Turmoil

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Crisis, it's said like kreesys here, everywhere, all the time. bad news rolling in, wave after wave lapping on the shore.

The news is full of it. On the radio today I've listened  to stories about Local Authorities, unable to pay their creditors, being bailed out by Central Government to stop the businesses they owe money to going belly up. In Catalonia they're going to start charging everyone a euro for every prescription. The pay of Local Government workers is being cut at the same time as working hours are being increased. Another hike in VAT is on the cards.There will be a General Strike on the 29th of this month. And so on.

The news is one thing though and personal experience is another. In our house, from this week Maggie has been expected to work two hours more per week than she has been up to now. A pay cut or a work increase sliding under the wire.

I teach English to a bunch of people in a local business. It's a strategic industry and, as such affected more than most by Government legislation. Moves to safeguard jobs in another part of Spain have had quite a negative effect on their business. Recently the company has been sold to new owners. Unsurprisingly the new bosses are looking for cost savings. A couple of my students have lost their jobs and there is a general sense within the business of doom and gloom with worse to come. I suppose there is a good likelihood that, very soon, English classes will become a luxury they can do without. It won't be a big problem to me but if I had a mortgage and kids and a car loan.

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