Month: May 2012

Almanzora motorway work stops after the construction company goes bust

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Work on the Almanzora motorway has officially stopped as Detea, the company building the 15km connection between the A7 and Purchena has gone bust after failing to renegotiate a 40 million euro loan. The company is also working on a further 25km stretch of the motorway, and the 1km connection between Albox industrial park and the motorway. Work on all three sections has stopped. Banks refused to extend loans to the company due to the Continue reading Almanzora motorway work stops after the construction company goes bust→

Tea with the President

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I’ve been “cordially invited” * to meet the (unelected) President of Andalucía Jose Antonio Griñán this Thursday, which is nice. The Mayor popped her head round the door of the bar this morning, having spotted me taking coffee and a tostada inside, and said that she’d just received confirmation that he’d be in town on Thursday, and was keen to meet some local businesspeople, and would I care for the honour. The subtext, of course, Continue reading Tea with the President→

Queen Elizabeths cousin in local hospital after falling in Los Gallardos

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Margaret. Rhodes the 86 year old cousin and intimate friend of Queen Elizabeth is in hospital at Huercal Overall after suffering a fall whilst staying in Alfaix, Los Gallardos. She recently had a hip op and doctors say she is fine but under observation. She is said to be in fine spirits, and also in room 310 according to la voz.

Spain goes pop as bankia and catalunya go under

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Fears of a Spanish bail-out escalated after its wealthiest region asked the central government to help pay its bills and the country’s fourth largest bank asked for a €19bn (£15bn) taxpayer rescue. Government borrowing costs soared after the Catalan President Artur Mas told reporters: “We don’t care how they do it, but we need to make payments at the end of the month. Your economy can’t recover if you can’t pay your bills.” His comments Continue reading Spain goes pop as bankia and catalunya go under→

Why is Spain so much more expensive than the UK for some things?

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So I’ve been trying to buy some asset tags, for a little “project” of mine. These are those durable little metal stickers with a barcode and a number on them, which you stick on things to prove they’re yours, and associate them to an inventory list. Lots of companies use them. Anyway. The cheapest I can find in Spain which meet my requirements, are around 350€ + IVA+pp per one hundred. In the UK? The Continue reading Why is Spain so much more expensive than the UK for some things?→

Large fire behind Cuevas burns 170 ha of scrub

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A large fire yesterday afternoon burnt around 170 ha of scrub, up in the Sierra de Almagro hills behind Cuevas dam, extending towards Huercal Overa. Infoca, the forest fire people, put it out by about midnight, using seven fire teams, several pumps and a helicopter. No other damage was reported. Here’s a video of the helicopter picking up water to put the fire out:

Spain to close up to 30 state-run airports

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Spain is to partially close 30 of the nation’s 47 state-run airports in an attempt to reduce the costs of its “white elephants” built throughout the nation during the boom years. Some of the airports have no scheduled flights yet are fully staffed and operational in what has come to symbolise the reckless public spending projects that have left Spain crippled with debt. Now the ministry of industry and AENA, the state-run company that controls Continue reading Spain to close up to 30 state-run airports→

I’ve been told to throw Eurovision, admits Spanish entry

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Pastora Soler, Spain’s entry into this years Eurovision, has stunned Spain after she admitted that Television España bosses have pleaded with her not to win this year, as they can’t afford to stage it next year. “It’s very expensive, and until we get over this economic problem, Spain can’t put on such a grand spectacle” she told ABC Punto Radio in a shock interview. “It’s alright for Azerbaijain, they can afford it. We can’t. Both Continue reading I’ve been told to throw Eurovision, admits Spanish entry→

Guardia Civil ask for Navy reinforcements in Gibraltar standoff

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The Guardia Civil have said that they cannot protect Spanish fishermen against the “aggression” of Gibraltar, backup by the Royal Navy, and as such have asked for the Spanish Navy to help protect them. The Guardia Civil said in a statement that it is a question of “David against Goliath… we have a 12 metre long patrol boat armed with one machine gun, they have a 70 meter long armed frigate of the Royal Navy, Continue reading Guardia Civil ask for Navy reinforcements in Gibraltar standoff→

Mojácar bowling green construction to start soon, claims local club

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The following is a press release from the Mojácar bowls club (formerly La Mata BC). Frankly, I’m surprised, as only a few months ago I was talking to the técnico from the Diputación who was in charge of designing the plans, who claimed this would never go ahead due to lack of funds, but if RosiMari is willing to pay for it out of townhall funds, so much the better I suppose. The townhall voted Continue reading Mojácar bowling green construction to start soon, claims local club→