New Year

Well, looks like I didn't find time to post anything in December. Too much depressing news to comment on, like the effective collapse of capitalism, where all economic sectors find themselves over-stretched and needing government bail-outs, or the ridiculous Portuguese consitutional crisis!

So here we go with another year - arbitrarily starting on January 1, which has no astronomic significance nor is the anniversary of anybody in particular, but the year has to start somewhere, right? No resolutions, great ambitions or so forth. Just a case of keeping ones head down and waiting for the worst to pass...

CD of the Month (12)

It will be no news that I am a long-time Dire Straits / Mark Knopfler fan, so here's the track that really got me hooked, on late-night radio 30 years ago.

A Filha do Capitão

My third review of a José Rodrigues dos Santos book. I do read other things, but people keep on buying me his work - I've already got the next one waiting to be read.

This story, set at the turn of the 19th to 20th century, was of particular interest to me, taking place in locations that I know and depicting the trench warfare in Flanders in World War One, where my great-grandfather died. It traces the life of a boy born to a poor family, through his seminary education and expulsion, and into the military academy, from where he ended up being posted to Flanders in the Portuguese Expeditionary Force.

There is a great detail of descriptive writing, detailing life in rural Portugal at the end of the 19th century, impressions of a youth's first visit to the grand city of Lisbon, doubts about theological matters, a lot of football, all of which described with JRS's cutomary skill. But, just like the allied forces in Flanders, the writer gets really bogged down in detail when describing in interminable detail the layout of the trenches and their ridiculous names.

Fortunately, that purgatory is relieved by the romantic liaison between the Captain and a French girl, whose life up to that point we have been following in parallel to his, visiting Lille and Paris with wonderful details that fit in perfectly with my memories of both cities.

Not a book for everyone, as it's rather heavy (perhaps even muddy) over large sections, and the title is a bit optimistic, since even two chapters from the end the daughter hasn't surfaced in the narrative, which rather gives the game away. But I enjoyed it!

Market Prices?

Under the Portuguese government's residential housing rescue plan, the government sponsored property fund will buy your house and rent it back to you if you can't meet the bank's instalments.

Sounds like a reasonable measure, until you ask what the price of the house will be. "Market price" Of course the existence of a market price depends on there being a functioning market, which there isn't! So written valuations must be obtained from two Stock Exchange approved valuers. But even that doesn't get around the problem, as the valuers' comparative valuation basis must be "market price".

While they will be in huge demand, they will probably continue to be badly paid by the banks for their expertise. I'm glad I'm not in their shoes. Actually I am a valuer, but I'm not risking registering and assuming that responsibility for the pitiful fees that banks have paid in the past. It's a sad reflection on the risks of doing business, don't you think?

There is a twist in the tail though. Property tax (IMI) is payable based on the tax department's formula-based valuation of your property. So surely, either the fund should buy your house for that valuation, or the tax office should re-base the valuation formula (downwards) to reflect the new reality of market prices, for there to be fiscal justice!

Fallen Out of Use

Entering Philadelphia's City Hall through the southern archway, heading into the central square, you pass a sign indicating the way to a nuclear fallout shelter. I never expected to see that.

Is it still available, operational? I wonder.

The Mayor's a Nutter!

No, I'm not being rude about present or past incumbents of Lisbon, London, Seixal or Marco de Canavezes. It just tickled my sense of humour that Philadelphia's mayor is called Michael Nutter...

Philadelphia

Not a film revew, like so many others. No! At the ripe old age of fortysomething, I've finally visited the US, in fact this post is being written in the airport departure lounge.

As a Brit, I flew in with a sceptical attitude, and have been pleasantly surprised. Downtown Philadelphia is secure, friendly, not overcrowded and has a lot to see. In fact my only complaint is the unseasonably cold weather this week.

The historical part is, in fact, historical. It goes back to the origins of the country and, at Independence Hall, an apparently balanced view is given of the events that led to the Independence of the 13 original states from Britain and France. The Liberty Bell center then moves the original ideas of independence and freedom, through the battles to end slavery, conflicts with the Native Americans and giving the vote to women.

So all in all, a pleasant surprise and a city to be recommended for a few days as a tourist.

Tomar and the Convent of Christ

It's sometimes difficult to get time off, but last Tuesday, instead of working, I took my parents to Tomar. It's a very pretty little town, with narrow streets and a river with a variety of bridges of different heritages, but the star attraction is the Convent of Christ, on the hilltop overlooking the town centre.

As a photographer, I could have spent days there, capturing the historic details and sculptured adornments. Our mistake was to have lunch in the town before attacking the convent, so we were rather rushed and tired before we reached the end.

Enough to say the convent is HUGE! Better to arrive mid-morning, explore some, have a snack lunch at the café, and continue all afternoon. Photographers should note that the most famous photographable detail, a huge manueline window, is only in full sun from mid-afternoon. Another hint, take a tripod to capture the atmoshperic interiors - I took one but was in too much of a rush to use it.

All in all, highly recommended - possibly the most impressive historic building I have yet visited in Portugal.

Back to School

Due to the happy coincidence of only being able to take my third week of holiday when my kids have already returned to school, I had the joyous experience of being able to go to my elder son's school presentation meeting.

Now entering year 10, it is an important year and I was expecting the othe parents to have understood the objective of the meeting - for the school to tell us what will happen for all our children, the rules and any changes from last year.

• It is NOT a forum for each parent to raise questions specific to their child.
• The school rules HAVE been thought through, and are thus NOT negotiable.
• Opinions on the Government's regulations NEED NOT be given, as there is no Government representative present.

I was amazed by the lack of understanding of such obvious principles among a number of parents, and their total disregard for the time wasted for everyone present. It was most as bad as those condominium meetings where everyone who goes has something to say and pet hate to air.

With that level of education among the parents, I can't see much point in their paying the rather steep fees charged to have their children at the school. They won't get far setting that kind of example.

Copycat Criminals

The recent wave of bank robberies seems to me typical of the relaxed but opportunistic Portuguese attitudes.

In general, the Portuguese are not physically violent; though very prone to verbal abuse. We can even see this in their approach to bank robbing - weapons are carried but never used. The impersonal institution loses a small amount of cash while customers are rarely victims. This is hardly "violent" crime, as seen in other countries.

Why this sudden wave of crime? Because the media has explained clearly and repeatedly that the probability of being caught is practically zero. The crimes last only a few minutes and the police are unlikely to get there in time. It's similar to the chronic disregard for traffic law, which has fallen significantly as the chances of being caught increase.

I don't think this recent increase is due to the recession, just opportunism, a fad that will wear off soon.