The Hondon Valley is a gem of inaudibility nestling amongst the mountains and about an 45 minutes drive from the Costa Blanca coast. And it is where we live and we love it here. No regrets leaving the UK from us! Here local resident and book publisher Percy W Chattey tells us about some of his observations during the Covid-19 lockdown.
The Old Way in Hondon…
Nearly two decades ago my wife and I found this Spanish paradise called The Hondon Valley. At that time it was trying to climb out of its farming past and join the twenty first century. I laugh now but there was over a three year wait for a telephone line and the television had two Spanish Stations with the large ‘H’ type of aerial, the kind which decorated thousands roofs of houses in Post War Britain.
Fast Forward to Spring 2020
Everything has changed over those years, and now we are as knowledgeable as most people about the modern wonders that abound us and are sorely needed in this time of Lockdown.
Shop Local #lovelocal
The local village, Hondon de los Frailes, has taken staying at home very seriously and because we are banned from travelling to a decent supermarket, about 12 Kilometres away, we have found the delights of getting our supplies from the local small shops, who have coped very well in this time of crises. Although there is not the choice of items as in the bigger shopping arenas, we are getting used to the change of diet.
Keeping Busy
It has been a wet spring here in the Valley which on the plus side makes it more a Garden of Eden in terms of greenery. But it means staying out of the rain during Lockdown. At least we are in the dry. Now short of climbing up the wall or painting it, we have been trying to find novel ways of keeping busy.
The Hondon Writers Circle members have not being able to meet for their fortnightly get together, so they have built up lengthy poems, by each putting in sequence four lines on the groups WhatsApp page, building something funny and unique which is then published on Facebook.
Ludo is a fascinating game when played with two partners in a group of four and nothing like the way children would play it. But of course, with the present situation it is not possible, especially if you have to be two metres apart. But with all the technical know-how in the Valley and the ability to use Skype, we managed by having a board in each of the two houses one with a camera over, and the game was on. If you would like to know the rules I will happily send them to you.
Behind the Mask
A lovely little story from Karen a member of the Hondon Writers Circle. Having a need to get provisions she decided to make herself one of those no-sew masks. She followed the instructions to the letter, and it worked! Looking great, and it fitted really well. Putting a bit of a coffee filter paper in the pocket at the front, because cotton alone will give about 10% to 20% protection, but add a coffee filter paper and it goes up to a 50% to 60% shield.
So, off to the shop, got everything on the list, and got back in the car, taking the mask off she saw the lower half of her face was blue, lips and all. She looked like she had been dead for a week! Going straight home warning the husband not to laugh at her or else….thank goodness it washed straight off!
Roll on Summer and the “New Normal”
We are all looking forward to the Valley turning back to normal with the sun warm and bright, also being free to wander the streets and to go a bit further to look at other parts of the world. There is also a mountain of work to be done in the garden, weeds two feet tall … perhaps the rain and the Lockdown are not such bad things after all…
Copyright 2020. This article was kindly written for Hondon Villas and the Hondón Community by Percy Chattey, a member of the local Hondon Writing Circle .
Percy Chattey Books publish ‘Story Telling®, a series of Short Stories and Poems in both digital eBooks & paperback formats available online via Amazon and Kindle.
