Our daugther’s confirmation, – we have a priest, but not a church!

konfirmation

When our daughter, Thea, was nine all her class mates celebrated communion. She got invited to various parties, but she wondered why she was deprived of her own celebration. Being Protestants in a country where the majority are Catholics, we explained, as well as we could, about the difference between the two religions. We promised her, if she, when time came, wanted to be confirmed, she too could have her party. Not being from a very religious family, we actually thought, that she would forget all about it.

But the day came where she proclaimed she was ready for her confirmation and everything that it implies…. She feels it is a part of being Danish. But off course, you don’t just have a big party and that’s it. We now needed a priest and a church! What we thought would be the hardest part, was actually the easiest.

Because of the big Danish shipping company with a base on Costa del Sol, we quickly came in contact with this amazing sailor’s priest who would take the time and drive all the way up to us every second Saturday to teach Thea about the meaning of confirmation.  During his career he has, amongst other jobs, been send out as army chaplain in Iraq and Afghanistan, which means that beside his interesting stories, he has a huge patience for all our questions.

Now we just need a church! The closest Danish church is 2, 5 hours’ drive from where we live, which is a really long drive for a 30 minutes ceremony. So we were sure we could borrow or rent one of the many small local churches in our area. … well, that was more tricky than we had ever thought. Everywhere the local priests gave us the same answer. “Ask the bishop in Cadiz!!!”

Kim, our priest, has tried to get in contact with the bishop without any luck.  But can a Catholic borrow/rent a Protestant church in Denmark? I don’t know, but I can’t see what the problem is. Our religions are not that different. We worship the same God.  And no, as some of Theas friends thought; to be a Protestant doesn’t mean that we protest against God!!

Well, Kim came up with a solution. In case we won’t be able to find a church we have been given permission from a Danish bishop to have the confirmation here at home, –  in the restaurant.  Just imagine, putting a cross and candlelight up on the bar desk, next to the draft beer tap!!

Beaches of Cádiz!!!

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Caños de Meca.

Yet another day with heavy rain. I’m longing for a day at the beach, not just for a swim or to get a tan, but to go for a walk, maybe play a bit of football:-)

This some of the beaches on Costa de la Luz:

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Playa Zahora. Photo: Marcel Dykiert

on the beach

Football on the beach. Photo: Lykke Rump

Strait and Baleo Claudia, daly

Bolonia. Photo: Stephen Daly

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Conil de la Frontera. Photo: Marcel Dykiert

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Hierbabuena , Barbate. Photo: Stephen Daly

How lucky am I?

Sun eclipse??

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Anybody seen the sun eclipse??? Here in Spain it’s pouring down!!!

DIY: Photo frame

Ramme

I found an old wooden window frame, which I thoroughly cleaned, treated for wood worms with diesel and at last gave it a thick layer of dark grey oil paint. Then it was ready as a photo frame for this cool print from Naranjas Chinas.

This Spanish company makes some really nice retro-style prints. Besides prints, they make T-shirts, badges, post cards, shoppping bags… Quite often with English texts! See: http://naranjaschinas.com/

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In kids room

 

Sweeten up your Monday with a piece of cake, – and it is really easy to make…

kanel-kardemomme kage

Cinnamon & cardamom cake

175 grams sugar
225 grams butter (soft)
2 eggs
275 grams flour
2 tea spoon vanilla sugar
1 tea spoon baking powder
½ tea spoon baking soda
1 dl milk
1½ dl Greek yogurt

 Topping:

75 grams sugar
1 spoonful cinnamon
1 spoonful cardamom

Beat sugar and butter together until the mass is white, add eggs. Mix the dry ingredients together and mix gently together with the sugar / butter mass in turns with milk and finally the yoghurt.

When everything is well mixed, pour it into a greased baking tin.

Now make the topping by mixing sugar, cinnamon and cardamom and pour it on top of the cake. Fold the spiced sugar careful around the dough with a spoon, so it is well distributed and still visible. It will make the cake have a marble look effect…

Bake the cake at 175 degrees for about 50 minutes and let it cool in the tin.

Enjoy!!