POEM COMPETITION WINNER TAKES THE PRIZE

Two months ago Luna Radio encouraged, nagged, and cajoled people to take part in the Rey Jaume Cultural Awards Poem Competition. It was the first year that the contest was open to people writing in English so it was importnat that us ex-pats took part. Thankfully many listeners rose to the challenge and there were many entries. Last Friday I had the chance to meet the winner of the competition, a charming young lady named Rachel Gilibert Goldinger at the prize ceremony. She is an example of the mixture of cultures you get on the island with a Malloquin father and an American mother. She was delighted to win and said she felt 'honoured'. She hadn't even thought about the prize money that went with award as she truly never expected to win. Her book of poems entitiled 'A Journey Through Time' will be available in print.

GOOD LUCK JACKIE - WE WILL MISS YOU

Funny how life can change on a tuppence! This time last year Jackie Evans was a widow of 20 years working at the Foreign Residents Department of Calvia Town hall, then she met a man! She married the lovely Fernando in March this year and now she is off to enjoy a new life with him. Jackie has worked tirelessly for over two years helping people who have come to live on Mallorca with their paperwork and any other problems, now she can enjoy looking after her hubby and her daughter and granddaughter. She will be missed at the Foreign Residenst Department - the only one of its kind in Spain - but her role will be filled by the wonderful Dolina Reynolds who has lived on the island for 27 years. Pictured are the team who work for Kate Mentink at Calvia Town Hall, Gabby, Angela, Jackie and Dolina. We are very lucky to have them (and Kate who never stops working on behalf of us ex-pats). So next time you are in the town hall pop by the Foreign Residents desk and say hello - or even better say 'Thank You'.

A Simply Magical Weekend

Once again I have survived another hectic weekend on Mallorca! This time it was a mixture of magic and music. To start, it was the first anniversary of the opening of the Snooker Cafe in El Toro. Congratulations to Carolyn and Michel, the owners of this fine establishment who have worked so hard to make the Snooker Cafe a great place to eat, drink, play pool and snooker and relax. There was a great turn out (I counted 115 people at one stage) which shows how popular it has become in just twelve months. Among the guests were members of the Lions and Rotary Clubs of Calvia and Freddy the Magician who astounded us with some amazing cards tricks...how does he do it? Believe me I have no clue! I was about 30 cm away from him and I watched his hands very carefully and still I couldn't see how he switched black cards for red, kings for queens etc! I was very frustrating and of course, a magician never reveals his secrets! If you want to try to find out Freddy will be at the Luna Summer party next Saturday night at the Gala restaurant in Santa Ponsa. There will also be great music from Luna Radio DJs Phil Allen and dancefloor legend Des Mitchell plus performances from Debra Hart, Dylan and the gorgeous Alex Graham. Tickets are just 39 euros to include snacks, a free bar and entrance into a raffle with great prizes.
Next stop was the Palma Bullring on Sunday night for the hottest gig of the year - Simply Red in concert! Now I don't want to sound like an old media hag, but I have seen a few gigs in my 20 years plus as a radio presenter and I tend to be hard to impress, but even I thought it was a magnificent concert. Simply Red have been making music as long as I have been playing it on the radio, but they said afterwards that it the best gig that they have done in the past twelve years. The crowd loved it, the audience was great and Mick actually enjoyed himself so much that he stayed on to play three extra songs. This is the last time that Simply Red will be touring together so it was the final chance to see them perform here on the island. I am sure they will take away fond memories of the people and the place - they loved us as much as we loved them!

More Mallorca madness.....

Life here on Mallorca does not get any more sane! After almost four years I am used to the 'quirky' nature of some of the aspects of living on this island, but every now and again I get a sharp reminder of just how nutty this place can be!
So it was last Friday night when I went with a gang of chums to Calvia village to take part in the Nit di Foc - or Night of Fire! I had warned some of my chums who were here on their holidays from the UK to expect the unexpected, wear clothes that they didn't mind getting trashed, and to use ear plugs if they were averse to loud noises, but I don't think they took me seriously. In particular one of the sons, a fourteen year old who was determined to unimpressed by everything, was in for a surprise!
Of course the fiesta was late getting going - everything takes longer than you expect on Mallorca - so it was well after 11pm when the drums started somewhere off in the distance and the first fireworks began. 'Is that it!' muttered the teenager, 'Have we waited all night for a just a few fireworks?' ...he was still unimpressed.Then he got the surprise which I knew was coming! A demon appeared from nowhere wearing a truly scary mask and carrying a screaming firework wich showered red hot sparks everywhere. The teenager began to quake!
The Nit di Foc, or Carrefoc, is an ancient Mallorca traditional fiesta which involves people dressed as demons carrying fireworks and tridents of flames accompanied by loud, insistant drumming. If you have never experienced it before it scares the beejeebers out of the stoutest heart! By the end of the parade through the town the 'teenager' was a quivering wreck and his mother was sniggering under her breath After the parade everyone headed to the town car park to cool off at the foam party!' My son thinks he's so hard...thanks for proving he's still a little boy really!' Here I had a little run in with one of the demons! He decided it would be funny to steal one of my flip flops. Clearly he had no clue he was dealing with a Scouser! I got it back and he even gave me a hug and a kiss...not such a scary demon after all! Naturally we all got very wet but at 21 degrees celcius it doesn't really matter. A great night was had by all and I'm sure my friends went back to the UK with some memories that they will never forget. You don't have to be mad to live here on Mallorca - but it sure does help!

Not so long ago ballroom dancing was a bit naff! It was all sequins and tight pants in Blackpool tower with Angela Rippon and a dis-spirited crowd of blue-rinsed OAPs sipping sherry. Not so any more! Ballroom dancing is now sexy, glamorous, big business and a Saturday night telly ratings winner!
Ever since I got roped into dancing in a competition for charity at Pickles Dance Studio in Magaluf earlier this year I have been hooked! I am now a massive fan and if I don't get to swirl around the dancefloor with Ian Pickles I really, really miss it! So when I heard that a chum of mine was coming to the island with one of the professional dancers from the BBC's 'Strictly Come Dancing' programme I was excited to meet him and talk tango.
Ian Waite has been a dancer since he was 10 years old. By the age of 14, he had completed all his grades and won almost every competition that he had entered. He went on to the open circuit where he achieved international success by becoming the European Youth Latin American Champion. He competed all over the world, representing England in many world and European championships. He is also 6 foot 4, drop dead gorgeous and a thoroughly nice bloke!.
On the TV show he danced with Denice Lewis, Mica Paris, Penny Lancaster and performed an unforgettable tango with Zoe Ball. So far I have only managed a sangria-shared salsa with him after a rather boozy night out with chums in Palma. However, he is here for a few days yet so I live in hope of showing him my waltz contra-check before he goes. Zoe who? Look out Ian the Penn Pasa Doble is coming to get ya!

Just like Grand Mama Mia used to make!

Continuing the theme of Italians, let me introduce you to Salvatore. He is a Sicilian straight out of Hollywood casting. If you wanted someone to play a restaurant owner in a remake of the 'Godfather' you would look no further than this larger-than-life character.
Salvatore owns and runs the pizzeria and 'ristorante' La Fornace da Salvatore in El Toro and makes the best pasta I have tasted this side of Florence. He insists that I greet him with a traditional Sicilian greeting which goes something like 'Bacco les mani...ahhhhh!' It means 'I kiss your hands' and the last bit has to be done with a dramatic raising of the hands into the air as if praying to the gods.
If you go to his restaurant the first thing you have to do is have a drink....of course...next you will get delicious bread balls (still warm...his grandmother's recipe) and an equally delicious dip. I could go on and wax lyrical about the lasagne, the wines and the Amareto but I am getting hungry. Suffice to say if you want the best Italian meal on Mallorca pop down to see Salvatore in El Toro and say Laura sent you ...ahhhhhhh!

Deafening Countryside!!

Before I start let me make something very clear - I am a big fan of concrete! Being born in Liverpool, an industrial town if ever there was one where the only green space was the local corporation park, I have never really bought into the idea that the countryside is the best place to be. I appreciate that some rural areas, especially here on Mallorca, are stunningly beautiful to look at, but I have no desire to get any closer to them than a car window or the balcony of nice hotel!
Another myth is the 'peace and quiet' of the countryside. Have you ever tried sleeping in a tent? The ambient noise is deafening! Various wild (and domestic) animals bleating, crowing and bonking. Not to mention the dawn chorus which is really a dawn cacophony when the decible level goes off the scale! No, taking all things into consideration I would much prefer to snuggle down under the flightpath of Palma airport than spend a night in a field.
So it was, with some trepidation, that I ventured away from my home to a more lush and wild part of the island this weekend. I had my reasons! I was being tempted by the promise of several Italians. I feel another explantion may be needed here! Ever since my father inexplicably named me Laurentia (no one else has been called that in any school in Liverpool before or since!) I have had a strange facination with anything Italian. I am firmly convinced that I lived in Florence in a former life, I love pasta, chianti, Leonardo da Vinci, and the sound of the Italian language is enough to make me dribble in public.
So when Diane Foden, Luna Radio's correspondent in Soller, told us on Friday's breakfast show that there were lots of Italian men wondering around her home town taking part in an International Folk Festival I didnt need any more encouragement to jump in my car and head for the hills!
It didn't take long to track down the Italians. They were the cool dudes in designer sunglasses carrying accordians and chating up women! Soon they struck up a jolly tune and sang...in Italian...fabulous! But it wasn't long before they were drowned out by the drumming of the the Korean contingent and their large drums! Infact the group of charming little Korean girls were soon stealing hearts with their ever-smiling faces and graceful dancing. Just as we all got used to the unusual sound of of a steady Asian beat filling the square, it was joined by an African beat as a load of bongos started up from another team close by. Things were getting really noisy by now! If you know Soller you will now that there is a an old tram that travels from the town to the port. It passes right through the main square and at this time of year it is packed with happy holiday makers. Well the poor tram driver was having 'one of those days'! Not only could he not drive his tram through the crowd, he couldn't even make his horn heard above the dim of the Italians, Koreans, Africans and assorted nationalities who were drumming, singing, strumming and dancing in an orgy of exotic sound.
After about two hours I suspected my ears were about to bleed so I made my excuses and left, reluctantly saying 'ciao' to my new Italian friends. Surprisingly it was not them, but the delightful Korean ladies who left a lasting impression on me. They were so sweet, and smiley but give them a pair of drumsticks and they turned into creatures resembling Animal from the Muppet Show!
I had a great time in Soller and will never forget the sights...and the sounds...of the International Folk Festival. However it was a relief to get back to the relative peace of a radio studio with only loud pop to disturb me!!