Welcome to my Campo Life
I welcome you to come and share the joys and tribulations of a 50-something English woman making a new life in the Sierra Norte, Spain.
Join me as I haphazardly navigate living in the remote mountains whilst learning something new every day.
The Campo Home
A blog they say - you must write a blog! Yet another homesteading, off-grid, 50-something, single woman who likes a few too many wines and has enough time on her hands to consider putting pen to paper. I would probably be more successful if it were ink and parchment-I may have been a novelty at some point pre the www.
But maybe some folks want to share my journey with me, advise me and coach me through what are bound to be some joyful and equally testing times ahead. I welcome you all into my home and life.
Why?
My biggest blog champion and most learned friend of all things media - social or otherwise - is likely to appear throughout this blog (for however long or short this may be) and I may yet rue the day I heeded that advice and opened the trusty and ageing MacBook this evening. I cannot clearly recall, but I am sure it was Alex that coined the name Campo Jac too.
But boy - what an office?
The fabulous Alex has already received a WhatsApp question in the first 3 paragraphs “where’s word count gone”? And as usual, the reply was succinct, correct, and immediate. A fabulous friend of nearly 10 years, someone with an equal appetite for decent food and inexpensive, good wine.
Our very first meeting resulted in 3 or 4 too many wines when reviewing my restaurant in Ibiza for the local press (that’s another day’s musings)! But Alex has pointed out that I have to keep blogging long enough for the homemade wine tasting. I haven’t made any wine yet so this could be a lengthy process. Returning home yesterday from a 2-week trip away to find what was the bare twig gnarled terrace canopy when I left had sprung into life with the >30c degrees temperature the Sierra Norte is currently bathed in.
Home Brew?
Which of course led to 3 hours watching YouTube last night learning to make everything from prison hooch to fine wine. I sincerely hope mine maybe somewhere in the middle. Although being a) very frugal and b) living an hour away from a shop that may even stock a Demi John, I then of course spent a further hour researching how to make one's fermentation kit. I particularly resonated with The Happy Homestead's video who live somewhere with equally limited local provisions. Although I am very envious that they have access to marmite (British yeast extract).
I have chosen to avoid any home fermentation kit that involves condoms. The local pharmacist may have a heart attack if I go and ask for 30 unscented Durex.
And yes Alex (as my primary reader of this edict) of course I am going to have a go at the prison hooch too - there will be zoom evenings to prove it. It can be ready in 7 days, I believe they mean alcohol has been produced in those 7 days and not that it is a drinkable concoction. That 3 hours was not misspent I am about to start learning the fermentation process of fruit juice wine.
When life gives you lemons and all that…. Read my blog post on how to make it.
Mars Anyone?
As a digital nomad working within the Space industry (yes-outer space not the Ibiza nightclub) I boldly struck out into off-grid life with only radio wave wifi and no mains electricity. I have always found the off-grid title a bit odd. In my mind's eye, off-grid meant composting toilets and absolutely no wifi. Neither are ideas I am willing to entertain. But today’s interpretation of off-grid appears to mean solar-powered electric supply, running water, and slower download speeds. Maybe we need several new terms to label this alternative way of life?
Why the Campo Jac?
There was one major draw that led me to this particular mountain, my beautiful Polo pony Reina moved to a neighbouring farm and I followed. Finally footloose at 50-odd I decided to do more of what makes me happy. That happiness is galloping around pretending I can sometimes hit a small white ball and desperately trying not to eat dirt.
Whilst for Reina it was finding her squeeze - Mr. Grey. A 3-year old gelding that luckily seems equally keen on Reina.
Disclaimer: This website uses affiliate links, meaning: at no additional cost to you, there is a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, when featuring products I believe in and use myself. Your support means the world and allows the hosting of this website. Thank you!