Newstime                                                                                               

Just as predicted there was no Spring and now we are in the throes of a hot and sticky summer, but what a relief to see clear blue skies and the sea looking several shades of azure and turquoise rather than mirroring the grey overcast sky which was so depressing.

The longest day already gone we can only look forward to the nights drawing in but at least outdoor life has returned as the delicious smell of barbeques fills the air replacing the damp, windy evenings of not so long ago.

Thanks to the good old World Cup, at least it is only every four years, uncharacteristically at this time of year the television seems to have taken over in many households and bars so before we know it many people will have missed the opportunity to sit outside, gazing at the sea or the mountains before it is too late and the spectacular autumn storms arrive. 

Hasta proxima .......

Stanleigh Winstone

Winstone's World

Its time to leave the cyclists alone, at least for a little while because I have another pet hate to rant about.  The electric car seems to be on the increase.  No, not the environmental friendly new all singing and dancing models which are so popular with the glitzy celebs; I am talking about those silly little jobbies which move at less than walking pace, driven by people who otherwise would not qualify for a driving license.

Designed for the town, why are they always there on a long country road where there are more solid lines than the other sort? Why is it always when you are late for work? I used to think that the good old JCB was the villain of the piece when I was back in blighty, but these take some beating I can tell you.

Surprisingly they are not all driven by the elderly.  More recently as I eventually passed one of these slow coaches I noted that it was driven by a young woman, probably too impatient to wait to obtain her driving license.

In a way I can empathize and this is where I really do show my age, because I once hankered after a bubble car in my youth, before I was qualified to drive a proper vehicle.  It was a bright red round squat thing with tartan seats where the driver and brave passenger sat side by side.  My then partner to be (I think in those days it was called betrothed) dissuaded me and it was only a month later that I qualified to drive a proper car so I would then have had the problem of selling it on to some other unsuspecting fool.  Maybe I need to be a bit more understanding and stop turning into a grumpy old person!

Food Glorious Food!

Restaurant Review

Back from the mainland and with a veritable store of good eateries to put before you in the future, this time I return to Mallorca and to a favourite of mine and many of my friends when partaking of a menu del dia.

I refer to Churchills in Son Caliu.  An established eatery for many years and despite the very British name is run by a Spanish family who know how to appeal to their native customers but also us foreigners.

I took lunch with a good friend who despite having spent even more years on Mallorca than me had never been there but had been recommended to the establishment by many of her friends.

Normally a menu del dia offers a limited choice of two or three items per course, but at Churchills the menu choice is vast with at least 6 to 8 choices for the starter and main courses.

There are always traditional dishes for both courses like arroz and tumbet, but equally there are those European favourites including retro dishes which appeal to all nationalities.  The avocado prawn has been dead in many establishments for a long time, but not at Churchills and it is still one of my favourites.

As we were seated we were immediately provided with fresh crispy bread, aioli and tasty olives (all included in the amazing price of 9 euros).  Her first course was gazpacho whilst I tried the salad of pineapple and gambas.

Business Watch

July marks the start of the increase in iva, what you will have to pay and charge your clients.

In common with many struggling economies the Spanish government has raised the 16% rate of iva to 18%.

This will apply to many goods and services from the large purchases like motor cars to a new T-shirt and shorts.  Apparently the motor trade in new cars has had quite an injection of buyers over the last few months in order to avoid the extra 2% and it has also boosted the sales of large white goods and HD flat screen T.V.’s although in the latter case some may say that is due to the World Cup.

If you are in business you will be able to reclaim the 18% against any business related purchases but it will still make quite a difference to your cash flow and particularly if you are not only negative in iva at the end of the quarter but you are owed iva because you have paid out much more than you have collected.

The 18% increase has been reasonably publicized but the lesser known increase is from 7% to 8% which will apply to certain food purchases and to the tax normally charged by cafeterias and restaurants.  Many establishments absord the tax and their prices state “iva incluido” but given the poor season last year and the even poorer Winter on Mallorca it is hard to believe that all of us will not have pay that bit more for eating out.  Maybe even good old Churchills mentioned above will have to move their value for money menu del dia up to encompass the increase as they will have to pay more for the ingredients which go into each meal.

Soapbox

Dear Spanish Solutions,

Thank you for your advice regarding our electricity supply.

For some time we have been on “builders electric” due to the renovation of our old finca.  We have never been cavalier with the use of such a precious resource but even so and knowing that the temporary supply is always dearer than the permanent domestic supply, we have been paying exhorbitant bills, sometimes just under 1,000 euros per bill.

We recently, after five long years, have been put on mains electricity by the new Endesa Energia.  After talking to you we approached the Endesa office in Inca regarding the power level (potencia) only to find that we had been overpaying considerably for several years.

Although there has been a change over from the old Gesa Endesa to Endesa Energia a helpful girl, who spoke good English, in the Inca office has put us on the right track to reclaim a substantial amount of our overpayment back and to ensure that we are on the correct power level now for the size of our finca and the electrical usage.

Never again will we take the docile foreigner’s approach if we think we have been wronged.  It pays to challenge even if it means taking someone with you who is fluent in Spanish.

Again many thanks

Patricia and Norman Collins

Sun Sea & Sangria

Let's hope that we see more visitors this season than last and with more money to spend.  At least the pound is buying a few more euros and some of the problems in more exotic but comparatively cheaper destinations like Thailand are now making them less attractive.  Better to go home skint than badly injured or dead.

The traditional resorts are still a little on the quiet side, but the couples are here and groups of youngsters and the more mature are in sufficient numbers to swell the bars and cafeterias  and we can expect the families next month.

However, Mallorca needs to be aware that we have to go out of our way to please these visitors and not treat them as an inconvenience.  We need to work harder at good service, good food and drink and most of all value for money.  Fortunately there has only been a handful of staunch, traditional businesses where their reaction to the recession has been to put the prices up because there have been less customers!  But, there again there are still landlords out there who would rather leave their premises empty than bring the rent down to a more economic level!

Back in Blighty

Well there’s been a General Election since the last Newstime but what has changed?  It doesn’t seem to matter who is in power, except if you are the other party you can blame the horrible mess on your predecessors.

It’s all about words.  Words to the brave boys on the front and telling them that the emphasis will be on getting the locals trained up to take over more quickly than the previous lot did but nevertheless quite a few of them will be coming back in a wooden overcoat.  Never mind there is an increase in their allowances.  The other thing to do, of course, is to fire the man (American at least) at the top.

Then of course there is always the weather.  No wonder we spend so much time as a nation dwelling on the subject.  It now appears that following severe flooding in the North West of England and after a few short days of sun, though we are told that there have been several months with no rain, due to the fact that the reservoirs are all on the surface (no underground sources) the poor devils are now heading for a hose pipe ban.

It beggars belief that on an Island like Mallorca with a mass influx of tourists and scorching temperatures for several months that we are still able to fill out swimming pools, water public gardens and golf courses and not have to creep around in the dead of night to water our plants or keep the lawn going.

Finally, surely the weather must have got it wrong.  Glastonbury without mud?  Unthinkable, and what about Wimbledon without rain stopping play?  Surely it can’t last!