Jobs for the Boys

Another free lunch for Pedro Santana Lopes. It makes me sick!

Palácio Sottomayor

It's chilly in Lisbon this morning, quite appropriate for the day when the power-hungry members of the opposition will bring down the Governament, for entirely selfish reasons.

Strangely the huge flag in my previous post is not flying today.

So here's a photo of something else, an office complex that renovated a splendid palace, now occupied by Barclays, PwC and a hotel.

Tourism Begins at Home

It's a long time since I've been able to wander around the city where I work.

So this may become a photoblog for a while, since current events have become dominated by players who don't deserve the attention they demand.

No apologies for the quality of the photos, I am posting from my phone.

Bravo Mr Sócrates

A great performance in his press conference, providing plausible explanations for his behaviour, pointing his finger at those who put political expediency above the national interest and defying the opposition to come forward with alternative proposals. A spirited, even agressive performance, of the kind that is sadly missing in Portuguese politics.

The reactions from the opposition parties are lame, picking at minor details to try to discredit the whole, politics of the lowest level.

I never thought I'd say it, because the guy gives me the creeps, but "Bravo!"

I Want to Be a Political Commentator

Looking round at the many jobs that I may be qualified to do, I happened upon a brilliant TV performance on Sunday night.

The egregious Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa receives a hefty fee for appearing weekly to make comments so obvious I would be embarrassed to present them. This week, why José Sócrates had to go to Berlin to explain the Portuguese economic situation. "Because Germany is the dominant economic power in Europe"! Brilliant! Where would we be without Marcelo?

If anyone needs another boffin to take a fee for no added value, I'm available...

Busy life, being unemployed

After many years where the norm was to get home and switch off my brain, unemployment brings a new challenge. Thanks to the internet, contacts can be made at any time, via emails that will be read when the recipient gets to the office in the morning. I find myself remembering contacts and opportunities at any time, day or night.

So being unemployed actually increases the time spent thinking about work! Let's see what happens when I move on to the next phase - self-employment...

First Day of Freedom

Walking from court appearance (as plaintiff) to shopping to job interview to property seminar, I couldn't resist snapping this with my phone.

It was a good way to spend the first day after 13 years of routine employment.

More will follow...