C E R O N I S I D A D

Mi primo Fandy

2008-10-06T11:06:00.001Z

One of the most interesting and enriching persons I have met and will always be one of my role models. He was the living proof that everything is possible if you put your mind to it.

iPhone

2007-11-13T11:08:00.000Z

Well, it's been a few days now since I got my hands on this cool piece of machinery and my conclusion is clear: it is not perfect (yet) but it is worth it. I have been a Mac user for many years and all I can say that this phone is classic mac material. You cannot send contacts via bluetooth or email (unless you key in the contact data in a specific email) and handles no MMS. It also cannot store any files, let alone view them... One last negative point: emails can be seen only when the data is on the server... if you have an email you want to read in detail, with its attachments, you won't be able to do it via: load them and then check them later on the train or whatever...

Apart from these issues, everything else is great - This is by far the best phone I have ever used and I can't wait for the next generations. All of you have enjoyed your Ipods for some time now and all of you have witnessed the development from the first to the current generations... this gives you an idea of what is to come.

Anyone fancy a discounted, brand new Serene (B&O) mobile phone? I think I don't need it anymore... ;-)

Dave Matthews

2007-09-10T07:42:00.000Z

This quick entry is to those of you who still enjoy the rock/blues type of music. Even though I am not really such a fan of this genre, I have come across this guy and all I can say is that I am happy I did. His voice is strong and filled with passion - it reminds me of the first album Tori Amos did, or a classic Billy Joel (in terms of voice strength)...

The music pieces in "SOME DEVIL", are very fresh and insinuating - should you have the capacity to enjoy music with your eyes closed then what are you waiting for?

Serene

2007-09-10T07:22:00.000Z

Well, it's been a week since my wife and myself have been using the Serene: The Bang & Olufsen mobile phone designed in joint venture with Samsung. I must admit I was reluctant at first - it is over a year and a half old already, and I never bothered to really consider it because it does not sync with Apple.

Anyway, now that our new activity is well under way, I decided to "make an effort" and use the phone in order to promote it in meetings and so forth...

Two days it took to win me over - the time it took for me to accept the Mac solution was not there. Two days to realise what a great product it is. The B&O philosophy behind it is SO THERE... You can actually use it (completely) with one hand - which is why the keyboard is round (your thumb reaches everywhere without moving your hand) and it opens or closes automatically. Clearly, it is a phone that has been designed to have conversations in a classy manner, there are no fancy apps, it is very straightforward and it feels great in your hand. For all of you who care about design and couldn't care less about WiFi, 5 or more Megapixel cameras, surfing the net in a tiny screen and MP3 players (as functions within your phone) then I highly recommend it...

Marta having fun in the pool

2007-09-01T12:07:00.001Z

Marta having fun in the pool
Originally uploaded by rodtenerife.

We spent a few days in La Gomera, my parents and my little sister flew over from the UK - alas, with some pain in her back - and we all stayed in one of our favourite hotels - Jardín Tecina. It is quite an old hotel, but as the name says - it is a natural garden and it lies on the top of a cliff overlooking the sea. There is a lift (that goes through the cliff) that takes you to the natural beach below where I enjoy a good swim. This time, Kevin swam with me - I was rather impressed to see that he swam the same distance I did (he is only British)...

Anyway, back to work next monday and back to the world that makes our short, but intense, vacations possible...

Bang & Olufsen Store

2007-08-15T09:33:00.001Z

Bang & Olufsen Store
Originally uploaded by rodtenerife.

Well, after many months negotiating with B&O headoffice in Madrid and the previous owner, we managed to close the deal and we have now a new business in our hands. This store has been in Tenerife for ten years and my wife and myself feel we are up to the challenge.

More her than me because she will be completely in charge and I will be more of a presential entity once in a while.

We are quite excited and we are aware we will not become millionaires with this, but then again the objective is always the same: have our own business, earn an acceptable level of income and enjoy ourselves while working...

More news when we open and I will be taking orders soon... don't forget the new B&O mobile phone will be out soon: it is called Serenata and it is an MP3/MPG4 player too... yes, of course it will be desired by everyone who doesn't have it...

And so the story goes...

2007-06-02T12:04:00.000Z

With due respect to Apple (I borrowed your image), but I don't believe I am infringing any copyright laws...

Anyway, by story I mean life and goes I mean evolution and natural progression... I have come across a fantastic tool in Itunes which is the recordings of talks in World Class Universities, incredible people who have a lot to offer in terms of experience in business and (and life, naturally because some of them are old). I have only enjoyed a few, but I expect to go through them rather fast thanks to the way I am organized (my Ipod is linked to the car and it takes me just over 30 mins to get to the office and 35 mins back) - enough time to go through many sessions covering all sorts of topics.

Who would ever imagine that one could get access to the real actors that defined the world we now know and live in? How much time for the new players and actors to share their views on-line?? Oh yes... sorry, I forgot about Blogs... By the way, watch an Inconvenient Truth!!! please...

Anyway, any of you interested in knowledge and the source of... link in Itunes and follow instructions... it is that easy...

Addicted to US TV Series

2007-05-02T08:14:00.000Z

Once again, the US takes the lead in terms of expressing ideas in great ways - I do not have a problem in admitting that I have been taken completely by surprise when I find the urge to know what's going on in Lost, Heroes and The Lost Room.

You see, something has changed since "Friends" - predictibility is no longer available. Any of the three series I mention here have more or less sound underlying stories behind that are always present ("why"), but "what" and "how" seem just as important.

The storyline shows unlimited imagination when the characters jump backwards and forward in time in order to push an event through the viewer's mind... suspense, always looking for the wow effect. In Lost, for example, characters have been meeting in different scenarios in their past without realising (how could they?) their common fate...

Special effects are only present with coherence (to the storyline) and characters have clearly defined personalities that evolve with the series.

In order to be up to date - Spain is so slow in this matter (or TV rights are too expensive for Spanish TV networks?) - one is "forced" to look for alternatives in the net... well... until the Spanish Itunes Store is able to offer my favourite series episodes...

I am one of the lads!!!

2007-04-22T11:29:00.001Z

I am one of the lads!!!
Originally uploaded by rodtenerife.

Life is all about cycles and how you enjoy them by adapting to the circumstances you create willingly or not... consciously or not... I am definitely living one of them - my second son Pablo (Pau, as I like to call him) has been baptised and the ceremony clearly was much more than I expected...

We have celebrated his birth one of the best possible scenarios. We had a lousy weather until that day - everyone looked well, healthy and happy. The children played, the sun was out - a fantastic peaceful sensation seemed to embrace everyone.

I picked this photo particularly because I think it really resembles my son's attitude. I thought Marta was pretty cool (as in chillin') but Pau has a Jamaican spirit - he simply goes along and nothing seems to bother him. He is always smiling and laughs whenever anyone tries to be original...

Life goes on... I hope you are all enjoying your particular cycles as much as I enjoying mine...

Sunrise 3rd April 2007

2007-04-03T07:25:00.001Z

Sunrise TFE
Originally uploaded by rodtenerife.

Good morning boys & girls,

Well, I was about to have an espresso machiato and I was suddenly slapped in the face with this scenery - this only confirms that we picked a good place to live... having this kind of present for the eyes, the early morning breeze that, somehow, has that classic soothing effect on the soul... yep... Rod's lost it, I don't care... it's free and it's wonderful...

Marta having fun

2007-03-25T15:56:00.001Z

Marta running
Originally uploaded by rodtenerife.

What can I say... there´s my daughter laughing while running - behind (out of focus) her friend Valentina. I took this photo in the Club in Radazul this afternoon, the kids were enjoying themselves - can't help feeling some nostalgia: anyone remember having the "innocent" game and plainly enjoying the moment this way?

Sure we have other ways of enjoying ourselves, but normally in a controlled manner - we go out to have dinner (or watch a film) or whatever... look at the photo - she's at her peak of happiness... nothing matters...

Clearly, as her father, one of my duties will be to prolongue this privilege as much as I can...

Sainsbury's in Greenwich

2007-03-17T10:45:00.001Z

DSCN2970.jpg
Originally uploaded by rodtenerife.

This is a quick note to congratulate the whole British Food Retailing Sector. I don't know why, but yes, but no, but yes, but no, but , yes but, no but.... (guess who I am trying to copy - OK not funny)...

I have spent a few days visiting all sorts of stores including my favourite: convenience orientated - by the way, convenience is not only present in small high street stores!!!

An incredible competition, liased with above average (European level) margins, results in really cool shopping atmospheres where the plethora of variey hits you in the face. A customer in England has no excuse - I see it impossible for anyone not coming out with something when they visit such places... Spain, on the other hand... unless you go into El Corte Inglés...

British retailing is definitely a positive argument for living in the UK - it is ironic that Britain has a rather construed home cuisine culture an fantastic supermarkets, but they have managed to import everybody else's...

Russel Square

2007-03-17T10:35:00.001Z

DSCN2879.jpg
Originally uploaded by rodtenerife.

I have chosen this photo but I wanted another one... one of my nights in London I had the pleasure to have a cool snack with my old friend Mark Lewis. I was very happy to see that he is in a fantastic shape and he has not lost the capacity to laugh about himself - someone once told me that before having the right to laugh about other people, one should learn how to laugh about oneself - he is working hard and his family is fine.

We enjoyed a classic pub meal with some Spanish wine (The Windsor Castle - I recommend) and then we ended up in Portobello having a quick chat with the President of the British Rum Association.

I think I speak for Mark too, but we were really impressed - the guy had over 120 different Rum bottles from all over the world and he did not have the one I was looking for!!! I asked for Rum Barceló (República Dominicana) that with some coke and some lime, the drink goes down OK... this, it seems got the man going and five minutes later we started sipping one of the best rum blends and single malts in the country...

We must have tried at least five or six types, not shots, but my capacity to flirt with alcohol has long passed away - yes, I was a bit drunk, but no I did not feel like shit the next day...

Anyway, anyone willing to experience this should.

The Houses of Parliament, London

2007-03-17T10:24:00.001Z

The Houses of Parliament, London
Originally uploaded by rodtenerife.

Hello again...

As some of you might know, I spent a week in London. What a great city - I don't think I will ever get tired of it.

On the other hand, the purpose of this visit was work related, we visited so many great stores - UK retailing really kicks some ass worldwide... let's face it, Tesco already has nearly as much sales abroad and there a re no signs of stopping them... will they be as big as Walmart in the future? Well, life is long and the Iranians still haven't managed to get their hands in some nuclear weapons, right? Hopefully, with the Iranian permission (when they get what they want), we might see an interesting challenge between the US and the UK...

The Bello Power

2007-03-06T18:52:00.001Z

The Bello Power
Originally uploaded by rodtenerife.

Hello everyone... allow me to introduce the Bello brothers. I have known them for a long time, practically since I came back to Tenerife from my international spree - more than a decade now... ooops... that hurt...

We have something in common (amongst other stuff) - we love life. We have just enjoyed some exquisite Spanish plates with a nice Jägermeister shot as the grande finale (a small tradition) and talked about life with a nice beer. How can I not love this place?

I am sure we will end up doing great things together - anyone interested in what they do: www.blexpublicidad.com

More posts soon.

My friend Jon

2007-03-02T11:48:00.001Z

DSC01754.jpg
Originally uploaded by rodtenerife.

This small paragraph is dedicated to my friend Jon who has decided to go round the world... why not? I am positively jealous and I wish him the best possible experiences... enjoy, sense, view, guess, cry, jump, shout, taste, smell, pull or not - anything that will make your sensory nerve endings feel exhausted...

This piece of text is dedicated to him for two reasons: firstly because he introduced me to the Blogging concept (even though I was aware of it, I had never seen it in the context of someone you know) and secondly because this picture was taken in Heathrow airport: he stould there so that I could really take a nice photo of the store behind him... anyone who knows me understands my passion for retailing... this photo also inaugurates my flickr retailing sets...

Le Carnival...

2007-02-27T10:42:00.001Z

Fran & Laura.jpg
Originally uploaded by rodtenerife.

Ahhhh.... le carnival... de Tenerife.... superbe....

Thanks Fran for your photo - it clearly depicts the luscious state you were in - we are all terribly jealous and some of us know (in first hand experience) exactly how it feels... and it is great... healthy (yes, healthy) if you do what you are supposed to do:

Carnival in Tenerife, as I remember it, is not just another excuse for getting plastered with cheap alcohol, no - it is a moment to enjoy yourself by acquiring somebody else's personality and play your part all night. I read somewhere that the original purpose of the village with this event was to frighten the bad spirits with a lot of noise and random behaviour...

The nights are rather chilly, thousands of people compete for originality and the drink flows with the music... Of course not everybody goes with the same objective in mind, but on the whole people enjoy themselves very much if they want to...

I will always feel sorry for the people who live in the classic carnival area - they, literally, don't sleep unless they move out for the week.

Hopefully I will assist such a great event next year and I will post some of the future fun... grrrrrr....

San Telmo, Puerto de la Cruz

2007-02-26T12:44:00.001Z

San Telmo, Puerto de la Cruz
Originally uploaded by rodtenerife.

Hello everyone, I decided to have a bit of a stroll this morning through my hometown: Puerto de la Cruz (http://www.puertodelacruz.es). You may enjoy a few pics I took with my phone if you click on the image and access my flickr area...

How can I say this, but I really enjoy walking through this small villge. I always meet with people I haven't seen in ages and a quick chat rapidly puts you in perspective... some things OK some things not OK - this is life.

It's very cold in Europe, but you could have a quick nip in the sea today.

This place I took the photograph is slightly special because I used to swim from Puerto's harbour (fishing port) and use those steps to climb, relax and swim back. Of course, in summer. My friend Jon Bradshaw has enjoyed this very piece of water (what about you Lloyd?? I don't remember).

Some of you may feel a sudden stroke of jealousy, but I am putting my swimming trunks in my car this evening... If the weather is this good tomorrow...

View of the sea from my house

2007-02-24T12:10:00.001Z

View of the sea from my house
Originally uploaded by rodtenerife.

Boys and girls... I am so glad to say that I can still enjoy a simple view... the sea, an entity that has always captivated me - I never really realised this until I came back from the UK, the classic example of taking things for granted until you no longer enjoy them.

I have always believed it had some sort of identity or personality - I know this idea is ludicrous, of course, but so is trying to understand women and us (men) try it all the time anyway...

I am so happy that my wife convinced me to live in Costanera, we have a great view everyday. One of my favourite moments has to be in the morning, before driving to work, when I can sit down and watch my private sunrise with a nice coffee; and believe me, my fellow human beings, fresh grinded coffee on the spot is not overrated at all!!

Notice in the photograph the thousand reflections of the sunlight on the ripples - mini waves really - the water is cold for my standards at this time in the year, but they convey freshness and serenity... no, no sharks this close to the coast...

Plaza S/C Tenerife

2007-02-23T17:15:00.001Z

Plaza S/C Tenerife
Originally uploaded by rodtenerife.

Hello everyone, I had a meeting this morning and traffic (just like anywhere) is always slightly unpredictable... I arrived early and decided to walk, remaining close to where my meeting would be held.

It was only 9 am, but the morning mist scent was still available. The streets were wet - it is Carnival and people (sadly) forget their manners when a lot goes on... so the city is forced to spend a lot of money in cleaning everyday... with pressurized water - this is probably a rotine on a daily basis this week.

Carnival... Tenerife has, most definitely, one of the best Canivals in the world - it is more or less healthy and goes on non-stop through the night (not everyday, but two or three significative days yes). It is a moment to laugh about yourself and anyone else... your costume should mean something and everybody should be able to understand it. The point is that the part you play will be awful and you should not care.

I will not enjoy it this year, but there will be others - just like they were in the past. I will take some pics then...

Lanzarote has a lot to offer...

2007-02-22T12:54:00.001Z

¿Qué pasó?
Originally uploaded by rodtenerife.

Boys and girls... last January 07 we had the great opportunity of spending a week in Playa Blanca, Lanzarote... As we were both pretty much stressed with the children, we didn't tour much, besides we know the island very well...

All I can say is that it is better than the pics can show. Lanzarote has a lot to offer if you are prepared to move a little. Next time I visit, I will take some decent photographs...

Anyone visiting this great island can happily contact me for advice...

Naty, Marta and Danny - Loro Parque

2007-02-20T17:09:00.001Z

Naty, Marta and Danny - Loro Parque
Originally uploaded by rodtenerife.

A day at Loro Parque - indeed... living in Tenerife is no excuse... nature... nature... a magnificent place where one can enjoy nature at its best - it never cease to amaze me how my friend Christoph and his organization do it so well: thanx mate!!!

It is a tradition for us to visit this place once a year, it's a great day everytime - children love it, they can never get enough!!!

I am already looking forward for our next visit this year...

My job does not define what I do...

2007-02-19T11:53:00.000Z

I love my job, why? - simply because I enjoy working with people, creating, implementing and fomenting different attitudes towards life through our daily routine.

We are developing an interesting convenience concept using the SPAR corporative image as the communication vehicle. We see ourselves as a learning organization with something to offer.

Price has long passed as the main choice element in the consumer's mind when you have communicated the right message: we are in the business of selling "time savings" - don't know whether it is the right term or not, but this is my way of describing it.

Everything we do has the sole purpose of making our customer's life easier by creating a warm shopping environment where they will be able to satisfy their basic food needs in very little time - whether they want a quick snack, purchase basic food items such as milk or grab a good bottle of Spanish Wine from "Ribera del Duero"...

We can achieve this by introducing specific communication channels between our customers and our organization. We are applying basic merchandising techniques and basic segmentation practices that help us understand the difference between the customer's perception and our own...

My Family, my circumstances, myself...

2007-02-19T11:34:00.000Z

These are a few pics I have taken lately... we have Marta and Pau (my two children)... Tenerife...

Living In Tenerife

2007-02-19T09:32:00.000Z

Hello everyone,

This is my first experience in developing something such as this (thanx to my friend Jon - bradders.blogspot.com - who introduced me to this virtual reality).

I guess (or presume) the purpose of this will be to give any one of you notions of what it is to live in this paradise... if you love the sea (the way I do) then you will enjoy some of the photographs I will post.

Anyway, like most things in life - let's see where this takes us!!!

Rod