Three Almerimar Restaurants, Gula, Nautilus and La Solea are participating in the Gastronomía & Vinos en El Ejido which is running from the 23rd January until the 23rd April. Each restaurant offers two menus of different prices, and during the period each time you eat in one of the restaurants you have your card marked, [...]

Was actually thinking of popping out earlier but our street has been blocked for an hour or so as two recovery trucks have removed two BMW’s …… and a Guardia Civil has removed one of our neighbours! Anyway the street is nearly clear now so cars can get in and out again.

Both the Poniente and Levante beaches here in Almerimar have been awarded the Q for Quality certificate at the Tourism Fair in Madrid last week. The Q for Quality mark is a badge that assesses the health of everything that affects the end user, such as security, cleaning or maintenance of facilities and equipment. During [...]

At least 10,000 British emigrants are receiving sickness benefits of up to £94 a week while living abroad according to an article I read recently on the Telegraph Site. Appears that over the next three years, major changes are being introduced to incapacity benefit, including a tougher medical test for claimants and the re–testing of [...]

Interesting to read recently that 45% of Spaniards are addicted to the internet, with the majority being female or between the ages of 18 and 34. I remember (not fondly) our early years in Spain with dial up access and an MMS message amongst the Spanish youngsters the ‘latest craze’. Addicted is defined as spending [...]

Am sure that many will be pleased with the announcement that Electricity bills in Spain are going back to the old bi-monthly method, putting an end to the much criticised current arrangement where there is an estimation of use every other month. The current method meant that it was open to abuse and many complained [...]

I have written before about the non-profit project that my partner and I have set up here in Spain to help with the re-homing and transport of abandoned and rescued cats and dogs to Germany and the UK, so I won’t bore you with the details again! Suffice to say that when we decided to [...]

Not sure what made me laugh the most this week, the fact that a book has alleged that the King of Spain is a serial womaniser who once made a pass at Princess Diana while she was on holiday with Prince Charles, remains a ‘professional seducer’ who regular receives vitamin injections and anti-ageing treatments, and [...]

The smoking ban in Spain has been in the news again this week with confirmation that it will remain in place despite the pre election comments from cigar loving Prime Minister Rajoy about allowing bars and restaurants to offer segregated areas. Appears that a number of people actually had their hopes raised by his earlier [...]

Here is one for all our Spanish readers who are thinking of going to the UK on holiday this year. Emma from Campaya Holiday Rentals has written a great post about on her favourite places in the UK, the Lake District, after she spent a week there recently. Well worth a visit and the blog [...]

A growing number of experts believe that the Spanish property market is showing signs of recovery following the well documented economic crash which has plagued numerous global property markets. They obviously haven’t looked around this part of Spain is all I can say to that! In theory they should be correct the Spanish market should [...]

Interesting article looking at the Top 5 countries that like and don’t like their tourists! Rather surprising to see Lebanon at the top of the list for those Countries that like their tourists, but no surprise really that Barbados and Mauritius made the Top 5. As for those countries that don’t like their tourists …. [...]

Encouraging signs for holiday rental property owners over on the Campaya site with their clients believing that 2012 will be better or the same as 2011 despite the ongoing political and financial issues across the world. This post is sponsored by www.campaya.co.uk the premier site for all your holiday rentals, holiday homes and holiday apartments [...]

Just read that Spanair is preparing to suspend trading tonight due to its unsustainable financial situation, with heavy losses and a high debt. Talks with Qatar Airways, who were going to buy a stake and invest much needed cash, have fallen through. Spanair operates Spanish national and European flights, and has been looking for a [...]

Eurostat, the EU statistical office, have announced that with 288 million overnight stays in hotels Spain sold more hotel nights than any other EU country. This is an increase of just under 8% on 2010, and is encouraging, although the 14.7% increase in foreign stays in hotels in part compensated for the drop in domestic [...]

A number of encouraging headlines recently as far as tourism and Spain is concerned. Spain received 56.7 million tourists in 2011, 7.6% more than the previous year, according to the latest data published today by the Department of Industry. Post Office Travel Money has predicted that European holiday destinations could be 2012′s “big winners”, with [...]

In response to question left by Eddie on the Guest Book. Ryanair has announced it will start a new twice weekly route between Almeria and Liverpool. Flights will be on Thursdays and Sundays, starting on the 25th of March. Over the summer Ryanair will serve three routes to the UK from Almeria: London, East Midlands [...]

Golf, 13kms of glorious beaches, 90kms from Almeria, Moors and Christians, celebrity spotting, the Indalo Man, Mojacar Playa, Mojacar Pueblo, water skiing, sailing, scuba diving and ……. Micky Mouse. Great write up of what to do in Mojacar in this article here. This post is sponsored by www.spain-holidays.com the premier site for all your holiday [...]

According to Post Office resort pricing surveys, in 2011 typical day-to-day costs for holidaymakers were lower in Spain than in any other major European holiday destination. What’s more, ever since the pound nosedived against the euro in 2008, holiday companies have been pressing hoteliers and villa owners to keep prices as low as possible. They [...]

Encouraging headline with 56.91 million international tourists visiting Spain during 2011, representing an increase of 8.1% over 2010, but as ever the devil is in the detail before British businesses across Spain go getting all excited! The Canary Islands is the region where tourism grew most in 2011, with an 18.4% increase, followed by the [...]

Just two days left to get 20% off ALL flights with easyJet for flights between the 1st February and the 11th July 2012. The sale closes at midnight on Tuesday. This post is sponsored by www.spain-holidays.com the premier site for all your holiday lettings Spain, self catering Spain holidays and the perfect site for those [...]

Hands up, I don’t like Internet Explorer; Safari, Chrome and Firefox are my three browsers of choice. No surprise that I am in the minority, as Internet Explorer remains in top spot in the browser market, but the question is for how long will that remain the case. (Read The Full Article On The Telegraph [...]

Have been wondering what it is that I will be writing about technology wise in 2012 i.e. what are the main trends that I expect to see dominate the market. For the technically minded there is little doubt that we will see the roll out of IPv6, the IP address protocol replacing IPv4, the 32-bit [...]

I read recently on The Telegraph that in Europe the Android devices are more popular than the iPhone, while in the UK the iPhone continues to dominate with close to 31 per cent. Am not at all surprised about the UK market and you can find more advice and information on the latest iPhone deals [...]

Friday Golf Society mentioned in your latest monthly column for Telegraph Expat I see Chris, nice one!! And Eye on Spain so double nice one and kudos to you for ...

Thursday 26th January This weeks menu is based on the food from Valladolid: Starter Guiso de conejo con arroz y trufas or Guisantes con jamon y huevo escalfado Main Course ...

Presentacion Global Warning Thursday 26th January from 9.30pm

The consumption of olive oil is up, this year’s harvest is expected to exceed 63,000 tons in Málaga province, up 9,500 tons on last season, but the sector has made ...

Does this mean that Dom littlewood will be knocking on RS's front door anytime soon?

Invitation Saturday the 28th of January 2012 we celebrate the launch of our new company! ROXY TOURS Almerimar Daily Boat trips From 3.00 pm onwards at the: The Stumble Inn! ...

Los Monos Circodella on Friday 27th January from 10.30pm https://www.facebook.com/events/197012673729926

Details of the FGS boule competition on Wednesday 7 March 2012 have now been announced. The entry list is now open. You can see more details on the FGS website ...

I have a Sky HD box for sale. It works great with one exception: it will only record one channel so if you want a box to work with Sky+ ...

A Kimrick special....a FREE to enter event John Lodge present his musical journey back to the 'Golden Age' of swing with all your favourite songs from the Kings of Croon. ...

Mr O’Malley is a cool cat from the mountain village of Cobdar. He was born as a village cat, but has been fed from a young kitten by Susan, a ...

27/01/12: More photos came in today and the latest news is that the 2 little witch girls have reach a truce, if not a friendship. Their Mum has bought a ...

In this months Telegraph Expat column I take a look at how getting passionate and involved can be the bestRead the Rest...

Shadow a beautiful siam-mix boy was rescue by Matt from the local vet as a tiny kitten with his sister Maya. Both kittens were on the point of being born ...

I can be one of the first to put on my womens’ liberation hat, but at times things that at first could appear to be chauvinistic, do actually just make ...

Following on from my last post which recommended we should all eat more eggs, a study from the VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam, has suggested that exercise may improve ...

Going on an all girls holiday with your best friends is one coming of age activity that most women will want to go on. There is something mysterious yet exciting about going with your best friends to an exotic destination and having the time of your life. As a group of young women, insurance may [...]

Just to remind you that in March 2011, the European Court of Justice ruled in a test case known as the Test-Achats case that from 21 December 2012 insurers will no longer be able to use gender as a factor in the calculation of premiums and benefits. The decision will affect the way insurers price [...]

Interesting article on the BBC Site saying that despite the ongoing concerns over Greece the recent stress test on the largest insurance companies across Europe found that 90% of the 221 met the minimum solvency standards “even in the most adverse scenario considered.” Insurance companies have large exposures to Greek and other troubled European government [...]

Interesting report by the Post Office which confirmed that Britons still rank a holiday as a priority, although the worsening economic situation in the UK is making them look closer at cheap package holidays as a means of saving money, with holidays in Spain still very much a favourite destination. One aspect of the report [...]

Because they follow the moon changes the Chinese New Year can begin anytime between late January and mid-February and the celebrations lasts for a long 15 days. Another tradition of the Chinese New Year is that every year it is dedicated to an animal. Not only this but depending on when you were born depends [...]

Spain has some wonderful wildlife, some you may have heard of many of the species, such as the endangered Lynx but you maybe a little surprised by other native species known to be living in Spain. Read the full article here This post is sponsored by www.campaya.co.uk the premier site for all your holiday rentals, [...]

Local Almerimar poet Iain D Kemp reads his poem Saturday Morning Regrets

Saturday Morning Regrets Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

It is World Cancer Day on February 4th 2012.

A man walked out to the street and caught a taxi just going by. He got into the taxi, and the cabbie said, “Perfect timing. You’re just like Brian”! Passenger: “Who?” Cabbie: “Brian Sullivan. He’s a guy who did everything right all the time. Like my coming along when you needed a cab, things happen [...]

The Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) allows the entry of pets from certain countries into the UK, without passing through quarantine, using an EU Pet Passport. This list of countries is available on www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/travel/pets/countries To obtain an EU Passport your pet must be (in this order): a) Microchipped with an ISO standard microchip, prior to rabies [...]

Despite what may appear to be a prestigious event, the so-called “sport” of bullfighting carries a plethora of secrets that few know about. Most people don’t know that bulls aren’t naturally aggressive animals. They are actually horribly abused for two days straight, just for the sake of entertainment. Save Bulls From Torture and Abuse! Bulls [...]

The city Lysychansk in Eastern Ukraine is shooting and burning animals alive as part of Football Preparations for Eurofoot 2012. Demand that President Viktor Yanukovych stop this atrocity.   The captured animals are thrown alive into the mobile oven in temperatures up to 900 degrees Celsius. According to locals, the dogs and cats are burned [...]

A little bit of Christmas cheer for those who use their debit card to purchase foreign currency before heading off on their holidays as the Office of Fair Trading have instructed British Banks to stop “charging customers for the privilege of taking money out of their own account”. Additionally they told the banking industry to [...]

The stock markets took centre stage this morning on the expat finance blogs and websites as stocks plunged on the worst day in two years in reaction to fears regarding the US economy, with both European stocks and Asian stocks suffering. The Asian stocks fall was the largest in the last three years, and a [...]

Two stories dominated the expat finance headlines across the blogs and websites this morning: the downgrading of the US credit rating by S&P to AA+ and the commitment from the European Central Bank (ECB) to intervene in the Bond Markets to ease pressure on Spain and Italy. American government debt is no longer one of [...]