Puntos de vista - a personal Spain blog

When Charlie Mullins became a regular columnist for The Olive Press newspaper, I thought:

"Omigod! Jon Clarke (editor of said free paper published in Southern Spain) has hired a 'Leapy Lee', the racist, sexist, failed pop-star pr**k who writes for the EuroWeekly News (another free paper here on the coast)".

Charlie Mullins, OBE [Photo: Elite Business Magazine]    

The story

Mullins' debut column didn't augur well for the future, I have to say.

However, since then this self-made millionaire who has decided to make his home in Estepona, Spain, has grown on me.

His recent column (Vol. 19, Issue 478) tackles the issue of immigration.

"You don't have to scroll far these days to find someone sounding off about immigration - whether it's in the UK or right here in Spain."

Writing about the many "Brits" who have made Spain their home, he opines that the "Spanish people have been incredibly welcoming" towards him.

[Photo: Issuu]    

He contends that this is because he has always shown respect for their country, their way of life, and their culture.

He writes: "This isn't about Spain v. the UK, or locals v. expats. It's about decent people who make an effort, versus those who turn up with a sense of entitlement and no interest in fitting in".

As he writes, they are loud, brash, no manners, no clue. I agree.

A typical 'guiri' [Photo: Facebook]    

Mullins claims he has never pretended to be Spanish. He lives in Spain, and is a "guest", which brings responsibilities. I agree absolutely. We will always be "guests".

He refers to the British "expat" lady who left the UK because there were "too many foreigners", and moved to live in Spain.

She is now exactly that, a foreigner. In Spain. She has made no attempt to integrate.

"Guiris" [Daily Express]    

Mullins is quite accepting of her - I am most definitely not! She is a hypocrite big-style!

In conclusion, Mullins writes: "This isn't about being anti-immigrant, it's about being anti-ignorant".

You have "hit the nail on the head", my friend.

Well done!

And well done to The Olive Press for hiring an excellent columnist, Charlie Mullins, OBE!

©  Pablo de Ronda (Paul Whitelock)

Pictures:

Daily Express, Elite Business Magazine, Facebook, Issuu

Thanks:

Paul Whitelock, The Olive Press, Wikipedia

Tags:

Charlie Mullins, Daily Express, Elite Business Magazine, Estepona, EuroWeekly News, Facebook, guiri, Issuu, Jon Clarke, Leapy Lee, Pablo de Ronda, Paul Whitelock, The Olive Press, Wikipedia, www.help-me-ronda.com

This latest meeting of the Costa Press Club (Club de Prensa de la Costa del Sol) was a real treat. Laura López of the University of Malaga’s Faculty of Communication Sciences led us on a walking tour of important sites and landmarks which tell the history of journalism in the city.

[Photo: Neil Hesketh]    

Laura lectures on the topic to undergraduate students and always includes this tour as part of the course.

On Tuesday of this week, she gave us journalists, media people and communicators the very same tour.

    [Photo: Neil Hesketh]

Ruta por la Malaga periodistica (siglo XIX-XX)

There were nine "stops" on our tour, which covered the History of the Press in Malaga in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Highlights included the workplace of Antonio Cánovas del Castillo, who began as a journalist before becoming Spain’s prime minister .....

..... and the archive of Narciso Díaz de Escovar, chronicler of Malaga’s bourgeois era.

    [Photo: Paul Whitelock]

CPC members and their guests also heard stories of political conspiracies, murders, and the Civil War divisions between republicans and monarchists, which had tragic consequences for journalists.

Laura emphasised two themes:

Malaga’s overlooked status as a pioneering press hub, rivalling Madrid and Barcelona;

and the relatively recent professionalisation of journalism, once dominated by lawyers, politicians, and writers.

The tour concluded with a reference to the Asociación de la Prensa de Málaga, Spain’s first press association, currently celebrating its 120th anniversary.

[Photo: Daryl Finch]    

Time for Dinner!

Tour over, we were hungry and thirsty. We went for dinner to the delightful Restaurante El Gallo Ronco, where we enjoyed a selection of delicious tapas and raciones and chatted about the tour ..... and other things too!

    [Photo: Paul Whitelock]                                    [Photo: Joanna Styles]    

I met a couple of people I didn't know, including Neil's 92-year-old mum in Malaga on a visit from Liverpool, and Jose Maria, aka "Mister Joanna Styles".

A memorable evening!

All I had to do now was find my hotel ..... which proved to be easier said than done!

But that's a story for another day .....

© Pablo de Ronda

Photos:

Daryl Finch, Joanna Styles, Neil Hesketh, Paul Whitelock

Acknowledgements:

Costa Press Club, El Gallo Ronco, Joanna Styles, Laura López, Liz Parry, Neil Hesketh

Tags:

Antonio Cánovas del Castillo, Asociación de la Prensa de Málaga, Barcelona, Club de Prensa de la Costa del Sol, Costa Press Club, Daryl Finch, El Gallo Ronco, History of the Press in Málaga, Joanna Styles, Laura López, Liz Parry, Madrid, Narciso Díaz de Escovar, Neil Hesketh, Pablo de Ronda, Paul Whitelock, Ruta por la Malaga periodistica, University of Malaga