29 November - 5 December 2022

Bikers discouraged from ‘Pedrera’ road with new speed bumps installed

The government has placed twelve large speed ramps on the road around Pedrera reservoir in an e ort to prevent what they described as illegal races. The works, now completed, saw an €180,000 investment in several tra c calming measures on the CV-950. This particular

stretch of road is frequented by many bikers and cyclists, and the government wants to put an end to speeding and the high volume of resulting accidents. As well as the speed bumps, the investment was also used to install several ‘viewpoints’ and rest areas along the winding road.

The reservoir is a huge tourist attraction in itself, its startling turquoise waters standing out in the arid landscape. The surrounding road, which looks down onto the spectacular lake, attracts hikers, cyclists and bikers who travel from all around to enjoy the winding route, full of curves that are particularly enjoyed by motorcycle enthusiasts. The CV-950 has an average daily tra c of only 431 vehicles per day along its 7,145-metre length and is particularly popular at weekends. Guardia Civil say that it is a frequent black spot for serious accidents and illegal motorbike racing.

To prevent speeding, the Ministry of Territorial Policy, Public Works and Mobility, with an investment of 180,000 euros and two months of works, has placed 12 speed bumps both in the approach area of the viewpoints and beside the main dam. In this way, “it is changed to a tourist use, since this

itinerary is used by a large number of cyclists and tourists of other nationalities,” said o cials.

O cials also said that one of the objectives of the Department is “to improve road safety on the roads, as well as the maintenance and enhancement of the surrounding areas, especially in places with special scenic charm.”

For this reason, the project included the construction of three viewpoints and the conditioning of three laybys, with rest areas with views of the reservoir. In addition, a protection fence has been placed in these areas, as well as litter bins and wooden benches. “These elements are separated from the parking area and perfectly integrated with the landscape,” they said.

However welcome the news might be to tourists, the move is not going down so well with motorcycle clubs. For years, groups of motorcycle enthusiasts from

nearby areas have used this environment as a regular meeting point, especially on Sundays. They say that it is a good road for motorcycles, not only because of its curves, but because it is a through road.

Most, they say, meet friends, do a couple of laps and continue on their way. One biker said “There’s a good atmosphere among everyone, except for some who do speed. They acknowledged that illegal races might take place at night or on weeks with ‘tuned car’ owners, but they feel that bikers are not at fault here and are being punished by the installation of the speed bumps.

Port works project presented

With works already underway in Torrevieja’s port area after the completion of the new sh market facility, the mayor this week presented the next stage of the plan which is the urbanisation project for the port and adjacent areas.

The mayor of Torrevieja, Eduardo Dolón, announced that the tender for the urbanisation project was approved.

The mayor explained that the integration of the port area with the rest of the city is the object of this project, commissioned by the town hall at the request of the General Directorate of Ports of the Generalitat Valenciana.

Eduardo Dolón said that this project is included within the Framework Agreement for the joint project and works management, with an estimated price of 1,700,539 euros (VAT included); and will have a maximum execution period of 5 months.

The idea proposed by Torrevieja town hall is to replace the current Paseo de la Libertad, creating in its place a large multi-use esplanade from the current line of buildings on the promenade to the sea, where the amusement fair and the ‘hippy’

market will be located, both improved with a completely new and modernised aesthetic. In this overall area, tra c will be limited, except for emergency vehicles, local residents and catering services.

The town hall also said that it is committed to creating pedestrian space in the surrounding streets, thus calles Azorín, Chapaprieta, María Parodi, Rambla Juan Mateo, Heraclio, Ramón y Cajal, Pedro Lorca, Zoa and Apolo, can become pedestrian or semipedestrian areas.

In addition, Paseo Vista Alegre and the surroundings of the Eras de la Sal will be integrated into the project, creating a total area of around 90,000 square metres.

FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR UNDERGROUND ROAD TRAFFIC TO THE PORT

Eduardo Dolón also explained that the tra c study presented by this project makes it necessary to nd solutions to control the ow of vehicles entering and leaving the port area, as well as public transport tra c, especially urban transport and taxis.

The mayor explained that,

among the priorities of the town hall is to nd an alternative solution to the tra c issue. The possibility of underground tra c access to the port is currently being studied. If it were nancially possible, the mayor indicated that the City Council would plan on having all tra c access to the port as underground.

Regarding the established deadlines, Dolón explained the following phases:

A rst phase that will include the stormwater infrastructure works around Rambla Juan Mateo, connecting to the port via Paseo de la Libertad. The period planned for these works would be from January to April 2023, with the possibility that during Easter Week and the summer, these works do not interrupt the commercial and hospitality activity, as well as not interfering with the tra c of the town.

The second phase would start in September 2023, on the Paseo de la Libertad esplanade, around Plaza Capdepont, Emilio Castelar and Waldo Calero, ensuring the rollout of municipal works coincides with the works being carried out by the concessionaire.

Vega Baja Garden Club

The Vega Baja Garden Club had a very successful October meeting, in which Charles and Andrea did a joint talk about the herbs they grow, and what they make with them. These included tarragon broth, roasted carrot and sa ron salsa, tzatziki, herby parmesan thins, and three varieties of butter with di erent herbs very nely chopped and mixed into them. They also provided samples for the group to taste, and the recipes for members to try themselves at home.

A spokesperson for the group said, “What fantastic ideas they had. And I can tell you, there were only a few crumbs left at the end, it was all so very tasty.”

There was no meeting in November as the usual venue was not available due to being closed for sta holidays.

The next meeting will be on Monday 5th December 2022 at Bar Trasgu, Formentera del Segura at 2pm, for 2.30pm start, to give people time

to get drinks from the bar.

A small charge of €2 per person applies for the use of the room. The group said, “This will be our annual quiz, which is great fun, organised by Alan. We also have a bu et lunch, and members bring a small plate of nger food to share. If you enjoy a quiz and a chat then do come and join us.”

If there is anyone out there who would like to give a talk of around 30 minutes on anything garden-related. A laptop computer and projection equipment are available, and you would need to provide a memory stick

with your pictures. You don’t have to be a professional, just a person with an interest in any or all things garden, who might like to tell the club about your experiences with your garden, terrace or patio. Check out the Facebook page

VEGA BAJA GARDEN CLUB, or e-mail vegabajagardenclub@gmail.com for further details.

100th birthday party surprise

Residents of The Valencias Villamartin gathered together for a surprise 100th birthday party for Mrs Audrey Smith on Tuesday 22nd November. Audrey was overwhelmed by the sentiment and appreciated the gifts and cards signed by many residents. She also enjoyed the wonderful songs and music provided by 3 singers. A great day was had by all.

New requirements for estate agents explained

for International Residents at Torrevieja Town Hall, Gitte Lund Thomsen, arranged a talk this week by real estate expert Adrián Barbudo about the new regulations being introduced in the real estate industry. It is now a requirement that all estate agents in the Valencian Community have certi cation from the Valencian Government.

The new law (Decreto 98/2022) came into e ect on July 29th this year and from October 2022 it is a voluntary certi cation, however it will become mandatory next year.

Estate agents operating in the Valencian Community after October 2023 without certi cation will be operating ilegally so it is important to be aware of the new legislation.

As Adrián said, “42% of sales so far in 2022 on the Costa Blanca were sales to foreign clients so it is important that non Spanish speaking estate agents are aware that they must be registered.”

Adrián and colleagues are in the process of trying to develop a course in English so that foreign estate agents working in this region can become registered if they don’t have a high enough level of Spanish to complete the courses currently on o er in Spanish.

Adrián said, “Up until 1992, certi cation was mandatory but the government got rid of this requirement so anyone was allowed to sell houses. Now, they are regulating the industry once more by introducing this certi cation.” He also remarked that this certi cation is a positive move for the industry, and for the public, explaining that it regulates the industry and promotes transparency, accountability and ethical practice. By displaying their registration number, estate agents show that they meet the minimum requirements as set out by the Valencian Community.

The talk was well attended, taking place at La Mata town hall which boasts a modern conference room with audiovisual facilities. Those in attendance, mostly estate agents, had a number of questions for Adrián at the end of his presentation.

A similar system has already been introduced in Catalonia, so o cials in the Valencian Community have studied the system there and implemented similar legislation.

The key takeaways from Adrián’s talk are as follows:

All estate agents must be registered by October 2023

If an individual opens an estate agent after October 2023, they then have four months to become registered

• Fines for operating unregistered can vary from €10,000 to €950,000. There are certain requirements that must be met in order to register:

• The company owner must possess a degree (valid in Spain) in law, engineering, architecture or similar, OR the company owner must complete a 200 hour course and pass the corresponding examination

As well as the course, the individual or company must possess civil liability insurance (if they have a physical o ce, a minimum of €600,000, if they work only online, a minimum of €1,000,000) AND surety insurance (from €60,000 to €300,000)

Once the company owner has passed their exams (or can demonstrate that they have a relevant university degree), and can show they have the minimum required insurance, and several other required documents, they then register

with the Valencian government using the company’s Digital Certi cate. More information on the requirements and the link to register can be found at: https://www.gva. es/es/inicio/procedimientos?id_ proc=22324&version=red

From the perspective of the town hall, Gitte said that she hopes to arrange more meetings for foreign estate agents operating in Torrevieja so that they can stay informed about the process and requirements.

Councillor

Local Police catch three minors stealing tables and chairs from a school in

Elche

Elche Local Police arrested two minors, aged 15 and 17, and handed another (aged 13) over to his parents last weekend. The three were caught in the act while removing tables and chairs from the Miguel Hernández Public School. O cers went to the school on Sunday when they were alerted that the three teens were spotted removing furniture from the school.

Upon arrival, o cers surprised the three minors, who at the time were removing tables and chairs from the school, in the Los Palmerales neighbourhood, over a three-metre fence.

A call from a concerned citizen, who had spotted the teens taking furniture from the school at around noon on Sunday, prompted police to investigate the scene. When the o cers arrived, they found two minors outside the school and a third inside the premises, passing the furniture over the double fence, about three metres high.

O cers said that the minors had caused various damages inside the property. Police were able to recover the rest of the stolen items, which had been moved to a nearby plot of land and covered.

One in seven young people have ‘macho’ beliefs

A survey, to coincide with November 25th which was International Day Against Gender Violence, found that as many as one in seven people between the ages of 15 and 29 believe that men should act as ‘real men’. Three out of four of those surveyed consider that gender violence is ‘a very serious social problem’.

The survey found that as many as one in seven young people agreed with the statements ‘a man should not cry in public’, ‘it makes sense to use violence to obtain respect if necessary’ and ‘men should be the ones who bring the money home’.

One in four young people sees gender violence as ‘normal’. So found the survey carried out as part of research into masculinity and its impact on youth by the Reina Sofía Center for Adolescence and Youth.

In addition to the statements above, several young people surveyed also agreed that if a man does not defend himself in a ght, he is weak, or that a man must solve problems without asking for help, and even that male children should not be taught how to cook, sew or clean the house, because they are ‘women’s things’.

Within the framework of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the aforementioned report attempted to get an overall picture of the values and opinions of young people, as well as

the ideas that young people have today about masculinity in a heteropatriarchal context.

The survey concluded that one in seven young people continue to internalise the “more traditional and stagnant” vision of masculinity, said the study authors. Many believed that a man is entitled to a certain amount of sex with his partner, and that seeking the services of a prostitute is acceptable. Many also said that you can compliment a woman in public, even if you don’t know her, if you think she is attractive.

The most optimistic aspect of the study is that more than half of the young people between 15 and 29 years old pronounced themselves completely oblivious to machismo and completely reject the idea that if a man cares about his appearance, he is not very masculine or that a boy should avoid playing “girlish things” from an early age.

Social pressure continues to be a signi cant issue for young people. Pressure to be active on social media, take the initiative while irting, being perceived as ‘good’ at sex or taking drugs when with a group of friends, were all mentioned.

More than half admitted to mocking those they considered weak and many admitted to threatening to publish photos online of people they wanted to punish or embarrass.

The conclusion of the study indicated that the vast majority, three out of four young people, continue to perceive gender violence as a “very serious social problem”.

The Fad Juventud Foundation, which collaborated in the study, has launched a digital campaign aimed at young people and adolescents to prevent this gender violence and try to make them aware that “it is a present reality today and a serious problem that a ects too many young women and to which there is no room for indi erence”, as the authors of the research point out.

Up to 500 cases of gender violence were detected in Primary Care consultations in the Alicante province in the last year. There are 1,194 cases of abuse throughout the Valencian Community, so almost half have been detected in Alicante. By type of abuse (and taking into account that sometimes the same patient is the victim of several), there have been 1,145 cases of psychological violence, 591 physical attacks and 187 of sexual violence. The minister for health declared that “macho violence has no place in our society; It is a scourge that we must combat from all spheres.”

Improvements for Orihuela Costa

The company that owns the over-head medium voltage power line that cross Campoamor has begun work to move the cables underground. The focus is on Puente de la Glea and the beginning of Wenceslao Fernández and Elvira Lindo streets.

More than 520 meters of medium voltage line will be buried and seven support columns that currently support the lines will be removed. For years, the local community has called out the power lines for being unsightly and for the danger they bring. The result will be 937 meters of underground line, since it is necessary to change the layout.

The Councillor for Infrastructures, Ángel Noguera, noted that “this burying is the result of consultations carried out by the Infrastructure Department, though which it has been possible to respond to the demands of the residents at no cost to the municipal co ers.”

The councillor estimated that the cost of the work is 200,000 euros and will be covered by the power company.

Meanwhile, the Department of Infrastructure has also replaced the wastewater collector that passes through La Rambla de las Estacas in Playa Flamenca. The procedure to carry out this work began in 2016, but it was not until the CHS responded to the City Council’s request that further steps could be taken. An agreement has already been reached with the owners of the urbanization adjoining the land where the works are to be

carried out with the transfer of the necessary land to be able to undertake the improvements.

In order to modify the layout of the collector, two pumping stations will be built to drive the water to the collector that runs along Canyon Hills street. In addition, new PVC pipes and centrifugal pumps will be installed to drive the wastewater generated in the houses of the adjoining urbanizations to the new collector. The works will cost approximately 800,000 euros and will be covered by the Renovation Fund.

And nally…

The Department of Infrastructure has agreed the project to replace the

Roig. The plan includes the construction of two double scuppers, one in each lane of the avenue, 7 meters wide and one meter deep that will connect to the network. In addition, two new manholes will be installed.

The cost of the work will be 52,000 euros and the project will be completed in one month from the signing of the contract. The road tends to ood during heavy rain, despite the fact that there are water collection points on the street, so it is necessary to have more rainwater collection points along the avenue.

This project is one of the seven that will be nanced through the Vega

Renhace Plan, two of which will be carried out in Orihuela and ve in Orihuela Costa. The total amount of the works included in the plan, which aims to replace the infrastructures that were damaged by the DANA of 2019, is about 3, 3 million euros.

“We hope that the rest of the works

can be passed to contracting in a short period of time, although we are waiting for the authorisations from other organisations such as the Ministry and the Segura Hydrographic Confederation to be able to proceeds with a number of the projects,” explained the Councillor of Infrastructure, Ángel Noguera.

rainwater collector in Avenida del Cabo

Christmas Toy Appeal

If you’re a regular reader of the Costa Blanca People, or a TKO Radio listener, you’ve probably already heard about the San José Obrero orphanage. The orphanage caters for around 60 children from the age of 5 to 18 housed in two residence units in Orihuela and Elche. There are also several children in a day facility who go home in the evening time as well as a temporary foster care facility. In addition, there is transitional accommodation for older teenagers who do not have family support in order to help them cope with the evolution to adulthood and independence.

The orphanage is run by the church and most of the children both live and are educated there. In

spite of this, the orphanage does not receive support from the state and is always looking for help from the public.

In the spirit of Christmas and ‘children helping children’, Willow International School is once again this year running a Christmas Gift Appeal in association with TKO Radio and the Costa Blanca People. They are asking students’ families and members of the public in general to add an extra item to their Christmas shopping lists this year.

School Principal Amanda Riding told the Costa Blanca People “We buy so much at Christmas and many of us are lucky that we are able to purchase lovely gifts for our friends and loved ones. I’m asking our families and

friends this year that perhaps when they are shopping for their family or heading out to buy their o ce Secret Santa that they add another special item to their Christmas lists –to buy a toy for a child in need.”

Amanda explained that the Gift Appeal will be advertised on TKO Radio and in the Costa Blanca People throughout the festive season saying “We’ve had such wonderful support from the local media and I am very grateful to TKO and to the Costa Blanca People for publicising this for us. As a community, the expats have always been so supportive of charity appeals and I think everyone will agree that making sure these children have a special gift at Christmas time is a very worthy

cause indeed.”

To support the Gift Appeal, all you need to do is to buy a gift, wrap it and drop if o at one of the drop o points (listed below).

The toys must be brand new but can be of any size and cost all gifts will be most gratefully received.

The deadline for all gifts to be dropped o is Monday December 19th.

While younger children will be delighted with toys, older children might perhaps like some toiletries, Christmas sweets or goodies, or even a voucher in order to go shopping in the sales. Fundraiser for the orphanage Lyn Adams said, “The children are always in need of basic items, clothes and toiletries.”

DROP OFF POINTS

• Willow International School, Pueblo Bravo, Quesada 9.30am to 2.30pm Monday to Friday

• Leddy Homes/Leddy Contractors, Calle San Miguel 9, Los Montesinos 10 to 6pm Monday to Friday

• TKO Radio & Easy Buy Properties, Avenida De La Mancha 29b, Aguas Nuevas, Torrevieja, between 9:30am till 3:30pm

• St George pub, Dog and Firkin & The Chippy, Catral 12pm – late

• Quesada Fish and Chips, 10am - 10pm

• Compass Property Management, Los Dolses

• The Christmas Store, San Luis

• The Hillside, La Marina

Listen to TKO Radio for a special ‘festive’ advert for the toy appeal. There is also a gofundme page where you can make a monetary donation to the appeal, useful for those who are not able to buy a gift and deliver it in person. The link for donations is https://gofund.me/a3a5640d

AACC Santa Walk

Maria and the Pink Ladies and Panthers is holding its annual Santa Walk on Sunday 4th December, starting and nishing at Zenia Boulevard. The walk will begin at 12 noon but walkers are asked to be there at 11am in order to register for the event.

This popular charity fundraiser sees people don festive fancy dress and take to the streets of Orihuela Costa to raise money for the AACC anti-cancer charity. The parade is always a sight to behold as Santa, Mrs Clause, snowmen, elves and Rein-dogs all out in force. And of course, even if you are not walking,

you can still get into the festive mood and dress for the occasion.

All donations are welcome and Simon Morton from Sunshine FM will be live on stage playing Christmas music and the Spangles choir will be singing carols to get everyone in the Christmas mood.

There will also be a collection point for dried foods and toiletries which will be passed on to Reach Out for families in need in the local community.

Charity carol concert

The Royal British Legion Concert Band is giving a carol concert in San Fulgencio on Friday 9th December. The band kicks o a busy December with a Christmas Spectacular Charity Concert at the Cardenal Belluga Theatre, together with Crescendo Choir and well-known guest singer Leroy Morales.

The show will once more be compered by Keith Nicol and will start at 7.30 pm. Admission is free and there will be a ra e with all proceeds going to AAN (Asociación de Ayuda al Necesitado) a local organisation

which helps people in need.

It promises to be a wonderful evening of music and festive fun and all are welcome to go along and join in what promises to be a fantastic evening and to help to raise money for a most worthwhile cause.

The band have many more concerts during December, keep an eye out in The Costa Blanca People for further details.

Please donate any items for families in need

We Urgently Need Your Help

Seagate are pleased to support the amazing charity A Helping Hand - a food and clothes bank charity.

They support 500 families including 700 children that are in poverty and in crisis and they urgently need food and clothes donations from you.

There is a constant need for help with simply the basic staples such as tuna, toilet paper, milk, tinned food, pasta, rice, soup mix, baked beans, olive oil.

They also need hygiene items

such as washing detergent, shower gel, shampoo as well as baby items needed are nappies, hero baby milk 1 and 2 and baby wipes.

As Christmas approaches, they are hoping to be able to give a present to as many children as possible. On their Facebook page is a list of children along with their ages, so if you would like to pick a child, or if you prefer to simply buy a present without choosing a recipient, that would be wonderful. Then drop it o either at

the BIG FM Studio in Ciudad Quesada or their base in San Luis on Tuesday or Friday morning from 10am until 1pm or at over 20 drop o places around the area -  There are many bars and restaurants that support the charity.

As the message on their Facebook page says “Always Help Someone – You Might Be The Only One That Does”.

www.facebook.com/

Works begin to remove invasive plants at Cabo Cervera micro reserve

The Department of the Environment of Torrevieja town hall and the General Directorate of the Natural Environment of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development, Climate Emergency and Ecological Transition are working together in an attempt to eliminate invasive exotic ora in the “Cabo Cervera” micro reserve.

The Councillor for the Environment, Antonio Vidal, reported that the work is being carried out by the Bajo Segura Nature 2000 Brigade, on an area of approximately 1,600 square meters and has the collaboration of a team of municipal workers assigned to the maintenance of the beaches and coastline. In this way, the conservation work that has been carried out over the last 5 years can be maintained, this time with the removal of invasive species, among which are matacuchillo (Carpobrotus spp.), rocío ( Aptenia cordi ora), cassava (Yucca spp.) and lantana (Lantana camara).

The initiative is intended to negate the real threat of displacement and elimination of native species caused by the massive growth of foreign vegetation, many of which come from surrounding landscaped areas. In addition, this will allow future action to support and reinforce the population of plant species typical of coastal environments, especially, the cat-head jarilla (Helianthemum

caput-felis), a species classi ed as “vulnerable” in the Valencian Community and which is also protected by the environmental regulations of the European Union.

It was precisely this plant species that motivated the Generalitat Valenciana, at the request of the Torrevieja City Council, to classify Cabo Cervera as a Flora Microreserve with legislation issued covering a 9 hectare area.

This is not the rst time that

work to control invasive exotic ora has been undertaken in this area, but until now it has not been carried out with the magnitude of the works on this occasion.

Back in 2011, the Ministry of Agriculture and Torrevieja town hall collaborated in the restriction of pedestrian routes and the establishment of speci c signage, to prevent access to the coastal area to places where vulnerable plant species was growing.

GBP / EUR UPDATE

GBP

GBP/USD reached an impressive three-month high at over 1.2150 this week, which seems incredulous really given the persistent negativity that seems to surround all things to do with the UK economy at the moment. Indeed, just this week we have seen the OECD place their projected outlook for the UK at the bottom of the growth list (again) amongst all G20 countries – barring Russia. At least we might outgrow someone. The latest economic data should have hardly encouraged a bull run on the pound either, with a rather sombre report released this week highlighting how UK public sector borrowing rose a whopping £13.5bn during October, roughly £4.4bn more than this time last year, as the measures to support households and businesses with their energy costs, start to eat into the government’s co ers.

On the plus side, there was at least a slight improvement over estimates in the latest S&P/ Global PMI data, with the overall composite moving up from 48.2 to 48.3. That may sound modest, but analysts had pencilled in a decline to around 47.5, which could be a re ection that things are not quite as bad as they could be at the moment, even if only at the margin.

Gilt yields also continue to soften, which as well as giving the government some comfort, has helped to ensure that 5-year mortgage rates have now drifted back below 6% for the rst time in over seven weeks. That may give something of a boost to the property market, although the BoE seem determined to raise UK rates further in their ongoing e ort to tame in ation, so the boost may only be eeting in nature.

Back to the pound, and much of the move behind the strength in GBP/USD has been fuelled by the weakening dollar (see USD), but whilst the OECD

may themselves be particularly negative on the UK, markets are far more sanguine and prepared to give Rishi Sunak and his chancellor some time to get their house in order, evidenced perhaps by the emerging strength of the broader pound, with GBP/EUR pushing sharply back over 1.1650. Looking ahead, next week is a quiet one for UK data, so the pound is likely to take its in uence from the dollar side of the pond.

EURO

Much the same as in the UK, this week has been a case of bad, but not as bad as it could have been amongst the key Euro area data releases.

Although the latest PMI readings across the region highlight ongoing weakness and further signs of a slip into recession, all major components beat estimates, which may be an indication that the slowdown might not be as harsh as had previously been imagined. Furthermore, supply constraints are showing tentative signs of easing, notably in Germany. The latest German ZEW survey also beat estimates in two out of the three components (Business Climate & Expectations).

The size of the next ECB rate hike is still up for debate, with the ECB’s Robert Holzmann leaning toward another 75bps rate hike next month. Christine Lagarde suggested that the ECB will keep raising rates and may need to restrict growth, in their battle against surging in ation in the region, which should ensure that the ECB go for another bold hike, even if it is not quite at the level Holzmann would like to see. Next week’s regionwide harmonised CPI is expected to see another unwelcome jump from 5 to 5.2% (YoY). Markets are currently undecided on rates, with a clear split between 50 and 75bps, with the fate of in ation likely to tip the scales in one direction or another.

Christmas Market in Altea with original Craftwork

The best Christmas presents are handmade!

If you want to surprise your loved ones with original and special Christmas presents, you could do worse than visiting to the Christmas Fair that craft association Amata is organizing in Altea on 9, 10 and 11 December. It will be an original Arts & Crafts fair where authentic artisans only sell work that they have made with their own hands. They can even make something special for you when you can’t nd what you’re looking for.

The Town Hall has once again trusted Amata for the organization of this fair, because they guarantee that everything that is sold is made by hand by the participants themselves. About thirty stalls are expected, o ering a wide range of original work and there will be something for every taste. Ceramics and pottery, colourful leather bags with a matching silk scarf, wooden and soft toys, original paintings and lamps made from pumpkins, jewellery in di erent materials, even handmade guitars! And all those special products that you can only nd at an Amata fair.

There will also be some stalls with Christmas sweets, sausages and cheeses. And to warm you up there will be Glühwein, the

famous mulled wine from the Nordic countries.

For the little ones there will be craft workshops, board games, a Christmas photocall and a mailbox to leave letters to Santa Claus. A versatile artist will animate the fair walking around on stilts, playing Christmas characters and every night he will juggle with re. And in the afternoons there will be live music.

The fair opens on Friday, 9 December at 6 pm; opening times for Saturday and Sunday are from 11 am till 9 pm without closing at lunchtime. On Sunday they close a little earlier. A full programme and photos from last year are at https://www.

puebloartesano.es/altea.html.

Altea, about an hour and 20 minutes north of Torrevieja is a beautiful town and well worth a visit - so the Christmas Market is the perfect excuse to plan a trip.

Two arrested in Alicante for stealing 120 competition pigeons valued at 100,000€

National Police have arrested two men aged 32 and 20 in Alicante accused of the theft of 120 high class competition pigeons from a pigeon breeding club in Benidorm. The stolen pigeons are valued at about 100,000 euros and the Police have so far recovered 74 birds in Alicante. Those arrested were due in court on Wednesday where a close friend of one of the detainees had assured the assembled press that they did not in fact steal the 120 pigeons, but had purchased them locally.

Nevertheless, it was a call to the 091 incident room that alerted National Police of the alleged theft. It was the second theft that had been committed at the club in just ten days and one of the a ected members reported that 120 pigeons had been stolen from inside the club, all of them classi ed as highvalue competition specimens and valued at around 100,000 euros, according to police.

According to Police, investigators carried out a thorough inquiry that allowed them to nd out the identity of the alleged perpetrators of the theft. According to the club, the alleged thieves knew their racing pigeons as they “perfectly chose the best specimens” to steal.

Agents of the Response Operational Group (GOR) and

the Judicial Police Brigade of the Alicante North Police Station launched an operation to locate the men as well as to recover the stolen birds.

Plainclothes and uniformed agents were deployed and tracked the alleged thieves, nding that both were carrying several boxes with various pigeons.

The police then veri ed that they were carrying some of the birds stolen during that same night in Benidorm, for which they proceeded to arrest them and transfer them to police stations. In two days the agents were able to recover 74 pigeons, so the investigation is still open, since all the stolen birds have not yet been recovered.

Military day out for U3A members

A group headed up by members of the Military History Group from the Torrevieja U3A paid a visit to the Museo Histórico Militar de Cartagena (Military History Museum) on 23rd November.

The museum is sta ed by unpaid volunteers who are responsible for many aspects of the running of the museum including tours of the exhibits, maintenance of vehicles, etc.

One of the many exhibits there is a Guinness World Record winning exhibit of over 3000 hand made, dinky sized replicas of everything from Land Rovers to Tanks to Aircraft and munitions which were produced over a period of 60 years by a disabled ex-serviceman. The collection was donated to the museum by the widow of the constructor.

The group were also able to watch a team of mainly UK volunteers work on a tank that they have been rebuilding from two separate tanks over the past 12 years. They were in the process of attempting to start the engine but unfortunately had to give up for the time being.

After a very entertaining tour the group then moved on to a local restaurant where they partook of a splendid Menu del Dia.

An enjoyable conclusion to an enjoyable day.

The U3A is an international movement whose aims are the

education and stimulation of mainly retired members of the community—those in their third ‘age’ of life.

U3A membership is not related to a speci c age but to a period in one’s life (the third age) after the second age of fulltime employment and parental responsibility. Anyone can join Torrevieja U3A and this includes people who are working part time. There is no lower age for membership.

The Torrevieja U3A is a learning co-operative which draws upon the knowledge and skills of its own members to organise and provide interest groups in accordance with the wishes of the membership. The association encourages and enables members to help each

other share their knowledge, skills and experience to celebrate the capabilities and potential of its members and their value to society.

Group activities o er the chance to enjoy life, meet new friends and study many di erent subjects in varied elds. There is no accreditation or validation and there are no assessments or quali cations to be gained - the approach to learning is “learning for pleasure”.

Should anyone be interested in this group, or any of the many other activities that Torrevieja U3A o ers to its members, then visit our website torreviejau3a.org where you can nd everything you need to know including how to join the association.

My boyfriend wants a work colleague to move in with us temporarily; she apparently has nowhere to go after breaking up with her other half. I asked him why he had offered to help this person but he said that it was she who had asked for help. I am aghast at why my boyfriend would even entertain such a suggestion. He has never mentioned this woman to me before. I looked her up on Facebook, and she is not only attractive, but comes across as very flirtatious. I fear WRITE TO

054 467.

either she fancies him, or he fancies her, and that I will regret agreeing to this. We’ve been together for three years, living together for two and plan to get engaged and married. Up to now, we’ve been discussing our future, but since this woman has appeared on the scene, my boyfriend no longer wants to discuss his life with me.

I think you are right to have reservations; you don’t have to agree to this, and if I were you I

would refuse. It’s worrying that your boyfriend cannot see why this wouldn’t be a good idea. Why is she asking him? Hasn’t she got family she can go to, or rent somewhere of her own? If there isn’t already something between them, there might be if you allow this lady over the threshold. If he is happy with you, why would he even consider something like this? Personally, I would downright refuse, and question his motives. If this doesn’t work, I suggest you get on to her directly, and tell her in no uncertain terms that she is not welcome.

SARA IN CONFIDENCE. A PSEUDONYM WILL BE USED IF YOU WISH. SARA READS ALL LETTERS AND CAN GIVE A PERSONAL REPLY. EMAIL YOUR QUESTION TO SARA@ COSTABLANCAPEOPLE.COM OR SARA IS AVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE CONSULTATIONS, TELEPHONE 650

Barcelona to impose water restrictions due to drought

Barcelona will impose water use restrictions such as banning swimming pools from being lled due to a drought a ecting large parts of Spain, local o cials have said.

The city and its surrounding area have been, as of Friday, be put under a “drought alert”, joining other parts of the north-eastern region of Catalonia.

“Months of little rain has forced us to take new decisions in order to minimise the consequences of this drought,” Patricia Plaja, the spokeswoman for the regional government of Catalonia, told reporters.

The alert imposes

restrictions on water use for farmers, factories and livestock breeders, and bans using water to ll swimming pools. There will be no water rationing for domestic use.

It is the rst time since 2008 that a “drought alert” has been issued for Barcelona, Spain’s second largest city. About 80 percent of Catalonia’s population of 7.7 million people will live in areas under the drought alert now that it has comes into e ect.

“Catalonia will face longer and more intense periods of drought,” Plaja said.

October 2022 was the hottest month of October in Spain since records started in

1961, according to national weather agency AEMET. The unusually warm October follows a summer in Spain and much of Europe marked by repeated heatwaves which fuelled wild res and worsened drought conditions.

This has been the fourth driest year in Spain since records started being kept.

Between January and October the country received an average of 355 litres of rainfall per square metre — 26 percent less than the normal level, according to the weather agency.

Reservoirs in Spain were at 32.5 percent of their total capacity.

Eight years for attempted murder in Orihuela Costa

The Supreme Court has sentenced a Russian man to eight years in prison for trying to kill his wife in Orihuela Costa, violating a

restraining against him. The man will also have to pay 28,000 euros in damages and is banned from approaching or communicating

with the victim for 14 years. The man had appealed his conviction, but judges upheld the attempted murder charge.

Worker crushed by pallet

A 37-year-old worker has died in Rafal after a 400-kilo pallet fell on him. The call to the

emergency services was made at 3.30pm. A SAMU ambulance and paramedics were sent to the

scene but could only con rm the man’s death. A full workplace investigation is underway.

If you have a question or problem that needs my help, please email Brian at cbtechnology.help@gmail. com. If you want to join the Technology Help Group search Facebook for “Costa Blanca Technology Help Group”. If you do not use Facebook you can still join by sending an email with your details to cbtechnology. help@gmail.com.

When joining on Facebook please make sure that you scroll all the way through and answer all questions and give your email address. I use your email address as the primary means of communication.

Scan the QR for a reminder of what the Costa Blanca Technology Help Group o ers.

“I tried to send an old generic poster to several people, but most could not open it. Can you help?”

Depending on what you used to create the poster, the recipients will need an application capable of opening it. e.g. if the poster was created using Word they

Your tech questions answered by Brian Hoile of the Costa Blanca Technology Help Group, helping over 200 members with their PCs, smartphones and more. Find the group on Facebook (Costa Blanca Technology Help Group) or attend the meetings in person or online via Zoom.

would need Word or Open O ce to be able to open it. The best option is to create a PDF le from the original document.

A PDF le can easily be created by “Printing to PDF” from the application used to create the document.

Advantages to doing this are: 1. Acrobat Reader is available for free for all devices to allow the viewing of pdf les.

2. A PDF le cannot be readily edited or changed by the recipient.

“I know a VPN can be used to watch BBC UK TV but it seems that it is a security device and therefore worth installing. Is that true?”

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is normally used to hide your geographical position.

As you probably know if you are using a Spanish ISP (Internet Service Provider) you cannot watch the UK TV iPlayers as they detect that you are not in the UK.

Another useful thing that a VPN gives you is Anonymity. They usually boast “ Protect yourself and your data online. Securely access apps, websites,

entertainment, and more. In other words, websites cannot access your devices.

From another source “VPNs are one of the best security tools on the market and not that expensive considering the value they bring. VPNs ensure data protection from hackers and secure browsing.”

When you download and install VPN and open it you need to select a country (and sometimes a city) that you want to appear to.

Once you have done that you can watch the UK TV iPlayers and surf the internet anonymously. Most VPN’s allow you to install on several devices. Usually up to 5.

When you have downloaded and installed the VPN of your choice and want to “ hide” your location you run the VPN App. You then select a location and while running it the internet thinks that you are in that location. You are now using the internet while not being able to be tracked.

From then you are browsing the internet anonymously.

Brian Hoile Technology Help Group

Join the Group by searching Facebook for “Costa Blanca Technology Help Group” Send your questions to cbtechnology.help@gmail.com

This Week´s Movie Picks

The Proposal

Saturday 3rd December – ITV2, 7.45pm

Faced with deportation to her native Canada, highpowered book editor Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock) says she’s engaged to marry Andrew Paxton (Ryan Reynolds), her hapless assistant. Andrew agrees to the charade, but imposes a few conditions of his own, including ying to Alaska to meet his eccentric family. With a suspicious immigration o cial always lurking nearby, Margaret and Andrew must stick to their wedding plan despite numerous mishaps.

The Holiday Sunday 4th December – ITV2, 9.00pm

Dumped and depressed, English rose Iris agrees to swap homes with similarly unlucky in love Californian Amanda for a muchneeded break. Iris nds herself in a palatial Hollywood mansion while Amanda navigates the lanes of a picture-perfect English village. Soon enough, both lovelorn ladies bump into local lads perfect for a romantic pick-me-up.

Santa bikers to spread festive cheer

The Santa bikers are set to visit the area once again this December, and all for a good cause. As con rmed by Benejúzar town hall, the ‘Moto Papanoelada’ will take place between December 17th And 18th and will involve 12 towns, 20 associations and thousands of bikers who will tour the entire Alicante province.

Benejúzar City Council announced it is once again participating in several festive initiatives, one of which is being organised by the Club Centauros del Alba, with the aim of collecting toys for the most disadvantaged boys and girls in the region. Then on December 17 and 18 the third edition of the charity campaign ‘Moto Papanoelada’ will take place, organised by the Alicante Motorcyclists Union League with the participation of thousands of bikers who will tour the province of Alicante spreading joy as they go.

In a separate initiative, Club Centauros del Alba de Benejúzar is organising, together with various local companies, a toy collection that kicked o on November 24, and runs until Friday, December 16. To this end, three collection points have been set up: Benejúzar Town Hall,

the Mamalu Salon Bar and the Botigueta Eurobazar. The arrival of the Santa Bikers to the town is scheduled for Sunday, December 18. The route’s starting point is the HQ of Alicante Motorcyclists League and the Santa Bikers will ride through Algorfa, Almoradí, Benejúzar, Bigastro, San Miguel de Salinas and Los Montesinos. This route is organised by Centauros del Alba and Motopeña Vega Baja Los Arcasiles.

The mayor, Rosa García, has assured that “we are very happy with this initiative, which unites so many people, organisations and institutions with a single objective, which is to help and collaborate so that no one is left without a gift at Christmas”. The mayor said that “from the City Council we will continue to support this solidarity initiative and we want to thank our Motoclub Centauros del Alba for their involvement in this campaign.”

22 Your FREE Weekly TV Guide costablancapeople.com | 29th November - 5th December 2022

BBC one BBC two ITV Channel 4Channel 5ITV2 ITV3

00:10 BBC Weather 00:15 The Wife 01:50 Simon

of Now 02:50 Countryfile 03:35 The Secret

Modern Life 04:35 This Is

TWO 07:30

00:05 Peston

01:00 DNA Journey 02:15 Ideal World 04:00 Cooking with the Stars 04:50 Unwind with ITV 06:00 The Cube

07:00 Good Morning Britain 10:00 Lorraine

11:00 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 ITV Lunchtime News 14:55 ITV News London

15:00 Live: FIFA World Cup 2022

18:15 Catchphrase 19:00 ITV News London 19:30 ITV Evening News 20:00 Emmerdale 21:00 Coronation Street

22:00 Freddie and Jason: Two Men in a Tent 23:00 ITV News at Ten 23:35 ITV News London 23:50 FIFA World Cup 2022

Wednesday 30th November

00:00 BBC London 00:10 Tokyo Vice 01:05 Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel 02:05 The Graham Norton Show 02:55 Match of the Day 04:35 Weather for the Week Ahead 04:40 Joins BBC News 05:00 BBC News 05:30 HARDtalk 06:00 BBC World News 06:30 World Business Report 07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Morning Live 11:00 Expert Witness 11:30 Claimed and Shamed 12:15 Homes Under the Hammer 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News at One 14:30 BBC London 14:45 Doctors 15:15 Planet Earth Live 15:30 Live: Match of the Day 18:15 BBC News at Six 18:45 BBC London 19:15 Live: Match of the Day 22:15 The Traitors 23:15 BBC News at Ten 23:45 BBC London 23:55 Louis Theroux Interviews...

00:25 BBC Weather 00:30 Trailblazers: A Rocky Mountain Road Trip 01:30 McFarland, USA 03:30 Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy 04:10 Best Bakes Ever 04:55 This Is BBC TWO 07:15 Homes Under the Hammer 08:15 Bargain Hunt 09:00 MasterChef: The Professionals 10:00 BBC News 11:00 BBC News 12:15 Politics Live 14:00 Flipping Profit 14:45 Eggheads 15:15 Eggheads 15:45 Live: Match of the Day 18:15 Flog It! 18:45 Richard Osman’s House of Games 19:15 Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two 19:45 Live: Match of the Day 22:10 The Ice Cream Wars 23:10 Two Doors Down 23:40 Newsnight

The future of David Walliams’ role as a judge on Britain’s Got Talent is ‘very much up in the air’ after the author and comedian was forced to issue an apology for inappropriate remarks about contestants. Walliams has been on the judging panel for ten years and was named best judge at the TV awards three times.

Reports have been circulating that he won’t be part of the show for the rst time in more than ten years with the Sun newspaper claiming that Walliams is set to leave the show. A spokesperson for the show, which airs on ITV, said that the comedian’s role in next year’s series of Britain’s Got Talent is not guaranteed.

The news comes after the 51 year old apologies for commends he reportedly made during breaks in lming in 2020

A spokesperson for Britain’s Got Talent told PA news agency: “The judging panel for Britain’s Got Talent 2023 will be announced in due course. It’s still very much up in the air at the moment on whether David is going to take part in next year’s show. No

00:50 I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! 01:50 Ideal World 04:00 The Jonathan Ross Show 04:55 Unwind with ITV 06:10 Prem Classics 07:00 Good Morning Britain 10:00 Lorraine 11:00 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 ITV Lunchtime News 14:55 ITV News London 15:00 Dickinson’s Real Deal 16:00 Tenable 17:00 Tipping Point 18:00 The Chase 19:00 ITV News London 19:30 ITV Evening News 20:00 Emmerdale 21:00 Coronation Street 22:00 A Royal Grand Design 23:00 ITV News at Ten 23:35 ITV News London 23:45 FIFA World Cup 2022

decision, though, has been made as yet.”

Walliams’ remarks, rst reported by the Guardian, are thought to have been derogatory and sexually explicit. The remarks, shown on a leaked transcript, are understood to have been picked up by the judges’ microphones.

In a statement, Walliams said: “These were private conversations and - like most conversations with friends - were never intended to be shared. Nevertheless, I am sorry.”

Thames TV, the production company behind Britain’s Got Talent, said in a statement that the language used was “inappropriate” and that those involved had been “reminded of their responsibilities”.

05:30 Devon and Cornwall 06:25 Drawers Off 06:50 Kirstie’s House of Craft 07:05 Countdown 07:45 Cheers 08:10 Cheers 08:35 Everybody Loves Raymond

09:00 Everybody Loves Raymond

09:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 10:00 Frasier 10:30 Frasier 11:00 Frasier

11:30 Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA 12:25 Channel 4 News Summary

12:30 Chateau DIY

13:30 Steph’s Packed Lunch 15:10 Countdown 16:00 A Place in the Sun 17:00 Sun, Sea and Selling Houses 18:00 Four in a Bed 18:30 Come Dine with Me

19:00 The Simpsons

19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 21:00 The Great British Bake Off 22:00 Miriam and Alan: Lost in Scotland and Beyond 23:00 You Won’t Believe This

07:15 Oggy Oggy 07:25 Blue’s Clues & You! 07:50 Fireman Sam 08:00 Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go 08:10 Peppa Pig 08:15 Peppa Pig 08:25 PAW Patrol 08:45 Milo 09:00 Pip & Posy 09:15 The Adventures of Paddington 09:30 PAW Patrol 09:45 Daisy & Ollie 09:55 Odo 10:00 Milkshake! Story Den 10:10 Sunny Bunnies 10:15 Jeremy Vine 13:30 Bargain Loving Brits in the Sun 14:25 5 News at Lunchtime 14:30 Royally Wrapped for Christmas 16:15 Matchmaker Christmas 18:00 5 News at 5 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Eggheads 20:00 Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly 21:00 The Yorkshire Vet 22:00 Scandal!: When Sven Scored With UIrika 23:00 A&E After Dark

00:00 Family Guy 00:30 Family Guy 00:55 American Dad! 01:25 American Dad! 01:55 The Stand Up Sketch Show 02:25 The Stand Up Sketch Show 02:55 The Emily Atack Show 03:40 Unwind with ITV 04:00 Teleshopping 07:00 Totally Bonkers Guinness World Records 07:35 Totally Bonkers Guinness World Records 08:00 The Cabins 09:00 Love Bites 10:00 Love Bites 11:00 Dress to Impress 12:00 Dress to Impress 13:00 Rolling In It 14:00 Family Fortunes 15:00 Supermarket Sweep 16:05 One Tree Hill 17:00 Hart of Dixie 18:00 Chuck 19:00 Catchphrase 20:00 Dress to Impress 21:00 Bob’s Burgers 21:30 Bob’s Burgers 22:00 Ekin-Su and Davide: Homecomings 23:00 Getting Filthy Rich

01:05 A Touch of Frost 03:20 Unwind with ITV 03:30 Teleshopping 07:00 Coronation Street 07:35 Coronation Street 08:00 Emmerdale 08:35 Emmerdale 09:05 Man About the House 09:35 Man About the House

07:25 Blue’s Clues & You! 07:45

Fireman Sam 07:55 Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go 08:10 Peppa Pig 08:15 Peppa Pig 08:25 PAW Patrol 08:45 Milo 09:00 Pip & Posy 09:15 The Adventures of Paddington 09:30 PAW Patrol 09:50 Daisy & Ollie 09:55 Odo 10:05 Milkshake! Story Den 10:10 Sunny Bunnies 10:15 Jeremy Vine 13:30 Bargain Loving Brits in the Sun 14:25 5 News at Lunchtime 14:30 Let’s Meet Again on Christmas Eve 16:15

01:05 A Touch of Frost 03:20 Unwind with ITV 03:30 Teleshopping 07:00 Coronation Street 07:35 Coronation Street 08:00 Emmerdale 08:35 Emmerdale 09:05 Man About the House 09:35 Man About the House 10:10 Agatha Christie’s Poirot 12:30 Heartbeat 13:35 Heartbeat 14:40 Emmerdale 15:15 Emmerdale 16:25 Coronation Street 16:50 A Touch of Frost 19:00 Heartbeat 20:00 Heartbeat 21:00 Lewis 23:00

Foyle’s War

ITV said it did not condone the language and had “spoken to the producers” about the incident.

Thursday 1st December

00:40 Wreck

01:25 Wreck

02:15 Match of the Day 03:55 Weather for the Week

Ahead 04:00 BBC News 04:30 Click 05:00 BBC News 05:30 HARDtalk 06:00 BBC World News 06:30 World Business Report 07:00 Breakfast

10:15 Morning Live 11:00 Expert Witness

11:30 Claimed and Shamed 12:15 Homes Under the Hammer

13:15 Bargain Hunt

14:00 BBC News at One 14:30 BBC London

14:45 Doctors

15:15 Planet Earth Live

15:30 Live: Match of the Day 18:15 Pointless 19:00 BBC News at Six 19:30 BBC London

20:00 EastEnders

20:30 EastEnders

21:00 MasterChef: The Professionals 22:00 The Traitors 23:00 BBC News at Ten 23:30 BBC London 23:40 Question Time

00:20 BBC Weather

00:25 Unspun World with John Simpson

00:50 The Elephant Man 02:50 The People’s Piazza: A History of Covent Garden 04:20 This Is BBC TWO 07:45 Beechgrove 08:15 Bargain Hunt 09:00 Iolo: A Wild Life 09:30 Between the Covers 10:00 BBC News 11:00 BBC News

13:15 Politics Live 14:00 Home Is Where the Art Is

14:45 Eggheads 15:15 Eggheads

15:45 Live: Match of the Day 18:15 Flog It!

19:00 Richard Osman’s House of Games 19:30 Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two 20:00 The One Show 20:30 Nigella: Cook, Eat, Repeat 21:00 The Secret Genius of Modern Life

22:00 The English 22:55 Live at the Apollo 23:30 Newsnight

Friday 2nd December

00:40 Match of the Day 01:25 Newscast 01:55 We Are England 02:25 Match of the Day 04:05 Weather for the Week Ahead 04:10 Joins BBC News 04:30 The Big Cases 05:00 BBC News 05:30 HARDtalk 06:00 BBC World News 06:30 World Business Report 07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Morning Live 11:00 Expert Witness 11:30 Claimed and Shamed 12:15 Homes Under the Hammer 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News at One 14:30 BBC London 14:45 Doctors 15:15 Planet Earth Live 15:30 Live: Match of the Day 18:15 Pointless 19:00 BBC News at Six 19:30 BBC London 20:00 Granite Harbour 21:00 Strictly Come Dancing 22:05 MasterChef: The Professionals 23:05 BBC News at Ten 23:35 BBC London 23:45 The Graham Norton Show

00:10 BBC Weather 00:15 The Deer Hunter 03:10 Strictly Come Dancing 04:25 Strictly Come Dancing 04:55 This Is BBC TWO 07:15 Homes Under the Hammer 08:15 Bargain Hunt 09:00 Trawlermen: Hunting the Catch 10:00 BBC News 11:00 BBC News 13:15 Politics UK 14:00 Heart of the Holidays 15:25 Beechgrove 15:45 Live: Match of the Day 18:15 Flog It! 19:00 Richard Osman’s House of Games 19:30 Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two 20:30 The One Show 21:00 Gardeners’ World 22:00 Agatha Christie: Lucy Worsley on the Mystery Queen 23:00 QI 23:30 Newsnight

00:45 Keane and Vieira: Best of Enemies

01:50 Ideal World 04:00 Unforgettable FIFA World Cups

04:50 Unwind with ITV 06:05 Ainsley’s Mediterranean Cookbook

07:00 Good Morning Britain

10:00 Lorraine

11:00 This Morning

13:30 Loose Women

14:30 ITV Lunchtime News 14:55 ITV News London

15:00 James Martin’s Great British Adventure

15:30 Tenable

16:30 Tipping Point 17:30 The Chase

18:30 ITV News London

18:45 ITV Evening News

19:15 Live: FIFA World Cup 2022

22:15 I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! 23:20 ITV News 23:50 ITV News London

05:15 Couples Come Dine with Me

06:10 Devon and Cornwall

07:05 Countdown 07:45 Cheers 08:10 Cheers 08:35 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 10:00 Frasier 10:30 Frasier 11:00 Frasier

11:30 Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA 12:25 Channel 4 News Summary

12:30 Chateau DIY

13:30 Steph’s Packed Lunch 15:10 Countdown 16:00 A Place in the Sun

17:00 Sun, Sea and Selling Houses 18:00 Four in a Bed 18:30 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 21:00 Food Unwrapped 22:00 Taskmaster 23:00 The Horne Section TV Show 23:30 The Horne Section TV Show

07:15 Oggy Oggy 07:25 Blue’s Clues & You! 07:45 Fireman Sam 07:55 Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go 08:10 Peppa Pig 08:15 Peppa Pig 08:25 PAW Patrol 08:45 Milo 09:00 Pip & Posy 09:15 The Adventures of Paddington 09:30 PAW Patrol 09:50 Daisy & Ollie 09:55 Odo 10:05 Milkshake! Story Den 10:10 Sunny Bunnies 10:15 Jeremy Vine 13:30 Bargain Loving Brits in the Sun 14:25 5 News at Lunchtime 14:30 Christmas Is You 16:15 Christmas Hotel 18:00 5 News at 5 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Eggheads 20:00 30 Tips To Cut Your Christmas Spend 21:00 Inside the Tower of London 22:00 To Be Announced 23:30 The Motorway Cops: Catching Britain’s Speeders

00:40 American Dad! 01:10 American Dad! 01:35 The Stand Up Sketch Show 02:05 The Stand Up Sketch Show 02:35 Shopping with Keith Lemon 03:05 Shopping with Keith Lemon 03:35 Totally Bonkers Guinness World Records 04:00 Teleshopping 07:00 Totally Bonkers Guinness World Records 07:35 Totally Bonkers Guinness World Records 08:00 The Cabins 09:00 Love Bites 10:00 Love Bites 11:00 Dress to Impress 12:00 Dress to Impress 13:00 Rolling In It 14:00 Family Fortunes 15:00 Supermarket Sweep 16:05 One Tree Hill 17:00 Hart of Dixie 18:00 Chuck 19:00 Catchphrase 20:00 Dress to Impress 21:00 Bob’s Burgers 21:30 Bob’s Burgers 22:00 Family Guy 22:30 Family Guy 23:00 Plebs 23:30 Plebs

01:05 A Touch of Frost 03:15 Unwind with ITV

03:30 Teleshopping 07:00 Coronation Street 07:35 Emmerdale 08:00 Emmerdale

09:05 Man About the House 09:35 Man About the House 10:10 Man About the House 10:45 Man About the House 11:20 Agatha Christie’s Poirot 12:30 Heartbeat 13:35 Heartbeat 14:40 Emmerdale 15:15 Emmerdale 15:50 Coronation Street

16:20 Coronation Street

16:50 A Touch of Frost 19:00 Heartbeat 20:00 Heartbeat 21:00 Vera 23:00 Bancroft

00:00 On Assignment 00:35 Freddie and Jason: Two Men in a Tent 01:30 All Elite Wrestling: Rampage 02:25 Ideal World 04:00 Game of Talents 04:50 Unwind with ITV 06:05 Nadia’s Family Feasts 07:00 Good Morning Britain 10:00 Lorraine 11:00 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 ITV Lunchtime News 14:55 ITV News London 15:00 James Martin’s Great British Adventure 15:30 Tenable 16:30 Tipping Point 17:30 The Chase 18:30 ITV News London 18:45 ITV Evening News 19:15 Live: FIFA World Cup 2022

22:15 It’ll Be Alright on the Night 23:20 ITV News 23:50 ITV News London

04:40 Couples Come Dine with Me

05:35 Devon and Cornwall 06:30 Drawers Off 06:55 Escape to the Chateau 07:05 Countdown 07:45 Cheers 08:10 Cheers 08:35 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 10:00 Frasier 10:30 Frasier 11:00 Frasier 11:30 Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA 12:25 Channel 4 News Summary

12:30 Chateau DIY 13:30 Steph’s Packed Lunch 15:10 Countdown 16:00 A Place in the Sun 17:00 Sun, Sea and Selling Houses 18:00 Four in a Bed 18:30 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:30 Unreported World 21:00 Grayson’s Art Club 22:00 Gogglebox 23:00 The Last Leg

07:15 Oggy Oggy 07:25 Blue’s Clues & You! 07:50 Fireman Sam 08:00 Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go 08:10 Peppa Pig 08:15 Peppa Pig 08:25 PAW Patrol 08:45 Milo 09:00 Pip & Posy 09:15 The Adventures of Paddington 09:30 PAW Patrol 09:50 Daisy & Ollie 09:55 Odo 10:05 Milkshake! Story Den 10:10 Sunny Bunnies 10:15 Jeremy Vine 13:30 Bargain Loving Brits in the Sun 14:25 5 News at Lunchtime 14:30 Christmas Together 16:15 To Be Announced 18:00 5 News at 5 19:00 Holidaying With Jane McDonald: The Caribbean 20:00 Susan Calman’s Grand Days Out 21:00 Secrets Of The World’s Most Expensive Cruises 22:00 Live: The Big Fight Live

00:00 Family Guy 00:30 American Dad! 00:55 American Dad! 01:25 The Stand Up Sketch Show 01:55 The Stand Up Sketch Show 02:25 Crossing Swords 02:55 Crossing Swords 03:20 CelebAbility 06:30 Teleshopping 07:00 Totally Bonkers Guinness World Records 07:35 Totally Bonkers Guinness World Records 08:00 The Cabins 09:00 Love Bites 10:00 Love Bites 11:00 Dress to Impress 12:00 Dress to Impress 13:00 Rolling In It 14:00 Family Fortunes 15:00 Supermarket Sweep 16:05 One Tree Hill 17:00 Chuck 18:00 Chuck 19:00 Catchphrase 20:00 Dress to Impress 21:00 Bob’s Burgers 21:30 Bob’s Burgers 22:00 Wedding Crashers

00:00 Bancroft 01:05 A Touch of Frost 03:20 Unwind with ITV 03:30 Teleshopping 07:00 Coronation Street 07:35 Coronation Street 08:00 Emmerdale 08:35 Emmerdale 09:05 Man About the House 09:35 Maigret 11:25 Maigret 12:35 Heartbeat 13:35 Heartbeat 14:40 Emmerdale 15:15 Emmerdale 15:50 Coronation Street 16:20 Coronation Street 16:50 A Touch of Frost 19:00 Heartbeat 20:00 Heartbeat 21:00 Doc Martin 22:00 Doc Martin 23:00 Bancroft

Sunday

01:40 Match of the Day: Top 10 02:10 Match of the Day 03:50 Weather for the Week Ahead 03:55 Joins BBC News 04:00 BBC News 05:00 BBC News 05:30 Click 06:00 BBC News 06:30 The Media Show 07:00 Breakfast 10:00 Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg 11:00 Politics London 11:30 My Life at Christmas with Sally Phillips 12:30 Homes Under the Hammer 13:00 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC Weekend News 14:10 Weather for the Week Ahead 14:15 Songs of Praise 14:55 Money for Nothing 15:30 Live: Match of the Day 18:10 BBC Weekend News 18:25 BBC Weather 18:30 The Earthshot Prize: Repairing Our Planet 19:30 Live: Match of the Day 22:15 SAS Rogue Heroes 23:15 BBC Weekend News 23:40 BBC London 23:45 Spider-Man: Far From Home

00:10 Sounds for Saturday 00:45 6 Music Festival 02:00 The Conversation 03:50 The Millionaire’s Gift Guide 04:50 This Is BBC TWO 07:20 Gardeners’ World 08:20 Countryfile 09:15 Landward 09:45 This Farming Life 10:45 Saturday Kitchen Best Bites 12:15 Mary Berry’s Country House Secrets 13:15 Top of the Shop with Tom Kerridge 14:15 The A to Z of TV Cooking 15:00 The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp 17:40 Natural World 18:30 Flog It! 19:30 This Farming Life 20:30 Countryfile 21:30 Antiques Roadshow 22:30 Simon Schama’s History of Now 23:30 British Film Premieres Introductions 23:32 Cow

07:00 The Rubbish World of Dave Spud 07:10 The Rubbish World of Dave Spud 07:20 The Rubbish World of Dave Spud 07:35 Thunderbirds Are Go 08:00 Dare Master 08:05 Ninjago: Crystalized 08:15 Ninjago: Crystalized 08:30 Craig of the Creek 08:55 Dodo 09:10 Dodo 09:25 Lloyd of the Flies 09:40 Lloyd of the Flies 09:55 How 10:25 Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh 12:20 Love Your Garden 12:50 John and Lisa’s Weekend Kitchen

13:50 ITV Lunchtime News 14:00 English Football League Highlights 15:00 Live: FIFA World Cup 2022

18:15 Tipping Point: Best Ever Finals 18:40 ITV Evening News 18:50 ITV News London 19:00 Live: FIFA World Cup 2022 22:15 It’ll Be Alright on the Night 23:20 ITV News 23:30 Wonder Woman

02:00 Ramsay’s Hotel Hell

02:50 Couples Come Dine with Me

03:45 The Dog House 04:25 Hollyoaks Omnibus 06:25 Countdown 07:05 The King of Queens 07:30 The King of Queens 07:50 The King of Queens

08:15 Everybody Loves Raymond 08:40 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:05 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:30 The Simpsons 10:00 The Simpsons

10:30 Sunday Brunch

13:30 The Simpsons 13:55 The Simpsons 14:25 The Simpsons 14:50 Bee Movie

16:40 Jamie: Together at Christmas

17:45 Deck the Halls

19:30 Channel 4 News

20:00 Christmas at Liberty 21:00 Escape to the Chateau 22:00 The Handmaid’s Tale 23:00 Gogglebox

00:15 A Fistful of Dollars

02:15 The Leovegas Live Casino Show 04:15 Entertainment News On 5 04:25 Eggheads 04:55 Cruising with Jane McDonald 05:40 The Funny Thing About... 06:30 Peppa Pig 06:35 Peppa Pig 06:40 Fireman Sam 06:50 Pip & Posy 13:13 Channel Off Air 13:45 Candy Coated Christmas 15:35 Jack Frost 17:40 Scrooge 20:00 To Be Announced 22:00 Noel Edmonds: The Rise & Fall of Mr. Saturday Night 23:30 Kinky Boots

0000 Sanditon 01:05 Quiz 02:10 Quiz 03:10 Unwind with ITV 03:30 Teleshopping 07:00 Man About the House 07:35 Emmerdale Omnibus 10:20 A Touch of Frost 12:35 Agatha Christie’s Poirot 14:50 Agatha Christie’s Poirot 17:00 Agatha Christie’s Poirot 19:00 Lewis 21:00 Endeavour 23:00 Endeavour

01:45

Studio32 recruiting drive

Do you have a background in musical theatre or have the urge to tread the boards, then look no further than Studio32 Musical Theatre Company. We are currently on the lookout for new members, particularly men in the age range of 20 to 40 years of age who can either sing, act or dance to star in our upcoming production of ‘Hello Dolly’. Don’t worry if you do not have experience of musical theatre as you will receive guidance from experts to bring out the best of your talents. To nd out more come along to our open days at Casa Contenta, Rojales on the dates advertised on our poster. We are also on the lookout for people with technical ability in the area of sound, lighting, carpentry and painting to help us backstage and in the production of stage sets and props and costume preperation. If you are that person and would like further information on our theatre company, please visit our website www. studiothirtytwo.org or call 679 062 272. You will be made most welcome.

07:05 Peppa Pig 07:10 Tales From The

Zoo:

22:00

23:00

00:50 Quiz 02:00 Vera 04:05 Emmerdale Omnibus 05:45 Unwind with ITV 07:00 Coronation Street 07:35 Coronation Street 08:00 Emmerdale 08:35 Emmerdale 09:05 Man About the House 09:35 Man About the House 10:10 Maigret 11:25 Maigret 12:35 Heartbeat 13:35 Heartbeat 14:40 Emmerdale 15:15 Emmerdale 15:50 Coronation Street 16:50 A Touch of Frost 19:00 Heartbeat 20:00 Heartbeat 21:00 Vera 23:00 Cracker

Underrated cocktails

We’ve all got our go-to cocktail order – whether you’re the Old Fashioned type, a G&T devotee or a Margarita a cionado. But there’s nothing like falling in love with a new favourite. If you’re ready to shake things up, why not start with the most underrated cocktails out there?

Americano

The Negroni has gone totally meta over the past decade, but the Americano is a less boozy version that removes the gin in favour of soda. It’s a full- avour, low-alcohol drink that you could order anywhere. Those long summers of Aperol Spritzes are behind us – let’s all agree to treat our taste buds like grownups and collectively get back onboard the Americano express. Simple, e ervescent, enlivening, perfect when you don’t know what you want to drink, the Americano never fails.

Daiquiri

When most people hear the word “daiquiri,” they think of a frozen, sweet pink drink you sip on South Beach. But what most people don’t know is that the classic daiquiri is actually just three ingredients: rum, lime, and sugar. Have a classic daiquiri and you’ll never want the frozen version again!

Classic Sour

It’s the single most versatile cocktail, and you can have hundreds of varieties of it with di erent base spirits of whiskey, gin, vodka and even arrack or sochu. You can even customise it by using di erent types of citrus to accompany the fresh lemon juice and experimenting with di erent sugars available.

20th Century

The 20th Century is a rarely ordered classic. It has such an unusual combination of avours that somehow work and always pleasantly surprises people: gin, lillet blanc, white chocolate liqueur and lemon. Delicious!

Flavonoid rich diet protects health

There are several indicators that you’re at risk of a heart attack or stroke. A high level of “bad” cholesterol in your blood is one sign. But another is high levels of calcium in your blood vessels. But new research published recently has found that foods and beverages “high in avonoids”, including black tea, green tea, berries, and more can provide “protection” against the build-up of calcium.

Heart attacks and strokes are usually caused by fatty substances becoming lodged in your artery walls, which block blood ow through them. In a stroke, it’s the arteries feeding your brain with oxygen that becomes blocked. This causes entire regions of the brain to die. And in a heart attack, it’s the arteries feeding your heart that get blocked.

Calcium is a sign of fat buildup in your arteries (plaque), as calcium is found in these deposits. You have probably heard of the term ‘hardening of the arteries’ – this is the same thing as calci cation. The calcium forms hard crystals in the blood vessel wall.

But a study, published recently in the journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, suggests

that this process may be slowed down by eating avonoids.

It found that people who consumed a higher intake of the avonoids, or two types of speci c avonoids were between 36 to 39 percent less likely to have an extensive calcium build-up in the largest artery in the body – known as the abdominal aorta.

The abdominal aorta moves blood from the heart to many of the organs around your tummy area and your lower limbs. In the past, researchers have shown that the build-up of calcium in the abdominal aorta is a marker of widespread fatty build-up in the blood vessels around your body. They have also found that it can be used to predict if people are going to have problems with their blood vessels or heart.

The study explains where most people can get avonoids from: “In most populations, a small group of foods and beverages -- uniquely high in avonoids -- contribute the bulk of total dietary avonoid intake.

“The main contributors are usually black or green tea, blueberries, strawberries, oranges, red wine, apples, raisins/grapes and dark chocolate.”

Flavonoids are chemicals known to have several bene ts for the immune system. They’ve been shown to help drive down in ammation and protect your cells from oxidative damage.

The study

The study looked at 881 elderly women with an average age of 80. Most of these women were getting their avonoid content from black tea. Compared with the women who didn’t drink tea, people who had two-to-six cups per day had 16 to 42 percent less chance of having extensive calcium buildup in their main artery.

But the researchers emphasise that even non-tea drinkers had plenty of bene ts.

“Out of the women who don’t drink black tea, higher total non-tea avonoid intake also appears to protect against extensive calci cation of the arteries,” the study said.

“This implies avonoids from sources other than black tea may be protective against AAC when tea is not consumed.”

However, the study did have some caveats. Certain sources of avonoids, including fruit juice, red wine, and chocolate, did not show a signi cant link.

The options when creating this cocktail are almost limitless.

Delicious hangover cures

Like death and taxes, hangovers are one of life’s few certainties. Now with the festive season looming we’re all dreading getting re-acquainted with those morning-after pains. The only small upside of a throbbing headache is the fact that it’s typically followed by an over owing plate of greasy food and a colossal mug of piping-hot co ee. Everyone’s got a hangover cure they swear by – whether it’s the entire McDonald’s breakfast menu or a carb-loaded brunch spread or even a little hair of the dog. But if you’re looking for something a little tastier and nutritious, then look no further…

Steak, eggs and hashbrowns…

‘Steak and eggs with hashbrowns is a great go-to hangover cure. Not sure if the protein helps with the recovery or if it’s the fats that you get from the steak and eggs, but you can nd it at most eateries and its easy to rustle up at home too, which helps.

Udon Noodles

Slightly unconventional, but these noodles are comforting and satisfying. Add a bit of spice and protein (steak, eggs or

chicken) to kick-start your body into recovery. Keeping the Asian theme, try sipping ginger and honey tea to clear your head.

Burger and Shake

The salty-sweet-savoury combo of a greasy burger and fries with a milkshake on the side is sure to bring you back to life. Go for your favourite fast-food restaurant or hit your local bistro pub for a double handmade gourmet burger.

Soup

A perfect go-to hangover food is anything brothy. Soups and stews hug the soul in a way no other dish can! Also bacon: salty, fatty bacon does the trick when you want something quick and easy. So keep a stock of hearty soup in the freezer and eating with a bacon sandwich to get the hit of avour and comfort.

Green Smoothie

To ease the pain try making a green smoothie with coconut water. The nutrients and hydration will soon have you feeling more human. Adding dates to the green fruits and vegetables also helps ease the queasy tummy feeling.

Pasta

I big bowl of pasta in spicy tomato sauce is heaven when your felling delicate. Try spicy arrabiata with chunks of chorizo cooked through it to give the perfect mix of carbs and fat.

Mashed Potato and mince

Anything with mash is an ideal hangover cure…cottage pie, with gravy, of course really hits the spot. But maybe it’s the mince that we crave as chilli con carne and nachos also work well to banish the hangover blues.

Prostate Cancer: Everything You Need to Know

Dr. Sven Petry, head of the urology service at Quirónsalud Torrevieja, explains what factors we should take into account regarding prostate cancer.

What is the prostate and what is its function?

The prostate is one of the internal sexual organs of men, it is located between the urinary bladder and the pelvic oor and surrounds the beginning of the urethra. Its function is the production of seminal uid and ejaculation.

What are the main problems a ecting the prostate?

The prostate tends to grow with age, can squeeze the urethra and cause problems passing urine.

The three most common problems are:

1.In ammation (prostatitis)

2. Enlarged prostate (BPH, or benign prostatic hyperplasia)

3.Prostate cancer

Keep in mind that BPH is not related to cancer, so it does not increase your risk of prostate cancer. However, the symptoms of BPH and prostate cancer may be similar.

What are the symptoms of prostate disorders?

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH): The prostate can press on the bladder and urethra. This can block the ow of urine, and even make it di cult to start the ow of urine. They may also feel like they need to urinate all the time or wake up several times at night with

a sudden urge to urinate. Rezum is an innovative, e ective, safe and minimally invasive technique that is performed with water vapor to treat BPH.

Prostatitis is an acute  in ammation of the prostate gland that can result from a bacterial infection. Its symptoms are high fever, pain when urinating or ejaculating. Because of the swelling of the prostate, it may also show the same symptoms as with BPH.

Prostate cancer tends to grow more slowly compared to most cancers. Cell changes can begin many years before a tumour is large enough to cause symptoms, which are similar to BPH. The more advanced the cancer, cancer cells can spread (metastasize) and cause bone pain.

Diagnostic tests for prostate cancer detection

•Digital rectal exam

•PSA (prostate-speci c antigen) test

•Semen and urine analysis

•Urological ultrasound, owmetry

• Multiparameter magnetic resonance imaging

How is the approach to prostate pathologies carried out using laser technology?

The most common surgery for BPH is transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). An instrument is passed through the urethra and the excess prostate tissue is trimmed internally to expand the urethra. However, TURP can have side e ects such as bleeding, hence the advantage of using laser

surgery (laser energy destroys prostate tissue by vaporization), which causes little blood loss In addition, the recovery period from laser surgery may be shorter as well and you need a hospitalization of fewer days.

What is laparoscopic surgery?

Laparoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive surgical technique and an alternative to conventional open surgery in which a small camera called a laparoscope is used to see inside the abdomen.

Instead of making large incisions, short, thin tubes (trocars) are inserted into the abdomen, using only small incisions (less than one centimetre).

Through these trocars, instruments are inserted that the surgeon uses to manipulate, cut and sew tissues.

Tips for taking care of the prostate

It is not possible to in uence the main risk factors (age, hereditary predisposition …), however, a healthy lifestyle: balanced diet, regular exercise, not smoking and moderate alcohol consumption, helps reduce the overall risk of cancer.

How is prostate cancer detected?

Prostate cancer in its early stages does not produce symptoms, so  men should have regular screenings for early detection of prostate cancer from the age of 45.

Prostate-speci c antigen (PSA) is a protein produced by prostate cells. However, prostate cancer cells can release about 10 times the amount of PSA compared to normal prostate

cells. This knowledge is used for the early detection of prostate cancer. The PSA value is determined by taking a blood sample.

Causes of prostate cancer:

Age. Men who are age 50 or older have an increased risk of prostate cancer.

Race. African-American men have the highest risk of prostate cancer.

• Family history. Men whose fathers or brothers have had prostate cancer have a 2- or 3-fold increased risk of prostate cancer.

• Diet. The risk of prostate cancer may be higher for men who eat high-fat diets.

What treatment can be used with this type of cancer?

Active surveillance allows treatment to be postponed until the tumour is actively progressing.

As for curative treatment, it can be performed with surgery (radical prostatectomy) and radiotherapy or internal or external radiation.

What is the prostate cancer survival rate?

As long as prostate cancer is diagnosed in its early stages and has not yet metastasized, there is a very high chance that it will be curable.

Request more information in the urology service of Quirónsalud Torrevieja

The sports star, 35, beat politician Matt Hancock, 44, and Hollyoaks actor Owen Warner, 23, in the grand nal on Sunday evening after surviving 23 days in the Australian camp

Mike Tindall did the honours in placing the oral crown on Jill’s head

as she sat triumphantly on the wooden throne before she embraced her ancée Shelly Unitt on the bridge

Following her coronation, after 12million viewers voted, an emotional Jill, who broke down in tears, said: ‘I can’t believe it. I think I’m going to owe my grandma a lot of money for the 12 million votes!’

Ahead of her crowning moment, Jill said she was happy to be sat with her best friend, Owen, after the pair connected during their time on the show

Following the result, soap actor Owen was pleased for his co-star and claimed that noone deserved the victory more before running o to be hugged by his mum Polly

‘She’s very much a key target’: Holly Willoughby ‘was BBC’s guest of honour at Variety Awards ceremony as the broadcaster attempts to tempt her away from ITV for various projects’

Holly WIlloughby was the BBC’s guest of honour at the Variety Showbusiness Awards last week as the broadcaster reportedly continues to try to tempt

over to their stable of talent

The television presenter, 41, and her husband, TV executive Dan Baldwin, 47, were personally invited to the glitzy bash by BBC content boss Charlotte Moore

It has been claimed Holly was left feeling ‘upset’ over ITV’s handling of queue-gate - which saw Holly and her This Morning co-host Phillip Scho eld avoid the line as the Queen lie in state following her September death

The BBC are apparently keen on Holly to be a part of a number of their projects

‘I thought about ending my life’: Cara Delevingne says making documentary Planet Sex changed her after bisexual and gender uid model’s internalised homophobia left her suicidal

Cara Delevingne says making her documentary Planet Sex has changed her life after she was left suicidal over her sexuality

The model, 30, who is gender uid and bisexual, insists she is more comfortable with herself than ever after battling internalised homophobia and crippling self-shame

Actress Cara, who has more longterm relationships with women than

men, hopes the lm will help other people who are su ering through similar experiences

On her sexuality, she added: ‘I couldn’t talk to anyone about it. I had a lot of internalised homophobia and shame... I thought about ending my life’

For con dential 24/7 support in the UK, call Samaritans

Strictly Come Dancing: Ellie Taylor

gets the ballroom boot as Ted Lasso actress becomes the ninth contestant to su er elimination after facing Fleur East in the dreaded dance o Ellie Taylor and Johannes Radebe became the ninth dancing partnership to be voted o Strictly Come Dancing on Sunday evening.

The Ted Lasso actress, 38, and the professional dancer, 35, missed out on a spot on next week’s show after facing Fleur East and Vito Coppola in the dance o .

During Saturday’s show, Ellie found herself at the bottom of the leaderboard after receiving a mere ve out of ten points from judge Craig Revel Horwood

Jill Scott roars to victory! Former Lioness beats MP Matt Hancock and Hollyoaks star Owen Warner to be named Queen of the Jungle before emotional reunion with ancée Shelly Unitt in I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

Costa T-Girls - a safe space for trans women and cross dressers

Rachael and Carla are two mature feminine Transgender women living on the Costa Blanca, near to Torrevieja. Having been out to their partners for a few years, the pair realised that there was a real lack of support for trans women and cross dressers in the area - the nearest being in Valencia.

Having met several cross dressers and trans women locally, Rachael and Carla recognised that there is a market for a dressing and makeover service serving the local trans community so decided to establish Costa T-girls, a safe space providing advice and support.

Costa T-Girls provides a wide variety of services including: Make up and dressing skills Counselling Hypnotherapy & NLP

Life Coaching

Try it out

Rachael and Carla explained, “It is fully private and anonymous, from a discreet apartment in the centre of Torrevieja, our aim is to support, pamper and realise your feminine ambitions, even if just for a few hours. We will make you over and dress you from head to toe.”

“For a few hours we can chat and support you as we transform your inner female into your outer woman. We can relax with a drink in the con nes

of the apartment or on the balcony. We can also take you out to one of the local trans friendly bars or even shopping, should you feel con dent.”

“We supply a full range of clothes, wigs and prosthetics. We can also keep clothes for you, or if you wish, you can bring your own. We are a completely anonymous and exible service, whether you want an afternoon of pampering or an evening being your feminine self. Try us out and release your inner femininity!”

Email CostaTgirls@gmail.com or call 711086978

BUSINESS PROFILE

Please note that all information contained within this Costa Blanca People Business Pro le has been provided by the client, and is therefore deemed correct and accurate. Any errors, omissions or inaccuracies are the sole responsibility of the client.

How to recover points on your licence in Spain

The driving Penalty Points system in Spain acts in the opposite way to that of the United Kingdom. In the UK, if you commit a motoring o ence, you gain points, whereas in Spain, you start with a balance that reduces if you commit certain o ences.

First introduced in Spain in 2006, the operation of the points system has been relatively simple. When the system was introduced, all drivers were allocated 12 points, or 8 in the case of novice drivers. Three years later, if we had not lost any points, they gave us another 2 points and nally another three years later they gave us another one, with which the maximum points a driver could have being 15.

Checking your balance of points is simple, if you are able to access the DGT website or the miDGT app, for which a token such as a Digital Signature is required.

In the event of a driver not having

any points, in other words, they have lost their allocation, they are not permitted to drive. Doing so is a criminal o ence punishable by a ne between 1,500 and 6,000 euro, depending on factors such as whether the driver is a repeat o ender, and can be accompanied by prison sentences between 3 and 6 months and community work between 30 and 90 days. That said, it is estimated that up to 100,000 people in Spain still drive under those conditions, some of whom may not be aware of their status, which is why it is important to check periodically.

Losing points is something that can happen to anyone. The system is not about treating drivers as criminals, whether or not they have licence points, but what is necessary is to carry out awareness and road safety work to reduce road accidents and increase safety behind the wheel.

Of course, not all o ences result in

the loss of points. But if you do lose them, there are ways in which you can recover your points.

Under normal circumstances, the process begins with a noti cation from the DGT, normally by letter, in which we are informed that we no longer have points on our licence, so we must stop driving until we follow the process for their recovery. It is possible that the noti cation never arrives, for a variety of reasons, which is why we must check ourselves also. This is where the problem begins, since up to seven out of ten drivers are not clear about the process for recovering points.

The recovery process is not complicated, but it cannot be said to be fast under any circumstances. There is the possibility of taking a road awareness and re-education course every two years. With this course we can recover 6 points, up to the maximum.

The cost varies in di erent Autonomous Communities. In Catalonia, for example, it´s around 225 euro, in the Basque Country 230 euro, the Canary Islands about 188 euro, but for most of Spain, the price is around 213 euro. The course itself lasts for 12 hours, normally distributed over two consecutive days of 6 hours each. The course is of course in Spanish, so those who don´t speak the language too well will nd it di cult.

There is another way of recovering points, although this takes a lot longer, but is not dependant on language skills, just the passage of time. If you don’t commit another point-losing o ence in two years, the DGT will return two points back to you. This process is then repeated until you reach 12.

In the event of you losing six points in one go, the recovery time is longer though.

There is bad news in the event of your points balance reaching zero, as the recovery then takes even longer, and you must take a longer and more complex course at the Provincial Tra c Headquarters. In this case, the course lasts 24 hours and is given over two weekends. It has a cost between 350 and 450 euro, depending on the Community, and completion of the full course is mandatory, as is passing an exam at the end. It can be done the day after losing the points, but in no case will we recover them before six months, which will force us to spend half a year without driving; 12 months if we are repeat o enders.

By the way, the exam is not easy at all, the fees are 30 euro and it gives the right to three attempts, but after each failure you must take a new 4-hour course. The exam consists of 30 multiple choice questions, with a maximum of 3 errors permitted.

Traffic Offences that can Lead to Prison

Sometimes due to carelessness, or sometimes intentional disregard for the rules, it is quite common for drivers to receive a ne at the roadside, or at home, and lose several points from the driving licence, but, in some cases, tra c o ences can lead to a prison sentence.

The most reckless motorists have a good chance of committing a crime against road safety, rather than just an infraction, ending up in court and being convicted, and receiving a prison sentence for their actions. Crimes are what can lead to prison.

According to the latest data published by the Ministry of the Interior, in 2020 there were 4,542 people deprived of liberty in Spain with some type of crime related to road safety. The gure represented 9% of the prison population. Of these, 1,159 had road safety as their main crime (2.3% of people in prison).

So how severe must the o ence be to lead to prison?

Drug or alcohol use

Article 379.2 establishes as a crime “driving under the in uence of alcoholic beverages, toxic drugs, narcotics or psychotropic substances.” In the case of drugs, it is a di cult article to

apply, since an objective rate is not established, as is the case with alcohol consumption.

From an administrative point of view, however, the simple presence of drugs in the body is enough to ne 1,000 euro for driving under the in uence of drugs and the loss of 6 points.

Excessive alcohol consumption

Although it is widely agreed that the only safe level of alcohol before driving is zero, in Spain you can drive with a maximum of 0.25 milligrams of alcohol per litre of exhaled air (0.50 grams per litre of blood). For professional and novice drivers, the maximum rate allowed is 0.15 mg/l or 0.30 g/l.

If these limits are exceeded, the motorist will be punished with a ne and an administrative sanction, but it is considered a crime when 0.60 mg/l (expired air in the breathalyser) or 1.2 g/l (analysis of blood).

In this case, article 379 of the Penal Code establishes that the driver may be punished “with prison sentences of 3 to 6 months or a ne of 6 to 12 months or with work for the bene t of the community of 31 to 90 days and in any deprivation of the right to drive motor vehicles and mopeds for more than one and up to four years”. If the accused

accepts the facts and pleads guilty, the sentence can be reduced by a third.

Refusal to take a breathalyser or drug test

The Penal Code (article 383) punishes as the perpetrator of a crime of serious disobedience the driver who refuses to submit to alcohol or drug tests with a prison sentence of six months to one year, and deprivation of the right to drive motor vehicles and mopeds for more than one and up to four years.

Speeding

Stepping on the accelerator more than necessary can also result in a criminal conviction, as indicated in article 379.1. Those who circulate “at a speed greater than 60 kilometres per hour on urban roads or 80 kilometres per hour on interurban roads than that permitted by regulation” will be punished, that is, 110 km/h in the case of a road with a limit of 50, or 200 km/h on a motorway, for example.

In sections with a limitation lower than the generic one, the rule is applied to the lowest; For example, on a mountain highway limited to 80 km/h, driving at 160 km/h will be considered a crime.

The punishment is similar to that of other cases: prison sentence of three to six months or a ne of six to twelve months and work for the bene t of the community of thirty-one to ninety days, in addition to the suspension of the permit of between one and four years.

Driving without a licence

There are three cases related to driving without a driver’s licence. It is considered a crime to get behind the wheel after having lost all the

points of the permit, but also to do so after having been provisionally or de nitively deprived of the permit or licence by judicial decision, or without ever having obtained a driving licence.

For the three cases, the penalty is from 3 to 6 months or a ne from 12 to 24 months or work for the bene t of the community from 31 to 90 days.

It is important to carry your driving licence with you when driving, otherwise there may be no way of proving your authority to drive and you could nd yourself arrested whilst pertinent checks are carried out.

Reckless driving

“Whoever drives a motor vehicle or a moped with manifest recklessness and puts the life or integrity of persons in concrete danger shall be punished with prison sentences of six months to two years and deprivation of the right to drive motor vehicles and mopeds for more than one and up to six years”, says article 380.

For the most agrant cases, article 381 criminalises reckless driving with manifest disregard for the lives of others, with prison sentences of 2 to 5 years, a ne of 12 to 24 months and

deprivation of the right to drive for a period of 6 to 10 years.

Abandonment of the accident site

The last modi cation of the Penal Code related to road safety occurred after the approval of an organic law that typi es the “crime of abandoning the accident site”, a habitual attitude on the part of some drivers in the case of hitting a cyclist or pedestrian.

If the driver who causes an accident ees, leaving a person who has su ered injuries constituting crimes, a sentence of between three and six months in prison may be imposed. If a person dies as a result of the accident (at that time or sometime later), the penalties could reach up to four years in prison.

The penalty also depends on whether the origin of the accident is fortuitous or is due, in the worst case, to a serious recklessness of the motorist, “particularly when the driver of the motor vehicle or moped drives under the in uence of toxic drugs, narcotics, psychotropic substances or alcoholic beverages or speeding”. In any case, the punishments also include a ban on driving motor vehicles.

(970)

TALES FROM THE TOP FLIGHT

n CHRIS DARWEN chris@costablancapeople.com

Well, we know something for sureWales won’t be winning the 2022 World Cup.

It doesn’t matter how passionately you sing the National Anthem or how often you remind the world of 1958, Wales you missed your golden opportunity against Iran.

And genuinely, it was a shame to see it - after all, Iran were the worst team in the world ever (apart from Qatar) after England beat them 6-2, weren’t they?

We should probably rewind a little rst - both the Home Nations that managed to get to Qatar kicked o their campaigns last Monday. England were full of attacking intent and fun as they beat Fergie’s old number two Carlos Quieroz by four clear goals. Cue the “England can win this” band wagon being red up and moved out of the garage.

Wales were quiet (if we are being nice) against the USA in the rst 45 and then turned it around in the second half to get a Gareth Bale penalty-inspired 1-1 draw.

If England’s opening victory increased expectations, the 0-0 draw with the Americans certainly dampened them as quickly. England were average, the Yanks were very energetic and in the end, it was a good point to take away from the game - and yes, Harry Maguire played very well thank you for asking.

Are England now terrible again because they still cannot beat the US in a World Cup? No. Those guys are no mugs. Equally, we were not nailed on favourites just because we beat Iran 6-2 either - even if they did show they can play a bit in beating the Welsh 2-0.

It’s a long tournament and having four points after two games is far from disgraceful - remember a team as poor as Scotland getting a 0-0 against Southgate’s lot in the Euros? Sure, it

would be better not to have to play Wales with something actually on the line but it’s going to take an absolute disaster for England not to progressand a minor miracle for the Welsh to get through.

Their moment was the Iran game. A nation expected. And don’t fall into the “well it all changed when the keeper got sent o ” trap - Wales were poor before then and had to choose which one of their not-match- t-but-couldcreate-something-out-of-nothing stars to sacri ce after going down to ten. Aaron Ramsey was hooked presumably just in case they won a free-kick within shooting distance.

But Wales beating England isn’t completely and utterly crazy. It could happen. And Iran’s clash with the USA could go either way. But, England’s +4 goal di erence does give them a certain safety net even if scraping through following a loss to Rob Page’s team would kill the mood completely.

It’s rarely easy, navigating these group stages even when you have been gifted a fairly friendly one - and, of course, if England ease past the Welsh in the way they really should then suddenly they’ll qualify if one of the stronger group stage records.

It would be nice to see Phil Foden get a game though, wouldn’t it? I mean, are we that good that we can leave a generational talent on the sideline for an entire tournament? No, no we are not.

Elsewhere, Manchester United managed to rid themselves of one troublemaker and potentially rid themselves of the others in the last seven days. Ronaldo saw his contract ‘mutually terminated’ and the Glaziers put the club up for sale. That’s possibly the best week United have had since Sir Alex cleared his desk.

Ronaldo might have to take the Saudi dollar now - nobody else seems to want him and there’s 150 million big ones being dangled by Al Nassr.

Liverpool are also on the market and rocking from the news that their replacement Sports Director for their really good Sports Director is quitting after a year in the job - that might not sound that important but it is clever recruitment that has allowed Liverpool to keep up with Man City so if they lose that then they may as well give up.

Bournemouth have appointed the very impressive caretaker Gary O’Neil as their permanent boss, sadly meaning that Bournemouth will now

be relegated as caretakers never, ever continue their good form after getting the permanent gig. We did warn you, Gary - you should have walked away with your reputation sky-high.

Bayern Munich are thought to be eyeing up Declan Rice - let’s see if the interest is still there after Joe Allen has led him a merry dance on Tuesday night.

United are searching high and low to nd a Ronaldo replacement - and have landed on previous target Cody Gakpo and Portugal’s next main striker, AC Milan’s Rafael Leao.

They are also still keen on Jude Bellingham - but then so is everyone else and there are at least ve clubs ahead of them in the queue.

Tottenham like the look of USA enforcer Weston McKennie - given their previous success taking Juventus players, who can blame them? They’ll then o er Harry Kane something interesting enough to make sure he nishes his career at the club.

And according to the Liverpool Echo, Everton have a list of players they are targeting in January. Well, that will put everyone’s mind at rest then.

“City of Torrevieja” World Cup

Abbey Anglers Charity Fishing match 2022

On Tuesday the 15th of November we shed the annual charity match at the El Bosquet Complex. Twenty six anglers attended and over 400 Euros were raised to help Ukranian refugees.

The usual scenario panned out when you get a lot of anglers shing close together and putting pressure on the complex. The overall standard of shing drops and it becomes more and more di cult to catch sh.This very much proved to be the case with

some very low weights and several dry nets.

Winner on the day even after moaning about his draw was Nick Bastock . Drawn on peg A1 on the rst stretch he caught carp steadily on the maggot for a creditable 19.48kg.

In second place making a welcome return after a back injury was Neil McBernie. Drawn on the end peg 40 , he shed a mixture of pole and feeder mainly with maggots for 17.24kg.

In third place was The Treasurer

himself Mick Hill. Drawn on favoured peg 26 he made no mistakes and weighed 12.14kg. Other section winners included, Bill Cannon 9.14kg,Alan Priest 2.7kg,Bill Reade and John Waples both with 1,82kg, Alan Hill 4.88kg and last but not least Willie Moons with 9kg.

The club would like to thank all that took part and helped with the running of the event and special thanks for all the donations..

Ian Brown

The Torrevieja Sports Department, in collaboration with the International Residents Department and several representative associations of foreign groups, have organized the rst World Cup of Nations “Ciudad de Torrevieja” which will take place on December 9, 10 and 11, 2022 under the motto “ INTEGRATION THROUGH SPORT”

The mini World Cup or “Mundialito” will be played in a soccer 7 format with the participation of 10 teams and organized in a group classi cation format, concluding in 2 nals, one for consolation and the other for overall champion.

A variety of di erent local groups and associations will liven up match days with musical animations and a folk atmosphere, both on the eld and in the fan zone that will be

located in the parking lot at the entrance of the football elds.

WORLD FOOTBALL TROPHIES

AND AWARDS - 1st: Trophy and 16 gold medals - 2nd: Cup and 16 silver medals - 3rd: Plate and 16 bronze medals

- Other participants Diplomas of participation - Pichichi Trophy - Best goalkeeper trophy - Fair Play Trophy - Do Rosario Family Tribute Dish - Lopes Morais Family Tribute Plate

PARTICIPATING TEAMS

closer to Romania Association

- Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba Cultural Association

The town hall said, “From Torrevieja City Council it is our interest that sport contributes, to a large extent, to the creation of these values and above all to the achievement of the main goal that is: INTEGRATION. Best of luck to all participating teams!”