Retales

No, I'm not repeating some of my previous posts, but using a rather clever (well I thought it was) play on words to announce yet another tale of Ibiza's shopping sector.

As you know we're still clinging to the archaic tradition of the afternoon siesta when everything closes from 1.30 to 17.00 so the only thing you can do is eat and sleep. And if you only manage say 16 winks, you can make up the other 24 when you get back to 'work.'

Is it any wonder that the Spanish, who are nominally at work for longer than their western European counterparts, are 40% less productive? Well, could you produce a set of accounts or arrange a Billion Dollar take-over deal with a belly busting three course lunch and half a bottle of Rioja inside you?

Any road, one of the Ferreterías in San Antonio has a great big sign outside saying 'we don't close for lunch.' It's also the only place that can cut the special security key for my front door, so having nothing better to do one lunch time I went to get a new key.

And this is how my trip went............
'I'd like a copy of this key please.'
'We, can't. The lad's gone for his lunch.'
'But you don't close for lunch.'
'No, we don't close, but everyone apart from me goes home.'
'What time is he due back?'
'four o'clock.'
'It's 10 to 4 now, I'll wait.'
'No, come back in about half an hour, he's only DUE back at four, but he won't be here then!'