PREFACE

Writing one’s own memoirs is something old people do, or at least that’s what I used to think of those who did it—until now.

And now that I’ve finished recounting this first stage of my life, from my birth until I turned 19—which coincided with my transfer to the Reserve Service after completing my military service—I still think the same: it’s an old person’s thing…!

Although, I must say that in my case it has actually been good for my mental health, as I’ve had to exercise my memory a great deal to retrieve those memories. Something that a few years ago would not have been easy for me, as my memories were very superficial.

That said, and as is only natural, when I recount certain moments in my life, such as those relating to my birth, ‘the source’ comes from what I remember of the conversations I had with the people mentioned in those stories, and at later dates.

This ‘Bio’ has ultimately ended up comprising 52 chapters, many of which are in turn subdivided into further sections, amounting to I don’t know how many… Whenever possible, I have tried to ensure they are complete stories, whilst maintaining the narrative thread of this biography itself. This has sometimes meant going much further back in time to gain a deeper understanding of certain characters, such as my grandparents, my parents and others.

In short, A CHARMING YET REALISTIC AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL NOVEL, THAT WILL TRANSPORT YOU BACK TO THOSE YEARS WHEN WE LIVED BY DIFFERENT RULES AND CUSTOMS...

What and how we were taught at school, what games we played, how we interacted with our neighbours, how new technological advances were changing our lives, what happened to the losers of the Civil War, what legal rights women had, where Spaniards were emigrating to, how the police behaved, how homosexuals were treated, and even how much influence the Church had on our lives…

PREFACE.

■ 1962. The ‘El Vivero’ School, the Death of Bárbara. (5)

■ 1957. ‘El Chato’ is born. (0)

■ 1961. My life at the age of four, a day in Matanzas. (4)

■ 1961. My mother’s work. (4)

■ 1962. American Christmas toys. (5)

1962. Little Andrés arrives. (5) 79

1963. Doctor ‘Vaquer’. (6)

1963. The Story of ‘Nenico’. (6) 101

1964. The Story of Josefina, the flat’s landlady. (7) 111

1964. The Work on the Flat’s Roof. (7) 127

1964. The Story of My Grandfather Leonardo. (7) 141

1964. The Story of Margarita and Her Husband. (7) 158

1964. My Father’s Trips to Switzerland. (7) 165

1964. The Story of Uncle Camilo. (7) 181

1965. Days of Play and War, the ‘Swallows’. (8) 195

1965. The Crime in ‘La Soledad’ Square, 7 November 1965. (8/9) 211

1965. Godfather Miguel. (8) 223

1965. The Wool Factory and the Ordinas Family. (8) 239

1965. My First Communion. (8) 255

1966. Neighbour Alfonsa, my ‘Pito’, the Casino. (9) 269

1966. Don Bartolomé the Teacher, the bicycles. (9) 285

1966. The Story of Juanita, ‘Tilín’ and ‘Carabina’. (9) 297

1966. Social Service, the rise of ‘Isa’, ‘Chita’. (9/10) 313

1966. “King”, Obdulia and “Ocete”. (9/10) 323

1967. The Seminary. (10) 335

1967. The Story of Uncle Eladio and Mirentxu. (10) 345

1953. Two Emigrants to Venezuela. (Limbo) 363

1967. “Can Pedacet”, the “Llimona” family, the boy Adrián. (10) 381

1967. Melons, rubbish, the “Caballero” family, the Plant. (10/11) 391

1967. Virginia’s Legitimate Child, the Illegitimate Children. (10/11) 405

1968. The Television, Eurovision, the News, the Clock. (11) 429

1968. The IRIS Cinema, Basketball, ‘Pinball’. (11) 441

1968. The Story of Uncle Leonardo, the Executed Tuduri (11) 453

1969. I, the Wolf Cub, From the Earth to the Moon. (11 to 12) 469

1969. Don Eduardo “El Vasco”, Wrestling. (12/13) 485

1969. Gusanos, “El Patronato” Football Club. (12) 503

1970. The Story of Don Antonio, the “Director” (13). 515

1970. Josefina’s relatives arrive. (13) 529

1970. Holy Week, the Fair, Comics and Cartoons. (13) 541

1971. The Record Player, the tragic end at school. (13) 559

1971. The Move, my first jobs. (14) 567

1972. The Construction Company, the “Almond Tree Park”. (15) 587

1973. The Draftsman (I), Bowling, developing photos. (15/16) 603

1973. “OPERATION OGRO”. (16) 615

1974. The Draftsman (II), “Oil Crisis”, Pubs (16/17) 629

1974. The Bet, “Military Service”, Astronomy. (17) 639

1974. The BRIPAC “Hooking Pennant”. (17). 645

1975. From Alicante to Murcia and arrival at the Camp. (17) 657

1975. Course “215”, Military Training, the “Cetme”. (17) 677

1975. “Méndez Parada” School, the C.L.P. (17/18) 695

1975/76. ‘Green March’, Franco RIP, the 1st Noguera. (18) 713

1976. The arrival of ‘Apellániz, PM and Vigilante’, the AMNESTY. (18/19) 725

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