Good English under our noses, but thanks anyway

We have often remarked on bad translations into English, but it was not until sitting outside Luis's this morning that we noticed this road sign hanging on the Cajasol balustrade. Road blocked? Use the alternative router? Please the inconvenience? We have to wonder at the measure of false pride at the Town Hall that doesn't allow anyone there to ask any of the very many English-speaking, tax-paying residents for a proper rendition of what needs to be said. However, it is also true that we must be grateful that those who have no Spanish are acknowledged with the very existence of the notice.

Holidays in Jimena

Óptica Regueira

READERS' CHOICE IS BACK!

Yes, YOUR CHOICE IS BACK, DEAR READER! But we haven't any of your choices to be getting on with, so this is our choice. The banner ad at the top will tell you why we chose this wonderful version of  'With a Little Help from My Friends' by Joe Cocker from the archives of the German WDR TV series Rockpalast. The show was filmed at the Metropol in Berlin on October 31st 1980 with Cocker in fine voice on a strong set with many of his most famous tracks including "Delta Lady", "Cry Me A River", "The Letter", "You Are So Beautiful". Yes, we need your help, Dear Reader.

New site feature and What Have You Missed On CampoPulse?

You may have noticed our new 'You might also like' feature at the bottom of each post. The items that come up there do so automatically, and refer to previous posts, so if you see something you might like to check on, just click on the image. As you will have noticed, too, there isn't much going up here on JimenaPulse, but that's because there's more going on in the Campo de Gibraltar than in this little corner of it, so make sure you head over there every now and then to catch up on our surrounding area. (and don't forget that we'll be moving everything over to that site by the end of the year, so put it, CampoPulse, in your favourites already, why not. Oh, and we're reviving the Readers' Choice and Have a Laugh weekend features, too - watch this space!

Jimena Property

Farmacia Regueira

More music in Jimena this weekend

As we were saying (see below), Henrietta's is having a party this coming weekend. Sticky and The Poor Boys will be offering a concert of Acoustic Blues on Saturday next, July 31, at 9pm. Melissa has neglected to give us a time, (we just guessed) so it might be an idea to pop round and find out - you might whisper in her ear that she should e-mail us with the info, as well as with a poster for her upcoming Flamenco night...

Heat wave alert for 20 provinces throughout Spain

The state weather agency, AEMET, this morning issued an alert for some 20 provinces throughout the country, warning of temperatures reaching above 40ºC in some places, and over 36º in others, including Cádiz. The latter  province is also on alert for heavy wind and water on the coastline. The national capital Madrid is on an orange alert for heat, while in Cáceres, Badajoz, Toledo, Córdoba, Huelva, Jaén and Sevilla, temperatures over 40º areexpected over the next few days. (This item also appears on CampoPulse)

Catalonia Parlament votes to ban bullfighting

(BBC / Photo: JimenaPulse file, of 2007 Feria in Jimena) The parliament of Catalonia has voted to ban bullfighting - the first region of mainland Spain to do so. The vote took place as the result of a petition brought to parliament, signed by 180,000 people who say the practice is barbaric and outdated. Bullfight supporters insist that the corrida, as it is known, is an important tradition to preserve. They also fear the vote could be the first of many in the country. The ban takes effect in January 2012. In today's vote, 68 backed a ban, 55 voted against and nine abstained. (Read the full story on CampoPulse)

Jimena's symbol in danger

This is not the first time we have put this problem up in our 'Fotos Denuncia' section. The bell tower on Plaza Constitución (locally known as El Paseo, it's the main square) became the village's symbol (a wag once called it Jimena's Eiffel Tower) a long, long time ago. The pigeons that inhabit the tower despite efforts to evict them, years ago dropped a very fecund fig seed that has grown out of all proportion. The trouble is that the fig tree, of the ficus family, is notoriously invasive via its roots and will therefore severely damage the tower's cupola if action is not taken very soon: the ancient brickwork is already seriously deteriorated. While the only permanent solution is weedkiller, for the fig tree at least, other vegetation nearby could also be removed with the help of our local fire brigade (when they're not otherwise occupied of course).

Is this your car?

Do you know the owner of this car? A Citroen Xara, Brit registration FG02 TCK, has been parked near the bottom end of Calle Romo for well over a month. It's front right tire is flat, and it's MOT has run out. The Local Police has asked us to ask our readers for information. If the owner is not found, the car is likely to be towed and scrapped.

Clínica Bersabé

Live music everywhere!

Summer is live music time in the area. There are several local concerts at bars and hotels coming up. To start with, there's one by San Roque band La Contraseña with a tribute to mythical Spanish/Andalusian rock Triana, on Friday next, at Restaurante La Estación in San Pablo starting at 11.30pm (Reservations: 956 642 244). Coming next is some good flamenco at Henrietta's in Jimena, which we'll let you know about soon, as well as some blues there ... and did you know there's a film crew coming to stay at Henrietta's (watch this space!)? And keep an eye on our UpComing Events calendar on the sidebar.

Henrietta's

Impromptu Flamenco by an old friend: ¡Gracias, Maestro!

Marcos, whom Prospero met some twelve years ago when the tocaor (guitarist) lived in the La Viña section of Cádiz (the heartland of Flamenco), is one of a very small handful of truly knowledgeable British experts on Flamenco, and a specialist on the revolutionary and mythical Camarón de la Isla. He is also an excellent guitarist who is acknowledged by Spanish Flamenco colleagues as 'muy flamenco', a tribute given to a foreigner that cannot be improved on in that rarefied atmosphere. Marcos, whose day job is with the BBC and who has written a book on Camarón, a copy of which he has promised to send to Pepe at La Tasca, gave us an impromptu concert yesterday on the main square in Jimena. It was a wonderful mini event that was nearly ruined by  the insensitivity of people who should know better (a note on Flamenco etiquette is below) but which continued uninterrupted outside La Tasca well into the evening.

Jaime Vega Alsina

Óptica Regueira

Items under preparation for various OneLinePULSE publications

OneLinePULSE Publications, our online publishing arm, is preparing a series of articles and items for inclusion in several of its publications, including JimenaPulse, CampoPulse, DominGo and Holidays in Jimena. Subjects include Disappearing Trades of the Campo de Gibraltar, The Large Variety of Spanish Cheeses, Olive Oil and Popeye the Sailorman, Synning Your Way to Healthy Eating, An Interview with the Queen, A Man and his Pueblo - and more. At the same time, OneLinePULSE is about to launch SPECIAL ADVERTISING PACKAGES at incredibly reduced prices, as a way to help our advertisers through the recession. (Advertisers, contact us!)

San Martín del Tesorillo begins official 'divorce proceedings' from Jimena

Belén Jarillo (photo), who heads the ELA (Local Autonomous Entity in its Spanish acronym) of  San Martín del Tesorillo (hereinafter called 'Tesorillo', as used by everyone except those who mistakenly insist on calling the village 'San Martín'), has officially presented the documents needed for that village to separate from its 'mother municipality', Jimena de la Frontera. She and her 'parallel' Council (Tesorillo is still officially governed by Jimena) expect to have an answer from the Governing Council of the Junta de Andalucía. There are several requirements involved in such a move, which has been on the agenda for a good number of years. Among these is a set number of inhabitants, square kilometres, and such. Opinions vary as to whether many these requirements can be met. (This article also appears on CampoPulse.)

Disappearing trades in the area

OneLinePULSE Publications is preparing articles and maybe even another site dealing with disappearing trades and/or crafts in the Campo de Gibraltar area. This is a photo of Prospero's friend Pedro, who is a talabartero, a  generic term for 'saddler' that can sometimes even include upholstery. Pedro, who lives and works in Jimena, makes those wonderfully colourful things worn by mules and donkeys during ferias and other special occasions - more photos, sent in by Gonzalo Pozo, below.>

Omigod, where did last week go????

That is the sentiment proclaimed and exclaimed by Prospero as he arrived (woke up) for work this morning. But he must have had his head on properly for a change, 'cos he picked out this photo (kindly sent in by Phil Heinzl, again - CLICK TO GET THE FROG'S EXPRESSION) to illustrate what he told the rest of us monkeys he wanted to put up. He seems ready to do battle with computer downtime and his jagged nerves (he's still not smoking, a month later...!)

El Anón

La Tasca

Holidays in Jimena

August Feria to have floats after all

A Town Hall press release tells us that this year's feria will have floats after all. It had been announced earlier that the Queen of the Fair and her cortege would have to walk instead of the traditional ride on the floats. This gave rise to an appeal from the Queen's mother, Sue Haddon (yes, she likes being called the Queen Mother), because it had been mooted that there was not enough money for the floats. However, the head of the Festivities Department, Councillor Jesús  Rodríguez, issued a statement recently, announcing that the floats would be made available. The release appeared to blame the state of Jimena's main road, Calle Sevilla, down which the floats floated. But there's more to this story ... read on>

'Working for Peace' in San Pablo

click here for complete programme in English
ON TONIGHT:  
THURSDAY, JULY 22 Calle Real (Main Street)

8.30pm - Music bands in the street. Selection of Spanish music.

11.00pm - Concert by "Trovamundos" band

00.30am - Concert by "Makale" band

Jimena Property

New pathway at Northern entrance to Jimena village

Work began this week on a new paved pathway at the northern entrance to Jimena, linking the village to the crossroads at Las Tenerías, passing by the campsite. The new pavement will include benches and handrails, as well as an area with exercise machines. At a cost of some €172,600 and jobs for the duration for 10 people, the work consists of over 500m of pavement and some 700m of garden areas. Carried out by local builder  Construcciones y Reformas Miguel Vera S.L., includes also a monument to local peoplewho 'disappeared' during and after the Civil War that will be placed at the Cruz Blanca square.

Henrietta's

El Anón

'Working for Peace' in San Pablo

Preparations for the eighth annual Talleres por la Paz in San Pablo de Buceite are very nearly finished. Yesterday, Sunday, was the day to receive the children participating this year. Volunteers from the organization headed for Jerez airport and the port at Tarifa (photo) yesterday to receive guests from Cuba and Morocc. Most of the activities, including workshops in percussion and instrumental, graphitti, foam molding, digital still & movie photography. get under way today. The theatre workshops, attended mainly by local children, have been going for a week now, with a view to presenting their work at the ceremony to end the Talleres.>

Farmacia Regueira

Clínica Bersabé

Jaime Vega Alsina

Jimena Property

Óptica Regueira

Giant screen? What giant screen??

Okay, we offer our readers an apology - and some excuses. We made the assumption (dangerous, assumptions!) that when we got an official press release from the Council Press Office saying that the World Cup final match would be 'projected in the main square' (a transliteration of the communiqué, image of original below) the Mayor had somehow found the money to have the village gather in the square, etc. It turned out that the 'giant screen' (our words, not the press release's) was a private affair put up by Bar El Paseo and Pepe Mena, whose equipment it was. It in fact had nothing to do with the Council, except that Pepe works there. But it all beggars the question: why was the Council Press Office, through an official press release, used for a private matter? Yet another misuse of public facilities for private gain. But we had a good time anyway, and what really matters is that Spain won!

Campeoooooones - you should have been there (or maybe you were)

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE SLIDE SHOW

We're at work today - are you?

Judging from several faces we don't normally see on weekdays, we are assuming they haven't been to work today. We are; we're working on a new magazine style publication called (something like) 'This is how Jimena lived the World Cup', for which we have to select photos from among almost 2500. So it may be a while... WATCH THIS SPACE! Update: the 'magazine' turned into the slideshow above. Enjoy!

La Tasca

¡ESPAÑA!

2010 WORLD CHAMPIONS

El Anón

Holidays in Jimena

Bewick is back - and writes about vuvuzelas...

After an absence of three months, our colleague Alexander Bewick has 'thrown up' at his computer (his words, not ours) again. In an article titled 'Tradition, right or wrong - but why?', he rails against tradition for the sake of it. Bewick's blog, The Alexander Bewick Soap Box is part of OneLinePULSE Publications, which publishes this and other, partner sites, as well as our 'colour supplement' DominGo, the latest edition of which is delayed for purely humanitarian reasons that we will not discuss here.

World Cup Final: large screen at El Paseo

The 2010 World Cup Final match between Spain and The Netherlands will be projected onto a large screen at Jimena's main square, El Paseo (or more correctly, Plaza de la Constitución) staring at 8pm on Sunday 11. We must all be there wearing red: this is our host country and -unless we're Dutch and since everyone else has been eliminated- this is the time to show our support. If the run up to the finals is anything to go by, this is where it's all happening, particularly if Spain (i.e. we) win. Even Paul the Octopus says Spain will win, so we will. And this is the place in Jimena to celebrate! Let's all be there and hoarse our way to victory!                                                                      

What's a 'verbena'?

It's like a feria, only smaller, more intimate - and much less noisy (well, sort of). It is defined by its size, usually held by, or at, a barrio (section) of a town or village. But why not come and find out for yourself this Saturday, July 10, at Llano de la Victoria, Barrio Alto, in Jimena (that's the top of the village)? It starts at about 7pm (Spanish time...) and goes on 'til late, but it's a nice, neighbourly party - a sort of street party, in fact.

Feria de San Pablo

The feria was held last weekend. Here are all the photos of all the events, thanks to the Jimena Council website and Jacinto Vega, who did the hard work.

More updates for Jimena

JULY 2: The Pensioners' Day Centre in Jimena held its Summer Party which featured a coro rociero from Algeciras (Slideshow here). We were delighted to see a whole bunch of expat residents, many of whom we see there regularly while we rehearse ourselves for the future. The Jimena Solidaria collective gives over 800 kilos of clothes to the Madre Coraje charity of Jerez (Image). If you have any good clothes to give, just take them to the Reina Sofía Cultural Centre and ask where to leave them at the bar.

Jimena updates

Given our horrible hiatus recently (which he hopes gave you, Dear Reader, the same kind of withdrawal symptoms he is currently undergoing, says Prospero) there are lots of things we need to catch up on. As the afternoon/evening progresses, we will add to our posts - some of these require a slide show that we'll put up on a separate page so we don't slow this one down. Watch this space and thanks for your patience. (There are several new items on CampoPulse, which you can check by clicking on them on the 'Did you miss anything on CampoPulse?' feature on the sidebar.)