Letters issue 86 & 87

Written by Readers letters

Letters 87
Who are the Pirates?
"Speedferries" operate a fast catamaran ferry service, from Dover to Boulogne. This is a quick, and reasonably cheap way of crossing the channel, even if the vessels are showing some signs of age.

The company slogan is "Beat the Pirates", a reference to their price structure being able to undercut the tunnel, and, major ferry operators. So far so good, but their attitude to customers mirrors that of the budget airlines, "If you have a complaint, we do not want to know".

From time to time, so called, "Supertickets" are on offer. These are "open" tickets, and are supposed to be available for any sailing throughout the year (Don't be fooled by the claims that these are on "limited offer", like the DFS furniture sales in the UK, as soon as one "Sale" ends another begins).

Last September I purchased two return tickets, on the understanding that these were valid until the end of this year. There was no problem when I returned to the UK, in April, but when I tried to make a booking for mid September this year I was told "Your booking has expired".

I sent two, polite, e-mails to the company querying this, but did not even receive the courtesy of a reply. In my opinion, it is Speedferries who are the "Pirates".

Even if it was my fault for not reading the "small print" my booking would have been "out of date" by only two weeks (twelve months from date of booking on 11th Sept. '06). They could have made some gesture, even if only to make a "transfer charge". "Nice people!", recommend them? "Never again"!
John Shorter, Godelleta, Valencia.

P.S Since booked on Seafrance at a better price.

ENGLISH CONVERSATION EXCHANGE

Spanish speaker is looking for an English native speaker interested in a conversation exchange in Ontinyent or surrounding areas. 660316933

Laura Ferrero

PROBLEMS IN CHELLA?
Dear inland trader,
We and our neighbours are having a few problems with our local ayuntamiento. I would like to find out more and see if there are any others having similar problems.
If you have had problems with or are currently having difficulties with the Ayuntamiento, Judge or local Police in Chella - You may not be alone and we would like to find out more please contact Keith on 618007175 or email This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it . Any information will be strictly confidential.
Regards Keith Nicholas.

Radio Alicante International FM broadcasts mostly music for ex pats and Spaniards alike, intermingled with interesting information. From October onwards, we shall be broadcasting via Internet - and you can be sure that we shall keep you informed.

In the meanwhile keep track of following three newsletters (you only need to send an email to be subscribed to them, there is no cost involved):

This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it : what is upcoming, our own monthly newsletter in English with offers, bargains and also free prize draws like one for .... 40 bottles of premium Alicante wine.

This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it : legal information, but in Dutch only. Mainly directed towards the flemish and the dutch with weekly information on what is happening in Spain.

This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it : marketing in Spanish - how to promote your company, how to make more whilst working less, how to treat clients, do promotions, newsletters etc.

Do give us a try - it is well worth it!

Regards

Mark

THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION

Bocairent – Ontinyent – L´Olleria – Xativa

The first informal meeting of the branch will be held on the 20^th of September 07.

The meeting will be held in L´Olleria at the home of Bill and Helen at 12.30hrs.

This will be a get together of all those people who have so far phoned, so if you haven’t contacted us, but are interested in coming why not give us a ring for directions.

We will be having lunch after the meeting at the Hotel San Miguel in L´Olleria.

Remember you don´t have to be ex-service to belong to the Legion, it is open to everybody.

We look forward to hearing from and meeting you all.

Ted 96 213 5474

Bill 96 220 0953

Xativa Social Club/Xativa Fellowship Club

Dates for your Diary.

19^th September will be an activity meeting, Go Karts & Menu del Dia at Villena.

(Please contact Sue or Sandra if you wish to come as numbers are required – you do not have to drive a Go Kart, you are welcome for the Menu del Dia!!!)

Contact Sue Drummond – (96 228 7549 or 6699 62829) or Sandra Kynes – (96 228 1047)

Letters issue 86

Dear Editor,
On 19 July I left Spain for the UK due to family commitments, but before leaving my husband and I made sure our dogs was securely fenced in so that they could have the freedom of the garden while my husband was at work. We even put a security lock on the gate so that no one would be able to let them out, but unfortunately after taking all the necessary precautions to keep our dogs safe, or so we thought, someone shot our pup through the fence on 6 August. She had surgery the next day to remove the pellet. I am appalled at the cruelty. We live in Chella and I hope all animal lovers take heed.
Karla Ryland
Dear Editor,
The news that three teenagers have been charged with the brutal murder of a father of three shocks us all. But we must ask ourselves what influenced these youngsters to act in the way they did? We frequently see violence on television and reality footage of similar scenes, and we are all now aware of the phenomenon of "happy slapping" and such images appearing on social websites. The Prime Minister Gordon Brown recently expressed concern about all the violence "that kids can see so easily now" in the media.
For more than 15 years, Mediawatch-uk has monitored over 1,000 films shown on the five main TV channels, and the most frequently portrayed violence involves firearms and violent assaults. It is precisely these crimes that have risen alarmingly during the same period. More and more people now recognise that media violence has contributed to social violence just as the late Mary Whitehouse, CBE, warned over 40 years ago.
For three years running, the Office of Communications, the regulator, has found that the majority of people believe there is too much violence and swearing on television but has done little to respond to these expressions of public concern. For these reasons, we have launched a new online petition to the Prime Minister calling for a substantial reduction in violence and swearing on TV. If you would like to add your name please, sign our petition
at: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/ViolenceonTV.
We aim to get one million signatures by 8 January, 2008. Please sign today.
Yours faithfully,
John C Beyer.

Dear Sir,
In a quiet moment I caught up on a little reading and came upon your publication for 6th - 19th July. My attention was caught by the article on accents and how people judged them.

No objection to the content until I came to the part about those who spoke the Queen's English. What does that mean ?

The accent referred to would be better described as " far back or top drawer " because there is simply no such thing as the Queen's English.

The written and spoken language of England is known as the King's English, it has been for a long time and always will be.

It originates from the reign of King James the First who decreed that a standard language would be drawn up to allow the printing of The Book of Common Prayer and then the Bible on the printing presses that were coming into use at that time.

This was done and swept aside the various forms of English in use prior to his decree. This is the language we still use.
It does not change with the monarch.

John Christian
Domeno.

p.s.

I'm a Liverpudlian, we're not all thick and can be trusted.

Dear Sir or Madam,
I would like to let your readers know about a blog which I have set up for English speaking expatriates who'd like to share anecdotes about living abroad. http://expatcafe.blogspot.com/
Thank you
Russell DiNapoli

Dear Editor

I have recently moved to Spain and am now the proud owner of a swimming pool.

Question is will I ever be able to keep it looking crystal clean? My husband and I have muddled though over the last couple of weeks, with the help of our son (here on holiday) who had to keep showing us how to use the pump and filter system and understand the PH and …. see I have forgotten again. Any way my point or dilemma is… I have seen many pool products on the market, but which to choose? I have seen adverts for pool magnets, pool stars and a product which uses magnets and electricity called Aquasprite and endless types of chlorine and non chlorine liquids. So many choices and all at very different prices. I think it would be a really good idea if there was some kind of pool chat room where people could discuss what they have used and what they thought was good. At least by the time the summer is back next year this will be one of the many dilemmas

I will have solved.

Thank you

Annie Xativa

Editors response

Hi Annie, yes it is a complicated subject and the idea of pool owners sharing their pool product and cleaning experiences sounds like a good idea. I don’t know of any such chat room, so if any readers do know of one please contact us. Equally, if you have tried products and would like to share your good or bad experiences then please write in to Inland Trader and let us know your thoughts and we will try to publish as many as possible.

Regards

Lou

POST BAG:

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

STRUGGLED WITH THE DESPAIR OF INEFFECTIVE POOL PRODUCTS?

FOUND A GEM OF A PRODUCT THAT REALLY WORKS?

TELL US ABOUT IT!

CALL 962910095

EMAIL This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
WRITE Inland Trader C/Mayans 32 Ontinyent 46870 Valencia.