A Different Hat

During our lifetime we all have different roles to play, when we are at home, or at work and in social situations, and in these different circumstances there is an expression, I am sure you have heard before, that we wear a different hat for each.

It is exactly the same for me, I have my married life with John, my author life with you, dear reader, and I have another ‘hat’ I wear once a year. In fact, I have the responsibility all year, but nothing much comes of that.

When our current mayor was elected, he decided that each of the villages surrounding the main town of Antas would have its own deputy mayor/mayoress. Most of these deputies were allocated from his election campaign team according to where they live, except me! I was allocated the villages of Los Raimundos and Los Chopos, which although only 4 kms as the crow flies, takes nearly 20 minutes to drive 11 kms to get there. The reason for this is that these two small villages have a high proportion of ex-pats, and it was considered that I could do more good there!

I run a WhatsApp group with them and keep them informed of what is happening, usually in the town of Antas. However, once a year my job takes on a completely different scale of importance, when it is time for the Fiesta and Feria of Los Raimundos y Los Chopos.

The mayor of Antas officially opens the fiesta with a speech, obviously in Spanish. I receive that speech a few days before the fiesta and then translate it, print out the English in a large font, with a little bit added on by me at the beginning and at the end. Then at the appropriate time the mayor delivers his speech, and then I deliver mine with the English translation.

The fiesta started with an archery contest, followed by a game created to copy jousting, although without contact between two opposing people. In Antas fiesta there is a high bar with ribbons tied loosely. People ride in turn on a bicycle and try to remove the ribbons. Those who are successful, present their ribbon to their “lady”. It´s great fun to watch, but even more fun in the countryside at Los Raimundos, where they use donkeys instead of bicycles. The next event is a card game called Brisca, which apparently is like whist. All the winners receive prizes, including bottles of wine and glasses.

It was just getting time for me to “do my bit”, when I felt a rain drop. Oh no, surely it wasn´t going to rain and spoil the whole evening? Well, there were only a few drops, so me and the mayor stood up in front of everybody and greeted them, welcoming them to the fiesta.

After we finished there was to be a couple of hours of what we call fiesta music, traditional Spanish dances such as the rumba, or the paso doble, which everyone joins in, before the youngsters have the D.J. starting at 2.30 am, and going on till no one is left standing!!

However, this year it was not to be so. After my speech I was ready to eat and drink, so John got me a montadito de lomo, a small roll with a slice of pork loin, and a gin and tonic, which he said I deserved. Then, for dessert, we visited the cake stall, where I chose a delicious chocolate cake.

However, no soon had I finished my cake, than the heavens opened, and the rain started falling heavily. Such a shame, so I finished my drink, grabbed my stuff and we ran for the car.

I shall look forward to next year, and the donkeys, and hope for better weather!