Foreign fusion
A RECENT study by the National Institute of Statistics which was published in early October highlights an interesting change in the population of Mallorca.
According to the latest census, seven municipalities now have more foreigners and nationals from mainland Spain than local Mallorcans.
Calvia, known for its British and German communities, tops the list.
It’s interesting to note that only about one in three residents in Calvia are originally from Mallorca, with around 40 per cent having moved there from other countries.
Andratx, Alcudia, Santanyi, and Deia follow closely, with 41 per cent to 50 per cent of residents being born on the island.
In Palma, Llucmayor, Pollença, Manacor, Santa Margalida, and San Llorenç de Cardassar, about 40 per cent to 49 per cent of the population is non-native.
A notable trend is that many foreign residents choose to live
in some of the wealthiest areas of the island, particularly in regions favoured by British and German citizens like Calvia, Andratx, and Santanyi.
This reflects the positive impact of these communities, especially in light of the recent discussions around tourism. While tourism is a separate topic, the presence of foreign residents does contribute significantly to the local economy.
With the number of foreign residents in the Balearics continuing to grow - over 200,000 more non-natives in the last 30 years –it is clear that this diversity enriches Mallorca.
This growth may also explain why the locals are so passionate about preserving their culture and language, as they embrace the positive contributions of their new neighbours.
Views of the night sky
DESPITE the habitual traffic restrictions regarding access to Formentor this past summer, an astonishing 244,813 vehicles made their journey along the road to the Formentor Lighthouse within the restricted season. Given that the restrictions are between 10.00 and 22.30, for a period of 122 days, running from June 1 - September 30, the statistics, published by the General Direction of Traffic (DGT), are pretty impressive.
With an average of 2,007 vehicles travelling the road each night within the restricted period, does this signal a
new trend for nocturnal tourism, or is the Faro de Formentor really so special?
The 22-metre-tall tower is the highest in the Balearic Islands, standing on the edge of a cliff 210 metres above sea level [Wikipedia], and is a popular visitor attraction due to the incredible views it provides.
Swimmer rescued
LIFEGUARDS leapt to the rescue on the afternoon of Sunday October 6, when a man was spotted lying face down in the sea off the Cala Mayor beach. At around 5.30pm, the duty lifeguard was approached by a woman calling for urgent help, having noticed the unconscious swimmer. The lifeguard immediately sprung into action, alerting two off-duty colleagues who, coincidentally, happened to be enjoying the beach on their day off, and between them they were quick to reach the man and pull him onto dry land.
On noting that the man was in cardiac arrest, the three lifeguards didn’t hesitate to perform resuscitation techniques whilst waiting for medical professionals to arrive at the scene.
On arrival, the ambulance service took over the care of the victim, continuing the life-saving manoeuvres until they could confirm that the man was in a stable condition. He was consequently transferred to a local medical centre in order to be fully checked over whilst he recovered.
The incident comes just days after a rescue operation on the Can Pere Antoni beach, Palma, in which two swimmers were taken to safety by helicopter within just 40 minutes.
Mallorca • Issue No. 2049 • 10 - 16 Oct 2024 FREE FREE FREI GRATIS
GRATIS GRATIS GRATIS
GRATUITO
ILMAINEN
MALLORCA VETERI-
NARIS MIVET MANA-
COR, 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 of a team of highly skilled and trained vets, nurses and receptionists, dedicated to providing a quality, caring service to both pets and owners alike.
In safe hands Firefighters beat blaze Weather warnings continue
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, keeping dogs and cats apart.
It is also a requirement to have special isolation rooms for infectious cases, in which staff will wear full PPE when entering and caring for the
Brand new vet hospital opened earlier this year.
sick animals. The Mallorca Veterinaris Mivet Manacor hospital also has a critical care unit in which seriously ill pets will be supplied with oxygen, heat, fluids and medication whilst being carefully monitored by qualified vets and nurses.
In the words of specialist veterinarian and surgeon at the hospital, Oriol Puig Domingo, it is “the priority of Mallorca Veterinaris Mivet Manacor to offer the highest level of patient care in the hands of trusted professionals.”
EXTREME weather warnings were issued in Mallorca on Monday October 7 by State Meteorological Agency (Aemet), who predicted that wind speeds across the Serra de Tramuntana area could reach up to 70 kilometres per hour during the first half of the week. Aemet activated a yellow warning for the area, supported by the Balearic Emergency Services 112. The following day the meteorology specialists also issued a yellow warning in Menorca.
The emergency services posted on X that the alert, which was considered to be an IG0
A FIRE swept across the s’Albufera countryside on Friday after noon, October 4, causing firefighters from the Alcudia and Inca departments of the Mallorca Fire Service, as well as officers from the Balearic Institu te of Nature (IBA NAT), to race to the scene, in the Sa Pobla region of the island. Experts found the source of the fire to have originated in two separate locations, sparking concern that the flames might have been the result of arson. The spots where the fire began were located in between the Torrent de Sant Miquel and the area known by locals as Ses Jonqueres Veres, in the interior of the municipality, an area which at this time of year is a fire trap due to the tall reeds that heavily populate the area.
Fire originated in two places.
The reeds are currently very dry, having been parched by the hot summer sun, a factor which caused the fire to spread rapidly and significantly increased the difficulty of containing the flames. Thankfully the blaze was in an area considered to be level 0, which in firefighter terminology signifies that there are no houses in the vicinity and that the area is uninhabited, and the professionals were able to contain the fire without anybody being harmed. The fire was started at around 6.40pm and was under control by 8pm, with aerial troops deployed to help firefighters working from the ground beat the blaze before dark. Troops remained at the scene throughout the night and until the flames were fully extinguished.
(a severity index of 0 according to the Balearic Meteobal Plan) was in place and that they would be vigilant to weather conditions throughout the week. Aemet delegate, María José Guerroro, confirmed that high winds would dominate the weather over the week, and warned that a cold front was expected, bringing with it moderate rainfall and thunderstorms.
According to Aemet and the Balearic Emer -
gency Services, an IG0 is activated when weather conditions are predicted to be of danger to people and property, and aims to control and prevent unnecessary accidents or damage by ensuring that rapid response teams are on the ready across the islands.
The warning comes after a spate of extreme and sporadic weather conditions which Mallorca has experienced during August and September so far this year.
Photo Credit: Mallorca Veterinaris Mivet Manacor
Credit: Consellería del Medio Ambiente
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.
by Donna Bradley-Brown
by Donna Bradley-Brown
ON Saturday October 6, swimmers took to the sea off the coast of Magaluf, in the second edition of an event designed to celebrate the local beach, promote the conservation of the Balearic Sea, and encourage open water swimming. The event, organised by Mar de Fondo, also aims to remove some of the stigma attached to the Magaluf beach due to the tourists that plague it throughout the summer.
their morning’s exercise, providing them with drinks and fruit to snack on, whilst enjoying music from a local DJ.
The non-competitive swimming event started at 8.00 and involved a circuit around the small island of Sa Porrassa (around two kilometres). An area was reserved on the sand for swimmers to recover and refresh after
Beach event goes swimmingly The Tattooed Man
As was the case last year, 20 per cent of the entry fee was donated towards supporting marine conservation projects. This year participants were able to help
VALE TUDO is used to turning heads. The man is a walking work of art, with some 95-97 per cent of his body covered in tattoos. The 40-year-old, from Hannover, Germany, is a tattoo artist working between his home town and Mallorca, the island he adores.
From a young age, Vale Tudo (meaning ‘without rules’) always knew he wanted to cover his skin with tattoos and he got his first ink aged 18. He
the Palma Aquarium Foundation fund an important project working to conserve seahorses. As part of the initiative, 774 sea horses have been introduced to local waters this year.
Mar de Fondo is an organisation that seeks to reconnect people with the sea - both athletes and
the general public - encouraging awareness of the marine environment and caring for the planet as a whole, as well as promoting a healthy lifestyle. Paul Gehrig and Toni Mora, co-founders of the organisation, were delighted by the success and popularity of the swimming event, giving thanks to all who had collaborated with them in order to make it possible.
14-year-old wins gold
opened his own tattoo studio in 2008, and is now so accomplished in his craft that in Germany the wait to get a tattoo by Vale Tudo is currently up to a year.
But people are not always accepting of the artist, and he often feels judged. It’s a real shame, as he’s a truly lovely person. There are four things that Vale Tudo cherishes in life: family, animals, sports and tattoos. Family - both two and four-legged - are at the very top of the hierarchy. In fact, he’s such a dedicated son that he chooses to still live with his parents so that he can help care for them as
The tattoo artist is well known in local sports centre, MegaSport, where he says he has made a lot of friends. He enjoys physically demanding exercise, including boxing, weight training, running and cycling, explaining that sport helps counteract the stress of his job.
Well-educated, polite and friendly, Vale Tudo can be found at Kratos Tattoo, Arenal, where he loves to deliver excellent quality work with a warm smile.
ERIKA HERRERA may only be 14 years old, but she just won three gold medals for weightlifting. Herrera, from Palma, has been crowned champion of the SUB15 Spanish Weightlifting Championships, which took place at the end of September in Madrid. The exceptionally strong young woman received her gold medals for lifting 49kg, 56kg, and an astonishing 69kg across different categories, defying the limits of which most 14-year-olds are capable.
Herrera trains with the Club Pesas Ciutat de Palma, and has represented the club both at national and international level over the last year, in championships outside the Balearics, making her coach, Antonio Martínez, proud every time. She started her training with Martínez three years ago, when she was just 11 years old, and the coach insists that starting strength training when young can have hugely positive effects on physical and mental development. However, researchers at Cleveland University Hospital dispute this, and do not advise the inclusion of maximal lifting in a fitness routine until post puberty. The UK based Athletic Performance Academy explored the effects of weight lifting on the growth plates of children and teenagers back in April 2020 and considers weight training to be a valuable part of a young person’s fitness routine.
Event encourages open water swimming. Photo Credit: Vale Tudo
In Germany, people wait up to a year to get a Vale Tudo tattoo.
Keeping things sweet
VISITORS heading to the Fira de Dolça in Esporles last weekend were kept sweet with the help of an officer assisting in regulating the traffic, and a train, which was set up to aid access to the fayre, when it became clear that the town couldn’t cope with the extraordinary level of traffic. Those setting off bright and early and arriving in Esporles by 9am were blessed with easy access and plenty of parking, however, by 11am there was already a queue three kilometres long before one could entre the town, and little chance of finding parking on arrival.
The traffic regulating officer continued to advise frustrated drivers each time a car left the carpark, whilst a train was brought into action to assist visitors on their journey and enable them to access the event without having to walk too far.
The fayre is an annual
celebration of all things sweet, including traditional pastries, ice creams, chocolates and cakes, and attracted a record number of visitors this year. One of the most exciting attractions this year was the making of cool local favourite, ‘gelat bomba’, as well as a stunning chocolate fountain. In keeping with current European trend, veganism, there was also
a selection of plant-based sweets and confectionary, as well as Argentinian delicacies, and, of course, traditional Mallorcan ‘bunyols’, which are a doughnut shaped version of the well-known Spanish breakfast or snack, ‘churros’, which are often enjoyed with a smooth and steaming mug of hot chocolate or a sweet chocolatey sauce.
Drive carefully
LAST weekend, on Saturday, October 5, a sheep had a lucky escape when it was saved by caring members of the Son Servera Local Police. The police received a call at around 8.45pm that a stray sheep had been spotted crossing the busy Son Servera main road in San Llorenç, posing a serious risk to drivers and at danger of being injured or killed by a vehicle itself.
The police officers immediately stepped in, arriving in the vicinity in the specially equipped Environmental Unit van, and located the animal close to the Cami de Can Duai. The lucky sheep was then taken back to the police station, and being unable to answer questions itself, local officers were busy trying to locate the owner.
In the early hours of the same day, a horse was hit by a car on the old Sineu Road, having escaped from its finca with a field mate. Tragically, the horse did not survive the incident, although the shocked driver escaped with only minor injuries. Police, when called to the scene, were thankfully able to locate and capture the other loose equine.
This is a reminder for drivers to be
vigilant, especially when driving along country roads at night, and also for owners of pets and livestock to check fencing and security regularly, to ensure that the enclosure is safe for the animal and that access to the land or property is restricted to that of the rightful owner only.
The fayre is an annual celebration of all things sweet.
Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Photo Credit: Policia de Son Servera, Facebook
Police searched for the sheep’s owner.
Price rises
prices will gradually return to normal.
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.
Supermarket
Your
VOICE
Spanish National Day
Do
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
Credit: Shutterstock:PawelKacperek
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.
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.
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.”
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-
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.
Madrid military parade parachutist.
Donna Bradley-Brown
OCTOBER signals the beginning of festivals across the island, one of the biggest being the Llucmayor fair on October 12-13. The fair is a kind of harvest festival, but there is also an arts and crafts market, and workshops for children.
Exhibitions include a horse show and falconry, as well as an exhibition dedicated to celebrating the unique Mallorcan dog breeds, including the extremely popular Pastor Mallorquín and Ratero Mallorquín. Other events and attractions include an exposition of motor vehicles and a pigeon release, as well as live music and dancing in the square.
On Friday, October 11, Santanyi will host the latest edition of its Canal’Art fair, encouraging visitors to browse contemporary
October Festivals Film festival
MALLORCA
works by local artists as they stroll through the lively town, accompanied by music and a buzzing atmosphere.
Also on the weekend of October 11-13, Cala Rajada will be holding a seafood festival, celebrating local favourite, the Llampuga fish, in particular. A tapas night is planned as well as the Llampuga gastronomic fair on the Sunday, which will, as per tradition, end with a fireworks display.
From October 17-20 Vilafranca will hold its popular FIET 24 - a beautifully organised theatre event designed to be enjoyed by children and the young at heart, with a wide variety of shows and activities on offer.
Finally, October wouldn’t be right without the annual Oktoberfest celebration in towns across the island, including Santa Ponsa, which will be honouring the event from October 18-27.
THE 13th edition of the Mallorca International Film Festival, organised yearly by Evolution Mallorca, is set to kick off this October 16. The organisers of the festival state on their website that the festival promises to “stay true to its mission; BRIDGING CULTURES – BRIDGING PEOPLE,” which encourages a creative community of inspired independent filmmakers across the island.
The programme includes a selection of films, workshops, talks and events spread over the course of the festival and held at
OCTOBER, with its cooler temperatures, is the perfect month to spend quality time with a canine friend, be it sitting outside a bar or café, or enjoying a new walk.
For those with a decent level of fitness, the hike up to Castell d´Alaró, is a great day out. It´s a physically demanding hike, and the last 20 minutes of the trail is only accessible on foot, but views from the top of the mountain are spectacular, and can be enjoyed with a coffee and a piece of
a variety of venues across the island including at the Rívoli Aficine and Cineciutat in Palma, as well as a drive-in cinema which will be set up in Port Adriano, showing classic favourites such as Grease and The Fast and The Furious on October 31, for example. The film festival will include premieres from local and international filmmakers, selections of short documentaries and productions, as well as comedies and an event for children at the Rívoli on Monday October 21.
cake bought from the old monastery.
Another mountain excursion, suitable for all levels of fitness, is a trek around the huge water deposit at Cuber. It’s quite a drive for most people to access, but is well worth making the effort to enjoy the fresh air and spectacular views.
Nervous, less sociable dogs, or those with training issues, needn’t miss out on a fun excursion. The Olive Fields, Calvia, offers a securely fenced private dog area that owners can
Rocking October
THE music of Led Zeppelin can be found on Saturday October 12 at music venue, Es Gremi, Palma. Argentinian tribute band, Physical Graffiti, are stopping on the island as part of their European ‘It’s been a long time since I rock and roll’ tour, and promise to bring their own personal energy and passion to the concert, whilst honouring the legendary British band.
On October 19, also at the Gremi, there will be a tribute show to extremely popular Spanish bands, Hombres G and El Canto
Dog Days
rent by the hour, allowing dogs that would usually be restricted to lead walks only the opportunity to run, jump and explore at their leisure. For more details go to: https://www.theolive fields.com/booking/
de Loco. The concert, which starts at 9pm, will showcase a selection of lively, upbeat tunes that even those unfamiliar with the lyrics will find themselves dancing along to, as the singers and musicians rock the stage. Tickets to both the above concerts can be obtained from www.esgremi.com
At the Trui Theatre, on the same night, bROTHERS iN bAND are dedicating a show to a Dire Straits. The Very Best of Dire Straits Show, promises to take the audience back in time, and will play the most well-known and popular songs from the iconic band, in a concert lasting two hours and 15 minutes. Tickets are available from www.wego.com.
In Carrer d´Eusebi Estada, Palma, on Friday October 25, at 8.15, there will be a free tribute show, Retrospectiva: The Beatles (All we need is love). Filoacustics aims to bring the messages from The Beatles’ music to its audience in a show designed to follow the band’s career. Tickets are available on the App, AllEvents.
Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Photo Credit: Shutterstock
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
576,80 576,80 576,80 0
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).
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; over owing with emotion, we watched as she was injected with a serum that would relieve her of su ering and take her to the elds 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 ve essential dimensions: Enabling Environment, Travel & Tourism (T&T) Policy & Enabling Conditions, Infrastructure and Services, T&T Resources, and T&T Sustainability. This comprehensive assessment o ers 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.
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’.
Credit: Paulo Teixeira Silva
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.
Paulo Teixeira Silva
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.
Spain’s Costa Azahar.
Exceptional care, bright smiles!
FOUNDED in 1996 The European Dental Practice, located in Son Caliu, was built on the belief that every patient deserves personalised, high-quality dental care. Over the years, we have grown into a trusted name in the SW area, serving thousands of patients with a focus on comfort, preventative and cosmetic care.
Our clinic offers state of the art treatments, ranging from routine exams and cleanings to advanced cosmetic dentistry. With up-to-date technology, we ensure that our patients receive accurate diagnoses and comfortable procedures.
At The European Dental Practice, we understand
that visiting the dentist can be a daunting experience for many. That’s why our team prioritises comfort, providing a warm, welcoming atmosphere, and personalised care for every patient, whether it’s their first visit or their 15th.
Our clinic is designed to provide every patient with comprehensive care through our highly skilled, multidisciplinary team. By bringing together a group of specialists, we eliminate the need for external referrals and ensure that your treatments are seamless and stress-free. Our team consist of three generalist dentists with specialisation in the Periodontic and Endodontic fields, a hygienist and
a maxillo-facial surgeon specialising in implantology and oral medicine.
We work alongside toptier dental prosthetic laboratories to ensure the highest quality and precision for all your dental restorations. We are also proud to work with Straumann implants, a global leader in implantology, known for their exceptional durability and success rates.
For nervous patients or those requiring more complex treatments, our skilled implantologist offers the option of undergoing procedures under sedation in a hospital setting. Alternatively, we can arrange for an anaesthetist to provide in-house sedation at
here to help.
our surgery, ensuring a comfortable, stress-free experience while maintaining the highest standards of care.
We are also happy to welcome holiday patients, understanding how challenging it can be to secure dental appointments back in the United Kingdom.
Whether you are in need of urgent care or just would like a routine appointment, we are
Meet our team at The European Dental Practice:
- Dr Alex Kerkoc Portillo - Generalist and Masters in Periodontology and implantology
- Dr Monica Bonet Hempel - Generalist
- Mrs Susan Taylor-Vickers - Hygienist
Please check our website for more information: www.theeuropeandentalpractice.com
Our surgery is fully wheelchair accessible, and we offer ample free parking. Our opening hours are generally from 9am-6pm, Monday to Friday but we can offer late appointments at request and we always do our best to see emergency patients on the same day. Our multilingual team speak the following languages: English, Spanish, German, Polish, Slovakian, Portuguese and Catalan.
For appointments please call +34 971 681 439 or email: europeandentalpractice@hotmail.com
The European Dental Practice at Calle Zaragoza, 1. Edificio Mercadona, 1º. 07181 Son Caliu.
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.
Costa Blanca North An environmental icon
THE majestic Puig Campana, standing at 1,410 metres, is a distinctive landmark in the province. It attracts hikers, athletes, and mountaineers from near and far. It is undeniably one of the most iconic mountains in the Valencian Community, drawing visitors from Spain and abroad.
For the first time in its history, Puig Campana is undergoing a significant transformation. The renovation work, considered to be one of the most ambitious projects undertaken by the Finestrat Town Council, is a testament to their commitment to sustainable tourism and sports activities.
Efforts are underway to clear, prune, clean, and condition the steps in specific areas that have experienced significant erosion. Plans are also in place to improve the signage, create viewpoints along the route, establish nature recreation areas, and promote high-quality tourism that will appreciate Finestrat’s rich cultural and natural heritage.
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. Your support and donations can truly change lives,
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!
PETS
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 tem-
perament. 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.
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.
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-
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:
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.
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.
Trustpilot Testimonials - 4.9 / 5 Excellent
I have used HouseSitMatch for the last three years and would highly recommend it. Very easy to communicate with and very helpful by phone if needed.
Janet Bryant, Pet owner
How do you join? Register online via www.Housesitmatch.com
Need a pet or house-sitter? House-sitting is a win-win, free house and pet-sitting exchanged for free accommodation! Reader exclusive offer - 20% Off Any New Membership Register as either house-sitter or homeowner. Get a 20% discount - Use coupon
Photo: Shutterstock
Photo: Shutterstock
Nadal pondering where to bow out.
Nadal’s swan song?
RAFA NADAL is getting close to retirement from professional tennis, but where and when will his final match be?
Judging by recent performances, and at 38, Nadal must be getting to the end of the road of his most magnificent professional tennis career. After his 2023 hip operation, ‘King of Clay’ struggled through the ATP Tour, and lost nine out of 19 matches in 2024.
While he has made mention of carrying on his career into 2025, he may well bid a fond farewell at his final pro-outing at the Davis Cup Finals in November 2024.
Pundits reckon he will drop out of the Australian Open in January and prefer the Barcelona Open, where
he has already triumphed 12 times. Could this be his swan song?
He came off well in front of Spanish spectators at the Caja Magica in Madrid, winning the first four matches to rapturous applause. Might this be the venue for a tearful goodbye?
Then again, the 14-time Roland Garros champ claimed he was ‘ready to leave everything and die in Paris’, although he is currently tipped to not even make the top 100 in the world, making this venue less likely.
We will see. At whatever time he chooses to call it a day, there will be cheers and applause, and no one will be left in any doubt that Rafael Nadal is the greatest tennis player in the history of the game.
Credit: Oscar González Fuentes - Shutterstock