Mr Bean replaces Spanish PM on EU presidency site

This is from the BBC News website today.

Mr Bean replaces Spanish PM on EU presidency site

Some say that Mr Zapatero (below) bears an uncanny resemblance to Mr Bean.

Visitors to Spain's EU presidency website have been greeted by an image of hapless fictional character Mr Bean instead of Spain's Socialist leader.An unidentified hacker briefly hijacked the site on Monday, replacing Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero with that of a bumbling comedy buffoon.

In Spain, the similarity between Mr Zapatero and the Mr Bean actor Rowan Atkinson, is a long-standing joke.

The government said the site itself, www.eu2010.es, had not been attacked.

In a statement, it said that a hacker had taken a screenshot of the homepage to make a photo montage.

"The alleged attack exploited a vulnerability called cross-site scripting," it said.

For most visitors, this meant that a smiling Mr Bean replaced Mr Zapatero, complete with a benign smile and the words "Hi there".

In a recent edition of El Pais, Mr Zapatero was depicted as Mr Bean in a cartoon above an article that was highly critical of his handling of the economy in Spain, where unemployment has reached almost 20%.

Spanish Recession - 1

A friend of mine in Canada sent me the article below.

Will Spain be miserable this year. This could be a nice thread for the blog.

Spain tops 'misery' list

Like a Lonely Planet guide for unhappy places, Moody's has compiled a list of miserable countries for 2010 -- something to keep in mind for the new year if you're going to travel but don't want it to lift your spirits.

Spain tops the "misery index" because, in spite of its sun-drenched landscapes, world-class museums and mind-boggling ancient architecture, its economy is the most dismal according to the index, which combines unemployment rates with budget deficits to arrive at some not-very-encouraging numbers.

Other economies high on the 16-country misery tour are Latvia, Lithuania, Ireland and Greece. The U.K. is the most miserable G-7 country, at No. 6 on the index, with the U.S. in seventh.

The Moody's gauge follows a tool created by U.S. economist Arthur Okun in the 1970s that adds unemployment and inflation rates to grade an economy's level of misery.

The leaking Pool

---- were the water usually is

---- after 24hours of leakage (and its a big pool)

We had been away from Spain for the whole of December and only got back on the 1st January. We had been in the UK all of that time, doing family things and other ex work-related tasks. We were both glad to get back.

Things looked perfectly normal, however, The Lady of the Villa checked the electricity meter (hardly moved) as we had switched everything off bar the alarms and the fridge. The water meter was a different thing it had registered that we used 4.5 cubic meters of water per day while we were away. How? nothing was left on and there were no leaks in the house.

The meter was still going round after we checked everything in the house, that left the pool. Sure enough the auto fill on the pool was going. Again Why as the weather was not hot enough to evaporate the water. We closed down the auto fill and waited a day.

As expected the pool level dropped (see photo). This meant that while we were away the pool, which, is buried in the ground, had sprung a leak (where the water was going I don't know) and had been auto filling.

The total cost over 200 euros to be found in our next bill.

I have called out some pool people to find the leak. Hope they get here soon before the pool empties.

Liverpool

I watched Liverpool versus Reading last night. I have been a Liverpool supporter for over 50 years, when they were in the 2nd Division as it was called then. Watched them through the thick and now the thin. We still have our season tickets in the Centenary stand although using them from Spain would be expensive!

SAF has really and truly knocked us off our perch and as I watch over the last 20 years I just see my teams football decline and no matter what the managers do we cant get our football right.

Currently we seem to play a the level or just below the level of our opponents. Reading 20th in the Championship (old 2nd Division) more than matched us and could have won. When we play United we up our game and win 2-0. Only once this season have we played at the level expected by the fans and beat Hull scoring 6 goals.

Why oh Why cant we play at a proper "Liverpool level" for most of the season?

Answers on a postcard to R Benitez LFC Anfield.

Driving in Spain - Medical Test

Driving in Spain is a must. Just like the UK you cant get very far or get where you are going quickly by public transport. So you need a car.
I like driving so it will become a regular post on this blog. To give some idea of the regulations the expats have to be aware of, if not follow I append the Medical Test Details.

I only know of 1 person who has actually done this.

Driver Medical Test: British Drivers in Spain

HELPSHEET A: Information about the Driver Medical Test for British Drivers in Spain

1. WHAT IS THE DRIVER MEDICAL TEST?

The Driver Medical Test in Spain is known as the Psicofísica. It is a very simple test which is designed to check vision and anticipation skills. The test usually lasts under 20 minutes and usually consists of two tests, a vision test similar to those in opticians, and an anticipation test at a computer (no computer skills or knowledge is needed, although if you do not understand Spanish, it may be a good idea to bring an interpreter or someone who can help you with the instructions).

2. DO I NEED TO TAKE THE TEST?

A law was passed in Spain on 8th May 2009, which has the following paragraph in Spanish (translation below):
´El titular de un permiso de conducción expedido en uno de estos Estados que haya adquirido su residencia normal en España quedará sometido a las disposiciones españolas relativas a su período de vigencia, de control de sus aptitudes psicofísicas y de asignación de un crédito de puntos´.

This translates as follows: ´The holder of a European Driving License who is normally resident in Spain is required to adhere to Spanish regulations relating to the period of validity, to the control of their psycophysical aptitudes, and to the assignment of point credit´.

Regarding the Medical test, this appears to effectively mean that:

If you have a Residencia Card / Certificate and are normally resident in Spain, then your UK driving license will only be valid (and therefore your insurance will only be valid) if you take a Psicofísica Test in the same way that a Spanish person would.

If you are a Resident and have never taken this test while living in Spain, then the law would appear to suggest that your driving license and therefore your insurance are entirely invalid. If you have already taken this Medical test in the past, then you should take another test:

- Every 10 years if you are aged between 18-45,
- Every 5 years if you are aged between 45-70,
- Every 2 years if you are aged over 70.

3. WHERE CAN I TAKE THE TEST?

There are a number of accredited locations to take the Test, and a test usually costs around 30 Euros per person.

Trafico publishes a list of all accredited centres (see the link below). The Trafico list is designed as an easy to use clickable map. Just click on the province where you live, choose the phrase ´Provincia´ and you will see the full list of all centres in your area.

Some of these centres may speak English fluently. Some centres may require you to make an appointment first, so it is always a good idea to phone before you arrive.

You will usually need to show your ID (Residencia, NIE and Passport), and supply two passport photographs. You will also need to bring both parts of your new photo driving license. For holders of old licenses, it is a good idea to check with a local legal advisor as to whether or not you need to change or renew your license before taking the test.

You can find the full Trafico list on the Trafico Website by clicking HERE.

NB If you are taking the test in order to apply for a new license, you should take the test in the same province as the province in which you live and will apply for the license.

4. OTHER INFORMATION

The Law mentioned in this website also includes a number of other notes. One of these mentions that if you have an EU Driving License without an expiry date, then you may have to renew this license (to a Spanish one) within two years of arriving as a resident in Spain.

Always check with your legal advisor. If they ask the name of the law, then quote this name:

Real Decreto 818/2009, de 8 de mayo, por el que se aprueba el Reglamento General de Conductores.

Initial Post

This Blog is about our life in Spain. We, I, Spenner and the Lady of the Villa have been living in Spain for 3 years. The blog entries although starting in 2010 will cover not only future but historic events not in chronological order.

We live in the Orihuela Costa area of the Alicante region. I am not going to say more than that. Over the coming postings it may be possible to identify my location and even my address (which is more than the Correos can do – more of them later). But to save blushes from myself and the others I will mention in the posts I will be less than specific about some details on locations and names.

My wife, The Lady of the Villa, will appear from time to time as will the villa we live in as will the urbanization it resides in and I will endeavor to be mysterious about exact names and locations.