Little Britain

[Chrisdee]

Some of my family live in Almeria, they live in such a pretty place, they have a large finca, lots of land with olive, almond and fruit trees, they have their own swimming pool and there are little white houses scattered about in the hillsides, I would say it's the 'Real Spain' but when you go for a swim, you get covered with flies, they seem to stick to you, it's really horrible. They haven't got a shop within walking distance, the nearest is about a mile and a half away, buses stop about once every other day, it's a lovely place to dump dogs that you don't want, hence they have a few now. It's what you like, that certainly wouldn't be to my liking. I quite like a concrete jungle, ok, maybe not so much but beggers can't be choosers. I'm near to everything, the shops, the beach, the hospitals, the doctors and I can close my front door and not get involved with people I don't want to.

[phat wheels]

John 73 (#55)

Blimey, you were up early, (or was it very late?) penning your reply to my comments about care received in Torre's new hospital. I would be happy to engage in a debate with you as to weather or not vegetarians should be allowed to breed, however this doesn't seem quite the right thread for that. In my case, the point would be mute, having already donated two further vegetarians to the world, who in turn have (so far) donated two more vegetarians - all as healthy as horses, thank you.

[Mick94]

Regarding my earlier posting, I received good medical treatment but no food for a couple of days but I am not going to complain about it, it is just an observation.

[the falconer]

well you aint ,
muppet head

[NickyK1]

I had an operation recently in Torrevieja Hospital. The medical staff were first class. My condition was not life threatening. I had a personal room, with a bed for my "partner" I informed my partner that I was not Ill, it was just an orthopaedic procedure, so go home. I was therefore looked after by a very caring and professional Spanish nursing staff. My experience was to say first class. So to those that "LOL" before you have "opinions", experience Spanish NHS!!!!!!!

In the past few years I lost a good friend who was only 50 years. Yes he was a smoker, but what got him was MRSA, of course this was in the good old U.K. This particular hospital is one of New Labours, less beds, more economy!!!! Less spent. How NICE it is to live in the U.k.

[sunshinegal]

I am not saying this is good or bad but you asked for comments and this is what I've heard today:-
The French Education minister today announced that as all business is conducted basically in English all the French will now learn English.

I agree that in BUSINESS a universal language makes things a lot clearer, but the fact that the people in their own country are being forced to speak a foreign language because there are people living there too ignorant to learn the language of the country that they have chosen to live in is beyond belief.

[Chrisdee]

I agree that in BUSINESS a universal language makes things a lot clearer, but the fact that the people in their own country are being forced to speak a foreign language because there are people living there too ignorant to learn the language of the country that they have chosen to live in is beyond belief.

They are not being forced into anything, nobody is making the Spanish speak English, it's entirely up to them.

[sunshinegal]

They are not being forced into anything, nobody is making the Spanish speak English, it's entirely up to them.

They're not being directly forced, but in a country that has a huge number of immigrants, I for one have found that many jobs wouldn't consider hiring someone unless they speak at least English and Spanish, and sometimes even that's not good enough. Therefore in order to be able to earn a decent wage they are forced to speak a foreign language - and not for the tourists, who normally are ok to pay for a translator, no it's for the ignorant people who move to a country and then demand that the services they use be provided in English, instead of the language of the country that they are living in, and where that's not possible their favourite complaint is that they should get a free translator.

In England, I have never gone anywhere that has no staff who can competently speak the English language, and there are constant compaints that in England we pamper the immigrants too much, providing free translation, health care etc... and a lot of those complaining about the pampering of immigrants move to Spain to find its a country that completely agrees with them - the English won't get wrapped in cotton wool, but then lo-and-behold there's complaints regarding that. So whole areas are forced to learn English and keep their earning potential or lose out to a bunch of colonialists who move to another country to cultivate it and create another 'Little Britain'.

Yes there are exceptions, but are these people not the exceptions which prove the rule? I have spent 5yrs here, working with Spaniards and making a huge effort to speak their language and integrate. I love living in Spain and am proud to have made such an effort, I don't limit my friends to English speaking people, I don't limit my social contacts to English Bars and restaurants... and I would do the same in ANY country that I go to.

Keep hold of your roots, but not at the expense of your new home country.

[tangobrian]

Today my neighbours and I saw local planning officers taking photographs and making lots of notes of housing alterations in our area.
According to a spanish neighbour they will be asking to see if a license was issued and paid for the building work etc.
We think that a license can be paid for in retrospect rather than an immediate fine (unless the works are something that would not be considered in the first place).
They also said something about photographs being taken from low flying planes.
Yes, I have noticed a couple of light planes buzzing overhead in the last two weeks.
Methinks , the cowboy days of Spain are coming to an end !!!!
Perhaps it will be little Britain in the future . ?
Payment for everything , everything needs a license , tax this, tax that .

[Chrisdee]

Today my neighbours and I saw local planning officers taking photographs and making lots of notes of housing alterations in our area.
According to a spanish neighbour they will be asking to see if a license was issued and paid for the building work etc.
We think that a license can be paid for in retrospect rather than an immediate fine (unless the works are something that would not be considered in the first place).
They also said something about photographs being taken from low flying planes.
Yes, I have noticed a couple of light planes buzzing overhead in the last two weeks.
Methinks , the cowboy days of Spain are coming to an end !!!!
Perhaps it will be little Britain in the future . ?
Payment for everything , everything needs a license , tax this, tax that .

I've seen the Ayuntamiento man in his little white van around my area 3 times taking pictures, (in the past 3 years, probably been around more but I haven't been here to see it) so far the people who have put conservatories up which includes a roof have all received letters to say take them down. None of them have and the letters were sent 2 years ago approx. Apparently, if you have a conservatory added to your house and you put a roof on it, that is classed as extra living space and you should get permission and pay extra Suma. The planes are probably taking pictures to see who has pools and who has permission to have them. You cannot just put a pool in, you need a licence for that too.

[phat wheels]

[/QUOTE]

Methinks , the cowboy days of Spain are coming to an end !!!!
Perhaps it will be little Britain in the future . ?
Payment for everything , everything needs a license , tax this, tax that .[/QUOTE]


Yeah but...will the Spanish themselves roll over to this, like the British 'at home' have? Will they allow themselves to be treated (and punished) like naughty children? Oh how I hope not!!!

[tangobrian]

Methinks , the cowboy days of Spain are coming to an end !!!!
Perhaps it will be little Britain in the future . ?
Payment for everything , everything needs a license , tax this, tax that .[/QUOTE]


Yeah but...will the Spanish themselves roll over to this, like the British 'at home' have? Will they allow themselves to be treated (and punished) like naughty children? Oh how I hope not!!![/QUOTE]

Big brother in the name of the E.U. is gradually controlling everything.
Valencia government is being taken to court by the E.U ,regarding the land grab issue.
These changes are applied gradually , not in one big swoop.
Just like Mr Brown's stealth taxes back in the U.K !!!!!

[Mick94]

"Big brother in the name of the E.U. is gradually controlling everything.
Valencia government is being taken to court by the E.U ,regarding the land grab issue.
These changes are applied gradually , not in one big swoop.
Just like Mr Brown's stealth taxes back in the U.K !!!!!"

I firmly believe in centralised EU governance if it means that the European Courts have the ability to deal with issues such as the Valencian LRAU land grab issue. I expect all those who have lost out would agree.

[tangobrian]

"Big brother in the name of the E.U. is gradually controlling everything.
Valencia government is being taken to court by the E.U ,regarding the land grab issue.
These changes are applied gradually , not in one big swoop.
Just like Mr Brown's stealth taxes back in the U.K !!!!!"

I firmly believe in centralised EU governance if it means that the European Courts have the ability to deal with issues such as the Valencian LRAU land grab issue. I expect all those who have lost out would agree.

That's just the point I am making.
The E.U. want conformity from the member states.
This means everything eventually.
We cannot sympathize with those involved in the Valencia land grab ( and I do) and then complain when other E.U. regulations are introduced that effect
things like our TV .
It's all or nothing !!!

[bombero]

That's just the point I am making.
The E.U. want conformity from the member states.
This means everything eventually.
We cannot sympathize with those involved in the Valencia land grab ( and I do) and then complain when other E.U. regulations are introduced that effect
things like our TV .
It's all or nothing !!!

I quite agree with you over the "all or nothing" statement and whilst i have every sympathy for those that have lost out in the land grab there must be some sort of uniformity in the rules and regulations that govern the member states which includes the broadcast of tv images.