We have lift off!

The work on our new one way system is progressing. Yesterday men arrived with string and spray paint and marked out a path and now the road is being dug up. We are hopeful, especially as it would be economic suicide (loss of blue flag status for the beach being one possibility) if there were access problems once the holiday season begins around easter. However, elsewhere in Chiclana council things remain the same. The governing (again)PSOE has pronounced its Christmas decorations and activities "a success" but the P.P., now back in opposition after a year as the head of a coalition, has described them as "cutre" or "shabby". Not much sign there then of the pulling together for the sake of the economy which the King urged in his New Year address.

Also on the receiving end of criticism is Carme Chacon, the Defence Minister in the Zapatero Government. Her appointment last year didn't go down well with the more reactionary elements in Spanish political life-after all, she's a woman and was heavily pregnant when appointed. None of them seemed to realise that she wasn't actually going to lead the armed forces into battle, simply take political responsibility for them. Now she has upset them again by turning up at the annual Pascua Militar-a military end of year event-dressed not in a long dress, "as protocol demands", but wearing a trouser suit, "de tipo smoquin"-a tuxedo. This has led to "una polemica bastante friqui", according to our local paper-best translated, I would think, as freaking them (i.e. the non-progressives) out. Another case of plus ca change.....