Llerena was an important town during the Spanish Inquisition and in 1485, one of the 8 tribunals was set up here. Many dissenters, non believers and people suspected of witchcraft would be bought here for trial and often this would entail torcher in the chambers under the court.
I wonder why, as whilst having my leg and toes being bent in unusual directions during physio in a room in the basement of Llerena hospital, this interesting part of local history sprung to mind.
For more information about the Spanish Inquisition I urge you to revisit Monty Python (NOBODY expects the Spanish Inquisition! Our chief weapon is surprise...surprise and fear...fear and surprise.... Our two weapons are fear and surprise...and ruthless efficiency.... Our *three* weapons are fear, surprise, and ruthless efficiency...and an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope.... Our *four*...no... *Amongst* our weapons.... Amongst our weaponry...are such elements as fear, surprise.... I'll come in again.), or failing that wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Spanish_Inquisition_(Monty_Python)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Inquisition
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Leg Pulling
I am having daily physio, starting at 8 in the morning. This is consisting of excercise, massage and what appears to be leg pulling. The excercise is fine, the massage isn't quite the relaxing peaceful massage that I would hope for, and indeed yesterday when looking for the muscles in the back of my leg it was a tad painful. The leg pulling is because my right leg appears to have shrunk slightly, and there is quite a lot of emphasis in straightening the foot out as it curls slightly over to the right. None of this is anything to worry about, but allows for plenty of literal leg pulling.
I have crumbled and have bought a gas fire for my workshop. I was hoping to wait until the new year, however as I am not particulary mobile I do feel the cold at the moment. Although it is warm outside during the day, my workshop is distinctly chilly and I have been huddled under a blanket which hampers my work slightly. During the summer we welcomed the small windows as it kept things cool - however now we are thinking again about large picture windows which would allow the sun to take the chill off the rooms. Of course had we done this last year then we would have turned the house into an oven, well actually more like a kiln. The key would be to have large windows which can be narrowed using blinds or something during the summer.
I washed one of my last fleeces and needless to say this was the signal for the weather to turn - not cold but overcast. However not the hot and windy weather that had it dry in no time. So wet-sheepy smell again in the workshop.
I have crumbled and have bought a gas fire for my workshop. I was hoping to wait until the new year, however as I am not particulary mobile I do feel the cold at the moment. Although it is warm outside during the day, my workshop is distinctly chilly and I have been huddled under a blanket which hampers my work slightly. During the summer we welcomed the small windows as it kept things cool - however now we are thinking again about large picture windows which would allow the sun to take the chill off the rooms. Of course had we done this last year then we would have turned the house into an oven, well actually more like a kiln. The key would be to have large windows which can be narrowed using blinds or something during the summer.
I washed one of my last fleeces and needless to say this was the signal for the weather to turn - not cold but overcast. However not the hot and windy weather that had it dry in no time. So wet-sheepy smell again in the workshop.
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Rehab
Today I had my first Physio or Rehab session at the hospital. I had a phone call yesterday which was a tad confusing as I was expecting one about an x-ray – however we finally established that it was for rehabilitation and at 8 o clock this morning I reported to the rehab centre. I was prodded, probed, poked around and yet did not feel any pain, at the worst it was a little uncomfortable. They kept telling me to relax which was very difficult as I wasn’t sure if it would hurt when they were bending my ankle. I didn’t like it when they prodded around the pins and plates, I was aware of the sensation which made me feel a little funny.
After an hour and a half we left the hospital and Ian congratulated me on visiting the hospital without crying. He said that was a first. Quite frankly from time to time I do wonder about his sensitivity.
One thing I have really wanted to do is to watch the storks return. I am fascinated by these big ungainly birds who nest in huge bathtub like nests in the most impractical of positions. They disappeared when I was in hospital the first time and we’ve been wondering where they have gone and when they will come back. Do they return to their original nests, are they the same as swans and remain in couples, what do the young do or do the oldies not make it back from wherever they go and the young take the nests…. Ian said he saw a stork on top of the church, but only one and we’ve seen no more. So I wonder what this one did – did he leave a couple of days early to get the pick of the nests?
Needless to say not having any guests the weather has been glorious. It has been lovely during the day, although cold at night. I have taken advantage of the weather to clean and dye some fleece. It is good to get it to dry outside, wet-sheep smell is not a good one for in the house and the sun and wind soon gets it dry. However that has now changed and it rained in buckets overnight. I woke up thinking that someone had left the shower on in the bedroom which would have been quite remarkable seeing we don’t have a shower in the bedroom – anyway, it was the sound of the rain outside. There are rivers again where before there were ditches.
After an hour and a half we left the hospital and Ian congratulated me on visiting the hospital without crying. He said that was a first. Quite frankly from time to time I do wonder about his sensitivity.
One thing I have really wanted to do is to watch the storks return. I am fascinated by these big ungainly birds who nest in huge bathtub like nests in the most impractical of positions. They disappeared when I was in hospital the first time and we’ve been wondering where they have gone and when they will come back. Do they return to their original nests, are they the same as swans and remain in couples, what do the young do or do the oldies not make it back from wherever they go and the young take the nests…. Ian said he saw a stork on top of the church, but only one and we’ve seen no more. So I wonder what this one did – did he leave a couple of days early to get the pick of the nests?
Needless to say not having any guests the weather has been glorious. It has been lovely during the day, although cold at night. I have taken advantage of the weather to clean and dye some fleece. It is good to get it to dry outside, wet-sheep smell is not a good one for in the house and the sun and wind soon gets it dry. However that has now changed and it rained in buckets overnight. I woke up thinking that someone had left the shower on in the bedroom which would have been quite remarkable seeing we don’t have a shower in the bedroom – anyway, it was the sound of the rain outside. There are rivers again where before there were ditches.
Friday, November 10, 2006
Cat-stration and mushrooms.
Our most recent medical foray was to the vet to get one of the cats neutered. This teeny-tiny insignificant operation was carried out whilst we waited – indeed Ian held the cat whilst the vet concentrated on the other end, although Ian did go a bit pale at the point when two little things the size of peas were lined up on the table. I am pleased to report that cat and Ian are recovering from their ordeal.
Autumn is well and truly here and this seems to have manifested itself by the countryside going green, flies descending and fungus. The rain has drenched the ground and things are growing green again. It is really quite noticeable and very different to the parched fields of the summer. It is all looking lovely outside but the flies are a nuisance. Apparently it is fly time of year. Ian is on a one-man mission and with his fly swat is busy trying to reduce the fly population. I find it a little unsettling when the said flies are apparently hovering over my head as Ian approaches me with his swat – however so far he has resisted temptation. Hopefully they will start to disappear when it gets colder. Wild mushrooms are growing in the fields and we’ve been told what to look for in the edible ones compared with the poisonous ones. I think that the fact that I cannot get out into the campo at the moment is probably a good thing. I am not sure that I would be completely confident in my ability not to get the wrong sort. Ian has sampled some wild mushrooms in the bar, as he staggered home later I was concerned that he had eaten a toad-stool or poisonous mushroom. However the strong whiff of beer following him allayed any fears.
We’ve had several visitors over the last few weeks and have been going out and about. I’m not very mobile so I have stayed in the car whilst people have visited some of the more inaccessible to crutch-bound people, so I am looking forward to seeing for myself some of the local sites of interest.
Not a lot to report on the ankle front – I have another xray due later this month when I will find out more. I had hoped to be getting back to normal by now and therefore could be wearing my normal shoes however my bad food is still swollen. As the weather is changing, sandals are not really appropriate. Luckily I found a ‘bargain’ at the bottom of a box which I had forgotten about. Before we moved I found a new pair of Dr Marten shoes in a charity shop – ok they were a size too big– but they were a bargain and I just had to have them. Needless to say they were much too big and I couldn’t wear them without them falling off (which resulted in a certain someone saying through pursed lips that annoying phrase about a bargain not being a bargain if it is left at the bottom of a box….grrrrr) - however they are perfect for now. On my bad foot they are big enough to allow for the swelling – and on my good foot a pair of thick socks and some padding means they do not slip. Perfect!
Autumn is well and truly here and this seems to have manifested itself by the countryside going green, flies descending and fungus. The rain has drenched the ground and things are growing green again. It is really quite noticeable and very different to the parched fields of the summer. It is all looking lovely outside but the flies are a nuisance. Apparently it is fly time of year. Ian is on a one-man mission and with his fly swat is busy trying to reduce the fly population. I find it a little unsettling when the said flies are apparently hovering over my head as Ian approaches me with his swat – however so far he has resisted temptation. Hopefully they will start to disappear when it gets colder. Wild mushrooms are growing in the fields and we’ve been told what to look for in the edible ones compared with the poisonous ones. I think that the fact that I cannot get out into the campo at the moment is probably a good thing. I am not sure that I would be completely confident in my ability not to get the wrong sort. Ian has sampled some wild mushrooms in the bar, as he staggered home later I was concerned that he had eaten a toad-stool or poisonous mushroom. However the strong whiff of beer following him allayed any fears.
We’ve had several visitors over the last few weeks and have been going out and about. I’m not very mobile so I have stayed in the car whilst people have visited some of the more inaccessible to crutch-bound people, so I am looking forward to seeing for myself some of the local sites of interest.
Not a lot to report on the ankle front – I have another xray due later this month when I will find out more. I had hoped to be getting back to normal by now and therefore could be wearing my normal shoes however my bad food is still swollen. As the weather is changing, sandals are not really appropriate. Luckily I found a ‘bargain’ at the bottom of a box which I had forgotten about. Before we moved I found a new pair of Dr Marten shoes in a charity shop – ok they were a size too big– but they were a bargain and I just had to have them. Needless to say they were much too big and I couldn’t wear them without them falling off (which resulted in a certain someone saying through pursed lips that annoying phrase about a bargain not being a bargain if it is left at the bottom of a box….grrrrr) - however they are perfect for now. On my bad foot they are big enough to allow for the swelling – and on my good foot a pair of thick socks and some padding means they do not slip. Perfect!
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