The wheat threshing demonstration in Prazeres yesterday. The tradition continued despite the overnight rain.
(20th July). Today’s main news headline : ‘Hotels Close Restaurants – The low in the prices in good hotels and promotional flights are not managing to bring in tourists in satisfactory numbers. There are already hotels who have taken their restaurants out of service’. A nice picture accompanies the story with two tourists sat on a Funchal promenade, the relevance perhaps being that they are the only two tourists in sight? A second headline says that it is the hotels with more stars that are feeling the impact more of the reducing purchasing power of tourists. It’s a silly article based on unfounded and unrealistic principles. The fact is that for most tourists here the purchasing power has not reduced and it is quite likely in many cases the opposite is true, but there is a reluctance to spend, due to a lack of confidence, partly due to media rubbish like this article. Couple that with the blatant overpricing of hotel restaurants generally, particularly up towards the 5 star hotels, then isn’t the problem and solution blatantly obvious. Why is it that so many people know the price of the ingredients they are eating, and have some idea of what it costs to make and serve the meal, and yet are prepared to pay a very high price for a good standard restaurant … because they can.
The main photo today just shows a picture of a of fir tree, which I believe is in the abandoned brick factory where the murder occurred : ‘Kidnapping: Neighbours Of The Scene Of The Tragedy Still In A State Of Shock’. Yesterday it was about Porto Santo being in shock, and today the article talks of the neighbours of the abandoned factory in Vale Paraíso in Camacha. The site is pretty much deserted, and 250 metres from the road, and so the kidnappers had unnoticed access. There is some lack of clarity in the number of arrests made initially, but four are mentioned, but the suspected ringleader of the plot, a contractor aged around 45, is known to have flown to Lisbon on Friday morning, and efforts are being made to trace him. It seems that this man actually knew his victim, and had brought a business from him but had failed to pay.
I was pretty shocked when I heard the news yesterday, but the Diário didn’t give the story top billing, and readers comments on the blog yesterday focused on the Madeira Mandolin Orchestra. Of course this is just a blog and no nobody has any obligations whatsoever, but do people feel that they have no right to comment on such a horrible crime, as there must have been others shocked by the event? Or maybe people from outside of Madeira are just hardened to such events?
‘Third Ferry In Funchal Port – The ship visits Madeira because the transport of all the cars etc. for the Rally Vinho Madeira is the responsibility of Armas’. The ‘Volcán de Tauce’, a vessel built in 1995, also property of Naviera Armas, that normally travels direct between Portimão and the Canary Islands, will be used to deliver everything for the Madeira Wine Rally, given that it is too much for the ‘Volcán de Tijarafe’ to manage on top of its normal load. It is programmed to arrive Sunday evening.
‘Loss Of Values Is Hitting the Madeirans – The Canon Of Sé Cathedral refers to the murder of the Porto Santo businessman in his sermon’. He used the murder to illustrate the loss of values in society here. "The devil is entering a corner of heaven" he said (or something like that).
‘Jehovah’s Witnesses congress to be held at the stadium of Nacional – ‘Be vigilant’ is the theme to be addressed’. It starts next Friday at the Choupana, and there are around 1,200 active members on Madeira and Porto Santo, and about 1,500 people in total are expected to attend the event. The group believe that we are nearing the end of things as they are, through biblical prophecies.
‘The thunderstorms, rain and hailstones surprised those in the high zones – Hail during a Summer night surprised many people’. Storms and rain happen, but hailstones are a rare occurrence this time of year. Very early Sunday morning many people awoke with the sounds of ice hitting their roofs, with some pieces quite large. Even the Meteorological Office didn’t predict that.
The Diário runs a short article suggesting that people try camping to avoid the financial crises and Gripe A, something that in the past has not really appealed to the Madeirans. It says that as long as people clean up and respect the camping rules, it is a cheap alternative for taking holidays.
In sports news the headline is ‘Victory In The First Day Of The Stage – Baba scores the goal that defeats Merelinense’, with a picture of a game involving Marítimo.
(19th July). This story originated in the Jornal da Madeira, so I can’t vouch for it’s accuracy : ‘Amparo Will Have A Garden Of 15 Thousand Square Metres’. The new garden will be called the ‘Jardim Público do Amparo’, and (the project) will be presented on Wednesday by the President of Funchal Council. The facilities will include a children’s area, and a cafeteria, and the gardens will form part of the urbanisation project for Amparo, which is a huge area over on the far west side of Funchal. The floral theme of the gardens will be international, with species from all over the world, with South America, Australia, and Madagascar getting specific mentions.
———————————————————-
PHOTO : Martinho, the unwanted Husky, has found sanctuary in Germany.
Placing unwanted dogs and cats in good homes with new owners is a vital part of the work undertaken by the staff of SPAD (the local Society for the Protection of Domestic Animals). This year, however, Veterinary Doctor Carolina Margarido of SPAD has noticed a worrying increase in the number of dogs being returned to the Society after adoption by local families. She explains: "There are many reasons why dogs (and the problem predominantly affects canines) lose their homes after being with their owners for a short time. In the case of 12 Huskies, which are now enjoying new lives in a German sanctuary, set up especially for the breed, they just did not fit into the Madeiran way of life. The climate did not suit them; as working dogs, inactivity bored them and often they barked a lot and got up to mischief, such as destroying garden flowers. Their ‘stand-offish’ natures often disappointed their owners, too, if they had been expecting their Huskies to be affectionate pets. Consequently, many Huskies were abandoned on our streets"
Carolina gives the example of Martinho, a beautiful, two-year-old Husky. He was found dumped in a stream with a broken rib and other less serious injuries. Rescued by firemen, he was taken to SPAD, where he was treated and he quickly recovered from his ordeal. Recently, he was accompanied to Germany by Thelma Brown of the local charity, SOS Animal, and he has now settled happily in the Sanctuary with the other Huskies from Madeira.
Contribution from Sheila Toney … thank you.
‘Camp In Caniço Is Flooded With Fines Of SPA’. Inspectors from The Society for Portuguese Authors (copyright protection) have invaded the assembly of sellers stands outside the church in Caniço and fined every one of them. Even those not selling films or music of dubious origin were fined, for having a TV or radio switched on. The Diário says "At issue is the compulsory license to broadcast radio or television in public places. A situation we can not confirm because, despite several attempts, we have failed to contact the spokesman at the SPA". 
