A blog on blogging

This months Writing Magazine has run a piece on blogging based on the comments of Helen Smith who makes many valid points concerning this relatively new but perhaps not widely understood genre. No (I agree with her) it is not journalism but it does offer a medium to inform and entertain the reader and give them a quick an easy opportunity for feedback via the comment option. I though I would have my written say on blogging and commenting on Helen's observations and so I have written to the letters page of the Writing Magazine - funny how new technology still leads us back to the old. For more: http://www.writersguild.org.uk/public/008_Featurearticl/208_WGGBFeatures.html

TORREVIEJA WRITER'S CIRCLE IN THE CBN

The Costa Blanca News (a weekly newspaper published in Spain) has today run a feature on our Writer's Circle - fortunately the picture was not spoilt by my presence! But my folder and glasses are famous!

International Tourist Interest

The heritage of Torrevieja's fishermen can once more be heard in the Eras de la Sal Auditorium every night up to July 27th, thanks to the 54th International Habaneras and Polyphony Competition.

The competition has been declared to be of International Tourist Interest and welcomes over 1,200 singers this year. From 11 p.m., choirs from Chile, Belarus, Serbia and, of course, Cuba will take to the stage with local choirs.

This year the competition is dedicated to Ricardo Lafuente, Torrevieja's most prolific composer of habaneras and one of the town's favourite sons. This tradition dates back to the 19th century, when local seamen sailed to Cuba to trade with the precious salt. Their experiences in the Caribbean gave rise to the Habaneras that are sung during the competition.

The good news is that I won't be singing!

The Torrevieja Writing Group

We meet every Wednesday in Mil Palmeras (between Torrevieja and Pilar de La Horadada)and share our recent work with each other for review and comment. The range of work is incredible from gritty novels, short stories, poems, some humorous others more serious - you name it someone in the group will be writing it! This weeks meeting was joined by a journalist from the Costa Blanca News who will be featuring our group in her article to be published on July 25th

My 1st Spanish Publication

The controversial subject of the Valencian regions decision to withdraw free health cover for the Expat early retirees was the subject of my letter published by El Periodico de Torrevieja a Spanish weekly magazine covering Torrevieja which publishes some pages in English.

Rob's Bits and Bobs page - 1st edition

The Inland Magazine have published the first of a planned regular page containing useful facts for Expats, humourous and other `Bits and Bobs´ in their July edition along with a double centre page spread of my article on the Santa Pola natural park illustrated with my photos. I met with the owners and we also agreed some other new ideas for content for future editions. Options for publishing guide books was also reviewed. Download the magazine from http://timspain.com

Don't Waste Those Precious Euros

The editor of thexpat Spain magazine liked my blog (Titled as per above) so much that he printed it as an article in this months edition (see page 43) - why not get a copy?