A trip to the blacksmiths - or the workman's lunch!

One the more difficult things about living high up a mountain in rural Spain is the quality of the water supply – sometimes ok, but often brown sand stained water or even just gurgling pipes!

Heather often stops the ‘Gestagua’ plumber Juan Manuel, who is a frequent visitor to the Barranco, to ask what is going on. The basic problem is that the well supply is inadequate, and so when the farmer near Los Cerricos waters his large lettuce field, there is little good water left for us.

Back in October, Juan Manuel told Heather that “after Merry Christmas”, works would start to bring a much better supply to the Barranco. We were not going to hold our breath. We have learnt that in Spain, “mañana”, doesn’t mean tomorrow, it means not today!

But now a new notice has appeared on the post box up the camino, announcing that work would indeed start soon, to create a better supply.

The situation with the water since we’ve lived here, meant that one of the first things we did, was to install a 'deposito' - an independent water supply for the Casa. Our 'deposito' is a 1500 litre tank that should keep us supplied with water for a week. However, it was sold to us at the price of a 2000 litre tank. I had an interesting time with Oprey, at the builders merchants, explaining to him in Spanish, that the volume of a cylinder is Pi x Radius squared x height, and that I had been overcharged, but we got there in the end!

I built a small casita to house the 'deposito' pump, which needed a hinged metal lid, so I went to go down to Oria to talk to the blacksmith. On the way I saw Pepe, owner of our nearest bar talking to one of his neighbours, at the development of some new 3 storey flats.

 I explained to the blacksmith what I needed, and fully expected a 'mañana' reply - but no - he picked up a sheet of metal -"is this ok?" – he measured it, cut it to size with a giant guillotine, drilled holes and fixed the hinges and hasp.

While all this was going on, some of his friends dropped in, studying the cutting gear; the anvils; the welding equipment and the work in progress - plough shares, railings and almond 'shakers', a priority job because at that time, the harvest was in full flow.

Into the workshop came the lottery seller to make a few sales, and then everyone started to look at the massive lorry, that had created a blockage on the roundabout into the town. He was on his CB radio, with a knowing smile communicating with another 'good buddy'. Sure enough, a couple of minutes later, an equally massive marble lorry appeared from the opposite direction of the too narrow streets of Oria. The lorry drivers exchanged greetings and moved on in their respective directions, a queue of cars following!

Then the huge crane from the new flats development swung across two streets to near Pepe's restaurant. A red plastic bucket was suspended from the giant hook. Slowly it was lowered, and at the third attempt Pepe grasped the bucket. Then he waved the paper taken from the bucket, to the cheering men in the scaffolding - the lunch time order has been delivered!

So, how much was my casita top? Complete with hinges and hasp - 7 euros, and entertainment thrown in for free!