TY - JOUR T1 - Once upon a time JF - British Journal of General Practice JO - Br J Gen Pract SP - 330 LP - 330 VL - 55 IS - 513 AU - Emyr Gravell Y1 - 2005/04/01 UR - http://bjgp.org/content/55/513/330.abstract N2 - ‘Erase una vez …’ says the waiter with a playful smile after I try to ask for the bill in Spanish. ‘Once upon a time …’ he teases, as I don't quite get my Spanish right and have asked for a story — cuento, instead of the bill — cuenta.A week in the winter sun of the Canaries is the perfect antidote to the dreary February weather. We're only 3 hours away from home but it could be several months as we get an enticing trailer for summer. Watching our children splash in the swimming pool it sometimes feels like an even greater jump in time, back to those endless, perfect childhood summers. Time loses its tyranny with plenty of opportunities to take it easy, idly drinking coffee and trying out my Spanish. The waiters indulge me, even though they are fluent … ER -