February Update

NEW LOOK FOR CHINOOK´S INSIDES: The cushion covering marathon is over. Seamstress(ed) Deborah completed the covers and they look great. She made a fabulous job. It completely alters the look inside, the textured green shades bringing out the richness of the teak wood. She will be taking orders when she recovers...
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CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: We went to a performance on January 31 here in Sevilla by the Chinese troupe, Dralion, and what a great performance it was. No photos were allowed to be taken inside so the only ones we can show you are of the "big top" (tent) and a poster. However, if you go to the website www.cirquedusoleil.com video clips of the performance we attended can be accessed. Well worth the money (Brian´s birthday present!).
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HAGGIS, BAGPIPES AND POETRY: an invitation to a Burn´s Supper at the home of a cruising couple (who are now semi-landlubbering it) for Robbie´s birthday was accepted with pleasure, and what a pleasurable night it was. The haggis was piped in (with piped in music, served hot and steaming with tatties and bashed neaps and many wee drams. Toasts were made, poems quoted (well, read actually) and then more drams were piped and more bagpipes bashed... (Photo: the poor little haggises (3) minus heads and legs. Host Jackie and friend David ready to carve.
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TAI CHI FOR MAI Deborah. Debby has always wanted to do Tai Chi on the beach in the early morning sun ever since she saw a group in Galicia, so off to lessons she goes now (for this month) to the local gym. Not just any gym, it is the biggest gym in Europe. Six levels with every type of sport facility you ever need to keep fit. Debby is daily finding new muscles with the Tai Chi, the gentle sport. Photo is of the Taicheerleader with Europe´s largest gym in the background.
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Religious Parades seem to come out of the woodwork (or stonework) when you are least expecting it. We chanced on one emerging from the Cathedral Sevilla last Sunday with the heavy heavy float carrying a "treasure". The crowd of hundreds fell deathly quiet as the float made its way down the steps, then the cathedral bells pealed and a brass band struck up. The Cathedral Sevilla is the third biggest in the world and quite awesome. (Photos of same)
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A huge flea-market last Sunday by the River gave us "treasures" of our own - new brass bedside reading lamps and a chess set amongst other smaller trinkets. We arrived too late to completely fill our knapsacks so we will go back next Sunday...
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Vegemite Flash: Our neighbours on Pamina are currently in New Zealand for a couple of weeks and promised to bring Brian back a couple of jars of his favourite: Vegemite, that delicious B-vitamin black goop he speads on toast in the mornings. He has these insane cravings. A New Zealand boat Hullabaloo is due in here around the 20th of this month. The big question: will Brian share the Vegemite...
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Photo: The city from the Cathedral Sevilla roof top - Deborah climbed up on a Sunday afternoon before being accosted by security guards