What did I have in mind to write this book that today, dear friend and countryman, you have in your hands. It was about reflecting in a few quartiles those little stories lived by me, and whose scene was the streets of Quartell and its people. Place where, in July 1949, I saw the light of day for the first time. 

As a child I wanted to write something like my own history, my own chronicle. my diary I wanted to record the life of my family, my parents, my brothers and myself. Without forgetting all those people who, in one way or another, formed and are part of our own existence, even if it is in the distance. Of course I couldn't forget Aunt Carmen Asensi, the neighbor from "the house opposite".

That when I talk about "aunt" or "uncle" on these pages, I don't do it in a derogatory way. The terms "aunt" or "tio" in our towns of La Vall de Segó have a very special, intimate, familiar meaning. Many times its meaning surpasses the true consanguineous family ties. On a large number of occasions the treatment of "aunt" or "uncle" has been replaced by that of Mrs. or Mr., in these pages, when we have deemed it appropriate. The nickname, or "nickname", also plays a very important role in our society. That is why it is often inevitable to accompany the given name with a nickname. Not therefore meaning a vexatious treatment, but quite the opposite, they are cited with great respect and affection, especially when their "holders" consider themselves totally identified with them and even use it with pride.

Many of our friends and neighbors will be mentioned, since they are also the protagonists of these stories; quoting for this reason with their first and last names since this book does not collect fantastic, fictional stories, but quite the opposite; it tries to recover the memory of a time lived by simple but so honest and humane people, who have deserved to be remembered in our little history; that of our town. There are many memories, small and great stories lived by me and my family from the summer of the last year of the dark decade of the forties until 1965, that is, from my lighting in Quartell until our move to Sagunto in 1965. They were 15 unforgettable and unrepeatable years.

It sees the light precisely when the fifty-three years of our absence from Quartell, the place where this story unfolds, are fulfilled. I would like that one day some friend, or the City Council itself, will place on the wall, very close to the front door, of the house where Aunt Carmen and her family lived, a simple plaque, as Aunt Carmen was, that says; "This is the house opposite." The reason for its title, "La casa d'enfront", is very simple. It does not arise by chance. Aunt Carmen lived in the house opposite, on Carrer del Banc, right across from where we lived. Much of my childhood and the dawn of my early youth passed in that house. That house, scene of many of my stories, and its inhabitants occupied and still occupy a very important place in our lives, both for me and for my family.

It wouldn't make sense if it would reflect the historical reality of the space and the lived time it embraces, and of course of all those people, co-protagonists of my story. A large number of our congregants parade through these pages, many of them are unfortunately no longer with us. I have a very special memory of all of them. I have never stopped visiting, when my multiple interests allow me, my town. I like to walk through its streets, the old and the new. Watching it grow and remembering my childhood years spent with my family in Quartell. Meeting up with old friends and classmates from school and games. To remember with them past times and when I can speak, write and make known, through my books, articles and talks, in Quartell, my town, of which one day the City Council distinguished me with the honorable title of Official Chronicler.