Briton in the Sun

 A preview of Episode 2 of my 'big budget' video series about Gibraltar! The full video is still in production and will be uploaded soon.  

I've had my fair share of bad luck in Gibraltar: after driving my car all the way from the UK, through Spain, to Gibraltar, I found out that I couldn't keep it here; I injured my leg shortly after arriving, and was hobbling about for weeks; the kitchen equipment in my first studio flat didn't work; most of all I've struggled to get any part-time work. So yesterday, when a trip to the Moorish Castle didn't go to plan, it was hardly a surprise. Moorish Castle The Moorish Castle is a historic monument and landmark in Gibraltar. Like Edinburgh Castle it dates from different periods, as parts were demolished and rebuilt. Apparently the original castle was built by the Moors in 1160 (who incidentally gave Gibraltar it's name), destroyed by the Spanish when they recaptured Gibraltar in the early 1300s, then rebuilt when the Moors re-took Gib in 1333. Without this chapter descending into a history lesson, suffice to say the castle is old! And it looks it's age, with...

Some readers of my blog may think it's sunny and beach weather all the time in Gibraltar. Well actually it isn't, as the picture below attests to.  Stormy Weather This was taken last weekend when Gibraltar was "battered", as the media hyperbolically put it, by storm Karlotta. What's with giving storms names, as if they are hurricanes? When I was a kid, a storm was just a storm. The news would say, it's a bit windy and wet today. Now everything is a crisis, so a bit wind and rain has to have a name to increase the terror. It's just wind and rain, it's been happening for millennia, and will go on happening, name or no name! It's strange though how when the weather changes Gibraltar feels more British. Forget the red telephone boxes and post boxes, what could be more British than grey sky and rain? Take a look at the picture below. Do you think this was taken in the UK or Gibraltar. M&S, winter coats, hoods up, it could be any high street in the U...

Continuing the theme from the last chapter of the border making Gibraltar a prison, let me tell you about a local news story, of a fugitive from Gibraltar, who made it across the border to Spain without a Spanish visa. Such a story is unusual here, but what makes it more unusual is the fugitive was an ape. Gone Ape! I've spoken previously of the monkeys that live on the Rock. These are a major tourist attraction, and there are about 200 of them up there (around the number of students at the University of Gibraltar). If you are an animal lover, dear reader, you might be interested to know that the apes are a spices called Barbary Macaque, and these are tailless monkeys. How they got to Gibraltar is unclear, but a local legend says that as long as the apes stay on the rock, Gibraltar will remain part of Britain. Planning his escape. Perhaps this is why Gibraltarian authorities were so keen to get him back, and a literal manhunt, make that apehunt ensued. The ape was seen near the Gib...

When I was a teenager I enjoyed watching a psychedelic TV series from the 1960s called the Prisoner. It was about a former secret agent trapped on an island (referred to as 'The village') off which there was no escape. Every time he tried to escape, a giant white balloon (called Rover) would obstruct him. If it sounds weird, it was! But hay it was the 60s 'man'. There are many things about Gibraltar that remind me of this show. Colourful dinky houses in the fictional 'Village'  Firstly it was set on an island. I have often felt Gibraltar is like an island, with much of its food imported from the UK. Secondly,  some of the  architecture in Gibraltar, such as the  colourful houses at Catalan bay, is very evocative of the prisoner. Colourful dinky houses in Gibraltar.  Thirdly, 'The Village' in the show was small. Like Gibraltar you could probably drive it in 10 minutes. The buildings were compact and old, and the streets narrow. Sound familiar?  Nar...

One of the main industries in Gibraltar is 'gaming'. This is their polite term for gambling, an industry that preys on human greed, and will suck away all your savings if you let it. Perhaps this is why Gibraltarians refer to it by the less innocuous term 'gaming'. It's only a game, or is it? Much of the 'gaming' industry is now online, with all kind of websites allowing you to throw your money away at any time of day or night. Moreover, gambling that used to have a strong social element, such as Bingo, is now online. However, even in Gibraltar (the hub of 'gaming') it's not all online yet. Gibraltar actually has four betting shops. Considering Gib only has 2 supermarkets, this seems like quite a lot. More betting shops than supermarkets! I recently discovered this when I decided to put a bet on at the weekend. The Six Nations rugby competition (comprising the four UK nations and France an Italy) had just started, and Scotland were to play Wales ...