It’s that time again … The Christmas lottery adverts are similar in Spain to the John Lewis adverts in the UK, often real tear jerkers, and this year’s campaign has not one but four videos telling the stories of those Unidos Por Un Décimo (United by a tenth). The videos, and indeed the Christmas lottery campaign itself, have a dedicated official website HERE and all tell a story based on the theme of those united by sharing a lottery ticket. I’m often asked about the Christmas lottery, known as El Gordo (the Fat One), which is drawn just before Christmas every year with much fanfare.READ MORE

Photo: Ángel Torres, Canarian President. Updated 12 November: Perhaps it is possible to learn lessons after all. This time, there will be stable Government after the failed efforts of the past administration have finally succeeded in achieving a pact with Podemos. The two party leaders, PM Pedro Sánchez and Pablo Iglesias jointly announced the deal to unblock the paralysis that has affected the country for too long. Technically, the deal is more a confidence-and-supply agreement than a coalition but I imagine Spain won’t care about the technical detail since the agreement is set to last for the full four-year term. Stable Government. That must be niceREAD MORE

Arona Ayuntamiento says that this year’s Los Cristianos wine and food festival will be held at the Plaza Pescadora on the Paseo Marítimo around the harbour between 12 noon and midnight on Saturday 23 November. There’ll be Canarian wine on offer with traditional tapas, and live music and dancing as well. This is the third time for this event which has already become a very popular annual Canarian food fest in the approach to the Christmas season, and this year is not likely to be any different!READ MORE

Photo: Gobcan. The Canarian Government’s Security and Emergencies Board (Dirección General de Seguridad y Emergencias) has had its work cut out to stop an environmental disaster after a tanker lorry full of fuel fell down the Barranco de la Hondura in the Tacoronte area and ended up perched precariously on the edge of a cliff. The accident happened at the end of last month, and a recovery operation has been in the planning for the past couple of weeks not only to retrieve the lorry, but to make arrangements for the 3,000 litres of diesel it had on board. The Cabildo has published the following videoREAD MORE

PuzzleAtípico is a Canarian video and performance group made up of young people with Asperger’s Syndrome, and it’s starting its fourth season now with a call for artists and collectives to participate in a project run by the Aspercan Association and the Tenerife Living Arts Laboratory, and supported by the Teatro Leal de La Laguna. The project proposes to use various artistic disciplines like theatre, dance, performance and video art to create projects linked to individual and collective identity. Those interested have until 2 December to contact PuzzleAtípico, and there is more information about the terms and conditions, as well as registration, HERE.READ MORE