4 minute read
A day to remember LINDA
Hall
SPAIN’S a Catholic country, isn’t it?
As it happens, the Spanish Constitution of 1978 separated the state and the Church and that division is jealously guarded.
Constitution apart, even in the 60s a bottomless pit separated a large slice of the population and the Church. The more Republican and socialist as my husband’s family were the less likely to go to Mass or pay attention to doctrine, so as a lapsed Catholic I fitted in easily.
Nevertheless, we were married in church and there was no question of not christening our daughter when she was born. Nor was there any discussion regarding her First Communion because she had already made up her mind about that.
Children have fantastic First Communions in Spain, although I’m referring to the material and not the spiritual side of things.
When I made my own in England it was considered vulgar for girls to wear long dresses and the nuns tut tutted at those who did (and there was always one who did). Veils and gloves, yes, but definitely no fripperies. It was a nice enough day but my lasting memory is of the dress which was made of stiff organdie and scratched horrendously.
Even in 2023 little Spanish girls (and their mothers) feel cheated if they don’t resemble miniature brides. In fact the bridal connection is so strong that First Communion frocks are sold in bridal shops at prices emulating the grown up versions.
Boys make their First Communion less obtrusively than formerly, not like my husband who was done up in white silk like an abbreviated Ruritanian general despite his family’s anticlericalism.
Officially secular Spain now clings to customs that centre on the Church but don’t require commitment. If that means expensive clothes and sumptuous meals at weddings, christenings and First Communions, so much the betterspiritually if not financially for those who otherwise don’t see the inside of a church from one year to the next.
Top class LETTERS
HELLO
I was just sitting down to message you and say congratulations to the team on an outstanding edition of Euro Weekly
The Women in Business section is top notch. These women are deserving of recognition, brilliant.
Apart from that the paper appears to have more interesting features than normal. I feel it’s like a Sunday paper but without the colour supplement.
Really first class. Thank you.
Berni Albrighton, Almeria
Dear Editor
IT is over 100 years since the First World War which lasted from 1914 till 1918 and this trench warfare is now being reenacted in Bakhmut.
To get an idea of this, just watch ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’.
Absolutely horrific for all men there fighting for their country.
Putin has a lot to answer for!
Brian Johnston, Benalmadena
Delivery service
First of all I would like to thank you on behalf of the community of Caravaning & Camping La Manga for starting to recommence the delivery service of the Euro Weekly News to our site. It’s been long awaited and understand the reasons why due to the impact of the past few years that rocked the nation and the world. Hopefully we can all try and get carefully get back to some kind of normality, but not forget the virus still lingers on.
Anyway, having seen that we have received the first batch of papers. May I request an additional 50 copies be delivered knowing the amount of residents that reside here. The numbers will go up especially during the winter months from September to late March when the snow birds come down for the winter sun. The papers are so informative and would be gratefully received. Hopefully you can supply more now and a further increase later after the summer.
Yours gratefully
Mr S L Tryner (Resident)
Joe’s letter
Whilst I sympathise with him, he admitted living illegally in Spain for 13 years, only returning to the UK when the 90/180 day rule caught up with him. For 10 years of that 13 he would have been on a UK state pension, so if registered here, eligible for S1 free medical cover for him and his wife. He therefore did not ‘need’ two lots of expensive private health insurance for 10 of the 13 years. He also paid nonresident tax unnecessarily for 13 years.
He said he and his wife did not register in Spain because they wanted access to NHS in UK. That of course was not legal. On returning to the UK he was not able to get a hernia operation on the NHS, so went private. Had they been legal they could have continued living happily in Spain and had free medical treatment for his hernia, gall stones, enlarged prostate, wife’s Parkinson’s, etc.
Lastly; He adversely compared his failure to get an NHS hernia operation with Gary Glitter, who had a knee operation on NHS. However Glitter although convicted, was legally entitled to NHS cover in UK.
Sorry Joe but honesty often is the best policy !
John Carrington
Blue Badge
Like Valerie Neale, I know that getting a Blue Badge is not easy, and it is not issued by one’s GP.
Some years ago I investigated the procedure which involved an appointment with Social Services at the town hall where the procedure is started.
Next, you go to your GP so that they can certify that the applicant, my wife in this case, does indeed qualify for a Blue Badge.
When you have that, back you go to the town hall, and are told you might get your Badge within two years! Because I drive and my wife has a wheelchair, I gave up as we have not met any situation, so far, where a Blue Badge would have helped. Regards.
Ken Cook, Gata de Gorgos
Breaking point!
Zimbabwe’s economy has been devastated by corruption and more than two decades of sanctions. The latest Al Jazeira fourpart documentary has began to completely expose and reveal the illegal mafia type organisation that is ZANUPF. It is clear that the Zimbabwean president position is unattainable after the exposure of the gold scandal. Gold Smuggler, Ewan Macmillan tells us that another Gold smuggler Simon Rudland has unfettered access to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor, Mr John Mangudya. It was also revealed that the gospel minister, Ubert Angel, obtains the highest level rank of dimpomacy in Zimbabwe. Angel is heard saying in his own words, “The president will rule until he dies.” Corruption in Zimbabwe is clearly at an all time high. The world cannot watch such atrocities happen and do nothing.
Michael Tinarwo
