28 February - 6 March 2023

Fatal accidents claim local lives

one person has died and another five were injured in the early hours of Sunday morning after three cars collided head-on against a fence. it is believed that the barrier had fallen from a roundabout near the aP-7 in the municipality of algorfa. a fourth car, believed to be the first to hit the obstruction, left the scene.

the accident took place after

2:45am at kilometre 746 of the aP7, near algorfa. a car traveling on an elevated section of the cV-905 collided with a fence, which then fell onto motorway carriageway below, according to sources from the traffic division of the alicante civil Guard and the traffic Management centre.

a total of three cars then collided head-on with the fence on the aP7, two travelling in the direction of cartagena and another towards alicante. a belgian woman who was in the passenger seat of the latter vehicle died at the scene, whilst the driver and a child who was traveling in the back were slightly injured. in the other two cars there were three other minor injuries to those travelling inside. according to official police sources the car that was driving on the upper road left after colliding with the fence pushing it onto the aP-7. officers are working to locate the vehicle.

Meanwhile,at 00:25 in the morning, the emergency Services call centre was alerted to what turned out to be another fatal accident in torrevieja.a motorcycle collided with a palm tree on the cV-905 road in the municipality of torrevieja after it appears the driver lost control of the vehicle. a SaMu

ambulance was sent to the scene where the medical team performed advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other recovery techniques on the 35-year-old man, but there was no response and he was declared dead.

Hospital workers vote to strike

Staff at torrevieja hospital will go on strike at easter following on vote with more than 96 percent in favour of the action. Workers are protestingagainstthe Ministry of health which intends to change a collective agreement made by the workers with former management company ribera Salud. before the meeting there wasa demonstration, where the staff showed their disgust at this latest abuse of their trust whilst trying to maintain a public service under virtually impossible working conditions. Workers are calling for the Ministry to drop their plans to renege the long-standing agreement. the protests, meetings, and vote have resulted in a strikebeing called during the middle of the easter holidays to demand that the consell honours the workers. easter is a busy time for the hospital and so a strike would cause maximum disruption. it is also a time staff are dreading as they believe that the increase in those needing

treatment will result in the system collapsing once again, as it did over the busy summer holiday period.

ana Linares, speaking on behalf ofthe collective Works council representing the staff said: “the Ministry leaves our future work in the hands of what a judge decides on September 18, nothing matters about the uncertainty that this creates in 911 professionals of the health authority. if the judge agrees with them, we do not know what working conditions we will have from September, but surely the Ministry does not believe that they are better than the current ones.”

the worker manifesto, declared at the protest reads: “if they consider our current agreement harmful… what can we expect from the negotiations for the next one? More than a year ago we formed the negotiating table. Since

then we have met 3 times, always due to repeated requests on our part and convened alone, to paralyse worker mobilisations, but this time, they are not going to stop us, they have lost our confidence and the only thing that can make us give up is the withdrawal of this judicial complaint and the real involvement in the negotiation of a new agreement with the improvements that professionals deserve, which we have earned hard for years by giving the best quality of care to the department”

Celebrating International Women’s Day

Wednesday 8th March is international Women’s day. this global awareness event pushes towards a gender equal world. a world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. a world that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive. a world where difference is valued and celebrated.

the initiative has a strong focus on women in the workplace, aiming to

create businesses where women thrive, with equal pay, the same opportunities and with inclusive work cultures.

unfortunately, there is a current ‘rollback’ trend where companies are experiencing a reverse in gender equality advancements. Women in leadership are leaving their jobs at the highest rate ever seen. the reasons, according to the Women in the Workplace 2022

report from Lean in and McKinsey & co., are due to employers not meeting the expectations of women leaders. these expectations include a workplace focus on flexibility, employee well-being, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. as a predominantly female-run business, to mark the event the costa blanca People will be running a special feature to celebrate the achievements

of local women in business. there are hundreds of businesses run by woman across the costa banca. businesses that despite the odds have survived economic slumps and global pandemics. We want to celebrate that achievement and raise awareness of their hard work, tenacity and business acumen. Make sure you pick up your copy on tuesday 7th March.

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The Path of the Poet returns

La Senda del Poeta ( the Path of the Poet), the walking tour that travels through the poetry and life of the poet Miguel hernández is to return after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic. the route runs from orihuela, where he was born, to alicante, where he is buried in one of the city’s cemeteries. this year’s event, the 27th Path of the Poet, will be held on 24th, 25th and 26th March, the general director of the institutValencià de la Joventut, Jesús Martí, announced recently.

Jesús Martí celebrated that after two years without being able to walk the route, it is possible for hikers to once again cover the 68 kilometres that make up the path and enjoy this activity that offers “an educational leisure option for people of all ages and that combines culture, tourism, environment, historical memory and intergenerational coexistence”.

the 27th edition of the Path recognises and honours, for the first time, two supporters of the event: the orihuela cultural association, dedicated to recognising the life and

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work of the poet, and Francisco esteve, one of the main promoters of the Path, since its creation in 1998.

Francisco esteves is one of the promoters of this recognition tour, as well as the honorary president of the association of Friends of Miguel hernández.Martí explained that this year it has been decided to have two winners ‘because the virtual nature of the two previous editions made it impossible to recognise the work that different associations and people who have been working to keep this initiative alive as it deserved’.

Lifesaving fundraising

elvis tribute danny Fisher entertained local fundraisers and helped raise 787 euros for an additional defibrillator at alanniacamping catral. dawn evans abbott, alex and Jillworked tirelessly selling tickets for the event, making it a full house on the day.

dawn and Glynis sold raffle tickets on the day and prizes included: a free oil

and filter change and diagnostic check donated by dave evans, the dog &Firkin gave a Sunday Lunch for two, danielle from Salon 12.23 gave a voucherfor a cut andblow-dry and Vapor coffee shop gave a voucher for snacks fortwo.

event organiser dawn evans abbott said: “Friends gave bottles of wine and spirits as well as a bottle of winefrom

casa anita in the village.Plus, there wasa basket of flowers donated froma friend- and i want to say a big thank you to everyone who has helped and supported the event. especially those who came along on the day.” during the day, dawn presented alexander coomber with the money to buy the extra defibrillator.

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Miguel hernández. along the route there are recitals of the poet’s works, meals, musical performances and receptions for hikers, who will also receive free foot care and physiotherapy by the students of the Miguel hernández de elche university, as they pass through this municipality. Automóviles Crespo S.A. Avda de Crevillente 71, Elche 03293 96 666 22 60 - 606 994 076 www.automovilescrespo.com FORD STORE FORD FIESTA TITANIUM PETROL 2018 14.500€

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Police raids lead to nineteen arrests

Seventeen men and two women of various nationalities have been arrested with 21 addresses visited across alicante Province. one man was immediately jailed as he was a Serbian fugitive who had a european arrest Warrant issued against for him forviolent acts in his home country. officers confiscated €70,000 in cash, seven vehicles, several firearms and more than 600 marijuana plants plus other drugs were seized in the operation. Several forged identity documents were discovered including that of a police officer used by the Serbian. investigations began last august after teulada-Moraira residents complained that drugs were being sold out of a house. the had noticed that a stream of people visited the property day and night. the police investigation resulted in eight drugs sales points being closed down in the teulada-Moraira municipality.

other locations visited by the Guardia included several across the alicante province, such as benissa, adsubia, elche, San Fulgencio, and Senija. the Guardia said the criminals ran marijuana plantations in the elche and San Fulgencio areas and were also behind a series of house and vehicle robberies across the Marina alta area. Most of the marijuana grown by the gang was sold across europe, but mainly to the united Kingdom.

Strong finish for 2022 property market

estate agencies have enjoyed their biggest boom in half a generation with home sales soaring in 2022, according to the national Statistics institute (ine). Growth in the residential property market was at its strongest in five years, and sales numbers highest in 15 years –even though a slowdown in december affected the total annual figures.in total, last year saw 649,494 homes sold – the highest number since 2007, when the last major property boom began – representing a year-on-year rise of 14.7 percent.

enthusiasm in the market cooled considerably in december, when sales shrank by 21.3 percent on those of november.but the final month of the year is not typically one of the busiest in the property industry, given that the general public’s minds are largely occupied with the early-december bank holidays and the upcoming festive season.

this said, sharp interest rate rises –the greatest seen in nearly a decade – took their toll on buying and selling rates, as mortgage repayments have experienced a dramatic increase as a result.

a major slowdown was inevitable in 2020 with the pandemic bringing months of severe restrictions on movement and trade, including a complete ban on property viewings from March to May inclusive; the outcome of this was sales plummeting by 16.9 percent that year compared with

2019. re-opening of non-essential trade and gradual relaxing of covid-linked restrictions would see home sales soar by an unprecedented 34.8 percent in 2021, following a very unusual year in which pent-up demand was finally released. yet sales did not stagnate completely in 2020 – around 420,000 residential properties still found new owners.the

Airport security rules relaxed

following year led to 565,485 homes sold, and 2022 would bring an increase of 84,009.

ine data show that the most recent annual total of 649,494 was last surpassed 15 years previously – by the end of 2007, at a time when property values had nearly doubled in under two years on average, sales had rocketed to around 775,000. other than the growth between 2020 and 2021 – which was not market-driven – the highest increase in percentage seen since the end of the last property price boom was in 2017, when a gradual post-recession rise reached a peak at 15.4 percent. as well as the continual releasing of what property analysts have called ‘repressed demand’ during the pandemic, triggered by long lockdowns leading homeowners to reconsider where they really wanted to live, the main impulse behind the sharp rise in sales last year was a renewed attraction to pre-owned homes.Whilst new builds did register an increase in buyers – 2.6 percent overall – it was second-hand homes that led sales, accounting for nearly 82percentof the almost 650,000 properties changing hands; up by 17.7 percent on 2021.once again, the number of non-new residential properties sold was at its highest since 2007, totalling 532,459.new builds, however, also proved more popular than ever, with 117,035 of them bought in 2022 – the most since 2014.

aena, the company that manages Spain’s main airports has announced that passengers at its airports will no longer have to take out liquids and electronic devices from their luggage and place them into separate security trays in 2024, due to the plans to install new 3d scanners at security checkpoints.

Passengers will also be able to take liquids greater than 100ml in their hand luggage on flights from Spain, meaning they will be able to travel with bottles of wine or olive oil in their on-board luggage.

aena said the 3d X-ray scanners, equipped with new technologies that analyse the contents of luggage in detail, will be put into use in 2024 – and possibly even before the end of 2023 at some airports.

Madrid barajas and barcelona el Prat airports, which both account for 40% of passenger traffic in Spain, will be the first airports to receive the new scanners, and they will be installed at Palma de Mallorca by the end of 2024.

after this, the new 3d X-ray scanners will be installed at Malaga costa del Sol in 2025, then Gran canaria, tenerife Sur, Fuerteventura, cesar Manrique Lanzarote, alicante-elche Miguel hernandez, ibiza, bilbao, Menorca and Valencia from 2026.

aena will tender for the purchase of the 3d X-ray scanners this year. the company will have invested a total of €1.17 billion to include renewing

baggage control and security devices between 2018 and 2028.

the 3d scanners have already been successfully tested in more than a dozen airports in the uS and next year they will be available in europe, including Spain. the enhanced scanners are also being implemented in the netherlands and in Finland.

Since 2006, liquids had been banned in hand luggage after a failed terrorist plot on flights from London. the terrorists planned improvised explosive devices hidden in soft drink bottles. the 100ml limit up to now has covered liquids and most types of pastes, gels and emulsions.

the uK government has also announced that it will be using the new scanners from June 2024 and ireland is testing them at airports in dublin and cork.

it is hoped that the new rules will speed up growing queues and delays at security that often result in chaos during the summer at many airports.

Physiotherapy for patients

the health department of torrevieja incorporates home physiotherapy for patients of the home hospitalisation unit.

- the aim is to bring physiotherapy to patients receiving treatment in the uhd to optimise their recovery.

- it is estimated that more than a thousand patients a year can benefit from this new service.

the health department of torrevieja has incorporated the rehabilitation at home, within the progressive expansion of its portfolio of services that

is being carried out since the public recovery of the centre.

this has been possible thanks to the incorporation of a physiotherapist to the staff of the home hospitalisation unit (uhd) of the hospital centre, who, initially, will be responsible for providing the rehabilitation service to all types of patients who require it.

the aim is to bring physiotherapy closer to patients receiving treatment in the uhd in order to optimise their recovery and, ultimately, improve their quality of life.

it is estimated that more than a thousand patients a year can benefit from this new service, which is an important advantage for patients in the area, especially for patients with reduced mobility or at the end of life.

cristina González, the department’s physiotherapy supervisor, states that “physiotherapy will help patients to improve and optimise their functional and respiratory capacity, so that their recovery at home is optimal”.

The Vuelta Ciclista España women’s cycling tour will start in Torrevieja

the first edition of La Vuelta Femenina by carrefour.es will start from torrevieja. this has been made official this morning at a meeting in the Gala dining room of the consejo Superior de deportes with the presence of José Manuel Franco, president of the consejo Superior de deportes, bárbara Fuertes, deputy director general of Women and Sport of the cSd, eduardo dolón, mayor of torrevieja, diana box, councillor of sports of torrevieja, raúl uría, head of sponsorship of carrefour, and Javier Guillén, general director of unipublic. the day was also attended by dori ruano, world champion in track cycling and Spanish champion in road and time trial, who will act as ambassador for the race. “it is a source of great pride that Spain, through sport, is a country of reference in the development and promotion of women. the fact of hosting one of the three major cycling rounds, with an event that this year gains its own space in the international calendar, reinforces the importance that the sport practised by women already has in our country”, said José Manuel Franco. “in this sense, i must highlight the commitment of public institutions, unipublic and carrefour, which this year has joined the universo Mujer programme to support La Vuelta Femenina. the consejo Superior de deportes is especially proud to add support of this kind. the public policies that this Spanish Government is promoting in favour of

equality have a greater impact when they are accompanied by the support and initiative of the private sector. their collaboration allows us to move forward more quickly in building a better future for women and girls in our country,” she added.

“in the torrevieja city council we are very happy to have again this synergy so satisfactory for us: La Vuelta and torrevieja. We are about to celebrate 4 years since the historic departure of La Vuelta from the Salinas de torrevieja,” said

eduardo dolon. “What has motivated us the most to be united again to the event is the promotion of women’s sport. We have had high level events such as the World handball championship and we wanted to be present in this first edition of La Vuelta Femenina. thanks to the diputación de alicante we managed to return to be the start of the great Spanish tour. We are motivated to make a different start. We will have a background image of the Salinas but we are going to give a lot of presence to

the sports city, which is one of the most important in the south,” he explained.

“We want to link cycling and La Vuelta. We are very happy and grateful to the race for wanting to come, as we say, to his home, torrevieja” has expressed the mayor of torrevieja to conclude.

“La Vuelta Femenina is a project that we have worked on with great care and enthusiasm with the help of essential partners such as the consejo Superior de deportes, carrefour and all the venues and sponsors that will make this

first edition possible. We are proud that costa blanca and torrevieja are once again committed to top level cycling as they did with the start of La Vuelta in 2019,” explained Javier Guillén. “if we have one of the three most important races in men’s cycling, it is essential to also have one of the three biggest in women’s cycling. the Vuelta Femenina by carrefour.es is born and grows with a new identity and its own strength. We look forward to announcing the full route next week”, she added.

WHAT IS AN HISTORIC VEHICLE?

in Spain an historic or classic vehicle has to be a minimum of 30 years old or of special interest culturally. to qualify, the vehicle must not have been substantially modified from its original state and be in a good condition that is in keeping with its original design and manufacture.

BENEFITS

there are several benefits to owning an historic vehicle in Spain, including:

* insurance - cheaper insurance (although kilometres per year may be limited)

* road tax - exemption from road tax in most municipalities

* Low emissions Zones - historic vehicles are permitted to enter most Zbe’s

* itV - longer intervals between itV tests

ITV as noted above, historic vehicles

also benefit from a longer interval between itV tests as follows:

- Vehicles under 40 years old - itV test every 2 years

- Vehicles From 40 to 45 years olditV test every 3 years

- Vehicles over 40 years old - itV test every 4 years additionally, historic vehicles are not required to have certain elements that are mandatory for modern vehicles if the vehicle wasn’t equipped with those elements when it was manufactured.

DRIVING RULES as you’d expect, all the normal driving rules apply when circulating on Spanish roads including having adequate insurance in place and keeping your itV up to date and you must also abide by any special rules that are included on the vehicle technical documentation (ficha técnica).

SPEED LIMITS

Many historic vehicles have limited

top speeds and historic vehicles that cannot achieve 60 km/h cannot be driven on dual carriageways nor motorways.

LIGHTING

if your historic vehicle isn’t fitted with adequate lighting that complies with modern regulations it’s use will be restricted and you will not be able to circulate between sunset and sunrise.

REGISTRATION registering or importing an historic vehicle can be a complicated and time consuming process, so we’d definitely recommend that you contact a competent vehicle registration agency who’ll be able to manage the registration process for you.

Car Registrations Spain S.L. is the leading vehicle registration service of pre-registered foreign vehicles in Spain. If you have a foreign registered vehicle that you would like to register on to Spanish plates or think we can be of service, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with a member of our

Your Financial and Legal Affairs – Take Control

if you are new to Spain, thinking about making your home here or have been living here for a while, but have not organised your affairs, then this event could be just what you need. even if you have made your will, pay your taxes, your savings are invested and you have control of your pensions and you have a currency transfer option, it’s always a good idea to review things regularly. if you a still thinking about a funeral plan, it’s definitely time to act.

the event will take place in the wonderful clubhouse restaurant by the La Marquesa Golf club in ciudad Quesada on thursday 9th March starting at 10.30am. there will be presentations by local experts followed by a question and answer session. the speakers will be on hand to answer any individual questions you may have, as well as arranging follow up meetings if required.

our special guest speaker is derek Monks, a councillor from rojales town hall who will be on hand to talk about tie card renewal locally as well being on hand to answer your general queries.

the Seagate team has a wealth of experience in providing advice on all aspects of savings, investment and pension options. come along and chat to an adviser in an informal atmosphere.

My Lawyer in Spain are offering a free half hour consultation to all those who attend and need to discuss their legal or tax affairs with a lawyer.

currencies direct will be on hand to provide advice on currency transfers, especially aimed at those people who prefer to sit down with a person, rather than use an app.

avalon will be talking about how the funeral system here in Spain differs from the uK and will be available to discuss individual needs.

attendance is free, however places are limited so please call 965 704 338 or email: contact@ SeagateWealth.es to reserve your place.

Expat Seminar

Derek Monks, Rojales Councillor

Derek will be on hand to advise about local tie card renewal.

Pedro San Nicolás from My Lawyer in Spain

Pedro will discuss resident taxes, Modelo 720, the importance of having a Spanish will, as well as non Lucrative and digital nomad Visas.

Glenda Edwards from Seagate Wealth Management

Glenda will outline various saving and investment options for Spanish tax residents along with pension options.

David Pritchard from Currencies Direct

David will outline how to save the most money whilst transferring your money to and from Spain as well as simplifying your currency transfers.

Rebecca Laurie from Avalon

Rebecca will outline what is a funeral plan, who are avalon, changes to the funeral planning industry and the various avalon plans.

Rojales Town Council carries out the first two works of the flood protection and ustainable drainage plan

rojales town council is currently executing two actions included in the master plan for flood protection and sustainable drainage. the works, called improvement of drainage in the urban area around the “Los Suizos” square, reform of the waste water pumping station (ebar) of “La bernada” and impulsion pipe for diversion of flows that affect the urban centre, are subsidised by the Generalitat Valenciana within the Vega baja renhace Plan with an amount of 435,887 euros.

according to the councillor for Works and Services, Jesús Martínez, these are two priority actions to solve problems in drainage and drainage infrastructures in the event of torrential rains.

in this regard, he indicated that the Plaza de Los Suizos is affected by the waters of the natural basin of a ravine that causes runoff in the urban area (near the municipal cultural centre) of ciudad Quesada.

drainage works have already been carried out in this area, which have proved to be partially useful, so, the councillor adds, the intention

is to increase the capacity for regulating rainwater by means of a lamination basin. in addition, a drainage collector, manholes and catchment scuppers will be installed in its section, as well as the first phase of the separate sewage and rainwater drainage network. at the same time, drinking water pipes will be replaced in a section of calle higueras and the street will be redeveloped.

New sewage pumping system

the main purpose of the second project is to prevent waste water from the golf

course area from being directed towards the town centre, specifically to the pumping station (ebar) at the footbridge on calle Malecón del Soto. From this point and via the footbridge, the waste water is redirected to the right bank of the Segura river where the treatment plant is located. the water that will no longer reach the urban centre and which currently collapses the impulsion of the Malecón del Soto street, will be diverted to the footbridge around the “La bernada” industrial estate and will arrive directly at the municipal wastewater treatment plant.

GBP / EUR U P dat E

GBP the recent trend of gradually improving uK sentiment, aided by stronger than expected economic output continued through this week. the latest PMi report saw boththe composite and Services components move strongly back over the key 50* threshold, with the former surging from 48.5 to 53 and the latter rising from 48.7 to 53.3. Manufacturing also improved, jumping from 47 to 49.2, and falling just short of the magical 50 level*. on the same day, the latest uK public sector finances were released. during January, there was a surprising £5.4bn surplus against an expected deficit of around £7.8bn, with the increase boosted by a big surge in tax receipts. the yearly figures also highlighted a strong beat, with the public sector borrowing around £111.9bn, which was roughly £30.6bn less than had been forecast by the obr, just a couple of month’s back in november. that is a big beat. the improvement in public sector finances could see the government use the extra cash to give muted 5% pay rises across the board to public-sector workers, who have been striking relentlessly throughout the winterin a bid to improve their pay and conditions. the government might alternatively use the extra cash to help fund extra spending plans. With the March budget just around the corner, the timing really could not have been any better for the government.

the broad pound has responded well to the news, with the likes of GbP/eur moving up strongly over the past week from around 1.1200 to just under 1.1400. GbP/cad rallied from 1.6100 to 1.6400 at one point. GbP/uSd is an altogether different animal, and having initially rallied as high as 1.2150, suffered losses alongside most of the other major currencies against the dollar, slipping back towards 1.2000 by the end of the week. next week will be dominated by the latest

The Nosmo-King Club Needs You

speech from boe governor andrew bailey, to see whether there has been any material change on the boe’s rate outlook, given that improving backdrop. indeed, the boe’s catherine Mann was on the wires earlier in the week, suggesting that further rate rises will be needed to arrest sticky inflation.

*Above 50 is considered expanding, below 50 is considered contracting for an economy.

EURO With core regional harmonized inflation surprisingly rising to 5.3% ( yoy/Jan) from 5.2%, it is perhaps no surprise that the ecb continue to imply that they will definitely be hiking euro area rates by another 50bps at their next meeting. Whilst not rising, the stickiness of German inflationwill also be a key factor impacting the ecb’s thinking. however, the majority of the other key data releases have shown upside surprises, which should give the ecb much more confidence to maintain the current rate trajectory. amongst that other data, there was a bit of a mix bag amongst the latest German iFo survey. Whilst business climate and current assessment missed expectations, the expectations component rose, which suggests that businesses expect better conditions looking forward, which is a fair assessment, given improving sentiment across the region. having been on a solid run from September until the end of January, the single currency has found the going much tougher this month, with eur/uSd slipping from a high of over 1.1000, to under 1.0600 by yesterday, primarily driven by the surging greenback. that dynamic is likely to persist for the time being, unless the ecb move to an even more hawkish outlook on rates, or the Fed start to get all dovish on us. Looking ahead, key unemployment and more inflation data are both set for release across the region next week.

the no-smoking club is one of the oldest social clubs in the costa blanca South -if not the oldest. Founded in 2001 by Violet King – not as the name suggests – to cure smokers from their habits – but to find a safe haven from the smokefilled atmospheres in most Spanish establishments. in its heyday, the club entertained a membership of around 300. Meeting on a thursday morning, the usual format was a quiz on the first thursday, followed by 2 or 3 speakers, with such diverse subjects being someone involved in the raising of the Mary rose and one member who gave us a talk on his time working at the british Museum. Fortunately, we are still able to attract people willing to give us their time such as ronen Zlotogoura (pictured), who gave a very interesting demonstration of the art of perspective and shadow for prospective artists. the final meet of the month being a coach trip to a venue reconnoitred by committee members and not a regular trip operated by the coach company. this finished with a menu del dia, which was again chosen from within the club committee. as one can imagine,

with such a large membership, places on the trips were in great demand with the disappointed latecomers being sometimes accommodated on a following day’s trip. unfortunately, due to a combination of circumstances such as brexit causing people to return to the u.K., covid and bereavements, the club membership has declined to just under 50, which makes bus trips

unfeasible. We are therefore mounting a membership drive. if anyone is interested in joining a friendly club (smokers are not excluded, just during club events), contact club chairperson, christine Shepherd on 687295015 or vice-chairman david Swann on 648476752. We meet at che Loco restaurant in el chaparral between 11 and 12.30 a.m.

Aseo Vista Alegre hosts the photograhpic exhibition ‘Viaje A UN Destino Singular’ (Journey to a Unique Destination)

the deputy Mayoress and councillor for tourism of the city council of torrevieja, rosario Martínez, the councillor for culture, antonio Quesada, the commercial delegate of La Verdad, ana belén rodríguez, and the councillor for tourism of abanilla, María dolores Saurín, have inaugurated the travelling photographic exhibition “Journey to a singular destination”, which shows the cultural, environmental and heritage heritage heritage of the north-eastern area of the region of Murcia in a collection of 28 images.

the region of Murcia is home to a wealth of beauty in every corner of its territory. one of its most unique areas is the northeast, whose tourist value has been enhanced in recent years, demonstrating all that it can contribute to the regional map from the approach of sustainable rural development.

in this context, the ‘Singular destination’ project of the association for the regional development of the northeast of the region of Murcia-Leader northeast was born, which constitutes a local action group

of this territory comprising abanilla, Fortuna, Jumilla and yecla, whose joint aim is the creation of synergies between the different existing local tourist products and resources, consolidating a different destination of its own.

Within the actions for this purpose, the photographic exhibition ‘Journey to a unique destination’ is included, which aims to highlight a territory full of singularities and strong contrasts, which enrich the life experience of its people and those who share with them their way of life.

it shows a selection of images with the rich heritage and tourist value that the northeast of the region encompasses

and that is transferred to the citizens, neighbours and tourists who visit the exhibition with the contrast of the rich heritage of the host cities in the background. nature, wine tourism, gastronomy, spas and unique destinations come together in the open air in this exhibition made up of 14 panels with images and texts provided by the association and which, after passing through Murcia, cartagena, San Javier and orihuela, now travels to six other tourist destinations: torrevieja, elche, alicante, Valencia, Gandía and albacete.

this initiative, promoted by La Verdad and Leader nordeste, will be on display at Paseo Vista alegre until 5 March.

Ísland, norge, Sverige, Suomi, eesti, Latvija, Lietuva, Россия, Polska, deutschland, danmark, nederland, belgique-belgië, Luxembourg-Luxemburg, France, españa, Portugal, italia, Suisse-Schweiz-Svizzera, Österreich, Česko, Slovensko, Magyarország, Україна, България, Shqipëria, românia, Ελλάδα, Georgia, Κύπρος-Kıbrıs, türkiye, bosna i hercegovina, Србија, Slovenija, Северна Македонија, hrvatska, Montenegro, Malta, PLuS Most of africa, asia and South america 89€

Torrevieja to host the 9th edition of tbe European Games of Police and Firefighters

the Mayor of torrevieja, eduardo dolon, the councillor for Sports, diana box, the mayor of Security and emergencies, Federico alarcón, the president of the Games, José carlos baquero, and his vice president, ricardo tilve, presented this morning the ninth edition of the european Police & Fire Games (european Police and Fire Games), to be held in torrevieja from 29 September to 7 october 2023.

a sporting event in olympic format, which began its journey in 2006, takes place over 9 days, includes nearly 40 sports with the participation of about 3,000 entries from law enforcement, security and emergency from over 30 countries in europe, and whose economic impact will not only be tourist-sporting, reflected in shops, hotels, etc., but in the very brand image of the city that will project internationally. José carlos baquero has indicated that the economic impact on the town with the arrival of these 3,000 participants, as well as their families and companions, could amount to more than 6 million euros. Likewise, it is also expected by the tourist image, excellent sports facilities and climate of torrevieja, that these are the european Games with the largest participation in its history.

it can be assured, by the profile of the participants, that

torrevieja will become for a few weeks the safest city in europe, with the presence of the various national, regional and local police, port, customs, prison officers, civil guard, fire brigades, forest rangers, sea rescue, land and air, health emergencies, military emergency units, and special forces.

among the events to be organised are track and field athletics, cross country, night running, half marathon, swimming, open water, rescue and lifeguarding, indoor rowing, canoeing, sport fishing, football 7-a-side, indoor football, beach volleyball, tennis, paddle tennis, table tennis, badminton, golf, wrestling, judo, jiu-jitsu, karate, taekwondo, kickboxing, boxing, precision shooting, dynamic shooting, clay pigeon shooting, archery, road cycling, mountain

biking, triathlon, duathlon, trail running, orienteering, weightlifting, crossfit, horse riding, K9, firefighting specialities and manoeuvres, etc. these multidisciplinary games aim to highlight and bring to the public the enormous work of the security and emergency forces, who keep themselves in shape by offering a better service to society.

write to your in-laws and explain that the items of jewellery were bequeathed to your wife, and then to your daughters. You might ask what evidence your brother in law’s wife has to suggest the jewellery was meant to be given to her and her husband on your wife’s death, as your wife never

mentioned such an arrangement. As for the other sister - again ask the same question. If they persist in bothering you, ask them to write to you via their Solicitors. You say the relationship has broken down irretrievably between you all now so this hopefully should settle things. I should block their calls and messages from now on.

After my wife died, her family seemed to be as devastated as I was at her tragic, untimely loss. Her mother gave her some bits of jewellery belonging to her grandmother some years before. Her sister knew about it, and I was astounded to receive a message from my wife’s brother’s wife, stating that they wanted the jewellery back as it was regarded as an heirloom. My daughters distinctly remember their mother saying that the jewellery would be passed to them after she died. It’s not worth very much at all but they wanted it to remember their mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. My brother in law’s wife has made all the moves, and I have not heard from him asking about it at all. What should we do? It’s divided the family now anyway, and my wife’s other sister is asking for money which she says is due to her; I know nothing about it and suspect they are just trying to grab anything they can. It’s really upset myself and my girls. If I were in your shoes, I would Write to Sara in confidence. a p S eudonym W ill be u S ed if you WiS h. Sara read S all letter S and can give a per S onal reply. e mail your que S tion to S ara@ co S tablancapeople.com or Sara i S available for private con S ultation S, telephone 650 054 467.

Local security meeting in Almoradi

Last week the Mayoress of almoradí, María Gómez García, received the visit of the Subdelegada del Gobierno in alicante, araceli Poblador, and different authorities of the security forces. the reason for this visit was the holding of a Local Security board, in which the situation of the municipality was analysed and future projects were presented. in the words of the Mayoress “We want to continue working to achieve good coordination between the Local Police and the civil Guard, as well as to evaluate the resources available to us, in order to achieve quality security”. in this meeting, and according to data provided by the Subdelegation of Government, almoradí is currently below the provincial average in crime. the crimes shown in the statistics are of the same characteristics as in other municipalities of similar population, and there is no particularly worrying factor, according to the data provided. the most relevant crimes are thefts, mainly carried out on days when there is a large number of people and through carelessness, especially in vehicles. the sub-delegation reports that an effort will be

made to reinforce security in this type of situations and mass events.

Since the installation of the video surveillance systems of traffic control cameras, it has been possible to successfully clarify various traffic-related services of both a criminal and administrative nature. Specifically, and to give just one example, the causes of twelve traffic accidents have been determined.

emphasis was also placed on the increase in internet fraud and information was provided on the civil Guard’s master

plan, which has given twenty informative talks in the local secondary schools and twentyfive coordination interviews with the management of these educational centres. on gender violence, we were informed of the great work being carried out in the town by the Viogen units of the Guardia civil and local police. overall, and based on the statistics provided, the assessment of all the forces gathered, both the civil Guard and the autonomous, national and Local Police, was very positive.

if you have a question or problem with any household technology needing my help or want to join the technology help Group please email brian at cbtechnology.help@gmail. com.

as a group member, you would have access to the group website which contains previous session notes, and handouts and access to previous costa blanca People published articles.

Scan the Qr for a reminder of what the costa blanca technology help Group offers.

“I use Google Drive to backup important files from my computer but cannot see Google Drive when I use Windows File Explorer. What do I need to do?”

Google drive (and Microsoft one drive) works on all major platforms, enabling you to work seamlessly across your browser, mobile device, tablet, and computer. choose folders on your computer to sync with Google drive or backup to Google Photos, and

Your tech questions answered by Brian Hoile of the Costa Blanca Technology Help Group, helping over 320 members with their PCs , smartphones and more. Group members can attend meetings in person or online using Zoom or Teams.

access all of your content directly from your Pc or Mac

you need to download “Google drive for desktop” to be able to access your files stored in Google drive cloud Storage while using your computer.

it will then appear as a folder named “Google drive(G)” when you open Windows File explorer. using File explorer, you can then copy, delete, Move or rename files on Google drive. iMPortant – if you delete a file in cloud Storage it is also deleted from your computer. you can delete files you no longer want to store in cloud Storage but when you delete a file from cloud Storage it’s also deleted from all your devices that have that cloud Storage. other cloud Storage apps can also be available on File Manager. if you log into one drive,“it will appear in File Manager as “one drive – Personal”. if you want to manipulate files on cloud Storage from your mobile device, install another File Manager application. i recommend using “File Manager + “which allows access to files on the device, any Sd card, any uSb device, and cloud Storage.

“I currently have an Android phone but have been given an

iPhone. What do I need to do to copy all my personal files and photos to the new phone?” as you will be changing from android to apple it’s not quite the same as staying with the same operating system. you will need to use an app named “Move to ioS” app. this will give help switching from your android device to your new iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. both phones will need to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. another method would be to install the same cloud Storage apps on both devices. install File Manager+ on both phones. add cloud Storage to File Manager+ by entering the password for the cloud Storage you are us.

Brian Hoile Technology Help Group

This Week´s Movie Picks

The First Wives Club

Saturday 4th March – Channel 5, 3.20pm

Shazam

Sunday 5th March – ITV2, 7.25pm

after years of helping their hubbies climb the ladder of success, three wives have been dumped for newer, curvier models. but the trio is determined to turn their pain into gain. they come up with a cleverly devious plan to hit their exes where it really hurts, in the wallet. Sit back and watch the sparks fly as the Wives get mad, get even, and get it all. Justice has seldom been so sweet. or so much fun.

in Philadelphia, billy batson is an abandoned child who is proving a nuisance to child Services and the authorities with his stubborn search for his lost mother. however, in his latest foster home, billy makes a new friend, Freddy, and finds himself selected by the Wizard Shazam to be his new champion. now endowed with the ability to instantly become an adult superhero by speaking the wizard’s name, billy gleefully explores his new powers with Freddy. however, billy soon learns that he has a deadly enemy, dr. thaddeus Sivana, who was previously rejected by the wizard and has accepted the power of the Seven deadly Sins instead. now pursued by this mad scientist for his own power as well, billy must face up to the responsibilities of his calling while learning the power of a special magic with his true family that Sivana can never understand.

BBC one BBC two ITV Channel 4Channel 5ITV2 ITV3

Tuesday 28th February

One Night Only

Having just returned from a week long trip to France performing in both Nice and Menton as part of their European Tour Internationally recognised Carnival group La Sal de Torrevieja will be performing a ONE NIGHT ONLY special in the Torrevieja Theatre on Friday 3rd of March. The show brings a night of music, dance, comedy and as always a ray of amazing colour, feathers and spectacular costumes.

Tickets are available online or at the box office infront of the theatre.

To book tickets on line use the following link https://culturatorrevieja. com/eventos/la-sal-detorrevieja/

BBC one BBC two ITV Channel 4Channel 5ITV2 ITV3

Thursday 2nd March

Friday 3rd March

Saturday 4th March

BBC one BBC two ITV Channel 4Channel 5ITV2 ITV3

Sunday 5th March

Monday 6th March

Driving in Spain with

Slow Down!

In 2018 (the last year from which consolidated data is available) speed was the second concurrent factor in fatal incidents, specifically, 22%, only behind distracted driving and ahead of alcohol consumption.

According to the study “Speed and risk of an accident” carried out by the International Transport Forum (ITF), speeding is the main problem in all countries around the world, in fact, an estimate for Norway shows that if all drivers were driving below the speed limits, the number of deaths would be reduced by 20% (Elvik 2011).

The speed limits are not arbitrary and are established based on the characteristics of the road. It is important to also note that they are a maximum, not a target, and circumstances might dictate that a lower speed is appropriate at any time, and on any road.

Speed has a direct influence on the occurrence and severity of traffic incidents. With higher driving speeds, the number of claims and their severity increases exponentially. This relationship has been shown in several models, especially in Nilsson’s

“Potential Model”. This shows that a 1% increase in average speed results in approximately a 2% increase in incidents with victims, an increase of 3% of serious incidents and a 4% increase in fatal incidents.

Closely related to speed is the stopping distance of the vehicle. On average, at 120 kilometres per hour, we will need a distance greater than a soccer field to stop.

EU’s Commitment to the Secure System

Road safety policies in the European Union are based on the Vision Zero approach and on the Safe System. Both systems are included in the DGT’s Road Safety Strategy. The Safe System recognised by International organisations such as the World Health Organization and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, accepts that human beings make mistakes and seek to prevent these errors from causing death or serious injury.

Following this approach, international organisations advise that speed limits be established

considering the forces that the human body can tolerate, which in the case of the urban environment should not exceed 30 kilometres per hour when vulnerable users may use the same space. In areas with intersections and high risk of lateral collisions the appropriate maximum speed would be 50 kilometres per hour on conventional roads without physical lane separation.

Approaching this Safe System, the DGT unified the generic speed on conventional roads at 90 kilometres per hour in Spain. These roads are where 75% of fatal incidents occur, of which 38% were road exits and 27% frontal collisions (consolidated data from 2018). Similarly, the generic limit in towns was also reduced from 50 to 30 kilometres per hour, and even further to a maximum of 20 kilometres per hour on roads where there may be pedestrians in the carriageway, as an example.

As regards vehicles, the European Union has taken a step forward by forcing all new vehicles marketed in Europe from 2022 to incorporate, among other driving assistance

systems, the intelligent speed limiter ISA that works with connected GPS and equipped with a camera that reads road signs, and warns the driver when the speed limit is exceeded.

Drivers who do not comply with speed limits may find they are committing a serious or very serious offence, punished with a fine of between 100 to 600 euro and the loss of between 2 and 6 points, depending on the severity of the offence.

In the event that speed is greater

than 60 kilometres per hour on urban roads or 80 kilometres per hour on interurban roads more than that permitted, the Penal Code criminalises the activity and is punishable by imprisonment of three to six months or a fine of six to twelve months or work for the benefit of the community from thirty-one to ninety days, and, in any case, to the deprivation of the right to drive motor vehicles and mopeds for a period greater than one and up to four years.

Rojales Pantomime Group...NEED YOU!

To ensure their next pantomime production of Snow White & The Seven Christmas Elves at The Cardenal Belluga Theatre, San Fulgencio on November 30, December 1 & 2 is a complete success, the following very important cast members are needed to join our Group behind the scenes: Stage Manager and several backstage crew members to prepare props and scenery prior to and throughout the production. Also to assist the on stage cast wherever necessary to ensure the smooth transition throughout each scene change during the productions.

Rehearsals will commence in May and assistance will be needed to help with props for the cast during these times. No experience is required just the ability to join in, help with anything that is needed and to HAVE FUN!!

Costume Manager is also required to source outfits and work with the Director to ensure all the cast have the correct costumes and accessories for each part. Sewing would be advantageous, although we have a member who can help with minor alterations. This is a very interesting and fun role for anyone who enjoys clothes and is very important to the smooth

running of the production.

If you are looking for something different, want to meet new people who enjoy lots of social activities throughout the year then come and be a member of our very happy Group. We also donate lots of money to local charities from our pantomime productions helping local needy people.

If you are interested, or would like more information please email rojalespanto@yahoo.com and we can arrange an informal chat, or why not come and join us as a guest at one of our socials.... you’ll be glad you did.... Oh yes you will. WE NEED YOU!

It was a time of my life where I definitely didn’t love myself’: Kaz Crossley breaks her silence after being arrested on suspicion of drug offences and held in a Dubai prison

The British reality star, 27, was detained at Abu Dhabi airport while transferring to a flight to Thailand

In 2020, she was filmed appearing to snort lines of white powder in Dubai Kaz Crossley has broken her silence after being arrested in the United Arab Emirates on suspicion of drug offences and held in a Dubai prison.

The British reality star, 27, was detained at Abu Dhabi airport while transferring to a flight to Thailand where she says she was going to carry out voluntary work.

In 2020, she was filmed appearing to snort lines of white powder in Dubai when hordes of influencers flocked there to escape Covid-19 restrictions

in the UK, claiming they were there for work.

Speaking her ‘own truth’ on Instagram, Kaz said: ‘Hi everyone. I wanted to do this video to speak my own truth and use my own voice about a situation that’s happened to me.

‘I feel like I owe it to my followers and I owe it to myself to get closure about this situation because it’s been a good few years and I’m ready to move forward now.’

She went on: ‘In 2020, I was in Dubai. I was filmed - it was me in the video, no one forced me to do that - it was a time of my life where I definitely didn’t love myself at all, probably. And this is reflected in what I was doing to my body and who I surrounded myself with.’

[The video] later got leaked and then, more recently, I was on my way to Thailand,’ Kaz further explained.

‘I had an amazing job offer. I was so excited for this job offer guys, it was like my dream job and I was staying up all night researching and, yeah, I did not think about the transit in Abu Dhabi and that it would be an issue for me because, obviously, I wasn’t thinking and... yeah, everything happens for a reason.

‘I was then detained in Abu Dhabi and kept in custody from Monday

through to Friday, which is when they released me.

‘I was very accepting of the situation and I was ready for whatever was going to happen to me because, at the end of the day, I take full accountability. I don’t lie. I said that that was me in the video and explained the situation, it was a long time ago, etc.’

The former Love Island star explained she’s had a lot of messages of concerns from her followers, largely warning her about her friends in her circle.

However, Kaz cleared up that the leaked video of her with a white substance was recorded by an ex, not one of her pals.

The star then later took to Instagram Stories to clarify that the ex in question was not Love Island star Theo Campbell, who she dated from March 2019 to February 2020.

She wrote: ‘It wasn’t Theo! We are friends now and just filmed a show together please stop sending him abuse. It was a relationship that I kept private. Thank you for all the love on my recent video love you all.’

Amanda Holden and Alan Carr’s €1 Sicilian flat goes on sale for £127,500 for

charity after pals transform depilated house into luxury holiday home

Amanda Holden and Alan Carr’s €1 Sicilian flat has gone on sale for £127,500.

The Britain’s Got Talent judge, 52, and the comedian, 46, spent three months transforming two flats in the medieval town of Salemi, which is around an hour from Sicily’s capital, Palermo.

After buying the two flats for a euro each, the pair documented the renovation process of knocking them together on BBC’s Amanda and Alan: The Italian Job.

Now, the flat is up for sale and the proceeds for the furnishes twobedroom, two bathroom holiday home will be split between Comic Relief and Children In Need.

The 1,300sq ft apartment has been completely overhauled - after the pair first found it abandoned, filled with

rubbish and used by squatters.

Look away now, Brooklyn Beckham! Jamie Oliver’s son Buddy, 12, delights fans as he whips up a fajita dish in adorable cooking demonstration

Jamie Oliver’s son Buddy delighted fans after the celebrity chef shared a throwback video of the then-10-yearold whipping up fajitas on Instagram on Thursday.

Buddy, now 12, proved to be a chip off the old block as he demonstrated his cooking skills while providing a series of zingy one-liners and joking that he ‘might die’ if he includes too much chilli.

He highlighted his excellent knife work while chopping up onions and peppers to go in his dish and displayed excellent food hygiene skills while separating the meat and vegetables.

Is Cancer Inherited?

What type of cancer is hereditary? What are the probabilities of getting cancer?

From Quirónsalud Torrevieja they clear up our doubts about cancer.

Cancers are predominantly genetic diseases, mostly due to the accumulation of mutations, which are also influenced by environmental and other factors, which in some cases may be the triggers.

A small proportion of these tumours are hereditary. “Hereditary cancers are the consequence of germline mutations in specific genes that increase susceptibility to cancer,” explains Dr. Ramón González Manzano, oncologist at the Quirónsalud Torrevieja Platform.

“This susceptibility is transmitted between family members according to different inheritance patterns. Susceptibility to cancer is inherited, which does not imply the certainty of developing it in all cases,” explains Dr. González.

Hereditary cancer

The predisposition to inherit cancer is due to the presence of mutations or other genetic alterations that alter the function of a gene that is critical for the regulation of biological processes related to the onset, development or progression of some types of cancer.

“The mutation can be inherited from parents or new-onset in a subject. Cancers of hereditary origin account for around 5% of all cancers that are diagnosed,” says Dr González.

What type of cancer is hereditary?

More than 160 genes related to hereditary predisposition to cancer are

known.

When a genetic defect (i.e. pathological mutation) of one of these genes is inherited, the carrier of the altered gene has an increased risk of developing cancer, which is higher or lower depending on the gene in question.

Each of these genes related to hereditary predisposition to cancer can lead to one or more specific types of cancer in the carrier. For example, women with a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene may develop breast cancer at a younger age (usually before the age of 50) than breast cancers occurring in the general population. But other patients may develop ovarian cancer instead of breast cancer, or even both types of tumour in the same patient.

Chances of getting cancer

According to Dr González, this is one of the questions frequently asked by patients diagnosed with any type of tumour: Will my relative have the same type of cancer as me? The answer is that “it depends on the inheritance pattern of the hereditary predisposition gene under consideration”.

The most common inheritance patterns are as follows. The most common is autosomal dominant.

In the case of autosomal dominant inheritance (as is the case with BRCA1 or BRCA2), there is a 50% chance that a parent carrying a pathological mutation in one of these genes will pass it on to their offspring.

Other genes, such as those causing the rare disease “xeroderma pigmentosum”, which is characterised

by an extreme sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation from sunlight that is associated with the development of skin cancers, follow an autosomal recessive inheritance, and in this case the probability is 25%, generally requiring both parents to be carriers. Furthermore, in these cases, half of the offspring are likely to be carriers of the genetic alteration even if they do not suffer from the disease.

It should be borne in mind that not all patients with a pathological mutation in genes with a hereditary predisposition to cancer develop it.

When should a hereditary cancer syndrome be suspected?

According to the expert, there are some warning signs that should alert

us to the possible presence of a genetic alteration in genes with a hereditary predisposition to cancer:

– The appearance of tumours at a very early age.

– Presence of bilateral tumours in the case of double organs (e.g. breasts, kidneys, etc.) or several synchronous tumours.

– Presence of multiple cases of cancer in a family.

In these eventualities, a specialist in cancer genetics should be consulted, who will indicate the relevant genetic tests to detect the genetic alterations that cause a hereditary predisposition to cancer.

How do you know if you have a mutation in any of the hereditary

cancer predisposition genes?

The diagnosis is mostly indicated in the person affected by cancer by means of a genetic test.

How is a genetic test carried out?

This type of study simply requires a blood or buccal mucosa sample.

From these samples, DNA is extracted for sequencing. The most common technique currently used for genetic studies of DNA sequence is nextgeneration sequencing using ultrasequencing, a technique that allows simultaneous sequencing of multiple genes.

The current trend is to use multi-gene panels, confirming the presence of any positive findings with conventional DNA sequencing.

Health & Beauty

Fantastic RNATB Valentines 2023 Lunch

Once again over 30 Royal Naval Association Torrevieja Branch (RNATB) Shipmates (S/M’s) showered their Valentine’s with affection and made it a day to remember at the Restaurante Rendezvous on the 14th February 2023.

It was another spectacularly successful event and extremely well-orchestrated by the everresourceful RNATB Social Secretary, Sally Miller, and her team.

All the ladies loved their individually handmade cards, their personal red rose and their own bottle of Cava, along with the heart shaped balloons, lovingly decorated table seating plans and mini red hearts strewn all over the tables; all presented with panache.

And of course, the RNATB S/M’s had another magnificent raffle with over 20 various prizes, steered by their very successful Raffle Co-ordinator, S/M Nicola Louden.

The whole celebration was a ‘steaming success’ and given a BZ (Bravo Zulu, a NATO signal for Well Done) and they look forward to next year’s event, as well as their up-andcoming events, including their Murder Mystery Dinner, their Cava Reception & High Tea to celebrate King Charles III Coronation and their Trafalgar Night Dinner, to name but a few.

The Royal Naval Association (RNA) has a ‘Free Membership’

and is a UK Registered Charity 266982.

Although primarily founded for serving and retired Royal Naval personnel with the moto ‘Once Navy Always Navy’, it also welcomes all serving or retired military Veterans and civilians alike.

The local overseas branch in Torrevieja (RNATB) has a diverse mix of members, who are a friendly and engaging group of people who embrace their ethos of Comradeship, Loyalty, Patriotism & Unity while enjoying a verity of social events. Why not join us?

Contact:

Chairman, Tony Jenkins at Chairman.RNATB@mail.com or on Mob: +34 693866709, What’s App +44 7576117222. Vice Chairman, Dusty Miller at ViceChairRNATB@mail.com or on Mob/What’s App: +34 711006670. Treasurer, Carl Louden at carllouden@msn.com or on Mob: 711019915, What’s App +44 769585518.

Or just come along and meet us on the first Wednesday of each month at 1700 at Lakeview Bar & Restaurant, Calle Toledo 16, Ciudad Quesada, 03170, Alicante.

The Latest Driving Licence Update for Older Drivers

Renewing our driving licence is something we must all do, and whereas we don’t have to carry out a test, there is a medical that is required to ensure that we are fit enough to drive, or if any restrictions should be implemented do our a medical condition, and that fact is the case whatever our age, the only difference being the older we get, the more frequently we must be checked, and it is that part which is changing for older drivers.

The DGT has persistently stated that mobility is important, whatever our age, and so they have no intention to withdraw that luxury, but driving has to be done in the safest way possible.

At the moment, we are all obliged to carry out the psychotechnical examination every 10 years until the age of 65, at which time we must begin to renew it every 5 years. Both those timeframes can be reduced if the doctor feels it necessary.

However, from now on, people who

are over 70 years old, they will see an increase in the frequency with which they must renew this permit with the aim of “ensuring that the ability to drive remains intact”. Therefore, those over 65 must renew their driver’s licence every 5 years and, from the age of 70, every two years. Although, like now, it is at the discretion of those responsible for carrying out the psychotechnical test, who can force an annual examination, if appropriate.

According to Pere Navarro, General Director of Traffic, “now from the age of 65 you renew for five years. But extending the card to someone who is 90 seems strange. Therefore, those people who are over 65 and wish to renew their driving licence will have to provide an official application form, the DNI, an updated photograph and a psychophysical aptitude report.

A change that is supported by the deputy director of Road Education and Training, María José Aparicio, who

affirms that although those over 65 only represent 10% of drivers, one in three fatalities in traffic incidents in the European Union are in this age group. Likewise, in the case of Spain, the percentage rises to 28%. There are other reports which suggest that younger drivers pose a higher risk on the road, in particular those under 25, but this change is offered as a means of protection for older drivers, who, whether we like it or not, suffer from decline in our health at a much faster rate, hence the need to be checked by a doctor who can confirm that we are still very capable, and can therefore continue to drive, or not, as the case might be.

DGT confirms new driving licence for 16-year-olds

The DGT has confirmed that there will be a new driving licences in Spain, the B driving licence, that will arrive in 2024 and be for 16-year-olds. Those whose qualify for the new B1 licence will be able to use quadricycles and tricycles weighing up to 400 kg on public roads at a maximum speed of 90 km/h.

The category B licence is the normal qualification for car drivers, BE if it includes towing a trailer (there are other conditions attached to this), whereas the new B1 driver’s license will be a step prior to obtaining the B permit.

In Spain, it is an essential requirement to be of legal age to drive a motor vehicle, unless it is a moped.

In other words, only those who have reached the age of 18 will be able to pass the practical part of the driving test (the theoretical part can be started six months after turning 18).

Driving with minors accompanied by an adult is also not allowed, as is the case in other countries such as the United States. In fact, allowing an unlicensed driver to be in control of a vehicle, even when accompanied, is not permitted. In the UK, for example, it is common practice for novice drivers to practice with an adult before taking their test. This is not allowed in Spain, only qualified driving instructors are allowed to accompany unlicensed drivers in this way.

Although we still have to wait a

little longer for the full details of how this new category of driving licence in Spain will be implemented, with this confirmation, it opens up a new world of mobility for younger people in particular.

The B1 permit already exists in other European countries such as Portugal, Italy, France and the United Kingdom. When it becomes a reality in Spain, it will allow motor quadricycles to be driven with a maximum speed of more than 45 km/h, this category of vehicles (classified as L7e) includes some which are sometimes referred to as so-called microcars, although that description is incorrect, such as the Citroën AMI and the XEV Yoyo, which currently require a B permit.

L7e vehicles are mostly electric heavy-duty quadricycles. Although they look similar, they are not microcars, but have features similar to a conventional vehicle and their price can be around 15,000 euro (there is also a Government-funded subsidy

plan available to contribute to the cost).They have a maximum weight of up to 400 kg, not including the battery, they cannot exceed 15 kW (20 CV) of power or exceed a maximum speed of 90 km/h.They are also vehicles with fewer components as they are electric and, since they do not make long journeys and are confined to urban spaces or residential areas, their maintenance is minimal.

In an interview, the general director of Traffic, Pere Navarro, has confirmed that it will be in 2024 when the B1 permit enters into force in Spain. “It will be after the closure of the new European driving licence directive in Brussels, but it will already be in 2024,” said Navarro.

Experts coincide in pointing out the convenience of the B1 permit that will allow electric mobility to be promoted because most of the quadricycles for sale are zero emissions. To this, Pere Navarro added at the time that those classified as L7 are a very suitable

means of transport for rural areas where journeys are usually short. Like any other driving licence, it will not be mandatory, but it is seen as a steppingstone that can have long-term benefits such as an improvement in road safety for those who do qualify.

For minors, driving an L7e category vehicle can serve as preparation before getting behind the wheel of a more powerful car. In addition, they are safer than motorcycles, bikes or scooters because they have a bodywork and more security systems.

In this sense, it is also important to remember that the Traffic and Road Safety Law establishes zero alcohol tolerance for minors, so that once the new licence is created, those who obtain it who are under 18 will not be able to consume even a sip of alcohol.

Thanks to this, young drivers will be able to use quadricycles and tricycles weighing up to 400 kg on public roads at a maximum speed of 90 km/h.

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Points Dropped At Home

Match report by Steve Robinson.

So, to summarize, a stubborn, battling performance from the visitors and a disappointing, limp effort from the home side saw Monte reluctantly share the spoils with a 1-1 draw against an Alguena side who many predicted, pre-game, to be something of a pushover.

A somewhat disjointed and lethargic looking Reds side rarely penetrated the massed ranks of defenders, in a half that saw precious few clear attempts on goal by either side. Alguena seemed happy to soak up what little pressure Monte could muster and try their luck on the break. Once again, we had Pato alone up front, with little (or too late arriving) support to work with.

Monte looked sluggish in their passing and too often, too many players made the wrong decisions or moved backwards instead of looking and probing forward.

Clearly, changes needed to be made as the second period loomed.

A triple change in the second period saw Arturo, Paco, and Victor take to the field, presumably to freshen things up and it almost paid immediate dividends when crowd favourite Paco cut inside on the right and skidded a goal-bound effort that was well saved.

So, with things looking somewhat brighter, Monte upped the stakes and it took some desperate defending and outstanding goal-keeping to keep the

suddenly rejuvenated Reds attack at bay.

The breakthrough, when it came, was on 75 minutes when Fernando Torrent curled a pinpoint cross into ace marksman Pato in the box, who acrobatically side-footed home for the lead. Monte on the front foot then.

However, all hope evaporated ten minutes later, with the away goal under almost constant bombardment by Monte, a rare breakaway by Alguena resulted in a corner. In a sadly oft repeated moment this season, this wasn’t effectively cleared, giving the away attacker a chance to loop a hopeful ball back in, catching Ivan in the Red’s goal completely wrong footed as it nestled in the corner of the goal. Alguena were rightly ecstatic at being gifted this chance to get something from a game they had rarely been in for most of it. Cue then a relentless bout of attacking play from Monte, as they sought to regain their lead, with several decent half chances going begging.

However, all this frenetic activity was bought to a shuddering halt, when during one attack a thunderous effort from outside the box, caught an unfortunate Alguena defender square in the face, immediately pole-axing him. It became clear, very quickly, that this was a very serious injury as the player lay prone on the ground, motionless, surrounded by obviously concerned team-mates and opponents

alike. All credit to Fernando Torrent, who seemed to be leading the first aid efforts.

The game was halted for some 20 or 25 minutes by the referee awaiting the arrival of an ambulance, with deep concern for the final outcome being felt all around the ground. Eventually, the player was safely taken away and the match resumed for the final few minutes of play, without further score or mercifully, incident.

Obviously, our best wishes go to the injured Alguena player and we hope that he makes a safe and speedy recovery. At times, we need to remember, that in amongst all the blood and thunder of play, it is only a game and the well-being and safety of all those taking part is paramount.

The Man of the Match was Gocu selected by sponsors, Tres Amigos, Bryan, Graham, and Derek.

Match 20...

On Saturday 25th February, C.D. Montesinos are away to play C.D. Cox, kick-off is 4.30pm. Travelling supporters to meet at Bar Rives, Los Montesinos at 3.30pm. And don’t forget to take out or renew your Full Monte membership, with Mick, any Committee member, or

thefullmonte2011@hotmail.com

If you wish to join or help the Committee, or wish to help setting up sound system at home matches, see any Committee member.

And ask Rob or Jane about our Full Monte merchandise on sale, or contact them on montemerch@outlook.com or any Committee member.

You can always email us at thefullmonte2011@hotmail.com

Also... check-out CD Montesinos on Facebook and JJ’s Predictor League.

The Monte Mentals Walking Football Club of Los Montesinos, and The Cauldron Petanca Club in association with Torregolf.Eu, are Proud Supporters of The Full Monte and CD Montesinos.

The Imanyo Golf Society Raises €1200 For Their Chosen Charities

A.E.C.C. Cancer Care, Help Vega Baja and Movers & Shakers

Imanyo Golf Society was formedin October 2014, once we were established, we started raising money for charities in 2016 and have so far donated €7970 to various charities over the years.

In 2022 we decided to support A.E.C.C. Cancer Care, Help Vega Baja and Movers & Shakers. The money was raised through various events, raffles, football cards and extremely kind donations and we managed to reach a fantastic total of €1,200so each charity received €400 bringing our grand total to €9170, this could never have been reached without the support of our members, friends and of course Don’s who is our Charity Secretary, more fondly known as our Charity Queen.

The picture shows the donations being presented to the representatives of A.E.C.C. cancer care, Help Vega Baja and Movers & Shakers www.imanyogolfsociety.com imanyogolfsociety@gmail.com

Lo Crispin Golf Society at Altorreal

Twenty three members (including 3 playing for Handicap) teed it up to compete in the first round of the Society’s 2023 Eclectic (Stableford) competition. Although cold to start with, the day gradually’ warmed up’, unlike it has to be said my putter!! There was little wind to contend with and both the fairways and greens were generally in good condition. Nevertheless, the scores were, in the main, not very good. Despite that most people seemed to enjoy the day, which ended with our usual return to the Lo Crispin Tavern, where tapas was provided by the friendly staff and the day’s prizes were distributed.

Silver Division

N.T.P. on Par 3s

off 31

Hole 5 - Nobody managed to reach or stay on the green

Hole 8 - Ian Stuart

Hole 10 - Bobby Thomson

Hole 17 - Steve Price

Nobody managed a 2, so the ‘pot’ will roll over to our next game, a Texas Scramble at La Serena on 8th. February.

Finally, the Free Game Draw was won by our newest Member, Bobby Thomson!

Steve Harrington. Membership and Handicap Secretary.

SOLUTIONS ON PAGE 37