Gran Alacant Advertiser May 2021 by Gran Alacant Advertiser

MAY

2021 ISSUE 196

YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY MAGAZINE SINCE 2005 BECAUSE WE HAVE SOLD SO MANY HOUSES IN 2021 ...

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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: Calle Malta Hi Lou & Ged, just a reply to the Carabassi Resident. No, he is not the only one who is horrified at the state generally of Carabassi. I have had several complaints published in the advertiser over the years, but we are just not listened to.

The GA neighbours association and Oscar welcome this news and ask that all pet owners behave responsibly when they are walking their dogs.

I am appalled that the different councillors have ignored our pleas to have our end of Calle Malta resurfaced. I have had promises, when Loreta was Councillor, maybe 8 years ago, it would be resurfaced & made safe. It is still the same! Last time some potholes were as deep as 12cm+.

I would like to mention the following problem. I am living as a resident in Gran Alacant for many years now. I have a private insurance, so not the Securidad Social.

Q: COVID VACCINE FOR PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE

Can we have some answers why this is ignored?

I went to the doctor in the Life Resort here to ask when it should be my turn to be vaccinated against Covid-19. (I am over 70). They told me that only Securidad Social clients will get this vaccination.

The area is really appalling with rubbish & dog poo too. Our dogs are always on a lead & poo picked up. Many ignore the rules & poo anywhere & that’s where it remains.

For the private insured people is no vaccination available! I checked it everywhere and also at the Insurance Companies, but yes: no vaccination for me!

Can I also ask the councillor to please ask the company responsible for the new houses & roads in the area to please clean up the rubbish they have left behind at our end of Calle Malta? It is encouraging people, especially local builders to dump their rubbish there now & it is just building up.

Already on 4-12-20 doctors from the Clinica Benissa have sent a letter to the "Conselleria de Sanidad Universal y Salut" en Valencia and the "Directores Territorial en Alicante and Valencia, as well as to the "Colegio de Medicos Alicante". but obviously nothing has changed since the last 4 months. It is an unbelievable and shamefull situation, this exclusion of people!

It doesn’t need lot of meetings, it is desperate for action. Another disappointed resident. Answer from Oscar Valenzuela: 600€ fines for irresponsible dog owners! The department of cleaning, parks and gardens has informed GA Councillor Oscar Valenzuela that they will be putting new signs around Gran Alacant informing dog owners of the regulations and fines that are associated with the non removal of excrement and the need for them to use water to lessen the aromas from dogs urine. The minimum fine is €600.

Question: can you ask the Ayuntamiento in Santa Pola why they find it oke for me (and tenthousands of others) to get the Corona virus and Covid-19 desease and why this discrimination takes place? Thanks for putting this story in the Gran Alacant advertiser. Ria We would like to thank GRAN ALACANT INSURANCES located in Santara resort for helping us anwer this question.

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Answer from GA Insurances: The covid vaccines are exclusively under the supervision and management of the Spanish Ministry of Health in coordination with the European Commission. These will be provided via the Spanish Social Security and in particular in the Health Centers of each locality (Centro de Salud), so that private medical insurance or private clinics will have no access or intervention at all, unless the Health Gov decides to include private clinics to also carry out the injections (which is unlikely, here in GA the jabs are done in the tent placed opposite BBVA parking space for example, other customers confirmed they got it down at Santa Pola health centre) The Spanish Government has announced that the vaccines will be offered to ALL citizens and obviously it would be sensible that they want as many people as possible vaccinated, whether or not qualified for state healthcare in Spain (SIP card), although the vaccine is voluntary. For this reason we called the Valencia health government several weeks ago asking what will be the procedure for all those people who are not entitled to spanish state healthcare and do not have a SIP health card (there are also spanish people not entitled to state

healthcare and have no SIP card), the reply received was literally: "For those people not having a spanish SIP card, in order to register without the SIP for vaccination, you must go to a public health center (Centro de Salud), bringing your ID documentation (NIE or TIE), current Padron certificate and valid EHIC card (European health insurance card, now renamed to GHIC by British Gov) in order to get supplied with a temporary SIP health card for 6 months, and consequently on the vaccination list and patiently await your turn". This is the official information we sent to all our health insurance customers and many of them confirmed that it worked. The only thing to bear in mind is that the public health authorities only accept spanish phones (no international ones) to advise by SMS text message or by calling when the turn is due. Another recommendation is to go to the Centro de Salud with the above documents/accreditation in the afternoons when they are not so busy. Hope this helps your readers. Kind Regards, Alfonso Gran Alacant Insurances T: 966 390 830

At the meeting, each problem was addressed point by point, focusing on the deficiencies in timetables and facilities. An agreement has been reached to submit to the post office in Valencia a proposal agreed with the Santa Pola office regarding the adaptation and improvement of the facilities and the possibility of increasing the 25th March On the 25th March the council of cleaning, opening hours. parks and gardens responded quickly to requests to clear the pavements, curbs and It was also agreed that all parties would work together to achieve a more efficient furniture around Gran Alacant. distribution, which is often hindered by the bad numbering, signage and location ***** A meeting to discuss improvements to the of the urbanizations within Gran Alacant. Post Office service in Gran Alacant was held The installation of "CityPaq'' collection at the end of March. In attendance were points will also be considered, as these José Luis Gil and Joaquín Cuenca who are could be adapted very well to deal with the members of the Board of Directors of the idiosyncrasy of our neighbourhood and will Neighbourhood Association of Gran Alacant, mean less congestion at the post office. Mayoress Loreto Serrano, Councilors Oscar Public and private locations for these points Valenzuela and Trinidad Ortiz and from the are currently being reviewed. Post Office the Head of Distribution Maria José Crespo, the Head of the Technical Over the last year on several occasions the Sector Jesús Alonso, the Office Director City Council has echoed the problem of the Javier Martos and the Area Distribution postal service in Gran Alacant about which numerous complaints have been received Manager Sebastián Nieto. from both the neighbourhood association LATEST NEWS FROM THE GA COUNCILLOR OSCAR VALENZUELA

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LARGE ITEMS COLLECTIONS

Tuesdays and Thursdays ONLY. Please message this number T: 686 801 323 any day of the week to let them know the name of the street you are leaving your large items on. This would help to make the service more efficient and keep our Gran Alacant nice and tidy. and private citizens. Gran Alacant has a stable registered population of close to 10,000 people, but in reality it has a much higher volume taking into account foreigners and those who own second homes. 30th March In March the department of cleaning, parks and gardens placed dozens of bins in different areas of Gran Alacant in response to requests from the neighbourhood association. They will also be continuing to replace the bins that are in poor condition and add new bins as they are needed. Oscar wants to thank all of the parties that collaborated to improve our neighbourhood and urges residents to continue to use these bins to help keep Gran Alacant clean. 11th April Neighbours and local organisations and associations were asked to give their suggestions and opinions about the use of the urban gardens within Gran Alacant, before the 20th April. The Council wanted to ensure that citizens’ opinions were considered as it is important that these spaces are used by the whole community. We will let you know the outcome once it has been published. 12th April As reported in the newspaper, in early April a meeting with the General Directorate of Educational Infrastructures was held in reference to the school situation in Gran

Alacant. Oscar Valenzuela wanted to explain the three main points that were discussed. Regarding the construction of the second Primary school in Gran Alacant, it will finally be put out to tender in the Summer. There have been years of delays aggravated by the pandemic but finally the tender will be put out and it is foreseeable that the works could be started before the end of the year. The Council has a budget in place for the construction of the roads that will be needed to give access and will put it out to tender in parallel with the tender for the construction of the school. The project that was presented and corrected by the Council at the end of 2019 for the construction of the Instituto that is going to be built on the same plot as the current Primary school, will be transferred to the Council throughout May. This means that the City Council will take the reins for the bids, the drafting of the project and works. In principle, if there are no more blockages, this should result in a faster process than the one that the second Primary school has had. Finally, we also dealt with the topic of the IES Cap de L’Aljub in Santa Pola having an annex in Gran Alacant. This will be on the plot adjacent to the José Antonio Alemany Sport Centre until the new Instituto will be built. For more than a year this issue has been agreed by all parties (IES, AMPAs, inspection and Council) and would avoid

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the current overcrowding of the IES due to the number of students who go there that reside in Gran Alacant. The government team has committed to studying its implementation, although unfortunately it will not be in place for the next course (September 2021) it is hoped that it will be ready for the September 2022 academic year.

held a meeting to discuss the problems relating to water management in the neighbourhood communities of Gran Alacant. In attendance were representatives of the neighbourhood association and from Hidraqua Silvia Climent who is responsible for operations in Santa Pola and Elena Garcia de Consuegra who is the Head of Operations for Alicante South.

The government team has insisted that periodic monitoring is necessary given the needs and the level of investment to be made in the neighbourhood, which will be around 20 million euros. Historically this monitoring had not been working in the past, as it has been very difficult to obtain a response to calls and letters from the Department during the last year, an aspect that is in part a result of the pandemic. They have also committed themselves to giving us a follow-up meeting in July.

We reviewed the status of the implementation of the remote reading project that the town hall, Hidraqua and the residents´ association of Gran Alacant have been promoting. The installation of the meters will end before the Summer in all of the urbanizations of Gran Alacant, although there is some delay in accessing hourly consumption data due to a change in the platform. This was discussed at the time with the neighbourhood association which is responsible for its collection and treatment and it is estimated that it will be resolved shortly.

13th April and 10th April and 26th March The pest fumigation program in the neighbourhood is continuing with fumigation occurring twice a week. The situation is not good at the moment and has been aggravated by the weather. The Council are co-ordinating with the City Council of Elche as one of the problem areas is the Clot de Galvany. They are also in contact with the neighbourhood association and private owners to help to reduce the number of sources that cause the most problems. It is important to monitor each outbreak and treat the urbanizations internally as often mosquitos will go and take refuge in other areas during fumigation. 16th April The Gran Alacant Ayuntamiento office reopened in the middle of April after it was closed for a week due to a delay in the processing of the new administrative position that came open a few months ago. Once it reopens it will be staffed by an interim administrative assistant while the new administrator is being trained. Once this person has finished their training they will be permanently assigned to the Gran Alacant office and will be able to speak to residents in English, French and Spanish. The office will open from Monday to Friday from 1030 until 1300 and appointments need to be made electronically via the website. 9th April On the 15th of April Oscar Valenzuela

The neighbourhood association commented on an incident that related to anomalous bills in respect to real consumption in different urbanizations in the last quarter. Hidraqua is going to examine each of these cases individually to assess the reason for these bills, which in principle appears to be a malfunction of the non-return valves of the community facilities. This seems to be a widespread problem in many urbanizations due to poor maintenance. In collaboration with the neighbourhood association, Hidraqua will ensure that precise maintenance instructions are given in the form of a circular to help avoid these problems. 19th April On the 15th of April Oscar Valenzuela held a meeting to discuss the problems relating to water management in the neighbourhood communities of Gran Alacant. In attendance were representatives of the neighbourhood association and from Hidraqua Silvia Climent who is responsible for operations in Santa Pola and Elena Garcia de Consuegra who is the Head of Operations for Alicante South. We reviewed the status of the implementation of the remote reading project that the town hall, Hidraqua and the residents´ association of Gran Alacant have been promoting. The installation of the meters will end before the Summer in all of the urbanizations of Gran Alacant, although there is some delay in accessing

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hourly consumption data due to a change in the platform. This was discussed at the time with the neighbourhood association which is responsible for its collection and treatment and it is estimated that it will be resolved shortly. The neighbourhood association commented on an incident that related to anomalous bills in respect to real consumption in different urbanizations in the last quarter. Hidraqua is going to examine each of these cases individually to assess the reason for these bills, which in principle appears to be a malfunction of the non-return valves of the community facilities. This seems to be a widespread problem in many urbanizations due to poor maintenance. In collaboration with the neighbourhood association, Hidraqua will ensure that precise maintenance instructions are given in the form of a circular to help avoid these problems.

If you would like to supply news or info for our next edition, or have a question for Gran Alacant Councillor Oscar Pedro Valenzuela, please email: info@granalacantadvertiser.com

JUNE MENDITTA STEPS OUT FOR CANCER RESEARCH - here´s her story …

Nearly 400,000 steps in March Raised 753€ for Cancer Research I saw an advertisement on the TV for a new cancer research 10,000 steps a day challenge to be held in March. Sadly we have all been affected by Cancer in our lives so I decided that I should just go for it, start walking and get donations. I managed to complete the challenge with a final step count of 376,824 which is around 147 miles!!! I have raised over 750€ and want to thank everyone who donated, kept me “on track”, checked in on me and offered their support. I have lived in Gran Alacant for 14 years and am still amazed at people’s generosity which seems to be never ending. Currently this challenge has raised over 8 million for Cancer Research and I’m sure you would agree this is a great amount and I feel proud to have taken part.

We at the GA Advertiser want to say a massive thank you and well done to June and those who donated to this worthy cause. READ THE MAGAZINE EVERY MONTHCARABASSI AT www.granalacantadvertiser.com CENTRE

In Loving MEMORY OF

Mia Delaere 1955 - 2021

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of long term Gran Alacant resident Mia Delaere. Mia was born in Kortrijk, Belgium, on the 20th May 1955 and after a brave fight against cancer she slipped away on the 10th April 2021 surrounded by her family and friends in her hometown. Mia lived in Calle Malta, Gran Alacant for many happy years with her husband Luc Vandeputte. They thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the community and Mia always had a smile on her face. She will be missed by all those who knew her. Her funeral was be held in her hometown but her wish was for her ashes to be brought back to her beloved Gran Alacant, Spain.

OUR POSITIVE COVID VACCINATION EXPERIENCE ...

Dear Lou and Ged, We would like to share our experience of getting our first COVID vaccinations. I received a text on the morning of Saturday 17th April and it gave me all of the information about our appointments for the COVID vaccination which was being done at the IFA (Institución Ferial Alicantina) which is the large exhibition centre near Alicante. On Tuesday the 20th of April at 0915 I drove to the IFA and had no trouble parking in the vast car park. We followed the oneway queue and the text message and our SIP cards were checked. Once inside we joined another queue and our information was registered onto the computer system. We then waited a short time in another queue before being told which of the 20 desks we needed to go to. There we received our Vacunació COVID 19 card and our first Pfizer jab. Afterwards we sat in a chair and had to wait 15 minutes before being allowed to leave. The whole process was extremely efficient and well organised and we were back home in Gran Alacant before 1000. Many thanks John and Beth

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BOOK CLUB GRAN ALACANT Book of the month by Beth The month of May is known for the celebration of life and fertility It honours our potential so it is fitting for My Recommended Book of the Month Hazel Prior Away with the Penguins

Beth worked as a Qualified Librarian in Aberdeen for 20 years. She loves reading and delights in finding exciting new authors as well as reverting back to favourite writers of all genres. Beth has lived in Gran Alacant for the last 15 years.

Veronica McCreedy loves a nice cup of Darjeeling tea whilst watching a good wildlife documentary. She is never seen without her ruby-red lipstick. She is rarely seen by anyone nowadays because she is 85 and lives alone. She does not have family or friends nearby. Not that she knows about anyway and she has no idea where she is going to leave her considerable wealth when she dies. Now it is time to introduce the long lost grandson and the wildlife documentary on Penguins. Today Veronica is going to make a decision that will change many lives. Unflinching, stubborn, funny and moving, Veronica is an unlikely heroine!

NEXT BOOK CLUB MEETING

Wednesday 26 May 2pm, Skipper Bar MASA Square We meet up once a month, discuss the books we are reading now and suggest new ones. Anyone interested in joining us or looking for more information please contact Beth on Whatsapp +44 7853 363060

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

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Happy 5th Birthday Evan BEAUTIFUL HANDMADE CAKES made in GRAN ALACANT

Happy Birthday Heather

by Valentina t: 641 47 17 85

Celebrating Birthdays in Gran Alacant Share your special moments with us & email: info@granalacantadvertiser.com

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Pamela Twissell-Cross the District Welfare Officer, presents The Branch Chairman, Paul Kane with a Certificate of Appreciation for services as a Caseworker during the Pandemic.

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C/Holanda 9, bajo 8 Gran Alacant

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TOOTH SENSITIVITY

A healthy tooth is protected by differents sections. The first one is the enamel and the second one is the dentin. If there is a dental wear, an elimination or a fracture of the enamel, the dentin gets exposed and that is when we feel a sudden and sharp pain, this sensation of pain is called tooth sensitivity. It is important to know the causes that can cause tooth sensitivity in order to prevent it. There are many situations that can cause the exposure of the dentin and thus cause tooth sensitivity. Causes of Tooth Sensitivity • The abuse of acidic or sugary foods and drinks can damage tooth enamel Some examples of these can be citrus fruits, carbonated drinks and sweets, among others, which cause tooth erosion • The ingestion of very cold or really hot drinks • Hard or an excess of brushing or even hard brush bristles can cause tooth abrasion, which is gum and enamel wear • The use of extremely abrasive toothpastes • Excessive strength in chewing or bruxism (teeth grinding) • Gum retraction due to periodontitis • Old or fractured fillings • Dental cavities • Teeth whitening without professional supervision • It is normal to feel sensitivity in the teeth after a dental procedure such as filling, cleanings, periodontal treatments or whitening. However, these have to be transitory

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Tips to prevent tooth sensitivity • Have good oral hygiene using products that do not damage the gums and teeth • Use brushes with soft bristles • Good brushing technique • The use of non-abrasive toothpastes • Mouthwashes ideal for tooth sensitivity • Visit your dentist at least twice a year When these measures fail to reduce or eliminate tooth sensitivity, treatments should be taken in the dental clinic such as applications of desensitizing gels, composite or gum grafts to cover recessions. If you suffer from tooth sensitivity, the best option is to visit the dentist who will examine your mouth and will be able to determine the origin of your problem and thus made a personalized treatment. The professional will give you the guidelines to avoid it and guarantee that the tooth sensitivity does not continue to occur. If you have any further questions or symptoms, please contact our clinic on T: 865 789 554 or your doctor.

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THIS MONTH’S PROMOTIONS: FAMILY DOCTORS MEMBER CARD one payment per year and you will receive:

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MONTEMAR BOWLS & SOCIAL CLUB

Sponsored by The Pub, Bowling Abroad, Avalon, Skipper Bar, Rogers & The Belfry

MONTEMAR BOWLS & SOCIAL CLUB CHICKEN RUN Sunday 28th March As the number of players are still restricted we played two sessions of ten ends, so everyone who put their names down could have a game. Lynda Sauders won the ladies chicken and Colin Bedford the mens, well done to both. The eggs were won by Sheila Roberts and Micheal Curtain. Chris Frost won the football card with Brighton. Thank you to Terry Cottle who donated the chickens and Ian and Julia Hamilton for donating the eggs.

GOOD NEWS FOR EASTER Having rented the bowling green from the owner last year we had welcome news at Easter when we were advised the owner had rented the rest of the complex with immediate effect. The new management team led by Bernado went to work straight away and introduced a number of changes, including a vastly improved sevice and choice of food. They are also carrying out some much needed building repairs. This all provided a welcome boost to our members, at what is a difficult time for everyone. We look forward to a positive working relationship with Bernado and his team. Chris Harding (Chairman) AUSSIE PAIRS COMPETITION

On Easter Sunday we held a drawn Aussie Pairs competition, playing eighteen ends with a break after nine. After the competition the winning pair Lynne Armitage and Phil Goble were presnted with a large Easter egg and a botttle of spirit each. The couple with the lowest score, Joan Harding and Barry Watson were presented with a smaller Easter egg

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each. After a few drinks in the Tavern everyone enjoyed lunch at the Belfry. Lovely to be back playing bowls, enjoying drinks and lunch with good friends!!!! SOCIAL EVENTS The social committee are busy organising future social events, keep checking notices at the bowls club and Monte Mar Friends. The first is 30th April, lunch at the Belfry.

MEETING WITH SPORTS COUNCIL

Chris and Howie had a successful meeting with the sports councillor Julio Miguel Baeza Andreu and GA councillor Oscar Valenzuela. They were very helpful and it was agreed we could use all six rinks. As we can now also can play trips we will be able to complete our internal competitions.

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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TERRY TALKS

Alcohol free opinion & Chat terry@montelinvestments.co.uk

ELECTRIFYING TIMES WE ARE LIVING THROUGH

I noticed on a recent trip ‘up the hill’. In the car park at the biblioteca there are a number of electric Car charging points. Gran Alacant has moved into the 21st Century I don’t know about you, but I like the sound of a noisy V6 or V8 roaring down the street. But of course we are being told how evil they all are. In fact Petrol and diesel is singularly responsible for every ill Man has suffered since we stood upright. Times change, of course they always do. Every advert for cars now is an advert for a hybrid or fully electric vehicle. Jaguar go fully electric by 2025, the complete ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles in the UK by 2030. But honestly will they, and indeed do they work? Now I’m a naturally suspicious individual. Particularly when business is trying to sell me some world saving item.

MY FIRST PROBLEM IS HOW RELIABLE ARE ELECTRIC CARS? I know when I buy a car they come with government fuel consumption figures but I also know that unless I’m free wheeling it with the wind behind me, I’m rarely if ever going to achieve them. But I know in my World destroying petrol car I can refuel just about anywhere and takes about 5 minutes. If I suddenly see the fuel low light I need not panic there will be a petrol station around the corner. Now if that same thing happened in my all-electric car on the way to wherever, panic will truly set in. My 400KM range is suddenly 250km and I’m in the middle of the campo, where electricity is used to power an occasional light bulb not 21st century tech.

If I am lucky enough to find a charging point ill also need a bed and breakfast! ARE ELECTRIC CARS CHEAPER TO RUN? They are definitely more expensive to buy. At the moment you cannot argue that to fill up on electricity is a lot cheaper than filling up on Petrol or Diesel. But will that always be true? No chance! Currently 57.95p of every litre sold is the flat rate fuel duty. Add to that 20% VAT and another 20% on the total fuel price (yes VAT added twice) means the government stand to lose billions if we move away from these fossil fuels. So either we will be charged a significant cost for the electricity, or more likely in my opinion, road charging will be universally introduced. So don’t make cost the sole reason for your purchase. ECOLOGICALLY SOUND THEN? Well currently most batteries are made in China (surprise) and Japan and of course the electricity they use is not made by fairies, so somewhere CO2 is being pumped into the atmosphere to produce the electricity for your car. The batteries are made of rare earth elements like lithium nickel and cobalt and all need mining. 99% of the batteries running your petrol car are recycled. Whereas in lithium ion batteries only 5% of the lithium is being collected with the remainder either burnt or heading for landfill. SO MY CONCLUSION? We are being sold to very aggressively. Companies marketing departments are huge. They don’t care about the environment; they care about sales and money. I personally will not touch an

TERRY TALKS

Alcohol free opinion & Chat terry@montelinvestments.co.uk

electric car until I can be certain of refuelling stations as commonplace as petrol stations. And that the time needed to fully refuel is within 15 minutes, and that the electricity is truly green. So if you want to save the planet consider the following given that making new cars either traditional or electric is producing waste: 1. More than 70% of all land rovers ever made are still on the road. 2. Back in 2017 Porsche produced it 1 millionth 911. At that time 700,000 were still on the road. This months “Reasons to be cheerful part 3” (Courtesy Ian Dury and the Blockheads!) Any UK visitor (still everything crossed) can now potentially reclaim the VAT ( IVA here) on the goods you buy. A visitor is defined as someone who permanently lives outside the EU. Your passport is sufficient proof. You have to initially pay the full price. You will get the refund when you have complied with the formalities and can show proof of export. How do I go about this? • When you are in the shop, ask the shop assistant in advance whether they provide this service. • Ask the shop assistant what threshold applies to the purchase in order to be eligible for a refund. • At the check-out, the shop assistant will ask you to provide proof that you are a visitor to

the EU. You will need to show your passport or other identity document proving your residence outside the EU. • The shop assistant will ask you to fill in a form with the necessary details. You may be asked to show your ticket as proof you are leaving the EU within the required time. The shop assistant will fill in the shop’s part of the form. • Make sure you understand exactly what you need to do and how you receive the refund. In some cases, the shop itself will refund you. In other cases, the shop will use a third party to organise the refunds on its behalf. • Make sure you understand whether the shop takes an administrative fee for this service (which will be later deducted from the refunded amount) and if so what is the fee. • You will receive an invoice for the goods. You must show the invoice, the refund form, the goods and any other necessary documents to the customs officers of the last EU country you leave. The customs officers must stamp the form as proof of export. Without the stamp, you will not obtain the refund. • You must then follow the steps explained at your refund document or by the shop assistant. You can claim your VAT refund in bigger airports immediately, otherwise you will have to send the refund form to the address given in the shop. Be aware there is generally a minimum purchase of 175 euros. So next time you buy a suit or a designer jacket, maybe get it from Corte ingles and take it home.

Disagree with anything? What an opinion you have discussed? Message me on terry@montelinvestments.co.uk Putting Terry Talks in the subject matter. Or you can comment on the online version of the magazine on facebook. TERRY TALKS CARABASSI CENTRE

SIERRA MAR

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Celebrating Easter ...

... in Gran Alacant

SANTARA LIFE RESORT

The Reiki Room

REIKI ROOM

Home Turf A valley of Moros y Cristianos ... The weekend before Easter brought a surprise birthday treat in the form of a journey through the magnificent landscape of the Valls d’Alcoi valley surrounded by the magnificent Sierra de Aitana mountain. This mountain can be appreciated from Gran Alacant, lying behind the city of Alicante and capped with snow a couple of times a year. The valley and the heights surrounding it contain picturesque settlements whose histories and names reflect the most extraordinary period of Spanish history; a period of 700 years when the land of Iberia was inhabited and shared by different races and religions. Spain has intertwined christian, jewish and muslim strands to its national story. Traces of medieval muslim culture are to be found embedded in Spain and its culture to this day; in the language, cuisine, cultivated crops and architectural heritage of the country. However, the very geography of the country also tells the history of the conflicts, cohabitation and conquests played out between the two dominant cultures of medieval Spain; Islam and Christianity: Moros y Cristianos. The regions of Valencia and Alicante were on the shifting frontier of areas of muslim and christian rule and consequently greatly affected by the muslim invasions and christian reconquests played out from the 8th to the 15th centuries. The floor of the Valls d’Alcoi valley is studded with small towns situated on hilltops bearing names beginning with “Beni”; this is derived from the arabic word meaning “sons of”. The most famous such place name is of course Benidorm (a trip to the Manhattan of The Med is coming soon...) but there are hundreds of similarly named settlements in Spain. Such names usually indicate that

the town or village was originally founded or re-founded by muslims following their arrival. After a weekend in this valley it is not surprising that the fertile lands of Valls d’Alcoi were chosen by the conquering muslims as a place of settlement.

Our visit to this beautiful valley took us to two historic towns: The town of Penáguila which maintained its christian identity throughout muslim rule and the neighbouring village of Benifallim whose islamic roots echo through its name and monuments but whose muslim identity and community were wiped out in tragic circumstances. Our first day was spent in Penáguila. This town occupies a magnificent situation nestled into a cliff face overlooking the valley. Its streets contain beautiful houses and a charming old town hall facing an imposing church. Penaguilla’s hidden gem however is a set of magnificent 19th century gardens built into a little gorge immediately adjacent to the town; “Jardín de Santos”. The gardens were constructed by a local boy who returned to the town having made his fortune and decided to beautify the town with the height of nineteen century fashionable landscaping including both wild and formal gardens. We enjoyed a ‘menú de día’ at the only restaurant in the town,

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Penya L'Aguila, with a lively and friendly local being in contested borderlands is strong atmosphere and great value for money. and speaks of the history of cohabitation and conflict. After visiting the fort we As you may be gathering from our articles, drove down to Benifallim and enjoyed a one of us has a taste for nice hotels. On cheeky vermouth in the little plaza next this occasion we stayed at La Escondida to the church whilst reading about the sad (‘the Hideaway’), a cosy & charming hotel history of the village: In 1609 the village’s converted from a manor house a couple of formerly muslim inahbitants were expelled miles from Penaguilla, we highly recommend as part of the nationwide expulsion of the it. As the sun set over the valley, points of “Moriscos” (Spanish muslims who had light appeared marking a series of towers ‘coverted’ to Christianity). The village lost along the valley. Our second day would the descendants of its original muslim involve exploring one of these towers. community (who numbered more than half of its inhabitants in 1609) and retained only its muslim name.

The next day we visited Benifallim. This little village perches on a small hilltop on the edge of the valley floor. As its name suggests it was originally a medieval muslim community. Rising up behind the village is a perfect little version of a medieval moorish fort. Although the fort is currently closed for renovations and excavations it is possible to walk around it and appreciate the commanding view it enjoys over its village and local area. The sense of

This magical valley with its historic towns and villages set in stunning landscape offers a wonderful change from the coast and a chance to step back into Spain’s fascinating history. Follow us on Instagram: juanruano.oficial & archiemaddan

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Gran Alacant the perfect place to Work Remotely

Hi I’m Andy and I’m originally from Newcastle, in the north-east of England.

After a number of years working in corporate communication management, as well as freelance football and travel writing across Europe, I’ve spent the last 7 years running my own communications consultancy business working with clients in the public and private sector. Spending over 15 years visiting our holiday home in Gran Alacant, I eventually escaped the pull of Monday to Friday office-based meetings a couple of years ago and was able to relocate here and make use of the easy commute options from Alicante airport. Working from home was easy with with a nice balance of video meetings and face-to-face meetings. Then COVID hit and changed the way everyone who was having to use an office had to work, something which I expect will have far-reaching changes in the way business and employment is conducted in the future.

It’s far too easy to get sucked into the never-ending grind of back-to-back video meetings while everyone else is also working from home, and this is why it’s been such a blessing to be in Gran Alacant. OK, the recent winter nights have been a bit chilly and most people I speak to in meetings think it’s wall-to-wall sun, but being able to grab a little bit of time away from the computer and sit outside with a coffee, or having a quick walk taking in some of our wonderful coastal scenery before getting back to the desk (dining room table), has really helped to break up the working day. Getting some sunny rays on your face between meetings really helps to focus your thoughts when needed, sharpen creative ideas, and certainly helps when you need to disconnect and grab an all important break. The work-life balance seems much easier to achieve here, despite the tough year we have all endured. Having previously worked remotely back in Newcastle, it makes a massive difference being able to escape the computer during daylight hours and having blue sky above you. There’s a great community spirit in the town, regardless of where you might have come from originally. There are a number of social groups and neighbours of different nationalities are really supportive of each other. It’s definitely not just the Spanish sun that has such warmth. And with two great cities in Elche and Alicante so close, you can get the best of

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the smaller town experience as well as the bigger city atmosphere. The connections with elsewhere in Spain, through the airport or the great train links, means that the rest of the country, and further afield, are easily accessible once life opens back up. These Spanish adventures outside of work are something I’m looking forward to again.

I am Hans! and I grew up in Flanders, near Louvain in Belgium. I have over 30 years of experience working in IT and Telecommunications all over Europe and can speak Dutch/Flemish, French, German, Spanish and some Italian.

Hi I’m Chloe! I first moved to Gran Alacant in 2015 when work offered me the opportunity to work in Spain. Initially, I was only supposed to stay for 6 months but nearly 5 and a half years later, I’m still here and I have made a good life for myself here in Gran Alacant.

The EUIPO EU Institution brought me to the Alicante region and I settled in Gran Alacant during the many years that I worked for them as an external consultant. The Alicante region and Gran Alacant in particular is a real hodge-podge of different nationalities and cultures but still retains its Mediterranean lifestyle which I appreciate a lot.

Gran Alacant is perfectly situated, first of all, the beach is on your doorstep and you’re never too far away from the mountains. There’s some amazing hiking trails around this area with some spectacular views. Secondly, we’re in an ideal spot of being able to explore the rest of Spain, having said that, with Alicante Airport being only a 10 minute drive away we’re in an ideal location to explore the rest of Europe. During my time in Gran Alacant I’ve met some amazing people from all corners of the world whether that be from visiting the local bars and restaurants or taking part in some of the social activities that the area has to offer. Most recently I have been an active member of the GA Runners club and GA BootCamp and once again I’ve met some fabulous people. If you love the outdoor life and love a mixture of the beach, mountains and city life, Gran Alacant could be the place for you! Gran Alacant has certainly made me feel comfortable and welcome!

I have established my own business in Spain and have set up an office for a Luxembourg consultancy company in Alicante which incorporated a co-working space that has proved to be a great source of talent. I have worked as a freelance consultant for renowned IT companies where I use my expertise to provide consultancy services to EU agencies that are similar to EUIPO. Initially this involved a lot of travelling but I now work remotely from my home office using cutting edge technology. I was delighted to hear that Gran Alacant had a co-working space and although I am fairly new to the Simple Social Hub Co-working Community, I will be using it regularly to meet with business partners and clients and plan to run workshops on technology and personal development, as apart from being certified in a whole bunch of Technologies and Methodologies, I also hold certifications in Neurolinguistics. I hope to see you there soon, masked and unmasked once we are permitted. If these stories have inspired you to take the plunge and relocate to Gran Alacant, we recommend that you contact: Costa Blanca Lawyers for any legal enquiries you may have and the Simple Social Hub for information about renting co-working space.

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LOS MONTESINOS

WHAT’S THAT IN THE CLOT? TRUST US

by Mark Etheridge

EUROPEAN BEE-EATER

The population of local Beeeaters varies from year to year. Sometimes they appear in the Clot in considerable numbers – the next year you’d be hard pushed to find one. This is because the birds rarely stay faithful to one nest site, they usually find a new location each year. As the name suggests, their main victims are bees and wasps. If you are able to get near a feeding beeeater (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.

I keep a close eye on reports from my birding friends who are resident in Spain, and read with considerable envy their news on local sightings – and just a few days ago it was brought home to me just how much I’m missing Spain, when records began to appear of the return of the Bee-eaters. I’m just hoping and praying that restrictions will be lifted in time for me to see them this year, as they are far and away my favourite Spanish birds. The very gaudy European Bee-eater is one of the most distinctive and colourful birds we have in our area, usually appearing at the beginning of April and staying here until October. They have a habit of chatting away non-stop – once you have heard the very distinctive sound of the bee-eater you will 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.

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I’ve kept this article somewhat shorter than usual to bring you some tragic news. Regular readers may remember that in March I wrote about Tonn – the satellite-tracked Greater Spotted Eagle who came to our area each winter for many years. His satellite signal disappeared over the Xmas period at a site near Dolores, and subsequent searches for him found no remains, but plenty of evidence that shooting had been taking place in the area. Tonn should have returned to his Estonian nesting site in early April, but there has been no sign of him. It must now be concluded that Tonn has indeed been shot by Spanish hunters. This is an utter disgrace. Spain has been working hard with regard to nature conservation, yet this has happened. This eagle species is considered vulnerable on the IUCN conservation list, and the unnecessary loss of even one breeding member of the species pushes it closer to the edge. You can see more photographs of birds from our area by visiting www.marketheridge.smugmug.com See you next month.

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CLINICA VETERINARIA GRAN ALACANT EXOTICS

Monday - Friday 10:00 -13:00 & 17:00 - 20:00 Saturday 10:00 -13:00

Tel: 966 698 569

SOME GOOD NEWS These last days, people of Spanish Lower House of Congress are working in a law which will start considering animals are not things but alive beings. This means their physical and psychic welfare will be evaluated in those judicial resolutions involving divorces and embargoes. So far, a companion animal can be embargoed, according to its estimated value, for paying a doubt of the owner. If the new law is finally implemented, judges will decide which is best for the animal, and embargo won’t be applicable. In case of divorce, the judge will have the last word, no matter who is the owner, and will establish a visiting arrangement or shared custody in order to avoid any emotional damage to the pet. Spanish Government animal welfare authorities may expand this protection to farm animals, in order to stop considering them as things in case, for example, of a mortgage execution in a livestock company. Other European countries have similar animal protection laws, so, little by little, the fact that animal welfare is also good for the human animal is spreading. Another fact which they are working about is a new regulation in some aspects such as creating (at last!) a national microchip database. Nowadays every Comunidad Autónoma has its own microchip database (Catalonia has TWO!!), and they don’t share the data. This implies, for example, the chances of finding the owner of a dog which has got lost out of the Comunidad Autómoma where it lives, are dramatically lower since local Vets have access just to local microchip database, so if we want to contact the owner in a case like that, that’s a Sherlock Holmes-like task, involving lots of phone calls to local Vet Colleges and other authorities (which normally don’t work in the evenings and weekends). Another

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

Grooming Service Available important implication is a dog that’s moving to another Comunidad Autónoma must have its microchip re-registered (and pay for it). This new regulation may also include a quite interesting fact: the end of the concept “potentially dangerous dog breeds”. Every individual, no matter which breed we are talking about, will be evaluated, and according to the results, the Vet will decide if the individual must be considered a dangerous dog or not. So far, we don’t know what the evaluation procedure will consist of. They started to develop these new regulations several times, but unfortunately the development was stopped two times due to political instability. Third time lucky? An animal experimentation lab in Madrid is been closed due to bad praxis with animals, mostly rabbits, apes and Beagle dogs. When animal experimentation is necessary (the medicines we use in our patients must be proved first in other dogs and cats, not to mention things like NCoV-19 vaccines), animal testing must be performed providing the maximum respect to the animals, and unnecessary physical and psychic suffering must be avoided. In case of non-necessary things such as cosmetics, there are available at the market lots of them which haven’t been animal tested. Due to the sad images the authorities found in this lab, it’s going to become mandatory installing videocams in animal experimentation labs (same as they did some time ago in slaughterhouses). We thing these news are good, and we hope the new regulations get finally approved.

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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 Brewer is a Rottweiler/ German Shepherd cross, age 12 years. He doesn’t know why his owner suddenly went away and never returned to collect him. He is a really good and gentle 25kgs male dog. He loves to play with his toys, he obeys commands and is currently in a foster home with another dog and a cat.

Whoopie is in need of a new home after her owner sadly passed away. She is a 14 year old poodle cross and has a heart murmur so needs a tablet a day to maintain this. Whoppie is chipped, vaccinated, sterilised and good with other dogs

Honey, Spice and Teddy have all been adopted from our last issue. Blossom is around 9 years old, she is a German shepherd cross and is chipped, vaccinated and sterilised. She is quite shy when meeting new people but soon comes out of her shell.

We have 4 new born kittens that will be looking for forever homes at the end of May. They are still with their mum and are in excellent health

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

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 RITCHY New arrival at the shelter, this gorgeous, chunky French Bulldog, Ritchy . 6 years old, very cuddly. Still being assessed with other dogs and cats.

K9 CLUB www.k9club.es

e-mail: k9clubinfo@gmail.com LOVELY LITTLE TANA Collie type dog, very intelligent. Would like a forever home with a garden as likes to potter about. Could live with another dog but Tana loves cuddles and would likely be more relaxed as an only dog in the house so she gets all the attention! Speyed, vaccinated.

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“Stay with Me”

by Louisa Darcy

with Me and I am lucky to have been able to work and collaborate ideas with so many talented people in Gran Alacant.

At the beginning of last year February 2020, I released my first song 'Could I Fall in Love Again' written by Erick Nova. The song features on YouTube and many music platforms including Spotify. Not long after the song release and CD launch, Spain went into lockdown due to the devastating Covid 19 pandemic, which we have found ourselves adjusting our lives to. At the beginning of lockdown I began to work on a song written by song writer Andy Scott. The song called Stay with Me is an acoustic love song, with a chilled out vibe. Andy Scott and Sami Shehadeh on guitars, along with myself on vocals, recorded and produced the song with Francis Symons at Vegatable Market Recording Studios. After the recording I went on to work with NB Productions to create the music video for Stay with Me. We had a fantastic time filming the video scenes at many stunning locations in and around Gran Alacant. The NB Productions team captured some of their creative footage through camera and drone images. Neil Boultby, the director has produced a beautiful video which has captured and portrayed the feelings and emotions written and sang in the song. The song, together with the video was released onto YouTube Friday 16th April and is available to watch on this YouTube link https://youtu.be/Uk585J7KK5s It has been an amazing journey recording the song and making the video for Stay

I'd like to say a big thank you to everyone involved in the release of Stay with Me; song writer Andy Scott, electric guitarist Sami Shehadeh, backing vocals Amanda McGowan, music producer Francis Symons, film director Neil Boultby, NB Productions team Antonio Marín, Amelia Aperi Hernandez, Gabriel Numberg, César Henquin and Paco Pastor. To watch the video of Stay with Me or see any future projects follow me on; Facebook - Louisa_Darcy Instagram - louisa___darcy YouTube- Louisa Darcy

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GRAN ALACANT GOLF SOCIETY

Following the easing of the covid restrictions, El Plantio Golf Resort reopened on 1 March. GAGS is now back to playing twice a week, Tuesday and Friday with our usual tee-off time of 8am. We are looking forward to meeting up with our regular players and welcoming new members whether they be residents, holiday home owners or visitors to the region. SOCIETY DETAILS ARE AS FOLLOWS: Where: El Plantio Golf Resort. The official address is A-79, Km3, 03114, Alicante When: the formal Society Day is Tuesdays weekly when all golfers are most welcome. In addition we have an informal get together every Friday which has always been a Gentleman’s Day. Time: on both days normally 8am so please be there by 7.40am. Occasionally the Starter may request we change the time so unless you are a regular golfer it would be best

to check with us beforehand.

Cost: usually €50 per round at peak times to include a buggy plus €1.50 mandatory insurance charge. It can sometimes be cheaper during less busy, off peak seasons. In addition the Society requires €5 sweep money which is all paid out at the end of the round.

Gary Brockwell (Gary’s Garden Services) one of the golf members, driving off the 15th tee.

We look forward to seeing you.

For more information please contact: Michael (966 698 925) Tony (966 183 004)

BICI GRAN ALACANT

We are a small group who spend most of the time here in Gran Alacant. If you are interested in joining one of our rides look us up on Facebook Gran Alacant Road Cyclist (Bici Gran Alacant) where ride details are posted.

GRAN ALACANT WALKING FOOTBALL

Another frustrating month, relaxations of the sporting restrictions currently in place.

with no lockdown

Everyone is now waiting to see what happens when the current state of emergency ends on 9th May. The good news is that the Valencian Community government continue to rollout their allocation of Covid19 vaccinations. Hopefully, by the time many of you read this, you will have received at least your first “jab”. Until our Tuesday indoor sessions recommence we will continue our social

get-togethers on alternate Tuesdays. Our first May date is on 4th at midday outside Skipper Bar in the Masa Square and secondly in Shooters Bar at the Carabassi on 18th at midday. Hopefully by then we will have some positive news on recommencing sessions. Please check our facebook page for any updates regarding our indoor playing sessions Stay safe everyone ... John Fraser WhatsApp 07866 315087

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ADVENTURES OF THE GRAN ALACANT RUNNERS & Kim & Mark’s Alicante to Gibraltar Ride If you want to join us contact Geoff 0044/ 747 685 1356

We read in last month’s magazine that Kim and Mark Carey, are challenging themselves to undergo a cycling trip from Alicante to Gibraltar in support of a Childrens Cancer UK. Kim has already raised money for "The Children of Elche" by completing the Santa Pola Marathon and has also jumped out of an Aeroplane for "The Stroke Association" here, so this time the couple felt it was time a UK Charity got the benefits of their hard work.

to raise money to support their efforts. Between us we created a virtual run day where we had to run either 10km or 5km in a place of our choosing with an entry fee of 10 euros per person. We have also set ourselves a target of jointly running the same distance of 780km during the month. Some of the runners based in Gran Alacant met with Kim and Mark to hand over a cheque for 100 euros towards their charity.

Mark is a keen cyclist who thought it a romantic idea to buy his Mrs a bike for Valentines Day. So the fact that Kim has only been cycling 8 weeks or so makes this even more of a challenge. Watching their training from afar, has been amazing and to see the effort they are making to ready themselves physically and emotionally for their adventure of 780km really is quite inspurational. At times you can feel their pain as they increase their mileage every time they go out on their bikes. Inspired by their story we runners looked

Mark and Kim said: we would like to say a massive "Thank You " for all the support we have received. Your generosity has amounted to 2,575 euros so far!!!

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ADVENTURES OF THE GRAN ALACANT RUNNERS & Kim & Mark’s Alicante to Gibraltar Ride

RAISED 2575€ SO FAR !!!

Due to the border restrictions, we have been forced to push our epic journey forwards to the 9th of May. Looking on the bright side, this gives us "More" time to raise "More" money for these poor Children. Preparation for this long distance trip has been a bit grueling at times (for me, Kim)

We've done uphill, long distance, off-road training. We've had a few near misses with reckless drivers but I think we are now ready, averaging 25km/h. Take a look at our route below and please show your support.

Mark is a keen cyclist, who was being romantic and bought me a bike for Valentines Day Little did he know he'd be cycling to GIBRALTAR !!!

JUST GIVE EVERYONE You can donate through our “Just Giving Page”

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