Blog - written by Oska about life in and around the self catering holiday destination Cortijo Opazo in the Alpujarras, Andalucia, Spain.

This is my page, and that's me reclining o the back of the sofa when nobody is looking. As pedigree dachshund in chief, and officially awarded a prize as best puppy in my class - see link here - my job is quality control and looking after the welfare of the guests staying at Cortijo Opazo. Big responsibility, don't know how I find time for it all, but I think I'm doing OK. Anyway, on this page I bring you up to date with the various happenings at Cortijo Opazo and the world around us. I welcome comments, just address them to Oska at info@cortijoopazo.com. Thanks for reading!

By the way, I am supposed to mention that it's a pretty fab place for a holiday.

Click here to see past blogs:

January 2012

Blogs from 2011

Blog from 2010

February 2012

And the winner is.....

Oska, Oska, Oska; I keep hearing my name mentioned on the radio, it's enough to make a dachshund paranoid. I hear 'Nominated for an Oscar, Oscar nominee, up for an Oscar this year, tipped to win at the Oscars' and it has made me wonder what it is all about. To this end I have turned on my Yaptop, done a Doogle search and pawed my way down the page to the relevant entry, to discover that The Oscars - as opposed to The One and Only Oska - is an award ceremony for the film industry and the prizes are to be given out this Sunday - February 26th. Ella is getting herself in a tizzy, wondering what to wear to her very own Oscar party - party of one most likely - and the guys have been downloading films like there is no tomorrow. As for me, I have been perusing the selection of works up for grabs this year and have been interested to find a number of animal related titles, for instance: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, A Cat in Paris, Puss in Boots, War Horse, Bullhead, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and The Muppets - which is all about cute animals. This just goes to show what an inspiration we animals are to you humans, small wonder you name your most prestigious film award ceremony after yours truly, famous blog writer of the Alpujarras. My award will probably come as a surprise under category of 'Lifelong Inspiration to the Industry' - now, where has my invitation gone? Is there a dress code? Will my tuxedo suffice? I must practice my acceptance speech, it must be droll and jocular, waggish and free from doggerel. I will prepare myself for badinage and persiflage, but if a certain James Corden is present I must at all costs avoid a paws since I will not be silenced prematurely, unlike the lovely Adele, winner of six grammy awards and two Brit awards, who was unable to finish her sentence let alone her acceptance speech.

But now to an art form much closer to home. We have been pleased to be hosts for Joan Goddard and husband Chris on several occasions over the years. During that time Joan has been perfecting her skills as an artist and has kindly sent us the results of her sketchings made during her latest holiday here last summer. We love her landscapes, the rich colours capturing the warmth of the scenery and the tones of the hillsides. Joan and Chris have made some of her pieces into greetings cards which we will soon be selling. Here's a sneak preview for you all.

If you'd like to buy any or all of these excellent quality greetings cards please get in touch with us. For more information about Cortijo Opazo's adopted artist please follow this link:

http://www.coquetdale.org.uk/

Anyone else been similarly inspired by a holiday here and would like to be included in my blog? Please get in touch. You will discover that my management fees are very reasonable.

Now, to the main thrust of events at Cortijo Opazo. This weekend the house is full to bursting point once more and we find ourselves approaching the celebration of Andalucia Day on February 28th, so we are of the impression that 'The Season' has started once more after a few quiet winter weeks. The garden is emerging from a frosty mantle and splashes of colour are appearing in the form of crocus, quince and hellebore. The guys have been working hard clearing some parts of the land that had become over grown with brambles, and are getting ready to launch themselves into the vegetables planting season. The potatoes are already 'chitting' (no spelling mistake here, I meant to say CHITTING) in the darkness of the garden shed. There has been some relaxation in the form of a visit by old from from their home country. For Ella and I, it was a good chance to enjoy some more long walks, this time high above the village of Trevelez to a place know as Peñabon, with splendid views out over the Rio Trevelez valley and the peaks of the high Sierra Nevada. We also enjoyed a tour of the almond blossom, and annual event established long before the publication of the book by Chris Stewart. This year the blossom started early but has recently been held back by the very cold night time temperatures we have had, so I would say that it will be at its best this year during the early part of March.

The weather has continued largely dry, but there was just one day of relatively heavy snow. We loved chasing around in it. Ella taught me to eat the snow and then, by lying on my side, she showed me how I could slide downhill, really fast. Weeeee! We both ended up covered in snow, as you can see in these pictures - not that you can tell with Ella, she has so much grey hair around her face these days that a little snow sticking to her chops looked as normal. Must have a word with her about choosing a suitable hair dye, no self respecting Spanish girl would wish to let her roots show!

Inside there has been a great deal of chopping and slicing, boiling and bottling. Yes, it appears to be marmalade season, and the guys here have made about 40 jars of the stuff - they tell me it is very popular where they come from, but have they offered me a taste?

So, as we step forward into March, in this most Olympian of years, we can report that all goes well here, bookings are good for the year ahead (largely thanks to me) and all matters in the garden are under control. One slight cause for concern, the lack of rain during the winter months, but we are not going to panic yet. I might, however, start to consider ways of conserving water. Ella and I have agreed that our twice yearly baths can be reduced by 50%.

Yours, doing his bit,

Oska.

To view the January 2012 blog, click here.