Exercising the grey matter

Having spent the summer reading books on the beach or by the pool, you’ll be in need of a fresh supply. The heavy rain on Friday brought summer to an abrupt end and even if the weather stays mild for the next few weeks, you will need something to read as the nights start to draw in.

The good news is that help is at hand because today between 3pm and 4pm you can stroll (or drive) up to the Albergue at La Pedrera and stock up on some good novels to keep you busy during the cold months to come. I’m told there is a huge selection to choose from, everything from racy stuff to something a little more serious.

PS Rumour has it that one of our Liverpudlian neighbours has donated her 50 shades of grey books to the collection for those who might be interested.

No shine from the diamonds

The Diamonds of the Opera show that was advertised on the Bigastro web site was scheduled for last night at 9pm. Pam and I had our evening meal early and I packed my camera gear ready to take photos.

Realising that this could be popular, we set off in the car in good time. When we got to the car park on the other side of the bypass we did wonder why there were so few cars there. As we crossed the bridge we could see that the auditorium was in darkness and as we reached the doors it was clear that nothing was taking place.

On our way back home we began to doubt our sanity, had we just imagined that poster or had we simply misread it. Maybe we had the date wrong or possibly the concert was at some other venue so we both checked it thoroughly. I’m pleased to say that our sanity is still intact, the poster did say Saturday 29th September at 9pm and the concert was to be held in the Auditorium Francisco Grau.

There was obviously some good reason why the concert was cancelled. However, what I cannot understand is how come everyone else but us knew that. I would have expected at least a handful of others to be waiting outside having read the same advert on the web site but no, there wasn’t another soul by the doors to the auditorium.

Hopefully someone will be able to shed some light on this mystery for us.

Not so lucky Jim

One of our neighbours, Jim, celebrated his 70th birthday in the open entertainment area that had been newly created at La Pedrera. Friends and family gathered on what they hoped would be a dry night. Luckily, there were large sun umbrellas meant to provide us with shade. Instead they kept us dry as it poured with rain for most of the evening. It was so bad that Tony Kelly, who was singing that night, took his shoes off and performed in his socks to stop himself from sliding on the dance floor.

Last night, five years on, Jim celebrated his 75th birthday at La Pedrera. This time though the party was inside so the rain was not going to spoil it. As it happened, all the heavy rain came earlier in the day – it remained dry for the whole time of the party and even stayed dry for people to go home.

Jim’s party was one of those special occasions that you would not have wanted to miss; the food was good, the entertainment excellent and the company was first class. It reminded Pam and I of the events that used to be held regularly up at La Pedrera when we first came here.

At that time there was a strong community spirit = we were all Brits working out our new lives in the sun together. With time, people have learned to make their own way, groups that formed have dissipated and the community has settled into a peaceful form of life. Occasions like Jim’s party are now just a welcome reminder of how it used to be.

Many thanks go to all those responsible for organising and preparing last night; congratulations go to Jim for looking so good at 75. Just one thing though, can you organise for better weather to celebrate your 80th birthday in five years time. 

PS Before you write to me to complain about all the mistakes I made in this post, let me explain that I have been battling with toothache for two days. The first appointment I can get with my dentist is for the 8th October by which time the problem will have either have gone or will have driven me up the wall.

An annual event

We were warned that there would be very heavy rain yesterday. Storms in this area are almost an annual event you can put on the calendar.

According to one paper, 86 litres per square metre fell In Orihuela in just one hour. Another paper puts the figure at 46 litres per square metre. Whatever amount,the effect was flooding of streets and homes and washing debris out from ditches. In Torrevieja, 53 litres per square metre was recorded with much the same result.

In an area that has infrequent rain, there is very little that can be done to prevent flooding when so much water falls in such a short time. The drains at the side of the roads have no chance of carrying that much water. They would need to be doubled or even tripled in size to cope.

The good news is that, although there is a possibility of more rain today, it will only be light in comparison. That is no comfort for those whose homes were flooded yesterday but at least they can start to dry things out. 

Clear, clean water

The desalination plant in Torrevieja was completed in 2010 but has not yet opened. That is because of clashes between Central Government and the Generalit in Valencia. There has been much debate about the need for the plant in the first place and the environmental impact it will have.

The most contentious phase was the laying of the large concrete tubes that bring and take water from the sea. Now it seems that is complete and initial test are due to start in January 2013.

Let’s hope it works otherwise the plant will be another white elephant to surpass the airport at Castellón.  Although the one at Corvera has been delayed until summer 2013, they say that it will be operational and that flights will take place.

We got off lightly

The rain yesterday in Bigastro was neither torrential nor long lasting. In nearby Rojales though they had a right downpour which flooded the streets. Luckily it only lasted half an hour.  

We probably won’t fair as well today though because the area is on orange alert for rain and yellow alert for a thunderstorm. Take comfort in the fact that Andalucia is worse off, there the risk is red. What we have is an anticyclone centred over the Canary Islands pushing against the one centred over Britain. Basically, there is a lot of heavy cloud up there with a load of water just waiting to come down on us.

Now that’s a pain

Neither of us has been to see the doctor for awhile now which means a) we have not had any problems and b) we have not tried to book an appointment. Now Pam needs an appointment to continue with her medication so I went online to book one for her.

First off Google Chrome (the browser I use most these days) said the site was unavailable. What it really meant was that the security certificate was out of date.

Next I tried FIrefox and that came up with the following screen:-

 

 

 

 

 

Now I know that Firefox is only trying to protect my interests but I’m a big boy now. However, there was no way round this, it was either “Get me out of here” or nothing.

Third attempt with Internet Explorer still warned me of the dangers but allowed me to continue.  

So eventually I was able to make an appointment online but those of you with just either Firefox or Chrome will have a real problem.

Did I say it was going to rain?

I was right, that cloud that was tailing the anticyclone has brought rain this morning to the area. Typical, it is market day down in Bigastro and the last thing they need is rain. Tomorrow is market day in Torrevieja, it looks like we could have more persistent heavier rain for that.

In preparation for the rain, Pam and I covered the material on the gazebo and the blind with polythene yesterday and put away the poles for the sun umbrellas. We also stored the cover and the seat pad off the swing seat in the shed. If the pool cover was still decent, that would have been put in place as well.

It is sad when you clear up all the things you have out for summer in readiness for winter but experience has taught us that, if you don’t do it, by next spring the umbrella poles will be full of rusty water and the material on the gazebo etc will be dirty.

The next job is to fold up the sunbeds and stack them in case we have gale force winds this winter.

Summer has gone now

As parts of Britain prepare yet again to be lashed by storms, we face the prospect of the first rain we have had for several months. Although rain was forecast for last week, it never happened.

This time though, I think we will definitely will see some agua on Thursday and Friday tailing off into Saturday. There is a swirling mass of cloud, with its centre over Britain, pushing in from the Atlantic that has already engulfed northern Spain and much of the continent. It is the tail end of that cloud that will cover southern Spain later this week.

Even if the rain is only light, for sure, the high temperatures of summer have gone as the thermometer struggles to get above the mid twenties.

Business continues as normal

Just as there are differences of opinion between the conservatives and liberals that form a coalition in Britain, there are differences between the PP and the UPLC in Bigastro.

Aurelio Murcia (UPLC) explained that, because of the differences, the two sides of the pact hold regular meetings to redefine the agreement that they made just after the elections. He stressed though that these meetings were held behind closed doors away from the press. If there is any dirty washing, it will not be aired in public.

A living Belen

Many towns in Spain have a Belen or Bethlehem scene at Christmas. These are made up of models of houses, along with other buildings and of course the stable at the inn. There are miniature figures and animals to adorn the scene and often moving features like smoke from chimneys and water in streams.

This however seems to be something different – a living Belen with people dressed up performing. I am intrigued!

Smooth diamonds

On Saturday September 29 at 9pm, the Municipal Auditorium, Francisco Grau will be presenting “Diamonds of the Operas” with a medley of arias, duets, trios and choirs ... and excellent staging.

Cost 3 €

Farming is a risky business

The weather plays such a big part in the fortunes of farmers. A good summer can make for a bumper crop and low prices, a bad one leads to a poor harvest and inflated prices. Neither is good and neither is welcome. What farmers would like is a good average harvest year on year.

Last year the olive crop in Spain was very good which lead to cheap prices meaning that many farmers were left on the breadline. This year, the harvest will be poor. Frosts during the flowering season followed by a long dry summer means that the fruit produced are small and shrivelled - prices will be high.

Spain accounts for over half of the worldwide crop of olives, so a poor crop here has a devastating effect on the market. Already, the wholesale price of oil has jumped by 62% in three months and is set to go much higher.

Of course, this will have minimal impact in Britain where the average consumption is just one half litre per year but in countries like Italy where average consumption is much higher at 14 litres, it will be a major issue.

It’s not fair

The cold weather a couple of weeks ago meant that the water in the pool dropped by four degrees. In the past we would have put the bubble plastic pool cover on to warm it up but that is shot and needs replacing.

On a day like yesterday, when we had clear skies and temperatures of 32, it would have been lovely to have gone for a dip but not when the water is so cold. Admittedly, after you have been in there for a few minutes, it starts to feel more comfortable but the initial shock puts you off. When the water was at 30 degrees, we’d go in and stay there for an hour or more – until the skin on our fingers was wrinkled. Yesterday, five minutes would have been the limit.

They’re on the case

Apparently there are a lot of holiday homes for rent in the Alicante province where the owners fail to pay tax on the income. The  State Tax Administration Agency (AEAT) are on the case and are investigating the extent of this fraud. They estimate that in 2010, this amounted to 209 million euros and that 80% of owners failed to pay tax on rentals.

By consulting Iberdola, AEAT can determine when the apartments and houses were occupied and use this information to track down offenders who claim that their properties were vacant.

Top of the list for evading paying taxes and corruption are the Greeks with Spain following close behind. Is is any wonder the country is in such a financial mess. 

Actually, I blame the authorities as much as the individuals for this. Bureaucracy in Spain is both slow and cumbersome. Even the most trivial transaction requires a pile of paperwork all of which has to be stamped appropriately and signed. One piece missing or failing to have the correct stamp on it and the process is voided. It therefore comes as no surprise that the country has no clear idea of how much tax they should have collected from holiday rentals.

Courses in Spanish

A total of 140 foreign residents from Algorfa, Jacarilla, Redován and San Miguel de Salinas have enrolled for Spanish courses organised by the Mancomunidad la Vega for October. The courses will be intensive and and are offered at three levels: Basic I, Basic II and Medium. Each level will have an average duration of 30 hours.

I know only too well that learning a new language, especially when you are the wrong side of 60, is hard but it really is essential if you want to get the most out of living in a foreign country. Good luck to the new students, I hope they get a lot of benefit from their courses. 

That’s batty

One thing we definitely don’t like about the summer months are the mosquitoes. To be honest, we haven’t had one bite this year, quite why that is I don’t know.

Those who live near the salt lakes of Torrevieja get plagued by them. The lakes and the salt marshes are a natural breeding ground for the insects, so each year the town spends  lot of money trying to control them.The normal method is to spray insecticides and in particular, larvacides which are used just after period of rainfall when the insects go into a breeding frenzy.

Now, they are trying a new method of combating mosquitoes.

Bats feed on mosquitoes, an average of two thousand per night. So the town has installed bat boxes around the lakes in the hope that the mammals will take to them. It certainly sounds like a good idea.

Body combat

Dora Fitness Centre have organised a master class to be held in the Parque Huerto del Cura on September 22nd at 10pm.

Note – the poster says 9pm but the item on the Bigastro web page says 10pm. However, since my body is already beyond this sort of intense training, it doesn’t really matter much to me! 

A rough patch

The pact between the two political parties in Bigastro is going through a rough patch.  Although Charo Bañuls, as mayor, leads all of the council meetings she delegated the important areas of Town Planning, Education and Health to Aurelio Murcia. Decisions made by him do require the signature of the mayor though.

Now we come to the thorny issue of IBI, the property tax.

In his manifesto, Murcia promised a reduction in property tax. However, with a debt of over 20 million euros, the mayor has decided to increase the tax for this year. In fact, according to my bank account, Pam and I have already paid the higher sum. This could become a sticking point between the two parties who may need to renegotiate the agreement they signed following the elections in 2011.

Cuts affecting education

The new academic year has started with problems already in Orihuela.

A lot of children live too far away from their school to walk and so get bussed each day. Children who live more than 3km by direct line are entitled to a place on the bus. The problem is that there are not enough buses from some of the areas leaving 300 students without a form of transport.

 Education cuts have also reduced the number of teachers by 10% - a total of 35 teachers. The ESO ratio has gone from 30 to 35 students per class and in high schools from 35 to 40. The lack of teachers will affect SEN programs, remedial education and attention to diversity.

 I imagine the cuts will also have posed huge problems for the schools creating timetables not to mention the issue of fitting extra desks and chairs into classrooms.

 When Pam started teaching at Gayton on the Wirral she had over 40 children in her primary school class. Hearing them all read each day was a daunting task as was marking all their books.

 At Anfield, I started with classes of 30+ for art in the lower school. With time though, class sizes were reduced especially for exam classes.

Having 35 to 40 pupils in a class very much restricts the methods that you can use to teach and the amount of attention you can give to individual children.