finally I was able to say, “Almost immediately. Do not move from here while I say goodbye to someone.” Whereupon he disappeared as soon as my back was turned. Of cours”

But eventually we gave him back to his father and went into Pontevedra to meet our friend Colin and have a well-earned bit of refreshment.

In the evening we ate at the Bar Pitillo, one of our favourite watering holes. Gambas al ajillo, pimientos de Padrón and calamares, washed down with a nice bottle of Albariño. What more could you ask for?

Except for maybe some zamburiñas al ajillo, which were not available unfortunately.

And after that we strolled through streets still registering 30 degrees to go and catch theu. 10.26 train to Vigo. The last time we did that stroll, only a few nights previously, we had got ourselves tangled up the procession to the Peregrina chuch, marking the end of the fiesta of the Virgen de la Peregrina, I think. Lots of people in fancy dress, oops! sorry! national costume, moving slowly and solemnly in time to a rhythm beaten out by a man with a stick. After we had outmanoeuvred the traditionalists our stroll became a forced march at full speed, almost a run, to get to the station in time to,avoid waiting until almost 11.00 pm for the last train to Vigo.

No problems of that nature last night, but we did treat ourselves to a taxi from the station when we reached Vigo. Our very chatty taxi driver told us that the maximum temperature in Vigo had been 26, a much more manageable temperature in his opinion. Well yes, I think we would second that.Today, however, my phone app suggested a high of 29 was on the cards for Vigo for today.

Anyway, last night we got back quite late. Before taking the lift we checked our mailbox. There is rarely anything of significance. Anyone who needs to contact us here usually does so electronically and as a result we get little more that junk mail in the post box. But we empty it from time tor time just to stop it overflowing into the hallway.

On this occasion, along with the brochures for this and that, which we threw away, there was a little note. Written in English it began thus:-

‘Hello, My name is Ifan and I write you because I tryed to find you at home but I couldn’t. I was trying to show you this brochure, the one which is with this letter. (Oops! The one we threw away?!) It talk about : “What is the key to Happy Family Life?”’

Then there were bible references and the suggestion that perhaps Ifan would be back sometime in the future. Not if we can help it!

Probably Jehovah’s witnesses, we decided.

I’ve seen them on Príncipe, the main shopping street, with their stands, identical to the ones on High Street in Manchester, offering leaflets that ask questions about happy family life and how to make sure you have one.

Funnily enough, when I have been out running in the mornings recently there has been one of their gang around. A woman in her fifties, she very tentatively asks passersby if she can speak to them for a moment, ask them a few questions. I shake my head at her and run on. Consequently she has stopped asking me. Most people don’t even acknowledge her presence, which is harsh. Maybe that is why the other day I saw her sitting on a bench, looking very dejected.

It must be quite hard when your religion sends you out doing missionary work before 9.00 in the morning. So it goes!