Rabbits, Spain and the Author of Azalea and I

“Rabbits, Spain and the Author of Azalea and I – On the Road”, is the latest personal offering from RM Howe, author of “Azalea and I – On the Road”, a gripping yarn that takes readers on a roller-coaster ride across Europe. The book is filled with intrigue, murder, mayhem and a good splash of comedy throughout. In this latest personal message from RM Howe, our author continues to give us an insight into the influences and experiences that surrounding her writing. “Azalea and I – On the Road” is now relaunched by publishers LR Price on Amazon and in Waterstones.

“Rabbit. Rabbit. Rabbit, a follow on from last week.

Conejo – pronounced con – echo. Rabbit.

Poor bunnies. Spaniards like them very young. Hardly any meat on them. Why bother I asked myself. Still it is farming like any other.

The decision to start breeding rabbits was not taken lightly. Many visits to rabbit farms ensued. The research was interesting. 

We learned that the breeding is controlled – so rabbits don’t breed like rabbits. They have to be in the right state to breed – happy, well fed and watered, clean cages, right age and the females specifically “receptive”, then they are put in a round cage with a male. The round cage ensures the female can’t hide her bum in a corner – even “ready” ones like to play hard to get! There is a lot of running round in circles until both are pretty exhausted and they eye each other up panting with the running around. Finally, the “macho” climbs on top of the “embra” and with a last effort of — oh, all of five seconds humping — it is over. Blink and you’ve missed it! I hear you women making some comparisons!!!!! Shame on you.

I really didn’t like this farming and fortunately it didn’t last long. Too much commitment so the bunnies went to a proper farm where they were all set up in style. Even our water supply to the rabbits was a home-made affair. Miles of tubing which we fell over, hand filling large plastic containers and heaving them up a ladder to drip down into cages, endless visits to buy feed and my poor little car was so overloaded it was nearly on the ground. The big truck had broken down and setting up this farm meant money was in short supply.

The glamorous former showroom for whirlpools and jacuzzies had disappeared under mounds of muck. Still, it did lead to the next phase. Organic salad and vegetables. Very peaceful. More in tune with the fields surrounding the finca. Next time, fruit, veg and Moroccans.”