Monday, August 4, 2014

Bits And Pieces

Tuesday morning, we've got our appointments at the National Police here in Fuengirola to drop off our final paperwork and photos for our new residency cards. Yes, we've been approved for another two years! We had new photos done today. This may be the first time in history that I actually like (well, OK, I actually don't mind) an official photo of me. Sadly, it will be copied, reduced, and converted from color to black & white for our cards. So, there's no telling what I'll look like when they're done with me. San Geraldo, I'm sure, will continue to look like a hunk (although, admittedly, his official photos always look more like mug shots of drug lords).

That odd beach truck was back (click here for the first sighting). I still don't know how it works exactly. I might have to go down on the beach one morning early (gasp) and get a closer look. All I know is it's another cleaning machine.

PROBABLY NOT GREAT FOR AIR QUALITY.
(CLICK ANY IMAGE TO ENLARGE.)
"EAT MY DUST!"
SOME MORE OF THE CREW.
AND STILL MORE DUST.
DO YOU SEE THE GUY SWEEPING THE WALKWAY?
SEEMS TO ME HE SHOULD HAVE WAITED UNTIL THE DUST SETTLED.
BUT THEN THAT'S JUST ME...
I LOVE THE PATTERN AT LOWER RIGHT.
ALMOST FINISHED.
CLEAN AND SMOOTH.
10 MINUTES LATER... FOOTPRINTS!
IF I DROVE THAT MACHINE, I'D BE BACK TO SMOOTH OUT THE FOOTPRINTS...
EVERY FIVE MINUTES.
A HAND-HELD GIZMO (A FRYING BASKET ON A POLE?) PICKING UP THE LITTLEST BITS.


16 comments:

  1. Mitchell. In my opinion in photo you look definitely better.Handsome young man.
    What about cleaning the beach good work but not in the intelligent way.
    The song is fantastic. I like it.

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    Replies
    1. Gosia:
      Thanks. I wonder if you were familiar with the song and the Dave Clark Five before this post. They were huge in the '60s.

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    2. So far no, but thanks to you I have known them.

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  2. That guy must be nuts to be sweeping in that sand storm.

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    Replies
    1. Stephen:
      I thought it was the strangest thing. The bosses weren't around or I'm sure they would have told him to wait... or maybe they were watching and laughing from a safe distance.

      Delete
  3. It's Chekhov on the drums!
    I'd be waiting for the truck to finish to sweep as well... but perhaps he was doing a Zen exercise in patience? Looking tan and spiffy Mitchell!
    As for the hatamajiggy thing... I used to have quite an extensive collection of hats, yet another thing lost in the fire, but still enjoying trying them on. And being goofy. MUST be goofy.

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    Replies
    1. Jacqueline:
      I really had no idea how dark I've gotten (looks kind of red in the photo). I love goofy!

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  4. This record reached #2 in UK - the follow up to their #1, 'Glad All Over' which, I see also reached the topmost summit in USA. Dave Clark himself was the drums player.
    (Here endeth the lesson).

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    Replies
    1. Raybeard:
      I knew and loved the Dave Clark Five (well, not personally). Those were some of the records (yes, records) my sister taught me to dance to... played on her portable record player!

      Delete
  5. It a Zamboni for the beach! Who knew?

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  6. I was just reading a story about the French Riviera and its pebble beaches, and how the erosion from the tides has caused the beach area to become steeper and steeper (to the point where folks have to practically walk on all fours to steady themselves enough to get out of the water and up the beach). The article mentioned that a truck comes every morning to try to push around and evenly distribute the pebbles, to flatten the slope (but, by afternoon it's steep again). Made me think of this beach Zamboni thing you've told us about here :) Ahhhh.... the struggles of the 1st world, eh?

    (Hey, congrats to you and San Geraldo on two more approved years of residency-- and that great photo!)

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    Replies
    1. Judy:
      Here, especially in winter, there are tractors on the beach almost daily to re-grade. The constant maintenance must be exhausting... but it keeps people employed and it keeps the tourists coming back. Now that we know how the temporary residency renewal works, the next one will be for permanent residency. But I won't think about that right now!

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  7. I'm intrigued by the beach maintenance. I alway assumed that beaches just sat there being beachy on their own. As others have said, "Who knew?!"

    That is a fantastic photo, indeed. An old friend of mine from high school told me his trick once. He was sick of "official photo takers" catching him unawares. So, he picked up the habit of standing in front of the screen with his head down. When the annoyed employee asked him to look up, he would look up with bright eyes and a winning smile. No more bad license/passport/etc. photos!

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    Replies
    1. Michelle:
      Your friend's "modeling" idea is excellent. This photographer is actually really good. He waited for me to pose, unpose, and pose again. When he felt I was relaxed and natural, he snapped. 6 prints. And all that for 4 euros and 50 cents!

      Delete
  8. Ron:
    Well, maybe bits and pieces of a hunk... but thanks!

    ReplyDelete

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