Costa Blanca South 6 – 12 June 2024 Issue 2031

Buyers beware

SPAIN is cracking down on tourists who buy from unlicensed street vendors.

In Costa Blanca, undercover police have already taken to patrolling the streets, ready to fine unsuspecting shoppers.

The government have decided that now is the time to take action against illegal street sellers who sell everything from trainers and sunglasses to fake designer handbags and watches.

It is often tourists who are tempted by the low prices, but now those who buy cheap souvenirs could face a hefty fine.

Plainclothes police are on the lookout and will stay on the streets throughout the busy summer season.

Anyone caught buying from these unlicensed sellers could be fined up to €200 (around £170) on the spot.

Illegal street vendors are commonly referred to as ‘manteros’. This name originates from the Spanish word ‘manta’, which means blanket.

These sellers conduct their business by displaying their merchandise

on blankets spread out on the street, hence the term ‘blanket-man’.

The practice of street selling, often termed ‘top manta’, involves laying out goods on top of a blanket for sale. The blankets typically have strings attached to each corner, allowing the manteros to swiftly gather all four corners in case they need to evade the police.

Local business owners often voice concerns about street sellers not paying rent or taxes, which they see as creating unfair com-

petition to shops.

Recently, the Guardia Civil seized several tonnes of counterfeit products from a warehouse in Alicante intended for these street sellers.

Officials in Spain, including the mayor of Torrevieja, have welcomed the news and are taking action to ensure proper enforcement of the rules.

The mayor, Eduardo Dolon has even requested additional police officers for this purpose.

Additionally, officials

from the Costa del Sol are now advocating for similar fines to be imposed on individuals purchasing goods from ‘looky looky men’, who are notorious for selling inexpensive merchandise to tourists during the summer season.

Costa Blanca South • Issue No. 2031 •6 - 12 June 2024

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ILMAINEN

Stitching spectacular

FOR the first time, Orihuela is hosting a special event in honour of World Public Knitting Day, which falls on Wednesday, June 12.

The event will take place on Saturday, June 8, at Plaza del Carmen, starting at 10.30am and continuing throughout the morning.

Visitors will have the chance to watch live knitting demonstrations and learn about this traditional craft.

Take the chance to chat with the weavers, ask questions, and get tips on knitting techniques.

For the kids, there will be children’s

workshops with knitting-themed acti vities, using safe materials like plastic needles and cardboard.

Leading up to the event, various cro chet pieces will adorn the doors, win dows of the tourist office, and trees in Plaza del Carmen, creating a crochet exhibition.

Gonzalo Montoya, the councillor for Tourism, expressed, “This event offers Orihuela residents and visitors the chance to appreciate the art of kni tting in a public setting and contribute to beautifying the area around the Orihuela tourist office.”

Love is the Scene

THE ‘Santa Pola Pride’ commemorative activities for the LGTBIQ+ community will feature sports events, shows and theatre performances.

To end the activities a party in the El Palmeral auditorium will take place, complete with music and Santa Pola’s first-ever drag queen contest.

The Department of Equality and Diversity has introduced the ‘Santa Pola Pride’ programme to honour June 28, International LGTBIQ+ Pride Day.

Councillor Gela Roche explained that the goal is to raise awareness among the public about the importance of equality, solidarity, and respect for sexual, gender, and emotional diversity.

As in previous years, Pride Day will be celebrated with a protest parade and a festival on Saturday, June 29.

This year’s campaign, ‘Love is the Scene’, focuses on adults from the community who experienced the ‘80s scene’.

They will share their experiences in interviews, highlighting the social changes that have oc -

The aim is to recognise and honour the older members of the community who lived through a time of both tension

Love is the Scene will be launched on June 28, International Pride

SPECIAL EVENT: To celebrate World Public Knitting Day.

Image: Ayuntamiento de Orihuela

Santa Pola Pride.

Image: Ayuntamiento de Santa Pola

Paving progress

THE redevelopment of Calle Caballero de Roda has widened the pavements and enhanced accessibility. This project, with an allocated budget of nearly €1m, covers a distance of 1,700 linear metres and includes the paving of pavements spanning some 6,000 square metres.

Paw-sitive policies

IN Orihuela, new rules regarding pets have been implemented. Failure to remove pet excrement can result in fines ranging from €100 to €3,000, similar to not keeping your doggy on a lead. Additionally, depositing animal food without specific authorisation can lead to fines of up to €750.

Foreign aid

ALICANTE’S Pangea municipal offices are dedicated to helping migrants in the region. Throughout 2023 the office served 6,482 people of 78 different nationalities and carried out a total of 16,789 individual face-to-face professional actions.

Ancient echoes

THE history of Agost has been deeply intertwined with that of Alicante, particularly during its origins.

As a land traversed by numerous civilisations heading to Illice (Elche) and Lucentum (Alicante), it is highly probable that the Iberians were the rst settlers in these lands.

On the Negret hill, a series of large, superimposed rocks have been found, believed to be remnants of Cyclopean walls constructed by the ancient Icositans, who contributed to Illice.

The current towns of Aspe and Agost are thought to have inherited their names from ancient cities.

Hidden treasure

Agost, in particular, may have originally been called Icosia.

Agost’s historical signi cance is reinforced by the presence of Iberian and Roman archaeological sites.

Notable among these nds are the Iberian sphinxes from the fourth century BCE, discovered by Francis-

Castelló Vicedo on his farm ‘El Escultor’ to the west of the town. These sphinxes are now housed in the Archaeological Museum of Madrid and the Louvre Museum in Paris.

AGOST has a longstanding tradition of white clay ceramics, with a particular fame for producing botijos, round containers traditionally used for storing water.

The work of the Museo de Alfarería (the ceramic museum) and initiatives like ‘the piece of the year’ have helped put Agost on the map, cementing its reputation for excellence in ceramics.

Many of Agost’s skilled ceramists open their workshop doors to visitors, o ering the chance to sit behind the potter’s wheel and shape their own pieces. This hands-on experience allows visitors to discover why botijos keep water so cool.

From the 19th century to the mid-20th century, pottery

Dino discovery

LIRAINOSAURIUS Park in Agost features a stunning full-scale reproduction of one of the great herbivores that inhabited the Iberian Peninsula.

Although no dinosaurs lived in Agost itself, as the area was covered by the Tetys Sea and populated by small plankton, Agost is signi cant for its geological history.

The area preserves the K/Pg Limit or ‘Agost Black Layer’, a thin clay layer linked to the meteorite impact that triggered the last mass extinction on Earth, including the demise of the dinosaurs.

Agost is included in the Camins de Dinosaures route, and a dinosaur reproduction has been installed here as in

other locations on the route.

The park housing the Lirainosaurius sculpture is also the starting point for all hiking routes in Agost.

A journey through these hiking routes o ers a glimpse into one of the most signi cant natural events in Earth’s history, which caused the extinction of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago.

According to Méndez Pelayo in his ‘History of the Spanish Heterodoxes’, these sphinxes bear a resemblance to archaic Greek art, highlighting the cultural and historical richness of Agost.

Ceramic charm

was the economic engine of Agost, leaving an enduring mark on the town.

Agost ceramics are renowned for their quality, diverse shapes, and their ability to keep water refreshingly cool and tasty.

This is due to the special properties of the local clay, which is very porous.

As a result, Agost’s ceramic pieces ‘sweat’, allowing the water inside the jug to evaporate upon contact with the outside temperature, cooling it.

Agost features unique spots to explore through various proposed routes.

The historic centre is composed of narrow, picturesque streets forming a circle at the base of

MURTA Castle (El Castillo de la Murta) is situated about seven kilometres from Agost.

It perches atop an isolated hill at the entrance to the Barranco de la Murta, between the Castellar and Ventós mountains.

The remnants of the castle are part of an ancient Muslim fortification with a history closely tied to Agost’s own castle.

Murta Castle was likely constructed to secure the communication route from the upper mountain area to the coast. Its construction dates back to the 11th or early 12th century. A local legend, known as ‘El Tesorillo de la Murta’, tells of a treasure hidden by Arab inhabitants of the castle.

As Christian troops besieged the castle and were about to conquer it, the Arabs reportedly hid a bull skin filled with gold coins from the Denia mint in a nearby chasm or cave to prevent the treasure from falling into Christian hands.

They had hopes of retrieving it once the castle was regained.

However, this never happened, and despite many attempts by local residents to find the treasure, it has never been discovered.

the castle hill.

co

Image: Turismo de Agost

Historic Agost.

And the sea Motorcycle magic

ON June 8 and 9, about 200 motorcycle tourists will participate in Flamencos 2024, a traditional motorcycle rally organised by the Moto Club Santa Pola.

Flamencos 2024 is eligible for the Spanish Mototourism Cup and is integrated into the Belgian International Tourism Championship and the territorial championships of the Madrid and Valencian Federations.

It is open to all motorcycle enthusiasts.

The official event on Saturday, June 8, includes a 200-kilometre route through the province of Alicante, starting and ending at Avenida Jesús Astondoa.

The route is pre-designed with QR codes for passage control.

Approximately 200 bikers are expected to attend, arriving on the afternoon of Friday, June 7, at the park of Paseo Adolfo Suárez.

There, technical verifica-

tions will take place alongside a market offering tastings of local gastronomic products.

Participants will also be able to visit tourist attractions in Santa Pola, such as the Sea Museum and the Aquarium, for free.

Sunday, June 9, coincides with National Motorcycle Day and the celebrations will include a motorcycle parade through the town.

For more information head to the website: moto clubsantapola.com.

GASTRONOMY lovers are in for a treat as ‘Torrevieja and the Sea’ returns.

From June 12 to 14 and from June 19 to 21, six associated restaurants will offer lunchtime menus for €60.

The participating establishments include Bianco Sea Emotion on Wednesday, June 12, Sunset Beach Restaurant on Thursday, June 13, Mesón El Huertano Restaurant on Friday, June 14, and Mesón Las Jarras on Wednesday, June 19.

The final weekend of the event can be enjoyed at Mesón de la Costa Restaurant on Thursday, June 20, and Mesón Las Villas Restaurant on Friday, June 21.

José Ignacio Pastor, president of the Association of Hospitality Companies of Torrevieja, emphasised the importance of these days for enhancing the culinary offerings of the region and attracting both residents and tourists. He stated, “These events are essential to maintain the relevance and competitiveness of the hospitality sector.”

Pastor added that events like this not only highlight the gastronomic wealth of Torrevieja but also strengthen the local economy and foster a sense of community among entrepreneurs in the sector.

“We want both locals and visitors to enjoy a unique culinary experience, appreciating the quality and diversity of our gastronomic offer,” he concluded.

ALICANTE has confirmed the opening of two summer markets.

The first to open is the Urbanova Market, on Thursday, June 6, from 4.00pm until 11.00pm, featuring 26 stalls offering food

and textiles.

Following this, the traditional Crafts Market on San Juan Beach will open on Avenida Niza on July 1 and run until September 1, with 46 craft stalls.

The Craft Market is

open from 6.00pm until 1.00am from Monday to Thursday and until 2.00am on Fridays, Saturdays, and the eve of holidays. This market is well-received by both residents and tourists, providing a popular sales point for artisan products each summer.

The Urbanova Market, launched last summer at the request of residents, will operate until the end of September every Thursday on Calle Músico José Mira Figueroa. This market offers a variety of food and textile products.

The councillor for Markets and Commerce, Lidia López, noted the positive public response and the benefits of local product sales, emphasising that the demand from residents, tourists, and visitors drove the Urbanova Market’s return.

Image: Ayuntamiento de Santa Pola

Motorcycle rally.

Domino delights Feeling crafty?

PREPARE for a domino extravaganza in Alicante!

On June 15, the Casa del Mediterráneo is set to host the launch of the Provincial Federation Domino Alicante (FPDA).

It’s not just any old event - it’s a celebration packed with info on why dominoes should be considered a sport in the Valencian Community, just like it is in Murcia.

But why all the fuss?

The FPDA have been getting major support from local authorities who believe in the power of dominoes to bring benefits to the community.

They want to unite domino players across the province, giving them a solid foundation on which to build.

And it’s not just about playing games as the FPDA are talking leagues, rankings, tournaments, and more.

For more information or to join the fun, FPDA has launched its website, dominoalicante.com , where you can find all things domino-related.

All that jazz

ELCHE is gearing up for its 14th Jazz Festival, scheduled to run from July 4 to 11.

The musical performances will be held at the Municipal Rotunda, the Glorieta, and the Patio de los Naranjos of the Convento de las Clarisas.

Irene Ruíz, the councillor for Culture, emphasised the council’s efforts to ensure that the July nights are filled with top-notch music, not only jazz but also other styles.

Julián Sáez, the cultural programmer, highlighted the festival’s trajectory and its diverse musical offerings, which include national and international acts across various genres such as pop and blues.

This edition of the festival will showcase renowned musicians from around the world.

Tickets for the performances at the Municipal Park Rotunda and the Clarisas Convent can be obtained at the Grand Theatre box office free of charge, but advance booking is required.

For more information call (+34) 966 658 147.

JOIN the Craft Club at New Chiefs on Broadway, Avda del Mar, 1, Ciudad Quesada, 03170 in Rojales. The next get-together is on Wednesday, June 21, at 1.30pm. It’s a great opportunity to meet new friends or learn a new hobby. Activities include circuit die cutting, knitting, crocheting, sewing, and card making. No pre-booking is required, so feel free to drop in and enjoy this free event.

For more information, call +34 678 028 174.

DOMINOES: Join in the fun.

Image: Asociación Provincial Dominó Alicante / Facebook

14th Jazz Festival.

Over 50s fitness

ARE you aged 50+ and looking to keep fit?

Enjoy Yoga on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 9am and on Saturdays at 9.30am. Pilates is available on Tuesdays at 9am, and Zumba on Thursdays at 9am.

Classes are conducted in both Spanish and English.

Classes are held at La Mata Beach, opposite Bar El Asturiano or Foodline Bar.

You can drop in anytime! The cost is €5 per drop-in, €40 for 10 classes, or €60 for 20 classes.

Enjoy the loving energy, company, and friendship.

Feel at home, welcomed, and appreciated.

After every class, the group share a great time over a cup of tea or coffee and a chat, so you can feel that you belong.

With 40 years of teaching experience, a degree in Physical Education and Sport Science, and a background in sports (former Argentinian champion in gymnastics), you can be sure that you are in the best hands. For more information or

to book your slot, WhatsApp (+353) 857 637 981 or visit www.yogafitness.ie.

Numero uno

ORIHUELA has proudly received 10 blue flags, making it the city with the highest number of awards in the entire Valencian Community.

These awards recognise the excellence of Orihuela’s beaches, including Punta Prima, La Zenia-Cala Bosque, Cabo RoigLa Caleta, Cala Capitán, Aguamarina, Campoamor-La Glea, Barranco Rubio, Cala Mosca, Cala Cerrada, and Mil Palmeras.

Additionally, the Dehesa de Campoamor Nautical Club has successfully renewed its blue flag, highlighting the excellence

of its marinas.

The Valencian Community has secured a total of 159 blue flags this year, reaffirming its position as a leader in Spain.

Out of the 159 blue flags awarded by the Environmental and Consumer Education Association (ADEAC) in the Valencian Community, 87 belong to the province of Alicante.

The Blue Flag is a prestigious award granted annually since 1987 by the Environmental Education Foundation to beaches and ports that meet stringent criteria.

Multilingual Oli

THE Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport has launched the Aena chatbot service, known as Oli, to enhance user information and improve the overall experience within the airport facilities.

Oli serves as a valuable tool for passengers, offering assistance in eight languages and is accessible through various platforms including WhatsApp via a QR code, the Aena website (aena. es), the Aena app, and Facebook.

It provides real-time information on flights and available services at the airport, and it can also redirect users to AenaMaps for easy navigation through the airport.

KEEPING FIT: Classes are held on La Mata Beach.

Image: Yoga and Pilates by Claudia / Facebook

Blaze busting Tourism tsunami

FIREFIGHTERS from the Orihuela and Almoradi stations recently responded to small forest fires in the municipalities of San Fulgencio and Callosa de Segura. Thanks to their coordinated efforts, the fires were successfully extinguished.

High temperatures, wind, and summer activities are some of the main factors that contribute to forest fires at this time of year.

César Alcaraz, training officer and spokesperson for the Alicante Provincial Firefighters Consortium shared some tips to prevent such fires.

César confirmed that the Vega Baja region has extensive orchards used for agriculture.

NATIONAL tourism in the province of Alicante has seen a significant rise in 2024, as demonstrated by data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE) using mobile phone positioning.

Between January and March, 114,067 more people visited the district from other parts of Spain compared to the same period in 2023, reaching a total of 1,342,469 visitors.

This marks a 9.29 per cent increase, suggesting that winter is also an active season for tourism in the province, although with some nuances.

While the figure of over 1,340,000 vi -

lity of the tourism sector, the pattern of peak tourist numbers during the summer persists, contrasted with more moderate autumn and winter months.

The beach remains the primary attraction in the Alicante region, with coastal municipalities receiving the majority of visits.

Most tourists come from central Spain, where the coast is sorely missed.

An illustrative example is March, which coincided with Easter and recorded the highest figures of the quarter, providing a boost for the rest of the winter period.

During off-season periods, obtain necessary permits for controlled burns and exercise caution when lighting fires. Always ensure proper extinguishment of campfires to prevent potential spread.

The spokesperson suggested we dispose of waste responsibly, en -

Recently, the period for burning crop margins and disposing of agricultural or forestry waste by fire was modified. Not adhering to these regulations can result in severe penalties if a fire starts.

suring no combustible materials are left behind and park vehicles in designated areas to minimise fire risks from exhaust pipes.

Additionally, electricity consumption rises during this season, increasing the risk of network overload.

The training officer confirmed, “Everyone must be aware and respectful of the environment to prevent fires and other hazards.”

ved 534,744 visitors, of which 166,658

This number significantly exceeded those from the rest of the Valencian

High temperatures and wind can contribute to fires.

Beach area is popular.

Pride comes to Orihuela

Donna Williams

THE inaugural Pride event in Orihuela took place in the blazing sunshine on Saturday June 1.

The festivities kicked off with a lively parade, led by a troupe of dancers in dazzling costumes. They wove their way through the streets of Orihuela, entertaining the crowds who eagerly watched from balconies, terraces, and along the roadside. The air was filled with music and laughter, as the community came together to celebrate. Notably, representatives from Samaritans in Spain were also present, raising awareness for their cause and receiving a warm and generous response from the crowd.

By the time the parade made it back to the Emerald Isle, it was brimming with people ready to enjoy a full afternoon and evening of entertainment. They came with their coloured clothing, flags, banners and face make-up. They were not disappointed as a variety of live singers, drag acts and dancers performed for their enjoyment. The event was hosted by Stevie Spit and Dame Marcy who

were also the organisers of the entire extravaganza. While the event was English, it had a European flavour, with visitors from Russia, Spain and Scandinavia, to name a few.

In addition to the live entertainment, a section of the Emerald Isle had been converted into an outdoor market. Here, some of the

delights on offer were hand-made jewellery, clothes, artisan gifts, and home-made pies and sausage rolls. Samaritans in Spain were also on hand with their tombola, which proved to be just as popular as ever, with many walking away with prizes. All in all a day where Orihuela did Pride proud.

The community come together to celebrate Pride.

UK tax update for expatriates

Following the UK spring budget and start of the new tax year in April, we look at changes and announcements that may affect British retirees in Spain.

Tax rates and allowances from 6 April 2024

UK income tax rates remain 20% for income up to £37,700, 40% for income up to £125,140 and 45% after that (Scotland has different bands and rates). The personal allowance stays £12,570. The higher rate of capital gains tax for residential property gains was cut from 28% to 24%.

The capital gains tax annual exempt amount has halved from £6,000 to £3,000 and the dividends tax-free allowance from £1,000 to £500.

Both inheritance tax nil rate bands remain frozen, pushing more families into the IHT net.

New pension allowances

The previous Lifetime Allowance (LTA) was fully abolished from 6 April 2024 but replaced by

By Jon Pemberton, Partner, Blevins Franks

three new allowances. Some aspects of the legislation remain unclear and subject to change.

The Lump Sum Allowance (LSA) limits how much tax-free cash you can take from your pension arrangements to £268,275 unless you have LTA protection.

The Lump Sum and Death Benefit Allowance (LSDBA) impacts beneficiaries if a pensions death benefit valued over £1,073,000 is paid. When paid as a lump sum, any excess over the available LSDBA is taxable at their marginal rate of income tax, regardless of your age of death. If the beneficia-

ries designate the money to drawdown, they pay zero income tax if you die before age 75, and their marginal rate if you die after 75.

The Overseas Transfer Allowance (OTA) is £1,073,100.

EU residents transferring a UK registered pension scheme to a Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pensions Schemes (QROPS) may pay a 25% charge if you exceed the allowance.

UK non-domiciled status abolished

As announced in the spring budget, the current government plans to abolish the UK’s non-domiciled status from April 2025.

Much of the reform affects foreign nationals living in UK. Under the proposals, the remittance basis of taxation will be replaced by a new regime for those becoming UK resident after a period of ten years of non-residence. For their first four years of residence, individuals will not pay UK tax on foreign income and gains, but from the fifth year they’ll pay tax

on worldwide income.

The core of the proposals means using residence rules for the basis of taxation. Thus, they could apply to British expatriates returning to the UK after living abroad long-term.

Domicile and inheritance tax

Liability to UK inheritance tax on worldwide assets currently depends on whether you are a UK domicile or non-domiciled.

The government plans to replace these rules with a residence-based regime for inheritance tax. It is looking at imposing IHT on worldwide assets once a person has been UK resident for ten years, then for ten years following departure. After ten years of non-residence, only UK assets will be liable for inheritance tax.

We have very few details and the plans may change following the consultation and general election.

The government confirmed the treatment of non-UK assets sett-

led into a trust by a non-UK domiciled settlor prior to April 2025 will not change, but the Labour Party said it will remove this protection if elected.

Tax planning advice

This is a suitable time to review your tax and financial planning to establish if it is up to date and tax efficient in Spain. Many expatriates find moving assets out of the UK improves their overall tax position. Take specialist cross-border advice for your circumstances and objectives.

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

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

Orihuela online

NEW WEBSITE: More accessible for anyone who needs information.

ORIHUELA has introduced the council’s new website, designed to provide public information in a more organised and efficient.

It is hoped the new site will be more accessible for everyone who needs to access information or complete procedures.

This revamped website, which will maintain its domain at www.

orihuela.es , features optimised content and is tailored to users with diverse needs, making it a more dynamic platform

One of the key features of this new tool is the inclusion of an internal agenda for all municipal areas, facilitating the sharing of information about scheduled events. Additionally, it is interoperable and linked

to the Orihuela City Council’s various social media platforms and all council departments.

Rocío Ortuño, the councillor for Modernisation highlighted that the website is designed to be compatible with all screen sizes, offers automatic translation into multiple languages, and includes a newsletter and automatic subscription system.

Pantomime generosity

THE San Fulgencio Council would like to express their gratitude to ‘The Rojales Pantomime Group’ for their generous donation to the Help the Needy Association AAN Charity.

AAN Charity plays a crucial role in assisting the most vulnerable families of San Fulgencio by providing essential food items. These provisions are distributed through the Social Services of

San Fulgencio Town Hall, from the Office for the Urbanisations located on Calle Madrid, Urbanisation Marina.

Moreover, AAN Charity operates a shop selling second-hand clothes and items behind the Deutsche Bank on Plaza Sierra Castilla.

If you are interested in volunteering or want more information, please contact them on (+34) 660 934 615.

ROCK AGAINST CANCER

A NUMBER of artisan events are being held in order to raise money for the Rock Against Cancer charity on a monthly basis at various bars in the area, which have asked to support this great charity. There will also be concert tickets on sale at these events, €20 a day and €35 for the two days, September 13 and 14.

At the events there are lots of items for the cha-

rity as well as supporting local businesses and in return the community as well.

The events are as follows:-

PJs Bar in Dona Pepa on Friday June 7 from 12.00 to 15.00

Westvilles in Guardamar on Tuesday June 11 from 12.00 to 15.30

The Stagger Inn in Rojales on Tuesday June 25 from 12.00 to 15.30

Sunleys Bar in Formentera del Segura on Friday June 28 from 12.00 to 15.30

They are looking forward to having plenty of support for these events.

Also they are now doing a Spin the Wheel on a monthly basis with 50 numbers at €1 a number, any prize donations are very much appreciated.

TOURISTS not only visit the Costa Blanca more frequently, but they also spend more during their stays.

This trend is highlighted by recent data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE), which shows that the Valencian Community has experienced the second-highest increase in spending per tourist across Spain, with a growth rate of 16.2 per cent compared to last year.

This underscores the robust performance of the tourism sector in the province of Alicante.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Tourism, both the arrival of international tourists and tourist spending in Spain saw significant increases in April, marking a

Big spenders

Tourists spending more.

historic first quarter for the industry.

In April, 7.8 million international tourists visited Spain, an 8.3 per cent rise from April 2023.

Furthermore, Spain set a new record for tourist spending this month, with foreign visitors contributing €9,565m, a 13.1 per cent increase compared to the previous year.

In the first quarter, international tourist spending grew by 22.6 per cent, surpassing €31.5 billion, while the number of visitors increased by 14.5 per cent, exceeding 23.9 million tourists.

This data reflects the continued strength and appeal of Spain, particularly the Costa Blanca, as a prime destination for international travellers.

Eurogolf Captain’s Day Water watch

ON Thursday May 30, Eurogolf held their Captain’s Day at their home course La Marquesa. More than 50 golfers played a stableford competition with prizes to win on each hole. The overall winners were first Eveline Hackney 43 points, second Keith Davison 42 points third Jack Simpson 41 points. Div 2 winner Robert Thompson 40 points, second Clive Horne 38 points. Div 3 first Monique Reeve 40 points, second Steve Hawley 38 points.

After the game 84 members and guests enjoyed a meal at Maritaos kitchen and the food and service was excellent. They also held a raffle with prizes donated by local businesses and they raised €600 for the Captain’s charity which is Caritas.

If you would like to join one of the most popular golf clubs on the Costa Blanca visit their website my-Eurogolf.eu for more information.

THE main reservoirs in the Segura basin are currently at minimum levels, with Murcia and Alicante reservoirs adding 262 cubic hectometres this week, nine less than the previous week.

They are now at 22.98 per cent of their total capacity.

Over the last decade, the average capacity of the Segura reservoirs has been 509 hectometres, as per data from the basin organisation.

For comparison, during the same week in 2023, they were at 35 per cent, with nearly 400 cubic hectometres.

Rainfall and some snowfall during January, February, and March, caused by Atlantic fronts passing over the mountain ranges at the head of the Segura, including Alcaraz, Las Villas, and Segura, initially raised hopes that water levels would match those of the previous hydrological year.

However, as summer approaches, it has become evident that this initial boost was insufficient.

Despite these alarming figures, the basin administration has not officially declared an extreme drought situation.

A Movie Night

THE Costa Blanca International Concert Band together with the Melody Makers gave a concert to a capacity audience of more than 200 people on Friday May 24 at the Salt Church, Los Montesinos.

The theme was ‘A Night At The Movies’ and the band played music from such favourites as Disney, Great Movie Adventures from John Williams, James Bond, Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Mamma Mia and the list goes on. They sang a good selection of songs including Saturday Night At The Movies, Annie’s Song, Honey Honey and a wonderful rendition of You Raise Me Up.

The Salt Church is an excellent venue in which to give concerts and they would like to thank them for all their help in staging this event. The band is totally international with musicians from the UK, Spain, Norway, Germany and Switzerland, but they are always looking for more players to join them. Contact Graham on 34 711 056 343, alternatively just go along to one of their rehearsals.

They rehearse every Friday downstairs at the library in San Miguel from 4.30pm to 7pm, you will be made very welcome.

Captain Barry Wilson with overall winner Eveline Hackney.

Locals awarded MBEs

Donna Williams UNBEKNOWN to David Upjohn and Andrew Daniels - residents of San Miguel - actions taken by others on their behalf six years ago would lead to an MBE for each of them.

For over 20 years, the couple had dedicated their lives to being specialist foster carers, providing a loving home for the most profoundly disabled and terminally ill children.

Andrew shared, “Many have said they couldn’t do what we did, that it would be too heartbreaking. But we found that by making every day special for a child who wasn’t guaranteed a tomorrow, we made our lives amazing, too.” Their selflessness was so profound that several organisations and individuals felt compelled to write to the UK government to request that they be honoured.

Then, in May 2023, David and Andrew received a letter from St James Palace. It was to advise them that the Prime Minister had been pleased to recommend to

the King that they be made Members of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBEs).

“Our first reaction was both disbelief and incredulousness,” David said. “Surely, this had to be a hoax.” But a hoax, it was not, and for five long weeks, they had to keep the news to themselves

before the official notice came out, even though they wanted to shout it from the rooftops.

The day they had been waiting for finally arrived on May 1, 2024. They donned their morning suits and made their way to Buckingham Palace, where they were to be received by The Princess Ro-

yal, Princess Anne.

As Andrew recounted, “We were led to a long gallery and given our instructions to enter the throne room with recipients to the left, guests to the right.” David added, “They then informed us that when our name was called, we would step forward until

level with The Princess Royal, we would turn to face her and give a respectful bow before stepping forward; The Princess Royal would then attach the medal to a pin that would be applied to our lapel before engaging in a conversation with us.”

David was initially very nervous about speaking and suggested to Andrew that he do all the talking. However, David had found his courage by their turn and, as Andrew put it, “sang like a canary.”

They were asked about their work, and they felt that she was genuinely interested. A shake of the hand, and then it was all over. They exited the room to be presented with individual scrolls signed by King Charles III. Within them, they are described as loyal and well-beloved Members of the Order in mediaeval language.

They received their honours in front of family and friends, but in their minds were the children they had loved, lost and cared for over many years.

David Upjohn and Andrew Daniels receiving MBEs from the Princess Royal.

Taxing times

IF you live on the Costa Blanca, you will likely need to file a tax return to declare your income.

The deadline for this is June 30 each year for the previous tax year.

Spanish taxes can be complicated, and you could face fines or penalties if you miss a deadline or make mistakes on your return.

It’s advisable to seek advice from a tax expert to avoid potential issues.

To file your resident tax return in Spain for the first time, you must register with the Agencia Tributaria (Spanish Tax Authority).

If you’re self-employed, known as an ‘autonomo’ in Spain, you will pay your taxes quarterly. However, you still need to submit an annual tax declaration.

Taxation rules in Spain can be hard to understand, and failing to follow them correctly can result in fines and late payment interest.

Studio 32 Musical Theatre Group

TO all those involved with the Pajama Game: cast, crew, helpers, all the ticket outlets and audiences, Thank You! Studio 32 were able to give a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association San Fulgencio on May 21. Accepting the cheque for €1,000 from Lonee Hopwood and Linda Daniel was Beatriz Fernandez Barraquel, the president of the Association of Families of Alzheimer patients. The cheque was received with thanks. Also present in the photo is Mayor Jose Maria Ballester, Paulino Herrero and councillor for Social

Services Beatriz Sanchez Hidalgo.

Studio 32 are getting prepared for their winter show, A Broadway Christmas and invite you to join them for an open day on Thursday June 25 at Casa Contenta, Rojales from 7pm. All past, present and new members are most welcome.

For the winter show Studio 32 are looking for a Musical Director to work with the cast during rehearsals. If you want to find out more about the role, why not go along on June 25 or send an email to lindad413@gmail. com.

Routine eye test leads to diagnosis

ORIHUELA COSTA resident Pearl

Whatford went into Specsavers Ópticas in La Zenia to change her glasses for more modern ones, but got more than she’d bargained for.

During the routine eye test to determine her prescription, she was shocked to discover that when she closed her left eye, she had very little vision in the right eye.

Despite not noticing any deterioration of her vision, or any other symptoms, 80-year-old Mrs Whatford was later diagnosed with a macular hole, a small gap in the centre of the retina in the area responsible for central and fine-detail vision. Following surgery to repair the hole, her vision is now good and improving every day.

Optometrist Jade Rose was per-

forming the eye test when this issue was revealed. “The patient came into the store, with no concerns about her vision. However, during the testing process, I asked her to close her left eye and she realised that her sight was quite poor in her right eye.”

“I was shocked,” stated Mrs Whatford, “I could not see the letters or

anything at all on the test through the right eye, even though I hadn’t noticed any change in my vision.”

Further tests were performed which clearly demonstrated the macular problems, so Jade urgently referred Mrs Whatford to a specialist. She was seen the same day and received the diagnosis of a macular hole and was treated through surgery to repair the hole and replace the lens due to early stages of cataracts. Her vision is now good and the team are not expecting any further deterioration.

Specsavers Ópticas La Zenia is located in Calle Unamuno 1, Local 2 and comprehensive eye tests, using the latest equipment are free. To find your nearest store and book an eye test, visit www.specsavers.es.

Credit Studio 32

DONATION: Alzheimer’s Association received €1,000.

Mrs Whatford’s vision is now good.

Right to vote

Trevor Colt BRITISH nationals living in the Netherlands are being encouraged to vote in the general election this July, finally voicing their views.

In the past, Britain would remove the voting rights of British nationals who lived abroad for more than 15 years, but the legislation was discarded at the beginning of this year, allowing the vote for the 2024 general election.

“Decisions have been made and will continue to be made by the British government that directly affect the lives of thousands of British nationals living and working in the EU,” said Tricia Tarrant from the British in the Netherlands campaign group.

There are currently at least 45,000 British nationals living in the Netherlands, a large number of whom were

unable to vote in the past elections, unable to voice their views.

Despite living in the Netherlands, British nationals have first-hand experience with the British regime, especially with the new income requirements for retiring, looking after an elderly relative or moving back with an EU partner, which has caused a growing discussion.

The elections will take place on July 14, current-

ly led by the Conservative Party, Rishi Sunak and Labour Party, Keir Starmer.

THE Primavera Sound Festi val is making a much-anti cipated return to Porto’s Parque da Cidada from June 6 - June 8.

Now in its 11th season, the festival promises a mix of established and emerging artists. Festival director Jose Barreiro highlights Lana Del Rey’s upcoming performance as a key attraction. The artist is known for her cinematic music style and ‘tragic romance’ lyrics.

Barreiro emphasised Primavera Sound Porto’s commitment to blending well-known artists with up-and-coming acts. Last year, the festival expanded its

SWEDEN is breaking records in the number of citizens suffering from stress-related diseases.

Primavera Sound Stress rates

The amount of sick days in Sweden due to stress has increased by sevenfold over the past decade; something which has never happened in history, say the IF’s (Skadeförsäkring AB) company researchers.

“These figures are alarming and should be taken seriously. Preventative work is necessary based on an integrated approach, where employers take on the responsibility to stop the development of chronic stress in employees,” said Kristina Ström Ulsson from If.

grounds and extended the event to four days to celebrate its 10th edition, benefiting from the enhancements to Parque da Cidade, which now connects to the sea. Despite these changes, the festival retains its core appeal, drawing a diverse crowd, with many attendees being over 40.

The festival can accommodate 40,000 attendees each day, with more than half of the tickets purchased by international visitors, mainly from Spain and the United Kingdom. In recent years, there has been a significant rise in interest from North American audiences as well.

Sweden’s stress rate has increased by 42 per cent from last year, with 51 per cent of the citizens stating that stress leads to a significant decline in their work.

Skadeförsäkring AB is an insurance company with at least 3.6 million customers in Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania. Based on the company’s study, 88 per cent of workers in these countries experience stress on a daily basis.

Rishi Sunak for the 2024 elections.

Credit: RishiSunak, X

Lana Del Rey brings Old Hollywood glamour to Porto.

Credit: Justin Higuichi Flickr

Bollywood comes to Portofino

CONTROVERSY continues over the ‘fairytale’ party that took place on Saturday June 1 in Portofino for the wedding of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant which is reportedly costing €139 million.

The celebrations that began in March in India and have now moved on to Italy: the 800 guests arrived by plane in Palermo and from there travelled to Portofino, where the village was totally sealed off and cleared of visitors for the party complete with a performance by Andrea Bocelli. Giacomo Montanari, art historian and coordinator of Genoa City Council’s Culture department, said, “the village was rented out like a flat for a private party, from which all uninvited guests are kicked out.”

Among the guests who were invited to the event were world celebrities including Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates and John Elkann. The extra-large event, which was attended by 1,200 people in Portofino’s Piazzetta, continued on the cruise ship that rea-

ched the port of Genoa in the middle of the night, with the music blasting non-stop until dawn and with many residents being woken up by the loud music.

The mayor of Portofino, Matteo Viacava, “We had to make some restrictions, but they were due to the type

of people invited, the level of the terror alert had also been raised in the afternoon. The Carabinieri ensured the safety of the town and the guests and the bride and groom’s family were truly impressed by the beauty of Portofino, by the Italian beauty.”

Export evolution

IN the initial quarter of the year, Spain’s shipments of fruits and vegetables to markets outside Europe witnessed a notable decline compared to the previous year, according to the latest data shared by Fepex.

Almost all of Spain’s exports of fruits and vegetables, totalling about 98 per cent, find their way to European markets.

During the first quarter of 2024, out of a total of 3.4 million tonnes of fresh produce, a significant portion, around 3.33 million tonnes, was sent to Europe, while only 69,128 tonnes were directed to non-European markets.

This indicates a drop of 27 per cent compared to the previous year.

Within the first three months of the year, exports to the European Union stood at 2.82 million tonnes, marking a

rise of 5 per cent compared to the same period in 2023.

Among the primary destinations, Spain’s exports to Germany amounted to 973,363 tonnes, marking a rise of 9 per cent, while exports to France totalled 543,805 tonnes, showing a decline of 2 per cent. To the Netherlands, the exports amounted to 286,300 tonnes, down by 1 per cent.

Fepex highlighted that the UK remained the leading non-EU European market, importing 400,403 tonnes during the first quarter, down by 1 per cent compared to the previous year.

Over the past five years, Fepex observed a notable decrease in exports outside Europe during the first quarter, dropping from 4 per cent of the total, which was around 153,800 tonnes, to the current 2 per cent.

PORTOFINO: The wedding celebrations moved to Italy.

Photo: KFP

All-time high

IN May, the price of used housing in Spain increased by 1 per cent, reaching €2,120 per square metre, a record high surpassing the previous peak in June 2007.

This represents a quarterly increase of 3.1 per cent and a 7.3 per cent rise compared to May of last year, according to idealista.

All Spanish Autonomous Communities reported higher prices than the previous month, with the Balearic Islands leading at 1.6 per cent, followed by Navarra at 1.4 per cent, and Andalucia at 1.2 per cent.

The most expensive regions are the Balearic Islands (€4,322 per square metre), the Community of Madrid (€3,406), and

Euskadi (€2,926). The most a ordable regions are Castilla-La Mancha (€936), Extremadura (€996), and Castilla y León (€1,189).

A total of 40 provinces saw price increases, with the largest in Soria at 3.8 per cent, followed by the Balearic Islands and Cáceres at 1.6 per cent.

The provinces with the largest decreases were Huesca (-1.8 per cent), León (-1 per cent), Jaen (-0.8 per cent), and Burgos (-0.6 per cent).

The most expensive provinces are the Balearic Islands (€4,322), Guipuzcoa (€3,605), and Madrid (€3,406). The cheapest are Ciudad Real (€752), Jaen (€837), and Cuenca (€853).

A total of 40 provinces saw price increases in May.

Image: gzabala / Shutterstock.com

Is the Pope a homophobe?

‘FROCIAGGINE’ in Italian or ‘Faggotry’ in English: a storm has erupted over a term Pope Francis used in a meeting with the Italian Bishops’ Conference.

The rumours had been going round for days and then it was confirmed by Dagospia, an Italian website that covers celebrity news, gossip, and politics. Pope Francis used the Italian word for ‘faggotry’. The term was uttered during his closed-door meeting with the Italian Bishops’ Conference, during which the admission of homosexual seminarians was to be discussed.

Pope Francis, apparently expressed the view that: “There is already too much faggotry in seminaries.” In short, “welco ming everyone,” as the Pope often repeats, yes, but enough is enough. Other reports have said that the Pope would not only speak of ‘faggots’, but also uses the word ‘queers’, which is certainly not among the most respectful towards homosexuals.

ON Sunday June 2 at 11am the name of Prague Zoo’s new baby male Sumatran orangutan which had been voted for by the public was revealed.

In what was described as a baptism ceremony, the one-month-old baby was named Harapan which is Indonesian for Hope.

The ceremony was conducted by the Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs Jan Lipavský and the British Ambassador to the Czech Republic Matt Field.

It was in mid-May that world renowned British primatologist Jane Goodall travelled to Prague Zoo for only the third time to name a new-born female gorilla and to sign copies of her latest book.

Referring to this visit, Ambassador Field said: “As apes, orangutans are our family - you may have noticed a resemblance between me and my new godson.

“By protecting apes, we protect ourselves and nature, and I am happy that I can support the great

Frabrizio Marrazzo, spokesperson for the gay party, said that funds allocated by the government for the Catholic Church should be blocked: “We should remember that seminaries are financed with Italian taxpayers’ money, we demand that the government block the funds to the Catholic Church,” he said.

A spokesman for the Vatican trying to extinguish the controversy, said that, “Pope Francis is aware of the articles that recently came out about a conversation, behind closed doors. The Pope never intended to offend or express himself in homophobic terms, and he extends his apologies to those who felt offended by the use of the term.”

Baby orangutan

work of the Prague Zoo.

As Jane Goodall says, the greatest danger to our future is apathy. Thank you for fighting against apathy at the Prague Zoo and thus protecting our future.”

Director of the Prague Zoo, Miroslav Bobek ob-

served “This year is the year of an absolutely extraordinary crop of young. The male Sumatran orangutan, the grandson of the famous Kama, whose parents came from the wild, is also extremely genetically valuable.”

POPE FRANCIS: Apologised.

Photo: Wikimedia CC / Long Thiên

NEW BABY: Harapan and his mother Diri.

Credit: Prague Zoo

Digital nomads

Donna Williams

THE Digital Nomad Index by VisaGuide ranks Spain as the best country for digital nomads to reside.

The Index considers several factors including active visa availability, internet speed, taxation policies and tax-free length, income requirements for visa applications, cost of living in Euros, Global Health Score (GHS) and tourism popularity.

Spain achieved a score of 4.50, with Argentina in second place with a score of 3.78. The remaining top 10 in rank order are Romania, United Arab Emirates, Croatia, Portugal, Uruguay, Malta, Norway and Andorra

According to a recent MBO Partners report, the global digital nomad population has skyrocketed to a staggering 38.5 million. This is a clear indication that in our increa-

singly interconnected world, the allure of digital nomadism continues to draw people in. As AI models evolve in new and exciting ways, the desire to embrace a location-independent lifestyle is sure to become even more popular.

However, being a digi-

tal nomad is not as simple as it might sound and requires a total reimagining of the traditional workplace model.

Of course, one of the benefits of the Pandemic was the ability to see beyond the need to travel to an office every day. Working from home is a wel -

Be prepared in Norway

ALL Norwegians have been advised to stock up on enough basic supplies to keep them going during an emergency.

Everybody should be prepared to exist for at least seven days without running water, electricity, digital communications or electronic payment system, the Civil Defence and Preparedness Agency (DSB) announced.

The seven-day crisis plan substitutes the DSB’s previous guidelines which recommended preparing to survive for three days, owing to a combination of the Ukraine war, digital threats and climate change. “We live in a steadily more uneasy world,” it said.

In an emergency, even though most things might continue to function as usual, it was essential to be prepared for extreme weather, pandemics, accidents, sabotage “and even war” the DSB warned.

come development for some, but it does not go far enough for others. Instead, they seek to embrace technology for a more radical change. They desire to become part of the digital nomad movement and enjoy a lifestyle of unparalleled freedom and flexibility.

The agency has now issued a checklist covering supplies of drinking water, food that can be stored at room temperature, matches, candles, medication and batteries. Although most people now paid by card, they should also have a supply of cash in low-denomination notes and coins.

The DSB recommendations arrived as Norway’s coalition government entered a new partnership agreement on security and defence with the European Union, stressing that “security and welfare depend on one another.”

This was signed by Foreign Affairs minister Espen Barth Eide from the Labour Party and Defence minister Bjorn Arild Gram, whose Centre party has previously argued that Norway’s defence needs were covered by Nato.

Spain ranked the best country for digital nomads.

INTERVIEW

Speaking EuropeanCecilie Gamst Berg

CECILIE GAMST BERG, a Norwegian by birth, has an enduring love for islands. After spending 30 years in Hong Kong, the tightening political climate there prompted her to seek a new island home - “You got out in time” is something she frequently hears from people in Hong Kong.

Cecilie chose Mallorca, noting that it “looked big enough and with fewer typhoons.”

Despite her Norwegian roots, it’s Hong Kong and China Cecilie misses the most, particularly the Cantonese language seminars she conducted in southern China.

The shift to Mallorca led to a significant change in lifestyle - “In Palma I feel free to move the way I want, without being hindered. There are no skyscrapers crushing me down and the air is better.”

The open spaces and lack of towering skyscrapers offer Cecilie a sense of freedom she found lacking in Hong Kong’s restrictive environment.

However, Cecilie finds the Spanish bu-

reaucracy challenging compared to the efficiency she experienced in Hong Kong“Spanish bureaucracy is so well organised, a whole industry has sprung up around it! There are lawyers and gestors and agents, all ready to tackle problems that don’t, or shouldn’t, really exist.”

After mastering Mandarin and Cantonese, Cecilie turned her attention to Spanish. She explains - “I must admit, after learning Mandarin and Cantonese, I find Spanish not as easy to pick up. I can speak but not well. So I thought, if you want to learn something, write a book about it!” ‘Plonkers Abroad: Learn Spanish Without Really Trying’ is a humorous take on language acquisition through the mistakes of foreigners.

Splash spots

THE European Environment Agency (EEA) has released an assessment of bathing water quality in EU countries, as well as Switzerland and Albania. The results are promising: nearly 86 per cent of Europe’s popular bathing spots are rated ‘excellent’. Overall, 96 per cent of the 29 countries’ officially recognised bathing waters meet at least the minimum quality standards,

with only 1 per cent classified as ‘poor’.

This indicates that most places you choose for a swim this summer are safe.

Greece, Croatia, Cyprus, and Austria have the highest share of excellent bathing waters.

Additionally, Belgium, Bulgaria, Luxembourg, Malta, Austria, and Romania reported that all their officially identified ba-

thing waters met the minimum quality standard in 2023.

This is particularly good news as many of these countries experience a large influx of visitors during the summer, many of whom are drawn to the beaches.

The EEA noted that sea bathing waters are generally of better quality than those in rivers and lakes, with 89 per cent of sea

Pension inequality

Trelawney Bresic POLITICAL parties are being urged to support the Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI), as the upcoming general election approaches.

In March 2024, a government watchdog called for the UK government to apologise and compensate women born in the 1950s/60s who were affected by the increase in the state pension age. These women, according to the report, are ‘owed’ money because the changes to the pension age were not communicated properly. The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman investigated whether women were adequately informed of the rise in the state pension age to bring it in line with that of men.

The government responded by stating it would consider the report and respond in due course. However, the ombudsman condemned the Depart-

ment for Work and Pensions (DWP) for its stance, stating that the department has ‘clearly indicated it will refuse to comply’ with the pay-out proposal, deeming this stance ‘unacceptable.’

Angela Madden, chair of the Waspi campaign, has stated that a solution needs to be started within the first 100 days of a new government.

Women affected by these changes continue to seek justice and adequate compensation for the financial hardships they have endured. The call for a fair resolution remains strong, with

campaigners and affected individuals urging the UK’s political parties to announce a meaningful action plan.

Ophelia Smith, 70, now living on the Costa del Sol, shared her experience - “I got the worst of all worlds because I spent nine years working for the Civil Service in Gibraltar, where the pensionable age for women is 60. But because I spent more time working in the UK, I wasn’t able to obtain my Gibraltar pension until I was 65 as well. I guess the change of pensionable age has cost me about £30,000.”

Cecilie Gamst Berg.

WATER QUALITY: Most of Europe’s popular bathing spots are rated excellent.

Dozens of MPs have backed calls to compensate women affected by State Pension age changes.

Piaggio with a story to tell

A THREE-WHEEL Piaggio MP3 motor scooter registered in 2009 fetched €25,420 at auction on Sunday May 26.

Given its age and despite having 34,000 kilometres on the clock, it would ordinarily have had a second-hand value of €1,338, but this was a motor scooter with a past, and a romantic past what’s more.

The scooter had belonged to François Hollande, who was France’s president between 2012 and 2017, and he used it to keep clandestine trysts with his lover, the actress Julie Gayet.

When their affair began, Hollande was in a relationship with journalist Valerie Trierwei ler after separating in 2007 from his former partner, the politician Segolene Royal, with whom he has four chil dren.

Trierweiler left him in 2014 and Hollande, who

had never yet married anyone, finally wed Gayet in June 2022, when he was 66 and she was 51.

The Piaggio scooter with its AL-807SX number plate was eventually sold off by the Elysee Pala. It was bought by a garage owner in the Poitou region and changed hands twice before it was put up for sale in 2024.

The last owner, aware of its history but no longer able to use it on medical grounds, preferred to sell it than run the risk of having it stolen. With a €10,000 starting price, it went for

ret, will now display the Piaggio at his Prestige & Collection car

tic at the moment. This at heret told a local newspaper.

“There’s nothing at

FRANÇOISE HOLLANDE: France’s president between 2012 and 2017.

Photo credit : CC/Actualitte

Will you vote? VOX Pop

WE asked a number of people at random whether they were eligible to vote in the upcoming European elections and if so were they likely to bother or are MEPs a bit of a waste of time?

Dana Dushullina from Russia, living in Altea, is not eligible to vote and is unsure whether she would if she was.

“I’m not so confident that my vote would even count… From my personal experience and knowledge of other countries and the systems across the world. In the modern day, there are too many artificially created levers of pressure to count on fair elections, so even if voting, I wouldn’t expect too much of the results.”

election as I am a pensioner are of far more interest to me.”

Dave McGuire, who lives in Santa Ponsa, Mallorca and is from Ireland said “I can vote, but I won’t. I think MEPS are a bit of a waste of time. They don’t seem to make much of a difference in our daily lives.”

Duncan G Inglis from Canada, living in Altea de la Vella has no interest in voting even though he could.

“Voting in general, in any country, is seriously flawed because most people don’t know what they’re voting for; they vote based on tradition and slogan. Voters don’t go into the details of election promises or what the Party will actually do once in power.

“The politicians take advantage of this by omitting details or outright lying. There is too much hypocrisy from both sides. It is a lie when Democracy claims you have the right to choose. There really is not much to choose from. So I don’t bother.”

Debbie Jones originally from Wales but now living in Mojacar commented, “To be honest I don’t take much notice of the European Election, from my point of view, the local elections followed by the Spanish government election and even the UK

Marion Oprel , from the Netherlands living in Javea is not eligible to vote in Spain but would definitely voice her opinion if she could.

“I would absolutely vote if I could.

I think, certainly these days, every vote counts and matters. Democracy, diversity and peace are now under pressure.

“The vote for extremist and radical rightist parties in Spain is bad news for tolerance, freedom of expression and our culture in general. I wish I could have a say in the general elections.”

Kathleen Misson from England, living in Moraira is only eligible to vote for local elections and has doubts about the elections in general. “Voting is complicated because we don’t know what the truth is. I rarely watch Spanish news because I know the media only tells people what they want them to know and I don’t bother following the votes and the results.”

DUNCAN G INGLIS

KATHLEEN MISSON

DANA DUSHILLINA

MARION OPREL

Airlines fined

Donna

Williams

SPANISH CONSUMER AFFAIRS has fined low-cost airlines Ryanair, Vueling, easyJet, and Voltea €150 million for anti-customer practices.

The Directorate General for Consumer Affairs led an investigation into their practices in 2023 when associations such as FACUA (a non-profit consumer association independent of political parties and companies) denounced the airlines for practices they considered ‘abusive’. This case has now been resolved, and a steep fine has been imposed.

The fine is for the following four infringements: charging for carrying hand luggage on board, charging for seat selection when travelling with children or dependents, lack of transparency in contractual information and excluding cash payments when buying tickets at the airport.

The report noted that initially displayed prices were not always what the customer paid, making it difficult to compare competitor offerings and therefore, an ‘unfair commercial practice’.

In addition, Ryanair has been criticised for charging unreasonable fees for printing paper tickets at the airport. Consumer Affairs considers the charges - sometimes as high as €20 - disproportionate to the actual cost.

Along with the fine, the outlined infringements are also ‘technically’ prohibited from this point forward. However, as the airlines have a right to appeal, this may not necessarily lead to a complete change in their business models. Ryanair, the primary offender, will bear the brunt of the penalties, although this will only account for a mere 5 per cent of its profits. Just 10 days ago, Ryanair reported a net profit of €1.92 billion, an all-time record for the airline.

Nosy typist

VINOD KUMAR

CHAUDHARY’S latest record-breaking feat has set a new benchmark in an unconventional category: typing the alphabet with his nose.

The 44-year-old Indian man, known as the ‘Typing Man of India’, has once again surpassed his own record for the fastest time to type the alphabet with the nose.

After achieving his rst record in 2023 with a time of 27.80 seconds and improving it to 26.73 seconds later that year, Vinod has now reduced the time to an impressive 25.66 seconds.

To successfully claim this record, Vinod had to type out the Roman alphabet on a standard QWERTY keyboard, ensuring he included a space between each letter.

His dedication to per-

fecting his nose-typing skills has earned him considerable recognition in the computer industry, where he works.

In addition to this achievement, Vinod holds several other typing records.

He boasts the fastest time to type the alphabet backwards with one hand (5.36 seconds) and the fastest time to type the alphabet with hands behind the back (6.78 seconds).

Vinod’s journey into

record-breaking began as a means to combine his professional skills with his passion for typing. He explains that his profession has always involved typing, prompting him to pursue records that align with both his career and interests.

Despite the physical challenges, such as experiencing dizziness and seeing stars during practice, Vinod believes that dedication can overcome any obstacle.

VINOD: Known as the ‘Typing Man of India’.

Ryanair fined along with other low-cost airlines.

Thanked for the music Quality of life in Italy

A NEW survey previewed at the Trento Festival of Economics by ‘Il Sole 24 Ore’, investigated quality of life and services offered to the various population groups.

With a trend that remains stable compared to 2023, large cities do not rank well in quality of life. With the exception of Bologna (14th) and Florence (33rd), the large cities all rank from mid-table downwards: 45th place for Milan, 98th place for Rome, and Naples

and Palermo also do badly.

In a win for northern Italy, first place for the quality of life offered to the elderly is Trento; in second place Como, third Cremona. Lodi, Treviso, Vicenza, Padua, Verona and Bolzano are also in the top 10; all are in the north of Italy.

Trento, “in addition to being in first place for life expectancy, is second for the civic participation of the over-50s and third for the lowest consumption of drugs,” said Sole 24 Ore

journalist Marta Casadei during the presentation.

First for the quality of life offered to young people is Gorizia at the foot of the alps, closely followed by Ravenna and Trieste. A comparison of this study with previous ones reveals, “a country that is struggling to take care of its young people, 34 per cent of under-20s are thinking of moving abroad,” noted Eleonora Angelini, of online news website, Agenzia Nova.

SWEDEN’S best-known and never forgotten pop export, ABBA received official and royal recognition 50 years on from their Eurovision victory with Waterloo.

On May 30 they received one of Sweden’s most prestigious knighthoods, Order of the Vasa, given in recognition of personal efforts for Sweden or Swedish interests, as well as the “successful performance of public duties and assignments.”

Along with all orders of nobility this was phased out for the country’s own citizens in 1975, but was still awarded to foreigners.

Sweden’s parliament restored the practice in 2022 and Benny Andersson, Agnetha Faltskog, Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Bjorn Ulvaeus received the Vasa order from King Carl Gustav and Queen Silvia for their “outstanding efforts in Swedish and international music.”

They were the first Swedish citizens to receive the Order of Vasa knighthoods in practically half a century. Agnetha was married to Bjorn and Anni-Frid to Benny, but both couples broke up within a year of each other in 1980 and 1981 respectively. The last time they performed live was on Noel Edmonds’ Late

Late Breakfast Show in the UK in November 1982. The success of Mamma Mia, which followed on from Waterloo in 1975, demonstrated that ABBA weren’t doomed to fade away as onehit wonders, eventually selling more than 400 million singles and albums. Despite ABBA’s ‘uncoolness’ for the next couple of decades, the Mamma Mia! musical, which premiered in London in April 1999, revived interest in the group and subsequent film adaptations have reintroduced the group’s music to younger generations.

TRENTO: The best place to live in Italy for the elderly.

TOP HONOUR: ABBA receive their awards from Sweden’s monarchs

Photo credit: X-Abba Updates

IRELAND

US visitor

BIRDWATCHERS from all over the country and even the UK are descending on Belcarra (County Mayo) to see the North American yellow-crested night heron which has been spotted in Ireland for the first time. Experts believe the bird must have arrived after it was caught up in one of last autumn’s hurricanes.

Gun law

TRANSPORT minister Eamon Ryan is to introduce legislation that will permit random checks of civil aircraft and non-military planes to ensure that neither weapons nor ammunition are on board. Although the law already prohibits this on Irish soil without an exemption, the current law does not allow for random checks.

NORWAY

Don’t intrude

NORWAY’S Consumer Council opposed proposals to introduce a social media age limit although spokeswoman Inger Lise Blyverket said she understood the government’s wishes to protect children and young people. But age verification was so intrusive that the Consumer Council “simply could not support it,” she added.

Cold War

A RESEARCH conference ending on June 3 in the Arctic town of Bodo could be targeted by intelligence agencies, the authorities believe. The Police Security Service (PST) warned that spies from some of the countries attending would be especially interested in the participants who possessed sensitive information.

ITALY

No cameras

ITALY has approximately 11,130 speed cameras but after new regulations come into force, local prefectures and not town halls will be responsible for their locations. The updated rules will also include the removal of speed cameras on roads in built-up areas where there is a speed limit of 50 kilometres per hour or lower.

Tragic fall

THREE members of the Guardia di Finanza (GdF) force’s Alpine Rescue unit, aged 22, 25 and 33, died during a climbing exercise in Val di Masino. A rocky spur gave way as they negotiated the Asteroid Precipice and the three men, who were roped together, fell 30 metres as their colleagues looked on, unable to intervene.

EURO PRESS

PORTUGAL

No charge

ON International Museum Day on May 18, when entry was free of charge, Culture minister Dalila Rodrigues announced that it would soon be possible to visit any of Portugal’s 38 heritage sites without having to pay. The scheme incorporating a mobile app would be implemented “before long”, Rodrigues said.

BELGIUM

Rolling stock

THIRTY people in two carriages of a train that was being uncoupled at Mechelen station found themselves leaving the station without a driver, only coming to a halt when a quick-thinking passenger pulled the emergency cord. Other trains were then halted while the passengers were safely evacuated, rail operator NMBS said.

New batch

BELGIUM could develop antibiotics capable of tackling growing antimicrobial resistance (AMR), now that existing medicines are ineffectual and only 10 new drugs were approved worldwide between 2017 and 2023. It was vital to secure support and incentives, said Antwerp University’s Professor Herman Goossens.

DENMARK

Foodora leaves

THE Foodora food and groceries delivery service which operates in northern Europe announced that it was leaving Denmark where it launched in late 2022 and now covers most of the country. Citing “economic developments”, Foodora said it would redistribute the company’s resources to other active markets.

Less red tape

THE government announced that it would save 1,000 man-years of work in 2025 by cutting down on bureaucracy, with further savings in coming years. Finance minister Nicolai Wammen said that having asked Denmark’s towns, cities and regions to streamline procedures, the state also had to play its part.

FRANCE

Quiet please

EIGHTY per cent of the Paris region’s 9.7 million inhabitants endure noise levels exceeding the World Health Organisation’s recommendations, a monitoring organisation said. Noise pollution increased the risk of serious diseases in the area and had an annual social cost of €43 billion, according to Bruitparif.

DNA clues

INVESTIGATORS from France’s Cold Case Unit requested fresh DNA analyses of evidence in the 2012 shooting of a British family and a French cyclist in a remote Alpine village. Detectives believe that re-examining clothing, cigarette ends and fragments of the gun used could throw fresh light on the murders.

FINLAND

Dug up

PARTICIPANTS in the Crowdsorsa mobile phone game can earn up to 25 per cents a square metre for removing non-native plants like Himalayan balsam and lupins from the Helsinki countryside. Every helping hand was needed, the city’s Environment department explained, as mechanical removal was impractical.

Lagging behind

HELSINKI was at risk of being overtaken by Denmark, Norway and Sweden in wooing tourism during the post-pandemic era, a study carried out by the city’s Tourism Foundation concluded. Foreign visitors accounted for fewer than two million overnight stays in 2023, just 78 per cent of the total registered in 2019.

SWEDEN

Storm damage

TWO buildings located between Gothenburg and Boras were struck by lightning on May 27 during violent thunderstorms, although firefighters soon had both fires under control and there were no reports of injuries. Several areas in western and central Sweden were also affected by flooding during the torrential downpours.

Sweet music

STIM, Sweden’s performing rights organisation, announced record revenues of 3.095 billion krona (€269.6 million) for 2023, an increase that was 14 per cent up on the previous year. Forty-two per cent of STIM’s income came from digital sources, which rose by 8 per cent to 942 million krona (€82.07 million).

GERMANY

New residents

APPROXIMATELY 200,100 people became naturalised German citizens in 2023, more than at any time since the beginning of this century and a 19 per cent increase on 2022. Fifty-six per cent, of whom more than half were male, were from Romania, Syria, Turkey, Iraq or Afghanistan, with an average age of 29.3 years.

No jab

MEMBERS of Germany’s armed forces no longer need to provide proof that they have been vaccinated against Covid 19, an obligation introduced in November 2021. This requirement has been dropped on the advice of the military advisory committee and replaced with a “strong recommendation” in favour of vaccination.

NETHERLANDS

Top job

DICK SCHOOF, a 67-year-old senior official at the Netherlands Justice ministry with no current link to a political party, is on course to head the coalition government. As a former head of Dutch intelligence, Schoof is an expert on security and migration, which are key issues for the four members of the coalition.

Going ahead

JUDGES in The Hague revoked a permit to drill for natural gas off the North Sea island of Schiermonnikoog following an appeal from environmentalists in April. Despite the potential risks to nature, the Economic Affairs ministry said the permit has been restored after the drilling firm provided more information.

HERITAGE SITE: 16th century Jeronimos Monastery in Belem.

Jet-set joy Remember D-Day

EIGHTY years after D-Day, the anniversary on June 6 marks the beginning of the end of the Second World War, which would not have been possible without the dedication of British soldiers.

Elaine Hibbert and her husband Darren, who live in Orba, hosted a hog roast recently in support of the Royal British Legion and raised €1,228,32 to commemorate the historic battle.

Elaine’s father, Alan Bowers, was one of the soldiers who survived the D-Day landings and fought with devotion for his country.

After being posted to the 7th Battalion of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment in 1943, Alan met Sylvia, who was to become his wife just two years later.

He continued to write letters from the war zone, sharing his experiences of D-Day: “That was five

years out of my life and although there was sadness, heartaches, scares, horrific sights and loss of life, I still look back on that period very fondly because of the comradeship that was shared. I salute all my comrades who gave their lives and the others who were wounded fighting for what they believed in - that the world would be a better place.”

Corporal Alan Bowers 23-9-1923 to 21-11-2008

THIS year, summer travel demand across Europe has fully recovered, returning to pre-pandemic levels.

A report from travel intelligence firm ForwardKeys analysed flight searches from January to April 2024, revealing notable trends.

London saw the most significant increase in flight search share for summer 2024 travel, rising by 1.9 percentage points, and now accounts for 5 per cent of all flight searches to the EU.

The excitement surrounding the Paris Olympics is also driving increased travel demand.

Paris experienced a 0.5 percentage point increase in flight search share.

Although the share is slightly lower, this is likely due to many visitors planning their travel well in advance.

Other destinations experiencing grow-

th include Istanbul (up 0.4 percentage points), Rome (up 0.7 percentage points), and Milan (up 0.7 percentage points).

In contrast, destinations in Spain, Greece, and Portugal, such as Athens, Lisbon, Madrid, and Palma de Mallorca, are seeing a decline after high demand in the post-Covid years.

In Eastern Europe, Tirana continues to rise in popularity, following its recent success, along with Yerevan and Tbilisi.

Ticket data for July and August 2024 shows a shift in consumer preferences.

Travel to nature destinations has increased by 19 per cent, while urban destinations saw a 14 per cent increase.

Traditional sun and beach destinations saw an 8 per cent increase.

This indicates a growing interest in diverse travel experiences beyond the typical beach holidays.

Elaine, granddaughter Claire and great-granddaughter Lucie Elaine.

Credit: Elaine Hibbert

PARIS OLYMPICS: Driving an increase in travel demand.

COSTA BLANCA SOUTH

Irish spice

SEAN BRADY will be playing a mix of Irish, country, and contemporary music at The Savannah Campoverde. Sean is a well-known entertainer and recording artist on the Irish cir-

cuit in Britain and a regular performer in venues across Europe. He has a wide assortment of songs with many of your old and new Irish favourites, from Danny Boy to Whisky in the Jar, Galway Girl to Wagon Wheel, with cover versions of everyone from Big Tom to Christy Moore, Van Morrison, Hank Williams, Neil Diamond, The Dubliners, The Pogues, Wolfetones and many more. Sean has performed all over the world and several major Irish artists have recorded his songs. He performs regularly as a solo act, duo or with his band, which can include a fiddle, accordion, flute and banjo. Why not join the fun on Thursday, June 13, starting at 7.30pm. While food is optional, table reservations are required. There’s a special offer for those who choose to dine: enjoy an Irish spice bag platter for sharing with curry sauce and a side of prawn crackers, plus a bottle of wine, for only €30 per couple. For more information or to reserve your table, visit Savannah Campoverde at Avenida de las Especias 145, 03191 on the Orihuela Costa, or call (+34) 647 021 474.

STEP back in time to the glamorous, glitzy nights of Las Vegas in the early ‘60s with the ‘Rat Pack’ Tribute, featuring John Vincent. Relive the magic of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin performing at the famous Sands Hotel. As the story goes, during one particularly loud night of drinking and partying, Lauren Bacall walked in to find Humphrey Bogart and friends enjoying themselves a bit too much. She remarked, “You look like a pack of

The Rat Pack

rats.” The name stuck, and the Rat Pack was born. Enjoy hit after hit, including: ‘Witchcraft’, ‘The Lady Is A Tramp’, ‘I’ve Got You Under My Skin’, ‘That’s Amore’, ‘Everybody Lo-

Summer Nights

THE long-awaited Summer Nights in The Park is back. Get ready for a night of fantastic live music as the much-anticipated Summer Nights in The Park returns on June 8. This year’s event promises an unforgettable evening featuring an incredible lineup of tribute shows and performances. Enjoy the toe-tapping Il Divo Tribute Show, the energetic Chloe Leigh - Cher Tribute Show, and the iconic sounds of Atlantis - Shadows & Guitar Legends. For more information or to book your tickets, visit The Bar, at Guardamar Park at Rincon La Luna Camping CV-920, 57, 03140 or call (+34) 966 236 154.

EVERY Tuesday night, Boochies proudly presents Antony and Nigel’s Music Quiz and Rock n Roll Bingo. The quiz kicks off promptly at 7.30pm.

ves Somebody’, ‘New York, New York’, ‘My Kind Of Town’, ‘Fly Me To The Moon’, ‘Sway’, ‘Volare’, ‘My Way’, ‘Ain’t That A Kick In The Head’, ‘That’s Life’, ‘Come Fly With Me’, and many more. Make a note in your diary for Sunday, June 16, at 5.30pm at Hotel Restaurant Bar Algorfa, Calle Pablo Picasso nº1, Algorfa. For more information or to book your table, email reser vations@hotelalgorfa. es or call (+34) 966 729 707.

Bingo & Quiz

For aficionados of rock, disco, Motown, country, and Glam Rock from the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, and 00s, this is the event for you.

Following the quiz, stick around for DJ music and dancing until midnight.

For further details, visit Boochies Bar and Restaurant at Av. Río Nalón, 50, 30710 Los Alcázares or give us a call on (+34) 711 056 085.

Image: Sean Brady

Returns

DUE to popular demand, the Abba Elite Tribute Show once again returns to Lakeview in Quesada.

Grab your dancing shoes and mark your diaries for Saturday, June 15. This event promises to transport the audience back to the golden era of disco with a live music tribute dedicated to the legendary Swedish band, ABBA.

Known for their impeccable fourpart harmonies, dazzling stage costumes, and mesmerising choreography, Abba Elite guarantees a toe-tapping evening for all.

Enjoy reliving ABBA’s chart-topping hits like ‘Dancing Queen’ and ‘Mamma Mia’, as well as heartfelt ballads like ‘The Winner Takes It All’.

Two ticket options are available for this event.

I’m your man

The show-only option is priced at €10, while the meal and show option is priced at €16.50.

The meal will be served at 7.00pm, and the show will start at 9.00pm.

The meal includes a choice of pork chop with roast potatoes, seasonal vegetables, and gravy, oven-roasted chicken breast with roast potatoes, seasonal vegetables, and gravy, or vegetable curry with rice and steamed vegetables.

For more information or to book tickets, visit LakeView at Calle Toledo 16, Ciudad Quesada, 03170, check out their Facebook page at LakeView Bar & Restaurant, or call (+34) 711 043 763.

Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to experience the magic of ABBA live!

HEAD over to The Club in Quesada on Friday, June 14, for an unforgettable evening featuring a George Michael tribute.

Experience the legendary artist’s incredible repertoire of hits in a performance that honours the enduring legacy of his music.

With an expert blend of entertainment and energy, this George Michael tribute promises to be a show you won’t want to miss!

At The Club, you can enjoy wine, cava, and sangria for only €7.50 per bottle or jug.

Delicious food, including tapas and afternoon teas, will also be available.

For more information, visit The Club at C. Toledo, 24, 03170 Ciudad Quesada, Alicante, or call (+34) 966 717 028.

Image: ABBA Elite / Facebook

Extreme measures

WHERE money is involved people can be very inventive. In the past, Ryanair passengers have worn multiple layers of clothes to avoid check-in fees and now a traveller from Malaga broke off the wheels of his suitcase to avoid paying the €70 that the airline wanted for checking in his luggage as it was slightly oversize.

Other passengers on the Palma to Malaga flight recorded what happened and videos appeared immediately on social media showing the young man pulling hard on the wheels, until he finally manages to pull off all four, to the cheers and applause of the rest of the people in the boarding area.

After this display of strength and ingenuity, the Malaga-born man checks that his suitcase, now minus

those extra centimetres, is within the measurements required by the airline to avoid having to check it in. Amused Ryanair staff confirm it now complies with the regulations and he heads off to board his flight without having to pay the check-in fee for his case.

Photo:

Traveller pulled the wheels off his suitcase.

FINANCE

BUSINESS EXTRA

Homing in

PERSIMMON, which has a market value of £4.7 billion (€5.5 billion) and is the UK’s third most-important property developer after Taylor Wimpey and Barratt Homes, is said to be considering a takeover of its competitor Cala. Owned by Legal & General, the Cala deal would cost around £1 billion (€1.17 billion).

Take a seat

CRITERIA CAIXA, CaixaBank’s investment company, and the Real Automobile Club de Catalunya (RACC) are returning to the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce. They left owing to the business association’s former proindependence stance and following board changes, both will now pay at least €75,000 to occupy Cambra seats.

Sob story

ONLINE fast fashion retailer Boohoo has given up on plans topaya£1million(€1.75million) bonus to each of its three top executives. Shareholders have rebelled after sales fell to £1.8 billion (€2.12 billion) and the company racked up a £95 million (€111.7 million) debt for the financial year that ended in February 2024.

Wedding blues

PRONOVIAS, famed for its lavish wedding dresses, announced losses of €93.1 million in 2023 following a 9 per cent reduction in sales and setbacks stemming from the pandemic. The company also revealed plans for a series of “staff adjustments” expected to affect 85 employees at its Barcelona offices.

Numis numbed

DEUTSCHE BANK, which acquired London-based stockbroking group Numis for £410 million (€482 million) in April 2023, has halted its US operations. Nunis’s value has been slashed to £200 million (€233 million) and US staff will either merge with the Deutsche Bank’s own New York head office or relocate.

€10.4 million STAT OF WEEK

in sales for Spain’s cosmetics industry during 2023, a 12 per cent increase on 2022, the National Perfumery and Cosmetics Association (Stanpa) announced.

Czech-mate for Royal Mail Try later

ROYAL MAIL’S parent company International Distributions Services (IDS) has agreed to a £3.57 billion (€4.2 billion) takeover by Daniel Kretinsky.

The Czech billionaire, who has a stake in Sainsbury’s and West Ham Football Club, is already IDS’s largest shareholder through his company EP Group and will acquire the 73 per cent of Royal Mail that he does not yet own.

“The EP Group has the utmost respect for Royal Mail’s history and tradition,” declared a statement from the man known as the Czech Sphinx. “I know that owning this business will come with enormous

responsibility, not just to the employees but to the citizens who rely on its services every day.”

The deal includes the legal obligation to maintain Royal Mail’s Saturday deliveries and the first

TENDAM, which owns Cortefiel and Women’s Secret amongst other labels, is working flat out to list in Madrid before July 12.

The clothing chain, now pre sent in 79 countries, was acqui red by private equity firms CVC Capital Partners and PAI Part ners in 2017.

With a float that would value

Tendam at an expected €2.5 bi llion, the company headed by Jaume Miquel hopes to attract the big US-based hedge funds whose investments are tied by a norm requiring an inter-

Teknia results

CAR component manufacturer Teknia, based in Zaldibar (Vizacaya) posted a record €460 million turnover for 2023.

Although this was a 19.5 per cent increase on the previous year, its net profit fell by 12.5 per cent to €14 million, the multinational manufacturer said.

The company, which has 1,000 employees inside Spain, explained that it had doubled spending on equipment, which grew from €13.98 million in 2022, to 31.2 million in 2023.

class one-price-goes anywhere pledge. Kretinsky has also guaranteed that he would protect the Royal Mail brand, which goes back 500 years, and that there would be no job cuts. The company will re-

tain its headquarters and tax-residency in the UK for at least five years, he stated.

The Royal Mail deal needs the approval of IDS shareholders at the annual general meeting in September and could still be obstructed under the UK’s National Security and Investment Act.

Meanwhile, although IDS shares rose by 3 per cent to 331p (€3.89) when markets opened on May 29, the price fell short of EP’s Royal Mail offer of 360p (€4.23) per share.

This suggested the markets were not entirely certain that the deal would definitely go through, City insiders said.

Deadline for Tendam

val of fewer than 135 days since the end of a company’s financial year.

Tendam’s ended on February 29, and the company needs to list by Friday, July 12. As the process takes a month, it should make a decision “within days” according to analysts.

The last day that it can formally announce its intention to float is June 12, although the same sources said they believed this deadline would be met.

Uranium

spat

AUSTRALIAN mining group Berkeley is seeking $1 billion (€921 million) in damages from the Spanish government.

The company launched arbitration proceedings with the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes via its Spanish subsidiary Berkely Energia on May 28 after Madrid refused definitive approval for a uranium mine in Retortillo (Salamanca).

Permission for the mine was granted in 2013, but the government announced in 2021 and again in 2023 that it intended to prevent the project from going ahead.

An Environment ministry spokesperson explained that Spain’s Nuclear Security Council report had raised concerns regarding the storage of radioactive waste at the facility, but declined to comment on the arbitration request.

THE UK government temporarily shelved plans to sell part of its remaining shares in the NatWest bank, whose 2008 bailout cost £45.5 billion (€53.4 billion).

The sale, preceded by an M&C Saatchi advertising campaign, should have taken place in June, but with a General Election announced for July 4, the Treasury confirmed that a retail offer “would not happen” during the election period.

Any sale was unlikely until the end of this year, and the new government would have to review the proposals, Treasury sources said.

HARLAND & WOLFF might have to close its Arnish and Methil shipyards in Scotland and concentrate on Royal Navy contracts.

The company, always remembered for having built the Titanic at its Belfast yard, is counting on a £200 million (€235.16 million) loan. This will fall through if it cannot secure a guarantee from the government, Harland & Wolff chiefs warned.

According to UK media sources, 500 Arnish and Methil workers have been told that they risk being laid off if the loan does not arrive.

In decline

THE Evening Standard, a London daily since 1827, is to become a weekly paper.

It has lost £84.5 million (€99.3 million) over the last six years and now relies on funding from co-owner Evgeny Lebedev. Other owners include a bank allegedly linked to the Saudi government.

Distributed at the capital’s Underground stations, the Standard has been hit hard by the introduction of Wi-Fi on the Tube as well as changing consumer habits and a switch to working from home.

Industry sources also maintain that Lebedev would have sold the publication some time ago, but was unable to find a buyer.

THE Carulla family, which owns GB Foods, received €52 million in dividends in 2023 via its Agrolimen and Coveral Inversiones companies.

This was the biggest payout in the last 14 years and the first since 2020, according to accounts submitted to the Registro Mercantil, Spain’s equivalent of Companies House.

These revealed the company, which is best known by its former name of Gallina Blanca, had a consolidated net profit of €143.4 million, 14 per cent more than in 2022.

Gallina Blanca payout

NEW OWNER: No change to Royal Mail, Kretinsky pledged.

Photo credit: Flickr/Kai Hendry

JAUME MIQUEL: Tendam’s chief executive.

3I Group 2.896,00 2.928,00 2.895,00 101,00K

Admiral Group 2.734,0 2.750,0 2.723,0 23,05K

Airtel Africa 124,10 125,21 122,70 147,06K

Anglo American 2.478,5 2.557,8 2.468,0 524,32K

Antofagasta 2.215,00 2.277,00 2.213,00 131,14K

Ashtead Group 5.744,0 5.822,0 5.714,0 40,43K

Associated British Foods 2.585,8 2.590,0 2.575,0 78,98K AstraZeneca 12.202,0 12.356,0 12.088,0 253,59K

Auto Trader Group Plc 827,00 833,80 820,00 426,73K

Aviva 482,50 485,80 482,50 769,38K

B&M European Value Retail SA 551,93 556,40 551,20 154,13K

BAE Systems 1.404,00 1.409,50 1.396,50 1,22M Barclays 222,25 224,25 221,95 5,63M

Barratt Developments 507,60 513,00 506,80 120,18K

Beazley 696,50 701,00 694,00 147,92K

Berkeley 5.325,0 5.335,0 5.297,9 13,02K

BP 491,15 494,35 489,70 3,51M

American Tobacco 2.438,0 2.445,6 2.430,0 364,97K BT Group 132,40 132,75 130,80 2,63M

2.968,0 2.998,0 2.946,0 166,00K Burberry Group 1.054,5 1.059,1 1.036,5 109,59K

142,52 145,85 142,25 2,17M Coca Cola HBC AG 2.700,0 2.710,0 2.686,0 141,36K

Euro

EUR/GBP: Down from £0.86 to £0.85

EUR/USD: Up from $1.06 to $1.08

Trade in the euro has been mixed over the past month ahead of a widely expected interest rate cut from the European Central Bank (ECB) in June.

Supporting EUR exchange rates in recent weeks has been a downturn in the US dollar, as well as some upbeat Eurozone data releases, including a continued uptick in growth in the bloc’s private sector.

However ongoing ECB rate cut bets have ultimately capped the single currency’s upside potential through May.

Looking forward, while a rate cut from the ECB next month is largely priced in, the outlook beyond that is less clear. EUR investors will

Currency outlook: US dollar slides on renewed Fed rate cut expectations, pound strengthens in upbeat trade

be paying close attention to the bank’s forward guidance, with the euro poised to slump if the ECB signals plans for another rate cut before the end of summer.

Pound

GBP/EUR: Up from €1.15 to €1.17

GBP/USD: Up from $1.23 to $1.27

The pound trended broadly higher over the past four weeks, with the increasingly risk-sensitive currency finding strength amid a more optimistic market mood.

However, Sterling got off to a rocky start in May. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation’s (OECD) slashing of its UK growth forecasts, coupled with dovish forward guidance from the Bank of England (BoE) both took their toll on GBP.

GBP exchange rates then

rallied through the second half of May. Sterling initially drew support amid an improving market mood, before a stronger-than-expected UK inflation print propelled the pound to new multi-month highs as GBP investors scaled back bets the BoE may cut interest rates in June.

While a June rate cut now appears less likely, there’s still the potential for the BoE to

surprise markets next month. Even if the bank leaves rates on hold, any dovish signals could reverse the pound’s recent gains.

US Dollar

USD/GBP: Down from $0.81 to $0.78

USD/EUR: Down from €0.94 to €0.91

A clear US dollar selling bias has emerged over the

past month. This has been driven primarily by a repricing of Federal Reserve interest rate cut expectations.

Weaker-than-expected US inflation and payroll figures, coupled with cautious comments from Fed Chair Jerome Powell following the US central bank’s latest policy meeting, revived bets that US interest rates will be cut multiple times in 2024

The Fed will next meet in June. If the US central bank continues to strike a dovish tone then the USD selloff may persist.

Currencies Direct have helped over 500,000 customers save on their currency transfers since 1996. Just pop into your local Currencies Direct branch or give us a call to find out more about how you can save money on your currency transfers.

Trade in the euro has been mixed over the past month.

I have never voted

LEAPY LEE SAYS IT

OTHERS THINK IT

DEAR Lord; for all our sakes, please reincarnate Screaming Lord Such and his raving Loony Party. Despite the gobbledygook this hippy style bunch of nutty volunteers spouted in days of yore they at least advocated a peaceful co-existence on this utterly war torn globe of ours. Well not any more. Let’s just have a look around, if you actually care that is! The utterly pathetic Westminster woke ticket inspectors are once again traversing bus routes across the country.

Prime Minister Sunak, whose election campaign is probably directed by his multi-millionaire wife Akshata (I bet she’s expensive!) continues to babble unattainable nonsense.

Starmer, ’The Changer’ still carefully disregards what an extreme leftie he was during the reign of Corbyn and remains well under the cosh of Ms ‘Two Houses’ Rayner, who has not only managed to slip out from under the threat of legal action, but made sure to pick up a few black votes by

recommending the reestablishment of Diana Abbot; a woman who appeared to originally gain her status in the party by the positions she managed to accomplish with Jeremy Corbyn during their somewhat torrid affair in the late 70s.

Looking a little further afield we meet up with Mr Putin, the Russian president who has managed to assassinate all his rivals and now runs his non democratic country with a rod of iron as he negotiates his position with other nations ruled by despots of the same ilk. South Africa’s money grabbing, family infested party the ANC, who I warned about years ago, has now churned the country into the dirt and poverty of the farms they destroyed by the assassination and crushing of the conscientious farmers. A bunch of inferior racist racketeers who stood by witnessing the infrastructure and success achieved by the white minority fall into utter rack and ruin. Still don’t trust them.

The column is far too short to mention all the countries whose Western and Eastern leaders are still lurking in the luxury lounges of supremacy and command. Many of them, par-

ticularly Islamic regimes, possess power mad and soul destroying destructive policies. Spain and Ireland, two basically peaceful nations that I do admire, have actually been run by coalitions for some years - probably the answer! And so we come to America. I bet Putin is rubbing his hands. If Trump, who has now attained a criminal record, manages to utilise his new reputation to gain even more popularity and becomes the next president, be assured, both he and the Russian premier will be sharing diplomacies long before America’s new head of state totally conforms with Europe’s Western leaders.

I will also be amazed if doddering Biden, who is undoubtedly controlled in the vice of Kamala Harris and whose son is this week actually facing 25 years in prison for gun offences, actually wins. Once again I reiterate, as an advocate of peace and love I have never voted in my life. And casting an eye around, unless I am reincarnated in about 1,000 years, never will.

Keep the faith

Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com

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

Phone bans

DUTCH researchers revealed that prohibiting phones at school does not benefit students.

The Dutch Ministry of Education banned the use of phones in 2023, aiming to improve the experience of students, but the results were not impressive.

A study by the Radboud University in Nijmegen surveyed 1,000 teachers, parents and students on their experience of phone-free schools and found that while parents and teachers were in favour, students rated their experience an average of 4.8 out of 10, compared to 6.8 before the prohibition.

The researcher, Loes Pouwels, shared that increased personal contact led to more cases of ‘offline bullying’ and physical violence. Forty per cent of the students said that their school breaks were better without a phone, while 37 per cent said they missed them.

“I am forced to socialise when I’m not in the mood, which is often,” shared one of the students. Many mentioned the disadvantages of not having a phone and being unable to consult school schedules.

For students with health conditions, including mental disorders, this was particularly difficult, as they were unable to be in touch with family members.

Phone use at school.

Sure thing for e-scooters

IT won’t happen imme diately, but there are big changes in store for an ybody using an electric scooter in Spain.

A Cabinet Meeting on Tuesday May 28 appro ved modifications to the proposed Vehicle Insu rance Law which inclu ded obligatory insuran ce for the owners of all types of personal mobility vehicles.

That means mobility scooters and, above all, the increasingly popular e-scooters.

Once the law comes into force, all these vehi cles must be covered by third-party insurance and they will have to be regis tered with the national Traffic Department (DGT) by January 2, 2026.

Some town and city halls as far apart as Beni dorm in Alicante Province and Bilbao in the Basque Region already require the owners of e-scooters to insure them, but this

E-SCOOTERS: More protection for anyone involved in an accident.

has not been mandatory nationwide until now.

The insurance means there will be fair compensation for anyone involved in an accident caused by an e-scooter or a mobility vehicle.

“We want to reconcile the use of sustainable urban transport with better protection for the victims of accidents involving these new vehicles,” a Ministry of the Economy spokesper-

Accidents involving e-scooters are on the rise, with one leading insurance company alone dealing with 300 serious cases in 2023, when 11 people lost their lives and least 287 people were injured.

Having received Cabinet approval, the draft law will now make its way through the national parliament, a process that will take several months.

AI plant search

THANKS to a research project led by the University of Southampton using Artificial Intelligence (AI), the ‘world’s loneliest plant’ may be lonely no more.

The Encephalartos woodii (E woodii), a plant grown and propagated at the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew, London, is facing a dire situation. With only one male in existence, the plant cannot reproduce and is on the brink of extinction. However, there is a glimmer of hope. AI technology is being harnessed to find a female, potentially saving this unique species from disappearing forever.

Dr Laura Cinti, a research fellow at the University of Southampton, is leading this groundbreaking project. Thousands of acres of the Ngoye Forest in South Africa - where the only known E Woodii was discovered in

1895 - are being scoured using drones. AI is analysing this forest imagery using a model built on an image recognition algorithm. Effectively, it has been trained to recognise plant shapes using generated images of plants that have been put into various ecological settings.

So far, they have covered less than 2 per cent of the 10,000 acres, but Dr Cinti remains hopeful that a female partner for the E woodii will be found.

She said, “I was very inspired by the story of the E woodii; it mirrors a classic tale of unrequited love. I’m hopeful there is a female out there somewhere; after all, there must have been at one time. It would be amazing to bring this plant so close to extinction back through natural reproduction.”

Dr Cinti with E woodii at Kew.

Credit: University of Southampton

Drones over Dublin 84 years overdue

THERE was some amusement as well as surprise when somebody walked into Helsinki’s Oodi Central Library on Monday May 27 with a book that was overdue.

It’s not unusual to be a little delayed in returning a library book, but this one was unusual in as much as it was due back on December 26, 1939 making it just over 84 years late!

The person who returned it isn’t the person who first took out the book The Refugees (Pakolaiset in Finnish) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and it is not known whether there was a fine and if so how much.

Coincidentally, another book which was also 84 years late was returned to Coventry Library in the UK in 2022 and the fine then was calculated at £18.27,

being one old penny a week for the 4,385 weeks it was overdue.

Apparently the book returned in Finland was in remarkably good condition and the library is considering whether to make it available to the current generation of readers, especially as this is a survivor of the Russian

Invasion of Finland which took place at the end of November 1939.

This is not apparently the longest overdue book to be returned in Finland as according to TV station YLE, Helsinki’s Pukinmäki Library received another Conan Doyle novel in 2015 which was 87 years overdue.

DUBLIN Council has launched its first Drone and Ur ban Air Mobility Strategy for the city, which aims to transform how the city utilises drone technology to enhance public services.

Increasingly dro nes are being applied across a range of city services including: mapping, inspecting dangerous buildings and emergency response. They are also being used to access hard-to-reach areas for surveys and environmental monitoring.

Eileen Quinlivan of Dublin City Council, said: “This strategy marks a significant milestone for Dublin City Council. By embracing drone technology we are paving the way for a smarter, more sustainable city.”

A new dedicated Drone Unit is being established in the council to centralise drone operations and develop new services that benefit citizens and communities as the commercial sector grows.

Jim Gavin, Chief Operations Officer of the Irish Aviation Authority, said: “We are delighted to support this initiative by Dublin City Council to develop their drone strategy. By harnessing the potential of drones, Dublin City Council is taking proactive steps to enhance public safety and foster economic growth paving the way for advancements in urban air mobility, benefiting both the public and the broader aviation industry.”

Julie Garland, Founder and CEO of Avtrain, who provided expertise to the council, said: “Drones are revolutionising how we think about urban mobility and public service delivery. Dublin’s strategy is a step towards a future where drone technology can improve our daily lives, enhance safety, and contribute to a more sustainable environment.”

THE REFUGEES: The book was in good condition.

Credit: Oodi Central Library

Photo: Rawpixel CC

Tongue in cheek First erotic restaurant

A YOUNG art student, Alec Geluykens has decided to combine his irritation at the way cyclists are treated in his home Antwerp with his Master’s Degree.

He has created a special art installation the BTS_200X which looks at the difficulty that cyclists face in the city and it is imbued with humour as well as anger with the authorities.

The name stands for Bike To Survive and the 200X refers to the Antwerp post codes.

Describing his creation he said “despite significant government efforts, cycling infrastructure in Antwerp remains inadequate and sometimes even dangerous in many places. With the elections just around the corner, this is the perfect time to highlight the social importance of safe cycling to policymakers.”

Main problems as he sees them are the quality of roads and cycle lanes, long waits for traffic lights to change, dangerous tram tracks and a cycle bridge which leads to steep stairs. His answers include special suspension taken from

a moped to make the ride more bearable, airbags, five wheels forming a roll cage although they do make the bike somewhat higher than norm, an extendable arm to press unreachable light buttons and even a coffee machine so that he can brew up whilst waiting for

traffic lights to change.

Looks and sounds rather odd but this is a working bike and having demonstrated it to Belgian TV crews, he was due to join the monthly Critical Mass bike demonstration through the city on May 31.

IT promises ‘an unprecedented culinary and artistic experience, celebrating passion in all its forms’.

Voglia, Italy’s first ‘erotic restaurant’, has opened in the heart of Milan’s Porta Venezia. It is the brainchild of entrepreneurs Claudia Mangano and Stefano Vaccaro who have created ‘an ode to elegance and sensuality, where every detail is designed to stimulate the senses and enchant the soul’.

Walls and furnishings with erotically inspired images, dishes with ambiguous and alluring names, even a private area with spicy games. This is Voglia Milan’s newest gastronomic experience and Italy’s first erotic restaurant.

The room features a fusion of luxury and suggestive elements, with a combination of brass, red and pink velvet; even the wallpaper has an erotic design. The custom-made plates depict elements and positions from the Kama Sutra.

The menu has been created, ‘to seduce the senses and ignite passion’, it features predomi-

nantly fish and shellfish dishes and the names of the dishes are deliberately ambiguous: ‘Carne Fresca’ (fresh meat) is a beef carpaccio with cream of ginger carrot and spring onion; ‘Juicy’ a lamb loin with courgettes and honey, and ‘Meat Me’ a beef fillet with gremolada, black truffle and fondant leek.

Open Tuesday to Sunday, Voglia offers a varied live performance programme including Retro Burlesque, Old Circus, fire dancers and snake shows.

Photo: Instagram / Voglia

WORKING BIKE: The New BTS_200X.

Credit: Alec Geluykens

Elegance and sensuality.

AROUND 1530, portable spring-powered clocks were a luxury no aristocrat could do without. Sized between a desk clock and a pocketwatch, they could be fastened to clothing or worn around the neck. Mechanical movements required winding twice daily. With engravings and ornaments, gentlemen would wear them as a sign of wealth. Once their practicality was realised, they were used by nightwatchmen keeping track of shifts.

The use by nightwatchmen is where many believe the word ‘watch’ stems from. Centuries passed, and watches appeared more commonly in the 17th century. Before the 1920s, almost all watches were mechanical pocketwatches, and often referred to as railroad watches since they were used by the railroads.

During the First World War soldiers realised that pocket watches were not practical in battle, and the trench watch, or ‘wristwatch’, was developed by the Waltham Watch Company.

A History of Watches

Thereafter, new techniques and complications were invented, and watchmakers strove to outdo competition. Considered an art form by many, there are various types and styles of watch available today, costing from a few Euros to upwards of millions to obtain a one-off grand complications handmade in Switzerland by Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, and others.

Wristwatches are the most common style of watch today. However, recently pocketwatches have re-emerged and are revered by horologists and collectors worldwide. With spe-

cialty watches becoming a standard, some manufacturers have turned to developing watches that can be worn in multiple environments, space, underwater, and by pilots.

Movements are mechanical, Automatic or Quartz (Electronic)

Mechanical /Automatic

Used in luxury or collector timepieces, a mechanical movement is less accurate than a quartz, often losing several seconds a day. They must be manually wound daily. As well as losing time, they can be sensitive to environmental factors, eg position, temperature, elevation, and magnetism. They are costly

to produce and require maintenance and adjustments. Nevertheless, they are a work of craftsmanship, highly regarded by watch enthusiasts. A well-made mechanical timepiece will last several generations, often becoming a family heirloom. Even the most simplistic movements have 130 parts, increasing the more the functions and features (complications) included. Automatic movements run almost identically to Mechanical, but they do not require manual winding.

Quartz

Unlike mechanical and automatic, quartz watches have few moving parts. Prototypes were

made in Switzerland in1959 and first used in the 1964 Olympics. The Seiko 35 SQ Astron, hit high streets on Christmas Day 1969. This initiated a wave of quartz movements to soon became the most popular watch for price and accuracy. With a replaceable battery for power, the quartz movement is used in less expensive timepieces. Even the cheapest children’s quartz is usually more accurate than a mechanical watch.

FIXINGTIME is a family of horologists near Muchamiel. Jeff Odowd (FBHI) is also Chief Examiner for the British Horological Institute, and we are listed in its directory of accredited repairers. We repair/service mechanical, automatic and quartz watches - all makes, including high end brands, and antique and modern clocks.

You can bring your item to us, or we’ll come to you across all Costa Blanca. All quotes are free/no obligation. Contact us on 608 013 157 or info@fixingtime.eu, www.fixingtime.eu.

San Isidro showdown!

FORGET the fancy footwork, the talk at the recent San Isidro festival in Madrid was political, not bovine! The scrapping of a €30,000 national bullfighting prize has ruffled feathers.

The Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun believes bullfighting is on its, err, last legs, hence the left-wing government’s decision to scrap the prize. This has naturally caused a right royal rumpus among aficionados, particularly younger fans. At Las Ventas Bullring, cheers for the matadors were laced with defiance.

Urtasun defends his stance with figures - apparently, only 1.9 per cent of Spaniards attended bullfights in 2021-22. Animal rights concerns are clearly on the rise.

But wait! Enter Isabel Ayuso, the popular conservative Madrid government region’s head. She’s appointed a retired matador, Miguel Abellán, as bullfighting champion, even creating a new prize to replace the axed national one. Other regions are following suit.

Abellán argues bullfighting, an inspiration for artists like Goya and

Picasso, is an economic ‘bull by the horns’, creating 15,000 jobs in Madrid alone. Ironically, some newspapers claim these political spats have rekindled interest in bullfighting amongst the young.

So, much like the sunny and shady sides of the bullring, Spain remains divided on this age-old tradition. With 45 per cent for a ban, 24 per cent in favour and 30.3 per cent undecided, this cultural and political clash is far from over. What’s your view? Anyway, buckle up for a wild ride!

Nora Johnson’s 12 critically acclaimed psychological suspense crime thrillers, including the latest ‘The Couple across the Street’ (www.no ra-johnson.net), all available online at Amazon etc. Profits to Cudeca cancer charity.

Spherical Table Watch Waltham Pocket Watch WW1 Waltham Wrist Watch

Mechanical & Quartz

Random weather Alfresco fiasco

THERE is a move in Italy’s government towards making tables and terraces outside bars, restaurants and nightclubs permanent.

Having become the norm during the Covid pandemic, the law permitting outdoor tables and chairs for ‘alfresco’ dining was only supposed to be temporary. To the delight of customers and restaurateurs, but not without controversy, the summer season will open with the certainty of being able to continue drinking and eating outdoors, after confirmation of the law that allows restaurant and bar owners to use public land without paying a fee.

Carlo Rienzi, president of Codacons, is one of those voicing disagreement. The association has called the proliferation of outdoor

dining and drinking, “a rape of historic centres and cities.”

Rienzi said: “Despite the fact that the conditions of the Covid emergency that had allowed bars and restaurants to occupy public land no longer exist, the government wants to make permanent a measure that has caused only chaos.”

The greatest resistance to outdoor dining among Italians, according to data, is the excessive occupation of pavements,

followed by chaos in the streets and the lack of parking spaces.

And the figures back up the unhappy residents as in the past three years alone the amount of space in Rome used for alfresco dining has more than quintupled, going from 21,000 sq m to 112,000 sq m. and Monica Lucarelli, Rome’s councillor for Commerce called the plans to extend temporary licences as, “absurd and unacceptable.”

MET ÉIREANN, the Irish National Meteorological Service and the leading provider of weather information for Ireland, has admitted to randomly generating forecasts.

Ireland’s weather is unpredictable although at some point, today, tomorrow or the day after, you could be pretty sure that it’s more than likely going to rain. The people of the Eme rald Isle though, could reasonably have expected to depend on an accurate weather forecast.

However, in a recent statement reported in ‘Meanwhile in Ireland’, Met Éireann admitted to randomly generating the forecast. A spokes person stated, “In the new era of artificial intelligence, we decided this would be the most efficient way to predict the weather forecast in Ireland”.

they weren’t “guessing”. But, no matter how badly they got it wrong, they have always been given the benefit of the doubt and the Irish public acknowledged that you can’t always get it right.

Met Éireann doesn’t have a five-star record when it comes to correctly forecasting the weather, even when

However, following the admission from the National Meteorological Service, that same public has been voicing disappointment and anger on social media. Especially as it transpired that they have been randomly generating the weather forecast for several years without anybody realising.

The same spokesperson from Met Éireann said, “When it comes to the weather in Ireland, sure, it’s anyone’s guess. We’ve been getting it wrong all these years, so what’s the difference?”

Outdoor dining space has grown.

Photo: Pickpik CC

More than likely it will rain in Ireland at some point.

Photo: Shutterstock / Mirelaro

A Different Kind of Energy More choose Portugal

Photo: Facebook / Limerick Council

LIMERICK is ready to embrace domestic tourism in summer 2024 with the launch of the ‘Limerick: A Different Kind of Energy’, campaign.

The digital and traditional media campaign aims to inspire, intrigue, and energise visitors, highlighting the endless possibilities that Limerick has to offer.

Over four weeks, the ‘Limerick: A Different Kind of Energy’ campaign will engage audiences through a variety of promotional activities including dynamic TV advertising, national radio competitions, social media influencer partnerships, comprehensive PR efforts, e-newsletters, and digital marketing. Additionally, the campaign will feature an exclusive Spotify playlist, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in Limerick’s unique atmosphere with a curated all-Limerick soundtrack.

The spotlight will shine on a diverse array of experiences across Limerick city

and county, encouraging all Irish people to discover or rediscover hidden gems. From recommended brunch spots and family-friendly eateries to relaxing day spas, top tattooists and scenic road trip destinations, there is something to energise every visitor.

The campaign also highlights Limerick’s rich culinary scene and lively nightlife, with options ranging from Michelin-starred restaurants to cosy pubs and live music venues. Visitors can immerse themselves in Limerick’s warmth and hospitality through its events and festivals, enjoying the unique atmosphere that the city and county have to offer.

Limerick has been overlooked in the past with many visitors favouring Dublin, Galway and Cork, but the campaign aims to show the city’s blend of scenic countryside and urban excitement, making it an ideal visitor destination.

Linda Hall

THE number of le gally-registered Portuguese residents who were born outside the country rose to 1.04 million in 2023.

Of these, 182,000 came from other European Union countries, while 858,000 were from outside the EU. This does not include the roughly 50,000 Ukrainian refugees who have been granted asylum following the Russian invasion.

According to figures from the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA), an unprecedented 329,000 residence permits were issued in 2023, a rise of 130 per cent on 2022.

Again, as with the overall non-Portuguese population, the 38,000 EU applicants were in a mi-

nority, while most of the remaining permits went to Portuguese-speaking countries outside Europe.

In 2022, the last year with available figures, 31 per cent of Portugal’s non-EU population came from Brazil, while Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, East Timor and Sao Tome and Príncipe accounted for 59 per cent.

The Immigration, Bor -

ders and Asylum Service (SEF), forerunner to the AIMA agency which was introduced in October 2023, also revealed that there were 45,265 Britons living in Portugal in 2022. As the number of immigrants, both legal and illegal, soars, together with those seeking asylum, AIMA is not finding it easy to cope with the influx, Opposition parties maintain.

The Social Democratic Party (PSD) said that breaking up SEF and relocating its employees amongst other official institutions was a mistake.

Queues are lengthening outside AIMA offices and with an estimated 350,000 cases still to be settled and more staff set to leave, the situation can only get worse, a PSD spokesperson said.

Scenic countryside.

LISBON: Portugal’s foreign population is increasing.

Photo credit: CC/Filipe Rocha

Mindful motion

Protect your skin

proves flexibility, posture,

viating chronic pain and

nection between mind and body, it also aids in managing

Ideal for those recovering from injury, dealing with chronic pain, or seeking a gentle form of exercise, somatic yoga is especially beneficial

torative way to stay active and

MAY was deemed to be skin cancer awareness month worldwide to educate and prepare us for the sun exposure of the summer months.

While Spain has some of the lowest incidences of recorded melanomas, compared to the rest of Europe, it is still important to be ‘skin smart’ this summer.

The easiest and most effective way is to wear sunscreen with a high sun protection factor (SPF). This will ensure adequate protection against the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays (UVB and UVA).

The rule of thumb is that the fairer you are, the higher the SPF factor you need. This is because SPF is the amount of additional time you can be exposed to the sun compared to without it. So, for those who burn within 10 minutes unprotected, an SPF 50 should protect you 50 times longer. Wearing sunscreen should become part of your daily ritual, even if you are walking to the supermarket. Experts recommend applying it at least 30 mi-

nutes before exposure to the sun to allow for effective absorption.

You may be interested to know that chemist Eugene Schueller launched the first commercial sun product in 1936. The founder of L’Oreal developed the first tanning oil to contain UV radiation filtering.

In 1938, Franz Greiter, a Swiss chemist, was mountaineering and got sunburnt. This led to the invention of the first modern sunscreen. In honour of the mountain that inspired the product, he named his brand Piz Buin. Greiter is also credited with inventing SPF, which wasn’t until 1962.

Polished Man

MEN wearing nail polish is a trend that has gained momentum, surpassing traditional gender norms. This movement is about self-expression, fashion, and breaking stereotypes. Celebrities like Harry Styles, Bad Bunny, and A$AP Rocky have embraced nail polish, influencing many to follow suit.

A particularly interesting trend is the ‘Polished Man’ movement, where men paint one nail to rai -

by celebrities including Chris Hemsworth and Zac Efron, symbolises the one in five children who experience violence. By painting their nails, men not only make a fashion statement but also support a vital cause.

Nail polish allows men to showcase their personality, creativity, and support for social issues, making it a powerful tool for expression and change.

Hormone helper

MORINGA powder, derived from the Moringa oleifera tree, offers numerous health benefits, especially for healthy women experiencing perimenopause and menopause. Rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, it helps alleviate common symptoms.

Moringa powder contains phytoestrogens, which mimic estrogen and can reduce hot flashes and night sweats. Its high calcium and vitamin D content supports bone health, crucial during menopause when the risk of osteoporosis increases.

Additionally, its anti-inflammatory properties reduce joint pain and stiffness, while its rich nutrient profile boosts energy levels and combats fatigue.

Incorporating moringa powder into the diet is easy. Add it to smoothies, sprinkle it on salads, mix it into soups, or blend it with yoghurt.

This versatile powder seamlessly integrates into daily meals, making it simple to enjoy its health benefits.

FRAGRANCE is a cherished luxury, with women spending an average of £150 per year on perfume, and men around £100 on aftershave. This annual investment highlights the importance placed on personal scent and grooming.

Luxury spritz

In the realm of luxury fragrances, the most expensive perfume in the world is ‘Shumukh’, created by The Spirit of Dubai Parfums. Priced at an astonishing $1.29 million, this opulent fragrance is housed in a bottle adorned with gold, diamonds, and

pearls, reflecting its unparalleled exclusivity and craftsmanship.

For aftershave, Clive Christian’s ‘No. 1’ holds the title of the priciest, costing around £2,000 for a 50ml bottle. These elite fragrances not only epitomise luxury, but also underscore the significant value individuals place on their scent choices, making them a vital aspect of personal care and expression.

QUIRKY TOWN

La Tomatina of Buñol

John Smith

IT was in August 1945 that a number of young men attended a Giants parade in the town of Buñol (Valencia) but there was a bit of an unscheduled scuffle.

Suddenly the peace was shattered and members of the crowd raided a vegetable stall and started pelting each other with tomatoes until the Local Police brought the battle to an end.

The following year, various groups of friends turned up with their own tomatoes and started a tradition that was banned for some years but in 1957, there was a formal burial of a giant tomato

in a coffin accompanied by a band playing the funeral march.

From then on it was all systems go for the event which was recognised in 2002 as a Festivity of International Tourist Interest and takes place on the last Wednesday of August each year.

Thanks to TV coverage, up to 50,000 people have descended upon Buñol and it became very difficult to control so nowadays there is a maximum of 20,000 allowed and they have to purchase a ticket costing €12 to take part even to watch.

The tomatoes are shipped in from Extremadura as they are cheaper than lo-

cal tomatoes and in theory the event can’t start until one person climbs a greasy pole and liberates a ham but because that take so long, invariably mayhem breaks out as people get hold of the red fruit and start throwing it. There is one major rule which is that you should squash the tomato first so it doesn’t hurt too much and that you are only allowed to battle for one hour and

then you have to stop and the town starts hosing down the streets immediately.

If you are thinking of going, visit https:// latomatina.info/entradas/ to apply for a ticket, or a number of travel agents offer a range of options including coach trips and overnight accommodation with entry.

Kids are not allowed to take part but they have their own event, normally on the following Saturday when those aged from four to 14 can enjoy their own mini-battle (with no parents allowed in the area) for about half an hour and this is a free event with no advance booking.

All a load of nonsense

AS you all know I love a bit of TV and I enjoy Britain’s Got Talent - except it’s not really is it? I mean every other act is from abroad - Japan or Korea or basically everywhere and also a lot of them are very successful in their own country, winning their country’s version of the show. It’s not really a fair playing field is it? On one hand you’ve got little Johnny from Oldham with (select your own sob story here) against a professional load of singers or an Asian group of karate experts that have come all the way from their own country to compete. It’s called BGT, let it be that. I’m sure there is enough UK talent for it not to be necessary to import it.

So there is going to be a UK general election. Well I’m going to tell you right now it doesn’t matter who you vote for or who wins because every promise they make now to get you to vote for them will be broken. They can’t help it. Every one of them is a lying toe rag. Remember Nick Clegg’s tuition fees pledge?

Building 300,000 new homes per year? Ending rough sleeping? Building 40 new hospitals? Stop the boats? I could list more and more. These are just the Tory ones as they have been in power for over 14 years. But I can assure you the Labour party will not keep their promises either. Don’t forget what Brexit did - we were conned. Covid - we were lied to and conned. All kept inside whilst they were having parties at No.10. It’s all a load of nonsense.

I’m sure many of you have heard of Ozempic. It’s a drug that is being touted as a wonder drug for weight loss and is being sold online for fortunes, mostly to people that want to go from a size 12 to a size 8. If, like me, you were prescribed it by a doctor to help with your diabetes, you will also be peed off that it is no longer available on your prescription because as fast as they make it it’s being wrongly prescribed to salad dodgers by unscrupulous doctors all over the world. It’s quite disgusting really that I can’t get my medication because of a new diet fad. Oh, and by the way, this drug has terrible side effects if misused. That’s why a lot of the fat folks taking it are becoming ill.

Email: mikesenker@gmail.com

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

VIEWS OF A GRUMPY OLD MAN MIKE SENKER IN MY OPINION

La Tomatina at Buñol is not for the faint hearted.

Enjoying a tomato bath.

The children aren’t forgotten.

Credit: La Tomatina

Buñol

Costa del Sol Funding success

THE Mijas Association of Relatives of Alzheimer’s Patients (AFA Mijas) has received funding of just over €90,000 towards the digitalisation of its services, an amount that makes it possible to optimise the treatments received by users.

The mayor of Mijas, Ana Mata, together with the government delegate of the Junta de Andalucia in Malaga, Patricia Navarro, visited the headquarters of AFA Mijas because, as the mayor explained, she wants to continue to work with the association to improve the care provided to patients.

The funding that has been awarded comes from the European Next Generation funds and AFA Mijas was the only organisation to obtain this grant in Malaga Province. The money is being used to buy new computers and digitial whiteboards.

AFA Mijas is a non-profit organisation whose aim is to promote an active lifestyle that maintains the autonomy of people affected by Alzheimer’s.

Axarquia World Oceans Day

CALLING all Almuñecar nature lovers! Saturday, June 8, marks World Oceans Day, and 10 local associations, including Los Nórdicos de Almuñecar, are joining forces for a beach clean-up event.

Los Nórdicos will be focusing on Playa Puerta del Mar, and everyone is welcome to pitch in! Grab your friends, family, and neighbours for a meaningful morning. The meeting point is 9.30am next to Chiringuito La Corrala (on the beach opposite Las Gondolas). Look for the municipal tent.

The plan is to split into two groups, tackling the east and west sections of the beach. The clean-up will take about an hour, wrapping up at 10.45am back at La Corrala.

To show their appreciation, Chiringuito La Corrala will be offering a drink with tapas to all participants after the clean-up. Don’t forget to bring a large plastic bottle (or similar) to collect cigarette butts, along with some gardening gloves (or any type of gloves).

Mallorca Alucudiamar Regatta

ON June 1 and 2, the port of Alcudiamar hosted the fourth edition of the ‘Trofeo Alcudiamar - Projecte Home Balears’ regatta. This charity competition for ORC/RI cruise boats has firmly established itself within the Balearic regatta calendar, blending intense competition at sea with engaging social activities on land.

Throughout the two-day event, both sailors and visitors enjoyed a variety of activities designed to enrich the experience. Environmental and sustainability workshops, such as the ‘Microplastic Watcher’ organised by Cleanwave Education and ‘Paddle and Snorkel for Science’ by Mar de Fondo, provided educational insights.

Attendees also learned to tie nautical knots with the Fishermen’s Guild of Alcudia and explored the electric sailboat ‘Galaxie’. The Palma Aquarium Foundation educated participants on the dangers facing the Mediterranean, while boat trips and concerts added to the festive atmosphere.

Costa Blanca North Hidden gem

VILLAJOYOSA, the picturesque town on the Costa Blance, has been named the number one hidden gem in Europe by European Best Destination, a platform dedicated to promoting tourism across the continent.

This year, they’ve picked some real rare finds! Among the highlights are Naantali in Finland, Pico Island’s volcano in the Azores, the charming half-timbered houses of Ulm in Germany, the colorful painted village of Cicmany in Slovakia, Wuppertal’s unique suspended metro, the green-roofed houses of Bour, and the floating houses on Lake Bokod in Hungary.

But it is Villajoyosa that steals the spotlight this year.

Known for its wonderful climate, Villajoyosa is “shielded from the north winds by the Sierras de Aitana”, providing a pleasant microclimate and comfortable temperatures year-round. The town’s unique architecture is another major draw.

Almeria

Top destination

ACCORDING to travel portal, Destinia, the number of reservations in Spain for the summer months has already increased by 54 per cent compared to the previous period.

One of the reasons for this increase is the fact that potential travellers are looking to book early in order to try to obtain the best deals and guaranteed cheapest prices.

Beatriz Officialdegui, Destina Marketing Director, said: “We Spanish are getting a long way ahead of ourselves compared to other years. We increasingly see that the cost of holidays are going up so what we do is to get in early to combat this steady increase.”

There has been a huge surge in popularity for Almeria in general and Mojacar in particular with the province jumping from last year’s fifth place to this year’s first.

Mojacar leads the way as top destination and other popular provinces are Tarragona, Gran Canaria, Malaga, Cadiz and Alicante.

Costa Calida Day of Murcia

THE Day of the Region of Murcia, celebrated on June 9, is a significant occasion that honours the rich history, culture, and autonomy of the Murcia region. This date commemorates the establishment of the Statute of Autonomy of the Region of Murcia in 1982, marking its recognition as an autonomous community within Spain.

Festivities on this day are vibrant and varied, reflecting the region’s unique identity. Parades, traditional music and dance performances, and cultural exhibitions fill the streets, showcasing Murcia’s heritage and pride.

The Day of the Region of Murcia not only promotes a sense of community and regional pride but also serves as a reminder of the region’s journey towards greater self-governance and its contributions to the broader Spanish society.

This year as it falls on a Sunday it is not classed as an official bank holiday and does not carry over to Monday.

PETS

No cattle class

Find animal loving pet-sitters for your pets

ner on HouseSitMatch.com

WE have all heard the saying ‘pigs might fly’ but now thanks to an American company BARK Air, dogs will fly.

With effect from May 23 BARK Air have started regular flights between Los Angeles, New York and London using specially chartered aircraft which have a capacity of 15 dogs and their human partners, although they undertake not to take bookings for more than 10 pairs.

Until now, apart from assistance dogs, if you wanted to travel with your dog, you would sit in the cabin and depending on size, your dog would either be in a bag with you or in a container in the hold. There’s none of this with BARK Air, the dog is the guest and the human is there for the ride!

BARK Air has taken the white glove experience typical of a human’s first-class experience and redirected all that pampering to pooches - from booking to arrival, to in-flight services and disembarkation, dogs will truly be the VIPs and treated to a positively luxurious, curated experience.

They are assigned seats, only have to wear leads for take off and landing, will be offered a range of treats and

LEAVING pets anywhere when you travel on holiday can be stressful. And many believe it is always best to keep them at home in their own surroundings, if at all possible, ideally with a caring pet lover who’ll watch over them. By joining a house-sitting platform like HouseSitMatch we can help you meet checked house and pet-sitters who will travel to your home and care for your pets for free!

Plus HouseSitMatch Saves Money because the Pet-sitting is Free!

the concierge is even on hand to clean up after any unfortunate accidents.

It’s not cheap with the New York to London flight costing $8,000 one way although the human travels at no extra cost, but it is easy with the flights leaving small private airfields such as Biggin Hill in the UK.

If you use HouseSitMatch.com you find free checked pet-sitters who pay their way to stay in your home caring for your pets in your absence. It’s an arrangement facilitated by a managed online system. Our house and pet-sitting works as an exchange of services - free accommodation for free pet care!

HouseSitMatch is Safe - All Members Are Checked All members are checked for

safety, and you choose which house-sitters come to care for your pets in your absence. Your pets stay at homeSafe and Undisturbed All pets benefit from staying at home, so their routines are undisturbed. Choose House sitmatch.com for affordable travel, home and pet care and peace of mind for you and your pets. If you’re travelling in 2024 join now and get organised today:

1. Register as a homeow-

2. Choose a Premium account (£89 pa) to ensure you get help online

3. Create a profile with photos of your pets and home

4. Post an advert for the dates when you want to go away. Sitters apply and you choose.

How does it work? Join our network for a small annual fee. You get ID checked for safety, then build an advert to find sitters. House-sitters see your advert, respond and you choose from the applicants.

Trustpilot Testimonials – 4.9 / 5 Excellent

Sherel and John looked after Harry… Sherel and John looked after Harry early April. They sent photos and mails to inform us how he was getting on. My neighbours tell us Harry had plenty of walks. Sherel and John are very nice people, and we highly recommend them as excellent sitters.

Tom Curry, pet owner, Spain

How do you join? Register online via www.Housesitmatch.com

Need a pet or house-sitter? House-sitting is a win-win, free house and pet-sitting exchanged for free accommodation! Reader exclusive offer - 20% Off Any New Membership Register as either house-sitter or homeowner. Get a 20% discount - Use coupon code PERFECT20.

KEEPING your dog’s breath fresh can be a challenge, but healthy snacks can make a big difference. Carrots and apple slices are excellent choices, providing a crunchy texture that helps clean teeth while delivering essential vitamins.

Blueberries are another fantastic option, rich in antioxidants and promoting overall oral health.

Green beans are low in calories and high in fibre, making them a great snack

F

resh bites

for dental hygiene. Additionally, parsley is known for its breath-freshening properties and can be added to your dog’s meals or snacks in moderation. For a ready-made solution, dental chews specifically designed to reduce plaque and tartar are effective and enjoyable for dogs.

These natural, wholesome snacks not only contribute to fresher breath but also support your dog’s overall health and well-being.

John Smith

Meet Nicky originally from Wales who loves to travel by pet-sitting.

APPLIANCE REPAIRS

GRILLS

LOCKSMITHS

PAINTERS/DECORATORS

POOLS

CONSTRUCTION

64 CLASSIFIEDS

ARCHITECT

BUILDING SERVICES

J & J PAINTERS. Inside - outside - clean - fast - low cost. Torrevieja - Orihuela Costa and surrounding areas. Tel: 650 363 159 (304595)

BUY & SELL

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

OVER 400 DVD’s for sale. As new. €300 ONO. 0044 7971 459588 (WhatsApp) (305596)

BUSINESS OPP

LOOKING for silent partner in private care home, near Alicante.50k buy in, 50 %. 20 k net per year return. Call 747 4382 25. (305759)

CARE HOME

PRIVATE CARE HOME Full Board and Care. Also, Dementia care. British Owned near Alicante. Luxurious Villa. €1,200 per month. Call 747 438 225 (305685)

CHARITY

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS IS

ALCOHOL COSTING YOU MORE THAN MONEY? Drinking to excess not only affects your health it can spill over into every other aspect of your lifedamaging everything that is important to you. English-speaking AA meetings

are held throughout the Costa Blanca from Valencia City to Murcia. Anyone wishing to attend a meeting or discuss a possible drinking problem contact Costa Blanca North: 648 169 045 or Costa Blanca South: 625 912 078 or Costa Calida 679 385 105 All calls are treated in the strictest confidence. AA in German: 645 456 075; Spanish: 679 212 535; Flemish: 635 047 053; and Scandinavian: 659 779 222. www.aa-costablanca.org (93323)

CAMPELLO CONTRA CANCER in conjunction with AECC Association Español Contra Cancer. Please support your local Cancer charity and if you wish to obtain literature or simply talk to someone. Please contact Mina or Trisha. Tel 650 071 278 or 610 921 413 e-mail aecc_campello@ hotmail.com (95475)

CANCER SUPPORT GROUP (MABS) MURCIA/MAR MENOR Help and support is just a phone call away, Avda Rio Nalón, Tel: 693 275 779 (95462)

CHURCH SERVICE IN ENGLISH Tel: 950 617 549 www. givinglight.com.(10006)

FREEMASONRY Are you aware that Freemasonry is thriving on the Costa Blanca? There are various Lodges meeting up throughout the Valencia region. If you already are a Mason or simply wish to know more about Freemasonry in Spain please contact  sec@glpvalencia. com Tel 600 841 064 (95477)

HELP VEGA BAJA. We are a non-profit making organisation that helps and supports anyone, without prejudice, in times of need or crisis within the Vega Baja area. Our offices are based in San Miguel at Calle Lope de Vega 46 (Tel 966 723 733), Torrevieja at Rambla Juan Mateo Garcia 4 (Tel 965 704 282). We are online at www.helpvegabaja.

com and also on Facebook. You can email the San Miguel Centre at office@helpvegabaja.com. We also have a 24-hour Emergency helpline which is available to both members and non-members on 966 723 733 (95456)

INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN ASSEMBLY, TORREVIEJA Calle Beniajan 16, Torrevieja 03185, Alicante Evangelical non-denominational church. Sunday morning Services at 11.00am. All nationalities welcome - Contact 966 752 543 / 966 799 273. For other church matters phone: 966 799 273 / /617 215 463 www. icatorrevieja.org (95476)

LA SIESTA EVANGELICAL CHURCH on Urbanisation La Siesta, Torrevieja is a friendly, English-speaking church. For more information, including details of our services, see our website www.lasiestaevangeli calchurch.org (10005)

PHILIP SCOTT LODGE No 10671 of the RAOB. Please call the secretary, Colin Bird on 693 287 614 for further information. (95459)

PILAR CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY CHURCH. All welcome from any church background or none. For further information, www.pilarchurch.org Reg No: 2009-SG/A (95463)

ROYAL Air Force Association Costa Blanca Registered Members Group:  The RAFA Costa Blanca RMG replaces the RAFA Costa Blanca Branch 1359 which is now closed. The RMG is a social group of caring people and remains affiliated to the parent Association. Contact with the Royal Air Force Association and the RMG can be made via the RAFA website  rafa.org. uk Tel:0044 800 018 2361. (238593)

nearest one at, http://branches. britishlegion.org.uk/branches/ orihuela-costa - covering from Punta Prima to San Javier. More info can be found on branch website www.orihuelacostarbl. co.uk. (95457)

ROYAL BRITISH LEGION Gran Alacant & La Marina Branch. For info, contact the branch Secretary at granalacant.secretary@rbl. community

ROYAL MARINES ASSOCIATION (Costa Blanca) The aim of the Association is to bring together not just ex Royal Marines, but ex Service personnel with an affinity to the Royal Marines. For further details contact Hon Sec P S Wilkins Tel: 966 194 158 email: inkinspain@yahoo.co.uk (10004)

THE ROYAL NAVAL ASSOCIATION TORREVIEJA Branch (RNATB) meets throughout the year on the 1st Wednesday of each and every month at 1700. Currently this is at the Lakeview Bar & Restaurant, Calle Toledo 16, Ciudad Quesada 03170, Alicante. Or contact: The Chairman, Tony Jenkins. Email  ChairmanRNATB@ Gmail.com  Mob: +34 693 866709 or +4470576117222 (What’s App). The Treasurer, Carl Louden. Email carllouden@ msn.com  Mob +34678518202 (What’s App). The Secretary, Steve Hemigfield. Email SecretaryRNATB@gmail. com Mob +34 711011372 (What’s App) (95455)

spiritualistcentre-benijo far.com.  Telephone 711 060 171. Email martindroute66@ hotmail.com. Fiscal G54713789

MOVERS AND SHAKERS We are a non-profit organisation that supports people and their families with neurological diseases such as; HUNTINGTON’S, ATAXIA, MOTOR NEURONE, MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS and PARKINSON’S. Our MOVERS AND SHAKERS CLUB held every Friday @ 1pm –3pm, is a chance for members to meet up socially, for a drink and a chat on a full range of topics and to exchange ideas and information. The club is held at O’Briens Bar in El Raso, Guardamar del Segura (except July and August). For more details, contact Marion Smith on 711 008 250, or email: marion.smith@amscb.org.es, or you can find us on Facebook : fb@movers and shakers www. amscb.org.es (295976)

ELECTRICIAN

Travel, Life, Funeral, all insurances available. Policies in English. BEST rates, covers & service. Immediate quotes. Tel 961 129 215 / 622 275 561, (WhatsApp) info@beneficialinsuranceinspain. com or visit www.beneficialinsuranceinspain.com for online quote. (303245)

STAY SAFE! Abbeygate Insurance Call 971 277 455 For your security www.abbeygateinsure. com

MASSAGE

FRENCH, ELÉGANTE, slim, Sophie, 3 languages spoken. Experienced in a large variety of full body massages. Villamartin apartment or can travel to all areas. 693 357 526 (303965)

MELISSA 26, Wonderfull and Relaxing Massages with care. Private. House nº 75 at La Zenia. Tel: 602 662 458 (300041)

EXPERIENCE the best with a 1hr unique massage with Veronica. Shaving or permanent hair removal available. For appointments call 679 292 678 (303934)

MAGIC TOUCH, French, speaks 3 languages, professional masseuse, tantric. Apartment in Villamartin and home visits. Tel 693 357 526 (303833)

CLASSIC MATURE SPANISH LADY, Playa Flamenca area, private premises, all massage services from 50€. Ana 657 603 495 (305440)

MERY Polish, exotic and relaxing massage, all the best care and best attention. CAMPOAMOR 672539332 (300361)

CORAL 32 Colombian for all relaxing massages in Calle Turquesa (close to La Zenia Boulevard). Tel 643 42 98 62 (300041)

ROYAL BRITISH LEGION - Why not make this year the year you volunteer? 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 tbuddyhhvisits@ 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

STROKE ASSOCIATION Spain (formally known as Torrevieja stroke support) Our aim is to help and support stroke survivors and their carers, with rehabilitation, speech therapy, OC therapy and a very active social group. For info please contact 653 588 475 English and 620 907 474 Spanish or email strokesupportgroup@ hotmail.com, website: torre viejastrokesupport.org. We are always looking for volunteers who have the skills and knowledge to support. (95473)

THE ANGLICAN CHURCH, La Fustera. For more info: contact Frank Bentley on 966 495 188. (95461)

THE BAKER Foundation Spiritual Centre Playa Flamenca. Calle Luis Gordillo, 1 Playa Flamenca Alicante 03189. You can join us on Facebook, The Baker Foundation spiritual centre. Or contact Linda Schug Tel. 606 990 665 for more details (95458)

THE PATIENCE LODGE No 2177 of the R.A.O.B Please call Secretary Dave Tonge on 688 704 091 for further information. (253807)

THE SPIRITUALIST CENTRE, Benijofar meets at Hamilton’s Bake House, 62 Calle Vicente, Blasco Ibañez, Benijofar 03178.  We hold a Sunday Sevrice at 11.30am. For further information: www.

AND STILL HAVE 100% COVER. YOU HAVE TRIED THE REST NOW TRY THE BEST WITH SOS INSURANCE. WE CAN EVEN INSURE YOU FOR UP TO A €1,000 OF WATERLOSS. CALL 686 116 297 (WHATSAPP TO) OR VISIT www.sosinsuran

SLIM appealing lady, 46, offering a pleasant massage. Mil Palmeras. OUTCALLS ONLY. Contact leilapuss@yahoo. co.uk (303976)

TORREVIEJA Miriam. Mature, gives relaxing body massage. Speak English. Call 604 382 799(300363)

MISCELLANEOUS

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

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

MOTORHOMES

MOTORHOME / Campervan wanted. Left or right hand drive. Cash waiting for right van. Tlf 650 722 905

MUSIC

FOR SALE 2 brand new Grundig Hi-Fi speakers 50watt, 26 x 18cm. €25. 699 321 591 (304542)

MUSIC TUITION

PIANO, Keyboard, Organ, Qualified Teacher. Please call 606 984 535 (303913)

OTHERS

KAMAGRA Gold 100mg, Kamagra Jellies, Super Viagra & Cialis (Weekender) available. Collection or delivery. Roy - 613 584 915 (295447) tp

EDS?  We have the solution, Kam agra pills & jells, Cialis, Sidenafil, over 7 products for men & ladies, mixed trial packs.Available by mail-order. WhatsApp or call 603 117 394

PAPERWORK SERVICES

DRIVING LICENCE Exchange + Vehicle Transfer Service. No trip to tráfico, registered DGT representative. Orihuela Costa and Surrounding Area 691 961 315 victoria.scott1985@ gmail.com (300296)

PERGOLAS

TAILOR-MADE in durable canvas, made to measure pergola covers, cushions, sails, umbrella, spa and CAR COVERS. Mazarron based, and reaching Almeria to Costa Blanca, plus mail order.  Google: KrugerCanopies.com WhatsApp: 667 879 399 krugercanopies@ yahoo.co.uk (290152)

PET CHARITY

EASYHORSE CARE RESCUE CENTRE. We aim to rescue HORSES. If you would like to DONATE please call 965 967 033 or sales@easyhorsecare.net

www.easyhorsecare.net or call Sue 652 021 980 (95706)

GATAMI ORGANISATION, to help kittens and cats, looking for good homes, also spaying wild cats in the community. Kittens require adoption, fully vaccinated, de-wormed, de-flead. volunteers to Tel Anna: 966 806 976 / 654 729 977 (95709)

P.E.P.A. VOLUNTEERS & FOSTER HOMES URGENTLY NEEDED. By fostering an abandoned dog or spending a few hours each week on our telephone helpline, you could help save the lives of many animals. Please call: 650 304 746. For more information browse our website: www.pepaspain.com (95708)

SPAMA GANDIA SHELTER. Dog and cat rescue registered charity, La Safor area. 500 animals awaiting rehoming. Phone Gail 962 896 118. Visit our website for directions. www.spama.org and view our new blog at www. spama-safor.blog.com.es PLEASE HELP US TO HELP THEM (95707)

PLUMBERS

MR FIXIT. For all your electrical, plumbing, general & appliance & boiler repairs. No call out charge. 698 320 434 (294864)

POOL MAINTENANCE

POOL MAINTENANCE Repairs, Spares and Leak Testing. Call 865 758 056 / 676 945 360 www. pooltechspain.com (294924)

PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR

PRIVATE Investigator, Debts Collected, Bad Tenants, Solicitor

Two years for EV refund

THERE has been quite a lot of discussion in Weekly News and our social media sites with regards to the intro duction of electric ve hicles.

Generally speaking the overall opinion of tho se readers who spoke to us was a definite thumbs down, but the speculation prompted one of our rea ders John Cavett to share his story.

He explained that “in the summer of 2021 I had decided that my trusty 22 year old Hyundai had to go and after looking around, decided that a fully electric vehicle was the way to go. More research lead me to the Dacia Spring, a new model which was eligible under MOVES.”

MOVES is a Spanish Government Scheme whereby if you buy an electric vehicle of an approved sort and scrap an old petrol/diesel vehi-

vernment of up to €7,000 and at that time a 70 per cent contribution for the purchase and installation of a home charging point.

John visited his Local Renault/Dacia Agents in Torrevieja and placing an order took delivery of the vehicle in December 2021.

“The agents took copies of all of my documents they needed and were ‘dealing’ with the MOVES claim for me but were unsure as to the timescale. I had a home charging point installed by a legal Spanish electrician, paid

“This is where the problems started. I was asked to provide a Tax Residency Certificate which I obtained and took a copy to the agents. All goes quiet for a while. I did get my Spanish solicitor, a real abogado, to call the lady in Madrid who was processing my claim and he seemed content with the conversation.

“The following year I was asked to bring the car to the agents so photos could be taken at the request/demand of the authorities together with

a document for me to sign. Duly done. Quiet again. December 2023, yet another demand for photos and another form to sign. Shortly followed by demand for ‘proof of purchase’, (As if the agents would give me the vehicle if it wasn’t paid for) followed shortly for a request from the agents for me to bring the matriculation document so they could copy it and forward to the authorities.

“This they had previously done but had not included a blank page of the document, quite sensibly in my view, The page in question is blank for new vehicle matriculation documents. As I understand it, these later items were from the Valencian Authorities to whom the claim had been sent.

“Here I am just under two and a half years later and I still haven’t received a eurocent back!”

Credit: John Cavett

Audi A3 Black - Sporting and classic saloon

By Mark Slack ROAD TEST

THERE are few companies that build sa loon cars in the traditional sense, such is the dominance of the SUV that even es tate cars are few and far between nowa days. One company that still builds fine examples of both is Audi. Their A3 mo del is a perfect example of a compact saloon that looks both classy and stylish along with a suitably sporting drive.

However, that classy and stylish look might not be upheld to some people if you had an A3 in Python Yellow, to say it’s bright is somewhat of an understatement. That said, the bright colour with black badging does make a statement compared to the myriad of muted tones that seem to adorn most cars there days.

Facts at a Glance

• Model: Audi A3 Saloon Black 35TFSI stronic

• Engine: 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder, petrol developing 150PS

• Gears: 7-speed S tronic automatic

• Price: €44,942/£38,260

• Performance: 0 – 100kph/62mph 8.4 seconds, maximum speed

The A3 saloon range starts from €35,366/£30,080 and encompasses a wide range of trim levels, body styles and equipment. Engine options of 1.5-litre in two power outputs along with a 2.0-litre diesel are offered with both manual and automatic transmission. High performance S3 and RS3 models offer larger, twin-turbo engines.

Standard equipment across the range

232kph/144mph

• Economy: 5.2l per 100km/54.3mpg

• Emissions: 133g/km

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

phone charging, Apple Car Play and Android Auto. Various packs provide additional choice from powered front seats and panoramic sunroof to

adaptive cruise control and matrix LED headlights.

Mention must be made of Audi’s confusing naming of engines, you don’t get the engine size but power, and then it doesn’t seem to correspond to the actual power.

For example my Black Edition 35 TFSI S tronic has an engine that develops 150PS, so where’s the 35 come in? Thankfully this apparent illogicality doesn’t translate to the car.

Priced at €44,942/£38,260 the 35

TFSI Black Edition model I was driving is adorned with more sporting looks, yet with a 0 to 100kph/62mph time of 8.4 seconds the performance isn’t exactly lacking either. On the road the Audi’s typically firm ride still manages to soak up the bumps and potholes and handling wise it’s a delight. The S tronic gearbox provides smooth and responsive changes making for an all-together enjoyable drive.

If you think being a saloon hampers the practicality, well not as much as you might imagine. A trip to the garden centre saw two largish bags of compost and a couple of planters fit in the boot. All told the A3 offers a terrific choice of sporting credentials and classic saloon style in compact form.

includes sports front seats, powered, heated and folding door mirrors, auto dimming door and rear view mirrors, tri-zone climate control, navigation, wi-

reless

Los Blancos beat Die Schwarzgelben

BOTH King Felipe VI and Spanish President Pedro Sánchez took to X to congratulate Real Madrid on their success at winning the UEFA Champions League Cup.

The match took place at a crowded Wembley Stadium on the evening of Saturday June 1 and was a fairly even match in the first half, although it appeared that Borussia Dortmund had a pas sion that might well allow them to break through.

In the event, it wasn’t to be as Dani Carvajal and Vinícius Júnior ear ned Los Blancos a 2-0 win mea ning that they had won the cup for the 15th time.

Both goals were gifted to Real

Madrid by defender’s mistakes but in both cases, as there was so much riding on the outcome, the goal scorers had to keep their wits about them rather than panic in front of goal.

It was a night of success for both the old guard and new guard taking centre stage as German

Toni Kroos played his last match for Real Madrid and 38-year-old Luka Modrić came on as a substitute whilst England’s Jude Bellingham who will be 21 on June 29 showed why he is in such demand.

Manager (Don) Carlo Ancelotti has now been involved with five European Cup

wins, two with AC Milan and three with Real Madrid and he certainly has to be considered one of the greatest managers of modern times.

This match brought the European football season to a close, but don’t worry football fans, the UEFA European Football Championship 2024 opens in Germany on June 14 and

Basketball honoured

THE unexpected silver medal collected by the Spanish men’s basketball team in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games undoubtedly promoted the sport in Spain.

Despite the fact that Russia and Hungary withdrew from the event in a tit for tat response to the USA boycott of Moscow 1980, the previous Gold Medal winners Yugoslavia did take part as did the USA which went on to take Gold.

Spain beat Yugoslavia in the semi finals but were, in turn well beaten by the USA but this shouldn’t take away any of the glory of that team.

On May 31, the surviving members of the team and relatives of those who have died were invited to La Moncloa in Madrid to receive the Gold Plate of the Royal Order of Sports Merit from President Pedro Sánchez in honour of their achievement 40 years ago.

Also invited and presented with the Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Sports Merit was female basketball player Laia Palau who is credited with fighting to see women’s basketball recognised here in Spain.

In his speech, Pedro Sánchez said “we honour two relevant sporting careers,” one individual and the other collective, “that have marked the history of Spanish sport,” but, “above all” “great people, bearers of extraordinary values.”

He also spent some time praising the persistence of Laia Palau in fighting against the “the machismo that, unfortunately, still exists in our society.”

Real Madrid were triumphant winners.

Real Madrid X