Well yes, and you stated that unemployment had risen again in December. Sometimes we only expect bad news but things start to turn around, and indeed there are signs that things are improving in part of Spain's economy, For example Seat has had a very good 2010

http://www.carpages.co.uk/seat/seat-sales-07-01-11.asp

Naturally you won't read about these types of successes in many places, as it seems only bad news sells.
Of course, the speculators highlighted in your links may prevail if Spain doesn't get the deficit down quickly enough, and the interest rates keep rising. That is going to be the biggest risk to any recovery - rising interest rates.

Hmmm, we seem to have changed the thread from "first green sheet" to "green shoots?"

No, we were discussing the new foreigners registration certificate.

Let's get back to that please or you can start another thread on the economy.

understandable getting mixed up as we have been discussing the economy since page 1

Anymore info' on the green bit of paper?

Like what? Sunshine?

.... like what? I think it's all been said.

Exactly, and burning any remaining bridges with the UK is not a very bright move either, especially under present circumstances.

I know but I was told to get back on topic

Or start another thread on the economy - which no doubt will be heavily subscribed.

We have still got our old ones and is good to use as a photo ID, they never look at the date of it.

I used my new one in an official situation the other day, not the A4 sheet, but a miniaturised copy of it. I started to worry when I noticed that this important official had thick glasses. He stared hard at this silly sheet of paper but then pushed it back across the desk and asked for the original, with that derogatory wave of his hand, which translated into English means fxck off.

The wave of his hand and his surly face were too much for me and I told him that it was the original and pushed it back in his direction with as much conviction as I could muster.
I pointed at the tiny signature on the tiny piece of paper and said it was from the chief of police.

This seemed to calm the official, but then he took the piece of paper to a senior colleague who wasn’t wearing glasses.

This man didn’t have any doubts about my miniature residencia’s validity but I had already stored my passport safely and was getting up to leave when the man with the glasses returned. He handed back my valueless piece of paper and used his hands to tell me to fxck off, several times.

I’ll have to return to the office one day with the original A4 sheet of paper, but I’m not going to rush it.

Did you have your minature version stamped? We had to have ours stamped a couple of times at the police station in another office to the extranjeros one or it would not have been valid.

I have an A4 sheet with my passport, driving licence and green form all on it.

It was certified and stamped at our town hall.

Strictly speaking they should be certified by the authority who issued them but it doesn't normally seem to be a problem. For those rare circumstances where the originals are required it is no hardship to produce them.

I should, of course, have known better, but on that day we happened to walk past the relevant office dressed normally and having no intention to deal with any surly officials, but there was the office and my normal sized wallet had that silly piece of paper in it . . .

I’m thinking about dressing formally on my next visit, and along with wearing a collar and tie, I’m going to dust down an old briefcase to hold the precious piece of A4 paper so it doesn’t get creased. I’m going to polish my formal shoes and iron my shirt and trousers and I’ve already picked out my public school tie to impress the officials (the tie will be just as fraudulent as my demeanour as I bow to the important man with his magic stamp).

It’s not that I haven’t done it before, I’ve lost count of the silly little officials with their surly faces and rude manners I have encountered in my time in Spain. It eventually persuaded me to employ a sensible Gestor and when I took all my important documents to him, he got them all stamped in record time, whether they had to go to Madrid, Malaga, Alicante or Valencia.

I could go to him instead of dressing up etc, but his office is in Benidorm and I’m 70 miles away now.

But don't forget to take several photo copies of the original, it is beyond any office that wants a copy to copy it themselves.