I’ll Take You To Burn

Well it’s one way of getting around some of the environmental problems, I suppose. Set fire to stuff. Not that I am suggesting that there was any malicious intent, but part of Albufera was smoking yesterday, flames fanned by the fierce winds that caused a fair amount of havoc across the island: 72 kilometres per hour was registered in Puerto Pollensa. Whatever the strength, it was strong enough, especially taking to the exposed coast road from Alcúdia.

Fire. For a place with a fair amount of wood, Mallorca seems to fare reasonably well in the fire stakes. Compared with other Mediterranean islands, Corsica for example, it gets away quite lightly. There again, Corsica is one great big inland forest and mountain range: an obliging and inviting target for some pyromaniac. Frightening as well, as was the time when staying on the south of the island and the flames were to be seen on the hills above the town. At least, unlike in other places, we were not evacuated to the only really safe place – the beach.

It was in Corsica that I first became aware of the Canadair water-bombing planes, and also of the hero status the local people grant the pilots. Familiar though the Canadair planes are that fly from the Puerto Pollensa base, there is not the same cult attached to the pilots as there is in Corsica. Nevertheless, it can be a seriously dangerous job.

Fire of another sort is that of bars and restaurants, houses and hotels. Every season some restaurant goes up. All that sizzling oil flying around it’s not really surprising. And in houses and flats one of the more likely causes of fire is the butane installation, or a faulty one at least. I have a cooker that runs off butane: it must be coming up for its periodic check. These checks though can be the source of a scam and/or rip-off. Back in the summer this chap pitched up at the gate. Went through the whole spiel. I knew exactly where he was coming from. He would do an inspection and, irrespective of whether any work was needed, would set about doing it and then trouser a goodly sum. It has happened to people I know. Anyway, as he was kind enough to speak in English, I told him kindly enough in English to piss off, which he did, only to come back the next day when I told him the same. No deterring some folk.


QUIZ
Yesterday – “These Are The Days Of Our Lives”, Queen. Today’s title – line from which crazy ‘60s record?

(PLEASE REPLY TO andrew@thealcudiaguide.com AND NOT VIA THE COMMENTS THINGY HERE.)