Washing My Sins Away?

Just to prove that I do emerse myself in local Mallorcan traditions, this week I totally emersed myself in the sea at midnight for the Sant Juan fiesta.

This is one of my favourite events of the year as everyone dresses in white, heads to the beach and has a party. It happens during the summer solstice when the only option in the UK is to hang out with hippies at Stonehenge. Here on Mallorca I joined hundreds of locals at the nearest beach. It was a wonderfully warm night and we lit candles and had a picnic. It was clear that us 'foreigners' were amateurs at the whole things as there is a knack to preventing your candle blowing out - even on the balmiest of evenings. The trick is to dig a hole in the sand and cover your candle with an upturned paper cup.

Then food and wine flows until the fireworks start and everyone heads into the sea at midnight. My inexperience showed again at this point as I had forgotten to wear a bikini, but that didnt stop me. The water was warm...ish and people had floated flowers on it. I am not sure, but I think this may be in memory of people who have passed on. The idea is that you wash yourself clean of any sins and negativity that you have collected during the first six months of the year and prepare yourself for the next six. I was regretting not collecting more sins as I was about to get a clean slate...but hey...I've been busy working....maybe I can do something about that in the second half of 2008?????

From Angels to naked men!

If you want an example of one of my crazy weeks on Mallorca, take the last one! It included talking to angels and politicians, wearing a big hat and watching men get naked...and that was all before the weekend!

Let's start with angels. I believe in them...you do what you like...I am not out to convert anyone, but if you believe that the proof of the pudding is in the eating then I can tell you I have seen the wonderful results that angels can produce once they get to work. I do 'Angel Card Readings' which help people feel positive and find direction. I have literally seen people change their lives for the better after a reading. Don't think that I take any credit for it...the angels the person having the reading do the work, I just help that to happen. So thanks to the nine people who came for reading at the Luna Day of Calm, it was a pleasure to read for you all.

Next the politicians and my friend the wonderful Kate Mentink! Kate is a councillor at Calvia town council who looks after us foreigners here on the island, she is also a fiesty Scot and a motorbike nut! Ever since her dad took her to the Isle of Man TT as a nipper she has been in love with roaring engines and she has held a life-long ambition to ride behind Randy Mamola on a Ducati.

This weekend she achieved it at Donington Park infront of 60,000 people at the English Motor GP meeting. I interviewed her for Luna radio before she went and the day after from the track and she was as cool as the proverbial cucumber. As well as ticking off one of her 'must dos' she has rasied a lot of money for the charity Riders For Health so well done Kate! (now she just has to swim with dolphins and she has completed her list...for now!)

Now for the 'Big Hat'. Last week was Royal Ascot and on Ladies Day I went to a 'bit of a do' at a bar in Portals. Now don't go thinking that I only do bits of 'Little England' here on Mallorca. I love all the Mallorquin traditions and try to understand and join in them as often as possible, but every now and again its fun to bring back a bit of Blighty. So we all dressed up in frocks and hats and had a flutter. No winners but plenty of Pimms and a good time was had by all!

And so to the naked men. You know I love my job...and sometimes I REALLY love my job! Like when I am forced (honestly) to go and record a feature on male strippers! Not the professional types but 5 guys who are gamely getting their kit off doing The Full Monty. I suspect they have all been bullied into it by their partners but they were taking the rehearsal very seriously. So good luck to Geoff, Steve, Julian, Andrew and Mike (otherwise known as Elvis) who will be performing on July 11th to raise money for a children's charity here on Mallorca.

Anyone who comes to Mallorca has the fleeting thought 'wouldn't it be great to live here?' And there is no doubt in my mind that this island is a great place to live, the weather, the scenary, the traditions, food and drink all make it a wonderful part of the world to put roots down. However, unless you retire here with a bundle of money, its not all lying on the beach and sipping Sangria! I can honestly say that since I moved to Mallorca I have not had one single boring day! Sometimes I long for a 'quiet day' when not much happens....but that hasn't happened in almost four years.

As the boss of the only English radio station, Luna FM, I work hard, and some would say I play hard too...well more than some and less than others I think! Mallorca brings its own challenges. In my case, early morning starts, working seven days a week and sometimes too many plates to keep spinning, but when there is time to play...there is always the beach and the pool and that somehow makes it all worth while! I've also made some amazing friends here. For some reason this island attracts interesting people and I am very honoured to say that some of these I can count as dear, true friends.

So I hope you will come with me on my Mallorca journey. I can't promise I will tell you everything (!) after all, some things are better kept to oneself. But I can assure you that whatever I do tell you will the truth, the whole truth and nothing but .....you get my drift!