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[Varche]

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. Book now and do your bit for the bail out!

[MikeDundee]

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

[Tetleysmooth]

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

I've got Sunday and Monday off, if that's any good.

[Rods2]

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. 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. They are home today, so I will find out how they got on.

[Rods2]

And Matt's comment:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/matt/?cartoon=9291211&cc=9237222

[bootie]

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!