Gran Alacant Advertiser April 2018 by Gran Alacant Advertiser

APRIL

2018 ISSUE 159

YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY MAGAZINE SINCE 2005

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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

Hi everybody,

For the first time in Santa Pola the Town Hall organises the Fire, Fiesta and Fair, “Foc, festa y fira” with plenty of activities, concerts etc, from 31st to 2nd at Santa Pola’s Castle.

April is also the month for the magnificent parade of Moors and Christians in Alcoy 21st to 24th, in my opinion it is simply “spectacular”, festival declared of international tourist interest, the only trouble is that it takes the whole day and the main parade is held on the 22nd. More parades of Moors and Christians held this month in: San Vicente del Raspeig, Busot, Banyeres on 23rd to 24th and there are also a very good parades in Onil, Granja and Rocamora. In Alicante on the 12th 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. Hello Everyone, We hope the weather has settled down by the time you read this, really strong winds and cold at the moment. The new school for Gran Alacant has been approved, and work should commence on refurbishing the existing medical centre soon - fingers crossed. Great St. Patrick’s day in Gran Alacant – see pics inside the magazine. Have a good month, Ged & Lou Our little dog Zia and our cat Casper have hidden themselves away in the magazine, can you find them? Last month Zia was on page 34 and Casper on page 60

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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: Telephone Signal I have been asked many times why a mobile phone mast could not be erected along with all of the other antennas outside the health centre, to improve the phone reception on Gran Alacant. Barry Lane Town Hall Answer: First of all, about the telephone signal in Gran Alacant, the formal request to the enterprise, which supplies has been done, in order to achieve a better signal. This request has to be informed about by the Ministry and Conselleria, because the competences related to telecommunications are not municipal but both autonomic and national. As soon as the Town Hall receives the answer to this request, we will inform you in order to provide all the information about this issue.

FOLLOW UPS: As you can see each month it is sometimes difficult to answer a particular question immediately as they have to be transferred to the relevant department. Due to the coalition of 5 partyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in place at Santa Pola Town Hall, some questions are taking a longer time to investigate. We will keep all of your questions on file and keep asking them until we get an answer. Q: Hotel in Arenales: Does Town Hall has any update on hotel in Arenales?

Town Hall Answer: In the former answer about this hot issue, it was exposed that Arenales, and its constructions and buildings, does not depend on Santa Pola. Nevertheless, we asked to Elche City Hall, so as an explanation can be given about this topic by us. Basically, the problem which is involved in the hotel in Arenales is a legal matter related to the urban law and the activity permission, which both are administrative formalities that belong to Elche City Hall. Q: One Way System at the Gran Alacant Entrance roundabout Waiting for Alicante buses outside Consum in Gran Alacant, we see so many accidents at this roundabout as cars turning right into the smaller road having come up from the N332 have only narrow width to turn. Please ask the council to consider making a oneway system at junction of roundabout at Avda de Noruega & Avda del Mediterraneo. No right turn on roundabout other than back down to join N332. Much safer to have new one-way system so cars can only go straight across to go round into new one-way road, past Mercadonna bus stop and large car park by Avda Finlandia. Road round to LIDL all part of one-way system back to main roundabout. Estate bus has now changed its route and goes in circular route only via Avda del Mediterraneo along Avda del Carabassi and up Avda de Noruega. Thank you, Ann Paterson Town Hall Answer: The proposal made by Mrs. Paterson, after being transferred to the traffic technician,

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is now being transformed into a technical report in order to materialize all the options, which can be carried out.

NEWSLETTER FROM THE TOWN HALL Gran Alacant is a part of Santa Pola that the current government team headed by Mayor Yolanda Seva, takes seriously in its government action. This is why in this term the access bridge to Gran Alacant has (finally!) been repaired. We have just seen published in the Official State Gazette and in the Official Gazette of the European Union that a second school for Gran Alacant is finally going to be built. We have managed together with the Department of Education, to submit all the paperwork, in order for the construction of this school be approved. We have given institutional support to the neighbourhood parties, with a great part of the government team assisting them. We have also requested, after the timely drafting of the project, and more than 10 meetings with the Ministry of Health, to build a medical office suitable to the needs of everyone. Currently, we are waiting for the Conselleria to resolve the call for the grant requested for the remodeling of the current office, so that construction of the new one can be carried out.

We have also learned that the Ministry of Transport has launched a bus line from Gran Alacant to Elche, with a stop at the General Hospital, with the consequent advantage that this implies for all. The level of unemployment has decreased in all of Santa Pola, since 2015, by 15 percent, and in Gran Alacant, by 12 percent. This is thanks to the creation of social employment and management plans, that have been carried out by the Local Development Agency, which also has its headquarters in Gran Alacant. We know that these achievements are surely not enough, but we will continue working so that Gran Alacant and Santa Pola advance.

BARRYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BITS OF NEWS: A press release from Loreto Cascales to me on March 3rd explained that maybe, at last, the problem has been solved of turning left into Santa Pola when approaching from Gran Alacant. This turning has been an accident black spot for many years and talks have always been ongoing to come up with the funds to find a solution. It looks distinctly possible that an underpass will be built at this junction. **********

We have also renovated part of the water conduction infrastructure, allowing many families to have adequate pressure in their homes. We have reinforced the presence of Social Services in Gran Alacant, thus serving a very disadvantaged part of the population, which needs our attention and our help. We have also negotiated with the water supply company the creation of special rates for large and single-parent families and for people who are at risk of social exclusion, in order to help people with fewer resources so that they can adequately face the water bill.

See picture attached of the neat and tidy Clot around the benches. Why did it take

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M.A.B.S. would like to thank Bill and Lin Hodges who have retired from M.A.B.S. as treasurers, and welcome Barry and Sandra Lane as our new treasurers. Thank you also Bar Sioux and Pat and friends for their wonderful donation of 150 euros to the M.A.B.S. Hospice fund donated on the loss of a great friend. Thank you very much, Jean Reiterbund a series of pictures from us to get this tidied up. Surely someone from the Town Hall should be looking around Gran Alacant looking to solve these kind of problems. ********** This has got to be the right time to buy a house here in the Gran Alacant area. Cranes are going up everywhere, taking us back to the building heyday of some years ago.

********** I see that Spain is to slash its route charges for airlines to use their airspace. That should send more holidaymakers to the Alicante airport, and then maybe on to us on Gran Alacant. Hopefully the airlines will pass on these price reductions to their customers. Prices are starting to creep up from their low point of recent years. Pictures attached of cranes on Gran Alacant and round the corner at Los Arenales where more and more blocks of flats are being built.

**********

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Walking football: March saw the clubs attendance record broken when 17 players participated in the Gran Alacant Walking Football session on Thursday 8th March at the Gran Alacant Sports Centre. Previous to that we had two turn outs of 16 players so things are really booming with the club. We have also been asked by a Dutch touring team if we would like to join them in a local Oldies Walking football competition on the Costa Blanca. It is a shame we cannot play on grass or astro turf but nothing like that is available to us, players decided to stay playing where we were rather than moving to astro turf in Santra Pola.

No contact….no tacking….means….no injuries, especially when some players are in their 70s and one aged 76. We are mainly just playing for fun, doing as much or as little as each player feels comfortable with. You can plod along or get really involved the choice is yours. We would look to thank Julie and Derek Parker for donating a first aid kit to us and for Ged from the magazine for taking the above photo on the day of the inauguration of our sponsored shirts. For more information and a regular weekly progress update. Email Barry at laneinspain@hotmail.com For more information and a regular weekly progress update. ********** When you go down to the Santa Pola/Gran Alacant beaches this year, you may find your favourite parking spot blocked off and trees planted in their place. Some new parking places have been provided, but others blocked off to help conserve certain areas of land. If you would like to supply news and info for our next edition, please email: info@granalacantadvertiser.com

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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: Señal de móvil: Me han preguntado varias veces, ¿por qué no se pone una torre de telefonía móvil con todas las demás antenas que están colocadas cerca del centro de salud? y así mejorar la recepción telefónica en Gran Alacant. Barry Lane Respuesta del Ayuntamiento: En primer lugar, sobre la señal telefónica en Gran Alacant, se ha hecho una solicitud formal a la empresa suministradora, a fin de lograr una mejor señal. Esta solicitud debe ser informada por el Ministerio y la Conselleria, ya que las competencias relacionadas con las telecomunicaciones no son municipales, sino tanto autonómicas como nacionales. Tan pronto como el Ayuntamiento reciba la respuesta a esta solicitud, le informaremos para proporcionar toda la información sobre este tema

ACTUALIZACIONES:

Como podéis ver cada mes, a veces es difícil contestar algunas preguntas inmediatamente ya que tienen que ser transferidas al departamento correspondiente. Debido a una coalición de 5 partidos en el Ayuntamiento de Santa Pola, algunas preguntas tardan más en ser investigadas. Mantenemos todas las preguntas archivadas y las seguiremos preguntando hasta que nos den una respuesta. Q: Hotel en Arenales: ¿El Ayuntamiento tiene alguna información sobre hotel en Arenales? Respuesta del Ayuntamiento: Como ya se informó sobre este tema

candente, Arenales , sus construcciones y sus edificios, no dependen de Santa Pola. Sin embargo, le preguntamos al Ayuntamiento de Elche, para que poder darles una explicación sobre este tema. Básicamente, el problema en el que está involucrado el hotel de Arenales es un asunto legal relacionado con la ley urbana y el permiso de actividad, que son trámites administrativos que pertenecen al Ayuntamiento de Elche. P:Gran Alacant necesita un nuevo sistema de tráfico En la parada de Autobús hacia Alicante, frente al Consum, vemos varios accidentes en esa rotonda, con los coches que vienen de la N332 y giran hacia su inmediata derecha, es un tramo muy estrecho, por favor, podría el Ayuntamiento considerar otra posibilidad, de manera que cuando vengan de la N332 no giren hacia esta primera y lo hagan en la siguiente,y así para todos los coches que entren en la rotonda desde las otras dos salidas (Avda. Carabassi y Avda. Noruega), asi se evitarían accidentes. El autobús ha cambiado su ruta y circula solo vía Avda. Mediterráneo a lo largo de Avda. Carabassi y hasta Avda. Noruega. Ann Paterson Respuesta del Ayuntamiento: La propuesta hecha por la Sra. Paterson, ha sido transferida al técnico de tráfico, ahora se está realizando un informe técnico para materializar todas las opciones que puedan llevarse a cabo.

COMUNICADO DEL AYUNTAMIENTO Gran Alacant es una parte de Santa Pola que el actual equipo de gobierno, con la Alcaldesa Yolanda Seva a la cabeza, tiene muy presente en su acción de gobierno.

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Es por ello que en esta legislatura se ha reparado (¡por fin!) el puente de acceso a Gran Alacant. Acabamos de ver publicado en el Boletín Oficial del Estado y en el Diario Oficial de la Unión Europea, que por fin se va a construir el segundo colegio de Gran Alacant, desde la Concejalía de Educación hemos hecho todas las gestiones para que se apruebe provisionalmente la construcción del instituto. Hemos dado apoyo institucional a las fiestas del barrio, asistiendo una parte importante del equipo de gobierno a las mismas. Hemos solicitado, tras la oportuna redacción del proyecto, y de más de 10 reuniones con la Conselleria de Sanidad, que se construya un consultorio médico adecuado a las necesidades de tod@s. Actualmente, estamos a la espera de que se resuelva por parte de la Conselleria la convocatoria de la subvención solicitada para la remodelación del actual consultorio hasta que se pueda efectuar la construcción del nuevo. También hemos renovado parte de la infraestructura de conducción de agua, permitiendo que muchas familias tengan la presión adecuada en sus casas. Hemos reforzado la presencia de Servicios Sociales en Gran Alacant, atendiendo así a una parte muy desfavorecida de la población que necesita nuestra atención y nuestra ayuda. También hemos negociado con la empresa suministradora de agua la creación de unas tarifas especiales para familias numerosas y monoparentales y para personas en riesgo de exclusión social, facilitando así que las personas con menos recursos puedan hacer frente dignamente al recibo de agua de sus hogares. También hemos podido saber que la Conselleria de Transporte ha puesto en marcha una línea de autobús de Gran Alacant a Elche, con parada en el Hospital General, con el consiguiente avance que ello implica para tod@s. A nivel de empleo, hemos disminuido el

paro en toda Santa Pola, desde el 2015, en un 15 por ciento, y en Gran Alacant en un 12 por ciento, mediante la creación de las bolsas sociales de empleo y de la gestión de planes de empleo públicos que se han llevado a cabo desde la Agencia de Desarrollo Local, la cual también tiene una sede en Gran Alacant. Sabemos que seguramente no son suficientes estos logros, pero seguiremos trabajando para que Gran Alacant y Santa Pola avancen.

LA NOTICIAS DE BARRY: Un comunicado de prensa de Loreto Cascales el 3 de marzo explicó que tal vez, por fin, se haya resuelto el problema del giro a la izquierda dirección Gran Alacant - Santa Pola. Este desvío ha sido un punto negro en la carretera durante muchos años y las conversaciones siempre han sido permanentes para conseguir los fondos para encontrar una solución. Parece bastante posible que se construya un paso inferior en este cruce. ********** Pueden ver en la foto lo limpio que está la zona del Clot. ¿Por qué solamente tras publicar una serie de fotos han hecho algo para arreglarlo? Deberían tener a alguien del Ayuntamiento encargado de vigilar y resolver este tipo de problemas en Gran Alacant. ********** Este debe ser el momento adecuado para comprar una casa aquí en el área de Gran Alacant. Las grúas están por todas partes, llevándonos de vuelta al apogeo de la construcción de hace algunos años. Los precios están empezando a subir desde su punto más bajo de los últimos años. Fotos de grúas en Gran Alacant y a la vuelta de la esquina en Los Arenales, donde se están construyendo más y más bloques de pisos. ********** España reducirá sus tarifas de ruta para que las aerolíneas usen su espacio aéreo. Esto nos traerá más turistas al aeropuerto de Alicante, y por ello también a nosotros en

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Gran Alacant. Esperemos que las aerolíneas pasen estas reducciones de precios a sus clientes. ********** Walking Fútbol: En marzo se rompió el récord de asistencia del club cuando 17 jugadores participaron en la sesión del jueves 8 de marzo en el Polideportivo de Gran Alacant. Por lo que las cosas están realmente en auge para el club. También nos ha invitado un equipo holandés a jugar contra ellos en una competición local de Oldies Walking Football de la Costa Blanca. Es una lástima que no podamos jugar en césped o césped artificial, pero aquí no hay pistas disponibles para nosotros, los jugadores decidieron seguir jugando donde estamos en vez de moverse al césped artificial de Santra Pola. El juego es sin contacto y sin entradas, lo cual significa sin lesiones, especialmente cuando algunos jugadores están en sus 70, en particular uno tiene 76 años. Jugamos para pasarlo bien, haciendo tanto o tan

poco como el jugador se sienta cómodo. Puede involucrarse más o menos, la elección es suya. Queremos agradecer a Julie y Derek Parker por donarnos un botiquín de primeros auxilios y a Ged de la revista sacar las fotos del día de la inauguración de nuestras camisetas patrocinadas. Para obtener más información y una actualización de progreso semanal. Envíe un correo electrónico a Barry a laneinspain@hotmail.com ********** Cuando baje a las playas de Santa Pola / Gran Alacant este año, puede encontrar su zona de parking favorito bloqueado, ya que han plantado árboles en su lugar. Se han proporcionado algunos lugares de estacionamiento nuevos, pero otros estarán bloqueados para ayudar a conservar ciertas áreas de tierra. Si desea enviar noticias o información para la próxima edición, envíe un correo electrónico a: info@granalacantadvertiser.com

Make a donation or Sponsor a rescued horse

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PLAZA MAYOR

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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. 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. Next meeting on April 2nd (Easter Monday) 18:00 New members always Welcome and you Do Not need to be Ex Service to join. Further details from – Chairman 96 669 5423 or Treasurer 639 917 971. Email:granalacant.secretary@gmail.com Worst Cook in the World After being married for over 40 years to the worst cook in the world, a man arrived home from work one evening to find her in floods of tears. ‘What’s the matter darling?’ he asked. ‘It’s a disaster’, she wailed. ‘The cat’s eaten your dinner’! ‘Don’t worry’, said the husband, comforting her. ‘I’ll get you a new cat.’

PLAZA MAYOR

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PLAZA MAYOR

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. . . t u o b A Out &

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MONTEMAR BOWLS & SOCIAL CLUB

Sponsored by The Belfry, The Pub, Bowling Abroad, Avalon, LoungeD & Rogers

MONTEMAR BOWLS & SOCIAL CLUB Monte Mar Bowls and Social Club Sponsored by The Belfry, The Pub, Bowling Abroad, Avalon, LoungeD and Rodgers Saturday 17th February 422 Competitions We held a 4.2.2 competition where five teams of four bowlers played a game of rinks in the morning then two games of pairs in the afternoon. Although the morning got off to a bit of a shaky start this was very soon sorted out and a great day of bowling was enjoyed by everyone involved. After the game we all retired to LoungeD for a drink, thanks to Lou and Ged for providing the nibbles. Our club captain Ronnie Cairns

presented the winning team Sheila Roberts, John Hunt, Chris and Joan Harding with a bottle of wine each. The wine was kindly donated by Lou and Ged Tuesday 20th February Fed Fours Monte Mar Lords v Siesta Parakeets A good result for the Lords winning on one rink and drawing on one rink. Well

done to the winning rink Tanya Oliver, Jean chamberlain, Joe Ridley and skip Diane Ridley and the drawing rink Lynne Armitage, Jan Gatward, Howie Williams and skip Colin Armitage. Shots Lords 55 – 54 Parakeets Points Lords 5 – 3 Parakeets Sunday 25th February Chicken Run Another successful end of month chicken run attended by thirty nine members. The lady winner was Jean Chamberlain and Peter Wallis the men winner. Peter raffled his chicken raising five euros for the club. Diane Horsington, Lesley Jones, Graham Smyth and Keith Johns won the eggs. The chickens were donated by Jan and Bill Webster, eggs by Joan and Chris Harding. Extra fresh eggs donated by Ian and Julia Hamilton. Friday 23rd February Monte Mar Toreadors v La Manga Crusaders This rounded off a great week for the Toreadors with the second 14 – 0 win of the week. Beating the Crusaders on all rinks, a positive response to the heavy defeat we had at La Manga before Christmas. A big well done to everyone in both matches. Shots Toreadors 154 – 72 Crusaders Points Toreadors 14 – 0 Crusaders Thursday 1st March Fed fours Monte Mar Lords v Quesada Leopards

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MONTEMAR BOWLS & SOCIAL CLUB

Sponsored by The Belfry, The Pub, Bowling Abroad, Avalon, LoungeD & Rogers A good result away at Quesada winning on two rinks and drawing on one. Well done to the teams of Diane Ridley, Colin Armitage and the drawing team of Rod Chamerlain. Shots Lords 59 - 38 Leopards Points Lords 7 – 1 Leopards Friday 2nd March Monte Mar Toreadors v El Rancho Broncos Another good result for the Toreadors winning on all rinks for the third week running. Once again a big well done to everyone, it will be a good boost to our position in the league. Shots Toreadors 144 – 62 Broncos Points Toreadors 14 – 0 Broncos

Winners Jan Webster and Mick Soars

Ladies Invitation

On Saturday 10th March the Monte Mar Bowls Club staged its annual “Ladies Invitation” day in memory of our first Honorary President Bernard Pearce. This year twenty teams took part and each pair played two games of ten ends against drawn opposition. Following the four sessions of play the winners were Jan Webster and Mick Soars who achieved the maximum of four points from their two games with a shot difference of twentyfour. Second were Jan Garward and Dave Roberts who also got four points but their shot difference was sixteen. After the event the club went to Rogers Bar for a lovely buffet provided by the club, the winning couple were presented with the Bernard Pearce Memorial Plaque. It was a lovely “Monte Mar” day much appreciated by all those who took part. For further information about Monte Mar Bowls and Social Club check out our website www.montemarbowls.com or email us at info@montemarbowls.com. We are also on Facebook.

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CARABASSI CENTRE

Chatter

Arrogance and Contempt In February last year I wrote about charity and the good work the people of Gran Alacant do, to help those friends and neighbours who need support, during difficult periods of their lives. I also highlighted the work of other local charities and foundations, who fundraise for causes who would otherwise be forgotten. Much work is carried locally to ensure the most vulnerable in society can live a more comfortable life. All of us are one step away from the hardships misfortune can bring; giving a few Euro’s or some spare time, will at least help alleviate some of the more challenging problems. Local charities the length and breadth of the Costa Blanca do fantastic work and should be congratulated for their efforts. In this months “Chatter” column, I want to talk about the darker side of giving; the large international charitable organisations who squander your hard earned money and have abused your trust donations and good nature. Oxfam has become an organisation, so tainted, that only time will tell if it can survive. Heinous acts of depravity were carried out by its staff, without a thought for those they were abusing; powerful individuals who had dominance over the powerless. Victims of an earthquake in Haiti, became victims once again. In 2008 I became an Oxfam Manager, based in Southampton. It felt good working in an environment, where I was making a difference. I had always been a believer in the work charities undertake and felt comfortable working with volunteers, who had dedicated their lives helping others. For the first few years I enjoyed my time, with this large international charity; not only in paid employment, but also doing my bit, volunteering at various events when I could. I became so engaged in the process

of giving, that even I started volunteering myself, as a mentor and advocate, working for ‘Action For Children.’ Oxfam had instilled a sense of belonging in me and I wanted to give something back to the community I lived in. During my time at Oxfam I attended many conferences and days at Head Office in Oxford. Here the importance of Oxfam’s endeavours was explained in detail. I discovered much I didn’t already know about various appeals and ongoing projects, as well as the workings of this large charity. At first I was impressed; Oxfam was responsible for some truly great initiatives across the World and as its representative, it was up to me to create awareness for the good causes it championed and duly went about my business, raising money for those in greatest need. As a Manager I was expected to go over and above my remit, when promoting Oxfam; arranging functions and charity events in my spare time was commonplace. Everything went well for a number of years; Managers came and went, restructuring was a frequent occurrence and changes were often discussed. All of this uncertainty created a lot of insecurity among the staff and volunteers. My work load increased almost daily; no help was forthcoming from those above. I became disillusioned and angry at the lack of care afforded to myself and colleagues who had dedicated their lives helping others. I raised matters of concern, including issues of safeguarding, but nothing was none to protect those of us who needed defending; we were very much left to our own devises. I left Oxfam in 2016, relocating to Spain shortly afterwards. My pleas for help were disregarded and I chose to resign, moving abroad restarting my life, picking up the pieces left behind by Oxfam’s incompetence. I write about my experiences often, choosing to document

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them, helping others who suffer from work place harassment. I tried to protect vulnerable employees; Oxfam chose to ignore my reports of misconduct and I was no longer prepared to work with such an organisation. When I heard the news, about the abuses carried out by Oxfam staff in Haiti, I was as shocked as anyone. Despite my experiences, working for this large trust, I didn’t believe things were quite as bad as they were. Oxfam chose to cover up my complaints, preferring to close ranks and protect its reputation. What happened to me, is trivial in comparison to the intimidation imposed on desperate people in Haiti, but it is another terrible example of the appalling atrocities committed by charities, disrespecting all those who have played a part in generating income for their campaigns. Many people in Gran Alacant understand just what I went through three years ago. When the news about Oxfam abuses broke, I was inundated with offers of support from those who live here. Everyone in GA has an opinion about what happened; as usual local residents were more than happy to share their impressions with me. ‘Chatter’ is about talking with those who live in this part of Spain, discussing the issues of the day; without their words of wisdom, this column wouldn’t exist. The title of this months entry, ‘Arrogance and Contempt,’ describes the feelings of the vast majority of those I spoke to. I have conversed with many who have cancelled standing orders, others who have volunteered for Oxfam in the past, ex charity workers and residents who have no direct connection to them at all. Not only are they horrified by the scandal unfolding but they are angry, that past abuses were ignored. How many more tragedies have happened since, because Oxfam failed to safeguard its employees, volunteers and those receiving aid?

Fortunately I no longer work for Oxfam; spending over two years away from the injustices that occurred. Today however, the memories of what happened have come flooding back and I have to once again deal with them. Like all of the victims, campaigners for decency, whistleblowers and those still working at the charity, it is time to put right past mistakes. A local resident and friend asked me the other day, what I would like to see happen to Oxfam and those guilty of abuse, harassment and bullying. This is difficult for me, since I worked with them for eight years, believing in their work, but I have to stand up for what’s right! Oxfam need to root out the bullies in their organisation, from top to the bottom. This type of behaviour is hierarchical, past down from Manager to Manager. If my immediate superior was a bully, it goes without saying, someone in the tier above was also. People learn bad behaviour from colleagues who influence them; its these influences that need to be removed. It is not good enough for Oxfam to offer an apology, they need to compensate all those who were casualties. I have seen lives ruined through stress, negligence and an unwillingness to accept responsibility. Oxfam has a lot of hard work to do, to win the trust of the public back. If you are concerned about giving to charity, as I am sure you are, please remember not all non profit organisations are the same. Like most businesses, charities have their fair share of problems. Power hungry individuals, intent on bullying tend to gravitate towards the more vulnerable in society; charities are prime candidates. Lets hope the statutory inquiry, set up by the Charity Commission, finally gets to grips with the problems in the sector. For now, give locally and support those in your local community!

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DRAMA IN A TEACUP The car left the road for the second time; only dropping the front wheel off the sealed surface but it was enough to frighten her into concentrating on the road ahead. She had adjusted the rear view mirror so that she could see the small bundle secured in the back, caring little for following traffic. Not that there was much following her, she was exceeding the speed limit by some margin. Normally a very cautious driver, Alice was now on a mission and the normal rules of the road seemed to have little meaning at the moment. Alice and her partner had lived in the city since they got together. They both had careers and it was convenient to be close to work. However the pressure finally got the better of her and she had decided that working from home was a better option, and it was also more convenient since the arrival of Charlie. She had managed to take him shopping most days and occasionally to the park when the weather was fine but the only other place that he had to play, was on the balcony or the rooftop garden. She wanted something better for him and although all the facilities in the apartment were the very best, she felt there had to be more: he needed room to play. They agreed to move to a house with a garden. Charlie had been playing in the garden. He had until now, only been allowed to be in the house under her immediate supervision but he was now of an age where she had felt that he should be allowed a little more freedom. Still within her view from the kitchen window or conservatory, he was enjoying the adventure and discovery of his new surroundings. Then the horror. She had looked out to see him lying motionless on the ground. Rushing out to him, she could see that his eyes were closed, and his breathing was shallow. No mobile signal. They had chosen to live in the country and were aware that the mobile reception was poor. Having recently changed telephone and internet provider, the service was down until the engineer had been. The whole idea of being isolated and peaceful was suddenly a nightmare. The obvious choice was to get Charlie in the car and drive the few miles to town where, she hoped, the Out Of Hours service was up to the task.

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OUT OF HOURS

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As she secured him in the car, the low clouds were now providing a welcome sprinkling of rain on the parched ground. They were also making the road surface slippery and as evening now descended, the visibility became gloomy. She had put the lights on as she pulled he car out of the drive and joined the main road. Charlie made some reassuring noised as the she took the corners at more than her usual speed. He was wrapped in the shawl that Alice had been given as a Christmas present by a neighbour and only this small beautiful face was poking out, the eyes still closed. She looked again at her mobile to see if reception was any better and that was when the car had left the road and given her such a shock. There was no street lighting for the first part of the journey and she had not put the light on in the back of the car. She could barely make out the image of the small figure in the back. As she approached the edge of the town the rain had eased some and the street lights stared to allow her to occasionally glimpse him. No change. Driving became easier in the well-lit streets and there was no other traffic to affect her. It was not too far to her destination when Alice suddenly began to fear that the place might be closed. She was sure that she was told when they bought the house that there was an Out Of Hours Service but now she began to doubt; was is the same at weekends, what day was it anyway, what colour was that traffic light. She was beginning to panic. The illuminated sign gave her plenty of warning that the left turn she needed was just ahead. Even so, at the speed she was travelling, she had to brake hard in order to make the turn. Alice felt the anti-lock braking system kick in as she pressed hard on the pedal but the car responded well and took her in the direction she wanted to go. There was her destination. The entrance to the car park was not barred and the brightly lit entrance behind the glass doors showed her that the Vetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Out Of Hours Service was open. Charlie was going to be fine.

FIVE MINUTE FICTION

SIERRA MAR

Mayka’s Kitchen

SIERRA MAR

Mayka’s Kitchen Hi all, The good weather is taking its time to arrive but soon we will be on the beach, so this month we are going to make a nice and healthy salad that you can enjoy all year round. Esqueixada de Bacalao ( Codfish salad)

Esqueixada de Bacalao

Ingredients • 400gr codfish with salt • green and black olives • pinch of black pepper • 2 garlic cloves • 1 roasted red pepper • olive oil

Let’s Start! Steam the fish for about 6-10 minutes and set aside. Cut the red pepper into strips and put in a large bowl. Add the onion cut into julienne, then add the garlic cut into slices and the olives (green and black). Mix all the ingredients together. Crumble the fish and add to the mix. Season with salt, pepper and olive oil. This is a healthy and new salad that I hope you all will enjoy. Have a great month. xxx

Que Aproveche!

Enjoy! 42

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ALTOMAR II

MONTE Y MAR BAJO

MONTE Y MAR ALTO

Ground Floor Apartment Ref: GA0015 Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 1

Detached House Ref: GA0125 Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 3

Top Floor Apartment Ref: GA0100 Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 1

€85,000

€239,000

€89,000

MONTE Y MAR BAJO

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BRISAMAR

Semi - Detached Villa Ref: GA0038 Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 3

Top Floor Apartment Ref: GA00127 Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 1

Townhouse Ref: GA0093 Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 2

€290,000

€105,000

€110,000

ALTOMAR I

MONTE Y MAR ALTO

SOL Y MAR

Townhouse Ref: GA0082 Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 3

Top Floor Apartment Ref: GA0064 Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 1

Townhouse Ref: GA0126 Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 1

€129,000

€85,000

€105,000

WE ARE THE ONLY API REGISTERED AGENT IN GRAN ALACANT EMAIL: info@ga-homefinders.co.uk Website: www.ga-homefinders.co.uk

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€134,900

€250,000

€95,000

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SUEÑO AZUL

MONTE Y MAR ALTO

Semi Detached Villa Ref: GA0110 Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 3

Top Floor Apartment Ref: GA0143 Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 1

Top Floor Apartment Ref: GA0098 Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 1

€230,000

€99,000

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GRAN ALACANT - NEW LISTING!

3 Bedrooms 1 Bathroom Apartment

Well priced “Coral” apartment The property is South facing and within easy walking of all amenities, including shops bars, restaurants and also the bus route and a beautiful communal pool. The property consists of a terrace on the ground floor and a private entrance to the stairs which lead up to the front door. An open plan kitchen is situated to the rear of the lounge. The property is being sold fully furnished and is ready to enjoy or to let. This property has excellent rental potential and is an ideal investment property. We have tenants waiting for this kind of property.

Price: 89,000€

Ref: GAS14

GRAN ALACANT - NEW BUILD! This townhouse is located a short walk from the Gran Alacant Commercial Centre where you will find bars, restaurants, cafés, supermarkets and an array of other shops and services. The property is a short walk to the bus stop and there is a regular bus service. Residents have access to a beautiful communal pool Beds: 2 Bath: 2 ..Price: 105,000€ ..Ref. GAS177 GRAN ALACANT - REDUCED! The ground floor features a lounge and dining room with a kitchen to the rear and a utility area. There is a downstairs shower room. The stairs lead down to a large underbuild.The top floor consists of a master bedroom with double built-in wardrobes and a balcony. The second bedroom has a built-in wardrobe. There is a complete family bathroom on this floor. Beds: 3 bath: 2 Price: 114,500€ Ref:GAS199 GRAN ALACANT - NEW LISTING This large townhouse is located in the Brisas del Faro The area is close to amenities, bus routes, the local market square as well as the sports centre. The urbanisation itself has a fantastic communal swimming pool and padel court. The property is being sold fully furnished and ready to move into and enjoy or to let out. Beds: 5 Baths: 4 ...Price: 169,950€ Ref: GAS140

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A paradise of islands for your kitchen

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The kitchen and bathroom of your dreams can be reality. We are awaiting your visit.

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The Reiki Room Harmonious Healing

with Jackie Canale

WHAT IS AROMATHERAPY MASSAGE?

Hello readers, for those who donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know me let me introduce myself, my name is Jackie Canale and I am a Holistic Therapist working in Gran Alacant, promoting holistic well-being wherever I can.

Welcome to April! To reflect on March, a busy month for me, I would like to thank the clients old & new for their visits to the reiki room, lovely to see you all and I would like to thank you for the business, always grateful & I hope to have brought something to your lives! This month I am going to talk about Aromatherapy massage in more depth and what to expect from it!

WHAT IS AROMATHERAPY MASSAGE? Aromatherapy massage is one of the nicest, most relaxing massages you will experience, but at the same time very effective for any ailments you may have. On your first visit to an Aromatherapist let me explain what you should expect. An aromatherapist will carry out a consultation with you, this determines your

medical history, any illnesses or medication you may have or any operations you may have had, it will also ask about some of your typical lifestyle habits and how you are feeling etc. When they have enough information on you they can then determine what essential oils can be used on you and what ones they may not be able to use. An aromatherapist will make the oils specifically to suit the clients needs, there will be no pre-blended/ready to use lotions or oils unless they have been very recently made by the therapist and explained to you prior to massage.

There are literally hundreds of different combinations you can use, relaxing, revitalising, water retention, muscular problems, hormonal/menopausal problems, arthritis, blood pressure, psoriasis/eczema, acne, you name it, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an oil blend for it. During an aromatherapy massage the tension is not hard and you should never leave feeling sore, truth is the essential oils

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all have their special healing properties and they work their magic when administered along with the massage techniques. Essential oils have been around for thousands of years and is still a favourite for their pure healing properties. Certain essential oils may contain antiinflammatories, sedatives, antispasmodics, hormone regulators and many more, all in their pure natural form. I will explain about different essential oils in later issues, but if you would like to know more information in the meantime please feel free to contact me & arrange a free 30-minute consultation to see what treatment would suit you best or to book an appointment for a treatment. All products used at the Reiki Room are made by myself, with love. 100% organic, paraben free, vegan friendly & all essential oils are the highest quality therapeutic grades. THANK-YOU FOR READING…NAMASTE LOVELIES…JACKIE X Tel: 693 018 046 Email- thereikiroom40@gmail.com Facebook: The Reiki Room-Harmonious Healing The Reiki Room is situated in Don Pueblo, close to the Farmacia in Gran Alacant!

GIFT VOUCHERS AVAILABLE Take advantage of my

APRIL SPECIAL OFFER:

30 MIN BACK, NECK & SHOULDER AROMATHERAPY MASSAGE WITH 30 MIN LUXURY AROMATHERAPY FACIAL MASSAGE (INCLUDES MASK, SCRUB, CLEANSE, TONE & MOISTURISE)

FOR ONLY 30 EUROS!!!

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Find Another Husband On his deathbed, a husband gasped weakly to his wife: ‘Please, my dear, I want you to grant me one last wish.’ What is it? she asked. ‘Six month after I die, I want you to marry Ken from next door’. “But I thought you hated Ken’ she said. ‘I do’, said the husband.

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Out & About with Star & Ashlee La Mata and Torrevieja Lagunas and Vineyards

Hi my name is Star and I have been lucky enough to call Gran Alacant my home for over 9 years now. My 8 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 talk about La Mata and Torrevieja Lagunas and vineyards which are located about 40 minutes South of Gran Alacant along the N332. “El parquet Natural de las Lagunas de La Mata y Torrevieja” is it´s official name and it covers a total area of 3,700 hectares. We have visited this Natural Park a few times with friends and it really is a beautiful setting for a nice walk or bike ride with plenty of places to stop and admire the

views of the two lakes or enjoy a picnic. The two lakes are connected via a canal and are artificially linked to the sea. They are used in the salt production process with the La Mata Laguna acting as a heating pool and the salt itself is harvested from the Torrevieja laguna.

In 1989 these lagunas were given the ZEPA (zonas de especial protección para las aves) status, this zone is designed to protect the birds from any development or building in their environment. To help to preserve this area of natural beauty and

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Out & About with Star & Ashlee protect the wildlife, birds, flaura and fauna most of the parkland is not accessible but there are two walking and one cycling route which you can enjoy. The visitor centre, which is open from 0930 – 1400 Mon – Fri and 0900 – 1300 on Saturdays has all of the information you need about the ecosystems and the flora and fauna that can be found in this natural area. You will also find the start of the two walks and one cycle route here.

The 1.4km “Ruta del Vino” walking route takes approximately 40 minutes and is a nice walk to enjoy the different views as you go past the La Mata Laguna and through the vineyards.

The “Yellow Route” is a gentle 5.2km walk. On this route you will be able to see all the varied ecosystems and there are various viewing points to enable visitors to observe the different wildlife and birds. In some areas there are raised boardwalks which give great access for wheelchair users. There is also a 5.2km “Red Route” bike trail. This is not a difficult route, with only one fairly high climb, it has been designed to offer good panoramic views across the laguna but also keeps cyclists away from nesting birdlife. For more information contact the Visitor Centre on: 966 920 404. Join us next month for some more fun “Out and About” Star & Ashlee xxx

Out & About with Star & Ashlee

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BIBLIOTECA INTERNACIONAL GRAN ALACANT SPANISH LESSONS

WE NEED:

• BEGINNERS - Mon & Wed 9:00-10:30 • INTERMEDIATE - Tue & Thur 9:00 - 10:30 • HIGH INTERMEDIATE - Mon & Wed 10:30 - 12:00 • ADVANCED - Tue & Thur 10:30 - 12:00

• Necesitamos personas que hablen inglés fluido para intercambio de idiomas con españoles. • Taller de memoria por las mañanas • Taller de teatro para adultos por la tardes • Si tienes proyectos de carácter social y voluntariado, tráelos a la biblioteca. • Para todo lo anterior ven a informarte y apuntarte a la biblioteca internacional de GranAlacant. Opening Hours: Mon-Fri: 9.30-13.30 & 16:30-19.30 Wed: 9.30-13:00 & 16.30-19.30 Saturday: 9:30 - 13:00

We need people who speak fluently English for Coffee and Talk with Spanish people. • Memory workshop in the mornings • Theater workshop in the afternoons • If you have social and voluntary projects, bring them at the library. • For all, please come to the library to get further information & register.

Further information: Biblioteca Internacional Santa Pola-Gran Alacant Avda. Escandinavia, 31 03130 Santa Pola Phone. 966697110 santapola.biga1@gmail.com

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SANTA POLA

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SANTA POLA

LA MARINA

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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 Qualified teacher of Spanish for foreigners.

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

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CARS FOR SALE

PLEASE RING FOR DETAILS 7474

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GRAN ALACANT GOLF SOCIETY In the March issue we introduced readers to GAGS and gave an insight to our background. We thought for this month we would expand the information on the Course we play – El Plantio Golf.

As mentioned previously the Course is the closest to GA, being circa 15 minute drive. It is located on the A-79, Torrellano to Alicante road, effectively behind the hills facing the Airport. The Course is a parkland style with tree lined fairways, being c6600 yards off the yellow tees (c5600 yards off the reds for the ladies). It is a Par 72 (36 both halves) with 2 par 5’s and 2 par3’s on both sides. Buggies are available to hire and are generally allowed on the course. The layout is mainly flat with just 3 holes that go uphill; consists of fairway bunkers on 7 holes and greenside bunkers on 12. Perhaps the distinctive features of the Course are the water hazards/lakes which come into play on 7 holes. As well as the main course there is a testing 9 hole Par 3 which will hone the short game skills as well as a practice putting green and a driving range which has the benefit of playing off grass rather than mats. The course also has a large bar and eating area within the clubhouse as well as a locker room with showers. There is ample car parking. We hope that has whetted your appetite to join us. New members and/or guests are always welcome, whether a full time resident, someone with your own holiday home for regular visits throughout the year or a holiday maker in the region. We would love to see you. For more information please contact either Barry C (686180585) or Barry D (966183018).

Any creaking oldies out there like me, who would like to move about a bit more. How about getting together for VERY SLOWLY walking football We are a small group who spend most of No walking sticks allowed. the winter here in Gran Alacant. If you are Every Thursday. interested in joining one of our rides look

Group road bike rides from Gran Alacant

For more information email Barry at laneinspain@hotmail.com for start times, venue, and weekly updates.

us up on Facebook Gran Alacant Road Cyclist (Bici Gran Alacant) where ride details are posted.

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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

CHRONIC PATIENTS Most human and animal patients are chronic. Lifespan now is longer than ever: feeding, safety, prevention of diseases… all these things make both humans and animals live longer. Just 10 years ago, we thought a 7 years old dog was an old dog, but nowadays, in most cases, we know it’s going to live for another 7 years. In case of cats it’s even better, because it’s more and more common for them to live 18 or 20 years. In the other hand chronic problems, that are going to be suffered for life in a big number of cases (and are going to need a medical control for life as well), are also becoming more and more common. Some frequent chronic diseases are: hormonal ones, such as diabetes and thyroid or adrenal glands problems; some infectious or parasitic diseases such as leishmaniasis; immunitary diseases such as atopic dermatitis or dry eye; and degenerative diseases such as osteoarthritis, some heart diseases and chronic bronchitis. In most cases, all these diseases will remain for life. Long term medical control of these chronic diseases is as important as a right diagnosis. When a Vet diagnoses, for example, an elbow osteoarthritis in a dog, the following step is establishing a treatment with antiinflammatories, maybe an special diet too (for reducing the weight the joints are supporting), and also some moderate exercise (because in case of osteoarthritis, both violent exercise and lying down all the time are very bad for the joints). But the process has just begun, because the animal will need several checks a year for evaluating and controlling every change that may occur in its condition. In some cases the owner understands a week on anti-inflammatories is enough for getting rid of the problem. Unfortunately, this is

not true. Maybe our dog won’t need the same kind of tablets or the same dosage during its life, but one thing is evident: an animal having a long term treatment with anti-inflammatories will require periodical liver and kidney controls, as well as weight controls. Animal body is a sophisticated machine which implies several systems working coordinately. When any of these systems fail, everything may fail. A diabetic dog with its seric glucose levels under control, may appear to be OK, but their kidneys may be affected by the disease, so periodic controls (apart from blood glucose measurements), become necessary. In some cases we find the opposite problem: a treatment that was prescribed for treating an episodic problem (a gastritis, for example), is been administrated for months because the owner understood the problem would be back when stopping the treatment. If we have any kind of doubt about the prognosis and the duration of a treatment, we should ask the Vet, because some diseases are for life, but the treatment may vary through the different stages of the diseases: a good example everybody will understand is, when you are suffering a refractive error, that’s a problem for life, but the lenses you are going to need are not always the same.

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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 Pickle and Lily came to us after their owner sadly passed away and her disabled husband was unable to give them the care and attention they need. They are 3 years old and are happy, healthy little dogs. They are Pomeranian cross Yorkie and weigh approx 5 kilos. Both Pickle and Lily are chipped, vaccinated and sterilised and they are good with other dogs and cats.

Angus is round 6 years old and looking for a new family. He is chipped, vaccinated and neutered. Angus weighs approx 6 kilos, is good with other dogs and cats and would be best suited to a family with no young children as he can get quite grumpy when pestered

Lucy has been adopted from our last edition. Jacinta is 13 years old and has never know what it is like to live in a home. Her family didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even care enough to give her something to sleep on and all she has known is a hard, cold floor. Jacinta weighs around 14 kilos and looks like a corgi cross Sheltie. She has leish which has been treated and now just needs a tablet a day.

Kify is a 9 year old Pomeranian in desperate need of a new home. He is blind but once he knows his surroundings gets round no problem. He also has epilepsy but is controlled and only has the odd seizure once or twice a year. Kify is great with other dogs and children and weighs around 4 kilos.

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 Faith is a beautiful lab cross about 2 years old, She is very gentle and affectionate although can be a little nervous when she first meets you but will quickly overcome this.She is a medium sized dog, fully vaccinated and vet checked. Faith was very much loved by her previous owners but sadly they were no longer able to care for her.

K9 ANIMAL SHELTER VOLUNTEERS NEEDED K9 animal shelter is moving as our current shelter site is now for sale by the owner. We are moving all our animals to the Pinoso/Raspay area. We are looking for volunteers so if you have a few hours to spare and enjoy working with people or animals, then we would love to hear from you, we have some thing to suit all skills and tastes. If you can spare some time we would love to hear from you.

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

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WHAT’S THAT IN THE CLOT? by Mark Etheridge

BEE-EATER

be able to identify these birds even when you can't see them. It is a far-carrying liquid mellow “quillip” sound (look up “European Bee-eater Song” on Google to hear plenty of examples), and often the first sign that they have arrived is from high-flying flocks as they migrate along the coast northwards during spring. In more than ten years of birdwatching in the Clot, I have noticed that the population of local Bee-eaters varies from year to year. Last year was an average year with the 20 or so birds present, a few years ago it was very hard to find any in the Clot, then the following year

I always thought that the phrase “one swallow does not a summer make” was one of those wise old British sayings which came from the fact that if you see a single swallow in late March, you can expect a similar chilly weather period to the “Beast From The East” which we went through recently here in Blighty. It turns out however that the phrase was coined by Aristotle, and I bet he didn't see 4 feet of snow in ancient Greece during March. The phrase doesn't work in Gran Alacant, the swallows have been around since the middle of February, or even earlier, so is there another bird which you can say is the Spanish harbinger of much better weather? Yes there is, and it will be turning up in mid April – all the local birders will be keeping an eye out for the first ones over the next few weeks. It is the very gaudy, one of the most distinctive and colourful birds we have in our area. The two shown here in my photograph were in the Clot last year, they were with a flock of about 15-20 birds which spent the whole summer here and could usually be seen during the late afternoon coming down to the main pool for a drink and a natter with each other. They do have a habit of chatting away non-stop – once you have heard the very distinctive sound of the bee-eater you will

86 86

you could hardly move without tripping

over one. If this year proves to be poor for the birds in the Clot, fear not – you will still be able to see them in the surrounding countryside, usually perched on telephone wires as they survey their surroundings for prey. As the name suggests, their main victims are bees and wasps. If you are able to get near a feeding bee-eater (find one on a wire, stay in your car and watch) you will be able to see how they wallop a bee on a hard surface – the telephone wire will do – in order to remove the sting, then toss it in the air before swallowing it. 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

WE DON’T HAVE A CATTERY, our work is in the streets, fields, roads ... Colonies like these ones keep on growing over the years due to lack of sterilization programs & The several Fostered cats for life because they were not adopted, some are ill and need life-time medication and Veterinary treatments.

GARAGE SALE

DONATIONS SUCH AS FOOD COULD BE BROUGHT HERE THIS DAY.

27TH OF MAY IN GRAN ALACANT

A one day Event Towards Feral Friends Animals we attend/help:

27TH MAY 2018 - FROM 10,00 TO 14,00 HRS.

Address: Puerto Marino, Avenida Finlandia, 13 - 1 (patio sale). From Round about take right, pass Chinese Restaurant then the 2nd. street to your right till a street before last, very close to Fosters too. Lots and lots of good quality Stuff from a Villa Clearance (all donated to raise funds to continue our animal help) Kitchen and Dining items (some electric goods) lamps,pictures, decoration items. Prices from 0,50 cts. See picture, it´s the corner house, opposite the back part of Mercadona´s parking. Foster Homes & Volunteers Needed. Litter, food & material accepted. (BEST foods Brekkies or from Aldi’s and LIDL’s). feralfriends.ga@gmail.com T: 655 47 41 46 During training exercises, the Lieutenant who was driving down a muddy back road encountered another car stuck in the mud with a red-faced Colonel at the wheel. "Your jeep stuck, sir?" asked the Lieutenant as he pulled alongside. "Certainly not," replied the Colonel, coming over and handing him the keys, "Yours is." Getting older I was in Wetherspoons recently when my stomach started rumbling and I realized that I desperately needed to fart. The place was packed, but the music was really loud so to get relief and reduce embarrassment I timed my farts to the beat of the music. After a couple of songs I started to feel much better. I finished my coffee and noticed that everyone was staring at me. I suddenly remembered that I was listening to my I pod (with ear piece) - and how was your day? (This is what happens when old people start using technology!)

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WORDSEARCH WORDSEARCH: FACE - LA CARA in English or Spanish

Geoffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 1.To whom is the most mail addressed to ? 2. Where do Stoke City play their home matches? 3. Harry Allen was Britains last what? 4. What was the name of the Tractor Driver in Postman Pat? 5. What does a bodger make?

NOW IN OUR 13th YEAR 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

Difficulty Rating: MEDIUM DOODLE AREA

3 4 1

3 8 6

1 9

2 1

9 2

7 3 4

3 1

2 6

2 7 9

3 4 5

7 3

1 2

4 9

5 4

3 2

6 2

8 8 5

1 4

5 3

3 6

Difficulty Rating: HARD

1 2

5 2 9

5 2

9 3 6 9 7

2 1 9

6 8

4 7

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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 • AQUARIUS • GRAN ALACANT PROPERTIES • SHOOTERS • BROTHERS • MAYKA’S KITCHEN • SAKERMAKER

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

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 SANTA CLAUS 2. BRITTANIA STADIUM 3. HANGMAN 4. PETER FOGG 5.CHAIRS

Sports Centre

School

ECO Rubbish

Taxi Rank

Police Station

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

8 1 2 5 7 6 9 3 4

6 4 3 8 2 9 1 5 7

3 8 6 4 5 7 2 1 9

4 2 5 9 1 3 6 7 8

9 7 1 6 8 2 3 4 5

5 3 4 2 6 8 7 9 1

2 6 7 1 9 5 4 8 3

1 9 8 7 3 4 5 6 2

8 3 7 6 5 9 2 1 4

1 2 5 8 4 3 7 9 6

9 4 6 7 1 2 3 8 5

3 1 2 4 9 6 8 5 7

7 8 9 1 2 5 4 6 3

6 5 4 3 8 7 1 2 9

5 6 8 2 3 4 9 7 1

2 7 3 9 6 1 5 4 8

4 9 1 5 7 8 6 3 2

4 1 2 5 3 8 6 9 7

9 5 3 7 6 1

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

6 8 7 4 1 9 2 5 3

1 3 4 2 5 7 9 8 6

2 9 5 6 8 3

7 4 1 8 9 5

3 6 8 1 2 4

5 2 9 3 7 6

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

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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)

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

5. ESCANDINAVIA

• 5A CHIROPODY & PHYSIO

e c

• 5B GA SERVICES • 5B VICTORIA • 5B HEMINGWAY • 5C GABY HAIRDRESSING • 5C BAR SIOUX • 5C GA TV

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

6. SANTARA LIFE RESORT • GA INSURANCES • PILATE STUDIO

• • • •

Medical Centre GA Councillor Municipal Offices Library

GA Advertiser Top Up Delivery Point GRAN ALACANT PROPERTIES - QUICKSAVE - EURONICS - GA SERVICES

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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TOURIST TRAIN STOPS

FROM 01/APRIL TO 31/MAY MONDAY TILL SATURDAY 10:00H TO 14:00H AND FROM 16:00H TO 20:00H SUNDAYS: 11:00H TO 14:00H

Website: www.granalacantadvertiser.com

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