Costa de Almeria 8 – 14 June 2023 Issue 1979

FIRST TRIP

Bilingual centres

TWO SCHOOLS in Almeria, the IES Cerro de Alhama and Bahia de Almerimar, are set to be bilingual centres in 2024.

THE destination of Almeria enjoyed a special visitor on Thursday June 1 thanks to the booming cruise sector.

The Port of Almeria received a visit from the new Marella Voyager which made a stopover as part of its inaugural route after its christening the previous day in Malaga.

The ship, from the Marella Cruises company, specialises in the British cruise market and had more than 1,000 guests on board including company employees, journalists and travel agents.

It made its first stop in the port of Malaga and then continued to Palma de Mallorca where the tourists embarked for their first cruise.

The Marella Voyager, before its refurbishment called Mein Schiff Herz, is 262 metres long, has 13 decks, 952 cabins and a maximum capacity for 2,681 passengers.

As the newest member of the Marella Cruises family, Marella Voyager’s facilities are fresh out of the wrapper. The ship offers 16 restaurants, 10 bars and lounges, an indoor cinema, a pool deck – complete with a swimming pool and whirlpools and a big show lounge. There are plenty of

CREDIT:

places where you can take in the sea views, too, from the mini golf course at the top of the ship to The Veranda, where cosy Balinese beds point towards the blue sea.

The councillor for Educational Development and Vocational Training, Francisco Alonso Martinez, congratulated the centres and added his gratitude for the involvement of the teaching staff in “providing a professional, quality and competitive education.” The councillor also stated “the benefits of bilingualism are innumerable. Languages are the opening to new cultures and the improvement of communication skills. They give a competitive advantage in the world of work and an improvement of education.”

Tourists were welcomed.

MARELLA VOYAGER: Visited the Port of Almeria.

Almeria City Council / Facebook

WITH the arrival of good weather, volleyball is one of the sports that diverts to the beach for players to enjoy on the sand.

Over the years, Almeria has seen the growth of this discipline, which brings together a multitude of sportsmen and women at the grassroots level.

Now, the Municipal Beach Volleyball Sports Games are back and together the Municipal Sports Board and the Andalucian Volleyball Federation are working to make El Palmeral the epicentre of beach volleyball for a few days with the Municipal League.

The first tournament will

Beach Volleyball

start on June 10 and 11 with participation from the junior to the master categories. The second phase will take place on July 1 and 2 in El Palmeral. For the first tournament, registrations, which are free of charge, must be made by sending an email to the address almeria@favoley.es.

ALMERIA City Council participated in the commemorative events at the University Hospital of Torrecardenas on the occasion of World Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Day on Tuesday May 30.

Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition that can affect the brain and spinal cord, causing a wide range of potential symptoms, including problems with vision, arm or leg movement, sensation or balance. It’s a lifelong condition that can sometimes cause serious disability.

“In general, the most common symptoms are fatigue, vision problems, tingling, vertigo

The deadline is June 7 at 3.00pm.

For the second phase, those wishing to sign up have until June 28. For the second phase you can register by email and also on the beach at the organisers’ table, but you must do so 45 minutes before each match.

and dizziness, muscle weakness and problems with balance and coordination. Many of these symptoms are invisible, such as fatigue, cognitive deterioration, depression or pain, which is why it is known as the disease of a thousand faces,” confirmed neurologist Carmen Muñoz. In the province of Almeria, although there are no official figures, it is estimated that there are more than 1,000 people affected and Almeria’s Multiple Sclerosis Association (AEMA) aims to reach them through its work to alleviate the burden of a diagnosis that fortunately is being detected earlier.

LEAGUE GAMES: Players enjoy this game on the sand.

Image: Almeria City Council Facebook

Organ donors

EL EJIDO’S Hospital Universitario Poniente has registered two multi-organ donations that have allowed nine organs to be transplanted to eight patients in different centres throughout Spain. The hospital’s Transplant Coordination Department would like to thank the donors and their families.

Partying on

STILL suffering the hangover from the patron saint festivities in honour of San Jose Obrero, patron saint of Huercal de Almeria, the town spent last weekend from June 1 to 4 immersed in the festivities of the Villa Ines neighbourhood.

Hospital access

ASPHALTING work begins on the access road to the Hospital de Huercal-Overa via La Molineta. This new road, which connects Avenidas La Molineta and Doctora Ana Parra is due to be opened to traffic in the next few weeks.

Next parade

THE 10th edition of the deeply-rooted Moors and Christians parade in the town of Vera is closer than ever (it begins on June 9) and preparations are well underway to ensure a fun-filled week in the town.

Smoke-free

THE secind Smoke-Free Run on June 4, organised by the town hall and Torrecardenas as part of the events to mark World No Tobacco Day, raised €2,000 in aid of the Spanish Association Against Cancer and hosted more than 600 runners.

N-340A transfer

THE Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda transferred ownership of the section of the N-340A road between kilometres 385.862 and 386.000, which is 119 m long and has an estimated surface area of 3,603.384 m2, to Adra Town Council.

MORE than 1,500 cyclists gathered in Berja at 8.00am on the morning of Saturday, June 3.

The long ­ distance race known as La Indomable covers a whopping 197 kilometres. The winner, Manuel del Pino, managed to complete the course in a fantastic six hours and 28 minutes.

The mayor of Berja, Jose Carlos Lupion, confirmed at the starting line that “the La Indomable brand is already widely recognised in the

world of cycling. It has already established itself in the national calendar, open­

YOUR EWN

HAS La Indomable

“For Berja and La Alpujarra it is a perfect showcase to show all our goodness.”

The vice­president of the Provincial Council, Angel Escobar, added: “It is a great day for sport and cycling in the province of Almeria.

“We have been able to prove that we are up to the great challenges and our work is to continue to expand horizons so that the world knows that Almeria is the best land for the practice of outdoor sport.”

Monster Mozzies Award for Pulpi

THE Pulpi Geode Museum of Luminescence and the Castle of San Juan de los Terreros have been awarded for their conservation of cultural and natural heritage.

The jury, professionals with experience and recognition in the world of heritage, unanimously decided to award the Pulpí Geode the prize in the category of intervention in the territory or landscape.

It is an award given to the complex made up of four heritage elements: the mine, the Geode, the Luminescence Museum and the Castle of San Juan de los Terreros.

Councillor for Tourism, Juan Bautista Lopez, confirmed: “From the Pulpi Town Council and on behalf of all the people of Pulpi we would like to thank Hispania Nostra for giving us this award.

“This is another recognition of the tourist enclave of our municipality, which today is already a reference at a provincial, national and international level.”

Dates are yet to be confirmed when a plaque alluding to this award will be placed at the site.

ROQUETAS DE MAR Town Hall has intensified the work of the mosquito control operation throughout the municipality after the recent rains which have caused new damp areas conducive to the growth and laying of eggs of these insects.

Although work is carried out throughout the year, last week it was necessary to launch the entire operation in anticipation of new mosquito outbreaks.

Larvicide treatments are being carried out in various parts of the municipality,

Fried eggs & chorizo

ON June 1 the Municipal Marquee in El Ejido hosted its Tasting of Fried Eggs with Chorizo event as part of the town’s Santa Maria Fiestas.

The meal is based on a simple and delicious dish of fried eggs with chorizo, fried peppers, bread, a drink, salad and watermelon.

To prepare it, 4,000 eggs, more than 300 kilos of chorizo, 400 kilos of peppers, 600 kilos of tomatoes, 400 kilos of peppers, 600 kilos of cucumber and 2,500 kilos of watermelon were used. This gastronomic event has once

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STORIES IN THIS WEEK’S EDITION

Art Museum

OVER the past few weeks, the town hall of Fondon has been adapting the ground floor of the Social Hall to turn it into what will be one of the most important art museums in the province.

but the fumigation work continues with the use of the latest generation of drones to access areas that are difficult to reach.

The town hall confirmed: “Although prevention work is carried out all year round, at this time of year and after the rains, we have intensified work on scuppers, garden areas and places where water accumulates to prevent the proliferation of mosquitoes.”

Physical and biological control techniques are used, making eradication and control more effective and less harmful to the environment by limiting the use of chemical biocides.

The Art Museum will house a collection of over 150 paintings (canvas, watercolours, engravings, etc) from three generations of painters from the Godoy family (grandfather, father and son).

The first of this saga was the prestigious painter Emiliano Godoy, born of Fondon, father of Rafael Godoy and grandfather of Dionisio Godoy, who along with his children has generously lent us this important pictorial collection.

In addition, the museum will host the painter’s workshop and have a display to hold masterclasses and lectures.

and in its papers than any other English news publication in Spain.

again become one of the most popular and attractive proposals included in the programme of the town’s patron saint festivities in honour of the Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church.

The town celebrated its patron saint festivities in honour of the Virgin Mary Mother of the Church until June 4. A full calendar of activities was planned and enjoyed by all ages.

ing a niche among the major cycling rallies in our country.”

LONG-DISTANCE RACE: More than 1,500 cyclists took part.

FIESTA FEAST: One of the most popular events.

Cigarettes for fruit

THE Torrecardenas University Hospital celebrated World Day without Tobacco on May 31.

In addition, different events were carried out all over Almeria with the installation of information tables about smoking cessation and offering smokers an exchange of cigarettes for pieces of fruit donated by the Caparrós agricultural company.

Under a new system which registers the smoking habits of people, the total number of people who registered as smokers in Andalucia during 2022 was 170,424, of which 10,796 smokers (6,086 men and 4,710 women), this figure represents 29.22 per cent of registered users.

PROVERB OF THE

Some 18,318 are registered as nonsmokers (7,349 men and 10,969 women) representing 49.59 per cent of registered users; 7,575 are registered as ex­smokers (5,440 men and 2,135 women) representing 20.50 per cent of registered users.

In addition, 1,973 passive smokers (921 men and 1,052 women) have been registered.

If you would like help quitting smoking, you can contact the Tobacco Information Helpline on freephone 900 850 300, 24 hours a day. The Helpline, managed by Salud Responde, has received 32,057 calls since its inception in 2005 up to December 2022.

Aroboleas Choir

THE Arboleas­based community choir, All Aloud, have their latest charity concert on Friday, June 9 at 7.30pm in the Kubatin Bar in Arboleas.

The concert is in support of the Spanish cancer charity Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer (AECC). The charity is a national charity, but individual branches are expected to do their own fundraising.

The concert will consist of a variety of music from pop, musicals, folk songs and music hall. Audience participation will be welcomed during the concert with some wellknown, popular numbers.

Entrance is free but donations will be sought from

those attending.

AECC members will be attending and will have a stall set up to give further information about the charity’s work and how to seek assistance if needed.

The bar which is situated behind Hostal Meson in Arboleas will be open for entry from 7.00pm and will remain

open after the concert for those who wish to continue the evening.

Choir members and charity staff will be stopping afterwards for anyone who wishes to seek more information or simply have a chat. Head along for an evening’s free entertainment.

Season extension

ROQUETAS DE MAR’S beach season period from 2023 to 2026 has officially been extended and, moving forward, will run from Holy Thursday to October 15.

Roquetas de Mar, located to the west of the city of Almeria along the coast, occupies 16 km of the Almeria

coastline, of which 15 km are of magnificent beaches with clean and transparent waters for the enjoyment of residents and visitors.

The beaches of the city are of high environmental quality with all the necessary services to spend the best vacations. The water

temperature also ensures a longer bathing season than in other geographical locations.

Except for Cerrillos, all the beaches are urban with road access, daily cleaning service in the summer season, police surveillance, first aid stations and exclusive ambulance for beach service.

The beaches of the municipality have 30 distinctions including six blue flags, making Roquetas de Mar the town in Andalucia with the most quality distinctions on its coast. This achievement is a singularity that recognises the work of the city council in improving the tourist offer.

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ALL ALOUD: Their concert is raising funds for charity.

WEEK

“A picture is worth a thousand words.”

Meaning an image can tell a story better than words. This was invented by an advertising executive, Fred R Barnard, to promote his agency’s adverts.

The year the first postage stamp was created in the UK.

Los Bandidos

Champions awarded

ALMERIA City Council has honoured the Unicaja Junior Volley Club for their achievements during the season.

SIX brave Los Bandidos took on the 16th Almeria Sprint Triathlon at Playa del Zapillo in Almeria.

The race consisted of a 750m sea swim, a four-lap 20k cycle and a two-lap 5k run. The men set off first and 10 minutes later the ladies entered the water.

Sea conditions were perfect, calm and flat and no jellyfish! The bike leg was fast and flat and the run was flat and hot, along the Paseo.

The first man crossed the finish line in 1:02:01 and the first lady in 1:12:05, 150 men finished the race and 34 ladies. All finishers received a commemorative t-shirt and a banana!

Los Bandidos was set up in June 2018 with a small group running the 5k Mojacar Paseo, and now the group includes road cycling, sea swimming and triathlon groups.

All ages, nationalities and speeds are welcome, whether permanent residents or holidaymakers.

They are very sociable and most sessions are followed by a post-activity coffee, cake or breakfast, depending on the time of day.

Follow the group on Facebook to keep up-to-date with their latest activities (facebook.com/groups/490933409244200).

The councillor for Sports, José Antonio García, expressed his gratitude to the boys “for taking the name of the province of Almeria to the highest national level,” as well as to the club “for the work it is doing, as it is not only committed to the first team, but is also firmly committed to the youth team, and is taking

steps to open up to women’s sport.”

Juan Cayuela, territorial director for Eastern Andalu-

ROQUETAS DE MAR Town Hall is once again putting out to tender the contracts for the surveillance and security service and the supply of portable toilets for the local street market on Thursdays.

The first contract has a total budget of €28,000 and the second contract €7,000. Both contracts will last for one year, extendable for a further year.

The security service will consist of four security guards who will have to

cia of Unicaja Banco, which is the team’s main sponsor together with the Unicaja Banking Foundation, said it

Toilet tender

be at the market every Thursday of the year. Two guards will be on duty from 8.30am to 12.30pm and the other two from 11.30am to 3.30pm.

Their duties will include not only

is “a pleasure that you carry the name of Unicaja by flag with your work, your effort and your sacrifice.”

Juan referred to the recent titles won and extended his thanks to “the club’s management, the president Antonio Rodríguez, his technical team, the management, coaches, players: you are all doing an exceptionally good job.

“Unicaja is not only known as a financial institution but also as a sports club.”

surveillance and security inside the market, but also the delivery of bags to the traders for the collection of waste and rubbish.

The second tender, for the rental supply of portable toilets needed for the street market, includes transport, installation, assembly and dismantling of the toilets. This is an essential service, as there are no public toilets in the area where the street market is held every Thursday.

SPRINT TRIATHLON: Six athletes took part in the 16th event.

JUNIOR CLUB: Have been honoured for their achievements.

Image: Los Bandidos

Image: Almeria City Council / Facebook

Periurban promise

BERJA Town Hall and the Torrecardenos Shopping Centre have proposed to contribute to the reforestation of the area of the Periurban Park of Castala.

The park’s pine forests were burnt in a fire in 2019 and is suffering from deforestation, which directly attacks its flora and fauna.

The shopping complex with the collaboration of the municipality, has appealed

to its followers on social networks to participate in a completely altruistic way.

“For each comment received on Instagram we will donate €1 for the planting of pine trees in the park,” the shopping centre explained. “Our goal is to reach €3,000.”

“In the coming months, this shopping centre in the capital of Almeria will announce the dates to start planting to make the park of

our childhood green again,” confirmed the promoters of this initiative.

‘Castala, source of memories’ is its title. “The Castala periurban park encompasses many childhood memories. A magical place where many children learned about fauna and flora, enjoyed nature, got to know the environment up close and created memories of these experiences.”

Bye to BBQs

WITH the arrival of June and the high temperatures that will accompany the summer months the ban on lighting fires, including barbecues on forest land and areas of forest influence, comes back into force in Andalucia.

Through its website and social media pages, the town hall of Huercal de Almeria has confirmed the ban, pointing out that the municipality falls in the high­risk zone of forest fires.

The aim is to prevent any negligence from causing a forest fire during this period when, due to the weather conditions, any fire that is not tackled in time can have seri­

ous consequences.

The restrictions concentrate on the burning of natural vegetation and also agricultural and forestry waste. Similarly, it is also forbidden to light fires for the preparation of food, including in camping areas or recreational areas that are equipped for this purpose.

Non­compliance with this order carries a penalty so that both the Local Police, through any patrol as well as the Nature Protection Service of the Guardia Civil, can file a complaint against any citizen who does not comply with this Order.

Great Family Park

Anna Ellis WORK on the Great Family Park project in El Ejido involves the planting of 350 new trees to add to the existing ones, 33,000 plants and a lawn area of 3,800 m2.

With a total budget of €5.2 million and a surface area of seven hectares, the park will feature three children’s play areas, a kiosk, an amphitheatre, sports equipment, tennis courts, paddle courts, callisthenics, bio-healthy elements, a water area for summer refreshment and a snack bar.

The park includes a pumptrack circuit that is

the largest in Andalucia and is placed in the top five of the largest in Spain and is suitable for hosting regional and national competitions.

Mayor, Francisco Góngora Cara, confirmed: “It is a project for the growth and development of El Eji-

do that will undoubtedly improve the well-being and quality of life of Ejido people.

“It is a unique and reference place in the province for the practice of different sporting modalities and for cultural activities, recreational and leisure.”

Consolidated position

AFTER its return last year, the Enclave de Sol Costa de Almeria Festival has consolidated its position as one of the regulars of the spring programme.

The long-awaited event celebrates its fifth edition on Saturday, June 10, starting at 8.30pm in the courtyard of the Compañía de María school.

Tickets are priced at €10 and are on sale both at the municipal box office located in the Teatro Apolo and

on the website https://almeriaculturaen tradas.es /. They will also be on sale at the Compañía de María box office from one hour before the start of the first concert.

The councillor for Culture, Diego Cruz explained: “We want to include as many musical styles as possible so that all are represented.”

Pedro Martinez, part of the Almenara Group who will be performing, con -

firmed: “Our aim is for this festival to last over time and to share our love of music with groups from abroad. We want to give enjoyment and reach the people who come to the concerts.

IKEA opening

IKEA has announced the opening date of its new store in Almeria, located in the La Rambla shopping park: it will open its doors on July 5.

With an investment of €45.3 million, this opening represents another step in the firm commitment of the Swedish company to the Andalucian market and its objective is to bring design and inspiration closer to the citizens of Almeria.

Monica Martin, who has been in the ranks of the company for more than a decade, has been appointed to lead this new project in Almeria, perfectly representing the opportunities for growth and internal promotion the company offers its employees.

PARK PROJECT: Will involve planting of 350 new trees.

Image: El Ejido Town Hall Facebook

Why retirement planning matters

It is never too early to start thinking about how you will finance your golden years. Even if you are already retired, you should regularly review your arrangements to ensure you continue meeting your retirement goals.

Approaching retirement

Make sure you are on the right track financially by asking yourself the following questions. There may be steps you can take today to help make your retirement goal a reality.

• Will I be able to afford to retire when I want to?

• What is the best strategy for withdrawing from my business or employment?

• What options do I have for my pensions?

• Will I be able to retain my existing wealth and assets?

• Do I want to spend my retirement abroad?

Let’s say that you plan to retire in Spain within the next few years. You

By Jon Pemberton,

ing assets. Perhaps you have a business to sell and are unsure how best to convert your years of hard work into a retirement nest egg. Then there are the complex residence and tax implications of living in a different country.

Here, professional financial ad-

of what you have – your savings, investments, assets, pensions – together with what you want – your timeline, income requirements, legacy wishes – and an objective assessment of who you are – your circumstances, goals, risk appetite – to design a personalised retirement plan for you.

Already retired

Regular reviews allow you to adapt your strategy to suit your changing circumstances and goals, such as incorporating new family members, addressing health issues or relocating. It enables you to keep up with the ever-changing tax and pensions landscape, including new opportunities that could work in your favour.

Your pension options

Pensions are usually the foundations of retirement, so deciding what to do here may be one of life’s most important financial decisions. Pensions are complex and there is more

dating several UK pensions into one to provide a coherent, more cost-effective investment platform for your retirement income.

Britons moving or resident abroad may have the option of transferring UK pensions to a Qualifying Overseas Pension Scheme Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pensions Schemes (QROPS). Be aware, however, that Spanish tax regulations now determine that transfers from the UK (and other third country) pensions into an EEA scheme, including QROPS, makes the fund value liable to local income tax. If you have not yet become tax resident in Spain, you have a limited opportunity to transfer your pension out of the UK without this hefty tax liability.

Take regulated, specialist advice before making pension decisions to protect your benefits and establish the best option for you.

Retiring in Spain

status and cross-border tax implications in a post-Brexit world and adapt your estate planning to suit Spain’s different succession rules.

And when reviewing and weighing up all the options for your pension funds, it’s important to take the local Spain tax implications into account.

Careful planning is the key to minimising taxation and maximising the available opportunities so you can enjoy the retirement you want for as long as you need. For the best results, take specialist, crossborder advice.

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

Keep up to date on the financial issues that may affect you on the Blevins

Partner, Blevins Franks

THE town of Adra is getting ready to celebrate the festivity of the Virgen del Carmen, which is commemorated every July 15.

The Elder Brother of the Brotherhood of the Virgen

Be prepared

del Carmen of Adra, Francisco Manuel Rincón, explained: “The commemora­

Task group

Anna Ellis

OVER the weekend of June 3, the Spanish Navy paid a visit to the Almeria Port with a variety of ships.

According to reports from the Ministry of Defence, these ships will form part of a multinational group (Task Group) that, under the command of the Commander of the 41st Escuadrilla, Captain Isidro Carrara Navas, will take part in the FLOTEX­23 exercises, those of greater entity that the Navy programmes annually.

With the presence of more than 4,700 troops, 19 ships, two submarines, 16 aircraft and 80 Marine Infantry vehicles, the FLOTEX 23 exercises will be an excellent opportunity to raise the level of training and foster interoperability between Navy units and with participating units from other navies and armies.

The exercise will take place between the Andalucian coast, with an amphibious landing on the Almeria beaches of El Alquián and Quitapellejos, and the Catalan and Balearic coasts; and aims to assess, analyse and certify the capabilities of the Naval Force to face the most demanding threats and scenarios.

tion prior to the big day begins on Saturday, July 8, at 9.00am with a pétanque championship, which will last 12 hours.

“At midday, we will enjoy a Foam Party and Colour Party which we have organised especially for the enjoyment of children.

“After this party, the marquee will open with tapas tasting in the Amphitheatre of Pago del Lugar.

“Following on there will be a trio of concerts. At 4.30pm a concert by ‘Fusión de barrio’, at 7.30pm a concert by ‘Dos indios y un palomo’ and at midnight a concert by ‘Los Vinilos’.

The festivities then continue on Saturday, July 15, from 11.30am with the Swimming Race from the Levante Quay to the Ice Factory in the Port of Adra; the ‘cucaña’, in the ice factory; and the traditional ‘Moraga’, at 1.30pm in the Fish Market.

SOME of the lighthouses managed by the Almeria Port Authority (APA) are much more than maritime signals: they are unique places, including museums facing the sea.

The president of the APA, Rosario Soto, confirmed: “All Almerians and visitors have the doors of the Almeria Lighthouse, the Mesa Roldán Lighthouse in Carboneras and the Sabinal Lighthouse in El Ejido open.

“You can visit them as a group for free from Monday to Friday. They are true trea­

Lighthouse tourism

sures of our coast, some with more than a century and a half of history, which continue to fulfil their main mission.”

Visits to the lighthouses are

Footy returf

ALMERIA’S Anexo football ground is getting ready for the summer pre­season.

The company Royalverd which looks after the football pitches of UD Almeria has started to replace the winter grass Ryegrass with the summer Bermuda Islands. The pitch is expected to be ready around July 10.

In addition, once the LaLiga Santander ends, the same will be done with the Power Horse Stadium’s lawn, where the Rojiblancos not only play their league matches but also train daily since they cannot use the training base due to the current returfing.

The returfing of the main pitch began on Monday, June 5, and it is expected to be ready again at the end of July.

The La Vega de Acá’s ground, where the ‘B’ team youngsters usually train, will be returfed in mid­August.

for groups of up to 25 people and can be booked through the APA website: https://apalmeria.com/

The lighthouse in Mojacar was lit on September 22, 2021, and is located on the north slope of Cerro del Moro Manco. This facility stands out for its modern architecture and Mediterranean appearance and its scope of action covers from Playa Macenas to Águilas in Murcia.

The Mesa Roldán in Carboneras was illuminated in 1863, replacing the bonfires that were lit at the top of the watchtower. This lighthouse and its surroundings are located within the Cabo de GataNíjar Natural Park and are one of the most beautiful viewpoints of this natural space.

AFTER a thoroughly successful Astronomical Days Scientific Exhibition which took place last week, Almeria is now firmly cemented in the science world.

The councillor for Culture, Diego Cruz, said: “We should feel more than proud of the high level of the conference, a reference in the field worldwide. We welcomed several Nobel Prize winners, NASA astronauts and the best experts in the world.”

Nobel Prize winner in Physics, Reinherd Genzel, explained: “The history of astronomy is very long, historically Spain was a reference in this field through the discoverers of America who used the stars to navigate.

WOULD you like your children to be protagonists of the Moors and Christians of Vera Living Chess on June 8?

If so, email morosycris tianosvera@gmail.com or in fo@morosycristianosvera.es for more information.

Children taking part must be between the second to sixth grades of primary school.

Living Chess consists of a dramatised game between the Moorish and Christian sides, where the children from

“Spain has a high level of Astronomy including Calar Alto, Veleta and the Canary Islands.”

He added: “Spain is playing an important role in modern astronomy. It is an ancient science, but one of the most modern, it is the spearhead of physics.”

John Beckman, Nobel Laureate in Astrophysics and historian added: “The purpose of science is to advance humanity. Science is a structured response to that curiosity and tends to be specialised.

“It is very positive that Almeria has supported these conferences for so long and it is always an honour to come back and participate.”

Astronomically awesome Living Chess

the four local schools have their special day and where they are the absolute protagonists of the event.

It all starts with the traditional parade from the Casa de la Juventud to the Plaza de la Verja.

There, the children take their places on the board and the game begins. Each piece is played by each child and is

named after a character or place in Spain’s history where there has been a relationship between Moors and Christians, not only related to the Reconquest of Vera, but also to the Siege of Aben Humeya. The game is dramatised and every move is carried out following the orders of the Moorish King and the Christian King.

Children take part.

Image: Morosycristianos de Vera / Facebook

UNIQUE PLACES: Much more than maritime signals.

Driving licence

Anna Ellis

IN view of the proliferation of internet pages offering the chance to obtain a driving licence without the need to take any kind of knowledge test, either theoretical or practical, Spain’s government Department for Traffic (DGT) reminds us that in Spain it is essential to pass a test to obtain a Driving Licence.

Non­EU nationals who already have a licence must exchange it for a Spanish one if they are citizens of countries with which there is an exchange agreement.

In the absence of an ex ­

change agreement with the country of origin, it is compulsory to pass a theoretical and a practical test.

In recent weeks, Guardia Civil’s Traffic Department has been investigating several

SPAIN’S tourism industry continues its fight back with figures showing record­breaking arrivals three years after the pandemic outbreak. Statistics show that 2019 was a record year for tourism in Spain, but figures just in show that 7.2 million visitors arrived in April, a 1.2 per cent increase from four years ago, an upward trend that the government expects to continue, according to a news source on Friday, June 2.

Salaries revealed

THE recent council elections in Spain have received much publicity, and now all the campaigning and elections are over many people are left wondering, how much exactly does the mayor earn.

ment, Pedro Sanchez earns, according to the General State Budget for 2023.

Another determining factor is their dedication to the post. Normally, municipalities with larger populations have full­

time mayors, where the salary is higher. If they fulfil their role on a part­time basis, they are paid for attending council meetings with the same rules for municipalities with less than 1,000 inhabitants.

web pages of this type where customers are offered the chance to obtain a legal Spanish Driving Licence simply by paying an amount of money and sending photos and information.

Brits lead the way

And this is just the beginning with reliable estimates indicating the summer will also surpass pre­pandemic levels, with the arrival of 54.8 million tourists between May and October.

At the forefront of visitors to Spanish shores is the UK, with 1.35 million Britons arriving in April, closely followed by Germany with one million.

There is no easy answer to the question as it varies depending on the rule of law and what each town council decides. It can range from zero to €108,518 per year.

The full list can be found at Spain’s Ministry of Finance which provides the information to the public. The latest data available is for 2021 and shows the salaries of 7,024 mayors, the remaining 1,104 mayors did not declare their fees or the information was incomplete.

The most important factor in deciding the wage structure is the size of the municipality. Cities with more than 500,000 inhabitants set the salary limit, which is set at €116,160.05 per year. This figure is actually more than the €90,010 that the president of the govern­

In Spain it is essential to pass a test to obtain your licence.

Rafa Nadal Foundation

Anna Ellis SPORT and culture must be within the reach of all people regardless of their starting point.

For this reason, Endesa brought together the Rafa Nadal Foundation and the Real Madrid Foundation on Tuesday May 30 at the Caja Mágica in Madrid for a sports­cultural day in which more than 30 minors participated.

According to Eunate Gomez, Head of Projects at the Rafa Nadal Foundation, “At the Rafa Nadal Foundation, we believe in the transformative power of sport and education, which is why we try to promote initiatives so that minors incorporate this type of activities that have a positive impact on their personal development and well­being.”

Ricardo Gallego, ambassador of the Real Madrid Foundation, pointed out that “sport, as we have seen in this activity, is a great tool for inclusion and social integration. Actions like today’s are very important for us and we thank Endesa for bringing us together here today together with the Rafa Nadal Foundation to bring quality educational sport to everyone.”

King and Queen in Granada

ON Friday June 2 Motril on the coast of Granada played host to Spain’s Armed Forces Day with more than 2,000 soldiers and a dozen ships, which included paratroopers and helicopters on the beachfront.

On Saturday, June 3, the events continued as King Felipe and Queen Letizia presided over the events of the land and air parade through the centre of Granada. Also in attendance was the

Defence Minister, Margarita Robles, who witnessed the participation of more than 3,100 soldiers, 150 vehicles and mobile units and 70 aircraft.

Armed Forces Day is a military spectacle which takes place in a different location each year. This was the first time the event had been held in a coastal city since 2011, when Malaga was the chosen city. The event culminated

with the traditional land and air parade, which covered 1.3 kilometres through the centre of the capital of Granada.

This year also saw a milestone for Armed Forces Day when for the first time a woman, Corporal Carmen Gómez Hurtado, representing the Parachuting Acrobatic Patrol of the Air and Space Army (PAPEA), performed the parachute jump carrying the Spanish flag.

Smoke free beaches

IT has been revealed that the Blue Flag network is studying the requirement to be a smoke­free beach in order to be awarded their certification.

Galicia currently has 214 smoke­free beaches and a spokesperson for the Galician Healthcare Service (SERGAS), Julio García Comesaña, has indicated the Blue Flag network may apply the same rules to beaches across Spain, reported a news source on May 31.

Blue flags are awarded to beaches based on the quality of the bathing water, services and facilities for bathers and environmental management.

However, according to sources, the foundation that grants these awards is now studying to add one more requirement: that the beach be declared a tobacco­free zone. SERGAS has a clear plan: to reduce tobacco consumption.

To achieve this aim, the plan includes the expansion of smoke­free outdoor spaces. Galicia currently has 214 smoke­free beaches and 18

parks, but this measure will be extended to squares, football pitches, basketball courts, outdoor swimming pools and even university campuses.

Comesaña went on to say: “We have to denaturalise the idea that you can smoke outdoors,” He also pointed out, “and I don’t know if this is an exclusive or not,” that the network of blue flags awarded in Spain by the Association for Environmental and Consumer Education (Adeac) seriously considers, in part to the Galician experience, that the blue flag implies being a

smoke­free beach.

The anti­smoking drive also includes a Galician No Tobacco Day, on October 31, together with a network to promote a life without tobacco.

BLUE FLAGS: Awarded on quality of the water and facilities.

7,641 The number of islands in the Philippines.

Embracing the fun

AMONGST Gen Z and Millennials in America, cosplay is big deal. Dressing up as your favourite character from a comic book or graphic novel is a pastime my generation just doesn’t understand. But then, we moved to Spain, and Seattle Comicon is nothing on the Spanish fiesta.

Last June, my husband, Jeff, and I needed to head into Lugo to visit a local home improvement centre. Our first indication that something different appeared in the form of a small Roman legion about a kilometre from the old city. Lugo’s old city is surrounded by an intact Roman wall, so a Roman legion would seem to fit

right in, if it was the year 30AD. However, this was 2022, and men wandering around in Roman garb carrying swords and shields seemed, well, out of place. And then, the cave people strolled by.

“What is happening?” asked Jeff.

“It’s Spain. It could be anything.”

As we approached the parking garage the streets became crowded with more Romans and cave people (Castros). Walking amongst the hoards, we saw makeshift forts and catapults. Emperors and Empresses. Children sword fighting. It was as if the entire town had joined a theatre group. Or lost their

collective minds. In that moment we saw the poster for Arde Lucas.

The fiesta celebrating Lugo’s Roman past with sieges and violent re­enactments between Romans and Castros. The battle for the old bridge. Incredible. We were the only citizens not dressed appropriately and we felt out of place. But not this year.

Arde Lucas begins on June 24. Jeff and I have our Roman togas and we’re ready to dive in like the locals we are. We will banquet with the best of them and storm the ramparts. Catapulting ourselves into the past and embracing the fun. We can’t wait!

Kelli Field is an American expat writer/blogger living in rural Galicia, and a volunteer for Age in Spain. Some of her other writing about moving to and living in Spain can be found at www.vivaespanamovingtospain.com If you'd like to get in touch with Age In Spain, we can be reached at info@ageinspain.org (+34 932 209 741) www.ageinspain.org

EXCLUSIVE: One musician’s take on fake news

GENERALLY speaking, Euro Weekly News tends to interview musicians and other artists who have a direct link with Spain and wherever possible the areas where we publish.

In the case of American musician and lawyer, Alan Chapell, it was the topic of one of his most recent compositions that caught our attention.

With Spin, he sings about the way in which the media, especially cable news in America simply seems to be powerful enough to have people believe whatever Spin they put on the news.

Speaking exclusively to EWN Alan explained “I was in Florida and started watching Fox News and it suddenly dawned on me that this type of station no longer report news but was intent on changing people’s perceptions in an incredible way.

“That’s a lot of power and its frightening as cable news moves so far away from what we were used to viewing.”

The chorus of the song appears influenced by Video Killed the Radio

Star by The Buggles and as Alan acknowledged this, he said “Maybe without realising it, I have transplanted and updated the concept of change within the music scene to

reflect the change in news reporting.”

With the growth of social media of all types and the way in which story headlines are often aimed at

luring readers in (known as clickbait) even if the story is different to what it appears, however at EWN we are always trying to improve the way in which our headlines encourage views honestly.

Alan currently fronts a five­piece band in which he sings and plays keyboards and it includes violinist extraordinaire Lorenza Ponce who has played with such rock luminaries as Bon Jovi, Hall & Oates, Sheryl Crow and many more.

Alan Chapell is a unique character, the product of years of travelling the world, honing his craft and moving seamlessly through musical genres, Chapell’s lush sonic pallet falls somewhere between the progressive pop rock of Bryan Ferry and the jangle rock nuance of 10,000 Maniacs.

During the pandemic and lockdown, he was a prolific writer and composer with a catalogue of some 120 songs, many of which are yet to be released.

Earlier in his career, he became disillusioned with music and after

returning from a retreat in India, he took time out to qualify as an Attorney specialising in Human Rights and European Union Law but whilst he still practices, he couldn’t keep away from performing.

Indeed, after America started to emerge from lockdown, he was able to perform to small audiences on a solo basis which he says was “A real tonic which is why I have started playing keyboards in the band again instead of simply being the singer at the front.”

The first Chapell album The Redhead’s Allegations, produced by Jerry Harrison of Talking Heads fame was released in 2017 with a further five following, the latest Two Fishes compares the fact that he has two children, one who grew up in the aftermath of 9/11 and the second much younger daughter growing up now in the digital age.

There’s a new double album on the way and Alan hopes that one day he will be able to perform in Spain, especially as his partner is Latina.

Credit: Bill McMenemey/Chapell

Alan Chapell and Lorenza Ponce

PRESS EUROPEAN

DENMARK

Spud-slide

A 57-YEAR-OLD lorry driver was arrested in Denmark after potatoes he was transporting littered the bridge linking the Funen and Zealand islands where Odense and Copenhagen are located. He was charged with causing reckless endangerment to life after cars were affected by the slippery surface.

THE NETHERLANDS

Busy drones

ROTTERDAM port announced on June 1 the formal opening of the Netherlands’ first vertiport for non-piloted aerial vehicles, following the landing of a multirotor drone there. The devices will eventually be used for inspections and monitoring transport operations, the Port of Rotterdam authority reported.

BELGIUM

Here we are

SEALS, which had practically disappeared from Belgium before the end of the last century are gradually returning to its beaches and coasts. Numbers are difficult to calculate, although the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences estimates that there are now around 100 grey seals and 200 harbour seals.

GERMANY

Berry bad

A GERMAN consumer campaign called for supermarkets to boycott strawberries grown near Spain's vulnerable Doñana wetlands. Drought and unauthorised irrigation have dried out the wildlife haven in the southwest of the country and the needs of growers were making the problem worse, the association said.

FRANCE

Charge it

FRANCE is opening its first electric car battery factory near Douay. The length of six football pitches, the plant is part of a ‘reindustrialisation’ initiative which the administration and business leaders hope will turn the Hauts-de-France region into ‘Battery Valley’, electric vehicles’ response to Silicon Valley.

NORWAY

Oil change

DESPITE leading using renewable energy domestically, Norway remains committed to its oil and gas operations for exports. The government has now asked energy companies to increase explorations in remote areas, including the Barents Sea, despite pressure from climate activists to curb oil and gas activities.

FINLAND

Fencing match

FINLAND is completing the first section of a €380 million fence along part of the 1,300kilometre border it shares with Russia. Constructing the first three kilometres of the four-metre tall fence topped with barbed wire began in April near Imatra, which is just 200 kilometres from St Petersburg.

IRELAND

Sea change

FISHING has been a way of life for generations along the Irish coast but changes in the industry, including a post-Brexit cut in quotas allied to government plans to scrap boats could see it disappear. This could mean the ‘final death knell’ to their livelihood, fishing professionals warned.

ITALY

Green mystery

ENVIRONMENTAL officials in Venice confirmed that the chemical fluorescein was responsible for the bright patch of green water around the Rialto Bridge. Fluorescein, a nontoxic chemical, is chiefly used in underwater construction to identify leaks and in eyedrops to pinpoint lesions and foreign bodies.

PORTUGAL

Not bothered

CHINA is allegedly prepared to ‘exert influence’ on some of Portugal’s largest businesses to pressure the country into reverting a decision that effectively bans Huawei from the burgeoning 5G networks. Portuguese operators were untroubled, they said, as there are already 7,000 5G antennas installed throughout the land.

UKRAINE

No hiding place

WAR-TORN Ukraine has a problem with insufficient or inaccessible air-raid shelters, residents said. Too many of them throughout the country, and not only in Kyiv, were closed or hidden to passers-by, despite countless official warnings and complaints from the local population as well as powerless local officials.

SWEDEN

Moving on

HVALDIMIR, a Beluga whale first spotted in the Arctic four years ago wearing a camera harness and presumably Russian-trained, left the Norwegian fjord where he was last seen and has appeared in Sweden. He is now travelling very quickly “possibly seeking a companion or a mate,” marine biologists said.

FINANCE

STAT OF WEEK €3.25 billion

is the amount that Spanish banks saved last year by not increasing the amount of interest they paid on deposit accounts, according to a Bank of Spain report.

BUSINESS EXTRA AI mistrust

Rescue op

ONLINE fashion firm Asos is raising £80 million (€93.2 million) from shareholders and borrowing £275 million (€320 million) from Bantry Bay Capital, which recently bailed out Superdry. Following £291million (€339 million) losses, the funding would give it “financial headroom” to return to profitability, Asos said.

Getting lower

SPAIN’S Consumer Price Index (IPC) stood at 3.2 per cent in May, nine­10ths below April’s 4.1 per cent rate, the Institute of National Statistics (INE) announced, the lowest since July 2021’s 2.9 per cent. The reduction was due to the moderation in food prices and lower fuel prices, INE said.

Top earner

ALEX MAHON, chief executive of Channel 4 which narrowly avoided privatisation last year, could receive the channel’s highest­ever annual income. Mahon, who received a total of £1.2 million (€1.4 million) in 2021, could receive approximately £1.4 million (€1.6 million) if she has met 2022’s top performance targets.

New faces

TELEFONICA added another three directors to the board of its Telefonica Audiovisual Digital (TAD) subsidiary, which is responsible for paid television channel Movistar Plus productions and key areas including the purchase of audio­visual rights. This was TAD’s second major renewal in the last two years.

Powering down

ROLLS­ROYCE is planning cuts that could see the loss of around 3,000 jobs as the engineering giant revealed that it intended to transform “several areas” of the business. The announcement followed reports that the company has plans to merge several departments “to improve organisational efficiencies.”

MORE than 99 per cent of products from Australia and New Zealand are now UK duty­free.

UK businesses can sell more easily to Australia and New Zealand thanks to the trade deals, the first negotiated from scratch since Brexit.

Under the deals’ terms, tariffs on all UK goods exported to Australia and New Zealand will be removed.

This unlocks unprecedented access to these markets, slashes red tape for digital trade and work visas while reducing prices for favourites with UK consumers.

The deals will deliver an

Duty-free for Oz and NZ

services trade amounting to AU$4.4 billion (€2.71 billion) in 2021­22.

A SURVEY of 1,000 people by the Prospect union found that 58 per cent wanted AI regulation in the workplace.

economic boost by driving bilateral trade up by 53 per cent with Australia and 59 per cent with New Zealand, the UK government said.

“Businesses up and down the country can now reap the rewards of our status as an independent trading nation,” Business

IBERDROLA recently put the finishing touches to its alliance with Norway’s sovereign fund, managed by Norges Bank Investment Management.

Iberdrola will hold a majority stake of 51 per cent in an agreement to invest in 1265 MW of new, renewable energy capacity inside Spain, of which 20 per cent will be wind­powered and 80 per cent produced by solar plants.

Both parties have now informed Spain’s National Securities Market Commission (CNMV) they have complied with all the legal requirements necessary for formalising the agreement.

This will be directed at speeding up decarbonisation in Spain and could be extended to other countries in future.

The portfolio of assets amounts to approximately €1.2 billion, which Iberdrola will control and manage, providing op­

Settling up

MORE than €28 billion has been withdrawn from Spanish banks since the beginning of this year for early repayment of mortgages and loans as interest rates rose. Another €17,000 billion was transferred to investment funds.

Addressing the General Council of Economists on May 31, Alejandra Kindelan, president of the Spanish Banking Association (AEB), emphasised that despite these withdrawals, deposits were double those of 2008.

It was also “too soon” to gauge the effects of rising interest rate, Kindelan said, although Spanish banks were “somewhat more protected from turbulence,” she added.

and Trade secretary Kemi Badenoch said.

“We can seize new opportunities, driving economic growth, innovation and higher wages.”

Trade between the UK and Australia was worth AU$10 billion (€6.077 billion) in 2022, with two­way

The UK is Australia’s 12th­largest trading partner and second ­ largest source of foreign direct investment, amounting to more than AU$1 trillion (approximately €6.098 trillion) in 2022.

New Zealand’s trade with the UK, its seventhlargest trading partner, amounts to an annual NZ$1 billion (€2.98 billion).

The UK estimates that the deal will add £800 million (€926 million) a year to its gross domestic product.

Iberdrola-Norges alliance

than 500 additional MW of renewable energy in the Iberian Peninsula.

Norges Bank Investment Management, which manages Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, has approximately €1.4 trillion of assets currently under management, and holds stakes in more than 9,000 companies. It owns 1.4 per cent of all the world’s listed companies and 2.5 per cent of every listed company in Europe. The bank is also a principal Iberdrola shareholder, with a stake of more than 3 per cent.

The UK government should safeguard jobs from technologies like ChatGPT, they said.

Prospect’s findings coincided with calls from some tech industry figures to restrict the rapid development of AI.

Only 12 per cent of participants believed the government should not interfere because the benefits were likely to outweigh any disadvantages.

Goldman Sachs’ analysts recently predicted that AI could eventually replace 300 million people, affecting roughly 25 per cent of the global workforce, although many lost jobs would be replaced by new posts working alongside AI.

Happy earnings

SPAIN’S tax earnings increased in April, although more slowly than in April 2022.

Higher wages brought tax authority Hacienda an overall 10.8 per cent increase in revenue, including 11.3 per cent more from income tax (IRPF) and 25.6 per cent more corporation tax.

IVA added­value tax and nonfiscal taxes also rose in April.

erational, maintenance and other corporate services.

Meanwhile, Iberdrola and Norges are already working on further plans to expand their strategic alliance by more

Shunning the office

EMPLOYEES in the UK spend less time in the office than their counterparts anywhere else in the world.

According to a new survey of 9,500 workers and 6,650 companies by global workplace experts, Unispace, the former would prefer to reduce their office days still further.

Meanwhile, 74 per cent of firms wanted less working from home.

The Unispace study found that only 34 per cent of UK employees were in the office for four or more days a week and just 21 per cent were happy to spend that much time working outside the home

Seventy ­ five per cent of employers pointed out that career progression including pay rises, promotions and bonuses would be negatively impacted for hybrid workers, a belief that was shared by only 59 per cent of employees.

Owing to this relationship, Norges has decided to make its first direct investment in renewable assets in Spain with Iberdrola, the largest electricity company by capitalisation in Europe.

Duty-free option

AENA has again put out to tender duty­free shops in Madrid and Catalonia.

The company has invited bids from 13 international operators from Europe, Turkey, Bahrein, Korea, China and India ‘who showed interest’ in the first round.

Dufry, which runs the Madrid and three Catalan shops until next October, has already been allocated the Andalucia­Mediterranean duty­frees and controls Canary Islands outlets through Canariensis.

This could put the Swiss­owned company out of the running, as managing four shops in Madrid and Catalonia would give Dufry 90 per cent of Spain’s duty­free trade, when existing rules limit this to 80 per cent.

Tax earnings brought in €90.68 billion so far this year, a rise of 5.5 per cent ­ 6.5 per cent excluding refunds ­ the Agencia Tributaria said.

This was the highest monthly increase to date, but some way short of the government’s 8.8 per cent forecast for 2023.

Alternatives

THE British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) plans to bring together economists and business leaders in an economic advisory council.

“We’re a year away from a general election and this is a pivotal moment for business,” the BCC’s director general Shevaun Haviland said.

“That is why we have set up the council for expert advice and feedback.”

The announcement also comes at a moment when the BCC and other groups are jockeying for position as potential replacements for the scandal­beset Confederation of British Industry (CBI).

SYDNEY: Free trade agreement between UK, Australia and New Zealand.

RENEWABLE ENERGY: Iberdrola and Norway’s sovereign fund invest in decarbonisation.

Photo credit: CC/Sardaca

Photo credit: Flickr/Stephen Mellentine

LONDON - FTSE 100

DOW JONES

Sister act

ASDA is finalising a deal to buy UK and Irish petrol forecourts owned by its sister business, EG Group, in a deal worth £3 billion (€3.5 billion), enabling the supermarket to enter convenience retailing. A formal announcement is expected soon, revealing their plans to create a combined business worth about £10 billion (€11.66 billion).

No chance

A SEVILLA judge rejected an appeal by infrastructure company Urbas and a group of creditors against an earlier decision to accept Cox Energy’s €500 million offer for the now bankrupt engineering company, Abengoa. The company based in Cox (Alicante), and headed by Enrique Riquelmen, made a last­minute bid, pre­empting Urbas which Abengoa’s board preferred.

Skilled immigration needed

LATEST figures on UK immigration have highlighted the need for visa reform, the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo) maintained.

Tania Bowers, Global Public Policy director at APSCo, the professional recruitment sector’s trade association, conceded there were “clear concerns” on immigration levels.

“But we can’t overlook the fact that the UK does still desperately need skills to support economic growth and these skills must come from international experts,” Bowers said,

Tender tenterhooks

SPANISH company CAF is waiting to learn if it has won the contract to build 117 trains for Portugal’s state ­ run rail operator Comboios de Portugal (CP).

As well as CAF, headquartered in Beasain (Guipuzcoa), Alstom (France) and Stadler (Switzerland) are in the running for the €819 million contract for 55 regional and 62 local trains. Portugal can no longer build its own

after the Bombardier plant closed in 2004 and ­ although not a tender stipulation ­ the three finalists are committed to investing in local production, knowing that CP will take this into account.

Each of the rolling stock manufacturers has a production centre in Spain but none is currently present in Portugal.

No takeover

explaining the government had missed out on an opportunity to introduce short­term business visas for top­level and highly skilled contractors.

“This would alleviate some of the resourcing challenges facing the UK, without impacting immigration on a longerterm basis,” the APSCo director claimed.

Other countries including Denmark and Germany were already adapting to this requirement, and the UK needed to play catch­up in that respect, Bowers pointed out. “Aside from the positive impact that this would have on immigration numbers, it would also strengthen the attractiveness of the county for highly skilled contractors.

“Access to short­term visas appealed to those working in the flexible labour market,” she said. “As other countries introduce more adaptable working routes, the UK will continue to lose its competitive advantage for attracting key skills.”

ROYAL MAIL’S biggest shareholder dismissed rumours of a takeover bid for the UK postal group but warned it should “adapt” to be successful.

Billionaire Daniel Kretinsky, who owns 25 per cent of Royal Mail’s parent, International Distributions Services (IDS), also said that the company should remain on the stock market where British citizens could invest in its shares.

Going further

FRENCH hotel group B&B appointed Enrique Francia, former chief executive of Spain’s VIPs fast food chain, as the company’s non­executive president for Spain and Portugal, in a bid to ramp up the company’s expansion in the Iberian Pensinsula. At present B&B owns 45 hotels in Spain and 11 in Portugal which have more than 4,000 rooms between them.

SKILLED IMMIGRANTS: Visa reform required to attract key employees.

Photo credit: Pixabay/jstarj

BUSINESS EXTRA

More shops

CORNWALL fashion brand Seasalt will open new stores following buoyant sales that tripled profits to £6.5 million (€7.56 million) in the year ending January 2022. Turnover rose by more than a third to £96 million (€111.75 million) according to its latest accounts sent to Companies House.

Classy glass

COCA­COLA EUROPACIFIC PARTNERS is expediting plans to supply glass bottles to the 10,000 Spanish bars and restaurants currently offering only cans or plastic bottles. Environmental concerns apart, the company found that 25 per cent of consumers would happily pay 20 cents more for a glass bottle.

Stepping aside

ANNE BODEN, founder of Starling Bank, is bowing out as chief executive in a move that she explained was made to skirt a potential conflict of interest, as she is a major shareholder. Boden, who launched the online bank in 2014, will remain on the board as non­executive director, she said.

Small spender

IN 2022, Spain spent approximately €5.2 billion of the €37 billion it has so far received from Europe. This amounted to 0.4 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product and 20 per cent of what it had budgeted for, according to official European Commission figures reported in Spanish media.

Pub gloom

ONLY 29 per cent of UK hospitality business owners told a survey by data and analytics company Nielsen that they regarded the coming year with optimism. Energy costs were the biggest worry for the remainder, with overheads including dearer food and higher wages rising by 81 per cent in the past year.

Another Brexit fiasco

A GIANT warehouse for post­Brexit border checks costing £25 million (€29 million) lies empty.

Nearly 12 months after construction was completed, the complex at Portsmouth’s international port ­ the UK’s second­busiest Channel port ­ is unused.

The UK government announced over a year ago that checks on fresh European Union imports would be delayed for the fourth time as ministers discussed how to carry out inspections.

The new border strategy will be revealed this month but meanwhile Portsmouth city council, which owns the port, has bills to pay.

The council received £17.1 million (€19.9 million) of public money but

even after modifications to cut costs, Portsmouth city council, needed a loan to cover the shortfall.

Mike Sellers, director of

Saved its bacon

Portsmouth’s international port, recently told the British media that the facility has cost the city’s taxpayers £5.4 million (€6.3 million), which must be repaid.

As the council was liable for any defects in the building’s first year, it also had to pay to run the facility’s lights and freezers last summer when electricity prices were at their highest. This cost another £500,000 (€581,767).

In all the council must find £10 million (€11.6 million) to cover its debts, maintenance and the government’s changed requirements.

“We built to a design specified by the government, we did what they asked, and we built it in time,” Sellers said. “It’s frustrating.”

Supervisor raps knuckles

THE Bank of Spain homed in on the low interest rates paid on bank customers’ deposits.

In an article in its most recent Financial Stability Review, Spain’s supervisor pointed out that the country’s banks had fallen short of its expectations regarding the effects of the continuallyincreasing interest rates on clients’ savings.

Against what it described as “a backdrop of sharp monetary policy tightening,” the article studied the links between bank deposit costs and the Euribor, referring to the basic rate of interest used in lending between banks on the European Union interbank market. This is also used as a reference for setting the interest rate on other loans.

In particular, the Financial Stability Review stated that the remuneration on sight deposits ­ accounts where withdrawals can be made without notice, or after a very short period ­ was currently ‘insignificant’.

It went on to point out that of the 352 basis points ­ equivalent to 3.5 per cent ­ that the Euribor increased in 2022, only 0.7 per cent was

DEPOSIT ACCOUNTS: Interest too low, Bank of Spain said.

PROPERTY developer, British Land, which has been hit by rising interest rates. was relegated from the First Division, in other words London’s FTSE 100.

In contrast, online groceries group Ocado managed to hold on during the latest quarterly review of the 100 most highly­capitalised companies. This automatically relegates any falling below 110th position.

Ocado, the worst­performing FTSE 100 company so far this year, was on the brink of ejection until a last­minute recovery of its share price allowed it to retain its position. The company’s shares have plummeted by 85 per cent since September 2020, when demand for home groceries deliveries soared during the pandemic.

Selfsufficient

passed on to customers’ savings.

In the case of time deposits, where withdrawals cannot be made before a set date or for which notice of is required beforehand, banks have only passed on 4 per cent of this increase.

Amazon sweetener

AMAZON will offer termtime working for UK parents and grandparents with children to look after.

The new contract enables them to take six weeks off in the summer and two weeks at Easter and Christmas.

The GMB union, which is fighting to be the first trade

union in Europe to be recognised by the company, said the flexible working offer was welcome, but most Amazon employees would prefer better wages.

“They’re telling us that they can't live on poverty pay,” a GMB spokesman told the BBC.

Workers at Amazon in

Coventry went on strike for 16 days so far this year, calling for their hourly wage to be increased to £15 (€17.46)

The company, which employs more than 70,000 people in the UK, said it does not believe that union recognition “is appropriate” and prefers to “talk directly” to staff.

Cerealto sacrifices Siro

MULTINATIONAL agrifoods group Cerealto Siro Foods announced that it was closing its Venta de Baños (Palencia) biscuit factory after failing to find a buyer.

When Siro, a household name in Spain, was on the brink of bankruptcy in 2022, it was acquired by the Afendis and Kempner investment funds.

The new owners and workers, together with the central and regional governments, signed a Competitiveness Plan for the group

and approximately 1,900 employees.

This guaranteed continuity of employment and production in Venta de Baños, Aguilar de Campo (Palencia) and Toro (Zamora), dependent on finding a buyer for the Venta de Baños factory.

Despite a ‘far­reaching, worldwide search involving 60 potential buyers’, no deal materialised which, under the terms of the agreement, has resulted in shutting down the Venta de Baños plant.

FOR nine hours on May 19 between 10 am and 7pm, Spain generated enough green electricity via solar, wind and hydroelectric power to cover 100 per cent of the mainland’s demand.

Although this has happened before, the supply was not sustained for such a long period, the state­owned Electricity Network of Spain (REE) explained.

Furthermore, this occurred on a normal weekday when consumption was high, not at the weekend or on a national holiday when there was less demand.

The weather was also favourable, with abundant sunshine and moderate wind.

Boots marches on

SEB JAMES, president and managing director of Boots, more than doubled his pay last year.

He took home £3.8 million (€4.4 million) after the pharmacy and beauty chain tripled profits as pandemic restrictions were lifted, reporting a pre­tax profit of £137 million (€159.3 million).

This was £44.5 million (€51.8 million) more than in 2021, a result helped by closing 44 underperforming outlets, according to Boots UK. In all, the company plans to close a total of 200, reducing the number of stores to 2,232 by the end of summer 2023.

PORTSMOUTH: Border checks warehouse still empty.

OUR esteemed politicians are all still well at it; fully on the ‘campaign trail’ that is. Dontcha just wish they were all actually on that ‘Old Chisolm Trail’ and disappearing over the horizonforever?

Told you the Left would continue its assault on the policies of the right until the general election hove into view. The dissent and misery simply keeps on coming. (If I hear ‘it’s going to get even worse’ one more time… …) Even if they can’t specifically blame any of the other parties, or indeed suggest any resolutions, they methodically keep delivering reports which depress the populace so much the voters are virtually prepared to do anything to experience a bit of cheer. The leftie union leaders’ latest disturbing efforts not only managed to disrupt the enjoyment of the football final and Derby racing fans, but even long awaited concerts by popular poppers Beyoncé and Elton John.

One truth you can be assured of is that when you hear a politician tell you something has been made ‘absolutely clear,’ you can bet your bot ­

Ongoing misery

tom dollar it’s about as clear as a pea soup’er at midnight. No, the only clarity to emerge from this lot is that they are a bunch of self ­ indulgent, incompetent con merchants, interested in nothing further than the preservation of their own, often utterly worthless skins and unworthy to even represent a flagpole ­ leave alone the flags that adorn them.

Come back Mr Fawkes, all is forgiven. To think in days of yore we actually looked up to this untrustworthy bunch, believing they were the undisputable champions of our once great country? How blindly we followed their decisions and ‘leadership’ and were utterly convinced that mere mortals like us could never hope to understand the workings of ‘The House’ with its proud history and pomp, which has endured over hundreds of years. Most of our present day politicians are in fact the traitorous and highly dangerous ‘enemy within’.

Many of them would rather side with their opponents than risk losing their privileged positions or a few

CALCULATED RISK OUR VIEW

votes. They are terrified of standing up to the ‘politically correct’, woke inspired cultural threats and the ever increasing denials of freedom of speech, which threaten to stifle today’s ingenious GB citizens. As far as this ol’ boy is concerned, I’d never actually vote for any of them.

Once again the Labour contingency has been ranting on about lowering the voting age to 16. This is of course merely a blatant effort to gain votes from naive youngsters who have never lived under the left, are effortlessly impressed by Starmer and Rayner’s rhetoric and consequently a mite easier to con than many of their adult compatriots.

Ah well, with the continuing encroachment of Artificial Intelligence (coupled with Artificial Insemination!) we’ll probably soon be existing without the pomposity of a single political pillock anyway. Keep the faith.

Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com expatradioscotland.com

Mon. Fri. 1pm till 4.

THE decision by Spanish President Pedro Sánchez to call a general election in July rather than December was to say the least unexpected.

He is either very brave, stupid, or highly manipulative as it was clear from the local elections just passed that there is a marked swing towards the right of centre and in some cases even further right.

As his coalition with Podemos is clearly crumbling and deputy PM Yolanda Diaz is forming her own left wing political party, he wants to alert voters to the possible spectre of a PP/Vox coalition and there is a general feeling that the majority who don’t look back on the Franco years with pleasure might worry about Vox gaining any more power.

Many residents of big cities such as Madrid have second homes in coastal areas of Spain and Sunday July 23 is really in the middle of holiday season so those who can afford to do so (and are most likely to be Partido Popular voters) will almost certainly be away on holiday so will have to be bothered to apply for a postal vote.

Many businesses across the country, both large and small have been adversely affected by the numerous new laws that have been created and the fact that it is now often more beneficial for people to remain unemployed rather than work in lower paid jobs, so in the main, they are keeping their fingers crossed for the return of the PP.

As an aside, the Gibraltar Schengen situation is back on hold and what should have been a done deal has the potential to be dead in the water.

Leapy Lee’s opinions are his own and are not necessarily representative of those of the publishers, advertisers or sponsors.

Ecocorp Solar solutions

WITH over 300 days of sun per year and ever increasing energy prices, solar is once again at the forefront of planet preserving and money saving solutions.

Changes in the solar world have meant that solar panels are much cheaper than they were a decade ago. What’s more, expensive battery backups are not always necessary in most cases because of the ‘Feed In Tariff’.

This tariff means that you can ‘send back’ unused power directly to the grid. Using cloud­based technology, your unused solar panel production is stored. Use your stored energy when the sun isn’t shining to reduce your electricity bills. A solution to save you money every month.

Of course there are plenty of solar companies to choose from for residents of sunny Spain. However, it is important to realise that not all solar is the same.

The long term benefits and savings from solar can be fantastic, but a poorly designed, badly installed or low quality system can cause a long term headache. A wrong choice can cost dearly in the long run.

The quality and range of products, as well as the advice and expertise of your supplier are critical in making a choice which you will live with for many years. It is vital that your new system is high quality, reliable, cost effective and that you are dealing with a reputable company.

Covering the areas of Almeria, Murcia and Granada, Ecocorp Solar SL has 16 years of experience in the design and configuration of bespoke solar power system for their clients.

They are experts in providing solutions and supplying systems for all types of properties, and will configure your system to meet your individual requirements.

What about the paperwork? We all know how much paperwork is re­

quired to do anything in Spain! Eco corp will do all the relevant paper work on your behalf.

They can also create a solution to provide the power required to heat your pool for free!

On the subject of swimming pools, Ecocorp also supply and install swimming pool heat pumps, a solu tion to keep your pool at the perfect temperature all year round. Work ing with leading manufacturers, Eco corp are proud to have been ap pointed the area’s exclusive Norsup dealer as regional distributor for PSG and Megagroup.

So whether you want a warm winter pool, you want to cut costs, or you simply want to go green, con tact the experts.

Visit our website or give us a call and our friendly and knowledgeable team can discuss all your require ments.

Let us tell you how much you could be saving!

Many of our readers have commented on the fact they are missing the Grumpy Old Man articles that were part of EWN for so many years. Unfortunately, Mike Senker hasn’t been very well of late and therefore had to stop writing for a while although he has promised he is still quite grumpy and will submit new articles as and when he can. In the meantime, we have dusted off some of his always amusing observations from past issues for your entertainment.

Why is everything so expensive?

WHY is everything so expensive these days? I saw a book recently called ‘How to find happiness without money'’ - it cost €20! I have grey hair and was advised to use a special shampoo. I looked it up online and it was £30 a bottle. Are they mad?

My first mortgage was less than that a month and I struggled to pay that! Of course you don’t have to pay that much. You can go to the supermarket and get a bottle for a couple of euros but I think there is just a big keg somewhere and they use the same stuff for shampoo, body wash, dishwashing, carpet cleaning, car wash and flea shampoo for dogs!

I was in the airport the other day and had a cheese and tomato baguette which is just a poncey name for a big roll. It was £6.50! I’ve seen more cheese on a mouse trap and the slice of tomato looked like it had been shaved off and was cleverly hanging out the side to make it look full. £3 for a bottle of water! It’s just a liberty. But it’s a

captive audience so we pay it. I remember years ago I was in Dallas and wanted to go out for a steak so I asked the concierge where a good place to go was. “Do you want a $50 steak or a $100 steak?” he asked. “What’s the difference?” I enquired. “$50”, he said, “the steak’s the same but one place has carpet on the floor the other sawdust.” We went with the sawdust! Get my point?

It’s the same here in Spain. I went to a restaurant with some mates and was told it was nouveau cuisine. Not having a clue what that meant at the time, as this was a few years ago, I ordered something with prawns as a starter and up came a lettuce leaf with a prawn on it. I sort of treated it a bit like testing the wine. By the time the waiter had served the other three people I looked up and said, “Very nice, I’ll have a whole portion please.”

“That was a whole portion sir.” “Err, no I don’t think so and definitely not at €25 a pop.” Needless to say to say it went downhill from there. The bill came, it was a few hundred euros and I was starving. I told them, in no uncertain terms what I thought of them, and told them there was no way their place would last. Sure enough three months later it was gone and now is a successful ‘eat as much as you can’ wok place. Full every night!

Views

Pro, pre and post

NOW that we are familiar with probiotics and prebiotics, it’s time to add postbiotics to the collection.

These are the compounds left behind after digesting both prebiotics and probiotics. Postbiotics support your immune system, can help to prevent or treat diarrhoea, reduce irritable bowel disease and alleviate the severity of certain allergies.

Increase the amount of postbiotics in your system with cottage cheese, high ­ fibre oats, flaxseed and buttermilk, although the latter is not always easy to find on the Costas.

Keep it bone dry

Linda Hall

DR SAHIL PATEL, a dentist practising in London, maintained that a toothbrush should be left dry.

Toothpaste already has the right amount of moisture and a wet toothbrush merely dilutes it further, he said.

“This foams it up faster and makes you spit it out sooner,” Dr Patel explained.

The dentist also pointed out that people tended to grasp a toothbrush in their fist.

“You shouldn’t feel you’re scrubbing your teeth, that’s too much,” he said.

“If the bristles splay against the tooth, the brush isn’t doing a good job.”

Butter’s better

MARGARINE has roughly the same number of calories as butter but is often considered healthier.

It is lower in saturated fats but contains more trans fats which increase levels of low­density lipoproteins (LDL) or ‘bad’ cholesterol.

These reduce the number of high ­ density lipoproteins (HDL) or ‘good’ cholesterol while increasing the risk of health problems, including heart disease and stroke.

Margarines often have less fat and fewer calories, but will also be heavy in preservatives and additives that a healthy diet doesn’t need, nutritionists increasingly believe.

Good excuse

CHOCOLATE, especially for chocoholics, is a proven stress ­ reliever, and doctors suspect this is linked to our ancient response to danger.

Stress increases production of cortisol ­ the body’s main stress hormone ­ and drains energy from the immune system, explained endocrinologist Dr Nicky Keay.

“That’s when we feel we need something sweet to boost energy levels,” she said, as we unconsciously resort to our earliest ancestors’ fight or flight reaction.

DRY BRUSH: No need to wet it, dentists say.

Time it right

IF you are exercising to assist weight loss, do it in the morning.

Dr Juleen Zierath, professor of Integrative Physiology at Sweden’s Karolinska Institute in Sweden, found that mice exercising on a treadmill in the first three hours after wak ­

ing produced higher levels of the enzymes used to metabolise fat.

The same amount of exercise later in the day produced far lower levels of these enzymes.

“If you’re a regular morning exerciser, your body is likely to be more sensitive to

MORNING EXERCISE: Could help to lose or maintain weight.

breaking down fat and using it as energy,” Dr Zierath said.

“That could mean that one might potentially be able to lose a bit more weight. Exercise also helps with weight maintenance, so morning exercise may prevent weight gain.”

A berry good idea

A DIET rich in flavonols can help to prevent memory loss.

Best of all, they are present in the fruit, veg etables and other products that are near at hand here in Spain, es pecially now.

The results of a study by US researchers published in the PNAS science journal found that over­60s who already con sumed sufficient flavanols saw no benefit by adding more to their diet.

In contrast, those with flavonol deficits recorded memory improvement at an average of 16 per cent in a year, investigators found.

Strawberries, which are abundant and cheap at present, are an excellent source, together with other berries like the blueberries and raspberries which we can buy year ­

Flavonols don’t stop there and are present less abundant and more expensive this season ­ peaches, blackcurrants, grapes, apples and citrus fruit. They are there too in leafy green vegetables and peppers as well as dark choco­

STRAWBERRIES: Their flavonols help to provent memory loss.

Complexion lesson

IN excess, refined sugar can accelerate skin ageing through a process called glycation.

Glycation occurs when sugar in the bloodstream attaches to proteins and fats to form harmful compounds called advanced glygcation end products (AGEs).

Over time, these accumulate in the second layer of skin, the dermis, and destroy collagen, said Dr Thivi Maruthappu, dermatologist, nutri­

tionist and spokeswonan for the British Skin Foundation.

This in turn causes loss of skin elasticity, creating wrinkles.

Instead of sugary snacks, Dr Maruthappu suggested a few squares of dark chocolate, which contains skin­loving antioxidants called acanthocyanins and are believed to combat premature skin ageing.

Pexels/Andrea Piacquadio

Photo credit: PIXABAY/pasja1000

Good work LETTERS

Dear Leapy

I would just like to thank you for your column. What you write in the Euro Weekly, it’s a shame our country has gone to the dogs. I spend most of my time in Spain now and I just hate going back. Anyway all the best mate, keep up the good work.

Alex

Religious minority

Thank you Chris King for your article highlighting the plight of these families and persecuted members of our faith. Every voice that stands against oppression and raises awareness is a valued voice that calls for humanity.

Michelle

No understanding

I can’t understand how we love in a world where when you ask for help, as your life and your family are at risk, you get beaten and incarcerated. I really thank this article and I pray everyone in this world has the freedom to live their faith in peace.

Veronica

Spot on

Just wanted to say that this week’s report is spot on again. Hope you can post this on more social media sites where the young may stand a chance of seeing it. (not that they will change in any way !!)

Thanks and keep up the good work.

Best wishes,

Young generation

Tony Wiggins

Mother here of two Gen Z kids ­ the age group Leapy refers to. He is so out of touch. My kids 18 and 22 are anti­designer. They walked to school and looked after themselves after school whilst I worked. They are anti­fast food, can both cook healthy food ­ far better than previous generations.

They are frugal and prefer second­hand clothes which is now the fashion. They change their phones when they break. One of them is a teacher who gets in to work at 7am and is there till 5, going home to do marking. But will still give his seat on a bus to somebody more in need.

What they are is very open to different cultures and different sexual persuasions. Not a bad thing in my book. Incidentally they also read real books and write them. They open the door to people both in real life and metaphorically.

When are older people going to stop demonising this generation that are probably

the kindest, most respectful people alive today . Believe me they could learn a lot.

Fiona

Your job

Come on Leapy I know you have said before you are not interested in standing for Parliament, but let’s face it you are the man for the job.

With you as the new Prime Minister we might just stand a chance of putting the GREAT back in BRITAIN.

Anyway keep up the good work of spreading common sense.

Regards,

It’s obvious

Tony

Re letter from DMP edition June 1, ‘Electric scooters being misused and asking Leapy to write about it’.

Sorry to point out the obvious but the police probably do not read EWN. If people want to bring the misuse to the attention of the police and other authorities, may I suggest they speak directly to them? That way they will know of the problem and can choose whether it’s worth tackling it.

John Carrington

No chance

Hola, thinking how Mental Health is brought up so often now, do you remember a 1966 recording ‘They’re coming to take me away haha’ by Napoleon XIV?

Don’t think he would have got it released in today’s society

Raymond Wilby

The truth

Dear Leapy,

In response to your column in EWN this week, I would say that never were truer words written! While reading it, two descriptive words came to me immediately, ignorance and hypocrisy! As for respect, they wouldn't know how to spell it!

Ken, San Fulgencio

Tourists beware

My understanding is that it is not possible for Spanish police to issue penalty points to drivers driving under a British (or Irish) driving licence.

Apart from all else, the British issue penalty points, whereas, the Spanish system awards every driver with 12 points, then takes them away as punishment for driving related offences. It would be sweet, however, if you already had nine British penalty points, and Spanish Plod came along and took the ning points off you, lol.

Allan Grieve

DAVID WORBOYS THINKING ALOUD

I REMEMBER, over 70 years ago, when I was at school and my young brain was able to learn, understand and retain information so much better than today. Not just knowledge, not just facts, but information. How interesting it was to get to know, at the age of 16, the significance of the year 1848 for European politics, the names of the African countries bordering the Gold Coast and the characters in Shakespeare’s ‘Julius Caesar’.

With most of my life ahead of me, it was exciting to explore and understand the world as it was then in the 50s and had been in the past. But so much information absorbed during the last four years at school has never been used since. It’s still stored somewhere in the brain. This includes algebraic formulae and Latin verbs. Being inaccessible, this information is about as useful as a pair of sunglasses in Manchester.

Likewise, the name of my head teacher is stored somewhere in my

WELL, WHADDA YUH KNOW !

It is a fact that people tend to show more patience and tolerance towards physical decline rather than mental decline. This is probably because it is visible. If we have a coughing fit or start dribbling every five minutes, those in our presence patiently look the other way. If we keep falling over, they help us up or provide physical support. But if we go into the bathroom to look for a corkscrew they are neither amused nor sympathetic.

brain. But I have forgotten it, meaning I can’t retrieve it, and may never be able to do so in the future.

So, if somebody asks me a question, do I say “I can’t remember”

(meaning “I used to know”) or “I don’t know” (meaning “I never did know”)? If I can’t answer, then people will assume the latter ­ that I’m a blockhead.

After leaving school, as I ab ­

sorbed more and more information, I soon realised that many of us acquire knowledge in order to impress others by displaying it. A conversation can thus quickly turn into an ego­boosting pointsscoring exercise, the purpose of which is to make the ‘loser’ look ignorant. And it can be argued that, for this purpose, the inability to access the stored information leaves

the ‘loser’ in the same position as never having acquired it in the first place.

As we age, we slow down physically and mentally. We command less respect and attention from others, especially strangers. And so, unless we have an exceptional energy, charisma or sense of humour, we can become patronised or even ignored.

Property of the week Cortijo Posada near Huercal-Overa

NEW & EXCLUSIVE TO VOSS HOMES ­ A stunning, huge 358m2, beautifully renovated, full of character Country House with four beds, four baths including a self contained apartment, 8m x 4m swimming pool, garage, H&C aircon, great views etc on approx 35,000m2 of land. Walking distance to two bar / restaurants.

Seven mins drive to Huercal­Overa town, 12 mins drive to Arboleas and 20 to 25 mins drive to the coast at Vera, Garrucha and Mojacar.

Cortijo Posada used to be an old coaching inn and has been beautifully renovated with large, light and airy rooms, wooden beamed ceilings, huge walk ­ in fireplace and impressive two storey high ceilings etc.

To the front of the property is a large gravelled parking area for numerous cars. To the left of the

property is the main, private garden with 8m x 4m swimming pool.

Downstairs the house consists of a large kitchen with dining and study area and H&C air con. Next is the grand hall which is also used

as a dining room. Off the grand hall is a family bathroom. From the grand hall a large archway leads you into the main living room with huge walk in, stone clad fireplace with log burning fire.

From the living room a door takes you into the very large main downstairs bedroom with Jack and Jill shower room which also serves the second downstairs double bedroom. The main bedroom has a door leading out to the rear garden and pool area. In

the grand hall an attractive stairway leads up to a large double bedroom with its own shower room with wet room shower.

From the main living room another stairway leads up to the separate apartment made up of a double bedroom with H&C air con, shower room and large separate open plan living room, dining room and fitted kitchen with H&C air con. This room has glazed double doors to enjoy the views and and its own access door leading

And, at the moment, I cannot recall where I had breakfast yesterday, although this will probably come back to me. But this is not terribly interesting or useful information. I just wish I could remember to whom I lent my stereo system. Ah, of course! I sold it eight years ago.

For more from our columnists please scan this QR Code

€229,500 euros

out to the side of the house to a seating area and steps leading down to the front parking area. Here you will find the double garage with up and over door and electricity.

Voss Homes is a British familyrun business with offices in the thriving, market town of HuercalOvera and village of La Alfoquia (Zurgena). We specialise in selling properties around Huercal­Overa, Zurgena, La Alfoquia and Taberno.

information and to arrange a viewing of VH288 please contact Voss Homes on 0034 950 616 827 or email us on enquiries@vosshomesspain.com.

CORTIJO POSADA: The old coaching inn has been beautifully renovated and features a private swimming pool.

Ref. VH288

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

As a teenager, I could remember the names of all the characters in ‘Julius Caesar’. Today I can’t remember which room I am in.

Photo credits: Archaeological Museum, Turin and toompool.com

Advertising Feature Grupo Platinum

Property of the week

Fabulous semi-detached house

GRUPO PLATINUM ESTATES presents one of 10 attractive two storey semi ­ detached properties located in a quiet area of the wonderful town of Fortuna, Murcia.

The interiors have three bedrooms located on the first floor accompanied by a bathroom with bathtub and stairs leading to a solarium with more than 50m2.

On the ground floor through the main door, there is a large living room on the right hand side followed by a corridor with a toilet and the kitchen which in turn has access to a laundry room.

Lastly, on the ground floor, opposite the toilet, we find the access to the garage, which through some descending stairs leads us to its ample space closed by a mo ­

torised gate.

Speaking of equipment, they are delivered with air conditioning installed with 4,500 frigories on each floor, wood fireplace in the living room, complete toilets with custom ­ made furniture and LED backlit mirror.

Taps included. WC and tempered glass screen included.

Fully fitted kitchen and as an extra, a 200 ­ litre solar water heater with intelligent solar panel.

To visit this or more properties, call us now on +34 950 466 112.

Close to the capital of the Region of Murcia, Fortuna is known for the richness of its springs.

GO LOCAL

The water, scarce in this area, springs up strongly in Fortuna, giving rise to numerous fountains such as La Higuera or Los Baños, whose thermal baths were already known by the Romans, which have evolved to become an important Spa.

The Iberian ­ Roman Sodales festivities complete the

Ref. FATTC10D

€175,000 euros

tourist offer and are held in August, recalling the visit that the Romans made every year to the thermal waters of Fortuna.

Apart from its cultural and leisure richness, it also has a variety of services such as: Restaurants, supermarkets, pharmacies, medical centres, various shops, schools...

SEMI-DETACHED HOUSE: Attractive property located in a quiet area of the town of Fortuna.

PETS

Dog-sitters for mature pets Forbidden pets

UNDER the new Animal Welfare Law in Spain there are certain animals that you soon won’t be able to keep at home as pets. In approximately four months this rule will be enforced.

In Spain one in every three households has a pet, Spanish households have 15 million pets compared to 6.6 million children under the age of 15.

These pets range from dogs and cats to rabbits and even Vietnamese pigs. But under this recently approved law things are about to change, as it lists the species ‘considered invasive’ and therefore should not be kept in the home.

The list includes some very popular pet choices. From the bird family, you are prohibited to have parrots, lovebirds, parakeets, and species from other countries. Exotic reptiles that you can no longer keep include snakes, iguanas, lizards, chameleons, or geckos. Rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas,

Some popular pets have been banned.

mice, and hamsters are also banned.

Turtles as they are considered a vulnerable species can no longer be pets. Spiders are also on the list as they are considered dangerous as they can carry diseases that are very dangerous to humans. Vietnamese pigs and hedgehogs have also been named and cannot be kept at home as pets ei­

Bath time

PETS and pet parents dread bath time, we get drenched along with our furry friends and they are nervous, nobody has fun.

Hopefully with these top tips from veterinarians bath time can be made easier. They recommend you consult them before purchasing the shampoo as they can recommend one that is suitable to your pet that won’t cause any allergic reactions.

They also recommend you brush your pet before

and after the bath to remove excess fur.

They have advised using an untangling brush and conditioner as well as shampoo. After the bath towel dry your pet as much as possible and they have confirmed it is ok to use a hairdryer as long as it is on the lowest setting and held at a safe distance from the animal.

Lastly, make sure to have plenty of treats and give them plenty of snuggles to calm them down throughout the process.

ther.

But don’t worry if you have one of these ‘prohibited pets’ the government doesn’t plan to round up all of our beloved pets.

You will just have to contact your local environmental authority to inform them and they will issue an authorisation that will allow you to keep them as pets.

DOG-SITTERS can play a vital role for elderly pets. This is Jonti ,he is 16 years old. Still fit and loves to walk around, but there are times when he needs to rest at home. Rather short sighted now and a little deaf, being able to stay at home where all is familiar is a great comfort to both Jonti and his owner.

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.

Meet Jonti - He has dog-sitters care for him at home.

AIR CONDITIONING

CARS FOR SALE

TURRE EVANGELICAL CHURCH

We meet every Sunday at 10.30. For worship. We believe you’ll find us ‘relaxed’, welcoming’ and ‘informal’. Find us on Turre’s main street, towards the motorway at the far end on the left. To know more contact 617 914 156 (10021)

ROYAL BRITISH LEGION -

BUILDERS

ALMERIA BUILDERS : Fully Legal, Fully Insured, All Work Guaranteed. 659 685 133 www.almeriabuilders.com (253556)

ESTATE AGENT

OTHERS

SOLAR ENERGY

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

BUY & SELL CARAVANS

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

CHURCHES

LOCAL ANGLICAN (C of E) church services at Mojacar Los Llanos Del Peral and Alhambra. Communion every Sunday in Mojacar at 11am. Communion at Los Llanos every Sunday except the last Sunday in the month when there will be Prayer and Praise all at 11am. The services that were being held in the South American church Albox have now returned to the chapel and Communion is held on the second Thursday of the month at 11am. Priest in charge Rev Canon Alan Bennet telephone number 680 243 436. For further information, please go to The Anglican Chaplaincy of Costa Almeria and Costa Calida web page. Or contact Tony Noble 950 069 103. (10002)

BEDS

INSURANCE

Why not make this year the year you volunteer? Call and see how you can help either as a caseworker (with full training) or as a Telephone Buddy. We also visit beneficiaries who are housebound or in hospital. If you feel you could support us here in Spain, and you have a Spanish phone number then why not email us for more info tbuddyhhvi sits@gmail.com. If you or your partner served or are serving, and you feel you need help or support then contact us using the details on the card, we are here for the small things as well as the big, sometimes talking to someone is the first step to feeling more in control. It can be a personal need or some help with your home or information on what or who to speak to on a medical issue, we help with signposting if we cannot help directly, just call and have a chat with Pam who will try to guide you to where you need to be. If you would like to go to a branch meeting then find your nearest one at, www.britishle gion.org.uk/counties/spain -north ZURGENA Branch meeting on the first Thursday, Coffee Morning on the third Thursday and Buffet & Quiz Night on the last Tuesday of the month all at La Parrilla Hotel Albox, for further details please email zurgenar blchairman@gmail.com(253989)

DRAINAGE

VOSS HOMES are a professional, British family-run Estate Agents with an office in Huercal-Overa town. They specialise in selling and renting properties in the HuercalOvera, La Alfoquia, Zurgena & Taberno area. Andy, Anna, Jess, Adele, Hannah, Amy & Karen look forward to helping you buy, sell or rent your ideal property. Please call 678 002 006 for more information (283824)

FOR SALE

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

INSURANCE

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.abbey gateinsure.com

LANGUAGE CLASSES

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PAINTERS & DECORATORS

SOLAR WIND POWER SOLUTIONS. Over 20 years installation experience. Established 17 years in Spain. Call Phil for competitive prices on 636 261 240 or email info@sunergyalmeria.com (303112)

PETS

THE FIVE BONE HOTEL, TURRE. Little dogs €7.75, medium dogs €8.50, big dogs €9.25, cats from €7.00 a day. 630 234 556 / the5bonehotel turre@gmail.com fiveboneho tel.com (301372)

PLUMBERS

KNOWLES PLUMBING No 1 for all plumbing jobs big or small. Central heating, solar hot water and water deposits. Tel: 606 807 797 or 684 143 560 (302581)

PROP FOR RENT WANTED

ELECTRICAL

Fitting to a Full Rewire. Tel: 950 137 208 / 638 010 691 (303141)

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

MISCELLANEOUS MOTORING

FOR SALE

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 exce llent service with the best prices in the market. For the most competitive quotes in English, call Linea Directa on 952 147 834. (200726)

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

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

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

ABBOTT ELECTRICS . From a Light

Kuga - a smart and smooth visual presence

ROAD TEST

by Mark Slack

WITH ever more new models being launched the demand for SUVs continues. However, it’s easy to forget that some of the long familiar names in SUV world have also been transformed. Ford’s Kuga has been a familiar sight since 2008, indeed before that the Kuga name (spelled Cougar) was attached to a coupe, and you see many older Kugas still looking good.

The very latest Kuga has a refreshingly smart and smooth visual presence compared to many of the overly aggressive looking newer entrants. Think of the Kuga like a grown up Ford Puma, which when I tested it had many people thinking it had stylistic echoes of Porsche’s Cayenne. Praise indeed! Prices for the Ku ­

ga start from €37,928/ £32,680 with standard equipment including auto lights, privacy glass, heated door mirrors, air conditioning, heated windscreen, keyless start, cruise control, front and rear parking sensors and four drive modes.

The two engine options are a 1.5 ­ litre EcoBoost with six ­

speed manual gearbox or, the pick of the duo in my book, a 2.5­litre petrol hybrid with CVT automatic transmission. You can

Facts at a Glance

• Model: Ford Kuga ST-Line X Edition

• Engine: 2.5-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid

• Gears: 7-Speed CVT automatic

have either a self­charging or plug­in hybrid with 190 PS and 225 PS respectively. In plug­in mode the Kuga will cover around 30­35 miles (in the real world)

the full hybrid can utilise electric power automatically, such as at low speed, and assist the petrol engine to avoid using excessive combustion

FORD KUGA: A refreshingly smart and smooth visual presence.

styling adornments including red brake calipers.

On the road the Kuga is as smooth as it flowing lines, and unless pushed hard the CVT gearbox doesn’t cause much of an audible ruffle ­ it is a trait of these boxes to raise the revs thereby increasing cabin noise ­ and changes smoothly.

• Performance: 0-100 kmh (62 mph) 9.2 seconds/Maximum Speed 200 kmh (125 mph)

• Economy: 1.1l/100km Combined driving (WLTP)

• Emissions: 25 g/km (WLTP)

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

An ST ­ Line X Edition was my test model and priced at €45,095 / £38,855, in addition to that hybrid power it gains significantly more standard equipment such as LED lights, hands ­ free powered tailgate, power opening panoramic sunroof, heated front and rear seats plus steering wheel, parking camera, climate control, keyless entry and start along with subtle

For a large SUV the Kuga handles well despite its taller stance and weighty battery pack, thanks to a comfortably stiffened sports suspension and excellent steering feel.

Inside there is rather more ‘scratchy’ hard plastic than one would like, but a welcome presence of buttons and a logical layout with clear displays are big plus points. The driving ‘feel’ just adds further to the Kuga’s already appealing presence.

5 star rating

THE Nissan Ariya has achieved the maximum five ­ star rating and confidently reaches a Weighted Overall Index of 9.6 in at Green NCAP.

NCAP is an independent initiative aiming to highlight the work of specific carmakers and models that go above and beyond minimum sustainability requirements, causing minimal harm to the environment.

Green NCAP’s rigorous testing process analyses in detail all aspects of a car’s sustainability credentials. The test contains three separate sections: Clean Air Tests, Energy Efficiency Tests and Greenhouse Gases Tests. These tests are then used to calculate a model’s overall score.

Arnaud Charpentier, Region Vice President, Product Strategy and Pricing, Nissan AMIEO, confirmed: “At Nissan, we

are deeply committed to our sustainability and electrification goals as outlined in Ambition 2030.”

With a maximum range of 329 miles along with rapid charging capabilities, the all ­ electric Nissan Ariya embodies Nissan’s commitment to a

cleaner future. There has never been a better time to go electric, and thanks to the Green NCAP’s five star rating, the Ariya represents the best possible option for consumers across the region seeking greater sustainability in their everyday lives.

NISSAN ARIYA: Represents the best possible option.

Image: Nissan

Big shake up!

THE AA in the UK is significantly expanding its driving school tuition fleet to include multiple manufacturers, models and engine types. Fifteen new vehicles are now available to driving instructors across both driving schools owned by the AA (AA Driving School and BSM), including two new electric and two new hybrid options.

The move means franchised AA and BSM instructors can choose from four electric vehicles, two hybrids and 20 petrol engines, five of which are automatics. Different specifications of models are also available to

increase instructor choice.

Models from Citroen, Dacia, Renault and VW will join the driving school fleet for the first time in its 31­year history. Ford, a fleet partner of AA Driving School since 1998, will remain on the fleet with the Puma and Focus.

Camilla Benitz, AA Driving School Managing Director, said: “Expanding the range of manufacturers and models available to driving instructors on one of our franchises is a hugely positive move, which will help them run their business, their way.

“The decision to expand was based on clear feedback from instructors, which showed they valued greater choice of make, model and specification.”

19

The number of people ever to fit into a Smart Car.

THE Technical Vehicle Inspection (ITV) is the Spanish equivalent of the UK’s MOT carried out to check a vehicle’s condition and safety and is not a risk to other road users.

As all drivers are aware, they must comply with many regulations, some of which are compulsory. Spanish law dictates that all registered vehicles, with some exceptions, must successfully pass the ITV, to check that they comply with safety and pollutant emissions standards, wrote Nius on Saturday, June 3.

Not having successfully passed the test has repercussions for road safety, as well as for the environment. In fact, not having the vehicle in optimal condition can be one of the causes of traffic accidents or other accidents that can even endanger all road users.

As in the UK, a failed ITV means that there is a certain time limit to get the faults corrected. During that period the vehicle must only be used to

go to the workshop or inspection centre to fix the faults.

Otherwise, driving with an expired or suspended MOT can result in a heavy financial penalty.

The latest statistics provided by the Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT), indicate that the penalties handed out last year for not having an up­to­date ITV have increased considerably. In the last year, a total of 618,375 fines were registered for this violation, which represents 11 per cent of all fines imposed in Spain. Figures show that the three main ar­

eas for expired ITVs are Madrid, Valencia and Cadiz.

Driving without the corresponding ITV pass sticker on the vehicle, which changes colour depending on the year, can be classed as a serious or very serious offence.

Driving with an expired ITV means a fine of €200, while driving with a failed ITV amounts to €500.

It is also worth noting that the law dictates that owning a registered vehicle, whether it is used or not, requires it to pass the ITV and to have valid insurance.

Image: Kia

Image:

ITV CHECKS: All vehicles require a valid ITV and insurance.

Car drivers: Fines for expired ITV (MOT) revealed

Fastest athlete passes away

JIM HINES , the American sprinter who became the first athlete to run 100 metres in less than 10 seconds, has passed away at the age of 76. His death was reported on Monday, June 5, by a news outlet.

In 1968 he crossed the finishing line in the Mexico Olympics 100m final in a blistering world record time of 9.95 seconds. There was a slight controversy over his time, which was first recorded at 9.89, but was later adjusted to 9.95 seconds.

The 9.89 was taken from a light beam across the finish line, while the official photographic process used Polaroid film and took a couple of minutes to process and read.

Hines held the world 100m record for a staggering 15 years, the longest period that any athlete ever held it. His time was eventually broken in July 1983 by fellow American sprinter, Calvin Smith, who ran a 9.93 seconds race.

Later in 1968, he was drafted by the legendary Miami Dolphins American football team. Hines managed 10 appearances for the NFL giants in 1969. He subsequently made just one appearance in 1970 with the Kansas City Chiefs.

In 1994, Jim Hines was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, and in 2016, his talent was recognised by the Texas Track and Field Coaches Hall of Fame.

Kane tops Real Madrid’s wish list

ENGLAND captain Harry Kane is Real Madrid’s top target in the hunt to replace departing Karim Benzema. The news was reported on Monday June 5, by Guillem Balligue, Spanish football writer for the BBC.

Kane tops a list which contains Victor Osimhen (Napoli), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan), Kai Havertz (Chelsea) and Dusan Vlahovic (Juventus) and he is known to be very highly regarded by the Spanish club. Daniel Levy at Tottenham could scupper this though as he looks for in excess of £100 million.

With big names like Benzema and Eden Hazard leaving this summer Real Madrid should have some big money to play with but should Levy price Madrid out it would be a big pity for Kane.

With Harry Kane’s reputation of being a goal scorer of the highest level, as well as a leader on the pitch, his trophy cabinet is severely lacking and many hope that Kane is able to take the plunge and go with a club that can offer this, especially as Spurs won’t be playing Champions League football next season.

A news source reported that Tottenham have told Manchester United that

Kane is not for sale, but these are the tactics we expect to see in transfer season and we know that no deal is off the table until the window is closed.

Kane’s loyalty to Spurs has been incredible and he has accumulated 213 Premier League goals in his career. A move away from the Premier League might hamper his chances of sur passing Alan Shearer’s record of 260.

But records are records and certainly a cherry on top for footballers who aspire to great ness, but Kane currently has lit tle cake for his toppings and will no doubt be craving for a top­flight title, a serious shot at a Champions League trophy or even a domestic cup.

It feels like it is time for him to move towards silverware, but with one more campaign left on his contract at Spurs, nothing is definite.

Harry Kane is top of the list.

American 100m sprinter Jim Hines.