Club Vista Serena

I'm sure you've all seen it on the news by now, but living so close to it, makes it real.
The fires have affected 10,000 hectars of land, and thousands of people have been made to leave their homes. Imagine what that must feel like. All you have is your house, and now there's a chance that it will be taken from you!
The fires all started on Friday when a forest protection employee started the fire because his work contract was coming to an end! Can you believe that? He thought he'd be able to put the fire out, be a heroe, and get his contract renewed! It's quite ironic really. Now he's been arrested after admitting to starting the fire with matches.
All I can say, is that the Canarian people can't belive what is going on. This morning when I got to work, you could smell the fire, and you could see ash falling from the sky. It's that close.
I think we could do with a little bit of the rain that the UK has been having over the last few weeks.

Well, I said I'd get back to you straight after my 2 days off, but after a surprise visit from our boss yesterday, I never did get round to it.

Believe it or not, I actually did stuff this weekend, and I even got to the beach at Maspalomas!
Saturday night, I had a night in, rented a film, and not much else. On Sunday I went to a BBQ with friends and after to the beach, and on Monday I went to the beach at Amadores. A pretty full weekend! More than what I usually get up to anyhow. And now....I'm back at work!

I've been trying to invent new content for the website today with 'keyword rich' paragraphs. I've not had much luck, I keep getting stuck. I find all this SEO stuff baffling to be honest, and put that together with the fact that it's not one of my most favourite jobs to do, I feel as if I'm up the creek without a paddle! All I want is to start appearing in the search results without having to spend hundreds of Euros on Google's sponsered link programme, but it's just not happening. I'll have another stab at it tomorrow, but I'm no Internet genius, so I've got no idea whether what I'm doing is any good or not. It's like this Blog...is what I'm doing here really worthwhile? I've really got to study this more and look out for tips on Blogging on the Internet, but I just can't find the motivation.
I enjoy writing and expressing myself, but sometimes the words aren't there, or I don't know what to write about, and I start waffling - a bit like what I'm doing now...sorry!

I'm going to put this on my 'to do' list for tomorrow...find out about Blogs, and finish modifications with website content....I'll let you know how it goes....

I don't know about any of you that live over here in Gran Canaria, but at the weekends I just can't be bothered to do anything! You'd think that because I live over here I'd have a year round tan, go to the beach every day after work and at the weekend, and live a holiday life!
Well, it's just not true! I should be going off to the beach at Maspalomas, Playa del Ingles, Puerto Rico, Amadores, or Mogán, but instead I'm at home watching TV, taking the dogs for a walk, and pigging out!
I always have the intention of doing something, I just never get round to it. To be honest, I don't know why because the TV at the weekend is rubbish!
I've got the next 2 days off and I've no idea what to do. I don't fancy going shopping because it's sale time, and the shops are packed, I don't really fancy going to the beach, because it's July and the beaches will be over run by the people from Las Palmas...so what's left? Any ideas would be appreciated!
I'm back into work on Tuesday, so I'll give you a run down of what I get up to....probably just a few beers sat in front of the telly!

There are lots of things that annoy me, but I can't blame it on the Island or the people, it's just that I'm from a different country, and I'm used to different things, so sometimes it's hard to adapt and accept.

I'm sure if you asked anyone who knows me they'd say that I have more or less adapted to the life here in Gran Canaria, which is true, but...that's because I keep my mouth shut a lot of the time.

Let's see...here's a list of the little things that annoy me:

• Rudeness - there's not enough 'pleases' and 'thank yous' going on over here
• The Service Sector - in many places customer services is pretty non-existent. I'm not asking for the over the top American 'have a nice day!' treatment, all I'm asking for is a bit of politeness and understanding.
• Supermarkets - in particular the Hiperdino supermarket in front of my house. I shop there because it's convenient, but it drives me mad! Many of the employees are miserable, they can't even break a smile for you. What really annoys me though is that there are about 20 checkouts, and the maximum I've seen open at any one time is about 4. Now, you just don't get that at Sainsbury's or Morrison's do you??
• Canarian holiday makers - A Canarian family reserve an apartment for 4 people, and 24 turn up on your doorstep loaded up with shopping bags full of food from Hiperdino, inflatable rubber rings, 3 dogs, and a BBQ. Nightmare!
• No choice - although I like the fact that over here we're about 10 years behind everybody else (which means less crime, etc), there's no variety food wise, clothes wise, anything wise, really. I mean, these people would have a whale of a time in Meadowhall!!!
• No respect - although I speak Spanish fluently, by looking at me, you know I'm not Spanish. Fair skin, blue eyes, light hair. What does this mean? Well, it means that sometimes that I get treated unfairly, the 'stupid tourist' kind of treatment, which really makes my blood boil!

I could probably go on a bit more, but I wouldn't want to offend! He! He! He! All in all I can't complain, things back in the UK aren't all smelling of roses either I suppose!

Tomorrow I'll make a list of the things that don't annoy me/I like....see if it's any longer than this one!