Costa del Sol 12 • 18 January 2023 Issue 1958

SOARING HIGH

TOURISM figures for Malaga Province from 2022 show that an astonishing €17 billion was collected in revenue throughout the year, proving there has been a phenomenal recovery following the pandemic.

Presenting the figures, Tourism Costa del Sol President Francisco Salado, hailed the numbers as “magnificent.”

The figures break records achieved in 2019, with the number of tourists visiting the province only dropping by 2 per cent between 2019 and 2022, while revenue went up by an astonishing 18.3 per cent.

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Malaga airport has had a phenomenal recovery.

Lucy Chamberlaine

Shutterstock.com/Tupungato

Booming figures

“In 2022, we set out to make the same amount of money as in 2019, and as of today, we have €2.6 billion more than that,” Salado said.

In 2023, figures are expected to rise even further with Salado explaining that there will be greater efforts made to draw visitors from the national market as well as planning more than 200 initiatives to attract visitors from abroad.

Further evidence of the Costa del Sol’s impressive boom was seen throughout 2022 with major names Club Med and the Hard Rock Hotel both opening their doors and attracting a huge international audience.

Amy not forgotten Exciting plan

MIJAS Town Council has now released the initial design of the Gran Parque de la Costa del Sol planned for Mijas.

The wheels have been set in motion for Mijas Town Hall’s ambitious bid to build the Great Park of the Costa del Sol, with a surface area of some 350,000 square metres. The Consistory is setting the administrative machinery in motion to contract the works for the construction of this green and recreational area for just over €32.8 million.

“This park offers an unbeatable tourist at­

traction for the centre of Las Lagunas and is a meeting point for local residents where sport and leisure go hand in hand in a natural environment in the heart of the coast,” explained the municipal authorities a few years ago.

“In order to define the final content of this green and leisure area, the town council launched a participatory process in which the local residents were given a voice. It was precisely as a result of this collaboration that a navigable lake and a skatepark, for example, were incorporated into the proposal.”

IN a bid to bring the case of missing Amy Fitzpatrick to light 15 years after her disappearance, local presenter Maurice Boland reposted his twoyear­old interview on Facebook in a bid to jog people’s memories.

The 15­year­old Irish girl went missing on January 1, 2008 as she walked between Calypso and Riviera del Sol in Mijas Costa. Not many people use it but it was wellknown to Amy Fitzpatrick, who had walked along there a thousand times between her home and that of her friend Ashley Rubio.

It should have taken her 20 minutes to get home, where she lived with her mother Audrey, her brother Dean and her stepfather, David Mahon, but she never arrived and nobody knows why.

Amy Fitzpatrick’s disappearance was considered worrying from the start because of her age, but that was the only reason. The Guardia Civil, who took charge of the investigation, did not find any sign whatsoever to indicate that a kidnapping or crime had taken place.

Members of the Costa del Sol community are now appealing for any new information on Amy to be brought to light.

New beginnings

THE year 2023 brings with it lots of hopes and dreams. Also the opportunity to look back and enjoy the ‘highs’ of the previous year and reflect on the ‘lows’ and how just maybe we can turn those around this year.

Many older people spend a lot of time aloneand not necessarily out of choice. But it really doesn’t have to be like that. Taking that first small step is always the most difficult, but after that it gets so much easier. We know, we understand and we are there for you.

Whichever drop ­ in centre you want to go to

there will always be a very warm welcome. An opportunity to catch up with some old friends and the opportunity to make new ones.

There is free welfare advice, help, support, friendship and a social calendar throughout the year with something for everyone. These include coffee mornings, monthly lunch clubs, a choice of day trips and much more.

Whether you live in Los Boliches, La Cala, Mijas Pueblo, Arroyo or Benalmadena we are always close to you and all locations will have reopened after the Three Kings.

If you are unsure of where to find Age Concern, please call the Information helpline on 652 537 615.

Age Concern are here for you throughout the year. Make 2023 a great one. Pop in or give us a call. We wish you a very Happy, Healthy and Peaceful New Year full of fun and friendship.

The initial design of the park.

Image: Mijas Town Council

Shutterstock.com/Caron

Badkin

MALAGA: Has seen a huge rise in tourism revenue.

A Heroic act

A POLICE officer in Antequera saved the life of a oneand­a­half­year­old girl suffering from a febrile seizure and who was in cardiorespiratory arrest by performing the Heimlich manoeuvre on her after she was brought to the police station by her father.

Ships ahoy

MORE than 300 cruise ships are expected to dock in Malaga throughout 2023, an increase from last year, figures from Malaga Port show. Seventeen of the ships will be making their first visit to the city, which welcomed a record number of tourists last year.

Staying warm

THE city council of Marbella has put out a €2.1 million contract to put a new roof on the Salduba swimming pool with better thermal insulation, installing a system that will make it easier to control the temperature inside the pool.

Run a mile

MORE than 1,000 people, including over a third of the non­native population of Torremolinos, have signed up to run the city’s annual half marathon in February. The current number of signups is double the number from last year.

Booster shots

PEOPLE over the age of 60 can now receive the Covid19 booster vaccination, according to the Ministry of Health in Andalucia; however, to avail of the vaccine, they must request to do so at their health centre, as they will not be contacted directly.

A Rare bloom

THE Elephant Ear orchid, a rare species endemic to Borneo known for its oversized leaves, has bloomed again in Estepona’s Botanical Orchid Park after a two­year hiatus. It is the largest orchid in the ‘Phalaenopsis’ family.

Free parking Torremolinos

TORREMOLINOS Town Council has opened a new car park in the Los Palacios neighbourhood that is free to use and has 400 muchneeded parking spaces for the community.

The outdoor parking area is in the middle of town and has 12 spots for people with limited mobility and two new spots for motorcycles. This is a great addition to the town, which desperately needs more parking spots.

“The new car park meets

THE Fuengirola Town Council has introduced a new mobile application and website that contain information regarding the new free urban transit service which started on January 1.

According to Mayor Ana Mula, the new app is easy to use, straightforward, and offers features like the user’s geolocation to highlight nearby stations or re­

one of our most critical community needs: more parking spaces,” Mayor Margarita Del Cid said, not­

ing that work has also been done on the pavement and rainwater drainage network, street

lights, and signs.

“The commissioning of a space like this is a commitment to a different type of town, one that facilitates mobility and transportation and makes the central areas more walkable and friendly,” Del Cid said.

“The council is committed to these works,” said Javier Quero, councillor for Public Works. “What was once a dead plot is now a resource available to the entire community,” he said of the €450,000 project.

New transport app

al­time information on bus times and frequencies

All Fuengirola residents are urged to download this software, which can be found on the Apple Store or Google Play store under the name ‘Fuengirola Urban Transport’.

“The new website, transportefuengirola.com, is already active,” Mula said.

“This enables access to information regarding this service in a flexible and user ­ friendly manner from any device, be it a comput­

er, mobile, or tablet.”

On the new website, users will be able to access real ­ time information, timetables, route connections, as well as updates on incidents, service issues, route adjustments, and so on.

Summer swimming

A SEMI-OLYMPICSIZED swimming pool is going to be built in Coin and will open to the public by the summer, the town hall has announced.

The ambitious project was put out to tender at the end of last year, and applications closed on January 4; however, it is not yet known which company will carry out the work.

Mayor Francisco Santos said that everyone in the city will be able to use the new swimming pool, which will cost €500,000, for fun and relaxation. Because of its size, it will also be allowed to be used for sports events.

The municipal pool, located in the Jose Burgos Quintana Sports Centre, will complement the services of the sports facility with changing rooms, outdoor showers, and plenty of shaded green space.

FOLLOWING the closure of the Alzheimer Dementia Support International (ADSI) charity shop in Sabinillas in 2020, the volunteers, ex­treasurer Rebecca, and ex­secretary Claire are pleased to announce that the monies raised from the various fundraising events ie: Cream Tea at Duquesa Golf with entertainment from the ‘Love to sing’ choir, various golf events, fashion shows and the annual ‘Lark in the park’ in Benahavis (in collaboration with the ‘International Theatre Studio’) between 2018 and 2020, have reached the worthy destination of ‘AFA’ day­care centre in Estepona.

The centre which relies on donations provides sanctuary and professional care for its members living with Alzheimer’s or Dementia, providing respite for loved ones, knowing they can be left in safe hands for up to eight hours a day.

AFA Estepona was truly appreciative in receiving the amount of €11,926.73 having suffered during the pandemic.

Rebecca and Claire continue to raise funds for AFA and other related charities. Both have experienced first­hand the effects of caring for a family member with this dreadful disease.

For further information please go to their Facebook page ‘JulieJane Fundraising’ where information on local support and contacts can be found.

They are happy to share their experiences, give advice and suggestions to help anyone affected by this life changing condition.

Wedding photography and portraiture is available with proceeds going towards AFA and other Alzheimer and Dementia charities.

THE Estepona Floral Art Club are meeting on Tuesday January 17 at El Pariso Golf club in Estepona from 3pm to 5pm.

A National Demonstrator and member of NAFAS from the UK, Penelope Harrison will fly in specially to entertain us for a couple of hours skilfully demonstrating floral art with the title ‘nature’s bounty’.

Overseas membership to the club is €40 and entitles you to four demonstrations.

Visitors can pay €15 per demonstration. We meet on the third Tuesday each month at 3pm prompt.

The restaurant is open before and after for your convenience.

For more information, please email esteponaflo ralartclub@hotmail.com.

“We have been working for months to give our community the summer pool they deserve,” Santos said.

“It is bigger, in a better space, with better public services,” he concluded.

CAR PARK: Will provide 400 much-needed spaces.

AGE CARE Association

Calahonda Coffee Group has moved their meeting location from Calahonda International Baptist Church to Club Naranja, Calle Málaga, Calahonda.

The December 29 event was their last meeting date in the Baptist Church and the charity have expressed their thanks and appreciation to them for the many years that they were able to meet there.

The charity’s main reason for moving premises was so that they had a choice of whether to hold meetings inside or out and therefore wouldn’t be affected by any adverse weather conditions.

The numbers for their Calahonda meetings are very healthy and steadily growing and they have a

On the move

along with tea and coffee.

We also have a monthly visit from a fully qualified nurse and hold a Grieving Support Group.

The charity also urgently needs more volunteer drivers to help members visit medical appointments etc.

wide variety of activities on offer at twice weekly meetings, now held every Tuesday and Thursday from 10.15 ­ 12.15.

Activities include Chair Aerobics, Art, Spanish, Dominoes and of course we always have delicious home­made cakes on offer

Their charity shop in El Zoco, Calahonda is open Monday ­ Friday from 10am ­ 4pm and would be delighted to receive offers of help for one day a week.

If you think any of these volunteer positions fits into your lifestyle, then please contact on Facebook Messenger ‘Age Care Costa del Sol’, on 635 407 255, or at their shop in El Zoco.

Living her dream

ONE Marbella ­ based expat is getting the chance to live her dream after being given the opportunity to interview celebrity cat behaviourist Jackson Galaxy on TRE radio.

Kay Millington, 38, who is known throughout the Costa del Sol for her passion for rescuing and training both cats and dogs for the past 10 years is now getting the chance to interview her hero on Selena MacKenzie’s show on Tuesday, February 7.

Kay, who has a monthly show, Ani mal Talk, with Selena on TRE, told the Euro Weekly News what this opportu nity means to her: “I am a huge fan of Jackson Galaxy. He’s the best cat behaviourist in the world and he’s the person who actually inspired me to go into cat behaviour and training via his TV show, Animal Planet’s My Cat from Hell.

“I’d mentioned Jackson before to Selena and two weeks ago she messaged and said she had a surprise for me. When she said it was an interview with Jackson I had to stop

what I was doing as I was so overwhelmed.

“I am so excited because I’ve always followed his work and I love what he does in America and around the world raising awareness about the vital work of neutering stray cats to keep the population healthy and with a great quality of life.”

Kay, who runs her own charity, Rescued Paws Spain, and works for Mar­

bella animal charity Triple A in its cat shelter, said she now hopes to get Jackson over to Spain.

She told the EWN : My biggest dream would be to invite Jackson to where I work at Triple A and my charity and help with the cats that have the biggest problems because of trauma so they can be rehomed.”

Speaking about the dedication she has for her work, Kay, who has fostered around 80 cats herself over the years, said: “I feel like I’m finally being recognised here for my skills with animals and especially cats. There are lots of dog trainers but there aren’t a lot of cat trainers ­ I’m there for people the whole life of the cat when they’re rehomed.”

Kay added that it is the Costa del Sol community together that improves the lives of animals. She said: “It’s changing a lot in Spain, especially with the new law coming in, and I feel like together we can make a difference.”

Credit: Kay Millington

AGE CARE: Tom Tarr, Lesley Berridge and Mike Brown.

Credit: Age Care Calahonda

KAY MILLINGTON: The animal activist has a radio show on TRE.

Mega star spotted

HOLLYWOOD A ­ lister Morgan Freeman surprised locals when he was spotted dining at Mallorca restaurant Sandro on Sunday, January 8.

Freeman said: “It’s the best Bolognese I’ve ever eaten in my life,” according to the Italian restaurant’s owner Sandro Putignano.

The restaurateur told one publication: “Until they turned up I didn’t know it was going to be him. At first we were a little doubtful and we were looking for photos of him on the internet, until we were sure.

“They arrived early in the service, around 7.15pm, and left around 10pm. They were a group of five people and they were having dinner quietly, like any other client.”

The actor later posed for photos with the Sandro, which the business owner later posted to Instagram saying: “We still can’t believe it. Morgan Freeman at home, we couldn’t be more excited. We will never forget this moment, thank you!”

MORGAN FREEMAN: Was spotted in Mallorca.

Tribute paid

HAYATE , a young mother of four children, was murdered around midnight on Sunday, January 8, allegedly by her ex ­ partner who is already in custody.

The mayor of Adeje, Jose Miguel Rodriguez Fraga, and Adeje residents held a minute’s silence at midday on Monday, January 9, to express their unanimous repulsion against this kind of violence and as a mark of respect for Hayate’s family and friends.

The Adeje Town Council declared official mourning in the municipality for the murder of Hayate, suspending all leisure activities and flying the flags at half­mast on Tuesday, January 10.

The mayor said: “I want to strongly express our rejection of any type of violence, especially gender violence, which we are experiencing this week. From Adeje, we want to express the repulsion and pain of the whole town. We would like to send our support for the family, as well as give thanks to the intervention of the neighbour who made it possible to arrest the aggressor.”

Sustainable supermarket

THE Spanish supermarket giant, Mercadona has become the first in the sector to carry out mass testing of a new sustainable scheme using

electric­powered haulage. The supermarket announced it was aiming to transition to electric power on Monday, January 9.

Grumpy but loved

READERS of the Euro Weekly News will be delighted to know that one of the paper’s best loved columnists, Grumpy Old Man Mike Senker, is set to be back in the writing saddle once again following a break while he moves house.

The popular writer, whose musings on everything from modern customer service to cancel culture have entertained readers over more than 300 columns, is expecting to complete his move later this month and begin contributing to the EWN again.

Explaining that he is busy with multiple projects these days, while Mike will not be returning with a column every week, he will be entertaining readers with his sharp insights into life on the Costas again in the following weeks.

Mike said: “I want to thank readers for their very kind wishes and I look forward to being back on the Euro Weekly’s pages very soon!.”

The company has made no secret of its commitment to the environment and its goal to adapt to global climate goals by reforming its haulage scheme, including by acquiring its first two all ­ electric trucks at the end of 2022.

In recent months, the company has conducted several pilot schemes with logistics companies Disfrimur and Acotral to assess the efficiency of electric haulage.

The scheme aimed to assess the practicality of using 100 per cent electric lorries given the limited charging infrastructure in the country and the time constraints of charging vehicles up. Project coordinators devised the most effective routes in two project areas, Madrid and Murcia, and were able to efficiently supply and stock six supermarkets.

Credit: Instagram/Sandro Restaurante

Culinary credit

Betty Henderson

THE famed Spanish cuisine is once again in the global spotlight thanks to a new ranking which placed Spain in third place for the ‘World’s Best Cuisine’. TasteAtlas released its 2022 rankings on Friday, January 6, giving Spain an overall score of 4.59 stars out of 5.

The ranking of global cuisines is released by gastronomic experts at the platform each year who identify top dishes, ingredients and restaurants in each country and compile reviews from diners to find the most popular global cuisine.

The last year’s list was topped by Italy with a score of 4.72 stars. The country’s speciality ingredients of Parmigiana Reggiano, pesto and prosciutto were highlighted as favourites. Greek cuisine came a close second in the rankings with a score of 4.69 stars, thanks to its top rated foods of Kalamata, Gyros and

cious dishes including Gambas a la Plancha, Jamón Iberico, and Manchego cheeses.

AMID the increasing cost of living, many of us are looking for changes to save money. One study has found the cheapest city to live in, in Spain, so if you’re looking to switch it up, check out this city in northern Spain.

The study released by insurance specialists, Kelista, on Monday, January 8 revealed that living costs in Palencia are 30 per cent lower than the Spanish average. During the project, cities were compared on 14 key economic indicators including housing, transport, taxes, and leisure.

Residents in the city make an average of €23,500 per year, meaning they get better

SPANISH officials have announced their bid for the EU to extend the price cap on gas until at least the end of 2024. Speaking on Monday, January 9, government minister, Teresa Ribera said that Spain is asking Brussels for the measure to stabilise utility prices in the coming year.

The current price cap on gas used to generate electricity is nicknamed the ‘Iberian Exception’ as it applies to Spain and Portugal. Both countries have been paying €40 per megawatt hour for the gas since the scheme came in on June 15, but the rate is set to increase by

Cheapest city

value for their money than most other cities in the country.

Second place went to the enclave of Melilla, with costs of living 17 per cent below the national average. Other cheap places to live include Lugo, Logroño, Cáceres, Zamora, and León. On the other hand, the most expensive places to live were unsurprisingly Barcelona and Madrid. San Sebastian in the Basque Country was also ranked as having one of the highest costs of living.

Gas cap extension

€5 per megawatt hour each month until the current proposed end date of the scheme in May.

Ribera said that the Spanish government has developed a

proposal for the extension of the scheme until European regulations on gas and electricity production have been updated, which will stabilise the market.

She explained “We want to keep the gas cap in place until at least the end of 2024, with a rate of €45 to €50 per megawatt hour.”

Moussaka. Spanish cuisine came in third place in the global ranking thanks to deli-

Dishes including Spain’s gambas a la Plancha earned the country third place on a global cuisine ranking.

Photo credit: hlphoto / shutterstock.com

Military missions

SPAIN is expected to send four military missions overseas in 2023 according to officials at the annual armed forces parade in Madrid on Friday, January 6. Forces will work for the United Nations, the European Union and NATO in military operations in Iraq, Lebanon, Mali and the Horn of Africa.

The annual military event took place at the Royal Palace in Madrid, with King Felipe VI making a speech.

The King praised Spanish armed forces’ commitment to their country and the international organisations they serve.

This year’s event saw a return to pre ­ pandemic scale proceedings, and authorities spoke about the most pressing military issues for the upcoming year.

The situation in Ukraine was at the top of the agenda for officials, with the King describing it as one of the

biggest challenges facing Europe and threatening security across the continent and in the entire world.

Defence spending has been increased in the 2023 budget to deal with the pressures of the war.

Spain’s response to the war in the last year has included welcoming refugees and increasing Spanish military presence in Latvia and other surrounding countries.

Reduction of VAT

THE Facua­Consumers in Action association has denounced seven large Spanish supermarket chains for not passing on the VAT reduction to all affected foods.

The complaint was made to the National Commission for Markets and Competition (CNMC) after the Spanish government lowered or removed VAT on essential foods at the beginning of January.

After a review carried out between December 30 and January 3, Facua looked at changes in 676 prices in Alcampo, Aldi, Carrefour, Dia, Eroski, Lidl, Hipercor and Mercadona.

Of all the companies analysed, Mercadona was

MOVISTAR and Vodafone customers in Spain face increased rates this month. Telefonica will raise Movistar’s rates from Friday, January 13 while Vodafone’s new rates will come into force on Sunday, January 22.

As announced to customers by the multinational, Movistar will put its prices up by an average of 6.8 per cent. The company also pointed out that this increase is lower than 2022’s average CPI of 8.4 per cent.

Telefonica explained that this new price rise is not due to inflation but is a result of an in­

the only chain without any anomalies in how they had implemnted the VAT reduction. The consumer association found the supermarkets with the most price issues were Dia and Carrefour.

Since January 1 ­ and for the next six monthsthe Spanish government has decreed that 0 per cent VAT will be applied to bread, bread flour, milk, cheese, eggs, fruit, vegetables, pulses, potatoes and cereals. For oils and pasta, on the other hand, the tax rate has been reduced from 10 per cent to 5 per cent.

This analysis is the first of the price monitoring campaign that Facua has launched and will continue to carry out in the coming months.

Phone increases

crease in costs in the telecommunications sector.

Vodafone announced at the end of last year that from 2023 it would update its packages according to the averaged annual CPI. This will mean approximately an extra €2.50 on average for mobile­only plans, and €5.50 on average for its convergent plans. The company has justified the price rises by point­

ing out that it is the first increase in 18 months.

It is being done with the aim of curbing the impact of inflation on costs, energy, and suppliers the company insisted. The increases will also enable the operator to cope with the pace of investment in the infrastructure of its innovative network and services.

According to a recent analysis by the price comparator Kelisto.es, Telefonica and Vodafone could generate up to €486 million in additional revenue with these new charges.

MILITARY PRESENCE: The Royal Family greeted Armed Forces in the annual Epiphany parade held in the capital last Friday.

Photo credit: Familia Real Española (Via Facebook)

Spanish tourists

SPAIN was visited by 4.3 million international tourists in November 2022, which reached almost the same amount who arrived in the same month of 2019. These

travellers spent €5,387 million on their trip and stay, €319 million more (6.2 per cent) than in November 2019, according to data published by the National Statistics In­

stitute (INE). The Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, Reyes Maroto said, “2022 will be remembered as the year of the recovery of tourism after the impact of the pandemic. According to our forecasts, during 2022 the number of international tourists who will have visited Spain will exceed 71.5 million and the accumulated expenditure will reach €87.1 billion.”

During her speech on Wednesday, December 4, the Minister of Tourism added: “The control of inflation in the last months of the year, together with the measures implemented by the government to deal with the impact of the war in Ukraine are facilitating the arrival of tourists to our country, with increases in spending and average stay, which makes us optimistic about the year 2023.”

TOBACCO companies in Spain could be forced to pay to clean up all the discarded cigarette butts, as per the new environmental regulations.

The law, in accordance with the European Union rules, aims to limit single-use plastic after it came into effect from Friday January 6 onwards.

It is a part of several measures that have been designed by the Spanish government to reduce waste and increase the amount of

Stub it out

Take years to decompose.

recycling in the country as well as obligating polluters to clean-up.

Not so cute

UNLIKE the vast majority of caterpillars, this particular species can be harmful to young children and sometimes fatal to dogs and cats.

Between December and April, the larvae will make their way to the ground to pupate and eventually turn into moths between May and July. It is during these months that pets and young children are most vulnerable.

The processionary caterpillar is mostly found in pine trees in wooded forests and can be identified by the thousands of small fine poisonous hairs or bristles that cover their bodies, they are roughly three to four centimetres in length. The name ‘processionary’ comes from the fact that they create a procession or caterpillar-style ‘conga’ from head to tail to form a long chain. It is not unheard of to see chains with hundreds of them all joined together.

According to a study done in Catalonia, cited by a national news source, the total cost of cigarette butt cleanup is estimated between €12-€21 per smoker per annum, which in total amounts to over €1 billion.

Although it still remains unclear how the clean-up will be implemented, experts suggest that the tobacco companies will eventually pass this cost on to the customer.

According to environmental experts, each butt takes over 10 years to decompose. Several toxins including arsenic and lead are also released into the atmosphere during their decomposition process.

Shutterstock.com/

Larina Marina

Host of football training camps The Three Wise Men return

MARBELLA is to proudly host more than 100 football training camps this winter to keep athletes in shape and enjoy the sun while working hard.

The Marbella Football Centre facilities were born to satisfy the highest demands of world football and with this influx of teams and football it is doing just that, with German team Borussia Dortmund currently visiting.

The mayor of Marbella said, “the municipality is a leader in the segment of sports and football tourism, which has a positive impact on job creation

and wealth, generating an economic injection for our locality.”

With such great impact and the benefits that football is bringing to Marbella the potential for Marbella to associate themselves with candidacy of the Spanish Football Federation for the 2030 World Cup to become its training headquarters for those partaking is becoming more and more of a reality.

Bringing further investment to Marbella as well as also tourism that will continue to rise if this was to take place.

Golfing challenge

The competition, a contest for two­team players, will take place on Saturday January 14, and Sunday Januart 15, and the top 10 scoring teams are in with a chance to win some lavish prizes, including watches from Rayon Weil, glasses from Maui Jim, a golf set, wine, and other goodies.

Each team registered for the tournament will receive a shared buggy stocked with water and fruit, a leather club cover, a dozen balls, an umbrella, and beverages halfway around the course. Tickets cost €250, including the buggy and all its amenities, and participants will also have the option of attending a sumptuous gala dinner held in La Hacienda Los Naranjos, which will include live music, an awards ceremony, and various giveaways.

For more information or to register for the tournament, please visit the Los Naranjos Golf Club website at https://los naranjos.com/36­challenge/.

ON January 5, The Three Wise men made their return to Marbella and San Pedro de Alcantara, recapturing and taking back the traditional parades after the pandemic. With countless viewers and crowds in attendance, the parades were filled with fun and laughter that injected the towns with excitement on their arrival. Along with sweet treats, joyous waves and plenty of youngsters with bags and sacks ready to collect all their sweets and diving in to get their favourites it was something to see and experience. Colour, music, lights and dancers filled the streets, and it was a fantastic step forward to normality and has got everyone excited about upcoming and next year’s festivities! The mayor said “today is an unforgettable day in which everyone, children and adults, can enjoy an activity that resumes normality after two very complicated years due to Covid­19.”

More events are yet to come, and the community is buzzing! Be sure to keep an eye out for more and make your way down to Marbella to experience fun.

All-time high!

MARBELLA recorded an alltime high of employment as reduction of unemployment has been reduced by 25 per cent in 2022, with 2,000 more companies also having been developed from before the pandemic, with more than 1,067 in Marbella being selfemployed than before the pandemic.

The economy is booming and the demand for business is back, and Marbella tends to be the epicentre of it all with over 80,000 contributors.

From this recent development the level of unemployment has gone down and now one in four is unemployed. Marbella has been able to achieve this through their digi­

tisation of companies, the implementation of digital initiatives and the social economy through the Marbella Social programme hub.

As well as putting forward €1 million of EDUSI funds, they have been dispersed throughout Marbella to creative industries such as the arts, video games, performing arts and the social regeneration of neighbourhoods.

With further incentives being given from the businesses throughout, incorporating 28 new projects and 22 training actions, 11 ‘webinars’ and eight workshops have been provided ‘to improve the competitiveness of entrepreneurs and start new projects’.

Cat on the Loose

MEMBERS of Marbella’s veterinary health team captured a caracat last week after it escaped from its home in Nueva Andalucia and travelled over 20 kilometres before being spotted in a property in Costalbella.

The caracat, which is listed among domestic animals that could be dangerous, vanished from its owner's residence on Avenida del Prado in Nueva Andaluca on Sunday January 1.

Later on the same day, the Costalbella property owner called the emergency services at 112 after seeing what was initially thought to be a lynx, but was actually the feline escapee.

The young male cat, known as Jakar, weighs about 20 kilogrammes and is a cross between a caracal and an Abyssinian cat.

Once captured, Jakar was moved to the El Paraso zoo ­ sanitary park, where staff members checked on its well ­ being while they waited for its owner to show up with all necessary paperwork so they could get it back.

TRADITIONAL: Fun and laughter filled the streets.

GOLFERS on the Costa del Sol still have a few days to sign up for the Los Naranjos 36 Challenge Marbella, which will be held this weekend at the Los Naranjos Golf Club.

No more gas Blame the sick

THE UK’s Health Select Committee Chair, Steve Brine, lays the blame for the state of the NHS on ‘sick’ England.

According to a report by a national news outlet on Wednesday, January 4, Brine argued that the NHS

A never event?

AN increasing number of foreign objects have been found inside patients after surgery in the UK.

According to recent figures revealed by the National Health Service (NHS), this is being described as a ‘never event’, after cotton swabs, blades, drill bits, wire cutters, and others items have been left inside patients over 291 times in England.

Objects were found in all different age groups of patients, from babies to people over 90.

Such a huge number of patients with foreign objects postsurgery is the highest recorded in the UK in over 20 years.

As per the NHS, leaving an object inside a patient after surgery is classified as a ‘never event’. This means that, such an incident is so serious, it should never have happened.

NHS also issued a statement on this issue after its spokesperson said, “Thanks to the hard work of NHS staff, incidents like these are rare, however, when they do happen, the NHS is committed to learning from them to improve care for future patients.”

has never had more money and that it did not need more cash saying that the “ill health of the nation” was the problem.

He added that along with exhausted staff following the twin demic of Covid ­ 19 and flu, structural issues were also to blame for record waiting lists and cancelled operations.

Brine admitted that the NHS is in crisis but did not think money, facilities or staffing were the issue. He said demand for care is “phenomenal” and “through the roof” adding that it’s more the fact that the NHS just “can’t keep up.”

Not everyone is in full agreement with the Health Select Committee chair’s assessment, with many in the sector having criticised the government for not taking ownership of the health sector’s shortcomings.

AS announced on the official Twitter account of the British Foreign Office, as of the beginning of the year, the United Kingdom has stopped importing Russian liquified natural gas (LNG).

The department emphasised that this action is being taken as a direct result of said gas supplies allowing Russia to finance its

ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

On October 28, the British Foreign Office announced plans to stop LNG supplies from Russia. The decision was made in order to reduce dependence on Russian fuel. According to the research company ICIS, as of December 2022, the EU and the UK had

AFTER the UK government’s latest advisory to wear masks, scientists have raised concerns about the new Covid variant XBB.1.5, which has already been reported in over 4 per cent of cases in the country. The new variant, which has already been rapidly spreading across the United States, threatens to cause a fresh wave of cases.

XBB.1.5 was already responsible for a massive surge in cases in the UK last winter, which resulted in thousands of people losing their lives.

Several offshoots of the Omicron variant have dominated the number of Covid infections globally ever since XBB.1.5 evolved from the XBB variant.

purchased almost 21 per cent more Russian LNG than in 2021.

According to the UK Office for National Statistics, in 2022 the United States became the largest source of LNG supplies to Britain.

In 2023, it is planned to replace Russian LNG with supplies from Qatar and Azerbaijan.

On the rise

Meanwhile, scientists in the UK said there is still uncertainty around the XBB.1.5. variant as only a fraction of Covid samples have been analysed.

Shutterstock.com/

Shutterstock.com/ angellodeco

New Omicron variant XBB.1.5 raises concerns of rise in Covid-19 cases in UK.

Great tribute

THE Costa del Sol’s favourite English­speaking theatre, Salon Varietes, is back with a bang this year with a spectacular tribute to the Modern­Day Queen and King of Pop in ‘The Beyoncé and Bruno Mars Show’.

Local performers Johnny G and Melissa Carver, from Spotlight Events, will deliver an outstanding, high­energy show on Saturday January 14 and Sunday 15, featuring all of their best­loved hits.

The dynamic duet will perform on Saturday at 7.30pm and Sunday at 7pm. For further information or to book reservations, go to the www.salonvarietestheatre.c om website, send an email to boxoffice@salonvari etestheatre.com, or call (+34) 952 474 542.

Additionally, tickets may be purchased at the box office, Monday to Friday from 11am to 2.30pm and an hour before each performance.

Manga Madness

By Lucy Chamberlaine

ALHAURIN DE LA TORRE

once again demonstrates its commitment to alternative culture by organising the upcoming eighth edition of the Manga Fair, which will take place on Saturday January 21 and Sunday January 22.

This year’s fair, which returns to El Limon Indoor Sports Centre after two editions marred by the pandemic, capacity restrictions, and schedule and location changes, includes an eclectic programme of more than 80 free events and attractions.

Numerous participants,

mostly young people, come from all over Andalucia and Spain to participate in the event’s wide range of activities, which include workshops, games, a robot library, tournaments, a cosplay contest, giveaways, K­Pop, guest lectures from celebrities, karaoke, a toy library, virtual reality, ‘Softcombat’, and even an intriguing ‘Escape Room’ and a ‘Nerf Zone’.

There will also be many booths selling goods and crafts at the fair, which will be open from 11am until 9pm on Saturday, and 11am until 8pm on Sunday.

Birthday celebrations

THIS winter, the Bioparc in Fuengirola has been hosting a series of free events aimed at getting children excited about nature and conservation.

Since December, visitors to the park have enjoyed scavenger hunts, storytelling, and workshops, among other activities, and the programme will continue until March, so there is plenty of time to check it out.

On Saturday January 27 and Sunday January 28 from 12.30pm, for example, the Education and Zoology Team will be hosting an unmissable event that will transport you to the wild jungles of Sumatra and Borneo, home to our close cousin the orangutan.

The event celebrates the birthday of Sabangau, one of the few orangutans living in the Bioparc, who was born five years ago and whose name comes from the Sabangau or Sebangau National Park on the island of Borneo.

Before 1985, this for ­

est was home to the largest number of Bornean orangutans. Since then, unregulated logging has destroyed 85 per cent of the forest and decimated the population. Despite being named a national park in 2004, it will take decades for the forest to recover.

Cooking up a storm

BRING the children to Cooking Malaga’s family­friendly workshop, which will be held on Saturday January 21, in Malaga City, and watch them

get to work in the kitchen.

In addition to teaching children how to prepare and cook great meals, including international cuisine, lunches,

Kendo competition

NEXT weekend, kick it up a notch at the Winter Kendo Seminar and Open Competition, which will be held for the sixth time at the La Lobilla Sports Centre in Estepona.

The seminar and tournament is organised by martial arts training facility Shion Dojo Malaga and will be taking place from Friday, January 20 until Sunday, January 22, with the involvement of maestros Markus Frey, Mikko Salonnen, and Susana Porevuo, among other national kendo experts.

The deadline to register is today, Thursday January 12, and tickets, which range in price from €30 to €45, may be bought on the website at www.shion­dojo.es.

In addition to informative seminars on the practice of kendo, a modern Japanese martial art that uses bamboo swords and protective armour, participants can get involved in practice competitions and even take part in graded exams overseen by the attending kendo maestros.

A minibus service will be operating from Malaga airport and train station to Estepona on Friday and Satur day and from Estepona on Sunday for a small extra cost, although schedules have yet to be confirmed at the time of writing.

brunches, summer dishes, and even special recipes for Father’s Day and Mother’s Day, these workshops are a blast for the whole family.

The monthly activities typically last from 11am until 1pm, but if the morning programme fills up the school may extend the hours into the evening, depending on demand.

Chocolate desserts are on the menu for next week so it’s certainly not one to miss. Tickets are €15; for more information, call 600 629 283. Cooking Málaga is located in Pedregalejo, Malaga, on Calle Conde de las Navas.

Manga Fair.

FIFTH BIRTHDAY: Sabangau, a Borneo Orangutan.

Chocolate desserts.

Image: Daria YakovlevaMinor edits made by Subsidiary account, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

El Lodge & Maribel welcome you to the Sierra Nevada winter season

Spain’s Sierra Nevada has had a great start to the 2022-23 winter season with one of the biggest snowfalls so far, creating good snow conditions on both the beginner slopes and the higher altitude pistes.

Maribel’s sophisticated ski and après ski

We’re also delighted to introduce you to Maribel, a destination for those with a taste for a lively après ski experience. Maribel, an alpine-style chalet with a spectacular mountain-view restaurant called Maribel’s, as well as a Nordic-inspired spa, ticks all the boxes. Its rooms and duplex suites have winter wonderland views, welcoming, alpine-inspired interiors and indulgent bathrooms with rainfall showers and spa baths. Maribel’s après ski dining offers seasonal classics and alpine favourites.

The elegant El Lodge

El Lodge Ski & Spa is nestled in the heart of this skiing and snowboarding destination. It’s a mountain retreat for skiing enthusiasts, but it’s also an elegant, and rather romantic base for those who simply want to enjoy the landscape and the après ski.

There are ski guides, a ski school for learners or those who want to improve, personal instructors and a prêt-a-porter equipment hire store. What’s more, one of the things that make El Lodge such a desirable ski station is that it is ski in-ski out. Guests can ski out directly from the hotel via the Maribel piste down to the main station, which is accessible from the Sun Deck. The gastronomy on offer at El Lodge is mouthwatering, and the Spa has a Massage Collection menu that includes a SleepInducing body ritual for profound relaxation. Not to mention it hosts the only outdoor, heated swimming pool in Sierra Nevada. When the Sierra Nevada mountains call to you, El Lodge and Maribel are waiting to give you the very best in alpine-style accommodation, gastronomy and spa experiences - make your reservations now at reservas@ellodge.com and reservas@maribels.com

We have two outstanding destination hotels in Sierra Nevada: El Lodge and its brand-new sister hotel, Maribel.

Soho shopping

THE Christmas markets may be wrapped up until the end of the year, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t alternatives available for the sustainably conscious and thrifty shopper.

In fact, La Chistera Communications is organising the first urban market of the year on Sunday January 22 on Calle Tomas Heredia, located in Malaga City’s trendy Soho neighbourhood.

More than 50 local producers, artisans, artists, designers, and creators will be at the

market from 11am to 7pm to showcase their artistic creations and goods.

The market offers a wonderful opportunity to purchase one­of­a­kind gifts, keepsakes, and other items that will be cherished for the rest of one’s life.

This is a great place to shop for one­of­akind things because it is a market that values creativity and originality over largescale mass production.

Please send an email to markets@lachis teracomunicacion.es for information.

Rockin’ Race Jamboree

ROCKERS rejoice: the Rockin’ Race Jamboree in Torremolinos is back, bringing together music fans, car aficionados, and party people for a four ­ day festival jam­packed with events including concerts, a vintage vehicle display, and a retro market.

The swinging jamboree will take place from Thursday February 2 until Sunday February 5 in the Principe de Asturias Auditorium and Hotel La Barracuda, where a host of activities and events have been organised.

For instance, Coast Classics will host a classic automobile event on February 4 from 11am to 4pm where a variety of antique cars from the 1970s and earlier will be on

display. Live music and food trucks will also be available.

The best swing and rock music from the 1950s and 1960s will be played at a series of concerts put on by Sleazy Records. There will also be a retro market with

THE fascinating history behind the first English Cemetery in Spain is found in Malaga and is considered a cultural asset to the city.

Before the English Cemetery was created in 1831, the death of a non­Roman Catholic in Spain was problematic. Non­Catholics could only be buried at night, on the beach and in an upright position, and left at the mercy of the waves or prowling dogs.

When William Mark became British Consul in 1824, he was determined to find a site where Protestants could be given a decent burial. In 1829 Malaga authorities finally granted him a plot of land outside the city on the road to Almeria, and here he founded the first protestant cemetery in mainland Spain.

The cemetery is the final resting place of

vinyl records and other vintage items for sale.

Tickets cost between €50 and €95 depending on the type, as there are day and weekend passes available. For more information, head on over to www.rockinrace.com

Cultural asset

many notable figures who contributed to making Malaga what it is today.

The English Cemetery in Malaga was listed as a cultural asset (Bien de Interes Cultural) by the Andalucian government in 2012 and is registered with the Association of Significant Cemeteries of Europe (ASCE) thanks to its outstanding artistic, historic, literary and botanical value.

The English Cemetery which is open Tuesday to Sunday from 09.00am until 2.00pm in Malaga is located at Avenida de Pries, 1, across the road from the new hotel Miramar at the end of Paseo de Reding.

Bar Experience

AFTER more than 10 years of experience in the organisation of professional hospitality events, Bar Experience Malaga (BEM) have felt the need to evolve their congresses to adapt to an increasingly changing market, to encompass the entire industry. It has been an evolutionary process that has taken Ginebralia to BEM.

BEM welcomes the integral experience of bars, cocktail bars, suppliers, in short, the whole industry. The exhibition offers over 40 stands of gins, whisky, rum, soft drinks and equipment and free professional accreditation with invitations from exhibitors for three tastings.

Expect to see professionals from distribution channels, hotel and catering companies, gastronomic press, bartenders, technicians, bloggers, cocktail bars, nightclubs, caterers, restaurants, beach bars, hotels, etc.

BEM will take place on Tuesday, January 31, and Wednesday, February 1, between 4.00pm and 9.00pm at the Palacio de Ferias y Congresos de Malaga (FYCMA) Exhibition Centre located at Ortega y Gasset, 201, 29006 Malaga. For info /fycma.com/ or 952 045 500.

For more information email: info@ginebralia.com or ginebralia@gmail.com, head to the website barexperi ence.es or call (+34) 629 465 555 or (+34) 681 082 142

Vintage cars

THE classic, vintage and collector car show Retro Malaga will be held on January 27, 28 and 29 at the Palacio de Ferias y Congresos de Malaga (FYCMA).

For the 10th consecutive year, all lovers of classic and collector vehicles in the south of the country and especially in the Andalucian community have an unmissable date at the Malaga retro show par excellence, where you can find exhibitions, stands of accessories, spare parts, gifts, sale and purchase of classic cars and motorbikes.

If you are interested in selling your classic vehicle at Retro Malaga or you have a company related to the classic motor world and want to participate as an exhibitor, send an email to: info@eventosmotor.com.

The event is being held at the FYCMA Exhibition Centre located at Ortega y Gasset, 201, 29006 Malaga.

URBAN MARKET: For those one-of-a-kind gifts.

TeresaCastanedo,

CLASSICS: Don’t miss the vintage car show.

Image: Fitindia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Great 70s extravaganza

DIG out your flares and platform shoes for a 70s extravaganza with the Costa del Sol’s hottest new trio.

Expect to be wowed by ‘Boogie Wonderland’ who are performing songs by Earth, Wind & Fire, The Temptations, Kool & The Gang, James Brown, Marvin Gaye Jackson 5, The Bee Gees and Boney M to name a few.

If ever a musical style defined a decade, Disco was the definition of the 1970s. Although its popularity was relatively short­lived, the genre hosted a great deal of songs and artists that people are still dancing to today and had a large influence on the fashions of the decade, too.

The trio will be performing, for one night only, at the Teatro Salon Varietes in Fuengirola on Friday, February 3, at 7.30pm.

For more information or to book tickets head to the website: www.salonvarietes theatre.com , email: boxoffice@salonvari etestheatre.com or call (+34) 952 474 542.

The box office at the Teatro Salon Varietes, C/ Emancípación, s/n, Fuengirola 29640, is open Monday to Friday from 11.00am until 2.30pm and is also open one hour before any show.

AGE CONCERN Fuengirola, Mijas and Benalmadena is now in its 10th year. To celebrate and thank all who have contributed to their success in the community, they are holding a Gala Dinner at the Green Label Restaurant, El Chaparal Golf.

Age Concern receives no financial support from National, Regional or Local Government. They provide help that is needed through their own efforts and the invaluable support of businesses and individuals along the Costa.

Many Age Concern clients experience unplanned hospital stays. For family and friends, it is often a difficult task to prepare for loved ones to return home safely.

At Age Concern they offer an equipment loan service.

A CAPTIVATING social event is returning to the Costa del Sol to help more international single people find love. Victoria Pearson’s matchmaking Hush Singles Night is back for its first edition of the new year, promising a new start for anyone seeking love.

This month’s edition of the event is set to be held in Malaga City centre by host and self­declared Cupid, Victoria Pearson on Saturday, January 28. Guests will be welcomed to the venue with a welcome drink and will be a given a name tag before going off and mingling with other singletons.

Pearson’s vision for the event is to help international residents of the Costa del Sol to find love authentically, without the peculiar quirks of dating apps. At the end of the evening, guests will get the opportunity to get phone numbers of any potential love interests.

The event has been credited for several long ­ term

Gala Dinner

Recent fundraising efforts have enabled them to add a hospital bed to their inventory and they don’t want to stop there.

Age Concern now wants to continue to raise funds to acquire a patient lift. A patient lift enables caregivers to easily move those

Ready to mingle!

who have limited mobility to and from a bed, wheelchair, shower or toilet without equipment like this; some individuals will find it very difficult to return home.

To help Age Concern raise these vital funds they would like to invite you to consider a sponsorship contribution to help support their Gala Dinner Fundraising Event.

The Age Concern Gala Dinner will commence at 7pm with a red carpet, drinks reception of cava and canapes with live music from Abee Willfly, followed by an evening of fantastic entertainment from Ollie Hughes whilst you enjoy a gourmet three course meal, complemented with free flowing, wines, beer, and soft drinks of your choosing throughout the dinner.

Simply Thriving

FOLLOWING the success of The Dickens of a Christmas lunch, the group had a break for the busy Christmas period. Today, Thursday January 12, a simple, cheap and cheerful lunch takes place in Casa Gomez in Fuengirola. On Friday January 27 the group look forward to The Rock and Roll Revival night featuring the very popular Ricky Lavazza in Benalmadena and preceded by a meal at the carvery at Montemar. Transport provided, open for everyone and room for 10 more.

Photo credit: hush.singles (Via Instagram)

relationships, second dates and most importantly, lots of people have made friends at the meet ­ ups.

With over 50 participants already signed up for the event, this edition is sure to be full of eligible bachelors and bachelorettes.

Anyone interested in the event can sign up online at: https://www.meetup.com/ hush ­ singlesnight/events/290267137/?

utm_medium=referral&utm _campaign=sharebtn_savedevents_share_mo dal&utm_source=link&fb clid=IwAR1HsjA4ekpaUon wFam7FFML52_tVSxSPIcUy 9nGZVWdGsuvQUaRFM

MvQBo You can also check out the event’s Instagram page for more information: @hush.singles

He’s behind you!

IF you are looking for some thigh­slapping fun in Gibraltar then look no further than Cinderella.

The Trafalgar Theatre Group is proud to announce the return of their sorely missed annual pantomime. Head over to the Inces Hall Theatre and celebrate a fairy tale story with loads of laughs as their talented cast, with their usual gusto, bring you the classic story of Cinderella.

Cinderella is a dreamer who is trapped within a step ­ family that doesn’t love or appreciate her. Enslaved by her evil stepmother and stepsisters, Cinderella dreams of going to the ball and meeting the Prince. With the help of a few mice friends and her fairy Godmother can Cinderella’s dream come true?

Cinderella is running from January 26 un­

CINDERELLA: The ultimate fairy tale.

Image: Victor Moussa / Shutterstock.com

til February 23, at the Inces Hall Theatre, Gibraltar Cultural Services Ltd, 312 Main Street, Gibraltar, GX11 1AA.

For more information or to purchase tickets email: bookings@culture.gov.gi , head to the website: culture.gi , or call (+350) 200 75669.

February events are lunch at Seaview and the long­awaited teacher’s quiz at Seaview in the port in Fuengirola. Anyone can come along for lunch and/or the quiz.

The February event on the 25th at La Sierra will be a spectacular night out called Some Enchanted Evening or in Welsh ‘Noson Lawen’ with a welcome drink, three ­ course meal, birthday cake, cava and wonderful entertainment with a Welsh theme.

The delightful Emma Prothero and the delectable Ricky Lavazza will be putting on a concert. Open to everyone. Please book on Simply Thriving Facebook site or phone 951 313 257.

St Patrick’s

fun day

CHRISTMAS may only just be over but La Sala Banus is already gearing up for more festive fun with their St Patrick’s Day event on Friday, March 17.

Featuring music from Tony Capo from 8pm, the evening promises to be a typical Irish get ­ together with Guinness galore. Expat bars and restaurants along the Costa del Sol will also be celebrating, with thousands donning Guinness hats and marking the saint’s day.

The Green Restaurant at El Chaparal Golf.

SINGLES NIGHT: The event always attracts a crowd of eligible bachelors and bachelorettes!

Upstairs Downstairs

THE prolific novelist, author and playwright Fay Weldon whose works include the popular ITV drama series ‘Upstairs, Downstairs’ died on Wednesday, January 4 according to a family statement.

According to the family she had been admitted to hospital with a broken bone in her back, but had suffered a stroke prior to her passing.

Born in Britain but raised in New Zealand, Weldon went on to write more than 30 novels as well as short stories and plays for radio, television and stage. She is perhaps best known for ‘Upstairs, Downstairs’ and her adaptation of Pride and Prejudice for the BBC. But she was also a prolific novelist writing children’s books, non­fiction books and newspaper articles.

Among her bestsellers was her 1978 novel Praxis

which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize for Fiction. She later went on to chair the judges’ panel for the prestigious award in 1983.

The death of the prolific novelist has resulted in many fans and colleagues taking to social media to express their sorrow at her loss, perhaps best summed up in the words of Jenny Colgan “She was formidable, fierce and wonderful.”

THE Sovereign’s birthday is officially celebrated by the ceremony of Trooping the Colour (King’s Birthday Parade) which this year will be the first one to celebrate the birthday of King Charles III on Saturday, June 17, 2023.

This impressive display of pageantry will involve the Regiments of the Household Division, on Horse Guards Parade, with His Majesty The King attending and taking the salute. His Majesty King Charles III will hold the ap­

New royal traditions

pointment of Colonel­in­Chief of the Regiments of Household Division. Each Regiment has a Colonel who is normally either a member of the Royal Family or a senior officer.

The Trooping of the Colour has marked the official birthday of the British Sovereign for over 260 years.

This year will mark His Majesty King Charles III’s first

Drivers strike to go ahead

A STRIKE by ambulance drivers and other NHS auxiliary workers will go ahead after talks with the health minister broke down.

Union leaders and the Secretary of Health Steve Barclay met on Monday, January 9 in an effort to try and avert a strike. The breakdown comes as a shock after reports that the government was softening its stance and was considering a deal, however, today the minister only wanted to talk about productivity.

Onay Kasab, Unite’s National Lead told a local news outlet that the government “only wanted to talk about productivity.” He added that as there was no detailed discussion on a pay settlement, the strike on January 23 would go ahead.

It is understood that there was no cash offer and no concrete offer for the next financial year, which starts in April. As a result, the meeting with the minister broke down, which means that the ambulance drivers’ strike will go ahead.

Trooping of the Colour as Sovereign. Over 1,400 parading soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians come together each June in a great display of military precision, horsemanship and fanfare to mark The

King’s official birthday. The parade moves from Buckingham Palace and down The Mall to Horse Guard’s Parade, alongside Members of the Royal Family on horseback and in carriages.

Hotel hospitals

UNDER pressure NHS hospitals in the southwest of England have resorted to using hotels as they work to free up beds for patients needing hospitalisation.

With the problem of bed blocking still to be resolved, NHS Trusts in Plymouth and Bristol are moving medically fit patients waiting for care packages to be put in place to enable them to return home, into local hotels.

According to a report on Friday, January 6, hotels have been using city centres hotels in Plymouth,

Bristol and Devon as far back as October 2022.

A spokesperson for NHS Devon said: “Care hotels are just one of many positive measures health and care partners have put in place to reduce pressure on busy health services this winter.

“They are not used for hospital patients and are used to provide social care for people who are medically fit and do not require hospital care, but do need additional living support after a stay in hospital or to prevent them from needing to be admitted.”

FAY WELDON: Formidable and wonderful.

Image Instagram Georgina Capel

TEMPERATURES across Europe soared higher in January than ever recorded in most countries, as scientists say human-caused climate change made it more likely to happen

As metrological departments across the UK, Ireland, France, and Spain had already declared 2022 as the hottest on record, countries across Europe are now recording the highest temperatures ever in

Temperatures soar

January.

Poland, Hungary, and Switzerland which would normally have average temperatures in single digits, recorded as high as 19 degrees Celsius, in the first few days of 2023.

In France, New Year’s Eve recorded the warmest temperature, since

the records began, with the mercury climbing to nearly 25 degrees Celsius, at night.

Temperatures in Spain hit 25.1 degrees Celsius, as per the records at Bilbao airport in the Basque Country.

Meanwhile, weather stations in

Germany, recorded over 20 degrees Celsius, the highest temperatures since the records began in 1881.

Scientists who are analysing the temperature data are still trying to confirm the specific ways in which climate change is affecting rising temperatures.

Climate change affecting rising temperatures.

CHAIRMAN of Russia’s State Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin, has issued a threat to the German leadership and reminded them to take a look at their own country’s history when it comes to war.

Double standards

Taking to social media on Thursday, January 5, Volodin said: “The German leadership should remember from their own country’s history how attempts to encroach on someone else’s property ended.”

He was speaking about the proposed decision from the German government to “seize

ON Monday, January 2, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that the country had achieved a record high in exports during 2022. Year­on­year growth of 12.9 per cent had been registered he detailed, with a total of US$254.2 billion (€241.61 bil­

Russian assets to rebuild Ukraine.”

He added: “As soon as such a decision is made, we have the right to take similar actions in relation to the assets of Germany and other states.”

The State Duma official added that “recently, former German Chancellor Merkel admitted how she and former French President Hollande deceived the international community.

“By signing the Minsk agreements, they had no intention of abiding by them, but merely used them to militarise the Kyiv regime.”

Record exports

lion) in exports.

Speaking in the city of Istanbul while addressing the Turkey Exporters Assembly, Erdogan said: “Our goal now is to make Turkey one of the top

10 exporting countries.” He highlighted that 20 years ago when the Justice and Development Party first came to power, exports stood at only US$36 billion (€34.22 billion).

In the space of 12 months, he added, the number of Turkish firms exporting had increased to more than 111,000 from 33,523 in 2021. Similarly, 24 cities were now involved in the export business as opposed to just five one year ago.

With national elections scheduled for the middle of June, Erdogan is under increased economic pressure.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Holocaust survivor Bea Franklin serves as real-life witness to history

HOLOCAUST survivor Bea Franklin really is an incredible lady. At 98 years of age, 99 in June, when most people her age would be taking it easy, Bea never stops! She sat down with the Euro Weekly News to discuss her fascinating life.

Bea’s marriage to Corporal Jerry Franklin exposed her to some of the most historic moments of the Second World War. “Jerry was a US Army photographer,” Bea explained. “He was there for invasions all throughout Europe and Africa and, most notably, took graphic photos at The Liberation of the Dachau Concentration Camp.

“My husband was a very positive person, he never spoke about the holocaust, the photographs spoke for him. He just wanted to focus on the positives of life.”

Bea added: “One of his most iconic photos of him that we have in his photo album is one of thenpresident Franklin Roosevelt with future president Dwight Eisenhower. The pair are sitting in a jeep with General Patton at Castelvetrano Airport in Sicily, Italy, after the conferences at Tehran and Cairo on December 8 in 1943.”

Bea explained how her husband often crossed paths with some of Hollywood’s legendary film stars. “When film stars visited the frontlines Jerry took some great photos including Humphrey Bogart, Mickey Rooney, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon and Joe E Lewis, who became famous from his role in Some Like It Hot with Marilyn Monroe.

“Even though Jerry took the photos, they don’t belong to him,” Bea confirmed. “As he was working for the US Army and they own the photos, we cannot use them

without their permission.

“Jerry has got copies of all the pictures he took and put them in albums, but this was back when you had to develop the photos yourself,” she quipped.

Bea was even present for the iconic ‘Kiss’ of the unknown sailor in New York’s Time Square just eight days after the two atomic bombs exploded in Hiroshima and Nagasaki (Japan) at the end of the Second World War. “I was at university in New York when we heard the war in Europe was over” she said. “Everyone knew that Time Square would be the place to celebrate, people flooded the subway.

“We arrived in New York and witnessed the sailor kissing the nurse.”

When asked about her secret to longevity, 98year ­ old Bea simply responded, “positive thinking!”

From a rooftop concert at the Astor Hotel where she saw legendary crooner Frank Sinatra and Tommy Dorsey, to her household friends that included boxing legend Rocky

Graziano, Bea has had an extraordinary life.

As well as surviving the Holocaust and being married to one of the era’s most famed wartime photographers, Bea is also the daughter of the founder of the automotive legend, The Pep Boys, which later morphed to the Strauss Stores.

Pep Boys is an American automotive aftermarket service chain. Originally named Pep Auto Supply, the company was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1921 by Emanuel ‘Manny’ Rosenfeld, Maurice ‘Moe’ Strauss, W Graham ‘Jack’ Jackson, and Moe Radavitz. Pep Boys is headquartered in the Philadelphia neighbourhood of Allegheny West.

In 1929, Izzy Strauss left to form his own auto supply business in Brooklyn, Strauss Stores, which later merged with Roth & Schlenger Home and Auto to form R&S Strauss, the ancestor of Strauss Discount Auto, later known as Strauss Auto which ran until the company’s closure in 2012.

BEA FRANKLIN: Spoke about her fascinating life.

Credit: Bea Franklin

PRESS EUROPEAN

DENMARK

Danish discovery

SCIENTISTS have uncovered the remains of a huge building that likely dates to the era of Denmark’s first king. Archaeologists at the Historical Museum of Northern Jutland report they’ve discovered an ancient Viking hall, the biggest one found in more than a decade.

THE NETHERLANDS

Doubled Dutch

THE overall population in the Netherlands grew twice as fast last year compared to 2021. While the number of deaths has risen in the Netherlands, immigration remains a key factor for the sharp increase. Towns Eindhoven and Almere made it to the top in population growth.

BELGIUM

Belgium

boost

ACCORDING to figures published by analysis firm NapoleonCat on January 6. Social networks gained more Belgian users in 2022. After a slight drop in user numbers in 2021, Facebook and Instagram saw increases last year, while Messenger's user base remained stable.

GERMANY

Tour tax

A PROPOSED tax on German holidays sold by companies outside of the EU has been scrapped for at least one year. The tax law would have made holidays to Germany more expensive and would also have required nonEU tour operators to file tax returns in Germany.

FRANCE

Limited Louvre

THE Louvre Museum in France has announced that it will limit the number of daily visitors to the famed institution in order to create a more enjoyable experience. Museum staff have decided to cap daily admissions at 30,000 because of a surge of visitors.

NORWAY

Oil profits

NORWAY once again saw record oil and gas profits in 2022. With energy prices soaring last year, in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent scarcity of oil and gas in Europe, Norway recorded significant profits throughout the year.

FINLAND

Bee bacteria

THE US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved the world's first vaccine for honey bees. Developed in Finland, the vaccine works against a bacterial condition known as American foul-brood disease that attacks bee larvae. The vaccine introduces inactive bacteria into the royal jelly fed to the queen.

IRELAND

Growing Ireland

A REPORT by the US Census Bureau has predicted that Ireland will experience the second-highest rate of population growth in Europe. Ireland's population will rise by 33 per cent above six million by 2050, according to the study.

ITALY

Fake serum

ITALIAN tennis star Camila Giorgi is under investigation for allegedly using fake Covid vaccination papers to enter Australia in 2022. Giorgi's family doctor was arrested in February and charged with administering hundreds of fake serums and paperwork to high-profile Italians.

PORTUGAL

Cheese Festival

THE Serra da Estrela de Oliveira do Hospital Cheese Festival which is considered to be ‘the biggest Cheese Festival in Portugal’, will take place on March 11 and 12, in the heart of the city in the district of Coimbra.

UKRAINE

Bye to Banksy

INVESTIGATIVE actions are ongoing against a group of people who dismantled a graffiti by UK artist Banksy ‘Woman in a Gas Mask’ in Hostomel, Kyiv. The police estimated the value of the graffiti to be UAH 9M (€229,489). The alleged organiser of the crime has been charged.

SWEDEN

Swedish getaway

DESPITE a weak start to the year due to the Omicron variant and other global concerns, Sweden’s airports welcomed nearly 28 million passengers in 2022 which is a 130 per cent increase on the 12 million that passed through the country’s gateways in 2021.

FINANCE

BUSINESS EXTRA

Dubai’s trillions

DUBAI has set out its 32 trillion dirham (€8.2 trillion) economic plan and aims to double the size of its economy in the next decade to become one of the ‘top three economic cities around the world,’ Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai, tweeted.

Economic sentiment

EUROPEAN COMMISSION data on January 6 showed eurozone economic sentiment has improved for the first time since the start of the Ukraine war. The Commission’s monthly economic sentiment index rose to 95.8 in December from 94.0 in November, the first upward movement after a slide from a record high of 114.0 scaled in February.

Renewable energy

THE European Investment Bank (EIB) and Iberdrola have signed a new agreement to accelerate Spain’s energy transition by developing new renewable energy capacity. The EU bank will provide a €550m green loan for the construction of a portfolio of projects with a total capacity of around 1 800 megawatts (MW).

Euro-flation

A BIT of good news is that Europe ended a bad year for inflation with some relief as price gains eased again. While the cost of living is still painfully high, the slowdown is a sign that the worst might be over for weary consumers.

Ethical investments

TO invest ethically, look for funds with high Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards, which will not invest your money in harmful sectors. ESG look at the conservation of the natural world and social factors and examine how a company treats people both inside and outside the company.

STAT OF WEEK

Future of payments

PAYTECHS are disrupting the future of payments. The time is ripe for banks to rethink strategies for participating in this complex ­ but opportunisticecosystem, or risk being left behind.

Ernst & Young’s (EY) recent report The Rise of PayTech ­ seven forces shaping the future of payments assesses the level of innovation enabled by PayTechs across the most dynamic areas impacting the sector. These include areas such as open banking, real­time payments, cross­border payments, buy now, pay later (BNPL), digital wallets and super apps, embedded payments and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), and digital currencies.

Digital currencies are gaining momentum, rising to the top of the agenda for payments providers seeking regulated alternatives as first industry solutions emerge. The ultimate benefits of digital currencies lie in the instant and atomic settlement,

increased automation, transparency, and efficiency.

Open banking has allowed consumers to be firmly in control of their data, identity, and payments. The practice of securely sharing financial data by connecting merchants and customers directly has created compelling ‘open payments’ or ‘pay by bank’ options.

Elsewhere, digital wallets and super apps are helping to reduce payment transaction fees whilst offering

a single destination for consumers to manage their finances. By leveraging data, they have the potential to fulfil almost any financial, leisure or lifestyle need.

For banks, the shift in payments is both a threat and an opportunity. Banks must continue to embrace digitalisation and transform their current payment models and, by leveraging these forces, they can deliver better, far more efficient and frictionless experiences for their customers.

Climate finance

ACCORDING to the World Economic Forum (WEF), “the climate and biodiversity crises loom large but sadly, so does the gap in global finance. Estimates for the cost of emerging market countries’ adaptation to climate change range from $140 ­ 300B per year by 2030. Not to mention the costs of energy transition and mitigation efforts and the rest of a country’s development agenda.”

So where will this money come from? The WEF say “access to grants and low­cost concessional finance is limited. With rising interest rates in advanced economies and the subsequent ‘risk off’ environment in the international capital markets, emerging market countries that previously had

market access have mainly lost it. Debt burdenswhich include official debt service payments postponed throughout the pandemic ­ are increasingly difficult to refinance and sovereign debt restructuring practices are cumbersome and time­consuming.”

The WEF confirm that: “To solve these two financial challenges ­ climate finance and

sovereign debt ­ we need to find creative, scalable solutions. Failure to do so quickly will create a downward spiral where debt crises undermine the capacity of countries to adapt to climate change, making them less creditworthy and even less able to finance adaptation and mitigation.

“Many developing countries are eager to

consider climate and nature ­ related key performance indicators (KPIs) as part of their debt issuance and debt workout operations. They see the environmental sustainability linkage as enhancing their attractiveness to capital markets, and they see the additional resources accelerating the implementation of agreed environmental goals.”

International borrowing

THE European Commission is empowered by the EU Treaties to borrow from the international capital markets on behalf of the European Union.

It is a well ­ established name in debt securities markets, with a strong track record of successful bond issuances over the past 40 years. All EU­Bond issuances executed by the European Commission are denominated exclusively in euro.

The European Commission uses the proceeds of EUBond issuances to fund EU policy programmes. Landmark policy programmes currently funded by EU­Bonds include the NextGenerationEU recovery instrument of up to around €800 billion in current prices and the Commission’s Macro­Financial Assistance + programme for Ukraine.

EU borrowing is executed using multiple instruments, including EU­Bonds, EU­Bills, and NextGenerationEU Green Bonds.

Help for Scots

SOCIAL SECURITY of Scotland is now actively encouraging people to check they are not missing out on extra money from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The government confirmed that it is highly likely that more people could be eligible for certain benefits, some of which are only available in Scotland.

The benefits, which have been introduced over the past four years, are available to people on low incomes responsible for children under 16, those who need help paying for a funeral, people living with a disability, carers, young people entering the workplace and householders needing help to heat their homes.

Data from Bankrate found that 27 per cent of shoppers will go into debt for holiday or Christmas shopping.

RECENT REPORT: Banks must continue to embrace digitalisation.

Image: NicoElNino/Shutterstock.com

CLIMATE CHANGE: Creative, scalable solutions are necessary across the world.

Image: MUNGKHOOD STUDIO/Shutterstock.com

3I Group 1.390,50 1.391,50 1.371,00 237,97K

Abrdn 193,25 193,50 190,15 411,82K

Admiral Group 2.230,0 2.237,0 2.221,0 26,87K

Anglo American 3.552,0 3.585,0 3.528,0 193,99K

Antofagasta 1.695,50 1.702,50 1.677,50 159,86K

Ashtead Group 5.022,0 5.056,0 5.016,0 35,71K

Associated British Foods 1.765,5 1.774,0 1.762,0 37,58K

AstraZeneca 11.670,0 11.754,0 11.658,0 109,43K

Auto Trader Group Plc 542,60 544,80 539,40 156,85K

Aveva 3.220,0 3.222,0 3.219,0 42,54K

Aviva 459,30 459,70 456,00 279,31K

B&M European Value Retail SA450,60 454,60 448,00 255,27K

BAE Systems 840,40 857,80 839,60 592,52K

Barclays 173,84 174,08 171,88 1,71M

Barratt Developments 434,70 435,60 431,30 138,95K

Berkeley 4.117,0 4.118,0 4.080,5 2,01K

BHP Group Ltd 2.725,00 2.745,50 2.721,50 9,73K

BP 482,55 485,10 477,60 2,81M

British American Tobacco 3.315,5 3.341,5 3.308,3 13,26K

British Land Company 414,10 415,50 410,50 149,86K

BT Group 127,40 130,80 127,35 3,46M

Bunzl 2.906,0 2.927,0 2.904,0 34,87K

Burberry Group 2.216,0 2.221,0 2.198,0 84,25K

Carnival 662,6 671,8 658,4 46,39K

Centrica 92,54 93,12 91,28 720,43K

Coca Cola HBC AG 1.970,0 1.980,9 1.969,5 1,30K

Compass 1.906,50 1.915,50 1.905,00 125,19K

CRH 3.598,5 3.606,5 3.570,0 34,91K

Croda Intl 6.610,0 6.656,0 6.594,0 29,37K

DCC 4.305,0 4.326,5 4.289,2 2,03K

Diageo 3.617,0 3.655,5 3.617,0 183,42K

DS Smith 350,51 351,40 347,70 587,83K

EasyJet 378,30 381,00 373,50 297,30K

Experian 2.868,0 2.877,0 2.862,0 27,55K

Ferguson 11.470,0 11.530,0 11.390,0 78,22K

Flutter Entertainment 11.995,0 12.120,0 11.945,0 31,12K

Fresnillo 951,00 961,80 941,20 43,73K

Glencore 534,80 541,00 531,70 4,85M

GSK plc 1.414,80 1.432,40 1.412,80 68,09K

Halma 2.084,0 2.094,0 2.079,0 31,47K

Hargreaves Lansdown 876,00 877,00 860,80 106,58K

Hikma Pharma 1.681,50 1.690,00 1.674,00 6,74K

HSBC 565,80 566,80 562,40 2,36M

IAG 140,90 141,34 139,54 2,13M

Imperial Brands 2.071,00 2.080,00 2.052,00 255,23K

Informa 639,80 642,80 638,20 98,92K

InterContinental 5.110,0 5.138,0 5.106,0 35,46K

Intermediate Capital 1.217,50 1.221,00 1.203,50 22,87K

Intertek 4.232,0 4.266,0 4.224,0 14,08K

ITV 81,02 81,30 80,10 1,82M

J Sainsbury 244,54 246,20 242,69 109,01K

Johnson Matthey 2.196,0 2.204,0 2.178,0 25,13K

Land Securities 665,60 669,60 660,80 75,96K

Legal & General 262,15 262,70 259,10 520,60K

Lloyds Banking 48,52 48,54 47,99 35,53M

London Stock Exchange 7.236,0 7.290,0 7.200,0 48,45K

Melrose Industries 143,45 143,60 142,20 508,32K

Mondi 1.498,50 1.505,50 1.497,50 48,82K

National Grid 1.050,00 1.054,50 1.047,00 477,69K

NatWest Group 275,60 280,50 274,60 2,48M

Next 6.476,0 6.526,0 6.420,0 19,55K

Norilskiy Nikel ADR 9,10 9,10 9,10 0

Ocado 725,40 733,80 716,80 342,45K

Persimmon 1.336,5 1.338,5 1.325,0 46,27K

Phoenix 625,00 626,80 624,00 88,45K

Prudential 1.254,50 1.256,00 1.239,50 435,90K

Reckitt Benckiser 5.886,0 5.884,0 5.830,0 116,23K

Relx 2.334,00 2.352,00 2.330,00 160,35K

Rentokil 504,00 506,60 500,80 620,81K

Rightmove 547,40 548,80 540,80 107,61K

Rio Tinto PLC 6.063,0 6.125,0 6.046,0 207,06K

Rolls-Royce Holdings 101,82 103,08 100,98 4,22M

Sage 773,40 775,20 770,20 71,52K

Samsung Electronics DRC 1.216,50 1.220,00 1.210,50 3,98K

Schroders 449,3 450,1 444,4 175,22K

Scottish Mortgage 728,91 731,00 725,00 161,28K

Segro 794,20 796,40 787,60 118,67K

Severn Trent 2.772,0 2.796,0 2.772,0 10,06K

Shell 2.376,5 2.387,5 2.360,5 595,75K

Smith & Nephew 1.165,50 1.172,50 1.160,50 204,83K

Smiths Group 1.625,00 1.634,00 1.621,00 25,86K

Spirax-Sarco Engineering 10.970,0 10.985,0 10.865,0 7,01K

SSE 1.667,00 1.681,00 1.666,50 300,35K

St. James’s Place 1.156,00 1.159,50 1.147,50 0,83K

Standard Chartered 689,80 693,20 688,00 724,70K

Taylor Wimpey 109,30 109,60 108,00 884,90K

Tesco 242,70 244,20 240,40 920,05K

Tui 147,76 148,95 147,45 785,43K

Unilever 4.170,0 4.202,0 4.160,0 197,63K

United Utilities 1.039,50 1.046,00 1.039,50 40,32K

Vodafone Group PLC 87,77 88,80 87,52 6,10M

Whitbread 2.792,0 2.812,0 2.790,0 22,79K WPP 870,60 873,60 865,60 230,69K

3M 126,72 127,13 2,41M

American Express 150,17 150,43 145,48 2,90M

Amgen 275,20 276,82 269,03 2,89M

Apple 129,62 130,29 124,89 86,76M

Boeing 213,00 213,04 203,55 11,19M

Caterpillar 248,86 249,91 242,24 3,84M

Chevron 176,56 179,39 175,70 7,17M

Cisco 48,32 48,58 47,28 19,35M

Coca-Cola 63,40 63,67 62,58 9,97M

Dow 55,02 55,24 53,32 6,10M

Goldman Sachs 348,08 349,00 340,95 3,09M

Home Depot 317,53 318,85 309,00 4,01M

Honeywell 210,27 211,06 205,87 4,02M

IBM 143,70 144,25 141,58 3,53M

Intel 28,73 28,83 27,38 31,52M

J&J 180,25 180,93 179,39 5,64M

JPMorgan 137,94 138,38 134,49 9,94M

McDonald’s 269,47 269,89 263,39 2,85M

Merck&Co 114,84 115,49 114,05 8,58M

Microsoft 224,93 225,76 219,35 42,92M

Nike 124,53 125,36 121,77 9,32M

Procter&Gamble 153,92 154,46 151,75 7,88M

Salesforce Inc 140,51 141,65 135,55 9,00M

The Travelers 193,87 194,45 189,55 1,28M

UnitedHealth 490,00 492,87 487,54 4,81M

Verizon 42,19 42,58 41,88 25,87M

Visa A 217,75 218,14 213,09 6,83M

Walgreens Boots 36,61 36,74 35,11 10,00M

Walmart 146,78 147,55 144,24 7,07M

Walt Disney 93,92 94,69 91,32 9,78M

World

JinkoSolar

Roivant

Iridium Communications Inc. +12.81% 1.721M

Perseus Mining Limited +10.67% 35,153

Nel ASA +10.38% 16,796

R1 RCM Inc. +10.20% 9.972M Barclays PLC +10.01% 76,788

Most Declined

AMTD Digital Inc. -23.41% 21.064M

PT Bumi Resources Tbk -16.00% 64,775

XPeng Inc. -15.04% 41.107M

iQIYI, Inc. -14.87% 22.648M

Dave Inc. -13.53% 91,840

Dada Nexus Limited -9.70% 5.397M

Li Auto Inc. -9.16% 14.485M

Trinity Industries, Inc. -8.95% 971,367

NovoCure Limited -8.22% 3.002M

Baxter International Inc. -7.84% 11.099M

Waters Corporation -7.15% 1.27M

BUSINESS EXTRA

Finance fallouts

IN 2022 research from Royal London found that three in five couples have argued about money, with 62 per cent falling out over overspending. A quarter of respondents said they believe their partner is financially irresponsible, and a third admitted to keeping details of their savings and debts a secret.

ISA idea

LUCINDA O’BRIEN , savings expert at money.co. uk has suggested putting money in an ISA to save for the future. She said: “As much as we may try to put it to the back of our minds, money is something that can be a major source of stress, especially in the current economic climate.

Transfer debt

A MONEY saving expert suggests: “A balance transfer credit card lets you shift existing debt to a new card, you still owe the money but it’s interest ­ free for up to 30 months. Aim for the longest zero per cent deal to pay off your debt, then look for the lowest fee.”

Bank of Dad

IN his new memoir entitled ‘Spare’, Prince Harry alleges that his father, King Charles III, told him that the royal family just didn’t have the funds to financially support his wife, Meghan Markle.

According to the Duke of Sussex, the king said he was already having to pay a huge amount to support not only Prince Harry but also to support his eldest son, Prince William, and his wife, Kate Middleton, and family.

“Pa didn’t financially support Willy and me, and our families, out of any largesse,” Harry, 38, claims in his memoir. “That was his job. That was the whole deal.”

E-commerce spending

E­ COMMERCE turnover in Spain increased in the second quarter of 2022 with a year ­ on ­ year growth of 33.1 per cent to a total €18.190 billion, according to the latest e­commerce data available on the CNMCData website.

The activity sectors with the highest revenue were travel agencies, with 10.2 per cent of the total turnover; followed by air transport, with 6.6 per cent, and clothing taking third place with 6.5 per cent. As regards the number of transactions, in the second quarter of 2022 more than 325 million transactions were registered, up 16.4 per cent. Restaurants lead the ranking in terms of sales (7.1 per cent).

In terms of geographical segmentation, 46.8 per cent of the revenue from the second quarter

of 2022 was to Spain. The remaining 53.2 per cent corresponds to purchases originating

Sustainable banking

SANTANDER has ranked among the world’s most sustainable banks in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index 2022 and among the top three in Europe.

The bank scored 83 points out of 100, placing it in the 98th percentile of all banks reviewed.

Santander has been featured on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the past 22 years.

The bank scored well in every category: economic (86), environmental (76) and social (83). It also highlighted areas where the bank has improved, such as financial inclusion, environmental and social reporting, climate strategy, privacy protection and customer relationship management.

The group ended the first half of the year as the world’s leader in renewable energy finance, with over €2.4 billion in 33 funding transactions and a

worldwide market share of 6.4 per cent, according to Infralogic’s ranking. In the past decade, Santander has been a leading bank in renewable energy finance, ranking among the top three in the world in the number of transactions and the top five in funding volume.

In supporting the fight against climate change and the green transition, Santander continues to make progress on its goal to reach net zero carbon emissions group ­ wide by 2050, in line with the Paris Agreement. In 2022, Santander outlined three new interim targets to decarbonise its portfolios by 2030: a 29 per cent reduction in absolute emissions financed in the energy sector; a 33 per cent reduction in emissions intensity in the aviation sector; and a 32 per cent reduction in emissions intensity in the steel sector.

Image: Pop Tika/Shutterstock.com

what is purchased in Spain from foreign locations and what is purchased from Spain to foreign locations) shows a deficit of €7.046 billion.

The turnover of transactions originating in Spain that were sent to foreign locations totalled €9.683 billion, up 20.9 per cent on the figure from the second quarter of the previous year. A total of 92.3 per cent of purchases from Spain with destinations in foreign locations was sent to businesses within the EU.

Meanwhile, transactions from foreign locations to Spain have reached a turnover of €2,638 million, up 106.1 per cent on the figure from the second quarter of the previous year. Some 61.3 per cent of purchases from foreign locations originated in countries within the EU.

Student financing

WITH the aim of improving access to education, the European Investment Bank (EIB) recently commissioned a study on student finance.

Technopolis, the consultancy that is part of the consortium carrying out the study said more and more students need to finance their studies.

“Recognising the need to improve the financing gap experienced by higher education students that is preventing them from access to education and training, the EIB has asked the consortium to analyse ways to incentivise more financial or non­financial institutions to provide financial solutions for students,” Technopolis confirmed.

The consultancy said the study will map out the student financing market in EU member states and compare it with other countries.

Irish inflation

INFLATION is “at or close to the peak,” confirmed the Irish Finance Minister, Michael McGrath, on Wednesday, January 4.

“We do think that we are at or close to the peak at this point and that we will begin to see a moderation of inflation, particularly across the second quarter and beyond,” he added.

However, Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe sounded a note of caution: “While the change in inflation is something that is to be welcomed and to be acknowledged, I think it’s too early to be able to conclude yet that it’s the sign of a trend that we can expect to continue across all of next year.”

in Spain carried out through foreign locations. The external balance (the difference between

TURNOVER INCREASED: Activity sectors including travel saw highest rise.

Making progress towards goal.

Access to education.

Image: Krisana Antharith/Shutterstock.com Image: giuseppelombardo/Shutterstock.com

I DUNNO, perhaps it is me. Of course I sympathise with the victims of accidents in the home. Of course I find the initial results of many fire hazard investigations extremely worrying.

What I can’t get my head round is all those who come out of the woodwork and use these tragedies to whine about the conditions they all ‘have’ to live in. Among others, those who reside in areas resembling the notorious Broadwater Estate are a case in point.

“Why should we have to put up with these awful slum conditions?” they moan. Why doesn’t the government (natch!) do something about it? Well just a minute, ill­advised as this high rise accommodation may have been, they were initially built in good faith.

The rules governing public buildings were and are, far more stringent than private projects. None of them began their existence as slum dwellings. None of them started out covered in graffiti, with lift shafts stinking of urine, or knee high in rubbish, used condoms and drug paraphernalia.

Flats originally built to accommodate families of four to six persons were never meant to cope with benefit scroungers boasting 10 or 15 offsprings, or jam packed with scores of ‘sub lets’.

All these conditions are brought on by those who move into them. Human beings create the environments they reside

In good faith

LEAPY LEE SAYS IT

OTHERS THINK IT

in. It’s time many of these residents started to get their own houses in order, rather than blaming all and sundry for their woes. Stop thinking about their so called ‘rights’ and start concentrating more on their own wrongs would be a start.

All over the UK there are scores of high rise estates, which are proudly and properly run by local councils and caring tenants. With their carefully tended gardens, playgrounds for the children and hardworking responsible residents, they are wonderful examples of how decent human beings, however diverse their cultures and backgrounds, can live in perfectly harmonious and orderly surroundings.

I suggest those who feel all the blame for their ‘misfortunes’ lay outside their own walls, either shape up or ship out. They are a drain on resources, a threat to democracy and utterly useless contribu­

tors toward any future of the country that nurtures them.

I do feel sorry for the Yemenis. I always found them an extremely happy and caring people. I shall never forget their kindness when I found myself hopelessly stranded in the desert. Believe me, if I’d also known the steel runway reinforcing I helped deliver to that secret Saudi air base would one day be used to launch death and destruction among them, I would have ‘accidently’ allowed my truck to topple off that extremely precarious mountain pass! (It’s in the book!)

Let’s hope that this year peace and tranquility will once again prevail for these likeable people; they’ve suffered long enough.

Keep the faith

Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com expatradioscotland.com Mon and Fri. 1pm till 4.

ROYAL MESS OUR VIEW

PRINCE HARRY has been at it again, giving in­depth detail about his family first in an interview with ITV’s Tom Bradby and then with the release of his memoir ‘Spare’ on Tuesday, January 10.

For

Regardless of whether you agree with the principle of Harry and his wife’s original decision to step back from royal life or not, the result of this continued public airing of dirty laundry is an ongoing backlash ­ particularly in the UK ­ that cannot possibly be what anyone would want. This leads to the obvious question then, “what are they actually trying to achieve here?” If what the couple wanted was a chance to make tens of millions and to get off their chests their perceived grievances then job done. But what they are actually seeking seems to go further than this; rather than simply air their version of events, they are giving the impression of wanting the public on their side to acknowledge the harms they feel have been done to them. Is the best way to achieve this by publicly sharing personal family information when you know your counterparts do not have the same privilege though? Probably not. Equally, sharing information about your family in the weeks and months surrounding the deaths of the two most respected people at the top of it ­ The Queen and Prince Philip ­ was probably also very badly judged.

On the positive side though, what the Tom Bradby interview represents was at least a small win for journalism. In contrast to the couple’s Oprah interview two years earlier, this one did at least ask some of the harder questions of Harry the public must have been wanting to know the answers to. In increasingly uncertain times, that at least is something,

LeapyLee’sopinionsarehisownandarenotnecessarilyrepresentativeofthoseofthepublishers,advertisersorsponsors.

BILL ANDERSON A PUBLIC SERVANT

THIS is the first New Year since 2019 when we can say with some certainty that we start on a normal footing: little or no restrictions as we heralded in 2023. It does feel good.

But from my perspective we are facing a new normal: an election year. There are those in the political word who have started the new year with all guns blazing. If we thought it was difficult to know whom to believe during the Covid pandemic, just wait. Every political party imaginable, new and old, will be stepping up with recriminations, promises, swift digs in the ribs to anyone who isn’t ‘us’, and claiming that they can do it better.

People who were reluctant to register to vote often claimed that they knew nothing about Spanish politics and wouldn’t know whom to vote for. I remember shortly after I moved to Spain, in the glory days when we belonged to the EU and could

BACK TO NORMAL?

vote anyway.”

I guess this is true for so many things. We don’t get into the water because we can’t swim. But, we’ll never learn to swim until we get into the water. Same for driving, playing golf, or learning to ski.

register to vote without any restrictions, I spoke with a Spanish builder who was doing some work for me.

“Are you going to vote in the elections?” he asked me.

“I don’t really understand local Spanish politics,” I replied, having only been in Spain for a matter of months.

He laughed, “Nobody understands Spanish politics, but we

Providing support

THE British Benevolent Fund provides financial assistance for British nationals in distress.

Some of the applications come from people living in extreme destitution ­ many times aggravated by poor and deteriorating health.

One such case was brought to our attention by a concerned neighbour who lived in the rural hills near Granada.

A woman in her mid­60s who had suffered a stroke and was paralysed down one half of her body, had facial paralysis on the other and whose medical report summarised that she was extremely dependent and needed 24­hour home assistance.

She lived alone off a small UK pension in a modest rented property in a small and isolated village.

Despite living in Spain for many years she did not have residency and she would have great difficulty accessing the necessary health and wel­

fare support that she would require to have any chance of managing her life ­ in addition to the enormous practical difficulties that she now faced.

The BBF was able to liaise with the Consulate to explore any possible repatriation to the UK so she would be able to receive the support she needed.

However, repatriation of a vulnerable person is a challenging process at the best of times ­ in the case of bed ridden and extremely ill people this challenge is multiplied many times over.

The good news was that the Consulate was able to make arrangements for her access to UK health supportif only we could get her there.

Thankfully with partners

from https://www.supportin spain.info/ we were able to do this, and we are indebted to the medical volunteers who gave up their time to help this lady, who now receives round the clock residential care in the UK.

The role of the BBF was a simple one ­ to fund her repatriation ­ but it would not have been possible without the donations we need in order to do this.

We support many cases such as this throughout the year ­ please help us to help those who have no other recourse. Olaf.clayton@british benevolentfund.org

How normal is life, then, for the politicians who are wondering what they will be doing on May 29 this year? Well, some have a certain level of assurance. For the big parties, there is little chance of the early numbers on the list not getting a seat. They have a following and will get enough votes for the first four to six on the list to get a seat. Once the numbers get lower on the list, the tension rises. There are two things that can happen: they get a seat but are in opposition or they get a seat and have the opportunity to get into government, maybe with some deals or sleight of hand with the other smaller parties.

It’s true that some politicians still have their own businesses and if things go badly, they just focus on their businesses. There are others however, that will be faced with going back to hairdressing, being a housewife, or driving a taxi. Those in government have the most to lose. Can you imagine having to go back to the mundane life of a working man or woman after earning 5458 thousand a year? Let’s not pretend that the money isn’t an incentive.

Back to normal? No way! They will all be fighting tooth and nail with no holds barred to protect their financial interests. It’s going to be a hard and dirty few months so get ready for it and don’t be afraid to put us on the spot with your demands. We are already seeing a manic flurry of activity deliberately held back to the last minute as a memory changer to the voting public. Call me cynical.

Quitting time

SALLY UNDERWOOD POLITICAL ANIMAL

torn up

tive

over the party’s environmental policies was clearly aimed as an indictment on the current government. But it also shines a spotlight on the once popular notion of being a card­carrying member of a political party

While for years, being a member of a political party was a way of publiclyand often proudly ­ showing allegiance to a particular party, rates of membership card ownership declined roughly as rapidly as that of blockbuster cards until 2013 when figures seemingly bottomed out at just 0.8 per cent of the electorate.

In a sign of some amount of increased political activism, this rate now stands at 1.5 per cent but the figures are still far from the 4 per cent of the electorate who were card­carriers

in 1983.

What does this decline in membership say about the current state of politics? Are we more cynical? Perhaps in a world where we can switch our banking, house or car insurance with the click of a comparison site button we’re just no longer used to committing to ideas like our political ideologies long­term? Or are we just disillusioned?

This also begs the question, what’s the alternative when it comes to funding politicians? Where campaign fundraising on a constituency level is often done by the sort of cheese and wine evenings you would expect from local politics, a drop in membership funding leaves a shortfall that now seems to be picked up by an array of billionaires with one company, MPM Connect Ltd now apparently the third largest donor to individual politicians.

If the alternative to anonymous companies funding our politics beyond the scene is paying for political party membership, I’d encourage us all to sign up.

Credit: Shutterstock.com/ Chonlatee42

NEW YEAR: In 2023, we are facing a new normal, an election year.

Olaf Clayton of BBF.

THE news that former MP for Devizes, Claire Perry, has

her Conserva

membership card

REGIFTING XMAS PRESENTS

NORAJOHNSON BREAKINGVIEWS

FALSE teeth, a scorpion in formaldehyde and a lamb castrating tool were among the weirdest items dropped in a charity’s donation boxes last year.

Barnardo’s revealed a list of bizarre items left by donors at its 620 UK stores in an appeal for people to bestow their unwanted Christmas gifts.

Jaws dropped when staff in South Yorkshire were given a pot containing nine human molars and a bag of infant clothes containing a baby’s dried umbilical cord and belly clip.

The false teeth were inside a handbag donated to the charity’s Glasgow store, while the bottled scorpion has since been passed on to a local university by Barnardo workers in St Andrews.

Staff in Staffordshire were amused by a message accompanying a pair of men’s shorts which read: “Wear these at your leisure, wear with pride and pleasure, and keep them safe to treasure. Geoff. X.”

Other quirky deliveries included a dead bird and a hamster cage still containing its deceased former occupant.

According to Barnardo’s, “Most of us have received Christmas presents that may be of good quality and costly, but just aren’t suitable for us.”

They might have added: “And not suitable for regifting Xmas 2023 either.”

Nora Johnson’s 11 critically acclaimed psychological crime thrillers (www.nora­johnson.net) all available online including eBooks (€0.99; £0.99), Apple Books, paperbacks, audiobooks at Amazon etc. Profits to Cudeca cancer charity.

NoraJohnson’sopinionsareherownandarenotnecessarilyrepresentativeofthoseofthepublishers,advertisersorsponsors.

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Nora’s latest thriller.

Dazzling smile

YOUR smile is one of the first things people notice about you, so it’s no surprise that many of us are after a dazzling white smile. Today, we’re sharing three top tips from a dentist on how to make your teeth look sparkly white so you can greet 2023 with a grin!

Whitening toothpaste

One of the simplest ways to get whiter teeth is by switching your regular toothpaste for one with whitening ingredients.

Dentists recommend avoiding toothpastes that contain bleach and at ­ home whitening kits, as they can remove vital surface layers from your teeth and aren’t regulated by professionals.

Oral hygiene

Practising good dental health is crucial if you want sparkling white teeth. Cleaning your teeth at least twice a day helps to prevent the build up of plaque which is the enemy to dazzling white teeth. Supplement your daily dental routine by flossing and visiting your dentist for regular check ­ ups and cleaning.

Avoid stains

They’re common habits in Spain, but drinking lots of coffee and smoking can leave ugly stains on your teeth which are difficult to remove naturally. Try to cut back on your unhealthy pleasures of cigarettes and coffee if you want to keep your pearly whites looking bright white!

Regimented skin care

WHETHER Santa brought you a new skincare product, or you’ve been using a product without seeing many results, we’re here to help you to get the most out of those anti­ageing products. Here are our top tips to actually see a change in your complexion.

Routine

The new year is here, which means it’s the perfect time to create a new routine. Scientists say it takes between 18 to 65 days for a habit to become a routine, so now is your chance to create a skincare routine and stick to it. This means using your anti­ageing products every day of January and into February until it becomes automatic.

Lifestyle

Those skincare products might promise youthful complexion, but they can’t do all

A facial massage is a great way to take better care of your skin and help anti-ageing products to work their magic.

the work alone. Ensure you aren’t counteracting the benefits of your skincare products with unhealthy habits. For glowing skin, you need to eat fresh foods and maintain a healthy, active lifestyle with regular pulse­raising exercise.

Supplementary skincare

If you’re after healthylooking skin, supplement

your daily anti­ageing creams and lotions with facial massage. Facial massages are an excellent way to stimulate skin cell production which keeps your skin looking fresh and dewy. Professional massages are costly, but you can invest in a skin roller or selfmassage kit to care for your skin at home.

Using a tooth whitening toothpaste is one straightforward way to a brighter smile.

Photo credit: Olena Yakobchuk / shutterstock.com

Keep your chin up

JANUARY 13 is the internationally­recognised Day Against Depression. The day, which is three days before so ­ called ‘Blue Monday’, the most depressing day of the year, aims to raise awareness about how depression works and how the international community can fight it and other associated conditions.

Today we are sharing three wellness tips to help you take care of your mental health during January, and to get 2023 off to a positive start!

1.

eral mood by eating a balanced, healthy diet. Studies have also highlighted the benefits of foods containing Vitamin B ­ 12 and Omega 3 in stabilising mood, while too much caffeine is not recommended.

2. Get outdoors

3. Socialise

Having a strong support system can help to ease symptoms of depression. Spend time with friends or family, laughter is the best medicine after all!

Boost your zinc intake

ZINC is perhaps one of the less well ­ known minerals, but it is a crucial part of our diets, especially during the winter thanks to its credentials in supporting our immune systems.

What does zinc do for our bodies?

Zinc is an essential vitamin that helps our immune systems to fight bacteria and viruses, making it a particularly valuable mineral during the winter. As well as reducing the symptoms of colds and flus, zinc can also prevent the onset of these viruses.

How can I boost zinc naturally?

ment?

Smart diet

Although there is no way to prevent mental health issues, it is possible to improve your gen ­

Spending time outside is one of the simplest natural ways to improve your mood. Research has shown that being surrounded by nature can lift your mood, and simply changing scene can ease feelings of anxiety and depression. Being exposed to sunlight can also boost serotonin levels, leaving us feeling happier!

Even spending time with a pet can be therapeutic and help to improve your mood.

Zinc is present in many foods which make up a healthy diet. Particular sources include meat, poultry, seafood, nuts, seeds, breakfast cereals and dairy products.

What about a supple ­

Change unhealthy habits

A LOT gets said about new healthy habits in the new year, but how can you change your current habits for the better? Here are three bad habits to kick in 2023.

1. Not breathing properly Maximise each breath by breathing in through your nose and out through your

mouth, it will make you feel calmer .

2. Sitting for too long

A sedentary lifestyle is the biggest cause for avoidable diseases. Prioritise exercise.

3. Sunbathing too much Sunlight is truly glorious, but make sure you’re protected and take regular breaks.

Dieticians generally recommend getting your daily intake of zinc from eating a healthy diet, but if you know you have a deficiency of zinc, a supplement can be a useful way of getting it. Nutritionists also recommend boosting zinc intake if you feel sicknesses coming on as it can help you feel bet ­

ter more quickly. The recommended daily dose of zinc is 15mg for men and 10mg for women. You can take zinc in tablet form, but exceeding the recommended dose is not advisable as it causes flu ­ like symptoms and reduces your body’s ability to absorb other essential minerals including copper.

Spending time with friends or family can help you feel less alone and improve your mood.

Zinc is present in lots of foods in our daily diets, but you can take a supplement during the winter to help boost your immune system.

Photo credit: EtiAmmos/ shutterstock.com

Photo credit: Evan Lorne / shutterstock.com

DIVERSITY AND FUN

I LOVE reading the Euro Weekly every week. It always has such a diverse amount of content, and it always gives me ideas on what to do with the kids during the week, I never knew there was a parade for the Three Kings! The kids really enjoyed it and we collected bags of sweets, it was so nice to see the community come together and do something nice.

Thank you, Euro Weekly News

Woof woof

IT’S so great to see so many people come together and collect toys for children in need, especially to children that really need them. I hope they all enjoyed their gifts. It was so thoughtful. The front page made me giggle seeing grown men with beards driving around with dog teddy bears. Fair play boys!

Bus lanes!

HOW dare Nottingham fine their own city and people such money, people are going through enough these days to be fined. I wouldn’t be surprised if the signing is inadequate! All of them these days tend to be. I just want to drive around in peace and not have to worry about constant fines. Don’t even get me started on cycle lanes.

Disgruntled

British Benevolent Fund

IT is so eye opening seeing these stories every week on expatriates who have unfortunately not been able to come to Spain and live their dream just like they probably thought they would have when they were back home in the UK. Such tremendous work done by the organisation and I have been forwarding these articles to everyone I know at home who is thinking about coming to live in Spain.

Janice Smith

Fighting festive flab

My festive flab I believe will be going nowhere this January. However, I will be keeping it in mind for February after the hubby gets me a great deal of chocolates (fingers crossed). I will keep you up to date, these lunges and oblique climbers seem quite intense, but I am excited to give them a go, I don’t think I’ll be able to do the cycling sit ups they have in mind. I haven’t thrown my leg over a bike since I was a young lass.

With love, Gwen

Leapy Lee

I DON’T usually agree with Leapy Lee, however, the beginning of last week’s column made sense. The stress that the NHS are under now is gastronomical and the treatment of Britons in the UK when it comes to living conditions is becoming horrendous. Especially that of single mothers, more needs to be done for them and their children.

Mould is unsafe and can cause long term problems and trouble to anyone and the fact that people are living in these conditions in the 21st century and in a country that is labelled as ‘one of the best’ in the world is outrageous. I don’t know who it is that can help us governmentally wise, I won’t be sharing that opinion in this letter. But more does need to be done to help those who need health care and safe and secure housing. The UK needs to do better, we shouldn’t have to rely on food banks to feed the population. The government needs to do more with their big pay checks.

Patricia Gordon

Furry friends

THE articles based on our furry friends always bring a smile to my face and I can’t wait for next week’s addition, I have an Akita mixed with a Staffie and he is my pride and joy. The pictures always make my day and bring a smile to my face.

If you can keep on doing them do! and insert more! I think if more people saw and spent time with animals that they would be more relaxed and considerate towards others. I won’t get into the debate of what is better, cats or dogs. But dogs are better!

Rebecca D

Coming together

IT is so nice to see all the events on and organised every week for those who are in need. The generosity of others is nice to see, especially with the current circumstances of the world right now.

The event in Mijas for all the children was so sweet and it warmed my heart, especially everything those children have had to go through. They deserved that experience and deserve more things like that. Especially when it is so easy to be mean in today’s society.

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.

Graham West

Sally West

FUN TIME: It’s so nice to see children enjoying themselves.

Credit: altanaka/Shutterstock.com

CRISTIANO RONALDO (not to be confused with the great Brazilian Ronaldo ­ whose name is on his new shirt) is moving to Saudi Arabia on a reported annual income (including €130 million commercial rights and sponsorships) amounting to roughly €200 million. This equates to €16.7 million monthly, €3.85 million weekly or €550,000 daily. Each day he will be earning 17 times the average annual salary in Spain, which is about €32,600.

Every day our hearts beat 100,000 times and we breathe in and out 22,000 times. This means that by the age of 80, we will have taken 673 million breaths (in and out, of course) and chalked up almost three billion heartbeats. On average we have between 6,000 and 8,000 thoughts a day (and night).

There are three trillion trees on our planet ­ 400 for every human being. Not a lot of people know that! There are also 17 million flies for every hu ­

man. This means there are almost 120 quadrillion of them (120,000,000, 000,000,000). Don’t ask me how they discover this ­ or who worked it out. It must be somebody tired of doing crossword puzzles. Obviously, these are rough estimates by various institutions and in some cases estimates vary quite widely, but some of the statistics are mind­blowing, nevertheless.

In the past 25 years, Antarctica has lost roughly three trillion tons of ice to global warming.

Over 98 per cent of pigs and chickens and 70 per cent of cattle in the United States are confined in factory farms.

The amount of plastic in our oceans would cover the entire area of Spain and Portugal. Unless there is urgent action against climate change it is estimated that there will soon be more plastic in the Atlantic Ocean than fish and marine life.

A VISIT TO CONRISA

HANSI STØKKEN from Conrisa Café and Gastrobar in La Cala de Mijas talks about his ‘pub crawl’ around Spain looking for good wines to serve at his renowned wine tastings and also to serve with their outstanding food on a daily basis. Of course, he denied that it is an eight­day wine binge and that it is hard work, but that someone has to do it.

Hansi talks about the eight wine districts in Spain and begins in La Rioja north of Madrid which stretches all the way into the Basque Country. Hansi tends to concentrate on sourcing the wines from small wineries.

Wine growing is a strictly controlled process and in La Rioja the main grape has to be Tempranillo with no more than around 10 per cent of other grapes. The great part of broadcasting live from Conrisa Cafe is

that we get to sample the wines, so the show gradually declines into a conversation between two drinks (only joking).

It is something of a modern myth that red wines have to be drunk with red meat and white with fish and white meat. The evolution of both wines and food has tended to break this ‘rule’. It still depends on the food to some extent but it is no longer a hard rule.

Hansi explains where the rare flavours people identify in the wines which largely comes from the time

spent in the barrel which adds to the flavours.

We move onto Penedés in Catalonia which is more well­known for the Spanish version of Champagne, Cava. The mixture of four grapes gives the Mas Codina wines exceptional flavour. The wine tastings are held every two weeks and must be booked as they fill up quickly.

Conrisa Cafe is located on the Boulevard de La Cala. Tel. +34 951 350 069. For the full show visit: https://youtu.be/tMuT_F4 QGC8

MARBELLA

MOMENTS

BY NICOLE KING

HAVING spent a lifetime in market research for international brand introductions and product sell through in Spain it never ceases to amaze me how many peo

Great expectations

ple don’t do their ‘homework’ when starting a new business. Even a few basic steps are recommendable before getting into any venture; it can save a fortune and a lot of heartache.

The catering industry is a good example of how misleading a profession can be. So many of us envision giving up our jobs for the glamour of having our own bar by the beach or in a tourist city, but don’t research what that actually entails. All too often in Marbella at roughly 18 months after opening, the business is forced to close its doors.

ally all year­round business or problems for parking. Finding out why the previous owner closed down is also a good first question. Nevertheless, be ready to hear that they’re moving or a family member is ill; regrettably it’s more than likely it just wasn’t a success.

My reason for pointing this out is two­fold. On the one side it saddens me to continually see people investing time and money that they will undeniably lose because it’s obvious they have no clue.

‘If you build it they will come’ is not usually applicable although that’s the apparent mantra; making a place look pretty is not enough on its own to draw clients in and get them to return, time after time. In a multinational city like Marbella you need a long­term strategy that includes coherent marketing to your target market; repetition and consistency are key.

There’s so much more to running a bar or restaurant

Choose the perfect chair

CAMPING is the perfect opportunity to reconnect with the outdoors, and what better way to feel at one with nature than sitting outdoors. Today we’re bringing you some top tips to help you choose the perfect camping chair to allow you to soak up all that your outdoor retreat has to offer.

There are several factors to consider:

Transport method

The first thing to think about

when choosing a camping chair is how you will travel during your camping trip. Lightweight stools that can strap on to the bottom of a backpack are a great option if you’re travelling without a car, but if you have a car you can afford to fit a larger chair in.

Size and height

The next thing to consider are your chair size and height preferences. Think about what you plan to use your chair for.

If you want a seat while you cook, you might want a lower chair than if you plan to use it for social chatting around the campfire.

Design

There are so many different styles of camping chairs on the market, think classic camp chairs, three­legged chairs, suspended styles, or even rocking chairs! It is useful to think about your own needs and try before you buy!

Cooking on your getaways

CAMPING is all about going back to basics, but there are some pieces of cooking equipment that can take your trip to the next level.

Compact utensils

You can certainly get by with the bare minimum, think a knife, fork and spoon, but sometimes it’s nicer to have a few more options. Plenty of multi­tool utensils are on the market, containing utensils like graters, scissors and tin openers and will improve your camping experience by giving you more options.

Cool box

Even just a small cool box can make a difference to your camping trip, giving you the op­

tion to take more dairy products and enjoy a nice cold drink after a long day of outdoor activity.

Camping kettle/ coffee machine

What better way to wake up in the great outdoors than with an invigorating cup of coffee or warming cup of tea. Many camping kettles are collapsible or stackable and can be used for other purposes.

Seasonings

A small container with your favourite cooking seasonings means you can enjoy delicious flavours away from home. Bring a container of your favourites and you’ll never look back!

than meets the eye; particularly when it comes to all the administrative paperwork, the cost of licences and the time it takes to get everything processed in Spain.

The employment laws are very different from other countries too; here you can expect to pay 14 months for 11 months’ work and the Social Security figures are significant, meaning that even a waiter on a basic wage can cost the

company overall around €2,000 a month.

The tiniest of bars will face significant overheads with even just one employee, plus rent, electricity and supplies etcetera, becoming a slave to the business just to pay the bills. The busiest days will also be weekends and holidays, which means sacrificing personal and family time.

A seemingly prime location can have its setbacks too: perhaps there isn’t usu­

The other is for us to consider that perhaps we need to be more patient if there is not enough staff; most small businesses can’t afford the huge commitment, but will serve us as best they can. If the place is nice and the food is good please don’t be impatient; it won’t hurt us to wait; to the contrary, it gives us time to enjoy the moment and perhaps be less demanding in our expectations of others. www.nicoleking.es

Environmentally-friendly camping holidays

MANY people are turning to camping as a more sustainable alternative to traditional jet­setting holidays, but it’s still important to be mindful of the environment while camping. Today we’re sharing some tips to help you have an environmentallyfriendly camping holiday.

Site choice

Choose your campsite with care. Environmental classification on Spanish campsites can be confusing as they vary between autonomous communities. However, many sites receive ratings on a three­star system, where three stars signify compliance with the most current environmental regulations. Other sites have ‘green’ ratings which shows compliance with EU environmental expectations.

Pack lightly

Try to pack only the essentials when camping, this avoids excess waste. Avoid taking disposable kit, instead

choose reusable items. If you don’t want to splurge on new equipment, many camping shops offer rental schemes, or you can check out secondhand websites to buy equipment cheaper.

Campfires

Avoid unnecessary or illegal campfires by only lighting fires in places where you are authorised to do so. Campfires can destroy animal habitats

and release polluting emissions, so don’t be a pyromaniac!

Water use

Keep an eye on your water use while camping, when washing up, brushing your teeth, and showering. Try to use ecological soaps to wash dishes and in the shower while camping as they often end up closer to nature than at home!

Bring reusable containers when camping to reduce your impact on the environment.

Photo credit: Estrada Anton shutterstock.com

Photo by Elena Sikorskaya

Saving the pennies

HAVING a pet can sometimes put financial pressure on our household budgets, particularly as inflation and the cost of living have increased during the last year. Today, we’re sharing four tips to help you save money on pet care without neglecting your pet’s needs.

1. Work out the essentials

The first step towards saving money on pet care is deciding what is actually

Scared of the dark

THE festive period is the most popular time of year to get a new dog, which means that many homes set about settling in their new pet in January. But what should you do if you discover your four ­ legged friend suffers from a fear of the dark?

We consulted some advice from a vet to find out how you can ease the fear of darkness in your dog.

Understanding

The first step towards helping your dog to overcome a fear of the dark is to understand its reasons and what triggers it. This could stem from a vision problem, so it is crucial to check your dog doesn’t have sight issues. The fear could also come from a

traumatic experience. You should provide comfort and reassurance in this care.

Patience

Helping your dog to confront a fear of the dark takes time and effort, so you should be prepared to put in some work.

Gradual exposure

Vets recommend gradually exposing your dog to dark spaces, starting in a safe place, at home. Try playing games with a tunnel where your dog has to cross a dark patch to get a treat.

Another trick to try is gradually delaying evening walks each day, even by a few minutes, until your dog feels comfortable with night walks.

necessary for their daily lives. Ensuring your pet is healthy, well­fed and gets enough exercise should be your financial priorities, and should take precedence over buying new accessories or additional grooming.

2. Take preventative measures

Neglecting a pet’s health is not only abusive, it can also be more costly in the long run. Instead, take care of your pet’s health by making sure they eat a substantial, healthy diet containing all the necessary nutrients for their growth and development. This will help to prevent against worrying health concerns and costly vet bills.

3. Shop around Don’t just accept the first price you see for your pet’s favourite food products. Instead, compare by visiting different pet shops or looking online for the best deals, and you could save money on pet essentials like food and medications. It can also be worth checking out the ingredients in options by competitor brands, as ingredients are often similar.

Personality type by pet

THERE might be some truth to the phrase ‘pets take after their owners’ according to a new study which has found that in many cases owners do indeed opt for pets with personality traits that emulate their own.

Today we share what your choice of animal companion says about you!

Dogs

Canine owners tend to have more extroverted characters, and are more energetic and agreeable people. Those who go for a dog as a pet typically excel in teamwork activities and are excellent companions themselves.

Cats

Those choosing a feline friend tend to be more introverted people, cat owners have a keen eye for detail and are usually more emotionally sensitive people. Cats are well­suited to night owls, who spend more time awake during the night.

Birds

Like birds themselves, pet owners who choose a bird are usually free­spirited individuals who are optimistic about life.

Fish

Pet owners opting for fish are trusting, calm people who respect their pets’ independence. Some studies have also found that fish owners deal well with mental health issues and report lower stress levels than other pet owners.

Rabbit

Rabbit owners are thought to have several shared qualities with cat owners. They are often introverted, creative people who also have a tendency to be sensitive at times.

Photo credit: Eric Isselee / shutterstock.com

Your choice of pet could speak volumes about your personality according to scientific research.

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HOUSE CLEARANCE SPECIALISTS , FULL OR PART CLEARANCE. ALL FURNITURE WANTED, WE PAY MORE. TEL 634 324 914 OR EMAIL house clearanceman@hotmail.com (301282)

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

ALHAURIN FURNITURE EMPORIUM Buyers & Sellers of quality furniture. Top prices paid. Also buy cars, campervans, boats & bikes. 697 511 071 (302036)

CARS WANTED

CARS, Vans, Bikes wanted. Any Reg, Anything Considered Call or WhatsApp 687 049 592 (301470)

CAMPER VANS , CARAVANS, MOBILE HOMES, BOATS AND ALL PLANT, DIGGERS, DUMPERS, MOTORBIKES, CARS AND COMMERCIALS WANTED. BEST PRICE PAID, CASH TODAY, ANY REGISTRATION WITH OR WITHOUT PAPERS. PLEASE CALL 678 808 837 (290739)

with kids’ activities, Iglesia San Miguel, Sundays 4.30pm, Rev. David Hodgson, 695 115 496 (10012)

struction. Call/WhatsApp: Daniel: 628 066 308 www.rain bowpinturas.com (302039)

COLLECTIVE CALLING are urgently requesting donations of clothing, homeware & furniture, so if you are having a House Clearance, Please call us for FREE COLLECTION. We sell good quality items, which then supports low-income families and the homeless in the community. These items can be dropped directly to our charity shop Tienda Solidaria: Av. Pablo Ruiz Picasso, 4, San Pedro de Alcantara, alternatively, call us to arrange collection on +34 711 006 961 (295137)

THE Ark Christian Church. We meet at The Ark Christian School, Calle Río Darro 2 y Plaza Juncal, 29651, Mijas Costa (the road behind the Mijas Aquapark) on Sundays at 11.00am. Pastor, Andrew Seale Tlf 682 713 491 www.thearkspain.com (293850)

ATD DECOR. British Painter. 30 Years’ Experience. Punctual. Great Rates. Call for free quote. 603 132 783 Facebook: @ATD DecorMalaga (302412)

DOMESTIC Appliance repairswashing machines, fridges, cookers, ovens, water heaters, gas / electric, professionally repaired. Christian 608 337 497

MARBLE FLOOR (2.50€/m2) WHY PAY MORE. WE CLEAN, CRYSTALLISE, SEAL THEN POLISH YOUR MARBLE TO HIGH GLOSS, NON-SLIP. PROFESSIONAL GUARANTEED, FAST SERVICE. 25 YEARS EXPERIENCE. ALSO REPAIRS DAMAGES TO MARBLE, CLEAN AND SEAL TERRACOTTA TERRACES, COVERS ALL COSTA DEL SOL. TEL: 671 244 683 (295522)

ELECTRIC GATE/GARAGE DOOR automation repaired. Free, no obligation quotation. Call Colin - 636 394 641 (1296056)

HOT TUBS new used, bought, sold, hired. Also move & repairs. Used good Hot Tubs for sale. 691 973 131 / +44 7836 379122 (295835)

CHIMNEY SWEEP. Clean reliable professional. All types, special price for more than one. Chris 608 337 497 (296265)

APEX CHIMNEY SERVICES, professional chimney sweeping and smoke testing. NACS Qualified. Clean and efficient Tel: Bob 696 320 202 (301300)

ADVANCED Cleaning Services. Professional carpet, upholstery cleaning, 28 years’ experience, wet/dry clean. Honest, reliable service 678 808 837 / 952 669 701 or email acservs@outlook. com (290739)

CONEJO CLEANING & Property Management. Est. over 25 years. Rentals management, one-off cleans. New Property set up service. Wendy 635 630 370 / 952 964 407 www.conejoclean ing.com (302025)

STARLIGHT Cleaning Services. All types of cleaning. Any size of property. All Areas. Residential & Holiday Lets. Deep Clean for Bars & Restaurants. We also do a professional Chimney Sweeping service. 682 636 451 www.starlight-spain.com (301262)

WASHING MACHINES , Ovens, Boilers etc. All work guaranteed by ex Zanussi technician. Reliable rapid service. Joe 609 345 096 (302458)

BLOCKED DRAINS? Leak detection, CCTV survey, root removal, Tel 952 568 414 / 661 910 772 / drainspain.com

CLEARFLOW – Unblocking, CCTV inspection, repair and installation. Tel: 630 200 600 / 952 885 661. www.de satorosclearflow Facebook: De satorosClearflow (301154)

MARBLE FLOORS polished high shine non-slip. Fast Service Reliable, family-run business. TERRACOTTA CLEANED and sealed. No job too small. Cleansol 10am – 10pm 7 days all areas. 952 930 861 / 607 610 578 Discount code: EWN 1 CLEAN (206437)

MARBLE POLISHING, CRYSTALLISING, LASTING, HIGH SHINE. REGRINDING, RESTORATION OF SALTY, DEAD FLOORS. 27YRS EXPERIENCE. RELIABLE. REFS AVAILABLE. CYRIL. 645 840 199 (302550)

ELECTRIC GATES /Garage Doors. Intercoms/access control systems and replacement remotes. New installs and repairs. For all your electric gate and garage door requirements call us on 605 356 469/952 786 178. The Garage Door Co & 2 Way Gates. tgdc@hotmail.co.uk www.2waygates.com (294202)

ALHAURIN FURNITURE EMPORIUM furniture wanted, same day collection, also house clearance and removals. Also buy cars, campervans, boats & bikes. 697 511 071 (302036)

GLASS CURTAIN repairs, specialist in replacement of discoloured plastic strips that act as a seal between the glass panels. Call Julian 655 825 931 (301104)

CHIROPRACTOR

LIT ELECTRICIANS for all your Electrical & maintenance needs, no job too small for a FREE Quote. Call Craig on 604 106 414 or Ben 711 004 350

ANTHONY’S ANTIQUES

BENALMADENA Elim Family Fellowship. Elimfamilyfellow ship.com or call 951 912 525 or 952 446 627. (10011)

CALAHONDA: Encounter Church (Elim), Family church

Red

POKER FACE

MON, TUES, WED, THURS, FRI: 17:00 and 19:00

SAT, SUN: 15:30 AND 19:30

M3GAN EVERY DAY: 19:15, 21:30

PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH EVERY DAY: 17:15

SAT, SUN: 12:00, 15:15

A MAN CALLED OTTO MON, TUES, WED, THURS, FRI: 21:45

SAT, SUN: 15:00

RAINBOW

ELECTRICAL TYPES of work undertaken Malaga to Marbella & Inland Frank Tel. or Whatsapp 650 561 629 (302309)

JEWELLERS AND PAWNBROKERS IS NOW BUYING ALL TYPES OF WATCHES AND JEWELLERY IN ANY CONDITION, ALSO, SILVER, ANTIQUES AND THE UNUSUAL. WE BUY, WE PAY MORE, WE PAY CASH. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL ANTHONY ON +34 609 529 633 (296440)

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

FUENGIROLA, Myofascial Release. J Schaegen, specialised in treating neck, back & extremity disorders, 30 years in practice. 652 291 224 www.bodywork.es (301414)

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.abbeygateinsure. com (291234)

BE PROACTIVE: Electric / Gas fires, Wood Burning Stoves. Quality guaranteed. EnviroCare. All areas covered. 952 663 141/670 409 759. info@ envirocarespain.c om www. envirocarespain.com (301178)

LOCKSMITH emergency / appointment. Doors opened without damage, locks changed, patio doors and windows secured, 24 hour honest, fast and reliable service. Call Paul 657 466 803 (288129)

ENGLISH LOCKSMITHS, SECURITY & SHADE EXPERTS. FREE HOME SECURITY SURVEY. 636 770 865 / 952 660 233 WWW.SECURITYOFS PAIN.COM CONTACT DAREN (294126)

VINYL WRAP

AVATAR: THE

WATER 2D THURS: 20:15, SAT, SUN: 16:15, MON, TUES, WED: 17:00

Puerto Banus

OPERATION FORTUNE: THE GREAT HOAX MON, TUES, WED, THURS, FRI: 19:40

SAT, SUN: 17:30, 19:45, 22:00

AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER 3D MON, TUES, WED, THURS, FRI: 17:00

SAT, SUN: 11:30, 15:00, 18:30

AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER 2D MON, TUES, WED, THURS, FRI: 17:17, 20:45

SAT, SUN: 11:45, 15:15, 18:45

BOOK OF LIFE EVERY DAY AT 19:30

MON, TUES, WED, THURS, FRI: 17:30

SAT, SUN: 15:15

STRANGE WORLD SAT, SUN: 12:30

FURNITURE wanted, same day collection, also house clearance and removals. Also buy cars, campervans, boats & bikes. 697 511 071 (302036)

PROFESSIONAL garden services from Fuengirola to Estepona. All aspects of gardening and full maintenance and landscaping, free quotes, competitive prices. Contact Andrew 600 259 981 Andrew@garden-pro fessionals.com (295350)

IRRIGATION

RED DOG: The cinema has lots of English film times.

You can always see the updated listing at the following link:

Credit: Facebook/Red Dog

IRIS-IRRIGATION and landscapes. TRENCHLESS NO DIG Irrigation installation, Cables, Fibre Optic, Electric & Lighting Cables. New Installations & problem-solving. Turf (supply and laying). Garden constructions. Tree surgeon. Clearing. Astro Turf (Free Quotation) 676 747 521 (301097)

VINYL SOLUTIONS WHY REPLACE WHEN YOU CAN RENOVATE? Modern adhesive vinyl coverings in hundreds of styles and designs can renovate a tired kitchen, bathroom, wall panels, bedroom wardrobes, fridge doors. Turn a tired looking wood designed kitchen into a modern solid colour or metallic look without painting or replacing. Work carried out on site with 10 year warranties Contact Ian 644 546 176 for design brochure and samples. (293467)

SAN PEDRO. Sandra. Professional relaxing, tantric massage. Young, slim, work alone, unforgettable moments. Nueva Andalucia. 641 346 278

MATURE elegant lady. Offers tantric and other massage. Personal home visits. 687 387 680 (286295)tp3

Dany 603 202 758 (302579)

Pinturas. English Painters & decorators. All aspects. Interior/exterior, private residential, commercial & communities. Spraying: door, kitchens & furniture. Light con-

PURE RELAXATION in Nueva Andalucia with attractive independent masseuse. Tantric and other special massages in private apartment. For gentlemen and couples, with no rush attention to your needs 656 350 401

ENGLISH ELEGANT passionate lady in late 40s, gives a sensual massage in private apartment. Satisfaction guaranteed. Call 680 177 569

CASSIE. Mature English lady. Discreet and clean. 667 914 732

MASSAGE! Outcalls everywhere in Costa del Sol! Gentlemen, ladies, couples are welcome! 604 256 336 (FU 2830)

IT’S TIME to try something different and very relaxed. Sara, elegant masseuse, I offer massage, tantric, sensitive, prostatic, authentic relaxation that will leave you floating on the cloud. believe me spectacular! Very clean. I give and demand total hygiene! Let yourself go and you will discover the most hidden pleasures. Only by appointment. 650 237 145 (302347)

RIVIERA DEL SOL . Treat yourself to an Excellent Massage! Irina, Cuban masseuse, fun and spontaneous. Only when a massage is something more than a massage, and becomes a unique experience, with a mixture of smells, sounds, sensations, only then is when you enjoy the perfection of the exclusive massage. Ask for more information without obligation 951 274 723, 650 237 145

TANTRIC masseuse in Calahonda. Cristal, expert in the art of seduction and tantric massage. Authentic masseuse who manages to transmit the physical and emotional pleasure with the 5 senses. Sensual tantric massage or body to body to perfection. Make an appointment. 650 237 145 (302347)

BUTTERFLY - Massage, is a space designed for people with high sensitivity, with a taste for body to body interaction, who enjoy the sensuality and magical trantric, to feel the warm hands of an attractive masseuse running through your body. Our masseuses have been chosen not only for their physical attractiveness, but also for their sensuality and massage skills. Only by appointment 951 274 723, 650 237 145 (302347)

CALA DE MIJAS. Excellent professional masseuse with exclusive attention for people who want to change their routine and want to relax and live a relaxing experience. If you are looking for discre-

tion and good treatment, here I am. I’m Noa and I hope you make your appointment as soon as possible because I am very requested. 650 237 145 (302347)

MY HANDS can transmit a very important message and make us feel connected. I will create a suitable atmosphere for relaxation and sensuality without noise, candlelight, soft music, nothing should disturb that moment. Before we start, all you have to do is relax, breathe slowly to free your body and mind... I’ll take care of the rest. Irina, qualified masseuse with many years of experience. Book your appointment. 650 237 145

RIVIERA DEL SOL. I am Noa a simple and natural girl who hides among her shy appearance the best kept secrets of relaxing, decontracting and stimulating massage. I am a specialist in eliminating your worries, muscular tension thanks to a depurative massage technique that I combine with a sensory capacity out of the ordinary. I massage both men and couples. 650 237 145. by appointment only (302347)

CALAHONDA. I am your ideal masseuse if you want to enjoy a massage, relaxing and sensual and want to try the sensations that this generates. I will use my hands and body with techniques of relaxation and mutual connection. Carla – 650 237 145 (302347)

THE BEST RELAXING MASSAGE CLOSE TO ELVIRIA Tantric massages. Come and enjoy today with us. Latin masseuses for men. Come and relax. Outcall, too 650 237 145

NEAR ELVIRIA. Masseuse, elegant with a high dose of implication. Very special tantric sensory massages. I will make you feel very relaxed with a good massage. 951 274 723, 650 237 145

MARBELLA CENTRE - the ideal place for relaxing massage in the city centre. Available 24h and prices from €50. For reservations and information call 620 366 817.

PROFESSIONAL MALE muscled masseur. Full-body relaxing, deep tissue and therapeutic massage. In/outcalls. WhatsApp me 607 595 906 (301288)

FUENGIROLA - Johanna Brazilian Mature Masseur. Relaxing Massages. Best relax guaranteed. Tel: 617.818.615 (302421)

ASIAN MASSEUR Massage relaxing & therapeutic, to release tension and stress. Fuengirola. Call 634 103 607 (301171)

LOS BOLICHES - Carolina Pretty Masseur, Relaxing Massage, Guaranteed relax - 634.703.111

BENALMADENA lovely lady, offering you a very relaxing body massage. Call for an appointment 634 209 427 (302620)

FUENGIROLA. Japanese Shiatsu & Zen Ki relaxing and therapeutic massage. Excellent service guaranteed. Home Visits. WhatsApp for appointment 693 988 340

WWW.LAILALYNCH1.COM

Heated pool, Jacuzzi and private bar. Inland private retreat with a full massage service. 662 913 428

FUENGIROLA. Amazing full body massage by spectacular blonde lady. 657 697 397 (FU 2776)

ESTEPONA. Susana, Latin Girl sculptural body, trained for deep relaxing massage. 697 705 304

BENALMADENA Costa by the windmill roundabout. Sabrina from N.Y City offers a complete caress body massage, 7am onwards 50% off seniors, pensioners, retired 658 336 295. Done in a proper massage table, heated room

ASIAN wellness massage Nice area west Marbella. Guaranteed results. 623 554 233 or 623 594 698 (301500)

JESSICA 28, Estepona. Full tantric massage. High class service. Private apartment. 711 030 670 (302547)

THAI Benalmádena Costa. Bodybody full massages. Hotels. Visits. Whatsapp 689 387 448 (MI 555)

ESTEPONA next to Cancelada, Kannika, Asian masseuse, complete relaxation, makes you contented and more. 602 427 095

LAURA, RELAXING, TANTRIC, MASSAGE, PROFESSIONAL, 30, WORKS ALONE, DISCREET. SAN PEDRO - NUEVA ANDALUCIA. 641 346 278 (303005)

ESTEPONA . Laura majestic masseuse, very friendly, Deep body massage and stress relieve. 600 213 967 (FU 2845)

FUENGIROLA Paula 30 years old beautiful, soft sensitive massages, deep body relaxation techniques 641 244 707 (FU 2908)

FUENGIROLA. Russian blonde lady, professional Tantric massage. Whatsapp and Viber 613 818 042

JADE BRITISH lady offers satisfying tantric massage service for gentlemen & couples. Private premises. Estepona area. Call 665 896 519 (301467)

BOLICHES CELINA independent! loving lady, very kind and sweet, lovely only for educated discreet respectable gentleman! Enjoy deep sensitive relaxing massages in private discreet apartment, excellent calm treatments, quite cosy atmosphere! Space specially prepared for your relaxation and comfort! ¡Demanding excellent hygiene particular! Only previous appointments: 11:30am / 6pm. 622 210 797 (FU 2843)

FILIPINO MASSAGE CENTRE MARBELLA, where hearts of oriental professional massage , open daily. 660 578 171 (MI 549)

ASIAN TOUCH unique deep massage excellent relieve pain stress luxury service guaranteed. Elviria. 633 705 558 (MI 551)

ORIENTAL full experience , soft tissue and hard massage, relieve pain stress. Elviria, Marbella. 604 143 788 (MI 554)

FILIPINA, balines, thai massage authentic proffessional, traditional massage , luxury, Elviria. Marbella. 679 126 231 (MI 553)

UKRAINIAN educated, spectacular hands, European massage. No rush. Marbella 604 428 812

ASIAN Marbella traditional deep muscle massage antistress very relieving. 603 208 080 (MI 550)

FUENGIROLA. Relaxing massage made by alternative gender masseuse. Violeta Chiropractor. 660 867 374 (FU 2853)

FUENGIROLA. Marisa, 38 years old, mature, all kinds of massages. Only WhatsApp. 631 659 408 (FU 2858)

NEW Fuengirola Salome 19 y.o., beautiful, brunette, massages and relaxation, 631 862 272 (FU 2864)

OLGA Mature Masseure relaxing & sensitive. Outcalls & Incalls. 24 hrs. Marbella – Tel: 632 467 580

BOLICHES CELINA independent loving lady, kind, beautiful affectionate only for educated discreet respectable gentleman! Enjoy deep sensitive exciting relaxing massages in private discreet apartment, quite cosy atmosphere high satisfaction! Excellent calm treatments! Demanding excellent hygiene! Appointments 11am/6pm 622 210 797

ORIENTAL slim professional massage anti stress hard, soft massage relieving Marbella 603 257 690 (MI 556)

BENALMADENA. FRIENDLY attractive masseuse, relieve muscle tension. From 50€. 612 503 055 (FU 2856)

FUENGIROLA Centre. We are 4 beautiful friends, masseuses, new in town. 631 862 272 (FU 2864)

NUEVA Andalucía. Alexandra, Colombian exmodel, 34 years old, blonde independent masseuse. 613 994 917 (FU 2862)

NUEVA Andalucia: Valery, Portuguese, mature, blond, sweet unique sensual massage. Independent. 685 221 959 (FU 2855)

SAN PEDRO BEACH. RELAXING AND SENSITIVE MASSEUSES WELCOME YOU IN A PRIVATE AND DISCREET PLACE. YOUNG AND PLEASANT. WITH APPOINTMENT. EASY, PRIVATE PARKING. TEl.. 666 194 079 - 674 679 757 (302631)

NEW . Melisa, blonde, 23 y.o., Beautiful, massage and relaxation. 631 862 272 (FU 2864)

MASSAGE and fun!! Genuine trained male tantric masseur. 602 098 606 (FU 2861)

MARBELLA. Karina ts, 29, Brazilian masseuse feminine blonde. Whatsapp 667 846 464 (FU 2863)

ESTEPONA Lady, Full Body Massage. Satisfaction Guaranteed. Private apartment. 686 792 992

MARBELLA . Hi! I am Agness, beautiful masseuse, spectacular attributes. Relive stress, personalised massage, unforgettable sensations. 642 268 665

MONICA. Spectacular masseuse to relive your tension and stress. You will be amazed 613 209 243

MISCELLANEOUS

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

MOSQUITO SCREENS

ACE OF SHADES - Don’t let the bugs get you! Available in enrollable, slider and pleated. Large choice of colours including wood effect. Tel: 951 273 254 / 671 732 204 / info@aceofshades.design

MOSQUITO Screens for windows, doors and a high-quality sliding patio door screen. All finishes available. Quick service. All areas covered. Call Julian 655 825 931 (301104)

MOSQUITO screens, sliding, pulldown, pleated, colours, call Mosquito Nick 647 072 861 www.mosquitonick.ws

MOTORING

WAS €18,995 NOW €17,995 2011.Looks right in White, only 130,000 kms (approx 80,000miles) Private Lady Owner, parking sensors, reverse camera, sat nav, ITV till June 2023. turns heads good looks and quality. Samantha. See photos on my web page – robertsoncars-spain.com text or whats app. 608 658 785. email therobert sonclan@gmail.co

ROBERTSON CARS JANUARY SALE: AUTOMATIC / CABRIO MERCEDES SLK WAS €11,500 NOW €10,9952006 Stunning Silver only used as holiday car with 55,000KMS (Approx 35,000miles) 2 Seater Convertible have fun in the sun. New ITV. Just Passed July till 2023 ,Electric Roof folds into boot. Selling Under Book Price. Classy Great Shape Mercedes Cracker of a Cabrio. See photos on my web page – www.robertson cars-spain,com or text me whatsapp 608 658 785 Email: therobert sonclan@gmail.com

ROBERTSON CARS HAPPY NEW YEAR. CABRIO FORD FOCUS 2007 ONLY 32,000kms approx 20,000miles. Manual, great 4 Seater convertible, striking sea blue, air-condition, cd player, electric hood folds into the boot. Private gentleman owner returning to UK. Excellent condition 7,995€. See photos on my web page –www.robertsoncars-spain,com or text me whatsapp 608 658 785 Email: therobertsonclan@ gmail.com

ROBERTSON CARS HAPPY NEW YEAR TOYOTA AYGO AUTOMATIC 2015 Small easy to drive & park. ONLY 17,000KMS. Looks pretty in White. Lady Owner leaving Spain. Always garaged, aircondition, electric locking. Condition like New. 9,995€. See photos on my web page – www.robertson cars-spain, com or text me whatsapp 608 658 785 Email: therobert son clan@gmail.com

ROBERTSON CARS HAPPY NEW YEAR AUTOMATIC VOLKSWAGEN GOLF TSI EVO ADVANCE 2019 only 25,000kms, sliver, 5 door hatchback. OBNLY €22,500 See photos on my web page – www.robertsoncarsspain,com or text me whatsapp 608 658 785 Email: therobertson clan@gmail.com

FOR SALE

ROBERTSON CARS... would like to thank all of my past, present & future clients for their continued support over the last 35 years here in Spain. Stay safe and outdrive everyone. If contacting Samantha in the afternoons, please only Whatsapp on 608 658 785 or Email the robertsonclan@ gmail.com as I am driving mostly & unable to take your calls.

ROBERTSON CARS JANUARY SALE: RANGE ROVER SPORT 4X4 DIESEL /AUTOMATIC

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)

CAR SERVICES

MOBILE MECHANIC will come to your home or work. Servicing, repairs, ITVs & diagnostics. Call Mick on 617 553 072 (301275)

ENGLISH bodyshop, fully equipped, Mijas Costa. No Job Too Small. 952 667 074 (302028)

WANTED

ALL CARS / Commercials wanted, runners or non-runners. Cash. Buy-

LAWYERS

er collects. Transfer included. 605 109 796 (301158)

WANTED, wanted, wanted!! All cars, all years, all models… from exotic to classic. Spanish, English, Dutch plated. Call us on 951 977 329 or 606 647 597. (301127)

CAMPER VANS, CARAVANS, MOBILE HOMES, BOATS AND ALL PLANT, DIGGERS, DUMPERS, MOTORBIKES, CARS AND COMMERCIALS WANTED. BEST PRICE PAID, CASH TODAY, ANY REGISTRATION WITH OR WITHOUT PAPERS. PLEASE CALL 678 808 837

CAR, VANS BOUGHT WITH/WITHOUT PAPERS. CASH WAITING 678 808 837 (290739)

CARS , VANS UK OR SPANISH BOUGHT FOR CASH. FREE COLLECTION IN SPAIN/UK. PLEASE CALL 678 808 837 OR 952 669 701

CARS, VANS, ANY REGISTRATION, INSTANT CASH, FINANCE/EMBARGO UK OR SPANISH 685 524 921 (290739)

WANTED CARS AND VANS, FREE COLLECTION, SAME DAY 685 524 921 (290739)

IMPORT/TRANSFERS

CARS transferred, history checks, Imports and Embargo problems. Change of use and lost papers. Change your car to Spanish plates, simple efficient service. Cars bought and sold. Please call 678 808 837 Or email carsinspain@live.co.uk

COCKROACHES, ANTS, insects, fleas, mice, rats, wasps, termite specialists. Fumigations, bars, restaurants, houses, etc. Sanitary department officially registered certificates. Serving the coast since 1985. Only legal English owned pest control company on the coast. If you want the best then phone N.P.S. Paul 676 700 370

WELL-established and thriving pet transport business for sale. For more info, please contact rsim7445@yahoo.es (302549)

KENNELS

CAT & DOG World Kennels and Cattery. 952 112 978 / 630 197 435. www.catanddogworld.com

SEPE the horse and donkey charity is open to the public at weekends from 10.00 to 5.00. Volunteers are much needed in all departments and are welcome at any time. For our riding for the disabled classes, we are also in need of extra helpers. We are nationally registered by the Spanish Ministry of the Interior (164640) but only with your support can we give the equine a voice. If you can just commit to 2 or 3 euros a month it will really help make a difference. You can find us at Lauro Golf Equestrian Centre, Alqueria, Alhaurin de la Torre. Tel. 608 258 950 info@sepe online.net www.sepeonline.net

SELLING UP?? Why not give us a call and let us give you an honest and realistic valuation of your property. List with us and let us take the stress out of selling your home. No sale no fee!! English agent on the ball with clients waiting. Please call 685 524 921.

THINKING of selling your property or interested in a current valuation? We have clients actively looking for properties from Torremolinos to Calahonda. List with us and let us sell your property. Call Joe 626 864 683 (301427)

DOOR TO DOOR SERVICE TO UK AND EUROPE (INCL SCOTLAND). WORLDWIDE SHIPPING TO USA, AUSTRALIA, ETC AND FULL STORAGE FACILITIES. TEL (0034) 952 578 507 OR (0034) 637 892 278 / EMAIL garymoveit@ yahoo.co.uk

JDS EURO TRANSPORT & REMOVALS - Regular trips throughout Europe. Call or WhatsApp Julian 0044 7884 908 929. See Facebook Page for recommendations (301271) moveit-storeit.com Tel David 696 810 618 (293486)

stallation history in Spain. Envirocare. All areas covered. Quality Guaranteed. 952 663 141/ 670 409 759 info@envi rocarespain.com www.enviro carespain.com (301178)

WESTARPOOLS. Pool construction, renovation, repairs and heating. 619 246 372 / www.westar pools.com (301120)

OFFICIAL TRANSLATIONS All Languages. 952 789 204 Mobile 654 613 094 sanpedrotransla tions@gmail.com (301426)

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

ACE CHARITY ‘El Refugio’ in La Cala de Mijas is a registered charity. We have on average 275 dogs in our care and we receive no help from the town hall or the Andalucian government. We desperately need foster homes and adoptants for our many dogs, especially the small ones and puppies who do not do well in a big shelter. We are grateful for any help offered, including donations of food and blankets. Visiting times are from 13.00 to 15.00 and you can always turn up or make an appointment by calling Denise on 669 018 736. Our website is www.ace-charity.org where you can view all the dogs in our care. (93320)

SOS ANIMAL REFUGE we have dogs, young and old looking for homes. Some of our dogs have been with us for some time and would love to find a cosy spot to curl up in and a knee on which to rest their heads. If you have room in your heart and home we would love to hear from you. We do not put our dogs to sleep - no matter how old, they are safe with us. For day to day needs and to pay for veterinary care, we much appreciate the support we receive. We desperately need items to sell on our market stall to help raise funds and are happy to come and collect. So, if you are having a clear-out, please contact us on 605 227 155. If you would like to know more about rehoming, please call 653 257 875. Visit our website www.sos-animals.org or please phone Sandy on 952 385 923 or 666 814 056 if you would like to make a donation or help in any way. (93317)

WWW.INTERMARBELLA.COM Costa del Sol Property Sales & Long term rentals wanted. All areas / All budgets / All types. Spain +34 951 708 422. UK +44 208 144 5008. Email info@intermarbella.com

WWW.INMOANDALUZ.COM. Bargain inland properties for all budgets, fincas, village homes, apartments and villas. Legal building plots. 952 491 609 / 685 514 835 (295954)

WWW.INTERMARBELLA.COM Costa del Sol Property for sale. All areas / all budgets / all types. Spain +34 951 708 422. UK +44 208 144 5008 Email info@intermarbella.com (295509)

STARLIGHT PROPERTY. All Areas. Residential & Holiday Lets. 689 819 592 www.starlight-spain.com (301262)

STORAGE

moveit-storeit.com Tel David 696 810 618 (293486)

ACE OF SHADES - PERSIANA (security shutter) electric and manual, various colours available including wood effect, we also offer a repair service. Make your home more secure! Tel: 951 273 254 / 671 732 204 / info@aceofshades.design (101730)

ROLLER shutter repairs, 7 days a week, conversion from manual to motorised, new installations. All areas covered. Coast and inland. 655 825 931 (294242)

ADVANCED Cleaning Services. Professional carpet and upholstery cleaning, 28 years’ experience, wet/dry clean. Honest, reliable. 678 808 837 / 952 669 701 acservs@outlook.com (290739)

CARPETS AND SOFAS cleaned. Reliable, fast service. Family run. Cleansol 952 930 861 / 607 610 578. 10am - 10pm 7 days, all areas Discount Code: EWN 1 CLEAN (206437)

UPHOLSTERY including leather cleaned also carpets. 685 524 921 (290739)

MALE/Female Viagra, cialis, kamagra jelly all areas. Mixed trial packs available. Delivery or mail order available 604 385 476. viagra4you19@gmail.com

ADANA THE ANIMAL SHELTER IN ESTEPONA. We always need volunteers to walk and socialise with our dogs and help with cleaning. We also need good homes for our animals that you can see on www.adana.es. Kennels open every day 10-1.30, Camino de Casares, near Parque de los Pedregales, Estepona. (5 minutes from the Poligono) For more information call 952 113 467, available from 10.00am until 2.00pm. (93319)

PLUMBING. Leak detection & blocked drains. Tel 952 568 414 / 661 910 772 / drainspain.com

LONG TERM RENTALS AVAILABLE and also wanted. Super prices. Apartments, townhouses, villas, fincas, shops, offices, bars, restaurants. Coast & inland. Tlf 679 111 522 (301480)

WWW.INTERMARBELLA.COM Costa del Sol Property Long Term Rentals All areas / All budgets / All types. Spain +34 951 708 422 UK +44 208 144 5008. Email info@intermarbella.com (295509)

PROTECT your villa in the Marbella region against illegal occupation. Your premises will be checked twice a week, you will receive messages & photos. 609 524 882 (302618)

SOLAR Hot Water heating: FREE HOT WATER. 26 years installation history in Spain. Envirocare. All areas covered. Quality guaranteed. 952 663 141/ 670 409 759 info@envi rocarespain.com www.enviro carespain.com (301178)

CAMPER VANS, CARAVANS, MOBILE HOMES, BOATS AND ALL PLANT, DIGGERS, DUMPERS, MOTORBIKES, CARS AND COMMERCIALS WANTED. BEST PRICE PAID, CASH TODAY, ANY REGISTRATION WITH OR WITHOUT PAPERS. PLEASE CALL 678 808 837 (290739)

Electric & Gas Water Heaters. Quality Installations. 26 years installation history in Spain. EnviroCare. All Areas Covered. 952 663 141/670 409 759 info@envirocarespain.com www.envirocarespain.com (301178)

SOLUCIONES RAPIDAS - We will Paint your apartment in maximum 2 days. 640 350 479

UK & IRISH Passport renewals including photos. Complete Service. Cath’s Cards. 952 885 759. www.cathscards.es (295683)

ANIMEX Foundation offers free will upgrading when leaving something for abandoned animals. Contact animexfoundation@gmail. com or call 692 166 434 now for this absolutely free service

ARCH - The Andalucian Rescue Centre for Horses, registered charity 8448, the Centre is open to visitors every Sunday from 9am until 2pm. Working closely with the Spanish authorities, we rescue, rehabilitate and rehome abused and abandoned horses and donkeys. Come and meet our current rescues, learn about our work and how you may be able to help. Run solely by a small team of dedicated volunteers, the Centre is located between Alhaurin el Grande and Coin in Comm. de Viña Borrego behind Venta Miralmonte. For more information and directions see our website www.horserescuespain. org, our Facebook page Centro Andalusi de Rescate de Caballos or tel. 610 845 491 or 656 935 613 (93322)

15 CUBIC metre van returning to the UK 26th January 2023. Space available each way. Tel. 639 928 090 (295249)

MAN AND VAN

MAN & VAN, 20€ ph. Removals, Rubbish & House Clearances. Paul 634 112 677 (291430)

2 MEN, Van €30 p hour. House Clearances & Storage. 651 081 610 (301134)

moveit-storeit.com Tel David 696 810 618 (293486)

STORAGE, Storage, Storage. Man & Van Services. Call/Whatsapp 690 155 340 (302418)

NATIONAL / INTERNATIONAL

PROFESSIONAL LOCAL REMOVALS AT AFFORDABLE RATES. 1/2 DAY FROM €90. FULL DAY FROM €175. WE ALSO PROVIDE A FORTNIGHTLY

SOLAR BLINDS ES Ideal for Large Glazed Areas to Reflect Heat / Glare And Stop Furniture Fading And Still Keep The View. Save Heat in The Winter to Improve Your Living Environment. ian@solarshade tinting.com Tel Ian 958 496 571 / 644 546 176 (292919)

CURTAINS, blinds, cushions and much more. Free estimates and home visits. Tel 657 369 343 or rosannacarmella8@gmail.com (301301)

POOL MAINTENANCE, & Repairs, including heaters & regrouts. Friendly & reliable service. Malaga to Estepona & inland areas. 678 791 495 / 951 536 389 www.sparklenripple.net (291440)

SWIMMING Pool Heating Pumps, Pool Covers, Rollers, Filtration Systems. 26 years in-

DREAM Windows & Building Services UPVC windows & doors. High quality at great prices 15yrs on the coast. All work guaranteed. Also offer Aluminium windows, Mosquito screens, Persianas, Glass replacements, shower screens & much more. Call us on 619 604 562 dreamwindow1@outlook.com (301460)

WINDOW TINTING

MOBILE SERVICE. ITV Legal. Solar Reflective tint for glass curtains, balconies, yachts. Stop fading, heat & glare. 958 496 571 - 644 546 176 ian@solarshadetinting.com (292919)

952 561 607 (302562)

Korando - a worthy SUV contender

ROAD TEST

byMarkSlack

KORANDO: Offers tremendous value for money.

speed is 117mph. The majority of the time the Korando doesn’t feel slow or underpowered, long hills apart when your right foot resolves the problem albeit with some audible protest.

place to be with a premium feel.

It has a somewhat old school premium look and although a little ‘heavy’ on the rear styling is obviously no automotive bargain basement in the quality department.

SsangYong made its name, as all such car makers do, with bargain price vehicles, but it has a long history that goes back to the mid­1950s in its native Korea.

The range starts with the Tivoli hatchback, there’s the Korando and Rexton SUVs, plus the Musso pick ­ up.

Prices for the range start from €22,310 (£19,645) for

modest, by today’s standards, €24,757 (£21,795) and comes very well equipped. Cruise control, auto lights and wipers, powered folding and heated door mirrors, Bluetooth, air ­ con and a plethora of safety kit.

In top­line Ultimate trim, the Korando tested here (1.5­litre petrol automatic) is €34,239 (£30,145) and the equipment list climbs dramatically with every possible

of toy and gadget you’ll ever need.

This includes a remote operated power tailgate, a nine­inch touchscreen, privacy glass, navigation, Bluetooth with Apple Car Play and Android Auto, leather upholstery, eight­way power ­ adjustable front seats, heated seats and a steering wheel and more besides.

Power comes from either 1.5­litre turbocharged petrol

or 1.6litre turbocharged diesel engine, two ­ wheel ­ drive and sixspeed manual or automatic gears. On the road, my 1.5litre petrol proved a refined drive with smooth changes from the auto box.

Performance isn’t earthshattering in that a smallish engine pulling a fairly hefty SUV is not a recipe for the SUV Grand Prix. Hence 60 mph takes a leisurely 12 seconds and the maximum

Inside a modern, nicely laid out dash is dominated by a usefully large touchscreen and (hurrah!) buttons. Generous seat adjustment and space ensures the occupants are well catered for and it’s a rather nice

There are downsides such as thinly spread dealerships, potentially larger than average depreciation and euro rivals that offer more power and a better economy.

The Korando is still a genuinely good entry into the SUV arena and offers tremendous value for money, especially lower down the range. It deserves a much wider audience.

Facts at a Glance

• Model: SsangYong Korando Ultimate

• Engine: 1.5-litre, turbocharged, petrol

• Gears: 6-speed automatic

• Performance: 0-100 kph (60 mph) 12 seconds/Maximum Speed 188 kph (117 mph)

• Economy: 7.9 l/100km (35.5 mpg) combined WLTP

• Emissions: 182 g/km

The model tested was UK-specification and equipment levels and prices may vary in other markets.

Phone licence

MORE than 8.3 million drivers in Spain now carry their licence on their mobile phone.

The Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) phone app allows, among many other things, the driver or owner of a vehicle to carry both the driving licence and the rest of the vehicle’s documentation on their mobile phone with full legal validity throughout the national territory.

Since March 2020, 20 million accesses to digital driving and circulation licences have been requested, around two million updates of contact and address details have been made, more than six million queries of the points balance have been made and 170,000 fees have been purchased through the app.

In addition, through the app, users have generat ­

ed more than 130,000 vehicle reports, requested more than 10,000 duplicates of documentation and have been able to make more than 500,000 queries about the environmental badge, amongst other things.

Anyone interested in downloading the miDGT app on their phone can do so by heading to Google Play Store and searching miDGT.

Popular colours

THE colour of your new car isn’t always your top priority when presented with other practical concerns, but the colour of your car can affect how others view it and your own perception of your car. One car colour specialist has revealed the colour they expect to be most popular in 2023, and it might surprise you!

The company, which specialises in painting cars and wrapping cars, presented its predictions in its annual ‘Powered by Colour’ report, saying ‘Techno Blue’ is likely to be the most popular car colour in 2023.

Recent studies have found that black, white, and silver cars are the most popular in Europe, but at 9 per cent, the colour blue is tipped to make a comeback this year!

Spot the radar

THE Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) in Spain has over 780 permanent and hundreds of mobile traffic radars scattered across its roads that are often hidden from view.

In order to avoid high­speed road accidents, Spain’s DGT has a wide network of fixed and mobile radars across the country that assist in controlling the speed of vehicles while ensuring drivers comply with traffic regulations.

But despite the fact that anybody can see the position of these radars on the official DGT website, these devices are frequently out

of the drivers’ direct line of sight. Due to this, the DGT is now suggesting that drivers can easily locate these radars the next time they are driving.

The trick is to look at the supports of the gantry (overhead structure with signboards and cameras) to see if they include a ladder on any of their posts. If they have a ladder, the reason why they are there is to help the operators get on top of the structure, in order to carry out maintenance or calibrate the sensors. This increases the probability of a fixed radar on that section of the road.

Demanding measures

IN 2019, data shows that 28 per cent of the people killed in traffic accidents were over 64 years old. As a result, the DGT said it is looking to apply more demanding measures for drivers of this age group and above. Their aim, as always, is to increase road safety and reduce the number of deaths at the wheel.

According to data from the Directorate General of Traffic (DGT), more than four million people

over 65 years of age have an active driving licence in Spain. This represents more than 15 per cent of the country’s driver census.

One of the most important measures to be reviewed is periods of validity of the licences of older drivers. At present, when a person reaches the age of 65, their driving licence must be renewed every five years. In the case of professional drivers, after this age, renewal is every

three years. Not everything is going to be more restrictive for those over 65 years old though. The DGT announced on its website that people 65 years of age and upwards will be able to attend the Traffic offices without the need for a prior appointment (except for changes of permits) at any time during opening hours, as long as the request is for themselves and not on behalf of another person.

Photo by Marques Shutterstock.com

CONTROLLING SPEED: DGT explains ways to find hidden fixed radars in Spain.

OLDER DRIVERS: New rules are being brought in to increase road safety.

Stroll on, the pitch is lovely! Gareth Bale retires

THE benefits of walking football, both to health and social activity, have long been recognised and have been endorsed by such luminaries as Alan Shearer and Sir Geoffrey Hurst. Indeed, search the internet for Walking Football and you will find a plethora of links to the game to give you some background. In 2019, an estimate of the participants in walking football in the UK alone gave a figure of between 30,000 and 40,000, with current numbers rapidly increasing all over the world.

Of course, the festive season always causes an understandable lull in walking football action, but this gives our Costa clubs the opportunity to seek out fresh faces to swell their ranks. So, if you are interested in getting involved with this brilliant sport, here are details of the region’s

club representatives with whom you should make contact:

AC Benahavis (based in Benahavis) Teams: Over 50s and Over 60s (all welcome, although there is a current waiting list)

Contact: James Quinn 711 016 488

Aston Viñuela (based in Viñuela) Teams: Over 50s and Over 60s

Contact: Steve 633 146 786 or Sheila 643 635 617

Competa (based in

Competa)

Teams: Boca Seniors Over 50s (mixed) and Competa Chicas (women of any age)

Contact: Sarah Baker 711 003 822

Malaga WF Club (based in Las Lagunas de Mijas)

Teams: Over 50s and Over 60s

Contact: Billy Barnett 627 845 925 Nerja Utd (based in Nerja) Teams: Over 50s and Over 60s Contact: Paul McCormick (0044) 7793 612505

Torrox Tornadoes (based in Torrox) Teams: Over 50s and 60s Men, Over 40s Women

Contact: Steve Lynton 711 006 992

The Walking Dead (based in Calahonda) Teams: Over 50s and Over 60s

Contact: Martin Teague 622 390 857

We hope more of you will join us!

Football’s back… at last! BAHA Cup Clash

Boca Seniors 6 v 5 Nerja Utd

Last Saturday saw Boca Seniors start the match enthusiastically and race into a 4­1 lead. However, Nerja came back strongly and not only cut the deficit, but eventually led 4­5. However, two long strikes from Boca Seniors eventually sealed the victory 6­5. Both sides agreed that the refereeing by Oz Fenn was excellent!

WELSH team captain Gareth Bale has announced his retirement from football.

The Wales football captain Gareth Bale announced his decision to retire at the age of 33, from international as well as club football.

Football legend Gareth Bale took to social media and announced his decision to retire from professional football.

According to a post made by the Welsh player on Twitter, he said “After careful and thoughtful consideration, I announce my immediate retirement from club and international football.”

The post further adds, “I feel incredibly fortunate to have realised my dream of playing the sport I love.

“It (football) has truly given me some of the best moments of my life.

“The highest of highs over 17 seasons, that will be impossible to replicate, no matter what the next chapter has in store for me.”

Considered as one of the greatest football players to ever come out of Wales, Bale was born in the capital Cardiff and started his football career at Southhampton at the age of 16.

His talent eventually led him to be a part of Tottenham Hotspur and helped Real Madrid win five champions league titles.

Bale later moved to the US in June 2022 to play for the Los Angeles Football Club, after his nine­year­old contract at Real Madrid expired.

Image: Walking football league