ISSUE NO. 1540
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Peppa Pig CHILDREN in Almeria City were thrilled when Peppa Pig made a special appearance in Plaza Vieja as part of the Navidalmeria series of children’s plays.
Oria recycling ORIA Council has signed a contract with Biocasol for the installation of two orange recycling bins for household oil. One will be at the petrol station and the other at the Third Age clubhouse.
Adra trees ADRA has planted more than 100 ficus, jacaranda and poplar trees in different parts of the municipality and has renovated the town’s gardens.
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Racing across Almeria
MANY Spanish towns and cities hold the San Silvestre race each year, and Almeria is no exception. The race first came to Spain in 1964, in Madrid. The Madrid version of the race has two versions, both held on New Year’s Eve. One version is a fun run for amateur athletes who are often in fancy dress, while the other is for more serious athletes. In 2012, the Madrid race achieved a record number of participants, 40,000. Wikipedia states that it is based on the Saint Silvester Road Race, a Brazilian event, which has been held since 1925. In Albox, the ninth edition of the race was held on Sunday,
December 28, attracting hundreds of runners in fancy dress. The entry fee was a kilogram of non-perishable food for people in need.
In Huercal Overa, more than 300 runners took part, with Jamal Dayane taking the title of fastest male and Maria Jose Martinez taking the fastest
female prize. In Almeria City, more than 2,000 runners raced through the streets from 7pm. Jose Juan Perez and Virginia Vilchez took the top male and female spots respectively. The boys’ and girls’ winners were Paco Escudero and Maria Perez. The fancy dress theme in the capital for 2014 was circus costumes, and many of the runners got involved. Funds raised during registration went to charity. Councillor for Sports in Almeria City, Juanjo Alonso, commented: “Above all, we must mention the solidarity of the runners because of the amount of money that will go to the Duchenne-Spain Association.”
Dogs: not just for Christmas NINE sets of little paws need your help to find them new homes as soon as possible. These pups were abandoned and although they have a temporary home with APSA (Animal Protection Society Albox), they are in desperate need of forever homes. They are Jack Russell type puppies so will be small when grown. APSA would like to thank everyone who has helped throughout 2014. They said: “We would like to say thank you to all the amazing people
out there that help and support the APSA cats and dogs in so many different ways. To all the new dog and cat owners. To all the dog walkers. To everybody helping in the APSA Shop. To all those taking care of the charity events. To everyone who helped with donations. To our amazing vets. And everybody else. We feel really grateful and blessed to have you.” To adopt one of the puppies or help APSA, pop into the shop on Avenida Lepanto in Albox, or visit www.apsa.org.es
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INDEX News 1 - 24 Finance 27 - 32 Letters 33 Leapy Lee 34 Daily TV 40 Time Out 46 - 47 Health & Beauty 50- 52 Food 54 - 57 Albox 59 - 63 Homes & Gardens 64 Property 65 Classifieds 66 - 68 Motoring 69 - 70 Sport 71 - 72
ANNOUNCEMENT: Huercal Overa mayor gives details of new trade board.
Promoting trade
THE mayor of Huercal Overa has revealed the council’s plans to get residents more involved in the running of the town. As part of the initiative, a committee has been established to drive trade and catering within the town. The objectives are to promote commercial centre participation in council matters which affect them, building on the strong relationship between traders and the council, to enhance the commercial attractiveness of the town and adapt it to consumer needs.
The committee is comprised of a president, the mayor, the councillor for commerce, a representative from each political group and various representatives from commerce and hospitality. The full committee will convene twice a year. Mayor Domingo Fernandez said: “We now have a body in which there is active participation by our traders, being one of the key engines in our town. Through it we want to hear their voices because they play a key part in the future of the town.”
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NEWS Almeria Strings ALMERIA STRINGS has their monthly meeting on Thursday January 15 at Greg and Co’s, Turre, from 1.30pm. New members welcome. More info from Almeriastrings.org. Fondon culture ALMERIA Council has given €15,000 to the Palacio de Fondon to purchase equipment for its audiovisual room and to buy exhibition stands and multimedia material for promotional events.
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Thousands visit Moragas THE beaches of Roquetas were filled with thousands of people who attended the traditional festival of the Moragas. The festival is a traditional Roquetas de Mar event, originally linked to the fishing industry, but in recent years it has become a broader meeting and celebration to coincide with the seasonal holidays.
People travel from across Spain and even other countries to join in with the lighting of dozens of fires along the coast and the accompanying feast. Twenty-four Local Police officers and 15 Civil Protection officers attended the event, while the town hall provided extra security and a cleaning team to ensure the day ran
smoothly. Groups of friends and families enjoyed a feast of fish and meat as well as migas, paella and stew cooked on the many fires that decorated the beaches. The following day a crack team of cleaners were up at dawn to restore the beaches to their former glory.
Workers blocked FIFTEEN maintenance workers at Viator’s military base were blocked from accessing the building on their first day back at work in the New Year. The workers are planning a demo. Earth moves AN earthquake measuring 2.4 on the Richter Scale was felt in Almeria City as well as Huercal de Almeria and Viator.
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ews watch
La Chanca
ADRA museum is hosting the exhibition La Chanca until the end of February. The exhibition contains 44 black and white photographs taken by Almeriense Carlos Perez between 1956 and 1962.
OLULA DEL RIO’S San Silvestre race was attended by 90 adults and 60 children who raced nine and a half kilometres through the town. Most runners were in fancy dress.
Trucker fined
A long run JANUARY 11 sees runners from across the province head to Alicun for the fifth edition of the Carrera y Montana. The offroad race is not for the fainthearted and covers 11.76 kilometres.
El Ejido crash A TRUCK collided with a utility van at kilometre 405 of the A-7 at El Ejido. Firefighters had to rescue one person from the wreckage of their vehicle.
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Olula del Rio
Gador pensioners GADOR’S day of the elders attracted more than 100 visitors in its 27th edition. Pensioners tucked into lunch and enjoyed music from Sonia Blanca as well as some magic.
Almeria parade MORE than 200 extras, four bands, seven floats and an elephant accompanied the Three Kings as they travelled from Teatro Auditorio El Ejido to Plaza Mayor in Almeria City.
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SIX points off his licence and a €4,600 fine was the punishment for a trucker on the A-7 who invaded the opposite lane and manipulated his tachograph to misrepresent his journey from France.
Mojacar fall UNDER ATTACK: People have eggs and flour thrown at them while dressed in military gear.
Mock ‘coup’ quelled at traditional festival
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OT content with pelting each other with tomatoes during the summer, Spaniards took to the streets over the festive season to chuck eggs and flour at each other, in yet another of the country’s weird and wonderful festivals. The Els Enfarinats Festival, held each year in the town of Ibi in Alicante, saw 3,000 residents throw more than 1,500 eggs and hundreds of kilogrammes of flour at each other as they staged a mock coup d’etat whilst in military-style gear. Each year the rowdy participants stage a mock battle against the authorities, with this year taking on particular significance against a backdrop of high-profile corruption imprisonments and allegations. Caked in flour, covered in egg yolks and surrounded by ear-
Quote of the Week You try to do your job the very best as you can, but when something like this happens, it’s just a delightful surprise,’ said British lawyer Ralph Smith upon being awarded a Member of the British Empire (MBE) for his services on behalf of the expat community in Spain.
popping firecrackers, the allegorical new ‘rulers’ of the town ‘jail’ those who don’t pay fines and engage in a running battle with L’Oposicio (The Opposition) by flinging flour and rotten eggs at each other. The chaotic 200-year-old festivities coincide with Spain’s version of April Fool’s Day and form part of the Day of the Innocents (when the Biblical King Herod ordered the killing of all young male newborns). In a country known for its bizarre festivals and traditions, the Els Enfarinats Festival is definitely one of the most visually spectacular. After the massive food fight and looking like they have just emerged from a snowstorm, the ‘revolutionaries’ coup is quelled and order is restored to the town. Money is collected from participants and onlookers and is donated to local charities.
CREDITlev radin / Shutterstock.com
Number of the week
€56.3
billion is the record amount of money that tourists to Spain spent between January and October of 2014. The Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism says that the figure will be even higher once figures for November and December are included.
MAGISTRATES are investigating a hotel in Mojacar to establish whether it was responsible for the injuries to one of its customers who slipped on a wet floor on the premises on June 6, 2014.
Park accident EMERGENCY services attended an accident at Parque de las Familias in the capital. A child was injured on one of the trampolines and was taken to nearby Torrecardenas with neck injuries.
February opening LOS PINOS has an opening date for its park in the capital after many delays. The council has announced that the 10,000 square metre park will open during the first week in February.
And finally... THOUSANDS of revellers in Madrid celebrated New Year’s Eve one day earlier than the rest of the country, in what is fast becoming a tradition. City officials test the chimes at Puerto del Sol a day ahead of New Year’s Eve to make sure all is working for the main event, and so many ring in the New Year on both December 30 and 31.
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Almeria’s energy efficiency action THE president of Almeria Council has signed the contract to award actions included in the Plan de Actuaciones de Eficiencia en Municipios (PAE). The plan includes funding of €140,000 for small municipalities in
Almeria to benefit from energy efficiency improvements such as outdoor lighting installations. Fourteen towns and villages are to benefit, all of which have fewer than 10,000 inhabitants. Albanchez, Antas,
ORIA: One of the municipalities to benefit from the new energy efficient lighting.
Balanegra, Fines, Gador, Lucar, Macael, Maria, Olula del Rio, Oria,
Taberna, Tahal, Urracal and Velefique will see the commencement of works during 2015. The Plan is the collaboration between town and village councils and the provincial council with the provincial council footing the bill. The company that will execute the works is to be Proelec SL. The improvements will see more than 650 lights and 16 control centres installed across the 14 towns and villages, allowing for remote control at the circuit level to reduce the consumption at certain times.
Prizes for creative youngsters CHILDREN in Huercal Overa were rewarded for their creativity in designing Christmas cards with prizes and certificates by the mayor. Mayor of Huercal Overa, Domingo Fernandez, visited the children at various schools in the town with councillor for Culture, Antonio Lazaro, the head of Planning, Manuel Buitrago and town councillor Emilio Perez. The mayor congratulated all the children for their hard work and creativity while also encouraging them to continue to participate in future competitions. Antonio Lazaro took time to thank the participants, and the teachers who had approached the competition with enthusiasm and dedication.
REBECA SILES: Proudly displaying her certificate with Domingo Fernandez.
Winners announced by Babes in the Wood EURO WEEKLY NEWS is proud to announce the winner of two tickets to the Babes in the Wood pantomime for naming the children correctly. The answers were Daisy Chain, Polly Filler, Ben Dover, Willy Nilly, Penny Farthing, Lucy Lastic and Tanya Hide. The lucky winner, Steve Townsend, who lives in Garrucha also said his school name would be Dwaine Pipe on account that he is rather tall. The Indalo Players, the organisers, would like to
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Seasonal blues? It won’t last long!
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From left: Sue Mehmet, producer and Friar Tuck, winner Steve Townsend and Ruth Johnson Wood, director. say: “Thank you,” to everyone who entered the competition. Some of the fun name entries included
Justin Case, Luke Warm, Tim Burr, Hazel Nut, Sherrie Trifle and Mary Christmas. Steve Townsend won two tickets to see the pantomime on Friday January 9, the first of four performances which concludes on Sunday January 11 at Miraflores, Camping Los Gallardos. Tickets are still available for the shows from PC Playa in Mojacar, Connexions in Turre, Camping Los Gallardos and 1 Stop Pool Shop in Albox.
ANTA has been and gone, the New Year’s Eve celebrations have begun to fade from our memories, and the Three Kings have delighted children for yet another year. As things start to get back to normal after the celebrating and partying of the Christmas season, we face into a month that people generally would like to see eliminated from the calendar. After the joy and excitement of Christmas, January is traditionally viewed as a month of bad weather, having little money left after the holidays and not having much on the horizon to look forward to. The decorations come down, office hours go back to normal and life gets back to its usual routine. There’s no doubt that moods can and often do change with the
seasons, and there’s definitely a case to be heard for January not being the most pleasant of months. But when living in sunny Spain, however, downbeat seasonal moods don’t often last for long. Before we know it temperatures will begin to pick up again, the sun will start making a more regular appearance and we’ll soon find ourselves in swimming costumes and flip-flops once again, working on our tans and enjoying lunch on the beach. Time flies - as we all know too well - and in just a few short months we’ll be getting in the summer mood thanks in part to the welcome Vitamin D the sun’s rays so generously provide. So try not to let the January blues bring you down. In Spain at least, the pre-summer buzz will be here in no time and we’ll all be happy chappies once again!
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Runners raise a smile for Juan RUNNERS will complete a 10-kilometre race in Alhama on January 18 at 11am to raise money for Una sonrisa para Juan (A smile for Juan). Juan Barrios Picon, aged six, is a very special little boy. Juan’s mother was carrying twins and at six-and-a-half months’ pregnant, Juan’s brother died. Juan continued until eight months into the pregnancy when he was born and diagnosed with Laryngomalacia, where the soft immature cartilage of the upper larynx collapses and causes airway obstruction. Because Juan’s airway was so fragile and could collapse at any moment, he had to rely on an oxygen supply and at six months of age his heart stopped after his trachea
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Almeria advertising ALMERIA Province will be promoting its tourism in 20 cities across Spain utilising 123 billboards, 250 digital marquees, 21 shopping centres and adverts in cinemas.
Book sale BECAUSE it is the first Saturday of the month, it’s time for Almanzora Group of Friends book sale. More information available from the centre on Avenida Lepanto in Albox.
RBL Zurgena TUESDAY January 13 is the monthly luncheon meeting for the Zurgena branch of the Royal British Legion. It will be held at Meson de Irene from 12.30pm. Contact lunchclub2013@gmail. com to book.
closed. Juan now has a breathing tube, and has since developed other health problems including cerebral palsy. Juan’s dream is to walk, but specialist equipment
and multiple therapies are needed. The treatments are available in Sevilla and Alcala de Henares, which adds to the costs the family has to find for travel and expenses.
Una Sonrisa para Juan is raising funds to make this dream a reality for the plucky youngster. The race in Alhama on January 18 will be raising money specifically for the
treatment and specialist equipment to help Juan to achieve what most people take for granted. Registration costs €10 and the closing date is January 15. You can
register for a place or make a donation (in Spanish) on www.todofondo.net. Under-18s must have an accompanying parent or guardian.
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Howard and Eddie raise €200 for APSA IN September 2014, Howard Buxton got together with his friend Eddie Bootle to make a CD to help raise money for the new kennels which APSA are building. Howard plays saxophone and clarinet and sings on the CD, while Eddie uses his talent as a recording engineer to enhance the performance. The CDs sold well and Howard would like to thank those who
DONATION: Liz from APSA accepts the funds from Howard. bought them. As a result he was able to donate €200 to APSA, the animal charity in Albox, who will use the money towards its new kennels and to support the many animals in its care. Liz from APSA said: “There may still be a couple of CDs available in the APSA shop or from Howard. This is not the first time that Howard has raised money for the charity and we are very grateful to him for thinking of us.” If you would like to help, call into the shop, which is broke out in the block of flats on open Monday to Saturday Avenida 11 de Marzo in San Juan de 10am until 2pm on los Terreros, a municipality of Pulpi, Avenida Lepanto in Albox engulfing the building in smoke. or ring 663 762 642. They Prompt action by the emergency also need blankets to keep services avoided any adverse health dogs warm in the colder effects. weather to come.
Electrical fire leaves 30 temporarily homeless THIRTY residents in a block of flats in San Juan de los Terreros had to be evacuated from their homes after a fire broke out in an electrical panel. The residents, who have since been allowed to return to their homes, were all unhurt. The fire
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Huercal Overa gets all dressed up for best shop window prize THE results are in after more than 5,000 people voted for their favourite
window displays by stores in Huercal Overa. Twenty-three shops put
their all into decorating their windows to showcase their wares
while also retaining the spirit of Christmas. Mayor of Huercal Overa, Domingo Fernandez, and Councillor for Culture, Monica Navarro, delivered prizes to the winners in this fourth edition of the contest. The winner of the judges’ prize went to Principitos, for recreating a winter wonderland, while the shop that gained the most votes on social networks was Entre Algodones, who chose a silver and blue theme. Monica Navarro said: “We wish to thank the traders for their collaboration and involvement with the various activities which are being launched with the aim of promoting shopping in the town. “Another example is how they welcomed Noche de Luz.” The mayor added: “The
decoration is fantastic and this year its popularity has been demonstrated by the
fact that more than 5,000 people voted on social networks.”
SILVER AND BLUE: Entre Algodones.
WINTER WONDERLAND: Principitos.
A family affair at Isabel Parra art exhibition ISABEL PARRA GOMEZ has more than 50 paintings on display at
the Teatro Villa exhibition centre in Huercal Overa until January 12. The exhibition documents her career with a variety of painted images. The talented artist, from Huercal Overa, was invited to display her work as part of a council initiative to promote the work of local artists, of which Huercal Overa seems to have its fair share. Huercal Overa Mayor, Domingo Fernandez, said: “Isabel wanted to exhibit her work at a specific time so that her family, who were here for Christmas, could enjoy it. We were able to fulfil her wishes by exhibiting her at home in this wonderful space.” Meanwhile, Parra
Artist and family. Gomez thanked the council for their support in displaying the art and to those who came to the formal opening. Attending the inauguration were the artist and her family, the mayor, Councillor for Economy, Maribel Sanchez, and a large group of residents and their friends.
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Fake kidnappers arrested in El Ejido OFFICERS from the Guardia Civil have arrested two men and a woman for faking a kidnapping. Among the three people arrested is the brother of a woman who attempted to extort €50,000 for the release of his future wife. The three people had threatened to kill the victim or move her to Murcia for prostitution. Two were arrested in a farmhouse in El Ejido while the third was arrested as they arrived from Ceuta. The investigations began when a Moroccan woman living in Malaga reported the kidnapping of her brother’s girlfriend and the demand of €50,000 for the woman’s release. During the investigation the complainant reported that her future sister-in-law, who lives in Ceuta, had travelled to Almeria for a check-up. The woman had decided to stay in Almeria for a few days when she was reported to have been abducted. Further research showed the kidnapped woman had claimed she was suffering physical and sexual abuse and stated that she was in fear for her life. Telephone calls and photographs included shouting and crying from the alleged victim and statements that she was chained to a bed. The Malaga woman had not met the kidnapped
NO KIDNAP: The arrested were trying to extort money. woman, although she had previously spoken by phone to her several times. After an intense investigation the Guardia Civil identified a farmhouse in El Ejido where they found the kidnapped
woman and immediately ascertained the abduction to be fake. Researchers were able to rule out the involvement of an additional woman in photographs as these were easily available on the internet.
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Huercal de Almeria gunman arrested OFFICERS of the Guardia Civil have arrested a 49year-old man in Huercal de Almeria for possession of illegal possession of arms and ammunition. The arrest was made during a routine search when they noticed the man behaving nervously as he approached the checkpoint which had been set up for the selective identification of people and their vehicles in Huercal de Almeria. The man attempted to leave the area hurriedly, prompting the officers to approach him for a search. As they got close to the man he discarded a bundle of white paper and a metal object, which the officers were able to retrieve. Inside the discarded paper bundle officers found
BULLETS: Found in paper.
bullets and the metal object was a prohibited homemade weapon which also contained .22 calibre bullets. Upon further search of the man and his backpack the officers found five grams of hashish, 48 grams of marihuana, a selection of other narcotic substances including Trankimazon and Rivotril, a knife and 16 additional cartridges
identical to those in the home-made weapon.
The man was also carrying identification that did not belong to him. The man was arrested immediately for possession of an illegal firearm, but the officers have not ruled out further charges. The detainee, a resident of Pechina, has an existing record of offences against public health, robbery and burglary with violence and intimidation.
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IU asks for pool to be controlled EL EJIDO’S Izquierdo Unida (IU) has asked the council to take control of the municipal pool. The IU cites numerous complaints registered by users such as a lack of cleanliness and tempera-
ture problems. The IU said: “It seems that to save costs, the contractor who manages the municipal pool keeps the boiler low at certain times, such as noon, so the feeling for those coming in is cold.
2 bouncers face court for assault TWO bouncers in a popular disco bar in Aguadulce port face court accused of violently assaulting two men and a woman. The bouncers had previously refused entry to the three individuals. Both defendants are charged with crimes of injury as well as threats. Prosecution is asking for 15 years in prison for one and nine for the other. The prosecution claims that after the bouncers refused entry to the three people, they followed them for 50 metres and violently attacked them. One of the victims lost two of their teeth.
“It should be equal treatment for all users and if the company wants to save money it should never be at the expense of users who are entitled to all the installation’s benefits throughout the opening hours.” They also claimed that complaints had been made about the malfunction or suspension of some pool services, the Jacuzzi and the steam room, services that are included in the monthly fee. The IU concluded: “The government team is ultimately responsible for the service of the municipal pool, so we ask the mayor to take action and control over the company and invite him to improve these services and provide quality management.”
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Urbanisations project gets under way WORK has started on the project ‘Mojacar Urbanization’ to be funded from
the 2014 and 2015 Provincial Plans. The project will mean
Mojacar street improvements THE latest areas to benefit from Mojacar improvement plans have been Agua en Medio and La Parata, with an investment of approximately €50,000. In Agua en Medio, approximately €25,000 was used to provide 3,623 square metres of tarmac for Calle Agua en Medio and to improve disabled access to the Anglican church. The second zone to have benefited is around La Parata. A number of streets including Calle Cadiz, Calle Perdíz, Calle Condor, Calle Suiza, and Calle Acerina have been resurfaced with an investment of the remaining €25,000. Councillor for Public Works, Agustin Montoya, added that other works like mending potholes in the roads have been carried out in areas such as Cuartillas and Las Alparatas.
improvements for various areas of Mojacar. It will consist of pavement repairs and resurfacing of the following streets: Jesus de Perceval, Embrujo, Atalayones, Romance, Torrebahia, Pintor Morales, Picasso, Los Lomos del Cantal, Miguel Hernandez, Hermanos Machado, Vista de los Angeles, Almeria, Luna and Piedra Villazar. Rosa Maria Cano, Mojacar’s mayor, said: “With these investments, the municipality will see improvement in infrastructure and basic services, elements of unquestionable value to promote the development of the area and improve the quality of life of its inhabitants.” Improvements to parking and pavements in the beach bar area will also be included in the project.
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A sporting tribute
Vicar jobs DURING 2014, 29 new businesses were formed and 34 people given work in Vicar as part of the Emple@ programme headed up by the Junta de Andalucia regional govern-ment at a cost of €206,000.
River cleaned WORK has been completed on the final stretch of Rio Antas, alongside Vera. The work, which has lasted three months, consisted of riverbed clearing between the bridge and the rivermouth.
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Socialist teens collect for underprivileged children
NEWS EXTRA THE new sports centre in Las Pocicas has been named after former mayor of Albox, Antonio Galera, who passed away in 2013. Councillors and residents gathered for the posthumous tribute.
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BEARING GIFTS: Teens with some
MEMBERS of Juventudes Socialistas de Almeria (JSA) have collected food and toys for distribution by Cruz Roja (Red Cross) to families in need.
Maria Jesus Perez, a representative of the JSA, said: “We want to share a smile with the children who suffer the most through a lack of resources in of the items. their families.” The young Socialists collected toys and food over several days and placed the items in the hall of the provincial headquarters of the PSOE ready for collection. Perez commented: “Despite the generous outpouring of support from people, there remains a need first-hand to carry out such activities because many families cannot provide such gifts themselves.” She added: “At significant times of the year the most important thing is to share a smile MODEL MAN: Silverio Salvador opens the exhibition with Eloisa with those children who Cabrera and Maria Dolores Ortega. throughout the year have takes centre stage in the exhibition. sold the company he moved, with suffered shortages due to It was the last ship that Silverio and his family, to Almeria and made a lack of resources from Jaime built together. After Silverio Roquetas his home. their parents.”
Family donates 32 model ships to exhibition THE Salvador Flores family in Roquetas de Mar have donated 32 model ships to be exhibited permanently in the Castillo de Santa Ana, beginning with a show called ‘Proa al modelismo naval’. Catalan Silverio Salvador used to manage a company which made model ships. During that time, Silverio’s father, Jaime, had to cease work due to ill health. He began building model ships progressing in difficulty; 17 of the 32 donated models were built by him. Star of the show is the HMS Victory which, although incomplete,
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Cancer sufferer fights for others ENCARNAS LORENZO had a kidney removed in 2009. It was affected by the dreaded disease, cancer. It was during her treatment that Encarnas witnessed the support of people who helped her and her family through the dark times. It was then that she set up a volunteer group to help others in the same situation. Encarnas said that there had been no volunteer group in Huercal Overa and was determined to change that. And so La Asociacion de Cancer was born. Today Encarnas continues to fight for others, while facing
battles of her own. In 2012, she was diagnosed with lung cancer and told she had just a few months to live.
Encarnas set up La Asociacion de Cancer “When I was told,” said Encarnas, “I asked the doctor the options. He said it was an operation or I would die. “I asked how likely it was the operation had healed me and I was told it hadn’t. I then decided to live without pain, without suffering. We must fight,
but not persist in living regardless of everything else. Live with dignity.” Encarna does not fear death. She concluded: “Who says you will live longer than me? We each have our expiration date, like yoghurts, and when it comes death is a part of life. How important it is to live. I decided to live and that is what I do. “Yes, family support is needed and also that of professionals. The nurses come and when I hurt they give me morphine. I take away the pain and I take away the fear, and then I can continue to do what I want to do. “Then nothing hurts and the thought of death disappears,” she said.
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New Year newborns ISMAEL EL MALISINK has become the newest resident of Almeria, the first baby born in the province. He arrived at 3.34am on January 1 at Hospital Immaculada in Huercal Overa to Aicha. He weighed 4.54 kilograms. The first baby in Andalucia was Estefania who entered the world at Reina Sofia Hospital in Cordoba at 00.30am. Estefania, first daughter of Fernando and Estefania, weighed just 2.78 kilograms.
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The hash that almost never happened INDALO Hash House Harriers awoke to houses rattling as high winds battered the area, but intrepid walkers and runners roused themselves from their pits and headed out. The start point was between Chirivel and Velez Rubio, where the hash hosts were waiting with hot coffee and a warm welcome. It took a little longer than usual to shoehorn everyone out of the warm house and into the blustery car park where the circle was formed and the hares explained the route. Only three runners made it out while the rest took a stroll out, looking forward to a romp through the lanes and the forest. Just 10 minutes into the walk and the hashers were halted by hunters. After an animated discussion it was made very clear that it would be unwise to continue into the forest as they would be crossing paths with the hunters and what sounded like a thousand dogs barking for escape. The runners suffered a
COLD START: High winds greeted the intrepid hashers. similar disappointment and so the diversions were set. A stroll through the ramblas and across a makeshift bridge of a fallen tree that really did not look safe, and it was time to return where ‘Nigella Lawson’ had been busy in the kitchen. But first it was time for the obligatory songs and a few punishments including untied shoelaces, watering of the campo and something for a female member that she didn’t catch but which apparently caused much merriment
and an opportunity for a song and a dance. The hashers’ memories were put to the test as there were no song sheets but after making up their own lyrics and listening to new songs from visiting hashers, it was time for a naming. Despite praying and trying to use one of the dogs as protection,
there was no escape. After what seemed like an eon in the cold, the hashers retired to the warm kitchen where everyone feasted on homemade vegetable curry and beef broth before finding a little extra room for ginger cake and fruit loaf, all lovingly prepared by the hash host.
Thieves arrested at Las Tres Villas
TWO thieves have been arrested for theft from two farmhouses in Las Tres Villas. The men are accused of theft from two farmhouses in the countryside hamlet of Haza del Riego in the municipality of Las Tres Villas. Officers received a call informing them of a potential robbery after two men were spotted removing goods from a farmhouse. The officers were immediately on the scene and were able to arrest 31-year old DSM and 30-year-old MMH in the act. Both men are from Gador. They had stolen various items of furniture and household goods.
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NEWS EXTRA
Marine course NINETEEN people in Garrucha have qualified during a free course. The 150-hour course covered command of civilian vessels not exceeding 100 gross tonnes and up to 150 passengers.
Body found OFFICERS of the Guardia Civil have found the body of a woman, 80years-old, who was last seen on the outskirts of Tabernas. Her body was found after she had fallen into a ravine in Marchalillo.
Thousand jobs MORE than 1,000 jobs have been generated in rural areas of Almeria by means of the LiderA initiative, which organises projects of the Ministry of Agriculture in Andalucia.
news
Sanchez responds to accusations MARIBEL SANCHEZ, councillor for Economics and Business in Huercal Overa has responded to accusations by the PSOE that rules were changed to benefit her family. Answering accusations
by PSOE leader for Huercal Overa, Don Antonio Lopez Olmo, she stated: “The PSOE and some supporters of that party have been responsible for several months for defamation
Journalist’s first novel PABLO REQUENA, a journalist from Almeria, has published his first work of fiction. The book examines corruption within politics and the press. El Pelele (The zany) is a fictional novel with a number of references to notorious cases of corruption, of a provincial and national level, tied in with the experiences of a journalist who Requena describes as: “Bad milk, a liar and a bad person.” When asked whether the main character is based on him, Requena laughed but admitted that some of the experiences are his own. Requena has drawn on his experiences as a journalist to write the novel, a source which he described as an: “underpaid and sacrificial life.” The book has come from a childhood dream that Pablo Requena had to write a fictional piece. Now his mission is accomplished, Requena said he has consolidated his own madness, genius and imagination in 100 pages. He is now working on his second novel, a short story which already has a title: ‘La viruela del viejo cascarrabias’ (Smallpox of an old grouch).
Maribel Sanchez. of me and my office, claiming that the modification of the fiscal ordinance regulating the fee for the opening of establishments was held to benefit a relative of mine, in particular my father, by the removal of the opening rate of €20,000 for shops. This is completely false.” She went on to clarify the details, pointing out that her father’s business was smaller than those affected by the changes in the rules, specifically companies with premises more than 700 square metres. Her father’s business is 550 square metres. Maribel Sanchez concluded: “I have to defend my honour and the truth, because not everything can be done politically, much less when some undermine the dignity of people using lies and slander.”
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NEWS EXTRA
New year APPROXIMATELY 300 revellers enjoyed fireworks, grapes and a party for New Year’’s Eve in Mojacar Pueblo, while being served cava by town mayor, Rosa Maria Cano.
Patera rescue TEN Algerian men have been rescued from a patera off the coast of Cabo de Gata. The men were sent to Almeria for processing. All are in good health after their travels.
House fire FIRE forced the evacuation of several households in El Camino do Pocico in Aguadulce. One of the evacuees was sent to a health centre suffering smoke inhalation.
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NEWS
Big plans Online directory for Adra ADRA Council has now approved municipal budgets for 2015 amounting to more than €19 million, €1 million more than 2014. Included among the main improvements planned for the town is the enhancement of the area surrounding the bus station, the launch of a new auditorium in Edificio Plaza and the restoration of archaeological remains of ancient Abdera. The design of the bus station will be paid for by the town and the province and will include the construction of a roundabout and the reorganisation of traffic. The aim is to facilitate the entry and exit of
buses while ensuring the safety of pedestrians. The new cultural space in Edificio Plaza is planned to be multidisciplinary to accommodate various musical performances. The archaeological remains will be financially supported by the Association of Tour Promoters of Almeria West. In addition to these projects, the municipal budget includes resources allocated to social services, increased allocations to sports such as sailing, retirement placements and employment plans. The funds will also be used to give business a big boost during 2015.
ANYONE reading this article knows that the Euro Weekly News is a huge part of everyday life: for the English-speaking population the weekly paper is a source of information on all kinds of businesses, services and trades in their local area. For companies too, it is a proven method of advertising what they have to offer. So why, then, an online business directory? In this technology-driven age, there is no doubt that companies big and small need to have a presence online. For those people who live in Spain all year and need to find a car dealership on the Costa del Sol or a mechanic in Mallorca, a search online is often the first step, particularly if your favourite newspaper is not to hand. Similarly, for those planning their next visit to their holiday home in Spain who may want to find a plumber in Costa Blanca or an estate agent in Almeria, then clicking on to EWNGETSIT.com is a natural choice. Information on the Internet can be accessed anywhere, any time, and research has shown that many ‘buying’ decisions begin with online research. For businesses operating wholly or partly in Spain, joining the newest and
brightest online directory couldn’t be easier. Each company has a dedicated page with information on what they offer, links to their webpage and social media, even a Google map! With the ability to add or amend information as necessary during the annual listing - it makes perfect sense! So remember - next time you’re looking for details on a local company or service, EWNGETSIT.com is full of businesses in your area that are just one click away. And if you run a company in Spain, why not get in touch - the cost of an annual listing may be cheaper than you think!
EWNGETSIT.com +34 952 561 245 directory@ewngetsit.com
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NEWS
Choral harmony in Velez
ON SONG: Batum Borombi from Senegal.
Communal carols
THIRTEEN singing groups gathered at the Convento de la Victoria in Vera for a night of Christmas carols. Groups of all ages sang well-known Spanish carols including ‘Ya viene la vieja’ and ‘Alegria Alegria’. The Virgen de la Huertas youngsters performed ‘Tres pastellitos’ and ‘Navidad dulce navidad’, while the Batum Borombi group from Senegal performed a rousing version of ‘Jabani in’ and ‘Minuit Cheretien’. Vera Town Hall wished to thank all of the participants for their work:
Rondalla de Mayores de Vera, Diego Garrido López music school in Vera, parish choir Virgen de la Cabeza of Antas, school choir of Reyes Católicos in Vera, children’s group Virgen de las Huertas and guitar group Loli Garrido of Vera, Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación choir in Vera, Asociacion Cultural Virgen del Carmen in Garrucha, Senegalese group Batum Borombi, Sol y Luna in Vera, San Ramón choir in Vera, the choir of Aljariz and the carols group San Juan Evangelista in Vera.
MUSIC rang out from the church in Velez Rubio as the Manuel de Falla choir performed. The choir received rapturous applause in the Iglesia de la Encarnacion and the reviews were excellent, with attendees showing appreciation for the months of hard work into making the recital as successful and memorable as it was. Lucas Galera said: “What talent you have!” while Anita Dinamita Carlitos said: “You have talent but sometimes enthusiasm and desire are more important. Congratulations not only to the singers but also to the director.” The choir performed 10 songs including ‘Ya viene la vieja’, ‘San Jose al Niño Jesus’ and ‘We Wish You A Merry Christmas’.
FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL
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business & legal Fibre optic ‘parasite’ warning TELEFONICA warned that it could reconsider the timing and funding of its fibre optic network. With the exception of nine cities, Spain’s Markets and Competition regulator CNMC has proposed that Telefonica share its infrastructure with other operators.
The telecommunications multinational has not officially announced its stance but is “voicing worries,” it said. If the CMNC goes ahead with its proposals, this could in turn imperil the profitability of its investment and endanger thousands of jobs created to roll out the new system,
Fuel used as loss leader SOME supermarket chains are selling diesel oil at 98 cents a litre and petrol at €1.03. Service stations now claim that the supermarkets, as they do with chicken or wine, are using fuel as a lossleader to tempt clients to fill up trolleys as well as the tanks of their cars. Average prices by the end of 2014 were €1.16 for gasoil and €1.21 for petrol, according to the EU Oil Bulletin. The price-slashing is possible due to the plummeting price of Brent crude oil, currently just under $60 (€49.23) a barrel, having fallen 45 per cent since the
beginning of 2014. Fuel is at its cheapest since 2010, but the 14 per cent reduction still falls short of the public’s expectations. This is as easily explained as it is inevitable, according to Spain’s Association of Petroleum Operators (AOP), not least because the dollar has appreciated against the euro. Fuel must pass through refineries, importers and transport firms before reaching the customer while almost half of its final price includes 50 per cent tax, which goes to the Spanish government and not the seller, the AOP pointed out.
Telefonica predicted. The supervisor’s decision would act as a disincentive to competitors by imposing “parasitic” conditions on Telefonica that reflect the existing ADSL model, the company said. FIBRE OPTICS: Network timing.
B
usiness extra
Bogof appeal THIRTY per cent of supermarket chains’ sales are special offers. Two-for-one, three-fortwo or ‘50 per cent off second item’ are so popular that 2014 prices fell by 1.4 per cent, found marketing analysts Nielsen.
Out of work THERE are now 163,000 fewer public sector workers than in 2012. The central Administration experienced the largest proportional reduction with a 7.11 per cent cutback in staff, government figures revealed.
High-speed train must move THE Spanish consortium building the AVE high-speed train between Mecca and Medina must get a move on. The deal to build the track, supply 35 high-speed trains and handle a 12-year maintenance contract was signed three years ago. Now Saudi Arabia’s new transport minister, Abdullah A-Muqbel, has threatened to rescind contracts unless companies complete on schedule.
The consortium is composed of Saudi groups Al Rosan and Al Shoula, plus 12 Spanish companies. These include Spain’s state track operator Adif, track builders OHL, rail operator Renfe, train manufacturers Talgo, and technology company Indra. The consortium emphasised during a recent meeting that the Spanish and Saudi companies are delivering within the specified time.
THE minimum salary rose by 0.5 per cent to €648.6 a month after it was frozen in both 2012 and 2014. Approximately 200,000 employees will benefit from the increase.
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STAT OF WEEK
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LONDON - FTSE 100
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C LOSING P RICES J ANUARY 5
C O M PA N Y PRICE(P) 3i Group PLC 457.40 Aberdeen Asset Mngmnt 441.65 Admiral Group PLC 1318.50 Aggreko PLC 1490.00 Anglo American PLC 1202.00 Antofagasta PLC 757.25 ARM Holdings PLC 997.50 Ashtead Group PLC 1179.00 Associated Britsh Foods 3202.50 AstraZeneca PLC 4581.50 Aviva PLC 483.70 Babcock International ... 1058.50 BAE Systems PLC 468.70 Barclays PLC 241.25 Barratt Developments 467.85 BG Group PLC 865.30 BHP Billiton PLC 1392.00 BP PLC 406.75
C H A N G E ( P ) % C H G. 3.40 0.75 8.40 1.94 4.00 0.30 -8.00 -0.53 17.00 1.43 9.00 1.20 9.50 0.96 14.00 1.20 8.00 0.25 -1.50 -0.03 -0.60 -0.12 0.00 0.00 -0.70 -0.15 -1.85 -0.76 7.10 1.54 1.50 0.17 14.00 1.02 -3.65 -0.89
NET VOLUME 62.13 278.72 8.97 48.73 129.86 32.97 180.99 145.53 21.77 119.81 272.57 27.08 259.85 1,821.10 202.72 307.61 196.95 2,584.81
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Units per €
US dollar ..................................................................1.19736 Japan yen ................................................................144.117 Switzerland franc................................................1.20175 Denmark kroner..................................................7.44165 Norway kroner....................................................9.12065
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PRICE(P)
British Amercn Tobacco British Land Co PLC BT Group PLC Bunzl PLC Burberry Group PLC Capita PLC Carnival PLC
3481.75 765.75 400.90 1783.00 1632.00 1092.00 2989.50
DOW JONES
NASDAQ
C LOSING P RICES J ANUARY 5
C LOSING P RICES J ANUARY 5
C O M PA N Y MMM 3M Co AXP American Express Co T AT&T Inc BA Boeing Co CAT Caterpillar Inc CVX Chevron Corp CSCO Cisco Systems Inc KO The Coca-Cola Co DIS Walt Disney Co DD E I du Pont de Nemours and Co XOM Exxon Mobil Corp GE General Electric Co GS Goldman Sachs Group Inc HD Home Depot Inc IBM International Business Machine... INTC Intel Corp JNJ Johnson & Johnson JPM JPMorgan Chase and Co MCD McDonald's Corp MRK Merck & Co Inc MSFT Microsoft Corp NKE Nike Inc PFE Pfizer Inc PG Procter & Gamble Co TRV Travelers Companies Inc UTX United Technologies Corp UNH UnitedHealth Group Inc VZ Verizon Communications Inc V Visa Inc WMT Wal-Mart Stores Inc
PRICE CHANGE %CHANGE VOLUME 164.06 93.02 33.87 129.95 91.88 112.58 27.61 42.14 93.75 73.71 92.83 25.06 194.41 103.43 162.06 36.36 104.52 62.49 93.26 57.19 46.76 95.03 31.33 90.44 105.44 115.04 100.78 46.96 265.02 85.90
-0.26 -0.02 +0.28 -0.03 +0.35 +0.40 -0.205 -0.08 -0.44 -0.23 +0.38 -0.21 +0.58 -1.54 +1.62 +0.07 -0.05 -0.09 -0.44 +0.40 +0.31 -1.12 +0.18 -0.65 -0.41 +0.04 -0.31 +0.18 +2.82 +0.02
-0.16% -0.02% +0.83% -0.02% +0.38% +0.36% -0.74% -0.19% -0.47% -0.31% +0.41% -0.83% +0.30% -1.47% +1.01% +0.19% -0.05% -0.14% -0.47% +0.70% +0.67% -1.16% +0.58% -0.71% -0.39% +0.03% -0.31% +0.38% +1.08% +0.02%
2.1M 2.4M 20.6M 4.3M 3.8M 5.9M 22.9M 9.9M 5.9M 3.1M 10.2M 40.9M 1.9M 4.3M 5.5M 23.6M 5.8M 12.6M 6.0M 7.1M 27.9M 2.5M 15.5M 7.3M 1.3M 3.1M 3.1M 11.4M 2.1M 4.5M
1.27913
0.78178
C H A N G E ( P ) % C H G. 30.50 3.50 -0.10 0.00 9.00 7.00 59.00
C O M PA N Y
0.88 0.46 -0.02 0.00 0.55 0.65 2.01
NET VOLUME 295.63 63.69 550.75 20.47 19.71 36.55 36.46
PRICE
CHANGE NET / %
$ 19.25 $ 3.89 $ 3.64 $ 2.71 $ 8.09 $ 2.53 $ 4.76 $ 17.71 $ 6.75 $ 14.67 $ 11.35
3.49 ▲ 22.14% 0.60 ▲ 18.24% 0.55 ▲ 17.80% 0.40 ▲ 17.32% 1.09 ▲ 15.57% 0.33 ▲ 15.00% 0.62 ▲ 14.98% 2.21 ▲ 14.26% 0.84 ▲ 14.21% 1.60 ▲ 12.24% 1.22 ▲ 12.04%
$ 39.2985 $ 12.06 $ 34.54 $ 68.22 $ 41.09 $ 5.18 $ 48.25 $ 26.71 $ 8.05 $ 13.04 $ 21
6.8215 ▼ 14.79% 1.98 ▼ 14.10% 4.01 ▼ 10.40% 7.47 ▼ 9.87% 4.41 ▼ 9.69% 0.51 ▼ 8.96% 3.97 ▼ 7.60% 2.18 ▼ 7.55% 0.61 ▼ 7.04% 0.97 ▼ 6.92% 1.55 ▼ 6.87%
Most Advanced Perfect World Co., Ltd. Onconova Therapeutics, Inc. Tecumseh Products Company Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc. Conatus Pharmaceuticals Inc. Eagle Rock Energy Partners, L.P. Parnell Pharmaceuticals Holdings Ltd Eagle Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Vascular Biogenics Ltd. CSI Compressco LP Linn Energy, LLC
Most Declined PowerShares S&P SmallCap NeuroDerm Ltd. Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ePlus inc. John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. Egalet Corporation Juno Therapeutics, Inc. AmeriServ Financial Inc. Gaming Partners International Corp Kandi Technologies Group, Inc. TubeMogul, Inc.
FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL
C O M PA N Y PRICE(P) CHANGE Centrica PLC 276.70 0.00 Coca-Cola HBC AG 1188.50 0.00 Compass Group PLC 1099.50 2.00 CRH PLC 1546.50 4.00 Diageo PLC 1839.25 9.00 Direct Line Insurance ... 293.70 1.00 Dixons Carphone PLC 463.05 1.95 easyJet PLC 1713.00 31.53 Experian PLC 1105.00 10.00 Fresnillo PLC 797.50 32.50 Friends Life Group Ltd 365.25 0.10 G4S PLC 274.55 0.70 GKN PLC 345.95 2.10 GlaxoSmithKline PLC 1374.25 -8.50 Glencore PLC 297.72 0.65 Hammerson PLC 606.00 2.00 Hargreaves Lansdown 1016.50 8.05 HSBC Holdings PLC 612.95 0.90 Imperial Tobacco Group 2830.00 27.00 InterContinental Hotels 2615.50 21.00 International Consolidtd 498.30 11.20 Intertek Group PLC 2344.50 2.00 Intu Properties PLC 336.50 3.70 ITV PLC 213.90 0.70 Johnson Matthey PLC 3409.00 23.00 Kingfisher PLC 337.95 1.77 Land Securities Group 1156.00 4.00 Legal & General Group 247.60 1.50 Lloyds Banking Group 76.15 0.02 London Stock Exchange 2237.00 9.00 Marks & Spencer Group 470.00 -7.10 Meggitt PLC 515.50 4.00 Mondi PLC 1063.50 14.00 Morrison (Wm) Sprmrkts 182.90 -0.20 National Grid PLC 917.25 9.00 Next PLC 6782.50 35.00 Old Mutual PLC 191.30 1.40 Pearson PLC 1183.50 7.00 Persimmon PLC 1588.50 23.00 Prudential PLC 1496.75 5.00 Randgold Resources Ltd 4500.50 88.64 Reckitt Benckiser Grp 5222.50 65.00 Reed Elsevier PLC 1098.00 6.00 Rio Tinto PLC 2982.75 13.00 Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC 869.25 4.50 Royal Bank of Scotland 387.90 -1.10 Royal Dutch Shell PLC 2225.75 -9.50 Royal Mail PLC 427.80 2.92 RSA Insurance Group 437.45 -0.12 SABMiller PLC 3316.00 15.50 Sage Group (The) PLC 469.95 2.20 Sainsbury (J) PLC 244.55 1.20 Schroders PLC 2693.00 14.00 Severn Trent PLC 2021.00 21.00 Shire PLC 4549.00 13.00 Sky PLC 892.50 -2.64 Smith & Nephew PLC 1178.50 13.00 Smiths Group PLC 1107.50 12.00 Sports Direct Internatnl... 725.75 3.50 SSE PLC 1617.00 11.00 Standard Chartered PLC 968.10 5.50 Standard Life PLC 400.40 0.60 St James's Place PLC 813.50 3.50 Taylor Wimpey PLC 136.70 1.80 Tesco PLC 188.53 0.50 Travis Perkins PLC 1852.50 13.00 TUI AG 1088.00 -1.00 Tullow Oil PLC 413.85 0.10 Unilever PLC 2613.00 7.00 United Utilities Group 929.50 10.50 Vodafone Group PLC 222.47 0.65 Weir Group PLC 1882.00 0.00 Whitbread PLC 4738.00 21.00 Wolseley PLC 3700.00 13.00 WPP PLC 1351.50 9.00
% C H G. 0.00 0.00 0.18 0.26 0.49 0.34 0.42 1.87 0.91 4.25 0.03 0.26 0.61 -0.61 0.22 0.33 0.80 0.15 0.96 0.81 2.30 0.09 1.11 0.33 0.68 0.53 0.35 0.61 0.03 0.40 -1.49 0.78 1.33 -0.11 0.99 0.52 0.74 0.60 1.47 0.34 2.01 1.26 0.55 0.44 0.52 -0.28 -0.42 0.69 -0.03 0.47 0.47 0.49 0.52 1.05 0.29 -0.29 1.12 1.09 0.48 0.68 0.57 0.15 0.43 1.33 0.27 0.71 -0.09 0.02 0.27 1.14 0.29 0.00 0.45 0.35 0.67
VOLUME 645.04 18.18 103.07 47.86 243.99 49.88 64.13 59.42 120.75 158.88 76.70 81.33 173.63 588.07 618.02 54.65 19.56 1,454.17 311.83 9.24 711.43 5.61 84.45 409.38 27.59 228.49 27.42 482.02 5,077.48 11.30 505.57 24.91 68.97 499.18 500.65 22.13 375.68 56.65 34.21 198.44 35.49 75.44 61.91 197.41 156.76 432.75 456.12 126.64 65.37 62.25 159.25 570.59 7.44 38.26 57.79 104.33 101.08 46.03 25.87 76.51 383.78 125.34 20.11 477.46 1,103.16 19.77 48.16 184.98 164.26 59.77 1,564.60 25.89 27.86 10.61 126.24
FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL
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Rogue trading associations TRADE associations are as rare as hen’s teeth in English-speaking Spain. It is quite the opposite in Britain and much of Northern Europe. Most trades enjoy the possibility to be trade association registered. Whatever one’s calling, it can be assumed there is an association or a guild for it. Trade associations are primarily created to protect the interests of both their members and the public whom they serve. As in all else in life there are the good, the bad and the ugly. Many associations unreasonably focus on protecting their profession’s image and ring-fencing their members.
Talking shop Mike Walsh Mike Walsh was for 20 years Regional Assessment Manager for the Guild of Master Craftsmen, Britain’s biggest quality assurance body for businesses.
www.michaelwalsh.es • 966 786 932
At one time or another I tangled with the British Medical Association (BMA), Police Complaints Commission, associations charged with representing legal, financial, accountancy and journalist trades. The worst offenders appear to be those representing these professions.
The better associations are those that represent skilled trades, the artisan and retail industries such as building and allied trades, hairdressing and art outlets. A trade association is as useless as a bull with teats unless it properly vets its members. It also has to act as arbitrator or offer an independent reasonably priced arbitration service in the event of member versus customer disputes. Over 20 years I represented both the Federation of Master Builders and the Guild of Master Craftsmen. As with anything, one can look diligently for flaws if one is on a mission. No matter how tough a vetting procedure the
occasional rogue will slip through. I recall a pilot, albeit qualified, who was flying Virgin airliners. It was later discovered his qualifications fell short of those required. There are many bad eggs in the police, banking and medical professions. The important thing is to have in place a good monitoring procedure. This has to be backed by swift and uncompromising means of resolution, expulsion and exposure. Every year the UK Consumer Protection Agency successfully prosecutes rogue traders. Merely to falsely claim trade association membership can result in a large fine. Our communities could do with some protection too.
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FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL
European Central Bank Stimulus Programme for early 2015? THE Euro started the month of December on fairly steady ground as markets turned their focus on the European Central Bank interest rate decision and press conference. As inflation numbers from the Eurozone had not seen much of an improvement for the last two quarters, economists and investors were expecting Mario Draghi, President of the European Central Bank to announce the introduction of a quantitative easing programme to kick start growth. However, interest rates were kept on hold and policymakers in the Eurozone hinted that the purchase of Government bonds could help address the issues swamping the region to drive growth, though no action was taken. On the contrary, ECB member Nowotny issued a statement
Ask the expert Peter Loveday Contact me at euroweekly@currenciesdirect.com
saying that although the Eurozone is experiencing a massive weakening and have very few options open to them, measures like full blown money printing, used by their counterparts in the US, will not be suitable for the region. Markets began to price-in that the ECB will announce a stimulus programme in early 2015 after Mario Draghi addressed the European Parliament. With Europe on the brink of yet another recession, Draghi
THE EURO: Started December on fairly steady ground. issued a statement saying that the European Central Bank could start buying government bonds. He also stated this would be one of the measures in the European Central Bank’s armoury as they could further implement uncon-
ventional measures to purchase a ‘variety of assets’ including gold and securities. Retail sales and manufacturing PMI numbers are also steadily on the decline, while GDP data continues to paint a grim picture for the Eurozone
Visit us at our Spanish offices in Costa del Sol, Costa Almeria, North Costa Blanca and South Costa Blanca. Telephone: UK +44 (0) 207 847 9400 SPAIN +34 950 478 914 Email: euroweekly@currenciesdirect.com • www.currenciesdirect.com
economy. The Euro has steadily weakened since and after dismal economic data prints, GBP/EUR that started the month at 1.2590 has lost considerable ground to end December just under the 1.29 level. The fate of the Euro is now dependant on Mario Draghi’s stimulus programme which is expected to be announced at the ECB meeting in January as he tries to kick start growth and inflation which has remained considerably poor. With divergence in policies among the major economies it is imperative the European Central Bank need to act; though they may have left it a little too late. Low inflation numbers and monetary stimulus devalue a currency and ending the year on a weak note, one thing is certain - the Euro finds itself wedged between a rock and a hard place.
Can she be elected to office? You and the Law in Spain By David Searl
Q. I have just bought the new 2015 edition of ‘You & the Law in Spain,’ which I am finding very informative. However, I have a question for which I cannot find an answer. Can I be elected to a Community Committee if I do not live in the urbanisation, but still own a property there? L.P. (Costa del Sol)
A. Yes, you can be elected to the Committee or even as President of your Community if you own a property. The registered owner of the property, not the inhabitant, is the member of the Community. When a flat is rented, for example, the owner may possibly give a Proxy Vote power to the tenant, but the owner is the member, not the tenant. If you own two properties, you have two votes and you pay two sets of Community fees. This can lead to a situation where the property developer or an investor owns a number of properties and so has a number of votes, sometimes enough to run the Community in favour of his own interests. The answer to your question is in fact contained in the Horizontal Law
BUSINESS EXTRA
Energy loss ENERGY giant RWE is suing Spain over renewable energy cuts and presented an arbitration request to ICSID, the World Bank’s body that settles investment disputes. The German group’s Spanish subsidiary sustained heavy losses in 2013 following government changes and RWE’s claim will be the first of many.
Uber ban
section of the book, where it points out that only an owner and member of the Community can be elected to office.
Send your questions for David Searl through lawyers Ubeda-Retana & Associates in Fuengirola at Ask@lawtaxspain.com, or call 952 667 090.
A MADRID court that instructed mobile phone operators and data networks to comply with a ruling that ordered Uber to cease operations inside Spain was “disproportionate and discriminatory,” the company said. Its smartphone car-share app is opposed by registered cabbies as unfair because Uber drivers operate without permits or insurance.
OPINION & COMMENT
Campsite woes Spain needs to be updated IN answer to A Nosworthy - not his real name I suspect - there are two sides to every story. I’ve lived in a caravan for 50 years and am now 74-years-old. Over the last nine years I’ve paid over €36,000! This campsite is half-empty most of the year and has gone into liquidation, owing the bank approx €1.5 million. It was sold at auction for €36,000 to a Finnish company, I’m told. If our site and others were cheaper they would be full, but instead we get people staying for one night to fill up, empty the toilet and shower. They use the sauna and pool, then leave. I can’t wild camp with a touring van but sympathise with motor-home owners who are mostly retired and, like me, on a limited income. They live in northern Europe where it drops to 20 degrees below zero in winter and they come here for winter sun. Campsites are expensive and unlike France, there are no municipal sites here in Spain. In Britain every town provides cheap sites as well as Club CL small sites on farmland. If Spain provided sites in every town they would be used. Or they could provide water taps and toilet-emptying points in large car parks, limiting stays to 28 days with no returning for one week. I’m selling up, going back to the UK and getting a motor home! Brian Warman, Mijas Pueblo (Malaga)
Light-fingered I HAD my purse removed from my handbag and €50 notes taken in a local store. Fortunately I was aware of something or someone touching my shoulder bag and I pulled it towards the front. I noticed that my scarf, which I had taken off and pushed into my bag, was missing. My purse was nearer the top of my handbag and not thinking at that point that I had been the
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New Year, though, and is entirely self-centred. I’m not sure how old I was, but we spent New Year’s Day with my grandparents and we left at nightfall to walk the short distance to our own house. I was too small and tired to walk and as I was carried back in my father’s arms I stared up at the stars. They were twinkling in the same colours as the foil decorations on the Christmas tree. I pointed out this fact to mum and dad, who humoured me, as well as my brother who roundly contradicted me. I can still see those stars in my mind’s eye and I don’t care what anyone says: they were coloured! D Pennington (by email)
What’s a name?
WINTER has arrived with a vengeance where I live, but at least spring will soon replicate this photo I took last year.
Bernard Moore (by email)
victim of a robbery, I pushed it back to the bottom and went in search of my scarf. Not finding my scarf I walked to my car and drove back to Estepona. Here I went into a shop to replace my lost scarf and this was when I realised I had been robbed. My cards were dishevelled and all the notes were missing. I hide my cards behind others, making it difficult to see or find unless you know where they are. If they had been lucky in taking my cards they would have had about two hours to use them before I noticed. I have tried to remember anything unusual that day and the only thing that keeps coming back to me is a small lady walking towards me up this very narrow aisle. She looked at me and half smiled as I turned sideways to allow her room to pass on the opposite side to my handbag. Maybe by turning sideways I presented my bag to an accomplice behind me. In future I will separate my cash from my cards. (Name and address supplied)
WHEN YOU WRITE All letters, whether by email or post, should carry the writer’s postal address, NIE and contact number though only the name and town will be published. Letters may also be edited. Readers who have missed earlier correspondence can see all letters posted on:
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Superstar role I LIKED this quote in Time Magazine from the renowned physicist Stephen Hawking, subject of the biopic ‘The Theory of Everything.’ His ideal acting role would be “a baddie in a James Bond film,” he said: “The wheelchair and the computer voice would fit the part,” he said. Richard M McBride, Benidorm (Alicante)
Long holiday I LOVE the way that the holiday season in Spain lasts the full 12
days that tradition demands. There is still the Three Kings holiday on January 6 to look forward to instead of the flat feeling after New Year that always sets in at home. That’s easily understood, though. What can you expect when everyone is affected by overkill after putting up fairy lights and decorating their trees the minute they tear the November sheet off their calendars? I hope you had a happy Reyes Day, readers, and you enjoyed a slice of Roscon, that very superior bun-round with crystallised fruit on top that knocks spots (and calories) off Christmas pud. Penny S Hague (by email)
Seeing stars I ALWAYS enjoy reading Street Talk. It’s so interesting to hear other people’s points of view, whether I agree with them or not. I was especially impressed by the generosity of readers whose best Christmas memories involved helping others. My own treasured memory of the holiday season involved the
CALL me unobservant if you want to, and I’m the first person to concede that I am nothing of an ornithologist. But like a correspondent a few weeks back, I have never seen a magpie anywhere on the Costa Blanca. I live in Benidorm where there are indeed some strange birds and not all of them have beaks and wings. None of them has ever remotely resembled a magpie, though, but if a Spanish newspaper and a Muchamiel reader say there are flocks of them round here, I’ll take their word for it. Strangely enough, there was a historic Spanish personage named Urraca who was queen of Leon, Castilla and Galicia between 1079 and 1126. Queen Magpie? Loses somewhat in translation, wouldn’t you say? Sidney Armstrong, Benidorm (Alicante)
In the club I AM flabbergasted by the Europhobe letters that appear in the Euro Weekly News especially from readers who want an EU, this is only a glorified trading agreement. If they join the club then they must take the rough with the smooth and pay their dues. Mark my words, if Britain were to walk away from Brussels, these people would be the first to start squealing when the car factories et al upped sticks and decamped to the European mainland. Jeannette Leverson (somewhere in Europe).
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OPINION & COMMENT
Bring back the soapbox LEAPY LEE SAYS IT OTHERS THINK IT
T
HE problem with scribing a column at this time of year means that, to meet deadlines, it can often be difficult to remain current. Forgive me if this suggestion is therefore, at the time of reading, (hopefully) old hat. With the incubation period of the dreaded Ebola being up to 22 days, is it not pure common sense to place returning health workers into quarantine? These brave and obviously caring volunteers would I’m sure, have no objection at all to spending time in isolation, just to make sure they don’t become the source of an outbreak in their own country. Facilities could be made to see they receive all the comforts available and any visitors suitably protected. I would think that after such a stressful period, some may even welcome a complete break. A little breathing space coupled with all the best attention,
HYDE PARK CORNER: Where you could say exactly what you wanted. remuneration and goodwill a grateful nation would surely be only too happy to provide. I just hope by the time this piece is aired that, what to me is pure common sense, has been adopted and fully installed. Not however holding the breath. One thing we really must overcome in this New Year is the fear of speaking the truth in case it ‘offends.’ If anything has stood out this year, it is the pathetic
protests that have occurred when someone has stated the obvious. (Areas swamped by immigrants’ and so forth). Many of these dissenters come from countries where free speech can be punishable by the heaviest of penalties, including death. We really must drum into the PCs and those who are offended by someone observing obvious facts, that the UK has advocated free speech for
centuries and millions of our citizens have died to preserve that right. If we are frightened to even speak the truth, then we may as well turn the whole place over to those who would stifle and destroy our whole way of life. We cannot let these people win. If they can’t stand the heat they need to ensconce themselves in kitchens that they find more acceptable. Personally I long for those wonderful Hyde Park corner days when anyone could, as long as they weren’t inciting a riot, stand up and, without fear of prosecution, say exactly what they chose. When did that wonderful British institution get stopped? I can’t remember. I do know however, that if our governmental hierarchies weren’t such lily livered wimps, Sundays in Hyde Park could still be as invigorating and indicative of our freedom as it always was. Bring back the soapbox I say. Dream on Leapy. Thanks for all your mail, shame we don’t have space to print them, but I do read every one. Keep ‘em coming. You know I can take it. Peace and love to you all. Keep the faith. Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com
OPINION & COMMENT
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8 - 14 January 2015 / Costa de Almería
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Winning the lottery and costing me! Ric Polansky Ric Polansky moved to Mojacar in 1969 as a pioneer developer. He reads extensively and has travelled in South America panning gold and looking for El Dorado.
I
HAD to take my in-laws to a Corrid, this one was special as it offered prizes. The ringmaster proudly walked in carrying a bucket full of ticket numbers, reached in and drew out that magic winning ticket. As luck would have it, the number was one below mine, but on my left was the winner, my father-inlaw sporting an illegal grin. He gifted me the ticket so I clambered down and over the barriers, the trumpets heralded my entrance along with cat calls, boos, and flying empty beer cans. The crowd was disappointed that a foreigner would receive the lavish gift. The ringmaster turned toward me, mumbled something, pumped my hand, and gave me an envelope tightly sealed. He
immediately agreed. They informed me that the TV would be arriving the next day and I could come back and collect it. What a thrill. Wednesday’s journey went quickly and soon I waltzed in to LOOKIN collect my just G reward. They BACK IN plugged it in, MOJAC explained how it AR worked, demonstrated channel options, and handed LOTTERY WIN: Not such a special prize. it to me. I started to leave but stepped back and allowed all to peddle that you kept bouncing on was stopped. The value of the TV witness his gesture. No one to power the device. Dejected was more than the sewing applauded. At least the whistling and depressed, I endured the machine. I had to pay an extra stopped and I left the ring. When chuckles of my own family. But 20,000 pesetas. Whoa. It was I opened the envelope, there was being quick witted, I suggested in money I didn’t have on me. “I an address inside where I could desperation that the owners let could collect the TV tomorrow,” they kindly suggested. So off I me trade it for ‘anything’ else. claim the winnings. The proprietors thought and went empty handed. Worse yet. The next day, the whole family insisted upon joining my sojourn told me to come back tomorrow. Where could I find such money, to the mysterious location They would have a new deal for almost twice my monthly wages? Friends and family pitched in so wherein fortune had smiled upon me. Before sunrise, I headed back back I drove the next day. I us. The address was a dress shop! I had won a state of the art with great hopes for ‘anything’ entered Lorca slowly and very sewing machine. So unique that else. Once there, they presented much on the lookout for the electricity wasn’t needed. It me with a catalogue and pictures anticipated group of dignitaries possessed a large platform of a nice looking TV. I that most likely would be greeting
me, the only tourist in recorded history to make five days of consecutive visits! I went to the shop, almost threw the money at them, and fled with my booty before anything else could go wrong. I arrived home like a conquering Viking full of loot and pillage. We plugged it in right away and got - nothing. Snow. A blizzard. It was the same on every channel. The diagnosis was that an aerial was needed. This would cost a further 10,000 pesetas and another 2,000 to install. It was bigger than our little casa! Finally we got an image, but so faint we had to sit within one metre of the screen. The sound was crackling but we had transited into the modern age! The novelty lasted 12 hours before high winds ascended on our modern household and twisted the aerial into a pretzel. Repair costs would be considerable. Worse yet, I was still the butt of family jokes and almost anyone that knew me in Mojacar.
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E W N 8 - 14 January 2015 / Costa de AlmerĂa
Thursday BBC ONE 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm EastEnders 9:00pm Would I Lie to You? 9:30pm EastEnders 10:00pm Death in Paradise 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:25pm BBC London News 11:35pm Question Time 12:35am This Week 1:20am Skiing Weatherview 1:25am BBC News
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ITV 5:00pm Fat Pets - Slimmer of the Year 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm ITV News London 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm The Kyle Files 9:00pm Emmerdale 9:30pm Birds of a Feather 10:00pm Bring Back Borstal 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:40pm Perspectives 12:45am Ade at Sea
CH4 6:00pm Come Dine with Me 6:30pm The Simpsons 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm Location, Location, Location 10:00pm Shut-Ins: Britain's Fattest People 11:00pm Sex Party Secrets 12:05am 24 Hours in Police Custody
CH5 6:00pm 5 News at 5 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News Tonight 8:00pm Winter Road Rescue 9:00pm Secrets of the Egyptian Pyramids 10:00pm Celebrity Big Brother 11:00pm Botched Up Bodies 12:00am Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side
SKY1 5:00pm Futurama 5:30pm Futurama 6:00pm The Simpsons 6:30pm Futurama 7:00pm Futurama 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:00pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm David Attenborough Conquest of the Skies 10:00pm A League of Their Own 11:00pm An Idiot Abroad 12:00am A League of Their Own
Friday BBC ONE 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm A Question of Sport 9:00pm EastEnders 9:30pm Room 101 10:00pm The Musketeers 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:25pm BBC London News 11:35pm The Graham Norton Show 12:25am Joanna Lumley Meets Will.I.Am
BBC TWO 6:15pm Flog It! 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm Great British Railway Journeys 8:00pm Great British Garden Revival 9:00pm Mastermind 9:30pm Food and Drink 10:00pm The Big Allotment Challenge 11:00pm QI 11:30pm Newsnight 12:05am Darts 12:55am Darts
ITV 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm ITV News London 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm The Martin Lewis Money Show 9:30pm Coronation Street 10:00pm Benidorm 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:40pm The Invention of Lying 1:30am Jackpot247
CH4 6:00pm Come Dine with Me 6:30pm The Simpsons 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm Jamie and Jimmy's Friday Night Feast 10:00pm 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown 11:00pm The Last Leg 12:05am Adam Hills: Happyism Live
CH5 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News Tonight 8:00pm Race to the Pole 9:00pm Ice Road Truckers 10:00pm Celebrity Big Brother 11:00pm Celebrity Big Brother 11:30pm Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side 12:30am Celebrity Big Brother 1:15am Super Casino 4:10am Celebrity Big Brother 5:00am Wildlife SOS 5:25am House Doctor 5:45am House Doctor
SKY1 6:30pm Futurama 7:00pm Futurama 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm Show Me Your Garden 10:00pm Karl Pilkington: The Moaning of Life 11:00pm Hawaii Five-0 12:00am Gremlins
Saturday BBC ONE 3:35pm Darts 5:30pm Final Score 6:20pm Pointless 7:10pm BBC News 7:20pm BBC London News 7:30pm Now You See It 8:00pm The Voice UK 9:30pm The National Lottery 10:20pm Casualty 11:10pm BBC News 11:30pm Match of the Day 1:00am The Football League Show
BBC TWO 4:30pm Escape to the Continent 5:30pm Darts 7:00pm Flog it! Trade Secrets 7:30pm Sacred Wonders of Britain 8:30pm The Last Days of Anne Boleyn 9:30pm Dad's Army 10:00pm Britain's Tudor Treasure: A Night at Hampton Court 11:00pm The Other Boleyn Girl 12:50am Darts
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CH4 5:00pm Come Dine with Me 6:00pm The Big Bang Theory 6:30pm The Simpsons 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Channel 4 News 8:00pm The Restoration Man 9:00pm Tsunami: Ten Years on 10:00pm Bad Teacher 11:50pm Sarah Millican: Chatterbox Live 12:50am Cocktail 2:50am Queer as Pop: From the Gay Scene to the Mainstream
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SKY1 3:00pm Last Man Standing 3:30pm Last Man Standing 4:00pm Harrow: A Very British School 5:00pm Last Man Standing 5:30pm Last Man Standing 6:00pm The Fanatics 7:00pm Show Me Your Garden 8:00pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm David Attenborough Conquest of the Skies 10:00pm Gremlins 12:05am A League of Their Own
TV LISTING
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Sunday BBC ONE 3:15pm Flog It! 3:45pm Escape to the Country 4:35pm Songs of Praise 5:10pm Shrek 2 6:30pm BBC News 6:50pm BBC London News 7:00pm Celebrity Mastermind 7:30pm Countryfile 8:30pm Still Open All Hours 9:00pm Antiques Roadshow 10:00pm Last Tango in Halifax 11:00pm BBC News 11:20pm BBC London News 11:30pm Match of the Day 2 12:35am The Celebrity Apprentice USA
BBC TWO 3:00pm Masters Snooker 6:00pm Ski Sunday 6:45pm Darts 9:00pm Kate Humble: Into the Volcano 10:00pm Reinventing the Royals 11:00pm QI XL 11:45pm Billionaire's Paradise: Inside Necker Island 12:45am Masters Snooker Highlights
ITV 3:15pm Midsomer Murders 5:15pm Diamonds are Forever 7:35pm ITV News London 7:45pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm All Star Family Misfortunes 9:00pm Foyle's War 11:00pm ITV News and Weather 11:15pm The Kyle Files 11:45pm The Undriveables 12:15am Rugby Highlights
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CH5 4:10pm The Pursuit of Happyness 6:30pm Aladdin 8:10pm 5 News Weekend 8:15pm The Medallion 10:00pm Celebrity Big Brother 11:00pm A Lonely Place to Die Thriller. 12:55am Winter Road Rescue 1:55am Super Casino
SKY1 3:00pm Harrow: A Very British School 4:00pm Last Man Standing 4:30pm Last Man Standing 5:00pm Emergency with Angela Griffin 6:00pm Ashley Banjo's Secret Street Crew 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Futurama 8:00pm Modern Family 8:30pm Modern Family 9:00pm A League of Their Own 10:00pm Karl Pilkington: The Moaning of Life 11:00pm Show Me Your Garden 12:00am Britcam: Emergency on Our Streets
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CH5 6:00pm 5 News at 5 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News Tonight 8:00pm Criminals: Caught on Camera 8:30pm Car Crash TV 9:00pm Storage: Flog the Lot! 10:00pm Celebrity Big Brother 11:00pm Closing Time 12:00am Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side
SKY1 5:30pm Futurama 6:00pm The Simpsons 6:30pm Futurama 7:00pm Futurama 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:00pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm Road Wars 10:00pm 50 Ways to Kill Your Mammy 11:00pm Air Ambulance ER 12:00am Hawaii Five-0
Tuesday BBC ONE 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm EastEnders 9:00pm Holby City 10:00pm Silent Witness 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:25pm BBC London News 11:32pm BBC Weather 11:35pm Count Arthur Strong 12:05am Match of the Day: FA Cup Highlights
BBC TWO 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm Great British Railway Journeys 8:00pm Great British Garden Revival 9:00pm Nature's Weirdest Events 10:00pm Horizon Special 11:00pm W1A 11:30pm Newsnight 12:20am Masters Snooker Highlights
ITV 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm ITV News London 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm River Monsters 9:00pm Britain's Best Back Gardens 10:00pm The Wonder of Britain 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:40pm The Mighty Mississippi 12:40am Secrets From the Sky
CH4 6:30pm The Simpsons 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm Weighing Up the Enemy 10:00pm 24 Hours in Police Custody 11:00pm Ramsay's Hotel Hell 11:55pm The Undateables 12:55am Pokerstars.Com MonteCarlo Casino Ept Grand Final
CH5 6:00pm 5 News at 5 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News Tonight 8:00pm Benefit House: Me and My 26 Kids 9:00pm The Secrets of the Tea Chimps 10:00pm Celebrity Big Brother 11:00pm Suspects 12:00am Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side
SKY1 4:00pm Harrow: A Very British School 5:00pm Futurama 5:30pm Futurama 6:00pm The Simpsons 6:30pm Futurama 7:00pm Futurama 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:00pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm Modern Family 9:30pm Modern Family 10:00pm Air Ambulance ER 11:00pm Britcam: Emergency on Our Streets 12:00am Hawaii Five-0
Wednesday BBC ONE 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm Match of the Day Live 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:25pm BBC London News 11:32pm BBC Weather 11:35pm A Question of Sport 12:05am Film 2015
BBC TWO 6:55pm Party Political Broadcast by the Conservative Party 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm Great British Railway Journeys 8:00pm Great British Garden Revival 9:00pm Nature's Weirdest Events 10:00pm Horizon Special 11:00pm W1A 11:30pm Newsnight 12:20am Masters Snooker Highlights
ITV 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm ITV News London 7:25pm Party Political Broadcast 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm Midsomer Murders 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:40pm Bring Back Borstal 12:40am I Never Knew That About Britain
CH4 5:00pm Deal or No Deal 6:00pm Come Dine with Me 6:30pm The Simpsons 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm The Restoration Man 10:00pm 24 Hours in A and E 11:00pm Angry, White and Proud 12:00am Steph and Dom Meet Nigel Farage
CH5 3:15pm NCIS 4:10pm When Calls the Heart 6:00pm 5 News at 5 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News Tonight 8:00pm Cowboy Builders 9:00pm He Left Me for My Mother...And Other Betrayals 10:00pm Celebrity Big Brother 11:00pm Suspects 12:00am Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side
SKY1 4:00pm Harrow: A Very British School 5:00pm Futurama 5:30pm Futurama 6:00pm The Simpsons 6:30pm Futurama 7:00pm Futurama 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:00pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm The Fanatics 10:00pm 50 Ways to Kill Your Mammy 11:00pm Karl Pilkington: The Moaning of Life 12:00am Taken 3 Special
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OPINION & COMMENT
What adventure do you see yourself going on in 2015?
C
OLIN TATHAM, of Pit Stop Tyres in Son Bugadelles, Santa Ponsa, Mallorca said that: “the adventure I would really like to go on this coming year, is to buy two camels and trek through Outer Mongolia, but what I’m really going to do, is to carry on here in the workshop, and continue to provide my valued customers with the great service they deserve.” He went on to add, “maybe I will leave buying the camels until 2016!” Jill Marples, owner of Jacaranda restaurant in Moraira, in the Costa Blanca North, said that the adventure she would most like to go on would be that of retirement! Jill said: “in the 10 years I have been in Spain I have been so busy working that I have yet to explore the rest of Spain and I feel I am missing out. So, when I retire I intend to go on a road trip with my husband and dogs
STREET TALK and travel around all of Spain. That is the plan but you never know what is around the next corner in life!” Steve Hartley from Calpe’s The Colina Club said that his dream adventure would be to travel around Africa photographing the wildlife there as he has a love for animal photography and more specifically big cats! “I fell in love with the big cats when I worked in a Wildlife Rescue Centre some time ago, especially the tigers. We built enclosures and worked closely with the animals, even rescuing 27 tigers from a socalled sanctuary in Idaho which
Colin Tatham (left) Steve Hartley (right)
Paul Ross (above) Jill Marples, owner of Jacaranda Restaurant in Moraira were in a variety of sorry states when they arrived and in my time there we also rescued a small pride of lions with three cubs. To see lions in the wild and in their natural state would be a great adventure!” Paul Ross, owner of Paul Ross Fitness in Almeria said that his new adventure will be totally business related. “My big adventure for 2015 has just begun with the launch of the 1to4 Fitness Retreat. This exciting new venture will really put us on the map within the fitness industry and is an amazing new life adventure for me!”
Banking, a career best avoided Mike Walsh Mike, based in Mediterranean Spain, is an international journalist, author and professional writer.
ONE normally thinks of a career in banking as a safe occupation, unless you are a customer of course. It certainly isn’t a calling that brings to mind murder, assassination, suicide and unexplained deaths. The banking industry suffers such a high death per employee ratio one might better be advised to opt for a vocation in spying or service in Afghanistan. Recently there have occurred no less than 48 deaths of highflying executives in the banking industry. My advice is that if JP Morgan, Chase Manhattan or Goldman Sachs offer you a job, reply; ‘thanks, but no thanks.’ The same applies should you see job offers advertised by Rockefeller and Company, Bank of Scotland, Merrill Lynch, Ulster Bank. Best to avoid them all.
AL CAPONE: Undoubtedly lived a high risk life. Bankers, like the rest of us, are destined to shrug off their mortal coil at some time. In my not so humble opinion, shooting oneself with a nail gun or being
crushed to death by one’s SUV is not a fitting end for those of us whose sins are few and minor. As pointing an accusing finger at Russian President Vladimir
Putin simply won’t wash, mainstream media tends instead to be discreet. Can you blame them? The list of strange banking industry deaths is far too lengthy to detail here. It irritates me that there is no space for revealing an equally inexplicable number of deaths of scientists who are involved at the sharp edge of scientific research. Do not concern yourself overly if you are a scientist. These deaths tend to effect those involved in cutting edge space and aero war technology. Running through the list of banker’s untimely ends, we have the making of 48 who dunnit crime thrillers in one hit, if you will excuse the expression. There have been 20 suicides or unexplained deaths by hanging, drowning or leaping (or being shoved) from buildings. Seven bankers have suffered gunshot deaths. These are usually self-inflicted. Another eight died from ‘causes unknown.’
Others include house fires and seven very messy road accidents. A number of bankers have simply gone missing or unexpectedly died. Having said that, death might have been presumed in the case of Nicholas Austin (49), a former bank manager from Hersden. He died after drinking antifreeze. It was said he wanted to get high. Some victims have been arrested, charged and on bail, otherwise outed and disgraced, or under formal investigation. Undoubtedly, American low life like Al Capone, John Dillinger, Bonnie and Clyde lived high risk lives. In their case, sticky end meant sticky in a gory sense. However, it appears their careers were not half as dangerous as were those of the executives of the banks they robbed. As the saying goes, ‘Give a man a gun and he can rob a bank. Give a man a bank and he can rob the world.’ Seems to me there isn’t much between them.
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OPINION & COMMENT
I’m a celebrity chef - take me to your leader so I can dazzle with my cooking Colin Bird Each week, Colin brings his slightly off-the-wall view of the world to the pages of EWN in his own irreverent style.
I
T’S hard to avoid those television chefs at the best of times, but leading up to Christmas they were as numerous as fleas on a tramp’s vest. Every channel you turned to, there they were, dazzling us with their recipes and expertise on the very best of Christmas fare. But whatever time of year I happen to catch their cooking programmes, they never cease to amaze me with some of the weird and wonderful stuff they knock up, and I wonder just what planet they live on. They all start off with the same laughable line that goes something like this: “Today I am
TELEVISION CHEFS: Hard to avoid over the festive period. going to show you this simple and delicious recipe that anyone can prepare in four minutes with just a few ingredients that you will find in any kitchen cupboard’... etc, etc.” Yeah,
right, because it’s obvious from the start that the pile of ingredients they have in front of them would not be found in the average Sainsbury’s, let alone a domestic kitchen.
Then off they go, chopping onions with a blur of wrist action that on the odd occasion I tried to mimic the technique, nearly lost me several digits. That one process alone would take me twice the length of time as their estimation for the whole dish. And they have this special chef’s language with words that have me rushing off to get the dictionary. Julienne some carrots, they say, or garnish with a brunoise of vegetables. Why can’t they just say slice and dice, for God’s sake - we can all understand that. And pur-lease, why not just say strips of bacon instead of poncy sounding lardons? Tooth grindingly hateful to me is when they melt a bit of chocolate with some cream and refer to it as a ganache. Ganache? Ganache, my backside; it’s still just melted chocolate and cream.
They don’t even bother to wear aprons during this wondrous process and it’s not as if they have put something old or tatty on just in case a bit of ganache finds its way on to their person. Oh no, it’s polo shirts sporting little crocodile motifs, designer slacks and even jackets and ties. If I did that, my best clobber would finish up looking as if it had been involved in a Dulux factory explosion and my wife would do a bit of her own Julienning on my tender parts. Then off they swan in their latest vintage car or personal helicopter to their next guest appearance and leave an army of poor beggars to clean up the wreckage and wash the dishes. No, I’ll stick to my own recipes, thank you very much, it’s less stressful.
E W N 8 - 14 January 2015 / Costa de Almería
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AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19) Spirituality seeps right through the week. As you are feeling particularly sensuous, invite someone special to dinner or on a trip. Visit garden centres and plan ahead.
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TODAY:
MAX MIN
Fri Sat Sun -
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18 7 S 20 11 S 20 10 S
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ARIES (March 21 - April 20) A conversation with a colleague brings insights into how others live and it is quite an eye-opener. Friendships are particularly important this week.
tars
a creative outlet. Perhaps you would like to write a book: memoirs, for instance, take up a craft or paint. Learning a new language would also be satisfying. Certainly, food for the brain and soul are what you should be seeking now.
TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) There is something in you that needs
LEO (July 24 - August 23) This is a week when progress is fast and plans run ahead. Try new ideas and seek information to hone your knowledge. An organisation that is new to you offers insight and social involvement.
talents this week means less time to spend socially, so it's important to make time for loved ones at the weekend.
VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) Although you have perhaps been looking to money-making ideas to progress finances, think also of alternatives. Perhaps there are areas of your lifestyle where money could be saved.
CANCER (June 22 - July 23) There may be some opposition to your ideas as Pluto turns this week. Perhaps your natural charm just
GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) Being very much in demand for your
6-Star Quiz 1. What is the name of the city located on the Black Sea coast that was the location of the XXII Olympic Winter Games that opened in January? 2. Which famous English model, known for her waifish figure, and role in size zero fashion, celebrated her 40th birthday on January 16? 3. Olympic champion Renaud Lavillenie broke which former Soviet athlete’s 21-year-old pole world record with a 6.16m leap in Donetsk in February? 4. It was revealed in February that which famous British comedian who died in 1993, had secretly written a romantic thriller novel under a female nom de plume? The unpublished story of love and mystery, titled An Echo of Shadows, was written under the name Maria Brett-Cooper. 5. Which Australian-born actress won the won the Academy Award for Best Actress in March, for her performance as Jeanette ‘Jasmine’ Francis in Woody Allen’s black comedy Blue Jasmine? 6. Which member of the British royal family launched the Invictus Games, a Paralympic-style sporting championship for wounded soldiers in March?
doesn't seem to be working. As you have helped others in the past, make it clear that you expect a bit of co-operation.
Y S our
Fill the grid so that every row, every column and every 3X3 box contains the digits 1-9. There’s no maths involved. You solve the puzzle with reasoning and logic.
SUNNY
UK THUNDERBALL
IRISH LOTTO
EURO MILLIONS
Saturday January 3
Saturday January 3
Saturday January 3
Friday January 2
18
19
31
1
11 25
15 35
7
8
21
26
29
42
BONUS BALL
THUNDERBALL
BONUS BALL
24
6
37
22
24 28
49
6
LA PRIMITIVA
EL GORDO DE LA PRIMITIVA
CLEAR 17 8 S 18 9 S 18 7 S S Sun,
MAX MIN
Mon - 19 9 C Tues - 19 9 C Wed - 19 9 C
Madrid SUNNY
TODAY:
MAX MIN
MAX MIN
Fri Sat Sun -
Mon - 18 10 Cl Tues - 19 10 Cl Wed - 19 9 C
16 4 Cl 17 5 S 16 2 S
MAX 13C, MIN 3C MAX MIN
Mon - 15 3 S Tues - 15 3 C Wed - 15 3 S
Murcia MAX 16C, MIN 7C
TODAY:
MAX MIN
Mon - 17 8 S Tues - 17 8 C Wed - 16 8 C Cl Clear,
CLOUDY MAX 18C, MIN 6C MAX MIN
Fri Sat Sun Fog,
Sn Snow,
MAX MIN
19 7 S 22 10 S 22 9 Cl
Mon - 19 7 C Tues - 21 8 C Wed - 20 8 C
C Cloud,
Sh Showers,
Th Thunder
Nonagram How many English words of four letters or more can you make from the nine letters in our Nonagram puzzle? Each letter may be used only once (unless the letter appears twice). Each word MUST CONTAIN THE CENTRE LETTER (in this case M) and there must be AT LEAST ONE NINE LETTER WORD. Plurals, vulgarities or proper nouns are not allowed.
TARGET:
Average: 19
Very good: 36
Good: 25
Excellent: 44
emit, item, meet, mete, mint, mite, mute, pent, pint, punt, quit, teem, teen, temp, time, tine, tune, unit, inept, input, quiet, quint, quite, tempi, unite, unmet, untie, impute, minuet, minute, piquet, pitmen, uptime, quieten, umpteen, EQUIPMENT
1
21
22
25
28
30
REINTEGRO 6
1
SILK
Sunday January 4
Saturday January 3
25
LUCKY STARS 3
17 9 S 18 11 S 21 12 S
19 10 S 21 12 S 15 7 Cl
Word Ladder
UK NATIONAL LOTTERY 17
Fri Sat Sun -
MAX 17C, MIN 9C
MAX MIN
Fri Sat Sun -
Fri Sat Sun -
LOTTERY 15
SUNNY
MAX MIN
Mon - 19 11 S Tues - 20 11 Cl Wed - 19 10 C
CLOUDY MAX 18C, MIN 8C MAX MIN
MAX MIN
Mon - 17 10 S Tues - 17 9 C Wed - 17 9 S
Malaga TODAY:
MAX 19C, MIN 9C
Benidorm
MAX MIN
SAGITTARIUS (November 23 December 21) A strong and exciting romantic feeling flows through the week, which is fitting as Valentine's Day comes round again next month. Someone returning from a trip makes you smile and boosts your spirit.
10
17 11 Cl 18 11 S 19 9 S
19 11 S 21 13 S 21 11 Cl
TODAY:
MAX 17C, MIN 9C
Mallorca
SCORPIO (October 24 November 22) Thoughts come to you, perhaps in dreams, that are creative and energy boosting. Someone who recently moved out of your sphere is sadly missed but is in some ways still a part of you.
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION
Fri Sat Sun -
TODAY:
LIBRA (September 24 October 23) Having suffered a bit of a setback last week, you may be feeling less confident. Revving up your social life will certainly help to bring spirits up again. Be with people who liven or inspire you in some way and avoid boring or moaning folk.
Sudoku
Fri Sat Sun -
Barcelona TODAY:
SUNNY MAX MIN
Mon - 18 9 C Tues - 19 9 C Wed - 18 8 C
MAX MIN
PISCES (February 20 - March 20) Satisfaction with your love life is paramount this week, and the opinion of others seems important to you. Perhaps you are looking for an excuse to make a change. It is possible, however, that a change is not required so much as a different approach.
TODAY:
10
22 31
Move from the start word (SILK) to the end word (HATS) in the same number of steps as there are rungs on the Word Ladder. You must only change one letter at a time.
28 54
REINTEGRO 6
HATS
SITS HITS HATS
CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 20) It's a better week for travel with less likelihood of delays. Should you be feeling a little lethargic and sorry about recent events, just count your blessings.
THAT WAS 2014 THAT WAS… (PART ONE)
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SILK SINK SINS
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1. SOCHI, 2. KATE MOSS, 3. SERGEY BUBKA, 4. LES DAWSON, 5. CATE BLANCHETT, 6. PRINCE HARRY
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Cryptic
Quick
Across 1 Wood found in tea kettle (4) 3 Chad wins exotic snack (8) 9 Resulting from a fairer travel cost (7) 10 One in charge helps to keep things straight (5) 11 Pilot for the beast (5) 12 Based around a subject like somewhere to go on holiday (6) 14 Church area making capital hot (6) 16 Has slept despite some bother (6) 19 Countenance pocketing one pound is easy (6) 21 Until horribly dark (5) 24 Perfume from a romantic partner (5) 25 Respect drunken spirit (7) 26 Inn where Innkeeper has discordant lyre (8) 27 Rips off old lags (4) Down 1 Designed patterns for in church (8) 2 Get on with A Green, almost (5) 4 A WC for spies (6) 5 Dire note in a melancholy tune (5)
6 Silliness is without a malady (7) 7 Laugh at round ends? It’s tough (4) 8 Mother, doctor and a Sikh leader are all from Chennai (6) 13 Ring leader is French and less impatient (8) 15 Incentives for sons are different
(7) 17 Entertained in the morning, then exploited (6) 18 Fresh Easter mystery (6) 20 Incensed number one judge (5) 22 Plenty to join in game (5) 23 Club which finally provided a steam-room (4)
Code Breaker Each number in the Code Breaker grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. In this week’s puzzle, 14 represents J and 25 represents M, so fill in J every time the figure 14 appears and M every time the figure 25 appears. Now, using your knowledge of the English language, work out which letters should go in the missing squares. As you discover the letters, fill in other squares with the same number in the main grid and the control grid.
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS CRYPTIC Across: 1 Charm, 3 Seems, 7 Animals, 9 Align, 10 Sheer, 11 Entitle, 12 Cashew, 14 Sadder, 18 Bramble, 20 Stays, 22 Skill, 23 Assails, 24 Sieve, 25 Chess. Down: 1 Classic, 2 Agile, 3 Sashes, 4 Exact, 5 Shifted, 6 Binge, 8 Agree, 13 Scabies, 15 Asses, 16 Resists, 17 Debate, 18 Beset, 19 Bulge, 21 Alive. QUICK Across: 1 Shovel, 4 Checks, 9 Creates, 10 Ranks, 11 Erase, 12 Achieve, 13 Intelligent, 18 Arrives, 20 Rifle, 22 Spoil, 23 Examine, 24 Dashed, 25 Beasts. Down: 1 Sacred, 2 Opera, 3 Extreme, 5 Harsh, 6 Concern, 7 System, 8 Established, 14 Nervous, 15 Garbage, 16 Paused, 17 Levels, 19 Value, 21 Fails.
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION
English - Spanish The clues are mixed, some clues are in Spanish and some are in English. Across 1 Corazón (5) 4 Neumáticos (de ruedas) (5) 7 Margarina (9) 8/10 Bolsa de basura (3,3) 15 Allá (4,5) 17 Autumn (5) 18 Task (job) (5) Down 1 Broad bean (4) 2 Brazo (de persona) (3) 3 Bull (4) 4 Equipo (deporte) (4) 5 Queen (5) 6 Semilla (4) 9 Unhurt (5) 11 Red (4) 12 Another (4) 13 Cinturón (4) 14 Minutes (of a meeting) (4) 16 Oreja (3)
Hexagram The purpose of the Hexagram puzzle is to place the 19 six-letter words into the 19 cells. The letters at the edges of interlocking cells MUST BE THE SAME. The letters in the words must be written CLOCKWISE. The word in cell 10 (COUNTY) and one letter in four other cells are given as clues. BAITED
PITTED
ENGLISH-SPANISH Across: 1 Cigar, 3 Bride, 7 Encima, 9 Agua, 10 Remainder, 13 Aunt, 14 Armada, 16 Abril, 17 Playa.
COUNTY (10)
RACOON
DEFEND
RENDER
ENDURE
RESENT
EVENTS
STEEDS
FRONTS
STOREY
Down: 1 Chew, 2 Asi, 4 Inglesa, 5 Edad, 6 Caminar, 8 Cleaner, 11 Baya, 12 Cada, 15 Mil.
HAMMED
TESTED
LEERED
THENCE
OWNERS
WEEDED
PATRON
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION
Funagram Unscramble the name of a famous British sportsperson: SMALL WHITE ION FUNAGRAM SOLUTION: TOWER HAMLETS, LEWIS HAMILTON
Unscramble the name of a famous London borough (two words): THE WORST MEAL
Across 1 Hit with palm of hand (7) 5 Gives temporary use of (5) 8 Stays behind (7) 9 Compel (5) 10 Additional (5) 11 Answer (7) 12 Pursues (6) 14 Nearer (6) 17 Hair cleansing agent (7) 19 Aquatic mammals (5) 22 In a while (5) 23 Shrewd (7) 24 Aligns with (5) 25 Movement downward (7) Down 1 Wait on (5) 2 Confess (5) 3 Confidential (7) 4 Long for (6) 5 Raises up (5) 6 Apprehensive (7) 7 Thin (7) 12 Large and stately mansions (7) 13 Made to fit (7) 15 Classroom studies (7) 16 Made secure (6) 18 Components (5) 20 Similar (5) 21 Vision (5)
1 Breach, 2 Dealer, 3 Rested, 4 Kinder, 5 Hurled, 6 Resent, 7 Banker, 8 Thence, 9 Single, 10 Butler, 11 Pierce, 12 Regard, 13 Taller, 14 Healer, 15 Models, 16 Alters, 17 Arrows, 18 Salute, 19 Mellow
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E W N 8 - 14 January 2015 / Costa de Almería
ets P
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WITH the stress you’re under and all the issues you must deal with, a valuable member of your family is neglected. Your pet. You still provide the basic necessities, but you probably don’t realise that divorce affects them too. You are their world. They watch you closely and they feel the tension and upset of the household. The crying, arguing, loud noises affect them deeply, making them frightened and insecure. While your pet’s stress level is increasing, the attention you give them is decreasing. At a time when the last thing you need is more problems, your pet gives them to you.
YOUR PET: Will provide unconditional love. Behaviour problems vary in decree such as chewing, barking, digging, soiling in the house, perhaps even snapping from nervousness they feel. Any previous bad behaviour problem will most likely be exaggerated. Not understanding the problem you get angry and yell at them making matters worse. You need to take your pets feelings into consideration. Be gentle and give them the extra attention they need. “You don’t have time”, you’ll say. “It’s only a pet; I have more important
life altering decisions to make.” That may be true, but it’s to your benefit to show your pet how much you love them. At this time in your life you are pulled in a million directions, everyone wanting a piece of you. You need peace and quiet, and a place to think, someone to listen. Your pet will offer this to you and more. Cuddle your pet, take advantage of the unconditional love they willingly provide. Talk to them in quiet tones, they will be soothed by your voice. You
have the benefit of hearing your thoughts, helping you think out your complicated issues. When you are at your lowest, sometimes you feel rejected and unloved. Just look into their eyes; feel their love and you won’t feel as alone. Rely on them, lean on them, they won’t mind. Nursing homes have tapped into the wealth of comfort pets by having them visit residents on a regular basis. You can see the joy in their eyes as they cuddle their furry visitor. To help alleviate your stress, take your pet for a long walk to help them reduce the anxiousness they feel and help you to clear your head. Whatever happens, your pet will always love you unconditionally and be there for you. Take advantage of the comfort they give. Go through your situation together. You will be amazed at the source of your support.
Pining Beagle waiting for his brother BEAGLE cross Harry has been pining by the front gate for his brother after he went missing while out on a walk. Since May, Harry has been sitting outside the family home in Briton Ferry near Swansea, South Wales waiting for his litter-mate Hansum who went missing after being let off his lead.
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Owner Julie Evans has created a Facebook campaign in an effort to reunite the dogs which has 10,000 online detectives trying to work out where Hansum has gone. Ms Evans, 43, told Wales News Service: “We were out walking Harry, Hansum and me. I let the dogs off the lead. Harry came back but Hansum did not.
“I knew something was wrong because Harry and Hansum were brothers from the same litter, totally devoted to each other. “I looked everywhere but there was no sign of Hansum. Harry now pines for him, waiting by the gate to see if he’ll come back. But day after day he doesn’t.”
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FINANCE
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Spanish Taxation In 2015 Part 1 you have savings and investments “youIf need to protect your income and gains from tax. With the right tax planning Spain can be very tax efficient for retired expatriates.
“
The start of a new year is always a good time to review your tax planning, to check that it is up to date and that you are using all the opportunities available in Spain to reduce tax liabilities for yourself and your heirs. It is even more important this year since there are a number of changes for Spanish taxation in 2015. Income tax The “Regulation on Personal Income Tax” has been amended for 2015. The government explains that it lowers tax for all taxpayers, but does more for those on low and medium incomes, and those with large families or who care for
By Bill Blevins, Financial Correspondent, Blevins Franks someone with a disability. There are now five tax bands for general income, as opposed to seven, and the tax rates have been modified. The tax exempt threshold decreased from €17,700 to €12,450 and the first tax rate reduced from 24.75% to 20%. The top rate is now 47% compared to 52% last year, but the income threshold for this rate has dropped from €300,000 to €60,000. Last year income
between €53,400 and €120,000 was taxed at 47%, so there is little improvement here. The savings income rates and thresholds are also a little lower. The rates are now 20% for income up to €6,000, then 22% for income up to €50,000 and 24% after that. For non-residents who earn income in Spain, the tax rate is reduced from 24.75% to 24%, but for EU/EEA (European Economic Area) residents it falls to 20%. While this is obviously welcome news after the tax rates over recent years (Spain had the third highest marginal tax rate in Europe!), if you have savings and investments you still need to protect your income and gains from tax. With the right tax planning Spain can be very tax efficient for retired expatriates, so contact the tax specialists at Blevins Franks to find out how
much tax you can save. Wealth tax When wealth tax was reinstated in 2011, it was meant to apply for 2011 and 2012. However it keeps being extended, and remains in place for 2015. Spanish residents pay wealth tax on the value of their worldwide assets as at 31st December. Rates rise progressively from 0.2% to 2.5%. There are however reductions available, ranging from €700,000 to €2million, depending on whether you own your home and if you are single or a married couple. This is a tough tax for wealthy residents, so much so that some consider leaving Spain because of it. Blevins Franks may well be able to help you reduce this liability, rather than having to move, so contact us for personal advice.
Our next article will look at capital gains tax, succession tax and Spain’s new exit tax that could affect investors leaving Spain. As always, it is very important to understand how all the tax changes affect you and your family personally, and seek expert advice on the most suitable solutions to protect your wealth from taxation. Tax rates, scope and reliefs may change. Any statements concerning taxation are based upon our understanding of current taxation laws and practices which are subject to change. Tax information has been summarised; an individual is advised to seek personalised advice. To keep in touch with the latest developments in the offshore world, check out the latest news on our website www.blevinsfranks.com.
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E W N 8 - 14 January 2015 / Costa de Almería
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My parents arrive from Mexico and feel the cold! Erica Russell Watson: My journey – and I’m driving
30th December WELL, what a relief! I was feeling so much better. The five days after the second chemo session were quite tough to get through but as you are trapped inside your body there is no escape from it. Just keep positive in the knowledge that each day you get a little better. On 23rd of December, after last-minute preparations I went to have lunch with my second family and Jorge. I would be collecting my parents later that day. It was quite hard to believe that I would be seeing them. They have lived in Mexico for many years and this would be only the third time in 12 years that I would be seeing them. I love my parents and it is at times like these when you feel
the separation and distance laugh at times. Anyway, after acutely. Luckily, I was feeling hugs and kisses I whisked better just in time for their them off to the car and had to do quite a lot of rearranging to arrival. My heart was racing as I fit in all their cases. That waited in the arrivals hall at sorted, we set off for home. They were freezing! Malaga airport. Their flight Although the was on time along with temperatures are 20 others so it was mild in Malaga very busy. Just keep they were akin Spotting my Nordic parents was positive in the to conditions for easy. My father knowledge that my parents as is a towering six feet five each day you get it never gets cold in Mexico. inches tall and if a little better Time to light the that wasn’t fire and get cosy enough of an and of course a muchindicator both my parents were wearing masks! needed, reviving cup of tea! Christmas Day and the sun I know it isn’t common place in Europe but if you travel, shone brightly and the particularly in Asia, everyone weather warmed up. In fact, it wears a mouth mask to could not have been more prevent the spread of germs. perfect, not a breath of wind As flights are notorious for and lovely and warm. I had booked a table at my being a hive of bugs and infection the last thing they favourite restaurant, Casa La Plata, in wanted was to bring Matilde, something horrible home Benajarafe. We sat in the gardens looking out to sea to me. There was quite a lot of and enjoyed a glass of fizz Lunch was commenting from the Spanish together. around me: “Look at those spectacular as always. When two. What’s the matter with the chill started to set in we them? Have they got Ebola do moved inside around five you think?!!” You have to o’clock and sat by the fire.
aftermath of The table next to us immediate summed up the Christmas chemo, I was now putting the spirit and what it means to be weight back on in preparation part of a Spanish family. They for round three! Luckily my were 33-strong across four appetite had returned and I generations and boy could was making the most of it. I would be taking my they sing! It was intoxicating listening to them belt out parents into Malaga later and Spanish carols accompanied meeting Jorge, which both my by a healthy array of musical parents were looking forward to as he has been such a huge instruments. Warmed by Christmas cheer support to me. A quick trip and local wine, we wended around the port and up Calle our way home to light the fire. Larios would be the order of The next few days were the day. Malaga has changed so spent taking trips to the local much since I studied here village and showing my over 20 years ago and parents around and much smarter of course the all It is at times is than it used to essential visit to like these be. For me my local fruit man! Both my when you feel Malaga is a very special place. parents are the separation I would cancer decide where to survivors and and distance see in the New my father acutely Year and where to particularly cannot eat my grapes later. get through the day The 31st would be spent unless he has several bananas, so we stocked up on preparing for my sister’s those and all the other lovely arrival from Manila with her fruit and veg from Rafa’s boyfriend, and my children just back from a splendid trip garden. I try to have lots of fruit and to London to see the rest of veg, generally juiced up first the family; 2015 would get off thing in the morning. Having to a good start surrounded by lost a few kilos in the my family.
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HEALTH & BEAUTY
Hug to improve someone’s health YOU may have given all your gifts this year, but the gift of a hug could be the best one yet. Scientists have revealed that hugging is good for our health and
can help to prevent infection and relieve stress and the more you do it, the greater the effect. Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University in the US quizzed 400
2015 super drink birch water THE super drink of the moment is birch water. Extracted from silver birch trees, it has only 18 calories per 100ml and is rich in nutrients like vitamin C and potassium. It has been a herbal remedy in Eastern Europe, Russia and Scandinavia for years, said to help with kidney stones, headaches, eczema, even cellulite. Birch water is infused with natural sugars, antioxidant vitamins, hydrating electrolytes and minerals copper, calcium, zinc and magnesium. It also contains compounds called saponins, said to have powerful cholesterolreducing properties. “Saponins are found mainly in legumes such as soya beans and peas,” said Azmina Govindji of the
WOODY AFTERTASTE: Birch water.
British Dietetic Association. “There is some research to suggest that saponins may help to lower cholesterol levels, although these claims have still not been approved by the European Food Safety
Authority,” she added. The other superingredient that birch water contains is xylitol, a sweetener with 40 per cent less calories than sugar. The result tastes very fresh, like super-clean spring water, with a subtle underlying sweetness and woody aftertaste. So should we all rush out to buy birch water? Govindji said: ‘It’s definitely healthier than sugary soft drinks, even if some of the more sensational health claims can’t yet be substantiated.’
people about their personal conflicts and the sort of support they received. They then exposed them to a common cold virus and put them in quarantine. The results showed that
people who felt well-supported by family and friends and received more hugs as a result, were less likely to fall victim to infection due to stressful situations.
Contraceptive control by an electronic chip TAKING a contraceptive pill every single day is just one more thing to think about. But, that could all be about to change. Scientists have developed an electronic chip which could work for up to 16 years, much longer than current contraceptive implants that only last around five years. Expected to be available in 2018, the device, the size of a stamp, can be inserted under the skin and release daily amounts of contraceptive. The chip also comes with a remote control device allowing it to be turned off if a pregnancy is desired. It can be easily turned back on again when required. Each chip has a series of wells loaded with doses of levonorgestrel, a hormone widely used in existing contraceptives. The well is covered with a titanium and platinum seal that prevents the drug from being released until needed. At the release time, an electric current melts
CONTRACEPTION: One more thing to think about. a metal cap on a single well, and releases the contraceptive into the bloodstream. The chip could also be adapted to dispense other medicines and has already been trialled on elderly women suffering from osteoporosis using the bone-building drug teriparatide. Several in the trial said the device was so comfortable that they often forgot it was there. Professor Charles Kingsland, of the Hewitt Fertility Centre at Liverpool Women’s Hospital, described the technology as “interesting but a bit Big Brother.”
He said: “Of course there are contraceptive implants widely available at present that are easy to insert and very effective at drug delivery. “This new device, however, has the ability to be switched on and off remotely. One concern to me would therefore be who does the switching on and off.” The chip is designed to be implanted just below the skin of the buttocks, upper arm or stomach and would take a 30-minute operation at a GP’s surgery. It isn’t yet known how much the chip will cost.
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Downton Abbey’s Hugh Bonneville: ‘Fellowes will know when to end it’
HUGH BONNEVILLE has spoken about the future of Downton Abbey. The actor - who stars as Lord Grantham in the ITV period drama - said that creator Julian Fellowes will know when it is time to ‘put it to bed’. Speaking to PA, he said: “It’s a unique show, in that it feels so big in scale, but it comes down to one person’s imagination; [writer and producer] Julian Fellowes. “It’s really him, and he’ll know when it’s time to tie-up all the loose ends and put it to bed. Shows like Downton are once in a career, and I know it will come to an end eventually - and I can just retire and do some knitting.” The period drama aired its fourth festive special on Christmas Day and will return next year for a sixth series. Bonneville continued: “I feel like a very lucky actor to be in a show that people love and continues to grow around the
Richard Shanley
DISHING THE DIRT OF EUROPA DIGITAL
world. It’s something I love doing, and the people involved are a fantastic team. I said to our producer not so long ago, that it’s extraordinary to think that five years on, we’re not punching each other!” 12 YEARS A SLAVE’S Paul Dano will lead the cast of War and Peace. The actor will star as Pierre Bezukhov in BBC One’s upcoming adaptation of the Leo Tolstoy classic, which will air in 2015. James Norton (Grantchester) will also star as Prince Andrei Bolkonsky, alongside Downton Abbey’s Lily James, who has already been confirmed to play Natasha Rostova. Norton said: “I’m
PERIOD DRAMA: Hugh Bonneville stars as Lord Grantham. thrilled to be entrusted with Andrei in this exciting adaptation. It’s a privilege to bring to life one of Tolstoy’s wonderfully rich and conflicted characters. Other cast members include Stephen Rea (An Honourable Woman) as Prince Vassily Kuragin, Ade Edmondson (Prey) and Greta Scacchi (The
Falling) as Count and Countess Rostov, and Jack Lowden (The Tunnel) as Nikolai Rostov. Tom Burke (The Musketeers) will star as Dolokhov and Aisling Loftus (Mr Selfridge) has been cast as Sonya. House of Cards writer Andrew Davies has adapted the Leo Tolstoy classic, which is a co-production
between The Weinstein Company and the BBC. The series will be comprised of six hour-long episodes. Set in 1805 during Alexander I’s reign, War and Peace follows five aristocratic families and Napoleon’s invasion in 1812. Filming for the adaptation will begin in Russia, Lithuania and Latvia in January. If you would like me to answer any questions you may have on satellite TV or to expand on anything I have written about please call me on 678 332 815 or email richard@europadigital.com. I look forward to your comments and questions. Don’t forget to listen to my radio show every weekday from 10am on Spectrum 96.1 & 106.8FM, now covering over 2000sq kms of Costa Almeria and Calida or listen online at costaalmeria.spectrumfm.net for the latest news and views from the world of satellite television.
Advertising feature
New Wave Villas look back on a good 2014 and forward to a bright new year AS we close the door on 2014, we reflect on what was a highly productive year in property sales. The early part of the year saw a marked increase in British buyers returning to the area, a stronger pound and realistic property prices combining to make buying in Spain a sound investment proposition. As the UK’s economy showed signs of stability, the prospect of owning a holiday home in Spain became a viable option once again, although, erring on the side of caution, we are unlikely to see figures reaching those from the ‘boom’ time of the early part of the millennium. The success of 2014 was not exclusively linked to British buyers, however, the summer brought with it potential purchasers from other parts of Europe including Norway, Belgium, Ireland and France. With Almeria’s appeal reaching across the globe, New Wave Villas was also delighted to find properties for clients from South Africa, Canada and North America.
VIABLE OPTION: People want to own a property in Spain once again. Although duplexes and apartments proved popular choices for many buyers, the market for larger villas saw a marked resurgence with people taking advantage of ‘buyer-friendly’ prices in that category.
While purchasers’ budgets were wide and varied, value for money was key when it came to their final decision. It goes without saying that well presented and regularly maintained properties will
sell ahead of those needing remodelling and updating. With a large database of clients still looking for their perfect properties, we urgently require new listings of all property types and price ranges in the Mojacar area. In the coming months we have many clients booked in on viewing trips and we are keen to show them the very best range of properties to suit their criteria. Remember, New Wave Villas has a straightforward commission rate, we never ask for money up front, we have no restrictive tie-ins and we do not charge you for marketing your property. Our multi-lingual team members live locally and have an excellent knowledge of the area, enabling them to offer a professional and informed service to buyers and vendors.
For an honest, reliable approach to selling your property, contact New Wave Villas on 950 475 800 or email alex@newwavevillas.com.
E W N 8 - 14 January 2015 / Costa de Almería
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Costa de Almeria’s best guide to local restaurants
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Almanzora Cafe Bar - a hidden gem! ALMANZORA Cafe Bar is one of those little known secrets that residents and visitors alike have been guarding fiercely for quite some time, but the secret is out! Although located just up a side street from the main seafront in Garrucha, its location still affords great views of the water from its pavement terrace. Whether grabbing a drink or snack during the day and soaking up the winter Almeria sunshine or visiting at night for some cheeky glasses of wine and some tapas, this friendly cafe should definitely be on your list. The staff are extremely friendly, and although it is a great place to practise your command of the Spanish language, the menu is easy enough to navigate and you’ll be tucking into fresh
FANCY A TIPPLE?: Visit Almanzora cafe bar and while away a few hours. cooked food in no time at all. The cook takes immense pride in the cuisine, and there is a wide range of hot and cold tapas available, as well as a tremendous range of
burgers, sandwiches and toasted sandwiches. This is a great place to stop off for a quick bite between meals, or you could
simply order a range of tapas and while away a few hours. The prices are extremely reasonable, with no premium added for those great sea views. Fancy a tipple? This friendly café bar has a great range of spirits and mixers, as well as the obligatory beers and wines. There are also plenty of soft drinks for the younger members of your party and the nondrinkers. The long opening hours make it an ideal place to stop, as you can grab something to eat and drink from early morning until around midnight. The café bar is open from 8.30am until midnight from
Tuesday to Sunday, while the staff take a well deserved break on Mondays. Finding Almanzora Cafe Bar is simple. Head south from Garrucha port and Calle Velazguez is on the right just past the pedestrian crossing and there is a clinic on the right hand corner. There is parking available on the seafront and disabled parking just a short distance from the turning.
Almanzora Cafe Bar Email: almanzoracafebar@hotmail.com Tlf Pedro: 607 807 786 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ almanzora.cafeteria Calle Velazquez s/n, Garrucha (Almeria).
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FOOD & DRINK
La Alfoquia Chippy PETER and Janice Mackey invite you down to La Alfoquia Chippy this year! A long established traditional Fish and Chip restaurant and takeaway with a well-run, and quality controlled back of house environment which supplies their customers with a varied and quality menu which is sure to satisfy the most voracious of appetites and desire for fish and chips. Peter and Janice Mackey are long-standing and popular residents of the town of Alfoquia, having
lived there for the last five and a half years and there is no better place to enjoy fresh fish with a portion of chips cut fresh that morning, all served by the friendly husband and wife team. The menu also includes, as well as the staple cod and chips, pies, pasties, sausages, burgers and kebabs and all freshly cooked to order. La Alfoquia Chippy provides quality ingredients and value for money portions and there is something for everyone! Also providing children’s
portions and everything on offer from the full menu is available as a ‘takeaway’ or ‘eat in’ service, and don’t forget that the fantastic outdoor terrace is available to the customers of the Alfoquia Chippy for that essential al fresco dining experience on those warmer days. Whilst waiting for your takeaway, customers are invited to enjoy the ambiance and a drink at the well-stocked bar managed by barman
extraordinaire Peter Mackey. Come and warm up this winter with traditional English fare, where Janice and Peter will welcome you to the Alfoquia Chippy and look forward to serving the community with a quality fish and chips experience that everyone will enjoy! See you there! Telephone: 634 32 44 84 or find them on Facebook ‘Alfoquia Chippy’
Are you a bar or restaurant that advertises with EWN? AT EWN we have our clients’ best interests at heart. Getting your news out to the public can sometimes be a struggle, but we here at EWN want to help. Have you changed your menu, recently renovated or won an award? Do you have an upcoming charity event you’d like to publicise? Do you have a new member of staff? Maybe you’d like to take part in our ‘Restaurant’ experience? Your establishment provides a meal for two which we will review and publish - with pictures - in your local edition. If you have any news of interest that you would like to get out to local readers, then please let us know. We cannot promise to publish everything, but we will do our best.
Please send your news and photos to whatson@euroweeklynews.com
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OPINION & COMMENT
That was the year that was – the highs and lows on TripAdvisor Nora Johnson
Breaking Views A Costa del Sol resident for a number of years, Nora is the author of psychological suspense and crime thrillers. To comment on any of the issues raised in her column, go to www.euroweeklynews.com/columnists/nora-johnson
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ITH the news at the end of last year that Italy’s antitrust authority fined TripAdvisor €500,000 over ‘defamatory’ hotel reviews, maybe it’s time to take stock of some of its highs and lows in 2014. First off, there were the threats from some in the travel industry. Like the Broadway Hotel, Blackpool, that charged a couple £100 after they posted a critical review describing it as a “filthy, dirty rotten stinking hovel run by muppets.” (This only to be surpassed by New
York’s Union Street Guest House’s surcharge of $500 for negative reviews.) Of course, this backfired spectacularly for both hotels with lots of mocking reviews appearing on TripAdvisor. Don’t you just love it when bad businesses blame the customer and then get uppity when the ensuing firestorm of bad publicity erupts? Instead of fixing the problems, they then have many more people aware of their ‘reputation’. You have to give them five out of five for canniness. The BBC should have sent a production crew up to Blackpool to do a remake of Fawlty Towers. Script not needed. Can’t you just picture Basil scrolling through his TripAdvisor reviews! Sadly, the other side of the coin in 2014 was bribery. Unscrupulous people
MIXED REVIEWS: TripAdvisor can make or break a business. threatened hoteliers with bad reviews unless some sweetener was proffered: a huge discount on checkout (or even before booking). Dragons’ Den panellist/hotel owner Duncan Bannatyne got stuck in: “People are coming to our hotels and threatening to write bad reviews
to get money off their bills.” Some in the travel industry have even taken legal action against TripAdvisor. In 2012, the owner of a Scottish B&B made legal history after winning a landmark case against it. But last year the owners of another Scottish B&B lost their battle to
get it to reveal the identity of negative reviewers so they could sue the authors. TripAdvisor is undoubtedly useful. My main rule of thumb is to ignore any review by those who have only posted one. There are a surprising number of these, and they tend to be either completely glowing or completely damning - either fake or by someone who doesn’t get out enough. Conversely, if the reviewer has 10+ reviews across a range of star ratings, it’s worth reading what they have to say... Nora Johnson’s thrillers Landscape of Lies, Retribution, Soul Stealer, The De Clerambault Code (www.nora-johnson.com) are available from Amazon in paperback/eBook (€0.89; £0.79) and iBookstore. Profits to Cudeca.
Between the devil and the deep blue sea Cassandra Nash
A weekly look - and not entirely impartial reaction to the Spanish political scene
ESPERANZA AGUIRRE let it be known that she would happily run as Madrid mayor should the PP ask her. A former minister in the Aznar governments during the Nineties, Aguirre was president of the Madrid Community until she resigned after being diagnosed with now-overcome breast cancer. She is still secretary general of the regional PP party and would have a good chance of winning as she is as popular as she is controversial. But will the party ask her? Aguirre challenged Mariano Rajoy when he lost the 2008 general elections, she is still critical of his leadership and if the PP had a Tea Party, she would be in it. What will the president do? Accept the offer and swallow his misgivings? Choose someone else and risk losing City Hall? This will be a tough one.
Oiling the wheels
Cyber footprints
THE Centre of Political and Social Studies (CEPS) worked with the Venezuelan government until early 2014. Most Podemos leading lights belong to CEPS which is now estranged from Caracas owing to government abuse and repression of its opponents while turning its attentions back to Spain. Here, according to CEPS vice president Fabiola Meco, there are “indications” that Spain would be receptive to the ideas and ideals of Venezuela’s late president Hugo Chavez who wanted a Bolivarian socialist revolution. What many Spaniards are receptive to is a Bolivarian revolution backed by Venezuela’s huge oil reserves. Remove those and both Bolivar and revolution would be nonrunners.
PUBLIC PROSECUTORS who specialise in investigating corruption cases have noticed files missing from their computers. Prosecutors who had not backed up files on external hard discs have lost months of work, said the Anticorruption department. Most intrusions involved organised crime investigations into Russian, Italian and Chinese mafias in Spain. One related to Herve Falciani who
ESPERANZA AGUIRRE: Would happily run as Madrid mayor.
disclosed details of 130,000 tax evaders of all nationalities who have - or had - accounts with HSBC Switzerland. Falciani, still wanted in Switzerland, was arrested in Spain but later released because he had not breached Spanish law and supplied information regarding HSBC Switzerland’s Spanish clients. Not all the hackers focused on international corruption, as
another Prosecutor assisting the Gurtel case noticed that files went missing from her computers. But computer wizards are too clever for their own good. Watergate needed a whistleblower before coming to light, but hackers blow their own whistles and leave their own muddy footprints, especially the Russians that Spanish police are now tracking down.
Preparing for a massacre AS Podemos erodes the twoparty system there have been hints of pacts between the PSOE and the PP after the November general elections. PSOE leader Pedro Sanchez firmly ruled out talk of agreements, but that’s because he has more options than Rajoy. And it already looks as though both parties are admitting to themselves that there is going to be a bloodletting come November.
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Albox mayor, Rogelio Mena dismisses trial brought against him by opposition MAYOR of Albox, Rogelio Mena, has dismissed as “political manoeuvre” the opening of the trial brought against him by the PP opposition. The Socialist mayor, who faces two years and six months disqualification from public office for an alleged lack of transparency with regard to public records, pointed out in a statement that the order issued by the magistrate of Huercal Overa court number three
is to prevent him from standing for election. He accused the PP opposition of manipulation and has made the decision to hire Juan Isidro Fernandez Diaz, a criminal lawyer, to conduct his defence. Mena referred to: “The obvious purpose of the PP is to get me into court, so I fail to get into the polls. This is a manoeuvre of abuse of my rights, led by an excuse of administrative matters which violate the constitutional rights of the
individual’s right to participate in elections and our residents’ choice.” The mayor concluded: “I
will defend the principle of legality. I have formed a committee of technical and social transparency. We
have named the Ombudsman and our measures make us one of the most transparent municipalities.”
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omes&gardens
HOMES & GARDENS
HPlanting strategies for new SPONSORED BY
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPONSOR GO TO WWW.LINEADIRECTA.COM
Dick Handscombe
Gardening Corner By Spain’s best known expatriate gardening author living in Spain for 25 years.
THERE are several important aspects to planting strategies whether planning a new garden or improving an existing one. Firstly what is your vision and mission for your final garden? Simple or complex? Colourful in all seasons as you will be a permanent resident or especially colourful during your few weeks of residence? Able to be selfdeveloped and maintained or needing one or more gardeners? Flattened landscape or preserving existing slopes and terrace walls? A sparse modern stone chipping garden or a
densely planted botanical garden? Thick high hedges or open vistas? Plenty of natural shade or none? Bare walls or covered with climbers? Secondly what range of plants do you wish to consider and what drought/frost risk profile are you willing to live with? When compiling the descriptive plant tables for the book ‘Your Garden in Spain,’ we drove for a couple of months along most of the coastline from Cataluña to Gibraltar after the heavy frosts of March 2004 and 2005 to check which plants had been most damaged and which showed little damage in early spring. We had some amazing experiences including finding many dead palms and even dead olive trees an hour from the coast
VITMARK
gardens or existing ones
FLORAL DISPLAY: Achieving height and depth. where howling, freezing gales had produced leaf air frost temperatures to as low as minus 40 degrees. This year was an exceptionally dry year for most and enabled many gardeners to review their drought risk profiles. If you did not think
about this in detail you might find the booklet ‘How to use less water in your garden - A practical guide to waterwise Mediterranean style gardening worldwide’ of benefit. The relative thirstiness of 40 styles of garden is reviewed.
The book is available from Amazon Books. SPRING COLOURS One thing that appeals to many newcomers is to combine the range of colours and leaf forms possible with a mix of subtropical bougainvillaeas, evergreen edging plants and spring
annuals. A display that achieves height, depth and total ground cover. Then have areas that make full use of attractive flower leaf and bark colours, perfumes, leaf and bark textures, trunk and branch shapes, etc, as the spring, summer and autumn progress, and even into and through the winter. BLENDING PLANT SCULPTURES Some special effects and interesting internal vistas can be created by making full use of the sculptural potential of plants. BRIGHTENING UPSHADE Dark corners under trees don’t have to be dead as the succulent orchid cactus demonstrates. Each flower only lasts a day, but a mature plant can have a succession of amazing flowers that one can sit and watch opening in slow motion while enjoying a bottle of wine. AUTUMN COLOUR The second half of July and the month of August can be amongst the least colourful months in the garden, but once temperatures cool a little and the first autumn rains come, a range of salvias can give exceptional colour adding to continuing lantana displays. Hope these illustrations stimulate creative ideas for your own garden.
© Dick Handscombe www.gardenspain.com January 2015
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OFFICE SPACE: A great 2014 in terms of investment.
Office sales hit a high INVESTMENT in Spanish office space hit an all-time high in 2014 with more than €2 billion being invested, three times higher than the figure for 2013. According to experts, this is a “positive sign for the overall Spanish property market.” Foreign investors accounted for nearly
two-thirds of the investment, according to figures from JLL, a property consultancy. “In terms of deals, the largest purchase of office property was a portfolio of buildings belonging to the Catalan regional government sold to Zurich Insurance for €201 million,” said Mark Stucklin of the
Spanish Property Insight website. “The next biggest deal was the acquisition of the Agbar Tower in Barcelona by Emin Capital for €150 million, and of IBM’s headquarters in Madrid for €130 million.” Foreign investors were dominant in the commercial real estate market - a market that includes shopping centres and store premises - reaching 68 per cent of the total €2.7 billion spent of these assets during the increase of 9.1 per cent year. over October 2013. “Optimism and deals in Mortgages on rural the commercial and properties also rose. office market bode well The regions which saw for the Spanish economy, the biggest increases were and could in due course Andalucia (3,329), Madrid have a positive impact on (2,942) and Catalonia the residential market,” (2,694). said Stucklin.
MORTGAGES: Spain registering significant increases. of 17,687 new mortgages for the purchase of homes were signed in Spain in
October. The total capital loaned for the constitution of these home mortgages
was €1.7bn, nearly 15 per cent more than the previous year, while month-on-month (October over September) this figure declined by 15.2 per cent. The average home mortgage is €99,866 and El Pais has reported that the total number of mortgages constituted in October grew by 9.4 per cent year-onyear. A total of 25,937 mortgages were on urban properties, representing an ALVARO SERRANO
ANDALUCIA had the highest number of home mortgages during October 2014. A total of 3,329 new mortgages were registered in the region, contributing to the overall national 18 per cent rise in the number of mortgages, year-onyear. October was the fifth consecutive month to register increases in Spain. According to the National Statistics Institute, a total
SIMON CUNNINGHAM
Home mortgages rising in Spain
URBAN LAND: Transactions increased by 21 per cent in third quarter of 2014.
Transactions for urban land experience an increase in Q3 URBAN land transactions in Spain increased by 21 per cent during the third quarter of 2014, with the average price of land per square metre falling in the same period. A total of 4,293 urban land transactions took place between July and September, representing an increase of 13.2 per cent over the previous quarter and a fifth increase over the same period last year. The
Balearic Islands is one of the municipalities that registered the highest average price per square metre at €412.8. In smaller municipalities (less than 1,000 inhabitants), a total of 422 transactions were carried out, an increase of 13.6 per cent on the same quarter of 2013. Municipalities with inhabitants between 1,000 and 5,000 saw 867 sales, up 11.6 per cent, and
in areas with a population of between 10,000 and 50,000 people, transactions were up 29.6 per cent. Areas with more than 50,000 inhabitants registered 1,008 sales, up 66.6 per cent. The surface area of the land transactions carried out in the third quarter of 2014 reached 5.3 million square metres, with a value of €667.6 million.
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CARLOS SALIENTE PLUMBING & HEATING SERVICES. If it involves water we can help ! www.carlossaliente.com Tel.950 930 900 or 968 969 962 (226233)
ELECTRICAL TRAINED A/C Engineer F/Gas. We now do Gas recharge for cars. We specialise in Plumbing & Heating with Gas Safe Certs. For all your Plumbing repairs, Heating repairs, A/C repairs & New installs on all. No call out charge in Mojacar. Call John on 634 342 520. (225351)
INSURANCE
MOTOR INSURANCE. For the most competitive quotes in English call Linea Directa on 902 123 309, you could save as much as 30% and you can transfer your existing no claims bonus. Call Linea Directa on 902 123 309 for motor insurance with a human voice in English from Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm and save money now! (200726)
INTERNET GET YOUR business noticed online! Make sure that expats in Spain can find your product, service, restaurant, bar or shop. Contact Spain’s newest and brightest online directory TODAY. Call 952 561 245 or email serena@euroweeklynews.com for more details.
BUSINESS FOR SALE COMPUTER SERVICES
MOBILE HOMES WE BUY, Sell, Store, remove all types of mobile homes. We pay CASH and cover all of Spain. More details call Suzi Caley 616 250 727 / 951 063 059 or email suzicaley@gmail.com (228718)
ALARMS FOR SALE BUSINESS OPP. BUYING or Selling a Business? Contact Spain’s leading Business Broker, ‘Business Broker Spain.’ Free consultation and Assessment. Tel: 617 062 421 (229626)
MOTORING
CARS WANTED BUILDERS ANDALUCIAN BUILDING COMPANY, see our advert on page 8. (228440)
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CARS wanted for cash. Please call Alan on 665 145 856 (234373)
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HAIR DRESSERS Inford@Tox Computer Services, call Raquel on 950 633 223 (225350)
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DRAINS AUCTION
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Price per word: 0,42€ + IVA minimum 15 words - Discount: Book 10 weeks, get 2 weeks free - Deadline: 4pm Mondays Contact: Phone (0034) 950 472 109 • Fax (0034) 950 478 789 • email mojacar@euroweeklynews.com • www.euroweeklynews.es
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CLASSIFIEDS PETS
WE ARE currently the market leader in our country in the sale of direct car, motorbike, home and company fleet insurance. Since we started out in 1995, our philosophy has always been to offer an excellent service with the best prices in the market. For the most competitive quotes in English, call Linea Directa on 902 123 309. (200726)
PARKING
REMOVALS/STORAGE
PET-COURIERS.COM – If you love your pet try us first – we are the best. Door to door service throughout Europe. Specialised vehicles – bespoke service. Full legal service including documentation if required for further information call or e-mail us: Tel: (0034) 651 033 670 or (0034) 637 066 227. Email: info@pet-couriers.com or www.pet-couriers.com (206497)
8 - 14 January 2015 / Costa de Almería SOLAR ENERGY
PROPERTY
LOWEST PRICES IN SPAIN. www.solarmegastore.es (226345) SOLAR WIND POWER SOLUTIONS. Over 15 years installation experience. Established 12 years in Spain. Call Phil for competitive prices on 636 261 240 or email info@suner gyalmeria.com (228399) CARLOS SALIENTE PLUMBING & HEATING SERVICES for solar pool heating, solar hot water installations and repairs, call 950 930 900 or 968 969 962, email carlos.saliente@gmail.com (226233)
PLUMBING SERVICES KNOWLES PLUMBING. No 1 for plumbing! Central heating, solar hot water and water deposits. Tel: 950 137 197or 606 807 797 CARLOS SALIENTE PLUMBING & HEATING SERVICES offer machined boiler decals for gas water heaters ROM just 65€ Aguafuerte is not the answer! Call 950 930 900 or 968 969 962. Email car los.saliente@gmail.com (226233)
STORAGE STORAGE Solutions. Big or small, We store it all. Tel: 950 930 316 (228260)
SWIMMING POOLS
POOLS
PROPERTY TO LET
GENECO Pool construction. Tel 950 478 086 for no obligation quote (93401)
CERTIFIED Pool Cleaner/Handyman/Gardener/House Sitter, cheap rates. Phone Neil 642 764 741, email totalpools@outlook.com
PROPERTY TO LET
SPAIN - UK/UK - SPAIN. Deliveries. Best prices. Best service. Indalo Transport. 634 336 468 / www.indalotransport.com. Find us on Facebook & Twitter. (225342)
INSURANCE
CAR TRANSPORTER. Call for excellent rates, fully insured, professional service. 951 319 320, email move@freinternational .com / www.car-transport-spain .com (215605) UK - SPAIN - Anywhere Europe! Masses of experience. New clean vehicles. Insured with Royal Sun Alliance. Genuinely CARING service. FULL and part moves. ONLINE QUOTES!! www.bmceuro pean.com UK 08456 443 784 / ES 634 344 787 FIND US ON FACEBOOK!(220152)
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SPONSORED BY For best rates in motor insurance call: 952 89 33 80
Husqvarna’s biking history THE gift-giving season may be over, but a hardback book about one of the world’s oldest and most well-known motorcycle manufacturers will still make a great present for the petrol-head in your life. ‘Husqvarna Motorcyles, Standard & Racing 19031964’ looks back on the iconic Swedish brand’s first steps into motorcycle production and traces Husqvarna through three separate periods in its history. Well-known for making meat mincers, sewing machines and bicycles, Husqvarna launched their
‘motor-velociped’ in 1903 and haven’t looked back. The book explores the four-stroke period between 1903 and 1936, followed by the two-stroke period from 1931 to 1964. It was during this second period that the company introduced the Blackmill, Redmill, Dream Bike, Silver Arrow and Gold Arrow bikes and the book contains facts and descriptions of the models. Finally, the book explores the ‘competition period’ from 1922 to 1935. For further information about the book visit www.teknikinfo.com
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MOTORING
Superb new car THE new Skoda Superb will be revealed in Prague in mid-February before its formal introduction at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The market launch is planned for mid-2015, and with a revolutionary new design, Skoda is confident the car will capture the imagination. Revolutionising the familiar Skoda design, the new flagship Superb has expressive shapes from the ‘Skoda VisionC’ show car, with new, dynamic proportions. From the front to the rear, from the
RE-PLATE MATE Don’t take a chance! Don’t break the law! Take the hassle out of re-registering your vehicle onto Spanish plates We endeavour to better any genuine quotation 490 Euro + Road Tax + CO2 emission tax if applicable
Alan 662 249 159 www.replatematecostablanca.com
VISUAL IMPACT: Contoured and elegant lines. large wheels to the gently rearward sloping of the roof, the new Superb radiates clear geometry, contoured surfaces, sculptural shapes, purist
precision and elegant lines. The impressive exterior makes a visual impact on the automotive mid-class segment, with a sharp muscular cut.
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2015 will be another terrific sporting year! FOOTBALL - The full draw for the last 16 round of the Champions League is:
Tony Matthews
International Sports A former football player and the world’s most prolific author of football books (more than 100 published), Tony is also the sports reporter for Spectrum Radio and lives in the Cabrera mountains.
Paris SG v Chelsea Shakhtar Donetsk v Bayern Munich (1st/2nd legs: 17 Feb & 11 March). Schalke v Real Madrid Basel 1893 v FC Porto (1st/2nd legs: 18 Feb & 10 March).
Costa de Almeria
MY ‘TONGUE IN CHEEK’ SPORTS ALMANAC FOR 2015
It would be extraordinary if these all came true!
ENGLAND’S cricketers thrash Australia five-nil in the Ashes series, winning every game by an innings and 100+ runs and they also win the World Cup. England’s Rugby Union team lift the Six Nations championship and the World Cup, recording big victories over Australia and New Zealand in the latter. Tony McCoy wins the NH jockey’s title for the 20th successive season and is the first jockey to ride 300 winners in a calendar year. Chelsea become the first British team to win four major trophies in a season: Premiership, FA Cup, League Cup and Champions League. Bournemouth and Brentford gain promotion to the Premiership with ground capacities of 12,081 and 12,763 respectively. For the first time since 1985 another club, other than Celtic and Rangers, win the SPL title. Andy Murray reaches the final of every major tennis tournament he takes part in and wins three of them. Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor scores 20 successive 180 throws in competition darts... and wins three more titles. Chelsea smash the world transfer fee, signing unknown striker Defanie Grenakili Belebedon for £200m (€254m) from FC Petra Atletico (Angola), asking for the money go to children in starving countries in Africa. Team GB cyclist Laura Trott wins 10 successive races on two wheels. Chris Froome becomes the first Brit to win the Tour de France twice! Ronnie Sullivan makes 20 consecutive breaks in first-class snooker while at the same time registers three more maximum scores of 147. Rory McIroy wins three major golf tournaments and hits two hole-in-ones at the Open Championship at St Andrew’s. A 100-1 shot triumphs in the Epsom Derby by 10 lengths - the biggest winning margin since Manna in 1925.
Manchester City v Barcelona Juventus v Borussia Dortmund (1st/2nd legs: 24 Feb & 18 March). Bayer Leverkusen v Atlético Madrid Arsenal v Monaco 1st/2nd legs: 25 Feb & 17 March).
* Quarter-finals: 14/15 & 21/22 April *.Semi-finals: 5/6 May & 12/13 May * Final (Berlin): 6 June.
Fact File * Dortmund beat Juventus 3-1 in the 1997 final. * Chelsea defeated PSG in last season’s quarter-finals on the away goal rule, losing 3-1 away; winning 2-0 at home. * The Manchester City-Barcelona clash is a repeat of last season’s tie which the Spanish club won 4-1 on aggregate (2-1/2-0). * Also Real Madrid beat Schalke 9-1 last term (6-1 away, 3-1 in Spain); Cristiano Ronaldo scored four goals in the tie. * The teams still in the Champions League have won the ‘top’ prize 25 times between them; Real Madrid have 10 victories, Bayern Munich five and Barcelona four. * Lionel Messi (Barcelona) has scored a record 74 goals in the competition. Europa League - The last 16 ties include: Celtic-Inter Milan, Everton-Young Boys of Berne, Liverpool-Besiktas, Tottenham-Fiorentina and Sevilla-Borussia Moenchengladbach. The two-legs are on 19/26 February.
RONALDO: Scored four times against Schalke.
Did you know? LIVERPOOL went 85 games without defeat at Anfield between 1978 and 1981 (63 in Division One). Chelsea hold the record for the longest unbeaten Premiership home run - 86 games, 2004-08. And WBA played 12 games in 26 days in April 1912.
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Sport Costa de Almería’s best guide to local sport
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F1 driver Michael Schumacher is out of a coma and fellow driver Jules Bianchi is recovering after his horrific crash. TO READ MORE VISIT OUR WEBSITE: WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM
After six years, it’s a first Forum golf win for Birchy! HAVING waited some six years for his first Forum Golf Society triumph, Andy Birch has clearly developed a taste for the limelight, making it two wins in a row by leading his team of John Smith, Graham Spalding and Mike Smith to victory in the society’s final event of 2014. The team prize scramble at Aguilon saw Andy’s team score a very impressive 57.3. Phil Elam, Bob Vincent, Fran Elam and Sandra Vincent were second with a net score of 60.4, and the team of Kevin Bircher, Brian Gyer, Bob
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Cowan and Malcolm Sibbons came third on 61.2. Twenty-seven players on the day managed an excellent total of 28 birdies between them, with a staggering nine achieved by the winning team. The event was also the final qualifier for Forum’s Crystal Tee Winter League, with the trophy presented to Keith Jackson. Next up for Forum Golf Society is a team coloured ball at Marina on January 16 and a pairs betterball Stableford at Aguilon on January 30. Graham Spalding tees off.
SHORTS By Tony Matthews THE US PGA Tour event begins today in Hawaii. England wicketkeeper Matt Prior has cofounded the new professional One Pro Cycling team. The 12-rider squad is led by Yanto Barker. Boxer Chris Eubank junior has been told by dad to ‘go back to basics’ after losing his British middleweight fight to Billy Joe Saunders. And Carl Frampton will defend his IBF world super-bantamweight title against Chris Alavas on 28 February. Cricket’s World Cup starts next month with England, under new captain Eoin Morgan, playing Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Scotland in their group. The final is on 29 March in Melbourne. The World Tennis Association has signed a media rights deal with Perform worth £335.2m (€427.5m) over 10 years. And Andy Murray’s ex-coach, Dani Vallverdu is now coaching Tomas Berdych. Rugby stars Jonny Wilkinson OBE and Brian O’Driscoll and footballers Ryan Giggs OBE, all retired in 2014.