Issue 302

The Paper staff are all having a well earned break now after putting another edition to bed. Online readers can enjoy issue 302 sometime Sunday evening. The editor herself is currently enjoying a wee holiday with her grandchildren and daughter (me) in England. We are off to Center Parcs in Longleat for a break next weekend, which will be hysterical as it involves a lot of bike riding. Anyone who knows the Ed might consider the bike and her high heels an illfated marriage, but she insists she will be fine. For those keeping up to date with her smoking, I'm thrilled to say she is still off the fags which makes for a much easier life all round when she comes a visiting. Whilst the Ed is away, The Paper will be left in the very capable hands of news editor Jacqui Yuille-Flight, so good luck to you Jac and don't work too hard.
Tasha

Back again

Yes, Tasha is quite right. We have been a bit lazy, but it's true it has taken us some time to recover from the party and then we get hit with St. Patrick's Day!
Anyway, seems we're all quite fit and able now. Sandie is off for a trip to see her babies and while she's away I will be standing in as editor. OOps, you know what they say about while the cat's away and all that! Look for a lovely big story on the Tenerife Train!(not our ed's favourite subject, lol)Both Sandie and Steve are still off the nicotine and we are all well impressed. Sandie is coping fine and Steve, bless his cottons, well suffice to say he is currently a bit on the confused side, but frankly he's given us some truly hilarious moments as a result and we love him.
Most of us here on the Island that give a damn are moved and saddened by the plight of the hundreds of Africans that are arriving on our shores almost every day. In Los Cristianos it has become a common sight to see ambulances racing from the port or paddy wagons full of terribly sad looking people. It has become global news. Right now a trip to Los Cristianos beach is definitely not on the cards for me, though I heard that UK tourists are the first in line to snap photos of the poor buggers as they land.
Well, that's it for the time being. Love to hear what's happening out there with our online readership. Give us a blog, eh?
Jacqui Yuile-Flight

Posting drought

Well, apologies primarily for the distinct lack of postings in the past couple of weeks. Basically issue 301 proved a trying experience for all concerned. It probably had something to do with the post-celebratory hangover from our 300th edition party. It didn't help that a few of us were late in with our copy, namely myself with a 'few' words and Michael Harding with his sport, which arrived around the same time as Reds' which is always notoriously on the line every issue!
Another stumbling block is our ed's seeming inability to work her way around anything technical i.e. posting a blog entry or replying to a comment. She'll get there in the end I'm sure.
Meanwhile, on another tangent, sorry to be so English and talk about the weather, but you lot in Tenerife honestly have no idea how BLOODY cold it is here in England. I know we were warned about it being a tough winter this year, but this is taking the proverbial!
Posted by Tasha Laming, freezing her **** off in the UK!

Issue 301

Hi all, issue 301 of The Paper will be ready to read on the net on Sunday 10th March. Many thanks and enjoy your weekend. Tasha Laming - web administrator

Happy Birthday Tasha!

Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday dear Tasha,
Happy Birthday to you.

Have a super day, Tasha. How clever of you to be born on International Women's Day!
loats of love from the rest of The Paper's Bloggers xxxxxx

Jac says

What a night! It's taken me three days to recover and manage to finally blog you all. Bianco was the ideawl venue - elegant and stylish and the food...fab. We all looked very glamorous indeed, I must say. Sandie was incredible - n0t one ciggie all night. If she can manage that she can do anything. I personally went through a couple of packets - bit nervous about the speech but people tell me it went across fine. Met some fascinating people too. Hardly thought any existed that I didn't already know here on the Island - how wrong was I?
Great news too - the sun is shining again at last and we are all looking forward to a few days lazing about once we put 301 to bed.

It's 9.30 p.m. and I'm tired. The Paper is way behind - not that that is unusual in itself - but this one seems particularly hard for me. Could it be...could it just be...that I need something to puff on? Oh no, must not go there. It's nearly a week now since my last cigarette and I cannot understand why I'm feeling particularly bad today. I'm very short tempered, a bit of a bitch to be frank - sadly not a rich one - just let me get through tonight. Must be strong.

editor says

It's Monday, 6th March - party well and truly over - but this one will not be easily forgotten.
To be honest, I wasn't looking forward to it - what's wrong with me? I used to be such a party animal. Anyway, to say the evening was a huge success would be an understatement.
I'll let all the others rave on about the night - suffice it to say I was so proud of our news ed, Jac - speeches in both Spanish and English - go girl - and she was definitely the belle of the ball.
And...guess what? I didn't have one cigarette. Now, this is an 80 a day girl (nothing to be proud of) but I've gone from Fag Ash Lil to 'Fragrant Rose' practically overnight.
Do I have cravings? Oh, god yes. Do I feel depressed? Oddly, no. Am I grouchy? Who cares.
My husband Steve has now gone nearly 48 hours without a cigarette and I am so proud of him. He's finding it pretty tough and is a bit twitchy.
I'll keep you informed.

A sporting chance?

I've just had a much needed laugh watching Shaun Wright-Philips standing alongside the gigantic Peter Crouch - they looked like Laurel and Hardy! But seriously, judging by tonight's performance, who rates our hopes in the World Cup?
Mike Harding

Guess what!

Yes, the rumours are all true. Our editor Sandie has actually stubbed out her last fag! It's almost two days since her last puff and she's still going strong. Talk about proud of her. She is managing the whole thing fabulously well, not grumpy at all, bless her. Well done, darlin' Sandie, and by the way, got any leftover fags you don't want? Tee hee hee!
Keep it up, mate.

Jac the news ed says

In response to the comments made by the anonymous blogger. Your point would, of course, be well taken had the four Orcas been taken from their natural habitat "for entertainment or display purposes." However, as the article clearly states, the four were actually born in captivity as part of a breeding and conservation programme in the US.
Any regular reader of our paper will be well aware that we are constant advocates of the rights and the need for protection for the cetaceans that live in the waters surrounding the Archipelago and beyond. I am sad to hear that you are 'appalled and ashamed' given that we take our role within the communioty quite seriously in terms of the influence we may have.
Nevertheless, we report the local news as it happens and as we see it and I stand by the story in the firm belief that these particular Orcas, 3rd generation born in captivity, will bring the message of their kind in the wild to many visitors. What do you think?