 Changing Places Week 166 W/C 4th May 2009
We bought a new car - a Seat Altea when we moved to Majorca. A smallish vehicle for our narrow streets and solidarity for the national car maker of our adopted country. We were soon glad that the Seat repair shop was in our street! The times we visited with the recurring fault that used us to stop us dead, were frightening. The car has moved along since those days gathering frequent scratches and bumps which is the badge of all Soller people. Now it is in the garage for long term repair work. The automatic gear box has given up and caused consternation to the manufacturer and insurers. A flawed model or a dodgy gearbox - who knows but we don't like this car anymore. There is no doubt that the eventual replacement will definitely not come from that maker!
The daily drives are to Santa Ponsa where Sun Search is busy managing the fortunes of the Silkin Enterprises. Matthew's London retail management experience is the key that takes this development forward. He is co coordinating huge stocks of teak furniture and interesting pieces of home ware from its storage on the industrial estate to its resting place, in the Silkin shop, near the Ramon de Moncada car park. We have two floors of retail stock and a thriving wholesale business to introduce to Majorca. This is the year that price is a prime consideration and we are quietly confident that quality at such excellent value will be a winner. Rattan, bamboo and teak will be adorning our patios and gardens this year. Not to mention the English Wicker style of home and conservatory furniture. This next project is very exciting and relevant to price conscious 2009
Sun Search is a versatile organisation and part of the great push towards lateral employment thinking in Europe. The days of being one dimensional in employment terms are dead. Sun Search Recruitment continues to find jobs for applicants but the reduction in the number of vacancies means that it is a huge struggle for many people. I took part in a meeting in the local SOIB offices (job centre to you and me) this week to see how recruitment agencies can work with the government organisations to bring vacancies to job seekers. All of us from the government to the private sector are doing all we can. A visit to a Majorcan job centre was a first for me and it was salutary to see so many people there on a Monday morning at the beginning of the tourist season when traditionally they would have expected to be employed. These are very unusual times.
Soller prepares for its annual fiesta this weekend celebrating the age old victory over the pirates. The town divides up and shows by the flags hanging from their windows which side they are on. Granddaughters Kate and Emma have decided to be Moors this year - they say that they know that the Christians always win but the Moors look as though they are having more fun! Our road is on the route from the Port to the Town which the parade uses to get to the final battle. Shooting holes in straw hats and taking plenty of liquid refreshment is the preparation for the final shoot out and the dare devil climbs over the public buildings in the centre of Soller. A spectacle that never fails to thrill - as long as your eardrums can take it.
Last weekend we joined a full house at the Auditorium to see the performance of The Mikado - courtesy of the Centre Stage junior group. Kate was one of the chorus and at only eight had the full experience of a professional theatre and a `full house'. I took my turn in getting her ready and also watched the dress rehearsal in addition to the final performance. I think I know all the words to the Mikado now - and they are many and complicated! This very English use of language must have been very hard for those whose first was not English - well done to them all. What a brilliant achievement to create such an excellent show with such a young cast. Such talent and enthusiasm inspiring the young people of Majorca - they are fortunate indeed.
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