Good news in Spain!

Oh, and I forgot to say, thanks Julie Ann for the perspective on those job titles - it makes you think, not everything is as we're led to believe.

I'm off - I've got an appointment with a bottle of Torro Loco red wine.

Redsam thank you soooooo much, yes things can and do go wrong in Spain, yes prices are high, yes there are shysters...but this also applies in every other country including England, BUT you can never take away the warmth of the people, their hilarious humour especially when trying out your spanish, I love them I have found more welcome here than wherever I have lived before..so viva espana

julie anne

my feelings also, and exactly the point I was trying to make. I feel we all want waste to be checked, and very high wages reduced for those who clearly don't deserve it, but when it comes to jobs, it's people's lives we are talking about not just numbers, and that's apart from the tax issue. Some of the 'non' jobs are probably more worthwhile than some pen pusher's sat on their fat ar*e's in offices earning a small fortune!!  The 'tonque-in-cheek' spin does set out to make it a joke, but there is another side.

Back to the thread title (más o menos) isn't this a bit like Plan E in Spain?  We've seen all sorts of new projects, which are creating work locally, some of which are bigger jobs than others.  Near us, they have dug up the cracked pavement near some old blocks of flats and replaced it with new paving stones.  They have built a new roundabout with a huge "sun dial" and added flashing lights for when it gets dark.  They have put slopes at the edge of pavements near crossings to make it easier for parents with prams and for pensioners with their shopping trolleys.  I think it is far better for people's self-esteem to give them a job to do rather than just handing out money and of course that experience should make it easier for them to get another job in the future.

Picking up on anthomo16´s comments.  This morning I was out walking our dog Lisa, and realised that she was not beside me.  Looking back, I spotted her playing with something so immediately called her over.  A guy out walking stopped and picked up what Lisa had been sniffing at, which I then realised was a fledgeling, and he carefully put it the other side of the fence.  Luckily the tiny bird seemed unharmed.  He then asked me if I was German (!!!) and when I told him I was English he shook my hand and started talking to me in English.  Apparently he worked in Kings Lynn for 3 years.  By the time we went our separate ways, I had a new best friend!  Definitely warm and friendly people here in Jumilla.

Sue

suemac

that's a nice story about the chick. Good job it was your dog that spotted it and not a cat!

I agree about the work situation,  there must be an incentive to work. Being paid more to sit around just doesn't make sense and does nothing for self esteem, health or experience to help find other work. If you are young'ish and healthy, I think there's often work for those who want it enough?

Bri-I watched the octopus this morning, it seemed a little uncertain and not quite convinced, it looked more like a Spain to win on penalties choice!! Paul, the octupus, has made 10 predictions on Germanys results and only been wrong once....when Spain beat Germany in Euro 2008, Paul picked Germany to win...perhaps Paul has seen the error of his ways!!

anthomo16-you are welcome and you echo my own feelings and expereinces.

We could have done with that octopus in goal for england for the USA game - I wonder what he's doing during the euro 2012 qualifying period

I think he'll just be an over paid celebrity with no real will to win by then.

..............come to think of it!

Great news Spain in the final. Sure to be some great parties tonight.

Good luck in the final.

What an octopus!!!!  Where did they get him????

 Will they use the Octopus to predict the final??????????? 

That should be interesting.

Pat 

Yes Spain in the final, I can see plenty of fiestas and Red Days coming up! 

Bri

Paul the Octopus was born in Weymouth, so should be ok to play for England in the Euro's and the next world cup if he's not been turned in to battered rings by then?. Look out Spain!

Great news - Paul, the octupus, today picked Spain to win the World Cup on Sunday!!

.........right then, I'll have sick squid on that

redsam- i am not in the uk, i'm still here! i am quite aware of and agree with what people enjoy about spain. i just don't go about acting like a stepford wife wearing rose coloured glasses, with my head in the sand.   i did my research, unlike most, it would seem, judging by the number of people who live as if they are still in uk, not legal in spain, not paying income tax on their pensions etc from uk. i do speak spanish;  unfortunately, what you read in theory is not carried out in practice.i have lived here 9 years and my opinions are based on my time here. no amount of sunshine or some cheery spanish folk or cheap veg( no cheaper or better than tescos uk) can make up for the problems and injustices some suffer.read the letter from a SPANIARD in this weeks costa blanca news letters page- it echoes what many ex pats think.

pitby-i have lived in singapore, and have seen mad driving, likewise in malta and india; that does not make appalling driving in spain acceptable.perhaps you have adopted the spanish way of driving...you know- non use of indicators,tailgating,not giving way, speeding as  the norm, the famous" parking in the most dangerous way competition",etc. if you think its delightful, no doubt an accident caused by some fool as mentioned before, maiming or killing  innocent passengers will not change your mind.

otivar- i have lived in other countries and i am realistic about spain- i love many of the things others love about it. when  some of the issues affect you, yu  will change your mind. i repeat-spain is good for holidays not for living in, and certainly not good for your stress levels!

camposol, last time I heard Singapore wasn't in the middle east!!!!!  We found the driving in Singapore very acceptable - which may, yet again, stress just how bad the driving is in the middle east!!

I haven't adopted any of the driving styles you refer to, but saw them every single time I got in the car in Dubai - as well as babies sitting on the laps of drivers whilst they were travelling along the highway!  Did you read about the 3yr old little boy who fell out of the backdoor of his parents 4x4 vehicle on the Abu Dhabi Road whilst travelling at about 150km, and not being strapped in, and was killed instantly by an oncoming car!!  One of many horrifying accidents that sticks in my mind - and then you have all the buses carrying labourers that overturned, caught on fire, killing hundreds .... I could go on!  Did you know Shkh Zayed highway has probably one of the highest fatality rates in the world per km?  Unfortunately, many of the accidents there don't get press coverage.

I reiterate, driving here is a pleasure compared to the UAE!  Ask my son - he hardly hears me cursing here!! 

pitby- i am just comparing driving in the rest of the world. there no way driving in spain can be described   as a delight or acceptable., unless you have a very low standard of driving!

Camposol, I have driven the length of the UK; from London to Munich and back; from Zurich to Nice and back; from Paris to Gibraltar and back; from Verona to Sorrento and back to Rome; not including the driving in Cairo and India (although I didn't drive in India, just a passenger!) or Thailand or Malaysia.

I am entitled to compare as I find and I find driving in Spain a delight!  In fact, even the crazy driving in Italy and even crazier driving in Egypt is better than driving in the UAE!  My opinion and I'm sticking to it, thank you!!  I love driving here!!

That doesn't mean I have a low standard of driving, it means that I find it pleasant driving here compared to what I have been used to over the last thirty years of driving!  Not for you to comment on my driving standard really! 

Hi, friends always ask me if the motorists in Spain drive like nutters, and I have to say that in my experience, the answer is no. Our house is in a village 15 mins inland, and on our trips to the coast and back, I'm often frustrated at how slow the locals drive. It's the complete opposite to what I was led to expect. Even on the motorway along the coast they are ok, although it gets a bit tense near Malaga because of the volumes and number of junctions joining.

Contrast that to the UK where people pull out of junctions in front of me without looking, the boy racers coming round corners well over the central line etc etc and I have to say theres not much in it, but I find the idea of bad drivers in Spain (at least my part) is just a cliche. Now drivers in Paris - oh my god - think wacky racers with their eyes shut.