With the election in the UK looming there has been a 10% increase in the number of expats registering to vote which means that more British people living abroad are planning to vote in the next election. That sounds pretty good, but it still means that just under 14,000 registered expat voters will be voting.
I [...]

I remember the miners’ strikes in the early 70’s. They were fun! Not for those involved I am sure, but for us kids the 3 day week meant less school and more time playing, and sitting around by candle light was exciting.
I bought my first house in the late 80’s, just before the mortgage rate [...]

I am not the biggest fan of Chinese Food here in Spain to be honest. In fact over the years I have become less interested in Chinese food full stop, but I do enjoy it from time to time, and besides I was hungry and depressed. Why depressed? We had been driving round Roquetas trying [...]

I am back in the UK and once again coming through the airport at Gatwick I was amazed at how few people use the IRIS optical scanning system, preferring instead to queue up with the masses at passport control.
Now I appreciate that the subject of scanning at airports is somewhat controversial at the moment with [...]

We have a lot of Mosquitoes here in Almerimar at the moment. They are pretty common as a rule as the Reserva Natural Punta Entinas is a breeding ground for them with its stagnant water and warm climate, but this year we have a much bigger problem than in previous years for two reasons.
First, the [...]

Trying to describe the unrelenting bad weather we have had in Spain since before Christmas has been the main topic of discussion online and in person with people that I have been in touch with, so I thought I would include a quote (below) from the Telegraph On Line which summed it up pretty well. [...]

I have written a lot recently about food: the Mediterranean Lifestyle, Eating Habits In Spain, and a number of Restaurant Reviews ranging from Menú del Día’s to a Festival Of Octopus.
One reason for this is that Sands and I have been trying to settle on a balanced and healthy diet and lifestyle that reflects the [...]

I recently had lunch at La Fantasia on Mojácar Playa. I nearly didn’t. It was our third choice. I do not mean that out of disrespect, just that the first two restaurants that had been suggested to me were closed on Tuesday lunchtimes. I really am not sure that I understand why in the current [...]

As you read this the chances are that you are having a drink and eating some food, more than likely in a bar or cafe, enjoying the Mediterranean Lifestyle that we expats are so attracted to.
The chances are also good that you are less likely to be consuming the Mediterranean Diet than this time last [...]

An analogy: if aliens existed and found their way down to earth and ended up landing in a hospital ward, it would be fair to assume that they would report back home that “everybody here is ill”, and the rest of their mates would head off in search of another planet ….
I use this in [...]

What is it with the Spanish and their hotels? Four years ago they built the Azata del Sol Hotel in El Algarrobico, Carboneras overlooking the beautiful Cabo de Gata Nijar Natural Park. Cabo de Gata is genuinely beautiful, regularly voted some of the best beaches in Spain, if not Europe. The Azata del Sol Hotel [...]

I love a fried egg, and since living in Spain have come to love the way they tend to cook them over here. Now I know you may well think that a fried egg is well, just a fried egg, but look at the one below and tell me it doesn’t look tempting, and a [...]

Did the first of my weekly segments with Richard and Carmel at Spectrum FM this morning. Discussed a number of things including: Facebook, Twitter, The Blog and the recent article on FREE WiFi and Newspapers in Bars and Cafe’s.

Jamón de Trevélez comes from the southern slopes of Sierra Nevada in the Granada Alpujarra area, and is cured under the “Designation of Origin Trévelez.
The claim is that the unique environmental conditions in Sierra Nevada and the microclimate around Trevélez, combined with the traditional methods of curing ham make this one of the most exquisite [...]

Queso Boffard Reserva is a cheese made from raw sheep’s milk prepared by the traditional method know as pastoralists and involves taking the raw milk, straining with a cotton cloth and rubbing with extra virgin olive oil, before leaving to mature for up to a year in the cellar.
The result is an intense, distinct and [...]

Yesterday (28th February) Andalucía celebrated 30 years as a region, but today is the official party. I mean why spoil a perfectly good Sunday with a fiesta when you can have one on Monday and get an extra day off work!!
By way of celebration a number of people have been awarded the Andalucía Medal, which [...]

I have shared my thoughts before on the distribution of free newspapers, but I make no apology for returning to the subject in more detail, and for throwing into the pot free Wi-Fi as well.
Lets try and get the negatives out the way first:

Yes, I do write for a couple of free Newspapers so I [...]

The Junta de Andalucía has asked for patience from the foreign community

ROQUETAS DE MAR - TICKETS to see Almeria’s most international artist, David Bisbal, in concert on May 28 at the bullring in Roquetas de Mar are now on sale. The concert is the first of his tour to promote his latest album, ‘Sin Mirar Atrás’. In this album, which mixes pop, rock and ballads, he has co-written six of the 12 songs. Read more...

Three people arrested in Spain in connection with the kidnap of a five-year-old boy in Pakistan are to appear in court.

The Supreme Court has confirmed the sentence from the Barcelona Court of two years eight months in prison

SPAIN - A SPANISH clergyman who was arrested in Chile for owning child pornography is believed to have abused Spanish children some 18 years ago. Fifty-three-year-old Jose Angel Arregui, who was a Physical Education teacher in Vitoria and Basauri, had recorded some 400 hours of pornographic material. His victims were at least 15 children aged between 12 and 14 years old who he touched inappropriately, physically assaulted and penetrated with foreign objects. Read more...

The European Commission considers that the Spanish Government is too optimistic

Three people have been arrested by Spanish Police in Tarragona

Recent storms have caused serious land subsidence in the urbanisation

The event is organised by the 'Chiclana Plataforma' against what they consider to be abuse by the Town Hall

The new party is based in Coín

Luckily today’s ruling wont effect UK pensioners living here in Spain as agreements are in place to ensure that State pensions that are paid to expats in Spain rise in line with inflation each year. More than half a million UK pensioners living overseas will continue to have their pensions frozen after a European ...

Despite recent reports that Spain itself was feeling “bullish” about the recession, it seems that expats living in Spain would do well to not get their hopes up and to continue to expect the recession to continue well into 2010. The Spanish economy is struggling to catch up with the European monetary union. The ...

Many expats living in Spain moved out to enjoy their retirement in the sun, relaxing and enjoying their hard earned pensions. I suspect that for many the concept of a offshore account never really occurred to them, perceiving it to be something for the rich or dodgy. However a growing number of British expats in Spain are moving their pensions offshore after reform in 2006 allowed long-term expatriates to set up the Qualifying Registered Overseas Pension Scheme (QROPS). ...

Not good news for expats and regular travelers in Spain who travel tourist class with Iberia as they have announced they will be charging for second suitcases checked into the hold from 1st March 2010, in an attempt to lighten the planes, save fuel costs and speed up operations ….. no mention of making more money or reducing costs to passengers you note! ...

I was up on the roof this morning enjoying the sun and listening to the iPod. First time this year I have been in shorts, and it felt great to have the sun on the old bones again!
Happend to glance up to see a very bemused looking Oscar sat in the doorway looking [...]

Happy St Patrick’s Day to one and all. Woke up this morning to this rather interesting ‘logo doodle’ from Google (see below).
To mark St Patrick’s Day, which is traditionally celebrated with great fervour in the USA as well as in Ireland, the company has decided to adopt a Celtic theme.
Unfortunately no Guinness for me this [...]

Given my recent comments about the potholes here in Almerimar, Shaun thought I would find this photo amusing. He was right!!! Warning though, the photo contains adult language that may offend some!!

Today we discussed the recent articles Why Recessions Require Decisions and Body Scanners Beware!. You can listen to the segment in the Audio part of the site which has recently moved down the front page, or via the player at the bottom of this post.
If all goes to plan I will be in the studio [...]

Just popped down with Sands to present the case of wine to Jan and Ingegerd that they won in the recent Almerimar Poker Run, and which was generously donated by The Reader.
The winning hand was three Aces, and their good luck cotinued on the evening as they also won a Special Lunch for two at [...]

Folowing the decision by Judge Montserrat Pena to release part of the documented evidence in the case against Mayor Juan Encisco, the alleged ringleader Auditor Jose Aleman, and 17 others, evidence of the excesses of Jose Aleman have started to emerge including: three million euros worth of designer watches in his safe, a amazing 490,000 [...]

On Friday David Jackson, Owner & Editor of The Reader, popped into Cafe Bar Ankara to present Ray with their advertising prize for selling the most tickets in the recent Almerimar Poker Run.
Cafe Bar Ankara won a free advert in The Reader to promote an event in their bar and also won an [...]

Heard earlier today that the Police have told a number of bars and restaurants that on Monday there will be a blitz spraying of the nature reserve to try and sort out the Mosquito problem.

Just heard that around a thousand people attended the march against the ‘illegal property’ demolitions organised today in Malaga.
The guest speaker, Euro MP Marta Andreasen, is quoted as saying: “I want to bring this to public attention of the European Parliament.”

Todays market analysis and exchange rates from Currencies Direct
Exchange Rates
AUDEUR AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR – EURO 0.6671
AUDGBP AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR – STERLING POUND 0.6040
AUDUSD AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR – US DOLLAR 0.9211
CADUSD CANADIAN DOLLAR – US DOLLAR 0.9403
EURMUR EURO – MAURITIUS RUPEE 41.3200
EURUSD EURO – US DOLLAR 1.3784

The weather in Spain today is looking good here in Almerimar this St Patricks Day, with the sun shining, not a breath of wind and blue skies (check out the webcam if you want to see for yourself) but the general weather forecast for Spain is for slightly more clouds and some showers, although overall [...]

The weather in Spain today is looking good here in Almerimar this morning, with the sun shininh, the sea still, hardly a cloud in the sky an no rain (check out the webcam if you want to see for yourself) and the general weather forecast for Spain is much the same with sun replacing the [...]

Mon May 24th 8pm: Mexico at home.

Last warm up game before the World Cup Finals

Keep this in mind the next time you are about to repeat a rumour or spread gossip.

In ancient Greece (469 - 399 BC), Socrates was widely lauded for his wisdom.

One ...

The Pound - Besides political polls, drags on the pound increase. Moody's questioned UK's AAA ratings again due to high budget deficit and the few proposed solutions to tackle it. ...

First Round Knock Out Results: Second Leg 16th March

Chelsea 0 Inter Milan 1 (Milan go through)
Seville 1 CSKA Moscow 2 (Moscow go through)

EVERY THURSDAYS FROM 8 TO 9 p.m. JUST FOR 10€

March, 18th menu

Starters

- “Empanada Gallega” Typical Galician Pie (Filled Puff Pastry stuffed with tuna).
- Vegetables & Chicken Soup

Main Courses

...

Anyone know if there is any truth behind the rumour that the India Gate is to close? I know the restaurant is up for sale but that doesn't really mean ...

Man I have to sell house quick we just closed on the new one and my wife is in a panic to get this one sold and move out. We ...

The Pound - A short lived high 1.1051 on the Euro and 1.5205 on the Dollar yesterday gave some hope of some momentum in sterling’s favour. However an EU Commission report ...

March 15th

Primera Liga Results
Getafe 3 - 0 Mallorca
Sporting 0 - 0 Athletic
Sevilla 1 - 1 Deportivo
Tenerife 4 - 1 Espanyol
Almería 1 - 0 Málaga
Villarreal 2 - 0 Xerez
Racing 0 - 0 R. Zaragoza
Barcelona 3 ...

The Pound Greater market optimism fuelled a broad-based sterling rally the end of last week, after a news report showed the Bank of England’s ‘approval rating’ to be at ...

Almería 1 Malaga 0

Week 30

Results:

Sunday 14th March
Man Utd 3 - 0 Fulham
Sunderland 1 - 1 Man City

Saturday 13th March
Tottenham 3 - 1 Blackburn
Bolton 4 - 0 Wigan
Chelsea 4 - 1 West Ham
Burnley 1 - 2 Wolverhampton
Hull 1 ...

Week Four:

13th and 14th March:

Ireland 27 Wales 12
Scotland 15 England 15
France 46 Italy 20

Naps & Chocolate Biscuits

The early spring still chills my bones
The late afternoon sun slipping lazily into the sea
Tasks beckon insistently
Duty’s call goes unheeded
Soft and warm ...

Hope you have bought your ticket for tonight!