Puntos de vista - a personal Spain blog

Today, Saturday 4 January 2025, would have been my 50^th wedding anniversary.

However, that marriage, to Jeryl, came to an end in 1995, after 30 years.

A pretty good effort, I reckon, with lots of positive outcomes.

In 30 years …..

Jeryl and I had two children together, Amy, now 41, and Tom, 37.

Amy lives in Stratford, East London, and has two boys, Felix, 8, and Jude, soon to be 5. Since graduation from The Queen’s College, Oxford Amy has worked exclusively in the charity sector. She is currently Chief Executive of an educational charity, Tutors United.

Tom lives in Hastings, East Sussex, where he also has two boys with wife Su. They are Wilbur, 6, and Buckley, 1. Tom and Su are both professional actors although both are currently “resting”. Su, because she’s a full-time mum, and Tom, because Boris Johnson, the disgraced former prime minister, who was in charge during the Covid-19 pandemic, shut theatrical activity down, and the sector has been slow to recover. Tom works for Hastings Council.

Amy, Tom, Su and Jeryl with the grandsons [Selfie by Tom Whitelock]

Turning point

When Jeryl and I split up, it proved to be a turning point for us both.

Jeryl retired early from academic life (she was professor of international marketing and head of department at Bradford University Business School), retrained as an actress and moved to London to be near our children and to be near the acting action.

As for me, I suffered a nervous breakdown around the time of our parting and was made redundant from my job as a school inspector/adviser. I took early retirement and started to draw my work pension. I spent a fair bit of time in Ronda (Málaga, Spain), where I owned two properties. My new girlfriend Maude also bought a property in Ronda, the first time she visited the City of Dreams with me.

So, I was living in Bryn-y-Maen, North Wales with Maude, who was still working, and spending increasing amounts of time in Ronda doing up one of my properties, Casa Blanca and subsequently El Rincón, as her house was called.

This was a period where I got to know a lot of people in this beautiful Andalusian town.

By this time, between us, Maude and I had a portfolio of three rental properties.

The beginning of the end

My relationship with Maude came to a natural end after some three years, I moved out of the house in Bryn-y-Maen and went to live with my mum (I was 58).

My dream of moving to live in Spain, which I’d had since I first visited Spain aged 20, was now a possibility. I tried it but it didn’t work. I fell in with a crowd of heavy-drinking immigrants, which was fun for a while, but not really how I saw my life in Spain in the long term.                                                                                                                            

The cottage in Bryn-y-Maen [Snowdonia]

Tunstall Villa, Latchford

Living with my mum wasn’t a "healthy" nor viable option for me in the long term. I needed to find a place of my own. I had sold Casa Blanca, so had some money in the bank. I invested in a portfolio of high-interest accounts with various banks, some foreign.

In Spring 2008 I thought I’d found a place quite near my mum’s, but then I went off to Luxembourg to help my university contemporary and friend Jac, a widow, do up a house she’d bought for her daughter and son-in-law.

I was there for three months, during which time I had a ball. My house fell through, but I enjoyed a brief summer romance with Jac and returned with her to the UK, when she went on her annual visit to South Wales, where she hails from.

Jac addresses the British Ladies Group in Luxembourg [Delano.lu]

Back up north in Warrington, I started looking for another house ….. and found Tunstall Villa, a somewhat down-on-its-luck detached Victorian Villa on a decent sized plot.

I negotiated with the vendor and we agreed a good price, which included most of the furniture and fittings.

I returned to Luxembourg to do more work for Jac at the end of August and from there I flew to Spain to spend some time in Ronda during the Feria de Pedro Romero, which takes place on the first weekend in September.

Tunstall Villa, Latchford [On the Market]

Feria de Pedro Romero

I met up with my friend Michael who was living in Ronda, and still does. His brother and girlfriend were visiting from their home in North Wales but couldn’t find any accommodation. Everywhere was fully booked.

I let them stay in my flat with me.

That evening, a Friday, we went off to the Recinto Ferial (showground) where there was a funfair and several casetas, bars in large tents run be different organisations in Ronda, some private and some open to all.

In the first caseta we went to something happened which changed my life forever …..

“Lovely Rita, Meter Maid”

In this particular caseta there were some 20 "guiris" (foreigners). I knew a handful but by no means all, so I was introduced to everybody in turn. One very lovely lady turned out to be a German, resident in Montejaque (Málaga). Her name? Rita. I am a fluent German speaker, so she was thrilled to have someone to talk to in her mother tongue.

In my head the words “lovely” and “Rita” made me think of the Beatles song “Lovely Rita, Meter Maid”! So that was what I called her.

Feeling brave, I heard myself inviting myself to visit her at her home in Montejaque. She said yes and that’s what happened. Kaffee und Kuchen at 4.00 pm on the day before I was due to fly home. Her sister Birgid was visiting from Germany.

[Image: Wikipedia]

I later discovered that during the afternoon coffee session they were assessing me as to whether I would be a suitable guest that evening when an English couple were coming round for dinner. I passed the test apparently and was duly invited to stay for dinner.

The following day I flew back to Liverpool.

Rita and I kept in touch by email. She visited me in England a couple of times that Autumn and I went to Germany for her grandson’s christening and to meet her family. By the end of December, I had emigrated to live with Rita.

Within two years we were married. I sold Tunstall Villa and in February 2011, we moved into Villa Indiana, the detached bungalow with a huge garden, where we have lived ever since.

    Rita and Paul get married in Maulbronn in 2010 [HMR]      "Lovely Rita" with Paul, Christmas 2024 [Selfie]

Catalyst

Thinking back to 2005, when Jeryl and I divorced, that proved to be a positive turning point in both of our lives. Jeryl was able to pursue her dream of becoming a professional actor and I achieved my goal of living happily ever after in Spain.

Neither of us regret our 30 years as a married couple. We had some great experiences and produced two great children, who in turn have given us four grandsons.

So, to have regrets is pointless. Life moves on and, in both our cases, gave us access to new and fulfilling lives.

[McConnell Family Law Group]

¡Viva el divorcio!

© Pablo de Ronda

Links:

What is a guiri? It's what the Spanish call us foreigners - but is it good or bad?

West End Live 2016 Sunny Afternoon - Tom in the prize-winning West End Kinks' musical

With thanks to:

Cervantes Theatre, Jeryl Whitelock Burgess, Ray Davies, Tom Whitelock

Photo acknowledgements:

Cervantes Theatre, McConnell Family Law Group, On the Market, Paul Whitelock, Snowdonia, Tom Whitelock, www.delano.lu

Tags:

Bryn-y-Maen, Cervantes Theatre, Eye on Spain, guiri, Latchford, Málaga, Jeryl Whitelock Burgess, McConnell Family Law Group, Montejaque, On the Market, Paul Whitelock, Rolling Stone, Ronda, Secret Serrania, Tom Whitelock, Tutors United, Wales, Warrington, www.delano.lu, 

Excuse the Grauniad-like punning headline! I couldn’t resist it!

Tuesday was the Christmas Party for members and guests of El Club de Prensa de la Costa del Sol. This year the organising committee chose the same restaurant as last year with exactly the same menu!

But, so what, it’s only once a year. Traditionally, in England when we ate our Christmas dinner at home, it was also the same venue and the same menu, roast turkey!

English roast turkey with all the trimmings [Photo: BBC]

The Costa Press Club Christmas “Do” 2024

I’d enjoyed this bash in 2023, so was delighted to be able to go again this year. My wife Rita was my guest last year, but this year she couldn’t make it. Bloody cat!* (I’ll explain later!)

We were asked to make our menu choices in advance which I did. At that point I hadn’t twigged that it was the same restaurant, “El Olivo”, as 12 months previously! 

CPC members pose outside "El Olivo" [Photo: Karl Smallman]

When I did eventually realise, I saw that I had made exactly the same choices this year as last! But, as I said in my introduction, “So what!”

The CPC committee had negotiated a special rate with the nearby Gran Hotel Costa del Sol **** - just 62€ per room including breakfast.

The hotel is right by the beach and has great views looking West.

    [Photo: Paul Whitelock]

I went to the hotel bar at around 7.00 pm for a pre-dinner drink. Several CPC members were already there: Liz Parry, Georgina Oliver, Andrew Forbes, Joan Fallon and Neil Hesketh. We had a drink and then headed off to “El Olivo”, two streets away along the coast.

A glass of cava was included in the price of the meal, 32 euros. I think I had four glasses! Then we sat down ready to eat. My co-diners were Neil, Georgina, Andrew, David Tweed, Gary Edwards, Nicole King and Josephine Quintero.

A half bottle of wine each was also included.

My choices were:

Spicy duck roll served with guacamole and mango chutney

Traditional Christmas turkey with all the trimmings

Apple strudel with vanilla ice cream

Roast turkey [Photo courtesy of Good Food]

Then it was the Christmas Quiz followed by Secret Santa.

            [Image courtesy of GooglePlay]                 L to R: Neil Hesketh, president; Jennie Rhodes and Joan Fallon,                                                                                                          winners; LouiseCook-Edwards, organiser [Photo: Karl Smallman]

I teamed up with Georgina for the quiz – we scored 5 out of 16 - I think we came last!

My Secret Santa gift was a rather nice umbrella, which, according to the forecast for Wednesday, I shall need!

Everybody seemed to agree that the quality of the gifts was higher than in 2023.

Georgina was delighted with her gift. She won her own back! A bottle of Pimms No.1.

Then the evening was all over so we wandered back to the hotel for a nightcap where we polished off Andrew’s Secret Santa gift – a bottle of gin!

    [Image courtesy of Freepik]

The morning after

Woke at 6.00 am in need of a pee. I made a cup of tea and started writing up last night.

The weather was overcast, but no rain as yet!

                          Views from my hotel room balcony [Photos: Paul Whitelock]

Then around 8.00 am I went for a coffee prior to breakfast with the few remaining CPC members.

It’s now 10.30 am. No sign of any rain!

I think I’ll pack, check out and head for The Miramar Shopping Centre in Fuengirola before heading back to Ronda.

I picked up a few more British products from The Food Co. there, ran a few more errands at Leroy Merlin, Jysk and Aldi before heading east towards the airport at Malaga.

    A fry-up [Photo courtesy of Full Suitcase]

Diversion

It was by now pleasantly warm, around 20C, so I decided to go and see the sea at one of my favourite spots, Guadalmar, near the airport.

It was very quiet with only a handful of diners at the chiringuito. And not a soul on the beach, which had still not been tidied up after the Dana flooding a month ago.

                                                   [All photos by Paul Whitelock]

Then it was time to head back home via the gasolinera in Casarabonela. Today Gasolina 95 was 20 cents a litre cheaper than the cheapest petrol in Ronda!

Footnote:

*We were recently adopted by a kitten that found its way from the rubbish dump 500 metres from our home where it had apparently been dumped. Paulinchen is still very young so we didn’t want to leave her nor put her in a cattery, so that’s why I went alone!

    Paulinchen [Photo by Paul Whitelock]

© Pablo de Ronda

Links:

Costa Press Club members gather for Christmas food and fun | Sur in English

CPC in Cala de Mijas - Christmas Party - 2023

British stuff here in Spain? Who needs it?

Acknowledgements:

Costa Press Club

Gran Hotel Costa del Sol

Liz Parry OBE

Restaurante "El Olivo"

SUR in English

Photos:

Facebook

Full Suitcase

GooglePlay

Karl Smallman

Paul Whitelock

Wikipedia

Tags:

20 cents cheaper, 32 euros, Aldi, Andrew Forbes, apple strudel, breakfast, British products, Casarabonela, cava, Christmas dinner, Christmas “Do”, Christmas Party, Christmas Quiz, Christmas turkey with all the trimmings, Club de Prensa de la Costa del Sol, coffee, CPC, Costa Press Club, cup of tea, David Tweed, “El Olivo”, Facebook, Fuengirola, Gary Edwards, Gasolina 95, gasolinera, Georgina Oliver, gin, guacamole, Joan Fallon, Josephine Quintero, Jysk, Karl Smallman, kitten, Leroy Merlin, Liz Parry, mango chutney, Miramar Shopping Centre, Neil Hesketh, Nicole King, nightcap, Paulinchen, Paul Whitelock, pre-dinner drink, Rita, roast turkey, Ronda, Secret Santa, spicy duck roll, The Food Co., umbrella, vanilla ice cream, Wikipedia

áéíóúü

The 1 December, is the first day of Advent, the period leading up to Christmas.

In Christian religions, both Protestant and Roman Catholic, this is a significant time of year. Both religions set great store by the Advent Calendar.

Advent photo courtesy of the BBC

An expensive time of year

In Spain, funcionarios and pensionistas have just received a double salary/pension payment, so, in theory they have a lot of disposable income.

However, they’ve got the “Puente” of 6 and 8 December, Christmas, New Year and Epiphany to pay for! And the Spanish spend huge amounts of money at this time of year, especially on presents for the children.

    Image courtesy of irBarcelona

6 December is Día de la Constitución. This holiday commemorates the adoption of this law, which lays down the rights and duties of all Spaniards. The Constitution was approved on 6 December 1978 and is still in force. 

8 December is Inmaculada Concepción. On this date, the Spanish commemorate the conception of the Virgin Mary, the Immaculate Conception.

According to tradition, 1 December is when you can start to decorate your home for this festive period.

A personal viewpoint

I’m going to be alone for Christmas this year, for the first time in my long life. You can read all about that here: Christmas "de Rodríguez" - Rita’s alternative Christmas Dinner

So. I’ve already started to put up a few Christmas decorations. I’ve also decided on my Christmas Dinner menu.

[Photo courtesy of El Mundo]

I was going to just do a traditional English roast turkey with all the trimmings, which I haven’t had the pleasure of very often in recent years, but my “lovely” wife Rita suggested something different and presented me with a couple of different options:

Cream of pumpkin soup followed by roasted sea bass stuffed with vegetables and prawns. Sounds great, doesn’t it? And as a bow to English tradition, if I can find one, I shall have Christmas pud! [Update: I found one yesterday on the coast!]

    Crema de calabaza [Allrecipes]               Lubina al horno [Photo: ¡Hola!]             Christmas pud [Photo: Raymond Blanc]

Recipe here: Christmas "de Rodríguez" - Rita’s alternative Christmas Dinner

Last word:

Looks like I'm going to enjoy my Advent and Christmas. If I can find myself a dinner companion for Christmas Day, all the better! ¡Ojalá!

© Pablo de Ronda

Links:

Christmas "de Rodríguez" - Rita’s alternative Christmas Dinner

... de Rodríguez? - Secret Serrania de Ronda

Tags:

Advent, Advent calendar, Allrecipes, Christmas, Christmas decorations, Christmas Dinner, Christmas pud, Cream of pumpkin soup, Crema de calabaza, de Rodriguez, Día de la Constitución, double salary/pension payment, Epiphany, funcionario, ¡Hola!, Immaculate Conception, Inmaculada Concepción, Lubina al horno, New Year, Pablo de Ronda, pensionista, “Puente” of 6 and 8 December, Raymond Blanc, Rita, roasted sea bass, roast turkey with all the trimmings, Secret Serrania, Virgin Mary

By Pablo de Ronda

Basically squatters (okupas) are bad news for property owners. But I must tell you that I know two, who have become good friends and are absolutely not a threat to my property assets nor anybody else’s.

Squatters [Photo: Bella Virtual Staging]

"San Jorge" el gallego

Jorge, an army veteran, an ex-foreign legionnaire who was based at the Ronda camp, found himself homeless on being discharged, divorced by his wife and  with no contact to his children, . First of all he occupied a small house on the grounds of a restaurant for a number of years, with the owner’s blessing.

Last year he had to move and Jorge took over a small house which was owned by a bank after a repossession. He has created a living environment which is enough for him, as a single man, and his several dogs. The bank is aware of this and has no problem. There is little chance of anybody buying the house.

Jorge has no electricity, but he has installed a small solar dish which gives him some power.

San Jorge and Pablo de Ronda [Selfie]

José "el suave"

José, an accredited albañil (bricklayer) has been forced into life as an okupa following major upheaval in his life – teenage son convicted of murder, and divorced by his wife.

As with Jorge, the bank is aware that he occupies the property and are happy that he has restored it and looks after it.

Neither Jorge or José is causing a problem to a homeowner.

These two guys have worked for me and helped me with the renovation of a house I invested in as a doer- upper. They also do small projects and odd jobs for us in our other properties.

They are both autónomo (self-employed). When the work for me dried up they worked for building companies on the coast and in Ronda.

    José "el suave" [Photo: PW]

And the moral of this story is .....

So, let’s try and make sense of this. If I had a holiday home on the coast which had been taken over by okupas, I would not be happy.

However, Jorge and José haven’t done that. They are occupying properties that nobody wants and which are owned by banks who don’t give a s**t, quite frankly.

Back to the Press story

Spain’s Congress has just dropped a legislative bombshell that promises to evict "okupas" faster than you can say “o-ku-pa". 

In a move that’s sparking heated debate across the country, the newly approved "anti-okupas" law aims to slash eviction times from months to mere hours.

[Photo courtesy of 20 Minutos]

This sweeping reform, which has already passed through Congress, now heads to the Senate for its final seal of approval. Once it appears in the Boletín Oficial del Estado (BOE), it’s game over for squatters.

What’s changing?

The reform targets articles 245 and 202 of the Penal Code, making squatting a fast-track offence. Usurpation and unlawful entry will now be dealt with in expedited trials – think eviction in 15 days or less. No more standard trials dragging on for months; it’s all about swift justice.

To put this in perspective, Spain currently has over 15,000 illegally occupied properties, according to the Ministry of the Interior.

The new law is set to bring lengthy and costly eviction processes to an end and hopefully bring some stability to the house rental market, as owners will feel more protected.

[Photo courtesy of La Razon]

Pizza plots and eviction loopholes

Squatters have become increasingly creative in dodging eviction. One cheeky tactic involves ordering pizza to the property they intend to occupy. By showing a receipt dated more than 48 hours earlier, they’ve been able to claim residency – a loophole that’s left property owners fuming.

But with the new law, such antics won’t stand a chance. Squatters will face the boot quicker than they can finish their slice of pizza margarita.

What about families with children?

Here’s the sticking point. If children are involved, social services step in to assess the situation, potentially dragging out the process. Protecting minors remains a priority, even under the new expedited system.

A legal game-changer

When fully implemented, the "anti-okupas" law promises to be a landmark moment for property rights in Spain. While it’s being hailed as a lifeline for homeowners, critics argue it could trample on social protections for the most vulnerable.

With evictions about to get turbo-charged, one thing’s clear – the days of squatters living rent-free are numbered.

But where will all these people go? Sure, some will be forced to do “the unthinkable” and pay rent, but the truly vulnerable may be left exposed.

    [Photo courtesy of El Corte Inglés]

© Pablo de Ronda

Acknowledgements:

Euro Weekly News

Marc Menendez-Roche

Pablo de Ronda

Photos:

20 Minutos

Bella Virtual Staging

El Corte Inglés

La Razon

Paul Whitelock

Shutterstock

Tags:

albañil, anti-okupas law, army veteran, BOE, Boletín Oficial del Estado, bricklayer, Congress, divorced, El Gallego, el suave, Euro Weekly News, ex-foreign legionnaire, house rental market, Jorge, José, living rent-free, Marc Menendez-Roche, Ministry of the Interior, murder, okupa, Pablo de Ronda, Paul Whitelock, Senate, Shutterstock, solar dish, squatter, Squatters in Spain,

The Spanish Post Office is quite unlike the UK equivalent. There are no sub-post offices as such. Big cities in Spain have a main Correos and maybe a few others dotted around. Ronda (pop: 34,000) now has two.                                                                                            

Photo courtesy of Correos

You don’t have to go there to buy stamps however, as these are on sale in estancos (tobacconists) and also in tourist shops.

Correos is a state-owned company. It is one of the largest postal services in the world.                                                                                      

Photo courtesy of Facebook

Correos

Correos is a normal business with a profit motive. You can do all sorts at the Correos, pay traffic fines, pay your IBI (Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles - Council Tax), pay your electricity bill, your water bill, your gas bill  and your annual road tax.

You can also use Correos as a bank, to pay in money and withdraw cash. Indeed, they will even deliver cash to you at home. But Correos will charge you. If you’re “knocking on a bit” and don’t have a car, these services are worth their weight in gold.

The post lady (la cartera) has just left a leaflet from Correos in my buzón: detailing all their services, mentioned above.

    Photo courtesy of FCCCOO

Endnote

I’m impressed. This is a great service.

I heard today that The Post Office in the UK is planning to close over 100 crown post offices with the loss of thousands of jobs, it’s another reason why I shall never again live in the country of my birth!

Just need to get around to applying for Spanish nationality.

© Pablo de Ronda

Acknowledgements:

Correos

Facebook

FCCCOO

Paul Whitelock

Tags:

annual road tax, bank, buzón, cartera, Correos, electricity bill, estanco, gas bill, IBI, Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles, Pablo de Ronda, pay in money, post lady, property tax, Spanish nationality, Spanish Post Office, stamps, sub-post office, The Post Office in the UK, tobacconist, tourist shop, traffic fines, water bill, withdraw cash,

Friday, November 1, 2024 
 

“The rain in Spain stays mainly on the plain” sang Rex Harrison in the musical “My Fair Lady”. By Lerner and Loewe.

Well, they got that wrong, didn’t they?

At the moment, the rain in Spain stays/falls mainly on Castilla-La Mancha, País Valenciano and Andalucía.

Photo courtesy of Benito Link

Why?

The atrocious weather has been caused by DANA, which has brought the worst weather in living memory to these three areas of south-eastern Spain.

I know we’ve been crying out for rain, to fill our reservoirs, irrigate our crops, water our golf courses and fill our swimming pools, but this is too much all at once.

150 deaths so far but dozens missing presumed drowned.

[UPDATE: Sat 08.45 am: the death toll has risen to 207]

The worst-hit area has been the Valencia region, but Castilla-La Mancha has experienced major flooding too as well as golf-ball sized hailstones.

Andalucia has suffered also with rivers bursting their banks and deluging towns like Alora, Pizarra, and Alhaurin de la Torre, all not too far from where I live in Ronda.

More misery and devastation are expected as the storms head west. Parts of Malaga, Cadiz and Jerez have been inundated and several coastal resorts have suffered, with their beaches being washed away. Some chiringuitos have been badly damaged and will have to be demolished.

What is DANA?

DANA, or “Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos” (Isolated Depression at High Levels), is also known as a "gota fria” (cold drop) and occurs when a cold air mass becomes isolated in the atmosphere. When this cold air collides with the warm, humid air of the Mediterranean, it triggers torrential rains and extreme weather conditions.

Photo courtesy of 20Minutos

Watch this space

This is an ever-changing story. Look out for updates …..

© Pablo de Ronda

Acknowledgements:

20Minutos

ABC

Benito Link

BBC News

MSN

Wikipedia

Links:

At last – good weather! It’s pouring down!

BREAKING NEWS - DANA – Who or what is it?

Tags:

ABC, Alhaurin de la Torre, Alora, Andalucía, BBC News, Cadiz, Castilla-La Mancha, chiringuito, DANA, “Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos”, fill our reservoirs, golf-ball sized hailstones,  "gota fria”, irrigate our crops, Jerez, Lerner and Loewe, Malaga, “My Fair Lady”,  MSN, Pablo de Ronda, País Valenciano, Pizarra, Rex Harrison, Ronda, “The rain in Spain stays mainly on the plain”, top up our swimming pools, water our golf courses

The NUMBER 2 can mean a pair, a duo, a couple, a duet, a double or even a deputy boss.

For Pablo de Ronda the number 2 has been and still is a significant digit in his life.

He was one of TWO SONS born to Vera and John. Pablo had TWO CHILDREN, of his own, Amy and Tom. Each of them, in turn, has TWO SONS; Amy has Felix and Jude while Tom has Wilbur and Buckley.

    [Copyright: Freepik]

Pablo de Ronda gained a joint honours degree in TWO FOREIGN LANGUAGES, Spanish and German. He was awarded a TWO.TWO (2.2). This choice of languages proved to be prescient, since he now lives in Spain and his second wife is German, meaning he uses both on a daily basis.

Pablo had TWO CAREERS in a working life which lasted 30 years and has had TWO MARRIAGES, one before retirement and one since.

Pablo writes here about the significance of this numeral in his past and current life here in Spain, where he has clocked up almost 16 years as a resident.

Life in Andalucia

I’ve been here nearly sixteen years and have lived in TWO HOUSES, one in Montejaque (Málaga) where the German lady, Rita, who is now WIFE NUMBER TWO, was living when I met her in Ronda on 2^ND September 2008, and the other just outside Ronda in the pedania known as Fuente de la Higuera.

    Rita on the roof terrace of Casa Rita, Montejaque          Villa Indiana, nr. Ronda, where we live now

    [Photos courtesy of Karl Smallman]

I own TWO HOUSES of my own, my aforementioned domicile and a vivienda rural (holiday rental) in Montejaque, which I have been renovating for the last TWO YEARS.

  Casa Real, Montejaque [Photo courtesy of Airbnb]

A previous life

Before my divorce and when I was still working, my first wife and I lived in TWO HOUSES, first in Greater Manchester and then in Cheshire. We also had TWO CANAL BOATS, the first moored on the Bridgewater Canal near our home, and the second on the Rochdale Canal at High Lane, Stockport.

In my second career, I was the NUMBER TWO (Deputy Director) of the Technical and Vocational Education Initiative (TVEI) in St Helens LEA (Merseyside).

***

My first wife and I fell in love with the Ronda area in the year TWO THOUSAND (2000) and over TWO YEARS bought TWO PROPERTIES in Barrio San Francisco, Ronda.

    Piso Blanco, Ronda [Photo: Paul Whitelock]

After that major turning point in my life in 2005 (TWO MAJOR EVENTS - redundancy and divorce), I retained the TWO RONDA PROPERTIES and gave up the family home in England to my ex-wife.

Back to Ronda

I met The Meter Maid (Rita - geddit?) in Ronda in TWO THOUSAND and eight (2008), emigrated shortly afterwards and within TWO YEARS we were married.

The nuptials took place in Germany where we had TWO WEDDINGS, one at the Registry Office in Talheim, near Heilbronn, and the other, TWO DAYS LATER, in the Abbey at Maulbronn (Baden-Württemberg).

    Our church wedding, 31 July 2010 [Photo: HMR]

We have TWO CARS, both Peugeots, and we have had TWO CATS and TWO DOGS, since we've been together.

The first cat in Montejaque, Cleo, was poisoned by a nasty neighbour; and the second, a rescue kitten called Pauline, who is a recent acquisition and is still with us (she’s trying to bite my toes as I type this!).

The first dog, also Cleo, was a rescue dog, a pedigree, which was stolen and, we think, killed (we know who it was, and José Maria O is currently serving time in Huelva High Security Prison for unrelated offences).

The second, Berti, a pointer, also a rescue dog, was run over and killed by a speeding - we think drunk - driver, who didn’t stop.

   Berti, front, with Hungarian pal Cocoa [Photo: PW]

More TWOS

It has recently been reported by Radio Television Española (RTVE) that Spain currently has the NUMBER TWO economy (ie SECOND-BEST) in the world after Singapore.

As Rafael Nadal (Spain) announces his retirement from professional tennis he is SECOND in the all-time list of Grand Slam Winners behind Novak Djokovic (Serbia).

Djokovic is still active and has 24 titles to his name. Nadal has 22. Third is Roger Federer (Switzerland) with 20. Federer is also retired.

After that it’s a long gap down to 14 titles won by Pete Sampras (USA), also long retired.

    Rafael Nadal [Photo: El Confidencial]

© Pablo de Ronda

Photos:

Airbnb

El Confidencial

Freepik

HMR

Karl Smallman

Paul Whitelock

Tags:

Airbnb, Baden-Württemberg, Berti, Bridgewater Canal, canal boat, Cheshire, Cleo, Cocoa, El Confidencial, Freepik, Fuente de la Higuera, Grand Slam Winners, Greater Manchester, Heilbronn, High Lane, HMR, Huelva High Security Prison, José Maria O, Karl Smallman, Maulbronn, Novak Djokovic, Pauline, Paul Whitelock, Pete Sampras, Radio Television Española, RTVE, Rafael Nadal, Rochdale Canal, Roger Federer, Ronda, St Helens LEA, Singapore, Stockport, Talheim, Technical and Vocational Education Initiative, TVEI

Changing our clocks and watches twice a year is to become a thing of the past - in Spain at least

By Paul Whitelock

The farce of putting the clocks back in Autumn and forward in the Spring is to come to an end, at least in Spain. This change was introduced in the UK during the first world war to allow more daylight working hours. And it’s never been changed since.

As for Spain, their time used to be based on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) like the UK and Portugal, but General Franco was pressurised to change to European Central Time (ECT) by Adolf Hitler around the time of the Spanish Civil War. Since then, Spain has been out of step.

Background

On October 27, Spain will put its clocks back one hour, signalling the start of winter. However, this practice of adjusting the time has its days numbered.

Under current regulations, 2026 will be the last year in which Spaniards modify their clocks and watches, ending a practice that has been in place since the 1970s.

This discrepancy between the official time and daylight has generated criticism, as it affects the biological cycles of the population and complicates the balance between personal and working life.

Returning to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is still an option, but it would imply significant adjustments in daily habits.

Moving forward in Spain

For now, the debate on which time to choose will remain on the public agenda. Everything points to Spain preparing to say goodbye to the time change, joining other countries that have already decided to adjust their clocks for the last time.

Since 1974, the main reason for moving clocks forward or backward has been to take advantage of natural light and reduce energy consumption. However, recent studies indicate that the impact of this measure is minimal at present, which has led to questions about its usefulness.

Despite the doubts, the Boletin Oficial del Estado (BOE) [Official State Gazette] has confirmed that the transition between winter and summer time will be maintained until 2026, as established by Royal Decree 236/2002.

After that date, Spain will have to decide whether to adopt a fixed schedule and, if so, whether it prefers a summer or a winter timetable. This measure not only requires political consensus, but also a massive information campaign to avoid confusion among the populace.

The decision to stop changing the time has also reignited another discussion: Spain's time zone. According to its geographical location, the country should be governed by the Greenwich Meridian (GMT), as is the case in the United Kingdom and Portugal.

Until 1940 it was so, until Francisco Franco, under pressure from Adolf Hitler, adopted Central European Time (CET) to align with other countries on the European continent.

Conclusion

So, the farce of changing the clocks in Spain is to end in 2026, and not before time (excuse the play on words!). The question is will Spain revert to GMT where it belongs, alongside the UK, Ireland, Portugal and its own Canary Islands?

It should do that, in my opinion.

©  Paul Whitelock

Acknowledgements:

Boletin Oficial del Estado

Daniela Machorro

Facebook

Mundo Deportivo

Time and Date

Torrevieja.com

Wikipedia

Tags:

Adolf Hitler, Boletin Oficial del Estado, Canary Islands, Daniela Machorro, ECT, European Central Time, Facebook, General Franco, GMT, Greenwich Mean Time, Ireland, Mundo Deportivo, Paul Whitelock, Portugal, putting the clocks back in Autumn, putting the clocks forward in Spring, Royal Decree 236/2002, Spanish Civil War, Time and Date, Torrevieja.com, UK

We are now well into Autumn in Spain. In Andalucia pupils started school on 15 September, public swimming pools closed, the temperature dropped, and much-needed rains came.

After the August/September holiday period life has returned to normal, with shops opening for more hours and businesses and companies working longer. On 27 October the clocks go back one hour.

Puente Nuevo, Ronda

Autumn in the Serranía de Ronda

It’s now an ideal time for those who are retired, have no children in school and who enjoy walking, cycling, bird-watching and other country pursuits.

So, why not come to Montejaque? Lots of accommodation available: some small for two people, others larger sleeping six or more; some at the top of the village, others well-located; some pretty basic, others well-renovated and well-equipped; some with no adequate heating, some with pellet stoves and open fires; some accommodation is cheap, other places are more expensive; some with no outside space, others with patios and terraces; some noisy, others peaceful and quiet.

Montejaque [Photo: Karl Smallman]

Casa Real

This recently completed village house meets the second of all the above criteria.

Casa Real sleeps six plus a child in three double bedrooms.

Casa Real is well-located, half a minute from the village square, yet with stunning views all round.

Casa Real has been renovated and equipped to a high standard, with all new beds, new towels and bedding, etc. The kitchen and laundry room have all new appliances.

Casa Real has a new pellet burner plus several oil-filled electric radiators.

Casa Real’s prices reflect what is offered and the quality of the accommodation. HOWEVER, generous autumn discounts are available if you book directly with the owner (see below).

Casa Real has an internal patio and a huge roof terrace. There is also a sitting area to the side of the house.

Casa Real is very tranquil. There is no noisy bar nearby and the main house is double-glazed.

Guest Reviews

Casa Real has proved popular with guests from many countries and nationalities.

To date guests from Albania, Britain, Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Paraguay, South Africa, Ukraine, USA and from various parts of Spain, including Alicante, Bilbao, Extremadura, Jimera de Libar, Madrid and Ubrique.

Autumn/Winter 2024

I am able to offer a generous discount of 20 per cent per night, if you book direct with me. With booking.com, AirBnb, VRBO and the rest you will pay even more than my normal price, to allow for the fees I have to pay them.

As of today my prices are as follows:

Up to 6 nights 80€ per night.

At least 7 nights, one night is free.

Over 14 nights, two nights free.

Please note that for Christmas and New Year, prices return to the normal 100€ per night.

All prices are fully inclusive. There are no extra charges for electricity, gas, and water; pellets; cleaning; welcome pack.

Breakages are chargeable if significant.

How to book:

By phone: (+34) 636 52 75 16

By email: paulwhitelock@hotmail.com

Via WhatsApp: (+34) 636 52 75 16

Further information:

www.help-me-ronda.com

www.simplyowners.net

Photos:

AirBnb

Ayuntamiento de Montejaque

Facebook

Karl Smallman

Paul Whitelock

Secret Serrania

Tags:

Albania, Alicante, Ayuntamiento de Montejaque, Bilbao, Britain, Casa Real, Croatia, Denmark, Extremadura, Facebook, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Jimera de Libar, Joe  King, Karl Smallman, Madrid, Málaga, Montejaque, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Paraguay, Paul Darwent, Paul Whitelock, pueblos blancos, Secret Serrania, Serrania de Ronda, Simply Owners, South Africa, Spain, thinkSPAIN, Travelnest, Ubrique, Ukraine, USA, www.help-me-ronda.com, www.simplyowners.net

Let me explain. Southern Spain has experienced drought conditions for the last three years. The water levels in our reservoirs are very low – indeed, some are officially empty. Restrictions on water use have been extremely strict, although, with an eye on earnings from tourism, they were relaxed for the summer season.       

Reservoir at Zahara de la Sierra [Photo courtesy of Alamy]

Since 1 October, restrictions have been re-introduced: no filling of pools; no use of garden hoses; no washing of cars except in auto-lavados (car-washes); no hosing down of streets by councils in the early hours; no sprinklers on golf courses.

In some areas water has been switched off during the hours of darkness. Beach showers have been turned off on the eastern Costa del Sol.

Hace buen tiempo

A couple of times I have been admonished by my neighbours, most of whom depend on rainwater for their crops, by referring to the odd downpour as bad weather.

¡Hombre, no! Hace buen tiempo. Nos hace falta agua urgentemente.

 Obvious when you think about it - for agricultural workers and wine producers/vintners rain represents GOOD weather.

Photo courtesy of BenitoLink

The Rain in Spain

I have been resident in Spain for more than 15 years and have written complainingly about the wet weather we had in 2010, 2018 (twice) and 2021, which caused lots of devastation and some loss of life.

December 2010

It hardly stopped raining in the Serranía de Ronda in December of that year! Over 500 litres per square metre fell in just two weeks, according to the Spanish Met Office (INM)!

Local rivers burst their banks five times! Hotels and other holiday accommodation were inundated and put out of business, some for good, homes were flooded and crops ruined.

The infrastructure was significantly damaged: roads, rail lines, public buildings, housing stock, drainage systems.  Houses grew mould inside because of the ongoing damp conditions and no chance to dry out.

September 2018

“The rain in Spain falls mainly on the pla–ain”

This lyric from the musical My Fair Lady is a load of nonsense. In my years of experience living in the Serranía de Ronda, the rain in Spain falls mainly on the adjacent Sierra de Grazalema. In fact, the town of Grazalema is the wettest place in Spain. According to official statistics, more of the wet stuff falls on this pretty mountain town than anywhere else in the whole of Spain.

In the spring heavy rain fell over a short period and caused major flooding around the Serranía de Ronda. At the Hotel Molino del Puente, at the bottom of the hill below our house, the restaurant, bar and terrace ended up under 30cm of water. Miraculously the hotel was cleaned, dried out and re-opened within 48 hours!

Hotel Molino del Puente, Ronda before the flood [Photo: KAYAK]

October 2018

Then in October of the same year, so much rain fell in three hours that the whole of the area was declared an emergency zone.

The hotel suffered again – this time water was lapping the ceiling of the bar and restaurant, and first floor rooms were flooded by the torrent that ran off the fields, busted the land drains and entered through the front door of the hotel. This time the clear-up took longer and the hotel didn’t re-open until April 2019.

The road past our house became a river. A friend’s car was washed away and mine was left suspended over a ditch that had been created when the water rinsed away the side of the road where my car was parked.

In Ronda, the emblematic Arab Baths were badly damaged and many streets, including the main shopping street Calle La Bola, were flooded, as the drainage infrastructure failed to cope.

Around the Serranía low-lying villages such as Benaoján Estación, flooded,de Líbar Estación, La Cañada del Real Tesoro and El Colmenar were severely flooded and some houses wrecked.

Flooding around the Arab Baths in Ronda in 2019 [Photo: La Sexta]

January 2021

“Here comes the rain again!”

We experienced a period of rainfall, but fortunately, toca madera (touch wood) it didn’t cause a huge amount of damage. Given the amount of dry weather in the preceding years, the water was very welcome for the farmers and in order to top up our rather empty reservoirs.

2021 – 2024

Since the start of 2021 until the beginning of October 2024 it has not rained to any great extent. For the last week, however, and for the foreseeable future heavy rain is forecast.

At last, a spell of good weather!

© Pablo de Ronda

Links:

Aemet eleva a naranja el aviso por fuertes lluvias en toda Málaga: hasta 50 litros en una hora (malagahoy.es)

The rain in Spain... (secretserrania.com)

Photos:

AEMET

Alamy

BenitoLink

KAYAK

La Sexta

Tags:

Arab Baths, Baños Arabes, Benaoján Estación, Calle La Bola, El Colmenar,  Grazalema, Hotel Molino del Puente, INM, Jimera de Líbar Estación, La Cañada del Real Tesoro, My Fair Lady, Pablo de Ronda, Rain, rain in Spain, Ronda, Secret Serrania, Serrania de Ronda, Spanish Met Office