Hot and flustered

It is so hot right now, temperatures over last weekend reached 32°C and thank goodness for the breeze that always blows here. If not for that, I think I would have melted away to a large puddle!
The island is very quiet and I seem to have spent more nights being cancelled for work than actually working (not something I am used to) and the boredom factor is setting in big time.
My partner is busy so it’s home alone in my big house in the evenings, and I am lost. I have made many friends here whom I know will remain so for a long time to come, but they are usually busy at night or out drinking, which is what I am trying so hard not to do. I have succumbed the odd night it has to be said.
I don’t know what it is about this island that’s different, but it does seem to instil a sense of calm and togetherness into the people that live here. Flaming heck, I am getting spiritual in my old age – or is it those nights in meditating?
One gig I have been doing since I got here is Tommy Nutters at Nuevo Horizonte and the Saturday nights have built up nicely with many residents coming back every week. Gary is a star (manager) as are the owners.
I was gutted this week to get a call telling me they had to cancel all shows due to complaints (resulting in visits from the police) about the noise. Yes guys, it happens here, too.
Being one of my favourite places to work really disappointed, but then remembered that to me it’s just one gig, but to the owners and all the staff it means a big drop in business.
Tommy Nutters’ restaurant next door will continue to do well I am sure and I look forward to nipping in to see everyone there soon.
So it’s back to Tenerife on the weekends for me and I am hoping to pick up a Saturday and Sunday night compering whilst there. I miss Tenerife and my friends there too and also my own place, so I intend to do this for the foreseeable future as well as checking out Lanzarote for one night a week – I’m so lucky!

They say they never lie

Had a ‘wow I am so fat’ shock after seeing a photo of myself which arrived at the radio station this week. Whilst my daughter Shelly and her friend were here I decided to have a laugh with some costumes my friend Carol had made for me – an Abba tribute was the order of the night and a very talented young lady, by the name of Rachael, waded in to help out. I was laughing at the photos and trying to figure out who the person at the back was, when I realised it was me!
What is it in my genes (yes, genes – not jeans, haven’t worn them for a long time) that stops me exercising and turning back into a big blob again?
I have done this three times in my life and every time I suddenly turn around and get zapped into shock by a photo.
Guess where I have been since? Yes, walking, swimming and gyming – but will it last…?
My thanks to Billy Munday (personal trainer) who sent me such an inspiring email. Also, a thank you to Rachael and family for the photos and the good nights. Great to have you listening in to Hot FM.

Togetherness

Which brings me nicely to my next subject – something which I believe is of interest to all the Canary Islands.
I mentioned a lady by the name of Eileen Forrester, on my radio show last Friday. Eileen has been in Fuerteventura for the last four years and before that lived in Tenerife. Over the last couple of years we have all seen a drop in tourism, despite claims by officials this is not the case.
Eileen and myself have been bombarded with calls since the interview so I would like to share a little of it here in The Paper, and await your comments.
Eileen: I am here to share my concerns and my hopes to set up an association of businesses in Corralejo.
Val: Your concerns regarding what?
Eileen: The decline in the number of holidaymakers here. We keep reading in the press that tourism figures are up, so where are these people? We need to find out how the island (in particular Corralejo) is being promoted in Britain - along with other concerns including the amount of all-inclusive complexes and these are impacting on the whole economy from taxi drivers to local shops, bars, restaurants, as well as the domino effect that has on suppliers, etc.
An association of businesses will give us the vehicle to approach the tourism department. We need to all work together as a community and stand alongside each other. It is a cliché but a true one – there is strength in numbers.
Val: Do you really think it will have any effect?
Eileen: If we do nothing then nothing will happen. Fuerteventura is a beautiful island and Corralejo is a contrast of old and new, with lots to offer. We need more people to know this.

I have to say that I agree with Eileen and I know her concerns are mainly with Corralejo but all the Canaries are so wonderful and we all need to pull together to remind everyone else.

And that’s it for now til next edition,
Val Richardson