Costa Blanca North 10 - 16 October 2024 Issue 2049

Drones redefine safety

IN the breathtaking Puig Campana de Finestrat, drones have revolutionised rescues. The Local Police now harness the power of these unmanned aircraft

to swiftly guide lost hikers and locate individuals in remote and challenging terrain within the natural landscape. They have also delivered

crucial supplies such as food, medicine, and thermal blankets to those in need, all before the arrival of rescue teams.

Recently, a thrilling demonstration showcased the incredible capabilities of these unmanned aircraft in supporting security forces and emergency responders.

The municipality’s forward-thinking approach to embracing cutting-

edge technologies was on full display as the mayor explained how Puig Campana is set to become an ‘intelligent’ space, ensuring comprehensive geolocation coverage for heightened security and enhanced emergency response.

Exciting times lie ahead as this innovative technology transforms the region into a safer and more secure haven for all.

Costa Blanca North • Issue No. 2049 • 10 - 16 Oct 2024 FREE

Puig Campana set to become more safe and secure.

TO celebrate the ‘Day of the Valencian Community’ on October 9, La Nucia held an epic concert at the l’Auditori. The Unio Musical de La Nucia band performed a variety of works, including the Christian march Te Deum, the pasodoble Suspiros del Serpis, and a selection dedicated to the centenary of the birth of Valencian poet Vicent Andres Estelles. The programme also featured El Boliquet, the winning piece in the ‘third La Nucia Pasodobles Composition Contest’.

Valencia celebrated DomusVi Awards

Aside from the musical aspect, the event showcased breathtaking Valencian dance performances by the La Nucia Traditional School of Dance and the Almadrava Dance Group. The concert was concluded very aptly, with interpretations of the Hymn of La Nucia

and the Hymn of the Valencian Community by the tenor maestro Miguel Valois.

Following the stage performance, attendees, accompanied by the dance groups, went

to the Placa de l’Almassera. Here, they got to experience the cherished Valencian custom of ‘Mocadora’. They were handed a beautifully wrapped handmade sweet, nestled in a typical handkerchief. To show their appreciation of this free concert and to support a local cause, guests made a donation, which was then passed to the Spanish Association Against Cancer.

ON October 4, the second edition of the highly significant DomusVi Awards took place at the Domus Residence in El Campello. The event was honoured by the presence of the councillor for the Elderly, Maricarmen Aleman, and her team, who demonstrated their unwavering support for the residents as they celebrated the International Day of Older Persons.

The initiative’s motto, ‘Being older has a reward,’ was brought to life through the unique qualities of the four award recipients.

The Lifetime Achievement Award was in recognition of Rafael Galvan Espla’s exceptional life and professional career. The El Vincle Public

School and the El Campello Dance Therapy Group of AMEC were recognised with the Senior Citizens Award for their unique efforts to work and raise awareness in society about the needs of the elderly.

The Veteran Award was given to a worker of the Mar Cobarro Centre, acknowledging their dedication to the profession. Lastly, the Experience Award was presented to Ana Jimenez, recognising her professional career as a user of the centre.

The event, a testament to the hard work and dedication of director Amelia Gomariz Verdu and her team, brought together authorities, families, and carers.

Family-friendly activities

ON October 9, Altea hosted a series of events to commemorate the Day of the Valencian Community. These festivities are organised by the Consistory in honour of the entry of King James I into Valencia in 1238.

The Department of Linguistic Normalisation, led by Mayor Xelo Gonzalez, arranged various family-friendly activities for the occasion. The day kicked off with the popular October 9 Race, organised by the Department of Sports. The race commenced at 9.00am from the Plaza de los Deportes.

Later in the afternoon, the Department of Linguistic Normalisation presented the Valencian Goose Game at 5.30pm in the Town Hall Square. This game was open to families with participants aged six and above and featured entertaining challenges for the teams.

Following the game, at 6.30pm, a snack was provided in the Town Hall Square, and the winners of the Drawing Contest were announced. At 7.00pm, there were traditional Valencian dances and a workshop on making the ‘mocadorada’. For those who are unaware, this is a Valencian tradition involving gifting a handmade sweet wrapped in a typical handkerchief.

Day of the Valencian Community Concert.

World Mental Health Day

OVER the years, mental health has gained momentum and is actively discussed. However, there is still a long way to go before it is recognised as equally important as physical health. Perhaps by then, we won’t need a special day to remind society to acknowledge and make changes to address mental health issues. Until such a time comes, that day is Thursday, October 10.

World Mental Health Day is a relatively new concept, established in 1992 as a World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) annual activity. Its purpose is to raise awareness of mental health issues on a global scale with a unified voice and galvanise action and lasting change. Perhaps more importantly, it also helps those dealing with mental health concerns feel

heard in an empathetic way and maybe even empowers them to take action of their own.

In 1994, a decision was made to incorporate a theme into each year; this year is no exception. Taking a lead from the impact of Covid on work environments, the theme is ‘It is time to prioritise mental health in the workplace’.

Among the 2,000 mem-

bers who voted, spanning 116 countries, this was seen as the most urgent concern in the world today.

This is unsurprising when you consider just how many waking hours adults spend working. It is a sad reality that, globally speaking, mental health issues such as depression and anxiety are still extremely prevalent in the work environment.

A listening ear

HOW often do you ignore your feelings?

How often do you choose not to speak about how you are feeling because you are concerned about its effect on others?

Feelings are the only indicator we have by which to assess our mental well-being, and we experience them for a reason. Yet, all too often, it is seen as a weakness to seek help for our emotions.

Here in Spain, there is an organisation expressly set up to support all English speakers, irrespective of their nationality, with any negative thoughts or feelings that are having a detrimental effect on their mental well-being.

This service is offered via a FREEPHONE number, 900 525 100, which is accessible throughout mainland Spain and the Islands. Ordinarily, the phones would be manned between 10.00am and 10.00pm every day. However, at present, the service is available until midnight and Samaritans in Spain have committed to maintaining these longer hours until the end of the year. When you take the important step to call their number, you can rest assured that you will be able to speak with one of their listeners in complete confidence and without any fear of judgement. This is because their volunteers are deeply committed and undergo extensive training and mentoring sessions before they are allowed to take calls.

For further information visit www.samaritansinspain.com.

Survivor’s guilt

WHEN a loved one does the ‘unthinkable’ and takes their own life, the pain that it brings is indescribable. The natural inclination is to make yourself responsible for what happened, as ‘survivor’s guilt’ has you asking yourself some very difficult questions. Questions like, ‘What if I had seen the signs?’, ‘What if I had been there more?’ or ‘What if I had just taken that phone call?’. The list is endless, and the sad and very harsh reality is that their life wasn’t yours to save. However, knowing this and accepting it are two very different things that only come with time. While diagnosable health conditions like depression may be indicators, often the signs that we believe we ‘should have seen’ were never there to begin with. Suicide and contemplating suicide are very complex, and sometimes, there can be as little as five to 15 minutes between someone deciding to attempt it and doing it.

Be kind to yourself

WE all have bad days when things get on top of us and we feel worse than we are. When this happens, it is important to acknowledge those feelings and give yourself permission ‘to not be okay’.

This sounds simple enough, but as humans, we are all too good at beating ourselves up, especially when we feel we have ‘failed’ somehow.

However, aside from it being ‘ok to not be ok’, it should be expected from time to time. No matter how high functioning we are ordinarily, we are not robots, and this is something that we need to remind ourselves of. More than this though, this is the time to be extra kind to ourselves.

To take time for ‘us’ and do something that makes us feel good, and that can be as simple as a relaxing bath, a few minutes of meditation, a relaxing walk or even a trip to the gym.

A last resort

ACCORDING to the latest data from the World Health Organisation, more than 720,000 people die due to suicide every year, and it was the third leading cause of death among 15-29-year-olds recorded in 2021. However, an even more sobering thought is that for every suicide, there are far many more suicide attempts.

There is a well-documented link between suicide and diagnosed mental health disorders. This is particularly true in the case of depression and alcohol related disorders. However, it is important to recognise that life in general can just as easily lead to a person reaching that extreme level of desperation. This can include financial problems, relationship breakdowns, illnesses and the effect of chronic or debilitating pain.

Remembering Lucy Barnes Henry

Mental health issues are still prevalent in the workplace.

Alfas Anglicans

THE Alfas Anglicans have had a busy few weeks with two separate events. The rst took place at the end of September, with 17 members and friends getting together for a fun- lled quiz afternoon. The occasion was made even nicer by being held at one of the members’ homes, who generously provided an unlimited supply of tea and biscuits.

With ve teams competing, and rotating around tables containing the ve di erent quizzes, the afternoon was lled with laughter and a delightful time was had by all. Together with the ra e, they successfully raised €244, which will go towards their chaplaincy funds.

Their subsequent event took place on Sunday October 6, when a service was held in honour of Harvest Thanksgiving. Fr Paul was the celebrant, and Alan Brown was the preacher. This year, they decided to collect money for the local Food Bank and were thrilled by the generosity shown by their members. They raised a grand total of €500, which was gratefully received when delivered to the charity the next day.

A service of Holy Communion is held in Alfas del Pi every Sunday at 9.30am at The Comm (formerly the Mare Nostrum). They also hold a weekday service every Thursday at 11.00am.

Further information is available by contacting their secretary Elaine Mitchell on 636 164 467.

Race Night

THE Javea Lodge No. 40 of the Freemasons recently organised a Race Night at Casa de la Pizza in Costa Nova, which was well-attended by over 40 members and friends. The event proved to be a great success, raising a total of €886 to support the Lodge’s chosen charitable causes.

The funds raised will be utilised to support the Lodge’s charities, with a particular emphasis on the Javea Autism Association, a cause that the Freemasons have been steadfastly supporting for several years.

The event was made possible by the generosity of various sponsors, including Javea Home Finders, WOW Surfaces, Mimis Kru Hair and Beauty Salon, Vives Pons Lawyers and Accountants, and Coast and Country Painters.

The atmosphere at the event was vibrant as attendees enjoyed participating in virtual horse races and placing bets, all while contributing to an important cause in the local community.

The Worshipful Master, Robin Tillbrook, emphasised that the Freemasons of Javea 40 have consistently been dedicated to supporting charitable efforts, and this

event was a testament to their unwavering commitment.

Those interested in learning more about the Freemasonry can visit www.glpvalencia.com . Alternatively, if you are interested in joining Javea 40, you can get in touch with the Lodge’s Secretary, Malcolm March, via email at sec40@glpvalen cia.com or by calling 692 738 230.

THE Bono Consum initiative, a collaborative effort of local businesses and the community in Villajoyosa, has resulted in a significant increase in citizen participation.

The number of individuals redeeming vouchers for discounts at participating establishments has doubled, with 8,062 people using their vouchers compared to 4,369 customers in the 2023 campaign.

This remarkable increase is a testament to the active involvement and support of the community. Across 94 participating establishments, 29,205 vouchers have been exchanged, further showcasing the community’s commitment to the initiative.

Rosa Llorca, the mayor of Commerce, expressed her satisfaction with the campaign’s success. The initiative, aimed at supporting both merchants and residents, facilitated a total expenditure of €529,444 in the participating establishments, providing a significant boost to the local economy.

This boost was particularly beneficial as the campaign was strategically timed in September, coinciding with the back-to-school season and the return from summer holidays, when families typically incur additional expenses.

The food sector emerged as the most popular, accounting for 25 per cent of the voucher redemptions. It was followed by fashion and accessories, as well as drugstores and perfumeries.

Running from September 4 to 30, the Bono Consum campaign aimed to stimulate purchases in local shops and received a subsidy of €382,859 from the Provincial Council of Alicante.

Race Night enjoyment.

Credit: Freemason Javea Lodge 40

THE Social Centre of l’Alberca in Polop de la Marina recently hosted a fantastic Neighbourhood Party. The Polop Town Council organised the event, which brought together hundreds of residents for a day filled with diverse activities catering to all age groups.

The event featured a variety of programmes, including a specially organised Children’s Party and a creative tote bag workshop in collaboration with the Anemone association.

The highlight of the day was the grand paella, which drew the neighbours together in a heartwarming display of community and camaraderie. Mayor Jose Luis Susmozas expressed his

Neighbourhood Party

pride in seeing the municipality unite to celebrate such occasions, emphasising the residents’ participation as a testament to the spirit of coexistence in Polop.

Councillor for Fiestas, Christian Rodriguez, applauded the event’s overwhelming success, attributing it to the enthusiastic support of the community.

Caring Hearts

THE European Union of Women Marina Alta (EUWMA) met on September 26 to hear a series of talks related to the theme ‘Caring Hearts’. The meeting started with tears mixed with applause as Helen, a carer, quietly and bravely read a poem. It had been written during the time her husband suffered and died from dementia.

Following this very emotional start, what followed was an extraordinary account of the love and bravery of carers, of fortitude in the face of loneliness and of the various groups and organisations who help and provide such valuable assistance. The charities that were represented were Weary Warriors and Alzheimer’s Group, Young at Heart Day Care, Help Parkin-

son’s, Aterima Care, and Samaritans in Spain.

In concluding the meeting on behalf of the committee, Lorraine Henshaw said, “We thank you all for coming and sharing with us the work that you do. Without you it would be so difficult for residents here in the Marina Alta to cope. Bless you all.”

The next event will take place at 6.00pm on October 25 at the Javea Golf Club, and the theme will be ‘Women of Ukraine: their hopes and dreams for the future.’

Attendance is €20 for EUWMA members and €22.50 for non-members, payable in advance. Those interested in attending need to email Emma at euw ma.treasurer@gmail.com.

He expressed the importance of such activities in preserving traditions and fostering intergenerational connections. Additionally, councillor for Citizen Participation Julia Bautista commended the collaborative efforts of the neighbourhood and local associations, drawing on the pivotal role played by the residents in making such events a reality.

The town council of Polop expressed gratitude to all residents for their participation and thanked the collaborating entities. They also announced their commitment to developing new proposals aimed at promoting continued participation and collective enjoyment in future municipal activities.

Giant paella at the Neighbourhood Party.

Barrel opening Photography contest

A NEW edition of the photography competition for the solidarity calendar of Social Volunteering is underway. The deadline for submissions is Thursday October 17. The committee will judge the submissions and choose the 12 images that will form the solidarity calendar for 2025. The sale of this product is intended to raise funds for the local food bank.

The competition is open to anyone over the age of 18, and there are three categories in which to submit photographs for consideration. These are ‘Landscapes and emblematic places’ in which photos depict the natural beauty of l’Alfas, ‘Culture and Tradition’ for images that reflect local life, including festivals, and ‘Gente de l’Alfas’ depicting portraits and everyday scenes that represent the intercultural diversity of the people who live in the municipality.

Contestants are permitted to submit a maximum of three photographs, which must be taken horizontally. The judging panel will consider the images’ beauty, originality, and artistic merit. Entries must be emailed to cooperacionyvoluntariado@lalfas.com , with the subject title ‘Photography Contest #AlfsasEnFoto’.

In addition to including the winning photos in the calendar, prizes will be awarded for first, second, and third place. The first prize will be a night at a hotel for two in l’Alfas del Pi, the second a dinner for two, and the third a spa session for two.

Further information including the detailed terms and conditions can be found by visiting www.lalfas.es.

OCTOBER 3 marked the official inauguration of the 36th Oktoberfest in La Nucia with the traditional ‘opening of the first barrel’ ceremony performed by Gabriele Schäfer, CCC pta, Oktoberfest organiser, and Bernabe Cano, the mayor of La Nucia.

Prior to this, Natalia Llorens was crowned as the new queen of Oktoberfest 2024. The event was graced by the presence of Andrea Jumilla, the queen of the Festes d’Agost 2024, and her court of honour.

With a significant German community residing in the municipality, this ‘Beer Festival’ aims to not only promote tourism but also facilitate the integration of the German community into Nuciera society.

Furthermore, the event seeks to showcase and celebrate German culture, cuisine, and folklore to all participants.

The Oktoberfest spans 11 days, running from Thursday, October 3 to Sunday, October 13, and is being held in the parking lot of the Camilo Cano Olympic Stadium. A spacious tent, covering an area of 2,200 square metres and accommoda-

ting over 1,500 people, has been erected for the occasion. Attendees can look forward to experiencing an authentic Bavarian-style ‘Beer Festival’ complete with live music.

Mayor Bernabe Cano expressed his delight at how well the event was being received, with more than 1,000 visitors expected by the end of the 11 days. He said, “This event is expected to bring about significant economic benefits to La Nucia, including increased business for hotels, apartments and restaurants.”

Tourism model

AT the start of October, the Calpe Department of Tourism attended the fourth TURESPAÑA Convention, which convened under the umbrella topic ‘Everything changes again: Emerging technologies for a new tourism model’. Held in Tenerife, it afforded those involved in the public and private tourism sectors to meet and exchange ideas and best practices.

The department heads seized the opportunity at the convention to foster collaborations with global partners, including the Costa Blanca Tourist Board and the Generalitat’s Tourism. It was established that the marketing strategy involves reinforcing promotional activities in Germany and Belgium, maintaining a presence at key fairs, and venturing into new and emerging markets.

imminent opening of the Baños de la Reina site is expected to enhance Calpe’s appeal as a cultural destination. Additionally, Calpe is working on establishing CalpPride as a prominent brand within the LGBTIQA+ community offerings of the Valencian Community, furthering its commitment to inclusivity and diversity.

Calpe is currently prioritising de-seasonalisation and sustainable tourism, demonstrating its commitment to long-term growth and responsible tourism. This focus includes the introduction of new developments for the upcoming season. For instance, the

This convention has been a pivotal moment for Calpe, as it has reaffirmed its standing as a top-tier tourist destination dedicated to pioneering innovation, sustainability, and excellence in its tourism offerings. It has also reaffirmed that its tourism strategy is aligned with the convention’s trends.

36th Oktoberfest La Nucia.

NATHAN OSMAN, a 30-year-old man from Pontypridd, South Wales, tragically lost his life during his first holiday abroad with friends in Benidorm recently. After a night of revelry and excessive drinking, he suffered a fatal fall while trying to find his way back to his hotel. This devastating incident has left behind his partner, Katie, and their four children, who now face the daunting task of moving

Tragic fall

forward without him.

Nathan and Katie cherished spending time at the beach, embarking on adventures, and engaging in outdoor pursuits during the holiday season. Described by his family as an irreplaceable presence, Nathan Osman was wholeheartedly dedicated to his children, whom he cherished above all else. His family emphasised

his unwavering kindness, loyalty, and unmistakable warmth, encapsulated by his infectious smile and his expressive brown eyes. They believe that his legacy will endure through his children, who will carry his memory with them.

This heartbreaking event has led to the Osman family issuing a plea, urging individuals

Line of Duty

Donna Williams

OCTOBER 2 marked a very special day for the Local Police of Calpe. For one, it was the day of the feast of the Guardian Angels, the Local Police’s patron saint. For another, it was also the day chosen to commemorate Officer Juan Manuel Policarpo, who died in the line of duty in September 2022. This sad occurrence happened during an intervention to rescue a person trapped in an underwater vehicle.

The emotional tribute began with a religious ceremony honouring all members of the Local Police. This was followed by the unveiling of a commemorative bust of Officer Policarpo, which

serves as a consistent reminder of his bravery.

The bust has been erected in front of the Calpe Local Police headquarters, which also already bears his name.

Juan Manuel’s children carried out the unveiling of the bust in a ceremony

full of emotion and pride for their late father. This solemn occasion brought together family, friends, and colleagues who were there to pay their respects to the courageous officer, demonstrating the deep reverence he was held in.

to avoid walking alone at night in unfamiliar surroundings and emphasising the critical importance of prioritising personal safety. Euro Weekly News very much echoes this sentiment and urges all readers to take care, and especially when judgement may be impeded by alcohol intake.

The bust in honour of Officer Juan Manuel Policarpo.

Credit: ajcalp.es

ON Saturday October 5, the Javea 40 Lodge of Freemasons hosted an incredibly glamorous evening. The event took place at the Marriott Hotel in Denia and it gave the ladies the perfect opportunity to steal the show! The evening, led by Worshipful Master Robin Tillbrook and his wife Teresa, was in honour of the valuable support given by the wives and partners, and in particular the vital role they play in the lodge’s charitable endeavours.

With such a wonderful evening to look forward to, it is no wonder that it was so well attended with around 120 guests. Everyone was treated to a delicious cava reception which was accompanied by the lively rhythms of the Poco Loco Steelpan Band. This set the mood perfectly for a night of frivolity and fun, all with a hint of glamour and sophistication.

to discover that a magic show had been organised for their entertainment. Magic Circle member Colin Kenward astounded with his table magic, adding a touch of mystery to the dining experience. As if that wasn’t enough, guests then found themselves dancing the night away to the vocal talents of Matt Mason.

Ladies Night Moors & Christians concluded

THE Moorish and Christian Entrance was a grand event that drew around 10,000 people to the streets of Benidorm on October 5. Just before 8.00pm, the vibrant energy of the musicians filled the streets as they prepared to participate in the central parade of the festivities. The Moorish and the Christian sides were also accompanied by the queens of the Festes Majors Patronals 2024, who, in turn, were accompanied by their ladies of the courts of honour.

The top representatives of the 2024 festivities, the Moorish queen Veronica Rivelles, and the Christian figures Antonio Jesus Diaz and Marife Montoya, paraded on two floats. The procession also included the customary music bands, with the Moors leading the way, followed by the Christians.

As the parade reached Calle Gambo, the authorities, including Mayor Toni Perez and councillor for Fiestas Marilo Cebreros, awaited their arrival at a tribune installed by the town council, alongside a significant portion of the municipal corporation and regional deputy Jose Ramon Gonzalez de Zarate.

Aside from the music, guests were also delighted

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Freemason’s event, if there wasn’t a charitable aspect. Supporting the Javea Autism Association, a cause very close to Robin and Teresa’s hearts, over €1,000 was raised in support of this important local charity.

The festivities continued with the Parliament of Peace at noon the following day, followed by a floral offering to Sant Jaume, the patron saint of Benidorm. In the evening, the Retreta, a parade and procession of floats, retraced the route of the entrance, culminating in a spectacular fireworks display that marked the conclusion of the Moors and Christians 2024 festivities.

Donna Williams

Dancing the night away.

Credit: Javea 40 Lodge

Moors & Christians Benidorm.

Spanish National Day Social volunteering

THE Spanish flag will be fl ying high on Saturday, October 12, as the country celebrates the Fiesta Nacional de España.

The date marks the an niversary of Co lumbus arriving in the Americas in 1492 and has deve loped into a day to celebrate all things Spanish.

Expect many shops and services normally open on a Saturday to be closed, and central streets in larger towns and cities to be cut off to traffic for public ceremonies, particularly in the morning. Public transport will no doubt be affected by alterations to timetables and changes to inner city bus routes.

In central Madrid, the king and the royal family, as well as the president, will oversee a military parade, often accompanied by an invited head of sta-

te of another nation. One of the highlights for many will be the military flypast that follows the length of the Paseo de la Castellana in central Madrid, featuring all kinds of state-owned aircraft, including Eurofighter jets and aerial firefighting planes.

Around Spain, similar events will be taking place on Saturday morning. Towns and cities with a strong military presence, including naval ports, such as Sevilla, will see some military parades that could affect public mobility.

To many from Latin American communities, the day is better known as Día de la Hispanidad, and celebrations will be taking place in larger towns with live music, folk dance and song, as well as traditional foods from their home countries.

Donna Williams THE Association of Merchants and Entrepreneurs of l’Alfas del Pi (COEMPA) has generously donated two pallets of pasta and toilet paper to the Food Bank of l’Alfas del Pi. This donation, a result of the Albir Wine Lover wine event’s third edition, was made with a strong focus on solidarity. During the donation ceremony, COEMPA’s president, Silvio Monroy, and vice president, Amparo Diaz, along with other board members, highlighted the charitable nature of the event. The councillor for Cooperation and Volunteering of the town council of l’Alfas del Pi, Isabel Muñoz, the mayor of Commerce and Consumption, Patrick de Meirsman, and the president of Social Volunteering, Antonio Viso, were also present at the meeting.

The Social Volunteers, a group of dedicated individuals, expressed their gratitude for the donation and emphasised the solidarity of the local population. The Social Volunteering Association of l’Alfas del Pi, established in January 2013, aims to assist people at risk of social exclusion in the municipality. The local administration publicly acknowledges and supports the dedicated

work of the Volunteers, who selflessly contribute thousands of hours each year to this important cause, inspiring others with their commitment. The third edition of Albir Wine Lover, held in September, attracted over 2,000 attendees to Eucalyptus Park. This event, organised by COEMPA, was dedicated to wine and gastronomy and had a strong focus on promoting solidarity.

Madrid military parade parachutist.

Donation made to L’Alfas del Pi Food Bank

ON the evening of Saturday September 28, The Entertainers took to the stage at The Marriot La Sella in Denia to kick off the after-dinner segment of the ‘Dress to Impress’ ball organised by the Guardian Angels. The purpose of the event was to raise funds for the charity which supports single parents.

The Entertainers’ set list was carefully curated to encourage the audience to hit the dance floor. They opened with a lively rendition of Proud Mary, strategically positioning The Dollies, Gee & Dolly, at the forefront to entice the crowd to join in. Their dance routines for each song, particularly Stop and It’s

Dress to impress

Raining Men, were a hit, drawing more and more people to the dance floor.

As the night progressed with hits like Go Your Own Way, Human, and Disco Inferno, the dance floor remained packed, with some

guests even abandoning their desserts to join in the fun. The evening concluded with a rousing performance of Sweet Caroline and Is This The Way To Amarillo, leaving the vast majority of the audience dancing and waving in high spirits.

Following the energetic entertainment, the event continued with a successful raffle and auction, raising an impressive €7,000. The Moonlight Duo then took to the stage, living up to their name by keeping the audience entertained into the late hours of the evening.

Decorated officers

ON October 2, the Day of the Guardian Angels, the Local Police of Finestrat honoured four of its officers for their exceptional service. Among the awardees were Miguel Angel Villen and Carlos Lopez, who were presented with the Cross of Police Merit Red Badge for their outstanding collaboration with the police of Villajoyosa during a tragic fire on Avenida Els Mariners de La Vila. Francisco Jimenez Flores also received the Cross of Police Merit, red badge, for his commendable performance during a fire at a house on Calle Sella in Villajoyosa. Additionally, Piedad Lopez Casado was recognised with the Cross of Police Merit with the Purple distinction for her dedicated servi-

ce in creating and leading the Gender Violence and Minors Victim Assistance Unit of the PLVJ.

The event, held in the gardens of Finca la Barbera in Villajoyosa, was attended by the First Deputy Mayor, Nati Algado, and the councillor for Security, Beatriz Quintillan, who praised the officers’ exemplary work and highlighted the importance of collaboration with other security forces to ensure the safety of citizens. The ceremony also extended recognition to other law enforcement officers from Villajoyosa, Benidorm, and Alicante, as well as volunteers from Civil Protection of the Vila and other institutions.

Four officers were honoured for their exception service.

The Entertainers performed for the Guardian Angels.

Taekwondo medallist

FINESTRAT taekwondo athlete

Jairo Agenjo achieved an outstanding feat by securing the title of World Runner-up in Korea. His remarkable journey to the finals included a convincing 2-0 victory over Cyprus, followed by another impressive 2-0 win against Kuwait. In a display of exceptional skill, he dashed the hopes of the Polish representative with another 2-0 victory to secure a spot in the medal rounds.

A testament to his prowess, Jairo Agenjo triumphed over the highly regarded Uzbek competitor in the semi-finals. However, Mehdi Razmian from Iran proved to be his toughest challenge, ultimately leading to Agenjo returning home with a well-deserved silver medal and the prestigious title of world runner-up.

The entire community of Finestrat and Spain at large celebrate this momentous achievement, made possible under Juan Jose Gonzalez’s expert guidance. With this, Spain has now amassed an impressive tally of four medals in the World Cup - three bronze, and one silver.

Furthermore, alongside Violeta Diaz, another talented taekwondo practitioner from the Finestrat Taekwondo Club, the town proudly boasts two world medals for Finestrat.

In addition, Lucia Gonzalez, representing the Finestrat Taekwondo Club, has secured qualification to compete in the Taekwondo World Championship.

Anatomy of Collecting

ON October 2, The Arts Society of Marina Alta (TAMSA) was transported to its very own episode of the Antiques Roadshow! Well-known UK BBC presenter Marc Allum made a special visit to Costa Blanca North to present ‘The Anatomy of Collecting’ to those in attendance. His profound knowledge, personal collections, and insights into the collectables market were not just informative, but truly inspiring. Marc’s passion for all things strange and fascinating, regardless of their monetary value, left a lasting and inspiring impression on all who listened to him.

However, the real highlight, and what truly engaged and captivated the audience was the opportunity to interact with him

afterwards. His charm and enthusiasm shone through as he valued personal items that guests had brought along to share with him. Among these was a Syrian porcelain cow, a family stamp collection, Clarice Cliff pottery and a rare Joyous jug.

His genuine interest in meeting everyone and appraising their treasures created a real air of excitement. This was especially true when he left them with some ‘homework’; to go on a quest to find more hidden gems before his return to the region.

For further details on The Arts Society Marina Alta presentations, visit their website at www. artsocma.org or reach out to them via email at marinaalta@theartsso ciety.org.

Marc Allum presenting to TASMA.

IN our article from last week, we delved into the legal risks associated with purchasing a plot and building a luxury villa in the Costa Blanca. We examined key aspects that buyers should verify before making such a significant investment. The responsibilities that come with being a self-promoter in a construction project. Etc. This week, we continue to build on this topic by addressing other elements that can lead to a dispute with a luxury home builder. The role of the architect in the construction process. The significance of the occupation licence. Or the clauses that should be included in your contract with the builder.

Should the fees and work of the architect be part of the contract with the builder?

Not at all. The architect is an agent whose primary role is

to independently oversee the construction process. And he must ensure that the building adheres to the agreed-upon specifications and requirements. Additionally, construction contracts typically state that payments to the builder are based on the architect’s review of the work completed by the builder. If the architect and builder are financially tied, this could lead to a major conflict of interest. And the transparency and accountability of the project could be compromised.

Having a direct contractual relationship with the architect is essential. Otherwise, the architect could refuse to communicate with you. Claiming that he is only accountable to the builder. This lack of direct engagement could hinder your ability to make changes in the project. As the architect might not share

details of the project, plans or reports about the progress of the construction, etc.

The builder says that they take care of everything and request the occupation licence on my behalf. Is this enough?

No. There is a big different between requesting the occupation licence, and actually obtaining it. The occupation licence is the administrative document issued by the town hall that confirms that a property being suitable to live in.

Before granting it, the town hall checks that the construction aligns with what was authorised in the building permit. Additionally, the lack of occupation licence can severely impact your ability to set up definitive utility contracts for water, electricity, etc. for your house.

Key legal aspects when purchasing a luxury villa.

If you wish to purchase a luxury villa in the Costa Blanca, having a solid contract is essential. We recommend you not signing any agreement that positions you as the promoter (primarily responsible for all potential issues). Relying on third parties without effective control mechanisms, and the necessary expertise, can lead to significant risks.

When purchasing a plot, and signing a construction contract, it is very advisable:

- To engage an independent architect who has no ties to the builder.

- To retain a portion of the Construction Price, until the occupation licence is obtained, and the work is verified to be

Carlos Baos (Lawyer) White & Baos.

Tel: +34 966 426 185 - info@white-baos.com - White & Baos - All Rights Reserved.

correct. -Etc.

Conclusion.

Purchasing a luxury villa in the Costa Blanca can be a complex process. At White-Baos Lawyers, we understand the unique challenges you face as a buyer. Our law firm specialises in real estate law, construction law, consumer rights and litigation. If you find yourself in a dispute with a luxury home builder, don’t hesitate to contact us.

The information provided in this article is not intended to be legal advice but rather to convey information related to legal issues.

ABOGADOS / SOLICITORS

Kay McKenna – Teulada-Moraira Lions Club

Donna Williams

MEET Kay, a self-confessed ‘sun worshipper’ who came to Spain to enjoy a well-deserved early retirement. Born in Coventry, England, Kay was married at the tender age of 17 and she and her then-husband turned to education in order to carve out a different life and a better future for themselves. This led to her studying psychology while bringing up three young daughters. Moving to the New Forest she undertook a government research position at Southampton Hospital. Of this move, Kay said, “This was a great posting and during the four years I was there, I studied for my MPhil degree.”

Divorced in 1990, Kay found herself carrying out a series of voluntary positions which enabled her to make use of her psychology degree. A decision to move to Spain came when she and her then partner, Gary became disenchanted with the political and social environment in the UK.

She shared, “At the age of 56, I retired early to Spain to live in a sunnier climate although I had always thought it would be France.” However, with

Gary’s work ties in Costa Blanca North, Spain made more sense, so after several exploratory trips, they settled on a finca in Benitachell.

Sadly Gary passed away five years after making the move and the natural assumption was that Kay would return to the UK. However, loving the life she had created, she chose to stay

Credit: Kay McKenna

and instead started work as a live-in carer in the UK which enabled her to travel back and forth and spend time with her family. ‘Cupid’s arrow’ struck Kay again and she met Michael who became her husband in 2017.

An accomplished French speaker, Kay still finds it challenging to learn Spanish despite attending several

courses. “I don’t seem to have the mind/capacity to differentiate between the two languages, so if I don’t know the word in Spanish, I find myself talking French!” she laughed. Aside from the sunshine, Kay loves the laid back lifestyle that Spain offers and enjoys nothing more than mooching around the various markets choosing fresh produce to cook.

More recently, feeling a little ‘bored’ with retirement, Kay decided to volunteer for The Lions. “I wanted something else to do, having no garden or pool to keep me occupied,” she said. She has now been with them six months and is relishing the opportunity of supporting them with their PR and advertising activities.

When not supporting The Lions, Kay likes nothing more than spending time with her wonderful husband, playing padel and socialising with their friends. Her advice to anyone thinking about moving to Spain is to go for it! She said, “While it is hard making that decision initially, if you choose the right place with the right support network, and do everything legally, it is a great place to live.”

Kay and her husband Michael.

Food waste

THERE has been a change at the top of NATO as former Norwegian Pri -

French treasure found NATO change

me Minister Jens Stoltenberg finally stepped down after an almost unprecedented 10 year tenure as Secretary General.

His term was unilaterally extended due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine but he has now stepped down to be replaced by Mark Rutte, a former Prime Minister of The Netherlands.

As the official handover took place at the NATO Headquarters building in Brussels, the two individuals gave a joint press conference voicing concern over the escalation of violence in the Lebanon and expressing their hopes for peace.

Subsequent to that, it was confirmed that Iran had launched 180 mis -

siles and drones against Israel but, thanks in part to action undertaken by both the US Navy in the Eastern Mediterranean and the British RAF based in Cyprus, the damage done to Israeli targets was negligible.

Mr Rutte faces an interesting term, especially due to the impending US Presidential Elections as it is no secret that during his first tenure as President, Donald Trump was very critical of NATO as an organisation and if re-elected could become a negative factor.

Interestingly, there has never been a NATO Secretary General from the USA even though that country and Canada were both founding members of NATO in 1949.

John Smith

AS early as 2015, a group of Danes who were wo rried about the huge waste of food in their country created a company which trades as Too Good To Go.

The concept in many ways is simple as their App intro duces companies with food that is about to go out of date to consumers who would like to save money and do their bit to save the planet.

Now, restaurants are involved and as far as Europe is concerned, the business operates in Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

The App connects restaurants and stores that have unsold, surplus food, with customers who can then buy whatever food the outlet considers surplus to re-

quirements at a much lower price than normal (sometimes just a third of the original price).

There’s a lot of computer projection as companies actually alert TGTG at the beginning of each day as to what they expect to be unsold by the end of the day and the consumer has the chance to find offers in their particular area and place an order which they then have to collect.

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) stated in 2024 that 10 per cent of all greenhouse gas emissions are caused by food waste, 25 per cent of fresh water used annually goes to food that is ultimately wasted, 11.5 per cent of agricultural land worldwide is used annually for the production of food that ends up being wasted and $1.1 billion is the amount of money lost each year due to food waste.

AFTER 31 years of speculation, France’s famous golden owl treasure has finally been unearthed, bringing an end to a nationwide treasure hunt that began in 1993. The golden statuette, reportedly worth €150,000, is adorned with gold and diamonds and had captivated treasure seekers for decades.

The hunt was launched by French author Régis Hauser, also known as Max Valentin, who buried the owl somewhere in France and provided 11 cryptic riddles to lead hunters to its lo -

cation. Despite widespread interest and efforts, the treasure remained hidden. Valentin passed away in 2009, leaving behind a mystery that seemed unsolvable.

Michel Becker recently confirmed the discovery on the hunt’s official forum. However, no details about the finder or the exact location have been disclosed. Some sceptics question whether the owl was found through legitimate means, as the rules state the riddles must be solved to claim the prize.

Vegetables, cereals and fruit are the foods most wasted at home.

Mark Rutte has taken over from Jens Stoltenberg.

Your

Do you prefer bottled water over tap water?

RESEARCHERS from Weill Cornell Medicine have published a study in the scientific journal BMJ Global Health cautioning against the widespread consumption of bottled water. They believe governments, regulators, and industry leaders should do more to disclose the risks of bottled water in developed countries like the US, UK, Spain, Italy, Germany, Norway, Finland, and France, among others.

According to scientists, between 10 per cent and 78 per cent of bottled water contains contaminants such as microplastics, phthalates, and bisphenol A. These contaminants break down in the bottles, especially when stored for long periods or exposed to heat. From an environmental perspective, the experts also stress that it’s far better to drink tap water. “The reliance on bottled water comes with significant health, economic, and environmental costs, making an urgent reassessment of its widespread use necessary,” the researchers concluded.

However, according to the latest data from Statista, these warnings are not being heeded in Spain, and the bottled water market shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, it is predicted that the combined revenue from sales made in Spanish supermarkets, shops, restaurants and bars in 2024 will be a whopping €6.24 billion.

While nearly two billion people worldwide, with limited or no access to safe drinking water, rely on bottled

water, the same cannot be said for us living in Spain.

Interested in learning more, Euro Weekly News asked its readers, “Do you prefer bottled water over tap water?”

Anne Whitfield said, “Tap water here and in the UK. Both are perfectly safe for consumption! I understand why visitors prefer bottled water, though - tap water in different places has different mineral content, which can cause stomach upsets.

Others, like Brian Jones, stated that for him it’s “Tap water all the time.”

Liv Fridtjofsen shared her concerns about the quality requirements of bottled water: “I definitely prefer tap water, eg, because the quality requirements for bottled water are not strict enough.”

Stephen Cosgrove also opts for tap water but with a filter jug: “Here in Spain, we use tap water, but we use a filter jug for drinking and for tea and coffee. Socially, I drink a LOT of bottled sparkling water (to cut back, or at least dilute, the alcohol).”

Likewise, Angela Clark expressed, “Filtered in our jug, if not the kettle gets a nasty coating from the tap water. Filtered is better all round.”

However, Debbie Conti has no choice but to drink bottled water: “Bottled, but then we only have a well, which isn’t good to drink.”

However, for Sheena Hutson, it depends on which country she is in. As she said, “Tap water in England, bottled in Spain.”

EXPERTS SAY THAT TAP WATER IS BETTER FOR YOU.

ON May 13, 1931, Giuseppe Cipriani Senior opened Harry’s Bar in Venice and it has seen some of the world’s most famous actors and actresses pass through its doors.

Now in business for 93 years, in 2001, the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage declared it a National Landmark but all is not well in the world of Harry’s Bar.

Based in St Mark’s Square, customers expect to have to traipse across the often oo-

Venice complaint

ded cobblestones to get to the iconic bar but there’s a new problem.

In 1981, the Cipriani family created Harry’s Dolci which is based on the small venetian island of Giudecca whose terrace overlooks the canal of the same name.

It is no secret that Venice has been overrun

Ticket to Brussels

AS the Hungarian Parliament met recently, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán warned the European Union that what was rst mooted, almost as a joke, could soon become reality.

Speaking about the decision by the Court of Justice of the European Union to ne his country €200 million for breaking asylum rules, Orbán was in no mood to accept the ruling and made it clear that he would get his own back.

Perhaps inspired by the Republican ‘play book’ in the USA, the Hungarian Prime Minister made it clear the he wasn’t joking when threatening to send asylum seekers arriving at Hungarian borders to Brussels.

“If Brussels persists in its decision to punish us, it will get what it wants,” he said, then added “We will take the migrants who are banging on Hungary’s gates to the main square in Brussels.”

Quite understandably, the Brussels Council isn’t enamoured by this threat but at the moment it is still far from becoming a reality.

“The era of free travel is coming to an end,” Orbán said in his speech, referring to Germany’s decision to temporarily introduce controls at its borders and new French Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s stance on tigh-

tening France’s frontier controls.

At the same time as suggesting that with the tightening of border restrictions across parts of the EU that Hungary took the correct position from the beginning, Prime Minister Orbán has been meeting with African leaders such as the President of Chad in an e ort to turn o the ow of African migrants at source.

by tourists which has meant that whilst they are still welcome, there is an entry fee for day trippers which doesn’t seem to dissuade them from arriving in their droves.

One of the attractions of Harry’s Dolci is the terrace but there has been a huge increase in the number of speedboats ignoring the

speed limit on the water which ranges from 5kph to 7kph.

Current owner, 92-year-old Arrigo Cipriani had received complaints from customers who have had their feet and sometimes more drenched by the subsequent waves. Having had an application to erect ‘splash guards’ across the terrace rejected, he has now decided to take legal action against Venice Council and also the Port Authority.

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán recently met with the President of Chad.

Credit: Viktor Orbán X

Swankiest Swiss School

IN Switzerland, preparing future leaders in luxury hospitality has become a prestigious business.

Situated in the hills above Lausanne, the renowned École Hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL) is at the forefront of training the next generation of hoteliers.

At EHL, the pressure to deliver is intense, especially in its Michelin-starred restaurant, where students’ academic success depends on mastering flawless service.

EHL operates from a sprawling 80,000 square metre campus which underwent a major renovation

costing 250 million Swiss francs.

Among its amenities are seven on-site restaurants where locals can enjoy gourmet dining at more affordable prices.

Image: École Hôtelière de Lausanne.

Though the campus may be modern, Switzerland’s tradition of refined hospitality has deep roots.

By the mid-19th century, Swiss luxury hotels had become a favourite getaway for

British aristocrats.

At EHL, students don’t just learn in the classroom. They participate in a handson training year, rotating through the school’s various restaurants and kitchens to gain a deeper understanding of luxury service.

They also take classes in wine tasting, mixology, and chocolate-making, taught by some of the world’s most skilled professionals.

Among the 56 chefs on staff, six hold the prestigious Meilleur Ouvrier de France award, which is given to France’s top culinary talents.

EHL attracts students from around the world.

Portugal’s €20 Green Rail Pass

PORTUGAL is set to launch a new €20 monthly rail pass, making travel more affordable and eco-friendly. The Green Rail Pass will allow unlimited travel across almost all urban, regional, inter-regional, and inter-city services operated by Comboios de Portugal (CP), the state-owned rail company.

This initiative aims to reduce car dependency and promote public transport use as part of Portugal’s sustainability efforts. By offering an attractive alternative to driving, the country hopes to cut down on both

While the exact release date hasn’t been confirmed, the pass is expected to be available by the end of the year. The Green Rail Pass follows similar initiatives seen across Europe, like Germany’s successful €49 monthly ticket.

Locals, expatriates and tourists alike are likely to benefit from this affordable option, which provides a convenient way to explore Portugal’s diverse landscapes.

However, the pass will not cover urban trains in the Lisbon and Porto Me-

COSTA BLANCA NORTH

Medieval fayre

THE U3A Marina Baixa has organised a fascinating day trip for November 1 to the Cocentaina Medieval Fayre. Also known as the ‘Fira de Tots Sants,’ it dates back to 1346 and has experienced a colourful history of variations throughout the years since. However, it firmly established itself as the All Saints Fair in 1795, and this is now celebrated as close to November 1 as possible every year.

Much as you would expect from a Medieval Fayre, there are plenty of stalls to wander around, including a book fair, exhibitions, choral contests, riding and dressage displays, concerts, and crafts workshops. Aside from the Fayre itself, there are also some exciting landmarks to explore, such as the Cocentaina castle. Dominating the city and the skyline, this majestic medieval castle offers a panoramic view of Cocentaina.

Cocentaina is also home to the Palau Comtal, a stunning Renaissance palace

renowned for its exquisite and intricate architectural design. This Palace now houses the Archaeological and Ethnological Museum of Cocentaina and is well worth a visit. If you want to learn more about the region’s festive culture, the Cocentaina Festival Museum is the place to go.

If this sounds like a trip you would enjoy, contact Paul on 696 466 403 The cost of attendance is €12, plus the membership subscription for non-mem-

Lost letters

Donna Williams

FOR those who enjoy the arts, particularly ballet, Palau Altea Centre d’Arts has a treat lined up for October 18: the dance performance ‘Lost Letters’.

Throughout history, letters exchanged between soldiers on the front lines and their families back home have been a lifeline during times of military conflict. However, what if one of these crucial communications went astray?

Drawing inspiration from a real letter penned by First World War gunner Frank Bracey to his wife, Win,

Lost Letters delves into the hypothetical scenario of how the fate of this woman may have been altered had she never received her beloved husband’s correspondence. This production transforms a genuine account into a captivating script and storyline for a ballet performance.

Lost Letters is the debut production choreographed by the talented Matthew Golding. This enthralling ballet weaves a poignant narrative that will resonate with audiences of all generations. Delving into the theme of severed

Car boot sale

THE U3A Vall del Pop organises two car boot sales annually, one in the spring and the other in the autumn. Why not use this opportunity to declutter your house and find new

connections, Lost Letters encourages introspection on the significance of communication. The dancers’ remarkable technical proficiency and emotive artistry take spectators on a compelling and visually stunning voyage. The innovative choreography, coupled with an enchanting musical score, establishes an ambience that transports the audience to a realm of shared sentiments and experiences. The performance will commence at 8.30pm and tickets can be purchased by visiting palaualtea.entra das.plus.

homes for those pre-loved items that are just accumulating space?

The upcoming sale is scheduled for Sunday October 27, at the Rastro, Xalo. The timing offers the added benefit of providing you with an opportunity to earn some extra money, just in time for Christmas. That might seem like a long way away right now, but it will be here before we know it!

Pitch fees are €10 for a car and €15 for a van, and pitch setup begins at 8.00am. The organisers ask that you bring your own table and chairs and also consider bringing a gazebo for added shade. The event promises a great atmosphere with music, a bar, a barbecue, and numerous stalls to browse around.

Therefore, if you are not interested in having a pitch, why not come along anyway and show your support? Who knows, you might find yourself a real bargain!

Pitches are allocated on the day and can be reserved by emailing goodwill events2@gmail.com.

Diva pride

ON the evening of Saturday, October 12, Denia town will be the vibrant host of a festival celebrating diversity and inclusivity. This event, suitable for people of all ages, will pay homage to the legendary divas of music. The festival will be held at the Glorieta from 5.00pm to 10.00pm, promising to transport attendees back to the glitzy disco era of the 1970s.

Announced by Councillor Javier Scotto, he described the festival as “A pride of the music of the 70s, 80s, 90s featuring disco, pop, great national and international hits of the divas of all time, as well as the latest hits and floor fillers.”

The show will be hosted by a presenter-entertainer, and DJs and

drag queens from all over Spain will be performing, although the list of names is yet to be revealed.

Don’t worry about forgetting this date - a vibrant reminder will be provided between 12.00 and 2.00pm! During this time, the charanga Cachorras Band, together with a drag artist, will sashay along Calle del Marques de Campo, encouraging the general public to attend the party and offering further details about the event.

In addition to the party, an LGBTIQA+ fair will be organised in Marques de Campo to provide visibility to local associations related to equality and diversity. It is hoped that the Denia Diva Music Pride will provide an evening of inclusion where ‘prejudice has no place’.

Spooky fun

HALLOWEEN will soon be upon us and for those living closer to Moraira who enjoy this ‘spooky’ celebration, there is a free party that you can go along to!

That’s right, the Moraira Lions are hosting a free Halloween party in the Church Square on October 31. Everyone is invited; no membership necessary, and the party will take place between 6.00pm and 8.00pm. It is considered one of the highlights of the Moraira Lions’ annual calendar so definitely one not to be missed.

The fun and games will start at 5.00pm with face painting, followed by traditional Halloween games and activities. The games are as much fun for the adults as they are for the kids, and sweet treats will be given out to anyone who participates. To really get into the spirit (excuse the pun!) of things, everyone is encoura-

ged to come in fancy dress and that includes the adults. Prizes are awarded for the best costume in three different age categories.

For those who are unfamiliar with The Moraira Lions, it is a charity that supports people and deserving local causes. They have a charity shop, ‘The Lions Den’, which is run entirely by volunteers.

However, this event is not for fundraising purposes as it is just their way of providing some free fun to the local community.

Donna Williams

Carrer Pare Pere, 19, Denia, Alicante

Credit: Moraira Lions

Prado museum

THE Fundacion Iberdrola España has organised an exhibition titled ‘The Prado in the Streets’ in collaboration with the Prado Museum. The Foundation has partnered with the Prado Museum since 2010 to support its conservation and restoration programmes and establish annual scholarships for young restorers. Prado in the Streets is currently being showcased at the intersection of Avenida del Mediterraneo and Plaza de la Hispanidad in Benidorm.

This open-air exhibition, which will run from September 27 to October 27, aims to transform Benidorm into a spectacular open-air museum. Mayor Toni Perez emphasised the town council’s commitment to enriching the cultural experience of both residents and visitors.

Featuring 50 full-scale photographic panels, ‘The Prado Museum in Benidorm offers a captivating journey through the history of Western art, showcasing masterpieces by renowned artists, including Goya, Velazquez, Rubens, Durer, Rembrandt, Hieronymus Bosch, and Caravaggio. Each artwork is accompanied by bilingual information panels and QR codes, providing in-depth insights into the art gallery and its collections.

IF you consider yourself a ‘foodie’ but have yet to sample the real taste of Spain, why not Indulge in the rich and diverse flavours of Spanish cuisine with a delightful food tour in Denia?

This travelling exhibition, which began its journey in Spain in 2020, has already attracted numerous visitors in regions such as Castilla La-Mancha, Castilla y Leon, Extremadura, and Andalucia. After Benidorm, the exhibition will continue its journey to Ontinyent, Castellon, Sagunt, Alicante, Valencia, Vinaros, and Orihuela, with the final stop scheduled for Burriana in July 2025.

Your knowledgeable local host will carefully curate a selection of six or 10 delectable food and drink tastings, offering you a tantalising glimpse into the town’s culinary treasures. From classic favourites to one-of-a-kind dishes unique to Denia, this tour promises to be a feast for your senses.

Beyond savouring the delicious offerings, this culinary journey is a cultural experience that immerses you in the essence of the town. As you delight in authentic local delicacies, both savoury and sweet,

accompanied by refreshing drinks, you’ll also have the opportunity to explore notable landmarks and gain insights into their local significance from your host. If you’re a vegetarian, fret not! The tour has been thoughtfully designed to provide alternative tastings that cater to your dietary preferences. Simply inform your host, and they’ll ensure you have an equally enjoyable experience. The passionate local food experts are eager to lead you on an unforgettable culinary adventure through Denia.

This tour is expected to last three hours and is available for groups of up to six. The price varies depending on the number of people in your group and further information can be found by visiting, www.viator.com.

Credit:benidorm.org

Donna Williams

Month of mediums

Donna Williams

THE Alfas Spiritual Friends have been very busy organising a series of evenings with a host of renowned mediums throughout October. The first of which took place on October 3 with UK international medium Sandra Mitchell Atheris as their guest.

The evening was a resounding success and attendees were truly amazed by the compelling evidence and messages from their departed loved ones that Sandra conveyed. There is anticipation for her return in the New Year, and in the meantime, their programme for October continues with Jan Van Bodegraven from the Netherlands.

He will be in attendance on October 10, and where possible, guests are invited to bring an item that belonged to a departed loved one or a photograph for Jan to hold. If that is not possible, then something belonging to the guest themselves.

Following Jan, on October 17, they welcome Ian Elliot from Denmark, Debbie Blevins from Murcia on October 24, and Len Cox from the Hondon Valley on October 31.

The venue for each of these events is their new room downstairs at The Comm (formerly The Forum/Mare Nostrum), located at Camino del Pincho 2, L’Alfas del Pi.

Each service is scheduled to start at 6.30pm, and while free of charge, there will be a ‘freewill’ offering/collection.

Further details are available by contacting Dot on 634 320 013, emailing dorothydorothy608@gmail.com or visiting their Facebook page.

Credit: Herman Bluesman/Alfas Spiritual Friends

Rock to classical

A HIGHLY anticipated concert is coming to Alfas del Pi on October 18, and it promises to be a real treat for music lovers. Adagio, an eight-piece harmony cabaret group, is coming to The Comm with their ‘From Rock to Classical’ musical extravaganza. Known for their vocal precision and creative performances, this is definitely likely to get booked up quickly!

Commencing at 7.30pm, a vibrant night of music awaits, blending the iconic sounds of rock legends with timeless classical pieces in a truly diverse way. Adagio’s repertoire will take guests on a musical journey encompassing the legendary harmonies of Queen, the unforgettable melodies of The Beatles, and the exquisite sound of beautiful classical pieces.

Of note and a considerable highlight of the show will be ‘Peter’s Mozart Horn Concerto with a Twist’. Set to witty lyrics by Flanders and Swann, attendees are sure to be enthralled by Peter’s talent and charm as he breathes new life into this classical piece with comedic flair.

In addition, Pat and Gordon will perform a hilariously clever duet about a couple with very different recollections of a date. Their comedy timing and stage chemistry will have the audience in hysterics as they recount their wildly different versions of the same romantic encounter.

Tickets for “From Rock to Classical” are available for just €10 and can be purchased by calling 965 581 483 or online at www.philipashley.com/boxoffice.php Adagio.

Ultimate Xmas fair

GET ready for the return of The Ultimate Xmas Fair, taking place on Sunday December 1, from 11.00am to 5.00pm. After a successful event last year with over 2,000 attendees, this year, HELP Marina Alta has selected a new location at Salones Canor, Teulada.

The event will take place inside the stunning event room with its impressive chandelier, as well as in the beautiful gardens.

Once again, the Alzira Falleros will join them, preparing various huge paellas for everyone to enjoy, providing a delightful culinary spectacle. Additionally, Paul Chunkz Devlin will serve up delicious Turkey and Pork Roast Baps with Apple/Cranberry Sauce, as well as Nut Roast Baps for any vegetarian guests.

There will be two drink and coffee bars,

along with ‘Sam & Kate’s’ gin cocktails and Candy’s mulled wine bar. Music and entertainment will be provided throughout the day with DJ Ian Bennett, Careline Theatre Performers, Pam’s People, and Soy Brett, singer/songwriter. Of course, Santa and his trusty elf, Darrell, will also be making an appearance.

For those interested in booking a stand, these will be available both indoors and outdoors under a covered area. Interested parties should send an email to events@helpmarinalta. org.

The fair is aimed at helping and supporting loved ones and caregivers of Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and Dementia sufferers. So, mark the date and come along for some festive fun while supporting a meaningful cause.

Donna Williams

A pig problem

A SOW on a farm south of Milan was diagnosed with African swine fever in August. Within a week, all 6,200 sows, piglets, and pigs had been slaughtered under strict protocols to halt the disease from spreading further.

The pork industry is a key pillar of the Italian economy, with prized prosciutto, pancetta, speck, and guanciale at risk.

Since swine fever first reappeared on the peninsula in January 2022, Italy has exterminated 120,000 pigs, three-quarters of which over the past two months alone as the emergency intensifies. In spite of all regulatory safety measures being adhered to, the illness is back in Italy, putting local economies and livelihoods on the line.

Lombardy, in the north of the peninsula, has been worse hit so far, with 4,500

square kilometres affected and now essentially on lockdown, including neighbouring Piedmont and Emilia Romagna, famous for their Parma ham. An estimated 100,000 jobs are at risk, 26,000 farms could be shut down, and a total of 8.1 million pigs could be culled to contain the disease.

The most affected provinces so far have been Pavia, with 13,000 cases,

Lodi, with over 10,000, and Milan, ground zero of this outbreak, with 616 recorded cases, and many more culled as a precautionary measure. African swine fever is spread through direct or indirect touch or contact with infected pig feed.

The speed of expansion of this epidemic suggests a common denominator that links farms in the north of Italy.

Hippest neighbourhood

TIME OUT magazine has just published its yearly ranking of the hippest places in the world to live, and one French neighbourhood stood out.

Crowned ‘Coolest Neighbourhood in the World’, the chaotic Marseille quarter of Notre-Dame-du-Mont beat the rest, including Stokes Croft and St Paul’s in Bristol and Príncipe Real in Lisbon.

Quality graffiti, vintage stores, and live open-air concerts were among the elements judges were on the lookout for.

In-situ writers for the world’s biggest Whats-On magazine reported back to their publisher in London with their reasons why their chosen district was the coolest.

Once upon a time, the same publication would have more likely opted for the olde-worlde charms of the Vauban district in Marseille, but pricey chic has lost its appeal with younger generations as they now seek more the rebellious spirit in colourful backstreets, old twisting staircases, and huddled terrace bars.

The look these days is less Versace and more punks, intercultural colour, and salty old sailors knocking

back overly strong beers.

In the case of Notre-Dame-duMont, as with all of the choices in their top 10, the theme is laid-back chaos with the local market, art galleries, and lively street cafés. There is now more of an attraction to thriving community and unique local shops hidden behind pizza trucks.

It seems the shabby-chic has taken over what the hippest look for, along with vibrant street life, exotic smells, and just a slight sense of personal risk.

Swine fever spreading like crazy. Credit:

Typical side street in Notre-Damedu-Mont.

Credit: Cours JulienFacebook.

FRANCE

Not listening

NEWLY installed prime minister Michel Barnier warned parliament that France’s “colossal” debt was a “sword of Damocles” which was ready to fall. Barnier’s much-awaited speech setting out the policies of a government without an overall majority was constantly interrupted by the heckling of leftwing MPs.

Luxury FI

BERNARD ARNAULT, who heads LVMH which owns the Louis Vuitton and Moet Hennessy brands, announced to shareholders that the luxury giant had signed a 10-year deal as a Formula One global partner. The “match made in luxury heaven” begins in February 2025 when F1 celebrates its 75th anniversary.

DENMARK

Still there

ANTI-WHALING activist Paul Watson, a Canadian-American, remains in custody in Greenland, a Danish autonomous territory. His detention order has been extended until October 24 while Denmark reviews an extradition request from Japan regarding Watson’s 2010 confrontation with one of their ships.

More to spend

WAGE-EARNERS again have the same purchasing power that existed before the high inflation of recent years, Confederation of Danish Employers (DA) figures showed. By the third quarter of 2024 the 4.8 per cent increase in salaries compared with the same period in 2023 also outstripped the inflation rate.

EURO PRESS

ITALY

Past times

HOLLYWOOD director Martin Scorsese has begun a documentary featuring ancient shipwrecks in Italy where he traces his ancestral roots in Sicily, his grandparents’ birthplace. Scorsese will also use recovered artefacts to reconstruct the stories of ships, sailors, cargoes and maritime trade in the past.

MARTIN SCORSESE: Filming a documentary on Italy’s ancient shipwrecks.

Whisky rescue

IRELAND FINLAND

Be prepared

DUBLIN is preparing a €1.35 billion defence Budget for 2025, with funding for air surveillance radar, subsea awareness and equipment, plus another 400 armed forces personnel. “The record allocation for 2025 demonstrates this government’s commitment to defence,” Defence minister Michael Martin said.

Just in time

IRELAND’S Social Protection minister confirmed that the babies who are born in December 2024 will still be eligible for the €420 grant announced in next year’s Budget for all those born on or after January 1, 2025, “As a mother, I do not want to see any woman miss out,” Heather Humphreys said.

Bad idea

A RECENT survey revealed that Finns are uneasy about the possibility that food delivery firms could also be permitted to supply alcohol. Seventy-five per cent of respondents said they were concerned that age restrictions could be disregarded or alcohol sold to the already-inebriated should the law be changed.

Long stay

APPLICANTS hoping for Finnish citizenship who have submitted paperwork after October 1 will now need to have lived in the country for at least eight years following changes to the existing law. The Finnish Immigration Services added that the required period could be reduced “according to circumstances.”

PORTUGAL BELGIUM NETHERLANDS

Side effects

AFTER November 1, medication like Sinutab, a popular cold and flu cure which contains pseudoephedrine, will require a prescription. The Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products (FAMHP) cited concerns that this can have side effects including cardiac arrhythmias, strokes and antibiotic resistance.

City kidnap

A MAN forced into a car in Brussels’ Elsene neighbourhood on September 29 was found wandering with minor injuries in the city’s Ter Kameren wood two days later. Several potential suspects were arrested shortly afterwards, while an ongoing investigation probes their possible involvement in the abduction.

No more jams

THE €14.4 million contract to construct a 3.5-kilometre bypass with two lanes in each direction where the EN125 crosses Olhao was signed on September 30. This section of the road is notorious for bottlenecks but as well as improving traffic flow, the bypass will also reduce the risk of pedestrian accidents.

Fire reaction

MORE than 1,000 firefighters from all over Portugal demonstrated outside the national parliament in Lisbon at mid-day on October 2, calling for an improvement to their salaries. Later in the day there were arrests after protesters toppled metal barriers and occupied the steps of the parliament building.

Wind up

FIFTY-THREE per cent of the Netherlands’ electricity was produced by renewable sources during the first half of 2024, owing to more windfarms with more efficient turbines as well as more solar panels. Although production rose, energy use did not, and the country generated more than it could use.

Star turn

EUROSTAR trains to London and Paris will return to Amsterdam Central in early 2025 once the railway station’s renovations have been completed. Eurostar chief executive Gwendoline Cazenave has been so concerned about delays that she threatened to cancel all London and Paris trains unless work finished on time.

MACKMYRA whisky, which declared bankruptcy in August, has been bought by majority shareholder Lennart Hero and No 1 Capital AB. Hero said that their 100 million krona (€8.8 million) bid had probably been accepted because administrators believed that would be the best option for Mackmyra’s future.

Linked up

AN outdated submarine cable beneath the Oresund Sound will be replaced by the Danish company, JD Contractor. Work on €14 million project that will connect overhead wires at Sweden’s Kristinelund transition station with those in Skibstrupgaard (Denmark) is expected to take two years to complete.

GERMANY

Own goal

JENS LEHMANN, a former Arsenal and Germany goalkeeper paid a €135,000 fine after reaching an agreement with a neighbour and accepting responsibility for damaging part of his garage with a chainsaw. A local court had originally set the sum at €420,000 but this was reduced after an appeal from the footballer’s lawyer.

Owning up

SIEMENS ENERGY will pay the US Department of Justice $104 million (€94.45 million) for using stolen trade secrets to inflate bids for contracts in 2019. A Siemens spokesperson said the company had voluntarily reported the irregularity to the US authorities after discovering the misconduct in 2020.

NORWAY SWEDEN

Slippery slope

THE Red Party’s programme called for a referendum to decide the future of the country’s monarchy. Polls are showing declining support for the royal family after Crown Prince Haakon’s sister made money out of her recent wedding photos and Haakon’s stepson was arrested on drug charges and threatening behaviour.

On the loose

FIVE wolves escaped from the Salangsdalen Polar Park, the most northerly animal reserve in the world and famed for its enclosure where the public can come into close contact with the wolves. Three were captured soon afterwards but local mayors had to request official help in recovering the missing pair.

Photo credit: CC/Elena Ternovaja

Vatican ruling discourages marriage

AN unnamed couple working at the Institute for Works of Religion, the Vatican Bank, were fired after they married.

“A married couple among employees is in fact blatantly contradictory to current regulations,” the bank explained on October 2, the day after they were sacked.

They were told to leave the premises immediately, hand in the ID cards that allowed them to enter and leave the Vatican, together with their credit and debit cards issued by the bank itself.

Laura Sgro, the lawyer representing the unnamed pair, now called the Vatican’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ by the Italian media, announced that she had lodged an appeal against the dismissals.

“These were null, illegitimate and gravely damaging to the fundamental rights of persons and wor-

kers,” Sgro said.

The spouses have three children and Crux, a US online Catholic news site, pointed out that the Church should be doing everything possible to support marriage, not discourage it.

The Association of Lay Employees, the nearest thing to a trade union allowed in the Vatican, has also objected to the dismissal.

The bank has a long his-

tory of financial scandals and corruption, which Pope Francis has tried to address by appointing an expert committee to recommend reforms.

Paradoxically, the newly-introduced marriage ban is one of the outcomes.

Aware of a recent change in the rules, the couple appealed to Pope Francis requesting a dispensation, but they are still waiting for a response, Sgro said.

Too friendly for his own good

HVALDIMIR, a young beluga wha le who began life as a Russian spy before absconding to Norway, was not deliberately killed as en vironmentalists claimed.

A post-mortem carried out af ter he was found dead on August 31 showed friendly Hvaldimir died of a bacterial infection that was the result of septic sore caused by a stick wedged in his jaw.

Thirty-five centimetres long and three centimetres wide, the piece of wood also prevented the beluga from eating, as the post-mortem showed that his stomach was empty.

Ironically, Hvaldimir’s love of interacting with people was his undoing, as a favourite game was to fetch sticks that were thrown to him in the water.

The fearless whale first appeared in April 2019 near Tufjord in northern Norway, far from the belugas’ Arctic habitat.

He wore a harness which, when removed, was found to include a camera mount and bore the words ‘Equipment St Petersburg’.

Experts speculated the whale had pro-

bably escaped from a naval base in Murmansk, not far from Tujfjord, and the Russian connection eventually gave him his name, a combination of Hval - ‘whale’ in Norwegian - and Vladimir, for the Russian president.

Days after the harness was removed, Hvaldimir moved north to Hammerfest and occasionally moved on, happily interacting with humans, although marine biologists always hoped that he would eventually reach the Arctic and integrate with other whales.

But Hvaldimir had other ideas, and he ultimately brought about his own sorry end, killed by his preference for human company.

VATICAN CITY: Prevents married couples working at its bank.

HVALDIMIR: The young beluga loved human company.

You’ll never be forgotten

LEAPY LEE SAYS IT

OTHERS THINK IT

IT is with deep and utter sorrow that I have this week to report the passing of my previously super fit and beautiful dog Nora. For six years we have just about been inseparable. Nora/Cora a wonderful cross between Labrador and Boxer was loved by just about everyone.

Last Sunday I arose and for once didn’t find her waiting outside my bedroom door. Somewhat puzzled but not unduly worried I found her still in her bed located in the sitting room. Alarm bells began to ring when; even with help, she found difficulty in standing. After managing to get her walking and realising she was now actually staggering, I immediately decided to contact the emergency vet. After telephoning and explaining the situation to the local service I was advised to take her to the Vet hospital in Palma. Lifting her into the car (a place she would normally bound up into) I quickly drove to the hospital. After a three hour wait, she was finally

seen by one of the doctors. Although they were unable to diagnose the problems, she was injected and after giving me a number of pills I was advised to take her home and bring her back if she got any worse. She rested the remainder of the day.

I arose early on the Monday hoping to find her improved and back to her old self.

Unfortunately to my horror she was decidedly worse. She now couldn’t actually get up at all. After now having to carry her to the car, my daughter and I immediately drove her to the hospital. She was kept in for three days. Some times when we visited she could just about raise her head, but generally there was no improvement.

The doctors simply couldn’t detect what was wrong, but reported that her blood was not manufacturing oxygen or other normal necessities and, although the transfusions perked her up slightly, she soon succumbed to her weak non reactions.

On the Thursday she simply couldn’t move at all and the doctors suggested she had probably been bitten by a mosquito or tick and con-

tracted one of the lethal diseases they can carry. Seeing her in this awful condition, with only her beautiful brown eyes reacting to our presence and the doctors advising us they could do no more, my daughter and I decided enough was enough. After cuddles and fondling; overflowing with emotion, we watched as she was injected with a serum that would relieve her of suffering and take her to the fields of paradise, where she could hopefully run and play to her hearts content.

Our hearts are of course broken and the loss truly something it will take some time to accept and come to terms with. I realise others among you have experienced the same sad loss and our hearts go out to all of you. I would also like to thank those who have delivered so many condolences and tell you they truly do help so much. My family has of course been wonderful; I am truly a lucky Dad. RIP Nora. You will never be forgotten

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.

Tourism titans

THE World Economic Forum (WEF) has published the Travel & Tourism Development Index 2024 (TTDI).

The index positions Spain as the second most competitive economy globally in the travel and tourism sector. Spain achieved an impressive index score of 5.18, only narrowly surpassed by the United States, which leads the ranking with a score of 5.24.

The TTDI 2024 evaluates 119 economies based on five essential dimensions: Enabling Environment, Travel & Tourism (T&T) Policy & Enabling Conditions, Infrastructure and Services, T&T Resources, and T&T Sustainability. This comprehensive assessment offers a detailed view of each country’s strengths and weaknesses in the tourism industry.

The United Kingdom secured the seventh spot on the list, further highlighting the competition among top global tourism destinations.

The TTDI 2024 marks the second edition of this index, evolving from the well-known Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI) series.

Since its inception in 2007, the WEF’s ranking has been an authoritative source for understanding the development and competitiveness of tourism across the globe.

Jack Sparrow returns!

JOHNNY DEPP surprised the children at Donostia Hospital as Captain Jack Sparrow during San Sebastian Film Festival. Johnny Depp made a heartwarming appearance at Donostia University Hospital in San Sebastian, dressed as his iconic character, Captain Jack Sparrow, on September 26.

While attending the San Sebastian Film Festival, the 61-year-old actor took a break from the spotlight to visit the hospital’s Pediatrics and Oncology ward, bringing joy to the young patients there.

Depp, who has a history of donning his Pirates of the Caribbean costume for special visits, interacted with the children, played games, and stayed true to his character throughout the visit with his signature walk and slurry-English accent.

The hospital expressed gratitude on social media, stating, “From all the staff of the Donostia University Hospital, we would like to express our infinite gratitude to Johnny Depp for his time, his support, and his energy, as well as to @ sansebastianfes for having facilitated this visit.”

The visit was well-received, with the local newspaper El Diario Vasco highlighting how Depp remained fully in character, ensuring that every child experienced the magic of meeting Captain

Hospital.

Jack Sparrow.

Photos of Depp’s visit quickly went viral on X (formerly Twitter), spreading joy to fans worldwide who have missed seeing Sparrow since his last on-screen appearance in 2017’s ‘Dead Men Tell No Tales’.

Depp’s appearance at the Donostia University Hospital comes on the heels of his latest directorial venture, Modi: Three Days on the Wing of Madness, which premiered at the 72nd San Sebastian International Film Festival.

Spain’s Costa Azahar.

Johnny Depp brings back his beloved character to Donostia

Crime figures and immigration

MOMENTS following the news of a murdered sevenyear-old in a small town of the Toledo Province, social networks were awash with ‘a Moroccan was to blame’. Shortly after, the culprit was arrested and was found not to be of foreign origin at all. But the image in the heads of social network users was already planted.

In Andalucia, 9 per cent of the population is foreign, a mix of North African, European and American mostly. Seven per cent of crimes that are committed in the region are by foreigners. All of the top news stories in recent years about violent crime were stories about crimes committed by Spanish-born criminals, but reading the press, coupled with social media, one could be forgiven for thinking there was a link between immigration and crime.

In 2022, 82,489 crimes were recorded in Andalucia, of which 17 per cent were committed by foreigners who make up 8.8 per cent of the population, and the vast majority of them are of African origin, with a higher percentage of Maghrebians and sub-Saharans than any other origin, the link between irregular immigration and crime is therefore ruled out.

According to the Ministry of the Interior, the majority of crimes committed by foreigners, including Europeans, were theft or related to drugs, while violent crimes were for the most part committed by Spaniards. Juanma Moreno, president of the Junta de Andalucia, responding to Vox in the Spanish Parliament said, “I will not participate in a witch hunt against immigrants, ever.”

La Niña threat

WINTER predictions are for a drier season ahead in southern Europe, while a freezing winter grips in the north. It seems La Niña is on her way.

Forecasters from a cli mate prediction centre in the US say the La Niña effect is imminent, he ralding colder than average northern European temperatures through the winter and even less rainfall in the drought-stric ken south of Eu rope.

The National and Atmospheric Administration in the US has announced that their readings indicate that the La Niña phenomenon could hit Europe in the following weeks.

During La Niña events, trade winds are even stronger than usual, pushing more warm humidity toward the southwest and eventually the equator. The by-product of this is increased hurrica-

nes in the Atlantic and a warmer than usual winter for the south, while at the same time reducing air pressure in the north and causing temperatures to plummet.

The effect on the ground is worsening droughts in the south and more subzero temperatures in places like the UK, Scandinavia, and France.

Another significant consequence of La Ñiña is the likelihood of extreme storms, especially on the west coasts of Europe; something that, if it happens, will most probably happen in the coming weeks.

Experts at the World Meteorological Organisation have predicted a 60 per cent chance of La Niña conditions emerging between October and February. This winter is expected to see a weak to moderate strength event with the phenomenon weakening early in 2025.

Guardia Civil in action.

Credit: Best Backgrounds, Shutterstock. La Niña, forewarning of extreme weather.

FINANCE

BUSINESS EXTRA

Aston slowdown

ASTON MARTIN shares plunged by 28 per cent after new chief executive Adrian Hallmark announced on September 30 that the luxury carmaker would produce 1,000 fewer models this year. This sliced £378 million (€453.8 million) off the company’s value, before it recovered to £989 million (€1.19 billion).

Right lines

SPAIN’S publicly owned engineering company Ineco won a €2.7 million contract to draft plans for a TetuanTangier railway link and connecting Tangier city centre with the airport and football stadium. Both projects are included in a €35 billion scheme to upgrade Morocco’s state National Railway Company (ONCF).

Not needed

A REPORT by the Department for Business and Trade suggested that only 25 per cent of the 1.4 million businesses that received £23 billion (€27.6 billion) in grants during the Covid pandemic would have gone under without state backing. Most would probably have survived without cashflow support, the report concluded.

New centre

GRIFOLS intends to invest €360 million in building a new plant in Barcelona for its engineering department according to company sources quoted in the Spanish media.

Work will start next year as the pharmaceuticals company centralises operations currently spread across different locations, the sources said.

Going down

UKshop prices fell 0.6 per cent in September compared with 0.3 per cent in August, the British Retail Consortium said. Prices fell at their fastest since 2021. Fresh produce inflation rose as wet weather affected production and climate change impacted the cost of olive oil and sugary snacks.

STAT OF WEEK

€7 billion

due to be paid out in dividends during the last quarter of 2024 by Spanish companies including Inditex, BBVA, Sabadell, Santander and Telefonica.

Rightmove moves away

ONLINE property company REA Group, 62 per cent owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp, has withdrawn its offer for Rightmove.

REA abandoned its attempt to create “a global and diversified digital property company” based in Australia and Britain after its UK counterpart turned down a fourth offer of £6.2 billion (€7.4 billion) made on September 27.

If REA wished to make a fifth bid, then it needed to make a “best and final proposal” before the 5pm deadline that same day, Rightmove had said.

Andrew Fisher, Rightmove’s chairman, said the company was confident that it would achieve “significant future value” for shareholders.

“Rightmove is an amazing business with a very strong team and a clear strategy,” he said.

SPAIN generates renewable energy but no hydrocarbons, apart from the natural gas that Heyco Energy Iberia extracts in Sotes (La Rioja).

The gas was discovered in 2010 and since the Viura project was launched in 2017, Heyco estimates that one well has extracted 500 million cubic metres of the 3 billion that the field contains.

The company acquired Union Fenosa’s 58.8 per cent stake in 2022 and recently bought the publicly owned Basque Hydrocarbons Society’s 37.7 per cent holding.

The company expects to increa-

Sacyr in Turin

SPAIN’S Sacyr and Italian construction company Fininc will create a consortium to design, finance, build, manage and maintain a Turin hospital complex.

The €500 million project signed with the Piamonte authorities that will take five years to complete includes a 1,040-bed hospital, university campus and a commercial zone with shops.

The hospital will provide healthcare for a population of around 300,000 people and incorporate three of Turin’s existing health centres.

He added that the Rightmove board was grateful to all of its shareholders who had been involved in the process and had shared

their views.

REA’s chief executive Owen Wilson said afterwards that they were “disappointed” with the “limited engagement” from Rightmove.

“That impeded our ability to make a firm offer within the timetable available. They had nothing to lose by engaging with us,” Owen maintained.

Murdoch’s son Lachlan took control of REA by buying a 44 per cent holding in the company, then described as “struggling”, for A$2 million (€1.56 million) in 2001. After the Fox film studios and cable assets were sold to Disney for $71 billion (€64.2 billion) and Lachlan emerged as his father’s probable business heir in 2019, REA is viewed as one of his principal contributions to the family fortunes.

Home-grown Rioja gas

H&M layoffs

IN 2020, the pandemic created a continuing boom in online sales that has left all fashion chains with more stores than they needed.

This has been especially problematic for H&M, which between 2010 and 2018 had around 5,000 shops as it competed with the Zara brand owned by Inditex.

H&M’s Spanish subsidiary, whose 2023 accounts have not yet been presented, recently began negotiating redundancies affecting 600 employees in Spain and the closure of 28 stores.

The group expects to close 200 stores worldwide, but the Spanish market will see most, H&M said. This is its second series of layoffs in Spain, the first of which affected 350 employees in mid-2021.

se production by 800 per cent over the next two years, extracting a daily 800,000 cubic metres of gas, generating tax revenues of €25.7 million.

The owners of vineyards and farms within a 1.5 kilometres radius will receive 1 per cent of the production value, Heyco said, while the regional government and neighbouring municipalities are entitled to 4 per cent of the Gas, Oil and Condensate tax.

CRITERIACAIXA has begun selling off some of the minority shareholdings that the La Caixa Foundation’s investment arm acquired after selling its Abertis stake.

By the end of June Criteria had divested itself of assets worth €325.6 million, of which €77.4 million corresponded to Spanish-listed businesses and €275.2 to international companies.

Watchers attributed the sales to Angel Simon, chief executive since April 2024, whose plans included reducing Criteria’s exposure to companies where it wields little influence owing to its minority stake.

Small fry Copper-bottomed deal

BT has received a £105 million (€126.1 million) upfront payment for the sale of the unneeded copper cable used in its old internet network.

As the telecommunications company launches a £15 billion (€18 billion) rollout of high speed fibre broadband to 25 million properties, it has reached agreement with a recycling company that will buy the surplus copper.

To date, BT has installed fibre broadband in 15 million premises but hopes to extend this to 25 million by late 2026 and 30 million by 2030.

Pay cut Bag it

MULBERRY turned down an £83 million (€99.7 million) takeover offer from Frasers Group owned by Mike Ashley.

Frasers which owns multiple retail brands including Sports Direct, the House of Fraser department stores, already holds a 36.8 per cent stake in Mulberry.

The luxury handbag brand said that Frasers’ offer of 130p (€1.56) a share was too low, after carefully considering the proposal and consulting majority shareholder Challice, owned by Singapore businesswoman Christina Ong.

She had no interest in the Frasers offer, Ong said, while Mulberry announced that it preferred to continue with plans to raise sufficient funds for a turnaround.

DESPITE posting record

Dyson sales and a £1 billion (€1.2 billion) profit in 2023, the dividend paid to Sir James Dyson’s family-owned company was cut by 40 per cent.

Accounts filed in Singapore, where the company is based, revealed that Dyson Holdings paid £700 million (€840.7 million) to Weybourne Holdings, which manages the founder’s investments.

This was down from the £1.2 billion (€1.4 billion) dividend paid in 2022 to Dyson who possesses an estimated fortune of £23 billion (€27.3 billion).

RUPERT MURDOCH: Family’s REA Group failed to take over UK’s Rightmove.

VIURA PROJECT: Gas production in Sotes (La Rioja).

LONDON - FTSE 100

3I Group 3.237,50 3.280,00 3.237,00 41,53K

Group 2.782,7 2.824,0 2.776,0 16,4K Airtel Africa 111,80 114,60 111,50 215,3K Anglo American 2.439,5 2.440,5 2.405,5 109,06K Antofagasta 1.963,50 1.988,23 1.952,50 16,35K Ashtead Group 5.598,0 5.666,0 5.570,0 23,85K Associated British Foods 2.315,0 2.330,0 2.315,0 28,32K

11.726,0 11.790,0 11.696,0 89,02K Auto Trader Group Plc 844,40 852,20 843,00 31,96K Aviva 473,45 477,60 472,80 274,06K

B&M European Value Retail SA 412,80 415,90 411,70 53,48K BAE Systems 1.291,00 1.307,93 1.286,50 301,94K

225,70 227,67 225,00 2,16M Barratt Developments 474,50 487,90 472,20 223,51K

Beazley 751,00 760,00 747,00 199,13K

Berkeley 4.717,0 4.817,0 4.714,0 5,07K

BP 418,54 420,37 417,10 4,52M British American Tobacco 2.672,0 2.689,0 2.671,0 444K

BT Group 144,25 145,65 144,10 656,24K Bunzl 3.486,0 3.501,7 3.482,0 48,28K Centrica 115,30 119,10 114,95 1,21M

Cola HBC AG 2.710,5 2.718,0 2.710,0 15,03K

2.398,00 2.412,00 2.390,54 85,23K

Group 222,80 223,00 221,80 219,81K Croda Intl 4.280,0 4.317,0 4.258,0 18,33K

5.220,0 5.255,0 5.210,0 10,64K

BUSINESS

Long wait

SPAIN’S State Industrial Holding Corporation (SEPI) will not recover the €3.256 billion used to rescue 30 companies during the pandemic until 2029. Eight of the businesses, including airlines Air Europa and Air Nostrum, have accumulated 71 per cent of outstanding debts, Sepi said.

Fine situation

THE Sellafield nuclear waste site in Cumbria must pay a £332,500 (€396,751) fine and £53,200 (€63,489) costs after pleading guilty to cybersecurity shortcomings. A Westminster magistrates court said Sellafield’s exposure for four years had threatened national security.

A tidy little sum

MORE than 670,000 young people born in the UK between September 2002 and January 2011 have never claimed their Child Trust Fund.

The average pot is worth £2,212 (€2,648)

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) announced in late September.

The Child Trust Funds were set up in 2005 and provided £250 (€299)

UNCLAIMED: 670,000 have not yet claimed their UK Child Trust Fund.

Going one better

THE BBVA bank, currently immersed in a hostile takeover of Banco Sabadell, amended its offer to shareholders.

The €12 billion bid was announced in April but soured in May when Sabadell snubbed the approach, prompting BBVA’s promise to adjust the offer to reflect dividend payments by adding cash.

After Sabadell paid an interim €0.08

per share on its 2024 results on October 1, BBVA announced an offer of one newly-issued ordinary share for every 5.0196 Sabadell ordinary shares.

As BBVA is paying its investors a €0.29 interim dividend per share on October 10, the offer has been upped to one new-issued ordinary BBVA share and €0.29 in cash for every 5.0196 ordinary Sabadell shares.

them down so your child or children benefit on turning 18,” HMRC said.

The funds are held by banks, building societies or other providers, and remain in the account until they are withdrawn or re-invested.

If vouchers were not invested within one year of issue, HM Revenue and Customs opened an account for the child. Young people can use the online tool on GOV.UK to locate their Child Trust Fund provider, for which they will need their date of birth and National Insurance number.

This is obtainable using the HMRC app to access the information.

“We want to reunite young people with their money and we’re making the process as simple as possible,” HMRC said.

Acciona action

KOREAN fund manager Igis is getting nearer to selling the Nestle headquarters in Esplugues de Llobregat (Barcelona), with Acciona looking like a potential buyer according to property sector sources. The renewable energy retailer would pay around €80 million for the complex of five office buildings that covers an area of almost 50,000 square metres, the same sources said.

Hard times

DELOITTE, one of the Big Four accounting firms, cut partners’ salaries by £48,000 (€57,263) as deals slowed, although the company’s £756 million (€901.8 million) profit for the year ending May 31 equalled last year’s. Average pay for Deloitte senior management now drops from an annual £1.06 million (€1.26 million) to £1.012 million (€1.207 million).

Back to Europe

AS Sir Keir Starmer travelled to Brussels to meet with Ursula von der Leyen on October 2, one sector of British industry was desperate that he includes them in the UK-EU reset.

As early as 2021, various prominent British musicians including Sir Elton John lambasted the then Conservative government about the difficulty that younger musicians face in playing within the European Union.

Considering that Britain gave Europe some of the most innovative musicians from The Beatles to Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Adele, Ed Sheeran and hundreds more, the music industry has earned billions of pounds for the country.

If you are a top musician, then you can afford to pay someone to undertake all of the paperwork which will allow you and your crew to temporarily import equipment and

people with little reduction in earnings.

For smaller bands and individuals, it becomes an expensive bureaucratic nightmare and whereas in the past, musicians learnt their trade by touring, this is one door that has closed on them.

In theory 17 member states of the EU allow UK musicians access to their countries, but the paperwork is still onerous and it was part of the Labour election manifesto to

try to resolve the problem.

Thank EU for the Music is a pro-European group that campaigns for a better deal for touring musicians impacted by Brexit and many of its members formed part of the National Rejoin March at the end of September dressed as elephants.

According to the group, the problem of musicians working in Europe has been ‘the elephant in the room’ since Brexit was finalised.

Ostend shrimp festival

FOR those who like those tiny North Sea shrimps and croquettes then 11 restaurants in Ostend, managed to produce no less than 49,500. This was to ensure that visitors to the ever popular Ostend shrimp croquette festival wouldn’t go hungry when it ran from October 5 to 7. Tickets which have to be purchased in advance sold out at a very early stage and unlike in Spain where customers travel from one bar or restaurant to another as part of a Ruta de Tapas, this festival was held in a single location, the ACEG Wellington Hippodrome.

Eurostar and SkyTeam collaboration

IN a major development for European travellers, Eurostar will join the SkyTeam Alliance in 2025. This collaboration will allow passengers to book plane and train journeys on a single ticket, simplifying travel across Europe.

Eurostar, the high-speed train service connecting the UK with France, Belgium and the Netherlands, is known for its convenience and efficiency. With the Channel Tunnel, Eurostar offers a quick, comfortable option for trips across Europe.

SkyTeam, one of the world’s largest airline alliances, includes airlines like Air France, Delta Air Lines and KLM. It provides a wide network of destinations and loyalty rewards for frequent flyers.

By joining forces, Eurostar and SkyTeam are making travel easier for those moving between European cities and beyond. Passengers will be able to earn loyalty points for both flights and Eurostar journeys, making the partnership beneficial for frequent travellers.

With sus- tainability becoming more important, this partnership highlights the push towards greener travel.

Starting quite humbly, this annual event, sponsored by Ostend Tourism grows in importance and size but it is left to the diners as well as professional judges to vote for their favourite crustacean morsel, with two separate prizes.

Many followed traditional recipes but some were more adventurous, adding curry flavour or tomatoes to their croquettes but the overall opinion was that they were all very tasty.

Large crowds queued in the sunshine whilst awaiting entry and once inside they headed for the stalls of each of the 11 participating restaurants to obtain their delicious samples as well as a beer to wash it down whilst they were also able to enjoy local jazz bands.

One musical elephant made his opinion clear.

NEWS Travel

Discover Guadalest: A Timeless Village in Alicante

with Hispavan

Campers

PERCHED high in the mountains of Alicante, the stunning village of Guadalest is a hidden treasure waiting to be explored. With its rich history, spectacular views, and tranquil atmosphere, Guadalest offers the perfect getaway for travellers seeking a mix of adventure and culture. Thanks to Hispavan Campers, exploring this unique destination has never been more flexible or convenient.

A Historical Village with Scenic Views

Founded in the 11th century by the Moors, Guadalest is known for its dramatic setting and centuries-old charm. The village is dominated by the ancient Castell de Guadalest, a castle perched high on the cliffs, accessible via a tunnel through the rock. Visitors are rewarded with breathtaking views of the Guadalest Valley and its turquoise reservoir, a sight that is hard to forget.

Wander through Guadalest’s narrow streets, where quaint, whitewashed houses line the path, and discover its museums, like the Ethnographic Museum and the Museum of Miniatures, which showcase the region’s culture and history.

Outdoor Adventure and Natural Beauty

Guadalest is surrounded by the stunning Aitana and Serrella moun-

tains, making it a great destination for nature lovers. Numerous hiking trails wind through the countryside, offering visitors the chance to experience the area’s rugged beauty firsthand. The Guadalest Reservoir is perfect for water activities like kayaking, or simply relaxing by the shore, surrounded by the peaceful mountain scenery.

For those seeking an adventure-filled day or a peaceful retreat, Guadalest offers something for everyone.

Explore with Hispavan Campers

Renting a camper van from Hispavan Campers is the best way to

experience the beauty of Guadalest and the surrounding region. Hispavan’s modern, well-equipped vans provide a comfortable and flexible way to travel, offering the freedom to explore at your own pace. With a camper van, you can park close to Guadalest, spend the day exploring the village, and return to your van to relax in comfort. Each van is equipped with cosy sleeping areas, kitchen facilities, and plenty of storage, ensuring that you have everything you need for a great trip.

Relax and Unwind

After a day spent hiking or sightseeing, unwind by the Guadalest

Reservoir or in a nearby campsite. Hispavan Campers make it easy to enjoy the simplicity of life on the road while staying connected to nature. The freedom of having your own mobile accommodation means you can experience both adventure and relaxation without worrying about strict schedules.

For even more variety, nearby coastal towns like Altea and Benidorm are just a short drive away, offering the chance to enjoy the beach and bustling local culture.

How to Get There

Guadalest is easily accessible from Alicante or Benidorm, about an hour’s drive from both. With Hispavan Campers, the journey becomes part of the adventure. While camping isn’t allowed in the village itself, nearby campsites offer fantastic facilities and beautiful views of the mountains and valley.

SUMMARY

Guadalest is a captivating destination, combining history, natural beauty, and adventure. With Hispavan Campers, you can explore it all in comfort and style, enjoying the freedom of the open road and the charm of one of Spain’s most picturesque villages.

LARGE pores are a common skin concern, often caused by genetics, excess oil production, or a loss of skin elasticity. People with oily skin tend to have larger pores because their sebaceous glands produce more oil, which can stretch the pores. Additionally, as we age, the skin loses collagen and firmness, making pores appear more prominent. Sun damage also contributes by weakening the surrounding skin, further enlarging pores over time. While you can’t permanently shrink your pore size, there are effective ways to minimise their appearance. Proper cleansing is essentialusing a gentle, non-co-

By Karan Sud Dental

Book a scale &

“AT our dental clinic, we believe that a healthy smile is the gateway to overall well-being. Many people are unaware that maintaining oral hygiene goes beyond just having a bright smile - it can also impact your heart health.

Regular dental cleanings, known as ‘scale and polish’, are essential in preventing periodontal disease. This gum disease, if left untreated, can lead to severe inflammation and infection. But did you know that the bacteria causing periodontal disease can also enter your bloodstream and affect your heart? Studies have shown a strong link between gum disease and cardiovascular diseases, including heart at-

Pore no more

medogenic cleanser twice daily helps remove excess oil, dirt, and debris that can clog pores, making them look bigger. Exfoliating regularly with products containing salicylic acid or retinoids can also help by remo-

polish

tacks and strokes. By scheduling a professional cleaning at our clinic, you’re not just investing in a radiant smile, but also taking a significant step towards protecting your heart.

Our experienced dental team is dedicated to providing gentle and thorough cleanings, removing plaque and tartar buildup that regular brushing and flossing

might miss.

Don’t wait for symptoms to appear. Prioritise your health by booking a ‘scale and polish’ today. Your heart will thank you for it. Let’s work together to keep your smile bright and your heart strong! Call us now to schedule your appointment and take the first step towards a healthier, happier you.”

ving dead skin cells and promoting cell turnover, which keeps pores clear. Using a good moisturiser ensures the skin stays hydrated and plump, reducing the appearance of pores. Lastly, applying sunscreen daily prevents further collagen breakdown, keeping pores looking less noticeable and your skin smoother.

Knowledge is power

UNDERSTANDING how to read nutrition values on food packaging is essential for making informed dietary choices. Nutrition labels provide insights into a product’s composition, helping you monitor calorie, fat, sugar, and nutrient intake effectively.

Front-of-Pack Labelling

Most products feature a traffic light system indicating levels of fat, saturated fat, sugars, and salt. Each nutrient is colour-coded: green for low, amber for moderate, and red for high. Aim for more greens and ambers for healthier options.

Back-of-Pack Nutritional Information

The detailed nutritional panel typically includes:

1. Energy: Measured in kilojoules (kJ) and kilocalories (kcal), indicating how much energy you gain from a serving.

2. Fat: Includes total fat, saturated fat, and trans fats. Limit saturated fats to reduce heart disease risk.

3. Carbohydrates: Shows total carbohydrates, sugars, and fibre. Monitor sugar intake, while fibre supports digestion.

4. Proteins: Important for muscle re-

pair.

5. Salt: Keep salt low to manage blood pressure.

Ingredients List Ingredients are listed by weight; the first is the main component. Be aware of serving sizes, and consider daily reference intakes to gauge your nutrient consumption.

By familiarising yourself with nutrition labels, you can make healthier choices that align with your dietary goals.

Tackling the texture

STRESS can indeed play a significant role in hair loss. When the body undergoes extreme stress, whether emotional or physical, it can trigger a condition known as telogen effluvium. This causes a larger percentage of hair follicles to enter the resting phase of the growth cycle, leading to noticeable shedding several months after the stress event. Stress-induced hair loss often happens gradually, making it harder to link directly to a specific cause. Situations such as illness, major life changes, or psychological distress can trigger this reaction, but the

Does stress cause hair loss?

good news is that it’s typically temporary. Once the stress is managed, normal hair growth resumes.

It’s important to note that hair loss can have various causes, including genetics and underlying medical conditions. If you’re experiencing persistent or severe hair loss, it’s wise to consult a healthcare professional to explore the best treatment options and ensure there are no other underlying issues contributing to the problem.

Daily brew benefits

DRINKING three cups of coffee a day may provide significant health benefits, particularly in reducing the risk of cardiometabolic diseases like heart disease and stroke. A study from researchers in Swe-

den and China, analysing data from the UK Biobank involving over 500,000 participants, found that consuming 200-300 mg of caffeine daily - equivalent to around three cups of coffee - lowered

the likelihood of developing cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CM). This term refers to having two or more cardiometabolic conditions, which are becoming increasingly common.

Further research by the Endocrine Society revealed that people who drank three cups of coffee daily had a reduced risk - by up to 48 per cent - of developing CM compared to those who didn’t drink coffee.

The benefits of coffee extend beyond heart health. Studies show that caffeine improves mood, boosts productivity, and helps lower the risk of diseases like type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s.

It also promotes longevity, as regular consumption has been linked to a decreased risk of premature death, according to reviews from multiple studies on caffeine.

Beyond blonde

BLEACHING your hair can create stunning results, but it also requires extra care to maintain its health and shine. Bleaching strips the hair of its natural oils and moisture, leaving it more vulnerable to dryness, breakage, and split ends. Fortunately, with the right approach, you

can keep your bleached hair looking vibrant and strong. Hydration is key. Use deep conditioning treatments regularly to replenish lost moisture and repair damage. Opt for sulphate-free shampoos, as they are gentler and less likely to strip further moisture from your hair. Adding a leave-in conditioner or hair oil can help seal the cuticles and protect against

Limiting heat styling is essential for bleached hair, as excessive heat can worsen dryness and cause further damage. When heat styling is necessary, always use a heat protectant spray to minimise

Finally, regular trims will keep split ends at bay and ensure your hair looks its best. With consistent care, bleached hair can remain healthy, soft, and full

Mobility friendly fitness

EXERCISING with reduced mobility is crucial for maintaining physical health and improving overall well-being, even when faced with physical limitations. Adapted exercises can be done from a seated position, using resistance bands, light weights, or even household objects like water bottles. These exercises help maintain muscle strength, flexibility, and circulation without putting too much strain on the body.

For example, seated leg lifts are a great way to strengthen the lower body. Sit in a sturdy chair, extend one leg forward, hold for a few seconds, and lower it back down. Repeat with the other leg. This engages the muscles without the need for standing.

Upper body exercises, such as seated arm raises, can be done using light weights or resistan-

ce bands. While seated, hold weights or resistance bands and raise your arms to shoulder height, then slowly lower them. This helps strengthen the arms and shoulders.

Stretching is also essential. Simple seated stretches, like reaching for your toes or gently twisting from side to side, can improve flexibility and reduce stiffness.

Hippo

A NEW make-up trend inspired by the gentle and majestic hippo is making waves in the beauty world. This unique trend draws from the hippo’s na -

Swimming or water aerobics are excellent options for those with reduced mobility. Water provides support, reducing the impact on joints while still allowing for effective, full-body movement.

These exercises help maintain strength, mobility, and overall health while adapting to individual needs.

hues

tural earthy colours and textures, combining soft, muted tones with glossy, dewy finishes to create a look that’s both bold and refreshing. Think warm browns, muted greys, and deep greens for eyeshadow, paired with a glossy, hydrated skin effect to mimic the hippo’s natural glow. Contour takes centre stage in this trend, with a focus on emphasising rounded, soft features for a more natural, fuller look. Highlighters with a wet-look sheen are popular, creating a dewy, sun-kissed finish. Lip glosses in subtle nude or pale pink shades enhance the natural feel.

This trend is a celebration of embracing natural beauty, inspired by one of nature’s most powerful and graceful animals, offering a fresh take on glamour with a wild twist. It’s perfect for those seeking bold, creative expression while staying connected to nature’s essence.

JEAN PALLANT, a British fashion designer known for her role in the 1960s cultural revolution, has been reunited with one of her long-lost designs - a striking orange coat that had vanished from her warehouse nearly 40 years ago. The coat resurfaced in an Oxfam charity shop in Mill Hill, London, where sta instantly recognised its exclusivity.

“I was absolutely over the moon,” Pallant said, describing her joy when she learned the coat had been found in pristine condition, still looking as new as the day she created it in 1988.

Jean Pallant’s long-lost coat

Pallant, who designed the coat with her late husband, Martin, recalled the heartbreak of discovering that the garment and several other pieces had gone missing decades ago. “It’s like seeing a child again,” she said, marvelling at how well-preserved the piece was.

The coat is now set to be featured in Oxfam’s Style for Change fashion show as part of its Second Hand Septem-

Delayed justice for witches

APPROXIMATELY

70,000 people fell victim to ‘witch hysteria’ in Europe and the New World between the 15th and 17th centuries.

Three feminist campaigners - Susan Smit, Bregje Hofstede and Manja Bedner - founded the National Witches Monument foundation in 2023 and plan to set up a monument to the women who were tortured, hanged or burnt alive.

O cial records show that 248 were put to death in the Netherlands over the centuries but, as Smit, Hofstede and Bedner said, it is impossible to know exactly many were killed.

The three campaigners have now raised €35,000 and want the public to help them decide where the monument should be located.

Roermond, Oudewater and ‘s Heerenberg (Montferland) have put themselves forward, and

to Roermond goes the unwelcome distinction of having put 89 women to death in the past.

Oudewater is a stronger candidate as the accused had a fairer deal there than in many other towns or cities.

Those suspected of witchcraft at least had chance to prove their innocence, if their weight matched their body mass, proving

they were too heavy to y on a broomstick.

The weighing mechanism can still be seen the Museum de Heksenwaag (Witches Museum) in Oudewater, one of the 20 towns that commemorated the National Witches Monument Foundation’s Action Day last June by laying white roses in places that had executed witches in the past.

ber campaign.

Pallant hopes that this reunion might lead to the recovery of more of her lost designs, which hold immense sentimental value.

For those of you who enjoy vintage fashion, Jean Pallant is restoring and curating a Pallant collection to give to the V&A Museum in London.

INTERVIEW

Speaking EuropeanPaulo Teixeira Silva

“A chance encounter on a school trip to Benidorm changed the path of Paulo’s life forever.”

AT the age of 18, Paulo, like many other Portuguese teenagers, visited Benidorm on an organised school trip. While there, he met a Spanish girl in a bar, and it was ‘love at first sight’.

Although neither of them could speak the other’s language, they decided to converse via letter, using a dictionary to translate what they wished to say.

Fast-forward two years, and at the age of 20, Paulo found himself an expectant father, and the decision to make a life in Spain became the natural and responsible choice. He took a job as a waiter in a local restaurant even though he still spoke

limited Spanish. He explained, “At that time, there were many Portuguese visitors, so the bosses ensured I was the waiter assigned to those tables.”

Of course, with a Spanish partner, he immersed himself in the language all the time, although he had no formal lessons. “I would watch football in the local bar and listen to the pronunciation of the Spanish people talking, which really helped,” he shared.

Having now lived in Spain for 23 years, Paulo is fluent in Spanish and English, a skill he learned ‘on the job’ while working for Servigroup Hotels, where he still works today.

Paulo Teixeira Silva

Credit: Paulo Teixeira Silva

MAKING AMENDS : The Oudewater museum’s director and mayor.

Photo credit: Instagram/Museum de Heksenwaag

Cure auction

THE Cure are poised to launch their rst new studio album in 16 years, and to celebrate, singer Robert Smith will be auctioning prints of his artworks in aid of Heart Research UK.

Announced on his Instagram account on Friday, October 4, Robert Smith posted that four of his paintings, named after Cure songs, will be printed and signed and will be up for auction, with all proceeds going to charity.

Three of the four new paintings were inspired by the music and lyrics o tracks on the upcoming album release, ‘Songs Of A Lost World’, their rst since 2008.

The other is a close-up portrait resembling a Cure fan with a Geisha-like white face and characteristically badly applied lipstick.

The rst song release from the new album was premiered on Mary Anne Hobbs BBC Radio 6 show on Thursday, September 26, along with the announcement of the release date for the new album, to the joy of shoegazers, goths, and Cure fans of all denominations everywhere.

The band had been on the cusp of releasing a new album back in 2019,

but events delayed continuation on the project, which at the time had some 19 songs, each over 10 minutes long. Presumably, studio editing during the pandemic was a major obstacle.

The prints of Smith’s paintings will be available to bid on from October 13. Information on how to do so will be published on his Instagram account.

The four paintings turned into auction items.

Costa del Sol A call for help

JASMINE HARMAN, presenter of A Place in the Sun, has put out an appeal to the Costa del Sol community to help in the search for a missing family member.

Orville Boast, the beloved soft toy of Joy, the daughter of Jasmine and her husband Jon Boast, is a small, cuddly, and slightly worn doll of the little nappy wearing green bird Orville, of Keith Harris and Orville fame. In an appeal across social media platforms, Jasmine Harman has asked the local community to help recover Joy’s precious Orville. She asks whoever finds him to be very careful, as he’s a little delicate and worn out.

The family believes Orville went astray in the Miramar shopping park in Las Lagunas/Mijas. The TV presenter said her daughter Joy has had the toy for many years, and it has great sentimental value.

She has asked her more than 200,000 followers on Instagram to help the family out and to spread the word.

Axarquia New Malaga East Metro

THE regional government is studying the possibility of a new Metro train line reaching out east, as far as Rincon de la Victoria.

The Regional Government of Andalucia has received proposals from six companies for the detailed technical studies for an eastern corridor route linking the city of Malaga as far east as Rincon de la Victoria.

The draft proposals envisage linking the Ciudad Garden metro station with El Palo and beyond, opening up future possibilities for taking the rail line even further along the east coast of the Malaga Province.

Whichever company is awarded the contract for the study will analyse the different alternative routes for three new corridors outlined in a Metropolitan Transport Plan for the Malaga Area.

While still only in its proposal stage, the concept will be to link all the routes to a central transport hub for long-distance trains, commuter trains, and buses in the centre of Malaga.

Mallorca In safe hands

MALLORCA VETERINARIS MIVET MANACOR, opened the doors to its brand-new hospital on March 1 this year, and has provided expert veterinary care for hundreds of cats and dogs over the last seven months, in a continuation of the services the hospital had been providing in its much smaller premises previously. The hospital is the biggest in Mallorca, and comprises a team of highly skilled and trained vets, nurses and receptionists, dedicated to providing a quality, caring service to both pets and owners alike.

Veterinary care in Spain is very carefully governed, and in order to be considered a hospital, there must be a veterinarian onsite 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The business must have the complete equipment to be able to offer a full diagnostic and treatment service during consulting hours, as well as a minimum of three separate hospitalisation areas. It is also a requirement to have special isolation rooms for infectious cases.

Costa Blanca South Price boom

HOUSE prices in Spain have surged by 8.7 per cent year-on-year in the third quarter, with the average price per square metre reaching €2,182. While this trend is being observed nationwide, the Valencian Community - especially Alicante - has experienced the most notable increases. In the last three months, housing prices across the country have risen by 2 per cent, a new record for Spain. However, the situation in Alicante and the broader Valencian Community is becoming particularly pressing, as affordability concerns grow. Across the Valencian Community, house prices have risen by an average of 12.7 per cent in the past year, placing the region among the strongest performers nationwide. The Valencian Community remains one of Spain’s most competitive housing markets and when it comes to provincial data, Alicante is a standout.

Prices in the province have increased by 12.6 per cent year-on-year, reflecting the broader trend of rising prices across the region.

Almeria

A meaningful impact

AGE SUPPORT ALMANZORA is making a meaningful impact in Albox, by providing emotional and practical support for older people. Their mission is clear: to promote the well-being of all seniors and help them enjoy a fulfilling life.

The organisation stands firm against ageism, challenging unfair treatment and ensuring that every older person has the right to make choices about their life. They believe in empowering those who may struggle to help themselves, offering vital support to help them live with dignity.

At the heart of their work are dedicated volunteers who run a charity shop, a welfare office, and a befriending service. These initiatives connect lonely seniors with companionship, breaking the silence many experience. If you know someone in need, let them know about the services available.

Age Support Almanzora is driven by values like care, expertise, and innovation, and they strive to listen to the voices of older people in the community.

Costa Calida

Red October

MURCIA is feeling the heat as it kicks off October with record-breaking temperatures. On October 2, the mercury soared to an unprecedented 35.5°C at the Guadalupe weather station, marking the highest temperature ever recorded for this month in Murcia. Previously, the hottest October day was nearly 35°C (34.9°C) on October 9, 2012.

Residents and visitors are experiencing a surprising warm spell, with the current heatwave showing no signs of relenting anytime soon. The State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) forecasts that temperatures will continue to hover between 33°C and 34°C for the foreseeable future. If you thought a cooling trend was on the horizon, think again! It looks like the warm weather will persist. As locals soak up the sun, it’s a reminder of the unusual weather patterns we’re facing. Whether you’re out enjoying the warm weather or planning to cool off indoors, this October is shaping up to be one for the record books in Murcia!

Price rises

EXPECT noticeable price rises at Spanish supermarket tills in October as the anti-crisis VAT reduction on food is about to come to an end.

The VAT reduction on essential foodstuffs was originally introduced to alleviate the expense of the average family shopping basket. It was brought in to combat the surge in prices following the outbreak of war in Ukraine. But now, time’s up, and value-added tax will begin to return to our shopping

receipts once more. So, take note of prices on the supermarket shelves from October.

Cutting VAT on essential food items meant a drop in tax revenue to the tune of €440 million in the first quarter of 2024. Apart from being a welcome measure, it was also hoped it would keep inflation down on basic products.

From October 1, 2024, there will be a 2 per cent rise on the VAT applied to food products that until now were at 0 per cent,

while other products will go from 5 per cent to 7.5 per cent.

Where we are likely to see rises: VAT on olive oil will rise from 0 per cent to 2 per cent, as will bread; basic flour; milk; cheese; eggs; fruit, vegetables, and pulses; and cereal. While VAT increases from the reduced 5 per cent back up to 7.5 per cent will be noted on pasta and seed oils such as sunflower oil.

The reintroduction will be gradual on a month by month basis.

Damian Lewis herds sheep

HOLLYWOOD actor Damian Lewis recently took part in one of London’s most unusual traditions - The London Sheep Drive, which involves herding sheep across the River Thames. This quirky event is part of an ancient right granted to Freemen of the City of London, allowing them to bring livestock to market without paying tolls.

Lewis, best known for his roles in Homeland and Band of Brothers, was invited to act as the shepherd for the day, leading a flock of sheep across Southwark Bridge.

Dressed in his grandfather’s First World War-era wool coat and carrying a shepherd’s crook, the 53-year-old actor described the experience as “fabulous” and an “eccentric, very British day” that

honours an ancient tradition.

The Sheep Drive is not just a fun day out; it holds historical significance. The event dates back to medieval times, when Freemen could cross the River Thames, toll-free.

Situated on Queen Street and Queen Street Place, the event invites visitors to explore the history and significance of the Sheep Drive and the various charitable causes it supports. The event showcases livery companies and wool specialists, who demonstrate their craft through engaging activities and offer their products for sale. Visitors can also enjoy exciting displays, such as expert shearing demonstrations and an exhibition of rare breed sheep.

Supermarket prices will gradually return to normal.

Shepherd Damian Lewis.

Credit: Instagram

Italian strike

ITALY’S transport faces widespread disruption in October which began on Saturday 5 as strikes were announced across road, rail, and air.

Those travelling to and around Italy, prepare for delays as mass strikes are planned that will affect the entire country, including users of trains, underground, buses, and even planes.

City commuters can expect to see delays and cancellations on all public transport systems, including subways, buses, and tram networks. In Rome and Milan, transport services were to be disrupted beginning Monday, October 7.

Air traffic controllers at Palermo airport will be staging a walkout on Friday, October 11 from 1pm to 5pm, so flight delays and possible cancellations are expected. Some disruption could

also be seen at Milan, Bari, and Brindsi airports.

From 9pm on Saturday 12 until 9pm on Sunday 13, there will be a 24hour strike on rail travel that will affect both long-distance and regional lines, leaving weekend tourists in limbo.

A 24-hour stoppage affecting local public transport services across Italy is planned on Friday, October 18. At the same time there

is a massive political demonstration in the centre of Rome that is predicted will bring the city to a standstill.

And, if all that wasn’t bad enough, easyJet pilots are staging industrial action on Sunday, October 27 between 1pm and 5pm. For further information, the company urges passengers for that day to consult the easyJet website for updates on the situation. Buon viaggio!

Brits and news

A RECENT survey reveals that half of the British population thinks that sports and US politics receive excessive media coverage.

The survey also reveals that many feel that science and lighter news stories are under-represented.

The positive takeaway for both television and newspaper editors is that the British public generally believes most key topics are adequately covered.

In fact, for eight out of the 12 news categories surveyed, more Britons felt the coverage was “about right” ra ther than “too much” or “too little.”

For instance, when it co mes to crime and the eco nomy, a majority of respon dents (51-55 per cent) think these topics receive appropria te coverage.

A similar sentiment is ex pressed regarding business stories and world news, al though nearly 30 per cent (28 per cent) feel international affairs are under-reported. However, there are notable exceptions to the general consen sus on coverage adequacy. Just onethird of the British public (32 per cent) believe that US politics is reported on

appropriately, with 48 per cent feeling it receives too much attention.

Sports coverage faces similar criticism, with half of Britons (49 per cent) thinking it is over-represented in newspapers and broadcasts, compared to only 5 per cent who feel there is insufficient sports news.

In contrast, science reporting appears to be lacking. Nearly half of the population (49 per cent) believe it is under-reported.

Bogus Banksy bust up!

CALLING all art lovers! Spanish police have dismantled a criminal network responsible for producing and distributing counterfeit artworks attributed to the renowned British street artist Banksy, fetching thousands of pounds worldwide.

The investigation targeted four individuals accused of fraud and intellectual property violations. Detectives first became aware of the illicit trade last year, tracing the forged pieces across online platforms, auctions and antique dealers. Initial inspections led to the seizure of nine works, some fetching up to €1,500 (£1,280) each.

Two arrests were made in Zaragoza, along with two others connected to the art world.

The ring allegedly sold over 25 spray-painted pieces on cardboard, accompanied by forged certificates claiming association with Banksy’s Dismaland project - a satirical theme park exhibition in Weston-super-Mare in 2015.

The investigation exposed a workshop in Zaragoza where two individuals, described as ‘young urban art enthusiasts facing financial difficulties’, pro-

duced the counterfeit works. Banksy, famed for his provocative murals, remains an enigmatic figure. His elusive identity adds intrigue to his artworks, scattered in unexpected places and coveted by collectors worldwide.

According to an expert on the artist, Banksy’s Pest Control authentication service (established in 2008 after a series of fake prints were sold online) receives up to 700 certificate applications each month!

So, if you’re after a Banksy, make sure it’s the genuine article, not a dodgy Spanish holiday souvenir!

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Empty Florence train station.

Image: Tero Vesalainen / Shutterstock.com

Does Beanz Meanz Heinz?

ALDI’S budget-friendly baked beans have outperformed well-known brands like Heinz in a blind taste test conducted in the UK by consumer group Which?.

In the test, 66 baked bean enthusiasts sampled and rated 10 different varieties, including supermarket offerings from Asda, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, and brands like Heinz and Branston.

Aldi’s Bramwells Baked Beans in a Rich Tomato Sauce, priced at 41p for a 410g can, came out on top with an impressive score of 76 per cent.

Close behind with a score of 75 per cent were Branston Baked Beans, priced at £1 per 410g can. They also received a Best Buy rating, with the tasters enjoying the flavour, appearance, and sweet-

Co-op’s Baked Beans in Tomato Sauce (49p for 400g) ranked third with a score of 74 per cent. While 70 per cent of the panel liked the flavour, some thought it could have used a stronger tomato taste.

Asda’s Baked Beans in a Rich Tomato Sauce (42p for 410g) followed with 73 per cent. Seven out of 10 tasters enjoyed the texture of the beans, and 73 per cent liked the sauce’s consistency.

Despite its reputation, Heinz Beanz (£1.40 for 415g) scored only 72 per cent.

For those who regularly buy Heinz, switching to Aldi could result in substantial savings, over £100 a year for those who consume two cans a week.

Saving joeys lives

AS the world of technology progresses so thankfully there are often people or groups who can take advantage of what is being left behind.

In the same way that old worn down tyres are cut up and used to create soles for shoes, so a paediatric nurse in Australia has come up with a ‘bonzer’ idea.

Working at the Kununurra District Hospital in Western Australia, Jane Darlington had that ‘lightbulb’ moment when she saw a volunteer from the local Kangaroo Rescue Haven dressed as a wallaby and carrying an orphaned joey (baby kangaroo).

pouch which the joey lives in for several months before being strong enough to emerge.

Incubators in the hospital whilst still working, were obsolete and were due to be disposed off, but she reasoned that these could be ideal to replicate a female kangaroo or wallabies

The fact is that all marsupials in the area are not endangered by other animals but are regularly hit by vehicles and whilst they are ‘road kill’ their infants need help to survive.

Jane contacted Mandy Watson, director of the Kununurra Haven and explained her idea and hence what is now known as the humidicrib came to life, offering the warmth and humidity that these young animals need. Because of the size, more than one youngster can be looked after at the same time and hopefully, the number of joeys saved can be increased.

A clever use of obsolete incubators.

Credit: Kununurra Rescue Haven Facebook

Ten different varieties sampled.

Image: Heinz UK / Facebook

Norway decides

ALTHOUGH the role of the Norwegian monarchy is mainly ceremonial, the fact is that now aged 87 and having suffered from illness, the future of King Harald V has recently come under scrutiny but he has vowed not to abdicate.

His direct heir is his son Crown Prince Haakon and in the event of the king leaving the country or being confined due to illness then Haakon can step in as regent.

Since 1905, there has only been one heir who has reached the correct age, but now, Princess Ingrid Alexandra could also be considered as an acceptable regent, but the constitution doesn’t allow this.

In the event that the regent is also out of the country or is indisposed, then a member of the Norwegian government assumes titular control.

Working on the concept

Foreign labour in healthcare

that two heads are better than one, therefore members of different parties in the Norwegian Parliament (Storting) want to amend the constitution in order to allow for two age qualified regents.

If this does go through, then, when Haakon becomes monarch, his younger son Prince Sverre Magnus could take over the second regency

Credit: Kongehuset/Lise Åserud NTB

EUROPE is increasingly turning to foreign-trained healthcare professionals to address a growing shortage of doctors and nurses. Countries like Norway and Switzerland are particularly reliant on this workforce, with over 40 per cent of their doctors coming from abroad. This reliance extends to nursing professionals in countries such as Ireland.

However, while this strategy offers short-term relief, it may cause long-term damage to the healthcare systems of the countries from which these workers migrate. Romania and Poland are already experiencing severe shortages as many of their healthcare professionals move to wealthier nations like Germany and the UK. According to OECD, this creates a

role once he reaches the appropriate age.

Although public support for the monarchy appears to have dropped over the past two years, it is unlikely that the anti-royalty Reds Party which wants to abolish the monarchy altogether will be successful in its aims which it plans to rekindle in the latest session of the Storting.

ripple effect, weakening healthcare systems in less wealthy countries.

Globally, the United States remains the top destination for foreign-born nurses, attracting 45 per cent of them. Germany follows with 15 per cent, while the UK accounts for 11 per cent.

OECD warns that unless European countries start training more healthcare workers, the reliance on foreign labour will only increase. Countries like Germany, which is projected to need an additional 150,000 nurses by 2025, must improve working conditions and wages to prevent further shortages.

These developments are crucial for expatriates in Europe, as healthcare quality and availability will be directly impacted.

Sweden best for AI

European economy.

A recent study highlights six European countries among 14 of the best in the world for setting up an AI business. The report ranked the best countries where to create an AI startup based on factors such as the number of newly funded AI companies, total private investment, research and development facilities (R&D), and finance for startups.

Sweden topped the ranking for the most attractive European destination for an AI startups, followed by Switzerland, despite not having the friendliest business environment for startups. Spain was highly rated number 7 in the world for its business environment, just after Germany, where the finance for startups was considered the best. Generative AI could add €521 billion to the European economy in 2025, according to global management consulting company McKinsey & Company. To put that into context, that is equal to about one-10th of the German GDP.

Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Crown Prince Haakon on Norway Day.

moving at the speed of AI.

Photo: Shutterstock

Meowgical Halloween

DRESSING your cat in a Halloween costume can be a fun way to celebrate the spooky season, but comfort and safety should always come first. When selecting a costume, opt for soft, breathable fabrics that won’t irritate your cat’s skin or restrict their movement. Avoid costumes with small parts that can be chewed or swallowed. Popular choices include lightweight capes, themed collars, or simple headgear like bat wings or witch hats, which are less invasive than full outfits. Costumes like pumpkins, skele-

tons, or even playful sharks are fun, provided they’re designed with your cat’s comfort in mind. Always supervise your cat while they’re in costume to ensure they aren’t stressed or uncomfortable.

It’s essential to make sure the costume fits properly. Anything too tight can cause discomfort, while loose outfits might pose tripping hazards. If your cat is new to costumes, introduce them gradually to ensure a positive experience and a memorable Halloween.

Does your pet need a dogsitter when you travel?

DO you have pets at home? And are you thinking of travelling in 2025? With HouseSitMatch you can find checked pet-sitters who’ll care for your pets in your home for Free!

Plan now for spring and save a lot of money. You’ll have peace of mind knowing a checked sitter is looking after your pets at home.

HouseSitMatch Saves You Money - Pet-sitting is Free

If you use HouseSitMatch.com you find free checked pet-sitters who pay their way to stay in your home caring for your pets young and old in your absence. It’s a house-sitting 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 home - Safe and Undisturbed

All pets benefit from staying at home, so their routines are undisturbed. Choose Housesitmatch.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:

Another chance

ADOPTING a senior pet offers both heartwarming rewards and practical benefits. Senior pets tend to be calmer, making them ideal for families or individuals seeking a low-maintenance companion. Most older pets are already house-trained and come with established personalities, meaning you can immediately understand their temperament. This makes the transition into your home smoother.

One of the most compassionate reasons to adopt a senior pet is that they are often overlooked in shelters, despite being just as loving as younger animals. Providing a home for an older pet gives them comfort and security in their later years, allowing them to live their golden years in peace.

Planning your 2025 holidays? Plan early to find your free checked pet-sitters.

1. Register as a homeowner on HouseSitMatch.com

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.

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In addition, adopting a senior pet often requires less training and energy, offering you more bonding time without the challenges of raising a younger animal. Senior pets are just as affectionate and loyal, often forming incredibly deep bonds with their new owners, showing immense gratitude for their second chance at life.

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GARDENING

Honda Jazz Hybrid - small car, big space

By Mark Slack ROAD TEST

THERE are some cars that have the wrong kind of reputation, and some that have an unjustified reputation.

The Honda Jazz definitely falls into that latter category because although it’s actually a great little car it’s also widely viewed as being the favourite of, how can one put it, more mature drivers.

In its latest form the Jazz Hybrid has all the virtues of a Honda, being well built, reliable and immensely practical for its size. Prices start at €32,122/£26,885 with three trim levels in the line-up - Elegance, Advance, Ad vance Sport - and then the Crosstar which has a bit of an SUV vibe. Slightly raised ride height and plastic cladding to the wheel arches and door bottoms complete the look. Standard fare is generous to a fault, even the lead-in version has everything from keyless entry and start and adaptive cruise through to navigation and Bluetooth with wireless CarPlay.

Facts at a Glance

Model: Honda Jazz

Engine: 1.5-litre, naturally aspirated with hybrid assistance

Gears: Automatic- CVT

Price: €33,556/£28,085

In addition to terrific practicality and space, given the Jazz’s diminutive proportions, the visibility is from another age, in a good way. Lots of glass and slim pillars makes for a nice and airy interior. None of the lowered rooflines, slimline windows

Performance: 0-100kph/62mph 9.4 seconds - Max speed 173kph/108 mph

Economy: 4.5 litres per 100km/62.8mpg combined

Emissions: 102g/km

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

and chunky pillars that one normally expects nowadays. The magic rear seats offer a myriad of different folding options that can effectively turn the Jazz into nothing short of a small van. It is amazing what will fit inside it.

The 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine is mated to not one but two electric motors with three drive modes -electric, hybrid and engine - and a CVT automatic transmission. Regular readers will know that CVTs have a particular characteristic where hard acceleration causes the engine revs to rise while the speed catches up. It can be quite vocal so feathering the throttle makes life quieter and is soon adopted when you’re used to the car. Electric power switches in seamlessly and the Jazz will run electric only at low speed or you can select engine power or full hybrid mode that leaves the car to choose which mode of power depending on driving conditions.

If you thought the Honda Jazz was a car for downsizers, the more mature driver or those with just a weekly run to the shops, then think again. It looks smart, in my opinion, and has lots of standard equipment and seems to hold its price well on the used forecourt. All of which makes up for that higher initial purchase price.

Second-hand car secrets

BUYING A SECOND-HAND CAR IN SPAIN CAN BE AN AFFORDABLE OPTION FOR TRANSPORTATION, BUT SPECIFIC STEPS ARE ESSENTIAL, ESPECIALLY FOR BUYERS WITH LIMITED SPANISH.

Necessary Documentation

Ensure possession of the NIE (Foreign Identification Number), a valid passport, and a driver’s licence. Not converting a foreign licence to a Spanish one might complicate obtaining insurance.

Budget and Requirements

Determine the budget and list essential features to narrow the search.

Car Selection

Prioritise reliability. Research durable models like Volkswagen and SEAT with the 1.9 TDI engine, which can exceed 200,000 miles. Be aware of issues like oil leaks and injector failures. Avoid models with known problems, such as certain Peugeot, Citroën, and Opel engines.

Avoiding Scams

Beware of scams, especially with private sellers and unusually low prices. Facebook Marketplace is notorious.

Where to Buy

Consider online marketplaces, dealerships, or private sellers. Always have

the car inspected.

Cost

Expect to spend €5,000 - €10,000 for a decent car. Toyota, Honda, and Mazda offer reliable options.

Inspection and History Check

Have the car professionally inspected. Run a Carfax report and request a certificado de cargas from the Traffic Office (DGT) to check for debts.

Cash Payment Limits

Legal cash payment limits are €1,000 with a business, €2,500 between individuals. Exceeding limits incurs fines.

Insurance

Insurance without a Spanish licence may be more expensive. Use comparison sites like Rastreator.com.

Legal Considerations

Dealers must provide a one-year warranty; private sellers must ensure no hidden defects for six months. Ensure the car has the correct emissions sticker.

Happy car hunting!

THERE are currently talks over possible new alcohol limits for drivers in Spain.

Spain is proposing to lower the legal alcohol limit for drivers, potentially leading to a surge in positive breathalyser tests. Even a casual drink or everyday products like mouthwash could result in fines. Find out how this

New alcohol limit for drivers in Spain?

socialising with alcohol. It’s not about going on a bender; even just a cheeky pint or a quick glass of vino could land you in hot water with a positive breathalyser result. And in a country where a friendly drink is practically a national pastime, this new limit could leave countless drivers out of pocket and off the roads. Stay tuned for updates.

Dutch legend dies

THE NETHERLANDS has been blessed with a number of exceptional footballers over the past decades and sadly yet another has passed away.

According to information released by the Dutch Football Federation, the KNVB, Johan Neeskens who was attending a World Coaches project in Algeria, died on Sunday October 6, aged just 73.

On the domestic side, he played for a number of different clubs, the most famous being Ajax and Barcelona where he accumulated wins in the European Cup (three times), Copa del Rey and European Cup Winners’ Cup before playing in the USA.

Fans of TV series Ted Lasso will recall that imaginary team AFC Richmond won the Premier League title when they switched their style to that of ‘total football’ a strategy that was first introduced by the Dutch Natio-

nal team in the 1970s of which Neeskens was a part.

He actually won 49 caps with The Netherlands and played in the teams that were World Cup runners up in 1974 and 1978.

According to a statement by the KNVB, “With his characteristic tackles, sublime insights and iconic penalties, [he] will forever remain one of the most prominent and beloved players to ever play for our country.”

Following his retirement as a player, in 1991, he spent 21 years as a manager or assistant manager for a number of clubs as well as the Australian and Dutch national teams. After moving away from management, this quiet family man who rarely gave interviews became increasingly more involved in working on the KNVB programme that helps smaller teams worldwide to understand the intricacies of coaching.

Johan Neeskens whilst Assistant Manager at Barcelona.

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