The Almeria Focus – March 2024

Nearly Easter

AllUK nationals who lived in the UK before coming to Spain can now apply to register and vote in General Elections. We explain how this works at the top of our “In the News” section.

Agriculturalists have been demonstrating in various EU countries. The main complaint is regulations that are too rigid, and some have demonstrated in our province. In Spain, the other strong complaint is that there are no comprehensive plans to combat a severe drought. Exports of fruit and vegetables are by far the main motor of the economy here, and a large part of exports from Andalucía.

In our “In the News” section we explain how plans to save water have been approved in the Andalucía Parliament that will affect 13 municipalities in our area, and will come into force when it is necessary, along with an agreement to bring water in ships from Cartagena.

Following consistent drops in the number of people getting the ‘flu, face masks are no longer necessary in health centres and hospitals. Figures show that on average, only 6% of people who go to an accident and emergency centre at a hospital have to be admitted to a ward. The plans to have operations carried out in the afternoons on weekdays continues, and the EU is funding the estimated 138 million euros cost for the three hospitals in our province. In an article we comment on the large sums of money that Spain is receiving, or can request, from the EU.

Easter Sunday is never before March 22nd, but this year it is March 31st, and associated dates move as well. Maundy Thursday on March 28th is not a religious fiesta date throughout Spain, but it is in Andalucía. “Día de San José” which is Spanish Fathers’ Day is always on March 19th and this is a fiesta date outside of Andalucía that swapped this with Maundy Thursday. The day after Maundy Thursday is if course Good Friday and this is a religious fiesta in all of Spain

so in Almería province both March 28th and March 29th are days when town halls, official offices and banks will be shut. Lavish religious processions take place over Easter week with different groups having day and time slots when they set off from churches in Almería city.

UK Mothers’ Day, also called Mothering Sunday, is on March 10th this year, but in Spain it is always the first Sunday in May, so May 5th. Locally, almost exclusively in Mojácar and the immediate area, there is a special event on the third Thursday before Maundy Thursday, March 7th this year, which is “Día de la Vieja” (“Old Lady Day”). Effigies made of brightly coloured tissue paper wrapped round a wooden cross have a large head that is filled with sweets. These are taken into the countryside or sometimes near a beach and children throw stones at the head to get at the sweets. The origin of this is thought to be that as it is in the middle of Lent, a solemn time with few festivities, grannies took their grandchildren into the countryside for a treat or picnic. It is observed in some municipalities in Málaga, Catalonia and also in France. Local businesses will be shut in the afternoon and it is often combined with a barbecue, drinks and a chin wag for all the family.

March 17th is St. Patrick’s Day, and Easter Sunday is the last Sunday in March so is also the day when the clocks “Spring forward” an hour. During April there are no national fiesta dates. Wednesday, May 1st is a national fiesta day.

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Voting in UK General Elections

From January 16th the rule that UK residents who live overseas can only vote up to 15 years since they left the UK has been scrapped. Instead, the “vote for life” eligibility is in force for General Elections, but not local ones. People wishing to vote as an “overseas voter” are eligible if they have previously been registered to vote, or if not, have lived in the UK before they moved abroad. New voters have to apply to the local authority applicable to the last address they had in the UK. If in doubt the local authority can be found by submitting the postcode of your last address at https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council. The postcode can be found by putting in your last address at https://www.royalmail.com/find-apostcode. Applications can be made online or by filling in a paper form that can be downloaded for England, Wales and Scotland, but only a paper form for Northern Ireland. Applications have to be verified and a potential voter may be contacted by the local authority to confirm their previous address. Full information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/voting-whilstabroad and https://www.register-to-vote. Your passport number and N.I. number are required and on receipt of the application a personalised code reference is allocated. Once registered, this is valid for three years from November 1st. This means that for people registering this year before November 1st the three-year period started from November 1st 2023 so will need to be renewed by November 1st 2026. A person can only vote by proxy (in the same borough) or by post. People who have already registered online have found it to be a fairly simple procedure and registration was confirmed in about 7 days. We will return to this topic when the date of the General Election has been announced.

Good Economy Figures

At the end of the last quarter in 2023 the ‘IPC’ (Gross Domestic Product) in Spain rose by 0.6% from the previous quarter taking the total percentage rise to 2.5%. This was in sharp contrast to many other EU states including Germany that

recorded negative growth so entered a recession, and Italy had minimal growth. Figures for the UK from December 31st also meant the economy had entered a recession. Here, the good figures were put down to the general public spending more money, only a small reliance on gas coming from Russia, and a lot more energy coming from renewable sources. The ‘IMF’ (International Monetary Fund) have predicted a growth of only 1.5% this year for Spain, but hopefully this will be increased as the year progresses, but the figure for the UK was 0.6% before the recession was announced. Core inflation in Spain finished at 3.6% (not counting food and energy cost increases) and this is 2.5% better than in January 2023. It was pointed out that going down to 2% inflation, which is the EU target, would take some time and was unlikely to be achieved this year. A good economy sign is the number of legally registered employed persons that at the end of January was 2.6 million, the highest ever, with 231,000 less registered unemployed taking the total to the lowest number since 2008. At the end of 2023 the number of registered inhabitants in Spain topped 48.6 million for the first time, an increase of 507,000 over 2022, with 13% who are foreigners. The population of Andalucía remained stable at 8.5 million.

Restrictions on Potable Water

On February 9th the authorities in Andalucía approved plans to cut down the use of potable water. One reason is the drought conditions, and reservoirs are only at 20% capacity or less. When the restrictions will come into place and the exact regulations had not been announced at the time of going to press, as the situation is being constantly monitored. One proposal is that individuals have a limit of 200 litres per day, along with a ban on using potable water for filling or topping up private pools, watering gardens and washing cars at home, although this is allowed at petrol stations. Further proposals include a ban on using potable water for street cleaning by municipal lorries, and fountains will have to be turned off (unless they continually recycle the

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same water), along with public showers. Potable water will be banned for irrigation in public or private parks and golf courses. In our area it has been stated that it will apply to the municipalities of Carboneras, Los Gallardos, Garrucha, Mojácar, Antas, Arboleas, Cuevas, Huércal-Overa, Tabernas, Vera and Zurgena. Advice for home owners when the regulations are in force is to recycle “grey water” from baths, showers and washing up that can be used for garden watering, along with water collected when it rains. Not running dishwashers or washing machines unless absolutely necessary will also save water. A good question is why we have to cut down water usage if it comes from the desalination plant at Carboneras that treats sea water. The rationale seems to be that if there is a severe drought, less desalinated water needed for domestic use gives a greater capacity to produce semi-desalinated water for agriculturalists.

Selling Dead Bodies

In a unique case in Spain, a funeral director in Valencia along with two employees were arrested and accused of selling dead bodies to the medical departments of universities for 1,200 euros each. The exact number of “sales” is still being investigated. Following the university finishing with their dissection by medical students the funeral home took back the bodies for cremation and invoiced the universities. It is alleged that the funeral director chose bodies where there were no relatives, ideally foreigners, and homeless people. In one case they forged a document stating that a man had donated his body for medical research, but owing to mental problems the man would not have been mentally capable of making this request on the date he supposedly signed it. On another occasion they forged the same document for a man in a geriatric residential home dated three days before he died. One university was billed 5,040 euros for the cremation of 11 bodies, but it is alleged that if they had been dismembered, the body parts were put in other coffins. A person in Spain can donate their body for medical research subject to certain conditions, but if so, many medical or scientific

departments will subsequently pay relatives the basic cost of a funeral.

Madrid Formula 1

Last month we explained that Madrid was hoping to sign a contract for Formula 1 to come there, and this has now been agreed from 2026 until 2035, 45 years after it was last held there. 2026 is the last year for the event taking place in Barcelona, so there will be two races in Spain. The authorities in Barcelona hope that they can sign a new contract for the races to stay there as well. There is expected to be 112,000 spectators in Madrid the first year, with 92,000 in the stands, 15,000 in the VIP area and 5,000 in the paddock. Estimates are that the number of spectators will reach 140,500 in year five. Ticket prices on race day in the stands are given as being 275-1,200 euros and from 2,700-4,600 euros in the VIP and paddock areas. The revenue would be about 100 million euros, and the ticket prices will increase in line with inflation every year. A new concept is that tickets costing 50-70 euros will be sold to people who cannot see any part of the street circuit but could follow it live on giant screens, similar to tennis matches at Wimbledon. An estimate of the purchase of food and drink is 100 euros per person, and 1,300 euros per person for spectators booking hotels for four nights. It is expected that 55% of spectators will come from outside Madrid and 30% from other countries. The ticket prices are more than the ones charged in Barcelona, but cheaper than Silverstone, Miami and Mexico. In the IFEMA pavilion congress area, part of the race location, it is being suggested that concerts could take place at the same time to provide a “memorable sport and spectacle event”.

A Murder in Cantabria

There has been great consternation and horror in a town in Cantabria in northern Spain. A 48-yearold woman was found dead in her car with a serious neck injury in the parking area of the community where she lived with her husband and two children. Her husband was working at the time. Police wished to talk to her two male

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children aged 13 and 16 who had disappeared, but they were found in a park several hours later in the early hours after a comprehensive search by police. Following interviews next day, they were held responsible for her murder. The 16-year-old was charged, but the 13-year-old cannot be charged with any offence as below the age of 14 a child is not legally culpable in Spanish law. A judge ordered the older minor to be detained for six months in a facility housing young people convicted or accused of serious crimes, and his brother was sent to a home for children. A police spokesperson revealed that both of the children were adopted and came from Russia. The town hall announced three days of mourning and their Spanish flag flew at half-mast.

The Skull on the Beach

A German resident of La Isleta del Moro, who wished to remain anonymous, was walking on the beach at this popular tourist village in the Cabo de Gata area. He saw something strange and partially exposed it until he realised it was skull. The Guardia Civil police came to have a look, agreed it was a skull, and forensic experts from Almería city went to the scene. Further explorations turned up some associated bones which along with the skull were taken away for detailed examination. The conclusion was that they belonged to a young man, who very probably drowned, on an unknown date, when he was a passenger on one of the illegal immigrant boats. The location corresponded with high seas during a storm.

House Sales in 2023

The number of new and second-hand houses sold during 2023, throughout Spain, was 11% less than in 2022 and mortgages fell by 21%, although the sale prices went up by 1.5%. Of course, this is not the case in our area where estate agents still report a steady demand for properties. In another news item we point out that Christine Lagarde, the President of the EU, has announced that at present the Euribor has to remain at 4.5% to try to curb inflation, which has a direct effect on the cost of mortgages.

Ryanair Complaint

The low-cost airline Ryanair are by far the largest airline operating in Spain, with almost 50 million passengers. In 2023 their numbers were 125% above 2019 and they intend to expand this year by 7%. Their CEO, Eddie Wilson, is complaining that the Spanish airport authority ‘Aena’ promised to freeze airport charges until 2027, but are now announcing a 4% rise. He recently met with Pedro Sánchez, the Spanish Prime Minister, and told him that within five to seven years they planned to have 40% more flights. He says that the 4% increase needs to be scrapped with more incentives for some airports. Eddie Wilson states that there are other countries still recovering economically from Covid, who would love to have more flights with cheaper airport charges, such as Italy and Germany. As regards environmental impact, he explained that the airline now has planes that use 20% less fuel, with 20% more passengers and 50% less noise. The airline will use renewable sourced fuel supplied by the Spanish company ‘Repsol’ from 2025 on some flights and reach zero emissions by 2050.

Almería Burger King Shutdown

In August 2022 a Burger King branch opened in Almería city, without any necessary licences. By the order of a court, it was shut down at the end of January and the premises sealed by the Local Police. The owners can re-open if they obtain the permission from turning it from an empty building into a restaurant, a licence to sell products to people in cars, protection measures

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against fires, and other matters. The owner will receive a fine for ignoring instructions to make it legal and it may be some time before they are allowed to re-open. They put a sign outside for customers apologising for it being shut that they claimed was because of an “avería” which normally means plumbing or electricity problems!

The Agriculturalist Protest

In France, Brussels and Spain, agriculturalists have been blocking roads with their tractors. The are complaining that the EU regulations on food and cereal products are unnecessarily restrictive, and this lets in cheaper imports from Morocco and Turkey. There has been a dispute with Morocco for a long time, and once, tomatoes from Morocco had the country-of-origin labels replaced with ones that stated they were Spanish. There are also major problems with the UK following Brexit, but this is not the fault of the Spanish exporters. The agriculturalists are also complaining that there are not enough measures to combat droughts, which are becoming more common. A threatened total blockade on the A-7 motorway near El Ejido did not take place when no tractors turned up and it became a sit-in. A large number of Guardia Civil police dispersed the agriculturalists who then abandoned their protest, and normal traffic flow was possible.

The America’s Cup

The prestigious Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup comes to Barcelona with the races taking place in October. According to the web portal ‘idealista’ the cost of renting a two-bedroom apartment of 75m2 in a tower block with a balcony with sea views, and a let for several months, is about 4,000-5,000 euros per month. The six teams bring hundreds of competitors, engineers, mechanics and sponsors. The Swiss team have been there setting up their base and practising since last summer, and will bring 120 team members and their families. The defending New Zealand team have already been there, gone back home for boat building, and will come back in the spring. A rental agency states that the event

had attracted “a lot of interest!” It is also claimed that many items in shops that are needed by the teams have increased in price considerably, along with restaurant prices. One team has said that they will install a portable desalination machine using sea water, to save potable water being used by their team, and also to wash the boats in view of the drought in Catalonia. It is thought that this may have to be done by all the teams

Good for Individuals, Bad for Banks

Banks in Spain continue to post record profits, and many people in Spain have a private pension plan with a bank or a financial institution that they can only draw when they reach retirement age. From January 1st next year, this is no longer the case. Providing they have been paying in for 10 years, they can take the money out. The total amount in these plans was 85 billion euros at the end of 2023 and banks are very worried that this may reduce by 25%-50%. A financial expert in the banking sector considers that being able to take the money out distorts the whole point of building up a pension pot. Up to now, drawing money out is only allowed in very difficult financial situations such as permanent incapacity to work and very long-term unemployment. Recently, special circumstances have been accepted such as seriously ill long term Covid-19 patients and victims of the La Palma volcano disaster who lost their homes or livelihood, or both. Also, because banks offer such a poor rate of interest on deposit accounts, people have been taking money out to invest elsewhere, or pay off a mortgage. There was a positive balance of 1.3 million euros in 2020 (the difference between money paid in and money taken out). In 2021 money taken out was 152,000 euros more than money paid in, rising to 666,000 euros in 2022 and 1.1 million euros last year. Money withdrawn to pay off mortgages means that the banks also lose the interest they were charging.

Using Smartphones

A survey of 400,000 children and young-persons age 4-18, and parents, has been published collecting data from Spain, Australia, the UK,

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US and France regarding the time spent using smartphones. The conclusion is that in Spain many young people clock up as much as four hours a day, so if they are asleep for 8 hours, this is 25% of their waking time, but they also go to school on weekdays. Survey data concluded that up to 94 minutes was spent watching short videos on X (Tik Tok), 74 minutes on Instagram, 30 minutes on Facebook, and 40 minutes watching videos on YouTube or paid-for channels such as Netflix or Twitch. Some youngsters spent 30 minutes using WhatsApp and Snapchat. Only 6-10 minutes was spent watching educational videos and six minutes was spent viewing the artificial intelligence site ChatGPT. It is anticipated that artificial intelligence sites will have increasing numbers of viewers. The time spent in Spain was very much longer than in the other countries, particularly in the US. Parents expressed concerns about their children watching porn, making themselves liable to be approached by paedophiles and be groomed. They also complained of addiction to using their phones and some children becoming agitated or angry if parents tried to limit their time. As we mentioned last month, children in Andalucia will have their phones confiscated during school hours including break times, which is supposed to be introduced before the end of this month.

The Cost of Electricity

Many of the 8 million consumers of electricity on the variable-hour PVPC tariff still think wrongly that daily electricity cost periods are fixed. This is because the electricity supply companies stated this was the new system when it was introduced. They claimed that the ‘Valle’ cheap period was from midnight to 8am on weekdays and over 24hrs on Saturdays, Sundays and fiesta days. The ‘Llano’ medium price periods were given as being weekdays from 8am to 10am, 2pm to 6pm and 10pm to midnight. The ‘Punto’ most expensive times were stated to be weekdays from 10am to 2pm and 6pm to 10pm. The problem is that the variable-hour tariff is exactly what it implies, the cost varies each hour. This affects all the time periods including at weekends. The cost

varies according to the anticipated demand, and the fuel used to produce this. The website www.tarifaluzhora.es shows the cost during the 24hr period each day, and it shows the cost for the next day at 10.15pm on the evening before. The cost is given in céntimos per kWh that is the power needed for an appliance of 1,000 watts switched on for one hour. (The price is actually shown as 0.123 euros [as an example] but this is 12.3 céntimos). It shows the average hourly cost, the cheapest hour and the most expensive one, and can be viewed in English. The date can be changed, to show the prices on previous days. Depending on the anticipated demand and production costs, the prices fluctuate to an extent that at some hours of the weekend it may cost more than some hours during the previous weekdays. On one particular weekday in February, the period from midnight to 8am was all medium cost, not low cost. It was cheapest from 10am to 4pm which is not supposed to happen, and the most expensive hours were from 6pm to 10pm that is as advertised, but still expensive until midnight when it should have been a mediumcost period. The amount of electricity used in the three bands is shown on electricity bills. As we mentioned last month, if a person is home all day, they may be able to use expensive consumption appliances when it is cheapest. If they can’t do this the cost will be higher and it may be that a fixed price tariff is better. This year, 25% of the daily cost on the PVPC tariff is calculated using the energy costs in the “futures market” for 1 month, 3 months and 12 months. This will help a bit and is estimated to reduce bills by 10%, hopefully. For 2025 it is 40% and in 2026 it is 55%.

Two Guardia Civil Police Killed

On February 9th, an inflatable “Zodiac-type” six metre boat with six sub-aquatic and rapid response Guardia Civil police officers was carrying out anti-drug operations at the Barbate port in Cádiz where a high-speed semi-rigid 14 metre launch used by the drug cartels was in the port because of high seas. It rammed the police boat at high speed as they approached and drove over

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it. Two police officers were killed, one instantly, with two more injured, one seriously, who was rushed to hospital. Other police managed to arrest the three people in the drug launch and two others at Sotogrande. It is alleged that these two people had helped unload the drugs to transport them elsewhere, as they were found in their vehicle, and a further two people were arrested. The Spanish Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, went to Cádiz the next day and met with the Commander of the Guardia Civil Police, National Police and port authorities. A full investigation was ordered, and actions to identify and arrest other members of the cartel. He announced a “zero tolerance” for the drug barons. The high-speed launches come from Morocco with three or four powerful outboard motors, at a speed that Guardia Civil police or coastguards are often unable to match, and their cargo of drugs is unloaded in only a few minutes. Police in Almería city have called for more officers to be able to respond quickly if any boat is detected on the SIVE radar system that is carrying drugs or illegal immigrants. A few years ago, in the Campo de Gibraltar area, Guardia Civil police announced that there were “no go” areas where the drug barons had large fortified villas. Extra police were able to make many arrests, seize money and block bank accounts. The villas were often put in the name of their wives, but many of them had been built on land not zoned for urban development. Because of this, courts ordered that they were demolished. In the Campo de Gibraltar area at La Concéption, the mayor has floated the idea that if cannabis was made legal, there would be considerably fewer journeys by the drug barons’ boats!

The Euribor

The Euribor (inter-bank lending rate) determines the cost of variable rate mortgages and is added to the approximately 1% interest the banks charge. Christine Lagarde, the President of the EU, has announced that at present the Euribor has to remain at 4.5% to try to curb inflation. The Spanish Central Bank have to comply with

this, but point out that the present true rate in Spain was only 3.6% at the start of February and fell slightly in the previous three months. The cost of mortgages cannot come down whilst the 4.5% is not reduced. In the US, the Federal Reserve is also trying to contain inflation and the interest rate there varies from 5.25% to 5.5%.

El Algarrobico Hotel

Last month we explained the latest twists and turns regarding the paralysed El Algarrobico hotel in Carboneras. Juanma Moreno, the President of Andalucía, has announced that in the 2024 budget there is funding for the rehabilitation of the land where the hotel is built, after Central Government pay for the demolition. This cannot take place until the Carboneras council revoke the building licence and make a demolition order. In 2011, when the demolition and rehabilitation plans were announced, the cost was put at about 50% of the 7.3 million euros for each of them. The present cost is not specified, but is probably more than double! In 2011 the owners of the hotel stated that the 21 stepped-storey hotel was built on 63,000m3 of reinforced concrete, and if anybody thought it could be removed without using dynamite they were mistaken. They also referred to the enormous amounts of soil and earth that was taken away in trucks and in any “restoration” of the land this would need to be replaced, from somewhere else.

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The New Amnesty Law

In order for Pedro Sánchez, Spain’s Prime Minister, to be able to form a government he had to woo the independence parties in Catalonia, particularly the dominant Junts party who have seven MPs. He agreed to an amnesty for people convicted of offences related to the illegal declaration of independence in Catalonia on October 29th, 2017, and bans on holding public office. The exPresident of the Junts party is Carles Puigdemont who, with other MPs, fled Spain the next day to avoid arrest. He is still in Brussels where he holds regular press conferences. A Spanish arrest warrant is in place if he and others return to Spain, and a European arrest warrant is currently on hold. Carles Puigdemont and two other ex-MPs are Euro MPs for Catalonia until June this year. They claimed exemption from being arrested in Europe, but an EU tribunal ruled that this was not the case. The amnesty law was voted on in the Spanish Parliament on January 30th, but the Junts party voted against it as it did not go as far as they claimed had been promised, so it was not passed. The bill has been sent back to the Justice Department. Meanwhile, there are two pending prosecutions in the Spanish High court. The first relates to a large independence demonstration at the El Prat airport in Barcelona and blocking the A-7 motorway which turned into a riot. Various members of the National Police were injured, two of them seriously, and a French tourist caught up in the riot had a heart attack and died. The Prosecution are alleging that the riot was planned in advance by Carles Puigdemont and breaches terrorism laws. However, many legal experts consider that obtaining a conviction for terrorism is unlikely. The second case is an allegation that Carles Puigdemont and others were in contact with “a foreign power” that was two Russian Secret Service employees. The allegation (which is laughable if it was not so serious) is that he was trying to get 10,000 Russian soldiers to come to Catalonia and help him in the independence attempt and also provided financial help! Both cases were postponed for six months at the end of January with the judges asking for further

information due to the complexity of both investigations. Constitutional lawyers and various judges claim that the amnesty, if passed, may be illegal as regards a “blanket amnesty” and cannot apply to the collusion with a foreign power which is high treason, or the allegations of terrorism that are not part of the proposed amnesty. If convicted, both of the offences have prison terms of 15-20 years. One of the three main defendants named in the terrorism charge, the Secretary General of the independence party ERC, fled to Switzerland at the end of January where he intends to stay.

The EU and Russia

The EU have opened an investigation relating to alleged interference in the EU by Russia and President Putin. One part of this relates to Catalonia in general, and in particular, the contact by Carles Puigdemont and two other MPs with Russian agents between 2017-2019 during the independence events. One allegation is that his Chief of Staff made several visits to Russia to meet high-ranking officials in 2020 that was revealed in an article in the New York Times in September 2021.The Spanish Secret Service tracked the movements of a Russian man who was known to them, and he made a lightening visit to Catalonia for just a few hours in 2017. He arrived after entering Spain indirectly from France and returned the same way. On referendum day in October 2017, Spanish police shut down a Spanish internet site that had the electoral roll on it, as it was an illegal referendum. Very quickly, it was available on a Russian website. The EU has asked Spain to provide them with all the relevant information. The EU also considers that Russia was involved and was trying to interfere in the French elections and the Marine Le Pen party, in Italy centred round the Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini and his Northern Leage party, and MPs in Germany who were forming the AfD party.

New Vehicle Warranties

Last month in an article about buying new cars, reliability and the warranty period were important to 37% of buyers. Many manufacturers selling

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cars in Spain are now introducing new warranty periods. ‘Kia’ have of course been the market leader for many years, with a 7-year warranty or up to 150,000km that is transferable to subsequent owners. Dacia have now announced a free identical warranty period providing the required periodic servicing has been done. The warranty is repeated for every year with less than 30,000km. Buyers from 2018 (potentially 300,000 owners) can have this warranty, even if the initial warranty period has run out, and if driven for less than 120,000km. Seat, with good sales in Spain, have announced extended ‘Flex’ warranties that can be purchased for 4, 5 and 10 years with km ranges of up to 80,000, 100,000 and 200,000 respectively. Alternatively, at the time of purchase a buyer can opt for a 10-year warranty with required servicing, without parts or labour charges for 5 years, at a cost of 1,000 euros. ‘Toyota’ have a different system and after the normal 3-year warranty, it can be extended year after year providing all the required services have been carried out up to 15 years or up to 250,000km. ‘Lexus’ have a very similar system of up to 10 years or 185,000km. Car manufacturers are trying hard to attract buyers, and offer competitive terms. In all cases this is when periodic recommended servicing has been done, but in some cases not only in their own workshops. If this has happened, an inspection may be required. Buyers report many problems with the Chinese ‘MG’ models from engine failure (three times in 1,100km for one driver), faulty air-conditioning, clutch problems and also the automatic gear box. Parts needed for repairs have to come from China and buyers complain of the time this takes, with no courtesy cars available. There is a “class action” in Chile from 2021 where owners of ‘MG’ cars have pooled their complaints and are seeking compensation for manufacturing defects.

Bank Profits

At the start of February, the Sabadell Bank in Spain announced a profit of 1.33 billion euros for 2023, the highest amount ever at 55% more than 2022. Most of this will be paid as dividends

for shareholders and unfortunately, will not be used to help customers by reducing the amount they have to pay. Caixabank declared a profit of 4.6 billion euros, up 54%, and 60% will go to shareholders. The Unicaja bank declared record profits of 267 million euros, up 40%, with 132 million euros to be given to shareholders. Having shares in a bank is now very profitable, but paying a mortgage is a very different matter.

Water by Ship

The Junta de Andalucía has put in place an emergency plan in case the desalination plant in Carboneras develops a major fault and cannot provide water, or if there was a severe drought for agriculturalists and Carboneras could not supply enough water. They have come to an agreement with the authorities in Murcia so that desalinated water from a plant in Cartagena that is not operating at its full capacity, could be brought here in tanker ships. The present production could be stepped up to supply 63,000 m3 per day, that in 72 hours could be increased to 73,000 m3. A 300m pipe has to be constructed to take the water to ships that could carry 40,000 m3, so two ships could be filled in less than 3 days, taking 5 hours to travel the 57 nautical miles. Apart from potable water, some water needed for agricultural irrigation could be brought here as well. The cost of providing the infrastructure at Carboneras to allow water to be brought ashore will cost 2 million euros and is in the 2024 budget. The desalination plant at Cuevas was opened with major fanfares in 2011, billed as providing water “for today and tomorrow”. It was totally wrecked during the 2012 floods in the area, and work is underway to repair it and put it back in service at the earliest opportunity, now considered urgent, to provide both potable and irrigation water. Major work has been carried out to divert the river bed away from the plant to ensure it can never flood again.

Dreambeach 2024

The move to El Toyo in Almería city for this year’s Dreambeach Festival in August is proving highly controversial. Residents are trying to get

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it moved elsewhere, and are appealing to the Junta de Andalucía. Another criticism is that tickets are being sold before all the permissions have been obtained including one from ‘AENA’, the Spanish Airport authority. The new location is very close to the airport and the festival has extensive lighting effects that could be a problem for pilots on incoming and outgoing flights. Also, the necessary environment impact permission has at present not been applied for. The festival organisers are talking about the new location being the one for the next ten tears, but the existing contract is only for 2024 and 2025.

The Palomares Saga

In January 1966, during the Cold War, two US planes collided over Palomares and four unarmed nuclear missiles were jettisoned. Three fell on the land and one in the sea. The nose cones of two of them split when they hit the ground resulting in the release of plutonium. A large US contingence took most of the contaminated soil away, but not all of it. In 2015, John Kerry, the US Secretary of State, came to Spain and signed a “non-legally binding” memorandum that the remaining soil would be removed, and in May last year Pedro Sánchez, Spain’s Prime Minister, discussed the removal with President Biden. He agreed that the US had an obligation to take the soil away as there is nowhere in Spain where the radioactive soil can be taken. In February it was announced that proceedings were on hold as Palomares is one of three places where there are radioactive problems caused by the US and further action has to be assessed. It may well be that no firm decision is made before the US Presidential Elections. Two years ago, it was finally accepted that US servicemen, including members of a military band who came to Palomares, were exposed to the radiation and some of them developed cancer. It was agreed that they were entitled to compensation under the “Veterans Act”, but some of them have died. The Spanish Ecologists in Action are starting a lawsuit in the European Court of Human Rights, claiming that successive governments have failed in their duty to members

of the general public who have ingested or inhaled plutonium. They want a reversal of a ruling in 2021 by the Supreme Court stating that the Spanish Nuclear Agency was not competent to carry out any clean up, without stating who was responsible. Two years ago, the Nuclear Agency announced the expropriation of 32.4 hectares of rural land (about 1/10th of a square mile) owned by 44 fincas that are areas of land, some in Vera and the majority in Cuevas del Almanzora. 18.5 hectares were land where a promotor wanted the designation of the land to be changed, to build houses. There had been a temporary ban on using the land for agriculture, but it was considered that this had to be permanent.

2023 Spanish Vehicle Manufacturing

The Association of Spanish Vehicle Manufactures has announced that the market is beginning to recover and in 2023 some 2.5 million vehicles were manufactured, with 2.2 million exported. This is just over 10% better than 2022 and 950,000 sold were new cars, up 16%. The purchase of purely electric cars is still very low and manufacturing numbers show this with only 158,000 produced, although this is up 24%. The total number of petrol-fuelled cars was 51%, for diesel cars 24%, non-plug-in hybrids 6.5%, the same percentage for plug-in hybrids, 6.4% for totally electric vehicles and 1% for vehicles fuelled by gas. Export numbers, in descending order, went to France, Germany, the UK, Italy and Turkey. Germany is in a recession and exports there fell by 1%.

In the News

The Lorca ‘AVE’

In 2026 the ‘AVE’ (high speed train) is supposed to carry passengers from Murcia city to Almería city. There is one stretch where the contract for the work has only just been awarded; the underground tunnel for the station at Lorca. At a cost of 330 million euros, the tunnel is 2.9km long. The work is estimated to take 32 months, so until August 2026. After the construction the line has to be electrified, and there is then a testing period that in other parts of Spain has taken from 12-18 months. Cynics consider that no passengers will be on the trains until 2028 at the earliest.

Dealing with Radon

The World Health Agency consider that exposure to radioactive radon, over 300Bq/m3, is the second largest cause of lung cancer, affecting 3-14% of people world-wide. Spain now has a National Plan to combat it, working with the Spanish Health Authority. Radon is a radioactive isotope that comes from the decay of radium that is present in rocks and soils. It is colourless, doesn’t smell, and to a certain extent is water soluble. Action will have to be taken where the high level of gas affects 75% of the population in any area, and it can enter dwellings, particularly basements, carried in the air. There are 13 municipalities in our province where it is considered that the level is too high, but the only one locally is Vera. A national strategic plan is going to be put in place for dealing with it. 300Bq/m3 is 300 decays per second of a radioactive nucleus in one cubic metre of air.

The Mojácar Sewage Plant

A Minister from the Junta de Andalucía, dignitaries and various mayors recently laid the foundation stone of the new sewage treatment plant in Mojácar. It includes treatment for sewage from Garrucha, Turre, Los Gallardos and Bédar with 54,000 inhabitants altogether. The plant will be able to handle 25,000m3 per day, and 4,000m3 will be re-cycled for mostly agricultural use. There will be 8 pumping stations and 29km of new pipes. The work is expected to take 24 months and the budget price is 19 million euros. There

have been problems with the existing plant for many years, particularly during the high season for tourists, when the population zooms up.

The Second Chance Law

We have mentioned before that courts can order debts to be cancelled if a person has very severe problems in paying the money back that they have borrowed and there is no way out of this predicament. Recently, in Almeria city, the Commercial Court considered the case of a woman who took out personal loans with a high interest rate for day-to-day expenses, borrowed to the limit on her credit cards and could not pay her rent. The final straw was that she became unemployed. She was receiving letters threatening that she would be taken to court and also the threat of eviction. She was represented by the ‘Repara tu Deuda’ lawyers who specialise in cases like this one throughout Spain. The court ruled that whilst she was foolish to have kept borrowing money, there was no way she could pay off the total debts of 86,000 euros (mostly high interest charges) although she had tried to repay some of them. They ordered that all the debts were null and void under the “Exoneration clause” of the Second Chance Law, so that she could carry on with her life as normal, without constant threats of private prosecutions. They noted that she was now back in work.

The AI Book Cover

Following complaints by some booksellers, the very large Spanish book publishing company Planeta has had to recall a book published by a female author after complaints that the front cover image has been created using artificial intelligence. A book illustrator pointed out on Twitter that there were many elements of the cover that were very unfair to artists who designed book covers and created illustrations whose income was being hit by AI generated images. An association of artists has threatened to boycott working for the Planeta group. The illustrators also complain that there is no credit on the first page of the book, or on the back cover, that the front cover has been created by a particular person /artist which is normal in books being published and is copyright material.

In the News

The company replied that their art and design department had more than 30 professionals but they did use processes that may have been made using AI utilities and this is a modern equivalent of Photoshop that has been used for a very long time.

AI Generated Music

The Spanish RTVE Symphony Orchestra has been collaborating with a “Lab orchestra” project using an AI company to compose music entirely with AI technology. Asking for a composition in the style of Shostakovich or Bach was not successful, so a symphonic piece in the style of a human composer was tried. This was better, but not convincing. In one case, the orchestra was not told that a 20-minute composition was completely composed by AI, but it lacked any coherent thread and the musicians soon realised that it was very strange. The orchestra’s conductor stated it was similar to starting off with a loud fire-fighter section, and then continuing with sections typical of a carpenter, flower girl and a judge! The piece also contained instruments playing out of their normal range, or holding notes for a time period that was not possible. The conclusion was that at present, composers had nothing to fear from AI generated compositions. The other conclusion is that AI might work as a “fill in” for some film music, but nothing very complicated.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Bitcoins

Buying and speculating in Bitcoins is a very risky business. Returns can be considerable, but also losses. Various high-profile people have recommended that they are a safe investment, without revealing they have lucrative contracts with the company as a paid promotor. Cristiano Ronaldo pushed investing in the company Binance ahead of the 2022 World Cup when they cost 77 dollars, but by the middle of last year were worth no more than 1 dollar. A group of people in the US are mounting a “class action” in which a number of people make a joint claim, and are asking for 1 billion dollars in compensation. The claim lodged in a court in Florida states, “(He) actively promoted, assisted, and/or participated in the offering and sale of unregistered securities in coordination with Binance

after a multi-year partnership that was deceptive and unlawful.” The lawsuit comes after Changpeng Zhao, the founder and head of Binance, reached an agreement with the Department of Justice, the Treasury and the Futures Market Commission (CFTC) to pay a record fine of 4.37 billion dollars for violating anti-money laundering laws and securities market regulations. Other Hollywood and sports stars are also being pursued including Larry David and Tom Brady allied with the FXT company that spectacularly crashed. Kim Kardashian has been fined 1.3 million dollars by the financial regulator for her paid recommendation of another company. The Spanish entity ‘CNMV’ is a Market Commission that approve mergers, carry out investigations and takes some companies to court for anticompetition practices. They have publicly rebuked the Spanish footballer Andres Iniesta for promoting Binance on Twitter to his 25 million followers.

The Tissue Destroying Bacteria

Ten years ago, a Spanish biologist aged 42, spent five months in a jungle in Peru on a project to conserve the stump monkey. She noticed an area on her arm that looked like a burn, but it then developed into an ulcer from her elbow up to her armpit by the time she came back to Spain. Her arm was reduced in size in the affected area, and various treatments were prescribed for four years. Eventually, a tropical disease specialist at a hospital in León suggested it was the very rare Buruli ‘mycobacterium ulceran’ that destroys tissue. During long courses of antibiotic treatment over two years, her liver was affected along with her sight. When the treatment was stopped, the ulcer flared up again. Following surgical operations over another four years, the disease finally appears to have been contained without amputating her arm, ten years later. Despite the very long time, she is full of praise for the Spanish Health Service, and she has not lost her sense of humour. When people ask her what has happened to her arm, she tells them she was bitten by a shark! Research, in various countries, suggests that mosquitoes might carry the bacteria and she had a nasty bite whilst in Peru, but this is still not fully understood or proven. Biochemist Israel Cruz, head of International Health

In the News

at the Carlos III Health Institute in Barcelona, is only aware of one other previous patient, a 27-yearold from Equatorial Guinea who, after four years with a Buruli ulcer on her left leg, came to Barcelona in 2003 seeking treatment. The doctors, from the Hospital del Mar had to eventually amputate her limb, due to a very aggressive ulcer, aggravated by HIV. There was a less serious case near a port in the Canary Islands in 2021 that is suspected to have been caused by mosquitoes coming from a shipping container full of bananas. Rapid treatment with two strong antibiotics was successful.

Ford Motor Company Re-think

The Ford Motor Company has a large factory at Almussafes in Barcelona. In 2022 it was chosen instead of a factory in Germany to produce two new electric cars. The first one was going to roll off the production line in 2025 and the second one in 2026 / 2027. Ford bosses have now said that they are doing a re-think because there is not the demand for electric

vehicles and Spain lacks the charging infrastructure. They say that they are not cancelling their plans but have to be realistic. Unions are very concerned because they negotiated a reduction in wages and restructuring of the workforce for the introduction of the electric vehicles. The Ford Kuga and the Ford Connect van are manufactured in Valencia, but they will cease to be manufactured during 2024 with a reduction in the Kuga model down to 130,000. In 2019 the company produced 345,000 cars and vans that fell to 245,000 in 2022 with a planned target of 218,000 in 2023. The management and the unions are holding meetings and the unions want Ford to introduce more hybrid cars where there is a definite demand. Unfortunately, in mid-February it was announced that the unions had agreed to a redundancy package for 500 workers. Volkswagen are setting up a battery gigafactory in Valencia with major expansion in the size of the existing factory going through the planning permission stage, and Ford is intended to be a major customer.

So Now You Know...

Slavery Abolished in the UK

On March 25th, 1807, following a mammoth tenhour session in the British Parliament on February 23rd, William Wilberforce’s bill to end Britain’s slave trade was passed by 283 votes to 16 and given Royal Assent. William Wilberforce was the driving force behind the bill and the undisputed leader of the abolition campaign in the UK. In 1833 all slaves in the British Empire were given their freedom when the Slavery Abolition Act was passed. There was of course, strong objections by the owners of plantations where slavery was a normal occurrence and gave the owners very cheap labour. Slaves being transported in ships often died.

Alaska Bought

On March 29th, 1867, the US bought Alaska ,which was owned by Russia, for 7.2 million dollars. The decision to sell was a very quick one that was signed by a treaty at 4am after a meeting that didn’t start until the previous evening. Alaska was discovered in 1741 when the Russian explorer landed there during an expedition, and claimed the land for the Russian Czar. Only a few Russians occupied it and the main reason for staying in such an inhospitable place was the fur trade. When this dwindled, it was decided to sell the 586,000 square mile territory. Some Americans thought buying it was stupid until gold and oil were discovered there.

Airey Neave Assassinated

Lieutenant Colonel Airey Middleton Sheffield

Neave, DSO, OBE, MC, TD, was born on January 23rd in 1916 and became a lawyer. In WWII he was the first British officer to escape from the German ‘Oflag IV-C’ camp for prisoners-of-war that was in the Colditz Castle in Saxony. The 1,000-year-old castle on a steep hill was 400 miles from any frontier not under Nazi control. He later entered politics and became an MP in 1953. He was a popular statesman, but on March 30th, 1979, he was killed by a bomb detonated under his car. The Irish National Liberation Army later announced that this brutal murder was carried out by them.

The Month of March

The third month of the year, March, is named after the Roman god Mars. In Roman mythology Mars was the god of war and symbolised strength, courage and successful military battles and campaigns. March was the month when many wars were planned and took place after the winter period, when bad weather had a big influence on the military in many countries and degraded their ability to fight. The word “March” has its roots in the Latin word “Martius” signifying a connexion to Mars. March was also the month when it was considered that winter was on the wane and gave way to the much better season of spring.

The Saigon Embassy Bomb

On March 30th, 1965, a Viet Cong terrorist exploded a bomb outside the US embassy in Saigon. It killed 23 people and injured more than 180. Two Americans were killed and one of them was a US Navy petty officer who later died in hospital from his injuries. A 21-year-old secretary who worked in the embassy was outside at the time, but the car driven by the terrorist ran over her and killed her. A press release by the US State Department gave the number of Americans in hospital as being 13, with seven seriously injured. Subsequently, many embassies, not just that of the US, installed large concrete blocks to defend themselves.

The “Spanish Flu”

During WWI an unprecedented influenza pandemic known as the “Spanish flu” swept the globe. The major European countries put a block on the pandemic being publicised, but Spain was neutral so reported it in detail during March 1918. Because of this, it became known as coming from Spain. The exact source of the flu is debated, but many experts agree that the mobilisation and intermixing of troops in France was the cause. It was so virulent that if a person realised that they were affected in the morning, they often died later that day. Walt Disney survived, 228,000 died in the UK and 50 million people died world-wide.

Very Convenient, but Dangerous

The numbers of “Personal mobility vehicles”, 99% electric scooters, continues to increase dramatically every year. They are a popular means of transport for work or pleasure and mean people do not have to wait for public transport, assuming that there is any. They are also relatively inexpensive compared to normal “Vespa type” scooters. Exact numbers are difficult to calculate but rough ones are 1 million throughout Spain, 75,000 in Andalucía and 8,000 in our province.

The current regulations are a mishmash of ones dictated by the ‘DGT’ (Spanish traffic police) and ones from municipalities, as the Local Police employed by the councils are the ones that supervise or enforce the regulations. There are differences in that using a helmet is mandatory in most municipalities, but not in Mojácar. Some town halls require that users have to register with them, but again, this is not uniform.

In Almería city in 2023 the Local Police fined 567 people using electric scooters for various offences that can carry a fine of up to 1,000 euros. The infractions included using them on pavements which is illegal, driving contrary to the traffic flow, and ignoring traffic regulations such as going through a red traffic light. Other users were fined for having a passenger, using headphones or a mobile phone, and exceeding the speed limit of 25km/h. This particularly applies to older models, before this speed limit became mandatory, and no new electric scooter can exceed this speed.

Using them at night without lights or a reflective jacket (in most municipalities) is illegal along with not wearing a helmet when this is mandatory. Users have to dismount if going across a pedestrian crossing and fines for these infractions are 100 euros or 200 euros. Also, users can be breathalysed or tested for drugs. Any alcohol level at all for minors, or more than 0.25mg /l for adults, carries a fine of 500-1,000

euros depending on the severity and 1,000 euros if positive for drugs.

The downside is that they can be very dangerous as accidents can results in injuries that may be fatal. One problem is that young people, in particular, do not understand the regulations and they do not understand the highway code. Local police in Almería city went to 41 schools in 2023 where they explained the regulations to 5,300 pupils. There was recently a council meeting where an urgent comprehensive range of regulations was proposed, including the15-year age limit in Seville, designed to reduce accidents which have tripled since 2021, and compulsory insurance. 50% of accidents involved a collision with a vehicle and 20% a collision with a pedestrian. In the other 30%, users fell off them, or collided with an object, and most accidents occur in the initial period when people are not familiar with using them. Figures for reported accidents in 2023 in Spain are not available but in the last six months of 2022 there were 223. Some 44 resulted in serious injury with seven deaths.

In the majority of municipalities insurance is not compulsory, but the main Spanish insurance companies have policies. If an uninsured minor using an electric scooter causes serious damage, or injury, their parents or guardians are responsible for any claims made against them. These can be very expensive if a serious injury is the result of a collision.

Not Just Petrol & Diesel

The words “petrol station” came into the English language before the diesel engine was invented and the name has stuck. People don’t remark that they need to go to a “diesel station” even if they need to fill up with diesel fuel. With the advent of motorways and other main roads the words “service station”, or just “services” indicated that as well as a petrol station there were a range of facilities including toilets, shops, bars and restaurants.

With available shelf space, petrol stations started selling motoring goods such as oil, antifreeze, jump leads and other accessories. Some of them started selling newspapers and magazines as they are “quick-purchase” items, as the customer knows what they are going to buy before they come in. Cigarettes became another source of income and at the counter, sweets became a good “impulse buy”.

The situation has seen many changes in recent years, particularly in Spain. The large petrol companies have to accept that from 2035 the sale of new petrol and diesel cars has to stop, but with the current average age of 14.9 for a secondhand car, selling petrol and diesel will not cease for many years. As electric cars become more popular there will have to be more charging points.

The major change is that many petrol stations have become medium size supermarkets selling a wide range of food and drink. Alongside, there is often an area where a customer can sit or stand and have a coffee or a snack. If there is an adjoining area of land for sale, fuel suppliers are purchasing it for building extensions and parking. Since 2017, Repsol joined forces with El Corte Inglés, and starting 10 years ago Cepsa allied themselves with Carrefour.

The majority of the 3,300 Repsol petrol stations in Spain are now supermarkets as well, or are being converted, and Cepsa is not far behind. If open 24hrs a day they are a big draw for customer who want food and drink, and Repsol currently sells 14

million bread sticks and loaves per annum, making them the largest bread seller in Spain apart from the major supermarkets. They also sell 7 million cups of coffee. Repsol and Cepsa are coy as to how much of their profit comes from non-fuel items, but it is certainly more than 50% in many petrol stations. Retail analysts think that by 2030 at least 60% will be the norm.

Sales of food and drink are no longer something that may be done only whilst a customer is buying fuel. Many people use the shop as neighbourhood stores, even if items are more expensive. Customers are prepared to pay a little bit more as the service is faster than at a supermarket, normally without long queues. The CEO of Repsol points out that when there are many more electric vehicle charging points, which allow ultrafast charging for 15-20 minutes, the owners will stay there. Also, many petrol stations are acting as collection points for Amazon products with storage lockers.

To avoid having to employ more staff, some petrol stations now have a “pay in advance” system for fuel, not just at night, where the customer walks to the cashier and pays there. There is no need for several forecourt staff, who can be switched to handling supermarket goods, shelf-filling and sales. If this is the case there are often small discounts on the price of fuel to offset any inconvenience that the customer may feel.

Supermarkets in petrol stations are definitely a very profitable business model.

Money from the EU

Unlike the UK since Brexit, Spain is receiving, or can request, many monetary grants from the EU. Following the Covid pandemic, the EU launched a ‘Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR)’ which in the case of Spain was one of the largest grants of 69.5 billion euros, then extended to 77.2 billion euros.

The money is advanced in chunks that extends to the end of 2026. Spain has to put in place reforms or plans before the money is delivered, that have included pension reform and the scrapping of temporary work contracts, except in very specific cases. For 2024 Spain was supposed to have introduced tolls on all major roads but because there was not a stable government for a long time in 2023, and because Spain suggested there were other ways of doing this, it was postponed.

Spain received 19 billion euros in 2021, 16 billion euros in 2022, and in 2023 two stage payments of 10 billion euros and 7 billion euros, bringing the total up to 52 billion euros. 8 billion euros can be claimed this year followed by further amounts in 2025 and 2026. Spain is intending that the 2026 payment pays for the ‘AVE’ (High Speed Train) from Murcia city to Almería city, but for this to happen the work has to be completed and the line operational. It may be that Spain is given a time extension if the work is almost completed, but not totally.

Money can be claimed as part of the EU ‘Next Generation Fund’ and the Junta de Andalucía is being given 70 million euros to develop green hydrogen, along with money for the installation of electric vehicle charging points. The two last sections of the Almanzora ‘marble motorway’ were both completed with money from the EU, and 80% of the 3 million euros cost of the Mojácar junction with the Garrucha to Los Gallardos road. In addition, ‘SME’ grants are for small to medium size companies to help with digitalisation, international growth and exports. Different schemes apply to an individual self-employed person and companies with a maximum of 49 employees. Part of the grants can be used to improve cyber-security,

make better websites, develop on-line sales platforms and a more competitive market share.

Grants are also available for the autonomous communities to subsidise the installation of photovoltaic solar panels, batteries, heat pumps and geothermic installations. Other money can be claimed for projects related to Health Departments, such as the 138 million cost for the Junta of carrying out operations in the afternoon at the three hospitals in our province in 2024.

The ‘Strategic Projects for Economic Recovery and Transformation’ (PERTE) allows for public-private collaboration between public administrations, companies and research centres. Its objective is to promote major initiatives that contribute to the transformation of the Spanish economy in important fields such as agriculture and livestock. Agriculture is a major motor of the economy for exports from companies in our province.

When the ‘PP’ political party was voted in to run the Junta de Andalucia in 2019, their President, Juanma Moreno, announced that one of their ministers would be responsible for meeting with people in all the provinces including Almería. They would explain the grants that are available and how to access them, as they are quite complex. He claimed that money that could have been applied for had not been requested before the ‘PP’ party took over.

During 2025, Spain will be part of the EU ‘Migrant bill’ that gives funding for EU states with illegal immigration problems.

Useful Numbers

Emergencies (Multi-lingual) ......................112

Emergencies:

Life Threatening Emergencies ....................061

Other Health Emergencies .......902 505 061

Guardia Civil ............................................................062

Local Police ...............................................................092

Coast Guard .................................................900 202 202

AIRPORTS

Almeria airport .....…...............…902 404 704 / 950 213 700

Alicante airport …...............……913 211 000 / 966 919 000

Corvera airport …….............................................….913 211 000

BRITISH EMBASSY

Madrid ...........................................................................917 146300

BRITISH CONSULATE

Málaga (for this area) ........................................952 352300

UK PASSPORT INFORMATION

www.gov.uk/browse/abroad/passports

EMERGENCY UK PASSPORTS

www.gov.uk/emergency-travel-document

CREDIT CARDS 24hr EMERGENCIES

4B(Visa/Mastercard) ….........902 114400 / 913 626200

American Express …................................................900 814500

Diners Club ….............................................................902 401112

Mastercard ….............................................................900 971231

Servired (Visa/Mastercard) …...........................902 192100

Visa ….............................................................................900 991124

ELECTRICITY

Endesa Enquiries: .....................................(free).800 760333 Breakdowns:.........................(free).900 850840

WATER

Galasa Enquiries: ..................................................950 391200

Breakdowns: ...........................................902 355575

Gestagua (Albox) ....................................................950 120649

GAS

Cepsa (Silver bottles) Leaks ….......................902 100224

Cepsa, information ….......................................902 416416

Repsol (Red bottles) Leaks .......................901 121212

Repsol, information ...........................................901 100100

ITV (Spanish M.O.T. Centres)

Vera, Albox, Veléz Rubio

Central number …………….......................................959 999999

TRAINS

Renfe www.horarios.renfe.es ……..........…….902 240202

HACIENDA (TAX OFFICE)

Huércal Overa .....................950 470209 / 950 471013

FUNERAL DIRECTOR

Albox (Funerarias Teruel) ................................950 430122

Huércal Overa (Colly Fer) ...........................950 616161

Garrucha (Funerarias Funerga) .....................950 460295

Mojácar (Funeraria Pérez) .............................950 478102

Vera (Funeraria Ntra. Sra. de las Angustias)

ACCOUNTING

AFIRA (Mojácar) ...........................................................622 549019

Asesoría Forte (Vera) ........................950 395778 / 682 372196

Asesoría López (Vera) …….....................................….950 393071

Asesoría Torres (Mojácar) ...........................................950 472748

Asesoría Sánchez Moral (Mojácar) ...........................670 099726

Barbara Caparros Ridao (Vera) ….............................950 390427

CG Legal & Financial (Mojácar Playa) .950 472504 / 670 215926

Cabrera Cervantes (Turre) ................950 099400 / 627 464545

Cazorla Martinez (Turre) ..........................................950 479137

Cervantes Alarcon Consulting (Garrucha) .950 106490 / 647 863787

Concepción Rivas Gil (Arboleas) …..........950 438092 / 647 577716

Flores Montoya Asesoria S.L. (Garrucha) ....................950 132577

Gecko Legal Services S.L. (Mojácar) .....50 475949 / 638 264621

Gestoría Salvador (Mojácar Playa) .............................950 473192

Mojácar Playa Asesores …….......................…………950 472710

Rodriguez Paris (Antas) .............................................950 619039

Sintra Consultores (Vera) ….......................................950 393815

Vera Advisors (Vera) ………………..................………950 390621

Villalba Asesores (Albox)

Acupuncture

AIRPORT PARKING

AA

Aqua-Car

431720

790 011 Coastline

Plane

...............(24hrs Alicante) 656 532725, (24hrs Murcia) 656 532724

Seguro

Victoria Parking (Alicante)

AIR CONDITIONING

ABC

Bédar

830 254

741366

702916

Daniel González Aranda (Vera) ......................................686 846 624

Elena Acebo Architects (Huércal-Overa) .669 680098 / 950 134976

Néstor Fábrega (Mojácar) ....................................670 363125

Paula Puente (Mojácar) .............................................610 433001

ART & ARTISTS

Adolfo Prado .................................................................950 472668

Alison ..............................................................................630 833873

Anushree Krementz ...................................................672 721096

Caz (art classes) ………................................……….607 444034

Dee Butler (Albox) .................................................….663 341904

Delfos Gallery (Mojácar) ….........................................647 163681

Evie Fox ....................................................................603 624659

Fran Fajardo (murals) .....................................................634 4499500

Isabel Raths (Bedar) ................................................677 034957

Jeremy Fox-Rayner ...............................................0044 7549667172

Jill Bennett (Mojácar) ........................950 478383 / 600 070188

Living Design (Albox) ...............................................678 308073

MarianMay Simpson …...........................………..……629 113436

Melanie ......................................................................638 495784

Michele Winfield (Purchena) .....................................+44 7745585289

Miki ...........................................................................628 458491

Pink House (La Concepción)................ 622 288750 / 681 095096

Roberto Lombardi ................................950 930757 / 671 800317

AUCTIONS

Auction Subasta (Los Carasoles) ..UK 7413190882 / 643 137106

Location Warehousing S.L. (Antas El Real) ..............950 528565

AUTOMATIC DOORS & GATES

The Metal Works (Albox).......................950 930520 / 638 900949

AWNINGS & BLINDS

Curtains with Style (Interior blinds) ...950 069032 / 678 811125

Costasol S.L. (Lloyd Dean) (See cover)...........................667 652 888

Coverbox (Albox) …................................................…615 992007

Cristalería Omega (Mojácar) …..........950 478137 / 670 500711

Lifestyle Enclosures Europe S.L. (See p. 9) 950 459060 / 638 063196

PersiVera 2005 S.L. ......................................................627 978635

Screenmasters (See p.35) ...….…...........................677 152911

Sol Shaders S.L. (See p.35) .....................................627 907207

Speedyfit

Toldos

Cornish

BAKERIES

006032

567564

618933

Ana Rodríguez (Huércal-Overa) ..........950 939154 / 606 784598

Sleep Tight (Albox)

Unicraft (El Real, Antas) .............................................692 176 069

BED & BREAKFAST

Casa Barranca (Huercal Overa) ..............................648 250699

Casa Caballito De Mar Boutique B&B (Bédar) ........950 095956

Casa Montes Guesthouse (Arboleas) .......................686 400331

Castellón (Bédar) ........................................................642 435909

BEREAVEMENT/WILL SERVICES

BICYCLE SALES & HIRE

Aguila Bike (Las Buganvillas)

BOAT TRIPS

Glass Bottom Boat (Villaricos port) ….......................662 604456

Partylevante (Puerto Deportivo Garrucha) .................680 942141

Sunshine Charters (Garrucha) ....................................634 398074

BOOKS

Librería Nobel (Vera) ..................................................950 392642

The Book Box (Albox) ……...............................…….662 585098

The Book People Almería …........……686 817945 / 626 578164

BOOK PUBLISHING

Costa Books ................................................................634 304344

BOWLING CENTRES (10 pin)

Bowlera (Arboleas) …..........................................….662 112170

Indalo Bowling Mojácar ............................................950 473073 BUILDING

(& Sanitary Ware, Tiles etc)

Aridos Mojácar S.L. ……..........................................650 914257

Brico Depôt (Huércal de Almería) …........…………….950 625652

Casa Conchillo

Enrique

133063

All Bike All Run Sport (Albox) ...............................647 836426

Bikespin (Huércal-Overa) ................. 95027678 / 662 543056

Doltcini (Clothing) (Mojácar) ..............950 092600 / 658 028646

Easy ebike Hire ....................+44 7554 013955 / 634 341196

Lufran

992805 / 628 263338 Rodeca

Idomia

J

M13 ...........................................................................657 105084

MD Building Services ..........................628 414861 / 628 414862

Mario the Handyman ................................................642 245017

Mat Murray ................................................................647 841750

Michel Cools (Taberno) ...............................................641 814611

Nail It .........................................................................621 252997

PR

Palmer

Paul

Plasterboard Solutions ...............................................624 961299

Saxon’s Complete Building Services ..618 920126 / 968 485729

Sierra Construcción ...................................................611 028716

The

TRP

BUTCHERS

CAKES TO ORDER

CAMPSITES

Camping

CAR HIRE

CARD SHOPS

To

Ice Cream and Frozen Yoghurt Machines .......600 006032

CBD SPECIALISTS

CBD Natural (Huércal Overa) ..............950 882237 / 661 373684

CHILDREN & BABY

Baby Basics (Equipment Hire, Mojácar) ..................641 679728

C.A.T. Services (La Alfoquía) .............950 634388 / 627 635514

Mobility Almería (Mojácar Playa) ..............................634 322475

Meditania, Children’s Activity Centre (Turre) ...........661 751244 Smartie Pants the Clown ..........................................617 815221

iPIE (Mojácar Playa) ..........................950 500336 / 623 380187

Kim White (Turre) ………...........................................637 149659

Paula

389596

Paul the Chimney Sweep …………..617 150300 / 850 993057

Sammy Sweep ..........…................................…………..619 070839

CIVIL ENGINEERS

Isabel Morales .............................................................617 749105

CLAIRVOYANCY / PSYCHIC READINGS

Anna (Tarot) ………...........................................………670 897832

Beverley Kearns ...........................................................600 796684

Chrissie Cremore ........................................................634 349638

Psychic Karen (Turre) ….............................................663 477658

Tarot readings by Susan .........................................643 960118

CLEANING SERVICES

Amba Cleaners ...........................................................697 516955

Chris ............................................................................627 565049

Cherie’s Ironing & Cleaning (Mojácar) ............………634 301389

Crystal Clear .............................................................637 229464

Daisy Proaño Alcivar (Contract & private) ……...….663 538596

Dusters Cleaning Company .......................................683 547581

Idea (Mojácar) ...........................................................605 162709

Jan’s Domestic & Builders Cleaning .........................660 868467

Jones Upholstery & Rug cleaning ….........…………661 571939

Limpiezas Cristina ......................................................…660 306695.

Limpiezas Maxlim (Palomares) …....678 567783 / 629 680161

Oven cleaning (Sue Parmenter) ..............................711 080697

SDF Cleaning Services .............................................711 005562

Shine Bright (Mojácar area) ...................................711

Upholstery

Xtreme

CLOTHING (Personalised)

Barbara Clarke ..............................................................637 469937

Chrissie Cremore (Reiki)............................................634 349638

Donald Mackinnon (Hypnotherapist) ........................628 651022

Emotional Freedom Technique ......................................711 066 822

Eve Morgan .............................................................647 203652

Fred Smithers (Acupuncture) ...............950 930456 / 618 107351

Gill Ballard (Healer/Counsellor) ...........................663 336655

Heaven Scent Holistics ...........................................663 923733

Hypnotherapy (Karen) ................................................663 477658

Dr. Jane Thompson (Psychotherapy)...........................618 920126

Karen Green (Holistic Therapist) .....615 163416 / 850 993150

Malcolm Forrest-Hazell (Counsellor/Psychotherapist) ...693 489725

Natural Health (Mojácar) .........UK 0783 4872273 / 658 638142

Reshmi Purmar (Psychic, healer, spiritual coach) ..634 370903

Shiatsu (Wendy) .......................................................671 851135

Sound Therapy/Reiki/Readings (Bedar) ......................711 096381

Sue Osman (Therapist) ……...............950 473021 / 600 847964

Susan Hales (Tarot) ................................................ 643 960118

VaVa Health & Wellness (Remedial Therapies)(Vera) 642 314316

Dr. Wanda Broeshart .................................................610 243327

CRAFTS

Mr. Micro (Turre) ......................................................950 479502

PC Playa (Mojácar) ..................................................634 356498

PRYS Informatica (Antas) ........................................617 382511

Reperamos (Albox) ....................................................644 346111

Paul Wieder (Mojácar) ..............................................617 830696

SH Informatica (Albox) ..............................................615 647058

CONSERVATORIES

AA Window Doctor ......................…........................630 231644

Screenmasters (See p.35) ......….…..........................677 152911

SpeedyFit .........................................950 472357 / 600 006032

COUNSELLING / HEALING

Acupuncture & Massage ...........................................637 120429

Anushree Krementz (Healing / Satsang) .................672 721096

Elaine’s Wools (Arboleas) ...........................................667 273889

R.F. (Marquetry) ...........................................................711 003476

Simply Art (Albox) …...................................................643 563803

Currencies Direct (Mojácar) ...............950 478914 / 661 373404

Global Currency Exchange (Mojácar Playa) ..............950 615319

The Almería Focus

copies delivered monthly to 250 places. Advertise and get your business seen. Call or WhatsApp Clare on 667 80 11 40 or email almeriafocus@gmail.com

CURTAINS & SOFT FURNISHINGS

CYBERCAFES

Image (Helen) ....................................950 930192 / 665 178326

Issysweigh (Albox) ........................................................600 334318

Pam (Turre) .................................................................639 465631

Slim Well Spain ..............................................0044 7794118214

Vicki (Turre) ...............................................................650 764623

DIGGER HIRE See Excavation

DIVING See Scuba Diving

DOCTORS & CLINICS

(Private)

Analysis Clinic (Mojácar Playa) ...............................950 475282

Centro Médico Mojácar ..............................................950 475105

Clinica Medica Garrucha ……...........950 133157 / 617 404500

Euroclinicas (Vera) ...................................................950 391300

Centro Medico Slavica (Mojácar) .............................950 001789

DOG GROOMING

Anita (5 Bone Kennels) …………......................……662 344734

Berta Ayora (Turre) ....................................................637 395775

Brigbe’s Dog Grooming ...........................................630 557123

Carla García (Mojácar Playa) .................................662 257084

Centro Garras (Huércal-Overa) ............950 616820 / 617 456548

ChuchosChic (Mojácar) ........................950 168778 / 621 231369

Elite Dog Grooming (Albox) …….…...........................617 313587

Luis (Clinica Veterinaria Garrucha) ....950 132200 / 628 663616

Lulu’s (Albox) ...................................950 952940 / 600 046557

Pampered Pooches (All areas)..................................662 344734

Pelitos (Los Gallardos) ..............................................637 286176

Precious Perros Mobile Grooming (Aoife) ..............634 342470

Shampooch professional pet grooming .......................642 276442

SoloPerros (Turre) ......................................................674 509382

Ulti-Mutt (Turre) .........................+44 7894747657 / 634 332578

………............................950 132047

DIET PLANS & WEIGHT LOSS

1:1 Diet ............................................... 711 019507 / 660 373103

Euronics

ELECTRICIANS

A1 Services ……….....................................................679 631458

Abbott Electrical ….............................638 010691 / 950 137208

Andy …..............................…................950 438237 / 679 656450

Andy Lake - Williams Electrical ..........................…..677 741366

Baltasar ..........................................................................655 691107

Bédar Directo .................................................................689 702916

DJT

ElectroTorres

Fernando (Huércal Overa) ..........................................677 549247

Francisco Montoya (Mojácar) .........................……….687 466352 N.E.Electrics(Arboleas)

Peace

ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES

ENTERTAINERS

Abbie

Ashley

Bob

....................................................................689 750176

JuJu Entertainment ............................950 950797 / 697 462746

John Vincent - Sinatra tribute ..................................642 097532

Jools Hirst ..........................................................0044 7754 035724

Kay Frances (Vocalist) ........................950 069288 / 689 404244

Kayleigh Easton (vocals) ...................................... 642 581198

Kev Moore ................................................................600 762856

Kris Kelly (Female Vocalist) .................................. 634 374525

Lady Ellen Sings .............................673 459331 / 677 475268

Loose Change ...........................................................671 754851

Marilyn Shipley ..........................................................722 300797

Maurice Casanove ......................................................671 386947

Maximum

Melanie Howard-Coles

Mel J (Female Vocalist) .............................................664 111990

Melodee (Duo) ..................................610 855964 / 664 111990

Melodeemusic (Backing Tracks & Recording Studio).....610 855 964

Pedro Clemente .........................................................678 752178

Phil and The Invisibles ..................... 950 475752 / 651 045120

Richard Hill ...................................................................670 243461

Roadrunner (duo) ............................628 122363 / 684 330431

Robin Lamble ..............................................................602 469425

Seldom Sober ............................................................689 750176

Sharna Knight (Vocalist & Entertainer) ....................0044 7340 638513

Sharon-Elizabeth Regan ........0044 7858 459637 / 666 673055

Shirin (bellydancer) .......................................................607 805367

Smartie Pants the Clown ..........................................617 815221

Solo Simon ..................................................................667 989270

Spotlight Entertainment (Karaoke, disco etc.) .........634 311652

Starry Jazz trio/quintet .............................................645 886919

Stiff Upper Lip ...........................................................699 462859

Sue Moretta ............................................................672 543027

Sultans ......................................................................667 787124

Sunset Beach Rock Band ......................................711 004575

The Fat Lizard Band .....(English) 651 045120 (Esp) 617 464728

The Buddhas ………………...................................….687 033106

The Geckos ..............................................................651 659109

The Sonny Boy Blues Bans ................................634 311165

The Trippers .............................................................671 163857

Tom Lee ……............................................................671 754851

Tony Matthews (Quiz organiser) ..............................634 391414

Tony Justice ………...........................950 950797 / 637 159249

Triple Trouble Blues Band .......................................671 754851

Wine Not? Accoustic Duo ........................................678 752178

ESTATE AGENTS

ADC Property (Valle del Este) (See p.13) ...............672 421884

Alhambra Holdings (Mojácar) .............950 475199 / 629 673450

AlmeríaCasas

Angel Property (Palomares) .....................................950 618054

Antonio Martinez de la Casa (Energy certs)..............950 092094

BMS Huerta Nueva .........................950 615035 / 669 355914

BeniHomes (Albox) ................................,...................950 500410

Blue Sea Villas (Mojácar)(See front cover) ...........950 478643

Calida Homes (Arboleas) ......................950 430763 / 634 302801

Casa y Campo (Lubrin) (See front cover) ..............678 587007

Casas Almería (Huércal Overa) .......950 134434 / 649 777218

Citrus Homes ...........................................................638 849254

Cole’s of Andalucia .............................950 469592 / 659 265907

Complete Holiday Care .....................950 478612 / 610 808631

Cortijos Almería …………........……...........................676 916088

D & D Property Care, Sales & Rentals .....643 335386 / 643 337063

Dream Homes Almería (Arboleas) ............................697 875717

Españarural (Albox) ............................950 102505 / 654 359607

European Property Company (Mojácar) ...................950 285704

Fincas Vera Playa ..............................950 460670 / 639 314767

FW Properties ..................................634 325152 / 634 352285

Grupo Platinum Estates (San Juan) (See p.4) 950 466112 / 666 687251

Holmes for Homes (Arboleas) ..........850 993099 / 664 012024

Homes of Spain (Huércal Overa).........950 616516 / 616 562447

Indal-futur S.L. (Mojácar) ……............950 615156 / 609 026526

Indasol Mojácar S.L. ..................................................950 472200

Inmobiliaria Almanzora ..................... 9501 20406 / 637 251238

InmoTerreros (San Juan) ...............950 096180 / 666 255765

Hemp Horizon ............................................................602 004096

Koko’s (Mojácar Playa) .............................................613 026780

Liz Fashion Accessories (Garrucha) .627 970819 / 607 511179

Oasis Fashions (Mojácar Playa) ................................950 473222

Palme (Mojácar Playa) ............................................950 472813

Prins Vitali (Mojacar) ….............................................950 478690

Saga Boutique (Mojácar) ......................................950 475258

Sunflower (Mojácar) ...............0044 7596 063544 / 600 880525

Taylor’s Hats, Caps & Accessories (Valle del Este) ..711 097014

FINANCIAL SERVICES

AMASS …….....................................................……..678 035992

Blacktower ................................................................657 684094

Blevin Franks ...........................................................965 705502

CG Legal & Financial (Mojácar) .........950 472504 / 670 215926

Currencies Direct (Mojácar) …....……950 478914 / 661 373404

Indalo Partners ............................................................950 472242

Kennedy Financial Services .....................................678 035992

Offshore Money Management ..........952 830916 / 950 398078

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

Aero Extinción S.L. (Almería) …........………………..950 263565

Extin-Torres S.L. (Mojácar) ........................................950 475067

FIREPLACES

Chimeneas Mojácar S.L. (Turre) ...............................950 472135

FISH & CHIPS

The Chippy (La Alfoquía) ........................................634 324484

FISHING

Pete Fishing Trips (Mojácar/Garrucha) …..................634 379173

Rio 600 Boat Fishing (Sid & Graham). 647 020929 / 647 803030

/ 645 253155

Mojácar Jeep Tours .................................................611 028716

Mountain Biking Spain …...............……637 831509 / 661 178656

Rancho Luz del Sol (Partaloa) …..........……...……………..642 1185467

FABRICS

Curtains with Style ...........................950 069032 / 678 811125

Hemp Fabric ...............................................................602 004096

Material Girl Fabric Warehouse (Albox) ................633 683872

FASHION

Dandara (Garrucha) ................................................950 617013

Etcetera (Mojácar Playa) ...........................................950 532810

Garabatis (Children’s) (Mojácar Playa) …...………670 035630

Glad Rags (Albox) ………........................................634 313071

H & R Men’s Fashion (Albox) …............................692 682164

FITNESS & DANCE

See also Activities-Clubs-Associations

Alison ..........................................................................666 273168

Aqua Aerobics - Marianne (Arboleas) ......................637 435864

Club Deportivo Puerto Rey ......................................950 460545

Debbie James (Personal training) (Mojácar) ...........687 619239

Dorothy Rowntree, personal trainer (Mojácar)..........666 815838

Evolution Fitness Club (Arboleas) ............................667 306764

Fitness For All (Bédar) ………........…………………..647 593323

Geoff Oram (Personal Training) ...............................634 362436

Gimnasio Formas (Turre) ...........................................950 468065

Gympower (Personal trainer) (Albox) ......................609 591606

Jova Sport Center (Mojácar Playa) ...........................671 247035

Platino Gym (Mojácar Playa)......................................950 284845

Sano

Sano

Sierra

Sol

Sophia

Valle

VaVa

FLY SCREENS

AA

FLORISTS

478985

Isamy Florist (Los Gallardos) ...................................670 215902

LIS Florist (Garrucha) ................................................950 460901

Persa Floristas (Albox) …….......................................950 120211

FOOD SHOPS

All Asia (Arboleas) .......................................................641 461304

Catch of the Day UK Fishmonger ........ 634 301490 / 634 304288

Coviran (La Alfoquía) ..................................................652 827481

Eurowise (Albox) ………………...............................…..950 439801

Gastronomía (Delicatessen) (Las Buganvillas) .......950 132048

Harrison’s (Albox) .........................................................643 518352

Ideal British Supermarket (Huércal-Overa) .........…..950 135222

La Venta de Alfaix Minimarket (Alfaix) .....................950 469660

Las Buganvillas Minimarket ………........................…..635 036408

Manoli (Arboleas) …....................................................627 941654

Price Busters (Albox) .................................................950 951494

Pincha Aperitivos (Mojácar) .........................................610 384912

Sol Supermercado (Albox) …..................................….711 012006

Spices n’ Herbs in Spain (Albox)...............................689 482694

The Corner Shop (Albox) ………………950 930539 / 680 776791

Typical Gourmet (Mojácar) ..........................................950 472108

Vinoteca Delicatessen (Garrucha) ..............................637 393873 FROZEN

Valero Alonso (Antas) ................................................950 453316

CollyFer (Huércal Overa)

Funeral Homes Robles (Cuevas)

456259 / 617 456335

921383

Funeraria Ntra. Sra. de las Angustias (Vera) 950 390884 / 607 705672

Funeraria Pérez (Mojácar)

FUNERAL PLANS

478102

Avalon Europe S.L. ............................950 069012 / 634 321296

Golden Leaves Funeral Plans (Benitachell)............. 966 493082

Iberian Funeral Plans ...........................951 203994 / 965 993498

FURNITURE PACKAGES

Homes & Beyond (Garrucha)

132458

FURNITURE, RUSTIC/HANDMADE

La Buena Artesania (Mojácar)

Prosecco Tables

The Furniture Doctor

475508

7709 244366

989270

FURNITURE & FURNISHINGS

Abodes (Mojácar Playa) (See p.5)

778355

Ahorro Mueble (Albox) .........................950 120992 / 661 975417

Continental Descanso (Antas) 950 459011 (Albox) ....950 633288

El Rincón de Mueble ....(Vera)950 460867 (Antas) 950 459071

Elegant Exteriors Marble Furniture (Albox) ...............642 495439

Embargos Bestiales (Antas El Real) ......................950 105711

Homecentre (Albox) (See p.5)...........868 931872 / 671 715294

Homestyle (Turre) .....................................................674 514999

Homes & Beyond (Garrucha) .................................950 132458

Ideas del Mueble (Antas) .........................................950 452816

Indalocio Garden Furniture & BBQs (See p.16)..........850 993090

Inspired (Furniture & BBQs) (El Real, Antas)(See p.33)950 147763

Koala Furniture (Antas)....................................….........950 392307

La Lonja (Lorca) (See p.27) ......................................968 443322

Linea Nueva (Arboleas) ……………….620 237529 / 950 120630

Me & Mrs Jones (Mojácar) (See p.25) .......................634 364795

Mueble-Hogar Milenium (Los Carasoles) 950 449013 / 645 947328

Muebles Rodríguez (Los Llanos, Arboleas) …...........950 430778

Muebles La Simona (Garrucha) ...............................950 132443

Oak Furniture Spain .............................622 288750 / 681 095096

Something Special (Turre) .........................................637

GIFT SHOPS

Sassy Casa (Arboleas)

GLASS CURTAINS

Lifestyle Enclosures Europe S.L. (See p. 9) 950 459060 / 638 063196

Screenmasters (See p.35)........….…...........................677 152911

SpeedyFit

Toldos

AA Window Doctor

Cristalería Mojácar

472357 / 600 006032

Cristalería Omega (Mojácar) …..........950 478137 / 670 500711

Cristalería Rubi (Vera) ………......................................950 390546

SpeedyFit ............................................950 472357 / 600 006032

GOLD & JEWELLERY BUYING

GOLF COURSES

Aguilon

Desert Springs

655600

861591

Marina Golf ..............................................................950 133235

Valle del Este

GOLF TUITION

398743

Gareth Edwards (Cortijo Grande) …...........................950 479176

Martin D’Archivio (Mojácar)

Neil Evans (Desert Springs Golf Resort) ..............638 531821

GRASS, ARTIFICIAL

Grass

Nash

Smart

Tiger

Lifestyle

Anavi

Beauty

Beauty

Carlos

Claire

574145

Cutting Edge (Hair & Beauty) (Albox) .........................950 633086

Dave Eccles (Mobile Hairdresser) ......950 525790 / 687 033106

Donna’s (Albox).....................................950 930167 / 628 669456

El Rincon de Mary (Mojácar) ................................. 644 505210

El Rincon de Mary (Mojácar) Yasmin ......................656 646257

Elaine Mobile Hairdresser (Coast & Inland).................634 379424

Elegance (Turre) .........................................................634 308877

Etticut (Turre) ..............................................................667 971960

Farrow’s Hair Design (Arboleas) .................................950 634346

Forever Chic (Palomares) ..........................................601 634193

Heaven Scent (Huércal-Overa) ……......................…..663 923733

Holistic Treatments (Ali) ..............................................634 308906

Isabel Castaño (Hairdresser, Bédar) ..666 045552 / 950 469462

Jackie Miles Kirby …..................................………….642 829269

Jean & Co.(Mojácar Playa) ……............................…950 615094

Jenny’s Hair Design (Albox) .....................................620 447858

Kyra Beauty Salon (Arboleas) ...........950 106294 / 643 357906

Jing Nails ....................................................................622 251432

Julian Hair Design .....................................................634 354507

Julie Rodriguez ..........................................................634 338017

Kim White (Beauty)(Vera & Mobile) …….......…...…….637 149659

LU & NA (Valle del Este) ……............................…950 461113

Marcela Torres (Manicure & Pedicure) ....................697 421672

Miki Designe (Villaricos) ..........................................635 867757

Naturalmente Mediterraneo (Skin care) (Garrucha) 655 299494

Nicole Andreano (Las Buganvillas) ...........................675 622216

Oceanic Massage Therapies (Mojácar)...666 710964 / 687 619239

Opulence (La Alfoquía) …..................................…...711 061763

Osteopathy & Acupuncture Clinincs (Arboleas & Galera) 621 209380

Pampered Beauty Centre (Palomares) .650 092766 / 950 618129

Pedicura Gabriela (Garrucha) ......................................692 840315

Pure Natural Deodorant ...........................................950 066163

R retreat (Cucador) ……...........…...............................626 144680

Room 97 (La Alfoquia) .............................................683 479261

Salon de Peluqueria y Estetica (Garrucha) ...........950 133162

Sarah Noble (mobile hairdresser) ...........................692 195500

Shiatsu Centro de Terapia (Huércal Overa) .........671 851135

Sophia Wellness Centre (Arboleas) ...........................950 449451

Spacio 277 (Mojácar Playa) ....................................622 679733

Stella’s Hair & Beauty (Las Buganvillas) ..................950 699973

Sunlight Spain (Herbal Products) ...............................684 212474

The Salon (Albox) ..............................950 717938 / 685 652222

VaVa Health & Wellness (Remedial Therapies)(Vera) 642 314316

Wacky Barber & Hairdresser (Mojácar) ....................667 961645

HARDWARE OUTLETS

Enrique Aguirre S.L. (Garrucha) .................................950 460028

Ferretería Gonzalez (Mojácar) ……….........................666 471384

Ferretería López (Mojácar) ……..................................950 615026

Ferretería Longo (Albox) ……....................................950 430064

Ferretería Soler (Garrucha) ……..................................950 460073

HEALTH FOODS

Girasol (Albox) …..........................................................639 089170

HOTELS & HOSTALS

Casona Granado (Nr Lubrin) .....................................950 069077

Hostal Don Tadeo (Villaricos) ..................................950 467105

Hostal El Olivar (Mojácar Pueblo) .........950 472022 / 672 019767

Hostal Muria (Villaricos) ..............................................642 050290

Hostal Playa Azul (Villaricos) .............950 467075 / 609 386282

Hotel Al Sur (Calabardina) ...........................................968 419466

Hotel Carlos 111 (Aguilas) ...........................................968 411650

Hotel Carmona (Vera) ...................................................950 390760

Hotel - Casa Rural, Cortijo de la Media Luna (Mojácar) 950 478813

Hotel El Paso (Aguilas) …............................................968 447125

Hotel Family (Agua Amarga) ......................................950 138014

Hotel Madrid (Aguilas) ................................................968 411109

Hotel Mamabel’s (Mojacar Pueblo) .....950 472448 / 663 700542

Hotel Mayari (Calabardina) .................620 629508 / 968 409338

Hotel Overa ................................................................950 470879

Hotel Playa (Mojácar) ..................................................600 350382

Hotel Puntazo (Mojácar) ...........................950 478265 / 950 478 229

Hotel Rural Azabache (Arboleas)..................................690 258813

Hotel Mexico (Puerto Rey) ...........................................950 132061

Hotel Salinas (Cabo de Gata) .....................................950 370103

Hotel & Spa Don Juan (Aguilas) .............................968 493493

Hotel

HIRE

Las Colinas Suitotel (San Juan de Los Terreros) ......950 466353

Didi

Rancho

Sanctuary

HORSE RIDING

Alhambra

ASSSA Seguros (Vera) ...............................……………950 392487

Asisa (Vera) ................................................................950 391950

Axa .....................................................950 478763 / 609 667333

BWI Bryan White Insurance (Mojácar) ......................950 472098

Catalana Occidente (Palomares) ..............................950 618054

Catalana Occidente (Mojácar Playa) .........................950 478307

Edward William (Marine Insurance) ……………….….952 476090

García & Trinidad (Albox) …….............950 120340 / 620 240563

Gestoría Salvador (Mojácar Playa) ............................950 473192

Grupo Catalana Occidente (Mojácar Pueblo) 950 478061 / 653 806908

Helvetia .......................................................................673 063798 Ibex Insurance Services Ltd (Mojácar & Albox) ........950 120070

Liberty Seguros (Turre) ….................950 479568 / 620 179206

Liberty Seguros ..........................................................913 422549

Mapfre (Mojácar) ...950 478151 (Garrucha)................950

Carolina

Carolyn

Cristina

Clara

Donna

Elizabeth

Hind

Jenni

Jill

Joanne

Kathryn

Yamile

Cherie’s

IRONING

207575

Five Bone Hotel (Turre) ............................................630 234556

Kareclif Cattery (Albox) ...........................................677 791165

Kit Cat Luxury Cat Suites (Los Gallardos) ..............674 113217

Paws*A*While (Nr Albox) …....................................…696 562662

Pet Sitting in Your Home ………….......................…….637 061482

Sharon Presley ..........................................................648 069200

Sleepy Hollow (Huércal-Overa) ….............................617 313587

The Hilton Cattery ..............................950 163489 / 664 565479

Woodhouse Boarding Kennels/Cattery (Arboleas) ….950 930585

KITCHENS

24hr Casaserve .................................950 466438 / 676 306269

Artizan (Vera) (See p.2) ....................…950 390635 / 661 985310

Charlie Fyre ..............................................................686 833444

Cocinas El Real (Los Gallardos) .........639 036051 / 622 232186

Cocinas Puntocom (Huércal-Overa) ...950 921975 / 722 136950

Ergo Küchen (Huércal-Overa) ...................................636 447730

Animal Hotel (Águilas)

132543

722197

Boarding Kennels Los Llanos de Rosa (cats & dogs) ..629 448073

Country Kennel (Turre) .........................950 473011 / 627 564640

Dog & Cat Sitter Service …………………..................676 389592

Gail .....................................................693 769079 / 697 500673

Cam

Cervantes Alarcon Consulting (Garrucha) 950 106490 / 647 863787

Gecko Legal Services S.L. (Mojácar) 950 475949 / 638 264621

Gestoría Salvador (Albox)

Gestoría Salvador (Mojácar Playa)

Gestoría Soria Bonilla (Mojácar)

500401

473192

478420

Kim Clark UK Benefit advice ……..….950 169729 / 663 297568

Mayor Consulting (Garrucha)

Mojácar

Pilar Pérez Gestión S.L. (Mojácar)

MS Legal

Rodriguez Paris (Antas)

Vera Advisors (Vera)

Villalba Asesores (Albox)

615185

472710

478863

479613 / 634 322827

619039

390621

431720

Jason

MASSAGE

Darpa

Darren Hargreaves

Eddy Venner

Grupo Brideca (shop) (Huércal-Overa)

035030

471045 / 950 135881

JPM .............................................................................627 090422

Jay the Painter

PB Painting ...............................................................661 184848

Paul ...........................................................................649 186107

Phil the Painter ……..............................................…671 227259

Pinturas Chano ..................................677 082787 / 662 580295

Premier Painters ..........................................................711 055648

The Fast Brush .........................................................950 472668

True Colours .............................................................636 638670

Vera Painting Services ............................................711 004024

PATIO & POOL ENCLOSURES

See Screened Patio & Pool Enclosures

PERFUMES & COSMETICS

Son d’Aromas (Mojácar Playa)

PEST CONTROL

348253

Famim (Albox) .............................................................950 430783

Jason ……..........................................950 064015 / 680 903609

Sedesa (Vera) ………….............................................950 390990

PET SHOPS & TRANSPORT

Bonmascota

Mojácar Mascotas

Tucano

Union Jack (Pet

558540

292670

...........………………….902 109560

VetCare (Vera Playa) .................................................950 775102

PHOTOGRAPHIC SERVICES

20seven photography ...............................................634 301635

Almería-Fotografía ....................................................663 627942

Bluwater Photography ….........…………………...……616 189002

Chincheto (Mojácar) ....................................................687 489182

El Studio Primo ..................................643 371630 / 643 517001

Fotomicar (Lyle Mallen) ............................................620 786914

Fotos Fabrega (Albox) ………...........…………………950 430223

Frank Millar Photography & Videographer ….............642 107953

Indigo Photography & Video ....................................637 974793

Omar De La Cruz ………..........………950 460213 / 609 284852

Professional Video & Photographic Services inc. Aerial...647 202599

Real estate photography .............................................722 452265

Rod Westwood ………........................950 472321 / 609 611207

The Image Suite …….............................…...................647 918 848

PHOTOCOPIES & SCANS

C.A.T. Services (La Alfoquía) ...........950 634388 / 627 635514

neö-cöpy (Vera) …...................………..950 390424 / 622 262100

Pronto Printing (La Buganvillas) (See cover).............950 133492

Servidea 2020 (Mojácar Playa) .................................950 399726

Total Entertainment (Albox) ......................................950 121318

Total Entertainment (Arboleas) .................................634 348902

PHYSIOTHERAPY

Caroline De Maeght (Villaricos) ...............................650 134805

Centro Physis (Olula del Rio) ....................................695 355381

Clínica Fisioalbox (Albox) .........................................629 402852

Clinica MOS Fisioterapia (Mojácar Playa) ................644 394335

Fisiomar Physiotherapy Centre (Albox) ....................667 425197

Fisioterapia Vera-Salud (Vera Playa) ...607 479379 / 950 132765

Gabi Triebel (Mojácar Playa) ..............633 011442 / 950 472263

Physiotherapy Centre (Albox) ...........950 431463 / 657 516247

Remedio clinic (Mojacar) ....................950 472980 / 617 741564

Vitea Fisioterapia (Vera) ...................950 390655 / 663 024255

PICTURE FRAMING

Casa de Cabra (Albox) ........................................ 633 364329

Pink House (La Concepción) ..............622 288750 / 681 095096

PIZZERIAS

Antonella (Mojácar Playa) ..............................……..950 450215

Bocapizza (Albox) ......................................................950 120506

Cafetería Levante (Mojácar) ....................................950 615224

Centro Plaza (Palomares) …...............................…..950 618614

Chili (Turre) ................................................................950 468425

D’Angelo (Mojácar Playa) ..........................................950 478517

D´Luigi (Arboleas) .......................................................602 815929

El Gaucho (Mojácar Playa) .....................................663 304531

Enrico (Mojácar Playa) ......................950 472995 / 642 514738

Góndola (Garrucha) ..................................................950 133928

Gondola (La Alfoquía) ….....................……………..643 136117

Meson Felipe San Bernabé (Mojácar Playa) ..…….950 475966

Ilario Imperial (Mojácar Playa) ...............................….950 478098

Jardin (Vera Playa) .................................................950 467023

La Muralla (Mojácar Pueblo) .......................................950 472928

Lucky Pizzeria (Villaricos) ........................................642 767122

Memoli

Napoli

Provenzal

Pulcinella

Rincon

Quick

PLASTERERS

Pritchard

Pukka

Graham

Knowles

Fernando

Francisco

PODIATRISTS

See Chiropodists & Podiatrists POOL COVERS

1

POOLS

Mat

Oasis Pool Cleaning Services ............634 332170 / 634 332178

Olive Tree Farm Pool Services ...............................643 463129

Piscinas Miguel (Maintenance) .............950 478652 / 607 480865

Pool Medics ……………...................................……….634 353525

Pools & Piscinas (Cleaning - Bédar) .........................637 915898

Procare Pools (Arboleas) ..........................................642 370681

Proyectados Pool Sureste ............................................630 810299

Salvador (Pool Maintenance) ......................................696 426523

Sundance Spas - Pool Maintenance S.L. ..................950 472845

Tanby Piscinas ............……….............950 468230 / 609 888549

Triton Pool Cleaning ...............................................634 326322

Tropicana Swimming Pool Construction 650 906114 / 689 404244

True Blue Pools & Spas ..............................................661 148998

POSTAL SERVICES

Blue Sea Villas (Mojácar) (See front cover)............….950 478643

Can Connect (Albox) …….........................................950 121149

C.A.T. Services (La Alfoquía) ..............950 634388 / 627 635514

Connexions (Turre) ..................................................950 479502

Forget-me-not (Las Buganvillas) ...............………..950 118043

Frankie’s Bar (Vera Playa) ......................................662 474861

Mail Boxes Etc (Vera) ............................................950 393835

Offex Spain ................................……..966 765950 / 661 386942

Pam’s Post (Albox) ............................................... 664 565479

D & D Property Care & Rentals (See cover).643 335386 / 643 337063

Exclusive Holiday Villas ............................................634 348703

Hire a Hubby …………........................950 436679 / 619 066022

IDP Services …………................................................608 238775

Indalfutur S.L. (Mojácar) ……........….950 615156 / 609 026526 J & J Property Care ....…….................950 452106 / 617 657414

La Casa es Tuya .......................................................663 931471

Mode Services ...................................950 525790 / 687 033106

Mojacar Estates ..........................................................950 478935

Mojácar Homes & Villas ...........................................634 330652

Procare Property Service (Arboleas) .......................642 370681

Triton Property Maintenance ...................................634 326322

Xtreme Cleans Property Care ..................................634 328911

Zlatan ................................................630 207864 / 682 277576

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT & RENTALS

Alhambra Holdings (Mojácar) ................950 475199 / 629 673450

Almeria Accommodation (Turre)..+44 (0) 7956 544591 / 711 020708

Almería Holiday Rentals ............................................638 701670

Almería Property Agency (Arboleas) …..850 993099 / 606 281865

Almeria Rentals .................................

764623 / 648 523073

Apartamentos Torrelaguna (Las Buganvillas) .............950 132580

APT Lets (Valle del Este) ….................950 619227 / 626 578164

Blaumar (Huercal Overa) .....................950 135512 / 670 869533

Blue Sea Villas (Mojácar) (See front cover).............….950 478643

Casa Benedict Rentals (Turre) …...………....…………616 189002

Casa Paz Holiday Lettings (Huercal-Overa) ...........693 935118

C.A.T. Services (La Alfoquía) ..............950 634388 / 627 635514

Citrus Homes ...............................……......................638 849254

Clean Team Property Care & Rentals 850 993202/ 642 911850

Coastal Properties (Mojácar) .......................................950 475235

Complete Holiday Care ....………...........950 478612 / 610 808631

D & D Property Care & Rentals (See cover).643 335386 / 643 337063

E-Property Almería .......................................................677 146592

Exclusive Holiday Villas ..............................................634 348703

Holiday Home Europe .........................950 120210 / 654 590258

........................950 472903 / 627 565049

096180

PROPERTY PROMOTERS

PSYCHOLOGIST

RADIO STATIONS

See

Brian’s

Dave’s

310512

Jack Removals (International) ….......………….902 109560

Los

Moovit

Storage ...............950 930316 / 642 586701

Sprinter Services (Vera Playa) .............605 376873 / 950 609121

St. George’s European …UK 0044 207 193 5984 / 952 485984

Storage 42 Removals and Storage (Albox) ...............634 325639

Storage Solutions (Arboleas) ................950 930316 / 671 220105

Swift Transport (Arboleas) ........................................618 511234

U-Store (Antas) .........................................................654 482746

UK Direct ..................UK 0044 7719.118.879 / Spain 642 099479

Transport and Storage ..UK 0044 7906852325 / 623 300425 RESTAURANTS,

See also Chinese Restaurants & Pizzerias Agua Amarga La Chumbera ............................................................634 676298

Los Tarahis (Beachbar) .............................................950 138235

Family ......................................................950 138014

Sottocasa

Torre

Gastrobar D’Alvaro

220383

Los Conteros ....................................950 618629 / 699 010705

Lucky Bar Pizzeria ...........................................…….642 767122

Playa Azul ........................................950 467075 / 609 386282

RETRACTABLE ROOF SYSTEMS

Lifestyle Enclosures Europe S.L. (See p. 9) 950 459060 / 638 063196

ROOFING

Ark Roofing ...............................................................634 379173

RUGS & CARPETS

Homecentre (Albox) (See p.5)..........868 931872 / 671 715294

P & R Rugs (Los Llanos de Aroleas) .......................665 258680

Pink House (La Concepción) ..............622 288750 / 681 095096

RURAL TOURISM

Cortijo Pocico de la Nava (Mojácar) ...........................670 777752

Finca Arboleda (Vera) ..............................................678 027656

Mi Abuela Maria (Mojácar) ……..........................……659 198424

SATELLITE TV

ABC (A Better Climate) ......................647 247494 / 950 092604

DCM Digitek Comms (Mojácar) (See p.19) .950 472947 / 670 084438

Europa Digital ....................................950 133233 / 678 332815

GBTV (Albox and Mojácar) .......................................616 888058

GSF Communications (Mojácar) ...............................950 473102

Solo Satellite & Air-Con. (See p.23) ......950 398146 / 699 909737

Tweaks (Albox) .........................................................620 040331

SCREENED PATIO & POOL ENCLOSURES

Enclose My Pool ...............................606 040462 / 670 510097

Inside Out In Europe S.L. ....................................677 114576

Lifestyle Enclosures Europe S.L. (See p. 9).. 950 459060 / 638 063196

Screenmasters (See p.35) ......….…...........................677 152911

Sol Shaders S.L. (See p.35) ........................................627 907207

SCUBA DIVING

Buceo Mojácar ........................................................950 472760

SECOND HAND

Almeria Castaño House Clearance ........................611 028716

Amanda’s (Lubrin) ............................950 069682 / 634 310512

Homestyle (Turre) .....................................................674 514999

Items for Sale Mojácar .....................694 439275 / 950 478753

John’s (Albox) .............................................................634 325639

Merka Recycla (Huércal Overa) .........950 616683 / 666 577006

Pink House (La Concepción) ...........622 288750 / 681 095096

The Attic (Cucador) ..…….…................672 184354 / 673 608854

SECURITY & SAFES

See Alarms

SEWING

Alice ..........................................................................620 876485

Alexis Shillinglaw ......................................................634 361874

J.F.M. Modas Sedal (Turre) ..............950 468031 / 606 945502

Lola Alterations & Repairs (Mojácar Playa) .950 475994 / 637 963835

Solo Style ....................................................................626 319907

Sew n Sew Susie (Albox area) ..........950 930...643 / 633 683872

The Sewing Room ....................................................607 375697

SEPTIC TANK SERVICE

Desarascos Litesa ............................670 863791 / 609 442695

Drainage Solutions …...........………….616 531283 / 670 088966

Blocked DrainsRUs ............................950 091109 / 648 768587

Ginés Millán (All areas) ……….............(after 4pm) 607 366355

Limaser (Vera) ……..................................................950 390732

Sepserve (All areas) …..............................................675 838808

SHOE REPAIRS

José M. Ortega López (Garrucha) .......693 788311 / 642 024256

SIGNS (Shop & Vehicle)

Idea (Huércal Overa) ...............................................605 162709

Pronto Printing (La Buganvillas) (See cover).............950 133492

SKIP HIRE

Aridos Mojácar S.L. ..................................................650 914257

Casa Conchillo (Albox) ......................950 430740 / 695 844425

El Cano SL (Mojácar) ................................................950 479185 Servacon .....................................................................950 475853

SNOOKER HALLS

CD Snooker Mojácar ..............................................609 026526

Snooker Ambigu (Los Gallardos) ..............................661 973205

SOLAR ENERGY

Ainsol Energy (Turre) ..................................................689 702916 DCM Digitek Comms (Mojácar) (See page 19)...........950 472947

Go Solar (Mojácar) ......................................................654 596247

Hi-Tec Solar (Turre) ............................609 888549 / 950 468230

Hispavan Solar ..................................950 047033 / 687 845730

Sunergy Almeria ........................................................636 261240

SOLICITORS

Alonso

Alonso

AM

AVSA

Babelia

C

Cabrera

Casas

Davies

EuroAbogados

Mario

Ruiz

Saugar

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Albox-Online

Androidez (Vera Playa) ..................950 042338 / 661 375489

Connexions (Turre) ...................................................950 479502

Indalphone .............................(Mojácar) 950 475784 / 622 455 608

Indalphone ...........................................(Huércal-Overa) 950 471470

GSF Communications (Mojácar) ..................................950 473102

Orange (Vera) ...........................................................950 393538

Next .............................................................................950 479369

The Phone House (Albox) …………….950 121045 / 670 359698

TILING & PATIO WORK

See also Building Services

1

Borders .....................................................................647 803030

Curtis Helm Multiservices .........................................610 394815

Elegant Homes S.L. ..............................950 092603 / 687 629777

Mode Services ...................................950 525790 / 687 033106

Saxon’s Complete Building Services ......618 920126 / 686 377172

Steve Holman

Espanglish ...............................................................950 390037

Guitar Lessons ………….....................................…..667 989270

Hind (French & Arabic, Mojácar) ............................616 605341

Jewellery making ......................................................642 435909

Kinder Garrucha (Bilingual Education Centre)...........950 460472

La Galeria Art Classes (Albox) …..............................663 341904

Marcela Chávez (Spanish-English school support)....676 951352

Pencils English Academy (Garrucha)..........................634 314110

Piano Lessons …………............+44 7930 373786 / 634 374931

Sarah Dyson (Computer tuition) …....................……687 632435

Simon Farmiloe (Spanish & English)(Albox/Mojacar) ..647 677097

Step by Step Language Centre (Mojácar) ...................600 565284

TV & AUDIO REPAIRS

Ponce S.L. (Garrucha) ..............................................950 617181

Seth Pittham (Arboleas) ......................950 634477 / 666 826886

702817

697 678708 United Tile

TIMBER SUPPLIERS

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

Almería Alcazaba (castle) .......................................…950 271617

Almería Solar Centre ( Nr.Tabernas) ....950 387990 / 670 866122

Aquarium (Roquetas de Mar) ...................................950 160036

Fort Bravo – Western theme park (Tabernas) .....….950 165405

Nautarium (Sea Museum) (Garrucha) ………………….950 139554

Nijar Butterfly Farm .................................................617 692778

Oasys Western Park & Zoo (Tabernas) ….............….950 365236

Western Leone Theme park (Tabernas) …............…950 165405

TRANSLATING - see Interpreters

TRANSPORT - see Removals

TRAVEL

Autocares Rodriguez (Coaches) ...............................950 469061

Halcón Viajes (Vera) ................................................950 393472

Exclusive Airport Shuttles ........................................950 092602

Levante Travel (Garrucha) ...................950 132258 / 628 604752

Mojácar Tour (Mojácar Playa) ............................…..950 475757

Viajes Zafiro Tours (Aguilas) ....................................868 782663

Zafiro Tours (Albox) ………..................................……950 121021

Zafiro Tours (Mojácar) .................................................950 615343

TUITION

Chris Walker (Spanish Accent Coaching) .................622 591096

Darío (English tuition for adults) ...............................642 314316

Dave Eccles (Drum lessons) ..............950 525790 / 687 033106

ELC Education & Language Centre ........................669 294342

English tuition & conversation (TEFL) (Vera) ............642 314316

UNIFORMS

Uniformes de Levante (Los Gallardos & Vera) ..........902 110218

UPHOLSTERY

Curtains with Style (Fabrics) ............ 950 069032 / 678 811125

Jone’s Mobile (Upholstery cleaning) …....……………661 571939

Unicraft ........................................................................692 176069

Upholstery & Leather Cleaning .................................636 193256

Upholstery Larios (Cuevas del Almanzora) 950 456 364 / 651 998738

VAN & MAN HIRE

See also Removals & Storage

Amanda’s (Lubrin) ............................950 069682 / 634 310512

Andy (Trailer hire/drive) (Mojácar) ..........................600 225929

Indalo Transport ......................................................634 336468

K.Morris (Vera) ...........................0035 711004024 / 0044 7759692010

Pink House (La Concepción) ..............622 288750 / 681 095096

Storage Solutions (Arboleas) ...................................950 930316

Way 2 Go (UK/Spain) ……UK 0044 208 0904292 / 965 794682

VEHICLE IMPORTATION

Great Cost Matriculation ...........0044 7957167633 / 634 318369

Hispavan vehicle importation ......................................687 845730

Talleres Daydo (Antas Real) ….……….950 459116 / 607 373298

VEHICLE REPAIRS

Auto Corner (Turre/Los Gallardos) ….......................667 439671

Auto Shine Body Repairs ………........607 324623 / 607 324624

Costa Coches Antas .........................950 459209 / 625 133383

Fran’s Garage ....................................664 571060 / 950 164912

Go Car (Arboleas) ....................................................950 431861

…............................................950 430856

Pink House (La Concepción) ..............622 288750 / 681 095096

Pit Stop (Oria) ……………....................................…..950 124828

SRS Vehicle Services ................................................950 449095

Skoda - Cadena Automocion SL (Vera) .....950 393190 / 637 029737

Talleres Azor ...............(Mojácar) 950 478519 (Vera) 950 391400

VETS

Centro Vet ABC (La Alfoqúia) ….................................950 449064

Astrid (Mojácar) ..............950 472252 Emergencies: 629 099920

Centro Garras (Huércal-Overa) ........950 616820 / 617 456548

Clinica Nexo (Albox) .......950 430814 Emergencies: 617 305784

Clinica Nexo (Olula del Rio) ..950 441819 Emergencies: 617 305784

Clinica Huellas (Aguilas) ...968 447877 Emergencies 629 445327

CliniVet (Turre) …..........................…..950 069780 / 626 171999

Costa Indalo (Mojácar) ........................950 475213 / 605 495017

Egesta Centro Vetinario (Vélez Rubio) ..950 411208 / 608 438683

Europa (Mojácar) .................950472262 Emergencies: 629 099921

Javier .............(Garrucha) 950 132200 Emergencies: 619 236059

Movet (Mobile) .........................................................644 672782

Veravet (Vera Town) …............…............................…950 393307

VetCare (Vera Playa) ...............................................950 775102

Pritchard Construcciones .............................................662 046497

Enrique Aguirre S.L. (Garrucha) ..............................950 460028

Interglaze ……..............................…...................... 680 743311

Lifestyle Enclosures Europe S.L. (See p. 9) 950 459060 / 638 063196

Mojácar Home Improvements ....................................950 473104

Ortega Windows & Doors .......................................950 393305

Plas-Tech Windows ...................................................600 320761

Screenmasters (See p.35)......….…............................677 152911

Speedyfit .............................................950 439228 / 600 006032

WINES

Bodega Gran Baco (Aguilas) .............................…..968 925655

Enoteca Tikar (Garrucha) ……..............................….950 617131

Isalva (Palomares) ………..........................................615 265092

Typical Gourmet (Mojácar) .......................................950 472108

Vinoteca Delicatessen (Garrucha) ...........................637 393873

WOOD & PELLET STOVES

Chimeneas Acar (Albox) ...........................................950 120077

Chimeneas Mojácar S.L. (Turre) ..................................950 472135

Enrique Aguirre S.L. (Garrucha) .................................950 460028

ZOO & PARK

Oasys (Tabernas) ....................................................950 365236

Community News

Los Bandidos travel to Murcia

Thirteen Los Bandidos runners travelled to Murcia to compete in the 10k, half marathon and full marathon on Sunday, February 4th. The route, which went through the city, was fast and flat, with lots of encouragement and support for the 7,000 competitors. Some Bandidos were running their first half marathon and there were great results, thanks to their determined and consistent training.

The 10k was won in a time of 30:37, with 1955 finishers. The half marathon was won in 1:04:30, with 1869 finishers and the full marathon was won in 2:11:50, with 631 finishers. Los Bandidos came away with one trophy.

Los Bandidos results (position, name, time and age group prize)

10k

540

886

1946

21k half marathon

42k marathon

631 Derek Wright 5:25:07

Full results: https://www.maratonmurcia.com/ clasificaciones-2024

Los Bandidos was set up in June 2018 with a small group running the 5k Mojácar Paseo, and now has road cycling, sea swimming and triathlon groups. All ages, nationalities and speeds are welcome, whether permanent residents or holiday makers. Los Bandidos are keen to integrate and support the local community. We are currently supporting the Red Cross Food Bank.

We are very sociable and most sessions are followed by a post-activity coffee, cake or breakfast, depending on the time of day. Follow us on Facebook to keep up-to-date with our latest activities (https://www.facebook.com/ groups/490933409244200). We look forward to seeing you soon.

Mojácar Expansion Plan

One of the few areas either side of the beach road that has never been developed is the land where the campsite is, and on the beach side the land to the right of ‘Mandala’. The land surrounding the campsite is known as the ‘Finca El Cantal’ (an area of land) opposite the El Cantal beach. A developer has obtained outline planning permission from the town hall mayor, Francisco García Cerdá, as urban development is authorised in the recent ‘PGOU’ document for Mojácar. This is a detailed town planning document that every municipality has to have and it was approved by the Junta de Andalucía last year, and came into force in July. From the beach road to the rear of the plot, near to the Las Marinas rambla and the new Mojácar beach bypass road, the area is about 10 hectares but the land where construction will be allowed is only 2.5 hectares. The developer is Promociones González who bought the land from the Alarcon López family in 2020 for 36 million euros. The family had applied for outline planning permission in 2004, and the proposal was for 625 houses, a

Community News

hotel and a commercial centre. The campsite has been there for almost 60 years and was developed by the two Navío brothers, and alongside is an old farmhouse. On the opposite side of the road along from ‘Mandala’, there is a small building that many years ago belonged to the ‘Cuerpo de Carabineros’, a police force responsible for border control. The developer from Murcia, who has had to submit a revised plan drawn up by two architects, is hoping to build residential homes, commercial, tourist and sporting facilities.

Mojácar Council Walking Tours

Free guided walking tours and cultural and nature interpretive routes through different areas of the municipality are taking place in Mojácar, organised by Mojácar Council Tourism Department.

Under the motto “Discover Mojácar in autumn and winter”, the Tourism Department wants to publicise the history, the environment and the resources that have marked the evolution of the municipality and its people.

These routes will run every weekend until the end of March and each of them will go through emblematic areas of the municipality. They are of varying difficulty, and each week the details of the next one can be found in the Leisure and Events section of www.mojacar.es or by ringing 950 615 025.

Albox Register of Pets

The mayoress of Albox, María del Mar Alfonso, has signed an agreement to form an alliance with the College of Vets to compile a municipal register of pets. The vets will also help the town hall as regards feline colonies, where the CER project will be extended for an initial period of two years. This is the capture, sterilisation and release of these animals. Volunteers, who will receive training, will be responsible for the provision of food and drink and keeping the colony clean. In Almería, the city council have asked for financial help from central government, which is supposed to be available, as the first phase of introducing the CER programme has the target of dealing with 600 feral cats. Altogether, there are 179 registered colonies in the city with 3,500 cats needing to be neutered.

What’s On

Madrid & Barcelona

Bruce Springsteen and the E-street band perform in Madrid at the Civitas stadium on June 12th & 14th and at the Olympic stadium in Barcelona on June 20th. Tickets range from 65 to 128 euros and can only be purchased from the websites doctormusic.com and entradas.com, with a maximum of 6 tickets per person.

Almería

Michael’s Legacy is a tribute concert to Michael Jackson that is considered to be the best portrayal, voted for by the Spanish Michael Jackson fan club, with 500,000 spectators so far. It comes to Teatro Cervantes, Almería city, on Saturday, March 2nd, at 9.30pm. Tickets are 25 euros

The South Korean Christian orchestra, choir and soloists perform at the Teatro Cervantes, Almería city, on Wednesday, April 3rd, at 8.30pm. The concert features classical compositions by Mozart, Brahms & Khachaturian, and Korean folk songs. Tickets are 20 euros in advance and 22 at the door.

Mikecrack y la Superama Secreto is a performance for children and comes to the Maestro Padilla auditorio in Almería city on Friday, March 8th, at 5pm and 7.30pm. Tickets are 20, 26 & 28 euros.

The Panorama Orchestra, considered to be one of the best in Spain, combine music with special lighting effects. They perform on a large stage at the Feria concert site, Almería city on Sunday, April 28th at 8pm. Tickets are 10 & 15 euros. The concert lasts for 3 hours.

The 2024 ‘Dreambeach’ festival “10 Years of Dreaming” will move to El Toyo in Almería city, not Villaricos. It takes place from Thursday, August 1st, to Sunday, August 4th and tickets are now on sale from www.dreambeach.es.

The Neon Collective 80s show is a tribute concert to the Cure, U2 and Depeche Mode in the original English led by DJ Karl Sound. It comes to Teatro Cervantes, Almería city, on Saturday, March 23rd at 10.30pm and the performance lasts for 3 hrs. Tickets are 18 euros in advance or 25 euros at the door.

Tom Jones is coming to the Almería Feria site on August 4th at 10.30pm. Tickets are on sale from Ticketmaster and go from 49,50 to 99 euros. They are limited to 6 per person paid with a credit card.

Querencia is a flamenco performance by the Antonio Najarro company and comes to the Maestro Padilla auditorio in Almería city on Saturday, March 16th, at 8.30pm. Tickets are 15 & 18 euros.

The Almería City Orchestra, conducted by Michael Thomas come to the Maestro Padilla Auditorio, on Saturday, April 27th at 8pm. They perform a concert entitled Sueños y Primaveras featuring Brahm’s double concerto for violin and cello Opus 102 & Schumann’s Spring Symphony. The soloists are Rita Sikoeva, violin and Dragos Balan, cello. Tickets are 10, 12 & 14 euros.

La Granja (The farm) is a musical for children that comes to Teatro Cervantes, Almería city on Sunday, June 2nd at 6pm. Tickets are 12 euros in advance or 15 euros at the door.

What’s On

Isabel Pantoja, the famous Spanish singer, is making a 50-year anniversary tour throughout Spain and comes to the Almería bullring on Saturday, June 8th. The box office is open Mondays to Fridays from 10am to 2pm and 5pm-8pm and Saturday morning. Tickets start at 40 euros with reduced visibility, up to 176 euros or 200 euros each, if 8 people club together and book a balcony box. Tickets can also be obtained from www.etrées.es or www.taquilla.com.

Laura Gallego, a famous singer from Jerez de la Fontera, performs an Easter concert at the Maestro Padilla Auditorio, Almería city on Saturday, March 9th at 8.30pm. She is accompanied by the Almería City Municipal Band and tickets are 25 euros.

Tickets for Teatro Cervantes, Almería city, from box office at Calle del Poeta Villaspesa,1. Open Mon-Fri, 11am-1pm & 4pm-7pm, Saturday from 11am-2pm, or 1hr before performances, or from www.todaslasentradas.com

Tickets for concerts in Almería (except Teatro Cervantes) available

from the ticket office in the Teatro Apolo, 25 Rambla Obispo Orberá, Almería , tel: 950 230 922. Mon- Fri, 10.30am-1.30pm

Roquetas de Mar

El Arrebato, a singer originating from Seville, is a pop and flamenco performer and comes to the Roquetas auditorio on Saturday, March 9th, at 9pm. Tickets are 36 & 41 euros.

Aidalai is a Mecano tribute concert that has had audiences of more than 50,000 since

2021. It comes to the Auditorio on Saturday, April 27th at 9pm. Tickets are 20 euros.

Latin American singer, Luis Miguel comes to the Roquetas stadium on Saturday, July 13th at 9.30pm. Tickets are 86 euros (sold out) to 570 euros, from www. ticketmaster.es

The Film Symphony orchestra, as part of their ¡Henko! tour come to the Roquetas auditorio on Saturday, May 18th at 8.30pm. Tickets are 38 & 43 euros.

What’s On

Roquetas de Mar Auditorio tickets are on sale at www. teatroauditorioroquetas.org or their ticket office, open Tuesdays to Fridays from 11am-1pm & 6pm-8pm.

Huércal-Overa

La Bella y la Bestia (Beauty and the Beast), performed by the Candileja company comes to the Teatro Villa on Saturday, March 16th, at 6pm. Tickets are 25 euros in advance or 30 euros at the door.

Pasión Vega, the very popular Spanish singer, comes to the Teatro Villa on Saturday, April 20th, at 9pm. Tickets are 12 euros in advance or 15 euros at the door.

Tickets can be obtained from the box office open Mondays to Fridays from 9am-2pm, from 1 hour before the performance or from www entradasho.es

Águilas

Hakuna Matata is a family musical with Disney characters and comes to the auditorio on Sunday, March 24th, at 5.30pm. Tickets are 16 euros.

The Lion King, performed by the Fiestasur company comes to the Auditorio on Sunday, March 24th at 12.30pm. Tickets are 16 euros.

Archipiélago de los Desastres is a dance spectacular created by Isabel Vázquez, produced by Elena Carrascal. It has won a host of awards and comes to the auditorio on Saturday, March 16th at 8.30pm. Tickets are 3, 5, 8 & 10 euros.

Aguilas tickets from Victoria Travel 968 410 929 & www.bacantix.com, Museo Arqueológico, www. auditorioaguilas.org or from 2hrs before performances at the box office.

Vera

The pianist Javier Cecelia performs Aires de Pasión, a concert of Sacred music, at the Auditorio on Sunday, March 17th at 9pm. Tickets are 5 euros from the Convento de la Victoria or www.giglon.com

Exhibtions

Guitar Exhibition The Museo de la Guitarra in Almería city is celebrating their 10th anniversary. Until March 22nd, visitors can see guitars and musical instruments such as lutes and harps, charting the evolution of the guitar from 4,000 years ago with 20 historical examples. In particular, the Spanish ‘Torres’ guitars from Andalucía have special mention. The museum is at Carretera Ronda del Beato Diego Ventaja, S/N, 04002, Almería and is open from Tuesdays to Saturdays, 10.30am-1.30pm & 5pm-8pm, and on Sundays in the morning. The entrance fee is 3 euros, but 2 euros for minors and pensioners.

Miscellaneous

MACS Mojácar have an Easter Fayre that takes place outside their shop on Saturday, March 23rd. If you would like to have a stall, contact Sharon on 681 664 808.

Mojácar Feria Outlet

Multiple Use Centre. March 1st - 3rd. 30 stalls of local businesses.

Mojácar Moors and Christians event in 2024 will take place from June 14th-16th.

Open Mic Night alternate Thursdays at Miraflores, Los Gallardos, kick off at 8pm. Everyone welcome.

PAWS-PATAS The secondhand book sale at Scotty’s El Tropico is held on the second Tuesday of the month, 10.30am - 1pm. All proceeds to stray cat neutering.

What’s On

Market Days

Monday: Tuesday: Wednesday: Thursday: Friday: Saturday: Sunday: Rastros, Car Boot Sales, etc.

Saturday: Sunday:

Huércal-Overa, Antas, Berja

Albox, Los Gallardos, Cuevas del Almanzora

Mojácar, Bédar, Lubrin, Vélez Blanco, Palomares, Tabernas

Cuevas del Almanzora, Olula del Río, Carboneras, Sorbas

Garrucha, Turre, Zurgena

Aguilas, Vera, Arboleas, Vélez Rubio

Villaricos, Purias, San Juan de los Terreros, Fines

Los Llanos, between Arboleas & Albox

Plaza del Rey, Velez Rubio

Mojácar Rastro, Multiple Use Centre

Activities - Clubs - Associations

Clubs, Societies & Activities

Free Spanish and English Lessons

Available in some municipalities. Enquire at your local town hall.

Almanzora Group of Friends, Albox Library and Social Centre, Tues - Fri, 10am1pm, Plaza San Antonia, Barrio Alto, Albox. Extensive English Library, DVDs and talking books, monthly magazine, monthly quiz, trips. www.almanzoragof.org or Facebook: Almanzora Group of Friends. Tel: 602 495 306

Almeria Link Friendship Group

Membership is free and open to all. We meet at weekends in the Mojacar area to enjoy dining experiences and form friendships. New members are always welcome. Please contact Bob on 950472551

WOW Women on Wednesday

Scotty’s, Mojácar Playa, 2pm. Get together, buy, sell, swap, meet new people.

Loose Women Club

Tuesdays, 1.30 - 4pm. El Chacho Bar & Restaurant, Mojácar. All welcome.

Flamenco Forum for English Speakers on Facebook. Information and events. Tel: 687 480 694

Dames in Huércal Overa

3rd Wed. of the month, 10.30am, Tennis Club, Huércal Overa. All welcome. Tel. Jan Oliver 642 413 945.

Dames in Turre

Monthly lunches and trips. New members welcome. Chairman, Barbara Wardley, casaroojo@hotmail.co.uk. Secretary, Moira Armatage +34 711 007 192, mogsy2009@ live.com

The Royal British Legion - Zurgena & District Branch

La Parrilla, Albox, first Thursday of the month, 11am. Email zurgenaRBLsecretary @yahoo.co.uk. See www.britishlegion.org/ branches/zurgena

Indalo Hash House Harriers

Meet 2nd and 4th Sunday, 11am, various locations. www.indaloh3.com

Mojácar Bridge Club

Contact Les Brice 697 297 991 or Ron Hounsell 711 064 726. www.bridgewebs. com/mojacar/

Vera & District Lions Club

The Lions meet regularly, including social events. New members and volunteers warmly welcomed. The Lions Charity Shop in Turre is open Thursday to Saturday, 10am-2pm. Mobility equipment available for those in need. There are plenty of roles for volunteers from occasionally moving furniture to scrapbooking, from event organisation to helping clean the shop. For more information, including forthcoming fundraising events see https://veralions. com, email veralionssecretary@gmail. com or call President Andy Pearson on 711 005 682.

The Royal British Legion, Mojácar First and third Thursday of every month (except July & August) at 11am, coffee and chat at Cokkia Restaurant (opposite Neptuno). Ex-Forces and non-Service people all welcome. We hold lunches and other events which we publicise at the coffee mornings and on local media. For welfare advice and help for the exForces community in need of support email SpainNorthCommunitySupport@rbl. community. If you wish to hold an event in aid of the Poppy Appeal or help at our collection points in October and November please email Mojacar.Committee1@rbl. community or ring 699 953 222. We are now on Facebook, click on Groups and search for Royal British Legion Mojacar Branch.

Psychic Development Circle

Various classes at different times. Everyone welcome. Tel: Barbara 637 469 937 barbaramoonlight@gmail.com

Vera Photo Club

First Sunday of month, Bar La Pará, Turre (opposite the Vet), 10am - 12.30pm. Presentations by invited speakers, field trips, instruction, studio photography, monthly assignments and exhibitions. All levels welcome. Phone Sarah 670003717 or Claus 628585538.

Freemasons in the Province of Almeria

Craft & Chapter. 661 026 912 or 670 27 27 37

Freemasons – The Side Degrees

Mark, RAM, RSM, OSM & Allied. 678 574 579

Albox Computer Club

Hotel La Parrilla, Albox. Fri, 10am. All levels of experience are welcomed. www. alboxcc.com

Traditional Japanese Reiki and Gendai Reiki Ho

Classes, workshops, and Reiki shares in Mojacar. Tel: 634 347 930

Ancestry Club for Beginners & Intermediate

Tel. 634 309 590

Mojácar Community Library

Multi-Use centre. Mon, Wed and Fri, 11am - 1pm .

Arboleas Indalo Gardening Club Community Centre, opposite the Health Centre car park. Last Friday of the month, 10:30am - 1pm.

Activities - Clubs - Associations

Clubs, Societies & Activities continued

Amigos de los Coches Clasicos

Local multi-national group of classic car enthusiasts. Meetings the first Thursday of the month, 3pm, Hotel Rural Miguel Rosi, junction 559 E15/A7. www.a-c-c.es, email: info@a-c-c.es, tel. David 630740502

Antas 1/10 Scale RC Club

Thursdays 10.00am at RC Circuito, Antas. Ring Chris on 634328059 for more details.

Model Aero Flying Club, Cortijo Grande

Sun. & Wed., 10.30am. Contact Jeff on 950 469304 or Colin on 666 982186

Aeroclub ULM Günter (Vera) Tel: 607 316 553

Pita Escuela Agave School of Río Aguas. A multicultural, environmental and musical project, specialized on the integral usage of the agave plant and the processing of its wood.Tel 630 66 18 65 (Timbe) pitaescuela@hotmail.com

Sunseed

A hands-on practical centre for low-impact living and environmental education in Los Molinos del Rio Aguas near Sorbas. Free tours at 4pm. www.sunseed.org.uk Tel: 950 525 770

Religious Groups & Churches

Church of England (Anglican Services)

Mojácar, Sundays, 11am; Llanos Del Peral, Sundays,11am; Aljambra Chapel Albox, 2nd Thursday monthly at 11am. For directions, details and all church activities please see www.almeriaanglican.com or contact Tony Noble on 634303807. Also available Funerals, Wedding Blessings, Wedding Vow renewals and Baptisms.

Kingdom Hall, Jehovah’s Witnesses

Tues 7:30pm & Sun 10.00am. Poligono Aljoroque - C/El Cajete 6, Antas. Contact: 652 293 269

Turre Evangelical Church

Sundays at 10.30 – worship, a not too long talk from the Bible, coffee and cake. Welcoming and relaxed – all welcome. Find us on Turre’s main street, Avenida de Almeria, corner of C/Alberquillca. Email: contact@turrechurch.es Tel: (0034) 711 035 486 Web: turrechurch.es

New Life Church, Huercal-Overa We are a Jesus centred church family learning to love one another. Sunday service at 11 am, www.newlifechurch.eu tel. 685 628 184

Living Water Church Mojacar Playa

Opposite Red Cross Centre and Salas Farmacia. Sunday Service 11am. Bible study, Tuesday 10am. Prayer, Tuesday, 12:30pm. Cafe Church, Thursday 11am to 1pm. See FaceBook or visit www. livingwaterchurchmojacar.com

Aguaviva Evangelical Church

Near the health Centre, opposite BiciBox, Albox. Tel: Rod Southwood, 687 560 544

Roman Catholic Masses

These can be found on www.misas.org for most places.

Support Groups & Charities

MACS Cancer Support Group

General Enquiries call 634 328 334 10am to 4pm. 24/7 Careline: 634 656 555. Fully Spanish registered charity. Shops in Mojácar, Turre, Albox and Huercal-Overa open Mon-Fri, 10-2pm www.macscancersu pport.com Email: macscancersupport@ live.co.uk

Stepping Stones Carers Support Group

Turre Evangelical Hall, Thurs, 11am-2pm. Tel 950 472 822 or 677 683 385 www. steppingstones.group

Age Support Almanzora

Shop and welfare office near Peugeot garage, Albox, open Mon-Sat, 10:0013:45. Lunch club, bereavement group, equipment loan, befrienders. Helpline 642 045 210.

A.A. Alcoholics Anonymous

Mojacar Area Meetings:- Monday 6pm, Turre Evangelical Church (Avenida de Almeria, Turre). Friday, 6pm, Living Water Church, Mojacar Playa (opposite Red Cross building). Tel: 634 300 364 or email aaspain@gmail.com

Universal Wonderful Street Academy

NGO that supports street children in Accra (Ghana). Registered charity. www. universalwonderfulstreetacademy.org. Beatriz: 617 182 154

Harmony Community Support

Providing assistance to those in need. Tel. 634 339 192 Mon - Fri, 11:00 - 14:00 help@harmonycharity.com

Walk for Life Arboleas

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with cancer and need help or support contact our welfare team. Email irenewalk4life@icloud.com Tel. 643 63 81 77. To volunteer to help at any of our events and become a Friend of Walk for Life email claire.walk4life@gmail.com Tel 644602249.

Send details of your group to almeriafocus@gmail.com or WhatsApp: 667 80 11 40

Activities - Clubs - Associations

Music & Drama Groups

Open Mic Night

Alternate Thursdays, 8pm, at Miraflores, Los Gallardos, 8pm. Everyone welcome.

Indalo Players

Well established drama group always looking for new members to act or help back stage. Contact Jennifer Jordan email jenniferjanejordan@gmail.com/ phone 34 722 860 085.

Independent Theatre Group

Always looking for new people, novices & full blown Thesbians. Call Ian Jones on 950 436 581 or 666 375 688 or e-mail independenttheatre@hotmail.com

The Luvvies

New members always welcome for acting or work behind the scenes etc. Tel. 634 346 309 or e-mail theluvvies@hotmail.com

Jacqueline Welby Productions

New members always needed to act or work back stage or with any other activities. Tel. Jacqueline Morris Welby 634 313 531

Orquesta Ciudad de Vera

A friendly group of musicians of various ages and levels. All newcomers welcome, only requirement is to play an orchestral instrument and read music. Rehearsals Vera Auditorio on Saturday mornings. See www. ocv.org.es for details.

Vera Voces

A friendly choir singing classical music, directed by pianist, singer and director, Barry Jobling. All welcome, no auditions. Rehearsals Mondays, 5-7pm, at Vera Auditorio. Facebook: Vera Voces. Contact veravoces1@gmail.com

All Aloud Community Choir

Meet every Wednesday at Bar Kubatin (at Hostal Meson) Arboleas from 3pm to 5pm. All welcome, no auditions.

Albox Ukebox

A friendly group that meets weekly on Tuesday afternoons in Charlotte’s Bar (formerly Chapman’s) in Albox to learn and sing songs with the ukulele. All welcome. For details tel. Chris on 634 375 471.

Yoga

Sol Yoga Centre, Arboleas Tel: 686 400331

VaVa Yoga Studio, Vera. Tel: 642 314 316

Yoga Therapy

with Portia Oliver. Tel: 681301474 www. portiaoliver.es

Arts & Crafts

Sewing Group, Mojacar

We meet at Scotty’s el Tropico bar for sewing, knitting, crochet etc. Weds. 10.30 to 12.30. Tel. Brenda 634 34 34 92. We are a friendly group meeting for coffee and chat.

Ladies Sewing Circle

Evangelical Church, Turre, Wednesday 10.30 – 12.30 Tel: 667 702 774

Cloud Zebra Craft Workshops & Clubs

In Almanzora and Oria, Tues 10-2, Thurs and Fri, 10.30 -2.30. Call 744 60 96 30. No experience needed.

Bedar Arts Centre

Ceramic classes, Mondays and Wednesdays. Painting classes Tuesday 10:301330. For info, call 664 896 555

Mojácar Quilters

We meet on the 2nd Thursday of the month at 10am at various locations in Mojácar. We welcome anyone interested in patchwork and quilting. Help and support provided as well as chat. What’s App or ring JD on 722 236 237 or email jd221bmojacar@gmail.com

Dance

Strictly Line Dancing

Salon de Actos, Centro de Usos Multiples, Mojacar. Fridays, 4–7pm. Beginners welcome. Contact: Glynis 648217503 or Mary Beth 661671526 or strictlylinedancingmojacar@gmail.com

Eleanor’s Line Dance Class

Charlotte’s Bar, Albox, 2pm- 3-45pm, Mondays. All levels welcome. 950439003.

Step2It - Line Dancing

Arboleas. Weds: 6.45 p.m-7.30 p.m, First Steps/Intro. 7.30 p.m-10.30, Beginners / Improvers /Intermediate. Carrie Ann 627279584 www.carrieanngreen.com

Almeria Line Dancers

Julie - 634304625 / 950110433

Ceroc Dancing

Artisan Centre, Mojacar, Tues 8.15pm Beginners, Improvers, Advanced. All welcome. Contact Tracey 687251799

Belly Dancing

Mojácar, Garrucha & Huércal-Overa. Contact Fatima: 610 472 596

Bellydance Classes

Mojácar, Turre, Palomares. Call 639 724 521

Dance Classes with Hollie Newell Ballet, tap, contemporary, modern, jazz, lyrical, zumba and more. Based in Turre. Tel: 634 317 391

Performing Arts Centre DanZaVera

54 Verasol, Vera. Royal Academy Ballet, Imperial Society Modern, Tap and Jazz. Also Hip-Hop, Oriental Dance, Spanish Classical. Tel Anita: 670 715 787

Complete Beginners Flamenco

Mojácar. No specialist shoes or equipment required, friendly hour long class. Email info@lagitanainglesa.com

VaVa Yoga Danza (Spanish)

With Barbarito. Cuban & Latin Salsa, Bachata & Merengue. Tel: 642 314 316

Send details of your group to almeriafocus@gmail.com

WhatsApp: 667 80 11 40

Activities - Clubs - Associations

Sports

Almería Lawn Bowling Club

Contact Shirley: 679 970 399

Bowling Club de Zurgena Friendly, social and competitive bowling, all levels & standards. zurgenabc@gmail. com. www.zurgenabc.com

Cabrera Lawn Bowling Club www.cabreralbc.com

Indalo Lawn Bowling Club

First class facilities with all levels of bowling catered for. Visit our website http://www. indalobowlingclub.org

Mojacar Bowls Club

Behind Marina Mar Hotel. Everybody welcome - Tues, Thurs and Sat starting with coffee at 9:30. Contact Janet 627204422, janlawspain@yahoo.co.uk

Aguilón Amigos Golf Club

Aguilon Golf Course on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays teeing off just before 9am. If you would like to play email aguilonamigos2021@gmail.com

Badgers Golf Society Mojácar

We play every Wednesday and alternate Saturdays. All are welcome. Contact Paul Cunningham on (0044)7775837453 WhatsApp or badgersmojacar@mail.com

Boxers Golf Society Albox

All welcome to join us as members or guests. Call in at the Why Not bar in Albox on Saturday mornings or email peterstooks@avired.com

Mojácar Playa Golf

Play every Tuesday around 11.30. Mostly at Marina Golf Club. Everybody welcome. Membership available. Call James 681 355 796. Golf trip holidays also available. Golf tour operator.

Forum Golf Society

Plays friendly events at local courses twice a month. Richard Price. Telephone 850993073 or rfp53@yahoo.co.uk. www.forumgolfsociety.webs.com

Golfing Guapas Society

We are a group of ladies of all nationalities meeting one Friday in the month...golf followed by lunch and prizes. All welcome. Call Vivienne 683 558 696.

Valle del Este Golf Society.

Tuesdays, Thursdays & Sundays. Contact Alan Townsend Tel. 690 090 982

Almería Golf League

Contact Les on 950 619 273.

Marina Phoenix Golf Society

Visitors welcome Mondays and Thursdays. Tel Don Atkins 605 051 238. Email marinaphoenixgs@gmail.com

Huzzah Golf Society

Friendly group of all abilities, playing Aguilon golf course each Monday and local courses. All welcome. Call Eric & WhatsApp 643 04 96 96. Fb: Huzzah Golf Society. Email: huzzahgs@gmail.com

Albox Club de Tenis

Sun & Thurs mornings, Tues afternoons. Tel Sue: 950 064 369 Fb: Albox Club de Tenis

Cabrera Tennis Club

Contact info@ cabreratennisclub.com www.cabreratennisclub.com

Club de Tenis y Padel Indalo

Vera. Tel: 950 59 28 77 - 608 250 607

Tennis Coach

Diego Rodriguez Tel: 689 688 226

Padel tennis lessons

At home. Tel: Ulises Gutiérrez, 606 902 691

PartyLevante Sailing Club

Initiation for children from 7 yrs in small groups. Email info@partylevante.com or call 680942141 www.partylevante.com

Santa Irene Sailing Club

Come and join us out on the watersailing or crewing our safety boat. Every Sunday at 10:30 in the boat park at the north end of Garrucha harbour. Email info@santaireneclubdevela.com www. santaireneclubdevela.com

Adelante Gimnasia Artìstica

Huercal-Overa.Classes for fun gymnastics, competitive levels, pre school and adults. Fully qualified coach. From 2 years. Tel 622 129 702 or info@adelanteartisitca.es www. adelanteartistica.es Facebook Adelante Gimnasia artistica.

Walking Football Club

Turre football ground, 9.30am, Monday, for training, exercise & playing. www. fclosamigos.com

Los Bandidos

Run, jog, walk a 5km route along the Paseo. Weds/Sat, 9am, Red Cross end (from 4th Oct). See Facebook. Contact Kevin on ironmankev08@gmail.com

Arboleas Table Tennis Club

Mon/Wed/Fri, 9.30 - 10.30 am, building with blue door next to swimming pool bar, Arboleas. Beginners welcome. Contact Chairperson - Keith tel 634 326 350.

Fitness & Martial Arts

Girasol, Albox

Pilates, children’s karate & Tai-chi. Tel 639 089 170

Aerobics or Pilates

Campo de Futbol, Turre. Contact Vicki 650 764 623 or vicki.lynch@live.co.uk

Slimming Group

Sophia Wellness Centre Arboleas, Thurs 12.30pm, Contact Vicki 650 764 623 or vicki.lynch@live.co.uk

Mojácar Taekwondo

5 years to adults. Various classes & times. Contact Serge 646844708. Facebook GTF Spain

Sophia Wellness Centre, Arboleas Various activities. Tel. 950 449 451.

Fitness with Alison, Mojácar

Full Body Workout, Pilates, AquaZumba, Zumba, Step Aerobics, Total Toning, AeroFit. Tel 666 273 168.

Hollie Newell Zumba Almeria

Turre, Los Gallardos, Arboleas and San Juan. Contact: 634 317 391

Jova Gym, Mojácar

Various activities. www.jovasport.es 671 247 035. See facebook.

Qigong

Group courses and personal training. Partaloa and Albox area. Contact Ilse +32 497451953 or +34 643489975

https://ilsevanbrabant.com/en/course/

Qigong Classes

Mojácar & Lubrín. Call 711 096 381.

Mojácar Qigong/Taijiquan

Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11.00am. Samsara (Opposite Lua) monjchalao@ gmail.com. See Facebook gusfit.es

Coffee Break

Jokes of the Month

Your IQ

A guy goes into a bar and there’s a robot bartender. The robot says, “What will you have?” The guy says, “Martini.” The robot brings back the best martini ever and asks the man, “What’s your IQ?” The guy says, “168.” The robot then proceeds to talk about physics, climate change, and AI machine language. The guy leaves, but he is curious so he goes back into the bar. The robot bartender says, “What will you have?” The guy says, “Martini.” Again, the robot makes a great martini, gives it to the man, and asks, “What’s your IQ?” The guy says, “100.” The robot then starts to talk about NASCAR, hunting rifles, and monster trucks. The guy leaves but finds it very interesting, so he thinks he will try it one more time. He goes back into the bar. The robot says, “What will you have?” The guy says, “Martini,” and the robot brings him another great martini. The robot asks, “What’s your IQ?” The guy says, “Uh, about 50.” The robot leans in real close and says, “Isn’t it terrible the way Joe Biden stole the election?”

Bad Food

A hospital's consulting dietician was giving a lecture to nurses about food and drink. He told them, “The rubbish we put into our stomachs could have killed most of us sitting here, years ago. Red meat is terrible. Fizzy drinks attack your lining. Chinese food is loaded with monosodium glutamate, vegetables can be disastrous because of fertilisers and pesticides, and none of us realises the long-term damage being done by the rotten bacteria in our drinking water. However, there is one food that is incredibly dangerous and we all have, or will, eat it at some time in our lives. Now, is anyone here able to tell me what food it is that causes the most grief and suffering for years after eating it?” A 65-yearold nursing sister sitting in the front row stood up and said, “Wedding cake.”

The Qualifications

In a high school civics class they were discussing the qualifications for becoming President of the United States. The requirements are pretty simple. The candidate must be a natural-born citizen and at least 35 years old. A blonde girl in the class piped up and began complaining about how unfair it was to require the candidate to be a natural-born citizen. In her opinion, that made it impossible for many qualified people to run for the office. She went on and on, wrapping up her argument with “What makes a natural-born citizen more qualified to be President than one born by C-Section?”

The Fishing Scales

Doctor Dermot Reid from Fareham in Hampshire, England, was famous in South Hants for always catching large fish and for winning fishing trophies for the heaviest ones. One day while he was fishing, he got a call that a farmer’s wife nearby needed help with giving birth. He packed up his fishing gear, hurried over to her and delivered a healthy baby boy. The farmer had nothing to weigh the baby with, so Doctor Reid went to his car and used his fishing scales. The baby weighed 22 lbs 10 oz.

The Memory Tests

Three elderly men, Eddie, Jenkin and Martin go to the doctor’s for a memory test. It’s a miracle they all remembered the appointment! Anyway, the doctor begins by asking Eddie, “What is five times five?” “191,” is his reply. The doctor rolls his eyes and looks up at the ceiling, and says to Jenkin, “It’s your turn. What is five times five?” “Wednesday,” replies Jenkin. The doctor shakes his head sadly, then asks the third man, “Okay Martin it’s your turn. What’s five times five?” “Twentyfive,” says Martin. “That’s great!” says the doctor. “How did you know it was the correct number?” “Easy,” says Martin, “I just subtracted 191 from Wednesday!”

The Relative

My daughter brought a friend home from school and he said his great-great-greatgreat-grandfather was coming to pick him up later. I was amazed and asked my daughter, “How can he have such an extremely old several times great-grandfather, and how does he manage to live for so many decades?” My daughter replied “He didn’t, my friend has a very bad stutter.”

Easy!

A woman came home to find her retired husband jumping round the room waving a rolled-up newspaper. Wife: “What on earth are you doing dear?” Husband: “‘Swatting flies - I got 3 males and 2 females” Wife: “How on earth do you know which gender they were?” Husband: “‘Easy - 3 were on my glass of beer, and the other 2 were on the mobile phone”.

The Comparison

“I bet you can’t tell me something that will make me both happy and sad at the same time,” a husband says to his wife. She thinks about it for a moment and then responds, “Your willy is bigger than your brother’s.”

The Antique Toby Jug

Claire, after retiring from a busy life in business, travels around the country visiting antique shops trying to find bargains. One day she goes to an antique shop in Stratford upon Avon and speaks to Victoria, the shop owner, “When I was in here last week on Friday, I saw a really big Toby jug and the face was extremely ugly. It must contain a lot of beer. I’d like to buy it.” “Sorry,” replied Victoria, “‘But I can’t possibly sell you that.” “Oh, what a pity, why not?” inquired Claire. Victoria replied, “That was my husband.”

The Farmer’s Horse

An American farmer was on holiday in Wales. He could not resist exploring the hill farms north of Aberystwyth. At lunch time, he dropped into a pub and fell in conversation with a Welsh farmer. ‘How big is your farm?’ asked the American. ‘Well boyo, it’s about 20 acres,’ he said. “Only 20 acres?” the American responded, “Back in Texas I can get up at sunrise, saddle my horse and ride all day before we get back to the farmhouse in the evening.” The Welsh framer replied, “Well boyo, I once had a mare like that. She plodded along so slowly, I sent her to the knackers yard.’

At the Doctor’s

A man walks into a doctor’s office, sits down, and says, “Now, doctor, this may sound kind of strange, but I have five penises.” Taken aback, the doctor asks him, “My God, how do your pants fit?” To which the man replies, “Like a glove.”

Sunday School

It was Palm Sunday but because of a sore throat, 7-year-old Bobby stayed home and didn’t go to Sunday school. When his two sisters returned home, they were carrying several palm fronds. Bobby asked them what they were for. His father said, “People held them over Jesus’ head as he walked by.” “Wouldn’t you know it!” Bobby fumed, “The one Sunday I don’t go and he shows up!”

Your Stars

Mar. 21 - April 20

Apr. 21 - May 21

May 22 - June 21

June 22 - July 22

July 23 - Aug 22

Aug. 23 - Sept. 23

Refrain from arguing with your mate. Pleasure trips or friendly get-togethers will be satisfying and intellectually stimulating. Spend a quiet day with the one you love. Don’t let someone talk you into parting with your cash unless you can truly see the benefits of doing so. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Wednesday.

Opportunities to make advancements through good business sense are evident. You may be sensitive concerning friends and their situations. You will need to do a lot of research if you wish to get to the bottom of things. This is not the best time to take a risk, to gamble or spend money you really can’t afford to part with. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Thursday.

You can make progress professionally. Your anger may be impossible to contain if you get into debates with family members. You will expand your circle of friends if you join groups. Try not to hang out with coworkers if you wish to avoid problems later. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Friday.

You won’t get the reaction you want from your mate this month. Your creative input will be appreciated by your boss. Avoid arguments with relatives who might be conservative and outdated. Be careful of the groups you join or the people you associate with. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Sunday.

Take care of yourself or you can expect to suffer from minor illness. It won’t take much to upset your lover. Be discreet and don’t present your ideas until you’re certain that they’re foolproof. Major moves will be emotional and not necessarily to your benefit. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Saturday.

Don’t let children hold you back from doing things you enjoy. A romantic dinner, followed by a quiet evening with the one who is enticing you, should be most satisfying. Pay attention to small but important details. You are best not to discuss your personal life with others. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Sunday.

Sept. 24 - Oct. 23

Oct. 24 - Nov. 22

Nov. 23 - Dec. 21

Dec. 22 - Jan. 20

Jan. 21 - Feb. 19

Feb. 20 - Mar. 20

Your time, not your cash, will do a lot more for your relationship. You will be moody and react poorly to issues concerning your mate. You will have no problem getting your point across to those in a position to help you. It’s a favourable time for real estate, investments, and moneymaking opportunities to be successful. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Saturday.

Groups you belong to will not only enjoy your company, but they will also share your interests. Opportunities to travel will be favourable in terms of moneymaking connections. Children may be difficult to deal with. Don’t get involved in uncertain financial ventures. Keep an open mind when dealing with youngsters. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Saturday.

Take care of your personal needs. You can get ahead if you play your cards right. You could easily lose your temper at work. Don’t push your opinions or ideas on others. Your domestic scene could continue to be in an uproar this month. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Friday.

Put your efforts into physical fitness programs or competitive sports. You can prosper if you in vest in property or mutual funds. Love can be heightened if you sit down and discuss your future plans. You will feel better about yourself and you may also meet potential lovers. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Tuesday.

Don’t bother complaining, do the work yourself. Talk to superiors about problems that you feel are getting out of hand. Don’t let situations get out of hand. Get motivated and follow up on some self-improvement resolutions. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Friday.

Take precautions while travelling; you don’t have to get anywhere that fast. Involvement with prestigious organizations will be to your advantage. Elders may need your help. If they’re really interested, they’ll wait. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Saturday.