We have goats!

At last they have arrived. We have spent a hot and sweaty week making the old stable suitable for the arrivals and banging in fence posts in temperatures over 30 degrees. Now we reap the rewards.
Necessity meant they came here in the back of our Citroen Berlingo, secured of course. Their first gifts to us were gallons of urine and a spade full of fertilizer.

We will keep them quiet for a day or two before releasing them into the new enclosure. Pixy the kid is 5 weeks old now and taking all of the milk. As she gradually increases her solid food we will start to take the milk for ourselves. I am already fantasising about all of the butter, cheese, ice-cream, yoghurt etc. I can make. In reality I will need a whole herd of goats to make my foodie dreams come true, including some boys for the goat curry.

St James' Day

Today is St James' Day in Spain. It is a national holiday and the celebrations are most intense in Santiago, Iago being Spanish for James. Last night I drove to Santiago to enjoy the famous fireworks. The city was buzzing with happy revellers, no vomiting, no violence just happy people. It was a beautiful warm evening and perfect for sitting outside a bar with a beer and tapas.
The police had only allowed the maximum 6,000 people in Obradoiro Square at the front of the Cathedral to see the laser light show so we had to content ourselves with sitting on the steps of the square behind the Cathedral in the Plaza de Quintana. People watching was wonderful and the time soon passed. The  fireworks did not disappoint, amazingly bright and loud. The Spanish certainly know how to have a good time.

Rappa de Bestas

I have just been to my local Rappa de Bestas. This is where the local wild horses are rounded up off of the mountain and held in a coral. They are then assessed, some in poor condition are sold for meat, the new foals are separated from the heard temporarily and the adults are wrestled to the ground by the local young men, to be wormed and treated for any problems they may have.

It may seem extreme but for the rest of the year the horses live free and unmolested on the mountain, probably a better life than many factory farmed animals. Vets are in attendance and many of the young men are kicked and bitten but it is another rite of manhood that has been going on for generations. There is of course, music and food afterwards. The most popular mode of transport is a horse if you have one. And a high spirited stallion is the envy of all your friends.

The local Ferrari above.....