Your views

Dear Sir,
Whilst one can well believe that the subject of airline scheduling is one that concerns many of your readers, there should surely be a moratorium on how long one can drag this subject out. Instead of the perpetual moaning, people (including some your own editorial staff) might consider themselves fortunate that Majorca (a small island in the Mediterranean) is served almost daily by a range of flights to a wide assortment of different places - something that increases exponentially between March and November.
The fact that there are, for example, no direct mid-winter flights to Glasgow or Edinburgh, hardly strikes one as the greatest injustice in the world.
Maybe instead of dwelling on this overly discussed topic, you should dispatch one of your intrepid reporters to investigate something really important for residents and visitors of this island, such as why we are still paying Repsol over 17 euros for a butano bottle of gas, when global gas prices are lower than they have been in years?
Duke Higgs
Palma

Procession caterpillars
Dear Sir,
Just thought it would be worth mentioning that I have seen Procession Caterpillars on the move, in Santa Ponsa, already.
They do not usually appear until March time, I can only assume it is because it has been a mild winter.
These caterpillars are very dangerous to pets and can cause a severe allergic reaction to people if touched.
They usually appear on the ground in a long column and so can be very attractive to children who think their cute and pets just because they are moving.
If you think your pet has been anywhere near them, even just sniffing them, they should be taken to a vet immediately as there is very little time to save your pet especially if they have eaten any.
I don’t want to sound alarmist but I have heard from vets here and in southern France the nasty reactions pets have.
Regards,
Teresa Cooper

British Consulate

Dear Sir

I have read in the MDB over recent months various adverse comments regarding UK Passport renewals. I feel compelled to report my recent experiences with The British Consulate in Palma and Madrid. I recently returned to Majorca with a short dated UK passport (with two weeks to run) and the prospect of needing to travel in the near future. A situation largely due to my own negligence. After a couple of unsuccessful attempts to ring the British Consulate in Palma  and a couple of circuits of the highly automated telephone system at the British Consulate in Madrid I reached an extremely helpful lady - Jade - who rapidly and courteously made an early appointment for me at the British Consulate in Palma to obtain a 12 month passport extension. I presented myself early at the Consulate in Palma, was seen early and within a short time my Passport was extended for 12 months and without charge. So now I merely have the problem of identifying an eight week period during which I can send off my passport for a permanent renewal.

Anon Santa Ponsa
aka Geoff Williamson

Local Elections

Dear Sir,

I note your editorial today (29/01) re upcoming local elections. Those expats who failed to heed Angie Guerrero's exhortations to register to vote have now I understand missed the boat. The expatriate community represent a significant economic force within the Balearics and their voice deserves to be heard. Perhaps your newshound Humphrey Carter should be inviting questions from readers to be put to political leaders, particularly those standing in expat areas. I am sure that many MDB readers would like to see their responses in your pages and not merely the usual political superficial generalisations.

My best wishes

Geoff Williamson