Maureen and I enjoyed 35 years together, sharing the dream that one day we’d find a place and way of life as special as El Pocito. Thankfully she got to see it happen. Now I need someone who feels the same to carry that on.

Ideally:

Spanish/ or at least speak spanish/ want to teach themselves.

Creative, and driven by that (a brilliant knitter would be an added bonus).

Believe in the importance of putting down roots in a place, as well as wanting to lead a simpler/ healthier/ more self-sufficient/ sustainable/ and rewarding life.

Physically fit.

Practical and positive in outlook.

Love cooking/ growing food (for which an interest/ experience in keeping livestock would be very useful).

Want to take an active part in putting back something into the local community (Almonaster la Real).

Have enough in common with me to make this work for at least another 35 years (see list below).

And what do they get in return?

An equal share in El Pocito.

Me. Born on the 8th March 1956, in South London. 6’1″ (185 cm). Currently about 10 stone (59 kg) and far too thin. Keep my balding head shaved.

I like:

food – am always hungry and will eat virtually anything. Especially enjoy curries & spicy food/ pasta/ pastries & cakes/ chocolate/ desserts (the measure of a great meal)/ plus all the usual suspects like twiglets/ crème eggs/ chocolate hobnobs/ speciality flavoured crisps…          waking up next to someone         a bed high up under the ceiling         the smell of wooden cabins         hot chocolate at RIVER CITY CAFÉ (Powell River, British Columbia) accompanied by their three-berry slice         portuguese pastel de nata cakes         good neighbours         the smell of freshly caught fish (especially Newlyn, Cornwall)         people who are original in thought and deed         Penzance/ Covent Garden/ Camden Town/ & Paris in the 1970s         bicycle trailers         Nacho Suárez Obel’s photos         bright vibrant colours         cats         gardening         handmade by me or others         things to work properly         meals out with other people         bargains and second-hand         repairing broken or discard items         reading click here to download list         films very important         spring-time         music click here to download  list         physical intimacy but only in a permanent relationship         espresso coffee without sugar/ milk         graphic design         interior design magazines         making books         learning spanish        living abroad         walking home in the dark through the forest         living well away from other people         learn how to take honey from my bees         teaching english to adults         photography/ making films         writing with a fountain pen         having lots of coloured pencils/ wax crayons/ pens to draw with         alternative living magazines         incense         hats         cycling instead of walking         using natural materials         writing and receiving letters         original designed fabric         thick wool jumpers         corduroy shirts/ trousers         to one day own a genuine harris tweed jacket         ancient south american design         the street markets and hardware shops of Northern Portugal         flannel sheets         second-hand bookshops and record shops         eating in season         beachcombing         real French croissants         thrift stores         wearing socks in bed         being around older people         vintage motorcycles         pedro jiminez sweet wine/ mead/ & aguardiente (coffee flavour)         vinyl LPs         handmade socks & fingerless gloves         tartan scarves         the sound the frogs make in the grey-water pond         making xmas cards & presents for friends         having odd bits of crockery         illustrated children’s books         Amsterdam         Feria district in Sevilla         Main Street Vancouver         real cream ice-cream         the smell of lime flowers and orange blossom         learn how to snowboard         fresh figs         working in the garden before the sun rises          people with a passion         giving back and foot massage

 I dislike:

all sundays       living alone         microwave ovens         Eckhart Tolle/ Michael Reynolds/ Bill Mollinson & all the other self-appointed gurus/ experts in dodgy alternative ideas, and getting rich off it       GPs         swimming         being cold         the radio         reliance on cars         towns and cities         bullfighting         SEPRONA         smoking         drugs         same-sex bar culture         strong artificial smells like washing detergent/ shower gel/ perfume         dog shit         how horribly thin I have got since Maureen died         holidays/ travel except to visit friends         driving except to Portugal         cooking         religion         politics         wasting money or time         people who say what they think you want to hear         sport         tv         newspapers         crowds         complementary medicine         any kind of business other than self-employed         the national health service         “fashion” or “followers”         walking/ hiking         ex-pats         anyone in “authority”/ bureaucracy         hippies         swimming pools         supermarkets & processed food         wild boar & deer         children         feeling sad         dust & dusting         late nights         make-up & hair products         getting up in the morning         mobile phones         earning money         being trapped indoors         IKEA         painted finger or toe nails        hairdressers         heels on shoes/ boots         worrying about money         working with cement         dishwashers         microwaves         poetry         flamenco         watches         piercings & tattoos         architects         nationalism         cafetiere coffee         british tea         sports/ lounge wear         cds         pastel colours         handbags         charities         royalty         the infernal combustion engine         shopping centres

And if that isn’t enough… there are more recent photos on my Facebook page, and while you are at it you should also visit Maureen’s site.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Phil Rooksby, EL POCITO, Oficina de Correos, Almonaster la Real, 21350, Huelva, Spain.

monkeyandsofia@yahoo.co.uk