El Realejo, Granada, May 2005
El Niño de las Pinturas
A bit of free publicity. See above pic and this link http://www.elninodelaspinturas.com
Next time you are in Granada, look around you at the graffiti - if it's pleasing to the eye, it's probably El Niño.

Cariocas or Pois or Kiwido

Am finally going to buy me some "cariocas" (that's what they are called here in Spain, not sure what the Anglophiles call 'em). The first time I tried them I got a bit over excited and ended up with a bruised eye and a massive blister on my finger. Its the hippy within me. And the artist of course.. But after another hour of practice I think I'm getting the hang of it. Anyway, they are bloody expensive - 20 euros for 2 balls with ribbon attached! Blimin eck!, I hear you cry. OK, maybe not, perhaps you are saying "yawn yawn, time to move on to a more interesting blog"

Metro de Madrid

After over a year of travelling to work on the Metro de Madrid, line 10, I have discovered some important rules of conduct which I thought only fair to share with any newcomers to Madrid and anybody who hasn’t quite got the hang of it yet.

• As the train comes into the platform be sure to stand right in front of the doors, forming a human wall with your fellow travellers and don’t budge when someone tries to get off the train.
• Do not wait until everybody has got off the train before boarding, if they are not quick enough that’s their problem.
• Remember – if ten people get off a packed train only five will be able to get on (something to do with magnetic forces underground.)
• Once on the train don’t move into the empty space in the middle. Keep as close to the doors as possible, so that you are all squashed in like sardines between the two sets of doors. And put up resistance if someone attempts to push past to get to that space at the back (it’s reserved for something, I’m not sure what.)
• Even when the train is packed full and there are four people per square metre, insist on reading your book or newspaper while it’s sticking in someone’s back/face/chest. Exert your right to read!
• Always stand on the left hand side of a busy escalator.

These simple rules help to make the metro journeys in the morning that little bit more pleasant and I hope we can all make the effort to follow them.

Be Free

Singing in public

Why is it OK for children to sing in public but not adults? If someone heard me singing in the shower they would think I was in a good mood, but if I started to sing on the train or at the bus stop people would think I was mentally unstable. Its not fair. Why does society force us to hide our feelings of joy? Sometimes you just feel like singing and you can't. This must be bad for your health.

And skipping. Do you never feel like skipping along the road when you are feeling happy? But you dont do it in case someone sees you. You can just about get away with it if there is someone with you but if you're on your own you'll get really funny looks.

We have to stop letting ourselves be repressed by stupid unwritten rules or we will all end up with depression.