Puntos de vista - a personal Spain blog

This article is not specifically about me.

It's about foreigners, or "guiris", who move permanently to live in Spain, and often experience a kind of "culture shock". 

    [Video courtesy of YouTube]

Anna, a young Briton who moved recently to live in Madrid, explained her situation to the newspaper AS this week.

I too was a young Briton when I first came to Spain 50-odd years ago. I knew almost immediately that Spain would be my destiny, and, although it took me nearly 40 years to make the permanent move, I have now clocked up some 17 years as a resident.

AS
Una británica que vive en Madrid revela las costumbres españolas que niega aceptar:

“Tengo que luchar bastante”

Historia de Marta Tejedor 

Moving to a new country often requires getting to know new cultures, learning unfamiliar languages, and even accepting certain customs you didn't even know existed beforehand.

Spain is a country that welcomes millions of tourists every year, and some of them decide to stay longer to enjoy the country's climate and cuisine, amongst other things.

Anna, a TikToker who uploads content to her account on the social media platform, annainespana, talked about three things she can't stand about Spain.

Three Things She Can't Accept

The Heat

High temperatures in summer are a daily occurrence in Spain, especially in Madrid, a city with more asphalt than green spaces.

In June, July, and August, temperatures can reach up to 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).

Anna confesses that the sun in Madrid is a lot hotter than in England, and that it's hard to get used to.

    [Image courtesy of Dreamstime]

The Bureaucracy

Coming to Spain as a tourist is relatively easy; the problem arises when an immigrant decides he wants to live in the country.

At that point, a period of paperwork and obtaining permits begins that often seems never-ending.

[Image unattributed]    

Anna explains that she had many problems obtaining her visa, not because she didn't meet the requirements, but because the process in Spain is slow and requires permits that often seem almost impossible to obtain.

Spanish Nightlife

In England, people eat dinner and go to bed much earlier than Spaniards. The Spanish timetable is much more nocturnal than in Britain. Going out at nine or ten at night and returning home at three in the morning is something Anna is used to from the UK, yet that seems quite strange in Spain.

In Spain, Anna has observed that people usually go out to clubs around midnight or one in the morning and return home around seven or eight at night the following day!

    [Photo courtesy of Enjoy Travel]

“I prefer to sleep,” the TikToker confesses.

Paul aged 20

I was shipped off to Spain in 1970 for my year abroad (I was studying for a degree in Spanish and German).

Our group was sent to San Sebastián to do a course for three months, followed by "doing our own thing" for a further three. In Spain of course.

I loved it and there began my dream to live in Spain one day.

    View of San Sebastian [The Independent]

Paul aged 58

After marriage, two children, a 30-year career in education, redundancy and divorce, I finally made the move when, in 2008, I met a German lady who was already living in Spain who became my second wife in 2010.

I've been here ever since.

Our wedding in Maulbronn, Germany [HMR]    

Paul aged 75

This year I reached the grand old age of 75. I'm in my 17th year as a resident and intend to stay put.

I shall die here. I've already reserved my nicho at the cemetery.

I've also tidied up my affairs and written a new Will, which is valid in Spain, yet takes into account my current status as a British citizen.

[Photo of nichos by La Vanguardia]    

The issues that still bother me are bureaucracy, litter, noise and the police (especially Guardia Civil Trafico).

But I shall continue to be patient, go through their processes and speak to officials cara a cara.

Conclusion

Back to the inspiration for this article, Anna, in Madrid. "Don't give up, love. Persevere and adapt. I hope you have a lifetime of happiness here in Spain."

Like I have had!

Links:

MY SPECIAL PLACES IN SPAIN - Help me, Ronda

What I hate about Spain! - Secret Serrania de Ronda

Why I love living in Spain's Serranía de Ronda - Secret Serrania de Ronda

©  Pablo de Ronda

Pictures:

AS, Dreamstime, Enjoy Travel, HMR, La Vanguardia, The Independent, YouTube

Thanks:

AS, Marta Tejedor, MSN, Paul Whitelock, Wikipedia

Tags:

annainespana,  AS, bureaucracy, culture shock, Dreamstime, Enjoy Travel, foreigner, Guardia Civil Trafico, guiri, HMR, immigrant, La Vanguardia, litter, Madrid, Marta Tejedor, Maulbronn, MSN, nicho, noise, Paul Whitelock, San Sebastian, Secret Serrania, The Independent, TikTok, Wikipedia, www.eyeonspain.com, www.help-me-ronda.com, www.secretserrania.com

The November meeting of the Costa Press Club (El Club de prensa de la Costa del Sol) took place this last Tuesday, November 4th.

The venue was the delightful La Sierra restaurant at the Cerro de Aguila golf club high in the hills above Fuengirola. The topic was "Journalists as lifesavers: communication and crisis management in emergencies."

CPC President Neil Hesketh introduces speaker Fernando Fernandez [Photo: PW]    

The presentation

Our guest speaker was Fernando Fernández Alcaide, who is professor of security, emergencies and catastrophes at the Universidad de Málaga.

Fernando is also the spokesperson for VOST (Digital Volunteers in Emergencies) in Andalucia and is a member of the National Emergency Communication Committee of the National Association of Professional Specialists in Emergencies and Civil Proteccion (ANEPPCE).

    [Photo: Paul Whitelock]

With the help of hundreds of slides and short videos Fernando really opened our eyes to how lacking the authorities are when it comes to dealing with disasters.

Some of the disasters he focused on included:

Chernobyl in 1986, Valencia in 2024, the train crash in Galicia in 2013, ébola, the danas of 2024, el apagón of earlier this year.

Chernobyl 1986 [EL PAIS]         Santiago derailment 2013 [The Guardian]    Aftermath of flooding, Valencia 2024 [The Guardian]

He was very critical of the standard reaction of the authorities to disasters.

It was a very challenging and thought-provoking presentation. Fernando is of the view that the Press and Media have a key role to play in getting the right information out there as quickly as possible and in contributing to crisis management.

All areas need a rapid response protocol for emergencies such as earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes and forest fires, although he pointed out, to much laughter, that a tsunami plan for mountain areas would be a waste of time!

Several members contributed to the Q & A session, including one member who highlighted the rapid reaction of firefighters in attending an incident near Ronda the day before, because THEY HAD AN EMERGENCY PLAN in place. No-one was hurt and no buildings nor vehicles were damaged as a result.

   [Above photos by Paul Whitelock]

Dinner time

We had all pre-selected our three courses. I started with gambas (prawns) in filo pastry, followed by filetes de lubina and ending with Apfelstrudel. The wine was included, but I drank very little (too busy talking!).

   gambas en filo [eurodrop]       filetes de lubina [commememucho]                      Apfelstrudel [eurodrop]

The 21 members and guests enjoyed the evening: the presentation; the food; and the chit-chat over dinner.

Sadly, it was all over by 10.00 pm, so we headed off home.

Or, in my case, to my hotel in Fuengirola, the delightful three-star Hotel Agur, where I had a double room with balcony, private bathroom, TV and free WiFi for a mere 45,54€.

The secure car park cost 15€ for 24 hours.

Hotel Agur [Photo: Trivago]    

Footnote:

I try to do these Press nights in as eco-friendly a manner as possible, by taking public transport (bus and train), finding cheap accommodation and walking a lot.

On this occasion, the bus and train would not have worked to get to Fuengirola.

Yet my room was more economical than my last "cheap hotel" in Málaga, and much better, in every respect.

The most costly item that day, relatively speaking, was my nightcap, a half litre of Paulaner Hefeweizen (wheat beer), which cost an eye-watering 6.50€.

    My room at the Hotel Agur [Paul Whitelock]

The next morning I opted for the hotel's buffet breakfast at 9.50€. An absolute "snip" for the choice and for the amount I managed to consume! I needed no lunch!

    The splendid breakfast buffet at Hotel Agur in Fuengirola

    Fruit and juice to start     Bacon, egg and baked beans   Cheese, salchichon, shredded veg       "pain au chocolat"

    [All breakfast photos by Paul Whitelock]

Links:

BREAKING NEWS - DANA – Who or what is it?

Costa del Sol Foreign Journalists Association | Costa Press Club

fernando.comunica@gmail.com

uma.es

www.help-me-ronda.com 

www.secretserrania.com

© Pablo de Ronda (Paul Whitelock)

Photos:

commememucho, EL PAIS, eurodrop, Karl Smallman, Paul Whitelock, The Guardian, Trivago

Thanks:

Fernando Fernández Alcaide, Karl Smallman, La Sierra restaurant, Neil Hesketh, Paul Whitelock

Tags:

Andalucia, apagon, ANEPPCE, Cerro de Aguila golf club, Chernobyl, Club de prensa de la Costa del Sol, commememucho, Costa Press Club, crisis management, dana, Digital Volunteers in Emergencies, ébola, EL PAIS, eurodrop, Fernando Fernandez Alcaide, Fuengirola, "Journalists as lifesavers", Karl Smallman, La Sierra restaurant, National Emergency Communication Committee of the National Association of Professional Specialists in Emergencies and Civil Proteccion, Neil Hesketh, Paul Whitelock, The Guardian, train crash in Galicia in 2003, Trivago,  Universidad de Malaga, Valencia, VOST

áéíóú

In protest at the catastrophic and highly damaging "regime" of President Donald J. Trump, the "Orange One", in the United States of America, I, like many others, have decided to boycott products from the USA.

I also have no wish ever to go there again. They probably wouldn't let me in anyway, after what I've written about the racist, sexist, convicted criminal who is inexplicably in charge of the world's most powerful country.

[Image courtesy of Red Bubble]    

My Backstory

I have been to the States once, back in 1998, when my young family and I - wife Jeryl, and children Amy (15) and Tom (12) - spent a month, taking in New Orleans, Los Angeles, Malibu,  Stanford University, San Francisco, Yreka, Tacoma and Seattle.

    New Orleans [expedia.es]                      San Francisco [Lufthansa]                   Seattle [Conde Nast Traveler]

We were hosted throughout by family and friends, which meant we had a more meaningful experience - at least, we thought so.

Yet even back then, nearly three decades ago, there were things I didn't like: the blatant racism against Native Americans (Red Indians), African Americans (blacks) and Mexicans ('Spics); the less obvious negative attitude towards Poles (Polacks), the Irish (Micks or Paddys) and Italians (Eyeties or Dagos); the dreadful food; the ridiculous licensing laws; compulsory tipping and poor quality hotels, infested with cockroaches and rats.

[Photo: Amnesty International USA]    

And it was all very expensive, even back then.

The current state of affairs

Nowadays, following two disastrous Trump administrations, Joe Biden in between, and before them, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barak Obama, whose legacies are not as good as they might have been, the USA has become a lawless land reminiscent of The Wild West.

School shootings have increased beyond all proportion and forest fires - mostly arson - have laid waste, land, properties and left many dead.

[Photo courtesy of Rolling Stone]    

My Boycott

So back to the purpose of this article - my boycott of all things American.

I no longer buy American clothes, preferring clobber made by slaves in the Far East, rather than American slaves! Asian garments are readily available in Europe at a good price.

[Image: Hula Global]    

I do not use American-owned airlines and I have never owned an American car. And, "sure as eggs", I won't be buying a TESLA anytime soon!

American Food

Nothing American gets into my shopping trolley.

I have stopped buying Heinz Baked Beans, although the ones we get in Europe are produced in Wigan (UK), Paris (France) or La Rioja (Spain).

There are plenty of alternatives whose origins are in France, Ireland, Spain and the UK. And they are invariably cheaper than H J Heinz.

HP Sauce is also owned by Heinz, but it is produced in Italy and Spain. So, that's ok, I think.

[Amazon]    

Beer and Wine

US beer is virtually undrinkable, so I never buy Budweiser nor Coors.

Budvar, from the Czech Republic, is a different matter. It's a fine beer.

    Beers on sale in the USA [PUNCH]

American wines, eg from California, are delicious, but there are wines available elsewhere which are just as good.

I'm talking about Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and Spain, as well as countries like Croatia, Greece, Hungary and Turkey.

Wine from Alsace, France [Grape Escapes]    

A Confession

I recently switched my internet provider to a company called Starlink and signed up for a one-year deal.

I subsequently learned that Starlink is owned by the ghastly Elon Musk, he of TESLA fame!

However, Musk is South African, isn't he? So, that's OK, or, is it ..... ?

Elon Musk's infamous Nazi salute [Photo: The Guardian]    

Links:

© Pablo de Ronda (Paul Whitelock)

Images:

Amazon, Amnesty International USA, Conde Nast Traveler, El periodico, expedia.es, Grape Escapes, Hula Global, Lufthansa, PUNCH, Rolling Stone, The Guardian, Wikipedia

Thanks:

Google Images, Wikipedia, www.help-me-ronda.com

Tags:

Alsace, Amazon, American car, Amnesty International USA, baked beans, Conde Nast Traveler, Elon Musk, El Periodico, expedia.es, Grape Escapes, Heinz, Hula Global, Los Angeles, Lufthansa, Malibu, New Orleans, Pablo de Ronda, Paul Whitelock, PUNCH, Rolling Stone, San Francisco, Seattle, Stanford University, Starlink, Tacoma, The Guardian, Trump, Wikipedia, Yreka

When Charlie Mullins became a regular columnist for The Olive Press newspaper, I thought:

"Omigod! Jon Clarke (editor of said free paper published in Southern Spain) has hired a 'Leapy Lee', the racist, sexist, failed pop-star pr**k who writes for the EuroWeekly News (another free paper here on the coast)".

Charlie Mullins, OBE [Photo: Elite Business Magazine]    

The story

Mullins' debut column didn't augur well for the future, I have to say.

However, since then this self-made millionaire who has decided to make his home in Estepona, Spain, has grown on me.

His recent column (Vol. 19, Issue 478) tackles the issue of immigration.

"You don't have to scroll far these days to find someone sounding off about immigration - whether it's in the UK or right here in Spain."

Writing about the many "Brits" who have made Spain their home, he opines that the "Spanish people have been incredibly welcoming" towards him.

[Photo: Issuu]    

He contends that this is because he has always shown respect for their country, their way of life, and their culture.

He writes: "This isn't about Spain v. the UK, or locals v. expats. It's about decent people who make an effort, versus those who turn up with a sense of entitlement and no interest in fitting in".

As he writes, they are loud, brash, no manners, no clue. I agree.

A typical 'guiri' [Photo: Facebook]    

Mullins claims he has never pretended to be Spanish. He lives in Spain, and is a "guest", which brings responsibilities. I agree absolutely. We will always be "guests".

He refers to the British "expat" lady who left the UK because there were "too many foreigners", and moved to live in Spain.

She is now exactly that, a foreigner. In Spain. She has made no attempt to integrate.

"Guiris" [Daily Express]    

Mullins is quite accepting of her - I am most definitely not! She is a hypocrite big-style!

In conclusion, Mullins writes: "This isn't about being anti-immigrant, it's about being anti-ignorant".

You have "hit the nail on the head", my friend.

Well done!

And well done to The Olive Press for hiring an excellent columnist, Charlie Mullins, OBE!

©  Pablo de Ronda (Paul Whitelock)

Pictures:

Daily Express, Elite Business Magazine, Facebook, Issuu

Thanks:

Paul Whitelock, The Olive Press, Wikipedia

Tags:

Charlie Mullins, Daily Express, Elite Business Magazine, Estepona, EuroWeekly News, Facebook, guiri, Issuu, Jon Clarke, Leapy Lee, Pablo de Ronda, Paul Whitelock, The Olive Press, Wikipedia, www.help-me-ronda.com

This latest meeting of the Costa Press Club (Club de Prensa de la Costa del Sol) was a real treat. Laura López of the University of Malaga’s Faculty of Communication Sciences led us on a walking tour of important sites and landmarks which tell the history of journalism in the city.

[Photo: Neil Hesketh]    

Laura lectures on the topic to undergraduate students and always includes this tour as part of the course.

On Tuesday of this week, she gave us journalists, media people and communicators the very same tour.

    [Photo: Neil Hesketh]

Ruta por la Malaga periodistica (siglo XIX-XX)

There were nine "stops" on our tour, which covered the History of the Press in Malaga in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Highlights included the workplace of Antonio Cánovas del Castillo, who began as a journalist before becoming Spain’s prime minister .....

..... and the archive of Narciso Díaz de Escovar, chronicler of Malaga’s bourgeois era.

    [Photo: Paul Whitelock]

CPC members and their guests also heard stories of political conspiracies, murders, and the Civil War divisions between republicans and monarchists, which had tragic consequences for journalists.

Laura emphasised two themes:

Malaga’s overlooked status as a pioneering press hub, rivalling Madrid and Barcelona;

and the relatively recent professionalisation of journalism, once dominated by lawyers, politicians, and writers.

The tour concluded with a reference to the Asociación de la Prensa de Málaga, Spain’s first press association, currently celebrating its 120th anniversary.

[Photo: Daryl Finch]    

Time for Dinner!

Tour over, we were hungry and thirsty. We went for dinner to the delightful Restaurante El Gallo Ronco, where we enjoyed a selection of delicious tapas and raciones and chatted about the tour ..... and other things too!

    [Photo: Paul Whitelock]                                    [Photo: Joanna Styles]    

I met a couple of people I didn't know, including Neil's 92-year-old mum in Malaga on a visit from Liverpool, and Jose Maria, aka "Mister Joanna Styles".

A memorable evening!

All I had to do now was find my hotel ..... which proved to be easier said than done!

But that's a story for another day .....

© Pablo de Ronda

Photos:

Daryl Finch, Joanna Styles, Neil Hesketh, Paul Whitelock

Acknowledgements:

Costa Press Club, El Gallo Ronco, Joanna Styles, Laura López, Liz Parry, Neil Hesketh

Tags:

Antonio Cánovas del Castillo, Asociación de la Prensa de Málaga, Barcelona, Club de Prensa de la Costa del Sol, Costa Press Club, Daryl Finch, El Gallo Ronco, History of the Press in Málaga, Joanna Styles, Laura López, Liz Parry, Madrid, Narciso Díaz de Escovar, Neil Hesketh, Pablo de Ronda, Paul Whitelock, Ruta por la Malaga periodistica, University of Malaga

Sounds like a pirate ship, doesn't it? I'll come back to that later.

"La Perla Blanca" is a small boutique hotel in Fuente de la Higuera, Ronda. It backs onto my garden, so we're neighbours.

Aerial view of La Perla Blanca[Trip Advisor]    

It's a charming place, well, was - I've heard it's gone downhill lately, but we'll come back to that too.

"La Perla Blanca" 2011

When we moved to our new "home" in February 2011, we got to know the incumbent "landlords". The hotel is leased from the owner, allegedly the richest man in Ronda.

The landlords back then were a German couple and we got quite friendly with them. Then, all of a sudden they were gone!

The next incumbents were Dutch. We knew them too. They took over the Hotel Don Benito as well, but they didn't make a success of either and did a "runner" leaving a trail of debt!

A couple from South Africa had a go, but they didn't last long either!

Hotel Don Benito, now Hotel Ronda Valley [Central de Reservas]    

"La Perla Blanca" 2015

Next came S, a Yorkshireman, and his wife. They came from the Caribbean where they had been working on yachts as crew.

They split up within a short time, but S stayed. He put his heart and soul into "La Perla Blanca", renovated the rooms, changed the public areas and worked hard on the extensive grounds.

After a while he took up with a Scottish Widow (No, not the insurance company!), who had been living in the area for years. We all knew her. She moved in and took charge of the cleaning, changeovers, etc.

Then, all of a sudden, S gave up the lease and moved in with this lady (she has asked to remain anonymous). He started work as a peon - a builder's labourer - and proved to be very good at it. He worked for me and regularly for K, an English builder friend of us all.

Next, the couple went back to the UK, to Huddersfield, S's home town. I don't know the details, but I understand that he stayed there and she came back to Andalucía.

"La Perla Blanca" - the pirate era

The "pirate" was J, Scottish-born, but from Leeds. His gorgeous much younger wife, also J, also came from Leeds. They had had two children together, who shall remain nameless. They all came out and took over the hotel.

I helped them get their kids in school in Ronda, and enrolled the parents on a language course. J never attended.

At the beginning of their tenure they did good things and the hotel was often full. We became friends, as well as neighbours.

J was very generous, and often bought our drinks. He even loaned me his Land Rover to go to the coast to pick up some furniture I'd bought down there.

Next I bought his VW Transporter from him, which he later incinerated in a drunken rage. It was a write-off!

"J" [Courtesy of Freepik]    

The police know it was him, and so do several neighbours, but they refused to help the police investigators. Great neighbours, eh?

J eventually did a prolonged "midnight flit" and went back to the UK leaving a trail of debts behind him. Astonishingly, Spain and the UK do not have an extradition treaty, so he's got away with it!

Last I heard he and J have divorced and, according to HIS OWN POSTS ON FACEBOOK, he spends a lot of time in the Philippines in the company of teenage prostitutes.

What was the attraction, we all wonder? J was short, fat, ugly, bald and operated "under the radar".

Either he's "good in the sack" or these women are attracted by his money.

Disclaimer: Having taken legal advice I have been assured that I am entitled to name J because, as far as the police in Ronda are concerned, he is guilty of arson. It is therefore legitimate to "name and shame" him. However, I shall not do so. J is regrettably "out of reach" because of the lack of an extradition treaty between Spain and the UK.

[The names of everybody mentioned in this article have been anonymised, in accordance with current journalistic practice.]

"La Perla Blanca" - post-thug

T, from South Africa, took over the lease and, once settled, brought his wife and children over. I met T a few times, but he preferred to keep himself to himself. I only met his wife and oldest daughter once.

Then, they too suddenly went ..... to be replaced by .....

E, a Dutchman with an estate agency on the Costa del Sol. I never met E, but met his lovely Colombian wife.

Then, they too disappeared .....

They have been replaced by a Moroccan couple, who I've not clapped eyes on yet. Rumour has it that they've let "The White Pearl" go. That would be a great shame.

Should I go round and introduce myself?

(Answers on a postcard to .....)

© Pablo de Ronda

Pictures:

Central de Reservas, Freepik, Trip Advisor, 

Links:

LA PERLA BLANCA - RONDA - Official Site. Book Direct and breakfast is FREE

Importing a UK vehicle to Spain and re-registering it onto Spanish number plates

Tags:

Caribbean, Central de Reservas, Freepik, Huddersfield, La Perla Blanca, Hotel Ronda Valley, Land Rover, Leeds, Pablo de Ronda, Paul Whitelock, Philippines, Ronda, South Africa, teenage prostitute, Trip Advisor, VW Transporter

In Andalucia every man has a nickname - "un apodo". The women don't. Whether men have "apodos" in other parts of Spain I am not sure.

I've travelled the length and breadth of the country for more than fifty years and have lived for periods in Barcelona (Catalonia); El Prat de Llobregat (Barcelona); Extremadura; Frigiliana (Málaga); Jaca (Aragon); Madrid; Olot (Girona); Oviedo (Asturias); and San Sebastián (Guipuzkoa). I've never noticed the widespread use of nicknames in those areas.

[Anon.]    

Some of us "guiris" have "coined" nicknames too, but for things, rather than people.

"Apodos"

"Apodos" have proved a challenge for me, and doubtless for other foreigners of a certain age, in that as we become ever more forgetful, to have to learn "two names" for every male is really difficult!

Who are Caniche, Chico, El Gitano, Jesulin de Ubrique, La Raspa, and Pingu? 

Antonio, Alonso, Diego, Álvaro, Javi and - por Dios, I've forgotten Pingu's real name! (Just kidding - he's called Cristobal!)

Nicknames

Monty Jack, Ben and Joan and Big Ron are recognisable as Montejaque, Benaoján and Ronda (the first two courtesy of Bill La Peche, an Englishman who lived round these parts. Bill sadly died some 14 years ago, but his widow Jill still delights in using these witty alternative names.

Bill La Peche superimposed on a photo of Montejaque [Karl Smallman]

Mercadonuts and The Chocolate Moose are two more of Bill's, the latter referring to a chocolate coloured statue of a stag located to the north-west of Ronda.

"Noms de plumes"

Many writers over the centuries used "noms de plume" to hide their true identity, mainly female authors who used men's names because of the male-dominated literary world, eg George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) and George Sand (Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin de Francueil).​​ 

    Photos of George Eliot and George Sand [both courtesy of Wikipedia]

But who were Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell? (Answer below).

Anonymous bloggers

Nowadays many bloggers use a nickname in an attempt to hide behind a cloak of anonymity as they peddle their extreme views, their bullying and their "hate speech".

Here are some I come across regularly: BrainwashReigns, El Bombero and lesleyfb. Despite challenging these people to come clean, they refuse.

I use "pen names" too, but it's easy to know who I really am.

I am not ashamed of what I write and post.

I am currently Der Auslands-Korrespondent, Diary of a Nobody, Don Pablo, Only Joe King, Pablo de Ronda, Serrania Kitchen, Sporty Sam, The Crazy Guy, The Culture Vulture, The Curmudgeon, The DIY Guy, The "Guiri" Gourmet, The History Man, The Merry Tippler, The "Namer and Shamer", The Spanish Fly.

Each of these "threads" deals with a different topic, as the nickname in each case implies.

But they are all me - Paul Whitelock.

Paul Whitelock aged 21 [Photo: Dave Holt]    

Answer to quiz question:

Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell were the Brontë sisters, Charlotte, Emily, and Anne.

Links of interest:

Ben and Joan, Monty Jack and Big Ron - Eye on Spain (2021)

Ben and Joan, Monty Jack and Big Ron - Help me, Ronda (revised version 2024)

Ben and Joan, Monty Jack and Big Ron - Olive Press News Spain (original version 2010)

My Special Places in Spain - Eye on Spain

Remembering Bill - Secret Serrania de Ronda 

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

© Pablo de Ronda

Photos:

Ayuntamiento de Montejaque, Dave Holt, Jill La Peche, Karl Smallman, Paul Whitelock, Wikipedia

With thanks to:

Ayuntamiento de Montejaque, Diego Sanchez Sanchez, Jill La Peche

Tags:

Acton Bell, apodo, Asturias, Ayuntamiento de Montejaque, Barcelona, Ben & Joan, Big Ron, Bill La Peche, BrainwashReigns, Brontë, Catalonia, Chocolate Moose, Currer Bell, Dave Holt, Der Auslands-Korrespondent, Diary of a Nobody, Diego Sanchez Sanchez, Don Pablo, El Bombero, Ellis Bell, George Eliot, George Sand, Guipuzkoa, guiri, Jill La Peche, Jon Clarke, Karl Smallman, lenox, lesleyfb, Madrid, Mercadonuts, Monty Jack, nickname, Only Joe King, Oviedo, Pablo de Ronda, Paul Whitelock, San Sebastian, Serrania Kitchen, Sporty Sam, The Crazy Guy, The Culture Vulture, The Curmudgeon, The DIY Guy, The "Guiri" Gourmet, The History Man, The Merry Tippler, The "Namer and Shamer", The Spanish Fly, Wikipedia, www.help-me-ronda.com, www.secretserrania.com, www.thecollector.com, www.theolivepress.es

My blog, "Diary of a Nobody", was trundling along with mediocre interest, judging by the number of views my posts were getting.

Then all of a sudden, throughout August, "views" are through the roof, with posts getting around 3,000 views and rising.

Analysis

I thought that the sudden surge in views was because I was writing about more global topics rather than personal recollections, but that's not true either.

The August "posts" were about:

Eye on Spain statistics        3400    -   clear from the title    
De-cluttering                         3182    -   personal. about me
The "Barber of Seville"        3618    -   about a "sevillana" I met in a bar
September                            2866     -   about what happened to me in September
The Prodigal Wife                2645     -   about my wife

And now?

September posts are back to normal levels, although they've not been online for long.

I'll keep you posted.

La alcaldesa de Ronda, Maria de la Paz Fernandez Lobato (PP), has been indicted on five criminal charges and faces a prison sentence and a huge fine.

    La Alcaldesa de Ronda faces the Press last Friday [SUR]

The news broke this weekend that the mayoress has been charged with prevaricacion, malversacion, fraude and falsedad documental (prevarication, embezzlement, fraud and falsification of documents) in connection with the town's cleaning and rubbish collection company, SOLIARSA.

Fiscalia (Public prosecutor's office) has demanded a prison sentence of five years, an eight-year ban on holding public office and a fine of 42,000 euros for both Fernandez and her pre-decessor as council leader, the PSOE (socialist) Maria Teresa Valdenebro. 

A Soliarsa refuse lorry [Diario Ronda]    

Reaction in Ronda

Fernandez has vigorously denied the charges and has vowed to defend herself. 

The mother of three children has significant health problems. The births of her three children have all been complicated.

Maripaz and me

I have known Maripaz Fernandez for 20 years. I like her as a person, but our politics do not coincide.

If she is found guilty, she must pay the price.

Whether Maripaz is found guilty or not, I would still question many of her recent decisions. She prefers vanity projects over more fundamental issues.

The mayoress poses on the Puente Nuevo in Ronda [Diario Ronda]    

There is a long list of questionable decisions taken by Ronda Council under her leadership:

• The construction of a new open-air swimming pool that only opens for three months a year!

     "White elephant" swimming pool [Photo: Ronda Today]

• The creation of a concrete park on Avenida de Malaga with no shade and no grass!

     Concrete park [Diario Ronda] 

• The construction of a a massive car park on a burial site to the south of the city.

• The building of a new road through virgin countryside to the west of Ronda.

• New "coloured pavements" in the Poligono Industrial.

I could go on …..

My opinion

Fernandez' time is up and so is that of the Partido Popular (PP). The People's Party is right of centre and like the Tories in the UK, is only interested in looking after the better-off in society.

Ronda is a wealthy town, yet it has areas of deprivation and the policies of the PP do nothing to improve the lot of the people living in these parts of town.

Building on fire in Ronda [101TV]    

© Pablo de Ronda

Acknowledgements (Photos):

101TV, Diario Ronda, Diario Sur, Ronda Today

Tags:

101TV, alcadesa de Ronda, ban on holding public office, car park on a burial site, cleaning and rubbish collection company, coloured pavements, concrete recreational park on Avenida de Malaga, council leader, criminal charges, Diario Ronda, Diario Sur, embezzlement, falsedad documental, falsification of documents, Fiscalia, fraud, fraude, malversacion, Maria de la Paz Fernandez Lobato, Maria Teresa Valdenebro, new road through virgin countryside, open-air swimming pool, PP, Partido Popular, PSOE, People's Party, Ronda, Pablo de Ronda, Paul Whitelock, prevaricacion, prevarication, prison sentence, Public prosecutor's office, Ronda Today, socialist mayor, SOLIARSA

"Space", the final frontier? The "Space Race"? "2001 A Space Odyssey"?

Nope! I'm talking about "outside space".

[Netflix]    

My "Space" History

Since I became an adult, the outside space available to me has fluctuated.

As a student

I lived in a Hall of Residence in Salford, in a grotty flat in Upper Kersal, Manchester, two flats with no outside space in San Sebastian (Guipuzkoa), a "Wohnheim" (a workers' hostel in Stuttgart, Germany), a bedsit in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, and a tower block with no balcony in Salford.

    Davy Hall, Salford [Flickr]                                              Briarhill Court, Salford [Reddit]

As a married working man

After I got married and started work, Jeryl and I got a mortgage to buy a semi-detached house in Walkden, Greater Manchester, which had tiny gardens front and rear.

Then in 1980 we bought a detached house on a corner plot in Thelwall, Cheshire. That had gardens all round the house. I could at last start gardening.

We stayed in that house for a quarter of a century until my wife and I split up and divorced.

For a while I lived in Bryn-Y-Maen, North Wales with my new girlfriend, Maude, in her cottage with a massive garden and a field.

After that relationship ended I had nowhere to live, so my mum took me in at the ripe old age of 57! She had a semi-detached bungalow on the south bank of the Manchester Ship Canal in Thelwall (qv).

The bungalow had gardens front and year, plus I "annexed" a chunk of MSC land, in common with most neighbours. I had an allotment there.

Then I bought a detached house on a large plot on the other side of the Ship Canal in Latchford, Warrington. I was retired by now, so had time to continue with my gardening activities. It was 2008.   

100 Wash Lane, Latchford [PW]

Spain

Pre-dating this my first wife, Jeryl, and I owned two properties in Ronda, Andalusia, Spain.

The first was a flat with a small terrace on the first floor, which we bought in 2001. The second was an end terrace house 50 metres away. We bought this in 2003 as a project, a "do-er up-per". That had a large private terrace with great views to the rear.

    Piso Blanco, Ronda [Photo: PW]

After our divorce I was left with the two Ronda properties.

Maude, the girlfriend from North Wales, also bought a little house in Ronda centre with a long garden to the rear. Since I was retired I was able to spend lengthy periods in the City of Dreams, finishing off my house in the barrio and doing up Maude's house and garden.

Then, in 2008 my life changed for ever - and for the better. I met Rita in Ronda. In fact last weekend was the 17th anniversary of that fateful meeting.

I emigrated at the end of 2008, to "live in sin" with my new German girlfriend in her house in Montejaque, near Ronda. From the outside space point of view we had a huge roof terrace and an internal patio and a small sitting area in front of the house.

After marriage in 2010, we also decided to move to a larger property with easy access and lots of land. That's what we got - a 3000 m2 plot laid to lawns and a 10,000 m2 field.

I let a neighbour, Juan Antonio use most of the field to grow hay for his horse to graze in the summer. My gardener Rafael has a sizeable huerta where he grows vegetables, and another neighbour, Mercedes, uses a small plot, also as a huerta.

Both "pay me" in fruit and veg, Merche also gives us eggs laid by her free-range chickens.

Managing the "space"

I undertook a major project this year to create more allotment space for fruit trees and vegetables. Also to furbish a "man cave" and to re-organise terraces and seating areas.

The expansion of my huerta is complete, and the terraces are ready. The "man cave", in a wooden shed at the bottom of the garden, still needs tidying up.

    Above photos by Paul Whitelock, except top left, by Karl Smallman

Links:

© Pablo de Ronda

Images:

Flickr, Karl Smallman, Netflix, Paul Whitelock, Reddit

Tags:

barrio, Casa Blanca, Flickr, Jeryl, Karl Smallman, Maude, Montejaque, Netflix, Pablo de Ronda, Paul Whitelock, Piso Blanco, Reddit, Rita, Ronda, Villa Indiana, www.help-me-ronda.com