costablog.com

Millions of households in Spain will pay more for electricity and gas this year and consumer groups are up in arms at what they consider a “shocking” rate hike, which came into effect on 1^st January 2011. The government has announced that the TUR tariff, which supplies up to 10 kilowatts of power, will increase by 9.8 per cent, while natural gas prices will rise by an average of 3.93 per cent.

Pedro Marín, The Secretary of State for Energy said the increase would raise the average monthly electric bill by 3.20 euros (or 38.40 euros per year) although the OCU Consumers and Users Group has estimated the figure to be closer to 4.25 euros per month and both were unable to say what consumption those figures represented. During 2010, there was public outrage when electricity prices in Spain rose by 2.65 per cent in January and by a further 4.8 per cent in October, so the reaction for this hike is more than expected. Read more »

Estofado is a traditional Spanish beef stew. It is another great meal to have on a cold winter’s day or evening as it will warm you through to your bones. Try it!

Note: It is important to keep the carrots reasonably large otherwise they will melt into the stew due to long cooking times.

Ingredients

Serves 4 (as a main course)
Total cooking time: About 1 hour and 50 minutes.

3 tablespoons of good quality olive oil
500g stewing beef
250g carrots peeled and cut into large chunks Read more »

The new anti-smoking law has finally been approved in Parliament and will take effect from January 2, 2011. This means that all enclosed public spaces will be smoke-free, which even includes bars and nightclubs. Not even sealed-off smoking areas will be allowed, except in amusement arcades where no games will be installed and no drinks or food can be served in the smoking zones. Even the smoking areas in airports like they have in Madrid Barajas will be removed. In hotels only 30 per cent of the rooms will allow smoking. The only enclosed public space where you are able to smoke is in prison, but who wants to stay there. Read more »

The staff of costablog would like to take this brief moment to wish everyone who visits the site a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Here’s hoping that Santa Claus brings you everything you want this year – and hopefully nothing that you’ll put at the back of your cupboard and never wear or use.

Also, our writers would like to know – is there anything you have particularly enjoyed reading this year or anything you would to see more of in the future?

May everyone enjoy the festivities and have a great time with their family and friends!

Seasons Greetings
costablog

The winter sales period does not officially start in Southern Spain until January 7th, but with times being as hard as they are, shops have decided to bring forward and extend this scheduled event.

While local traders are not actually allowed to use the term “rebajas” until January, many shop windows are covered with signs announcing “special” offers or 50% discount.

I always used to panic around January sales time because I never had any money left over from the finance drain that is Christmas for new things, so I for one think this is a fabulous idea. I still have quite a few Christmas presents to buy – and of course, everyone loves a bargain!