3 January -9 January 2023

BEM for HELP Vega Baja head

Michele Masson, President of HELP

Vega Baja, has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the New Year Honours List, which was published on Saturday (31st December). Michele has been given the accolade for services to British Nationals in Spain.

There are more than 2,000 British Nationals living in the area covered by Help Vega Baja and for many of

them the charity has been a lifeline in di culty times. Since becoming its President in 2015, Michele Masson has steered the charity through the twin challenges of Brexit and COVID, as well as the severe ooding that hit the Vega Baja in September 2019 –providing a source of constant support to the community when it was most needed. More recently, she has led the

charity’s volunteers to gather supplies of food and clothes for the local Ukrainian association to distribute to the high volume of refugees arriving in Torrevieja.

After 15 years working in the NHS, Michele moved to Torrevieja in 2002. Looking for voluntary work she was drawn towards HELP Vega Baja after learning of the support it o ers in the local press, and joined intending to do welfare work, but soon moved over to publicity. When the acting president decided to step down in 2015, her husband Tony suggested that she put her name forward for the position.

Michele said: “Some 8 years on I still enjoy my role and I am both humbled and proud to be president for such a forward thinking, compassionate and professional charity as HELP Vega Baja. We are blessed with great volunteers, and I have a team working alongside me that is second to none. The charity world is not always an easy place to be in – the demands are many, but the rewards are great. Every telephone call,

email or meeting can mean that we make a positive di erence in the life of someone and that is more than enough reason to continue.”

Commenting on Michele’s BEM, His Majesty’s Ambassador to Spain, Hugh Elliott said:

“I know that my colleagues in our Alicante consulate nd it hard to imagine the south of the province without Help Vega Baja and, indeed, without Michele. Under her leadership, the charity has become one of our key partners in the region –assisting with complex consular cases and acting as our eyes and ears on the ground. During the pandemic, Michele worked with us on a partnership pilot project to distribute consular funding via food vouchers to vulnerable families whose income had been lost due to COVID restrictions. Michele is a wonderful example of leading by doing and I am delighted that she has been honoured for her work.”

In response, Michele said: “I am

honoured to be awarded the British Empire Medal for services to British Nationals in Spain by his Majesty, King Charles III. I extend my appreciation to colleagues, friends and family who support me.Thank you all.”

Among good company

The 2023 New Year Honours are the rst to be signed o by King Charles. There are 1,107 recipients on the main list, announced by the Cabinet O ce – 50 percent of whom are women. There are another 141 recipients on the list announced by the Foreign O ce recognising overseas contributions, as well as separate lists for police, re and ambulance personnel and military service.

Queen guitarist Brian May has been knighted and England captain Leah Williamson is made an OBE and teammates Lucy Bronze, Beth Mead and Ellen White become MBEs.

There is a knighthood for artist Grayson Perry too and a damehood for Olympic heptathlete Denise Lewis.

Lissie Harper is made an MBE following her campaign for tougher sentences for the killers of emergency workers. Her husband, PC Andrew Harper, died on duty in Berkshire in August 2019. Among the famous faces on the lists are comedian Frank Skinner, who is made an MBE for services to entertainment. Merseyside-born This Is England actor Stephen Graham becomes an OBE for services to drama, while David Harewood receives an OBE for services to drama and charity.

Dame Mary Quant, 92 - the fashion designer widely credited with popularising the mini skirt in the 1960s - joins the elite Companions of Honour. And Virginia McKenna, the 91-year-old actress and co-founder of the Born Free Foundation, is made a dame for services to wildlife conservation and to wild animal welfare.

Michele Masson

Bumper New Year for local hotels

Hotels on the Costa Blanca are looking forward to a busy New Year’s Eve after wo years of heavily reduced trade caused by Covid19 restrictions. The Alicante Province Hotels Association (APHA) says its members were expecting an average occupancy of 83.1 percent on the evening of 31st December –New Year’s Eve. (Actual gures were unavailable at time of going to print),

Alicante City’s average was predicted at 82.8 percent while the Playa de San Juan area of the city was projecting around 78.5 percent occupancy. Around 20 member hotels in Alicante were said to be fully booked for the celebrations.

An APHA spokesman said: “These are very positive gures, which leave behind the bad data of 2021 and 2020 and are approaching numbers

of the last New Year’s Eve before the pandemic.”

Benidorm based HOSBEC hoteliers association says that reservations across the Costa Blanca prior to the New Year festivities stood at 72 percent, rising to 80 percent in Benidorm. It added that with last minute reservations, it expected those gures to rise by as much as 10 percent.

December domestic violence spike

Spain’s interior minister has denounced a “dreadful” surge in gender violence after nine women were killed in December, mainly by their partners, making it the deadliest month this year.

Among the victims was a 32-yearold pregnant woman stabbed to death, allegedly by her former partner, in front of their two teenage children in the central town of Escalona. She had been due to give birth within days, according to Spanish media reports.

Her death brings to 48 the number of women killed due to gender violence this year.

The total number of such killings now stands at 1,181 since the government started keeping a tally in 2003, said the government.

Interior Minister Fernando GrandeMarlaska urged people to report any suspected incidents of gender violence and said police across the country had been ordered to “step up” their vigilance.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Spain was “su ering a terrible rebound

in cases of gender violence” this month.

“Ending gender violence involves all of us. It is essential to act together, as a

society, to stop this scourge,” he added in a tweet.

Spanish politicians have tried a

New Year, new challenges

series of programmes to address domestic violence since a notorious case in 1997, the murder of 60-year-old Ana Orantes. She was beaten, thrown over a balcony and then burned to death by her ex-husband after having repeatedly appealed to authorities for help because of his violent behaviour.

Spain’s parliament in 2004 overwhelmingly approved Europe’s rst law speci cally aimed at tackling gender-based violence.

The deadliest year on record for gender violence in Spain was 2008 with 76 deaths.

To raise 16,800€ is the New Year target for Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre, to enable it to provide added shelter for its horses, ponies and donkey’s. For some months now the rescue centre, based in Rosales, has been working hard on its project to provide and build shelters on site. Not only will these provide better facilities for the animals in its care, but it is also a necessary requirement for the centre to be able to obtain its farm licence which will be a game changer for the future of Easy Horse Care.

Founders Sue and Rod Weeding have been doing much of the work themselves to build the shelters and this will continue but Sue explains that as the New Year approaches they are reaching a tight deadline.

She said: “We have a quote of 16,800€ for all the materials which we have been fundraising for but we have now been informed that building materials are expected to sky rocket in price in 2023 and so we desperately want to get all materials before this happens.”

The urgent plea comes as a generous donor has o ered to match any donations made so the couple are hopeful they can raise the money needed soon before prices increase. Once the materials have been purchased work can continue on the shelters which will lead to the all-important farm licence.

“We believe this is the key to everything,” said Sue. “Once we have this we will be eligible for European grants and the council

told us that when we’ve done this work we will get the licence, it’s not pie in the sky, it is reality and it is doable. We are getting nearer and nearer to the dream of having a farm licence. When we get that we will be able to rehome some of our horses, which currently we are not permitted to do.”

“Easy Horse Care is a registered foundation that will be around for many years. It will be here forever, but the farm licence is the nal key to everything we have created and will ensure Easy Horse Care and the work we do will continue.”

If you can help in any way, contact them via their website www.easyhorsecare.net

Or follow the Centre on facebook.

Memorial fundraiser

Five years ago, John Potter and his wife lost their 16-yearold granddaughter Addie to an aggressive brain tumour. This year, 2023, to mark her 21st birthday, the La Marina resident is planning a fundraising event in her memory.

Addie’s parents, John’ daughter and son-in-law, formed the Addie Brady Foundation to raise funds for research into a cure for the illness that took her life. The patron is Catherine Tate and over the years they have raised

thousands of pounds through sponsored events, including a recent and very nippy a sponsored swim in a lake in Sawbridgeworth.

As Addie would have been 21 this year the idea is to organise 21 di erent events during her birthday year. The Foundation has people running marathons, taking part in sponsored dog walks and walking the Camino trail here in Spain, to name but a few.

John said: “I am now too old to run, swim, or ride a bike

for miles, but I wanted to do something to celebrate Addie’s memorial, so I have decided not to cut my hair until 23rd October 2023 - Addie’s 21st birthday.”

Friends and neighbours have already pledged money and John is asking Costa Blanca People readers to support the initiative and make a donation.

The details can be found at the Addie Brady Foundation: www.addiebradyfoundation. com and all donations and support would be gratefully received.

EL Gordo brings local luck

Celebrations broke out across the country after the number was called out at 11.21am on 22nd December by children from Madrid’s San Ildefonso school in a nationally televised draw at the Teatro Real opera house in the capital, following a long-established tradition. Shares of the top prize, 05490, were sold in 30 provinces across Spain. Holders of a €20 ticket will receive €400,000 before tax.

Purchasing and sharing the €20 tickets in the run-up to Christmas is a major tradition among families, friends and coworkers. Other lotteries have bigger individual top prizes but Spain’s Christmas lottery, held each December 22, is ranked as the world’s richest for total prize money. The incredibly popular lottery will dish out a

total of €2.5 billion, much of it in hundreds of smaller prizes.

In Spain’s Christmas lottery, every number is divided into 10 identical segments, décimos, costing €20 each. Because numbers are also divided into series, there are in fact 1,600 tickets with the same number sold at lottery sale points across the country, making it impossible for one person to buy them all.

The most sought-after prize shells out €400,000 ($425,000), or around €325,000 after tax, to winning holders of €20 tickets, which are known as décimos.

The second prize went to the number 04074, which will distribute €125,000 to each décimo holder. People who purchased shares of the third prize, 45250, will get €50,000 for every décimo they have.

Many people buy even smaller stakes in several décimos to increase their chances of winning something. A €1 stake in the top prize is worth €20,000.

Local luck

The 2022 Christmas Lottery, known as El Gordo, smiled on Vega Baja, the number 05490 has been sold in Torrevieja at the Carrefour supermarket. In Orihuela Costa, the La Zenia Boulevard Shopping Centre has distributed the Fourth Prize number 25296 and awarded 20,000 euros to the tenth. And in Pilar de la Horadada, a fth prize, number 87092 has been awarded with 6,000 euros per ticket. As in 2020 and 2021, the winners who receive prizes of under €40,000 will not need to pay taxes on it.

Spain to Covid check travellers from China

Spain has become the second European country to announce new Covid restrictions for travellers from China. Due to a surge in cases in China and the country’s decision to open its borders for travel, passengers will need to have a negative test result or be fully vaccinated to enter Spain.

Travellers from China will have to show “proof that they are negative… or a full vaccination list,” Health Minister Carolina Darias told a press conference on Friday, 30th December. The Health Minister added that Spain

would coordinate at a high level with other member countries to adopt a common policy while pushing for a revision of the current conditions that need to be met by travellers seeking to obtain the EU’s so-called Digital Covid Certi cate.

Italy was the rst European country to make coronavirus tests for visitors from China mandatory on Wednesday, 28th December.

Coronavirus infections have surged in China, overwhelming hospitals as it reverses hard-line controls that plummeted the economy and sparked nationwide

protests.

A growing number of countries, including the United States, have imposed restrictions on all visitors from mainland China after Beijing decided to end mandatory quarantine on arrival, prompting many jubilant Chinese to make plans to travel abroad.

However, the European Union’s health agency said that such restrictions weren’t warranted in the bloc. Chinese citizens have been largely con ned to their country since Beijing largely restricted international travel in March 2020.

Addie Brady

More than 500 kilos of food and toys collected

Professionals from the Torrevieja health department collected more than 500 kilos of non-perishable food and a thousand toys for families without resources during the last month.

The involvement of patients and professionals of the centre in this initiative represents a show of solidarity and commitment to the local social fabric.

The “Asociación Donación Torrevieja y Alrededores” will be in charge of distributing the food and toys among the census of families with economic

problems, local collectives and aid distribution associations of the department. The food, once classi ed by categories and target groups, will be delivered directly by the local associations.

The involvement of the centre’s patients and professionals in this need has made it possible to collect toys of all kinds, as well as non-perishable foodstu s, such as vegetables, canned food, pasta, rice, milk and other solidarity foodstu s, capable of improving the quality of life of families in need.

The King’s speech

Spain’s reigning monarch, King Felipe VI, has given his ninth annual Christmas speech on TV with a call to unity in government to nd solutions for society in light of in ation and the e ects of the war in Ukraine.

HRH Felipe, who was crowned in summer 2014 after his father, King Juan Carlos I, abdicated, made repeated reference to the Constitution which the latter played a major part in forming and bringing into e ect on December 6, 1978, spelling the dawn of a new era in which Spain became a modern, democratic country with full human rights guaranteed to all residents.

Whilst recalling that Spain is a young democracy, which had worked hard to bounce back from the Franco-era dictatorship, King Felipe warned that these achievements should never be taken for granted, since there is ‘always a risk of division’ and ‘institutional erosion’.

“World democracies are exposed to many risks that are not new, but which, when they occur, take on a particular intensity nowadays. And Spain is no exception,” the monarch stated. There are three risks which I think are very signi cant: Division being one; deteriorating of harmonious cooperation being another; and the erosion of institutions being the third. A country or society divided or in confrontation with each other does not move forward, it doesn’t progress and it doesn’t solve its own problems well, neither does it generate con dence. Division makes democracies much more fragile whilst, united, we are stronger – something Spain knows through its own experience.”

Felipe VI recalled that the Constitution, signed 44 years and three weeks ago, was ‘the fruit of dialogue and understanding’ and is a text which ‘represents the union

achieved by the people of Spain, as an investment in its future, of diversity and harmony for a young democracy’.

These values have ‘become deeprooted in society’ and are a role model for people in Spain to follow when ‘continuing to seek that unity which ensures stability, cohesion and progress’ and ‘guarantees harmony’ – qualities which the King considers Spain’s ‘greatest national heritage’.

“This harmonious cooperation requires full recognition of our rights and freedoms, combined with respect and consideration for others, for their values and their dignity; for these reasons, we should be guided by our common sense and put the desire to integrate ahead of any wishes to exclude,” he continued.

The King urged institutions to ‘become stronger and more solid’ so as to ‘protect the people, attend to their worries, guarantee their rights and support families and young people in their battle to get through their day-to-day problems’, and stressed that these institutions existed ‘for the greater good’.

Household support

Although acknowledging that the world in general was facing ‘uncertain times’, due to the con ict in Ukraine and the knock-on e ect of this on global nances – as well as the humanitarian crisis it has generated - the ‘success of a nation depends upon the character of its people and the personality and spirit that moves its society’, meaning Spain ‘has plenty of reasons to look to the future with hope’.

King Felipe VI said it was up to the people of Spain ‘to decide their future and the fate of their country together’, whilst ‘sharing objectives with a permanent spirit of renewal and moving with the times’

and with ‘con dence’ in a Spain which he ‘knows well’, a nation which is ‘courageous and open to the world’, which ‘seeks peace and tranquillity’, is ‘responsible, creative, alive, and charitable’.

“This is the Spain I see, I hear, and feel in so many of you – the Spain which, once again, will get through it all, but this is in our hands,” the King stressed.

“Just when we thought we had got through the worst of the pandemic –which was, without a doubt, the best possible news – in February Russia invaded Ukraine and, ever since, we’ve witnessed 10 months of con ict that has caused a level of destruction and ruin hard to imagine in the context of our own everyday lives,” said Felipe VI, adding his ‘regards and a ection’ to all the people of Ukraine who have ‘su ered’.

“Rising prices, especially for food, create insecurity in households. We have to bear day to day expenses such as turning on the heating or the lights or lling our cars with petrol and which end up as a source of real worry – and, in many cases, major personal and family sacri ces,” the monarch recalled. There are families who cannot cope with this situation long term and need ongoing support from the powers that be to ease the nancial and social e ects.

Hope

“We cannot ignore how serious these problems are; neither can we give up hope that things might change for the better; but rst and foremost is to have con dence in ourselves as a nation, and in the transformation and modernisation Spain has seen in the last four decades thanks to the success of the Transition to democracy and the signing of the Constitution, which are proof of this con dence.

AGAMED earmarks more than 160,000 Euros in social aid for Torrevieja during 2022

Throughout the current year 2022, AGAMED has allocated a total of 162,669 euros in social actions. Aids destined to the municipality of Torrevieja, among them, di erent areas such as large families, SMEs, small local commerce or vulnerable groups.

Thus, within the social eld, AGAMED has granted 384 aids belonging to the Social Fund and 73 from the Social Fund with Caritas. These gures refer to a total of 102,082 euros and 21,230 euros, respectively. Likewise, a total of 49 large families have also bene ted from this aid with

an amount of 6,495 euros, and 30

businesses and SMEs with an investment of 32,862 euros.

EACH MONTH OF 2022, A NEW MILESTONE

Throughout 2022, AGAMED has carried out nearly 50 actions linked to the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): -Goal 1: End Poverty -Goal 2: Hunger and Food Security -Goal 3: Health -Goal 4: Education Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and between countriesGoal 10: Reduce inequality within and between countries Goal 11: Make cities more inclusive, safe, resilient and

sustainable -Goal 11: Make cities more inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

-Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

-Goal 15: Life of terrestrial ecosystems -Goal 17: Revitalise the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.

Finally, Jorge Ballesta, managing director of AGAMED, explained that among the categories of these linked actions, 9 of the 17 SDGs “19 initiatives have been carried out in the eld of sports, 15 in culture and education; 8 aimed at young and old people and NGOs; and 7 actions linked to tourism and the environment”.

Vulnerable groups, large families, SMEs and small businesses are some of the bene ciaries of this initiative.

small

Financial Resolutions for the New Year

The New Year is a great time to overhaul your life for the better, and one excellent place to start is by making solid nancial resolutions that can help get you closer to your money goals, whether it’s increasing your retirement savings or setting enough money aside for that dream holiday.

Set Financial Goals

What are your life’s dreams? This should be a fun exercise, but remember, if you don’t plan to get somewhere, you’re not likely to arrive. Ultimately with the right nancial advice and regular reviews you can work towards your nancial goals.

Enjoy Saving Excess Cash

This may not seem like fun at rst, but once you get started on making regular savings, this can

actually become enjoyable and is an important factor in funding your life goals.

Review Your Savings Portfolio

There’s a lot of misconception surrounding investing. If even the word “Investment” sounds daunting, then help is at hand. Here at Seagate, we have access to some fantastic products from the UK’s leading nancial institutions to give you the lifestyle you deserve.

Get Competent Advice When You Need It

Don’t be ‘penny wise and pound foolish’. The complexity and sophistication of nancial products has increased immensely. In today’s world of nance, it is impossible to keep up with it all. You don’t have to do it all yourself. It is often

cheaper and more e ective in the long run to get transparent, unbiased advice when you need it.

Simplify Your Financial A

airs

Keep good records. Go through your nancial documents. Keep your nancial life as simple as possible. It’s easier to manage and you’re more likely to keep up with it.

Make every e ort to bid farewell to bad personal nancial habits, inspire some good ones of your own, and get started on creating your own nancial security with these New Year’s resolutions.

For a free no-obligation chat with a UK quali ed adviser, call 965 704 338 or email: contact@ seagatewealth.es

Torrevieja Hospital performs pioneering Scoliosis correction operation

The orthopaedic surgery and traumatology service of the University Hospital of Torrevieja has used a virtual augmented reality navigator “PQX Vega” in an intervention for the correction of scoliosis in a 15-year-old patient, a pioneering surgery in the province of Alicante.

The orthopaedic surgery and traumatology service of the University Hospital of Torrevieja has used a virtual augmented reality navigator “PQX Vega” in an intervention for the correction of scoliosis in a 15-year-old patient, a pioneering surgery in the province of Alicante.

During the operation, the professionals project the patient’s anatomical image onto virtual reality screens placed in the operating theatre, where the anatomy of the spine is observed, and the trajectory and placement of the implants can be observed instantly and in real time. In this way, it is possible to precisely control the trajectory of the pedicle screws.

This is a particularly important technique in surgeries involving the thoracic and cervical spine segment, where the spinal cord is located and where, according to published international studies, even in the most expert hands, there can be up to 5% errors in the placement of this material.

As described by Manuel Segura, traumatology specialist and coordinator of the spine unit of the University Hospital

of Torrevieja, “uses the data obtained through a scannertac of the patient’s spine, where prior to surgery, the deformity is analysed and the desired correction is planned and the exact trajectory of the implants that the patient needs and that will be used on the day of the intervention”.

The intervention, therefore, provides greater safety in complex spinal surgeries, while also reducing surgical time and radiation for the patient and the healthcare team.

The application of this technique, a pioneer in the province of Alicante, requires the multidisciplinary work of traumatologists, rehabilitation specialists, radiologists, neurophysiologists, anaesthetists, nurses, auxiliary nursing care technicians and engineers, who work in a coordinated manner with the aim of achieving the maximum bene t for the patient and his or

her recovery.

In addition, the orthopaedic surgery and traumatology department has initiated a proto-collage study to analyse the data obtained with this technique and subsequently communicate them in scienti c forums that contribute to the advancement of the approach to spine surgery.

The spinal pathology surgical unit of the Torrevieja University Hospital is made up of doctors Manuel Segura, Adrián Lozano and Mi-guel Carrato. It has professional accreditation from the Conselleria de Sanitat and the Spanish Spine Society and the European Spine Society. It applies the techniques with the best scienti c evidence currently available, treating di erent types of spinal pathology, including degenerative, traumatic and tumour diseases, with an average of 2,000 patients and 130 surgeries per year.

The network of mobile EcoParks will grow from one to five by 2023

The Sustainable Vega Baja Consortium approves the budget for 2023 and establishes a roadmap for the region to have its own waste treatment facilities by the end of the year.

The Governing Board of the Sustainable Vega Baja Consortium has approved a budget for 2023 of around 18 million euros. The implementation of the network of mobile ecoparks, which will increase from one to ve to promote selective collection, the recovery for the consortium of the xed ecopark of Torrevieja and the 100% operation of the Dolores Transfer Plant, will be the axes on which the management will revolve in 2023.

The Consortium will study

the possibility of a bonus for municipalities that collect biowaste separately using the remaining cash reserves for 2022.

This waste management entity in the Vega Baja, chaired by Joaquín Hernández, expects to manage 196,000 tonnes of waste, once the new facilities in the region are up and running.

According to the road map drawn up by the Consortium, the service will start on 2 January with three mobile ecoparks aimed at all the municipalities, and in April the other two are expected to be operational, making a total of ve mobile ecoparks.

Joaquín Hernández stated that “at last the consortium is starting to have treatment

facilities in the Vega Baja itself.

To the 100% operation of the Dolores Transfer Plant we are now adding a comprehensive service of mobile ecoparks, increasing from one to ve for all the municipalities, which is an important leap in terms of selective collection”.

In addition, the president of the Sustainable Vega Baja Consortium stressed that “we will insist on the need for our municipalities to collect biowaste at source, to prevent our waste from going to outside treatment plants”.

In addition, the Consortium has announced that it is also going to launch Environmental Education actions in schools and in the markets of the 27 municipalities.

•

•

•

• Óptica Mar

• Chantal

• Casa Maciá

• Joyería Hernández

• La Sal Pharmacy

•

• Di Ballons

• Turrones C. Arqués Pla

• Gore c/ Ramón Gallud, 60

• Fragata Pharmacy

The jury was made up of:

• Jorge la Laguna Marín (representative of the Association of Hotel and

Catering Businesses of Torrevieja and Region). -Laura Gutiérrez (representative of the Casagrande Business Park).

• Fernando Guardiola (representative of APYMECO).

• Rosario Martínez (councillor of Commerce).

• José Rubio (coordinator of Commerce).

• Daniel Amores (Local Development Agent of the Torrevieja Town Hall, as secretary).

I am a British pensioner living in La Marina and would like to say I am really dismayed with the way the Spanish Government is treating Ukrainian refugees. On the one hand they say the will give Ukrainian refugees 400 euros but with the other hand they create obstacles.

I took a Ukrainian woman into my home and gave her the use of my spare bedroom.

I have taken her here and there to get the documents she needs.

I only receive my state pension which soon disappeared as extra food had to be bought and more electric and water was being used so those bill went up.

This week it was decided that she needed to open a bank account so she could apply for the 400 euros Spain has said each adult can receive.Up came another problem the Social Services have not had the go ahead for this.

I took her to the Social department in San Fulgencio, the young lady was very helpful even though she said that the 400 euros was not forth coming at the moment.

She did manage to get a bridging loan for my lodger which we were very thankful for

and said Natasha would have to get a bank account, so we drove back to La Marina and tried 2 banks but the questions they asked were impossible to answer, IE, has she got documents regarding what she was paying on heating and so on, they wanted bills, that is where it really annoyed me, Ukraine is a war zone and people were eeing for their lifes, They did not think about putting bills in what little they could carry.

This has now left us with a bleak Christmas, if there was a

food bank some where we could not even drive there as now no fuel in the car.

It has really made me think I should not have got involved and that the Spanish Government were just saying they would give nancial help when all along they know it would not happen.

They just wanted to make themselves look good to the rest of the world.

There’s a woman in our office, with whom I’ve never been able to gel. I decided it was her problem and stopped attempting to be friendly ages ago because she clearly was not having it, however she continues to shoot evil looks at me. I don’t work with her directly so it wasn’t vital we get along. For the last two Christmas’s I have received pleasant gifts from others, and in the spirit of Secret Santa their identity remained anonymous; however I am pretty sure this

year’s gift came from this woman. In an effort to discover who had sent the gift, I discretely enquired with my other work colleagues, who all said it wasn’t them, with most saying they had raised eyebrows when I opened the gift. Apparently it hadn’t gone unnoticed that this woman appeared to hate my guts; their words. I hadn’t realised it was that bad to be honest. Now to the gift. Shapewear, and a voucher for a well known Slimming Club!

Oh dear, someone wanted to put the

boot in didn’t they. So how to continue from here and particularly, not allow her to deliver a similar blow in future. If you are unlucky enough to draw her again in the Secret Santa - the gift should remain unopened and plonked on a desk. I am a great believer in not rising to such things – these barbs tend to be levied in order to provoke a reaction, so simply – don’t give her one; it’s her problem – she’s jealous of you for some reason. Let these kinds of people stew in their own juice. They are not happy bunnies, and very unlikely ever to be..

650 054 467.

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Hans

Antonio Sequeros Secondary School in Alomoradi awarded for its healthy project

The ANTONIO SEQUEROS Secondary School in Almoradí, has received the First Prize in the National Competition of Good Practices in schools in the category of Integral Health, with a cash prize of 10,000 euros, awarded by the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training.

The project is focused on working on the physical and mental health of the entire educational community through activities related to and practised in our environment: the Vega Baja and its local products, people,

routes, elds, landscapes, etc.

The @sequeros_saludable project acquires international character as it is also part of Erasmus + City with the visit of the educational centre of the city of Magenta (Milan), where it will carry out a practical exhibition of the Charity Competition “Sequeros Saludable”, making our municipality “Almoradí” known at an international level.

A prize not at all expected, but a project carried out with great enthusiasm and work in all the activities that we relate in our region.

Soon the IES ANTONIO SEQUEROS will receive the award from the hands of the Minister of Education and Vocational Training, Ms. Pilar Alegría Continente in Madrid.

The @sequeros_saludable project has received at the Almoradí Sports Gala a recognition to the work of the school. The Mayoress, María Gómez García and the Councillor for Sports, Alfonso García Díaz awarded the team that is developing the project and congratulated them for such an intense and interesting initiative.

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

“I saw that there is a new feature on WhatsApp. What is it?”

Called “Message Yourself,” the feature lets users send notes, reminders and shopping lists to themselves on WhatsApp. On Monday, the Meta-owned instant messaging app announced the rollout of the new messaging

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.

messages are end-to-end encrypted. You can send yourself a message just like you would in any other chat. When you want to forward yourself a message, share a picture, or share a link, your pro le will pop up in the list of contacts like any other chat. Depending on how often you use this feature, your pro le will either appear in the Frequently contacted or Recent chats list.

feature that will reach all its Android and iPhone users in the coming weeks.

How to Message Yourself on WhatsApp

Messaging yourself on WhatsApp works similarly to starting any other chat on the app. To start a chat with yourself, follow these steps:

1. Open WhatsApp on your main Chats tab.

2. Tap the new chat icon on the bottom right of the screen.

3. At the top of the list of contacts, you will see your name with the text Message yourself under it. Select your pro le to open a new chat.

4. A chat window will open just like a regular chat. Here you can type and send messages to yourself. Like any other chat on WhatsApp,

“I tried to send a le to a friend as an email attachment, but my email system could not send it as the le was too large. How can I send this le?”

The most convenient way is to “share” the le that you have stored in Cloud Storage. Copy the le to the Cloud Storage of your choice. You can put your preferred Cloud Storage onto all your devices and can then “share” the le by sending a link to the le rather than sending the le itself. Copy the link into an email and send it. The recipient can then click on the link which will download the le to their device.

Google Drive (15 G Bytes) and One Drive (5G Bytes) are free to download and use on all devices.

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

The Generalitat grant the recognition of tourist municipality of excellence of the Comunitat

Valenciana to the city council of Torrevieja

This recognition will allow Torrevieja to access di erent means of nancing, as well as accrediting its commitment to quality, sustainable and inclusive tourism.

The Mayor of Torrevieja, Eduardo Dolon, reported that the Generalitat Valenciana has decided to award the recognition of Tourist Municipality of Excellence of the Valencian Community to the City of Torrevieja. The recognition, o cially published today in the O cial Gazette of the Valencian Community (DOCV) will allow Torrevieja to access di erent funding channels, as well as accrediting its commitment to quality, sustainable and inclusive tourism.

In accordance with the Statute of Tourist Municipality of the Valencian Community, Torrevieja has accredited that it meets requirements such as tourist population, number of tourist accommodation places and the existence of rst class resources, in addition to the ful lment of the obligations determined in this regulatory Statute of tourist municipality.

In this way, the city of Torrevieja, like the rest of the municipalities with this distinction, will have special funding to compensate for the economic e ort involved in attending to the large tourist population it receives each year. Speci cally, it will have preferential attention in the lines of economic development of the Generalitat, infrastructure policies or tourism promotion activities, as well as speci c funding channels through speci c agreements and within the Unconditional Municipal Cooperation Fund of the Valencian Community.

RIGHTS

Tourist municipalities will be the object of preferential attention in:

- The elaboration of the tourist plans and programmes of the administration of the Generalitat.

- The lines and measures of economic promotion established by the administration of the Generalitat.

- The activities of the administration of the Generalitat aimed at the internal and external promotion of tourism.

- Policies for the implementation

or improvement of infrastructures and services that have a special impact on tourism and are promoted by the di erent departments of the administration of the Generalitat.

In order to guarantee this right, the administration of the Generalitat Valenciana shall consult tourist

municipalities in the drawing up of tourism plans and programmes, in the planning of activities aimed at the internal and external promotion of tourism, as well as in the implementation or improvement of infrastructures and services that have a special impact on tourism.

Finally, Eduardo Dolon, has expressed his satisfaction with this

important recognition for the city of Torrevieja, and congratulated the Councillor for Tourism and Deputy Mayor of the City Council, Rosario Martinez, as well as the great team that makes up the municipal Tourism Department, for the great work done to Torrevieja is recognized as a Tourist Municipality of Excellence of the Valencian Community.

Collecting for Red Cross on the Costa Blanca South

As Christmas is the time for giving, the Specsavers Ópticas stores on the Costa Blanca South are supporting the Red Cross by collecting cleaning products for the home and toiletries for families in their local areas. They are asking customers and local residents to drop in shampoo, shower gel, soap, shaving products, feminine hygiene products and all types of cleaning products for the home. They will be collecting these in the Guardamar, Torrevieja and La Zenia branches of Specsavers Ópticas until the 7th of January.

Lisa James, store director of Specsavers Ópticas in Guardamar explains, “We are always ready to support those in need and feel we all need to do our bit. With so many amazing di erent and diverse charities around the Costa Blanca, it’s impossible to support them all, but this Christmas we’ve chosen to support the Red Cross.

Our team have seen rst-hand the incredible work that the Red Cross does locally, supporting those that don’t have much, or nd themselves in a situation without a home, or in a very di cult situation. Their dedicated team helps in any way possible, but rely on donations, so we wanted to support them by becoming a drop o point for items that they are really lacking.

They’ve told us that toiletries and cleaning products are in very high demand and rarely donated, so we are inviting our wonderful customers and local residents to pick up a few extra things when they go shopping and drop them in to store throughout the

holiday season.”

Red Cross Guardamar is currently supporting 168 families in their area, a number that has signi cantly increased since the COVID pandemic began. As well as providing food and items such as personal care and cleaning products, they support their families however they need to. This includes visiting isolated and lonely people in their homes, helping to coordinate social services support for their users to make sure they are getting what they are

entitled to, providing school materials for children, paying bills and medication costs for vulnerable families, and much more.

The Red Cross rely on volunteers and nancial donations, as well as donations items to support their families and you can nd out more and make a donation by visiting www.cruzroja.es or you can nd out about Red Cross Guardamar on Facebook @cruzrojaguardamar.

Please drop in donations of cleaning

products and toiletries to Specsavers Ópticas in Guardamar, Torrevieja and La Zenia. You can drop them o during

opening hours until the 7th of January. Find your nearest store by visiting www. specsavers.es

Uncommon January Facts that you may have never heard before

January and February were added to the Roman calendar by the second King of Rome, King Numa Pompilius, to ensure that the calendars would be of the same duration as the lunar year.

Did you know that initially, there were only 10 months? There was no January or February. March used to be the starting month. It was around 700 BCE when Numa Pompilius, a Roman King, wanted to add the two winter months.

Henry Ford introduced his rst assembly line for automobile manufacturing in January 1914.

January 1 is famous for the opening of Ellis Island in the US as it allowed room for 20 million immigrants. Ellis Island Day is observed every January 1.

Did you know that January is a part of the second-largest city in Brazil? Yes. For Brazil, January isn’t only a month. When the Portuguese came to Brazil under Gaspar de Lemos, they landed on the South American coast of Guanabara Bay in 1502. And the date was January 1. This coast is in the city of Rio de Janeiro. The name was given by the Portuguese, and it meant ‘River of January.’

January is the coldest month of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, while at the same time, the weather in the Southern Hemisphere is summer in its full swing.

In leap years, January, April, and July commence on the same day.

The primary star sign of January is Capricorn, then comes Aquarius.

January’s birthstone is Garnet.

The January full moon is also called the Wolf Moon; this dates back to some native cultural beliefs. Consequently, January was dubbed the wolf month. The most probable

reason for this is that when these names were assigned, farmers used to hear the loudest howls of hungry wolves during January’s full moon.

Fans of the entertainment world might be aware that on January 25, 1949, the rst-ever Emmy Awards were held.

Do you know that the day right after the very festive New Year is considered the unluckiest day? People belonging to Medieval times believed that January 2 was not a good day to plan anything as it might lead to early or timely death or some other inauspicious events would follow. We can’t be sure how many people still believe it, but it surely gave a reason to people everywhere to have a day o and relax after partying hard on New Year’s Day.

January was named after a Roman god of beginnings. Hence, it was understood that the month of January means a fresh start. The word is derived from a Latin word.

Carnations are the o cial ower of the month of January.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed on the third Monday in January to honor the American preacher, activist, and leader of the Civil Rights Movement.

The annual War on Poverty Day is held on January 8 as an uno cial holiday.

Dry January is observed by some of the people in the UK as a part of the movement to encourage people who want to quit drinking. This aims to encourage people to quit drinking and encourage public health awareness.

January is also full of holidays and observances across the world. Here are some of the most important holidays and events that are observed in the month of January.

New Year’s Day: January 1.

World Family Day: January 1.

World Braille Day: January 4.

World Orphans Day: January 6.

International Programmers’ Day: January 7.

Indian Republic Day: January 26.

Australia Day: January 26.

World

Religion Day: January 17.

International Customs Day: January 26. World Leprosy Eradication Day: January 31.

This Week´s Movie Picks

Sleepless in Seatle

Saturday 7th January – Channel 5, 4.15pm

After his wife Maggie passes away, Sam Baldwin and his 8-year-old son Jonah relocate from Chicago to Seattle to escape the grief associated with Maggie’s death. Eighteen months later Sam is still grieving and can’t sleep. Although Jonah misses his mother, he wants his father to get a new wife despite Sam having not even contemplated dating again. On Christmas Eve, Sam (on Jonah’s initiative) ends up pouring his heart out on a national radio talk show about his magical and perfect marriage to Maggie, and how much he still misses her. Among the many women who hear Sam’s story and fall in love with him solely because of it is Annie Reed, a Baltimore-based newspaper writer. Annie’s infatuation with Sam’s story and by association Sam himself is despite being already engaged. But Annie’s relationship with her straight-laced ancé Walter is unlike her dream love life in the movie An A air to Remember (1957). She even writes to Sam proposing they meet atop the Empire State Building on Valentine’s Day. Back in Seattle, Sam has received hundreds of letters from women wanting to meet him. Jonah is excited by one letter in particular from Baltimore and will do whatever he needs to to get his father and Annie together. However, old fashioned Sam wants his future love life to be based on meeting a woman the traditional way and he, in turn, becomes infatuated with an unknown woman he spots a few times in Seattle. Will magic happen twice in Sam’s life, and if so will it be with this unknown woman or Annie?

Evan Almighty Sunday 8th January – ITV2, 7.00pm

Bu alo newsman Evan Baxter is elected to Congress with the slogan, “Change the world.” He lucks into a huge house in a new Virginia suburb. His Capitol o ce is also fantastic, but there’s a catch: he’s tapped by the powerful Congressman Long to co-sponsor a bill to allow development in national parks. In steps God, who appears to a disbelieving Evan and gently commands him to build an ark. Tools and wood arrive in Evan’s yard, animal pairs follow, his beard and hair grow wildly, nomad’s clothes and a sta appear. Long grows impatient, Evan starts building, his family leaves him, reporters gather, and drought grips D.C. Still, Evan believes. But will he change the world?

Tuesday

23:00 BBC News at Ten 23:30 BBC London 23:40 The Woman in Black

00:55 Digging for Britain 01:55 Celebrity Antiques Road Trip 02:55 The Traitors 03:55 Cinderella: A Comic Relief Pantomime for Christmas 04:55 This Is BBC TWO 07:30 The Farmers’ Country Showdown 08:15 Make It at Market 09:00 The Repair Shop 10:00 BBC News 11:00 BBC News 14:00 Tom Kerridge’s Lose Weight for Good 14:30 Saved and Remade 15:15 Carousel 17:15 The Real Marigold Hotel 18:15 Flog It! 19:00 Richard Osman’s House of Games 19:30 Take a Hike 20:00 Take a Hike 20:30 Saving Lives at Sea 21:00 The Hairy Bikers Go Local 22:00 Miriam Margolyes: Australia Unmasked 23:00 Detectorists 23:30 Newsnight

Wednesday 4th January

03:30 The Travel Show 04:00 BBC News 04:30 Spotlight 05:00 BBC News 05:30 HARDtalk 06:00 BBC World News 06:30 World Business Report 07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Rip Off Britain: Holidays 11:00 Big Little Crimes 11:45 For Love or Money 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 The Farmers’ Country Showdown 16:00 Escape to the Country 16:45 The Repair Shop 17:30 Make It at Market 18:15 Pointless 19:00 BBC News at Six 19:30 BBC London 20:00 The One Show 20:30 EastEnders 21:00 Dogs in the Wild: Meet the Family 22:00 Ambulance 23:00 BBC News at Ten 23:30 BBC London 23:40 Match of the Day

00:10 BBC Weather 00:15 The Caribbean with Andi and Miquita 01:15 My Old School 03:00 Expedition Rhino: The Search for the Last Northern White 03:45 The Traitors 04:45 This Is BBC TWO 07:30 The Farmers’ Country Showdown 08:15 Make It at Market 09:00 See Hear 09:30 A Countryside Winter 10:00 BBC News 11:00 BBC News 14:00 Tom Kerridge’s Lose Weight for Good 14:30 Saved and Remade 15:15 Pride and Prejudice 17:10 Beechgrove 17:15 The Real Marigold Hotel 18:15 Flog It! 19:00 Richard Osman’s House of Games 19:30 Take a Hike 20:00 This Farming Life 21:00 The Hairy Bikers Go Local 22:00 Ukraine: The People’s Fight 23:00 Our Flag Means Death 23:30 Newsnight

00:35 English Football League Highlights 02:20 Ideal World 04:00 Cooking with the Stars 04:50 Unwind with ITV 06:05 Dickinson’s Real Deal 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 Lingo

17:00 Tipping Point 18:00 The Chase 19:00 ITV News London 19:30 ITV Evening News 20:30 Emmerdale 21:00 Coronation Street

22:00 Stonehouse 23:00 ITV News at Ten 23:30 ITV News London 23:45 Gordon, Gino and Fred Go Greek!

04:10 Couples Come Dine with Me

05:05 Hollyoaks Omnibus 06:20 Devon and Cornwall 07:15 Countdown 07:55 3rd Rock From the Sun 08:20 3rd Rock From the Sun 08:45 Everybody Loves Raymond

09:10 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:40 Everybody Loves Raymond 10:10 Frasier 10:40 Frasier 11:10 Frasier 11:40 Undercover Boss USA 12:35 Channel 4 News

Summary

12:40 Four in a Bed

13:10 Four in a Bed

13:40 Four in a Bed 14:10 Four in a Bed 14:40 Four in a Bed 15:10 Countdown 16:00 A Place in the Sun 17:00 A New Life in the Sun 18:00 Come Dine with Me:

The Professionals

19:00 Hollyoaks 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:30 2022: The Year from Space 22:00 24 Hours in A&E 23:00 Belfast Midwives

07:40 Oggy Oggy 07:45 Odo 07:55 Fireman Sam 08:05 Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go 08:15 Kangaroo Beach 08:25 Peppa Pig 08:30 Peppa Pig 08:40 PAW Patrol 08:55 Pip & Posy 09:10 The Adventures of Paddington 09:25 Milo 09:35 PAW Patrol 09:50 Daisy & Ollie 09:55 Pip & Posy 10:05 Peppa Pig 10:10 Sunny Bunnies 10:15 Jeremy Vine 13:45 Traffic Cops 14:40 5 News at Lunchtime 14:45 Home and Away 15:15 Fatal Mind Games 17:00 Bargain Loving Brits in the Sun 18:00 5 News at 5 19:00 Holiday Homes In The Sun 20:00 GPs: Behind Closed Doors 21:00 Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly 22:00 Ben Fogle: New Lives in the Wild 23:00 HMP Belmarsh: Maximum Security

00:40 Family Guy 01:10 Family Guy 01:35 American Dad! 02:05 American Dad! 02:30 Superstore 03:00 Superstore 03:30 Totally Bonkers Guinness World Records 04:00 Teleshopping 07:00 World’s Funniest Videos 07:35 Totally Bonkers Guinness World Records 08:00 Secret Crush 09:00 Dress to Impress 10:00 In For a Penny 10:30 In For a Penny 11:00 Supermarket Sweep 12:00 Alan Carr’s Epic Gameshow 13:00 Secret Crush 14:00 Dress to Impress 15:00 Family Fortunes 16:05 Chuck 17:00 One Tree Hill 18:00 The O.C. 19:00 Catchphrase 20:00 Ninja Warrior UK 21:00 Superstore 21:30 Superstore 22:00 Kavos Weekender 23:00 Family Guy 23:30 Family Guy

00:05 Unforgotten 01:10 Goodnight Mister Tom 03:20 Unwind with ITV 03:30 Teleshopping 07:00 Coronation Street 07:35 Coronation Street 08:00 Emmerdale 08:35 Emmerdale 09:05 George and Mildred 09:35 George and Mildred 10:10 Agatha Christie’s Marple 12:30 Heartbeat 134:35 Heartbeat 14:40 Emmerdale 15:15 Emmerdale 15:50 Coronation Street 16:20 Coronation Street

16:45 Inspector Morse 19:00 Heartbeat 20:00 Heartbeat 21:00 Midsomer Murders 23:00 DCI Banks

00:55 The Jonathan Ross Show 01:50 Ideal World 04:00 Dickinson’s Real Deal 04:50 Unwind with ITV 06:05 Lingo 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 Lingo 17:00 Tipping Point 18:00 The Chase 19:00 ITV News London 19:30 ITV Evening News 20:30 Emmerdale 21:00 Coronation Street 22:00 Stonehouse 23:00 ITV News at Ten 23:30 ITV News London 23:45 Farewell Doc Martin

07:15 Countdown 07:55 3rd Rock From the Sun 08:20 3rd Rock From the Sun 08:45 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:10 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:40 Everybody Loves Raymond 10:10 Frasier 10:40 Frasier 11:10 Frasier 11:40 Undercover Boss USA 12:35 Channel 4 News Summary 12:40 Four in a Bed 13:10 Four in a Bed 13:40 Four in a Bed 14:10 Four in a Bed 14:40 Four in a Bed 15:10 Countdown 16:00 A Place in the Sun 17:00 A New Life in the Sun 18:00 Come Dine with Me: The Professionals 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 21:00 Kirstie and Phil’s Love It or List It 22:00 The Light in the Hall 23:00 The Caribbean: Billionaires’ Paradise

Tommy´s Bar customers help childrens charity

Tommy´s Bar in Benimar put out a shout to their customers to help them support a local charity entitled “Centro Solidario Benijofar”. This charity has been set up to help local underprivileged children from ages 0 to 16 years old. Tommy´s Bar are proud to support this charity.

Their wonderful customers have been extremely generous by donating over 100 toys for this appeal. Tommys Bar is also proud to have raised 430 euros for food for local families who are struggling via a ra e that was drawn on Christmas Eve.

Tommy´s Bar would like to wholeheartedly thank their fantastic customers and also give a big thank you to Glenn who had the fortunate task of wrapping over 90 of the Christmas toys!

00:00 Unforgotten 01:10 Agatha Christie’s Marple 03:15 Unwind with ITV 03:30 Teleshopping 07:00 Coronation Street 07:35 Coronation Street 08:00 Emmerdale 08:35 Emmerdale 09:05 George and Mildred 09:35 George and Mildred 10:10 Agatha Christie’s Marple 12:30 Heartbeat 13:35 Heartbeat 14:40 Emmerdale 15:15 Emmerdale 15:50 Coronation Street 16:20 Coronation Street 16:50 Inspector Morse 19:00 Heartbeat 20:00 Heartbeat 21:00 Lewis 23:00 DCI Banks

BBC

Thursday 5th January

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 Rip Off Britain: Holidays 11:00 Big Little Crimes

11:45 For Love or Money

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 The Farmers’ Country Showdown

16:00 Escape to the Country

16:45 The Repair Shop

17:30 Make It at Market

18:15 Pointless

19:00 BBC News at Six 19:30 BBC London

20:00 The One Show

20:30 EastEnders

21:00 Dragons’ Den 22:00 The Apprentice 23:00 BBC News at Ten 23:30 BBC London

23:40 Mrs Brown’s Boys

00:10 BBC Weather 00:15 The Caribbean with Andi and Miquita 01:15 See Hear 01:45 The Traitors

02:45 Oti Mabuse: My South Africa

03:45 Flipping Profit 04:30 This Is BBC TWO 07:30 The Farmers’ Country Showdown 08:15 Make It at Market

09:00 Snow Dogs 10:00 BBC News 11:00 BBC News

14:00 Tom Kerridge’s Lose Weight for Good 14:30 Saved and Remade 15:15 Scott of the Antarctic

17:00 Beechgrove

17:15 The Real Marigold Hotel 18:15 Flog It! 19:00 Richard Osman’s House of Games 19:30 Take a Hike 20:00 This Farming Life 21:00 The Hairy Bikers Go Local 22:00 Marie-Antoinette

23:00 The Apprentice: You’re Fired 23:30 Newsnight

Friday 6th January

03:00 BBC News 03:30 Addiction 04:00 BBC News 04:30 The Travel Show 05:00 BBC News 05:30 HARDtalk 06:00 BBC World News 06:30 World Business Report 07:00

00:45 Heathrow: Britain’s

Busiest Airport

01:10 Ideal World 04:00 Lingo 04:50 Unwind with ITV 06:05 Dickinson’s Real Deal 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 Lingo

17:00 Tipping Point

18:00 The Chase 19:00 ITV News London

19:30 ITV Evening News 20:30 Emmerdale 21:30 Tonight 22:00 The Real Stonehouse

23:00 ITV News at Ten 23:30 ITV News London 23:45 Fast & Furious 8

03:55 Animal Farm

05:10 Couples Come Dine with Me

06:05 The Great British Bake Off 07:15 Countdown 07:55 3rd Rock From the Sun 08:20 3rd Rock From the Sun

08:45 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:10 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:40 Everybody Loves Raymond 10:10 Frasier 10:35 Frasier 11:05 Frasier

11:40 Undercover Boss USA 12:35 Channel 4 News

Summary

12:40 Four in a Bed

13:10 Four in a Bed

13:40 Four in a Bed 14:10 Four in a Bed 14:40 Four in a Bed 15:10 Countdown 16:00 A Place in the Sun 17:00 A New Life in the Sun 18:00 Come Dine with Me:

The Professionals 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 21:00 The Dog House 22:00 The Light in the Hall 23:00 Catching a Killer

07:40 Oggy Oggy 07:45 Odo

07:55 Fireman Sam 08:05 Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go 08:15 Kangaroo Beach 08:25 Peppa Pig 08:30 Peppa Pig 08:40 PAW Patrol 08:55 Pip & Posy 09:10 The Adventures of Paddington 09:25 Milo 09:35 PAW Patrol 09:50 Daisy & Ollie 09:55 Pip & Posy 10:05 Peppa Pig 10:10 Sunny Bunnies 10:15 Jeremy Vine 13:45 Traffic Cops 14:40 5 News at Lunchtime 14:45 Home and Away 15:15 To Be Announced 17:00 Bargain Loving Brits in the Sun 18:00 5 News at 5 19:00 Holiday Homes In The Sun 20:00 Nick Knowles’ Big House Clearout 21:00 Build Your Dream Home in the Country 22:00 The Madame Blanc Mysteries 23:00 Sally Lindsay In My Own Words

00:00 Family Guy 00:30 American Dad! 01:00 American Dad! 01:30 Superstore 02:00 Superstore 02:30 Don’t Hate the Playaz 03:15 Totally Bonkers Guinness World Records 03:45 Unwind with ITV 04:00 Teleshopping 07:00 World’s Funniest Videos 07:35 Totally Bonkers Guinness World Records 08:00 Secret Crush 09:00 Dress to Impress 10:00 Chuck 11:00 One Tree Hill 12:00 The O.C. 13:00 Secret Crush 14:00 Dress to Impress 15:00 Family Fortunes 16:05 Chuck 17:00 One Tree Hill 18:00 The O.C. 19:00 Catchphrase 20:00 Ninja Warrior UK 21:00 Superstore 21:30 Superstore 22:00 Gordon, Gino and Fred: Unseen Bits 23:00 Plebs 23:30 Plebs

00:00 Unforgotten 01:10 Agatha Christie’s

Marple 03:20 Unwind with ITV 03:30 Teleshopping 07:00 Coronation Street 07:35 Coronation Street 08:00 Emmerdale 08:35 Emmerdale 09:05 George and Mildred 09:35 George and Mildred 10:10 Agatha Christie’s Marple 12:30 Heartbeat 13:35 Heartbeat 14:40 Emmerdale 15:15 Emmerdale 15:50 Coronation Street 16:20 Coronation Street 16:50 Inspector Morse 19:00 Heartbeat 20:00 Heartbeat 21:00 Vera 23:00 DCI Banks

Kerridge’s Lose Weight for Good 14:30 Tom Kerridge’s Lose Weight for Good 15:00 The Red Shoes 17:10 Beechgrove 17:15 The Real Marigold on Tour 18:15 Flog It! 19:00 Richard Osman’s House of Games 19:30 Take a Hike 20:00 Monty Don’s Adriatic Gardens 21:00 The Hairy Bikers Go Local 22:00 QI XL 22:45 Live at the Apollo 23:30 Newsnight

02:00 Ideal World 04:00 Dickinson’s Real Deal 04:50 Unwind with ITV 06:05 Lingo 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 Lingo 17:00 Tipping Point 18:00 The Chase 19:00 ITV News London 19:30 ITV Evening News 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Live: FA Cup Football 23:20 ITV News 23:55 ITV News London

05:10 Come Dine with Me 05:40 Food Unwrapped 06:05 Devon and Cornwall 06:55 Kirstie’s House of Craft 07:15 Countdown 07:55 3rd Rock From the Sun 08:20 3rd Rock From the Sun 08:45 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:10 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:40 Everybody Loves Raymond 10:10 Frasier 10:35 Frasier 11:05 Frasier 11:40 Undercover Boss USA 12:35 Channel 4 News Summary 12:40 Four in a Bed 13:10 Four in a Bed 13:40 Four in a Bed 14:10 Four in a Bed 14:40 Four in a Bed 15:10 Countdown 16:00 A Place in the Sun 17:00 A New Life in the Sun 18:00 Come Dine with Me: The Professionals 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:30 Food Unwrapped 22:00 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown 23:00 Gogglebox

07:45 Odo 07:55 Fireman Sam 08:05 Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go 08:15 Kangaroo Beach 08:25 Peppa Pig 08:30 Peppa Pig 08:40 PAW Patrol 08:55 Pip & Posy 09:10 The Adventures of Paddington 09:25 Milo 09:35 PAW Patrol 09:50 Daisy & Ollie 09:55 Pip & Posy 10:05 Peppa Pig 10:10 Sunny Bunnies 10:15 Jeremy Vine 13:45 Traffic Cops 14:40 5 News at Lunchtime 14:45 Home and Away 15:15 Murder in Cherry Springs 17:00 Bargain Loving Brits in the Sun 18:00 5 News at 5 19:00 Holiday Homes In The Sun 20:00 Britain’s Poshest Designer Outlet 21:00 Cruising With Susan Calman 22:00 Holidaying With Jane Mcdonald 23:00 When Luxury Holidays Go Wrong

00:00 Family Guy 00:35 Family Guy 01:05 American Dad! 01:35 American Dad! 02:00 Superstore 02:30 Superstore 03:00 Hey Tracey 03:55 Unwind with ITV 04:00 Teleshopping 07:00 World’s Funniest Videos 07:35 Totally Bonkers Guinness World Records 08:00 Secret Crush 09:00 Dress to Impress 10:00 Chuck 11:00 One Tree Hill 12:00 The O.C. 13:00 Secret Crush 14:00 Dress to Impress 15:00 Family Fortunes 16:05 Chuck 17:00 One Tree Hill 18:00 The O.C. 19:00 Catchphrase 20:00 Ninja Warrior UK 21:00 Superstore 21:30 Superstore 22:00 The Fast and the Furious

00:00 Unforgotten 01:10 Agatha Christie’s Marple 03:20 Unwind with ITV 03:30 Teleshopping 07:00 Coronation Street 07:35 Coronation Street 08:00 Emmerdale 08:35 Emmerdale 09:05 George and Mildred 09:35 George and Mildred 10:10 Agatha Christie’s Marple 12:30 Heartbeat 13:35 Heartbeat 14:40 Emmerdale 15:15 Emmerdale 15:50 Coronation Street 16:20 Coronation Street 16:50 Inspector Morse 19:00 Heartbeat 20:00 Heartbeat 21:00 Doc Martin 22:00 Doc Martin 23:00 DCI Banks

Guide 09:30 Weatherman Walking 10:00 Around the World in 80 Gardens 11:00 Saturday Kitchen Best Bites

12:30 The Hairy Bikers Go Local

13:30 Tom Kerridge’s Fresh Start

14:00 Live: Masters Snooker 18:15 Flog It! 19:15 Ski Sunday 20:00 Countryfile 21:00 Digging for Britain 22:00 Antiques Roadshow 23:00 Mary Queen of Scots

07:00 Dare Master

07:05 The Rubbish World of Dave Spud 07:15 The Rubbish World of Dave Spud 07:25 The Rubbish World of Dave Spud 07:40 Lloyd of the Flies 07:50 Lloyd of the Flies 08:05 LEGO Marvel Avengers: Loki in Training 08:30 Dorg Van Dango 08:45 Dorg Van Dango 09:00 Dodo 09:10 Dodo 09:25 Lloyd of the Flies 09:40 Lloyd of the Flies 09:55 How 10:25 ITV News 10:30 Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh 12:30 Love Your Garden 13:00 Ninja Warrior UK 14:00 ITV Lunchtime News 14:15 Live: FA Cup Football 17:25 Tipping Point: Best Ever Finals

17:55 The Scorpion King 19:35 ITV Evening News 19:50 ITV News London

20:00 Coronation Street 21:00 Midsomer Murders 23:00 ITV News 23:15 The Real Stonehouse

05:15 Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh

07:00 Dare Master

07:05 The Rubbish World of Dave Spud 07:15 The Rubbish World of Dave Spud 07:25 The Rubbish World of Dave Spud

07:40 Lloyd of the Flies

07:50 Lloyd of the Flies

08:05 LEGO Marvel Avengers: Loki in Training

08:30 Dorg Van Dango 08:45 Dorg Van Dango 09:00 Dodo 09:10 Dodo

09:25 Lloyd of the Flies 09:40 Lloyd of the Flies 09:55 How 10:25 ITV News

10:30 Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh

12:30 Love Your Garden

13:00 Ninja Warrior UK

14:00 ITV Lunchtime News

14:15 Live: FA Cup Football

17:25 Tipping Point: Best Ever Finals

17:55 The Scorpion King 19:35 ITV Evening News

19:50 ITV News London

20:00 Coronation Street 21:00 Midsomer Murders 23:00 ITV News 23:15 The Real Stonehouse

08:30 PAW Patrol 08:40 Baby Shark’s Big Show! 09:00 Pirata & Capitano 09:25 Santiago of the Seas 09:40 The Adventures of Paddington 09:50 Pop Paper City 10:00 Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom

10:15 Cooking with the Gills 10:30 Show Me How 10:35 Mimi’s World 10:50 The World According To Grandpa 11:00 The Smurfs 11:15 SpongeBob SquarePants 11:30 NFL End Zone 12:00 Friends 12:30 Friends 13:00 Friends 13:30 Aurora Teagarden Mysteries 15:20 Mrs. Caldicot’s Cabbage War 17:40 Jane Mcdonald: Cruising The Med 19:25 5 News Weekend 19:30 When Posh Holidays Go Horribly Wrong 21:00 22 Kids & Counting 22:00 Motorhoming With Merton & Webster 23:00 Hotel Benidorm: Sun, Sea & Sangria 23:55 Most Shocking Celebrity Moments

00:00 Family Guy 00:30 Family Guy 01:00 American Dad! 01:30 American Dad! 02:00 Hey Tracey 03:00 All American 03:50 Unwind with ITV 04:00 Teleshopping 07:00 Totally Bonkers

Guinness World Records 07:35 Secret Crush 08:35 Secret Crush 09:25 Secret Crush 10:25 Dress to Impress 11:25 Dress to Impress 12:25 The Masked Singer 14:00 Catchphrase 15:05 Rio 2 17:10 Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 19:00 Evan Almighty 21:00 Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw 23:40 Family Guy

01:55 George and Mildred 02:30 George and Mildred 03:05 Unwind with ITV 03:30 Teleshopping 07:00 George and Mildred 07:35 Emmerdale Omnibus 10:20 George and Mildred 10:50 Agatha Christie’s Marple

12:50 Agatha Christie’s Marple

14:55 Agatha Christie’s Marple

16:55 Doc Martin 17:55 Doc Martin 19:00 Rosemary and Thyme 20:00 Rosemary and Thyme 21:00 Martin Clunes: Islands of the Pacific 22:00 Joanna Lumley’s Great Cities of the World 23:00 Maigret

00:10 Premiership Rugby 01:10 Ideal World 04:00 Martin Lewis’ Extreme Savers 04:25 Unwind with ITV 05:40 Dancing on Thin Ice with Torvill and Dean 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 Lingo 17:00 Tipping Point 18:00 The Chase 19:00 ITV News London 19:30 ITV Evening News 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Live: FA Cup Football 23:20 ITV News 23:50 ITV News London

Generous donation of 1500 for Reach Out Charity

00:10 Premiership Rugby 01:10 Ideal World 04:00 Martin Lewis’ Extreme Savers 04:25 Unwind with ITV 05:40 Dancing on Thin Ice with Torvill and Dean 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 Lingo 17:00 Tipping Point 18:00 The Chase 19:00 ITV News London 19:30 ITV Evening News 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Live: FA Cup Football 23:20 ITV News 23:50 ITV News London

00:50 Upstairs, Downstairs 01:55 Upstairs, Downstairs 03:00 George and Mildred 03:35 George and Mildred 04:05 Emmerdale Omnibus 06:40 Unwind with ITV 07:00 Emmerdale 07:35 Emmerdale 08:00 Coronation Street 08:35 Coronation Street 09:05 George and Mildred 09:40 George and Mildred 10:15 Agatha Christie’s Marple 12:30 Heartbeat 13:35 Heartbeat 14:40 Emmerdale 15:10 Emmerdale 15:40 Coronation Street 16:15 Coronation Street 16:45 Inspector Morse 19:00 Heartbeat 20:00 Heartbeat 21:00 Vera 23:00 DCI

Blooming gardeners garden club

There is a new Garden Club in the Los Montesinos, Quesada, San Luis and surrounding Torrevieja area.

The garden club was launched in October 2022 with the rst inaugural meeting taking place in the garden of Shirley Latham. After a very successful and well attended meeting, the garden club was o cially “ready to bloom and grow”.

This concept is a fairly new take on garden clubs in this area. The proposal is to meet in local gardens monthly (excl December to February).

There is little formality, but lots of shared garden knowledge and advice. A bring and share table is available – with all sorts of green freebies. From garden books to plants, shrubs, groundcovers and unique plants.

There is 3 “lucky, on time “ plants to be won monthly.

Members are free to wander around the garden and light refreshments are usually available.

We are looking for garden speakers for future meetings.

New members who are interested in gardening or

409 local companies receive aid from the Provincial Council for the payment of electricity, gas and fuel to minimise the economic impact caused by the energy crisis

The Councillor for Promotion, Employment and Local Development of the City of Torrevieja, Domingo Paredes, reports that after the deadline for applications for a line of aid to SMEs, micro-SMEs and selfemployed, in order to minimize the economic and social impact that this energy crisis is assuming on these groups, a total of 409 applications Torrevieja companies have submitted the required documentation and meet the requirements of the call carried out by the Provincial Council of Alicante. These 409 local companies will

share the aid of 313,716 euros to subsidize the running costs of electricity, gas and fuel, in a period that includes the years 2021 and 2022.

- Electricity. In the period from 1 April 2021 to 30 June 2022.

- Gas. In the period from 1 April 2021 to 30 June 2022.

- Fuels. In the period from 1 January 2022 to 30 June 2022.

Domingo Paredes indicated that 533 applications were submitted, but 124 of those submitted did not comply with the obligation to provide the necessary documentation or did

not meet any of the requirements set out in the call for applications.

The Councillor for Promotion, Employment and Local Development has highlighted that the budget credit of the call, amounting to 313,716 euros, has not been su cient to meet the total number of applications that meet the necessary requirements, so that, in accordance with the provisions of the second tenth base of the call, has proceeded to apply a proportional reduction of the amount of each and every one of the individual aid proposed in a percentage of 57.78%.

learning

gardening on the Costa are welcome to join. There is no joining fee.

675619568

about

For more information please contact our President – Shirley Latham

The

ix

Greif had previously enjoyed a recurring role as malevolent space commander Travis in late seventies sciseries Blake’s 7

However, the Hertfordshire born actor was already well established having starred alongside Robert Lindsay in

Adele boosts her fortune by £11.5m in just one year after the release of wildly successful latest album... which was her rst in ve years

The hitmaker’s pro ts catapulted between 2020 and 2021, with the latter seeing her company with reserves of almost £15M, according to account statements

Statements for her company, Melted Stone Ltd, show that its net assets sat

at £14,940,260 in December 2021, a massive jump from £3,566,954 a year prior

This was the same year that the musician released her newest album, titled 30, which became one of the world’s best-selling albums of the year

‘I like to make everything spontaneous’: Simon Cowell reveals that he and ancée Lauren Silverman WON’T be planning their nuptials and will instead wed on a whim

He proposed to his socialite girlfriend Lauren Silverman, 45, on Christmas Eve in Barbados last year.

And Simon Cowell has now revealed that the couple aren’t planning a wedding and will instead decide to tie the knot at random.

The talent show guru, 63, admitted that he likes to ‘make everything spontaneous,’ with the the moment he becomes a husband no exception to this rule.

But with no sign of that taking o , Simon explained that it’s not actually something they’re looking to plan, unlike most.

‘I don’t think we’ll be getting married in Las Vegas but whatever we do, it’ll be fun,’ he continued.

Back in May, sourced told MailOnline

that the socialite is keen to restrict the guest list to just family and close friends, and limit the number of celebrities involved in the ceremony.

Simon shares his only son, Eric, eight, with Lauren after they welcomed him in 2014.

Strictly Come Dancing bosses are ‘desperate to sign a celebrity couple on the show to compete AGAINST one another’... with Emma Willis and husband Matt named top contenders

A celebrity couple might be joining Strictly Come Dancing next year, in what is set to be a major shakeup for the popular show.

According to The Sun, the show’s bosses are ‘desperate to get a celebrity couple on the show’ to ‘compete against one another’ in the new series.

The publication reports that presenter Emma Willis, 46, and her Busted singer husband Matt, 39, are top contenders to take on the gig.

The Crown star Stephen Greif dies aged 78: Friends pay tribute to ‘wonderful’ actor whose roles included Blake’s 7, EastEnders, Coronation Street and Citizen Smith

seasoned character actor played Speaker of the House Sir Bernard Weatherill during season four of Net

smash The Crown in 2020

sitcom Citizen Smith

Greif’s other notable credits included eeting roles in long-running soap operas Coronation Street and EastEnders, Waking The Dead and Doctor Who

COMFORT FOOD

Three-cheese meatball lasagne

Ingredients

12 sausages

2 tbsp olive oil

2 onions, chopped

4 garlic cloves, crushed

2 tsp fennel seeds

2 tsp dried oregano or a small handful of fresh oregano leaves, chopped

½ tsp chilli akes (optional)

1 tbsp sugar

500ml passata

400g can chopped tomatoes

100g butter

2 bay leaves

100g plain our

1l milk

¼ fresh nutmeg, nely grated 100g baby spinach

Handful basil, leaves torn

50g parmesan, grated

250g dried lasagne sheets (about 12 sheets)

50g cheddar, grated

150g ball mozzarella, torn into small pieces

Method

STEP 1

Squeeze the meat from the sausages and roll into meatballs – you’ll get about four balls from each sausage. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a wide, deep frying pan or casserole dish. Cook the meatballs in batches, making sure you don’t overcrowd the pan, until they’re all golden brown. Put them aside on a plate when they’re ready.

STEP 2

Heat the rest of the oil in the pan and add the onion. Cook for 8-10 mins until soft, then stir in the garlic, fennel, oregano and chilli, if using. Stir around for a min or 2, then add the sugar, passata and tomatoes. Swish a little water around the containers to wash out all the tomatoes and add to the pan. Season well and simmer, uncovered, for 30-40 mins over a gentle heat until the sauce thickens and the chopped tomatoes break down.

STEP 3

Heat the butter in a saucepan, add the bay leaves and let them sizzle in the butter for 1 min, then add the our. Whisk to make a smooth paste, then add the milk, a little at a time, stirring continuously until it’s all incorporated and you have a thick white sauce. Add the nutmeg and some seasoning. Leave over a low heat for 5 mins to allow the bay to infuse, whisking every now and then.

STEP 4

Keep about 10 meatballs aside and add the rest to the tomato sauce. Spoon half the tomato sauce and meatballs into a baking dish (ours was 25cm x 35cm). Top with half the spinach, the basil and a little parmesan. Pour over about a third of the white sauce, and top with a layer of lasagne sheets, breaking them up to t the dish if you need to.

STEP 5 Repeat the layers once more; meatballs and sauce, spinach, basil, parmesan, white sauce, pasta. Pour the remaining white sauce over the lasagne, spreading it to the corners to cover the pasta. Dot with the meatballs you set aside earlier and the mozzarella, then scatter over a generous helping of parmesan and cheddar. Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/ gas 5. Or if not eating straight away, chill for up to 24 hrs or freeze for two months (defrost in the fridge overnight before cooking).

STEP 6

Bake the lasagne for 40-50 mins until bubbling and golden with lots of crusty cheesy bits around the edges. Leave to sit for 5-10 mins before serving.

Creamy Fish & Leek Pie Ingredients

For the mash topping

1½ kg Rooster or Maris Piper potatoes, unpeeled 200ml double cream 50ml milk

50g grated cheddar ·50g grated parmesan

For the sh pie mix

100g butter

3 leeks, thinly sliced ¼ tsp ground nutmeg

1½ tbsp wholegrain mustard 100ml dry white wine or dry vermouth 200ml double cream

½ small bunch chives, chopped ½ lemon, zested and juiced 125g skinless smoked haddock, cut into large chunks 125g skinless salmon, cut into large chunks 125g raw king prawns

Method

STEP 1

Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Prick each potato a few times with a knife (to prevent them from bursting) and bake on a baking tray for 1 hr-1 hr 30 mins or until soft when pressed. Cut the potatoes in half and scoop out the esh into a bowl and mash it with a fork or ricer. Save the skins for another day. While the potato is still hot, mix in the cream and milk to make a smooth mash, season and set aside.

STEP 2

While the potatoes are baking, make the sh pie mix. Put a large frying pan on a medium heat. Melt the butter and cook the leeks slowly for 10 mins until they are sweet and tender, then season and add the nutmeg. Stir in the mustard, then pour in the wine and reduce until there is almost no wine left. Pour in the cream and simmer for about 10 mins until reduced by half. Remove from the heat, and add the chives along with the lemon juice and zest. Taste for seasoning.

STEP 3 Stir the haddock, salmon and prawns into the creamed leeks and transfer to a medium baking dish, then top with the mashed potato, smooth over to cover the sh, and scatter over the cheeses. Bake for 2530 mins until the cheese has turned golden brown..

Chicken arrabbiata stew & parmesan dumplings

Ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil

1 onion, thinly sliced

8 skinless and boneless chicken thighs, halved

2 large garlic cloves, crushed

1-1½ tsp chilli akes

4 tbsp sun-dried tomato pesto 250ml chicken stock

2 x 400g can chopped tomatoes

5 thyme sprigs, tied

2 tsp sugar

½ small bunch of parsley, nely chopped

For the dumplings

80g cold unsalted butter, cubed

150g self-raising our 80g parmesan, grated 50-60ml milk

Method

STEP 1

Heat the oil in a large shallow casserole dish. Fry the onion over a low-medium heat for 7 mins or until soft and turning translucent. Turn up the heat slightly, add the chicken and fry for 5 mins until beginning to brown around the edges. Tip the garlic and chilli into the casserole and fry for 1 min. Stir through the pesto, pour in the stock and tomatoes, then add the thyme, sugar and some seasoning. Turn the heat to low and cover with a lid. Cook gently for 40 mins. Remove the thyme and check the seasoning.

STEP 2

Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. To make the dumplings, put the butter and our in a bowl with ½ tsp ne salt, then rub the butter into the our with your ngertips until it resembles ne breadcrumbs. Mix in 50g of the cheese and pour in 50ml of the milk, then swiftly combine with a cutlery knife until everything is well distributed and you have a soft dough (add more milk if it’s too dry). Brie y bring the dough together on a worksurface, then divide into eight balls.

STEP 3

Arrange the dumplings over the stew, then scatter each with the remaining cheese. Put in the oven and bake, uncovered, for 25 mins or until the dumplings are doubled in size and golden brown. Scatter over the parsely and serve.

Punjabi Palace

Punjabi Palace, two authentic Indian restaurants, the rst being situated right next to the golf course at Campo de Golf La Marquesa, Quesada and the second situated in CC Lomas de Cabo Roig.

The two Punjabi Palace restaurants have been established on the Costa Blanca for 15 years.

The restaurants are open every day of the week from 12 noon until 3.00 pm and 6.00 pm until 11.00 pm.

Both of the Punjabi Palace restaurants are well known for their superb quality food, outstanding service and a friendly atmosphere for you to enjoy your lunch or dinner.

Both restaurants have a very popular lunchtime special for only 11.95 euro per person. You can enjoy popadoms, chicken or lamb curry with rice or naan and a desert or co ee as well as a glass of wine or a small beer or soft drink. Amazing value for superb quality food.

There is also a normal menu where you will nd a wonderful array of enticing Indian dishes to suit all tastes. Each restaurant o ers

a childrens menu and take away service.

Both restaurants have fantastic terrace areas where you can sit and enjoy your meal whilst soaking up the Costa Blanca Sunshine at any time of the year.

If you are looking to celebrate a birthday, engagement, anniversary or any other type of celebration then Punjabi Palace is the perfect place. Give them a call and they will happily help you to organise the perfect celebration.

You can read some of their fantastic reviews on Tripadvisor or on their facebook pages.

You can call the restaurants on the following numbers and also make reservations via facebook.

Fabulous Christmas donation for ECCH

Bookings are highly recommended.

Punjabi Palace, Campo de Golf La Marquesa, Quesada – 966714963

Punjabi Palace, CC Lomas de Cabo Roig – 865754972

The Punjabi Palace restaurants would like to wish all their clients, both old and new, a Happy and Prosperous New Year and they

look forward to welcoming you into either of their restaurants in 2023.

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.

Leading up to Christmas, unknown to the Elche Children Home, JF’s Sports Bar in Torrevieja organised a number of events and a large ra e to raise money for the Elche Children’s Care Home.

The bar’s owner, Jose Luis, called Elche Childrens Home so say that they had done quite well and could they go and collect the money from them.

They were amazed and delighted to be presented with 2,105€ from some of the customers who had been involved with the fund raising.

Then they were asked if they could wait a few minutes whilst they collect a further 170€ which had been donated by nearby bar The Ship.

It’s always humbling when these calls are received from out of the blue like this from people who just want to help young children in need.

Pictured are Dave Diggle (ECCH), Jose Luis (JF’s Bar owner), Michelle Diggle (ECCH) and JF Bar customers Phil, Mick and Matt.

have been very lucky this Christmas that people have been so generous, but help is needed for these children all year round, so this money will de nitely go a long way to continue supporting the future needs of the teenagers throughout 2023.

A huge thank you JF’s Bar, The Ship and everyone who has donated presents, money and food to the ECCH this Christmas.

Michelle Diggle SECRETARY ASSOC. ELCHE CHILDREN’S CARE HOME

CIF. G54758156

Elche Childrens Care Homes

12 simple guidelines to avoid extra kilos at Christmas

Christmas usually represents a “danger” when it comes to maintaining and taking care of the waistline, since excess food can mean an unwanted increase in our weight.

The answer lies in the in nity of stimuli that surround us during these festive days. More time at home, more gatherings with family and friends, supermarkets and other commercial areas full of temptations.

“We spend more hours in the kitchen and, without going out of our routine, television and other media are lled with advertisements for food and drinks typical of Christmas,” say the specialists of the Obesity Unit of the Hospital Quirónsalud Torrevieja.

But not everything stops there, because this weight gain can imply more serious consequences for our health, such as diabetes, digestive diseases or the development of hypertension, in the most extreme cases.

The good news, according to the specialist, is that we can plan our nutritional numbers and avoid those extra kilos that always characterise this time of year. For this, this expert in nutrition lists the following guidelines to follow before the celebratory dates:

• Sticking exclusively to holidays

and special meals is essential. On December 24 and 31, January 1 and 5, two dinners, a lunch and a snack to try the Rioscón de Reyes.

• Do not buy sweets and drinks ahead of time.

• Opt for small quantity and highquality products.

• Do not sit in front of the table after eating. It is di cult to resist a table with beautiful products on the outside and rich on the inside.

Thus, one of the main mistakes that we usually commit at this time is to get ahead of the celebrations and buy and cook more than we need.  “Leave the table when we nish eating. Looking for other activities to do these days can help us not celebrate absolutely everything only by eating and drinking,” warns the specialists.

IS SOMETHING WRONG IF NOT LIKE THE DAY OF CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER?

One of the usual questions that many people ask themselves on the designated days, such as Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve, for example, is if on those dates we should not eat or do little if, for example, we know that it is Christmas Eve dinner, where it is easy for us to ll up and even spend eating. To what extent is it good to limit the intake of that day and not eat at noon, or to do it little?

In this regard, this dietitiannutritionist considers that the ideal and that can help in these cases is to get ahead and design a menu of rst course, second course and dessert: “It is very useful not to exceed the quantity. Limiting wine to the main course and toast time also helps. On the table can and should also be water, vegetables and fruits. We can include low-calorie foods in the preparation of Christmas recipes.”

WHAT ABOUT WHIMS

On the other hand, we ask the specialists of Quirónsalud Torrevieja about whether we can grant ourselves this Christmas, and from time to time, a whim, and coinciding with family celebrations, if this will somehow in uence those kilos of more endings that we accumulate.

In his opinion, of course we can treat ourselves from time to time because, he maintains, prohibitions rarely work, at the same time that they are di cult to maintain over time.  “Health professionals need to promote a healthy relationship with food. Food in addition to nourishing us ful ls other functions. It helps you to relate and feel part of a group. Eating, in addition to a necessity, is a pleasure,” say the specialists.

IT IS POSSIBLE TO KEEP TRIM WITH THESE TIPS

With all this, he a rms that itis possible to maintain the waistline on Christmas days and avoid those 2-3 kilos of more that we usually add at this time with the following tips:

1. Choose a salad, vegetable cream or light soup as a starter.

2. Accompany meat, sh or seafood with a vegetable garnish.

3. Opt for a small portion of sweet and combined with pieces of fruit.

4. Always start with water. It will help

you reduce your alcohol intake.

5. Make a shopping list considering the menu and the number of guests so that you do not overeat.

6. Plan a fun, lively activity with the family on those days. Make all purchases on foot.

7. Start your day with physical activity. Don’t leave it for the end of the day.

8. Eat what you like without remorse, but try to be rational with the amounts and don’t sabotage yourself! Do not have within reach outside of 4 holidays what you do not want to eat or drink.

Got a cold? Experts share 4 simple steps which could help you feel better in just 24 hours

A nice warm bath or a hot cuppa may help budge your cold, according to experts. Scientist recommends eating a spicy curry to ease congestion, but others just recommend sleeping and staying nice and warm.

Once you get a cold, you want to get rid of it fast. Especially with it being this close to Christmas. Getting plenty of rest and staying hydrated are two of the best, proven ways to get back to feeling 100 per cent. But, according to experts, there’s other, slightly more unusual ways to ght o that runny nose, sore throat and barking cough…

A warm bath or shower can relieve aches and pains, one of the nasty side e ects of bugs lurking silently this winter. Also staying warm can actually help reduce cold symptoms, according to Dr Simon Clarke, an infectious disease expert at the University of Reading. He said: ‘If you are feeling cold and need to get your body temperature up a bath or a shower is one way of doing it.’ Not only does it warm you up, but the steam in a shower also clears your bunged up sinuses by making the mucus thinner. This allows it to drain easier. Pharmacist

Thorrun Govind suggests lling a bowl full of hot water and breathing in the steam to get the same bene ts. She said: ‘If you are breathing in deep from a bowl of water it can make the mucus

thinner and help it drain a bit better.’ The hot water in a shower or bath also increases blood ow, which relaxes and soothes your muscles - relieving you of those tell-tale aches and pains.

Go for a brisk walk

If you are feeling run down, you’re probably reluctant to brave the cold outdoors but stumping up the courage to venture outside for a brisk walk really could help, experts say.

Dr Clarke adds that taking a walk and getting some fresh air is always good for your health. But wrap up warm at this time of year, he insists. The Mayo Clinic, a US medical research centre, says that exercising may temporarily ease your bunged up nose by opening up your nasal passages. However, not everyone agrees with the logic that going for a walk while ill will help. Ms Govind said: ‘You just want to be resting and sleeping and staying warm. ‘You should be avoiding contact with other people until you feel better.’ Regular exercise does boost your immune system over time, too, which could help you in the long-run.

Eat a curry

Going for a curry could be the answer to your woes. Dr Clarke said: ‘Personally, I nd this works.’I am unaware of any scienti c basis for this, but eating spicy

food just makes you feel a bit pepped up.’He explained one reason for this could be because the spices irritate your airways, which opens them up. It unblocks your nose and allows you to breathe with ease, but Dr Clarke admits experts themselves are not 100 per cent sure why it works. Tests by leading cold researchers have also found eating a Madras can help. The Common Cold Centre at the University of Cardi found that the spicy dish helps you salivate, reducing your coughing and sore throat symptoms. Curries are packed full of virus-busting vitamins. Ingredients such as garlic and ginger, added to give dishes an extra kick, are abundant in zinc, which may help ght o the rhinovirus that causes many colds. Experts don’t think they will kick in immediately but could potentially help.

Put the kettle on

A cuppa really can make you feel better. Professor Ron Eccles and his team, from Cardi University’s Common Cold Centre, once studied the e ects of consuming a comforting hot drink on a stu y nose. A study in the journal Rhinology, found a hot drink provides immediate relief from a runny nose, cough, sneezing, sore throat, chilliness and tiredness. But a drink at room temperature only relieved symptoms of a runny nose, cough and sneezing.

Professor Eccles said: ‘Any hot tasty drink will relieve most of the symptoms of a common cold, particularly sore throat and cough.’

He ran a clinical trial that tested the theory on hot blackcurrant cordial, which did help sooth a sore throat. But it doesn’t need to be hot blackcurrant, he said: ‘Any hot tasty liquid will promote salivation and mucus secretion and soothes

the in amed throat.’ Just how a hot shower and moisture in the air can help, the theory is steam in the hot drink can soften and break down mucus, allowing you to breathe easier. Ms Govind said: ‘You need to be drinking plenty of uids because it will keep your mucus membranes lubricated. ‘We encourage people to drink warm liquid because it can make you feel a bit more comfortable.’

What should a balanced diet look like?

• Eat at least 5 portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day. All fresh, frozen, dried and canned fruit and vegetables count

• Base meals on potatoes, bread, rice, pasta or other starchy carbohydrates, ideally wholegrain

• 30 grams of bre a day: This is the same as eating all of the following: 5 portions of fruit

and vegetables, 2 wholewheat cereal biscuits, 2 thick slices of wholemeal bread and large baked potato with the skin on

• Have some dairy or dairy alternatives (such as soya drinks) choosing lower fat and lower sugar options

• Eat some beans, pulses, sh, eggs, meat and other proteins (including 2 portions of sh

every week, one of which should be oily)

• Choose unsaturated oils and spreads and consuming in small amounts

• Drink 6-8 cups/glasses of water a day

• Adults should have less than 6g of salt and 20g of saturated fat for women or 30g for men a day

Why is beef especially bad for the planet?

Cattle famously produce large amounts of methane gas as they digest, which is a major contributor to global warming.

Each of the animals produces the equivalent of three tonnes of carbon dioxide per year and the number of cattle is increasing as global demand for beef rises.

Methane is one of the most potent greenhouse gases, trapping 30 times more heat than the same amount of carbon dioxide.

Scientists are investigating how feeding cows alternative

diets like seaweed that produces less methane can make the beef industry more climate-friendly.

Other factors where beef contributes to climate change include deforestation to create space for grazing or to grow crops for cattle feed.

Carbon dioxide emissions from transporting cattle and beef products around the world are also another way the industry contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.

t t e e on for ing lig t o

As it’s the season that many of us will be in awe of the ashing lights adorning Christmas trees and other festive decorations, we thought it an ideal time to revisit those other ashing lights we should be using all year round, indicators.

It doesn’t matter where you are from, or what country you drive, there is a general problem with drivers using indicators.

According to the General Directorate of Tra c (DGT), in Spain, a very short drive through any city or highway is enough to verify that there are still drivers who do not signal certain manoeuvres correctly, using the optical signalling colloquially known as indicators, or intermitentes in Spanish, and which the General Tra c Regulations refer to as “luces indicadoras de dirección”, or direction indicator lights.

For this article we will refer to them by their colloquial name, indicators.

The DGT has been running an awareness campaign to remind drivers of the importance of indicators, and when they should be used. And, before we get into an argument, it is not just the “Spanish who don’t indicate”, it is a common problem, as

we have already said.

For its part though, the DGT even launched a micro-website as part of their awareness campaign, reminding drivers of the most important occasions when indicators should be used, although it is worth reminding ourselves that indicators should be used to signal our intention before a move that would make the vehicle deviate from course or direction. Again, as a reminder, BEFORE the move, not during or after.

Some of the most important moves that this would entail are of course turning, overtaking and lane changes, stopping or parking, joining roads, and the cover-all, “whenever you consider it appropriate so that other drivers can predict your actions”.

Indicators should also be used on roundabouts, for which there are two occasions, before changing lanes on the roundabout, and before exiting a roundabout. To clarify a situation when indicators are sometimes used incorrectly, they should never be used when accessing the roundabout.

At this point, we have to mention

another use of indicators on a roundabout.

In the event that you are driving around the roundabout, for example to leave at the third exit, it is quite common to put your leftturn indicator on to show other drivers that you are continuing around the roundabout. We call this a “courtesy indicator”. However, although this is common practice, and considered a good idea to avoid collisions from vehicle in the wrong lane (remember we must always exit a roundabout from the right-hand lane), it is not technically correct to use the indicator in this way, according to the law. It is still considered a good idea however, in this case.

In the General Tra c Regulations, article 109 refers precisely to the use of turn signals in the following terms:

Article 109. Optical warnings. 1. The driver must warn by means of optical signals of any manoeuvre that implies a lateral or backward displacement of the vehicle, as well as the purpose of immobilising it or slowing down its progress considerably. Such optical warnings will be carried out su ciently in advance of the start of the manoeuvre, and, if they are luminous, they

will remain in operation until the end of the manoeuvre.

For the purposes of the previous section, the following must also be taken into account:

a) Lateral displacement will be warned using the direction indicator light corresponding to the side towards which it is going to be carried out, or the arm, in a horizontal position with the palm of the hand extended downwards, if the displacement is going to be towards the side that the hand indicates, or bent upwards, also with the palm of the hand extended, if it is going to be towards the opposite.

In manoeuvres that involve lateral displacement, it is this that is exclusively warned, so the warning must end as soon as the vehicle has adopted its new trajectory.

When the immobilisation takes place on a motorway or dual carriageway, or in places or circumstances that signi cantly reduce visibility, the presence of the vehicle must be signalled by using the emergency light, if available, and, where appropriate, with position lights.

If the immobilisation is carried out to stop or park, the direction indicator light corresponding to the side to which the immobilisation is to be carried out must also be used, if the vehicle has such a device.

The use of indicators when signalling our manoeuvres is absolutely vital to guarantee uidity in tra c. The indicators help other drivers know our intentions, in addition to visually warning of our manoeuvres. They not only increase our safety when driving, they make a positive contribution to the safety of all road users - be they pedestrians, cyclists, other drivers or emergency services. However, some (bad) drivers don’t seem to get it.

Not using indicators is, at the very least, a sel sh attitude. It is also an o ence, for which the driver can be sanctioned and ned. Carrying out a manoeuvre without using indicators will result in a 200 euro ne, and carrying out a manoeuvre with incorrect use of the indicators - leaving them on when overtaking, or signalling to the wrong side - will result in a ne of 80 euro.

ow to i entify river in t e event of fine

It is quite common for individuals other than the owner of the vehicle to drive a car in Spain, but in the event of a tra c ne being issued and you as the vehicle owner were not the driver, you will need to notify the DGT so that the sanction is correctly issued to the driver responsible.

In the case of minor o ences (without loss of points) the identi cation of the driver is voluntary and if you pay the ne it will be understood that you were the driver, even if you weren’t, but no further action would be taken.

In the case of serious or very serious o ences (with the loss of points) the identi cation of the driver is mandatory. You will have to identify the driver even if it is yourself. In these cases, if you do not identify the driver, it will be considered a very serious infraction, which may lead to the imposition of a ne of a signi cant amount, of which you will also not be able to bene t from the 50% reduction for payment within the voluntary period.

Keep in mind that through the procedure we are explaining here is only for the identi cation of the driver of nes imposed by the DGT, so before carrying out the procedure you must check who has issued the ne.

Remember that to pay, claim or make an allegation, you must always go to the body that has sanctioned you.

You must complete the name, surname, ID, passport or residence permit, and postal address of the person who was driving your vehicle.

In the communication that the DGT sends to you, you will nd an area where you can complete said data, if you wish to carry out the identi cation process in person at their o ces.

There are 4 ways of identifying the driver:

1. Online, with or without prior identi cation.

Remember that if you make the identi cation by this means, you need to have on hand the communication that you were sent, so the ne

document for example. In it you will nd the le number and the noti cation code, which you will have to enter in the corresponding boxes of the form.

If you choose this route, there are two cases in which you cannot make the identi cation online:

When the driver does not reside in Spanish territory.

When the driver does not have the appropriate permit or driver’s licence for the vehicle with which the o ense has been committed.

In these cases, you will have to make the identi cation by any other means available to you.

2. From the miDGT app, the DGT application for mobile phones and tablets.

To identify the o ender of a ne from the app, you must go to the main menu of the application and enter the section ‘Mis multas’ -> ‘Pendientes’ (My nes -> Pending).

3. By postal mail, returning the form you received, duly completed, to the address of the Tra c Department that appears on the form you received, or to the Automated Complaints Treatment Centre, Centro de Tratamiento de Denuncias Automatizadas.

4. In person, delivering all the documentation at any Headquarters or Tra c O ce of the DGT. In this case, you need to request an appointment online or by calling 060. Remember that faceto-face service at DGT o ces is reserved for individuals and their representatives. Companies and other legal persons, as well as their representatives, must carry out their procedures electronically. You will also have to speak Spanish, or take a quali ed translator with you.

Normally, only the person who owns

the vehicle with which the o ence has been committed and who has received the request from the DGT can process the le, but they can authorise others to act on their behalf.

To authorise another person to act on your behalf, you can designate a representative through the Registry of powers of attorney.

Also, in case of carrying out the procedure in person, you can appear in person as long as you have a document signed by the interested party where you authorise them to make the request. To do this, download and ll in the authorisation form provided by the DGT “Otorgamiento de representación”, or “Granting of representation”.

If the procedure is going to be carried out by another person on your behalf, at the time of requesting the prior appointment on 060, you must indicate the ID of the person concerned and also that of the authorised person.

You have a term of 20 calendar days, counted from the day after the communication with the requirement has been received, in which to identify the driver. In the event that you have not received said communication, you will have another 20 calendar days starting from the day after its publication. The process to identify a driver is free.

If you live abroad and have received a tra c ticket from the DGT, you can choose to pay the ne, le a claim or appeal, or identify the driver who was driving the vehicle in the usual way. However, the DGT provides additional channels to carry out these procedures for foreigners:

If it was not you who was driving the vehicle on the date the o ence was committed, you can use their

web application to identify them or send a letter by fax or postal mail identifying the driver with the following information:

Identi cation number of the ne. Name and last name of the driver.

Driving licence number, date of issue and country of the driver.

Driver address.

You can tell the DGT who was driving the vehicle within 20 days of receiving notice of the ticket by any of the following means:

Fax: 0034987842693

Postal Mail: CTDA - PO Box 505. León - 24080 - SPAIN.

Through the web application, but note that it is not possible to use this route if:

The o ending driver does not reside in Spain.

The driver does not hold the driving licence necessary to drive the vehicle with which the o ence was committed.

In these cases, you must identify the driver either through FAX or postal mail.

Information and inquiries:

In addition, if you have any questions, the DGT puts the following communication channels at your disposal to ask us any question regarding tra c nes:

Telephone for information related to tra c nes: 0034 987 010 559 with the following opening hours:

Monday to Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Saturday: 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Fax number to send letters: 0034 987 842 693

Postal address to send documents: CTDA - AUTOMATED COMPLAINTS PROCESSING CENTER. PO Box 505. CP 24080 - LEON, SPAIN

TALES FROM THE TOP FLIGHT

n CHRIS DARWEN chris@costablancapeople.com

As much as it was tempting to go full Argentinian and take a month o after the World Cup, I’m back baby - though in fairness, you’re probably more excited about the Premier League’s return than this rubbish.

If the World Cup plus Christmas Day meant you’d pretty much forgotten what the state of play was in the Premier League and hadn’t been bothered to catch up, do not worrynot much has changed at all.

And if you want a quick summary, meaning you don’t have to su er the rest of the column, strap yourself in.

Spurs are still rubbish in the rst half (and not that great in the second if you saw the Villa game) and we’re all still wondering how on Earth they are still in the race for the top four. Arsenal are still top of the league and, whisper it quietly, will probably win it unless they have a collapse of Keeganesque proportions. Liverpool can be very, very good or very, very bad and not much in between. Haaland scores goals for fun. United are quietly improving. Southampton are rubbish and might already be regretting appointing a manager from Luton. Lampard still ‘gets’ Everton. Forest still don’t know how to integrate the 300 signings made in the summer, let alone the 40 lined up for January. Newcastle might be in a title race but will accept top four. Chelsea are waiting for Potter to work some actual magic. Did we mention Tottenham are still rubbish in the rst half?

Boxing Day came with some football guarantees - Harry Kane was going to score after Tottenham went behind. Ivan Toney was odds on to score too, and you know he would have backed himself. Brentford were fantastic for much of their clash against SpursThomas Frank certainly earning his new 5-year deal and in Toney, they have a striker that they are really going to miss if (a) he gets a long, long ban for the alleged 200+ betting irregularities or (b) his knee injury picked up on New Years’ Eve turns out to be quite bad.

As for Kane, he now has ten Boxing Day goals and has scored against all 32 Premier League opponents he has faced. Still missed that pen though, didn’t he? And coming back from 2-0 down to get a point against Brentford is one thing, losing 2-0 at home to the Villa is another thing entirely. They kinda forgot the comeback part of the deal on New Years’ Day.

Credit to Unai Emery though, that’s three wins in four for him now and he’s the rst Villa manager to win both his rst two away games since Stan Collymore’s surrogate father, John Gregory.

Arsenal fans were worried that Jesus being unavailable during the Christmas period and not likely to be seen again before Easter could derail

their title bid. Fortunately for them, Eddie Nketiah has been resurrected and scored against West Ham and then again against Brighton. The six points gathered by Mikel Arteta’s young side saw them increase the gap over Man City to seven points - apparently, nobody with this kind of lead come Jan 1st has ever failed to win the league but then no team has ever played so few top- ight matches come New Years’ Day. Bukayo Saka has taken his World Cup form into the return of the Premier League - thank goodness Gareth Southgate took him o against France to rest his young legs.

In any other season, a Chelsea manager failing to win a match since the start of November would have been shown the door but Graham Potter was able to end a run of three defeats in a row with a fairly comfortable 2-0 win over Bournemouth. United eased past Forest 3-0 because, you know, Forest are rubbish and United appear to be a better side now Ronaldo has been sacked - who’d have thought it?

But if Forest are rubbish what does it actually say about Chelsea if they could only draw 1-1 at the City Ground and the only goal was, you know, a bit lucky? Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink wasn’t far wrong when he said that if you are the Blues and you draw away to a team in the bottom three, their best player has to be their goalkeeper. I was busier on New Years’ Day than Dean Henderson, so that wasn’t the case.

Erling Haaland was born in Leeds but that didn’t stop him taking his selfproclaimed recharged batteries (he also believes he is a machine, clearly) and sticking two past them at Elland Road. Haaland grew up with posters of his Dad (Al e) and fellow Norweigan Eirik Bakke on his wall - and I can guarantee that puts him in an elite group of one.

Our whistle-stop tour through the Boxing Day football (plus two days) lands us in the post-Christmas present.

New Years’ Eve Eve saw David Moyes realise the jig might be up - West Ham lost their fth in a row in a 2-0 home defeat to Brentford. They sit just above the relegation zone and the Moysiah won’t be getting big funds to spend in January because he was given an open chequebook in the summer and look how that went.

Liverpool splashed the cash in signing PSV’s Dutch star Cody Gakpo for around 35 million big ones - yet, all they really needed was to sign Wout Faes if they wanted to increase their goal output. Leicester’s well-rested Belgian centre-back had a night to forget at An eld, scoring twice in the wrong net to condemn his side to a second defeat in a row - so does that mean that Brentan is rubbish again now, or? It certainly doesn’t mean Liverpool are great again, even if that did mean it was six points over the festive run. And as for Wout, it doesn’t

help people forget he looks just like David Luiz.

Erik ten Hag is really starting to grow on me, I must admit. Not just for getting Ronaldo out of the club and condemning him to a very well-paid early retirement in Saudi Arabia, oh no. For dropping people for being late to meetings, especially on Sir Alex’s birthday of all days.

Marcus Rashford inadvertently hit snooze and found himself on the bench against Wolves and felt the need to turn those negative headlines upside down by coming o said bench to score the only goal in a 1-0 win. He’s on a bit of a hot streak right now is Rashford - and United could be on for the top four. Early thoughts on Julen Lopetegui’s tenure as Wolves boss is that his trousers are far too tight for man in his 50s.

City have now dropped ve points in their last two home games against Brentford and Everton. Champions not maketh from a run like this. What’s that? Haaland scored again? And Everton showed character? Blimey - that’ll keep them up, that will. One of the best NYE memes sent around cyberspace was around 1st January always being a bit odd - Australia are in a di erent year before the rest of the world, Europe are a little bit behind and then Everton are still stuck in 1995. If it wasn’t so true it would be funny.

Nathan Jones could well be thinking he and teams in red and white stripes are not good bed-fellows.

Southampton have one point from six games and sit bottom of the table.

James Ward-Prowse scored at both ends - his free kick was marginally better than his OG - but Fulham still found a way to win, a win that sees them 7th. 7th!

At the back end of 2022, Newcastle were being talked of as title challengers - a 3-0 win over Leicester boosted that theory, a 0-0 draw at home to Leeds (more chance of seeing a Christmas elf than Leeds keeping a clean sheet and all that) did not.

Gary O’Neil has been hit by the curse of the permanent manager - when interim/caretaker/the temporary guy he was an English tactical genius. Since being given the job full-time, not so much. Crystal Palace scored twice from unmarked corners - which is impressive given the second one was from 25 yards.