Costa Calida 18 – 24 May 2023 Issue 1976

Issue No. 8 (1976) 18 - 24 May 2023

SPACE STATION

Hail Storm

AFTER months without rainfall it finally came crashing down in the form of thunderstorms and in some areas hail. Heavy hailstorms hit the town of Lorca destroying the crops already damaged by the drought. The president of Murcia Fernando López

Miras visited several crops that were affected by the hail and after asked the central government to declare a disaster area ‘to allow our farmers to compensate for the losses suffered at the beginning of the season.’

Up to 50 litres of water fell per metre square in the region leaving streets and

fields flooded destroying crops and causing traffic chaos in just a few minutes.

THE graphic design studio from Murcia, Rubio y Del Amo, has been chosen to design the logo and image for the brand of the Spanish Space Agency. The Spanish Space Agency will open its headquarters in Sevilla this

month. The agency almost chose San Javier, but in the end opted for Sevilla. The Murcian design studio competed with approximately 100 other studios for the prestigious project with studios from all over the coun­

try also applying for it. Rubio y Del Amo was founded by current creative directors Guillermo Rubio and Julian Garnés in 2014 and have worked with brands such as Pepsi, Brugal, and the Thyssen­Bornemisza Nation­

al Museum. They updated their LinkedIn page saying they are putting the final touches to the brand of the Spanish Space Agency. They also commented that it was an honour for them to be working on such a project.

Seahorse Sightings

THE HIPPOCAMPUS ASSOCIATION is a non purpose is the conservation of the marine environment of the Mar Menor.

They raise awareness about marine habitats through re search and by monitoring the population of the long ed seahorse species of the Mar Menor.

They have monitored this species for 12 years and saw the population reduce by 99.9 per cent.

But last week in Los Nietos they recorded a video of a group of two or 3cm seahorses.

This indicates that there are adults reproducing in the area offering hope of more sightings and an increase in the population.

For more information about this associa tion and how you can collaborate vis it their website www.aso ciacionhippocampus.com.

Graphic design studio from Murcia.

The president visited the affected areas.

Photo credit: Rubio y Del Amo website

Photo credit: Twitter account of Fernando López Miras

High praise Protecting property

THE Costa Cálida is back in the headlines again, this time it is La Manga Club getting a rave review. The Costa Cálida recently hit the headlines of the British and Irish press recommended as a relatively undiscovered but first­rate holiday destination. The articles commented on the accessibility of the region and the value for money with accommodation and flights cheap by comparison to most other holiday destinations.

This week the Costa Cálida popped up in the headlines again with a five­star review for La Manga Club. With three championship 18­hole golf courses, worldclass tennis and padel centre, and eight internationalstandard football pitches where elite football teams train it is one of the most exclusive resorts along the Coast. The resort has more than 30 bars, restaurants, and cafes along with a spa making it a resort with something for everyone.

Call for Justice

CASA BARNUEVO, a beautiful protected building in Santiago de la Ribera will be purchased by the San Javier Town hall for €906,000. The agreement was authorised by the Plenary of the San Javier Town Council and it is just pending acceptance by the owner of the property who has 10 days to respond. The mayor of San Javier, José Miguel Luengo explained that if the offer was accepted they would then proceed with their project to restore this Property of Cultural Interest adding that the aim is to “give a public use to this emblematic space in Santiago de la Ribera, which would be related to culture and tourism.”

Los Mayos de Alhama

COLITAS Y BIGOTAS is a small non­profit animal rescue centre in Mula. Their only wish is to rescue animals in need, care for them and hopefully find a loving home for their beloved animals.

In 2018 when they needed to expand their operation they leased land from the local council with the help of a trusted volunteer. Over the following four years, they invested over €60,000 into the charity improving the installations and creating a rescue centre that is described as a ‘source of joy in the town’ with neighbours and friends saying it is ‘an amazing charity’.

About a year ago they became suspicious when the volunteer who helped them lease the land seemed to gradu­

ally install more and more of his personal belongings at the site. Until one day they realised he had moved in completely and they no longer had access to their kennels, right around the time the lease was up for renewal. The rescue centre had 26 dogs in their care whom they managed to save but they had to lease extra space at an extra cost to make sure they are looked after. The Colitas y Bigotas rescue centre has had to find legal representation to help them through these difficulties. Their only hope now lies with the Mula Town Council which can help their plight by renewing their lease and the agreement they have with the rescue centre.

ALHAMA DE MURCIA celebrated their famous local festival Los Mayos de Alhama de Murcia. The streets were filled with colour, and tourists come from all over the world to celebrate and take part in the ‘Mayos’ competition. The ‘Mayos’ are handmade life­sized

dolls that represent certain characters or people. Thirty­three ‘Mayos’ took part in the competition and three winners were chosen. There were also parades, concerts, street food, sporting events, and fireworks. The people who took part say it was the best yet.

RESCUE CENTRE: Helping animals in need and finding them a loving home.

The ‘Mayos’ handmade life-sized dolls.

Photo credit: Alhama de Murcia Town Hall website

Pinatarius

REGISTRATION is now open for the popular Pinatarius Obstacle race in San Pedro del Pinatar on June 24. There are 1,200 places and you can register and find more information on www.famu.es.

Ship exhibition

FROM May 19 until June 24 a ship exhibition will take place at the Museo de San Javier on Avda. Pinatar 23. It is open Tuesday to Friday from 9.30am until 2pm and 4pm until 7pm and Saturdays from 9.30am until 2pm.

Chinese circus

THE Grand Acrobatic Circus of China will be at El Batel Auditorium for one night only on July 29. With more than 30 artists, either Olympic medallists or from the Cirque du Soleil, this show is sure to sell out. Tickets are on sale now.

Ballet soloists

INTERNATIONAL BALLET

COMPANY GISELLE made up of soloists from Moldova, Ukraine, and Italy will be at the Teatro Romea in Murcia City on Sunday May 21 at 7pm. Tickets are on sale and start at €20.

First woman

NEREA CEREZO became the first woman to direct a football match broadcast on the regional station LA 7. The Cartagena B­Yeclano match will go down in history marking such an important milestone for the station and for Nerea Cerezo.

Charity stand

THE local association ASENFIFA supported the International Day of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome with a stand in the town square of San Pedro del Pinatar. The aim was to collect funds for the charity and provide information on the illness. The mayor of San Pedro offered her support by visiting the stand.

THE Humanists of Murcia organise walks, gardening outings, games evenings and lunches, and much more.

On April 26 the Humanists of Murcia Walking group led a group of walkers on a sevenkilometre walk from the country club and they finished the day having lunch at a restaurant in Mazarrón.

On May 4 they gathered to play board games and table football and on May 10 a pétanque morning was arranged.

The gardening group travelled to Nijar by coach to visit the wonderful cactus garden full of interesting cacti and

WALKING GROUP: Many outings and activities are arranged.

sculptures. They spent three hours exploring the gardens before driving to the town centre and then had lunch in

Palmera Fest

THE new edition of this festival of art, culture, and music will be held on June 10 at the Las Claras Cultural Centre in Los Alcazares. The event begins at 5pm and will finish around midnight. There will be a market with more than 30 stands, a stage for concerts, and two areas for workshops and talks, as well as a bar with food and drinks which will include a vegan option.

The event will promote sustainability and environmentalism related to the Mar Menor and so there will be talks on this topic, stands promoting vintage clothing and restored furniture. The Minister for Culture Antonio López Campoy said “The festival will offer endless cultural activities completely free of charge and suitable for the whole family.”

the pretty seaside town of Agua Amarga. If you would like to join in the many activities and out­

Photo credit: Email from Humanists of Murcia

89 STORIES IN THIS WEEK’S EDITION

ings arranged you can contact them by email: at humanists ofmurcia@gmail.com or call 603 205 649.

THE exhibition ‘Ancestors, Neanderthals in the Region of Murcia’ opened in the Enrique Escudero de Castro Municipal Archaeological Museum of Cartagena on May 10 and can be visited free of charge until September 3. Through this exhibition, we can see how the inhabitants of the region lived tens of thousands of years ago.

The tour allows you to enjoy unique archaeological pieces that perfectly represent the period in which the Neanderthals roamed the region including elements from the important site Cueva de los Aviones.

IN NOVEMBER: Corvera will operate to Madrid and Barcelona.

FERNANDO LOPEZ MIRAS the president of the Region of Murcia and leader of the PP in Murcia announced that ‘Corvera will have direct flights to Madrid and Barcelona from November.’ The announcement was made on Saturday, May 13 during a meeting with businessmen and women from

Welcome to Miami

PÁDEL NUESTRO, the leading Pádel retailer from El Alcantarilla in Murcia has opened its first shop in the USA, in the Wynwood district of Miami.

This new Pádel superstore will stock a wide variety of products from all the top brands of course but it will also have a demonstration area where shoppers can try out the equipment or even take lessons.

This is a testament to the growing attraction to Pádel in the USA espe ­

the tourism sector. He went on to say “Corvera airport will have two weekly return connections with Madrid and Barcelona from November once the admin process has been completed.” He also mentioned that the free bus connecting the airport with Murcia City and Cartagena City will return this summer.

This exhibition is included in the Night of the Museums event to be held on May 20.

The museum is open Tuesday to Friday from 10am to 2pm and 5pm to 8pm. On Saturdays and Sundays, the schedule is from 11am to 2pm.

cially in Florida and Miami. Pádel Nuestro now has more than 50 stores worldwide but it began its journey in Murcia in 2010.

Ismael Cancho, who is passionate about pádel and plays himself, created this as an online shop and over time the company grew, first opening stores throughout Spain and then continuing into Europe. Now it has stores in the UAB, Mexico, and Chile as well as its new store in Miami.

Direct return flights

Photo credit: Fernado López Miras Twitter account

Pet deductions

WE are getting closer and closer every day to the regional and general elections. You can tell by the number of promises being made on a daily bases.

The latest promise comes from Fernando Lopez Miras the president of the region and the head of the PP in Murcia. Lopez Miras appeared on his TikTok account dancing and playing with his dog Pepe. During this video, he announced his plans to implement tax deductions to help with obligatory expenses for our pets like the microchip implantation.

He went on to say he wants to establish a new regulation so

pets can accompany their owners on public transport. Lopez Miras is known as an animal lover and has six dogs himself.

PROVERB OF THE WEEK

FALCONS and bats assemble in the fight against pesky pests, pigeons and mosquitos.

The council for the Region of Murcia is launching two programmes to keep these birds and mosquitos at bay.

They plan to release up to 10 peregrine falcons

Beach plan Falcons v Pigeons

throughout the region to dissuade pigeons from occupying historical buildings and to keep them away from town and city centres. With their infallible vision detecting prey from a great distance it is an effective and fast hunter (flying at up to 390km/hour).

This type of biological control has been implemented in other regions in Spain with success and Murcia will now

follow suit with the first two falcons planned for release in June of this year.

While the falcons sleep, bats will patrol at night appearing just after sunset and eating almost 1,000 insects per hour, especially mosquitos. The government plans to maintain the project shelters for bats to help control the population of mosquitos in the region.

Ghost driver

A GHOST driver surprised the residents of Caravaca de la Cruz on Friday, May 5 during the town festivities. After the procession of the Holy Relic up to the basilica, hundreds of locals were waiting to see the firework display to end the Fiestas de la Vera Cruz an incident occurred around Plaza Tuzzla and the Cuesta de la Plaza. A vehicle collided with the security fences and after crashing past a bollard it continued on and crashed into the exit wall of an underground car park located under the square landing on its bonnet. Luckily no one was harmed, the car itself was empty!

LA LLANA BEACH in San Pedro del Pinatar will receive a €1 million investment with the aim to regenerate the beach. The beach loses one metre of surface area per year around 12,000 cubic metres of sand annually since the 1950s when the port was built.

In recent storms, the beach shrunk so much the waves reached the drying pools of the salt works, endangering the industrial activity that maintains the Salinas Natural Park.

The plan is to construct a breakwater about 150 metres long and approximately 200 metres from the beach. They also plan to add 34,000 square metres of sand.

San Javier Airport

THE former facilities of the San Javier airport will host the Centre for Research and Conservation of Species of the Mar Menor. The General Directorate of the Mar Menor of the Regional Ministry for the Environment has already begun the first steps to ensure that the old arrivals terminal will be used to house the aquariums and the scientific work that will allow the conservation of the seahorse and nacre in the Mar Menor.

10 Top 10 universities in the world include Oxford and Cambridge.

“If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.”

The meaning is don’t depend on someone else to do a good job, do it yourself. This was first used by Napolean Bonaparte.

Falcons to be released in Murcia

Photo credit: Wikipedia/Mykola Swarnyk

PROMISES: Tax deductions for pet care.

Airlines plan strike action

TRAVELLERS to Spain could face a turbulent time this summer with many Spanish airlines threatening industrial action over the holiday season. According to a report in a UK newspaper on Friday, May 12, Britons could face travel misery as over a dozen airlines are thinking about walking out.

The Spanish airline pilot union SEPLA are considering a series of strikes in a move that could affect lots of holidaymakers.

If SEPLA decides to go ahead with industrial action it could heavily impact many airlines including, Ryanair, easyJet, Vueling, Jet2 and Norwegian.

In addition, Iberia, Iberia Express, Air Nostrum, Air Europa, Swiftair, Plus Ultra, Eurowings and Evelop, are at high risk of being impacted.

SEPLA is concerned the cur­

rent strike action being taken is proving ineffectual, as Spanish legislation demands a minimum service even on strike days, which cancels out the impact of industrial action.

SEPLA announced new action on May 22, 23, 25, 26, 29 and 30. Also, on June 1 and 2 at all airports in Spain, and warned that more strikes will follow if agreement was not reached. UK travellers can also expect more delays at the airport if fewer staff are available to stamp their passports.

Demonstrators support squatters

HUNDREDS of demonstrators took to the streets of Barcelona following calls for two protests organised, both in favour, and against the occupation of two estates next to the Plaça de la Bonanova.

The focus of both the demonstration is on the buildings, known as ‘La Ruïna’ and ‘El Kubo’, which have been occupied for years by squatters.

According to a news source on Thurs­

day, May 11, tensions have escalated due to the election campaign in Barcelona, which has put these properties under the spotlight of the right­wing parties, along with calls from the company ‘Desokupa’.

Authorities in Barcelona have deployed nearly 400 Mossos d’Esquadra officers in the area, after the calls for the protests.

Supporters of the extrajudicial evic­

tion company Desokupa marched to Bonanova square to reach the squatted buildings, while a police cordon was set up to stop them.

The pro­occupation demonstrators dressed in masks and black clothes protested on the other side of the police cordon, as the parameter was set up in order to stop both sides from clashing. Police helicopters were also flying in the area to monitor the situation.

Whale attacks

ATTACKS by pods of killer whales on boats sailing in the Strait of Gibraltar are becoming increasingly frequent.

This tension between killer whales and boats is creating a danger for crew members, as another attack was reported last weekend.

According to a news source on Sunday, May 11, two victims of the most recent attack, were sailing off the coast of Cadiz, when they were surprised by a pod of killer whales.

The two sailors named Pablo and Alfredo were in the waters off the town of Barbate in Cadiz when the whales started swimming

around the boat and smashed into the hull several times.

This resulted in them breaking the rudder of the boat before they finally left.

The presence of killer whales on the Andalucian coast is quite common, as they visit the area at the beginning of the year.

But for the past four years, their visits have become an increasingly uncomfortable reality in the area.

Their arrival in the area also coincides with the almadraba season, which is the local name for fish traps used to catch bluefin tuna off the coast of Cadiz for thousands of years.

Residential paradise

A RECENT survey by the Spanish Office for National Statistics asked an interesting question, ‘What is the best place in the country to live’, and the results were also fascinating!

The northern city of Vigo secured the prestigious title of Spain’s best city to live in in the survey.

Many Spanish cities offer an excellent quality of life, particularly as the country recently hit the 20th spot on the coveted global Social Progress Index, but this survey aimed to find the perfect city to call home, according to Spanish residents.

The survey results, released on Thursday, May 11, captured the sentiments of more than 3,000 people living in the city’s

largest 15 cities.

Vigo emerged triumphant in the survey for its excellent attributes, including activities for families, incredible safety levels, its pristine air quality, eco­friendly measures, educational opportunities, and cleanliness.

STRIKE ACTION: Could affect many flights over the summer.

DANGEROUS: Their visits have increased over the years.

Vigo’s outdoor activities helped earn the title.

Photo credit: Turismo de Vigo (via Facebook)

Business travel boom

SPAIN’S corporate travel industry has experienced a remarkable surge according to a report released on Friday, May 12, doubling its revenue in 2022 and setting its sights on surpassing prepandemic figures in 2023. The barometer report by Braintrust for the Spain Convention Bureau estimates a revenue total of more than €12.1 billion for 2023. The report found that more than 80 per cent of business meetings are expected to return to in­person formats during 2023, with

Betty Henderson

IN a display of solidarity with champions of democracy, the Spanish government granted citizenship to 14 Nicaraguan dissidents who were stripped of their nationality by President Daniel Ortega’s administration. The announcement came on Friday, May 12 from the Spanish Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, who expressed his hope for the new Spanish citizens and praised their determination.

“Spain is a safe haven for defenders of democracy and liberty,” Albares announced in a tweet, alongside an image of him welcoming the first group of Nicaraguans who will re­

the country’s meeting spaces projected to have an average annual occupancy rate of more than 75 per cent. The report also found that the average daily spending per business traveller reached €335 in 2022, surpassing the 2019 figure of €319. Although affected by inflation, the figure is still a valuable indicator of the sector’s pandemic recovery. Business experts say that the report’s excellent findings are evidence of the value of corporate travel for the Spanish economy.

Open arms

ceive Spanish citizenship, during a meeting in Washington DC. Among the 14 recipients are notable figures including the former presidential candidate Juan Sebastián Chamorro, political leader José Antonio Peraza, activist Alex Hernández, and lawyer Hugo Rodríguez. The group represents just a fraction of the 222 dissenting politicians, journalists, human rights activists, and lawyers who were released from prison in the Central American country in February and expelled to the US.

Several other nations including Chile, Argentina, Colombia, and Mexico have also extended offers of citizenship to the group of stateless Nicaraguans.

Spanish elections

THERE will be two different elections taking place in Spain and the islands on Sunday May 28.

These are the precursors to a General Election which is likely to be held on a Sunday in December this year.

Every municipality that has its own council will be involved in the local elections whilst the regional elections are staggered with just 13 Autonomous Communities up for grabs.

These are Aragon, Asturias, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Cantabria, Castilla­La Mancha, Extremadura, Madrid, Murcia, Navarra, La Rioja and Valencia whilst elections will also take place in Ceuta and Melilla.

In the municipal elections, 35,414,655 voters will be able to vote, including 414,581 belonging to EU countries and countries with which Spain has signed a reciprocity agreement to exercise the right to active suffrage and who have expressed their intention to vote in these elections (and this includes UK passport holders resident in Spain).

In the regional elections 18,382,505 voters will be able to vote, of which 1,046,757 are Spanish residents living abroad.

In broad terms there are several political parties contesting the elections ranging from far left to far right with a number of small local candidates also taking part.

Basically, the PSOE (Socialist Party) will be fighting it out with the Partido Popular (like the UK Conservative Party) and it is more than likely that the PP may have to form alliances with the more right wing Vox Party whilst PSOE will try to obtain assistance from left wing Podemos and the less powerful centrist Ciudadanos.

The government of PSOE leader Pedro Sánchez rules thanks to a coalition with a number of other parties and independents, but all eyes will be on these two elections as they may give an idea of how the December General Election is likely to turn out.

Two different elections are taking place.

SHUTTERSTOCK

36% of Spain is forest, that’s a staggering 18,173,000ha.

G7 support for Kyiv

Tipped to be new Bond

SINCE the departure of Daniel Craig as James Bond there has been much speculation as to who will take over the famous role, but it seems a frontrunner has now emerged.

A leading bookmaker has announced that 32­year­old British actor, Aaron Taylor­Johnson is their hot tip, following a sudden surge in bets they have just taken, according to a news source on Friday May 12.

Since then Coral noted a scramble to place bets on the High Wycombe­born actor to become the new 007.

In fact, the odds of Taylor­Johnson be­

coming Bond are now 2­1, following a successful screen test at Pinewood in front of Barbara Broccoli, head of the James Bond franchise.

Many other well­known names have been associated with the vacant 007 seat including, Tom Hardy, James Norton, Idris Elba and Richard Madden who all at one time have been lined up to replace fivetime Bond star Daniel Craig.

Aaron’s previous roles have included TV roles in Casualty and The Bill and film roles such as the lead character in Kick­Ass. He subsequently appeared in a host of Marvel films.

AS Germany prepared to send a €2.7 billion arms package to Ukraine, the G7 vowed on Saturday May 13, to up their support in a bid to end the war.

The G7 group, containing seven of the most economically advanced nations in the world, vowed on Saturday in Niigata, Japan, its continued support for Ukraine and for sanctions against Russia.

The summit has seen bank chiefs and ministers of finance vow to help countries suffering

from debt, high inflation and on a more individual level, the swollen cost of living. Further to this, they hope to build more diverse supply chains that offer greater stability.

And stability they believe requires an end to the war in Ukraine, with aid to the wartorn nation expected to increase to $44 billion moving into 2024.

It could be construed though that more military aid may not be the solution to ending a war, as a news

source reported on Twitter: “The UK has been threatened with a military response by Russia after pledging to send long­range missiles to Ukraine.

As more opposition mounts to Russia, there will undoubtedly come such threats of retaliation. Further to this, China, which hasn’t presented a firm position on where it stands, has been known to be an ally to Russia and may choose yet to supply them with reinforcements.

Archbishop caught speeding

JUST days after crowning a new king, the archbishop of Canterbury was convicted of speeding.

On Wednesday, May 10, Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby was convicted in a private hearing for breaking the speed limit, as well as three penalty points on his licence. He also has to foot a whopping £510 bill for legal fees, ac­

cording to a news source.

This comes just days after the eyes of the world saw the 67 ­ year ­ old Church of England leader conduct the historic coronation of King Charles III.

The incident occurred on October 2, 2022, when he was clocked by a speed camera, driving along the Albert Embankment, central London in his VW Golf

towards Lambeth Palace.

After the camera footage was assessed, the Metropolitan Police contacted the archbishop, who confessed he was behind the wheel at the time.

The speed limit along the embankment is 20mph, which was imposed three years ago, and his Grace was spotted doing 25mph.

G7 GROUP: Vowed to continue its support for Ukraine and for sanctions against Russia.

Betty Henderson

JEWISH organisations across the world have expressed their dismay over a jewel sale which took place on Wednesday, May 10. The extraordinary collection of jewels, valued at a staggering €137 million, once belonged to the late billionaire, Heidi Horten.

The outrage stems from the murky origins of Horten’s husband’s fortune, which was amassed during the dark days of Nazi Germany. Helmut Horten, a German tycoon and former member of the Nazi party, acquired businesses from persecuted Jewish owners in 1930’s Germany.

Despite the unsettling associ­

Tainted treasures

90­carat ‘Briolette of India’ diamond necklace by Harry Winston and the exquisite Sunrise Ruby ring by Cartier, valued at a staggering €18 million.

While Christie’s said it would contribute the proceeds to charity, Jewish groups demanded the auction to be halted.

ation, Christie’s auction house decided to proceed with the sale, featuring 700 breathtaking pieces, including the renowned

IN a heartwarming tale of generosity, one of Italy’s wealthiest individuals, Patrizio Bertelli, has come to the rescue of a historic newsstand in the charming Tuscan town of Arezzo.

The newsstand, which has been an integral part of the town since 1953, belonged to Piero Scartoni, a sprightly 91­year­old with a passion for journalism.

Finally, after decades of tireless dedication, Scartoni can bid farewell to early mornings and retire, thanks to the intervention of his former customer turned saviour, Patrizio Bertelli, one of the visionaries behind Prada, and husband of Miuccia Prada.

The Simon Wiesenthal Centre, a prominent Jewish human rights organisation, wrote a scathing letter to Christie’s, denouncing the sale as a distressing seizure of profits generated through the Nazis’ abhorrent ‘aryanization’ policies.

Prada power

In an interview on Wednesday, May 10, Scartoni fondly reminisced, “Bertelli was a special customer, buying stacks of newspapers and magazines during the 60s and 70s. I am absolutely delighted he has saved my beloved newsstand.”

Despite being eligible for retirement since 1996, Scartoni soldiered on, supported by his daughter, Cristiana. But with his advancing age, Scartoni acknowledged that it was time to bid farewell to his cherished trade. “I’m almost 100, so I should really stop,” he admitted with a hint of resignation.

Horten wearing the opulent ‘Briolette of India’ diamond necklace.

Photo credit: Christie’s (online)

PRESS EUROPEAN

DENMARK

Bingo bust

A COPENHAGAN court ruled in favour of the country’s official gambling regulator who found that a local association had offered illegal bingo and banko games for several years. The club, not a non-profitmaking organisation, was fined €2,014 while the authorities impounded a further €671,248.

THE NETHERLANDS

Less snow

THE Netherlands had under-average snowfall for the 10th consecutive winter, snowing on only 13 days between mid-autumn and midspring, instead of the habitual average of 20 days. The last time the Netherlands had more snow than usual was in 2013, when snow was registered on 34 days.

BELGIUM

Bombs away

A 30-KILO bomb that was approximately 60 centimetres long and 25 centimetres wide was detonated on the beach at Koksijde during ongoing work to rid the beach of explosives dating back to the Second World War. The beach was closed as a crew carried out a controlled explosion.

GERMANY

Hot topic

GERMANS assure pollsters that they are concerned about the climate crisis and the consequences of global warming. Nevertheless, opposition to the Economics and Climate ministry’s new home-heating law revealed that they are reluctant to modify lifestyles or pay higher prices to curb emissions

FRANCE

Drought crisis

THE Pyrenees-Orientales coastal region’s drought is officially classed as a crisis, with the River Agly practically dried-up since the middle of March. Restrictions to save as much of the tourist-dependent area’s drinking water as possible include a ban on car-washing, watering gardens and filling swimming pools.

NORWAY

Early settlers

ELISE, an eight-year-old girl from Vestland, went to pick up a piece of glass while playing near her school but instead found an interesting piece of stone. She showed to her teacher, who contacted the county council whose archaeologists confirmed that it was a Stone Age dagger created 3,700 years ago.

FINLAND

On record

FINLAND’S new canine register finally opened on May 7 following a delay of several months owing to technical problems. By 4pm that same day the system run by the Finnish Food Authority had registered around 4,000 dogs, following which they will eventually be microchipped.

IRELAND

Double identity

AIDAN BYRNE, 75, who used his dead brother’s identity to claim more than €93,000 in benefits, was jailed for two and a half years by a Donegal court. He hoodwinked the social welfare system with a birth certificate belonging to his brother, Anthony, who died in a 1972 drowning accident in England.

ITALY

Flat rate

THE super-rich are moving to Italy to enjoy financial benefits introduced in 2017. In exchange for an annual fee of €100,000 those taking up residency are exempt from paying tax on income generated overseas. The initiative also extends to family members for a yearly payment of €25,000 per person.

PORTUGAL Close friends

PORTUGAL and Spain’s a new Friendship and Cooperation Treaty, which confirms their shared values, came into force on May 11. Both governments explained that the new agreement also updates the 1977 Treaty, which played a crucial role in Portugal and Spain’s parallel development as democracies.

UKRAINE

Cyberwarfare

UKRAINIAN communications have been subjected for years to slick and inventive cyberattacks from Russia and Ukraine has increasingly hit back, particularly since last year’s invasion. Now security firm Malwarebytes have tracked a new group operating against both Ukraine and Russia whose motives “are still unclear.”

SWEDEN

Taking charge

SWEDEN will make history opening the world’s first permanently electrified stretch of road in 2025 on the E20 road near Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Malmo. The electric road system (ERS) will enable electric vehicles to recharge on the move, enabling them to travel greater distances between charging stations.

FINANCE

STAT OF WEEK €36.5 million

is the amount of Ryanair’s order for 300 Boeing aircraft, the first 150 of which will be delivered by 2025 with a further 150 ready between 2027 and 2033.

Cheaper butter

TESCO, Aldi and Lidl are following Sainsbury’s lead by lowering the price of their own­brand salted and unsalted butter from £1.99 (€2.29) to £1.89 (€2.17) for a 250­gramme pack while also cutting the price of ownbrand bread. Meanwhile, Asda and Morrison have yet to follow suit.

Tesla choice

TESLA chose Barcelona­based Holaluz to install Powerwall home batteries in Spain, an integrated battery system which stores solar energy for backup protection so that power stays on when the grid goes down. The system detects outages and automatically recharges with sunlight to keep appliances running for days.

Sporting chance

JD SPORTS plans to acquire French sportswear retailer Courir for €520 million, which includes paying €325 million via existing cash resources, and taking on a €195 million debt. The London ­ listed sportswear giant revealed that it did not expect to complete the deal before the second half of this year.

Tax break

SPAIN’S tax authority Hacienda announced a 25 per cent income tax (IRPF) reduction on the net yield of 828,000 drought­affected agricultural growers and livestock farmers. The measure applies to their 2022 tax declarations for those using the module system, the country’s official state bulletin (BOE) confirmed.

Lift-off

MELROSE INDUSTRIES’ shares soared after outstripping expectations and announcing that it would focus on the aerospace industry after de­merging its automotive business. It expects fullyear sales of between £3.35 and £3.45 billion (€3.8 and €4 billion), well within the company­compiled £3.4 (€3.9 million) estimate.

Linda Hall

A POLITICAL party’s proposal to create a chain of publicly­owned supermarkets would be unworkable, Spain’s Manufacturers and Distributors Association (AECOC) said.

The Podemos party’s scheme was “out of touch with reality,” it was “posttruth” and “contributed nothing,” AECOC’s director general Jose Maria Bonmatí declared.

He also lamented that Podemos’s secretary general Ione Belarra had labelled food distribution bosses as “capos.”

Spain’s National Statistics’ Institute (INE) announced that prices rose by 16.5 per

Not a good idea

report emphasised.

BUSINESS EXTRA Scam amends

“A public supermarket would contribute nothing in a sector that is enormously complex,” Bonmati said, speaking in Madrid on May 9. “Many links are involved and it must be taken into account this is a sector with a great deal of competition.

BANK customers refused scam refunds are receiving sizeable payouts after referring cases to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS).

cent in March, and Belarra’s latest outburst had irritated the sector, Bonmatí explained, as prices had risen owing to higher costs and their profit margins had suffered.

Government figures submitted to the European

THREE water company chiefs have rejected their bonuses this year.

Nicola Shaw (Yorkshire Water), Sarah Bentley (Thames Water) and Susan Davy (South West Water) have all recognised the public’s anger over the amount of dumped sewage that has reached Britain’s rivers and coastal waters. She understood the “strength of feeling,” Nicola Shaw said on announc ing that she would not accept her first bonus since joining the com pany in May last year. This would have been between £600,000 (€691,671) and £800,000 (€922,072) based on Yorkshire Water’s annual accounts.

“It just did not feel like the right thing to take performance­related pay this

Grifols change

BARCELONA­based pharmaceutical company Grifols announced executive chairman Thomas Glanzmann as its new chief executive.

The founding family’s move arrived at a difficult time for the multinational group, which manufactures medicines using blood plasma, but was badly hit during the pandemic due to shortages in supplies.

Glanzmann, who served on the board as vice­chairman since 2017, was named chairman in February after Steven F Mayer’s resignation as Grifols’ executive chairman on “health and personal” grounds.

The former co­CEOs from the Grifols family will remain on the board, but in new roles.

commission have demonstrated that 95 per cent of Spain’s food inflation was the result of the higher price of imported raw materials in 2022.

The steep rise was not due to internal problems in the food supply chain, the

The AECOC chief also maintained that there were “all kinds of commercial offers” in Spain and that the consumer had an “enormous capacity” to choose.

“I can’t see that this proposal would contribute much of value, not when there are so many operators who offer affordable products,” Bonmatí concluded.

Bosses forgo bonuses

year,” said Sarah Bentley who last year received £496,000 (€571,714) while Thames Water’s chief financial officer, Alastair Cochran, who received £298,000 (€343,442, also turned down 23 payout.

“This is the right thing to do. We’re listening to our customers, we get it,” said Susan Davy, whose company spilled untreated sewage 37,649 times last

Deloitte audit probed

THE UK’s Financial Reporting Council (FRC) is investigating Deloitte in connection with its audit of Joules’ 2021 accounts.

Clothing company Joules called in the administrators in November, endangering 1,600 jobs and 132 shops, after failing to secure emergency funding.

Creditors, who included HM Revenue and Customs, suppliers and staff, were owed more than £100 million (€115.2 million), according to a statement from the administrators.

The following month, fashion and homeware retailer Next came to the rescue in a £41 million (€47.2 million) deal that saved 100 shops and 1,450 jobs by teaming up with Joules’ founder Tom Joule.

Accountancy watchdog FRC revealed that it has opened an investigation relating to Deloitte’s audit of Joules’ accounts up to the year ending in May 2021 without stating the reason for its investigation.

year. Davy runs Pennon Group, owner of South West Water, and has turned down a pay rise for the last two years.

Chief executive of the Consumer Council for Water, Emma Clancy, applauded the executives’ decisions.

“Our recent research, Bridging the Gap, shows bonuses add to people’s current frustration with the water industry,” she said. “This announcement shows people’s concerns are being listened to.”

The Financial Times reported on May 8 that Britain’s privatised water and sewage companies paid £1.4 billion (€1.6 billion) in dividends in 2022, an increase from £540 million (€662.2 million) in 2021.

Another Zara

ANTONIO CATALAN, president of AC Hotels by Marriott, will make use of smaller hotels.

Teleworking has considerably reduced the volume of business tourism, Catalán recently told a news interviewer.

“It’s necessary to find an alternative use for the hotels that depended on this type of activity,” he said.

He hopes to create a low­cost brand, “a Zara of hotels,” Catalán revealed.

It now remains for him to convince Marriott, he said, explaining that he would use as an example the evolution of Armani from an elitist and exclusive label into a brand that included Armani Jeans, Emporio Armani and the cheaper Armani Exchange range.

Scam victims whose banks refused to compensate them were often trapped by a loophole which meant they lost refund rights if they had voluntarily paid somebody who was later found to be a scammer.

Legally, victims of what is known as “authorised push payment” fraud should be entitled a full refund from their bank under UK financial regulation.

Nevertheless, many failed to receive compensation until they took their fight to the FOS, receiving amounts that varied from hundreds to thousands of pounds.

King’s weather

WET weather, once known as the Queen’s weather and presumably now the King’s weather, boosted gazebo sales over the Coronation weekend.

Street party organisers began panic­buying as the rain set in, with retailers reporting an “unprecedented” rise in sales while gazebo hire firms were inundated with last­minute bookings.

“As a home and leisure retailer we are used to seasonal swings but this spike in sales for gazebos was unprecedented,” Shaun Eldridge, spokesperson for The Range told a news source.

Some gazebos sold out entirely, including a £49.99 (€57.47) line decorated with the Union Jack “which flew off the shelves,” he said.

Peace reigns

ANTONIO GARAMENDI, who is president of the Spanish Confederation of Business Organisations (CEOE), foresees social peace until 2025.

He was “especially pleased and proud,” Garamendi said, after having signed the Fifth Employment and Collective Bargaining Agreement (AEMC) with Spain’s unions. The pact was balanced as well as good for the country’s stability, the CEOE president said. He also went on to stress, in an oblique reference both to the government and to political parties, that nobody should be allowed to try to appropriate the pact.

OOD INFLATION: Not due to supply chain problems, government says.

SUSAN DAVY: Chief executive of Pennon Group, South West Water’s owners.

DOW JONES

Gold rush

AN ounce of gold now costs

$2,050 (€1,877, comfortably close to the $2,100 (€1,923) that it fetched during the summer of 2020 when investors were spooked by Covid. Banking crises, interest rate volatility, economic slowdown and the war in Ukraine have all contributed to gold’s 10 per cent price rise since January, analysts explained.

Encapsulated

LIQUID capsules are the fastest­growing detergent and have become the most popular way of doing the laundry in the UK, although only 0.1 per cent are made by eco­friendly brands. Wilton have now reinvented the laundry pod, a new carbon­neutral capsule range that comes with the added benefit of 100 per cent plastic­free packaging.

What a difference!

ONLY nine women directors are included amongst the 160 highest earners working for companies listed on Spain’s Bolsa (Stock Exchange).

Minimum thresholds for female directors in listed companies have been raised over the last 10 years and the Spanish government has set a July 1, 2024, deadline for listed companies to increase this to 40 per cent.

Figures for 2022 submitted to the National Securities Commission (CNMV) nevertheless demonstrated that quotas for women in big companies focused

Trade or pin money?

THE UK’s tax authorities are sending reminders to thousands of online sellers whom they believe might not have declared tax.

HMRC, who can access abundant data, have been cracking down on online traders who have omitted to declare taxes for annual sales of more than £1,000 (€1,151).

eBay, apps and websites including De­

pop, Facebook Marketplace and Vinted, have all grown in popularity since the pandemic.

Millions use them to make some extra cash or, in cases like Etsy, to launch a business.

Most people sell a few items and are not professional traders but HMRC is likely to regard as a business anybody who sells regularly to make a profit, or buys in bulk.

mainly on quantity, not quality, the 11th survey of salaries by El Pais concluded.

Few women executives were truly in charge, analysis revealed.

The continuing imbalance was also reflected in women’s salaries, the newspaper pointed out, although this was not exclusive to females.

El Pais found that the best­paid executive directors of the Ibex 35 companies ­ equivalent to the UK’s FTSE 100 ­ earned an average of €4.73 million in 2022.

This amount was 81.5 times greater than the annual €58,095 earned by the employees of the companies they managed.

The divide has also widened in comparison to previous years, as the difference between boss and employee was 76 times greater in 2021 and 79 times more in the 2020 pandemic year.

Plan needed

BRITAIN should relaunch industrial strategies and stop ‘floundering’ over initiatives preventing it from falling behind on the global stage, warned Make UK, which represents 20,000 manufacturers.

UK businesses risked losing out to companies elsewhere around the world owing to the government’s lack of a long ­ term industrial plan while Biden’s $369 billion (€335.5 billion) Inflation Reduction Act diverted investment.

Intern misuse

MURCIA’S Upper Court of Justice High Court of Justice (TSJ) confirmed an IT company’s earlier sentence and a €52,000 fine from the Work Inspectorate for having 31 interns and 27 employees.

The interns outnumbered regular staff in all departments, the TSJ judges said, demonstrating that the company’ staffing needs were covered by students in an “undercover employment relationship.”

MADRID’S BOLSA: Few women amongst listed companies’ executives.

BUSINESS EXTRA

Drink up

THE City Pub Group said after an ‘anaemic’ Coronation Day, sales the next day, Sunday, had been “really, really” strong. Longer opening hours would bring a boost of around £104 million (€119.8 million) to the sector the Centre for Economics and Business Research had forecast beforehand.

No takers

BUSINESS­OWNERS are finding it increasingly difficult to cover job vacancies and engage sufficient staff to complete their workforces. “This is a problem affecting all sectors and qualification levels, warned Andrés Sendagorta, president of Basque multinational Senera and the Institute of Family Businesses (IEF).

Love in the air

AS predicted, ITV’s advertising revenues dropped by 10 per cent during the first quarter of this year. The broadcaster said it expected declining advertising sales to be compensated by the next series of Love Island and the Rugby World Cup which would draw large broadcast and streaming audiences.

Going green

CEPSA signed an agreement to supply European energy service provider GETEC with green hydrogen from 2026. This will give the Spanishbased oil company a direct link to its industrial customers in Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Italy, Cepsa’s Hydrogen director Joaquin Rodriguez said.

School bills

IT costs families at least £39 (€44.9) a week in transport, lunches, uniform, learning materials and school trips to send a child to a state secondary school according to the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG). This fell to £19 (€21.87) a week for a child at primary school.

Linda Hall

JOHN LEWIS staff backed the group’s chairwoman Dame Sharon White during the recent twiceyearly meeting of the partnership’s 60 ­ strong council on Wednesday May 10.

The department store and Waitrose supermarket owner reported a £234 million (€269 million) loss over the year ending last January, despite £12 billion (€13.8 billion) in sales, obliging it to abandon the staff bonus for only the second time since 1953.

Although the votes were symbolic rather than binding, they also carried considerable weight, as the council has the power to oust the chair of the partnership at any time should the members decide.

Earlier, White had courted criticism following reports that she was contemplating selling a stake

Staff back Stone

billion (€2.3 billion).

“I want to be absolutely categorical,” White declared prior to the vote. “The John Lews Partnership will always be an employee­owned business, no ifs, no buts. There is absolutely no question of demutualisation.”

White also said that the company would consider external investment if the partnership should ever find itself unable to fund plans through its own means.

Stepping down

SIMON THOMPSON is allegedly preparing to step down after a stormy two years as Royal Mail’s chief executive.

Thompson, who attempted to introduce large­scale changes to existing working conditions as well as cost­cutting measures, encountered strong resistance and strikes. The unions which represent Royal Mail employees accused him of fuelling acrimonious industrial disputes.

in the company, which has belonged to the staff since the 1920s, in a bid to raise a much­needed £2

But, she pledged, this would be done in a way that was consistent with the practice of all partners sharing in the benefits of the business, as promised in the original staff ownership deal.

Repsol goes electric

REPSOL, Spain’s largest oil company, now provides electricity for just over one million customers.

It acquired 50.01 per cent of the country’s seventh ­ largest electricity company, CHC Energia, and another 356,000 customers, after CIDE Servicios Comerciales, which owns 100 per cent of CHC Energia, approved the sale on Tuesday, May 9.

The CHC operation was Repsol’s largest in the electricity sector since acquiring Viesgo ­ and more than 750,000 customersfive years ago in an operation valued at more than €730 million.

That was followed by Gana Energía ­ in which Mercadona chairman Juan Roig was a shareholder ­ that brought Repsol 37,000 more customers and another €25 million in turnover in 2021.

Repsol then went on to secure the Capital Energy’s portfolio of a further 25,000 contracts at the beginning of 2022.

The company’s quota of the energy market has now increased from 4.9 per cent to 6.6 per cent, in fourth place after Iberdrola, Endesa and Naturgy.

The CHC transaction

THE Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) proposes to simplify listing rules that currently discourage companies from joining the UK’s stock markets.

This arises from reproaches that the British semiconductor and software design company Arm and other businesses shunned the UK market and preferred to list in the US.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) proposes to

comes at a time when Repsol, along with its competitors, wants to divest itself of its oil company label.

Instead, it aims to become a multi ­ energy company with interests that reach far beyond fossil fuels and produce net zero emissions by the middle of the century.

Stay in the UK

simplify listing rules in the UK which are putting off companies wishing to join the country’s public markets.

Companies intending to list shares must at present hold a premium listing, obliging them to comply with the UK’s highest regulation standards.

The FCA now wants to

eliminate the requirements which include a three­year financial and revenue­earning track record that makes it impossible for newer businesses to list.

“We want to encourage more companies to list and grow in the UK,” the FCA’s chief executive Nikhil Rathi said.

Deposits shuffled

SPAIN’S six big banks lost €35 billion in deposits, a reduction of 2.9 per cent, reports for 2023’s first quarter revealed.

Sources at the banks involved hastened to clarify that in part it was a seasonal effect as 43 per cent of this amount ­ €16.34 billion ­ occurred as companies withdrew cash accumulated at the end of the previous year to pay bills, complete impending transfers and pay executives’ bonuses.

The same sources explained that there were various reasons for the loss of the remaining 57 per cent, approximately €22 billion but this was principally the result of transferring funds from savings accounts to products generating better returns.

Clients had not withdrawn money, but instead had moved it to investment accounts, the banks stressed, or had acquired Spanish government bonds.

His standing was questioned after a Commons select committee appearance in January this year, prompting some members of the board of International Distributions Services (IDS), Royal Mail’s parent company, to conclude that new leadership was required.

A spokesperson for Royal Mail and IDS said they did not comment on rumour or speculation.

Welcome reduction

ENERGY bills for an average UK household are expected to dip to an annual £1,900 (€2,187) this summer following a reduction in gas prices.

The present energy price cap, set in April, stands at £3,280 (€3,776) a year.

Annual gas and electricity charges are falling as normality returns to the energy market with lower wholesale gas prices beginning to show up on power bills.

Figures currently demonstrate that the price of gas has returned to where it was in February 2022, before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine transformed the energy sector.

Telefonica increases turnover

TELEFONICA announced a net profit of €298 million for the first quarter of 2023 on May 9.

This was 57.8 per cent lower than the €706 million reported during the same period last year, owing to higher debt costs.

Revenue between January and the end of March reached €10.05 billion, 6.7 per cent more than 2022’s first quarter, with increases in all business divisions and Telefonica’s key markets of Spain, the UK, Germany and Brazil despite ongoing inflation.

The company’s net financial debt fell by €244 million to €26.44 billion.

JOHN LEWS: No change in staffowned status, Dame Sharon White pledged.

REPSOL: Now Spain’s fourth-largest electricity company.

Photo credit: Flickr/Repsol

LEAPY LEE SAYS IT

OTHERS THINK IT

PERSONALLY I think the voting age should be raised to 21. It’s not that I consider the young lacking in intelligence, or am ignorant of the view, that if you’re old enough to die for your country you should at least have a say in who runs it.

The fact is they lack experience; they simply haven’t been around long enough. An 18 ­ year ­ old today, was not even born when the last Labour government was elected and five when they were put out of office by the Conservatives.

They have no idea what it is like to exist under the depressing, inept incompetence of a left wing government.

They have never experienced the sight of the fat cat bully boys of the unions, fresh from their Marbella villa holidays, emerging from Downing Street and announcing that half the nation would be on strike if the ‘workers’ weren’t given what they (the unions) demanded. Of times when ‘everybody out’ issued from the

Young voters

employees of one vital institution after another, until the whole country staggered from one crisis to the next and employers were blamed for everything from the price of soap to the shortage of cat litter.

They have no knowledge of a country, run by a party who bribes its constituents by creating whole diversive cultures of benefit scroungers, and to pay for these free handouts, taxes those with any initiative to create jobs and wealth to such a degree that they leave the country in droves.

Labour is a party that has no idea how to actually create resources and always uses the wealth, painstakingly earned by previous governments to create the illusion that they are a successful organisation by pouring investments into popular schemes that will ingratiate them to their constituents.

When there is no longer any previous legacy to use, they borrow, beg and steal ( Brown stole most of the country’s gold reserves and sold it for a pit­

tance!) until ultimately there is nothing left and they are finally voted out, leaving the incoming party to once again pick up the pieces.

Margaret Thatcher actually summed up this bunch of incompetent con artists perfectly, when she stated that the Labour party were fine, until they ran out of other people’s money.

So, to all the young voters, who believe the Woke, Maoist propaganda, ‘all men are equal, tax the rich and ban the Monarchy’ that issues from the left, are the answers to what ails us, I suggest you all think again. I’m not saying it’s going to be plain sailing. But at least with the Right we have a chance.

Do you really want to witness the likes of Angela Rainer, the repetitive, insipid Keir Starmer or the pink hat of Eddie Izzard, gloating from the steps of Number 10?

Keep the faith Love Leapy. leapylee2002@gmail.com expatradioscotland.com

Mon and Fri. 1pm till 4.

SUNDAY OPENING OUR VIEW

SPAIN still doesn’t officially allow large stores and supermarkets to open on most Sundays but there are exceptions.

This means that those areas which are recognised as being ‘Areas of Great Tourist Influx’ will be given special dispensation for Sunday opening across most of the country.

Although generally left to each autonomous province to decide, what this means is that shops with more than 300 square metres of space such as department stores and supermarkets may open on the agreed Sundays whilst certain essential services such as fuel, bakers etc are not constrained by time or day. There are also some markets (often collectibles or crafts) which are also open on Sundays so it does mean that there will be plenty of choice for shoppers during the summer period.

Starting on May 21, if you live in one of these special areas, large stores will be allowed to open between noon and 8pm every Sunday with the last approved opening being September 10 but the decision to open lies with the individual company and it is known that some stores such as Mercadona don’t open every supermarket every week.

With so many tourists expected this year, it makes sense to ensure that they are catered for but while the decision will no doubt be welcomed by the owners of those businesses that can take advantage of the relaxation on Sunday closing; it may not go down so well with workers who must give up more Sundays as well as smaller businesses who may lose out on sales. Shopaholics will also look forward to the end of November and whole of December when the stores are able to open again.

Property of the week

Independent Villa for sale in Purias, Lorca

NEXT HOUSE Almeria presents a unique and exceptionally designed home with private pool, guest annex, horse stable, riding arena, private well and a large warehouse located in the desirable area of Purias (Lorca).

Entering through the front door of the main house you are welcomed by a spacious hallway. To your right you have two good sized double bedrooms with well equipped ensuite bathrooms and built in wardrobes. The hallway takes you into a breathtaking open plan lounge and dining room with a full wall of sliding glass patio doors opening out onto a spacious patio and outside dining area.

To the left of the dining room you will find the unique kitchen with breakfast bar and an island. There is also an independent pantry.

Back into the lounge, you will find a grand stone fireplace. On the right of the fireplace you have a room currently used as a fourth bedroom but would make a perfect study/office.

On the left of the fireplace is a hallway, to your right you have a unique and charming guest toilet. At the end you enter the master bedroom with built in wardobes and an exceptionally large ensuite with double sinks and both a shower and a bath. There are patio doors out to the patio area.

Once in the patio, you have a fabulous dining area and porch with removable covers which are used to create shade in the summer. To the left of this you will find the guest an­

nex, which has a large entry hall, a dressing room and a large bedroom. Downstairs you have another great area which is open plan. Currently used as a wine cellar and storage.

To the side of the property you will find the large and inviting swimming pool, with an electric cover which regulates the temperature and a water heating system enabling you to be able to use the pool almost all of the year. Next to the pool is the pool house and storage room, where the

instant boilers are located and also the laundry room. The rest of the garden surrounding the pool and annex is developed with grass and plenty of well established trees.

Walking round to the back of the property you will find the large and fully fenced riding arena to your left. Continuing on, there is a storage area for hay and animal feed and there is a good sized horse stable with automatic water. To the right of the stable is a washing area for horses with

€379,999 euros

drainage. There is a fully operational REGA/OCA licenCe for two horses. However, this can be increased to have up to 5 horses at the property. The property is heated by disel radiators and a traditional fireplace. There is air conditioning throughout. This property has been exceptionally designed by a French architect. It is a real bargain and a must see to really appreciate the attention to detail. Book now to view, it could be your Next House!

UNIQUE PROPERTY: This large property includes a guest annex, private pool and a riding arena.

Ryanair stag-do riot ruins dream holiday LETTERS

I was on this flight! It was actually worse than described in your article. We had three female flight attendants, one of whom had been on the job for two days and admitted to me that she felt unsafe coming to work. The 20 or so men on the flight as part of ‘Ryan’s stag do’ (they all had personalised t ­ shirts) were visibly drunk when they boarded the plane. The crew told me that the mistake was made by the ground staff who “shouldn’t have let them board the plane” and that all they could do was “manage the situation”. Three tiny female humans dealing with large volatile males of the species. And they sold more booze, again and again. They were shouting profanities from the beginning of the flight. Obscenities and obscene gestures, loud arguments, I made notes, there was nothing else to do, no escape from the awfulness of the experience. Announcements were made that they would be met by police upon landing if they were drunk, vaping, drinking their own alcohol ­ which they openly did when after three rounds of bar service a decision was broadcast that there would be no more sale of alcohol on the flight. We all saw them drinking from bottles they were handing around, we all saw them openly vaping whilst walking around the cabin. Ryanair’s response is predictably driven by greedcan there be another reason for abandoning their duty of care for passengers on the flight. It was a miracle that it didn’t get nastier.

Sasha Alevropoulos

So predictable

Mr Leapy you are as predictable as a ‘cover it all newspaper Astrology page’. Can’t deny you have a bunch of fans out there. Don't know why myself but there we are, no counting for human difference.

Speaking for myself I believe in the freedom to protest peacefully for you or less right wing folk. The UK government don’t and introduce legislation to curtail peaceful protest. Again I don’t know why but there we are.

I am old enough to to remember the peaceful protest by Bertram Russell a great British philosopher, against nuclear arms in 1961. He was put in prison for a week or so and ended up getting massive publicity for CND. As a case in point the anti monarchists, few in number, are getting massive publicity even from king of Brexit David Davis MP and other top Tories because they realise this new legisla­

tion has not been thought out.

You talk of British values which have included the right to peaceful protests.

As a member of The Royal British Legion can I remind you thousands lost their lives defending freedom. Three members of my own family gave their health and well ­ being fighting in the Second World War to defend our freedom against such tyranny.

Are you clearly saying they were wrong. Freedom to express a fundamental difference to the status quo is our basic right. Yours faithfully

Helen Hallam Malaga

Used worldwide

Hi,

I'd like to reply to an article that caught my attention in Issue 1970 (6th ­ 12th April) as to wrong context written by Bernard Butler. Éire is very much used in sending postcards and letters around the world and nationally too. I use Éire all the time myself. As an Irishman Bernard doesn’t know his geography, as Ballina is in County Mayo. regards,

James Looney

Hi Leapy

Well done for your comments ref the blacks. I get so fed up watching TV commercials etc and other programmes full of blacks its no wonder we white people are beginning to be racist and as for that black actress saying on TV about our Royal family on the balcony at the lovely coronation being a white balcony, what the hell does she expect our Royals are white, thank goodness. Keep up the good work Leapy, love reading your comments you say what the majority of people are afraid to say well done.

Audrey Nosworthy

EU boiler ban

The stupidity of the climate useful idiots never ceases to amaze me. By the time the public wakes up they will have wasted billions. Then we all be better living in Senegal.

Roger Miller

Natural gas

Let’s hope now we are free of the EU that our government does not follow their idiotic rulings. It’s proved that air source heat pumps provide insufficient heat for radiators and only work for low temperature underfloor heating. Biomass has other health issues as other contributor explains. Stick with natural gas and top up with solar.

David Goulty

PETS

Sitter cares for Rio at his home

A DOG-SITTER is a companion as well as a pet minder to your pets. The most important thing to note is that they care for your pets in their own home. Their routine stays the same, the place where they sleep stays the same, it is more relaxing for your pets and less disruptive. Find a dog­sitter to care for your pets at home and help to minimise any separation anxiety by keeping them where they feel at home.

If you’re planning a trip, register now to find pet­sitters in time. Whether your trip is short or long, you’ll know that sometimes you must leave pets at home. Young and senior pets in particular benefit from staying at home, so they can follow their routines undisturbed. Join our pet and house­sitting network, and the sitters come for free!

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

1. Register as a homeowner on HouseSit Match.com

2. Choose a Standard account (£69 per year) to ensure you can help online when needed

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

4. Post an advert for the dates when you want

to go away. Sitters apply and you choose. How does it work?

HouseSitMatch can help you find suitable sitters. Join our network for a small annual fee. You get ID checked for safety and then build your advert saying when you are going on holiday. House­sitters see your advert, they respond and you choose the sitter who’ll care for your pets. Trustpilot Testimonials ­ 4.9 / 5 Excellent 10 out of 10 for housesitmatch.com

I have had nothing but good and helpful service from the people who run this site, and my experience has been excellent. Tristram Cosgrave ­ Dog and cat owner, Malaga

How do you join?

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

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

Pet owners should know first aid

THE people’s dispensary for sick animals (PDSA), a leading animal care charity has stated that the vast majority of people are not trained in pet first aid.

The charity wants to encourage pet owners to learn basic pet first aid which could help an animal in distress before a vet can be seen.

In a survey carried out by the PDSA they found that 80 per cent of pet owners don’t own a pet emergency first aid kit and don’t know how to deal with common injuries or illnesses.

The survey also highlighted the fact that 75 per cent of pet owners said they wouldn’t know how to perform CPR on an animal and 46 per cent of owners said they wouldn’t know how to treat their pet for heatstroke.

As a result, the PDSA has written a guide to first aid

PARROTS are social animals and have remarkable intelligence that requires stimulation to keep them entertained. Parrots are very popular pets and are often chosen because they are low maintenance when compared to other animals. For this reason, parrots can spend a lot of time alone and are suffering from loneliness and even depression.

In some cases, the isolation of parrots causes them emotional distress or even psychological disorders which can manifest some self­harming behaviours such as plucking feathers.

In a mission to combat these issues, some scientists designed a technological interaction model so that a group of parrots could make video calls with almost no human intervention. Eighteen parrots were chosen for the experiment and the first step was to teach them to recognise the digital tablets bell and the next to show them how to call or decline a video call. The results showed that out of 234 possible calls the parrots made 147 calls, and 74 per cent responded positively

which you can download from their website. It gives pet owners information about how to deal with injuries such as bleeding, or broken bones. There are also tips about reducing the risk of an emergency such as not feeding pets toxic human foods and keeping medicines out of reach.

Lynne James, a PDSA vet said “The figures highlight the extent of the skills gap when it comes to basic pet

first aid skills. However, owners often don’t realise how important first aid training is until they need it, which can sometimes be too late.”

She went on to say “I’d encourage anyone who doesn’t feel confident providing treatment to their furry friend in an emergency to download our pet first aid guide, which includes a host of resources that could prove vital.”

Call your parrot

to requests to hold video conferences with other parrots typically consisting of a fiveminute video call!

The carers noted during the experiment that the birds enjoy contact with other par rots: they approach the screen, offer food to them and even sing in coordination. And when they move or dis appear from the screen the parrots reacted

by looking behind the device hoping to find them there.

The experiment is ongoing but has already demonstrated an improvement in the mood of the birds select­

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

A dog-sitter cares for your pets at home.

VIDEO

CLASSIFIEDS

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REMOVALS & STORAGE

REMOVALS & STORAGE

Doubles partner of tennis legend passes at 79

THE doubles partner of Billie Jean King has passed away at the age of 79.

Australian Owen Davidson was a 13 times grand slam winner with eight of those wins whilst partnered with Billie Jean King.

He also reached the singles finals at Wimbledon in 1966.

From 1967 to 1970 he was head pro at the All­England Club as well as being the coach of the British Davis Cup team. He was inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame in 2010

Billie Jean took to Twitter to pay tribute to her former tennis partner. She said that Davisdon had proudly represented Australia and that he was a long­time friend to both her and llana.

She said he was the only man with whom she could have won eight mixed doubles and that although her heart was broken, she had a lifetime of wonderful memories.

Australian, Rod Laver also wrote on Twitter, commenting that Davidson

was a fellow left­handed player and a great sporting champion.

The player was famous for his strong left hand, he beat John Clifton in the first round of the British Hard­

Court Championships which took place in Bournemouth. He was only one of three players to win all four major mixed doubles tournaments in the same year, 1967.

Hard luck Disputed draw

FC CARTAGENA travelled to La Romareda stadium in Zaragoza to face 14th­place Real Zaragoza on Saturday, May 13. Zaragoza went ahead when Cartagena forward Dario Poveda scored an own goal in the 27th minute. Cartagena battled on and many feel they should have had a penalty when Francisco Feuillassier got taken down in the box. The decision went to VAR but no penalty was awarded. Their day went from bad to worse when the referee awarded what many described as a very soft penalty in the 96th minute which Sergio scored to win the match 2­0. Cartagena is now five points behind Albacete and the play­off positions for promotion to La Liga.

Titan Desert

THE Skoda Titan Desert Morocco 2023 cycling race is one of the toughest in the world. 500 cyclists took part including Kiko Ruiz, David Salmerón, and Nacho Rodríguez from Murcia who came in 86th (32:44), 98th (33:44), and 144th (37:15) respectively.

The winner of this race which covers over 600 kilometres was Roberto Bou from Teruel in 22 hours and 19 minutes. Salmerón said “In this race you not only discover spectacular places but you also get to know yourself, you meet your demons. It is an experience that, if you like cycling, you have to live at least once in your life.” Salmeron’s route covered more than 7,000 metres of rough terrain through mountains and deserts finally finishing in Maadid.

REAL MURCIA faced Castellon at home in the Estadio Nueva Condomina on Sunday, May 14. Arnau Ortiz netted first for Murcia in the 10th minute and Murcia went on to hit the bar and the post. Castellon’s goalkeeper Alfonso Pastor Vacas played an important part in the game, making several vital saves during the match to keep Real Murcia out. Real Murcia was unable to get past him and then in the 97th minute, the referee awarded Castellon a controversial penalty.

Pablo Hernandez of Valencia and Leeds United stepped up and, using all of his experience, scored in the game’s dying moments. The match finished 1 ­ 1, the draw means Castellon qualifies for the playoff to be promoted to the second tier of Spanish football, the LaLiga SmartBank. Meanwhile, the draw means Real Murcia is now three points off the playoffs with two matches left to play facing 11th­place Alcoyano on Saturday May 20.

UCAM MURCIA CF drew away from home for the last match of the Segunda RFEF group 4 in the Nuevo Colombino stadium against Rec. Huelva. A goal from midfielder Manuel Ramirez Hurtado put UCAM ahead and Iago Diaz equalised for Huelva. The draw was enough for UCAM who are through to the playoffs finishing in fifth position. Mar Menor drew 0­0 at home to Yeclano finishing their season in eighth position.

DESERT RACE: 600-kilometre race through rough terrain.

The draw was enough for UCAM.

FC Cartagena battled it out.

Photo credit:

OWEN DAVIDSON: The player was famous for his strong left hand.