Dawn

Dawn

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Gib yet again; and Spanish trials.

This is an El País article on the Gibraltar farce by someone called Schwartz, a 'writer and diplomat'. It contains some sense (Stop this idiocy!) and some nonsense (British ships are being sent to threaten Spain) and ends with the advice to Spain that she simply throws open the border so life can resume but then takes Gibraltar and the UK to court for chucking cement blocks into the bay and preventing trawling by Spanish ships. As the latter are famous for ignoring rules and as Gibraltar sees said fishing as illegal, this should be a lawyers' field day. Sr Schwartz suggests that when the verdict is passed down (in 10 years' time?) the UK and Gibraltar will be compelled to pay the resulting fines. Just as Spain pays the fines imposed on her by the EU, I guess.

I read at least 3 articles in Spanish papers on the Gib stand-off yesterday. Tellingly, not one of them mentioned Ceuta and Melilla. Not even to differentiate them from Gibraltar. I guess it's because the writers really do believe that these African 'enclaves' - because of the legal fiction they're part of Spain - aren't colonies. It would be nice to see this tested in a modern court. Even the court of global opinion.

The Economist, I'm pleased to say, shares my view that the UK has no strategic interest in The Rock and would be happy to negotiate its transfer. However, the idiocy of the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs has closed this off for at least a generation, says the journal. It's as serious as that. The guy should be fired.

This edition of the Economist arrived today, together with a response from Correos to my complaint. Through the mailman - and to my daughters - it was explained that the normal mailman had been on holiday and that, as my address didn't contain a number, the stand-in hadn't known where to deliver the magazines. Yes, well . . . .
1. The mailman was on holiday for 7 weeks?
2. They couldn't check my name with other letters coming into our street and so discover my house number?
3. They have more than one foreigner living in my street receiving mail from the UK?
In other words, pure bullshit. Or, putting it another way:- We couldn't manage an ounce of initiative.

While I'm complaining . . . Is it me or does this happen to others too? Over a week ago I went to Movistar (Telefónica) to change my mobile phone contract to them. A few days later, someone - presumably Movistar - cancelled my contract with Yoigo. Whereupon my phone ceased to function. When I went to Yoigo to sort this out, I was told they couldn't do anything as my contract had been terminated. And they certainly couldn't/wouldn't 'liberate' my phone so I could move to Movistar. So I went to a specialist phone shop but they said it couldn't be done except through Yoigo. So back to Movistar for the 3rd time, for another abortive attempt to get me hooked up. But at least they've lent me a phone for the duration. And told me of another phone shop where a technician should be able to help me. This will be the 6th face-to-face session and I know I will have to go back to Movistar at least one more time. Could anything be less efficient? Is it impressive that I haven't killed anyone? Yet.

Finally . . . My younger daughter - a very funny lady - has started her own blog today. Click here, especially if you're someone struggling to lose weight.

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