Costa Blanca North 29 December • 4 January 2022 Issue 1956 by Euro Weekly News Media S.A.

LOCAL SUPPORTERS

FANTASTIC is how the recent HELP International charity event that took place on Friday, December 16, at the Dilligaf Bar in Benidorm has been described.

Proprietors, Tim and Debs, organised the entire event so all the charity had to do was turn up and have fun.

HELP would like to say a big thank you to Leroy Smokes and Jill Ryan for their brilliant performances. Thanks are also due to Diane FindlayCraig of the Royal Britsh Legion for her contributions and support and, of course, a huge thank you to the hosts for all their hard work making the event the success it was.

The total raised was a brilliant €731.45.

The money raised was donated to HELP International which consists of volunteers. HELP use the donations for the upkeep of mobility equipment and administration costs. All of their equipment is loaned out free of charge (with a returnable deposit).

HELP International also have oxygen machines

that are loaned out for people with breathing difficulties such as COPD, as hiring one of these machines can be very costly.

The charity also supports people by translating at medical appointments at surgeries and hospitals. Whilst the charity does not charge for these appointments, the

volunteers are reimbursed for their fuel expenses.

HELP also support people applying for Spanish benefits, as well as UK benefits that they may be entitled to and are often not aware of. They also make donations to various charities on a regular basis. The main one of

late has been the homeless food project (Project4All).

EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM FREE • GRATIS Issue No. 1956 29 Dec 2022 - 4 Jan 2023

COSTA BLANCA NORTH •

HAVING FUN: Debs and Tim (Dilligaf bar) with Jennifer and Jacqueline (HELP). Image: HELP International

THE group called Just Friends held their Christmas lunch on December 19 at Casa Lili Restaurant, just outside of Moraira, towards Benitachell and had a fabulous festive time.

The group originally started as Solos Unos about 10 years ago offering friendship and social

events for people who find themselves alone in the area.

The group has since evolved to ‘Just Friends’ a very apt description. The gentlemen of the group surprised the leader Jean Mudge with a big bunch of flowers and a lovely visit from Santa and his helpers,

as a token of their appreciation for all the hard work Jean puts in to organising various social activities and keeping everyone entertained throughout the year. The group would like to say a big thank you to Jean and are looking forward to what 2023 may bring.

JUST FRIENDS Fundraising throughout

AT the U3A Denia coffee morning, a cheque for €1,000 was presented by members of the committee, to the local Red Cross. The Red Cross Denia, was one of three chosen charities for 2022 which have received support from U3A members throughout the year. Red Cross Denia, Helping Hands and the Salvation Army.

The money has been collected throughout the year by holding raffles at various U3A events and the

sale proceeds of seat belt covers kindly made by the vice president

Cazzie Millington, along with sales proceeds of clothes kindly donated by members which were sold at the Original Charity Shop in Javea.

The U3A President, Richard Millington said that he was very pleased with how well the membership had supported chosen charities during the year and said a big thank you to all the members of U3A Denia.

EWN 29 Dec 2022 - 4 Jan 2023 euroweeklynews.com NEWS 2

Spreading some festive cheer

IN a bid to spread some Christmas cheer the town hall of Villajoyosa has brightened up its neighbourhood with the planting of 600 Christmas flowers.

The Barbera del Aragones park, the Mercat Central, the Plaza de la Generalitat, the Vila Vella, La Senda park, the gardens of the Llar del Pensionista, the Avenida Pianista Gonzalo Soriano and the Cala de la Vila Joiosa are some of the places where the work has been carried out. The councillor for Parks and Gardens, Kiko Carreres, said that “the town council wants the neighbourhoods of La Villajoyosa to enjoy the Christmas spirit by decorating all their parks and gardens with poinsettias.

“All the specimens of poinsettias and cyclamen planted this Christmas have been maintained by the municipal gardening service until they are placed in the different gardens, in order to reinforce the urban ornamentation on these special dates.”

Betty Henderson

MOTORISTS in Andalucia are preparing for changes as a renovation project gets underway to renumber kilometre markers on the A7. The motorway, which lines the east coast of the country, is set for changes to kilometre markers to avoid duplication.

The scheme began back on Tuesday, October 11, and affects portions of the road from Almeria to Algeciras. The Ministry of Transport embarked upon the project to avoid duplication of kilometre numbers between sections of the road from its start in La Junquera in northern Catalonia to its end in the Andalucian city of Algeciras. The new system means that the road’s first kilometre is at its northern start, ascending towards the 1,122nd kilometre which is at its southern end point in Algeciras.

ALICANTE City Council has launched the Christmas Bus, which residents will be able to use free to visit parts of the city where Christmas activities are taking place. The special line connects the city centre with the Town Hall Square with its huge tree of lights, the giant figures

Shifting gears

Various kilometre signs had to be changed in the south of the country including at Fuengirola, which changed from kilometre 210 to 1015, and La Herradura which changed from 305 to 960. The changes mean that businesses will need to update any address information which refers to the kilometre number markers which could confuse customers.

Residents should also take care to ensure that any visitors who may have been accustomed to the old system are aware of the new numbering convention.

Motorists took to Facebook over the Christmas holidays to remark on the changes and in

some cases, express confusion about the decision. Others were dismayed about the use of money, as the project cost more than €350,000, but authorities say the project is necessary to avoid confusion among emergency services and highway patrols.

The number changes date back to 2003 when sections of the older N340 were connected with the current A7 to create a faster nationwide highway. Kilometre numbers were not always updated, which resulted in the system which stood for almost 20 years, with some numbers duplicated throughout the country.

Free Christmas bus

of the Nativity Scene in the Explanada, the ice rink in the Plaza de Toros and the Seneca Square with the Christmas market.

The bus will run until January 6, from 9.00am until 10.30pm, every 15 minutes. The route will run along the Rambla, Plaza de Espana

(Panteon de Quijano), Plaza de los Luceros, Reyes Catolicos, Avenidas del Doctor Gadea and Federico Soto, and Portal de Elche.

EWN 29 Dec 2022 - 4 Jan 2023 4 euroweeklynews.com NEWS

Ready for the Fest

ED 1908 - JANUARY

BENIDORM’S mayor Toni Perez has urged the Valencian Community’s Sun and Sand municipalities to join forces.

Perez invited 19 other Valencian Community mayors from tourist municipalities to a meeting during the Fitur tourism trade fair in Madrid. Despite the different political orientation of many of the mayors, practically all attended.

“Confronted with the new challenges we all face, the best way to achieve our aims and reach our targets is by working handinhand, unifying operations,” read the document that accompanied Perez’s invitation.

Time for alliances

an example of “public cogovernance” and said he was convinced that this was the route to follow. “We have reached a moment of great transformation and the Valencian Community’s leading Sun and Sea destinations cannot get left behind,” Perez insisted.

ED 1906 - JANUARY

BENIDORM Town Hall and state broadcaster Radio Television Española (RTVE) have finalised their Benidorm Fest agreement.

The resort has been chosen for the threeday festival held between January 26 and 29 to select Spain’s entry for the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest, and the town hall is contributing €200,000 to the technical and artistic teams’ accommodation and travel costs, revealed Benidorm’s mayor Toni Perez.

This first edition of the Benidorm Fest will have a significant economic repercussion, Perez said, with an estimated 2,000 overnight stays.

“We are currently working to ensure that this will impact on local businesses as well as the accommodation

sector,” the mayor added. The festival, which will be held on January 26, 27 and 29 at the L’Illa sports complex, involves two semifinals and a final that are to be transmitted live. They will be presented by 80s’ pop icon Alaska, journalist and television celebrity Maximo Huerta and comedienne Ines Hernand.

The town hall, RTVE and the Generalitat have been collaborating on the Benidorm Fest since last July, Toni Perez declared.

Everything has been prepared to ensure that their combined efforts will be an artistic and musical success where everyone could enjoy culture “in safety,” the mayor said.

The Song Contest itself will be held in Turin (Italy) on May 14, preceded by two semifinals on May 10 and 12.

The association’s objectives would include creating ‘a space for reflection and debate’ where members could share

experiences and knowledge, progressing via common strategies adapted to each tourist destination. Thanking the mayors who attended the meeting, Perez emphasised the opportunities resulting from an alliance of the Valencian Community’s Sun and Sea tourist destinations.

“We are cities, towns and

municipalities used to attending in some cases all year round and in others at certain periods to a population much larger than the municipal Padron,” Perez pointed out. “This we can overcome with public and municipal efforts.”

Following the meeting, Benidorm’s mayor argued that the future association would set

“The debate on funding is neverending, but at present there are great opportunities from Europe, via the Spanish and autonomous governments, which are directed at tourism,” he added.

“Alliances and associations will provide the means of using influence to obtain benefits for us all,” Perez predicted.

EWN 29 Dec 2022 - 4 Jan 2023 5 BEST OF THE YEAR euroweeklynews.com

MADRID MEETING: Valencian Community mayors discussed joining forces. EUROVISION DATE: Toni Perez announcing Benidorm Fest last July. Photo credit: Benidorm town hall

ED 1909 - FEBRUARY

BENIDORM FEST, the recent series of television galas to select Spain’s Eurovision entry, also put Benidorm in the spotlight. The state broadcaster RTVE’s daily coverage included morning, afternoon and evening programmes linked to the Eurovision selection process.

In one of these, La Gran Consulta, Benidorm’s mayor Toni Perez appeared with the Levante beach in the background, allowing him to draw attention to the resort’s attractions and, in particular, the microclimate responsible for its consistently benign weather.

Herick Campos, director general of the Valencia region’s Tourist Board, was also present, as the Valencian Community’s regional government, the Generalitat, collaborated with RTVE and Benidorm on staging Benidorm Fest.

Audiences attending the two semifinals and the final that produced the song and artist to represent Spain in Turin next May had to be reduced down to 500 for each

Benidorm publicity

performance, owing to the pandemic.

To compensate for the restricted numbers, four giant screens were installed along

the Levante beach promenade so that nobody had to miss the final on January 29.

Meanwhile, Costa Blanca hoteliers’ association Hosbec

admitted in the Spanish media that in the week preceding the galas held in the l’Illa sports centre, increased hotel occupancy owed more to the presence of technical crews, the artists, their entourages and media than to the public.

Baring all for charity

ED 1910 - FEBRUARY

MIRAMIRROR hair and beauty lounge in Moraira teamed up with American Bike Rental & Bar to raise much needed funds for Its All About The Children Preventorio De Gandia children’s home by getting involved in this year’s cheeky but tasteful calendar.

The calendar features local women brave enough to bare all to raise money for orphans and children in need.

American Bike Rental & Bar announced on its Facebook page that an amazing €5,310 was raised which will be used to help the children’s home.

Both businesses have also collaborated in their King & Queen promotion, which includes a pamper session that offers something for both ‘him’ and ‘her’ and a fourhour ride on a Harley. More information can be found on this charitable offer by contact

ing MiraMirror.

MiraMirror said the team “will be continuing to work closely with the fabulous Lauren and Danny from American Bike Rental & Bar on further exciting events… We are proud to be part of the community here in the beautiful Costa Blanca.”

EWN 29 Dec 2022 - 4 Jan 2023 6 euroweeklynews.com BEST OF THE YEAR

BRAVE WOMEN: Raising money for children in need. ED 1914 - MARCH

began as a small walking group last October when Angela Skinner first arrived in Altea.

Newlyarrived after working in Dubai and Vietnamthat’s a story for another dayshe believed it would be a good way of making friends,

Lions

ED 1912 - MARCH

TEULADAMORAIRA LIONS raise money throughout the year through their charity shop and organising events.

In turn, this allows them to support local individuals and charities as and when the need arises. Throughout the pandemic, they have been particularly concerned for those whose income has been impacted by lockdown, enforced closure or loss of trade.

The Lions also work regularly with their local branch of Caritas in Moraira.

“The Caritas organisation says that they like to think the world is a town inhabited by more than seven billion neighbours who know and help each other,” explained the Lions’ press officer Helen Chapman. “What a lovely idea!”

One of the ways in which they do this is by providing food for families in need.

Although Caritas have their own donors and largely supply those in need themselves, from time to time issues arise

and she soon found that she was right, Angela told the Euro Weekly News Numbers have crept up and the group now has around 180 members, Angela said.

who walk

“As a nutritionist and lifestyle coach, connection and community play a big part in what I do. A healthy diet and lifestyle are essential, but having fun and laughing with likeminded people are

just as essential,” she declared.

Around 40 members they are mainly British, although the mix of nationalities reflects Altea’s cosmopolitan population set out on twice

weekly walks along the seafront between La Olla and Albir beach, Angela said.

“We all walk at a different rate and there is always time to chat, have fun and build up the relationships that are just as vital to healthy living as eating wisely and taking exercise,” she added.

Given the group’s rapid growth and popularity, An

gela will soon start organising events that will include lunches out and workshops on preparing appetising meals, amongst other projects.

“Wholesome food and sensible eating can be delicious too,” said Angela who loves what she does and is passionate about banishing the idea that a healthy lifestyle needs to be boring.

for one reason or another.

“TeuladaMoraira Lions are always ready to help out whenever we can,” Helen said.

In recognition of the Lions’ support, Caritas organised a presentation outside the Lions’ Den Charity Shop.

To learn more about the TeuladaMoraira Lions visit their www.tmlions.com website, or pop into the Lions Den Charity shop in the Centro Comercial, Moraira, just past the fountain roundabout on the MorairaTeulada road.

EWN 29 Dec 2022 - 4 Jan 2023 7 BEST OF THE YEAR euroweeklynews.com

LOCAL LADIES MARINA BAJA

Ladies

• Diagnostic imaging and ultrasound Rx • Clinical tests and serological tests, internal medicine, parasitology • Soft Tissue Surgery and Traumatology • Ethology, behavioural disorders and animal behaviour • Physiotherapy, acupuncture, custom recovery and Healing touch • Ophthalmology • Dentistry and dental surgery & more • Import - Export

work

with Caritas

THE Generalitat has lifted all regional Covid 19 restrictions, although smoking is still vetoed on terraces.

Speaking after the latest interdepartment meeting on Thursday March 24, President Ximo Puig announced that unless circumstances were to change it was likely

that this would also be the last.

“All the indicators confirm that the pandemic situation has stabilised and we can begin talking about the start of a new era,” he said.

Patients have their say New era begins

The limitations imposed

on the hospitality, leisure and nightlife sectors as well as concerts and sports activities have all gone, although face masks are still required in interiors, on public transport or at crowded events and gatherings where social distancing is unfeasible.

The Covid pass also disappears and will no longer be required for visiting care homes and social centres.

“Thanks to the population’s sense of coresponsibility, the Valencian Community is in the best of conditions to embark on a new phase of maximum normality but maximum care,” Puig said.

Hospitals had few Covid patients and almost 94 per cent of over12s were vaccinated.

But as he has throughout the pandemic, Puig called for caution. “Masks have allowed us to save lives and once they are no longer obligatory it will still be advisable to wear them in some places,” he added.

ED 1919 - APRIL

REPRESENTATIVES from 30 Marina Alta patients’ association recently attended the first meeting of the Denia Health District’s Patients Council.

The council has been created to open new communication channels between patients, their families and the Denia Health District (DSD), explained the DSD’s manager, Dr Javier Palau.

It will focus on communicating patients’ needs and those of their families, providing details of the different associations’ programmes and proposals for improving patient care, amongst other issues.

The council also provides an opportunity for an -

nouncing new initiatives on the part of the hospital, associations and public bodies while encouraging public participation by listening to the patients’ groups, and in turn providing them with information, Dr Palau said.

As the first meeting came to an end, he

thanked all the representatives for attending, emphasising the DSD’s commitment to patients and to society.

“This Patients Council will establish joint areas between the Health District and the associations, creating a mutually-beneficial forum,” he pledged.

ED 1917 - APRIL

PATIENTS COUNCIL: Dr Javier Palau, DSD manager, explains the initiative to patients’ association members.

EWN 29 Dec 2022 - 4 Jan 2023 euroweeklynews.com BEST OF THE YEAR 8

Photo credit: Marina Salud

Shining examples

ED 1921 - MAY

FINESTRAT and Guadalest recently received the certificates that officially named them Valencian Community Tourist Municipalities.

Francesc Colomer, who heads the Valencian Community’s Tourist Board, expressed his respect for the way in which both towns had been able to meet all the demands of the 2018 Tourist Municipality Statute. He also stressed the efforts that they were making to continue advancing as tourist destinations.

Visiting Finestrat, Colomer explained that the changes that the Generalitat introduced with the new statute not only sought to ‘count up tourists’ but to set the pattern for the tourist municipalities it wanted for the future.

As Finestrat prepared for its Mercat Gastronomic i Tradicional market on April 23 and 24, Colomer ex

plained that Finestrat was a prime example of how to transform the tourist model.

“Finestrat occupies a position on the frontline earned on its own merit by understanding that routine management is the last thing that is needed,” Colomer said.

That same day, Colomer also visited Guadalest to present the local mayor Enrique Ponsoda with the town’s own Tourist Municipality certificate.

“Localities like Guadalest correspond to the model of

the new tourist municipalities we wish to recognise,” Colomer said to the local mayor, Enrique Ponsoda.

In Guadalest’s case, the award was wellearned for sending out a message of hope for similar small inland towns, he added.

The Tourist Board chief also recognised that the town had directed its efforts towards “hospitality, sustainability, accessibility and digital transformation while working with the private sector.”

EWN 29 Dec 2022 - 4 Jan 2023 euroweeklynews.com BEST OF THE YEAR 10

FINESTRAT ATTRACTION: Visitors to the recent ‘Gastronomic and Traditional Market.’ Photo credit: Finestrat town hall

Tour in a million

ED 1929 - JUNE

ON June 24, Rhett Groom sets out to cycle the entire Tour de France route, one week ahead of the professionals.

Rhett, who is 54 coming up to 55 and a keen amateur cyclist, told the Euro Weekly News that he felt privileged to be joining Geoff Thomas MBE, a leukaemia survivor and a former England and Crystal Palace footballer. Rhett is one of the Tour 21 team of 19 cyclists, committed to covering more than 3,000 kilometres and finishing all 21 stages of the 2022 Tour de France, including ascents in three mountain ranges.

The team members are equally committed to raising £1 million (€1.17 million) for Britain’s Trials Acceleration Programme (TAP). This programme, which saved Geoff Thomas’s life, pioneers clinical trials for blood

cancer, linking patients from a catchment area of over 20 million to potentially life-saving options not currently available through standard care.

“I was inspired by last year’s Cure Leukaemia challenge and had to do it myself this year,” Rhett said, shortly before leaving for Copenhagen where this year’s Tour begins. South African born Rhett came to the UK in 2003 and now lives in Okehampton in De-

von. He has a holiday home in the Jalon Valley where he and his wife have been living for several months while he trains two or three times a week with Gandiabased cycling coach Paul Lowry .

To donate, follow the Rhett Groom is fundraising for Cure Leukaemia (justgiv ing.com ) link. All funds raised will be invested directly into the national Trials Acceleration Programme (TAP).

EWN 29 Dec 2022 - 4 Jan 2023 11 BEST OF THE YEAR euroweeklynews.com

Linda Hall TOUR PREPARATIONS: Rhett Groom with cycling coach Paul Lowry. Photo credit: Rhett Groom

ED 1934 - JULY

Hall

BENIDORM FEST will again be part of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2023.

The Costa Blanca resort will, with the collaboration of state broadcaster RTVE and the Generalitat, host the series of televised galas to choose Spain’s entry for next year’s festival.

Maria Eizaguirre, RTVE’s Communications director, recently confirmed that the two galas and grand finale would be held between January 29 and February 4.

The announcement came during the official presentation of Benidorm Fest 2023 in Paseo de Tamarindos on the Poniente beach, when Eizaguirre also revealed that singer Monica Naranjo would again be one of the presenters.

“Dreams returned with Benidorm Fest 2022 at a complicated time owing to the pandemic,” said Benidorm’s mayor Toni Perez on signing the collaboration agreement with regional president Ximo Puig and RTVE’s president Jose Manuel Perez Tornero.

Perez also drew attention to the importance of the town hall’s collaboration with the Generalitat and RTVE on launching a new brand that combined the essence of what

Ready for 2023

Benidorm had done for culture music in the past, referring to the Benidorm Song Festival which began in 1959 and was last held in 2006.

“The first edition of

Benidorm Fest exceeded our expectations and our dreams,” regional president Ximo Puig admitted, during the presentation.

It was a huge operation for music, for Benidorm,

for the Generalitat and for RTVE and also provided great leverage for the participants,” Puig said.

“The 2023 edition will be unforgettable,” he predicted.

Linda

EWN 29 Dec 2022 - 4 Jan 2023 13 BEST OF THE YEAR euroweeklynews.com

BENIDORM FEST: Mayor Toni Perez signs collaboration agreement with Ximo Puig and Jose Manuel Perez Tornero. Photo credit: Benidorm town hall

DEAR Clients and Friends,

It seems like it was yesterday when the deadline for submitting your NONRESIDENT TAX RETURNS

was so far away and yet the Holiday Season has suddenly arrived.

We hope to have met our clients’ expectations when dealing with their

MARRIAGES AND DIVORCES in Spain and we would also take this opportunity to congratulate those clients, from different countries, who SOLD, PURCHASED or EXCHANGED their properties through our firm and kindly took our advice about the importance of having a SPANISH WILL drafted when being an owner of a property in Spain.

Year 2022 has been a year of hope for all those affected with Mortgage floor and costs clauses, and multicurrency mortgages, as they have been able to get their money back.

Sadly, some clients and friends passed away dur

ing this year and our condolences go out to their surviving spouses, children etc.; and again, in these cases we have assisted as rapidly as possible to help the heirs when dealing with the INHERITANCE.

On a happier note we can tell you that we have LITIGATED successfully in

CLAIMS, CONTESTING A WILL and CLAIMS AGAINST THE TAX OFFICE, etc.

Finally, we would like to THANK ALL our clients and friends, who one way

or another, dealt with us during this year and wish THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR 2023 FULL OF HAPPINESS.

We are sure that, together, 2023 will be the year of the hope and recovery. We, from White Baos, will do our best to try to help and assist our clients to achieve it.

Please do not forget that, if you need our help, you can contact us. We will be pleased to assist you. You could also find some helpful legal information in our website: www.whitebaos.com.

The White & Baos Team

Court in relation to many different legal matters, including NEIGHBOUR DISPUTES, HOMEOWNER’S ASSOCIATION

EWN 29 Dec 2022 - 4 Jan 2023 euroweeklynews.com FEATURE 14

YOU AND YOUR FAMILY A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR 2023

WHITE

BAOS ABOGADOS WISHES

Carlos

Firefighters praised

ED 1938 - AUGUST

THE president of the Diputación has praised firefighters “who have worked in extreme conditions to guarantee the safety of residents.”

The president of the Diputación de Alicante, Carlos Mazon, praised the enormous effort of the firefighters of the Provincial Consortium who are working to extinguish the fire declared in La Vall d’Ebo, which spread to the forest areas of nearby towns.

Mazon said the fire

fighters continue “working tirelessly to guarantee the safety of the people in the affected areas,” given the evolution of the wind and the high temperatures. “We work to avoid risks and our priority is the citizens,” he stressed.

“This fire continues to have us all with our hearts in our mouths. I am very proud of the work that our firefighters are doing, as president of the Diputacion and as a citizen of the province of Alicante,” he concluded.

Boombastic Benidorm

ED 1938 - AUGUST

BOOMBASTIC BENIDORM festival, was held over the weekend of August 18, 19 and 20, and was a resounding success which saw over 20,000 each day thrilled by performances from reggaeton giants.

The lineup for the festival this year included Madrileño artist C.Tangana, who redefined the urbano genre with tracks such as ‘Demasiadas Mujeres’ and ‘Tu Me Dejaste De Querer’.

Also performing were Catalonian artist Bad Gyal, Lola Indigo, whose single ‘An1mal’ is out now and Hijos de la Ruina, the third reference to Natos y Waor, amongst many others.

In addition to the singers, the Boombastic was also graced with huge DJ names such as Romeo, Michenlo, Flaca, Pablo Gareta and Epicmotion.

The festival was held in the Ciudad Deportiva Guillermo Amor and despite the huge crowds, passed by with few incidents.

EWN 29 Dec 2022 - 4 Jan 2023 euroweeklynews.com BEST OF THE YEAR 16

LOLA INDIGO: Has a new single out now Credit: Christian Bertrand/shutterstock

POPPY APPEAL 2022 launches in Benidorm on Saturday October 15.

Toni Perez, Benidorm’s mayor and a longtime supporter of the Royal British Legion, 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

Lest we forget

of the parade.

District North Spain’s Poppy Appeal aims to exceed 2021’s total of €120,000 enabling 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 preceded by a short parade between Calle Castellon on the Levante beach promenade to the Rincon de Loix.

It gets underway at 1pm

and will be led by the Torrevieja Pipes and Drums, along with standard bearers from Spain District North’s many branches.

EWN 29 Dec 2022 - 4 Jan 2023 17 BEST OF THE YEAR euroweeklynews.com ED

1943 - SEPTEMBER

Photo credit: Royal British Legion ANNUAL PARADE: Royal British Legion members march during a previous Poppy Appeal launch.

Advertising Feature

SATISFACTION GUARANTEED

WHY do we feel so much nostalgia for the 80s? It was such a stress-free decade with bold fashion statements and new hair trends. Remember mixing music on cassette tapes, recording your message on home answering machines, and not to forget how neon colours rocked with scrunched-up legwarmers over spandex tights. So satisfying.

Well nine out of 10 Línea Directa customers get the same satisfaction and recommend the best priced car, bike and home insurance to friends and family.

EXPAT2EXPAT REWARDS

When an existing Línea Directa customer recommends a new customer, they both receive €30. Línea Directa’s Expat2Expat programme is free and open to all existing customers. You can recommend up to 10 people and earn up to €300 in cash per year. Simply ask your friend to call 952 147 834 and quote your full name. Then once their application for car, bike or home insurance has been approved, Línea Directa will pay the reward straight into the bank account following payment of next or first premium. For more information, see terms and conditions at lineadirecta.com.

CHECK-OUT OUR POLICIES

All customer service and documentation is in English, their claims service is fast and efficient, you can get quick no obligation quotes over the phone, and their easy payment options help spread the cost

of premiums.

DEDICATED TO EXPATS

Línea Directa has been providing comprehensive car, motorbike and home insurance to British expatriates and residents in Spain for over 25 years. With over three million customers nationwide, Línea Directa makes sure you get the best possible price for the kind of insurance you really need.

ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING IS IN ENGLISH

Their Roadside Assistance team speaks English and will quickly help you with your onward journey. If you urgently need a duplicate set of keys for your motorcycle, then their English-speaking customer service will sort it out. And should you require Home Assistance to set up your new Wi-Fi connection, then English speaking technical staff will set up a visit.

DID YOU KNOW?

All Línea Directa insurance policies offer some exciting features specifically designed for British expatriates living in Spain. Their home insurance includes Pet Assistance, IT Assistance, and Home Maintenance. All motorbike policies come with Replacement Motorbike, Technical Equipment cover and even Young Person’s Night-time Assistance. And their car insurance includes helpful services such as Legal Assistance that can provide help when applying or renewing your driving licence in Spain.

Call their English-speaking customer service staff on 952 147 834 or get a competitive quote now at lineadirecta.com

BEST PRICE. BETTER COVER.

EWN 29 Dec 2022 - 4 Jan 2023 18 euroweeklynews.com FEATURE

ED 1945 - OCTOBER

award.

STATE broadcaster Radio Television Española (RTVE) has received a top award for this year’s BenidormFest, which helped to select Spain’s Eurovision Contest act.

The series of galas, televised live from Benidorm earlier this year, was organised to select Spain’s 2022 entry for the contest.

The Premis Turisme Comunitat Valenciana awards, now in their ninth year, recognise events and campaigns which stand out for their originality, both from the standpoint of the companies or the tourist destinations involved.

Benidorm’s mayor Toni Perez, who was present in Va

Eurovision heroes

lencia City for the ceremony, said this was clearly the case with RTVE’s ‘Tourist Promotion and Communication’

“The alliance between BenidormFest and Benidorm brought together the town’s potential with the concept of Eurovision, increasing Spain’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest,” Perez said.

“It changed the procedure for selecting Spain’s song and its representative, increasing interaction with a young public and choosing Benidorm as the setting for this new challenge,” he added.

“BenidormFest has set a benchmark for Spanish music in our country and outside it,” declared RTVE’s Communications and Participation director Maria Eizaguirre as she accepted the award, accompanied by Production and Media director Jose Luis Muñiz.

EWN 29 Dec 2022 - 4 Jan 2023 19 BEST OF THE YEAR euroweeklynews.com

Linda Hall Eurovision is one of music’s most popular events. TOURISM AWARDS: Toni Mayor, Toni Perez, Maria Eizaguirre and Jose Luis Muñiz. Photo credit: Benidorm town hall Credit: Shutterstock.com/Ben Houdijk

Sunshine gift Busy fundraising

ED 1950 - NOVEMBER

THE Javea Royal British Legion Branch has been busy this week with various fundraising activities and two Remembrance Services.

The RBL hosted a Tombola table at a charity coffee morning held at Heaven Boutique, Javea on Wednesday November 9. The whole event raised €733 for the Poppy Appeal. Later that evening, RBL held

a quiz, raffle and auction at Bar Ole, Denia and Louise had her head shaved and donated her hair to a local cancer charity to make a wig. The evening raised €603 and an additional €800 has been donated so far for the head shave.

On November 11, Pam Small had her monthly Charity Event for the benefit of the Poppy Appeal and she handed over €1,150 to the Branch Vice Chairman.

The Armistice Day service on Friday November 11 was held at Moraira Church and was well attended by Branch Members and the local community. Standards from the Royal British Legion, Aircrew Association and Royal Air Force Association were paraded and the Costa Blanca Male Voice Choir performed during the service.

On Sunday November 13 the Remembrance service was held at The Fisherman’s Church in Javea Port which was also well attended by Branch Members, local community and The Lady Elizabeth School Choir.

ED 1951 - NOVEMBER

THE Original Charity Shop and Library in Javea has recently purchased seven bags of children’s clothes from Helen Davis, the founder of a local charity organisation called Spread Some Sunshine.

The proceeds will be spent on food and other essential supplies for people in need in Sri Lanka. Helen was delighted to accept a cheque for €500, which she says will go a long way to purchasing food and other basic items that have not been available to these people due to the recent floods affecting the country and a lack of government funding.

Helen founded Spread Some Sunshine to raise funds to support children in care in the Ambalangoda area on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka. These children are vulnerable due to family breakdowns and are sometimes referred by the probation services because their parents are incarcerated or unable to cope. The organisation also provides financial assistance to families in difficulties, most often due to

health issues. Many people in Sri Lanka have still not recovered from the devastating tsunami in 2004 and are living in appalling conditions.

In turn, Maica and Lorena from Javea Red Cross were delighted to receive the donation of children’s clothes from The Original Charity Shop. Maica explained that the Local Red Cross provides humanitarian assistance and is always in need of children’s clothes which are supplied to immigrant and refugee families.

The Original Charity Shop is

in Carrer de Nancy 1, in Javea’s Arenal area, and the Library/Bookshop is in Javea Park and opens from Monday to Saturday from 10.00am to 1.00pm and stocks an enormous selection of men’s and women’s clothing, as well as curtains, bedding, kitchenware, bric abrac, jewellery, shoes and much more.

The bookshop in Javea Park sells secondhand books for prices as low as 50 cents. Call in if you want to grab a bargain and help worthy charities.

EWN 29 Dec 2022 - 4 Jan 2023 euroweeklynews.com BEST OF THE YEAR 20

SPREADING SUNSHINE: Seven bags of clothes were donated to the Red Cross. Image: Spread Some Sunshine

Night before Christmas Akira’s angels

ED 1953 - DECEMBER

ON December 1, Akira held an event at Moraira restaurant, No Nonsense, to launch an ambitious project to significantly improve life for the dogs that spend time at its shelter on the La Pedrera industrial estate.

The idea is to build a Zone to Roam area and provide other therapeutic services for six traumatised pets. A large group of dog lovers, board members, media representatives and friends gathered to hear the organisation’s plans to raise €50,000 and transform the land adjacent to the centre. Once complete, the organisation will have exercise and treatment facilities to give these dogs the best possible chance at a healthy, happy life.

Now comes the hard task of raising the money, but Akira trusts in the compassion and generosity of all dog lovers to help. To start with, German art welder Christine Engelmann revealed a fabulous wood and metal sculpture representing nature and strength in the Tree of Hope. Located in the Akira shop, the Tree of Hope has hooks where donors can hang tags. To launch the campaign, attendees were invited to write a wish or message on a dog tag to personalise it and hang it on the tree for posterity (in exchange for a donation). The tags will be available in the Akira shop and at future fundraising events.

HAPPY LIFE: Give these dogs the best possible chance.

Akira already benefits from the generous support it receives from donations and events to cover running costs, but AKIRA’s Angels has been created as a dedicated fundraising source for the project with its own website, https://akiraan gels.org. Supporters can make regular or oneoff donations on the site.

CREDIT: Akira Facebook page.

ED 1952 - DECEMBER

FLOWER lovers were treated to a stunning display of flower arranging titled T’was the night before Christmas.

The workshop, which was organised by the Marina Alta Costa Blanca Floral Club in Moraira on Thursday, November 24, saw renowned florist Christine Brazier show attendees how to create floral decorations for Christmas.

Those that attended were treated to a bit of humour along the way with Christine’s gold outfit and elf shoes setting the tone. But what really took their breath away was her creativity and ability to turn simple everyday items in the most stunning displays.

Among her wonderful creations was a coal bucket that

had been turned into a floor piece and produce tins that were turned into Christmas drummers.

She also showed how you can take foliage from your garden, trim it and add a little colour using spray paint to turn ivy, palm and other leaves into

bows and Christmas displays.

Christine received a standing ovation, especially when she added the 15 or so creations to the table full of goodies that had been raffled off. For a €2 donation some walked away with displays worth at least €100.

Around €600 was raised from the event with the money going to the local ambulance service.

The floral club are keen to attract new members, so if you are interested in learning how to prepare flower displays and decorations the visit www.marinaaltafloralclub. com or call Pat Bramah on 622 921 812

EWN 29 Dec 2022 - 4 Jan 2023 21 BEST OF THE YEAR euroweeklynews.com

• December 30, Kenny’s Musical Cabaret, 9pm, Cal Comes Bistro Bar

• December 31, New Year’s Eve Party, 6pm, Bar 56, La Cala Finestrat Benidorm

• January 1, New Year’s Eve Fancy Dress Party, 5pm, Barcode Benidorm

• January 1, Melissa Fanning Vocalist, 9.30pm, The Landsdowne, Flamenca Beach, Alicante

• January 5, Three Kings in Javea, 5pm

• January 6, Three Kings in Denia, 6pm, beginning at Denia Port

EWN 29 Dec 2022 - 4 Jan 2023 euroweeklynews.com SOCIAL SCENE 22

Oliver!

BRINGING Charles Dickens’ beloved novel to life, Lionel Bart’s Oliver! takes audiences on a wild adventure through Victorian England.

Join young, orphaned Oliver Twist as he navigates London’s underworld of theft and violence, searching for a home, a family and love.

When Oliver is picked up by the Artful Dodger, he is welcomed into a gang of child pickpockets led by the conniving Fagin. When Oliver is falsely accused of theft, he is rescued by a kind and wealthy gentleman, to the dismay of Fagin’s violent sidekick, Bill Sikes. Caught in the middle is the warmhearted Nancy, who is trapped under Bill’s thumb, but desperate to help Oliver, with tragic results.

With spirited, timeless songs like As Long as He Needs Me, Food Glorious Food and Where Is Love. Oliver! is a musical classic.

Catch Oliver! at Union Musical, Gata de Gorgos, Javea, (Javea Players’ theatre in Gata) from March 27 until April 1.

For more information or to book tickets, head to the website: /javeaplayers.com/

Traditional celebrations

BEGIN the new year by being entertained by a traditional New Year’s concert in true Philharmonic style. The Moldovan Philharmonic Orchestra based in Chisinau was founded 85 years ago, which makes it one of the oldest musical institutions in Moldova and makes it a repository of Moldovan cultural, classical and folk heritage. The orchestra is made up of teachers, graduates of musical academies and conservatories in Moldova, Ukraine and Russia.

The concert takes place at Alicante’s Teatro Principal on Sunday, January 1 at 7.00pm.

For more information or to book tickets email: informa cion@teatroprincipaldeali cante.com or call (+34) 965 202 380. The Teatro Principal located at Plaza Chapí, s/n03001, is one of the most important buildings in Alicante. In 1845 several city merchants, two aristocrats, and two families of owners decided to build a theatre.

She’s behind you

ARE you are looking for some festive fun in the new year? Why not book to see the fairy godmother of all pantomimes, the one and only, ‘Cinderella’ at the Careline Theatre in Calle de Calvari, Alcalali, Alicante.

Tickets can be purchased for performances on Thursday, January 19, at 8.00pm, Friday, January 20, at 8.00pm and Saturday, January 21, at 3.00pm and then at 8.00pm.

For more information or enquiries, email: carelineboxoffice@gmail.com. To book tickets head to the website www.carelinetheatre.net.

Careline Theatre is a leading dramatic society on the Costa Blanca, providing local audiences with a quality theatre experience, second to none.

The group are always on the lookout for talented individuals to join their cast and crew but equally if you are interested in getting involved in theatre, but not necessarily in the limelight, there are great opportunities for you behind the scenes.

You can join Careline by contacting membership secretary, Alan Gill on 1alphagolf.gmail.com.

Dylan’s finale

PIP UTTON’S latest oneman show ‘Dylan’ received critical acclaim at the Edinburgh Festival in 2022.

Sometime in the imaginary future, it’s Bob Dylan’s final concert. You have a backstage pass. An intimate, revealing ‘final reckoning’. Dylan settles old scores, spins a few tall tales and reflects on over 60 years in the public eye.

In his inimitable style, Pip connects Dylan with the audience, removes the mask of a legend and reveals the man you thought you knew.

Catch Pip at the Javea Players Studio Theatre (near Mercadona in the old town), Calle Cronista Figueras Pacheco 6, Javea, on January 25 and 26.

Doors open at 7.00pm for curtain up at 7.30pm.

For more information or to book tickets, head to the website: /javeaplayers.com/ Javea Players welcomes you.

Whether you are an aspiring or more seasoned actor or prefer assisting ‘behind the scenes’, you are invited to get involved.

EWN 29 Dec 2022 - 4 Jan 2023 23 SOCIAL SCENE euroweeklynews.com

The building project was carried out by the Alicante architect, Emilio Jover Perron, in a neoclassical style and was named Teatro Principal. Still today, the theatre hosts some of the greatest concerts, operas and musicals in the region. NEW YEAR’S DAY: A concert will take place at Alicante’s Teatro Principal. Image: Moldovan Philharmonic Orchestra

Vertically challenged

THE councillor for Sports, Lydia Morant, has confirmed the date for the 21st edition of the KM Vertical Gandia Race. This race and hike through the mountains will take place on January 15, at 8.45am, starting at Carrer Parpallo (next to Barranc de Beniopa) and finishing at the top of Monduver.

There will be two categories: runners, with a distance of 12.7 kilometres, and walkers, with a distance of 11.5 kilometres. The bibs will be handed out at the Plaza Mayor Shopping Centre in Gandia on Friday January 13,

from 4.00pm until 9.00pm and Saturday 14, from 10.00 until 2.00pm and from 4.00 until 9.30pm. On the day of the race itself, bibs can be collected on Calle Parpallo (next to the Barranc de Beniopa ravine) from 6.30am until 30 minutes before the start of

A CHILDREN’S and young people’s leisure exhibition (EXPONADAL) celebrates its 27th event from January 2 until January 4. It will be back bigger and better with two pavilions hosting attractions, the latest in video games and simulators, gymkhanas, and a castle of terror.

This year there will also be lots of sports, crafts and cooking workshops. There will also be board games, golf, sailing, competitions and a space for relaxing. At the exhibition, there will be food trucks, a cafeteria and stalls selling sweets, waffles, popcorn, and candy floss. The exhibition is

the race. Once again the organisers are collaborating with cancer charities. Anyone who wishes to do so can donate an extra euro to help the fight against cancer.

For more information head to the website crono4es ports.es

Fun for all

being held at the Alicante Trade Fair Institution (IFA), N340, km 731 03320 Elche (Alicante).

For more information email ifa@ifa virtual.com or call (+34) 966 657 600. The IFA or

ganises more than 20 trade fairs and multiple congresses, seminars and symposiums that attract the interest of more than 300,000 people and more than 2,000 companies every year.

EWN 29 Dec 2022 - 4 Jan 2023 euroweeklynews.com SOCIAL SCENE 24

VERTICAL RACE: A hike through the mountains. Image: Gandia City Council

PRESS EUROPEAN

DENMARK

Racist outburst

NORMALLY there is little overt racism in Danish broadcasting, but there has been a major upset after speaking during a TV2 broadcast, journalist Christian Høgh Andersen compared pictures of Moroccan players celebrating their win to a ‘family of monkeys’ for which the company has apologised.

THE NETHERLANDS

Fair cop

DUTCH police were intrigued when they saw an extension lead running from a Tesla electric vehicle to a lamp post in a street in the town of Oud-Beijerland. The owner who it is assumed wanted to save money was arrested and charged with stealing electricity.

BELGIUM

Accessory ban

THE region of Wallonia has passed a new law banning the use of any accessories believed to cause harm to domestic animals and this includes a number of different dog collars, both electric and spiked as well as small aquariums and goldfish bowls.

GERMANY

Cunning stunts

THE latest attention seeking stunt by German climate activists Last Generation was to chop the top off a 15-metre Christmas tree outside Berlin's Brandenburg Gate and then unfurl a banner that read: ‘This is just the tip of the Christmas tree’.

FRANCE

Still Smokin’

A SURVEY of 23,661 adults has revealed that 10.6 per cent of the population have used marihuana in the past 12 months and almost half will have tried it at some time. Surprisingly the average age of a user has risen from 25 to almost 33.

NORWAY

FINLAND

Donkey drama

POLICE in Lohja, southwest Finland were surprised to discover a donkey called Judit, without the Virgin or Three Wise Men, wandering through the town late at night, but she was returned unharmed to her sanctuary in time for her to take part in their nativity show.

IRELAND

Polar theft

CUSTOMERS and staff at vegan restaurant

Cornucopia in Dublin were devastated when a large polar bear plush toy known for giving ‘free hugs’ was stolen by a masked man, but it has been recovered in return for €40 and a bottle of Prosecco.

ITALY

Super car

IN 2017 the Italian police were given a Lamborghini Huracan, which has a top speed of 300kmh and it is now mainly used to transport organs, with the latest activity being a 570-kilometre journey from Padua to Rome via Modena delivering two kidneys.

PORTUGAL

Supermarket swoop

TWO supermarkets in Vila do Conde (Oporto) have been temporarily closed down as goods on sale, reportedly worth €180,000, were not properly labelled in Portuguese, thus, according to the Food and Economic Security Authority, making it impossible for consumers to make an informed choice.

UKRAINE

Pope speaks

AT a General Audience at the Vatican prior to Christmas, Pope Francis said ”We think of the Ukrainian people this Christmas, without light, without heating, without what they need to survive. Let us pray to the Lord to bring peace as soon as possible."

SWEDEN

King ill

NORWAY’S King Harald V, now aged 85, has been in an Oslo hospital for several days with an infection, but has now been discharged and returned home to complete his recovery. In the meantime, Crown Prince Haakon has taken over his father’s duties.

Not a belieber

ALTHOUGH Swedish fashion retailer believed that it had correctly negotiated a licence agreement for a Justin Bieber clothing range, it has had to withdraw it after the petulant singer wrote “I wouldn't buy it if I were you” and later called it “trash”.

EWN 29 Dec 2022 - 4 Jan 2023 25 EUROPEAN PRESS euroweeklynews.com

FINANCE

BUSINESS EXTRA ABHOUT time

Price gap

UK Energy Minister, Grant Shapps has written to retailers of diesel and petrol complaining that a recent report from the Competition and Markets Authority suggests that many, especially supermarkets, tend to push forecourt prices up far quicker than they bring them down.

Xmas cheer

A REPORT by Spanish group Business Insider calculates that this year, (based on prices from Carrefour, Lidl and Mercadona), Christmas dinner will be 13.2 per cent more expensive than 2021 averaging €114 for four people and will increase by nearly €30 for each additional person.

January sale

BRITISH retailer Matalan has revealed plans for its ongoing sale and after assessing bids received from ‘a number of interested parties’ it plans to discuss various options with them with the intention of making an informed choice by the end of January.

Flagship store

BARCELONA has been chosen by British clothing and sports company JD Sports to be the city in which it will open its flagship store of more than 2,000 square metres (in a building valued at €80 million which previously housed Disney and H&M) early next year.

UK Budget

THE next UK Budget, setting out the government’s tax and spending plans, will be held on March 15, 2023, the Treasury has announced. In a statement, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said the Budget would also be accompanied by a forecast from the Office for Budget Responsibility.

Spain and bribery

BRIBERY of foreign officials is a fact of life, but according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Spain has an appalling record of dealing with it!

Since the OECD AntiBribery Convention entered into force over 20 years ago, Spain has successfully convicted only two individuals in one foreign bribery case and has not convicted a single company.

The 44country Working Group has just completed its Phase 4 evaluation of Spain’s implementation of the Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions and related instruments.

The conclusion was that Spain continues to close cases prematurely.

Prosecutors have insufficient time to conduct their investigations and face challenges in deploying adequate investigative measures.

In addition to the issues described above, the report expresses concerns about the restrictive interpretation of

the foreign bribery offence by Spanish judges, the exceedingly short statute of limitations applicable to proceedings against legal persons, and how corporate criminal liability is triggered in practice.

Speaking exclusively to Euro Weekly News, a retired senior British company director explained that several years ago he had been invited to Nigeria to sign a contract with the country’s Central Bank but after arriving in Abuja found himself being stalled.

He eventually discovered that an attractive young lady who worked for a Spanish Government Agency had arrived and spent some time with a deputy Governor who inexplicably signed the very same contract with her organisation.

In fairness many forms of aid, especially to socalled ‘third world’ countries are tied up with terms which are beneficial to the political or economic benefit of the government granting the aid, which in itself is a legalised form of bribery.

Moderna UK deal

AMERICAN company Moderna partnered with the UK government on December 21 in a 10yearpartnership to produce vaccines and undertake research.

The company is to undertake mRNA research and development in the UK, and build a stateoftheart vaccine manufacturing centre with the ability to produce up to 250 million vaccines a year.

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Steve Barclay has heralded this agreement as NHS patients will have access to a UKmade supply of Covid19 jabs as well as cuttingedge vaccines developed for other respiratory diseases, such as flu and respiratory syncytial virus.

The partnership will create more than 150 jobs and further futureproof the UK

against potential pandemics, with patients to benefit from speedy access to the latest advancements in vaccine technology.

Developing vaccines on UK shores means it will be able to scale up production rapidly in the event of a health emergency, significantly boosting the NHS ability to respond to future pandemics.

Whilst a significant (cur

rently unrevealed) investment has been welcomed by the UK government, there has recently been significant comment on social media about subsequent unexpected and unexplained deaths in the young, as possible side effects of the various untested ‘vaccines’.

The fact that Moderna will be running a significant number of clinical trials in

the UK and has also pledged to fund grants for UK universities, including PhD places and research programmes may be considered worrying by many.

The government contends however that by boosting the UK’s onshore vaccine manufacturing capability, Britain will be a step closer to becoming the leading global hub for life sciences.

NEXT year should see a new competitor for in home gym training companies when Portuguesebased BHOUT releases what it claims is the world’s first artificial intelligence enabled punch bag.

Launching initially in the UK and USA it has the added benefit of allowing those using it not only to compete with other owners, but if they are recognised of performing at a high enough standard, they can also become trainers and earn funds from their workouts.

The outside of the bag is made from organic material whilst the internal sensors calculate the power and location of each strike and transmit this information to the BHOUT’s internal brain.

UK rail fares

THE UK government has acted with the biggest intervention in its history to ensure rail fare increases for 2023 are capped at 5.9 per cent, 6.4 percentage points lower than the RPI figure on which they are historically based.

Fares will officially rise on March 5, 2023 and like last year, the government is freezing them for the entirety of January and February, giving passengers more time to purchase cheaper flexible and season tickets at the existing rate.

The government has aligned the increase to July’s average earnings growth thus more than halving the increase but also wants to see railway unions respond positively.

Economy shrinking

IT’S not good news for the British government or the Bank of England as latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that the economy shrank by a greater amount than originally anticipated in the third quarter of 2022.

Although there is not a huge difference as the expected downturn of 0.2 per cent has been lowered to a final figure of 0.3 per cent, the ONS also revised down the figures for the first half of the year.

If this negative situation continues for a further quarter, as is expected, then Britain will officially be declared as being in recession.

euroweeklynews.com • 29 Dec 2022 - 4 Jan 2023 26

is the amount that the President of Sabadell Bank, Josep Oliu, spent on December 20 to purchase one million shares in the bank that he heads.

STAT OF WEEK €890,000

FINANCE to

Most Declined

Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited -16.90% 79,385

MP Materials Corp. -14.29% 7.393M

Saipem SpA -14.22% 60,999

JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. -9.92% 1.424M

Tesla, Inc. -8.88% 205.38M

Atlassian Corporation -8.85% 4.558M

Lam Research Corporation -8.65% 3.177M

Teladoc Health, Inc. -8.54% 8.19M

Applied Materials, Inc. -7.84% 11.327M

Ameresco, Inc. -7.55% 167,587

Just Eat Takeaway.com N.V. -7.41% 100,302

C C OMPANY OMPANY P P RICE RICE((P P)) C C HANGE((P P)) % C % C HG N N ET ET V V OL DOW JONES CLOSING PRICES 27 DECEMBER

º º C C OMPANY OMPANY P P RICE RICE((P P)) C C HANGE HANGE((P P)) % C % C HG HG . N N ET ET V V OL OL COMPANY CHANGE NET / % VOLUME US dollar (USD) ........................................1.0618 Japan yen (JPY) 140.83 Switzerland franc (CHF) 0.9878 Denmark kroner (DKK) 7.4362 Norway kroner (NOK) 10.451 MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR MONEY WITH US See our advert on previous page 0.87937 1.13732 LONDON - FTSE 100 CLOSING PRICES 27 DECEMBER Units per € COMPANY PRICE CHANGE OLUME(M) NASDAQ CLOSING PRICES 27 DECEMBER M - MILLION DOLLARS THE ABOVE TABLE USES THE CURRENT INTERBANK EXCHANGE RATES, WHICH AREN T REPRESENTATIVE OF THE RATE WE OFFER currenciesdirect.com/moraira • Tel: +34 966 265 072 EWN 29 Dec 2022 - 4 Jan 2023 euroweeklynews.com FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL 28

BUSINESS EXTRA

Helping hand

LIBYA, which has suffered from civil war following the overthrow of President Gaddafi is looking to strengthen relationships with Spain and on Monday December 19 its Central Bank Governor travelled to Madrid for discussions about monetary policy with the Governor of the Bank of Spain.

Fewer shoppers

AS Christmas is one of the most important times of the year for retailers, a combination of freezing cold weather and rail strikes has meant that footfall in most UK high streets over the past few days has dropped dramatically, although it may boost online sales.

Recovery fund

SPANISH Economy Minister Nadia Calvino has confirmed that Spain will request a further €84 billion in loans and a €7.7 billion grant from the European Union Recovery Fund which means that if granted Spain will have received the entire amount offered by the EU.

Quotas agreed

FISHING in European waters has been a bone of contention for decades, going back to the so called ‘Cod Wars’ with Iceland and beyond.

In the run up to Brexit, several UK based fishermen sold their licences to Dutch and Spanish companies, but there is still a significant UK fishing fleet.

Despite disagreement on a number of matters, the UK has completed an agreement with the European Union concerning fishing quotas and the Spanish government has announced that it is very pleased with the results which allow its fishing fleets greater access to popular species in British waters such as hake and monkfish.

Cash is still king

A EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK (ECB) study released on Tuesday December 20 confirms cash is king and is still the most frequently used means of payment at the point of sale, but its share is declining.

According to the document on the payment attitudes of consumers in the euro area, cash was used for 59 per cent of point of sale transactions in 2022, down from 72 per cent in 2019.

It is the means of payment most often used for small value payments in stores and for person to person transactions.

A majority (60 per cent) also consider it important to have cash as a payment option as consumers perceive cash as helpful to remain aware of their

expenditures, to protect their privacy and to allow transactions to be settled immediately.

At the same time, the trend

towards electronic means of payments has accelerated with the pandemic and many consumers now prefer to use elec

tronic payment methods.

The share of online purchases as a percentage of all euro area day to day transactions has increased significantly to stand at 17 per cent in 2022, up from 6 per cent in 2019.

For purchases at a point of sale, the share of card payments has grown by 9 percentage points to 34 per cent in 2022, with contactless payments now making up the majority of card payments.

Cards are considered faster and easier to use and are seen as reducing the need to carry large amounts of cash.

They are the most frequently used payment method for larger amounts and now account for a higher share of payments than cash in value terms.

Loan guarantee

EVEN though the Spanish government is one of the biggest borrowers from the European Union and has received hundreds of billions of euros from the Recovery Fund, it is still doing its bit to support Ukraine.

On Wednesday December 21, the World Bank announced its’ Health Enhancement and Lifesaving (HEAL Ukraine) Project to improve and strengthen primary health care, address increased demand for mental health and rehabilitation services due to the war, restore and strengthen service delivery in hospitals that are facing capacity constraints and support capacity building for key health institutions.

King Charles banknotes

NEW King Charles III banknotes were unveiled by the Bank of England on Wednesday December 20 although they are unlikely to enter into circulation before 2024.

With the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, it was clear that new coins and banknotes would need to be released featuring an image of the new monarch.

It is more than likely that preliminary designs had been drawn up before her death and indeed as they have to be approved by the Palace may even have been viewed by Her Majesty

and the then Prince of Wales.

Whilst coins have a long life, bank notes which are in constant use have a much shorter life span and are relatively expensive to produce, which is why the Bank of England decided to phase out paper notes and replace them with longer lasting polymer notes.

Rather than produce new designs for each side of the four notes that are currently in circulation, £5 Winston Churchill, £10Jane Austen, £20 JMW Turner, £50 Alan Turing, it has been decided to only change the design on

the side where the monarch’s portrait appears.

The King’s image will appear on the front of the banknotes, as well as in the seethrough security window, but all other images will remain the same. The new banknotes will only be printed to replace those featuring Her Majesty that are worn or to meet any overall increase in demand for banknotes, a decision which is in line with guidance from the Royal Household, to minimise the environmental and financial impact of this change.

Funding for the project includes a €100 million loan, backed by a guarantee from the Spanish government.

Password sharing

IT has been common practice (rightly or wrongly) for people subscribing to online streaming services such as Netflix to share passwords with friends and families who they don’t live with.

In the past year, Netflix in particular, which has been losing market share, has made it clear that it will try to stop this from happening, although it hasn’t threatened legal action as yet.

The UK Intellectual Property Office has however told the BBC that although it no longer states on its website that such sharing is illegal, the position remains the same and legal action could be taken against anyone found to be sharing passwords.

EWN 29 Dec 2022 - 4 Jan 2023 www.euroweeklynews.com FINANCE 30

POPULAR PAYMENT: Cash machines are the easiest way to obtain cash. Credit: Salvador SV flickr ALL CHANGE: The design of the new £5 note. Credit: Bank of England

Detrimental onslaught

BECAUSE the British Labour party were so severely routed in the last election its supporters are totally aware the the only chance they have of winning the next ballot is if the country is brought to its knees.

Subsequently, one of the conspiratorial ways they are conniving to achieve this outcome is by instigating as much alarm and anxiety among its citizens as possible. The union bosses, who are utterly in league with the Labour hierarchy, are revelling in and wholly supporting the crippling strikes which are sweeping the country.

The media, especially the BBC are positively churning out disparaging reports, blaming the Conservatives for any depreciating state of affairs they can divulge; and periodically with monotonous regularity, they slot in Starmer or a documentary that delivers some kind of statement as to how the Labour party would improve the situation.

What the left exponents are en

deavouring to do is create a misinformed and disheartened populace that also considers the only way to rescue its beloved country will be to elect a different government.

The faceless money men truly don’t care. They actually wouldn’t mind a Labour government taking control.

They are fully aware that the economics of a party that has to satisfy such a vast array of cross sectioned supporters to attain enough votes is easy pickings that will subsequently earn them even more power and financial gain until the party once again finishes up in exactly the same way as it did the last time.

Consequently losing their position to yet another brand new right wing government that has to

spend their first few years struggling to rescue the country from the social and financial hole it has once again been plunged into. The one issue I do think is a mistake for the left is to nose dive the country into all this social and political confrontation too early.

Most of the present financial problems have been brought on by the Covid pandemic and the world energy situation. In 12 months or so they could all be straightening out. Are the conspiritors really confident enough to continue this detrimental onslaught for another two years? Probably.

Keep the faith.

Love Leapy. leapylee2002@gmail.com expatradioscotland.com Monday and Friday 1pm till 4

OUR VIEW

A

CHRISTMAS THOUGHT

THAT’S another year almost over and having come out of two years of sporadic lockdown, noone knew what it was going to be like.

Slowly but surely, for many, things started to take on a semblance of normality with international travel starting again and businesses (at least those that survived 2020 and 2021) being able to start trading once more.

For many of us, 2022 has been a tough but decent year although having lived through the epidemic which caused so much heartbreak and saw so many deaths, the Russian invasion of Ukraine was a total surprise.

Just when it seemed that the world could rebuild, this pointless act by the Russian President knocked so many back and surprised many of us, both for the fantastic support that governments have given to the Ukrainian cause and how individuals and communities have responded to offer assistance to refugees from the conflict.

People are so resilient and the sight of Christmas lights and trees in the Kyiv subway has been an example of how people manage to cope regardless of how bad things may be.

We still have conflicts in Syria and Yemen, but they have been overshadowed by Ukraine, although most of us simply live our lives and just have to be thankful that whilst we may be suffering financially from the backlash of the invasion, we don’t have to fear that we might be blown up in our beds.

So, here’s to a better year to come and a prayer for all of those around the world who are suffering the inhumanity of civil war, invasion or crippling poverty plus, of course, all best wishes to our advertisers and readers.

EWN 29 Dec 2022 - 4 Jan 2023 31 FEATURE euroweeklynews.com

THINK IT LEAPY

SAYS IT

LeapyLee’sopinionsarehisownandarenotnecessarilyrepresentativeofthoseofthepublishers,advertisersorsponsors. OTHERS

LEE

For more from our columnists please scan this QR Code

By Clinica Britannia

Mesotherapy treatment helps

MY son suffered with acne in his teens, and he has now been left with some ugly scars on his face and neck area which he is selfconscious about. Is there any treatment that can help to lighten and remove these marks.?

Yes, now available is an effective and harmless non surgical treatment called Mesotherapy that can help with this.

Mesotherapy can be used alone or alongside other aesthetic treatments to combat many skin problems and even hair loss.

The procedure is performed with the use of microinjections of plantbased vitamins, serums, and nutrients, that per

meate the skin for nurturing and rejuvenation.

Main benefits of Mesotherapy treatment include:

• Removal of skin pigmentation and age spots.

• Smooth fine lines and

wrinkles.

• Tightening of the skin on face and neck area.

• Revitalise skin by stimulating the production collagen and elastin.

• Even and fresh complexion.

• Removal of acne and scarring.

• Treatment for hair loss.

Mesotherapy also helps to increase the moisture level of the skin, the results of this give the skin a clearer and more even and smooth complexion.

The treatment is nonsurgical so could be a good option for your son, but it is important to consult first with an Aesthetic specialist.

A happy, healthy 2023

GOING into a new year is the ideal time to set some goals for a happier and healthier lifestyle. It’s a fresh start, making the perfect atmosphere to enter a new era of healthy living. Many people set resolutions related to fitness, but yours don’t need to be. Here we share some suggestions to change your lifestyle for the better, and they’re not difficult!

• Daily walk

Immersing ourselves in nature is one certain way to reduce the pressures and stress of daily life. Aim to take a walk into nature each day. Whether it’s just a fiveminute stroll some days or a three hour hike on others, walking outside does wonders for your mental and physical health and what’s more, it’s free!

• Eat fresh

Eating a fresh, healthy

diet can quite literally change your life with incredible health benefits, from lowering blood pressure to reducing your risk of heart disease. If you’re looking for a lifestyle change, trying to eat fresher could be it. And if you’re on the lookout for a new hobby, why not try

cooking and experiment with exciting new flavours and recipes.

• Indulge in self care

From getting a massage to enjoying some yoga, there are plenty of types of self care you can get into in 2023 that will leave you feeling more relaxed, with more energy.

Digestive health

GAINING weight or have problems losing it? Then visit your GP to assess your general health. They may ask for a stool or blood sample to be taken to rule out any underlying health problems and to help identify the cause of weight gain, as this can be due to various reasons, one being Gut Dysbiosis.

Your gut is home to more than 100 trillion bacteria and that is a LOT and together, this bacteria and other microbes in your gut make up your gut microbiome.

If the healthy bacteria in your gut outgrow the harmful ones, then your digestive health should be fine. However, if the

GUT DYSBIOSIS: A peronal diet plan can be introduced.

harmful bacteria outgrow the healthy ones, it causes an imbalance called Gut Dysbiosis.

You will experience symptoms such as diarrhoea, bloating, gas, abdominal pain, weight gain and heartburn.

If the results of the di

agnostic tests show that you are suffering with Gut Dysbiosis, a Nutritionist can work out an individual plan tailored to your lifestyle and personal diet preferences to help alleviate the problem, making weight loss a lot simpler.

The nurse at the GP surgery should also offer you regular followup appointments, every two weeks to a month, to monitor your weight loss and progress.

EWN 29 Dec 2022 - 4 Jan 2023 euroweeklynews.com HEALTH & BEAUTY 32

Appointments Landline: 965 837 553 / 965 837 851 • 24H/365D Emergency Number: (+34) 607 255 755 • Opening Times: Mon - Fri: 9:00am / 5:00pm

Av. Ejercitos Españoles 16 BIS, 1st Floor,

Clinica Britannia Calpe

Calpe

ACNE: The treatment can help with scarring. By Clinica Britannia Commit to a daily walk in 2023 to help reduce daily stress and unwind, and you could sleep better and feel energised. Photo credit: Robert Kneschke / shutterstock.com

Sing, sing, sing, sing

LINDA HALL

A SPANISH Christmas retains its Spanishness by lasting until Twelfth Night so there is still much to look forward to even though Nochebuena has gone, while Christmas Day, a national holiday, is no big deal anyway.

There are no Boxing Day blues here, with turkey still on the menu, berries beginning to shrivel on the holly, tinsel tarnished, pine needles on the carpet and December 26’s origins significance largely forgotten.

Who remembers that this was when employees received Christmas Boxes back when every little extra helped?

What’s more, the form and the date vary but it’s still the season when people in Spain look forward to their own Aguinaldo or Christmas tip.

Any time between mid December and January 6, it is appreciated if you cough up for those who deliver your butano, put the letters in your postbox or perform a small but regular

service for you.

There’s no getting out of that, even now, but what you don’t see or hear are the children who, preceded by giggles, would sing a line or two of a carol before knocking on your door for their Aguinaldo.

Perhaps they no longer need the extra money or, more than likely, their parents don’t want them out of doors, singing to strangers.

The last time I had to deal with juvenile Aguinaldo seekers, in the late 70s, was after the New Year but within the Reyes cutoff date.

The knock preceded the serenading and I opened the door to be confronted by two awkward looking girls in their early teens who proceeded to sing.

Wanting to put them out of their misery and mine, I fished around in my purse and shoved a 50 peseta piece in each hand.

This was a long, long time ago when money went a lot, lot further than it does today and they looked at me, looked at each other and to our combined relief made a quick exit.

EWN 29 Dec 2022 - 4 Jan 2023 euroweeklynews.com FEATURE 34

Up (down?) the Escher stairs CASSANDRA

NASH

PEDRO SANCHEZ’S recent tweaking of the Penal Code included a stowaway amendment slipped in to bypass the Opposition’s ongoing obstruction of measures for installing new Constitutional Court (TC) judges.

At present, judges with expired terms are not being replaced while a similar deadlock over renewing General Judiciary Council members is preventing vacancies from being filled. The same problem occurs with the Supreme Court.

No matter that the amendment had nothing to do with the Penal Code, as previous PP and PSOE governments both used the same ruse to camouflage urgent business in the past.

The PP and Vox applied to the TC to halt the reform as a precautionary measure before it reached the Senate for rubber stamping on December 22. With six Constitutional judges known to be conservative (with a small ‘c’) the outcome looked like a foregone conclusion. And it was.

In a situation resembling Escher’s version of staircases, two of the Con

stitutional Court judges making the decision had a vested interested in preventing the reforms from going through.

Pedro Gonzalez Trevijano and Antonio Narvaez needed to be replaced last summer, but neither politicians nor the judiciary could agree on who should take their place.

The PSOE and UP parties lodged objections to Gonzalez Trevijano and Narvaez’s involvement in the TC’s deliberations on Monday December 19 as no one expected them to fall voluntarily on their own swords to assist a government they are known not to support. As expected, their lordships in this case sus señorias threw out the objection.

At 10.30pm on December 19 the TC decided after hours of debate, and with the expected six votes to five, to halt the Senate vote on the amendment that could have expedited its renewal.

This was the first time in decades of postFranco democracy that the TC has prevented the Spanish parliament from doing its job.

So who’s to blame? Sanchez for trying it on, or the Opposition for stopping him?

EWN 29 Dec 2022 - 4 Jan 2023 euroweeklynews.com FEATURE 36

SAME RESPECT FOR ALL

LEAPY LEE obviously knows very little about the LGBTQ community and trans gender folk in particular. Just because a person grew up in a certain place at a time in history doesn’t make them an expert.

I am probably the same age and same history timeline but a different place, yes I am queer and yes lived in the 60s. We were called queer as an insult but are now able to claim this insult as our own which mitigates the abuse by media et al.

All trans folk want is the same respect as any other person. Nothing woke about it, this is about human dignity.

In terms of toilets that Mr Lee seems obsessed about, where is the problem.

We woman have cubicles and as a queer lesbian I would not preclude my trans sisters from using the cubicle next to me. I hope Mr Lee would not stop trans men from using the next urinal.

If he wants a proper debate using gutter press images and language I will oblige.

Helen Hallam Malaga

Too many people

THANK you Mr Brian Johnstone for your comment re population, I’ve been saying this for years and cannot understand why our educated leaders do not see the obvious underlying reason for most, if not all, of the country’s problems today ie demand exceeding supply.

The simple answer would be in my view to set a suggested maximum of two children per couple for the next 25 50 years. Of course there would be an outcry from most religious groups who would say that their god will provide, but I think that mother nature may disagree.

In my lifetime the world population has doubled, if it continues at this rate we are all in big trouble, just do the figures, Barry Nerja.

& Pauline Reading

Did you even vote

THE misogynistic comments that I have been reading on social media platforms about how it is unfair that a women’s footballer should win the BBC sports personality of the year award, instead of a male golfer or cricketer, is shocking. Beth Mead was voted to win this award by the public, I’m sure most of the people moaning couldn’t even be bothered to vote. Well done Beth Mead you are a credit to your country.

Tracey Hunter

Older views

I HAVE always been a fan of Leapy’s and find the columns refreshing, however times are changing as they always have done and our views are now becoming outdated and to some offensive.

My opinions are becoming to my children and grandchildren like my grandfather’s were to me when I was young, really embarrassing but they could get away with saying belligerent things because they were old and didn’t mean any offence (although they probably did mean to offend and knew they would get away with it).

It’s funny how life can go full circle and you turn into the relatives you swore you would never be like.

Raymond Barry

TV twaddle

THOSE of you who have access to UK TV, are you as disappointed with the twaddle that was on over the Christmas weekend as I am? I don’t know how many more times I can watch a repeat of a so called Christmas classic like Home Alone and the magazine shows such as This Morning were no better, how many times do I need to see how celebrities make their gravy?

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.

Barry C Green

EWN 29 Dec 2022 - 4 Jan 2023 37 LETTERS euroweeklynews.com

Shutterstock.com/ lazyllama

HUMAN DIGNITY: Every person is entitled to the same respect as any other person.

CALL OUR MULTILINGUAL TEAM FOR AN INFORMAL CHAT ABOUT A VERY PERSONAL TOPIC.

966 493 082

45 FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPONSOR GO TO WWW.LINEADIRECTA.COM

Advice on seasonal sickness

DEALING with colds and flus can be hard enough for humans, but what do we do when our pets get sick with seasonal illnesses?

Today we’re sharing some advice to help you to care for your dog when it gets sick, which will get that tail wagging again in no time!

• Warm and dry

The cause of most seasonal sicknesses is extended exposure to cold and wet conditions. Combat this by keeping your dog in a warm and dry space while it recovers from sickness.

This could mean giving your dog a few extra blankets or using a lightly heated dog

bed, but watch out for signs of overheating including heavy breathing or panting.

• Hearty meals

Regular, healthy meals and increased hydration can help your dog to recover from

sickness by providing missing nutrients. Sicknesses like colds can inhibit your dog’s sense of smell, so try heating up their food in the microwave for a minute which can make it more fragrant and appealing.

• Lots of rest

Dogs already need lots of rest for their active routines, and even more so when they’re sick. Make sure your dog has a comfortable place to sleep and cut back on walks until they perk back up.

Seek professional advice if symptoms don’t subside after a week.

Advertising Feature

Treating bone tumours

LIMB sparing surgery is an alternative to amputation in cases of bone tumours in dogs.

Limb amputation is the best option for a bone tumour as dogs and cats can live comfortably on three legs. But sometimes it is not possible due to severe orthopaedic or neurological problems with the other legs or it is simply rejected by the owner.

Fore more information, use the QR code.

Foods to avoid

ONE of the best parts about the festive season is all of the delicious food options, but our pets don’t always feel the same way. Today, we’re sharing some top foods to avoid feeding your pets so you don’t ruin the holidays with unnecessary trips to the vets’.

• Chocolate

This festive treat contains theobromine, an ingredient known to be toxic to most cats and dogs. So, save your chocolate for yourself and store it in a sealed box out of reach for your fourlegged friends!

• Grapes and raisins

If you’re participating in the popular Spanish New Year’s tradition, make sure you keep grapes well out of your pets’ way. Grapes also contain toxins which can be poisonous to pets, causing kidney failure. Take care with raisin products too, including Xmas mince pies.

• Nuts

These snacks are a must at festive gatherings, but ensure your pets don’t go near them. As well as being a choking hazard for cats and dogs, some kinds of nuts, like macadamias can cause vomiting and hyperthermia.

•

Cooked bones

Although bones aren’t toxic to your pet, they can be still be harmful. Cooked bones are liable to snapping which can scratch or get stuck in your pet’s throat, or break teeth.

•POLICE/FIRE/ AMBULANCE: 112 24 HOUR PHARMACY FARMACIA ALICANTE965 910 220•CALL LOCAL POLICE CALPE: 965 839 000 MORAIRA : 965 740 946 •24 HOUR VETS MARINA BAIXA VETINARY HOSPITALL’ALFAS DE PI: 966 860 669 In Costablanca Norte: Anicura Marina Baixa Hospital Veterinario www.veterinariamarinabaixa.com EWN 29 Dec 2022 - 4 Jan 2023 40 euroweeklynews.com PETS

EMERGENCY NUMBERS It’s important to continue to feed your dog as usual when they’re sick, the nutrients are vital for their recovery. LIMBS: Surgery can be carried out. Photo credit: rawf8 / shutterstock.com

PLUMBERS AIR CONDITIONING PLUMBING AIR CONDITIONING EWN 29 Dec 2022 - 4 Jan 2023 41 SERVICES euroweeklynews.com

REMOVALS & STORAGE EWN 29 Dec 2022 - 4 Jan 2023 euroweeklynews.com SERVICES 42

REMOVALS & STORAGE TV & SATELLITE INSURANCE POOL SERVICES EWN 29 Dec 2022 - 4 Jan 2023 43 SERVICES euroweeklynews.com INSURANCE

WASHING MACHINE BROKEN? Call Bluesky Repairs for ALL your domestic appliance repairs. 626 430 671 (WhatsApp) (302413)

MOBILE homes & static caravans bought, sold and transported. +34 630 055 418 or elsyd7@hotmail.com (302142)

at 10.30 in Jose Llorca Social Centre C. Goya s/n. Benidorm. It is opposite the Foietes Car Park where there is a Wednesday market. Everyone welcome. It is 400m from Benidorm tram station and on bus routes 1 and 8. We loan out mobility and medical equipment including oxygen concentrators on a short-term basis. (288658)

English. BEST rates, covers & service. Immediate quotes. Tel 961 129 215 / 622 275 561, (WhatsApp) info@beneficialin suranceinspain.com or visit www.beneficialinsurancein spain.com for online quote. (301438)

RELAX CENTRE in BENIDORM - Excellent atmosphere. Expert Masseuses. 24/7 Outcalls - Tel: 603 324 564 (302452)

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

I BUY RECORDS 50s to the 90s. Best prices for good records. Tel: 622 750 117 / 962 851 809 (302022)

El Campello Christian Community - Life and Family Sunday Service at 11am Bilingual (English and Spanish) at C/ San Bartolome, 35 (Bajo No. 6), El Campello. For more information visit www.elcampellochris tiancommunity.org , email campellocc@gmail.com o r call Juan Zúñiga - 686 203 183 (Spanish) or Sue Bishop610 639 426 (English) (233602)

THE SALVATION ARMY English Speaking Church of Denia Worship Service. Sunday 10.30am followed by a time of Fellowship. Everyone is welcome. Come as you are! For more information: Dieter Zimmerer +34 698 609 658 or Barbara Zimmerer +34 652 319 810 Email dieterzimmer er@hotmail.com, www.cen trosaron.com (10008)

www.helpbenidorm.org and on Facebook VOLUNTEERS NEEDED, particularly Spanish speakers for interpreter service, and car owners. Tel President 607 387 040, Welfare 607 386 964, Interpreters 607 385 842, Equipment 663 495 396. We are an English-speaking charity that assists residents and tourists of all nationalities in times of crisis, we also organise social events for members. We meet every Thursday

MB ELECTRICS. Approved electrician. Any electrical repair. Iberdrola paperwork. Affordable prices. Miquel 655 282 175 www.mbelectrics.es (286325)

MOTOR INSURANCE . For the most competitive quotes in English call Linea Directa on 952 147 834, you could save as much as 30% and you can transfer your existing no claims bonus. Call Linea Directa on 952 147 834 for motor insurance with a human voice in English from Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm and save money now! (200726)

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

NATURIST male gives relaxing massage. For men and women. Private premises in Jávea, WhatsApp Rob on 613 831 380 (302512)

AUTO BASTIAN mobile mechanic. Tel 608 860 725. (294743)

WANTED Gold, Silver, Rolex & Patek Philippe Watches Tel678 716 693 (288662)

FRENCH, ELÉGANTE , SLIM SOPHIE, 3 languages spoken. Experienced in a large variety of full body massages. Villamartin apartment or can travel to all areas. 693 357 526 (295411)

RELAXING MASSAGE FOR MEN - Mario qualified masseur in Alicante - Special Massage for Men - 7 days 10am to 10pm - APPOINTMENTS visit: www.masajeyrelax.es/en or WHATSAPP 649 761 607

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

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)

INTERNATIONAL SKIPPER LICENCE: Courses held in English and starts soon. RYA VHF and Radar Courses. 636 444 929 (301483)

Peter Zwaan Motorbikes, A+ Occasions showroom, BMW R1200GS, 1200 cc, yr 2012, 53.000 kms, Euro 10.500. CostaBlancaMotorbikes. com (302078)

CHIROPODIST/PODIATRIST , Philip Mann, clinics in Benissa, Moraira, Javea, Calpe and Albir. 686 912 307 (287331)

WIGS

WWW.WIGS-R-US.ES Indoor Market Rincon de Loix, Benidorm. Monday-Saturday 10-3. We also have Scrunchies, Extensions, Ponytails. Catalogue orders. Private appointments after 3pm. 681 049 502 (302420)

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 INSURANCE. WE CAN EVEN INSURE YOU FOR UP TO A €1,000 OF WATERLOSS. CALL 686 116 297 (WHATSAPP TOO) OR VISIT www.sosinsurancein spain.com or email tracey@sosinsurancein spain.com (302024)

BENEFICIAL INSURANCE SERVICES. Car, Home, Business, Travel, Life, Funeral, all insurances available. Policies in

ARCHITECTS APPLIANCE REPAIRS BUY & SELL CARAVANS CARE HOME CHARITY ELECTRICIAN FOR SALE/WANTED GOLD WANTED HEALTH & BEAUTY INSURANCE MASSAGE METALWORKS MISCELLANEOUS MOTORBIKES MOTORING NAUTICAL SITUATIONS VACANT BEDDING CAMPING Ifyoucanreadit,socan yourclients.Contactus andhaveyourbusiness growat+34951386161 29 Dec 2022 - 4 Jan 2023 • euroweeklynews.com CLASSIFIEDS 44 SPONSORED BY

DECORATORS W.D. GILMOUR. Painter & Decorator. Established 35 years in Moraira. ESTIMATES FREE. Call William on 609 691 776 or 966 490 602 (301307)

BENIDORM and surrounding areas. Two-man removal. 678 067 163 (294739)

ROLLER SHUTTER REPAIRS, awnings, motors, mosquito blinds. Calpe + 50 kms. 659 464 992 www.toldosalchemy. com (1296178)

VIAGRA / KAMAGRA / CIALIS. BEST PRICES. FREE DISCREET DELIVERY. ALL AREAS COVERED. TEL: PETER 644 139 274 (302482)

MALE/FEMALE viagra, cialis, kamagra jelly, mixed trial packs available, all areas mail order. 604 385 476. viagra4you19@gmail.com

FREE VIAGRA? (Sildenafil) 100mg Buy 3 Packs get 1 pack FREE. 2€ each tablet, packs of 10. All areas covered. FAST Mail Order GUARANTEED plus postage or discreet personal delivery available. WhatsApp your order to 665 503 333 or e-mail for details viagra@glais.com (302034)

NEED YOUR PETS TAKEN CARE OF? Not kennels, just a friendly home. Large fenced area. 699 790 080 Altea

RETIRED couple looking for long term rental in La Marina Baixa - prefer two beds. Needed urgently - call Janice on 0044 7736 251 800 (279523)

MARK PADDON BSc Hons. MCIOB, CAAT – for buyer’s survey & defects advice. Tel: 653 733 066 / 962 807 247 www.costablancasurveyors. com (291812)

SPANISH INTERPRETER for all your appointment needs, has car. Effective, Friendly & Affordable service. Call 609 679 808 (290313)

NURSING

PAINTERS/DECORATORS PETS PROPERTY WANTED REMOVALS/STORAGE

SHUTTERS STRUCTURAL SURVEYS TRANSLATIONS EWN 29 Dec 2022 - 4 Jan 2023 45 CLASSIFIEDS euroweeklynews.com

Ifyoucanreadit,socan yourclients.Contactus andhaveyourbusiness growat+34951386161

OTHERS

ROLLER

OTHERS

2022 - year of the electric vehicle?

byMarkSlack

THIS year my test car list has included numerous electric vehicles, whether selfcharging, plug in hybrid or full

electric. It’s not surprising as manufacturers up the pace of their EV production with many announcing fully electric ranges within a couple of years.

One of the main problems

with EVs has, and in many cases remains, the higher initial pur chase price when com pared to equivalent specification models with combustion power. Part of this can be explained by the fact that any new technology, and despite electric vehicles having been around for many more years than people imagine it is new technology, takes time to embed itself.

With the advent of new EVs such as the MG4, the technology is getting ever more affordable and ranges are increasing. Still not enough to match combustion powered equivalents though. The biggest issue is infrastructure, or rather the lack of it. In the UK it is frankly awful with few fast chargers and even the moderately fast 50kw units so few that you invariably end up having an excessive wait.

THINKING EV: Whatever your budget, the options are growing.

Although EV charging will never be as quick as fuelling a combustion car, more superfast chargers would reduce the time significantly enough to make it convenient. That, along with pricing, is the main issue because convenience will lead to much greater adoption of EVs. Vehicle manufacturers have got their act together remarkably quickly, government now needs to do the same.

There have been many EVs on my driveway that have appealed, but the two that have personally appealed most come from BMW’s stable.

The MINI electric remains the most fun you can have in a battery powered car. It possesses all the elements of a traditional hot hatch in terms of acceleration and handling. Priced from £29k, it’s only real drawback is the 145mile range. When you

consider the MINI has been around for over 20 years, it’s a credit to BMW that it remains so competitive thanks to their careful evolu

The second is at the other end of the scale in all respects; the BMW iX. It’s a real style statement that divides opinion, even the interior is more like a concept model. With prices starting from a shade under £70k it needs to be good and it delivers.

With a more useable, range of 253 miles the larger battery models will in theory take you to nearly 370 miles. If you’re thinking EV then whatever your budget, the options are growing.

ROAD TEST

EWN 29 Dec 2022 - 4 Jan 2023 euroweeklynews.com MOTORING 46

Spotlight on the Lionesses

A NEW documentary has been released on the BBC detailing the English women’s football team’s meteoric rise to win the European Championships back in June 2022.

The fascinating documentary shows the Lionesses’ ride to glory, including highlights of winning matches and the difficulties they faced including sexism and being constantly overshadowed by the men’s

Memorable cricket

THIS year has been packed with sporting highlights in the world of cricket, but there have been several stunning moments that have wowed cricket fans globally. Here we share some of the most defining cricket moments of the last year.

England’s win of the T20 cup Ben Stokes led his team to victory over Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in November. The win marked the end of the English team’s 12 year wait for the title. The title was also the second world title for the team this year.

The Netherlands knock out South Africa

A huge shock for the cricket world came in the form of the Netherlands’ unlikely win against favourites, South Africa with a 13run knockout.

Bangladesh defeat New Zealand

The Bangladeshi national team ended New Zealand’s 17 match winning streak on winning ground with a landmark defeat.

Cricket debut

The sport made its first appearance as a sport in the Commonwealth Games during this year’s edition of the event in Birmingham.

team. Several players share thoughtful insights into the tournament and their careers in the documentary.

As the documentary was released, many are wondering what is on the cards for the Lionesses in 2023, whether it could be an even better year for the team. It’s been a historic year for the team, after going the whole year without losing a match, winning the Euros on home ground and qualifying for the 2023 World Cup also unbeaten.

England manager, Sarina Wiegman shared her thoughts, “You can’t beat that. You can only equal it.” And that is certainly what the team will be aiming to do next year as the team faces the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Confidence is up for the team, after a victory against current World Champions, the USA, but there is still a long way to go, and the Lionesses face many more teams in the next stages of the competition.

EWN 29 Dec 2022 - 4 Jan 2023 47 SPORT euroweeklynews.com

A new documentary has shed light on the Lionesses’ victory at the Euros in June 2022 and their tough journey there. Photo credit: England Football Team (Via Facebook)

The most liked Tributes for a legend

TRIBUTES flooded social media on Friday, December 23, following the news that George Cohen, England’s World Cup winning defender, had died at the age of 83.

Premier League side Fulham paid tribute to their former player, who spent his entire professional career at the London club.

“Everyone associated with Fulham Football Club is desperately saddened to learn of the passing of one of our greatest ever players and gentlemen George Cohen MBE,” the club wrote.

“A one club man, George made 459 appearances for his beloved Whites, in addition to earning 37 England caps, with whom he famously won the World Cup in 1966.”

The right back then played all 120 minutes of England’s World Cup win over West Germany, which saw the Three Lions triumph 4 2 after extra time.

George’s playing days were cut tragically short at the age of just 29, after suffering a devastating knee injury. Cruelly coming at a time when he was playing what he considered to be the best football of his life.

One of the biggest endorsements of his talent came when the legendary winger George Best described him as “the best full back I ever played against.”

A POST on social media from Argentinian super star Lionel Messi on Tuesday, December 20, become the mostviewed of all time. The footballer took to Instagram fol lowing his nation’s World Cup victory over France on Sunday December 18. It has since received an incredible 64.5 million likes so far.

His follower count has also increased substantially, reaching 404 million. He still trails the 500 million that Cris tiano Ronaldo has though, a figure the Portuguese achieved last week.

Messi’s post read: ‘WORLD CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!

I dreamed it so many times, I wanted it so much that I still haven’t fallen, I can’t

It continued: “Thank you very much to my family, to all who support me, and also to all who believed in us. We demonstrate once again that Argentines when we fight together and united we are capable of achieving what we set out to do.”

Previously, the record had been held by a TikTok video titled ‘the egg’, uploaded in August 2020 by Bella Poarch which hit 56.1 million likes.

Cristiano Ronaldo had another huge hit last month just before the Qatar World Cup started. He posted a Louis Vuitton advert showing him playing a game of chess with Messi. It racked up an amazing total of 41.9

For womens sport

ENGLAND and Arsenal forward Beth Mead has been voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2022. The 27yearold has become the first women’s footballer to win the award.

England cricket’s Test captain Ben Stokes was second, with Winter Olympics curling champion Eve Muirhead third.

Mead’s fantastic performances at Euro 2022 saw her named the player of the tournament as well as winning the Golden Boot. Her six goals and five assists, led to the Lionesses winning England’s first major women’s football trophy, defeating Germany in the final at Wembley on July 31.

She was also named Arsenal’s player of the season, came second in the Ballon d’Or Feminin and won BBC’s Women’s Footballer of the Year award in 2022.

EWN 29 Dec 2022 - 4 Jan 2023 euroweeklynews.com SPORT 48

Credit: Instagram Leo Messi Lionel Messi with the World Cup.