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contents
issue
42 costa culture
8
Cover story Cork Screwed? by Mike Wilkinson
costa getaways
16 18 24
Hollywood Icons Impeccable Peck - Gregory Peck by Harvey Mann
‘Change A Life’ Charity Ball 2008
Staying positive in a recession
costa companies
26
Local Business Spotlight
costa lifestyle
38 40 42 43 44 46 48
Cover story Helen Johnson Motivated for exercise? Mens Stuff Steps to take when you plateau... What Men Want
What Women Want
Beauty Tips Beauty myths uncovered... Health article Taking paracetamol regularly triples risk of asthma... Give us a smile...
costa homes
56 60
Cover story Interiors We have a lot to learn from the Spanish The House Doctor What Happened On Black Sunday, and how does that affect us.
64
8 62 64
Obtaining a mortgage in Spain
Cover story Liquid Gold by Simon Hill
costa stuff
68 70 72 74 76 78
Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Erny Harrison Costa Cuisine
38
Spiritual Thought
Bytes & Pieces
Showbiz Whispers / Movie Review Strange But True & Challenge
56
Hello and welcome... to issue 42 of Costa Life Magazine and I have just had to dig out my socks and shoes for the first time in 9 months! We have had some torrential rain as I am writing but it is needed and I have to say it is nice to see it cool down after such a hot and humid summer. I know that in a couple of weeks I will be wishing for summer again but for now I have to admit I welcome a bit of rain to cool things down. Christmas is just around the corner and our next issue will be our double Nov/Dec Christmas issue which will be out at the beginning of November. The economic climate over the last couple of months has been something to behold with comparisons being made to the great crash of 1929 and nobody is certain what the next few months will bring so all I can say is that if you are in business here then keep your head down and keep working and it will pass. All economic trends work in cycles and there are always ups and downs so we have to keep positive and keep going. I try to avoid the t.v. news and I never buy daily newspapers because at the end of the day bad news sells so I don’t need to make myself feel worse by soaking up what the media has to say by way of continuous bad news. Another Change a Life ball came and went in September. We had a great time at the Tamisa Golf Hotel with 170 guests attending. We raised just under 3000 euros which in this climate is not bad at all. All attended had a fantastic night of entertainment and the feed back was really positive. Thanks to everybody who attended and gave to the charities involved. And to cap it all on the same day 13th September not only did I have some of my family here which was a really nice treat Liverpool beat Manchester United 2-1 in the league, now I ask you what more could you ask for?!! As usual we have dedicated pages for the photographs from the ball which means there is no Costa Getaways this month but we will be back next month with a look at Torremolinos. Harvey Mann continues his Hollywood Icons features with Gregory Peck which is a really interesting read and don’t forget if you would like to read the magazine before it is out on the streets visit www.costalifemagazine.com and send us an email and we will add you to the email list to notify you of when it is online, which is normally about a week before it goes out. That’s it from me have a great October and see you for the Christmas issue!!!
Editor Sharon Holdsworth Consulting Editor Harvey Mann Design and Production David Philliskirk Advertising Sales Ronan Holdsworth IT Advisor Dave Howard of Alphashare Web Master Mike Wilkinson Contributors Linda Christie Erny Harrison Simon Hill Helen Johnson Annika Jonsson Harvey Mann Jan Morley Numero Uno Estates Cruella Parsons Annette Riggall Russell Vaughn Mike Wilkinson Company Director Ronan Holdsworth Partner Barrie Shearman Images courtesy of Costa del Sol Tourist Board PR Shots Cover photo by kind permission of Sara Gómez Dubois http://black--pearl.deviantart.com/
Deposito Legal MA-0054-2004
For Information on distribution points, sales or any other enquiries call 952 492 250*, 600 713 028 or email: info@costalifemagazine.com or visit our website www.costalifemagazine.com *new contact number
Reproduction of this magazine in whole or part without the written permission of the publishers is strictly prohibited. The views expressed by contributors and advertisers are not necessarily those of the publishers. Although every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the information and the advertisements contained within this magazine, the publishers can accept no liability.
Produced by and part of the HOLDSWORTH SHEARMAN MEDIA GROUP
952 492 250 info@costalifemagazine.com
MACP 474
Alhaurin el Grange 460,000Euros
Built Area: 111m2, Land Area: 5000m2, Bedrooms: 2 in main, plus an office or 3rd Bed, 2 bathrooms. The villa is new and just completed. Situated on a 5,000 square meter plot which supports fig and pomegranate trees. The plot is southeast facing in the middle of an orange grove. Its location is central to the villages of Alhaurin el Grande, Coin and Cartama with the City of Malaga being 20 minutes drive away. Marbella and the coast are also only 20 minutes driving time. Access to a 15 meter square sun roof is through large patio doors of the main bedroom. This area gives wonderful views down the Guadalhorce valley. The villa is tastefully decorated and boasts many extras including an 8 x 4 swimming pool and ample parking, under floor heating through out, hot and cold air conditioning, electric terrace blind and a water softening system.
MACP- 481
Coin
MACP-483
Alhaurin el Grande
406,200Euros
Built Area: 109,50m2, Land Area: 3,400m2, Bedrooms: 3, 1 en-suit and an office, Bathrooms: 2 A beautiful property on a lovely flat plot with an orchard of various fruit trees. The house is very spacious and well maintained, has air-condone and heating trout. Out side there is a lovely pool and bar area which is extremely private. The location of this villa is fantastic walking distance to a little village. Double Garage 27, 50m2, wooden house and work shed and very private pool area. A great private property in a fantastic area.
1,200,000Euros
Built Area: 340m2, casita & storage 120m2, Land Area: 6000m2 Bedrooms: 7, 5 in the main house, one with a grand open fire, Bathrooms: 5, 3 in the main house, a Casita of 90m2, Stable's 90m2 and a 90m2 grill house, Finca La Toronja: a beautiful unique Finca, located on the Mijas Road in the ever more popular village of Coin. The perfect place for the one looking for something out of the ordinary! The land will shortly be urbanised as Coin is rapidly expanding its borders. This will increase the value considerably, and making it possible to split the property into 3 separate units. Separate storage space, Barbecue Cabana, Jacuzzi, Sauna, Inside & Outside pool mature LandscapedGarden, Orange Grove & Fruit trees and a Carport for 3 cars.
MAAP-420
ALHAURIN EL GRANDE
LAST 3 REMAINING from 45,000 Euros
New Luxury studios apartments and offices for sale located in the best part of Alhaurin town next to all amenities. The studios/offices have all been finished to a very high standard, with marble floors, solid oak doors, beautiful tiles in the kitchen and bathrooms. Some have small charming court yards with water features. Varied opportunities to use as small business centre, individual offices, or separate studio apartments.
MAPC-475
ALHAURIN EL GRANDE
699,000 Euros
Build: 350, Plot: 800m2, Beds: 4, 3 in the main and 1 in the casita, could be 6, Baths: 5 A great opportunity to purchase the only villa which is for sale on this new exciting urbanisation, which is in the country but walking distance to Alhaurin el Grande town. The villa is 3 years old very light and spacious with and although there is 4 bedrooms and present there is the possibility of using the lovely converted attics or the full-size games room for more accommodation if desired. Separate self contained little house on one level with 40m2 beautiful studio.The location of this property is fantastic; being next to the town and close to all amenities is a great bonus. Also being a new urbanization and having no others like this around the area, we feel that this is a sought after property. The town hall has great plans for this urbanization leaving plenty of areas for gardens with pretty landscaping, so the urbanization already today is delightful which will only improves as the months go on.
magine this. You are seated at the table of a rather swanky restaurant - one of those ones where you don’t need to take your tray back - with someone you really care for. It could be your spouse, lover, gardener, nextdoor neighbour… it doesn’t really matter to the story… a small box of kittens if you like. However, it is an e x tra o rd in a rily s p e c ia l o c c a s io n f o r yo u b o th a n d th e restaurant lighting is suitably soft and romantic, as is the piped elevator music that’s effortlessly drifting across your table from seemingly nowhere. Beside you, with a reassuring pop , the far-more-expensive-in-here-than-in-thesupermarket bottle of wine that you had earlier ordered relinquishes its cork to the ironware brandished by the wine-waiter. He pours a ruby-red splash of wine into the glass beside you, his eyes gesturing for your approval. Not knowing too much about the finer points of wine tasting, you taste it - yep. it’s wine - and nod your appreciation to the waiter who then proceeds to top up your glass, and that of your insanely gorgeous dinner guest. Recognising that it is a particularly special occasion for you both, the waiter then offers you the cork from the wine bottle as a small memento of your visit to this fine eating establishment. ‘‘ How romantic ,’’ you think to yourself as you move to accept the cork. Suddenly, there’s a loud screeching noise as a diamond stylus skates across a grooved vinyl disc and the background music halts with an abrupt awareness. In unexpected silence, you gaze down at your romantic restaurant souvenir. In your fingertips you are gently holding a lump of bright yellow plastic, emblazoned all over with the legend ‘‘Whooh Whooh COUGH!’’
I
A cork this is not… a bottlestopper maybe, but never a cork. There is a certain intrinsic ‘rightness’ about slowly drawing the cork from a bottle of fine wine that you just don’t get with a lump of yellow ‘Mr Blobby’ plastic. Is this the result of so-called progress in the wine industry? Where, oh where, is the romance, the mystique, the subtlety? Is the term ‘uncorked’ destined to someday bear only a nostalgic, symbolic meaning? Is cork screwed?
Written By:
Mike Wilkinson mike@costalifemagazine.com
Spain is one of only seven countries in the world where the Quercus suber tree grows: the others being Portugal, Algeria, Morocco, Italy, Tunisia and France. In these seven Mediterranean countries - in regions where woodlands and meadows are constantly tormented by drought and forest fires - this humble tree has evolved a way of protecting
itself, from both water-loss by evaporation and from fire damage, by growing a thick, insulating bark around itself that we have all come to know and love as cork. The Greeks and Phoenicians were probably the first to use it to seal wines and other liquids in amphorae, the fat-bellied, wide-mouthed pottery containers that are probably distant ancestors of the Spanish tinaja. The sealant qualities of the bark has lead to the donating trees being extremely well cared-for and maintained (known as good ‘husbandry’) in return for its cork harvest. These trees scatter the landscape of the dehusas, the mountainous meadowlands of Spain (and also the montados of Portugal), where the inhabitants there understood how to live in harmony with the land and how to nurture nature for the benefit of both parties. In fact, they became so good at it that the rest of nature moved into the dehusas as well, and subsequently, the area is now known as the Alcornocales Natural Park (alcornocales being Spanish for cork-oak trees - our beloved Quercus suber). The Alcornocales Natural Park covers an area of over 13,000 square miles in the heart of Andalucia, and is the largest cork-oak plantation in the Iberian Peninsula, and one of the most important in the world. It represents an outstanding example of the sustainable use of forests whist still retaining a high conservation value. Even though the cork-oaks in the park are stripped of their bark regularly, it is executed in an exacting way that has evolved over centuries of understanding the environment and which actually improves environmental conditions, encouraging plants, insects, and especially animals and migratory birds, many of them rare and endangered, like the Iberian lynx, the Iberian Imperial Eagle, and the rare black stork. So, how exactly do you get yourself a cork grove and the Biodiversity Zoo that comes along with it? Well, first you need to plant a Quercus suber or two. Then you do your good husbandry bit and look after them really well for the next 25 years, when the first bark will be thick enough to harvest. Only then can you strip the bark from your trees, which unfortunately, is of no use to the bottle-stopper making people because it’s not dense enough for use as a cork. You may be able to sell it cheap for insulation or cork flooring or fishing floats, but basically you’ve got to do your good husbandry bit for another nine years, when the cork would have regenerated itself enough to be harvested again… and sell that cheap too, because it’s still too fragile. It’ll be another nine years before you get something you can make a wine bottle cork from. Still, you should have a jolly nice selection of flora and fauna in the garden by now. After nearly half a century of tending to your trees they are finally about to become commercially viable, and will be for hundreds of years to come. The oldest known cork oak, the ‘Whispering Tree’ in Portugal, is estimated to be 250 years old and is still abundant in cork production. This is why most cork groves are passed down through generations with the knowledge that this unique forest product will eventually deliver benefits to the family, hence the adage: ‘‘Eucalyptus trees are for us, pine trees for our children, and cork trees for our grandchildren.’’
The harvesting of the naturally thick bark of the cork oaks is the economic mainstay of the dehesa inhabitants. It is a skilled job requiring at least two years apprenticeship and is carried out using a special curved axe, a machado, wielded with extraordinary precision to make the first cuts before the cork is peeled off, rather like peeling a banana. The dark orange-red stems of recently harvested trees are a familiar sight in the area. Once stripped from the tree, donkeys are used to transport the cork down the mountainside and, after being quality-graded, it is sold to factories where the cork stoppers are literally punched out of the sheets of raw material. Although corks have been used to seal bottles for centuries, it does have an Achilles heel which ruins around 5% of all bottles of wine plugged with a cork - that of ‘cork taint’ - specifically a mould in cork that can develop into a compound called Trichloroanisol (TCA for short) that can impart a musty, dirty aroma and affect the flavour of the wine. Both sellers and buyers of wine have put up with this problem for decades… which is where our friend the ‘Mr Blobby’ cork enters stage right, along with his partner in crime, the aluminium screw top. It was thought that between them they could banish TCAs forever, bringing an end to the problem of ‘corked’ wine. But things aren’t always that simple. You see, the thing about a bottle of wine is that it ages and matures over time. The corks’ structure is infused with pure gaseous oxygen (from the time when it was a tree, taking CO2 out of the atmosphere and emitting O2 back). Once it’s a bottle stopper, over a period of time this oxygen passes from the cork into the wine, enhancing its flavour and bouquet, effectively maturing the wine. The aluminium screw top seals the bottle tightly shut, preventing maturation, and the plastic stoppers that are designed to ‘breathe’ let in air and other impurities from the outside world that cause problems other than cork taint, such as excessive oxidation, premature aging and reduction (excessive sulphide levels). If the wine is for drinking immediately this isn’t an issue, but if it’s for laying down in a cellar… well, it just won’t lie down. Since discovering the issues associated with non-cork stoppers, the cork trade, after thinking they were heading for a hiding from plastic factories and bauxite mines, took steps to try and do something about cork taint. After much research and investment, the cork now goes through a number of processes that rids them of almost all the TCAs present, hopefully consigning corked wine to the history books and ensuring the cork trade in the dehesas continues to thrive and contribute to the dehusas’ natural wildlife. Cork is saved. We no longer have to make up stories to the effect that all malodorous wine can somehow be traced back to French soil and as such, should be referred to as corqué, or that a poor fisherman in Portugal has discovered a cork with the image of Christ distinctly visible within its cell structure and people are coming from all over the world to taste this magical elixir. But it also means that plans to open a new chain of ‘screw topless’ bars have been shelved. I was looking forward to that one. Ah well… that’s put a cork in it.
costa life 9
>> WHERE TO GO & WHAT TO DO
10 costa life
WHERE TO GO & WHAT TO DO >>
costa life 11
>> WHERE TO GO & WHAT TO DO
Warm Irish Welcome Quality foor served from 9.30am to 7pm Big Breakfast Menu Served till 4pm Chefs Specials served all day
Live Music Evenings Monday to Saturday from 10pm Big Screen T.V. All Major Sporting Events Shown
Come on down and enjoy the Craic! Find us beside main taxi rank, La Cala de Mijas
952 494 877 12 costa life
WHERE TO GO & WHAT TO DO >>
La Cortijera, La Cala de Mijas Food Daily 10am – 1pm and 7pm – 10pm 3 Course Sunday Lunch 11.50 euro served 1pm – 7pm Sky T.V. - Families Welcome – Large Terrace Wednesday night – Quiz Night Friday night –Darts Saturday night – Karaoke Sussex Golf Society Call 627 041 335 for more info
J B Burkes Irish Bar - Fuengirola Warm friendly welcome All sky sports shown Live music Thur, Fri, Sat Bar snacks - draught beers Guinness - Heineken - Murphys Open 10 am till late 7 days Calle Antonio Sodeno near Dunnes Stores, Las Rampas
952 479 804 costa life 13
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Open Mon - Fri 9am till 7.30 pm Sat 10am - 2pm Tel 952 850 052 fax 952 834 715 Marbella Business Centre Just off N340 at KM 191 Avda de Las Cumbres costa life 15
Written by:
Harvey Mann
T
he strong winds whipped the sand into a swirling mass. Clamping my hand over my mouth, I shut my eyes tight, and with my free hand I banged on the door of the caravan. I tried again for the second time, this time much harder. Suddenly the door swung open, and Hollywood Icon Gregory Peck grabbed me by the lapels and pulled me into his personal motor home. ‘‘Godamned wind has ruined filming for most of the morning,’’ said Peck as he slammed the door against the whistling wind that had turned the Negev desert into an uncontrollable sandstorm.
Peck slumped back onto a single dishevelled bed. He was wearing blue striped pyjamas and, with a bushy beard and moustache grown for his part in the film, he looked even more untidy than his bed. ‘‘Sorry to greet you like this: the sandstorm has stopped my dresser from being able to get from his caravan to mine.’’ I had arrived by car after bumping along desert roads, and from an elevated position I could see the film-set down in the valley. ‘‘Was it real or a mirage?’’ As the car made its final approach down a steep slope the storm started, and the last few miles to my destination had turned out to be brilliant guess work by Shlomo, the film-set driver. Why had I come to Israel? And to the notorious Negev desert, that had been the centre of so many conflicts between Israel and Egypt, and was still littered with the eerie remnants of the bits and pieces of military armaments such as tanks, armoured personal carriers and Jeeps. I had come to photograph the big man, Gregory Peck (six feet three inches in bare feet) star of so many great films, and
so many rumours that he could be extremely difficult. However today, maybe as I’m almost as tall as him, Peck greeted me warmly as he grabbed my hand and pumped it enthusiastically, and then slapped me on the back sending up a cloud of sand from my shoulders. ‘‘Do you play checkers, Harvey?’’ Peck enquired. My reply got that familiar languid smile that had melted so many women’s hearts, and showed off a perfect row of teeth, ‘‘Yes I do, but probably a lot worse than you.’’ ‘‘Ha,’’ said Peck as he smilingly opened a box and pulled out a draughtsboard and the black and white pieces. ‘‘With this wind it could be the best of one of several thousand at least. Shall we play United States versus Britain?’’ ‘‘Who will be black?’’ I said. Peck was enjoying the gentle banter between us. Sipping at a cup of steaming coffee, we talked about his childhood and his journey into films. Born Eldred Gregory Peck in 1916 in La Jolla, California, after his dad had emigrated from England, Peck’s parents divorced when he was five and, being the only child, he was sent to live with his grandmother. ‘‘I really never had a stable childhood, although my grandmother was wonderful. One of the many memories that I have was the regular weekly visits with her and my dog to the movies. I had to take the dog with me as she followed me everywhere. It was when I was at the University of California at Berkeley studying pre-med that those regular visits to the movies in my childhood took a hold on me and I changed my focus from medicine to acting.’’ In the spring of 1939, Peck skipped graduation at Berkeley. Stretching out his out his long legs, he said, ‘‘With $160 dollars and a letter of introduction in my pocket I jumped on a train to New York and enrolled in the Neighbourhood Playhouse, studying under the watchful eye of Michael Chekhov. I then made my debut in a 1942 Emlyn Williams stage play called Morning Star. My first foray into the movies came in 1944, when I appeared in the RKO movie Days of Glory.’’ Peck paused to sip on his mug of coffee. He did not have to wait too long for stardom: his next film, also in 1944, was called Keys of the Kingdom for which he was nominated for an Academy Award. This role suited his natural qualities: Peck’s character called for a tall rugged heroic male that had an aura of decency.
Peck in Keys of the
However there were times in the big man’s past and since our meeting, that Peck was very outspoken. Certainly the director Elia Kazan was deeply disappointed by his very poor performance in the film Gentlemen's Peck in To Kill a Mocking Bird Agreement in 1947, and they never worked together again. William Wyler said, ‘‘I wouldn’t direct Peck again for a million dollars,’’ after Peck walked off the set during The Big Country in 1958. Two years after the film Peck was hospitalised with a suspected heart attack. ‘‘Maybe it was the drinking and smoking too much. Yes I did that quite a lot. I drank a lot when I was a young actor; it’s the business I was in. The question we always ask ourselves about the next movie is, ‘When and how much?’ There is always the doubt in your mind that you may not get another film.’’ Later he was to say, ‘‘I’ve had my ups and downs: there have been times when I wanted to quit, times when I hit the bottle, and marital problems; I’ve touched most of the bases.’’ Apart from the divorce from his first wife, the worst thing to happen in his life was the suicide of his oldest son Jon in 1975 from a gunshot wound. The year is 1974, and our reason for being in the Negev desert is that Peck is making a cowboy film called Billy Two Hats along with Desi Arnez Jr, the son of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnez. Gregory plays Arch Deans, and Desi plays Billy Two Hats, a half breed; they’ve robbed a bank and are being pursued by Sheriff Henry Gifford played by Jack Warden. There was a lot of friendly banter on and off screen. ‘‘Why Israel to make a cowboy film,’’ I ask Peck. He shrugged his shoulders and said, ‘‘Maybe it’s because someone sees an investment into the economy, or maybe they got 300 Indians for a lot cheaper than they would if it was made in the US.’’ I looked quizzically at him. ‘‘Well,’’ he continued, ‘‘They’ve hired 300 soldiers from the Israeli army to play the Indians; they’ve all got black hair and are dark skinned. The only trouble is that last Friday evening, when the director finally got ready to shoot a scene using the Indians, they’d left early to go to the synagogue. I can tell you he was not at all pleased.’’ Finally the storm blew itself out and Peck was called to get dressed and be on set in 30 minutes for rehearsal. ‘‘Do you still get excited when it comes to making films?’’ I asked. ‘‘I suppose messing around with guns and horse riding is okay, although I try not to spend too much time on horseback. I had a back injury from college, which also kept me out of the Second World War, and I broke my ankle in three places when I fell off a horse filming Yellow Sky in 1948. Peck’s career took a bit of a nosedive after his most famous film To Kill a Mockingbird made in 1962, which was his favourite. ‘‘Maybe that film was the top of the ladder. Once you get up there, there is only one way… down.’’ He even directed two films: one called The Trial of the Catonsville Nine in 1972 and The Dove just before Billy Two Hats in 1974. Gregory Peck’s comeback was in the film The Omen in 1976 when he played Robert Thorn, the US ambassador. He only got paid $250,000 which was a huge wage cut for him, but he was guaranteed 10% of the film’s box office take. The film and Peck did very well, as it grossed more than $60 million.
e Kingdom
Peck in Gentlemans Agreement
‘‘Those early days in New York were tough. I worked at Radio City Music Hall as a tour guide and became a catalogue model for Montgomery Ward. That is why I have campaigned for people that are challenged in one way or another, and maybe that’s why the parts I get are nearly always a good guy or courageous hero… although I remember being so scared and having to go to bed with my grandmother after seeing the film The Phantom of the Opera when I was nine.’’ On June 16th 2003 Peck was buried after a cardiac arrest. Three thousand celebrities and guests packed into the cathedral and a wonderful eulogy was delivered by actor Brock Peters who played the accused black rapist Tom Robinson, defended by Atticus Finch played by Gregory Peck, in the film To Kill a Mocking Bird. Gregory Peck had many film successes. Once called the hottest thing in town, Hollywood called him, ‘‘The second Gary Cooper.’’ ‘‘Actually I’m the first Gregory Peck,’’ said Peck. And, yes, judging by reports from others in the film world, he could be very difficult and would sometimes voice his outspoken opinions against film companies, saying that some actors were treated by directors and producers as chattels. In 1981, with my wife, I was invited to the Hollywood Oscars in the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles. It was wall to wall with film stars and celebrities and, in the distance across the crowded auditorium, there was Peck with his second wife Veronique Passani. Suddenly our eyes met, and Peck gave me a gentle nod and that familiar slow smile of recognition. Dressed in black tie and a tuxedo he looked as you would imagine Gregory Peck to, as always impeccable.
Peck in Yellow Sky
‘Change a Life’ Charity Ball 2008 September 13th saw the 2008 ‘‘Change A Life Ball’’ at the Tamisa Golf hotel and as quick as it came around it was gone! A great night was had by all 170 guests who enjoyed an evening of great food, entertainment, fireworks and dancing and helped to raise just under 3000 euros for the two charities Cudeca and Age Care Association which was a great effort in the current climate. Thanks go to everybody who attended and also to those who contributed to the raffle and gave prizes.
>>
It was a beautiful evening and we were well catered for by John Peach and all the staff at the Tamisa golf and our thanks go out to them. As you can see the pictures once again are fabulous taken by Bernie Beecroft (670326204). Thanks also to Kimberly Hill (663770142). The weather was perfect and the setting overlooking Mijas golf was fantastic. Our work is done for another year but the two charities work goes on and if you would like to help them in anyway here are their contact details. Age Care Association Emergency telephone hot line 691 761 088 Cudeca cancer care hospice Tel 952 564 922 Fax 952 564 922 Email cudeca@cudeca.org
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Once again thanks to everybody involved and we will see you all next year on the 5th September 2009 so get it in your diary! It will be here before you know it.
>> costa STUFF Let’s start by identifying your attitude. To help you, we’ve outlined four specific recession coping strategies below. You’ll undoubtedly note a bit of ‘‘fowl’’ play in our list to coincide with our current economy. Chicken Little - ‘‘The sky is falling!’’ ‘‘The sky is falling!’’ Ostrich - Sticking your head in the sand. Buzzard - Circling your company just waiting for it to die. Eagle - Using the economic turbulence to rise above the storm. Some of you have already figured out where you fall on the list. We’ll help you build an action plan to address your fears, below. If you aren’t sure which flock you’re in, keep bird watching, it should become clear soon.
Chicken Little
STAYING POSITIVE IN A RECESSION F
ear. It’s palpable during a recession. We can all feel it in the pit of our stomachs. You have to be realistic and accept that there is a recession but also keep positive during a recession. Fortunes are made during hard times by the right people who have the right attitude and see opportunity in every adversity. Investors are prowling at the moment because they know that there are deals out there to be had whether it is in property, shares or business. Research shows that companies who start during a recession have a better chance of survival than those started in good times. Also those companies who maintain or increase their marketing rise high above competitors when things come good again as they always do.
When you look at any stock market graph you will see that there are always peaks and troughs but there is, over time, always an upward trend, this means the bottom line is that eventually we will come out of this tough period and you have to ask yourself are you going to be there to enjoy it. Like the saying says ‘‘when the going gets tough the tough get going’’. We’re going to give you an action plan to address your fears so you can not only survive, but thrive during this current recession.
24 costa life
No threat can be overestimated. But, hey, even during the worst thunderstorm, we’ve never seen the Big Sky fall. Mr. Little’s refrain is to always anticipate the worst, regardless of recession history or facts. There is one big difference between Little and you. He got a big movie deal with Disney, residuals and lots of plush toys. In other words, he has turned his act into a money-making machine. Trust us, he is one rare bird. That paranoia probably won’t work as well for you. So start by asking yourself the following questions: Chicken Little’s Checkup Questions: Have you survived a recession before? Who do you know that is succeeding during the current recession while others are panicking? What is your recession goal? If Chicken Little’s shoe fits you, then you should take specific steps to get out of that frame of mind and address your recession fears.
Chicken Little’s Action Plan for Surviving a Recession: 1) Learn from yourself! If you are over 7 years old, you have survived at least one recession. If you’re 45 or older, you made it through the economic recession in the 70s (not to mention Woodstock and bell bottoms) and three additional recessions. But chances are that you’ve forgotten your survival strategies. Pull out bank receipts and bills from past recession periods to see where you cut corners. Look through old calendars or files to remember workplace strategies you used that were successful. 2) Learn from others. Look at all the people you know. Chances are that at least a few of them are doing well despite the economic challenges. Offer to buy them a cup of coffee and then pick their brains. Let your friends help you through this current recession.
3) Establish a career goal. Chicken Little burns up a lot of energy running around unfocused. Avoid that mistake. Establish clear goals for your career and where you’d like to end up.
Ostrich Did you know that Ostriches are the fastest animal on two legs? Isn’t it ironic that the big bird has the reputation for putting its head in the sand as opposed to running away from a serious threat? Maybe that description also applies to you! Start by asking yourself the following questions. Ostrich’s Checkup Questions: Are you paying attention? Are you constantly on the lookout for new opportunities? Are you ready to run? If you are feeling like an Ostrich, use the following as a foundation to your plan of attack for the current recession. Ostrich’s Action Plan for Surviving a Recession: 1) Stay in the know. It's easy to check out when the going gets tough. (Is the economy still in a recession?) After all, you can only ingest so much bad news, but a bird still needs to eat. It is important to know what’s going on in your community and in your industry so opportunities don't pass you by. 2) Pursue long shots. Spend a half-hour every day pursuing long shots. Write to people you read about in the newspaper and on the Web to explore possible business collaborations. When everyone else is pulling back you should be pulling out all the stops.
2) Look for signs of life inside your company. Rarely does an entire company go dead at once. There are often departments that are successful. Seek out places and people that are succeeding during the c u r r e n t recession. 3) Find techniques for staying positive. Exercise. Eat better. Stay away from the news just before bed time. Volunteer. Find creative ways to use your nervous dark-side energy for good!
Eagle There are a lot of possible ways to cope with a storm, but the Eagle’s is impossible to top because they fly OVER storms. Eagles will let the turbulent winds push them over the storm to bluer skies. ‘‘Yeah, right,’’ you’re thinking. ‘‘I’m no eagle!’’ That’s why we’ve included the following questions to help you soar to a level you might not have thought possible during this current recession. Eagle's Checkup Questions: Do you anticipate, but not fear, trouble? What would someone in your position never do during the current recession? How can you rise above your current situation? Ready to fly like an eagle? We’ve included an action plan below.
3) Respond quickly. You’ve worked hard to open doors and get where you are in your career. If you see an opportunity, be ready to react. Have an information packet about you, or your business idea, ready to go on a moment’s notice.
Buzzard It’s tough to have energy while you are watching your organization struggle. We understand the temptation to just circle the carcass looking for your pound of flesh during an economic recession. But remember, life goes on. And so should you. Start by asking the following questions. Buzzard’s Checkup Questions: Do you ask yourself what's next? Is there anything going right inside your company? How can you keep your attitude out of a death spiral? If the buzzard point of view matches yours, then consider following the action plan below. Buzzard’s Action Plan for Surviving a Recession: 1) Look ahead, not just in the rearview mirror. Sure you want to focus some effort on severance and unemployment insurance. But don’t put the majority of your efforts there. Start looking forward to your next opportunity.
Eagle’s Action Plan for Surviving a Recession: 1) Create an early warning system. Eagles are famous for anticipating a storm before other animals. You need to do the same during the current recession. Identify variables in your industry that point to trouble ahead. For example, pay attention to key customers whose buying patterns are leading indicators for the entire industry. The earlier you spot potential trouble, the sooner you can start developing solutions to address it. 2) Try something unexpected. The eagle flies right into the storm. What can you do that is equally surprising? Do you have a former boss that you left on bad terms? See if you can repair the relationship. 3) Expand your vision. It isn't an accident that we refer to someone as being eagle-eyed. Because eagles have great vision and the largest hunting range of any bird. How can you expand your vision? Start by looking beyond your post code. Or to another industry. Whatever your current situation, always remember you have been through tough times before, keep fighting and work harder. If it’s a dream worth having then it’s worth fighting for. Nothing in life of any value is free or easy. Adapt, change and overcome, think of new areas of working, old ideas that maybe wouldn’t work then but might now, take a look at your expenses and wherever you can make cut backs and save a bit of money but without compromising your reputation. Use your mobile less, use your car less if you can, introduce offers and discounts, turn lights off if they’re not being used, every penny you can save is a penny in your pocket. Never stop advertising and marketing though, it works and especially during hard times you are showing confidence and therefore creating confidence in the marketplace by keeping your name out there. The biggest companies in the world advertise all the time and everywhere, and more so in a recession. Be positive and ideas and strategies will come, be negative and you might as well quit now. The choice is yours. Good luck. For more information and http://www.payscale.com/current-recession.
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Local Business Spotlight
At Costa Life we dedicate more space to business editorial than any other publication on the coast. It is important to us to introduce to you information about our new clients and remind you on a regular basis about existing ones. We are a free magazine and we only exist because of our clients and we therefore feel it right to dedicate a section of the magazine to promoting to you, our readers, the people, both new and old, who make Costa Life possible.
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If you need to make use of the services or products promoted in this section or indeed throughout this issue please let our clients know that you have seen them in Costa Life Magazine.
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Thank You.
EUINSURANCE DIRECT
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NEW ENGLAND KITCHENS SPAIN
costa COMPANIES >>
W
e came to Spain in 2005 with our whole family to have a better life in the sun. We now consider Spain our home and not the UK. Since coming here even more of our extended family have moved over to join us. At the age of 15, I started my training in a work room in Sheffield in all aspects of soft furnishing, covering both domestic and commercial work; I completed my apprenticeship at the age of 21. When we married and started a family I worked from home doing private work for clients. My daughter Clair trained in retail and worked for a number of years in the interiors department in a local store, she now does all our interior design and sourcing fabrics and furniture for our clients we can offer a full furniture package to suit their budget. Our autumn sale will have started by the time this issue is distributed. Our fabrics start from as little as 1€ and we have a range of curtain poles and rails at reasonable prices. Everyone is looking for a bargain and in the present economic climate even more so. We are offering our customers the opportunity to pay in English sterling to save on the exchange rate.
90% of our client come through recommendation and can give you references from satisfied customers.
We stock a wide range of poles and rails at reasonable prices Due to circumstances beyond our control we have moved back to Centro Comercial Las Terrazas De Miraflores, Calle Aquario, Riviera del Sol, Mijas Costa
BUSINESS AS USUAL N340
If you are looking to buy a property in Spain we now offer a home finder service. If you let us know your requirements budget and where you are interested in buying we will do all the leg work for you so all you have to do is arrive and look at the potential properties.
CURTAINS, BEDSPREADS, CUSHIONS, LOOSE COVERS, HEADBOARDS, PELMETS, SWAGS AND TAILS ALL MADE TO MEASURE.
Opencor
We offer a full property management and maintenance package available on request to suit the individual's needs, from key holding to full property inspections.
A .C.E. C ORTIN AS S.C.
rio ua Aq lle Ca
Jon is a qualified electrician and Barry worked for a number of years for a furniture making company in England, they can turn their hand to most jobs from painting to furniture removal and look after our maintenance side of the business.
E AC
My husband Jon and Son-in-law Barry do all our fitting of poles and tracks they also make all the wooden pelmets and head boards for us to cover.
We accept payment in english sterling
“We Do It So You Don't Have To” Open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm Saturday and evenings by appointment Centro Comercial Las Terrazas De Miraflores, Calle Aquario, Riviera del Sol, Mijas Costa Tel 951 273 242 Mob 645 082 560 info@acecortinas.com
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>> costa COMPANIES Whatever your Building or DIY needs visit Aim Building Supplies, they are open to both trade and public and they have a delivery service available. Opening hours are 8 - 5.30 Monday to Friday, no siesta, Saturday by prior arrangement only. Welcome to Aim British building supplies, the coasts premier one stop warehouse for everything a British tradesmen may need here on the Costa del sol. Aim Building Supplies are located in Elviria on the poligono Elviria behind the Repsol petrol station on the way to Marbella. Whether you are a professional tradesman or have work to do at home it is always difficult to find the right products here in Spain, whether it be sourcing your preferred UK building materials or having difficulty with instructions and terminology, life is hard enough without the stress of finding the right products and then not being able to understand the text. Well, your troubles may be over, Aim Building Supplies has established itself as the leader on the coast for supplies of UK building products. They can supply all the top British brands of building materials and tools. Brand named products in stock include Cuprinol, Everbuild, Jablite, Unibond, Makati, 3M and many more top named brands from the U.K. Products in stock include; plaster board and plaster, kennels and hutches, wood, timber, both treated and rough sawn, general building supplies, tools, sheds and playhouses, fencing, decking, paint and wood stains, thistle boarding, ready mixed adhesives, screws and nails, D.P.C. Lead flashing, cement and cement add mixers i.e. plasticizers and waterproofing, coving and much more. Whatever isn’t in stock they can source through major distributors in the U.K. Deliveries arrive every ten days so they can order you virtually any of works necessities and it can be here within two weeks. Boss John says ‘‘We realized that there was high demand for UK Building products and materials as many UK tradesman want to work with the materials they have always used but find it virtually impossible to get them here in Spain, At Aim we can literally supply anything from a screwdriver to a JCB, all types of wood and the best plaster board and plaster, everything a professional tradesman needs to do the best job he can’’. We all know what it can be like in Spain when you buy products and aren’t clear about instructions. All aim products are from the U.K. so not only are you getting products you know and trust but all text and instructions are in English which makes life much easier.
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costa COMPANIES >> assured the best service. Contact Cortidea today to arrange a home visit or visit us in the shop at Centro Idea, Ctra. de Mijas km 3.6E-29650 Mijas, Málaga, Spain.
Cortidea has been established on the Costa del Sol since 1995 and owner Henrik has over 25 years experience in the business, they provide high quality curtains, blinds, cushions and a wide range of other services including upholstery and made to measure awnings. In the shop at Centro Idea on the Mijas road you will find an abundance of Danish quality curtain materials as well as a large selection of materials from leading Spanish, British and Italian suppliers. The shop has one of the most beautiful hand picked collections of fabrics for curtains, upholstery and home furnishings from leading European Manufacturers. From ‘‘SATI’’, ‘‘Alhambra’’, ‘‘Pagunette of Scandinavia’’, ‘‘Camengo’’, ‘‘Casamance’’ to ‘‘ADO’’, ‘‘Wind’’ and ‘‘Sumiko Honda’’ just to mention a few. They will also soon be supplying the Designer’s Guild collection. They also have wall to wall carpets and rugs from the very popular Danish manufacturer ‘‘ege tæpper’’. Curtains CortIdea has a wide selection of curtain materials, which covers curtain types from the classical look to the young and modern style. CortIdea only take in the best quality products from leading producers in Denmark, Spain, Britain and Italy and they assure you that you will receive the best information on treatment (wash/clean) of your chosen material. Blinds and Shutters The blind is the classical form of sun-shading and with the many possibilities. In a choice of material they are still a good solution, which can be matched to your home surroundings. At CortIdea they have a large selection blinds including; Venetian, vertical and Roller blinds supplied from the ‘‘GRADULUX’’ range by Hunter Douglas which guarantee excellent and professional after service.
Open Monday-Friday: 10.00 am - 8.00 pm Saturday: 10.00 am 02.00 pm Telephone/Fax 952 46 12 21 Mob 617 38 02 38 E-mail info@cortidea.com Professional and skilled re upholstery work as made to measure, in and outdoor cushions, is also catered for. With own workshop, high quality and service assured which includes full advise / measuring service as well as sewing and fitting are also cared for to highest standards. Web: www.cortidea.com Check also: www.casamance.jp, www.pagunette.dk, www.sati.es, www.ege.dk, www.shaftesburys.co.uk Vertical Blinds Vertical Blinds can be made to fit almost any type of window and be adjusted to any angle from totally open, with no shading, to totally closed The Blinds are available in an abundance of colours, patterns and qualities.
New to Cortidea is the sale and distribution of interior wood shutters supplied by ‘‘Shaftesburys’’ from the UK. Re-upholstery Old furniture with new materials can tastefully create a new life in a residence. Materials matching the surroundings can give an old piece of furniture a new lease of life especially when it at the same time gets its springs readjusted CortIdea will be glad to give you a quote. With their professional workshop you are assured high quality product and service which includes a full advice and measuring service. CortIdea can offer you a wide range of products to the highest standards and with thousands of satisfied clients over nearly fifteen years you are
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>> costa COMPANIES
EUINSURANCE DIRECT underwriting) with no age limit and 1,600,000 euros of cover p.a. Cover is underwritten by Europe Assistance and it is the only plan of its kind on the coast. Costs range from 2300 p.a. for 18-65 years to just over 3000 euros p.a. for over 65 +. Not the most inexpensive policy available on the market but certainly the most comprehensive. Further details on request. For details of any of the plans she offers, the best quotes and advice please call Wendy Codd of EU Insurance Direct on 952 830 843 or 676 098 464.
CREDIT CRUNCH!!!! HOUSING CRISIS!!!! RISING INFLATION!!!! CAN WE AFFORD TO CUT COSTS??? The current climate has left many of us worried about our future. Many of us are cutting back, not going out to eat so much, not drinking so much (OK could be a good thing….) trying to save money to weather the storm. Many people are pulling in the reigns and only spending what they have to. We have seen this happen before and it takes some time, but eventually the economy bounces back and we forget there was ever a problem. In these trying times we look at cutting back on financial outlays that we feel unnecessary. The worrying factor is that many people don’t renew their insurances, their cars may stay in the garage, the health cover stops being paid in the hope that nothing happens, however this is not the sensible way to cut costs…. If you own a car in Spain by law it has to be insured, whether it is in the garage not used for 6 months of the year or whether it is being repaired at the local garage, insurance is a legal requirement. Even Home Insurance, many clients who have been insured for years and have never claimed decide not to renew, only to find the day after it expires that they need to make a claim…. Health cover should never be cancelled because health companies do not normally accept pre-existing conditions and the minute you cease your regular payment they can exclude you from cover. We all look to save money in the long term but these areas are vitally important and where it can actually cost you money to cease cover. If you are choosing Insurance it is best to go to a professional who understands your needs, your budget and the market to see the best options available to you. Wendy Codd at EU Insurance Direct has been in Insurance for 15 years in the UK and has built her business on trust and recommendation over the last 3 years in Spain. Her recommendations for insurance for all her clients rely on her experience and knowledge of her clients. Everyone wants a bargain, but that bargain has to be a reputable company offering good cover, not just a cheap insurance that refuses to pay out in the event of a claim. Wendy offers a completely One Stop Shop for all your Insurance needs. Based in Elviria (near the town hall) she offers a personal service to all her clients. Her portfolio from car insurance (UK, Spanish, Dutch and N. Irish Plates), Home Insurance to cover worldwide all risks, Travel (up to 84 years), Commercial, Savings, Life Cover, Critical Illness, Pensions and more. One of the more interesting products she offers is a Private Health Insurance which covers 99% pre-existing conditions (subject to 30 costa life
EUINSURANCE DIRECT All insurance and financial needs in plain English We cover Cars, motorbikes, homes and contents, boats and life/critical illness We also offer Mortgage protection, Mortgages, private health plans, travel protection, savings plans, Private Health Plan which covers 90% of pre-eexisting conditions and much more Also agents for AXA products We can insure you for less!! Contact Wendy on 952 830 843 or 676 098 464 Fax: 951 310 524 Framire Residencial, Local Comercial 6, Cerrado de Elviria, 29604, Marbella, Malaga
costa COMPANIES >>
New salon now open in Calahonda Debbie Rose the owner of Images Hair and Beauty in Elviria and Calahonda has been here in Spain since 1984. Debbie has successfully been in hairdressing here on the Coast since 1994. At Images of Elviria, Tracie, Pedro, Yvonne, Susana and Amy are a great team and are there to attend all of your hairdressing needs. The staff of Images Elviria have been with Debbie for many years. She’s extremely proud of their dedication and trust, this being one of the main reasons why Debbie has been able to expand. Images of Calahonda opened on the 30th June 2008. Alongside Debbie is a team of professional stylists Angela, Judith, and Caron the receptionist. We aim to give a complete service and are fully knowledgeable on all the latest cutting and coloring techniques. We are also pleased to announce the arrival of The Nanomax System! The Nanomax System is a highly technical treatment specializing in damaged hair follicle. When hair has been repeatedly coloured or over processed by chemicals including sun damage, this is the treatment for you. Through a fine mist the ultimate technology system introduces nanomolecules of Keratin and Protein into the hair structure to repair strengthen, protect and finish with the most amazing shine. The Nanomax System has been created to personalize the necessities of all types of hair. This system also provides a colour lock treatment that totally locks in colour preventing loss, resulting in a fabulous 3D shine. Now introducing a very important part of our industry is our Massage and Beauty Therapist Kirsten (formally from Lew Hoads Hair and Beauty).
‘‘John Masters Organics; Super Natural Beauty’’ Masters complete facial fuses together the living history of the natural world with the futuristic complexities of skin care. Holistic influences and hot stones complement the state of the art application of this complete facial. Welcome, Purify, Nurture, Balance, and Bliss your five steps to rejuvenation. At Images we have established a reputation for quality and professional hair and beauty treatments over years of experience here on the coast. Whatever your requirements we can guarantee that at Images Hair and Beauty you will be more than satisified. Also at Images of Calahonda The Classic St Tropez Tanning Treatment.
Kirsten who specializes in all aspects of massage therapy including Thai Yoga Massage is pleased to introduce the long awaited…John Masters Organic Range. These products are exclusive to our salon at Calahonda and also to Spain. The John
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Hair, Nails and Beauty
Happy 4th Birthday Kiss celebrated its fourth anniversary in August; I would like to thank all our clients for their continuing support. The team here at Kiss are dedicated and committed to the salons vision of being the leading hair, nail and beauty provider in the area. The salon continues to grow with new team members, products and services. I have a highly qualified and experienced team and I would like to introduce the team to you. Lisa Salon Owner/Hair Stylist I am a fully qualified hairdresser with 13 years experience. I offer all aspects of hairdressing from gents to fashion techniques, my passion is colouring and cutting. If you have not had a good colour and cut whilst being in Spain, let me take care of your hair! Michele Hair Stylist Michele is a fully qualified hairdresser with 13 years experience. Michele’s expertise covers cutting to colouring and fashion techniques, and specialises in bridal styling and up do’s. A trial is offered before the wedding day, and then relax on your special day in Michele’s capable hands! Party hair styles are very popular, so if you fancy a unique look for that special event book with Michele today! Katrina Hair Stylist and Hair Extensions Katrina joined the team earlier this year and is enjoying every moment of it. A fully qualified hairdresser with 12 years experience. Katrina specialises in hair extensions and trained with Racoon. Using natural human hair. Katrina can transform your hair, don't wait another day to experience the excitement of what hair extensions can do for you- book your consultation today! Lyndsay Beauty Therapist / Nail Technician Lyndsay is a fully qualified beauty therapist and nail technician with 5 years experience. Lyndsay offers beauty treatments and specialises in acrylic nails using creative products. Try natural permanent French or go for this seasons brightly painted nails! For full sets or maintenance Lyndsay is in the Salon on Thursdays. Abi Beauty Therapist Abi is the latest addition to the team, but is already very popular. Qualified in beauty and massage with 4 years experience. Abi offers the wide range of beauty and massage treatments and specialises in Clarins Facials. So whether you have sensitive or stressed out skin, the treatment is tailored to your skins needs. Abi also offers some fantastic pamper packages to give you that relaxed and refreshed feeling- so go on pamper your self!
Dominique Spray Tan Technician Dominique offers the Fantasy Tan Spray which is individually tailored to your skin. The tan looks natural and gives you that sun kissed look. Dominique will advise you which tan to have, so go on have a tan today!
Kerrie Massage Therapist and Reflexology Kerrie is a fully qualified therapist with a wealth of experience. Kerrie offers massage and reflexology treatment and is available for appointments on Mondays. We also offer teeth whitening clinics on a 6 weekly basis; we have a vertical tanning unit with individual sessions or excellent savings on block bookings - so when the sun goes down, top up your tan at Kiss! We offer a wide range of retail products, with the new pink Ghd’s now available with 10 euros going to Breast Cancer- don’t miss out on your set! I look forward to the next year at Kiss; with this excellent team we won’t be going anywhere! Give us a call today and let us take care of your hair and beauty needs- have your Kiss experience today! Opening hours: Monday 10-5
Tues- Friday 10-6.30
952666787 630800572
Saturday 10-4
costa COMPANIES >>
New image! New products! And new services! Sunshine Golf is confidently moving forward into the future. Despite all the doom and gloom that we hear and see, we certainly do not share this outlook. We firmly believe that the superb climate and golf courses that we enjoy in this privileged part of Europe will always offer golfers from all over the world the perfect golfing holiday experience. It has always been our ambition to give our clients a quality service in all the many facets of our company and we are constantly striving to offer new and better services. New Image: - Sunshine Golf has been trading since 1992 so the Directors have decided to update our marketing logo to reflect the glorious Andalusian sun New Products: - First among many new products for this Autumn is the new range of Golf Clubs from ‘‘Benross’’ with award winning performance. These clubs have received tremendous acclaim in the UK golfing press for the quality and value for money they offer. Full sets of rental/demo clubs are available, so try before you buy. New Services: - Golf ball logo service ,we can now offer a 48 hour golf ball logo service with no set up charges. It’s easy, simply choose the ball you prefer, leave them with us and we will print your logo and have them ready for your collection within 48 hours at very reasonable rates. Embroidery logo service:- Our embroidery division, Bordados M Broidery S.L., which was launched in 2005 has moved into the Sunshine Golf building on the lower sales floor to provide more room to accommodate the incredible growth it has been fortunate enough to experience. Our client base includes many of the coasts best known golf clubs and businesses from all fields. As with all our other activities it offers our
clients a rapid turn round whether we are supplying the product to be embroidered or clients own products. Golf tee time reservations: - Sunshine Golf is one of the longest established golf tee time reservation service companies on the coast. We are a fully bonded tour operator offering complete peace of mind to our clients. Our reputation is our guarantee. We are in contact with all the coasts many golf courses on a daily basis so are in a position to provide informed opinion on the value and quality of all the courses. Our in house golf professional Mike Roberts has the fortunate job of playing all the courses on a regular basis (tough but some body has to do it!). He can offer on course golf lessons or lessons on several nearby golf driving ranges. Golf club rental service: - Airlines are now charging considerable sums to carry your beloved sets of golf clubs without caring too much about them so why not rent a set of quality golf clubs from Sunshine Golf. We offer sets of Ram, Benross, Callaway and Taylormade at daily, multiday and weekly rates. Save yourselves the hassle and call us for a quotation. Let us help you to enjoy your golf and save money at Sunshine Golf.
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costa COMPANIES >>
The Mijas Playa is probably the Coast’s most enjoyable dining experience. Situated in the lovely village of La Cala, beachside, only 10 minutes from Marbella & 5 minutes from Fuengirola, you can enjoy unforgettable International cuisine in the luxurious interior restaurant or wonderful terrace dining overlooking the Mediterranean. Open for Dinner, 7 days. Full A La Carte menu plus a superb value Dinner menu, (Sunday to Friday) for only €24.
smaller Vu’s bar can graciously accommodate groups ranging in size from 12 to 200.
Don't miss our fabulous Traditional Sunday Lunch starting soon - once you try it you won’t want to go anywhere else!
Telephone 952493749.
Best Value on the Coast. Entertainment all afternoon.
Regardless how many times you dine at the Mijas Playa or party in Vu’s Bar your evening will always be special.
2 Courses 22.50€ 3 Courses 27.50€
We look forward to seeing you.
The restaurant has entertainment every evening provided by resident Pianist & Singer David Mairs, helped by various great Cabaret Acts. The Best Dinner Dance venue on the Costa del Sol. Should you be looking for a party venue or a place for family & friends to get together, the Mijas Playa is the perfect choice. Vu’s Bar the glamorous new Bar, upstairs at The Mijas Playa is rapidly becoming a firm favourite with everyone who appreciates luxury, style and a great place in which to meet & relax. Enjoy the outstanding views across the Mediterranean which nature has created, you won’t want to leave. The Mijas Playa and Vu’s Bar are perfect for all Party Bookings and have become the Wedding specialist on the coast. The expert staff can arrange every aspect of weddings with no detail overlooked. From blessings on the beach to large elegant receptions, the restaurant & the
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>> costa COMPANIES
NEW ENGLAND KITCHENS SPAIN Quality furniture available for every room in the home New England Kitchens Spain pride ourselfs on having english made furniture by William Ball, we offer a diverse range of Kitchens, Bedrooms, Studies and Open Plan Living for every consumer taste. A selection of furniture can be mixed and matched. An extensive range of unit sizes including unusual widths of 350, 450, 700 and 900mm to suit every eventuality is available and all units are colour co-ordinated which allows you to carry the exterior finish into the cabinet, shelves and interior, to create a completely co-ordinated look, both inside and out. Over 40 ranges of quality kitchens, 20 bedrooms, 10 studies and 10 open plan living styles. Check us out
WWW.NEKITCHENSSPAIN.com
When you have a moment please visit our comprehensive website It has a powerful navigation system to allow easy access to the full product range. View all the different styles that can help transform your dreams into reality. Affordable luxury at your finger tips, just submit your details to receive a free estimate from our sales team. Made to be enjoyed, made to be admired, and above all made to last" Awarded the FIRA Gold Award for excellence of quality
The quality of William Ball furniture is considered to be amongst the best in the industry. The FIRA (Furniture Industry Research Association) Gold Award has been awarded for the excellence of product. Achieving this prestigious award shows that a product or range of furniture has been evaluated for fitness for purpose, quality and workmanship. Contact us now for free planning and design you will be glad you did.
951 238553 653 062550
NEW ENGLAND KITCHENS SPAIN 40 years in the trade Kitchens, Bedrooms and Studies Quality English Kitchens, Planning and design Profesional fitting service low cost budget range with immediate delivery call now for details
951 238 553
652 062 550
Visit our vast selection at www.nekitchensspain.com or email alan@nekitchensspain.com 36 costa life
>> costa LIFESTYLE
Motivated for Exercise? L ess than 6 hours after leaving the Change of Life Ball (which was the best yet Ronan!!) I was walking a track which would eventually lead to the top of the Mijas Mountain Range, Pico Mijas was the destination. I was with a group training for an Everest Base Camp Trip up the mountain, looking down at the incredible views of the coast I started to think about the psychology of sports. Finding motivation to train and sticking with an exercise and fitness plan on a regular basis isn't always easy, we all have other issues that take demands on our time, family, work, travel - not to mention late nights!! Research has proved that goal setting is a great way to stay motivated. The S.M.A.R.T. principle is a frame work adopted by many athletes to set their long and short term goals. This principle can easily be adopted by anyone wanting to get fit or simply to retain or enhance their fitness. The core concept to making fitness part of your way of life, is by making the right choices in life and not just quick faddy diets or ineffective on/off training sessions. While choosing to live, eat and exercise correctly should be a life time plan, a proven way to ensure the success of this philosophy is by setting short term achievable goals. S.M.A.R.T. Goals can be linked to all aspects of life depending on your particular goals. Take loosing weight and being fit for example S.M.A.R.T. goals will keep you focused in achieving what you set out to do.
SO HOW DOES S.M.A.R.T. WORK?
S = SPECIFIC
Be Specific about what you want to do. To start with you may think that you 'just want to lose weight' but this isn't specific enough.
Concentrate on the following 6 words:Who:- Needs to be involved for this to happen? - me! What:- Do you want to achieve, ie. how much weight loss 5kg? When:- Do you want to achieve this by? - 6 months Which:- Which way are you going to do this? By eating and exercising effectively Where:- The location, in a gym? Why:- What is the purpose of all this? To be fit and healthy So now we have become Specific! I……… want to lose 5kg ……. in 6 months ……. by eating and exercising effectively …… in a gym ……. to be fit and healthy.
M = MEASURABLE So now you know specifically what you want to do but you need to know how well you are doing? This is done by measuring your progress frequently, as to whether what you are doing is actually working or not and by keeping track of your results this will boost your confidence and keep you motivated when you see and feel your fitness levels and your body shape changing.
A = ATTAINABLE What if you said you wanted to lose 5kg in 4 weeks! That not only would be unrealistic but you would be setting yourself up for failure. Giving yourself reasonable goals that are attainable will give you success in achieving your objectives, keeping you motivated.
R = REALISTIC This is different from setting attainable goals. For example you want to lose 5kg in 6 months this is attainable if you set a realistic eating and exercise plan but if you set your plan which involves for example, running for 2 hours everyday and visiting the gym for an hour afterwards, the probability would be that you would be unable to stick to this even for the first week. Be realistic with what time scale you have and make sure that the time scale you agree on is sustainable.
T = TIMING Goals do not make sense unless you attach a time scale to them. For example giving yourself 6 months to achieve your target. A fixed time table and a sense of urgency will help to keep you on track. Use the S.M.A.R.T. method of goal setting in your fitness regimen and you will see slow but steady incremental benefits that will increase your motivation and give you the desire to
Helen Johnson - Personal Fitness Trainer & Nutritionist - 617 453 550 - fitness@luv2btraining.com 38 costa life
costa LIFESTYLE >>
achieve a set of goals then strive for more. 5 Ways to speed up your metabolism
(1) Drink water. Drinking cold water inceases the metabolism for half an hour. It is the activity of your body warming the water that burns the calories.
(2) Eat early Metabolic rate is at its highest in the morning. Research has proved that breakfast eaters are less likely to be overweight than those who don't eat first thing in the morning.
(3) Quality Protein A study in the journal of clinical nutrition suggests that the body uses more calories to process protein than carbohydrates or fats. So eat lean sources of protein, ie. eggs, poultry and fish.
(4) Keep eating! Divide your daily food intake into 3 meals and 2 snacks.
(5) Sleep An exhausted body lacks the ability to burn calories. A University in Chicago found that people who have four hours sleep or less have difficulty digesting foods.
>> costa LIFESTYLE
Steps to take when you plateau While working out, men often find themselves reaching a plateau. Although you are following a programme closely the results can be seen but then it stops and while strength gains may still be occurring, size gains are not.
Pause
Increase volume If you choose to increase the volume, you should be aware of your nutrition. Extra weight-training volume will place a big demand on the body for muscle glycogen, so your need for carbohydrates is going to increase. You should bump up your calorie intake to accommodate this.
Change your diet When gaining muscle mass diet is the key factor, calories are definitely needed to support this growth, and protein should stay relatively constant.
Use pauses to increase the difficulty of an exercise. With bicep curls, curl the weight all the way up; begin lowering it until you are at the halfway point, pause, and then finish the downward motion.
If you’ve been trying a low carb approach, consider bumping it up. If you want to stick with the low carb diet because you want to lose weight that’s fine just add more calories when it comes to building the muscle.
Higher reps
While you can build muscle on a high-fat diet (with healthier sources of fat, of course), generally it is not the best approach. So, think about bringing your carbohydrate intake up to at least a 30%. That might help get the muscles growing larger again.
Up your reps. Your body might need to increase the size of the muscle tissue, rather than just make it stronger.
At last we can say goodbye to the skinny jean… At last the designers are finally loosening up… we can say goodbye to skinny jeans…stay clear of the boot cut unless you’re a college kid and say hello to the wider cut jeans which make a statement but still looks sophisticated. To make a statement wear with the classic loafer and a fitted shirt.
40 costa life
Age-old myths Hair loss comes from the mother’s side While baldness is genetic, it is not limited to the maternal side of the family. The hair-loss gene can come from either side.
Wearing hats causes hair loss In order for the hair to fall out, the hat would have to be so tight that it cuts circulation to the follicles. So no, wearing hats does not cause hair loss.
Excessive use of hair products causes hair loss There are no hair-care products that cause hair loss. You may sculpt your locks with as much gel, mousse or spray as you desire.
Standing on your head cures hair loss The idea is that, by standing on your head, blood flow will be increased and your scalp will be regenerated. Specialists agree on the fact that it has no influence on hair loss at all; follicles need more than blood flow to grow hair. Brushing your hair is better than combing it actually; your hair reacts better to a comb than a brush. Brushing it will only lead to split ends and hair breakage, not to male pattern baldness.
Cutting your hair will make it grow back thicker This common misconception comes from the fact that hair is thicker at the base than it is at the tip, so it appears thicker at first. Cutting your hair does not affect hair growth at all; it will grow about half an inch each month no matter what.
Mr Alf Neuhaus
Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon Col. No: 9.220
Sandra Vincenti
UK Chartered Physiotherapist Col. No: 682 Treatment of Arthritis & Rheumatism Joint Replacements - hip,knee,ankle,shoulder Hip Resurfacing Advanced Cartilage Repair Keyhole Surgery Hand and Foot Surgery Accidents & Fractures Bone density measuring available X-ray Facilities - Diagnostic Ultrasound Back and Neck Problems - sciatica,whiplash,etc. Rehabilitation - post op,post injury Emergency Accidents dealt with (ambulance service available 24hr per day)
Travel insurance & International insurance claims welcome 24HR EMERGENCY SERVICE - TEL:656 313 293 Tel: 952 577 766 - E-mail: clinica.sandalf@terra.es www.clinica-sandalf.com C./ Pepa Guerra Valdenebros, 29631 Benalmadena behind Tivoli World Arroyo
Gymnasium fully equipped gym with both fixed and free weights crosstrainers + bikes treadmills + rowing machines professional instructor available only gym open at 8 am
Classes over 56 fitness classes every week step aerobics, aerobics, yoga, bums & tums, latest reebok decks new from Finland “gym stick� suitable all ages pilates room with pilates reformer beds individual spin bike room with 40 bikes individual aerobics and exercise room with sprung floor Goshin Ju Jitsu plus Capoeira
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fully air conditioned - lockers high powered showers - hair dryers mens & womens saunas - jacuzzi sun beds
>> costa LIFESTYLE Benetton
Step out in st yle…
Cotton trench coat with belt Benetton
‘‘Vintage’’ eco-leather jacket Benetton
Light grey leather biker jacket Burton
Black and blue inside bubble jacket H&M
men want Hit the town…
Herringbone jacket Burton
Take it easy…
Straight leg jeans Burton Grey zip jumper cardigan Topman Brown combat trousers Topman
Green trainer shoe Topman
Sued boots Burton
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Store Locator A to Z
Accessorize www.accessorize.com La cañada. Benetton www.benetton.com Fuengirola. Burton www.burton.co.uk Gibraltar. Dorothy Perkins www.dorothyperkins.co.uk Miramar and La Cañada. Evans www.evans.com Fuengirola. H&M www.hm.com La Cañada. Topman www.topman.com La cañada. www.topshop.com La Cañada.
costa LIFESTYLE >> Dorothy Perkins
Knock ’em dead in red…
Rhinestone flamingo brooch Dorothy Perkins
Hard cased shoulder bag Dorothy Perkins
Black satin corsage shoe Dorothy Perkins
Red bandeau body con dress Dorothy Perkins
women want The finishing touch…
Make a statement …
Purple stone embellished bangle Dorothy Perkins
Black shaggy cardigan Evans
Purple leather bag H&M
Wide leg trouser Evans
Tartan bag Evans
Layered round rhinestone ring Topshop
Large flower corsage Topshop
Bag it …
Patent stretch panel boot Evans Satin clutch Narnia brooch bag
Jewelled clutch
Accessorize
costa life 43
>> costa LIFESTYLE
Beaut y My ths Uncovered… Rubbing Lemon on Teeth is a Great Whitening Method Maybe so, but you’ll be trading one problem for a bigger one, because the citric acid in lemons wears away enamel. The smarter way to whiten your smile at home is brushing with baking soda mixed with water a couple of times a week and saving those lemons for lemonade.
trims will help keep stringy split ends in check for healthierlooking hair.
Breakouts are caused by oily skin In some cases, yes - but if you are still plagued with breakouts into adult life this could be due to extreme sensitivity. If you change your routine to something more suitable for sensitve skin then guess what your skin will be clear
Artificial Enhancements Destroy Nails Artificial nails have massively evolved. The biggest myth regarding artificial nail wear is suffocation of the natural nail, thereby causing nail damage, it is not the artificial nail or the glue that ultimately causes nail damage, but improper removalsuch as picking or prying off. Nails worn and removed safely will not inflict any injury to the nail whatsoever.
Frequent Haircuts Are Necessary for Hair Growth Your hair grows at the same speed no matter how often you cut or trim your locks, regular
Foundation Course… The perfect (colour) match The best way to choose your foundation shade is to match it to the skin on your jaw line and throat-not on your actual face. Matching your foundation to your throat will help avoid your face being three shades darker than your neck. With concealer, you can go one shade lighter than the foundation shade you choose to lighten up the skin under the eyes and give you a brighter look.
Super sensitive skin You want to let your skin breathe, but you also need makeup to make it look even. Use a thin powder foundation applied with a brush to even out skin tone. It lasts forever and the finish looks like your skin-but better.
Redness be gone Try a sheer powder foundation that will tone down the redness on the cheeks but won't make you look like you have a lot of makeup on. Apply a light, thin layer with a powder brush so you can control the amount you put on.
No more flakes The flakiness could be due to weather, dehydration or allergies, continue using a good moisturiser. Try switching brands and see if that works for you. Also, try a cream foundation-it stays dewy and moist on the skin. Changing the way you apply foundation can also help. Instead of smoothing or swiping it across the skin, gently pat it on. You’ll avoid pulling or tugging on the skin, which can create the flakes.
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Can’t wear ‘‘That’’ colour While one shade of red might make you look like a member of the clown squad, another could bring out your inner Katherine Hepburn. So pay attention to shades and undertones in finding your colour: while a blue-red may not work, an orange-red might.
Crossing your legs causes spider veins Actually, you can thank your mum; genes play the biggest role in developing spider or varicose veins. If your mother or grandmother has spider or varicose veins, you are quite likely to have them and pass them on to your children.
Celeb beauty secret… Gwen Stefani applies blue lip gloss over her famous red lipstick to bring out the pearly whites.
Nature’s Philosophy Health & Beauty Salon Retail of Natural Products
Opening Hours
Mon - Fri 10am - 6pm Sat 10am - 2pm Appointments can be arranged out of hours
Clinical Aromatherapy - Reflexology - ReikiNail & Beauty Treatments
Calle Málaga, 39, Mijas Pueblo Tel: 952485172 www.naturesphilosophy.net
Are you the right person for a career in hairdressing! Are you Outgoing - Fashion conscious - Motivated? Now’s your chance Come and train with us for the new City & Guilds Diploma & Advanced Diploma in hairdressing
Hairdressing - A career for life Your future in your hands Contact us now: tel. 952 939 609 email. info@aztec-hair-academy.com www.aztec-hair-academy.com Aztec Country Club Calle Libra, Riviera del Sol, Mijas Costa
>> costa LIFESTYLE
Taking paracetamol regularly triples risk of asthma… Regular users of paracetamol are nearly three times more likely to have asthma; other painkillers did not have the same effect . Researchers believe regular use of paracetamol decreases levels of the antioxidant glutathione, found in the air ways and the nose, which protects the lungs from air pollution and tobacco smoke and the harmful effects of free radicals.
Top tip… Eat right for better teeth: Your pearly whites can gleam. Eat apples, oranges, celery, carrots and high fiber green.
Rev Up the Metabolism… Doing the same workout routine can get to be a habit. Not only should you alternate your routine to prevent burnout or boredom, but to give your body a surprise jolt.
Simple steps to a healthier you… Take 2,000 more steps a day (about one mile or 15 minutes of walking). Eat 100 fewer calories (about a tablespoon of butter). Skip the crust on apple pie. Save 100 calories. Leave 10 French fries on your plate. Save 100 calories. Have you been told that you should lose weight or get more exercise? In most cases time is the factor. Why not park your car away from the office and walk the rest of the distance. Get a pooch. Dog owners walk an average of 300 minutes a week, while people without dogs walk just 168. That’s a difference of almost 600 calories. By making these adjustments every day, 90% of adults can avoid weight gain, and some people may even drop a few pounds.
Boost your mood naturally… Play with a furry friend Petting a dog or cat for just 15 minutes releases the feelgood hormones serotonin, prolactin, and oxytocin, and lowers the stress hormone cortisol.
Make yourself smile Fake it and you’ll feel sunnier. The simple act of smiling seems to activate happiness centres in the brain.
Eat for ecstasy Add these foods to your diet: fish, for omega-3s - a study found that people with low levels of this healthy fat were more likely to be depressed; Brazil nuts, for selenium-being low on this antioxidant can get you down; and orange juice, for folate - too little causes a dip in happiness-helper serotonin.
Reach out Human touch releases uplifting endorphins like serotonin, and reduces blood pressure and heart rate, making you more relaxed and content.
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M
any, many moons ago I decided to get my teeth done. Regular readers will recall the piece I wrote in Issue 15 about wanting to have some orthodontic work done. I had always been conscientious about my teeth and so more than happy to go as a guinea pig for this type of work.
Well, nearly two and half years on, they are finished, and I can honestly tell you that, if I ever had any fears of dentists, they are now well and truly laid to rest! After months and months of appointments, fillings, crowns, needles and ‘‘Open wide,’’ we are at the end of a very long, but worthwhile journey. I am delighted with the results and can only encourage you if you are thinking of having some corrective work done on your choppers. It’s worth every penny. It all began way, way back in early 2006, after getting into a conversation with Dentist Kerstin Brorson at Clinica Europa Dental in Alhaurín el Grande. Kerstin is very passionate about her work and, when it comes to discussing us Brits, she is almost moved to tears by our unique disregard for our teeth. Unlike most European countries, in particular the Scandinavian ones, and of course the USA where having a good set of teeth is a prerequisite to life, the British are generally the laziest when it
comes to dental hygiene. Plus, as we all know, and I’m no different, when we get to Spain we just put the important things like our health on a back burner and go to the doctor or dentist only when we have to, if at all. Most shocking are her stories of the state of some of the children’s teeth she has seen, since she opened her practice in Alhaurín. I have always brushed twice a day and have been blessed with strong healthy teeth and so, when I went to see Kerstin in early 2006 after not going to the dentist for about two and half years, all I needed was a good clean and polish. However - and it was a big however for me aesthetically, unlike my wife, I didn’t have the most attractive set of teeth. I had had to wear a brace at school age but unfortunately it wasn’t a fixed brace so I could remove it when I wanted, so what I used to do was wear it at night when I was in bed, and then take it out on the way to school for the obvious reason of avoiding mickey taking. Lesson one, if your child needs a brace, make it a fixed one; don’t give them a choice like I had. As a result of not wearing my brace all the time, I ended up with crooked front teeth, but later on had two crowns courtesy of the NHS. Also my bottom teeth were overcrowded and were quite twisted and crooked plus they were not the best shade of white. I was and still am not ashamed or bothered about admitting that I would like a nice set of straight white teeth, and most people I think would want the same. So I went for it and, as already stated, I was the guinea pig.
CERAMIC BRACES
First of all I had a clean and polish, and then the five back fillings I had were replaced with more attractive white fillings. This work was done over a couple of weeks and then, for the next two years, apart from check ups for cleaning, that was the end of Kirsten’s work. For the next two years I was with Dr Joachim Stickel of Arco Ideal in Marbella. For the kind of corrective work I needed, the services of an orthodontist were required. So let’s have a recap of Dr Stickel’s initial examination and eventual recommendations. My problems were as follows: firstly I had a cross bite, which generally means that my top teeth didn’t line up properly with my bottom teeth. Also my top set were not as wide as my bottom set, so when I chewed I did so all over the place. In fact, from Kirsten’s original examination at Clinica Europa Dental in Alhaurín el Grande, most of my chewing was done at the back of my jaw where my wisdom teeth are, because there were only a few places in my mouth where my top and bottom set actually met when closed. As a result my wisdom teeth were quite worn.
ARCH WIRES
What is cross bite? In a ‘normal’ jaw structure, the teeth of the upper jaw are slightly outside the lower jaw. However there are conditions where the overlap is excessive (overbite), and those where the lower jaw extends beyond the upper jaw (under bite). Cross bite is yet another condition of the teeth where the position of one or more teeth is reversed. The condition is usually genetic, but can often also be caused by an unusual development of the teeth or jaws. Other causes can be prolonged thumb sucking or severe tongue thrusting (I did neither of these) which deforms the palate and causes the teeth to grow crooked, resulting in a cross bite condition. Crowded teeth and damaged jaws with missing teeth also result in a cross bite. The situation is not self correcting and, as the teeth grow, the alignment will never correct itself, so there is no point in waiting and hoping that the problem will sort itself out. The only option is corrective work. My bottom set were overcrowded and, over the years, had slowly but surely bunched up and got more and more crooked: ‘‘Like tombstones,’’ someone once said, blunt but probably accurate! As I wrote in the original article, the work I needed doing was not just aesthetic; but in later life I would have had
IN THE BEGINNING
>>
IN THE BEGINNING
>> costa LIFESTYLE problems with the joints in my upper jaw (ie up by my ears) if I didn’t have this cross bite problem sorted out. Many people have a cross bite, and it is better dealt with as children when it has been identified, though it can be corrected in later life. Adults can be treated at any age, as long as their gums and bone holding the teeth are healthy.
TREATMENT: Here is a breakdown of how it works and the procedure: I needed braces top and bottom to level out my teeth and then straighten them. This should have taken approximately 18 months but it turned out to be just on two years, which was fine because it’s better to get it right than to fall at the last. The other thing I needed was a plate that sits in the roof of the mouth and has ‘legs’ that connect two brackets on each side of the mouth to two teeth. This is the gruesome bit. Every day I had to insert what can only be described as a small screwdriver into a small hole in the middle of the plate and make a quarter turn. This expands the plate and causes bone to grow, which in turn widens the jaw. The braces at the front make sure the teeth move slightly backwards as the jaw widens, otherwise gaps will develop, obviously. After the plate was removed, which was after approximately four months, I had gained 11 millimetres in width. How amazing is that?! Looking back on the whole treatment I have to be honest and say that the plate was the most uncomfortable part.
The braces: Braces include brackets, which are bonded directly to the tooth or sometimes attached to a band placed on a molar tooth, and ‘arch wires’ that connect all the brackets. Unlike what most people think, it is the arch wire that does all the work: the brackets merely serve as handles! The wires use a steadily gentle pressure to move the teeth into their proper positions. Much like moving a stick through sand, as the tooth moves, bone gives way on one side and fills in on the other side. It is truly amazing how it works.
The braces are put on: The dental assistant or orthodontist dries off the teeth and applies ‘etchant’ to them. This tastes like, well I don’t know what it tastes like, but it’s vile. The etchant prepares the surface of the teeth for the bonding ‘cement’ that secures the brackets. The brackets are placed on the teeth and a blue, high intensity, plasma light is then quickly applied to the surface of the bracket to set the bond. The wire (arch wire) is placed through the brackets. Little rubber bands are placed on the brackets. This is what holds the wire to them and creates a feeling of pressure.
EXPANSION PLATE
What does it feel like? At first, you feel an unusual pressure on your teeth. At first, feeling the braces underneath your lips is a strange sensation. After a couple of weeks I found that I barely noticed it, but I have to be honest that at first I did think, ‘‘What have I done?’’ as it was very uncomfortable. I stuck to soft foods for the first week or two: nothing crunchy or hard, nothing large or difficult to bite and chew. The first day, it didn’t hurt too much. The second and third days, it felt like somebody had hit me in the teeth with a cricket ball! At first I was not able to eat certain foods like tortilla chips and crisps, and crunchy foods like biscuits were a nightmare. I also had a problem with some meats. The metal hooks on the brackets hurt a little so I just chewed slowly and carefully until I got used to them. After the braces were eventually removed, it was back to Kirsten for the final leg of the treatment, which was to clean, polish and bleach my teeth and then finish off with three new crowns at the top. The order of work was clean and polish, and then bleaching. This needs to happen first so that, when you get to the shade of white you want, the crowns will be matched up the same. The crowns I have are porcelain which means they don't discolour, which is great because in the future all I will need to do when my teeth discolour again is have them bleached back to the original colour to match my crowns. As with many things in life the time has flown, and I can’t believe it was over two and a half years ago when this all began. But now it is all done it seems to have gone so quickly. I have two retainers that I must wear at night for the next year or so to keep everything in place. I am absolutely delighted with the results. I have not had any of my teeth removed and have had no bridging and no veneers. Apart from the three crowns at the top they are all my own teeth, and in my opinion look straight, white and natural. My cross bite has gone and my teeth now match up top and bottom. It was hard at times, especially towards the end when we were over time, and every month at my appointment I heard the words, ‘‘One more month.’’ But, as I said earlier, it was right to wait until the job was done properly, and a little extra time didn’t hurt that much. I feel more confident now with my smiling and hopefully my wife won’t call me miserable any more!! I would like to thank Kirsten of Clinica Europa Dental in Alhaurín el Grande and Joachim Stickel of Arco Ideal in Marbella for a great job and a lot of patience.
FINAL SMILE
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AP352: A nice country villa located on the outskirts of Alora being sold with 13,000m2 of land. The property itself offers 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a lounge with fireplace, kitchen and a dining room. 100m2 built. There is also an unfinished 31m2 almacen which would be ideal for visiting family or as a rental property. The villa has a swimming pool and covered seating area. Located only 200 metres from the main road it offers good and easy access. There are 2 wells and mains electricity. This is offered at a great price for a quick sale.
AP535: End terraced village house in the prosperous village of Carratraca which has bars, restaurants and a 5 star spa Hotel. The property is on 2 levels. The ground floor has a lounge with chimney, bedroom, bathroom and kitchen with a patio of 30m2 which has a storeroom. The upper level has 2 bedrooms, both have balconies. There is an external staircase that leads to an upper terrace. 110m2 constructed. This property is located in a quiet residential street with stunning views and good access. Mains water and electricity. This property needs some modernisation but when completed would offer a good family home in an up and coming area of the Guadalhorce Valley.
PRICE: 250,000€ €
PRICE: 157,500€ €
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enquiries@aloraproperties.com www.aloraproperties.com Plaza Fuente Arriba s/n Alora
AP534: Rarely available is this detached village house on one level close to Alora. This property is within walking distance to all amenities, train station, shops, bars and restaurants. The house offers a lounge, separate dining room, kitchen, 3 bedrooms and a bathroom. There is a very attractive patio with guest accommodation that offers 1 bedroom, bathroom and a laundry room. There is a terrace to the front which is 30x4m together with a garage of the same dimensions. There is a small easily maintained garden with fruit trees and stunning views. 185m2 constructed with land of 630m2 There is air con, mains water, electricity, telephone, Internet access, satellite tv and is also being sold partially furnished.
PRICE: 299,000€ €
AP363: Recently built apartment situated in the centre of Alora within walking distance to all shops and amenities. There is 50m2 of living space with a bathroom, open plan lounge/kitchen/bedroom. This property is being sold fully furnished. Water and electricity are connected. This property offers fantastic value for money and has great rental potential due to its very central location. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!
PRICE: 58,850€ €
Studio apartments in the centre of town only 300 Euros 5 bed villa in the country with lovely gardens and pool very private and fully furnished 1,500 Euros 3 bed roomed town house, immaculate condition luxury kitchen. 600 Euros 2 bed roomed apartment in the centre of town fully furnished, 450 Euros 4 bed roomed villa in the country lovely area with pool. 1,200 Euros 2 bed roomed country property 750 Euros Offices to let only 300 Euros, locals/shops from 900 Euros If you have a specific request for a property or budget please do not hesitate to call us, we can help.
Swimming Pools S.L.
Est. on the Costa del Sol for over 20 yrs Easy payment terms now available for
RESTORED CORTIJO WITH GUEST COTTAGE & SWIMMING POOL - MONTEFRIO, GRANADA Beautifully restored, tradtional cortijo with 5 double bedrooms plus seperate 3 bedroom cottage and swimming pool. - Well presented throughout with lots of character and many original features. MAIN HOUSE: 5 Double bedrooms (some with beamed ceilings), Fitted & tiled bathrooms, Lounge has fireplace with log burner installed, & Andalucian style kitchen / diner. COTTAGE: 3 Double bedrooms (2 with patio doors to gardens & pool area), Lounge has fireplace with log burner installed, Fitted & tiled bathroom. Stone floors throughout. OUTBUILDINGS: Second fitted & tiled kitchen / diner with fireplace, Pool side fitted & tiled bathroom, Plus 3 outbuildings which could convert for further accommodation / workshop / garage etc. OUTSIDE: Swimming pool with terrace area, flat fenced gardens with numerous fruit trees (including fig, olive & nispero), shaded courtyard area, private entrance with double gates, road access. POSITION: Peaceful, coutryside location with country & mountain views
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Professional Pool Maintenance From as little as 65€ per month Coloured Underwater Light Shows - only 40€ Luxury Pool Chairs & Lilos Chemicals Equipment Accessories Brilliant pool toys and games Friendly free advice always available Open 8am to 4pm Tel 952 591 053 www.splashmijas.moonfruit.com splashpools@electronbox.net We are situated at the entrance to Urb. Dona Pilar, next to the Octagon Bar & just off the Careterra de Mijas
A
As a foreigner, living in Mijas Pueblo, I am very impressed by the way the Spanish put a lot of effort into decorations and design. As I said in my last article about colours, maybe you don't think about it, but you are surrounded by all kinds of colours and shades wherever you go. It is more or less the same with the Spanish design and decorations‌ at least if you have the fortune to live in a traditional pueblo as I do. We from up north have lost our touch for that little extra a long time ago: everything should be as efficient and cheap as possible; there is no room for indulging in decoration and adornment just for the sake of it.
Written by
Annika Jonsson BLOND of Scandinavia
Here in Spain they still, it seems to me, take a lot of pride in doing just that. They are very proud about their houses and their village. You must have noticed how carefully they clean, not only the inside of their houses, but also the outside. It’s not only that they wash outside their houses every morning; it’s also the way they keep their houses in order. It’s a delight to see when the Spanish women whitewash the front of their precious house. I have noticed the line where the white paint on the wall meets the surface of the ‘‘calle’’ is very, very important. Some of them even use the old trick to paint a dark grey colour next to the white just so that the white looks even whiter. (It’s always the women who are doing the whitewash; it’s obviously too important a job to let the men do it.) A very traditional feature in Spain are the grilles in the windows which come in all kinds of shapes. The reason why they were there in the first place was for security at a time when they didn’t have any glass in the windows. Today they are, of course, still there for security, but the main reason is as a decoration. And what would a typical Spanish house look like without them? If you want to have a special design made for yourself, there are many small companies who can help you, and it’s not very expensive. What about having the emblem of your favorite football club or why not the name of your loved one? There is basically no restriction on what you could do. They are mostly painted black though any colour is of course possible, even though I think black is the best choice most of the time.
You see tiles on walls, on floors, patios, swimming pools etc; you see them basically everywhere. They are not only beautiful but also very practical: easy to clean, water and stain resistant and help with keeping the house cool. There are so many different kinds of tiles to choose from that it could sometimes feel like a daunting task to choose the right ones. It is an important choice. For example the wrong tiles could absolutely ruin your new bathroom; the right choice will turn it into a delight. I suggest that you decide what kind of style you want before you even enter the shop, modern sleek, Spanish rustic or whatever your taste is. Try to focus on that when you go to the tile shop or you are in for a long haul, I promise you. (I am saying this because I know how hard it is not to look at all the gorgeous tiles.) Ask the assistant immediately which tiles are for floors and which ones are for walls. It will save you a lot of time knowing this in advance or you could end up, after you have made your choice, that that specific tile is unsuitable for your floor and you have to start all over again. Now, having said all this, I could as well tell you the total opposite. This is what I do from time to time myself: just walk in to a tile shop. Wander around with no specific idea in mind and I can promise you that you will leave with lots of new ideas. And we live in Spain don’t we, and in Spain time is NOT money. This article is not so much about giving you ideas of design and decoration but more about reminding you of all the beauty around you. I will finish off by showing you some pictures of how you can decorate and decorate beautifully with no money at all. In the Barrio Santana in Mijas Pueblo they've put in a lot of effort to decorate with recycled material. Not only does it look wonderful, but it also teaches the children to take care of what's already here and the possibility to transform it in to something beautiful. Here are a few examples: This year’s Christmas tree was decorated with used plastic water bottles, cut to serpentines and painted in different colours.
Another very traditionally Spanish decoration are their tiles. They come in any colour or shape. They are masters on using them in all kinds of features and this includes the roof tiles. If you look up at the roof of a house you will see that they have a very typical way of mixing the tiles with cement. They fill every hole at the front with cement and paint it white. It does look very charming.
At the ‘verbena’ the roof was made out of a fish net with bunches of grapes made of the inner rolls of toilet paper and then painted green and lilac.
The roof tiles themselves, specifically if they are old, look great, for example as a down or up-lighter on your wall, both outside or inside. It immediately gives you that rustic, traditional and cosy atmosphere, and it’s very cheap.
Unfortunately I don’t have a picture to show you of two young girls dressed up as princesses in white. They looked absolutely gorgeous. And their clothes were all made of old BUBBLE WRAP!!!
A shading ‘roof’ outside one of the restaurants was also made of old plastic water bottles.
So, keep your eyes open when you walk around and you are in for a lot of nice surprises.
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Mijas Costa / 1974fre A top floor (2nd) 2 bedroom apartment of 80m² with lovely sea views. This property which is in need of renovation also comprises of a lounge diner with south facing terrace, fitted kitchen with breakfast bar and a bathroom. Outside is a communal pool with well kept gardens & picnic area. Underground parking. Only 2 minutes walk to the beach. No lift.
CERROS DEL AGUILLA / 2000fre A well maintained independent villa, 110m ² in beautiful condition, situated in the community of Cerros de Aguilla. This 3 bedroom reformed villa comprises of lounge with fireplace, separate dining room, fitted kitchen, en suite bathroom. Built on a 890m² lot size with fruit trees, a number of terraces, BBQ area, covered patios and private pool.
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La Cala Hills / 2001 fre Fantastic, ready to move in, set in a newer well maintained complex with views of the mountains and golf course. Comprising of a large lounge/diner, terrace, fully fitted kitchen with all appliances inc. an American fridge/freezer, large master bedroom with en suite bathroom, guest bedroom and bathroom. The apartment is recently decorated and sold with all furniture inc. flat screen TV and grand piano. Parking space and storage room.
EL FARO / 2010fre A superb penthouse apartment with large terraces to the front and back showing spectacular views of the sea and surrounding countryside and all day sun. This atico comprises of 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms with underfloor heating , fully fitted kitchen, lounge/dining area. The apartment is 89m² with terraces of 60m². There is a communal pool and tropical gardens. Car parking space and it sold fully furnished.
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FUENGIROLA SEAFRONT 1929fre OFFERS INVITED An extremely well maintained 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment of 126m² including the terrace, overlooking the beach with superb sea views. The property also comprises of a spacious lounge diner with large south facing terrace, fully fitted kitchen with utility room. Outside there is a private parking space. Sold partly furnished.
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TWhhat eHapHpenoeduOnsBelackDSuondcay,taondrhow does that affect us. (14th September 2008) by Alex Nicol, Numero Uno S.C.
R
emeniscent of the Banking Industry Turmoil of October 1926, Financial markets tumbled in Europe and North America following ‘Black Sunday’ for the US investment banking industry in which the third-largest investment bank, Merrill Lynch, was sold off to Bank of America for what was widely seen as a bargain price and the fourth largest, Lehman Brothers, slid into bankruptcy after the US authorities refused to back a potential industry rescue with public money.
Coming only a few weeks after the US government sorted out two of the country’s giant mortgage providers, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, the eclipse of Merrill Lynch and Lehman Bros., six months after the demise of Bear Stearns, brought home to market participants worldwide that the fallout from the collapse of the sub-prime US mortgage market, the credit squeeze and the problems in determining the value of ‘toxic’ real estatebacked securities is far from over and in fact leaves one wondering ‘who will be next’? The hedge fund industry, already battered by falling financial markets and tighter restrictions on borrowing, faces further uncertainty with the application for bankruptcy protection by Lehman and the acquisition of Merrill, both significant prime brokerage players, and continuing worries about the continued viability of the business model of the top remaining independent players, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley. The market rout began in Asia, where the Taiwan stock market index fell 4 per cent, Singapore and India by 3.3 per cent and Australia by 1.8 per cent. Share prices suffered similar falls in Europe, with the UK’s benchmark FTSE 100 index closing the day down 3.92 per cent, while France’s Cac 40 fell 3.78 per cent and Germany's Dax declined by 2.74 per cent. In the US, the Dow Jones ended the day down 4.4 per cent after the largest one-day fall since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, while the broader-based S&P 500 declined by 4.7 per cent and the Nasdaq Composite index by 3.6 per cent. Up until the early hours of Saturday 13th September, there were hopes that Lehman might have been rescued, with Bank of America and UKbased Barclays reportedly in talks over a bid, but the optimism evaporated on Sunday morning as North-Carolina-based Bank of America struck a deal instead with Merrill Lynch, while Barclays withdrew once it became evident it could not obtain shareholders' approval in time. Merrill Lynch was acquired in an all-share transaction valuing the largest US brokerage firm at USD50bn. The price offered by Bank of America of USD29 a share was almost USD12 a share higher than Friday’s closing price, but less than half of its peak share price over the past 12 months. Lehman Brothers H o l d i n g s announced it would file a petition under Chapter 11 of the US
Bankruptcy Code with the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. The filing does not affect the investment bank's broker-dealer subsidiaries nor its investment management subsidiary, Neuberger Berman, which was up for sale along with the rest of Lehman’s investment management operations, including its substantial private equity business. The implications of Lehman’s Chapter 11 filing are not yet clear for hedge fund clients of the firm's Capital Markets Prime Services business, which employs more than 600 professionals in the US, Europe, Middle East and Asia-Pacific region, and which provides financing, fixed income and equity prime brokerage, futures, research and strategic transactions. Some of the non affected business divisions of Lehmans will undoubtedly attract interest from the likes of Mitsubishi or Nomura so watch this space. The day saw new moves by the authorities on both sides of the Atlantic as well as industry members to shore up the financial sector. The US Federal Reserve made it easier for financial institutions to obtain emergency liquidity, extending the range of securities they can use to obtain loans to include equities, and said it would increase the volume of Treasury securities it auctions under one of its regular lending programmes. The Bank of England has injected GBP5bn into short-term money markets, while the European Central Bank provided EUR30bn in fresh liquidity. Meanwhile 10 of the world's largest banks agreed to establish a USD70 billion emergency fund, of which any of them may access up to one-third. Meanwhile troubled insurer American International Group, has been shored up by the US Federal Reserve for USD40bn in short-term financing. Bank of America's acquisition of Merrill Lynch, although hailed as a potential ‘steal’ by market analysts, was greeted by a 23 per cent fall in its share price by the close. In the UK, the country’s biggest mortgage bank HBOS fell as far as 33 per cent on fears that it might face higher mortgage write-downs and higher wholesale borrowing costs before recovering to finish down 17 per cent. So what affect does all that have on us here in Spain? To find out lets have a look at the real economic figures published somewhat reluctantly by the government recently. The Spanish government has played an active role in trying to offset the impact of the adjustment of the housing market on the economy. Since the beginning of the year, we have had three fiscal packages. These are probably the main reason why the economy has not contracted yet. According to the last GDP report, the private sector economy contracted
costa HOMES >>
in Q2, but the government kept overall growth (just) in positive territory. Throughout the previous packages, El Presidente Zapatero consistently highlighted the need to boost the rental market, and this policy is beginning to take more concrete form (excuse the pun). In order to revive investors’ appetite in the rental market, Zapatero announced recently the approval of tax breaks for quoted real estate investment companies. Also announced was a new EUR3bn credit line from ICO (a government credit-granting body) to allow real estate developers to exchange their property-linked loans for new loans on the condition that they commit to making unsold new homes available for rent within a specific amount of time. The latter policy is the latest example of a direct credit injection into a specific sector of the Spanish economy. In earlier packages, new multibillion euro credit facilities were made available for social housing developments and for small and medium-sized firms. The extension of those facilities into 2009 and 2010 has already been announced. The government yesterday announced that the new EUR3bn facility (0.20.3% of GDP) might also increase next year. I view positively these measures aimed at improving the liquidity of particularly vulnerable firms. These firms are the Achilles’ heel of Spain’s real economy at the moment. It won’t prevent firms from failing - EUR3bn is less than 1% of total loans outstanding to real estate and construction firms; and it won’t in our opinion prevent a contraction of GDP in Q3 and Q4'08 -- but if the facility continues to grow then at the margin should help soften the blow to the economy. Despite these new measures -- which included a 4% increase in pensions -- Finance Minister Solbes is trying to keep tight control over the overall budget position. Recently he announced that spending (ex unemployment benefits) would rise no more than 3.5% in 2009 compared to the 5% rate agreed as recently as June. Nevertheless, we continue to question whether such tight control can be maintained. The government has cut its 2009 GDP forecast to 1%, but I see it closer to zero. The cyclical drag on Spain’s deficit is building momentum. The Spanish banks have now become a hot house for the ‘Jitters’ as branches are tightening their lending belts beyond recognition, one well known high street lender who used to have a local sign off limit of €200k now can barely sign off a car loan without first consulting the central risk dept in Madrid. The first list of ‘reposessions’ has hit the desks of estate agents that are poised once again to make hay for their wealthier clients at the cost of somebody elses fiscal demise. For the first time since 1994 we see the institutional investors from the US here in droves picking away at the carcasses of fallen giants of Spanish industry. Hotels with valuations of €70m to €100m are now changing hands for as little as €15m. The man in the street is struggling to make ends meet as the cost of borrowing is escalating out of control, whilst at the same time the cash rich people are picking up the bargains of the century. So sit tight, don’t panic winter is approaching and things can only get better. On a serious note though if you are finding it difficult seek professional advise and don’t ignore the problem. Do not under any circumstances bury your head in the sand, the problem will not go away.
costa life 61
>> costa HOMES
Obtaining a Mortgage In Spain W
ho offers mortgages?
a margin over EURIBOR generally EURIBOR +0.75% to 1.5% but individual circumstances can dictate higher or lower rates. Fixed rate mortgages are available at slightly higher interest rates. Some lenders offer a lower Start up interest rates for the first year or part interest only mortgages, ideally suited for funding new construction.
Mortgages are available from most High street Spanish banks and saving banks[Caja] and International lenders in Gibraltar. Most Developers will have a loan scheme in place on ‘off-plan’ purchases, but you need to be aware that these are only available on completion and will not cover any stage payments i.e. normally 30% deposit. Resale properties are also sometimes offered for sale with a mortgage in place that can be easily transferred.
How often will interest rates be reviewed? Usually once a year, fixed rate mortgages are available at higher interest rates.
What is the maximum repayment period?
What is the cost of arranging a mortgage?
Mostly commonly, 15 or 20 years, but up to 35 years can be arranged.
The cost of a Spanish mortgage varies greatly from lender to lender and also from broker to broker. Generally you should allow between 23% of the purchase price of the property.
What information will the bank require:
Why is it so expensive? The up-front costs on a Spanish loan are much higher than in the UK for a number of reasons. Firstly the Bank itself will charge an arrangement fee ranging from .75% - 2% of the loan depending on the loan to value and the complexity. The higher fees are generally charged for ‘non-status’ lending or bridging finance and for a normal mortgage you should not pay more than 1.25% There is also mortgage tax of 1% of the value of the loan and 1% of the interest due to be accrued over the term of the loan e.g. on a loan of €100,000 over 25 years at 3.5% the total interest payable is approx. €50,990 making the tax payable €1000 + €509.90 As a Spanish mortgage is attached to the property and not the owner it has its own title deed. You will have to pay for the deed to be produced and also land registry and notary fees. The cost of this varies from area to area and on the value of the property. Valuation fees vary depending on the value of the property and the valuation company but start at about €200 for a small apartment. Lastly you have the services of a mortgage broker and again this can vary tremendously. Some charge nothing and just rely on the commission the banks pay them whilst others charge up to 1.5% of the loan. It is recommended that a broker is used if income is hard to prove as they will know which lenders are the most flexible and can save valuable time. The break-even point for a Spanish loan as opposed to a UK loan or remortgage is approximately 5 years, so if you are considering paying the loan off in full before that time you need to think long and hard about which way to proceed as it may be cheaper to raise the funds at home.
62 costa life
How much can I borrow? As general guide a non resident will be able to borrow 70%-80% of the valuation of a property, whilst residents can borrow up to 100% of the valuation. The key to obtaining the maximum mortgage offer is in achieving the maximum valuation, which is the job of the Tasador [valuer]. Most Banks will accept valuations from 1 or 2 Tasadors whilst a few employ their own. Your income is the other determining factor and the monthly repayments have to be covered by up to 40% of your NET salary, but most banks will only accept 35% Land purchase is limited to 60% of valuation by most lenders, as is lending on ‘Finca Rustica’ property. If you already own land and want to build then construction loans are an option. The bank will lend up to 70% of the projected completed value which in most cases will be more than enough to cover 100% of the build cost.
Which Currency should I borrow in? Mortgages are available in most major currencies. You should be aware that if you borrow in a currency that does not have a fixed value against the euro, currency fluctuations could make your borrowing more expensive or less expensive depending on whether your chosen currency weakens or strengthens against the euro.
What Interest rate will I pay? Interest rates again will depend on the currency you choose to borrow. Interest rates for mortgages in euros are based on the European Inter Bank Overnight Rate, or EURIBOR for short, which has largely takeover from the older MIBOR. The lenders rate will be
Banks vary in the amount of information that they require, but in general the more you can provide the easier the loan is to procure. Ideally the following would be good
If you are employed: Last 3 wage /salary slips. Latest P60. Last 6 months bank statements. Reference letter from your employer confirming date of employment, proof of income and position and prospects within the company Bank reference (The lender may have to apply for this themselves depending on who you bank with) Some lenders require an experion credit check to be carried out Copy of passport/residencia.
If you are self employed: Last 2 years tax returns. Copies of accounts for the last 2/3 years Chartered accountants copy report, confirming your annual personal drawings from the company Copy of your passport/residencia 6 months personal bank statements Bank reference letter
You will also need: In relation to a specific property, the nota simple from the property registry, offer letter or sales purchase contract. If you are applying for a construction loan then you must provide the Escritura for the land. The plans stamped by the College of Architects and a 10 year building guarantee. An NIE number from the local police station, which you or your lawyer can arrange. You will also need to open a Spanish bank account and it is advisable to use the same bank as your mortgage is with.
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Article & images by
Simon Hill Tecomaria capensis
T
his is what my neighbours in the campo are calling the rain that has just fallen from the heavens. Yes, a full 45 litres per square metre has fallen on our fincas in the Guadalhorce Valley! It is liquid gold for olive growers because it fattens up the crop prior to the green olive harvest, giving juicier green olives for us to enjoy and bigger earnings for them. Blessed relief for all!
The cooler, damper conditions of autumn have brought a welcome change from the unremitting heat of summer. During the summer months, because I use little water, my own droughted garden tends to lack colour, and it is only with the freshness of autumn that the plants start to perk up. Even with the absence of rain, cooler night temperatures and morning dews are beneficial. Plants and shrubs that seemed half dead during the summer are making new growth and many are now flowering. For me, autumn is a favourite season in AndalucĂa. The autumn colours of further north and at higher altitudes in this region are scarcely to be seen in my garden, and many of my plants continue to flower throughout the winter, provided there is no frost.
Buddleia Black Knight
I deliberately make use of plants that only come into flower as the nights start to draw in and of bulbous plants that can push their shoots up through the now softened earth. There are now unexpected blazes of colour in corners which are only green or brown or green at other times of the year. The change of season is an excellent tonic not only for the gardener but also for wildlife rarely seen during the summer, but now out and about as food becomes more abundant. For example there is a healthy population of hedgehogs wandering about my garden after dark, to the consternation of the dogs. The cooler times of autumn are also for looking back and planning ahead. Plants that were summer casualties can be replaced by some that are more appropriate to the weather prevailing in our area, not forgetting the possibility that next year may be as dry or drier than this one. In fact, our long, hot, rainless summers are the most important thing to remember when planning a garden and choosing plants. With scarce water we should plant less lavishly and abundantly than we might if
A fine variegated grass (Miscanthus)
costa HOMES >> water were not a limited resource. Those with a guaranteed and abundant water supply can, in many ways, continue to garden as they would in more northern places and with the same mind set, even if the plants are different. This allows us to achieve a lush subtropical look, but there will be many casualties if the water fails! Sadly, abundant water can often have negative effects on Mediterranean plants, which rarely like to have their feet in water. During a one-off irrigation this summer, when I had chosen not to use the water that was available to me, pressure created a leak in a pipe. Water poured onto the roots of some plants that require little or no watering during the summer and sudden death was the result. Why does this happen? In clay soils, too much water saturates the soil pores which restricts the access of oxygen to the roots. Because the soil is warm, the existing oxygen is rapidly respired by the roots themselves and by the abundant soil micro organisms. Without further oxygen the roots effectively suffocate and lose their ability to take up water, at which point the leaves of the plants rapidly wilt and then die. Many a gardener makes the mistake of thinking that this wilting means that the plant needs water - and gives yet more water. A fatal mistake! Many of the gardens in our part of Andalucía are on intractable sticky clay, like concrete when dry and impossible when wet. These are the soils most subject to the problems of water logging, because they are so impermeable when wet. Lucky indeed are those few with gardens on well-drained soils with little clay content! If your soil is heavy and sticky, it is vital to improve the drainage and this is best done by digging in loads of well rotted manure (available by the truckload inland) and coarse sand if you can afford it. Now is a good time to do this, when the soil is just sufficiently moist to be easily worked.
yellow Senna corymbosa providing a fine contrast with the deep purple Buddleia davidii, which is now flowering again. Both these shrubs need to be pruned back in spring; otherwise they get too tall and leggy. On a smaller scale are some lovely autumn and winter flowering sub-shrubs that are members of the Acanthus family. In flower now is Barleria cristata with bluish purple flowers that seems to do well in dry shade. Barleria obtusa, the so-called bush violet, will soon come into flower. This spreading low shrub is excellent value when smothered in clear blue flowers and it is incredibly vigorous and drought tolerant. A terrestrial bromeliad that is possibly a species of Dyckia, has, after six years, suddenly produced a massive flower spike and the flowers should open soon. At last I will find out what it really is! Last but not least, I must mention once again the scarlet passion flower, Passiflora vitifolia, now with a magnificent autumn flush of flowers. Every garden should have one, so pester your garden centre! Simon Hill can be contacted for advice or queries: FINCAROSABLANCA@telefonica.net
Senna corymbosa
For me, gardening in Spain has brought tears and latterly joy. When I was newly arrived and not being used to a Mediterranean climate, I began to experiment and see what would or would not grow - the ‘Give it a go, see what happens’ approach. Clearly, plants adapted to Mediterranean climates could be expected to do well, but they are often difficult to get. Digging up native plants is not allowed and, in any case, rarely successful. Far too often, plants available at local garden centres or other outlets along the coast are those least suited to dry conditions. We must hope that the current move to stock native or similar plants (Cistus, Myrtle etc)) will continue and expand. Some of you may have noticed that roundabouts in Coín have been planted with grasses. Many wonderful ornamental grasses, native or otherwise, do well in dry gardens in our region. Not everyone likes them, but they can make a marvellous show, ruffled by the breeze or glistening with the morning dew. Many are now widely available for sale. What is now flowering in my garden in late September? At the back of the border is cape honeysuckle (Tecomaria capensis) now covered in brilliant scarlet flowers. This easy-going rambling shrub is great against a wall or fence for support and needs little water. Nearby is a golden
Pennisetum sp.
Barleria cristata
Olive tree
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JONATHAN LIVINGSTON SEAGULL
Written by
Erny Harrison
T
o me, seagulls are amongst the most fascinating birds in the world. They are gracious in flight, intelligent in their methods of communication and a great companion to mankind, even if we don’t always appreciate their role. My first interest in seagulls came in the early ’70s when Richard Bach’s book about Jonathan Livingston Seagull came onto the market. Almost
40 years later it is still available today (Avon Books ISBN 0-380-01286) and a real must for anybody who wants a lovely bedtime story, not just for the kids but for yourself as well. In short, it tells the story of a seagull who wants more out of life than scampering for food during the day and going back to the same place every evening. Jonathan Livingston wants to fly higher than any other seagull has ever done and, by pursuing his dream, is
rejected by his parents and the whole flock until he finds like-minded seagulls who take him under their wing. Seagulls feed during the day in coastal areas and rivers. They are scavengers, cleaners of inter-tidal grounds. Born opportunists, they will eat anything they can lay their beaks on, including from dustbins and food left outside restaurants. Occasionally they may even swoop down on your terrace and try to steal the food you have prepared for the barbecue. Gulls practise kleptoparasitism in abundance, which means they don't hesitate to steal away prey already hunted and killed by another animal, but their preference is fish, crustaceans and molluscs. Mussels and clams are carried in their beaks high into the sky and then dropped onto a hard surface or rocks to break open the shells, so they can eat the soft insides. Gulls are members of the Laridae family and there are more than 50 species of them. The best known are the Herring gulls with orange feet and the California gulls with yellow feet. Their size is between that of a pigeon and a black crow. They have long winged webbed feet as do all sea birds, and their colouring changes with the season from white to grey and black. At all times their belly is greyish black which provides them with an excellent camouflage for catching fish. Telling the difference between males and females is only possible when you hold them in your hand but, as with most animals, the female is usually smaller then the male. Seagulls live many miles from their hunting grounds in areas far from their predators, often on cliff tops or in the roof of abandoned barns. They can fly up to 35 miles an hour.
Once juveniles, they will stay under their parents’ wings and always fly with them, learning the skills of fishing and how to avoid predators from them. A young seagull will not grow into adulthood for another three to four years, when he will reach his full colouring. Their unique system allows them to drink both fresh and salt water. Salt water, scooped up from the sea, doesn't do them any harm as they have a special pair of glands right above their eyes which filters the salt out of the water and flushes it out through openings in the bill. When we talk about predators, there really aren’t that many. The occasional shark may catch a gull as can a falcon, an eagle or a hawk. Most threats are aimed at the eggs, mainly by snakes but, as is so often the case, most of the harm that is being done comes from mankind. Not just in Spain but in most tourist coastal areas in the world, indiscriminate construction of buildings and commercial centres means that the seagull is losing out on its habitat, and in the USA two species are already on the endangered list. Other threats come from pollution, climate change and being caught in fishing nets. But the seagull himself can be a nuisance as well. They fly around your sailing boat, the beach or your terrace, screeching their heads off and swooping low in threatening behaviour. A lot of gimmicks have been tried to chase them away, plastic owls and snakes being the favourites, but apparently the gulls quickly see through them. At airports near the sea an automated bird control system called TOM 500 can be used to scare birds away by sweeping along the runways and their surroundings using a green laser beam.
Their nests are made of grass, sticks and seaweed in which they care for their young, with attention and feeding shared between the parents. Once a site has been chosen they will return to it every year for as long as they live, which can be up to 15 years. The birds form one large family and every member of the colony helps in the protection of the eggs and hatchlings. Seagulls have one brood a year, no more than a maximum of three brown or blue speckled eggs, which will take around three weeks to hatch. The parents are very protective of their young who stay in the nest for a minimum of six weeks and can stay with their parents for as long as six months. Their food is regurgitated for easy feeding.
Look up in the sky sometimes when you are in a coastal area. If you are lucky, you may see a large moving cloud that can consist of 70 or 80 gulls. Gull soaring is not unusual and happens mainly when a predator has been spotted. But, who knows, maybe you'll be lucky enough to see a new Jonathan Livingston Seagull being taken under the wings of those who dream to fly higher than any seagull before.
>> costaSTUFF
Costa
Cuisine
by Jan Morley of FreezerMor
Halloween Party!
COOKIES
GHOSTLY POTATOES TOADS AND SNAKES ON BROOMSTICKS SPICEY BAT WINGS SPIDERS´WEB COOKIES CREEPY CRISPY CRUNCHIES WITCHES BREW
Choose some slightly oval shaped potatoes, bake in the oven until soft, cool, cut lengthways.
25
SPIDERS’ WEB COOKIES
>> MENU
GHOSTLY POTATOES
FOR
75g (3oz) soft brown sugar 2 tablespoons golden syrup 1 tablespoon black treacle 1 level teaspoon each of ground ginger and mixed spice 95g (3 1/2 oz) margarine ½ level teaspoon baking powder 225g (8oz) plain flour 110g (4oz) icing sugar for decorating
Line 2 baking sheets approx 30cm x 40 cm with non-stick baking paper, lightly greased. Heat oven to gas mark 4, 350ºf or 180ºc. Put the sugar, syrup, treacle, bi-carb. spices and 1 tablespoon of water in a large saucepan, bring to the boil.
Scoop out the insides, carefully leaving the skin intact. Mash together with butter, cream and seasoning.
Remove from the heat, stir in marg., until melted, and then sift the flour in.
Spoon it back into the empty shells, add 2 currants for eyes. Allow 30 minutes to reheat ready to serve.
This should now be a manageable dough, add a little more flour if too soft.
These can be made the day before, and stored in the fridge until needed.
TOADS & SNAKES ON BROOMSTICKS
Let it rest in fridge for 20 minutes, then roll out, cut into your desired shapes, 3mm thick. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until firm. When cool, mix the icing sugar with water, a little at a time, until you can pipe it onto a spider’s web onto them.
Dice chicken fillets, then alternate on wooden skewers, with cocktail sausages.
CREEPY CRISPY CRUNCHIES
Brush with a mixture of honey and Dijon mustard, season with salt and pepper, leave to marinate in fridge for 1 hour, before cooking, in a moderate oven 180ºc, gas mark 4, for 20 to 25 minutes.
Melt 100g (2oz) butter with 200g (8oz) marshmallows, stir in 8oz of c h o c o la te ric e c e re a l e . g c o c o pops, mix in150g (4oz) M and M’s.
Prepare the brooms frills to go on your sticks, by folding a length of brown paper, snipping into it, cut a strip approx. 4 cm long, then wrap around the end of the skewer, after cooking, secure with a rubber band, or sellotape.
SPICY BAT WINGS Mix together tomato sauce, a good splash each of Lea and Perrins and dark Soya sauce, ½ teaspoon of English mustard. Brush the marinate over the wings, leave in fridge for at least 1 hour before cooking. Bake in a moderate oven for 20 minutes. 70 costa life
Spoon into bun or petit four cases.
WITCHES BREW Mix together 2 cartons of apple juice, 1 carton pomegranate juice, I carton peach juice, add slices of orange, serve over lots of ice.
g.t. mckenna THE IRISH FAMILY BUTCHER
finest irish Beef & Bacon
tasty irish cheeses & gammons
cooked hams
BBQ meats
meat for all occasions
Tel./Fax.: 952 930 351 C.C. Los Jarales 3, Calahonda km 197
>> costaSTUFF
ARE YOU FEARFUL OF THE FUTURE?
E
very day we read more depressing news in the media about the state of the economy or we hear about another disaster somewhere in the world. News of earthquakes, another threatened tsunami, devastation after hurricanes and floods, more suicide bombings and terrorist activity seem to create a climate of fear throughout the earth. With the recent news exposure of the 'Big Bang' experiment in Geneva, Switzerland, and the threat of further destruction of our planet even more fear was aroused in the average person watching the television reports.
Are you facing the future with fear and dread wondering where it will all end and how you will be affected? Worry and fear very often contribute to sickness and even death as the daily stress invades the mind and body. Fear can actually cause physical symptoms of heart palpitations, sweating and paralysis of our faculties while worry grinds away at our peace of mind producing nervous breakdowns and other associated conditions. Does all this worry and fear achieve anything good at all? The Oxford Dictionary defines the word ‘worry’ as ‘‘anxious or troubled, letting the mind dwell on troubles, allowing no rest or peace of mind, full of uneasiness, giving way to anxiety’’. To worry about a matter and be full of fear can never be constructive, in fact it will always be destructive in some way. But with all this bad news in the world, surely it would be completely irresponsible not to worry! It would be wonderful though if we were able to live a life free of constant worry and fear, don’t you think? Let’s remember that the news media will always highlight dramatic and alarming news as this sells newspapers and attracts viewers to television channels. Any good news is considered unimportant and will usually be confined to the back page of the newspaper or as an afterthought perhaps in a TV news report. The majority of the civilised world is greatly influenced by the media which is able to control the moods and attitudes of the population. The average person will wholeheartedly believe a media report never considering that it could be biased or even totally untrue, while at the same time considering the information contained in the Holy Bible to be fantasy or a fabrication of truth. Interestingly, it is now being established more and more that as scientists continue to conduct experiments to prove the Bible wrong and their man-made theories correct, evidence is being uncovered showing that the information recorded in God’s Word is actually true. Some scientists who have tried to prove the theory of evolution are starting to talk about ‘Intelligent Design’. We all have a free choice to decide for ourselves what we believe. For those who make a decision to believe God and His Word there is a peace
72 costa life
and a comfort available which will carry us through every trial, every storm, every difficulty. God will never leave or forsake us. He says ‘‘…..don’t worry about everyday life - whether you have enough food, drink and clothes. Doesn’t life consist of more than food and clothing?……..Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Look at the birds. They don’t need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are……….Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.’’ Scriptures (NLT) Matthew 7:25-34. Annette Riggall The Evangelical Christian Fellowship ‘‘ an oasis where the Word of God is preached and the love of God is shared.’’ Sundays 4.30pm Iglesia San Miguel, Calahonda Tel/Fax (0034) 952 930 275 E-mail: tecfellowship@gmail.com Website: www.ecfmijas.com Pastors Peter and Annette Riggall
>> costaSTUFF
By Russell Vaughan Mintmicro S.L 951160411
Save money on your computer equipment . It has been really hot so far this summer and our computers and printers were not originally designed to work at such high temperatures. In the old days computers were stored in air conditioned, dust free rooms. Printers all in the same place shared by everyone they were loud and very unreliable. Over the years as components became cheaper companies bought more computers and better printers helping bring the cost down as the price dropped more of us started to own computers and printers extra cooling was added to computers, components got smaller and the
Companies often asked employees to shut of the monitors of all equipment and shut down idle equipment, to save energy and cut down the amount of heat generated over n i g h t . Companies reported incredible savings not only was the electricity bills for running the computers system lower but the Air-conditioning also worked less and the cost of keeping a comfortable work space also dropped. The manufacturers started making the working components smaller, less energy hungry and less hot when they run. Todays computers have lots of clever tricks to keep them cool, fans that only kick in when the computer reaches a certain temperature, CPU and other chips so thin that they generate as little heat as possible. But remember the computer was designed to work in an office our homes especially here in Spain have all the things computers and printers hate heat, humidity and dust ‘‘loads of dust’’.
So what can we do to keep our costs down? computer moved from those cool dust free environments to offices (often still air conditioned) printers moved first from the print room to each department and then further to the user’s d e s k t o p . Problems with heat generated by this equipment became a byproduct of the efficiency and productivity companies wanted. 74 costa life
Switch off computer, if it’s not in use why leave it on. If you use voip cheap or skype consider buying one of the new devices that you don’t have to leave your computer on. Monitors, if you have to leave your PC on switch off the monitor this will save electricity, even better replace your old CRT monitor for a flat screen unit, they run much cooler and use less electricity than their older cousins. Hard drives, The hard drive is almost the only moving part left in your computer (apart from the fans). In our dusty, hot and humid environment hard drives fail save your data and back it all up to an external device. Printers, Ink in your inkjet or laser printer dries up, blocking the jets which will cost you the price of a new cartridge or a complete set each time you need to print anything, to save money print 1 page at least every month to keep the inkjets and toner drum working. Laptops. Portable equipment is very susceptible to overheating, they need servicing at least every year or so, the dust, hair and pollen in the air gets sucked into the laptop and blocks the cooling system and processor, this causes the computer to run MUCH hotter than it was designed for. Blocked with dust the CPU can run so hot it causes fans and other components to fail. If your portable is running slow or very hot get it serviced at your local computer repair shop. If you are stuck, give me a call, I can help.
SEO Services Spain Search Engine Optimization Want your business website to appear at the top of Google, Yahoo and MSN? Do you have a website but nobody knows that it exists? I am an SEO consultant and can help you to attain good rankings and increase web traffic to your site and your sites visibility on the internet. Call for a free no obligation analysis of your current search engine placement and websites optimization. Different packages available to suit all budgets and requirements. Websites designed from just â‚Źâ‚Ź400 and include free hosting, domain name and email.
For more information please visit www.seoservicesspain.com or call Rob on 0034 617 940 022
>> costa STUFF
Britney Spears plans to go back on tour The ‘‘Gimme More’’ singer has been practicing up her dance moves as she prepares for her re-emergence into the world of pop music - with Brit’s mother Lynne confirming her daughter’s big future plans, saying, ‘‘She’s releasing music, she has plans to do tours and some other little secrets that I can’t tell you. It’s going to be fabulous though.’’
Fertility Water Nicole Kidman credits the ‘‘fertility water’’ she drank on the Australia film set for helping her realise her baby dreams. Seven babies were conceived on the set and the 41-year-old new mum insists there was something in the water. She said ‘‘I never thought that I would get pregnant and give birth to a child but it happened on this movie’’.
Keanu Reeves A judge in Los Angeles has dismissed assault claims against the actor by a paparazzo who was claiming Keanu hit him with his car, deliberately. Photographer Alison Silva claims he was hit by Keanu’s Porsche back in March 2007 while photographing him. The judge declared that ‘‘There was no evidence of the slightest contact or the slightest touching.’’ Adding that Reeves did not ‘‘act maliciously’’ as he pulled out of a parking space as Alison had claimed.
Kitten v Jordan Ex-Atomic Kitten star turned reality TV star Kerry Katona is reportedly writing a tell-all book about Jordan. Kerry is furious about some of the things Jordan has said about her recently. She thinks she’s insecure and hypocritical and wants the world to know who the real Jordan is. Kerry and Jordan became good friends when they competed on the British reality show I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here. Kerry was even a bridesmaid in Jordan’s wedding to Peter Andre.
>> You Don't Mess With the Zohan Adam Sandler, John Turturro, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Nick Swardson, Rob Schneider A top Israeli commando named Zohan (Adam Sandler) fakes his own death in order to pursue his dream: becoming a hairstylist in New York. Though he wants to put his life of counter-terrorism behind him, he quickly finds that it is not so easy to escape one’s roots. As enemies old and new try to take him out, they will all come to learn the same thing: you don’t mess with the Zohan.
>> Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Harrison Ford, Shia LaBeouf, Cate Blanchett, Ray Winstone, Jim Broadbent, Karen Allen, John Hurt The newest Indiana Jones adventure begins in the desert in 1957 - the height of the Cold War. Indy and his sidekick Mac (Ray Winstone) have escaped a close scrape with Soviet agents on a remote airfield. Now, Jones has returned home to Marshall College to find things have gone from bad to worse. Close friend and dean of the college (Jim Broadbent) explains that Indy’s recent activities have made him the object of suspicion, and that the government has put pressure on the university to fire him. 72 costa life
>> The Incredible Hulk Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, William Hurt, Tim Blake Nelson, Ty Burrell, Christina Cabot A cure is in reach for the world’s most primal force of fury: The Incredible Hulk. We find scientist Bruce Banner, living in shadows, scouring the planet for an antidote. But the warmongers who dream of abusing his powers won’t leave him alone, nor will his need to be with the only woman he has ever loved, Betty Ross. Upon returning to civilization, our brilliant doctor is ruthlessly pursued by The Abomination -- a nightmarish beast of pure adrenaline and aggression whose powers match The Hulk’s own.
>> The Happening Zooey Deschanel, Betty Buckley, Mark Wahlberg, John Leguizamo A day in the park is where the end begins. One otherwise peaceful summer morning, New Yorkers strolling in Central Park come to a halt in unison, and then begin killing themselves by any means at hand. At a high-rise construction site a few blocks over, it’s raining bodies as workers step off girders into space. And all the while, the city is so quiet you can hear the gentle breeze in the trees. That breeze carries a neurotoxin, and what or who put it there (terrorists?) is a question raised periodically as the film unfolds. But the question that really matters is how and whether anybody in the Middle Atlantic States is going to stay alive.
>> costa STUFF
Is there a 7 10 on this car… A few days ago I was having some work done at my local garage. A blonde came in and asked for a seven-hundred-ten. We all looked at each other, and another customer asked, ‘‘What is a seven-hundred-ten?’’ She replied, ‘‘You know, the little piece in the middle of the engine. I lost it and need a new one. It had always been there.’’ The mechanic gave the blonde a piece of paper and a pen and asked her to draw what the piece looked like. She drew a circle and in the middle of it wrote 710.
Two little kids are in a hospital, lying on stretchers next to each other outside the operating room - the first surgeries of the day.
He then took her over to another car which had the hood up and asked, ‘‘Is there a 710 on this car?’’
The first kid leans over and asks, ‘‘What are you in here for?’’ The second kid says, ‘‘I’m in here to get my tonsils out and I’m a little nervous.’’
She pointed and said, ‘‘Of course, it’s right there.’’
How they got their names… Hotmail Founder Jack Smith got the idea of accessing e-mail via the web from a computer anywhere in the world. When Sabeer Bhatia came up with the business plan for the mail service, he tried all kinds of names ending in mail and finally settled on Hotmail as it included the letters ‘‘html’’ - the programming language to write web pages. It was initially referred to as HoTMaiL with selective uppercasing.
Apple computers It was the favourite fruit of founder Steve Jobs. He was three months late in filing a name for the business, and he threatened to call his company Apple Computers if the other colleagues didn’t come up with a better name before 5 o’clock.
78 costa life
What are you in for… The first kid says, ‘‘You’ve got nothing to worry about. I had that done when I was four. They put you to sleep, and when you wake up they give you lots of Ice Cream. It’s a breeze.’’ The second kid then asks, ‘‘What are you here for?’’ The first kid says, ‘‘A circumcision.’’ ‘‘Whoa!’’ the second kid replies. ‘‘Good luck. I had that done when I was born. Couldn’t walk for a year.’’
Strange Job Inter view Behaviour… ‘‘... stretched out on the floor to fill out the job application.’’ ‘‘She wore a Walkman and said she could listen to me and the music at the same time.’’ ‘‘Balding candidate abruptly excused himself. Returned to office a few minutes later, wearing a hairpiece.’’ ‘‘Applicant challenged interviewer to arm wrestle.’’ ‘‘... wouldn’t get out of the chair until I would hire him. I had to call the police.’’
costa STUFF >> Sudoku answers for Issue 41
6
5 7
1
2
4
4 8 9
5 9
8
1
2 5
4
7 4
7
1
6
3 9 2
The rules of Sudoku: place a digit from 1-9 in each empty cell, so every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1-9.
Across 1. Counting device (6) 4. A forceful consequence (6) 9. Deport (5) 10. Relished (7) 11. Act of deliberate betrayal (7) 12. Movable staircases (5) 13. Easily handled or managed (6) 15. Lithe (6) 19. Device in a brass wind instrument (5) 21. Oval (7) 23. Slowly moving ice mass (7) 24. Large artery (5) 25. Throws out (6) 26. Sternutation (6)
Down 1. Turned away or aside (7) 2. Similar (5) 3. Kitchen implement (7) 5. Commissioned military officer (5) 6. Unfathomable (7) 7. Periodic rise and fall of sea level (5) 8. Deceive by mock action (5) 14. Assemble in proper sequence (7) 16. Scoundrel (7) 17. Promote (7) 18. Prolonged period of time (5) 19. Undefined (5) 20. Live (5) 22. Sum of money offered as a prize (5)
Crossword answers for Issue 41 costa life 79
>> costa GUIDE
>>
Useful numbers & information TRANSPORT >> AIRPORTS
EMERGENCIES >> LOCAL POLICE Local Police Alhaurin el Grande Alora Antequera Arroyo de la Miel Benalmádena, Málaga, Marbella & Ronda Cartama Coin Estepona Fuengirola Local Fuengirola Municipal Nerja Torremolinos
092 952 491 074 952 496 468 952 708 104 952 562 142 092 952 422 211 952 453 267 952 800 243 952 580 900 952 197 090 952 521 545 952 376 000
>> NATIONAL POLICE National Police Guardia Civil Alhaurin el Grande Alhaurin del la Torre Alora Cartama Coin
>> MEDICAL SERVICES Emergencies
>> AMBULANCE Fuengirola, Torremolinos, Málaga & Marbella
902 505 061
>> STATE HOSPITALS
062 952 595 830 952 960 067 952 496 020 952 422 639 952 450 138
Calle Mauricio Moro, Pareta, 22nd Floor, MÁLAGA. Open 08:30 - 13:30 Enquiries 952 352 300
MARKET PLACES MONDAYS >> Alora, Marbella near the football stadium
TUESDAYS >> Benamagosa, Fuengirola (Feria Ground), Nerja weekly market (Calle Chaparil)
THURSDAY >> Alhaurin el Grande, Pizara, Frigiliana, Torremolinos, Velez Malaga, San Pedro, Torre del Mar
FRIDAY >> Benalmadena Tivoli Gardens, Casares, Cartama, Aguamania, ctra Cartama, Las Chapas
SATURDAY >> Fuengirola, La Cala, Ojen Pueblo, Coin, Competa, Puerta Banus near bullring
SUNDAY >> Estation de Cartama, Fuengirola near the mosque, Malaga near the football stadium, Sabinillas, Estepona, Sotogrande, Nerja car boot sale
TOURIST INFORMATION 952 410 005 952 491 275 952 495 577 952 702 505 952 422 126 952 453 211 952 442 494 952 802 002
Portillo Customer Service Direct Line Algeciras Alhaurin Benalmádena Coin Estepona Fuengirola La Linea Málaga Marbella San Pedro Torremolinos
902 143 144 956 654 304 952 490 709 952 443 563 952 450 366 952 802 954 952 475 066 952 172 396 953 350 061 952 764 400 952 781 396 952 380 965
TRAIN STATIONS
1619516500 2890330099 2072229633 1383738866 1604230230 1252513500 1132345678 1514721110
Halifax Lloyds TSB Mastercard Nat & Provincial Nationwide Natwest Yorkshire Bank
8457203099 1702364274 1383621166 1274331522 1793543888 1132778899 1132424800
SIZE COMPARISONS >> Don’t let being unsure about sizes impare your shopping sprees...
Shoes
WEDNESDAY >> Benalmadena Parque de la Paloma, La Cala, Estepona, La Linea, Rincon de la Victoria
952 441 545 952 802 900 952 471 000 00350 70027 952 327 950 952 774 488 952 476 593
The Coastal Service stops at every major town between Fuengirola and Málaga from 06:45 and 22:30 from Málaga 902 240 202 Call
LOST/STOLEN CREDIT CARDS >> Abbey National Allied Irish American Express Bank of Scotland Barclays Bank Diners Club First Direct Girobank
TAXIS Benalmádena Estepona Fuengirola Gibraltar Málaga Marbella Mijas Costa
BUS STATIONS
061
Benalmádena & Fuengirola Emergencies only 902 505 061 Málaga 951 290 000 Marbella 951 976 669 Torremolinos 952 386 484 Torremolinos (Centro de Salud) Health Centre 951 924 100
>> BRITISH CONSULATE
Alhaurin de la Torre Alhaurin el Grande Alora Antequera Cartamar Coin Benalmádena Estepona
080 952 455 020 952 804 483 952 461 046 952 774 349 952 381 414
091
>> GUARDIA CIVIL
952 048 844 00350 73026
Malaga Gibraltar
>> FIRE BRIGADE Benalmádena, Málaga & Mijas Coin Estepona Fuengirola Marbella Torremolinos
SP 37 38 39 40 41 42 43
Men’s Wear UK 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
SP 44 46 48 50/52 54 56 58
UK 34 36 38 40 42 44 46
Men’s Shirts SP 35 36/37 38 39/40 41 42/43 44
UK 14 14.5 15 15.5 16 16.5 17
Women’s Wear SP 36 38 40 42 44 46 48
UK 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
>>Spanish Facts >> Telephone: to make an international call from Spain, dial 00 and then add the country code (UK 44; USA 1; Australia 61; Canada 1; Irish Republic 353; New Zealand 64) and the rest of the telephone number minus the first zero if there is one. To call Spain from abroad, the country code is 00 34. >> Business hours: the normal opening hours for shops are Monday to Saturday from around 10am until about 1.30 / 2pm. After siesta they reopen from around 5.30pm until 8pm or 9pm. Large stores usually stay open all day. Most places are Fuengirola Gibraltar Málaga Marbella Mijas Nerja Torremolinos
952 467 457 0350 774 982 952 213 445 952 771 442 952 485 900 952 521 531 952 374 231
TOWN HALLS Coin
952 453 020
closed on Sundays. >> Banks: generally open from 9am to 2pm from Monday to Friday, and from 9am to midday or 1pm on Saturday. Hours may vary in summer. >>Customs allowance- importation from Gibraltar into Spain 1 litre of spirits or strong liqueurs over 22% or 2 litres of wine 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 gms tobacco Goods brought in Gibraltar may only be imported into spain between 0900 hours and 2100 hours Estepona Foreigners Dept Fuengirola Gibraltar Málaga Marbella Mijas Nerja Torremolinos
952 801 100 952 589 440 952 589 300 0350 774 902 952 135 000 952 761 100 952 485 900 952 548 449 952 379 400
Exclusive Villas
REF. 1037 ELVIRIA PRICE 1.995.000 €
Ref. 0960 MARBELLA EAST PRICE 980.000 €
Luxury villa with panoramic sea and mountains views. Spacious lounge with fire place. Marble floors throughout. In lower level large office area, pool, large parking area. Fully fitted kitchen. South orientation.
Charming Andalusian style villa, two levels, fantastic sea views, marble floors throughout, andalusian interior patio with a fountain, large lounge with fire place, fully fitted kitchen, pool. South orientation.
PLOT : 1.700 M2. BUILT : 450 M2. TERRACES : 300 M2. BEDROOMS : 5 BATHROOMS : 4
PLOT : 1.400 M2. BUILT : 375 M2. TERRACES . 150 M2. BEDROOMS : 4 BATHROOMS : 3
Ref. 1310 ELVIRIA PRICE 1.570.000 €
PLOT : 1.000 M2. BUILT : 428 M2. TERRACES : 40 M2. BEDROOMS : 5 BATHROOMS : 5
Brand new modern style luxury villa built in two floors with a separated guest area. Located in a very quiet and residential area of Elviria. Fully fitted kitchen, pool, garage, sea and mountains views. South-west orientation.
Special Offers
REF. 0629
ELVIRIA
925.000 €
PLOT : 1.075 m2 BUILT : 279 m2 TERRACES : 98 m2 BEDROOMS : 4 BATHROOMS : 3
Very nice Andalusian villa with panoramic sea views. South orientation. Downstairs modern apartment and double carport parking and garage. Heated pool. A.A. Barbacue area. WILL PART EXCHANGE FOR APARTMENT
REF. 1238
ELVIRIA
890.000 €
PRICE DROPPED FROM 1.250.000 € TO 890.000 € PLOT : 1.000 m2 BUILT : 250 m2 TERRACES : 50 m2 BEDOOMS : 4 BATHROOMS : 3
Elegant Andalusian villa with internal open patio. Very nice sea views. South orientation. Marble floors throughout. Located in a quiet residential area.
REF. 1203
ELVIRIA
650.000 €
PRICE DROPPED FROM 850.000 € TO 650.000 € PLOT : 680 m2 BUILT : 200 m2 TERRACES : 40 m2 BEDROOMS : 4 BATHROOMS : 3
Nice Andalusian villa located close to commercial centre and 10 minutes to the beach. Communal pool and private garden. Large living area and separate dining room. East orientation.
Apartments
Ref. 1316 ELVIRIA
PRICE 590.000 €
BUILT : 151 M2. TERRACES : 30 M2. BEDROOMS : 3 BATHROOMS : 3
Very nice luxury apartment located in the beautiful complex ELVIRIA HILLS, panoramic sea and mountains views, fully fitted kitchen, marble floors throughout. Communal pool. South orientation.
Ref. 1356 ELVIRIA
BUILT : 97 M2. Bedooms : 2
PRICE 325.000 €
TERRACES : 36 M2. Bathrooms : 2
Very nice ground floor apartment situated in the beautiful complex of EL MANANTIAL , 3 minutes walk to Santa Maria Golf, 5 minutes to shopping areas and 10 minutes to the beach. Marble floor throughout. 3 Communal pools. South orientation.
Ref. 1331 ELVIRIA
BUILT : 105 m2. BEDROOMS : 4
PRICE 230.000 €
TERRACES : 20 m2. BATHROOMS : 2
Nice 1st. floor apartment situated in the complex PARQUE ELVIRIA, near to the shopping centre and few minutes walk to the beach. Communal pool. Large parking area. South-west orientation. Large lounge with fire place. Nice views to the mountains.
Urbanizacion Elviria, Avda. Las Cumbres, Marbella Business Centre office 309 Tel 952 835 695 mob 651 857 147 & 649 295 654 www.cselviria.com e-mail info@ladehesaproperties.com