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for the locals...by the locals..!

Centro Rural De Algorfa From the Sunday Zoco Market on the way to La Finca, Algorfa, is where you will find the reformed old railway building, which is now open as a Rural Centro with a Bar and Cafeteria.

A totally unique building, steeped in history and a relaxing place to enjoy a coffee and watch the world go by in tranquil surroundings.

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ALL ABROAD

Weir(y) but thanks.

www.allabroad.es

Well we did it. On the 16th of December

‘mini-hell’ showing us how he trained.

Mitch and I hit the chilly water again at

Eda who gave us those much needed

Algorfa and completed our journey via

massages after the challenge and Russ

the Rio Segura to Guardamar.

Pearce

from

reaakk!! bre TTaakkee aa b with

www.anythingbutpaella.

com who took the magnificent cover Along the way we had some fun, Mitch

photo and also warned us of hazards on

got wet after getting stuck and going

the day.

down the Rojales weir sideways. With

Jilly’s Bar and the Tropicana for seeing us

higher water levels than our previous

off from Algorfa and The Vestry team for

trip the rapids and the weirs were all

waiting for us on the 28th. Not forgetting

that bit bigger and faster and it was bril-

Monty’s Bar who came along and met us

liant fun. Not so much fun when we had

at a good few stops.

to carry the two kayaks (approx. 65kg each) over a kilometre where there was

Our thanks also go to Mary and the gang

just no water. But that’s what the chal-

at Oceans Bar in GA and of course our

lenge was all about. We’re still suffering

friends at La Piedra for all their support

(send sympathy donations to me…) but

and fund raising. Paul who came along

we have some great memories of the

on the day too and posted the shakiest

day.

video ever of Mitch getting a soaking (he

But enough about us, we got there with

was laughing too much!) Rai Woods for

the help of a fantastic team and gener-

the generous lend of some useful kit –

ous supporters and sponsors from Leon

and especially for giving us the flares to

Bacchus who supplied the stickers to

let off at the end! We got told off but boy

the Howells family who dropped off and

was it worth it!

picked up the kayaks both times.

To all the people who were involved in some way we say thank you very much

Our media team of Sandra Piddock and

for helping us raise over 2,000 euros for

Susan Reader really got the message out

the AECC and helping us to highlight the

there and with superb photos by Kristoff

great work of the Samaritans in Spain.

Wright and Shaun Burns on the day. The two girls who kept everyone updated

Four months training and a stone and a

(and us well fed on the day), Raquel and

half gained each and we have to thank

Christel, and Rob our support car driver

Bea Cota who got us into the perfect

who kept us updated on the state of the

condition for what we were attempting

river ahead and found us wherever we

to do and now we can have a burger!

were on the river every time – Mitch and I were very grateful for his info.

Thank you all, it was a great adventure all the way through…

Maureen who was a top fund raiser once

we’ll let you know about the next one…

again and Jason who put us through a

very soon!

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3

EXPLORING NEW WORLDS

By Dave Bull

Exploring new worlds means you’re never far from home

wall as it’s also known, to worried parents to assure them we

We tell ourselves we need a break, to get away from it

have arrived safely. Nowadays they know the instant we land

all. An escape. A change of scenery, depending on your

and hook in to the airport’s Wi-Fi network, oh and by the way

particular preference a spot of sand and sun or there are

here’s a couple of selfies of us on arrival!

even those who will enjoy that oxymoron of a vacation, the walking holiday.

I’m not knocking it. I’m the first to tune my device into Match of the Day if I’m away somewhere and technology allows us

But... any type of ‘get-away’ is not really a break is it? Because

to show the sights live to our friends and family back home if

the first time we can get that Wonka’s golden ticket of the

we want to. We no longer have the week back home after the

day – a Wi-Fi connection we are back to where we were before

holiday waiting to collect our snaps from the local developers,

we jumped on the plane and ‘escaped’. You see I realised the

and always, always we’ve chopped the mother-in-law’s head off

other day while in Rome that as soon as I was back in the hotel

in at least one of them. Now we

room and connected to the three W’s I might as well have been sitting back in my house in Spain and not a thousand kilometres

just delete it and ask her to cuddle the tiger again for what

away in one of the world’s great cities.

could be a great memory...

But there’s no surprises any more is there when you get back

What happened to those crackly calls back home from the back of beyond, or Corn-

phone

home? Nothing’s changed, no one has anything new to say, we’ve seen what’s happening on our social media or been told via WhatsApp, and the holiday is already yesterday’s news because all our folks have followed our adventure on FaceTweet or some other form of social media.

We don’t really get away from anything do we? Sure when we’re abroad, and we’ve turned off data roaming because its about as expensive as hiring James Patterson to write letters home for you, and perhaps climbing a mountain or spending the day on a beach then we are effectively ‘having a break’.

But... and we all do it, as soon as we see that magic mushroom telling us we are back to ‘civilisation’ we start that new walk that we all do; head down phone at 60 degrees and a finger scrolling to what you will look at first.

No longer does dad have to hope the plane will be on time as he heads to the nearest airport to pick you up. Oh no, nowadays even my dad at eighty years old will use an app on his phone to

4

means... ...you’re never far from home track the whole flight. If he can do that, why are we even bother-

When was the last time you wrote a post card when on holiday?

ing to worry about the authorities being allowed to track our on-

What’s the point really as your InstaBook photos will be there way

line activities; they can do that whenever they want. My dad will

before them, and for free, and you haven’t got to sit and write the

help

same message several times to the allocated recipients of your

them

set up the App.

chosen photo of Torquay.

But...we no longer have to carry around a map (one that was never designed to be

What about those often humorous times fumbling your way through back streets trying to work out where you are. Not long

refolded) or a guide book, we can just use

ago I ended up in a street in Barcelona lined either side by wom-

Trip Advisor to see where the best places

en (I think they all were; either by birth or by surgeon) offering

to eat, drink and be entertained are and at

their services which (as my Spanish at the time was poor) sound-

what coordinates. Does that take away the

ed neither honourable, legal or often even possible... but with a

‘adventure’ side of going on holiday? Of finding out for yourself what a place is like without having

SatNav in our pocket we can miss all that (other experiences are possible).

read all the reviews somewhere online? Or where that famous back street eaterie is? Now we lock

on like an Exocet missile and

home in with pinpoint

accuracy knowing,

because Trip Advisor has told us,

that the own-

er is called Francisco and how long exactly

he

has had the bar. Handily, because you’ve checked,

The Selfie Stick is an interesting phenomenon. Where people take pics of themselves, usually pulling a face or kissing their partner, at some point of interest and then send it off to whoever they think will be interested. My recent trip to Rome showed just how popular it is with Japanese tourists lined up with the Coliseum behind them and what looked like a mobile phone paparazzi held

they speak English there too. Not quite exploring new ter-

out in front of them.

ritories for yourself is it though?

The

beauty

No stumbling through sentences learnt rapidly on the plane with

and sheer

your Collin’s Phrase Book which always had on the first page the

impressiveness of

essential questions like, ‘Where can I buy a stamp?’ or ‘Excuse

the ancient colossus surely

me sir, but my mother-in-law is in need of an ambulance’ when

only enhanced by two goofy

clearly shouting and pointing would get the message over far

smiles dominating the image in

more quickly for the latter. These days we can speak into our

the foreground.

translator and show the recipient our Google Translator results,

Everyone is different of course and whether

we

which is usually fine unless you make the putting-an-A-on-the-

use modern technology to ‘enhance’ our break is liter-

ally in

end-‘Chicken’ error with Spanish.

the hands of the beholder...

We can even use it to pay the bill in the restaurant, check in at the airport, order a cab or theatre tickets or even book that paragliding trip for the motherin-law. We can keep all our contacts in one handy place and call up any information that we desire to help us enjoy our break. It’s all there in one small package in our pocket.

But we’re buggered if we lose it No mother in laws were harmed in the writing of this piece. ;).

5

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6

Sandra in Spain www.sandrainspain.com

Around Algor fa

nnings!

New year, new begi

It’s a brand new, shiny year that’s hardly been touched, and maybe you want to make a new start of some description? Well, Algorfa is the place to do it, whether you want to make new friends, learn new skills, or find a new you in terms of fitness, weight loss or anything else. Whatever changes you want to make in 2016, the lovely people of Algorfa will be only too pleased to help.

Making new friends Algorfa is a very friendly place, both online and offline. There are several Algorfa- based chat groups on Facebook, including We Love Algorfa and What’s On in Algorfa. You can find out about what’s happening in the village, chat to people, meet up privately or attend one of the get togethers that are arranged periodically. There’s also a great website – Algorfa.co.uk – run by John and Jennifer Massey which has a very friendly forum.

If face-to-face meeting is more your thing, Algorfa has two well established social groups you can go to. The Algorfa Ladies Group meets at Bar La Vista, La Finca, on the first Wednesday of each month at 2.00 pm for a chat and optional lunch. There are no subscriptions, and it’s up to you how much – or how little – you spend. The ladies also go to a local restaurant for lunch on the third Wednesday of each month, and there are various events and outings through the year.

The Lo Crispin Residents Cultural Association was set up in 2010 to raise money for the urbanisation and local charities. Membership is open to any residents of Algorfa, and the group meets informally at the Tavern Bar, Lo Crispin each Friday from 12.30 – 2.00 pm. The group also organises coach trips, weekends away and various social events, including the renowned summer fete and carol concert. For the first time in 2015, the carol concert was followed by a Christmas party, where over 100 locals enjoyed a hot buffet, party games and live entertainment.

New members are always welcome – Tony and I had a great night at the carol concert and party, so check the group out soon. Both the Algorfa Ladies Group and the Lo Crispin Residents Cultural Association have lively Facebook pages – or you can just turn up at one of their meetings. You will be made very welcome.

New Year, New You! Maybe you’ve decided this year is when you definitely lose those extra few pounds and get fit? Well, Algorfa can help with that too.

Head for the Zumba classes at the Centro Rural de Algorfa every Friday from 10.00 – 11.00 am. It’s zumba with a difference, because you’ll strut yourself on the terrace, with stunning views over the campo. Then the ladies get together for a drink and a chat, so again it’s a very social occasion, as well as being good for you. And from mid January, there will be Pilates on a Monday too.

Sasha Lee runs Fit N Fun at the Algorfa Hotel, Montemar, every Tuesday and Thurs-

day morning from 10 – 11.00 am. It’s a bit of a fitness mixed bag, which Sasha calls ‘Aerobafit,’ and it’s suitable for all ages and levels of fitness, so why not give it a go?

Check out the Centro Rural de Algorfa and Fit N Fun Facebook pages for more details, or just turn up on the day.

Learn the lingo!

If you really want to integrate with your Spanish neighbours, you should learn the language – and you can, for just €20 a month. New classes for beginners and intermediates start in the social centre in the Plaza Espana mid January. See Jose at the Ayuntamiento to register your interest.

Socialise!

Algorfa has its fair share of bars, and there’s often something going on in the evenings, so why not get out and meet some new people and catch up with old friends? If you like a game of Bingo, Jilly’s Bar is the place to go, at 8.30 on Thursday evenings. Maybe you like to exercise your brain cells? Well, there are plenty of quiz nights in the area.

On Sundays, you can choose from Lo Crispin Tavern Bar or Jilly’s Bar in Algorfa. Tuesdays there’s a quiz at the Algorfa Hotel. Wednesday s sees a new quiz night at Bar Tropicana, and on Thursdays, head for El Lugar on La Finca. All quizzes start at 9.00 pm.

So, whatever changes you want to make in 2016, the people of Algorfa can help you with them, whether you want to make new friends, live a healthier lifestyle, learn Spanish or just get out and about more. For a little town, it has a hell of a lot going on!

7

“Get on yer bike!”

by Gary Routledge www.cyclogicalcostablanca.com

2015 A Hectic Year.

Well that was a pretty hectic year. It start-

way to surprise my best mate at his 60th

ed in January when my daughter and her

birthday bash (it rained for 4 days) but we

boyfriend came over and we took a week

enjoyed the break. Every Saturday for our

Lynn went to the doctors with a minor

off and went skiing to the Sierra Nevada,

Saturday afternoon hybrid ride we would

problem and ended up in Alicante hospital

February was really quiet as it was quite

get more and more people turning up to

having tests, an mri scan and eventually

cold and windy, March started with 15

join us and we met some great people and

an operation so she was out of action for a

members of team Cyclogical participating

had some super rides with them.

few weeks but thank goodness is now back

in the Valley of the grapes Sportif in Mon-

to normal. We also managed to get spon-

forte Del Cid with 5 of the riders (including

Chico by this time was getting bigger and

sor money for our gents hybrid group and

75 year old Mickey) doing their first ever

heavier but not too much, he now has a

got them all really smart team kit so the

Sportif.

big basket on the rear of my bike and still

guys now look more professional and are

comes with us every Saturday and Mon-

all chuffed to bits. We then had a night cy-

Our last 3 team riders ended up cycling in

day and if we can’t find him he’s in the

cle with a difference it was Owens birthday

torrential rain for an hour but everyone fin-

garage trying to get into his basket and is

and he had booked the Bicibar for 20 of

ished and we won the Team event a lovely

just one of the guys now. He still comes

us ( the beer wagon that you cycle round

serrano ham. Next Lynn and I decided to

to work with us every day and has many

whilst drinking beer ) that was a great

take on an assistant Josh to train up as a

girlfriends who come in just to see him and

night but really hard work for the ones

cycle technician and generally assist us in

Pauline still comes in to walk him every

that put the effort in. October: My parents

the shop, he is still with us and is fitting

day at 11am and he really looks forward to

arrived for a month which was great as

in well, and we wonder how we managed

her visits. July was really warm with tem-

they looked after Chico while Lynn was out

without him. April we had 12 riders again

peratures in the high 40s but we all still

of action we also had the builders in and

entered into the Sportif at San Vincente

went cycling as there is always a breeze.

they kept an eye on them.

this was a lot tougher with more climb-

My daughter’s boyfriend and his mate cy-

ing but again everyone finished with good

cled across from Elgin, Scotland to Quesa-

My mate Willie flew across to take part in

times. As the summer approached we

da in 21 days (2000kms) and still wanted

his very first Sportif and not just an easy

all had our own agendas with family and

to cycle up to Hondon de las Frailes with us

one but 126kms around Calpe I just took

friends interfering with our normal rou-

on the Sunday.

my time and cycled round with him, he did

tines but Hey! Ho! It’s great to see them

8

couple of new guys joining our main group.

really well and we still won the team tro-

all just sometimes difficult to fit them in

The Tour de France was on and again team

phy. Alan led a 6 man team at the 6 man

especially when you try to fit your work

Sky had a fantastic 3 weeks cycling with

time trials in Murcia and they finished in

in too. Tony took part in La Sufrida (the

Chris Froome winning again. August we

a creditable 4th place. Peter and his girl-

suffering) which is a really tough Sportif in

had the La Vuelta right on our doorstep

friend moved back to the UK after 6 years

the mountains in and around the Almeria

with thousands of people lining the route in

here in Spain so we will all miss him as

Area.

our area a spectacle not to be missed and

he has been a great buddy. November

hopefully we will see more local routes this

things got Quieter so Lynn and I took a

Martyn went to Ireland to take his son in

coming year. We also had a record amount

few days off and went to Alicante and just

law on his first Sportif and took part in the

of buckets of beer (15) after our Thursday

chilled out, it’s a lovely place and right on

Wicklow 200 (Garden of Eden) which is one

night training ride. September: we started

our doorstep but you never think of going

of Irelands Premier Sportifs and is a tough

a beginner’s road bike group with 11 peo-

there. December started with our Couples

200kms around the beautiful Irish coun-

ple turning up to try road bikes, the object

Hybrid groups Christmas dinner in the

tryside. Owen and Torry went to the Pyre-

was to encourage people to try a road bike

Minigolf which was fantastic, then the next

nees to take part in Quebrantahuesos (the

or if they already had one to learn how to

day we had our Road bike group Christ-

bone crusher) which is one of the toughest

cycle in a group, teaching hand signals and

mas dinner at Ronald’s restaurant followed

200kms Sportifs in Europe. In May Lynn

safety, building up their confidence. This

by drinks at Shananigans bar which again

and I went back to Elgin, Scotland via Nor-

proved very successful and we now have a

was a brilliant night, the Hybrid groups

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

male and female both had their Christmas

Lynn and I would like to thank you all

rides followed by Christmas dinner in the

for your support and wish you all good

Minigolf then things quietened down.

health and happiness, all the best for 2016. Get on yer bike and keep

Boxing Day was a nice cycle with the cou-

those wheels turning.

ples group to La Marina and a coffee on the beach then it was Hogmanay. Over and

Gary and Lynn

above all of that we also had to fit in all

All of our routes are now available

of our kids and their partners , parents,

from our website on www.cyclogical-

brothers, sisters and friends for their an-

costablanca.com

nual holidays but it was all great and we look forward to doing it all again this year.

Remember Gary and Lynn are availa-

We are really looking forward to a few days

ble at “Cyclogical� in Quesada, Monday

off at the start of the year and a nice gen-

to Friday from 9.30am till 5.30pm and

tle quiet January and February before it all

from 10.00am till 2.00pm on a Sat-

starts again.

urday to assist and advice you on all your cycling requirements including route maps.

9

SPAIN

a wry look at life by Malcolm Palmer LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT, RIGHT……………….

just about ceased to have any meaning, and raises no eyebrows when used in all but the most poilte conversations, as an excla-

That’s the way Spain has gone in the years since Franco turned

mation, even though its English equivalent is still regarded as

up his toes. A nation divided, it seems, with the bulk of Andalucía

most unparliamentary, and causes something of a shock when

socialist-inclined, Cataluña and the Basque country likewise (when

heard on the telly. There is even a famous balcony in Andalucía

they’re able to set aside their daft ideas of independence, that

called the Balcon de Coño, because that’s what you say when you

Franco crushed under his fascist jackboots). The rural heartlands

get up to the railing and look down the beetling vertical cliff.

are largely quite conservative, when they can be bothered to vote,

It all depends, of course, upon context, but pronunciation can also

and Madrid and Valencia are

cause a few problems. Be sure you get

divided pretty sharply.

‘pollo’ right, because substitute the last letter with an ‘a’ and you won’t

All of the above tends to

get a female chicken – it means quite

render Spain virtually un-

something else.

governable, under the exist-

Another thing to be avoided is the

ing, two-party system, with

literal translation. If you get your

wild swings from left to right

computer to translate, ‘Maria tiene

and back again every four

mala leche’ it will probably tell you,

or eight years, depending

‘Mary has bad milk.’ What the phrase

upon just how rotten and

really means is that Maria can be a

corrupt the reigning party

right bitch.

has been. So what is the an-

And if the crowd at a football match

swer? Sanity would decree

starts to chant, ‘¡Que echan los

a coalition of the best brains

huevos!’ they don’t want the players

in Congress, trying to work

to start chucking eggs, they’d like

together to achieve some

them to get stuck in.

sort of national unity, pre-

I could go on. There is an infinite

ferrably under the auspices

variety of idiomatic Spanish, that only

of a strong, internationally acceptable leader – not, dare

Spain divided according to the Treaty of Cordoba 1821

I say, one who speaks no other language than Spanish, and has

time and conversation will teach you.

THE DUCHESS OF ALBA

a charisma by-pass, like the guy who has been in charge most recently, and that is not a political comment. But is this ever going

The recent and much-mourned death of the Duchess of Alba, at

to happen? Doubtful, I’d say.

the age of 88, may have left some of our readers a little puzzled

Malcolm Palmer

as to her actual identity, as her name sounds British, to at least some extent, Cayetana Fitz-James-Stuart. And she would, indeed,

LINGUISTIC PITFALLS

have had a realistic claim to the throne had Scotland voted for independence.

Language teachers won’t always prepare you for some of the

I am no royalist, but had a great respect for the Bohemian Duch-

more embarrassing errors you can make when taking your earliest

ess, who would be seen wearing a bikini well into her eighties,

steps in a foreign language.

always supported by her third husband, Alfonso Diez, 27 years

These can often be occasioned by double entendres, double

her junior.

meanings, as frequent in English, I suppose, as in any tongue.

In terms of noble protocol, she outranked the Queen of England,

Take, for a simple instance, the implications of the various uses of

having some 47 titles, and incalculable riches, including 9 castles,

the word ‘prick’ or ........well, you can doubtless think of plenty of

palaces all over Spain, works of art by Rembrandt, Goya, Picasso

other words that can be misunderstood.

and Titian, original manuscripts by Columbus, you name it. But her lifestyle was hectic. A lover of football, bullfighting, skiing,

So, of course, in Spanish. A few examples:-

flamenco, she gave huge amounts of cash to charity, and was

Huevos – eggs, but coloquially, ‘testicles.’

particularly loved by the gypsy community of Sevilla. She spoke

Paja – straw, but used to mean ‘masturbate’

five languages, called the Queen of England ‘Lizzy’ and was one of

Polvo – dust, but can also refer, rather oddly, to sexual intercourse

the most popular figures in Spain, always dressing in the bright-

(hence ‘hecho polvo’ – knackered).

est colours, and holidaying in the most far-off places. She leaves

Chochin – wren, Conejo – rabbit, Concha – shell, but all may refer

six grown-up children, all by her first marriage. The eldest now

to female genitalia. The practically universal ¡coño! However, has

becomes the Duke of Alba.

10

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11

READERS LETTER The problem with La Marina...

Full English and La Marina

Dear Editor, Full English and La Marina I sat with a couple of friends and neighbours having breakfast the other day and invariably the issue of La Marina and comments/letters in The Leader newspaper arose. We were in complete agreement that there is work desperately needed to be carried out on the urbanisation.

One has taken his grievance to PIPN. Like myself, neither understood why anyone would not want to improve upon what we have. Again, neither could justify nor defend the apparent apathy of the council. I feel this is worth mentioning as this is typical of the response given by neighbours I speak with on my local community, those I meet on the urbanisation and indeed those who visit the urbanisation from different areas. I hope this helps readers understand that I am not on a one man crusade.

I found it interesting that one reader of my article in the newspaper needed to draw comparisons between our urbanisation and an unnamed urbanisations (with untold problems it seems) to make La Marina appear acceptable. I won’t comment further on any issue raised in any correspondence that appears to oppose my views or motives, this has been very well taken care of from other readers who have been motivated in writing letters in a number of papers and indeed on social media sites, notably Face Book. So my personal thanks to them for their support and backing.

I should restate that my primary concern is to getting better services and improvements for the urbanisation. It is sad to report that after the council replaced the bottle bank/bin at Phase 4 the new bin and those around it have been destroyed by fire, an accident?

It would be interesting to get a breakdown of the spend on the urbanisation and that on the town of San Fulgencio against the respective incomes raised form our SUMA contributions. I will try and retrieve this information from the council when I next visit them as I must as there are still outstanding issues from my last meeting that need to be followed up on.

The blue bollards that have caused a fair stirring with some now just total 2; I know the council aim to replace the missing ones once they can get them. My personal view is something more robust needs to be put there unless like one reader (Dave Moore) suggests the council can grab some land from Elche to smooth out the bend at that part of the road (seems like the best idea).

There is so much I could cover but I must leave it to others to make their feelings known either to the papers or better still the council. I would however like to finish by inviting reporters and council officials to take the short walk from my house to the town hall where all I have written about in the past is encapsulated in that 5 minute journey, their eyes will not deceive them and there cannot be any denying that the problems do exist.

Any takers?�

Len Allen

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Notes from small town Spain Well, I hope everybody had a fab-

The

SPECIALISTS

lifestyles?

ulous Christmas and new year, wherever you ended up! January

Ok, the last one may be a little

for me, personally is a nice time of

more

year, I know it sounds a bit crazy

ing cheap beer and tapas to lure

but just hear me out...

in customers, but if you’re strong

difficult

with

pubs

offer-

you can do it. Walk up and down After all the hustle and bustle of

the hill and save your petrol! Do

the holiday period it’s always nice

everything within your power to be

to get back to some kind of reality,

helpful towards others and lend a

you may have already worked out

hand when you can.

that I am a peace loving creature and routine is important to my lit-

In case you’re wondering what my

tle family. Yes, I know January can

resolutions are, most of them are

be a drab month, but I hope you’re

listed above! Some I know will be

making resolutions see the beauty

easier to keep than others. I can

in every day, wherever you may

only try my best, like everybody

be. January is a new start, full of

else. We need to spread more pos-

positivity and hope for the future.

itivity in the world. If everybody

So, who’s on a mission to lose a bit

tried hard enough to make the

of weight, then? Give up smoking?

world just a little bit better, who

Or booze? We all resolve to be bet-

knows what might happen? Before

ter people every year, but by the

we know it, we’ll all be chatting to

time Christmas rolls round again,

each other and maybe, just maybe

how many of us, hand on heart can

making more friends. We can nev-

say that we have managed to keep

er have too many of those, now,

our resolutions? How many will be

can we? As my old granddad used

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MANDY’S

Spanish Diary

by Mandy Tams

More MT thoughts and musings.

55 DAYS IN GA Well it finally happened, I never

them wrapped around us, but I digress. bloody go, so they were charged over What about spring, the renewal of life

the years to house sitting on our short

and greenery and the emergence of the holidays and here lieth the problems.

Easter tourists shedding his white pasty skin, flexing his right arm muscles and

On one return, we discovered they

sucking up the sun like a sponge, no

threw a party in the hot tub and left

don’t think so.

the pizzas in there, one set his bed on

thought to share a bed with a retired

fire, he does not smoke but he left his

man or one nearing retirement or going

How about Summer, blistering skies,

hair straighteners on the bed, and yes,

bald or the myriad of other things but

warm pools crowded beaches, drunken

I did say sons. They melted the BBQ

reality is here. I am and he is, but for

yobs and loads of kids, no, don’t think

and we now own a cat. Both broke

the first time since setting eyes on GA

so, been there, done that, includ-

their knuckles, but at least they were

in 2001 we are going to spend more

ing the yob bit and bought the T shirt.

heroes and rescued a girl from trouble.

than a fortnight on holiday.

This brings us to autumn, Sept-Oct,

Due to my husband’s wonderful em-

kids are back at school tourists are

We have returned to a flooded house,

ployer, I do reserve judgment on this

winding down, and the weather is still

the freezer switched off for 10 days

statement until after the 55 days in

gorgeous. Sounds like a winner so

and once both jobless, you know what,

case it all goes T... U..

September it is, but this leaves us with

I think I may stop home.

another problem, 55 days leaving our We will be able to start the revolution

sons at home. My wish is to

and take over the area, we can venture

suffer ‘empty nest

up the hill to different restaurants and

syndrome’

perhaps even plan a shopping expedi-

but they

Mandy Tams

tion into Alicante.

But, what are we going to do? Advice at this point would be helpful, I mean one can only spend so many days on the beach, or in the pool and the bars. We must be frugal with our pennies or rather cents because good though the employer is allowing him this sabbatical, he is tight on the pay, but who cares? Hey, we can have two months in GA. Which two do we spend? Shall we spend the winter where one can eat Christmas dinner on the beach; in my experience of holidays, I believe this to be true as long as you hold Christmas in May? One of the coldest January’s in our lives we spent in GA with a blanket wrapped around a heater and both of

won’t

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Spain Buddy was established in 2012 by Alan and Elle, long term residents of Spain. The busy website includes a host of general articles with everything from local news and charity updates to recipes and celebrity features with a sprinkling of expat interviews, Spanish puzzles and Alan’s rants along the way.

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Whatever different views anyone might hold

In Syria;

We offer holiday rental advertising on our

on the war in Syria it’s only those with the

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tion, books and toys and what they describe For a while now here at SpainBuddy.com

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If you want to advertise your property with

we’ve been wondering how we can ‘do our

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lying dead on the beach in Turkey back in September, we wanted to help a charity providing support to children. War Child seemed an obvious choice.

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Malcolm Palmer

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Okay, so there are other styles, and Carlo

Ancelotti, Guardiola to some extent, FerguLavadora son and Wenger, all are calmer personaliBEKO ties, but their enthusiasm for the game is undoubted, and they all share an abbility to transmit this to the players. So what of Mourinho? He, I think, tries to emulate

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know all about the needs of his charges

who was the best of the best?

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GRAN ALACANT 10 YEARS ON...

A look at how the area has changed since we took these aerial shots in April 2006

The sports centre is now enclosed with oudoor sports areas and the market and car park are now buit (on green area centre of pic)

Above: Los arenales del Sol with no walkways and no apartments Right: Starting to build the doomed Life Resort

The GA Centre with just the main building and not a lot else

Photos: All Abroad Magazine 28

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GROUNDING AND PSYCHIC PROTECTION

Follow me on Twitter @Rescuemediumali thequirkymedium. blogspot.co.uk discovertheangels. com If you’d like to book a reading call me on 693 062 794 One of the most important rituals for my

• Belief in your abilities

feet and send them right down until they

work as a Reiki Master and Clairvoyant Me-

• Love for oneself and others

link with mother earth.

dium is Grounding and Psychic Protection.

• Spiritually aware

slight ‘pull’ or ‘tug’ which will confirm that

In brief, it is a vital way of protecting our

• Focused in body and mind

you are anchored.

physical body whilst endeavouring to live a

• The attainment of a spiritual way of life

Protection – Imagine a ball of energy over

spiritual life. In my line of work it is impera-

• A feeling of a natural state of balance

the top of your head which opens and

tive that I ground and put a psychic shield

You may feel a

sends a beautiful ethereal white light down

around myself so I am not drained by nega-

How to perform grounding and psychic

through your body. Then bring that white

tive energies from either the spirit world, or

protection

light up again and around the outside of

certain people on the earth plane. Ground-

The best time to perform your grounding

your body so you are totally cocooned in a

ing and psychic protection is not only good

ritual is first thing in the morning.

protective bubble of light.

practice for Mediums or healers. It is some-

way, you will be protected for the rest of

Cloak – Sometimes I feel the need for ‘dou-

thing that everyone should get used to do-

the day. As a spiritual worker I will often

ble protection’ especially when doing spirit

ing as a way of keeping their feet firmly on

carry out the ritual again at night as it helps

rescue work so over the white light that I

the ground and protecting their personal

to promote a good night’s sleep. A great

have already put around myself, I will visu-

aura. I am passionate about helping those

crystal to hold whilst doing this is a Black

alise wearing a large purple (spiritual fulfil-

who need some spiritual guidance but it

Tourmaline which is a powerful grounding

ment) cloak which reaches the ground. It

amazes me how many people have never

stone.

It protects against negativity and

has long sleeves and a large hood which I

heard of grounding and psychic protection.

fear, and cleanses one’s auric field helping

pull up so I am covered from head to toe in

to balance the chakras and promote a posi-

my protective shield.

Clients will approach me as they need to

tive mindset.

know why they are feeling ‘unbalanced’

First

and/or lethargic not to mention dealing with

sure you are in a

emotional trauma. A lot of the stories are

quiet peaceful place.

the same – they feel as if they are going

Close your eyes and

around in circles, their head is full of clutter

concentrate on your

and they feel totally disconnected, as if they

breathing.

of

all,

That

make

are not in control of their own lives. Once I teach them how to use such a simple spir-

Grounding - If you

itual tool, they start to feel centred and fo-

are

cused so they can enjoy inner harmony and

any negative ener-

make positive decisions about their lives.

gies or worry bring it

holding

down

onto

through

Feelings of being ungrounded: -

your

• Drained/tired – as if ‘your get up and go’,

your crown chakra

has ‘got up and gone’

(top of your head)

• Emotional for no particular reason

and

• Depressed

the soles of your

• Feelings of anger towards yourself or oth-

feet and into the

ers

earth.

• Anxiousness & worry

have

• Feeling nauseas

you are ready to

• Feeling spaced out

ground, by con-

• Holding onto the past

necting

• A feeling of ‘Not belonging’

to the core of the

• Cluttered in mind and surroundings

earth.

• Feeling generally unhealthy/unwell

to do this, simply

Feelings of being grounded: -

imagine growing

• Energised

thick and sturdy

• A sense of wellbeing inside and out

tree roots from

• Strength and self-acceptance

the soles of your

body

out

from

through

Once you done

this,

yourself In order

31

28

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