While I Was Gone

Despite the slight paean of yesterday to cheap and abundant latest technologies in England, there was a period of some five days when no technology intruded. Mobile off and no internet. Did my life suffer? Not so as you would notice. Nevertheless, by dint of some technological magic, I was able to remain abreast of matters Mallorcan. Not that there was much going on, other than grapes being eaten, fireworks going off and blokes thumping their wives. But I will not go there, in the case of the latter.

To catch up on some things that did occur ...

Firstly, the corruption rumpus rumbled on. The leader of the Unió Mallorquina, Miquel Flaquer, had to resign owing to his implication in the Son Oms case. This added fuel to the schism within the party. The matriarch of the party, for whom I have coined the description "Mother Munar", was dubbed the "reina madre" (queen mother) by a press examining the tensions between supporters of so-called "munarismo" and those who would rather put considerable clear blue water between themselves and the party's grandest grandee, herself of course on the corruption charge-sheet. Leading-ish members of the party not either banged up or in danger of being so were jockeying for the top job in the party, including - God forbid - Mr. Awkward, Joan Cerdà, mayor of Pollensa. By awkward, I don't mean that he is one of the awkward squad, just that he looks so awkward. Perhaps this is because he's always in the firing-line following the latest gaffe by Pollensa town hall. Mercifully, he was not elected leader, even if his elevation would have given rise to huge sport and amusement. Instead, the UM spokesperson in the parliament, Josep Melià, has got the gig, which I'm sure will make you all feel as though you can rest easy in your beds.


Secondly, Real Mallorca and its lack of fans. Sid Lowe may have caused his own little rumpus by suggesting the club has no fans, but he was of course right. It doesn't, or rather it doesn't have many. Despite the on-field success of the team, the club's support is falling. The average attendance this season is a mere 12,323 spectators, half the stadium's capacity. The club's management is baffled by all this. It shouldn't be. Mallorcans support other (mainland) teams, the ground has no atmosphere, and the team is regularly ripped apart, only to be put back together with bits of string and sticky-backed plastic by the heroic coach Manzano. To these factors, one can add the economic crisis and alternatives in terms of football on the telly and other attractions. The announcement of such poor attendance does, though, undermine all those protestations, partly by expat supporters gone native and by those who took exception to what Lowe had to say, as to the importance of the club. It is a club that may yet die through lack of interest.


Thirdly, the new smoking law. The president of the island's small and medium-sized businesses organisation gave a wide-ranging interview to "The Diario" in which, although not clarifying exactly when the new law is meant to kick in, he accepted the need for no-smoking areas but criticised the Spanish Government (and the regional one) for a lack of appreciation as to the costs involved in conforming with the law, bars and restaurants having been obliged to spend in order to meet rules introduced four years ago, which are now to be superseded. The president, Juan Cabrera, did not go so far as to demand financial assistance but did call for "responsibility" on behalf of governments determined to press ahead with health legislation without thought being applied to wider business impact. Unlike other commentators, he does not believe that the smoking ban will result in closures; other factors will cause these. He also had something to say about the fact that over holiday periods, such as that at the end of the first week of December, so few places were open. He reserved criticism for the great number of restaurants that did close, saying that - at a holiday time - people don't want towns that are "totally dark", which is fair comment but neglects the fact that employees are on double time on fiesta days, something that many owners are unprepared to pay.


And finally, but still on restaurants, the first female chef from Mallorca is to participate in the Madrid Fusion culinary exhibition at the end of January, this chef being Macarena de Castro from Jardín restaurant in Puerto Alcúdia. Those who have ever been to Jardín are more likely to know Danny, but it is his sister who is the cooking talent behind the restaurant, and at the Madrid event she will be preparing dishes based on sobrasada, the local sausage.


QUIZ
Yesterday's title - Diana Ross and the Supremes, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0HE7TC8y5g. Today's title - "Must have been a bitch ..." Other clue: stupid men with stupid outfits, truly awful band and song.

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