Mini

Couldn't resist this, especially in orange, on the streets of Barcelona today. 'Mini' doesn't begin to describe how diminutive this game-changing motor car is! I remember four of us packing ourselves and weekend bags into one for a long weekend to Northumberland! That mini belonged to a friend of mine, but I was often behind the wheel and what a joy it was to drive.

The headlines in the Spanish press make depressing reading with yet more austerity measures in the pipeline and unemployment over 5.5 million. However, around our block there are signs of confidence with a newsagents turning itself into a cafe-bookshop, a classic restaurant at the end of our street reopening under new ownership having been closed for over 5 years, and a Catalan-English couple moving in above our favourite local restaurant 5 minutes away, having driven their furniture down from London yesterday (from Brazil, through the girl's father, I had tried to help them find rented accommodation in our own little street but to know avail).

All in all, it's lovely to be back in our 'wee hoose', and catch up with the locals around the block.