Spanish Pump Track Championship to be held in Torrevieja
La Siesta is to host the National Pump Track Championship, which will take place this weekend – Saturday 2 and Sunday 3rd November. Torrevieja Spots Councillor Diana Alonso joined forces with the president of the Valencian Cycling Federation, José
Enrique Gutiérrez Cataluña, and JuanFerrerLópeztheorganiserand AV Sport Cycling representative to announce the prestigious event which promises a day lled with intense competition and thrilling performances. Athletes from all over the country will gather to
showcase their skills and vie for the national title, making it a must-see event for sports enthusiasts.
Torrevieja Pump Track is located in La Siesta Park, part of the 44,000 m2 space made up of recreation and rest areas, sports court areas and pétanque courts, and featuring this, the largest paved pump track area in the world. The pump track has three ability levels from children’s track, to intermediate and advanced. These are colour co-ordinated and run for di erent lengths.
According to organisers 250 cyclists, aged between 5 and 60, will take part in this third Spanish Pump Track Championship, a sports discipline that in recent years is showing major growth
among cycling enthusiasts. PUM 2024 will feature a variety of sports, o ering spectators a chance to witness top-tier competition in a number of disciplines. The event will also serve as a platform for athletes to demonstrate their prowess and earn recognition on a national level. Athletes from all over Spain will take part and the event is predicted to draw a large crowd contributing to the city’s tourism and local economy.
On Friday, 1st November, all participants will complete o cial training and be given practice sessions, and then on Saturday, 2nd November, from 4pm, the competition will be held for cyclists in categories between 5-8
years of age.
On Sunday, 3rd November, from 10am, cyclists from the categories Children, Cadet, Junior, Under-23, Elite, Master 30, Master 40, Master 50 and Master 60 will compete. Trophies will be presented on the track at the end of the competition.
The Championship will be broadcast live on stream and TVE’s Telesport, TVE will broadcast a video summary of the entire competition.
Rock Against Cancer hands over 20,000e
The people who are the driving force behind the fundraising phenomenon that is Rock Against Cancer held a special concert night recently to hand over 20,000e to two local charities dedicated to ghting the disease. The funds were split equally between AfeCancer and the Torrevieja branch of Alicante Against Cancer and presented at the Virgen del Carmen Cultural Centre.
The event doubled as a thank you to all the volunteers that give their time to make Rock Against Cancer such a success. The event was attended by Rosa Cañón, Councillor for Health and Gitte Lund, Councillor for International Residents both on behalf of Torrevieja Town Hall.
Representatives from both charities were also in attendance and the cheques were handed over to
Miguel Sánchez Barredo, secretary of AfeCancer and Manoli Flores, president of Alicante Against Cancer.
The entertainment was provided by local band Fun Music Containers, a culturally mixed trio from Cuba, Spain and Wales. The band were a huge hit with the audience fusing music, comedy and sketches to make the evening a night to remember.
November arrives with new nature and cultural tours
The tourist programme for the month of November has been unveiled by the Department of Tourism for Orihuela. The month will see a wide variety of guided tours that cover the historic centre, the districts and the coast. The activities are designed to cover di erent interests and schedules, with options both during the week and on weekends, allowing the participation of as many people as possible.
Among the most notable new features, the tour “The autumn of the Orihuela coast” will take place on Saturday 2nd November, which will cover the vicinity of Playa Flamenca. This route will allow those taking part to enjoy the coastal landscape, while learning about the rich biodiversity of
the area, with species such as the Balearic shearwater and the bottlenose dolphin.
The Councillor for Tourism, Gonzalo Montoya, emphasised the importance of tours centred on nature, “we are presenting routes such as ‘Meet the eagle owl in Sierra Escalona’ and ‘The city mill, the magic of sunsets’, which will feature the participation of a local fauna expert, which adds a special value to the itinerary.”
As for the cultural routes, “one of the most special is ‘The Palm Grove of Orihuela in the Poetry of Miguel Hernández’, which will include a recital by Teatro Expresión, in an ideal setting to enjoy the poetry of our Orihuela poet, especially that inspired by the orchard and nature”, explained the Councillor.
In addition, a guided tour of the Museum of Sacred Art will be organised on Thursday 14th November, which will include an explanation of the painting by Velázquez.
Finally, the commitment to solidarity is being renewed through the “Orihuela Solidaria” initiative, which invites those taking part in the routes to collaborate with the collection of products for ASOKA, such as food for dogs and blankets, which can be handed in at the Tourist O ce. The routes will be opened weekly. All information and reservations for the rest of the tourist routes for the month of November can be found at: www. orihuelaturistica.es.
Robots serve beer in Benidorm
A Benidorm hotel is pioneering the use of robots armed with artificial intelligence into its staff. The “Hotel of the Future” project is already underway in the tourist capital at the Climia Benidorm Plaza hotel where this type of technology can already be seen serving customers in reception, dining room or hallways. And this is only the beginning.
As soon as someone walks through the door, they are greeted by a robot asking: “ Hello, how can I help you?” On its screen there is all kinds of information such as “what to see in Benidorm” or “timetables”, visitor can also ask it questions out loud.
This is just one of these devices. The hotel will test up to eight different robots within the project developed by the Alicante company Bumerania, which was appointed by the Ministry of Tourism to develop the initiative. The ‘receptionist robot’
is part of a seven-strong robotic family that will each provided different services.
Isidro Fernández, CEO of Bumerania, explained the advantages and tasks that each of them will be able to perform in a presentation together with the president of HOSBEC and the Councillor for Tourism and Innovation, among other representatives of the tourism sector.
Other robots include the waiter robot, room service robot, cleaning robot but without a doubt, the one that draws the most attention is the “beer robot”. A beer pump like the one you see in any bar or restaurant is paired with a technological arm that can pick up the glasses and serve drinkers.
Snr Fernandez said: “We have studied down to the last detail how a perfect beer should be, both cold and well served with the right head. The inclination and position have been perfected and the results is a very cold glass of one of
the most consumed drinks in hotels.”
The company is already working on other options with other types of drinks or even for making hot dogs.
Whether the arrival of robots in hotels will lead to the disappearance of jobs was of course the big question.
“They have not come to take away jobs but to help workers and improve efficiency,” said Fernandez. Among the advantages of these devices are “being more productive and optimizing resources; improving the user experience; personalised attention; improving energy efficiency; or protecting the health of workers,” he added.
The Minister of Tourism stated that the robots that are here to stay “are not going to take away jobs, but rather will result in the fact that the differential value of a person will be to serve customers.”
Service sector drives employment
Spain’s unemployment rate edged down in the third quarter, buoyed by an expansion in the services sector, according to recent data released by the National Statistics Institute (INE). The jobless rate decreased from 11.27% in the second quarter to 11.21% between July and September, a positive shift attributed to seasonal job growth in the servicedriven summer months.
The quarter’s job creation reached 138,300 new
positions, the majority of which were in the services sector, re ecting the impact of Spain’s busy tourist season. As the second mostvisited country in the world, Spain saw a summer surge in hospitality, retail, and tourism-related jobs.
In a milestone for the labour market, a record 3.3 million foreign nationals were employed in Spain during the summer. This is an increase of 180,000 nonSpanish workers over the past year. Of these foreign
workers, around 2 million have lived in Spain for over seven years, with an additional 594,000 residing in the country for four to six years.
The fourth-largest economy in the European Union, Spain has made signi cant strides in stabilising employment and supporting economic recovery, a message the Socialist government continues to emphasize amid ongoing political debate.
Get your tickets for spooky spectacular
Looking for a great night out? Well, look no further as tickets are still available for a spooky specular as Stone Media presents ‘A Rocky Night Returns’ with a cast full of well-known local entertainers. Don´t miss the opportunity to see what horror- lled hilarity Janet, Bard and Frankenfurter have in store.
This side-splitting show will be performed
at several local venues and follows hot on the heels of the groups summer success with their humorous take on Mamma Mia. These will be funpacked performances with members of the audience are encouraged to dress in their best Rocky Horror style fancy dress and there are interactive packs available for true audience participation… if you dare!
The rst performance takes place at The Emerald Isle, La Florida, on Thursday 31st October at 9pm. Friday 1st November the show moves to The Oasis at San Luis at 8pm. The nal destination is the Madhouse, where there will be performances on 3rd and 4th November. Tickets are available from Stone Media on 666 551 816.
Pedro Sanchez to be sued by Madrid Leaders partner
The partner of Isabel Díaz Ayuso – the populist president of the Madrid regional government from the right-wing People’s Party (PP) – has initiated legal steps to sue Spain’s socialist (PSOE) Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and the justice minister for calling him a ‘confessed criminal’.
Businessman Alberto González Amador is demanding that Sánchez and Justice Minister Félix Bolaños publicly retract their comments, or he will sue for €100,000 from Sánchez and €50,000 from the minister, according to El Diario.es.
Amador, the partner of Ayuso, believes Sánchez and Bolaños violated the ‘respect and protection of a Spanish citizen’s basic rights’, according to an initial report in the daily El Mundo.
Investigators have been probing allegations of tax fraud against Amador since March after one of his
companies o ering health services saw its earnings soar during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021.
Spanish media have said Amador o ered a deal to prosecutors in which he would admit the alleged o ences in exchange for avoiding a trial and receiving a sentence that would spare him jail.
Sánchez and Bolaños referred to Amador last week as ‘a confessed criminal who defrauded the treasury’, in a case that has generated a media frenzy in Spain.
Ayuso, a gurehead for the Spanish right and an acerbic critic of Sánchez’s successive left-wing governments since 2018, has said the a air is a ‘savage’ campaign by the state against her.
The populist leader refused to meet Spain’s PM in a meeting scheduled last week, arguing that it would be ‘against the interests of Spain and therefore those of Madrid directly’ and
that they ‘have served no purpose’ previously.
In a separate decision, Spain’s top criminal court threw out a complaint by the PP opposition against the PSOE for alleged illegal nancing. The court said the complaint, based on a press report citing anonymous sources, did not justify opening criminal proceedings.
Spain leads top tourist destinations for 2023
Spain’s Canary and Balearic Islands top the list of EU regions with 83.2 and 61.7 million nights spent in 2023 by foreign tourists, while the Greek island of Zakyinthos and Croatia’s Istrian peninsula are those su ering the highest pressure compared to the number of residents.
Mallorca was the favourite destination by foreign tourists in 2023, according to new data released by Eurostat that considers the number of nights tourists spend in the location.
Spain’s Balearic Island tops the list of EU destinations with over 47 million nights. Second and third place can also be found in the southern European country — Tenerife and Barcelona — followed by Venice, Paris, and Rome.
The Canary Islands — a Spanish archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean facing the Moroccan coast — is the most popular geographical area, with three destinations in the top 20, Tenerife, Gran
Canaria and Lanzarote, and a total of 83.2 million overnight stays.
However, the Canary Islands are also one of the areas facing the highest pressure from tourism compared to the number of residents.
Among all EU countries, Greece is su ering the highest pressure from tourism, with six out of ten locations on the list of most overcrowded. Paris leads in terms of pressure per square kilometre, followed by Athens, Copenhagen and Munich.
Are you ready for Halloween?
Halloween has the same origins as one of the great sabattes of modern witches: Samhain, on the evening of October 31. It is the end of the harvest and the beginning of the new witch year. Once an ancient Celtic re festival, the ‘end of summer’ Samhain was a magical day. Legend has it that the sun hung at its lowest and could even penetrate the underworld. The veil between the world of the living and that of the dead was then at its thinnest. In fact, he was so thin that the spirits could escape from the underworld and mingle with the living. Everyone remembered the people who had died in the past year. If you’re lucky, their spirits could bring you good luck in the coming year. But for the same money, they brought nothing but misery.
Calmly waiting to see what it would be was not a good idea. Above all, you had to not disturb the spirits, and in a way spoil them a little. To begin with, everyone put out their candles and replaces at home, because too much coziness could attract evil spirits. The res in people’s homes were replaced by one big re outside, which was lit by druids. Before the re was extinguished, everyone lit their torches. With that torch the re could be brought back to one’s own hearth at home. Because the great re was considered sacred, the evil spirits would keep
at a safe distance. And thanks to that sacred re, the spirits of deceased relatives would nd their way back home more easily. Of course, a warm welcome was important to them. The more you pampered them, the more likely they were to bring you happiness. That’s why everyone left something nice at the front door. Because if you didn’t, the disappointed spirits would surely play a mean trick on you. Sometimes people dressed up on Samhain. At rst, they did this mainly to deceive evil spirits. If they looked scary enough with their masks, those ghosts would think, “That’s one of us.” And then they were left alone. Later, it went further than that. Even before others had a chance to leave treats at the front door, the costumed people started knocking on the door to beg. If they got
anything, it was good. Then the residents of the house were predicted to have a good year. But when the spirits didn’t get anything, they got angry and cursed the residents. Sometimes eggs and stones were thrown.’ Trick or treat!’ is still the slogan with which American children try to get candy on Halloween.
And of course, Halloween also includes wines. If you are going to use the Pumpkin, a beautiful Riesling is an extremely suitable wine.
If you think “American”, you can serve ne American wines, such as wines from “District7” or South American Malbec and Carmenere wines from Chile.
At Beau Wine Tastings they have adapted the shop in Halloween style and all wines are ready for you. “Trick or Treat”
HOMES SOLD IN 2024 150
UK pension error sees thousands owed
Thousands of pensioners, including British expats on Spain’s Costa Blanca, could be missing out on substantial back payments due to an error by the UK Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The issue primarily a ects those who claimed Child Bene t before 2000 and have gaps in their National Insurance (NI) records, many of whom are women.
To identify those impacted, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has dispatched hundreds of thousands of letters to people over the state pension age. The DWP estimates that between £300 million and £1.5 billion in State Pension was underpaid due to incorrect records of Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP), a scheme that shielded the State Pension entitlements of parents and carers before being replaced by NI credits in
2010.
HRP was designed to protect those with caregiving responsibilities between 1978 and 2010, ensuring they did not miss out on pension entitlements. However, due to inconsistencies in recording HRP, many may be due back payments averaging around £5,000.
The discrepancy stems from changes introduced in May 2000, which mandated the inclusion of an NI number on claims. Those who led after this date were not a ected by the HRP recording errors, but earlier claimants may have missed out on pension entitlements as a result.
In addition to reaching out to those directly a ected, the DWP is also encouraging personal representatives to make claims on behalf of deceased individuals who may have been underpaid.
HMRC is cross-referencing NI records to identify as
many eligible individuals as possible, including those residing overseas. Those wishing to con rm their eligibility will need to verify if there are gaps in their NI records as a rst step in the HRP correction process. The HMRC and DWP campaign seeks to make all potentially eligible individuals aware of the scheme, ensuring they receive the correct pension payments and any due back payments.
Seagate Wealth are very proud to announce that Edny Van Den Broek, Account Manager from Prudential International will be one of the guest speakers at the Finance & Tax Forum being held on Tuesday 29th October.
The event takes place at Hotel La Laguna in Ciudad Quesada and begins at 11.00am.
Along with Edny, we will be joined by Mark McMillan from the relocation Department at SunLawyers. Mark will be discussing the NLV – Non-Lucrative
To obtain the NLV, you will need to prove that you have su cient nancial means to support yourself without working in your new country. This means for a married couple €35,991 is needed. For years 2 and 3, the sum of €71,982 will need to put aside in savings and cannot be used for living expenses.
Therefore, it is essential to have a solid nancial plan and investment strategy before applying for the visa.
Many people assume they will need to keep this money in a Spanish bank account, but that is not the case.
The Prudential o er the International
Prudence Bond which o ers life assurance as well as being fully tax compliant. This is a way to make your money work for you whilst complying with the visa requirements.
Susan Longland from Currencies Direct will be talking about currency exchange and the various ways they can save you money, especially when buying and selling property.
For the opportunity to nd out more about Prudential and Sun Lawyers, as well as Currencies Direct, register to come along to the event and talk to “the man from the Pru”. Simply call 965704 338 or email: Contact@ SeagateWealth.es to reserve your place.
World´s Best Bars list sees European bars drop in places
The highly anticipated 16th edition of the World’s 50 Best Bars has been unveiled, with significant shifts in the rankings and new entries sparking interest across the global bar scene. This year, Mexico City’s Handshake Speakeasy claimed the number one position, replacing last year’s top contender, Sips in Barcelona, which dropped to third place. Meanwhile, Bar Leone in Hong Kong made a spectacular debut, seizing second place on the prestigious list.
This year’s ranking shows a modest decline in European representation, with 19 bars making the cut, down from 22 in the previous year. Yet, Europe remains a dominant force, boasting entries from 11 cities across seven countries. London and Edinburgh led the UK’s presence with five bars in total, while Spain continued to shine with three entries. Italy followed closely with four, and Athens contributed
two celebrated spots, affirming Greece’s growing influence in the high-end bar industry.
In Asia, Hong Kong, Seoul, Singapore, and Tokyo each demonstrated their longstanding reputation for world-class cocktail experiences, while North America saw a steady representation, with New York landing five entries. Beyond these familiar players, the rise of South America as a cocktail hotspot was evident, with 11 bars from the continent making the top 50, underscoring the region’s burgeoning mixology scene.
Over 700 anonymous industry experts were involved in selecting this year’s winners, which also highlighted individuals for exceptional contributions. Among these, Edinburghbased Iain McPherson, owner of Panda & Sons, received the coveted Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award, honoring his innovative
spirit and influence.
As the global bar industry continues to evolve, the 2023 rankings reveal an exciting shift toward diverse, high-quality cocktail experiences around the world. With entries spanning multiple continents, the list celebrates both established and emerging bar cultures, promising patrons memorable nights out from Edinburgh to Mexico City.
Top Ten Bars in the World
Handshake
Speakeasy,Mexico City
Bar Leone, Hong Kong
Sips, Barcelona Tayēr + Elementary, London
Jigger & Pony, Singapore Line, Athens
Tres Monos, Buenos Aires
Alquímico, Cartagena Zest, Seoul Paradiso, Barcelona
Enjoy a special wine tasting tour in the Natural Park of La Mata
This beautiful experience takes place amongst the picturesque setting of the natural park in La Mata, Torrevieja. During this fascinating tour, a guide will walk you through the park as you discover its history, learn about the vines, and do some bird watching to spot the resident amingos in the lakes. Afterwards, you can sit back and relax under the trees to indulge in a delightful sampling of ne wines, accompanied by local tapas, artisan cheeses and premium olive oils. The tasting is set in a stunning location overlooking the salt lakes of Torrevieja, making this a wonderful opportunity to discover one of Costa Blanca’s hidden treasures. For more information, available dates and prices please call Tours Costa Blanca on 672 413 370.
A BRIEF TALE OF THE PARK
This vast Natural Park is located in the Vega Baja region of Alicante, and occupies the municipalities
of Torrevieja, Guardamar del Segura, Los Montesinos and Rojales. The park is formed by two main lagoons separated from each other by an anticline, called El Chaparral. There is a canal that connects both lakes and, at the same time, two other canals that connect the lakes with the sea, forming a salt exploitation unit. This protected area is used as a salt marsh, and is also an important nesting and wintering area for more than a hundred birds: amingos, ducks, the black-necked grebe, and the stilt are just a few examples. In the park you will nd shaded picnic areas with tables to eat, spend a relaxing day and enjoy the natural environment. There are also a number of viewpoints for bird watching enthusiasts. More delightful places to visit and things to do on the Costa Blanca can be found on the website www.costablancascene. com
This week saw a series of market events that could have injected some volatility into what was a very quiet last week.
On Tuesday, the UK government will release estimates of employment, unemployment, inactivity, average weekly earnings, vacancies and other labour market related statistics for the UK.
In the last three months to August, gross pay without bonuses slipped slightly from 5.1% to 5%. This is in spite of the mixed GDP growth the UK experienced in the summer, which led to only a slow return to positive growth in August. Unemployment came in below market expectations, falling to 4% from 4.1%.
There was also a series of in ation readings this week. Analysts did not anticipate much of a shift in the UK’s CPI reading on Wednesday, however the reading came in signi cantly below expectation at 1.7%.
This could impact the Bank of England’s interest rate decisions if it is looking at more aggressive rate cuts over the coming months. Today’s Retail Sales gures came in above the expected reading of -0.4%, landing at 0.3%.
EUR
The main talking point of the week was the European Central Bank meeting, where policymakers voted to cut interest rates for the third time this year.
The cut was expected by markets, in ation now below target and ECB president Christine Lagarde and French central bank chief François Villeroy de Galhau had both signalled the likelihood of a cut in recent weeks. The ECB reduced the key interest rate by 0.25% to 3.25%.
As a likely result of the ECB’s response to slowing in ation in the Eurozone, which at 1.8% is the lowest since April 2021, the EUR has weakened to a two-month low.
Goldman Sachs has suggested that the EUR should now be considered the preferred funding currency over the traditionally safer CHF and JPY, given current market conditions and expectations for currency performance. The company’s baseline forecasts predict higher equities, stable yields, and reduced rate volatility, which could lead to renewed weakness in the Dollar and cyclical outperformance for both G10 and emerging market currencies.
Los Montesinos invests more than 400,000 euros in the maintenance of green areas
On Tuesday, October 22, the Local Government Board of the Los Montesinos Town Council approved the administrative speci cations for the upkeep and care of the municipality’s gardens and green spaces, designating a three-year contract period. Until now, the maintenance of these green areas has been managed by Town Council sta . However, to ensure a “more thorough and ongoing maintenance service, given the extensive green areas we have in the town, the Town Council has approved a set of technical speci cations to allow an external company to manage this service,” stated José Manuel Butrón, the mayor of the municipality.
According to the mayor, this new measure “will enable us to keep all
the green spaces in Los Montesinos in better condition, ful lling a commitment I made to our residents which is now coming to fruition.” He expressed gratitude for “the dedicated e orts of the Town Council technicians, who conducted a detailed study to measure and evaluate all the green spaces in both the town center and the surrounding residential estates.”
At the same session, the Governing Council also approved a project for repair and improvement works in Constitution Square (Plaza de la Constitución), with a budget allocation of approximately 200,000 euros. The planned renovations include repairing pavements, restoring the steps in the square, reorganizing the garden with synthetic grass installation, and adding
new urban furnishings along with a children’s playground. The mayor emphasized that this “iconic town space, due to its high level of activity throughout the year, was in need of enhancements, which is why we have allocated this budget to carry out improvements that will revitalize it.”
Altogether, the Los Montesinos Town Council has dedicated more than €400,000 to enhance its green spaces and gardens and to refurbish one of the town’s largest and most frequented spaces, Constitution Square. Mayor Butrón underscored that the objective is “to continue enhancing every part of our municipality, ensuring that Los Montesinos remains a town that provides the highest quality of life for our citizens.”
PSOE Almoradi slams lack of local police
Fernando Sabino, the socialist councillor at the Almoradí Town Hall, has raised concerns over a shortage of local police officers, which he argues is impacting both citizen care and safety within the municipality.
Sabino pointed out that Almoradí’s current police force has only 25 active officers, falling short of the 45 officers recommended for a town of its size.
Sabino further noted that “many officers in Almoradí are on temporary contracts, limiting them to administrative tasks and traffic regulation duties.”
He also highlighted issues within the unit dedicated to the Comprehensive Monitoring System for Gender Violence (VioGén System), where a single officer is currently responsible for overseeing approximately 70 cases of gender violence.
According to Sabino, this unit urgently requires
the support of at least one additional officer.
In response, the Partido Popular (PP) governing team in Almoradí stated that the town’s police force currently has 36 authorized positions, with plans to reach 40 by the end of the current legislative period, aligning with the target set by the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP).
Mayor María Gómez emphasized that “security within the municipality is a top priority for the governing team” and confirmed budget provisions for an additional police officer position in 2024, with further increases planned in subsequent budgets.
José Antonio Latorre, Almoradí’s Local Police Councillor, added that all existing positions are
Dolores, one of the few municipalities that will lower the garbage tax
Dolores has emerged as one of the rst municipalities in Spain to successfully reduce its waste collection rate, a feat made possible by implementing a door-to-door waste collection system and the strong support of its residents. This achievement comes at a time when most municipalities are having to raise their waste collection rates signi cantly to comply with Law 7/2022, part of European Union recycling mandates.
As one of the pioneering municipalities in the Vega Baja region, Dolores was quick to implement the ‘door-to-door’ collection system and align with this new recycling legislation. Thanks to this early adoption, the Dolores City Council has been able to lower the waste collection rate from 138.89 euros to 129.40 euros.
The mayor, Joaquín Hernández, emphasized the importance of “citizen collaboration in achieving the high recycling standards mandated by
European regulations.”
He noted, however, that the opposition abstained from supporting the initiative in the information commission, encouraging them to “join forces with the government team for the bene t of all residents and to stop spreading misinformation and creating obstacles.”
To further reward residents’ commitment, the City Council has introduced a system of discounts that can reduce the tax by up to 60%. These discounts are divided into three main categories:
A discount of up to 20% for properties that use ecoparks. Social reductions: A 20% discount for lowincome households. Domestic discounts: Up to 20% o for residents who participate in home or community composting e orts.
The Council clari ed that while the rate reduction applies to all residents this year, from next year onwards, the reduction will only be granted to those who meet the waste
separation requirements speci ed by law, adhering to the “polluter pays” principle. Mayor Hernández highlighted that this achievement “demonstrates that environmental sustainability can go hand in hand with economic bene ts for households.” He praised the door-to-door collection service, combined with discount incentives and public education, as the most e ective method to meet recycling targets while lowering costs for residents. Additionally, he announced plans to develop dedicated waste contribution areas to further encourage waste separation within buildings and communal areas, ensuring that the bene ts extend to all residents.
With this progressive approach, Dolores is establishing itself as a leader in waste management on a national scale. The City Council encourages other municipalities to adopt similar forward-thinking solutions to move towards a circular economy and a more sustainable future.
Emergency services calls being handled from Aliante again
currently filled, albeit with some temporary officers. He noted that two recruitment processes are in progress to secure permanent staff. The first is an internal promotion process to fill two officer positions, and the second is an open call for seven new officers, of which four will be hired through open recruitment and three via mobility competition. According to Latorre, these steps will help to gradually expand the police force.
Latorre also highlighted a recent decline in local crime rates, noting that “based on data provided by the Government Subdelegation, the Security Board’s latest figures for 2024 show an 11% decrease in crime compared to 2023, and a further drop compared to 2022.”
The Emergency Coordination and Information Centre (CICU) has been re-established in Alicante, now operating from the upgraded facilities at Doctor Balmis General Hospital. The reopening ceremony, held this past Friday, was attended by the President of the Generalitat, Carlos Mazón, and the Minister of Health, Marciano Gómez.
In 2021, the Botanic government centralized the CICU service in Valencia, a move that sparked opposition from unions and the Alicante Nursing College. They expressed concern that “coordinating Alicante’s health emergencies from Valencia, without local knowledge of our province, could negatively impact response times. Just a few seconds lost in coordination can be the di erence between life and death.”
The Popular Party also opposed the centralization, joining public rallies to express their dissatisfaction. With the PP’s recent ascent to the regional government, President Mazón prioritized decentralizing the CICU as part of his campaign promises.
Mazón explained, “We are now implementing a 21stcentury service equipped with the latest technology
and expanding the CICU sta by 70% compared to precentralization levels in Alicante, increasing from 20 professionals to 34.” The new Alicante CICU team includes 12 coordinating doctors and 14 dispatchers, along with eight newly added nursing professionals who will manage health consultations and coordinate speci c types of emergencies.
Mazón also emphasized that there is “scope for future expansions if necessary, as we are committed to sparing no resources on this service.” He added, “This decentralization brings the service closer to citizens, improving response times and ultimately saving lives.”
With three coordination centers now operating across the provinces of the Valencian Community, continuity in emergency management is assured. In case of a technical issue at one CICU, the other two centers can assume incident management responsibilities, a redundancy that Mazón stressed would not have been feasible with a single, centralized CICU.
The reopening of provincial CICUs required an investment exceeding two million euros, which covered new sta positions and facility upgrades.
How the Emergency Information and Coordination Centre Operates
The CICU is responsible for the continuous management and coordination of emergency and urgent care resources in the Valencian Community, operating 24 hours a day. Upon receiving an emergency request, the CICU assigns the most suitable healthcare resource based on the severity of the situation and available resources.
Medical personnel at the CICU oversee the health response, make critical decisions, monitor overall emergency operations, and provide guidance on medical queries during high-alert situations.
Nurses handle secondary patient transport and manage speci c types of emergency calls, coordinating and reviewing certain cases as necessary.
Dispatchers assign, deploy, and track healthcare resources, while documentation specialists review and codify information recorded during various stages of emergency response management, ensuring a structured approach to care and coordination.
Man arrested for stealing and setting fire to a Torrevieja shop
The Civil Guard has arrested a 35-year-old man for his alleged involvement in the robbery and subsequent burning of a shop in Torrevieja, which he apparently caused.
The incident occurred in the early hours of 14 October when the Guardia Civil received a report of a re in a business in the centre of Torrevieja. The o cers found that the re had already spread, endangering inhabited buildings and other nearby businesses, so they called the Fire Brigade.
The door of the establishment was open, there was no one inside but they noticed a rear window that was also open which raised suspicions. They followed a trail of alcoholic liquid from the window and located the man hiding in some bushes in the vicinity with items stolen from the establishment, stored in bags and garbage sacks, which were seized and returned to the owner of the premises.
The detainee had a history of property crimes and Torrevieja’s Court of Instruction No. 1 has ordered his provisional imprisonment.
Lawsons Wealth hosts a meeting with Honey Legal
There was another fantastic meeting hosted by Ara Manukyan from Lawsons Wealth in conjunction with Susie Ratcliffe from Honey Legal on Thursday 24th October at La Laguna Hotel in Doña Pepa.
The meeting was an opportunity to find out the essential estate planning everyone should have in place if they have assets in the UK.
The main topics covered were Lasting Power of Attorney, Probate Laws, Living, Property & Discretionary Trusts.
Honey Legal are experts in the field of estate planning and have a score of 4.9 out 5 with Trust Pilot. As a company they come across so many situations where individuals with assets in the UK have not put any Estate Planning in place and cause massive issues for family and friends at the most difficult times.
options of Estate Planning offered by Honey Legal please contact Ara from Lawsons Wealth to get all the facts.
To find out more about the
You can e-mail:- ara. manukyan@lawsonswealth.com or call or WhatsApp Ara on +34 662 486 925
The next seminar at the La Laguna will be on Wednesday 6th November at 1pm in conjunction with P1 Capital. The main topics will be about asset management and funding investment opportunities secured via legal charges on UK property and commercial assets. For forthcoming events check out our Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/ lawsonswealthcostablanca/
The best insurance for expats in Spain comes from Generali
Generali has strengthened its commitment to expatriate customers in Spain with a strategic move that consolidates its position as one of Europe’s leading insurers. As part of this transition, expat services are now seamlessly integrated under the trusted Generali brand with the new website generaliexpatriates.
es. More than skin deep, it is part of a broader approach to guarantee that expats in Spain continue receiving the highest levels of service and gradually access to a wider range of insurance options suited specifically for them.
At generaliexpatriates.es, expats can find all the essential information they need about Generali’s comprehensive range of insurance products, designed specifically to protect their assets and secure their peace of mind. Whether it is car, home, pet, business or life insurance, at generaliexpatriates.es customers can make direct use of the comprehensive range of products and services available to them and also gain an insight into the Company.
On top of this, at generaliexpatriates.es, customers have access to more than 200 agents and brokers who are highly
qualified and speak different languages, providing the kind of personalised service that makes all the difference when living abroad. These local experts are keen to help expats feel at home in Spain and are dedicated to ensuring that you are well informed and well protected.
The transition to Generali’s iconic branding brings with it more than just a new look.
The website now reflects Generali’s bold red identity—a powerful symbol of the passion and commitment that drives the company. Generali is synonymous with reliability, trust, and innovation, and this new chapter in its journey with expats reinforces that value proposition. The vibrant red is more than just a corporate colour; it represents Generali’s commitment to helping people secure their future, protect what matters most, and support their dreams. Whether you’re building a new life in Spain, starting a business, or simply enjoying the lifestyle that retirement brings, Generali is your lifetime partner.
Generali prioritise the peace of mind of its more than 150,000 expat clients in Spain. The quality of service, the reliability of the policies, and the comprehensive coverage
remain as strong as ever. Policyholders will now benefit from being part of one of Europe’s most established insurance groups, renowned for its wide range of products and strong distribution network.
And now... a special offer!
To further demonstrate this commitment, Generali is currently offering a special offer that is sure to appeal
to both new and existing customers. Until 25 November 2024, when you take out a new car, home or life insurance policy, you will receive €50 cashback for each policy purchased. Whether you’re a new or existing customer, this is a fantastic opportunity to extend your cover and make additional savings. Although this promotion doesn’t apply to renewals or replacements, there is no limit to how many
new policies you can take outso there is no limit to how much cashback you can accumulate. It’s Generali’s way of saying thank you for entrusting them with your most important asset and a great incentive to explore the full range of products they offer.
Find your nearest broker/agent or request a quote now at generaliexpatriates.es
This Week´s Movie Picks
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
Saturday 2nd November, ITV2, 3.05 pm
During Harry Potter’s sixth year at Hogwarts, he finds a book that once belonged to the mysterious Half-Blood Prince that earns him the respect of his new Potions professor Horace Slughorn. In addition, Dumbledore must prepare Harry for the ultimate final confrontation by finding out the secret behind Voldemort’s power. Meanwhile, a hidden enemy waits in the shadows to carry out a mission given to him by the Dark Lord.
The Shawshank Redemption
Sunday 3rd November, BBC2, 11.00 pm
Chronicles the experiences of a formerly successful banker as a prisoner in the gloomy jailhouse of Shawshank after being found guilty of a crime he did not commit. The lm portrays the man’s unique way of dealing with his new, torturous life; along the way he befriends a number of fellow prisoners, most notably a wise long-term inmate named Red.
Tuesday 29th October
ITV News
Alan Carr’s Epic Gameshow 16:00 Tipping Point: Lucky Stars
Deal or No Deal
18:00 The Chase 19:00 ITV News London
19:30 ITV Evening News
20:30 Emmerdale
21:00 The Martin Lewis Money Show Live 22:00 DI Ray
23:00 ITV News at Ten
23:30 ITV News London 23:45 On Assignment
Wednesday 30th October
0:15 Alter Egos
00:40 Black Magic with Trixy 01:00 Teleshopping 04:00 The Great Erection Deception: The Stiff Nights Story
05:05 Unwind with ITV 06:10 Deal or No Deal 07:00 Good Morning Britain 10:00 Lorraine 11:00 This Morning 13:15 ITV News Special 14:50 ITV News London
15:00 Alan Carr’s Epic Gameshow
16:00 Tipping Point: Lucky Stars
17:00 Deal or No Deal
18:00 The Chase
19:00 ITV News London
19:30 ITV Evening News
20:30 Emmerdale
21:00 Coronation Street
The Secret Genius of Modern Life
21:00 Digging for Britain
22:00 Helmand: Tour of Duty
23:20 Saving Lives at Sea 23:30 Newsnight
22:00 Prince William: We Can End Homelessness
23:00 ITV News at Ten
23:30 ITV News London
23:45 Peston
08:45 The King of Queens
09:10 The King of Queens
09:40 The King of Queens
10:10 Frasier 10:40 Frasier
11:10 Frasier
11:40 Frasier
12:05 Come Dine with Me: The Professionals
13:05 Channel 4 News Summary
13:10 Renovation Nation
14:10 Find It, Fix It, Flog It
15:10 Countdown
16:00 A Place in the Sun
17:00 The Great House Giveaway
18:00 Four in a Bed
18:30 Help! We Bought a Village
19:30 The Simpsons
20:00 Channel 4 News
20:55 Stand Up to Cancer
21:00 The Great British Bake Off 22:15 Into the Jungle with Ed Stafford 23:20 Public Enemies: Kendrick vs Drake
09:10 The King of Queens
09:40 The King of Queens
10:10 Frasier
10:40 Frasier
11:10 Frasier
11:40 Frasier
12:05 Come Dine with Me: The Professionals
13:05 Channel 4 News
Summary
13:10 Renovation Nation
14:10 Find It, Fix It, Flog It
15:10 Countdown
16:00 A Place in the Sun
17:00 The Great House Giveaway
18:00 Four in a Bed
18:30 Help! We Bought a Village
19:30 The Simpsons
20:00 Channel 4 News
21:00 Location, Location, Location
22:00 Grand Designs
23:00 New Zealand’s Best Homes With Phil Spencer
09:30 Reu & Harper’s Wonder World 09:40 Milkshake! Off We Go! 09:45 Peppa Pig 09:50 Peppa Pig
09:55 Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom 10:10 Milkshake! Story Den 10:15 Jeremy Vine 12:30 Storm Huntley 13:45 Friends 14:10 Friends 14:35 Entertainment News On 5 14:40 5 News at Lunchtime 14:45 Home and Away 15:15 Killer in the Cabin 17:00 Bargain-Loving Brits in the Sun 18:00 5 News at 5 19:00 Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly 20:00 Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly Australia 21:00 The Yorkshire Vet 22:00 Ben Fogle: New Lives in the Wild 23:00 Who Killed Billie-Jo? 07:30 Mr Bean: The Animated Series 07:45 Mr Bean: The Animated Series 08:05 Mr Bean: The Animated Series 08:15 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated 08:45
09:10 PAW Patrol 09:30 Reu & Harper’s Wonder World
09:40 Milkshake! Off We Go! 09:45 Peppa Pig
09:50 Peppa Pig
09:55 Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom 10:10 Milkshake! Story Den 10:15 Jeremy Vine 12:30 Storm Huntley 13:45 Friends 14:10 Friends
14:35 Entertainment News On 5 14:40 5 News at Lunchtime 14:45 Home and Away 15:15 The Murder In-Law 17:00 Bargain-Loving Brits in the Sun
18:00 5 News at 5 19:00 Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly
20:00 Shop Smart, Save Money
21:00 Traffic Cops
22:00 Police: Night Shift 999 23:00 Inside The Force: 24/7
08:45 Be Cool, Scooby-Doo! 09:10 What’s New ScoobyDoo? 09:35 Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?
10:00
Torrevieja U3A activities available to members
Patio Andaluz restaurant was the place to be recently for 41 of the Torrevieja U3A members who gathered to enjoy a 3 course meal with a 1.5 hour flamenco show. Many took the opportunity to dress accordingly whilst Pauline Breen, one of the Social Team organisers, enjoyed a serenade on her birthday. A night of Spanish entertainment, enjoyed by all.
Tuesday 22nd October saw a coachful of mainly Torrevieja U3A members boarding an Eurotours coach to take them to the first major stop of their 3 day tour of the Albacete region.
The highlights of
the tour started late that morning at Petrer when the group had a tour of the famous Shoe Museum in which there are hundreds of machines on display that were used in the past for shoe manufacture. Also on display were many shoes of all sorts, shapes and sizes including copies of shoes that had been made for Queen Elizabeth as well as The Pope. (attached photo is of some of the shoes that have been produced... honestly).
After travelling on to Albacete for checking in at the hotel and a quick lunch, the next major stop was at the Albacete Knife Museum where we
were entertained with a talk given by an extremely knowledgeable and interesting guide. Thousands of knives of hugely differing sizes were on display. This museum is certainly worthy of a visit.
Over the 3 days there were visits to local towns and villages to visit several cathedrals and churches and other places of interest. These are just a couple of the many activities that are available to our members. Visit our website torrevijau3a.org for fuller details of the association and info on how you can join.
Friday 1st November
01:10 Teleshopping 04:00 DNA Journey 05:00 Unwind with ITV
06:10 Deal or No 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 Alan Carr’s Epic Gameshow
16:00 Tipping Point: Lucky Stars
17:00 Deal or No Deal
18:00 The Chase
19:00 ITV News London
19:30 ITV Evening News
20:00 Emmerdale
21:00 The Martin Lewis Money Show
22:00 Prince William: We Can End Homelessness
23:00 ITV News at Ten
23:30 ITV News London
23:45 The Mummy
01:30 Teleshopping 04:00 Ninja Warrior UK
04:50 Unwind with ITV
06:05 Deal or No 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
Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing
10:00 BBC News
14:00 Impossible 14:45 The Tournament 15:30 The Boss 16:15 Super Smart Animals
10:50 The Simpsons 11:20 The Simpsons 11:50 The Simpsons
12:20 The Simpsons
12:50 A Knight’s Tale
15:25 Four in a Bed
15:55 Four in a Bed
16:25 Four in a Bed
17:00 Four in a Bed
17:30 Four in a Bed
18:00 Kirstie and Phil’s Love
It or List It: Brilliant Builds
18:30 The Great British Bake Off
19:40 Channel 4 News
20:10 The Soldiers That Saved Britain
21:10 Dispatches Special
22:10 Ottoman Empire by Train with Alice Roberts
23:10 Formula 1
08:55 Milo 09:10 Rubble & Crew
09:30 Reu & Harper’s Wonder World
09:40 Milkshake! Off We Go!
08:05 Mr Bean: The Animated Series 08:15 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated 08:45 Be Cool, Scooby-Doo! 09:10 What’s
09:45 Peppa Pig
09:50 Peppa Pig
09:55 Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom 10:10 Milkshake! Story Den 10:15 Jeremy Vine 12:30 Storm Huntley 13:45 Friends 14:10 Friends
14:35 Entertainment News On 5
14:40 5 News at Lunchtime
14:45 Home and Away 15:15 Saved By My Stalker 17:00 Bargain-Loving Brits in the Sun
18:00 5 News at 5 19:00 Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly 20:00 Kate Humble’s Coastal Britain 21:00 Ellis 23:00 Murder on the Doorstep
09:30 Reu & Harper’s Wonder World
09:40 Milkshake! Off We Go! 09:45 Peppa Pig
09:50 Peppa Pig
09:55 Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom
10:05 Milkshake! Story Den 10:15 Jeremy Vine 12:30 Storm Huntley
13:45 Friends 14:10 Friends 14:35 Entertainment News On 5 14:40 5 News at Lunchtime 14:45 Home and Away 15:15 To Kill a Stepfather 17:00 Bargain-Loving Brits in the Sun
18:00 5 News at 5 19:00 Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly
20:00 Air Fryers: Do You Have The Right One?
21:00 Susan Calman’s Grand Days Out
22:00 Holidaying In The 70s: Wish You Were Here 23:00 Most Shocking 80s Moments
08:05 Mr Bean: The Animated Series 08:15 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated 08:45 Be Cool, Scooby-Doo! 09:10 What’s New ScoobyDoo? 09:35 Scooby-Doo and Guess Who? 10:00 Totally Bonkers Guinness World Records 10:30 Totally Bonkers Guinness World Records 11:00 Love Bites 12:00 Love Bites 13:00 Dress to Impress 14:00 Supermarket Sweep 15:00 Family Fortunes 16:00 Charmed 17:00 Gilmore Girls 17:55 Dress to Impress 18:55 In for a Penny 19:25 Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald 20:25 FYI Daily 20:30 Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald 22:00 Big Brother 23:15 Big Brother: Late and Live
00:00 Law & Order: UK 01:00 Agatha Christie’s Poirot 03:00 Unwind with ITV 03:30 Teleshopping 07:00 Classic Emmerdale 07:35 Classic Emmerdale 08:00 Classic Coronation Street 08:35 Classic Coronation Street 09:05 Agatha Christie’s Poirot 11:20 Agatha Christie’s Poirot 12:25 The Royal 13:25 Heartbeat 14:35 Classic Emmerdale 15:05 Classic Emmerdale 15:40 Classic Coronation Street 16:15 Classic Coronation Street
16:50 Midsomer Murders 18:50 Downton Abbey 20:00 Heartbeat 21:00 Doc Martin 22:00 Doc Martin 23:00 Law & Order: UK
09:05 PAW Patrol 09:25 DORA 09:35 Rubble & Crew 09:45 PAW Patrol Shorts 09:55 SpongeBob SquarePants 10:05 Entertainment News On 5 10:20 22 Kids & Counting 11:10 22 Kids & Counting 12:10 22 Kids & Counting 13:10 Inside the Tower of London 14:10 Inside the Tower of London 15:10 The Gunpowder Plot: The Countdown to Treason 17:10 Beyond the Yorkshire Farm: Reuben & Clive 18:10 Beyond the Yorkshire Farm: Reuben & Clive 19:10 5 News Weekend 19:15 Britain’s Favourite Christmas Adverts 21:10 Blenheim Palace: Behind the Grandeur 22:10 The Queen Mother: A Life In Pictures 23:10 When TV Goes Horribly Wrong 23:10 When TV Goes Horribly Wrong 07:45 Mr Bean: The Animated Series 08:00 Dodo 08:15 Dodo 08:30 Scooby-Doo: Mask of the Blue Falcon 10:00 Love Bites 11:00 Dress to Impress 12:00 Dress
Sunday 3rd November
00:45 To Be Announced
Teleshopping
Kingdom Uncovered: Inside Saudi Arabia 05:10 Unwind with ITV 06:10 The Royal Beat 07:00 Ainsley’s Food We Love
07:30 James Martin’s Saturday Morning 09:25 Ainsley’s Taste of Malta
10:25 ITV News
10:30 Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh
12:30 ITV Lunchtime News
12:45 To Be Announced
15:45 Alan Carr’s Epic Gameshow
16:50 Peter Pan
19:00 In for a Penny
19:25 ITV Evening News
19:45 ITV News London
20:00 Tipping Point: Lucky Stars
21:00 Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
22:00 Until I Kill You
23:00 ITV News
23:15 Dwarf Story: Life Without Little People
4th November
00:15 Prince William: We Can End Homelessness
Teleshopping 04:00 Motorsport UK
Unwind with ITV 06:05 M&S: Dress the Nation 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 Judi Love’s Culinary Cruise
16:00 Tipping Point: Lucky Stars
17:00 Deal or No Deal
18:00 The Chase
19:00 ITV News London
19:30 ITV Evening News
20:30 Emmerdale
21:00 Coronation Street
22:00 Until I Kill You
23:00 ITV News at Ten
23:30 ITV News London
23:45 Prince William: We Can End Homelessness
05:15 Frasier
05:45 Hollyoaks: Omnibus
06:55 The Simpsons
07:20 The Simpsons
07:45 Frasier
08:10 Frasier
08:35 Frasier
09:00 Formula 1
10:30 Sunday Brunch
13:30 The Simpsons
14:00 The Simpsons
14:30 The Simpsons
15:00 The Simpsons
15:30 The Dog House
16:15 Location, Location, Location 17:20 Kirstie and Phil’s Love It or List It
18:25 Channel 4 News
18:55 Devon and Cornwall 19:50 Independence Day: Resurgence
Generation Z 23:00 Formula 1
08:00 Cheers
08:25 Cheers
08:50 The King of Queens
09:15 The King of Queens 09:45 The King of Queens
10:15 Frasier
10:45 Formula 1 12:15 Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA
13:10 Channel 4 News Summary
13:15 Undercover Boss USA
14:10 Find It, Fix It, Flog It
15:10 Countdown
16:00 A Place in the Sun
17:00 A Place in the Sun
18:00 Four in a Bed
18:30 Help! We Bought a Village
19:30 The Simpsons
20:00 Channel 4 News
21:00 Jamie: Fast and Simple 22:00 Generation Z 23:00 Gogglebox
DORA
Rubble & Crew 09:45 PAW Patrol Shorts
SpongeBob SquarePants
Entertainment News On 5 10:15 NFL End Zone 10:40 Portillo’s Andalucia 11:35 Portillo’s Andalucia 12:35 Dorset: Country and Coast 13:30 Dorset: Country and Coast 14:30 Crazy for Christmas 15:30 Entertainment News On 5 15:35 Crazy for Christmas 16:25 Christmas in Notting
09:55 Pop Paper City 10:05 Milkshake! Bopping About 10:15 Jeremy Vine 12:30 Storm Huntley
13:55 5 News at Lunchtime 14:00 Home and Away 14:30 Christmas Unwrapped 16:15 Where Are You, Christmas?
18:00 5 News at 5 19:00 Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly 20:00 Traffic Cops 21:00 Police Interceptors 22:00 The Hardacres 23:00 Broadmoor: For The Criminally Insane
08:05 Mr Bean: The Animated Series 08:15 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated 08:45 Be Cool, Scooby-Doo! 09:10 What’s New ScoobyDoo? 09:35 Scooby-Doo and Guess Who? 10:00 Totally
With this column, I want to o er you the opportunity to ask any technical question and get a reply within this column.
If you have a question or problem with any household technology needing my help, please email Brian at cbtechnology.help@gmail. com. If it’s included in the column but not answered fully, I will email you the full answer.
This column will deal with your technical issues covering: Smartphones Tablets
Laptops
PC’s
Cloud Storage Printers
Smart TV’s
Chromecast
TV Boxes (IPTV). Amazon Fire Stick
Smart Speakers
Smart Watches
Satellite Navigation Dash Cams
CCTV Systems
Email me if you have any questions or need my help to cbtechnology.help@gmail. com.
Costa Blanca Technology Help Group I have been running a Technology Help Group for more than 5 years with around 390 members who have access to attend monthly
Your tech questions answered by Brian Hoile of the Costa Blanca Technology Help Group, helping over 400 members with their PCs , smartphones and more. Group members can attend meetings in person or online using Zoom or Teams.
classes, ask questions, and get home visits for more detailed help.
If you would like to join the Costa Blanca Technology Help Group, send an email to cbtechnology.help@gmail. com
Group members will have access to the group website which has copies of all presentations given and handouts on a variety of topics and images of previous editions of the column in Costa Blanca People.
What does the group o er?
I present a class on the second Wednesday of each month from 10:00 to 12:00 at Dilly’s Bar Av. Castuera, 3, 03184 El Chaparral, Alicante Google Maps Link: https://www.facebook.com/ dillysbar Facebook Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ zPGsDEeMnbcZvSpz8
You are welcome to turn up for these classes. I give the same presentation on the second Thursday of the month using Teams Video Conferencing from 11:00 to 12:30.
Before each meeting, I email all group members detailing what will be covered during that meeting. Following the meeting, each group member receives an email with a copy of the presentations used. I o er email and telephone
support. I also o er home visits if required. After a home visit, I will send by email a detailed report of what tasks I performed during the visit for your future reference. If required, I can remotely connect to your laptop or computer (with your permission) while in telephone contact and sort out issues or show you how to do things you might be having trouble with. I only charge for any “out-of- pocket” expenses—i.e., travel etc. I do not charge for my time spent helping group members.
If you are a group member, I will send updates and copies of the presentations given at the classes.
If you run or are a member of a social group, I can o er you a presentation on any topic within the Technology Help Group’s remit. Please send me an email to arrange a bespoke presentation for your group.
If you want to join the Costa Blanca Technology Help Group send an email to If you want to join the Costa Blanca Technology Help Group or want to arrange a bespoke meeting send me an email to cbtechnology.help@gmail. com.
Brian Hoile Costa Blanca Technology Help Group
2nd November Saturday Night
20:00 - 22:00 Avenida de las Naciones 3c, Rojales 03170, Spain
Spanish restaurant’s sign warning parents about unsupervised children goes viral
The @soycamarero account on social media platform X regularly showcases some of the most peculiar situations that unfold in bars and restaurants across Spain. These include odd customer interactions, responses to bad reviews, non-compliant employment contracts, and unusual signs directed at patrons—many of which quickly go viral.
One of its latest posts has attracted a huge response due to a sign posted by La Herradura de Chaplin, a bar in Guadalajara in the Castilla–La Mancha region, addressing parents who visit with their children.
The sign reads: “Any child left unsupervised in the bar will become the property of the bar and will be put to work washing dishes. You have been warned, so let’s avoid any unpleasantness.”
This humorous warning
has garnered nearly 40,000 interactions, with responses ranging widely: “A well-mannered child should know how to behave anywhere,” one user commented. Others said, “Bars should ban children altogether until they’re at least 12 or 14,” while some felt, “This should be reportable,” or joked, “Time to call the police for child exploitation.” Meanwhile,
other comments praised the sign, calling it “the best thing I’ve seen in a long time.”
This issue, which has surfaced in other establishments across Spain, continues to spark lively debate on social media, with opinions split over how children should be managed in public spaces like bars and restaurants.
Rebekah Vardy apparently has no plans to watch her longtime rival Coleen Rooney’s stint on I’m A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!
- unless it’s to catch her tacking a stomach-turning Bushtucker Trial.
The media personality, 42, who famously took on the jungle challenges herself in 2017, is said to have made it clear that she’s not particularly interested in watching Coleen, 38, but would tune in if she knew she would be eating something revolting.
According to reports Rebekah nds it hilarious that her enemy could be following in her footsteps, if she does appear on the reality show.
Katie Price’s ex- ance Carl Wood has revealed how she really broke both of her feet, ending up wheelchair bound, back in 2020.
The used car dealer, 35, and glamour model Katie, 46, started dating in 2020 after meeting in a kebab shop
- and jetted o to Turkey on holiday to get veneers done together just six weeks later.
On returning from the trip, Katie was pictured being pushed around in a wheelchair by Carl having broken both of her feet. Katie rst said that the injury happened at a theme park, before changing her story and saying she had been ‘pretending to be a horse’ at the time of the accident.
But Carl has now claimed that she broke her feet from running o the edge of a hotel car park and falling 25ft after he confronted her about cheating on him with an England footballer.
Kelly Brook following celebs like Kylie Minogue and Gary Barlow into the money-spinning plonk trade.
Documents reveal that she wants to og “alcoholic wines, spirits and liqueurs, alcopops and alcoholic cocktails”.
Kelly also plans a range of pizzas after marrying Italian model and actor Jeremy Parisi, 39.
Intellectual Property O ce papers show she is eyeing up weight-loss drinks, dietary supplements and “preparations consisting of vitamins and/or minerals”.
Jeremy Clarkson, known for his love of a good pint, is setting his sights on competing with pub giant JD Wetherspoon by launching his own chain of pubs.
After recovering from recent heart surgery, Clarkson opened his rst pub, The Farmer’s Dog, in the Cotswolds earlier this year. Friends have a ectionately nicknamed him “Jezzaspoon,” as he plans to expand with more locations.
Abbey Clancy has revealed that she and her husband Peter Crouch ‘used to get helicopters to dinner’ on Saturday.
The model, 38, admitted that being a part of the ‘outrageous’ football scene meant that they often made ‘nutty’ decisions.
However, after their ‘extravagant wedding’ in 2011, the couple have since toned down their lifestyle.
The most exciting Halloween party at Hotel Algorfa
Hotel Algorfa is set to host the most exciting Halloween party Algorfa has even seen. For just €10 entry fee you can see David Jordan live from West End’s Thriller as Michael Jackson, this time in true thriller style. Rob’s Right Good Entertainment will host fun and games with his musical bingo and karaoke! Free shots are on the cards for anyone dressed up not to mention themed cocktails for the evening, just 2 for €12,00!
Hotel Algorfa is all set to make your holiday season unforgettable with its exciting Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve events, priced at just €75 per head. These special events will feature a fantastic lineup of entertainment, ensuring that there’s never a dull moment. Guests will be treated to a variety of delicious food and drinks, making it a perfect way to celebrate with family and friends. Whether you’re dancing the night away on New Year’s Eve or
enjoying a festive Christmas Day, Hotel Algorfa promises a memorable experience filled with joy and cheer.
Christimas Day: (12:0000:00) €75 per ticket - VERY LIMITED SPACES AVAILABLE
- All inclusive drinks (house spirits, house wines, draught & soft drinks)
- 4 course menu
- Evening Buffet/snacks
- Live entertainment throughout the day with tributes to Lionel Richie, Bruno Mars and Dusty Springfield
New Years Eve (18:00-02:00)
- €75 per ticket - LIMITED SPACES AVAILABLE
- All inclusive drinks (house spirits, house wines, draught & soft drinks)
- Hot, cold and dessert buffet
- Live entertainment with Simon Jackson MBE and David Jordan
Health & Beauty
Decaf vs regular coffee
get from his grandparents?.... nothing... they could not even give our child one win; instead, all we heard about was my husband’s brother’s girls doing brilliantly in dance class, and how they are going to be celebrities one day.
If the other couples feel the same about spending time with this tedious couple, then you can all decide you will not attend altogether. These days it would be quite easy to come up with an excuse for non-attendance; work, school holidays, commitments with your children’s hobbies, needing to see the other side of the family; so, you can carry on making excuses and perhaps your in-laws will get the message eventually. Leave these overbearing folk to their own devices; if they like spending so much time together swanking... let them stew in their own juice.
My husband’s parents have a villa in Spain, and have been pressuring the extended family, for a few years now to spend time altogether. Up to now my husband and I have made excuses like work; but the real reason is that we don’t want to be couped up with my husband’s younger brother and his wife. My husband’s other brother and his partner, we do get along with and they feel exactly the same about the situation. Whenever we are all together, we are subjected to one long tirade of boasting. They don’t think they are at all obvious, but go out of their way to lord it over us. The parents do nothing to counter this behaviour; in fact, they seem to love parading the one son’s life, whilst down crying ours. Our children are never credited with anything. Last year our eldest won a University scholarship; the whole family are aware of it; we didn’t go overboard in announcing it to the world, but were quietly proud of him.... what comments did we WRITE TO SARA IN CONFIDENCE. A PSEUDONYM WILL BE USED IF YOU WISH. SARA READS ALL LETTERS AND CAN GIVE A PERSONAL REPLY. EMAIL YOUR QUESTION TO SARA@ COSTABLANCAPEOPLE.COM OR SARA IS AVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE CONSULTATIONS, TELEPHONE 650 054 467.
The Beauty Bene ts of Drinking Water for Skin and Hair
Water is often touted as a natural beauty elixir, and for good reason.
The human body is made up of about 60% water, making it essential for maintaining overall health. While the bene ts of staying hydrated are wellknown when it comes to internal organs, drinking water also plays a critical role in enhancing the health and appearance of our skin and hair. Here’s how proper hydration can contribute to a glowing complexion and luscious locks.
1. Hydration Promotes Skin Elasticity and Radiance
The skin, our largest organ, requires adequate moisture to maintain its elasticity and structure. When properly hydrated, the skin appears smoother, softer, and more supple. A dehydrated body, on the other hand, can lead to dullness, akiness, and an increased appearance of ne lines. Drinking su cient water helps replenish skin cells, promoting a youthful glow and reducing the chances of early aging.
Water also aids in the process of detoxi cation. By ushing out toxins through urination and sweat, it helps clear the skin from impurities that can lead to acne or other blemishes. Hydrated skin cells are more resilient to environmental stressors, which further contributes to that enviable healthy glow.
2. Improves Complexion and Reduces Pu ness
Skin in ammation and pu ness, particularly around the eyes, are often a sign of dehydration or excess salt intake. When the body is deprived of water, it begins to retain uids as a protective measure, leading to pu ness in various areas, including the face. Drinking enough water helps regulate uid retention, reducing swelling and creating a more even complexion.
Furthermore, water helps improve blood circulation, which enhances skin tone and boosts the e ciency of nutrient delivery to skin cells. This combination of hydration and nutrient absorption leads to a more balanced complexion, free of excessive redness or uneven skin tone.
People often enjoy co ee for its energizing e ects and its rich, bold avor, which add to its global popularity. Research indicates that co ee consumption may o er various health bene ts due to its active compounds and nutrients. For those who prefer to avoid ca eine, deca einated co ee provides a similar warm and avorful experience without the stimulant e ects of caffeine, a compound known to promote alertness but that may cause nervousness, anxiety, or digestive discomfort in some people. Ca eine’s e ects can last for hours, making decaf a
great choice for those who are ca eine-sensitive or who prefer co ee in the late afternoon or evening to avoid sleep disturbances.
While decaf co ee generally has a lighter and less intense avor pro le compared to regular co ee, both types o er health-promoting compounds. They contain phytonutrients like polyphenols, which are associated with cardiovascular health and may help reduce the risk of certain diseases. These bene cial nutrients make both regular and decaf co ee a potentially healthful addition to one’s diet.
Dry skin can be a result of various factors, from environmental conditions to skincare routines, but often, dehydration plays a signi cant role. Drinking water replenishes the body’s moisture reserves, which in turn helps alleviate dryness and itchiness on the skin’s surface. Paired with a good moisturizer, hydration from within can prevent the skin from becoming excessively dry or aky, especially during colder months when humidity is lower.
4. Boosts Hair Growth and Health
Much like the skin, hair thrives on moisture. Hair follicles, where each
strand is rooted, rely on a healthy supply of water to remain nourished.
A well-hydrated scalp promotes better hair growth, making strands stronger and more resilient to breakage.
When you are dehydrated, your hair tends to become brittle, leading to split ends and slower hair growth. By maintaining proper water intake, you can improve the texture, thickness, and overall health of your hair. This also enhances the scalp’s ability to absorb essential nutrients from hair care products, ensuring that your hair stays lustrous and vibrant.
5.
Issues
A dry, dehydrated scalp can lead to uncomfortable conditions like dandru or akiness. Keeping your scalp hydrated is key to preventing these issues. Water aids in balancing oil production on the scalp, helping to maintain a healthy environment for hair follicles to ourish.
Proper hydration also reduces the chances of scalp irritation, which can stem from dryness or a buildup of dead skin cells. By regularly drinking enough water, you can combat these problems at the root, promoting both scalp and hair health.
6. Enhances the E ects of Your Skincare and Haircare Routine
No matter how high-quality your skincare or haircare products are, their e ectiveness diminishes if your body is dehydrated. Water helps transport nutrients and vitamins from these products deeper into your skin and hair, amplifying their bene ts. Whether you’re using serums for skin or nourishing treatments for hair, drinking water helps your body absorb and utilize these treatments more e ectively.
Incorporating enough water into your daily routine isn’t just a lifestyle choice—it’s an essential step in maintaining long-term skin and hair health.
3. Combats Dry, Flaky Skin
Reduces Dandru and Scalp
Your complete health management in the Mi Quirónsalud App
Reports of Drivers Using Mobile Phones While Driving in Spain Surge by Nearly 10%
The number of drivers reported for using mobile phones while driving in Spain has risen by nearly 10%. During the latest surveillance campaign by the DGT roads authority, conducted from October 7 to 13, police monitored around 553,651 vehicles on Spanish roads. This resulted in 8,548 drivers being reported for distracted driving.
The primary offence remains mobile phone use behind the wheel, which carries the risk of losing six license points. Of
the reported offences, 42.7% were attributed to mobile phone usage—a nearly 10% increase from the previous campaign in October 2023. Specifically, out of 8,618 complaints filed, 3,687 drivers were reported for holding a mobile phone while driving.
Other common infractions included failure to wear a seat belt, accounting for 524 violations, and wearing headphones while driving, with 393 reports. Additional distractions
involved reading (247 cases), searching for objects (178 cases), interactions with passengers (107 cases), and eating while driving (90 cases). Police issued 1,644 further reports for additional forms of distracted driving.
These preventive measures also revealed 785 cases where drivers, aside from being reported for distractions, exceeded the legal alcohol limit or tested positive for drugs, leading to further sanctions.
Lamborghini supercar in Guardia Civil livery
A Lamborghini highperformance sports car adorned in Guardia Civil colors has generated a buzz on social media in Spain.
In various parts of the world, law enforcement agencies have integrated supercars into their eets as part of their e orts against criminal organizations and illegal street racing. This approach sends a powerful message that authorities are prepared to tackle any challenge, even those involving speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour. For instance, Dubai has adopted this strategy by incorporating high-end models like the Audi R8, Bugatti Veyron, and Lamborghini Aventador into its police force.
To celebrate Hispanidad and the Virgen del Pilar day on October 12, Spain’s Guardia
Civil unveiled its own luxury supercar, a Lamborghini Huracán Sterrato, in honor of the patron saint of the police force.
The modi ed Lamborghini hails from Alguazas in Murcia, where the company Radikal World is located. Specializing in the sale and rental of luxury vehicles, Radikal World, with the Guardia Civil’s consent, customized the car to feature an aesthetic reminiscent of the Guardia Civil’s patrol cars. The original version of this supercar starts at nearly 300,000 euros.
CHURCH AND CHARITIES
International Christian Assembly Evangelical Church. We welcome you to Sunday Service at 11am (English) Calle Beniajan 14, Torrevieja, 03185 www.icatorrevieja.org Phone; 966799273 or 660127276 (SH) Join us at Salt Church. Sundays at 10.30am. We are a friendly Church, Bible centred in our teaching and informal in our worship.Calle Daya Nueva 12, Poligino Industrial Levante II, 03187 Los Montsinos. www.saltchurch.es Facebook: SaltChurchSpain
The Alfaz spiritual friends centre o er a warm welcome at “The Comm” (Ex The Forum/Mare Nostrum) Camino del Pincho 2, l’Alfaz del Pi, 03580, Alicante. Visiting medium every week - services starts 6.30 pm every Thursday. ‘Free Healing is available after the service. contact Dot 634 320 013 email: dorothydorothy608@gmail.com
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ROLLER BLIND REPAIRS
Real Madrid launches investigation into racist abuse at Lamine Yamal
Real Madrid has launched an investigation to identify an individual who allegedly directed racist abuse at Lamine Yamal during the recent El Clasico match.
The match, which took place on Saturday night at the Bernabeu, marked Madrid’s first defeat of the season, with Barcelona emerging victorious with a score of 4-0. After a goalless first half, Robert Lewandowski scored two goals in the second half, followed by Yamal, who became the youngest scorer in El Clasico history with his strike. Raphinha sealed the game with the final goal shortly after.
Despite Yamal’s historic achievement, reports emerged that he faced racist abuse from the stands during the match. In response, Real Madrid issued a statement condemning such behavior and announcing their investigation. “Real Madrid strongly condemns any behavior involving racism, xenophobia, or violence in football and sport, and deeply regrets the insults directed at a few fans last night in one of the corners of the stadium,” the club said. “Real Madrid has opened an investigation to locate and identify the perpetrators of these regrettable and despicable insults in order to implement appropriate disciplinary and judicial measures.”
According to reports from Mundo Deportivo, a fan seated in the front row directed abuse at the 17-yearold player as he celebrated his goal in the 77th minute. Disturbingly, slurs including
“fing black,” “fing moor,” and “go to the traffic lights to sell handkerchiefs” were allegedly heard from the stands, all in Spanish. Videos circulating on social media seem to capture the alleged abuse, with one showing further discriminatory remarks during a Barcelona corner.
This incident adds to a troubling trend of racial abuse in Spain, particularly incidents involving Real Madrid forward Vinicius Júnior. Earlier this year, a court sentenced a fan to six months in prison for racially abusing Vinicius Júnior and another La Liga player during separate incidents, also imposing a three-year stadium ban on the supporter.
Vinicius Júnior has previously expressed feeling “targeted” by discriminatory remarks from rival fans. Meanwhile, Yamal’s historic goal came
during his fourth appearance in El Clasico, further adding to his record-breaking list. He is not only the youngest player to have started a La Liga match, debuting at 16 years and 38 days old against Cádiz this season, but he also holds the record for the youngest player to provide an assist in La Liga.
Additionally, Yamal is the youngest Barcelona player to debut in the Champions League, the youngest starter in the competition’s history, the youngest player to register an assist in the Champions League, and the youngest player to win a major international trophy. His growing list of records is detailed on Barcelona’s official website, which also notes his achievements as the youngest player to compete in the Champions League knockouts and the youngest player to appear in a European Championship final.
Jude Bellingham faces criticism from Spanish Media
Jude Bellingham faced criticism from the Spanish media after Real Madrid’s humiliating 4-0 defeat at home to Barcelona.
The England international is still in search of his rst goal of the season, a stark contrast to his debut year at the club, where he netted 23 goals across all competitions.
Despite his eagerness to score against Barcelona, Bellingham was unable to nd the net as his team su ered a comprehensive loss. According to Marca, the fault lies with Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti, who has not utilized Bellingham in the right position. The publication noted that while Bellingham’s work rate is commendable, he often nds himself playing as a full-back, which hampers his performance.
Journalist Juan Ignacio Garcia-Ochoa commented in Marca: “Bellingham is a shadow of the player who burst onto the scene last season at the Bernabeu. The responsibility for this lies not with him but with his
management. He’s consistently deployed in a role that doesn’t suit him, and despite his best efforts, he fails to shine. Spending so much time close to the right ank and playing as a full-back is a cruel joke that Ancelotti must rectify immediately. The fact that a player who scored nearly twenty goals last season has yet to nd the back of the net as we approach November warrants serious scrutiny.”
In stark contrast, Marca lauded Barcelona’s rising star Lamine Yamal. The 17-year-old, who contributed to Spain’s victory at Euro 2024, remained unfazed by the pressure of the big stage and managed to score against Real Madrid.
Marca praised Yamal, stating: “He is a chosen one. He proved it at the Euros, continued to demonstrate it at the start of the league, and con rmed it at the Bernabeu. Although he did not have his best game, just three touches were enough to silence the Bernabeu crowd. His right-footed goal was a declaration of intent: Madrid is going to su er a lot with him around.”
Abbey Anglers
On Tuesday the 22nd of October we fished the final round of the Abbey Autumn cup on the Rio Segura in Murcia town centre. Nine hardy anglers turned up for what turned out to be a pleasant days fishing. Winner on the day from the peg one just after the bridge was Graham Patterson. Graham has drawn this peg that often that he knows most of the fish by name. He fished the feeder across with corn, pellets or wafters and weighed 9.10kg. In second place was Richard King from peg 6. Richard used similar tactics and although he had a lot more fish they were much smaller and he weighed
8.06kg.
In third place was the one and only Richard Wood. Richard is always the life and soul of any match and once again he did not disappoint with some of his comedy antics. He did however manage to winkle out several carp on the feeder and weighed 8.02kg.
In a very important 4th place was Bob Robinson, his 6.16kg earned him 17points and was enough to earn him the overall title in the Abbey Anglers Autumn cup. Myself Ian Brown was 2nd and Grahm Patterson was third. Rods N Reels. The following day we fished the El Bosquet complex at
Crevillent. Only five anglers turned up on a very wet day. We decided to have a rover match on pegs A1 to 7.
I am very sorry but I do not have the exact results but here is a guesstimate. Winner on the day from peg 6 with 18kg was Bill Reade. I was second with 12kg on peg 2 and Barry Homer was third on peg A1 with 9kg. Next weeks matches should be at Argos but with very heavy thunderstorms predicted in that region we have cancelled the matches and for any fool that wants to turn out they will be at El Bosquet.
Ian Brown
prospects, despite being tense after 13?(6,7)
6. Former 8 period(3-4)
7. Cut up little Diana’s religious group(7) 8. Not a better half?(6)
13. Counterfeiting blacksmiths?(7)
14. To get back could be a miracle(7)
15. The C-i-C is extremely busy(6)
16. Ocean flier arrived as bride changed(7)
17. Therein both are excluded(7)
QUICK CROSSWORD
ACROSS 1. Odd(8)
Just(4)
Bill of fare(4)
Seemed(8)
Less (5)
Entangle(7)
Sympathy(6-7)
Completely(8)
Large town(4)
Disorder(7)
Rebuffs(5)
Unintelligent(4)
Critic(8)
Hermit(7)
Strange(7)
Cherished thing(5,2,3,3)
Deductively(1,6)
Danger signal(3,4)
Weak (6)
Inundated(7)
To the letter(7)
East (6)
A permit(7)
WORDWHEEL
Using only the letters in the wordwheel, take ten minutes to find as many words as possible, none of which may be plurals, foreign words or proper nouns. Each word must contain the central letter and at least three others. Letters can only be used once in every word. There is at least one nine-letter word in the wheel.
SUDOKU
Fill the grid so that every column, row and 3x3 square includes all the digits from 1 to 9
