The Crisis Bites Hard

The economic crisis is hitting Spain very hard. Some say that the effect is being felt harder in this economic zone, especially if we look to the rising tide of unemployed. For a little background perspective we need look no further that the building industry.

When we arrived here ten years ago crime, especially against homes was flourishing. So many people were without work that if you had a home and others didn’t, you were considered fair game. Then came the change from pesetas to euros. That had the effect of forcing a mountain of money out into the open. It had been a form of national sport to cheat the taxman, so money that was held in cash behind all that ironwork covering doors and windows of people’s homes had to be converted into euros. Simply taking it to the bank was not an option as the game would have been exposed. Instead, people did a very strange thing with it: they bought property and built towers for business or for homes, and they also bought expensive cars and yachts, etc. In other words, secret money was turned into very obvious things.

However, the building boom didn’t stop once the changeover to the euro was complete. New developments continued at an alarming pace. The value of real estate rocketed and a lot of people got very rich in the process. Personally, I could not see what was driving the runaway development. It was all around us in our little town of L’Eliana. So much new building was taking place at the same time, the sky was dotted with building cranes, as though they were television antennas.

When I asked who would inhabit all the new buildings people would simply shrug their shoulders. It was hoped that people from Madrid would invest their money in second homes that gave them access to the beaches of Valencia, but other than that there was a definite shortage of warm bodies.

But now all of that has come to a grinding halt. Many building projects have simply been put on hold until circumstances allow for their completion, and new projects are simply not being started except in very few cases. Added to all of that misery is the huge inventory of unsold properties.


That has led to the loss of so many jobs that were held by workers directly involved in building, as well as those in support. This does not augur well for Spain. It suggests coming days of darkness in the near future. Many people who came to Spain in search of work from elsewhere in Europe have either returned home or gone to other countries. Needless to say crime is on the upsurge.

One sector that is being hit hard is that involving driving licenses. Driving schools are seeing their student enrolments falling off. To keep their customers the schools are having to allow credit terms. I have just read that proof of the situation can be seen clearly in the examination centre at El Saler in Valencia where crowds of people would be found all day to take their theory exams or their practicals. Apparently, now by noontime the place is deserted.

The irony is that Trafico has been making it ever more difficult for people to get a pass. Now it seems that circumstances external have taken over that limit the number of new drivers on the road. However, that only means that there will be fewer legal drivers, although to be caught driving without a permit and/or insurance means going straight to jail from the car.


Copyright © 2009 Eugene Carmichael

The Perfect Student Driver

To the Perfect Student Driver-Congratulations!

Our son, Nathaniel, came home today and declared that he had passed his practical driving test for a car license. I might have been terrified had he his eyes on my car, however I drive a Volvo so I don’t have to worry, but his mother drives a Seat Leon so I think she may be a little concerned. Maybe that’s why in a week’s time he will be off to Australia.

Most parents complain when they are caught up in the act of providing taxi services for their children, but they forget that there is something even worse that’s to come. That is when the kids get their own driving permits.

This is intended to be a homage to our son because he has a perfect record in the matter of gaining his permits to travel independent of us. First there was the case of getting a permit to ride a moped when he was fourteen. That really did not require much from him at all. But that’s the problem, very young children go out on the road on their slow moving mopeds, and far too many don’t get to grow up.

Next came his desire to move up to 125 cc motorbikes. To do that he was required to sit a theory examination that was in two parts. The first part was regarding the motorcycle aspect, and the second part was for motor-cars. I don’t know what the thinking is other than perhaps he will be circulating along motorways and should know the rules for that. Both examinations must be sat on the same day at different times. Most people fail them both, or pass one and fail the other. Nathaniel passed them both on the first try.

Then came the practical test for the bike that was difficult enough then, but has become even more difficult today. He passed that on the first try. So far, so good! He is showing off his Carmichael mettle.

That was almost two years ago. He has had to wait until attaining his eighteenth birthday before he could go anywhere trying his hand at driving a car. Having already passed the theory test he had only to successfully complete the car practical. He has worked hard, both with myself and with the driving instructor from the school. Here in Spain we are not allowed to enter the road system with a student driver, as is the case in Britain. Therefore, experience comes very expensively as every time out has to be paid for. There are so many little things that can go wrong to trip the student up.

The first one is nerves. Even I, a veteran driver of over 50 years felt a rush of nerves as I thought wouldn’t it be so embarrassing if I were to fail after having been a driver for so long. The fact is that most experienced people would fail had they to take a new test. We build up such a list of bad habits and they come into play when the driving gets tough. Those are the things the examiner looks for in such drivers.

I digress to tell the tale of the lady friend who had to be tested for a Spanish license and just couldn’t get a passing grade. So, on her fourth try she had a vodka and tonic before the test and sailed right through.

There were several things that conspired to foul me when I was being tested. Firstly the examiner had me turn left through a purpose built break in the median, something I would never do on my own, but I did it to his satisfaction. Then, while driving along the one-way street I came upon a truck parked partly on a pedestrian crossing. I couldn’t see whether anyone was using it so I stopped as though it was in use. Just as well as out stepped a lady while I was stationary. Then as I proceeded a small dog ran out between the cars, but my calm speed made sure I was not going to hit it. Then, I had to turn away from the lane that I had been instructed to drive as the police had cordoned it off, and that put me in a proper fix to get back on track. But, all was accomplished with aplomb as I had long stopped worrying about my passenger.

For our son to pass his practical on the first try gave him a perfect track record, which is something of a rarity, and for us we are so very proud of him. That augurs well for his chosen path in life. At the moment he is keen of working in medicine. It is clear to us that when he puts his mind to something he can get it right.

So I think that we can expect great things from our young man. Australia will help to shape him and the future for him looks rosy and bright. I think he can be whatever he decides he wants to be.

Good luck Nathaniel! We love you and you do us proud!


Copyright © 2009 Eugene Carmichael

Another Cautionary Tale

Driving in Spain

A friend called me recently while somewhat distressed. A Guardia Civil officer was in the process of writing her a ticket because she was carrying something in her boot that was too large, and consequently she was travelling with the boot open. It was on this basis that she was fined. However, a re-reading of the Highway Code does not show this as an offence. Fundamentally, the law wants us to employ a van or truck when we have items of such volume that would make this necessary and common sense. We are allowed to carry certain goods on the top of our cars, even if they protrude to the front and extend to the back.

What then is so special about travelling only with the boot firmly closed? The answer could be that under such circumstances the car is pulling inside poisonous carbon monoxide. However, this can be offset somewhat by opening all the car windows so that it won’t likely kill those inside, but nonetheless an effect could be that of impairing the driver’s concentration.

We cannot see any other reason for the officer making out a ticket, so perhaps he was in reality making an effort to save the lives of people. I’m sure that the way things work in Spain not every officer would see this as an offence, but it is worth be aware that unlike England and America where no one thinks twice about driving with the boot open, but Spain is apparently different.

Copyright © 2009 Eugene Carmichael

Yes! We Can!

Our pledge to make 2009 the year of the least number of collisions.

Yes! We Can!

The world seems to be falling apart before our very eyes. Everywhere we look, in the financial sector, the political sector, socially, in religion, and anywhere else, things that can be called traditional are breaking down. However, there is one area that each of us have the power within our grasp to affect. We can determine that we are not going to become a mere statistic this year, nor are we going to put others in that category. No one else can drive for us therefore it is up to us to do it right. Stay off the mobile phone while underway in your car. Mankind was not made to always be contactable. Turn the thing off and relax and concentrate on what you are doing behind the wheel.

Never allow yourself to become drowsy while driving. Stop and rest. Better still, get a good night’s rest beforehand and eat lightly while completing your voyage. Never drink alcohol or take drugs, legal or otherwise, that will impair your judgment. If you don’t want to do these things for yourself, do them for that one special person for whom the sun shines from your eyes.

Try not to overtake along two-way road systems just because you are impatient with the slow pace of the driver in front of you. Head-on collisions happen on such roads and can be avoided completely if you practise patience.

If you are a cyclist or a motorcyclist and you want to avoid being hit by a motorist who “just didn’t see you” wear a reflective jacket over your other gear. “Be Seen to be Safe.”

When you find yourself saying that it’s just too much trouble to do any of these things, repeat after me: “Yes! We Can! “Yes! I can!”

Copyright © 2009 Eugene Carmichael