How to ..... ?

How to ….. prepare for winter in inland Andalucia

We have entered meteorological Autumn and are more than half-way through September.

Night temperatures are dropping and the first frosts won't be far away.

My frosty garden in 2024 [Paul Whitelock]    

Time to get ready for the cold winter months. The climate in this part of Spain is defined as continental:

"Nueve meses de infierno y tres de invierno."

In the garden

Wrap vulnerable plants such as bougainvilla, dama de noche, young wisteria, in fleece, available at garden centres (viveros), as soon as frost is forecast, otherwise you are likely to lose them.

Make sure you have plenty of firewood for your chimenea. I've stopped buying logs - they're too expensive. Instead, I collect discarded wood from the "basura", e.g. pallets, broken furniture if it's unpainted and not lacquered, branches, and cut/saw them into wood-fire-sized "logs". Just be sure you don't burn anything which gives off toxic fumes. Also make sure it's legal in your area, and get your chimney swept regularly (with thanks to Lorna Fisher - see first comment below).

After recent storms, several trees in the garden have blown down. Armed with my trusty chainsaw they too have gone into my log store. I reckon I've enough lumber for three winters.

[Deposit Photos]    

In the house

If you have a pellet stove, buy your pellets now before they go up in price. 15 kilo sacks are currently on sale round here at various prices, ranging from 4.99 to 5.75 euros per sack.

If you use heating oil (gasoil) fill your tank now before prices shoot up. Supply and demand determines prices.

If you rely on bombonas (gas bottles) for cooking and/or hot water and/or portable gas heaters, make sure you have enough. 

In our village house we need five: hot water, two gas heaters, gas cooker and one spare. Check that your gas heaters are working. Sometimes the jets get blocked with accumulated dust from months of non-use.

  Pellet stove [Climmatic]                    Bombonas [Repsol]                                                Avia domestic distribution [Facebook]                                                  

In the bedroom

It's time to clear out light summer clothing, such as t-shirts, polo shirts, shorts, thin dresses, and stuff our wardrobes full of warm clothing, like long trousers, undervests, long-sleeved shirts, thick skirts and dresses, pullovers and woolly tops, warm outer garments and sturdy shoes.

It gets very cold in the mountains, between November and February.

    [British Heart Foundation]

Good luck! Be prepared!

Related Links

Jack Frost in Andalucía - Eye on Spain

Jack Frost in Andalucía - Olive Press News Spain

Jack Frost in Andalucía - Secret Serrania de Ronda

LOG BLOG: How to keep warm and cosy during winter in Spain - Secret Serrania

Log blog! - Olive Press News Spain

In Love with SEVILLA - at last! - Help me, Ronda

© The Crazy Guy

Images:

British Heart Foundation, Climmatic, Deposit Photos, Facebook, Paul Whitelock, Repsol

Tags:

15 kilo sacks, bombona, bougainvilla, branches, British Heart Foundation, broken furniture, chimenea, Climmatic, dama de noche, Deposit Photos, Eye on Spain,  Facebook, firewood, fleece, frost, gas bottle, gasoil, heating oil, Jack Frost in Andalucia, log blog, logs, "Nueve meses de infierno y tres de invierno", pallets,  Paul Whitelock, pellets, pellet stove, portable gas heater, Repsol, Secret Serrania, Sevilla, The Olive Press, vivero, wisteria, wood-fire-sized "logs", 

I own two properties in Spain. My domicilio in the campo outside Ronda and a vivienda rural in nearby Montejaque.

"You have to sell your rental house as soon as possible," says the missus.

Well she is the boss.

Se vende

So Casa Real is on the market and is now priced to sell. I've reduced the asking price and am happy to do a deal on the furniture and fittings.

I have a viewing tomorrow morning by a UK couple who really like Montejaque. Apparently, they've looked elsewhere, eg El Gastor and Montecorto, but they seem to prefer Montejaque. I understand that. It's my favourite "pueblo blanco" (white village).

When I die I plan to go into a nicho in the cemetery.

[Photo: Karl Smallman, Secret Serrania]

The budget of the clients is less than I am prepared to accept, but let's see what happens.

So, what have I done to present the house in its best light.

Today I painted some feature walls that were looking a bit jaded. I also cleared out all the dead plants outside and planted new ones.

Tomorrow early, I shall sort out the roof terrace. Prune the plants and dress the terrace furniture.

A bit of cleaning (dust and debris on the floor) and we'll be ready.

Then, shortly before the arrival of the punters, I shall put on some strategic lighting and get the coffee on.

The contact is via Love Viviendas, an estate agency run by a friend of mine.

So, Ian will show the house (well, he's got to do something for his hefty 4% commission!) and I'll be on hand to answer any questions.

I've done what we do do in the UK - presented the house well. I've decluttered and sorted out the plants, the beds are made and the bathrooms are clean and tidy. Soft music and the smell of coffee should guarantee a sale.

I'll get back to you

.....

Update 1

The viewing went well. the potential purchasers, Tracy and Robert, who live near Bristol, where my brother also lives, made lots of positive comments. Of the many houses they've seen this week, mine had the best kerb appeal. They loved the huge roof terrace with the stunning views. They liked the location, close to the village square. They were also impressed by the way in which I had reconfigured the downstairs.

But, will they make an offer?

Update 2

No, they didn't!

However, I have another interested person. Mike, already resident in Spain with a property in Chiclana, wants to move to the Ronda area. He is currently in the UK but will be back in Andalucia next week and wants to view. This would be a private deal with no estate agent involved

©  Paul Whitelock

Acknowledgements:

Alamy, Love Viviendas, Paul Whitelock,

Tags:

Alamy, campo, domicilio, El Gastor, Love Viviendas, Montecorto, Montejaque, nicho, Paul Whitelock, "pueblo blanco", Ronda, vivienda rural