Paella and Bovril

It is finally here.......summer. Let the madness commence! The 15+ weeks of School holidays (yes 15 PLUS weeks) The past few weeks here have been building up to the big summer break. Schools have been operating half days since the start of June and my English students have started to fall by the way(beach)side. The big fiesta in Catalunya, that kicks of the months of sun,sea and sangria, is called Sant Juan. I would describe this like Guy Fawkes night but without the sparklers being held in a glove clad hand at an over stretched arms length. Firework code has not made it to Barcelona's shores. For the weeks leading up to the explosive event, wee kiddies (and oversized adult ones) can be seen tossing fireworks and bangers willy nilly, but 99.9% of the time safely. I of course cannot resits the chance to play with fire ! Off I go! With my rockets, fountains, sparklers a bag of coals and a few fire lighters, to the beach I go! As we party into the small hours and the fires are just...

I am sure this will make some of you very happy that the weather in Barcelona has not been very summer like but finally we have some sunshine. This means a few things i can top up on my tan, sim with some fishes, listen to the Rovers on the beach and best of all I am training for my next triathlon. Last year I took part in the super sprint event (400m swim, 10km cycle and 2.5km run) to raise money for Raith Rovers Supporters trust. This year again I will be TRI-ing 4 the Rovers but this time I will be doubling my distance to the sprint event (700m swim, 20km cycle, 5km run). More details will follow. Check out the back issues of P n B to see how last year went. TRI-ing 4 the Rovers 2012 Carol xx

First of all I would like to all those who have tasted Paella and Bovril during the past season. I would also like to thank all the volunteers who make the match day programme at Raith Rovers one of the best in the Scottish first division. I am going to fill the void that football has left with training for a triathlon and for the first time I will be keeping Paella and Bovril going over the summer with a few wee side dishes being posted over the closes season. I hope you will join me. In the mean time why don't you look thru some old editions.

As  the season draws to a close and we start to plan our excuses for not doing something on Saturdays in the 3pm - 4:45pm slot. I for one will be filling my time with triathlon training for the next TRI-ing4theRovers Paella and Bovril this season has talked about changing the points system within the Scottish game in formulaic fun and debated whether we should subside buses to get the away fan back to the Scottish game. I hope you have enjoyed. I hope to keep it going thru the off season! If you are interested. With the invasion of German football on the Spanish game I have been hearing a different side to our commentators here in Catalunya and Spain. The Barca commentators were unhappy until Dortmund put 4 past Madrid after they had been pretty openly miserable from the night before.  This serving comes from Raith Rovers 0-0 draw with Falkirk in the final home game of the season. Paella and Bovril Spring is beginning to bounce around...

 As the season begins to change from "winter" to what I describe as a Scottish tropical weather (sunshine and up to 28 at the high point of the day!) thoughts turn to what to do for the summer?    As you will read in this dish of Paella and Bovril school holidays here are LLLOOONNNGGGGGG. Holidays in general here are long. No-one local works in August and of course it is too hot to work all day in July. "What does one do with all this holiday  time?"  I hope to work some of it and enjoy the rest!   Enjoy this serving of P n B This first appeared in the match day programme of Raith's home game against Cowdenbeath. Rovers went down one nil after a lack luster performance from both sides really.  Enjoy!  Paella and Bovril What do you do when you team has the weekend off? I am accustomed to coping with the summer break but it is still a shock when there is no game on a Saturday.   The recent breaks hav...

Celtic fans at Stark's Park.    Last night (Tuesday 2nd April) saw Rovers play host to Partick Thistle. This match was originally meant to be played after the cup weekend, but due to the weather the game was moved.  The rescheduled match was played end to end and saw both teams end goaless. This dish up of Paella and Bovril comes from match day programme due to be read after the cup match.  Enjoy Paella and Bovril On a Sunday in Barcelona, around 1, it’s normally the time for you to travel to your granny’s to have your lunch or still to be in your bed, not the normal time to be traveling to the football.   However last Sunday I broke the trend and traveled on the metro to watch a game. After a trying search, I finally found an Irish bar that would accommodate a Rover abroad and have the match on the big screens (not even the local Scottish bar was showing it!) Now it is not every day that you prefer Kirkcaldy to Barce...

 After over-dosing on chocolate and rolling myself down the hill as well as my eggs, I have added part two to Paella and Bovrils Easter Bonanza! A few weeks ago FC Barcelona was dead and buried, there was no way back for Messi and co. Well this has happened before and a TV show swears that it is the reason why! Read this wee plate full of Paella and Bovril to find out more! Enjoy!   --> Paella and Bovril Spanish TV can only be described as abysmal. There is a supply of American-produced crime investigation shows and the occasional British contribution to the schedule, but the homemade stuff is just unwatchable. Catalan television has done a little better, one of the shows even has "the power" to influence the Champions League! The quickest and best way to get about Barcelona is on a bike. Cycling round during the day is rather pleasant at this time of year and the view from the bike is not too bad either.   Cristiano Ronahldo...