Serenity

Paul Danks, tax accountant of the parish of Puerto Pollensa, has alerted me to what is a scam that is being operated via email by someone or some people claiming to be the Agencia Tributaria (the Hacienda). The email claims to offer recipients money by way of refunds from the Hacienda. Nice incentive, huh. All the recipient has to do is to supply his or her bank details. What could be easier? Unfortunately, some may have fallen for it, especially if they happen to be less than wary Brits or those who panic every time the name Hacienda comes into view.

The Hacienda itself is well aware of what is basically an attempt at identity fraud. It has confirmed the existence of the scam to professional advisors and reminded them that it never asks for bank details via email. It should be noted that the Hacienda already has individuals' bank details. They would not be asking for them again, certainly not by email. If anyone feels they may have been taken in, contact your advisor and bank immediately.


Barcarès
A couple of years ago I did a piece that wasn't necessarily that complimentary about Barcarès. I was taken to task by Anne-Marie who described Barcarès as her favourite place in the world and one with a calm enchantment. I now know what she means.

Yesterday morning I spent some time in Barcarès. It was still quite early. The sea was flat calm. It was hot and the skies clear. Calm enchantment. Absolutely. I had gone to Barcarès because a story had appeared in the press about a planned re-development of the small port (for which read marina). To be totally honest, I hadn't previously been aware that there was one. Maybe that's because it is so small. The story didn't really amount to much. The objections being raised seemed pretty petty. One concerned a new building. It won't be very big, said the chap from the ports authority in his portakabin. The residents were saying that such a building would be a sort of blot on the landscape. Hardly.

Having ascertained that this was something and nothing, I looked for something more interesting, and what I found was the sheer nothingness of Barcarès, in the sense that it is a place where nothing happens. It is a blissful place. Serene, especially when the sea is so calm, the weather so perfect. Calm enchantment. Absolutely.

It is a place of suspended time, totally devoid of the trappings of the resort that is Puerto Alcúdia. I don't know how busy the Red Rum bar gets, but, boy, there can't be many better places to have a bar, especially as it's the only one, and right on the water front with the little port away to the left. Rather like Cala San Vicente can take you to another place, so does Barcarès. What was I thinking of when I wrote that unflattering piece?

It had been my intention to just go and find some information for a news item in the next issue of "Talk Of The North". Well I did, but the article has turned out quite differently. Read it from next Wednesday on.


Oasis
And thanks to Steve for adding that Jamiroquai played Mallorca, a name Lynne had also mentioned. But, as some have asked, here is just one blog wish-list. Those who, in a dream world, would play a fantasy gig on the beach in Alcúdia:

Cocteau Twins (who would of course have to re-form)
Ladytron
Air
Elbow
British Sea Power.

Just five. Man, what a night that would be.


QUIZ
Yesterday's title - "Wonderwall", http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hzrDeceEKc. Today's title - heavy metal, but this is acoustic. American.

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