Alfredos in San Pedro

Wow.

So some 'non-residents' - (I am loving the way we are already factioned: the click, the residents, the non-residents, the whiners, the moaners, the nit-pickers, the pool-nazis, the pool-libertarians, the pro-bridgers, the anti-bridgers, etc) - seem to feel that when they pop off home to the UK, leaving their houses spick and span, that it will stay that way for weeks and months on end with no effort/cost to themselves? Murcia is not Disneyland - it gets dirty and dusty and wet and windy. It is also a thriving ecomony, which means business continues even when you are not here - which means junk mail gets delivered.

Some of you may have bought holiday homes, but you have also bought a property, and  whether you choose to live in it, to rent it, or to leave it empty for months matters not a jot - it is yours to enjoy/profit from, but it is also your responsibility to maintain the property even if you are not in it. If you can talk neighbours into doing the odd good turn, then great, but if you can't, then you should be prepared to hire someone to clean it up for you every month or two at least.

This is ESPECIALLY true now - with building work and winter conditions. If you are still finding the concept of cleaning services difficult to understand, then think about the pool as an example - if we left the pool untended, it would deteriorate and quickly become an rancid eye-sore. So we - as a community who share ownership of the pool area - pay people to clean it on our behalf. This is a legal requirement. This applies to gardens and driveways in the same manner, the only difference is that you are solely responsible for your own property.

Those of you who are beginning to regret buying in Balsicas - because there is more to buying a house in Spain than signing a cheque - would equally regret buying a house in any village in any foreign country, I suspect. On the plus side, though, I doubt very much whether you regret your having bought in Balsicas as much as I regret your having bought in Balsicas.

Hasta luego!

Thank for explaining that to us all it is a lot clearer now sutch a superior person has explained it i am quite sure that all us lesser beings will immediately adjust our ways and follow your most enlightening of postings pleas pleas pleas try to spend more time hear in balsicas we all love you and you have made a real diference to peoples lives hear and we all cry when you leave again pleas return as soon as posible we all realy miss you and whant you hear so mutch your sutch a nice personxxxxxxxgoodbye for now your bigest fan

This message was last edited by diamond on 2/22/2008.

As a visitor to all these sites, i would like to make a comment to Yossar. You should begin your name with T instead of Y. You are a bit of an arrogant person.

At least diamond's criticism of my posting had some humour, and sarcasm is always appreciated by me. tomveron is a different, more depressing kettle of fish. So I will respond to this genius' posting first.

tomveron:

I don't agree with you. (I hope this doesn't come across to you as arrogance.) I have re-read my posting and I can't find any evidence of arrogance at all. I would argue that the point I was making about people having a responsibility to maintain their properties was/is a valid point and had nothing whatsoever to do with any sense of self-importance on my part.

You, like me, are entitled to your opinion, obviously, but insults are destructive and are not in the spirit of neighbourliness which most of us, I hope, are striving for.

Your posting is abusive and base. If childish remarks and insults are all you have to offer to the discussion, then I would ask you not to participate. Having been given a brief but revealing insight into your mentality, however, I imagine you will respond to this posting with a razor-sharp come back in the same style as your last. I, therefore, preempt you by simply saying "No I'm not: you are!"

Diamond:

I was mimicking your detailed explanation of democracy in the 'disaster' thread: imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. Sometimes it seems that some people don't understand certain concepts, and clarification might help them to see thing more clearly. One more thing: when I leave Balsicas, save your tears for when you read some of the more inane postings of your new neighbours (see above). But do keep posting, because discussion is the best way to come to a conclusion.

to let anyone who gives a toss a heads up: tomveron - very nobly - apologised privately for insulting me. as ever with stuff like this, i have  gained respect for him for being big enough to do so. so let's forget nonsense which comes from being human and try to sort out out issues as intellegent folk. oh - and i apologise for my sarcasm - tomveron has proved himself to be reactionary but reasonable. if i can help any of my neighbours, then simply ask - doesnt matter if you on my street or not.

 

x

Me and my partner are mere holiday home owners and appreciate we don't deserve the same rights as you permanent residents with regard to pool use etc and besides our six kids, three dogs, two cats and Nanna Elaine get bored staying in the same place all day so we propose to use the pool only on a tuesday between 11 and 12. I notify you of this because we have recently converted to Islam and the women are not permitted to be seen by anybody out of their traditional dress so we hope you have no objection to our family claiming sole use of the pool facilities during this time.

As we are now all becoming so friendly isn't it time we started some clubs/societies in Torre Alcantara so that the bond we have all formed can grow even stronger, perhaps a debating society!!! On this subject we propose to host regular "Swingers Parties" whenever we are over - we'll post details of the first one as soon as its confirmed.

With regards to the upkeep of our house when we're not there, if a stray crisp packet should creep under the gate or maybe a bird drops its you know what on our paving, could somebody please send us a message on this forum so we can immediately come over and rectify the matter, please whatever you do don't endanger yourselves and attempt a mindless rescue of the situation.

Anyway must go, heard rumours that the local council here are planning a village fair in a few weeks where everybody can have a good time and enjoy themselves, go on fairground rides and meet new friends - We can't have that I'm off to form a protest group or if that fails throw myself off the nearest bridge. Oh no can't do that either you've got to be careful of things being thrown off bridges! Ah well quiet night in then - hope the bloody neighbours don't play that rubbish dance music again tonight.

Bye

Hi Folks

Just a quick update, at the back of all this very entertaining and meaningful discussion I would like to inform you that we now have our official minutes book and community number etc, and I am at present meeting with our support company to sign official papers and open a bank account, all this info will be sent to you for reading/signing, also with this info will be pool rules and our Spanish community constitution,(Spanish law for all communities)

Ongoing  -after meeting with a company rep the pool wall will be marked with proper depths, life saving equipment supplied, notice board erected

So thats my weeks contribution

Colin (President)  

hi colin

 

thanks for the updated information

 

vincent

56 jose sanchez lozano

Hi Kevin and Corrine (and everyone else).

I'm a bit concerned that things seems to be getting a bit out of hand here.  At the meeting with the Administrator and the almost silent quota from Taray, the Administrator was not leaving that meeting, or calling it to a close until a Chairman, Vice-Chairman etc had been appointed.  I had a few proxy votes and I told them that I was not prepared to vote for anyone, at that time, because I had no idea who was throwing their hat into the ring for any position. I truly felt that a meeting should have been held firstly for those who were interested in these posts to introduce themselves to all and sundry but that was not to be the case.  The Administrator wanted it finalised on the day - she wasn't interested in any problems with our houses, the site, the problems with Taray - nothing - she just wanted the Community Council up and running so Colin was brave enough to put his name forward.  Now as a fellow scots who knows how aggravating Colin can be - because when  he gets the bit between his teeth he goes for it and so, possibly, we couldn't get a stronger Chairman but believe me, at the meeting, he was the only one who stood up and said "ok, I'll go for it" so lets give him a bit of slack.  I don't think it is particulary Colin's view about the upkeep of properties and, to be fair, if you think about it, why the hell would he say to folk "clean up your gardens/patios or else.   Obviously it must be in our deeds or somewhere else equally as important.  What happens with the front of some of the townhouses is that the wind whips up dirt and rubbish and yes, of course, you leave your property immaculate, because we all take a pride in our new homes, but the weather goes against us sometimes.  I, for one, have no problem with tidying up someone's front area, it's no big deal and, if we were to go away for a while, I would hope someone would do the same for us.

Regarding comments about Taray - I have to say I think I voiced a strong opinion at the meeting that I was extremely disappointed with Taray.  Without question they mislead us on a number of things - absolutely no doubt about it but the bottom line is - what we can we do about it?  Answer - not an awful lot.  We are on the front street looking on to the railway line - (a) we were told by Caira that there are one or two trains that "tootle" up and down the line - now how much of a lie, yes a lie, is that.  It's just completely untrue.  Again, the reason we bought our house where we did was because we were told we would have an open outlook on to a green area with an embankment at the railway line to hide the site and sound of the trains.  the embankment would be tree-lined and there would be seating for folk to sit and enjoy the green area.  Seems that is now not to be.  So they lied.  Wouldn't happen in Britain - but we must remember - this is not Britain - this is Spain and, basically, they seem to do what they please.  Promise us the earth, get the money off us and then do what they please.

Finally, having rabitted enough - give Colin a break.  He is working for us - all of us.  If you have a problem with anything - go to him and I  can bet my bottom dollar he will get it sorted for you and if he doesn't get it sorted he won't let it go until he does.  As you say it's  a thankless task but somebody had to do it.  Hat's off to Colin he took it on - I'm sorry but it wouldn't be me.

No, really finally, I'm (or we're) not part of what you are saying  are a "click".  We live on the front of the development, are all working and, unfortunately, don't have as much contact with folk as we did when we first arrived here.  At the meeting for the constitution I was amazed at the faces that were there and that I didn't know.

C'mon folks, keep smiling and enjoy your holiday home in the sun because they certainly are lovely homes and, if I can help anyone, albeit brushing out their front areas, don't be afraid to ask.

Cheers

 

Thank you teal, you’re a breath of fresh air.

 

This site is the main source of information most of us have.  All the anger and personal comments that have transpired lately have been very unfortunate and not very constructive or helpful.  Colin has our support, and thanks for taking on what has turned out to be very thankless task. I speak from time to time with carol, our key holder and she told me what went on at the meeting, we have been railroaded and a bit ‘shafted’ too, no doubt! But the sun will still shine and the wine will still taste good. The dust will settle and things will be fine. (I hope.)

Of course everybody has the right to a view or an opinion, we all have them! But can we please go back to using this forum as an amicable medium to speak to each other and convey information without the sarcasm and unnecessary confrontation. It would be beneficial for everybody.

 

I too will be more than willing to help out by keeping my neighbours front gardens tidy whilst I’m over there. 

Keith               

Yes Carrol we know you dident vote as you where sure that we would be aforded the time to organise and inform everyone first as you said in your previous post but that unfortunately dident happen do you know if we can have a copy of the minutes so we all know what whent on

I'm fairly certain the minutes are in the process of being sent to everyone that our Chairman has postal or e-mail details of so as to ensure that everyone knows exactly how the meeting went, any subsequent outcomes and the date of his next meeting.  I've been away for a couple of days and haven't had the chance to see Colin as yet but I would like him to push, on our behalf, for Taray to develop the area in front of us albeit short term.   If they're going to build on it in the future fair enough but i don't think it would cost much to put down some sort of surface, a couple  of benches and trees and then, once building commences down the line - rip the lot up! As has been mentioned before Taray have managed to put in leisure areas at San Cayetano and it's not nearly finished yet.  Considering the nonsense Taray told us (and also omitted to tell us) a wee bit PR wouldn't go amiss by giving all the residents of Torre Alcantara a little something back.

Hi People

I have just completed a meeting with the Taray rep this morning and one of the subjects was more completion on the front land so we will see what happens I think the main problem is we see it as a cosmetic excercise, and they see it as building land ! but the discussion is still going on 

I will have an update on several matters shortly as we are moving towards community status

colin

Hi People

Another update after observation and some feed back I felt that WE were not getting what we were paying for as far as pool maintenance was concerned, there has been debri both on the surface and on the bottom of the pool,for a while, and also after testing the water the PH,and the Chlorine were not as should be,  THEREFORE on your behalf I have brought in a new pool company, not only with a better spec contract, but a  good bit cheaper.

This company starts next week and my obligation to you all is that I will monitor over this year to make sure the standard in the  contract is the standard we are getting

Colin Weir 

Hey Colin,

We would like to personally thank you for acting (and fighting) on our behalf with regards to Taray and all the other issues that we never have to worry about.

With regards to the pool issue - good on you for just going ahead and sorting things out, thats what we need - a doer not a talker.

Kind regards

Graeme & Sherry

75 Jose Sanchez Lozano