A day in Cambridge, England

We've worked very hard for the past two months, repairing and decorating the house. The repairs are almost finished but the decorating continues. As of yesterday the kitchen and dining room are finished. All floors, walls and ceilings have been restored or replaced. Next week we move into the lounge and start again. But before then I need to buy a long hose to add water to the garden pond which seems to have sprung a leak.

As the house progresses I'm starting to plan my other work, taking photographs and showing my work. Today I managed to combine house related business with photo business, or nearly.

I had to go to Cambridge to buy some materials, including the hose, and pay for some furniture that's being delivered tomorrow, so it seemed convenient to take a photograph while I was there. I've had the photo in mind for some time, it's the ancient market from the roof of the University Church. I spent a couple of hours yesterday making enquiries and arrangements for the photograph. Every problem was overcome and all I had to do was turn up at the church and climb up to the roof.

I arrived in Cambridge around 10am this morning and quickly got the house tasks completed. Then I made my way to the market square, passing more charity shops than I've ever seen in one street. I stopped off - of course - as I am in pursuit of a particular style of hat, which I feel I will only find in one of these shops. Further into the city I passed more bicycles chained to railings than I've ever seen before. And finally I reached the market square and made my way to the church.

I introduced myself and I was pointed in the direction of the stairs, and there are many of them, 123 to be exact. On the way up, around halfway, there's the room where the bell ringers ring the four original bells, the bells were installed in 1515, the octave was added during the 17th century. I felt very privileged to be amongst all this history!

I was excited when I reached the top of the tower, fabulous views of the city and the universities, but with one problem. Can you spot the scaffolding? To me, it marred a beautiful and classic view of such a famous and important city.

So I'll have to go back and do it again in a few weeks, no problem it will still be there - and maybe my hat will be there too.

Almuñécar secondhand/craft market

Musicians and a Seat 500 at Almuñécar market

There used to be an excellent secondhand/craft market held one day a month at Almuñécar, on the Costa Tropical. Traders, musicians, performers and some great crafts people would travel from as far as France and Portugal to do business. There were some wonderful antiques and interesting surprises to be had from all over Europe. People literally came down from the mountains to sell their wares, including home made food, furniture, clothes, music, plants and jewellery.

Almuñécar was ideally situated for a market because it was on the main coast road. If you wanted to travel east or west along the Mediterranean coast of Spain, you had to pass through Almuñécar.

A good proportion of the money raised from renting pitches went to various charities, plus there were several stalls run by charities. A friend of mine used to sell books on behalf of a hospice, and would raise over 1000 euros a year.

The market was also a social occasion where you'd meet friends, have lunch and do some grocery shopping. I think it's fair to say that Almuñécar came alive on market day, the market brought in several thousand people with money to spend.

Sadly, the local council of Almuñécar closed the market about 18 months ago. I never read an official explanation for the closure, but the decision was short sighted and stupid. The local mayor decided it was for the good of the town and that was that.

Shortly after the secondhand market was closed the recession (or crisis as it is called here) hit Spain, and we all know about that. It hit the property market and building industry in Almuñécar particularly hard, there are now a lot of jobless people in the town. And when you thought that things can't get any worse, they just did.

Earlier this year the new A7 coast road (which will eventually connect the entire coast of Spain), opened a new section that totally by-passes Almuñécar. Today when I passed through even the gas station was quiet. What was a busy, vibrant area on the outskirts of this popular resort now looks half abandoned. And the one day a month, when the same area used to come alive with visitors, and everyone benefited - shop keepers, stall holders, bar owners, restaurant owners, tourists, ex-pats, charities, stray dogs (thanks to hard working volunteers) local shoppers etc etc........is just a distant memory, and an example of perhaps the most ill advised local decision making I have ever experienced!