Andrew Haldane On Peer-to-Peer Lending
This quote from Andy Haldane, a director of the Bank of England in the Independent is very ominous, if you’re a banker.
The mono-banking culture is on its way out. Instead, we are seeing a much more diverse eco-system emerging with the growth of new non-bank groups offering peer-to peer lending and crowd-funding.
Few are going to be upset, if more bankers are out of a job.
The Solo Die Young
This is some interesting research as reported on the BBC.
Apparently, solo artists seem to die younger than those in groups.
My Gammy Left Hand
I took this picture of my hand, as I rode to the airport.
My Gammy Left Hand
It doesn’t look too bad although it’s often rather cold.
I must remember to use it more, as I do neglect it a bit. But then the doctor told me that I was suffering from neglect syndrome.
Combining Science And Art
I like sundials and this was a magnificent one.
It was a pity there wasn’t any explanation in English.
Walking Towards The Airport Bus
I effectively finished my break, by walking along the front to get the airport bus.
In some ways, I felt rather sad to leave, but then I had to get back to check on the builders.
I shall certainly return, when I need some sun. After all, Majorca is probably the closest place, where sun is fairly guaranteed at some point in a break.
But I’ll choose a better hotel.
Grand Cafe Cappuccino
I had lunch here before I caught the bus to the airport.
The last time, I’d been here was with C on that birthday holiday in 2007.
As with the Caballito de Mar, they knew their gluten free.
The Light In Majorca
I have a friend, who’s an artist. As someone, who takes in knowledge like a sponge, I have learned a lot about light from her. So like a couple of other photographers, I took pictures as I walked down from the cathedral.
But they do show how bright the light was for December!
Around And Inside Palma Cathedral
Tuesday was a sunny day and I walked down through Palma to the cathedral and explored it.
Although C and I went to Majorca about ten times, we probably never visited the cathedral on such a quiet, sunny day.
Exploring Majorca By Rail
I had deliberately wanted to be by the station, so that I could take the odd trip out.
I went to Inca and Manacor, as the beautiful old railway to Soller was closed due to engineering works. It was December and although it was quite sunny, the towns were rather dead. I just had a nice coffee and moved on.
It does seem though, that these trains are not the easiest to use, as what information there is, is rather poor. To get to Manacor, the birthplace of Rafael Nadal incidentally, the train reverses direction at one point and you need to change at another, for which there is no announcement. Stations generally, aren’t signed, so you could get dumped at a place in the middle of nowhere. I nearly did.
The Intermodal station in Palma is a bit of a nightmare. It may be an interchange, but don’t ask at the bus information for details on the trains. They’ll tell you politely, that the trains are another company. And the only ticket machines there, don’t seem to sell tickets to Inca and Mancor. Or at least, it appeared so to me. I’ve had no experience of Spanish trains elsewhere, but compared to Italy, where I’ve used trains a lot, they weren’t the easiest to use.
If these countries want to make trains easy to use for tourists, they should look at their maps and ticketing systems.
The Caballito de Mar Restaurant, Palma Majorca
Five years ago for my sixtieth birthday, C took me to Majorca. We stayed in an excellent hotel outside of Palma and she asked them to recommend a good restaurant that could do gluten-free food. They recommended the Caballito de Mar Restaurant on the avenue along the sea-front, underneath the town. It was excellent, so on my brief trip, I went back.
In fact, I went back again, as the sea bass was so good the first time.
The restaurant made up for the sub-standard hotel.
The Anonymous Widower 