I've been fortunate enough to have travelled all over the world but I agree with you, Spain is the best which is why I decided to stay here 3 years ago!
I have never said that smoking is a good thing nor tried to justify it, I don't have to, I'm not a criminal after all. We all do things in our lives which are not necessarily healthy or safe. I'm sure you're not perfect are you?
As far as my health goes, yes I smoke but I don't eat junk food, never have, I drink red wine only and not to excess and I walk everywhere which I can tell you covers a great distance every day. I respect the rights of non-smokers and don't smoke in their homes even if they invite me to do so, which many do. It generally seems to be ex-smokers who have the biggest problem with smokers and the perceived risks from passive smoking.
All smokers, along with drug users, people who eat junk food regularly, heavy drinkers, couch potatoes, even people who indulge in dangerous sports or activities are aware of the possible health risks. I take my life in my hands every day just crossing the road here in Spain where car drivers are crazy!
As for not being able to do anything about the other things as you say, that's simply not true, it's just a matter of campaigning and raising awareness on the same global scale as the anti-smoking lobby.
I note from your profile that you feel so strongly about this issue you have specified very little other than non smoker in your introduction.
Are you a bus driver? If so the public have been banned from smoking on public transport for a long time. I also know that in transport staff communal areas, such as the canteen, in the UK and here in Spain, smoking is prohibited.
I have avoided this thread because I smoke, though I would like to quit not, I add, because non-smokers are increasingly piling on pressure, and I don't need to justify the rights or wrongs of it but I agree with Smoky that there are far worse pollutants in the world today which affect all of us. It's just a pity that people don't complain about these as much.
We all have rights which is why I don't nag about the frequent harrassment I and many women encounter from drunks or selfish, materialistic, abusive people who cause so much pain to so many people......I could go on and on.....
Cyba, I have a question for you. Why do you devote your WHOLE time here to this bar and never, as far as I'm aware, venture into other virtual conversations.....??
I was just about to leave but I'll have a glass of red please. Where is everybody? This place seems to rock during the day (when I can't visit) then becomes a morgue in the evening!
Well my birthday is approaching, May 13th, and I don't usually celebrate it in a big way but my colleagues and friends have decided that I must have a huge Spanish party this year.
Actually quite a few men carry small bags in Spain and other European countries with the exception of the UK.
I have this theory that the older women get the bigger the bag becomes! I have very small and medium sized bags but my mum's bags are enormous and she can never find anything!
Hello again you! I too have been away for a while, mostly out of boredom with the same old stuff going on here, so I didn't realise you had disappeared. Hope everything is well with you now, pop over to the European forum too won't you?
Well I haven't worked standard 9 till 5 hours since I moved to Spain from the UK. Working hours here for teachers of English are long and hard so my weekends and holidays are important.
I too dislike typical tourist traps so my holidays are the same as yours, away from the crowds. One of the reasons I moved to this region of Spain is that there are no foreign tourists living here and taking over the place. I am totally immersed in the Spanish way of life.
The nice thing about working long hours is that one can really appreciate and enjoy the holidays. I think I prefer that to being able to holiday every day. Time for that when I retire!
The unions here in Spain are still quite influential. The CGT, formed after the death of Franco and the arrival of democracy, is the largest anarchist union in the world.
Despite the reduction of EU funding, Spain is still experiencing rapid economic growth.
A granny I will never be! Both my kids who are in their twenties say they don't want to get married or have kids. I think they will marry when they meet the right person, in the case of my daughter, and when my son and his long-term girlfriend decide they want to restrict their extravagant but fun lifestyles.
Somehow I don't think either of them will change their minds about not having kids though. They have convinced me I'm not granny material anyway!
20 euros seems an awful lot for a 10 year old but it's been many years since I doled out pocket money so perhaps I'm out of touch.
I hope she does some chores to earn it. My kids had specific little jobs they had to do otherwise they would forfeit it or have a reduced rate. Such a hard mum I was!
I think what's meant by 'work' is making a concerted effort to maintain affection and attentiveness on a regular basis which is sometimes difficult when you are in a long term relationship and living together.
It's even more difficult when kids come along or there are pressures in other areas such as work. Your partner is often the one to take the brunt of any stress or unhappiness you may be feeling.
You have to live with someone for a long time to appreciate that the 'work' is necessary and doesn't mean there is anything necessarily wrong with the relationship.
It's too easy to take the other person for granted when you settle into a cosy relationship; I know, I was married for 27 years.
Happily we are still friends and have 2 great kids.
Colours definitely have meaning, particularly in the advertising world.
Red means power and energy; it excites us. In the Far East it symbolises good luck and is used by many Asian companies such as Canon and Sharp. It is also Coca-Cola's predominant colour.
Blue evokes coolness, calmness and authority along with intellect, trustworthiness and dependability which is why it's a favourite with banking and insurance sectors. IBM, Ford, Wal-Mart and Pepsi are well known corporate blues.
Purple is the colour of luxury and leadership and has been since the Roman Empire when only the Imperial family were allowed to wear it. In corporate colours it is usually used with other colours, for example Yahoo and NTL use it with yellow and green. The exception is Cadbury, who chose it because it was Queen Victoria's favourite colour.
Green is the colour of money and used by one of the biggest British banks, Lloyds TSB. It is also, in some cultures, the colour of jealousy. It is used by petroleum giant BP for whom it represents an environmental stance. Nowadays green generally stands for a specific political stance.
I won't go on for fear of boring the pants off anybody, just wanted to reply to yuor post which I thought was very interesting.
I can remember my mum hauling everything out of drawers and cupboards at a certain time of the year, moving furniture around etc etc.
And while we're on the subject, what is your least favourite cleaning job around the house? I ask this after having cleaned my oven which has to be my least favourite. It used to be cleaning the toilet when I was married with kids living in the house, but now I live alone it's not so bad!
I think it may have something to do with the fact that many women in their 50's look so great nowadays. When I look at old photos of my grandmothers and their friends at my age, and I'm nearer fifty than forty unfortnately, they look so much older.
Jan1305 Forum Posts (5,319)
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RE: best place you visted
I've been fortunate enough to have travelled all over the world but I agree with you, Spain is the best which is why I decided to stay here 3 years ago!