Stop Press!
I know that in my last blog entry I described in detail various work/business ideas but I had a conversation last night that changed everything. It happened when I walked into my favourite local bar, 'El Parque'. Before I even sat down on my stool, an ice cold lager was placed in front of me and Isidro, one of the managers, brought me into the conversation. 'Roberto,' he said. 'One of your countrymen is working at a bar on the edge of town.' I replied that he must speak very good Spanish. 'No hombre,' came his reply. 'I suppose he speaks very good English but not a word of Spanish!' Suddenly he surprised me by adding, 'You know, Roberto, you should work here!' I let out a little laugh because I didn't think he was serious. 'Como que no? Why not?' Isidro told me he would need help from now until September and asked if I was interested.
Just like that, everything fell into place. I had desperately wanted to avoid taking the English teaching job. I enjoy my one afternoon a week teaching English but in truth was dreading taking on all the planning and assessment responsibilities that the job Veronica offered me yesterday would entail. After all, that's one of the main reasons I left teaching in the UK. Plus, in my heart I know it's too early to be thinking about setting up a serious business like the proposal Juan had tabled earlier this week.
I asked Isidro if it would be alright to work in the afternoons and evenings only, as I'm making progress in developing my translation/interpretation trade and he said that's fine. I also told him that my daughters would be here for three weeks in the summer and he implied he could be flexible about my hours while they're here. We're going to chat early next week to iron out all the details but I'm really happy.
I went over to Veronica's language school earlier today to explain that I received another job offer and would have to decline the teaching post. She was really pleased for me and was very understanding. We talked about translating and interpreting, which she also does, and agreed to pass each other work if we're too busy to take a job. I'm so pleased the way the conversation went, as I was a bit nervous about turning her down.
This afternoon, I went for lunch at 'Rio de Oro' and sat outside in the glorious sunshine. I'll tell you, the weather has gone from cold and miserable to warm and sunny so quickly! I just sat down when Luis, the bar owner, brought out my usual lager. I'm so predictable! Julia and Raquel from the estate agents next door came and joined me for lunch and we had a nice chat. They were very curious how I was getting on in my new house. (They know all about it as they work for the estate agents through whom I bought the house.) I said I'd love to have all my new friends and acquaintances around for drinks on the terrace soon. Ooh, doesn't that sound lovely- 'drinks on the terrace'! Anyway, I asked if they'd come and they said yes, definitely.
We were talking about my plans for improving the house when Raquel began telling me about government funding for refurbishing old houses in the historic centre of town, which is where I live. I then realised I'd seen signs up on some houses but didn't take much notice. Raquel suggested that I go round to the office of Rehabilitacion del Centro Historico to ask how to apply for a grant. Immediately after siesta I went round there but, not surprisingly, they don't see people in the afternoons. But their windows are plastered with posters advertising the grants available. Apparently, it's possible to get up to 9000 euros for new roofs, bathrooms, windows, and various other things. I shall go back on Monday morning to find out more. Wish me luck!
I'm sitting on my terrace in the dark finishing this post. I came out to watch the sun set while I wrote. I love the way the snow-covered peaks of the Sierra Nevadas glow pink and orange as the sun goes down. Now, all around me, the hills that surround the town are invisible against the night sky and speckled with constellations of orange and white lights from the houses across the way.
I adore my terrace already! And I'm so thrilled to have an outside space again after three years of living in my flat in Rowhedge. Yesterday, feeling flush after earning a wad of cash at the notary office, I bought a table and four chairs for the terrace which I lugged up the hill from the shop- first the table and then the four chairs. Then I went back into town and bought four ceramic planters which hang on the wall. There are pillars that hold up the roof shading the terrace and I mounted the the planters on four of them. This morning, I went to the local florist/nursery and bought some plants to fill them. I've had such a busy afternoon that I've not potted them up yet but will do tomorrow.
I'm also going to buy some more varnish stripper and sanding discs to continue my work on the front door. That will be a job for Sunday, I reckon, but I'll have to save some time to prepare my first Spanish lesson, which I'm teaching Monday at 11am. I've also got to prepare for Tuesday's English lessons at the academy but I think I'll save that for Monday morning. I'm really excited about teaching Spanish, much more so than giving English lessons. I think I mentioned in a previous blog that my first pupil is a retired English chap who has struggled to learn on his own and was pleased to find my advert in a local estate agents.
I ran into an acquaintance called Rob at 'El Parque' this afternoon and he invited me to join him for a beer. We talked about work and he was asking me about Spanish lessons. He's paying a fortune for his family to go to Veronica's school. He asked me my ideas for teaching Spanish and seemed impressed when I told him my method I plan to use. He suggested that he might be interested in doing a deal with me to teach his wife and daughters but we left it open-ended. To be honest, I'm not too keen on poaching work from Veronica.
Is this enough prattle for one sitting? I suppose it probably is! I hope this finds you well. I'm off to the bar! Goodnight!
- Posted by bobinspain on 11/05/2007.
- bobinspain's site
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