Roqueta 329
September 2018

I have had a great summer so far. I enjoyed the severe heat and humidity, even though it was a little restrictive in terms of what you could do. Cooler either side of that period and able to sleep properly. And the sea is gorgeous and warm. It just shows that the island continues to provide different conditions and sunshine levels to suit individual needs.

In the last couple of editions of ROQUETA, we have put more of an emphasis on family fun. Whether you have had family and friends staying with you for a few weeks or visiting independently, we tried to give some clues on how to make the most of a visit to Menorca.

Now September has arrived we are changing the content slightly to reflect the different type of visitor and also to be more relevant to those of us who live here.

The lead story has to be the Red Arrows returning to Menorca. They have been frequent visitors over the years but are still something we marvel at. They are in full flight on Tuesday 18 September. We carry an interview with Squadron Leader Adam Collins, with some interesting observations.

Voting in the local elections is also covered. The number of Brits who are residents here and eligible to vote is significant, but few of us take up the opportunity. Have a say in how your neighbourhood is run. If enough of us get motivated, then we become an electorate that could have a significant effect on who governs a local council. We need to be heard.

You don’t have to be an expert on what’s happening in the political world in Madrid or Barcelona or know the inside outs of Brexit. This is a local neighbourhood election with the emphasis on street lights, emptying the bins and all manner of things that may improve your day to day life. You have only a couple of months to register in order to vote in the spring 2019 local elections.

We keep on with the environmental theme as we have done all year. Rachael has some interesting findings on sustainable fish in the Mediterranean and Posidonia: for some ugly seaweed, for others the lifeblood of the sea, beaches and sand dunes. And the Menorcan Preservation Fund is organising a day of beach cleaning as part of World Clean-up Day on 15 September. Sign up and do your bit.

And two other articles you may enjoy. An update on the letting/rental of villas: we may not agree with the changes, but the rules are the rules. We also have an interview with the mayor of Sant Lluís which is quite enlightening.

The regulars have all been busy too. Glennis talks tulips, Angela crime books, Michael recommends some very affordable wines and makes some shocking revelations about Spanish rosé. Plus, we have some interesting but achievable recipes and a smattering of shopping. Island News is always a good read, and we have updated the What’s On as ever, so it lists new events to enjoy.

The Local News remains strong. More and more local charities and organisations approach us to carry reports on what they are up to, and we are always very happy to do that.

Another issue with something for everyone.

If you are beginning to think about Christmas, then a subscription to ROQUETA might be the perfect gift for friends and family who love the island. They may need for nothing, but don’t have a subscription yet, which will allow them to stay in touch.

Front cover image: The Red Arrows