A Humans of Mallorca story By Shirley Roberts The Anglican church in Mallorca is busy working behind the scenes to keep its presence warm and effective in the Lockdown. Not easy when both the Anglican Vicars recently left their posts on the island for ecclesiastical pastures new in the Diocese of Europe. The congregations in…
Are we Human in the Soller Valley? By Shirley Roberts Published in the Majorca Daily Bulletin on Tuesday 20th June 2017 Photographs by Rachel Fox In developing the ‘Humans of Mallorca’ brand here I have had some great adventures and spoken to ordinary people with extraordinary stories. One lady who works at the Airport told…
A PLETHORA OF FIESTAS Late August and early September bring the FIESTA season of the HIDDEN VALLEY to a climax. The following dates for your diary should be entered in red. This is the wildest time of the year and the momentum builds until the autumn days begin to arrive and the summer subsides. 15,16…
Written by Shirley Roberts I feel I am a lone voice for the Northern Irish Tourist Board. I have recently returned from an August week’s adventure there, in which I was one of very few visitors. How was it possible to drive the Ards Peninsular, alongside vast empty beaches and seal colonies and be the…
By Soller Shirley Watchers of ‘Gavin and Stacey’ will know of ‘Neil the baby’. Neil is no longer a baby, but this is his name, no-one calls him just Neil. Small town life is full of nicknames and instantly recognisable characters. To have a nickname is generally a term of affection and acceptance. In Soller,…
Which side of the track are you on in Soller? Published in the Majorca Daily BulletinTuesday 9th June 2015Photographs by RACHEL FOX Our tram runs through Soller winding its way through people’s gardens till it gets to the sea. The hundreds of passengers on it each day for the first time make the usual observations. …
Written on 9th May 2023 by Shirley Roberts The last 24 hours have been a ‘fascination of social media’. Coming out the other side I am making a personal statement. Strong feelings on all sides mean that some views are one dimensional. I would just like to offer a little contribution to ‘both sides’. Five…
photographs by RACHEL FOXThe history of Majorca is written by cleverer, more knowledgeable people than me. My contribution is really a question about the basics of our incomer’s lives. Do we really understand what makes this place tick or the significance of some of the events that has made Majorca what it is today?For instance take…
By Shirley Roberts Under the current rules I am allowed to go for a walk with a member of my family. This week we didn’t get in the car but just walked the walk of the faithful towards the Cemetery and beyond. This is a much loved walk when you know where you are going. …
At least they did till the Virus arrived… The poorest people are afraid of earning nothing and finding themselves in the ‘workhouse’. A hundred years ago in the UK if you couldn’t pay your way you ended in up in a segregated, slavery workplace institution. Your children were traded as servants or received apprenticeships they…