Open Writing

At our Fiesta last year, we were persuaded to become members of “As Victorias” and as we always attempt to join in with any Spanish activity, we duly put our names down.

Membership, we were informed, consisted of two or three meals during the year. And we thought that it would be a great way to meet our neighbours.

We actually, forgot all about it, until one Sunday morning in November, Jose Antonio delivered a letter advising us of the forthcoming AGM. We were advised that it was important that we attend and to arrive promptly at 4pm the following Sunday.

Unfortunately, the afternoon was wet and cold, but we weren’t too dispirited as we thought we would be holding the AGM in the newly constructed “As Victorias” fiesta hall.

It was. The slight trouble being the newly constructed hall, was so new, there was no roof!

Oh well. Never mind, we thought. This won’t take long.

Two hours later, frozen stiff, the meeting came to its conclusion. All we could think of by this time was a warming drink and thawing out our feet and as we were so cold by this time, what was occurring was being ignored. So, it was with some surprise, that we heard Terri's name being nominated and seconded. What for? Fiesta committee member, that’s what for. The fact that she could speak very little Spanish was not considered a good enough excuse.

However the members did agree that David could also attend the fiesta committee meetings.

One final point of the AGM, was – wait for it - contribution for the hall roof. So, 100 euros lighter, frozen, and fully fledged members of “As Victorias” we slumped off home.

By March, we’d all but forgotten “As Vitorias”, but they hadn’t forgotten us, and we were told to attend a meeting that night in the president’s house to discuss the selection of orchestras for the fiesta. It’s impossible to do anything simple here; you’d think you would just turn at the appointed time and place wouldn’t you? No, they have to make even the simplest task complicated.

Although we knew where the president lived, we had to wait at the end of our street for Jose Antonio (treasurer), so that he could take us to Jose Antonio’s (same name, but this time the president) house. {You see why it’s so difficult; they all have the same name.}

More’s to the point, we drive past Jose Antonio’s (president) house every day. Eventually we arrived at the agreed house, only to find that the venue had been changed and so we all drove back to Eduardo’s.

At nine thirty, the entertainment agent arrived. The fact that the meeting started at 8pm didn’t seem to be a problem and at last we could get down to the all important selection. We waited for the CD player to be plugged in so that we could listen to the various demo’s and look at the publicity posters and were therefore somewhat surprised when a ragged folder was opened with dog-eared posters of the agent’s performers.

After much debate, the orchestra “Babylonnia” were chosen, due mostly to the fact that there were 16 members to the band, and therefore this seemed like value for money. We asked only one question. Has anyone seen this group? No! Mega problem. This had not occurred to the rest of the members, and so the meeting adjourned for the evening with the task of choosing the band unresolved. A further meeting was scheduled for the following evening using a different agent.

The next night proved far more successful. There were still no CD’s but the posters looked a little cleaner and after much too-ing and fro-ing, “Capitol” was picked form Saturday night, with “Los Player’s” for Sunday, and “Cachito” a duo for the Friday night, “Pancetta”. This being basically, free wine and free bacon butties.

The point that interested us, was how much was this going to cost? Over 8,000 euros.

Did this mean that we’d have to take out a loan, mortgage the house? No worse than that - Ramista!

For the last two weeks, we walked around Monforte, Ferreira, Escairon and all the little villages around Eire “begging” for donations.

Jose Antonio (treasurer) is 70 years old and is a whirring dervish. We’ve been out by 9 am most mornings with our Virgin Mary begging box ( a wooden box, complete with handle and a picture of the Virgin Mary) and have scrounged money from banks, accountants, town halls and surprisingly enough, the majority have given. There have been a few who have had their say, but with five committee members and the Virgin Mary, they’ve not had a leg to stand on. One poor shop-keeper was heard to mumble that it was easier with the communists!

The evening session starts at 8:30 and we get home at about 11pm and I thought I worked long hours in England, at least I was getting paid!

Now we know why we were volunteered. No one in their right mind wants to do it.