Having a quick hack surf through the official CIA website, was interested to read the answer to one of the FAQ’s, Does the CIA spy on Americans? Does it keep a file on you?’. Of course we all know the answer to that one, but they do admit it, although it’s a qualified ‘no’.

Heading for the Clandestine Services, I was amazed to see a section labelled, ‘Who we are’. And they wonder why their spies keep getting caught!

A whole week has gone by since the enthusiastic digging up of Plaza Cavana. Since then? Looks like…absolutely nada, or even less. Haven’t spotted any workmen around at all, but maybe they’re camouflaged.

The Frigiliana buses were packed to the hilt yesterday, market day in Friggy of course, although the market itself wasn’t that crowded.

But when you consider that the official population of Frigliana is around 3,00, then probably not bad. And for winter!

Nice market, and almost as easy to get to as the local Nerja market these days. And plenty of watering holes in the immediate vicinity.

The Andrea Inn on calle Jaén is due to open again on November 15th, the new proprietors busy spring cleaning and the like. For those who didn’t know, the new owners are Marianne and Fredi who used to run the Peña de Coches de Caballos down behind the Mercadona supermarket, a very good tapas and watering hole.

The good news is that tapas will once again be on the menu!

The Boatyard Bar is looking forward to the Friday night gathering of Sally’s friends and colleagues. In a happy and relaxed atmosphere we would like to remember the life of a bubbly, friendly and beautiful person.

Please feel welcome to pop in from 5pm onwards and celebrate Sally’s life.

Sally Feelly, a 42 year old hairdresser known locally as Sally Scissors, died in a freak accident on the Balcón de Europa. She left behind a fourteen year old son.

In Plaza Cavana, the bars tend to be small – La Fragata, Italica, Bar Cavana etc – and rely to a large extent on their terraces in the centre of the square. At least for these bars, the main tourist season has finished and it would not have been long, probably, before they were removing the alfresco option for the winter.

Most sympathy has to go to the bars on the Balcon de Europa. Yes, they still have their terraces, or most of them, but who wants to sit outside for a coffee and a relax when your view is a chain fence and a big hole in the ground? And dust. And noise from the diggers!

The terraces in the above picture would normally have been reasonably, if not fully, occupied.

There is little or no chance of compensation for loss of trade, particularly damaging at a time when the economy is still in trouble, despite the political banter, and businesses are either struggling to survive or are going under on a regular basis.

However….

For a square with 13 late night music bars and really not much else…