At last some Answers to Questions

This morning I had a meeting with the Comarc de Montsia's Director of Immigration. This is the meeting I have been waiting for since January, when I started this blog. He has promised to arrange a further meeting within two weeks, with himself, myself and a number of agencies who can at last answer our enquiries and give us updated local information 'on tap'.

So at last it looks like I will have regular updates on here for you all.

Thank you all for your patience while I have sorted this out. Obviously persistence does eventually pay off here.

St Jordi

On Wednesday 23rd April the Catalan people celebrate Dia de St Jordi (St Georges Day). Like the UK St George is also the patron saint of Catalunya, this day is celebrated like St Valentines day in the UK.

But the tradition is slightly different, and personally I think better. So for you guys you need to buy your girl a single red rose, and the girls need to buy their guy a book.

There are many book markets open throughout the day, including in the school playground over the lunchtime period. But one of the main ones is in Amposta in the Castell area (old town), from 11am to 2pm then 5pm until 9pm. The roses can also be bought at the book markets - so no excuses this time guys.

I am not sure if any of the book stalls will sell books in English, but if you enjoy cooking and gardening, then you are sure to find books of interest to you, however you need to get your dictionary out as these will be in Catalan, but what better excuse do you need to improve your language skills.

Enjoy, and happy St Jordi day to you all

Driving in Spain on a UK Driving License

Over the past couple of days, I have been hearing the story of an English woman in the south of Spain being involved in a car accident, where the Police asked for her car documents, driving liecense and Spanish medical certificate, confirming she was fit to drive on Spanish roads. When she could not produce the Spanish medical certificate she was fined 5000 euros for not having one.

So, today I went to a local Gestor and asked him if this medical certificate was compulsory for driving on an English License here. His reply was that you can drive a UK or Spanish registered car on a UK Euro License quite legally here, and there is no compulsory obligation to take and pass the Spanish medical. However, he recommends that any person driving on a UK driving license takes the medical and gets the certificate which costs about 30 euros, as more and more police are requesting to see this certificate.

You will need to take your residency card or passport, two photos, and your driving license with you and the medical consists of an eye test, blood pressure check, and a perception computer based test. It takes about 15 minutes, and can obviously save you quite a few thousand euros. Amposta has two testing centres that I know of, the first is next to Mercadona and the second is GAM near to the Cafoc Ferriertia on Ave De la Rapita.

In my mind it has got to be worth it.

New Catalunya Forum

There is a new Catalunya Forum available at the link below. This has been set up by locals here in Freginals, so please take a look and join in the Forum

www.catalunyacommunity.com

Extension of El ports National Park

This afternoon two Agents Rural came up to our house, to confirm what buildings etc where on the land and to look at the forested part of our land. This is in preparation for the extension of the El Ports National Park into this valley.

They asked to see any plans of our land from Base, as well as looking around our land, and advising us that because some of our land is now forested, and has not been worked for a number of years, we would now require a license to clear it from Amposta, as the classification has changed. Any land already cleared and in production does not need this license and can be worked as normal.

We were also asked if we had added any building since the last survey, and that in future any alterations or additions will need planning permission from the local adjuntment, as the area was to become the national park and rules in national parks are very very strict.

These agents were very very nice, and offered advice and also left a phone number should we have further questions. The details they left are for Medi Ambient at c/Burgos 17, Amposta. Telephone no 977707320.

Re:Parcel

'Dad' of Freginals has now been located and will be reunited with his birthday present later today. Thank you to everyone for helping with this, especially Nigel for making us aware of the problem through the blog - Thanks Nigel.

Have you lost an expected Parcel!!

Today, at the Post Office Nigel was given a parcel addressed to 'Dad, Freginals'. Xavier the postman gave it to Nigel because he regularly receives post incorrectly addressed to him. The parcel was opened and it contains a present and a card, addressed again to Dad, and signed by two females.

If you think this parcel belongs to you, please contact Nigel directly on 977 053 057 within the next seven days, at which point if it remains unclaimed he will return it to the post office.

Please let others who may not have access to the internet, and this site know about this parcel. Thank you.