The Lion Rock

Tomás turned up on time.

We drove for a long time, but eventually got there.

I have to admit that the rock does looks like one of our lions.

What do you think?

 

What worries me is the big stone that is supposed to be the lion’s head is resting precariously on a layer of gravel, which could give way any time.

On the way back we spotted the police checking other travellers.

We stopped and asked some monks what the problem was and were told that a new law had been passed prohibiting night travel without a high visibility vest.

We managed to sneak past in the shadows. Tomás dropped me of and hurried home before he would be missed.

Now where will I find a high visibility vest in my size?

 

Vera Cruz

Last night I met up with my lion friends again, after I discovered that Vera Cruz was blocked of for re-surfacing.

I wanted to know if they really were responsible for trashing the road surface.

But lo and behold, they had an alibi and insisted that even though they had a big grudge against the Mayor for retiring them early, vandalism was not the way to achieve a change of administration.

So, we got talking about the past instead. That is always interesting.

They told me they were modelled on a rock just outside of town called the Lion Rock.

I had never been that way before and did not know where it was exactly and how to get there and back while it was still dark.

Then I had an idea…

I would send a message to my friend Tomás down at the garden centre.

He has a horse and cart, and could pick me up at the corner of my street.

 

Public Toilets

The Mayor it seems has had another daft idea.

He has installed a number of public toilets in Plaza Arriba.

 

 
I tried to use one, but it was far too tall for me as you can see.

It makes me so angry when people are so irresponsible and leave the seat up when they have finished.

Its disgusting, especially as its at eye level.


If only I could catch one of them at it,
I know what I would like to do to them..


Anyway, sugar rush over and calmed down again.


It was a mild night with a light wind and there was a lot of lovely fluff flying about.

I had a lot of fun running around trying to catch them but soon realised I had to get back home before it got too early.

The last thing I remember thinking before settling down for the day was.. "Must tell The Chairman about the Mayor's latest daft idea."

The Stone Lions

It was a dark and rainy night.

But as we gnomes do not easily get wet in the rain,
I ventured out to see how my four lion friends were doing down on the river slope.

They have now been there for quite a few years, waiting patiently to get back to work as fountain supports.

It was a tricky walk, as the roads were like small rivers, but there were nobody about, so I managed to reach my friends safely.

They had just come back from a game of bowling on Avenida Cervantes I could see.

Their bowling balls were neatly stacked in front of them.

We talked about the mayor, who they felt was responsible for them being out of work.

They felt like doing mischief to annoy him.

One plan was to run up and down Vera Cruz to see if the cheap surface he has installed would stand up to four stone lions galloping up and down.

My feeling was that we needed help to get this organised, and get our ducks in a row.

So we decided
to meet up again soon
and bring
the chairman along.

Gammelnok's Statue

I was walking up to our Castillo Arabe (my Spanish is slowly improving)
last night and guess what..

Someone had erected a statue in my honour..

Good thing I had my flash charged up.

Anyway, I had heard that the view was great from up the castle so I stopped admiring myself and hurried on.

It was getting early now, and I had to be back home before my owners woke up.

I did manage a good shot of the Barriada El Puente and Álora Estación though.

AS17: Barriada El Puente	AS18: Álora Estación

And now I must rush. I smell rain, so may not get out tomorrow.

So Møjn, Møjn for now.

Welcome to my Photo Blog

My name is Gammelnok which in Old Nordic translates to 'Old enough'.

As I am nearly 300 years old this seems a good enough name to have.

I am no more than half a meter tall, standing in my cotton socks.

I am also a concrete garden gnome. The Spaniards call me El Duende.

I used to live in the Old Country, but one fine summers day I somehow turned up at StepSixtySix in the south of England, where my maid and man servant used to live.

After about 10 years living happily there, they took me away to Spain.

Now I live in a little Andalucian village called Álora.

It is a difficult place to live for a garden gnome because we do not have much of a garden.

Which probably is the reason I sneak out at night to take photos.

I hope you like my photos.

I would be very happy to send you a copy without the Copyright symbol for a small fee, say €10.00. Or do you think that is too much?

After all what use has a garden gnome for money.. 

Send me an email from here with the code and title of the photo you would like.

I will then deliver it as fast as my short legs can carry me.