Local Almerimar poet Iain D Kemp reads his poem: Extra Sensory Perception
Almerimar Life Blog
Extra Sensory Perception
September 3rd, 2010 Reflections From A Balcony In Spain: Expats Getting Younger
September 2nd, 2010
Three small snippets of information recently in the news here in Spain have given me cause for a welcome surge of confidence for the future economic growth of the country, although they may not have been the most obvious headline grabbing soundbites that you would associate with an economic ‘recovery’.
So what were these three headlines that made me so optimistic?
First that despite the 20% unemployment rate in Spain, there are some jobs where companies are now looking for foreigners to fill them, given a lack of national capacity. Doctors, sports trainers and marina personnel are required.
Secondly, Marbella the first and only English speaking university in the south of Spain, is looking to offer places to many of the 225,000 student in the UK that wont get places in British Universities this year.
Thirdly, that a combination of economic crisis and an increasing awareness of the opportunities which exist overseas may be contributing to an increase in the amount of young people seeking work abroad.
Now don’t get me wrong. Retiring and chilling out all day in the sun is a very rewarding end to a long and hard working life. Downscaling and de-stressing your lifestyle certainly gets my vote, but I am not sure that the collective input from these demographic groups really bolsters Spain’s economy.
What Spain really needs are young people bringing in new ideas, enthusiasm, a willingness to learn. It needs these young people to start families, embark on career paths, contribute taxes, initiatives and passion into their adopted country.
That is why I am encouraged when I read that working abroad is no longer perceived as a specialist field but is almost expected as a standard part of working life, and that increasing numbers of students are choosing to pursue their studies abroad, after which they were likely to take up positions in overseas universities.
Spain has suffered more than most in the recession because it has been too dependent on tourism and construction, the primary problem being that they have been able to do little to stimulate demand. For years they have serviced (extremely well it should be said) an existing demand, but they haven’t created enough that other people wanted and as such have a poor export economy. Renowned the world over for their Olive Oil and Wine, they consume such a large percentage that they can’t export enough! With new ideas, new initiatives, new approaches and new methods the future can only look brighter for Spain.
Small steps maybe, and it will certainly take a while for the students to graduate and start working, the companies to recruit and exports to be driven up, but encouraging none the less!
This column was written for publication in the Euro Weekly News and Sponsored by www.ukshoppinginspain.com for DIY, Clothing, Fashion, Furniture, White Goods & UK Food, and much much more delivered to your door in Spain
Spain Weather: Yellow Storm Alerts 2 September
September 2nd, 2010The Spanish Meteorological Agency, AEMET, says that the rain will be concentrated inland, and that showers will also be seen in other parts of the south and west. In the NE of the country however it should remain dry with just cloudy intervals at times.
They have issued yellow alerts for storms across the East of the country from the Pyrenees to Murcia and Jaén, and put Valencia on Orange Alert with a high probability of heavy storms.
Mojacar: The Property Post Is No More
September 1st, 2010Always sad to see a business close down, and given my involvement and activities with various media projects it always seems even sadder in many ways when it is a paer, so not good to receive this email this morning:
Good Afternoon
Due to the Economic Climate,I regret to inform you that The Property Post is no longer trading.
We would like to thank you for you clientel and custom throughout the years we have been publishing.
I would also like to reassure anyone who has paid in advance for their Advertising we will be contacting you directly please be patient with us.
Kind regards
Ashley Gough
The Property Post S.L.
Calle Picasso 11,
Mojacar
04638
Almeria
SpainWebsite: www.propertypost-almeria.com
Email: info@propertypost-almeria.comOffice: (0034) 950 478 537 (9am-2pm)
Mobiles: Ashley 637 857 833, Jill 687 488 478, Penny 661 643 010, Debbie 678 586 971
Spain Weather: Orange Alerts For Storms 1 September
September 1st, 2010There are Orange Alerts from the Spanish Meteorological Agency, AEMET, in place for storms in parts of Badajoz and Cáceres, with Yellow Alerts in the rest of the provinces. There are Yellow coastal Alerts for high seas along the Andalucian Mediterranean coast.
Wednesday will see rain across a large part of the Iberian Peninsula, with Galicia and the NE of Castilla y León already seeing the wet conditions.
Spain Weather: Season Cloudbursts Expected 31 August
August 31st, 2010The Spanish State Meteorological Agency, AEMET, has warned that the weather phenomenon known as ‘gota fría’ or downpour cloudbursts can be expected along the Mediterranean after September 15.
This happens when there is cold air at high altitudes and hot and damp air at ground level, and the start of Autumn is the normal time of the year for it to occur. AEMET says that the risk will continue until the end of October.
Last of Last Of The Summer Wine
August 30th, 2010With the line “Did I lock the door?” Peter Sallis brought an end to the era that was Last Of The Summer Wine. After 37 years and 295 episodes over 31 series they have filmed the last show, leaving the final words to Sallis, who as Norman Clegg was in the first show as well as the last show.
The show in its prime attracted 18 million viewers and has been a firm favourite of mine for many a year. It showed off Yorkshire brilliantly and was a classic blend of character and comedy.
MRI petition Launched
August 30th, 2010I suspect there wont be too many tears at the news that a petition has been launched against property mogul Darragh Macanthony’s beleaguered firm MRI.
Details below:
So far nearly 500 people have signed up to demand action against the Costa del Sol-based company.
Macanthony, chairman of struggling Peterborough United Football Club, is accused of misleading hundreds of property investors, who have lost their life savings in bogus deals.
Meanwhile the property boss, who has lived in Marbella for years, has been looking at various investments in the US.
The Misled Realty Investors Support Group (MRISG) claims MRI falsely led them to believe they were investing money in property or furniture packs that never materialised.
A spokesman from the group said: “Thousands of people have lost their life savings in the form of deposits paid for properties that were either not built or not finished.
“They promised renting arrangements that have never happened, and furniture packs that were never delivered.”
After long delays in receiving paid-for furniture, many investors were told that the company was waiting until there were enough orders for the delivery to be warranted.
But, after reading the amended terms and conditions, they found that if their order was over a year old they would not receive their furniture.
The Support Group claims that many of them were told that the furniture companies had gone bust and MRI was not liable to reimburse its customers.
With the company advertising on television and at large exhibitions, potential investors had no reason to believe that they could end up out of pocket until it was too late.
In fact, many companies that appear linked to MRI, are now going into voluntary liquidation.
And, although CEO Dominic Pickering is adamant that companies such as MRI Overseas Property are not linked to MRI, the support group is not convinced.
MRI Media, formerly called MacAnthony Realty International UK Limited, reportedly owes around £560,000.
Despite numerous attempts the Olive Press was unable to speak to a representative in Spain for MRI or Dominic Pickering.
Source: Olive Press
El Ejido Unemployment Office
August 30th, 2010Another example of the ‘Enciso Effect’ I wonder? Appears that the Junta de Andalucia pays more for the unemployment office in El Ejido than in anywhere else in the region. The rent for the building which houses the Andalucian Employment Service (SAE), costs 161,820€ per year, which is 20% more than the offices in Almeria city.
By way of comparison the office in Roquetas de Mar costs 156,000€, and the rent for the offices is only higher in Sevilla, just over 500,000€, and Jaen, at 470,000€.
The Grumpy Old Men Of Los Gallardos 30 August
August 30th, 2010Greetings from God’s little waiting room, where this week, we have suffered a shocking bereavement.
One of our brethren has been taken, suddenly from this mortal coil. One moment the little fellow was running around, like a two year old, the next he had succumbed to the heat and could not be saved. I refer, of course, to Attila, the killer budgie. Poor old Shylock is bereft with grief, as he had known the little fellow since he was an egg. He was buried in a lovely casket (Clark’s shoe box, size 10), with all due ceremony. He will be sorely missed, especially by the Ferret, to whom he gave hours of pleasure and amusement. R.I.P. Attila, enjoy your new aviary.
Some of us swanned off to the “chicken shack” on Sunday, for a meal and to try to relax after another arduous week. Wallace, bless him, turned up wearing a pair of lime green jeans, looking like a Findus pea pod. But that’s not all, whoever wrote his legs wants seeing to, one can only say they would have happily grace a frog, so much so that he is now known as “Kermit”. Dustbin Pete and the Macca turned up late, thanks mainly to the navigation skills of Dustbin. He decided it might be a good idea to explore the village of El Largo, which is on the right hand side of the road, the chicken shack being on the left. Once again we had a very enjoyable time and the people there did us proud.
I never cease to marvel at the TV planners, who when they hit on a succesful format, they promptly then go and saturate our screens with programs of a similar vein. A prime example is The Antique Road Show, a good informative program, which has graced our screens for many a year. But now, not only do we have that program, but spin off’s like Flog It, Bargain Hunt, Dickinsons Real Deal and many more, so much so that we get fed up with all of them.
That’s all for this week.
Until the next time.
Tight lines.
Uncle Albert.
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