Costa del Sol 11 – 17 May 2023 Issue 1975

BREAKING THE STIGMA

IN a remarkable display of compassion and unity, the community joined forces in support of people battling mental health issues and the urgent cause of suicide preven‐tion on Saturday, May 6.

Several inspiring events, or‐ganised as part of the ‘Dark‐ness into Light’ international mental health initiative, saw walkers get out for an early morning walk on the captivat‐ing Costa del Sol.

Estepona became a beacon of hope as nearly 150 spirited walkers, accompanied by a faithful canine companion who wore the initiative’s vi‐brant yellow shirt, came to‐gether for the biggest walk which covered the coast near

Estepona, Torremolinos, Be‐nalmadena and Mijas Costa.

Organisers were over‐whelmed with gratitude, ex‐tending their heartfelt appreci‐ation to those who embraced the dawn, uniting in a power‐ful march from the Darkness into the Light.

They also thanked organiser

Ruth Stevenson for her stellar efforts and Ron, Chema and Steve whose live music creat‐ed a fantastic atmosphere be‐fore dawn.

In Estepona alone, the spirit‐ed walkers have already raised an astounding sum of over €6,000 for local mental health partner AFESOL.

Another event saw a team from Marbella’s English Inter‐national College embark on a hike up La Concha at dawn.

Walkers caught the sunrise in Estepona.

Photo credit: Darkness into Light Costa del Sol (via Facebook)

Thespa’s curtain call

THE First Family of Pop are re‐turning to Marbella after their sensational visit in 2019 prior to the pandemic.

The news was announced by experienced international promotors Rock Lounge who brought the brothers over be‐fore and they have teamed up with global hospitality brand Hard Rock Hotel Mar‐bella to organise what promises to be a magical night.

This time, Jermaine won’t be taking part but there is no question that the remaining trio of brothers, Jackie, Mar‐lon and Tito will bring their own special Jackson magic to a warm Marbella Arena on Thursday July 27.

As one of the most success‐ful groups in music history, The Jacksons’ incredible six‐decade career started in 1969 with I want you back.

Since then, the hits have kept on coming, including ABC, Blame It On The Boogie, and Can You Feel It although perhaps most apt for this pro‐

lific band would be Never Can Say Goodbye.

Providing the launching pad for Michael Jackson’s leg ‐endary solo career, when the brothers united for The Victo‐ry Tour in 1984, it became the highest‐grossing concert se‐ries ever staged in the United States.

Supporting The Jacksons is Ray Lewis, former lead singer with legendary soul pioneers The Drifters, whose hits in‐clude Under the Boardwalk and Up on the Roof.

Make sure you get your tickets by visiting https://www.rocklounge. com

LOS BOLICHES’ sensational English‐speaking play reading group, Thespa, is set to dazzle audiences once more this sea‐son with a riveting theatrical event on Wednesday, May 21.

Audiences are invited to the thrilling two‐part perfor‐mance of ‘Rats, Brats & Bu‐reaucrats’ by the incredibly talented playwright, Neil Rhodes at the Masonic Hall, Edificio Bougainvillea, in Los Boliches from 7.30pm on the night.

The event promises to be an evening filled with sus‐pense, laughter, and extraor‐dinary performances to round off the season.

Taking centre stage are the brilliant Justine Dawkins and Richard Hughes, whose acting prowess is sure to captivate theatregoers.

The performance comes ahead of the performing arts group’s summer break which lasts until September each year. Anyone interested can get in touch via email: thespa booking@gmail.com.

Thespa is also on the look‐out for ‘party pieces’ to con‐tribute to their upcoming au‐tumn/winter event. Following one exciting suggestion during their recent meeting, a musi‐cal evening could be on the cards!

Thespa, one of the coast’s longest established play read‐ing groups, has been delight‐ing audiences for years. Gath‐erings and engaging play readings take place monthly at the Masonic Hall from September until May.

The Good Times In loving memory

AGE CONCERN Marbella and San Pedro shared the sad news that their dear friend and former colleague, Tony Bates passed away after a long illness on Tuesday, May 2.

In an announcement, Age Concern Marbella extended their deepest condolences to Tony’s wife, Annie, and their children, in recognition of their deep grief.

Born in South Africa, Tony later relocated to England be‐fore finding a home on the sun‐kissed shores of the Costa del Sol. It was with great fortune that members of Age Con‐cern met Tony, and in 2017, when their branch was estab‐lished, he graciously accepted the role of founder Treasurer.

Tony’s dedication to the society continued until his health took a turn for the worse in July of last year.

A devoted family man, Tony found joy in travelling, fish‐ing, and golf. To those who knew him, he was a cherished friend, known for his radiant warmth, infectious sense of hu‐mour, and unwavering integrity. Age Concern’s President, Carol Woolnoth, along with the entire committee and mem‐bers, offer their heartfelt condolences to Annie and the fam‐ily and fondly look back on his committee membership and legacy.

COMING BACK: The First Family of Pop.

NIBS EXTRA

Horse heroes

UNLEASH your inner eques‐trian enthusiast at Sunday open days at the Andalucian Rescue Centre for Horses (ARCH) in Alhaurin! Guests can meet majestic equines currently being cared for and find out about the shelter’s vital work each Sunday from 10am‐4pm.

Summer fair

A SUMMER fair arrived in Coin on Thursday, May 4 and is set to last throughout the season. The fair takes place each Thursday 4pm‐9pm in La Trocha Shopping Centre selling a variety of new and handcrafted items.

Mini mixer

A LOCAL DJ has been making headlines since making an appearance at Fuengirola’s International Fair. At just 10 years old, Dani from Malaga has been experimenting on the decks since the age of four and gained fans in Fuen‐girola.

Hospital quest

BENALMADENA’S hospital could soon be home to a new pediatrics department after a visit by local mayor, Victor Navas, who an‐nounced his commitment to improving health services for local residents. The mayor visited to help open the new ophthalmology unit.

Charity strides

THE latest Mijas Walking Tour for Charity group took the total raised by Mijas Charity Walking Tours and quizzes at Fibbers Irish Bar to a staggering €12,000. The walking tour initiative is sup‐porting ADIMI for the next two months.

Donkey distress

THIRTY members of animal rights party (PACMA) held a protest in Mijas on Sunday, May 7 over the treatment of the town’s ‘donkey‐taxis’. Protestors say the traditional practice is cruel and criticised the “systematic exploitation of the noble animal.”

AFTER recently bidding farewell to Lesley Berridge, Age Care Calahonda’s dedi‐cated Welfare Leader for the last nine years, service users and volunteers gathered to express their heartfelt appre‐ciation and welcome a new Welfare Leader.

Age Care expressed their deep gratitude to Lesley and welcomed Tracy Scace as the new Welfare Leader at a huge coffee morning on Thursday, April 28.

Age Care Calahonda has blossomed into a vital sup‐port system for the English‐speaking community in Spain since its establishment in 2003. Under Lesley’s guid‐ance, the organisation expe‐rienced remarkable growth, attracting over 200 members who now enjoy the Tuesday and Thursday coffee morn‐

New chapter

ings at Club Naranja. Sup‐ported by 35 dedicated vol‐unteers, the organisation of‐fers diverse activities, fostering friendships and pro‐viding valuable support.

Age Care Calahonda goes beyond social engagement, assisting expats with health issues and language difficul‐ties. Their thriving charity shop in El Zoco is a testament to the hard work of volun‐teers. With a strong founda‐tion and a commitment to positive change, Age Care Calahonda looks forward to an even brighter future, unit‐ed in their mission to make a lasting impact on the lives of their members.

120 STORIES IN THIS WEEK’S EDITION

Strokes of brilliance

ESTEPONA’S vibrant art scene saw an exciting event on Saturday, May 6 as 25 talented painters showcased their skills in the town’s Rapid Open Air Painting Contest.

Next stop: Torrequebrada

LOCAL elections are around the corner, set for Sunday, May 28 and hopeful candi‐dates have been setting out their campaign pledges. In Be‐nalmadena, current mayor Victor Navas is running for re‐election with a manifesto that promises an improvement to local public transport.

On the campaign trail on Thursday, May 4, Navas visit‐ed a point on the local cer‐canías train line where he pledged his commitment to creating a brand‐new stop in the neighbourhood of Nueva Torrequebrada.

Navas declared, “We’re committed to propelling Be‐nalmadena forward and mak‐

Sandy showdown

ing it thrive. During this stable local administration, we’ve in‐vested €50 million in public in‐frastructure and injected an additional €48 million into supporting small businesses and vulnerable residents.”

He added, “Through our team’s efforts, we’ve con‐ducted a feasibility study for the station, complete with modern plans, showing po‐tential parking areas, ideal sta‐tion locations, and outlining the budget needed for this in‐credible project.”

The promise comes in re‐sponse to demands from local residents who dream of easi‐er and more sustainable trav‐el options.

THIS weekend, Torremolinos’ beaches will be transformed into a lively hub of activity with the cheers of more than 800 players in Torremolinos European Beach Handball Cup, set to begin on Saturday, May 13.

Organisers from the local council and the Diputación de Malaga unveiled the schedule during a walk to the competi‐tions courts and explained that matches will take place in the Playamar Sports Zone. Matches are scheduled from 9am until 9pm on Satur‐day, May 13 and from 9am until 7pm on Sunday with players from teams across Eu‐

Going the distance

CALLING all running enthusiasts! Authorities in Fuengirola have announced the return of their Half Marathon on Sunday, November 12. This highly anticipated event has received official accreditation from the Spanish Athlet‐ics Federation, guaranteeing that the event will be popular.

In a bid to make the event even more excit‐ing, organisers are also introducing a simulta‐neous five kilometre race.

María Hernández, the local councillor for Sports, unveiled the news on Friday, May 5, saying, “We are thrilled to announce the sixth edition of the Fuengirola Half Marathon,

scheduled for November 12. It’s the ideal date, attracting many athletes who partici‐pate in races on similar dates across our re‐gion. We carefully chose a month with cooler temperatures, just before the Malaga Half Marathon and Marathon.”

She added, “As an added bonus, we’re in‐troducing a thrilling five kilometre race for those seeking a shorter but no less exhilarat‐ing challenge. It’s an opportunity for everyone to be part of the action, even if they aren’t quite ready for the 21 kilometre distance.”

Registration opens on Sunday, May 14 on‐line at:www.dorsalchip.es

rope battling it out for a chance on the podium.

Local councillor Ramón Al‐caide showed his excitement, saying “We’re thrilled to bring this international beach hand‐ball event to Torremolinos, with over 800 players ready to compete! Not only will it showcase our town, but it’s also where the Andalucian beach handball champions will be crowned!”

Teams from the UK, Portu‐gal, as well as national teams from across Spain, including Madrid, Almería, Huelva, Sevilla, Cádiz, and Málaga, have all confirmed their pres‐ence in the championship.

The local council an‐nounced the two winners on the day with Ascensión Borja Tera and Miguel San Pedro Díaz taking home the first and second prizes. Ascención received a cash prize of €600, while Miguel was awarded €300.

Open to artists aged 16 and above, the event at‐tracted a diverse pool of 25 talented individuals, each aiming to capture the essence of Estepona’s his‐toric old town on their can‐vases. The breathtaking masterpieces were un‐veiled on Tuesday, May 9 at the Casa de Las Tejeri‐nas, where they will re‐main on display until Tues‐day, May 16.

The exhibition is open from 9am‐8pm on week‐days and 9am to 2pm and 4pm to 8pm on Saturday.

and in

is FREE and we promise to always keep it that way.

Lesley was Age Care’s Welfare Leader for nine years.

Photo credit: Age Care Calahonda (via email)

Netting hearts

MARBELLA FC’s goalkeeper Alberto Lejár‐raga has made history as the first openly gay footballer in Spain to share a public kiss with his partner. The celebratory mo‐ment came after his team’s recent victory over Real Jaén, securing their promotion to the Second Division.

Lejárraga’s tweet of the kiss with his partner has gone viral since he posted it on Tuesday, April 25. Social media users have applauded his bravery in breaking down barriers in a historically closed‐off world like football.

Lejárraga’s tweet read, “Thank you for always being by my side, through good times and bad. This time we got to experi‐ence something beautiful. Thank you.” His words and actions show that love and ac‐ceptance are the keys to a more equal and loving world.

While it’s disheartening that it has taken until 2023 for this moment to happen, it’s an important step forward in promoting representation of LGBTQ+ people in pro‐fessional level sports.

Lejárraga follows in the footsteps of only a few professional footballers to have come out as gay including Jakub Jankto,

PROVERB OF THE

Jewel in the crown

ESTEPONA’S charm is well‐known to its residents and the local community, but the town has now been recognised as one of the top five coastal des‐tinations in Spain by The Tele‐graph, a leading British news‐paper in a recent report.

The town’s increasing popu‐larity with tourists has been at‐tributed to its luxurious hotels, scenic surroundings, and tradi‐tional character. Despite being a well‐established tourist desti‐nation for decades, Estepona has managed to maintain its traditional charm, making it a unique place to visit.

The Telegraph noted that Estepona is fully equipped with all the comforts and

Blue-tiful

amenities necessary for a re‐laxing holiday, yet has retained its distinctive Andalucian char‐acter and traditions.

The town boasts a range of cultural and natural attrac‐tions, such as the Nuestra Señora de los Remedios Church, the Orchid Park, and the Selwo Aventura Wildlife Park, which makes it an ideal destination for families and na‐ture lovers. Additionally, Es‐tepona’s coastline offers some of the most breathtaking beaches in Spain.

Estepona’s recognition as one of the top coastal towns in Spain by The Telegraph is a tes‐tament to its unique charm and appeal.

Breaking records

with his partner is a his‐toric moment that will hopefully inspire other athletes to come out and embrace their true selves without fear of judgement or discrimination.

THE thermometer was soaring once again on the Costa del Sol and this time it was Coin that broke the records.

On Tuesday May 9, Coin registered the highest temper‐ature in Spain. In the town of Coin the temperature was recorded at 37.9 degrees, more like a reading you would find during the summer months and certainly not in May.

Coin hasn’t been the only

hot spot in the Malaga region, Alora ranks as the third town with the highest temperatures at 36.5 degrees. Other Andalu‐cian towns like Sevilla and Cor‐doba are also in the top 10.

Coastal areas in Malaga have been more temperate with temperatures below 30 degrees, but Andalucian inte‐riors have been extremely hot.

From Wednesday, May 10 Aemet, Spain’s official meteo‐rological agency said that tem‐peratures will remain more typical of summer than spring. Maximum temperatures are expected in Rincon de la Victo‐ria at 29 degrees, Coin at 28 de‐grees and around 27 degrees in Antequera and Alora.

It should be more moderate on the coast of Malaga with temperatures around 24 de‐grees.

THE Costa del Sol has been awarded a record number of Blue Flags in 2023, cementing its sta‐tus as one of the most beautiful and eco‐friend‐ly stretches of coastline in Europe in awards an‐nounced on Thursday, May 4..

The Blue Flag is an in‐ternationally recognised symbol of quality for beaches and marinas, and this year, a total of 56 Blue Flags were awarded to the Costa del Sol, an in‐crease of three from last year. Forty‐seven of those Blue Flags were located in Malaga which won the most awards in Andalu‐cia.

The Costa del Sol’s Blue Flags are particularly noteworthy because they are spread across 14 towns, demonstrating a commitment to envi‐ronmental protection and sustainable tourism throughout the region. In addition to Marbel‐la’s nine Blue Flags, oth‐er towns that have earned Blue Flags this year include Mijas, Tor‐remolinos, and Fuen ‐girola.

Jake Daniels and Josh Cavallo. Lejárraga’s kiss

HISTORIC: The first gay kiss in Spanish football.

Photo credit: Alberto Lejárrago (via Twitter)

WEEK

“It’s all Greek to me.”

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

1st ever novel was written in Spanish.

Roma celebrations A Royal rendezvous

Betty Henderson

LA CALA de Mijas Lions host‐ed an extravagant Coronation party in Mijas’ Butibamba Park on Sunday, May 7 with the excitement lasting all af‐ternoon and into the evening.

True to their reputation, the La Cala Lions Club threw a roaring party in honour of the Coronation and the start of the summer. The park was abuzz with lively stalls, vibrant music, thrilling activities, and an electric atmosphere that had everyone on their feet.

The event featured thrilling competitions, none more en‐ticing than ‘The Big La Cala Bake Off’, where aspiring bak‐ers competed to impress the

judges with their delectable creations. After the judging process, guests were reward‐ed with a sparkling glass of ca‐va to raise a toast to the new King, while also indulging in the scrumptious treats.

Attendees donned Union Jack themed costumes while children wore enchanting

MARBELLA’S beautiful La Represa Park was the perfect setting for the city to celebrate Europe Day on Tues‐day, May 9.

The event saw more than 100 pri‐mary school students from the Vi‐cente Aleixandre and Federico García Lorca schools come together for excit‐ing activities, including a competition

prince and princess costumes to enjoy the party atmo‐sphere. Guests also revelled in the exciting entertainment options, including a concert by a Spice Girls tribute band, Girl Power Spain. Guests also got to explore vibrant stalls, and compete in fun games throughout the event.

THE community in Torre ‐molinos came together to mark International Roma Day on Friday, April 27 with a cultural celebration organ‐ised by the Andalucian Ro‐ma Federation.

The town came alive with a spectacular display of Ro‐ma culture in the Molino de Inca Botanical Garden. The event was attended by the mayor of Torremolinos, Margarita del Cid, as well as other top local officials.

The highlight of the day was the ‘River Ceremony’ where Roma community members gathered at the river banks to remember their history. In this year’s

Marbella’s EU-topia

that tested the students’ knowledge of the importance of Europe Day.

The ceremony also recognised the contribution of international commu‐nity groups in the city who welcome foreign residents, especially during

the challenging times of the pandemic and the war in Ukraine.

Marbella’s mayor Ángeles Muñoz and councillor Remedios Bocanegra joined the students in the activities, which included crafts such as making

celebration, the tradition was carried out in a lake in the botanical garden. Wom‐en threw rose petals to commemorate the exodus of their people, freedom, and their feelings, while

star designs representing the Euro‐pean Union, which were then placed on a flag, to the accompaniment of the European anthem.

The mayor emphasised the impor‐tance of marking this day to celebrate the historical Schuman declaration and to promote the values of unity, peace, and well‐being.

men placed floating candles in memory of the deceased Roma, especially those who lost their lives in the Nazi genocide.

The celebration also saw an exhibition of famous people who have Roma an‐cestry to give visibility to the community. International Roma Day, celebrated an‐nually on April 8, is an occa‐sion for various national and European institutions to cel‐ebrate and recognise the Roma community’s unity and diversity as well as recognising victims of perse‐cution.

LIONS CLUB: Revellers got into the Coronation spirit.

Photo credit: Christer Lagervall (via Facebook)

RIVER CEREMONY: The community threw petals in the lake in a symbolic ceremony.

Photo credit: Ayuntamiento de Torremolinos

Marbella’s coworking oasis

MARBELLA’S professional scene received a major up‐grade with the arrival of an exciting coworking centre that promises to reshape the way professionals work and collaborate. The city hosted a grand opening ceremony for The Pool Marbella on Thursday, May 4. Located in the heart of the renowned Golden Mile, The Pool Marbella is set to redefine the traditional of‐fice concept, transforming it into a vibrant hub where innovation thrives and business connections can be made.

Investors hosted a star‐studded launch event to commemorate the open‐ing of the space which was attended by figures includ‐ing Marbella’s mayor, Án‐

THE fifth edition of the Iron‐man 70.3 European Triclub Championship challenge took Marbella by storm on Sunday, May 7 with more than 1,500 competitors from 63 different countries battling it out in the ultimate endurance test.

The challenge’s 1,500 dare‐devils pushed their limits on a tough but scenic beach course, leaving spectators in awe. The competition also made eco‐nomic waves by bringing in an estimated €10 million for the city thanks to visitor stays in the city and tourist spending.

Marbella’s councillor for Sport, Manuel Cardeña spoke about the success of the com‐petition, explaining that this ac‐

NEW CENTRE: Marbella mayor Ángeles Muñoz officially opened The Pool.

geles Muñoz.

The CEO and Co‐founder, Christian Rasmusson, high‐lighted the centre’s ambi‐tious vision to build a vi‐brant community of professionals, entre ‐preneurs, and investors.

The centre will also host a series of monthly events focused on technology and emerging ideas aimed at building business networks.

This cutting ‐ edge

workspace, spanning an impressive 2,200 square metres on the first floor of El Corte Inglés shopping centre El Capricho, offers a wealth of facilities and amenities designed to spark creativity and boost productivity.

The Pool Marbella has al‐ready made waves in the business community, with all private spaces being quickly snatched up.

Pumping it up

tion‐packed race is the only one of its kind in southern Spain which caused sports fanatics from all over to flock to the coastal city.

Marbella also has big dreams of hosting the prestigious Iron‐man 70.3 World Championship in 2025, an epic showdown that would attract 6,000 athletes to the city and inject a staggering €40 million into the economy!

The competition was a valu‐able opportunity for athletes to have their moment in the spot‐light, with the German athlete Nicolas Mann taking home gold.

Ink-spirational entrepreneur

MARBELLA’S newest bookshop has thrown open its doors, thanks to the enterprising spirit of an exceptional 11‐year‐old.

Johanna Jonsson, a student at Swans International School and a self‐proclaimed bookworm, opened her own bookshop, Churchill Books in Centro Plaza, Nueva Andalucia, at the end of April. The opening attracted over 100 attendees, including Jo‐hanna’s supportive family and friends.

Johanna recognised the need for a bookshop catering to read‐ers aged eight to 18 and decided to fill that void. Originally planned as a tribute to her favourite author Stephen King, the store now boasts a wide selection of mystery, suspense, and classic novels, with King’s works given a prominent place on the shelves.

The store’s name, Churchill Books, pays homage to the black cat in King’s ‘Pet Sematary’ and also pays tribute to Johanna’s time in New York, where she frequently passed a specialist shop devoted to Winston Churchill.

Despite her young age, her travels and love for literature in‐spired her to create this unique space for book lovers in Marbel‐la.

Much deserved

ON Tuesday May 9, Nicole King who works tirelessly to promote the United Nationalities of Marbella was given a very special award.

In front of an invited au‐dience, Nicole who, as readers will know, is a broadcaster on RTV Mar‐bella and a regular con ‐tributor to Euro Weekly News was invited to meet with Marbella mayor Án‐geles Muñoz to receive the thanks of the council for her extraordinary work to help and promote the international commu‐nity in the city.

Congratulations Nicole on receiving this special award from the Marbella Department for Foreign Residents.

Photo credit: EWN Media Group

Nicole’s award.

Credit: Nicole King Facebook

In Royal airspace

Betty Henderson

THE Royal Air Forces Associa‐tion Costa del Sol gathered on Saturday, May 6 to raise a glass to the new King of the United Kingdom and Patron of their organisation, King Charles III, on the occasion of his Corona‐tion.

The group toasted the new monarch and enjoyed the unique occasion and sensa‐tional military display. Although the event was

THE Malaga Flamenco Art Bi‐ennial brought its dazzling show ‘Flamenco Íntimo’ to Es‐tepona’s Felipe VI Auditorium on Monday, May 8.

The event was organised by the Biennial of Flamenco Art of Malaga in collaboration with the Estepona Town Council. Guests were delight‐ed by the riveting perfor ‐mance which featured Mayte Martín, a renowned singer, composer, and guitarist.

Martín is described as an artist who approaches fla‐menco with a captivating per‐

tinged with sadness at the loss of Queen Elizabeth II, who was the association’s Patron for 70 years, the Chairman of The Royal Air Forces Association Costa Del Sol, Graham Would expressed his excitement for the future with King Charles III.

The association has been helping former United King‐dom and Commonwealth RAF members and their families liv‐ing on the Costa Del Sol for years, providing over €500,000

of aid throughout the years.

Members of the group also shared their memories of the Queen’s coronation back in 1952. Although Graham was only one year old at the time, his elder sister, who was visit‐ing, fondly remembered watching it in black and white!

The association looks for‐ward to continuing their mis‐sion of supporting the RAF community under the guid‐ance of King Charles III.

Flamenco fever

sonal style. His performances are marked by delicate move‐ments, stunning music, and a profound emotional depth.

Martín was accompanied by Jose Galvez, Paco Cruzado, and Angel Flores on guitar, David Dominguez on percus‐sion, and Miguel Angel Cordero on contrabass in a show which stunned flamen‐co fans.

The Flamenco Art Biennial of Malaga is a renowned festi‐

val celebrating flamenco art and culture. This year’s pro‐gramme includes 54 activities, 35 performances, and nine premieres since it began on Saturday, April 29 until Satur‐day, May 27 when it con‐cludes.

Shows featuring top‐tier performers are set to be held in more than 15 towns throughout the Malaga Province as well as in the city itself.

Betty Henderson MARBELLA’S property mar‐ket is donning their sports gear for a great cause with a charity sports tournament which is set to begin from Thursday, May 25 with a football match.

Athletes are warming up before facing off in several competitions including a foot‐ball tournament, volleyball tournament and padel tour‐nament. As well as the sports competitions, another high‐light of this year’s event will be a charity dinner on Friday, June 16 at the luxurious Hotel Don Carlos Resort & Spa.

More than 300 people are expected to participate in the various sports tournaments, while 400 attendees are ex‐pected to grace the gala din‐ner. The event aims to bring together the region’s top property professionals to

Game on

raise funds for charitable causes while enjoying friend‐ly competition in great com‐pany.

The tournament will take place from Friday, June 2 un‐til Sunday, June 4 at the Marbella Sports & Pádel Club in Elviria, Marbella, with categories for men,

women, and mixed doubles.

Last year’s event raised over €80,000 for the con ‐struction of a new school building in Uganda and local associations. This year, organ‐isers are hoping to beat this formidable sum with funds going towards more charity causes.

Flags fly high

FUENGIROLA is once again showing off Blue Flags on all of its beaches according to an announcement made on Thursday, May 4. This is the fourth consecutive year that the town’s beaches have received this prestigious award.

The Blue Flag award recognises the quali‐ty of services, accessibility, environmental management, facilities, and the quality of water on beaches across the world.

The ADEAC, which manages Blue Flag awards in Spain, awarded the town’s four beaches; El Castillo, Fuengirola, Los Boliches‐Las Gaviotas, and Carvajal each with Blue Flags.

The association also highlighted the ex‐cellent condition of the sand, services

provided, and accessibility on the beach‐es.

The town has also recently been awarded the ‘S for Sustainability’ Award by the Spanish Tourism Quality Institute. These awards were given to the town for its environmentally‐friendly practices.

The mayor of Fuengirola, Ana Mula, ex‐pressed her pride at the achievement, saying, “These Blue Flags are the result of the hard work from Fuengirola residents, professionals such as chiringuito owners, sunbed and umbrella operators, beach hut tenants, users, and of course, all the council workers who work tirelessly every day to ensure everything is in perfect condition.”

Decades of learning

MIJAS is buzzing with ex ‐citement as the town cele‐brates the 40th anniversary of the Mijas Popular Uni ‐versity.

The town held a celebra‐tory gala on Wednesday, May 3, at the Teatro Las La‐gunas, and will hold a com‐munity day in aid of ADIMI on Sunday, May 21 at Corti‐jo Don Elías. ADIMI is a local association that supports people with disabilities.

The gala was open to the public and honoured the dedication of both teachers and students who have

been a part of the institu ‐tion over the past 40 years and their educational achievements.

The community day in support of ADIMI promises to be a fun‐filled affair. At‐tendees can expect a wide range of engaging work ‐

shops in activities such as painting, yoga, pottery, tai‐chi, and even robotics.

Additionally, there will be performances from a vari‐ety of dance groups, includ‐ing the Mijas Music Band and a flashmob of Sevil ‐lanas dancing. The day will also feature a food and drink stand.

The university currently educates 3,000 students with 43 members of teach‐ing staff who offer a variety of classes, from language courses to computer sci ‐ence and creative writing.

Organisers unveil the charity tournament.

Photo credit: Carmen Durán (via email)

Photo credit: Ayuntamiento de Mijas

Red carpet

SIMPLY THRIVING group enjoyed a lunch at Bistro Michel last Thursday and today, Thursday May 11 they look forward to a visit to Village Inn in Riviera del Sol for an evening of entertainment.

On Wednesday June 28, the last event of the season will be held as no events are planned for July and August due to the heat. Normal service resumes in September.

The event on June 28 is ‘For the Love of Dogs’. This is an exciting function where they help a lo ‐cal charity, Last Chance Animal Charity.

Joe, his wife and Jaqui Ross work tirelessly to save abandoned dogs and they have been seen several years on Bargain Brits in the Sun. Despite both Joe and his wife having been very ill they continue with the work and devote themselves to the charity.

How about coming along to the special red car ‐pet do where Jeremy and his staff are putting on a special show for the group at La Sierra. The evening starts with cava and a tapa served on the red carpet, then a three ‐ course menu with a choice and wine, beer and soft drinks served throughout the meal.

Entertainment is being arranged and they are looking into a fantastic Cuban group just set up on the coast and with great reviews.

The cost is just €39 and €4 of that goes to the charity. It can be booked direct with Jeremy at La Sierra or on the Facebook site Simply Thriving Group.

ATTENTION all performers and theatre enthusiasts! The Salón Varietés Theatre in Fuengirola has unveiled an electrifying audition no‐tice for the production of ‘Oklahoma’ the Musical!

Singers and actors are invited to take to the stage from 11am to 2pm in audi‐tions on Saturday, May 27, while dancers will ignite the dance floor on Sunday, May 28.

These auditions are set to find talented perform ‐ers to grace their produc ‐tion of the 1943 Broadway classic from Friday, Octo ‐ber 20, to Sunday, October 29.

For further details, visit the Salón Varietés The ‐atre’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.co m/photo/?fbid=70702279 8092111&set=pcb.707024 784758579. Or contact Di‐rector Owain Griffiths on WhatsApp on 622 440 164.

The call comes directly

after the theatre’s perfor‐mance of ‘Two’ by Jim Cartwright received knock‐out reviews from audience members who thoroughly enjoyed the show, describ‐ing it as “a very accom ‐plished piece.”

The theatre is hosting ‘The Magic of the Musi ‐

Oklahoma calling Bioparc’s love nests

cals’ over the weekend which boasts a broad repertoire of musical hits from Broadway to Holly ‐wood, and promises to de‐light all musical lovers. The shows will take place on Saturday, May 13 at 7.30pm and Sunday, May 14 at 7pm.

BIOPARC Fuengirola has become the only site in the region where visitors can see the flamingo courtship and nesting process.

The Laguna de Fuente de Piedra wet‐land, which used to host thousands of these beautiful birds, has dried up due to lack of rain.

Andalucia has fewer spots than ever for these charismatic creatures to colonise, but the wildlife centre’s biologists have been working for weeks to recreate the ideal en‐vironment for the flamboyant birds to be‐gin their reproductive process.

In an announcement on Thursday, May 4, the wildlife centre said their flamingos

have been showing all the telltale signs that they’re ready to mate, with synchronised moves that include flapping their wings, stretching their necks, and rapid changes in direction.

The team creates the perfect environ‐ment out of mud, salt, sand, and various types of clay. Their goal is to make the beach habitat as similar as possible to the brackish swampy areas where these birds naturally nest and lay eggs.

Guests are welcome to visit the centre located on Calle Camilo José Cela and view these magnificent creatures as they grow their colony.

Owain Griffiths is a renowned director at the theatre.

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 de‐light 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 world‐wide.

Despite the rain, family squabbles and the threat of disruption from anti‐monar‐chists 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 be‐low a huge roar went up in cel‐ebration.

However, due to the weath‐er, the Ministry of Defence had to send a slimmed‐down ver‐sion of the six‐minute flypast, trimmed to just two and a half minutes instead.

The original plan was for over 60 aircraft, which includ‐ed some vintage bombers, to

THE surrounding area of Buckingham Palace was left littered with soggy tents and other dis‐carded 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 re‐sembles an abandoned campsite after a wet

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

The procession from West‐minster 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 uni‐form 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.

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.

Wine and dine

GUESTS are invited for a night of glitz, glamour and business inspiration at The Gibraltar Federation of Small Business‐es’ Annual Dinner Gala and Party.

The exclusive event is set to take place on Tuesday, May 23 at The Khaima Rock Hotel in Gibraltar.

Not only is this a chance to treat your taste buds to some exceptional cuisine, but it’s also a prime opportu‐nity to connect with other lo‐cal businesspeople from Gibraltar and the Costa del Sol.

The event promises a wide range of exciting activities, in‐

cluding welcome cocktails, a three‐course meal accompa‐nied by fine wine, a guest speaker, networking, games, and amazing prizes including a star prize worth over £400, courtesy of Marble Arc.

The Gibraltar Federation of Small Businesses is a non‐profit organisation that has been at the forefront of cam‐paigning for the promotion and protection of small and medium‐sized businesses in Gibraltar since its inception in 1996.

Tickets cost £81 per person and guests can book tables for up to ten people by contact‐ing: admin@gfsb.gi

Cheers to charity

Betty Henderson

SOROPTIMIST International Costa del Sol is set to host a fabulous charity dinner and fayre next month in Mijas.

The event is set to take place on Saturday, June 17 at the Restaurant Green Label locat‐ed in Chapparal Golf, Mijas Costa.

The doors to the venue will open at 7.30pm, and guests will be treated to a warm welcome before the meal com ‐mences at 8.30pm. Guests can look forward to a delicious three‐course meal with unlim‐ited wine, beers and soft drinks included.

The evening will also feature a live perfor‐mance by the talented Laura Carter.

Soroptimist International is a fantastic or‐ganisation that aims to improve the lives of women and girls and eliminate violence against women. With each ticket sold for the event, €10 will be donated to the charity, and there will also be stalls and a raffle to

GET ready for a thrilling af‐ternoon of brain‐teasing fun as the charity quiz returns to Fibbers Irish bar in Torre‐blanca on Tuesday, May 16 at 2.30pm! The quiz promis‐es to be the perfect opportu‐nity for guests to put their

help raise even more funds.

Organisers are also seeking local crafts‐people to run stalls who can contact Marti Oliphant: 666 860 637 for more information.

Tickets €55 can be purchased online or by email soroptimist.costadelsol@gmail.com.

Bark your calendar!

general knowledge to the test while socialising with friends. Guests are invited to form teams of up to four and compete against each other to win the prize of a

buy one get one free meal and a drink for up to six peo‐ple. Entry to the quiz costs €2, which will go towards the amazing work done by Rescued Paws Spain.

Comic Con

PREPARE for an epic weekend of all things comics, movies, TV shows, gaming, and internet, as Fuengirola Comic Con is set to take over the Marenostrum venue in Fuengirola for the sec‐ond year in a row.

The convention, taking place from Saturday, June 10 until Sunday, June 11, promises to be the event of the year for all lovers of geek culture!

This year’s event will cele‐brate all things cosplay, with a fantastic competition offering a whopping €2,000 in prizes. Marenostrum will be trans‐formed into a fantasy world of epic costumes, make‐up, and incredible performances.

The convention promises to offer a plethora of activities and events throughout the weekend, including special ap‐pearances from stars from a range of genres and engaging discussions and panels.

Tickets and more informa‐tion including a detailed itinerary and map of the event are available online at: https://fuengirolacomiccon.co m/ Tickets start at €9.

The group is always supporting charities with exciting events.

Photo credit: Soroptimist International Costa del Sol (via Facebook)

Buckle up buccaneers!

ARE you ready to hit the road and solve some thrilling clues?

TAPAS, The Andalucia Performing Arts Society, is hosting an exciting car treasure hunt on Sunday, May 14.

The event is also a charity fundraiser, with money going towards their partner charity,

the Ascociación Huellas Terapeuticas animal rescue association. Guests will gather early at Restaurante Venta Platero on the Carretera Coin, with the option to fuel up with breakfast which is available for purchase at the restaurant. Guests are asked to arrive before the 10am start time for a briefing.

From there, the adventure begins! Participants will follow a trail of cryptic clues through the picturesque Costa del Sol countryside, ending in a mystery location.

The event, in collaboration with sponsor Grapevine Properties, promises to be a blast for all involved, with prizes up for grabs for winners.

Entry fees cost €5 for TAPAS members and €6 for non­members, which will go towards the charity.

Guests are asked to come prepared with plenty of water and bring a thinking cap, the event is sure to be a challenge! To register, contact TAPAS by phone on 685 386 923 or email at info.tapassoci ety@gmail.com.

D-A-D is coming

Betty Henderson

ROCK fans are preparing for a night to remember in Marbella! The legendary Danish rock band D­A­D is set to perform live on Saturday, May 20 at Marbella Arena, bringing their highenergy sound and unforgettable hits to Costa del Sol for the first time ever.

Fans can expect to hear favourite hits from the international band including ‘Sleeping My Day Away’, ‘Bad Craziness’, and ‘Laugh and a Half’. With their dynamic stage presence and impressive showmanship, D­A­D promises to deliver a concert that will have the crowd on their feet and singing along all night long.

Doors to the venue will open at 7.30pm before the concert gets underway at 11pm, giving the audience plenty of time to settle in and buy refreshments.

Tickets for the concert can be purchased on­

AN enchanting show is arriving in Marbella for one night only on Saturday, June 10. The ‘Music on Ice’ show features a range of beloved songs from the sensational Disney franchise, Frozen.

The exhilarating event promises an unforgettable performance that combines the art of ice skating with

line at: https://marbellaarena.com/eventos ma/d­a­d­en­concierto/

The band has been a force in the Danish music scene since their formation in the 1980s, with a sound that blends hard rock, heavy metal, and punk influences. Known for their dynamic live performances and catchy, anthemic songs, the band has amassed a devoted following around the world.

Frozen frenzy

breathtaking circus acts all to the soundtrack of music from Frozen 1 and 2.

Guests will join Elsa, Anna, and their friends on an extraordinary musical journey, as they dive headfirst into a whirlwind of adventures,

along with the audience! Tickets for the performance start at €40 and can be purchased online: https://www.alphamusic.es/ web/event/event_id/31. The performance will begin at 8pm on the night.

The band has been rocking since the 80s.

Photo credit: D-A-D (via Facebook)

Yaya: A slice of Italy in Fuengirola

ESTABLISHED in 2021, Yaya Restaurant is everything you could want from an authentic Italian restaurant and wine cellar. From the fresh food and use of products to the ambience of the restaurant, Yaya Restaurant is a slice of Italy in Fuengirola.

What sets this restaurant apart from the many other eateries in the area is the concept of using local and seasonal produce in a simple and uncomplicated way. Typically Mediterranean, the dishes are prepared onsite and fresh products are delivered each week, including fish, meat and vegetables.

What do we picture when we think of Italian food and dining? For the owners of Yaya Restaurant, Italian food has connotations and connections with familial love. The name ‘Yaya’ was chosen to conjure up a feeling and experience of ‘Abuela’, the name given to an elderly Spanish woman who lovingly gathers the family at the table around her food. This perfectly describes what Yaya Restaurant wants to offer their guests.

The philosophy of Yaya Restaurant is creating experiences that guests will want to re­

peat, this is shown through carefully selected details such as fresh flowers on the tables, climatising the restaurant depending on the time of year, the use of fresh linens, and the relaxing background music. On Saturday evenings, you can enjoy live music to accompany your dinner or simply a glass of great

wine while you soak up the atmosphere.

The dishes are inspired by the traditional Neapolitan Italian cuisine and the chef was born and professionally trained in Naples. The menu also features local Spanish dishes and some offerings from Northern Europe. Dishes are created using fresh pasta of the

highest quality, with gluten free alternatives to choose from. From the veal tagliatelle to the spaghetti mare, the spaghetti parmesan to the lasagne, each meal is made with love and the best ingredients.

Besides the exquisite pizzas, pasta and risottos, Yaya Restaurant offers traditional alternatives with meats and fish, such as their delicious Ossobuco and tender entrecote tagliata.

Inspired by Northern European cuisine, Yaya Restaurant offers excellent salmon and cod dishes, in addition to the typical Spanish gambas pil­pil. Their main menu is renewed each year and diners can also enjoy daily specials. For those with a sweet tooth, try their varieties of ice cream and their home­made tiramisu and cheesecake.

Adding to the incredible and authentic dishes, Yaya Restaurant also has a great Italian wine selection and can suggest the best ones to pair with your food. For those who prefer local wine, they also have a wonderful variety of local Spanish wines, as well as French and Portuguese.

YAYA RESTAURANT: Everything you could want from an authentic Italian restaurant.

Marbella is open

Be amongst the first to experience the classic glamour and unparalleled service of Marbella’s new coveted lunch spot, Cipriani Marbella, at Puente Romano Beach Resort.

Sip a famous Bellini on the elegant, shaded terrace, and savour traditional Italian signature dishes from the celebrated Harry’s Bar in Venice.

The name is legendary worldwide. Now the Bellini cocktail and Carpaccio “alla Cipriani” that were first invented and named by Giuseppe Cipriani Sr at Harry’s Bar in Venice have arrived in Marbella.

Bringing authentic Italian gastronomic glamour to Puente Romano Beach Resort’s exciting world-class restaurant collection, this latest addition offers a tempting menu for lunch (and dinner) that reflects Cipriani’s Venetian origins.

As one review said: “There is an indisputable sense of sprezzatura that permeates each one of the Cipriani venues. They carry within them the type of movie-star confidence that is only achieved after becoming a global icon and beating all the odds.”

Italian food made to perfection

Cipriani Marbella’s à la carte menu is built on the concept of simple Italian food made to perfection. It features signature dishes from the legendary Harry’s Bar in Venice, including Calf’s Liver “alla Veneziana” with Fried Polenta, Baked Tagliolini with Ham, and Risotto “alla Primavera” appealing to a variety of tastes. These Italian favourites use seasonal, premium ingredients and produce, many sourced from Italian farms, adding authenticity to the menu.

The stylish, timeless restaurant, featuring an intimate bar and restaurant decorated in Cipriani's iconic nautical colours, with Murano glass chandeliers, blue and white terrazzo patterned floor, high gloss wood and contemporary black-and-white fashion photography adorning the walls. Cipriani Marbella also has a large garden terrace, perfect for long, leisurely lunches.

As the Cipriani motto goes, “To serve is first to love,” so guests can also look forward to impeccable service.

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.

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.

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.

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 cutting ­ edge 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 much ­ needed closure to those who have suffered for over two decades.

Troops out

Betty Henderson

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

Cheers to that

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.

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.

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.

Ukrainian vodka producers are raising a glass to their resilience in face of grave danger.

The Bundeswehr were monitoring a ceasefire in Mali.

Photo credit: Bundeswehr (website)

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.”

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

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.

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 eventu­

Propaganda

ally 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 actors in all man­

THE FIRM OUR VIEW

ner 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.

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.

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 current‐ly of budget supermarkets in competi ‐tion with more traditional ones. And during a cost‐of‐living 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 ve‐neer of artisanal authenticity to other‐wise 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. Su‐permarkets (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 delu ‐sion and a rip‐off. Yes, some of the sour‐dough 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 ex‐perience 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 ex‐perience 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 disadvan‐tages to consider before making the switch. These supermarkets offer prod‐ucts at significantly lower prices than traditional ones. And despite their low prices, they offer a wide selection of high ‐ quality products, from fresh pro ‐duce to household essentials. A simple, efficient, no ‐ frills shopping experience with sustainable options, such as organ‐ic 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 of‐ten more limited. They’re known for their long checkout queues, they gener‐ally don’t offer loyalty programmes or rewards for repeat customers and, typi‐cally, have fewer staff members, mak ‐ing it difficult to find assistance when needed.

So, to put it bluntly, shopping at Aldi or Lidl low‐price supermarkets during a cost ‐ of ‐ living crisis can be a smart way to save money, but the limited selec ‐tion, 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 gener‐ator.”

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.

Of cabbages and kings

LINDA HALL

I THOUGHT I was going to see a coro ‐nation 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 televi ‐sion lounge.

It was winter and the low season, but a party of high‐ranking Army offi‐cers 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 parlia ‐ment building.

Spain was still shellshocked, al ‐though 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

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 commu ‐nist, was drinking cava, although we called it Champagne in the days be ‐fore 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 pre ‐sent 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 nation‐al anthem was played, aware ‐ in one of those moments that nobody ever forgets ‐ that this was the start of something new.

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.

Cryonis: The new generation of health, wellness, and beauty

BECOME part of the new generation of health and beauty at Cryonis Marbella, help‐ing you to feel healthier, recover faster, and become more attractive!

If you care about looking after yourself and are looking for a quick and effective solution using natural therapies, Cryonis provides a unique combination of personalised treat‐ments.

Founded in 2016, using cutting‐edge tech‐nology and the latest proven trends on the market, the highly‐educated team will provide personalised plans to help you look and feel your best.

What’s new at Cryonis?

Cryonis is excited to announce the arrival of their new cryo chamber ‐ The Powercab ‐which allows to personalise each treatment. The ventilation speed is adjustable, you can de‐cide to focus on your upper or lower body and even choose a personal soundtrack to listen to during treatment.

What is Cryo Full Body Therapy?

Spending three minutes in a ‐130 degree Celsius chamber, restarting your body and benefiting overall health, reducing pain, and levelling‐up your fitness.

The benefits:

In recent years, there has been a lot of talk around cold therapy, with thousands of people plunging themselves into cold water to feel the benefits of blood and lymphatic fluid stimula‐tion, the reduction of pain and inflammation, a boost to muscle mass, and better recovery from injury.

These same benefits can be achieved through Cryo Full Body Therapy at Cryonis ‐ in only three minutes ‐ in addition to accelerating your metabolism, helping with fibromyalgia and arthritis, reducing anxiety, and even im‐proving your sleep. It also has anti‐ageing ef‐fects, helps reduce cellulite, and aids to weight loss.

In a one‐session treatment, you’ll leave feel‐ing relaxed with a renewed sense of energy.

How it works:

It stimulates blood and lymphatic fluid movement, bringing much‐needed nutrients and oxygen to the muscles and tissues. Endor‐phins and adrenaline are released to help your body cope with the extreme temperature and increase energy levels.

More recovery treatments from Cryonis

CryoLocalised and CryoWave Recovery

These are especially helpful for people who do sports or are in chronic pain.

They help with back and knee pain, tennis elbow, or any wrist, foot or ankle injury.

Electro Stimulation

This process strengthens and repairs tissue, particularly muscles which have become shortened, weakened, or atrophied due to in‐

jury or disease.

Dry Needling

Needles are applied to the affected area and can decrease muscle tightness, increase blood flow and reduce pain, often giving immediate relief.

Beauty treatments from Cryonis

CryoWave Body

Can be used to tone and tighten excess skin, fat freezing or as anti‐cellulite treatment.

Facial Treatments

The most popular is the deep cleansing Hy‐drafacial™, which is combined with CryoFacial, using nitrogen to close the pores, reduce red‐ness and add to anti‐ageing effects.

Ionithermie

The best anti‐cellulite and last‐minute shap‐ing treatment ‐ which reduces your tummy two to four cms in just one session. This treat‐ment involves using electrostimulation, heat and algae to detox and slim your body.

Cryonis is proud to announce collaborations with other high‐standard clinics, including CostaSpine, Immucura and IVEI Vascular Clinic Marbella. If the team at Cryonis cannot assist you, they will put you in touch with these rep‐utable clinics to ensure you are in the best hands.

Eat or skip

IS breakfast really that important?

While the debate continues as to whether it is the best start to the day or can be skipped, Alice H Lichtenstein, a US professor of Nutrition 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 en ‐ergy and makes you feel full.

“We’ve tried giv ‐ing people formu ‐las,” she said, “but if you look at di ‐etary patterns and scores, we don’t al ‐ways 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 de ‐clared.

Better Hearing and Speech Month

AS one of our most important senses to understand the world around us, loss of hearing can cause a lot of stress, worry and anxiety. Better Hearing and Speech Month (BHSM) is an annual awareness campaign that takes place in May. This campaign aims to raise awareness about communi‐cation disorders and the role of patholo‐gists and audiologists in diagnosis and treatment.

This year, the BHSM theme is ‘Building a Strong Foundation,’ emphasising how our hearing is an important part of the founda‐tion for our ability to communicate with the outside world.

Throughout the month, events and ac‐tivities are held to promote aware ness about hearing loss and dis orders, as well as the importance of early detection and interven tion. These may in‐clude free

hearing screenings, information, and social media campaigns.

Signs of Hearing Loss Include:

• Turning an ear in the direction of sound to hear it better.

• Understanding conversation better when you look directly at the person be‐cause you are lip‐reading the conversation.

• Unable to hear all parts of a group con‐versation.

• Experiencing pain or ringing in the ears (tinnitus).

• Listening to the TV/radio at volume levels higher than normal.

If you or someone you know is experi‐encing difficulty with communica‐tion or hearing, it’s important to seek the help of a qualified au‐diologist such as the team at Sontec Hearing Cen ‐tres.

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

TAKE A DEEP BREATH

BEING a councillor over the last four years and in this sense a public figure, has taught me several things about what to do and what not to do if you want to preserve your sanity and keep the angry mobs at bay. Social media, like most ‘new’ inventions is a two‐ edged sword having the possibility to be used for good or for mischief. Here are some sugges ‐tions for reducing the stress and conflict in your life.

1. Don’t argue with people’s opinion. An opinion is something which everyone is entitled to have. The problem is that some out there are determined to shove it in your face without the ability to see that it is opinion and not fact. Let them have their opinion, don’t try to change it and don’t get into an argument about it. Example: “Bill Anderson, you are a dis‐grace as a public figure.” Reply: “Thank you for your comment. Have a nice day.”

2. Don’t challenge how people feel. Ev‐eryone reacts to situations differently. What you might brush off as a momen‐tary inconvenience, others may see as a life catastrophe. If they are good friends, by all means sit down and have a heart

to heart with them, but if they are ran‐dom digital profiles, don’t tell them what they feel or should feel.

3. Don’t trust politicians. Doing this without consideration may lead to great disappointments. Especially at this mo‐ment, with elections around the corner, why would you trust people you don’t even know? There are some decent politicians out there, but trust the people you know and don’t simply go by the la‐bel.

Coronation spirit

4. Don’t try to win every argument. So‐cial media seems to have encouraged us to fight our battles to the death to see who gives up first or who has the bigger set. Sometimes it’s OK just to let the oth‐er person have their tiny victory in a war of insults. It doesn’t mean you have to change your mind but it stops the small wounds turning into open sores.

5. Be clear about the difference be ‐tween facts and opinions. Too many peo‐ple can’t tell one from the other. “It’s a

well ‐ known fact that tea tastes better when the milk goes in first.” It is neither well‐known nor a fact. Don’t initiate bat‐tles because you can’t present your opin‐ions for what they are. Better to start with “I think....”

6. Learn to spot trolls. Just in the past few days a certain person whose Face ‐book profile is thinner than a cheap cup of coffee started commenting, negatively I would add, on consecutive comments or posts I had done in various places. Don’t give them the opportunity to keep the debate going, and maybe report the fake profile.

7. Be kind. If you want to comment on something ask yourself about your reply, “Is it true?” then “Is it kind?” and then, “Is it necessary?”

The number of times I have spared my‐self a battle by deleting a comment I was about to post. Also, don’t go onto Social Media when you have had a few. Delet‐ing your comment the next day is not the same as not posting it.

If only I would listen to my own advice, life would sometimes be less complicat‐ed.

TWO-EDGED SWORD: Social media can be used for good or for mischief.

I FEEL totally blessed to have spent my birthday this year with my children and my grandchildren. It’s hard to believe my daughter had her first daughter four and a half years ago and now also has a sevenmonth­old baby girl too.

My son and his wife are also proud parents of a two ­ week ­ old baby boy. Seeing them settled and happy is possibly the best gift any parent could wish for and us all being together to celebrate my special day was almost overwhelmingly wonderful.

Adding the cherry to the top of the family celebrations were all the heart ­

MARBELLA MOMENTS

BY NICOLE KING

warming messages I received from so many of you, some bringing more than just a tear to the eye. It’s so nice to feel love and be loved.

However, whilst on the subject of messages I’m going to take the opportunity to share one of my pet peeves: some work related messages can be stressful, particularly the ‘voice’ ones. When I have nothing to do and am sitting on my own it’s quite fine to re ­

Mixed messages

ceive a recorded communication, but as my days are usually spent recording for the TV, in meetings or surrounded by people, they can also be overwhelming.

I too find it easier to talk into the ‘phone rather than type with my thumbs but I do so on dictation mode so that they come out as written words, to be read when the recipient has the time. If it’s an important message I do check that I’ve spoken clearly and it makes sense, but it’s a question of seconds.

Often if I’m in a meeting I can still read a message and perhaps even respond without being rude, but there is no way I can press ‘play’ to interrupt everyone else’s proceedings to hear what a third person has to say. Therefore, I usually have to save all

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.

voicemail for when I get home and if that day I had a lot of messages, it might go unheard. Sometimes they’re so far down and I don’t realise I have to go back that far.

The reality is that unless you’re on your own or somewhere quiet, you can’t even hear what’s being said.

I’m only bringing this up as I don’t think I can be the

only person who works and ‘suffers’ this situation and I’d like to explain to those who do send voice messages that I’m not ignoring you, it’s just I can’t always find the moment to ‘chat’.

We often talk about communication and getting our messages across is one of the priorities on most of our lists in this networking city of ours. Finding the right medium to convey our intentions can be as important as the content. I am very interested to receive your information and don’t want you to think otherwise.

In order to avoid mixed messages, please note that I can handle written text more efficiently and I look forward to hearing from you and to responding with a ‘promptish’ reply.

We help with your help

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

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

Thank

PETS

UK dog food may harm pets

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 af‐ter them. Housesitmatch can help you find such a dog‐sitter 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 pet‐sitters 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 house‐sitting network, and the sitters come for free!

A dog-sitter is a companion to your pets.

DOG food sold in the UK may harm your pet after some have been found to contain high levels of toxic lead according to campaign‐ers at Wild Justice.

According to the organi‐sation, more than three quarters of samples from three raw pheasant‐based dog foods tested for lead exceeded the maximum level recommended for ani‐mal feed.

They contend therefore that the use of lead shot in shooting means pet owners are unwittingly feeding their dogs levels of lead that may

harm their health.

Chris Packham said “That people might be unwittingly poisoning their beloved companion animals is out‐rageous.

“It’s clearly a failure of our regulatory systems when products like raw pheasant‐based dog foods can be sold containing such high lead levels.

“No animals should be exposed to these levels of lead in their food. Wild Jus‐tice is taking legal advice on these shocking findings.”

New research published in the journal Ambio stated

that tests were undertaken on samples from raw, air‐dried and wet dog food products purchased in the UK that contained pheasant meat.

They found that about three quarters of samples from raw pheasant‐based dog food packs exceeded the EU maximum lead lev‐els permitted in animal feed.

Wild Justice believe that raw meat diets for pets are on the increase in the UK, and products containing raw pheasant are widely available online.

Hidden danger in our homes

CAT and dog owners have been warned that even if the water in our taps is safe for us to drink it may not be for our beloved pets.

Water filtration expert, Gene, revealed that the water from our taps could be ‘slowly poisoning’ our furry friends, according to a news source on Thursday, May 4.

Certain elements found within our water may be toxic to our animals and could lead to chronic ill ‐nesses.

Fitzgerald, who works for Best Osmosis Systems, said, “Hard water contains high levels of calcium and/or magnesium. For

pets, this can be harmful.

“If a dog drinks too much hard water for too long a period, for example, they can develop conditions such as urinary tract and/or bladder infections, cystitis, urinary obstruction, crystal‐luria and stone formation.”

Other complications such as skin problems, as well as digestive and den‐tal issues can also be at ‐tributed to pets drinking hard water.

However, some tap wa‐ter is perfectly suitable for our pets, the key to it all is the location and the quality of the water, which can vary so much.

One way to improve the

water for our animals is to remove the harmful ele ‐ments from hard water which will greatly reduce the risk to our pets.

Simple testing equip ‐ment can be purchased on‐line, or simply use filtered tap water.

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 sit‐ters. Join our network for a small annual fee. You get ID checked for safety and then build your ad‐vert saying when you are going on holiday. House‐sitters 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 ser‐vice 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.

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, ac‐cording 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 announce‐ment 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 negative‐ly impact dog welfare and in‐stead of improving behaviour, risk causing further behaviour problems. Worse still, they can

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

New UK legislation

be a mechanism for abuse if used in anger.”

The collars are activated by a radio‐controlled device which can be used from a dis‐tance 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 Chari‐ty The Club Kennel said, “There is simply no excuse for using these devices.”

The three founders of Wild Justice.

POOL MAINTENANCE

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

CLASSIFIEDS 51

AIR CONDITIONING

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Quality Air Conditioning Installations. Economical heating, & silent in operation. 28 Years installation history in Spain. EnviroCare. All Areas Covered. 952 663 141/670 409 759 info@envi rocarespain.com www.enviro carespain.com (303385)

MR COOL – Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, Heating Systems, Sales & Service – Call Christian +34 629 527 587 or Nick +34 618 678 853 –www.mrcool.es (303225)

AWNINGS

ACE OF SHADES – All colours available. Urbanisations catered for, electric and manual operation; also recovery service available, largest selection of colours and designs on the coast. Tel: 951 273 254 / 671 732 204 / info@aceofshades.design

T1(101730)

SUNSHINE AWNINGS/BLINDS

Awnings, Persiana, Shutter & Rejas Specialist. New & Repairs. 25yrs on the coast. 680 323 969 / 952 199 640 (302583)

BLINDS

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BLINDS, awnings, mosquito screens, curtains, vast choice. All areas covered. Coast and inland. 655 825 931 (294242)

MOSQUITO screens, sliding, pulldown, pleated, colours call Mosquito Nick 647 072 861 www.mosquitonick.ws (302785)

SOLAR BLINDS

SOLAR BLINDS ES Ideal for large glazed areas to reflect heat / glare and stop furniture fading and still keep the view. SAVE HEAT IN THE WINTER to im prove your living environment. ian@solarshadetinting.com Tel

Ian 958 496 571 / 644 546 176

If you can read it, so can your clients.

Contact us and have your business grow at + 34 951 386 161

BUILDING SERVICES

JIM’S HOME IMPROVEMENTS.

Bathrooms/kitchen reforms, repairs, plumbing, carpentry, painting, tiling, maintenance. Give us a call no job too small. 692 207 799 / 645 559 423 (303368)

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GENERAL BUILDER, Tiling, plastering, painting, electrician, plumber, carpentry. Reasonable prices. 635 913 885 (References available) (302414)

SWINGLES CASAS SL . For all your building needs. Visit www.swinglescasas.com for more details or call 635 999 765 / 666 960 262 (295953)

PLUMBING & GENERAL BUILDING All your plumbing needs. Bathroom, kitchens, tiling & painting. Benalmadena based, travel no problem. Glen 669 073 773 or Paul 642 098 115 (302310)

QUALITY renovation: Kitchens, bathrooms, tiling, windows, doors, plastering, Total property renovations info@masterbuild spain.com 952663141 / 670409759 Over 28 years renovating history in Spain (302479)

METALWORK

NEW REJAS, GATES, Carports & Fencing, repairs & alterations. Work Guaranteed. Reliable. 19yrs on Coast. Steve the Welder. Call/WhatsApp 655 040 648 (303370)

BUSINESS OPORTUNITIES

VERY profitable turn key classic car business for sale due to family reasons; proven turnover; international clientele; mainly online sales; no technical experience needed; training provided by current owner; 150,000€ all in (cars, parts, website, company, contacts, rented warehouse, training, etc...) 699 545 480 (303495)

REAL ESTATE website for sale, turn-key, with 10.000+ listings,24/7 updates, etc..., training available, ideal for starting entrepreneurs,15.000€, 602 457 322 (303495)

BUY & SELL

HOUSE CLEARANCE SPECIALISTS, FULL OR PART CLEARANCE. ALL FURNITURE WANTED, WE PAY MORE. TEL 634 324 914 OR EMAIL houseclearanceman@hotmail.com (301543)

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

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WE BUY vintage antiques and silver. Silver Jewellery accepted. Good rates paid. Discretion assured. 613 822 572 / +447778 422 305 (303311)

CAR HIRE

ALH RENT A CAR – SHORT & LONG-TERM RENTALS FROM €15 A DAY. INSURANCE INCLUDED IN OUR PRICES. - TLF: 638 846 909 or reser vasalhrentacar@gmail.com (295923)

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

CLASSES

PROFESSIONAL CARPENTRY Car-Ports, Mobile Home Decking. Concreting and Slabbing. Best Rates, Fully Insured. Tel: 622 647 602 (303113)

CARPENTRY CARS FOR SALE

CLEANING/MAINTENANCE

ADVANCED Cleaning Services. Professional carpet, upholstery cleaning, 27 years experience, wet/dry clean. Honest, reliable service 678 808 837 / 952 669 701 or email acservs@ outlook.com (290189)

UPHOLSTERY including leather cleaned also carpets. 685 524 921

REYES PROPERTY SERVICES Est. over 25 years. Rental management. Tailor made for your all property needs. Call Wendy 635 630 370 (303017)

STARLIGHT Property Cleaning & Maintenance. All types of cleaning. Any size of property. All Areas. Residential & Holiday Lets. 682 636451 www.starlight-spain.com (302566)

DECORATORS

RAINBOW Pinturas. English

CHARITY

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

CHIMNEY SERVICES

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

APEX CHIMNEY SERVICES, professional chimney sweeping and smoke testing. NACS Qualified. Clean and efficient Tel: Bob 696 320 202 (302584)

CHURCH SERVICES

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

Painters & decorators. All aspects. Interior/exterior, private residential, commercial & communities. Spraying: door, kitchens & furniture. Light construction. Call/WhatsApp: Daniel: 628 066 308 www.rainbowpinturas.com

ATD DECOR. British Painter. 30 Years’ Experience. Punctual. Great Rates. Call for free quote. 602 431 968 Facebook: @ATDDecorMalaga

DOMESTIC APP REP

DOMESTIC Appliance repairswashing machines, fridges, cookers, ovens, water heaters, gas / electric, professionally repaired. Christian 608 337 497 (296265)

WASHING MACHINES, Ovens, Boilers etc. All work guaranteed by ex Zanussi technician. Reliable rapid service. Joe 609 345 096 (303048)

DRAINAGE ELECTRICIAN

BLOCKED DRAINS? Leak detection, CCTV survey, root removal, Tel 952 568 414 / 661 910 772 / drain spain.com (294321)

ALL TYPES OF ELECTRICAL work, re-wiring, fault finding. Professional & experienced. Frank Tel. or Whatsapp 650 561 629

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

Discount code: EWN 1 CLEAN (206437)

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

FLOOR POLISHING FOR SALE/WANTED

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

FURNITURE GARDENING

FURNITURE wanted, same day collection, also house clearance and removals. Also buy cars, campervans, boats & bikes. 697 511 071 (302540)

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

FOODSCAPING Spain Organic Edible Landscaping Services. We design,install & manage Raised bed Kitchen Gardens & Food Forests on the Costa del Sol. 52 Harvests a year from your own backyard. Now is the time to plant for summer abundance. Contact: Jacob@Foodscaping.es 642 260 204 (303308)

I RRIGATION

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

GOLF

ELECTRIC GATE/GARAGE DOOR automation repaired. Free, no obligation quotation. Call Colin636 394 641 (302074)

GATE REPAIRS GATES

ELECTRIC GATES/Garage Doors. Intercoms/access control systems and replacement remotes. New installs and repairs. For all your electric gate and garage door requirements call us on 605 356 469/952 786 178. The Garage Door Co & 2 Way Gates. tgdc@hotmail.co.uk www.2way gates.com (294933)

GENERAL SERVICES

E K SERVICES Window & Pool cleaning, gardening, window tinting. Marbella to Malaga. Call +34681 928 041. Email: emskdd3@gmail.com (303338)

GLASS CURTAINS

GLASS CURTAIN repairs, specialist in replacement of discoloured plastic strips that act as a seal between the glass panels. Call Julian 655 825 931 (302477)

HANDYMAN

HANDYMAN: General Masonry work, painting, wall/roof waterproofing & other jobs. Call Michael 622 755 666 (303309)

HEALTH & BEAUTY

H AIRDRESSER

MOBILE HAIRDRESSER Why don’t I come to you? Women, Men & Children. Estepona – Sotogrande. Call 658 675 077 (303361)

T HERAPIST

BODY and face treatments. Oleksandra, massage therapist +34603 388 449. San Pedro Alcántara (303346) BOTOX & fillers from €80. Skinny Jab & Fat reducing injections. Cover Coast & Inland. www.beautifulmar bella.es 609 347 086 (303371)

HEATING

Fires: Electric, Gas. Quality guaranteed. EnviroCare. All areas covered. 952 663 141 / 670 409759. info@envirocarespain. com www.envirocarespain.com

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

ENGLISH ARE FROM 11/05 TO 17/05

VINYL WRAP

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

ENGLISH LOCKSMITH emergency & appointment, locks changed, patio doors & windows secured. All locks supplied insurance approved. Fast & reliable service. No hidden extras or nasty surprises. 657 466 803 www.a1locksmiths.es (290138)

hands of an attractive masseuse running through your body. Our masseuses have been chosen not only for their physical attractiveness, but also for their sensuality and massage skills. Only by appointment 951 274 723, 650 237 145 (302727)

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

LOS BOLICHES - Carolina Pretty Masseur, Relaxing Massage, Guaranteed relax - 634.703.111 (303203)

RELAXING Massage for Men & Couples. Feel free from tension & stress Call Dany 603 202 758 (303493)

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

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY: VOLUME 3

THU: 21:00

FRI: 19:30

SAT: 17:35

SUN: 13:10, 17:35, 19:30

MON, TUE, WED: 19:30

SUZUME

FRI: 17:00

SAT, SUN: 16:15

MON, TUE, WED: 16:15

BOOK CLUB – THE NEXT CHAPTER

SUN: 12:20

TUE: 16:45

MARLOWE

TUE: 19:05

MAVKA: THE FOREST SONG

TUE: 17:50

RED DOG CINEMA CIIN CINNENEM EM M MA

PLAZA MAYOR CINEMA Malaga Puerto Banus

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY: VOLUME 3

THU, FRI, SAT, SUN: 17:00, 18:00, 19:45, 21:00

SUPER MARIO BROS: THE FILM

THU, FRI, SAT, SUN: 17:30, 19:30

SISU

THU: 20:10

BEAU IS AFRAID

THU: 17:00

EVIL DEAD RISE

THU, FRI, SAT, SUN: 22:00

AIR THU, FRI, SAT, SUN: 19:40

THE LOST KING

THU: 18:50

CALA DE MIJAS. Excellent professional masseuse with exclusive attention for people who want to change their routine and want to relax and live a relaxing experience. If you are looking for discretion and good treatment, here I am. I’m Noa and I hope you make your appointment as soon as possible because I am very requested. 650 237 145 (302727)

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

FUENGIROLA. Japanese Shiatsu & Zen Ki relaxing and therapeutic massage. Excellent service guaranteed. Home Visits. WhatsApp for appointment 693 988 340 (290155)

HOT TUBS new used, bought, sold, hired. Also move & repairs. Used good Hot Tubs for sale. 691 973 131 / +44 7836 379122 (303337)

ALHAURIN FURNITURE EMPORIUM furniture wanted, same day collection, also house clearance and removals. Also buy cars, campervans, boats & bikes. 697 511 071 (302540)

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

STAY SAFE! Abbeygate Insurance

Call 971 277 455 For your security www.abbeygateinsure.com (291234)

INTERPRETER : Michael will assist/go with you to any appointment ie Townhall, Doctors etc call 606 809 042 (303309)

SENIOR Lawyer Offices in Glasgow, San Pedro, Fuengirola. jlmhens@gmail.com 00447955 013 6 33 (303350)

ENGLISH LOCKSMITHS, SECURITY & SHADE EXPERTS. FREE HOME SECURITY SURVEY. 636 770 865 / 952 660 233 WWW.SECURITYOF SPAIN.COM CONTACT DAREN (303056) T1

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

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

ENGLISH ELEGANT independent & affectionate lady in late 40s, gives a sensual golfers massage to relieve tension in her discreet private apartment. Satisfaction guaranteed. Call 680 177 569 (303054)

CASSIE. Mature English lady. Discreet and clean. 667 914 732 (FU 2974)

IT’S TIME to try something different and very relaxed. Sara, elegant masseuse, I offer massage, tantric, sensitive, prostatic, authentic relaxation that will leave you floating on the cloud. believe me spectacular! Very clean. I give and demand total hygiene! Let yourself go and you will discover the most hidden pleasures. Only by appointment. 650 237 145 (302727)

RIVIERA DEL SOL . Treat yourself to an Excellent Massage! Irina, Cuban masseuse, fun and spontaneous. Only when a massage is something more than a massage, and becomes a unique experience, with a mixture of smells, sounds, sensations, only then is when you enjoy the perfection of the exclusive massage. Ask for more information without obligation 951 274 723, 650 237 145 (302727)

TANTRIC masseuse in Calahonda. Cristal, expert in the art of seduction and tantric massage. Authentic masseuse who manages to transmit the physical and emotional pleasure with the 5 senses. Sensual tantric massage or body to body to perfection. Make an appointment. 650 237 145 (302727)

BUTTERFLY - Massage, is a space designed for people with high sensitivity, with a taste for body to body interaction, who enjoy the sensuality and magical trantric, to feel the warm

MY HANDS can transmit a very important message and make us feel connected. I will create a suitable atmosphere for relaxation and sensuality without noise, candlelight, soft music, nothing should disturb that moment. Before we start, all you have to do is relax, breathe slowly to free your body and mind... I’ll take care of the rest. Irina, qualified masseuse with many years of experience. Book your appointment. 650 237 145 (302727)

RIVIERA DEL SOL. I am Noa a simple and natural girl who hides among her shy appearance the best kept secrets of relaxing, decontracting and stimulating massage. I am a specialist in eliminating your worries, muscular tension thanks to a depurative massage technique that I combine with a sensory capacity out of the ordinary. I massage both men and couples. 650 237 145. by appointment only (302727)

CALAHONDA. I am your ideal masseuse if you want to enjoy a massage, relaxing and sensual and want to try the sensations that this generates. I will use my hands and body with techniques of relaxation and mutual connection. Carla – 650 237 145 (302727)

THE BEST RELAXING MASSAGE CLOSE TO ELVIRIA. Tantric massages. Come and enjoy today with us. Latin masseuses for men. Come and relax. Outcall, too 650 237 145 (302727)

NEAR ELVIRIA. Masseuse, elegant with a high dose of implication. Very special tantric sensory massages. I will make you feel very relaxed with a good massage. 951 274 723, 650 237 145 (302727)

MARBELLA CENTRE - the ideal place for relaxing massage in the city centre. Available 24h and prices from €50. For reservations and information call 620 366 817. (295192)

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

FUENGIROLA - Johanna Brazilian Mature Masseur. Relaxing Massages. Best relax guaranteed. Tel: 617.818.615 (303203)

LAWYERS

WWW.LAILALYNCH1.COM. Heated pool, Jacuzzi and private bar. Inland private retreat with a full massage service. 662 913 428 (FU 2982)

AMAZING relaxing massage by mature lady, In/ outcalls. Fuengirola. 657 697 397 (FU 2970)

ESTEPONA. Susana, Latin Girl sculptural body, trained for deep relaxing massage. 697 705 304 (FU 2786)

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

ESTEPONA area. Kannika sweet Asian masseuse. Various massage. For more service details WhatsApp me 602 427 095 (FU 2891)

FILIPINO massage centre, Marbella, where hearts of proffessional massage. Open daily. 660 578 171 (MI 563)

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

TWO filipina, simpathic excellent unique relaxing massage authentic oriental massage, exclusive. Elviria. 679 126 231 (MI 563)

BOLICHES: Celina elegant loving kind lovely for educated serious discreet respectable gentleman good behaviour. Unique moments, deep relax. Private apartment, quite cosy atmosphere. Enjoy complete services, calm excellent treatment special attention of your needs and satisfaction, pleasant sweet sensual lady. Demanding impeccable hygiene! Appointments: 11am/7pm 622 210 797

UKRAINIAN/ THAI slims, friendly, beautiful hands massage. Marbella. 604 428 812 (FU 2980)

VANESSA Benalmadena excellent massage services. Relaxing & therapeutic. Home premises. Call me 624 811 098 (303305)

BEAUTIFUL Asian lady offer exclusive, sensitive, prostatic, deep, soft massage pleasure to body and mind pleasure, good clean atmosphere, Marbella. Elviria. 603 257 690 (MI 563)

JAPANESE massage. Marbella. Relaxing, less stress. 664 177 216 (MI 559)

ASIAN touch combination oriental/ european massage relief pain stress exotic pretty lady. Elviria. 633 705 558 (MI 563)

MARBELLA Tantric ritual massage with aromatherapy to leave completely renewed. 642 751 070 (2907)

ORIENTAL lady, tantric sensory generate body to body, technique, deep, soft massage. Marbella 603 208 080 (MI 563)

MASSAGE! Outcalls everywhere in Costa del Sol! Independent lady offer sensual massage. 604 256 336 (FU 2965)

SARA Venezuelan, professional relaxing therapeutic & sensitive massage. I can visit you. For more information contact me 632 770 051 (303021)

THAI Benalmadena Costa. Bodybody full massages. Visits. Whatsapp 689 387 448, 632 092 619 (MI 562)

MARBELLA. Hi! I am Agness, beautiful masseuse, spectacular attributes. Relive stress, personalised massage, unforgettable sensations. 642 268 665 (fu 2931)

NUEVA Andalucia: Valery, Portuguese, mature, blond, sweet unique sensual massage. Independent. 685 221 959 (FU 2981)

JADE BRITISH lady offers sensual massage service for gentlemen & couples. Discrete premises. Estepona area. Call 665 896 519 (303494)

ARGENTINIAN lady gives sensual & relaxing massage. Private premises WhatsApp +34613 661 068 (303349)

BENALMADENA Private Villa: DANIELA from Colombia 19yrs Masseur. New on the Coast. in C/ Imperio Argentina N.1 in Benalmadena. Incalls Outcalls 24hrs. Tel. 662 52 78 15 (303183)

BENALMADENA Private Villa: IRINA

Russian Masseur, model, slim, Russian, Spanish, English in Calle Imperio Argentina N.1 in Benalmadena. Incalls & Outcalls 24hrs. Tel. 673 88 75 47 (303183)

BENALMADENA Private Masseur villa, massage, jacuzzi, outcalls 24hrs, Calle Imperio Argentina N.1 in Benalmadena. Incalls & Outcalls. 24hrs. Tel. 673 88 75 47 (303183)

BENALMADENA Private Villa: Maria - Colombian Masseurblond long hair, Calle Imperio Argentina N.1 in Benalmadena. Incalls & Outcalls 24hrs. Tel. 673 88 75 47 (303183)

BENALMADENA Private Villa: Alicia Spanish professional & relaxing Masseur. Calle Imperio Argentina N.1 in Benalmadena. Incalls & Outcalls. 24hrs. Tel. 673 88 75 47 (303183)

BENALMADENA Private Villa: Sandra Spanish Masseur and Amaliaduo massage & relaxing. Calle Imperio Argentina N.1 in Benalmadena. Incalls & Outcalls. 24hrs. Tel. 673 88 75 47 (303183)

THE Ultimate Bliss at a Very Nice Place - Tantra is Fullness to Darin Sensory Massage LoversFuengirola - Call 608 977 260 (303269)

SAN PEDRO BEACH. RELAXING AND SENSITIVE MASSEUSES WELCOME YOU IN A PRIVATE AND DISCREET PLACE. YOUNG AND PLEASANT. WITH APPOINTMENT. EASY, PRIVATE PARKING. TEl.. 666 194 079 - 674 679 757. (303406)

MISCELLANEOUS

GOLD & SILVER Bought & Sold, Rolex & Patek Philippe Watches Tel678 716 693 (288662)

MOSQUITO SCREENS

ACE OF SHADES - Don’t let the bugs get you! Available in enrollable, slider and pleated. Large choice of colours including wood effect. Tel: 951 273 254 / 671 732 204 / info@aceofshades. design (101730)

MOSQUITO Screens for windows, doors and a high-quality sliding patio door screen. All finishes available. Quick service. All areas covered. Call Julian 655 825 931 (301104)

MOSQUITO screens, sliding, pulldown, pleated, colours, call Mosquito Nick 647 072 861 www.mosquitonick.ws (295855)

ROBERTSON CARS SALE WAS €11,500 NOW €10,995 AUTOMATIC / CABRIO MERCEDES SLK 2006 Stunning Silver only used as holiday car with 55,000KMS (Approx 35,000miles)

2 Seater Convertible have fun in the sun. New ITV. Just Passed July till 2023 ,Electric Roof folds into boot. Selling Under Book Price. Classy Great Shape Cabrio. See photos on my web page –www.robertsoncars-spain,com or text me whatsapp 608 658 785

Email: therobertsonclan@gmail. com

ROBERTSON CARS AUTOMATIC TOYOTA YRIS HYBRID

2017 ONLY 23,000KMS Yes only 23,000 kms. 5 door, reverse camera, high seating position great for old legs and bad knees, beautiful blue with black trim, easy to drive and park. Test drive recommended soon it will go See photos on my web page –www.robertsoncars-spain,com or text me whatsapp 608 658 785 Email: therobertsonclan@gmail. com

LEXUS 2.5 300 H Executive Navigation 4wd 197 CV Model Metallic Pearl, Imported, Purchased October 2020, 5090kms Hybrid and Petrol. Condition as new. Offers on 38,000€ Neg. Please Call 689 876 751 (303217)

WE ARE currently the market leader in our country in the sale of direct car, motorbike, home and company fleet insurance. Since we started out in 1995, our philosophy has always been to offer an excellent service with the best prices in the market. For the most competitive quotes in English, call Linea Directa on 952 147 834. (200726)

CAR SERVICES

MOBILE MECHANIC will come to your home or work. Servicing, repairs, ITVs & diagnostics. Call Mick on 617 553 072 (301482)

ENGLISH bodyshop, fully equipped, Mijas Costa. No Job Too Small. 952 667 074 (302563)

IMPORT/TRANSFER

CAMPER VANS, CARAVANS, MOBILE HOMES, BOATS AND ALL PLANT, DIGGERS, DUMPERS, MOTORBIKES, CARS AND COMMERCIALS WANTED. BEST PRICE PAID, CASH TODAY, ANY REGISTRATION WITH OR WITHOUT PAPERS. PLEASE CALL 678 808 837 (290189)

CARS, VANS, ANY RESGISTRATION, INSTANT CASH, FINANCE / EMBARGO UK OR SPANISH 685 524 921 (290189)

CARS, VANS UK OR SPANISH BOUGHT FOR CASH. FREE COLLECTION IN SPAIN / UK. PLEASE CALL 678 808 837 OR 952 669 701

FOR SALE

ROBERTSON CARS ...would like to thank all of my past, present & future clients for their continued support over the last 35 years here in Spain. Stay safe and outdrive everyone. If contacting Samantha in the afternoons, please only Whatsapp on 608 658 785 or Email therobertsonclan@gmail.com as I am driving mostly & unable to take your calls.

DAVID CHRISTIAN-CLARK PLAYS POPULAR SPANISH GUITAR FOR YOUR EVENT. OVER 30 YEARS PRO EXPERIENCE BACKED BY A DIPLOMA FROM GUILDHALL LONDON. SPECIALISES IN WEDDINGS.ECLECTIC PLAYLIST TAILORED TO YOUR TASTE. REASONABLE RATES BY NEGOTIATION.COVERS GIB TO NERJA.SEE YOU TUBE. ENQUIRIES davechristianclark@ gmail.com (303110)

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

YATCH SKIPPER RETIRED to enhance your boating skills, boat handling, maintenance, navigation, safety. On your own boat, any size of boat. Mike 602 533 508 (303066)

ADANA THE ANIMAL SHELTER IN ESTEPONA. We always need volunteers to walk and socialise with our dogs and help with cleaning. We also need good homes for our animals that you can see on www.adana.es. Kennels open every day 10-1.30, Camino de Casares, near Parque de los Pedregales, Estepona. (5 minutes from the Poligono) For more information call 952 113 467, available from 10.00am until 2.00pm. (93319)

ANIMEX Foundation offers free will upgrading when leaving something for abandoned animals. Contact animexfoundation@gmail.com or call 692 166 434 now for this absolutely free service (288287)

SEPE the horse and donkey charity is open to the public at weekends from 10.00 to 5.00. Volunteers are much needed in all departments and are welcome at any time. For our riding for the disabled classes, we are also in need of extra helpers. We are nationally registered by the Spanish Ministry of the Interior (164640) but only with your support can we give the equine a voice. If you can just commit to 2 or 3 euros a month it will really help make a difference. You can find us at Lauro Golf Equestrian Centre, Alqueria, Alhaurin de la Torre. Tel. 608 258 950 info@sepeonline.net

www.sepeonline.net

(93321)

CARS TRANSFERRED, history checks, Imports and Embargo problems. Change of use and lost papers. Change your car to Spanish plates, simple efficient service. Cars bought and sold. Please call 678808837 or email carsinspain@live.co.uk (290189)

WANTED

WANTED CARS AND VANS, FREE COLLECTION, SAME DAY 685 524 921 (290189)

CARS, VANS BOUGH WITH / WITHOUT PAPERS. CASH WAITING 678 808 837 (303115)

ALL CARS / Commercials wanted, runners or non-runners. Cash. Buyer collects. Transfer included. 605 109 796 (302091)

CARS, Vans, Bikes wanted. Any Reg, Anything Considered Call or Whatsapp 687 049 592

WANTED, wanted, wanted!! All cars, all years, all models… from exotic to classic. Spanish, English, Dutch plated. Call us on 951 977 329 or 606 647 597. (302517)

OTHERS PAINTERS/DECORATORS

MALE/Female Viagra, cialis, kamagra jelly all areas. Mixed trial packs available. Delivery or mail order available 604 385 476. viagra4you19@gmail.com

SOLUCIONES RAPIDAS - We will Paint your apartment in maximum 2 days. 640 350 479 (301298)

UK & IRISH Passport renewals including photos. Complete Service. Cath’s Cards. 952 885 759. www.cathscards.es (290153)

COCKROACHES, ANTS, insects, fleas, mice, rats, wasps, termite specialists. Fumigations, bars, restaurants, houses, etc. Sanitary department officially registered certificates. Serving the coast since 1985. Only legal English owned pest control company on the coast. If you want the best then phone N.P.S. Paul 676 700 370 (1296213)

KENNELS

CAT & DOG World Kennels and Cattery. 952 112 978 / 630 197 435. www.catanddogworld.com (303211)

ACE CHARITY ‘El Refugio’ in La Cala de Mijas is a registered charity. We have on average 275 dogs in our care and we receive no help from the town hall or the Andalucian government. We desperately need foster homes and adoptants for our many dogs, especially the small ones and puppies who do not do well in a big shelter. We are grateful for any help offered, including donations of food and blankets. Visiting times are from 13.00 to 15.00 and you can always turn up or make an appointment by calling Denise on 669 018 736. Our website is www.ace-charity.org where you can view all the dogs in our care.

(93320)

ARCH - The Andalucian Rescue Centre for Horses, registered charity 8448, the Centre is open to visitors every Sunday from 9am until 2pm. Working closely with the Spanish authorities, we rescue, rehabilitate and rehome abused and abandoned horses and donkeys. Come and meet our current rescues, learn about our work and how you may be able to help. Run solely by a small team of dedicated volunteers, the Centre is located between Alhaurin el Grande and Coin in Comm. de Viña Borrego behind Venta Miralmonte. For more information and directions see our website www.horseres cuespain.org, our Facebook page Centro Andalusi de Rescate de Caballos or tel. 610 845 491 or 656 935 613 (93322)

SOS ANIMAL REFUGE we have dogs, young and old looking for homes. Some of our dogs have been with us for some time and would love to find a cosy spot to curl up in and a knee on which to rest their heads. If you have room in your heart and home we would love to hear from you. We do not put our dogs to sleep - no matter how old, they are safe with us. For day to day needs and to pay for veterinary care, we much appreciate the support we receive. We desperately need items to sell on our market stall to help raise funds and are happy to come and collect. So, if you are having a clear-out, please contact us on 605 227 155. If you would like to know more about rehoming, please call 653 257 875. Visit our website www.sos-animals.org or please phone Sandy on 952 385 923 or 666 814 056 if you would like to make a donation or help in any way.

(93317)

MUSIC EWN 11 - 17 May 2023 CLASSIFIEDS euroweeklynews.com 53 MASSAGE

PLUMBING

PLUMBING . Leak detection & blocked drains. Tel 952 568 414 / 661 910 772 / drainspain.com (294321)

POOLS

PROPERTY WANTED

THINKING of selling your property or interested in a current valuation? We have clients actively looking for properties from Torremolinos to Calahonda. List with us and let us sell your property. Call Joe 626 864 683 (302705)

WWW.INTERMARBELLA.COM

PROPERTY

NATIONAL / INTERNATIONAL

SOFT FURNISHINGS

Costa del Sol Property Sales & Long term rentals wanted. All areas / All budgets / All types. Spain +34 951 708 422. UK +44 208 144 5008. Email info@intermarbella.com (303052)

PROPERTY FOR SALE

WWW.INMOANDALUZ.COM. Bargain inland properties for all budgets, fincas, village homes, apartments and villas. Legal building plots. 952 491 609 / 685 514 835 (295954)

WWW.INTERMARBELLA.COM

Costa del Sol Property for sale. All areas / all budgets / all types. Spain +34 951 708 422. UK +44 208 144 5008 Email info@intermarbella.com (303052)

SELLING UP?? Why not give us a call and let us give you an honest and realistic valuation of your property. List with us and let us take the stress out of selling your home. No sale no fee!! English agent on the ball with clients waiting. Please call 685 524 921. (290189)

PROP MAINTENANCE

STARLIGHT Property Cleaning & Maintenance All Areas. Residential & Holiday Lets. Persiana repairs, Decorating, Electrial & Plumbing repairs. 682 636451 www.starlight-spain.com (302566)

PROPERTY TO LET

LONG TERM RENTALS AVAILABLE and also wanted. Super prices. Apartments, townhouses, villas, fincas, shops, offices, bars, restaurants. Coast & inland. Tlf 679 111 522 (303025)

WWW.INTERMARBELLA.COM

Costa del Sol Property Long Term Rentals All areas / All budgets / All types. Spain +34 951 708 422 UK +44 208 144 5008. Email info@intermarbella.com (303052)

REMOVALS & STORAGE

15 CUBIC metre van returning to the UK 26th May 2023. Space available each way. Tel. 639 928 090 (303227)

MAN AND VAN

MAN & VAN, 20€ ph. Removals, Rubbish & House Clearances. Paul 634 112 677 (291430)

2 MEN, Van €30 p hour. House Clearances & Storage. 651 081 610 (302401)

moveit-storeit.com Tel David 696 810 618 (294207)

STORAGE, Storage, Storage. Man & Van Services. Call/Whatsapp 690 155 340 (302418)

PROFESSIONAL LOCAL REMOVALS AT AFFORDABLE RATES. 1/2 DAY FROM €90. FULL DAY FROM €175. WE ALSO PROVIDE A FORTNIGHTLY DOOR TO DOOR SERVICE TO UK AND EUROPE (INCL SCOTLAND). WORLDWIDE SHIPPING TO USA, AUSTRALIA, ETC AND FULL STORAGE FACILITIES. TEL (0034) 952 578 507 OR (0034) 637 892 278 / EMAIL garymoveit@yahoo. co.uk (301295)

JDS EURO TRANSPORT & REMOVALS - Regular trips throughout Europe. Call or WhatsApp Julian 0044 7884 908 929. See Facebook Page for recommendations (301271)

moveit-storeit.com Tel David 696 810 618 (294207)

STORAGE

moveit-storeit.com Tel David 696 810 618 (294207)

ROLLER SHUTTERS

ACE OF SHADES - PERSIANA (security shutter) electric and manual, various colours available including wood effect, we also offer a repair service. Make your home more secure! Tel: 951 273 254 / 671 732 204 / info@aceof shades.design (101730)

ROLLER shutter repairs, 7 days a week, conversion from manual to motorised, new installations. All areas covered. Coast and inland. 655 825 931 (294242)

SITUATIONS VACANT

STAFF REQUIRED for a busy family owned English bookshop in Marbella The candidate must be fluent in both English and Spanish, computer literate and have the relevant work papers. We are looking for a reliable person who can work on their own initiative, is a book lover, is used to dealing with customers and able to take charge as required. This is NOT a temporary position. Send your C.V. to info@bookworldpuertobanus.com (295987)

WE are looking for receptionist for adult massage house. We have in Fuengirola and Elviria. If interested please contact +34 611 30 41 02. (303265)

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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 of­

Facts at a Glance

• Model: Audi e-tron GT quattro

• Engine: 93 kwh battery – 530 PS – 11kw on-board charger

• Gears: 2-speed automatic

• Price: €97,649/£85,185

ficial maximum of 487km/ 303 miles on a single charge with a 50kw charger taking one hour 30 minutes

• Performance: 0-100 kph (62 mph) 4.1 seconds/Maximum Speed 245 kph (152 mph).

• Range: 303 miles on single charge

• Charging: 50kw DC charger from 10% to 80% = 1 hour 30 minutes/150kw DC charger from 10 to 80% = 23 minutes/Home wallbox 7kw AC charger from 10% to 80% = 14 hours

• Emissions: 0 g/km

Model tested was UK-specification and equipment levels and prices may vary in other markets

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 e ­ tron’s exterior dimensions. You do slide rather than climb into the car.

On the road the e ­ tron 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.

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 im ‐portant moment, we came through some tricky ties, it’s a deserved prize against strong op ‐ponents.

Over 60s Walking Football League title in the balance!

EWN Over 50s League

Nerja Utd 4 v 1 El Canadon

Despite the scoreline and their recent poor form, Canadon put up a brave fight and continued to push the home side right up until the final whistle. However, Nerja’s movement and telling passing on the attack, coupled with their well‐organised defence, saw them score some excellent team goals with‐out conceding in open play, with each side scoring a running offences penalty. Nerja were well‐worth their victory.

EWN Walking Football Over 50s League Table ‐ AC Benahavis are League Champions!

“This night we will cel‐ebrate, a little bit, not too much, and then we 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 second time at the club, after 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, de ‐cided 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 de‐cided to make a run for it.

Sky Sports covered the game and video footage shows a handler calmly walking with the animal be‐fore the prize‐winning bull breaks away, the handler bravely hangs on as he is dragged along the pitch be‐fore 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 ‐winning 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 Pamplona!’ 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 Catalan’s favour who came back in the second half to win.

Final score Catalan Drag‐ons 24‐12 St Helens.

EWN Over 60s League

Nerja Utd 0 v 1 Malaga WFC

This was a tight affair with both teams attacking, moving and defending extremely well in hot condi‐tions, with the visitors probably creating the better of the chances and the home keeper being the busi‐er of the two. Some decent opportunities were created, but both sides lacked a goal‐scoring edge which saw too many efforts fly high or wide! In the end, this was a fair result.

Walking Dead 1 v 0 AC Benahavis

This scoreline suggests a fairly close game, but in reality it was pretty much one‐way traffic to Bena‐havis’ advantage and the home side struggled to get out of their half for much of the match. But, as has happened to several teams on various occasions this season, a last‐minute running offence spot‐kick sealed the points for Walking Dead, who will secure the league title if they can manage a win from their final two games.

EWN Walking Football Over 60s League Table

Goal-scoring record smashed

A PREMIERSHIP goal‐scoring record has just been smashed in an impressive dis‐play and with five games still in hand.

Man City striker, Erling Haaland, 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 sea‐son, according to a news source on Wednesday, May 3.

The 28‐year‐old record of 34 goals in a season was jointly held by sporting leg‐ends 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.

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.

In an interview with Sky Sports, Haa‐

land said, “[It’s a] special night and a spe‐cial moment. I’m really happy and proud.”

Following the game, his teammates formed a guard of honour, although Haa‐land admitted, “it was really painful this guard of honour, everyone hit me in the back, but it was really nice. I’m really happy.”

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

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

“This is his debut season, to do what he has done is absolutely breathtaking.”

I thought he would score goals but I didn't envisage this many. I thought de‐but season, 25 goals. But to beat the record in 31 appearances, it's astonish‐ing.’

REAL MADRID: Champions on the night.