Recently by Marc Vargas

Hard beginning last week, working from Sunday to Friday, every day 14:00 until 22:00. Monday 2nd of February was my birthday so now, one year older. Saturday off and I had my present last Sunday to certify that it's important the end, not the beginning (ask to Mr. Arthur Wellesley).
Great Sunday, I woke up early (that means 8 o'clock) because I was working 4 hours in a library and I wanted to be punctual. I'm collaborating with City Council when they need staff in libraries and I'm always enjoying that. But let's be honest, it was Sunday morning, I was tired and I wasn't really excited about finishing the week working BUT I absolutely had a great time there, nice people working and nice users (I prefer to say users than customers). Did you know in some libraries they have Play Stations 2 for the kids to play ? (and for those not so young ...). I don't know if a library is a right place for the PS2 but I have to admit that it works, kids were happy, quiet and of course, having a great time.

Last week, a good friend of mine sent me an email from Barcelona and reminded me that I used to have a blog on Journal's website. She said as well that she likes Newcastle and is really interested about what's happening on the North East (she's a brilliant open-minded journalist in an important magazine in Barcelona and as you can see again, she reads this blog) but obviously, because she is a good friend she is more interested about what I'm doing and if everything it's all right. I told her that I'm fine and that I've been updating the blog every week but because she is living far away it takes longer for her to be able to read the new posts, Internet is not that fast yet! I'm not sure she believed me.

I had thousands of emails from around the world asking and begging me to write another post so let's satisfy the crowd. I'll update today!

Guilty, I know that's no serious, my last post was on 17th of December. Absolutely shameful. I'll have to be more constant, I'll try it, I swear I will. I don't know why but I think that problems start when you promise in a public space...

Why so long? Do I have a good excuse? No. I went home for Christmas but of course that was... on Christmas. No, we don't have longer Christmas than yours but let's say it takes me some extra time settle down again when I've been at home. I planned a couple of posts for the blog defending my theory of Menorca's weather in winter with a couple of pictures of deserted cold beaches but as usual I didn't find the right time...

When I'm there my family practice what I call "involuntary emotional blackmail" because they treat me so splendidly that I'm always wondering if I should go back to Menorca forever. The conclusion is always the same: I'll always be able to do it. Won't I?

Thinking about that, one of my last days in Maó I was walking through the port (I always do that, alone with my ipod. Is my melancholic moment) when I heard a wonderful music coming from nowhere. "That's it! -I thought- It's a sign, that music is the same singing of the sirens in the Odyssey! I'm like Ulysses! No! I have to avoid that music like he did" I turned up the volume of my ipod and escaped as fast as I could. Suddenly in front of me I saw the "famous" sculpture of the mermaid that rest on the port. She was looking at me and I started hearing the music louder and louder. I looked back, nothing. Looked on my left, nothing. Looked on my right and I finally saw the answer, somebody left the door of El Padrino (The Godfather) open and that music was invading the road. El Padrino is the most famous brothel of Maó. Of course I escaped, I said I was Ulysses!

I'm still not sure if my Ithaca would be Menorca or Newcastle but I'm back here on Upon Tyne trying to find it out.

Ok, yes, that's a very obvious, awful, easy typical and topical title for a post but you know, sometimes the secret sleeping journalist that I have inside appears to say hello.
No, I'm not the typical killjoy who hate christmas. Mainly because for a long time for me Christmas means go back with my whole family after a long time far from home. So I love Christmas because is time (in my case) of re-union with brother, parents, uncles, cousins... and that's always great.
What I hate are those 15-20 days before Christmas, when the nightmare starts. All the big companies are "attacking" you looking for your wallet, that concept of "have to buy" because is Christmas. Money always screw it all. Even in the most classical and beautiful movie about Christmas ( It's a wonderful life) the main character suffers because of the money. "If you know the person, you'll find the present", that's more or less the advert of an important company for this Christmas (beautiful advert indeed). Well, that's very dangerous because that could make you think that you don't really know your close family and friends. On this days when everybody soon (on the store) or later (on the internet) buys what they want it's harder and harder to buy a proper present (it's christmas, has to be proper) so when you give a present there are 2 options and a miracle:
1st option: Receiver liked it but not useful so it has a clear future: closet.
2nd option: Good present BUT... Clear future: change in the store with the ticket.
Miracle: Good present, receiver liked it and useful. Even in Christmas miracles are very difficult.

I think Father Christmas just came 2 or 3 times to my house and that was long time ago. Probably Menorca is too far for him or maybe Rudolph has some kind of agoraphobia but our tradition is more about the Three wise man: Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar. When you wake up on the 6th of January you've got your presents waiting for you. Some wealthy families recieve the visit of Father Christmas on Christmas eve and the Three wise just one week later but that's not normal, I suppose is all about being "well connected".

I want to explain you another beautiful tradition, is a Catalan custom and you can think is a bit scatological but is very funny and interesting to know. The tradition is called "Tió de Nadal" (the translation would be "Christmas Log") but is popularly called "Caga tió" (Pooping log). Yeah, is what it seems. Obviously we are in 2008 and with the globalisation and mondialisation this tradition is being replaced by Father Christmas, I think in 5-10 years he will have the monopoly of Christmas presents...
You'll find more information about how to make poo a log here (without a context is a very weird phrase isn't it?): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ti%C3%B3_de_Nadal

I've got a very short Christmas tale to finish this post. Well, more than a Christmas tale is a real sad situation. You know when somebody has a problem and doesn't want to tell anybody about it but needs to explain it? In that case the phrase normally is: "I have a friend that...".
Well, a real person that I know has a problem so I imagine I'll have to say I've got a problem. Yeah, I have a problem, I have to buy some presents for my "new" girlfriend's family wich I don't know but I have to buy a present because is Christmas and I'll go to their house on Christmas day (My family is living far from here). If I don't buy it they are going to hate me or at least think I'm not good enough. I have to buy presents for my girlfriend's parents, granparents and my girlfriend's aunts and uncles. I'm really desperate, I don't have time to buy a present because I'm working a lot and my money is running out. I'm on a dead end and I don't know what to do. When I look on the mirror I don't know if the tears of stress and desperation on my eyes are the real Christmas spirit but what I do know is that we shouldn't need a excuse or a date to make presents.
I don't know if I have sorted out but I wish for me a very happy new year with sales, valentine's day, father's day, mother's day and lot's of birthdays.

Merry Christmas to everybody and good luck with your presents, don't worry, you'll always be able to change it!!

Remember, one of my favourite expressions in english: "Is not that bad".

Yes, that's what I think about british weather. When I speak with people here, normally they think in Barcelona or Menorca is always sunny and warm. Wrong.

After my presentation I think it's time to be serious... at least, be more specific, because leave Menorca and Barcelona to go to Newcastle just to "fly away" is not enough, come on Marc, confess, what are you doing here?

Ok, there is another reason. There is a woman. There is a "She". Can you imagine a most powerful reason to leave your country? (criminal reasons aside...) "She" is from Lleida (160 km from Barcelona, where we met) and she is studying here at university. "She" is great, beautiful, smart, funny, caring, understanding... and she reads this blog...

For my presentation I'll say I was born in 1983 in Menorca (not Mallorca), probably another British Island in summer.

I arrived to Newcastle 1 year ago after I finished my studies in Barcelona. The certificates says I am a librarian and a journalist but here I'm working on a call center. If you check my grammar and spelling you will know why this blog is the closest work as a jorunalist I can do in the UK.