steviedeluxe

Here's a very interesting, and long article in the New York Times on the economic challenges that Spain is facing, and how its companies are choosing to expand abroad in the current climate, including the UK (which is obviously not good for those looking for work in Spain)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/15/bu...pagewanted=all

agoreira

Yes, I believe it, it's featured in the article I linked to. It's costing the ayuntamiento €800,000 annually in deficits, and the ayuntamiento already has a debt of €53 million, of which €2 million is owed to the operators. Not sure for how long they can continue losing money at that rate, I suspect they are delaying the inevitable.

HBG

I was watching the worldwide demonstrations against capitalism today, from Wall Street to Taiwan. Have our young people had enough of the old order? Somewhere someone spoke of a third industrial revolution, which I didn't properly understand, but I fully agree that the present system is f'ucked - Spain does not deserve to have 45% youth unemployment because of financial market's interference from the other side of the world.

But I worry about what the young 'indignados' have as an alternative for the current injustices. Communism didn't work, but is that true? It's working alright in China.

Lynn R

So, may we be spared any more posts saying that the majority of British expats don't know what is really going on around them in Spain and that is why they think life here is good? Doesn't matter that your neighbour was accused of involvement in 40 murders, as long as his garden was sufficiently manicured and he was nice to his family, then?

Any how many of the Spanish lawyers amongst your former neighbours might have been involved in handling the purchases of those illegal homes that you are now concerned about so many Brits having been affected by?

HBG

Having been well and truly baked during the last few months of sizzling temperatures here in Spain, I often fantasize of the familiar walk along the embankment from London Bridge to Chelsea. I couldn't afford the Savoy and stopped at Temple tube station instead for a cup of tea and a smoke.

The Red Lion just off Whitehall was another good stopping point and you could always spot an MP while sipping your pint.

I even saw Mick Jagger once when I walked past his house in Cheyne Walk, but he didn't see me, he was walking on cloud nine.

On many occasions I did the walk with an umbrella, I would love to do it with an umbrella right now.

jackytoo

FFS get your act together or take some communication skills, you are all over the place in attempt to twist everything round to try to score points I said on the "surface" ie. it didn't affect the blue chip value of the area. I am sure those Lawyers driving around in their Bentleys and Mercs were involved...I don't recall saying I even liked them. Try to keep up!

HBG

Here we go, the world is going to change:http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisf...-regime-change

HBG

I regret my last post and admit that the profundity of the topic has left me. I'm far more interested in the two ladies discussing the ordinary things in life - lawn sprinklers and the colour of knickers.

Four years ago, I was house hunting in Andalucia, near Antequera. We attended a social event for expats, a well packed occasion attended by the many locals. It culminated with many couples happily dancing around the dance floor.

We had a table in the corner as strangers and enjoyed watching the scene in front of us. Suddenly we were joined by an elderly lady who looked frightened. My wife got slightly annoyed because the lady sat very close to me.

When the dance finished, a group of the local ladies approached our table and we realised they were angry with the lady sat with us. They weren't just angry, they were like a lynch mob. I had to stand up and prevent them punching the tearful lady at our table.

We never found out the reason for this disgraceful behaviour, but I suspect the lady hiding at our table wasn't blameless.

Dick Dasterdly

HBG, you should know by now that there aint no such thing as true friendship amongst women,
....only a temporary cessation of hostilities.

By the way rumour has it that China is now a Capitalist society on which its recent successes are founded,though as throughout the World it's only successful for some.
Meanwhile the political prisoners continue to slave away for their daily bowl of rice and it all just passes them by.

HBG

Within my short lifetime, I've heard McMillan tell me that I had never been so well off, Wilson told me that the pound in my pocket had not been devalued, Maggie shut down the mining industry, the Queen started paying taxes and Blair took us to war.

But along the way I noticed that the rich kept getting richer while the poor couldn't keep up. In the sixties I grew my hair long to protest, but it didn't make any difference. I voted for all three parties at some time, but it didn't make any difference.

I still protest now, the first paper I read every morning is the Guardian. And I was totally gutted to find out that our fallen defence secretary, the chap drinking £25 bottles of beer in Dubai, came from East Kilbride. No wonder he looks embarrassed.

bil

As an ex Guardian reader (I quit the news habit, not the paper) I'm delighted to find another kindred spirit.

My take on government is this. Those at the bottom of the heap have been striving for fair treatment for centuries. Government is there to slow this down and prevent a truly fair society ever arising. It protects the rich and the powerful from ever having to shair the spoils out with any trace of fairness and justice.

That's why the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer.

Lynn R

"Take some communication skills" - what does this mean, please? It doesn't make sense.

"On the surface" - yes, precisely. You often say that many British expats take Spanish people at face value and think they are friendly without having any real idea of what is going on. But you are apparently happy to accept whatever goes on "on the surface" so long as the surface is bright and shiny enough for you and doesn't affect the value of your area. Strange value system.

megmet

jackytoo

You got the rally call at last...what kept you. Lost your tongue too

megmet

Always the charmer and still over doing the thingy!