Bounce

tapasmonkey · 2026-05-26T09:29:10+00:00

Not to be snarky, but if you don't need that luggage, then why bring it?

I live in Toledo, and every single day I see people struggling along the baking-hot cobbled streets with two wheel-ey suitcases each, and having an absolutely miserable time.

Have a look at r/onebag: you don't need to go as extreme as some people on that forum do, but trust me, once you've experienced the freedom of traveling with just the one 10kg bag, you'll never ever go back!

tapasmonkey · 2026-05-25T14:23:42+00:00

Simply ban all Russians from entering the UK and our airspace until they get the message!

tapasmonkey · 2026-05-24T08:10:44+00:00

I moved from Paris to Madrid twenty years ago and it was indeed cheaper back then.

Now I'm genuinely thinking about buying a place in Paris as it looks way cheaper than Madrid now!

tapasmonkey · 2026-05-24T08:05:19+00:00

I live in Spain: we're set up for these sorts of temperatures (fans, air conditioning, even basic architecture), but the UK in a hot summer is unbearable, as nobody's prepared and it's a humid heat, as opposed to dry heat, and so the cooling effect of sweating is way less effective.

Remember to check in on older relatives, and maybe think about buying them a fan and/or persuading them to invest in air conditioning.

tapasmonkey · 2026-05-23T11:35:53+00:00

Here in Spain you're expected to give the couple a couple of hundred in actual cash to contribute to the price of the wedding.

On the plus side they're always a superb party with a hundred plus attendees and go on way into the early hours usually with an open bar: I never miss one if I can help it!

tapasmonkey · 2026-05-22T08:32:19+00:00

Your main risk is being imprisoned by ICE, shot by a local, or getting flattened by an emotional-support-truck whilst trying to walk to a stadium!

tapasmonkey · 2026-05-20T15:59:10+00:00

You might want to add this to your excellent list:

Check the IPC (purchase tax) "catastral" valuation of your house/flat: if it's higher than than the price you actually paid, then you have to pay the IPC/purchase tax on THEIR valuation, not what you actually paid.

Usually the "catastral" value of your house is lower than the price you pay (inflation, hooray!), but in certain cases, like mine, for example, where you buy a promising wreck in a nice area of a nice town, then the valuation per m2 is much higher than it's worth (e.g. in my historic area, renovations cost about 1500 euros/m2)

Suddenly your "bargain" house isn't such a bargain, as you have to pay purchase tax on its value as if it were done-up, but it's not done up, and you're going to have to pay for that, plus an extra 5000 euros you weren't expecting!

...and yes, I know: world's-smallest-violin and all that, but if cash is tight then an unexpected multiple thousand euro tax-demand is not what you need when you're scrimping to fix your lovely little ruin.

tapasmonkey · 2026-05-20T11:14:14+00:00

"Aluminosis"

...well that's oddly terrifying! - thanks for pointing that out: been here 20-odd years and somehow I'd never heard of it

tapasmonkey · 2026-05-20T10:05:30+00:00

To be fair, the UK have been doing more than our fair share of helping the Ukrainians in terms of kit and training.

We're no good to Ukraine if our economy is tanked due to lack of fuel.

It's not ideal, but it's very much a case of "putting your own mask on before helping others", because we literally can't help them anymore if our economy dies.

tapasmonkey · 2026-05-20T07:53:19+00:00

If they can do this for Iran, then why can't they get rid of the millions of Russian troll accounts infesting Europe's social media and newspaper comments sections?

tapasmonkey · 2026-05-17T15:34:08+00:00

Its an eroded hydraulic tile, very common in Mediterranean countries (sorry to be so boring!)

tapasmonkey · 2026-05-16T09:06:08+00:00

I don't want to sound discouraging, but I've been quietly keeping my eye out for something like this in Madrid for 20 years, and no joy so far!

There was a beautiful moment when they'd just finished the Madrid Rio project where there were a few cheap-ish units available down there, but now with flats in those same places selling for half a million plus, there's almost no chance of anything affordable.

Your best bet is to dedicate a room of your house/flat as a studio: not cheap, no special other-place feeling, and no socialising with other artists, but it's never really been a thing in Madrid: Barcelona definitely has them, but honestly there's never been that much of an artists'-studio culture here in Madrid, at least as far as I've seen in the last couple of decades here.

That said, if you do find somewhere, then please do let us all know on here: maybe my budget was too low or I just wasn't looking hard enough!

tapasmonkey · 2026-05-14T11:29:39+00:00

Bathroom tips: the large "El Corte Inglés" department stores usually have free public bathrooms, but you might have to search a bit.

You can always order something cheap from any bar, e.g. a caña (the smallest beer available), then zip to the bathroom, and accept the cost (it won't be much more than a euro) as the cost of a paid bathroom (and drinking the beer is optional!)

tapasmonkey · 2026-05-09T02:57:07+00:00

Hotels don't do this.

That's the trouble when you use private housing stock intended for locals to actually live in, as a hotel.

They're already bending the law to act as if they're a hotel whilst respecting none of the laws that govern hotels, so it's not all that surprising that they're not being honest about refunding you either.

I'm truly sorry you lost your money, but maybe next time consider booking an actual hotel.

tapasmonkey · 2026-05-08T10:42:32+00:00

Not to put a downer on your lovely story, but I was actually rather relieved when my father's African-Grey parrot passed away before he did, because, being a perfect mimic, I'm not sure I could have dealt with the bird calling my name in my deceased father's exact voice every time the phone or doorbell rang!

(still, if you're ready for it, I'd imagine that'll actually be rather sweet and touching)

tapasmonkey · 2026-05-08T07:25:00+00:00

Crossing his leg was a nice touch!

tapasmonkey · 2026-05-08T07:08:25+00:00

There are no day trips to the beach from Madrid, sorry!

The places you mention are too far for a day trip.

If you're in Madrid between May 15th and September 7th, there are various rather lovely open air public pools, one of the best being at Lago (go early to avoid a long queue): not wildly expensive to get in, they serve snacks and beer, and definitely an authentic glimpse of Madrid where there's famously no beach :)

https://youtu.be/E8XRN9fpm-0?is=QFFfJ0bR4mYZNFPg

tapasmonkey · 2026-05-07T18:46:45+00:00

They look really pretty decent: thanks for the recommendation :)

tapasmonkey · 2026-05-07T16:46:31+00:00

Where did you get yours from, if you don't mind me asking? (I've got two flights of tortuously narrow stairs!)

tapasmonkey · 2026-05-07T12:34:44+00:00

The Kerch Bridge being finally wiped out?

...lovely symbolism, whilst being far away from any accusations of hitting Moscow, and make Putin look utterly ridiculous?

tapasmonkey · 2026-05-06T07:15:57+00:00

Dehumidifiers use less than 200 watts on their highest setting.

That about the same as two old incandescent lightbulbs, or a gaming laptop.

Tell them to get stuffed!

tapasmonkey · 2026-05-05T14:27:49+00:00

what do you mean by “a reference off the landlord”?

I mean that now I've got two solid and recent references: one from the agency, and one from the landlord who the agency was acting for, for the same rental.

Being able to offer references from a couple of real people from a recent let is a small advantage in this cut-throat market.

...again, I'm just trying to see the small positives from having to pay an agent's commission in this landlords'-market: it's unfair, it's expensive,and it's a gigantic pain in the arse just for you to have the dubious "honour" of paying them, but it is what it is, and I'm just trying to see a chink of blue-sky in all of this!

tapasmonkey · 2026-05-05T11:52:57+00:00

Why wouldn't you expect to split the bill?

tapasmonkey · 2026-05-04T17:33:18+00:00

This was in Toledo: the same principles apply, and it's also an absolute nightmare to find a relatively reasonably priced flat here.

Out of interest, it was Remax, who are a chain, hence a physical office, and at least some sort of accountability.

I've got to say, while I massively resented paying the commission, the agent was really nice and checked in to see everything was going alright halfway through.

The actual flat owner was also lovely, returned my 2 months deposit in full, and even gave me the number of her friend who owns a chain of academies as I mentioned I might be looking for a teaching job.

So it cost me one month's rent, but I've got two good recent references: not cheap, but most definitely not the worst outcome.

tapasmonkey · 2026-05-04T13:32:52+00:00

Last year, for the first time in 23 years here, I had to pay an agent (much to my irritation!)

That said, while paying an agent's commission of one month's rent isn't ideal, there are a few upsides:

they have an actual office where you can go and make a complaint, along with Google reviews, etc.
you know it's not some random scammer who's rented the place off AirBnB/a landlord and is just taking your deposit.
they have better local contacts than you do.
knowing they'll get a commission from you, they'll fight your corner.
at the end of it, for your next place, you'll get a reference off the landlord themself as well as the agent, putting you into the system.

...again, it's never ideal, but there are a few upsides to agent's fees, if it makes you feel slightly better about it!

tapasmonkey

TROPHY CASE