Bitter Lemons by Neil Doloughan

Author:Neil Doloughan [Doloughan, Neil]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781781489390
Publisher: Grosvenor House Publishing
Published: 2015-11-06T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

A Touch of the White Stuff

A sense of normality had returned to James’ life, in the weeks leading up to their first Christmas in Mallorca. He had spent a pleasant evening with Inspector Martinez in early December, who along with his boss, Superintendent Jaumo Busquets, had taken him out for a meal at a restaurant in Palma, to thank him for his work in helping them catch the two Soller robbers and in recovering almost all of the victims’ money. During the meal, James felt slightly uncomfortable, when Martinez raised his glass and made a toast to James and then informed him that he had put his name forward, for The Medal of Merit for Civil Defence, an honour given for outstanding service by members of the public for exceptional civic duty. James felt that what he had done was not worthy of anything, other than the meal he was receiving and felt less worthy, knowing that he had withheld some information regarding the Daly case, so any future public display of thanks to him, as surely there must be, if it involved the bestowing on him of a medal, did not sit well with him.

He was now in full Christmas mode and had put up a large Christmas tree in the entrada of their house and a holly wreath adorned their front door. The village plaça looked festive, with illuminated signs saying ‘Bones Festes’ and ‘Bon Nadal’, meaning Happy Christmas in Calalan, giving the cool evenings a warm glow. Belens or nativity scene models, had been placed in some shop windows and in the homes of the village. Christmas in Mallorca had been taking on more significance in the previous ten years that James had been visiting the island. The most important date in the Spanish Christmas period was still the celebration of Epiphany on 6 January, when Christians believe that Los Tres Reyes Magos or The Three Kings, met the baby Jesus and presented him with their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. It is on this night, rather than on Christmas morning, as in other Northern European countries, that Mallorcan children receive presents. There is no ‘Papa Noel’ or Santa Claus in sight and presents are handed out by the more important Baltasar, Gaspar and Melchor.

Some northern European influences had been creeping into Mallorca, with an ever-growing number of the islands residents hailing from Germany, Britain and Sweden, amongst others. Christmas trees were now readily available in most of the large DIY stores, along with Christmas decorations. Fresh turkey was available for a traditional Christmas dinner from a British butcher or a frozen alternative, if you wanted it. Christmas Eve or La Nocha Buena, was usually celebrated more than Christmas Day by Mallorcans, who would gather with family members and celebrate together with an evening meal, perhaps of roast lamb.

This would be James’ family’s first Christmas and New Year on the island and they planned to spend it with some family, who would be visiting and with some friends who lived locally.

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