Axarquia 4 – 10 May 2023 Issue 1974

NEW HOTEL

AS part of its plans to expand tourism to the area, the Salobreña Council has agreed with the Impressive Hotel Group for the building of a new luxury hotel with some 500 rooms.

This was announced on Friday April 28 following a meeting between Mayor Maria Eugenia Rufino and the owner of Impressive Hotels Juan Fierro whereby the two parties confirmed that the new hotel would be built on Punta del Río beach.

The intention is to create this new resort style hotel in the area designated as TH2 hotel ground and it will sit between the Guadalfeo river and the current accommodation located in Playa Granada, formerly Hotel Robinson.

The mayor highlighted

the exciting fact of the location “since with this project we get even closer to the long ­ awaited union of Motril and Salobreña along the coast, making the Costa Tropical a very competitive

NERJA, a gem on the Axarquia coastline has been recognised by the British newspaper, The Telegraph, as one of Spain’s most beautiful coastal destinations. The town was recognised in a list published by the leading newspaper on Wednesday, April 26.

The town’s breathtaking natural beauty, stunning beaches, and charming local culture have captured the hearts of tourists from all over the world and helped it to rank 15th on the prestigious list.

Pour-fect event

MORE than 1,000 people gathered in Torrox Costa to enjoy the largest wine tasting in southern Europe at the ‘Tasting by the Sea’ event on Monday, May 1.

tourist destination.”

Juan Fierro outlined the general concept of this new hotel, which will be aimed at a new segment of the tourist market other than the summer sun and beach

client, being more focused on the sports sector, taking advantage of the geographical conditions of the area and with the aim of high occupancy outside of the traditional seasons.

Nerja shines bright

as the Cueva de Nerja cave, provide a glimpse into its rich history and cultural heritage.

Nerja’s warm and welcoming community has made it a popular destination for families, couples, and solo travellers alike.

The wine tasting event was the perfect ending to a delightful May Day weekend which saw unprecedented numbers of visitors for the hospitality industry. For the first time ever, the local hospitality industry recorded a 100 per cent occupancy rate over the weekend.

The event took place

between the Balcón Mirador and Avenida El Faro, and guests enjoyed tasting exquisite wines from the Axarquia region. The stunning beach setting made it an unforgettable experience for all guests.

After the tasting, attendees headed to the local restaurants to enjoy culinary delights and other local delicacies.

The mayor of Torrox, Óscar Medina, joined other officials in raising a toast to the success of the event.

Nerja offers something for everyone, from lively nightlife to peaceful walks in the mountains. Visitors can stroll along the picturesque Balcón de Europa or soak up the sun on the famous La Burriana beach. The town’s historic landmarks, such

Being chosen as one of the top coastal towns in Spain by The Telegraph is a significant achievement for Nerja. The recognition from a leading newspaper can help put Nerja on the map for tourists seeking a unique and charming destination.

LUXURY HOTEL: The pair met to discuss the plans.

Credit: Salobreña Council

Authorities and crowds raise a toast to Torrox.

Photo credit: Ayuntamiento de Nerja (via Facebook)

The council described the recognition as ‘an honour’.

Photo credit: Óscar Medina (via Facebook)

Tourism’s treasure

Betty Henderson

THOUSANDS of tourists

from all over the world flocked to the Cueva del Tesoro caves in Rincon de la Victoria during the recent May Day holiday from Saturday, April 29 until Monday, May 1. The impressive visitor figures even set a record for the attraction.

The caves saw a whopping 35 per cent increase in visitors compared to the same weekend last year. Over the course of the three ­ day holiday weekend, a total of 1,072 people

explored the cave’s stunning galleries.

The largest number of visitors arrived on Monday, May 1, which coincided with the arrival of several cruise ships in nearby international port, Malaga.

CANILLAS DE ACEITUNO celebrated its annual Morcilla Festival over the bank holiday, celebrating the town’s regional produce including its famous ‘morcilla’ blood sausage. The 33rd edition of the festival took place on Sunday, April 30.

This year’s festival was a massive success, with more than 5,500 dishes featuring morcilla being dished out to visitors. The sausage is dis­

Shopping and smiles

The cave, one of only three known marine caves in the world, is home to prehistoric artifacts and ancient rock art, dating back to the Paleolithic and Bronze Ages.

With 71,899 visitors in 2022, an increase of 53 per cent from the previous year, the Cueva del Tesoro is rapidly becoming a mustsee destination for travelers to Europe. German, English, French, and Italian tourists make up the largest group of visitors to the cave, which is located in the El Cantal area.

THE Royal British Legion in Benajarafe is hosting an exciting shopping coach trip to Gibraltar on Thursday, May 25, in partnership with the Axarquia Animal Rescue Local Neutering group.

The trip will begin with a 7.30am pick­up at El Cruce, with guests required to bring their passports and TIE to pass through border control.

For a cost of €15, participants can enjoy a day of shopping and sightseeing in coastal Gibraltar. The shopping opportunities range from high ­ end designer boutiques to local

markets, many with dutyfree prices.

By joining the trip, guests will also be supporting a great cause, the Axarquia Animal Rescue Local Neutering group.

The RBL and AAR Local Neutering group is also preparing to host a barbecue at Cortijo El Collardo in Benajarafe on Saturday,

Blood, sweat, cheers

tinctive for its flavourful seasoning, and dishes containing the sausage were paired with local wine, making for an authentic culinary experience.

Visitors were also treated to the stunning

views of the Parque Natural de la Sierras de Tejeda, Almijara y Alhama, as the festival was held on part of the ‘Gran Senda’ walking trail, which winds through the region’s picturesque countryside.

May 13 from 12pm. Guests can enjoy a barbecue lunch and one drink as well as musical entertainment for the ticket price of €15.

Those interested in booking to go on the trip or attend the barbecue can contact Liz on 657 293 663 or see Sam at Trapiche Market to reserve a space.

The event has grown in popularity in recent years and was recently declared a festival of ‘Tourist Interest’ by the Malaga regional government. The festival is well­known for its unique blend of culture, gastronomy, and history, making it a must­see event for locals and tourists alike. This year’s festival was a true celebration of the region's culture, gastronomy, and natural beauty.

ANIMAL RESCUE: Members of AAR Local Neutering group.

Photo credit: Liz Pusey (via Facebook)

Guests line up to enter the attraction.

Photo credit: Ayuntamiento de Rincón de La Victoria (via Facebook)

Inside the Coronation

THIS first weekend in May will be full of royal celebrations as King Charles is set to be crowned alongside the Queen Consort at a grand ceremony in Westminster Abbey.

The long weekend will be filled with celebrations, from street parties to concerts, as King Charles becomes the oldest new monarch in history. Code­named Operation Golden Orb, plans for the much­anticipated event have been released over the past few months.

Starting on May 6 at 11am, the Coronation Service will kick off a weekend full of events following their Majesties’ crowning in the Abbey in London, in a service that will be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The King’s Coronation will include many of the ceremonies that were seen in the late Queen’s service, such as anointing with consecrated oil, the delivery of the orb, the pledge to be “Defender of the Faith”, and the enthroning itself.

It is understood that the anointing will not be shown on television and is set to be hidden from the public, as it was for the late

Queen’s coronation in 1953.

During the ceremony, the King will be asked if he will govern the UK and the Commonwealth with law and justice, and if he will keep Christianity alive in the country.

He will sit in the Coronation Chair, also known as Edward’s Chair, holding the sovereign’s sceptre and rod to symbolise his power over the nation, as well as the sovereign’s orb to represent the Christian world.

After the Archbishop has anointed, blessed, and consecrated Charles, the crown of St Edward will be placed on his head, crowning him as King Charles III.

Countdown to Coronation

FOLLOWING the death of the Queen on September 8, 2022, King Charles became the king of the United Kingdom and the Com monwealth Realms. Born on November 14, 1948, at Buckingham Palace, he is the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

Charles attended several schools during his childhood, including Hill House School in London and Gordonstoun School in Scotland. He later

King’s Coronation:

Where to watch

KING CHARLES III and Camilla will be crowned on Saturday, May 6. Before and after the Coronation service at Westminster Abbey in London, there will be ceremonial processions which will be aired live on national television, radio, and online, as well as exhibited on giant screens at locations around the country.

If you are planning on tuning in to the King’s coronation on television, here are all the details you need about channels and timings so you don’t miss a moment of this major historical event!

On Sky News, Coronation day coverage will kick off at 6am on Saturday, May 6. Live coverage will also be available to view on BBC and BBC iPlayer throughout the day, with mirroring coverage also available on ITV.

Although exact timings may change, the official ceremony is set to start at 11am at Westminster Abbey, with broadcasters’ promising live footage from multiple angles to give you a front­row seat, complete with a running live commentary.

Those outside of the UK can watch the events and coverage on CNN, NBC, Fox News and other major US stations, as well as YouTube live streams and live TV subscriptions such as Hulu + Live TV, DIRECTV, Sling TV and FuboTV.

studied at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he gained a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1970 and a Master of Arts degree in 1975.

Charles has been involved in public life for many years and has taken an active interest in a wide range of issues, such as environmental sustainability, architecture, and education.

He has also served as the patron or president of numerous charitable organisations including The Prince’s Wool Project, START, and The Cambrian Mountain Initiative.

In 1981, Charles married Lady Diana Spencer, who became known as Princess Diana. They had sons William and Harry before their divorce in 1996 and she died in 1997. Charles married Camilla Parker Bowles in 2005, and she is now known as the Duchess of Cornwall.

Throughout his life, Charles has been known for his advocacy for environmental sustainability and for his interest in traditional architecture. He has written several books on these subjects, including ‘A Vision of Britain: A Personal View of Architecture’ and ‘Harmony: A New Way of Looking at Our World’.

As king, Charles is expected to continue his advocacy for these causes while carrying out his duties as head of state.

The Coronation Concert

THE day after the King’s Coronation, on Sunday, May 7, viewers can watch the Coronation Concert live on BBC and iPlayer. Taking place on the East Lawn of Windsor Castle, exact timings are yet to be announced but the concert is set to start at 8pm and coverage is likely to start earlier in the lead­up to the event.

The star­studded musical show will feature performances from Take That, Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, Italian opera star Andrea Bocelli and Welsh singer Sir Bryn Terfel, amongst others. There will also be a performance from the Coronation Choir ­ a group of amateur singers and community choirs made up of refugees and members of the LGBTQ+ community.

‘Paddington’ and ‘Downton Abbey’ star, Hugh Bonneville will host the gig.

King Charles set to be crowned.

TAKE THAT: Just one of many performers taking part.

Charles married Camilla in 2005.

Image –Official Take That Facebook page

Image –The Royal Family Facebook page

Crossfit craze

MORE than 500 athletes and 2,000 spectators gathered in Torrox’s Ferrara Sports Park for Spain’s biggest crossfit event, the ‘Elite Functional Challenger' on Saturday, April 29.

The three­day Festival Fitness was a huge success, with athletes from all over the country demonstrating their sporting skills.

The event also raised vital funds which will go towards researching and fighting against ALS.

TORRE DEL MAR is preparing to shake things up with the arrival of its ‘Cocktail Route’ gourmet drinks experience. The event, which launches on Friday, May 5 will run until Wednesday, May 31.

For the remainder of the month, 12 bars in Torre del Mar will be serving up an exclusive menu of delicious cocktails for a bargain price of €5 each.

The Tourism councillor for Vélez ­ Málaga, Jesús

Raising the bar

Pérez Atencia, and local business representative, José María Alba, announced the initiative last week, which they say will boost the local economy by stimulating the hospitality sector.

This event comes hot on the heels of the hugely successful Tapas Trail, which broke all records in March.

“We hope that in the

month of May, just before summer, we will see the same level of participation and sales,” Atencia added.

Participants will also have the chance to win amazing prizes and gifts as part of a prize draw for buying drinks and recording them in an event ‘passport’ available for collection from the Tourist Information Office.

Prehistory to present

IN a remarkable discovery, a team from the University of Cordoba has used advanced archaeological techniques to show that humans visited the Cueva de Nerja cave for 41,000 years, which is 10,000 years earlier than previously thought.

The discovery which was made on Tuesday, April 25

could change our understanding of the cave. Researchers used a technique called ‘smoke archaeology’, which involves analysing carbon and fossilised smoke residue found on cave formations.

This new study documented 35,000 years of visits by humans to the cave in 73 different phases. The level of detail is thanks to the use of advanced carbon scientific techniques and the study of smoke residue.

Cultural celebration

Betty Henderson

phy workshop.

The Cueva de Nerja is known for its Palaeolithic art, and now researchers believe it was the most popular cave in Europe during prehistory, in terms of visits.

The cave is also believed to have been used for burials during the final stage of prehistory, providing us with further insights into our ancestors' beliefs and custom.The researchers say that there is still much to discover about our past.

PROVERB OF THE WEEK

BENAGALBON has been alive with excitement since the 44th edition of its Cultural Week got underway on Saturday, April 29 with an amazing week packed full of activities for all.

The streets of the town became the backdrop for a series of events that have had locals and tourists buzzing. The week ­ long programme included a thrilling play, informative talks, a captivating magic show, a colourful painting contest, a charity market, and an engaging photogra­

The fun isn’t over just yet, and the programme continues today, Thursday, May 4, with two talks that promise to be fascinating. The first talk will delve into the intriguing world of human DNA with researcher M Gonzalo Claros.

The second talk will be about Ole Zanzibar, an NGO working to promote education in schools in Zanzibar. A team from the organisation will share their experience and knowledge about the current state of education on the island and the solutions they’re bringing to offer the students new opportunities.

Means that a foolish person spends money too quickly on unimportant things. The phrase was used by poet Thomas Tusser in a poem he wrote called Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry in 1557.

A second photography workshop will also take place on Friday, May 5. Guests can still register by contacting 611 693 271.

Guests got stuck into activities in Benagalbon.

Photo credit: Ayuntamiento de Rincón de La Victoria (via Facebook)

“A fool and his money are soon parted.”

53% of British tablet owners use an Apple iPad.

COMPETA is set to be the scene of an epic hill climb in the second edition of the Andalucia Elite Women’s Cycling Tour, which is taking place from Wednesday, May 31 until Sunday, June 4. This is the first time Competa has hosted a sporting event of this scale which will attract spectators in more than 200 different countries.

Competa will see an exciting sprint finish on Calle Rampa which is known for its steep incline during the

Uphill battle Fruit-filled festival

race’s second stage on Thursday, June 1. The final 15 kilometres of the race will include a firstcategory mountain climb up the southern slope of Sierra Almijara to the town which is 700 metres above sea level, making it a challenging and exciting finish to the stage.

The mayor of Competa, Obdulio Pérez, expressed his enthusiasm for the

41 CLUB NERJA has welcomed a new President, Brian Karet. The retired Doctor from Leeds took over the reins at the group’s AGM, which was held on Wednesday, April 19, and says he is ready to lead the club to even more exciting times.

Brian thanked outgoing Chairman Peter MacLeod for leading the club through the challenging Covid years and is excited to continue building on his great work. He believes that with the strong team around him, the 41 Club Nerja is in a good position and ready for the future.

With members from nine different countries, the 41 Club Nerja is a diverse and dynamic group that enjoys a variety of activi­

town to host such a significant event. He also highlighted the beauty of the town and its location near to the sea, making it a fantastic destination for tourists.

Race organisers, Deporinter, have designed an incredible route to make history in Spanish women’s cycling, which has included the addition of a fifth stage.

Taking the helm

ties and gatherings. From private tours of the Cueva de Nerja caves to sailing trips, jeep safaris, cultural and historical tours, friendly lunches, and BBQs with friends and family, there is something for everyone.

41 Club Nerja has several exciting events planned including a Coronation Party which is set to take place on Saturday, May 6. The group is always open to new members.

More information is available online at: http://41clubnerja.org/index.htm

Betty Henderson

SAYALONGA is preparing for an exciting event on Sunday, May 7 with the ‘Nispero Day’ which celebrates the town’s distinctive plum­like fruit! Visitors can expect a day of delicious food, music, and fun activities.

The highlight of the event will be 1,500 kilogrammes of juicy and sweet nisperos that will be handed out to guests, along with locally produced moscatel wine. There will also be tasting sessions of nispero liqueur and jam.

The event will take place in Plaza Rafael Alcoba, starting at 11am. Throughout the day, visitors can enjoy live music, cultural activities, and shop for local crafts and products.

The Sayalonga nispero, grown by local farmers, is known for its unique taste,

quality, and size. The fruit is similar in appearance to an apricot or a plum and has a yellow­orange colour when ripe.

The fruit has a tangy, sweet flavour and is often eaten fresh, but it can also be used in jams and

other desserts. The unique event has also been declared an event of ‘Tourist Interest’ by the regional government in Malaga who invite visitors to check out the festival and learn more about Sayalonga.

Locals get a taste of the action before the festival gets underway.

Photo credit: Ayuntamiento de Sayalonga (via Facebook)

New dimensions

THE Cueva de Nerja prehistoric cave has welcomed the largest virtual reality room in Spain, with the fictional cartoon archaeologist Tadeo Jones as a host. The new feature opened in the town’s most famous attraction on Saturday, April 29. Visitors can experience immersive technology that allows them to explore parts of the cave that are not accessible by foot and admire prehistoric paintings. The virtual reality service is free for all visitors as part of the admission to the cave, except during night visits.

In the new tour format, visitors receive glasses and

Podenco day

headphones after completing a physical tour of the cave to fully immerse themselves in this technological journey.

The adventure is guided by Tadeo Jones, the most famous archaeologist in Spain and protagonist of the most successful Spanish cartoon series, named after him.

The virtual reality space is divided into two rooms, with a total capacity of 360 people per hour and up to 65 people in each room during each experience. The 360­degree immersive video lasts for 12 minutes, showcasing how humans lived 35,000 years ago and events that took place in the cave.

Betty Henderson ANIMAL lovers and their furry friends gathered in Torre del Mar on Monday, May 1 for a walk to cele brate the ‘Day of the Podenco’. The event is dedicated to the welfare and protection of hunting dogs in Spain.

The ‘Podwalk’ event was organised by the Under Dog rescue and animal rights organisation and APARIV ­ Asociación Protectora de Animales del Rincon de la Victoria. The walk saw Podenco lovers take part in a six kilometre walk along Axarquia’s stunning coastline.

The event also offered an exciting raffle with Christina being the lucky winner of a bottle of bubbly!

The Day of the Podenco was an exciting social event for dogs and their

Branching out

whilst raising money for a good cause. Organisers were thrilled with the turnout and shared that they raised a total of €225.

Hayley Stout, from The Under Dog also wanted to highlight the plight of Podenco dogs in Spain, who often suffer from poor treatment, but are wonderful animals.

The Under Dog is already planning another raffle for a hamper with tickets set to be released in July, and a further dog walk in October when the weather cools down.

LOCAL environmental action group, Colectivo CreceT did their bit for the local area with a major tree planting day on Saturday, April 29, in the Periana and La Viñuela surroundings. Nature lovers gathered to plant around 200 trees.

The group launched their tree planting scheme to make an impact on the environment as part of the ‘La Gran Muralla Verde de Andalucia’ green wall project. The challenge was also a chance for the community to get involved and make a difference to their local area.

The environmental group’s enthusiastic organ­

isers also shared an update via Facebook explaining that around 70 per cent of the trees they planted last year have survived harsh environmental conditions and they are continuing to support their growth.

The group are also aiming to create much­needed shade with their treeplanting projects for the comfort of walkers and wildlife in the region.

Gardeners enjoyed making new friends and refuelled with a delicious paella while helping the environment. More information is available via Facebook: www.facebook. com/colectivocreceT.

Photo credit: The Under Dog (via Facebook)

There were plenty of smiling faces and wagging tails.

Photo credit: Cueva de Nerja (via Twitter) Guests dive into the biggest VR room in Spain, in Nerja.

90/180 Days

A CAMPAIGN called ‘180 Days in Spain’ has been launched with the aim of ensuring that every British person living in Spain (whether fullyear or part ­ year) has their pre ­ Brexit rights as an EU Citizen properly protected and ringfenced.

In addition, it hopes to improve and equalise the rights of all British visitors to Spain so that they get the same access after Brexit that Spanish people do in the UK today.

As explained to Euro Weekly News in a statement from Andrew Hesselden, the Campaign Director and founder, the organisers of ‘180 Days in Spain’ are asking for some very simple requirements.

Firstly, they want Brits who were living in Spain

before Brexit ­ whether living in the country for all or part of the yearto receive equal treatment. Secondly, they are asking for the equal treatment of British visitors to Spain, in the same way that Spanish visitors to the UK receive.

There are lots of ways that politicians could achieve these outcomes said Mr Hesselden, who hopes that the conversations being generated by the campaign are proving beneficial to British and European citizens everywhere.

The campaign already has over 6,000 members and continues to grow.

Its Campaign Director collaborates and coordinates with other similar campaigns in France, Italy, Greece, Germany and Cyprus as well as

running a similar Europe ­ wide campaign. Together these all account for a further 6,000 members.

“We already know that certain regions of Spain and France want to eliminate the 90 ­ in180 ­ day problem that Brexit has exacerbated, Mr Hesselden ­ who has a home in Mallorca ­ explained.

Visit https://www.face book.com/groups/180da ysinspain to find out more.

8% of the UK is covered with 15 National Parks.

No masks

FERNANDO SIMÓN , the Director of the Health Alerts and Emergencies Coordination Centre recently made a statement about the wearing of masks.

He said he believed that the ‘mask’ will soon cease to be mandatory in pharmacies and it won’t be too long afterwards that they won’t be required in health centres either.

However, he did state that people needed to be responsible and said that anyone with a respiratory infection should wear a mask to avoid contagion.

He said in a meeting with journalists, he has vindicated the lessons learned from the pandemic and he stressed that a mask is not a protection against Coronavirus, but rather to protect the rest of the population from respiratory infections.

NATIONAL LIBRARY: Despite the rain, queues formed.

Busy at BNE

Anna Ellis

ALMOST 1,700 visited the National Library of Spain (BNE) on April 22 to join in celebrations of International Book Day which took place on April 23.

From before 8.00am (doors opened at 9.00am), and despite the rain, visitors began to arrive.

Tickets were allocated in order of arrival and, in less than three hours, the 1,500 planned tickets had already been distributed.

This situation led the BNE to expand the groups and organise new routes and guides to meet the expectations of all those people who had been left without a pass.

The library was founded by King Philip V of Spain in 1712 as the Palace Public Library.

The Royal Letters Patent

that he granted, the predecessor of the current legal deposit requirement, made it mandatory for printers to submit a copy of every book printed in Spain to the library.

In 1836, the library’s status as Crown property was revoked and ownership was transferred to the Ministry of Governance, and renamed the Biblioteca Nacional.

93% of people don’t check facts they read on the internet.

PRESS EUROPEAN

DENMARK

Viking treasure

METAL detectorists discovered a hoard of Viking silver near the ruins of the Viking castle Fyrkat, in Hobro, North Denmark. Their find contained over 300 items which included Danish, German and Arab coins, dating back to the 900s, when King Harald ‘Bluetooth’ united Denmark and Norway.

THE NETHERLANDS

Flower quandary

THE Netherlands account for 80 per cent of the EU’s flower exports and 60 per cent of global flower production, including those sent to Russia. Dutch growers said that flowers were not affected by sanctions but admitted they were faced with the dilemma of whether to stop exports on moral grounds.

BELGIUM

Fizz fuss

BELGIAN Customs officers crushed 2,352 cans of Miller High Life bearing the ‘Champagne of Beers’ slogan. The US shipment en route to another country was intercepted and destroyed in Antwerp after the French authorities issued a formal complaint regarding the infringement of Champagne’s protected status.

GERMANY

Chips are down

GERMANY could limit the export of the chemicals that are used to manufacture semiconductors as the government attempts to reduce its economic exposure to China, Bloomber said. Chemical companies Merck and BASF, who would be affected if exports were curbed, declined to comment.

FRANCE

Porn rules

FRANCE’S audiovisual and digital communications regulator Arcom could receive new powers to block websites not complying with age verification regulations. Under modified rules, Arcom would not require judicial approval to force telecoms operators and search engines to block access to Pornhub or YouPorn

NORWAY

Oslo fight

ASYLUM-SEEKER Andrey Medvedev, a Wagner mercenary who crossed into Norway from Russia in January, pleaded guilty to fighting outside an Oslo bar and carrying an air gun in public. He felt very ashamed, Medvedev said, but denied assaulting police officers in the Norwegian capital.

FINLAND

Snakes alive

ADDERS, Finland’s only dangerous snakes, will become a protected species in June. In future, people will no longer be permitted to kill them without reasonable cause or disturb them in their natural habitats, although Turku Animal Protection Association’s president, Britt-Marie Juup, foresaw “heated discussions.”

IRELAND

Too good

IRELAND has one of the highest rates of overqualification in the EU, according to newly released Eurostat data. Just under 29 per cent of the country’s employees were working in occupations not requiring a third-level degree despite having one, making the country's workforce the EU’s most educated.

ITALY

Free pill

ITALY will make free contraception medication available to women of all ages, a move applauded by women’s rights activists nationwide but condemned by anti-abortion advocates. The Pricing and Reimbursement Committee of AIFA, the Italian Medicines Agency now awaits approval from the agency’s board of directors.

PORTUGAL Stony broke

FORMER Banco Espirito Santo (BES) bank boss Ricardo Salgado, out on €3 million bail since 2014, owes more than €30,000 in court costs, which his defence team claims he cannot pay as his assets were impounded by the state. The costs mounted up in unsuccessful appeals to the Constitutional Court.

UKRAINE Looking ahead

UKRAINE lost a third of its economic output in 2022 as eight million people fell into poverty, creating a 15-year setback in poverty reduction goals. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development pledged that when the time came for reconstruction “people will be there, human capital will be there.”

SWEDEN

New fashion

DRUG busts involving designer drug 3-CMC increased dramatically in Sweden after gaining a foothold during the pandemic, the country’s media said. Between 2019 and 2022 Swedish Customs and the police seized quantities ranging from four to 104 kilos, saying 3-CMC was now more common than cocaine.

FINANCE

STAT OF WEEK €1.164 billion

was the amount of telecom company Orange España’s turnover during the first three months of this year, a 2.8 per increase on the same period in 2021.

BUSINESS EXTRA Telefonica’s Virgin

Coffee break

PRET A MANGER is increasing the cost of its monthly subscription service by a fifth to £30 (€33.9) for a daily five coffees but will give a 10 per cent discount on food and snacks alongside free drinks. The sandwich chain warned that the “inflationary challenge” was ever­present.

Payback time

RENTING state­owned Sareb’s 50,000 properties at affordable prices will repay taxpayers’ money, Spain’s Economy Minister Nadia Calviño, said. She added that after taking control of Spain’s “bad bank” the government’s “good management” was returning to society its contribution to the 2011 bank bailout.

Takeover bid

MEDICA GROUP is the latest London­listed business targeted by private equity buyers following IK Partners’ £269 million (€303.7 million) bid for the teleradiology provider. Medica’s board advised shareholders to vote for the deal, saying this would allow investors to recognise the business’s growth potential.

New post

GERMAN­BORN Miguel Angel Lopez Borrego, who has Spanish nationality, replaces Martina Merz as CEO of the German group ThyssenKrupp on June 1. Lopez Borrego, who is 58, and currently interim CEO of Norma Group, is a former director of Siemens Spain and a member of the Siemens Gamesa board.

Desert song

UMAR KAMANI, former CEO of the PrettyLittleThing fastfashion chain, sold 30,000 square feet (2,787 square metres) of undeveloped sand in Dubai that cost him £6.42 million (€7.3 million) for more than £27 million (€30.5 million). Kamani’s buyer is believed to be a member of the Saudi royal family.

Lifeline needed for landline

Linda Hall

TALKTALK, Virgin Media and SSE have been accused of overcharging landlineonly customers by almost €219 million (approximately €247.3 million).

Almost 600,000 UK landline­only customers were charged ‘excessive’ prices since 2009, maintained Fideres, which specialises in providing industry expertise for financial markets’ disputes.

The consultancy, which also aims to identify corporate wrongdoing, found that TalkTalk ­ and the now­merged Virgin Media and SSE ­ have between them overcharged consumers when their prices were compared with those of their rivals. Fideres pointed out that as well as a pricing abuse that possibly breached competition rules, the three

companies were also infringing equality laws since two­thirds of customers with landline­only deals were aged 65 or older.

In 2017, Ofcom published research showing that landline customers were getting ‘poor value for money’.

Providers had increased line rental charges by 25 and 49 per cent since 2009 even though the underlying wholesale cost of providing a landline service had fallen by 26 per cent.

As a result, BT, which accounts for about 80 per cent of the UK’s 2.9 million landline­only clients, cut charges by around 37 per cent, reversing the increases by returning pricing to 2009 levels in real­terms.

Ofcom said in 2017 that it expected other providers to follow suit as did the Post Office, unlike Virgin Media and TalkTalk. If providers rolled back their prices to match the 2009 levels, TalkTalk’s customers would have saved £103 million (€116.3 million) and Virgin Media and SSE’s customers £48 million (€54.2 millon), Fideres calculated.

Airports group flies high

AENA reported a net profit of €133.6 million for the first quarter of 2023, compared with losses of €41.7 million during the same period in 2022.

The total number of passengers in Spain, Luton and airports in northeast Brazil recovered 100 per cent of their pre­pandemic levels, state­owned Aena announced on April 26.

Traffic volume at Aena’s Spanish airports reached 53.6 million in the first three months of the year, a 41.6

Barça deal

FC BARCELONA finally secured funds for the Espai Barça project which includes renovating the Camp Nou stadium.

The club has now signed a €1.45 billion agreement with 20 investors, although this is €50 million less than it originally hoped for.

It has taken the club almost two months to obtain sufficient financial backing to start work at the Camp Nou ground. Setbacks that coincided with club president Joan Laporta’s funding mission included the scandal over Barça’s payments to football referee José María Enríquez Negreira and the hike in interest rates, followed the Silicon Valley Bank and Credit Suisse banking crises.

per cent increase on the same period last year and 1.6 per cent higher than during the first quarter of 2019.

Commercial sales showed a 12 per cent improvement on their pre­pandemic lev­

els,. Total consolidated revenue for the first quarter of 2023 increased to €1.03 billion, 34.3 per cent up on the first quarter of 2022.

Aeronautical revenue of €523 million was 26 per cent

Salmon tax

THE price of Norway’s farmed salmon could rise by up to 10 per cent, industry insiders warned.

Norway produces more than 1.5 million tons of salmon each year and the Oslo government now intends to slap a 35 per cent tax on their profits.

As a result, consumer prices are expected to rise by as much as 10 per cent or even more.

“We all know it is coming,” said Lance Forman, owner of London­based H Forman and Sons, which supplies leading restaurants and Harrods.

After fossil fuels, salmon farming is the country’s largest source of national income. It is also very lucrative, with operating profit margins of around 45 per cent.

Despite the salmon farmers’ efforts, the Norwegian parliament is expected to approve the measure in the coming weeks.

TELEFONICA has strengthened its position in the UK with a partnership between its strategic digital business subsidiary, Tech&I, and Virgin Media 02 Business.

Virgin’s customers can now be supported by Telefonica Tech’s cloud team of professional and managed services. Based in the UK this company currently employs more than 1,000 technology professionals following its takeover of CancomUK&I and Incremental.

This will enable Virgin Media O2 Business to offer enhanced services to medium and large organisations. These will range from local authorities wanting to unify data and processes, healthcare providers migrating sensitive data to the cloud and retailers looking to evolve e­commerce opportunities in the cloud.

higher than in 2022 while commercial revenue ­ again surpassing 2019 levelsreached €337.9 million, 40.1 per cent more than during the first three months of 2022. “The performance of commercial activity in the first quarter of the year is noteworthy, where pre­pandemic activity levels improved markedly,” Aena said. Aena’s gross operating result between January and March of this year rose to €368.6 million, representing growth of 153.2 per cent.

Light fantastic

NATIONAL POWER, owner of the Drax power station in Selby (Yorkshire), reported its highest ever annual profits.

Shareholders in the FTSE 250 company can look forward to a £150 million (€169 million) windfall, thanks to record electricity prices following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

This had helped to increase the group’s annual profits for 2022 to £731 million (€824.7 million), up from £398 million (€499 million) in 2021.

Drax also announced that in the meantime it was putting on hold its much ­ debated £50 million (€56.4 million) carbon capture project, as it awaited details from the government regarding a possible subsidy.

Turned off

NETFLIX lost more than one million Spanish viewers in the first quarter of this year, consultancy company Kantar found.

Vetoing shared accounts was responsible for the plunge and the future looks even bleaker now that 10 per cent of current subscribers plan to leave Netflix within the next three months.

“Losing some users was to be expected,” said Mayte Gonzalez, from Kantar’s Worldpanel division. “But losing more than one million in so little time has major consequences for Netflix and will influence its decision to continue with this measure worldwide.”

Loud and clear

MARSHALL GROUP is more likely to increase its commitment to Britain than leave, its new owners said.

The family­owned amplifiers firm was bought by Swedish company, Zound Industries, which makes Bluetooth speakers, in a deal that valued the combined group at £325 million (€367 million).

All Marshall brands were acquired by Zound, for an undisclosed amount.

“We will preserve and probably enhance our UK presence even more, because it is so important to who we are,” said Jeremy de Maillard, who heads the new business.

LANDLINES: Users tend to be over 65.

AENA HEADQUARTERS: Spain’s airports group makes a profit.

Photo credit: Pexels/Rodnae Productions

Photo credit: CC/Gemmarz

DOW JONES

Family affair

SPAIN’S National High Court in Madrid is investigating Santiago Alarco, the former brother­in­law of ex­Cabinet minister Rodrigo Rato, for hiding money abroad. Alarco has been summonsed to give evidence on May 24 to answer charges of money laundering and creating a financial network to keep cash out of the reach of Spain’s tax authorities.

Deaf ears

HSBC’s biggest shareholder said that it was “extremely disappointed” in the bank’s refusal to consider splitting up and separating its Asia business, criticising its inflexibility towards restructuring proposals. Ping An Asset Management, which has an 8 per cent holding in the banking giant, would prefer to see a separate Honglisted business headquartered in Asia.

PM’S own goal

GERRY MURPHY, chairman of luxury retailer Burberry described axing VAT ­ free shopping for foreign visitors as a “spectacular” own goal.

“It makes the UK the least attractive shopping destination in Europe,” Murphy added.

The criticism came after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s visit to a Business Connect meeting in London when he was quizzed about the measure introduced while he was Chancellor.

The Burberry boss told

the prime minister that it appeared “somewhat perverse” that the VAT refund

for tourists was removed on the day the UK left the single market.

Powering up profits

IBERDROLA made a €1.48 billion net profit in the first quarter of 2023.

This was more than 40 per cent up on the same period last year, which coincided with the start of the Ukraine war.

Thanks to improvements in Spain and the UK, the group reported a marked increase in results despite the new 1.2 per cent windfall tax applied to energy com­

panies’ net turnover. This increased the group’s total tax bill by €200 million this quarter compared with the first three months of 2021. It has also been paid in full, announced Iberdrola, although payments have increased by 102.2 per cent to €1.18 billion this quarter, compared to €583 million in 2021.

Ocado relocates

“Leaving the EU has had a significant effect on trade,” Murphy said, claiming that the UK was experiencing “by far” the weakest recovery from the pandemic compared with other major economies.

A group of business leaders has now called for the reintroduction of tax­free shopping for overseas tourists.

In a letter to the UK’s Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, retail, hospitality and tourism chiefs maintained that reinstating the VAT concession would benefit both businesses and the taxpayer.

Tax­free shopping would bring a multi­billion­pound boost to the economy, they argued.

“The cost of 20 per cent VAT refunds would be outweighed by the enormous benefits of encouraging more visitors to Britain,” they said.

IN a move that will affect approximately 2,300 employees, Ocado plans to close its oldest distribution centre in Hatfield (Hertfordshire) later this year.

This centre accounts for a fifth of the online grocer’s weekly customer orders each week, but sources explained that Ocado now intends to shift towards robotic warehouses, transferring to a new state ­ of ­ the ­ art warehouse in Luton.

Logo no-go

LIDL won its legal standoff against Tesco.

A High Court judge found in favour of the German­owned chain which accused Tesco of “riding on its coat tails” by promoting its Clubcard deals with a similar blue and yellow logo.

Mrs Justice Joanna Smith made the ruling late last month after an earlier hearing between the two supermarket giants.

BURBERRY: Chairman Gerry Murphy lamented end of taxfree shopping for tourists.

Euro

EUR/GBP: Unchanged at £0.88

EUR/USD: Up from $1.07 to $1.09

Easing concerns over Europe’s banking sector initially helped the euro to firm at end of March, before these gains were swiftly eased by a weaker-than-expected Eurozone inflation print.

Hawkish comments from a European Central Bank (ECB) policymaker, put a spring back in the single currency’s step at the start of April, before rally sputtered out in the face of fresh tensions between Russia and Europe as Finland formally joined NATO.

The euro continued to waver into mid-April as a disappointing Eurozone retail sales reading was offset and the single currency’s negative correlation with the US dollar infused volatility into EUR exchange rates.

A stronger-than-expected Eurozone services PMI then lent support to the euro toward the end of April.

While the ECB’s next interest rate

BUSINESS EXTRA

Scot-free

P&O Ferries believe that the possibility of a fine arising from the 2022 mass sacking of 786 employees was “remote.”

The Dubai ­ owned ferry operator’s annual report maintained that sacking its entire UK­based crew without the prior consultation required by UK law was a “solution to gaining essential operational flexibility.

Good result

BARCELONA­BASED construction company FCC, controlled by Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim, earned €97 million in the first three months of this year, 14 per cent more than 2021’s first quarter. Revenue increased by 21.2 per cent to €2.03 billion thanks to increased activity and double­digit growth in most business areas.

Currency outlook: US dollar slumps amid fading Fed rate hike bets, Euro underpinned by ECB interest rate speculation

decision will undoubtedly be the main focus for EUR investors over the coming month, the potential start of Ukraine’s long-rumoured spring offensive could also inject some volatility into the euro.

Pound

GBP/EUR: Unchanged at €1.13

GBP/USD: Up from $1.22 to $1.24

The pound wavered over the past month as mixed UK economic data and a fluctuating market mood left the currency to trade without a strong directional bias.

At the end of March Sterling zigzagged in response to hawkish comments from Bank of England (BoE) Governor Andrew Bailey and a cautious market mood.

Thin trading conditions due to the long Easter weekend then left the pound trapped in a narrow range at the start of April. Before GBP exchange rates stumbled after UK growth was revised lower in the first quarter.

The pound then spiked on the back of the UK’s latest consumer

sale of Activision Blizzard’s Call of Duty to Microsoft.

The CMA halted the $69 billion (€63.2 billion) deal - the biggest deal ever in gaming - on the grounds this would hinder competition in cloud gaming.

The regulator said on April 26 that Microsoft’s pledge to allow leading cloud gaming platforms to access Activision’s multibillion-dollar Call of Duty franchise had not allayed its concerns.

The company remained fully committed to the acquisition and would appeal the decision, Microsoft president Brad Smith announced in a statement. Activision in turn said it would “work aggressively” with Microsoft to reverse the CMA’s decision.

“This was not the news we wanted,” Activision’s CEO Bobby Kotick told staff, “but it is far from the final word on this deal,” he added.

“We will reassess our growth plans for the UK,” the company said in a separate statement. “Global innovators large and small will take note that, despite all its rhetoric, the UK is clearly closed for business.”

price index after reporting domestic inflation remained in double digits in March.

The hotter-than-expected inflation print cement expectations for a May rate hike from the BoE, while also prompting some analysts to speculate rates could rise as high as 5 per cent by the end of 2023.

Looking ahead, the BoE’s May policy meeting could trigger a sharp appreciation in the pound if the bank signals it needs to take more action to bring inflation under control.

US Dollar

USD/GBP: Down from $0.81 to $0.80

USD/EUR: Down from €0.92 to €0.91

The US dollar trended broadly lower over the past month as an improving market mood sapped the appeal of the safe-haven currency. USD was supressed as we entered April, as USD investors were split on whether the Federal Reserve would pursue another rate hike in May.

The US dollar continued to be

CMA won’t play

To date this was the biggest deal between technology companies that the CMA has blocked and its stance was interpreted by insiders as proof

that the UK watchdog was ready to take on Big Tech.

It is now up to Brussels to reach a decision by May 22 on the Activision deal.

Tax breaks for all

ALL religions in Spain can now enjoy the same tax breaks.

The government has reached an agreement with the Orthodox Church, the Buddhist Union, Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses who between them account for 1.3 million followers. Of these, one million belong to the Orthodox Church, half of whom are Romanian.

They will be exempt from paying IBI rates on properties that are used for worship and will no longer be liable for Corporation Tax. This will put them on an equal footing with the Catholic Church, the Federation of Evangelical Religious Entities, the Federation of Jewish Communities and the Islamic Commission.

pressured through the first couple of weeks in April, as some upbeat US data releases helped to reinforce the cheery market mood. While a weaker-than-expected core PCE price index saw the odds of a May rate hike fall as low as 40 per cent.

USD exchange rates then struck new multi-month lows in mid-April after a dramatic cooling of US inflation and dovish minutes from the Fed’s last policy meeting further undermined rate hike bets.

However, the US dollar was quick to rebound from its worst levels after a worrying decline in US retail sales spooked markets and revived safehaven demand. While increased confidence in a May rate hike also supported USD.

Looking ahead, the direction of the US dollar over the next month will largely depend on the Fed’s forward ward guidance following its next rate decision. If the US central bank signals it might be done with its current hiking cycle, USD exchange rates may plunge.

Out of pocket

ASSOCIATIONS representing recruitment firms called for changes to existing legislation. The lower end of the supply chain of temporary workers faced unfair financial pressure, the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo UK) and APSCo OutSource maintained.

Payment was often required between seven and 28 days of timesheet submissions, while end clients enjoyed payment terms of between 30 and 60 days, they pointed out. This meant the middle-supplier was out of pocket for an increasing length of time which was unsustainable in the current climate, causing undue financial strain on small and medium-sized businesses. They routinely footed the initial bill for large numbers of contractors without rapid reimbursement, Melanie Forbes, APSCo OutSource’s managing director explained.

They are now asking for an extension of Payment Practices and Performance regulations to reduce financial pressures.

Mercadona nears its target

MERCADONA continues to modify its growth strategy inside Spain.

The supermarket chain, with 1,637 stores here, is slowing down acquisition of premises and land for new branches. Instead it is switching to renting.

By the close of the 2022 financial year, it had allocated €76 million - almost 40 per cent less than in 2021 - for new stores, according to Mercadona’s annual accounts submitted to Spain’s Mercantile Registry.

The chain has tripled the number of its supermarkets since 2000, although Mercadona’s president and principal shareholder Juan Roig said when presenting the 2022 results last March, that the company planned to stop at 1,700 inside Spain.

APRIL: Stronger-than expected Eurozone services PMI lent support to the euro.

THE UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has blocked the

ACTIVISION-MICROSOFT: Deal could hinder cloud gaming, CMA said.

Photo credit: Pexels-jeshoots

LEAPY LEE SAYS IT

OTHERS THINK IT

ONE of the real problems with the social media is that it allows the woke snowflakes and utter eccentrics to seek each other out. Whereas, at one time someone with totally off the wall ideas would hardly come across any like­minded individuals, they can now contact each other at the touch of a button. It stands to reason if you can air your views to millions, you are going to find more supporters than standing on a street corner handing out leaflets.

Although there seems to be a positive glut of gaggle heads these days, there are in fact no more than they ever were, they are just a bit more linked up that’s all. Solo individuals have now been turned into ‘minority groups’, a part of the flavour that seems to get all the preferential treatment these days!

These latest ensembles are a glaring example. Drunk with the power of getting national media coverage, they are now advocating that not only wolf whistling, but ANY praise by a male of the species, including

One-track

reference to articles of dress or attire be classed as a misogynistic hate crime. I suppose praise from a female is ok? We’ll be a bit careful lady, the woman admiring your hat at Ascot could be a gender bender; another load of codswallop dreamed up by these people.

To be honest I’m surprised most of ‘em even have the courage to walk out of their own front doors. They seem to have totally one­track minds and, because they all appear to share complexes of utter inadequacy, are completely unable to accept, or even listen to any other points of view.

One example is their ongoing insistence that babies, and young children who show a tendency to play with toys or enjoy dressing up and indulging in the games of their opposite sex, should be immediately and relentlessly encouraged to grow up in that sexual gender.

This was actually shot down by one eminent psychiatrist who, on examination of a young boy who had displayed a great deal of inter­

FLYING HIGH OUR VIEW

est in feminine toys etc, discovered he had in fact a younger sister, who suffered a debilitating illness. This had led to the parents showing her more attention.

In the little boy’s mind he interpreted this as favouritism toward girls. The lad thought that if he acted more like a girl, he would attract the same attention as his sister. It had nothing to do with his gender whatsoever! This example also exposes some of the dangers presented to children of same sex parents. Another ‘offspring impressionable’ situation I was actually witnessing as far back as the 60s. Notting Hill where I spent my youth experienced many progressions, including a multitude of gay influence and of course the first of the Windrush immigrants. I actually caught a lot of it many moons ago. And frankly have never been too happy to see how it’s all panned out. Keep the faith.

Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com expatradioscotland.com Mon. Fri.

LAST weekend, we reported on our website, news of a massive fight onboard a plane travelling from Norway to Alicante in Spain. It appears that the fight was fuelled by the drunken behaviour of a number of passengers and when it arrived in Spain, no fewer than 15 people, all said to be Norwegian were arrested.

There was an unprecedented number of views of the stories and almost 100 readers felt that it would be helpful to make comments, for which we are grateful.

As often happens, some people simply read the title without taking in the content and rushed to blame boozy Brits abroad but on this occasion, they were completely wrong. It rather looks as if these idiots who are used to paying high prices for alcohol in their home country might have been taking advantage of cheaper in­flight booze and overdid it!

No excuse and probably 50 per cent of the comments are calling for a ban on alcohol sales on all flights, 25 per cent want to see tougher checks before passengers are allowed on board or automatic travel bans if they are convicted of misbehaving on a flight. Roughly a quarter feel that it’s unfair to stop those who drink in moderation from being allowed a beer or glass of wine to help them relax after the flight takes off but all want to see flight attendants try to refuse sales to drunks.

That may be easier said than done as the attendants themselves could leave themselves open to verbal abuse or physical attack, but it is clear that something needs to be done to ensure that the majority of travellers can enjoy (subject to leg room) their flight in peace.

LeapyLee’sopinionsarehisownandarenotnecessarilyrepresentativeofthoseofthepublishers,advertisersorsponsors.

DAVID WORBOYS THINKING ALOUD

I LEARNED the facts of life at the age of nine or 10 but the world has moved on since the late 40s. Nowadays little boys are raping girls by the age of 10 and murdering them by the time they are 12. Not all of them, but in growing numbers. Guns and knives are preferred nowadays to pea ­ shooters and catapults, while playground scuffles have given way to shootings or stabbings as a means of settling scores.

When I was five, I was attracted to girls in general (and Rosalind in particular) and enjoyed sitting next to them. I realised they were different from boys, who were perhaps more fun, but I had no idea about sexual communion nor how I arrived on planet Earth.

It was a schoolfriend who eventually told me, but he omitted to explain that the act normally took place in a horizontal position in a bed and normally between a man and his wife.

Hmmm. I had visions of perpendicular liaisons between a mother and a father, while (more or less) fully dressed and anywhere out of view. Perhaps behind the potting shed or in the

FACTS OF LIFE

teenage boys wore jacket and tie in restaurants, in many of which the menus were presented only in French.

This meant that nine out of 10 customers hadn’t a clue what they were ordering.

The other 10 per cent were probably eating out fairly regularly ­ not just on birthdays. Some men even put on a jacket and tie especially to go into a bank.

garage.

It was also a fact of life that, at the age of nine, I had been taught to raise my school cap on meeting a woman, and at 11 I would offer my seat on a bus to any woman or elderly man. The following members of society had to be treated with special respect: teachers, policemen, vicars, friends of my father and fathers of my friends ­ normally addressed as “sir”.

We had fights at school but had to rely on our hands and, in extreme cas ­

es, our fists ­ but not our feet, let alone weapons. Things began to change in the 60s. Skinheads and bovver boots, followed by punk ‘music’ signalled the emergence of a less gentle society. The facts of life were clarified for the wider public when the Rolling Stones released ‘Let’s spend the night together’. The culture of free love was born.

In the 50s many working people felt uncomfortable in banks and restaurants, much the preserve of the more affluent or more educated. Men and

A friend pointed out to me that Paradise was being a 20s­year­old heterosexual male in swinging London in the 60s, when there was an inexhaustible presence of slender, elegant women of all nationalities. There was no political correctness but, by today’s standards, it was a harmless, if not innocent, world.

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CORONATION QUICHE DOESN’T DESERVE ITS ONLINE ROASTING

NORAJOHNSON BREAKINGVIEWS

FOR some, Coronation Quiche with its spinach/broad bean filling may seem a bit unexciting for such a grand occasion this weekend. However, it’s part of the type of nostalgic, comfort food that’s currently enjoying a revival.

Or maybe it’s to do with the UK being hit with strikes in multiple areas? Brits struggling daily with the cost of living and food price increases, inflation and interest rates, let alone China flexing its muscles and war in Ukraine still disrupting world trade.

Who doesn’t remember the 70s, say, with nostalgia: a time of relative peace and calmness?

But frankly, I’ve never understood this ‘comeback’ thing. If something is good, it’s good. End of. Do you stop eating a certain food (like the humble quiche), drinking a certain drink, watching a certain movie or reading a certain book (a suspense or crime thriller, like me?) because somebody else tells you that’s the thing to do?

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with trying new things and being experimental, but it’s good to have the classics locked away too. After all, it’s the classics that are your gold standard for comparing quality.

So, in brief, all I’m saying is: Give Quiche a Chance...

Nora Johnson’s 12 critically acclaimed psychological suspense crime thrillers (www.norajohnson.net) all available online including eBooks (€0.99; £0.99), Apple Books, audiobooks, paperbacks at Amazon etc. Profits to Cudeca cancer charity.

David Worboys’s opinions are his own and are not necessarily representative of those of the publishers,

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our columnists please scan this QR Code

In the 50s a hand-catapult was considered a dangerous weapon. We have moved on since then.

Photo Credits: Dreamstime and Huffington Post

Noraistheauthorofpopularpsychological suspenseandcrimethrillersandafreelancejournalist.

Nora’s latest thriller.

Insurance help LETTERS

May I suggest that Gwendeline Ottley contact Staysure Insurance as they have no upper age limit. We have used them for many years and many trips around the World and find them excellent.

Regards

Same problem

Terry and Shirley

In reply to your correspondent Gwendoline Ottley in edition April 27 to May 3, re lack of travel insurance for older expats, can I say that we have the same problem. My partner is almost 90 and is probably fitter than most 60 ­ year ­ olds in that there is nothing whatsoever wrong with him. Like Gwendoline, we like to travel, but contact insurance companies and they don’t ask anything about health, just your age. This is not fair, I wish some of them would realise this.

Last Christmas and New Year, we went on a Caribbean cruise, the only way to do this was that we booked through a British travel agent (but their office is in La Zenia) and because there is nothing wrong with us, we were able to take advantage of their insurance for €139 each (+€35 for Covid cover). This compared with the £1,400 wanted by another company. We have never claimed in 50 years of use.

We want to take a Danube cruise next spring, which was cancelled twice due to Covid, but it will depend on whether or not we can get insurance. Companies are missing a trick here.

So no help to the lady, but she has a lot of sympathy. We would like to know if she does eventually manage to get covered.

Kind regards,

Diana Wiltshire and Patrice Satur

Hello Leapy

We look forward to your candid comments in your column in EWN each week. We mostly tend to be in accord with you, although occasionally not so, but then that makes for good discussion between ourselves and friends. Whilst trawling through family photographic archives and memorabilia this week ­ end, my wife (Su) came across an amusing, relevant item. In a faded copy of the mag Fabulous’208, dated 21st December 1968 that she had unearthed from the piles of stored stuff, she was featured as a model in an article titled ‘Right Gear for a Rave Up!’. (During the late 60s and 70s she was a DJ on P&O liners and had modelling and promotion work.)

But, over the page in FabTalk, there was a piece about you ­ ¡Leapy banked on it¡. Attached is a scanned copyeven though it mentions your damaged Cadillac, I thought you might like to see it.

Please keep up your comments and views in your articles ­ someone’s got to voice it before the wokes take over the world!!

Kind regards ­ David M­S

Bull dies

I read about the fighting bull that plunged to its death from a bridge during the Bou de les Penyes festivities in Ontinyent, Valencia. This is extreme animal cruelty. These people are of no benefit to this planet. They’re relics of a medieval mindset. Pure evil at work here. They bring shame on their country. It needs to stop.

Deborah Hall

Housing market

Spain has more space and a diverse landscape, however, one point to highlight is if the 90 ­ day rule is not addressed, this will have a significant impact on tourism and potential home ownership with properties tied to service charges. Time will tell…

Mark

Stars in Barcelona

After seeing that the Obamas, and Steven Spielberg and his wife were spotted in Barcelona, does Spain want these Warmongers in the country? Is Spain a bit white for the Obamas? Just saying, because of Michelle complaining. Have we forgiven Obama for forcing USA nuke ships in our harbours? Obama go home.

Michael Fisher

PETS

Dogsitter will mind your pets

A DOG-SITTER is a companion as well as a pet minder to your pets. It is good to find someone who will play with your pets, as well as look after them. Housesitmatch can help you find such a dog­sitter and companion at very little cost.

If you’re planning a trip register now to find pet­sitters in time.

Whether your trip is short or long, you’ll know that sometimes you must leave pets at home.

Young and senior pets in particular benefit from staying at home, so they can follow their routines undisturbed. Join our pet and house­sitting network, and the sitters come for free!

Choose Housesitmatch. com for affordable travel, home and pet care. These are the steps to take:

1. Register as a homeowner on HouseSitMatch. com

2. Choose a Premium account (£89 per year) to ensure you can help online when needed

3. Create a profile with photos of your pet and the house

4. Post an advert for the dates when you want to go

away. Sitters apply and you choose.

How does it work?

HouseSitMatch can help you find suitable sitters. Join our network for a small annual fee. You get ID checked for safety and then build your advert saying when you are going on holiday. House­sitters see your advert, they respond and you choose the sitter who’ll care for your pets.

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I have had nothing but good and helpful service from the people who run this site, and my experience has been excellent. Tristram CosgraveDog and cat owner, Malaga How do you join?

Please register online via our website www.Housesit match.com.

Need a pet or house-sitter? Get in touch. House-sitting can be a win-win for both parties, free house and petsitting, and the experienced and checked sitters get free accommodation! Register as either house-sitter or homeowner with a 20% discount using coupon code 20EWN – Reader exclusive offer. To find a house pet-sitter go to www.HousesitMatch.com

Heatstroke symptoms

DURING a heatwave

our pets can suffer from heat stroke as their bodies haven’t had time to adapt and get accustomed to the

high temperature. Keep an eye out for some of the following symptoms: are they breathing heavier than usual or snoring, do they

seems anxious or worked up, are their gums bright red and shiny, does their skin feel hot to touch and are they drooling more than usual, unable to eat or ill?

If your pet shows these symptoms move them to a cool shady area and apply lukewarm or cool water to their hair and paws but make sure the water is not freezing as that can make them feel worse.

If the symptoms persist take them to the vet.

TRAVELLING with pets can be difficult but so many ferry companies now have pet­friendly cabins.

At the moment, the following companies in Spain offer well­equipped pet ­ friendly cabins: Baleària, Naviera Armas, Trasmediterránea, Grandi Navi Veloci, and FRS.

These cabins are thoroughly cleaned to ensure maximum safety for passengers and pets and are usually equipped with linoleum floors, antiodour mats, pet pillows, and drinking troughs and can usually accommodate up to two small animals.

On board some vessels there are outdoor walking areas and designated play areas. Trasmediterránea and some other ferry companies are equipped

ACCORDING to a recent study of 2,066 adults from Generation Z (adults aged between 18 and 26 years old) prioritise their pets over their partners and children when buying a home.

This study showed that Gen Z pet owners would consider moving if their home no longer worked for their pets even if this did not suit their partners.

The study also showed that 60 per cent of Gen Z house hunters are prioritising fenced­in outdoor space for their pets whereas before an office or a children’s playroom would have been top of the list.

Fifty­five per cent of Gen Z pet owners said a petfriendly home was more im­

Ferries with pet-friendly cabins.

with first aid kits for pets and they also provide a 24/7 vet hotline.

Some of these ferry companies offer some useful tips on how to travel with your pet. They recommend you bring familiar items to help keep your pets calm on board.

It is essential to bring your own disposable bags, gloves, and cleaning products to clean after your

pet. You will also need to bring your own dog food and treats. Depending on the breed and behaviour of your pet they may be required to wear a muzzle on board. They also recommend checking out the EU guidelines for travelling with pets to find out about what documents are needed and more information about border crossing with pets.

Pet-friendly GEN Z Pets

portant than a child­friendly home. Gen Z adults are putting off parenthood choosing to start a family later in life but not pet parenthood. Thirteen per cent even admitted they would prefer to share the master

bedroom with their pet instead of their partners!

Real Estate agencies have stated they have already begun to see these decisions impacting the market with pet­friendly properties more in demand.

A dogsitter is also a companion to your pets.

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New Life Church Whether you live in Nerja or are visiting our area, you are very welcome to come and join us at our Sunday gathering. Join us for a time of Holy Spirit led worship and

experience the presence of our God. Our teaching is Bible based as we honour God and obey His Word. During this time of uncertainty, God’s Word reminds us that the Gospel shines brightest in times of darkness. Our service lasts for about 1 hour and 30 mins. With Tea and Coffee afterwards. Sunday Service 11.00am; Prayer Meetings Wednesdays 11.00am; Pasaje San Miguel, Nerja, 29780

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THE ANGLICAN Chaplaincy of Nerja & Almunecar. Every Sunday there is a Holy Communion service at midday in San Miguel church in Nerja. Every Wednesday morning at 9.30 we have an online ‘Zoom’ HC service - please contact Fr Nigel with an e-mail address if you would like to join us.

Priest in Charge, Father Nigel Thomas. Tel: Church House -

951 815 736, Mobile: 608 695 756, e-mail: cofenerja@gmail. com

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

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Benahavis are EWN over 50s champions!

EWN Over 50s League

Walking Dead 2 v 2 AC Benahavis

Needing only one point from this their final league match of the season, Benahavis were hard ­ pushed by a hardworking Walking Dead side and nearly didn’t get what they needed!

In a topsy ­ turvy match, fortunes swung to and fro, with both teams scoring from open play, both scoring and having a shot saved by the opposing keeper from the penalty spot, and the hosts missing another altogether!

Finally, with the home goalie probably having to work the harder overall, a draw was a fair result and gave AC Benahavis that one point which sank Malaga’s hopes of being able to catch them and deservedly gave AC Benahavis this season’s league title.

Huge congratulations go to their Over 50s

squad and to the club as a whole on such a fine achievement! Well done all!

Competa Boca Seniors

2 v 8 Malaga WFC

Before the Walking Dead v Benahavis result decided the title, Malaga still thought they were in with a chance of catching Benahavis and played a comfortable, though unconvincing first half against Competa, going in

2 ­ 0 up at half time. The hosts made it more difficult for them in the second half and frustration set in for a period, allowing Competa to score two well­earned goals of their own.

However, once settled, the Malaga side showed the kind of form that recently won them the Eurocopa title and they gelled together and finally ran out convincing win­

Perez wins Azerbaijan GP

MAX VERSTAPPEN’S lead at the top of the F1 driver’s table was cut to six points after Red Bull’s Sergio Perez won the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku.

Red Bull driver Sergio Perez took the chequered flag in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku on Sunday afternoon, April 30. This was the Mexican’s second victory of the season and cuts the gap at the top of the driver’s table to just six points.

shunted his Alpha Tauri into the wall at Turn 5. This allowed the rest of the field to bunch up with Perez taking advantage of the situation to pit. His decisive move saw the Mexican exit the pits ahead of the pack after the safety car was removed.

ners.

EWN Over 60s League

Walking Dead 1 v 1 AC Benahavis

Before watching their younger counterparts win their respective league, Benahavis earned a decent draw against Walking Dead, giving themselves a chance to win their own league with only a handful of games to go.

walkingfooty.com

His teammate and current championship leader Max Verstappen had to settle for second place on the podium at the fast street circuit. The Dutch world champion was unable to catch Pérez who stretched his lead to three seconds as the race entered the final laps.

Charles Leclerc started this fourth Formula One race of the season in pole position but quickly found himself being overtaken by both Red Bulls.

The Frenchman managed to keep the Ferrari in third place despite constant pressure from Fernando Alonso in the Aston Martin who crossed the line just eight­tenths behind him.

A safety car was deployed on lap 10 after Nyck de Vries

Carlos Sainz brought the second Ferrari over the finishing line in fifth, followed by Lewis Hamilton. The Brit tried his best to pass the Spanish driver but his Mercedes could not find the extra power, even under DRS.

Lance Stroll clinched another impressive finish in the Aston Martin to romp home seventh.

An incident in the pit lane on the final lap involving the Alpine of Esteban Ocon could have ended badly. As he headed towards his garage for a tyre change, the Frenchman was confronted by a group of FIA officials and photographers crowded in the pit lane. They had allegedly been mistakenly allowed into the zone when it was still closed off while the race was still ongoing. An investigation was conducted by race stewards who apparently instructed the officials that this should never happen again.

CHAMPIONS: The Over 50s won the league - well done to all!