Let's Talk (1)

 

Graham: What do you think of Sol? Do you like the reforms changes they have made to the Square?

I pass through Sol more often than I used to. It's unusual to see it not looking like a building site. I don't understand how it takes so long to make changes that you hardly notice. The only ones who benefit are the cronies of mayor. 💰

Helena: I haven't seen it yet...but, in my opinion,  there are many other more urgent needs in the city than other than this one.

Graham: Exactly. It is important to have the emblematic centre of Madrid in decent shape though. I just don't get why they have to continually dig it up. 

I wish they wouldn't allow the likes of giant gorillas and Chucky dolls to hang around there either. I know they have to earn a living but it's not as if they are performers who can entertain crowds.

Helena:🤣🤣

Graham: Many other parts of Madrid resemble a building site. What changes over the last few years do you approve or disapprove of?

Graham: Have a read of the latest blog post on the proposed changes to the laws on tobacco. 

What is your opinion on the proposals?

José: My opinion in this case is that people obey law should obey the law.

Graham: 🥱 But surely you have an opinion whether a law is fair or not. Go on - be a rebel for once!

Helena: I am the rebel one. I am the rebel. / I am the rebellious one.

So, why should we obey that prohibition? Why don't they focus on drugs or alcoholism? Should we obey unfair laws?

Why do we us citizens have to pay such an incredible amount of money but the arsonists of this summer's campaign are loose, free (can I say that?)🤪

Graham: Why don't they just raise the price of a packet of cigarettes sky high if they really want to discourage people from smoking? Not allowing smoking on terraces will only hurt bar owners. You will still be allowed to smoke on any bench next to a terrace. And the car fumes will kill you before any smoke we might passively inhale.

Are you saying that the arsonists they caught are out on bail or that they haven't apprehended the culprits yet?

Juanmi: Hello, I want to start by saying that I don't smoke, and I think we're becoming 'sibaritas' with laws for everything. It's clear that we need to establish controls and address people address the problem of people with this tobacco and addiction problem an addiction to tobacco, but I still think the important thing is education and ethics. Stop raising taxes, let bars and their terraces continue operating, and if anyone is bothered by tobacco smoke outside, they can leave. That's right! It's unethical to smoke in playgrounds, near a hospital, or in spaces where there may be vulnerable people or people with health problems.

Graham: In Scotland they have minimum pricing on alcohol, which means that people who drink responsibly (they do exist in Scotland!) are hit in the pocket because of those that don't.

We have become a nanny state.

Helena: I absolutely agree, and I don't smoke either. 

The culprits of the fires are never going to be caught because, in my opinion, everything is under control of the elites in their obsession with and business in related to the climate change and the need of land to plant their solar panels.

Graham: You and your conspiracy theories haha

I don't discount that it has happened though.

José: I didn't know that the Scottish drunk

Graham: Most of us are recovering teetotallers. 🥴

José: Never it's late. It's never too late.

Helena: Teetotallers????😳😳😳🤪

Graham: Recovering ones.

Graham: I've put up a new blog post following the protests and cancellation of the Madrid leg of La Vuelta. Have a read and leave a comment in the blog or here. 

Augusto: Well, I think that before holding such an important international event, be it sporting, musical, or otherwise, prior authorisation should be obtained from those who then have the power to prevent it, as we have unfortunately seen in Spain over the course of so many days, during which we have had to endure countless problems. We may not want to, know how to, or have the ability to hold such an important event, but it would be highly desirable to avoid making fools of ourselves and causing so much pain to people.

Graham: 

holding such an important event 😍

be it ... or otherwise 😍

over the course of 😍

making fools of ourselves 😍

I'm in two minds on this one. My first instinct is to say it's wrong to disrupt an occasion for which people have trained so hard for. It will make no difference whatsoever. The Israeli government will not change course because of what happened. On the other hand, people are genuinely outraged by the images we see daily on our screens. However, many innocent civilians have died in other wars and people didn't take to the streets. Nobody shouted "Free Palestine* when Hamas won elections 20 years ago only to do away with them.

Helena: I am tired of being used for by politicians to make the most of / exploit any war or disgrace tragic event in order to keep their business rolling / keep them in power.

Sorry for being so straightforward blunt, but is the feeling I have🤷🏻‍♂️

Graham: 

(to make the most of something is usually in a positive way, to take advantage of sb/sth can often be negative)

(Keep their business rolling is a good expression but what business are you referring to?)

José: I agree with you. Don't be sorry for being so blunt.

Helena: Thank you, I am not very diplomatic. Sometimes I try to be a bit less blunt but I can't🤣

Graham: It's called putting your foot in it. I'm an expert.

Helena: Yes. Me either🤦🏻‍♂️

Graham: 

Me either. 😡

Me too. 😍