LIVE THE DAY

Blimey. The word is out. We are not intending to market the farm until Easter at the earliest, but it seems there is something special about The Priorat. So many people want a piece of this land and are ringing us out of the blue wanting to come and view it and the two houses.

It is hardly surprising. The Priorat is stunning and sits close enough to the coast and city of Reus. Our little town is blessed with all the essential shops, chemists, etc. There are excellent public transport and health services. But the prices in recent years and months...

I have some questions. What is the demand where you live and have costs rocketed? There has been a major rise hereabouts in recent years. This is bound to strain what balance there already was and foster new development which will inevitably change the character of the community. We are part of that change, I confess. Is your rural community facing unmanageable or unwanted change?

We are moving into a flat in town, trying to reduce the amount of clobber we have accumulated over the years. Some things we will leave, while others we will bequeath, a tile cutter to a local Gaudi-esque ceramics artist friend. I am really struggling to reduce the amount of books.

The good news, with the town just four km from the farm, is that we already know so many local people and are partly established. And we will continue our olive oil export business.

Why move? We have savoured 25 extraordinary years here. But suddenly I find I am seen as old and I confess I feel it. We cannot keep pace with the farm work and casa rural anymore and the time has come. Maybe reaching retired age is a wake up call. It is as common truth. Nobody is mortal. This we have had to come to terms with as well as some serious health concerns. They all focus the mind.

Live the day.