The last week of 2016 began on Christmas morning and ended on New Year’s Eve. We spent the holidays at home, except for our son, who for the first time in his 27 years was not with us–he spent Christmas in Miami with his girlfriend. And of course the four-legged contingent of the family was also reduced since our kitty Taco passed away in March. So it was a little bitter-sweet this year. But we still had a good week, which I present here chronologically.
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Calle Britannia at dawn on Christmas morning:
The next four images I group under the theme “abundance” – the simple pleasures of life.
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Our lemon tree is yielding generously this season:
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My wife got a bunch of these from a friend:
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My wife’s almond pie:
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Cheese made with raw milk is always the best:
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After breakfast, Monica and Cheeta are ready for the presents:
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A wish fulfilled:
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Opening a present from her brother:
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Moses may be on the other side of the Atlantic but he still arranged for presents for us. A bit of ocean between us is no match for our bonds:
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Majorica is a Spanish jewellery brand, and one of my wife’s favourites. Makes Santa’s job easier, every time:
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A present from her son:
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Meanwhile, Cheeta just takes a snooze:
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But then it is her turn:
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Cheeta does need assistance opening her presents:
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Getting a taste of her treats:
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Looking for more:
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Once all the presents have been distributed, the official family photo is taken, using a tripod and the self-timer function of the camera:
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Of course I also went cycling during the Christmas period, taking advantage of the good weather and made more enjoyable by the light traffic. On the way home from Santa Pola, I came across these paddle surfers:
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…and an appropriately dressed photographer on the shore:
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A reminder of the need to drive carefully, on the road to Aigues:
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On Boxing Day, we went downtown to have lunch at a newly opened Thai restaurant and walk around a bit. I posed my two women for this portrait near the parking garage:
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Love on Plaza Montañeta:
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A slightly cheesy Christmas thingie. For 3 €, you can have your picture taken inside a bubble:
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An employee photobombs the shoot:
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After lunch, we went for dessert at Canada Coffee. As the name implies, it is a café owned by two Canadian guys. The coffee is great, and they have many vegan cupcakes and pastries, so Monica is always happy there:
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The counter at Canada Coffee:
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A vegan cupcake, along with the signalling device used to indicate that the coffee you have ordered is ready:
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The next day I cycled up to Aigues and took in this scene in front of the town’s church:
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People in Aigues decorate their windows and balconies for Christmas:
The next three images are from my kitchen, cooking a vegan dinner, something I always enjoy even though I am an omnivore myself.
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Pickled red onions, recipe from a Danish vegan blogger, Månebarnet (“moon child”):
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Roasted cauliflower in tomato sauce, recipe from Jamie Oliver:
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Frikadeller, recipe from another Danish blog, Plantepusherne (the Plant Pushers):
On the 28th, I received a new lens, the 2.8/90mm Fuji. I proceeded to test it, not by taking pictures of newspapers taped to a wall or test charts, but simply by using it to take pictures.
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The view of the mountains from my roof:
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My beloved doggie’s face, close-up:
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I drove to El Campello to take a walk around the harbour and check on the cats living there:
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This is why the cats thrive there:
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Nets:
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Inside the fish auction house, El Campello:
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The pleasure boats, El Campello:
Based on this evidence, I conclude that the 90mm is an excellent lens.
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My wife did some online shopping to replenish our whisky altar:
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The last day of 2016 started in the usual manner, by walking Cheeta. We were being watched:
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Then I did my bike ride, had lunch, and went to the park to hang another ribbon on the pet memorial tree:
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Our beloved kitty is gone but he is indeed forever in our hearts:
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And in the evening, we said goodbye to 2016 in the company of good friends:
More pictures from that party can be seen here. And now on to 2017 and my 18th year of weekly photo blogs.