Costa Blanca North
106.8fm
ISSUE 86 (#129) March 28th
Calpe to Javea
93.4fm Alicante to Benidorm
Advertise with The Buzz - Spring your business forward - 50% off during April - Call - 634 310 665
Mickey Pearce in the Currant Bun! ACTOR Patrick Murray’s Only Fools and Horses star Mickey Pearce has been busy in and around Benidorm that has now been featured in an exclusive PAGE 3 report by ANDY HALLS, TV Editor for the Sun Newspaper UK. D e s t i n a t i o n Benidorm has made it
Your car hire around the world!
into the UK’s favourite newspaper as the famous resort loved by the Brits often featuring the tv series “Benidorm” the attention now seems to be turning towards what is still today the most popular sitcom ever “Only Fools and Horses”. Continued Page 5
www.whirlpools-world.es ∙ info@whirlpools-world.es 03724 Teulada - Moraira Coast Road (CV 746) Ctra. Moraira-Calp 161
Whirlpools World SPAIN
Spain´s
✆ 966 498 146 3.990 €
for spas
3.790 €
Special edition 2017 with Service +++ SpaS made in germany, europe, uSa +++
22.
2
March 28th
www.buzznews.es
Spanish link to terror victim Jail for
By Simon Russell
the Palace of Westminster, and the attacker who was shot by armed police. Messages of support were sent to the United Kingdom by the Spanish government after the attack.
Cannibalism on the Costas
By Simon Russell
ARCHAEOLOGISTS excavating the Santa Maira Caves in Alicante have uncovered evidence that they were once possibly used by cannibals. This includes several bones of adults and children that appear to
have been cut by hand tools and have bite marks. They also show burn marks which could have been from cooking but also from burial rites. If the discovery does lead to firm evidence of cannibalism it is believed
Benidorm Town Hall was among many municipalities across the country to hold a minutes silence the day after the attack, led by Mayor Toni Perez who recognised Benidorm’s strong ties with the UK.
text-pest
By Simon Russell
AN Alicante court has sentenced a 21 year old man to two years in jail after finding him guilty of harassing his former partner. He had sent more than 400 text messages to the woman, many of them abusive and threatening. He also threatened to harm himself if she did not have him back in a campaign lasting several months. He was cleared of the crime of sexual assault by the court due to inconsistent evidence but found guilty of abuse, threatening behaviour and harassment. He was also it will be the first such instance ordered to pay the victim in Western Europe. The remains €2,000 in criminal damages. are thought to date back around 10,000 years, a period when many different tribes and cultures were beginning to converge on the fertile and temperate Mediterranean. This may explain the cannibalism as a way of a group sending a message to enemy peoples to stay away from their territories.
including sunglasses
FR OW O
59€ M
2 FOR 1
N
A woman killed in the London terrorist attack on 22 March had a Spanish mother and other family who live in the Galician town of Betanzos. Aysha Frade worked as a teacher in London and was killed when a car driven by Khalid Masood ploughed into her and several other people on London Bridge. Ms Frade was married with two young children and was described by colleagues as “a highly regarded and loved colleague”. News had leaked out in Spanish media before an official announcement was made of her death and there was said to be an “atmosphere of great sadness” in Betanzos. Four other people were killed in the attack including a policeman, who was on duty at
2 complete glasses
For a limited time only, Specsavers is offering a free UV and sun tint on your second pair of glasses when you purchase from the 59€ to 199€ ranges. That’s 2 pairs of complete glasses, with standard single vision lenses, scratch resistant coating and a free tint and UV filter valued at 30€ on your second pair.
FREE eye test + FREE visual health check + FREE retinal photography Valid for one test booked on or before 3 June 2017. Our eye test examines more than just your vision. We also take a closer look at your visual health and can detect the signs of a range of important eye problems. Book yours today at:
Calpe 965 835 367 · Avenida de los Ejércitos Españoles 6 Jávea 966 463 420 · Avenida del Pla 125 Cannot be used with other offers. Second pair from the same price range or below and to the same prescription. 1.5 scratch-resistant single vision lenses included in the offer. You can pay an extra 79€ and get both pairs with standard varifocals lenses or 69€ for standard bi-focal lenses. Other lenses and Extra Options available at an additional charge on both pairs. Offer does not include non-prescription sunglasses. Ends 3 June 2017. Eye test usually 15€. ©2017 Specsavers. All rights reserved.
BUZZ MAGAZINE – 169mm x 247mm – Colour
28 March
www.buzznews.es
March 28th
Dear Readers
Welcome to the Buzz issue 129. It seems more than two weeks ago that I last wrote to you and I suppose this is because so much has happened in this time. We had a wonderful time attending the Patrick Murray (aka Mickey Pearce) events for St. Patrick’s day and also for the IBROX Bar charity race night. It had been many years since I had last been at a race night and to see so many people get involved and enjoy the fun was fantastic; not to mention the 1000€ raised for a very worth while charity. For any readers that maybe interested in arranging a race night event or any other event please get in touch as we have the team here at The Buzz who can help. The unsettled weather during March seemed to effect many people with colds and flues; remember always to take jumpers and coasts out as it can turn very quickly from being a bright warm day to a cold, damp evening. Getting caught out and about with a damp chill in the air will result in you going down with a cold and in many cases you get it from others around. Sore throats and generally being unwell has hit so many people here on the Costa Blanca during March so please take care. Now we have one extra hour of sunlight to enjoy in the evening, let’s look forwards to the warmer months ahead; for me it is a
bench mark, a turning point towards the summer and to be honest I can’t wait as I’m sick of the ups and downs of winter. April is a special month for me and is always full of fun. A month to enjoy the tastes of Spring and also getting the house and garden shipshape in preparation for the summer months ahead with great walks and days to enjoy the big outdoors of the white coast. If you haven’t yet been along to meet actor Patrick Murray (aka Mickey Pearce) then please do join in at our daily event at the new Sinatra Premium entertainment venue in the Rincon Benidorm. Join us at 8pm Tuesday to Saturday to meet Mickey Pearce, Only Fools and Horses Star; and the Jolly Boys of Star Radio. We will also be out and about to meet you with the Galaxy Radio Road-Show during the summer months so tune in today to Galaxy Radio on 106.8 & 93.4; across the Costa Blanca we play the-greatest hits station; alternatively you can go to the web at www.galaxyradio.es to listen online. You can also read your local Buzz Newspaper online at www.buzznews.es and contact us anytime at the news desk on 965 020 250 or by mobile 634 310 665. Have a great week!
Marco - Editor in Chief - Buzz Media
Spring has sprung
Editor - Buzz Spain S.L Managing Director - Marco Baiardo Production Manager - Marco B Jr. Editorial - Simon Russell Head Office & News Desk C/Castellion 5, Benidorm, 03500 Tel - 965 020 250 info@buzzmedia.es www.buzznews.es
Deposito Legal A 447-2014
By Simon Russell
SPRING officially started at 11.29 am on 20 March and runs until 21 June when the summer “proper” gets underway. This is many peoples favourite time of the year down here on the Costa Blanca, with winter (hopefully) out of the
way and before the often stifling summer heat kicks in. As you will have noticed the days are getting longer with the clocks also “springing forward” by an hour this will be even more noticeable - although the mornings will seem darker
LIBERTYCAR
for the early risers for a while. There will be no significant astrological events such as eclipses this spring although there will be the Eta Aquarids meteor shower on 5 May to look out for-as long as the skies are clear.
“ I am an expatriate like you and I’ve been a broker with Liberty Seguros since 2008. I’m here to find the Car Insurance that’s best for you.” Car Insurance benefits include: u 24h Roadside Assistance in English. u Book value +30% in case of total loss. u Up to 65% No-Claims Discount. u Courtesy Car if accident, theft or breakdown. u Pick up and delivery of spare keys. u Extensive Breakdown Cover.
Behind a GReaT company TheRe aRe always GReaT people
The Expats’ No.1 Choice Discover what more Liberty Seguros can do for you.
For an instant quote call 902 255 258 or go to www.libertyexpatriates.es
BUZZ MAGAZINE – 169mm x 247mm – Colour
14 February
3
Youth arrested for murder of pensioner
By Simon Russell
A man was arrested after witnesses saw him attack a woman who it later transpired was his girlfriend. The incident occurred in the morning of 24 March in the busy Alfafar commercial zone of Alicante City.
He was seen hitting and kicking his partner and apparently trying to push her in the trunk of his car. Local police soon intervened and he was charged with assault leading to injury, and illegal detention.
Quarter of a century of magic
By Simon Russell
THE 25th anniversary of the International Meeting of Magicians takes place in its regular venue of Almussafes, near Valencia. The four day event will see performances by 500 professional magicians from all over the world. Probably the best known is “mentalist� Anthony Blake who has made regular TV appearances and is returning to the event after a 23 year absence. Other well-known performers include Brit Jon Allen who has just been crowned as the champion of close-up magic and well known French magician Nester Hato. The event runs from 30 March to 2 April and will also include competitions, exhibitions and food and drink areas. For more information go to http://www.almussafes.es/es/page/exposicio-25-anys-magia
Youth arrested for murder of pensioner By Simon Russell
AN 18 year old man has been charged with the murder of an 81 year old woman who it appears interrupted him while he was robbing her house in the Castellon province of Valencia. The woman’s body was found in her home in La Llosa on 16 March and as her death was clearly not from natural causes, the Guardia Civil
began an investigation. Their forensic team were quickly able identify the 18 year old suspect who apparently had broken into the same house on 9 March. The teenager was charged on 22 March and the Guardia have said they are not ruling out further arrests or charges at this stage.
Your car hire around the world!
All types of Cars & Cargo Vans! We also Sell Used Cars!
www.centauro.net
966 830 159
www.buzznews.es
March 28th
Lovely Jubbly Benidorm
By Simon Russell
Patrick Murray took part in more than twenty episodes and was well known as Rodney Trotter’s best mate. The Sun newspaper is also hugely popular with both holiday makers and locals in Spain bringing in today’s edition some excellent free international publicity for the bars and restaurants that were visited by “Mickey Pearce” as well as the additional publicity for his regular “Jolly Boys” gig at the new entertainment venue “Sinatra’s Premium”. Patrick is working in Spain as part of the Buzz Media team which as well as The Buzz Newspaper includes Galaxy Radio, Planet Radio and the recent addition Star Radio Benidorm each with their
unique identity of music genre. The Sun article also helpfully listed some songs Patrick could play in his new DJ career, including “Love Plonkers All”, “Dipstick on my Collar” and “Isn’t she Lovely Jubbly”. When Pat joined Buzz Media earlier this year MD Marco Baiardo said “It’s a fantastic appointment for us and he has already seen some great results. For our clients, it represents a huge benefit with Pat being such a public figure and having such a massive personal following.” With publicity like this that’s certainly proving to be the case. To see the article for yourself go to https://goo.gl/zaR1Bc
Bullfighter cleared of assault charges
5
Marine giant dragged into port By SImon Russell
A fifteen metre sperm whale was found in the Valencian port of Sagunto where it had apparently been dragged in by a boat. The port has certain protocols to cover when marine mammals are washed in which includes c o n t a c t i n g Seprona, the animal welfare branch of the Guardia Civil. The University of
Valencia have also been contacted to see if they require the remains for research work. It is believed the whale was already dead when it got caught up in the boat and was floating on the seas surface. Specialist equipment will need to be brought in to move the giant corpse which probably weighs in the region of forty tons.
By Simon Russell
T O R E A D O R Manuel Manzanares had been accused of assaulting a man in an Alicante nightclub in 2011 who had approached
his girlfriend. It was alleged he had then acted in an overtly aggressive manner, at which stage the man left the club. Manzanares and
a friend followed the man outside and this time the incident was supposed to have taken a violent turn, with the man being hit in the face.
However in the Alicante court the judge ruled that there was insufficient evidence to proceed with the case and it was dismissed.
Our unique Offer
3 fOr 1
You can choose two pairs of complete glasses from our entire range with no restrictions what so ever. Choose designer frames, varifocals, photochromatic or thinner lenses. Your third pair can be distance or reading glasses – even prescription sunglasses. You pay for only one pair – whichever has the higher price. You can even share the offer with a friend or relative and free eye tests are included. The third pair is supplied with standard CR39 lenses and exclude designer, rimless and supra frames. This offer cannot be combined with any other offer or discounts.
WeLCOMe TO DirekT OpTik – HaLf a kiLOMeTre OuTsiDe MOraira Ctra Moraira-Calpe 122, Moraira, 03724 Alicante. Telephone 965 745 989. Monday – Friday 09.30 – 18.00, Saturday 10.00 – 14.00
direktoptik.es
6
March 28th
www.buzznews.es
Footing the bill Police kept busy during Fallas
By SImon Russell
THE Valencian government has agreed to pay out around €5 million to finance the completion of the controversial Agora Building in the City of Arts and Sciences. The building has sustained leaks and gone both over budget and over schedule. Like the rest of the City of Arts it was designed by
By Simon Russell
architect Santiago C a l a t r a v a , someone who has been said to have a reputation for works finishing late and over budget in the past. Changes of government and other issues have seen the end of the project being put on hold until now and will involve closing the Agora while the work is completed.
VALENCIA City reported 5,874 official complaints during this year’s Fallas Festival, an increase of over 20% from 2016. There was also an increase in arrests, rising from 65 in 2016 to 97 this year. The figures were fed back by the Councillor for Citizens Protection, Anais Menguzzato in a post fiesta press conference.
There was an extra 600 officers on duty for the Fallas period, which each year sees a huge influx of people from all over the world to watch the famous festival. Complaints received included illegal food sellers and other general peddlers of goods as well as such things as bars extending their terraces without permission. There was also
JS
a number of traffic related offences and complaints, especially regarding parking with over 700 vehicles being towed away. Ms Menguzzato said that overall she was satisfied with the police handling of one of Spain’s major events and that, in general, the increase in incidences were down to an increase in attendance, partly fuelled by the good weather.
JACUZZI & SAUNA CENTER Wellnesspark Costa Blanca QUALITY OUTLET
Alicante Airport Shuttle-Bus Private Transfers of ALL sizes No party too big or too small Apartments & Hotel Bookings
SPECIAL QUALITY SPECIAL PRICE - SPECIAL SERVICE
AVENIDA VALENCIA - 03770 EL VERGER Benidorm Office: Levante,36 Edf. Ben-Loix. C/Lepanto,28. Mon - Sat: 09.30 - 14.30 - Telf. (0034) 96 588 9094 MON. - SAT.: 10 A.M. - 2 P.M. WEB EXCLUSIVES ONLINE www.resortcare.es WWW.WELLNESSPARK.ES - 965 750 227
www.buzznews.es
March 28th
7
Dognapping alert Local airport
By Simon Russell
NATIONAL Police have alerted dog owners to be on the look-out as there has been a reported spate of dog thefts across the country. The dog-nappers method usually involves stealing the pets from public parks and bundling them into waiting vans. Advice the police have given includes keeping your dog on a lead and not leaving them alone in the car or unsupervised in your garden. They also say you should check the credentials of any third parties who may be charged with looking after your pet such as dog walkers, and stay vigilant if strangers approach your animal. They also remind people that all dogs should be micro-chipped and registered.
If you have seen suspicious activity you should go to your local police station to report the incident and, of course, stolen dogs should also be reported.
Fourteen arrested in huge drug haul By Simon Russell
THE Guardia Civil have seized one of the largest caches of drugs ever found in Europe when they located three million performance enhancing a m p h e t a m i n e s . The seizure coincided
with the arrest of fourteen people in various parts of Spain including the Valencian towns of Gandia and Denia. Other cities involved were Valladolid, Malaga, Fuengirola and
Torremolinos. The two people arrested in Malaga have been charged with crimes against public health and refused bail. The other twelve have been charged but released at this time.
flying ahead
By Simon Russell
AIRLINES using Alicante’s El Altet airport are offering 11.5 million seats between now and the end of October, an increase of 14% for the same period last year. Despite fears that Brexit and the squeeze on sterling around 40% of those seats are expected to be filled by British passengers. El Altet is the principal
airport for anyone holidaying in the Costa Blanca and as resorts like Benidorm remains as popular as ever with the British in particular then the airport will continue to reap the benefits. El Altet now flies to 115 airports across Europe and Algeria with Lisbon, Marseille and Toulouse all being added to the itinerary this year.
8
March 28th
www.buzznews.es
Double tragedy in blaze
By Simon Russell
AN elderly couple aged 90 and 84 were both killed in a fire which spread rapidly through a residence in Alicante city earlier this month. The outbreak was reported at around 9am on the morning of 18 March and although 14 fire-fighters were quickly on the scene the fire was already raging out of control. Despite this they were able to remove the 84 year old woman from the house but sadly she soon died of a combination of smoke inhalation and asphyxiation. The man was found dead from burns in a back room
of the apartment after the fire had been brought under control. The reason for the
fire is not known at this stage and experts are investigating the scene.
Read Online
www.buzznews.es
A hole lot of trouble
By Simon Russell
Manhunt after double bar murder
A 64 year old man fell into a disused well near the inland town of Cocentaina and became trapped about three meters underground. Although the man was on his own and in an isolated area luckily he had his mobile phone with him and was able to call the emergency services. Although they were not immediately able to locate the well, eventually he was found by a squad of the local fire brigade who extricated him from the hole. His injuries are not thought to be serious but he was flown to hospital by air ambulance as a precautionary measure.
By Simon Russell
POLICE in Madrid are looking for a man who walked into a bar in the Spanish capital and shot dead a barman and female customer on 19 March. Both died at the scene and it is believed that they were known to the man who has also been identified to police. It is believed that the dead couple were
partners and another man was also wounded in the melee although his condition is not life threatening. The bar was described as a “biker pub” by a local witness which was also a heavy metal music venue. The man’s motives remain unclear at this stage and members of the public have been warned not to approach him.
Alicante Airport Shuttle-Bus Private Transfers of ALL sizes No party too big or too small Apartments & Hotel Bookings
Benidorm Office: Levante, Edf. Ben-Loix. C/Lepanto,28. Mon - Sat: 09.30 - 14.30 - Telf. (0034) 96 588 9094 WEB EXCLUSIVES ONLINE www.resortcare.es
10
March 28th
www.buzznews.es
Mum cleared for confiscating mobile By Simon Russell
THE case of a mother who was facing criminal proceedings for taking her son’s mobile while he should have been studying has found in her favour. The incident happened in Almeria last month and when the fifteen year old refused to hand over his mobile there was a slight scuffle in which he was allegedly scratched. He complained about the incident to the Guardia Civil who agreed to press charges. However the judge was having none of it and felt that the mother was acting well
within her parental rights to take the phone so the boy could do his homework. Also the amount of force used was reasonable as the boy had refused to hand over the phone when asked. He went on to say that the internet and mobile phones can be “like a drug� for children of that age.
Wet wet wet
By Simon Russell
ANYONE who was here through this winter knew it was a damp one and now it has been confirmed that it was the wettest on record in the Valencian Community. Alicante, Castellon and Valencia province all experienced their highest winter rainfalls since records began in 1864 with the total
being two and a half times what we should expect. Worryingly, if climate change is to blame as many scientists believe, this could be more of a regular trend. On the other hand 2015/16 was the driest winter on record for many parts of the region, so any long term trends may be difficult to predict at this stage.
Terror suspect detained
By Simon Russell
A 45 year old Spanish man of Moroccan ancestry has been arrested on various terrorism related charges in Valencia. He had used various identities to spread messages on social media supporting ISIS in its jihadist aims, including combat training and the imposition of Sharia law. He is thought to have been involved in such activities for a long time, originally being active in similar activities for the Al Queda Islamic terror network.
The arrest was made in the small town of Benetusser in the Horta Sud area of Valencia on 21 March by members of the National Police.
www.buzznews.es
March 28th
11
Superstore opens its doors
By Simon Russell
LOCAL supermarket chain “Masymas” has opened a new store in Javea, the first in its series of “stores for the future”. Located on the Cabo de la Nao, the shop is around 2,500m2 with 110 parking spaces and employs 36 people.
Design improvements include natural lighting, new colour schemes and different materials, all designed to improve the shopping experience. On the technological side there is LED lighting and special ecofriendly freezers which reduce Co2 emissions.
Protecting heritage Dangerous structure removed
By Simon Russell
DENIA is putting plans in place to ensure the protection of some it’s most important cultural and historical sites. They are applying to upgrade the preservation laws regarding various local buildings which are mainly of a religious nature. These include the La Mare de Deu Convent (founded
1604) the Sant Antoni Convent (1587) and the Jesus Pobre hospice (1642).
Applications will be made to the BIC heritage council by Denia Town Hall to start the process.
By Simon Russel
AFTER various complaints from local residents, Denia Town Hall has now torn down the prefabricated cabin which was located in the station car park. A former ticket booth, there had been a series of break-ins to steal the electronic equipment still installed in the structure. The building had also been badly damaged in the recent storms, and as well as being an eyesore, residents felt the building was unsafe.
The removal of the old booth has had the added benefit of creating an extra five parking spaces for the car station.
12
March 28th
www.buzznews.es
Look out for new mirador
By Simon Russell
ONE of the most famous and popular views across the Costa Blanca has had a new mirador, or viewing point, installed. The area overlooks the Morro Falqui and Moraig Creek at the end of the Cabo de la Nou. The main attraction is the Cova dels Arcs, a pair of arches through which the
sun shines to frame the view. The area attracts regular visitors to observe and photograph the sights but there have been concerns about visitor safety so the viewpoint complete with wooden handrail has been installed by the Poble Nou de Benitatchell Town Hall.
Fourteen arrested in huge drug haul
By Simon Russell
A car belonging to a Belgian man of 83, who was reported missing two months ago, has been discovered in the waters of Calpe’s Puerto Blanco dock. The man went missing during the height of January’s storms and police have always feared that he was a possible victim of
the weather. Although the car itself was empty, police still believe he may have been dragged out of the car or exited the car himself when he realised the vehicle was sinking. Divers are currently searching the area for any evidence that might help resolve the mystery.
something that was last done in 2003. Teulada-Moraira has also begun remodelling green areas around the municipality and have set aside a budget of €18,000 for the works. The areas around Calles Iglesia and Almacenes have been completed with the streets of La By Simon Russell Mar, Madrid and Barranquet all THE Social Services lined up for improvements over Department for El Poble Nou de the next few weeks. Benitatxell has announced plans targeting help at those sectors of the local population struggling to find employment. These are the under 25’s and over 45’s as well as those of all ages without qualifications or formal work experience. The town
recently took on a dozen residents who had trouble finding jobs to work for the municipality. The plan also recognises that some people have functional and social diversity and they want to ensure that this does not hinder their chance of employment, partly by educating potential employers on diversity.
By Simon Russell
THE Guardia Civil have seized one of the largest caches of drugs ever found in Europe when they located three million performance enhancing amphetamines. The seizure coincided with the arrest of fourteen people in various parts of Spain including the Valencian towns of Gandia and
Car of missing man found
Denia. Other cities involved were Valladolid, Malaga, Fuengirola and Torremolinos. The two people arrested in Malaga have been charged with crimes against public health and refused bail. The other twelve have been charged but released at this time.
Beaches and gardens improved
By Simon Russell
WORK has been completed on the restructuring of Moraira’s El Portet beach in time for the start of the tourist season. The work was brought about by the recent storms and is included in the Valencian Generalitat’s emergency budget across the region for areas suffering after the storms. The major part of the restructuring involved shipping in large amounts of fresh sand,
Back to work plan announced
Man found dead in street
By Simon Russell
A man, named locally as a 70 year old Briton, was found dead in the La Pedrera area of Denia last week. At first it was thought he may have been the victim of a robbery as his car door was open and he had head injuries. However nothing was taken
from the car and it appears that this was simply a tragic accident, possibly as the result of a fall. Emergency services were quickly called to the scene and the National Police have taken over the enquiry into the man’s death.
www.buzznews.es
March 28th
Car bomber guilty
By Simon Russell
AN Alicante court has sentenced a man to fifteen years in jail for a failed attempt to blow up his ex-partners car in an attempted murder in Elche in 2014. The man, who had a
background in electronics, swapped the car headrest with one filled with an explosive charge. The homemade device, a form of pipe bomb set to go off when the cars electric windows
Battling the pirates
By Simon Russell
THERE was an incident recently involving a Torrevieja taxi driver and an unregistered “pirate” driver outside the city hospital. Apparently the pirate driver is well known to the local licensed cabbies and the man was spotted outside the hospital clearly taking fares where a verbal disagreement soon turned into a scuffle. Torrevieja’s licenced drivers have regularly complained about the practices of unlicensed drivers who can undercut their legal rivals by not paying taxes, operating
were used, exploded while his ex was in the car. Whilst the blast was not fatal she did sustain serious injuries. The couple had two young children but had separated and continued to argue over alimony payments and other issues the court heard. He had denied all charges but was found guilty of attempted
13
murder and as well as the prison sentence was fined €32,000 in criminal damages to be paid to his former partner.
Odourless truck commissioned
By Simon Russell
TORREVIEJA’S Mayor, Jose Manuel Dolon, has announced that a special airtight truck will be used to transport the waste product produced by the local water treatment plant. Not the sweetest smelling fees and even insurance. It does of products, the waste has not appear any arrests have been to be transported through made or charges filed to police about the incident in question.
the San Roque residential area and the airtight container, costing €12,000, will eliminate any smells emanating from the truck. The waste by product is used as fuel in a local cement plant and there is about 25 square meters in each shipment.
Child neglected in drug den
By Simon Russell
A woman who used her house as a base for dealing in hard drugs also failed to look after her ten year old daughter, according to police. While her mother was dealing in a steady flow of drug deals the girl had not been fed for several days at the residence in El Campello.
When police raided the home they found 16 grams of speed, 51 grams of cocaine and precision scales as well as a quantity of cash. The 39 year old woman has been charged with drug trafficking and abandonment while her daughter has been taken into care.
14
March 28th
www.buzznews.es
Train tagger nabbed Walking into a protest
By Simon Russell
By Simon Russell
A 21 year old graffiti artist has been arrested in Murcia and is suspected of being behind around €18,000 worth of damage caused by spray painting trains and train carriages in Alicante. The graffiti spree started at the end of 2016 prompting a police investigation, and they soon suspected that the same individual was behind the acts of vandalism. Graffiti artists, or taggers, often sign their work with an identifying tag - in this case literally the word TAG – so fellow taggers know who has done the painting. Working in conjunction with the Murcia police the Alicante authorities traced the man to the Murcia area where he has been arrested and charged with criminal damage.
A group protesting about the pedestrianization of one of Elche’s major shopping streets have gathered 1,200 signatures against the move. The group is led by the traders themselves who feel that closing Calle Corredora to vehicles will damage their trade. Rather than drive to Corredora to shop, they fear people will take their cars to shopping centres instead where parking is readily available. The petition was delivered to the OMAC office of Municipal Services on 22 March and the
group expects to gather further signatures. Elche’s Councillor for Economic Promotion, Hector Diaz, has met with the protest group and said “our position on the proposal is firm and is in line with other major cities which are making their town centres more pedestrian and more environmentally friendly.” He used the example of Elche’s Calle Hospital, which became closed to cars a while ago and initially faced similar protests from traders but is now a vibrant shopping area.
Free cancer tests
By Simon Russell
TORREVIEJA Hospital’s oncological department is offering free tests for colon cancer to citizens of the Vega Baja to mark World Colon Cancer Awareness Day on 31 March. The tests are aimed at the most vulnerable 50 to 74 year old age group and the health centres at Orihuela and Santa Pola are also involved in the initiative. Part of the aim of the campaign is to raise awareness of the dis-
ease which has a 90% cure rate providing it is caught early enough. For more details you can call 966 925 770 or visit the website www.quironsalud.es/torrevieja/es
By Simon Russell
Busy night for Bomberos
By Simon Russell
ALICANTE’S fire department was called out to two major blazes on the evening of 17 March, stretching their resources to the limit. At around 5pm they were called out to a warehouse fire in Cox and then at 8.23pm
another fire was reported, this time in a textile factory near Alcoy. The first blaze destroyed around 3,000m2 of buildings before being bought under control. As you would imagine the tex-
Spectacular crash prompts fire crew rescue
tile factory was highly flammable and took several hours to bring under control on an industrial estate outside of Alcoy. No civilians or fire crew members were reported hurt in either incident.
A woman escaped with minor injuries after her car left the road and turned over on the A31 near Sax in the Alicante province. When the car came to a stop the driver found herself trapped in the car, pinned in place by her seatbelt. The fire brigade had to be called out and they were able to stabilize the vehicle before cutting her out. Amazingly, she was able to walk and only ap-
peared to be suffering from mild concussion although she was taken to hospital as a precautionary measure. Despite delaying her exit from the car, the woman’s seatbelt probably saved her life according to the authorities.
Making an exhibition
By Simon Russell
EL Campello is offering three free exhibitions until April, all of them with an artistic theme. A display of works in plastic made by local artists can be seen at the Rafael Altamire library until 1 April every day except Sundays. The Casa de la Cultura is hosting an exhibition of sculptures by Hans Some entitled “sphid:phague:glia”, again every day except Sundays and fiestas. The Casa de la Cultura
is also the venue for a display by AMUDECA or the Women of Campello group. This includes paintings, handicrafts and various other items, daily except Sundays. For more information on these and other cultural events in the town visit the website at http://www.elcampello.es/ index.php?s=agenda&i=en where information is available in both English and Spanish.
www.buzznews.es
March 28th
15
Fast tracking flood measures Developers facing
big penalty
By Simon Russel
THE Valencian Cortes have agreed to take all measures possible to ensure that the flood prevention work at La Cala Finestrat is done as quickly as possible. The work will focus on the barranco water channel in the town which frequently turns into a dangerous flow of water during heavy rain. This has resulted in the death of three people in
recent years and is not a situation that can be allowed to occur again, said Mayor Juan Francisco Perez. Mayor Perez w e l c o m e d the move but stressed that there cannot be any delays due to bureaucracy dragging its
By Simon Russel
A court has ruled that a fine of just over €2million levied against a construction company by Villajoyosa Town Hall feet. “We are talking about can stand. works that prevent accidents This overturns an and save lives and we cannot earlier decision by a afford to wait” he said. separate court which stated that the sanction was levied too late from the date of the offence. The case revolves
Exchange students come to Benidorm
By Simon Russel
STUDENTS from Brampton Primary School in London visited Benidorm Town Hall last week as part of their exchange visit to Spain. The exchange is with the La Cala de Benidorm primary school and ran from 19 to 25 March. The group of 16 eleven year olds and their teachers were shown round the town
Puppet show teaches valuable lesson
By Simon Russel
hall facilities by Deputy Mayor Ana Pellicer. School exchanges aim to expose youngsters to
the culture and history of a different country in an educational but enjoyable way.
acrylate plates with opaque glass and reinforcing the structure against future storm damage. The slope of the roof has also been altered to allow excess rainwater to run off which was part of
the problem in January. They also took advantage of the closure to improve the heating system in such a way as to reduce energy costs. The pool opens from 7.30am to 10pm and you can speak to the reception desk for information about upcoming courses and activities at the facility.
Back in the swim
By Simon Russel
ALTEA’S municipal swimming pool has reopened after its forced closure due to damage inflicted in the January storms that battered that part of the Costa Blanca. Repair work included replacing damaged
around the Playa Paraiso Urbanization which developer Beniarda Promotions had overdeveloped without the necessary permissions in 2003. The case has gone back and forth since that date and the company still have thirty days to appeal the latest ruling if they wish.
250 primary and infant school children attended a special theatre production at La Nucia’s Theatre Mediterranea last week. The show was a performance by the Valencian theatre group La Carreta and used puppets to illustrate a message of diversity. The hour long show reinterpreted the Valencian classic fairy tale “L’Aneguet Lleig” to give the message “we are all different, and beauty is not the most important thing”.
The fairy tale is a local version of kids classic “The Ugly Duckling” and ideal for imparting the message, while all the children clearly had a great time according to the teaching staff and organisers.
16
March 28th
www.buzznews.es
Clearing up the aftermath
By Simon Russell
Work is progressing on the repairs along Albir sea front after the damage caused by the storms earlier in the year. The bike lane on the famous Paseo de Estrellas has been repainted while the job of levelling and landscaping the beach is also completed.
Footpaths, bins, beach walkways and children’s parks were all damaged to various degrees, some requiring repairs while others had to be replaced. An emergency budget of €100,000 was allocated for the works which are now nearly at an end, said Rocio Guijarro, Councillor for the Beaches. Obviously it is important that the work is
completed in time for the Easter season next month, added Mr Guijarro.
Tapas trail underway
By Simon Russel
ALTEA’S Ruta Gastronomica started on 24 March and will be running until the 9 April. The theme this year is the “spring garden” and the seasonal products to be found in the area at this time of year, especially the famous beans which have been cultivated locally for hundreds of years.
There are eight p a r t i c i p a t i n g establishments and all will be offering a tapa and drink for €3. There will also be various prizes awarded, both for participants and restaurants. For more details on this and the participating establishments see www.altea.es (available in English).
Bus stop move requested
By Simon Russel
THE Town Hall of Callosa de’n Serria has put in an official request to the Directorate General of Public Works so that the current intercity bus stop can be moved to a more central position in the town. The current stop is on the outskirts of the town and has been the cause of constant complaint from regular users, especially the elderly and less able bodied who have to make their way out to the inconveniently
located stop. The request was made at a meeting of the Public Works committee in Pego which was attended by several Alicante municipalities.
Truck tragedy
By Simon Russel
A 76 year old woman was killed in Alfaz del Pi after being hit by a truck on the morning of 20 March. The incident happened on Calle Ejercitos Espanoles at about 9am and the scene was attended by the SAMU
Emergency medical unit. They were able to remove the woman who was trapped underneath the vehicle and she was transferred to the Villajoyosa Hospital but sadly died from her injuries shortly later.
www.buzznews.es
March 28th
17
Criminal charges against Benidorm comes to Portugal theme park dropped By Simon Russell
By Simon Russell
THE Provincial Court of Alicante has decided not to proceed with a case of reckless criminal negligence concerning a death at Terra Mitica in 2014. They have decided that the death of an 18 year old Icelandic youth was a design flaw rather than the responsibility of any park employee. The ride in question, The Inferno, had been regularly tested and maintained and guidelines in this respect followed. Andre Freyr
Sveinsson was thrown from the roller coaster ride and though he survived the initial fall he died of a heart attack in an ambulance shortly after.
R E P R E S E N TAT I V E S of the Benidorm Tourism Foundation are currently in Portugal and plan to visit about fifty independent travel agencies while visiting our Iberian neighbour. These agencies will be primarily located in Portugal’s two biggest cities of Oporto and Lisbon and presentations will be made to each office by the delegation highlighting the attractions of the Costa Blanca’s
largest resort. Budget airline Tap Portugal has opened up routes between Lisbon and Alicante starting from this June and Benidorm is aiming to put itself in a position to capitalise on this potential new market.
Forged prescription scam uncovered By Simon Russel
The man’s actions came to light after a pharmacist in Alcoy had doubts about the authenticity of the prescription slip and contacted the police.
A 26 year old man has been arrested in Alcoy and accused of obtaining large quantities of medical drugs by using forged prescriptions. He is believed to have obtained about a hundred boxes of a drug used to control attentive disorders (AHDD) which is also classed as a stimulant and psychotropic drug and which has become increasingly popular amongst young people as a recreational drug. However despite the growing black market for the pills, doctors warn that it has many dangerous properties and intake needs to be carefully controlled and monitored.
18
March 28th
www.buzznews.es
Resurfacing work Coroner critical in Brit death case begins on urbanization By Simon Russel
By Simon Russell
WORK on improving the roads running through Urbanization Kristal in La Nucia has now begun. This will be focusing primarily on the tarmacking of the roads with 2,700 metres earmarked for resurfacing. There will also be fresh road markings painted on as
well as the repainting of zebra crossings; all aimed at a general improvement in road safety. The work will cost €50,000, €40,000 of which is paid for by Alicante’s Provincial Council with La Nucia Town Hall paying the remainder from existing budgets.
Missing teen found
By Simon Russel
THANKFULLY there was a happy ending to the story of the 17 year old Villajoyosa girl who went missing recently, after she was located in Madrid by police. She was tracked down by the Alicante Guardia Civil who had followed her trail to the Leganes area of Madrid. The girl, named as Andrea,
was said to be fine although embarrassed by the stir she had caused on social networks and other media. She left her parents a note before taking off but as she was a minor her parents reported their concerns to the authorities who immediately began the search for young Andrea.
A coroner’s inquest into the death of a British holidaymaker in a Benidorm police cell in 2015 has delivered a verdict of death by misadventure, contributed to by neglect, an inquest jury at Bolton Crown Court found last week. Anthony Abbot, a 36 year old Bolton man, was arrested by police in Benidorm after he had an argument with his partner. He was placed unmonitored in a
police cell and shortly after was found dead, in what was possibly a suicide attempt, although his family said he would never take his own life. The coroner for the case, Jennifer Leeming, said she would be writing to the UK Foreign Office in light of the case. The cell where Mr Abbot died had no CCTV or means of attracting attention for inmates, either of which could have avoided the tragedy.
Budget approved By Simon Russel
THE majority of the Alfas del Pi council have given the green light to the municipalities 2017 budget although there were some abstentions and votes opposing the plans. The budget stands at €21million, about 10% of which will go to financing existing debts. The emphasis for the
remainder is on social spending and employment although there are numerous other projects and running costs within the figures. The socialist council in charge of putting together the plans said that the “four pillars on which it stands are culture, sports, the environment and social welfare.”
Green gardening for Tree felling controversy the green fingered
By Simon Russel
THE plan by Benidorm council to cut down a giant palm tree has caused opposition councillors to question the decision. Palm trees over twelve metres high are protected by the Arboreal Heritage Act and the tree in question is twenty metres high. However the council have said that the tree, which stands on the corner of Calle Gerona and Avenida Europa, is a danger to the public. Councillor Joseph Bigorra, who opposes cutting down the palm, believed little has been done to see if the tree can be made safe rather
than simply destroying what is a protected specimen under Valencian law. Mr Bigorra goes on to say that this is not the first time that this has happened and the controlling PP party appear to be bypassing the proper channels.
By Simon Russel
THE Environmental Department of L’Alfas del Pi held its first organic gardening course on 25 March, with another planned for 1 April. The first course focused on the theory of organic growing while the second will be a more hands-on event. The course covers garden design, land preparation, crop planting, pest control and ongoing maintenance of your garden or
plot. All of course will be taught within the basic framework of organic gardening which is not to use pesticides or synthetic chemicals when raising crops.
www.buzznews.es
March 28th
19
Call Now +34 966 26 50 72
Increased protection House sharing sites for homeowners to challenge ruling
By Simon Russel
SPAIN’S Economy Ministry have passed new rules preventing banks repossessing houses for anyone who has a child under the age of 18, in a change from previous guidelines which only covered families who had children under the age of four. The new measures have also been widened to include victims of gender violence as well as very ill or registered disabled householders. The measures will be in place until at least 2020 when they will come under fresh review, confirmed Luis de Guin-
dos, the Minister for the Economy. Homeowners will also have increased rights regarding renting repossessed properties, all part of a drive to avoid the sight of people being made homeless while the stock of empty housing increases.
By Simon Russel
AIRBNB and HomeAway, both online operators who specialise in holidaymakers sharing space with homeowners, have said they are going to court to seek clarity on a recent ruling by the Valencian government. This resulted in them and other similar “sofa surfer� operators being fined for advertising unregistered properties on their sites. They believe this contradicts a previous EU wide ruling about sharing sites and the fact that they did not need
registration numbers. They also say that due to the nature of their business the ruling will harm the Valencian householders who rent out their property as much as the company themselves.
20
March 28th
www.buzznews.es
www.buzznews.es
March 28th
21
BUYING or SELLING your PROPERTY? It’s TIME for a FRESH approach
REDUCED TO SELL
Alcalai
175,000€
Villa
Ref: GV 201672-A
Build: 108 m Plot: 600 m2
2
3 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms
INLAND
Av. Joanot Martorell, Nº 17-C 03727 JALON (Alicante)
Javea
375,000€
Villa
Ref: GV 201556-A
Build: 217 m Plot: 1138 m2
2
4 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms
Tel: 96 648 2480 info@garciavillas.es www.garciavillas.co.uk
designvillasmoraira real estate agency builder and developer architect and interior design studio C/ Dr. Calatayud, 8 Moraira (Alicante) (0034) 965 744 421 (0034) 630 947 037
info@designvillasmoraira.com www.designvillasmoraira.com
We are looking for properties for our clients in all price ranges
Jalon
260,000€
Villa
Ref: GV 201793-A
Build: 103 m Plot: 600 m2
2
3 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms
COASTAL
Ctra. Cabo La Nao, Pla, 122. Bloque 12-Bajo, 03730 JAVEA (Alicante)
22
March 28th
www.buzznews.es
www.buzznews.es
March 28th
23
24
Business Feature March 28th
www.buzznews.es 35
Think about your eyes on World Health Day Specsavers Opticas on the Costa Blanca are offering free eye tests including a visual health check throughout April for World Health Day. The stores are offering the service for free to raise awareness about the different medical conditions which may be detected using optical equipment and to make people think of an eye test as an important health check, not simply as a test to see whether you need glasses. Louise Stone, Director of Specsavers Opticas in Javea says: ‘The equipment we use is now very advanced and doesn’t just test people’s vision, it’s an eye health check too. We do specific checks for things like cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration and can now photograph the back of the eye using a digital retinal camera, which combines a specialist microscope and camera. This enables us to detect the signs of a range of important health conditions before they become serious.” If necessary, the optician can refer patients directly for further medical examination to their hospital or general practitioner. Recent research undertaken by Specsavers revealed that millions of people are risking losing their sight unnecessarily because they fail to
have regular sight tests and make poor life style choices. Almost half of all sight loss cases are preventable – and a simple eye test can be the first step in prevention. “Take a step to safeguard your health and eye sight and book a free eye test this World Health Day!” adds Ms Stone from Specsavers Opticas Javea. All Specsavers Opticas stores in Spain now offer digital retinal photography as part of their complete eye examination. Visual health checks with digital retinal photography are usually 15€, but are free throughout April. There are five stores on the Costa Blanca, in Calpe, Javea, Benidorm, Guardamar del Segura and Torrevieja. To find your nearest Specsavers Opticas and book a free eye test visit www.specsavers.es
JS
JACUZZI & SAUNA CENTER Wellnesspark Costa Blanca QUALITY OUTLET
SPECIAL QUALITY SPECIAL PRICE - SPECIAL SERVICE
AVENIDA VALENCIA 36 - 03770 EL VERGER MON. - SAT.: 10 A.M. - 2 P.M. WWW.WELLNESSPARK.ES - 965 750 227
www.buzznews.es
Living
March 28th
25
Home & Garden
Aloe Vera Nature’s Portable First Aid Kit The Aloe is a succulent (Liliaciae Sub species aloinae), a member of the lily and onion family, also related to garlic and asparagus, of which there are more than three hundred varieties but of which only a few had medicinal properties. It is generally accepted that the most potent is Aloe Vera Barbadensis Miller. The Aloe Vera plant grows abundantly in this area of Spain. It is antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal, and is well known by herbalists. It’s common sense really, if aloe vera gel wasn’t antibacterial every little tear or scrape of the plant would result in the entire thing being eaten up by bacteria. Aloe needs to be antibacterial simply to survive in the wild or its moist, nutrient rich gel would provide a perfect breeding ground for invading bacteria.
- 12 vitamins - 18 amino acids - 200 active plant compounds (phytonutrients), including: - Enzymes - Triterpenes (a phytonutrient that lowers blood sugar) - Glyconutrients & glycoproteins - Polysaccharides, including: - Acemannan, mannose-6phosphate polymannans - Phenolic glycosides, including: - Dihydrocoumarins Aloe (especially aloe vera) has many uses & benefits. It…
Aloe vera became so widely grown as a medicinal plant in ancient times that its exact region of origin is a mystery. This species is of considerable economic importance and extracts are included in all manner of pharmaceutical preparations for the skin, treatment of burns and for ingestion. It is important to use the correct species of Aloe for medicinal preparations, as some species e.g. Aloe venenosa are poisonous. Toxic reactions by sensitive individuals to Aloe barbadensis (Aloe vera) have been reported, despite its widespread, mainly safe use.
- Helps heal minor burns, cuts & rashes - Helps alleviate the pain of sunburn while speeding healing - Works as a skin moisturizer - Has anti-inflammatory properties Most people use aloe simply by cutting off a piece of leaf and squeezing the liquid onto their skin. This works, but it wastes the inner gel, which is the most potent part of the plant. To use the gel, you’ll need to “fillet” the leaves rather than merely squeezing them. The filleting process also reaps much more aloe gel/ juice. When properly prepared and refrigerated, this final product can last a year or more!
Analysis of the plant shows that aloe vera gel contains: - Water - 20 minerals
First, a little terminology. Starting from the outside of the leaf and working inwards, we have the “rind”, the “sap”, the “mucilage” and lastly, the central core of “gel”, also known as the “gel fillet”.
For home uses, the rind is only good for composting. The yellow sap (also called “aloin” or latex) should be avoided when possible. It’s used as an ingredient in laxatives, and can cause diarrhea and other problems if taken internally. The mucilage and gel are the most important parts of the plant for home medicinal use. Aloe should be processed within a couple of hours of harvest so as to prevent oxidation.
There are many online guides and videos helping you grow your own Aloe plant and its variety of uses.
26
March 28th
www.buzznews.es
WEEKLY WORDSEARCH
Barbed Bobbed Bombed Bribed Clubbed
Find All The Words - BED Time Combed Cubed Dabbed Daubed Fibbed
Garbed Grabbed Jabbed Lobbed Lobed
Nabbed Numbed Probed Ribbed Robbed
SUDOKU (EASY)
QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS
1 Brought up (6) 4 Go aboard (6) 8 Frown angrily (5) 9 Alien (7) 10 Airman (7) 11 Glasgow’s river (5) 12 Pre-decimal British coin (4,5) 17 Stage-player (5) 19 Exhibition centre in London (7) 21 Stuffy (7) 22 Customary (5) 23 For ever (6) 24 Drinker’s toast (6)
DOWN
1 Scamp (6) 2 Do away with (7) 3 Brilliant success (5) 5 North African country (7) 6 Friendship (5) 7 Dog-house (6) 9 Savage (9) 13 Theft (7) 14 Roman sea god (7) 15 Cuban cigar (6) 16 Flaws, defects (6) 18 Hurl (5) 20 Early part of life (5)
CODE CRACKER
Rubbed Sobbed Webbed
SUDOKU (MEDIUM)
SUDOKU (HARD)
Find the 9 letter word and as many other words as you can!
SCORE BRILLIANT 80 EXCELLENT 60 GOOD 40 FOR KIDS 25
L O M U A S R NB
www.buzznews.es
March 28th
!
CRYPTIC CROSSWORD
THIS WEEKS
HOROSCOPES ARIES
ARIES (March 21st-April 20th) Others better understand what they’re taking on in you this week: a person who means business. Now that we’ve had the Spring Equinox and the sun’s in your sign, it’s all eyes on you. Come the weekend, you’re a lover, not a fighter. Single? Look for someone who soothes your soul.
LIBRA
LIBRA (Sept 24th-Oct 23rd) The cosmos helps you knock old scenarios on the head - as well as stir up passion where an old flame is concerned, perhaps. Whatever your relationship status, you get the feeling that you’re going places. Get ready to look over the details of a contract.
SCORPIO
SCORPIO (Oct 24th-Nov 22nd) Ambition is everything to you. The sky also illuminates your strongest desires, and now that the sun is in Aries, you learn to work at love. You may also look at a health regime too. Keep on track in spite of all the other temptations that are in your way.
SAGITTARIUS
SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23rd-Dec 21st) You get an exciting glimpse of what’s to come this week, especially in your career. Things are building. In order to move forward, though, you must learn to streamline. Flirtation flies at you, despite that jolt of reality you experienced with someone recently.
TAURUS (April 21st-May 21st)
TAURUS
GEMINI
CANCER
Down 1 Meat it’s a relief to save (5) 2 Making a noise playing ludo (4) 3 Get in a mess having a meal (6) 4 I printed new form, being daring (8) 5 A bad driver gained recognition (7) 6 Eccentrics damage ceramics (9) 9 Wheels turning before being seen in another place (9) 12 Church containing one clergyman (8) 14 Wine given to one performing part (7) 16 What’s done by accident on the other side? (6) 19 Work for an actor on his own? (5) 20 Kelly’s make-up unit (4)
Across 1 Heather devoured by goat in Essex (10) 7 Tell what happens after close vote (7) 8 Beginner found in empty room (4) 10 Flog a walking-stick (4) 11 Bury a girl in the break (8) 13 Father brought back nothing material (6) 15 Sort the French arouse (6) 17 I’m turning in winding street to find insects (8) 18 Composer taking taxi back to hospital (4) 21 Reduced fare when tide turns (4) 22 Opera in new setting out of doors (4,3) 23 What’s needed for dinner I get cooked? (10)
Scribble Pad
PUZZLE ANSWERS - See page 51
27
LEO
VIRGO
Decisions, decisions. The cosmos sets up a week where you must come down on one side of the fence or the other. The nerves of the people around about you are jangled but yours are steely. You have a lot of work ahead, and with the sun in Aries, you look over your recent past to help you filter out the negative in your present situation.
GEMINI (May 22nd-June 21st) Deep down in your heart, there could be some emotional stirrings this week. Face it, Gemini, you’re now no longer willing to be left out in the cold - and there’s a spring in your step come the weekend. CANCER (June 22nd-July 23rd) There are lots of big changes happening for your sign this week. If I were you I’d consult friends and family for guidance along the way. The sky also helps you focus on healing, and any strong words at home shouldn’t be taken to heart. You’re under the spotlight at the weekend. LEO (July 24th-August 23rd) Whether it’s money or an opportunity to better yourself, what motivates you this week is a healthy sense of selfworth. Drama comes at the end of the week (it’s never far away from you really, Leo, is it?) but with it a chance to shine. You understand yourself better than you think you do. VIRGO (August 24th-Sept 23rd) I have to say that if it’s revenge you’re after, you can think again. You’ll trap far more flies with honey than you ever will with vinegar. Any tension that was mounting last week now starts to dissipate, and as the weekend approaches, you’re all fired up by a new person in your life.
CAPRICORN
CAPRICORN (Dec 22nd-Jan 20th) When emotions fly or tempers flare you’ll look for the nearest exit. You’re looking for something a wee bit different, and an unexpected invitation may hold the key to this. The Aries sun helps you look at deep emotions, and what you do from here on in is embrace sweeping change.
AQUARIUS
AQUARIUS (Jan 21st-Feb 19th) Secrets will out, as the sky highlights what you’d rather have kept hidden, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. This is a magnificently passionate start to a loving week if you’re in love. If you’re single, you might have to let your guard down a bit to encourage love into your life.
PISCES
PISCES (Feb 20th-March 20th) You’re in the zone with this week, Pisces. What’s more, with what else is happening skyward, you’re in forgiving mood. The sun in Aries makes you very aware of your own true worth. You come up with the goods at the weekend despite some serious doubts.
28
March 28th
www.buzznews.es
www.buzznews.es
March 28th
29
30
March 28th
www.buzznews.es
Ruby “Murray” at India Gate
Did you know what Pat Murray’s (aka Mickey Pearce) favourite meal is? Of course the header gives it all away... and where better to fulfil his wishes than at the India Gate situated in Calle Gerona at the Old Town end; this street has now become known as “the food street” of Benidorm. It is one of the most popular destinations for dining out in Costa Blanca. Recently the road was closed to traffic and re-paved and now the restaurants are able to place tables outside their premises; perfect for eating outside during the warmer months. Navi & Jasmine welcomed The Buzz team and our latest “Star Signing” Pat Murray to enjoy a meal of authentic Indian cuisine; independently voted by visitors and locals in Benidorm as the best Indian Restaurant. India Gate has been frequently visited from people living in all areas
across the region of Costa Blanca for the last 19 years. I’m sure Pat will be talking about his Benidorm curry experience on his radio show on Star Radio in Benidorm or you can catch him on Galaxy Radio across the Costa Blanca during this week. Listen to both online or on FM radio; see the details at www.buzznews.es. As well as Pat, Indian food is certainly one of my favourites too, and for me the whole experience of eating Indian food is actually having the meal in a restaurant that offers the ambiance and pleasure of the authentic hospitality offered by the Indian culture. It is the amazing aromas coming from the busy kitchen together with the stylish table that is used for serving the food. India Gate have made every effort to be original and inventive with their serving methods and creativity of the menu. The poppadoms are served with a selection of dips that demonstrate the quality and perfection of the food on offer in this amazing restaurant. Spicy onion, tangy sweet Mango Chutney, Minty Yogurt and traditional Lime Pickle; you certainly get your taste buds buzzing. I normally choose a curry with a sauce and have my favourites such as a Madras or Pathia; both of these are fairly hot and spicy but this
time I made the change from the norm because of the fact that I had seen a number of customers eating grills and the sizzling steaming hot grill plates were being delivered from the kitchen and the amazing smells just got the better of me. So my choice was to have a Tandoori Mixed Grill together with a side dish of Spinach and Cheese (Sagg Panir) and a Taka Dhal (lentils) and of course a Naan Bread. My colleagues ordered a Cheesy Chicken and a Chicken Tika Masala both served with rice. When our food was served, the large sizzling grill was placed next to me that had an outstanding quantity of food displayed; Chicken, Lamb, King Prawn and Salmon Tika together with onions and peppers. The Tarka Dal and Spinach with Cheese were perfect accompaniments and I really did enjoy my meal. My colleagues both had amazing curries served in stylish individual pots that have a burner within the base that keeps the food simmering away. India Gate is always busy and it is very rare to see empty tables, although I recommend you make a reservation to ensure you get seated. The wealth of experience of the Indian chef and his kitchen team are the reasons that this restaurant needs very little help from me recommending the authentic Indian food as it is common knowledge that the cuisine is the best you can get and people travel from all over the region to dine here. Why not get a 10% discount voucher from our new website at www.impactvouchers.com India Gate Restaurant - C/ Gerona 2, (Food Street) Old Town End, Benidorm,
32
March 28th
www.buzznews.es
Chicken and chorizo empanadas 1. To make the pastry, tip the flour and salt into a bowl, and rub the cold butter into it with your fingers until it resembles breadcrumbs
2. Beat the egg with the cold water and vinegar and add to the bowl. Mix in quickly. Bring the ingredients together with your hands and knead very briefly to form a Ingredients (Makes 12) smooth dough. Shape into a disc, wrap and Prep time: 25 minutes Cook time: 25-30 minutes chill for at least 30 minutes 3. Heat the olive oil in a frying pan and gently fry the onion for 5 minutes until soft. Add the garlic and chorizo and fry for a few more minutes until the chorizo is cooked and just starting to colour 4. Add the sherry and allow it to bubble for a minute, then tip into a bowl. Mix through the cooked chicken, Hellmann’s with Olive Oil, and the rest of the ingredients. Season to taste and leave to cool completely 5. Heat the oven to 200°C, fan 180°C, Gas mark 6 and Divide the pastry into 12 even sized pieces and roll into balls. Roll out into a disc shape and use a cutter or small plate to cut into 16cm circles
For the Pastry 500g plain flour 1 tsp fine salt 200g cold unsalted butter, cubed 1 egg 75ml cold water 2 tsp white wine vinegar Beaten egg, to glaze Filling 2 tbsp olive oil 1 small onion, finely chopped 2 cloves of garlic, crushed 100g raw cooking chorizo, diced Splash of dry sherry 200g cooked chicken, roughly chopped 2 tbsp Hellmann’s with Olive Oil 125g pitted black and green olives, halved Squeeze of lemon juice Handful of chopped flat leaf parsley
6. Spoon a dollop of the mixture into the centre of each pastry circle then brush the edges with a little water. Fold in half to enclose the filling in a semi circle and press the edges to seal and crimp with a fork, place on a baking sheet lined with baking parchment 7. Brush with beaten egg to glaze and bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown. Serve warm or at room temperature
www.buzznews.es
March 28th
33
Removing Ticks From Your Pets Ticks can transmit deadly diseases to a pet within 24 hours of a bite, so swift removal is key. Here’s the best way to remove a tick from your dog or cat so you’re prepared to get rid of these dangerous parasites. Before you start the actual removal process, gather everything that you need to remove the offending tick from your pet first. It’s harder to try and manage a squirming animal while looking for your tweezers or rubbing alcohol than it is having everything you need within arm’s reach.
What You’ll Need
Steps for Removing a Tick Step 1: Put on your gloves. Talent: Ticks carry infectious agents that can seep into a human’s bloodstream through breaks in the skin. It’s better to play it safe and wear protective gear. Step 2: Steady your pet and keep them calm. When you’re getting ready to remove the tick you’ve got to keep your pet calm. Any unusual poking or prodding tends to make dogs and cats nervous. If there is another person available, have that person hold your pet and keep him relaxed
Gloves
Residencia canina y felina Boarding kennel & Cattery
Sincece
desde/sin
119 97777
RESIDENCIA CANINA Y FELINA BOARDING KENNEL & CATTERY Habitaciones individuales Ozono Hilo musical Calefacción Parques ajardinados Servicio a domicilio Admitimos todas las razas
Tweezers (pointy ones work best) Latex or rubber gloves Rubbing alcohol Antiseptic wipes (optional) Jar or container with lid
Individual rooms Ozono Music Heated floor system Landscaped playgrounds Free home delivery service All types of dogs & cats allowed
Step 3: Position your tweezers. Voice over: Take a pair of tweezers—pointy ones work best—and grab hold of the tick as close to your dog’s skin as possible. Be careful not to pinch your dog’s skin. Step 4: Pull out the tick. Talent: Using steady pressure, pull the tick out using a straight motion. Do not twist or jerk the tick because you want to avoid leaving the tick’s mouthparts behind. Also, make sure not to squeeze or crush the tick, since its fluids may contain infectious material. After removing the tick, examine it to make sure the head and mouth parts were removed. If not, take your pet to veterinarian to remove what’s left in the pet’s skin. Step 5: Kill the tick. Kill the tick by placing it in a container with rubbing alcohol. Once the tick is dead, most veterinarians recommend keeping it in the container with a lid incase your pet begins displaying symptoms of disease. Step 6: Disinfect the bite site. Use antiseptic spray or wipes to disinfect the bite site and keep an eye on it for signs of infection. If the bite site remains red or becomes inflamed, make an appointment with your veterinarian.
Step 7: Reward your pet.
After you’ve removed the tick from your dog or cat, praise your pet for being good. Give him or her a treat and add in some extra playtime as a special reward.
Keep an Eye on Your Pet Make sure to keep a close eye on your dog or cat over the next few weeks and be on the lookout for any strange symptoms including a reluctance to move, fever, fatigue, loss of appetite and swollen lymph nodes. If your dog displays any of these symptoms, make an appointment with your vet immediately.
34
March 28th
www.buzznews.es
How To Stop Your Dog Digging Dogs have a natural inclination to dig holes. It is instinctive behavior, but can be extremely destructive and inappropriate for dogs that spend a great deal of time in yards. A digging dog can ruin a great landscaping job, creating both great annoyance and expense for his owner. If your dog is a problem digger, there are three effective means by which to combat this frustrating behavior. These three guidelines, used in concert, will often eliminate digging behavior in dogs.
Address Your Dogs Comfort First, it is important to realize one of the most common motivations for digging. Dogs often dig holes as a means of personal climate control. On hot days a dog may dig himself a cooling well. His newly dug hole will be a place for him to rest on a surface that is cooler than the rest of the ground. If your dog’s digging habits seem to be related to heat, it is easy to solve the problem simply by addressing his needs. By providing a cool, shaded location in the yard, your dog may no longer feel a need to dig. Many have found that the use of a kiddy pool or other larger tub containing some water may also be of use in this endeavor. By making the dog’s surroundings cooler, you can easily eliminate his need to remove chunks of the yard to relax. Likewise, dogs will sometimes dig to create a warm space during cold weather. By digging a small pit in which they can rest, the dog creates a space removed from brisk winds. Again, it is relatively easy to address the situation. Providing a warm space, such as a well-insulated doghouse can reduce the dog’s need to dig holes throughout your lawn.
By tending to their comfort, one can reduce a prime motivator of digging behavior. Keeping a pet adequately cooled during the summer and sufficiently warm in the winter is one of the most simple, yet effective, means of eliminating digging.
Exercise Your Dog Adequately Dogs will also dig when they are inadequately exercised or are overly confined. A dog with excess energy to burn may turn to digging as a means of release. A dog who feels confined in his yard and yearns to run free will be likewise attracted to the prospect of digging those annoying holes. This cause for digging can be addressed simply by making sure your dog is adequately exercised. Regular walks, play opportunities and other exercise outlets will leave your dog better rested and less inclined to dig. The value of exercising a dog is immeasurable. It produces a happier, calmer dog who is more receptive to training and who is likely to be considerably more healthy than his under-exercised brethren. Thus, exercise should be pursued in all cases with all dogs. However, it brings with it the additional advantage of decreasing the level of interest the dog will show in digging.
Keep Your Dog Entertained Digging can also be symptomatic of boredom. A dog with little to do may find the instinctive behavior of digging holes to be a great way to occupy his time. The bored dog is more likely to seek solace in the instinctive act of digging holes than is the appropriately engaged pet.
As such, one can combat digging simply by making sure the dog has sufficient alternative sources of entertainment. As previously mentioned, regular exercise and activity offers hope in reducing digging behavior. Additionally, the presence of attractive and entertaining toys can provide a dog with other ways to spend his time and can reduce the likelihood that he will dig holes. Dogs who are simply left alone in a yard with little else to do are, not surprisingly, apt to invent their own diversions. As digging is an instinctive activity, it is often latched upon as something to do for an otherwise bored dog. By providing more attractive play activities, one can remove this frequent cause of destructive digging behavior. There are certainly other reasons why dogs dig and there are certainly problem dogs whose digging behavior will not immediately cease simply by following the three rules covered here. However, most dogs will curtail their destructive digging if their climate is appropriately managed, they are adequately exercised and they are provided with alternative diversions. Though instinctive, digging is not necessarily inevitable. By tending to needs of the dog, one can reduce instances of inappropriate digging.
www.buzznews.es
March 28th
35
Vitamin B12 deficiency
Do you suffer with any of the following:
• Diarrhea or constipation • Fatigue, lack of energy, or light-headedness when standing up or with exertion • Loss of appetite • Pale skin • Problems concentrating • Shortness of breath • Swollen, red tongue or bleeding gums • Confusion or change in mental status • Depression • Loss of balance • Numbness and tingling of hands and feet …then you may be suffering from Vitamin B12 deficiency.
• Any surgery that involves removing certain parts of the stomach or small intestine.
Diagnosis is made with a simple blood test and treatment is effective and easy. This may be in tablet form or (depending on the cause) monthly injections. As a person gets older they tend to put symptoms such as tiredness down to ‘old age’. However, for 1 out of 10 the symptoms are just due to a simple B12 deficiency which can be easily corrected. For anyone suffering from the above mentioned symptoms a visit to your Family Doctor may turn out to be the best thing you’ve ever done!
B12 deficiency can occur at any age but is more common in older people. It is also more prevalent in vegetarians (and especially vegans) and those using long term treatments for heartburn. Vitamin B12 plays an essential role in the production of red blood cells. Red blood cells provide the body tissues with oxygen. Vitamin B12 is found in meat, poultry, shellfish, eggs, and dairy products and in lesser amounts in other foods. A person who has a normal healthy diet which includes plenty of these foods should have normal levels of vitamin B12. However, there are certain medical conditions that make it difficult for the body to absorb B12. These include: • Crohn’s disease. • Coeliac disease. • Fish tapeworm infection. • Any condition that makes it difficult for your body to digest foods • Pernicious anaemia.
Article Provided By See Our Advert Page 39
36
March 28th
www.buzznews.es
Craft Demonstrations in Calpe If you like to watch skilled craftsmen and women at work, you should make a note in your agenda of the Craft Fair that will be held in Calpe on the weekend from 28th of April till the 1st of May. That’s when about thirty craft people will set up shop around the church in the middle of Calpe Old Town. Not only will they show (and sell) what they have made, you can also watch most of them at work, ask questions on techniques, tools and materials, and quite a few even speak some English. The astounding glass blower who makes motorbikes out of glass and was here at Christmas will come again and there will be people working with leather, wood and paper,
people modelling clay, painting or getting knotted (macramé) and making jewelry, all people who love their work and want you to share the pleasure. There will also be workshops for children, old fashioned table games and a few stalls with traditional regional delicacies: Felipe sells pan de higos, made from dried figs and almonds and will show you how arrop i tallaetes is made, a Valencian speciali-
ty made of grape syrup and pieces of pumpkin. Jorge makes the most delicious sweet and savoury pancakes and for people who like cocktails, there’s a stall with mojitos and caipiriñas. And all this with soft background music, nice tunes from all over the world. The fair is organised by Amata, the regional craft association that has spent the last 20 years organising the few real craft markets to be found in this part of Spain. Everything on the stalls has to be made by hand and has to be made by the person actually on the stall. It’s not easy to make a living in this fashion, when there is so much competition from people selling mainly imported goods, but it can be done. Calpe is mainly known for its Peñón de Ifach, the big rock that can be seen from miles away and is often used as a promotional image for the Costa Blanca. But Calpe also has a nice old town centre with part of the original town walls, narrow streets with flowerpots on the gaily painted
steps, and many bars and restaurants who put their tables out in the street or on tiny little squares. The Craft Fair will be held right in the middle of all this, around the church, and opens on Friday the 28th of April at about 6 pm, Saturday and Sunday the opening times are from 11am till 9 pm or later and on Monday the stalls stay open till (Spanish) lunchtime. For more information, ring 639 979 678, we even speak English. You can find photographs of the Christmas market in Calpe (different theme, but with the same quality crafts) at www.amata.es/Calpe16.html.
Clubs & Charities A Night At The Races
By Simon Russel
A famous Benidorm bar that is dedicated to Glasgow Rangers recently held a charity Race Night in aid of the Fernando Ricksen foundation. The former Rangers player set up his charity to raise funds to provide support for those with Motor Neuron Disease and their families. Motor Neuron Disease is a crippling and ultimately fatal condition, which causes the degeneration of the body’s motor nerve cells. Ricksen was diagnosed with the disease in 2013. Despite being given just 15 months to live at the time, the Dutchman has vowed he will continue to fight the debilitating disease. Since his diagnosis, Ricksen has raised more than £80,000 for the charity MND Scotland, but now he is backing a new campaign bearing
his name. All monies raised through the Fernando Ricksen Foundation will be used to help MND patients and their families. The event at the Ibrox bar proved to be a massive success raising 1000€ for the charity; the team from Buzz Newspaper and Star Radio were in attendance to host the event along with Only Fools and Horses star Patrick Murray aka Mickey Pearce. Fun was had by all with some lucky race winners as well as many generous people donating money for autographed photos of Mickey Pearce. Thanks were given to bar owners Willma and John for organising the event and looking after everyone so well. For further donations please visit the charity web site www.fernandoricksenfoundation.org
Grant a Wish B
O
U
T
I
Q
U
E
Fresh Flowers
Printed Clothing
Books / Novels
Celebration Cakes
Children's Books
Greetings Cards
Reconditioned Clothing Photocopying Printing Javea Old Town Market Square 96 500 8816 Come and enjoy fund raising!
Eva Carter Cancer Awareness Fund
In June last year Eva first came to our medical centre. A 27yr. old lovely lady for a gynae check-up. Eva had never had a cervical smear test as she was in the process of moving to Spain when she was 25yrs. – the age that UK screening currently starts in the UK. On examination it became apparent that ‘something was not ing is on Monday the 24th April, the right’ and investigations began imdoors open at 10am and the desks mediately. close at 10.50am for a prompt Regretfully the outcome for Eva 11.00 am start, please come early was that despite a brave battle she to sign in and get your seat! did lose her life due to Cervical If you have not heard of this Cancer. Association and would like to join, Damian, Eva’s husband says: please visit ‘It always happens to someone www.u3amarinabaixa.com or else. You’re young, you’re fit and our Facebook page, to find out strong. You’ll be fine. At 28 years more information. If you do not old, despite a brave battle the canhave internet access, please con- cer won. Everyone who knew Eva tact the secretary, Joan Flint on 96 loved her. The Eva Carter Cervical 586 1226 or Mobile 663 637 167. Cancer Awareness Fund has been set up to bring awareness to this terrible disease, that, with early detection can be cured. Eva, as a Registered Nurse and a national carer can continue to care and her name can live on. Please help her to help you. Due to the help and generosity of all the Vincent’s Corner pub staff and customers, Lee and Helen of the Pig & Whistle in Benidorm old town who raised 282.60 at their pre Paddys Party and not for-
U3A Marina Baixa donate to local charity
By Colin Butterfield
Bill & Joan Flint from the U3A Marina Baixa, went shopping this week, with the 500 euros which was raised on the “ Old Tea Stall” at La Nucia International Day. They went shopping at Lidl, in La Nucia and were accompanied, with representatives from La Nucia food bank, who provided a shopping list, which include items such as, 64 Chupa Chupa lollipops for the children, 240 pots of yogurt, 46 cartons of fruit juice, plus many cheese slices, ham slices, frankfurters, chorizo, salami, coffee and Cacao. The 2 women and 3 men from La Nucia food bank, were extremely helpful and VERY grateful for our donation. U3A Marina Baixa holds its general meetings on the fourth Monday of each month in the auditorium at the Casa de Cultura, Alfaz del Pi. The next Meet-
getting friends and family of Eva, there is money raised to make a difference and hopefully save a life in Eva Carters name.’ The money raised in Eva’s fund is to pay for young women (aged 30yrs. or younger) to have a cervical smear test. If you are a young woman who would like to have a smear test please call us for an appointment at The Family Medical Centre, Albir 966 865 072. The Family Medical Centre will also be subsidising the cost of the test to allow more women to benefit from this fund. To take advantage of this opportunity you must quote The Eva Carter Cervical Cancer Awareness Fund at the time of booking your appointment.
38
March 28th
www.buzznews.es
Mortgage Refunds – the new PPI? How much does your Spanish bank owe you? If you took out a mortgage with a Spanish bank or lender before 2015 you may be entitled to a refund due to the ruling of a recent High Court hearing in Madrid. In April 2016, the courts ruled that the ‘floor clause’ was illegal. The floor clause on a variable-rate mortgage meant that customers continued to pay a specified minimum interest despite the libor base-rate falling below that level in recent years. In April, a court in Madrid ruled that these clauses were illegal. This means you can now go to court to apply for a refund of overpaid interest and to have future repayments reduced. In addition to the floor clause, the Supreme Court also ruled in December 2016 that bank imposed charges for many expenses, taxes and commissions derived from a mortgage loan were also illegal. This means those who took out mortgages before this ruling may also be entitled to a refund on these extra costs.
The seminar is at The Parador Hotel in Javea, and starts at 11am on Thursday 30th March. Attendance is free but you will need to preregister. To pre-register simply text (0034) 693 107 044 or email t.storer@chorusfinancial.es including the following information: 1) Your name or names (if you would like more than one place) 2) Your telephone number 3) Your email address We can receive registrations until 10am on the day so there is still time if you wish to attend. If you would like more information you can also call 693 107 044 to speak with Tracy Storer, Senior Partner at Chorus Financial.
Refunds apply to existing or fully paid up mortgages. On Thursday 30th March 2017, Spanish Law firm Pellicer & Heredia, are holding a short seminar, alongside experts from British run financial planning firm, Chorus Financial, to provide vital information to see if you are entitled to a refund and how to make a claim.
Pound steady as Article 50 trigger date approaches Although we’re now less than six days away from the long-awaited activation of Article 50, the pound is proving resilient and its best levels of the week could be yet to come. Sterling edged slightly lower yesterday as excitement over the inflation surge eased. However, GBP largely returned to opening levels before the close of the European session despite the UK being shaken by a terror attack in London. GBP/EUR was holding €1.1546, GBP/USD remained close to $1.2500 and GBP/AUD held firm above AU$1.6250.
What’s been happening? After the flurry of activity inspired by the UK’s inflation report earlier in the week, trading was a little flat on Wednesday. A lack of high-profile data prevented the pound advancing further as the eyes of the world turned to the shocking events that took place outside the Parliamentary building in London. Meanwhile, the decline in bets that the Federal Reserve will increase interest rates more than three times in 2017 weakened demand for the US dollar and the euro failed to display much response to a 15-month low Eurozone current account surplus. Down in the South Pacific, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) left interest rates on hold as expected. The central bank’s policy statement was little changed from February, although it did seem slightly less concerned about the relative strength of the New
Zealand dollar. The upshot of the announcement was that the GBP/ NZD exchange rate got to hold its previous 2 cent gain.
What’s coming up? Aside from the UK retail sales numbers, we have a speech from Fed Chairwoman Janet Yellen and Eurozone consumer confidence data on the calendar for today. The pound could hit its highest levels of the week so far if the UK sales report shows the forecast uptick in consumer spending, but the recent terror incident may limit demand for the British currency. The pound is also liable to start feeling the pressure ahead of the weekend with the activation of Article 50 in sight. Looking ahead to Friday we’ve got a number of reports for the Eurozone to focus on. Sturdy PMIs for the currency bloc and its major economies would be euro supportive. The only UK news will be the BBA loans for house purchase stat, which is expected to detail an increase in property lending. As we’ve also got Canadian inflation data and US durable goods orders due for publication, USD and CAD exchange rates could be in for some movement. We’re here to talk currency whenever you need us, so get in touch if you want to know more about the latest news or how it could impact your currency transfers.
Carretera Moraira A Teulada, 5, Edificio Benidorm 7 (behind the taxi rank on high street), 03724 Moraira, Alicante, Spain Call Now +34 966 26 50 72
www.buzznews.es
March 28th
Spain not a fan of Scots independence bid By Simon Russel
As there are talks in the UK of a second Scottish Independence referendum, the current Spanish government has again made it clear that they would not support such a move. With the Catalan government planning to go ahead with what has been described as an illegal vote on the regions own independence, Spain’s Deputy PM Soraya de Santamaria said this week that the Scots and Catalan scenarios were very different. “The difference in Spain is that we have a constitution in which expressly there is no possibility of a referendum on self-rule. At the time some people tried to include an amendment to the constitution so that referendums on self-rule could take place but they failed. No country can be subjected to the constant threat of referendums of that nature.” The comments follow those of Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis last week
when he made it very clear that Spain would veto any attempt by Scotland to stay inside the European Union if they did become independent and that they would have to go through the recognised negotiating system for joining the EU – which could take several years. Spain would obviously want the same rule to apply to Catalonia, helping stifle the burgeoning independence calls in the region.
On the Beach to sponsor ITV’s Benidorm By Simon Russel
Online travel agency On the Beach is to sponsor ITV’s comedy show Benidorm. The company will become the lead sponsor of the show. Viewers will see a short ident at the start of each show and at each advert break. Chief marketing officer, Alistair Daly, said: “This is such a fantastic opportunity and we hope viewers enjoy our ads. “Benidorm is ITV’s most successful sitcom, so we are delighted to be associated with such an iconic show. “Not only is Benidorm a successful TV show, it also remains an incredibly popular destination for sun-seeking Brits and we expect it to remain that way for many years to come.”
Snacking success story
By Simon Russel
YOU probably recognise the smiling yellow peanut (or is it a sunflower seed?) logo of Grefusa which produces a wide range of snacks. However, you may not realise that the firm is based in the town of Alzira near Valencia. Latest profit figures for Grefusa are healthy showing an increase of 4.5% on sales of €100 million in 2016. The firm sells its products under brands such as Pipas G and Snatts and distributes to various European countries as well as all over Spain. The company continue to evolve and expand, said CEO Agustin Gregori, and is recognising the trend for healthier snacks such as low fat crisps.
39
London FTSE 1000 27/03/2017 Name III ADM AAL ANTO AHT ABF AZN AV. BAB BA. BARC BDEV BLT BP. BATS BLND BT.A BNZL BRBY CPI CCL CNA CCH CPG CTEC CRH CRDA DCC DGE DLG DC. EZJ EXPN FRES GKN GSK GLEN HMSO HL. HIK HSBA IMB INF IHG IAG
3i Group Plc Admiral Group Anglo American Antofagasta Holdings Ashtead Group plc Associated British Foods plc AstraZeneca plc Aviva plc Babcock International Group BAE Systems plc Barclays plc Barratt Developments plc BHP Billiton plc BP Plc British American Tobacco plc British Land Co plc BT Group plc Bunzl plc Burberry Group plc Capita plc Carnival plc Centrica plc Coca-Cola HBC AG Compass Group plc ConvaTec Group Plc CRH plc Croda International plc DCC plc Diageo plc Direct Line Insurance Group plc Dixons Carphone plc easyJet plc Experian Plc Fresnillo GKN plc GlaxoSmithKline plc Glencore plc Hammerson Hargreaves Lansdown plc Hikma Pharmaceuticals HSBC Holdings plc Imperial Brands Group Informa plc InterContinental Hotels Group plc International Consolidated Airlines Group SA ITRK Intertek Group plc INTU Intu Properties plc ITV ITV plc JMAT Johnson Matthey Plc KGF Kingfisher LAND Land Securities Group plc LGEN Legal & General Group plc LLOY Lloyds Banking Group plc LSE London Stock Exchange Group plc MKS Marks & Spencer Group plc MDC Mediclinic International plc MERL Merlin Entertainments plc MCRO Micro Focus International plc MNDI Mondi Plc MRW Morrison (Wm) Supermarkets NG. National Grid NXT Next plc OML Old Mutual Plc PPB Paddy Power Betfair plc PSON Pearson plc PSN Persimmon plc PFG Provident Financial plc PRU Prudential plc RRS Randgold Resources RB. Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc REL RELX plc RIO Rio Tinto plc RR. Rolls Royce Holdings Plc RBS Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc RDSA Royal Dutch Shell Plc A Shares RDSB Royal Dutch Shell Plc B Shares RMG Royal Mail PLC RSA RSA Insurance Group SGE Sage Group plc SBRY Sainsbury (J) plc SDR Schroders plc SVT Severn Trent Plc SHP Shire plc SKY Sky plc SN. Smith & Nephew plc SMIN Smiths Group Plc SKG Smurfit Kappa Group Plc SSE SSE plc STJ St James’s Place Plc STAN Standard Chartered plc SL. Standard Life plc TW. Taylor Wimpey plc TSCO Tesco plc TUI TUI AG ULVR Unilever plc UU. United Utilities Group Plc VOD Vodafone Group plc WTB Whitbread plc WOS Wolseley plc WPG Worldpay Group plc WPP WPP plc
Current price (p) 729.5 1,901.00 1,186.50 784.5 1,698.00 2,633.00 4,815.00 543.5 899.5 635 230.2 536 1,275.50 463.5 5,139.00 611 331.6 2,301.00 1,817.00 568 4,541.00 220.9 1,962.00 1,513.00 255.5 2,861.00 3,639.00 7,005.00 2,271.00 347.5 305 984.5 1,638.00 1,436.00 371.4 1,677.50 314.9 583 1,321.00 2,135.00 672.1 3,859.50 647.5 3,850.00 565
Day change
3,875.00 279.9 207.2 2,952.00 336.8 1,044.00 249.4 68.54 3,056.00 337.8 756.5 495.6 2,192.00 1,890.00 233.1 980.6 3,970.00 226.4 8,850.00 672 2,118.00 2,952.00 1,664.50 6,965.00 7,276.00 1,539.00 3,304.50 762 241.3 2,120.50 2,222.00 407.8 591 650.5 269 3,137.00 2,339.00 4,937.00 987.5 1,235.00 1,574.00 2,216.00 1,510.00 1,093.00 742.9 371.5 194.1 191 1,156.00 3,989.50 978 203.35 3,882.00 5,015.00 291.9 1,711.00
20 2.4 -0.5 41 1.3 4 0.6
4.5 -3 46 36.5 20 2 55.5 2.5 5.5 -2
0.62% -0.16% 4.03% 4.88% 1.19% 0.08% 1.17% 0.46% 0.62% -0.31% -0.71% -0.19% 31 2.49% -7.2 -1.53% 31 0.61% -1.5 -0.24% -3.17% -6 -0.26% 13 0.72% 23.5 4.32% -20 -0.44% -1.9 -0.85% 14 0.72% 3 0.20% -0.9 -0.35% -23 -0.80% -4 -0.11% 5 0.07% 2 0.09% 2.5 0.72% 0.2 0.07% 7.5 0.77% 12 0.74% 76 5.59% -0.1 -0.03% 5 0.30% 4.35 1.40% 2 0.34% 2 0.15% -4 -0.19% 5.4 0.81% 12 0.31% 1.5 0.23% 0 0.00% -1.5 -0.26% 0.52% 0.86% -0.24% 1.41% 0.39% 0.38% 0.24% -0.32% -4 -0.13% -0.30% 11.5 1.54% -1.3 -0.26% 17 0.78% 11 0.59% -1.1 -0.47% 1.9 0.19% 4 0.10% 2.6 1.16% 35 0.40% -4.5 -0.67% 10 0.47% -7 -0.24% 21 1.28% 120 1.75% -45 -0.61% 4 0.26% 126 3.96% 7.5 0.99% -3.7 -1.51% 7 0.33% 12.5 0.57% 2.3 0.57% -0.17% 4.5 0.70% 2.6 0.98% 9 0.29% 5 0.21% 46.5 0.95% -5.5 -0.55% -4 -0.32% 42 2.74% 16 0.73% 7 0.47% 10 0.92% 1.6 0.22% -8.5 -2.24% 1.6 0.83% 2.2 1.17% 6 0.52% -46 -1.14% 6 0.62% -0.5 -0.25% -9 -0.23% 21 0.42% 3.4 1.18% 10 0.59%
Toyota C-HR 2016 After years of playing it safe with dull but worthy cars, the C-HR is a welcome return to more interesting car design for Toyota. But angular, coupe-crossover styling isn’t all the C-HR has going for it – it’s economical, practical and good to drive. The only problem is its steep price. There is no diesel engine choice, just a 1.2-litre turbo petrol or a 1.8-litre hybrid. The hybrid is obviously the one to go for if you drive in town and value economy, but both are quiet and refined. Most buyers will be happier with the 1.2-litre though,
since it has a slick manual transmission and perky, if not blistering performance. Because of that, it’s better on country roads, where the C-HR’s handling really shines. The suspension does a great job of blending accurate and grippy handling with smooth, quiet ride quality. For potholed roads and speed bumps it’s very impressive. And ideal for typical British tarmac. Inside, there’s a stylishly laid out and well-built cabin with plenty of neat touches like a coloured dashboard inlays and
door cards. It’s comfortable up front, with plenty of adjustment in the driving position. The back row is fine for most but legroom can get a little tight with tall occupants up front. The boot is well-shaped and provides plenty of space at 377 litres, so there won’t often be cause to fold the rear seats down. But for those bulky loads they do fold, although unfortunately not flat, which will make getting some things in and out awkward. All versions of the C-HR come well-equipped, with a touchscreen system, Bluetooth, dual-zone climate control, adaptive cruise control, auto high beam
and lane departure alert. The essentials are all standard, but higher trims gain leather upholstery, navigation, automated parking and other luxuries. There’s not much wrong with the Toyota C-HR. The bold styling might not be everyone’s cup of tea and the lack of a diesel engine will reduce the appeal for high mileage drivers. But the generous standard equipment, strong build quality and excellent road manners make up for any shortcomings. List prices are high compared to the competition - but being a Toyota you can expect this to be incredibly reliable.
Tata Motors, a part of Indian conglomerate Tata Group, closed a deal to purchase Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford Motor Company on this day in 2008 for $2.3 billion, about half of what Ford purchased them for several years earlier. Under the terms of the deal Ford was to pay Tata another $600 million once the sale closed to make up for shortfalls in the two brands’ pension plans.
Tata Group, which at the time of the sale was focused on overseas acquisitions of everything from coffee companies to manufacturing businesses, had no intention of making any major changes to either brand, nor would it affect the jobs of the 16,000 people employed by the automakers. Ford offloaded the brands during a major company overhaul following a two year loss of $15 billion.
In Automotive History
42
March 28th
www.buzznews.es
Multiple motorway thefts
By Simon Russel
A pair of men who stopped and robbed at least seven vehicles on a stretch of the AP-7 motorway running through Valencia have been arrested in Tarragona. They were flagging the cars down near Benicarlo to tell them they had a problem with their tires and while one man distracted the occupants the other stole any valu-
ables from the car. The men, aged 53 and 42, have been charged with theft of jewellery, cash and other goods valued at €15,000. Police have issued warnings in the past about motorists being very wary of anyone trying to stop your vehicle on a public road, and the “car trouble” scenario is not a new one.
Drunken row leads to murder Mobile Phone Use Discouraged
By Simon Russel
A court in Alicante heard how a man ran over and killed a friend after a drunken argument escalated out of control. The incident happened in Mutxamel where the pair had been drinking heavily and started to row, apparently about who should pay for the drinks. At some stage one of the men got into his four by four vehicle and ran over the other, even returning
By Simon Russel
to run him over three more times. The court heard that were certain extenuating circumstances including “temporary insanity” due to the amount of alcohol consumed and that the 66 year old attacker suffers from mild dementia. He was sentenced to eight years in jail after being found guilty of murder as well as drink driving and road safety offences.
The DGT has launched a new campaign, aimed to raise awareness of the dangers of using a mobile phone while driving. The Minister of the Interior, Juan Ignacio Zoido, launched the campaign hoping it would go viral on social media with the use of humour as their means of delivering the message. The video message titled “At the wheel, don’t use your mobile”
has been spread throughout social media witht he help of media companies and community organisations
44
March 28th
www.buzznews.es
www.buzznews.es
Entertainment
Mickeys’ Little Piece
What a week that was! I was forewarned that things get a bit busy in Benidorm on St Patrick’s Day but I didn’t expect the sea of green, white and amber that swept over the city. I did two live gigs on the day; Queen Vic and The Why Not Bar. Both where great fun and earlier in the week I had the pleasure to host a charity race night at the IBROX Bar where we raised over a 1000 Euros for a charity that is dedicated to helping sufferers of Motor Neurone Disease; what a great crowd and a great night, Luvley Jubbley; Oh and not forgetting The Pig and Whistle in old town Benidorm
where we had a preSt’ Patrick’s Party. This last week also saw the launch of Star Radio on 106FM and my Two hour shows the Jolly Boys and my Happy Hour. I’m having a whale of a time working with the likes of GAZZA, MAX and Ian Bennett. All Class acts in the world of radio.
I’m still learning the ropes here but I have a great team of mentors. Oh yes! And finally my favorite subject, FOOD! I Discovered FoodST last Saturday and a Curry House called The India Gate. Best Ruby Murray I’ve had in yonks. ‘Till next time, Bonjour!
March 28th
45
Sponsored By
Pre Paddys Party At The Pig
The fun was had by many party goers at the first ever Pre Paddy’s event with special guest Pat Murray (aka Mickey Pierce) with some of the best video clips of the most famous comedy TV series ever. Pat talked the guests through his own real life experiences and didn’t stop at that, Pat also can pull of a song or two and what better way to do it by Patrick Murray in true Irish style for this special St Patrick’s Day party all be it a night early! Soaking up the fun as well as soaking up some of the best drinks available anywhere, and that’s because the Pig and Whistle serve the famous Greene King IPA and the also Spitfire both on draught. To round off the fun and games Pat joined in a a game of killer pool, loads of fun although neither Pat or landlord Lee
won the game. It was a night to remember with signings and photos with Pat Murray giving the punters some great moments to remember. Pat Murray features on Star Radio 106FM as “Mickey Pearce with the Jolly Boys Show” weekday afternoons from 3pm or you can listen online at www. Starradio.es. Also look at his FaceBook page for the latest news and events program @ mickeypearceinspain or @ TheBuzzNewspaper
46
March 28th
www.buzznews.es
Entertainment
Sponsored By
X-Factor” link for Further small screen Spanish sex offender exposure for Benidorm By Simon Russell
By Simon Russell
A Mallorcan man who went on the run after being convicted of repeatedly raping his own daughter fled to the UK where he even appeared on popular talent show the X-Factor. Manuel Sanchez, aged 46, carried out the horrific attacks
on his child over a period of five years starting from when she was six. After the abuse came to light he was sentenced to 23 years in prison. However, in the meantime Sanchez had fled to Liverpool where he worked as a porter in a local hospital and even found the time to appear on the talent show, despite the international arrest warrant hanging over his head. It was only when he renewed his passport in 2016 that his past came to light and he was immediately extradited to his native Mallorca to begin his lengthy jail sentence.
THE episodes of hit Spanish TV drama series “Cuantame” which was shot in Benidorm were broadcast over the 10 and 17 March. The second edition was the most watched Spanish show of the day, mirroring the success of British sitcom “Benidorm” which also pulled in the days most viewers when the new series
began in the UK. The episodes of “Cuantame” were filmed back in October and featured both Levante and Poniente beach as well as panoramic city views. After the drama was broadcast Spanish TV channel La 1 followed this up with “Ochentame”, a documentary about the birth and dramatic evolution of Benidorm.
48
March 28th
www.buzznews.es
www.buzznews.es
March 28th
Local Sport News
49
Alfas Fantasy Football League Report As the Alfaz Fantasy Football League pauses for a break due to the last International Weekend of the Season,we can review what’s happened so far in this Season’s Fantasy as well as take a look at what can happen as we move towards the finishing line. Looking back on what’s been happening in the A.F.F.L. so far this Season some Players have impressed while some have been a big disappointment. The top Players so far this Season are as follows; Top Keeper is Chelsea’s Belgium Thibaut Courtois with 90 points which is 23 points ahead of Spur’s French keeper Hugo Lloris.A big disappointment for 12 of our Fantasy Managers is Stoke’s most promising Keeper Josh Butland who as spent all Season injured and has yet to start a game.Top defender is no surprise is one of Chelsea’s back 3 who scores goals as well Gary Cahill who has bagged 105 points 5 more than his teammate Cesar Azpilicuenta.Biggest let down in this section is Manchester City’s Vincent Kompany who has struggled to make the starting line up mainly through injury. Probably the most consistent mid-field Player is Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez which shows in the number of points scored by the little Chilean with a tally of 173 points to his name which is 22 points ahead of Spurs and England’s Dele Alli who has been outstanding this Season.Unfortunately for 63 Fantasy Managers former West Ham mid-field-
er Dimitri Payet who went back to France and left them in the lurch. The overall top Fantasy League Player is Everton’s top marksman Romelu Lukaku who has plundered 177 points so far this Season which is Happy Days for the 35 Managers who selected him.The nearest Forward to him is Spurs Harry Kane with 143 points. Anyone of the Top Twenty teams could win the 23rd Season of the A.F.F.L and it is well worth noting that last Season’s winner Joe has just moved his team Keith Lard F.C.into the number 19 slot ready to make a challenge as we move towards the Business end of the Season. The current Leaders Wayne’s Gunnawinitthisyear have a slight 8 point advantage over Chris’s Always Hoping then after them comes a shed load of teams waiting for the front runners to slip up in last few weeks. Two teams are dominating our Mark Carter Ladies Section.Julie’s team The Gers & Joanna’s Hup Hannah City have both pulled away at the top and opened up a 82 point gap between 2nd & 3rd place. The Gers are in pole position at the moment with a 27 point advantage over Joanna’s team.Down at the bottom you could toss a coin to decide who will finish up with the Wooden Spoon.At one time Angie’s Blues were well adrift but they have managed to close the gap on Jo Jo Wants a Dog to only 2 points It’s fair to say Ant & Brad’s team Ant & Brad
have for most of the Season been top of our U.K.T.V. SPAIN Junior League, 23 weeks to be exact but in the last few weeks they have been coming under pressure from Leo’s team 6 in a Row who are only 9 points behind. We have had 5 different teams at the Summit of our Leonard Knowles Construction Golden Boot League but it as become a 2 horse race between Dave;s Juke Box Mackems & Lee’s Walkden Town. Old Salfordians & Dog Dale are fighting it out for 3rd spot. With 3 more Cup Ties to go in our RTN F.A.Cup League Eric’s team City Slickers have 15 point advantage over Rocky’s Super Spurs.Danielle’s Charlie’s Chico’s are well in contention in 3rd spot.Only points scored in the F.A Cup count in this League so the winners of the F.A.Cup Semi-Finals will determine who wins this section. This Weekend the Quarter Finals of our RTN K.O.Cup takes place.The favourites Keith’s team Max & Paddy take on Dave’s team The Hatters,Tom’s Benidorm Trotters play the Underdogs Peter’s team The Irons while 2 of our Lady Managers clash has Sue’s Scuffy Donkeys are up against Jenny’s Mackemville.The other tie is between Kath’s Bingo Babes and Mick’s Forest Fire if any games finish up level the replays will be next week. Everything should be back to normal this weekend with the Premier League back in action.The F.A.Cup League is now up on our website which is www.alfazffl.com
March 28th
Local
Sponsored
Sport News
www.buzznews.es By By
Valencia CF still cheap for football fans
A recent survey of the cost of attending European sporting events has found that the Spanish La Liga is now the second dearest place to watch a top flight football match, surpassed only by the English Premier League. It is difficult to place an exact price on the experience as prices vary hugely from ground to ground and then at each venue dependant on the ticket type. However the average in Spain comes out at around €70, although this varies from a basic €10 ticket at Valencia’s Mestalla stadium to a whopping €966 for a VIP pass to watch Real Madrid in action. Across Europe the average to watch a Premier League game is €74
while if you want to go and see a top flight game in Germany’s prestigious Bundesliga it will set you back an average of only €31.
Sporting Alfas Cricket Club beat Gloucs Seniors Gloucestershire Seniors came to the Woodbridge Oval and after winning the ´Toss´ elected to bat first. Opening partners Cooper and Attard saw of the new ball attack of Ali and Ashraf with relative ease as the pair struggled to get to grips with the windy conditions. First change bowler Crompton also became the first wicket taker clean bowling Attard for 36 with the score on 61. The partnership between Cooper and Febery looked steady until Muñoz took a brilliant catch to dismiss Cooper(23) giving Jack Perman his first wicket of the day. Lawrence(0) came and went quickly, cleaned up by Kieran Perman, proofing that he is still keen to bowl. Febery and Courtney slowed down the wicket taking until M Febery(41) walked past one and looked back in horror as his stumps shattered, Jack Permans second wicket. Courtner decided it was time to attack and reached 24 from 30 balls before edging to Laundon at slip another victim for Jack Perman. Ali returning for his second spell bowled Edge(1). Alger´s end change worked and his reward was the wicket of Daniels(18). Murphy(5) and Bridge(13) batted out the last few overs to give GSCC at
Jukebox Football Predictions League
50
respectable but under par total of 201. Tea Time. Laundon and Crompton paired up for the second time this season and took the score to 138 at drinks with Crompton on 105 giving the Gloucester bowlers a torrid time, unluckily puling a fetlock so retired hurt, Laundon reaching a sedate 25 before becoming Gloucester´s only victim caught at point by Bridge of the bowling of a very unlucky Murphy who thought he got Crompton out 4 times, non of the chances taken. Alger and Muñoz piled on the required runs in double quick time Alger reaching 29 from 25 balls and Spanish skipper Muñoz 35 from just 11 balls, a great show of power hitting to end the game in the 26th over. Has always the Lewis cabin became the center of attention and thanks were given to all for the hospitality given by SACC and the two clubs exchanged chat over a fantastic curry provided by Dennis. Next weekend SACC entertain a select Jack Hyams X1 to celebrate his 92 years of life which included 20 plus visits to Spain’s home of cricket the Woodbridge Oval, Playa Albir, L’Alfas del Pi. Please come along to this fantastic venue.
www.buzznews.es
Buzz World Sport
March 28th
51
Rafa recovers at Miami Open
Rafael Nadal celebrated his 1,000th tour level match by coming from behind to beat German veteran Philipp Kohlschreiber in a topsy-turvy encounter at the Miami Open. The Spaniard is safely through to the fourth round but he failed to win a game in a stunning first set, before recovering to prevail 0-6 6-2 6-3. World No 31
Kohlschreiber, 33, was unstoppable in the early stages and romped through the opening set in just 21 minutes. It was the first time Nadal had failed to win a game in the first set of an ATP Tour encounter since 2008. But the fifth seed was undaunted and fought back in determined fashion to claim the 822nd
win of his wonderful career and a last-16 tie against France’s Nicolas Mahut, who beat Guido Pella 6-4 6-3. And he joins an 11-strong group headed by Jimmy Connors (1,535) to have played at least 1,000 matches on tour. “One thousand matches is a lot of matches,” said Nadal afterwards.
Cool Long kept Coleman calm DJ edges Rahm how to breathe through it.’ He remembered it all. “I asked if Seamus was listening to him and he said, ‘Yes, to be fair, he was. He was really breathing well.” Derby’s Cyrus Christie replaced Coleman on Friday evening but, handed a chance to stake his claim for the right-back spot in the skipper’s absence, admitted he also found it difficult to deal with psychologically. “That’s not the way you want to come on,” Christie said ahead of Tuesday night’s friendly against Iceland at the Aviva Stadium. “When they were telling me to warm up, I didn’t even move. I was in shock when I saw his leg. It wasn’t nice. “It’s tough. You don’t want to come on in a game like that, especially when that’s just happened. I think everyone in the stadium was in shock.”
in WGC thriller
Dustin Johnson’s dominance of world golf continued as he held off a valiant comeback from Jon Rahm to clinch the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play title in Texas. Johnson appeared set to cruise to victory when he stormed into a five-up lead after only eight holes in the final, but Rahm staged a dramatic fightback to take the power-hitting contest to the final hole of a long week at the Austin Country Club. But the world No 1 held his nerve to match Rahm’s par at the last to seal a one-up win and become the first player to win all four current World Golf Championship titles.
Johnson will now head to the Masters on the back of three consecutive tournament victories following his recent successes at the Genesis Open and the WGC-Mexico Championship - the first golfer to achieve that on the PGA Tour since Rory McIlroy’s golden run in 2014. Meanwhile, Bill Haas earned third place with a 2&1 win over Tanihara in the consolation match, although it was the Japanese player who provided the big highlight as he made a superb hole-in-one at the seventh with a perfect eight-iron from 201 yards - just the fourth ace ever seen in the event.
PUZZLE ANSWERS
Republic of Ireland forward Shane Long used breathing techniques from his wife’s pregnancy to help Seamus Coleman deal with the horrific double leg break he suffered on Friday night. The Everton full-back underwent surgery on Saturday to pin the tibia and fibula in his right leg after Wales defender Neil Taylor’s challenge during the 0-0 World Cup qualifier draw in Dublin left him in agony and his season over. Surgeons are confident the 28-year-old will make a full recovery, and Ireland teammate Long was first to help out his stricken colleague on the Aviva Stadium’s pitch. ”I had a hypnotherapy birth and they taught Shane to help me to breathe through it,” Long’s wife Kayleah told Ireland’s Sunday Independent. “He told me: ‘It all came back to me. I was just talking to Seamus, teaching him
CRYPTIC CROSSWORD
CODE CRACKER
QUICK CROSSWORD
WORD WHEEL 9 LETTER WORD subnormal
52
March 28th
Buzz World Sport
www.buzznews.es
Vettel takes first win of the F1 Season
ulfilling the promise they had displayed during winter testing, Ferrari claimed their first victory in almost two years when Vettel triumphed at Albert Park ahead of Hamilton. Although Vettel and Hamilton have claimed seven of the last nine titles in F1, they have never previously driven head-to-head in a world championship fight. Until, it seems, now. “This year you are seeing the best against the best with the best drivers at the top,” enthused Hamilton. Asked directly if he believed he was facing a tougher challenge in 2017 than presented by the now-retired Nico Rosberg, Hamilton replied: “Definitely. I am really grateful to have that fight with him [Vettel], against Ferrari, which is the next best team. “Finally we can have an actual race. It is going to be close. I truly believe we can beat them. It’s great to see Ferrari there.” Offering his own tribute
in return, Vettel responded: “I have great respect for Lewis. He has proved to be be one of the quickest drivers on the grid and l would love to have a close battle.” Vettel was victorious after matching Hamilton through the first stint of the race and then taking the lead after running five laps longer before pitting. Although Mercedes’ strategy came unstuck when Hamilton returned to the race behind the slower Red Bull of Max Verstappen, the team were adamant it was the pace of Ferrari which had cost them the race rather than a tactical misjudgement. “It’s very straightforward: Ferrari were quicker,” said team chief Niki Lauda. “They dominated the race
from beginning to end. Bringing in Lewis earlier or later wouldn’t have made any difference.”
A concurring Hamilton added: “We are similar pace-wise, so it’s going to be a very hard slog.”
Cristiano Ronaldo moved to fourth in the all-time list of European international goalscorers after scoring twice for Portugal against Hungary.
The Real Madrid forward starred in Saturday’s 3-0 win, first striking with his left foot from 20 yards, before bringing up the 70th international goal of his career by curling a low
free-kick into the bottom corner. Ronaldo’s double takes him to fourth in the list of top European international scorers, behind Ferenc Puskas (84 for Hungary), Sandor
Kocsis (75 for Hungary) and Miroslav Klose (71 for Germany). He has reached 70 goals in 137 internationals, while Puskas netted his tally of 84 in just 85 games.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s goalscoring feat Catalonia glory for Valverde
Alejandro Valverde sealed his second Tour of Catalonia victory in brilliant style by winning the seventh and final stage. Valverde timed his final sprint to perfection to cross the line first at a hilltop overlooking Barcelona after 139km (89 miles) in the saddle. He finished the week-long race more than one minute ahead of Alberto Contador and Marc Soler, who rounded out the all-Spanish podium. The 36-year-old Valverde won two other stages in the race and triumphed despite receiving a one-minute time penalty on Wednesday, after race officials
ruled that some Movistar riders pushed one another in Tuesday’s team time trial. Valverde also won the race in northeastern Spain in 2009, the same year he triumphed in the Vuelta a Espana to claim his sole Grand Tour title. Three-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome fell out of contention for Tour of Catalonia glory during Saturday’s penultimate stage and had to make do with 30th place. Great Britain’s Adam Yates finished fourth overall with Ireland’s Daniel Martin two spots behind him, courtesy of his sixthplace in the closing stage.
www.buzznews.es
Buzz World Sport
March 28th
Sponsored
53 By
England’s reality check
England’s first defeat in 16 months at the hands of a depleted Ireland side was a “reality check”, says captain Dylan Hartley. Eddie Jones’ side were beaten 13-9 in Dublin to deny them a second successive Grand Slam and halting a tier-one record of 19 consecutive wins, four months after Ireland prevented world champions New Zealand from reaching the same milestone. “It’s a reality check,” Hartley said. “We have got to take the positives
from it and how I see that is that we are not the finished article. England had already claimed this year’s Six Nations championship ahead of Saturday’s match, but Hartley - who lifted the trophy after the game - admitted their triumph was tarnished by the defeat. “We don’t have a game next week to rectify and put things straight. It’s a bad taste. But we set out to win the championship and we’ve done that,” the New Zealand-born hooker added.
Castleford 43-26 Catalans: Tigers take top spot Castleford came from 14-0 down to thrash Catalans Dragons 43-26 and reclaim top spot in the Betfred Super League. The Tigers appeared to be suffering from a hangover from their surprise 13-12 defeat at Salford after allowing their visitors to run in two tries in the first 10 minutes, but they responded in trademark fashion with a series of well-worked tries to return to winning ways. Winger Greg Eden led the way with two tries, taking his total for the
season to 10 to go in front of injured team-mate Greg Minikin at the top of the Super League chart. The Dragons faded badly after their promising start and have now gone four matches without a win to remain in the bottom four. Catalans finished a well-beaten team but they had the consolation of scoring the final try through winger Vincent Duport on his 150th appearance, with Walsh taking his goal tally to five from five attempts.
54
March 28th
Buzz World Sport
www.buzznews.es
www.buzznews.es
March 28th
55
Buzz Sport
England
REmain tOp of group in World Cup Qualifying
England continued their World Cup qualifying campaign with a routine 2-0 win over Lithuania at Wembley Stadium. Jermain Defoe netted the opening goal on his first appearance for the national side since 2013, with substitute Jamie Vardy adding the second. It had been more than three years since the 2-0 friendly defeat to Chile in
which Defoe made his last appearance for England, but on Sunday afternoon he marked his return to the fold with a goal. Defoe admitted he struggled to contain his emotions even before scoring on his return from England exile in Sunday’s 2-0 World Cup qualifying win over Lithuania. Although Joe Hart wore the captain’s armband,
Defoe led the Group F leaders out at Wembley Stadium with five-year-old Bradley Lowery, the cancerstricken Sunderland fan with whom he has forged a strong bond. Defoe scored his first goal on the international stage for four years when he broke the deadlock from close-range after good work from Raheem Sterling.