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Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Nickbat on 24 May 2012, 22:50:27

Title: Anyone fancy a war with Spain?
Post by: Nickbat on 24 May 2012, 22:50:27
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18200678 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18200678)

What are the Spanish up to? Could this be a ploy to galvanise the populous and get them to forget the internal economic woes (à la Argentina)?  ??? ??? 
Title: Re: Anyone fancy a war with Spain?
Post by: Dishevelled Den on 24 May 2012, 23:03:57
The cheeky opportunistic bastids: I'm up for it - and when we beat the keek out of them we can head up to see Snr Varche for our teas. :y

On a slightly more serious note however it may well take more than a local skirmish to make the natives disregard the shit-storm looming (rather sadly) on the horizon. :(
Title: Re: Anyone fancy a war with Spain?
Post by: Rods2 on 25 May 2012, 01:45:40
Spain goes bankrupt with an intact navy and fishing fleet or goes bankrupt with much less of one, their choice.  :o :o :o :o

Water too shallow and straights too narrow for submarines, so it will have to be Lynx helicopters and Sea Skua anti-ship missiles to spoil their day.  ::) ::) ::) ::)

We could always nationalize BAA and Santander UK for £1 each as a trick we have learnt from the mad president of those those South American failed land stealers.  :y ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Anyone fancy a war with Spain?
Post by: cleggy on 25 May 2012, 08:41:42
When Greece gets the Drachma back all the Brits can go on holiday there for a cheap couple of weeks.  :y :y

That'll stuff the Spanish economy ;)

Title: Re: Anyone fancy a war with Spain?
Post by: Varche on 25 May 2012, 10:08:47
When Greece gets the Drachma back all the Brits can go on holiday there for a cheap couple of weeks.  :y :y

That'll stuff the Spanish economy ;)

It is stuffed already   ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Anyone fancy a war with Spain?
Post by: Johnny English on 25 May 2012, 10:33:56
rather burokrats in the EU administraton were bothered by Hungary's achievement while Greek had been being gone bankrupt and if there is a possible next, Spain is the one who will be that. War ? Haha! And how? By any credit?  Ridiculous. :P
Title: Re: Anyone fancy a war with Spain?
Post by: Varche on 25 May 2012, 10:58:16
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18200678 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18200678)

What are the Spanish up to? Could this be a ploy to galvanise the populous and get them to forget the internal economic woes (à la Argentina)?  ??? ???

I think it is locals playing silly beggars. Central government will be quite happy as it takes the spotlight off them.

This is what El Pais Spanish newspaper said about it in their English language online paper.  http://elpais.com/elpais/2012/05/24/inenglish/1337879597_582584.html

Den- Mrs Varche says tea and cakes is at 4p.m. and then we have pre dinner drinks at 6 with tapas of course. But please no helicopters  ;D ;D
Title: Re: Anyone fancy a war with Spain?
Post by: Johnny English on 25 May 2012, 11:15:31

Den- Mrs Varche says tea and cakes is at 4p.m. and then we have pre dinner drinks at 6 with tapas of course. But please no helicopters  ;D ;D


 ;D ;D ;D :y :y :y
Title: Re: Anyone fancy a war with Spain?
Post by: Rods2 on 25 May 2012, 12:16:16
When Greece gets the Drachma back all the Brits can go on holiday there for a cheap couple of weeks.  :y :y

That'll stuff the Spanish economy ;)

We don't need to stuff their economy, they have very successfully done that themselves. Their Fund for Orderly Bank Reconstruction (FROB) has a fund of €27bn to bailout all of their banks. Bankia is the first of the dominos to fall, and the amount it needs is going up by the day, it stared off at €4.5bn, that went up to €7bn, today they are quoting €9bn, Goldman sacs is quoting €13.5bn, all of these are probably under estimates and this is just the tip of their €184bn housing bubble hangover. How long before they admit "Brussels, we have a problem"?  :o :o :o

The regions in Spain are much more autonomous thn in any other European country, so they have not reigned in their spending, like the Spanish Government wants and have also not come clean on their massive deficits, but a clue is that the amount they own drug companies (Greek style) where they look after health provision, this is climbing rapidly with €6bn overdue.

Yes, Spain, Portugal have got much in common financially with Greece, they just haven't run quite so far down, "Bankruptcy Street" yet into "Default Way".  ::) ::) ::)

I just hope with all these defaulting countries, we don't end up like Ireland and Anglo Irish bank, but I suspect we will.  :o :o :o :o
Title: Re: Anyone fancy a war with Spain?
Post by: Rods2 on 25 May 2012, 12:31:43
Today's figure for the Bankia rescue is €15bn.  :o :o :o

Now that is what I call real inflation, over 300% in a week.  :o :o :o

And Bankia, won't reveal it restructuring plans until tomorrow when the markets are shut, sounds like the news is about to get even worse.  :o :o :o

Another rumour is that Spain is going to close 30 of its 47 state run regional airports to cut cost, now that is really going to boost tourism.  :D :D :D

The Government is also looking at reigning in regional spending to get that under control.  :D :D :D
Title: Re: Anyone fancy a war with Spain?
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 25 May 2012, 13:16:40
Trading in Bankia's shares were suspended this morning, ahead of a board meeting this afternoon!!  ::)  Watch out for interesting news/announcements later today after the markets have closed!   ;)
Title: Re: Anyone fancy a war with Spain?
Post by: Varche on 25 May 2012, 13:24:27
Today's figure for the Bankia rescue is €15bn.  :o :o :o

Now that is what I call real inflation, over 300% in a week.  :o :o :o

And Bankia, won't reveal it restructuring plans until tomorrow when the markets are shut, sounds like the news is about to get even worse.  :o :o :o

Another rumour is that Spain is going to close 30 of its 47 state run regional airports to cut cost, now that is really going to boost tourism.  :D :D :D

The Government is also looking at reigning in regional spending to get that under control.  :D :D :D

Closing them makes sense. Most haven't actually had any passengers even though they have security, cafes and restaurants open and so on. Huesca airport handled 2800 passengers last year.

Spot on Rods2. The government controls only 17% of national expenditure (military, security) The regions look after the bulk. Some are run by Labour majority. Like I keep saying imposing austerity and actually implementing it in any struggling European country (Britain included) are different things. When health , education is cut and unemployemnt continues to rise................
Title: Re: Anyone fancy a war with Spain?
Post by: Dishevelled Den on 25 May 2012, 15:48:59


Den- Mrs Varche says tea and cakes is at 4p.m. and then we have pre dinner drinks at 6 with tapas of course//....... ;D ;D



Aah Varche, that sounds bloody civilised. 8)
Title: Re: Anyone fancy a war with Spain?
Post by: big mel on 25 May 2012, 17:48:37
I hope Spain dos,nt go bust i have loaded a lot out of Spain, love the country & the people are great, that is how i have allways found them,
Title: Re: Anyone fancy a war with Spain?
Post by: Rods2 on 26 May 2012, 00:11:52
Hasn't been a good day for Spain today, with Bankia stating this evening they need €23.5bn funding out of the total FROB fund of €27bn, which is expected to cope with an estimated €184bn housing bubble hangover.  :o :o :o :o

I've seen the 2012 funding requirements for the regions today, with Catalonia leading the way with €13.4bn and stating without help they will not be able to pay any bills or wages at the end of June! The 2012 funding required for all of the regions for 2012 is €35.7bn! Ouch!  :D :D :D

I see the rating agencies are well behind the curve, yet again, by stating the 'bleedin obvious' and downgrading several Spanish banks to junk status.

Sadly, the news seems to be getting worse and worse by the day.  :(

Varche, how are things on the ground in Spain?
Title: Re: Anyone fancy a war with Spain?
Post by: Varche on 26 May 2012, 10:02:12
Rods- for a nation obsessed with politics the avarage man in the countryside doesn't have much of a clue about how bad things are. They think the Euro is a good thing ( after all they have prospered immensely during its existence). When we first started coming to Spain 30 years ago, horse pulled ploughing was still common. Now they all have the latest ( and expensive) tax off setable kit.

They are a very nationalistic race- much more so than Britain and don't take criticism or adverse comment on the state of their country well.

Having said all that here in the South , unemployment is 30% and is increasing. Plenty of empty shops and worse "new shops" opening up on the proceeds of redundancy payouts. We have seen some of those open and close in short time. Not much evidence of any consumer price reduction. This is the first year that we didn't have an automatic price increase on everything in January. The message is perhaps getting through.......

Hey but a great place to go on holiday especially now that the pound is stronger against the euro. 8) :y Book now and do your bit for the bail out!
Title: Re: Anyone fancy a war with Spain?
Post by: MikeDundee on 26 May 2012, 10:04:50
I have'nt got time to have a war with Spain today, as I am too busy, but thanks fo the offer, let me know how you get on ;D
Title: Re: Anyone fancy a war with Spain?
Post by: Tetleysmooth on 26 May 2012, 11:27:38
I have'nt got time to have a war with Spain today, as I am too busy, but thanks fo the offer, let me know how you get on ;D

I've got Sunday and Monday off, if that's any good.
Title: Re: Anyone fancy a war with Spain?
Post by: Rods2 on 26 May 2012, 15:25:05
Rods- for a nation obsessed with politics the avarage man in the countryside doesn't have much of a clue about how bad things are. They think the Euro is a good thing ( after all they have prospered immensely during its existence). When we first started coming to Spain 30 years ago, horse pulled ploughing was still common. Now they all have the latest ( and expensive) tax off setable kit.

They are a very nationalistic race- much more so than Britain and don't take criticism or adverse comment on the state of their country well.

Having said all that here in the South , unemployment is 30% and is increasing. Plenty of empty shops and worse "new shops" opening up on the proceeds of redundancy payouts. We have seen some of those open and close in short time. Not much evidence of any consumer price reduction. This is the first year that we didn't have an automatic price increase on everything in January. The message is perhaps getting through.......

Hey but a great place to go on holiday especially now that the pound is stronger against the euro. 8) :y Book now and do your bit for the bail out!

My family have been doing just that; my-ex wife, my daughter, her partner and their 3 children, my step son, his wife and two children have just spent the last 10 days all inclusive in Majorca, so they have done their bit to help the Spanish economy. :):y They are home today, so I will find out how they got on.
Title: Re: Anyone fancy a war with Spain?
Post by: Rods2 on 26 May 2012, 15:45:44
And Matt's comment:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/matt/?cartoon=9291211&cc=9237222 (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/matt/?cartoon=9291211&cc=9237222)
Title: Re: Anyone fancy a war with Spain?
Post by: bootie on 26 May 2012, 17:44:43
Well, I for one don't notice any difference up here in our small village, life goes on as normal, still bartering, oranges for olive oil and such like. The majority of the locals tend their own small-ish patches, almonds, olives and goats.
I'm so glad I kept my pay going into a UK bank with only the bare minimum being transferred each month to our spanish bank, which, so far has NOT been in the news!
Yes the stronger pound has it's advantages..... the small mortgage will be paid off this year, so that's the last of my major debts.
One thing I have noticed is that the local ayuntamiento (town hall) is having a good rake through their books, finding missing sums of money due them. Mind you saying that, it seems to be only affecting the brits that live here, missing council tax payments, back charge for missed payments for sewage and rubbish, things that tended to be overlooked as most of them only stay for a few months rather than live here permanent. We are lucky that we have all of these alrady set up as direct payments from the bank and for the most part none of them have increased much really. I haven't sat down and worked out a percentage increase (i'm sure it will be above inflation) but then again they were low in the first place.

As for the war, we (Her Majesty's Glorious Royal Marines) took the place and it remains the only named battle honour on our cap badge, it will not be given back lightly, I can tell you!