Madrid Teacher

Having just read that Cherylgate has ended , this was about a spat between Lily Allen and Cheryl tweedy from Girls Aloud, I was wondering what *gate* is in Spanish in relation to a scandal. I tend to christen all the work politics scandals a gate such as kettlegate and poogate.

Now it seems that Watergate was the first and truly one of the last political scandals that was a gate, and the word has become part of celebrity linguistics but it would be interesting to know.

I remember hearing once that Portillo means littlegate in Catalan, so maybe a small scandal could be called a Portillo or a Michael.

Visit to the Vets:

The vet said that we have to shave Novas hair off for summer, we think that she will end up looking like a canine version of Mr Biggles in Austin powers

A while ago I blogged about Spanish tin openers and how I couldn´t see how they were supposed to function, my latest bafflemento is how is a person supposed to clean a car using a vacum cleaner in a petrol station.
There is a funnel linked to a machine however the funnel is about 10 centimetres in diameter which makes it impossible to clean anywhere in the car except the seats and the pedals. My ciggy ash deposits itself down the side of the seat next to the brake handle etc.. So using this piece of (what can best be described as reverse sandblasting equipment)tube it is impossible to reach the places where the irritating dirt is. I had to sit down on the floor and blow between the seats looking like some coke addict on saturday night in town. Does anybody know of any cheap car valets?

Labels: Alcala, technology

The green english speaking chicken didn´t win here in Alcala and to be honest I really can´t understand why, obviously people like the extra traffic, fumes, dust and new buildings popping up every hour on the hour.

The mayor patted me on the back in the voting station and I didn´t have the heart to tell him I wasn´t voting for him, but my colleague at work told me that he got in anyway.

The voting system is amazing here, it was very different in Valencia a few years ago. The voting forms were laid out on a table so anybody could see the list you picked up before placing them in the envelope. Also finding the room where I supposed to vote turned into a trek around the school. Still it was nice to be part of something important, and I am sure that in four years time, when we have to walk around Alcala in face masks with automatic asthma inhalers while dodging traffic looking for the last tree, the green chicken will win.



There´s space for at least two blocks of flats and a road here.

Labels: Politics

The company that sounds a bit like the one above are a bunch of thieves. They take your money for buying a printer, then you pay for a guarentee and then they do nothing when it breaks, it costs 30 cents a minute to ring them, they pass you more times then a ball in the UEFA cup final, then do absolutley nothing. I am taking it to my local PC shop and pay for it fixing again. Plus all this takes you 4 months to end up in the same position as you were before i.e. with a printer which doesn´t work. Grrr Grrrr Grrrr Grrr I hate them.

Companies who I would love to see go bankrupt:

Sleazy jet
Spewlet Slackard
A certain cafe in Plaza Mayor

And if any of the owners of these excuses of organizations came to me for English lessons after they go bankrupt I would say yes then teach them french or something.

Labels: economics

Myself and a friend visiting from Valencia had a real pheonix nights garlic bread moment. Pizzas in a cone. A cone with a pizza. I was about to say only in Spain and then we spotted a sign for franchises which said that they are already available in the UK, and they were designed by an Italian.

You probably couldn´t write a restaurant review of them, but they seemed popular one couple next to us were eating six of them. What will they think of next yorkshire puddings on a lolly stick?

Labels: life in spain

I am going to seriously be dissappointed with the weather devil. He seems to have spent all year in the Madrid Community, with only a few days break. Notes from Spain discusses the weather

Still I have felt really English at work discussing the weather.

The rain is a good excuse to visit museums and shopping centres (something we never do in Summer)

Interesting story on BBC : US 'sex addict' sues over firing

Found this about the Greatest Spaniards

Labels: life in spain

I have enjoyed this Spanish election, because the last time I voted in Spain I was influenced by the Americas Cup, so I voted PP in Valencia (probably a big mistake). This time we both decided long ago that we would vote Green, and yesterday I found an extra reason for placing my cross next to them, well two reasons really. One the Greens candidate in Alcala anglicanised name is Julius Caesar (one of my favourite historical figures), secondly because yesterday while in carrerfour, a man dressed as a chicken came up, although in Spanish I always say duck after several times I have pronounced Pollo the wrong way, I once informed R´s mum that I really really love cock, and the Duck man spoke English. Who could not vote for a English speaking green duck? I must admit though, I did feel a bit guilty driving past them when leaving the store pumping who knows what into the air.

My friend Alison also saw the Chicken in the Plaza los Santos Niños in Alcala (click here)


Los verdes website
Apart from environmental concerns the Greens sign is a Sunflower, my friends in valencia own a bar called Girasol on Calle Turia, its the best bar in valencia, so if you are there call in say hello to Nicolas and have a smoke ( they sell tea as well. Super).



Seriously, it has been amazing to see how blogsphere in Spain has viewed the elections. I think it shows that Spain has made people welcome and people feel attachment to the country in such a way that they want to partake in the political process to build a better Spain.

Labels: life in spain, Politics

We went to our first fiesta this summer last last. We are fiesta groupies. Every town village and city has fiestas throughout the year but the summer ones are the best, they are free mini open concerts. It is not that we are cheapskates but R seems to have family in at least 1 out of every ten villages ( a slight exaggeration but not by much), so we feel it is our duty to go. Last night we saw Soraya (cheated out of winning OT two years ago). She has a brilliant voice and is much more prettier in real life than on the tele. An added benefit for me was that most of her act was in English, she used to be an air hostess and I was saying to R that when we are old duffers she will still be around and we can foxtrot to her in the Plaza in the Alcala fiestas like the pensioners do now to pasadobles. The photos came out dodgy again.

These fiestas are a great way to see bands and singers upclose, and if not alergy striken by the tons of pollen in the air, you can try local food and enjoy the particular customs which apply to the town or village.

My favourite fiestas are what I call the daddy of them all, Fallas. I believe that once you have seen this none can match. I lived through three of them in valencia and have yet to feel the same about any other, my joint favourite in the Romeria in Menjibar in Jaen, this is R´s village. There is a fun fair, loads of booze and food and Andalucian people. It isn´t as extravagant and camp as Fallas, but it encapsulates, fun, spirituality and friendship all in a period of a few days.

Labels: life in spain

Watched the X factor last night. Why is it that the entrants always seem to shed a load of tears whether they pass through to the next round or not? Spain is without doubt an emotionally charged experience and I tend to release my emotions much more than I did in the UK. You only have to watch saturday night television to see a catharsis of built up pressures from the rich and famous, and a visit to Andalucia or the local Ahorra Mas will provide a window of everyday purging of people feelings.

Last night several contestants seemed to breakdown once they were informed of the results, my main thought was that those who didn´t pass fell into the following catgories,,,,,,,, 1. they couldn´t sing, 2. they dressed like prostitutes who have no style and 3. they looked like people who nick lead from Church roofs. Those who did pass, well , looked like the contestants on OT. However my favourite who demonstrated that bad style and emotional breakdowns can lead to some success, they are what is best described as a cross between fat man but with female private parts ( I know that she is a woman because they said nerviosa), she was great, they told her she dressed like a grungy meth ( my bit of artistic license but I am sure that what the judges meant in a round a bout way) but she went to the next round. When I track down her name she will be my favourite to win, she might do it the McManus girl won pop idol in the UK.




How bloody scary is that judge on the left??? He looks like the Joker

Labels: tele

Some monsters who call themselves Alcala Habitable two days ago put a poster on the door of our building, Informing us not to be ostriches. I read further, it told us basically that immigrants are bad and indiginous population are good, and I assume that they believe Alcala would be a much nicer place to live if immigrants all left. Do these people not understand the irony of the fact that the reason Alcala is HABITABLE is because of immigration, the buildings, the growing economy , the new fushion of cultures. If they would have bothered in look further into the inhabitants of our building, there is a real mix of cultures, no problems, and now the idiot neighbours next door have gone, everyone is friends again. Needless to say I ripped the poster down and will definately not be voting for them.

The PP theme tune is really irritating me now, I would have thought handing out leaflets quitely and explaining the issues to the voters face to face might be more successful in helping them get their vote out. The Council did find time to clean the pirates mask that had been drawn on Esperanza in the park, her picture in the bus stop has a speech bubble now but my linguistic skills do not stretch as far as scribble, so I will never know the political intentions of the culprits. Maybe it was a couple of biddys waiting for the bus and they found that they were a little bit bored.

Labels: Politics

Spotted on the web. You really couldn´t make this up.

I think its them wot dun her in

Labels: life in spain

Here is a story Mr A works near the centre of Madrid where it is possible to park, it is a place which has probably not fallen foul of the Councils parking bye law through the convention of continued usage. The owner of the establishment concerned asked the Council to stop his workers parking there. Now Mr A and others have to spend at least 30 minutes looking for parking or pay. Now I have my moments but b*gger me.

Labels: life in spain, work

X factor has come to Spain on Cuatro. The programme ID is the same as in the UK but for sure the format will be very very different. Spanish Stars in your Eyes nearly satisfies the format criteria except for the panel they have who spend a good 40 % of the programme pronouncing and denouncing. Personally I feel anybody who is prepred to sing in front of millions deserves to be a famoso. The programme is about to start, they have just introduced the Judges, two of them look like the stereotype showcase inquisitors, the other looks very wierd, still will be able to catch up on his picadillos on Dolce Vita. Supposedly I am still sounding like Vera Duckworth with my throat problem, so I won´t be appearing for at least a while.

Labels: life in spain, tele

While strolling through Toledo yesterday with a friend we noticed that one of the magnificent entrances to the Cathederal has been obscured by netting. We assumed it was to protect the masonary from Pidgeons. My friend said where is the logic in covering a beautiful piece of architecture. I replied that there is no logic in Spain, this was in earshot of a couple of fellow tourists, the problem was one of them was Spanish and understood English, "thanks mate" he replied. My get out of difficult situations emergency button was quickly pressed, laughing I meekly said "ohhh its a joke my partners Spanish". I think its my first "slagging of Spanish" faux pas. Should I develop a code or even learn Klingon???

Labels: life in spain

As I have mentioned before I having been researching my family tree. I uncovered a bit of a scandal tonight. In 1821 my great great great great grandfather was up before the magistrates for drunkeness. I have just discovered he was a higgler, that is someone who bartered goods from one farm or village to another. However his son and one of his daughters later became farmers so they salvaged the family name.

1821.4 PLATTS James (Lea, Ww) Higgler [Drunk] t.i.c. (Blakiston)
1821.4 PLATTS James (Lea, Ww) Higgler [RTO: 17] fine: 20/= (Blakiston)


A twenty shilling fine. In this I am following the tradition, my fines so far have amounted to 420 euros for driving fast and about 60 in parking fines. I will update on the value of this 20 shillings in due course.



This is the view from the town where he lived. I wonder if he stumbled home a few times across here

Labels: family tree

Teatro Victoria on Calle Pizzaro is the most romantic liitle theatre I have ever had the pleasure of visiting. Tonight there was a performace of Zarzuela but with attitude. The caprici Arte y Musica group entertained us with "un asesinato en el museo de Zarzuela" tonight. It was excellent. The singing was literally honey in the ears, the libretto was funny and quaint at the same time. The setting is the most dreamlike theatre. Over the last 30 years I have seen many a opera in various places in the UK and Europe, tonight was in my ideal place. I was transformed back to 18th century europe with the setting. However the Zarzuela itself fulfilled all criteria, the songs were performed with pasion and talent, the storyline is exceptional ( R who is Spanish flinched, which is a good sign that it broke the parameters defined by traditional Zarzuela). I have had a few too wines to give the performance credit but you must go see it if you can. I give you a guarentee you will enjoy it. There are twists and turns and even a competition of which I am sworn not to divulge the answer.

Teatro Victoria , 12, 14 May at 9 pm, 13 and 15th May at 8 pm

Tickets from El Corte Ingles, entradas.com, atrapalo.com or call 915228834

GO GO GO

Labels: music

Esperanza´s face has been covered up by opponents posters on my bus stop. All thats left of her is a mouth which uncannily resembles an upsidedown mooncat from the 1980´s childrens programme.

Labels: Politics

When he was elected in 1997 it was fanfared as a new Jerusalem, he believes it was and that he created one. I was one of the only people amongst my friends who didn´t seem pleased. Today I have been trying to think of positive things I believe he could leave as a legacy. I thought of two main ones, the minimum wage, once the lowest in Europe but now one of the highest , due to market led forces in my opinion, what business was prepared to pay based on productivity and efficiency in the economy. Although philosphically I dont agree with tax credits, they have brought benefit to many many people, and they are a good legacy. The Northern Ireland pece settlement I believe he pushed along but the current stage in the peace process is down to the energies and compassion of the people of Northern Ireland.

However, I believe sincerely, that he has left the UK in a much much worse condition than when he arrived. During his tenure, we have had an illegal war which has costs tens of thousands of lives and has changed geopolitics for the worst. Corruption at a low level is rife at various levels of Government . Wistleblowers have been "got rid off" when they try to tell the truth, and this is followed by whitewashed Government reports. He has developed a cruel cancer at the heart of british political life (or continued it at least). Spin has nearly replaced all political dialogue The gap between the rich and poor is wider. His ministers vilified single mothers. The far right is on the rise and in powerful positions in some areas of local government. Genuine refugees have been found sleeping homeless on the streets. Crime is at record levels (or at least the perception is). Old people still die waiting for hospital treatment. Schools are still failing many many people. University education is no longer free. The United Kingdom is gradually developing into the disunited Kingdom, even in England the calls for a separate Parliament are becoming louder. Civil liberties have been eroded and his efforts on the environment have been words matched by very little action.

He has had ten years to heal the wide divisions which exsited in British society and I genuinely believe that they are now wider and he is resposible ultimately for this.

I am glad he has gone. Good riddance to bad rubbish.

As an example, his "legacy" still breathes poison into political life. http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2007/05/10/blairying-bad-news/

Labels: Politics

Just Come back from seeing Spiderman in English, but using headphones which is fine once you can find the on button.

I enjoyed the film although it is primarily an action film attempting to tell the tale of how our inner dark side only surfaces if we choose it to do, although I must admit it was quite amusing seeing Peter Parkers geeky dark side , however he could probably carry off his travolta style swinging down the street much better than I could. I am a bit geekyish so it is nice having a few moments of thinking that we geeks can throw away our Politics in 18th Century France books and dance spiderman fashion in a Jaaaazzzz bar. This was one of my favourite scenes in the film, where he dances with a gorgeous blonde and all the bar cheer and applaude him on, hoping to make his ex (at this stage) girlfriend rush back to him. The action scenes are good and there is a nice slice of physics at the beginning of the film. Infact it is understatement the action scenes are fantastic especially the one at the beginning of the film.

If you want a down to earth action film with a tiny bit of good verses evil theory then its worth seeing. Although my friend Ali said that Buffy deals with dark side undercurrents better, my reply was that it doesn´t do it in two hours though.



I would love a pair of those web spraying hands mind, it would make getting to work a awful lot quicker

Labels: films

We are trying to work out who to vote for in the elections. We will weigh up all the positives and negatives of each party. At the moment the PSOE van is belching out fumes and informing us through incredibly loud speakers that someone called Simicas is coming to town. They are telling us about the environment in Alcala while simultaneously polluting the air with carbon and noise, so thats a tick in the negative column there then. My bus stop has a lovely picture of a blonde Joan Collins asking us to have confidence or faith in the future, someone has drawn a lovely protruding nose on la Esperanza can´t decide whether she should be in positive or negative column. I bet her Avon lady makes a mint with her order.

UPDATE

I have seen him on the Posters, Simicas is PSOE.

Labels: life in spain, Politics

Last wednesday I visited Salamanca with my dad and a friend, so far out of all the cities I have been to in Spain it was the most beautiful, even more so than Cordoba. It remnded me a little bit of a larger Alcala. We did get caught out my an hailstorm and downpour but it was actually quite nice to see the city without the sun bleaching all the walls. The Palacio Monterry was an architectural delight, although the truely square plaza was impressive. However for me the pearl of the city was the Cathederal, it was the most beautiful and serene religous site I have ever had the pleasure to enter. From the outside it was superb and even fussy, but inside it felt calm and spiritual. One of my students said the Cathederal in Burgos can beat it so I will have to ensure that I visit. During my last 6 years in Spain I have neglected the North except Catalunia and have concentrated on the South and Valencia. I think many of my future excursions will be Northwards.

Coming back from Salamanca I thought that this is a place where I could live. I studied in Maastricht in Holland as part of my degree and Salamanca reminded me of why these Old University Towns are really worth a visit.

Again my camera was broken so some of the photos are a bit wonky.



These shells were a sign of love ( I wish I had a Valentines present like that)






This is beyond words.



Entrance to the Cathederal




My favourite Palace




The Plaza Mayor with rain

Labels: history, life in spain

I have recently started researching my dads side of my family tree, his father and his ancestors were miners all the way back to 1820s and maybe before, its on my list of places to visit, Durham, Warwickshire and Bally Robin when in the UK this summer. Here is a clip from the film brassed off reminding me of when I played in several brass bands in Yorkshire (although I was no where near as good as these) and thinking about what happened to the miners. During the strike my dad was living in a pit village outside Leeds, I just wish I had understood the issues of the strike then.

Labels: family tree

During the puente I visited Avila and Salamanca.

Avila is a city that could get any medieval history fans pulse racing, walking up the sloping road to the walled town can transform a person to the days of Sir Galahad. All of sudden you see the length of the walls as they snake around the town inside. It is impressive. Unlike the walls in Carrick Fergus where you can see Plastic Knights dotted around the walls trying to create a disney style historical perspective, the Walls in Avila let the mind do the thinking and the imagining.

The town inside the walls is pretty and contains the usual fare of palacios for the Dons and Duques, we had Nova so we could only peer around the door taking glimpses into the touristic sites. There are plenty of places to eat and drink, and the prices seemed reasonable, we had a lovely tortilla just outside the walls. The Tea Room (Coffee in reality) Run was acceptable, we didn´t see any bars that really stood out. Avila is a beautiful place, there was no reference to Cervantes being from there, and is a great place for an History buff. My only concern was that dogs can´t go up on the wall so we didn´t have a chance to see the spectacular views at their best.

The screen on my camera broke so all the photographs are taken blind, so they are a bit wonky, but they do give an idea of what Avila is like (I hope)


The impressive walls



Gateway



The Cathederal ( A bit wonky )




She couldn´t walk on the walls but she found a nice number plate to sniff

Labels: history, life in spain

What will happen to La Pantoja?

If my Spanish is not letting me down, she spent the night under house arrest, and has spent today in court

R is distraught, I am finding it hillarious and if I wasn´t in pain with my foot today, I am sure I could engender a few laughs.

Many years ago I trained in Law and used to beleive strongly in the rule of Law (until my court case in Spain which I won but recieved nothing in return), however it seems at the moment that those who act and think that they are above the law seem to be getting just deserts, two of the nobility Lord Browne and La Pantoja may soon be getting a taste of porrage rather than using avacado as margarine.




Will she soon feature in her very own bad girls series on tele 5



He will still makes loads out of his prison diaries

Photos of Avila and Salamanca tmw

Labels: celebs, economics, Politics

Every year I write a letter to myself and open it the following new years eve. It alsways works and I usually acheive all my targets.
This entry is a promise to myself, I have already given intention to leave my job at the end of August and went through a panickky process of trying to get a job in September but what I have decided to do is actually do what I aimed to do when I came to Spain 6 years ago. In the last 6 years I have always worked fulltime and more i.e. extra classes, I am not going to do this next year. I am going to have a year off, teach a bit in the mornings but enjoy the year. Financially we should just survive, so yes I am doing what I came to Spain to do. I can always become head of department in a few years time, so now just have to sit out the next few moneths and year 2007/2008 is going to be my year.

I will look again at this entry in May 2008. What an opertune day . Workers of the world enjoy it.

Tmw I will put on my Avila photos, the ones which survived from my broken camera (somethings dont change, electrical equipment and me dont seem to have formed a lasting relationship

Labels: life in spain