No Smoking

I must first confess that I am an ex-smoker, albeit of almost 20 years or should that be I am smoker but don’t want one now thanks, I am still taking one day at a time. I don’t want to preach like an ex smoker but here goes.

There have been all sorts of arguments about the new no smoking laws in Spain. Many bars and restaurants are saying that it will ruin their business as the clients will no longer come to their venues and they don’t want to stand outside and smoke. This is probably true but there is also the argument that people who would not normally frequent these establishments will now do so, as they can breathe easier, will not have smoke puffed over their expensive meal out and will not have their clothes reeking of smoke at the end of the evening. Yes, I am now firmly in the second category but really only since the law has been introduced and made me think more seriously about the issues. This petty argument will go on forever and there will never be a conclusive solution while it is thought of at this level. Surely the concerns are far greater than that.

Yes I can hear many of you say what about our freedom to choose. But most smokers have already lost that freedom by their addiction. They are unable to stop smoking no matter how much they say “I don’t need it” or “I can give up tomorrow”, they are kidding themselves not anybody else. I know this, as for at least 10 years I said the same.

Isn’t it time we all woke up and realised that this is another drug that would never be allowed to be introduced in the 21^st century. Can you imagine Peter Stuyvesant walking up to the WHO and saying I’ve got this great product that will help employment all around the world through farming and production plants in underdeveloped countries, plus it is a pleasurable pastime that helps social bonding in pubs and restaurants. The only side effect is that you smell a bit afterwards. I don’t think so. It has been proven time and again that the costs to society as a whole are far greater than will ever be recovered by the taxes that are received from packets of cigarettes. Below are listed some facts form the WHO* web site based on the UK alone, what cost then to society in countries where the taxes aren’t so great on cigarettes. It is clear if we looked at it from this point the non-smokers are contributing to the smokers’ tax liabilities.

But surely the real concerns are bigger than that? Let’s get back to the no smoking laws that are creeping in like a North sea fog across the world, shouldn’t we all consider the real issues? Smoking kills and we all know it. Smoking damages your health and we all know it. Cigarette companies can try to convince us otherwise until they are blue in the face but without a doubt it is something that is not good for you. Yes there will be short term losses for bars and restaurants but if in the long run people live a bit longer isn’t that better? Our children grow up with one less killing temptation put under their noses, isn’t that better? Our environment improves, isn’t that better? And yes, taxes get reduced, isn’t that better?

It’s about time we all thought of the long term implications rather than the current short term problems. Would it not be far better for future generations to grow up in a smoke free world? I think so.

*From the World Health Organisation web site: The United Kingdom provides examples of the burdensome cost of smoking to society. Treating smoking-related illnesses in England is estimated to have cost the National Health Service (NHS) £2.7 billion per year in 2006–2007: more than £50 million each week. In 2009, smoking accounted for 5% of all hospital admissions of adults aged 35 and over in England (462 000). Illnesses among children from exposure to second-hand smoke cause an estimated 300 000 visits to general practitioners and about 9500 hospital admissions in the United Kingdom each year.

While the taxation of tobacco in the United Kingdom contributes around £10 billion annually, the overall economic costs of tobacco use to society have been estimated to be £13.74 billion. These societal costs comprise not only treatment of smoking-related illness but also the loss in productivity from smoking breaks and increased absenteeism, the costs of cleaning up cigarette butts and fighting smoking-related house fires, and the loss of economic output from people who die from diseases related to smoking or exposure to second-hand smoke.

Fantastic views in Randa

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Cura

Situated in the middle of the island this hemitage, at 548 metres high, commands fantastic and unparalleled views across Mallorca. The vista includes Palma and the southwest, the complete range of the Tramuntana Mountains and from the bay of Alcudia all the way around to the island of Cabrera off the south coast. Take a trip out and wander around the old monastery which was restored early in the 20^th century, although I don’t think they had planned for the eyesore that is the soft drinks machine in the main courtyard! There is a restaurant & bar situated within the complex both sharing a terrace area, weather permitting, with part views across the south and south west. The restaurant looked to serve typical Mallorcan fare, including Lechona. (any reviews out there?)

Added in 1947, the Sanctuary has accommodation in what are described as cells. Sadly looking at the photos on the reception window the word cells seemed somewhat apt although the prices would appear quite competitive at around 20€ a head per night.

There is also a gift shop which looked slightly depleted when we were there and a hotel reception with extra information, but typically on a Sunday morning when most of us can get a trip out these were both closed although the bar was open.

It is a great shame that this wonderful landmark site is yet to catch up with the 21^st century but on a clear day the drive up there, which is far from arduous, is well worth it regardless of its failings.

Only 20 minutes or so out of Palma, you can find the sanctuary on the road between Llucmajor and Algaida.

Haiti Benefit Concert

A total of 6.455€ raised in aid of the Médicos sin Fronteras Haiti Appeal


Palma Chamber Players – Palma Aquarium 30 Jan 2010 ©Red Dot Rogan Photography 2010 - All Rights Reserved. Left to right -Gina Nicola (Violin), Paula Marqués (Violin), Javi Arnal (Oboe), Dimitri Struchkov (Cello), Miguel Arola (Viola) and Philip Dawson (Bass).

On Saturday 30 January 250 people attended a concert by the Palma Chamber Players (chamber music sextet) which took place in the Ocean Room at Palma Aquarium in aid of Médicos sin Fronteras (Doctors without Borders) in collaboration with Jellyfish Events and Palma Aquarium. The event’s objective was to raise money to support the ongoing work of Médicos sin Fronteras in Haiti following the aftermath of the devastating Earthquake on 12th January.

The support of the public was overwhelming with tickets completely selling out. The 6.455€ raised included the ticket revenue and extra donations made on the evening along with a generous donation of 3.700€ by BIC (Balearic International College) who raised the money with a non-uniform day and a donation of 300€ by the Ramon Llull Lodge of Freemasons.

The recital included well know pieces by Mozart, Pachelbel, Albinoni, Purcell, Barber and the famous sound track of the film “The Mission” by Morricone. After the concert the attendees enjoyed an opportunity to visit “The Big blue”, the deepest shark aquarium in Europe.

If you would like to be updated on further concerts by the Palma Chamber Players - please send your name & email address to: info@jellyfishevents.com

Status Quo 9 September 2009

Many years ago a great friend of mine became a Status Quo fan, he was a bit of a rocker and it was in 1973 with the hit single Caroline when he really started pushing this band with songs that rocked but really all sounded a bit similar. Caroline was their first real hit and it wasn’t until the end of ’74 that they had their one and only number one single with Down Down albeit there was a lot of top 20 hits in between and around these. (Technically incorrect I know.)

But that’s all bullshit really, as what they are really about is live performances. Since the early 70’s they have had a loyal following of fans and more recently they have packed arenas including Glastonbury with their fantastic live performances. These guys, 2 of which (Rossi and Parfitt) have been the mainstays of the band since 1968 opened one of the biggest concerts of all time and actually created the Live Aid anthem with their rendition of Rocking all over the world. Watching them perform at the Palma Arena you understand why they have done so well and why they have such a good following. A bit like Deep Purple who appeared in the same venue last year they are pros. They have spent their careers making and performing music and their professionalism and sheer enjoyment shines through. In reality the music is a bit samey but because of the execution you find it difficult to fault. If you are any sort of music lover, and I am, you just could not help but shout, cheer, whistle and clap to what is one of the best live bands to have come out of the UK. Yes I loved Deep Purple and thought that their classics were classics but they did not have me jumping like these guys, just wonderful stuff and I could always do with more like this.

The biggest disappointment for me was the lack of numbers, probably around 2000, at the concert. including the lack of locals at the concert, was this because they felt the tickets were too expensive or something else?

The Hot Club of Cowtown - August 9 2009

Appearing for the first time in Spain, a very excited threesome played some great music on Saturday night in the almost surreal surroundings of Bellver Castle, Palma, Mallorca.
Another of Tomeu Gomila's excellent Waiting for Waits concerts with a band that you had never heard of before he announced they were coming but one that you will not forget. Having just completed a comprehensive tour of the UK these guys detoured via Mallorca on their way back to the USA - thanks.
Probably one of the first times a country/jazz/swing sound has been heard in the round castle walls and it was well received by a mixed audience; all ages and from Mallorca and other parts of the world judging by the voices around me. The star of the show has to be Elana James and her fantastic and totally competent fiddle playing along with a good Texas singing voice, a voice that would have you crying in your beans whilst on the trail with your 10000 head of steer or maybe make you have a docey-doe with the guy next to you or whatever you do on those long drives across the plains of the Lone Star state to the rail head but you would definitely be smiling and foot tapping.
Not that I should major on her competence alone because the two guys are both outstanding musicians, Whit Smith on guitar and vocals and Jake Erwin on bass and vocals.
The finale of Orange Blossom Special finished of what was a top night, a tune I'd not heard in a long while and it was one of the best renditions I have ever heard.
If you get a chance go see!

Tony Hadley - July 11 2009

What a voice! One of my favorite concert venues, Claustre de Sant Domingo in Pollença, was the venue for this, the second of the Pollença Festival 2009 concerts. The concert was opened by the excellent Barcelona Jazz Orchestra with a couple of numbers which showed us (again) how good they are. (See the September 2007 entry) A total of 16 extraordinary jazz musicians who throughout the concert were really enjoying themselves.
Mr Hadley came on dressed for the occasion in a fitting black suit but would probably have been happier wearing shorts and a t-shirt as it was a little warm. But this did not stop him belting out same top jazz standards and letting us hear just how good a range his voice has got. One of the best vocalists I have heard live in a long while. He included three Spandau Ballet tracks in his set, Gold, True and to start with Only when you leave. The arrangement of True being very jazzy but still very good, whilst the other two being pretty faithful to the original Spandau versions. His performance of Gold was just brilliant showing it is not only in the writing but his voice which made this the incredible hit that it was originally in 1983 and the standard radio play that it has become over the years since then. It would be one of my Desert Island discs without a doubt.
A very accomplished performance by the Spandau Ballet lead singer just wish the audience would have got up on their feet a bit earlier so we could have bopped around a bit more.
Well done to Linda & Kenneth from Porto Colom, who were the Digame competition winners and who later told us they thoroughly enjoyed the concert.

They not only won two free tickets for the concerts but also 2 autographed Tony Hadley cd's thanks to www.mandolinmusic.co.uk Take a look at their site for all things Tony Hadley.

DeVotchKa - May 1 2009

I will be very surprised if this concert is not in my top 10 for 2009. Having been around for the last 10 years they are rightly now coming to prominence after exposure from the highly succesful film Little Miss Sunshine having written and performed the majority of the soundtrack and nominated for a much coveted Grammy.

They have such a unique sound with influences ranging from Mariachi of Mexico to Romany of Eastern Europe. Nick Urata has a voice that is smoother than a hard boiled egg and his ability to sing, play guitar and theremin at the same time would get him thrown out of any left wing jobs-worth orchestra as would all of his colleagues. They all seem to be multi-taskers; Tom Hagerman plays violin, accordion, and piano - Jeanie Schroder sings, plays sousaphone and double bass; and Shawn King plays percussion and trumpet.

Their latest album A Mad and Faithful Telling is packed full of tunes that will not get out of your head, tracks like The Clockwise Witness which has a beat in the middle that just drives you crazy (in a good way) every time you hear it! For me I prefer the Mariachi / Southern States sound reminding me very much of Calexico at their best but that is being over critical as there was nothing in this concert that I did not enjoy.

This is another band you just have to see as their performances are just as good live as they are on disc; a band very much in demand as was proved by the Brits who travelled to Mallorca especially to see them as for some reason the UK is not on their tour schedule.

Great concert and as said earlier, sure to be a top 10 in 2009!