Costa Blanca North 11 – 17 May 2023 Issue 1975

SCOOTER SAFETY

THE Local Police in Alfaz del Pi has launched an information campaign explaining the correct use of electric scooters.

A pamphlet is being handed out at schools, public buildings, sports and leisure centres and is also available on the town hall website.

According to Public Safety councillor Toni

Such, the aim of the campaign is to encourage responsible and safe mobility, as Personal Mobility Vehicles (VMPs) “are not a toy, they are a mode of transport, and are therefore subject to road safety regulations just like cars and motorbikes.”

The councillor added that VMP users must al ­

Cancer chorus

SINGERS of more than 25 different nationalities took part in the International Choir Festival l’Alfas 2023 in the Casa de Cultura of Alfaz del Pi at the weekend.

The fundraising festival is one of the most important events of its kind in Alicante Province, with proceeds this year going to the Alicante Association for the Fight against Cancer.

Performers on Friday May 5 included the Costa Blanca Male Voice Choir, with Kirsty Glen on the piano and directed by John Edwards.

On Saturday, the Universitat d’Alacant Choir performed a selection of well­known film theme songs, while Raumklang from Norway performed popular Nordic themes and some of the best­known hits by Elton John.

ways ride on the road or cycle lanes and never on pavements or in pedestrian areas, urban tunnels, interurban roads or motorways.

Users are also reminded that it is illegal to ride under the effects of alcohol or other drugs.

It is also prohibited to wear headphones or carry passengers or pets.

Image by Alfaz Town Hall

ELECTRIC SCOOTERS: Are subject to road safety regulations just like cars and motorbikes.

Last event for club

By Alan Phillips

WITH the gates closing at the end of April at the Inn on the Green, Javea Green Bowls Club held their final event at their home of 30 years.

Fittingly it was the annual Captain versus Chairman event, which has al ‐ways been fun while retaining a com ‐petitive edge and was enjoyed by over 50 members.

The match literally came down to the final bowl. Robin Flaxman, one of their newer bowlers, was the person who ultimately played the shot that won the match for the Chairman’s team.

The trophy was presented by Glenn

Tullett, from the sponsors Lumon Cur‐rency Exchange and Transfers, to Chairman Joe Schulein. Their Captain then presented two cheques for €1,000 each to Help of Marina Alta and Cancer Care Javea.

The festivities continued with a su ‐perb hog roast lunch and entertain ‐ment from their own Bob Johnson.

While Inn on the Green is closing, this is by no means the end of the road for Javea Green Bowls Club. For‐tunately their friendly neighbours down the road at Calpe Bowls Club have agreed to a green ‐ sharing ar ‐rangement, while plans for a perma ‐nent home in Javea are explored.

Betty Henderson MAY is Huntington’s Disease Awareness Month, and one local charity group is standing out as a beacon of hope and support for sufferers and their families.

The Association of Movers and Shakers, a charity based in Almoradi, is making waves throughout the Costa Blanca region with their unwavering dedication to supporting peo‐ple suffering from diseases in‐cluding Huntington’s Disease.

This month, they’re putting the spotlight on Huntington’s, a hereditary neurological con‐dition. The group is sharing stories of courage and re ‐

Defying Huntington’s

fused to be defined by his Huntington’s diagnosis.

After moving to Orihuela, David found solace in a net‐work of family, friends, his neurologist and the Movers and Shakers.

David attends the Movers and Shakers Friday Club at O’ Briens in El Raso where suffer‐ers and those affected by the disease meet for a drink, snack and a chat.

silience despite the devasta‐tion of the disease.

One man supported by the group is David Smith, who re‐

A MAJOR British celebrity passed through Benidorm last week and was largely unrecog‐nised by the crowds.

Apollonia Llewellyn is a model and fashion influencer who is never far from the spotlight in the UK but chose the Marina Baja resort to en‐joy a few days’ holiday out of the public glare.

Also known as Barbi due to her striking phys‐ical resemblance to the popular doll, the 23‐year‐old celeb from Leeds has modelled in many countries including Spain, Greece, France, the United States and Fiji, among oth‐ers, and currently holds the title of World Teen Supermodel for England.

The group is also a valuable opportunity for carers and family members to share their concerns and challenges they face.

Incognito

Llewellyn’s fame kicked into a higher gear when in January she signed a deal with British social network star and boxer Ksi to take part in his Misfits Boxing tournaments, where popular internet influencers face each other in the ring for ‘friendly’ fights that rake up millions of live streams all over the world.

Her stay in Benidorm has done wonders to promote the town, as Llewellyn posted numer‐ous photographs of herself soaking up the rays on her extremely popular social network sites.

Photo credit: Association of Movers and Shakers (via email)

David’s life has been touched by the group.

JAVEA BOWLS CLUB: Played their annual Captain versus Chairman match.

Have your say

MORE than 23,170 Villa‐joyosa residents are called to vote in the upcoming local elections on May 28. The town hall will set up 16 polling stations for voters to elect the 21 councillors that will make up the next local council.

Brown water

A SPILLAGE by the rainwater collection system dyed the waters of Denia port brown last week. Officers of the Lo‐cal Police’s Environment Unit and experts from the Mont‐go Science Centre took sam‐ples of the water to confirm the origin of the spillage and calm fears about pollution.

Well done!

NINE gymnasts of the Club Les Marines in Calpe have classified for the national tournament in Pamplona. They all performed an excel‐lent qualifying round and ended among the top 15 gymnasts for their respective categories.

Fishy football

A CALPE business is leading a pioneering project in Spain to transform fishing net refuse into seats for football stadiums. Gravity Wave, a young local start‐up, has al‐ready secured a deal with the first‐division club Real Betis, whose stadium now has the new seats.

Violence guide

ONDARA Town Hall’s Equali‐ty department has drawn up a resource guide for gender violence for the Marina Alta. The document, which ex‐plains what to do in case of abuse, can be obtained from local shops and public build‐ings, and from the council website www.ondara.org.

Travel meetup

MORE than 70 bloggers and creators of travel‐related in‐ternet content gathered in El Campello at the weekend for the sixth anniversary of the Valencia Region Travel Bloggers Association.

School sings in Villajoyosa

FOR the second consecutive year, the celebration of ‘l’Escola Canta’ (‘School sings’) brought together more than 1,500 people in the Nou Pla stadium to celebrate the so‐cial values of acceptance and equality.

Up to 800 Primary and Spe‐cial Education schoolchildren from Villajoyosa, Sella, Orxeta and Relleu, together with more than 100 musicians from the Ateneu Musical and a dozen young performers from the local Arteatro associ‐ation who theatrically repre‐sented the musical pieces, staged La missió de Robi (‘Ro‐bi’s mission’) by composer Marcel Ortega and writer Is‐

abel Marín, which reflects on the importance of respecting and accepting others, as well as not giving up and accepting oneself.

Last year, the piece El cor de la Terra (‘The heart of Earth’) sang to our planet that revers‐ing climate change is in our hands and that we can make

YOUR EWN HAS

STORIES IN THIS WEEK’S EDITION

Montgo Golf Society

it possible.

‘L’Escola Canta’ is organised by the Education, Culture and Sports department of the re‐gional government.

41 Club anniversary Free travel for locals

BENIDORM Council has renewed the free travel pass for users of the Pepa Esperanza Llinares munic‐ipal social and health care centre.

Users will be entitled to two daily trips to and from the centre on the Línea 3 bus and on Líneas 2 and 8 when the journey starts or ends at stop 115 on Calle Juan Antonio Bal‐doví during the centre’s opening times.

Beneficiaries must have been registered on the municipal padron town census for at least one year and have a recog ‐nised disability of more

than 33 per cent.

To apply for the card it will be necessary to pro ‐vide a certified photocopy of the NIE, a recent pass ‐port ‐ size photograph, a letter from the associa ‐tion confirming the appli‐cant’s membership and a certified copy of the cer ‐tificate of the degree of disability or the card ac ‐crediting their status as a person with a disability.

For further information contact the Centro Mu ‐nicipal Pepa Esperanza (Carrer del Secretario Juan Antonio Baldovi, 5) or Benidorm Town Hall on www.benidorm.org.

ON Thursday May 4 the Calpe and District 41 Club celebrat‐ed the 17th anniversary of be‐ing chartered at a gala dinner and dance held at the always fabulous Restaurante Puerto Blanco. National President Steve James and National Fel‐lowship Officer Kelly Clarke were in attendance. The won‐derful event was organised and hosted by Past Chairman Stuart Badman and the MC for the night was Founder Chairman Andrew Johnson.

Nearly 60 members, digni‐taries and guests enjoyed the fantastic evening. 41 Club is an association for past mem‐bers of Round Table and like‐minded men. It is a world‐

Smart Alfaz

ALFAZ DEL PI Council took part for the first time in a national gathering of Smart Tourist Destinations in Gijon (As‐turias) this week.

Delegations of up to 100 towns and cities throughout Spain met to “discuss projects, share experiences and create bonds between different municipali ‐ties,” in the words of Alfaz Tourism councillor Luis Morant.

Alfaz is included in the Smart Tourist Destination Network (Red DTI) of the Valencia Region and this year obtained

level three, the highest category recog‐nising the town’s merits in areas such as accessibility, sustainability, innovation and technological development.

The Red DTI currently has 618 mem‐bers including 437 destinations, 87 insti‐tutional bodies and 91 businesses. It was launched with the aim of improving the management of tourist destinations through digital transformation, ensuring sustainable development and guaran‐teeing the satisfaction of visitors and residents.

wide organisation of local clubs, with a fellowship and service philosophy. There are two clubs in the northern Cos‐ta Blanca, this one in Calpe and a sister club in Javea (the Costa Blanca 41 Club).

To find out more visit calpe41club.com or email an drewjis@outlook.com (Calpe) and keithhyde4@gmail.com (Javea).

MONTGO GOLF SOCIETY played a Stableford com‐petition at Oliva Nova Golf Course on Friday May 5, sponsored by Mick Con‐nolly. The Society wel‐comed one guest, Tony Jerman. The winner was Sally Cottrell with 42 Sta‐bleford points playing off 11. Well done Sally!

In second place was Pe‐te Turner with 39 Stable‐ford points and taking third spot was Keith Cot‐trell with 38 Stableford points.

There were two Near‐est the Pin prizes and tak‐ing the honour on the 9th hole in three was Captain George Braddick and on the 18th in two was Pete Turner.

The sponsor also gave a prize for the strongest player, which was won by Caz Welch. Well done to all the lucky winners!

Next Friday’s competi‐tion is the Founders Day Stableford Trophy and the sponsor is Russ Peters.

Image by Villajoyosa Town Hall

NOU PLA STATIUM: Almost 800 schoolchildren took part together with the musicians.

Gala dinner and dance.

Discount shopping Youth forum

THE third edition of the campaign offering 50 per cent discounts for shopping at local businesses in Ondara has been launched by the town council.

Strange Affair

A GROUP of stags tried paying a dwarf to dress up as a tiny Pokémon character ­ so their mate could ‘catch him’ with a big ball.

The surreal stunt was one of several bizarre requests fielded by staff at Britain’s biggest stag and hen party provider, Last Night of Freedom. The firm revealed that the pranksters wanted to dress the dwarf up and have him be chased through the streets of Benidorm during a boozy trip to the Spanish resort.

“The groom was going to be dressed as the main char­

acter, Ash, and the group wanted to see if we could catch the dwarf as if he was a real Pokémon,” said Matt Mavir, Managing Director of Last Night of Freedom.

“I’m not sure what the plan was if they did, but unfortunately it was a no­go.”

According to Matt, the vast majority of customers want to keep it simple by booking traditional activities like go­karting, beer bikes and bar crawls. However, a growing demand for quirkier activities in recent years has seen demand for leftfield pastimes to rocket.

PROVERB OF THE WEEK

Residents can now obtain the Bons Consum Ondara, which can be used until the end of July in a number of local shops.

“Shopping in Ondara you pay half and enjoy double ­ we give you 50

per cent of your proximity purchases,” reads the slogan for the campaign.

The two previous editions in October and December last year proved a resounding success with all the discount vouchers being used up.

This time the amount of the vouchers has been doubled, so all residents who have been registered on the town padron census since before April 30 this year

are entitled to request up to €100 in four vouchers of €25 each.

The town hall will reimburse shoppers for the amount spent, therefore shoppers can spend up to €200 in local shops but pay only €100.

To obtain the Bons Consum and check the list of businesses participating in the campaign visit www.ondarabono consum.es

N-332 road closure

THE N­332 road between Altea and Calpe will be closed for one week between May 14 and 21 due to work on the Mascarat tunnels.

A GROUP of young residents aged 12 to 30 took part in the first forum on educational leisure organised by Teulada Moraira Council.

The Fòrum Jove (‘Youth Forum’) took place in the Espai Jove and offered participants the opportunity to help define the guidelines of the first Youth Plan to be drawn up by the council.

Means that something is difficult to understand due to its complexity. This expression was coined by Shakespeare who used it literally in Julius Caesar.

Roadworks over the last few weeks have been carried out by closing off one lane at a time and diverting traffic down the other one, but Calpe Town Hall have announced that both lanes will be closed off from Sunday May 14 until the following week between kilometres 164+700 and 165+500. Drivers will be required to

use the AP­7 motorway between the Altea­Calpe exit (64) and the Benissa­Teulada­Gata de Gorgos exit (63) until the work is finished. The N­332 accesses to Maryvilla and the Barranc Salt will remain open for drivers heading to Calpe.

The work is included in the Spanish government’s Resilience Plan and financed with funds from the EU’s Next Generation scheme, aimed at adapting the infrastructure to European road safety requirements.

Members of local leisure and hobby associations including music, theatre and board games, as well as several individuals who attended on a personal basis, made proposals and discussed future programmes and events for young people.

Youth councillor Verónica Martínez explained that the town hall is “currently working to employ an agent who will join the department to work side by side with local groups and associations to ensure that the needs and interests of young people are taken into account.”

• Diagnostic imaging and ultrasound Rx

• Clinical tests and serological tests, internal medicine, parasitology

• Soft Tissue Surgery and Traumatology

• Ethology, behavioural disorders and animal behaviour

• Physiotherapy, acupuncture, custom recovery and Healing touch

• Ophthalmology

• Dentistry and dental surgery & more

• Import - Export

Cosplay yes, dwarf in Pikachu costume no!

Credit: Cage Skidmore CC

“It’s all Greek to me.”

1st ever novel was written in Spanish.

TEULADA MORAIRA has been awarded the title of ‘Unique tourist municipality’ by the regional government.

It is now one of only 48 towns and cities in the Valencian Community to obtain the title.

The award has been granted after the town was found to have met all the criteria established by a 2020 Generalitat de-

Blue Flags lost

THIS year’s Blue Flag awards in Alicante Province have brought a couple of surprises.

The Blue Flag is an award given annually since 1987 by several European and international bodies to beaches and harbours that meet a series of environmental conditions and facilities.

The criteria for obtaining the Blue Flag are divided into four main areas, namely the quality of the water, environmental information and education, environmental management and safety, services and facilities.

This year the Marina Alta district lost two historic flags on the Arenal in Javea and Deveses in Denia - but there is a logical explanation for this.

The marine outfall pipe in Javea is currently being repaired and the stretch of Denia coastline is undergoing regeneration work, which explains the loss of the award this year. The district has claimed 16 Blue Flags for beaches in Javea, Denia, Altea, Benissa, Calpe, Benitachell, Finestrat, Alfaz del Pi, Teulada and Villajoyosa.

Tourism award for Teulada

cree regulating the characteristics and obligations of Tourism Municipalities.

The decree was drawn up to ensure a high quality of services for visitors, contributing towards sustainable and inclusive tourism based on hospitality and a com-

Wood adventures

By Kaithe Green

A GREAT afternoon for the U3A M arina Baixa in the woods up at El Captivador.

Eleven members enjoyed a gentle stroll around the woods. After that they explored an abandoned finca and then left the tarmac to do a little bushwhacking through the woodland where they admired some excellent ‘agrisculpture’ (nature as art) in the form of various trees, stopped for a breather at a picnic spot and then enjoyed views across the sea to the Peñon de Ifach in Calpe.

Finally they made their way back to the well-

maintained pretty little ermita by the car park. After the walk they went to Ma Baker, near La Nucia and Polop for some muchneeded light refreshment.

Not only do they enjoy some healthy exercise, but also have some fun along the way - they usually have a botanist in the group who educates them about the trees and flowers they see, as well as someone who knows a little about local history.

So, if you ever wonder what they enjoy about their regular strolls, go along and find out!

Visit U3A M arina Baixa for further information.

mitment to the code of ethics of Valencian tourism, leisure and hospitality.

According to Teulada Moraira Tourism councillor Susanne Katzgrau, the award is a recognition of “all the hard work carried out by our local tourism sector every day,

which plays such a vital role in the local economy.”

The council added that it will continue striving to improve all aspects of tourism management to ensure the town’s economic and social development.

EL CAPTIVADOR: Members enjoyed a gentle stroll.

Image by Kaithe Green/U3A Marina Baixa Facebook

Alex Marakhovets/Shutterstock

Reservoirs down

FRESHWATER reservoirs in Alicante Province are currently sitting at one third of their total capacity.

The recent dry and hot weather has led to a reduction in the amount of stored water, although domestic supply is guaranteed for the summer. Restrictions have been announced for certain crops from July, however, especially in the south of the

Province where reservoirs are at their lowest.

Reservoirs throughout Alicante are at an average of 32 per cent of their capacity, while in Valencia Province the situation is much better with levels of 63 per cent, with Castellon sitting at around 48 per cent. The Valencia Region as a whole currently has an average of 56 per cent of stored water reserves, which

puts it in a much better position than many other parts of Spain such as Andalucía (29 per cent) or Murcia (27 per cent). Heavy rainfall registered in the region in March and April last year have enabled Valencia to face the current drought conditions affecting the whole country in the best situation of the whole southern part of the peninsula.

National dance success

DOZENS of dancers of all ages and styles showed off their talent at the first edition of the Marina Baixa Dance national competition at the weekend.

The event took place at the Teatre Auditori from Friday to Sunday, with participants divided into different age groups from seven years old and with a great variety of styles represented including classical dance,

contemporary, jazz, urban, flamenco and fusion.

The jury was made up of renowned professionals from the world of dance and all performances were recorded and photographed, with each participating school being given a link to all the audiovisual material.

Prizes included scholarships with professionals for several dance schools

AN Alfaz teenager has become the first woman ever to win an Olympic clay pigeon shooting competition in Almeria.

Paula Morcillo performed two near perfect rounds at the Almeria Provincial Tournament at the Olympic Shooting Club in Vera, leaving her rivals far behind with 115 targets of 125 in the first round and 24 of 25 in the second and claiming the gold medal for the first time for a female participant.

This is only the latest in a series of successes for Paula, who recently won the Valencian

throughout Spain, trophies for all categories and special awards.

Villajoyosa mayor Andreu Verdú stressed the importance of supporting culture and art in all its forms, describing the event as “an excellent opportunity for citizens and visitors to enjoy a variety of dance styles in one place, while promoting culture and art in our town.”

Bullseye!

Community tournament and came second in the national Copa del Rey.

Even more noteworthy is the fact that she only began shooting in 2019 at the age of 15 in Alfaz’s Club de Tiro al Plato. Paula then graduated to the international circuit, where she is making a name for herself in all the youth tournaments in which she takes part.

THE members of Javea U3A were not expecting a heatwave to coincide with the three­day Spanish Culture and Cuisine trip to Jorquera and Alcala del Jucar but it was a treat to have a blue sky and sunshine every day for the 40 members on tour.

The group travelled first to Albaida to visit the Palace dels Milà y Aragó and the Museo Internacional de Títeres, then on to Jorquera, checking in to the four­star Hotel Spa Mirador. The next morning the group visited La Cepa de Pelayo Bodega, a local family­run winery, with a tour of the facilities along with a tasting of three wines followed by free time to explore the beautiful little town of Alcala del Jucar. Dinner was a very sociable event, followed by musical entertainment by a singer/guitarist and everyone sang along to wish member Penny Grant a very happy birthday.

The last morning was spent at Jorquera ‘beach’ where members had time for a stroll around the river before lunch, which was excellent and plentiful, with tapas to start, followed by three different rice dishes.

For further information about the Javea U3A visit www.u3ajavea.com.

LOW CAPACITY: Guadalest reservoir.

A PILOT project will be launched in Benidorm to test the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to boost local business.

The system known as Phygital has been developed with funds from the EU’s Next Generation scheme and will be rolled out in more than 550 shops, bars, restaurants and cafeterias in the town’s

AI local boost

10 main commercial streets including Tomas Ortuño, Gerona, Ruzafa, Avenida de los Almendros and the front line of Levante and Poniente beaches, among others.

It will enable establishment owners to track the movements and tastes of con -

sumers and send out personalised promotions and special offers in a bid to attract more business, as well as rewarding frequent customers with discounts. The first step before implementing the project will be to install the necessary technology inside and outside

Royal British Legion

WHAT a wonderful afternoon the Royal British Legion Javea had celebrating the King’s Coronation in beautiful surroundings on Saturday May 6. Thank you so much to Sunset st8, The Cheaky Blinder and Mick Dennison for giving up their time to entertain the members for free. To all those who attended and made the afternoon a success, thank you. They also raised €450 for the Poppy Appeal 2023, which is a fantastic amount. Thank you all for your support.

Career guidance fair

MORE than 200 local students took part in a career guidance fair in Alfaz del Pi last week.

Orienta’t, organised for the second consecutive year by Alfaz Council at the IES L’Arabí, offered the young participants the chance to check out all the available options for when they complete their compulsory secondary education studies.

“The aim is to provide them with all the information they need to be able to make responsible choices, in line with their interests and motivations,” declared Alfaz mayor Vicente Arques.

Education councillor Dolores Albero also highlighted the municipal grants offered by the council every year to promote postcompulsory education studies, including a budget of €35,000 for transport grants for university students and municipal grants for non-university post-compulsory education students.

With these grants, Alfaz Town Hall aims to facilitate the access and continuity of students to university and higher vocational training, helping to support the costs of students registered in the municipality and enrolled in post-compulsory studies.

the participating establishments to record the anonymous data that will then be used by the system.

This is the first project of its kind to be tested in the Valencia Region and is partly aimed at helping local businesses to combat the ever-increasing competition posed by online shopping.

A wonderful afternoon in Javea.

Image by Alfaz Town Hall

Street party Celebrating La Creueta

HUNDREDS of residents and visitors took part in the traditional fiestas of the Creueta in Alfaz del Pi at the weekend.

A number of cultural, recreational and religious events offered fun for all audiences. Highlights included the charity paella in aid of the local Social Volunteer Association, which raised €1,336 for the Food Bank.

There were also activities for children, with bouncy castles, workshops, traditional games, theatre and snacks, as well as live music with La Gran Babylon and

THE Gandia congregation of the Costa Blanca Anglican Chaplaincy have left their home of 25 years in the Borja Palace, Gandia.

The Costa Blanca Anglican Chaplaincy is part of the Church of England in Spain. Services are now held in the beautiful chapel of the Franciscan Refuge at Palma de Gandia.

TRADITIONAL FIESTA: Highlights included a large paella.

La Pato orchestras.

Due to the rain, the Holy Mass sung by the L’Alfàs Canta choir was held in San José parish church on Sunday, followed by a procession by the local and fiesta authorities to La Ferrería where there was a traditional poetry reading

and dancing.

La Creueta is a stone cross dating from 1889, located in Calle Ferrería. The festivities in its honour are held on the first weekend every May, coinciding with the change of seasons and the arrival of spring.

Christian unity

The move was brought about by the closure of the Jesuit residence and the relocation of the last four remaining Jesuit priests to Valencia.

The Refuge cares for around 50 homeless and ill men and relies totally on charity and providence. Organisa-

tions that have given significant financial and practical support over many years include The Original Charity Shop and Library Javea, Giving4giving Albir and Help of Marina Alta.

See www.costablanca-an glicanchaplaincy.org

THE Vall del Pop U3A celebrated the King’s coronation early and in style with a fabulous indoor street party on Thursday May 4 at the Polivalent in Murla.

After a brief meeting they enjoyed a sumptuous buffet, kindly provided by all members who brought a dish to share.

The U3A Let’s Sing Together group then entertained with five lovely songs, including a special Coronation song written by one of the members.

This was followed by a very interesting and informative presentation on Gin by a guest speaker, Paula Blumsveld, with a fun quiz afterwards.

Christine Brazier then kindly judged the best crown competition. A free raffle was then drawn with 10 super prizes.

Please visit u3avall delpop.com for info.

Image by Alfaz Town Hall

The UK tax year started on 6 April, so how will this impact your pocket? UK tax changes can affect you even if you are living in Spain, so here we outline the key announcements in the last two UK budgets.

Lifetime Allowance and other pensions tax changes

Probably the biggest surprise of the UK’s 2023 spring budget was the abolition of the pensions Lifetime Allowance and resulting tax charges.

While the Lifetime Allowance itself remains in place for now, the tax rate for breaching the limit is 0% from 6 April 2023 onwards. It will be scrapped entirely in the 2024 Finance Bill.

First introduced in 2006, your Lifetime Allowance is the amount you can hold in combined UK pension benefits (excluding state pension) before incurring additional tax charges – 55% for lump sums or 25% for income or overseas transfers. It has been cut significantly over recent years, from £1,800,000 in 2011 down to £1,073,100 before being scrapped.

Abolishing this tax was welcome news for those who built up larger pension savings over decades of

The new UK tax year

lowance and minimum Tapered

Annual Allowance from £4,000 to £10,000, and from £40,000 to £60,000 for the Annual Allowance for contributions.

UK income tax

By Mathieu Edwards, Partner, Blevins Franks

contributions and growth. A future government could, however, reverse this move and the Labour Party quickly pledged to do so. Since pension transfers can take up to six months, there may be a limited opportunity to transfer your pension out of the UK and avoid any future UK charges.

Other pension changes effective 6 April 2023 include increases to the Money Purchase Annual Al -

The spring budget did not include any significant changes to income tax, but the autumn statement included measures to increase taxation.

The income tax personal allowance, higher rate threshold, national insurance contributions, upper earning limit and upper profits limit were frozen at their 2021 levels for another two years, until April 2028.

Freezing allowances and thresholds is often referred to as ‘tax by stealth’ since it increases taxation without putting up tax rates.

The income threshold for the additional 45% tax rate (47% in Scotland) reduced from £150,000 to £125,140 with effect from 6 April 2023.

Corporation tax increased to 25% for businesses making over £250k in profits.

Capital gains and dividends taxation

As announced in the Autumn Statement, the Capital Gains Tax Annual Exempt amount has dropped from £12,300 to £6,000 for the 2023-2024 tax year. It will be cut in half again, to £3,000, in April 2024.

The Dividend Allowance has also been halved, from £2,000 to £1000 from April 2023, and then to £500 in 2024.

UK inheritance tax

Both the general Nil Rate Band and Residential Nil Rate Band will remain frozen at £325,000 and £175,000 respectively until April 2028. Coupled with rising house prices, this will drag more and more families into the IHT net unless you take action. The general nil rate band has actually been

frozen since 2009, which has impacted many families.

Cross-border tax advice

Take personalised advice from a cross-border specialist to establish if and how the UK tax changes could impact you and your family, even as a non-resident. If you have not yet left the UK, take advice before you dispose of UK assets to ensure you do that as taxefficiently as possible.

The tax rates, scope and reliefs may change. Any statements concerning taxation are based upon our understanding of current taxation laws and practices which are subject to change. Tax information has been summarised; an individual should take personalised advice.

Keep up to date on the financial issues that may affect you on the Blevins Franks news page at www.blevinsfranks.com.

For sale Pest busters

TEULADA MORAIRA Council has announced a series of pest control interventions taking place throughout May.

Over the second fortnight of the month, council techni‐cians will be disinfecting and treating the municipal sewer‐age system to prevent the appearance of cockroaches and rats.

Work will take place in three sectors. The first in ‐cludes Pla del Mar, the port, Arnilla, Alcasar and the road to Benitachell, the second takes in Teulada town and the industrial estate and the

third will cover Moraira town.

Mosquito prevention work will take place on May 18 and 19, with two separate inter‐ventions treating listed breeding sites and scuppers to control the tiger mosquito.

Lastly, also on May 18 a council team will disinfect and carry out pest control work at the towns’ dog parks to eliminate any insects that

could infect the animals.

In addition, fruit tree own‐ers have until tomorrow, Fri‐day May 12 to request the fruit fly traps, known as mos‐queros, provided by the council.

The traps can be requested online through the town hall website at sedeelectronica.es or by filling in the application at the Servicio de Informa‐ción y Tramitación (SIT).

Fira Calp opens

THE 13th edition of the Fira Calp gastronomy and commerce fair takes place at the Plaza Mayor in Calpe from 7pm today, Thurs‐day May 11 until Sunday May 14.

This year there will be 18 stands by restaurants, cafés and cocktail bars offering four tapas and a dessert per stall for €2 to €6, plus 11 stalls by local shops and businesses.

The local Moors and Christians Association will be selling drinks including beer, soft drinks and water, with the profits go‐ing towards the organisation of this year’s patron saint fiestas.

There will also be a number of activities including musical and dance performances, book signings, wine and olive oil tastings, magic shows, exhibitions and more. On Sunday from 11am on‐wards seven local hairdressers will be cutting hair for the benefit of the NGO Payasospital with the collaboration of the local head‐quarters of the Alicante for the Fight Against Cancer association.

Previous editions of Fira Calp have drawn more than 12,000 visitors over the four days.

A PAINTING by iconic Valencian artist Sorolla depicting the beach of the regional capital and which has only been ex‐hibited three times is go‐ing on sale in Madrid.

Playa de Valencia is a small 13x21‐centimetre oil painting created by the world ‐ renowned ‘master of light’ in 1905. It depicts a scene on the Malva‐rosa beach in Valencia City showing a woman in the sea with a child in her arms and watching other small children as they swim around her.

According to Ansore‐na auction house in Madrid, the piece was most likely created as a first draft for another painting as it consists of just a few superficial brush strokes and was included at the time in a catalogue entitled Color notes.

Since its creation, Playa de Valencia has only been on show three times in the main cities that defined Sorol‐la’s career, namely Paris and London in 1908 and at the Hispanic Society of America in New York in 1909. It is currently owned by a private col‐lector and is going on sale with a starting price of €55,000.

PEST CONTROL: Disinfection against cockroaches begins.

Image by Teulada Town Hall

Keep it in the family

AS a foreigner, moving to a village in rural northern Spain means you are a curiosity. Neighbours will begin circling, not unlike sharks. Peeking through your gate like you’re an animal in the local zoo.

Of course, they are curious about your strange ways. How you venture out of the confines of your home in outfits in which they wouldn’t be caught dead, as you sweep your front porch without wearing the requisite apron of all women sweeping front porches. I can hear their thoughts. ‘Has she no shame?’

After two years, we had begun to rack up an

impressive stack of social faux pas. Erecting a fence to keep our dog in might impede hunters from crossing our land toting shotguns while chasing a pack of baying dogs. There were many more.

We were given a wide berth when we would walk down to the village to order a coffee or a glass of wine. They took our money and handed over the beverages, but they didn’t look happy about it. But then, it all changed.

I needed a housekeeper. I called local businesses and asked everyone I met. No one would respond. So, I cleaned my own home without wearing an

apron. Heresy. Then, one day there was a knock at the door. A small woman stood there. She spoke only Gallego but, apparently, was here to clean my house.

Her apron was my first clue. Where she had come from, I didn’t know. But I hired her on the spot. And it turns out she’s the cousin of the people who own the café in the village. Suddenly, my lack of an apron doesn’t seem to matter anymore. The hunters totally understand why we have a fence for our dog. And, while we are no longer exotic zoo animals, my house has never been cleaner.

Betty Henderson

SPAIN and Morocco are teaming up to develop their vocational training programmes.

The Spanish General Secretary of Vocational Training, Clara Sanz, met with her Moroccan counterpart, Mohammed Sebbaq, in Rabat to kick off the collabora­

Professional partnership

tion on Thursday, May 4. The Spanish Ministry of Education and Vocational Training confirmed that both countries will work together to develop dual vocational training, which will improve bilateral economic

opportunities.

Sanz explained “The new Spanish vocational training system offers many opportunities for us to work together and promote vocational training, which will improve job opportunities

Spring surge

for everyone.”

This meeting builds on a commitment made by Spanish Minister Pilar Alegría, at a meeting held last February. Alegría pledged to increase Spain’s involvement in providing and supporting vocational training programmes in Morocco, which is an important aspect of the countries’ relationship.

Spain and Morocco will share the best ways to train young people and workers, and help them move between the countries for work. They will also recognise training qualifications obtained in both countries.

This collaboration will improve Spain and Morocco’s relationship, and create new job opportunities.

SPAIN experienced its best April for job creation in history, with 238,000 new jobs created thanks to the boost in tourism and hospitality during the Easter holiday, according to data released by the Ministry for Labour on Thursday, May 4. The country’s unemployment rate fell by 73,890 people to its lowest level since 2008, dropping below 2.8 million. The number of registered job seekers also fell by 73,890 people month­on­month.

The increase in employment was primarily driven by the service sector, as this year, the Easter holiday fell entirely in April, which fuelled a hiring spree. The hospitality industry saw an increase of 119,618 new employees in April, making it the sector with the best improvement in employment

figures. The retail, administrative, and transportation sectors also registered good figures with an increase of 18,713, 11,808, and 10,450 employees, respectively.

The excellent data means that the country’s unemployment rate is down nearly 8 per cent compared with last year. Commentators have attributed the fall in unemployment to the government’s labour reform and say this bodes well for Spain’s economic recovery from the pandemic.

International art theft

John Ensor

A MAJOR international investigation into the illegal art trade across 14 European countries has recovered over 11,00 artefacts and has so far resulted in 60 arrests.

Operation Pandora VII was led by Spain’s Guardia Civil, along with the support of Europol and INTERPOL, in a report published on Thursday, May 4, by Europol.

The Pandora operation was conducted between September 13 ­ 24, 2022, with the aim of targeting criminals who profit from the theft and distribution of items of cultural heritage. Thousands of checks were carried out at numerous airports, ports and

border crossing points, as well as in auction houses, museums and private houses.

Over 8,495 online investigations were also conducted last year in May and October, which successfully retrieved 4,017 stolen goods. Currently, around 130 investigations are still ongoing, with an international team of investigators expecting the number of arrests and seizures to rise.

Some notable results included an operation conducted by the Guardia Civil in Sevilla, where a Roman marble bust of a woman, believed to represent Salonia Matidia the niece of the emperor Traian, was recovered.

Photo credit: Ministerio de Trabajo y Economía Social April was best historically for employment in Spain.

IN today’s article we are going to address the breach of contract by the buyer, in the purchase and sale of a property in Spain. And how the vendor must proceed to resolve or terminate the contract. Since there is a speciality in the case of the sale of real estate in Spain, which is essential to know. You can find out more information about buying and selling in

Legal advice on how to terminate a real estate sale and purchase, due to a breach of contract by the buyer.

Failure to pay the price. Special requirements in Spain

Spain on our Website. In particular in the sections of real estate law and legal claims.

The possibility of terminating or cancelling a contract

In the event of non­performance of the obligations of the contract, Spanish law contemplates the possibility of the contract being resolved. In other words, it can be terminated. The aggrieved party may choose between:

1. Request the contract to be fulfilled (and to be compensated for damages and interest), or

2. To have the contract resolved or terminated, and also to claim the corresponding compensation.

This faculty to terminate contracts is contained in Article 1124 of the Spanish Civil Code, which states:

Article 1124. “The faculty to terminate obligations is implicit in the reciprocal ones, in the event that one of the parties does not comply with what is his responsibility.

“The aggrieved party may choose between demanding the fulfilment or termination of the obligation, with damages and interest in both cases. He

may also request termination, even after having opted for the fulfilment, when this proves impossible... .”

The speciality of purchases and sales of real estate property

Although according to the aforementioned Article 1124, non­fulfilment may lead the aggrieved party to terminate or resolve the contract. The Spanish Civil Code sets out a special requirement in Article 1504, when the sale of a real estate property is involved. And when the nonperformance is the failure to pay the price within the agreed time. This article reads:

Article 1504. “In the sale of real estate property, even when it

has been stipulated failure to pay the price within the agreed time will result in the right to terminate the contract, the buyer will be able to pay even after the expiry of the term, and until he has been summoned by court or by notarial act. However, once the notice has been served, the judge may not grant a new term.”

Therefore, in order for the vendor to be able to terminate the contract due to non­payment by the purchaser, this article requires that the vendor demands payment through a judge or by notarial request. Until such injunction is issued, the buyer may pay, even if it is after the deadline set in the contract.

Practical effects on the sale and purchase of real estate in Spain. What to do when the buyer does not pay

In accordance with the

above, when we are dealing with the sale and purchase of a property in Spain, bear in mind:

1. The Civil Code will apply, even if the contract states that the non­payment of the price by the buyer; will result in the termination of the contract, without further requirements.

2. Therefore, we will have to request to the buyer via notary or court, to be able to terminate the contract.

3. Failure to resolve or terminate the contract could cause serious problems for the vendor. As it could be understood he is still bound by the contract. Or that the termination is not correct or valid and, therefore, he is still obliged to sell. If this is not done correctly, the vendor could be bound by the contract until correctly terminated, and he can’t sell to another person.

Conclusion

If you have sold your property and there is a breach of contract by the buyer, who does not pay the price. Or if you are a buyer and cannot pay the price. You should get expert legal advice. Contact us for legal advice. The information provided in this article is not intended to be legal advice, it merely conveys information on legal issues.

Coronation a roaring success Royal guests

FOLLOWING the coronation ceremony, the focus then turned to Buckingham Palace where the new King and Queen appeared, to the delight of the multitude that had gathered there.

Saturday, May 6 was the day Britons celebrated their newly crowned King and Queen, a historic event watched by millions worldwide.

Despite the rain, family squabbles and the threat of disruption from anti­monarchists the day was a complete success.

The King and Queen took their places on the balcony to welcome the royal flypast and as they waved to crowds below a huge roar went up in celebration.

However, due to the weather, the Ministry of Defence had to send a slimmed­down version of the six­minute flypast, trimmed to just two and a half minutes instead.

The original plan was for over 60 aircraft, which included some vintage bombers, to

THE surrounding area of Buckingham Palace was left littered with soggy tents and other discarded belongings on May 7, after heavy rains at the weekend’s coronation event.

The Buckingham Palace Mall was left a ‘right royal mess’ after revellers left the site after the coronation. With some supporters of the newly crowned king having camped there for up to a week and the weather being, well, terribly British, there will be plenty of clearing up to do.

Chris Ship, the ITV News Royal Editor, posted a video of the aftermath of the Coronation of King Charles III saying:

“A few short hours ago, there were crowds and carriages and crowns. Now the Mall resembles an abandoned campsite after a wet

make an appearance, but ultimately some helicopters and the Red Arrows were the only ones to take part.

The procession from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace was accompanied by 4,000 troops from the army, navy and RAF.

The first recorded monarch ever to appear before crowds on the famous balcony was Queen Victoria, when she stepped out for the opening of the Great Exhibition in 1851.

Clearing up

weekend at Glastonbury #Coronation.”

Carrie McInnis posted an image of the mess on Twitter, saying: “Buckingham Palace Mall littered with tents in coronation aftermath and News #GreenEnergy #SustainableEnergy #CleanEnergy #Energy [Video] Buckingham Palace Mall could be seen littered with rubbish including tents and flags in the aftermath of King Charles.”

No doubt the surrounding of Buckingham Palace will get back to its former glory and despite the debris, there is no doubt the Coronation of King Charles III was done on a grand scale and thoroughly enjoyed by many.

WELCOME guests at the Coronation of King Charles III were Their Majesties King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain.

The kings are distant cousins and prior to the death of HM Queen Elizabeth II, Felipe was 567th in line to the British throne.

The visit was short as His Majesty had to be back to present the Copa del Rey on the evening of Sunday May 7 but the royal couple attended a reception hosted by King Charles at Buckingham Palace on May 5.

The following day when attending the Coronation, they looked resplendent, the King in formal military uniform and the Queen appearing graceful and refined in a pink dress with a large pink accented hat.

KING CHARLES III: A historic event watched by millions.

DISTANT COUSINS: King Felipe VI with Queen Letizia.

No corkage in Ronda

RONDA in the province of Malaga has been forced to put a stop to corkage due to the drought conditions.

The drought has been felt in the public forests of Ronda in an area of Serrania, even though it usually gets more rain than the rest of the season. This year has been an exception.

As a result, the town council has taken the measure of prohibiting the collection of cork used by cork men in a tradition that goes back to ancient times.

The measure is taken as a form of protection for cork oaks, since the lack of moisture this year could cause damage to the trees if they are peeled for cork.

The municipal delegate of the Ronda mountains, Jesus Vazquez said: “At the moment

there is only a small plot where corking cannot take place. There are other plots that have adequate conditions, although as the uncorking date approaches inspections will be carried out to verify that the cork

can be removed without damage to the trees. Production will be lower this year, but a rise in prices ought to offset the income which is one of the most important in the towns of the Tagus.

Betty Henderson

IN final figures, authorities say that this year’s Feria de Sevilla (April Fair in Sevilla) brought in a whopping €930 million.

The event, which came to an end on Friday, April 28 was a major success, breaking records in terms of attendance, spending, transport, horse­drawn carriage rides, and hotel occupancy.

This year’s festival saw an increase in public transportation usage, with over 1.1 million people using the public transport system. Horsedrawn carriages, which are a staple of the festival, also saw a 6 per cent increase in use.

John Ensor

Fantastic fortune

tional flamenco music playing all around, couples dancing ‘Sevillanas’ dances with women in flamenca dresses and the classic Feria drink ‘Rebujito’, a mixed drink of sherry and lemonade flowing.

Hotel occupancy reached an impressive 85­88 per cent during the week and 92 per cent on weekends.

The festival sees the city transported back to the 19th century for a week of tradi­

THE controversial film star, Amber Heard, has left the hustle and bustle of America and relocated to Spain to dedicate more time to her family.

After the acrimonious high­profile case with Johnny Depp, Amber Heard has decided to move to Spain’s capital Madrid, in a move away from her film career, in order to spend quality time with her daughter according a news source on Friday, May 5.

Heard’s daughter, Oonagh, was born in 2021 via surrogate, the move from America to Spain is believed to be to take her away from the media spotlight.

The atmosphere at the Feria de Sevilla was lively, colourful, and festive, with streets lined with ‘Caseta’ fair tents fully equipped with bars and table service.

The festival’s incredible income makes it one of the biggest economic events for Spain.

Life after Depp

In 2018, Heard published an article detailing her being the victim of domestic abuse, which led to the six­week­long trial. The court decision ultimately ruled in favour of Depp who won more than $10 million in defamation damages.

Last year’s court case took its toll emotionally and financially, leading the actress to sell her home in Los Angeles to pay her legal fees.

According to a close source, Amber is ‘happy’ in Spain and ‘raising her daughter away from all the noise.

Photo credit: Madison Hennig (via WhatsApp)

CORK TREES: The oaks are being protected.

‘Caseta’ fair tents line the streets in Sevilla’s iconic Feria fair.

BRUSSELS wants to crack down on corruption and has proposed a new rule that would increase the penalties for embezzlement in Spain.

The European Commis ‐sion’s proposal was an ‐nounced on Wednesday, May 3 and suggests a mini‐mum prison sentence of at least five years, which is

Pressure on noise pollution

MALAGA’S ongoing battle with noise pollution in Plaza Mit‐jana is still being debated.

Local residents near the plaza have asked Malaga City Council for effective measures against excessive noise from bars, including extra vigilance from authorities, temporary closures or sanctions said a news source.

On April 26, International Noise Awareness Day, members of the Centro Antiguo de Malaga asked Malaga City Council to enforce the sentence won by three residents of Plaza Mit‐jana in 2022. They also asked for clarification, ‘to adopt effec‐tive measures to eliminate the noise.’

The mayor of Malaga, Francisco de la Torre assured those in attendance that the sentence has been complied with and brought to their attention the ‘great change’ that the square has undergone to reduce noise levels.’

However, the people who have been affected say that the situation remains ‘exactly the same.’

more than the four years currently set by Spain’s na‐tional law.

Officials are aiming to standardise penalties and sentences for all corruption‐related crimes, including abuse of power and money laundering.

The EU’s current legisla‐tion only covers the crime of bribery, but this new pro ‐posal would expand its scope to include a range of other offences.

The Spanish government said it is currently “studying the proposal” and may need to make changes to its laws to comply with the new Eu‐ropean legislation. If the proposal is approved, it would be negotiated by the EU’s Justice Ministers and Parliament before becoming law.

It remains to be seen how this will impact Spanish poli‐tics, particularly as the previ‐ous reform to corruption sentences, which benefited several Catalan politicians, is still fresh in people’s minds.

SPAIN continues to lead the world in beach quality thanks to a boost in the country’s number of Blue Flag awards.

The new list, announced on Thursday, May 4 re ‐vealed that the Valencian Community, Andalucia and Catalonia received the most accolades.

This year, Spain is set to boast a total of 729 Blue Flags, with 627 being awarded to beaches, 97 to marinas, and the remaining five to tourist boats.

Coast is clear

The Blue Flag is an inter‐national award given to beaches, marinas and tourist boats that meet strict environmental, edu‐cational, safety, and acces‐sibility criteria. Spain has a total of six more Blue Flags than last year.

The Community of Valen‐cia has the most Blue Flags, with 153, followed by An‐dalucia with 148, Galicia

Corruption crackdown Bucking the trend

with 125 and Catalonia with 120.

According to Rosa Ana Morillo Rodriguez, the Sec‐retary of State for Tourism, the quality of Spain’s beaches is a fundamental part of the country’s repu‐tation.

She added that €32.5 mil‐lion will be allocated to Spain’s sun and beach tourism strategy this year.

THE President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, caused a stir at the gala dinner hosted by the Spanish Royal Family on Wednesday, May 3 by refusing to wear a dress coat, ar‐guing that the garment is associated with elites and anti‐democracy.

Petro arrived at the Palacio Real in Madrid wearing a dark suit and a tie, declin‐ing to follow the strict dress code for the evening. The Colombian delegation that ac‐companied Petro also did not wear dress coats, which surprised some of the guests at the function.

Petro followed in the footsteps of his compatriot and renowned literary figure, Gabriel García Márquez, who refused to wear a dress coat at the Nobel Prize cere‐mony in 1982 and opted for a white long‐sleeved shirt, known as a ‘liquiliqui’, instead. The dinner was attended by approxi‐mately 110 guests, including the Spanish King Felipe VI, President Pedro Sánchez, and other government officials.

As part of the visit, gifts were exchanged between the Colombian delegation and the Spanish Royal Family.

Photo credit: Ursula von der Leyen (via Facebook)

The move follows up on Ursula von der Leyen’s commitment against corruption.

Sunak calls Sanchez

THE Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak spent time on a call with Spanish President, Pedro Sanchez.

The call took place on Thursday 4 May. The pair welcomed the strong and growing economic, security and cultural ties between the UK and Spain, as well as wider cooperation with European partners.

Mr Sunak highlighted the importance of cooperation between Spain and the UK on issues such as illegal immigration and energy security.

He also acknowledged the opportunity both men will have when they address these shared challenges when the UK and Spain host future

A PHOTOGRAPHER in London was shocked to see the results in a photo clicked during King Charles’ Coronation ceremony after he noticed a mysterious object on one of them.

Simon Balson was photographing the aerial spectacle during the Red Arrows flypast when he noticed something he claimed to have ‘no idea’ about.

In a quote cited by a news source, Balson said, “I was shooting some photos from the 13th floor of my apartment building in Limehouse while the red arrows did their flyover.”

Due to the bad weather, Balson said that

meetings of the European Political Community.

The two leaders also spoke about Gibraltar. They both agreed that progressing with negotiations on a UK­EU Treaty was of importance, especially in concluding an agreement as soon as possible.

The war in Ukraine was also discussed. Both Sunak Rishi and Pedro Sanchez agreed on the UK and Spain’s enduring support for Ukraine’s defence against the illegal invasion by Russia and President Zelensky’s plan for peace.

Royal UFO

he did not check the images at the time. He said, “When I did, though, I spotted this weird object and just thought what the hell is that.

“All I could get is that it had a little bit of a red top, but I have no idea what it could be.”

He said “There have been lots of strange ‘UFO’ sightings recently, so I thought other people might be able to guess what it was.”

The German tv crew filming in Vila Museu.

IT’S official, Ed Sheeran did not rip off Marvin Gaye, a Manhattan jury has decided.

The high­profile case held in a Manhattan federal court was concluded on Thursday, May 4, when the question of plagiarism was answered with an emphatic not­guilty verdict, according to a news source. The $100 million copyright trial centred around Sheeran’s hit song ‘Thinking Out Loud’ being stolen from Marvin Gaye's classic ‘Let’s Get It On’.

The 32 ­ year ­ old singersongwriter successfully proved to the court he did not infringe copyright. When the verdict was announced Sheeran buried his face in his

hands before standing up to hug his lawyer in relief.

The Yorkshire­born singer had vehemently denied the song had been stolen, so much so, he vowed he would give up music if he was found guilty. Hence the verdict must come as a massive relief to his many fans around the world.

The 1973 hit ‘Let’s Get It On’, was co­written by Marvin Gaye and Ed Townsend who died in 2003. The lawsuit was brought by Townsend’s heirs.

During the trial, Sheeran said, “I find it really insulting to devote my whole life to being a performer and a songwriter and have someone diminish it.”

Ed wins case Empty-handed

AN elderly bank robber used a handwritten note to announce his intentions but it backfired when puzzled staff couldn’t decipher it. In February, 69­yearold pensioner, Alan Slattery, went to banks and building societies in East Sussex in an attempt to rob them, only to be thwarted by his handwriting, according to a news source.

The attempted robberies occurred when Slattery went to a National Building Society in St Leonards, another in Bexhillon­Sea, East Sussex, and at Natwest in Bexhill. The same threatening note was used each time, ‘Im not f*****g

DJ out of hospital

John Ensor

AFTER a three­week stay in hospital, people’s favourite Tony Blackburn has been discharged.

and am now at home to have some more treatment by having a daily injection for a few days from a hospital near me.

about, just pass me the 10s and 20s now and no­one will get hurt.’ On each occasion, however, he walked away empty­handed as bank staff refused to comply with his demands. Inspector Olivia Carroll, of Hastings and Rother Neighbourhood Policing Team, said “Slattery is well­known for his previous offences in the area and was easily identified by staff who reported the incidents to us.

“This led to him being quickly arrested and charged within just 12 hours. He was also remanded in custody to prevent him from re­offending.”

The 80 ­ year ­ old radio star was released from hospital and shared a tweet on Wednesday, May 3, with his many fans on his latest health check ­ up, said a news source.

Listeners were in shock when Tony revealed in April he would not be presenting his usual radio show due to a serious chest infection, an illness that led to him being hospitalised for three weeks.

He told fans although he was out of hospital, he hadn’t received the all­clear. Mr Blackburn confided he still required daily treatment from staff at the hospital.

In a tweet he wrote: “After three weeks in hospital I have just been discharged

“Thanks to everyone at the Wellington Hospital in London for looking after me. After my treatment and a rest I look forward to getting back @BBCRadio2 and @BBCLOCALRADIO to doing what I love doing.

“Just want to thank all my friends for your lovely messages. Xx”

TONY BLACKBURN: Has had a chest infection.

36 billion cups of tea are drunk per year in the UK.

Troops out

Betty Henderson

GERMAN troops began their withdrawal from Mali on Wednesday, May 3, but the mission has not been without its challenges.

Cheers to that

The deployment of some 1,000 troops to Mali aimed to gather reconnaissance for the UN peacekeeping mission MINUSMA, but recent disputes with the Malian government and the arrival of Russian forces led to Berlin’s decision to wrap up the mission by May 2024.

German commander in Mali, Colonel Heiko Bohnsack, confirmed that the military has already started sending the first shipments of equipment back home.

The first stages of the withdrawal will involve a slow reduction of equipment while troops maintain sufficient equipment to fulfil their mission.

The government in Berlin has also paved the way for a last one­year extension of the decade­old mission until May 2024, pending parliamentary approval.

MINUSMA was established in 2013 to support troops battling armed groups in the Sahel, but the mission has been plagued with friction between the Malian military government and foreign forces.

This, coupled with the arrival of Kremlin­linked private military company, Wagner Group, prompted France to withdraw its troops in 2022 after almost a decade in Mali.

VODKA has become the unlikely centre of a global conflict, but it’s good news for Ukrainian producers. In fact, in a recent report, industry leaders say Ukrainian vodka sales have been soaring since the Russian invasion began.

The annual global sales for vodka are around €39.2 billion, with the profits traditionally going mainly to Russia, with Poland and Ukraine’s slightly smaller industries also attracting trade.

However, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has seen an abrupt change in fortunes for vodka producers as Russian stock has

been withdrawn from shelves across the world and replaced with Ukrainian or Polish bottles.

The result is a boost in sales for Ukrainian vodkas. Nemiroff vodka, a Ukrainian brand, has reported a two­fold increase in sales in the UK alone. Dima’s, another Ukrainian vodka brand, said that its global sales have significantly increased since the war began.

Despite power cuts and other challenges caused by the conflict, Ukrainian vodka brands have managed to maintain production and continue exporting their products.

Missing persons

IN a major breakthrough, the leaders of Serbia and Kosovo came together to work towards locating and identifying hundreds of people who are still missing from the 1998­1999 war on Wednesday, May 3. The conflict resulted in over 13,000 deaths with the vast majority of those killed being from Kosovo and Albania. Despite this major loss of life, more than 1,600 people remain unaccounted for, leaving their families without closure.

However, a new agreement between Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovan Prime Minister Albin Kurti aims to change that. The two leaders have

promised to use cutting­edge technology, including satellite data and laser mapping, to detect mass graves and locate the missing.

The European Union, which has been instrumental in repairing relations between Serbia and Kosovo, will chair a joint commission on missing people and assist by sharing official files.

The EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, who mediated the deal, explained that families have the right to know what happened to their loved ones. It is hoped that this agreement will bring some much­needed closure to those who have suffered for over two decades.

The Bundeswehr were monitoring a ceasefire in Mali.

Photo credit: Bundeswehr (website)

‘Total’ misunderstanding

Betty Henderson TOTALENERGIES, the French oil giant, is making headlines as it takes on environmental group Greenpeace in court over a report claiming that the company massively underestimated its greenhouse gas emissions. The oil company an-

Mafia meltdown

nounced its decision to sue on Wednesday, May 3. The report, which was published last November, accused TotalEnergies of emitting around 1.64 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2019, compared to the 455 million tonnes that the company disclosed in public statements. However, TotalEnergies says that the report is filled with false and misleading information, and that the calculations were based on dubious methodologies. Greenpeace and Factor-X, the climate consulting firm behind the report, say that the lawsuit is an attempt to muzzle the environmental group before the TotalEnergies general assembly on Friday, May 26, where activist shareholders will push for stricter climate commitments.

Environmental groups are calling for entry to be blocked at the company’s global oil and petroleum projects in protest. Meanwhile, the court hearing on Thursday, September 7 is eagerly awaited by onlookers, as the case promises to be a significant one, given the high stakes involved.

THE world’s largest mafia group has been dealt a crushing blow as police across Europe carried out the biggest operation ever against the ‘Ndrangheta.

Police announced on Wednesday, May 3 that more than 100 people were arrested, with most of the busts taking place in Italy. The suspects face charges of drug trafficking, money laundering, and weapons possession.

The operation, dubbed ‘Operation Eureka’, was a threeyear investigation that involved 10 countries, including Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Spain, Slovenia, Romania, Brazil, and Panama.

UKRAINIAN President

Volodymyr Zelensky made a surprise appearance in the Netherlands on Wednesday, May 3. Announcing his appearance, sources said he would speak at The Hague and visit the International Criminal Court which is in the process of investigating alleged Russian war crimes in Ukraine.

In the meantime, explosions were reported in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, just a day after Russia accused Ukraine of carrying out a drone attack on the Kremlin. Zaporizhzhia and Odessa in the south were also reported to have been attacked.

Russian officials claimed Ukraine attempted to assassinate President Vladimir Putin,

The bust was unprecedented in terms of scale and resulted in the seizure of assets worth €25 million.

Italian anti­mafia prosecutors say the operation has revealed new information about how the ‘Ndrangheta operates, even during the pandemic. The group smuggled nearly 25,000 kgs of cocaine between October 2019 and January 2022, funnelling more than €22 million from their Calabria base to Belgium, the Netherlands, and South America.

Investigators also discovered a widespread network of restaurants, pizzerias, cafes, and ice cream parlours used as fronts to launder money.

Hague help

but Zelensky firmly denied these allegations. Instead, he stated that Ukraine is “defending our villages and cities” and demanded more military support, including long­range weapons and fighter jets from Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

Some commentators have argued that the alleged drone strike on the Kremlin was internally conducted and purposefully staged by Russia, while others disagree, stating that it would make Russia look “weak” and vulnerable.

The situation remains tense as Russia threatens to retaliate when and where it considers necessary.

TotalEnergies is accused of underreporting emmissions.

Photo credit: Emilius123 / Wikimedia Commons

Number of primary types of Spanish red wine.

PRESS EUROPEAN

DENMARK

Going home

DENMARK will reduce its military presence in Iraq in early 2024 in order to focus on Baltic countries. “We must prepare for a long-term Danish presence in the Baltic to establish a balance between soldiers on the ground and readiness to deploy them from Denmark,” Poulsen said.

THE NETHERLANDS

Hot stuff

THE meteorological office in De Bilt, (Utrecht) in the centre of the country, registered the Netherlands’ first warm day on May 4 when the temperature rose briefly to 20 degrees for the first time this year. Weather is deemed officially warm once the temperature rises above 20 degrees.

BELGIUM

Party time

MORE than 10,000 people attended an unauthorised rave at a disused airbase in Sint-Truiden at the end of April after the organisers broke into the base. Police set up roadblocks to stem the flow of revellers but admitted they were powerless to evacuate so many people from the site.

GERMANY

Fax and figures

EIGHTY-TWO per cent of German companies still use fax machines, according to a survey of firms with at least 20 employees carried out by digital association Bitkom. A third of those taking part in the survey said they continued to use the fax machines “frequently or very frequently.”

FRANCE

Nuclear pact

FRANCE and Japan signed a nuclear cooperation agreement in Paris on May 3 which pledged to ‘deepen and accelerate ties’ in researching and developing next-generation fast reactors, while continuing to work on the safe life extension of existing reactors and the decommissioning of nuclear plants.

NORWAY

High hopes

NORWEGIAN Kristin Harila, 37, the fastest female to climb the world’s 14 highest mountains, now aims to beat a male climber’s 2019 record. She successfully scaled Mount Cho Oyu and Mount Shishapangma in China and has arrived in Kathmandu (Nepal) where she will begin climbing this month.

FINLAND

Big noise

RUSSIA complained to Finland that a group of people threw “an explosive noise device” and broke a window at their consulate in the Aland Islands in the Baltic. The case was “regrettable”, the Finnish Foreign Ministry said, and police were “clarifying and investigating” the incident.

IRELAND

Badger jabs

FIVE thousand badgers were culled in Ireland in 2022 and a further 7,000 were vaccinated for tuberculosis under a Department of Agriculture prevention programme. The department explained that it now plans to phase out the culling programme as this was not a sustainable long-term solution.

ITALY

New claim

THE abbey of San Claudio in Macerata is described as 11th century, although locals insist it is two centuries older. They also believe Macerata was the headquarters of Charlemagne, the ‘Father of Europe’, between wars and that the town, not Aachen in Germany, is also his final resting place.

PORTUGAL Going down

PORTUGAL fell from seventh to ninth place in Reporters with Borders’ Press Freedom rankings, classing it as ‘satisfactory’ this year, compared with 2022’s verdict of ‘very good’. The NGO placed Norway at the top of its list, followed by Ireland, Denmark and Sweden in second, third and fourth places.

UKRAINE

Old tech

UKRAINE'S 28th Brigade has begun using an antiquated wind-up field telephone for vital communications. Russia’s electronic warfare systems can detect and intercept mobile phones and radios, but the men said that although the ancient field telephone’s technology was very old “it works really well.”

SWEDEN

Job losses

VOLVO will cut 1,300 office posts, approximately 6 per cent of its employees in Sweden, in an attempt to reduce costs. Volvo’s CEO Jim Rowan explained in a statement that last year’s cost-cutting measures had started to get results “but it’s clear that we need to do more.”

Europe Day in Teulada Moraira

TEULADA MORAIRA

Town Hall has organised a varied programme of events for the yearly Europe Day celebrations at the Font Santa on Saturday May 13.

Residents and visitors alike are welcome to enjoy the stands selling typical international products, a giant paella, bar service by the Festeros de Sants de la Pedra, a petanca bowling match, tombola and live music.

“Every May, the countries of the European Union celebrate their day to vindicate their project of unity and political cooperation,” declared Teulada councillor for International Relations, Sara Richardson.

“In Teulada Moraira we have set aside May 13 to celebrate Europe Day with our residents.”

Eurovision contest

THIS weekend is the Eurovision Song Contest and Benidorm, after having chosen the Spanish candidate, Blanca Paloma, at the Benidorm Fest in February, wants to join the celebration.

The town council has prepared a massive two­day party at the Plaza de La Hispanidad on Friday and Saturday (May 12 and 13).

The party kicks off at 8pm on Friday with live performances by a number of artists who took part in the Benidorm Fest. There will also be a DJ and a presenter linked to the Benidorm Fest plus a Fan Zone with photo opportunities and several other surprises.

The fun on Saturday will start at the same time with animation and a live connection with the Eurovision Song Contest on giant screens. The action from Liverpool will be followed by live performances by the two most successful artists of the Benidorm Fest after Blanca Paloma, namely Soraya and Vicco. For further information visit www.benidorm.org.

The art of stagecraft

JAVEA PLAYERS members

Claire Schoonover and Paul Hunter are running a workshop on stagecraft, enlightening newcomers and old hands alike about the finer points of what it takes to be an actor.

It’s important to know what a director requires, how to interpret a script, how to move on stage without being overdramatic and more. Behind the scenes carpenters, lighting, sound, props, wardrobe ensure a successful production.

A spoonful of sugar…

TICKETS are now on sale for Care line Theatre’s upcoming produc tion of the Mary Poppins Stage Musical in Alcalalí from Friday May 19 to Sunday May 21.

It is a delightful adaptation of the beloved children’s book by P L Travers, brought to life on stage with stunning sets, colourful costumes, and lively music. This family­friendly pro duction is perfect for audiences of all ages and is sure to be a hit with children and adults alike.

If you are interested in attending this course or would like general information about this successful theatrical group founded over 40 years ago and future productions, please visit www.javeaplayers.com

No experience required.

Auditions for the summer show in June take place on Sunday May 21 at 2pm and Monday 22 at 7pm at the Javea Players Studio. For information contact brownschoon@gmail.com

The production features all the beloved characters from the book, including Bert the chimney sweep, Mrs Banks, and the strict but lovable Mr Banks.

The show also includes several memorable musical numbers, such as Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, A Spoonful of Sugar, and Chim Chim Cher ­ ee, which will have audiences tapping their toes and singing along.

Overall, the Mary Poppins Stage Musical is a delightful and heartwarming production that will leave audiences

with a sense of wonder and nostalgia. Whether you are a fan of the original book or the classic Disney film, this production is sure to enchant and delight. For further information and to book tickets visit www.carelinetheatre.net or email carelineboxoffice@gmail.com.

Perfect for audiences of all ages.

Jalon Valley Help fayre

JALON VALLEY HELP is organising its yearly May Fayre on Sunday May 14.

Stalls, refreshments and other attractions will greet visitors at the rastro car park from 10am to 2pm.

For further information call 634 310 415 or email eventsjvh@gmail. com.

Then on Thursday June 1 we will be Jumping for Joy with The Entertainers, who will be performing live at Los Arcos in Pedreguer at 7.30pm.

Tickets cost €10 per person and you are welcome to bring your own food, but please buy drinks from the bar.

For further information on this event please call 634 305 005 or email the address above. Also follow Jalon Valley Help on Facebook.

Romanticism in Javea

THE Museo Soler Blasco in Javea is running an art exhibition by Rosa Escalona entitled Romanticismo until Sunday May 21.

With this new collection, the artist rescues her extensive pictorial work from the past and reinvents it with new materials and unique ideas.

Rosa Escalona is a Spanish painter born in 1947. Graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts in Bilbao, she continued her studies in painting and sculpture in Madrid.

She has had more than 250 solo and group exhibi­

tions in several Spanish cities as well as in Germany, New York, Vancouver, Osaka, Marugame and Tokyo, and has won sever­

al prizes and distinctions. Her works of art can be found in private collections in Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Japan, Australia, the United States, Sweden, Canada and Greece, as well as in numerous museums. She is currently based in Javea and has her own gallery in the Calle Mayor.

Romanticismo can be visited at the Museo Soler Blasco (Plaça dels Germans Segarra, 1) from Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 1.30pm and from 5pm to 8pm, Sundays and bank holidays 10am to 1.30pm.

Claire Huangci in Alicante

CONCERTS Costa Blanca’s next event is a piano recital by Claire Huangci on Thursday May 25 at 8pm at a new venue for the group ­ the Auditorio del Palacio de Congresos del Colegio de Médicos de Alicante.

Claire Huangci began her international career at the age of nine with concert performances and competition victories. Early in her artistic career, she stood out as an expressive interpreter of Chopin and is notable for her prizewinning solo recitals and recordings.

In 2018 she confirmed her status as a world leading pianist by winning the Géza Anda Competition. The concert will include works by Bach, Schumann, Scarlatti, Chopin and Gerschwin in what will definitely be a night to remember! Tickets are priced at €40 including bus to and from the event with pick­up points in Javea (Bus Depot), Gata N332 (MasyMas) and Moraira (outside La Senieta).

To reserve your tickets please email info@concertscostablanca.com with the number of seats required, an email address and contact mobile telephone number.

For more information visit www.concerts costablanca.com and follow Concert Costa Blanca on Facebook.

Visit the art exhibition.

CLAIRE HUANGCI: Join the piano recital.

The Eagles have landed

MAGNUM PRODUCTIONS’ next concert will feature the fabulous talents of The Desperados in tribute to the Eagles.

This very accomplished band will present all the iconic hits that have made the Eagles so legendary including Take it to the Limit, Desperado, Lyin’ Eyes, Witchy Woman, Life in the Fast Lane and of course Hotel California, plus many more.

The show will again be held at the Teatre Auditorio in Beniarbeig on Satur­

day May 13 and is scheduled to start at 8pm.

So come along and see a fab show, in a lovely theatre, especially as all profits go to local charities including the Alzheimers’ centre in Teulada which is a great local cause.

Tickets can be reserved by calling 618 017 201, by email at magnum.concerts@ gmail.com and at www.magnumcon certs.com.

3rd Tuna Days

THE ‘Gastronomic Benidorm’ association is organising the third edition of the Jornadas del Atún (‘Tuna Days’) from May 12 to 21.

Thirteen restaurants will be offering tapas, pinchos, dishes or sample menus based around Mediterranean tuna.

This year’s participating establishments are Restaurante Belvedere, Edén Restaurante, Cervecería El Mesón, Marisquería El Puerto, Restaurante El Esturión, La Arrocería de la Mejillonera, La Brasería and

Sushi class for youngsters

La Tapería Aurrerá, La Cava Aragonesa, Restaurante Malaspina, Restaurante Molta Pasta, Restaurante Pinocchio Playa and the Restaurante Vinoteca Wine On.

Benidorm mayor Toni

Pérez highlighted the importance of the event and the dates chosen, “when the tuna has been entering the Mediterranean for a few weeks and is tastier,” as well as the “intense and intimate relationship that Benidorm has always had with this species.”

IF you’re young, live in Altea and like sushi, now is the time to learn how to make it!

Altea Youth department is organising a sushi­making session aimed at residents aged 16 to 30, taking place at the Aula de Cuina on Friday May 12 from 6pm to 8pm.

To book or to request more information email joventut@altea.es or call 661 689 083 or 627 972 083.

FINANCE

Things to come

is the amount of a government contract awarded to Hispasat to close the digital gap by providing Spain’s rural areas with a broadband internet connection until December 2027. STAT OF WEEK

€76 million

Telepizza restructuring shakeup

Linda Hall

BUSINESS EXTRA Keep right on

BRITAIN’S Foreign Secretary

James Cleverly warned that armed conflict between China and Taiwan would destroy world trade, dealing a catastrophic blow to the global economy. Discussing Britain’s relations with Beijing, Cleverly said no country could shield itself from the repercussions of a war in Taiwan.

Fair shares

SPAIN’S capital gains tax charged at a maximum of 26 per cent when selling shares is 6.45 percentage points higher than the EU’s 19.55 per cent. The Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Slovakia and Slovenia charge nothing at all, while Belgium charges 0.15 per cent on transactions over €1 million.

Off the menu

PREZZO, affected by soaring energy and food costs, will close 46 loss ­ making Italian restaurants in the UK and where the post­Covid recovery proved harder than the private equity­owned chain had anticipated. Approximately 810 workers were at risk of redundancy due to the overhaul, Prezzo said.

Fast lanes

SPANISH toll road company

Albertis is bidding a total of €6 billion for three contracts to manage the Attica motorway in Athens, four motorways in Puerto Rico and the 16.5­kilometre State Highway 288 in Houston. With two lanes in each direction this is one of the busiest roads in Texas.

Downsizing

JOHN LEWIS PARTNERSHIP will halve the size of its central London headquarters now that thousands of employees work from home. The offices occupy 220,000 square feet (approximately 2,044 square metres) but only half of that is being used and some floors have been completely closed off.

TELEPIZZA has survived and can live to deliver pizzas another day.

Bondholders and Santander, the fast­food company’s largest creditor signed an agreement on May 2 that has saved the Spanish multinational chain. Sources close to the operation told financial daily, Cinco Dias, that the private equity investors and the bank agreed to a write­down of around half of Telepizza’s liabilities, estimated at approximately €400 million, in exchange for 100 per cent of the company. As a result,

the bondholders headed by the Oak Hill, Blantyre, HIG, Fortress and Treo are now majority shareholders in the company, renamed Food Delivery Brands, and own 75 per cent of the capital.

Santander lent Telepizza €40 million that was guaranteed by Spain’s Official Credit Institute (ICO) during the

pandemic. A Telepizza statement had announced at the time that it needed between €95 and €115 million to cope with its problems and that the situation created by the Covid restrictions had endangered the company’s ability to meet its liquidity needs.

Santander and ICO itself,

together with other financial bodies which have yet to be named, will now share the remaining 25 per cent between them.

Shareholders including KKR, Arta, Torreal, J Safra Group and Altamar, who lose their entire stake, have come off worst in the deal.

Telepizza, was originally founded in Madrid as Pizza Phone by Leopoldo Fernandez Pujaz, a Cuban­born US businessman, in 1987.

There are now more than 1,600 Telepizza outlets worldwide, of which 694 Telepizza are located in Spain.

Dyson goes abroad again

DYSON will open a new battery factory in Singapore while investing in technology centres for Bristol and Santo Tomas (Philippines).

Although the Singapore outlay will be ‘significantly larger’, the UK and Philippines investments will involve a respective £100 million (€113.4 million) and £166 million (€118.2 million).

This latest announcement confirms billionaire Sir James Dyson’s policy of basing manufacturing operations outside Britain while retaining research and development functions in the UK. These includes research and robotics facilities in Malmesbury and Hullavington in Wiltshire.

Great news

SPAIN’S Paradores continues to benefit from the tourism boom following the pandemic years. The state­owned chain of 100 hotels announced a turnover of €310 million last year, the first time that this has risen above €300 million in its 95 years of existence.

The good results continued during the first four months of 2023, with earnings between January and April rising by 1.4 per cent to €80 million, an unprecedented amount for that time of the year.

“These figures are formidable,” said Pedro Saura, the Paradores’ president. “They are better than we expected and promise very positive prospects for all of 2023.”

James Dyson, whose company is habitually linked to vacuum cleaners, was a prominent Brexit supporter, maintaining that the UK would gain more by leaving Europe than it would lose. Inevitably, he faced strong criticism in 2019 for relocating the company’s headquarters to Singapore, where it already owned factories.

Cold

call ban

THE UK will ban all cold calls selling financial products.

The crackdown is being introduced to prevent fraudsters from selling sham insurance or cryptocurrency schemes.

A new fraud squad will be created with a staff of 500 compared to the existing 120, although Labour and the Liberal Democrat MPs described the plan as “too little, too late.”

Consumer group Which? welcomed the strategy, but also criticised the government for not acting sooner.

Fraud is now the UK’s most common crime, with one in 15 people falling victim to scams. Media regulator Ofcom revealed that 41 million people were targeted by calls and texts last summer, with an online element present in most fraud.

The ban will be introduced this summer, with the financial products to be covered decided after consultations.

UK employees are likely to be working into their 70s, according to findings that were released on International Workers’ Day, May 1.

Rest Less, an online community for the over­50s which provides advice for older workers, concluded that many people had little choice but to continue working owing to the cost­of­living crisis.

There were 446,601 over­70s still in employment last year, a 61 per cent increase compared with 277,926 in 2012, Rest Less, said. While most were male, the rise has been more marked among women as a result of the gradual equalisation of pension ages between 2010 and 2020.

New boss

The new Singapore plant will be its biggest ever investment in “advanced manufacturing,” Dyson said. The Philippines technology centre, which will engage 400 new engineers, will double the amount of factory space devoted to advanced technologies. The Bristol site will hire more software, AI and connectivity engineers, revealed Jake Dyson, the founder’s son and chief engineer.

The Singapore plant will produce batteries using proprietary new technology but Dyson preferred not to give more details, citing ‘commercial sensitivities’. Nevertheless, it appears the company believes it can make smaller, lighter and more energy­dense batteries.

Good earners

POTTERY, flags, t­shirts, Westminister Abbey­shaped biscuits and tins to put them in have been produced round the clock for the Coronation.

The UK is spending around £250 million (€284 million) on souvenirs and memorabilia, the Centre for Retail Research (CRR) said.

This could mount up to far more, as the CRR believes the final figure will top £1.6 billion (€2.8 billion) once tourist cash, plus spending on parties and going out is included.

Bridgewater Pottery, for instance, have sold more than £1 million (€1.1 million) worth of items emblazoned ‘Three Cheers for King Charles’, although normal sales were currently a struggle, owner Emma Bridgewater said.

VODAFONE appointed interim boss Margherita Della Valle as its permanent chief executive.

Bringing to an end almost five months of uncertainty, the British multinational telecommunications company said that Della ValleVodafone’s former chief financial officer ­ was hired after a “rigorous internal and external search.”

She occupied the CEO role on an interim basis after Vodafone sacked predecessor Nick Reid last December after four years, amid concerns over the company’s performance.

Della Valla will take on the job parallel to her role as Vodafone’s finance chief while a replacement is sought.

Sweet notion

LEFTIES, part of the Inditex group, will start selling sweets in their principal stores.

The affordable fashion chain, launched as a Primark competitor, has come to an agreement with the Murcia confectionary company, Golosinas Fini.

This takes Inditex a step further in its plans for Digital Stores incorporating technological advances that integrate the digital and inperson channels.

These will offer music booths, make­up services, retro­type video and basketball games, drinking fountains for pets, as well as persons and a customised clothes service creating unique items.

MULTINATIONAL: A Telepizza branch in Santiago de Chile.

DYSON HEADQUARTERS: Moved to Singapore in 2019.

Photo credit: CC/Carlosyo

Photo credit: CC/Westliche

LONDON - FTSE 100

DOW JONES

Power play

ITALY’S government, a major shareholder in Enel, recently dismissed Francesco Strarace, the power company’s longstanding CEO. Enel, the parent company of Spain’s Endesa in which it has a 70 per cent holding, is now rumoured to be seeking a substitute for the latter company’s CEO Jose Bogas, to the disquiet of the Spanish government.

Listen up

AT Unilever’s annual general meeting, 58 per cent of participating shareholders voted against the consumer goods group’s pay report for 2022. Unilever said it was disappointed by the outcome, while stressing that the vote was advisory rather than binding. “We are committed to shareholder engagement and will listen carefully to feedback,” the company added.

Tips to be protected

WITHHOLDING tips from staff will be unlawful in the UK.

More than two million workers will have their tips protected and they will also be able to view an employer’s tipping record.

An estimated £200 million (€227 million) a year will now return to staff pockets as employers are banned from withholding tips under the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023. Hospitality workers rely on tips but are often powerless if businesses fail to

Reluctant scientists

THE Spanish Space Agency recently held its first board meeting in Sevilla.

This was chaired by the Minister of Science and Innovation, Diana Morant, who announced that with its annual budget of €700 million the agency should begin drafting the National Space Plan as soon as possible.

Its staff of 75 should be operational by the next quarter, Morant added.

This could be problematic, however.

Twenty employees from the Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI), whose functions were assumed by the agency, have not yet made arrangements to leave Madrid.

They have been promised transfers with identical conditions but are still negotiating the move with the Ministry of Science and the Administration.

pass on customers’ service charges to staff.

The new measures are due to come into force in 2024.

This overhaul of tipping practices will benefit at least two million workers in the UK across the hospitality, leisure and services sectors, helping to ease cost of living pressures and giving them peace of mind, knowing that they will keep their hardearned money.

“As people face rising living costs, it is not right for employers to withhold tips from employees,” Business and Trade Minister Kevin Hollinrake said.

“Whether you are pulling pints or delivering a pizza, this new law will ensure that staff receive a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work and customers can be confident their money is going to those who deserve it.”

Team spirit

SPAIN’S First and Second Divisions are in profit again after their losses during the pandemic. According to the estimate announced on May 4 by LaLiga, to which the 42 clubs belong, they will have made a net profit of €27 million by the end of the season, compared with the €1.039 billion losses incurred in 2020 and 2021.

No net

ONE in four people aged between 25 and 49 save nothing and would have no safety net in an emergency, a YouGov survey for wealth manager True Potential found. Forty per cent have slashed the amount they save each month owing to the cost of living, while those who save put aside less than £50 (€57.13) a month.

HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY: Tips will go to staff by law.

Photo credit: Pixabay/Arttabel

Pay up

A VISIT to Hampton Court gardens, open to the public since Queen Victoria’s reign, was once free, but now costs up to £29 (€33). Hampton Court, owned by the royal family, blamed financial difficulties after the Covid pandemic for locking its gates for the first time in 185 years.

Different label

TONI RUIZ, Mango’s chief executive since March 2020, told a La Vanguardia interviewer that the fashion chain wished to lose its “fast fashion” label. “We have a team of 500 people designing 100 per cent of our clothes in Barcelona, working with best­quality, sustainable fabrics,” Ruiz said.

Fast work

RESTAURANT GROUP , which owns Wagamama, Frankie & Benny’s and Chiquitos, will close 23 outlets by the end of May. The group, which currently runs 410 venues, intends to speed up closures after announcing earlier that it would shut 35 of its loss­making casual dining restaurants.

Top earners

BANCO SANTANDER’s millionaire executives increased by 37.62 per cent last year from 202 to 278 employees on more than €1 million annually, according to its Prudential Relevance Report 2022. BBVA’s millionaire employees also increased, although by 5.66 per cent to just 56 executives.

Not quite

HEALTHCARE company Haleon’s profits fell slightly short of expectations in the first quarter as the consumer giant’s margins were affected by higher costs.

The GlaxoSmithKline spinoff behind brands including Sensodyne toothpaste posted revenues of about £3 billion (€3.4 billion) for this year’s first quarter.

Inflation or ‘greedflation’

Linda Hall

THE UK’S Competition and Markets Authority should investigate whether supermarkets were profiteering, Liberal Democrat Ed Davey said.

Industry statistics revealed that food price inflation shot up to a record high of 15.7 per cent in April, adding to pressure on households countrywide, Davey claimed.

According to government figures, food and drink prices rose by almost 20 per cent in the 12 months ending in March, the fastest annual rate since 1977. Lib Dem analysis also showed that a typical shop had risen by almost £12 (€13.6) a week in the last year.

Supermarkets have raked in bil ­

lions of pounds in profits, Davey maintained, and although the biggest grocers recently reported falling profits, experts said more could be done to help struggling shoppers.

Adif quandary

Union leaders also maintained that supermarket bosses were squeezing customers to benefit from ‘greedflation’ where firms exploit high inflation to create excessive profits.

Meanwhile, Sainsbury’s announced £690 million (€782.3 million) profits for the year until March, with profit margins slipping from 3.4 to 2.99 per cent, as chief executive Simon Roberts insisted that the chain was determined to fight inflation.

Tesco’s profits of £753 million (€854 million) were half those of the previous year, while chief executive Ken Murphy declared that the retailer was “robustly challenging every cost increase” with suppliers and had not passed on all of its additional costs to customers.

Look back with nostalgia

CAR sales remained buoyant as April ended.

Registrations grew by 8.2 per cent with a total of 74,749 vehicles sold, consolidating the industry’s recovery during the first four months of the year with sales of 312,314 units, an increase of 33.7 per cent.

This was due to improvements both in production and deliveries, announced car manufacturers’ association Anfac and distributors Faconauto and Ganvam.

In contrast, 2022 was catastrophic, owing to the microchip crisis and bottlenecks when transporting vehicles, they said.

Despite the increase, registrations are a long way from the pace and volume of pre ­ pandemic transactions when April 2019 saw sales of more than 100,000 vehicles, 28.4 per cent more than in April 2023.

“April’s figures make us look back with nostalgia to before the pandemic when, as summer approached, the market had no trouble in exceeding 100,000 registrations,” Raul Morales, Faconauto’s Communications director.

Sales of cars and SUVs to companies and rental firms were 8.9 per cent up

SKY is allegedly planning hundreds of job cuts as it gets to grips with a move to streaming.

According to reports in the UK media, cuts are likely to affect customer services staff and the engineers who install satellite dishes.

The broadcaster experienced an 11.5 per cent fall in revenues to £14.3 billion (€16.2 billion) in 2022, al­

on last year, with sales of 30,615 units, with rent­acar registrations improving by 30.6 per cent to 15,753 units. Sales to private individuals fell by 1.9 per cent with 28,381 registrations last month, although light commercial vehicle sales rose by 12.9 per cent compared with April 2022.

Outlook cloudy

though profits and the number of customers increased.

US media giant Comcast bought Sky for £30 billion (€34 billion) in 2018 but took a £6.8 billion (€7.7 billion) write­down on the value of the business last October, which it attributed to “challenging eco ­

ADIF, Spain’s publicly­ owned rail infrastructure company, is scrutinising bids for a €621 million tender (€513.3 excluding IVA) for its largest project in recent years.

This involves putting below ground Barcelona’s R2 track as it crosses Montcada i Reixac.

So far, Ferrovial’s €446.6 million bid (excluding IVA) is apparently the most viable, although the multinational’s decision to relocate its headquarters to the Netherlands still rankles with the Spanish government.

So much so that Adif is taking the unusual step of bringing in an external engineering consultancy to analyse all the bids competing for the contract, possibly in hopes of finding a valid reason for eliminating Ferrovial.

Pub facelift

BREWING giant Heineken is planning a £40 million (€45.5m) cash injection into UK pubs. Upgrading 570 pubs, practically a quarter of Heineken’s UK premises, will create approximately 600 jobs this year.

The company runs 2,400 pubs in the UK via Star Pubs & Bars and Lawson Mountstevens, the operation’s managing director, stressed the importance of continued investment in Heineken’s venues despite the “uncertain” consumer panorama.

nomic conditions.”

Sales of the company’s much­proclaimed Sky Glass ­ a TV that has built­in Sky and streaming apps which eliminate the need for a satellite dish ­ have not so far been impressive.

“It’s in a really tough place,” a source said.

On the scent

SPAIN exported €6.515 billion in perfumes, cosmetics and essential oils last year, 21 per cent more than in 2021.

These figures were the highest since it first began carrying out surveys in 2017, announced Spain’s National Association of Perfumes and Cosmetics (Stanpa).

Cosmetics are now one of Spain’s principal exports, ahead of wine and footwear, each of which registered international sales of approximately €3

billion in 2022. They also outstripped olive oil exports of €4.2 billion, Stanpa pointed out.

The industry now exports to more than 175 countries, compared to 150 in 2021 when Europe accounted for 82 per cent of Stanpa members’ foreign sales.

These fell to 51 per cent in 2022, with the remaining 49 per cent destined for the US, UK, Mexico, China and United Arab Emirates.

The group revealed that 100 pubs are in line for full revamps which will cost around £200,000 (€227,445) each as part of its investment programme.

Slowdown

JOB vacancies grew rapidly in the north during 2022, but 2023 is now preparing for a slowdown.

Professional vacancies in the north grew faster than in the rest of England and Wales in 2022, with over 81,500 new jobs registered, a 16 per cent year­on­year increase, according to the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo), the trade association for the professional recruitment sector.

However, year­to­date vacancies in 2023 have not kept up with last year’s numbers, although forecasts show that northern vacancies could reach over 74,300 by the end of 2023.

FOOD PRICES: Shot up to a record high in April.

Photo credit: Pixabay/Volzi

CAR REGISTRATIONS: Improvement on 2022.

LEAPY LEE SAYS IT

OTHERS THINK IT

THE Left wing propaganda machine, which is relentlessly eating into the UK’s very subsistence, has become absolutely staggering. Just how are the wokes and their fellow conspirators able to get away with it? Their political activities and media indoctrination presents a constant barrage of animosity against any who would embody alternative ideals. They firmly support the unions, who are quite happy to encourage the workforce with strikes, particularly industrial actions that spread misery and chaos among the general public.

They have managed to completely obliterate freedom of speech and frighten the white population to the core, citing accusations of racism involving almost any remark or observation they may even accidently express concerning non­white society. This attitude is of course totally reversed should it concern black citizen’s actions or comments appertaining to any white member. A prime example of this was the black male who imitated a sex act on a white policewoman at the Notting Hill Carnival. He

Propaganda

eventually received no more than a slap on the wrist from the local police. Had it been a white man committing this disgraceful act against a black policewoman he would, after the protests, still be serving his time in prison.

With the advent of the Coronation, they are naturally pulling out all the stops with their fellow conspirators to decry the monarchy. This is of course an institution they are utterly committed to destroying and holds no place in the plans they have for a ‘democratic’ society run by a single authority, along the lines of those depicted by George Orwell. As far as their media indoctrination is concerned it has now passed all bounds.

They have announced two comedy shows. One entitled ‘No more Monarchy,’ (which seems to have somewhat oddly disappeared). The other the return of the satirical anti royal series ‘The Windsors’; a snip being shown actually depicts Camilla telling Charles they will all gather on the balcony to ‘wave at the idiots out front.’ Eighty per cent of ads now feature a veritable dominance of black ac­

tors in all manner of situations, including mixed marriages among elderly couples; giving the impression that this particular practice has been prevalent for many years, which is of course ridiculous , but not of course to the young, which is the inexperienced innocent population they are actually endeavouring to influence. Popular TV series show whole neighbourhoods existing as mixed cultures enjoying similar lives together, giving a wide berth to the degradation and run down areas that exist in many of the big cities.

Actually, according to some of my colleagues, many intelligent non­white members of society are actually irritated and angered by the whole hypothetical and abstract representations. Racism is on the rise all over the country, which is exactly what the brainwashing instigators desire. They will then have every excuse to form a coordinated army of riot police that will ultimately control all of its citizens. Welcome to 1984 in its entire horrific eventuality.

Keep the faith

Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com

THE FIRM OUR VIEW

AT the time of the Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II she was recognised as Head of State by a selection of countries, some of which were considered Dominions and others Colonies and during her reign there was a total of 32 independent countries.

In addition, there were several small Colonies such as Bermuda, Falkland Islands and Gibraltar who became known as Overseas Territories and they alongside Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man also recognised her position.

Over the years, as Independence took place a number of new countries declared themselves Republics and whilst remaining as part of the Commonwealth of Nations no longer acknowledged the Monarch as Head of State.

Now 70 years later, that figure has dropped

to just 15 (including the UK) plus the Overseas Territories and already it looks as if the next to go will be Belize, followed almost certainly by Jamaica, New Zealand and possibly Australia.

There is no doubt that the British Royal Family is no longer viewed as being above reproach, with family feuds, infidelity, marriage breakdowns, paper bags full of cash and more which means there is something of a divide between the young and old over the relevance of the ‘family firm’. What has become clear from the scenes leading up to the Coronation of King Charles III is that not just the British but many nations, both home and abroad do still have affection for the pomp and circumstance of a well organised event and one can be pretty certain that the majority of even the most cynical would jump at the chance of having tea at Buckingham Palace.

Eat or skip

IS breakfast really that im‐portant?

While the debate contin‐ues as to whether it is the best start to the day or can be skipped, Alice H Lichten‐stein, a US professor of Nutri‐tion Science, stressed that it was important not to get hung up on amounts and calorie counts.

Nutrient needs depended on weight, age, activity levels and health conditions, she said. You should focus on what you enjoy, what gives you energy and makes you feel full. “We’ve tried giving people formulas,” she said, “but if you look at dietary

By Clinica Britannia

Lose weight a little bit faster

patterns and scores, we don’t always do so well as far as diet quality goes. “What’s the ideal breakfast?” Dr Lichtenstein asked. “It’s whatever makes your body work best,” she declared.

DO you want to lose a little or a lot of weight before summer arrives, then con‐tact us at Clinica Britannia as now avail‐able is a new specialised injection that will help kick start your metabolism, so you can lose weight faster and more efficiently when following a controlled diet.

As proper nutrition is essential to healthy living, successful weight loss and the overall well‐being of the body. Seeking advice from our Nutritionist can help you to un‐derstand and stick to a diet plan based on your health, physical goals, and medical needs. She may advise you to have a stool or blood sample to rule out any underlying health problems and to identify the cause of the weight gain, as this can be due to various reasons, one of them being Gut Dysbiosis.

In your gut, there are trillions of microor‐ganisms that make up your gut micro‐biome. When these become out of bal‐ance, dysbiosis happens. If left untreated this can cause a range of chronic illnesses such as food intolerances, obesity, Chron’s disease, Type 1 diabetes, and colorectal cancer.

Our Nutritionist with the results of these diagnostic tests can work out an individual plan tailored to your lifestyle and personal diet preferences to lose weight healthily and for the long term.

Slow burners

PERHAPS blaming a slow metabolism for putting on extra pounds isn’t merely a face‐saving myth.

Researchers from Aberdeen University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing found that the average metabol ‐ic rate in the UK, the US and Europe really has slowed down over the last 40 years.

They calculated that men burn ap ‐proximately 220 calo ‐ries fewer a day and women 122 calories, compared with the 1980s.

The huge change in our diet could be to blame.

Urged to eat less meat and dairy ‐ high in saturated fats that speed up the metabolism ‐ we eat more ultra ‐ processed foods high in carbo ‐hydrates that slow it down, experts sug ‐gested.

In the swim

EXERCISE may seem like a memory from the past for older adults with mobility or health challenges.

It’s undeniable that with age some types of physical activity can take a toll on the body, but swimming is an ac‐tivity many seniors find undemanding.

It has multiple health benefits and is an excel‐lent way to stay fit, ac‐tive, and engaged.

Doctors, physiothera‐pists and fitness coach‐es alike agree swim ‐ming has the potential to overcome many of the barriers that older people encounter when wanting to exer‐cise.

DIET PLAN: Our nutritionist can help you.

16% Growth in the global cosmetics market in one year.

By Clinica Britannia

Dentures are a part of life

I HAVE a denture and hav‐ing just moved to the area, worry what will happen if it becomes loose or breaks, as in the past I have been left for two days without them, unable to eat.

Like natural teeth, den‐tures are an integral part of our everyday life, they aid us in chewing our food, affect the way we look and talk, and can also help give us back our self confidence that we may have lost after past dental problems may have caused us to lose our teeth.

When the denture does not fit correctly or an acci‐dent happens and our den‐tures break or fracture and we can no longer use them, it can be overwhelming and embarrassing.

After all, we need them,

DENTURES: We offer an Express Dental Service.

just as the same as anyone with natural teeth, to carry on life as normal. For most denture wearers, broken or ill‐fitting dentures are cause for an emergency and need to be treated by your Den‐tist as just that, ‘An Emer‐gency’.

At CLINICA BRITANNIA we can offer our existing and new patients an Ex ‐press Dental Service, often being able to fix dentures within the hour or while you wait, without compromising on the quality of the work done.

How to weather an economic ‘Perfect Storm’

WITH many struggling to buy food, pay electricity bills and heat homes, there’s lots of coverage in the UK press currently of budget supermarkets in competition with more traditional ones. And during a cost­of­living crisis, shopping at Aldi or Lidl can be one practical solution to save money.

But what about farmers’ markets? Can savings be made there too?

For some, these markets are merely a marketing scam that add a shallow veneer of artisanal authenticity to otherwise basic food items and rarely offer more than marginal improvements over cheaper brand name items. They are mere entertainment, a theme park for the upper middle class to pretend they’re country folk and being eco. Supermarkets (though often accused of screwing farmers) offer better value and efficiency and are one of the great successes of modern supply chains.

The reality of these markets is then, for some, a superficial facade, a delusion and a rip­off. Yes, some of the sourdough breads, cheeses and sausages are

terrific. But in the end, it’s a lifestyle choice. It’s entertainment and the wealthy buyer is getting more of an experience than a tangible bang for their buck.

However, not all farmers’ markets are the same. Doubtless the ones in afflu ­

ent areas of London are merrily trying to fleece customers with more money than sense wherever they can. In my experience here in Spain, though, there are many great places where overall quality of food is indeed higher than at the supermarket, you’re less likely to buy stuff you don’t need and there’s way less plastic involved. It’s just a shame not everyone has the budget or time (or inclination) to shop there.

But what gets me is ‘artisanal coffee’? How is that artisanal? It’s grown, picked, imported and roasted and bagged just like any other. There must be a word like greenwashing for all this. ‘Artisanwashing’? Artisan, my ****!

And as for Aldi and Lidl, let’s look at some of the advantages and disadvantages to consider before making the switch. These supermarkets offer products at significantly lower prices than traditional ones. And despite their low prices, they offer a wide selection of high ­ quality products, from fresh produce to household essentials. A simple, efficient, no ­ frills shopping experience with sustainable options, such as organic and locally sourced products.

On the other hand, Aldi and Lidl are often smaller, making it difficult to find

specific products and the selection is often more limited. They’re known for their long checkout queues, they generally don’t offer loyalty programmes or rewards for repeat customers and, typically, have fewer staff members, making it difficult to find assistance when needed.

So, to put it bluntly, shopping at Aldi or Lidl low­price supermarkets during a cost ­ of ­ living crisis can be a smart way to save money, but the limited selection, long checkout queues and lack of loyalty programmes may not work for everyone...

Or for one of my neighbours. “The problem with Aldi,” he moans, “is that you go in for some carrots and come out with a chainsaw. Or in for a tin of tomato soup and out with a mini generator.”

Couldn’t have put it better it myself. And, you may have noticed, I didn’t!

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

Nora Johnson’s opinions are her own and are not necessarily representative of those of the publishers, advertisers or sponsors.

Nora’s latest thriller.

Noraistheauthorofpopularpsychological suspenseandcrimethrillersandafreelancejournalist.

ARE you looking for a retirement community that offers comfort, security, services and a vibrant lifestyle? If so, you should consider Ciudad Patricia Senior Resort in Benidorm. This resort is the first ‘Integrated Retirement Community’ in Spain, which means it has everything you need to thrive in your golden years.

Ciudad Patricia Senior Resort is located on a 100,000m² park surrounded by the natural park of Sierra Helada, offering stunning views and fresh air. It is also close to the town of Benidorm, where you can find shops, restaurants, bars and entertainment options.

You can choose from different types of apartments that suit your needs and preferences, all with modern facilities and design.

But what makes Ciudad Patricia Senior Resort truly special is the range of services and activities it offers to its residents. You can enjoy delicious meals at the

Ciudad Patricia, a place to thrive in your senior years

restaurant and bar, relax at the beauty centre, stay fit in the gym and many pools, socialise in the central building or join one of the many cultural events organised by the resort.

You can also benefit from medical care, personal assistance, transportation and other personal services if you need them.

Ciudad Patricia Senior Resort is more than just a place to live; it is a place to thrive. It is ideal for seniors who already live in Spain and want to continue experience the Spanish lifestyle in a retirement community that caters to their needs and wishes, a place where you can make new friends and enjoy complete peace of mind.

Open Day: Monday 22nd May

If you are interested in learning more about Ciudad Patricia, you should consider coming to one of our open days. The next one is on Monday 22nd May starting at 11 o’clock. During the open day you can see first-hand what living at Ciudad Patricia is all about and how if gives you peace of mind in your senior years.

Most affordable cities

TRAVEL gurus have discovered the top 10 cheapest cities for British expatriates in Spain.

Researchers at Why This Place have looked into the cost of essential living requirements for each city in Spain.

The travel experts analysed the data and found out the cost of a one­bedroom rental apartment in the city centre, including the average cost of utilities, groceries and transport, to find out the cheapest place for British expatriates.

Statistics show that the number one spot is surprisingly just 54 miles (87 kms) from Madrid. Ávila, in Castile and León is the cheapest town to move to in Spain.

Although not a seaside town, Ávila is described as a beautiful medieval city with an intriguing history, and on average, living there will cost Britons just £378.46

ÁVILA: A beautiful medieval city with an intriguing history.

(€423) a month.

The second most affordable town in Spain is the coastal town of Ferrol, in Galicia, with an average monthly cost of £467.18 (€522). Studies have shown that the average cost of a restaurant meal in Ferrol is the cheapest of all of the

Spanish cities at just £9 (€10).

Third on the list is Huesca, Aragon, with an average cost of living of £474.94 (€531).

Then follows (4) Ourense, (5) Cáceres, (6) Santiago de Compostela, (7) Jaén, (8) Torrevieja, (9) Jerez and (10) Gandia.

CIUDAD PATRICIA: More than just a place to live.

Masterclass Removals and Storage

PUTTING your trust in a removals company while you are in the process of moving locations can be a stressful task, with paperwork, time constraints and the packing of your worldly goods to contend with. But we have the solution for you!

Masterclass Removals and Storage is a British family ­ run business based in Benissa, on the Costa Blanca, which prides itself on being professional and reliable with their door door removals and storage services, promising tailored solutions for all of your needs.

They have their own staff and vehicles, meaning you can have the peace of mind that your belongings are in safe hands at all times ­ whether they are storing them

MASTERCLASS: Will find a solution for you!

for you or assisting you in your move to your new home.

From your initial enquiry and quote,

right through to the moving of your goods, you will receive a personal, straightforward and friendly service from the team.

Masterclass Removals and Storage also has in­depth knowledge and experi­

ence of the recently implemented Brexit rules and regulations. They will help you with all of the paperwork required for customs clearance, offering you the best price while reducing the stress so that you can enjoy the journey of moving to your new home!

All of your goods will be fully insured, and their flexible approach means the team will work to your requirements to ensure collection and delivery is a straightforward process. They offer various levels of removal services, from Spain to the UK and through France and, depending on the packaging you need, can provide boxes and material as well as packing services to ensure any fragile and high ­ value possessions are stored safely.

With thousands of satisfied customers now enjoying their new life with the help of Masterclass Removals and Storage, get in touch with the team to find a solution for you!

A Pain in Spain

EXPAND YOUR SPANISH

NO­ONE wants to think about being ill, but at some stage it’s usually necessary to see a doctor.

Despite post­pandemic hiccups, few Brits badmouth Spain’s Seguridad Social health service. But what they will come across, in specialist centres and hospitals are the notices warning that those with limited Spanish should bring an interpreter.

Nevertheless some doctors like to practise their often excellent English, although a friend and I were both puzzled when her specialist appeared to tell her to work more when he actually wanted her to walk more.

Unless you have private healthcare, initial contact with the medical profession begins at a Centro de salud where you will see un médico/una médica de cabecera. Once inside their surgery or consulta, launch into the problem:

I don’t feel well…..no me encuentro bien or me encuentro mal

I have a cough…..tengo tos

I have a sore throat…..me duele la garganta or me pica la garganta

I have a headache/earache/backache/ stomach ache …..me duele la cabeza/me duelen los oídos/me duele la espalda/me duele el estómago

My leg/foot/ankle/knee/thigh/hip hurts… ..me duele la pierna/el pie/el tobillo/la rodilla/el muslo/la cadera

My arm/hand/wrist/elbow hurts…..me duele el brazo/la mano/la muñeca/el codo

I have a pain in my kidneys…..me duelen los riñones

I have palpitations…..tengo palpitaciones/ taquicardia

I have piles/haemorroids…..tengo almorranas/hemorroides depending on whether you call a spade a spade

If you haven’t been specific, a doctor will probably ask:

What is the matter?...¿qué le pasa?

Where does it hurt?.....¿dónde le duele? or ¿dónde le molesta?

When did it start?.....¿cuándo empezó el problema?

Many diagnostic words ­ un virus, una infección vírica, una infección, bronquitis, appendicitis, hernia ­ are sufficiently lookalike not to need translation. For others ­ un esguince (sprain), pulmonía (pneumonia) ­ for instance, you will need to get the dictionary out before leaving with your receta or prescription which, as cooks might already know, is also a recipe.

Meanwhile the tempting pena does not come in handy at the doctor’s, as this means a prison term, sadness or a pity ­ but not pain.

Of cabbages and kings LINDA

HALL

I THOUGHT I was going to see a coronation on November 22, 1975, when I went to the hotel over the road from where we lived in Benidorm.

We didn’t have a television ­ that’s a story for another day ­ and my daughter and I were lucky to get a seat in the already ­ crowded television lounge.

It was winter and the low season, but a party of high­ranking Army officers was staying there, although I never did find out if they were on a jolly or business.

Franco had died two days earlier and the man whom he had named as his successor, Juan Carlos, Prince of Asturias, was proclaimed King in the Palacio de Las Cortes, Spain’s parliament building.

Spain was still shellshocked, although Franco’s long ­ drawn ­ out death came as no surprise. And yes, I did see people toasting his death on November 20.

In those days I did my shopping at a

Advertising Feature

YOUR boat has been locked away in storage, and with the sunny weather fast approaching you are itching to get her wet for the first time this season! You get her de­winterised, antifouled and everything gets checked over thoroughly before you experience the exhilarating feeling of taking her out to your favourite spots. Even though you have taken care of all the physical aspects to make sure your rides will be pleasurable and trouble free, it is easy to forget to take care of any unforeseen and above all unhappy events that might occur whilst taking your prized possession for a spin.

We help with your help

small indoor market in the centre of the town and when I went in as usual, one of the stallholders, a greengrocer whom everyone knew was a communist, was drinking cava, although we called it Champagne in the days before the French lay permanent claim to the name.

There were more people knocking it back on the corner of the street too.

Two days later, I was disappointed to see that the crown and a sceptre, accompanied by a crucifix, remained throughout on a footstool covered in red and gold brocade.

Instead Juan Carlos, still handsome and with his copybook still unblotted, was not crowned but sworn in as King in a proclamation that ended with the words ¡Viva el Rey!

At which, all the Army officers present leapt to their feet and bellowed in unison, “¡Viva el Rey!”

Some people joined in, some didn’t but we all stood as the Spain’s national anthem was played, aware ­ in one of those moments that nobody ever forgets ­ that this was the start of something new.

THE British Benevolent Fund was founded over a century ago to provide financial relief for those Britons in Spain who were in extreme difficulties and with no other recourse.

As a charity of last resort, the BBF has helped countless thousands of Britons over the years overcome the worst of life’s challenges.

We try wherever possible to find solutions to problems, a hand up not a handout but sometime a difficult situation can turn into a blessing with a bit of focus and of course ­ luck.

Sarah is a single mother of two teenage children.

She worked full time with a modest income which paid the bills and supported her family.

She was officially resident, and the children born in Spain.

The father had not contributed to any payments, and sometimes it was a

struggle to get to the end of the month. She had no savings.

Shortly before Easter she was referred to us by one of our partner charities at www.supportin spain.info

She had got in touch with them because her employer had run into difficulties, and she had not been paid that month and there was a possibility of the company going under.

She had applied for state benefits and would be entitled to some help for unemployment, but it would take a while to come through.

She needed immediate help for basic food and household items for the

It’s plain sailing with Boat Insurance by Liberty Seguros

Olaf Clayton of BBF.

children which the BBF was able to provide ­ in fact it took two months for the state support to arrive, but we were able to agree a grant to cover her that took a big worry away while she looked for other work.

She was able to find a new job which was better paid and with better conditions and she was even able to retrieve her back pay owed to her.

The BBF is only able to help people like Sarah with your help. If you would like to support our work with a donation, please visit www.british benevolentfund.org.

Thank you on behalf of all. Olaf

Clayton, Chair BBF

a policy with the expat in mind that extends far beyond mandatory liability cover. With added benefits that include voluntary public liability, theft, damage to the vessel itself (as well as auxiliary craft, wreckage removal, special fixtures and personal belongings, amongst others), damage caused by third parties and damage due to pollution risks and coastal regattas, its marine insurance provides comprehensive protection both when moored and out on the seas.

Nevertheless, regardless of whether you own a dinghy, jet ski or a luxury super yacht, taking care of the body work and mechanics is only one aspect that goes towards assuring your safety. Sailing is a sport of variables and the unforeseen can unfortunately happen; however, having the right cover in place with an insurance company that you can trust will go towards preparing you for any eventuality.

has designed

What’s more, should the unimaginable actually happen, its marine policy will cover loss of life, permanent disability and injury to occupants for accidents that take place both on the boat as well as accidents that occur whilst boarding or disembarking.

This policy can also be tailored to individual needs to cover solicitor’s fees, medical bills, loss of wages and other aspects that are important to you. LIBERTY SEGUROS can also insure your vessel under the traditional Institute Yacht Clauses (IYC).

This is where LIBERTY SEGUROS ­ the preferred expat insurer in Spain ­ can help. LIBERTY SEGUROS

Dear Leapy LETTERS

I love your articles and eagerly look forward to reading your columns.

If only more people were like you and I and had the balls to speak their mind!

I’m definitely not PC and don’t intend to start at age 67. I’m constantly in trouble with my wife and my three daughters and just about everyone who listens to me banging on about why we are expected to pander to our foreign friends when in our own country/culture. ♂

Keep up your great work Leapy, we must not let the b******s grind us down.

All the best Jim

Hello Maureen

My husband told me he had sent you an email about me and I was truly delighted ­ and surprised ­ to see my face on your front page (edition 1969)!

I’m sorry it has taken me a while to reply and say thank you but Tony, my husband, hasn’t been too well lately (another heart attack) so I’ve rather had my hands full. He even turned out to be allergic to Heparin! We see the cardiologist on Wednesday so I’m hopeful of some good news.

I shared your front page on my Facebook page and received many lovely comments that have helped me tremendously during this difficult time.

Thank you again and kind regards.

Tricia Gabbitas.

Dear Sirs

Can you please ask your readers if any of them suffer from awful administrators. For nearly 30 years I let mine use my bank account, until I realised that there were irregular transactions. When he was confronted, all I got was the Spanish shrug. Needless to say I put a stop to it.

The problem now is he keeps coming up with all sorts of jobs that need more and more money. He is well paid from all the owners. In fact he put his fee up again three months ago. We are intimidated by him.

He is very arrogant. He never explains who these people are that he has to pay extra money to. Most of us are senior citizens. We have talked to solicitors who have taken our money, listened, but done nothing.

Please ask your readers for their advice.

Best regards Margaret, Benalmadena

Same problem

Hi, We too had Gwendolyn Ottley’s Travel Insurance problem but we have found an Insurance Brokers called Mena Cotos Y Tejada in San Pedro Alcantara who arranged Travel Insurance for us with ARAG and NO age limit !

It is not cheap, but our minds were/are at ease ……

We are in our 80s and travelling again fully Insured !

Good luck,

Extra payment

Margaret Hayes

We live in Orihuela Costa and like many others we pay our SUMA in May each year. Approx four/six weeks before the payment date we receive from the SUMA office an email detailing the amount that we owe. We always pay by Direct Debit. This year without any notice the Suma office took an extra payment.

We were told this was to cover street cleaning and bin emptying. We never set up a direct debit with our bank for the new amount and have been told that as the Suma office is responsible for tax collection they can set up the payment without our prior agreement.!!!!

We have tried to phone and visit the office but they don’t answer the phone and at our last visit there was over 25 people waiting for an appointment!!

We are more than happy to pay our taxes but really wonder why the Suma office bother to send us details of the required payment if they then add to it.

The extra payment is supposed to cover the street cleaning etc. We just hope that it will be spent for that purpose as the streets and bins of OC are in a disgusting state and have been for years. and no doubt will stay like that until OC has its independence from Orihuela town.

Terry and Shirley

Still trying

Hi all,

Thank you for your reply to my letter re travel insurance.

I rang Stay Sure travel and was told their age limit was 85 years, so no help there as I am 86 years old.

I tried to get travel insurance from England, but they will not do it as I am a Spanish resident.

I am now at a loss as to what to do.

Kind regards

Gwendoline Ottley

DAVID WORBOYS THINKING ALOUD

LIFE in Spain is different from other European countries. Spain is very colourful with perennial flowers, sunny festivals and historic cities, but living here can require a lot of patience and a lot of adapting. Solving a problem or getting explanations can be very slow, time consuming and fraught with complications. However, Spain is one of the world’s most developed countries.

The Spanish talk fast, drive fast and live fast, and yet institutions are terribly slow. In the time it takes to draw a sum of money at a bank counter or send a registered letter in a Post Office, you could buy a house in England. So the queues build up. As there is not much sense of time, people here seem to spend a lot of their time waiting patiently ….

And we are waiting for a refund of €284. Over five years ago, our IBI (Council Tax) was inadvertently paid twice. It took eight months for the Patronato to acknowledge this and to promise a refund. After 17 visits to the local office, the sum is still confirmed as owing to us and ‘on its way’, but our claim will probably be statute ­ barred by now. Five

IF you are on the hunt for some luxurious glamping and want to take your furry friends, then look no further than the dog friendly Walled Garden Pods.

The Walled Garden Pods is a luxury glamping site situated in a renovated Georgian walled garden.

It is located between Rocester and Denstone in the quiet, picturesque Staffordshire countryside close to the Derbyshire border and just a stone’s throw away from the Peak District National Park.

The site is a small and friendly, family­owned/managed business with glamping

LIVING IN SPAIN

about eight or nine kilometres every day. Younger people regularly practise yoga, jogging, swimming and cycling.

The network of motorways and mountain roads and the efficiency of railways makes for enjoyable travel to stunning cities and spectacular mountain and coastal scenery.

years on, no information is forthcoming. Water management is non­existent. The amount of water wasted every day could probably solve the current drought crisis. There are numerous lively festivals and street processions, marking national and regional anniversaries, religious and saint days, attended by entire families. Family life is close. Elderly relatives are respected and well cared for, normally en famille. Children are adored and participate in family social life from an early age. Every Easter, people dress up, cover their faces and parade as benign mem­

bers of Ku­Klux­Klan.

There are shocking examples of animal neglect, abuse and cruelty in domestic, farming and so­called ‘entertainment’ environments. Numerous British (and some Spanish) organisations provide sanctuary for animals rescued from mistreatment and raise awareness of the situation. There is nothing they can do for chickens, cattle, pigs ­ and, of course, bulls.

Among Spanish successes are the recent reduction in inflation and the physical health and longevity of its people. In the countryside, many elderly people walk

Dog friendly

the glamping pods so there’s no need to leave your fourlegged friends behind!

If we choose to eat in season, depending on the time of year, we have access to fresh, home­grown produce. Many fruits can be freely picked and consumed, such as olives, oranges, lemons, figs, blackberries, almonds, pomegranates, nisperos (loquats) and bananas. Local plantations and orchards produce strawberries, peaches, mangoes, avocados, pomegranates, cherries, chirimoyas (custard apples) and melons. There is also a variety of vegetables, fish, seafood, herbs and spices, garlic, wine and honey.

For more from our columnists please scan this QR Code

No Mow May

GARDEN PODS: Luxury glamping at its best.

pods that have been lovingly hand built by using reclaimed and recycled materi­

GET away for less this spring and summer with the UK’s Caravan and Motorhome Club’s 20 per cent off sale.

By booking a stay of three or more nights up to 14 days in advance at selected UK Club campsites this May and June, members can make great savings and explore more new locations in the UK.

The Caravan and Motorhome Club is encouraging members to

als where possible.

The good news is, dogs are accepted in three of five of

The area is known and loved by many for its breathtaking views, bustling market towns and pretty villages, historic houses, famous attractions and hundreds of traditional events, such as the unique Derbyshire custom of Well Dressing.

For more information, head to the website: the walledgardenpods.co.uk.

Bargain bookings

make the most of the warmer months and save more by booking early at a selection of UK campsites.

The 20 per cent Spring Sale is available in a number of campsites Championing and helping its members get more from the great outdoors, whether glamping or touring, the Caravan and Mo ­

torhome Club represents the interests of over 1.1 million caravans, motorhomes, campervans and trailer tent owners across the UK. With over 115 years of knowledge and expertise, the Club has a wealth of experience and prides itself on offering great value and high­quality campsites for tourers and glampers.

THE UK Caravan and Motorhome Club have confirmed that they are supporting ‘No Mow May’.

Champions of the great outdoors the Caravan and Motorhome Club represents the interests of over 1.1 million caravan, motorhome, campervan and trailer tent owners across the UK.

The Club which works with Green Tourism as a key enabler to working in a sustainable manner and supporting sustainable initiatives throughout its network of sites and offices have confirmed they are taking part in ‘No Mow May’. No Mow May is Plantlife’s annual campaign encouraging people not to mow during May and to help provide spaces for nature to thrive by letting long grass and wildflowers grow naturally.

Since the 1970s nearly

97 per cent of flower rich meadows have been lost, and that means a vital loss of food needed by pollinators like bees and butterflies which are also at risk of disappearing.

Natasha Shane, Head of Strategic Product Development and Sustainability for the Caravan and Motorhome Club says, “Many campsite teams are working hard on biodiversity initiatives with support from Green Tourism, who are advising them on how to implement simple changes to attract wildlife and create a wonderful natural environment.”

Anna Ellis

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

Spain has traditions quite alien to Europeans north of the Pyrenees.

Letting the grass grow.

Photo Credits: dreamstime and wall.alphacod

Image: UK Caravan and Motorhome Club

PETS

New UK legislation

NEW legislation in the UK will affect dog owners which will end a practice many call ‘cruel and unnecessary.’

From February 2024 the UK will bring into force a ban on electric shock dog collars, according to a news source on Saturday, April 29.

The move has been praised by the charity, Dogs Trust. Dr Rachel Casey commented, “we welcome this announcement from Defra that hand ­ held electric shock collars are to be banned in England. It is both unnecessary and cruel to use these collars on dogs.

“Research has shown that electric shock collars negatively impact dog welfare and instead of improving behaviour, risk causing further behaviour problems. Worse still, they can be a mechanism for abuse if used in anger.”

The collars are activated by a radio ­ controlled device which can be used from a distance of about two miles, which are capable of giving painful electrical shocks for up to 11 seconds at a time

Figures indicate that one in 20 British dog owners have used the controversial collars on their dogs, which are cited as a training device.

Mark Beazley CEO of Charity The Club Kennel said, “There is simply no excuse for using these devices.”

Dog-sitting is very affordable

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 for multiple pets at very little cost. Join our club, it pays offer after only one or two nights away from home.

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 petcare. These are the steps to take:

1. Register as a homeowner on HouseSit Match.com

2. Choose a Standard account (£69 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.

Trustpilot Testimonials ­ 4.9 / 5 Excellent 10 out of 10 for housesitmatch.com

I have had nothing but good and helpful service from the people who run this site, and my experience has been excellent.

Tristram Cosgrave ­ Dog and cat owner, Malaga

How do you join?

Please register online via our website www.Housesitmatch.com.

Need a pet or house-sitter? Get in touch. House-sitting can be a win-win for both parties, free house and pet-sitting, 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 or pet-sitter go to www.HousesitMatch.com.

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

Advertising Feature

Dogs with phobias of intense noises: Fireworks, storms, firecrackers...

IT should be remembered that some dogs show fear of loud noises, such as firecrackers, fireworks, storms or shotgun shots. Fear is a normal adaptive mechanism that helps the animal cope with stimuli that could end its life.

But if this fear is disproportionate, that is, an exaggerated level of reaction with respect to the stimulus, we are talking about a phobia. If your dog suffers from an intense noise phobia behaviour, it is advisable to consult your veterinary specialist in clinical ethology who will resort to behaviour modification techniques to eliminate fears and phobias.

Tips for Loud Noise Phobia:

Provide the dog with a safe environment, do not reinforce fear, use pheromones and anxiolytic drugs if necessary (ask your vet): A safe place is one previously positive, that is, through the use of food and play. Do not put your dog in a crate to avoid destructive behaviour during a storm. The dog is still going to be scared when in the crate and it is likely that he could injure himself trying to get out of the crate.

When your dog is beginning to have anxiety, before he shows his fearful behaviour, encourage him to participate in an activity that captures his attention and distracts him from his fear.

WASHING MACHINE BROKEN? Call Bluesky Repairs for ALL your domestic appliance repairs. 626 430 671 (WhatsApp) (303019)

CARS FOR SALE

www.helpbenidorm.org

and on Facebook VOLUNTEERS NEEDED, particularly if you speak Spanish, and have a car (although this is not essential). Tel President 607 387 040. We are an English-speaking charity that assists residents and tourists of all nationalities in times of crisis. We meet every Thursday at 11am in Jose Llorca Social Centre C. Goya s/n. Benidorm. We loan out mobility and medical equipment including oxygen concentrators on a short-term basis. (288658)

BUY

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

I BUY RECORDS 50s to the 90s. Best prices for good records. Tel: 622 750 117 / 962 851 809 (303212)

CARAVANS

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

CHARITY

El Campello Christian Community - Life and Family Sunday Service at 11am Bilingual (English and Spanish) at C/ San Bartolome, 35 (Bajo No. 6), El Campello. For more information visit www.elcampe llochristiancommunity.org, email campellocc@gmail.com or call Juan Zúñiga - 686 203 183 (Spanish) or Sue Bishop - 610 639 426 (English) (233602)

THE SALVATION ARMY

English Speaking Church of Denia Worship Service. Sunday 10.30am followed by a time of Fellowship. Everyone is welcome. Come as you are! For more information: Dieter Zimmerer +34 698 609 658 or Barbara Zimmerer +34 652 319 810 Email dieterzimmerer@hotmail.com, www.centrosaron.com

(10008)

BENEFICIAL INSURANCE SERVICES. Car, Home, Business, Travel, Life, Funeral, all insurances available. Policies in English. BEST rates, covers & service. Immediate quotes. Tel 961 129 215 / 622 275 561, (WhatsApp) info@beneficialinsurancein spain.com or visit www.be neficialinsuranceinspain.com for online quote. (303063)

OTHERS

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

ELECTRICIAN FOR SALE/WANTED

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

HEALTH & BEAUTY

WIGS

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

INSURANCE

FED UP OF NOT BEING SENT YOUR RENEWAL? CUT YOUR INSURANCE COSTS AND STILL HAVE 100% COVER. YOU HAVE TRIED THE REST NOW TRY THE BEST WITH SOS INSURANCE. WE CAN EVEN INSURE YOU FOR UP TO A €1,000 OF WATERLOSS. CALL 686 116 297 (WHATSAPP TOO) OR VISIT www.sosinsur anceinspain.com or email tracey@sosinsur anceinspain.com (290139)

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

LOCKSMITH/ELECTRICIAN MASSAGE

ALBIR , ALTEA, MORAIRA, 24 HOUR EMERGENCY. 686 513 510 (294632)

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

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

RELAX CENTRE in BENIDORM - Excellent atmosphere. Expert Masseuses. 24/7 OutcallsTel: 603 324 564 (290194)

NATURIST male gives relaxing massage. Half price 1st time offer €25. For men and women. Private premises in Jávea, WhatsApp Rob on 613 831 380 (303490)

METALWORK

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

MISCELLANEOUS MORTGAGES

GUARANTEED MORTAGE 100%. Acceptance. EX Pat Mortages. Non Resident Mortages. Spanish Resident Mortgages. Highest LTV in Spain. Call Damian today on: 655 141 092 (302913)

MOTORBIKES

PETER ZWAAN MOTORBIKES, A+ Occasions showroom, BMW R1150RT, yr 2002, 45.000 kms, Euro 5.200, CostaBlancaMotor bikes.com (290148)

MOTORING

AUTO BASTIAN mobile mechanic. Tel 608 860 725. (295674)

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)

NAUTICAL

INTERNATIONAL SKIPPER LICENCE : Courses held in English and starts soon. VHF and Radar Courses. 626 245 098 (303137)

NURSING

VIAGRA / KAMAGRA / CIALIS. BEST PRICES. FREE DISCREET DELIVERY. ALL AREAS COVERED. TEL: PETER 644 139 274 (303028)

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

DECORATORS W.D. GILMOUR. Painter & Decorator. Established 35 years in Moraira. ESTIMATES FREE. Call William on 609 691 776 or 966 490 602 (301487)

PAINTER & DECORATOR. WINDOW CLEANER / MAINTENANCE. CALL NEIL ON +34 642 577 442 OR +44 753 586 6419 (302909)

PAINTERS/DECORATOR PETS

NEED YOUR PETS TAKEN CARE OF? Not kennels, just a friendly home. Large fenced area. 699 790 080 Altea (294597)

HOTEL 5 FEATHERS. Holidays for your birds. Call Maria 607 26 25 24. www.papagayos -costablanca.net (302911)

PROPERTY TO LET

DOGS & ALL PETS VERY WELCOME - 500 year old beamed cottage set in beautiful valley of the charming Jesus Pobre village, Javea. Beautiful pool & garden. www.littlehouse inspain.com (302023)

PROPERTY WANTED

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

REMOVALS/STORAGE

BENIDORM and surrounding areas. Two-man removal. 622 658 992 (301136)

MAN & VAN for hire, cheap & reliable. Jalon Valley & surrounding area. Call/Whatsapp 636 100 873 (303109)

ROLLER SHUTTERS

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

SITUATIONS VACANT

LOOKING FOR ENTHUSIASTIC people to join me working from home online or direct to friends, neighbours etc. Good commission rates. No start up fees. Contact will be Larry/Elaine 667 196 186 (303343)

SITUATION WANTED

ENGLISH LADY URGENTLY LOOKING FOR CLEANING / CARE WORK. BENITACHELL AREA. NO TRANSPORT. 711 032 097 (302916)

SKIP HIRE

JAVEA SKIP HIRE. CALPE TO DENIA. 2.5M AND 3.5M SKIPS. GARDEN OR RUBBLE.TEL:692 588 088. (302905)

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

STRUCTURAL SURVEYS TELECOMMUNICATIONS

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

If you can read it, so can your clients. Contact us and have your business grow at + 34 951 386 161

PROPERTY FOR SALE

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

HIGH-quality professional document translation for immigration, legal, academic, financial, literary and advertising purposes. All languages. +34 645367157. www.wordsmithtransla tions.com (302914)

STEVE’S MAN WITH A VAN. DELIVERIES, REMOVAL OF RUBBISH. BENIDORM, SURROUNDING AREAS. 633 930 477 (295260)

Audi e-tron GT quattro - simply stunning!

ROAD TEST

byMarkSlack

IT seems that manufacturers think EVs need to look quirky and left field, you

expect combustion engine cars redesigned for all electric power to look essentially the same but all new EVs seem to be distinctly avantgarde. However some have taken a different

route with their EVs. Take a bow Audi!

The e ­ tron GT is a stunning head turner that attracted nothing but positive comments and admiration from all who saw my car. It’s not surprising given the swooping lines, purposefully wide stance and sleek profile. Although styling is very subjective I think few would disagree that it’s a darned good looking car from every angle.

There are just two models, the GT quattro and RS GT with five trim levels and prices starting from a not inconsiderable €97,649/ £85,185, with the higher performance RS version from €133,185/£116,185. As with any EV it’s all about range and the GT has an official maximum of 487km/ 303 miles on a single

charge with a 50kw charger taking one hour 30 minutes from 10 to 80 per cent or just 23 minutes if you can locate a 150kw charger. In reality, depending upon your driving style and how much of the considerable performance you use, the real world range is somewhere in the order of 270 miles. Ranges have improved, and will doubtless continue to improve, but then they need to get better with the lamentable public charging network.

One can’t help sympathising with car makers!

As with all Audis there’s a feeling of solidity and quality with an interior is pleasingly free from much of the touchscreen mania that seems to afflict many interiors these days. There’s an enviable standard equipment list too, but the optional extras can raise the list price to lofty heights.

It also feels special from its sweeping curves to its Alcantara clad interior.

However those sweeping lines do have the effect of making the interior feel somewhat compact given the e­tron’s exterior dimensions. You do slide rather than climb into the car.

On the road the etron doesn’t disappoint with blistering acceleration and handling to match. There’s synthesised sound that offers a suitably aural background for such sporting looks and despite its considerable size the GT is remarkably nimble and enjoyable on cross country drives. It’s also a distinguished cruiser on A roads and motorways.

If you’re looking for style and class in EV form, and you have the financial wherewithal, then the etron GT is definitely your kind of car.

A car full of style and class.

Tighter checks

NEW measures will safeguard passengers and crack down on unfit taxi and Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) drivers, with tighter checks introduced across UK local authorities.

EVs falling behind

DESPITE an exceptionally strong start to 2023 in the UK, with growth recorded in overall car buying demand, new and used car sales, and average prices, the electric vehicle (EVs) share of the retail market is falling behind where it needs to be to meet the government’s 2030 targets.

According to Auto Trader’s Road to 2030 Report, the government must step in with a detailed programme of tax incentives to improve the affordability of EVs and support the industry’s efforts in driving mass consumer adoption.

The largest automotive marketplace’s latest insight into the electric

vehicle market warns that whilst consumer demand for used EVs is robust, buyer interest in new has dropped by almost two thirds ­ or 65 per cent ­ since the beginning of 2022. This is due in part to the rising cost of living, higher borrowing costs, and the well documented hike in energy prices.

The market for new EVs is still hampered by a lack of affordable choices, with the number of new electric models between £20,000£30,000 decreasing, less than seven years before the government’s ban on new petrol and diesel sales comes into force.

Building on existing legislation, councils in England will now be mandated to use a national database to record instances where taxi and PHV drivers have their licences removed for misconduct. This new law will prevent them from simply reapplying for a licence in other areas by alerting the system to concerns about their prior be haviour.

This will ensure passengers can use taxis and PHVs with greater confidence that these modes of transport are safe, helping to strengthen communities and restore pride in towns and high streets across the country.

While the vast majority of taxi and private hire trips are safe and efficient, there have been a small number of reports linking a minority of drivers to

incidents of sexual harassment, abuse and poor driving.

Transport Secretary, Mark Harper, said: “The safety of passengers, especially women and girls, is paramount. That’s why I’m bringing in tough new measures to ensure that when you catch a cab, you can be confident your driver will take you from A to B safely and without incident.”

Safeguarding passengers.

Lack of choice.

Copa del Rey winners

REAL MADRID beat Os ‐asuna on the evening of Saturday May 6 to win the Copa del Rey.

Although the team have won the Copa del Rey 20 times, it’s been nine years since they last lifted this trophy.

Osasuna has never won the cup, but they fought well against the reigning Spanish and Eu‐ropean champions.

Real Madrid went ahead after only two minutes of the game when Rodrygo fired the ball into the net after a run down the left from Vinicius.

But Lucas Torro gave Osasuna hope for better things when he scored in the 58th minute.

Then Brazilian winger, Vinicius scored again for Madrid.

Ancelotti the Real Madrid coach said after

the game “They made the difference; Vini un ‐balanced them and Rodrygo scored two goals.” He also said it was time to celebrate, but not too much. “The Copa arrived at an important

moment, we came through some tricky ties, it’s a deserved prize against strong oppo ‐nents.

“This night we will cel‐ebrate, a little bit, not too much, and then we

Goal-scoring record smashed

A PREMIERSHIP goal‐scor‐ing record has just been smashed in an impressive display and with five games still in hand.

Man City striker, Erling Haa‐land, 22, is in the record books after setting a new record for being the all‐time Premier League’s top goal scorer in a single season, ac‐cording to a news source on Wednesday, May 3.

The 28‐year‐old record of 34 goals in a season was joint‐ly held by sporting legends Alan Shearer and Andy Cole, but City’s win over West Ham puts Haaland at 35 goals, and there’s still time to set the bar even higher with five more games to play.

In an interview with Sky Sports, Haaland said, “[It’s a] special night and a special moment. I’m really happy and proud.”

Following the game, his teammates formed a guard of honour, although Haaland ad‐mitted, “it was really painful this guard of honour, every‐one hit me in the back, but it was really nice. I’m really hap‐py.”

Manager, Pep Guardiola enthused, “He’s unbelievable, a unique person, he deserves the guard of honour because it’s an incredible milestone.”

will get back to work for Tuesday.

Real Madrid has now won all six of the tro ‐phies they have played for during Ancelotti’s sec‐ond time at the club, af‐ter he returned in 2021.

Unexpected bull run for Rugby League fans

RUGBY league fans were treated to an unusual pre‐match spectacle on Friday May 5 normally reserved for visitors to Pamplona.

Catalan Dragons played host to St Helens on Friday, and in pre‐match proceed‐ings, a bull ran amok on the pitch sending players flying in all directions, according to a news source.

Bernard Guasch, the own‐er of French Rugby league team Catalan Dragons, and also head of the local Cattle Breeders’ Association, decid‐ed to promote the quality of local beef by parading three bulls in front of fans while players warmed up before the game.

The crowd were anticipat‐ing an exciting game, but they got a little more than they bargained for when one of the huge beasts decided to make a run for it.

Sky Sports covered the game and video footage shows a handler calmly walk‐ing with the animal before the prize‐winning bull breaks away, the handler bravely hangs on as he is dragged

along the pitch before he has no option but to let go.

The players who were on the field warming up, scat‐tered in all directions with some jumping over barriers and billboards to escape.

Thankfully the frisky bull didn’t harm anyone and was eventually recaptured as he charged towards his bovine teammates.

Prior to the display it was announced, ‘three prize‐win‐ning bulls, as well as two cows from the same Gascon breed, will perform a lap of honour during the warm‐up.’

Some fans responded with online tweets, ‘didn’t know they played Rugby in Pam‐plona!’ Another said ‘bit rough for the team in red.’

While one simply said, ‘Bloody hell!!!’

The match took place at the Stade Gilbert Brutus in Perpignan with Saints taking an early 12‐point lead, but it seems the pre ‐ match shenanigans worked in Cata‐lan’s favour who came back in the second half to win.

Final score Catalan Dragons 24‐12 St Helens.

The incredible Manchester City goal‐scoring machine has so far scored 35 goals in 31 games.

Back in the day when Shearer and Cole claimed their tally, the football season comprised 42 matches, nowadays it’s down to 38 games, as if to further rein‐force Haaland’s remarkable feat.

Former Manchester City player, Micah Richards, was full of praise for the young star “Honestly, Erling Haaland is absolutely incredible. Aston‐ishing scenes from a top, top individual.

“This is his debut season, to do what he has done is abso‐lutely breathtaking.”

I thought he would score goals but I didn't envisage this many. I thought debut sea‐son, 25 goals. But to beat the record in 31 appearances, it's astonishing.’

REAL MADRID: Champions on the night.

Credit: Casa S.M. el Rey

RUNNING AMOK: The Catalan Dragons played St Helens.

Klopp in hot water with FA

FOLLOWING his com ‐ments about the referee, Liverpool coach, Jurgen Klopp found himself in hot water with the Foot‐ball Association (FA).

The FA has charged Klopp with alleged im ‐proper conduct after his remarks about referee Paul Tierney following their match against Tot‐tenham on Sunday April 30, said a news source.

In a post ‐ match rant Klopp criticised referee Tierney, for having an agenda against the Reds.

The FA deadline was Friday for Klopp to an ‐swer the charge against him, namely that his com‐ments, ‘imply bias, and/or question the in‐tegrity of the referee, and/or are personal/of‐fensive, and/or bring the game into disrepute.’

The German had said in his post‐match interviews following the 4‐3 thriller against Spurs that Tierney seemed to have some ‐

thing “against” Liverpool following previous run‐ins, with Klopp having been booked for cele ‐brating Diogo Jota’s last‐gasp winner at Anfield in front of the fourth official.

A statement issued by the FA, said “Liverpool FC’s Jürgen Klopp has been charged following their Premier League fix‐ture against Tottenham Hotspur FC on Sunday 30 April.

“It is alleged that the manager’s comments re‐garding the match official during post‐match media interviews constitutes im‐proper conduct in that they imply bias, and/or question the integrity of the referee, and/or are personal/offensive, and/or bring the game in‐to disrepute.

In a press conference, Klopp said he regretted his comments. The Liver‐pool boss could face a hefty fine and a touchline ban.

Legendary ex-boss of Real and Deportivo passes away

IT was a sad day for football as Arse nio Iglesias, the former coach of De portivo and Real Madrid has passed away.

On Friday, May 5, legendary football coach Arsenio Igle ‐sias died at the age of 92 in A Coruña, as reported by a lo‐cal news source.

Hailed as one of Spain’s greatest coaches, who made history and shaped Superdépor, one of those teams that will always be remembered, marking a special era in Spanish foot ‐ball.

Speaking to Radio MARCA, former player Djukic said, “It is very sad news for all Deportivistas and for the whole world of football. He was one of the key pieces of Su ‐perdépor.”

Arsenio Iglesias was born on De ‐cember 24, 1930 in Arteixo, he was a footballer, coach and was known as the Bruxo de Arteixo. His coaching career began in 1970, when he took

Deportivo to the First Division. He then also coached Hércules for four seasons, as well as Zaragoza, before

returning to Dépor for his most bril‐liant period.

His success at the Galician club led him to coach Real Madrid in 1996, when he replaced Jorge Valdano. He stayed at Real Madrid for 19 games.

In previous periods he coached Burgos, Elche, Almeria and the Galician national team.

As a footballer, he wore the shirts of Deportivo, where he played in the First Division between 1952 and 1957, he played for Sevilla in the 1957/58 season, Granada between 1958 and 1964 and Oviedo between 1963 and 1965. He played a total of 238 games in the top‐flight and another 63 in the second division and pro ‐motion.

Iglesias is the most prolific coach in charge of Dépor with 568 matches and is credited as the most influen‐tial person on the pitch in the 116 years of Deportivo’s history.

DEPORTIVO: Iglesias was their most prolific coach.