Sunday 22nd July

Thought I heard voices from above while I was watering in the garden. Turns out that Pepe and his 3 nephews had brought round yet more freshly caught fish for us. Just 3 this time, so hopefully we can manage them in one meal. Yesterday they brought us a big tub of Gaspachio soup, a ham and vegetable casserole and 7 large mackerel so we shan’t starve while they are here..

Pepe and Ana are just so kind though, as are all our neighbours, few though they are. They have the house directly below us although actually they live on a different island and their house here is a holiday home for them. Our guests to the cottage think that it is quite bizarre that people should live on the next door island and yet come to this island for a holiday. But that is the entire point, the contrast is immense. Pepe works in an office – insurance - and Ana in the bank where, she tells us, she is glued to a computer screen all day long. Pepe says that there have been building works just to the rear of their apartment for 2 years – ‘2 YEARS!’ he exclaims – and they only get some peace for a few hours per night. Can you imagine then the tranquillity they feel when they come here where the silence can be tangible, the stillness audible and the peace all-enveloping? And fishing is an obsession!