MUST TRY HARDER IN 2009

Gosh! Where did 2008 go? The year seemed to whizz by, despite the fact that we had an extra day because it was a leap year. There was even an additional one second tacked on at the end of the year, as those of us in Spain were poised to start popping the 'lucky grapes' at midnight. (Apparently the additional second was to compensate for the Earth's rotation slowing down - which might explain why the lids of my mince pies skewed off slightly during baking).

So we look back on twelve months when we were going to undertake a number of DIY tasks around the finca . . . but somehow didn't. In the spirit of the New Year, I've therefore decided to make some finca resolutions - in the hope that by putting them in the public domain, we might just achieve them in 2009:

We will paint the persianas. For the uninitiated, these are the traditional slatted shutters
that grace the windows and doors of many Spanish properties. Ours are made of wood
and desperately need some TLC. In September 2007 we replaced some of the ones at the back of the house with new ones and hastily slapped on one coat of paint before the autumn rains arrived. They're in dire need of a second coat, but it's the most boring job ever . . .

At the sun-baked front of the house, we face a more serious situation and will have to repair or even replace some of the shutters before we can start wielding a paintbrush. One of the two small shutters on the front bedroom window is so old and battered that we daren't open it in case all of the slats fall out (two already have).

We will paint the small walls separating our terraces from the jungle beyond (our
garden). I'm obviously going to have plenty of painting practice in 2009. Every year
since we bought the property in 2002 we've said we'd smarten up the exterior by
tackling this job. Originally (long before our time) painted a pale terracotta colour, they've been badly discoloured by the elements and now even sport patches of bright green moss. I feel a lengthy session with one of those high-pressure jet washers coming on . . .

We will plant a lemon tree. Looking down into our valley at the vast tangle of wild olive trees and assorted shrubs, it's impossible to believe that it used to be lush with citrus and peach trees. Turning the area back into a productive fruit garden is a resolution too far, but I will find a space somewhere to plant a lemon tree. Even before we'd decided where our 'place in the sun' would be, we used to wax lyrical about the prospect of picking one of our own (therefore unwaxed) lemons for a G&T at the end of the day. Just the one drink though - there's far too much work to be done to be nursing a hangover!

Happy New Year . . .