Coastrider edition 551

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Your Essential Weekly Read

Tuesday, September 30th 2014 - Edition 551

SPANISH PROPERTY TAX SHOCK! If you can answer “yes” to the following pair of questions, then this article is going to be of great interest to you. Did you buy your house in Spain BEFORE 1994 and are you planning to sell it AFTER 1st January 2015? If you want to save yourself a significant amount of tax and sell your house for a price near to what you’re looking for, then you’ll need to find a buyer for your home BEFORE 31st December 2014!

According to one of Spain’s leading property experts, Fernando Encinar, if a planned Government reform of Capital Gains Tax is passed into law then there’s about to be a rush in house sales in the final 3 months of this year, which could also result in the selling price for these properties being significantly reduced to enable this deadline to be reached. So what’s about to change?

From 1st January, the abatement tax that was applied to properties purchased before 1994 will be abolished and the Treasury will be calculating Capital Gains in a different way, and will mean that the seller will have to pay a much higher amount of tax.

Up until now, a reduction coefficient was applied when calculating tax due; this reform will now be made on the difference of purchase and sale price. That means sales that fit the

above criteria will now face an increase of 55% in tax – unless a sale is closed before the last day of the year.

As an example, say you bought an 80m sq property in 1990 for the equivalent of 75,000 Euro (933 Euro / sq m). At today’s values (1,459 Euro / sq m), the property would be worth 116,000 Euro, making a gain of 41,000 in 24 years. Using the current calculations, the taxable amount would be reduced to 10,459 Euro, and after applying the 21% VAT on patrimonial gains, the final amount to pay in tax would be 2,375 Euro.

However, if the same property were to be sold in 2015, the seller would be taxed on the full 41,000 Euro gain, leaving a tax bill of 8,900 Euro – almost 4 times the previous amount!

Should the law be changed – and we’ll let you know as soon as it is – it will no doubt jump start the housing market, giving Estate Agents an unexpected bonus before Christmas, the government some much needed tax revenues and perhaps allowing people that have been desperate to sell their house – at any price – a chance to do so. The down side to the policy will surely have an immediate effect in January 2015 with a slowdown in the market and putting the ideas of those planning to sell and perhaps return to the U.K. next year in abeyance or causing a rethink.

EBOLA CLAIMS ANOTHER GOOD HEARTED SPANIARD...

The second Spaniard infected by the Ebola virus was unable to overcome his serious illness and died last Thursday after spending the previous four days being treated in at the La Paz Carlos Hospital in Madrid.

García Viejo, 70, from Folgoso de la Ribera (Leon), who was a specialist in internal medicine and a diploma in tropical medicine, contracted the contagious virus in Sierra Leone, where he’s worked for 30 years and for the last 12 was medical director of the Hospital

Order of San Juan de Dios. From there, a special Military plane chartered by the Spanish government, landed on Monday September 22 at Torrejon de Ardoz Airport.

In August a 75-year-old Spanish priest became the first European to die from Ebola in the current outbreak, the worst since the disease was discovered four decades ago. That missionary, Miguel Pajares, also a member of the Order of San Juan, was infected in Liberia, where he worked with Ebola patients.

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IT DIDN’T JUST STOP ON THE PLANE, DID IT? Everyone’s been waiting for it for weeks and rather like waiting for the proverbial red bus in London, when it does come along they’re all together. Just like the rain in Spain last Monday evening. It may well have been a spectacle of nature seeing the sky permanently lit up with sheet lightning from sunset to midnight but not such good news for the streets, houses and shops that suffered from severe flooding, particularly in Torrevieja, Callosa de Segura and Almoradi, that took the brunt of the overnight downpours.

40 litres per square metre of rain fell in Torrevieja – the highest in the Alicante province – followed by 30 litres per square metre in Orihuela. In the case of Torrevieja, it was exactly 90 days since the last significant drop of rain, so it was no surprise that with 19 litres of rainfall in just 25 minutes, havoc was caused in the area. Part of the Paseo de la Libertad was swamped, while water entered local businesses. In addition, two cars were stuck in the Rambla Juan Mateo. In Callosa, the strength of the storm brought down a palm tree and the train station flooded – thankfully causing no injuries.

Compared to parts of the locality, Torrevieja escaped lightly! The conditions of a “perfect storm” were reached in an area between Orihuela and Murcia bringing with it some intense floods and heavy bouts of hail. Day trippers from Ciudad Quesada to some of the major shopping areas of

105 participants from all over the country took part on Sunday in the IV Kayak Fishing Championship in the Torrevieja port area of Marina Salinas, an event organised by the Spanish Fishing Federation, the Kayak Fishing Association and the Torrevieja Fisheries Department. After a day that Murcia reported walking to their cars up to their knees and even then they weren’t safe, saying that many cars simply stopped on the roads and sheltered from the heavy cloudbursts under bridges!

YOU LITTLE BUGGERS! Police in Murcia have been accused of hiding microphones in their patrol cars. The Police union, UFP, have taken the Cartagena Chief of Police and the Superior Chief in Murcia to court, and face charges of violation of privacy against 30 police officers.

The union says their constitutional rights have been violated, given article 536 in the Penal

GONE FISHING…WITH A DIFFERENCE!

Code, regulates the protection and the privacy against the authorities or public civil servants.

The spokesman continued, ‘This is an indiscriminate method to attack the privacy of the agents, and we ask, given the lack of explanations from the police chiefs, that those who have committed the possible penal offence be uncovered’.

IT REALLY DOES PAY…AND HOW!

began at 8am, the awards were presented by the Councilors for Sport, Luis Maria Pizana and Fisheries, Eduardo Gil Rebollo.

All concerned agreed that the event was a resounding success from both a sporting and a spectator point of view.

KIDS! JUST BELT UP The Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) has detected in just one week, some 377 under 12s travelling in a car without using any mandatory child seat belt.

129 were occupying the front seat and another 248 in the rear.

It is the driver of the car that is responsible in these cases for ensuring that children are properly and safely restrained. If you are caught, the penalty is 200 Euros.

Safety of children travelling in cars is being addressed by a Council of Ministers and this report can only hasten the decision making process which monitored over 500,000 vehicles on Spanish roads.

In 2012, 11 of the 36 children killed travelling in a car or van on major Spanish roads was found not to

be wearing any form of restraint. Even on the less busy urban roads, 4 children lost their lives in similar circumstances.

Currently, the law requires that children under 12 years always travel with a device suitable to their age, unless they are taller than 1.35m, in which case, they can use the standard vehicle seat belt. This may soon change, irrespective of age.

Also, if the proposal under discussion goes ahead all children below 1.35m will be prevented by law from sitting in the front seats, irrespective of any restraint or seatbelt used.

In total, officers of the Guardia Civil caught 4,229 people without wearing a seat belt. More than half, 2,662 were the drivers themselves.

A top Spanish news agency has apologized after accidentally using a hashtag containing a colloquial term for homosexual in a tweet about Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy!

The subject of the tweet from Spanish news agency EFE could hardly have been more serious.

The brief message carried the news that the Spanish Prime Minister — who was drumming up business in China at the time — had sent his condolences to French President Francois Hollande after jihadists beheaded Frenchman Herve Gourdel in Algeria.

But EFE raised more than a few eyebrows with its choice of hashtag when referred to the Spanish leader.

Instead of tweeting #MarianoRajoy, the message read #MarianoMariquita. And while the word mariquita literally means ladybird, it is also used a mildly offensive slang word for homosexuals, translating roughly as 'fairy' or 'poof'.

EFE were quick to apologize to its followers and to the prime minister for the mistake, saying predictive text had to been to blame for the unfortunate mistake.

NOT A GAY DAY....

The sex and drug trades were among illegal activities that boosted Spain's economic output by nearly 10 billion euro ($12 billion), new official data revealed lastThursday.

The figures came in a report by Spain's National Statistics Institute which for the first time applied new EU norms requiring illegal activities to be

counted in estimates of gross domestic product (GDP).

The institute estimated that in 2010, illicit activities, principally prostitution and drug crimes, but also tobacco smuggling and gambling, accounted for 0.87% of the economy overall equivalent to an incredible 9.4 billion euros.

ADVERTISING The CoastRider SL is dedicated to our clients and readers and one of our sales team is no more than 10 minutes away from you. To make advertising with the CoastRider SL easier, simply select the area nearest to you.

Find us on Facebook www.facebook.com/CoastRidersl

Display Advertising Enquiries: Thomas W. Wrulich - 673 196 455 Cliff Roberts (The Sheriff) - 607 050 528 Mac - 607 014 637 Classified Advertising Enquiries: 966 701 060 (Mon-Fri*) *office closed Tuesday Website Enquiries: 966 701 060, 607 050 528

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Editor 966 701 060 editorial@coastridersl.com

Deposito Legal: V - 125 - 2004

General information

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Registered office: Buzon 31, C/Bautista Bertomeu Sober 1-3-5, Poligono Industrial Casa Grande 1st Floor 03183 Torrevieja, Alicante Tel: 966 701 060 Email: accounts@coastridersl.com www.coastridersl.com

Printed by Indugraf Offset S.A. CoastRider SL, its publisher or members of staff do not accept responsibilty for claims by advertisers nor can it be held responsible for any errors in advertisements which are reproduced from poor quality artwork or inadequate instructions for text or other layout features. Further no responsibility is accepted for any loss or damage caused by an error, inaccuracy or non-appearance

of any advertisement, although all advertisements produced for advertisers are checked prior to insertion. We regret that we cannot accept responsibilty for more than ONE incorrect insertion and that no republication will be granted in the case of typographical or minor changes which do not affect the value of the advertisement. The CoastRider SL does not guarantee distribution times. Any change to distribution days will, where possible, be publicized a week in advance.

E&OE. NO PART OF THIS PUBLICATION MAY BE USED OR REPRODUCED WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE PUBLISHER.

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COASTRIDER S.L.U. A STATEMENT FROM THE OWNER

My name is Thomas Walter Wrulich and I am making this statement as the only administrator of COASTRIDER SLU, the newspaper that I have owned since it was formed in 2003. I am the only person that is entitled to use and to work under the name of The CoastRider.

The reason for this statement is to reassure both loyal advertising clients and readers, and to clarify many rumours that may have been spread by ex employees of my company and following on from the printed statement in the last edition of The CoastRider (Edition 550), Page 2.

I can inform you that the newspaper continues to operate under the same trading name of The CoastRider and from the same premises in Torrevieja at Buzon 31, C/Bautista Bertomeu Sober, 1-3-5 Poligono Industrial Casa Grande, Parcela

10, 11 & 12, Local 31, First Floor, 03183 TORREVIEJA (Alicante).

As part of the restructuring of my company, I have to inform you that Claire Louise Worland has no authorisation whatsoever to represent COASTRIDER SLU in any form, and has been suspended pending legal investigations since September 17th 2014 due to a breach of loyalty and trust.

I can also inform you that in respect of the statement made by Mrs Worland on Page 2 of Edition 550 of The CoastRider, she is NOT the owner of the newspaper and has never been.

She has never bought the newspaper from me. She was only employed by me as a Senior Sales Manager. I reiterate and assure you once again that I am the sole owner of COASTRIDER SLU – the company that has produced The CoastRider for the past 11

years – and this is something that Mrs Worland does not accept. This matter is in the hands of solicitors!

I regret that her actions have affected and involved you, our valued clients and customers, in this unpleasant and private matter.

At this moment in time, I can also assure you that the ONLY people in my company who are authorised to collect any form of payment connected with advertising in The CoastRider SL are Cliff Roberts (still known as The Sherriff), and, of course, myself.

I anticipate that everything will be back to normal within a very short time.

Please feel free to contact me at any time as you’ve always been able to do over the past 11 years by mobile on 673 19 64 55, or via my e-mail address at thomas@coastridersl.com

B N

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ALICANTE-ELCHE AIRPORT EMERGENCY The full emergency action plan was put into operation at Alicante-Elche Airport on Friday night. An Aer Lingus Airbus 320 with 139 passengers on board from Dublin landed with reports of smoke in the cabin on its approach to land.

All passengers disembarked normally without any panic or incident.

The alarm was raised when some of the passengers reported seeing smoke in the ceiling after all the lights went out and the exit signs started to flash. Three of the concerned passengers told a reporter from the Información newspaper, that they were terrified because they were given no information.

Another couple on the flight played down the seriousness of the incident

saying the lights were only off for a short while and weren’t aware of any other danger.

Many of the emergency services, including local hospitals, that were put on alert were stood down as soon as the situation was assessed as not being as serious as first thought.

TAKE NOTE!

The new-style 10-euro note is now in circulation throughout the 18 member States which use the currency.

It has been redesigned to make it harder to forge and more durable, and each note features a portrait of a different character from Greek mythology in the hologram, plus a watermark.

They will also carry a number which changes colour from emerald-green to dark blue when the note is tipped up.

Like the new 5-euro notes, which came into circulation in May 2013, the 10-euro version will have a protective coat meaning it will not have to be replaced so often as it will last longer, thus reducing costs for the European Central Bank (ECB) and being kinder to

the environment.

Since the ECB announced in January this year that it would be phasing out the old-style 10-euro notes and introducing new ones, over three million shops and small businesses in the Eurozone have received fliers explaining how to recognise genuine and forged ones, and reminding them to ensure their counterfeit banknote checking machines are updated in time for the official release on September 23.

The next on the list will be the 20-euro note, although its launch date is not yet known.

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CRY WOLF?

JUST WHEN IS IT SAFE TO BE ALONE WITH A WOMAN? The Mayor of Valladolid, Francisco Javier León de la Riva, has told a radio station that he had serious concerns about sharing a lift with a woman because she could “tear off her bra or skirt and scream out that you’ve tried to assault her”. He later defended his comments about women who make false claims of rape as “unfortunate words”, but for many women his remarks were a good example of why violence against women remains a serious problem in Spain.

Sñr León de la Riva also suggested that women should be more cautious about when and where they go out unaccompanied, rather than expect the police to patrol every city park to protect them. ‘At six in the morning, a woman alone should be careful where she goes,’ he said.

His comments enraged many women in Valladolid in particular and across Spain in general. Scores of women descended on the City Hall to protest, making their point by tying up bras to form a chain around the mayor’s office, and demanding his resignation. Though apologetic, the mayor has refused to step down.

For Spain, domestic violence has remained dangerously persistent even after a decade-old campaign to combat it. Eight women were killed last month by their husbands or former partners – the worst figures for five years.

HAVE YOU HEARD THE BUZZ YET? Valencia has become the first city in Spain to use drones for detecting mosquito nests.

A small flying object with a built-in camera allows the council to seek out stagnant waters with mosquito larvae in areas difficult for humans to access, such as the rice fields in the Albufera wetlands. Rules for drone use are very strict, says local health department leader Lourdes Bernal.

They have to take stringent measures to ensure these do not affect residents' privacy, meaning they limit them to air-space above council-owned property only, always ensuring they are within sight, never more than half a kilometre from their operators, who are required to have a certain level of aeronautical training.

Unusually high September temperatures, combined with the

CALLING ALL EX-PAT PENSIONERS! FEELING WELL OFF? The average pension in Spain amounts to 873.20 euros per month.

Seven communities, plus the enclave of Ceuta, exceeded the national average pension this month. Basque Country (1079.71 euros), Madrid (1033.30 euros) and Asturias (1031.64 euros) registered the highest pensions, followed by Navarra (994,94 euros), Aragon (912.55 euros), Cantabria (912 euros), Catalonia (903.49 euros), Ceuta (899.69 euros), Castilla y León (854.48 euros) La Rioja (842.28 euros), Melilla (828,21 euros), Canarias (812.95 euros), Castilla-La Mancha (811.26 euros), Valencia (804.19 euros), Baleares (801.53 euros) and Andalusia (790.84 euros).

At the bottom end of the table lies Murcia, with an average monthly pension of 769.53 euros; Galicia, to 736.02 euros, and Extremadura, to 733.85 euros per month.

The Social Security spend for September 2014 will be a record high of 8053.8 million for the payment of contributory pensions, 3.1% more than in the same month in 2013, according to data released by the Ministry of Employment and Social

Security.

The average pension, which two months ago surpassed 1,000 per month for the first time in history, reached, in early September 1002.99 per month, representing a 2% increase over the same month of 2013.

PLAYING MUMMIES AND DADDIES The supermarket side of department store giant El Corte Ingles, Hipercor, have withdrawn a range of infant romper suits for being sexist! The garments in question – one blue and one pink – carried the slogans Bonita como mamá ('pretty like mum') and the other read, Inteligente como papá ('intelligent like dad').

Customers had allegedly complained en masse that this sent out the message that 'men were clever' and 'women were pretty', but that neither was true for the other sex. The company confirmed via Twitter on Saturday that the clothes had been removed from the shelves, saying ‘We have removed the children’s ware which could have offended our clients and we deeply lament the situation.’ They further said that ‘We want to make it patently clear our support for the equality of people’ The suits, retailing for 14 Euro, were only on sale for 8 days.

heavy rainfall in the last few days mean mosquitos are more prevalent than they normally would be in early autumn, so the city council intends to keep the drone in use until at least November.

The council has two anti-mosquito brigades working yearround, an extra three in summer, and an immediate-response team which heads out to the site of mosquitoes, rats or cockroaches within 48 hours of being contacted by residents affected.

So far, the drone has found 335 mosquito nests, of which just over 200 are active.

Next February, Valencia will also become the first city in Spain to host the annual international conference held by the European Mosquito Control Association (EMCA).

“OH HALAL!" The first ever international halal tourism conference was held last week in Granada, bringing in key players in the global industry to share the latest achievements in the lucrative Muslim industry.

“This is a groundbreaking event for halal tourism which is directly reacting to current market trends and addressing the needs of the industry. It is the first time such a global event is being staged looking at halal tourism in detail,” said organizer Tasneem Mahmood, from CMM. “Every country and business needs to look at Halal tourism because it is growing so rapidly and the Muslim consumer is increasing spend on leisure holidays. It provides a great opportunity for every part of the travel sector,” she added.

The Halal Tourism Conference aims to provide halal investors with market intelligence, industry forecasts and trends to understand how to market the lucrative Muslim industry.

With five key themes, the conference will focus on understanding halal tourism, offering statistics, economics and the potentials of halal tourism, Muslim tourists and consumer needs. It will also tackle the mechanism of attracting halal tourism, developing strategies and the future for halal tourism in the mainstream market.

Along with discussions and workshops, the conference will feature seminars from industry experts, workshops, networking sessions and an exhibition about the booming halal industry. Guest speakers at the event include tourism ministers, halal institutions, marketing experts and academics. Partners for the event

included Turkish Airlines, Granada Tourism Board, El Legado Andalusi, Crescent Rating and the Halal Institute.

The booming halal industry is expected to grow from about $1 trillion in 2012 into a $1.6 trillion industry by 2018, according to DinarStandard, a research firm specializing in Muslim markets.

“Our research has shown there are so many countries and travel operators who can benefit from halal tourism but are currently missing out. This conference will show the opportunities that are present and show you exactly how to grab them,” Mahmood said.

“It will be an excellent knowledge forum and an ideal platform for exchange of experience between experts in the industry and countries who are actively engaged in halal tourism.

“This conference will also be a great way to network with leisure and travel businesses from around the world to develop new partnerships.”

The conference was followed by a two day tour of the region of Andalucia to provide businesses with a live case study of a region that is becoming more Muslim friendly and is actively working to meet the needs of Muslim travellers.

The concept of halal, - meaning permissible in Arabic - has traditionally been applied to food. Muslims should only eat meat from livestock slaughtered by a sharp knife from their necks, and the name of Allah, the Arabic word for God, must be mentioned.

Now other goods and services can also be certified as halal, including cosmetics, clothing, pharmaceuticals and financial services.

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WHO’S A NAUGHTY ROYAL BOY THEN? FLYING THE SPANISH FLAG ON THE WORLD STAGE! The former King of Spain, Juan Carlos I, may well be famous for injuring himself on a hunting trip in Botswana in 2012, but he was probably a better shot than his grandson!

Remember the headlines from the same year when a member of the Spanish Royal Family literally shot himself in the foot? Sixteenyear-old Felipe Juan Froilán de Marichalar y Borbón, known to most Spaniards simply as Froilán, has built up a reputation for himself as the ‘Prince Harry’ of the Spanish royal family, and is very much regarded as the black sheep of the ruling dynasty!

He’s in trouble again as his mother, Princess Elena (the older sister of King Felipe VI) has forced him to spend most

of the summer studying for exams this month in the hope that the teen wouldn’t have to sit his final exams for a third time!

Despite the €1,500 investment made by his parents, Froilán failed yet again and has since been kicked out of his school as the

institution’s policy states that no student can stay after failing their end-ofyear exams twice.

And so Spain’s rebel royal - described by his teachers as having "a big heart" but behaving "like a rascal in class" – was linked to be enrolled in an exclusive boarding school in Sussex.

His parents have decided instead to keep him educated in Spain and but decided to send him to the Sagrada Familia de Sigüenza (SFS) episcopal college.

The shooting accident, as well as his parents’ divorce in 2009, have been regarded as the main reasons for the young Royal’s difficulties in “enduring school discipline”.

THE SPANISH BULL IN THE CHINA SHOP! In his first official act in China, in a meeting with Chinese and Spanish entrepreneurs, the Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, has announced that Spain will meet the deficit target in 2014 and has boasted of economic recovery, which once again places Spain as a major player on the international scene.

"The economic situation is diametrically opposite to what we had three years ago", said Rajoy, although he recognized that the deficit with China itself continues. Reducing it is precisely one of the objectives of this trip.

Rajoy made no mention of some of the issues he’d left at home, such as the challenge of Catalan independence and the Abortion law which caused

ministerial casualties in his own government team. It was purely an economic speech to Chinese and Spanish entrepreneurs, focused on explaining the keys to economic recovery in our country and the advantages offered by Spanish companies to invest in China, especially in sectors like real estate and infrastructure, which looks ahead to a massive housing construction boom in this enormous country.

In Shanghai, a showcase to the world of China's economic success in recent years, Rajoy said that Spain has reversed the situation and is growing, creating jobs, exporting, investing and making sustained and sustainable progress.

1 PESETA, 2 PESETA, 3 PESETA...BILLIONS!

Even after almost 13 years of Spain adopting the Euro as its currency, the Bank of Spain has calculated there are still around 1.669 BILLION pesetas hidden under the proverbial mattresses up and down the country!

One enterprising business man in the La Latina neighbourhood of Madrid has seen a way of converting these pesetas into profit. A handwritten sign greets shoppers entering the market and a shop selling a huge range of herbal teas – “In this shop, payment in pesetas accepted”! The owner, Laura Miso, explains that in 2002, a few months after the euro had been introduced, she found a 5,000 peseta note in her husband’s suit. She was certain that some of her customers had similar experiences, so she decided to continue accepting pesetas, which the Bank of Spain says can be exchanged up until 2020. ‘The crisis is bad for us all’, says Laura, ‘If you’re finding it hard to make ends meet and you’ve still got a few coins lying around, spend them! Every little helps!’

Other establishments have since adopted a similar policy.

Paloma Jareño, who runs the capital’s two Fantasía de Chocolate cake shops, says she decided to start accepting pesetas 18 months ago. “If you can pay with pesetas, things are going to cost you less,” she says. The decision hasn’t made much

difference to her takings, she admits, however: “We have a sign up by the cash register, but only regular customers are aware of the policy, and they tell a few others.”

Miso says accepting pesetas is another way of making her business stand out from the competition. The sign hanging by her stall attracts tourists and visitors who have their photograph taken next to it. She is still surprised at what turns up, such as the lady who had found a pile of notes in her late mother-in-law’s house that added up to €6,000. “I said I didn’t have enough tea to sell her, and that she should take them to the Bank of Spain, but to be careful,” she says laughing.

Fernando Losada has also seen the potential for making money out of Spain’s former currency. Seven years ago, when he began accepting pesetas at his stationery store in central Madrid, he saw a 50% increase in takings. Things have settled since then, but he says he still gets a couple of customers a day who want to pay in “the old money.” They vary from older people who had stashed pesetas away, to younger people who find an old note in a book or coat, or children whose grandparents gave them a piggy bank full of coins. We give people their change in euros, but there are limits: after all, this isn’t the Bank of Spain.”

The new King of Spain has been kept exceptionally busy during his first visit to the United States of America. Felipe VI has delivered his first international address since his accession to the Spanish throne, speaking about climate change at the United Nations in NewYork.

The new Spanish monarch also met privately with US President Barack Obama for half-an-hour, as featured in another one of the stories in The REAL CoastRider and reiterated his desire for both countries to keep working together on the “international challenges” facing them. According to US government sources, the President underscored the monarch’s role in the “close ties” between the US and Spain, and the conversation touched on politics, international conflicts, economics and culture.

“It was a first contact and a show of deference by President Obama,” said a Spanish official, noting that the US president met with very few world leaders at this summit.

The meeting confirmed Obama’s interest in working with the new head of state of an allied country at a particularly difficult time, filled with challenges such as the Islamic State’s terrorist threat, the tension with Russia over Ukraine, the

Ebola health crisis and climate change.

Earlier, at UN headquarters, Felipe VI delivered a very confident speech focused on the urgency of implementing measures to fight climate change.

“The common challenge represented by climate change has acquired greater urgency,” he told the assembled representatives. “It poses a threat to the basic equilibrium that makes life possible and gives continuity to our civilization, and this forces us to act decisively.”

Felipe also commented on the fact that this was his first speech at an international venue.

“It is truly an honor for me to speak for the first time as King of Spain at the United Nations,” he said. “I belong to a generation that was inspired by the sight of a small, blue, fragile-looking planet in a picture taken by the pioneers of the space race. The impact of that first vision of Earth from outer space made us understand that, above and beyond our differences, we share the same home and face common challenges.”

Spain is also vying for a seat at the UN Security Council for 2015 and 2016. The decision will be made in October, and official sources said Felipe VI has been working up support for the Spanish candidacy while in New York.

THE KING AND ‘O’!

Spain’s King Felipe VI and U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday reviewed their two nations’ “excellent” mutual relations in the political, economic and cultural spheres, as well as the evolution of different international conflicts at an initial meeting that confirmed the “harmony” between the two men.

The meeting at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, the headquarters for the U.S. delegation participating in the UN General Assembly, lasted almost 30 minutes, “longer than scheduled,” according to authorities, who said that it was “rather probable” that Spain’s candidacy for one of the non-permanent seats on the Security Council was discussed.

In this first meeting between Obama and Felipe VI, held three months after the Spanish monarch ascended to the throne after the abdication of his father,

King Juan Carlos, the two men also had occasion to speak about the Hispanic presence in the United States.

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo, Spain’s ambassador in Washington, Ramon Gil-Casares, and royal chief of staff Jaime Alfonsin, attended the “positive encounter,” which was held amid a “very relaxed and cordial atmosphere” and which – on the U.S. side – was participated in by National Security Adviser Susan Rice and Washington’s envoy to Spain, James Costos.

After meeting with the president, the king also met with the leaders of South Korea and Tunisia, Park Geun-hye and Moncef Marzouki, respectively, before returning, accompanied by Queen Letizia, to the Waldorf Astoria to attend the reception offered by Obama for all the heads of the national delegations participating in the UN General Assembly.

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BEING PREPARED… Troops on the streets! Emergency powers! What’s up? Curious residents in parts of the Vega Baja were eventually assured that nothing serious had happened on Wednesday morning when more than 300 members of the Military Emergency Response Unit conducted a full-scale rehearsal.

The purpose of this exercise was to reconstruct the worst case scenario of a severe Gota Fria causing flooding should the River Segura flowing through Rojales and Guardamar ever burst its banks.

The team were challenged to find missing persons and also recover “bodies”.

Military personnel, emergency helicopters, canine units, forensic teams, divers and the Red Cross were all in attendance locating both “victims” and “survivors” following a dragging of the river.

The exercise not only focused on the consequences of a severe weather situation, but also looked at prevention too.

The Military team built a

temporary retaining wall which diverted water away from a nearby urbanizacion which would be vital in saving lives and property.

Many people aren’t aware of the power of nature and the damage potentially caused by flash floods, and this was

confirmed by the Mayor of Rojales, Sñr Antonio Perez, who said that there is a great misapprehension that our locality is safe from flooding, recalling the major floods in 1987 which caused thousands of the population to be trapped in their homes.

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DOOM & GLOOM? NO! JUST BOOM!

The facts simply speak for themselves…as they always do!

Spain has smashed its own tourism records this summer.

A total of 9.1 million visitors spent at least one night in the country this August, an 8.8% rise from the same month last year, according to Industry Ministry figures. It’s the highest ever figure for a single month which is setting the country up for its best ever year for tourism and giving a major and much needed boost to the Spanish economy. Despite concerns in some quarters, the sun and sand formula – not forgetting the sangria – still attracts the visitors.

The economic recovery in Britain and Germany – which accounts for most of the traditional visitors to Spain - has fuelled the tourism boom, which has also been helped by holidaymakers shunning traditional competitors such as Egypt and Turkey because of world events and the associated political turmoil.

It goes without saying Tourism is crucial to the slowly recovering, yet jobs-scarce Spanish economy, accounting for about 11% of all economic activity. Spain has however shown a gradual economic pick-up since emerging from recession in mid-2013 but still suffers from a 24% unemployment rate – compared to 6.5% in the UK. British tourists led the influx in August, the height of the summer holidays, with 2.14 million visitors, followed by the

French, with 1.98 million visitors, and Germans, with 1.29 million. The number of holidaymakers from Russia fell by 8.6 percent to 260,124 as the weak Russian Ruble and the crisis over Ukraine took its toll. However, visitors from the United States soared by 35.4 percent in August to 147,404.

The most popular destinations were the northeastern region of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and the southern region of Andalusia, which are famous for their beaches.

Overall visitor numbers during the first eight months of 2014 hit 45.38 million, a 7.3 percent increase over the same time last year. Spain lured a record 60.6 million international visitors in 2013 and the government predicts this figure will be surpassed in 2014.

Despite all these welcome encouraging signs, Spanish holidaymakers are increasingly choosing to make their own accommodation arrangements and increasingly turning to rental apartments over the traditional hotels.

Holiday home rentals grew 29.7% in August, compared with a 4% rise in visitors who stayed in their own holiday homes or with friends and relatives. Meanwhile, 53.7% of visitors stayed at hotels, compared with 56% in the same month last year. Tourists who found alternative accommodation represented 46.3 percent of the total, a rise from previous years.

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CAUGHT WITH REDS IN HIS HAND! CREVILLENTE HOLDS ITS A wanted drug smuggling suspect from Walsall was arrested in the middle of a game of poker in a swoop by armed police in Spain.

Robert Knight, aged 53, was held in Saffy’s sports bar in Calpe near Benidorm after six years on the run.

He was enjoying a game of Texas Hold’em poker when gun-wielding officers burst in and arrested him under a European Arrest Warrant.

Knight, accused of a conspiracy to import cocaine, had previously been named on a most wanted list of British criminals who had fled to Spain. Hank Cole, Head of International Operations for the UK’s National Crime Agency, said: “Knight is believed to be a member of an organised crime group involved in the importation and distribution of illegal drugs.

“He had been on the run for a number of years but we were able to track him down. Spain is not a safe haven.”

West Midlands Police seized six kilogrammes of cocaine at Heathrow Airport in April 2008 and arrested five men, who were later jailed, but had been looking for Knight ever since. Insp Dave Simpson, from the force, said: “I am delighted Knight has been caught, it has been a long time coming.

“This demonstrates there is no hiding place for criminals and we will work with police forces from other countries along with the National Crime Agency to seek them out.”

Knight appeared at the Spanish National Court in Madrid on Sunday where extradition proceedings were begun.

2014 MOORS & CHRISTIANS

IT’S ALL BALLS! NO BULL! In a scene reminiscent of “Raiders Of The Lost Ark”, residents of a Madrid village have changed their annual running of the bulls to a similar event with giant 125-kilo (275 pounds) polystyrene balls, a move animal rights groups are hoping will be copied in other parts of Spain.

Mataelpino, a small community of no more than 1,700 residents just outside the Spanish capital, is the first place in the country to hold a ‘running of the balls’.

Dubbed boloencierro, a made-up up term which combines the Spanish words for bowling ball and running of the bulls, the event sees participants being ‘chased’ down the sloping streets of Mataelpino by huge polystyrene balls rolling at great speed, and as a result has seen a rise in tourism numbers and has also inspired animal rights group Peta to promote the swap around Spain.

“After bull runs the animals are tortured and killed in the bullring,” Peta president Mimi Bekhechi said.

“People are also gored or trampled to death.

Boloencierro is fun, for all the family and a great alternative for the growing number of people who oppose bullfighting and bull runs.”

Peta is so impressed by the potential of ‘ball running’ that they’ve offered to pay the costs of holding the events to any town in Spain willing to ditch their traditional events with bulls.

Although Pamplona’s San Fermin bull runs are the most famous internationally, there are many towns and villages in Spain, Portugal and some parts of South America that have their own ‘encierros’. Some have no official age limit and injuries and casualties are not uncommon.

There is growing opposition within Spain to sports events and festivals involving bulls. Only a week ago, opponents and supporters of the notorious Toro de la Vega festival, in which Spanish villagers armed with lances chase down and slaughter a bull, threw stones at each other during violent clashes.

Regarded as one of the most spectacular of its type, it’s almost time for the annual Moors & Christians festival in Crevillente. The event is in honour of St Francis of Assisi, the town’s patron saint, and this year the three days of fun and colour are packed with parties, music and delectable food from this Friday 3rd October until Monday 6th October. The Moors & Christians Parade and its supporting events is in planning from as early as April each year, taking a full six months for each of the twelve groups comprising six Moorish contingents and six sets of Christians to perfect their act. For last year’s event the town displayed its remarkable spirit of integration by appointing a British man as ‘Captain’.

The parade features multi-nationals as well as Spanish participants, with themed floats, street dancers, performing minstrels, prancing horses, beautiful ladies swathed in bright silks, armed

Christian warriors wearing tunics emblazoned with the cross, fortified with body armour and proudly carrying flags and weapons…

The Moors are even more colourful, richly costumed in gold, purple, red and blue, some accessorised with animal pelts and heavily jewelled turbans, armed with scary-looking scimitars, striding along with their distinctive and dignified swaying march and accompanied by harems of gorgeous girls wearing body and face paint.

Sweets and treats are thrown into the crowd and the fun fills every street, with something happening on every corner, which is why the Crevillente celebration of the fall of the Moors to the crown of Aragon is so popular. The highlight of the festivities is the magnificent firework display that marks the end of the fiesta, a highly professional performance accompanied by extremely loud cannon fire – so if your ears are sensitive, bring earplugs!

THE CASH THAT CAME OUT OF THE ICE!

Participants in Spain in the famous 'Ice-Bucket Challenge' have so far raised over 600,000 euros for ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, otherwise known as Motor Neurone Disease) in just one month.

But many others nominated to take a freezingcold drenching chose to donate to other charities instead.

This has proven particularly the case with expatriates, many of whom have handed over cash to cancer charities including the AECC, MABS and more local outfits such as Cancer Care Jávea on the Costa Blanca, which has pledged to invest a quarter of a million a year for four years in a pioneering pharmacogenomic research laboratory.

The English Cathedra of Modern Oncology Research (ECMOR) is based at the Marina Alta district hospital in Dénia (Alicante province), and it netted thousands of euros from a public soaking in nearby Jávea where the mayor tipped a bucket of water over a local shop-owner and several others who volunteered on the day.

Even where other charities have benefited from

people getting cold and wet – admittedly far less of a challenge in Spain in August and September, where temperatures are in the thirties, than in chillier countries – it has still managed to raise awareness of Motor Neurone Disease, a condition which is currently incurable and which affects over 3,000 people in Spain alone.

Its low incidence and high mortality means ALS, or Motor Neurone Disease is an illness most people in Spain had not heard of until the ice-bucket challenge reached the country after starting in the USA. But now, the money raised – and future funds which may be amassed now the public knows what the disease is – can be spent on researching treatment to hopefully slow down the relentless progress of the illness, increase services and finance necessary equipment and home renovations for those who are suffering with it.

It all started in July when former USA-born basketball player Pete Frates, who suffers from ALS, tipped a cold bucket of water over himself to raise funds and awareness.

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Gardening Bars and Restaurants

TASTY LAMB SHANK PIE There was a time in the not too distant past when butchers couldn’t give Lamb Shanks away; then the celebrity chefs got hold of them!

Traditionally served with a mint or redcurrant sauce, the first of The Real CoastRider unusual recipes demonstrates a different take on one of the tastiest and tender pieces of meat.

It’s a hearty, warming pie as the autumn and winter nights set it, chock-a-block with diced carrots, celery, onions, garlic, bay leaves, fresh thyme and lamb shanks....all encased in a puff pastry blanket.

Ingredients •4 lamb shanks •4 tbsp plain flour, for dusting •4 tbsp olive oil •40 g (1.4oz) butter •3 carrots, diced •2 celery stalks, diced •2 onions, diced •5 garlic cloves, roughly chopped •250 ml (8.8fl oz) veal stock •375 ml (13.2fl oz) red wine •2 bay leaves •3 sprigs thyme, leaves picked •1 pinch salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste •2 tbsp flat-leaf (Italian) parsley, finely

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chopped •4 sheets puff pastry •1 egg, lightly beaten for egg wash

Method 1. Dust the lamb shanks with the flour, then shake off any excess flour.

Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat and brown the lamb shanks on all sides. Remove and set aside.

2. Melt the butter in the same pot, then add the carrots, celery, onions and garlic, and saute for 5 minutes until caramelised. Pour in the veal stock to

deglaze the pot, then return the lamb shanks to the pot. Pour in enough red wine until the lamb shanks are fully submerged (you'll need about half a bottle of wine, perhaps a bit more). Add the bay leaves and thyme, turn the heat down to low and braise the lamb shanks for 2 hours, or until the meat falls off the bone.

3. Remove the lamb shanks from the pot and shred the meat off the bones, then return the meat to the pot. Season with salt and pepper, sprinkle with parsley and mix well. Set the bones aside.

4. Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F).

Divide the lamb stew among 4 heatproof bowls, then insert a lamb bone upright in the centre of each bowl.

5. Make a small hole in the centre of each pastry sheet, just big enough for the bone to slide through, then line up the hole over the bone and gently lower the pastry onto the bowl. Fold the corners of the pastry inward towards the bone, then pinch the pastry along the rim of the bowl to seal. Brush the pastry with the egg wash, then bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown.

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Puzzle Page Gardening

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SUDUKO CROSSWORD Across

Scribble notes....

5. What is the rank of officer in the British Army above Colonel and below Major General?

Quick Quiz Answers

Solution for Logic Puzzle

Tommy Anna

7:30am

Gabrielle

6:30am

Athena

6:00am

Mrs. Smith Mr. Finklestein Mrs. Rocek Mrs. Koralis

Sudoku Solution

8:00am

South Northwest West East

7. The person who lives south of city hall has a later wake-up call than Gabrielle.

8. The person who lives northwest of city hall didn’t have Mrs. Koralis as a teacher.

9. The 5 people were the person who lives south of city hall, Mrs Rocek´s student, the one with the 8:30am wake-up call, Anna, and the person who lives east of city hall.

10. The one with the 6:00am wakeup call lives east of city hall.

11. The one with the 7:30am wakeup call doesn´t live west of city hall.

1. Alec Guinness played Lieutenant Colonel Nicholson in which 1957 World War II film?

2. Who was the first woman to top the UK singles chart with a song she had written herself?

3. In November 1997 Mary McAleese was elected 8th President of which European country?

4. Rocinante is the name of which fictional character’s horse?

Southwest

1. Mr Mockel´s student is Chance.

2. Of Tommy and Gabrielle, one has the 8.00am wake-up call and the other lives west of city hall.

3. Athena has an earlier wake-up call then Mrs. Rocek´s student.

4. The person who lives southeast of the city hall didn’t have Mr Finklestein as a teacher.

5. Mr Finklestein´s student has an earlier wake-up call than the person who lives south of city hall.

6. Either the person who lives east of the city hall or the person who lives northwest of city hall was one of Mrs Korali´s students.

QUICK QUIZ

Mr. Mockle

Remember: every item on the board belongs to one and only one person, no item will ever be shared. Using only the clues provided and simple deductive logic and reasoning, fill in the grid with Xs and Os to determine the solution.

Crossword solution in next weeks paper!

Chance

Down 1. How a lot of modern music is sold (4) 2. Guided excursion (4) 3. Other, south of the border (4) 4. Chinese liquor (6) 5. In the doldrums (3) 6. Oft-mooched item (3) 7. Sichuan peak (4) 8. Noel reversal (4)

39. Deep-dish pies (8) 41. Tending to interrupt, say (4) 44. Unkempt person (4) 46. Moray pursuer (5) 49. Uris bestseller (6) 50. Invalidated, as a check (6) 51. "___ be seeing things" (5) 52. Feline (5) 53. Muppet who sings 'Rubber Duckie' (5) 56. Kelly of morning talk and daytime drama (4) 57. "The ___ lama, he's...": Nash (4) 59. Tra trailer (4) 60. Not too much (4) 61. Gymnasts' goals (4) 64. Uptown's dir. in New York City (3) 65. Mag employees (3)

8:30am

Logic puzzles require the solver to deduce the relationships between different people, places and things based on a limited numbered of clues given in the puzzle

9. Robert of "Heat" (6) 10. Adds gradually (8) 11. Pierced places (5) 12. "Dirty Dancing" director Ardolino (5) 13. Gripes (5) 18. Carrier that acquired Piedmont (5) 22. Sinew: Comb. form (4) 24. Those, in Mexico (4) 25. Sweet and hard drinks (6) 27. Gather grain (4) 28. Icicle's place (4) 29. Test item: Abbr. (4) 30. Bay of Fundy attractions (5) 31. "Well, ___!": outraged words (6) 35. Citrus fruit (4) 36. Collar (4) 37. Paying close attention (4)

1.The Bridge on the River Kwai 2. Kate Bush 3. Ireland 4. Don Quixote 5. Brigadier General

LOGIC PUZZLE

1. Western Indians (4) 5. Chew out, so to speak (5) 10. West Point freshman (4) 14. "I am ___ crook!" ) (4) 15. Anouk from Paris (5) 16. Native land (4) 17. Cantankerous type (10) 19. Broadway groom of 1922 (4) 20. Metallic waste product (5) 21. Per se (8) 23. Hic, ___, hoc (4) 26. Maker of peanut butter cups (6) 27. Formal demands (12) 32. It's used to put out French fires (3) 33. Sculptor of "The Thinker" (5) 34. Former Houston player (5) 38. With:Fr. (4) 40. Feast at which matzoh is served (5) 42. Naldi of silents (4) 43. Money in Monterrey (5) 45. Cabaret show (5) 47. Clean, as a floor (3) 48. Childbirth (12) 51. Old term for a refrigerator (6) 54. Move, in a real estate ad (4) 55. ___ Man (classic ad figure) 58. Israeli seaport on the Gulf of Aqaba (8) 62. ___ Reader: bimonthly alternative magazine (4) 63. Restaurant tryst (10) 66. Agitate (4) 67. Overthrow (5) 68. Liveliness (4) 69. Nautical chains (4) 70. Comedian Soupy (5) 71. Moms' mates (4)

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HELP! MY ORANGES ARE SPLITTING ON MY TREE! The CoastRider has received an e-mail and some accompanying photographs from a reader in La Marina, saying that they have a large orange tree in the corner of their south-facing garden. Two years ago, it was perfect with unlimited fruit. Last season, there was no fruit at all. This year, there is an abundance of fruit that is yet to ripen...but many of the almost fully grown oranges have started to

split. What are the reasons and the causes?

Citrus trees have numerous requirements. They need fertile soil, full sun, and protected locations, tropical to sub-tropical conditions, supplemental irrigation and plenty of additional food. They are prone to many diseases, especially fungal and have several pests. Nonetheless, they are an exciting addition to the home orchard and provide vitamin rich fruits. Cracked citrus rinds are another issue and, in oranges, can split open, making the citrus fruit inedible. Providing the correct cultural and nutrient conditions will prevent this fruit damage.

One of the most commonly grown citrus is the orange. Orange rinds split open, as well as mandarins and tangelos, but never grapefruit.

Navel oranges are the most prone to the problem.

So what causes oranges to split? The rind splits because water and plant sugars travel to the fruit too quickly for it to produce enough rind to hold the substances. The excess fluids cause the skin to

burst. Young trees have the highest incidence of oranges splitting. Most cases of splitting citrus fruit occur in July to November.

Cracked citrus rinds begin at the blossom end of the fruit. Although most of the splitting happens at the end of the season, it can begin as early as July.

Trees with the greatest crop load are the most affected. Orange rinds split open seasonally and is primarily the result of plant care, but also temperature fluctuations and humidity.

The size of a split varies. It may be slim and short or expose the pulp inside the fruit. Naval orange rinds split open more, likely because of the thickness of the rind and the large stylar, or navel. The green fruit is usually the splitting citrus fruit.

Oranges splitting, or any other citrus fruit, are a result of cultural activities. Irrigation problems may contribute where the tree gets too much water. In winter, the tree only needs 1/8 to 1/4 inch of rain per week. In March to June, this increases to ½ inch and during the warm season, the tree requires 1 inch of water per week.

Over fertilizing will also cause the problem. The nutrient needs of oranges should be 1 to 2 lbs. of nitrogen annually. You should break up the application into three or four periods. This will prevent too much food, which will make orange rinds split open and possibly crack.

Tree stress is thought to be another cause of splitting citrus fruit. Hot, dry winds desiccate the tree and dry the plant. Then it takes moisture from the fruit, which shrivel. As soon as water is available, it goes to the fruit, which then swell too much.

Young plants with small root systems are most susceptible because they do not have a wide enough root area in which to gather moisture.

IF YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEMS IN YOUR SPANISH GARDEN AND YOU’D LIKE THE COASTRIDER GARDENING COLUMN TO FEATURE YOUR STORY AND GET SOME ADVICE, PLEASE E-MAIL – WITH ANY ATTACHED DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHS – TO EDITORIAL@COASTRIDERSL.COM

WHAT A WHOPPER OF AN IDEA Burger King have announced that as from late November, they will be launching a home delivery service in 23 Spanish cities and will be expanding to reach 150 of its stores by March 2015.

The first store to implement this service will be in Alcalá de Henares (Madrid), and meets what the company describe as the new demands of the current customers and opening the doors to new ones.

Users of this new service will be able to place orders via the company mobile phone app, available on iPhone and Android, by phone or via their website. The menu will be received in their homes within a maximum time of 30 minutes and with no additional charge.

The application will provide users with information about the Burger King menu, the nearest branch to the customer and advise whether the service is currently available in that particular part of Spain. It also includes a loyalty option for frequent users of the service, so be

prepared for a bonus of a Double Cheeseburger now and then!

Burger King is also launching this service with some special mouthwatering discounts. Among them, a large Steakhouse Menu, Six King Nuggets, Four Chicken Wings, a Waffle and a bottle of water for only 15 Euros! The main goal of Burger King is that customers receive their products in the comfort of their own home in the same condition as in the restaurants.

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WHO’S WHO ON STRICTLY COME WHOOPING? The much awaited new series of Dr Who began as part of the Saturday night BBC1 line-up in August. Now, 5 weeks later this questionable character has been joined by “Who’s Who?” – better known as Strictly Come Whooping & Hyping!

I stopped watching A Question of Sport because of, for me, the incredible dumbing down of the show, especially the way the teams are introduced in a flimsy tunnel as if about to come onto the field at an F.A. Cup final. It’s a quiz show...not a battle!

For some time, Strictly Come Dancing has joined XFactor as being not a showcase for socalled talent, but showing the judges as the stars of the show. Their fearsome foursome all skipped down to the panel of chairs from different parts of the set reminiscent of Game For A Laugh, at least showing in the case of Seven Goodman that he could skip a little of the light fandango.

The new presenting pairing of Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman are not my cup of tea – I’ve always preferred a mature Earl Bruce even allowing for his own loss of flavour and...struggling...to...read...the...autocue.

‘Are we here for a bit more dancing then?’, Tess squealed after the professional dancers opening. What else were the audience there for? Waiting for another MP to defect to UKIP? As for the current list of participants, I almost – but not quite; it could never be the case - recognised more names in the

latest Celebrity Big Brother. I’d never heard of or seen Alison Hammond and Jennifer Gidley before, thought Thom Evans was the actor Matt Dillon and wondered what Aussie actor Mark Little was doing on the show when he was introduced as Steve Backshall. Being a

Wallace was accurately described on social media by Alan Sugar as ‘dancing like a giraffe on 3 legs’. Try a few prunes, Greg, and next weeks’ Green Apple Quickstep might be a success! My Mum’s gravy has more movement in it!

If I have some sympathy for the

Casualty fan, I knew Sunetra Sarker (but she’s Zoe to me and millions – never realised what her real name was as the credits disappear from the screen faster than a Manchester United lead), knew the music of Simon Webbe and Pixie Lott and, of course, a mother of a one-Grand Slam wonder tennis player. I really didn’t need reminding that she was Scottish as she trundled around the floor footfaulting to Mull of Kintyre with a kilted Anton Du Berk!

Greg “I’m not a chef but a greengrocer”

celebrities in undertaking something completely foreign to them, it’s in the music they’re expected to dance to. I am able to waltz and quickstep but would surely struggle to so do against the backing singers and music that have no resemblance to the rhythm of the dance in any way, shape or form. Saturday night’s Cha-Cha was performed to I’m Your Man and I’m Every Woman and a Tango to the strains of Born To Be Wild!

All the backing music seems a rock track and a poorly covered and screeched

chart hit! Bring back Geoff Love, I say!

I love the way the expert audience begins to boo as soon as the judges begin giving their opinions. I know it’s all part of the theatre and every panel needs a Mr Nasty like Craig Daaaaarling – a word he must have used in every sentence, darling – or even a Mrs Nasty (as I believe Mel B is being on X-Factor), but it’s all becoming very predictable.

Len is Len and ever more shall be so, and Bruno lasts his usual 3 seconds of comments before he’s goosed by the invisible hand under the desk and has to stand up to drool over the tight vests and leather trousers. Darcey Bussell, who premiered her Joan Rivers tribute act over the weekend, is becoming the latest respected, trusted and professional performer to sink to the depths of what the producers need. ‘I rather liked that in a weird sort of way, she said, of Greg Wallace’s flat footed, soggy bottomed 2 minutes. Is she going the same way as Gary Barlow who often told singers whose renditions at auditions were as flat as the Mercadona Car Park that they had a fantastic voice?

I’ve never liked Claudia Winkleman – a little too gobby for me. Her jokes are worse than Forsythe’s ever were and her pierced screeching from her perch above the dancefloor made her a perfect replacement for the fish seller walking the streets in Guardamar market. She looked totally ridiculous swathed in a muslin sling and a bandage as a prelude to Zoe’s performance. ‘Can you guess

who’s on next?’, she enquired of her bemused co-host.

Shame the sling wasn’t screwed up into a ball and shoved into her mouth! Now, that would’ve been funny!

There is something missing from this series, but a je ne sais quoi. Lord Sugar’s hard man interviewer on The Apprentice, Claude Littner, Tweeted on Saturday morning “Don’t want to be too quick to comment on this year’s Strictly, but for the first time, I found it boring!!” I can’t disagree. Previous series have found someone that you want to win at all costs. My favourite is Tim Wonnacott but he’ll probably be out of the competition before you read this on Tuesday morning! My money will be on someone that either consistently wears a short dress or with flowing rippling muscles...and someone whose name will be forgotten on a future list of winners that might come up on Pointless.

The whole thing has become too stage managed and theatrical for my liking....more theatre and not enough dancing. Do I crave for Home Counties North v Ashby De La Zouch and the flowing sequins, tails and pompoms finished off with the Formation Dance team with Peggy Spencer (still going strong at the grand age of 94?) I suppose I do...it was proper dancing; in the same way that the old singers had a tune in their voice!

And a final thought, does Bruno Tonioli always copy what Len Goodman does? Probably not everything......

HE SAID HE’D BE NOTHING GAGA ABOUT BACK! THIS ALBUM Actor, turned politician and back to acting again, Arnold Schwarzenegger was back in Almeria this week, 33 years after filming “Conan The Barbarian”. He’s back to receive an honorary award at this years “Almeria en Corto” film festival and also to unveil a star on the city’s walk of fame, joining fellow stars Omar Shariff and Max Von Sydow…among others.

The former Mr Universe and State Governor of California, Schwarzenegger, now 67, is a very high profile visitor to the area and his being there will do no harm whatsoever in helping to attract more investment from other film producers in the future, which in the past has seen such epics as “Lawrence Of Arabia” and some of the most famous Spaghetti Westerns set there.

Accompanying Mr Schwarzenegger is producer Frederick Malmberg who is sourcing locations for “Conan 3” which is

due to begin shooting next year. A delegation from the provincial government is organizing the tour of some possible venues in the sincere hope that they can boast in the future that another Hollywood blockbuster has been filmed on their doorstep.

THIS PUSSY IS STILL “GALORIOUS”!

A Facebook friend recently updated her status to say that on her arrival at Alicante Airport following a short break in the UK, she availed herself of the transport facility that helps people unable to walk long distances. Sitting alongside her, also just arrived at the airport was none other than the ex-Bond girl and Avengers star Honor Blackman.

My friend stated at the time that she enjoyed a brief chat with her and remarked just how stunningly elegant she looked at the age of 89. Honor has recently admitted that Spain is her favourite destination in the world and says that she has a “small place” here in

the sun, as well as having fond memories as a filming destination.

The famous Western, “Shalako” was made in 1968, and co-starred Sean Connery and Brigitte Bardot.

‘I do love sunshine’, she said. ‘When I was married to my second husband, Maurice Kaufman, we used to cover ourselves in oil and turn over as if on a spit. Now I retire to the shade!’

Hear the name of Lady Gaga and many will conjure up the pre-watershed image that caused outrage on a live episode of the X-Factor. For others, just hearing the name will put people off even wanting to have anything to do with her. For me, it was all of the above and the modern style of music she performed. I’m one of the old school!

Jump back in the musical time machine to 2011 when I first saw an album featuring Tony Bennett called “Duets II” and Track Nº1 was “The Lady Is A Tramp” with Lady Gaga! What! Who? Can’t be...and yet I was hooked and my first comment was, ‘she can sing’! It was

no surprise to many in the music world when plans were discussed for an album containing many of the great jazz numbers. “Cheek to Cheek” was born, consisting of popular tunes by jazz composers like George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Jerome Kern and Irving Berlin.

The album was inspired by Bennett and Gaga's desire to introduce the songs to a younger generation, since they believed that the tracks had universal appeal and a timeless quality.

Gaga herself explained that with her earlier releases like The Fame (2008), The Fame Monster (2009) and Born This Way (2011), she could not achieve her full

vocal potential. So Cheek to Cheek was a "rebellious" and "liberating" album for her, since she could sing in her real voice, without worrying about record producers engineering it for radio.

Bennett himself reinforced her comments. ‘I do not understand why [Gaga] had to make contemporary music! When she sings great standards, she does it with such emotion... It will surprise people by the quality of her voice when making quality songs. We sing a duet again on the album, but also separately. With this album, I think she will become bigger than Elvis Presley! Of course we recorded the album in New York. As the saying goes: 'If you can make it in New York, you'll make it anywhere.

It certainly does make you wonder how many more “singers” out there, if given the chance to perform some of the great standards of the 20th century, would both gain a new audience and prove that can actually sing with melody in their voices...as Lady Gaga has most definitely proved.

“Cheek to Cheek” was released on September 19th 2014. Purveyors of great singers will surely put this on repeat and repeat for many years to come.

1. Anything Goes (Porter). 2. Cheek To Cheek (Berlin). 3. Nature Boy (Ahbez).

4. I Can’t Give You Anything But Love (McHugh & Fields). 5. I Won’t Dance (Kern, Hammerstein & Harbach).

6.

Firefly (Coleman & Leigh). 7. Lush Life (Strayhorn). 8. Sophisticated Lady (Ellington, Mills & Parish). 9. Let’s Face The Music & Dance (Berlin). 10. But Beautiful (Van Huesen & Burke). 11. It Don’t Mean A Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing (Ellington Mills).

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BALLROOM DANCING Ballroom & Latin dance. La Monte Hotel.

Pilar de Horradada.(N332).

Beginners and Improvers.

Mondays and Thursdays 11.30am-1.00pm.

New season starts 8th September.

For further information contact Marilyn 966 762 262 (549) La Bambas - Ballroom/Latin/Sequence Dancing. Rosales Restaurant, Guardamar CV895 (near Lemon Tree Sunday Market).

Monday - Social Dance - 8.30-10.30pm. (Sequence Class 7.30-8.30pm, Friday - Social Dance 7.30-10.30pm. Wednesday - New beginners class (Starting 3rd September 2014) 2-3pm. Intermediate class 3pm - 4pm. Intermediate Plus Class 4-5pm. For more Information contact Andrea and Brian 616 478 157 (548)

BUILDERS G.F.R. Builders. 30 years experience.

12 years in Spain. All general building work and Property Maintenance undertaken. Gazebos, Pergolas and car ports made to your specification.

All works guaranteed. Competitive prices.

Ring now for free no obligation quotation.

Tel 653 262 489 or email gfrbuild@gmail.com (LR) (547) All types of construction works undertaken. Quality and fare prices. guaranteed. Free quotation available.

Tel: 677 091 240 Carl (556)

BUSINESS OppORTUNITIES Fantastic popular Pizzeria/ Bar/ Restaurant FOR SALE located in one of the most beautiful locations of the Costa Blanca just outside the typical Spanish village of Algorfa and on the prestigious 5 Star Golf and Spa resort ‘La Finca’. With panoramic views over the countryside and out towards the Costa Blanca coastline. A very popular unit with many locals and holiday makers alike comprising of a 60m2 build with a separate fully fitted kitchen, and a 30m2 terrace looking out at the amazing view. There is plenty of parking and passing trade and it is available on a leasehold basis with the monthly rent of only 900 euros! Includes all stock and equipment & full training given by the current owners who are retiring. Price: reduced from 50.000€ to only 25.000 euros. Call us now!

This Local Village Bar & Restaurant is located in Algorfa, close to Almoradi and the highly popular La Finca Golf, Hotel & Spa Resort, with plenty of passing clientele, Comprising of a welcoming entrance space with sofa’s across from the fully equipped and stocked bar, which then leads through to the dining area, with a 60 cover capacity, a separate fully fitted and ready to go kitchen, with all the appliances and work space you’ll need to cater for any type of food. Outside is a terrace space with potential to do 22 covers. An amazing opportunity to own the entire property or just the business, with a monthly rent of €1.500 per month.

Contact us for a viewing today!

Price: €350.000 Freehold €150.000 Traspaso Bar (rental). This Bar is located in the 5 Star ‘La Finca Golf Resort’, situated just outside the Spanish village of Algorfa.

Surrounded by bustling amenities & facilities, on the 1st floor of the commercial centre in a prime location, with views from the terrace stretching across the feature waterfall, then to the citrus groves, countryside and mountains beyond. Build size of 65m2, the ground

floor having an open bar space, an open plan kitchen to the rear, ample seating space, very light and spacious due to the floor to ceiling glass windows & doors. The main seating space gives access either to the first floor where you have a pool table and chill out area, or out to the 24m2 terrace, ideal for sitting outdoors, whilst enjoying those amazing views.

No lease to be bought, just a simple low rental contract of €700 per month.

A superb opportunity!

This Busy Bar & Café in San Luis is located in a prime area, with parking and passing trade, with a good foot flow! San Luis is situated within a 2 minutes drive from the centre of Torrevieja. Comprising of a build size of 60m2 & possible to do between 22 and 24 covers inside, spacious fully fitted and stocked bar, separate fully fitted kitchen with two dishwashers, oven, fryer, gas hob, & plancha. There are 2 terrace 55m2 in area, with the potential to do 18 and 24 covers. An amazing opportunity available at an unbelievable price! With a low monthly rent of €1.000 per month.

Price: €29.800 Traspaso This Desirable Corner Restaurant is located in the popular and renowned area of Playa Flamenca, This luxury business is sold Traspaso/Lease and comprises of an open plan fully fitted and equipped kitchen, with walk in fridge; spacious dining area approx 120m2 build, with over 60 covers available, which then leads out to the communal terrace of around 120m2 with the potential for a further 75 covers. There is a delightful bar area, lounge/seating space. This business has plenty of parking and passing trade with many extras included! Available on a leasehold basis with the monthly rent of €1.500 Price: €100.000 CONTACT VINCENT REAL ESTATE: 966 712 440 info@vincent-realestate.com (547) Quesada, lease for sale on bar restaurant, currently trading, 50 plus covers inside, 30 plus covers outside, fully fitted kitchen, all licenced with local Town Hall, turn key and go? Assistance given in take over, priced at 25,000 euros. Further details telephone SunseekersQuesada on 966 718 779 office hours or 672 366 275 anytime. Serious enquiries only please. (SS) (547) Quesada, lease for sale on well established restaurant wine bar, currently trading, 40 covers inside, and approx. 40 covers out side.

Fully fitted commercial kitchen, 3 phase electrics, all licenced and legal with Town Hall, price 70,000 euros. Further details telephone SunseekersQuesada on 966 718 779 office hours, or 672 366 275 anytime. (SS) (547) Quesada, Bar Restaurant for Lease. Uncle Sams American Diner - voted in the last three for Best Newcomer, by the Coastrider Culinary Awards judges. Lease sadly for sale, 38 covers inside, 50 plus outside, full stainless steel kitchen, all kitted out in Americana style, complete with American sign written car, large basement for additional storage, very large outside terrace for the summer with ample space for entertainers etc etc. All fully licenced through Rojales Town Hall.

Rent 1,000 euros per month, lease available at 20,000 euros, Further details telephone 672 366 275. Summer is now here, so you need to be quick. (SS) (547)

DOMESTIC AppLIANCE REpAIRS ELECTRONIC SERVICE CENTRE. Repairs to mixers, PA, karaoke players, Microphones, leads, connectors supplied. Repairs to LCD TV, DVD, Audio, Videom Car stereo decoding and repairs. TRANS EUROPA ELECTRONICS S.L. Fully Legal Company.

Established 1994. Torrevieja 966 785 625/629 640 893 (T)

EMpLOyMENT Nail Technician required for busy salon in Via Park III, Los Altos ASAP! Call 680 468 640 (548)

GARDENING Eazy Lawns - the artificial grass experts.

Eight year guarantee. Many different effects for all surfaces and budgets.

Full garden design & construction.

Fully legal and registered company covering all of the Costa Blanca.

Tel 636 102 509 or email info@eazylawns.es or www.eazylawns.es (C) (548) Gardener with more than 25 years experience on the Costa. English & Spanish spoken, private & community gardens. Free quote. Tel 699 682 630 or email billthegardner@hotmail.es (M) (548)

HEALTH & BEAUTy Experienced mobile hairdresser. Good price and service. City & Guilds qualified. Tel. 663 173 385 (M) (548)

HOME IMpROVEMENTS Home improvements. Quality Solutions.

Contact Jason 672 578 492.

Call Us! Free quotations and advice. homeimprovements.torrevieja@gmail.com (548)

First class handyman available for plumbing, roller shutter blinds repair and renew.

Tel 646 236 291/664 027 298 (549)

ITEMS WANTED Turn your unwanted furniture, electrical, household goods, bric-a-brac, clothing, antiques and collectables into cash. Anything!

Anywhere! 965 319 220/663 012 541 (549)

CoastRider - Edition 551 - September 30th 2014

21

Cindy, sexy blonde lady. the most passionate Venezuelan.

Every service. La Zenia 607 735 745 (550)

Pinada Beach, Guardamar: 2 Bed T/hse. Terrace back & front. Balcony, Solarium. Com. Pool 425€ pcm, contract incl. Ref:171. Holiday rates also.

Tel: 966 707 074

Torrevieja Centro, young oriental girl gives complete massage, 24 hrs in your house or mine. C/Patricio Zammit 36 No 1A. Tel: 698 280 842 (563)

La Zenia: 3 bed T/House.

F/F, Outside terrace, kitchen, lounge, dining. F/tiled bathrooms, Solarium.

475€ pcm long term contract incl.

Ref:202. Tel: 966 707 074

Thai Lady for massage and lots of pleasure.

Tel 605 292 304 Cabo Roig (551) Torrevieja Janine, German lady 47, breasted, sexy curved body! Easy to find, parking, 619 466 300/www.janine-spain. jimdo.com (548) Torrevieja Casa Angela. Discreet and private deluxe chalet offers you exotic girls from South America, call us, come and enjoy 24 hrs, easy to find, easy parking, free drinkalso escort service 609 573 468/639 832 118. Address: Avd. Asociacion Victimas Del Terrorismo (557) Torrevieja Calle La Loma 72. Beautiful Spanish lady. Feminine, sexy body, big breasts.

All fantasies + massage, discreet. Also escort. 611 25 19 75(551) Playa Flamenca (near new Carrefour before La Florida) Original Spanish lady 35 very attractive offers complete service & erotic massages, private house, very discreet with parking has medical cert. 680 735 412 (547) Ladies enjoy a spanking and get paid. The headmaster visits you at your home. headmaster@live.co.uk (548) Torrevieja. Shirley. Brazilian, tanned sexy beauty, 33 years old. Large breats. I greet you alone in my apartment - Torrevieja Central 675 156 415 (549) Natacha. Complete massage. Total discresion. San Policarpo 87 1st floor no.17. Bell 2008B. Tel 677 676 554 (548)

pROpERTy FOR RENT House for Rent Montebello, detached villa, solarium, glazed porch in quite street – fully furnished 3 beds – 2 bathrooms – a/c - ceiling fans – Alarmed – UK Tv – Long Term Let 450€ pcm + Bills Tel 965 724 183 Mobile 616883 103 (552)

pROpERTy FOR SALE

Torrevieja Nth.: 2 Bed T/House.

Outside terrace, rear terrace, lge. lounge/diner, kitchen. Com. Pool.

470€ pcm, contract incl.

Ref: 198. Tel: 966 707 074 Guardamar: 3 Bed/3 Bath duplex.

G/F, outside terrace, lge. lounge/diner, kitchen. Com. Pool. 500€ pcm, contract incl. Ref: 20. Holiday rates also.

Tel: 966 707 074 Torrevieja Centre: 3 Bed/2 Bath Apt. 1st Flr., balcony, lounge/diner, kitchen.

2 mins. shops/beach. 375€ pcm, contract incl. Ref: 76. Tel: 966 707 074 New Rentals Required Urgently Tel: 966 707 074 Rent-2-go - Further Choices at office – Calle Diana, Torrevieja – www.sell-2-go.com (548) Cash buyer, looking for a building plot/parcel of 500-1000 square metres square in Quesada area. Contact Matrin 693 452 914 (548)

SECURITy RESPONSE YALE AEI ALARMS Supplied and serviced. MAS and DLS ALARMS REPAIRED. TRANS EUROPA ELECTRONICS S.L. Fully Legal Company. Established 1994.

Torrevieja 966 785 625/629 640 893 (T)

SITUATIONS VACANT Chef Required – Busy Restaurant in Blue Lagoon Tel 966 845 639 (552) Estate Agents require experienced telesales staff, ideal candidate will have experience of working within call centres or telemarketing, NO COLD CALLING Basic Wage and Bonuses Call Nicola 602 617 263 info@phoenixrepossesions.com (552)

Bicycles bought, sold + repaired. Part exchange welcome parts and accessories available wheels straightened. Phone 966 844 713/638 062 866 (549)

LEGAL SERVICES One Way Services.

Wills €80.

Residents annual tax declaration €45.

Driving licences (incl. medical) €130.

NIE + Residencia. €50.

Call 966 716 540 or 650 130 853.

C/-Blanca 1, Cuidad Quesada (on the Main Square) (549)

LOCKSMITHS

PLAYA FLAMENCA. Corner office/shop in top location in commercial center Flamenca Beach. Please call for further info. 609 620 457 (547) (HF)

Experienced Locksmith 24 hours seguridad union. No call out fee. Covering all Costa Blanca. Tel 607 493 118 (M) (548)

Very cheap rent in Playa de Los Locos. Previously a supermarket, now empty. 58mtrs2.

Ideal for storage or a variety of busninesses.

Situated in a square with other bars and restaurants. Undernesth a block of apartments. 50mtrs from the beach. Would possibly sell. 250€ pcm . Tel 676 587 502 (548)

MOBILE HOMES Hymer Motorhome 2.5 Diesel. 4 berth, good condition, new fridge, cooker , tyres €4995. Tel 680 184 454 (549)

| email: office@coastridersl.com or visit our website: www.coastridersl.com

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Sport

CoastRider - Edition 551 - September 30th 2014

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BARCELONA – 6 GRANADA - 0

ARSENAL – 1 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR - 1

Barcelona's impressive start to the La Liga season continued as Neymar's hat-trick helped them to demolish a poor Granada side at the Nou Camp. The Brazilian tucked in with the aid of a deflection, before two quick goals effectively sealed Granada's fate.

Ivan Rakitic glanced in Lionel Messi's cross and Neymar pounced on a loose ball as Barca led 3-0 at half-time.

Neymar's third of the game was sandwiched by Messi 400th and 401st club goals as Barca went top.

The comfortable victory was further evidence of Barcelona's impressive revival under new boss Luis Enrique, who took over from Argentine coach Tata Martino in the summer. The former Barca midfielder, who made over 300 appearances between 1996 and 2004, has been tasked with bringing glory back to the Catalan club after a trophyless campaign under Martino.

Barca finished second in La Liga after champions Atletico Madrid earned a final-day draw at the Nou Camp, meaning they did not win a competition in a single season for the first time since 2008.

Martino's side were accused by some critics of not playing in the attractive style expected by Barca fans and Enrique has remedied that by creating an attacking blend which has plundered 16 goals in six La Liga matches this season.

His team did fire a blank in a lacklustre goalless draw at

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain ensured honours were even as Arsenal and Tottenham fought out an entertaining north London derby at Emirates. Nacer Chadli's fourth goal in five Premier League appearances this season gave Spurs the lead early in the second half, but OxladeChamberlain hit back with 15 minutes to go.

Arsenal, disrupted by first-half injuries to Mikel Arteta and Aaron Ramsey, pressed for a winner but Mauricio Pochettino's side stood strong in defence and ultimately a draw was the right result. The result moves Arsenal into the top four behind predictable pacesetters Chelsea and Manchester City, as well as Southampton, who continue their excellent start to the season.

Spurs boss Pochettino confessed his disappointment at the manner of his side's display in the home defeat to West Bromwich Albion last weekend but there was plenty on show here to satisfy the Argentine.

And Arsenal counterpart Arsene Wenger, while perhaps wanting more

Malaga in midweek, but they responded in fine fashion in front of their own fans.

Led by Messi and Neymar, Barca produced a sparkling offensive play which ran midtable Granada ragged. And their defensive play was equally assured as they continued their remarkable record of not conceding a single goal in La Liga this season. After a promising start, the visitors became the architects of their own downfall as a sloppy pass led to the first goal. Neymar pounced on a loose ball from Granada midfielder Hector Yuste before seeing his low shot loop fortuitously off a defender and into the away net. That allowed the home side to settle down and find their rhythm, with the double strike shortly before halftime putting them in command.

Messi skipped to the right byeline and clipped a cross into

the middle where Croatia midfielder Rakitic was waiting to nod in.

Less than three minutes later, the Argentina captain was instrumental again. He fed a precise ball towards teenage attacker Munir, who was beaten to it by Granada keeper Roberto, only for the rebound to fall kindly for Neymar to tuck in. Barcelona controlled possession after the break as Granada attempted to limit the damage, and added a fourth with a wonderful team goal. Xavi's raking pass was volleyed first time across the Granada goal by right-back Dani Alves and Messi headed in.

Neymar collected the Argentine's pass to become the first Brazilian to score a La Liga hat-trick for Barcelona since Rivaldo against Valencia in 2001, before Messi dispossessed a Granada defender to calmly slot in the sixth.

CHELSEA – 3 ASTON VILLA - 0

Diego Costa's outstanding start to his career at Chelsea continued as he grabbed his eighth goal to help the leaders to victory against Aston Villa. The Spain striker then created another as Jose Mourinho's side secured their fifth win of the season.

Oscar was first on the scoresheet when he tapped in after Willian's shot was saved by Brad Guzan.

Costa added a second with a header before his jinking run and shot led to Willian's goal from close range.

Although the scoreline suggests it was a stroll for Chelsea, for long periods the attack had been suppressed by a disciplined Villa defence.

Nevertheless, even against a stingy backline, the Blues added another three goals to this season's tally to remain the league's leading scorers with 19 in six matches.

The win also means Mourinho's team are one of four unbeaten sides across all the four divisions with 16 points from a possible 18. They took a while to insert their dominance against Villa, so would have been grateful for the breakthrough in the

seventh minute.

On that occasion, fullback Branislav Ivanovic slipped a pass down the left into the path of Willian, whose initial shot was saved by American Guzan. However, the ball returned to the former Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder who found Oscar, with the 23year-old adding the final touch from close range. Up until the second goal, Villa had kept up with Chelsea's attack and restricted them for space. Costa, in particular, looked a frustrated figure in attack.

Doubts still surround whether he has fully recovered from a hamstring injury, although he showed how effective he can be with careful management.

He should have scored in the first half, when he headed Willian's brilliant delivery straight at Guzan. However, he beat the Villa keeper with a similar effort just before the hour mark. With

his tail up, Costa appeared to move with more purpose and a dazzling run in the area led to the third. Cesc Fabregas, who had a quiet game playing in a deeper midfield position, delivered a sumptuous cross-field pass for his Spain team-mate. The former Atletico Madrid striker confused Philippe Senderos with his footwork before firing a low shot that was saved by Guzan, but then poked in by Willian. Costa was brought off to a standing ovation. He is already proving to be an integral figure in Chelsea's title challenge.

Villa, whose best chance came in the first half when Aly Cissokho hooked wide, face another stiff test next week - at home to Manchester City.

than a draw at home, will also have been pleased at the resilience they showed in the face of the enforced changes that had an impact on their rhythm.

Alexis Sanchez's relegation to the bench was surprising, given his early influence on Arsenal's season, but the Chilean has had a busy schedule following his £32m summer move from Barcelona. The main feature of the first half was Pochettino's constant technical area exhortations for his players to press Arsenal in possession, a demand that led to very visible rebukes for Christian Eriksen and Emmanuel Adebayor within seconds in the opening half.

Adebayor will have further drawn his manager's disapproval when he dawdled over a clear chance with time and space inside Arsenal's area, while Chadli was also wasteful when in a good position.

Arsenal's were hit by those injuries to Arteta and Ramsey, which necessitated their replacement by Mathieu Flamini and Santi Cazorla before half-

time. Jack Wilshere also required lengthy treatment after turning his right ankle.

The main moment of danger to Spurs came when clever footwork from Ramsey to set up Oxlade-Chamberlain, but his shot from the edge of the area was well saved by keeper Hugo Lloris. Pochettino's message to Eriksen about putting Arsenal under pressure was understood and it played a key role as Spurs went ahead 11 minutes after the interval. The Dane pinched possession from Flamini and played in Chadli to finish cooly.

Arsenal's response was instant and Lloris pulled off a magnificent save low down to keep out Per Mertesacker's header - but Spurs were unable to survive renewed pressure from the Gunners and the equaliser came after 75 minutes.

Sanchez - on for Wilshere crossed and Danny Welbeck's wild air shot in front of goal wrong-footed the Spurs defence, leaving Oxlade-Chamberlain to lash high past Lloris.

SOUTHAMPTON – 2 QPR - 1 Second-placed Southampton made it six wins in a row in all competitions to beat struggling QPR. The hosts, enjoying their best start to a Premier League season despite a summer of upheaval, were the better side with Dusan Tadic hitting a post.

Ryan Bertrand gave Southampton the lead, drilling low beneath Robert Green, before Charlie Austin levelled with a superb volley on the turn.

But Graziano Pelle's stunning scissor-kick clinched the win.

The Italian striker's fifth goal of the season ensured Saints recorded a fourth successive victory in the Premier League, and kept them three points adrift of leaders Chelsea. QPR can take heart from the fact they were defensively more secure than of late, Harry Redknapp's side having conceded eight goals in their last two games on the road. The visitors also scored away from home for the first time this season.

But a third successive away defeat leaves the newly promoted west Londoners in the bottom three and compounds a miserable afternoon for Redknapp, who received a far from welcome reception on his return to a club

that he guided to relegation in 2005.

St Mary's is a much happier place these days, with Southampton enjoying their best start to a season in the top division since the 1983-84 season, when they finished second. Their haul of 13 points in six matches has helped make the summer's mass exodus of players a distant memory.

The speed with which their new recruits have settled has helped, with £11.8m midfielder Sadio Mane impressing on his Premier League debut, and Tadic causing problems for QPR. It was Mane, 22, who put Morgan Schneiderlin through just before the break for the best chance of the half, with the Frenchman's low effort a fraction wide. As momentum continued with Southampton after the break, Senegal's Mane was instrumental in a deserved opening goal for the hosts. The

winger, making his second appearance after being granted his work permit last week, found Bertrand with a delightful backheel and the on-loan defender struck for his first goal for the Saints.

It was a second half which will be remembered for exquisite strikes. For the equaliser, QPR's Austin controlled the ball with his left foot before swivelling and beating Fraser Forster with a sublime right-footed effort.

Moments later, though, Pelle restored Southampton's lead when he flicked the ball up with his back to goal and lashed a volley past the helpless Robert Green.

Plenty of chances followed - with Steven Davis going close for Saints and a Niko Kranjcar free-kick hitting the crossbar for QPR - but Southampton held firm to continue their winning streak after Tuesday's 2-1 victory at Arsenal in the League Cup.

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Sport

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EUROPE BURY THE USA IN THE NOW IT’S A GOOD RYDER CUP BUNKER AGAIN! RUN SPOILED A stunning final day of golf, with the all important and almost expected squeaky moment for about an hour during the middle of the afternoon, saw Paul McGinley’s Europe team demolish the U.S.A. 16 ½ – 11 ½ . One of the shots of the three days saw Welsh Ryder Cup rookie Jamie Donaldson’s second shot at the 15th drop with a standstill less than two feet away from the hole. If there was an anti-climax, it was not having the excitement of a final putt holed or missed, but the hole being conceded. A win for the Europe team is a win, however it’s achieved and gives them five wins out of six...the last time losing in 2008 in Valhalla under the disastrous captaincy of Sir Nick Faldo.

Team Europe was always going to begin the day as favourites teeing off with a 10 - 6 lead. McGinley sent out some of his big guns in the opening singles matches to get some early points on the board and the gamble paid off.

Rory McIlroy, the world Number 1, took an immediate stronghold on his game with Ricky Fowler by going 3 UP in as many holes with 2 birdies and an

eagle. Two more birdies took him five clear through six and although he handed one back with a bogey at the seventh, was never in any real danger and closed out the match 5 & 4.

Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell got off to a slow start against Jordan Spieth and found himself three down after just five holes.

Speith missed a chance to go four up on the seventh, missed the putt and McDowell responded with five birdies in eight holes. He finished with a par putt on the 17th to win 2 & 1.

Martin Kaymer from Germany was always in command against Bubba Watson who hadn’t won a single point from his previous matches on Friday and Saturday. The current US Open Champion was four up after six and although Bubba briefly threatened a nervous finish, Kaymer ended the match in style with an eagle on the 16th to finish 4 & 2.

The vital point that took Europe to the unbeatable 14 ½ total, came from Jamie Donaldson who’d been in excellent form alongside veteran Lee Westwood took that form into the singles. Birdies at the 7th and 9th took

him two ahead of Keegan Bradley and more on the 11th and 12th put him in a commanding position. A par at 14 left him with four to play but at least assure that Europe would retain the Cup! Spain’s Sergio Garcia and Jim Furyk had met twice before; Furyk winning as the USA came from 10 – 6 down to win at Brookline in 199 and Sergio getting his revenge when Europe recovered from the same position in that on the edge of the seat finish last time out.

After going behind at the 13th hole, Garcia finished off with 3 birdies and an eagle in the last five holes.

Europe’s winning captain McGinley said: "I'm very proud of every one of these players. I couldn't have asked for an ounce more from them. I've been involved in so many Ryder Cups and seen mistakes we've made.

"I've changed things a bit, bringing in the fifth vice-captain has been a factor in helping to prepare the guys, especially in the afternoon sessions, but we have had 12 players who have been awesome."

Europe has now won eight of the last 10 Ryder Cups, while the US have not won an away match since 1993. The much missed Europe team talisman of Seve Ballesteros was still looking down on them as much as they still look up to him....

ARE YOU DECENT? ADVANTAGE MS LEÓN! Eyebrows were certainly raised in some quarters during the summer when tennis player Andy Murray announced that the former French champion Amélie Mauresmo was to be his coach, replacing Ivan Lendl. In this modern world of equality, should there be a problem in sportsmen having a female coach? This subject has raised its head in Spain following Gala León’s appointment as Spain’s first female Davis Cup captain.

This has sparked criticism from former and current men’s players and coaches, including the suggestion that she would face a “logistical” problem in entering a men’s locker room!

At her official presentation last Tuesday, León said, “I’m not here to create a sexist debate but to bring back home the salad bowl,” a reference to the Davis

“A good walk spoiled” Had he still been around, would Mark Twain feel the need to amend his oft quoted statement about golf and amend the walking bit to running?

Bandon Dunes developer Mike Keiser, they gave their Bandon tournament a grander name -- the Speed Golf World Championship -- and put up a $50,000 purse. The event was captured in a 30-

Speed Golf first hit the headlines in the 1990s in the USA and though there was a lot to like about speed golf, it never really took off to the extent was first hoped.

Over the next decade, the sport limped along, sustained by local leagues and promoted on a shoestring by Speed Golf International, a slapped-together outfit that was little more than three friends with other full-time jobs. Moonlighting in their efforts, Christopher Smith, an Oregon golf pro, and his childhood buddies Tim Scott and Jim Kosciolek conducted speed-golf demos and lowkey annual competitions, including a small event at Bandon Dunes.

On it went that way, a sport on life support, until Smith and Co. decided it was time for drastic measures -- either redouble their efforts, or pull the plug.

Buoyed by the public's growing appetite for extreme sports and the fact that onetime sideshows, such as long-drive competitions, had morphed into televised events, the three men were convinced of speed golf's potential. "We all felt it could have traction, but we had families, jobs," Scott says. "We knew that to make it work, we would have to go allin. The sense was, it's pretty much do or die."

In 2012, with financial backing from

minute TV special, which aired on CBS before the Masters. It was speed golf's biggest moment.

Like much that was first popular across the pond, it made its way to the UK and the inaugural British Speedgolf Championship took place just outside Crowborough last weekend.

The exciting new sport blends golf and running, with players running between each shot to complete a full 18 hole course in under 80 minutes, as opposed to the usual four or five hours. Scores are calculated by adding the time taken to complete the round to the total strokes taken, with competitors allowed to carry up to seven clubs, compared to the normal 14.

Dominic Warne, of British Speedgolf, said: "This is a more athletic version of golf and brings an added mental challenge for runners. By combining both sports, it not only appeals to those who struggle to find the time to play a normal round of golf, but for those looking to enhance their fitness.”

The inaugural winner and holder of the title British Speedgolf Champion is George Scott, who combined both speed and precision to finish with 76 shots in a time of 57 minutes and 28 seconds.

SURFING ON THE WILD, WILD WAVES!

Cup trophy. She said that she would listen to the players to try to ease any rift, “although not everybody has to have the same opinion.”

León takes over as captain from Carlos Moyá, a former No. 1-ranked player, at what is a low point for Spanish tennis. Moyá resigned after Spain absorbed a humiliating defeat against Brazil this month that relegated it from the world group of elite teams for the first time since 1995.

The harshest criticism of León came from Toni Nadal, the coach and uncle

of Rafael Nadal, who told Spanish national radio last Monday that León did not have any prior relationship with his nephew and other leading players and that she could even face logistical problems navigating the team’s locker room.

“There’s a lot of living together within a locker room, and it’s not appropriate to have a woman” there, he said. León said that she would simply “knock on the door” to make sure players were clothed before entering!

Last week saw Playa De La Mata in Torrevieja host the relatively new sporting pastime of Paddle Racing! First held in last year, the interest and popularity of the sport brought the National event to this area of the Costa Blanca.

A cross between rowing and surfing,

there were two events over courses of 2,000 and 5,000 metres as well as a children’s event over 600 metres. The competitions, which attracted some 30 competitors, was keenly followed by a large number of swimmers and sunseekers who gathered at the starting line to cheer them on!

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CoastRider - Edition 551 - September 30th 2014 www.coastridersl.com