When I
bought a Honda car last year, I did hope - even believed - that the
customer service would be above average. But I'm afraid to say it
ain't. I asked for 2 things at my first service:- 1. A replacement
wing mirror, after some fool (me) had cracked it, and 2. An estimate
for painting all the little scratches incurred over 12 months. More than a
month later, I'm still waiting. I can't see this happening in Japan.
Talking of
the car and service . . . I filled up with petrol(gas) last night and
was rather taken aback when the guy took my card and asked me
if I knew my PIN. But then he brought me down to earth when he said the machine didn't work and asked me, as ever, to show my ID and to sign a chit. The Lord giveth and the Lord
taketh away.
Gibraltar:
Those of us who thought the border nonsense would stop once the
summer was over have been proved wrong. Instead, the Spanish
government - having noted that the number of people on bikes had shot
up - now includes pedestrians and cyclists in their infamous
searches. Spain has had 300 years to get used to a
couple of facts 1. It doesn't own Gibraltar, and 2. Hardly anyone
living there wants them to. You'd think this would be enough to lead
to some real politique
and some sensible discussion about relieving the UK of a sovereinty
it doesn't want but, sadly, this seems beyond Spanish politicians, of whatever stamp. Click here for a Spanish view (in
Castellano) on how Madrid's stupidity is affecting the
local economy. Essentially - as with the suppliers of sand, stone and
aggregates - it's the nearby Spanish communities that are suffering.
Perhaps this wouldn't be so bad if Madrid's policies were productive
but they clearly aren't. Simply put, the Spanish have a government they
don't deserve. Though they did vote them in.
Mind
you, it has to be said the politicians are operating in a culture
which is less ethical than others. Click here for a case of
large-scale exam cheating up here in Galicia. It would be interesting
to initiate a debate on the definition of cheating as between, say,
Sweden, and Spain. I'm pretty sure the latter's would be narrower.
One of the
upsides of ageing is that now and again you're reminded me of an
artist and his/her songs that you haven't heard for ages. And then back
flood the voice, the melodies, and even the words. If you're really
lucky, back too come associations in time. This happened to me this
morning when Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood mentioned a tribute concert to
Jimmy Reed. Sadly, the association I have is the loss of all my blues
collection when some bastard in (I have to say it) Liverpool smashed the
window of my Morris Minor GT and took it from the back seat. Where I'd been foolish enough to leave it.
Spooky,
isn't it? Yesterday I searched for details of a hotel near Oporto
airport for my visitors and this morning I see there's an ad for the
place on my blog. I wonder if there's anything about me that Google
hasn't got on file?
I'm
undergoing a minor invasion of silverfish. Every time I enter my
bathroom one seems to race from somewhere or other. Usually to death, as
they eat the glue in my books. Inter alia.
Finally . .
. if you think Spain is a low-tax country, this article is for you.
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