Letters from the Atlantic

Turning Wind Into Water

Turning water into wine is a great idea, but how about turning wind into water? I have always loved windmills. Their graceful form and natural motion have always fascinated me. However, I know that many people also hate the sight of them as yet another of man’s intrusion upon a beautiful landscape. However, now that a new era of limited fuel supplies is upon us, harnessing the wind to provide a cheap and sustainable source of fuel to feed our unending desire for electricity seems much more attractive. If you enjoyed this article, take a look at my websites: http://barriemahoney.com [http://barriemahoney.com/] and http://thecanaryislander.com [http://thecanaryislander.com/] or read my books, podcasts and blogs about living and working in Spain and the Canary Islands. Join me on Facebook: @barrie.mahoney © Barrie Mahoney 2026

Another Slice of Nut Roast?

Moving to another country to live and work is a challenge in so many ways, but if you have specific dietary needs or happen to be a vegetarian or, heaven forbid, a vegan then ‘challenge’ can take on a whole new meaning... If you enjoyed this article, take a look at my websites: http://barriemahoney.com [http://barriemahoney.com/] and http://thecanaryislander.com [http://thecanaryislander.com/] or read my books, podcasts and blogs about living and working in Spain and the Canary Islands. Join me on Facebook: @barrie.mahoney © Barrie Mahoney 2025

Shining the Light

The Canary Islands are often rich in public announcements and presentations to the press, but whether well-meaning projects will actually happen is quite another matter. Over the years, I have attended many lengthy press conferences, and often with impressive audio-visual presentations from earnest members of island governments, city mayors and experts about exciting and imaginative plans for the development of these islands. Sadly, there are now numerous abandoned projects that litter my ‘Intending Projects’ folder, which include an island railway, a futuristic spaceport and a Chinese Village, to name just three on my list. Sadly, these are merely dreams that have disappeared into the ether, which I doubt will never actually come to fruition... If you enjoyed this article, take a look at my websites: http://barriemahoney.com [http://barriemahoney.com/] and http://thecanaryislander.com [http://thecanaryislander.com/] or read my books, podcasts and blogs about living and working in Spain and the Canary Islands. Join me on Facebook: @barrie.mahoney © Barrie Mahoney 2025

Too Fat To Die

Authorities in Spain’s Valencia region are considering a ban on the cremation of bodies that are too fat, simply because the burning process generates too many toxic emissions. Well, I guess it is a fair point, but was not something that I had previously considered. Many of us will be aware of trying to reduce carbon emissions; for example, in the amount of flying that we may do when going on holiday or when using our cars, but have we seriously considered being too fat when we die? If you enjoyed this article, take a look at my websites: http://barriemahoney.com [http://barriemahoney.com/] and http://thecanaryislander.com [http://thecanaryislander.com/] or read my books, podcasts and blogs about living and working in Spain and the Canary Islands. Join me on Facebook: @barrie.mahoney © Barrie Mahoney 2025

What's In a Name?

Now here’s an essential question to start the day. Are you sufficiently worthy to have an airport named after you, and presumably after you die? Alternatively, if you don’t consider that you meet these high specifications, do you know someone who does? If you enjoyed this article, take a look at my websites: http://barriemahoney.com [http://barriemahoney.com/] and http://thecanaryislander.com [http://thecanaryislander.com/] or read my books, podcasts and blogs about living and working in Spain and the Canary Islands. Join me on Facebook: @barrie.mahoney © Barrie Mahoney 2025