¿Dónde es la fiesta?

Hi everyone!
OK so I know it took me a while to get this posted - sorry - but I've been super super busy this week! So I'll try not to witter on too much and get you guys up to speed.
After my last post on Monday we had another new arrival at the house - Linda and Pedro's son Daniel - who had just come down from San Sebastian to visit for a couple of days. He arrived just before dinner and we got talking - cars, sport, travel, things like that - and before we knew it it was 2am! Definitely a bad influence considering I'm normally asleep by midnight!
Anyway Tuesday morning was spent weeding once again, this time in preparation for a new herb garden (to replace the 'just mint' garden)! Around 11 I had to stop since Martin had arrived to take John and I to the town fiesta. The fiesta in San Martin is much the same as all other little towns in Spain around this time of year - its all about celebrating the end of the harvest and hoping for a god crop the following year too. The celebrations began around 11 with speeches from the major and local dignitaries followed by food and drink and music. We didn't stick around too long since we knew we'd be back later but it was a good start. Once I got back I had time for a little more weeding before  people started appearing for lunch. it turned out to be a super busy lunchtime so it was all hands on deck but eventually it quietened down and we got our lunch around 3pm. By the time this was all done it was time for a bit of down time and I got chance to Skype Rhona (I would give her a proper shout out but as one of my closest friends she doesn't actually read this....typical). Anyway, around 8pm Daniel came to see if I wanted a ride on the quad bike - talk about asking a silly question! We couldn't go too far since we had to get back but once again it reminded me how much I love motorbikes, quad bikes, etc. I had a great time anyway!
Around 9 Daniel, Jon and I got organised then went out with Martin to the fiesta. Every night, and sometimes twice a night, they have the Toro de Fuego - the Fire Bull. Basically there's a wooden bull mounted on a frame which can be worn on someone's back. From this frame shoots lots of sparks and fireworks. The idea is that someone runs around the square with if 'attacking' people. I think its mean to be instead of the real bulls (like the bull running in Pamplona) but either way its total madness - fun, but total madness. To be honest I spent half the the Fire bull peering outside from behind Daniel but that's only because I didn't want to get holes in my only decent set of clothes...I did however manage to strike up a conversation with a lovely lady called Janet from the South coast of England who had, by complete accident, managed to organise her and her husband's time in San Martin to coincide exactly with the fiesta.
After the bull it was time is a couple of drinks with Martin's friends then home and off to bed after a not be long day.
Wednesday morning began. Little later than intended since I slept through my alarm but after a quick breakfast Linda, Jan and I headed off to the garden centre to buy the new herbs. It took a while but we eventually picked out Basil, Parsley, Coriander, Chives, Rosemary and Rocket. We accidentally acquired some Rue too but hat was only because it was potted with the Parsley...
By the time we'd finished we had to rush home because there were a lot of people expected for lunch - another busy session in the kitchen! By the time we got round to finishing our own food it was time for Dani to head off back to San Sebastian. It was a bit of a shame cause he's a pretty cool guy and it would have been good to han out more but I've already warned him that I might come and visit San Sebastian so who knows.
The rest of the afternoon was spent planting up the new herbs and trying to organise what I'm doing next.
On Thursday I decided it was time to find somewhere to put the small amount of gardening tool and supplies so I made a space in one of the outdoor cupboards and now there's somewhere for the plant pots to live! The rest of the day was mostly spent helping out in the kitchen with salads and such, and serving the guests. In the evening we went to the Fire bull once again and this time Linda and Jan came along too! We had a pretty good time, hung out in the bar for a while and had a game of table football -Olga (Martin's wife) and I beat Jon and Martin although it was all starting to get a bit heated towards the end! Before too long though it was time to head back since we were all pretty tired - time for an early night.
On Friday morning Fatna took Jan and I out to the market in Tafalla. We didn't stay too long but I managed to get some new beads for my dreadlocks and we got what else we needed. Once we got back I made up all the guest beds again since the rooms had been totally striped for a deep cleaning session the day before. Luckily there weren't too many to do - 26 dorm beds, and 4 private rooms with 2 beds each.  The private ones just took longer since they had to be fully made up while the dorm beds are pretty basic. Next up was lunch and once that was finished we had more new visitors - the youngest son Ica (I have no idea how to spell his name, sorry) and his girlfriend. They seem like nice enough kids (well I say kids, they're the same age as me) but they do both still seem to have a typical 'terrible teenager' mentality. The rest of the day was spent helping in the kitchen then chilling out on my computer.
Saturday morning started nice and peacefully. I got up, put the coffee on, got half way through the mug and then......people! 13 still half-drunk young Spanish men appeared out of nowhere. Now to be fair we had been expecting their arrival, but not until the afternoon! They had been up partying at the fiesta all night and decided to check in early so they could catch up on some sleep before getting back into party mode. First though a whole bunch of them wanted to be fed so after moving my stuff out of the dorm which I'd been using I helped with breakfasts (or super in their case) then they disappeared off to bed until lunchtime. Once they were out of the way I cut back some of the chives since they were getting too long then froze them before moving on to the next job. The other rooms needed to be finished in preparation for a large group of french guests who arrived around lunchtime. Luckily the Spaniards didn't want lunch or we would have had about 20 people to feed! After lunch Pedro and I helped Ica and his girlfriend set up their new accommodation the tent. With all the guests they and Jon had to move out of their rooms as well. I shared with Janice, they camped and Jon ended up camped in the gym. The tent took a ridiculous amount of time to set up since it was a really old one with individual poles and held up with two uprights, a horizontal across the top and just pegs to create the A-frame shape. The fact the ground was so solid didn't help matters either but eventually we got the job done and they were quite happy with it once they had their mattress inside. I spent the rest of the afternoon trying to improve my Spanish, much to the amusement of some of the Spanish lads who were alive and ready to party again. After a quick jump in the pool it was time to grab a quick sandwich for dinner then off to the fire bull once more - Martin takes great proud in the town's fiesta and gladly insists on taking us along to it. After the bull I ran into Janet and her husband once again and chatted to them before Olga dragged us - quite literally in my case - to the centre of the square for the next event....
Children appeared with this long narrow sheet of material (rubber perhaps) and created a mini arena in the centre of the crowd. Next in stepped 5 local men, one in a wedding dress, one in a sort of traditional female gypsy garb and the others in their traditional suits....it was already looking a little bizarre. What followed was a rather odd little performance of rival lovers and passion and death, but in a very comedic interpretation. perhaps it's one of those 'you had to be there' moments but it really was pretty funny! After the play we stopped for a couple of drinks and after Olga's best attempts at getting me to dance it was time to head back up the road. I spent a little while online to unwind then headed off of bed in the hope that the Spaniards wouldn't return late in search of drink.
Today hasn't been as busy at least. The french guests left by 7.30am - I didn't even get chance to help with their breakfasts. Hook tried to reenact a scene from the Great Escape but luckily he wasn't moving to fast so I caught him easily. The issue then was getting him back to where he needed to be.  every time I tried to move him he would just sit down again - and he's a big dog! It took both Linda and I pushing and pulling him to get him inside and thankfully from there he moved on his own accord. If it weren't for the fact that he and Rex would have wandered off together it would have been fine but we can't have that pair terrorising the village!
As that whole fiasco was finishing the menfolk awoke so it was back behind the bar to dish out the coffees and toasties before they backed up and left.
The rest of the day has once again been spent helping in the kitchen and garden, sorting the animals and also researching where to visit in the North West of Spain. If any of you have suggestions please comment and let me know!
On that note I better go, plenty still to do today and its the last night of the fire bull tonight!
Until next time!!