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In this issue... costa culture
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Change A Life Charity Ball 2009
costa business, charities & events
costa celebrity
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12
costa homes
Cover story
Simon Cowell Exclusive Interview
costa getaways
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Cover story
Marbella Part 2
costa lifestyle
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What Men Want What Women Want Men’s Stuff How much sleep do we need? Beauty tips & secrets
48 50 52
Interiors Is your kitchen just a work place or should it be the heart of the house? Financial News Guide... to buying a property in Spain Cover story
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Cover story
Your Own Wildlife by Peter Harrison Costa Cuisine Perfect Pasta
Bytes & Pieces Formula 1 Report Spiritual Thought Auto News DVD Reviews Showbiz Whispers & Gossip Strange But True & Challenge
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Roundabout Planting by Simon Hill
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Food Cures Health News A round up of this month’s health news
Local Business Reports plus Charities and Events News
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Hello and welcome... to issue 52 of Costa Life, October 2009. Christmas is just a round the corner and I am still looking for the person who nicked September!!
Editor Sharon Holdsworth Consulting Editor Harvey Mann Design and Production David Philliskirk Advertising Sales Ronan Holdsworth IT Advisor Dave Howard Contributors Simon Galley Peter Harrison Simon Hill Elio Howard Annika Jonsson Jan Morley Annette Riggall Gayle Russell Russell Vaughan Company Director Ronan Holdsworth Partner Barrie Shearman Images courtesy of Costa del Sol Tourist Board PR Shots Rick Warne
Deposito Legal MA-0054-2004
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 COSTA LIFE MEDIA
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How quick time goes sometimes, this year in particular has flown and it seems everybody feels the same. However with such a tough year nearly behind us it’s not a bad thing maybe, it has gone so quick. Thank you to all the people who sent in emails and passed comments about Mike. It is still hard to accept that he is not around anymore but at least the feedback we got from readers and the like showed how popular he was, also how many nice people there are out there. Thank you from his family and friends. All your emails were passed on to them and they were sincerely touched by the response and comments received. Life goes on though and that’s the way Mike would have wanted it. This month there is no ‘Ronan’s Challenge’ as we have been so busy catching up with being late in September but we will have one for the double November/December issue so watch out for that. Talking of Christmas, advertisers, please remember that the next issue is our double issue for November/December, so please start looking to prepare your Christmas campaigns. It’s going to be a challenging year end so please make the most of your space and get ready now. The euro has, as we go to print, taken another knock and is down to 1.06 at the end of September but despite this many people are more upbeat about next year and the predictions are that Spring time 2010 should see a slow but steady turn in fortunes for most in business. Let’s hope so and let’s hope we have all learned some valuable lessons from this extremely tough period. We certainly have and are planning to apply those lessons learned in the next few months and even years. Getting the balance right about the way we look at the past, present and future is always important. I would like to leave you with a little anecdote I heard in a film the other day which put things about right for me; Settle with the past, gauge by the present and believe in the future. I like that, see you in November.
For Information on distribution points, sales or any other enquiries call 952 492 250, 600 713 028 or email: info@costalifemagazine.com read the magazine online at www.costalifemagazine.com
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‘Change a Life’ Charity Ball 2009 The 5th September this year saw the 4th Change a Life ball at the Tamisa Golf Hotel where 110 guests enjoyed a fantastic night of great food, drink, dancing and for a few a midnight swim in the pool! Guests included Costa Life clients and readers plus a number of people who supported our chosen charity for the night from Age Care Association. Thanks to John Peach and all the staff who, as usual looked after everybody in excellent fashion and also to the Sun Lovin Criminals who knocked out a selection of great tunes for everybody to dance to. Overall it was a welcome night out after a long, stressful and sad summer. The night was dedicated to Mike Wilkinson and everybody toasted him a drink which was really nice. Thanks to Rick Warne for the photographs and again to John and all at the Tamisa Golf Hotel. and of course to all of you who put your hands in your pockets at a very difficult time to attend and also to help raise 1200 Euros on the night.
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imon Cowell in recent years has become one of the most famous faces on television throughout the world. Love him or hate him in the last ten years he has become Mr. Nasty of the talent show world as well as a highly successful music and T.V. Entrepreneur. Cowell is notorious as a judge for his blunt and often controversial criticisms, insults and wisecracks about contestants and their abilities. He is often parodied in pop culture, and was described by the The Times journalist Minette Marrin as representing the ‘‘heartless, thoughtless and superficial - the flotsam and jetsam of the polluted seas of celebrity that is likely to sink without trace into toxic foam’’.
S
He made his screen debut in 1990, on the UK TV series ‘Sale of the Century’, his prize for winning Kitchen Utensils. Cowell is known for combining activities in the television and music industries, having promoted singles and records for various artists, including television personalities. He was most recently featured on the eighth season of American Idol and the third series of Britain's Got Talent and is currently judging the 6th season of The X Factor on ITV. In 2007, he earned an estimated $72 million in income from his various projects. $45 million from American Idol, $15 million from Britain’s Got Talent and X Factor, and $12 million from his record label. Also In 2007, Cowell earned the No. 3 slot on the Forbes TV Faces List, and No. 21 on Forbes’ Celebrity 100 Power List. He Ranked #6 in the 2008 Telegraph’s list ‘‘the 100 most powerful people in British culture’’. In February 2009 Cowell reportedly announced that he wants to be cryonically preserved (‘‘I’m going to freeze my body when I die so I can be brought back to life’’), but a Cowell spokeswoman later described Cowell’s comments about wanting cryonics as a ‘‘joke’’. In May 2009 Cowell bought his $22 million, 11,550 sq ft Beverly Hills home.
C owe ll simon
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Early life Cowell was born in Brighton, East Sussex, and brought up in Elstree, Hertfordshire. His father, Eric Philip Cowell, was an estate agent developer and music industry executive, and his mother, Julie Brett, is a former ballet dancer and socialite. Cowell's paternal grandparents, Joseph Cowell and Esther Malinsky, were English Jews and his maternal grandfather was Scottish. He has 1 brother and 2 half-brothers; younger brother Nicholas Cowell, half-brother Tony Cowell, and half-brother Michael Cowell. Michael is the oldest, followed by Tony, Simon and Nicholas.
costa CELEBRITY >> Cowell attended the independent school Dover College as did his brother, but left early before attending the sixth form. He took a few menial jobs - including, according to Tony, working as a runner on Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining - but did not get along well with colleagues and bosses, until his father who was executive at the recording giant at EMI Music Publishing, managed to get him a job in the mail room.
irony, the worst thing that could happen, and the best - all in the one day. It just shocked me to the core. I just never thought my dad wouldn’t be around. I phoned him to tell him about the Number One, because that’s what I did. When something good happened, I called my dad. At first my mother couldn’t even tell me he was dead. She just listened to me burbling on. Then she called me back to tell me. Awful’’.
His father’s connections originally got him rehired as the assistant to an A&R man. From there onwards, Simon worked his way up and eventually got promoted to a music publishing position but left during the early 1980s to form E&S Music with his boss at EMI, Ellis Rich (later Chairman of the Performing Right Society). The company had several hit records at one point with five singles in the UK top 40. The offices were in a converted gentleman’s washroom in the NCP car park on Brewer Street in London’s Soho district. Simon left by mutual agreement a few years later then one year later, Cowell went to work for Iain Burton, manager of choreographer Arlene Phillips, co-founder of dance group Hot Gossip and of nascent independent record label Fanfare Records. Cowell worked with Burton for eight years at Fanfare where he achieved his first real success in the music industry, becoming a partner and building Fanfare into a highly successful ‘indie’ pop label. Fanfare had numerous top ten hits with various Pop artists and particularly Sinitta, selling more than half a million of her classic hit debut single ‘So Macho’ and more than half a million albums of ‘Rondo Veneziano’. In 1984, Cowell and Burton met up with Pete Waterman for the first time.
Following the success of the ‘Popstars’ TV series, Simon joined forces with Simon Fuller to produce a 'talent' show where the public decides who wins. This show became the TV phenomenon, ‘Pop Idol’.
Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman formed the songwriting and record producing trio known as Stock Aitken Waterman. Stock Aitken Waterman helped Fanfare during the second half of the 1980s producing several smash hit singles for Sinitta and licensing The Hit Factory SAW Compilation Albums to Fanfare. In 1989, Fanfare’s parent-company, Public Company, got into difficulties, forcing Fanfare into the hands of BMG, and Cowell, who was now in debt, to move back in with his parents. Proving that he had an ear for a hit, BMG quickly offered Simon the position of A&R Consultant. His time at BMG saw him pioneer some of the biggest selling hits in the industry, including bands ‘Five’ and ‘Westlife’. He can also be credited with the emergence of TV hits from the likes of cartoon puppets ‘Zig & Zag’, ‘The Teletubbies’ and ‘Robson & Jerome’. Not only has Simon made records, he also breaks them: over a ten year period, via his company ‘S Records’, he has achieved sales of over 25 million albums, over 70 top 30 records, and 17 Number 1 singles. His band ‘Westlife’ has achieved an impressive 10 Number 1 hits alone. His father sadly died at home in 1999 of a massive heart attack on the very day that Simon got his first Number One with the then-unknown band Westlife who his dad had predicted would become big. Of that time he said ‘‘The ultimate
Are you for real?
‘Pop Idol’ became compulsive viewing, attracting over 11 million viewers. The first ever winner, Will Young, picked up 4.6 million votes in a live final. Despite Simon favouring the runner-up, Gareth Gates, Will Young’s debut release ‘Evergreen’/’Anything Is Possible’, broke the record for the biggest selling debut single ever reaching 1.8 million sales. Thanks to Simon cropping up in the ‘production’ credits of most of his artists’ records, he has cleverly managed to secure himself a share of the royalties. Despite his successes, Simon has also turned down many bands that went on to find success elsewhere - most notably ‘The Spice Girls’ and ‘Take That’, simply because he thought Gary Barlow was too fat to be a star! In 2006, Cowell signed to two more recordbreaking deals. In the USA, he agreed to remain as a judge on American Idol, earning £20 million ($33 million) per season for another five years. He also has a deal with FOX which allows his production company to broadcast Got Talent and American Inventor on other networks, but he may not appear on them. In the UK, he signed a ‘‘golden handcuffs’’ deal with ITV, worth approximately £6.5 million a year for three years, which gave ITV rights to his hit talent show The X Factor, a British singing talent show, and Grease Is The Word, a musical talent show to find the stars of a Grease production in London’s West End. In late 2005, he signed a new contract to remain working for Sony BMG. Cowell has been involved in charity work for many years. He supports children from The Association of Children’s Hospices and invites them backstage to the screenings of The X Factor. When he can, he stops by some of the hospices to visit the children. He also supports animal rights and has appeared in a video for PETA in which he reminds drivers of the cruelty to animals that can occur when their pets are locked in cars in the summer. He spends his time both in the UK and the USA fulfilling his very busy commitments. We caught up with him recently in London. R Hi Simon, it’s great to meet you and thanks for giving us some of your valuable time. Many of our readers on the Costa del Sol will know from the X Factor that you do get out to Marbella with the show. When was the last time you were there and how long have you been visiting the Costa del Sol?
I dont mean to be rude but.... S The last time I was in Marbella must have been a few years ago now, towards the end of 2007 with the X Factor for the last part of boot camp. Sinitta came over with me to help me make my decision. We both had an amazing time and the sunshine definitely helped in the decision making process. I’ve been coming to Southern Spain for years now but since building my new house in Barbados I haven’t been coming here as often as I used to. R What do you like about Southern Spain? S I love it in Puerto Banus the marina is beautiful, always clear blue skies and warm sunshine. You’ll often find me in Aretusa with friends enjoying a great Italian or in the morning, at Mad Hatters Cafe situated above Puerto Banus - the best eggs and bacon you can find on the Costa del Sol. It’s a different lifestyle out there, a lot more relaxing. R Do you have your own property here? S No, but I often stay in Marbella. Also, a few years ago I stayed in a beautiful villa overlooking the golden mile. You might have seen it on the X Factor. I took the groups out there with me to battle it out for a place in the final 12, and go through to the live finals. Barbara and Ian from Mad Hatters looked after us all very well while we were out there, providing us with breakfast every day. It was a stunning house with amazing gardens and an infinity pool, which is where I spent much of my time just lounging by the pool with a beer.
On talent shows R Out of all your talent shows which one do you enjoy doing the most?
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>> costa CELEBRITY S X factor, it’s become a worldwide success and now with the new layout for the auditions I’m enjoying the feedback and crowd participation it’s a lot more entertaining. I think it also made people sing better. There are people who change when you put them in front of an audience. With the atmosphere and the track, they turn into somebody else.
R What is your biggest mistake in business re the signing/not signing of an act? S That would have to be not signing The Spice Girls or Take That. I remember I said, ‘‘I’ll sign Take That if they dump the ‘fat one’ (Garry Barlow). Obvious I made a huge mistake. R How long do you think you will continue to be a judge on your talent shows?
R Who is your favourite judge? S Me! Seriously though, I think Cheryl has done really well since she has come onboard. I am very impressed with her popularity and her natural ability to identify with people. R Which act gave you the most excitement the first time they auditioned and why? S Leona Lewis. Before her I nearly walked away from The X Factor - but she was a dream contestant and made me change my mind. She reminded me why I do this. She made it worthwhile again. This season it would be Danyl Johnson, a 27-year-old teacher; it’s one of the best first auditions I’ve ever seen. R How do the USA T.V. audiences differ from those of the UK? S The American audiences get more emotionally involved, compared to the UK; they really take it all to heart. Although both sides of the Atlantic are equally enthusiastic about the shows. R What advice would you give to any budding entertainers out there who haven’t made it yet? S You need persistence and a good attitude. And make sure you stand out in a crowd! You need to have that elusive ‘X Factor’.
S I have always insisted that you have to have an invitation to the party and I feel the same way about being on TV. You need to feel you are welcome into people’s homes, not somehow forcing your way in. If I feel that this is happening then I will be off.
The X Factor Judges
On business R Life has been very good to you over the last few years, what would you say are your keys to success? S Well I think being extraordinarily lucky has had a huge part to play. I think everyone that knows me would tell you I’m very stubborn but I’m also incredibly hard working and have huge drive, which are definitely some of the keys to success. I always remember something that my dad told me: tenacity is the maker of dreams, and if you want to succeed at something, you have to persevere. I have always held onto this piece of advice and it has a great deal to do with where I am now and my success. This is the one piece of advice that I would pass on to anyone who wants to succeed in anything they do. R What keeps you going on a day to day basis? S This is the best job in the world. I am doing something that I am passionate about and that I enjoy doing. You get paid for having a very nice time and meeting lots of interesting people. That’s enough to keep me going. R As well as your overwhelming successes in life you have also endured failure, what did you learn in those early days from your failings, in particular when the problems with Fanfare forced you to move back home and start again?
With Barbara and Ian from Madhatters 14 costa life
S Yes, in the early nineties I lost everything. The record label Fanfare Records which I co-owned went bust. Yet just a few years before I had everything, the cars, the house, the image, I felt like King of the World. However, the real story is that everything was beyond my means. I spent too much time at parties and then everything imploded. I remember the day I realised I had to give everything back - the Porsche, the big house - and I wasn’t crying. I had this huge sense of relief. Losing everything is probably the greatest lesson you learn. I went back to my parent’s house and started again. From then on everything I did was different. It was all about the work. I work very, very hard and I expect people who work with me to do the same. I don’t believe in a 5-day week or an 8-hour day. I believe in 24/7.
R So in your experience what advice would you give to anybody who has failed in business but still has that entrepreneurial spirit? S That would be the piece of advice my dad gave to me. So keep working hard at it and always keep trying. Also, Richard Griffiths, the new chairman at BMG at the time said to me ‘‘Simon, don’t ever blame anyone else if things go wrong. Youre in charge, so it’s your fault’’. It might sound an obvious bit of advice, but it switched on a big light bulb in my head. It really changed the way I think. I stopped letting others intimidate me and started to lead from the front and build relationships with people who could help and take good advice from the right people.
On being famous R Do you get much free time and when you do what do you enjoy doing to most to wind down? S I almost never stop working, or thinking about work. However, over Christmas when I do get a break I head over to my house in Barbados with my friends and family. We always have a great time, lying on the beaches, soaking up the sun. It’s the perfect way to try and wind down. R You are one of the most recognized faces in the world of T.V. how do you deal with that fame? S I take it for what it is; I don’t take anything that is said about me that serious, quite a lot of the stories make me laugh. All I do is develop talent and if the media chose to follow me that’s their choice, I am not looking for fame - I am doing the job I love, and this is part of the job. R It’s probably an obvious answer but what’s the most annoying thing about being famous? S Probably the crazy stories that get made up about me, I actually find them quite funny now. I’ll give you an example, someone phoned Max Clifford my PR the night after an award ceremony to say they had pictures of me with my new girlfriend - she was actually my brother Nicolas’ wife! R Where is your favourite place in the world, where you can go and feel the most anonymity?
costa CELEBRITY >> S Barbados, I’ve got two homes on the island and the place is just paradise. Everybody is just so easy going and the island itself is stunning. I always look forward to spending Christmas and New Year there and seeing the same faces, my friends. The crystal blue waters and pure white sandy beaches are hard to resist.
Personal life R You are involved in many charities, in particular, children’s charities. You feel it is important to give something back? S Yes I am. I’m lucky enough to be in the position to help. I support CHASE, a children’s hospice in Guildford, who do an amazing job looking after terminally ill children for as long as possible. I have become very close to some of the patients there and they can ring me up or text me whenever they want. It’s always so nice to hear from them and find out what they have been up to. I also work closely with other hospices across the country. I invite the children to come along to every show of the X Factor and Britain’s got Talent as my guests, which I am privileged to have. They come backstage with me and meet everyone. All the kids have such a great day and it’s nice to be able to do this for someone. R Why have you never married? S I have never married, but I have no regrets about that. Marriage is the most ridiculous contract in the world. It’s just crazy. Without any legal advice you sign this binding contract and you are not sure where you are going to be in 10 years’ time. Marriage is not for me. It just feels really out of date. Although in saying that if I really believed in my heart that I was with someone who I would want to see every day for the next 30 years, then I would get married. R Do you regret not having children and is that something you would still consider for the future? S No not at all. As far as kids are concerned, I am brilliant with them, as long as they belong to other people. But on a more serious note, I have always worried that if you’re not a parent by your thirties, you’re creating a situation where you’re a 60-year-old with a teenage son. R Who is your best friend and why? S A lot of my ex-girlfriends are my best friends, there’s no reason why you can’t be. Their friendship is so important to me; it sustains me through the tremendous workload and commitments. Jackie, Terri and Sinitta have become three of my closest friends. What you love about them sometimes works better as friends rather than complicating things with a relationship.
The future R October 7th sees your big 50, what are you doing for your birthday?
S I’m having a fabulous black-tie do at Wrotham Park, a magnificent stately home in Hertfordshire, with around 400 friends. My great friend, Sir Philip Green and his wife, Lady Tina, are organising it for me but, contrary to some reports, he is not paying for it. I am tremendously excited about the party. When I was a small boy, we lived next door to one of the bosses at Elstree film studios. I remember peering over the garden wall and seeing the likes of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton at a fabulous party. And what I remember, most vividly, is that I wanted to be at that party. I wanted to join in. Well, this time the party is mine. This is the second 50th birthday bash. I was treated to a surprise 50th birthday party 3 months early. I arrived at a venue in London to celebrate what I thought was my exgirlfriend Jackie St Claire’s birthday. However, I was shocked to discover all my friends waiting to surprise me with an early celebration. I don’t feel worried or nervous about turning 50; I feel exactly the same as I did when I was 40 or 30. I am enjoying myself. I don’t want any presents for my birthday, not from anyone. There are a couple of charities I am involved with that would appreciate a donation, including CHASE in Guildford. R Have you any new, exciting projects on the horizon? S It’s already been all over the media but there is the coalition with retail tycoon Sir Philip Green and myself and the creation of an international entertainment company, called Greenwell Entertainment. I am hoping to line up Cheryl Cole as the face of the multi-billion-pound entertainment company. I also have my eye on politics - that is, political TV programming. Look at the way British politics is covered. Those tedious party conferences, the long-winded droning-on. It’s boring. It means nothing. It’s just not entertaining. I would love to bring the concept of the American presidential debate to Britain. I know I could engage the audience, get people involved. Make it interesting. The public should be involved - that’s what it’s about.
camera skills are not that good so fingers crossed it never has to come to that. R And finally, is the world ready for a T.V. talent show without Simon Cowell? S I hope not, but one day it will have to happen. All good things have to come to an end. But whilst the public still want me I will be happy to keep doing the job I love. I think I will find it very hard to let go, I enjoy it too much.
Favourite colour… Black 3 favourite foods … I like things simple. A plate of spaghetti Bolognese from my favourite restaurant, Cipriani’s in London, a Sunday roast, or chicken curry. Football team … Arsenal Least favourite noise … Some of the contestants we’ve had over the years. Favourite phrase or word … I don’t mean to be rude, but... Least favourite … Failure Job you would love to do … I’m doing it. Job you would least like to do … Waiter, I worked as a waiter in Elton John’s restaurant in London when I was a teenager. I think I lasted about two days. That or an office job. If there is a God what would you like him so say to you when you arrive at the pearly gates … Welcome Simon, you did a good job.
R You have done the music and done the T.V. shows have you ever thought of getting into the movies? S Well, I actually started my career in film as a runner. I always had an interest in film, music and television. I knew that any of these industries would be great fun, and I had a feeling that you could probably make a lot of money. So, it could still be a possibility but I have always been told to stick with what you know and what you are good at. I don’t know if my skills lie in the movie industry. R This year also sees the end of your current T.V. contracts, have they been renewed yet or is it time to get behind the camera for a change? S Not as yet, but I’m not worried. Any number of other channels or networks would happily snap up the rights to air the show. Plus my
Simon with his mother costa life 15
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>> costa GETAWAYS
I
n last months Costa Life we looked at the history of Marbella from its humble origins through its rise and rise as the playground for the worlds rich and famous to the break out of the corruption scandals in 2006. With the recent recession added to the devastating revelations Marbella has had more than a knock in recent years. Unfortunately though, these corruption revelations were just the start. However like a spot that needs squeezing, all the dirt had to be brought to the surface and what a lot of dirt it was! The sleaze scandal, which hit Marbella in spring 2006, soon proved to be only the tip of a massive corruption iceberg. During the spring operation, codenamed Operation Malaya, the police arrested the city’s mayor and deputy mayor amid allegations of money laundering, property development offences, including building on land protected from development, manipulation of public tenders, and the acceptance of bribes as well as schemes to alter the price of municipal services. As part of the operation the police froze more than 1,000 bank accounts and seized a large number of valuables among them paintings by Salvador Dalí and Pablo Picasso as well as
luxury cars. The police also took over several large houses including a small palace in Madrid! Nice work if you can get it! During a second investigation, ‘Operation Malaya 2’ new offences came to light, resulting in a further 30 city councillors and business people being accused of massive corruption. These accusations were in addition to the arrests made earlier in the year. Then 29 more people were arrested, including Mayor Marisol Yagüe, her deputy, Isabel García Marcos and José Antonio Roca, who was town planning advisor. During the investigation, Judge Miguel Ángel Torres said of Mr Roca that he was the driving force in Marbella City Hall and that the Mayor performed a mere symbolic role and was Roca’s puppet. In September 2006, the former mayor and her deputy were released from custody on 60,000 euro bail. Marisol Yagüe, who was described as a populist, was the chosen successor of disgraced GIL founder Jesús Gil. After her election, she became quickly accused of distancing herself from the people. Visitors had to wait for hours before being allowed into the mayor’s office. She also attracted unfavourable publicity for extended and luxurious holidays.
Mayor Yagüe also became involved in a dispute with a building company working on her own house in an up-market development of Marbella. The company accused her of non-payment of one million Euros. The company owner also alleged that Ms Yagüe tried to pay him out of public funds and that the Mayor suggested the use of municipal construction material for her private residence. The interior decor of Juan Antonio Roca’s mansions embarrassed even the most hardened observers. From the stuffed giraffe and family of lions to the valuable painting by Miró left to steam above the spa bath, Mr Roca proved himself to be one of the tackiest show-offs in town. ‘‘The display of wealth has been open and shameless,’’ said Judge Miguel Ángel Torres, the investigating magistrate who ordered police to search Mr. Roca’s homes. But Mr. Roca’s crimes against good taste were nothing compared with those he is alleged to have committed against the citizens of Marbella. For Mr. Roca was, according to Judge Torres, the
Marbella Part 2
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costa GETAWAYS >> ‘‘Mr. Big’’ of a mafia-style alliance of businessmen and politicians who ran Spain’s most notorious town council as their own cashgenerating fiefdom. His grip on the town hall allowed Mr. Roca to transform himself from unemployed builder to multimillionaire. It also earned him the nickname JR - from his own initials and those of one of television’s most infamous villains, JR Ewing of Dallas. ‘‘Over 15 years he had gone from being on the dole to amassing tens of millions of Euros,’’ said Judge Torres. In a town whose skyline has been dominated by building cranes for the best part of a decade, Mr. Roca allegedly took a cut on many of the new villas and holiday apartment blocks. ‘‘Roca was a man with total control over the town hall - the councilors are subordinate to him,’’ said Judge Torres. ‘‘He was the person who all developers went to in order to see their wishes satisfied.’’ Mr. Roca’s pursuit of wealth and power took a turn for the better when he became a planning adviser to Jesús Gil; Gil’s rise coincided with the start of a construction boom that has seen Marbella double in size. His council handed out building licenses for tens of thousands of homes which higher authorities now deem not legal. Mr. Roca’s accumulated wealth enabled him to pursue his greatest passion, hunting big game around the world. He collected art, vintage cars, palaces in Madrid, thoroughbred horses, fighting bulls and stuffed wild animals - including a polar
bear and the heads of an elephant and rhinoceros. El País estimated his personal fortune at €2.4bn. ‘‘He didn’t collect. He accumulated,’’ is how one art dealer explained Mr. Roca’s collection of 275 works of art to a local newspaper. Juan Antonio Roca has been in prison for more than 3 years and you will be surprised to read that he has only recently been sacked for failing to turn up for work! He was suspended from his job when he was placed on remand following his arrest in the Malaya case, but it emerged in January this year that, legally, the Town Hall was unable to sack him. They’ve now found a way to do so however: as a disciplinary measure for repeatedly failing to turn up for work since 31st March 2006. That was when Roca was arrested in the Malaya investigation, and he’s been behind bars ever since. The news was confirmed to EFE by the PSOE party, who said he was sacked by the Town Hall on 24th August. Now though, Marbella Town Hall is facing a request from the man at the centre of the alleged corruption to be compensated or re-admitted to his post, claiming unfair dismissal. In his request Juan Antonio Roca has revealed that he joined the Town Hall in April 1992, and currently has still been paid a monthly wage of 9,066 € including extras.
As a result of his appeal Marbella Town Hall had to attend the offices of CEMAC, the Conciliation and Arbitration Body of the Junta de Andalucía, on September 15 to answer the claim. Only in Spain!! Those arrested as part of ‘Malaya 2’ included the former chief of Marbella’s police Rafael del Pozo and Tomás Reñones, the city’s second deputy mayor. Mr. Reñones became acting mayor after the arrest of the mayor and the first deputy mayor. However, his involvement in the scandals became clear during the follow up investigations and Judge Torres ordered his unconditional detention. Tomás Reñones was football player and captain of Atlético de Madrid, the football club owned by the late Jesús Gil, the first of the big corrupted mayors of Marbella and founder of GIL, the political party whose members included the disgraced mayor Marisol Yagüe. Also arrested during this investigation was Julián Muñoz, another former mayor of Marbella, on charges of bribery and misappropriation of public funds. Mr. Muñoz, also a member of the GIL party, became mayor in 2002. During his short term of office he fell out publically with the allpowerful town planner José Antonio Roca. Mr. Roca was dismissed only to organize a ‘coup’ one month later, which resulted in Mayor Muñoz being expelled from City Hall on a vote of censure. In the next move of Operation Malaya on 14 November 2006, Mayte
>>
Marbella will be the first town to come out of the crisis Puerto Banus costa life 19
>> costa GETAWAYS Zaldívar, ex-wife of the former mayor of Marbella Julián Muñoz, was detained in her home. She was accused of having helped her former husband to hide the money that he supposedly misappropriated from Marbella City Council. She was not the only one arrested: her brother, five businessmen, a judicial employee and the director of a bank branch were also being detained. On the 27TH September 2009 Julián Muñoz left prison a free man - for the moment! The ex Marbella Mayor has completed his three year prison sentence for 18 planning crimes. Implicated in the town’s Malaya corruption case, he is a free man, for the moment at least. The ex GIL Party Mayor was granted the third grade prison regime last October and, since then, has only had to return to the open prison centre every week night to sleep. The reduced threeyear sentence came under a deal with the prosecutor’s office allowing the ex Mayor and five former GIL Party councillors to serve a maximum term despite there being numerous charges against each of them. The Penal Code allows a maximum term of triple the term imposed in the most serious of the sentences in connected court cases. Muñoz said goodbye to staff at the centre after signing the formal release document, but still faces another 50 or so cases, amongst them the Malaya case, where more than 100 suspects will take the stand once it comes to trial. He recently had part of his salary and his bank savings embargoed as a guarantee bond to cover civil responsibility should he be found guilty in the Malaya case. We haven’t enough space to explore all of the alleys and avenues of deception and corruption that have been exposed over the last few years nor to write about all the partakers but the main players are alleged to be those above. Suffice to say it’s been a torrid old time for Marbella and its people. Hopefully things started to change for the better in June 2007 when Ángeles Muñoz took up the post of Mayor of Marbella following the local elections to replace the Management Committee installed in the town after the Malaya corruption case came to light.
politics in 1995, when she became Deputy Mayor of Benahavís. She applied for a leave of absence from her profession as a doctor that same year to allow her to take up public office. Muñoz was elected a Partido Popular member of the Andaluz Parliament in 1996, and was spokesperson on two parliamentary committees in the regional parliament: for women, and for health and consumers. She also became a member of the Partido Popular’s regional executive for Andalucía that year. She resigned both her seat in the regional parliament and from the council in Benahavís in 1997, to take up a position in Madrid, in the Ministry of Employment and Social Affairs, where, until 1999, she was General Director of Migration Planning during the first legislature of the Partido Popular government led by José María Aznar. She was elected President of the local PP branch for Marbella-San Pedro in 1998. Muñoz became a member of the Partido Popular’s National Executive when she was elected Executive Secretary for Social Affairs at the party's National Congress held in January 1999, and, the following year, successfully stood for election to Congress, when she was returned as a Partido Popular member for Madrid. She was spokesperson in Congress for Social Affairs and Migratory Policy during that legislature, and was confirmed in her position as the party’s Executive Secretary for Social Affairs and Migratory Policy at the PP National Congress in January 2002.
J R Ewing
Ángeles Muñoz Uriol first stood for election as the Partido Popular Mayor of Marbella in 2003, achieving a seat on the Council, but losing the Mayor's office to Julián Muñoz, who won an absolute majority for the GIL Party. Her namesake was ousted in a motion of censure just a few months later, in August 2003, and his colleague in the GIL Party, Marisol Yagüe, became the new Mayor. Ángeles Muñoz had, two months earlier, decided to leave her responsibilities in national party leadership, to concentrate on her duties as the Partido Popular spokesperson in Marbella.
Born in Córdoba on 20th January 1960, Ángeles Muñoz Uriol graduated in medicine from Córdoba University in 1983 and is married with two children.
She stood for Congress again in the 2004 general election, when she was returned as a member of parliament for Málaga.
This Partido Popular politician who took on the mantle of Mayor of Marbella after her predecessor was arrested in the Malaya corruption case - followed by the dissolution of the Town Hall and its management handed over to a Management Committee - first entered
Muñoz and all the other councilors lost their seats on Marbella Council when the Town Hall was dissolved after the Operation Malaya corruption scandal broke in March 2006, when the then-Mayor, Marisol Yagüe, was one of those taken into custody in the case.
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Juan Antonio Roca
>>
Angeles Munoz Mayor of Marbella
Former Mayor Julian Monoz
>> costa GETAWAYS The new Management Committee established to run the town was sworn in to start its work in April 2006, and remained in place until the people of Marbella voted in a new Mayor in the May 2007 municipal elections held across Spain. Ángeles Muñoz Uriol, as the Partido Popular’s candidate for the second time as Mayor of Marbella, achieved an absolute majority on the Council, with 16 seats over the opposition’s 11. She was officially sworn in as the new Mayor of Marbella on 16th June 2007, saying in her investiture speech that her government would be marked by ‘honesty, efficiency and transparency’ and would be ‘implacable against any type of irregularity.’ In July 2009 the town hall in an extraordinary council meeting held in Marbella approved the town's new PGOU general urban plan, which plans to legalize more than 17,000 illegal properties. More than 500 occupied properties, including Banana Beach, are however left out of the new planning regulations and could face demolition. The Local Government had no other choice than to agree to the illegalization of these urbanizations/developments under the threat of the Regional Government to reject Marbella’s General Urban Plan. Within the implementation of this badly needed General Urban Plan, not everyone could become a winner. The great news though, is that more than 17000 homes in Marbella are finally legalized. For Marbella City, this is like winning the World Cup. It creates peace of mind for investors (old and new), it allows the City to improve in all aspects…and moreover, it makes Marbella one of the leading Spanish cities to be legal at Urban Planning Level! The Regional Government has now to ratify the Plan in October at the latest. The tentative approval is the final step in a long process. The Mayor, Ángeles Muñoz (PP) has refused to give a blanket amnesty to all illegal dwellings, but this document goes a long way towards making almost all of them legal. The draft plan was initially designed by the team led by Manuel Gonzalez Fustegueras and has the backing of the Junta de Andalucia, who has the final say in the matter.
Banana Beach could be demolished
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It is the second provisional approval that the city council has given, mainly because the mayor chose to resubmit the document to the public after the public consultation period ended last October. 8524 claims from residents were submitted; only eight fewer than the initial approval, which according to the mayor 6250 claims were admitted and looked at. ‘‘The solution to such illegality generates much conflict of interest. Our approach has always been to gather all the arguments that were not against the public interest,’’ Street in Marbella said Mayor Munoz. The vast majority of illegal dwellings, 16,500, will be legalized in return for a one off payment of compensation to the city council to compensate the town for lost land. The mayor insisted that the owners of the affected houses are exempt from this requirement and will make the developers pay, something that has been acclaimed as one of the major achievements of the new plan. So hopefully these planning passes will draw a line under years and years of corruption within one of the most famous cities in Europe and hopefully in the right hands things are starting to improve. One thing that is clear is that in order for all of this criminal activity to stop it had to be brought to Marbella playa the surface which is what has happened. It may have been painful and T.V. stations that have been so eager to for anyone involved in Marbella but this in itself report these negative stories continuously over has to be a positive thing and can only add the last four years put a positive pen to paper encouragement to the hope of a brighter future and a positive spin on their stories and start to for the Jewel of the Costa del Sol, Marbella. Let's inject some much needed hope into this region hope so. Let’s also hope that the newspapers and indeed for living in Spain as a whole.
Marbella Arch
>> costa LIFESTYLE >> Look the business
What Men Want...
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This Months Men’s Must Have’s Core Collection Stone Mac Burton
One button velvet jacket Benetton
>> The cardigan is back
Charcoal grey and pink reversible slim tie Topman
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Chalk stripe trilby with satin details Benetton
>> Add a little extra Ox blood red leather oxford shoe Topman
Black and grey shoe H&M
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Black label cardigan Burton
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costa LIFESTYLE >> >> Wrap it up
What Women Want... This summers sensational selections
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Sleek zip coat Evans
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costa life 25
>> costa LIFESTYLE >> How much sleep do we need?
stuff
Decades ago, people slept eight to nine hours a night. Today, however, it’s clear that times have changed. In a world of BlackBerrys, the internet, severe deadlines, there simply aren’t enough hours in the day for sleep.
men’s
Not only can a lack of sleep lead to serious health consequences for you, but it can also harm those around you. > Increased risk of motor-vehicle accidents > Increase in body mass index (BMI) due to an increased appetite caused by sleep deprivation > Increased risk of diabetes and heart problems > Increased risk of depression and substance abuse > And a decreased ability to pay attention or remember new information
If you don’t like something change it; if you can’t change it - change the way you think about it. Mary Engelbreit
Fact …diet heavily influences cancer risk, no matter the type of cancer. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, below are some antiprostate cancer foods. > Tomatoes > Broccoli > Soy > Flax The key to preventing prostate cancer via diet is to eat a well-balanced meal, including all of the above foods, along with a large serving of other fruits and vegetables. You can have meats and dairy, but if possible, keep this to a minimum.
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>> My hair is thinning
>> Quote
>> Anti-Prostate Cancer Foods
Then there’s the other side, too much sleep. Research has found that long sleep durations (nine hours or more) are also associated with increased illness, accidents and even death. The answer, then, lies somewhere in between. Although there is no magic number, most adults should get 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night. Anything below or beyond will carry health consequences, at least for some.
The best way to hide thinning hair is to try a new hairstyle. One of the biggest cover-up mistakes you can make is that they try to grow out your hair and continue to keep the same look. The comb-over is a no no, you’re not fooling anyone. Consider a scissorcut hairstyle, short to medium length. This will allow you to style your hair and make your hair look fuller. If you’ve lost a great deal of hair then this will not work, it’s time to get the clippers and go for a low buzz cut; this way your hair can blend easier with those thinning areas.
>> Post work out nutrition It is common for people to work out rigorously to build muscle mass. As much as exercise is important to build muscle mass, it is equally important to complement it with a good diet. It helps to choose foods that are rich in simple carbohydrates and also proteins. It is best to avoid foods laden with fat as it can slow down the absorption process. Post workout meals are fruits, fresh or frozen, especially berries and potassium rich fruits like banana. Low fat yogurt is also a good choice. Another idea is to have a smoothie, which can be made using fruits, yogurt, and skimmed milk and even some protein powder. Stay hydrated when you work out so rigorously. Drink plenty of water or take supplements. You can add some protein powder and sugar to your water to improve circulation and keep you going as you exercise, also make your snack or smoothies in advance.
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>> costa LIFESTYLE > Avocado. It makes a great face cleanser you just have to mush it up and add some milk and a well-beaten egg. The oil in the peel is great just massage it into the face in upward movements. You do this by using the peel to massage your face. Allow the oil to stay in place for about 15 minutes then wash and rinse the face. Other uses for an avocado are eye treatments, masques, and it is good for your hands.
beauty
tips & secrets
>> Beauty home treatments
>> Top beauty tips > Brighten eyes Smudge a bit of deep navy eyeliner on the inner rims of the upper lids when you’re done with the rest of your eye makeup. Gently lifting lashes with your fingers or glancing down into a handheld mirror will help you see where the eyeliner is going. The blue color makes the whites of your eyes stand out.
> Egg whites as a masque. To prepare the egg whites just whip them a bit. Makes them slide on much smoother. Cleanse your face then dry it off. Rub on the egg whites and let them stay until they are dry. You will need to gently wash off the egg whites and dry your face lightly > Mayonnaise for dry skin. Use your fingertips and rub in some mayo on your face in a upward direction. It needs to set for 10 minutes then use tepid water to wash your face and rinse and dry gently. If you perform this on a weekly basis your skin will be silky soft.
> Stop smudges For a quick, clean way to avoid mascara smudges, hold a plastic spoon under the upper and lower lashes to shield the rest of your eye makeup. It fits right under your eye, and you just throw it away when you’re done.
> After the foundation Concealer should always follow foundation. If you put it on first and then you blend on the foundation, you’re essentially erasing all your handiwork. If you layer concealer on top, it’s staying where it needs to stay and doing its job,
> Lash out Those with hard-to-reach blond lash roots can use a very finetip black liquid liner to accomplish what a bulkier mascara wand cannot by painting colour directly onto individual lashes.
>> Natural Crystal Deodorant
to underarms, feet and anywhere else body odours are a problem. One stick will last several months. They are also hypoallergenic, fragrance free and they will not stain your clothes or discolour your skin.
Natural Crystal Deodorant is made of 100% natural mineral salt which immediately goes to work neutralizing the odour-causing bacteria without harmful chemicals, effectively deodorising the body.
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There is growing amount of evidence to support the theory that antiperspirants may cause a build up of toxins in your system.
The Natural Crystal Deodorant is 100% environmentally friendly and has never been tested on any animal.
Most antiperspirants contain chemicals. These block the pores to prevent sweating. The most practical solution is to eliminate the bacteria that cause the odour in the first place. What you then get is long-lasting odour protection. Natural Crystal Deodorants are also exceedingly suitable even for the most sensitive skin. Simply wet it and apply
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Ingredients: Natural Mineral Salts, Ammonium Alum. PVP 8,95 euros The Natural Sea Sponge Company (Spain) is a division of Gratispana SL Tel 900 804 561 952 834 552 email info@uberespana.com www.uberespana.com
>> costa LIFESTYLE
Food Cures Certain nutrients in foods are powerful at balancing blood sugar and encouraging weight loss. And when eaten together, they are even more ef fective. >> Fat fighting four >> Calcium Research has shown that calcium burns body fat, scientists aren't sure how. Researchers at the University of Tennessee found that obese people who went on a lowcalorie diet that contained three daily servings of calcium-rich dairy lost 70% more weight and 64% more body fat than those who ate just one serving of dairy a day. > Calcium food sources: Fat-free milk and low-fat dairy, spinach, kale, broccoli, and white beans
>> Vitamin D A study from Tufts-New England Medical Centre showed that low levels of vitamin D raise a person's risk of type 2 diabetes by as much as 46%.
The body needs vitamin D to absorb calcium and together they can help fight diabetes > Vitamin D food sources: Salmon, mackerel, sardines, tuna, fortified whole grain cereal, fortified fat-free milk, and Swiss cheese
>> Omega-3’s Research has shown that women who ate a balanced diet including omega-3s lost 1 1/2 more pounds of torso fat than women on the same exact diet but minus the omega-3s. These healthy fats slow the rate of digestion, which makes you feel fuller longer, so you eat fewer calories throughout the day, Omega-3’s also reduce inflammation, a major risk factor for diabetes, and appear to improve insulin resistance. > Omega-3 food sources: Tofu, enriched eggs, shrimp, salmon, tuna, walnuts, flax, and flaxseed oil.
>> Fibre Foods high in fibre are nutrient-rich, filling, and low in calories a combination that makes them weight loss wonders. According to a study people who stuck to higher-fibre diets lost 2 to 3 pounds more per month than those who followed lowerfibre diets. Fibre triggers hormones that control appetite, which also helps with weight loss. Plus, both soluble and insoluble fibre help control blood sugar: The soluble type dissolves in
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water and forms a thick gel during digestion, which can interfere with and slow down carbohydrate and glucose absorption in the intestines. Insoluble fibre doesn't dissolve in water. It stays solid and moves quickly through the digestive tract, so intestines have less time to absorb carbohydrates, and blood sugar levels stay even. > Fibre food sources: Whole grain breads and cereals, brown rice, barley, oatmeal and oat bran, apples, pears, citrus fruits, carrots, beans, and artichokes
>> Get Smoother Skin > Red peppers Adding 1/2 cup of chopped red peppers to a meal delivers more than 100% of your daily vitamin C, which spells good news for your skin. Researchers in the United Kingdom looked at vitamin C intake in 4,025 women and found that those who ate more vitamin C had less wrinkling and dryness.
>> Lose Weight > Chick peas Adding chick peas to a light dip like salsa adds bulk without lots of calories and boosts your intake of protein, so you fill up faster and feel fuller. Eating chickpeas regularly may also improve your overall food choices. A study found that people who ate 1/2 cup of chickpeas a day weighed a pound less and ate less food overall.
costa LIFESTYLE >> this compound, they're less likely to contract influenza, herpes, even anthrax; in humans, it boosts immunity, speeds wound healing, and may help antibiotics work better.
>> Maintain More Muscle Greek yogurt packs twice the protein of ordinary yogurt, and protein is essential for building, repairing, and maintaining muscles, which burn more calories than fat.
>> Build Stronger Bones Topping a pasta dish with just six sprigs of parsley offers a fresh boost of flavour and delivers a full day’s supply of vitamin K. Vitamin K is important for bone health, studies show that it helps prevent fractures and may guard against bone loss.
>> Boost Heart Health Grape juice contains a phytochemical called resveratrol found in the skin of red and purple grapes. Research links resveratrol to lower blood pressure, reduced LDL cholesterol, and fewer blood clots.
>> Lower Cancer Risk > Ketchup A tablespoon of this condiment supplies you a healthful dose of lycopene, an antioxidant that guards against various forms of cancer by blocking cell-damaging free radicals. Eating processed tomatoes (such as those in ketchup
and tomato sauce) is best; cooking releases lycopene inside the plant cells, making it easier to digest and absorb.
> Green tea and lemon Green tea is already rich in antioxidants, but a study has found that adding citrus juice led to a fourfold increase in disease-fighting catechins. Lemon juice in particular preserved the most catechins, while orange, lime, and grapefruit juices were less potent but effective.
>> Foods that Fight Illness It takes more than an apple a day to keep the doctor away. It turns out that eating some pretty surprising nutrients will help keep your immune system on guard.
> Yogurt Probiotics, or the ‘‘live active cultures’’ found in yogurt, are healthy bacteria that keep the gut and intestinal tract free of disease-causing germs. Although they’re available in supplement form, a study found that a daily 7-ounce dose of yogurt was just as effective in boosting immunity.
> Oats and Barley These grains contain beta-glucan, a type of fibre with antimicrobial and antioxidant capabilities more potent than Echinacea. When animals eat
> Garlic This potent onion relative contains the active ingredient allicin, which fights infection and bacteria. British researchers gave 146 people either a placebo or a garlic extract for 12 weeks; the garlic takers were twothirds less likely to catch a cold. Other studies suggest that garlic lovers who chow more than six cloves a week have a 30% lower rate of colorectal cancer and a 50% lower rate of stomach cancer.
> Fish Selenium, plentiful in shellfish such as oysters, lobsters, crabs, and clams, helps white blood cells produce cytokines-proteins that help clear flu viruses out of the body. Salmon, mackerel, and herring are rich in omega-3 fats, which reduce inflammation, increasing airflow and protecting lungs from colds and respiratory infections.
> Tea People who drank 5 cups a day of black tea for 2 weeks had 10 times more virus-fighting interferon in their blood than others who drank a placebo hot drink. The amino acid that’s responsible for this immune boost, L-theanine, is abundant in both black and green tea, decaf versions have it, too. Why not start today and eat your way to perfect health!
costa life 31
>> costa LIFESTYLE
health
A round-up of some of this month’s health news...
>> Lentils one of the top five healthiest foods Lentils are part of the legume family but are often neglected in favour of beans or peas as a side dish or as part of a soup or stew. Besides being rich in protein, lentils are full of fiber, vitamins C and B. An important source of iron, lentils prove to be useful for preventing or correcting an iron deficiency; common in children and pregnant women
>> Having chunky thighs helps you live longer People with chunky thighs tend to live longer, scientists have claimed. They have a lower risk of diabetes and are less likely to develop heart disease, the study of nearly 3,000 people found. The ideal circumference is 23.6in, say the scientists. Narrow thighs - leading to low muscle mass - could cause low insulin insensitivity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
>> Excess weight gain may increase risk of prostate cancer
We are all aware of the complications that can arise from packing on excess pounds, for men, there is an increased incidence of colon cancer and, according to a new study-prostate cancer. In fact, recent research has shown that diet modification might decrease the chances of developing prostate cancer, reduce the likelihood of having a recurrence, or help slow the progression of the disease.
who both need a lot of iron to help growth. Lentils also contain eight of the essential amino acids (including isoleucine and lysine-helpful against cold sores). With hundreds of different kinds of lentils, there may be too many to choose from at the supermarket. In a rainbow of colours from green, red, orange, and yellow to black and brown, certain types of lentils go with different culinary styles.
>> Top tips to healthy eating > Eat regular meals. Skipping meals can lead to out-ofcontrol hunger, often resulting in overeating. When you're very hungry, it’s also tempting to forget about good nutrition. Snacking between meals can help curb hunger, but don’t eat so much that your snack becomes an entire meal. > Make changes gradually. Just as there are no ‘‘superfoods’’ or easy answers to a healthy diet, don’t expect to totally revamp your eating habits overnight. Changing too much, too fast can get in the way of success. Begin with modest changes that can add up to positive, lifelong eating habits. For instance, if you don’t like the taste of skimmed milk, try semi skimmed, eventually you may find you like skimmed, too.
>> Marijuana use may significantly increase risk of testicular cancer New U.S. research has now added to the ever-growing list of dangers associated with the use of marijuana. The new study has shown that people who frequently use marijuana may be at more than double the risk of developing testicular cancer. The risk was shown to be highest among those who had used marijuana for at least 10 years or longer or began their usage before age 18 as well as those currently using it more than once a week.
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>> costa BUSINESS, CHARITIES & EVENTS
LOCAL Business Reports PLUS Charities and Events News Business
Work
Charities At Costa Life we dedicate more space to business editorial than any other publication on the coast. It is important to us to introduce information to you 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
CHARITY - ARCH Charity Golf competition Early Sunday morning, the 20th of September, our golf supporters gathered for coffee and bacon sandwiches before a shotgun start at Calanova Golf Club. It was perfect golf weather and all had a great time playing in the Texas Scramble competition plus the nearest the pin and longest drive comps. The ladies of ARCH were in buggies offering their support (and liberal refreshments) at designated holes. After the golf, we all had a drink and some food with the awards and raffle prizes handed out in abundance. 1st Place: Alun Jeans Don Ashley John Birch Ronan Folwey
dedicate a section of the magazine to promoting to you, our readers, the people, both new and old, who make Costa Life possible. 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. In addition we also offer space to charities, clubs and associations so they can inform you of their activites plus any up coming and recent events news. Please support your local charities and clubs, they do great work. Thank You.
>>
EVENT Planeta Animal
animal rights, 1200 kilometers from Estepona to Santiago de Compostela.
Only a few days left until the great Camino Fiesta, where Santiago brings the Camino Pilgrims together one more time. The Association Planeta Animal has invited all participants of the doggie Pilgrimage to a 3 day meeting in Estepona.
With this party, which is not only about reliving special moments, but also the very important message that the Camino has brought out to the world, Planeta Animal starts an agenda of events. The main purpose of the association is to create awareness in the population and attack the problem at the root, encourage respect for animals and a peaceful coexistence on this planet that we share with the animals. www.planeta-animal.org.
On the 10th of October there will be a party at the Pedregales Park to celebrate the reunion of the participants of the Camino Project under the title ‘‘El Camino comes back to Estepona where it all began’’. The party starts from 6pm on. An evening with ‘‘old Camino Stories’’, live music with the guitar duo ‘‘Libertango’’ (Tango, Flamenco, Django Reinhard…) and with the great magician Alfredo El Mago. There is no entrance fee and all Animal lovers are invited to come and join, it’s a ‘‘bring and share’’ Party. There will be a barbecue and in case it should rain there will be a tent. ‘‘The Camino Project’’ was a great walk where 15 people from 9 different countries and 15 stray dogs walked during 7 weeks together, crossing all of Spain, to raise awareness of
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Events
Walkers will be coming from many different countries to Estepona, but also representatives of town administrations and all helpers along the way as well as the media who have helped bring our message to the world, are invited to come.
Contact: phone 699 316 394 info@planeta-animal.org
costa BUSINESS, CHARITIES & EVENTS >> EVENT - Eclectic Images at Dibleys, La Cala de Mijas Is a family concern With over 40 years experience in the U.K and Spain. Expert knowledge and advise is always available and we pride ourselves in the service we give to our clients.
9 artist members of the Andalusian International Artists Group exhibit a selection of their works in an exciting exhibition in DIBLEYS. Come along and meet the Artists at a small cocktail between 8 and 9 on Tuesday 06/10. Nine artists - Five different countries.
We supply and fit all types of fires and fireplaces such as wood burners, gas, and electric flueless, fan assisted and smokeless biofuel fires than can be place anywhere in the home even on your coffee table. A large stock is held for a quick delivery and a huge range of products are available from our catalogues. We are also able to manufacture custom built products for any size or style. As well as quality of service it is always our aim to give the best value for on the coast and our price promise is to better any genuine quote you have for any fire or fireplace always applies.
In this exhibition the Artists are from Ireland, Britain, Spain, Denmark and Peru. The exhibition consists of a variety of images in textile, watercolours, coloured pencils, oil, acrylic and photography. The AIA-Group was formed five years ago by professional and dedicated visual artists from around Europe, who are all living and working in Andalucía. Further information is available from the Chairman, Roger Cummiskey at 952 592 652 or their web site www.aia-group.net Dibleys, - opp. The Catholic Church in La Cala de Mijas (down from the roundabout towards the sea). Gallery open: Daily 1-4 and 7-9, except Sundays.
A full repair service is also available for Gas, Electric and Wood burning fires, and also Smokey flues fixed. A free survey and quotation in your home is a phone call away, when we will bring you photographs and brochures of our extensive range direct to your home. All work carried out is done by our own in house fitters (not subcontracted) and 5 years written warranty is given.
What makes us dif ferent For a client who wants something different our free design service will create exactly what is needed and manufacture to the size required to complement any decor. It can be modern or traditional, classic, indoor or outdoor all fitted by our expert staff.
El Paraiso Country Club NEWS The twice monthly cabaret nights at the Country club have proved so successful this season that Roy & Marion have decided to continue with these special evenings right through the Autumn/Winter season. The recent concert with Stephen Lloyd-Morgan and soprano Donna-Marie Hughes was such an over whelming success that even the first floor terrace was used to accommodate extra diners. Stephen and Donna Marie received a standing ovation as they sang duets by candle light…truly a magical evening. Stephen is returning for a special New Year Gala Dinner and reservations are already being taken for this & the traditional Christmas Day Party. Future entertainment includes; Frankie B, with a Halloween Party (optional fancy dress) Ricky Lavazza- Music of the Night. Buddy Walker- with a brilliant ¨Buddy Holly¨ tribute & Tres Divos with a pre Christmas event -¨An evening of Elegance¨.
Contact details 952 883 799
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>> costa BUSINESS, CHARITIES & EVENTS Homes for your pets
The Coast's Premier ONE STOP WAREHOUSE AIM British Building Supplies is your one-stop center for building materials and tools, British gypsum, multi finish and bonding plaster boards, ad mixers and covings, timber products, decking and cladding, sheds, playhouses, fencing and dog kennels. Established for 5 years on the coast, AIM British Building Supplies provides the best in British brands and price including English grade timber. All their wood products are hand made on site, using top quality materials, i.e. thermowood or tanalised pine, and their experienced carpenter can produce custom made sand pits, dog kennels, flower boxes, rabbit hutches and all structures can be made to any size and designed to the customers requirements.
AIM British Building Supplies can construct any type of housing to suit your most exotic pet to mans best friend, including snakes, rabbits, lizards and even chickens. Custom built to your requirements and secure, making sure that nothing can get in or out. They specialise in dog kennels with a wide selection of designs to choose from although they find that most clients like to have their kennels personally made to measure for that extra little personalised touch.
Decking and fencing
They are an official stockist of Draper tools, Everbuild building products, English multi stock bricks, Durox blocks, polycarbonate sheeting, EML sheeting, English multi finish and bonding, British gypsum coving and cornice, plus a delivery service is available. They are also the cheapest supplier of plaster boards on the coast and stock new railway sleepers and fence panels, if they don't stock a certain product they can order it with a 2 week delivery time.
A home for your children - A home for your tools There are many different types of wooden sheds and playhouses available from various international companies. AIM British Building Supplies can virtually duplicate any design of shed or playhouse that you desire, with the door openings at any position and various hinges and locks. Their carpenter will be happy to discuss, help and advise you on the design of your choice, and produce a drawing of your customised shed or playhouse. A selection of woods are available with felt roofs if required, including various wood preserves to ensure that your shed or playhouse fares well in the elements.
NEW IN STOCK belle cement mixers Garden Sandpits for Children - Great Fun! Children of all ages can have hours of fun digging and making sand castles until their hearts content. AIM British Building Supplies sandpits are welldesigned and made from quality materials. Custom made to your requirements, with attractive designs, it could even enhance your garden’s look!
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Providing a full range of timber home exterior improvements, AIM British Building Supplies provides decking and fencing to their clients’ requirements and designs, whilst their experienced professionals provide invaluable practical advice. AIM British Building Supplies builds multi-level decks, roof top decks, pool decks or a simple walk-out deck. Your deck can be located anywhere and depends on you, it could be a new pool surround, cover an existing terrace or make use of a space in your garden which you never use because of uneven ground. We will work with you to ensure that the final design of your deck will give you maximum additional living space. AIM British Building Supplies uses only specialised selected softwood for decking which originates from Scandinavian sustainable forests - a softwood with hardwood performance. Therefore you can be safe in the knowledge that no rainforest has been felled. It is the product of an environmentally friendly heat treatment for softwoods. This means that no chemicals have been used in the production of the wood. AIM British Building Supplies uses the highest quality of timber and if maintained correctly you can be assured that your deck will last for 15 years or more. All decking is treated with a UV protection, this is done to prolong the colour of the timber and to stop the sun bleaching it. Because of the amount of sunshine on the coast, your deck should be re-treated every 18 months to maintain the colour. AIM British Building Supplies Las Chapas Poligono (behind petrol station) Elviria
Tel: 0034 952 835 172 www.abbs.es o email: aimwholesale@hotmail.co.uk
costa BUSINESS, CHARITIES & EVENTS >>
Costa Carpet on the Carretera de Mijas has been established now for over fours. They supply the finest quality, rugs, carpets, wardrobes and home accessories on the coast. Owner Miika explains more about what they do. RUGS - When you walk into Costa-Carpet, you will notice that you have come to the right place if you are looking for widest selection of rugs and carpets! There is an amazing collection of rugs at reasonable prices and in many different styles - between modern and traditional timeless rugs. The designs and colours of our collections are popular today; we have a lot of fashionable products like shaggy pile and very hard natural materials too, like paper yarn and sisal. These traditional woollen rugs do not look old-fashioned, they are coloured with light and soft colours! If you are looking for a more colourful rug, there is a good selection of hand-knotted oriental carpets too. NEW COLLECTION! Now you will find a good selection of oriental rugs from Iran at excellent prices. Example; a unique hand-knotted rug 100cm x 200cm costs only 199 Euros and the big ones example; 200cm x 300cm costs 798 Euros! The material is 100% wool. The rugs are in very warm colours - usually deep reds and terracotta’s.
WARDROBES & SLIDING DOORS - Costa-Carpet’s custommade sliding doors and wardrobes are a beautiful product. There is a huge collection of different materials and colours that can be used for the doors. The doors are very high-quality, made in Finland. The producer of the doors is named Kirena and has a good website and you will get many new ideas by visiting www.kirena.com. Example; after changing new doors on your bedroom wardrobe, the room can look totally new. The room can feel bigger too; because sliding doors needs less space than if you have had open doors before. You can hear the quality too - the doors move very silently and one more inspired characteristic, the doors have a ‘‘no jump’’ system and stay in the rail. Costa-Carpet has a full design and installation service of Kirena products too. They will take away all your old product and their carpenter will fit the new products to complete the perfect installation.
FITTED CARPETS & LAMINATES - Costa-Carpet has a professional team for fitted carpets and all type of wood floors as well. They have all well known brands like Tarkett, Victoria Carpets, Lano, QuickStep and they offer all types of materials, carpet squares and British under lays too! In the shop there are some samples of the most favourite carpets… but as they say, it is better to see different samples at the place where the carpet is coming from. In fact, lighting and colours of walls and other decoration at your home is very a important point to consider, when you are choosing just the right colour for your floors. The team of CostaCarpet will help you to choose the right material and the colour; they will bring the samples to your home if necessary, measure up and estimate the installation work at the same time. This service and quotation is free without any obligation! (And I can say the installers works very quickly, if they have the right material in stock, it could be installed in just a few days.)
WHERE IT IS? Costa-Carpet is in a great location on Carretera de Mijas (the main road from Fuengirola to Mijas Pueblo, on your left side from Fuengirola, between Imperial furniture and CentroIdea), an area where many people come to shop for furniture and other home products.
EVENT - First Ever Andalucía Animal Network -
CHAIN will supply the refreshments. The event is FREE to anyone involved in working with animals in the Andalucía region.
24th November 2009
Please contact Wendy at CHAIN to book a place or for more details,
There are numerous animal charities in the Malaga Province dealing with the appalling problem of our abused, abandoned and neglected animals. Some of the charities are well-funded and supported; others are often single individuals who have suddenly found they are acting as a refuge with little means of help and assistance. BUT what if ALL the animal charities and worthy causes came together and used their joint resources and numbers to influence local government and suppliers? Just think what we could achieve working together... Well that’s just what Nick and the team from Pepi’s and GPAR are trying to arrange with the support of CHAIN - Charity for Animals In Need. On Tuesday 24th November 2009 from 10am to 4pm there will be the first ever event for the Andalucía Animal Network. The aims of the event will be to agree how we can co-ordinate our work to maximise the benefits for all animals. For example using our group purchasing power to secure best prices for animal food and services and lobbying local government. We also hope to have a guest speaker at the event and it will be very informal, with all ideas and suggestions encouraged. The Hotel Molino de Saydo based at 29532 Mollina Malaga (Junction 142 off the A92 to Sevilla) has very kindly donated the use of the room and
Tel 672 399 320 or email chaininspain@hotmail.com
EVENT -
ESTEPONA FLORAL ART CLUB
Estepona Floral Art Club is delighted to be welcoming Anna Steven, NAFAS Area Demonstrator from Kiln House, Horton-cum-Studley on Tuesday, October 20th 2009. The demonstration will take place at ‘The Benavista Country Club’ Benavista, N340; (behind the shops near the tennis courts) the programme commences 3.00 p.m. - 5.00 p.m. Estepona Floral Art Club meets on the Third Tuesday of the month except for June, July and August. We are now into our Autumn Programme and look forward to meeting all our members and visitors. For information on the above event and future events please contact our Chairman Anne Atkinson on
Tel: - 952 890 352
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>> costa BUSINESS, CHARITIES & EVENTS Knee Problems It may seem a bit obvious but the knees are there to provide support for the body and to allow the legs to bend and straighten. What is not so obvious is that the knee is the largest joint in the body and one of the most complex. The knee joint is made up of four bones connected by muscles, ligaments and tendons that provide the necessary stability. There is also cartilage, either meniscus or the more ‘‘normal’’ cartilage that covers all the joints in the body, which allows the bones to smoothly move over and around each other. There are two main types of knee problems, mechanical and inflammatory. Mechanical problems may result from injury, osteoarthritis or wear and tear and inflammatory problems can also occur in certain rheumatic diseases. Knee pain is a very common problem with around 40,000 people having a knee replacement every year, research showing that one in four women and one in five men suffer significant and persistent knee pain. Is there an alternative to painful surgery and rehabilitation? Remember that pain is a warning. Most individuals put up with a large amount of unnecessary discomfort and many continue to suffer needlessly due to initial inappropriate or incorrect diagnosis. To get to the root cause of the problem, a full assessment by a fully qualified biomechanical specialist is so important. Swelling of the knee and surrounding area is not normal and indicates inflammation and needs treating - immediately. Whilst this swelling may not be painful, it will stress the surrounding structures of the joint. Swelling is a sign of distress and unless this is cleared, on-going problems will persist.
Medication, often in the form of antiinflammatory tablets or by cortisone injections are often used in the supposed ‘‘conservative’’ treatment of knee problems. The former is not kind to the stomach and the injection route is now avoided by most forward thinking doctors as cortisone has been shown to ‘‘rot’’ ligaments and tendons. So while they may help the pain in the short term, they create massive long term problems. There is now another hugely exciting treatment that has recently come out of Germany, a derivative of MRI Scanner technology called Magnetic Resonance Therapy (MRT). MRT is currently being used by over 300 doctors and surgeons in Germany and to date; over 85,000 patients have been treated. MRT helps the body to repair and harden cartilage, reduces bone inflammation and it can dramatically reduce pain - ‘‘stairs no longer seem like Everest’’ being one quote. As surgeons usually go the route they know best i.e. surgery, it can be seen that avoiding or at least postponing surgery is a specialist's role. Simple pain free remedies can often be found for a painful knee so help yourself to early advice and save yourself unwanted pain or discomfort. Remember, pain of any sort is not a necessity. For more details or to learn more, patients may self refer direct to Estelle Mitchell, Biomechanical and Musculoskeletal Specialist and your English Chartered Physiotherapist by calling
UK Trainee Vets Volunteer to Help Malaga Animal Charities Every day we hear horror stories of young people involved in drugs, crime and unsociable behaviour... well now here’s a good news story involving young trainee vets from the UK. Will, age 19, and Charlotte, age 20, are currently studying at the Royal Veterinary College based in London in the UK and they are spending part of their summer holidays as volunteers working with SOS and CHAIN two of our local animal charities. They responded to a poster placed in their college by Tania Coates, who is responsible for helping to re home in the UK so many of our abandoned and stray animals. Will, from Solihull Birmingham, is a 2nd year student. He volunteered to get some 1st hand experience of animal husbandry but found this the ideal way to get real veterinary experience. Carefully supervised by local vets, he has assisted in some operations and receiving glowing feedback for his skills. Will, who has a Labrador dog and a cat of his own, was shocked at the size of the stray animal problem in Malaga. ‘‘It really makes you think,’’ he said, ‘‘You hear these stories about how animals are treated in other countries but until you witness the problem with your own eyes you don't really believe it’’. Both Will and Charlotte are working alongside the many other young volunteers at the SOS rescue centre. CHAIN and SOS hope that more young vets from the UK and Spain will take a leaf out of Will and Charlotte’s book - providing them with invaluable experience and our animals with a brighter future knowing the next generation of vets will be there to help them. If you want any further information please email chaininspain@hotmail.com
952 883 151 or by visiting her websites at:
www.TheBodyworksClinic.com, www.GrowCartilage.com or www.PhysioFoot.com
If there has been no obvious injury or trauma, the most common cause of on-going, nonspecific knee pain is foot posture problems. Foot posture problems are the main cause of non-specific knee pain and can be easily rectified by fitting and wearing computerised, prescription orthotics. Insoles that can be purchased ‘‘over-the-counter’’ may give initial relief but be aware, more often than not they eventually contribute to more problems than they solve.
EVENT -
ESTEPONA FLORAL ART CLUB Affiliated to London & Overseas Area of NAFAS Estepona Floral Art Club is delighted to be welcoming Barbara Collier, NAFAS National Demonstrator from Camberley, Surrey, on Tuesday, November 17th 2009. The demonstration will take place at ‘The
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‘‘Will’’ with ‘‘Ruby’’ one of CHAIN’s success stories and a bag of the tick treatment donated by the World Wide Veterinary Service Benavista Country Club’ Benavista, N340 Km 167; (behind the shops near the tennis courts) the programme commences 3.00 p.m. - 5.00 p.m. We are pleased that refreshments will be available before and after our demonstrations. We are now preparing for our Christmas Demonstration on December 8th, which will also include a Traditional Christmas Lunch. The demonstration will take place before, during and after lunch, at ‘The Benavista Country Club.’ This will be by ticket only and there are limited places.
For information on the above events and future events please contact our Chairman Anne Atkinson on
Tel: - 952 890 352 Alternatively go to our website: -
www.bestofmarbella.com and click on the link, Culture and Associations, or enter Estepona Floral Art Club in the Google space bar, to view all our forthcoming events.
costa BUSINESS, CHARITIES & EVENTS >> pool - if it is evaporation the bucket and pool will loose the same level of water. However it is difficult to be accurate if your pool has heavy usage with people jumping in and displacing the water or it has been very windy!
Winter repairs to your swimming pool This year we have seen pools losing more water through evaporation then previous years. An ideal way to cope with this is to have an automatic filler fitted - It will mean you won’t have to worry if you go away and the level of the pool drops drastically. Should the water level drop - your filtration system will be unable to work and you could even cause damage to the pump and filter. It may be you have a leak on your pool - a simple test is to put a bucket of water at the side of the
If you do suspect a leak Splash Swimming pools have the most up to-date leak detecting equipment from America. We can usually determine in about an hour where the leak is. We charge 60 € per hour for the leak detecting (exc iva). Once the leak detecting has been done we can give you a costing for the repairs needed. We also reform pools - a 20 year old pool can be transformed to look like new! Our renovations are covered by 5 year guarantees and we provide one months maintenance FREE OF CHARGE on completion of the work.
Terra Sana restaurants can offer the freshest and tastiest in healthy eating along the Costa del Sol. With Five established restaurants in Marbella and one in Estepona Terra Sana are now spreading their wings with a new restaurant in Fuengirola. Terra Sana is situated in Calle Emancipacion near the church square next Salon Varieites theatre. The friendly staff will welcome you with great service and the healthiest option for those who enjoy their food but want the healthy choice. Terra Sana prides itself on using only the best possible ingredients, and serve freshly made, lovingly prepared food. At Terra Sana you can enjoy a selection of delicious smoothies and Juices all freshly prepared on site. All smoothies are a mix of fresh fruit blends with natural pulp and frozen sorbets. An example of smoothies would be a ‘Tropical Storm’ which consists of Pineapple juice, passion fruit, banana and Mandarin Sorbet or
We have the biggest pool shop in the Mijas area - where friendly advice is always available. If you call in with a small sample of your pool water we can tell you if the chemical balance is correct. Or let us take the hassle out of pool maintenance with one of our contracts starting at 70€ per month (exc chemicals and iva). To find out more about any of our pool services - you will find the shop and office open from 8am to 4pm from Monday to Friday.
Tel: 952 591 053 E-mail: splashpools@electronbox.net Web: www.splashmijas.moonfruit.com
We can also add roman steps to existing pools which makes it easier for people and animals to get out - and a nice spot to sit and drink that ice cool G & T! In fact Splash can make almost any alterations
how about a ‘Polar Peach’ with Peach, tropical juice, banana and orange sorbet.
Terra Sana now opens in Fuengirola
and improvements to a pool - the one we won’t recommend is trying to break open and enlarge a pool … when you join a new part to an old one you will always get problems such as leaks if the ground moves.
All juices are freshly squeezed and freshly served, examples of which are the ‘Exotica’ which is pineapple, pear and strawberry or a ‘Pura Vida’ which includes carrot, beetroot, apple and celery. For those who are might need a bit of extra help you can add a wide selection of nutrient boosters to your drinks. Everything from vitamin C, Aloe Vera, Ginger, Bee Pollen and calcium can be added to nourish your body and refresh your mind. Salads and wraps are on the mains menu using the freshest ingredients to offer a mouth watering selection of meals. For salads you can try a ‘Terra Sana salad’ which includes Avocado, tomato, feta cheese, dates, cucumber, red onion, black olives and nuts on a bed of mixed lettuce leaves with a summer herb dressing. Or try the ‘Thai Break’ Thai style chicken or prawns, red peppers, zucchini, bean sprouts, cucumber, carrots, coriander and spicy nuts on a bed of mixed lettuce leaves with a soy lime dressing. I love wraps and they are probably my favourite food of late, they are healthy, tasty and filling. I was not disappointed at Terra Sana, I had the ‘Baja California Wrap’; warm chicken, avocado, a tasty chili jam, smoked cheese, red peppers, red onions, spinach and cheese wrapped in a tomato herb flour tortilla. Really nice and very filling!
Sharon had a ‘Samsara Wrap’; Indian spiced chicken with cucumber yoghurt, mango chutney, red onions, tomato and chopped lettuce hearts. There are plenty more to choose from so there is something for everybody. To finish off you are allowed to enjoy a sweet finale, the homemade Carrot cake (pictured) was delicious but you can also try the fudge cake, cheese cake and a selection of muffins. There is also a kids menu and a breakfast menu. If you don’t have a lot of time to sit down and enjoy your breakfast or dinner then you can call ahead to Terra Sana and they will prepare your order ready for you to collect or if you aren’t too far from them they will endeavour to deliver. To see the menu in full you can visit www.terrasana.net. To contact the Fuengirola restaurant call 630 371 330.
Terra Sana ‘Naturally good for you’
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>> costa BUSINESS, CHARITIES & EVENTS RWK are one of the leading suppliers of real quality kitchens, bedrooms and furniture on the Costa del Sol. Their showroom is located in Nueva Andalucía, by the Andalucía Plaza Hotel and features examples of many of their products and designs. The kitchen units are individually designed and built by the RWK factory in Germany, a family business which has been specializing in kitchens since the 50s and today is a very successful world-wide brand. Today, RWK still maintains the company’s original philosophy of open communication between supplier and customer to ensure that all expectations are met and the kitchen fits the customer’s lifestyle perfectly. The kitchens are all well designed in both modern and traditional styles and feature the latest functions to make kitchen life
simpler. RWK are suppliers of all major brand appliances and can also show you a wide variety of worktop options. RWK also offer a variety of excellent quality bedrooms from German manufacturer Driftmeier, a family-run business established 75 years ago and the Italian ‘Santa Lucia’ Company. There are many different design options available for the furniture structures and interiors to enable you to organize your space for a comfortable and well thought-out bedroom. The showroom is currently being extended to include a wide range of furniture options so if you need your entire home furnished or just need a new coffee table the staff at RWK are at your disposal. RWK provide friendly and efficient customer service, working closely with the client to ensure the project is designed to the right specifications and runs smoothly. All of their kitchen and bedroom projects are available at very competitive prices. Call or visit RWK now to discuss what they could do for you.
Tel: 952 90 66 22 Web: info@rwk.es Address. Calle Las Violetas, Nueva Andalucía
Suave Café in Los Boliches formerly Flavs has undergone a major face lift and the transformation is impressive. With fine attention to detail and quality, owner Peter Clough has created a truly stunning yet relaxed venue. Situated right on the Paseo Maritimo in front of Chiringuito Madrid Playa Suave Cafe has a huge terrace to relax and enjoy the Mediterranean in style and comfort. Food plays a very large part of what Suave is all about wheather it’s a simple sharing platter or a tasty leg of lamb. With a truly mouthwatering menu that will ignite your taste buds. Also on offer is a superb 3 course menu Monday to Friday served 12-9pm @ a very reasonable €12.50 and a special 3 course Sunday menu served all day @ €12.95, booking is highly recommended. Suave also caters for private parties, the venue can accomodate up to 250 people. Whetever your requirements a bespoke event to suit every budget is guaranteed.
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With Christmas fast approaching Suave is the perfect venue for your Christmas get together and the Christmas menu is now available from Suave. The magenta lounge on the mezzanine floor is an ideal place to enjoy a pre dinner drink, cocktail or simply to lounge the day away...If you have not yet visited Suave give it a try you will not be disappointed.
The art of the table is about good food, good wine and good friends, the synthesis of the best events in our lives.....
costa BUSINESS, CHARITIES & EVENTS >>
Plastic & Aesthetic Surgery
Dr. Kai O. Kaye Ocean Clinic Marbella Beyond Beauty has become Ocean Clinic’s metaphor, because one of its meanings reflects what most of their patient’s desire; being more beautiful and attractive, but it can be seen as well as an invitation to look behind, to understand what stands behind an attractive appearance these days. Plastic Surgery, Aesthetic Medicine & Cosmetic Dentistry have surely become an important part in providing a young, healthy and beautiful look. Ocean Clinic is now setting new standards in comprehensive patient care by offering you the complete range of plastic and aesthetic surgery procedures, including non-surgical treatments like Botox®, permanent and non-permanent fillers and peels, and providing access to aesthetic dentistry and maxillofacial procedures through their official collaboration with Agave Clinic in Marbella to fulfill all your needs. The Ocean Clinic is directed by Dr. Kai O. Kaye, who, after attending medical schools in Bonn, Paris V, Los Angeles (UCLA) and Munich (TUM), received his medical degree
from the University of Munich (TUM) in 2001 and subsequently received his University Doctorate Magna cum Laude in 2002 after two years of research in the field of reconstructive plastic surgery at the TUM. After 4 years of further education in the fields of Plastic Surgery, Aesthetic Surgery, Hand and Burn Surgery, he came to Marbella in 2006, working first for a well-known Plastic Surgery Clinic, which he lead as medical director for 7 months before taking the decision to open his own clinic. Being fully registered as a Plastic Surgery Consultant in Germany, Spain and the UK, Dr. Kaye is able to offer his patients the most advanced treatments with patient safety being always in first place, which is why he chose to operate at the prestigious USP Private Hospital in the center of Marbella, providing the safety of a real hospital with intensive care unit and a full 24 hour staff. All consultations, as well as the surgical aftercare are carried out in the very modern designed, discreet private Clinic overlooking the beautiful Alameda Park in Marbella Centre, providing easy access and parking in the underground garage under the park. To ensure good communication, Dr. Kaye offers his consultations in German, English, Spanish and French, and is ensuring individual, personal attention to all his patients at all times before, during and after the treatments. If you would like to make an appointment, call their Patient
Manager Louise Taylor on: 951 775 518 or visit www.oceanclinic.net
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>> costa HOMES
Is your kitchen up to scratch? by Annika Jonsson BLOND of Scandinavia 42 costa life
Is your kitchen just a work place or should it be the heart of the house?
costa HOMES >>
The kitchen is one of the most important centres of any household. At least, that is what I think. It is not simply a workplace in which many hours are spent, it should also be a room for the whole family to live in and entertain friends.
triangle’’, drawn between the three main activity areas of the kitchen: water supply, cooking area and food storage. There are, of course, many individual solutions for the planning but, in principal, there are five different plans/lay-outs.
The first and most important step in planning is to decide on the sort of kitchen and the type of room you would like, and relate this to the rest of the house. It may be worthwhile spending time and money creating extra space and light, even if this involves relocating or extending the kitchen, perhaps by incorporating an adjacent utility room. Careful planning should make cooking more efficient and enjoyable. An open-plan design gives you the pleasure of entertaining your friends and family while you work, and it gives others the pleasure of seeing what’s going on in the kitchen.
>> The single-line kitchen
Most modern kitchen designs are based on guidelines following the principle of a ‘‘work
With appliances and cupboards lined up along one wall, this fits into very limited space. The sink should be located in the middle, with the refrigerator and cooker at either end.
>> Galley or corridor kitchen Not recommended, unless built against a dead end or a window. Arranged along two facing walls, it should have the sink and cooker on the same side of the kitchen. Essentially, the ‘‘corridor’’ kitchen is for a one - or two-person apartment or house.
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>> costa HOMES >
>> L-shaped This is a good layout for open-plan and small, square rooms. It should have the sink in the middle of the work triangle for ease of movement.
>> U-shaped The most workable arrangement with uninterrupted space for food preparation and serving. Normally the sink is in the middle with the fridge and cooker on either side.
>> The Island The ideal plan for people who cook with style and prefer to make the activity itself the main focus. The layout needs a lot of space and careful design to ensure economy of movement.
The cooker should be situated as close as possible to the sink so it is easy to carry pans back and forth. Avoid placing it in a corner. Choose your cooker with care. If you like to cook, it is worth investing in a good one. I, myself, prefer gas but there are many modern ones with, for example, ceramic tops.
The kitchen is one of the most important centres of any household
Whichever layout you prefer, the following components must be included:
> When it comes to the sink, the main thing to think about is whether there is space for the dishwasher close to it. And, if you do a lot of cooking, buy a dishwasher with a special programme for pots and pans.
> Make work surfaces as big as possible. The main food preparation area should be large enough to serve up a meal.
> If you are going for an open-plan design and want the kitchen to be the household centre, it is essential that the exhaust system is efficient
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enough to suck up smoke, steam and odours. The most effective way is to have the cooker up against a wall with a hood that is as large in area as the cooker. An updraft unit is the most effective system and can also be an attractive item in itself. You can get a lot of help from your computer when you are planning your kitchen. IKEA for example has a special program where you can outline your kitchen. Most companies who are selling kitchens also offer planning free of charge. Because we are living in Spain, it is possible to do a great deal of cooking outside. I don’t just mean a barbecue, but all kinds of cooking. In the next issue of Costa Life, we are going to design an outdoor kitchen. It is not as complicated as it sounds.
Images supplied from RWK German kitchens, Bedrooms and Home furnishings. www.rwk.es 952 90 66 22 email info@rwk.es
Say it beautifully with flowers, cards and gifts from Interflora Florist Home Deliveries Offex Easimail Point Edif. La Rotonda, Local 4, Avenida Manolete, N. Andalucia, Marbella Tel: 952 811 301 mob: 670 635 201
www.deseosflorist.com info@deseosflorist.com
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>> costa HOMES >> Obama to visit Spain in May 2010
financial
news report
The US president, Barack Obama, will visit Spain next year in May in order to attend a summit meeting between the EU and US. The meeting will take place on 24th and 25th May in Madrid during the Spanish presidency of the EU. The EU-US summit meeting will be one of the most important dates on Zapatero’s agenda as EU president together with the summit meeting between the EU, the Caribbean and Latin America which is also due to take place in Madrid in May - a week before the EU-US meeting. Another important event for Zapatero’s as EU president will be the 2nd summit meeting of the Mediterranean Union which will take place over two days in June in Barcelona. Spain is due to take over the EU presidency at the start of 2010.
>> Government to extend 420 euros hand out to unemployed The Spanish government has finally given in to pressure from left wing parties in parliament. The financial aid of 420 euros to be paid to all those unemployed whose unemployment benefit has run out will be extended to include those whose benefit ran out from 1st January this year instead of 1st August as established in the law passed on 13th August this year. This modification to the law will extend the financial help to another 700,000 people and will increase the cost of the measure by 100 million euros a month which is around 700 million more euros than originally forecast. However, a government spokesperson, José Antonio Alonso, said that these calculations are still hypothetical because it is not yet known how many people will apply for
the aid although forecasts are based on calculating the total number of people eligible for the aid. Alonso said that the measure was fair because one of the government’s priorities was to make the state’s resources available to those that most needed help. When asked if the change to the current law was due to lack of support in parliament Alonso explained that the government had consulted all parliamentary groups before passing the law. He also added that the amendment would be passed as quickly as possible so that it would come into effect at the beginning of November. Yesterday it was announced that so far in 2009 that the government has spent
24.5% more than in the same period for 2008 and that by July the deficit had increased by fivefold and now represented 4.69% of GD.
>> Proposed withdrawal of tax rebate will af fect medium income households the most showed that over half the money the treasury wants to ‘‘claw back’’ would come from those earning one or two thousand euros a month.
Despite declarations by Spanish president José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero denying that medium income households would suffer the most from the government’s proposed increases in income tax the opposite appears to be the case with those on small or medium sized incomes most at risk of losing out. In a simulation carried out by the Spanish daily newspaper, El Pais, based on the government’s proposal to withdraw the 400 tax rebate introduced last year the results
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The reasons behind this is that most of the income tax rises would be a result of the withdrawal of the 400 euro tax rebate which mostly benefited those earning medium sized salaries and pensioners. Nevertheless, it is also possible that the government will maintain this tax deduction for those on low incomes and will use it as a bargaining tool in order to negotiate with other parliamentary groups in order to get support for next year's proposals for public accounts. The 400 euro tax deduction was introduced last year in order to help households on medium sized incomes at a time when the treasury's accounts were in a much better state than now. In general it benefited those earning at least
12,000 euros a year and it will be this group who will be most affected if the measure is withdrawn completely. Based on figures taken from 2007 those earning between 12,000 and 21,000 euros a year will be those who will end up paying more according to the Treasury. The government has defended its proposals to withdraw the 400 euros tax rebate saying that this measure was adopted to help families pay their mortgages at a time when both the Euríbor and inflation were ‘very high’ and was therefore only intended to be a temporary decision. However, if the 400 euro tax rebate is withdrawn those earning 1000 euros a month could see their monthly income tax rise by 24% and those on two thousand euros a month could see their monthly income tax rise by 11%. Moreover, no announcement on VAT rises has yet been made and any increase in this indirect tax would affect low and medium income households the most.
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Ref. LPE_118: Very attractive, recently constructed finca situated in one of the best areas of Alhaurin el Grande. Peaceful and secluded position only 10 minutes from town. Three bedrooms (one en suite) two bathrooms, the property has air conditioning, feature fireplace, beautiful terraces and pool areas. Excellent value for money in today’s market. 135 m² built on a fenced and gated plot of 3,500 m². Price: 350,000 euros
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Ref LPE_139a: Delightful country finca in excellent condition situated between the two Alhaurins. Excellent access (no track) paved driveway through nice gardens to a three bed, two bath property which is gated and fenced. Beautiful terrace and pool area with outstanding views.
Ref. LPE_004: 350 m² on a scenic 16,000 m² plot with commanding views. Very close to golf, the property has a private 2 bed casita in the grounds with private terraces. This older property has great history and has been beautifully restored with fantastic gardens, pool area and a delightful courtyard area for entertaining. 7 beds and 3 baths reduced from 1,500,000 euros to 995,000 euros. This property has to be seen!
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Ref. LPE_201: Amazing medieval castle situated in the Chianti region of Italy. Comprising of 52 hectares of land of which 18 hectares are vineyard. Producing 65,000 bottles of wine. 20 luxurious rooms. Completely renovated in 1994. This is a fantastic opportunity for gracious living or wonderful business. Price: 15,000,000 euros
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Ref. LPE_167: Amazing views from this lovely three bedroomed, two bath finca that is in beautiful condition. Situated close to Alhaurin el Grande the 130 m² house is situated on a 5,000 plus plot in the best area and has beames lounge, American style kitchen etc. The plot is fenced and gated with an attractive swimming pool, fully legal and at a give away price. Yours for 269,000 euros
A great buy at 365,000 euros
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Ref. LPE_31: Great hotel project situated near Ponta Negra in Brazil. This complex boasts 87 rooms over 3 floors. All en suite. Restaurant, gardens, roads etc. Great price and great investment. Price: 1,450,000 euros
Lifestyle Property Europe - The Property Professionals C/Almería 15, Casa Sirenita, Urb. Sitio de Calahonda, 29649 Mijas Costa, Málaga, España. Tel: +34 952 931 050 +44 1305 898 020 Mob: +34 661 235 111 +34 617 199 433 E-mail: info@lifestylepropertyeurope.com www.lifestylepropertyeurope.com
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>> costa HOMES
guide
to buying a property in Spain
hen you have finished your long hard search and settled on the right Spanish Property for you, please don’t trip up at the final hurdle. Make sure you are never pushed into making a rash decision on a property until you are perfectly happy with your choice, and that you are sure you want to complete on the sale. There are, sadly, still horror stories of people being ripped off and conned out of small and large amounts of money, but if you go through an established estate agent and arrange suitable legal advice, your buying process should be smooth and trouble free from start to finish.
scared, many of them don’t bite! There are many more estate agents in Spain than there are in the UK, mostly because of the recent property boom, so you should try to use a little care when selecting an agent. Ask them if they are part of any recognised professional body, and maybe how many property listings they have on their books, or how long they been established in Spain, for example. The fact is that your feeling is usually the best judge. Other than that, a recommendation from someone who bought from the same company is probably the best way to choose.
>> Decision Time One thing you will have to accept when buying a property in Spain is that the world of officialdom and paperwork is not quite what it is back home, and some things are done quite differently from the UK. You must try to accept this early on, to avoid more worry than necessary. Hopefully this short guide will give you some useful pointers to guide you through the process as smoothly as possible.
>> The Property Search Always do your research! The increasing use of the internet has proved a significant to both buyers and sellers of property, and is more and more becoming the first place people look for Spanish property. Some websites provide even more useful information such as area guides, property news, and even newsletters. Try and go through as many magazines as possible to get a feel for prices. You can pick some up in the UK in places like WH Smith´s but there are many more to choose from once you have arrived in Spain. Once you have narrowed down your search, it is time to contact an agent. Don’t be
SO, you have seen 100’s of properties, your agent’s going grey, you can’t quite decide between property a and property b, it’s all getting a bit much… and then you find it: The property you always imagined! Now the fun begins, as it’s time to make an offer. At this stage the Spanish system is no different to the UK. The buyer makes an offer and the vendor either accepts or rejects that offer. If agreement is reached verbally you should instruct a lawyer immediately to act on your behalf.
>> Instructing a Lawyer Choosing the right lawyer is a very important part of the buying process, and bear in mind that you could well be dealing with the same lawyer for some time to come, and they will probably end up acting on your behalf if you should sell the property. As in so many things, the best way to find someone good is a recommendation.
>> Paying a Holding Deposit Once you have made your decision and your lawyer is happy with the terms and conditions of anything you are asked to sign, it is time to pay a holding deposit. This deposit is usually 3000 Euros on smaller properties, and 6000 on larger properties, and is usually held by the estate agent, in order to take the property off the market until the private contract is signed. These deposits are often paid ‘‘subject to mortgage’’ until a certain date. This means that buyers are given a certain amount of time to arrange the finance, and will not lose their deposit if the finance is not granted.
PRIVATE CONTRACT – The point of no return. This is the most important stage in the whole process, as if either party pull out afterwards, they must compensate the other party with (typically) 10% of the purchase price. On signing the private contract, the buyer
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will deposit 10% with the seller’s lawyer, and the other reason why this stage of the process is so important is that it defines a date by which time the parties must complete.
PUBLIC CONTRACT – The notary public. This is the final stage in buying a Spanish property. Both parties must attend the notary on or before the date stipulated by the private contract, at which time the balance of the purchase price is paid, and a new title deed is prepared and signed by the notary. Mortgages will also require a separate deed, and outstanding mortgages must also be cancelled at this point. Once the deeds are signed they will be then be submitted to the land registry for registration.
>> The Buyer’s Costs As a general rule, the costs of buying a property in Spain should be no more than 10% of the purchase price. These costs are as follows: Transfer tax: the Spanish equivalent of stamp duty, currently 7%. Lawyer’s fees: most lawyers in Spain charge 1% of the purchase price, depending on what services you ask them to proved. They will probably charge more if you ask them to act as ‘‘Power of Attorney’’, for example. Notary and Registration Fees: These should be no more than around 1000 Euros, depending on the price of the property. The fees may rise if you are taking a large mortgage, for example, as banks and mortgage brokers in Spain charge higher opening fees that UK equivalents. They will be repaid as part of the mortgage total, however, so it is difficult to give an average figure. All other costs should be paid by the seller, including all estate agents fees, capital gains tax, and an incremental land tax called ‘‘plus valia’’. As a final piece of advice, the oldest one in the book probably holds more true today than ever before:
Buyers beware, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
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>> costa HOMES
Roundabout Planting By Simon Hill
Chorisia trunk
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oundabouts are a relatively new introduction to the road network across our region. Over the last few years they have popped up everywhere, too often in places and on roads that functioned happily without them. Their purpose is to regulate and slow traffic slowing that has helped me take notice of some new and inspired planting that is being used to ‘pretty’ them up.
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Some are covered with Agaves and Aloes; others have their entire space devoted to controversial modern water features. One I can’t forget. It is not far from that Swedish superstore, another recent arrival, where I seem to have spent my entire September. Although the planting is simple and lacks a wow factor, this simplicity is beautiful. A single tree, Chorisia speciosa, stands alone surrounded by simple swathes of the grass Pennisetum
villosum (Ethiopian Fountain Grass), and P. alopecuroides the (Black-flowered Fountain Grass). Phyla nodiflora, also known as Lippia, has been used as ground cover to fill space between the grasses. Lippia is widely planted as a lawn substitute. This simple, uncluttered look is very attractive and just shows how grasses can be used to great effect - when used simply.
costa HOMES >> P. villosum is a low growing grass to 30 cm. It has a spreading habit that within a couple of years will form a mound of a metre in diameter.
Chorisia speciosa
The idea that grasses are best planted in dry spots was recently put to the test when I planted two examples; one in my dry garden, receiving no irrigation throughout summer, and a second in ground with weekly watering. Not surprisingly the plant receiving water grew faster and came into flower sooner than its mate that was lagging in the scorching heat. This grass has its origins way up in the highlands of Ethiopia, the Horn of Africa and Yemen, where there is summer rainfall. Its flowers are its greatest asset, appearing like little bunny tails from late summer onwards.
Kapok Flower
The second Pennisetum, P. alopecuroides, also benefits from summer watering that boosts performance and flowering. Unlike the giant Pampas grass, this grass reaches a maximum of 1.5 metres, a manageable size for the smaller garden. As well as looking good en-masse, it sits well singly in a mixed border. Several cultivars are available that have subtle differences in height and flower colour. Phyla nodiflora is becoming a popular green lawn substitute for small areas. Each plant will quickly colonise up to a square metre and throughout summer months will be covered with tiny pompon-like flowers. Its common name, Lippia could be confused with the former name given to Lemon Verbena, L. triphylla, now Aloysia. Both plants belong to the Verbena family, Verbenaceae. Other species of verbena have also been used successfully for lawns by gardeners wishing a more water-wise approach. I reserve my own judgment.
Pennisetum villosum
Ethiopian Oat Grass
The milder the climate, the more likely Lippia will stay as an evergreen perennial. Throughout a dry summer, plants may lose their leaves. Occasional watering will guarantee leaves and flowers. Thoughout a cold winter it may die back but should come again in spring. All will depend on your local climate. The Palo Borracho or Silk Floss Tree, Chorisia speciosa, is a popular tree in our region and one that I have mentioned in the past. In Spanish, Palo Borracho means ‘drunken tree’ a name that may allude to its strange appearance. ‘Silk floss’ refers to the silky hairs surrounding the seeds in the large pendant seed capsules. In the wild its traditional home is flat wooded savannah. Some say that summer watering will encourage production of its showy, hibiscus-like flowers in a range of pink colours; others say that a period of summer drought is beneficial. Also summer watering may possibly inhibit the growth of new thorns on the smooth green bark of their fat trunks - one of this tree’s many attractive features. Having watched a selection of seedling trees grow on from 1 metre or less, there were great differences between them in the number of thorns, and these differences remained as the trees grew larger so they must result from genetic variation.
P. alopecuroides in flower To me these trees are fascinating and good as an architectural centre-piece or merely to compliment a garden collection. The name given to a particular cultivar, ‘Majestic Beauty’, sums up my feelings about this tree. Whether we see on foot or from the car, new planting of roundabouts and other green spaces has become a great source of gardening inspiration both here inland and along the Costa del Sol. Roundabouts seem to have something for everyone, and just as we can look for furnishing inspiration in megastores we can get ideas for our gardens at a roundabout next door! Another word, it’s always wise to take a cutting or two if you think a plant will not survive winter! Simon can be contacted for advice and general plant queries at: FINCAROSABLANCA@telefonica.net
Phyla nodiflora - Great Lawn alternative
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FOR RENT LOMA DE LOS PACOS FUENGIROLA Duplex atico. Two bedrooms, two bathrooms, two terrace, south facing with all day sun and incredible views down the coast. Garage, gym, laundry, pool and secure gardens. Unfurnished. 680 Euros per month including all community fees, IBI tax.
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La Capellania magnificent villa set on private and tranquil position built on one level with panoramic views over the sea, Fuengirola bay and mountains. Comprissing of 4 bedrooms, 2 ½ bathrooms, fully fitted large kitchen, utility room, lounge with fireplace, plenty of covered terrace, large garden and pool. Built 299 on 1.630m2 plot. Great home and investment! Ref. 281 REDUCED from 799.000 to 590.000 €
Torreblanca villa in very quiet area close to transport, shops and sea. Offering 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, fully fitted kitchen, very large lounge, dining area, terraces all around, garage and parking, mature garden, large pool, barbeque area and lots of space and potential within the 183m2 on 1.000m2 plot. Panoramic views over the sea, green areas and Fuengirola bay. Excellent condition, an ideal home. Ref. 106 565.000 €
Los Boliches very central duplex penthouse apartment very spacius this modern and bright home offers 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, fully fitted kitchen, lounge with fireplace air conditioning, storage, sunny 40m2 terrace with views over mountains, town and little sea. Great home for those who want to stay fit, 3rd floor without lift. Great investment! Ref. 240 250.000 €
Torreblanca brand new apartment in quiet position offering very good quality of construction and fantastic views over the sea, mountains and Fuengirola, 2 double bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, fully fitted kitchen, spacious lounge with fireplace leading to 23m2 south facing terrace with great views. Garage space. Community pool and gardens. Ref. 169 175.000 € Also 3 bedroom penthouse at 258.000 €
IMPERIAL ESTATE S.L. Avda. Jesús Santos Reín, nº 15, Edificio Vega 1, Local 3, 29640 Fuengirola (Málaga) Tel: (+34) 952 664 966 | Fax: (+34) 952 199 204 Mobile: 656 815 699 Email: info@imperialestate.com | www.imperialestate.com
>> costa STUFF
Your Own Wildlife by Peter Harrison
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oet and satirist Jonathan Swift wrote that he always wanted ‘‘A river at my garden’s end, a terrace walk and half a rood of land set out to plant a wood.’’ Swift’s half a rood is not overly ambitious for it amounts to only a thousand square metres. It isn’t the amount that counts; it is what you do with it. There is something very satisfying about owning land even if it is only a few metres. What is its background? Who lived there before? What was the land used for? We have found Roman coins in the garden. In owning land, you are adding to its history, and it is always interesting in tracing the background. Even if your land is not spacious and is urban it still can attract a considerable amount of wildlife, and what is more, there is a constant change of occupancy all year round. Sometimes you have surprises, but not as dramatic as that experienced in Aspen, Colorado, when owners in a housing estate found bears at the garbage bins last month. That is overdoing things. I am glad I didn’t experience them close by when I skied there!
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Deer grazing
costa STUFF >> To encourage wildlife you need to manage the land. In the climate we enjoy in Spain, the problem lies not in getting things to grow but in stopping them from excessive growth. The Eucalyptus I bought six years back and took home in the boot of the car, is now ten metres tall. Great home for birds, even though very overbearing. The wildlife we enjoy is all around in the garden. Last month, a vixen with her three cubs came very close to the outdoor table when we were having breakfast. The same day a partridge settled in the overhead vine, probably just as well that the two did not have a close encounter. Two years ago, we disturbed an Alpaca that had been hiding in the undergrowth that we had allowed to grow for wildlife. The Alpaca, a relative of the Llama, is not indigenous to Spain; it comes from Latin America, but was imported on one of those crazy get rich schemes for its fine wool. This one had escaped and honoured us with its presence in its feral state. Trees allowed to grow freely attract a variety of birds. It is a good idea to go to a good bookshop like Bookworld where you get sound advice, and select from a wide variety of books on the identification of birds. This also applies to butterflies. This has been a bumper year for these lovely creatures. We have seen Meadow Browns, Clouded Yellows, Fritillaries and Red Admirals plus a host of common Cabbage Whites. It always surprises me that common creatures are so dismissed. Why are things less lovely because they are so frequently seen? Buddleias attract them. You do not need much space to grow a buddleia and if you place a saucer of water with a few drops of honey added, you will greatly increase your butterfly population and have great enjoyment from them. Oleanders, or Adelphi as they are called in Spain from their Greek origin, attract moths in the evening. There are hundred of varieties of them.
Vixen
Red Admiral
Even in the smallest of gardens there is room for wildlife. Leave a little wild area and hedgehogs can make there home there. You can encourage them by making a small wooden box with a ten by ten centimetre entrance on low bricks with a gently sloping ramp. Place it in your wild patch and scatter a few leaves and bits of fluff inside. You may draw a blank the first year as it still has a human smell but, after that, hedgehogs will creep in to hibernate or, more likely in Spain, go torpid. The young of hedgehogs are a real joy to behold. If you have badgers around, this is not a good plan. They are bitter enemies of hedgehogs. Be careful of two other hazards when you create a wild patch. Fire is a real danger, especially if there is a smoker around. Never leave food as this attracts rats and is not necessary. Wild life are used to fending for themselves and do not need your help, well meaning though it may be.
Over the eight years we have lived near El Chorro, we have witnessed a family of wild boar, which crossed over the land early one morning; endless rabbits and hares; the foxes, which I mentioned, plus another that slept on the windowsill; and to cap it all, the crowning glory … an Iberian Lynx. He came seven years ago and is one of the rarest creatures on earth, facing extinction, although the Donaña National Park is doing great work to preserve it and has an active breeding programme. We felt so privileged to have a visit, even though it lasted only a few minutes and was never repeated.
‘‘A river at my garden’s end, a terrace walk and half a rood of land set out to plant a wood.’’ Flat dwellers should not feel excluded from enjoying wildlife. Even if you have no garden, there is endless countryside around, as Spain is not densely populated. Just an hour’s drive from the coast, is a wonderland of wildlife. All you need is a pair of binoculars, which need not be expensive as there are many very effective ones on the market, often from China; a camera, to relive the magic moments of a sighting; and take something else with you… a whole load of patience. Wild creatures do not appear to order. Try to stay downwind so they do not catch your scent. Riding across open land one evening I came across a herd of deer grazing. I kept so that the wind could not carry towards them. The noise of the horses’ hooves was not foreign to them. It was amazing how close I managed to get. It is a sight I will never forget. The golden rule in watching wildlife is to be patient. Wait and wait, never talk and try not to move. What you will see, unless you have struck a bad day, will be well worthwhile and will give you memories that are everlasting.
Iberian Lynx
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>> costa STUFF
costa
cuisine by Jan Morley
Pasta is one of the most versatile ingredients in our modern day diet. It just seems to fit into everybodys’ busy lifestyle and can be easily transformed into dishes to suit any occasion. Cooking pasta is as simple as boiling water, just add a delicious sauce to dress it, from pesto to seafood, wild mushrooms to the most exorbitant truffles.
Perfect Pasta As nutritious as it is delicious
>> The GI Factor GI stands for Glycaemic Index, which is simply an international ranking of foods, comparing the speed at which a particular food raises blood glucose levels. The low GI foods are the best, if you are trying to eat less, as they make you feel fuller for longer. This is because they break down slowly releasing energy gradually into the bloodstream, causing a smaller rise of the level of blood sugar. This helps control hunger pangs, making us feel fuller for longer. Included in this list are pasta, most vegetables, fruit, oats and pulses, diet soft drinks, sugar- free squash, dried fruit, crumpets, brown rice, Quorn, fish and fresh meat. And finally , pasta also contains B vitamins, and the wholemeal variety offers zinc, iron and selenium. ,a useful anti-oxidant. Allow 80g of pasta per serving for a main course, 40g per serving as a starter, 20g per serving as an addition to soup.
>> To cook pasta Allow 3 litres of water per quarter kilo, bring to a full rolling boil, add a teaspoon of salt, add the pasta gradually so the water never stops boiling, stir occasionally to separate the pieces,dried pasta takes 6 to 12 minutes to cook depending on size, so always check times recommended on packet. Fresh pasta only takes about 3- 4 minutes, so watch carefully.
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>> Curried tiger prawns with linguine Ingredients 1 chicken stock cube 1 teaspoon curry paste e.g Balti or Madras 1 pinch ground paprika 115g/4oz butter 1onion, finely chopped 115g/4oz linguine pasta, cooked according to packet instructions 1 tbsp chopped fresh basil 1 tbsp chopped fresh flatleaf parsley 115g/4oz raw peeled tiger prawns salt and freshly ground black pepper
>> Method > Place the stock cube into a pan with 100ml/3½fl oz of water. Add the curry paste and paprika and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat to simmer gently until the liquid has reduced a little.
and fry the onion until softened but not coloured. > Add the pasta, basil and parsley and stir to mix well. > Add the prawns to the reduced stock mixture and cook for 2-3 minutes, until just cooked through tender, then season, to taste, with salt and freshly ground black pepper. > Whisk in the rest of the butter until you have achieved a smooth glossy sauce. > To serve, place the linguine into a bowl and pour over the prawns and stir.
Did you k now... Pasta is an id eal he
althy eating p in that it is lo rofile, w in fat, starc hy, which is recommende d to make up at least half of a daily calo rie intake in a balanced diet. There is a re nowned myth that pasta is fattening, bu t it is usually the creamy sauces which add up the ca lories, so choose your accompanim ents carefully.
> Meanwhile, heat half of the butter in a small pan
Los Boliches Newest Lounge Café Mouth watering menu 3 course menu del dia 12-9pm Monday to Friday 12.50€ Sunday Roast 3 course menu 12.95€ served from 12pm - 9pm wines, beers and cocktails Available for private hire Having a Christmas get together functions from 2-250 catered for
where it all comes together Open every day from 11am
Tel 952 661985 suavecafe.com paseo maritimo rey de españa 93 Los Boliches Fuengirola
>> costa STUFF
computer
bytes & NEED EXTRA pieces Make money online Feeling the pinch, looking for some pin money well there are many ways to earn money on the Internet. Look in any search engine for How to earn online and there will be loads of information, for products and services all offering you the chance to earn money online. Many are run by cheats and con men but I have reviewed some of the most reputable companies and checked what people say about them.
CASH -
adverts based on your content but there are many other agencies Squidoo, InfoBarrel, Bukisa, Suite101.com and eHow to name a few. There are even companies that will pay you to write on their own Blog. Can you write?
> Trade in your old mobile Basically, there are dozens of ways of Making Money Online, here are a few.
> Cash in the Attic All of us have old unwanted junk that we have put up in the attic or filled our garages with, Why not sell it? You can use Ebay, Ebay classified ads are not that well known and offer great potential for selling all those goodies you put away for that rainy day. Companies like Loot, the Friday ad and Gumtree all offer free classified services and cover our area. Even Facebook offer a free classified section. There are a few auction sites you can take advantage of, I mentioned Ebay but there are others including eBid, OnlineAuction and OZtion. I’d suggest having a look at Auction lot watch, a site which reviews all auction websites and provides a host of useful information on how much it will cost you to sell your stuff on them.
> Surveys If you like talking surveys then this is the one for you. In simple terms you make money for sharing your opinion. Banks, Insurance companies, big stores all ask the general public questions to see how their product or service is understood by their potential customers. This is an easy way to make money, with very little effort. Just sign up to a research company and you can soon run up a healthy amount. Companies tend to pay between 50p and £1 for each completed survey occasionally inviting some survey takers to a closed door session, these earn much more and often apart from the money, you get discount vouchers for the product to remind you to tell your friends what a great deal XYZ really is. Once €50 is built up, they send you a cheque. Ok, so it might take a while to build up 50, but its easy money! Choose five research companies and make up to €250 a month.
In our house we had a draw full of old phones after a quick search online we came up with sites like Envirofone, Mazuma, Mopay and Mobile2Cash, enter the details of your phone, and they’ll tell you how much you can expect to make from it! It only takes a few minutes, and you’ll soon have your hands on your cash! Alternatively, have a look at Air miles - you can now trade in an old phone for miles! Mine is worth about 300 Air miles, which is halfway to a flight to Dublin where you can spend some of your hard earned online money on Guinness or whiskey.
> Cash back websites Whenever you buy anything online, from Books or travel insurance to your weekly food shopping. Check to see if there is a site offering cash back if you purchase through their site. Some even pay you if you introduce others who pay through the site. Most either pay a fixed amount or a percentage of your spend. Cash back kingdom, Cash Back and many others have most of the high street stores in their armoury, both these sites give you a fiver just to sign up.
> Sell your digital pics If you carry a camera and are always taking pictures then this is the one for you. Look at sites like Fotolia, iStockPhoto and PictureNation, and you could get paid each time your photo is downloaded. I got so excited whilst writing this piece I have another 6 handy moneymaking ideas I couldn’t fit in, so I have prepared a money making page on our website with links to all the companies listed here. Please let me know if you use any money making sites.
> Write for cash If you are good at writing, you could earn money by writing stories and articles. Squidoo, InfoBarrel, Bukisa, Suite101.com and eHow are all sites that pay you to write. If you have strong opinions you could start a Blog and share your thoughts and views on anything and everything, write about the news, what was on TV last night, what your pets had for dinner literally anything? The more interesting the subject the better you will do and with a blog you can add advertising (similar to affiliates) and make a few euro’s extra when people read you’re Blog. There are many online advertising agencies the most well known is Google AdSense which chooses
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By Russell Vaughan Mintmicro S.L 952 596 346 or 665 016 374
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>> costa AUTOS
by Elio Howard
2009 exciting finale to come
European Grand Prix Valencia
Afterwards McLaren’s Martin Whitmarsh didn’t quite see it that way.
Rubens Barrichello ended his F1 victory drought of nearly five years with a classy win on the streets of Valencia. A crucial mistake by McLaren on Lewis Hamilton's final pit stop gave Barrichello the opportunity to snatch victory - but his 35-second lead over team mate Jenson Button showed how well the Brazilian had driven. At the start, Kimi Raikkonen sprinted from sixth to fourth and looked at third briefly. Jenson Button had a more difficult start. Although he got away from the line smartly, as he drew alongside Sebastian Vettel the Red Bull driver squeezed him, forcing Button to lift. That allowed Fernando Alonso through and Mark Webber got a run on him at the chicane. As Button and Webber headed into turn four side-by-side Alonso out-braked himself and Button followed the Renault across the kerbs. A few corners later Button dived down the inside of Alonso - but ran wide, allowing him back through again. It got worse for Button: his team reckoned he'd illegally stayed ahead of Webber by cutting the chicane, and judiciously told Button to let the Red Bull past in case the stewards handed down a penalty. Having done this, Button was now down in eighth. With a slightly lighter car, Hamilton left Kovalainen behind. By lap six the two McLarens were separated by four seconds, with Barrichello 1.7s adrift followed by Raikkonen, Vettel, Nico Rosberg, Alonso, Webber and Button. Hamilton came in for his first stop on lap 15, by which time he had a 7.5s advantage over Kovalainen, with Barrichello another 1.2s behind. After Hamilton's stop Barrichello took between 1.5 and 2 seconds out of his lead per lap - meaning that, once all three had pitted, Hamilton remained ahead but Barrichello had jumped Kovalainen and left him well behind. Now the race was all about Hamilton and Barrichello - and whether Hamilton could stretch out enough of an advantage to stay ahead. Brawn told Barrichello on the radio that he needed to cut Hamilton’s lead to two seconds. But it crept up - hitting 4.3s by lap 27 and staying around the four-second mark before Hamilton’s pit stop on lap 37. It looked very much like we were set for a close battle to the end - but Hamilton endured a fumbled pit stop, the team failing to get the tyres on the car quickly enough, which handed Barrichello the lead. Once the Brawn driver had pitted on lap 40 his advantage over Hamilton was six seconds. Hamilton's pit stop had taken 13.4s - easily four or five seconds longer than it should have been. It seems that critical mistake robbed us of an exciting finish to the race and potentially cost Hamilton a win.
McLaren’s explanation that they were trying to stretch Hamilton’s advantage by saving enough fuel for an extra lap makes sense. But there’s no denying that the effect of the fumbled pit stop cost Hamilton real time, without which the outcome might have been different. However, McLaren also suspected Barrichello could have pitted later than he did - his lap 40 pit stop may have been brought forward out of a concern that the safety car was about to be summoned following Kazuki Nakajima’s puncture. Whatever happened, the outcome was clear - the fight for the lead was over and the race was now Barrichello's to lose.
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Ferrari’s stand-in Luca Badoer moved up from last to 14th on the first lap - but it didn’t stay that way for long. He was back down to 17th before the first tour was complete. He later picked up a drivethrough penalty for crossing the white line while letting Grosjean past in the pit lane exit, and had a spin. The only driver he finished in front of was Nakajima, who’d spent much of one lap dragging his three-wheeled car to the pits. There doesn’t
Barrichello wins in Valencia
seem to be any need to labour the point that Ferrari are taking quite a risk by keeping him in the car. He will be expected to do much better at Spa next weekend - a track he knows, and when explanations about ‘inexperience’ won’t cut any ice. Meanwhile the other Ferrari of Raikkonen quietly nabbed third place off Kovalainen at the final round of pit stops. Kovalainen in turn fell back into the clutches of Nico Rosberg, the man who is tipped to take his place at McLaren next year, who had another strong race in the Williams. Behind Alonso, sixth, was Button, who finally succeeded in passing Webber at the final round of pit stops and despite finishing seventh for the second race in a row finds his championship lead has grown to 20.5 points over Webber. Robert Kubica snatched the final point having started tenth.
Belgium Spa-Francorchamps Kimi Raikkonen ended a 26-race losing streak by winning the Belgian Grand Prix for the fourth time in his career. Surprisingly Raikkonen’s closest contender wasn’t in a Brawn a Red Bull or even a McLaren - he was chased around every lap of Spa
costa AUTOS >> by Giancarlo Fisichella. Ferrari’s Luca Badoer brought up the rear of the field, finishing 47 seconds behind the next finisher. It was inconceivable Ferrari could tolerate another race with this kind of performance, and Italian television channel RAI claiming that Fisichella would be in the car at Monza proved to be correct.
Ross Brawn’s amazing season is coming to a close with the driver’s and constructor’s championships in his sights
As the race got started Fisichella preserved the lead and didn’t look like losing it. From sixth on the grid Raikkonen elected to use the tarmac run-off area on the outside of turn one to avoid getting held up by other cars. He re-joined the track in third, sprinted through Eau Rouge and picked off Robert Kubica at the top of the hill. He arrived at Les Combes going quickly he couldn’t stop in time, and bumped along the kerbing around the outside of the track. Kubica took evasive action but couldn’t avoid tagging the back of the Ferrari, breaking his front wing end plate. Jarno Trulli, who started second, also damaged his front wing, but the real carnage kicked off behind them. Jenson Button made a clean start from 14th and took a look at the outside of Heikki Kovalainen heading into the corner. Suddenly Renault's Romain Grosjean charged in, tipping Button into a spin. As their cars headed for the barriers Lewis Hamilton - who had started slowly and picked up some damage at La Source - slowed down to avoid the wrecked cars and got hit by Jaime Alguersuari. All four cars were eliminated. After the race the stewards consulted the video replays but elected not to punish anyone. The crash also had repercussions for the leaders. Fisichella had enough of a lead over Raikkonen not to be troubled by the Ferrari's KERS - but the arrival of the safety car wiped it away. Sure enough, Fisichella was a sitting duck at the restart on lap four. Raikkonen, one of few drivers to have started on soft tyres, breezed past him on the straight. Fisichella lost little ground to Raikkonen in the opening stint. Behind them came Kubica, battling on despite his front wing damage, Timo Glock, Mark Webber and Nick Heidfeld. Sebastian Vettel appeared in seventh shortly after the safety car came in, after apparently being allowed past by Nico Rosberg. Vettel had complained Rosberg had passed him illegally under yellow flags. Had race control got involved again as they did at Valencia? Rubens Barrichello began his recovery from a disastrous start. Just like at Melbourne and Istanbul, the brawn had bogged down badly at the start and he was lucky to avoid being hit. As the race resumed he moved up to 13th by passing Luca Badoer. The second Ferrari was, once again, a long way off the pace. Adrian Sutil, who'd been to the pits after the first lap, went clean off the track in order to get around Badoer on lap eight. Robert Kubica and Timo Glock were the first of the leaders to pit on lap 12. Toyota brimmed Glock up with enough fuel for 20 of Spa’s long laps, keeping him in the pits five seconds longer than Kubica. After that Glock plummeted down the order and never looked like making it back into the points. Jarno Trulli retired a few laps later - and so, having
qualified second and seventh, Toyota contrived to get absolutely nothing out of the Belgian Grand Prix. Raikkonen and Fisichella came in together on lap 14 - Raikkonen had started with more fuel, so either Ferrari had chosen to bring him in early (unlikely) or Fisichella had done a better job of saving fuel during the safety car period. The Force India driver switched onto the soft tyres, and continued his pursuit. In hindsight, if Force India had given him a splash more fuel than Raikkonen at this point, Fisichella could have won the race. But it wasn’t to be. Heidfeld and Webber came in on the same lap, and for the second race in a row Red Bull cut it very fine when releasing Webber from his pit box. This time Heidfeld had to get off the throttle to avoid contact, and the
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>> costa AUTOS stewards wasted no time in handing down a drivethrough penalty. But Heidfeld took care of matters himself, passing Webber at Les Combes. The Red Bull driver then fell into the clutches of Barrichello, who bravely blasted around the outside of Webber and Blanchimont. Webber served his drive-through penalty on lap 18, just as Rosberg was making his first pit stop and surrendering the lead he’d inherited. Another team having trouble in the pits was Renault - again. They struggled to replace Fernando Alonso’s front-left wheel as the fairing had been damaged in contact on lap one. Not wishing to incur a repeat of their Hungary penalty, the team kept Alonso back while they made sure the wheel went on, and shortly summoned him back to the pits after letting him out. He was the sixth and last retirement of the day. On lap 31 the two leaders came into the pits together for the final time - and once again left with Raikkonen ahead of Fisichella. Though he surely could have lapped quicker than the Ferrari had he been ahead, Raikkonen was able to use his KERS button at the start of the straights to ensure Fisichella couldn’t get close. Vettel made his final stop on lap 35, leap-frogging Kubica for third - and then began closing on the leaders. But once it became clear he wasn’t going to catch them he prudently turned the revs down, as he’s already on his seventh unit out of eight. That decided the podium, and the BMW’s of Kubica and Heidfeld behind were settled in fourth and fifth. Kovalainen briefly came under threat from Barrichello, until the Brawn’s Mercedes engine began spewing oil. Barrichello backed off and managed to coax the car to the chequered flag, impressively without losing a place - although his engine cover caught fire after he got back to the pits. Rosberg held onto eighth.
Italian Grand Prix Monza Lewis Hamilton and Adrian Sutil shared the front row of the grid for the Italian Grand Prix. It was the first time they’ve done so since 2005 at Zandvoort - when the pair where team mates in the F3 Euroseries. A last-gasp effort from Hamilton seized pole position from the Force India driver. Sutil failed to
Kimi Raikkonen enjoys first win in 26 in Belgium 64 costa life
emulate former team mate Fisichella’s pole position at Spa by just two tenths of a second. Hamilton started from pole position and kept his lead at the start despite not making a quick getaway. Kimi Raikkonen was much quicker away from third place and might have passed the McLaren if he’d had more room. Raikkonen nonetheless picked off Adrian Sutil for second place. Surprisingly, the Force India driver held onto third and was never threatened by the McLaren of Heikki Kovalainen. Starting with a heavy fuel load, Kovalainen fell behind the KERS-less Brawn cars. Barrichello got ahead at the exit of Rettifilio, and Kovalainen responded with an attempted re-pass at the Variante della Roggia. The car nearly got away from him at the exit of the chicane and that allowed Button a run at the McLaren, getting by at the second Lesmo. Coming out of the Ascari chicane Vitantonio Liuzzi got a run at Kovalainen as well and passed him on the outside heading into Parabolica. That left the second McLaren down in seventh while Hamilton streaked away. A bigger casualty on lap one was Mark Webber. He clashed with Kubica at the della Roggia and spun into retirement, a great blow to his championship hopes. On lap four Fernando Alonso caught Kovalainen and drove past him on the approach to turn one - the McLaren not even mounting a token defense. After ten laps the fuel-heavy Kovalainen was 24 seconds behind his flying team mate. Hamilton quickly left his two-stopping rivals Raikkonen and Sutil behind, but he had two problems: his tyres were wearing out too quickly, and Barrichello wasn’t dropping back quickly enough. McLaren brought him in for his first pit stop two laps early on the 15th tour. After his first stop Hamilton came out just in front of the battle for sixth between Liuzzi and Alonso. Raikkonen then split the pair after his pit stop on lap 19. He wasn’t able to keep up with Liuzzi but it didn’t matter - on lap 22 Liuzzi’s transmission failed on the run up the second chicane. Liuzzi joined Webber in retirement, along with Jaime Alguersuari and Robert Kubica. The latter had tangled with Webber on the first lap, damaging his front wing, and was summoned to the pits by the stewards using the black-and-orange flag (a rare event in F1 these days) to have the loose part of his wing removed. Kubica returned to the track but retired shortly afterwards. Now the Brawns were in the lead of the race. New leader Barrichello was fuelled to reach lap 29, in which he was able to lap slightly quicker than thirdplaced Hamilton, putting him in an increasingly strong position. Button never looked like getting ahead of Barrichello - he pitted one lap before his team mate, which more than doubled his deficit to around five seconds. When Hamilton made his final pit stop on lap 34, he came out behind Button and slowly began gaining on him. With two laps to go Hamilton had cut Button’s advantage to 1.2s. There was only one second in it as the final lap began, and Hamilton was hanging it out on every corner trying to get within striking distance. But at the first Lesmo bend he pushed too far - the McLaren ran wide on the exit kerb and spun him
Still on top with one serious challenger; his own team mate head-first into the barriers on the inside of the corner. Forget second place, forget third place Hamilton was classified 12th. This was great news for the home fans, who saw one of their beloved Ferraris promoted onto the podium. Raikkonen took third place ahead of Sutil, the pair having pitted together on lap 37 and bothered suffering botched pit stops. Raikkonen didn’t get away quickly enough and Sutil knocked over one of his mechanics, who fortunately was not badly injured. A late mistake by Vettel kept him from challenging Nick Heidfeld for what became seventh place behind Alonso and Kovalainen. Giancarlo Fisichella had a quiet first race for Ferrari, finishing in ninth place. Brawn’s emphatic one-two, and a poor weekend for rivals Red Bull, means they are now unlikely to be beaten in either championship. But with two wins in the last three races, Barrichello must fancy his chances of getting ahead of Button.
World championship standings Drivers Standings (after 13 races)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
JENSEN BUTTON RUBENS BARICHELLO SEBASTIEN VETTEL MARK WEBBER KIMI RAIKONNEN NICO ROSBERG LEWIS HAMILTON JARNO TRULLI FELIPE MASSA HEIKKI KOVALAINEN
80 66 54 51.5 40 30.5 27 22.5 22 20
Constructors Standings (after 13 races) 1 BRAWN-MERCEDES 2 RBR-RENAULT 3 FERRARI 4 McCLAREN MERCEDES 5 TOYOTA 6 WILLIAMS-RENAULT 7 BMW SAUBER 8 RENAULT 9 FORCE INDIA 10 STR-FERRARI
146 105.5 62 47 38.5 30.5 20 20 13 5
costa STUFF >>
Are you in a desperate situation? Do you wonder how it will all work out? Have you come to the end of yourself? Are you facing a challenge in your life that seems impossible? Does it all seem hopeless?
There is a way out! There is an answer! Every hopeless situation can be turned around! And we don’t have to get hooked on pills to escape. Trying to drown our sorrows with alcohol isn’t the answer either. What use is a temporary blocking out of the problem? Sooner or later you will be facing the challenge again. The stress of dealing with serious challenges in our lives can affect us in many different ways. The body can start to break down and become vulnerable to various diseases. Many ailments are caused by worry and stress. But there is a way out! Have you tried laughing at your problems? ‘‘Laughing! How can I do that? You must be crazy!’’ Have you ever stopped to think what happens to you when you let go and have a really good laugh? The medical world is discovering the value of laughter in bringing restoration and healing to us. Medical doctors say that laughter is a powerful antidote to stress, pain, and conflict. Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. Humour lightens your burdens, inspires hope, connects you to others, and keeps you grounded, focused and alert. Laughter relaxes the whole body, can boost the immune system, protect the heart and can also trigger the release of endorphins (the body’s natural feel good chemicals). Thousands of years ago God’s wisdom was revealed in these statements. ‘‘Anxiety in the heart of a man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad.’’ And ‘‘A merry heart does good like a medicine but a broken spirit dries the bones’’. Our Creator has made us with an inbuilt ability to laugh. We say that we laughed until we cried. Have you ever thought how dull your life would be if you did not have any emotions? We would be like robots functioning mechanically. But we have been created with emotions by a Creator who has given us the ability to live a rich full life. Thank God we are not made as robots! ‘‘But how do I start laughing when my world has crashed about me?’’ ‘‘How can you expect me to laugh when I'm drowning in sorrow?" You can give up struggling through life on your own and turn to the One who knows every thought in your heart. He sees every tear, He knows exactly what you are
going through. He waits to hear you turn to Him for help so that He can pour out His love upon you and take your burden off your shoulders. ‘‘Then Jesus said, Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls…..’’ When we turn to God and we find that rest, joy will start to bubble up in us in spite of our circumstances. Then we will be able to say ‘‘This is the day that the Lord has made! We will rejoice and be glad in it.’’ Scriptures: Proverbs 12:25; Proverbs 17:22; Matthew 11:28(NLT) ; Psalm 100 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 93 02 75 E-mail: tecfellowship@gmail.com Website: www.calahondachurch.com Pastors Peter and Annette Riggall costa life 65
>> costa AUTOS
auto
news
>> Spanish auto workers protest possible job cuts at Opel Zaragoza, Spain. Feared job losses from the possible closure of a local Opel car factory prompted thousands to demonstrate in the northern Spanish town of Zaragoza in September Local residents are concerned that the full or partial closure of the plant could mean 1,650 of 7,500 jobs disappear in the region. A further 13,000 jobs that indirectly rely on the factory are also at risk, opponents of the closure said. Police reported no violent incidents during the protest. Organizers threatened with a strike if the plant is not kept open.
plans foresaw fewer job cuts in that country. Spanish officials and workers say the plant near Zaragoza is one of the most profitable and efficient ones in the Opel network. The Spanish government has been critical of the deal and has demanded that the European Commission closely inspect the deal.
The Spanish plant is one of many Opel plants on the chopping block in a proposed deal whereby US car company General Motors (GM) would sell the underperforming German company, Opel, to a consortium that includes Canadian-Austrian auto parts group Magna International and Russia’s Sberbank. Spain would have preferred a sale to the Belgian investment firm RJH International while that company's
>> SEAT Exeo
Spanish firm’s new Exeo aims to provide cutprice alternative to established premium brand rivals. If the Exeo looks a little familiar then there’s a good reason. Look beyond the SEAT badges and you’ll find the newcomer is essentially a last generation Audi A4. A sharp new nose and revised rear end help to freshen the looks, but there’s no disguising the design’s age. As with the German original buyers can choose from either a four-door saloon or practical estate called the Sport Tourer. There are four trim levels to pick from - S, SE, Sport and Lux - and all get alloy wheels and sporty twin exit exhausts. Like the exterior, the Seat’s cabin will be familiar to owners of the old A4. There are restyled faces
for the instruments, a new steering wheel and seats, but other wise the well-built interior is identical to the Audi. Sadly, that means the dimensions are exactly the same too, meaning the occupants in the rear will feel a little cramped. At least boot space is healthy, with the saloon able to swallow 460-litres of luggage. All versions get Bluetooth phone connection and airconditioning, while the rang-topping SE Lux adds xenon headlamps. While the SEAT is a little old hat on the outside, its engines are bang up to date. All the units come from parent firm VW and include the new 2.0-litre common-rail diesel - in 118, 141 and 168bhp tune - and smooth and punchy 197bhp 2.0-litre petrol from the MkV Golf GTI. However, the refined, punchy and frugal oil-burners are the pick of the bunch. All are mated to a six-speed manual transmission, while a version of Audi’s Multitronic automatic transmission will be available at a later date. On the move the similarities between the Exeo and previous generation are obvious - although that’s no bad thing. The chassis is composed on twisty roads thanks to direct steering, strong grip
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and good body control. Sport models get a lowered and stiffened suspension set-up for sharper responses, although the firm ride can become harsh over big bumps. Seat’s trademark value pricing means the Exeo undercuts its premium rivals. However, with plenty of a kit and solid build the Spanish car certainly doesn’t feel bargain basement. Better still, diesel versions will return over 50mpg, while lower powered versions emit 139g/km. The only fly in the ointment is the car’s disappointing residuals. Go for an oil-burner and you’ll get between 38 and 39 percent of your initial outlay back after three years, while the petrol model retains 36 percent. On the road for approx 21,000 - 23,000 Euros.
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>> costa STUFF
reviews
DVD & films
2ND OCTOBER >> AMERICAN VIRGIN A Freshman College Girl on a scholarship from an abstinence group that advocates saving sex until marriage discovers that her antics on a night of debauchery, when she reluctantly got drunk for the first time in her life, were captured on camera by a sleazy video producer. Now she and her friends must travel across country to recover the incriminating footage. ALSO THIS WEEK: DAMAGE & HOUSE SEASON 5
9TH OCTOBER >> LOOKING FOR ERIC Eric the postman is slipping through his own fingers... His chaotic family, his wild stepsons, and the cement mixer in the front garden don’t help, but it is Eric’s own secret that drives him to the brink. Can he face Lily, the woman he once loved? Despite outrageous efforts and misplaced goodwill from his football fan mates, Eric continues to sink. In desperate times it takes a spliff and a special friend to challenge Eric to journey into the most perilous territory of all - the past. As a certain Frenchman says, ‘‘he who is afraid to throw the dice, will never throw a six.’’ ALSO THIS WEEK: ONE TREE HILL SEASON 6 & HEROES SEASON 3
By Simon Galley from Box Of fice Video Club 16TH OCTOBER >> X MEN ORIGINS Leading up to the events in the X-Men film, X-Men Origins: Wolverine tells the story of Wolverine’s (Hugh Jackman) epically violent past, his complex relationship with Victor Creed, and the ominous Weapon X program. Along the way, Wolverine encounters many mutants, both familiar and new, including surprise appearances by several legends of the X-Men universe. ALSO THIS WEEK: THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT & THE FIXER SEASON 2
23RD OCTOBER >> PUBLIC ENEMIES The story of legendary Depression-era outlaw John Dillinger, the charismatic bank robber whose lightning raids made him the number one target of J. Edgar Hoover’s fledgling FBI and its top agent, Melvin Purvis, a folk hero to much of the downtrodden public. No one could stop Dillinger and his gang. No jail could hold him. His charm and audacious jailbreaks endeared him to almost everyone - from his girlfriend Billie Frechette, to an American public who had no sympathy for the banks that had plunged the country into the Depression. While the adventures of Dillinger’s gang, thrilled many, Hoover hit on the idea of exploiting the outlaw’s capture as a way to elevate his Bureau of Investigation into the national police force that became the FBI. He made Dillinger America’s first Public Enemy Number One and sent in Purvis, the dashing ‘‘Clark Gable of the FBI.’’ However, Dillinger and his gang outwitted and outgunned Purvis’ men in wild chases and shootouts. After importing a crew of Western exlawmen and orchestrating epic betrayals from the infamous ‘‘Lady in Red’’ to the Chicago crime boss Frank Nitti were Purvis, the FBI and their new crew of gunfighters able to close in on Dillinger. ALSO THIS WEEK: 24 SEASON 7 & BONES SEASON 4
>> Couples retreat
>> 9
Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman, Jon Favreau, Malin Ackerman, Kristin Davis, Kristen Bell and Faizon Love star in Universal Pictures’ upcoming comedy Couples Retreat. Based on an original idea of Vaughn’s, the comedy follows four Midwestern couples who embark on a journey to a tropical island resort. While one of the couples is there to work on their marriage, the other three set out to jet ski, spa and enjoy some fun in the sun. They soon discover that participation in the resort’s couples therapy is not optional. Suddenly, their group-rate vacation comes at a price. What follows is a hilarious look at real world problems faced by all couples. The film also stars Kali Hawk and Jean Reno.
Academy Award®nominated director Shane Acker teams up with two of the world’s most visionary film makers, Tim Burton (The Corpse Bride, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) and Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted, Night Watch), to bring a totally unique and visually stunning animated fantasy epic to screen. When the small rag doll 9 (The Lord of the Ring’s Elijah Wood) first comes to life, he finds himself in a post-apocalyptic world. All humans are gone, and it is only by chance that he discovers a small community of others like him taking refuge from fearsome machines that roam the landscape intent on doing them harm. Despite being the neophyte of the group, 9 convinces the others that hiding will do them no good. They must take the offensive if they are ever to survive, and they must discover why the machines want to destroy them in the first place. What follows is a sublime, heartwarming adventure where this most unlikely of heroes leads his troops into battle and, along the way, discovers that a band of miniature warriors may be the last hope for humanity.
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costa STUFF >>
Scarlett Johansson has confessed she was as surprised as everybody else by her shotgun wedding to Ryan Reynolds. The 25-year-old actress married the 32-year-old star of The Proposal last September in a quiet ceremony in Canada. The Lost in Translation star, who has released two albums, is considering a stage venture, but suffers stage fright. She revealed: ‘‘I would love to work on Broadway, but I don’t know that it would manifest itself in musical theatre...I have terrible stage fright that I’d have to get over. It came on when I was a teenager, and I think it somehow sticks with you.’’ She said: ‘‘I love to get ready for the red carpet, but being on it is very uncomfortable. I get flop sweats, dry mouth, heart palpitations, all-over panic! I did this movie with John Travolta, and every time I looked over at John on the red carpet, he looked so fabulous. So I said to him, ‘What do you do?’ And he said, ‘I go to Hawaii in my mind.’’’
>> Drama sets Broadway record The new Broadway drama ‘‘A Steady Rain,’’ starring Hollywood stars Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig, has set the record for the highest weekly ticket sales of a non-musical play. The play about two Chicago policeman earned just under $1.17 million at theatre box offices in the week ending September 20th while the drama was still in previews. Jackman, 40, who has starred on stage in New York before, winning a Tony, Broadway’s top honor, for his portrayal of singer/songwriter Peter Allen in The Boy from Oz in 2004. Craig, 41, is making his Broadway debut.
>> Winehouse ‘upsets neighbours over noise’ Amy Winehouse has reportedly been told to stop holding late-night recording sessions by her neighbours. The singer, who lives in North London, is believed to have been frequently demoing songs and jamming with friends until the early hours. ‘‘They’ve asked her to keep it down a few times,’’ a source told The Sun. ‘‘She has been complying by turning off amps and stopping playing the guitar after midnight but she has still been singing until silly o’clock.’’ ‘‘No-one wants to fall out with her as it’s quite a close community, but if it carries on they’ll be taking it further.’’
whispers & gossip
showbiz
>> Scarlett Johansson on marriage and stage fright
>> I have a ritual before I fly Actress Jennifer Aniston has revealed that she has to follow a superstitious ritual whenever she steps onto a plane, according to reports. The Along Came Polly star, who is required to fly regularly for her film work, has apparently followed the same boarding routine for years. Aniston is quoted by the Daily Star as saying: ‘‘If I walk onto an airplane, I always have to go on with my right foot first and tap the outside of the plane.’’ She added: ‘‘I have always done it. For luck. Someone told me to do it and I don’t remember when that was. But it’s kind of stuck.’’
>> Bruce is not a twitter fan Bruce Willis has no desire to become a Twitter fan. Demi Moore is a signed-up member while hubby Ashton Kutcher became the first to have one million followers on the social networking site. But Bruce just doesn’t see the point. Asked at the premiere of his new movie Surrogates if he intended to join Demi, the 54-year-old Die Hard actor told reporters: ‘‘Doubtful, doubtful.’’ Bruce explained: ‘‘I just can’t live with myself if I started twittering. I just think that way lies madness.’’
costa life 69
>> costa STUFF
Strange but True >> Trip to Tesco It was mid-October and I was waiting for my wife, Julie, at the checkout at Tesco supermarket when I noticed that someone had left behind their broom.
When no one came to claim it, I went outside to search for a couple I remembered seeing at the cashier’s desk. I spotted them getting into their car and hurried over.
‘Excuse me,’ I said to the young woman, ‘but did you by any chance leave your broom inside?’ ‘No,’ she retorted quickly and with a smile, ‘we came by car.’
>> True facts Harry Houdini, master magician and escape artist died on October 31st in 1926. When Bela Lugosi, best known for his betrayal of Dracula, died in 1956, he was buried in his full Dracula costume. Over 260 movies have been made featuring vampires with the earliest ones dating back to the turn of the 20th century. Most are based on Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula which was published in 1897.
>> The First Jack O’Lantern The Irish carved Turnips and put coals or small candles inside. They were placed outside their homes on All Hallow’s Eve to ward off evil spirits. They were also known to use potatoes. When Irish Immigrants came to America, they quickly discovered that Jack O’Lanterns were much easier to carve out of pumpkins and began using them. This tradition quickly spread to the general population in America and elsewhere.
It is very rare for a full moon to occur at the same time as Halloween. It has only occurred in - 1925, 1944, 1955, and 1974. The next time it is said to occur is in 2020. The name ‘‘pumpkin’’ comes from the Greek word ‘‘pepon,’’ meaning a large melon. The word ‘‘Halloween’’ appeared in the Dictionary in the 1700s.
>> True tales At 5pm one Halloween afternoon, my dentist realized that she wouldn’t make the store in time to get snacks for the trick or treaters. So she took home some free samples from the office supply cabinet. That night she handed out dozens of tooth brushes, toothpaste and dental floss, the next year not one child came knocking at her door. One year a trick or treater came knocking at my door dressed as Rocky in boxing gloves and shorts. Soon after I gave him some goodies he returned for more. ‘‘Aren’t you the same Rocky who came only a few minutes ago’’, I asked. ‘‘Yes,’’ he replied ‘‘but now I’m Rocky II.’’
>> Wrong Name One night of Halloween, two guys who were going through the cemetery perceived a tap-tap-tapping sound from a tomb that made them very scared. When they came closer to the tomb warily, they saw that the noise was made by an old man who was working skillfully with a hammer at one of the gravestones. They started to feel much better and asked the man, ‘‘Why are you doing this work in the middle of the night? You frightened us for a moment.’’ The old man moaned and complained, ‘‘What else can I do? Those idiots spelled my name wrong!’’
70 costa life
Sudoku answers for Issue 51
sudoku
costa STUFF >>
1 5 8 5 9 5 3 2 6 1 2 4 4 9
6 7 6 8 8 9 6 7 3 8 4 5 5 6
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.
challenge Across 1. Provide with new housing (7) 5. Ambitious (7) 9. Rather tall (7) 10. Become liable for (5) 11. Choose (5) 12. Uncooked (3) 13. Spain and Portugal (6) 14. Become sad (6) 15. Container used for cooking (3) 17. Water fallen as rain (9) 21. Nevertheless (3) 23. Flowering shrub of the genus Rhododendron (6) 24. Small stone (6) 27. Meadow (3) 28. Keyboard instrument (5) 29. First prime minister of India (5) 30. Personal view (7) 31. Strategic withdrawal (7) 32. Systematically arranged body of facts (7)
Down 1. Device for catching rats (3,4) 2. Fool (4-3) 3. Incomparable (6) 4. Book of the New Testament (9) 5. Card game (5) 6. Piece of luggage (8) 7. Enclose (7) 8. Republic in central Europe (7) 16. Resembling a cavern (9) 18. Tavern (8) 19. Person who drives a wagon (7) 20. Hearing distance (7) 21. Inhabitant of Belgium (7) 22. Learner (7) 25. Two-piece bathing suit (6) 26. Heron (5)
crossword
Crossword answers for Issue 51 costa life 71
>> Useful numbers & information >> Transport
>> Emergencies
>> Airports
>> 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
091
>> Guardia Civil Guardia Civil Alhaurin el Grande Alhaurin del la Torre Alora Cartama Coin
062 952 595 830 952 960 067 952 496 020 952 422 639 952 450 138
>> British Consulate Calle Mauricio Moro, Pareta, 22nd Floor, MÁLAGA. Open 08:30 - 13:30 Enquiries 952 352 300
Malaga Gibraltar
>> Fire Brigade Benalmádena, Málaga & Mijas Coin Estepona Fuengirola Marbella Torremolinos
080 952 455 020 952 804 483 952 461 046 952 774 349 952 381 414
>> Medical Services Emergencies
061
>> Ambulance Fuengirola, Torremolinos, Málaga & Marbella
902 505 061
>> State Hospitals Benalmádena & Fuengirola Emergencies only Málaga Marbella Torremolinos Torremolinos (Centro de Salud) Health Centre
902 505 061 951 290 000 951 976 669 952 386 484 951 924 100
>> Taxis Benalmádena Estepona Fuengirola Gibraltar Málaga Marbella Mijas Costa Portillo Customer Service Direct Line Algeciras Alhaurin Benalmádena Coin Estepona Fuengirola La Linea Málaga Marbella San Pedro Torremolinos
The Coastal Service stops at every major town between Fuengirola and Málaga from 06:45 and 22:30 from Málaga Call 902 240 202
>> Lost/Stolen Credit Cards
>> Tuesdays
>> Size Comparisons
Benamagosa, Fuengirola (Feria Ground), Nerja weekly market (Calle Chaparil)
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
>> Thursday Alhaurin el Grande, Pizara, Frigiliana, Inside La Trocha, Coin, 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, La Trocha, Coin, Malaga near the football stadium, Sabinillas, Estepona, Sotogrande, Nerja car boot sale
>> Tourist Information Alhaurin de la Torre Alhaurin el Grande Alora Antequera Cartamar Coin Benalmádena Estepona
72 costa life
952 410 005 952 491 275 952 495 577 952 702 505 952 422 126 952 453 211 952 442 494 952 802 002
SP 37 38 39 40 41 42 43
1619516500 2890330099 2072229633 1383738866 1604230230 1252513500 1132345678 1514721110
Men’s Wear UK 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
SP 44 46 48 50/52 54 56 58
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
Alora, Marbella near the football stadium
>> Mondays
952 441 545 952 802 900 952 471 000 00350 70027 952 327 950 952 774 488 952 476 593
>> Bus Stations
Abbey National Allied Irish American Express Bank of Scotland Barclays Bank Diners Club First Direct Girobank
>> Market Places
952 048 844 00350 73026
UK 34 36 38 40 42 44 46
Halifax Lloyds TSB Mastercard Nat & Provincial Nationwide Natwest Yorkshire Bank
8457203099 1702364274 1383621166 1274331522 1793543888 1132778899 1132424800
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 closed on Sundays. 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
>> 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