I was chatting to some friends the other day on Facebook.

We were talking about the value that Ironman, which is the island’s biggest event, brings here.

Knowing that one of the people in the conversation is a statistician and economist, I deliberately threw in the line that the value is “Incalculable.”

I’m pleased to say Adam Simmons took the bait!

Within an hour I had a detailed analysis in my inbox.

• He downloaded a copy of the start list
• Took out a percentage to discount local residents
• Assumed an average number of “extra” people (wives husbands and kids) who would visit with “their” athletes
• And finally applied the average daily spend per person visiting the island.

The answer came out at just shy of half a million Euros  read more »

I appointed myself head of our Lanzarote book review department some time ago, on the grounds that it wouldn’t be a very taxing role, as there just aren’t many books written about our little island!

However, my services were called upon recently when Chris Herman kindly sent me a copy of his book Sandwiches in the Sun.

I sat down to read what I thought was going to be just another ex-pat story of the trials, tribulations and  of course the joys of uprooting from the UK to Lanzarote.

I was immediately caught up in the early chapters, because this book is genuinely different. Unlike so many British ex-pats, Chris and his wife Sue didn’t move here to retire, or to work in the bar or the tourist industry. They came because they were called by God!  read more »

Sun Park Living for the over 50’s in Playa Blanca is something very different and really rather special.

It’s a totally new concept to Lanzarote – it’s a “Home from home” for the over 50’s to enjoy staying on the island on their own terms.

It is a self service and self catering accommodation within a holiday environment and enclosed in a self sufficient community of english speaking 50+ people.

Sun Park is a large former holiday complex of apartments with private terraces or balconies surrounding a pool area and communal gardens.

But the heart of Sun Park is not the buildings, it’s the community of people from diverse backgrounds, who live there for all or some of the year. Some choose to rent an apartment all year round and even decorate and furnish it to their tastes, popping over whenever they want to. Others come for a few weeks at a time, and leave their personal belongings (free of charge!) in storage, between trips to the island.  read more »

The island of Lanzarote has always been a perfect vacation destination, with ideal temperatures and plenty of sunshine. You could pardon anyone for just lying on a beach or beside a pool with a book or drink in hand, relaxing.

For some though, the island provides far more, something magical that has inspired them to be creative.

The most well-known example is Cesar Manrique whose artistic creativity can be viewed all over the island.

Many other artists – musicians, painters, sculptors, authors – will tell you that, in some way or another, Lanzarote has helped them, encouraged them or inspired them to be creative.

One such author, who resides more or less half the year in Lanzarote in the small village of Las Breñas, is Susan Schwartz Senstad.

She and her husband, Tom, travel here from Norway. She declares that she finds the Lanzarote light and colours to be therapeutic, to give her the energy to write and to live well.  read more »

Part time Receptionist / Sales Assistant

Due to significant company growth Spice is looking for someone to work in a fast paced, high-pressure environment with the benefit of growing with the company.

Training for all aspects of the job will be provided but experience in sales, customer care and attention to detail are essential.

High level of Microsoft excel is a must as well as good computer knowledge. Touch typing is an advantage.

You must have a minimum of 4 languages, essential are good level of English and Spanish, and then 2 other languages to choose from between German, French, Italian, Dutch.

 read more »

Our good friend Barbarella (who is known as the mad cat lady!) asked us to bring this to your attention.

Most European airlines allow small dogs and cats to travel by air, in boxes, in the aircraft cabin – usually stowed under the owner’s seat. It makes for an affordable way to transport your pet, as they are effectively your hand luggage.

But British and Irish airlines insist on all pets travelling in the aircraft hold, and then charge for them on a freight basis, often requiring special fees to clear them at the other end.

As an example, flying a cat to London can cost €600, whereas flying one to Madrid or Germany, for example, will cost no more than the per kilo excess hand luggage charge.

The Big Issue

It isn’t that anyone is seeking to bring dozens of pets on holiday. it’s that many of the abandoned cats and small dogs here could find new homes in the UK and Ireland, but the charities, already stretched financially, simply cannot afford to send them there.  read more »

There is a new reporting regime here in Spain that requires ex pats with overseas assets valued at over €50,000 to declare them in 2013.

That means if you live here, but own a property outside of Spain, or cash or other assets located outside Spain, which are worth more than €50,000, you must report them to the Spanish tax authorities.

This needs to be done before 30th April 2013. Failure to do so can result in large fines.  read more »