The Buzz 121 by The Buzz Newspaper

Costa Blanca North

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ISSUE 79 (#121) November 14th

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Liquid Sunshine by Spencer Williams

Benidorm fiestas is not only now the biggest fancy dress street party in Europe but also has the largest attendance of British visitors for a one day event in Spain. Local business have seen this event grow so big in recent years that there has been a continued number of additional venues jumping onto the band wagon to get the most out of what has become the biggest British event on the Costa Blanca. Benidorm enjoys mostly an all year around tourist trade but in particular now has seen the British Fiestas that is always celebrated on the Thursday after the Spanish fiestas grow

from one part of the British tourist area the famous Square along to the Calle Gerona crossroads with Andys Bar, the Yorkshire Pride and The Wooky Hollow. This year we have seen the event grow along to the other end of Calle Gerona onto the adjacent street Calle Derramador. It’s become a big business and several large hotels have extended their buildings and carried out large building projects to accommodate the ever growing number of British visitors as well as making the British Fiestas part of their own annual agenda gearing up specifically for the party goers to stay within the ...Continued Page 5

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November 14th

In This Issue...

Dear Readers

Dear readers, welcome to the Buzz Newspaper issue 121. It’s been

News

a busy time across parts of the region, with Fiestas in Alfaz del Pi and Benidorm. Also we’ve had the children off school and some of

Page 5

the best weather ever for this time of year. Who could imagine that we would still be getting temperatures in the 20’s during the day? It really has been amazingly warm for November.

Lifestyle

I have seen several beaches along the coast packed with people en-

Page 15

joying themselves and even still swimming in the sea. With now only 5 weeks left before Christmas, it really is time to book your special day out and a fantastic lunch, you just need to decide where you

Property +

want to be. I have had several reports from restaurant owners that they are already fully booked on many days over the festive period, so if you haven’t yet reserved then time is running out! On pages 27-

Page 19

30 you will find the Buzz Christmas Guide, a handy 4 page pull out. Also you can visit (Impact Voucher Logo) to see the latest discounts and special offers for shopping, beauty, food and drink and much

Puzzles

more besides, just visit us at www.impactvouchers.com

Page 26

To extend our media products across the region you can listen to our radio station Galaxy Radio dedicated to people across the Costa Blanca with the best ever music from down the years. Take time to

Motoring

tune in at 106.8 FM or online at www.galaxyradio.es You can even request your own choice of music using the interactive player. All of this catering specifically for those who love music, and where our team at the Buzz Media head office and studios here in Benidorm have been working hard to deliver the best radio station on the Spanish coast.

Please send us in your local news or call us at the Buzz media team where we are waiting to speak to you. Remember we are always working hard to provide the British readers with the best and most enjoyable newspaper in town and beyond. You can also read your local Buzz Newspaper online at www.buzznews.es Contact us anytime at the news desk 965 020 250 or on my mobile 634 310 665

Marco - Editor in Chief - Buzz Media

Editor - Benilon S.L Managing Director - Marco Baiardo Production Manager - Marco B Jr. Editorial - Simon Russell

Page 33

Expat Centre Manager - Lada Janovoca Head Office & News Desk C/Castellion 5, Benidorm, 03500 Tel - 965 020 250 - info@buzzmedia.es www.buzznews.es

Deposito Legal A 447-2014 Printed by. INDUGRAFF OFFSET The Buzz Newspaper, its publishers, members of staff and its agents do not accept responsibility for claims by advertisers nor can it be held responsible for any errors in advertisements which are reproduced from poor artwork, low quality electronic data or inadequate instructions for text or other layout features. Further no responsibility is accepted for any loss or damage caused by an error, inaccuracy or non-appearance of any advertisement, although all advertisements produced are checked prior to insertion. We regret that we cannot accept responsibility for more than ONE incorrect insertion and that no re-publication will be granted in the case of typographical or minor changes which do not affect the value of the advertisement. E&OE. NO PART OF THIS NEWSPAPER MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE PUBLISHERS

Focus

Page 39

Sport

Page 50

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November 14th

Benidorm Fiesta Madness Continues To Grow

By Spencer WIlliams

the street up to Uncle Peds Bar. The decorations, huge PA’s and staging are all in place to make sure that the event is not located only in one area commonly known as the British New Town but to extend into other streets. So far this year the visitors have huddled together not moving too far due to the bad weather but with plenty of liquid sunshine being consumed in the warm up days the forecast is set to follow the tradition as seen in many previous years with wall to wall sunshine on the Big Day. The party often extends also into the Friday and for some a long weekend.

Violent Thieves Tracked Down By Simon Russell

POLICE believe they have caught a gang of three women who had been targeting lingerie and perfume shops in the Alicante area. The police had been keen to track the group down as they were not afraid to use violence if they met resistance when robbing a shop. They had targeted several shops in Vinalopo, Aspe, Montforte del Cid and Novelda, and it was in Novelda where they were arrested. They targeted products such as lingerie, perfume and beauty

products as well as cash on their raids. The women had been tracked down by some old fashioned police work as photos of suspects were shown to shop staff, leading them to the three women, already well known to the police. The three are Spanish nationals aged between 24 and 31 and have been charged with nine offences including burglary, intimidation and membership of a criminal gang.

Courts Open door for Sunday trading

By Simon Russell

AN Alicante judge has appeared to back the request for Alicante’s shopping centres to open on Sundays and other fiestas. This would overrule the previous judgement made last year banning large centres from trading on holidays. The case was brought about by the cities three main centres, Gran Via, Plaza Mar II and Puerta de

Alicante and was hinging on the fact that Alicante is a ZGAT, or official tourist zone. The Generalitat, who made the previous judgement, have 15 days to appeal the ruling. Meanwhile the centres involved are threatening to seek compensation if they are not allowed to open, and are putting plans in place to hire around 400 staff to cover the extra opening days.

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Airport Still Flying High First Cold Spell of

By Simon Russell

EL Altet airport in Alicante welcomed it’s 11 millionth passenger in 2016 on 7 November, already exceeding the total amount of travellers flying in to Alicante in 2015. The 11 millionth passenger, a slightly surprised Swedish woman flying in from Gothenburg, was greeted

Season Hits Spain

with a bouquet of flowers by the airport director. Fire trucks had already greeted the plane with celebratory arches of By Simon Russell water as it taxied to a halt earlier. In AS you probably noticed the Costa May 2017 El Altet celebrates it’s 50th Blanca had it’s first period of cooler anniversary and shows no signs of weather last week. Temperatures slowing down with age. dropped to as low as 6 or 7 degrees overnight and the cold wind made things feel cooler than that. Valencia also saw it’s first snow of the period although only on it’s highest mountains. However Madrid really suffered with the weather, experiencing below freezing

temperatures while heavy snowfall caused chaos on the roads and a 60% rise in traffic accidents. The cold snap was blamed on a north westerly wind system that swept across the country. However this has now been replaced by the milder, and probably wetter, weather that is more normally seen in mid to late November - though you may want to keep the duvet out.

Alcohol Tops Addiction Problems Across The Community

By Simon Russell

JUST under a third of patients treated in the Valencian Community for addiction issues in 2015 had problems with alcohol. This was a rise on the previous year and is seen as part of a worrying trend. Cocaine and cannabis both accounted for about 15% of addictions, with tobacco and heroin accounting for around 10% and gambling 4%. Some people had a mixture of addictions, such as drink

and drugs while just over 70% of the 12,000 people treated were men. Not everyone with an addiction will have sought medical help of course (smokers in particular) and many experts perceive these figures as just the tip of the iceberg. Valencia has 33 specialist units for treating addictive behaviour as well as various educational programmes that focus on schools etc and the early prevention of damaging patterns of behaviour.

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November 14th

Fifteen Arrested In Police Drugs Raid

By Simon Russell

NATIONAL Police seized a cache of arms, 4,000€ in cash and around 20 kilos of hashish, cocaine and marijuana on a raid in Sagunto, near Valencia, on 5 November. They detained a group of mixed nationals from Spain, Colombia, Morocco and France, consisting of nine men and six women. The raid is the culmination of an investigation that has been

ongoing since early August in which the police have been monitoring the group on suspicion of drug related activity. Charges are set to include membership of a criminal gang, arms possession, drugs possession, drug dealing and the theft of electricity. While based in Sagunto it is thought that the gang distributed drugs across the Valencia and Castellon provinces and are major operators in the field.

Local Hairdresser a Cut Above The Rest

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By Simon Russell

Valencian Jose Boix has been voted the best hairdresser for women in Spain in a competition organised by Club Figaro for his DNA collection - so called as it recognises the individuality of each person whose hair he styles. The judges said his hair styling “was a song to the identity of each woman”. Last year Jose won the overall best barber award and this years competition also saw several plaudits go to the Tony and Guy chain which will be well known to many British expatriates.

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November 14th

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High Tech Peeping Tom Arrested By Simon Russell

By Simon Russell

A 28 year old Spanish man was arrested in Burjassot, near Valencia, on suspicion of invading peoples privacy without their knowledge. He has been accused of placing a mobile phone in a men’s bathroom at a Valencia University college. A search of his house uncovered incriminating evidence on his PC, tablet and external memory sticks.

Police had been alerted by a teacher at the school who noticed some misplaced ceiling tiles and located the mobile phone, which led them to the suspect who had been seen leaving the bathrooms in a hurry earlier that day. A search of his car also found tools suitable for placing the phone in the ceiling. The suspect, who has an existing police record, is due to appear in court this week.

“Big Brother” Traffic System Set For 2018 By Simon Russell

SEEN as the ultimate traffic management tool for smaller cities, Alicante is set to sign an agreement to introduce the “Being Smart” system within 18 months. Managed by the Red. es firm there will be a network of around 140 security and surveillance cameras constantly monitoring the cities traffic. All the data feeds

Homework Strike Not Supported by All

into a wider system to allow the better flow of traffic at all times in a mainly automated system. Largely welcomed, though referred to as “Big Brother” by others (and not always affectionately), Mayor Gabriel Echavarri describes the system as very advanced and a great opportunity to improve tourism.

THE Catholic Parents Association in Valencia have stated that they do not support the strike action planned by parent groups across the region. They have taken the stance that the reasons for the actions are politically motivated and not just about the amount of homework that children are receiving. The Valencia Community remains one of the strongest supporters of the action, with the main parents teachers association claiming the sheer amount of homework means all work and no play for many children. They also note that a lot of this is a catch up exercise on what should have been covered at school during the day, something being blamed on the sheer size of the Spanish school curriculum.

Alleged Paedophile Dies Before Trial

By Simon Russell

A judge has ordered that the records relating to a trial of a 68 year old man accused of molesting a five year old be deleted and the trial cancelled. The case was scheduled to begin last month but between the accusation being made and the trial commencement the man had died. The incidents of molestation, which occurred in Valencia, relate back to 2005 when the man was described as a trusted family friend. As the accused could not defend himself the judge said he had no choice but to cancel the trial and expunge the records although the child’s family are unhappy with this decision.

November 14th

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Ex Convict Murdered Fellow Prisoner After Release

By Simon Russell

ALTHOUGH his murder case was due to go to trial on 8 November in Valencia city, a man accepted a plea bargain resulting in a sentence of seven and a half years before proceedings started.

The original incident took place in March 2014 after the man invited the victim, another former convict who he had befriended in jail, around to his flat in Valencia for a drink.

The two men, together with the killer’s partner, drank heavily for around 24 hours. At some stage an argument began, resulting in first a fight and then the stabbing. The woman tried to patch the victims wounds but he staggered out of the flat and died in the stairwell. The mans partner was sentenced to five years in prison as she was judged to have taken part in the attack.

The landing where the crime took place, full of blood.

Tube Rapist Apprehended

By Simon Russell

A man was arrested accused of an attempted rape on a young woman as she left a Valencia city Metro train. The incident occurred on the evening of 3 November as the 24 year old victim was crossing the street after exiting the Juan de Garay station at

11.00 in the evening. The accused groped and hit the woman and told her “don’t scream, I only want sex”. Despite being dragged to wasteland the woman fought the attacker off long enough for a passer by to hear her at which point the man fled with her phone. Police soon tracked

him down and the man now stands accused of theft with violence and attempted rape. The accused, of Nigerian descent, admits the theft but denies the attempted rape accusation. He has been detained in custody without bail being offered.

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November 14th

Foreign Fruit Pickers Released From Squalor

By Simon Russell

THE Guardia Civil have arrested four Bulgarian nationals accused of forcing 33 of their fellow countrymen to live in squalid conditions while hiring them out for agricultural work in the Valencian region. The group were discovered living in very poor conditions, all crowded into unsuitable and unsanitary accommodation in Segovia and Valladolid. The group, all originating from the same small area of Bulgaria, had also not received any of the promised wages after being persuaded to leave their homeland to work in

Spain on the pretence of job offers which turned out to be false. The arrested men, aged

between 25 and 43, are being charged with human trafficking and labour exploitation.

houses, about 10,000€ has been set aside for helping people plant crops and become independent of the need for charity. Co-operatives in Spain and globally have a stated aim to not just create wealth for wealth’s sake but for the general good of others and employees, who usually own some or all of the company. 22 mainly Valencian

co-ops are involved in the Vicente Ferrer Foundation including banks, fruit producers, electricity firms and wine producers. The area of help in India where the housing is being built is also operating loosely as a group of co-operatives, part of the reason why the money and help has been given to Mydugolam.

Helping Build Homes in India

By Simon Russell

THE Valencia based charity, Vicente Ferrer Foundation, has raised 51,000€ for the construction of nineteen homes in the Indian village of Mydugolam. The cash was raised by a number of local co-operatives and with a stated aim of “extending solidarity beyond Spain“. While most of the money will go towards building the new

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Johnny’s Diner Benidorm Johnny’s Restaurant is a 50’s style diner that serves quality homemade and top branded food and drink. Stepping foot into this hidden gem gives you a fresh nostalgic feel with the decor and music playing a great selection of the American Oldies. The Diner is tucked behind the EuroTobacco shop just off of the Mediterraneo close to Benidorm’s Casino, and despite its size Johnny’s offers a great selection of food including homemade burgers, pies, curry’s, stews, hand cut chips, creamy mash and real oven roast and baked potatoes. They also offer a Vegetarian options and Mr Tumbles Kids menu with colouring, stickers and fun activities for the little ones. A winner at Jonny’s Diner is the MAN V’s FOOD CHALLENGE, where contestants can win a t-shirt, a free meal and €50 in cash if completed on time and within the T&C’s, I actually attempted the BIG MAC

n CHEESE challenge recently which unfortunately I did not complete successfully, the amount of food was more than anything I had ever seen before and in my defense the picture made it look a lot smaller! The challenge consisted of 2 huge burger patties with a ridiculous amount of cheese, however there was no bun. This was replaced with two deep fried macaroni and cheese, made to imitate the lost bun...slightly unfair but that’s where the challenge gets its name! Do you dare try and be the first to complete the challenge? They also offer two other challenges, The Hot Spicy Wing challenge and the Mega Breakfast challenge. Johnnys are now taking bookings for Christmas, call them on 611 489 660 - Johnnys Diner, Avenida Mediterraneo 58 | Coblanca 6, 03503 Benidorm, Spain

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November 14th

Open For Fiestas!

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November 14th

The Best Natural Blood Thinners If you have high blood pressure, then you may be prescribed blood thinners by your doctor. These decrease the viscosity of the blood slightly, thereby enabling it to pass more easily through your blood vessels while placing a little less strain on the heart. Moreover, it can help to prevent pulmonary embolism, thrombosis, heart disease or stroke. Popular blood thinners include Coumadin and Plavix, while Aspirin can also be used in this manner. But if you’re not at risk of any of these conditions, then using a prescription blood thinner or even aspirin can lead to a number of side effects. Among other things, this can cause dizziness, menstrual bleeding, headaches and stomach pain. A milder approach then that can improve your blood pressure without causing side effects, is to use the various ingredients that are available naturally in our diet and which can help to thin the blood. Note however, that you should always consult with your doctor before attempting to self-medicate – even with natural ingredients. Otherwise, you might risk an interaction with other medication, or if you

stop your prescription, you may still be at risk of the aforementioned conditions. Your doctor would not prescribe blood thinners unless the situation was urgent.

Popular Natural Blood Thinners Turmeric Turmeric is a spice often used in curries. It contains curcumin which acts as an antiplatelet.

Ginger Ginger is actually part of the same family as turmeric and contains salicylate, an acid that is in a number of plants. Some studies link a derivative of this component, acetyl salicylic acid, to stroke prevention (1) though more research needs to be done.

Avocados Avocados also contain the all-important salicylate. They’re also rich in saturated fats but this has been shown to increase HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol) and not LDL cholesterol – despite what we formerly believed.

Nuts Vitamin E can also act to combat clotting and is found in good quantities in nuts and several other fibrous foods. As insoluble fiber is also good for combating cholesterol, this is likely a good choice for combating high blood pressure.

Garlic Garlic is not actually a blood thinner but rather a potent vasodilator. This means it widens the blood vessels and thereby allows blood to pass through more easily and again reduces the blood pressure. This is an alternate approach to combating high blood pressure through natural ingredients in the diet.

November 14th

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Ways to Prevent Feline Leukemia

When a cat has Feline Leukemia, his immune system will be compromised. Apart from this, he also develops anemia and the growth of abnormal tumors. He develops other diseases such as cancer. He will most likely live around 3.5 more years, as a majority of FeLV-infected cats do. If you are a cat care giver, it is essential for you to know how you can prevent the spread of the disease among cats in your foster cat home. Knowledge and understanding of the disease, as well as other contagious diseases, can certainly be a big factor in lengthening the lives of cats. Licking is one of the common forms of transmission as FeLV can be acquired through licking. Moreover, placenta-transmission (i.e. mother to baby) is also another common form. Kittens are more vulnerable to the condition because their immune system are still weak until they reach 4 months old, thus resistance to the disease is also not that strong. The sad truth is that it takes awhile for symptoms to become evident. In fact, it could take months, or even years, before the symptoms show. Unless you get your cat tested, it is unlikely that you will find out if he has FeLV during the first few months that he has it. How can you keep your cats safe from this rather deadly disease? Below are some of the things that you can do. Actually, these are what you SHOULD do, if you want to keep your cats free from FeLV, and this is particularly important if you have a foster cat home. * First, keep your infected cats separate from healthy ones. * Second, have your cats vaccinated. But before you do so, please bear in mind that the vaccines do not work for all cats. * Third, test your cats, especially those that you own (if you have a foster cat home).

* Fourth, do not get more cats until the preceding fostered cats already have new owners. * Fifth, make sure feeding plates are separated and always disinfected. * Sixth, clean and disinfect their litter box at least two times a week. * Lastly, if an FeLV-infected cat gets a new home, see to it that you inform the new owner of the cat’s condition and educate him on how he can take care of the cat. If you are a foster cat caregiver, you are taking on a huge responsibility of ensuring that the cats are kept healthy. This is particularly important if you also have your own cats, on top of the foster cats. Always see to it that you have your cats tested for FeLV and other transmittable diseases. You run the risk of spreading diseases if you have many cats in your home but if you have a good understanding on the dos and don’ts, then you should not have a problem keeping every cat safe and healthy. Additionally, you might also want to consider getting cat health insurance plan as the management of feline cancer or other diseases brought about by Feline Leukemia entails costs that may really hurt your budget.

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November 14th

Torrevieja Nowadays Torrevieja is one of the largest towns in the province of Alicante and indeed in the region of the Comunitat TorreviejaValenciana, but until quite recently it was a relatively undeveloped part of the southern Costa Blanca: in 1970 there were still under 10,000 residents, but since then the population has mushroomed to its current size of over 100,000, and it has now overtaken Orihuela as the largest population centre in the Vega Baja del Segura. In summer the population swells to an estimated half a million as flocks of visitors arrive, attracted by the beaches on 20 kilometres of coastline, the busy social life and Mediterranean climate. This is one of the most cosmopolitan municipalities in the whole of Spain, with residents of 180 nationalities, and has Torreviejaa rich and varied social life with an impressive cultural infrastructure: the international auditorium, the Palacio de la Música and the Teatro Municipal, the modernist Casino, a number of attractively planted plazas and garden areas, as well as the beachside promenade, all a backdrop for the numerous concerts and cultural events which take place every year. Amongst these are the Habaneras choral festival, the annual feria filling the town with Sevillanas and horsemen, other local fiestas: Semana

Santa, San Vicente Ferrer, the patron saint fiestas in August (San Emigdio) and December (Inmaculada Concepción), as well as the emblematic maritime procession of the Virgen del Carmen in July. But although culture is high on the agenda in Torrevieja, the main attraction is its seaside location, with 20 km of TorreviejaMediterranean beaches forming part of the Costa Blanca drawing tourists throughout the summer, as well as a substantial population of foreign residential tourists who live in the area throughout the year, enjoying the healthy lifestyle and Mediterranean cuisine on offer in the many bars and restaurants in the municipality. The kilometre long dyke jutting into the sea is a popular walkway, the promenades are a pleasure for walkers and runners, the natural park areas around the Salinas offer walking and cycling opportunities, the marina offers mooring for leisure boats, there are plenty of watersports available, the municipality has impressive sports facilities in the Ciudad de De-

portes and excellent healthcare facilities in the form of the Torrevieja Hospital. The area is also very well serviced for those who enjoy shopping and sightseeing. The historic roots of Torrevieja can be summed up in just two words: salt and fish. Prior to the nineteenth century there was no evidence of human occupation apart from a couple of watch towers (“torres vigia”, part of the network installed along the coast to protect from Berber pirates,) from which the name of the municipality is derived, and a few scattered houses belonging to fishermen, but in 1802 major production of salt began at the La Mata salt flats and the urban development of Torrevieja began. For many years salt production was the basis on which Torrevieja’s economy was built, and the port became an impor-

tant outlet not only for salt but also for the fruit and vegetables grown in the rest of the Vega Baja. Indeed, over half a million tons of salt are still produced here every year, and fishing and agriculture still remain important sources of employment. The Torrevieja municipality is part of the Comarca de la Vega Baja de la Segura, an administrative district of the TorreviejaAlicante province, which itself is one of three provinces forming the Valencia Region, the Comunidad ( or Comunitat in Valencian)Valenciana. Castellano (Spanish) is the main language, although some residents also speak Valencian. The municipality is well connected, linking into the major AP-7 which runs along the Mediterranean coastline and is close to Alicante-Elche airport, indeed the council runs a well priced bus service directly to the airport.

Clubs & Charities

Church of England U3A Marina Baixa On Their Travels Celebrate Margery Broberg turned 90 on Remembrance day. Among their invitations to celebrate were twelve members of the Costa Blanca Anglican Chaplaincy (10 from the ALBIR Church) we joined with many other friends from Ciudad Patricia and Orba where she and Neville used to live. Neville’s niece,

Christine gave a really lovely speech. It was a lovely celebration. A service of Holy Communion is held in Albir every Sunday at 9.45am. You can find us in the centre of Albir, turn up the main road hill, Camino de la Cantera, (quite near the Consum Supermarket), signposted Rober Palas Hotel, turn right in front of the hotel and the Church (Norwegian Seaman’s Church) is just inside the next road on the left, Carrer Mart. ALSO every Thursday at 11.00am at the Forum Mare Nostrum, Alfaz del Pi we have a service of Holy Communion. The second Thursday of each month is a healing service If you need any further information please telephone our Local Church Warden , Elaine Mitchell on 96 686 4962 or mobile 636 164 467. Albir is one of eight congregations in the Chaplaincy, from Gandia to El Campello and you can find much more information on the website www.costablancaanglicanchaplaincy.org ESPECIALLY details of all the Christmas services. Always be assured that a warm welcome awaits you.

On Friday, 43 Members of the U3A Marina Baixa, left Albir in glorious sunshine, heading south to The Caves of Canelobre. We had a fantastic Tour Guide called Juanjo, who gave us a very informative and entertaining narrative as we passed through the cave, pointing out many of the unique features, especially “pixorro” (look up the translation)!! We then continued to Jijona, where we visited the Museo del Turron and had a tour around the production plant. Finally, we sampled some of the lovely products, before passing through the factory shop, where many boxes of chocolates and Turron were purchased. The next stop was Agost, where we had a lovely 5 course lunch, with wine and water, before heading back to Albir. Many thanks to Rob & Liz, for organising another wonderful trip for the benefit of the members. U3A Marina Baixa holds its general

meetings on the fourth Monday of each month at the auditorium in the Casa de Cultura Alfaz del Pi. The next Meeting is on Monday 28th November. The doors open at 10am and the desks close at 10.50am for a prompt 11.00 am start. Please come early to sign in and get your seat! The General Meetings are normally always on the 4th Monday of the month. Please visit the website www.u3amarinabaixa.com to find out more information there is also a Facebook page. If you do not have internet access please contact their secretary Joan Flint on 96 586 1226 or Mobile 663 637 167 for more information.

Help Of Denia & Marina Alta Charity Auction On Friday 28th October HELP of Denia & Marina Alta held a Charity Auction at El Cid, Benidoleig. Bidding was keen with one item, an impressive telescope bringing in over 70 euros alone when two keen purchasers entered in a good natured ‘bidding war’. Altogether the auction raised 1,675€ for the charity including 75€ received the day before the auction for an irresistible giant furry tiger! There was also a generous donation from the auction organisers themselves Pictured in the photograph is Candida Wright, President of HELP

collecting the cheque from the auction organisers. HELP would like to say a big thank you to the organisers and the volunteers who gave their time on the day to assist with the auction. If you would like to learn more about HELP please visit their website www. helpofdenia.com or their Facebook page Help of DAMA where you can see photos of previous events and receive news about any forthcoming events they have planned. HELP are always looking for more willing volunteers so if you fee you may be able to give a little time to them please contact the HELP office on 96 642 7044 for more

www.buzznews.es

November 14th

Spaniards Buying More Holiday-Homes On the Coast, Reports Developer One of the biggest developers on the Mediterranean coast reports that local buyers are taking over from foreign clients. With more than 10 developments underway on the Spanish Mediterranean coast TM Real Estate Group has survived the crisis thanks to foreign demand, which stepped up back in 2010 and made up for the collapse in local demand. TM Group were also saved by their ability to finance new projects from own funds, and the fact that they never built far from the coast, ensuring there was always demand for their homes. “During the last eight years we have survived thanks to international clients, but now local buyers are leading the way,” says Ángeles Serna, President of TM Group, in comments to the Spanish property portal Idealista. “Spanish buyers are now very active in new developments so long as

the product is good, and are playing an important role in the gradual recovery that the sector is living through.” Having sold almost 10,000 homes on the Spanish coast to local and foreign buyers since the 1960s, TM Group know something about the market, and the differences in preferences between nationalities. “Foreign clients are looking for a good climate, whilst national demand wants to be near the sea or have good views,”explains Serna. Swedes are after a spacious home with good access, and are prepared to pay more to be near a good airport like Alicante. Belgians are more concerned with finding a location that offers peace and quiet yet near to amenities, and the Germans are focused on Mallorca, where 90% of them buy. “The English, for their part, are a bit of everything,” says Serna, who also reveals that TM Group clients generally don’t need a mortgage to buy.

Buyers from all groups, in particular the Spanish, are once again comfortable with buying off-plan, we are told. Their developments are now largely sold out by the time construction is finished, and they have just sold 30% of a new development in Benidorm

off-plan in the space of a month. Spanish demand is recovering with the economy, though it is still a far cry from what it was in the boom. Let’s just hope that growing Spanish demand on the coast is enough to make up for falling British demand post Brexit.

November 14th

www.buzznews.es

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November 14th

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British Market Softens as Foreign Demand Rises 20% In First Half of Year Total foreign demand was up a healthy 20% in the first half of the year, according to the Notaries’ Association, but British demand clearly softened in the run up to Brexit.

people who spend the most are Spanish expats (Spaniards living outside of Spain), who spent 1,936€/m2.

Total foreign demand for property in Spain from both resident and non-resident foreign buyers increased 19.7% to 43,519 in the first six months of the year, up from 36,370 in the same period last year. These figures are based on sales witnessed by Spanish notaries. That means that foreign buyers are now 20.3% of the Spanish housing market, up from 6.3% in 2008 and matching the record high hit in in the second half of last year.

The autonomous region with the biggest number of foreign buyers was the Valencian Community (home to the Costa Blanca and Costa del Azahar) with 11,853 (+16.6%), followed by Andalusia 8,527 (+14.3%), Catalonia 6,583 (+20.8%), the Canaries 5,006 (+20.6%), Madrid 3,493 (+19.1%), and the Balearics 3,207 (+28%).

Non-residents buying second homes were 50.5% of the foreign market, and expats resident in Spain were 49.5% of the market.

The following maps illustrate the share of foreign demand by nationality in different regions, with the map on the left showing non-resident demand, and the map on the right resident demand, in both cases for the first half of the year. When it comes to non-resident demand for sec-

Non-residents spent an average of 1,855€/m2 compared to a total market average of 1,350€/m2. The

ond homes the British were number one or two in almost all regions. Resident demand was dominated by economic migrants, in most cases from Romania and Morocco, though the British were also key players as expat buyers in Andalusia, Murcia, the Valencian Region, the Balearics, the Canaries, and Asturias. This all goes to show how much Spain has to lose if Brexit crushes British demand.

BRITISH MARKET GOES SOFT WITH BREXIT The British were still the biggest group of buyers by far with 8,282 purchases (+15.7%), followed by France 3,479 (+8.9%), Germany 3,413 (+23.1%), Italy 2,815 (+34.4%), Sweden 2,579 (+41.2%), and Belgium 3,420 (+9.2%). The only national-

ities to decline were Russia (-13.1%), Norway and Switzerland (both down 4.8%). Though still the biggest national group of buyers by a wide margin, it is interesting to see that British demand growth softened considerably in the first half of the year, down to +15.7% from +41% in the same period last year. This almost certainly reflects the Brexit effect that has led to a weaker pound.

www.buzznews.es

November 14th

vistacostablanca.com • September 2 - September 8, 2015 35 vistacostablanca.com • September 2 - September 8, 2015 35

WEEKLY WORDSEARCH

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2 North American falls (7) 3 Devour (3) 4 Go aboard (6) 5 Dogged, unyielding (9) 6 Burst forth (5) 7 Go and get (5) 8 Entertained (6) 12 Racing dog (9) 16 Fashionable (1,2,4) 17 Housing area (6) 18 The capital of Portugal (6) 19 Wild West show (5) 20 Gangway (5) 23 Common viral infection (3)

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THIS WEEKS

HOROSCOPES ARIES

TAURUS

Across

1 Tom’s mare could be a beast (8) 6 What models do to be seated (3) 9 Wrath in the midst of dangers (5) 10 Free from impurities, eels can swim (7) 11 Crime that upsets senator (7) 13 Logs I ordered from a town in Ireland (5) 14 Cleopatra’s lover brings article to New York (6) 15 Gain made by professional in good condition (6) 18 Heather takes off in the morning from America (5) 20 Musical direction by an Italian poet (7) 21 Pressing metal in Gateshead (7) 22 A fraction that is separate (5) 23 No opposition (3) 24 What makes telly so awful about the first of December, according to the Julian calendar (3,5)

Scribble Pad

PUZZLE ANSWERS - See page 51

TAURUS (April 21st-May 21st) Not everyone will be on your side at the start of the week, in fact they may not even want to listen to your point of view, but conducting yourself in a quiet confident manner with added diplomacy and tact will see them eating out of your hand by the weekend.

GEMINI

GEMINI (May 22nd-June 21st) Although life as you know it is moving in a slow but steady pace, don’t try to force things to go faster or you may cause irreparable damage, especially in a career capacity. Bide your time and hold your tongue, at least until you know where you stand.

CANCER

CANCER (June 22nd-July 23rd) You’ve been firing on all cylinders for so long that when you finally manage to decelerate, you’ll become restless. If you have time on your hands you may want to consider telling the people who have supported you all the way how much you care.

LEO

LEO (July 24th-August 23rd) The cosmos this week gives you the energy and direction you need to throw yourself in at the deep end and just have a go. This works equally well for work or for love matters, but which comes first is up to you. Feels good all around.

Down 2 Add to supply of gnu meat (7) 3 Spoil part of the Common Market (3) 4 Back in a little while (6) 5 True dears should be cherished (9) 6 A desert is in a mess (5) 7 Score hits (3,3,6) 8 I lack stately form in Utah (4,4,4) 12 Independent republic created by Romanians? (3,6) 16 A pigeon a supporter has to follow (7) 17 Told jokes with one’s mouth covered? (6) 19 Images in solid form (5) 22 A foot at the rear of a ship (3)

ARIES (March 21st-April 20th) Don’t let minor hiccups or short delays over financial arrangements knock you for six this week, as opponents will see the chink in your armour and will move in for the kill. Bluff it out and let everyone know you’re doing great even if you’re actually not.

VIRGO

VIRGO (August 24th-Sept 23rd) You need to be really careful what you say to others this week, as although on the surface they’re coming across as sassy and confident, underneath it all they’re more insecure than you know. Words can wound you know, so choose yours carefully.

LIBRA

LIBRA (Sept 24th-Oct 23rd) Although things are now going better than ever in your domestic scene, you’re champing at the bit to get back out into the world where you feel you can make a difference. Don’t rush in where angels fear to tread. Take it slow.

SCORPIO

SCORPIO (Oct 24th-Nov 22nd) Sensitive dealings with family members over family matters are going well, so if you feel you can ask for a favour, there’s no time like the present. Someone in particular is making over the top demands on your time and energy. Time to say no.

SAGITTARIUS

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23rd-Dec 21st) You need to find a happy balance where you can give your all to work matters, while at the same time giving equally as much to lovers, family and friends. It’s quite a balancing act, but if anyone can pull it off, it’s you. Remember to fit in sleep time.

CAPRICORN

CAPRICORN (Dec 22nd-Jan 20th) Your multi taking skills are definitely improving and you’ll find you can tackle a few things at once this week, and successfully too. There are financial gains in the offing, as long as you don’t rush to grab the brass ring. Take your time.

AQUARIUS

AQUARIUS (Jan 21st-Feb 19th) Do you feel that your get up and go has got up and went? You need to learn how to prioritise; otherwise you’ll run out of steam all the time. Work out what needs to be first in your life, and then rate everything else accordingly. You’ve got this.

PISCES

PISCES (Feb 20th-March 20th) Show everyone who matters in your life that you’ve got what it takes to make an impact this week. It’s a productive week across the board if you manage to make more effort along the way. Work first play later show be your new motto. Use it.

November 14th

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November 14th

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November 14th Benidorm Palace at Christmas is really something special. Taking a trip to Benidorm Palace anytime is always a fantastic night out, with the ability to eat and drink while watching quality first class entertainment.

If you want to do something special for Christmas this year why not give it a go, they have a very special show lined up with the Four Tops performing along with a tasty menu for you to also enjoy.

Starter Duo: Cesar Salad Gran Palace and Roast beef, Potatoes and Rosemary Confit Cream cheese and pumpkin soup Salmon, steamed vegetables with dill and honey dressing Christmas sorbet Fillet steak with IbĂŠrico Gratan and Port Sauce Brownie with Custard and White Chocolate Ice Cream The menu includes a bottle of wine for 2 people (to choose between White Chardonnay, Navarra rose or crianza red Rioja) a glass of cava Codorniu Brut Christmas sweets Book Now 965 85 16 60

November 14th

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November 14th

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Steady Rise of Home Insurance Costs in Spain

The average cost of home insurance rose 3.1% in September compared to the same month last year, reveal the latest inflation figures from the National Institute of Statistics (INE). The cost of home insurance has now risen every month since 2002, when the INE first started including home insurance in its monthly inflation data. So we know for sure the cost has risen every month since then – 14 years and nine months of consecutive increases – and probably longer. The smallest annualised increase in the period for which data is available was 1.9% in February 2006. The general inflation rate in September was -0.8%, so with the consumer price index falling, the real cost of home insurance rose by 3.9%, after adjusting for

inflation. So, although house prices have fallen by around half in the last 10 years, the cost of insuring a home in Spain has done nothing but rise. That said, homes insurance costs in Spain still seem reasonable to me. I say that based on comparing my own home insurance costs in Spain with family in the UK. The INE inflation figures for September also show that home maintenance costs rose by 0.7% in September.

BUDGET airline Ryanair has announced it will be flying to Glasgow and Copenhagen from Valencia airport commencing in March 2017. The announcement was made at a press conference on 9 November by Ryanair’s Marketing Manager for Spain, Jose Espartero. He also confirmed the firms interest

in expanding it’s operations from Castellon airport, while Alicante’s El Altet also remains a very important base for them. After the season the new routes will be reviewed and decisions made on whether to continue them, based on their standard target of a 90% passenger occupation rate for it’s planes.

Glasgow Added to Airlines Schedule

BREXIT UPDATES

Brexit Appeal Ruling Brexit Hits Sales Set for 5th December In Valencia

UK Prime Minister Teresa May has been granted her right to appeal against the latest Brexit ruling and the hearing is due for 5 December, with the judges decision probably being announced early in the new year. This leads on from an earlier ruling where, amidst consternation from certain quarters of the press, three senior judges ruled in favour of a case challenging the governments right to proceed with Brexit negotiations without full parliamentary consultation. Depending on who you believe this may be merely a bump in the road or a major setback to the whole process. For many expatriates living here in Spain the outcome has a more immediate effect and the ruling immediately saw a rise in sterling, effectively putting more money in the pockets of

many retired Brits living in the Eurozone. There is also concern about the long term effect of the weak pound as tourists from the UK find their sterling buying less Euros. So is the latest development likely to derail the whole Brexit bandwagon? It seems unlikely; labour have said they will not vote against the triggering of Article 50, while making it clear that they wish to be fully involved

in the negotiating process. Teresa May believes that transparency in the process will weaken her negotiating position and has launched her appeal. Whatever the outcome of the appeal hearing, it does seem inevitable the whole process will still move forward. However if, as many expect, Mrs May loses her appeal they may not necessarily move ahead according to the timetable that the PM had previously announced.

EXPORTS to the UK from Valencia have fallen by 24% since the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision to leave the European Union in June, revealed Generalitat president Ximo Puig. Puig was attending a tourist fair in London last week and took the chance to discuss this issue with Federico Trillo, Spanish ambassador to the UK. The Valencian tourism sector remains robust as recent figures have shown. However footwear, cars and the food sectors have all

seen significant drops in exports, with the weakness of sterling being seen as a major factor. However Puig remains confident about the tourism sector and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s importance both in money spent on accommodation and the amount travellers spend when they are here in Valencia. He revealed that based on recent figures 78% of all British visitors to the Valencian Community are staying in Benidorm.

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Pound rallies after Trump wins US election

This week, another shock took over the world markets and the pound, for once, has come out on top. Donald Trump will be the 45th President of the United States. The election has been widely reported on and the result has shocked many. Stock markets were losing heavily on Wednesday and look set to finish the week badly. How the world will look during Trump’s tenure remains to be seen, but much like Brexit this appears to be the result of the forgotten man finding his voice. The pen appears to be mightier than the sword, and the simple X in the box by mostly middle America has driven the result. The riots will stop soon and then the real work begins in January, when he’s officially sworn in. The currency markets were expecting a Clinton victory and the dollar lost around 2% immediately following the result. The rest of Wednesday was fairly subdued and the pound initially lost ground, falling to below €1.10 for the first time since earlier in October. The US Dollar is a safe haven currency. These deposits seem to have been ripped out of the US Bank’s clutch and investors are keen to place funds in somewhere more stable. It appears, despite Brexit uncertainty that Sterling is able to roll back a couple of years and benefit from its own safe haven status. Wednesday afternoon we finished trading at €1.1380, a near four cent swing on the day. We have continued to gain as the week has progressed, and reached €1.1650 earlier before settling back a touch. The question that all of my clients have been asking is, ‘how high will it go?’ The answer remains the same, and that is that no one

knows. For just a few days the attention has been away from the Brexit furore. Analysts are still suggesting that the pound will come back to close to parity and Prime Minister Theresa May stated on her trip to India this week that she still expects things to progress despite the High Court’s ruling that Parliament will vote on whether Article 50 will be triggered. As you can see, a huge amount of uncertainty continues with the volatile markets. For now, it’s an opportunity for you to take advantage. Don’t expect miracles however, they might be Trumped. This article is written by a foreigncurrency broker working for TorFX, a forex broker established in 2004 to provide foreign exchange and international payments to both individuals and companies. TorFX is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority under the Payment Service Regulations 2009 for the provision of payment services. Their FCA number is 517320. To verify their authorisation, you can visit the Financial Services Register and search the register using their FCA number. SPI is not responsible for the opinions of guest contributors.

‘for the best post vote financial advice’ Change gives us all the chance to take stock and revitalise our lives and for expats crucially now more than ever take a fresh look at your wealth and finances; with the results of the UK referendum complete, take this opportunity to understand what it means to you and speak to our professional team of advisors at Continental Wealth Management for the best post vote financial advice in Spain.

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London FTSE 1000 14/11/2016 Name

Current price Day change

III

3i Group Plc

657

-1.5

ADM

Admiral Group

2,026.00

1.10%

AAL

Anglo American

1,006.00

15.4

1.55%

ANTO

Antofagasta Holdings

520

AHT

Ashtead Group plc

1,315.00

-32

ABF

Associated British Foods plc

2,461.00

1.07%

AZN

AstraZeneca plc

4,947.00

-3.5

-0.07%

-0.23%

-19.5 -3.61% -2.38%

AV.

Aviva plc

445.8

2.3

0.52%

BAB

Babcock International Group

988.5

-0.5

-0.05% 1.31%

BA.

BAE Systems plc

543

BARC

Barclays plc

170.15

3.65

2.19%

BDEV

Barratt Developments plc

482.7

-0.5

-0.10%

BLT

BHP Billiton plc

1,208.50

24.5

2.07%

BP.

BP Plc

489.5

4.5

0.93%

BATS

British American Tobacco plc

4,886.50

4.5

0.09%

BLND

British Land Co plc

593.5

-2

-0.34%

BT.A

BT Group plc

375.3

7.3

1.98%

BNZL

Bunzl plc

2,319.00

-2

-0.09%

BRBY

Burberry Group plc

1,530.00

2.00%

CPI

Capita plc

590.5

12.5

2.16%

CCL

Carnival plc

3,769.00

0.21% 0.81%

CNA

Centrica plc

211.3

1.7

CCH

Coca-Cola HBC AG

1,827.00

0.44%

CPG

Compass Group plc

1,496.00

0.27%

CRH

CRH plc

2,676.00

1.71%

CRDA

Croda International plc

3,661.00

-3

-0.08%

DCC

DCC plc

6,940.00

-75

-1.07%

DGE

Diageo plc

2,190.00

-8.5

-0.39%

DLG

Direct Line Insurance Group plc

359.4

1.3

0.36%

DC.

Dixons Carphone plc

330

2.4

0.73%

EZJ

easyJet plc

882.5

4.5

0.51%

EXPN

Experian Plc

1,591.00

1.21%

FRES

Fresnillo

1,620.00

-46

-2.76%

GKN

GKN plc

328.2

0.5

0.15%

GSK

GlaxoSmithKline plc

1,691.00

-9

-0.53%

GLEN

Glencore plc

228.25

-2.6

-1.13%

HMSO

Hammerson

562

-2.5

-0.44%

HL.

Hargreaves Lansdown plc

1,191.00

-9

-0.75%

HIK

Hikma Pharmaceuticals

2,030.00

0.10%

HSBA

HSBC Holdings plc

619.6

10.7

1.76%

IMB

Imperial Brands Group

3,890.00

-18.5 -0.47%

INF

Informa plc

663.5

2.47%

IHG

InterContinental Hotels Group plc

3,237.00

-1

-0.03%

IAG

International Consolidated Airlines Group SA

379.4

7.9

2.13%

ITRK

Intertek Group plc

3,615.00

0.00%

INTU

Intu Properties plc

291.5

1.3

0.45%

ITV

ITV plc

172.5

-0.2

-0.12%

JMAT

Johnson Matthey Plc

3,540.00

1.49%

KGF

Kingfisher

363.9

-0.6

-0.16%

LAND

Land Securities Group plc

994

7.5

0.76%

LGEN

Legal & General Group plc

210.8

-0.4

-0.19% -0.19%

LLOY

Lloyds Banking Group plc

52.43

-0.1

LSE

London Stock Exchange Group plc

2,843.00

0.57%

MKS

Marks & Spencer Group plc

327

7.8

2.44%

MDC

Mediclinic International plc

914.5

3.27%

MERL

Merlin Entertainments plc

452.9

2.3

0.51%

MCRO

Micro Focus International plc

2,215.00

-6

-0.27%

MNDI

Mondi Plc

1,599.00

0.06%

MRW

Morrison (Wm) Supermarkets

220.2

1.2

0.55%

NG.

National Grid

1,068.00

1.04%

NXT

Next plc

4,602.00

0.50%

OML

Old Mutual Plc

192.8

1.4

0.73%

PPB

Paddy Power Betfair plc

8,855.00

0.91%

PSON

Pearson plc

832.5

18.5

2.27%

PSN

Persimmon plc

1,706.00

-17

-0.99%

POLY

Polymetal International plc

849.5

PFG

Provident Financial plc

3,036.00

-43

-1.40%

PRU

Prudential plc

1,386.50

4.5

0.33%

RRS

Randgold Resources

6,800.00

RB.

Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc

7,392.00

0.80%

REL

RELX plc

1,460.00

0.48%

RIO

Rio Tinto plc

2,596.00

0.78%

RR.

Rolls Royce Holdings Plc

764.5

1.73%

RBS

Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc

172.8

2.4

1.41%

-13.5 -1.56%

-230 -3.27%

RDSA

Royal Dutch Shell Plc A Shares

2,084.50

11.5

0.55%

RDSB

Royal Dutch Shell Plc B Shares

2,184.50

0.37%

RMG

Royal Mail PLC

496.9

3.8

0.77%

RSA

RSA Insurance Group

560.5

0.72%

SGE

Sage Group plc

730

2.5

0.34%

SBRY

Sainsbury (J) plc

232.9

1.7

0.74%

SDR

Schroders plc

2,769.00

1.28%

SVT

Severn Trent Plc

2,345.00

0.21%

SHP

Shire plc

5,147.00

-29

-0.56%

SKY

Sky plc

842

-6

-0.71%

SN.

Smith & Nephew plc

1,240.00

0.81%

SMIN

Smiths Group Plc

1,480.00

0.41%

SSE

SSE plc

1,548.00

1.44%

STJ

St James’s Place Plc

925.5

-6

-0.64%

STAN

Standard Chartered plc

652.1

10.8

1.68%

SL.

Standard Life plc

337.1

5.9

1.78%

TW.

Taylor Wimpey plc

145

-1.2

-0.82%

TSCO

Tesco plc

203.7

8.6

4.41%

TPK

Travis Perkins plc

1,457.00

0.41%

TUI

TUI AG

1,071.00

-1

-0.09%

ULVR

Unilever plc

3,547.50

-49

-1.36%

UU.

United Utilities Group Plc

944

3.5

0.37%

VOD

Vodafone Group plc

225.05

1.15

0.51% -0.26%

WTB

Whitbread plc

3,834.00

-10

WOS

Wolseley plc

4,563.00

1.15%

WPG

Worldpay Group plc

294.6

4.1

1.41%

WPP

WPP plc

1,827.00

0.61%

SEAT Ateca 2016

It was a long time coming but SEAT finally has a crossover - the Ateca. With styling inspired by the popular Leon, it’s a good looking if not especially daring design, but what the Ateca majors on is practicality, space and comfort. The Ateca also represents good value for money. It may use the same base as the Volkswagen Tiguan, but it has a much more affordable list price compared to its counterpart. For example, the entry-level version gets a good amount of standard kit yet is cheaper and more economical than even the most basic Hyundai Tucson. The mid-level SE is the best choice if you want plenty of equipment with-

out breaking the bank as it comes with dual-zone climate control, an eight-inch colour touchscreen, heated door mirrors, cruise control and 17-inch alloys. Easy to drive and quiet on the move, the Ateca ticks all the right boxes as family transport helped by a big and user-friendly boot, rear seats with lots of leg room plus wide opening doors. It certainly feels more spacious than a Nissan Qashqai. It drives well too with well weighted steering and good stability through corners. It’s not the kind of car designed to be thrown into bends, but it copes admirably and feels stable and reassuring. It should also be

cheap to run, particularly if you go for the 1.6 TDI which can average more than 65mpg according to the official figures at least. For those that don’t need diesel-power, the 1.4 TSI with 150PS provides smooth and brisk performance, making it ideal if you aren’t covering long distances. The Ateca is an easy crossover to recommend - helped by the fact it represents a lot of car for the money. Inside it feels

more spacious than the competition yet is impressively refined and easy to drive. If you want a good quality crossover - look no further.

This Week In Automotive History Original Military Jeep Prototype Delivered

Approximately two months before this week in 1940 American Bantam Car Company delivered a prototype of what would come to be known as the Jeep to the US Army. Impressed, but not sold, the Army claimed ownership of the design and passed the blueprints on to Willys-Overland, with a few requests for changes. The resulting prototype was delivered by Willys on this day in 1940, thus beating out Bantam for the government

contract to produce the vehicles. Eventually Ford was also selected to produce Jeeps for the war effort and Bantam was to produce Jeep trailers. The original Jeep designed by Bantam was created by Karl Probst. There were 2,765 of these Jeeps made, nearly half of which went to the British Army. The Army ultimately selected Willys and Ford to produce the Jeeps because they had the production capability to do

so and because of the upgrades offered by the Willys prototype, which included a more powerful engine and four wheel steering. Willys-Overland and Ford produced approximately 640,000 Jeeps for the war, which was about 18 percent of all wheeled vehicles built by the US for WWII. There are several theories about where the name Jeep came from. Some believe it is a slurring of the acronym G.P., standing for General Purpose or Government Purpose, but there

is no use of the acronym before the name originates. But there is a GPW acronym from Ford, standing for G for government, P designated the 80-inch wheelbase and W was for the Willys engine. Others attribute the name to Eugene the Jeep, Popeyeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s jungle pet that could solve nearly impossible issues. However, the term Jeep was used in the Army as early as 1914 to refer to new test vehicles, including the precursor to tractors and the B-17 Flying Fortress.

November 14th

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November 14th

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November 14th

Unemployment In Javea Rises As Low Season Dip Continues

By Javeamigos

Figures released this week show that registered unemployment in Xàbia at the end of October had risen to 1,691, up 112 on the end of September with the sector suffering the largest rise being Services which includes hotels, restaurants and bars amongst other things, reflecting the reduction of available contracts in the sector during the low season. The unemployment rate rose to 9.96%, remaining just under two points below the rate for the Marina Alta region (11.81%) and well below the national unemployment rate of 18.91%. Compared to the same period in previous years, registered unemployment continues to fall. There were 1,825 people unemployed at the end of October 2015 (a drop of 134) and 1,905 at the end of October 2014 (-214) and

more than 2,000 between 2011 and 2013. However, it should be noted that the population of Xàbia has also fallen from 32,469 in 2011 to 27,681 in 2015, the latest available figure, although it has already been suggested that the main contributing factor for the drop in population has been ex-pats “dropping off” the municipal register after the dual-taxation agreement between Spain and the UK in 2013. Whilst the Services sector continued to offer fewer opportunities, the end of the high season and the noise restrictions imposed by the Ayuntamiento de Xàbia during August has seen the Construction sector enjoy a resurgence with a drop of 22 at the end of the October representing the largest

Art Expert to Give Local Presentation By Simon Russell

THE inaugural meeting of the Marina Alta branch of the Fine Arts Society (MAFAS) will be held at Javea’s Parador Hotel on Thursday 19 January at 10.30am. MAFAS are pleased to announce that the guest

speaker at the event will be Harry Fletcher, a tutor with the Open University and notable art expert. Harry will be looking at Spanish art in this meeting, in particular though not solely, Velazquez, El Greco and Picasso.

For more information contact MAFAS at secretary@mafas.org.uk or view their website on www.mafas.org.uk

monthly fall for some years. Both the Agriculture and Industry sectors saw small rises whilst the number of those registered as unemployed and without any previous work experience rose slightly to 129.

Pensioner Killed On Zebra Crossing By Simon Russell

A 79 year old Spanish man was killed in Xativa, inland from Gandia, while apparently using a pedestrian crossing in the town. Named as local resident Jose Maria

Munoz Quintanar, he was knocked over by a van on the evening of 8 November and died at the scene. The 28 year old van driver has been questioned but has been cleared for

toxic substances. However if the man is charged with offences such as speeding or jumping a red light he can expect to face serious charges after the tragic outcome.

Local Civil War Dead Remembered Donation Helps Youngsters With Much Needed Shopping Spree

By Simon Russell

THOSE of us who moved to Spain for the weather and a quieter way of life may find it difficult to envisage the horrors that occurred in this area during the Spanish Civil War. One such atrocity was in Denia where in 1936 twenty one people, mainly trade unionists, were buried in a mass grave in the Montgo Park after being murdered by army forces. The 80th anniversary of this event was on 2 November and relatives, children

and grandchildren of the dead amongst them, came to the site to pay tribute and lay flowers. Many people were unaware of the site and it’s giant cross,

which ironically is now much more visible after By Simon Russell the recent fires had THE Raquel Paya Centre in Denia cleared away much of the surrounding is an education centre for children with special needs in the town and it’s undergrowth. surrounding area. They are dependent on donations to continue with their good work and last week they were delighted to receive a gift of 850€ from the La Marina shopping centre in Ondara. Students from the school went along to La Marina to receive the cheque which they used to purchase goods such as a fridge, coffee maker, juicer and microwave for the student café.

They also bought floor insulation for the main classroom, all goods being purchased at the shopping centre itself on the day.

November 14th

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Fraudsters Paying The Price

By Simon Russell

DENIA crown court have sentenced two men to nine months in jail for defrauding a man out of a sum of 80,000€. The two were insurance brokers who approached a mutual friend with a scheme to invest the money in a company with the promise of

a large short term profit. However the company in question did not exist and the men kept the money. After the “investor” reported the incident investigations led to the prosecution and the pair were found guilty on 4 November when the jail sentence was imposed.

New Fire Regulations

By Simon Russell

TEULADA-Moraira Town Hall have announced new rules regarding when fires can be lit in the area. Anyone planning to burn agricultural waste will need permission from the Town Hall to do so. If permission is granted the burning can only be done at certain times of the day depending on the time of year and never between 1 June and 20 September. The forested areas of the mountains are seen as high risk and any burning must be done at least 50 metres away from the tree line, unless special permission has been granted. Fires will now be permitted on Sunday’s for the first time.

Hydrant Checks In The Pipeline

By Simon Russell

THE humble fire hydrant played a vital part in controlling the recent forest fires that raged around Poble Nou de Benitatxell. Accordingly, the council is now carefully checking the towns 81 hydrants to ensure they are all in good working order and didn’t sustain damage of any kind during the fires. Dirk Rheindorf, of the local Department of Security, points out that Benitatxell’s location,

close to thick forestry, makes quick intervention vital in the event of any future fires occurring. The hydrants allow

access to a huge amount of water in a very short time and it is important that the network is 100% effective.

Hundreds Mourn Death Of Murdered Teenager

By Simon Russell

THE small inland town of Chella held the funeral of local schoolgirl Vanessa Ferrer on 3 November with a large crowd of mourners and amid scenes of great emotion. The fifteen year olds body had been found the previous week, dumped

in a large pit, and an acquaintance of hers has now admitted to killing her. It has since transpired that 21 year old Reuben M. was a habitual drug user and had a previous conviction for an assault on a girlfriend.

While confessing to the crime he has also stated he has very little memory of the events due to being high on drugs at the time. The exact cause of Vanessa’s death is not yet clear although it was clear that violence was used.

Taking Out The Trash By Simon Russell

the company Teumo Servis and will take place over a period of time rather than with immediate effect.

PUZZLE ANSWERS

THE Teulada and Moraira Town Hall have begun a programme of replacing all the existing waist containers in both towns with new ones. Councillor Raul Llobell has said that the upgrade is to offer a better service and improve the municipalities image. The new receptacles will weigh less and are constructed from eco-friendly material. The changes are being made in collaboration with

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November 14th

Man Arrested Violent Gang Arrested In Orihuela After Axe Threat By Simon Russell

The Guardia Civil have arrested 12 members of a criminal gang that committed attacks and robberies By Simon Russell in Alicante and Murcia provinces. A 40 year old and went to the Guardia In total they have arrested Spanish man has been Civil who launched a eight Spanish, ecuadorian and detained in Novelda search for the man. They Colombianb men and four after threatening to located and arrested the Spanish and Ecuadorian women. decapitate his ex-wife man and later tracked They are accused of 11 robberies and their son with an down the axe which had with violence, six counts of injuring axe. been dumped near the people and illegally possessing The man, who already scene. weapons, breaking and entering had three restraining The man’s three and being part of a criminal gang. orders against him, previous restraining Seven homes were searched approached the woman orders all relate to on the Cartagena areas of when she was sitting different women and he Playa Honda, La Aparecida with friends in a public also has criminal records and Portman, La Unión (also in square in the town. He for violence, robbery, Murcia) and Orihuela. €54,000, had the axe with him threats and assault. He two shotguns, several knives and and made the threats has been imprisoned more than 180 pieces of jewellery unless she agreed to go awaiting charges and an and watches were confiscated. Service stations were robbed by home with him. expected trial. Th investighation started in groups of three or more criminals, The woman ran off november last year after several who injured six employees who service stations and shops in did not cooperate with them. the cartagena countryside were Houses with people inside robbed. An experienced and were also targeted, including violent gang was identified, one two people who were tied up which disguised themselves with and beaten at their home in balaclavas and did not hesitate Cartagena, and who lost about to beat their victims and threaten €60,000 and over €100,00 worth By Simon Russell them with firearms, knives of jewellery. A male Ecuadorian THE Youth on culture, history and machetes, before fleeing gang member was interceted Department in Torrevieja and local traditions. with expert getaway drivers. in Albacete province as he was has opened entries for Prizes for winning this years “Gymkhanica” participants include event which takes tickets to Warner place on 3 December. Brothers Park in Madrid The event is open with accommodation, By Simon Russell to young residents sports equipment and TORREVIEJA’S Department of aged between 14 and ten pin bowling lessons. Environment has announced the 35 and on the day To enrol or for more installation of special bat boxes, essentially will involve groups of information visit the refuges for the endangered animals. 50 of team following a route CIAJ Youth Centre in the shelters will be placed in undisclosed through Torrevieja the town, registration is spots frequented by the creatures. based on special open until 23 November. However these are not as maps and focusing straightforward as installing bird nesting boxes, with special care needed for their height and location due to the bats sensitive navigation system. Bats can consume 10 per cent of their body weight in mosquitoes and other pests daily, so a healthy bat population has strong benefits to the local human Or Find Us On Facebook dwellers. Pesticides can also be a major problem for bats so these are being TheBuzzNewspaper controlled and monitored in the area.

Theme Park Tickets Up For Grabs

heading for Madrid with his girlfriend carrying a replica firearm, a TV, €28,500 and lots jewellery from the robbery. The other members were identified and located and then the Guardia Civil carried out the raids. They have since returned some of the stolen goods to their rightful owners. The rest is in the custody of Court Nº1 in Cartagena, which ordered five of the suspects into prison.

Bat Boxes to be Introduced

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Prepare for Tapas in Torrevieja By Simon Russell

Torrevieja councillor Fanny Serrano has given a sneak preview of the Tapas Route that will take place in the municipality from November 17th-20th and 24th-27th. A total of 46 establishments will be particpating and ther ewill be a full presentation including some of the tapas that will be on offer on Tuesday.

November 14th

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Tours Of Orihuela For All Ages By Simon Russell

966 719 951

quesada@ibexinsure.com Calle Turismo 4-A, Urb Ciudad de Quesada, 03170 Rojales

A special tour of Orihuela designed to tell children aged 4-10 about its history in a fun way is taking place on sunday, November 13th at 12pm. This will be the first ofa series that are being scheduled between now and May and the boys and girls will get a card stamped each time they attend one, and recive a gift if they complete them all. Other tours aimed primarily at older audiences this month include a dramatised guided tour of the city on the 19th, Cabo Roig seafront in

Orihuela Costa on the 20th, and the Seminary on the same day, as well as a tour of the city’s convents on the 27th. All the tours will be in Spanish. For more information and bookings contact the Tourism Office on 96 530 4645.

Impact of Immigration Under Scrutiny

By Simon Russell

THE Alicante town of Crevillente is compiling a report on the impact of immigrants to the town, in particular on education. Compiled by the Department for Immigration they found that there were 33 different nationalities attending the towns schools, by far the greatest number being Moroccan children at just under 84%.

The foreign students attendance record is good and they have adapted well to the Spanish schools the study found. Overall in the town from a population of 28,865, there are 3.240 foreign residents, 11.2% of the total. In general, foreigners are integrating well in both the community and educational establishments.

Preparing for the Floods

By Simon Russell

IN common with many other municipalities El Campello has begun the clearing of it’s local rivers and waterways, in anticipation of possible heavy rainfall and flooding. The work will focus on the dry river beds in particular which often has an influx of a particular reed, arundo donax, which has an especially aggressive root system. These plants

re-grow regularly and need to be constantly monitored and controlled to allow a clear flow to the sea in case of heavy rains. This area does not suffer greatly with tiger mosquitoes as the environment is unsuitable for their larva, illustrating that different areas need a different approaches to the vegetation clearance problems.

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November 14th

Clampdown On Madge Mobiles by Simon Russell

SPAIN’S Direccion General de Trafico (DGT) has published clear guidelines on the use of mobility scooters and similar vehicles across the country. The stand out point for many users of the vehicles is that they are no longer allowed on pavements, something that has been a grey area for some time. This ruling, if properly enforced, may cause problems in towns such as Benidorm and Torrevieja where they are popular amongst tourists and residents alike -

though arguably not much loved by pedestrians. The DGT states that these vehicles “generate risk by sharing urban spaces with other users” due to their weight and size. On the plus side it has been clarified by the DGT that users do not need licenses or mandatory insurance. As well as mobility scooters the ruling covers Segways, electric motor chairs for the disabled and electric scooters.

November 14th

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Energy Efficient Measures Working Well By Spencer Williams

By Simon Russell

BENIDORM announced savings of nearly a quarter of millions Euros are likely to be made this year. This is due to new energy efficient measures they have introduced such as the implementation of LED technology. The expected saving will mean a surplus on this portion of the 2016 budget which the Town Hall plans to plough back into other energy related projects. These include the installation of a new turbocharger at the treatment plant, the renovation of the street lighting on Avenida Dr Llorca and the installation

of public lighting in the Severo Ochoa/Ciudad Real areas. The energy saving measures began a few years ago but it

is only now that the town is beginning to see the true impact and the measures were always part of long term planning.

Illustrating the Fight Against Gender Violence

By Simon Russell

LA Nucia’s Department of Equality has announced the towns sixth “No al Miedo” (nothing to fear) painting competition. The aim of the event is to highlight the problems of violence against women and comes with a first prize of 500€. Entry is free and art can be submitted for the

competition from now until 25 November, which is also worldwide Gender Violence recognition day. The artworks will be exhibited in the Auditorium Mediterrania from 30 November and that will also be the day when the winning entry is announced. For more information see www.lanucia.es.

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November 14th

Man Arrested on Rape Charges

By Simon Russell

but pulled into an off road area soon after and perpetrated the alleged assault after threatening her if she did not comply. The police were able to trace the man through WhatsApp messages he had later sent to the victim threatening her if she reported the incident. These messages will also be used to build a case against the man who has been detained in custody.

Access Improved For Pedestrians & Wheelchairs

By Simon Russell

BENIDORM has implemented plans to improve access on Ondulada Street and surrounding areas as requested by the Neighbourhood Council. They have removed various structural impediments from pavements and walkways to ensure a clear and safe path. Three new pedestrian crossings have also been added and there are also plans to add bollards that will prevent cars blocking the pathway but still allow access for pedestrians and wheelchairs. Mayor Toni Perez

has been for himself to see the improvement which took in Calles Santa Cristina, San Marcos and Santo Tomas as well as Calle Ondulada.

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Your Poison?

By Simon Russell

DUE to the fact that Benidormâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Terra Natura animal park is home to around 20 species of poisonous snakes it also possesses a major stockpile of snakebite antidotes. While it is important for the park to have their own supply should any of their specialist staff be unlucky enough to be bitten by a snake, they have now agreed to share some of the antidote with other facilities in Valencia. Initially this will be the Biomedicine

Institute, which intends to use the material for their studies to determine whether the snake venom and antidote may have wider medicinal uses.

ď&#x20AC;˘

THE Guardia Civil have arrested a 25 year old man in Altea on suspicion of serious sexual assault. The man is a resident of Galicia who was on holiday in the Marina Baixa town at the time of the assault. He was accused of forcing a 22 year old woman to have sex with him in his car on 31 October after he had met her earlier at a restaurant. He offered to drive the woman home, which she agreed to,

November 14th

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November 14th

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November 14th

Tourist Bus Hit’s The Buffers

By Simon Russel

BENIDORM police raided a tourist excursion bus on 8 November as they had reason to suspect it was operating illegally. Their suspicions appeared to be well founded as the vehicle lacked the necessary insurance for carrying passengers. At the time of the raid the bus was fully occupied with 50 tourists

Key Exams Available in the Comfort of Your Own Town

By Simon Russel

ALTEA resident Maria Berenguer and Yeray Perez from Albir became the first two people to sit an examination level Norwegian exam without having to travel to Norway to take aspects of the test. The Norwegian College of Alfaz had been able to reach an agreement with Norway’s Folkuniversitet and

the Spanish UNED to allow the exam to be sat in Alfaz del Pi under closely monitored conditions, the first such agreement outside of Norway. To sit the language exams, known as Beregentesten, the oral part of the test was conducted by video conferencing between the examinees and the Norwegian exam board.

on board enjoying a trip to nearby Villajoyosa. They were all forced to disembark and the police arranged for them to be transported back into Benidorm town centre. Public Safety councillor Lorenzo Martinez explained this was all part of a crackdown against unregulated tourism.

Road Race Inscriptions Under Starters Orders By Simon Russel

THE second San Silvestre road race of Callosa d’en Sarria has been scheduled for 17 December and you can sign up from now until 15 December. The emphasis of the race is on fun with many participants wearing fancy dress while the Town Hall has stressed the social importance of the event. Registration is free for under

eight’s and ten Euros for everyone else if you sign up in advance, fifteen euros on the day. There will be various different races and prizes including best costume for the less fleet of foot. To enrol or for more information visit www.callosa.es and follow the link to the article. Around 400 people took part in last years event which was deemed a major success.

November 14th

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