Economic situation in Spain

Hi Normansands - I don't know what you mean by 'wildly wonderful'. I am a pensioner but have good friends around. I suppose the wildest things we do are having extended menu del dias' in good cheap Spanish restaurants. Other than that I have quite a few children and grandchildren who visit frequently when it is warm. I don't receive the heating allowance from the UK as I was just under 60 when I arrived and now I am over 65 they still won't pay it? How unfair is that? And that's the UK that seems to provide for everyone in the world. I think it's just a state of mind. If you have peace of mind you are happy. If you are materialistic then you will probably never be happy. Getting back to Spain there is not a lot I can do. I couldn't afford to go back to the UK if I wanted to. Spain is in a mess like most European countries. Some things really make you laugh. The local PP party gave permission for a huge commercial centre near the AP7 motorway exit at La Zenia - Costa Blanca. Work started and there is a beautiful car park and all the parking spaces have been painted. Only problem is they haven't even started the commercial centre yet and I think it will be some time before they do. What do you do? Laugh or cry? Well I think it is a hoot.. I sometimes wonder if the Spanish know what they are doing. They have built a huge desalinisation plant in Torrevieja but they forgot they needed a suitable electric supply and an inlet and outlet to the sea so it has been delayed 2 years. So before you think they couldn't organise a booze up in a brewery - look at the Valencian medical care. Once you have a SIP card it is absolutely first class. The new hospital in Torrevieja is amazing. My username is from being a pilot and flying the A320 so I upgraded myself to the A380. After the incident in Singapore with Qantas, maybe that wasn't a good idea. Anyway cheer up and Feliz Navidad.

Fly380,

You made my night with your light hearted banter. A hilarious insight but sadly this is not a comedy sketch but real life. Talking of which have you ever considered a second income as a comedic writer? I'd buy a ticket to your show..

Before I get told off by Norman for being too jovial (only teasing Norman), I'll end by saying keep smiling all and let's stay united in our mission (nearly put mission impossible but I refuse to accept this.)

HI Fly380,

thanks, good reading, but what a cheek wanting heat subsidy out there, I suppose you would like a subsidy in the summer too for the air conditioning?

The wife and I went out to a late lunch today, to eat and to get warm, our heating goes off at 10 and the place cools down pretty quick with 3or4 degrees outside, we load the thermals on but still by twelve we are ready to give in.

The car warmed up fairly quickly and we dithered and lingered over some wine as an aperitif, we had a good table backing a radiator and spent more time chatting than we normally do in the warm, after some persuasive looks from the waitress we eventually accepted a menu and pretended to deliberate for a little longer. We studied the writing from every direction and finally chose the carvery option which of course we knew we would from the outset. We managed to delay things a little further by ordering a second round of wine and stalling at the back of the queue to pay and get our tickets. They cost £5.27 each to include Xmas pud for me and unlimited help yourself dairy ice cream for the wife.

We had gammon and beef with unlimited veg, all was excellent except the brussels which were too ardente but there was plenty of choice.

We stretched it and the wine as long as we could but finally gave in only to order coffees for £2.58 a pair.

That lasted for a while and we eventually arrived home 20 mins after the heating had clicked on.

Hows that for a wild day?

I bet that beats your menu del dia though I don't suppose you have to pay £2.50 for a glass of wine.

Try it at Crown Carveries

Regards

Norman

Norman,

 Occasionally we use Wetherspoon's in St Annes on Sea, and a few weeks ago we had two plates of  freshly battered cod with chips, garden peas, bread and butter and a cup of tea or coffee each, it was the meal offer of the day.  The fish was very good and was served with lemon and a pot of tartare sauce- just as I like it. 

We also had a pint of Foster's for my husband and a medium size dry white wine for me, all for  the brilliant price of £11.60!!   

We also use Toby carveries which do a similar menu to the one you described and specialise in huge Yorkshire puddings. My favourite part of the meal is the selection of beautifully cooked vegetables, particularly the roast parsnips!!

Both companies have comfortable and clean premises and their  staff training is such that these days the service is pleasant and friendly.

If we could only  arrange that glorious Spanish sunshine as well!! 

on the carvary front i am lucky as monroes carvary in mororia is owned by the same people that owned my local carvary so when i come out i know i can get a good old carvary if i get bored of all the beautiful food on offer from the mediteranian resaurants

Sandra,

you are right the yorkshires are a family favourite but being something of a pig, still having the appetite of an active man in the cold, I have to avoid them. The cranburry sauce seemed to be just sweet cranberries and I could not help speculating, if I filled the yorkshire with cranberries and took it to the ice cream tap for a topping, plus a final topping of drizzled chocolate?

How good would that be and all for free.

Next time perhaps.

Wetherspoons is also very good but variable in Herne Bay, though any complaint is dealt with generously without question, it is not a favourite as the restaurant area is a bit spartan, Canterbury has two much better furnished.

Dartboy

a taste of the familiar is often a pleasant change, we spend some time holidaying in France and enjoy the food though it has deterioted significantly over the years, with MacDonalds in every town it seems, but after a week or so I often relish just a plate of egg and chips - peasant that I am.

Slightly less cold today but raining and pretty miserable.

Regards

Norman

I think I've logged into the wrong site I thought it was the econmic situation one. Sorry Norman

Now now Haydn, live up to your avatar, lol!

Everyone .. well most .. is being very decent to each other as you must see. Join in if you can!

Sorry,

I was but responding to the menu del dia point on this chit chat forum.

to get back to economics how do we attempt to protect ourselves at all if the pundits are right and the euro is doomed?

I note that our new multi-millionaire in no. 10 is after degrading my pension somewhat according to our staff mag and they surely must stop sending winter fuel payments abroad to the sun.

Regards

Norman

 Fly380

Sorry you're still having trouble with your development.  Has TU actually stopped trading now?  It took us 7 years to get the escritura but we were unaware we didn't have it until 4 years or so after we'd bought.  Our neighbours had theirs but they used the bank for a mortgage and got them straight away.  Us cash buyers were left in the dark by the solicitors as we hadn't realised TU had not paid off the mortgage they took out on the land.  We got there in the end.  What I couldn't understand was all the talk about LFOs and not having mains electric and water etc until this was issued.  We had these utilities on a couple of years before we knew the problem with the escritura and no LFO being issued.

Problem is, those who come on an start talking about taking action, signing this, signing that etc don't realise the problems we (and you still are) went through and the actions we had to take to get it sorted out.  The other problem, of course, was our solicitors being bent (although they kept telling us they were fighting our side which, to be fair, I think they were at the end) and not informing us of what was happening.

It was all so different with my house.  We picked our own (independent) solicitors and used the bank for a 25% mortgage.  The signing at the notary was like a meeting at the chamber of commerce with the solicitors, the bank, the agents, the developers etc all represented and the professionalism from using Atlas and Aroca was such a marked difference.  Every bit of paperwork was presented and went through with a fine tooth comb.  Deeds (not a copy of the power of attorney which was all Atlas presented), LFOs, boletins and you name it, everything discussed and produced.  Electric and water switched on before the bank would allow us to take the keys, a rep from the developers to do the snagging (and she picked up stuff I hadn't even notice, although all minor). Such a difference.

Hope it all works out on your side of the road soon.  I'm not sure if the flats on our side of the road have been done yet as I noticed they still had a big water pipe in the road which suggests they are still on builders supply.  At least you've now got a few extra bars and restaurants there including the chippy just up the road and the other complex up the top of the hill which appears to be coming on in leaps and bounds.  Best of luck.

 I note that our new multi-millionaire in no. 10 is after degrading my pension somewhat according to our staff mag and they surely must stop sending winter fuel payments abroad to the sun.

I dont know whether this was meant to be inflammatory but it certain came across that way?????

It was -2 this morning when i scraped my car windscreen here!!

I am nowhere near retirment age but i think that any retiree that has paid into the UK system and sought to find a better life in Spain should be able to get theses payments, especially in these cold 3 months?

Maybe benefit cuts should be issued elsewhere on people that only came to the country looking for it in the first place ?

Georgia

It just seems daft to me that someone should move to warmer climes and then want to claim benefit as though they had stayed, totally daft.

You are either warmer there or not

you cannot possibly sustain it while those remaining here are having there wages and pensions cut or even losing their jobs altogether, it makes no sense at all.

come to think of it neither should those moving to the North Pole claim extra.

Cuts are unpleasant wherever they fall, but if necessary!!!!!!!!!

Regards

Norman

 Totally disagree Norman,sorry.

You pay into a system to reap the rewards not to forfeit this when the weathy have totally screwed up the economy and now want to take it out on the less fortunate.

Cut bankers basic wage from £700,000 per year and make the savings that way.

You would probably find it harsh if they started means testing and saying that because you had and then lost 100,000+ through no fault of your own then you can afford your own fuel bills and do not need assistance?

The same freedom of movement that allows every Tom dick or Harry to arrive in the UK to sponge should allow honest hardworking retirees to move to anywhere they wish and still receive their hard earned.

I know we are suffering freakish overspill weather from the North and it wont last but it is very cold here today even though its bluesky and sunny.

disagree?

If you've paid taxes into the country for 50 years whats the problem? You don't give up your rights just to please the millionaires.

650 OR SO MPS ALL WITH BIG PENSIONS WHERE'S THE JUSTICE?? 

Sorry about being led into the posts  like this but Norman has a chip on his shoulder,and it's hurting plenty of people

Hi bobaol - I think you were lucky that you got your Escatura. TU have deserted the area leaving all those nice unfinished villas on the road to decay. We got together to organise electric and everyone paid in 550 euros to be connected. Of course we had already paid TU - robbing bastards! It took a year to get permission from the townhall. They wanted a 12,000 euro bond in case the damaged pavement was damaged! We managed to get round that with the help of Los Verdes. 3 weeks ago the contractors turned up and dug up the pavement leaving a long trench for the mains cable then they disappeared so it looks a right old mess now but they have said we will be connected to the mains by the end of Jan but silly us forgot to ask which year.

Anyway another little joke about the economy - don't get upset Normansands.

It is the month of April, on the shores of the Black Sea . It is raining,
and the little town looks totally deserted. It is tough times, everybody is
in debt, and everybody lives on credit.
Suddenly, a rich tourist comes to town.

He enters the only hotel, lays a 100 Euro note on the reception counter, and
goes to inspect the rooms upstairs in order to pick one.

The hotel proprietor takes the 100 Euro note and runs to pay his debt to the
butcher.
The Butcher takes the 100 Euro note, and runs to pay his debt to the pig
grower.

The pig grower takes the 100 Euro note, and runs to pay his debt to the
supplier of his feed and fuel.

The supplier of feed and fuel takes the 100 Euro note and runs to pay his
debt to the town's prostitute that in these hard times, gave her "services"
on credit.
The hooker runs to the hotel, and pays off her debt with the 100 Euro note
to the hotel proprietor to pay for the rooms that she rented when she
brought her clients there.
The hotel proprietor then lays the 100 Euro note back on the counter. At
that moment, the rich tourist comes down after inspecting the rooms, and
takes his 100 Euro note, after saying that he did not like any of the rooms,
and leaves town.

No one earned anything. However, the whole town is now without debt, and
looks to the future with a lot of optimism.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how the Government is doing business
today

Well I can't explain it. Maybe that's how the worlds' economies run.

I had to laugh last night. As you know bobaol we are on the border of Orihuela Costa and San Miguel De las Salinas. Well San Miguel who every year give their pensioners a Xmas hamper, have put up Xmas lights on their side of the road. Nothing on our side of course from Orihuela. It's going to look strange when they turn them on tonight.





 

Georgia,

we are talking about a special targeted benefit, not exactly earned by contribution

it is an anomoly that it was ever given

as to where the cuts should fall, I am sure we could agree they wont be fair or just

I am currently sitting in front of the computer, with coat and hat on waiting for the afternoon switch on and I am in the sunny south-east (ha ha).

My supplement was spent long ago

But comparisons are odious, I would hate to be much further north.

Regards

Norman

Norman - it was 1C here last night here and due to be 0C tonight. I too am sitting here in front of my computer in my winter coat. The houses are not insulated and just about the same teperature inside as outside. I won't light my gas fire till I get back from the pub as it gives off so much moisture. Of course we don't have carpets either. OK it can be warm in the winter sometimes but the nights are usually very cold.

Good one Norman you are a star pay the Scots up north double. Duel standerds?

 And I'll stop my wife claiming the WFA when the UK government stops taxing my pensions.