The crisis is over.
 

The ‘crisis economica’ is over. Never mind the economists, the politicians, the Daily Mail, or the forum experts posting from the UK, this is from the horse’s mouth.

I went into the centre of town today to renew my dangerous dog insurance for the ultra friendly Doberman with Knights, and walked down to the sea front afterwards.

When I left Knights office it was drizzling, but when I got nearer to the sea, the sun came out. I walked a bit faster and when I got to the promenade I got a shock. Several small tankers were anchored off-shore for an expected storm, but the dozen or so sea-front bars with large terraces, yards from the shore, were packed with holiday makers.

I couldn’t even get into my favourite one and had to settle for the one with the web cam, right behind me. She was working and I hoped that she wouldn’t see me eating a giant Mexican hamburger and extra chips on the PC.

We’ve got eight months of sunshine coming up, there’s no such thing as a crisis in the sun, and the pound is up to 1.1576.

Re: The crisis is over.
 

I know that's probably true, but oh so very hard to believe at the moment.

Re: The crisis is over.
 

The trick is to look at the results for men´s underwear sales, if the numbers are up, the economy is going up as well

Re: The crisis is over.
 

Never heard that one before! They used to say that women's skirts got longer in recession, shorter in good times, but they tend to wear leggings/pants nowadays so it's become harder to follow the economic trends ;)

Re: The crisis is over.
 

So is this a good time to ask my boss for a wage rise?:D

Re: The crisis is over.
 

My money is on a double dip recession. I think we're half way through and we still have 1-2 years of pain coming before a gradual improvement.

It was very busy on Sunday morning on the Costa del sol too. I think it had to do with it having been raining for so long, so when it stopped, everybody went out for a stroll at the same time

Re: The crisis is over.
 

Half term here, there might be a few with holiday homes swelling the numbers. Certainly the flight prices are about three times higher this weekend than the following weekends, which would suggest a lot are travelling.

Re: The crisis is over.
 

Yesterday was a Wednesday, at lunchtime. I’ve always found that hundred-yard stretch of the sea front to be good barometer of the local economy. I admit that it has been dire for the past two years and those sea front bars with their excellent terraces right on the edge of the sea have suffered. I’ve visited at least twice a month for the past few years and watched the trade going down as the recession kicked in.

Yesterday it was packed with people, mostly holiday makers, and the waiters and lookie-lookie men were smiling again. The gruas were towing away cars and the local police were out in numbers writing out parking tickets and chasing the lookie-lookie men.

I even had to wait half-an-hour for a taxi, but sitting in the sun with a coffee is not much of an ordeal.

Re: The crisis is over.
 

I get the impression from my friends and family in the UK that there is a real feeling of "to hell with it"!!! They've all had enough of the doom and gloom and the warnings about saving money, tigntening belts etc. They seem to be deciding to "go for it, Lets have that holiday, lets enjoy our lives now"!!! My daughters are cabin crew for an airline and they too have noticed that there are more people travelling and with that attitude!

Spain may well benefit from this, cos those who would love to go further afield - to the USA, Disneyworld, the Caribean etc, may well think - hmm, thats "going for it" a bit too far - lets just stick with a damn good holiday in Sunny Spain!!! (but not today, cos it aint sunny!!!)



Jo xxx

Re: The crisis is over.
 

It's been a cold gloomy winter in the UK, and other parts of northern Europe have had it really cold. This may mean an increase in bookings to the Med. It will be interesting to see the figures for this year.

Re: The crisis is over.
 

I can vouch for that. Last night I went to a restaurant (in the UK) that I tend to visit about once every six weeks or so, and always on a Wednesday. I was amazed to find the car park full, the bar and restaurant heaving and I had to wait nearly an hour for a table. Probably four times the usual number of punters.

Also spoke to a friend who went to a local blues bar last night, who said that was also packed.

Re: The crisis is over.
 

Mmmmm.... maybe everybody's just decided to get into even more debt, what the hell!!! :) :D

Re: The crisis is over.
 

I'm sure there are areas and groups of people affected here in UK, but I have to say I don't see any difference, certainly it hasn't affected me. Seen a few pubs, chip shops etc advertising cheaper meals (crisis food?:)) but everything else seems pretty normal. Even got a brand new bookies opening up, so some still have money to lose! It's school half term here, so lots of visitors about.

Re: The crisis is over.
 

That's right, put it on the credit card, worry about it later.

Re: The crisis is over.
 

Not me, don't have one. :rofl:

Re: The crisis is over.
 

I agree with you it hasnt affected us either - maybe we are the lucky ones :)

Re: The crisis is over.
 

Where I go to in the UK there has never been any sign of a recession. Can't get into restaurants without booking days before. Never any spare seats in coffee shops either. There are always signs on the shops wanting staff. Houses sell in 3 to 4 weeks. Suppose they have to read the Daily Fail to see how bad it is:rofl:

Compare to the CDS. Most places have been dead since September. Possible to walk past dozens of restaurants either empty or about 4 people in. Maybe there are just too many.:confused:

Re: The crisis is over.
 

I was especially surprised because the weather here is appalling and it almost stopped me going out.

Similarly though, I have not been directly affected by the recession.

Re: The crisis is over.
 

London seemed to change almost over night - 2 years ago. The pubs and restaurants emptied especially in the City. It wasnt even busy in the lead-up to Xmas.

Re: The crisis is over.
 

Not last year I was in London weekly before Xmas. Benefitted from lots of tourists too because of the exchange rate.

Re: The crisis is over.
 

JnK, best you get yourself a couple of credit cards as you need to leave your kids something when you go!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: The crisis is over.
 

Maybe so, but I know a lot of people who lost their jobs (professionals) and my client's budgets got slashed dramatically. It's been looking stable-ish for the past year, but with no great enthusiasm

Re: The crisis is over.
 

FE Colleges are having to make drastic cuts this year - an area which I had thought would be reasonably safe.

Re: The crisis is over.
 

It's savagely affected the IT contractor field. On their forum you hear of plenty who've had to take 30-40% pay cuts, and others (like myself) who've had to survive a year without work. On the plus side, there have been some signs in the last couple of weeks that jobs are re-appearing ie forum members coming off the bench.

Re: The crisis is over.
 

it certainly is good to see some light at the end of this dark tunnel,role on next jan,when i can move back to sunny spain :)

Re: The crisis is over.
 

I got it from Alan Greenspan (if you work in international marketing you probably have heard of him, was that you or cricketman?). The skirt/lenght thing has been a "marker" for economic flows in the 70´ies. Well, that´s what I´ve been told in the late 80´ies. :)

Re: The crisis is over.
 

Yes that was me. Have to say I havent heard the skirt length thing, must be too young ;)

Re: The crisis is over.
 

Touché, under 40 then?

Re: The crisis is over.
 

very much so

Re: The crisis is over.
 

You know Santa sees everything right?

Re: The crisis is over.
 

:eek:

Re: The crisis is over.
 

He does.. its true.

Re: The crisis is over.
 

I believe you. :o

Re: The crisis is over.
 

Thats why I always get nice things at Crimbo... because I'm a good bhoy.

Re: The crisis is over.
 

I tried that once ...

Re: The crisis is over.
 

I hope you´re really ugly then! :-)

Yes Santa!