The engine sighs - whispers home at last

We drove back from Ciudad Rodrigo to Culebrón on Monday, more or less without incident - Eddie the cat had a couple of incidents but he now seems dead pleased to be running around Culebrón where he can go to play whenever he likes and come and go as he pleases.

The house looked like a bombsite. In broad sweep it's actually not too bad but the detail is cry making. The light switches don't move as they should, the doors won't close properly, the plaster is slarted all over the door and window frames, tiles are cracked, paintwork destroyed, the fireplace is crooked, the chimmney pipes are wonky, everything feels damp, it's freezing, lights are bare wires hanging from holes in ceilings and walls, the garden is full of debris and weeds, the pool cover is hanging tiredly in the dried up pool like an out of date condom. The roof looks good though and the half of the frontage that has been rendered is a nice colour.

We've been cleaning for a couple of days and my hands hurt but I wasn't able to complain to you before as Telefonica seem very reluctant to reconnect the phone though they have finally given us Internet after four phone calls.

Proper posts to come.