On January 1st Spain joins the smokeless countries, and if it works in Ireland I suppose that there is a chance that it could work here, but the fine print is interesting. There will be an eight month period to adapt, Bars & Restaurants over 100 sq metres will be able to have smoking areas provided that they are not sited inside other premises where smoking is banned (institutions, hospitals etc). The room for smokers must be clearly marked, physically separate from other rooms and completely compartmentalised, and will have to have an independent extraction system that completely eliminates the smoke. The maximum area allocated to smokers must not exceed 30 percent of the communal area and in any case must not exceed 300 sq metres. What might make it work is the fact that special inspectors are to employed to enforce the new laws and fine both the smoker and their owner of the premises between 30 and 600 euros. Smaller establishments (of less than 100 sq metres) will be able to decide whether to be a smoking or non smoking bar, but if they decide to go the smokers route they will have to install extractors that are separate from the main ventilation system AND they will not be allowed to have children on the premises. Lots of strange anomalies are sure to come to light over the next few months. Today one of the Spanish newspapers has discovered that if you employ a home help, nanny etc your home becomes a workplace, meaning that the home owner will not be allowed to smoke in their own home!

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Being a nice day and having nothing urgent to do we decided on a day trip ti Gibraltar. Morrisons supermarket gets a visit from us 2 or 3 times a year to allow us to stock up with some items that are not readily available here or considerably cheaper. We wanted fresh meat, fillet steak and lamb in particular , so we remembered to take the cold box along with the frozen blocks and off we set. A beautiful morning for a drive, clear skies, and we had left early enough to avoid the long queues into gibraltar and particulary out, (if you can get out before 2.00 pm, you usually miss the longest lines). The motorway tolls are on winter rates, only 6.50 euros and there was very little on the road in spite of it being half term, and the Volvo open starting at Vallderama this week. As we approached La linea from San Roque I jokingly said to Bernie, "did you remember the passports?" the delay in answering then look on her face gave me the answer before she said "I thought you had them". So, when you plan your trip to Gibraltar, read all the good advice posted on this site and others. Plan carefully, but above all REMEMBER YOUR PASSPORTS!!

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Sadly after spending some time in Malaga University Hospital Toni passed away in September. Our thoughts are with her family and especially Gemma who will continue to run the Oh So KOZEE Bar

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On Tuesday when we were assualted by the giant hailstones it seems that we were on the edge of Hurricane Vince which touched Spain, mainly affecting the area around Huelva which is on the Atlantic coast of Andalucia. This is being claimed as the first time a hurricane has touched spain, but before the days of satellite, how would they know??

Link

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