Gran Alacant Advertiser May 2019 by Gran Alacant Advertiser

MAY

2019 ISSUE 172

YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY 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

May has arrived with lots of fiestas and parades of Moors and Christians. Let’s start with the most famous one in Spain, which is held in Alcoy. This year the Alcoy’s festivities have been postponed to May. The 4th of May is the date for the big parade. One of my favourite parades is the one that takes please in Biar. The best day to visit Biar is on the 10th of May when you experience fiesta, tradition, music, fireworks and a lot more. There are, of course, more parades scheduled for May. The programme is more or less as it follows: Petrer 16th to 20th, Muro de Alcoy 10th to 13th, Salinas 27th to 28th. Also there are special events like the one held in Torrevieja from the 8th to 12th called “Feria de Mayo” or “Romería de San Pascual” another popular pilgrimage worth seeing form 17th to 19th in Monforte del Cid – Orito. I also recommend “Las Cruces de Mayo” Cross-of May – when crosses are made with flowers. Come and have a look in la Cruz Street in Santa Pola to get an idea about what it is like. The most beautiful ones are shown in the old quarter of Alicante “Barrio la Cruz” From 7th to 9th of June the international Karate tournament will take place in Santa Pola. That’s all for May my friends. Hello Everybody, We hope you all survived the Easter pour down, apparently the worst for 75 years in Spain at this time of the year! Reports of damage to one of the beach bars and quite a few awnings around the town. As we are now in May most places are starting to reopen for summer as well as a number of new restaurants, which have recently opened, and you can see in this month’s 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 80 and Casper on page 22

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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: Odour of Drains We who live in Spain quickly get over the shock of the particularly pungent odour of drains, which is so typical of this country, but we never quite get used to it. A special shock awaits every Saturday when my wife and I visit Santa Pola mercadillo, outdoor market or 'Mercado al aire libre'. This is an absolutely wonderful market, we buy all our fruit and veg here every week and lots more. It must be a seriously major attraction and money earner for the town. All credit to the many hard-working traders who turn up each week with the most amazing range of merchandise and at such great value. But the aire is anything but libre!

unacceptable. Can you help to get prompt action to this situation, no excuse can be acceptable, it is quite simply uncivilised. Yours, an otherwise proud Santa Pola and Gran Alacant resident, Neil Sherry

Without fail our senses are assaulted each week by the truly appalling smell of drains, effectively - the stink of raw sewage. We have lived in Gran Alacant for 15 years and each Saturday the situation has never changed. It is a terrible, callous insult to both the many thousands of regular shoppers who support this market, and much more to the dedicated traders who pay a fee to Santa Pola for the privilege of using the site. Last Saturday was really awful, we simply could not walk along the bottom rows close to the never to be completed swimming baths. This dreadful smell however, spread across most of the market. Such an embarrassment simply would not be tolerated in England. The engineering of Spain's drains in general is below most European acceptable standards. The particular assault on the senses of thousands of people each week who trade, shop and support the town is unforgivable. Can pressure not be brought to bear on the Town Hall to take urgent action to re-engineer the drains so this does not continue? Local politicians surely must be embarrassed and should be humiliated into taking the most urgent action. This disgusting situation should not be tolerated for another week. I'm sure that I speak for thousands of Northern Europeans who each week find the dreadful smells which linger across the market completely

With regard to the merits of your complaint, we fully agree with you that it is unacceptable to have a treatment plant so close to the open-air market, with all the inconvenience that this entails.

Town Hall Answer: First, thank you for the support you show every Saturday with the local merchants of the market. The truth is that, indeed, it is one of the main sources of income for many families in Santa Pola and Gran Alacant and the City Council is very proud of the magnificent work they do every Monday and Saturday.

Therefore, the City Council, more than 8 months ago, has applied to the Diputaciรณn de Alicante (must take into account that the competition in water management is not municipal since we only have 31,000 people registered between Santa Pola and Gran Alacant, not arriving to the 50,000 people that the law establishes), that authorizes us the transfer to another area of said purification station, in order to improve the conditions in which they take place on Saturdays and Mondays of the market. We hope that the Diputaciรณn de Alicante will answer us soon and get down to work to offer a better service to all citizens. Q: Rubbish Hi Ged & Lou Could you please raise the issue of the rubbish that is outside the shop (just around the corner from Vista Bella restaurant), opposite the new apartment development, in Monte y Mar don't know who is responsible for this but I don't think either the shop owners or the Council have ever cleaned here & it is an eye sore.

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Another eye sore is the bench area on the opposite side of the road to this shop, which is the main road leading down to the beach. The amount of weeds growing there, & also the rubbish, is just awful.

What are we paying local taxes for? Pictures attached of areas mentioned. Keep up the great work Many thanks, Fiona Town Hall Answer: In relation to the dirt and weeds of the areas that you mention, say that your complaint has been transferred both to the gardening department and to the company in charge of street cleaning and collection of urban solid waste. In addition, it has also been transferred to the communities of affected neighbours to proceed, as appropriate, to the elimination of weeds that may cause discomfort in the cited area.

BARRYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BITS OF NEWS:

The earth moved for us all on Gran Alacant during the month of April. No not that, but an earthquake. It measured 4.2 on the Richter scale and shook windows and household objects were made to rattle. It was quite frightening. Now we know why buildings out here are built to withstand these tremours. It was the biggest quake we have experienced in our 16 years living here. A few days later, another, smaller this time at 3.2. on the Richter scale.

Q: School Bus to Santa Pola A reader has asked me to ask the Town Hall why no bus service is provided to take older children from Gran Alacant to the schools in Santa Pola. Parents would even put their hands in their pockets to help with the cost. Town Hall Answer: It is not that the City does not have this school transport service for students of higher education, but that the Ministry does not implement this service for noncompulsory levels of education (i.e., those in which he studies older students). However, the City Council, through the Department of Education, in 2018 took the first call for public subsidies for all students of Santa Pola non-compulsory courses that had to move both within the municipality and outside it. In 2019 the call has not yet come out, but interested people can ask the education department, or be on the web page of the City Council so that they

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do not miss the deadline. The amount of these scholarships ranges from €100 (if the trip is within Gran Alacant or Santa Pola) to €500 if the journey covers distances greater than 50 km. ********** Q: New School Traffic A Facebook reader asked me …. I just wondered if you knew where the relief roads were going to be for the new school, which will be built opposite the Farmacia. If the access is up Escandinavia Ave and turning up the one-way system to the Farmacia then it will be chaos. We just wondered if there were any plans of where the school will actually be situated, as it’s a vast piece of land. Can you please ask the council?

be responsible for the elimination of said waste. In the case of a contract, that is, if the urbanization does not have a specific company, you can contact the company in charge of street cleaning and garbage collection, and this company will rent the corresponding container, as well as collect the vegetable residues that are produced. ********** Progress of the new hotel is racing on. Tons and tons of concrete in cement mixers turning up one behind the other to pour the grey stuff into the expanding area. Not just the hotel in progress here on Gran Alacant, but all manner of new houses going up. The bottomed out house prices are now on the up, so a good time to buy!

The general plan that was made many years ago, had a link road running from the dangerous bend on the road between the GA centre and the Post Office, up to where the new school may one day be built. Town Hall Answer: The City Council commissioned a study on the urbanization of the roads that surround the plot where the next school will be located, in front of the pharmacy. In said study, the engineers show that the traffic will be de-congested since a new road will be opened for cars to circulate around the school, not causing traffic jams on the road that goes up to the Brisa Mar urbanization. ********** Q: Disposal of garden rubbish? Saw a picture on social media. A van pulls up alongside the bins, and fills them with garden produce. This means that residents who use these bins have no room for their own rubbish. Asking Town Hall to explain to us all, where garden rubbish should be disposed of? Town Hall Answer: In relation to your question, the neighbourhood communities or property administrations of the different private urbanizations, when they are ready to prune their green areas, must rent a container (either directly, or through the company that the urbanization has hired for gardening) to deposit all the plant remains on it. In the event that the urbanization has a company in charge of it, said company will

********** Remember when I spoke about the very noisy bar in Benidorm having to be vacated. Many Brits in the area liked it. A few months later it has now been levelled to the ground. There, no more. Talking of many of us enjoying Benidorm, a disability scooter ban is now in place. Where will scooters be able to be used? They have no number plates so perhaps should not be allowed on the roads, particularly as they are not insured, so presume they must be ridden on the pavements! This is not only a problem in Benidorm, but what about all of the electric scooters here, there, and everywhere. Bit of a problem on the horizon! Including here on Gran Alacant. ********** Read in the local press that a 2nd runway for Alicante airport is on the horizon. More visitors and more people using all of the local businesses. 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: Malos olores Aquellos que vivimos en España nos acabamos acostumbrando a los malos olores del alcantarillado, algo bastante típico de este país. Pero, cuando mi mujer y yo visitamos el Mercadillo de los Sábados de Santa Pola, nos encontramos con unos olores repugnantes. Nos encanta este mercado, ahí compramos fruta y verdura semanalmente. Llevamos 15 años viviendo en Gran Alacant y la situación no ha cambiado. Estos malos olores lo sufren las miles de personas que visitan este mercadillo con regularidad. y por no hablar de los puesteros que pagan una concesión para poder usar el terreno. El Sábado pasado fue particularmente horrible, no se podía ni pasar por las filas de abajo. El sistema de alcantarillado en España está por debajo de los estándares europeos. ¿El Ayuntamiento tiene planeado mejorar las alcantarrillas? Los políticos locales deberían estar avergonzados de no tomar acción. Esta situación no debería tolerarse. Creo que hablo por mi y por los miles de residentes que esta situación es inaceptable. ¿Pueden tomar acción inmediata? No hay excusa aceptable, simplemente es una situación incivilizada. Residente de Gran Alacant y Santa Pola Neil Sherry Respuesta del ayuntamiento: En primer lugar, agradecer el apoyo que usted demuestra todos los sábados con los comerciantes locales del mercadillo. Lo cierto es que, efectivamente, es una de las principales fuentes de ingresos para muchas familias en Santa Pola y Gran Alacant y el Ayuntamiento está muy orgulloso del magnífico trabajo que realizan todos los lunes y sábados. En cuanto al fondo de su queja, estamos totalmente de acuerdo con usted en relación con que es inaceptable tener una estación depuradora tan cerca del recinto del mercado al aire libre, con todas las molestias que ello conlleva.

Por ello, el Ayuntamiento, hace más de 8 meses ha solicitado a la Diputación de Alicante (debe tener en cuenta que la competencia en la gestión del agua no es municipal puesto sólo contamos con 31.000 personas censadas entre Santa Pola y Gran Alacant, no llegando a las 50.000 personas que marca la ley), que nos autorice el traslado a otra zona de dicha estación depuradora, para así poder mejorar las condiciones en las que se desarrollan los sábados y lunes del mercadillo. Esperamos que la Diputación de Alicante nos conteste pronto y ponernos manos a la obra para ofrecer un mejor servicio a toda la ciudadanía. P: Basura Hola Ged y Lou Pueden preguntar sobre los escombros y basura que hay en la zona del bazar chino (en la esquina del restaurante Vista Bella), donde se están construyendo más apartamentos. No se quién es el responsable de Monte y Mar pero por lo que parece nunca se ha limpiado. Otra zona que necesita atención es en el otro lado de la calle, la carretera principal que baja a la playa. Hay demasiadas malas hierbas y mucha basura desparramada, es una pena verlo así de desantendido. Para que pagamos los impuestos? He adjuntado fotos de ambas zonas (publicadas entre las primeras páginas) Sigan con el buen trabajo. Gracias y saludos, Fiona Respuesta del ayuntamiento: En relación con la suciedad y las malas hierbas de las zonas que usted menciona, decir que se ha trasladado su queja tanto al departamento de jardinería como a la empresa encargada de la limpieza viaria y recogida de residuos sólidos urbanos.

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Además, también se ha dado traslado a las comunidades de vecinos afectadas para que procedan, en la medida que les corresponda, a la eliminación de las malas hierbas que puedan ocasionar molestias en la citada zona. LAS NOTICIAS DE BARRY: Durante el mes de Abril un terremoto hizo mover la tierra. Con 4.20 en la escala Richter, en las casas se notó bastante, haciendo temblar ventanas y estanterías. Ha sido el terremoto más fuerte que hemos experimentado en los 16 años que llevamos viviendo aquí. Unos días más tarde hubo otro temblor, esta vez más pequeño, con 3.20 en la escala Richter. ********** P: Autobús escolar a Santa Pola Un lector me preguntó por que no hay un autobús escolar para los estudiantes de secundaria que van al instituto de Santa Pola. Los padres estarían dispuestos a pagar una parte para ayudar con los costes. Respuesta del ayuntamiento: No se trata de que el Ayuntamiento no disponga de ese servicio de transporte escolar para el alumnado de cursos superiores, sino de que la Conselleria no pone en marcha dicho servicio para niveles de educación no obligatoria (es decir, aquellos en los que cursa estudios el alumnado de mayor edad).

No obstante, el Ayuntamiento, a través de la Concejalía de Educación, sacó en 2018 la primera convocatoria de subvenciones públicas para todo el alumnado de Santa Pola de cursos no obligatorios que tuvieran que desplazarse tanto dentro del municipio como fuera de él. En 2019 todavía no ha salido la convocatoria, pero las personas

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• Property Management • Key Holding Service • Rentals interesadas pueden preguntar al departamento de educación, o estar pendientes de la página web del Ayuntamiento para que no se les pase el plazo. El importe de dichas becas va desde los 100 € (si el desplazamiento es dentro de Gran Alacant o Santa Pola) hasta los 500 € si el desplazamiento abarca distancias superiores a 50 km. ********** P: Tráfico A través de Facebook me preguntaron: ¿Sabes algo sobre las carreteras secundarias para la escuela nueva? Supuestamente van a construir delante de la farmacia. Si el único acceso es a través del sistema de sentido único que hay ahora, va a ser un caos. Me preguntaba si sabes si hay algún plano para ver donde estaría situado exactamente ya que el terreno es grande." En el plan general de Gran Alacant, se tenía en cuenta un futuro colegio, con una vía de acceso saliendo de la curva de Av. Mediterraneo (entre la rotonda de entrada a Gran Alacant y rotonda de Correos). Respuesta del ayuntamiento: El Ayuntamiento encargó un estudio a sobre la urbanización de los viales que rodean la parcela donde se ubicará el próximo colegio, frente a la farmacia. En dicho estudio, los ingenieros ponen de manifiesto que el tráfico se descongestionará puesto que se abrirá un nuevo vial para que circulen los coches alrededor del colegio, no produciendo embotellamientos en la carretera que sube hasta la urbanización Brisa Mar.

Email: alacantkey@gmail.com T: + 34 665 638 759 T: + 34 642 621 010 P: Restos orgánicos jardín Vi esta foto en las redes sociales (ver entre las primeras páginas): Una camioneta parada y un señor tirando dentro del contenedor ramas y restos de jardinería. Esto deja a los residentes que usan estos contenedores sin sitio para tirar su propia basura. ¿Donde debemos dejar estos deshechos de jardín? Respuesta del ayuntamiento: En relación con su pregunta, las comunidades de vecinos o las administraciones de fincas de las diferentes urbanizaciones privadas, cuando se dispongan a realizar poda de sus zonas verdes, deberán alquilar un contenedor (bien directamente, bien a través de la empresa que la urbanización tenga contratada para las labores de jardinería) para poder depositar en él todos los restos vegetales. En el caso de que la urbanización cuente con una empresa encargada de ello, dicha empresa será la responsable de la eliminación de dichos residuos. En caso contrato, es decir, si la urbanización no dispone de una empresa específica, puede ponerse en contacto con la empresa encargada de la limpieza viaria y recogida de basura, y esta empresa les alquilará el correspondiente contenedor, así como procederá a la recogida de los residuos vegetales que se produzcan. ********** Han anunciado en prensa que van a construir una 2ª pista de aterrizaje en el Aeropuerto de Alicante. Esto significará más turistas y una mejora en la economía. Si desea enviar noticias o información para la próxima edición, envíe un correo electrónico a: info@granalacantadvertiser.com

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MONTEMAR BOWLS & SOCIAL CLUB

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

MONTEMAR BOWLS & SOCIAL CLUB CHICKEN RUN Another successful end of month chicken run attended by thirty four members. The lady winner was Yvonne Yarrow and the men's winner was Dave Thomas. Mary Saunders and Peter Wallis won the eggs. The chickens were donated by Jan and Mick Soars, the eggs were donated by Ian and Julia Hamilton.

END OF SEASON LUNCH On Thursday 28th March we held our end of season lunch at La Piazza. The lunch was well attended by the Matadors and Toreadors. What another great afternoon

enjoyed by all in lovely sunshine. The Captains of both teams thanked everyone for all there support through out the season. CAPTAIN v CHAIRMAN On Saturday 30th March we held our annual Captain v Chairman competition. Played on a lovely sunny morning, it was a very competitive competition played in good humour. This year it was the turn of the Captain's team to win; Chairman Chris Harding presented the cup to Captain Chris Merry and Vice Captain Jan Gatward. Following the competition we all enjoyed a

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MONTEMAR BOWLS & SOCIAL CLUB

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

MONTEMAR BOWLS & SOCIAL CLUB

lovely buffet and drinks at LoungeD. WINTER LEAGUE Wednesday 3rd April This was Monte Mar last match of the season and it was against a lovely team of players from La Siesta. We won on three rinks and lost on two. Afterwards we had a meal at the Belfry restaurant which was enjoyed by all. Winning rinks Pauline Merry, Ronnie Cairns, Danny King skip Chris Merry, Sheila Roberts, Chris Harding, June Young skip Alan Ashberry, Gina Hindle, Harry Dobson, Janet Gatward skip Jack Burrell. Shots Monte Mar 94 – 79 La Siesta. Points Monte Mar 8 – 4 La Siesta. Well done to the squad and thanks from Dave Melville and Chris Merry. 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 THIS MAGAZINE IS NOW IN ITS 14TH YEAR. TRUST US. WE MAKE YOUR ADVERT WORK.

PLAZA MAYOR

C/Holanda 9, bajo 8 Gran Alacant

• • • • • • • • • • •

T: 865 789 554

DENTAL CLINIC PEDIATRICS CARDIOLOGY GYNECOLOGY PSYCHIATRY PSYCHOLOGY OSTEOPATHY PHYSIOTHERAPY AESTHETIC MEDICINE GENERAL PRACTICIONER HOME ASSISTANCE 24H

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WHAT IS DYSLIPIDEMIA OR HIGH COLESTEROL ?

WHAT IS DYSLIPIDEMIA?

It is the alteration of the fats in the blood. Excess fat (cholesterol) in the blood causes a disease called atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is an accumulation of fat in the arteries, which causes decrease in the caliber and therefore decreases the arrival of blood to organs such as the brain and kidney. High cholesterol combined with other risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure or diabetes mellitus, increase the possibility of suffering a heart attack or stroke. There is another type of fat, called triglycerides, which at very high levels can cause inflammation of the pancreas.

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES?

High cholesterol has many causes, but the main cause is the sedentary lifestyle, as well as overweight and obesity; food high in carbohydrates, flours and refined fats or alcohol. It can be accompanied by diabetes mellitus, kidney diseases, thyroid diseases, genetic and hereditary disorders.

HOW IS IT DIAGNOSED?

The rise of cholesterol and triglycerides is asymptomatic and the levels can be known by a blood test. And although there is no universal value considered normal, it is accepted that total cholesterol should be less than 200mg / dl and triglycerides less than 150mg / dl.

PLAZA MAYOR

HOW CAN IT BE PREVENTED?

• The most important thing is to have healthy lifestyle habits, with regular physical activity. • Maintain a normal weight • Limit alcohol consumption • Eat a balanced diet. • Decrease the consumption of sugars, flours and refined fats.

C/Holanda 9, bajo 8 Gran Alacant

T: 865 789 554

www.familydoctors24h.com FAMILY PLAN MEMBERSHIP

WHICH IS THE TREATMENT?

Once the cholesterol and triglycerides are high, it has been shown that regular physical activity decreases blood levels of these.

- 160€ per year per person - 300€ per couple - 560€ Family of 4 - FREE Annual Dentist check & polish - FREE Fluor in children - GP consultations 20€ - 10% discount with specialists - 50% discount emergency home visit - Annual Gynecologist complete revision 75€ - Psychology: 5 session 225€ 10 session 400€ SPECIAL OFFERS FOR MEMBERS

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There also medications available that lower cholesterol, and it is most effective because they prevent the progression of atherosclerotic disease, and decrease the risk of heart attack, stroke and death. To know the risk of cardiovascular disease of each person, it is necessary to visit the doctor who will do a blood test, and interpret it correctly to decide the best treatmet in each case. At Gran Alacant family doctors we have a health unit with multilingual and multicultural professionals at your service.

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The Royal British Legion Caring and campaigning for our ex-Service community. The Gran Alacant & La Marina Branch meets on the First Monday of each month 18:00 at “LoungeD”, Plaza Mayor (MASA Square) Gran Alacant.

NEXT MEETING 6TH MAY 2019 AT 18:00 New members always welcome and you Do Not need to be Ex Service to join.

A demonstration of REIKI will follow this meeting at approx. 18:30 Further details from – Chairman 96 669 5423 or Email:granalacant.secretary@rbl.community

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The Reiki Room

COMMERCIAL CENTRE

Harmonious Healing

with Jackie Canale

International Practicioner of Holistic Medicine, fully licensed & insured

COPING WITH MIGRAINES

Migraines can be linked to intolerances to foods such as wheat or cowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s milk, internal toxicity and sometimes to the menstrual cycle. As many as 90% of migraine cases can be linked to food intolerances. Some can be caused by bacteria and others can be a sign of liver congestion. Weather change, negative stress and lack of sleep can all trigger migraines. If you find you are a sufferer then try some of these natural remedies and see if it may help. FOODS TO AVOID: Cut down on red meat, full-fat dairy produce and eggs. People who eat a diet low in saturated fats tend to suffer fewer migraines. Common triggers are cheese, animalbased dairy produce, red wine, peanuts,

chocolate, coffee, citrus fruits and juices, so avoid or reduce where required. Any foods containing hydrogenated fats (grasas hidrogenadas) and oils should also be reduced or avoided if you are sufferer, so check the back of your foods. FRIENDLY FOODS: Drink at least 6-8 glasses of water daily, especially in the summer months approaching. Keep the body hydrated. Eat plenty fruits and vegetables, preferably organic. Eat more healthy grains, lentils, barley, brown rice, rice crackers, quinoa. Add more turmeric to your diet, as it has

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The Reiki Room is situated in Don Pueblo across from The Life Resort

great anti-inflammatory properties. Fresh ginger & lemon tea daily, the ginger is great for inflammation and the lemon will help to re-alkalise the body and keep the stomach cleansed. Add some fresh rosemary into your foods also very good for inflammation.

Plenty of protein in your diet, fresh chicken, lentils or cooked tofu once a day. Oily fish is rich in omega-3 fats, which naturally thin the blood and reduce the severity of migraines. Eat more organicfarmed salmon, sardines, mackerel and anchovies. Use unrefined sesame, avocado, sunflower and olive oils in your salad dressings. HELPFUL TIPS: Ginkgo biloba helps prevent the blood vessels constricting. Taking 120mg daily has been proven to work with a lot of sufferers. B vitamins are also excellent for preventing headaches.

whilst sleeping this could also be where your problem lies. Over the years grinding often causes the jaw to slip out of alignment which causes the blood flow to be restricted, triggering regular headache/ migraine attacks. Problems with the vertebrae in the neck can also disrupt the blood flow to the brain. See a chiropractor or cranial osteopath, who can help re-align the neck and head.

Alternate cold & warm packs, use for 10 minutes each on the back of the neck to help increase blood flow to the head. Lavender oil, 2 drops neat on the back of the neck can ease it before it worsens and peppermint essential oil, 2 drops in the palm of your hand, rub together & inhale to ease the tension in the head, alternatively, apply 2 drops to a damp face cloth and hold over the forehead for a few minutes. If you are prone to grinding your teeth

Some aerobic exercise, some yoga or meditation are good choices for reducing stress levels. Reflexology or a head massage are great treatments for reducing the headaches.

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SIERRA MAR Mayka’s Kitchen

Revuelto de grelos con chorizo

Hi all This month I have decided to make “scrambled eggs with turnip tops” or what we call “Revuelto de grelos con chorizo”. I’ve been talking to many of our customers and friends about how many of the Spanish dishes are similar to English dishes, but we may use them differently. This dish you may use for breakfast as well as for lunch and you can have many different versions with prawns, or blackpudding or whatever you prefer. This is my favourite one because it uses Galician products. Hope you all enjoy it x

Ingredients for 2 • • • •

FEW TURNIP TOPS 5 EGGS BAMA CHEESE 1 CHORIZO

Let’s Start! Step by step preparation: 1. Wash and cook turni tops for around 20 minutes or until they’re ready 2. Fry chopped chorizo in a dash of olive oil 3. Add turnip tops and sautee for a while so turnip tops lose the extra water 4. Whisk eggs and add chopped cheese 5. Pour eggs and cheese mixture over the turnip tops and chorizo in the pan and scramble at a low-medium heat. And that’s it! Enjoy x

MAYKA’S KITCHEN

SIERRA MAR

. . . t u o b A & Out

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HIKING WITH HEIDI & OLLI THE PATHS LESS TRAVELED

Santomera Reservoir, Murcia

Driving Time: 45 mins Walking Time: 2 hours Google maps directions: Embalse De Santomera, Diseminado Cm Pantano, 1, 30148 Santomera, Murcia,

My name is Heidi and I come from Helsinki, Finland. With my husband Olli-Pekka and our 3 dogs we live in Gran Alacant and enjoy the brilliant Mediterranean climate and possibility of discovering new hiking routes all over our Alicante province and sometimes even a bit further. Ironically, I have a fear of heights, but I love the views from tops of the mountains too much to stay away. Our dogs are getting older so all the hikes need to be suitable for them too as they always go on our adventures with us. I also love photography and always take load of pictures from our hikes.

parking places available.

This is very nice circular route PR-MU 82 on the right side of the reservoir. It’s about 8 km long and it’s an easy hike. The route is very well marked.

We did the route following the reservoir side first and walked back the other side. We saw birds and rabbits, but otherwise it was very tranquil walk with some mountain bikers that passed us by. The whole route took us about 2 hours with a snack break. This hike is suitable for people who do not want to climb much.

Leave your car south from the dam to a small park (see picture) where you can also see the map of the route. There are few

Santomera dam was made in the 60’s to protect the area from Segura river’s floodwaters and is still used for that

THE PATHS LESS TRAVELED

HIKING WITH HEIDI & OLLI THE PATHS LESS TRAVELED

purpose. Its total length at the crest is 205,79 m, with a width of 4 m on the latter. The total height is 51,50 m above its foundations. The crest of the dam is situated at a height of 101,5 and it has a 3 metre wide road which is protected by concrete paving. Always when going on hikes check that: Two pavements 0,5 metres wide run along both sides of the road. • Your Mobile Phone is fully charged Reservoir capacity is 26,29 hm³. • Water - climbing up is hard job & you will need it • Snacks (Remember to take all the garbage The dam area is beautiful and there back down with you!) are lots of birds around, so you may • Have good shoes for walking want to bring your binoculars! If you • Have small first aid kit with you don’t want to walk the route you • Have layered clothes. Up hill might be can just pack a picnic and enjoy the views. Swimming is not allowed in very windy and cold, even on a warm day. the reservoir. Coming down might be chilly, so extra dry t-shirt to change into if needed is not a bad idea Next month we go on foot again, • Always tell someone where you are going Hasta luego, and when you’ll approx. be coming back Heidi & Olli

CHECK LIST

THE PATHS LESS TRAVELED

SANTARA LIFE RESORT

Animals as Teachers By Jemma “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged in the way in which it treats its animals”. Gandhi

A time for everything ...

Hi, I’m Jemma.. I share what I continue to learn from animals through my work as a volunteer with them at www.satanimalrescue.com and at www.easyhorsecare.net This month, I have been reminded of how things can change, moment by moment, day by day , month by month. A lot of new dogs, especially puppies arrive at SAT all the time. Some are homed, some come back from their new homes for various reasons, and some dogs are yet to be rehomed, despite being friendly and attractive. I ponder on this quite often while walking one of these dogs… How are some dogs chosen and some not? I am reminded how it can sometimes feel to us humans; when we attend an interview for instance, and despite having all the right qualities and qualifications we are not selected, or when we are hoping for a partner, and despite being attractive and worthy we are still alone. We may feel rejection and think ‘”Why not me?” I often wonder how the dogs feel when the families come looking and they are not chosen. Perhaps there is a right time, place and person for everything. I certainly like to think this is true. Maybe read Ecclesiastes 3 (yes I know it’s the Bible but lovely words). I have also been made aware of my inner energy this month: at a very basic level if my energy is high, i.e. excitable or anxious, the dog I am with seems to pick up on this and respond in a similar way. If I am feeling a little low and nonchalant, the dog often seems to dawdle or come to a complete stop. So the ability to subtlety respond and then change one’s inner energy at the right time becomes a skill worth cultivating. What is often needed is to sensitively raise your energy when a dog or horse becomes idle or refusing to move, and vice versa if it is hyperactive, agitated and or slightly

aggressive, to breathe deeply and slowly, and calm your energy to help settle the animal down. We can use this understanding when we are in potential confrontational, dangerous or argumentative situations, and amongst those with raised, excitable and possible aggressive tendencies. If we notice how we feel and respond we can then choose to change our inner energetic balance potentially diffusing a full on confrontational, experience … better I think for a peaceful new world.

DOG OF THE MONTH This Please month get it’sin Tommy . Tommy is touch with SAT 5 years old and hasor Easy Horse if you spent nearly all his are atinterested life SAT. Therein volunteering in any are far worse places to live way. Jemma x but nothing beats a real home. He was found In a rubbish bin at around 4 and half months old.Tommy has been rehomed 3 times, coming back because he was too boisterous and over protective of his potential owners when meeting new people, his last home was October 2016. Tommy can bark loudly at first with new people but when I am in his kennel grooming him he is one of the most loving, gentle and appreciative dogs I know. He needs a very special person who has the time, commitment and love to help him settle.

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PUERTO MARINO

ALTOMAR II

Top Floor Apartment Ref: GA0063 Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 1

Ground Floor Apartment Ref: GA0139 Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 1

Top Floor Apartment Ref: GA0137 Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 1

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MONTE Y MAR ALTO

Top Floor Apartment Ref: GA0025 Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 1

MONTE Y MAR ALTO

Townhouse Ref: GA0007 Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 2

BRISAMAR

Townhouse Ref: GA0010 Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 2

€99,950

€107,000

€110,000

PUERTO MARINO

ALTOMAR I

SOLEY PLAZA

Townhouse Ref: GA0047 Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 3

€135,000

Townhouse Ref: GA0039 Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 3

€138,000

Duplex Apartment Ref: GA0038A Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 3

€299,000

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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WE URGENTLY NEED MORE HOUSES TO SATISFY OUR CLIENTS!

MONTE Y MAR BAJO

Detached Villa Ref: GA0023 Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 2

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Detached Villa Ref: GA0012 Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 3

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€289,000

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€350,000

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PAELLA MENU (for 2 to share) - 30€ Chicken & vegetables /Seafood / Vegetables Fresh Salad

For 2 to share - 16€ Choose 6 tapas

TO DRINK

TO DRINK:

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KIDS MENU

Also available Sausages - Chicken Nuggets - Ham Croquettes Hake Sticks Pasta of the day Juice / Water / Soda

DAILY MENU 10,95€ Starter + Main + Dessert + Coffee + Drink + Bread with a bottle of house wine for just 3,50€

INTERCLUB

Interclub is a social group formed in 1983 that aims to provide a meeting point for ex-pats. The club meets on Thursdays in Infernum Restaurant C.C. & stages dinner dances & quiz nights. For more information email: bobnewby@live.com

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JIMMY MAC IS BACK for M.A.B.S. !!! Jimmy is back to perform his usual fantastic show in aid of MABS. There will be no panto or any other fundraiser this year for MABS so PLEASE everybody, come out in your hundreds + support this as it will be the only time you'll be asked to contribute this year. Date is Friday 24th May and the venue is "Los Dados" (formerly Voices) upstairs in the GA Centre. Start time is 8pm. Price per person is â&#x201A;¬10. This is show only this year, no food. There also a guest appearance by Mr. Bojangles, Kevin Tierney and a raffle will be held on the night. Contact: Fiona Murtagh (Messenger or mobile/text 00353878123120) or Jean Reiterbund (Messenger or home 0034966841276).

PLEASE COME + BRING ALL YOUR FRIENDS + SUPPORT THE ONLY FUNDRAISER FOR MABS THIS YEAR!

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DRAMA IN A TEACUP

Light at the end of the tunnel

rit

ac nb y Te r r y L

Giles had been looking forward to his weekend break after three weeks of continuous night shifts. Shortage of staff caused by Br….; he couldn’t bring himself to say the word. Things were not getting off to the best start; the taxi was late. He was just about to call in when his phone rang, “Sorry Mr Walker, but the driver has gone to Wood Lane instead of Wood Street, he will be with you in a moment”, and indeed just then, the taxi appeared. On route to the airport the driver talked incessant drivel. Why couldn’t they just drive and say nothing? As the taxi approached the airport turnoff, there was clearly a problem as the tailback came into view. Fortunately Giles, being the cautious type, had given himself plenty of time to check in. He was still relieved however, when the incident was quickly resolved and the taxi delivered him to departures.

“thou shall not pass.” He was rescued by a staff member who seemed to be very familiar with the vagaries of the device. When, finally he boarded the aircraft, Giles wondered why he was surprised that the person in the seat next to him was XXL. Surely it was only to be expected. He was just beginning to prepare himself to fight for space on the three hour journey when his large neighbour was offered another seat, only to be replaced with a mother and child. Miraculously, the flight continued in relative calm and he prepared himself for the weekend in his three star garden view hotel room, near the beach As they began to descend, the pilot came on the cabin address system to give an update on the weather. There had been an unexpected thunderstorm and that, combined with exceptionally high tides, had resulted in some localised flooding.

Having previously mastered the on-line check in, he went immediately to security, to be met with the shoe and belt removal team. The procedure of disrobing resulted in his entire coin collection tipping from his pockets before he was able to get them into the tray and in the scramble to collect the escapees, his mobile phone deposited itself on the floor. Finally everything was in the tray and as it disappeared into the x-ray machine, he was called forward to the body scanner. By this stage he would have been disappointed if it had not screeched at his attempt to pass through. The human search operative waved his wand, gave him the all clear and Giles collected his belongings to escaped to the duty free area.

In the taxi ride from the airport, Giles looked in horror at the biblical scene. He began to feel sick as he approached the front of the hotel which had clearly been affected by the flood and he could see damaged furniture strewn at the side of the main entrance. Even before he reached the reception desk, the manager approached. “I really am sorry but the room you booked has been damaged in the flood. However,Dra we have been able to get you into our Five Star All - Inclusive sister hotel, in a Garden View, Beachfront Room at no extra cost. I hope that will be satisfactory”.

Ignoring the expensive tax-free offers, he found that the delay on route meant that the departure gate was already open and he went directly to the apparently newly installed passport checking machines. His frustration rose further as the device rejected his advances. He tried the passport one way, then the other, he stared at the screen with his glasses on and off, but still the infernal machine was saying

The shock was too much and he felt himself tumble to the floor as the grey mist descended into darkness. There was always the hint of something around him and gradually the light at the end of the tunnel began to brighten and finally he could make out a plain white room where he was lying in a white bed and over him stood a woman in white; with a clip board. “I’m afraid we will have to keep you in here for the rest of the weekend, do you have holiday insurance”?

FIVE MINUTE FICTION

AVDA.MEDITERRANEO

CYCLING with Bici Gran Alacant by Olli-Pekka & James Fulcher Bici Gran Alacant is a group for all road bike cyclists in and around Gran Alacant.

Embalse de Pedrera

“All the routes are downhill and with a nice tailwind! (except the bits with climbing and a headwind).” Remember to always take a sense of humour...

Coming from Finland, also known as a “land thousands of lakes”, I do appreciate a good old lake view. For sure the Mediterranean offers incredible views but still… lake is a lake (or loch?) And the lakes are not easy to come by these parts of the Spain nor are they 100% “natural” but embalses are still amazing. The biggest embalse in Alicante Province is Pedrera in San Miguel de Salinas. It has almost 10 times the capacity of Embalse in Beniarres and almost 20 times of the Guadalest. So it is huge. Unfortunately I have never seen it full. Even at the level of about 30% of its full capacity the lake with its turquoise blue water the lake is just beautiful. And what better way to enjoy that than a good old bicycle. (Well actually a brand new bicycle) There are quite a few route options to choose from to get to the destination. I have found myself recently heading to San Miguel Salinas through Benijofar and from there taking the CV-95 to Orihuela and taking a left turn to CV-951 to Torremendo. That route has some traffic on CV-95 so you might want to ride to Jacarilla through Algorfa to go around the lake counter

clockwise. Either way you will end up in Torremendo, where there are couple of good cafes to choose from. The best views of the lake are on the CV925 which takes you to Vistabella. There is a small climb or a bump on the road where you can see most of the lake.

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CYCLING with Bici Gran Alacant Sponsored by:

A few ifs: IF you return towards San Miguel de Salinas you are likely to see the “Pink lagoon” of Torrevieja IF you want to add 10km and a roller coaster ride take the road “San Miguel de Salinas – Rebate – Torremendo” Whole ride https://www.strava.com/ activities/2216758979 through Benijofar - San Miguel de Salinas and return through Algorfa Golf and Catral. Ride through Jacarilla https://www.strava.com/ activities/2229343955

Few things to keep in mind: • Always have something to drink with you and for a bit longer rides maybe a banana or muesli-bar • Always have a little money if you need to stop to buy food or drink • Take the phone with you • Many of the small cafés are closed on Mondays • And the most important: Wave the fellow cyclists”

You can find information about several weekly rides on our Facebook page Gran Alacant Road Cyclist “Bici Gran Alacant” and also your local bike shop For Riders have rides and events on their Facebook page.

DISTANCE FOR THE FULL ROUTE: APPROX. 110-120KM DEPENDING ON THE ROUTE. MOVING TIME APPROX. 4½ HOURS. DIFFICULTY: MEDIUM ROUTE: BENIJOFAR – SAN MIGUEL DE SALINAS – TORREMENDO - VISTA BELLA – ALGORFA GOLF – ALMORADI – DOLORES – CATRAL – SAN FELIPE NERI CYCLING WITH BICI GRAN ALACANT & FOR RIDERS

AVENIDA ESCANDINAVIA

AVENIDA ESCANDINAVIA Av.Escandinavia 72, Altomar II L.10 03130 Gran Alacant - Santa Pola

Salud y bienestar Health & Wellness

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THIS MONTHâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S THANK YOU ... ... goes to Graham f rom Altomar 1 & Nick f rom El Faro xxx

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Out & About with Star & Ashlee Harry Potter Exhibition - Valencia Hi my name is Star and I have been lucky enough to call Gran Alacant my home for over 11 years now. My 9 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 tell you about our action packed Easter Weekend in Valencia, despite the awful weather!!!!! As regular readers will know, we have been to Valencia a couple of times before and have written about our experiences on a bus tour, including a visit to the stunning Church of San Nicolas and in the Oceanografic which is the largest Aquarium in Europe. This time we decided to go by train (thank goodness with the dreadful weather!!!) and as well as visiting the Oceanografic and Bio Parc Zoo, the main reason for our trip was to see the Harry Potter Exhibition which opened at the Science Museum on the 13th April and is there until the 7th July. Valencia is the only city in Spain that this travelling exhibition is visiting this year! As big Harry Potter Fans, Ashlee and I were really excited to be able to go and I got us tickets for the final day of our trip. As soon as we exited the train station in Valencia we encountered a massive Nimbus 2,000 Broomstick that did a great job in advertising the Exhibition!! After a quick photo opportunity we grabbed a bus to our

hotel, checked in and headed off for a very very wet visit to the Oceanografic. On day 2 we went to the Bio Parc Zoo which I will write about next month, and then finally the big day had arrived ... We put on our Harry Potter T-shirts, stuffed ourselves at our hotel buffet breakfast and made the short, wet and windy walk to the Science Museum which I will write about in next month´s magazine. Finally it was time to head to the Exhibition entrance, we excitedly joined the queue and once inside were given props and had our

photos taken against a green screen (this is optional) and waited to enter the Great Hall. A Witch was standing next to the Sorting Hat and she spoke for a couple of minutes (in Spanish) before asking for volunteers. Ashlee was super lucky to be one of the 3 children chosen to have the Sorting Hat tell her which of the houses she would be in and she got her preferred choice of Gryffindor!!! We then saw some

Out & About with Star & Ashlee CARABASSI CENTRE

movie clips, walked past the Hogwarts Express and were confronted by tons of props and costumes from the films. It was fabulous to be able to see so many things that were displayed in the actual film sets. We saw Harry and Ron´s beds, the creatures in the Enchanted Forest, Dobby the house-elf and in Hagrid´s Hut Ashlee got to sit in his extremely large chair!! Iconic costumes, items such as the Triwizards cup, Harry´s letter from Hogwarts, the Philosophers Stone and numerous

different wands were literally everywhere you looked. We spent a long time admiring everything before buying a few things from the extensive selection of merchandise in the shop and choosing our photos. Ashlee and I thoroughly recommend this exhibition to Harry Potter fans young and old.

There are only a limited number of tickets available for each 30 minute time slot and all bookings can be made at the website http://www.harrypotterexhibition.com/ which is available in English and very easy to use. Tickets cost €18 for those aged 12 and above, €15 for 4 - 12 year olds, are free for those aged 0 - 3 and you can also buy family tickets for €13.60 each which can include 1 adult and 3 children aged 4 - 12 or 2 adults and 2 children aged 4 12. You can also buy combination tickets that give entry to the Exhibition and a) the science museum, b) the hemispheric (IMAX cinema) or c) the science museum and the hemispheric. Audio guides in numerous languages are available, but other than the first part, all of the information is displayed in English and Spanish. Come back next month to learn about our time at the BioParc Zoo and the Science Museum.

On average the exhibition takes about an hour but once inside you can stay for as long as you want (we were there for 2 hours).

Until next time Star and Ashlee xxx

Out & About with Star & Ashlee

71 71

LA MARINA

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LA MARINA

For Peterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 70th Birthday Holiday

Cuts R Us will be closed from 25th of April to 14th of May Re-open on 15th of May

LA MARINA

SANTA POLA

WHAT’S THAT IN THE CLOT? by Mark Etheridge

PALLID SWIFT

Sometimes it's quite simple to identify a bird out here on the Costa Blanca – once you know what a Hoopoe is, for example, you'll know one when you see one, an unmistakeable starling-sized pink bird with black and white wings and a crest – easypeasy, and you're likely to see at least one on any visit to the Clot at this time of the year. But here's a bird which can tie even the most experienced birdwatcher in knots – the Swift. You probably already know a bit about Swifts, very dark birds which fly about extremely fast, screaming as they go and often seen in the Clot swooping low over the water for a high-speed drink. They look a bit like black Swallows or Martins, but the similarity with these birds is due to what is called convergent evolution, in which birds develop similar habits and appearance due to their lifestyles If you are in the UK and you see a Swift, it is usually only one species – the Common Swift. They arrive in the UK towards the middle of May, and are gone by the beginning of September. Here on the Costas, they are present from March to the end of September, but it is here that the difficulties start. We actually have two species of Swift in

our area, the Common Swift and the Pallid Swift. Seen against a bright blue sky overhead, they are more or less indistinguishable as dark birds with sickle-shaped wings, never landing on the ground and seeming to fly faster than anything else in the sky (discounting, of course, Mr Ryan's jets which never fly low over the Clot unless they are in serious trouble). Against a darker background, you might be able to see that the Pallid Swift has a slightly scalylooking plumage as in my picture, and a bigger white patch beneath the chin than the Common version. Given that both species are present in our area, how then can you distinguish between the two species? The simple answer is that you probably can't, but I am here to give you a couple of broad brush pointers towards guessing which one of the two species you are seeing. Firstly, location; there are a couple of places where you can be 95% sure that what you are seeing are Pallid Swifts, and these are along the Esplanada at Alicante port, where Pallid Swifts wheel overhead while you take your evening meal at the open air cafes, and also along the main street of La Marina village, where they chase each other between the high-rise buildings. But this is no good to you if you are in the Clot where they occur side-by-side, and the best way to identify which one you are seeing is by listening! The Common Swift goes “szeeee”, and the Pallid Swift goes “szeee-ahh”. Not very helpful, I'll admit, but you have to start somewhere! You can see more photographs of birds from our area by visiting www.marketheridge. smugmug.com See you next month.

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GRAN ALACANT GOLF SOCIETY The geese, ducks, moorhens and Terrapins are happy. As mentioned in last monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s article the golf course has held up well during the unusually dry weather in the first quarter of the year but it has left the lakes and ponds which form the reservoirs for the watering system very low. Whilst not particularly welcome to holiday makers the prolonged rain over the last weekend in March now sees the water features as full as we have ever seen them which bodes well for the hot summer months ahead. The golfers are happy too as the rain and gradually increasing heat from the sun has seen the dormant winter grass spring into life with lush fairways and an overall appealing green look to the course. As expected our Society had a busy period in the middle of March coinciding with visitors to the area for St Patrickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day. The end of March and early April has seen a drop in numbers but with the Easter break imminent and a return of hot weather anticipated we foresee busy months ahead and we would be delighted any golfers out there who have not yet joined us to come along. For more information please contact either Barry C (686180585) or Barry D (966183018).

TENNIS CLUB - EURO TENIS For players of all standards near Gran Alacant, Santa Pola, La Marina and Elche Playing Tuesday and Friday mornings, 10.00 - 12.00 at Club de tenis Elche.

Details from Sally by email: sallymay113@gmail.com

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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

HEALTHY TREATS?

A very commonly asked question in small animals practice is: “may I give some treats to my dog or cat?” Most owners take care of their pets very well, and are very strict about their health and welfare requirements, but sometimes they can’t avoid offering treats to their pets. What’s exactly a treat? It’s an extra meal which is given to pets as a prize, for “hiding” the bad taste of a medicine, or for teaching them. It’s relatively easy to teach a dog, and even a cat or a ferret to sit down or to perform a trick by offering a special food. Initially there is no problem if: • The treat is right for the pet’s physical condition. • The treat will not replace real food. What is a right treat? It depends on the pet’s condition. If it’s completely healthy and not overweight, any treat is valid (of course, we are talking of specific for pets, and reasonable quality treats). In case of fat pets, the treats must be low calories ones, and besides, you will need to reduce the daily quantity of normal food as many grams as the grams of treats you gave. In case of pets suffering from diabetes, liver or kidney problems, they must be on a specific prescription diet, which means, as anyone can imagine, no treats at all. In this case, the way to give them a prize will be just offering some

biscuits from its bowl of food, because for a normal pet which loves its owner, anything that comes from the owner’s hand is a prize. Another valid option would be to use the wet version of the prescription diet as a treat because it’s much tastier than dry food. You can add a spoonful of the wet pate to the bowl, or just directly from your hand. This is quite useful for pets that are on oral medication, because it’s very easy to hide a tablet in the wet food. Another valid option in case of dry food would be to get a different flavour (for example duck instead of lamb), except in case of a patient with any kind of food intolerance. In these cases would be risky to change the main ingredient of the food. How many treats can I give my pet? Some clever pets learn very easily to look at us with extremely sad eyes when we are having a meal in order to force us to offer them some of our food. Some other ones can be on “hunger strike” for one or two days if they think they will obtain an extra that way. Sometimes the owner tell us: “it’s really ill, 3 days off its food”. Then we ask “3 days eating nothing at all?”, and in lots of cases the answer is similar to this: “well, it’s eating cooked ham, or the cat’s food, or chicken and rice, but it’s definitively not eating its food”. In this case, it’s quite easy to end up replacing a healthy and balanced dry or wet food, or even a home cooked diet, for greasy treats. For making a food attractive (this is also valid for human food), it’s very important to consider its water (wet food is normally better accepted than dry food) and fat content. Those sausages for dogs you can find at the supermarket may have 50% of fat or more. If we give our pets these extras, we will obtain fat and fussy eating pets. It’s very important to verify the composition of the treats and to ask the Vet if they are suitable for our pet, because no two are alike, and not every treat is healthy.

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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 Kiko is a stunning 4 year old fox terrier in need of a new home as his owner is now working long hours and Kiko needs more attention than he can give. Kiko is great with other dogs, is chipped, vaccinated and neutered.

Tigger is a 4 year tabby cat in desperate need of a new home. He was found on the streets and is a very friendly and talkative. He is good with dogs and cats and has been neutered.

From last monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edition Sammy found a new home. Luna and Estrella are in need of a new homes as their owner needs urgent medical treatment and is unable to take her dogs with her. They are 11 months old, good with other dogs and are chipped and vaccinated.

Wolfy is a 10 year old long hair German Shepherd cross and in good health with a microchip, pet passport and vaccinated. He is very sociable with all people, including children and other dogs.

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

e-mail: k9clubinfo@gmail.com SIRA Sira is a beautiful grey girl with yellow eyes, she is 7 years old, fully vaccinated and spayed.

BLANCA Pointer/Lab cross. She mixes well with other dogs , likes people and is obedient. She also has an amazing personality and is very intelligent..

Sira came from a home where children pulled her about so not suitable for a home with children or dogs.. Sira will take a little time to adjust in her new home where she is genuinely loved and to realize that her traumatic days are behind her. In the short time she has been with K9 she has become very affectionate towards our shelter managers. Sira is used to being an indoor cat, she really is a lovely cat who deserves a loving home.

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WORDSEARCH WORDSEARCH: GARDEN – EL JARDIN in English or Spanish

Geoff’s 1. What would you see in a “Murmuration?

2. The White House is the most visited house in the USA what is the second?

3. What’s the name of the game which involves placing your body parts on coloured spots?

4.“Lilo Lil” appeared in which UK TV sitcom?

5. What “Straits” lie between The Black Sea and the Sea of Azov?

QUIZ ANSWERS: 1.SWARM OF BIRDS (USUALLY STARLINGS) 2. GRACELAND 3. TWISTER 4. BREAD 5. THE KERCH STRAITS

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SUDOKU 4

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.

DOODLE AREA

9 5

8 3

1 8

7 9

3 1

2 2

9 6

5 9

4 3

5 7 2

1 3

5 7

7 2

For hints and information visit www.sudoku.org.uk

Difficulty Rating: MEDIUM

3 2 8

1 9

7 2

4 8

8 9

6 7

9 6

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

2 8

1 9 2

4 8 4 7

5 3 8 3 5

9 4

2 8 2

Difficulty Rating: HARD

3 9 2 1

3 2

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ALEXANDRIA • AQUARIUS • GRAN ALACANT PROPERTIES • SHOOTERS • PHOENIX • MAYKA’S KITCHEN • MILEY O’ROURKE’S • MOLLY MALONE’S

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6 3

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

4 9 6 2 3 1 7 8 5

3 2 8 7 4 5 1 9 6

2 6 7 3 1 4 8 5 9

9 5 1 8 2 7 6 4 3

8 3 4 9 5 6 2 1 7

1 8 9 4 6 3 5 7 2

6 4 2 5 7 8 9 3 1

5 7 3 1 9 2 4 6 8

7 2 5 3 9 8 4 1 6

4 3 9 7 6 1 8 5 2

8 1 6 4 5 2 3 9 7

3 8 4 2 7 9 1 6 5

1 9 2 6 4 5 7 8 3

6 5 7 8 1 3 2 4 9

2 7 1 9 8 6 5 3 4

9 4 8 5 3 7 6 2 1

5 6 3 1 2 4 9 7 8

4 6 1 7 9 2 8 3 5

8 2 9 5 3 6

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

2 5 8 6 1 3 7 9 4

9 1 6 8 4 7 3 5 2

3 4 7 2 5 9

7 3 4 9 6 5

6 8 5 3 2 1

1 9 2 4 7 8

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

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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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