The recent fuel crisis has not gone entirely unnoticed here in our little corner of the world but it has certainly not been quite as drastic as we might have expected at first.
Yesterday, we went to the little filling station which is housed within the olive oil cooperative on the outskirts of the village and didn´t even have to queue to get our hands on the diesel pump. What we have noticed though is that since our arrival in Spain last September, fuel prices have increased tremendously. We now pay almost €1.30 for a litre of diesel compared to just over €1 when we first got here. I dread to think what prices are like in the UK at the moment.
The traders had all made it to yesterday´s market in the village square, their range of products almost as varied as always, with the slight exception of the non-availability of lettuces and oranges. We managed to get the latter in the local supermarket where most shelves were fully stocked apart from the fresh meat and bread counters which looked very bare indeed.
Earlier in the week, not too sure exactly when we would be able to fill up the car again, we deliberately avoided its use and walked into the village, giving the X-Trail a few days off.
One morning, we set off for a walk in the surrounding countryside. The rolling hills were dotted with wild flowers, the air was clean and fresh and the only sound you could hear was birdsong and the occasional bark of a dog. Chica, the spaniel, came along and had no end of fun, chasing after the stones we threw for her. We arrived back home two hours later with an orange which had fallen off a tree and conveniently rolled onto the edge of our path. We munched it that same morning and it was by far the sweetest and juiciest orange I have ever tasted – and the cheapest too. So much enjoyment and not a single centimo was spent. How comforting to know that there are still pleasant things to do which nobody in this materialistic society in which we live can spoil for others.
Happiness - for some - is simply having a lifetime supply of stones.