Diary of a Nobody

There are a number of ways of keeping a diary.

Writing long-hand in a book, like Samuel Pepys and Anne Frank; writing a blog like 'Diary of a Nobody', my record of what is happening in my life; or via photos and home movies, either home-made or created professionally.

[© Wikipedia]    

I've just taken delivery of my photodiary for 2023. There are several companies that offer such a service. I chose PastBook, based in The Netherlands, who compile your photo album based on photos posted to Facebook.

So far I've bought albums covering 2010, 2011, 2021 and 2023. You may be asking what happened to 2012 to 2020, and I don't know.

Perhaps I didn't take so many photos in those years, although we regularly receive albums as gifts from both sides of our families. Besides, these albums aren't cheap!

My 2023 in pictures

Starting in January with winter patterns taken post-New Year in Germany, then snapshots of drinks and signs I particularly like, including the three featured here:

    [Above photos © Paul Whitelock]

Mid-January found me in San Pedro de Alcántara (Málaga) and Ronda while February featured my garden and a visit from my daughter and two grandsons, as well as a Press Club event in Málaga. 

March was busy too: a live music session at Allioli Bar Y Más in Jimera de Libar; and photos of the murals of Debbie Harry at the Ronda Valley Hotel;

    [© Trip Advisor]                                                                                   [© Quehoteles.com]

The month concluded with photos of the stunning roof terrace of my house in Montejaque.

April kicked in with live music at Allioli Bar Y Más, and photos of signs pointing to places around the world which are important to us. The month also featured pictures of the animals around my house and garden, mainly elephants, seahorses and geckoes, but also teddy bears. The end of April was given over to photos of Spring bursting out all over the garden.

   [All above photos © Paul Whitelock]

May highlighted scenery around Montejaque and a visit to the neolithic caves at Cueva de la Pileta near Benaoján. Also a visit to the coast near Manilva and the fiesta de Ronda Romántica in the Barrio San Francisco in Ronda.

    [video © Canal Sur]                                                           Ronda Romantica [© YouTube]

June's photos were a diary of a visit by my brother Simon and his wife Marilyn. We visited the lake in Montejaque; Tarifa (Cádiz) where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic; Cádiz city; and Arcos de la Frontera (Cádiz). After which we were all ill with food poisoning (no photos of that misfortune!)

    [© Los Viajes de Margalliver]         Cadiz [© Hertz]                                          Arcos de la Frontera [© Turismo de Cadiz]

July started with a concert in Ronda "cathedral" and ended with a trip to England, specifically Stratford (East London) and Hastings (East Sussex), to visit my two children and four grandchildren.

    [© Stratford Cross]                                                    Hastings Old Town [© TA]  Hastings beach [© The Guardian]

August was devoted to the Pueblos Blancos Music Festival in Montejaque with shots of the artistes playing and the villagers having a great time.

September featured tree-felling next-door and little else, while October had publicity shots for Casa Real, more elephants and a gecko.

Early November focused on Autumn flora and fauna, Mijas Costa and patterns in and around Casares Costa.  

December began with photos of interesting pictures taken in Cafetería-Churrería Dólar (Ronda) and then it was off to Germany where we spent the close of the year in Uitersen (Schleswig-Holstein) and Dresden (Saxony) where we got to visit the Bechstein piano shop and museum and got caught up in a huge demonstration by the ultra right-wing AfD party.

    [© Paul Whitelock]                                                                          AfD demo - time to go [© Paul Whitelock]

***

So, I'm pleased with my 2023 album, containing hundreds of photos and full of happy memories of that year.

Links:

Christmas Tour of Deutschland Part 2 – Dresden I

Christmas Tour of Deutschland Part 3 – Dresden II

"Signs of the Times" - Deutsche Version

"Signs of the Times" - English Version

“FRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER”

© Diary of a Nobody

Pictures:

Canal Sur, Hertz, Los Viajes de Margalliver, Paul Whitelock, Quehoteles.com, Stratford Cross, The Guardian, Trip Advisor, Turismo de Cadiz, Wikipedia, YouTube

Thanks:

Paul Whitelock

Tags:

2023, A1 Inmobiliaria, AfD, Allioli Bar Y Mas, Arcos de la Frontera, Barrio San Francisco, Bechstein, Benaojan, Cadiz, Cafeteria Dolar, Canal Sur, Cueva de la Pileta, Diary of a Nobody, Dresden, Hastings, Hertz, Jimera de Libar, Los Viajes de Margalliver, Montejaque, Paul Whitelock, Pueblos Blancos Music Festival, Quehoteles.com, Ronda, San Pedro de Alcantara, Stratford, Stratford Cross, Tarifa, The Guardian, Trip Advisor, Turismo de Cadiz, Uitersen, Wikipedia, YouTube

áéíóú

In a shop? By telephone? Or online?

If in a shop, locally? In the city? Or on the coast?

Unlike in times gone by, the ways to buy stuff in 2026 are many and varied.

[© Barcelo]    

Since Covid-19

Since the lockdowns, going to a shop to shop has declined. At that time we got used to ordering our groceries online or by phone and having them delivered by our local supermarket the same or following day.

My daughter in England, who is in her 40s and a busy career woman and single mum, still orders her main shop from Tesco or Sainsbury's.

[© Tesco]    

In Spain we were allowed to shop for groceries - alone - during lockdown, so I guess there are fewer home deliveries here than in the UK.

Bookshops in Spain were out of bounds, so we turned to Amazon, Goodreads or other similar websites to order our books.

What's more Amazon and its collaborators also sell most things, from water filters to coffee beans, and usually cheaper than in shops. Delivery is often free (eg with Amazon Prime), or very cheap, and quick.

    [© El Cronista]

A personal note - part 1

Over the last few years I've turned to Amazon for a range of products and, until recently, have been pleased with their service. The various delivery drivers know where we live.

All of a sudden Amazon seems to have lost the plot. They've started to not meet deadlines or to not deliver at all. I am currently awaiting two separate products - no delivery and no messages from either Amazon nor the suppliers / delivery company.

    [© Espacio Furgo]

Pros and cons

A personal note - part 2

Where I live in Ronda (Malaga) - pop. 34,000 - certain products are not available or there is insufficient choice. Whilst we have two Mercadonas, a Dia, an Aldi, a LIDL and a Supeco (Carrefour), we don't have a major DIY store like Leroy Merlin or Bauhaus.

So, occasionally it's off to the coast, to Marbella or Malaga.

    [© Leroy Merlin]

This is fraught with complications, eg the distance, fuel costs, delivery charges if the item is too big for the hatchback and returning faulty or unwanted goods.

So, how to shop?

I guess a mixture of approaches.

I enjoy the personal aspects of shopping in a shop, yet I am attracted by online prices and the range of choices available on the coast.

[© Adobe Stock]    

So, I shall continue to do as I do now, although .....

..... I need to sort Amazon out!

© Diary of a Nobody MMXXVI

Pictures:

Adobe Stock, Barcelo, El Cronista, Espacio Furgo, Leroy Merlin, Tesco

Thanks:

Paul Whitelock

Tags:

Adobe Stock, Aldi, Amazon, Barcelo, Bauhaus, bookshop. Carrefour, Covid-19, Dia, Diary of a Nobody, El Cronista, Espacio Furgo, Eye on Spain, Goodreads, Leroy Merlin, LIDL, lockdown, Prime, shop by phone, shop online, Supeco, Tesco,