Gran Alacant Advertiser April 2017 by Gran Alacant Advertiser

APRIL

2017 ISSUE 147

YOUR LOCAL INDEPENDENT MAGAZINE SINCE 2005

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Hi everybody,

We would like to thank the TOURISM COUNCILLOR for enabling Jose Manuel Blasco to join our magazines monthly column. Many of you will surely have met Jose at the Tourist Information Counter in Santa Pola. He always exudes enthusiasm for all that is happening in our area. Here are his suggestions of “Where to visit” and ‘What to see” for this month

For the first time in Santa Pola the Town Hall organises the fair Fire, Fiesta and Fair, “Foc, festa y fira” with plenty of activities, concerts etc, form 31st to 2nd at the Santa Pola’s Castle. In this month there are plenty of celebrations, wherever you go from 9th to 16st of you can attend to Holy Week processions. Sunday the 9th is Palm Sunday procession, if you want to see the best one declared of International Tourism Interest, it is the one held in Elche. If you can’t come to see every procession in Santa Pola and you have to choose one, I recommend seeing the biggest that takes place on Friday the 14th. In the FortressCastle there from 12th to 16th a Medieval Market will be held. April is the month for the magnificent parade of Moor and Christians in Alcoy, in my opinion is simply “spectacular”, declared of international tourist, the only trouble is that takes the whole day, the main parade is hold on the 22nd. More parades of Moors and Christians held this month in: San Vicente del Raspeig, Busot, Banyeres, also very good, in Onil, Granja Rocamora. In Alicante on the 27th takes place the “Romeria de la Santa Faz”, if you want to discover what a popular pilgrimage in Spain is go and join it, I must warn you that there will be thousands of people. That’s all for now. Bye Bye my friends. Hello Everyone, Well, March did turn out to be a mad month after all, the torrential downpour, streets flooded, thunder and lighting! We certainly had a bit of everything but the residents of Gran Alacant soon put all that behind them to celebrate St.Patricks’ day and what a day they had which included a lot more downpouring of a different kind, and you certainly did Gran Alacant proud. Everyone was in great form, it will take some beating next year but guess what I know you all will. Have a good month, Ged & Lou Our little dog has hidden herself away in the magazine, can you find her? Last month she was on page 31

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We at your Gran Alacant Advertiser continue to bring you all of the NEWS, including that from a representative from the Town Hall, as we have since May 2005.

If you have any QUESTIONS or PROBLEMS you would like us to discuss, please just email them to us at the magazine - granalacantadvertiser@hotmail.co.uk Q: Recycling Bins: I just want to mention about the placing of the bins - there is ONE grey one on Avda Escandinavia at the entrance to the new walkway for the 'parapente'. This serves Brisas Del Faro and Balcones Del Mar opposite. It's not enough! I have seen many people put all types of rubbish in there as they can't be bothered to travel a little further...which is fair comment really! I also want to mention the state of the pavements in this area too - they really are an eyesore and a health hazard! I can send photos if you want. Helen Town Hall Answer: Related to the recycling bin placed on Avda Escandinavia, your complaint has been transferred to the infrastructure department and also to the cleaning services enterprise, so as it can be solved as soon as possible. About the state of the pavement, it might be at this state because it is a private area, so the neighbours who must repair these problems. However, the Infrastructure Department is doing their search about this issue in order to clarify who is in charge of fixing the pavement. Q: Spanish Classes at Biblioteca: The other issue that I'd like to discuss with you is the Spanish classes at the Biblioteca. My husband and I joined them just over a year ago - I remain impressed by the fact that there are classes available for all ability/experience levels!!! However, I am wiser this year since my return to classes in November. The teacher is a lovely, vivacious young woman, totally committed to helping everyone... However, as a former primary school teacher myself, I realise that she has little

or no resources! In the classroom there is a very old and dated blackboard. I notice that she uses her own laptop and phone for illustration purposes... I will explain more when we meet up. The main issue is that we, ex pats/tourists really benefit from this service and year on year, there is an increasing demand! I reckon the town council needs to review the present situation... Helen Town Hall Answer: Regarding to this situation, the Culture Councillor herself has been told about this complaint in order to supply with the proper materials to the Spanish teacher so as this activity can be improved. Q: Train Stop at Skywalk: Hi Ged & Lou, when we were in g.a in June Irene & I decided to visit the skywalk near the lighthouse which much publicity as a tourist attraction and expense has been shown. We boarded the train going down past the sports hall, when it reached the dead end at the turning circle by the entrance to the walkway we shouted to the driver to let us off but he said no and continued back up the hill and stopped further on, it was to far to walk all the way back again so we continued back home. If I was a bit younger I would have jumped off the train at the turning circle whilst travelling at 2 mph. Why does the tram not stop there, as it is a tourist attraction? No one seems to get

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on or off up and down the hill after the tram leaving the market. Perhaps if it was scheduled to stop at the walkway more people would use it.... Regards THE 2 I'S Answer from Tourist Train: Dear Lou, the nearest stop to the lighthouse is N.12. Years ago we requested a stop at the roundabout, but the police informed us that traffic regulations do not allow it, as the tourist train is a special vehicle. For this reason he signalled it in the place we now have.

Just a reminder to everyone who pays tax out here to the Spanish government. It is soon time to put in your income tax returns. *** The old hotel site in Arenales is changing every month. Although all building work has come to a standstill, the wall in front is now being taken down (see photo) giving the sight of a sea view (see photo) from the coffee shops in the square.

We are sorry that this is not closer, and if possible we will return to this issue for the next campaign. Question for Town Hall: is there anything Town Hall can do about this? What is the reason that train can’t stop at the major attraction? Town Hall Answer: A formal question has been sent to the Municipal Police and the Tourism Department in order to search if there is any possibility to get closer the sky walk the tourist train. Q: Is it true that Health centre in Gran Alacant is losing the Paediatrician surgery? Town Hall Answer: About this hot issue, it is true that the paediatrician doctor is going to be changed by Conselleria for another doctor specialized in general medicine. However, it is Conselleria who has authorized this change because the actual paediatrician doctor had to return to her place of work, so as she could, in case she wants to, or any other paediatrician doctor, come to Gran Alacant in a definitive way.

BARRY’S BITS OF NEWS

One of our mine and Sandra`s dear friends and most valued advertisers of this magazine, Karen from Homefinders, finally lost her brave fight for life after a long illness. She will be missed by so many. There are many lovely tributes to her on various Facebook pages on Gran Alacant.

*** Hopefully all of us living in Europe will soon get the OK of reciprocal status with those Europeans living in the UK. We have heard of residents out here, being frightened of the outcome and looking to go back to the UK. Surely nobody needs to think of such measures as it looks very likely that all will be sorted to our satisfaction. ‘We want a good deal for British ex-pats in Spain as soon as possible in the Brexit talks” Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Spain Simon Manley said during an interview. The ambassador voiced his views and concerns over the Brexit process and the

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huge amount of feedback he has been getting from both London and Madrid. *** Televisions channel 4, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Place in the Sunâ&#x20AC;? programme have been showing buying houses very close to Gran Alacant. Places only 15 minutes and beyond, down the road from us. I think many living here full time, cannot believe that we are living like holiday makers. Anyone thinking of moving out here, can always gain info from this local magazine at www.granalacantadvertiser.com *** Two examples here in pictures of areas where weeds have grown among the nice looking stones. Eventually along comes a council workman who runs the strimmer over the grasses and weeds, which within a couple of weeks, look so untidy again. Why cant the workmen use weed-killer so that they always look so much tidier.

see things picking up and bringing more businesses to our urbanisation. *** The Easy Horse charity shop next to Dialprix is in urgent need of new volunteers for Wednesday and Thursday mornings. No previous knowledge of working in a charity shop needed as full training will be given. Hours are from 10-1pm so no need to get up with a hangover! Call Jan on 640320753 *** There was a large police group on GA one day in March, just before the first roundabout. We often wonder what the police are up to, many times that we see these type of road blocks. Reading various publications out here, they do seem to be really pro active in the number of large arrests that they make. Two big indoor marijuana farms were shut down last month in the area of Elche and Orihuela, where a Spaniard was arrested for the drugs and illegal electricity feed. A Russian was stopped at the Alicante airport with 100,000 Euro hid around his clothing. A Romanian couple arrested with stealing a large quantity of mobile phones. A 60 year old Polish lorry driver weaving all over the road with a load of vegetables, was stopped and arrested. 100 people ran from a restaurant without paying for the bill for a 2,000 Euro banquet.

*** Just a personal advert. My brother is selling up his antiquarian bookbinding business in the UK. Great deals for these sought after pieces of binding equipment. If interested you can contact me on laneinspain@hotmail.com *** New houses out here are still being built at a pace, and new businesses on Gran Alacant are opening for 2017. Nice to

Armed police arrested a man on a train on the Barcelona Girona route who said to other passengers that he was carrying explosives. Also 24 members of a Colombian drugs ring were arrested or the distribution of cocaine. A Belgian man felt the full force of the police in Data Nueva at the airport which involved over 210,000 Euro. 2 men and a woman were caught after

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being culprits for attacking lorry loads of goods. Police found them with drugs, 2 cars, 2 motorbikes, smart phones, laptops and 5 grand in cash. GUARDIA Civil have arrested two Romanian women (age 28 and 38) as they were about to ‘cuddle’-rob an elderly expat couple in La Senieta area of Moraira. The two women had befriended the couple, but a Guardia Civil patrol spotted them putting their hand inside their car to open it – presumably to steal bags inside. These two have in the past been active in our area. *** Talks have taken place over the dangerous left turn into Santa Pola from the Gran Alacant direction of the N332. In the past we have mentioned the idea of closing the left turn and instead, taking the right slip road into Santa Pole. This idea has been shunned because of technicalities. So still many more deaths may take place at this black-spot. So it looks as if a few tins of white line paint might be the answer *** This story is from the Costa Blanca NHW. Please be careful as there are a lot of robberies going on in the area at the moment. Have had our place for 15 years, heard stories from others but never thought it would happen to us my friend and I were travelling back to Alicante airport about 6pm, pulled into the garage just before the airport to fill our car up with fuel, when we pulled away to join the motorway a big black car appeared from the right near where the trucks park, it pulled in front our car to stop us , then a man jumped out the back and opened the passenger door. After shouting something about a map, lent over my friend and took my handbag, passport, phone gone, the garage staff were very nice phoned the police who arrived within Minutes, we followed them to Alicante airport to the police office, made a statement and were told to talk to the airline to see if we could fly. Norwegian airlines, said no. It was all so scary and we couldn't believe how quick they acted, we do remember the car

pulling in the garage very quickly from the motorway so they knew what they were doing and looking for.  We have learnt from this, even if you have to always lock your can when you are in it! Paul & Michele Gift Shop & Hire Shop: Paul and Michele officially opened their new shops on Saturday 18th at the Santara Life Resort.

Recent Floods:

Thank you to Doug Tuthill for sending in these pictures of recent floods on Gran Alacant. If you would like to supply news or info for our next edition, please email: Info@granalacantadvertiser.com

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We are easy to find in El Altet. From Gran Alacant turn off the N332 signposted El Altet. Over the roundabout. Over the traffic lights and we are on the right, before the next roundabout. 10

EL ALTET

There are coffee shops next to us when waiting for that short job to be carried out. For longer jobs drive your car over to us and we will run you home and collect you when your car is ready, if in the Gran Alacant area. EL ALTET

EL ALTET

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EL ALTET

Gran Alacant Advertiser ahora en Español! Para Información sobre precios de publicación contactanos al 676 74 19 83 Las noticias locales traducidas del ingles por Camila. Todas las fotos se pueden ver en la Información redactada en Ingles P: Contenedores de Reciclado: Me gustaría comentar sobre la situación de los contenedores de basura - hay UNO gris en Avda. Escandinavia en la entrada al nuevo mirador de los parapentes. Este contenedor es para los residentes de Brisas del Faro y Balcones del Mar. ¡No es suficiente! He visto como muchas personas ponen todo tipo de basura en ese contenedor ya que no se molestan en caminar hacia los otros que están más lejos... y no los culpo la verdad. También me gustaría mencionar el estado de las aceras en esta zona, ¡dan pena! Puedo enviar fotos si las quieren. Helen Respuesta del Ayuntamiento: En relación a los contenedores de reciclado en Avda. Escandinavia, su queja ha sido transferida al departamento de infraestructura y a los servicios de limpieza para que se solvente lo antes posible. Sobre el estado de la acera, es posible que esté en malas condiciones porque es una zona privada y la reparación cae como responsabilidad de las urbanizaciones. Sin embargo, el departamento de Infraestructura va a estudiar esta situación para determinar quién debe reparar la acera. P: Clases de Español en la Biblioteca: La otra cuestión que me gustaría comentar con usted son las clases de Español en la Biblioteca. Mi marido y yo llevamos un año asistiendo. ¡Estoy impresionada con el hecho de que las clases están disponibles según niveles de habilidad y experiencia! La profesora es encantadora, llena de energía y totalmente comprometida con su trabajo y sus alumnos. Sin embargo me gustaría señalar que, como profesora de escuela retirada, me doy cuenta de que ella no tiene muchos recursos. En la clase hay una pizarra vieja y para los ejercicios que necesitan de fotos o ilustraciones, ella

tiene que usar su ordenador o teléfono privado... Puedo explicar en más detalle cuando nos reunamos. El principal problema aquí es que nosotros, los turistas/residentes nos beneficiamos de este servicio todos los años, y la demanda para estas clases está subiendo. Creo que el Ayuntamiento debe revisar la situación. Helen Respuesta del Ayuntamiento: Sobre esta situación, se ha pasado directamente la queja al Concejal de Cultura, para que se suministren los materiales necesarios a la profesora de Español con el fin de que la actividad mejore. P: Parada del tren en el Faro: Hola Ged y Lou, cuando estuvimos en Gran Alacant en Junio, con todo el gasto y publicidad como atractivo turístico que hemos visto, Irene y yo decidimos visitar el nuevo mirador del faro. Nos subimos al tren en el Polideportivo y cuando llegó a la rotonda del faro, le dijimos al conductor que parara, pero nos dijo que no y dio la vuelta en la rotonda y paró bastante más adelante. Donde paró nos pareció una caminata demasiado larga hasta la entrada al campo, así que no nos bajamos del tren. Si yo fuera un poco más joven, ¡hubiera saltado del tren en la rotonda ya que va a 5km/h! ¿Por que el tren no para ahí, si es una atracción turística? Al parecer no mucha gente sube o baja del tren a partir de la parada del mercadillo. Si tuviera una parada en la rotonda del faro, más personas lo usarían. Saludos I's

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Respuesta del Tren Turístico: Estimada Lou, la parada más cercana al faro es la nº12. Hace años pedimos una parada en la rotonda, pero la policía nos informó que debido a regulaciones de tráfico, no lo podían permitir. Esa es la razón por la que la parada está en otro sitio. Sentimos que no sea más cerca al faro, y si es posible, en la próxima campaña retomaremos está cuestión. Pregunta al Ayuntamiento: ¿Hay algo que el Ayuntamiento pueda hacer? ¿Cuál es la razón por la que el tren no pueda parar en una de nuestras mayores atracciones turísticas? Respuesta del Ayuntamiento: Una pregunta formal se ha enviado a la Policía Municipal y al departamento de Turismo para ver si hay alguna posibilidad de acercar la parada al mirador. P:¿Es verdad que el centro de salud de Gran Alacant va a perder a su pediatra? Respuesta del Ayuntamiento: Sobre este tópico caliente, es verdad que el pediatra va a ser cambiado por otro doctor especializado en medicina general. Pero es Consellería quien ha autorizado este cambio, ya que el pediatra actual tiene que volver a su sitio de trabajo. En el caso de que este u otro pediatra quiera venir a Gran Alacant, lo podrá hacer de forma definitiva. Las noticias de Barry Una muy querida amiga y valiosa anunciante de la revista, Karen, de Homefinders, ha perdido su valiente lucha por la vida después de una larga enfermedad. Muchos la echaremos de menos. Hay tributos y bonitos comentarios en varias páginas de Facebook de Gran Alacant. *** Un recordatorio a quienes les toca pagar impuestos al Gobierno Español. Ya se acerca la hora de hacer la declaración de Renta. *** En el canal británico Channel 4, el programa "Sitio al sol" han estado grabando cerca de Gran Alacant. A sólo unos 15 minutos de aquí. Quien esté pensando en venirse a vivir a esta zona,

puede recibir información a través de la revista en www.granalacantadvertiser.com *** El viejo hotel de Arenales está cambiando mes a mes. Aunque las obras están paradas, la parte frontal del edificio ha sido demolida, dandole vistas al mar a los locales de la plaza. Pueden ver la foto entre las primeras páginas. *** Esperamos que pronto todos los que vivimos en Europa, recibiremos el visto bueno para seguir viviendo aquí. Hemos escuchado como varios residentes están asustados de los resultados y están mirando de volver a Gran Bretaña. Seguramente nadie tiene que pensar en tales medidas, ya que parece muy probable que la situación se resuelva satisfactoriamente. `Queremos un buen trato para los Británicos residentes en España lo antes posible, a través de las discusiones del Brexit', dice el Embajador de España, Simon Manley durante una entrevista. El Embajador dio voz a sus preocupaciones en el proceso del Brexit y la gran cantidad de comentarios que está recibiendo de Madrid y Londres. *** A través de algunas fotos publicadas en está edición, podemos ver dos zonas donde las malas hierbas están creciendo entre las piedras. En algún momento, vendrá un trabajador del Ayuntamiento y cortará estas plantas, para que, en cuestión de semanas, vuelva a estar en la misma situación. ¿Por qué no usan algún herbicida? *** Un comentario personal: Mi hermano está vendiendo su negocio de encuadernación de libros antiguos en Inglaterra. Si alguien está interesado, pueden contactar conmigo a través de laneinspain@hotmail.com *** Además de las continuadas obras de urbanizaciones en Gran Alacant, también hay varios nuevos negocios abriendo para esta primavera. Nos gusta ver como la cosa está mejorando en la zona. *** La tienda de beneficiencia "Easy Horse Charity shop" al lado del Dialprix está

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buscando voluntarios para los miércoles y jueves por la mañana. No es necesario tener conocimiento previo ya que se da una formación completa. El horario sería de 10am a 1pm. Llama a Jan en 640320753 *** En Marzo vimos una gran concentración policial en la rotonda. Muchas veces nos preguntamos que está pasando. Al leer varias publicaciones, parece que están bien preparados viendo la gran cantidad de detenciones. Dos granjas de marihuana han sido cerradas en la zona de Elcha y Orihuela, donde un Español fue detenido por la tenencia de drogas y por uso ilegal de electricidad. En el aeropuerto de Alicante pararon a un Ruso con 100,000€ escondidos entre sus pertenencias. Arrestaron a una pareja Rumana que robaba grandes cantidades de teléfonos móviles. Pararon y arrestaron a un conductor de camiones Polaco que conducía de forma peligrosa. 100 personas se fueron sin pagar una cuenta de 2.000€ en un banquete. La Guardia Civil arrestó a un hombre en un tren de Barcelona-Girona que decía tener explosivos encima. Han arrestado a 24 miembros de una red de narcotraficantes Colombianos por la distribución de cocaína. Un hombre Belga recibió toda la atención de la Policía en el aeropuerto Data Nueva por la tenencia de 210.000€. Dos hombres y una mujer fueron arrestados por atracar camiones. La Policía encontró drogas, dos coches, dos motos, móviles, ordenadores y 5.000€ en efectivo. La Guardia Civil ha arrestado a dos Rumanas (de 28 y 38 años) cuando estaban a punto de timar a una pareja de jubilados en La Senieta- Moraira. Las mujeres se habían acercado a la pareja cuando la Guardia Civil vio como intentaban abrir la puerta del coche probablemente para robar los bolsos.

Estas dos mujeres han estado robando en nuestra zona también. *** Han estado discutiendo la posibilidad de mejorar la peligrosa salida de Santa Pola hacia Gran Alacant en la N332. En el pasado hemos mencionado la idea de cerrar esta salida y usar la vía de incorporación de la rotonda de la gasolinera de Santa Pola. Esta idea se ha desestimado por problemas de carácter técnico. Así que este punto negro seguirá dando que hablar. *** Esta noticia es del periódico Costa Blanca: Por favor tengan cuidado ya que hay muchos robos en la zona en este momento. Hemos estado viviendo aquí durante 15 años, hemos escuchado historias pero nunca pensamos que nos pasaría a nosotros. Mi amigo y yo estábamos yendo hacia el Aeropuerto de Alicante, paramos en una gasolinera para llenar el tanque, al intentar incorporarnos a la carretera, un coche negro se paró enfrente de nosotros, un hombre salió del coche, abrió nuestra puerta y preguntó algo sobre un mapa... acto seguido cogió nuestros bolsos, pasaportes,móviles y demás. Los trabajadores de la gasolinera llamaron a la policía, que llegó en cuestión de minutos. Les seguimos hasta la oficina del Aeropuerto, dimos declaración y nos dijeron de consultar con la aerolínea para ver si nos dejaban viajar. Norwegian airlines nos denegó la subida al vuelo. No nos podíamos creer lo rápidamente que habían actuado, si que nos damos cuenta de que sabían exactamente lo que hacían y lo que buscaban. Hemos aprendido de esta mala experiencia. Incluso si estamos dentro del coche, ¡siempre hay que tenerlo cerrado! Tienda de Regalos y Tienda de Alquiler: Paul y Michele han abierto oficialmente sus tiendas en el Santara Life Resort Inundaciones: Gracias Doug Tuthill por enviarnos estas fotos de las recientes lluvias en Gran Alacant. Si desea suministrar informacion nueva para nuestra proxima edicion, envie un correo electronico a info@granalacantadvertiser.com

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PLAZA MAYOR

MONTERMAR BOWLS & SOCIAL CLUB

Sponsored by The Belfry, The Pub, Bowling Abroad and Avalon

MONTERMAR BOWLS & SOCIAL CLUB MONTE MAR MIXED OPEN.

On the weekend of 18th and 19th February we held our annual Mixed Open competition. We had twenty four teams involved with each playing two games per day. Well done to the winning team from San Luis, June and Keith Jones, Sabrina and Russell Marks. The runners up from Indalo were Mo and Alan Deboer, Lois and Richard Swain.

Also well done to our Monte Mar team Ronnie, Val, Pauline and Barrie on reaching the semi finals. The cake stall was once again a great success, everything was sold by lunch time. Thanks must go to the organisers and helpers for all their hard work. MONTHLY DINNER DANCE. The monthly Dinner Dance was held on February 28th at the Rincon attended by fifty two members. Entertainment was by the popular Andy, who had most members up dancing. A good time was had by all!!!!

MONTE MAR'S FAREWELL DINNER FOR TONY AND ETHEL FINAN. More than fifty members attended a Club Farewell Dinner for Tony and Ethel who have returned to the UK because of Ethel's deteriorating health.The dinner was held at the Belfry restaurant, a big thank you to Paul and his team for there contribution to a great meal and service. Vice Captain Jan Gatward made a lovely cake in appearance and taste, she also presented Tony and Ethel with 120 pounds collected by members for them to buy a present in the UK. Club Captain Ronnie Cairns presented Tony with the Presidents Cup which he won this year. Club Chairman Chris Harding spoke about the support Tony and Ethel had given to the club in their time as members and expressed best wishes to them from all

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MONTERMAR BOWLS & SOCIAL CLUB Sponsored by The Belfry, The Pub, Bowling Abroad and Avalon members. Chris also presented them each with a special medal and plaque to remind them of their time at Monte Mar.Tony made a short speech thanking everyone who contributed to the evening which had been a lovely surprise for them both, and confirmed how much they had enjoyed their time at Monte Mar. The evening ended with a toast to Ethel and Tony.

comeback and it was all square on the last end. When it was the skips turn to bowl Tony was five down and it was looking bleak. Tony, never undersold, launched his last wood into the head. It bounced off a couple of woods and dropped very neatly next to the jack giving Tony's team the game by one shot. They say, “you always remember your last wood”, well Tony certainly will. It will go down as “TONY'S LAST STAND” MATADORS END OF SEASON. With limited resources (a squad of twenty players) the season went well, both on Mondays and Fridays. We struggled at the beginning of the season in both leagues. But the last five weeks we pulled off some good very results, resulting with us finishing 8th on Mondays and 7th on Fridays. Thank you to all Matadors players who turned out for me and a big thank you Vice Captain Gordon Fisher and third selector Joe Ridley. Brian Zelin (Captain). TOREADORS END OF SEASON. Quite a good season for the Toreadors. Like the Matadors we often struggled for players, but we had some very good results. We finished fifth on Mondays and fourth on Fridays. Well done to all the Toreadors and thank you for your support. Also thanks to Jan Gatward Vice Captain and Les bounds selector. We held our end of season lunch at Maritaos Kitchen Gran Alicant it was well attended and everyone had a very enjoyable afternoon. Chris Harding (Captain)

TONY'S LAST STAND. Friday 10th March was sadly the last game for Tony and Ethel for the Matadors. Tony was skip and the trio had a close game with their opposition. They were in front most of the game, but the opposition staged a

PICADORS END OF SEASON. We're at the end of another Fed Fours season and I would like to thank all the players who have played for the Picadors. We had good days and days not so good but what we have done is enjoy the game and the camaraderie between our squad and the opposition. Congratulations to the winners of our division and many thanks to Ken Hope (San Miguel) for running the league. Joan Harding/Chris Merry.

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w TRUST US

M.A.B.S. Gran Alacant Hospice Fund

Raised 900 EUROS 50 CENTS

Molly Maloneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hosted an evening with Miss Lexi legs to raise funds for the M.A.B.S. Hospice Fund. Miss Lexi legs did the show free of charge and put on a show fit for a Las Vegas production with her high kicking, splitting act, and by the way she has a lovely bum! She kept her audience in fits of laughter, her amazing costumes shone like the star who was in them! A wonderful piping hot meal was served by Gavin, David and their staff adding so much to the evening. Thanks go to Aquarius, the Caitlins Bar, Alison from Avon and supporters from all over Gran Alacant for their generous donations of raffle prizes. Margaret Smith was at it again with her amazing raffle ticket sales! I am so glad she is in my gang!!! Thank you all so much for supporting M.A.B.S. without all of you there would not be M.A.B.S. here in Gran Alacant. How amazing would it be if all the bars at different times would support us with events! Our funds would rocket and the M.A.B.S. goal of hospice would be achieved. Thank you all who supported us in this Lexi Event! Thank you Andrew, our very special Lexi legs for being such a caring and gentle man. Jean x

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y a D s â&#x20AC;&#x2122; k c i r t St.Pa Happy Anniversary Andy & Barbara

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ARENALES DEL SOL

Meet the Team Fernando Bravo, Chef and owner of "Nou arches Beach", has over 35 years of experience working in the best kitchens and restaurants of Spain. He has developed a menu which gives a traditional flavour, complemented with light touches of the avant-garde. His cuisine is based on using fresh products, which have been sourced from the local markets, prepared with the Chefs respect for ingredients, to produce delicious dishes. In 1982 he opened his first restaurant and brewery in the Centre of Alicante and it became known as the best in the city. In fact, this restaurant was seen as producing "Mediterranean market cuisine as a gastronomic standard". In 2012, Chef Fernando Bravo and his

excellent team, opened a new restaurant "Nou Arcos Playa" in Arenales del Sol. In this new location he followed in the footsteps of the gastronomic journey he started in the Centre of Alicante. "Nou Arcos Beach" is situated on the beach alongside the Mediterranean Sea and offers the opportunity to experience tasty rice, fish, seafood and meat dishes served with the best Spanish wines. This restaurant has a wine cellar that is stocked with over 120 of the best Spanish wines and Cavas which compliment the exceptional dishes that the Chef creates. The warm, welcoming and friendly atmosphere that Chef Fernando Bravo and his team provide at "Nou Arcos Beach", make it the perfect place to enjoy the delicious food and sumptuous wines.

Free Glass of Cava & Warm Welcome per person with this voucher

ARENALES DEL SOL

Chatter ADVICE I have been resident in Spain, for just over a year now and have lived through all the seasons; experienced busy times, sat through the quiet and enjoyed the changing scene, that is Gran Alacant. I have come out the other side, still living in this little part, of the Costa Blanca and looking forward to a bright new future. A local resident once told me; ‘You wont truly know Spain, until you spend a year living in this country, discovering what it has to offer; you’ll survive or not!’ Well, I have survived, just. There are many things I wish I had known before I came here, many more, I should have taken notice of and an even greater number, I ignored, at my peril. In this months column, I wanted to give those readers, thinking about settling in Gran Alacant the benefit of my advice, after living here for just one year, not a life time, granted, but a long enough period, to at least form opinions and learn from mistakes. Talking to the residents is key to ones success or failure, which is what the column ‘Chatter’, is all about; conversing with the locals, speaking with neighbours and listening to those, who know far more than I. Like most people, thinking about emigrating, I did my research, just no where near enough. Just yesterday, I was asked, if I was enjoying my time in Spain, by someone visiting and thinking about moving to Gran Alacant, permanently; In the main, I can only say good things about this urbanization. Where you live, is a personal choice, it was about practicality, in our case. Living in a region between Benidorm and Torrevieja, gave us a large catchment area in which to work with. The large Expat community in this region, with British investment and

businesses, was a good introduction, to working in Spain. The jobs for someone like myself are limited. I can not speak Spanish fluently, so have to rely on English speaking positions; Gran Alacant is a perfect location for me. Once you have decided you want to move to Gran Alacant, it important to get involved in the local community. The person I met, thinking about moving here, was already settling into their new surroundings, enjoying the many social activities on offer. Expat’s are extremely inventive and resourceful, holding many events in bars and restaurants up and down the Costa Blanca. Take a few minutes out of your day once or twice a week to meet those who live in the neighbourhood, of which you are now a part. If you were a business, you would refer to it as networking; whatever you call it, it is an important part of the integration process. If you are looking for work, paid or unpaid, locals are a great source of inspiration. You have to remember, most of them, have lived here many years, know much about the Spanish system and ways to negotiate your way through the bureaucracy, which can be a nightmare at times! Make sure you start off as you mean to go on. During my year in Spain, even I have seen many people come and go; it is all part of their attitude. Spain is not the United Kingdom, it is different in every respect. Changing the way you think is important, adjust your perspective, participate, and join in. The young especially, come here in holiday mode and never leave that behind. By the end of the first season, they have run out of money, friends and damaged their reputation beyond repair. A combination of drinking, partying to all hours of the morning and an inability to forget the UK, constantly comparing the two, seals most peoples fate. Residents, do not take too kindly to people like this, they do not like opportunists; people who continue to take

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from others and give nothing in return. If you are this sort of person, chances are, you wont last long! Everyone likes a drink from time to time, there is nothing wrong with that. For those who just intend to sit in a bar, day after day, spending more and more money, Spain is really not for them. With alcohol, comes antisocial and disruptive behaviour, something that is a real problem in Britain; this is not acceptable to the vast majority who reside in here. The Spanish way of doing things, is always something to be considered; I am not used to Spanish ways. Everything is so much slower; if you really want to make the most of life in Spain, you will need to adjust to the different pace. You will be living along the Mediterranean, enjoy a southern European culture and a far more relaxed way of doing things. In Britain I was always running around, constantly and like most people, spent most of my time stuck in traffic. I had a huge amount of stress and suffered from sleepless nights, all because of the speed, that we do things, back home. Spain has changed me into a much more placid creature, who has actually enjoyed slowing down! One must prepare oneself for irritations that get under the skin; paperwork, is a Spanish pastime and a huge fact of life. I can not emphasise enough, the mountains of documents you need, to function on a daily basis; NIE number, The Padron, Contracts of Employment, SIP Card, the list is endless! The Spanish have turned form filling into a national pastime. I was rather sarcastically informed, that without the reams of paperwork, unemployment in Spain would be even higher than it is now; It keeps people in work. There is no ‘one stop shop,’ that does everything in Spain, oh no! You have to be prepared to do a lot of walking; they don’t make it easy for you here. We paid someone to do all the ‘donkey work’ for us, which does save a lot of time and

complications. There is a whole industry, built around form filling! Enterprising individuals offering their services to ‘get things done’, relatively quick. I would highly recommend anyone use these people, especially after just arriving in Spain. Remember if the forms aren’t filled in correctly, it’s back to square one! When in possession of all this administration, keep it safe, whatever you do. Do not tamper with it, laminate it or mark it in anyway; it will be rejected, the next time you need it; reapplying would be an avoidable extra headache. Most importantly, take time out of your day to study the Spanish language. I didn’t bother learning any Spanish before I left, one of my biggest regrets. A place like Gran Alacant, does have a large Expat community, all speaking English, but your experience would be much more stimulating and successful, if you can speak and understand a little of the local language. If anything the locals will appreciate you making an effort, no matter how bad it is! So you have made that decision to move to Spain, you have done all the research, before you go and understand, just what you are letting yourself in for; you have said your goodbyes and have set off into the sunset, starting a new life in a foreign land. How fantastic you think, finally no more rain, just sunshine and sangria; what could possibly go wrong? Always think the unexpected, do not take your new surroundings for granted and be mindful of the pitfalls ahead; Everyone will experience them at some point. Stay realistic, set goals and work towards them, above all live as the Spain Spanish do; eat the food, enjoy the fiesta’s and speak the dialect. Then, only then, maybe, you will actually, enjoy everything this beautiful country has to offer!

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Mayka’s Kitchen

Mayka’s Kitchen Hi All, Spring is here !!! This month is Easter and in Spain it is traditionally fish on Fridays. Our recipe is from the Basque country “porrusalda”. Leek and potato stew with cod. Mayka x

Porrusalda

Ingredients • • • • • • • • •

300 gr unsalted cod chopped or sliced 2 leeks 2 large potatoes 2 carrots 3 garlic cloves 1 onion Virgin olive oil Paprika Salt

Let’s Start! *Put the cod in sauce pan with cold water. Once the water boils remove from heat and drain the cod. *In the meanwhile pour a little olive oil in a sauce pan, add the leeks, the finely chopped onion and fry until golden brown. Add diced potatoes, carrots and the water in which the cod was boiled in. Let it simmer on low heat. *Once the potatoes are tender, add the cod and let it cook again. While the broth is cooking, stir-fry the garlic cloves and add to the soup along with the paprika when it’s ready to serve. Enjoy xxx

Que Aproveche!

Enjoy! 42 42

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SANTARA LIFE RESORT

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PILATES AND YOGA 5. Focus: Yoga practice encompasses the spiritual component of the person through physical positions and is a way of life and a philosophy. With Pilates, the mental component is a consciousness of one´s body and is purely a physical awareness as we remember the principles of breathing, control, centre, precision, concentration and fluidity.

I am often asked “so what exactly is Pilates and is it similar to Yoga?” so I thought that this month I would try to explain the similarities and differences of the two disciplines … Yoga means "union" in Sanskrit, and refers to the union of body, mind and spirit. In the same way, Joseph Pilates named his method "Contrology", the complete coordination of mind, body and spirit. Both focus on the complete person. Yoga and Pilates are both low impact and can be performed anywhere, all you need is a mat! NOW LET'S LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCES … 1. Origin: Yoga is an ancient Indian discipline while Pilates is a training system created in the early 20th century by Joseph Pilates, who incorporated yoga and other disciplines, such as martial arts and bodybuilding, to develop his method. 2. Breathing: in both is fundamental, but Yoga uses abdominal breathing and is a guide for the mind when approaching each position, providing a more relaxing effect but in Pilates the breathing is thoracic and with this, activation of the core is key. 3. Objectives: Although both practices work to correct posturea, muscle elongation and physical and mental well-being, Pilates exercises are directed more at strengthening the body and improving muscle tone, whilst Yoga´s positions are more focused on relaxation and mental tranquility. 4. Dynamics of practice: In Yoga positions are constructed first from the extremities (hands, arms, feet and legs) then towards the centre but in Pilates all moves are generated from the central powerhouse (abdomen, buttocks and thighs) towards the extremities.

Both Yoga and Pilates combine body and mind to achieve relaxation and physical wellbeing. And the best thing is that they are two activities that everyone can practice, regardless of their age or physical condition! The main physical benefit of Yoga is to increase flexibility, while if you practice Pilates you will also strengthen and tone your muscles, as well as correcting body posture. Pilates is more of a cardiovascular or physical discipline that will protect you from possible injuries and future illnesses such as osteoarthritis and osteoporosis and can help maintain your range of movement in your daily life. The exercises are much more intense and positions not held for as long as in Yoga. On the other hand, with Yoga you will achieve a tranquil state of mind and relaxation that will help you to get rid of stress and connect the mind with the body through meditation. Both activities are interesting and which one you choose will depend on your personal preference and abilities. Most important of all though is to find a qualified and professional instructor to ensure you are doing it correctly so rather than aggravate any existing conditions, you improve your wellbeing. Gabriela Auzoberria

SANTARA LIFE RESORT

AVDA NORUEGA

PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE TRUST US

WATCH OUT - part II For those of you having read my ”story” in the January edition you might be interested in the even more appalling development in DKV's (my medical insurance company) rejection of covering the costs of my diagnosed kidney operation at the private IMED Elche Hospital. Following my scheduled surgery on the 18th November and the subsequent rejection by DKV to cover the costs, I received on the 1st of February - via the mediator with whom I made the insurance 12 years ago - a proposal from DKV, that I could go ahead with the surgery on the condition that they would pay for the operation if it turned out NOT to be cancer after analysing the tumors when the kidney had been removed. If, however, the analysis proved cancer, I would have to pay for everything out of my own pocket! Obviously, I refused the proposal, pinpointing that nothing in my insurance policy indicates that DKV is/was in any way justified NOT to cover the removal of a kidney as long as it was NOT diagnosed as a cancer-operation. At last, on 13th of February - after 98 (read: Ninetyeight) days - of waiting and numerous one-way e-mails, I received an e-mail directly from DKV explaining that he had decided not to cover the costs - because of the absence of an biopsy. DKV totally ignored the doctor's recommendation NOT to do a biopsy because of the risk of spreading to other organs, should the contents of the tumor turn out to be malignant! Finally, some of you may wonder what happened to my surgery at Elche General Hospital? Not much, I'm afraid. One frustration often doesn't come alone. Murphey´s Law?

On the 15th December I had my final consultation with urologist indicating surgery in January – or in the first week of February at the latest. On the 15th February – two months and several fruitless telephone reminders for an approximate date of admission – I contacted the Urologist without an appointment, but, nevertheless, I was admitted and got the chance to explain my frustration of being kept totally in the dark. Further I told him that we – my wife and I – were increasingly worried about the delay and the potential worsening of my condition. As a consequence he made an ultrasound scanning concluding a status quo. Also, he told me that every fortnight the specialists meet to plan surgeries for the next two weeks. Finally, he told me that since my ”case” is not urgent, surgery will not be until March or perhaps April! This is pretty much in line with what you read in the papers that the average waiting time for surgery at Elche General is 115 days – as opposed to Torrevieja and Viñalopo with a little over 30 days. Rather frustrating, but what can one do when you are allocated to Elche General. Their professionalism untold! In a situation like this it would come in handy with a private health insurance – provided you are with a reliable company. Don't you agree? I'm still waiting for my surgery - and I'm still deeply frustrated over a DKV overruling doctor's recommendations and thereby putting their client's health at risk. Appalling!! Well, AT LAST, on the 01st March I was admitted at Elche General for surgery on the 02nd. On the 06th I was discharged after a successful ”Key Hole” surgery. continued on page 56

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During the stay my right kidney removed and in addition I received an almost overwhelming service and commitment by the doctors and nurses as well as assistants on all levelssurprisingly many of whom spoke at least some English. I can't thank everybody I met at Elche General enough for finally ending my five months of nightmare.

To end my ”story”:

For some unknown, however interesting, reason I was informed of the total cost of my hospitalization and surgery: 1.815,56

€. Exactly the same at IMED would have set me back 11.000€. A difference of more than 9.000€. Thought-provoking!

Final remark.

In fairness to my insurance company (DKV) they actually did contact me one more time after the 98 days of waiting. On the 25th Feb. They sent me an e-mail asking why I had not yet paid my yearly premium! Uffe N.

GASP THEATRE GROUP "Just The Ticket" on 27th and 28th of May Book your tickets !!!

GASP Theatre Group will return to the stage at the Santara Life Resort on the 27th and 28th May with our latest production "Just The Ticket" , a humorous look at life here on the Costa Blanca. Tickets will be on sale shortly, but in the meantime, for further information or to join our international group - no experience necessary - please contact David Ashley on 966 181 113 or email gasptheatre@hotmail.co.uk. We look forward to seeing all our friends and supporters, who make it all worthwhile. As usual, a donation from ticket sales will be made to Cruz Roja, Santa Pola to help in their vital work.

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PERFECT INTEGRATION

Minimalist, modern, rustic, vintage... whatever style you prefer, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an E-STUDIO kitchen for you. Every style has its own features but if there is something they all have in common itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the perfect adaptation of the integrated appliances.

When they go completely unnoticed, they blend in as furniture, achieving a continuity and harmony in the design impossible to achieve otherwise. Refrigerators, ovens, microwaves, coffee makers, wine bars, dishwashers, washing machines... being completely hidden gives a cleaner look, while improving safety for families with young children who like to play with buttons. Built-in washers and dryers are completely hidden behind doors without affecting the design chosen in the rest of the kitchen. Without a doubt, a wide variety of appliances but with a common goal: to integrate into the E-STUDIO kitchen, whatever your style!

Eva & Antonio

Interior Designers

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MONTE Y MAR BAJO

PUERTO MARINO

MONTE Y MAR ALTO

Detached Villa Ref: GA0071 Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 3

Top Floor Apartment Ref: GA0027 Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 1

Ground Floor Apartment Ref: GA0024 Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 1

€299,000

€85,000

MONTE Y MAR BAJO

MONTE Y MAR ALTO

Semi Detached villa Ref: GA0095 Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 3

Top Floor Apartment Ref: GA0016 Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 1

Corner Ground Floor Apart Ref: GA0076 Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 1

€100,000 €199,950

€89,000

PUERTO MARINO

MONTE Y MAR BAJO

ALTOMAR II

Corner Townhouse Ref: GA0051 Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 2

€139,000

Detached Villa Ref: GA0091 Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 3

€210,000

Apartment Ref: GA0157 Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 1

€75,000

WE ARE THE ONLY API REGISTERED AGENT IN GRAN ALACANT EMAIL: info@ga-homefinders.co.uk TEL: 96 669 94 40 Website: www.ga-homefinders.co.uk 60

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www.ga-homefinders.com

GA Homefinders second office in Gran Alacant located on Plaza Mayor is open 10am – 2pm and all clients are welcome.

MONTE Y MAR ALTO

NOVAMAR

ALTOMAR I

Townhouse Ref: GA0017 Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 2

Top Floor Apartment Ref: GA0002 Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 2

Townhouse Ref: GA0068 Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 3

€100,000 €104,995

€149,000

€135,000

MONTE FARO

MONTE Y MAR ALTO

Semi Detached Villa Ref: GA0148 Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 2

Corner Top Floor Apartment Ref: GA0075 Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 1

Townhouse Ref: GA0050 Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 2

€169,000

€92,000

• SALES • HOLIDAY RENTALS • PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

€120,000 Plaza Mayor office open: 10am -2pm Commercial Centre office open: 9.30am -2pm / 3.30pm - 6.30pm

Calle Holanda, 9. Local 9. (Opposite Deutsche Bank office)

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(0034) 966697438 granalacant@opgroupspain.com

ELCHE CAMPO 4 Bedrooms 2 Bathroom Detached Villa Beautifully well maintained spacious country property, set on a large plot and well located. Situated 3km from Elche city centre. 18 minutes drive to Alicante international airport. The plot is a mature garden with a variety of trees. The house has air conditioning, so year-round comfort can be assured. The property benefits from a private pool and garage.

Price: 209,000€

Ref: GAS6

MONTE Y MAR Situated in front of the Communal pool, this Turquesa model town house features a large lounge and dining area. Home office. Air-conditioning. The basement has a bar, kitchen, fridge dining area lounge area a fantastic party room. Beds: 3 Bath: 2 Price: 160,000€ Ref. GAS11 ELCHE CAMPO An impressive quality built country home located on the outskirts of Elche and just 7km from the beach. 6900m plot. Gated 10x5m private swimming pool. Carport, an outdoor storage shed and mature trees. The house has an attractive veranda that wraps itself that overlooks the pool and gardens, Beds: 4 Baths: 3 Price: 319,000€ Ref. GAS25 GRAN ALACANT Situated within a secure gated community with ample parking. Residents have exclusive access to the communal pool. This property would make an excellent rental property as well as a residential / holiday property. Beds: 2 Baths: 2 Price: 82,000€ Ref: GAS28

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SPANISH CLASSES

CLASES DE ESPAÑOL PARA EXTRANJEROS Clases individuales/grupales: Individual and group classes Niveles de acuerdo al Marco Común Europeo de Referencia According to the common European framework of reference levels Precio: 10€/hora – Price: €10/hour Profesora titulada de Español para Extranjeros Entitled teacher of Spanish for foreigners

GENERAL TRANSLATIONS ► Based on Gran Alacant ► Spanish/English Translations ► Doctor & Hospital Appointments ► Shopping & General translations

ELECLASES2016@GMAIL.COM / WHATSAPP 693 483 155 / TEL: 865 669 173

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Out & About with Star & Ashlee Carnival Hi my name is Star and I have been lucky enough to call Gran Alacant my home for over 8 years now. My 7 year old daughter Ashlee and I are often “Out & About” enjoying the local attractions and culture in this part of Spain. Over the next few months I will be sharing some of our experiences with you to encourage you to go “Out & About” yourselves and maybe learn a little bit about this beautiful place we call home.

This month we wanted to share our pictures of the kids from Vincenta Ruso (our school in Gran Alacant) who held their annual carnival celebrations and parade around Novamar on 23rd February. The theme was movies and all the kids looked great!!!! There were adorable little Dumbos, Chimney Sweeps from Mary Poppins and Movie Reels by the kids of Infantil (3-5 year olds). The Primeria kids (6-11 year olds) were Packets of Popcorn, Characters from Flintstones, Wizards of

Oz, Grease, Pirates of the Carribean and Alice in Wonderland. Other teachers and comedor (lunch) monitors were dressed as Ghostbusters and Trolls. The parade was really good fun and there was lots of singing and dancing from the kids. The hard work put in by the teachers and parents, ensured that the day was a great success and everyone had a fantastic time.

Well done!!!! Join us next month for some more fun “Out and About”. Star&Ashlee xxx

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Gran Alacant Carnival

with Star & Ashlee xxx

Out & About with Star & Ashlee

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AVENIDA ESCANDINAVIA

La Piedraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2nd Anniversary

AVENIDA ESCANDINAVIA

What exactly is balayage ? Balayage is a French word that means to sweep or paint and describes this hair colouring technique perfectly. Although this method has been used for a long time, it is becoming increasingly popular as trends have shifted towards a more natural, low maintenance style. Your stylist will discuss with you the look that you would like and then taking into consideration your hair and skin tones, they will create amazing combinations of colours to give the appearance of natural looking sun kissed hair. The colours are applied freehand so there is no need for foils and the result is completely personal to you. Except for very short cropped styles, Bayalage can be used on all lengths of hair, your stylist can create soft, subtle, natural looking tones or brighter and bolder ones depending on your preference.

So donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t delay, contact Gaby to book your appointment today! 72

AVENIDA ESCANDINAVIA

What to do if a loved one dies in Spain! This is something that many of us here in Spain possibly think about, but don’t really want to dwell on too much. The following is a guideline to the procedures and options available. It may differ slightly to the area you live in, but generally it is a good guide to how the procedures work here in Spain.

In the event of a death:

more. Payment is also required within 24 hours of the death, certainly before the funeral will take place. Once you inform the Bank that there has been a death, half of the bank account (if a joint account), will be frozen for tax reasons. Always ask the Funeral Director for clarification of costs and if you need cheaper options, then ask for this!

1. Call the police. 2. Contact a doctor (if the police do not do this) who will certify the cause of death and issue a certificate of death. 3. A funeral parlour (tanatorio) will be contacted to remove the person (identification has to be provided in order to move the person to the tanatorio). 4. Register the death within 24 hours at the Civil Registry (Registro Civil) which is located in the local Town Hall, However, this is normally carried out by the Tanatorio/ Funeral Director. Please note, the majority of these procedures will normally be carried out in Spanish.

By putting provisions in place for your loved ones, not only are you helping your family to avoid having to make these stressful arrangements, but you are also ensuring that you are treated in a dignified manner. The favourite choice of saying is, “put me in a bin liner and throw me in the garden”, however unfortunately it is not that simple! Most people in the UK would have some kind of cover, yet we move to Spain and put our heads in the sand. There are options to take out pre-paid funeral plans, funeral insurance and life insurance. But the difficult question, is which one to choose?

In Spain burial or cremation will normally take place within 24 to 48 hours of death. The quickness of this final procedure is not for legal reasons, but is mainly the custom of Spanish people. Years ago, it was a necessity to have the body cremated or buried as quickly as possible, due to the very hot climate. This has now become a custom of most Spanish people and of course there is a cost element by keeping their loved ones in the Tanatoria for too long! Also, many Spanish families will take out a family funeral insurance which they pay from a very early age, until the time of need is upon them.

Funeral Plans: When choosing a plan, if you follow these basic principles and do your homework on the Company which you choose, then you can rest assured that the plan will be available for your loved ones at the time of need. • Do research – Ensure the company that you choose have been trading for many years in Spain. This will give you the confidence that they are established and their plans work. Talk to friends and family who have plans, look the companies up on the internet. • Terms and Conditions – Ask to see these and read them. Check that there is nothing additional to pay at the time of death. IVA (21%) is currently charged at the time of death with some Companies. Ask the question! “Do you charge IVA at the time of death”? • Securities – The best way to secure your money for the future is for it to be placed in a managed Trust Fund. Payments that are secured in bank accounts in Spain, can be accessed by individuals of the Company involved and are therefore not 100% safe. • Make sure that your policy has dual cover, which covers you in the UK and Spain. If you are not from the UK, ask if

You may already be aware of the procedure here in Spain, but if not, hopefully you will now understand that funerals in Spain and your home country are very different. The Police or the Doctor will appoint the Funeral Director (so not your own choice), there is no legislation for price capping, or monitoring of service standards by a Government Body and the price of a funeral can vary greatly depending upon the Funeral Director that has been appointed. There will be charges for additional mortuary days required (standard is 2 days), charges for a Minister, Service, type of coffin or urn chosen and

AVENIDA ESCANDINAVIA

there is an option for the plan to cover you in your home country, as well as Spain, after all, you may decide that you want to move back to your home country and of course do not want to lose what monies you have already paid. • Ask about payment options. Can you pay over so many years and is there an option for interest free payments. However… a word of warning, if you pay on instalments, at the time of death ALL funeral plan providers will ask for the balance of the payment. Remember, this is a Funeral Plan that you are buying and not a Funeral insurance and therefore the balance of the plan must be met in full. FUNERAL INSURANCE – Most Insurance Agents, will have the facility to offer Funeral Insurance. Funeral insurance can be taken out from the age of 18 up until 75 (some companies have different acceptance ages). However, once you have taken out the insurance, you can generally continue with the policy until you die, with no forced cancellation due to age. The main advantage with funeral insurance, is you can pay monthly instalments and the insurers will pay out for your death regardless of how long the policy has been in force. Whereas, the Funeral Plan will require the full cost price of the plan to be paid by your estate, prior to the plan being implemented. Also, please be mindful when buying funeral insurance, that many companies will increase the cost price each year, as and when your age increases. There are some companies, that “fix” the annual cost of the plan, for the lifetime of the policy and this enables the insured person, to manage their finances more effectively, with no sudden increase of premiums, which could result in the policyholder having to cancel the policy as they can no longer afford the costs. Another disadvantage for insurance, is if you move away permanently from Spain, you cannot transfer your funeral insurance to the UK (or your home country) and the policy will be cancelled, with no cancellation refund, regardless of how many years you have paid into the policy. For both Funeral Options, most Companies will allow you to nominate your next of kin, record if you wish, what type of funeral you would like, e.g., Catholic, Church of England, Non-religious service, choice of

music, flowers, coffin etc., If you live alone here in Spain, even if you choose not to have a funeral insurance or plan, it is a good idea to document these types of things, either in your Will, or papers, that neighbours will find and it helps to tie up all loose ends in the event of your death. So as you can see, there are advantages and disadvantages for both Funeral Insurance and Funeral plans. When seeking advice from an Agent, please ask if they offer both funeral insurance and funeral plans, you can then have the added security of knowing they are not giving you a biased opinion when trying to sell either Funeral Insurance or Funeral Plans. A decision to buy Funeral Cover, depends on your own personal circumstances, not what benefits the insurance agents in terms of their commissions!! LIFE INSURANCE – Life Insurance, is something which can be taken out by individuals to provide a lump sum amount to their estate after death. However, in Spain, it can take a considerable time for the payment of the capital amount to be paid. Rights of the heirs have to be established, taxes paid, even if a Will has been provided by the policyholder, the time this takes to settle is still very lengthy. As previously advised, Funeral Directors in Spain, require the full settlement of the funeral costs, within 24 to 48 hours after death and certainly before any funeral will take place. There are some life insurance providers that provide a percentage of the capital sum, immediately on receipt of the death certificate, but in many cases, this would not be sufficient to cover the full cost of the funeral. Therefore if you have a life insurance policy in place, although this a responsible action to take, to help your loved ones to settle your legal bills and possible inheritance tax issues following your death, please be mindful, this will not cover the immediate costs for your funeral. If you would like further advice or information for either Pre Paid Plans, Funeral Insurance, Life Insurance or any other type of insurance, then call SOS Insurance – 966787123 / 62275561 www.sosinsuranceinspain.com or call into our office on Avda Escandanavia No 72, Alto 3, Opposite the Health Centre.

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The annual challenge match between the Gran Alacant Lions vs Masons Arms Liverpool ended in victory for the Masons Arms to level the series at 1:1 A great week was had by both teams!

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Estate Agents Victoria, Fiona Edwards and JosĂŠ Luis Llanos (husband and wife) have been established in the fishing village of Santa Pola for more than 30 years. They are able to offer a large range of property on the Costa Blanca and above all a complete aftersale service. All their staff have a good knowledge of the English language and also speak German. All free consultation, property valuation and service is given to those considering selling their property, also an estimated calculation on what they can expect to receive after paying costs. You may call us for an appointment at any time, at our offices situated in Gran Alacant.

Feel at Home

Taxes for Residents & Non-Residents Inheritance tax Spanish wills Applications for fiscal number N.I.E. Application of Spanish Residency Transfer of documents on Spanish vehicles Rent a Car Translations Help with Medical Enquiries Transfer of property ownership Advice on buying and selling in Spain Property Insurance Health Insurance Power of Attorney Advice on Mortgages Advice on Rentals Money transfers with excellent rates to any part of the world at no cost Free consultation

Av.Escandinavia 72, C.C. Altomar II L.10 - 03130 Gran Alacant - Santa Pola sp@victoria.es ga@victoria.es www.facebook.com/victoria.inmobilliaria 84

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The Royal British Legion Caring and campaigning for our ex-Service community. The Royal British Legion in Spain. Gran Alacant & La Marina Branch BR 3606.

NEW VENUE

The Gran Alacant & La Marina Branch meets on the First Monday of the month 18:00 at “La Taberna next to Monte & Mar Resturant & Bowls Club, Plaza Mayor (MASA Square) Gran Alacant.

New members always Welcome and you don’t need to be Ex Service to join. Further details from - Robin 96 669 5423 or Brian 639 917 971. Email:granalacant.secretary@gmail.com

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Vall de Seta Yesterday we drove up the above named valley to see the almond blossom and visited several places as suggested by Jose Manuel in the January edition. We actually spoke to him about this area last week... Please thank him for an excellent recommendation!! It was a perfect day, we had lunch at Se Canterrella Restaurant in Tárbena with breathtaking views right down to Benidorm! Dorothy x

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LA MARINA

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Ipswich respectively, although 15 years apart we also both went to college in Ipswich and were both taught by the same tutor in some of our courses. Peter started his training in 1964 in a salon in Bury St Edmunds doing day release at college, Karen started a full-time course in 1980 training as a Ladies hairdresser and doing a separate barbering course.

Peter and Karen Snazell proprietors of CUTS R US Barber Shop and Ladies Hairstylists, Avenida De Londres, Urbanisation La Marina.

Peter moved to a salon in Mildenhall after his training in 1966 and worked with several Greek barbers. Karen joined the

Here is their journey to Spain .... We have been in Spain since December 2007 the salon opened December 14th 2007 and has grown into a thriving business through hard work and commitment. We were both born in Suffolk Bury St Edmunds and

LA MARINA

Peter & Karenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s journey to Spain ...

same salon in 1982, they have worked together ever since. In 1991 we opened our first salon and within 10 years we had four salons and employed 29 staff with us both working full time as well. In that time, we have trained Peters eldest son and his wife to be barbers and they now have 3 salons one of which they purchased of us in 2013 at mateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rates though. Peter has 2 sons from his first marriage they are both now married and have 2 children each one has 2 girls the other has 2 boys. Up until last year Peter was a keen runner, running the New York Marathon in 1999 and running 2 Santa Pola half marathons since we have been here. Unfortunately, he now has a knee injury so can no longer run but has now taken up cycling which is keeping him fit. Karen has not had children but helped to bring up Peterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sons and grandchildren, in my younger days I swam for Ipswich, Woodbridge, and Suffolk. I worked a as lifeguard at the local swimming pool in Ipswich before moving to Bury St Edmunds and working in Mildenhall where I met Peter and the rest is history. We met Barry and Sandra, the previous owners of the magazine at La Marina market and we have been with the magazine ever since. LA MARINA

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FRANCISCO ORAMAS 670 814 581 - DAVID KEAN 615 624 471 OFFICE 966 721 935 OUR SERVICES: CAR RE-REGISTRATION & OWNERSHIP TRANSFER DRIVING LICENCE & MEDICAL CERTIFICATE VEHICLE COLLECTION & DELIVERY FOR ITV (MOT) N.I.E. NUMBER RESIDENT CERTIFICATE LAST WILL & TESTAMENT ANNUAL FISCAL REPRESENTATION

SOCIAL SECURITY – SIP CARD POWER OF ATTORNEY INCORPORATION OF LTD COMPANIES (S.L.) TRANSLATION HERITAGE HANDLING REAL ESTATE: PROPERTY BUYING & SELLING, HOUSE BLUEPRINTS & LICENSES, FULL ARCHITECTURAL & TECHNICAL SERVICES.

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So what’s the deal with dairy? I wanted to take some time to talk about Dairy since well it’s pretty much everywhere whether you’re pouring it over your cereal or into your tea or coffee, spreading it on your toast for breakfast, eating it in a sandwich for lunch, sprinkling it on pasta for dinner or even guzzling down icecream for dessert. Seems to be that one way or another we manage to incorporate this particular food group at nearly every meal, but at what price do we pay for our obsession with our beloved dairy? Cows produce milk for the same reason that humans and all mammals do which is too feed their young. Milk is species specific and is tailor-made for each individuals own species so cow’s milk is suited to the nutritional needs of a calf. The sole purpose of cow’s milk is to nourish their young, turning a 90 pound calf into a 450 pound cow in less than under a year. Beside humans no other animal drinks milk beyond infancy or drinks the milk of another species. So why not drink dog, monkey or rats milk? Cow’s milk is processed into a variety of other delicious products such as cheese, butter, yoghurt, ice-cream and chocolate. There is no denying that these foods are tasty but let us take a little look at some other surprising truths...

When I was a child I was lead to believe like I imagine most of the people reading this were that Dairy especially milk helps us to grow healthy strong bones and even prevents diseases such as Osteoporosis (this is when bone density decreases and bones become fragile and brittle leading to a increased risk of fractures) commonly associated with women and menopause. Unfortunately ladies and gentlemen we have all been duped, yes as a matter of fact all the scientific/medical evidence points in the opposite direction unfortunately, although the dairy industry has done a marvellous job of tricking most us into believing that dairy products are necessary for a healthy well balanced diet, these claims are not actually supported by any scientific data. Here are just a few facts and examples of the havoc that dairy can cause on our bodies. • Approximately 75 percent of the human population has a reduced ability to digest lactose after infancy. • Cow’s milk is the number one cause of food allergies among infants and children, according to the American Gastroenterological Association. “American Gastroenterological Association Medical Position Statement: Guidelines for the Evaluation of Food Allergies”. • Cheese is addictive since it contains proteins called Casomorphins these proteins act as mild opiate which produces a hit of dopamine having a similar affect as narcotics. • Cow’s milk contains both natural occurring hormones and unnatural synthetic chemical hormones; these chemicals disrupt the

Peas & Love with Rachael Tuttle CARABASSI CENTRE

body’s natural hormone balance and have been linked to promoting acne, premature puberty, fertility issues in women, multiple pregnancies and also affect breast cancer, prostate cancer and other hormonedependent cancers such as ovarian cancer. • According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), antibiotic resistance is a major threat to public health worldwide, and the primary cause for this man-made epidemic is the widespread misuse/overuse of antibiotics in livestock. • Many studies show a strong correlation between increased dairy consumption to a much higher risk of osteoporosis. T.Colin Campbell PHD. The China study (2006) ”References--” P. 390-404. • Dairy products are a high source of saturated fat and cholesterol contributing to heart and cardiovascular problems. There are a number of advantages with reducing the intake of dairy and replacing them with alternative dairy free products such as plant based milks since they contain no saturated fat or cholesterol which is beneficial for a healthy heart, plant based milk alternatives also contain no antibiotics or hormones and are normally lower in calories (unsweetened is best), they are more environmentally friendly using a lot less resources such as water and they produce a fraction of the amount of greenhouse gas emissions in comparison to cow’s milk. Oh, and they are also cruelty free. Confusion is often generated by the very industries who want to keep selling their products (even at the potential risk of our health) and to be honest no wonder we are confused. These dominant industries have

a massive influence on what we eat, they spend millions on advertising bombarding us with their products but with today’s technology doing your own research is quicker and easier than ever. There are a lot of different theories and opinions on diet but I think we need to stick to the facts, evidence that is repeatedly proven and supported by data in studies; medical papers and scientific journals are generally reliable sources. Here are a few brilliant, informative and easy to read books I recommend that are written by well known people in both the medical and scientific fields, The China Study - T.Colin Campbell PHD, How not to Die - Michael Greger MD, The food Revolution – John Robbins, all can be found on Amazon. The more we know the better equipped we are to make healthier choices to protect our health and the health of our loved ones, being aware and conscious of what food we choose to eat and put into our bodies has a direct affect on leading us either to optimal health or to a life of possible disease and illness. The knowledge we now poses and with the added bonus of far healthier options available on the market (e.g. almond, soy, rice, and oat milk) it really is in our own hands and is up to us to break out of unhealthy habits.

Peas & Love with Rachael Tuttle

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CWW Electrical Services

Qualified electrician All electrical work undertaken Tel: 617 872 405 *** Contact Clive or Wendy

CARS FOR SALE

PLEASE RING FOR DETAILS

A wife woke up one morning and laned over to give her husband an affectionate kiss. “Don’t touch me!” he barked. “I am dead”. “What on earth are you talking about? she said. “ We are both wide awake”! “I must be”, he replied, “because I woke up this morning and nothing hurts”!

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Lost in Translation. Three men who were a little hard of hearing were walking along the street on a blusterry day. One said, “Windy, isn’t it’? “No” said the second one, it’s Thursday”. The third man said. “So am I. Let’s have a beer’. READ THE MAGAZINE EVERY MONTHCARABASSI AT www.granalacantadvertiser.com CENTRE

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Two senior citizens were discussing their respective husbands over a cup of tea. One said, “I wish I could get Alf to stop biting his nails. It’s such a revolting habit!”. Her friend said, “My Leonard used to do the same. But I managed to cure him of the habit. I hid his teeth!!!” READ THE MAGAZINE EVERY MONTHCARABASSI AT www.granalacantadvertiser.com CENTRE

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The Internet was down for a few hours ... But itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ok because I met some really nice people. Turns out they live in my house .... And claim to be my family!!! READ THE MAGAZINE EVERY MONTH AT www.granalacantadvertiser.com CARABASSI CENTRE

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CLINICA VETERINARIA GRAN ALACANT EXOTICS

Tel: 966 698 569

Liliana Aldeguer Cerdán 793 English translation by Sergio Reina Esteban col 747

ARE MY PET’S DRINKING HABITS NORMAL?

Of course, we mean drinking water. So far, we have never seen an alcoholic pet…

result. When environmental temperature is very high, or after an intense exercise session, the animal will increase water ingestion, but this is not significant. A good way for measuring the quantity of water the pet drinks would be filling the bowl with a ½ liter bottle, and counting how many bottles have we used per day.

When temperatures get warmer, we all drink more water, and this is normal and valid for both people and pets. How can we know if our pet is drinking more than normal? Most owners measure, approximately, the daily amount of food for their pets. Sometimes, they use a measuring glass: half a glass a day, for example. In some other cases, they know they have to purchase a bag of dry food a month, or every 2 months, so, normally the owner knows if the pet is eating more or less than normal. In case of the daily quantity of water, owner’s control is not so strict, so, very commonly, the owner doesn’t know if the pet is drinking more or less than normal when asked. The required daily quantity of water depends on many factors, such as temperature, pet’s level of activity, and the kind of food it’s having (wet or dry food). As a general rule, if a pet (dog or cat) drinks more than 100 ml/kg a day (which would be 1 liter for a 10 kg animal), we can consider it’s drinking too much. Some owners think their pet drinks too much because it uses the water bowl lots of times a day, but the important thing is the final quantity after a 24 hours period. As a matter of fact, it’s recommended to measure the daily quantity for a few days and then obtain the average in order to have a more significant

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Of course, the water an alive being drinks must “come out”, so, sometimes what the owner reports is the pet is urinating too much (not to be confused with “going to the toilet more times”. The important thing in this case is the quantity of urine). In case of a dog, the owner will report it spends longer urinating; in case of a cat, the litter tray will be wetter than normal, and it will require renovating the grit more often. Why is it so important to know if our pet is drinking too much? Because there are several chronic diseases whose main symptom is polydipsia (excessive water consumption). These diseases (diabetes mellitus, Cushing disease, renal failure, for example), are usually mild or even silent at their first stages, so in more cases, the diagnosis is performed later, when the owner feels there is something wrong with the animal. When our pet starts drinking or eating more than normal, normally we don’t get worried and don’t go to see the Vet, while when the problem is the opposite (the animal stops suddenly eating or drinking), we ask the Vet immediately for advice. So, these 3 signs (polydipsia, polyuria and polyphagia: drinking, urinating or eating more than normal), are very easy to detect by the owner and they may give the Vet a very valuable information, even at the first stages of a disease.

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PETS IN SPAIN www.petsinspain.com

Pets In Spain is a website dedicated to the re-homing of abandoned and unwanted animals on the Costa Blanca. Whether you are looking to adopt an animal, advertise an animal or if you simply want to know more about taking care of your pet in Spain, please take a look at our site or Call: 645 469 253 Cindi is a delightful little Chihuahua cross and was found on the campo last week. She is in good health, great with other dogs and the perfect companion. Cindi is around 1 year old and weighs approx 6 kilos.

Robbie is in need of a very special home. He was so desperate to be rescued that he jumped into a ladies car when she stopped at the petrol station. He was completely exhausted and underweight. Robbie also has a few problems - irregular heartbeat and has mini fits now and then but apart from this is such a happy, playful little boy who weighs less than 4kg amd is around 5 years old, good with other dog

Tara has been adopted from our last edition. Bart and Lisa are 10 years old and are brother and sister so are looking for a home together. They are jack Russell cross yorkie and are both micro chipped, vaccinated and neutered. Lisa is the boss and very sweet. Bart is just an old slob who will never fail to greet you or sit beside you or follow you to where ever you are sitting. They work very well together, she sits on him for the warmth and he just lets her. They are both good with other dogs and have been brought up with a cat.

To view more animals for adoption visit our website. If you would like to advertise an animal email: info@petsinspain.info

Tel: 645 469 253

The Charity is run by a team of volunteers CV-01-043388-A CIF No G-54353743

Tel: 600 845 420

K9 CLUB www.k9club.es

The K9 Club is a Registered Animal Welfare Organisation operating within the Alicante Province Two German Shepherd/Corgi Crosses Princess and David are two beautiful short legged German Shepherd crosses we have available for adoption. Both are 18 months old and appear very intelligent. They are adorable, love you to tickle their tummy and are keen to please. Due to their ages, they would adapt quickly to new people and surroundings. Ideally, we would like them to be rehomed together as they have been companions since birth and get on very well together. READ THE MAGAZINE EVERY MONTH AT www.granalacantadvertiser.com

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WHAT’S THAT IN THE CLOT? by Mark Etheridge

Last month I mentioned the Willow Warbler as being the most common summer visitor to the UK, but of course the one summer bird most people will recognise is the Common (or Barn) Swallow, and as you will have probably seen by now, there are plenty of them around right now in Gran Alacant. These are exactly the same birds that you see in Britain, although you should also be aware of the similar Red-rumped Swallow which is also found here but which is very scarce back in the UK. The Common Swallow outnumbers the Red-rumped by about twenty or thirty to one in our area. I was going to say that the best way to get close views of a Swallow at this time of year is to find a muddy patch down in the Clot (the main pool can be particularly good) to watch them collecting mud pellets to build their nests, but of course this year there are going to be muddy patches just about everywhere after the rain we experienced during March! It depends how quickly the mud dries out, but once the birds find a suitable mud patch they will return to it again and again, and you can get close views similar to the one in my photograph. If you look closely, you will see that the bird has collected a strand of grass along with the mud, this will help to bind the mud to the rest of the construction. Nest building takes a lot of effort, requiring an average of 1,300 trips to gather enough pellets of material. A Danish study has shown that males typically do around a quarter of the work, with the most attractive, longest-tailed individuals being

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the least helpful to their mates. As a result, it’s well worth returning to last year’s nest rather than starting afresh, especially if you’re a female that has just flown 10,000km from Africa and is now using up valuable fat reserves to form a clutch of four or five eggs. A good nest may be reused for 10–15 years by a series of different pairs. This is one of the few times in its life that a Swallow will actually land on the ground; you are more likely to see them perched on wires or, of course, showing off their aerobatic skills as they chase flies. But they are quite happy on the ground, unlike the similar (but unrelated) Swift which you will never see on the ground unless it's in big trouble! April is the main nest building time for the Swallows, and they need to build well as the nest may be required for up to three broods this year. Most songbirds use a nest for just a single clutch or season, then build a new one – if they survive to breed again. But one study has showed that most swallows returned to the same area, with 44 per cent of pairs reoccupying the same nest, and if you'd like a new word to impress your friends with, this phenomenon is called philopatry. You can see more photographs of birds from our area by visiting www.marketheridge.smugmug.com See you next month.

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FERAL FRIENDS OF GRAN ALACANT & NEARBY AREAS

Bank account details: 0073 0100 54 0486406431 Iban ES94, Swift OPENESMM

We have no catery, our work is in the streets, fields, roads ...

them, t n a n’t w o d them! u d e Yo e als N m i n A

Finding a home for these two loving bros. is URGENT !!!

Please take your coins to:

• UP THE HILL: Thank you all • GA Services for placing Important Advice for those who help any • Websters Bar them abandoned cat : IF YOU ALREADY HAVE • Dick Turpins CAT/S: You should know that once they have • LOWER GA: lived as ferals they become infected with • Mundo Animal viruses that are high risking YOURS. • Ocean’s Bar If you really want to help, keep them totally • Mayka’s Kitchen´ separated from your cats and talk to a Vet. • Molly Malones´ When called for this cases (Monthly MINIMUM WE ALWAYS ADVISE CORRECTLY TO expenses are +200€) PREVENT THE WORSE.

Foster Homes & Volunteers Needed. Litter, food & material accepted (EXCEPT Generic Market Brand Food. Aldi is ok). Contact: feralfriends.ga@gmail.com, Tel: 697 574 199 (Mon-Sat).

LANGUAGE EXCHANGE GROUP

Gran Alacant is has become an area where many different nationalities are living together. Spanish, English, Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, Dutch or German are the languages you can hear when walking around the area. This a calling to those who would like to join a group to learn, practice and improve your Spanish, English, and so on. I am a language teacher based in this area. I am setting the meetings up so participants enjoy and have a nice time speaking and listening. This is also a good opportunity to meet new people. I am organizing this group so everyone interested in joining, please, contact me.

Tel: 686 760 833 Email: pedro.pasv@gmail.com

JOIN US

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WORDSEARCH WORDSEARCH APRIL FOOLS’ DAY in Spanish or English

Geoff’s 1. What breaks when its height is equal to 3/4 of its depth ? 2. What is Blackadders 1st name? 3. Which British Queen is buried under platform 8 at King's Cross Station? 4. The Clifton Suspension bridge spans which river? 5. What was the name of the Hippo in the children’s TV, Rainbow?

ANSWERS ON MAP PAGE

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SUDOKU Difficulty Rating: EASY To solve the puzzle each 3 x 3 box, each row and each column must contain all the numbers 1 to 9. While the rules of this logic puzzle may be simple, there are numerous strategies to help you solve Sudoku. For hints and information visit www.sudoku.org.uk

3 4 9 6

5 1

9 7

6 3 4

4 5 7

4 7

8 8

2 6 3

5 3

7 9

2 7

7 1

4 8 3

6 5

8 1 5

6 8 1

7 3 6

2 7

3 2 6

1 3

Difficulty Rating: HARD

9 3 4

Difficulty Rating: MEDIUM DOODLE AREA

6 8

1 2

4 5

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Find places of interest, and the locaton of all of our advertisers on Gran Alacant.

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1. CARABASSI CENTRE • ALEXANDRIA • OLIMPO • OCEAN • AQUARIUS • GRAN ALACANT PROPERTIES • SHOOTERS • BROTHER • MAYKA’S KITCHEN • PHOENIX • CAITLINS

2. PLAZA MAYOR • VET GA EXOTICS • AZAFRAN INDIAN • THE PUB • THE BELFRY • PATAGONIA • DARBYS

3. COMMERCIAL CENTRE

• EURONICS ELECTRICAL • HOMEFINDERS • BRICO HOUSE • OP GROUP SPAIN • E-STUDIO • GET FRESH • GLAROS

Church

Dog Park

Playpark

Dialprix

GA Farmacia

Mercadona

New Market

Supermarket QUIZ ANSWERS: 1. A WAVE 2. EDMUND 3. BOADICEA 4. THE AVON 5. GEORGE

Sports Centre

School

ECO Rubbish

Taxi Rank

Police Station

SUDOKU SOLUTIONS from previous page 2 4 9 6 3 5 8 7 1

8 6 3 7 4 1 5 9 2

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1 7 5 2 8 9 6 3 4

3 5 2 8 1 7 9 4 6

6 8 1 9 2 4 3 5 7

4 9 7 3 5 6 1 2 8

9 3 4 1 6 2 7 8 5

7 2 6 5 9 8 4 1 3

5 1 8 4 7 3 2 6 9

6 2 4 1 8 7 5 9 3

7 9 3 5 2 4 1 6 8

1 5 8 6 9 3 4 2 7

4 7 2 9 3 8 6 5 1

9 6 5 2 7 1 3 8 4

8 3 1 4 5 6 2 7 9

5 8 7 3 1 2 9 4 6

2 1 6 8 4 9 7 3 5

3 4 9 7 6 5 8 1 2

3 9 7 5 6 2 4 9 1

6 4 2 8 1 9

1 5 8 3 4 7 5 6 7 9 3 2

8 3 6 4 2 5 9 1 7

2 7 9 6 8 1 3 4 5

5 1 4 7 9 3

7 6 1 2 5 4

9 8 5 1 3 6

4 2 3 9 7 8

2 8 7 1 6 3 2 5 8 9 4 6

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To get your business on our map call ENGLISH : 966 699 167 / ESPANOL: 676 74 19 83

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TAXI SANTA POLA & GRAN ALACANT Tel: 965 41 25 25 24h service - English spoken Accept card payment (VISA, etc)

BALTIKA

4. SIERRA MAR • PATAGONIA No.2 • LA PALETTA • ZEST

5. ESCANDINAVIA

• 5A CHIROPODY & PHYSIO

e c

• 5B LA PIEDRA • 5B GA SERVICES • 5B SOS INSURANCE • VICTORIA • HEMINGWAY • 5C GABY HAIRDRESSING • 5C BAR SIOUX • 5C GA TV • GOOD VIEW • TELECABLE

• • • •

a. DENTIMAR c. LA CESTA e. FRAGOLA Y CIOCCOLATO

6. SANTARA LIFE RESORT • GA INSURANCES • PILATE STUDIO • MICHELE’S GIFT & PAUL’S HIRE SHOP

Medical Centre GA Councillor Municipal Offices Library

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USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS Aquagest 24hr..(water co.) 902 250 170 Aeropuerto 966 919 000 Ayuntamiento-GA 966 697 749 Bus Station 965 130 700 Train Station 902 240 202 Bomberos (Fire) 085 Biblioteca (Library) 966 692 773 Butano gas 966 672 222 Emergency 112 Guardia Civil 062 Guardia Civil 965 411 290 Iberdrola (electric co.) 901 202 020

Library GA 966 697 110 Local Police 092 Local Police 965 411 103 Medical Health Service 966 699 081 National Police 091 Red Cross (Cruz Roja) 965 416 936 Red Cross emergencies 112 Rubbish collection 966 693 955 Suma 965 292 000 Taxi sited at LIDL 96 541 11 11 Telefonica 1004

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GRAN ALACANT BUS & TRAIN TIMETABLES

GRAN ALACANT TOURIST TRAIN TIMETABLE

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FROM 01/4 TO 31/5 MONDAY TO SATURDAY FROM 10:00 TO 14:00 AND FROM 16:00H TO 20:00H SUNDAYS 11:00H TO 14:00H

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All types of BUILDING WORK undertaken From Small Terraces to LARGE EXTENSIONS All WORK GUARANTEED! Give SOL a call on 606 818 442 or E-mail: solbuilders@hotmail.co.uk