Closed for holidays from the 24th December until the 11th January - both inclusive. Happy New Year!


Cerrado por vacaciones del 24 de diciembre al 11 de enero - ambos inclusive. Feliz Anio Nuevo!

Not much to do today, which is all right. Last day before holidays. I won't be back until Monday 12 January 2004. We have some rough (very rough) plans for our trip to the land of oranges and sunshine. We've booked a couple of nights hotel in the City of Angels, then a couple of more nights in the City of Debaucherie. And yep. Staying in the hotel pictured above. If we are going to do it, at least do it right! After that...no plans! So we may spent New Year's Eve lost in the Mojave Desert. Or something. Good!


Hoy no hay casi nada que hacer, lo cual me parece estupendo. Es el ultimo dia antes de las vacaciones. No volvere a postear hasta el lunes 12 de enero 2004. Tenemos un plan general (muy general) de lo que vamos a hacer en nuestro viaje a la tierra del sol y las naranjas. Hemos reservado un par de noches de hotel en la Ciudad de Los Angeles, un par de noches en la Ciudad del Juego y la Perversion (sip, justamente en el hotel de la foto, si vamos a hacerlo, al menos lo hacemos bien, no?)y despues...ya no hay mas planes. A lo que salga! Asi que quiza acabaremos pasando la Nochevieja perdidos en el Desierto de Mojave. O algo parecido. Bien!


The weather today:
Cloudy
7C
UV Index: 0 Minimal
Wind: From the West Southwest at 17 mph
Dew Point: 6C
Humidity: 95%
Visibility: Unlimited
Barometer: 1,023.4 mb

All these Xmas dinners and lunches and parties are taking their toll...I was not able to post on Friday and the only thing that comes to my mind today is....indigestion!!! Three days to go....cannot wait for Thursday! Holidays, yippeeee!!!


Todas estas cenas, comidas y fiestas de Navidad estan agotandome ya....me fue imposible postear el viernes pasado y lo unico que se me ocurre hoy es hablar de...indigestion!!!!. Por suerte ya solo me quedan 3 dias. No veo hora de que sea jueves y con el jueves....las vacaciones, hurrrraaaa!!!


The weather today:
Not available!!!!

Well and now that the Journey has ended (LOTR yesterday, guess who was there..) and we have had 3 years of enjoying the landscapes of New Zealand.... well, you will see more of it, because... Another major fantasy film production is on its way to New Zealand, and again it will be directed by a local. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, based on the popular book of the same name, will be made in New Zealand, Industry Development Minister Jim Anderton confirmed in a statement today. The film will be directed by Andrew Adamson, a New Zealander best known as the co-director of the Oscar-winning computer-animated feature Shrek. The movie is expected to start preparations, including obtaining stage space and personnel, in Auckland early in 2004. All of you who missed acting as extra and dressing up like orcs for LOTR, let's go and pack our suitcases, now it's your opportunity to get an extra job as centaur in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe!


Y ya que la aventura ha terminado (LOTR y adivinad quien estaba ayer en el cine) y hemos disfrutado 3 anios con los paisajes de Nueva Zelanda...pues eso no es todo, amigos, porque....Otra gran produccion de la literatura fantastica esta en camino de convertirse en film en Nueva Zelanda, y de nuevo sera dirigida por un kiwi. El Leon, La Bruja y El Armario, basado en el popular libro con el mismo titulo, se rodara en Nueva Zelanda, como hoy confirmo el Ministro de Desarrollo e Industria Jim Anderton. La pelicula sera dirigida por Andrew Adamson, un neocelandes conocido por ser el co-director de la oscarizada Shrek. Las preparaciones para el rodaje, incluyendo la localizacion de escenarios y personal, empezara a principios de 2004 en Auckland. Si alguno no llego a tiempo para presentarse de extra como orc en LOTR, ya podeis empezar a hacer las maletas para hacer de centauro en El Leon, La Bruja y el Armario!


The weather in Auckland today:
Mostly Cloudy
16C
UV Index: 0 Minimal
Wind: From the South Southwest at 16 mph
Dew Point: 12C
Humidity: 77%
Visibility: Unlimited
Barometer: 1,015.9 mb

Hey! Today it's my BIRTHDAY!!!


Eh! Hoy es mi cumpleanios!!!!



The weather :
Fair
2C
UV Index: 0 Minimal
Wind: From the East Southeast at 8 mph
Dew Point: 1C
Humidity: 93%
Visibility: Unlimited
Barometer: 1,023.0 mb

Xmas lunch...Xmas dinner....Xmas breakfast? Xmas..is it today...again? It feels like that, when you have several Xmas meals and it's not even the 25th of December! Last Saturday, we had our Xmas lunch with my parents. On Friday, we are having our Xmas lunch with our work colleagues. On Saturday, we will have our Xmas dinner with some friends. And what will actually happen on Xmas day? Ah well... we will have our Xmas lunch or dinner or whatever with the rest of passengers and air crew on board of a BA plane on our way to L.A. We will be even able to have two Xmas dinners, the first one in the plane and the second one when we land in L.A. How about that? And this goes for two people who wanted to boycott Xmas!
P.S.: To the Reader from Colorado (Broomsfield?), maybe you can suggest any helicopter/plane companies to fly over the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas? I know Colorado is not Nevada nor Arizona, but I bet that you know better than I do, I've never been in the US. Thanks!



Comida de Navidad, cena de Navidad, desayuno de Navidad? Navidad...es hoy...otra vez?? Un@ se siente asi de confus@ cuando ya se llevan ingeridos varios agapes de Navidad...y aun no es ni el 25 de Diciembre! El sabado pasado tuvo lugar la comida de Navidad con mis padres. Este viernes, comida de Navidad con nuestros colegas de trabajo. El sabado, cena de Navidad con amigos. Y que pasara el 25, os preguntareis. Ah bueno...pues habra comida de Navidad o cena de Navidad con el resto de pasajeros y tripulacion a bordo de un avion de BA con destino L.A. Incluso tendremos la oportunidad de tener DOS cenas de Navidad, una a bordo del vuelo y otra en cuanto aterricemos en L.A. Que os parece? Y eso es lo que nos pasa por querer boicotear la Navidad. Que si quieres arroz, Catalina.....
P.S: Al lector de Colorado (Broomsfield?), agradeceria sugirieras alguna compania de helicopteros/avionetas para alquilar un tour sobre el Grand Canyon desde Las Vegas. Ya se que Colorado no es Nevada ni Arizona, pero seguro que tu tienes mas ideas que yo, ya que nunca he estado en tu pais. Gracias!


The weather today:
Mostly Cloudy
6C
UV Index: 0 Minimal
Wind: From the South at 3 mph
Dew Point: 3C
Humidity: 81%
Visibility: Unlimited
Barometer: 1,028.1 mb

Paella is a typical Spanish dish, traditionally cooked in a "paellera" - a round flat pan with two handles - which is then put on the table for all to see and admire. It is normally cooked using shellfish but can also be made with chicken,rabbit or only vegetables. In many Spanish villages, especially in coastal areas, they use a giant paellera to cook a paella on festival days which is big enough to feed everybody. A paella is very flexible so if you don’t have the exact ingredients or if you find some of them hard to get hold of, substitute them for something similar. Getting fresh shellfish can be a problem, but you can always use frozen fish and use fish stock instead of water to increase the flavour. There are hundreds of ways to cook a paella and every cook has their own favourite recipe. This one which I found on the internet and slightly modified to my personal taste, will serve 4 people:

INGREDIENTS:
2 onions, finely chopped
1 green pepper, finely chopped
1 red pepper, boiled until soft and then cut into long thin strips
8 medium-sized tomatoes, skinned and finely chopped
100g peas, cooked
200g prawns (if using cooked prawns substitute fish stock for the water)
200g small clams
200g squid
12 mussels
350g rice (traditionally short grain rice is used)
2 cloves of garlic, coarsely chopped
a pinch of saffron strands (if you can’t get saffron, use yellow food colouring instead and add it once you have added the liquid)
a sprig of parsley, finely chopped
olive oil
about 800ml water


PREPARATION:
MUSSELS: Wash the mussels, removing the beards. Throw away any that are open or smell funny. Boil the mussels in a pot without any water until they open.
FRESH SQUID: Rub off the outer dark skin. Pull out the insides (including the transparent back bone) and pinch the eye away from the tentacles. Save the tentacles. Cut the squid into rings. Or get frozen squid rings, if fresh are not available.
CLAMS: Discard any open clams. Wash in water and boil without any water until they open.
PRAWNS: Do not peel them, let your guests do it the Spanish way, with their own fingers while they are eating the paella. Grill the prawns until they are almost cooked.
GARLIC: In a pestle and mortar, grind the garlic, saffron (if using), parsley and a pinch of salt.


RECIPE:
Heat some olive oil in a large frying pan. Add the onion, green pepper and fry gently for about five minutes. Add the chopped tomato and squid (with the tentacles) and fry on a low heat for another ten minutes.
Add the rice and stir well to make sure that it is thoroughly coated. Add water (or fish stock if using frozen fish), clams and the garlic/saffron/parsley mixture and bring to the boil. Season with salt. Put a lid on it, turn the heat right down and cook very slowly for about ten minutes. Add the prawns and peas and give it a stir. Arrange the mussels and strips of red pepper artistically on top, put the lid back on and leave for another ten minutes - checking that it has enough water. If you think it is getting too dry, add more water, but shake the handle of the pan rather than stir so as not to upset the pattern. Once the rice is cooked and the mussels have opened,let in rest for five minutes, covered and then it is ready to eat.


Y bueno, arriba he dado la receta de la Paella en ingles. O una de las muchas recetas para preparar Paella, porque en cada casa se prepara de una manera distinta! No la traduzco porque me imagino que, si lees en castellano, ya sabes bien lo que es una Paella. Y nada...uno de mis platos preferidos y el primero que prepara mi madre cuando vuelvo a casa (por Navidad, como los turrones El Almendro, o en cualquier otra epoca del anio. A mi me da igual la epoca, la Paella siempre me va bien!).


The weather today:
Sunny
5C
UV Index: 0 Minimal
Wind: From the West Northwest at 5 mph
Dew Point: 2C
Humidity: 81%
Visibility: Unlimited
Barometer: 1,029.1 mb

I'm not going to post again....until Monday. We are flying to Barcelona tomorrow and back here on Sunday. A very short pre-Xmas trip to see my ...whanau ,as they say down under...it's good to learn new languages, don't you think so?


No voy a postear mas....hasta el lunes. Maniana vamos a Barcelona y el domingo volvemos a estar aqui. Cortisimas minivacaciones antes de Navidad, para ver a mi whanau..., como dicen en las Antipodas...siempre va bien aprender otro idioma, no creeis?

Next week's shopping list. Longer than usual, as we are having guests on Friday 19th for a Xmas party.

La lista de la compra para la proxima semana. Mas larga que de costumbre, ya que tenemos cena de Navidad con invitados el viernes 19.


1, Kingsmill Square Cut Medium Sliced White Loaf 400g
3, Wholemeal Deli Rolls 4 Pack
1, Tesc0 5 Onion & Poppyseed Bagels
1, 6 Snowman Fairy Cakes
2, Maina Mini-Pandoro 80g
1, Finest Large White Choc/Chunk Cookies 4 Pack
2, Limes Loose
1, Value Lemons 7 Pack
1, Honeydew Melon Class 1
1, Cherries Loose-Bagged Class 1
1, Seedless Grapes Selection Pack Class 1
1, Gala Apples Pack
1, Tomatoes 750g
1, Spring Onions Bunch
2, Asparagus Bundle Price Marked Class 1 Each
1, Supersweet Sweetcorn Price Marked Twinpack
1, Closed Cup Mushrooms 250g Pack
1, Bigger Pack Better Value Leafy Salad & Tatsoi 165g
1, Iceberg Lettuce Each Class 1
2, Beef Steak Mince 250g
1, T.12 Smoked Wiltshire Cure Streaky 250g
1, Honey Roast Sandwich Ham 125g
1, Cooked Sandwich Beef 125g
1, Herta 4 Frankfurters 140g
1, Lemon Sole Fillets
1, Nolans Irish Smoked Salmon 200g
1, Whole Milk 3.408ltr/6 Pints
1, Whole Milk 1.136ltr/2 Pints
1, rish Creamery Butter 250g
1, Medium Mature Cheddar Small
1, Grana Padano Portions
1, Leerdammer Slices 200g
1, H/L Cottage Cheese Crunchy Vegetable 300g
3, Lasagne Sheets 250g
1, Pine Nut Kernels 100g
1, Mcdougalls Fine Plain Flour 1.5kg
1, Buitoni Spaghetti 1kg
1, Buitoni Penne Rigate Pasta 500g
1, All Butter Shortbread Assortment 250g
1, T.Temptations Mature Cheddar Crisps 150g
1, T.Temptations Thai Curry Crisps 150g
1, T.Temptations Steak/Marsala Wine Crisps 150g
1, Leaf Spinach 1kg
1, Mccain Southern Fries 907g
1, Dr. Oetker Pollo Pizza 355g
2, Coca Cola Regular 4 X 2 Ltrs Pack
2, Diet Coke 4 X 2 Ltrs Pack
1, Appletiser Sparkling Apple Juice 6 X 330 Ml
1, Apple Flavoured Spring Water 1.5 Litres
1, Lmn & Lime Flavoured Spring Water 1.5 Litres

The weather today:
Fog
3C
UV Index: N/A
Wind: From the North at 3 mph
Dew Point: 2C
Humidity: 98%
Visibility: 0 miles

My address book was falling apart so I went and bought a new one today. That was the easy part. Then it came the time to copy all the addresses and phone numbers from the old to the new book. I thought it would take me hours. But then I decided to cross over the names of people I do not really communicate/see anymore. And...wow! It only took me twenty minutes to copy the addresses then! Now I have only the real and essential people. The rest are not needed anymore! It's very satisfying, all this metaphorical decluttering of my past...


Mi libreta de telefonos y direcciones se estaba cayendo a pedazos, asi que fui a comprar uno nuevo. Esta era la parte facil. Despues venia la tediosa tarea de copiar todas las direcciones y telefonos en el nuevo librito. Pense que tardaria horas. Pero entonces decidi tachar los nombres de la gente con la que ya no me comunico o ya no veo. Y....vayaaa! Solo tarde veinte minutos en copiar las direcciones! Mi libreta de direcciones contiene ahora solo los nombres realmente esenciales e importantes. El resto...pues ya no me hacen falta! Esta metaforica limpieza de mi pasado ha sido la mar de satisfactoria...


And the weather:
Haze
11C
UV Index: 0 Minimal
Wind: From the East at 13 km/h
Dew Point: 7C
Humidity: 77%
Visibility: 8 kilometers
Barometer: 1,014.6 mb

I've been so busy, with so many things to do that I did not even have time to post about...Lord of The Rings! Yes! I've already booked our tickets online, for 19.30pm on Thursday 17 December. Which is also my Birthday, by the way. Peter Jackson has been very nice, every year launching LOTR on my birthday (17th) or my patron saint (19th). Are YOU ready for LOTR?


He estado tan ocupad@, con tantas cosas que hacer, que no he tenido tiempo de postear sobre...Lord of The Rings!! Si! Ya he reservado nuestras entradas por internet, para las 19.30pm el jueves 17 de Diciembre. Que es, oh que casualidad! mi cumpleanios. Peter Jackson se ha comportado como todo un senior, dandome, durante estos ultimos 3 anios, mi regalito de cumpleanios (17) o santo! (19). Y tu, ya estas preparado para LOTR?


The weather today:
Cloudy
3°C
UV Index: 0 Minimal
Wind: From the East Northeast at 10 mph
Dew Point: 1°C
Humidity: 83%
Visibility: Unlimited
Barometer: 1,019.0 mb

The office Xmas lunch will take place in the Bridge Tavern (last year's choice, too). There is a menu to choose from...not very inspiring, have a look!


Starters

Melon with a Sweet Ginger Coulis
Atlantic Prawn Salad with a Lime & Coriander dressing
Crispy Camembert with a Cumberland Sauce
Home-made Leek & Potato Soup with French Bread


Main Courses

Classic Roast Turkey with all the trimmings
Sirloin of Beef in Red Wine & Stilton Sauce
Supreme of Chicken Italienne wrapped in Bacon & Cheese with a Tomato Concasse
Salmon with a White Wine, Prawn & Dill Sauce
Wild Mushroom Stroganoff with Brandy & Cream


Desserts

Christmas Pudding & Brandy Sauce
White Chocolate & Amaretto Ganache
Fresh Fruit Salad & Cream
Cheese & Biscuits


Coffee & Mints


La comida de Navidad de la oficina tendra lugar este anio en Bridge Tavern (donde ya fuimos el anio pasado). El poco inspirado menu (a escoger un plato de cada) es el siguiente....


Entrantes
Melon con pure de jengibre dulce
Cocktail de gambas con salsa de lima y coriandro
Queso Camembert rebozado con salsa Cumberland
Sopa casera de puerros y patata con baguette


Primeros platos
Clasico Pavo al Horno con verduras
Solomillo de ternera con salsa de vino tinto y queso Stilton
Suprema de pollo envuelta al bacon y queso con concasse de tomate
Salmon con salsa al vino blanco, gambas y eneldo
Stroganoff de setas salvajes con brandy y nata


Postres

Pudding de Navidad (Xmas pudding) con salsa de brandy
Amaretto ganache de chocolate blanco
Macedonia con nata
Queso con galletas


Cafe y caramelos de menta


The weather today:
Cloudy
9C
UV Index: 0 Minimal
Wind: From the North Northeast at 24 mph
Dew Point: 5C
Humidity: 75%
Visibility: Unlimited
Barometer: 1,025.1 mb

This week's shopping list...because even if I don't have time to blog, I am still hungry and need to do the shopping!!

La lista de la compra semanal....porque, aunque no tenga tiempo de postear, cuando el hambre aprieta, se encuentra tiempo para hacer la compra!!


1, Kingsmill Square Cut Medium Sliced White Loaf 400g
4, Wholemeal Deli Rolls 4 Pack
1, Finest Croissants 2 Pack
1, Finest Large White Choc/Chunk Cookies 4 Pack
1, Value Lemons 7 Pack
1, Seedless Grapes Double Selection Pack Class 1
2, Gala Apples Pack
1, Tomatoes 750g
1, Spring Onions Bunch
1, Red Peppers Loose Each Class 1
1, Asparagus Bundle Price Marked Class 1 Each
1, Closed Cup Mushrooms 250g Pack
1, Garlic Pre-Pack Class 1
1, Cooking Onions 1kg Class 2
1, Bigger Pack Better Value Leafy Salad & Tatsoi 165g
1, Iceberg Lettuce Each Class 1
1, Corn Fed Chicken Thighs
1, Honey Roast Sandwich Ham 125g
1, Cooked Sandwich Chicken 125g
1, Lemon Sole Fillets
1, Whole Milk 2.272ltr/4 Pints
1 Irish Creamery Butter 250g
1, Grana Padano Portions
1, Leerdammer Slices 200g
1, Creme Fraiche 500ml
1, Free Range Eggs Large Box Of 6
1, Dried Parsley 11g
1, Heinz Whole Peeled Tomatoes 4 X 400g
2, Italfresco Prosciutto Tortelloni 250g
1, Bigger Pack Better Value Frosted Flakes 1kg
1, Walkers Sensations Four Cheese/Onion150g
1, Walkers Sensations Thai Sweet Chili 150g
1, Walkers Variety Doritos 10 Pack
1, Royal Greenland Cooked & Peeled Prawns 400g
1, Coca Cola Regular 4 X 2 Ltrs Pack
1, Diet Coke 4 X 2 Ltrs Pack
1, Colgate Toothpaste Anti Tartar Plus Whitening 100ml
1, Carex Hypoallergenic Handwash 250ml
1, Ariel Color Liquid 1.5ltr Pouch
1, Woolite For Delicates 500ml
1, Comfort Mandarin 2 Litre
1, Kitchen Towel White 2 Roll
1, Luxury Soft T/Tissue Mgnolia 9 Roll 2169 Sht
1, Drawstring Refuse Sacks 20pk


And today's weather:
Mostly Cloudy
11C
UV Index: 0 Minimal
Wind: From the East Southeast at 7 mph
Dew Point: 6C
Humidity: 72%
Visibility: Unlimited
Barometer: 1,011.5 mb

Aaaarrrghhh!! I am sooo busy I cannot blog!!!

Aaaaaarrrghhh!! El trabajo se me acumula y no puedo postear!!!!