https://www.help-me-ronda.com2026-03-07 07:29:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/andaluc%C3%ADa-day-february-28thAndalucía Day (Día de Andalucía) marks the anniversary of a referendum held on 28 February, 1980 when a large majority of voters supported the referendum for Andalucía to become one of the 17 autonomous communities in Spain, following Spain’s democratisation after nearly forty years of the Franco dictatorship. Franco died in November 1975.2026-02-25 08:04:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/how-to-claim-for-damage-by-floods-and-high-windsThe weather in the whole of Spain has been atrocious in 2026, with snow, hail, torrential rain, high winds, black ice and widespread flooding. There were yellow and orange warnings for most of the country. To blame were 11 named storms which hit the Iberian Peninsula (and other countries of western Europe) from the West and North between October 2025 and mid-February 2026.2026-02-22 08:27:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/grand-openingsAfter a winter of chasing around trying to find a bar open in the evenings for a pre-prandial drink or two, and often failing, things are looking up! ​The traumas caused by nine named violent storms, heavy rainfall, high winds, flooding and lots of damage to homes, outbuildings, crops and livestock, evacuations and several deaths have been immense. As we approach Spring, three grand openings have taken place.2026-02-17 09:18:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/alice-harry-ingrid-joseph-kristin-leonardo-marta-nils-and-orianaWho are they? Or what are they? Three names sound English, two Scandinavian, two Italian, one German and one Spanish. ​They are, in fact, the names given to the borrascas (storms) we've suffered in Malaga province this hydrological year (2025/26). NINE named storms since October! And that's not counting several other unnamed bad weather events.2026-02-09 19:02:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/ronda-benaojan-and-grazalema-hit-the-national-newsThese towns in the Serrania de Ronda and the Sierra de Grazalema have hit the headlines! Blanket coverage on national TV, online and in the national Press. For all the wrong reasons! ​Because of the extreme weather coming in from the West, principally Storm Leonardo, red and orange alerts have been issued for Cadiz, Extremadura and parts of Andalucia.2026-01-24 07:48:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/miura-orujo-queAnis, Coñac, Miura, Orujo, Patxaran ..... What on earth are they? These are some of the words that are bandied about at early morning coffee time in Spain. Inveterate insomniacs or manual labourers and office workers who participate in this early morning coffee ritual, will be familiar with all this. ​Others, especially most "guiris", may not be. Read on to find out more.2026-01-21 21:06:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/last-night-of-the-ponsWhat a good title for this short piece! ​"Pons" is the Latin for "bridge", in Spanish"puente". ​And two nights ago, on Monday January 20th, was the last night of Venta El Puente ..... ​..... not for ever, of course. The family that runs "The Bridge" is taking a well-earned break. Two weeks.2026-01-17 23:32:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/signs-of-the-timesI'm a collector junkie - elephants, seahorses, geckoes - and I recently wrote a piece on the subject of interesting quotes and sayings, advice and jokes which appear on fridge magnets, beermats, diaries and greetings cards. I thought it would be fun to write about my "Baker's Dozen" (13).2026-01-13 17:24:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/leavin-on-a-jet-planeWhat's going on? Everybody's retiring! They may not be leavin' on Peter, Paul and Mary's jet plane*, but they're off! ​Since the turn of the year we learn that Peter Jones, the birdman, is hanging up his binoculars; Karl Smallman, doyen of photographic journalism and website building is stepping down; and Paul Whitelock, "Jack of all trades" is slowing down. All three are "hanging up their boots".2026-01-08 08:43:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/new-rules-of-the-road-in-spainSince the start of the year, 1st January 2026, there are some significant changes to the Spanish equivalent of The Highway Code. The two most important adjustments are: everybody travelling in a vehicle must wear a seatbelt; in the event of an emergency, warning triangles are OUT and V16 beacons are IN. But, the rules for beacons have been changed at the eleventh hour.2026-01-08 04:51:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/sunrise-sunsetThis post is not about the song made famous by Topol from the musical "Fiddler on the Roof". ​Nor is it about the fabulous sunrises and sunsets we get down here in Andalucia. ​These celestial delights are just the starting point for an article about the continuing popularity of the area among northern Europeans.2026-01-07 06:27:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/spain-s-40th-anniversary-of-eu-membershipIn the last 50 years two things happened that changed Spain - for ever and, in this writer's opinion, for the good. First of all, 50 years ago last November 20th, Franco finally left us when he died aged 95. Then, the second thing that changed Spain for the better was her accession to the European Economic Community (now the European Union). That was 40 years ago, on January 1st 1986.2025-12-27 10:33:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/new-year-and-reyes-in-spain-2025-26As if we hadn't fine-dined and party-ed enough at the close of this year! And at our age! We ate well at home on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day in Arriate. We party-ed on the 27th in Montejaque - a house-warming .......... and we just saw in the New Year with a delicious menu de degustacion in Fuente de la Higuera. There's still a celebration to come - Three Kings Day on January 5th/6th.2025-12-23 17:28:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/recommended-christmas-readsThe Christmas / New Year holiday is so long in Spain, and the weather forecast for this year is so bad, that we need something to do indoors, other than watching end-to-end Christmas films and TV repeats. How about reading a good book? Here are The Culture Vulture's suggestions for a festive reading list in no particular order. The writers are American, English, Irish, Norwegian, Ukrainian and two Spanish.2025-12-14 15:47:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/christmas-in-spainThe Spanish celebrate Christmas and New Year differently to most other countries. The month-long 'fiesta' lasts from 8th December, Immaculate Conception, through to 6th January, Epiphany. What happens in between is different also. Paul Whitelock first wrote about this back in 2020, when many traditional events were cancelled because of Covid-19. The original article has been tweaked. Here's the up-to-date version.2025-12-13 10:39:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/pedro-gives-a-masterclassThe presidente del gobierno (the Spanish prime minister) has been under fire recently from all sides and he is "riding low" in the opinion polls. Pedro Sánchez has been accused of corruption, of nepotism and of other dodgy practices. So, he decided to submit himself to a live interview by TVE, the national TV broadcaster. That was 10 days ago.2025-12-09 15:27:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/good-news-ronda-valley-hotel-to-re-open-soonThe Ronda Valley Hotel at the bottom of the valley just outside Ronda (known to us locals as the Hotel Don Benito) shut suddenly the other day without notice. Nobody seemed to know why. We knew it was going to close on January 15th for reasons which weren't quite clear, but why all of a sudden in early December? Something must be afoot …..2025-12-08 18:23:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/john-lennon-murdered-45-years-ago-todayJohn Lennon, the former Beatle, was shot dead in New York City on December 8th, 1980, by deranged fan Mark Chapman. That was 45 years ago. The world was shocked! It happened in broad daylight outside the apartment block in New York where Lennon lived with his second wife, the Japanese multimedia artist Yoko Ono.2025-11-28 21:43:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/ronda-valley-hotel-to-close-f-kThe worst kept secret around these parts is that the Ronda Valley Hotel (formerly Hotel Don Benito) is to close its doors on 15th January 2026. WTF! Why? This hotel is my nearest local, so from a selfish point of view, I think it's a disaster. Talking with other "guiris" who live nearby, it's a catastrophe for them also.2025-11-25 22:21:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/viajes-por-espa%C3%B1a-y-por-el-mundoI picked up the latest copy of the Spanish version of National Geographic at the weekend because the portada proclaimed features about Alsace in France and Cordoba, here in Spain, both places I know and love. Imagine my surprise when, on flicking through the magazine, I discovered articles about Alava, Teruel, Cuenca, Picos de Europa, Vigo, Alcala de Henares, Tenerife, Andorra, and la Rioja. There were also features on Vienna, Warsaw, Pompei, Dominican Republic, Egypt, and Antarctica.2025-11-17 18:03:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/franco-dead-50-yearsGeneralisimo Francisco Franco Bahamonde, the fascist dictator who led Spain for 39 years, from 1936 until his death in 1975, "celebrates" the 50th anniversary of his death later this week, on Thursday November 20th. ​He will not be mourned by many. He has been thoroughly discredited for his murderous "reign". What follows is a brief summary of the rise and fall of the only fascist leader of the mid-20th century to die a natural death. Hitler committed suicide and Mussolini was executed by hanging.2025-11-17 14:29:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/spain-is-still-a-3rd-world-country-isn-t-itFrom the end of the Civil War in 1939 through to the demise of Franco's fascist dictatorship on his death in 1975, Spain was most definitely a 3rd-world country. Following Spain's return to being a monarchy in 1975 and, from 1977, a constitutional democracy, there was hope that things would improve. The borders opened and from 1986 Spain became a member of the European Union.2025-11-13 18:40:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/ronda-s-burning-ronda-s-burning-fetch-the-engineThe "burning season" has opened in Andalucia. In order to burn garden waste, scrub and clippings you need a permit obtainable free of charge from your local town hall. ​The start date was November 1st, so I made sure I applied for my licencia in good time.2025-10-28 21:33:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/el-valle-del-genal-in-the-serrania-de-rondaStarting from home in Ronda we headed for the start of the Genal Valley, which begins with the pretty "Enchanted Forest" in Parauta. We then continued on to Cartajima; to the Smurfs' blue village Juzcar; past Farajan; and on to Alpandeire, which celebrates Fray Leopoldo, a recently created saint. Alpandeire was our lunch destination.2025-09-26 10:11:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/how-to-prepare-for-winter-in-the-serrania-de-rondaWe have entered meteorological Autumn and are more than half-way through September. Night temperatures are dropping and the first frosts won't be far away. Time to get ready for the cold winter months. The climate in this part of Spain is defined as continental: "Nueve meses de infierno y tres de invierno."2025-09-17 21:52:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/ronda-mayoress-in-the-dockMaria de la Paz Fernandez Lobato (PP), has been indicted on five criminal charges and faces a prison sentence and a huge fine. The news broke this weekend that the mayoress has been charged with prevarication, embezzlement, fraud and falsification of documents.2025-08-11 16:30:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/a-busy-august-in-the-serrania-de-rondaAugust is the month when Spain lets its hair down, celebrating fiesta after feria after dia santo (saint's day). Where do I begin? There has been so much going on in Ronda and the Serrania this month, and there's yet more to come!2025-07-16 06:07:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/ronda-in-the-newsThe town where I chose to live 17 years ago is hitting the news a lot lately. Hardly surprising. After four decades spent discovering Spain, it's the place Paul Whitelock decided to emigrate to. On arrival in 2008 he lived in Montejaque for three years, before he and his new second wife decided they needed more space, a garden and a pool. They moved to the outskirts of Ronda. So, why is Ronda in the news? Take a look:2025-07-13 04:44:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/the-camino-de-santiago​Paul Whitelock first heard about this pilgrimage route when he was an undergraduate studying Spanish. Several writers on Spain referred to it. He attended a course through the EU Socrates programme which was held in one of the starting points. ​ Two parishioners from his local church did the walk and gave a presentation in church. ​Hollywood star Shirley MacLaine wrote a book after she had walked the route. ​ There was a TV series and several films.2025-07-09 07:53:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/july-7th-2025Not only is it the start of the fiesta de Sanfermines in Pamplona, it's also the 20th anniversary of the London Bombings, when four suicide bombers attacked three underground trains and a London bus during the morning rush hour. While the encierro in northern Spain is a joyous occasion, the events in London represented a colossal outrage. More here.2025-06-27 06:01:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/journey-to-the-eastThe other weekend I went on a journey into the unknown - to the East. To East London, to Stratford. To visit my daughter in her new home there. I still hadn't seen it since she moved last year. Although she wouldn't be there the first day and night, she sent me directions and instructions for getting the key. Then the fun began .....2025-06-20 07:16:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/airport-scandal-in-spainThe decision of AENA to effectively close off most entrances and exits to and from airports in Spain, in order to tackle the problem of vagrants and the homeless sleeping in the terminals, has caused a problem for travellers. Recently I flew late into Malaga-Costa del Sol airport and along with hundreds of other airline passengers we couldn't get out! The new policy of shutting nearly all exits from the terminal building and suspending the lift service from arrivals up to ground level and level 1 caused mayhem.2025-05-31 07:16:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/animal-house"Animal House" is a 1978 American comedy film directed by John Landis. It stars John Belushi, Tim Matheson, John Vernon, Verna Bloom, Thomas Hulce and Donald Sutherland. ​The film is about a trouble-making fraternity whose members challenge the authority of the dean of the fictional Faber College. "Animal House" became one of the highest-grossing comedy films of all time. This article has absolutely nothing to do with the film, by the way.2025-05-23 22:07:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/de-rodriguez-may-2025I turned 75 on May 18th 2025, last Sunday. I was in Germany at the time attending the confirmation of my third German grandchild, which was on the same day. On May 19th I started two-and-a-half-weeks "de Rodriguez". On that date I flew back to Spain, while my good lady, German Rita, lingered in Germany to catch up with family and friends and to attend the latest Familientreffen, family reunion.2025-05-21 21:16:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/what-a-busy-monthThe last four weeks have been incredibly busy for us, with lots going on. It all started with the death of a Pope, continued with a massive power cut in Spain and Portugal, May Day, my dad's birthday, the 80th anniversary of VE Day, the naming of the new pope, a confirmation in Germany and ended on my 75th birthday. Let's take a look at what's been going on .....2025-05-16 03:12:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/101-km-ronda-may-10-2025It's just been the 101 again. The 2025 edition was the 25th anniversary of this important event in the Ronda calendar. Catering for MTB cyclists, runners, walkers, as well as a shorter junior event. The 101 has a national and international profile. Participants come from all over Spain, as well as from abroad - 10 foreign countries in 2025. The 101 is organised by the Spanish Foreign Legion in Ronda.2025-05-02 09:09:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/obituary-cayetano-ripDeep shock permeated the village of Montejaque, near Ronda (Malaga) (pop: 970), on Tuesday of last week when a young man from the village fell to his death on the winding road out of the village. Cayetano Postigo Hidalgo (30) was enjoying a bike ride in the vicinity of La Presa de los Caballeros on the road to Sevilla, when disappeared from sight. What had happened?2025-04-25 05:58:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/voyage-en-france-provenceThe missus and I have just enjoyed a week's holiday in the south of France. I'm a keen Francophile yet, because of circumstances, I haven't been to the land of Asterix the Gaul for some 15 years. I am loving it. There are positives and negatives about wherever you go, but the negatives haven't spoilt it at all for me so far. Here's the story.2025-04-14 11:02:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/how-green-was-my-valley"How Green Was My Valley" is a novel by Richard Llewellyn about a Welsh family and the mining community in which they live. It was turned into a Hollywood film, two BBC TV series, a Broadway musical and a theatre play. I was struck the other day by how green my valley was. But we've had a load of rain. I live in the Valle de Fuente de la Higuera just outside Ronda (Malaga). I've never seen it so green at the start of Spring. And I've lived round here for over 16 years. Here's the story.2025-04-11 18:05:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/how-to-become-a-spanish-resident-new-rulesSince the UK formally left the European Union on January 1st, 2020 - commonly known as BREXIT - it has become a lot harder to become a Spanish resident. New rules apply, as they do for other non-EU members. Read on to find out the situation as of April 1st 2025.2025-04-06 09:01:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/april-6th-new-tax-year-in-the-uk-brings-new-rulesThe start of the new Tax Year in the UK is always on 6 April and runs until 5 April of the following year. So why I am I posting about this on Eye on Spain? Well, because there are large numbers of British people living here and even more who own property which they visit for up to 90 days a year (since Brexit) and they may/will have tax liabilities in the home country. To find out about the changes, please read on.2025-04-04 12:49:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/april-showers-bring-may-flowersApril, traditionally a rainy period, gives way to May, when flowers will bloom because of the water provided to them by the April rains. April here in southern Spain is the start of Spring, a little earlier than in Britain, and plants and trees are starting to push out shoots and buds. It's a good time to start planting. April is also a busy month for us socially, especially this year, 2025.2025-03-30 08:51:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/the-apprentice-spanish-gardenerI grew up in a rural area in North Devon (England) where I lived in three different houses between the ages of nought and 14. I remember that my Dad, from rural South Wales, always had either a garden or a big allotment. Here's my story of how I went from being a novice English gardener to an apprentice Spanish jardinero, despite the challenges: hot sun; ice cold winters; heavy rainfall; pests; exhaustion; poor quality soil.2025-03-28 20:50:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/spring-has-it-sprung-at-lastSpring has arrived in southern Spain at last, albeit a bit later than normal. Or has it? At the spring equinox days and nights are each approximately twelve hours long, with day-time length increasing and night-time length decreasing as the season moves forward to the summer solstice. The weather had improved - the rain had stopped and the sun was out - so it was time to start planting.2025-03-24 14:45:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/rain-good-or-bad-more-or-lessWater is essential for life and for living. Without water our land turns to desert, crops don't grow and we have nothing to wash with or to drink. Hygiene goes out of the window. What's more, water does a lot of damage - to infrastructure, buildings, crops, and it can kill! So, what's been happening lately in Spain?2025-03-17 15:31:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/st-patrick-s-day-march-17Of the four patron saints' days in the British isles, I think St Patrick's Day in the Republic of Ireland is the most celebrated. St Andrew's Day in Scotland, November 30, comes second and St David's Day in Wales, March 1, comes in in third place. The English don't seem too bothered about St George's Day, which is "celebrated" (not) on April 23.2025-03-14 13:07:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/ronda-cut-off​The heavy rain and thunderstorms of the last couple of weeks, combined with a lousy infrastructure has left whole areas of the Serrania de Ronda flooded, with roads blocked by rockfalls and houses soaked, gardens waterlogged and frequent power cuts. ​Worse still, a major rockfall has blocked the main route from the Costa del Sol and the towns of San Pedro, Marbella and Estepona to the capital and main town of the Serrania, namely Ronda.2025-03-10 09:53:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/spain-on-top-of-the-worldAccording to the highly regarded British newspaper, The Guardian, Spain is “a progressive beacon in dark times”. In an editorial published on Wednesday 26 February 2025, the paper claimed that Pedro Sánchez’s Socialist-led government has welcomed immigration and boosted public spending, with stellar results. Read on to find out more.2025-03-09 09:20:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/international-women-s-day-saturday-8-march-2025International Women's Day is celebrated annually on 8 March as a focal point in the women’s rights movement. IWD gives focus to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women. ​This important day is celebrated throughout the world, on Saturday 8 March. Read more:2025-03-07 12:34:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/spain-and-suppositoriesI first visited Spain in 1970, when Spain was a dictatorship under the tight control of General Franco and the Roman Catholic Church. I was 20. Viewed back then as a fascist country and a strictly religious society, pretty much everything was banned, including all forms of contraception. What's that got to do with suppositories? Read on to find out!2025-02-26 09:02:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/forget-the-hotspotsThe Olive Press has recently published an article about five less well-known places away from the popular big cities, like Barcelona, Granada, Madrid, Málaga, Sevilla, and Valencia. The choices are good ‘uns. I’ve been to all five. Here’s what I think:2025-02-25 09:45:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/nice-work-if-you-can-get-itLocal council mayors can earn good money these days. Previously, being mayor was a voluntary role and an honour. Whether they were effective is another matter. Surely, it’s right that the “chief executive” of a council with a budget to manage is regarded as a professional who should be paid.2025-02-22 07:17:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/bye-bye-facebookSince my recent review and cull of this website, www.help-me-ronda, more issues have come to light. I shut down the WhatsApp link some time ago, because it became unmanageable. In the light of further feedback and discussion about the Facebook link, I have decided to axe that also.2025-02-14 11:13:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/help-me-ronda-review-and-re-launchIt’s some 15 months since I started my website www.help-me-ronda.com. It has grown and grown and is a pretty comprehensive one-stop-shop” for information about all aspects of life in the Serranía de Ronda. It’s time for a review of the website, it’s aims and objectives and its fitness-for-purpose.2025-01-11 20:28:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/christmas-in-deutschland-dresdenThe Spanish Fly and his German wife often go to Germany for Christmas and New Year. They visit her family, which is distributed throughout the country In 2023 they visited Dresden, the city that rose from the ashes of the allied bombings at the end of World War II.2025-01-10 18:24:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/falling-out-of-loveJust as I am preparing to apply for Spanish citizenship – deadline end of January – the country is doing its best to put me off going ahead! First of all, two of Spain’s police forces have p**sed me off big-style and on top of that two places have convinced me never to visit again. What’s the story?2025-01-10 09:17:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/de-rodr%C3%ADguez-at-christmasThat’ll be different. My first-ever Christmas "de Rodriguez" or "Home Alone"! "Footloose and fancy-free". For the first time in 74 years! What’s going on? Has my wife left me? Or is there a simpler explanation? This is what I'm planning .....2024-12-08 18:52:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/d%C3%ADa-de-la-constituci%C3%B3n-what-a-disappointmentAs I write this at 19.30 on the day itself in my local bar, there is nobody about! I’ve spoken to a few of my Spanish neighbours, and today is not important for them. They’re just glad to have a day off!2024-12-08 18:32:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/8-december-inmaculada-concepci%C3%B3nToday celebrates the immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus Christ, Son of God. Christians the world over consider today to be one of the most important days in the religious calendar. In many Roman Catholic countries, it is an official “feast day” or bank holiday.2024-12-06 14:07:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/the-spanish-police-are-beginning-to-get-on-my-nervesI am basically a law-abiding citizen, a democrat, who fully understands that society needs rules in order for life to function. And that therefore a police force is required. However, it’s odd that Spain needs three. Although when it comes to which force is responsible for what, the lines are somewhat blurred.2024-11-14 19:28:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/nero-fiddled-while-rome-burnedIn a similar manner, “Mazón lunched while Valencia flooded”. Regional president Carlos Mazón enjoyed a three-hour lunch with a female journalist while floods were laying waste to the Valencia region. In a piece in the HuffPost journalist Rodrigo Carretero highlights the main points of an article in the Financial Times.2024-11-13 20:29:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/the-biggest-car-scrapyard-in-spain-s-historyAfter the devastating storms and floods in eastern Spain last week, which washed away cars, people, livestock and buildings, the authorities have estimated that some 100,000 vehicles have been turned into scrap. And they are in the way of clearing-up operations.2024-11-13 20:04:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/the-post-office-correosThe Spanish Post Office is quite unlike the UK equivalent. There are no sub-post offices as such. Big cities in Spain have a main Correos and maybe a few others dotted around. Ronda (pop: 34,000) now has two.2024-11-09 22:18:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/how-to-keep-your-house-in-spain-warm-in-winterWith the cold and wet weather we have been experiencing in southern Spain since the clocks went back, people are turning their thoughts to heating their houses. The DIY Guy has lived in a number of properties in the Ronda area, so he knows a thing or two about keeping warm.2024-10-24 13:39:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/clocks-go-back-on-sunday-but-its-time-is-upChanging our clocks and watches twice a year is to become a thing of the past. The farce of putting the clocks back in the Autumn and forward in the Spring is to come to an end in several European countries - including Spain as early as 2026.2024-10-18 12:26:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/museums-in-m%C3%A1laga-cityHow many museums are there in Málaga City? Amazingly there are 13! They range from art galleries to various municipal museums; from a Glass Museum to a Museum of Vintage Cars; Even a Museum of Video Games.2024-10-15 00:17:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/at-last-good-weather-it-s-pouring-downSouthern Spain has experienced drought conditions for the last three years. The water levels in our reservoirs are very low. Restrictions on water use have been extremely strict, although, with an eye on earnings from tourism, they were relaxed for the summer season.2024-10-12 04:58:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/ronda-graffiti-capital-of-spainSounds grim, huh? But no, since Banksie in the UK and Arikaio, Okuda and Víctor Fernández in Spain, graffiti has become respectable. And Ronda has just been chosen as one of the half-a-dozen or so towns in Spain to be designated by La Liga Nacional de Graffiti.2024-10-09 20:31:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/pubs-i-have-known-and-loved-and-some-i-have-notMy social life revolves around the bar. Wherever I have lived, the local hostelry has always been the place to meet people and to find out what’s going on; what’s for sale; where are the best places to visit; anything at all, in fact.2024-10-06 08:07:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/brexit-and-etias-another-stumbling-block-for-uk-travellers-post-brexitFrom sometime next year, 2025, UK passport holders will require an ETIAS to enter most European countries. Yet another stumbling block for UK travellers in the wake of Brexit.2024-10-02 07:23:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/my-week-de-rodriguez-is-overI’ve been “footloose and fancy-free” for a week, while the missus was away visiting family in Germany. I couldn’t wait to see Rita again last evening, although I’ve enjoyed my “time-out”. She has too! It will have done us both good.2024-10-01 06:12:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/sunday-de-rodr%C3%ADguezPablo de Ronda has been “de Rodríguez” since last Wednesday, when his wife jetted off to Germany. ​“Footloose and fancy-free” is the best “translation” Pablo can muster for “de Rodríguez”. Here's what happened.2024-09-21 23:11:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/major-netflix-series-filming-in-rondaFilming took place this week in iconic locations in Ronda including the Puente Nuevo, the Fuente de los Ocho Caños, the Duquesa de Parcent square, the Arab Baths, the Alameda del Tajo park, the Ermita and the Plaza de Toros2024-09-02 05:53:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/the-real-robert-de-niro-visits-rondaMany years ago I wrote an article about the “doubles” of famous people who were living in the Serrania de Ronda. One of these "doubles" was the Hollywood actor Robert de Niro, who was living in the barrio.2024-08-30 10:13:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/our-day-outFor a change we decided to spend a day on the coast. We had a few things to buy that you can’t get up here in the mountains and we fancied eating seafood in a chiringuito and spending a bit of time on the beach.2024-07-17 09:32:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/surfer-girlMadita, our grand-daughter, who is visiting us from Germany after finishing her "Mittlere Reife" (16-plus exams), was a true "surfer girl" yesterday on the Costa de la Luz.2024-07-11 15:42:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/surfin-safari-on-the-costa-de-la-luzOne of our German grand-daughters is coming to visit us here in Andalucia. Madita, 16, is travelling on her own from South Germany to spend a holiday with us. We want to treat her to a surfing lesson, so, off we went to Spain's Atlantic coast to do a recce.2024-06-28 13:36:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/where-ve-they-all-goneFor most of the year bars and restaurants in southern Spain rely on their outside space – their terrace – to provide the experience that tourists and locals want. So, what is going on in Montejaque (Málaga)? All the terraces have disappeared.2024-06-23 10:22:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/what-is-going-on-with-tourism-in-spainLarge parts of Spain depend on tourism. The costas, for example, and rural tourism also. And what about city tourism? So, why are there currently anti-tourism demonstrations in many parts of the country2024-06-20 10:24:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/felipe-vi-clocks-up-10-years-as-king-of-spainIt came as a shock when, 10 years ago King Juan Carlos I, abdicated in favour of his son Felipe. "Why?" many asked, but it soon began to emerge that Juan Carlos, king since 1975 when the dictator Franco died, had been a "naughty boy."2024-05-15 07:25:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/what-happened-to-monday-nights-guiri-nightMy local, the Hotel Don Benito, on the Seville Road just outside Ronda is a place where Monday is unofficial “Guiri night”. What's a "guiri"?2024-05-02 05:29:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/michael-portillo-and-andaluc%C3%ADaMichael Portillo has gone from being a political hate figure to a cuddly presenter of TV travel programmes. But how did it happen?2024-04-20 08:28:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/how-to-watch-uk-tv-in-spain-from-now-onWhen I first moved to Spain over 15 years ago, you could watch UK TV to your heart’s content. And it was free. All you needed was a satellite dish pointed at the Astra B satellite and a receiver next to your TV set. Since 4 April 2024 that has all changed .....2024-04-14 07:16:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/the-good-life-andalusian-styleDo you remember the classic BBC Television comedy series starring Richard Briers as Tom, Felicity Kendall as Barbara, with “posh” neighbours Paul Eddington as Jerry and Penelope Keith as Margo? Here's the Andalusian version.2024-04-03 08:17:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/april-fools-dinner"Maltesers" for dinner! We invited our friends from Malta round for an evening meal! People from this Mediterranean island that lies between Italy and North Africa are called “Maltesers”, aren’t they?2024-03-26 15:39:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/new-rail-serviceThe cost of train travel in Spain is set to plummet. French rail company OUIGO will expand into ANDALUCIA, MURCIA and VALLADOLID with tickets from €9, writes Yzabelle Bostyn of The Olive Press. The French rail company has come in for criticism for its ultra-low prices.2024-03-21 16:02:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/ronda-happiest-town-in-spainHere’s an article from DIARIO RONDA telling us that Ronda is the happiest town in Spain, heading a list that includes other favourites of mine. The survey was carried out by the sugar company Azucarera against five strict criteria.2024-03-20 20:02:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/what-my-car-says-about-meBack in the day when Pablo de Ronda lived and worked in the UK, he had a car with a cherished number plate or personalised registration. He bought it for himself on reaching his half century. The number was M50 PJW.2024-03-18 06:56:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/de-rodr%C3%ADguez-againMy wife left me last week ….. for one day! She did it again on Saturday! This time it was only half the day, but I had enough time to plant some seedlings and some fruit trees, do some weeding, have another "skinny dip" and watch Super Saturday rugby. Is being "de Rodríguez" a new trend? I like it!2024-03-15 21:20:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/de-rodr%C3%ADguez-for-one-dayMy wife left me yesterday ….. for the day! She went to the coast to San Pedro de Alcántara with her German friends,. They then went to Málaga city to take home another German friend, who had come on the bus to meet them in San Pedro. So, I was kind of “de Rodríguez” (footloose and fancy-free) for the day.2024-03-12 21:11:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/ronda-el-choque-ideal-the-ideal-place-to-meet“It’s not necessary to have been born in Ronda to recognise that the Ciudad del Tajo is one of the most beautiful places in Málaga province, in Andalucia, if not in the whole of Spain.” [Sebastián Gámez Millán]2024-03-08 20:01:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/book-exchangeWhat a great way to get books to read without having to pay money! I first came across the idea of the “book exchange” several years ago in Germany. The idea is you deposit a book and take one away. No money is involved. It’s a great way to recycle books2024-03-08 08:36:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/international-women-s-day-8-march-2024Today, 8 March, is International Women's Day. IWD is a focal point in the women’s rights movement. The day gives focus to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women.2024-02-29 06:22:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/great-danes‘Spis lige brød til’ is Danish and translates to ‘Have some bread with that’. It is a phrase usually used to say take a breath to someone who has worked hard for something difficult.2024-02-28 08:43:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/d%C3%ADa-de-andaluc%C3%ADa-28-de-febreroSi Dios tuviese que buscar un nuevo lugar para vivir, seguro que elegiría Andalucía. [If God had to find a new place to live, He would surely choose Andalucía]2024-02-25 14:56:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/mini-break-in-malagaLast week The Spanish Fly and his wife treated themselves to a couple of days on the coast near Malaga City. They were going to the February get-together of the Costa Press Club,and thought they'd make a mini-break out of it.2024-02-17 08:01:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/live-music-in-ronda-and-the-serran%C3%ADaFans of live music are in for a treat starting tonight and finishing next weekend. There are live gigs in the Heaven Irish Tavern in Ronda and at Allioli Bar Y Mas in Jimera de Líbar.2024-02-15 10:15:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/tropicana-rom%C3%A1nticaThe Tropicana is a restaurant in Ronda. We used to go when it was a tiny place on a corner on Avenida de Malaga. Then, around 2019, they purchased premises in the centre of Ronda, and refurbished the local. This fine restaurant has established a strong reputation. In fact, it's number 2 on TripAdvisor.2024-02-10 11:03:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/foreign-residents-in-the-serran%C3%ADa-de-ronda-on-the-box-a-follow-up-3-years-laterIn April 2021 nine foreign residents of the Serrania de Ronda featured in a documentary on local station Charry TV. They are all still here 3 years later. But what are they up to now?2024-02-09 16:40:00https://www.help-me-ronda.com/blog/foreign-residents-of-the-serran%C3%ADa-de-ronda-on-the-boxn April 2021 Charry TV in Ronda premiered a documentary about foreigners who have come to reside in the City of the Tajo. Carolyn, Charlotte, Delphine, Heather, Julie, Karethe, Paul B, Paul W, and Wayne. Journalist María José García wrote this article at the time.