Costa Blanca South 29 September - 5 October 2022 Issue 1943

POPPY APPEAL PIPERS

Linda Hall

TORREVIEJA’S PIPES & DRUMS will open the Poppy Appeal 2022 launch in Benidorm on Saturday Octo ber 15.

Toni Perez, Benidorm’s mayor and a long­time sup porter of the Royal British Le gion, will be prominent amongst those present.

He will accompany District North chairman Jack Kemp, Lynda Atkins (national vicechair) and Captain Stephen McGlory, Defence Attache in Madrid.

Easily recognisable in his bright scarlet coat, Wayne Campbell from the Royal Hospital in Chelsea, will be another regular at the head of the parade.

District North Spain’s Pop py Appeal aims to exceed 2021’s total of €120,000 en abling the Legion to continue its vital work in delivering life­long support to service and ex­service personnel and their families.

Every euro received is used

in Spain where it will make a real difference, not only to service men and women, but to their families as well.

So make your donation and wear your poppy with pride in the knowledge that you are supporting your local Armed Forces community, past and present.

The launch will be preced ed by a short parade be tween Calle Castellon on the

Levante beach promenade to the Rincon de Loix. It gets underway at 1pm and will be led by the Torre

vieja Pipes and Drums, along with standard bearers from Spain District North’s many branches.

Photo credit: Royal British Legion

ANNUAL PARADE: Torrevieja’s Pipes and Drums open the Poppy Appeal march in Benidorm.

THE city council of Elche has inaugurated the old street ‘la Figuera’ with the new name of ‘Jose Esclapez Campillo’, locat ed in Torrellano.

The name change is in institutional recognition of the personal and profes sional career of Jose Esclapez Campillo who became mayor in 2012 until his death in 2017.

The mayor of Elche, Carlos Gonzalez, said: “Pepe Esclapez, as he was known to his neighbours, was president of the Fiestas Committee on several occasions. He was a very active and tireless worker for this town.”

CARP‐R‐US fished their Memorial Cup match at El Bosquet near Elche on Thurs day September 22.

“This year the Cup holds a special place in the hearts of the club, as sadly two of our longest‐standing members, Ann Fowles and Roy Buttress, both passed away,” said the club’s secretary Steve Fell.

“Weather forecasts in the days leading up to the match predicted that there would be rain and possibly storms at some stage during the day. As it turned out the match was fished in warm sunshine with a light breeze,” he added. “So much for weather forecasts.”

The match was won by

The mayor added: “Today, with this simple but emotional act, we want to re

Tribute to former mayor Memorial Cup at El Bosquet

member, thank and recognise a person who was very dear to all of us, for Torrel lano and for all the people of Elche” and added that “Pepe was always a loyal person who fought at all times to im prove the quality of life of the residents of Torrellano, above any other premise.”

Sing for joy!

THE Joy Gospel Choir enter tained a full house at The Hub in San Javier on Friday, September 23.

A fantastic time was had by all with a repertoire of African‐themed classics combined with gospel‐flavoured songs.

Also on hand offering bar gains galore were local chari ties MABS and Cruz Azul as well as a Ya Visto fashion se lection.

Willie Moons who drew one of the current hot pegs, 29, to take a creditable 24.1 kilos.

Second, on the adjacent Peg 30, was Roy Dainty (14.3 ki los). Doug Hornblow (10.9 ki los) came third, pipping Jere mey Fardoe (10.9) by the

narrowest margin of a few grammes.

Further information about the club can be found on its website www.carp‐r‐us.wee bly.com or on the Facebook page Carp‐R‐Us Fishing Costa Blanca.

The event was hosted by Salt Church Mar Menor who meet at The Hub every Sun day at 10.45am.

For more information con tact: Andy Neale: (+34) 622 416 793

Facebook: @saltchurch marmenor

Photo credit: Carp-R-Us

ANN FOWLES: Much-missed late member of Carp-R-Us.

Tourist status

GUARDAMAR is now one of the Generalitat’s official Tourist Municipalities. Francesc Colomer, who heads the Valencian Community Tourism Board, recently pre sented Guardamar’s mayor Jose Luis Saez with the certifi cate confirming the town’s status, shared with eight oth er Alicante Province towns, four in Valencia Province and six in Castellon.

Animal killers

PET­OWNERS in Petrer were warned not to walk dogs on wasteland behind the Santo Domingo Savio school after sausages laced with nails were found there. This is a repetition of November 2020 when six dogs died and 10 needed vet treatment after eating sausages with pins in side them.

New pipes

WORK began in Dolores on renovating water mains in Calle Reverendo Alonso Romera and renewing water pipes linking to individual buildings. The €59,532 project enters plans which the town hall is now drawing up to re model the El Rancho neigh bourhood, 100 per cent fi nanced by the Diputacion provincial council.

More doctors

TWO more doctors, one of them a paediatrician, have been assigned to Los Mon tesinos’ auxiliary health cen tre, which has now reverted to the public sector. As well as a reduced doctor­patient ra tio, the health centre will, for the first time, be open both in the morning and afternoon.

Squatters out

THE Partido Popular (PP), in opposition at Crevillent Town Hall, intends to introduce measures to remove squat ters at the next plenary meeting. These include ‘im mediate eviction’ if criminal action has clearly been in volved or within 24 hours otherwise, with possible prison terms of between three and five years.

Hiking and biking tours

A BRAND new sports initiative has launched in Orihuela to get locals active. ‘Orihuela en Mar cha’ is a council scheme pro moting the benefits of healthy lifestyles in the town through guided tours.

‘Orihuela en Marcha’ was launched on Thursday September 22 by local Minis ter for Sport, Patricia Menár guez in collaboration with the president of a local triathlon club, Paco Ruiz. They ex plained that the scheme aims to bring families together

through exercise and healthy lifestyles. Menáguez said the council “encourages locals to make use of trails and infras tructure to learn about their

Elche river conservation

VOLUNTEERS in Elche are invited to a river conservation session on October 2. The session is being held by Elche Town Council along with local conservation organisations, the Limne Foundation.

The session is part of an annual conservation effort which sees volunteers clean up eco­systems and collect data on rivers in the Valencian community. Local mayor, Esther Díaz encouraged local people to get involved with the conservation of their local eco­sys tem.

The session on October 2 will be held at the Vinalopó River, where volunteers will investigate the quality of water in the river eco­system as well as water and rock chemical composition. The session will begin at 10.30am and last approximately two hours.

The session is part of the ‘Proyecto Ríos’ project which combines community efforts with scientific research to bring local people clos er to their natural river ecosystems. The project has been running in the area since 2005.

Locals interested in volunteering need to register by email at: par ticipa@limne.es or by phone call to: 654 076 533.

A smiling chorus

SONRISAS HARMONY is a new multinational ladies chorus.

They meet every Tues day between 10.30am and 1.30pm at the Estri bor Function Room in Los Alcazares (Murcia).

“Come along and meet the members,” said Sonrisas Harmony chorus coordinator Lyn da Christopher.

“We are a friendly group of ladies, some who have been singing together for many years and there are a few new members too. No previ ous singing experience is required.”

Their musical director Valerie Lynch has a

wealth of knowledge and experience in Acapella four­part har mony singing, Lynda ex plained, so programmes will be varied, entertain ing and packed full of songs past and present.

“Sonrisas Harmony love to sing, but we also like to enjoy ourselves and will have a regular social calendar,” Lynda added.

Readers who would like to come along and meet members, should contact Lynda on 672 192 222.

“We look forward to welcoming you to our friendly group of ladies,” she said.

Time to go

cal area. The tours will take users to areas of local cultural and historical interest on a vari ety of trails. There are different levels of difficulty available, in cluding paths that are accessi ble for wheelchair users and prams. Users can take in in credible views while soaking in the local heritage.

A GROUP which firmly sup ports the state health sys tem, called for the resigna tion of Torrevieja hospital’s manager Dr Pilar Santos.

heritage and discover more about their local cuisine.”

The scheme will offer five free routes for families or friends to hike or bike in the lo

Tours will take place on weekends until December, with different themes each week. Registration opens two weeks before at: www.pasi coapasico.com

Masons visit Nazareth School

Linda Hall

THE Provincial Grand Lodge of Valencia has donated €500 to the Nazareth School in Alicante City.

Nazareth College is one of the four charities designat ed by the Provincial Grand Master, Rodney Bignell, to receive part of the money raised at the Provincial Golf Tournament at Bonalba Golf Club (Muchamiel) in June.

Vicente Lopez Revuelta, Jorge Prieto Cueto and Ser gio Pereira from the Hiram Abif 80 Lodge were recently

Town hall jobs

PILAR DE LA HORADADA Town Hall has added eight previously­unemployed resi dents to its payroll.

Thanks to EU subsidies made available by the regional government’s employ ment service, LABORA, the town hall has taken on three new employees aged un der 30 who will be working as an adminis trative assistant, concierge and leisure in structor respectively.

Of the five over­30s, four will be admin istrative assistants and another a concierge.

All are on 12­month contracts.

The grants of €54,384 and €98,000 to cover wages and social security payments have been co­financed by the EU’s Youth Employment Initiative and the European Social Fund respectively.

“We are very pleased to have you on our staff, as we are convinced that an in crease in employees will bring with it an improvement in all town hall operations,” said Pilar’s mayor Jose Maria Perez Sanchez as he welcomed the new intake.

given a complete tour of the school’s facilities, together with a summary of its histo ry.

They also had the oppor tunity of witnessing the Nazareth School’s work and its training courses for the children.

The Lodge members briefly explained the sup port the work carried out through the Provincial Grand Lodge of Valencia, adding that they hoped to continue helping the Nazareth School children’s initiatives.

They agreed to keep in touch and to be attentive to specific needs which they could help to alleviate in some way.

Readers interested in joining Freemasonry, should contact the sec@glpvalen cia.com email address.

The 100x100 Public Health Platform stressed in a public communique that the collective “very much appre ciated” the steps that the re gional government had tak en to deprivatise the outsourced hospital in Octo ber 2021.

“People’s health should never depend on their credit card limit,” the statement said, while comparing the reversion to the public sys tem to crossing a minefield.

“But that does not pre vent us from recognising that there have been obvi ous management prob lems,” the Platform said. “As we made clear in an inter view with the head of the re gional Health department some months back, this has adversely affected results and overshadowed ad vances made.”

Consolidating the depri vatisation and optimising re sources required good man agement which, the statement maintained, was lacking in Torrevieja’s Health district.

In the opinion of the Plat form ­ a group of local resi dents’ associations, users of the health system and unions amongst others ­ the hospital needed to address the hospital’s underlying problems by changing the management.

publishes more content both online at euroweeklynews.com and in its papers than any other English news publication in Spain.

The Euro Weekly News Even better, our news online and in print is FREE and we promise to always keep it that way.

NEW INITIATIVE: Organisers launch the active scheme.

Photo credit: Ayuntamiento de Orihuela

VISITELCHE promoted Elche as a tourist destination at the Top Resa trade fair in Paris.

In recent years the IFTM Top Resa fair in Paris has become one of the main tourism events in France in terms of the attendance of tour operators. The event took place at the Parc des Expositions, Porte de Versailles, between

PILAR DE LA HORADADA’S

Indoor Sports Court to be finished in eight months.

A new covered sports court of 1,500 square me tres is being built, which can be divided into two

Elche promoted in Paris

September 20 and 22.

This year VisitElche together with Turisme Comunitat Valen ciana under the umbrella of Tures pana has participated in the event

with the aim of taking the image of Elche to the French market.

The councillor for Tourism, Car les Molina, confirmed: “The neigh bouring country is the main inter

Indoor Sports Court

parts by means of a central curtain. A total of €945,000 has been invested in the project, and the construc

tion works will take a peri od of eight months.

The current pavilion is 22 years old and has become too small for the more than 500 people who practise sports daily at the Munici pal Sports Centre facilities.

The work will bear in mind the urbanisation of the accesses to the back of the Sports Centre which will allow for a new space for running or hiking with out the need to abandon the fenced perimeter of the sports complex.

national outbound market to our municipality. It is important the presence of Elche is seen in these types of collaborative actions.”

According to VisitElche, the

French tourist who goes abroad chooses cultural destinations based on their quality/price. The French tourist organises his trips in dividually through the internet, travels in summer (August) or spring (May) during the school hol idays and has a growing interest in short trips to urban and cultural destinations.

Expanded programme

SANTA POLA Council announced an ex panded programme of council‐run ex tracurricular sports classes for the up coming academic year on Monday September 26.

The expanded programme will be the widest variety of extracurricular sports classes that the council has ever of fered.

Courses will run from October 2022 until June 2023 with different pro grammes on offer. The programme for primary school age children includes padel, gymnastics, dance, football and rollerblading. Secondary schoolchildren can choose between rollerblading, bas

ketball, volleyball, handball or padel classes. A separate beach sports pro gramme is also available for local chil dren between age eight and 18 in which sport classes include beach aerobics, beach tennis, beach volleyball, beach handball and beach football.

The beach programme is set to run on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Playa de Levante from 5.15pm until 7pm. The other programmes will have different hours depending on the sport chosen. Parents can reserve places for their chil dren online at: https://santapola.reser vaplay.com/login or by visiting the of fices at the Santa Pola football ground.

Autumn at the library

SAN JAVIER library has an nounced a packed pro gramme for autumn to en courage local people to make use of their library and learn something new.

Presenting the pro gramme, local Minister for Culture, David Martínez, ex plained that the library aims to “educate and entertain users” with its programme from September 28.

The programme has a spe cial focus on children for which there are storytelling sessions, like with author Laura López, a puppet show, ‘La Juglaresca’, film showings and a magic show. The pro gramme runs until Novem ber, so some of the activities are Halloween themed.

The main schedule in cludes presentations on books by Antonio Gómez Es cudero and Jean Cohen and a poetry presentation by Manuel Madrid as well as a book recycling initiative to give books new life, including as furniture!

The library’s regular sched

ule will also continue as usual with a travelling book market in Santiago la Ribera, the AIKE creative writing group, reading clubs and guided tours for local schools.

Locals interested in partici pating in this season’s activi ties can message 636 484 114 to join the library WhatsApp group or find the programme on the council website: www.sanjavier.es.

San Javier library has an exciting autumn programme ahead!

Motorbike touring

NEARLY half a thousand people took part in the ‘Elche Oa sis Mediterraneo’ Motorbike Touring Route on Saturday morning, September 24.

The initiative organised by the Custom Milltom Elche club, in collaboration with the Department of Culture and Visit Elche, started and finished at the Paseo de la Esta cion.

The route was 45 kilometres long and took place in the municipality of Elche with the aim of promoting the city, its culture, gastronomy, history and its surroundings.

The ‘Elche Oasis Mediterraneo’ Motorcycle Touring Route concluded with a meal and a rock concert on the Paseo del Estacion.

This year, part of the proceeds from the registrations will go to ANOA ELX, the Association for the Care of Peo ple with Functional Diversity.

Photo credit: Ayuntamiento de San Javier

Torrevieja North Meeting

A VERY informative meeting was held on Monday, September 6, with support from Councillor Gitte Lund Thomsen and Councillor San dra Sanchez.

After reviewing area crime reports and scams, the meet ing reviewed some of the im provements made in the area by the council.

It was agreed the new waste contract was better, with improved skip collec tions and the extra lorry col lecting large items daily. Resi dents have been asked to report any illegal waste dumping on the roads.

Residents were advised of the need to email sanidad@torrevieja.eu if they have any pest or mosquito problems, stating the prob lem and the location.

The poor state of some roads was discussed and the high number of broken paving blocks and weeds on footpaths in the area.

Councillor Sanchez showed the plans for road repairs and discussed the proposals for

repairing and improving the roads and footpaths in this area which will commence this year.

The meeting noted that a budget had been allocated for La Siesta park and works are to be started shortly.

The next meeting is on Oc tober 24, when the N332 team will give a presentation on new traffic laws and the highway code.

ISO award win

THE 13 beaches of Santa Pola received the ISO award which marks the quality of the services.

The Santa Pola Town Council constantly evaluates the beaches and services through the consultancy IMEDES, which carries out the work of checking the 13 beaches of the town for perfect compliance with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards of quality and environmental manage ment.

The audit measures the quality of services such as sunbeds, beach bars, lifeguard services and access points, as well as the nautical schools, among others.

On a recurring basis, a report is sent to the beaches de partment of the Santa Pola Town Council with the services that are working correctly and the measures to be correct ed. The department implements weekly corrections and improvements.

Torrevieja North Neighbourhood Watch Residents Meeting.

Image: Torrevieja Neighbourhood Watch

Artwork in Quesada

THE Zabaleta Museum in Quesada has added a painting by the Cantabri an artist Miguel Vazquez Pesquera to its collec tion.

The work called ‘Lorca y Hernandez’, from 1982 has been donated by the writer Luis Garzon.

The councillor for Cul ture, Juan Antonio Lopez, confirmed that: “This work of art is made in oil and crayon on cardboard.

“The work is in a per fect state of conserva tion, and is divided into two parts, an upper part, in blue tones, shows three dead fish. The lower part, on a black background, has geometric motifs, in which the words love, peace and the dates 36 and 39, corresponding to the beginning and end of the Spanish Civil War.”

The councillor went on to say that “we are very pleased that this museum continues to house works of this im portance, and to have an exceptional collection of works by the best painters of the 20th cen tury, who were friends with Rafael Zabaleta, the painter from Quesa da.”

10th anniversary

ZENIA BOULEVARD celebrat ed its 10th anniversary with various events on Friday, September 23 and Saturday, September 24 including brass bands, stilt walkers and lots of children’s activities.

Speaking on the 10th an niversary of Zenia Boulevard, manager Cris Ros told EWN:

“Since opening in Septem ber 2012, Zenia Boulevard has positioned itself as benchmark for shopping centres, offering a wide range of shopping, leisure and restaurants with more than 160 shops in one place.”

“Zenia has become a ‘great town square’, a meeting point, not only for residents but also for the thousands of national and international tourists who enjoy their holi days and leisure time in the area.

“This would not have been

THE Chaplaincy of Saints Pe ter and Paul in Torrevieja is organising a food collection for Reach Out as part of its Harvest Festival on Sunday, October 2.

There is a Mass at Calle Granados, La Siesta, at 11.30am at which people are invited to bring tinned and packet, non-perishable, food items.

Father Richard Seabrook, the local English-speaking priest, said: “Harvest Festival is a lovely celebration in the

possible without the daily work of a great team, the at tention to every single detail, and of course, the extensive programme of actions, pro motions and social initiatives that we carry out on a daily basis and that make Zenia a space with a very special at mosphere.”

Despite the incredible suc cess it hasn’t all been plain sail ing for the shopping centre:

“When the pandemic hit, we had to rethink our whole strategy and adapt to the cir

“Obviously, and taking into account the high tourist com ponent of the centre, Zenia Boulevard was adversely af fected by the arrival of the coronavirus, however, since the first quarter of 2022, the centre has regained the fig ures of affluence of 2019.”

Harvest Festival

life of the Church when we give thanks to God for all the good gifts around us, sent from heaven above, as the favourite harvest hymn pro claims. It is a much-loved ser vice of thanksgiving to God.

“However,” Father Seabrook continued, “we are acutely aware of the great need in our area of people who struggle to buy food to feed themselves and their

families. That’s why we have a food collection, to look be yond ourselves and respond to the needs around us.”

The Church extends a warm welcome to all who would like to share in this year’s Harvest Festival.

For more information con tact Father Richard A Seabrook by email: frras@cof-e-torrevieja.com or by tele phone (+34) 693 932 438

Various events were held.

Credit: Zenia Boulevard.

Flood defence maintenance

Betty Henderson

LOS ALCÁZARES Town Council is responding to a red weather warning which left the town vulnerable to flooding. In just a few hours, 130 litres of rainfall was recorded in Los Alcázares on Sunday September 25.

The regional weather agency issued a red warning for rainfall and an amber warning for storms in the Cartagena and Mazarrón regions. Shortly after heavy, intense rainfall damaged infrastructure in Los Alcázares. Fortunately, no serious incidents were reported, though police were deployed to help some drivers caught out by flooding.

However, council workers are responding to the aftermath of heavy rainfall which left block

TORREVIEJA Town Council has renewed a free school meals scheme for the third time after demand remained high. The council announced the renewal at a meeting on Monday September 26.

The initiative was launched during the pandemic in 2020 to ensure that no child was left hungry at school lunchtime due to lack of money. The programme is run by Torrevieja’s council along with the local Rotary

ages in pipes and drainage systems. Council workers removed mud from drains on Mon day morning to prevent problems during the week. Only one local school, Bienvenido Cone jero, had to cancel some classes on Monday due to floodwater. The council used flood de fences after receiving the weather warning which limited flood damage.

Free school meals

Club and organisation AGAMED along with various anonymous benefactors.

The local minister for Edu cation, Ricardo Recuero, re ported that the scheme al lows authorities to offer 2,000 free school meals to around 70 children through out the academic year.

Presenting a meeting to announce the policy, Recuero

said that authorities want to continue the programme and hope to be able to re spond to the needs of every school that requests support.

Representatives from Tor revieja Rotary Club, AGAMED and a local water company that also sponsored the pro gramme attended the meet ing to launch the policy along with the council.

Photo credit: Ayuntamiento de Los Alcázares WEATHER WARNING: Council workers remove mud after storms in Los Alcázares.

EXASPERATED Torrevieja resident Joan Warner recently contacted the Euro Weekly News about her elec tricity bill.

Joan, a widow and a pensioner, lives in a bungalow with two bed rooms and just one air­conditioning unit.

Her last electricity bill came to €90 but to her horror she noticed that another €54 had been added to the bill, listed as Cargos Norma

tivos (regulated charges).

What did that mean?

Asking friends, Joan found that one was charged €1 while another had to pay €1.50.

Thoroughly incensed by now, she went to the Iberdrola office de manding to know what it was all about.

Their lame explanation that it was a new government tax which everyone­ even Iberdrola ­ must

More male dancersNot fair!

pay, still did not justify why Joan was charged €54 and others just €1. This elicited a further explanation that “it depends on your contract” but as Joan pointed out, that did not clarify how the “completely ar bitrary” €54 on her bill was calculat ed.

Iberdrola does indeed have to pay a new tax, introduced under new government measures to cap the price of gas used at gas­fired power stations.

Iberdrola confirmed that Cargos Normativas will gradually be ap plied to clients as their annual con tracts are renewed. Presumably this accounts for the disparity be tween her bill and those of her friends.

Andalucians get together

THE Hort de Baix in Elche hosted the In tercasas Meeting that brought together 800 Andalucians on Sunday, September 25.

The Intercasas Meeting, which is held every 14 years in Elche, has been pro moted by the Department of Festivals of Elche City Council together with the Andalucian Government.

Elche's mayor, Carlos Gonzalez, showed his pride and satisfaction that the city of Elche is the meeting point for Andalucians from Albacete and the province of Alicante.

Carlos went on to point out that “in the middle of the last century, more than 40,000 Andalucians left their land and came to Elche to live and work, which has left deep roots in our city.”

Intercasas Meeting brings together 800 Andalucians.

Image: Elche Town Hall

ORIHUELA’S Municipal Dance School (EMDO) commenced the 20222023 course with 80 pupils aged between six and 18.

This was a consider able increase on the pre vious course, not only numerically but also in the number of male stu dents, explained the school’s director Maria Jesus Ruiz.

There are now only four places remaining for the Tuesday and Thurs day groups held between 6.30pm and 7.30pm. Classes take place throughout the year in academic dance, Spanish ballet and flamenco.

“Elche has a deep Andalucian soul and the people of Elche have, to a great extent, immersed ourselves with the culture, heritage, gastronomy and id iosyncrasy of the Andalucian people.”

“For the more ad vanced groups there will be workshops directed at increasing choreographic creativity, as well as mas terclasses and other classes that are different from the usual lessons,” Ruiz said.

SPAIN’S mandatory toll roads return in 2024 as part of the agreement with the EU which provid ed aid of €70 billion as part of the pandemic recovery plans.

Pere Navarro, Head of the General Directorate of Traffic ( DGT) told news outlets on Friday, Septem ber 23 that not everyone will have to pay the toll fees.

That has caused an out cry with many people like ly to see the cost of their travel jump. While some will benefit from the re vised system of toll fees, others will have to pay for the same journey and that they say is grossly unfair.

You will benefit if you are travelling to and from a place of work, this will be exempt as will students of any driving age and those travelling by private transfer to health centres for their appointments.

What is not clear at the moment is how the DGT will administer these dif ferences, although there is plenty of time to prepare for the change.

Anger over tolls

What also isn’t clear is where the mandatory toll roads will return with many booths having been removed, while some towns and villages face the prospect of traffic return ing to their roads should tolls become payable once again.

Single testing

A SINGLE test that detects Covid­19 and flu is now available in Spanish pharma cies, making it much easier to diagnose your illness.

The new test is the first that can be administered at home that differenti ates between the two viruses without the need to take two tests or go to a specialist.

Anyone who has self­tested for Covid19 will be aware of how the test works, and that the results are provided within 15 minutes.

This test not only differentiates be tween the two viruses, but also deter mines whether the strain of influenza, if

we have been infected, is influenza A or influenza B.

Experts are split on whether a new wave of Covid­19 infections is coming, but one they do all agree on is that after a two­year hiatus flu will definitely be back.

It is understood that the dual test is being sold for the same price as the sin gle Covid­19 test, with the government having set the price at €2.94.

The availability of a single test that de tects Covid­19 and flu is good news for both the health profession and for the general population, with better and eas ier diagnosis comes better treatment.

Image Tikta Alik Shutterstock.com

TOLL ROADS: Not everyone will have to pay the fees.

Football stand off

FIFTEEN Spanish women’s footballers have quit the national team complaining that the na tional team coach Jorge Vilda and his staff are harming their health and emotional state with their training methods.

Team members say they are unhappy with the management of injuries, the atmosphere in the locker room, Vilda’s team selection and his training sessions according to a news source.

The Federation and the Spanish Football As sociation are standing by the coach saying: “We will not allow the players to question the conti nuity of the national coach and his coaching staff, since making those decisions does not fall within their powers.”

The Spanish Football Association has warned the players that refusing to honour a call‐up for

Members have quit the women’s football team.

a national team was classified as a “very serious infraction and can carry sanctions of two and five years of disqualification.”

The situation is promising to result in a stand off between players and the sport’s manage ment.

THE latest Covid data pub lished in Spain by the Min istry of Health shows an in crease in the incidence rate among the over 60s, but a drop in hospitalisations and ICU occupancy. The Min istry of Health published its twice‐weekly Covid num bers in Spain on Friday, September 23, compiled us ing data provided by the autonomous communities.

Friday’s report shows that a total of 10,306 new cases of coronavirus have been added, which brings the total number of people infected with Covid‐19 to 13,403,502 since the start

Controversial Bishop resigns

JUAN ANTONIO REIG PLÀ’S resigna tion was accepted by Pope Francis, on Wednesday September 21 on the grounds of his age, effectively provid ing the controversial Bishop to leave freely and without judgement.

He was based in Alcalá de Henares outside of Madrid from where he spread his much‐criticised views rang ing from abortion to euthanasia and

despite these views, the Bishop was allowed to reach the retirement age of 75.

Reig Plà in apologising for his mis takes thanked the diocese and the congregations saying: “For all the fam ilies, the young people and the suffer ing people of the diocese, whom I have loved with a love of predilection, the priests and seminarians, and the

members of the consecrated life, I ask you to pray for me so that, until the last breath, I can be a witness of God’s love.”

Those not connected with the church and perhaps even those within its ranks will be asking how the con troversial Bishop who resigns apolo gising for years of errors could have been allowed to remain in office.

Covid stats

of the pandemic.

In the last 14 days, the ac cumulated incidence rate in people aged over 60 cur rently stands at 136.26 cas es per 100,000 inhabitants.

Another 72 deaths have been registered from Covid‐

19 in the last week. Since the start of the pandemic in Spain, that brings the death toll from coronavirus to 114,009 people.

The lethality in people over 60 years of age stands at 3.7 per cent.

Party central!

A RECENT study revealed that almost 70 per cent of tourists coming to Spain come to party! Research by travel company Jetcost found that 69 per cent of tourists listed ‘partying’ as a key purpose of their trip.

The survey found that 64 per cent of those asked planned to go out every night of their holiday.

The idea of Spain as a ‘party destination’ was most popular among British, German, Italian, French and Dutch tourists.

The research found that equally, many tourists cited

cultural experiences as their main purpose for a holiday in Spain. The top three aims of tourists on holiday to Spain were to enjoy beach es, enjoy Spanish cuisine and visit tourist attractions.

Jetcost completed the survey over the summer holiday season and the Managing Director, Ignazio Ciarmoli, explained that the survey sought to prove that some tourists consider Spain a party destination. He said “like with every thing, if done in modera tion, with respect for others, it is fine.”

Image Spanish Football Federation

Best research

A SPANISH doctor named the best researcher in the world when it comes to blood cancer myeloma has been honoured by the International Myeloma Society (IMS).

Doctor María Victoria Mateos, who is head of the innovative therapy unit at the Salamanca Uni versity Assistance Com

plex and chair of the Spanish Society of Hema tology and Hemotherapy, was given the award on Friday, September 23 at the IMS annual general meeting in Los Angeles.

Speaking about the award, she said that she had been working on myeloma since complet ing her doctoral thesis on the subject in 2000. Myeloma is the second most common cancer af ter lymphoma affecting millions annually.

Myeloma affects one in 100,000 inhabitants every year and is detected in about 2,000 cases annual ly in Spain. Early diag noses is making it possible to treat patients sooner with ‘premalignant situa tions on the rise’.

In receiving the award Mateos said more money was needed and praised Spain’s healthcare sys tem.

Online appointments

ONLINE medical consultations are becoming increasingly popular which is changing the face of healthcare for the elderly. The pandemic forced many of our daily activities online, in cluding medical appointments.

Many patients turned to the internet to get advice from their doctor. But the internet has become the unexpected pioneer of healthcare in the elderly population.

Medical organisation, Top Doctors, conduct ed research for the International Day for the El derly on October 1, one in five online or tele phone consultations are with patients over 64. Top Doctors found that online appointments were particularly requested by patients in re gions with a large elderly population which lacked specialist medical care.

Patients can receive medical care from the

comfort of their own homes. Limiting vulnera ble patients’ contact with other patients re duces the risk of additional infections dramati cally. Patients can also access specialists who may not ordinarily work in their area and sec ond opinions on original diagnoses.

Advances like this could boost elderly care in Spain, which currently sits at 38 out of 44 coun tries for elderly care analysed in the study.

Catalonia’s smoking ban

AS announced on Friday, September 23, by Josep Maria Argimon, Catalonia’s Minister of Health, the government is to implement ‘smoke‐free’ spaces. New regulations will be in troduced to convert terraces, entrances and ex its of schools, and bus stops, into places where smoking is prohibited. He explained that there must be a ‘transition period’ and that the mea sure responds to reduction in smokers.

Argimon also revealed that from January 2023 the Generalitat will offer free nicotine

substitutes to people who want to quit smok ing and who have incomes of less than €18,000. This will be offered because these people have practically ‘double or more’ chances of quitting the consumption of tobac co, which he has described as small.

Smoking has “a social ingredient” he contin ued, since people with a lower income level are the ones who smoke the most. He estimated that there are between 600,000 and 700,000 smokers with an income of less than €18,000.

ONLINE CONSULTATIONS: Protect elderly people from disease.

Photo credit: Rido / shutterstock.com

Vets in support

A PETITION demanding a new animal protection law that will not exclude hunting dogs from pro tection has got more than 200,000 signatures and support from more than 600 vets.

The National Platform for the Protection of Ani mals which is made up of more than 165 animal rights associations, an nounced its backing for the petition. The petition demands change to the current animal rights law proposed by the PSOE which excludes hunting dogs from animal rights protection.

The new law would introduce distinctions between the rights dogs are entitled to depending on if they are a pet or a hunting dog. Current laws give all dogs the same rights.

Animal rights organi sations are launching their ‘same dogs, same law’ campaign to de mand expanding of the criteria for protec tions. María González dismissed the PSOE legislation calling it a “setback for animal rights which plays into the hands of abusive hunters.” She said all dogs should be enti tled to the same rights protections.

Burgos bones

ACCORDING to scientists involved in the landmark find, facial bones discov ered in Burgos, northern Spain, date back 1.4 million years and could end up changing the book of hu man prehistory. They are the oldest human fossils ever unearthed on the Eu ropean continent.

Speaking with Turkey’s

Anadolu Agency, Aurora Martin, the archaeologist

Brits voting rights

THE Electoral Census Office in Spain has announced that British residents are now able to vote in Spanish local elec tions.

On May 28, 2023 municipal elections will be held in Spain. In these elections, nationals of European Union countries and countries that have signed a reciprocity agreement with Spain for voting in municipal elections will be able to vote.

In what is good news for British residents living in Spain, the Ministerial Order amending the previous Order to in clude the UK in the group of countries which now have a “reciprocal arrangement for Voting in the Local Spanish Elec tions” makes this possible.

Upon completion of the amendments there will be vari ous options for registering to vote including online. To be eli gible, Brits must have been resident in Spain for three years or more and must be registered on the Padron.

who is the general coordi nator of the Museum of Human Evolution in Bur gos, said: “We don’t yet know which first human species the fragments found belonged to.”

They were unearthed on an excavation site near Burgos, at the caves of the Sierra de Atapuerca at the end of June. Martin de scribed the bones as “a breakthrough that will help rewrite the history of hu man evolution.”

She emphasised: “Until 1994, it was known that there were no ancient hu man species in Europe until 500,000 years ago. Now we’re talking about 1.4 mil lion years ago. In other words, we pushed back the evolution of humans in Eu rope one million years.”

The Museum of Human Evolution in Burgos is where all the Stone Age fossils are on display that have been found at the fa mous World Heritage Site.

BURGOS CAVES: Facial bones discovered.

Credit: Google maps - Paco Puche

Pop sensation Trevis

HOT off an electrifying performance at Puente Romano supporting Craig David, LA‐based up and comer Trevis Brendmoe sat down with the Euro Weekly News to discuss music, fame, and his love for Europe.

Originally from Norway, Trevis is now one of the biggest emerging names on the US pop scene, also getting regular airtime on BBC’s Radio 1. Speaking about his journey from Eu rope to LA, Trevis told the Euro Weekly News: “It wasn’t always music for me. From age five I religiously trained to be a professional foot ball player in hopes of one day playing for the Norwegian national team.

“By the time I was 15 I started training with the Manchester United soccer school and academy programme, but my career came to an abrupt halt and I was pretty lost in life after several problematic trips to the ER due to patellar injuries and dislocation. Right there and then everything I ever loved, I had to give up.

“My mom relocated me to Los Angeles af ter a dark year of depression. When I was in LA I immediately formed a deep connection and purpose with music. I went from being in such a dark place to developing a deep rela tionship with my artistry.”

The star turned his experience into success quickly, releasing multiple singles and quickly gaining press attention thanks to his heart throb looks and talented vocals.

Speaking about his music, he explained: “I like to say I dabble in genres. My sound is pop music with a heavy influence of R&B.”

He added: “I love Chris Brown. Cocaine 80s and Kanye West are some of my influ ences from songwriting to producing. R&B is also a major part of who I am as an artist and I also need to give a shout to Jeremih, Par tynextdoor and Bill Withers.”

Now in Europe, Trevis told the EWN what it was like to perform on the same stage as Craig David.

He said: “It was an absolutely surreal feeling standing on stage in front of 2,500 people in Spain. The energy in the crowd was amazing and I couldn’t have asked for a better recep tion.

“I was in Marbella shooting a music video this summer as well as performing at Puente Romano and at the famous hotspot Olivia Valere nightclub. I got the call to warm up for Craig David’s TS5 show shortly after and it was a dream come true.”

Explaining what’s next, the star explained:

Credit:TrevisBrendmoe

“I just released my debut EP ‘Floor Plan’ and it received so much love in the UK.

“My music has been played on BBC Radio 1Xtra all summer and I just got put on BBC Ra dio 1’s Future Artists. I’m going to London to

work with UK produc ers and keep promot ing the EP. With ev erything going on, hopefully I’ll be able to tour and play my mu sic at venues across the UK.”

The songwriter said he has plenty more music planned for the future too.

He explained: “I was producing and writing so much music during the Covid lockdown and we have multiple EPs worth of music we’re getting ready to share with the world!

“As we keep pushing my new project and my industry friend circle grows, I’m talking to a lot of established artists and DJs in Europe, Nigeria, and the US on features, remixes, and collaborations. There are so many exciting things to come!”

TREVIS: The star has been in Europe this summer.

NI increase u-turn

THE 1.25 percentage point rise in National Insurance will be reversed from Novem ber 6, Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng an nounced on Thursday September 22.

Delivering on the Prime Minister’s pledge to slash taxes to help drive growth, scrapping the rise will reduce tax for 920,000 businesses by nearly £10,000 (€11,500) on average next year as they will no longer pay a higher level of em ployer National Insurance.

The government will also cancel the planned Health and Social Care Levy, a separate tax which was coming into force

in April 2023 to replace this year’s Nation al Insurance rise.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Kwasi Kwarteng, said: “Taxing our way to pros perity has never worked. To raise living standards for all, we need to be unapolo getic about growing our economy.

“Cutting tax is crucial to this and whether businesses reinvest freed­up cash into new machinery, lower prices on shop floors or increased staff wages, the reversal of the Levy will help them grow, whilst also allowing the British public to keep more of what they earn.”

New Brexit Freedoms Bill

THE UK government has announced that all re tained EU laws will end on December 31 2023, en abling it to create tailormade regulations.

All EU legislation will be amended, repealed, or re placed under the new Brexit Freedoms Bill intro duced to Parliament on Thursday, September 22, the UK government has

confirmed. Many EU laws kept on after Brexit were agreed upon as part of a complex compromise be tween 28 different EU member states and were simply duplicated into the UK’s statute books, often not considering the UK’s own priorities or objec tives.

The Brexit Freedoms Bill will enable the UK govern

ment to remove years of burdensome EU regula tion in favour of a more agile, home­grown regula tory approach which ben efits people and business es across the UK. By removing these restraints and replacing them with what works for the UK, businesses and economy can innovate and grow to new levels.

Managing energy prices

NINE out of 10 UK house holds are to take mea sures to manage energy price rises.

With energy bills set to almost double from the same time last winter, even with the announced government support, a

RSPB budget attack

A TWEET posted by the Royal Society for the Protec tion of Birds (RSPB) on Saturday, September 24 held no punches as it accused the Tory government of at tacking the island’s nature.

The UK’s mini­budget is a full attack on the coun try’s nature and natural spaces according to the (RSPB) and accuses the government of abandoning habitat regulations introduced by the EU with the sole intention of protecting wildlife.

Abandoning these rules and going for growth any where and at all costs, the organisation says will fur ther endanger an already declining and under threat wildlife. In particular, they have levelled criticism at the government’s plans to use protected and sensitive areas for further development including enterprise zones (EPZ’s) that allow businesses to trade free of taxes.

The RSPB is not the only organisation to criticise the budget for its unashamed support of the wealthy and big business.

third of households (32 per cent) agree that rising energy prices will have the greatest impact on their household budget.

As a result, all but one in 10 households (11 per cent) are taking action to mitigate the effect, ac cording to new research from KPMG UK.

The most likely mea sure being considered among respondents is to reduce or switch off the main heating supply, with a third of households (32 per cent) considering this.

Similarly, a quarter (26 per cent) are looking to reduce their electricity use by using fewer appli ances.

Upgrading light bulbs is the most likely invest ment in energy efficiency, with almost a quarter (24 per cent) of households expecting to do this.

Following this, upgrad ing glazing (21 per cent), and draught­proofing (19 per cent) are popular op tions.

Energy bills set to double.

Image: Billion PhotosShutterstock.com

Events for the elderly

SANTA POLA will celebrate the International Day for the Elderly on Saturday October 1 with a special programme of events. The past month has been the Month for the Elderly in Santa Pola with the council organising talks, well ness activities, walks of soli darity, workshops and musi cal events.

On the day itself, Amaia Fernández Aldeguer and Iker Álvarez Ballesta will give a concert with backing violin by the Adda Sinfónica de Ali cante Orchestra. The event will be free, starting from 7.30pm.

The following day on Sun day October 2, a special gala

will be held with orchestra music and dance perfor mances also in honour of the International Day for the El derly. The event is free to at tend.

On Monday October 3, a mural will be unveiled, dedi cated to people with Alzheimer’s, coinciding with the World Alzheimer’s Day last week and the Interna tional Day for the Elderly.

The month of activities will close October 5 with a local fishing tour at 5pm. The activ ity is free, but those interest ed must register by calling 966 692 835 or by signing up at La Senia.

Pola

Alicante Fashion Week

ALICANTE Fashion Week is back with a bang this October! The event is returning for its fourth edition between October 14 and 16.

The event showcases up‐and‐coming trends and designers as well as the latest fashion in novations. Designers Débora Velásquez and 5 Flores were the principal designers for last year’s fashion week, with this year’s designers yet to be announced. The organisers aim to champion rising talent with new designers like Zomeño, Lila Latorre and Sanae Nacere Mahraci likely to feature at this year’s event.

Big brands also feature at the event, with El

Corte Inglés participating year‐on‐year. Models from across Europe will hit the run way during the fashion week whose values in clude inclusivity and diversity. Activities during the week will include traditional runways as well as opportunities to shop at a pop‐up shop.

The setting of Alicante’s trendy Barrio de la Santa Cruz is the perfect location for the haute couture show, with colourful houses, mean dering streets and vibrant nightlife. The show will come to different locations all across Ali cante in 2022.

Cocktail masterclass Pets thanksgiving service

ELCHE’S Hospitality School will give a special cocktail masterclass, ‘The Cocktail Kilometre Zero’, on three days in October.

Workshop objectives include being able to create a cocktail menu with drinks that use local ingredients as well as the preparation of the drinks. Finally attendees will be taught how to serve their cocktail ele gantly. Attendees will learn how to make a range of drinks during the class.

Elche Hospitality School provides workshops to improve employabili ty of people working in the hospitality industry by developing new skills. The course is aimed at professionals or students who work in hospitality in the area, such as bartenders and waiters.

The cocktail workshops will be held on October 3, 4 and 5 between 9am and 1.30pm. The hospitality school is hosting the workshops at their campus on Calle President Lázaro Cárdenas del Río nº1, Elche. En try to the event is free and open to all, but participants must register be fore attending online at: http://www.cdt.gva.es/

OCTOBER 4 is the day commemorating St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ani mals.

In honour, Campoverde Church in the Community will be holding a ‘Service of Thanksgiving for our Pets’ on Sunday, Octo ber 2, at 6.00pm in the Church Garden.

All pets are welcome provided they are on a lead or in a suitable container.

However, if you are unable to bring your pet, you are invited to bring a photograph to put up on our board.

For more information visit the Facebook page: facebook.com/churchinthecommunity campoverde

SPECIAL PROGRAMME: A month-long bonanza of events has celebrated the elderly in Santa Pola.

Photo credit: Ayuntamiento de Santa

Wolf Hall author’s death

Peter McLaren‐Kennedy THE author of the Wolf Hall trilogy, Dame Hilary Mantel has died at the age of 70.

A statement released by her publisher Fourth Estate books said: “We are heartbro ken at the death of our

beloved author, Dame Hilary Mantel, and our thoughts are with her friends and family, especially her husband, Ger ald.

“This is a devastating loss and we can only be grateful she left us with such a magnif

icent body of work.”

Dame Hilary is best known for her epic ‘The Wolf Hall Tril ogy’ which brought her two Booker Prizes, the first for Wolf Hall and the second for its sequel Bring up the Bodies, the conclusion to the trilogy.

No cause of death or fur ther details have been provid ed.

Spending spree

THE Foreign Office is facing pressure after some of its lav ish, bizarre spending records were published. During Liz Truss’ spell as Foreign Minister, spending in the department in creased by 45 per cent.

Shadow attorney general, Emily Thornberry wrote a let ter to the Foreign Office asking why spending increased so sharply. Thornberry published her correspondence on the matter after being told by the

FCDO it would be too costly to answer her questions.

Payments included £10,000 spent at Fortnum and Mason, £1,850 on Soul Sanctuary well ness app and £1,841 at the Norwich City club shop, Truss’ preferred Premier League side.

Payments of over £4,000 were also made to ‘Finishing Touch es’ barbers and £900 to ‘Calm Over Chaos’, an adult colouring book company.

Other charges included to

exclusive hotels, restaurants and luxury interior design.

Truss previously came under fire as Chief Secretary to the Treasury in 2018 when she gift ed a Norwich City shirt to a Cleveland football official in a bid to move the company to the UK.

Thornberry criticised the spending as excessive, con trasting it with schools fund‐raising for classroom equip ment.

New life for Waterbird

AN exact replica of Britain’s first seaplane took its maiden public flight in Windermere on September 23. It made the same journey the original ‘Waterbird’ took 111 years ago.

Friday marked the first public flight of the seaplane in a project that has taken over 10 years to complete. The long awaited flight was conducted by pilot, Peter Kynsey, in front of a crowd of enthusiasts.

At 10.6m, the seaplane is an exact replica of the aircraft piloted by Herbert Stanley Adams in 1911, using similar materials. The seaplane was crushed during a storm just

nine months after its inaugural flight, so no original plans survive. The original seaplane was met with mixed responses. Children’s author, Beatrix Potter famously formed part of a lobby group against the seaplane’s de velopment, describing the sound of the jet as ‘intolerable’. Eventually the government, in cluding Sir Winston Churchill, overruled lob byists considering developments to the avia tion industry crucial for Britain.

Indeed, the seaplane revolutionised ma rine aviation, leading to later aircrafts used for military and supply purposes.

Image Fred Duval / Shutterstock.com

Dame Hilary Mantel.

Troubling labour trends

THE latest statistics from ONS highlighted the con cerning impact of the cost of living crisis and lack of skilled labour. The Associ ation of Professional Staffing Companies (AP SCo), responded to the latest ONS statistics on the labour market for the last quarter, expressing concern.

A shortage of skilled workers continues to dis rupt the labour market as unemployment remains

above pre­pandemic lev els and employers lack the skilled labour they re quire.

Statistics also revealed record numbers of over65s in part­time employ ment in the UK during the second financial quarter. This alarming trend sug gests that the cost of liv ing crisis and rising energy costs are forcing people out of retirement.

On Tuesday September 13, Public Policy Director

of APSCo, Tania Bowers called on the new Prime Minister, Liz Truss, to pri oritise the labour market. With skilled workers in demand, the Prime Minis ter should focus on nego tiating global trade deals to match demand.

Bowers advised the government to simplify visa processes for self­em ployed contractors. APSCo also stated that salaries must be raised in line with inflation.

Exercise Pitch Black

THE RAF is to participate in a large­scale air exer cise in Australia for the first time since the Covid pandemic. The RAF has started a series of exer cises that will see the UK Armed Forces training with Australia, Japan, the Republic of Korea and other Indo­Pacific nations, until December, the Ministry of Defence confirmed on Sunday, September 25. Four Typhoon fighters and one Voyager air­to­air refuelling aircraft from the RAF joined Exercise Pitch Black in Darwin, Australia.

It was the first time the RAF had taken part in the exercise since the pandemic, with around

100 aircraft and 2,500 personnel from 17 coun tries participating in large­scale, complex training missions. The RAF’s contribution to Exercise Pitch Black is a tangible demonstration of UK air power and highlights the UK’s ability to deploy rapidly at long range.

It also illustrates the UK’s desire to enhance in ternational military relationships for the safe and effective conduct of air operations with partner nations. UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: “Security and stability throughout the Indo­Pacif ic remain paramount.”

Meat advertising banned

Tamsin Brown THE city of Haarlem in the Netherlands will be the first in the world to ban meat ad vertising in public spaces, such as on buses and bill boards, with the aim of re ducing meat consumption and greenhouse gas emis sions. Although the an nouncement was made in early September, the mea sure is set to come into ef fect in 2024 and many of the details of the ban are still be ing discussed.

A Dutch city has banned meat advertising.

Credit: Pixabay

products considered to be contributing to the current climate crisis.

Research has found that as much as a third of all greenhouse gas emissions come from global food pro duction, and animals kept for meat produce twice as much pollution as crops.

The local government of Haarlem, which is located to the west of Amsterdam, made the decision after meat was put on a list of

The decision has sparked criticism from the meat sec tor, which has suggested that it is “going too far in telling people what’s best for them.”

French app prevents crime

THE application ‘My Security’ (Ma Sécu rité) helps to guarantee the safety of users of public transport in France and seeks to prevent theft and violence by allowing people to communicate with a police offi cer at any time of day or night.

Although the app was launched in May, a series of new features were added to mark the occasion of European Mobility Week, held from September 16 to 22.

Features of the app include the option to report crime and file complaints online;

access to all emergency numbers; local se curity news and notifications; a 24/7 chat service with a police officer; safety advice regarding topics such as prevention of sex ual and gender‐based violence on public transport; and a map of nearby police sta tions.

The application, launched by the French Ministry of the Interior, is available free of charge and makes it possible to alert near by security forces of any problems much more quickly.

Social media deception

A HARVARD UNIVERSITY investigation commissioned by Greenpeace Netherlands tracked the social media ac tivities of the largest car brands, airlines and largest fossil fuel companies in Eu rope between June 1 and July 31.

Concerns for tourism

PORTUGUESE hoteliers celebrated excellent summer re sults, but warn of dark months ahead.

There was much to celebrate this summer in the Algarve.

Hotel bookings in July and August surpassed those of 2019, but hoteliers in the Algarve warn that the summer’s achievements may be cancelled out by the hard times that are expected just around the corner.

Helder Martins, the president of the Algarve hoteliers as sociation (AHETA), is calling for the government to imple ment urgent measures to help hotels and tourism compa nies prepare for the threatened storm.

Helder said: “We had excellent results this summer. Occu pancy numbers were very good as we surpassed those of 2019, however, rising energy costs may erase any gains that hotels and other tourist establishments may have been hoping for.

“While their revenue may have increased, there has been a brutal increase in costs. In other words, this increase in rev enue may not translate into an increase in profits,” he added.

Harvard analysed the companies’ posts and found numerous examples of ‘greenwashing’, meaning that they deceptively used marketing to give the im pression that they were en vironmentally friendly.

Geoffrey Supran, the lead author of the research, said: “Social media is the new frontier of climate decep tion and delay. Our results show that, as Europe was experiencing its hottest summer on record, some of the companies most re sponsible for global heating stayed silent on social me dia about the climate crisis, opting instead to use lan guage and imagery to strategically position them selves as green, innovative, charitable brands.”

A Greenpeace EU climate campaigner, added: “Euro pean oil, auto, and airline in dustries are subtly yet sys tematically appropriating the beauty of nature in their social media content to ‘green’ their public image.”

SOCIAL MEDIA: Greenwashing the climate crisis.

Image shutterstock.com/DimaZel

Offshore wind farm

EMMANUEL MACRON in augurated the first of a se ries of offshore wind farms off Saint­Nazaire on Thurs day, 22 September, which he intends to accelerate in the face of the energy cri sis.

The president confirmed that: “This is the beginning of the road, a first step to wards the massive devel opment of renewable en ergies.”

In the midst of soaring hydrocarbon prices and in the face of risks of short age linked to the war in Ukraine, France is deter mined to strengthen its en ergy sovereignty, according to a local news source.

Macron confirmed the long­term aim is to shorten the time needed to carry out projects by simplifying administrative procedures

and limiting the length of time taken to examine ap peals lodged by environ mentalists, fishermen and local residents.

At present in France, it takes an average of 10 years for an offshore site

to come on stream, com pared with five years in Germany and six years in the UK.

For onshore wind power, it is seven years, which is twice as long as in Spain or Germany.

3D-printing drones

AN international research team in Switzerland has taken bees as a model to develop a swarm of cooperative 3Dprinting drones.

These human controlled flying robots work as a team to print 3D materials for building or repairing structures while flying.

A new approach to 3D printing uses flying robots, known as drones, that use collective building methods in spired by natural builders like bees and wasps, according to the Swiss govern ment.

Researchers say that in contrast to al ternative methods, in­flight 3D printing unlocks doors that will lead to on­site

manufacturing and building in difficultto­access or dangerous locations such as post­disaster relief construction and tall buildings or infrastructure.

The research was led by Professor Mirko Kovac of Imperial’s Department of Aeronautics and Empa’s Materials and Technology Centre of Robotics.

Professor Kovac said: “We’ve proved the concept that drones can work au tonomously and in tandem to construct and repair buildings, at least in the lab."

“This scalable solution could help construction and repair in difficult­toreach areas, like tall buildings,” he added.

Concerns for tourism

PORTUGUESE hoteliers celebrated excellent summer results, but warn of dark months ahead.

There was much to cel ebrate this summer in the Algarve.

Hotel bookings in July and August surpassed those of 2019, but hote liers in the Algarve warn that the summer’s achievements may be cancelled out by the hard

times that are expected just around the corner.

Helder Martins, the president of the Algarve hoteliers association (AHETA), is calling for the government to imple ment urgent measures to help hotels and tourism companies prepare for the threatened storm.

Helder said: “We had excellent results this summer. Occupancy numbers were very good

as we surpassed those of 2019, however, rising en ergy costs may erase any gains that hotels and other tourist establish ments may have been hoping for.

“While their revenue may have increased, there has been a brutal increase in costs. In other words, this increase in revenue may not trans late into an increase in profits,” he added.

ENERGY CRISIS: France’s first offshore wind farm.

Image: TebNad/Shutterstock.com

PRESSEUROPEAN

DENMARK

Singled out

BAD news for singletons as Copenhagen only came in at number 26 as the best city in Europe for singles on a list compiled by Big Seven Travel, although it appears that it is much higher in the list for use of dating apps.

THE NETHERLANDS

Twitter swiped

SINCE 2020 there have been claims on social media that Bodegraven is a centre of Satanic Rites and the local council has prosecuted those spreading the malicious rumours, but it has now gone a step further and is suing Twitter for not removing the stories.

BELGIUM

Foal play

SENSING something special in a young foal named Das Machine EQ Z, an American buyer paid a record €360,000 for a Belgian bred horse which was more than double the previous record in an auction that raked in more than €2 million for breeders

GERMANY

Ageing badly

WHILST it is no longer politically or factually correct to say that elderly Germans could claim Alzheimer’s caused them to forget they were Nazis, the fact, according to the German government's statistics office, is that hospitalisation or death have doubled in the last 20 years.

FRANCE

Pass mustard

AS the world goes through economic turmoil, one of the main topics of debate in France has been the shortage of Dijon Mustard, but French farmers are planting seeds in the Burgundy region and thanks to ideal weather the crop should help fill the gap.

NORWAY

Blown away

THE whole point of installing wind turbines is to create electricity as the winds turn the sails, but for the past two years, bits of the wind turbines placed above Ånstadblåheia in Sortland have been falling off as they can’t cope with the strong winds.

FINLAND

System error

THERE was no need for hackers to work out how to penetrate the security of S Bank’s online service as a number of teenagers discovered a system error which allowed them to syphon money for nearly four months before being caught.

IRELAND

Ploughing on

ON September 20 and 21, more than 200,000 people including the Taoiseach Micheál Martin and other senior politicians passed through the turnstiles at the National Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska in Co Laois which equates to 4 per cent of the entire population of Ireland.

ITALY

Supporting Vox

IN the run up to Italy’s next General Election, leader of the front running centre right wing party FDL, Giorgio Meloni told Spanish reporters that she hoped her success would act as a springboard to help Spain’s Vox to power in the near future.

PORTUGAL

Matrix star

NOT quite a scene from Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, but actor Keanu Reeves was spotted in the Algarve for a few days after attending a motorcycling event in Spain’s Jerez. According to a Twitter post from his hotel, he enjoyed Bloody Marys and ham.

UKRAINE

UK support

IN 2015 the Belgian Army sold 28 howitzers to arms dealers at €15,000 each, but when they wanted to buy them back to send to Ukraine the government shied away from the price of €150,000, but Britain has purchased them and sent them to Kyiv.

SWEDEN Doh!

IT’S not just Homer Simpson who can cause nuclear problems as a member of staff misunderstood instructions when one of the plants at Ringhals nuclear power station was closed for maintenance and their mistake means that it will probably be out of service until January.

WHAT on earth is the BBC up to? On Friday I watched the Chancellor an nounce his ‘mini budget’ to the house.

It wasn’t exactly a mini, it was in fact a far­reaching considerable growth plan to change and improve problematic situations that, due to a whole host of international difficulties and antiquated tax problems, have arisen over the past few years.

With their usual left wing bias the BBC, petrified that the right wing gov ernment they obviously hate, may have come up with possible answers, they contrived to attack the chancel lor’s new objectives with utter frenzy.

Ninety per cent of the business lead ers or politicians they interviewed or included in discussions were against the new directives.

What was even more distressing, and typically BBC, was the fact that all of the concerned ‘ordinary’ citizens they picked to be interviewed on camera, consisted of despairing peo ple living in run down accommoda tion or claiming benefits, and almost unbelievably all white! At the same

Distressing viewing

time they were showing vast num bers of black actors in their adverts, depicting most of them living in luxu rious homes and all participants of contentedly functioning prosperous families.

Just what is going on? This was al most the same anti­capitalist fanciful rhetoric presented by the Nazi party in the 30s. What these woke leftie traitorous operatives are actually do ing is attempting to make the white majority of UK citizens feel vastly infe rior or substandard. No doubt they are hoping that coupled with all their other two­ timing efforts, they will be able to convince the majority of UK citizens to vote for the left in the next election.

They are anticipating that when it comes to choosing the next govern ment, the black citizens will vote Labour because it supports them and offers a wonderful and successful fu ture and the white will vote left be cause things are becoming so tough and difficult to cope with they have to elect a different government. It’s ac tually quite clever ­ they think. What is in fact happening is that 35 million white British citizens are not happy at

all, basically because those who make up the 15 per cent of citizens they have actually welcomed into the country since the 60s, all appear to be receiving more consideration than they are.

Those who are the British majority, with ancestors going back 1,000 years, are purposely being made to feel depressed and despondent about the future. Well I have news for the woke infested lefties, it simply won’t work! The British public is becoming sicker of it by the day.

After your scheming newscasters have piled on even more detrimental adversative right wing ideology over the next couple of years, you will find your left wing politicians will probably come up with the same number of votes as Corbyn and Diane Abbott did in the last election debacle, and my God ­ you truly do deserve it.

Keep the faith

Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com

BUSINESS EXTRA

Selfridges plans

NOW that the Central Group Europe has taken over operating Selfridges, it has two pressing plans, firstly to update the flagship store in London’s Oxford Street, including the refurbishing of the former hotel and also look to increase the number of stores in British cities from the current four.

Wooing investors

SPANISH President Pedro Sánchez who spent several days in New York taking part in the latest United Nations General Assembly managed to find time to meet with the heads of several large US investment funds to discuss the Spanish economy and promote investment opportunities.

No more cards

ACCORDING to a report by the Financial Times, the CEO of massive US bank J P Morgan Jamie Dimon has instructed senior executives to create an alternative payment option in order to keep ahead of online operations such as Bizum and to phase out credit cards.

Going down

THE impending bankruptcy of Spanish industrial group Abengoa which has literally run out of money and couldn’t find new backing means that the National Securities Market Commission (CMNV) will be delisting the company’s shares from the Madrid and Barcelona Stock Exchanges by the end of September.

Home work

PERHAPS logical, as many people like working from home and even though some employers believe that they are less productive, law firm Stephenson Harwood has indicated to many of its staff that they can work remotely full time, but must take a drop in salary of 20 per cent.

STAT OF WEEK

UK bank rate increased

Helping power Europe FINANCE

THE Bank of England in creased bank rate to 2.25 per cent on Thursday September 22, as it sees Britain floundering into recession, just one day before new Prime Minis ter Liz Truss and Chancel lor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng unveil their plans to save the economy.

There is little doubt that the currently inde pendent Bank of England and the new government will quickly be at daggers drawn as they simply don’t agree on a policy for the country’s way for ward.

At the same time as raising the interest rate by 0.5 per cent, the Mon etary Policy Committee (MPC) also voted unani mously to reduce the stock of purchased UK government bonds, fi nanced by the issuance of central bank reserves,

by £80 billion over the next 12 months, to a to tal of £758 billion.

Effectively whilst the government needs more money to finance its plans, not only will the Bank be making less money available, it will also make borrowing from the commercial market more expensive

for the government.

Inflation fell slightly in August to 9.9 per cent but the Bank of England has a target set at 2 per cent which it seems to believe can only be reached by limiting the money available to both consumers and business es.

Mortgage rates will

continue to increase and it is debateable whether companies will be com fortable in spending more money in invest ments when they are fac ing huge increases in prices, even with promise of caps on ener gy costs which are at best, short term mea sures.

No fiscal restraints

SPAIN will not implement European Union fiscal restraints for another year and this decision was approved by the Congress of Deputies on Thursday September 22.

One of the major problems that the government of Partido Popular leader Mariano Rajoy faced was the repeated inability of the Spanish economy to comply with the EU de mand for the reduction of debt and to balance imports and exports.

The current coalition has for the last three years been able to argue that the effects of the pandemic and now the backlash from the Russian invasion of Ukraine were unforesee able.

Whilst confirming that it will en deavour to maintain fiscal responsi bility, the Spanish government will not be restrained by strict ‘guide lines’ from the European Union, but will be able to plot its own course in planning the 2023 budget.

This means that it may once again

suspend the stability and debt objec tives, as well as the spending rule, in the case of ‘extraordinary emergen cy situations that considerably harm the financial situation or the eco nomic or social sustainability of the State’.

According to a statement from the government, “The objective of this initiative is to be able to continue de ploying the necessary measures to mitigate the impact of rising prices

on families and the productive fabric, as the Executive has already been adopting in the last year.”

Minister of Finance and Public Function, María Jesús Montero, made it clear in a speech to Congress that the suspension of fiscal rules does not mean abandoning fiscal re sponsibility as Spain’s deficit was re duced from 10.3 per cent in 2020 to 6.9 per cent in 2021, for 2022 it is forecast to drop to 5 per cent.

IN a bid to assist partners dur ing the winter, Teresa Ribera, Spain’s Minister for Ecological Transition, announced on September 22, that from November 1, the Euskadour Compression Plant, will in crease the supply of natural gas to Europe by 18 per cent.

This will mean that Spain will also supply France with 6 per cent of its annual needs, subject to Spain continuing to receive gas from neighbour and largest supplier Algeria.

As part of the strategy to re duce dependence on Russian gas, the government has ac celerated the operation of the El Musel regasification plant in Gijon. Ribera also announced that three more projects have been approved that will max imise the connection with Italy.

Heatwave surprise

ACCORDING to a report pub lished by the ZEW Mannheim and Frankfurt School of Fi nance and Management, ex treme heat causes labour productivity to fall.

This study shows for the first time that substantial parts of the trade‐related economic damage from heat‐waves occur in countries that are not directly exposed to the temperature shocks.

Supply shortfalls caused by this have an impact on global trade: Less is exported and importers have to accept the losses of affected exporters or switch to other exporters, which causes additional costs.

The researchers showed that in months when a coun try’s average temperature is at least 30°C, exports fall by an average of 3.4 per cent.

The Bank Governor and Chancellor of the Exchequer meet.

Keeping a firm grip on Spain’s money (Minister Montero in centre).

Credit: HM Treasury Twitter

Credit: María Jesús Montero

is the amount that Spanish energy company Iberdrola intends to invest in the USA by way of acquisition and growth over the period 2022 to 2025.

3I Group 1.080,50 1.114,50 1.074,50 357,19K

Abrdn 137,45 142,5 136,8 1,12M

Admiral Group 2.066,00 2.133,00 2.059,00 121,80K

Anglo American 2.708,00 2.860,00 2.686,00 603,57K

Antofagasta 1.053,74 1.106,88 1.048,35 91,07K

Ashtead Group 3.746,50 3.940,50 3.743,50 25,73K

Associated British Foods 1.297,80 1.350,00 1.296,20 24,69K

AstraZeneca 9.814,60 10.053,20 9.787,90 31,55K

Auto Trader Group Plc 580,6 600,4 579,92 29,44K

Aveva 3.149,70 3.150,00 3.130,80 87,67K

Aviva 424,95 435,65 424,55 720,88K

B&M European Value Retail SA324,68 332,8 323,4 529,89K

BAE Systems 791 812,4 788,93 352,10K

Barclays 161,89 167,42 161,81 2,80M

Barratt Developments 405,4 425,3 404,6 594,01K

Berkeley 3.470,00 3.643,00 3.469,00 16,45K

BHP Group Ltd 2.210,00 2.263,50 2.201,50 130,28K

BP 442,04 456 438,54 10,26M

British American Tobacco 3.418,00 3.492,50 3.407,00 68,17K

British Land Company 358,4 379,2 358,1 156,96K

BT Group 130,85 135,79 130,67 1,03M

Bunzl 2.635,00 2.703,00 2.621,00 1,25M

Burberry Group 1.650,00 1.721,00 1.642,20 67,74K

Carnival 715 749,4 712,3 48,37K

Centrica 78,08 81,04 77,74 1,35M

Coca Cola HBC AG 1.883,70 1.936,60 1.873,00 27,00K

Compass 1.787,50 1.820,00 1.778,20 59,94K

CRH 2.900,00 2.968,00 2.893,00 204,70K

Croda Intl 6.270,00 6.486,00 6.244,00 16,85K

DCC 4.574,00 4.701,00 4.551,00 136,48K

Diageo 3.725,00 3.773,50 3.707,70 48,73K

DS Smith 255,37 264,1 254,72 337,21K

EasyJet 311,65 327,58 310,75 649,00K

Experian 2.555,80 2.600,00 2.545,80 24,36K

Ferguson 9.383,00 9.692,10 9.362,00 5,84K

Flutter Entertainment 9.700,00 9.793,20 9.636,10 366,31K

Fresnillo 687,2 736,6 686,4 426,67K

Glencore 470,22 491,75 466 8,56M

GSK plc 1.289,56 1.327,80 1.283,23 225,55K

Halma 2.015,00 2.059,00 2.006,60 17,65K

Hargreaves Lansdown 814 835,6 809,8 39,70K

Hikma Pharma 1.183,31 1.223,66 1.182,98 25,82K

HSBC 508,5 521,5 507,23 761,60K IAG 100,54 104,6 100,3 3,40M

Imperial Brands 1.878,08 1.911,50 1.867,00 1,66M

521,6 533

Intermediate Capital 1.026,50 1.090,50 1.024,50 829,86K

Intertek 3.683,00 3.763,00 3.671,00 77,34K

ITV 61 63,3 61,09 1,29M

J Sainsbury 193 198,05 192,29 295,57K

Johnson Matthey 1.852,60 1.900,50 1.852,10 5,33K

Land Securities 537,1 569,8 536,2 148,54K

Legal & General 246,8 256,85 246,2 1,86M

Lloyds Banking 46,49 48,3 46,46 20,28M

London Stock Exchange 7.344,60 7.478,00 7.300,00 102,17K

Melrose Industries 99 103,4 99,38 1,34M

Mondi 1.361,98 1.408,00 1.359,32 12,61K

National Grid 995 1.034,00 989,09 343,78K

NatWest Group 247,5 256,86 247,3 12,87M

Next 5.540,00 5.824,00 5.528,00 22,74K

Norilskiy Nikel ADR 9,1 9,1 9,1 0

Ocado 549 566,5 548,16 90,63K

Persimmon 1.350,00 1.431,80 1.336,00 355,74K

Phoenix 583 603,6 582,51 343,68K

Prudential 926,6 963,9 923,2 176,74K

Reckitt Benckiser 5.977,00 6.144,50 5.958,00 20,76K

Relx 2.162,04 2.185,00 2.151,22 60,69K

Rentokil 491,3 504,1 489,3 47,27K

Rightmove 584,2 600,6 584 379,39K

Rio Tinto PLC 4.645,00 4.833,00 4.636,80 136,90K

Rolls-Royce Holdings 72,18 75,28 72 4,22M

Rosneft DRC 0,2 0,2 0,2 0

Sage 692,8 710,2 690,6 334,92K

Samsung Electronics DRC 951,2 963 950,6 3,64K

Schroders 413,8 429,8 412,7 621,49K

Scottish Mortgage 782 794,4 779,31 452,92K

Segro 757,5 811,6 755,1 129,43K

Severn Trent 2.530,00 2.594,90 2.520,00 16,15K

Shell 2.260,00 2.321,00 2.240,00 405,85K

Smith & Nephew 994,31 1.011,00 992,31 108,45K

Smiths Group 1.496,50 1.553,80 1.482,17 22,10K

Spirax-Sarco Engineering 9.448,00 9.974,00 9.448,00 1,97K

SSE 1.680,50 1.738,00 1.672,82 164,80K

St. James’s Place 1.057,00 1.067,00 1.046,25 31,03K

Standard Chartered 578,6 598,6 578,4 156,23K

Taylor Wimpey 102,88 109,82 102,74 1,70M

Tesco 224,1 228,3 223,3 767,21K

Tui 132,1 135,35 131,35 2,29M

Unilever 4.003,90 4.059,50 3.966,50 58,61K

United Utilities 976,6 1.001,00 972 66,98K

Vodafone Group PLC 107,69 109,9 107,56 1,51M

Whitbread 2.454,00 2.504,00 2.442,80 25,53K

54,88K

3M 114,14 115,05 3,66M

American Express 143,03 148,89 142,46 3,20M

Amgen 227,75 229,37 223,3 2,05M

Apple 152,74 154,47 150,91 85,87M

Boeing 138,71 143,7 138,29 6,26M

Caterpillar 170,55 174,62 170,29 2,50M

Chevron 154,89 158,28 154,74 6,34M

Cisco 41,15 41,55 41,14 16,54M

Coca-Cola 59,26 59,73 59,2 11,38M

Dow 44,77 45,55 44,75 4,62M

Goldman Sachs 312,92 323,39 311,2 2,20M

Home Depot 269,14 271,22 267,85 3,50M

Honeywell 173,25 174,75 172,02 2,18M

IBM 125,31 126,51 124,41 4,04M

Intel 28,07 28,5 28,04 35,52M

J&J 166,18 167,16 162,83 7,33M

JPMorgan 111,21 113,6 111,07 11,52M

McDonald’s 247,94 250,43 247,65 2,29M

Merck&Co 87,51 88,15 84,55 11,44M

Microsoft 240,98 243,86 237,57 30,79M

Nike 98,55 100,21 97,83 9,60M

Procter&Gamble 136,21 137,07 135,24 5,04M

Salesforce Inc 150,15 152,86 149,15 12,39M

The Travelers 157 158,14 155,54 1,13M

UnitedHealth 517,46 520,97 506,11 2,28M

Verizon 39,93 40,4 39,26 19,77M

Visa A 185,79 187,21 184,66 6,59M

Walgreens Boots 33,32 33,53 32,92 4,87M

Walmart 133,39 134,72 132,84 5,49M

Walt Disney 102,16 104,66 102,02 10,55M

-42.72%

-33.11%

-29.05%

-28.80%

-27.62%

-26.97% 477.39K

Motorsport Gaming Us LLC -25.85% 103.85K

Pine Island Acquisition -25.15% 34.31K

Wavedancer -23.46% 188.44K

Mediwound -22.86% 884.82K

EXTRA

N26 improvements

AFTER receiving com plaints from Spanish cus tomers of German online bank N26 that they were finding it impossible to make payments via Bizum, which is owned by a con sortium of Spanish banks, a solution has been reached.

N26 has announced that users who possess a Span ish IBAN number will be enabled to use instant pay ment system Bizum which connects mobile phones to bank accounts free of charge and not only should this benefit its 900,000 plus customers, but should en courage new clients to sign up for the service.

Inflation down

THE final August inflation details for Spain have been confirmed by the National Statistics Institute as slight ly higher than originally forecast at 10.5 per cent on a year‐to‐year basis but still show a definite decline from July’s 10.8 per cent figure with an expectation that it will continue to drop.

Moonpiggy bank

POPULAR greetings card and gift supplier Moonpig which operates out of Guernsey and London has advised that despite fears of recession its overall trading performance has been in line with its expec tations to date and is con fident that greetings cards will continue to be in de mand from customers.

Another scam

A PONZI scheme is basical ly a kind of fraud whereby investors are promised high returns but the inter est comes from using funds from new investors. Now a Spanish court is in vestigating a Dutch medici nal cannabis investment platform after it all went up in smoke!

Mobile phone charges

THE UK government has capped mobile roaming charges to benefit a small number of Brits abroad by signing an agreement to limit charges for using data and making calls and texts in Norway and Ice land.

The news was released to mark the first meeting of the UK‐EEA Eu ropean Free Trade Association (EF TA) Joint Committee which saw the signing of the agreement.

The cap is a world‐first in a Free Trade Agreement, keeping costs low for holidaymakers and busi ness travellers to Norway and Ice land.

International Trade Minister Conor Burns MP said: “This news builds on the landmark trade agree ment between the UK and Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, and is the first of its kind worldwide showing how the innovative trade deals we negotiate are bringing real benefits to British travellers.

Doesn’t come cheap

DEF LEPPARD bass guitarist Rick Savage has launched luxury clothing line Overnight Angels Crew which he has created with son Scott.

It seems that rock musi cians, no matter how suc cessful are always looking to become involved in new projects and despite set ting off on a US and UK Stadium Tour with other vintage metal bands Möt ley Crüe, Poison and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Savage is launching his clothing range.

Speaking about the launch which took place on Thursday September 22, Savage said: “The collec tion has been developed from a place of nostalgia, inspired by the title track of Ian Hunter’s 1977 album Overnight Angels.

“I had just been released from Sheffield United Foot ball Club and was at a cross roads in my life. It was that summer of ’77 that Def Lep pard formed and so I really wanted to pay homage to such a pivotal moment in my life. And to be able work

on this alongside my son, Scott, means so much more.”

The pair recruited Fash ion Designer, Nick Holland (who had previously launched successful fash ion brand, Pretty Green, with Oasis’ Liam Gallagher) to advise and assist and blend Savage’s vision to fuse the inspirations from music and fashion to cre

ate clothing that is disrup tive, evocative and con temporary in spirit.

It’s a style ideal for both young and old, male and female but if you check the brand website at https://overnight‐angels‐crew.com / you will see that it is aimed at lovers of metal with prices that might just be more shock than rock!

“I look forward to working with businesses across the UK to take ad vantage of deals that banish barri ers, boost jobs and save money.

Credit:

“Our trade deal with Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein signed last year aims to boost critical sec tors like digital, financial, and pro fessional business services, slash tariffs on top‐quality British ex ports and support jobs in every cor ner of the UK.

“The new FTA allows UK mobile operators to offer their customers surcharge‐free mobile roaming in Norway and Iceland by creating a mechanism to cap the rates opera tors charge each other.”

With horror stories of British mo bile phone owners being charged significant amounts for using their phones throughout the European Union, many hope that something will be done to help those visiting or living in larger EU states such as Spain.

Glovo fine

THE popular Spanish home delivery service Glovo which was taken over by German company Delivery Hero last year has been fined a whopping €79 mil lion in respect of breach of Spanish labour laws con cerning some 10,000 riders in Barcelona and Valen cia.

According to the Spanish government, Glovo clas sified these workers as being self‐employed (autónomos) when in fact recent laws made it clear that they should have been given contracts and treated as employees with all of the benefits that would have entailed.

The company has indicated that it will dispute the decision based on the fact that part of the fine cov ers a period prior to the introduction of what is known as the ‘Riders Law’.

Tax the rich

ALREADY preparing for the 2023 budget, Span ish Minister of Finance Maria Jesus Montero ex plained in an interview on the laSexta television channel on Thursday September 22 that she is looking to introduce a temporary wealth tax in 2023 and 2024.

Whilst details are not yet totally formulated and need to be thrashed out with coalition part ners Podemos and then get through the Spanish parliament, she has her eyes set on millionaires and the top 1 per cent of the richest in Spain.

The government considers this to be similar in principle to the planned additional windfall tax es on energy companies.

SMALL STEP: Trying to keep costs low for holidaymakers and travellers.

NOT CHEAP: Scott and Rick modelling some of the clothes.

WHAT IS ‘SUMA’?

REBECCA SERWOTKA ‐ “We sell hous es! It’s what we do, it’s ALL we do!”

Your favourite local resale property expert, in Ciudad Quesada. Author of ‘Moving Forward ‘ 25 Essential Rules For Buying & Selling Real Estate Without Going Crazy.’ Request your FREE copy! Prestige Award Spain ‐ Winner for ‘Re al Estate Agency Of The Year 2021/22 & 2022/23’.

Properties in Spain are subject to a yearly tax payment.

This amount does vary depending on area, (coastal towns are usually higher than inland) and would be the equiv alent of the Council Tax in the UK.

Known locally as Suma, however is of ficially known as ‘IBI ‐ Impuestos de Bi enes Inmuebles’.

Payable once a year between July 25 and October 10, the Suma office man ages tax payments on behalf of local city councils.

The Suma or IBI payment covers all maintenance of local roads, street lighting, etc, however does not include private roads and lighting within communities. Their mainte nance comes under the community fee.

As a property owner, there is an additional payment for the rub bish collection through the Suma of fice.

This is known as ‘Recogida de Resid uos’ and is payable once a year be tween March 7 and May 10.

If you own a prop erty here, you will pay Suma.

Rebecca Serwotka.

Autumn in the Cuenca region

IN the Cuenca region un like many parts of south ern Spain, where sum mer tends to be eternal, winter gives way to spring, which in turn gives way to summer and autumn.

Our visits this year have taken us from the snow‐covered landscape of winter to the fresh greens and blazing red of poppy filled fields of spring, to the happy bright yellow of millions of sunflowers nodding gently in the sun‐drenched fields of Cuen ca.

Autumn brings another change. The buzzards, vultures and eagles still circle in the sky above. The deer, boars and a myriad of wildlife still

roam the fields and forests. Sparkling trout filled streams still mean der by the roadside.

Generally, the days are still quite warm and sun ny, but the nights be come cooler.

Covering the sloping mountainsides and deep gorges cut by nature over millions of years through multicoloured rocks are literally mil lions of trees in the many shades of their autumn

clothing. A vista of colour that only mother nature can provide. Add to this, a delightful fami ly‐run hotel, where the family and staff join in the fun, full board with free flow wine and water

with lunch and dinner, excursions to the imagi natively named Window of the Devil, the En chanted City, the source of the River Cuervo, and the fascinating city of Cuenca with its delight

ful cathedral, unique hanging houses, and the haunting eyes of the Moors gazing down on the old town. Also in cluded is a picnic and a cooked meal in the for est.

At night in the hotel, exclusive to David’s Coachtrips, top enter tainment on both nights provided by the highly talented and very versa tile Andy Jones.

If fabulous scenery, lots of fun, and outstand ing value for money is what you are looking for look no further. Unbeat able value €149 per per son.

Available three days October 12‐14 and 26‐28. Early booking strong ly advised.

NORAJOHNSON BREAKINGVIEWS FORGET

YEAR - MAKE THAT FRESH START IN SEPTEMBER!

sunbathing should be banned!” moaned one angry wife, “my husband spent all day ogling women.” “The street signs weren’t in English. How can anyone get around?” “The beach was too sandy.”

EVER felt that September ‐ and not Jan uary ‐ is the real start of the New Year when, after the long summer break, kids are back at school and adults at work?

And when it comes to New Year’s resolutions, I always make mine in September. There’s less pressure on the diet that never happens, the Jan uary that’s rarely dry and at least the weather’s much nicer!

September always feels like a new beginning because of the change in routine. A time of fresh starts, self‐evaluation and, for travel operators, the inevitable post‐holi day complaints.

Complaints from British tourists about Spain are particularly telling. “Topless

“Local shopkeepers shouldn’t be lazy and close in the afternoons because I of ten needed to buy things during ‘siesta’ time.”

Good grief! What’s up with these guys? I’d be more than happy to wait for shops to open late for some re gional pastries to eat on that sandy beach. Be cause it would mean I WAS having a holiday! (Handsome hunks, an extra bonus!)

Nora Johnson’s criti cally acclaimed psycho logical crime thrillers (www.nora‐johnson.net) all available online in cluding eBooks (€0.99; £0.99), Apple Books, au diobooks, paperbacks at Amazon etc. Profits to Cudeca cancer charity.

Noraistheauthorofpopularpsychological suspenseandcrimethrillersandafreelancejournalist.

Nora’s latest thriller.

Plan your life like your vacation

EMOTIONS WITH

BETINA VON HOHENDORFF

I WANT you to think about your life.

Do you have or have you had a plan for your entire life? Most of us don’t.

Why not? Good question.

Everyone will give an answer.

Most of them will be excuses. I don’t need to plan, or I don’t have the time.

The biggest excuse is always: I don’t have time.

My question:

Do you really not have time for the most important person in your life, YOU!!!!

You all plan our vacations in detail. You decide very carefully on the vacation location, the flight, the ho tel, renting a car, and book addition al excursions.

You know exactly what clothes to wear, what shoes to take, what first aid medicines to take, etc... Camera for the best memories, battery charger. Everything is very well planned. And before the trip ap pointments for, haircut, manicure,

pedicure etc...

So why not do the same some times for your life?

My advice:

Take time for yourself every morn ing and evening, a minimum 10 min utes before you start your day and finish your day, and be grateful for who you are, for what you achieved in your life until now.

Take time and write down what are your goals, that you want to achieve and put a deadline, when you want to achieve the goal.

Love Betina www.mindovers.com 0034­699 327 363

Haircare in changing seasons

Betty Henderson

MANY of us will be glad to bid farewell to summer hair woes like humidity causing uncon trollable hair and fighting to tame your windswept, salty hair after a day at the beach. However, autumn brings its own unique hair challenges for us to deal with. Changing weather can wreak havoc with your hair, but exercising a little extra care in your daily hair routine can keep your locks in prime condition.

Increased rainfall during au tumn and winter can cause un wanted frizz in your hair. Pro fessional hairdressers recommend using anti­frizz hair products before leaving the house and covering your hair if you are out in the rain.

Cooler temperatures can al so dry out your scalp. To avoid shedding hair or excess dan druff, you can try a hair mask or visit your local hairdresser for a deep conditioning treatment, your hair will thank you for it!

Some research has also proven scalp massages to re duce seasonal hair shedding and boosting moisture levels.

You can also increase mois ture in your hair by reducing how often you wash it. Avoid washing your hair every day as this strips the hair of its vital oils. Instead, hairdressers suggest using dry shampoo every once in a while instead of repeatedly washing your hair.

Without routine beach trips, many of us amp up our use of heat on hair during the winter. Experts advise against grabbing the straighteners or blow dryer every day to avoid split ends and damaged hair. If you must use heat, go ahead and apply a heat protective product first.

Plan your vacations in detail.

GO LOCAL

THE EURO WEEKLY NEWS has urged its readers to support local businesses in the community by shopping locally in recent times. Now things are heading back to normal, we challenge you to maintain that habit by supporting local high streets, markets, butchers, greengrocers and all of the wonderfully quirky inde pendent businesses in your area.

Local businesses make our villages, towns and cities

what they are. They add unique character. They are convenient. And they offer excellent produce from known suppliers. The joy of shopping locally means that independent businesses can support the local communi ty. You may find something a euro or two cheaper on line but have you consid ered where your money is actually going?

By shopping locally you’re putting food on a local fami ly’s table and there is noth

ing better than giving back to the communi ties that have given us so much. Local stores support charities and they sponsor lo cal sports teams. In many cases, they are much more than just a business, they’re a legacy. They may have supported generations of the same family. Likewise, brand new local stores and bars may help the genera tions of the future fulfil their dreams and ambitions.

Remember, your local store is going up against multinationals and chains. They can’t win that battle on their own. So give them

your support. Spending your money locally will make a real difference to the local economy. Local businesses recirculate a greater share of every euro they receive at local level. They create local ly owned supply chains and they invest in their employ ees.

So remember. When you go shoppinggo local!

BUY LOCAL: By shopping locally, independent businesses can help support the local community.

YOUR PAPER - YOUR VOICE - YOUR OPINION

Letters should be emailed to yoursay@euroweeklynews.com or make your comments on our website: euroweeklynews.com

Views expressed and opinions given are not necessarily those of the EWN publishers. No responsibility is accepted for accuracy of information, errors, omissions or statements.

NOT WORTH IT

YOU say in Our View (Issue 1942) that some argue that Putin has been pushed into supporting a referendum by NATO. I would go further and say that the leader of the ter rorist state that is Russia was handed a good excuse for its invasion when Zelensky re fused to renounce his ambi tion of leading his country into NATO and when that organi sation undertook to give him its full support...

Now Sweden and Finland, want to join NATO. If we wish to avert a nuclear war these three countries should revert to their neutral status as buffer states between East and West… It’s just not worth it for either side.

George Tunnell

Spot on Nora

I’M a regular visitor to Spain and I’m emailing you to say that I always enjoy reading your Breaking Views articles in the EWN whenever I’m here. They really cheer me up in these uncertain times. Thanks, Nora ‐ well done and keep it up!

Sam Wallace

A royal credit

I WOULD just like to write about the impeccable behav ior of the young royals during recent weeks and how well they have conducted them selves during such an upset ting time in their lives. The whole world watching and they did themselves, their family and the UK proud. Par ents raising spoilt little brats please take note.

S Barry

Refused cash

I AM a retired professor from Cork, Ireland. Each September from 2017, I spend my vacation at Playa Vera. This year I was more than surprised when the new cash machine from Bank inter refused to give me cash

from my euro account with Bank of Ireland. I tried on differ ent days with no results. I could check my bank account but not get cash. Local people with cards had no problem. It seems very stupid to exclude from ser vicing foreign tourists.

D N

OUR VIEW

EXCHANGE RATE SNAGS

THERE used to be a British slang term for 2/6d (12.5p to day) as half a dollar because for decades, the exchange rate between sterling and the US dollar was consistently four to the pound.

Now as sterling has plunged to a record low of almost one to one, imports from the USA will be more expensive although conversely, exports will become cheaper which may benefit the UK economy.

More to the point however is that even though the euro is also suffering against the dollar, it is still relatively strong against sterling and in the past week or so, the ex change rate has dropped from €1.19 or thereabouts to €1.11 to the pound.

Many British pensioners who have chosen to live in Spain will be receiving their state and private pensions in sterling and few have seen any advantage following British government support for energy bills as Spain is not consid ered cold enough to warrant the winter allowance.

With times of inflation, British pensioners are being hit twice as they are having to pay more for food and energy than ever before, but they are receiving less in the way of euros as they convert their pensions.

Add to this, the decision by some UK banks to close ac counts of some of those no longer resident in Britain and the situation gets worse, although many, provided that they are comfortable with the internet, are moving to on line banking with the new companies such as Revolut and others.

Those who still keep UK accounts would be well advised not to transfer funds direct but to use one of the many trust ed international payment companies as they offer much better rates of exchange than the banks.

Settling a dog into your life in Spain

BRINGING your dog with you to live in Spain is an exciting experience and can represent home comfort for new expats. But properly settling your pet into your new life and maintaining its well‐being is crucial to avoid long‐term health problems.

Here we list five top recommendations on how to adjust to life with your pooch in Spain!

1. Create a homely environment

Our number one tip for an easy transition to life with a dog in Spain is to create a cosy space for your dog. Keep hold of a familiar dog bed or blanket to get your dog settled quickly to a new environment. Tempera ture control is also im portant to avoid over heating.

2. Develop a routine Creating a routine can

Take advantage of Spain’s beaches for long dog walks!

Tips for travelling by train

NEWS of a pilot project allowing large dogs to travel on Renfe’s national rail network has pet owners across Spain excited about an easier way to transport their pets. Travelling with a dog can be a stressful experience, but fear not! Here we share some top tips from ex perts in the pet field on how to make journeys with your four‐legged companion as smooth as possible.

1. Hydration is key!

Taking a thirsty dog on a busy train is a recipe for disaster. Bring a container with enough water for your journey to avoid issues such as dehydration and irritability in your pet.

2. Use space effectively

If your dog has a fear of unfamiliar people, you should avoid crowded areas on the train. Spanish train operator, Renfe, requires you to book seats and spaces on the train which can

Photo credit: amfroey: shutterstock.com

help dogs to adjust to a new home and avoid dis orientation. In Spain, dogwalkers are blessed with a lengthy coastline and mountain trails to establish a regular walk ing route.

3. Get walking!

There are many rea sons you may be unable to walk your dog such as work commitments or mobility issues. You can find a pet sitter or walk er in your area using the internet to guarantee regular, substantial ex ercise for your dog.

Advertising Feature

easier to settle your pet into a new life and to be socially fulfilled. Social media groups can match pet owners up to walk dogs together or mind each other’s pets during holidays.

5. Clean up!

Council fines are be coming increasingly common for dog‐walkers who don’t clean up after their four‐legged friends. Carry supplies and take advantage of council schemes such as one in Torrevieja issuing pick up bags for free.

help to avoid overcrowding. Book well in ad vance for peace of mind.

3. Exercise where you can

Travelling long distances by train can make even the most seasoned traveller restless. En sure that you give your dog a walk before catching the train or afterwards. If you have connections between journey, even walking your dog up and down the platform can stave off restlessness.

4. Be considerate of others

Even if you have a sociable dog, pet charity, Blue Cross, advises that you keep away from other dogs and other passengers given the un familiar circumstances.

5. Get comfy!

If you have a long journey ahead, bring sup plies such as a blanket for your pooch to sit on or a small treat. A little familiarity can keep dogs from feeling overwhelmed.

Having friends with pets can make it a lot

Imaging technology is critical for adequate diagnosis and staging in human and veterinary oncology

SENSITIVE detection of lesions is necessary to de termine appropriate therapy and to monitor ther apeutic results. New technology in digital radiog raphy, ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) and MRI scanning are now widely available in vet erinary medicine. Diagnostic imaging plays an es sential role in the diagnostic workup and/or stag ing of small animal cancer patients. For some tumours, it is also an essential tool for surgical and radiation therapy planning.

CT is often the preferred method to evaluate a variety of cancers including lung cancer, thoracic, abdominal and bone tumoors as the images allow confirming the presence of a tumoor, measure its size, precise location and the extent of the tu moor’s involvement with other nearby tissues. MRI is especially useful in imaging the brain and spine, as well as the soft tissue of joints and struc tures of bones.

High‐quality diagnostic imaging plays an impor tant role in providing an accurate diagnosis, which is why Anicura Marina Baixa Veterinary Hospital has heavily invested in the best, state‐of‐the‐art imaging equipment in veterinary medicine.

4. Make like‐minded friends

DRAINS

GATES

LOCKSMITHS

GRILLS

PAINTERS/DECORATORS

MOTORING

& STORAGE

HAIR & BEAUTY

PLUMBING POOL MAINTENANCE

J & J PAINTERS. Insideoutside - clean - fast - low cost. Torrevieja - Orihuela Costa and surrounding ar eas. Tel: 650 363 159 (294244)

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS IS ALCOHOL COSTING YOU MORE THAN MONEY? Drinking to ex cess not only affects your health it can spill over into every other aspect of your life – damaging everything that is important to you. English-speaking AA meet ings are held throughout the Costa Blanca from Valencia City to Murcia. Anyone wishing to at tend a meeting or discuss a pos sible drinking problem contact Costa Blanca North: 648 169 045 or Costa Blanca South: 625 912 078 or Costa Calida 679 385 105 All calls are treat ed in the strictest confidence. AA in German: 645 456 075; Spanish: 679 212 535; Flemish: 635 047 053; and Scandinavian: 659 779 222. www. aa-costablanca.org (93323)

members and non-members on 966 723 733 (95456)

INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN ASSEMBLY, TORREVIEJA Calle Beniajan 16, Torrevieja 03185, Alicante Evangelical non-denom inational church. Sunday morn ing Services at 11.00am. All na tionalities welcome - Contact 966 752 543 / 966 799 273. For other church matters phone: 966 799 273 / /617 215 463 www.icatorrevieja.org (95476)

LA SIESTA EVANGELICAL CHURCH on Urbanisation La Siesta, Torrevieja is a friendly, English speaking church. For more information, including de tails of our services, see our website www.lasiestaevangeli calchurch.org (10005)

ROYAL BRITISH LEGION Gran Alacant & La Marina Branch. For info, contact the branch Secre tary at granalacant.secretary@ rbl.community

ROYAL MARINES ASSOCIA TION (Costa Blanca) The aim of the Association is to bring to gether not just ex Royal Marines, but ex Service person nel with an affinity to the Royal Marines. For further details con tact Hon Sec P S Wilkins Tel: 966 194 158 email: inkin spain@yahoo.co.uk (10004)

MR FIXIT. For all your electri cal, plumbing, general & appli ance & boiler repairs. No call out charge. 698 320 434 (290228)

INSURE YOU FOR UP TO A €1,000 OF WATERLOSS. CALL 686 116 297 (WHAT SAPP TO) OR VISIT www.sosinsurancein spain.com or email tracey@sosinsurancein spain.com (301159)

WANTED Gold, Silver, Rolex & Patek Philippe Watches Tel –678 716 693 (288662)

PRIVATE collector will buy your Gold, Rolex & Patek Philippe Watches Tel – 678 716 693 (288662)

CAMPELLO CONTRA CANCER in conjunction with AECC Associ ation Español Contra Cancer. Please support your local Cancer charity and if you wish to obtain literature or simply talk to some one. Please contact Mina or Tr isha. Tel 650 071 278 or 610 921 413 e-mail aecc_campe llo@hotmail.com (95475)

CANCER SUPPORT GROUP (MABS) MURCIA/MAR MENOR Help and support is just a phone call away, Avda Rio Nalón, Tel: 693 275 779 (95462)

CHURCH SERVICE IN ENGLISH Tel: 950 617 549 www.giving light.com.(10006)

FREEMASONRY . Are you aware that Freemasonry is thriv ing on the Costa Blanca? There are various Lodges meetings up throughout the Valencia re gion. If you already are a Mason or simply wish to know more about Freemasonry in Spain please contact sec@glpvalencia. com Tel 600 841 064 (95477)

PHILIP SCOTT LODGE No 10671 of the RAOB. Please call the secretary, Colin Bird on 693 287 614 for further information. (95459)

PILAR CHRISTIAN COMMUNI TY CHURCH. All welcome from any church background or none. For further information, www. pilarchurch.org Reg No: 2009SG/A (95463)

ROYAL Air Force Association Costa Blanca Registered Mem bers Group: The RAFA Costa Blanca RMG replaces the RAFA Costa Blanca Branch 1359 which is now closed. The RMG is a so cial group of caring people and remains affiliated to the parent Association. Contact with the Royal Air Force Association and the RMG can be made via the RAFA website rafa.org.uk Tel:0044 800 018 2361. (238593)

ROYAL NAVAL ASSOCIATION For information please contact Chairman Anthony Jenk ins +34693866709, Vice Chair man Dusty Miller +34 711 006 670, Secretary Mike Cock man +34 670224822, Treasurer Carl Louden +34678518202, email rnatorrevieja@aol.com (95455)

STROKE ASSOCIATION Spain (formally known as Torrevieja stroke support) Our aim is to help and sup- port stroke sur vivors and their carers, with re habilitation, speech therapy, OC therapy and a very active social group. For info please contact 653 588 475 English and 620 907 474 Spanish or email strokesupportgroup@ hotmail.com, website: torrevie jastrokesupport.org. We are al ways looking for volunteers who have the skills and knowledge to support. (95473)

PERSONAL TRAINER, WEIGHT LOSS, TONING, RE SULTS GUARANTEED. CERTI FIED WITH 30 YEARS EXPERI ENCE. FORMER US KICKBOX CHAMPION. CALL 747 438 225 (301319)

BENEFICIAL INSURANCE SER VICES. Car, Home, Business, Travel, Life, Funeral, all insur ances available. Policies in En glish. BEST rates, covers & ser vice. Immediate quotes. Tel 961 129 215 / 622 275 561, (What sApp) info@beneficialinsuran ceinspain.com or visit www.be neficialinsuranceinspain.com for online quote. (301135)

STAY SAFE! Abbeygate Insur ance Call 971 277 455 For your security www.abbeygatein sure.com

GOLD & SILVER Bought & Sold, Rolex & Patek Philippe Watches Tel – 678 716 693 (288662)

WE buy, sell & transport all makes of static caravans for more information contact 630 055 418 or Elsyd7@hotmail.com (294686)

CARE home in Torrevieja, full care, full board from €800 per month. Call 747 438 225 (295552)

HELP VEGA BAJA. We are a non-profit making organisation that helps and supports anyone, without prejudice, in times of need or crisis within the Vega Baja area. Our offices are based in San Miguel at Calle Lope de Vega 46 (Tel 966 723 733), Tor revieja at Rambla Juan Mateo Garcia 4 (Tel 965 704 282). We are online at www.helpvegaba ja.com and also on Facebook. You can email the San Miguel Centre at office@helpvega baja.com. We also have a 24hour Emergency helpline which is available to both

ROYAL BRITISH LEGION - Why not make this year the year you volunteer? See how you can help either as a caseworker (with full training) or as a Tele phone Buddy. We also visit ben eficiaries who are housebound or in hospital. If you feel you could support us here in Spain, and you have a Spanish phone number then why not email us for more info tbuddyhhvisits@ gmail.com. If you or your part ner served or are serving, and you feel you need help or sup port then contact us using the details on the card, we are here for the small things as well as the big, sometimes talking to someone is the first step to feel ing more in control. It can be a personal need or some help with your home or information on what or who to speak to on a medical issue, we help with signposting if we cannot help di rectly, just call and have a chat with Pam who will try to guide you to where you need to be. If you would like to go to a branch meeting then find your nearest one at, http://branches.britishle gion.org.uk/branches/orihuelacosta - covering from Punta Pri ma to San Javier. More info can be found on branch website www.orihuelacostarbl.co.uk. (95457)

THE AIRCREW ASSOCIATION COSTA BLANCA BRANCH. For mer & serving aircrews of the UK or Allied Armed Forces are welcome to join this convivial & friendly organisation, now in its 21st year. www.acacostablan ca.org or call the Secretary on: 966 495 042 (95465)

THE ANGLICAN CHURCH, La Fustera. For more info: contact Frank Bentley on 966 495 188. (95461)

THE BAKER Foundation Spiri tual Centre Playa Flamenca. Calle Luis Gordillo, 1 Playa Fla menca Alicante 03189. You can join us on Facebook, The Baker Foundation spiritual centre. Or contact Linda Schug Tel. 606 990 665 for more details (95458)

THE PATIENCE LODGE No 2177 of the R.A.O.B Please call Secretary Dave Tonge on 688 704 091 for further information. (253807)

THE SPIRITUALIST CENTRE, Benijofar meets at Hamilton´s Bake House, 62 Calle Vicente, Blasco Ibañez, Benijofar 03178. We hold a Sunday Sevrice at 11.30am. For further informa tion: www.spiritualidtcentre -benijofar.com . Telephone 711060171. Email martindroute 66@hotmail.com . Fiscal G54713789

BATHROOM & KITCHEN Con versions Costa Blanca, contact 698 320 434. (291660)

FED UP OF NOT BEING SENT YOUR RENEWAL? CUT YOUR INSURANCE COSTS AND STILL HAVE 100% COVER. YOU HAVE TRIED THE REST NOW TRY THE BEST WITH SOS IN SURANCE. WE CAN EVEN

ELECTRICIAN

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 952 147 834. (200726)

EASYHORSE CARE RESCUE CENTRE. We aim to rescue HORSES. If you would like to DONATE please call 965 967 033 or sales@easyhorsecare.net www.easyhorsecare.net or call Sue 652 021 980 (95706)

MR FIXIT. For all your electri cal, plumbing, general & appli ance & boiler repairs. No call out charge. 698 320 434 (290228)

MOTORHOME / Campervan wanted. Left or right hand drive. Cash waiting for right van. Tlf 650 722 905

GATAMI ORGANISATION, to help kittens and cats, looking for good homes, also spaying wild cats in the community. Kittens require adoption, fully vaccinat ed, de-wormed, de-flead. volun teers to Tel Anna: 966 806 976 / 654 729 977 (95709)

POOL MAINTENANCE Repairs, Spares and Leak Testing. Call 965 725 565 / 676 945 360 www.pooltechspain.com (289147)

FED UP PAYING TOO MUCH FOR YOUR MOBILE PHONE CALLS? THEN CONTACT TELITEC TODAY. CALLS TO SPAIN 7C PER MINUTE INCLUD ING MOBILES. CALLS TO UK 5.3C PER MINUTE. NO MONTH LY FEES, NO CONTRACT. WWW.TELITEC.COM TEL: 902 889 070 (2001)

FRENCH ELÉGANTE naughty, slim, elegant, sexy Sophie. 3 languages spoken. Visit all ar eas, also private apartment in Villamartin. 693 357 526 (295405)

SPANISH lady - classic. Playa Flamenca, private house, 40 years, attractive. All erotic ser vices, massage, sexy lingerie. From €40. Ana 657 603 495 (295475)

Massage for Men - 7 days 10AM to 10PM - APPOINT MENTS visit: www.masajeyre lax.es/en or WHATSAPP 649 761 607 (296490)

LA ZENIA Incall or outcall Sen sual Massage service offered for men by either an English Male or a Male/ Female couple. Out calls within 15km of La Zenia area. Call or Whatsapp 711 059 849 (301279)

PIANO , Keyboard, Organ, Qualified Teacher. Please call 606 984 535 (294805)

INTERNATIONAL SKIPPER LI

CENCE: Courses held in English and starts soon. RYA VHF and Radar Courses. 626 245 098

P.E.P.A. VOLUNTEERS & FOS TER HOMES URGENTLY NEED ED. By fostering an abandoned dog or spending a few hours each week on our telephone helpline, you could help save the lives of many animals. Please call: 650 304 746. For more in formation browse our website: www.pepaspain.com (95708)

TAILOR-MADE in durable can vas, pergola covers, sails, car port, umbrella, spa and CAR COVERS. Mazarron based, and at Procomobel, Guardamar peri odically. Also Google Kruger Canopies.com. Online and mail ordering 667 879 399 kruger canopies@yahoo.co.uk

SPAMA GANDIA SHELTER. Dog and cat rescue registered chari ty, La Safor area. 500 animals awaiting re-homing. Phone Gail 962 896 118. Visit our website for directions. www.spama.org and view our new blog at www.spama-safor.blog.com.es PLEASE HELP US TO HELP THEM (95707)

Please note that in Spain there is NO legislation ban ning adverts in this section. Neither regional nor national governments are able to pass such a law due to rules governing freedom of publi cation and printing.

READERS OF A SENSITIVE DISPOSITION MAY FIND SOME OF THE ADVERTISE MENTS IN THIS SECTION OFFENSIVE.

TORREVIEJA CENTRE Girls big ass, tits & transvestite big cocks. Credit cards accepted. 24hr appointments 691 128 099 (293695)

ATTRACTIVE, Girlfriend, Es cort, Professional Masseuse. Tel: 693 357 526 (295448)

LA ZENIA AREA Busty English Masseuse offering erotic mas sage and lots more. Incalls at discrete apartment. Outcalls within 20kms of La Zenia. Call 711 041 330 (301279)

EXPERIENCE the best with a 1hr unique massage with Veron ica. Shaving or permanent hair removal available. For appoint ments call 679 292 678 (295446)

KAMAGRA Gold 100mg plus Kamagra Jellies. Collection or Delivery. Roy – 602 579 481 (295447) tp

Male/Female viagra, cialis, ka magra jelly, mixed trial packs available, all areas mail or der. 604 385 476. viagra4you19@gmail.com

RELAXING MASSAGE FOR MEN - Mario qualified masseur in Alicante - Special

Honda Civic e:HEV Hybrid - a clean start

Facts

byMarkSlack

HONDA’S Civic has been celebrating its 50th year and 11th generation as one of the Japanese car makers most iconic models. As with most cars, from all man ufacturers, the rise of the SUV means that hatchbacks are not as popular as they once were, but the Civic remains a clever and different choice.

In its newest form, and with hybrid power, it still possesses the quality build for which Honda has become renowned. The car maker has taken an evolutionary rather than revolutionary approach to evolving the Civic’s design.

Externally it’s a cleaner and more svelte, less fussy looking

car, while inside there is a clear and simple dash layout that in volves buttons in addition to the now seemingly obligatory digitisation.

Prices start from €33,750/ £29,595 and peak at €37,627 /£32,995, and the entry level model comes with a plethora of standard equipment rang ing from heated front seats and keyless start and go

through to intelli gent cruise control and high beam headlight assist. It’s a ful some list!

Three trim levels are all powered by a single engine choice of a 2.0‐litre petrol unit that comes with hybrid power to deliver 184PS with the benchmark 62 mph passed in under eight seconds and 60mpg, along with low emis

sions. The unit is mated to an e‐CVT automatic gearbox and this type of transmission has a characteristic of the en gine revs rising significantly while you wait for your speed to catch up. It’s down to a cer tain way of driving to get a less vocal performance, but the new Civic has a clever gearbox that’s primed to drop the revs as would happen in a normal

gear change. This leads to a more refined performance on the transmission front.

On the road the aforemen tioned gearbox is a huge im provement on not just Hon da’s previous efforts but on most other examples of this kind of gearbox. It handles well, as you might expect from a Civic, and has super smooth transitions between petrol and electric power. Being a self‐

charging hybrid it alleviates any range or charging worries and for this writer the best way to dip your tyres into the world of EV motoring.

If you need your motoring to offer space and practicality to ferry the family, but want something more interesting, a bit of a different and a more in telligent choice, then the Civic Hybrid could well be the trans port for you.

HONDA CIVIC: Could be the transport for you.

‘Spirit of Carrera RS’ exhibition

FIFTY years after its world pre miere, the Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 is still unique and unfor gettable and an undisputed icon of automotive history. In its honour, a special exhibition ‘Spirit of Carrera RS’ will be held at the Porsche museum from Tuesday September 20.

When the RS was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show on October 5, 1972, it was the first series‐production car in the world with front and rear spoil

ers. The requirements for the 911 base vehicle for racing and rallying were clearly defined: light and fast were the watch words.

To achieve the objectives, Hans Mezger and Valentin Schaffer developed the 2.7‐litre six‐cylinder boxer engine with fuel injection from the ground up. In the Sport ver sion, the 210‐PS, 960‐kilogram Coupe went from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.8 seconds and

topped out at almost 245 km/h. The precise aerodynam ics designed back then with racing cars in mind still make the RS unique today.

The Porsche Museum tells the story of the RS and its rac ing cousin, the RSR, not only through the cars and anec dotes but also with films, pho tos, racing posters, and interac tive features. Visitors can, for example, put together their own custom RS by turning the

model, detail and colour wheel of a kaleidoscope. At the cen tre of the special exhibition is a bright yellow 911 Carrera RS 2.7 in Touring spec, as well as a rare metallic green prototype.

The Porsche Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, from 9am to 6pm. The current health and hygiene regulations can be found on the website: www.porsche.com/germany/ aboutporsche/porschemuse um.

Spain’s speeding motorcyclists

AT the start of September a special traffic vigilance campaign relating to the be haviour of motorcyclists has been carried out by the Directorate‐General for Traffic (DGT). This resulted in a total of 14,990 rid ers being surveilled and 492 riders receiv ing fines.

This campaign was carried out in collabo ration with the different councils of the na tional territory. According to the DGT, the sanctioned riders committed a variety of traffic offences, of which, speeding was the most notable.

Of the 492 complaints filed by the DGT,

112 were related to speeding, with 98 of these detected on conventional roads. The other 14 were riders caught speeding on motorways. All the riders guilty of speeding received fines, which rose in amount de pending on the excess speed being commit ted.

Exceeding the limit by 30kph per hour is punishable with a fine of €100 without a loss of points to the licence. The more this margin is exceeded, the more the price of the fine increases, going up to €600, and a deduction of six points.

The second infraction for which motorcy

clists were sanctioned the most was not keeping the ITV up‐to‐date. In this regard, there were 63 fines issued. What was most worrying for the DGT were the 36 motorcy clists who were detected driving under the influence of alcohol (31) and other drugs (5).

Another 17 were sanctioned for not wearing a helmet or doing so improperly, with 14 more fined for riding either negli gently or recklessly.

“They are very dangerous behaviours if we take into account that this year, up until September 15, 182 motorcyclists have al ready lost their lives,” pointed out the DGT.

PORSCHE CARRERA: Unique and unforgettable

NARROW MAZARRON DERBY WIN FOR LOS AMIGOS

MAZARRON was the venue for this end of sea son ‘local derby’ be tween Los Amigos de Mazorron and Camposol.

On yet another hot sunny day the teams en joyed the rare experi ence of playing Walking Football on real grass.

It was an entertaining match in the sun which the Los Amigos ‘Redboys’ defeated Camposol by three goals to two.

Both teams played with great enthusiasm biding by walking foot ball rules though as al

ways one or two forgot themselves and were caught out running... the cardinal sin of walking football.

Penalties were missed by both sides.

However the match was played in such good spirit that during the well earned after match drinks, plans were made to make it an annual end of season event.

The return will be host ed by Camposol on pitch sector D on Saturday Oc tober 15, 2pm kick off. Thanks go to Mazarron FC for making the pitch available and Pedro for the preparations.

NEW BOYS THADER

WIN AGAIN

Recently formed and new to Walking Football CF Thader (see photo)

recorded their second win when they visited Santa Pola WMFC for a friendly fixture.

The heat did not affect the teams with both playing attractive foot ball at a good tiempo. Thader took an early lead and looked set to dominate the game.

However a breakaway by Pola resulted in an equaliser for the home

team.

The game flowed end to end with both teams adapting the right spirit while going for the win. Ultimately Thader were the eventual winners by five goals to four.

Two games for Thader and wins in both are a great confidence boost er.

League Champions Por tobello Campoverde are

hosting an Open Day on Saturday October 22, 11am to 1pm at the Polideportivo, Pilar de la Hordadada.

More details in next week’s edition of the Eu ro Weekly News.

For all Walking Football news make sure you get your copy of the Euro Weekly News , avid sup porters of walking foot ball.

CAMPOSOL: Played in the end of season ‘local derby’.

THADER: The recently formed team won again.