Fine way to treat the Barcelona homeless

IT seems bizarre to be handing fines out to the homeless for sleeping on the streets, but this is what Barcelona police do with monotonous regularity.

Many, including ombudswomen, think it an absurdity but when did that ever lift the dead hand of bureaucracy?

There are about 1,200 tickets issued each year; many vagrants have been issued with scores of them.

These end up in the litter bins.

There is another farce; a byelaw offers a get out of jail clause; in no case will the fine be imposed on those who are genuinely destitute. In that case most of us will soon be joining these unfortunates.

Photo credit: Melvin Gaal

Britons wot don’t speak English

NINE in 10 Spaniards reportedly feel uncomfortable when attempting to speak English. It is also revealed that 37 per cent of those questioned had been learning the English language for 15 years or more.

I have news for them; they are in good company. Many Britons struggle with it too. I am serious; even television-speak is embarrassing at times; very few Britons speak grammatically correct Queen’s English, which I presume Spaniards are taught.

I have sympathy with those who find their English being tested when in the company of the natives of Essex or plum in the mouth public school types.

Imagine the consternation of a macho Spaniard being addressed as m’dear by a West Countryman? I dread to think of their thoughts when listening to a conversation between Londoners, Yorkshire Tykes or flippant Scousers.

As for their practising their English language skills when sauntering down Glasgow’s Sauchiehall Street; well let’s just not go there.

What a shower!

THREE young Madrid tourists staying at a hotel in Girona, north east Spain, noticed too late a webcam video camera half hidden behind a ventilation panel in their shower.

They have now issued a denuncia; their brief is demanding €20,000 compensation. The young lady is horrified that her image may be circulating on the internet.

It might be all quite innocent; I am sure the hotel staff merely wished to know who was nicking the toiletries.

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