Autumnal musings

THE CLOCKS went back last weekend and we all had an extra hour in bed on Sunday. On the plus side, it’s lighter earlier but the upshot is that by 18.30 it’s dark.

Under normal circumstances, at this time of the year many would be preparing for Halloween – especially the children. A number of shops have made efforts and decorated their windows, but it is doubtful whether there will be the normal groups of little ones knocking on doors ‘ trick or treating’.

The only negative is that I will have to eat all the sweets myself, for which I am certain my dentist will be appreciative. It really is a shame, but children appear to be adapting to this new normal better than adults in the many instances that I have witnessed.

So called grownups are constantly moaning about having to wear a mask, with some even insisting it is a breach of their human rights, yet schoolchildren have to wear them throughout their time in school and you don’t hear complaints. They just get on with it. I won’t get into an argument on the pros and cons of mask wearing, so far as to say, I put it on when I go out as per law, simply because the alternative is a fine.

This week is half term in many UK schools, and I have seen a few families about in Benidorm, but nowhere near as many as normal sadly, as we all know, 2020 is anything but normal! The 14day quarantine upon returning to the UK has obviously taken its toll on bookings, with many unable to take three weeks off work for a oneweek holiday.

So the catch22 situation arises, no bookings, therefore hotels close and as they are closed, no last minute bookings as always happens at school holiday time. It is certainly a shame, especially as we have still been experiencing some fabulous weather here this week. Although the temperature is definitely beginning to drop, shall we say it is a little fresh first thing in the morning and again once the sun goes down, but during the day it’s really been very mild and people, probably holidaymakers, are still on the beaches.

Considering that Sunday is the first day of November, we aren’t doing too badly. I haven’t even got my winter woollies out of hibernation yet, although I am eyeing them up slowly. It’s that strange time of the year, when weatherwise, we can experience all four seasons in a single day. Back in Blighty, many have had their central heating and 14.5 tog quilts on for months already.

Talking of hotels, the Valencian government, in a bid to promote tourism within the region was offering residents up to 70% off hotel bookings here. It therefore came as no surprise that the system was so overloaded that it continuously kept crashing and within the first three days, 12,000 applications had been made.

I believe that they allocated 7,500 for this scheme. When I first saw it, I did think about maybe making an enquiry… obviously no chance now. Must get my skates on and act quicker if there is a next time.

But what I do find somewhat baffling is why some towns still have all the children’s play areas taped off, whereas others are open. I noticed this over the weekend, in particular down on the beaches. In La Cala Finestrat cove, of the two play areas, one was open. I found out that the other one was ‘ closed due to a revision of the area and apparatus and would be opening again this week once the problem has been resolved’.

However, a few kilometres down the coast in Benidorm they remain closed. Over in Albir, they were open and very busy last Sunday, with families out walking along the promenade, stopping for the little ones to play on the slide and climbing frame. It is exactly what they need – fun and activity in the fresh air.

The same scenario in La Nucía. All the play parks and football pitches on the different urbanisations have remained closed, sealed off with police tape since March when the country went into lockdown.

I am very curious to know the reasoning behind these decisions and, yes, as you can imagine I did try and contact the relevant town hall departments, getting passed from sport to urban planning to education and no one able to solve the question except to mumble ‘ Covid and health reasons’. I gave up and lost the will to live. But there should at least be consistency between towns, even if we don’t agree with it.