New rule from July 1 requires drivers abroad to carry a breathalyser

From July 1 2012 anyone driving in France is required to have an unused breathalyser, conforming to French standards, with them in the car. Breathalyser kits cost around £2 each, but the fine for not having one will set people back €11. As the new law requires there to be one unused unit in the car it makes sense to carry two, so that if one is used there is still the obligatory one legal unit, as they are not too expensive.

Whilst the law is effective from the beginning of July it would seem that the fixed penalty fine for failing to have a breathalyser will not start to be levied until November. Having just driven through France, on my trip from Spain to the UK, I have to admit I didn't have the required unit, apparently along with 90% of those visitors intending to drive in France. But I will have two in the car on my return journey, even though this will be before November.

 Read more: New rule from July 1 requires drivers abroad to carry a breathalyser

'Presidente' to Treasurer.

Following on from my article 'I think 6 years as 'El 'Presidente'' is enough' we held our Community AGM on the 3^rd July. When it came to the agenda item of the election of officers of the community I confirmed, that having been the voluntary incumbent of the position of 'Presidente' (Chairman) for the last 6 years, that now is the time for someone else to assume the responsibility and it was not my intention to allow my name to be put forward for consideration of a further term.

There being no immediate nominations put forward a discussion of the two alternative methods of selection under paragraph 13.2 of the 'Law of Horizontal Property' took place. “The Law of Horizontal Property states that a Community of Owners has to have a President. Should there fail to be any nominations for the election, then in accordance with paragraph 13.2 of the said law, the selection of the President shall be appointed from among the owners by rotation of property numbers or random draw”.

Those present did not wish to adopt either of those options for several reasons with two being more important; the first being that the 'Presidente' should be resident in Spain, although not a legal requirement; the second being that a random selection could result in an owner being selected that could not cope with the responsibilities; that could affect the community detrimentally.

During the discussion I felt that, although the owners appreciated my point of view that 6 years, the last without the support of a 'Vicepresidente', in the position was enough, there was pressure for me to retract my decision and continue in the role of chairman. I was not prepared to do this.

In order to reach an amicable solution I agreed not to cut my ties completely from the management team. The result being that two owners volunteered to allowed their names to go forward as 'Presidente' and 'Vicepresidente' providing I would accept nomination as a new position of 'Tesorero'. With some reluctance I agreed.

Our community now has a committee of three including myself, quite an increase from when it was just me on my own. Not the complete result I wanted but I take it as a complement to my past performance. My next task is to train a treasurer to take over from me for future years.

Euro area unemployment rate at 11.1% for May 2012

The Euro area (EA17) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 11.1% in May 2012, compared with 11.0% in April4. It was 10.0% in May 2011. The EU27 (European Union) unemployment rate was 10.3% in May 2012, compared with 10.2% in April. It was 9.5% in May 2011.

Spain with a figure of 24.6% continues to be the country with the highest rate of unemployment. In the case of the youth (under 25s) of the country it is over double that rate at 52.1%.

Read more detail from Eurostat: 3-02072012-AP-EN.PDF (application/pdf Object)

Mobile phone costs fall

It is now cheaper to use your mobile phone when travelling abroad in the European Union after new maximum roaming charges came into force on Sunday (1 July).

Both call and text charges have been cut and for the first time the amount consumers can be charged for surfing the mobile web on their smartphones and tablet computers is also being capped.

Read more detail: Ofcom | Holiday mobile costs fall

Hit Amidships.

At approximately noon today, whilst driving in our car to our home, in fact we were less than 200 metres away, we were hit amidships by a careless, and one can assume either blind or had his eyes shut, driver.

We were only travelling in the region of 30 kph as the road is made narrow by the many parked cars along the roadside, as it is a residential area, and one often has to give way to oncoming traffic.

The offending driver was pulling out of a side road to the left of us, from his residential community, something which he obviously does many times, and didn't bother to look both ways. He admitted he had only looked to his left for oncoming traffic his side of the road (Spain: driving on the right) before starting to pull out and hitting us.

He seemed rather anxious to get on his way, initially only giving his name and telephone number, and saying that there was no need for me to call the police after I told him I was calling them and did so. He said he would pay for any repairs and that he had to get somewhere without delay so wasn't going to wait for the police. I said that was his choice but I intended waiting for the 'Policia Local'. He decided that it would be better to stay and wait.

After a reasonable short period of time the police arrived. The other driver confirmed to them that he accepted the blame for the accident. They advised that as there were no personal injuries that it was only necessary to complete a 'Declaracion Amistosa de Accidente' for the insurance companies and this would be the quickest and easiest way to finalise the matter of the repairs to our car. Although they didn't have to they assisted in the completion of the form, including checking of the validity of the driving licence and insurance of the other driver, ensuring that all the relevant details were included. I thanked them for their assistance to me.

Luckily, apart from the fact that were hit by this careless driver, the damage to the vehicle is not so severe as to make our vehicle unusable especially as we are due to make a long journey in it next week. The driver's door panel has been pushed in slightly and the side trim damaged. Having said this is it is something not of our responsibility that we could have done without, even more, especially at this time. I suppose this means a visit to our insurance agent on Monday!

Spaniards' electricity bills rise 70 percent in six years!

'El País in English' reports that between 2006 and 2011, the price of electricity for Spanish consumers rose 69.9 percent, according to Eurostat figures. Meanwhile, in the 27 European Union countries, the average rise over the same period was 19.9 percent. In the euro area, the rise was just 13.1 percent.

Read more:Spaniards' electricity bills rise 70 percent in six years | In English | EL PAÍS

I think 6 years as 'El Presidente' is enough.

About two years ago, well in fact on the 2nd July 2010, I wrote an article entitled 'I wonder if 4 years as 'El Presidente' is enough!', which I concluded with the statement “However someone is going to have take over at sometime”.

July 2010 was not the time as I reported in NoParole for 'El Presidente'

Another year passed and the community AGM in July 2011 was the beginning of year 6. When it came to the election of the Vice President there was no one. The minutes of the meeting read “There being no volunteers for nomination for this position, from those present at the meeting, there was a unanimous vote in favour of leaving the position vacant at this time, with a review at a later date if a property owner was prepared to come forward for the vacancy.” needless to say no one came forward.  Apathy!

Well, I have called this year's Community Annual General Meeting for the 3rd July and at that time my sixth year as 'El President' comes to an end. That 'sometime' that I mentioned in 2010 has arrived.

Having sent out the notice of the calling of the AGM at the beginning of June, I have today written to all the owners of properties in the community as follows:

“Please find the attached copies of the proposed Accounts and Balance Sheet as at the 30th June 2012 to be presented at the Annual General Meeting on the 3rd July 2012 for approval. You have already been sent notification of the meeting, including the agenda.

May I remind you that one of the items on the agenda is the election of the Community President. My current annual term of office in this position is coming to an end. Having been the voluntary incumbent for the past 6 years I think now is the time for someone else to assume the responsibility. It is not my intention to allow my name to be put forward for consideration for a further term. I would suggest therefore that you give some thought as to who you wish to nominate for inclusion in the list of candidates.

If you would please forward the nominee's name to me, having of course obtained their agreement, I will include them in the list and circulate this prior to the meeting.

The Law of Horizontal Property states that a Community of Owners has to have a President. Should there fail to be any nominations for the election, then in accordance with paragraph 13.2 of the said law, the selection of the President shall be appointed from among the owners by rotation of property numbers or random draw.”

advising them that I think 6 years as 'El Presidente' is enough.

Answer isn't always on the 'tip of the tongue' for older adults

Has your memory failed you today, such as struggling to recall a word that's "on the tip of your tongue?" If so, you're not alone.

Research by New University of Michiganthe indicates that "tip-of-the-tongue" errors happen often to adults ages 65-92. Cindy Lustig, U-M psychology professor and the study's senior author cautioned that an elderly person occasionally forgetting a name does not mean he's in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease or other dementias.

Read more in the ScienceDaily article: Answer isn't always on the 'tip of the tongue' for older adults

Most older pedestrians are unable to cross the road in time

 The ability to cross a road in time is one that most of us take for granted.

Following research led by Dr Laura Asher of the Department of Epidemiology & Public Health at UCL (University College London), the results of the study have been published in the journal Age and Ageing, under the title 'Most Older Pedestrians are unable to cross the road in time'. the cross-sectional study has compared the walking speed of the older population in the UK (aged 65 and over) with the speed required to use a pedestrian crossing.

Currently, to use a pedestrian crossing a person must cross at a speed above 1.2 meters per second.

The research found that the mean walking speed of participants in the Health Survey for England was 0.9 meters per second for older men and 0.8 meters per second for older women. This is much below the speed required to use a pedestrian crossing in the UK and many other parts of the world.

Dr Asher says: "Older pedestrians are more likely to be involved in a road traffic collision than younger people due to slower walking speed, slower decision making and perceptual difficulties. Older people who are hit are also more likely to die from their injuries than younger people. She further commented that "the strength of this study is that it provides an accurate picture of the proportion of people aged 65 and over in the general population who are likely to be unable to use pedestrian crossings safely" and went on to say "Further consideration needs to be taken on the time allowed at pedestrian crossings. Pedestrian crossing times are currently being decreased in London as part of the Smoothing Traffic Flow Strategy, which is one component of the 2010 Mayor's Transport Strategy. Although there has been no alteration in the minimum assumed walking speed of pedestrians, there is a reduced 'invitation to cross' (green man) time." adding "Our study has shown that even before these changes, the vast majority of people over 65 years old in England are unable to walk fast enough to use a pedestrian crossing."

Read more about the study in ScienceDailly: Most older pedestrians are unable to cross the road in time

Who took our doors?

The mail boxes of our Community here in Spain were protected from the elements, and passing inquisitive eyes, by two sliding aluminium doors.

Since they were installed there have been a couple of incidents of vandalism which damaged them. The first was when one was removed and thrown into the garden of a property close by. On the second occasion one of the opaque centre panels was pushed out. Both incidents occurred during the night-time.

This morning I found the third incident. Both of the doors have been stolen.

They have not been thrown into the adjacent Community swimming pool, as have other objects in the past. They have not been thrown into the garden of a nearby property, as far as I can see. They have not been thrown onto adjacent vacant rough ground. My conclusion is that they have been stolen.

What for? They were made to measure doors to fit our specific sized mailbox alcove. They were made of a small amount of aluminium mouldings and plastic panels, neither of which can have any significant scrap value.

The morons act again!