Graphic Aemet. Updated 5 December: As expected, the north of several islands has received significant rainfall over the past 24 hours, and the La Orotava access road to Teide has been temporarily closed because of ice on the carriageway. A second wave of this weather system is expected to reach the islands later today, and councils throughout the Canaries have been put on an alert footing in case they need to take local action for public safety should the forecast worsen. This simply reflects official attempts to be prepared for any eventuality and doesn’t signifiy any particular issues, though the public is advised that, asREAD MORE

Updated 4 December: It’s nearly time! Walk for Life takes place a week on Sunday, 15 December, and has now gone international by joining the Think Pink Europe network. Under the banner ‘Close the Gap’, funds raised will be going to genetic research and the Bra and Linfa projects among other causes, with the unifying objectives to bring together projects in different countries, make a difference in the fight against breast cancer, and swap experiences. President and founder of the Carrera por la vida/Walk for life foundation, Brigitte Gypen, said at a press conference today that her objective was ““becoming a powerhouse for change, knockingREAD MORE

Photo: Guardia Civil.  The Guardia Civil has the first “green police” unit, Seprona, in the whole of Europe. Seprona stands for Servicio de Protección de la Naturaleza and it has now been going for more than 30 years. Its guiding mission is the conservation of nature and the environment, and we usually hear about the Unit in the autumn when alerts and requests for help are widespread for the hatching Pardelas (see HERE), but the Force’s remit is far more widespread, policing water resources, hunting, fishing and forestry protection.  One thing they do that is perhaps not widely understood is police animal maltreatment generally (seeREAD MORE

At this time of year, the traditional jamón de navidad is everywhere, whether on a stand being sliced or hanging from the ceiling as complete legs. I remember once, shortly after we’d moved here, seeing hams in Mercadona for around €35 and a week later, in El Corte Inglés, seeing what I thought was a leg for the same price and being surprised they weren’t much more expensive in such a shop. But no, it was €35 a kilo rather than for the whole leg! These things can cost hundreds of Euros at the top end of the price range. There is, needless to say, a greatREAD MORE

Updated 3 December: Guía de Isora Ayuntamiento has announced the completion of stage one of the works to Playa San Juan’s promenade. The council says that the new wide pedestrian areas, improved access to the pier, and a new banked area are just some of the improvements achieved to provide a spectacular perspective out over the sea. Mayor Mesa inspected the new works recently and says that some of them “were very difficult to carry out, such as the new pumping station (the main reason for delays in the work)” said the mayor, “but today we can say that they were absolutely essential, and part ofREAD MORE