A number of writers and artists have taken advantage of our retreat space here this year. With access to our extensive library, Wi/fi, printing facilities available and a quiet corner of the village an easy walk from the village square bars, market and local shops – everything fits to give you peace and tranquility to […]
On 24th May we took a ferry over to Tabarca, an island off Cabo Santa Pola, Alicante. We can just see it on the horizon driving from Relleu to Alicante via Aguas de Busot. Formerly a roost for the aggressive Barbary pirates, the island has the remnants of a fortress citadel built in 1770 with […]
We’ve just had our 80 or so olive trees in the Valero Grove expertly pruned. There is plenty of flower buds so we are hoping for a good harvest this Autumn, say 200 litres plus of Extra Virgin oil. The combination of blanqueta trees and the locally traditional Manzanilla trees produce a very pleasant […]
Inspired by Stephen Moss, the broadcaster, author and ornithologist who gave a talk in our village on ‘Mrs Moreau’s Warbler – How Birds Got their Names’, Terry Gifford and I drove an hour North to visit the 1290 hectare Bird Sanctuary at Pego. This has a remarkable list of specialities including 3 types of Heron, […]
The first two weeks in February are a magic time in the valley — the almond blossom is out. A hundred years ago there would twice as many trees at least, the almonds going to the nearby Jijona Turrón factories, but there are still thousands of trees left – lining the bancales like white […]
November is a month of changes. We still have warm summer days extending into December but mixed with sudden squalls and storms – this year a good deal of rain, much more than normal. One result, a startling display of wild flowers in our Olive grove: mauve Moricandia or Purple cabbage (which is in flower […]
Retreats for Artists and WritersMay 30, 2019 - 6:24 pmA number of writers and artists have taken advantage of our retreat space here this year. With access to our extensive library, Wi/fi, printing facilities available and a quiet corner of the village an easy walk from the village square bars, market and local shops – everything fits to give you peace and tranquility to […]
A Trip to TabarcaMay 28, 2019 - 4:53 pmOn 24th May we took a ferry over to Tabarca, an island off Cabo Santa Pola, Alicante. We can just see it on the horizon driving from Relleu to Alicante via Aguas de Busot. Formerly a roost for the aggressive Barbary pirates, the island has the remnants of a fortress citadel built in 1770 with […]
Spring in the Valero GroveMay 13, 2019 - 12:32 pmWe’ve just had our 80 or so olive trees in the Valero Grove expertly pruned. There is plenty of flower buds so we are hoping for a good harvest this Autumn, say 200 litres plus of Extra Virgin oil. The combination of blanqueta trees and the locally traditional Manzanilla trees produce a very pleasant […]