Increasingly, people are finding it harder to buy their own homes. A consequence of property speculators with deep pockets or overpopulation?
In Japan people are finding a way round this problem by living in Internet cafe cubicles.
I just ordered the 25th anniversary edition of Blade Runner from Amazon. A coincidence?
Guardian - Tokyo dreaming
Lights out for incandescent light bulbs
Supermarket chains have agreed to start phasing out incandescent light bulbs from next year. There are expected to be totally phased out by 2012. Somehow, I expect complaints then to start about the amount of mercury in CFLs we are poisoning ourselves with. Oh well, we'll get round to phasing out humans if needs be.
Guardian - Lights out for traditional bulbs by 2012
Guardian - Lights out for traditional bulbs by 2012
Tesla Roadster
Just seen the Roadster on my local news TV station. The fastest electric sports car in the world. The Tesla Roadster is built near here at the Lotus sports car factory. The specifications are impressive. 0-60 mph in 4 secs. 250 miles on a 3 hour charge. 1p a mile compared to petrol's 15p a mile. However, the $100,000 price tag is just a little over my budget. It's unavailable in the UK anyway as it's only for the US market at the moment.
Not where I thought I would be living
A year ago I would not have imagined sitting here and selling off, on eBay, a large part of my former life. It's been a busy week. The afternoons are spent rummaging through my old bedroom, the attic, a conservatory, a garage and a hut.
Even though I think something is worthless I check on eBay to see if it has any value. More often than not there is someone out there in "I gotta have it land" who wants to buy something I discarded into a dark corner all those years ago.
If you have a Hornby train set or lots of Airfix plastic soldiers then you could be sitting on a sum of money that could be better spent elsewhere. Even a Rolf Harris Stylophone has value even though it sounds awful.
In the evening it's a case of billing the auction winners and then packing the items for my daily visit to the post office the following morning. I've noticed a few services I've seen people offering on eBay that I might be adept at. When I have finished selling off unwanted junk then I might still have need of eBay.
Even though I think something is worthless I check on eBay to see if it has any value. More often than not there is someone out there in "I gotta have it land" who wants to buy something I discarded into a dark corner all those years ago.
If you have a Hornby train set or lots of Airfix plastic soldiers then you could be sitting on a sum of money that could be better spent elsewhere. Even a Rolf Harris Stylophone has value even though it sounds awful.
In the evening it's a case of billing the auction winners and then packing the items for my daily visit to the post office the following morning. I've noticed a few services I've seen people offering on eBay that I might be adept at. When I have finished selling off unwanted junk then I might still have need of eBay.
What is democracy?
Looking back on my 41 years I don't believe I was ever that free. For the first 25 years there was that evil communism to worry about so I was to "shut up and consume". Now, we have the neo-communists (aka Islamists) to worry about so I am told "to shut up, consume and leave it to those who know better".
Freedom and democracy are just words. Words that my "betters" use to tell me when I should be grateful for the crumbs they throw me. Freedom? I am free to consume what I don't want and to have lots of debt so that I have good reason to work harder tomorrow. Democracy? The right to vote in an election whereby whoever I elect won't listen to me but only to corporations who, of course, want me to shut up and consume.
Meanwhile, in Holland (or The Netherlands as my Dutch friends impress upon me) elected politicians are dead set against a referendum on the EU Constitution (something that ensures no freedom or democracy) because the last time they one the Dutch people voted against it and are liable to do so again.
Not surprisingly the politicians are members of the Dutch Labour Party. How times have changed when a "party of the people" tramples over democracy to appease the suits. As I said, it matters not what the party is called nor where you place your X on the voting slip.
Worry not, our "betters" are introducing electronic voting so as to make things "easier" for us. And we know what will come of that.
BBC - Dutch Labour MPs reject EU vote
Freedom and democracy are just words. Words that my "betters" use to tell me when I should be grateful for the crumbs they throw me. Freedom? I am free to consume what I don't want and to have lots of debt so that I have good reason to work harder tomorrow. Democracy? The right to vote in an election whereby whoever I elect won't listen to me but only to corporations who, of course, want me to shut up and consume.
Meanwhile, in Holland (or The Netherlands as my Dutch friends impress upon me) elected politicians are dead set against a referendum on the EU Constitution (something that ensures no freedom or democracy) because the last time they one the Dutch people voted against it and are liable to do so again.
Not surprisingly the politicians are members of the Dutch Labour Party. How times have changed when a "party of the people" tramples over democracy to appease the suits. As I said, it matters not what the party is called nor where you place your X on the voting slip.
Worry not, our "betters" are introducing electronic voting so as to make things "easier" for us. And we know what will come of that.
BBC - Dutch Labour MPs reject EU vote
Maybe somewhere else
The nearby town of Daventry is testing driverless public transport to wean motorists off short journeys in their cars. You jump aboard, press a key for the required destination and off you go.
Knowing this part of the world, I can see these vehicles being daubed with graffiti, gangs of chavs hanging off them and a flaming end. The money would be better used if spent on a manned tram system.
The KISS principle - "Keep It Simple Stupid"
BBC - Town tries out Cybercar concept
Knowing this part of the world, I can see these vehicles being daubed with graffiti, gangs of chavs hanging off them and a flaming end. The money would be better used if spent on a manned tram system.
The KISS principle - "Keep It Simple Stupid"
BBC - Town tries out Cybercar concept
Build on more farmland!
A common chant from misguided people. People who can't afford their own house often blame the wrong people for their predicament. They want farmland to be built upon so they can have their very own piece of mortgaged debt. Property speculators and unfair market conditions are to blame for high house prices. There are plenty of empty houses.
With oil undoubtedly on the way out it would be unwise to lose valuable farmland. Oil and gas currently allows us to intensively use farmland. Without artificial fertiliser, pesticide, herbicide and mechanical labour it will not be so easy to farm.
In the future farmland won't be as productive as it is now. We will need more farmland to keep up with demand for food. It won't be possible to provide for everyone though. Oil has permitted us to have a population that is too large for a post-oil world. Not only that but people like driving cars so we will need to bio-fuel them too.
Large cities that have to import food from far off will no longer be able to do so. I was watching Time Team on television yesterday. It's a programme that carries out archaeological digs in a weekend. Often they unearth towns and even cities that have disappeared because their economies failed due to lack of resources. They can fail in the future too.
Counter Currents - Agriculture In A Post-Oil Economy
With oil undoubtedly on the way out it would be unwise to lose valuable farmland. Oil and gas currently allows us to intensively use farmland. Without artificial fertiliser, pesticide, herbicide and mechanical labour it will not be so easy to farm.
In the future farmland won't be as productive as it is now. We will need more farmland to keep up with demand for food. It won't be possible to provide for everyone though. Oil has permitted us to have a population that is too large for a post-oil world. Not only that but people like driving cars so we will need to bio-fuel them too.
Large cities that have to import food from far off will no longer be able to do so. I was watching Time Team on television yesterday. It's a programme that carries out archaeological digs in a weekend. Often they unearth towns and even cities that have disappeared because their economies failed due to lack of resources. They can fail in the future too.
Counter Currents - Agriculture In A Post-Oil Economy
Will science always provide for us?
As an ex-scientist, the answer is no. This tiny speck of dust in the cosmos is all we have. Star Trek is a wonderful fantasy set in the future but fantasy it will always remain.
Energy Bulletin - Solving Fermi's Paradox
Energy Bulletin - Solving Fermi's Paradox
When will they learn?
The King Canute of the political spectrum, in other words Liberals, have promised to spend more on UK flood defences. Is there nothing these misguided fools can't do?
Rule #1 of the natural world. Don't mess with Mother Nature, you will always lose.
Any money spent on flood defences is better spent elsewhere.
Guardian - Lib Dems vow to boost flood defence spending
Rule #1 of the natural world. Don't mess with Mother Nature, you will always lose.
Any money spent on flood defences is better spent elsewhere.
Guardian - Lib Dems vow to boost flood defence spending
More of this please
The Spanish government is sponsoring television advertising in Africa that advises would-be migrants not to come to Spain. Many migrants die during their journey to the Canarias on make-shift vessels. Also, Spain is not the best of lifeboats to head towards if you are leaving Africa. Desertification and dwindling water supplies are worsening in southern Spain as they are in Africa.
More importantly, as the advertising says, these migrants are the future of Africa so are best off staying where they are. It would be a lot better for them if European countries exported their excess jobs to Africa rather than "forcing" Africans to desert their families and communities to live in Europe.
I do think the problem will get a lot worse though. Whilst a 6 degree rise in temperature might make some people happy in northern Europe it will be devastating in Africa. Permanent droughts and failed crops could well send the whole of Africa heading towards lifeboat Europe. I'd like to see our liberal friends giving amnesty to 900 million immigrants.
Give a problem to western businessmen and their friends, the short-sighted politicians who can only see as far as the next election, then we can expect no solution. Africa is a long-term problem that needs long-term answers.
I make a point of not giving away my old clothes so that they can be sent to Africa. Many African countries have had their textile industries destroyed by the clothes we send to Africa. Africans need jobs not handouts. It will build their economies and give their AK-47 toting children something to do.
Guardian - Spanish TV ads seek to deter boat people
More importantly, as the advertising says, these migrants are the future of Africa so are best off staying where they are. It would be a lot better for them if European countries exported their excess jobs to Africa rather than "forcing" Africans to desert their families and communities to live in Europe.
I do think the problem will get a lot worse though. Whilst a 6 degree rise in temperature might make some people happy in northern Europe it will be devastating in Africa. Permanent droughts and failed crops could well send the whole of Africa heading towards lifeboat Europe. I'd like to see our liberal friends giving amnesty to 900 million immigrants.
Give a problem to western businessmen and their friends, the short-sighted politicians who can only see as far as the next election, then we can expect no solution. Africa is a long-term problem that needs long-term answers.
I make a point of not giving away my old clothes so that they can be sent to Africa. Many African countries have had their textile industries destroyed by the clothes we send to Africa. Africans need jobs not handouts. It will build their economies and give their AK-47 toting children something to do.
Guardian - Spanish TV ads seek to deter boat people
A lack of priorities
Almost half of school children in the UK believe that not having a mobile phone means that you are poor.
By the time they reach adulthood the energy required to recharge their precious phone maybe what differentiates them from the haves. That and the price of fuel for their car and the food on their table. Not to mention the mortgage they won't be able to afford.
Of course, most UK school children are going to be football, pop or movie stars so it doesn't really matter.
Guardian - No mobile means poverty, say children
By the time they reach adulthood the energy required to recharge their precious phone maybe what differentiates them from the haves. That and the price of fuel for their car and the food on their table. Not to mention the mortgage they won't be able to afford.
Of course, most UK school children are going to be football, pop or movie stars so it doesn't really matter.
Guardian - No mobile means poverty, say children
A little worried
Oil hits new high, Greenspan says, "Low inflation days are gone", Northern Rock bank depositors run for the hills.
The consumer price index is based on a variety of products that either have an oil component or at least are delivered by oil. Then you have the price of a mortgage on top of that. That's all going to affect inflation.
We have our buy today, pay tomorrow economies, which appear to be built upon a house of cards. Credit cards. I'm glad I sold up and have no debts. But that isn't going to stop the greedy elite from getting their hands on my money who will try to plunder my bank accounts. I need gold and plenty of it.
The consumer price index is based on a variety of products that either have an oil component or at least are delivered by oil. Then you have the price of a mortgage on top of that. That's all going to affect inflation.
We have our buy today, pay tomorrow economies, which appear to be built upon a house of cards. Credit cards. I'm glad I sold up and have no debts. But that isn't going to stop the greedy elite from getting their hands on my money who will try to plunder my bank accounts. I need gold and plenty of it.
What happened?
10:30pm - A police helicopter hovers overhead. Its searchlight trying to pick out a criminal. A night doesn't pass without the drone of a helicopter to lull me to sleep. How can this weedy little town's police force afford a helicopter?
I guess money is no object when you have to control the masses. The UK police force has become highly politicised in recent years. More Thought Police than anything else.
It was a warm day today, I fancied some chocolate after lunch so I walked to my local corner shop. I went via streets on the way there and via the park on the way back. You'd think I would have seen some children playing outside on a warm weekend. Not one child did I see. Nobody was in the park. Nothing but me and the detritus of teenage night drinkers.
I sleep with the curtains open as I like to be awoken by sunlight. In Ireland I would have been woken by a dawn chorus too. No chance of that here. I hardly ever see a bird. My parents' garden is not that far from the countryside. If I am lucky I will see a pigeon, a magpie or a crow.
When I was a boy if I put some bread out I could expect flocks of sparrows, starlings, blackbirds and thrushes to descend upon the garden. I dug a pond and it became the home of frogs and newts. Now, there is no wildlife at all.
Sterile gardens. Sterile life. What happened?
I guess money is no object when you have to control the masses. The UK police force has become highly politicised in recent years. More Thought Police than anything else.
It was a warm day today, I fancied some chocolate after lunch so I walked to my local corner shop. I went via streets on the way there and via the park on the way back. You'd think I would have seen some children playing outside on a warm weekend. Not one child did I see. Nobody was in the park. Nothing but me and the detritus of teenage night drinkers.
I sleep with the curtains open as I like to be awoken by sunlight. In Ireland I would have been woken by a dawn chorus too. No chance of that here. I hardly ever see a bird. My parents' garden is not that far from the countryside. If I am lucky I will see a pigeon, a magpie or a crow.
When I was a boy if I put some bread out I could expect flocks of sparrows, starlings, blackbirds and thrushes to descend upon the garden. I dug a pond and it became the home of frogs and newts. Now, there is no wildlife at all.
Sterile gardens. Sterile life. What happened?
Is your cup half full or half empty?
I saw this interesting question.
For eco-misery-guts like me the choices are almost the same. If you believe in a future population collapse, and that the ideal population size is about 1.6 billion, then even if you were born into a population of 10 billion your chance of survival is 16% as the population crashes to its ideal level.
So, one choice assumes that I can battle it out to be amongst 1.6 billion survivors and the other gives me a free entry. As my birth was based on chance anyway then I think I would prefer the 16% chance of being born into the ideal world.
What would your choice be?
Which would you choose between a 100% chance of being born into a world of 10 billion or a 16% chance of being born into a world of 1.6 billion?Many would chose to be born into a world of 10 billion. After all, you exist to answer the question and you probably value your own life so of course you definitely want to be born.
For eco-misery-guts like me the choices are almost the same. If you believe in a future population collapse, and that the ideal population size is about 1.6 billion, then even if you were born into a population of 10 billion your chance of survival is 16% as the population crashes to its ideal level.
So, one choice assumes that I can battle it out to be amongst 1.6 billion survivors and the other gives me a free entry. As my birth was based on chance anyway then I think I would prefer the 16% chance of being born into the ideal world.
What would your choice be?
Wind power 24/7?
Eon are developing a battery that will store over 1MW of power from wind turbines.
The main criticism about wind farms is that they only produce power when the wind blows. If this new system works then wind farms will have the ability to store electricity during times of over capacity.
I think the excess power could also be used to pump water to the high side of hydro-electric plants. However, wind farms and hydro-electric plants are not always in the same place so the battery is still a good idea.
Guardian - Eon pumps £40m into giant battery
The main criticism about wind farms is that they only produce power when the wind blows. If this new system works then wind farms will have the ability to store electricity during times of over capacity.
I think the excess power could also be used to pump water to the high side of hydro-electric plants. However, wind farms and hydro-electric plants are not always in the same place so the battery is still a good idea.
Guardian - Eon pumps £40m into giant battery
Say "No!" to pasta
Difficult for your average Italian when you consider they eat 28 kilos (62 lbs) on average, per year. However, they are being asked to give up pasta for a day so that there is pasta in the future. A kind of rationing.
Why are they being asked to do that? Because durum wheat has bio-fuel manufacturers competing with pasta manufacturers for supplies of durum wheat. As with the tight oil market, the durum wheat market is very tight and so prices have to rise.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. As oil is depleted the price of anything that can be converted into fuel will rise.
Why are they being asked to do that? Because durum wheat has bio-fuel manufacturers competing with pasta manufacturers for supplies of durum wheat. As with the tight oil market, the durum wheat market is very tight and so prices have to rise.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. As oil is depleted the price of anything that can be converted into fuel will rise.
Crude breaks through $80 a barrel
OPEC met to decide whether or not to increase production of oil. A mere 500,000 barrels a day more is not going to help a tight market so the buying of futures drags the price of oil higher. I don't begrudge OPEC nations squeezing the market. It is often the only export for many OPEC countries so they need to get every penny they can for their oil so they can invest in the future of their nations.
Industry will have to tighten its belt yet more and make best use of every drop of oil it buys. Still, as has been pointed out elsewhere, if you divide your barrel into coffee cups then oil is still far cheaper than your morning cappuccino.
For consumers the effect is not just seen in the price of a gallon of petrol. Producer prices will have to increase as the price of raw materials (both oil based materials and those materials delivered by oil) increases. These increases are then passed onto consumers.
Electrical and heat energy based on oil will increase too. Yes, global warming will mean that the heaters are on less. However, the air-conditioning will be on more to counter that.
Transportation costs will be increased by increasing fuel prices. So the effect of rising oil prices might be factored into High Street prices more than once. Food production will be more expensive too. Meat production uses a lot of oil, which is why I am cutting down on meat.
I eat more vegetables now and just put a little meat on the side. Meat is very expensive component to any meal. I like it but I can't justify buying it. Particularly, the Spanish cured meats that I have grown accustomed to will have to be cut back on. Other than a bit of chorizo on the side of a plate of salad I use a couple of fillets to make a curry or some minced turkey to make chile con carne.
The best way to remove the oil in your food is either to grow your own or to reduce the food miles in your food. I can buy my chorizo from UK producers until I move to Spain.
BBC - Oil hits record on supply fears
Industry will have to tighten its belt yet more and make best use of every drop of oil it buys. Still, as has been pointed out elsewhere, if you divide your barrel into coffee cups then oil is still far cheaper than your morning cappuccino.
For consumers the effect is not just seen in the price of a gallon of petrol. Producer prices will have to increase as the price of raw materials (both oil based materials and those materials delivered by oil) increases. These increases are then passed onto consumers.
Electrical and heat energy based on oil will increase too. Yes, global warming will mean that the heaters are on less. However, the air-conditioning will be on more to counter that.
Transportation costs will be increased by increasing fuel prices. So the effect of rising oil prices might be factored into High Street prices more than once. Food production will be more expensive too. Meat production uses a lot of oil, which is why I am cutting down on meat.
I eat more vegetables now and just put a little meat on the side. Meat is very expensive component to any meal. I like it but I can't justify buying it. Particularly, the Spanish cured meats that I have grown accustomed to will have to be cut back on. Other than a bit of chorizo on the side of a plate of salad I use a couple of fillets to make a curry or some minced turkey to make chile con carne.
The best way to remove the oil in your food is either to grow your own or to reduce the food miles in your food. I can buy my chorizo from UK producers until I move to Spain.
BBC - Oil hits record on supply fears
Back to downsizing
Now that I have returned to my parents' house I am spending my days photographing my possessions and putting them up for sale on eBay and Amazon. I have plenty of books for sale. Even old paperbacks that I thought wouldn't sell are being snapped up. If you price it right then someone will buy. There is a railway set to photograph and put on eBay too.
No idea what I will take to Spain. I have decided to let my father have the jeep. It is a right-hand drive vehicle. Assuming that I will be living in a town to start with then maybe I will just buy a scooter in Spain until I move to the countryside.
Whatever I take to Spain it will be the barest minimum with little intention of buying stuff more possessions in Spain either. "Buying stuff" is a disease spread by politicians and business people. They believe in globalisation and infinite economic growth. I don't.
I registered with a doctor to get a few things sorted out. Ireland has no NHS and just saying "hello" to an Irish doctor will see a bill for 30 euros. Time for another rummage through my stuff.
No idea what I will take to Spain. I have decided to let my father have the jeep. It is a right-hand drive vehicle. Assuming that I will be living in a town to start with then maybe I will just buy a scooter in Spain until I move to the countryside.
Whatever I take to Spain it will be the barest minimum with little intention of buying stuff more possessions in Spain either. "Buying stuff" is a disease spread by politicians and business people. They believe in globalisation and infinite economic growth. I don't.
I registered with a doctor to get a few things sorted out. Ireland has no NHS and just saying "hello" to an Irish doctor will see a bill for 30 euros. Time for another rummage through my stuff.
General impressions about Spain
On my return to Madrid I went to see my top two favourite paintings at the Prado Museum. Number 1 is Bruegel's "The Triumph of Death" and number 2 is Bosche's "The Garden of Earthly Delights". Do those paintings say anything about me? Probably. The paintings of Goya and Velázquez were impressive too.
I am definitely going to move to Spain. I couldn't live in the south but Madrid and northern Spain is do-able. I was impressed by the successful implementation of vertical living. All blocks are well appointed and not likely to fall down like 1960s tower blocks in the UK. They are sturdily built from concrete and bricks and have concrete floors. That is something I hated about vertical living in a converted Victorian house in London. Wooden floors have no sound or heat insulation properties.
Although it was very hot in Madrid most apartments have external blinds and awnings to shield the inside from the sun. Air conditioning is widely installed but not that necessary with blinds and awnings. In fact I am sure a DIY air conditioning system is do-able. The roof is common to all inhabitants of the tower so if you are indoors then leaving the front door open and the door to the roof open should allow warm air to rise out of the block. I also mentioned to the person whose flat I was staying at that the roof garden was big enough for a herb and vegetable garden.
Waste disposal seems to be carried out every day in Madrid with either recycling bins being emptied, general rubbish being removed or special days for large unwanted items like beds and sofas. I noticed though that I could probably furnish a flat from peoples' perfectly adequate cast offs. There's a ready made job for me. Teaching people to downsize and be self-reliant in cities.
One thing I saw in Madrid were public bins with spare bags in the bin bag holder. In London you either don't see public bins or they are overflowing onto the street. In Madrid if the bin you want to use is full then just pull the bag out, tie it up, leave it on the road and then take another bag out. Of course, if that was done in London then all the bags would either be stolen or strewn in the street.
That brings me to the general culture. For those who are only interested in sunny beaches in the Costa del Sol, warm English beer and food then this will mean nothing to you. There is a real sense of community in Spain that I like a lot. In London people live individually and eat alone whilst on the go. I never saw anyone eating whilst walking in Madrid. People stopped, sat outside a cafe, ate and drank at leisure. And, of course, I saw McDonalds, Burger King and KFC but I always ate Spanish food.
Living in Madrid was more than bearable. I never thought I could say that about a city. Vertical living when done properly is enjoyable. The alternative to vertical living in Madrid is "chalet" living. A chalet in Spanish has nothing to do with the English derivation. A chalet is a (often 3 floor) single family residence. It will be in a terrace. On a gridded road with amenities within easy each. Often they are arranged in a square with all front doors facing the centre.
Access is gated for residents only so you need to be "buzzed in" if you are a visitor. In the evening everyone is outside talking to neighbours. Boys with an extension lead from a house to the square so they can all sit together and play computer games under an erected awning. A swimming pool for all the residents to share. And, when I went home, a little girl playing with a ball wished me a good night and made sure that I closed the gate behind me.
I just saw that reptile Prime Minister Gordon Brown on TV talking about the death of Pavarotti. Written by another, rehearsed, corporate, PC garbage. Pavarotti sang like a choir of angels is what I would have said. Anyway, if Gordon wants 3 million new homes then he should pay Madrid a visit. Then level London and start again.
I am definitely going to move to Spain. I couldn't live in the south but Madrid and northern Spain is do-able. I was impressed by the successful implementation of vertical living. All blocks are well appointed and not likely to fall down like 1960s tower blocks in the UK. They are sturdily built from concrete and bricks and have concrete floors. That is something I hated about vertical living in a converted Victorian house in London. Wooden floors have no sound or heat insulation properties.
Although it was very hot in Madrid most apartments have external blinds and awnings to shield the inside from the sun. Air conditioning is widely installed but not that necessary with blinds and awnings. In fact I am sure a DIY air conditioning system is do-able. The roof is common to all inhabitants of the tower so if you are indoors then leaving the front door open and the door to the roof open should allow warm air to rise out of the block. I also mentioned to the person whose flat I was staying at that the roof garden was big enough for a herb and vegetable garden.
Waste disposal seems to be carried out every day in Madrid with either recycling bins being emptied, general rubbish being removed or special days for large unwanted items like beds and sofas. I noticed though that I could probably furnish a flat from peoples' perfectly adequate cast offs. There's a ready made job for me. Teaching people to downsize and be self-reliant in cities.
One thing I saw in Madrid were public bins with spare bags in the bin bag holder. In London you either don't see public bins or they are overflowing onto the street. In Madrid if the bin you want to use is full then just pull the bag out, tie it up, leave it on the road and then take another bag out. Of course, if that was done in London then all the bags would either be stolen or strewn in the street.
That brings me to the general culture. For those who are only interested in sunny beaches in the Costa del Sol, warm English beer and food then this will mean nothing to you. There is a real sense of community in Spain that I like a lot. In London people live individually and eat alone whilst on the go. I never saw anyone eating whilst walking in Madrid. People stopped, sat outside a cafe, ate and drank at leisure. And, of course, I saw McDonalds, Burger King and KFC but I always ate Spanish food.
Living in Madrid was more than bearable. I never thought I could say that about a city. Vertical living when done properly is enjoyable. The alternative to vertical living in Madrid is "chalet" living. A chalet in Spanish has nothing to do with the English derivation. A chalet is a (often 3 floor) single family residence. It will be in a terrace. On a gridded road with amenities within easy each. Often they are arranged in a square with all front doors facing the centre.
Access is gated for residents only so you need to be "buzzed in" if you are a visitor. In the evening everyone is outside talking to neighbours. Boys with an extension lead from a house to the square so they can all sit together and play computer games under an erected awning. A swimming pool for all the residents to share. And, when I went home, a little girl playing with a ball wished me a good night and made sure that I closed the gate behind me.
I just saw that reptile Prime Minister Gordon Brown on TV talking about the death of Pavarotti. Written by another, rehearsed, corporate, PC garbage. Pavarotti sang like a choir of angels is what I would have said. Anyway, if Gordon wants 3 million new homes then he should pay Madrid a visit. Then level London and start again.
Where was I?
Returned to UK yesterday evening. "London aint no Madrid" that is for sure. Very little vertical living. If there is then it is usually in converted Victorian family homes that are totally unsuitable for the task. The masses hurriedly walking, eating on the go, heads down , "charge!"
Anyway, Asturias and Cantabria. There is a narrow gauge (FEVE) railway from Ovideo to Santander so we hopped on that to get a more scenic and slower view of northern Spain. Very much like Kerry. It was good to see anyone with a plot of spare earth planting a vegetable garden.
The FEVE takes 5 hours to travel from Oviedo to Santander as it is slow moving and stops at every stop along the way. At least you get to see everything. Santander itself is nothing to write home about. For beach bums and surfers it has something to offer. Oviedo is very clean, architecturally more interesting and awash with cider. I can see myself renting in Oviedo whilst looking for a small farm in Asturias.
We took the express back to Madrid from Santander. As I mentioned in my previous post, I couldn't get Preferente tickets and had to sit in front of chiclistas (gum chewers) and wailing kids. Well, I would have if there wasn't a restaurant car so I was there for half the journey until the vulgarians got off at Palencia.
On the return I saw fields of sun flowers stretching into the horizon. The strange thing is that I am eating a bag of sun flower seeds that I bought in Madrid. Were they made in Spain? Well, they were packed in Valencia but the seeds come from China. What on earth are they using the Spanish grown seeds for? I did see a lot of bio-diesel for sale in Spanish petrol stations so it might be used for that. I can't see rape or canola doing well in Spain.
Anyway, Asturias and Cantabria. There is a narrow gauge (FEVE) railway from Ovideo to Santander so we hopped on that to get a more scenic and slower view of northern Spain. Very much like Kerry. It was good to see anyone with a plot of spare earth planting a vegetable garden.
The FEVE takes 5 hours to travel from Oviedo to Santander as it is slow moving and stops at every stop along the way. At least you get to see everything. Santander itself is nothing to write home about. For beach bums and surfers it has something to offer. Oviedo is very clean, architecturally more interesting and awash with cider. I can see myself renting in Oviedo whilst looking for a small farm in Asturias.
We took the express back to Madrid from Santander. As I mentioned in my previous post, I couldn't get Preferente tickets and had to sit in front of chiclistas (gum chewers) and wailing kids. Well, I would have if there wasn't a restaurant car so I was there for half the journey until the vulgarians got off at Palencia.
On the return I saw fields of sun flowers stretching into the horizon. The strange thing is that I am eating a bag of sun flower seeds that I bought in Madrid. Were they made in Spain? Well, they were packed in Valencia but the seeds come from China. What on earth are they using the Spanish grown seeds for? I did see a lot of bio-diesel for sale in Spanish petrol stations so it might be used for that. I can't see rape or canola doing well in Spain.
Woo hoo! Campeones del mundo!!!
Well, champions of Ireland. Yesterday, I went to the James Joyce pub in Calle Alcalá, Madrid to watch the All-Ireland final. Maria came along for her introduction to hurling, "Irish" pubs and big fat blokes that shout a lot.
We Kilkenny Cats were outnumbered by tubby Limerick supporters and neutrals. All of whom were sporting the same hairstyle. Spooky. Within 10 mins the game was as good as over. In the evening we had dinner with a big shot security chief who had an AK47 on his wall and pictures of himself with various international dignitaries. I wondered if I had stumbled into a setup and looked for various exits should the need arise.
Today it is very humid and my huevos are very heavy so I am doing nothing today. I shall save my energy for tonight when we shall go to an Indian restaurant with Maria´s sister and cousin.
Tomorrow is the last day here and it´s off to a few museums to look at old stuff. I have surveyed all that I want to see of Spain (minus Galicia, which will have to wait till next time) so I can take in a bit of cultura for a day afore returning to the UK.
When I have the energy I will complete the second part of the tour of Asturias and Cantabria.
We Kilkenny Cats were outnumbered by tubby Limerick supporters and neutrals. All of whom were sporting the same hairstyle. Spooky. Within 10 mins the game was as good as over. In the evening we had dinner with a big shot security chief who had an AK47 on his wall and pictures of himself with various international dignitaries. I wondered if I had stumbled into a setup and looked for various exits should the need arise.
Today it is very humid and my huevos are very heavy so I am doing nothing today. I shall save my energy for tonight when we shall go to an Indian restaurant with Maria´s sister and cousin.
Tomorrow is the last day here and it´s off to a few museums to look at old stuff. I have surveyed all that I want to see of Spain (minus Galicia, which will have to wait till next time) so I can take in a bit of cultura for a day afore returning to the UK.
When I have the energy I will complete the second part of the tour of Asturias and Cantabria.
Oviedo, Los Picos de Europa y Santander
I didn´t go to the south. It´s hot enough in Madrid so I didn´t fancy chasing the sun to AndalucÃa. With Madrileños complaining that the summer is colder than normal I think the north of Spain suits me more.
The electric train north to Oviedo was well appointed. I travelled Preferente (First Class) to avoid wailing children and gum chewing nacos. Something I was not able to do on the way back.
There were DVDs running on the screens and you were given a free pair of earphones to enjoy the movie (in Spanish) or listen to one of the music channels. Turista class has the same facilities but with whaling children and zombies chewing gum like cows chewing the cud.
Just north of Madrid you pass through sierra with mountains and pine forests for as far as the eye can see. One plateau was covered in wind turbines. The biggest such wind farm I have seen.
Further north the train entered the plains of Castilla y León. No mountains here but the odd occasional plateau covered with yet more wind turbines. Looking to the west, as far as the eye could see, there was nothing but empty fields where wheat had already been harvested and sun flowers awaiting harvesting. Water is at a premium in Castilla y León so irrigation is automated. Dependence on rainfall is not an option.
After the city of León the land started getting greener. No more parched grass. The train then started climbing the mountains as it went into Asturias. It was now that I began to see trees more familiar to me. Sycamore, sweet chestnut, birch, poplar, ossier and grey willow. The jagged mountains, trees and low clouds looked just like in Kerry.
Finally, after six hours the train arrived in Oviedo. Not far from the sea. The climate was still warm but cooler than Madrid. I was then off to a sidreria for to dine on with nectar from the apple trees of Asturias.
To be continued...
The electric train north to Oviedo was well appointed. I travelled Preferente (First Class) to avoid wailing children and gum chewing nacos. Something I was not able to do on the way back.
There were DVDs running on the screens and you were given a free pair of earphones to enjoy the movie (in Spanish) or listen to one of the music channels. Turista class has the same facilities but with whaling children and zombies chewing gum like cows chewing the cud.
Just north of Madrid you pass through sierra with mountains and pine forests for as far as the eye can see. One plateau was covered in wind turbines. The biggest such wind farm I have seen.
Further north the train entered the plains of Castilla y León. No mountains here but the odd occasional plateau covered with yet more wind turbines. Looking to the west, as far as the eye could see, there was nothing but empty fields where wheat had already been harvested and sun flowers awaiting harvesting. Water is at a premium in Castilla y León so irrigation is automated. Dependence on rainfall is not an option.
After the city of León the land started getting greener. No more parched grass. The train then started climbing the mountains as it went into Asturias. It was now that I began to see trees more familiar to me. Sycamore, sweet chestnut, birch, poplar, ossier and grey willow. The jagged mountains, trees and low clouds looked just like in Kerry.
Finally, after six hours the train arrived in Oviedo. Not far from the sea. The climate was still warm but cooler than Madrid. I was then off to a sidreria for to dine on with nectar from the apple trees of Asturias.
To be continued...
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