Paddling in a Hot Spring.

Yay! I finally got to paddle in a hot spring.

It was probably in 1991 when my Spanish got good enough to realise that Fuencaliente means "hot spring". I got quite excited, because I'd always fancied seeing a hot spring, and maybe even a paddle in one.

So I asked around. And I found that there used to be a hot spring, and a whole spa industry around it - and it got buried by the eruption in 1677. So that was that then.

But the island council finally found the spring in 2005, by sinking boreholes down to sea-level in the approximate location, and then working towards the heat source. Of course nobody could do much with a little borehole.

But the human-sized tunnel is open at last, and I finally got to go. And I paddled in one of the pools - well, dipped my toes in anyway.

So that's me happy for today.

Gay shoes

A Russian orthodox priest, Alexander Shumsky, says that the World Cup is a "homosexual abomination” because the players wear gay shoes.

He said: “Wearing pink or blue shoes, [the players] might as well wear women’s panties or a bra.
“The liberal ideology of globalism clearly wants to oppose Christianity with football. I’m sure of it.
“Therefore I am glad that the Russian players have failed and, by the grace of God, no longer participate in this homosexual abomination.”

Obviously this is not sour grapes because the Russian team are out. (They didn't win a single match.) Of course not.

Cue Monty Python:

I chop down trees, I eat my lunch,
I like to press wild flowers,
I put on women’s clothing,
And hang around in bars churches

Presumably, this is what Father Shumsky considers normal dress. Certainly women aren't allowed to wear it.

At this point I started worrying about my own shoes. You see, it's awfully hard to find size 43 women's trainers on La Palma, so all my trainers are men's trainers. Worn by a woman. Does this mean that they're transsexual?

I asked them if they wanted to visit the doctor, but they just stuck their tongues out at me.

Ridiculously pleased

This is from the local pizzeria. (A very good pizzeria, I might add, Il Tonello.) The sign says:

The Lemon Game
Put a coin on top of the lemon without touching it. If it stays on top for 10 seconds, you take all the coins.
As soon as the coin touches the lemon, you have to let it go.
Good luck!

And I did it, first try! It was only about 4.50€ but I was ridiculously pleased about it.
And then I had another 5 goes, and failed every time.

A Short Story Competition

Fancy £200 AND having your short story collection published as an ebook and paperback?  Alfie Dog has a competition for:

The story submitted must be between 1000 and 2000 words excluding title and can be in any genre that is normally carried by Alfie Dog Fiction (see site for details). It should not contain any unnecessary profanity or blasphemy. Please note we do not carry erotica or extreme violence.

• Open to: any writer over the age of 18 writing in the English language
• Entry fee: Buy 5 stories by different authors from Alfie Dog fiction (you'll have to produce the Paypal transaction reference) I think this is brilliant, because  you get to read the 5 stories.
• Closing date: midnight UK time on 30th September 2014.

See more at:http://alfiedog.com/competitions/#sthash.jhMvBrDa.dpuf

Of course, if you're going to enter, you could include me in your five authors (http://alfiedog.com/products-page/sheila-crosby/ ). They're only 39p (0.48€) each.

This morning

I didn't feel like getting up early this morning, but I had two groups of tourists at the Roque, so needs must. And the drive up was all sparkly with dew and early sunlight.

I finished work at 1 pm, and went up to the viewpoint right at the top in hopes of meeting my friend Carmelo, the raven for a chat. He wasn't there, but another raven was (I recognise Carmelo his ankle bracelet) so I opened up the little pot of cat food I'd brought.

And the cheeky blighter flew off with the whole thing!

Bit it was worth it for the laugh.