Comments on: Sierra Conversations

By: PattyN

PattyN — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 13:52:40 +0000

Ben – My reading/posting in NFS has really dropped off the past month or two, I think because I don’t care to spend my time on a lot of vitriolic conversation. Glad to see that you are returning NFS to it’s “too nice” roots. I loved the post on tinto de verano and the ice cream vendor.

By: Ben

Ben — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 13:02:19 +0000

@Frank – “You’ll have to bite your tongue, and only praise Spain and all things Spanish from now on.” Don’t worry, I’ll still talk about things I observe that might not be totally positive, but I won’t be moaning.

By: gary

gary — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 10:53:34 +0000

Have to say I reckon the forum content is more or less back to its old self having kept a close eye for the past week or so.

By: frank

frank — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 07:54:49 +0000

“@Jon – "pure enjoyment and appreciation of Spainâ€ returning from now on!”

I agree a lot of the comments got out of hand, but I find it a bit of a whimpish attitude that you feel you cannot comment on any negative thoughts you may have about Spain. I didn’t have you down as a zalamero. You’ll have to bite your tongue, and only praise Spain and all things Spanish from now on. I remember they started a “good news only” paper in UK, but it folded after a very short while! There will always be controversial subjects, but it should be possible to discuss these subjects without it turning into a slanging match, without personal insults being hurled around. We have had reasonable discussion here in the past, it’s only lately when it seems to have gone pear shaped. At the end of the day, we are all here because we either love living in, or visiting Spain. But like anywhere else, it ain’t perfect, but we’ll have to pretend it is from now on.
Anyway, I’m off to read 20minutos now, there’s always something controversial there!

By: Ben

Ben — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 07:06:52 +0000

@Jon – “pure enjoyment and appreciation of Spain” returning from now on!
@pepino – I think you are right, it’s Gordon Brown’s fault

By: Pepino (Dave Hall)

Pepino (Dave Hall) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 21:09:59 +0000

Oh, and as for the recent spate of locura on the forum/blog, I’ll be happy to see a bit of sanity return too. I don’t know what’s got into people lately. I blame global warming, Gordon Brown, and this Euro-copa footbally thingy (in that order)

By: Pepino (Dave Hall)

Pepino (Dave Hall) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 21:07:39 +0000

I’d have had to have told the ice cream guy to shove his Mr Whippy where the sun don’t shine! Feeding pigeons gets me riled up big time :-0 (Mind you, I was poo’d on recently, so I’m baring a grudge against the damn flying rats! jeje).

By: richardksa

richardksa — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 19:21:56 +0000

Item on TV recently about Romanian kids who have only ever known Spain as home being given language and geography lessons before their families return back home. The class shown was quite full.

By: Ray

Ray — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 17:41:23 +0000

@Jon Hundt: The tools were purchased on the company’s account, and assigned by me to the various crews doing different phases of the work. Usually they did a decent job of checking everything back into the locker by the end of shift, but near the end things got a little more chaotic. They were ultimately my responsibility, and I failed to institute a secure program of distribution.

Have you noticed that there a couple of different types of Romanians, that kind of stick to themselves? The gypsy-like Romanians and the other Romanians? And even the gypsy Romanians don’t get along with the Spanish Gitanos?
I am making a gross generalization, I know.

Anyway, during this time of hard-to-find construction management jobs, I have temporarily? moved into the information sector. (Luckily.) The starting pay is waaaaaaay lousy, even for Spain, but at least they’re hiring.

By: Jon Hundt

Jon Hundt — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 17:24:41 +0000

Ray said :

“The workers that wouldn’t talk to me? Well, they just took my tools and disappeared.”

Ray, you are an American working in construction (like me)? Didn’t you learn early on that NOBODY uses your tools except you? And you DON’t leave your tools laying around where others might grab them?

I learned all this long ago when I started out in the USA; here in Holland I am always amazed/amused at the guys who show up without tools/ladders, etc and want to use mine. I’m pretty generous, but I sure keep track of who’s got what, and at the end of the day I make sure I get it all back. The Dutch have a whole different attitude about these things, but I’ll save that for a “Notes From Holland” site.