It's not only Gordon

Meanwhile back in Spain - the Internet cafe had closed down and there was no wireless for the VAIO.

Spanish television was keeping us in touch with the world.

It was the same old story - rise in cost of living, fall in property values, high fuel prices, flash floods, terrorist threats, L'Oreal anti wrinkle cream and football.

Poor Thierry!

Oh yes and even 'Doctor Who' in Catalan .... every night!

We decided to drive to France on Tuesday. But it was not to be - the Monday evening news had pictures of French lorry drivers blocking the border .

Over the next few days all the local petrol stations ran dry.

How about the train? On Thursday we caught the early bus to Figueras Station where the inscrutable bloke in the booking office said 'NO'.

Apparently the French railway workers were on strike. There was a train leaving in the opposite direction for Girona so we caught it.

A delicious lunch in the city was accompanied by the deafening sound of massed horns as the Catalan lorry drivers held their protest through the streets.

So don't blame Gordon for everything - it's the same everywhere.

Oh apart from the weather of course!
KAZ