PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS THE FINAL CHAPTER OF THIS BOOK!
The format for this particular book was to document in greater detail my driving adventures culminating with becoming grounded, without a vehicle, at the Francesca de Avalon Academia in Spain.
The adventures did continue (of course!) and you can find them written up in full in my autobiography, from episode 39 onwards. Be warned…. it gets gnarly!
Well, the truth is…. I have no idea what happened to Pablo and his punk girlfriend. I left Spain the following year during the financial crash (2008) and they were not in touch with me or anyone I knew. So its a loose end…
The format for this particular book was to document in greater detail my driving adventures culminating with becoming grounded, without a vehicle, at the Francesca de Avalon Academia in Spain.
The adventures did continue (of course!) and you can find them written up in full in my autobiography, from episode 39 onwards. Be warned…. it gets gnarly!
The punk girl was afraid of all insects and animals! She was the same girl who had demanded to leave my fruit farm in the middle of the night because she saw a spider in her bedroom. Imagine going to an off-grid farmhouse and expecting it to be devoid of nature! She was very strange.
She refused to stay with Pablo at the Madrid apartment because of Pearlie and this had upset him a lot. I often wonder (with hindsight) if he had thrown or kicked Pearlie off the balcony when he was drunk.... only Ben knew the truth about that. Pablo certainly did not take any interest in Pearlie when she was laid up paralysed for weeks on end.
That girl would be terrified in this cottage: I can see a sheep through the bedroom window, grazing the lawn, Pixie is here on the bed, kangaroos are in the next paddock, a possum leaps onto the roof at 5.30am most mornings, and insects abound, as I leave the back door open during the day so Pixie can roam on the lawn.
My mum had not been in the nursing home for more than a few weeks. She had lived independently with pop-in carers for several years. At home she kept the oxygen in her kitchen and only smoked in her lounge. Once the “do-gooders” persuaded her to go into care, she could not separate oxygen from smoking and there was no way that she could cope without either.
There was an inquiry and apparently she had an arrangement with one young member of staff whereby they bought her cigarettes and lighter gas. She was not permitted to smoke indoors officially. It was a very distressing event for the nursing home staff and my brother managed to keep it out of the local papers - he was a well known local businessman with “connections”. Apparently the youngster who had been supplying my mum had not realised the risk and was simply sacked with no fuss. But I imagine the event must have been an unforgettable memory for them.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS THE FINAL CHAPTER OF THIS BOOK!
The format for this particular book was to document in greater detail my driving adventures culminating with becoming grounded, without a vehicle, at the Francesca de Avalon Academia in Spain.
The adventures did continue (of course!) and you can find them written up in full in my autobiography, from episode 39 onwards. Be warned…. it gets gnarly!
https://francesleader.substack.com/p/sunday-in-memory-lane-episode-39
Wow, this chapter took a turn. Life throws unexpected plotts, like a tricy book twist.
You didn't say if the punk brat ever got the boot!
I bloody hope so. grrrrr roof roof grrrrow!
I love this story!! I may have read some of the other things, but I'll read 'em again. ^_^
Well, the truth is…. I have no idea what happened to Pablo and his punk girlfriend. I left Spain the following year during the financial crash (2008) and they were not in touch with me or anyone I knew. So its a loose end…
Maybe better that way… Isn’t it the case in so many really brief and creepy periods of being sort of thrown together with unsavory types!? yuck
Love your stories, Frances. I read the first couple of chapters, but life has gotten super busy, and I now have a lot of catching up to do!
This lovely story really has intense and sad moments, and I'm sorry for your Mum's passing.
I'm glad Pearlie recovered so well. She looks lovely and I hope she has many years to live.
I also hope Pablo will get away from this horrible punk girl and back to himself. 🙏
The format for this particular book was to document in greater detail my driving adventures culminating with becoming grounded, without a vehicle, at the Francesca de Avalon Academia in Spain.
The adventures did continue (of course!) and you can find them written up in full in my autobiography, from episode 39 onwards. Be warned…. it gets gnarly!
https://francesleader.substack.com/p/sunday-in-memory-lane-episode-39?utm_source=publication-search
Still loving these Frances, so many up's and down's
Keep well in yourself
Ups and downs is the entire story of my life! Had things gone smoothly for any length of time I might have become bored! lol
I think we are all on this roller coaster ride, smoothly what's that.
Sorry about the circumstances of your mother's death.
How dare that silly punk girl try to kick Pearlie!
The punk girl was afraid of all insects and animals! She was the same girl who had demanded to leave my fruit farm in the middle of the night because she saw a spider in her bedroom. Imagine going to an off-grid farmhouse and expecting it to be devoid of nature! She was very strange.
She refused to stay with Pablo at the Madrid apartment because of Pearlie and this had upset him a lot. I often wonder (with hindsight) if he had thrown or kicked Pearlie off the balcony when he was drunk.... only Ben knew the truth about that. Pablo certainly did not take any interest in Pearlie when she was laid up paralysed for weeks on end.
Ooh, I hope he didn't do that. Poor Pearlie.
That girl would be terrified in this cottage: I can see a sheep through the bedroom window, grazing the lawn, Pixie is here on the bed, kangaroos are in the next paddock, a possum leaps onto the roof at 5.30am most mornings, and insects abound, as I leave the back door open during the day so Pixie can roam on the lawn.
I wonder what became of a girl like that?
My mum had not been in the nursing home for more than a few weeks. She had lived independently with pop-in carers for several years. At home she kept the oxygen in her kitchen and only smoked in her lounge. Once the “do-gooders” persuaded her to go into care, she could not separate oxygen from smoking and there was no way that she could cope without either.
There was an inquiry and apparently she had an arrangement with one young member of staff whereby they bought her cigarettes and lighter gas. She was not permitted to smoke indoors officially. It was a very distressing event for the nursing home staff and my brother managed to keep it out of the local papers - he was a well known local businessman with “connections”. Apparently the youngster who had been supplying my mum had not realised the risk and was simply sacked with no fuss. But I imagine the event must have been an unforgettable memory for them.
Very sad, Frances. The young staffer was just trying to make her life bearable in there.