A Flashback to the Orange Man

Here’s a blast from the past: from November 2012 in fact, when we were hunkering down for winter in France. It was round about now that The Orange Man arrived …

THE ORANGE MAN

Winter has arrived.  How do I know?  Although the nights are cold, the afternoons are still for going walking or tidying up the garden wearing a tee-shirt, beneath a duck-egg blue sky. So until the other day, I thought we were clinging on to autumn.

But on Thursday, the Orange Man arrived.  This is exciting enough news for it to be worth phoning a friend.  Every year, once winter kicks in and the orange harvest is well under way in southern Spain, a huge container lorry arrives in Lavelanet. It parks up at a disused petrol station on the main road into town and becomes an impromptu shop.

The man with the lorry, the Orange Man,  speaks only Spanish, and sells only oranges.  Not singly or by the half-dozen, but in large 10 kilo boxes.  10 kilos, 10 euros.  What a bargain.  These oranges, though sometimes a little knobbly and in irregular sizes, are the juiciest and tastiest you’ll ever eat, and it’s no wonder that whenever you pass, you’ll see someone pulling up their car and opening the boot for a case or two.  Our Spanish friend won’t have to stay long.  In a few days the entire container-load will be sold, he’ll return to Spain …. only to return when he’s loaded up again.

When he departs for the last time at the end of the season, we’ll know for sure that spring has arrived.

For Fandango’s Flashback Friday: a chance to go down Memory Lane and give an older post an airing.

Author: margaret21

I'm retired and live in North Yorkshire, where I walk , write, volunteer and travel as often as I can.

47 thoughts on “A Flashback to the Orange Man”

  5. Oh, yes, I remember buying oranges in bulk like this in South Africa. Fresh juice in the morning. I rarely eat oranges here as so often they are tasteless and dry.

    Liked by 1 person

  12. Don’t like to spoil the party but I hate oranges. Especially their smell but I dislike the sweetness too. Give me a grapefruit any day! In fact, I carried a bag of them, gleaned from our neighbour’s house, to our walk this morning to give away. Sorry! You could have had them.

    Liked by 1 person

  14. I l enjoy how you keep track of Seasons, Margaret. Oranges!!!! I LOVE this thought and this post. Oranges remind me of Christmas cheer and New Years celebration. Your photos have a rich deliciousness.

    Liked by 1 person

  16. There were not many backyards while growing up in New Zealand that didn’t have an orange tree. I did love how the Spanish used the citrus trees to decorate the streets. Good memories.

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Oh, this makes me recall the time we went on a month-long holiday to Coffs Harbour on the northern NSW coast when I was a teenager. Once a week the banana man would arrive selling bags of bananas to guests at the resort. He had a big white van all branded up.

    I don’t eat oranges but the ones in your picture look divine!

    Liked by 1 person

  18. Oh how oranges are a pick me up when the weather turns and the sunshine is less plentiful! I seem to recall reading this when it was originally posted, but it provided the boost in Vitamin C and happiness in ’21. I hoe you are able to find oranges or another source of ‘sunshine’ to brighten your day. Peace.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Gosh, if you saw the original, we have been following one another for a long time! We’ll have to do without oranges today. Ferocious winds are keeping everyone indoors. Tomorrow, however, is another day. Happy End-of-Thanksgiving.

      Like

  20. Oh my, I can actually taste them from you description and photos Margaret. One cannot beat locally grown fruits. We know spring is here when the strawberries no longer taste like they’re made of wax LOL!

    Liked by 1 person

Comments are closed.