FR
EE
ad.es allabro www.201 5 issue number 49
August
COMPUTERS Is your hard drive giving you a hard time?
JAX LAWSON Brings you the very best in LIVE entertainment on the Costa!
h Being tall is muc g better than bein small... Discuss?
The Quirky Medium fusion first anniverc Marinero eri Bala Thesary is on the 11tha in Sp ofin dra SanApril can u add it to advert, about! y’s Kellthe plus I want to add y Mandy Tams too..! Lebanese & International Cuisine
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Cover: Raquel Ferez
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Being tall…
the long and the short of it…
By Dave Bull
I just can’t see it…short, vertically challenged, little…it doesn’t appeal to me that’s why I decided to become tall. Ok, maybe I didn’t decide so much as inherit genes somewhere along the line that gave me my six foot three inch frame. And I love it. Wouldn’t want it any other way, I mean who wants to spend their lives asking others to get stuff for them from the top shelf – of the supermarket – or looking for a booster cushion in the cinema because someone of normal height has had the cheek to sit in front of them. No, there may be the odd bang on the head, usually when entering a shorty’s house and clattering the low-hung lights but apart from that I can only see advantages in being tall. For instance being tall is generally accepted as being healthier, and better looking (ok I made that one up) as in history we have witnessed that those who eat well and look after themselves grow to be big and strong and of course tall. Can’t see a thing Being in crowds is a nightmare of the dinky people of this world, the view being not much better than that of a poodle if it was walking the same route. Imagine as the crowd see their favourite team score and jump up and the short person has to enjoy the view of people’s backs or chests rather than seeing any celebrations actually going on on the pitch. Always in the deep end of the pool. Yes standing up in the deep end of most swimming pools and still being able to breath is yet another benefit of being a lanky git and, rather than having to stay in the shallow end or not go out of your depth in the sea, us Lofty’s can march into the waves confident that the next wave coming is not likely to go crashing up our nose but will instead gracefully caress our chests. Dangers of being pocket-sized Getting the jam from the cupboard can be another daily test for pocket-sized people as they drag a chair from the dining room
and somehow manage to clamber up on to it while retrieving the jam. We tall people don’t have that problem, or the danger of falling off the chair (quite a drop for the pint-sized of this world) and doing some serious damage to ourselves and the cat. Driving Being tall we can recline the seat back, relax a little stretch our arms out and drive in that chilled fashion. Now stick a shortarse behind the wheel and what happens? You see them driving down the road almost kissing the steering wheel and with their feet above the pedals dangling down. Trying to reach anything inside the car involves reaching at all times whereas the taller people of the world can simply lean across and wind down the passenger window or pull something from the boot of the estate car while still buckled in! Try that with a shorty and they can’t do it as the seat is so far forward that the driver’s door is behind them! No perspective Another thing I’ve noticed is that when a short person is with a dog it throws off the perspective? For example you see a tall person walking a dog and if the dog is small – it looks small. Same applies if it’s large. However, when the shorty is out walking Fido the Great Dane he looks like a jockey and when he takes Rex the Yorkshire terrier out the dog looks normal sized? Or is that just me?
ALL ABROAD
www.allabroad.es
reaakk!! bre TTaakkee aa b with
(+34) 966717783 (+34) 675956059
info@viajesrosatours.com www.viajesrosatours.com
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WATERFALLS
GUADALEST
At vero eos et accusam et justo duo dolores et ea rebum. Stet clita kasd gubergren, no sea takimata sanctus est.
BENIDORM
13€
$
TUESDAY / MARTES / DIENSTAG ALTEA (Market Day)
BENIDORM
VILLAJOIOSA
5
ALICANTE
(Market)
+CHOCOLATE FACTORY
+ BENIDORM
+ ALICANTE CASTLE
13€
10€
10€
5 99
8€
12€
5
WEDNESDAY MIÉRCOLES /$MITTWOCH $ /99 99 BENIDORM (Market Day)
ALGAR
Boat Trip / Barco
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10€
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17€
MAY: 06, 20 JUNE: 03, 17 JULY: 01, 15, 29 AUG: 12, 26 SEPT: 09, 23
INC:
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+
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30€
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5 99
+ LICOR 43
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+
+
INC: 18€ info@viajesrosatours.com 21€
And another thing, you don’t get neck ache looking down. One more thing… Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, Napoleon and Simon Cowell…all short. Just saying…
13€
CARTAGENA
CARTAGENA
+ LICOR 43 + TRAIN
CARTAGENA
5 99
10€
CARTAGENA
INC:
DAY TRIPS
$
14€
10€ CARTAGENA
CARTAGENA
$
15€ADT: 22€ SENIOR: 20€
21€
CHD:
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+
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ALICANTE
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CHD:27€
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BUS + DINNER + SHOW BUS + CENA + ESPECTACULO
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We are a charitable lot us tall people too – surveys say we are more generous that our smaller friends so when we shrink our clothes in the washing machine…we can give them to short people…
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$SUNDAY 5 10€
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99 511€
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CARABASSI CENTRE- GRAN ALACANT Bar open 10am-2pm and from 6pm til late
Food served: Breakfast 10am-2pm & Evening menu from 6pm-10pm
OLD ENGISH & BUDWEISER
3€ a pop
Estrella 2€ and a glass of wine for 2€! Bottle of house wine 6€ Prosecco 14€
Sunday lunch is a local favourite and you can have a choice of meats from chicken, lamb, beef or pork all at a very reasonable 8€ for 1 course, 11€ for 2 and 13€ for the full 3 courses not forgetting your homemade apple and berry pie.
Football or any other sport you fancy – this is the place. Brothers has one very large, crystal clear screen for your viewing pleasure
CHILDREN ’S M E N U!
Darts practice with some free food is on a Monday and with karaoke and live music on at the weekends plus two large screen TV’s, what more could you possibly want? 4
www.facebook.com/Brothers. emal: cindybagels@icloud.com Telephone: 0044 7863178870 - Ave Noruega 214 Gran Alacant 03130
Carabassi Centre - GRAN ALACANT
! r u o H y p p a H is r u o h Where every
When you’re looking for somewhere
You can contact them also via their
cool to chill out with a nice cold drink
email: cindybagels@icloud.com or on
and perhaps something to eat, the
0044 78631 78870.
upstairs terrace at the Carabassi Centre in Gran Alacant is not a bad
Fine dining in the summer and all year
place to be and Brothers Bar which is
round at Brothers Bar and set in this
situated to the left once you reach the
cool and breezy location it’s a must
top of the stairs has a very comforta-
for visitors and locals alike!
ble outside terrace where you can get away from it all – or watch the latest sport, outside or inside, on one of their three large screens. Fresh cocktails are made to order the REAL way too and with beers from two euros, a bottle of good wine at just 6€ and a bottle of Prosecco for 14€ Brothers Bar has something for everyone. The kitchen is open for breakfast from 10am until 2pm and in the evening from 6p until 10pm. At the weekends food is served from 10am until 10pm while the bar is open at the weekends from 10am until late and during the
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week from 10am until2pm and the from 6pm until late. A full and varied menu is on offer and as they say at brothers ‘Happy hour is every hour!’ Lots going on too at Bothers with Monday darts practice and darts games and a Beer Pong tournament every Thursday; 5€ entry and a minimum win of 10€ plus a great laugh while you’re at it! Daily specials such as sea bass served with crushed herby potatoes and veg in a wine and cream sauce, and all
with prices starting at just 25€/month it’s the best value advertising around! From Gran Alacant to La Zenia 6,500 copies FREE! Every Month
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Contact your local rep on:
96 669 5160 606 540 408
ask@allabroad.es 5
Abrimos todos los dias a partir de 18.ooh & los Sabados y Domingos tambien a medio dia We are open every day from 6.00pm Summer Hours and from 12.00pm at weekends From 1pm every day
@pizzeriacocoa /pizzeriacocoa
6
Sandra in Spain www.sandrainspain.com
Around Algor fa
h the great The little pueblo wit This is a new, regular column which will showcase the attractions of my home village of Algorfa, which is around 10 miles inland from Torrevieja on the Costa Blanca. I call Algorfa the little pueblo with the great big heart, because driving through its main street, Avenida Maria del Mar Rodriguez, you would never even guess at the delights this pretty, typically Spanish town has to offer. Over the coming months, I’ll be telling you about the facilities Algorfa has to offer for sports, eating out, shopping and entertainment and leisure. Let’s kick off with a few interesting facts about Algorfa. Origins of Algorfa There were people living in Algorfa as long ago as 3000 years BC. Archeological study in the early 20th century uncovered 12 skeletons from the Neolithic period, as well as various household items. However, it only became a municipality, with the name of Algorfa, when King Alfonso II made it part of the Kingdom of Valencia, and granted the privilege of building dwellings. There were just 15 of them, with 15 families as the first recorded residents of the town. Today, most of Algorfa’s Spanish residents are descended from four of those original families. The privilege was revoked by Felipe V following the War of the Spanish Succession in 1714, but restored at the end of the 18th century by Carlos IV, following representations from the Marquis of Algorfa.
big heart!
The orange groves One of the great things about Algorfa is the purity of the air. That’s because there is no industry here – the main occupation of the residents is citrus farming. The orange groves afford endless pleasure. You can stroll through the unfenced groves, and enjoy the peace and tranquillity, or watch the lizards bask in the sun, or the hares boxing. The groves really get to you! When the earth moved! Algorfa lies on the Bajo-Segura fault line, and there is a lot of seismic activity in the area. In January, 2015, an earthquake of 3.5 magnitude rattled our patio doors, and set our dog Paddy off on a frenzy of barking, although there was no structural damage, or damage to contents. However, this pales into insignificance alongside the 6.6 earthquake of March 21st, 1829. Almost 3000 homes were destroyed, around 2,500 were badly damaged, with 386 people killed and another 375 injured. The towns of Torrevieja, Guardamar and Algorfa’s nearest neighbour, Almoradi were totally destroyed, along with the surrounding villages of Algorfa, Benijofar, Rojales and Benejuzar. That’s why there are no really old buildings in the region. For many years, new builds have been constructed with built in earthquake protection, which is why these days, there is no serious structural damage when the earth moves, as it frequently does around Algorfa. La Ermita The chapel dedicated to the Virgen del Carmen was built in 1901, on the outskirts of
the village on the Benejuzar road, in 1901, by the Marquis of Algorfa. He also built a new palace behind it, to replace the previous building. Both buildings were constructed from two colour stone from local quarries. The buildings underwent major refurbishment in 2010 and today, La Ermita is the focal point of Algorfa’s fiesta to honour the Virgen, who is the patron saint of the village. The fiesta begins with a Romeria (pilgrimage) to La Ermita with the Virgen, followed by a Holy Mass with music and a breakfast of beer and sardines. The whole village turns out for this moving occasion. A multicultural town The first English family arrived in Algorfa in 1999, and they were warmly welcomed by the locals. Today, Algorfa is happy to welcome expats, and encourage them to integrate into local life. Of the 28 nationalities that reside as expats in Alicante Province, 27 are represented in Algorfa. Most of these are British, with 70% of the 3800 people on the Padron being of British origin. The early years of the New Millenium saw a big influx of foreign residents into Algorfa, mainly because local builders offered large commissions to overseas property sales companies such as Parador, Atlas and Polaris World. The town remains vibrant and multicultural –people want to live in Algorfa, even though they may not have heard of it before their first visit. The town reaches out to your soul, and once you’ve been here, you’ll want to come back to the little pueblo with the great big heart!
7
“Get on yer bike!” by Gary Routledge www.cyclogicalcostablanca.com
Never Put Off Till Tomorrow What You Can Do Today.
For those of you who read Cycle clips on
told him to slow down that he was doing
a regular basis you will all know and ap-
too much. My youngest daughter Sonia
preciate Nick Dinsdales cycling articles,
and Sam are regular visitors over here at
inputs and features. Nick owns NJD Sports
our villa and on one occasion 18 months
Injury Centre and works very closely with
ago I asked Sam out on a road bike with
all the professionals including the British
my regular Thursday night training group
Team and in particular Matt Bottrill. Nick
which is pretty hard and he loved it and
and Carol have been great friends of Lynn
didn’t find any pressure on his feet which
and me for many years and Nick has been
meant they weren’t sore, he also enjoyed a
an inspiration to many people including my
few buckets of beer when we had finished
daughter’s boyfriend Sam Maunder who
and through Dutch courage and a lot of
was diagnosed with the same illness that
persuasion from the guys he said he would
Nick has.
come with us on the Sunday ride which was 125kms and included the climb from
versity and got a group of guys together,
Sam just graduated from Edinburgh Uni-
Albatera to Hondon de Las Frailes and back
they bought some cheap bikes and formed
versity with a first class honours degree at
via Aspe. A pretty tough ride for only your
the Edinburgh University cycling club, they
the end of June. However earlier on in the
second trip on a Road bike but he made it
got sponsorship from High 5 and Endura
year Sam was diagnosed with Rheumatoid
and without walking, brilliant effort. On our
clothing and even got Jans Voight to come
Arthritis which was a shock to everyone.
return home I told my daughter that she
over as a guest and speak to them.
He had been complaining about sore feet
could keep him as he was pretty tough.
all the time and being tired and everyone
After that holiday he went back to the Uni-
Sam is a real nice guy and a fighter and after some pretty tough times with his illness and medication he became more informed and aware of the illness so he decided to try and raise some money for the Highland Hospice Trust. He set his sights on cycling from London to Alicante covering well over 2000kms and to raise well over £2000. He left London with a close friend from University Matthew Benger on Friday 17th July heading for Dover at 7 am to beat the traffic. From Dover their route is to Calais, Lens, Compiegne and Paris where they caught the train to Geneva. From Geneva
8
CYCLING tips advice routes
Calle Los Arcos, 7 QUESADA
Mountain Bikes City Bikes Child Seats Tag-a-longs Hybrid Bikes Road Bikes
Ladies Bikes Kids Bikes Tandems Kids Trailers BMX Bikes Electric Bikes
Sales, Repairs, Hires, Accessories & Clothing Open Mon-Fri 09.30-17.30 Sat: 10.00-14.00
Call Gary or Lynn: 637 487 377 www.cyclogicalcostablanca.com
they head for Sion, Como, Milan, Genoa,
der/. You can also follow their blog at
San Remo, then along the coast to Barce-
www.maundering-around-the-world.
lona, Valencia, Calpe, Alicante and Quesa-
blogspot.com. As if that is not enough
da. The guys plan to arrive in Quesada on
two weeks after this epic ride Sam plans
Wednesday 12th August after covering a
to take a year out and depart on a round
total distance of 2937kms where hopefully
the world trip while he can ( not on his
a few of us from Team Cyclogical will cycle
bike this time ) . He plans to leave in
out to meet them on their last leg. They
early September and travel to Dubai,
plan to arrive on the Wednesday so as they
Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia,
can cycle with us on the Thursday training
Australia, New Zealand then America be-
ride and celebrate with a bucket or two of
fore flying home. He is planning a few
beer at the end. Sam has also asked if we
months’ work in Australia to help pay for
can take him up the climb from Albatera to
his adventures. What a guy.
Hondon de las Frailes on the Sunday as this is where it all started.
Gary and Lynn are available at Cyclogical, in Quesada Monday to Friday from
If anyone is interested in supporting or
9.30am – 5.30pm and from 10am -2pm
making a donation to Sam you can do so
on Saturdays to assist and advise you on
at https://www.justgiving.com/SamMaun-
all your cycling requirements.
9
Short is Sensational!
Sandra Piddock responds to Dave Bull’s article on page 3
www.sandrainspain.com
Let’s get one thing straight. I’m not
70% reduction, so I can restock my ward-
short, or undersized, vertically chal-
robe on a shoestring.
lenged, pint-sized, petite, sawn-off, tiny, diminutive, little, pocket-sized,
You get a better selection of guys
wee or dinky. I’m 5 feet, 2 inches of
Tall guys feel protective of me, and short
perfection, and I wouldn’t want to be
guys think I make them look taller, so I
any other height, for these reasons and
get to choose from a larger male gene pool.
more.
Small gets all – or most of - the blokes. And when things get up close and personal, I
Lots of famous people are 5’ 2”
can get myself into positions tall girls can
Elizabeth Taylor, Loretta Lynn, Emma Bun-
only dream of.
ton, Lulu, Tammy Wynette, Yoko Ono, Shakira, Salma Hayek and Amy Winehouse all
You won’t bang your head on anything
measure up at just 62 inches. Didn’t do
However low the ceiling or door frame is, I
them any harm, did it? Well, apart from
can easily fit under it, so I’m never going to
Elizabeth Taylor, Tammy Wynette and Amy
bang my head. So, on those historic tours
Winehouse, but they didn’t die from being
of 500 year old cottages, I can get in all the
short. Nobody ever did. There are at least
rooms, and see everything. I’m never going
another 3,000 5’ 2” celebrities on the list,
to walk into a door frame, unless it’s on a
so maybe I’m headed for stardom!
Wendy house and I’ve been on the cava. You won’t get DVT on a long haul flight
You can lie about your age
I’d never go on a long haul flight anyway,
Now that’s something I’d never do, because
because I hate flying, but leg room on a
Mother always said to tell the truth, and I
plane is never a problem for me. Unless
do – mostly. However, if you’re short, or
they push the seats back so they’re almost
whatever synonym floats your boat, people
touching, I’ve always got room to stretch
automatically assume you’re younger than
out, and I don’t need to pay for the privi-
you are. That means you get fit guys in
lege.
their forties coming on to you when you’re pensionable age. Let the games begin!
Mother always said I shouldn’t be sad that I’m short, because the best things always
You never need to change a tyre
come in small packages. I didn’t believe
Or a plug, or anything else for that matter.
her back then, but now I see she was spot
Rightly or wrongly, short girls are seen as
on as usual. Would I want to be any taller?
more helpless that their taller sisters, even
Not on your life! With my trusty,
light-
in situations where height is no advantage.
weight aluminium step ladder, I
c a n
We just rock that little girl lost, vulnerable
go anywhere I want to, and
with-
look – and we do it in style. I have never
out it, I can get into places
taller
been caught with my hand on a spanner.
people can only dream of.
Sensa-
Lots of other things maybe, but never a
tionally short, that’s me!
spanner, screwdriver, or anything else that couldn’t be eaten, drunk or played with. You get a better selection of clothes You call it a t-shirt, but for me it’s a mini dress. Denim Capri pants are jeans. And I can get stuff from the children’s section at a fraction of the price my taller sisters pay. When it comes to the sales, small sizes and short lengths are the ones that come with
10
11
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GRAN ALACANT 3 bed townhouse in Altomar I. Communal pool and gardens. Close to post office, cafes, more. Views of canyon and sea views from solarium €139,950. AA7459
GRAN ALACANT walk to the beach! 3 bed, 2 bath house in gated community of Costa Hispania III. Communal pool, gardens, allocated parking, more. €141,000. AA5657
10
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Kelly McLachlan
Come & meet
Notes from small town Spain “Isn’t it hot?” And “Que calor!”
The
SPECIALISTS
scared. The first thing that hit us was the heat. Yep. Even after dark. Sorry! I won’t
Been hearing that a lot lately. The weather
mention it again. I didn’t think I’d enjoy my
seems to be the main topic of conversation
break in the sun. I didn’t think it would have
at the moment. And it’s going to get hotter.
been my “style”. (I’ve never been much of a
I bumped into a lady I know the other day
sun seeker, believe it or not), but I loved the
and her words were: “Ooh, Kelly, innit hot?
place so much I went back again with my
I read this morning that after this heatwave
friend in 2002. It was her first time there
has passed there’s another one coming
and, yes, the departure was emotional after
straight after it!” “Yes, dear,” I thought, “it’s
an awesome week.
called August.” I had to, and still do, spare a thought for all So we just plough on through our sweltering
the tourist industry staff who keep us enter-
days and sticky nights. One of my friends
tained / fed / drunk / all of the above during
was complaining about the heat in the UK
our holidays. The barman who keeps those
recently. I just sent her a screenshot of the
huge Spanish shots coming on a Friday
forecast for the Costa Blanca for the next
night, the chef who cooks your fry up the
few days. But I’m not going to talk about
morning after, the DJ who chuckles at your
the weather. Just because everybody else
‘Xfactor’ (so you thought) worthy karoke
is. You just get on with it, eh?
performance of Westlife. Or Lady Gaga. Or
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Neil Diamond. There have been a lot more ambulances
I’ve worked a couple of seasons here myself
spotted around this way than usual, I know
and it’s not easy. Lots of fun, but not easy.
the emergency services do a fantastic job
It’s pretty much impossible to sleep at night
every day of the year but the heat can be
in the summer, so what do you do? Stay up
lethal. You need to be so careful.
all night and go to the beach bar, of course! Or sit on your balcony with some music,
A couple of folks I know are off to Ibiza. It
(cold glass of your favourite beverage op-
made me think of my first time as a tourist in
tional) but not too loud, you don’t want to
Spain. My sister had been on holidy to San
disturb the neighbours. Or, you could cool
Antonio with her friend and begged me to
off by putting your head in the freezer. An-
return with her months later. She was 17 at
other tip I found is to lightly spray your bed-
the time and was looking to book a flight for
sheets with cold water before you go to bed.
her 18th birthday at the end of September,
I’ll try that.
in time for the closing parties of all the “superclubs” on the island. At 23, I had never
But don’t worry, the Gota Fria is coming, and
flown. Ibiza was full of ravers. I was well
then we’ll all be complaining about the rain!
into my ‘indie rock’ phase. So, I booked the
There’s no pleasing some people, is there?
week off work and my poor sister had claw marks in her hands where I had gripped her so tightly by the time we landed. Yes, I was
Until next time, stay cool.
Kelly 13
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MANDY’S
from our bank.’ I handed her the letter LADY ‘Oh you’ve changed banks, that’s your fault. You should have informed us,
Spanish Diary
by Mandy Tams
TO HAVE OR NOT TO HAVE... …WATER (part 1) continued from last month... Two hours later, my husband has already left to find hydration, food and sleeping bags, we have decided to bed down if necessary… One brave soul questions the length of time taken to receive help. It is now 12 o’clock, they close at 1:00. Tickets are thrown like confetti by disgruntled folk with no stamina, they land to a serenade of grunts and groans and the odd Spanish swear word. A black market starts as older members of the queue begin scrapping around on the floor like a flock of black dung beetles unrolling scraps of paper searching for discarded tickets and begin trading lower numbers for cigarettes or bottled water, even a seat by the fan is worth trading. A31 flashes up. We must be getting close. 12:45, at least 20 people are still present, none sitting, all standing as though waiting for Ryan
Air to open a gate; elbows out, eyes glancing side to side making sure no one is going to slip past them. There will be no mercy. A 32 A small elderly lady slips a ticket into my hand, putting her fingers to her lips, I look, it’s A34, but she has to go indicating a bladder problem, the puddle gives me the clue… I palm the ticket risking I may be in the wrong queue. 12.55 am A33 flashes. Excitement builds; almost there. C35. Come on, in my head I am shouting the number when suddenly BING, the screen flashes, B3, at the same time the rep glances at the clock, disappointment crosses her face as I sit down, but she has pressed the button, she has to deal with me now. The others try to push irate customers out through the door but they are now on a sit-in. I explain our problem, and this is her reply obviously abridged. LADY ‘Yes, you did not pay, but we have reconnected your water now at a cost of €125 ME ‘Ah Yes, but you shouldn’t have turned it off; you didn’t request the money
That’s when the conversation took the same path as the one with the Bank manager, with us trying to convince her we do not have any other account or bank. Her eyes roll, they glance towards her cigarettes to the side of her keyboard and then back at the clock, her immaculate nails do a little drum roll. It’s now way past wine o’clock time, hunger strikes, our stomachs rumble knowing the sun has passed the yard arm somewhere, possibly everywhere. Do we give in and admit defeat or do we dig down deep to our roots, stand our ground, I mean we are British. Seething now, trying to keep my upper lip stiff, wondering which one of us is stupid and quickly coming to the conclusion it’s me, but being a canny Yorkshire lass I am not going to kiss off €125 if I don’t have too. Lady sighs deeply, her and her long legs and cleavage disappear taking my husbands eyeballs with them only to return 10 minutes later when it seems the penny has dropped; they have requested the payment from another bank, not ours. She smiles self satisfied; understanding finally dawns. She apologises as though she has done us a great favour understanding, we ask for a refund, she acquiesces immediately and finishes with... ‘Now which one of these accounts do you want it paying back into?’ © mt
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Alicante City
A real taste of the Mediterranean By Dave Bull
Part one
Bohemian, friendly, historical and modern THIS is the Med’! Over 3 million visitors hit Alicante’s
some nightlife. Don’t forget the local urban
beaches, shopping streets and his-
legends too of the beautiful Carbonell House
torical old quarter every year and
on the seafront or the Moor’s face said to
it wasn’t any different three thou-
be carved into the rock by a mourning ruler
sand years ago with Greeks, Phoe-
centuries before.
nicians, Iberians and Romans all having a go at the place.
Come meal times and you are spoilt rotten for choice in Alicante with its outstand-
Located on the coast of south east Spain,
ing reputation for great food typified in its
Lucentum, Alacant, Alicante…call it what
speciality of local rice dishes although its
you will but from those humble beginnings
range of international cuisine will have your
Alicante has risen to become the capital of
taste buds bouncing up and down too! And
the Province of the same name and now-
with a year round climate that was declared
adays invites the visitor to ‘come and get
the healthiest place to live in Europe (WHO
it’ with a fun and adventurous way of going
2006) visitors can enjoy this lively, modern
about things and with a castle, street life
but historical city at any time of the year.
and old quarter all brimming with attitude. The Romans, as ever, where the first to reHome to the Volvo ocean race the impres-
ally put Alicante on the map and so they
sive port is what first brought trade to
should they had seven hundred years to do
the city and still does with over seventy
it in but it was in the eighth century that
cruise ships calling in, bringing with them
the Moors arrived and civilised the place
over 110,000 people to sample the typical
somewhat, bringing irrigation, medicines
friendly Mediterranean culture that this fab-
and books amongst other things. Over the
ulous place offers.
next four or five hundred years the city was under the rule of various leaders until the
Strolling around and one is in amongst
thirteenth century when it was claimed by
pavement artists and the ‘hippy huts’ all
the Catalan King Alfonso and later James II
sell their wares on the beautiful esplanade
of Aragon under whom it became a Royal
which was built using the ruins of the old
Town and had its first representatives in the
city walls and boasts over 6.6 million tiles in
Valencian parliament.
the mosaic that runs along the seafront and ‘La Rambla’ is a must for anyone looking for
Read part two in next month’s issue.
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What’s On Gig Guide Saturday 8th La Bodequeta, Lo Crispin Dee – 9pm Imanyos, Daya Nueva That’s Life! Duo- 9pm Monos Bar, Quesada Freddie Kool– 9pm The Local, El Raso - Chloe Leigh – 9pm Brothers Bar Carabassi, Gran Alacant - J.J. Soulman– 9pm La Marina Urb Fiesta – tba Cocaloca, Campoverde, Francis Sings – 9pm Billees Bar, Algorfa – Samantha Curtis – 9pm The Club, Quesada – The Beatle Duo – 9pm Hondon Nieves – Medieval Market from 7pm – 1am Lo Marabu Lounge, Lo Pepin – Bella Luna – 9pm Sunday 9th La Marina Urb Fiesta – tba So Bar, Benimar CC – Paul Harris – 9pm Pablos International Bar, Playa Flamenca - Motown – 9pm Bar la Torre, La Florida – Robert Bonovox – 5.15pm Saturday 15th Brothers Bar, Carabassi, Gran Alacant - Rebecca Holt- 9.30pm Imanyos, Daya Nueva – Paul Harris – 9.30pm The Fire Station, Via Pk 1, La Zenia, Debbie Slater, Vocalist – 9pm La Bodequeta, Lo Crispin, Timewarp Duo, Benidorm Tribute. Tickets €5 - 9pm The Local, El Raso, Tim Taylor, Guitar Vocalist – 9pm The Fountain Bar, Dolores, Help for Heroes Fundraising Day – 2pm Pablos International Bar, Playa Flamenca – Freddie Kool – Vocalist – 9pm The Club, Quesada – Ricky Patton as Roy Orbison – 9pm Bar Carmen, La Siesta – Samantha Curtis – 8.30pm Nonduermas Restaurant, Catral – Woody – 9.30pm Lo Marabu Lounge, Lo Pepin – Angie McKay – 9pm Sunday 16th So Bar, Benimar CC – Paul Harris, Guitar/Vocals – 9pm Fiesta La Romana - tba Pablos International Bar, Playa Flamenca – Motown – 9pm Saturday 22nd Imanyos, Daya Nueva, Freddie Kool – 9.30pm
Brothers Bar Carabassi, Gran Alacant, Francis Sings– 9.30pm La Bodequeta, Lo Crispin, Benny Van De Burg – 9pm The Local, El Raso, Daz – 9pm Nonduermas Restaurant, Catral, Kevin Tyler -9.30pm Monos Bar, Quesada, Dee Vocalist – 9pm Pablos International Bar, Playa Flamenca – Pitu – 9pm Lo Marabu Lounge, Lo Pepin – Bella Luna – 9pm Sunday 23rd Pablos International Bar, Playa Flamenca – Richie Alexander – 9pm So Bar, Benimar CC – Paul Harris – 9pm Bar la Torre, La Florida – Robert Bonovox – 5.15pm Saturday 29th La Bodequeta, Lo Crispin J.J. Soulman – 9pm The Local, El Raso, Cherry K – 9pm Brothers Bar Carabassi, Gran Alacant- That’s Life! Duo -9.30pm The Junction, El Galan Luke Wilder – 9pm Pablos International Bar, Playa Flamenca – Pitu – 9pm The Taverna (Orange Bar), Vistabella Golf – The Beatles duo – 9pm Billiees Bar, Algorfa – Samantha Curtis – 9pm Lo Marabu Lounge, Lo Pepin – Las Vegas Show 9pm Sunday 30th Pablos International Bar, Playa Flamenca – Richie Alexander – 9pm So Bar, Benimar CC – Paul Harris – 9pm La Vida Sunset Bar, Doña Pepa – Tim Taylor – 9pm Saturday 5th September Restaurante Los Rosales, Guardamar – Multi Tribute show – Tickets €14 - 7pm (www.lrshows.com) Imanyos, Daya Nueva, That’s Life! Duo – 9pm Lo Marabu Lounge, Doña Pepa – Dee – 9pm La Bodequeta, Lo Crispin – Samantha Curtis – 9pm Sunday 6th September So Bar, Benimar CC – Paul Harris – 9pm Bar la Torre, La Florida – Robert Bonovox – 5.15pm
August - September Lets Rock the Costas
Welcome to our brand new feature – an entertainment guide listing the best in entertainment in our area. Having been in the entertainment business for over 30 years I am really excited to pass on some of the news and events for live entertainment that is happening in our lovely part of the country. We have such a wealth of talent here on the Costas that is can be difficult to choose where to go. I have been running Lets Rock Shows for some years now, and am lucky to have booked some brilliant acts on my shows, both in bars, restaurants and other venues. From soloist, duos and bands to hypnotists and drag artists we have some top talent here. Lets Rock Shows was formed to help promote live music in Spain and to organise affordable shows with top class entertainment. We now have 2 websites (www.lrshows.com and www.keepentertainmentliveinspain.com) which are dedicated to all forms of entertainment, plus several Facebook groups with in excess of 2900 members. Each month we will be listing the very best places for you to have a night out with live entertainment. Plus we will be bringing any news and special events that are happening in the area. You can also submit your event by emailing them to me at letsrockshowslive@gmail.com I shall endeavour to give you the most comprehensive events guide that I can.. As an entertainment consultant my job is to help the venues by providing them with not only the right acts for their customers, but also advice and promotion for their events. From poster design to press releases we offer a total package, so the venues can get on with doing what they should be doing – running their business. It is so important that venues are supported on a regular basis. If this doesn’t happen then they will slowly decline until they are forced to close. Music is in our very soul and instilled in us from a very early age. Children are sung to in the womb, and it is an inherent part of all cultures to have music at any celebration. We gravitate towards it like bees round a honey pot. Music brings us joy, whatever genre it is. So let’s turn off the telly and get out there and give ourselves lots of happiness and meet some new people along the way. I do hope you enjoy this new feature and have many enjoyable nights out. Keep on Rocking! Jax x
www.lrshows.com Tel - 697501992 25
26
Computer
help & advice with
27
BALEARIC BANTER By Johnny Mahonny
(The Barnsley Marinero) Greetings from Menorca. Mr Dave Bull, the Ayatollah of the Airwaves, the Prince of Print, the Crown Prince of the Costa, has dangled the golden carrot (not to be sniffed at) and commissioned another pageful of nonsense from the Marinero.
Greetings from sweltering Menorca. Temperatures have been well above the norm since early May, peaking yesterday, July sea 21st, at 39C, almost unheard of here. Luckily our constant
breeze hasn’t let us down, mitigating the worst of the heat. On the bright side, my little Tiki-style bar in Puerto Addaia has been doing good business. The sun drops below the pine ridge
to the west of the village around 8.30 pm giving us lots of long etc cooler evening hours, ideal for flogging cold beer, wine, G&T to punters and locals alike. So well was it going that I decided to branch out into cockge of tail-making. Now, as an ex-publican in the UK, my knowled days: cocktails was minimal. Typical conversation from those ‘Hi, could I have a Dry Martini and lemonade please?’ ‘If you must’
‘And could I have ice and lemon please?’ ‘What do you think this is, the f**king Dorchester?’ As a real-ale specialist I wasn’t much interested in other beverages:
‘Evening, do have any soft drinks, please?’ ‘Aye. Foster’s. Do you want one?’ I decided, therefore, to enlist the help of Ray, the best barman in I’ve ever seen, who works in El Castillo, the bar/restaurant whose grounds my little chiringuito sits. Up to thus he’s been
with making my cocktails for me, but last night he presented me I so one, my own cocktail shaker which he said was his spare decided to try my hand at mixing a pina colada. Unfortunately
one the top flew off the shaker, spraying pina over two people on tUndaun side of the bar and colada into the faces of two others. ed, I will this evening attempt the pina colada again, and again, until I can at least keep the bloody liquid inside the shaker. Watch this space. A more successful line has been alcoholic smoothies. Chris, who owns El Castillo, was given a few sobras of frozen fruit smoothie thingies to try out so we unearthed from his almacen
an ancient machine resembling a prototype rocket launcher from the 1940’s. The motor, when running at full speed, sounds
28
exactly like my petrol chain saw and the vibration is similar also. The whole thing takes off across the bar unless one hangs on for dear life but the resulting smoothie (with alcohol added, of course) tastes surprisingly good, except for the one with of blueberries in, which always comes out with the consistency
coloured concrete. More work required I think. There are definitely more visitors here this summer, in part . due to the problems in Tunisia and the eastern Med in general
of Thomson and Thos Cook have greatly increased the number oaccomm more for flights to Menorca and are currently looking of dation. Good news for us but crushingly bad for the people
on Tunisia especially, who, like ourselves, rely almost exclusively them. to out tourism to put food on the table. Our hearts go us, Now is the time of year when friends and family arrive to see joyous occasions when we can spend time with our loved ones catching up on the news from home, laughing and joking, remfrom iniscing and generally enjoying their company. Being away so them is one of the very few negatives of our chosen lifestyle Mrs time, our time with them is precious. Hopefully, for the first M and I will be in the UK for Christmas and New Year. Monarch this have kindly consented to operated direct flights to Gatwick , winter so we’ll be visiting daughter Jess at her pub in Crayford south London, with a trip oop north taking in the rest of the tribe. Meanwhile, as I sit here in just my Primark undies (not a pretty sight) I leave you with this month’s comedy interlude: Chris tells his friend Rob he’s going on holiday next week. Rob asks if he could bring 200 cigarettes back for him. ‘Certainly’ says Chris. The following week Chris gives Rob the cigarettes. ‘Thanks a lot, mate, how much do I owe you?’’ £65.00,’ says Chris. ‘Blimey, where did you go for your holidays? asks Rob. ‘Scarborough’ says Chris. And finally....remember, kilometres are shorter than miles so take your next trip in kilometres and save fuel. Hasta la proxima
Johnny Mahonny (The Barnsley Marinero)
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29
GREAT NEWS FOR GRAN ALACANT RESIDENTS Life just got easier...
I
t’s always good to see a new local business
opening up and getting off to a flying start too! Finally Gran Alacant has its own official Estanco selling smokers merchandise at official prices – that’s usually around 15-20 cents less than vending machines in bars and cafes etc.! Good news for locals and visitors too, especially holidaymakers wishing to stock up on their favourite brand before returning to the UK and northern Europe where they will pay normally around DOUBLE the price for the same product.
news
is
that smokers will still get their favourite
they
brand locally and
also offer a very
in bulk if neces-
competitive EuroChange service
sary. And if they do wish to pay the slightly
where visitors, ad residents of course, can lower official
Check out the rate daily as it is posted outside
the staff, Belen and Blanca, at their Santa Pola
of the shop every morning.
shop 7 Tabacos will happily greet and help
Having been in the business almost thirteen
them.
years, Jose and his team know their products and offer the very best service both in Spanish
Having opened their doors at the new shop;
and English, and always with a welcoming
Estanco shop 7 in Avenida Escandinavia in Gran
smile.
Alacant (just up from the BBVA bank) on the 9th of July customers old and new have been
Open all year both Estancos operate from
flocking to the new shop. I say old customers
9.00am until 2.00pm and the reopen the doors at
as many will remember Jose and his team from
5.00pm until 9.30pm from Monday to Satur-
their other shop, which he still owns and runs,
day while on Sundays they are available from
just opposite the port in Santa Pol; the Gran
9.00am until 2.pm.
Alacant shop is an extension of this one which is located in Avenida Granada, 2 and as I say it’s
As I said at the very start it’s great to see new
just opposite the port entrance.
businesses opening locally and providing something that the area desperately needs. Jose and
As ever in the EU, bureaucracy rules which
his team have done just that so try and support
means that the Gran Alacant shop will sell at of-
our local businesses…you’ll get a nice welcome
ficial prices until the twenty second of October
as I say!
when it will revert to machine prices. The great
But its not only smokers that are frequenting Estanco Shop 7 as Jose and his team, Estefania, Caroline, also offer a huge range of newspapers and magazines both in English and Spanish and other languages too. Gifts are also on display in the smart new shop in Gran Alacant and along with items for smokers, mobile phone top-ups and postage stamps
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change the sterling (or other currency) to Euros.
prices after the twenty second of October, well
TELEPATHY As a Clairvoyant Medium no words are necessary when communicating with my beloved Spirit Guides which is just as well because they don’t have a voice box! One of the misconceptions about Mediums is that we can ‘read’people’s minds and it really makes me chuckle as I wouldn’t want to know what lurks in certain folk’s minds - they can keep their thoughts to themselves! But seriously, what exactly is telepathy? Telepathy is transmitted information from one mind to another or the communication between two people, the sender and receiver, using the transference of thought from one person to another on a vibrational level far beyond our natural senses and without the need for physical interaction. Telepathy is a way of receiving messages from higher guidance, or highly developed intuition. The word telepathy is taken from the Greek words tele ‘distant’ and patheia ‘feeling’ and was coined by Frederick William Henry Myers in 1882. Myers was a leading founder of the Society for Psychical Research in London as well as an essayist and English Poet. The ancient Greek philosopher Democritus felt that everything even the soul is made up of minute particles known as atoms which emit images of themselves which in turn are composed of other atoms and his theory was that information could be projected by people when charged emotionally (the sender) to someone asleep and dreaming (the recipient) and known as ‘dream telepathy’. William Crookes (1832 to 1919) was a British chemist and physicist and he likened telepathy to that of a “brain wave” theory stating that there may be parts of the human brain that may be capable of sending and receiving electrical rays of wavelengths. A wonderful example of telepathy is the study of whales who can detect objects by sonar and can send out telepathic signals to other whales who are hundreds of miles away. Animals also appear to use their extra sensory skills when communicating with. Telepathy is a natural form of communication – you only have to look at animals how they sense that something is about to happen which is often hard for humans to perceive. For example, I will think “I will take the dog out now”. I don’t say a word, or move, so I know it’s not my body language that tells her I’m taking her out for a walk. It isn’t even that we go at the same time every day, because we don’t! Somehow she knows what I am thinking and is able to tap into my thought pattern by using her natural extra sensory skills. Throughout tribes such as the Australian Aborigines it is accepted that telepathy is a human faculty whereas in more modern and advanced societies it is believed that telepathy or ESP
is something only psychics are capable of. For me, telepathy is a natural ability to ‘tap’ into a high vibrational state when working with spirit and it never ceases to amaze me what wonderful messages I receive from my trusted guides. During my classes I draw a simple picture, and pop it into a sealed envelope which I hand to my student. One of my students is developing well and on his first visit to me, I used this exercise to demonstrate how telepathy works. He was “blown away” his words, by the accuracy of the exercise. I drew a very simple house, and for some reason the number 22 kept being repeated to me by my spirit guide so I added the number onto the door of the house and popped the rough sketch into an envelope and sealed it. I asked my client to sit quietly and concentrate. I kept the image of the picture I had drawn of the house clearly in my mind’s eye and I projected it to him telepathically whilst inwardly saying “It’s a house”. When he had finished drawing he couldn’t believe it because at first he had drawn a dog and cat and he said it didn’t ‘feel right’ so he concentrated harder and he drew a house. When I looked it his drawing, it was uncannily like the one I had drawn but without the no. 22 on the door. When I asked him what this number meant to him, he said his father had passed away last year and the family are in the process of selling his house which is number 22..... Try this exercise for yourself Choose one other person to help with the exercise and find somewhere quiet where you won’t be disturbed Light a couple of white candles and burn some basil in an oil burner In a different room, draw something easy such as a cat, or a tree (keep it simple!) & concentrate on the image so you know every line of it in your mind’s eye Pop it into an envelope, seal it, and join your partner in the other room Close your eyes whilst holding the envelope in your hand and ask your partner to draw the first thing that comes to their mind. Have fun with what transpires and don’t worry if it doesn’t work at first, practice is the key to stilling the mind and focusing. After a few attempts you may surprise yourself! I WILL BE TEACHING PSYCHIC DEVELOPMENT @ A SMALL CLOSED CIRCLE IN BENIJOFAR NOVEMBER 2015. PLEASE E-MAIL ME IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ATTENDING. E-mail: - thequirkymedium@gmail.com Follow me on Twitter @ rescuemediumali
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