lets have your votes!!!!!!

hi' bill and bob .................thats a very interesting poll .maybe you could take over catalunya-life mag .....good ideas nigel  !.................how about them ? ::)

Yeah , Tinks. I quite agree!
The loss of Catalunya Life magazine, needs sorting!
Anyone got any ideas, as to a re-launch?

hi all - would be great to also have a members profile page - would be great to put a face (or finca) to a name
Haze

I would LOVE people to send me stuff to include on the forum/new sections etc. All my requests to date have fallen on deaf ears - I only have so much time I can spend adding stuff - and that hasn't been much lately.

I'm sure previous article contributors to Catalunya Life must read the posts here - how about submitting your content to me so I can include it here ?

Anyone want to take over the job of trawling the Ajuntament web pages to find out what's on where and when? I can let you have a template to fill in the dates - time consuming but necessary if you want an events calendar... they're all available from the 'Town Websites' link above.

Adding new sections is pretty quick so suggestions are more than welcome!

Looking forward to receiving stuff to include,

Nigel

p.s. 5 day forecast is already available! Click the yellow 'Home' above then click on 'Tortosa Weather' on the right hand side!

Well debs ,maybe you and me should take over catalunya life ,or maybe help Nigel out as hes been so busy ....................well whats it to be catalunya life or the forum ......maybe not the forum because we don't speak catalan   and wont be able to go to adjuntment etc ,to find out whats on ,but then again is that not why we are looking at forum .....o getting confused.

Strange, isn't it that a lack of Catalan can be such a hinderance. What to do?

Either rely on others to find out information for you or learn the language and integrate.

Decisions,decisions.  8-)

Well, 2 weeks on from my request for content and still nothing from anyone - not even a hint of a suggestion of something in the pipeline....

Come on folks, you cast your votes, you want more 'stuff' but nobody seems prepared to submit anything.... bill and bob - you set up the vote, maybe you would like to start the ball rolling by contributing something ?

Nigel

Call me old fashioned, if you want ,but . . .
Flicking through a mag, is more interesting, that staring at a computer screen.
Tinks, perhaps we should have a chat. Coffee and cake sound OK? Anyone else interested? :)

That depends on what mags you are flicking through......

;)

The Magazine hard copy will be a money pit, there are free alternatives, such as producing a Bi Monthly PDF doucument for online download, zip a copy to CD or pendrive and distribute to friends and family for free, if your desperate to have a hard copy to share your cream buns with just print it off. I used to have a small programme that would turn any programme like word or publisher to a PDF document. Couple of quid on ebay !  

Adding stuff like a paged crossword or word search would be easy and those that enjoy that stuff could simply print the individual page.

Again Recipies Just print the pages required.

The list whilst not endless should make for an interesting E Magazine.

PS Your could also set up a simple E Mail List and distribute for free with a click  ;D

You need 1/2 dozen of so people to write monthly articles that they can email you and if your lucky some advertising  (very cheap rates) no printing costs and bobs your uncle ! ::)

Not Rocket Science, but will be time consuming but could make u a few bob, said my Uncle ;D

Hi Wills

Now you re talking.
If you re serious, PM me.
I ll have a word with Tinks. I think shes in the UK at the mo.
A mag would certainly go down well, with tea and cakes!
I ve got some good knitting patterns to add.
Hey, only joking ;)

Quite agree,there could be some mileage in this with the right person behind the wheel.

Hi Rotnob, would it be left or right hand drive?

I for one am fed up with pandering all my life to the politically correct dumbo's in this world! Let's have all views as to what we should have in a proposed Magazine, if there is to be one, it should be for all and about all, otherwise it will fall by the wayside as unfortunately "Catalunya Life" did.

OK Then lets all put our comitment to where our typing fingers are.

I am prepared to and would contribute an article on Renewable Energy , Product Reviews , How to ? and Installations once a month . There you go Im out the closet !

Next ?

Nice one Bill,
I see a smallish problem....the person who edits or compiles it needs to be careful not to duplicate this  forum.Failing that,now that Bill's out of the closet are there any fishermen,farmers,builders,aspiring David Attenburghs or Gordon Ramseys out there who want to throw their cap into the ring,so to speak....

Nelson.

You re always aggressive when posting! Why?
Are you just a naturally angry person, in general?

Who are you referring to ,as "Politically correct Dumbos"?

Do the predecessors of Cataloyan Life , still post here, I wonder?

Replicating the forum, wouldn t be a problem! Might actually find, they complement each other, nicely!

An emag complimenting the forum is a good thing,an emag duplicating or replicating the forum would be a waste of readers time,contributors time,editors time and probably any advertisers money,would dilute the effect and could cause lack of interest in both.What is needed is something different and more substantial but still of interest and appealing to forum members and others;who knows in the future,possibly a link up with other community forums elsewhere.

I do see it competing with forum, for one thing the forum is instant , gives answers to specific questions , but is only as good or interesting on the members input. I wanted to know how to make English sausages and the forum gave me an answer, a magazine will give you a recipie  for Rabbit and Fennel goulash, if you like niether your stuffed of not if you get my drift.

Somebody might take the time to draft a comprehensive article on his Finca Build mit photographs and so on general interest not for a forum. Lastly the forum does not reach the great unwashed without internet the E Mag Can.

Im not saying its got everything going for it, as to press we seen very little offers for article writers, maybe only a small minority miss C.Life,,,near the end its content was poor!

So we shall see WoO

Nobby.

Its not a competition! Magazine vs Forum. Dont think so. Theres no comparison.

My views are based entirely  on what people have told me.
They want a free mag. A magazine that they can contribute to. Share information, stories, opinions etc.
It needs to be simple, yet exciting and informative.
This forum will continue. People love to voice their opinions anonymously! :)

Debs, first of all my comments on this forum are NOT aggressive,they may be forthright, but are not made to provoke anything other than get opinions back, which is what the forum is all about.Please go back and view my observations and comments,I am not as far as I know an angry person, and I'm sorry if I have offended you, or anyone else.
As for my comment about politically correct dumbos, this was not directed at anyone in particular on this forum, but do read the rest of the statement that I made on that entry as I think it is valid.
                                                  Old Nelson.

PS. give us a kiss and make up!!

Nelson.

I m not cross at you. XXX
Just making an observation.
Forthright, is good ;)

Well, what do you know - little did we know but a new magazine was lurking just around the corner - so here's your chance to send off all those articles that you're all dying to publish....

The magazine is called 'The Olive Press' and will be available in hardcopy (for those of you who just HAVE to have something in your hands), and also online here: http://www.theolivepress.eu

Enjoy it, the first 'real' issue is due out on 1st May - so keep an eye out!

Nigel

---

Nigel.
I ve come over all faint!
You re not teasing, are you?
A hard copy,1st May. In my hand ;)
Yipeeeeeee, I cant wait. Its like Christmas!!!!
I m  soooooo happy!

wrote on Mar 18^th, 2008 at 5:03pm:

Well, what do you know - little did we know but a new magazine was lurking just around the corner - so here's your chance to send off all those articles that you're all dying to publish.... The magazine is called 'The Olive Press' and will be available in hardcopy (for those of you who just HAVE to have something in your hands), and also online here: http://www.theolivepress.eu Enjoy it, the first 'real' issue is due out on 1st May - so keep an eye out! Nigel

Nigel,
I and i suspect also "Mr Disgusted of Tortosa" will need some clarity here!
Disgusted of Reguers :o

Missed something here, Mr Disgusted of Tortosa ? clarity ? Disgusted of Reguers ? private rant if so fine, public forum , secrete code, care to expand ? :-?

What!
Whos disgusted/or should that be disguised.
You lost me! :-/

Enjoy it, the first 'real' issue is due out on 1st May - so keep an eye out!


!! Who's being personal here??? Old Nelson.

Thanks Nelson,
did not realize a light-hearted post would attract such enemy fire.  :'(
ebrorob

I take it that this is not the same 'Olive Press' magazine that has been flourishing in Andalucia for the last two years.  Could be that they would not like to see another magazine of the same name being published in Spain.  I would tread very carefully if I were you - possible court action when they find out ?

Flicking through the pre launch  website it appears that the owners have migrated from Southern Spain :o

Could be same outfit u never know :-?

Goody goody gum drops......a new mag .well don't care where it came from who writes it ,where they live .just as long as its a good read ..good luck to them looking forward to it .

Im alright jack pull the ladder up a great way to run yor life, :(  If this guy Olive Press thinks hell get enough 300e full page adds to pay for you 2 sit down and read a 1/2 sized mag foc then jolly good, if the mags so good and the demand for sticky buns and a good read are so obvious why dont the free loaders,,,,,, write to the editor with a 1000,s signatures and pleadge a euro an issue :-/ :-/

There isn't the demand from our community to have a glossy colour mag paid for by the limited people who want or need to reach our wallets at 300e a page a pop !
I said b4 and say again the day of limited publication free to the unwashed, is a non starter, ask Debs what I was proposing for a free web based mag full page.......20 euros not 360 euros......how many people need to visit  One Hose.io to recoup 300e a month..... a big handful, just one by my route enough said.

Caalunya Life failed because most English based adverts never paid a single penny  Low Lifes yes ! if not why did they go under  simply because the advertising they took and never ever ever  paid for.>>>>Not a single euro of there blasted promised bill, they failed as a business and CL failed. So has Olive Press added the mustard not really................ dont pay your bill and we reserve the right to publish your default.....try pay up front Mr Business Man if your earning it pay for it !

How many new companies will advertise with the OP who are still trading from CL fame.


Sorry for the rant u get what u pay for ! I wish Olive Press 100 % success give 3 months free press but get the cash up front mate or 1.2.3 years down the road its UB40 time...........says  WoO

Nigel  (TF) I agree with u....... put it on my plate and Ill lick it up ,..... ask for comitment and the rooms empty.

I dont care who this post offends 8-)  Nigel has asked for contributors to his forum, I voluterred who else did. Only those probaly with services they have to sell which is OK by Me no input no gain. The communist route hasnt got 2 Spain yet sorry  ;D

Debs u loved CL but why has it gone ?

How does spell check work on this forum Nobrot ?

Obviously judging by the time of night and the contents of your post, you must have had a few. for goodness sake william get a life or a new hobby. I say good luck to the magazine at least they are trying.
thanks nigel for finding out about the mag  it looks like this is the answer to my poll.

The word on the street is that a newspaper in english (i presume with contents of local interest) is planned for the Tortosa area. :)
Do not know the full details but will keep an eye out & report back.
ebrorob

Ok, I have spent ages now listening to you all rant and rave. I cannot believe how sad some people are. Firstly these Olive Press people produced a very good magazine in the south of Spain, so why not here. But I agree with William, get your money up front from advertisers.  Its not published until May why can you not wait and see before making these judgements.

Meanwhile a newspaper in English has been available in this area for decades. Its called Catalonia Times, edited and printed in Barcelona, but with local content. It comes out on a Friday for 2 euros.

No-one here has mentioned the other local English magazine available Caminos its brill, much better than Catalunya Life was i the end. It gives the local news which affects us all. No articles just news, such as changes in Law etc. costs 1.80 euros on the first day of each month. I cannot wait to buy it each month.

Please guys, just give people a chance, lets see first before making judgements. In my book anything that gives local information 'for the great unwashed' is great.

I miss reading English Mags and newspapers. I would be very happy to contribute something to an online paper, as i used to write for book reviews for Catalunya Life and enjoyed the challenge.

Finally, William what has happened to your idea of a book swap. I dusted all my books off in anticipation and nothing has happened - Do you want help in setting this up, I will be more than willing to help you. :D

So come on guys less meaningless ranting on here, what must new members, or guests on here thinking of moving out here think. Hmmm .... not going to that area its full of mindless morons. :-/

Well said William and Sue,

I have been watching this thread about Catalunya Life magazine for a while.
I'm sure Felicity and Rob  (the owners of the mag) wont mind me putting you in the picture a little bit.

I used to sell advertising space for the magazine over 3 years ago, with my Spanish friend. This meant that we could approach both English and Spanish speaking companies to buy the advertising space.

We were paid commission on the sales, and repeat business. The magazine doubled in size from around 24 pages to 40 something in a matter of 4 months.............

Then we hit a huge problem.

Obviously the only way for my friend and I to earn money was to sell more advertising space, no problem for us, but Felicity then had to compile the forth coming magazine, she had nightmare battles with the printing company about quality control and spelling mistakes, and here we go......people promised to write articles and then let her down in the end, she had to cover a huge area collecting payments for the next months advertising because a "direct from the bank payment system" was never set up properly by Lawyers, the distribution system got larger and larger.............i can go on and on.

I do know that Felicity pumped in many thousands of euros of her own money, because she had so much confidence in the magazine, and I also know that she is owed much more than that from people and companies who advertised and never paid for it......................you know who you are!!!!!!

The magazine finally folded, pardon the pun, when shock horror, people were expected to pay a euro towards the cost of printing their precious, cant live without it magazine, and guess what................they didn't want to pay!

My friend and I left the magazine over 2 years ago, but always kept in touch with Felicity, I email her occasionally now, but you know how it is when you have such a busy life with kids, visitors, work etc, people just dont have the time.

Hey William, dont know about you mate, posting late at night because you've had a few. I sometimes write on here extremely late at night, purely because it's the only bl00dy time i get to myself,.......................LOL.....................strange how people think sometimes hey?

Good luck to the new magazine, I am sure they will need it.

I'm sure I will get some flack for the next comment but it is definitely true!

Maybe if Brits in general could be a little more like the Yanks, in regard to a failure or success story.
Americans love a success story and wish you all the luck, and really seem to get off on it....................Brits seem to jump on a story of failure with doom and gloom, and of course everybody can disect it and say where they went wrong with expert opinions.

Hope this is a respectable time to post on a Good Friday, had some wine with lunch though.............rare treat, cos I'm usually working.

Happy Easter to everyone.

 

Cant Pay Wont Pay, Still ended up in the end with little or poor content and No Free Magazine at the end of the day ! I wish Olive Press every success I never said anything to the contrary but be warned the free loaders and bad debtors are out there. I take it i can post without comment at 1800 hours. :-/

Sue The finisihing touches are being applied for a mid April Date weather more predictable and a copy of the menu del dia for people to decide if they wish to take lunch at the same time ....how does spell check work  on this !

Hey Wills

Spell checker,wots one ov those?
Try a good old dictionary, even in this day and age, of PC technology!
Maybe you should give your ideas a go! You ll never know unless you do.
I ll bring the first issue of Olive Press ,to the book swap club and some sticky buns too :)
Come on guys, lets all be friends! :)

To anyone on the outer reaches of the tortosa forum, it would be nice if people  supported the new magazine as you seem to miss Catalunya life.

My two pence worth:

I founded and ran a weekly freesheet tabloid to the townships of the Western Cape in South Africa a decade ago. I have been there and done that. I have to be honest and admit that the only reason it was a success and still runs today, is because it was politically correct. (The unique selling point)
99% of 'free sheets' will probably fail no matter how loyal its fans are or how hard the owners work. It is pure economics at the end of the day - UNLESS of course it is a charity situation.

In today's era of information overload from multiple sources it is even harder to hope advertisers can support a free magazine, unless that magazine has an extremely unique selling point (or suppporter base) and an extremely tough accounting regimen.

That is not even taking into account the 'big boy' publishers who own many of the printing presses and distribution logistics anyway.

The sad part about all this is that real people do get hurt and lots of money and pride can get lost, so lets spare a thought for them.

My opinion is that to start a freesheet nowadays, you are either very brave or a bit uninformed or.. you know something we don't!

Good luck to OP!  ;)

Hi Sue100,
Anymore details on the Caminos english mag? perhaps some forum members may want to obtain it?
Already know about Catalonia Times,its very informative.I believe ( although not totally sure) that the planned newspaper will be aimed more towards the lower ebro area.
ebrorob

Just to add to Sues post.
I bought 'Catalonia Today'. At the local tobacconist. Apparently, it s the first Catalan newspaper, written in English.
Its published weekly in Barcelona and costs 2 Euros.
Sorry  Sue, if this is the newspaper ,you were refering to.
At first glance, I haven t read it all yet, it looks good!

Hi

Firstly, Yes the paper I was refering to is Catalonia Today, please excuse my mistake in the title. The Caminos magazine is published as a joint German/English magazine and I get my copy at Murrey's in Sabeco in Tortosa. It is normally available on the 1st day of the month, and is published by a company in Ulldecona.

Hope that answers everyones questions from my post.
;)

Thanx Sue.

Just read an article in this weeks issue.
Apparantly, there is a water shortage. The river Ebro may be closed, to larger vessels.
There could also be the Spanish equivalent ,of a hose pipe ban enforcement!
Home sweet home, eh?  :-?

Just to let you know that the German magazine Los Caminos which is also translated into English started the Costa Daurada issue last year but has almost a duplicate issue except for the advertisers on the Costa Azahar which has been going since 2005. You have to pay 1.80euros for it and unfortunately there are only about 12 outlets that sell it so there are not many issued per month. If you want to view it online you must subscribe but beaware most of the web site is in German.