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Page 16 Happy Ganesh Chaturthi 2010 At 12pm on Wednesday 22nd September, Primark opened its’ doors to welcome the first of its’ many new customers. But before this, members of the Press were invited at 10.30 for a preview of the first Primark store on the Canary Islands. We were shown around by Jose Luis Marinez, Director General Iberia, who explained in great detail each section of this fantastic store. Light, bright and
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very spacious with a ‘high tec’ checkout counter, it was good to see that even jaded members of the Press found the prices quite unbelievable. One person even asked if the prices were discounted for the opening, but as Jose quickly explained, their purchasing department has massive buying power and this is passed this on to the consumer. Board Director, Breege O’Donohue, explained that they had received over 11,000
applications for just 171 posts, all hand picked from local job centres, the internet, colleges and universities and of all nationalities. With over 2,300 sqm of shopping space, this first store will be followed quickly in succession by a gigantic second store in the new El Mirador shopping centre – 4,000 sqm – which will open in November this year. Congratulations from The Canary News. (see their ad on page 12).
Page 26 Gary´s Music Scene
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2 Island Information
The Canary News - Friday 24th September - Thursday 7th October 2010 - Issue 31
BUS TIME TABLE
Las Palmas Airport: 928 579 000
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Sweden - 928 260 884 Switzerland - 928 293 450
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Consulates: British Consulate Consul: Matthew Vickers Edificio_Cataluna,_C/Luis Morote 6, 3rd Floor, Las Palmas Opening hours: Mon to Fri 8.30am to 1.30pm Telephone 928 262 508 www.ukinspain.com
Taxis: 928 154 77 or 902 192 019
Ambulance: 928 492 112 Fire Brigade Las Palmas 928 446 444 Maspalomas 928 762 671 Playa del Inglés, San Agustín, San Bartolomé de Tirajana 928 762 671 Local Police Province - 092 Las Palmas 928 304 600 Maspalomas 928 764 000 Guardia Civil Province 062 Las Palmas 928 762 898 Puerto Rico 928 736 817 S. Bartolomé 928 750 222 National Police Las Palmas Masapalomas 928 764 000
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Deadline Adverts, copy changes, classifieds, clubs and editorial copy: Friday noon for the following Friday’s edition to air your views. Letters on any subject are welcomed by the Editor for publication and must arrive by 12 noon on Friday for consideration for the following Friday’s edition. Priority will be given to letters dealing with local issues. We reserve the right to amend or shorten letters. The Canary News accepts no responsibility for readers´comments. If you are dissatisfied with any aspect of our service you can write to Edificio Mercurio Torre 1, 2ºE, Playa del Inglés, Gran Canaria, España.
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Markets in Gran Canaria Agüimes In front of the municipal swimming pool Thursdays 09:00-14:00 Arguineguín La Plaza Negra: Every Tuesday 08:00-14:00 CC Ancora Every Thursday 08.00-14.00 TARA Second Hand Market, Plaza de Pino Seco, Arguinegín Every Saturday 9.00 onwards Arucas Calle Francisco Gourier: Every Saturday 08:00-14:00 Gáldar General Market Plaza de Santiago de Apostól: Every Thursday 08:00-14:00. Gáldar Collectors’ Market Guaires, 26, Tel: 928.55.21.40 Ingenio En el Ejido: First Sunday of every month 09.00-15.00 Jinámar Ramblas de Jinámar (Telde): Sundays 9:00-15:00 Las Palmas Rastro Terrace on top of the bus station Every Sunday 8.00-14.00 Maspalomas Second Hand Market CC Faro 2, Campo Internacional, Maspalomas Sundays 10.00 onwards Maspalomas Artisans’ Market Next to Global Bus Station Meloneras Mercadillo en Meloneras: Every Thursday 10.00-17.00 Mendizábal Calle de Mendizábal, Vegueta, Las Palmas Third Saturday of every month Moya On top of the bus station: Every Sunday 08:00-14:00 Playa del Inglés Artesan market, at Parque Europeo, (next to the Minitren) Everyday except Sunday 19.30-23.30. Puerto de Mogán Traditional craft market Plaza del Parking, Puerto de Mogán: Every Monday 09.00-14.30 Puerto de Mogán General Market El Muelle Deportivo: Every Friday 08:00-14:00 San Fernando San Fernando Municipal Market, Maspalomas. Every Wednesday and Saturday: 08:00-14:00 San Fernando Municipal Market Skating ring in San Fernando Every second Sunday 09:00-14:00 San Mateo Every Saturday: 08:00-20:00 and Sundays 08:00-15:00. Santa Brígida Underneath the municipal park in Villa de Santa Brígida. Every Saturday 08:00-20:00 and every Sunday from 08:00-14:00 Santa Catalina Mercadillo in Las Palmas de G.C. Art Gallery of Parque de Santa Catalina Every Sunday between 08.00-14.00.
Santa Lucia Mercadillo de Santa Lucia: Every Sunday 8.00-14.00 Santa María de Guía Plaza del Casco Historico Every Tuesday and Sunday 10.00-14.00 Telde Plaza de San Gregorio, by the bus station Every Saturday 08:00-14:00 Teror Around the Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pino Every Sunday 08:00-14:00 Valleseco Mercado Municipal : Every Sunday 08.00-14.00 Valsequillo Calle Isla de la Gomera : Every Sunday 08:00-14:00 Vecindario Agricultural Market Recinto Ferial Every Monday 08:00-14:00 on La Karpa, Avda. de las Tirajanas Every second Saturday 08.00-14.00 Vecindario General Market Recinto Ferial Every Wednesday 08.00-14.00 Vegueta, Cultural and Craftsmanship market Plaza del Pilar Nuevo, Las Palmas de G.C. Every Sunday of every month (except July, August and Sept.) 10.00-14.00.
Distribution Points Just to remind our advertisers and readers that our distribution network covers all of Las Palmas, including tourist offices, Marks and Spencer, large hotels, main shopping centres, the museum, schools and colleges, the Spanish National Health hospital, private clinics, together with smaller private businesses, such as bars and restaurants. The Canary News can now be found in Santa Brigida at the main Spar supermarket in the town; an area which we will be expanding in the future. Other distribution outlets cover the coastline from Las Palmas down to Puerto Mogan but we are always looking for additional, good public places to leave copies of the newspaper. And don’t forget you can always read the newspaper online at www.thecanarynews.com For further details please contact Brian on 667 994 351.
The Canary News does not accept any responsibility for claims made by advertisers, either in advertisements or advertorials, nor can it be held responsible for any inaccuracies, errors, or the non appearance of advertisements or advertorials. This publisher cannot accept responsibility for any errors as a result of poor quality artwork or logos supplied by advertisers and no responsibility is accepted for any loss or damage caused by any error or inaccuracy or nonappearance of an advertisement or advertorial. Every effort will be made to ensure the authenticity and accuracy of articles and advertisements in this publication, however the publisher does not accept responsiblity for claims or opinions in the same. Reproduction of any part of this newspaper without the consent of the publisher is prohibited E & O E. Edita: JDC Canaries SLU, Imprime: Canarias7, C/Mimosas, s/n-Parcela 131-1ª Fase-Manzana V 35119 Pol. Ind. Arinaga, Villa de Agüimes, Gran Canaria, España.
Events 3
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Issue 31 - Friday 24th September - Thursday 7th October 2010 - The Canary News
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PLAYA DEL INGLÉS
APARTMENT WITH BEAUTIFUL SEAVIEW. Completely renovated and furnished apartment with 55 m2 living area. It consists of one bedroom, livingroom with kitchen, bathroom and balcony. Complex with large pools and proper parking lots. Low community fee !! Price: 96.000 euros
Edificio Mercurio Torre 1, 1st G E-35100, Playa del Inglés, Gran Canaria, Spain
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SONNENLAND
CHALET WITH PRIVATE GARAGE AND DIRECT STREET ACCESS. Beautiful and excellent maintained chalet with garden and three spacious terraces, one with seaview. Four bedrooms and three bathrooms, two kitchens, living/diningroom and garage. The complex has a large pool. Monthly community fee only 80.- euro. Price: 450.000 euros.
SAN FERNANDO BEAUTIFUL FAMILY-HOUSE, with 3 bedr., 3 bathr., living, large indep. kitchen, patio, terrace, large solarium with view and a very large hobby/storrage-room. Competely furnished and equipped. Excellently maintained. Price: 300.000 euros
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PUERTO RICO FAMILY-HOUSE. Ground floor consists of 40 m² terrace and lumber room, large living-/dining room, independent kitchen and bathroom. Top floor contains 3 bedrooms, bathroom and a large terrace of 26 m² with beautiful seaviews. The complex is a private and quiet and offers a large community pool. The price includes a parking lot in property. Community fee 60.- €/month. Price: 280.000 euros.
PLAYA DEL INGLÉS
UNIQUE SEAVIEWS Large apartment with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Spacious terrace of 16 m2 with spectacular direct seaview and the whole day sun. Large patio. Perfect top condition and equipped with all details. No direct neighbour and very private. Price: 330.000 euros
EXCELLENT CHALET IN PRIVILEGED LOCATION. 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. Fantastic views over the new golf course to the ocean. Private parking lot and precious community pool. Price: 460.000 euros.
BEAUTIFUL BUNGALOW, IDEAL FOR PROPER USE. Quiet, one-bedroom bungalow with two bathrooms, two large terraces and private garden with sun all day. Very good and tastfully furnished and with high standard equipment. Private parking lot. Monthly community fee only 80 euro. Price: 144.000 euros
Very spacious, luxurious bungalow with large livingroom, fully equipped kitchen, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and large terrace. Central location. Forms part of a small quiet private complex with pool. Close to the beach and several shopping centres. Community fee only 70 euros/month. Price: 360.000 euros
Fiestas and Upcoming Events Romerias For September & October: Saturday 25th September: Romería de San Miguel en Valsequillo Saturday 25th September: Romería de San Miguel Arcángel, Temisas Saturday 25th September: Romería de Agüimes (Bajada del Gofio) 18th / 26th September: Romería de San Miguel Arcángel - Vegueta Saturday 2nd of October: Romería de la Encarnación en Valleseco Saturday 2nd of October: Romería de La Virgen del Rosario - Agüimes Saturday 2nd of October: Nuestra Sra. del Rosario en Vegueta (Las Palmas de G.C.) Saturday 2nd of October: Romería de La Encarnación, Valleseco Saturday 2nd of October: Romería de San Francisco. Telde Saturday 9th of October: Romería de La Virgen del Pilar - Guanarteme (Las Palmas de G.C.) Saturday 16th of October: Romería de la Naval en La Isleta (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria) Saturday 23rd of October: Romería de San Rafael en Vecindario
Folk Dancing in Canarian Village 26th September, 11.30 and 13.00 hours. Pueblo Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Gastronomic Route in Galdar 1st to 30th September See tourist office for participating restaurants. Galdar Heineken Campus Rock 2010 25th September, 21.15 hours Music Festival including many well known names from the music industry. Infecar, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Fiestas in Honor of Reineta Apple 26th September 2010, all day Attempt to make the longest apple cake in the world (400 meters). Horse racing, cattle fair, police and rescue exhibitions and much more. Area Recreativa de La Laguna, Valleseco XV Open Air Rapid Painting Competition in Mesa y Lopez 9th October, 9.00 to 15.00 hours. For more info or how to enter: www. mesaylopez.net Or Telephone: 928 297 083. Exhibition ‘El Cielo’ 29th September to 7th October, C.M. Montaneta, Santa Brigida The History of the American/ Canarian 18th to 22nd October, Casa de Colon, Las Palmas
Back to work Though many of you are enjoying a well-deserved and relaxing retirement in Spain, I can’t be the only one still at the grindstone. Now, there are some obvious differences between working in the UK and here in Spain, like the views from our office windows and the absence of M&S sandwiches for lunch, but something else to bear in mind is the difference in social security systems. Paying social security (what we call National Insurance in the UK) contributions when you are working in Spain is important as it builds up your entitlement to a pension and certain benefits. Also, as Spain operates a contributions-based healthcare system, paying social security means that you, and any dependants, are covered for medical treatment. The Tesorería General de la Seguridad Social (TGSS) is the organisation which registers employers and workers and collects social security contributions. Our equivalent in the UK would be HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). If you’re working here, you should be registered with the TGSS. They’ll register you on the system, give you a social security number, collect your contributions and be able to provide a personal social security record (called a vida laboral in Spanish). If you’re working as your own boss, you’ll need to register directly with the TGSS as selfemployed (autónomo in Spanish) and pay contributions to them. As a self-employed person, it’s really important to de-register with the TGSS as soon as you finish work, because they won’t be automatically informed and will continue to bill you for contributions. If you don’t want to build up a pile of debt make sure you let them know you’re no longer working. As I mentioned, paying into the Spanish system as a worker may give you the right to some Spanish benefits, e.g. sickness or family benefits. When applying through the Spanish system (they should always be your first point of contact), do so in writing and mention on your application any work you have done in other EEA countries, including the UK. If you haven’t worked long enough here, work elsewhere might be taken into account so that you meet the minimum requirements. Also, don’t forget to mention any dependants you have, such as children or a spouse, as this may increase how much you’re allowed. At the moment, unemployment benefits aren’t available to selfemployed workers, but signing on at the INEM office (the Spanish equivalent to the Job Centre) may give you the right to some support after a year. In terms of pensions, you could have the right to a Spanish state pension as long as you have worked for a total 15 years in Spain and another EEA country. Again, applications should be given in to the Spanish authorities. Good luck, Matthew Vickers British Consul, Canary Islands
4 Local News
The Canary News - Friday 24th September - Thursday 7th October 2010 - Issue 31
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Thousands Attend La Charca Last year I ventured all the way to San Nicolas de Toletino in order to visit a fiesta which caught my attention for its uniqueness, and where thousands of people were attracted to this remote village in order to take part in an ancient ritual which is recreated every 11th September.
by Canarian Aboriginals of the area to catch fish with their hands after sedating them with toxins from autochthonous plants. This custom was then adopted by the local Spanish who took over and settled in this area and who carried on using this particular technique. Today it is simply a party recreated which consists of most of the attendees running and jumping into the lake after the signal is give; mud, water and laughter take over this otherwise quiet village for at least one day.
It was a great experience for me, which not only allowed me to experience it first hand and then write about it with more ease, but also to take a photograph which would give a first prize in a competition with the local Canarian paper, Canarias 7. And so I felt obliged to go back and see it again! Last year the 11th fell on a Friday and although the number of people there was large, it was not as overwhelming as in other local fiestas I have attended during the weekends. However this year it was going to take place on a Saturday and I knew the number of attendees would increase drastically. So it was an early start to the day as we gradually made our way towards San Nicolas, through the long and curvy roads which take you there. We did well to set off early, as we soon found ourselves following a large queue
of cars up into the village. Last year I simply drove there in the afternoon and had no problem to park, whereas this year the number of cars and people at mid morning was already greater than last year. After locating a suitable spot for our car we unloaded our provisions in order to enjoy the day; drinks and food being the predominant articles. Again we found the purpose-built area specifically for barbecues and picnics, and started to set things up, and at this point you could really tell it was Saturday as many of us even had to share barbecues due to the
massive number of people there. We were more than happy to do so as this simply added more value to the whole experience and was a great way of meeting people. The weather was also good during the day, thus giving us the chance to dip into the fabulous northern sea for a refreshing swim. But the highlight of the day was still to come, and as some of you will remember from my article last year, the tradition of jumping into the “Charca” small coastal lake, comes from the ancient custom used
As promised I actually jumped into the lake myself, and although it was a messy experience I thoroughly enjoyed it. I must say that for me personally there were too many people and I felt much more comfortable last year. Many local medias reported after the fiesta de “Charca” and said that it was simply too small for the number of people who were there this year. If you want to take part in this fiesta, take this into consideration, as it could very well influence your personal experience in a negative way, however I insist that everyone has to see this at least once before they leave the island. By Tito Cabral
Fraud Re-Appears in the Canaries Frauds relating to tourism have begun to reappear in the Canary Islands. In the last few years the police have detected more than 44 illegal businesses, including discount clubs who never deliver what they promise, and street stands who are selling fake time share rooms and accommodation. Not many tourism destinations can boast about the fact of attracting more than 10 million visitors a year, and so of course these very attractive numbers have also attracted the attention of ‘con men’ who travel to the Canaries in order to carry out their lucrative businesses. This has caused discount clubs to flourish on the Islands, to the point of literally invading the most important tourism areas. Individuals try to catch the attention of passersby offering them accommodation and flights with a discount of 70%, which in the end do not exist. The ‘client’ is asked to pay between
2.000 and 20.000€ for membership of these fraudulent clubs. The amount of money depends on the ‘so-called time’ they wished to contract, and to benefit from these massive discounts, which again do not exist. In the south of Gran Canaria the actual number of these “Sales Men” was nearly one hundred and at the same time, in the south of Tenerife, the count was 120 individuals. The previous work last Spring, done by the police forces, the local authorities and institutions, together with the work carried out by the RDO, European Time Sharing Organization, produced really good results which almost completely eradicated this problem from most areas. Alberto Garcia, who leads the Enforcement Project put together by the RDO, explained that thanks to the investigation works carried out by his team and the close collaboration with
the local Police forces, justice has been delivered to nearly one hundred suspect companies. This collaboration meant that there was a reduction from 23 to just two of these discount clubs; one in Tenerife and one in Gran Canaria. Over the last few years his team has alerted the police about a total of 44 presumably fraud related businesses; six of which are still trading today as discount clubs, five in Tenerife and one in Gran Canaria; to be more precise, in Arguineguin. This last one opened an office in Oslo and another in Tenerife. However over the last few months, Garcia has detected an increase once more in this type of criminal activity, such as the fraudulent re-selling of Time Share weeks. Behind these businesses we always find the same crooks, “we close one operation and they will soon open another with a different name”, Garcia explains.
“The most alarming fact is that crooks from 20 years ago, are making a comeback. These individuals are well know to the justice system and the local authorities seem to be too relaxed about it”. He continues, “Our sources inform us about the level of aggressiveness which these sales people use in order to sell their product, even to the point of threats when a customer wants to stop belonging to these clubs”. I am not one for writing negatively about the Islands, especially Gran Canaria, however I do feel that you need to know about this and act accordingly. Residents, if you have family and friends coming over please do warn them. Most of you are here on holiday to enjoy yourselves and to rest, so please be careful, because if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is, and Canarians like me simply want you to really enjoy the island! By Tito Cabral
Local News 5
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Climate Change in the Euro-African Region
Issue 31 - Friday 24th September - Thursday 7th October 2010 - The Canary News
days and 20 hours, finally coming to an end on the 22nd December when the winter will take over. Thus, Autumn will begin simultaneously in the northern hemisphere, whilst it is the beginning of Spring in the southern hemisphere. The astronomical start of the stations is given by convention as the moment when the Earth passes through a certain position in its orbit around the sun.
The Canarian Government through the Canarian Agency of Sustainable Development and climatic change, are planning in the near future to carry out studies on the causes and consequences of the climatic change in the EuroAfrican region. They are counting on the collaboration of the Environmental Ministry, Rural Development, Marine Resources of Cabo Verde, and the financial backing of the European Union. It is planned to analyse a series of parameters which have proved to be determining the climatic alterations. Added to this the agencies involved, will put together the information collected from past similar studies and other relevant investigations in the area; taking into account its’ relevance with the biodiversity, protected areas and agriculture. This will be followed by an evaluation report on the vulnerability of these areas and on the current consumptions of energy. Running alongside this, the committee will also make an inventory of greenhouse effect related gases. All these studies have to be followed by creating the correct awareness, training and dissemination of the results, as it is these actions which are considered the ‘motor’ and which will allow this initiative to produce positive and lasting results for the future.
Autumn Arrives
This position, in the case of Autumn, is from the center of the Sun as seen from Earth, crosses the celestial Ecuador in its’ apparent movement south. The day this happens, the length of day and night practically coincide, and therefore, in this circumstance it is also called the Autumn Equinox. It is at this moment in the Southern Hemisphere Spring begins. The Autumn Equinox can occur on four different dates, ranging from 21st to 24th September. The reason that the date varies from year to year are due to the sequence of years according to the schedule, as some years are leap years but not others, and with the duration of each orbit of Earth around the Sun (period known as the tropical year) Among the unique characteristics of Autumn is the time change, which takes place on October 31st, marking the beginning of the winter schedule. This Autumn we will experience a total lunar eclipse on 21st December, and on 27th November the asteroid Iris will be hidden by the moon, shortly after midnight. As for the moon, the first full moon of Autumn will be on September 23 Meanwhile, until mid-October it will be possible to see Mars, Jupiter, Uranus and at dawn, Saturn and Venus in November. Indeed, Venus will be very bright throughout the Autumn. In Autumn, you can enjoy a meteor shower. The first major of the season are the Draconids, which will peak around October 8th. While the most popular are the Leonids, which will occur around November 17th and occasionally becomes very intense. Finally, another heavy rain are the Geminids, the ceiling rate will be on December 13th.
Tourism Markets in Canada
Last Thursday 23rd September 2010, the season of Autumn finally arrived at precisely 05.09 am, and it will last 89
During the next week the Tourist Board of the Canary Islands Government, through Promotur public company, will participate in a professional fair to be held in the city of Toronto, Canada, and will be attended by the Deputy Minister Yolanda Perdomo . The aim is to raise awareness of the Archipelagos’ diverse supply to that
market; an initiative that is part of the agreement with Total Vacations Canadian tour operator. The Ministry points out that such presentations are usually very well received, especially in Toronto, and these will be attended by some of the key players and personalities of the country’s tourism sector. “Total Vacations has a strong commitment to the Canary Islands and we have a great opportunity to enter a market yet to be explored. The crisis has affected the sector, requiring us to diversify our markets and supply ordering, and this agreement represents a major step, “said the Deputy Minister. In addition, Perdomo said that the archipelago is the only European destination which works with the operator, and shows the “importance” of the actions being carried out. “The agreement, which is the result of negotiations initiated in the latest edition of Fitur last January also includes a special catalog of 26 pages of Canary Islands information, including details of offers of accommodation. The package holidays to the Canaries will focus on the winter season, with regular flights mainly through Madrid, Barcelona and London, and bound for Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, El Hierro, La Gomera and La Palma, though the idea is to offer a program with trips to several islands. In the event that this will generate enough demand, the idea of the possibility of a direct flight to a Canadian city will be considered. Similarly, it has launched a campaign via email by the tour operator to potential customers, which began on 14th June and will last until next January 14th, 2011, and the website of Total Vacations for the Canary Islands can be seen until June 13th, 2011. Also there is information of the hotels and services in the archipelago in the trade journal Travel Courier, targeted at Canadian travel agents. Moreover, during this month, they will be launching a unique promotion for Visa cardholders to acquire a package tour bound for the Islands, and placed several leaflets with pictures of the Canaries in the windows of the travel agencies with the Total working Vacations. Canarian hotels are already operating with Canadian tour operators and travel agents were able to book on the Internet since last March. There is also a unique call center for reservations for the islands.
Mobility Week The inauguration on Thursday of the bike path which runs through much of the Avenue de Tirajana, in which hundreds of schoolchildren have been involved with bicycles, marks the beginning of the activities planned for the European Mobility Week, and celebrated in Las
Palmas until September 22nd using the slogan ‘Move to intelligence and live better! The mayor of Santa Lucia, Silverio Matos, said that this first phase, which links the roundabout Doctoral and Avenue of the Union, “is included within the cycle network we are developing in the town and meets a demand for our citizenship”. Matos said that this project fits in with issues that are listed in the Santa Lucia Strategic Plan 2020, which advocates a more and more sustainable city, modern, quality facilities, and which underlines the commitment to sustainability in the field of transport, offering alternatives to the indiscriminate use of private vehicles and public transport promotion. This bike path reinforces all that offering sustainability in mobility to achieve the Santa Lucia we want and which together we are building”.
The Councilor for Mobility and Public Safety, Luis Campos, explained that the proposed bike lane “in the first phase starts with a stretch of more than 1.5 kilometers, and which later will travel across the ring neighborhood. The important thing is we do not want only one lane for exercise or sports, but this truly is an element of mobility within the municipality”. Luis Campos announced that the next phase “will start soon’ with funding from the Integrated Urban Development Project Urban Edge and the roundabout Doctoral will connect with Sardina.The aim is to equip ourselves with a very powerful cycle network and is one of the most advanced in the Canary Islands”. The mayor confirmed that the opening of the bike path “is the best way to celebrate the European Mobility Week, which started on Thursday and is the most ambitious part of the proposals. Campos said that throughout the week “we will have major events like the opening circuit of the Urban Park Road Education Camilo Sanchez and workshops at the Plaza of cotton with activities to enhance health”. A major section of the Avenida de Canarias will be closed on Sunday for the enjoyment of citizens and to hold events such as exhibitions of hybrid vehicles and other proposals offered by this new edition of the European Mobility Week.
6 Local News
The Canary News - Friday 24th September - Thursday 7th October 2010 - Issue 31
www.thecanarynews.com
Memories Are Made Of This
As a keen and loving father, this time of the year is very exciting, as my 3 year old son has just started school! For me everything is a new experience but for the other thousands of parents whose children already attend school, it is a time of relief, due to the fact that their kids are finally finishing a 12 week holiday period - which I’m sure has been seen as endless to most of them. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure they are all loving and caring parents, but let’s face it, 12 weeks without school is a long period indeed! When I sit back and remember my school days, I can recall this period as being quite exciting. My mother would take my brother and I down to the local stationery stores and get us new rucksacks, pens, pencils and an endless list of materials for the new school year. Of course new uniforms and trainers would join the shopping list; we have to be honest, as children we always liked our new things!
But what was really exciting for me about going back to school was the fact that I was going to be reunited with all my school friends; friends which through the years have always been there and are still close to me today even though we might not see each other regularly. This was the essence of going back to school after the long summer break, getting back together to tell each other what we had been up to during the holidays and more
the deep end when I started each year in the British School of Gran Canaria. On top of this, beginners’ like my son, are put through an adaptation program which basically consist of him going for very short periods of time which are then gradually increased over a two week period until he finally starts doing the full required hours. Again, I’m not sure I see the practicality of this but this is what we get!
importantly what we were going to get up to during the coming year. On the 9th of September, Public schools across the country officially opened their doors to the new school year. Thousands of Spanish children attended, some excited, and some crying and nervous for the official presentation of their schools. This basically consists of a few hours in the morning where the school director presents the staff and which classes they are going to be responsible for as well as introducing the parents to the classes which their children are allocated. A pure formality which in my humble opinion, is a little bit of a waste of time, as I’m used to being thrown in
Being part of this process again after so many years but from a very different perspective - a father, has brought back many memories; images of my friends, my old school teachers, experiences, first loves and disappointments and generally innocent and fantastic memories of endless new things which today make me who I am. I was never a great student, I was not the worst but I always preferred to get into trouble with my friends, play football and annoy the girls, kind of a normal attitude for a young boy. But it is a period which still today I treasure in my heart as it is during this period when we learn and absorb the most, going from young boys to young men in a relatively short span of time. By Tito Cabral
At Home With Kay As many of you will be aware, our feature writer for Comfort Corner, Kay Owen, held a private tapas afternoon to raise funds for three charities; Children in Need, Breast Cancer and the Tara Animal group.
I went along to Kay and Paul’s home to cover the event, and was astonished at how many people had turned up in support. Kay of course, is a much loved and well known character here on Gran Canaria, and her tireless support of those
less fortunate than ourselves is to be applauded. Instead of her usual plea for funds to support her ‘little ones in China’ Kay got together with two other favourite charities in order to bring even more people together.
Each of us paid a small entrance fee, and enjoyed a wonderful afternoon of delicious tapas, tinto de verano, sangria, soft drinks and home-made desserts. All this whilst being entertained by Martin, Gary and Emma; three musicians who played and sang a great selection of Irish folk songs which had most of the crowd singing along with them, including Kay!
And what about Paul, Kay’s husband, who persuaded his ‘beer supplier’ to deliver a barrel of ice-cold special lager, complete with gas pump, for the princely sum of 50 euros! He then proceeded to charge anyone who wanted to try it 1euro a cup – proceeds naturally going into the charity pot. Raffle tickets were sold with the first prize being a wonderful seascape painting done by husband Paul. Most people bought tickets and Kay was very pleased at the amount raised – total amount to be donated to the named charities. Kay would like to thank everyone who came in support on the day, but I think it should be the other way around. We would like to thank Kay, Paul, the musicians and everyone else who helped to organise this very successful event and look forward to the next one. By Ann Turner
Martin is a regular musician at the recently opened Irish bar Durty Nellies in Las Olas, Puerto Rico, whilst Gary plays at Patricks bar, Playa del Ingles. Elsa, you may recall from our article last year writes and composes her own music. All three of these exceptional people gave their free time, without reward, to this worthy cause.
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Feature 7
Issue 31 - Friday 24th September - Thursday 7th October 2010 - The Canary News
CBX, Working for a Greener Future Usually it’s the case that when something is labelled organic, it means that it is expensive, at least in comparison with “normal” products, but today I am going to talk about a new and revolutionary product which has recently been launched in the south of Gran Canaria which not only is biological and organic, but can save water and reduce the consumption of chemical fertilizers which could be damaging to the health, its name is CBX, Complete Biological Extract. CBX is not an invention but a discovery which a visionary Norwegian called Svenn Rommerud and a doctor from the USA called Delone Bentz, both CEO’s of the company ETI, Environmental Techniques International, who produce CBX water and soil treatments. This product is basically a Jurassic compost which is extracted from a range of mountains in Iowa, Arizona, hundreds of meters below the surface, and in principal is in a dormant state and then after being put through a brewing process it is brought back to life. This compost or Leonardite as it is called, is composed of thousands of aerobic bacteria families, enzymes and microbes which in the past lived and flourished creating a perfect balance of life in soil and water. Today due to the aggressive agricultural techniques and the heavy usage of chemical fertilizers and fungicides the natural balance of our soils has suffered tremendously making our soils unsterilized, unbalanced and generally poor in quality. This fact has simply pushed humans to keep putting in more chemicals and non-organic minerals in order to try and make the soil more or less fertile, but in a very non-organic way which in cases can even be harmful to the health of customers and consumers. What CBX proposes is to restore the natural balance of nature in the soil, by simply letting nature do the work in terms of providing everything necessary for the healthy growth of the vegetation chosen. CBX has been used for 30 years in the States, initially treating golf courses, water treatment plants, water storage facilities and sewage treatment, with enormous success in all the fields. Now for the first time GolfCanarias.org, a Canarian based company, has presented the product in Europe and has chosen
To begin with the company is targeting golf courses on the islands as this type of agriculture is considered to be the hardest to achieve good results. In the future no doubt we will see CBX being used in an endless list of different applications including private households, as the current trends are directing all of us towards using organic products.
Gran Canaria to do so. On 14th September 2010, the European presentation took place in the IFA Faro hotel located in Meloneras, to which green keepers and golf course managers from around the islands attended, as well as personalities from the golfing world and the Spanish Royal Federation; a fact which only highlights the interest CBX arises and its massive potential as an organic fertilizer.
press attended in order to find out more about the product and its benefits.
Guests of honour was Peter McEvoy, OBE, ex captain of the Walker Cup and a member of the R&A Committee; governing authority in the golfing world which sets up the rules of the game, with the exception of the USA, and he was joined by David Gomez, director of the Comité Green Section of the Royal Spanish Golf Federation, and Svenn Rommerud, president and owner of ETI; the company which develops and produces CBX in Arizona.
After the presentation attendees and guests were taken to the Lopesan Meloneras Golf Course where they have been carrying out trials on the more problematic areas of the turf, and it was here that everyone could see with their own eyes the real power of CBX. Following this physical demonstration they were invited to a light lunch during which the product and its qualities as an organic fertilizer were commented enthusiastically.
In addition the company, GolfCanarias. org, also attracted the attention of several local politicians from the Municipals of San Bartolome de Tirajana and Mogán, as CBX has gardening applications which also create benefits in terms of savings and increase of the aesthetics of them. Added to this a number of local
The fascinating thing about this product is that GolfCanarias.org are not trying to simply sell it to possible customers and that’s all, it is portrayed as a tool which together with the correct management will help create very positive results and benefits.
CBX is not a miracle in a bottle, as I mentioned before it is a tool which helps immensely to achieve very positive results in the regeneration of our soils, aesthetics of our vegetation, healthier growth of our plants and in the treatment of waters, but the biggest benefit is that its saves water. It does this by creating minuscule cavities and pours in the soil which can be filled with water when irrigated. Today in the Canaries, due to the harsh and warm weather conditions, the soils is exceptionally compacted and hard and as we all know when water is poured onto it, it simply sits on top or slides from it and evaporates. With the application of CBX the soil regenerates and becomes a natural storage of water, available for the vegetation to take when needed, and reducing the unnecessary loss of this natural and precious resource, thus saving water.
You all know my views by now, I’m one for ecological products and initiatives, the fact that there is finally an organic product in the market that is not only biological and organic, but also saves water and reduces the use of chemical products damaging to the environment and our health, is like something which is too good to be true. But I have seen this product working and through the months of trials in Meloneras Golf I have witnessed the power of CBX with my own eyes and I for one are a big supporter simply because it does what it says it’s going to do. By Tito Cabral
8 Letters to the Editor
The Canary News - Friday 24th September - Thursday 7th October 2010 - Issue 31
Please write to us and The Canary News will award the Letter of the Week a Free COMBO meal at Fusion Restaurant & Lounge Bar in Arguineguin (See advertisement below for address)
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Editors Column
The Canary News reserves the right to edit your letters and accepts no responsility for readers’ opinions.
Letter of the week Sir,
To be honest it is dying. Will I come back - probably not - although the people were nice the place has not got a lot to attract me back.
I just read the editor´s column of The Canary News of September 10th. It really puzzles me the editor´s conclusion (No comment!). I´m not sure whether you try to tell us that what all those “democratic” countries do is the correct thing or Britain is making a fool of itself. Or even that Britain is doing the right thing. Maybe I don´t get your sense of humour since I´m not British for which I apologise.
Ian Emery and Family Dunblane
Sincerely José C. Ortiz
Firstly the name - a minor point but on their web site it says Gran Canaria (LPA). I am a frequent traveller in Europe and on Ryanair - often at airports on the board it has Las Palmas. Lets talk about price - search engines often put them as the cheapest but when you add on the booking fee, tax ,bags etc etc it is not always the case
Thank you for your comments. The reason I made the statement ‘no comment’ is to make people aware (if they are not already) what other countries policies are concerning borders, and then to make their own minds up whether they feel Britain is right or not. The Editors Column is to stimulate dialogue, and please don’t apologise for not understanding the ‘British sense of humour’ many of us don’t understand it either! Ed. Poor Puerto Rico I recently returned from a holiday in Puerto Rico. This was my first trip to the island. The accomodation and staff were first class- but - I could not find anything for my wife and 2 sons to do without travelling. I asked about The Water Park- not open, then I asked about a jeep safari- yes but we had to go to Playa (okay we were picked up at the hotel). On walking around there were more timeshare people trying to get me to jump into a taxi than there were events. The Shopping Centre looks like it could do with a re-vamp. I heard a local calling it “Half finished Puerto Rico” I wanted to ask what that monster building was at the top of the town which looked like a unfinished car park, next to the roundabout? The port looked busy but there are only so many sea trips you can do with the cost of them. Market?- you must be joking said a local, every other town but here. My final question would be what are the local authority and tourist board doing?
We hear there are plans afoot to revamp the main areas in Puerto Rico, but as yet haven’t received any updates. Ed. At last we have found him - a Ryanair supporter. I refer to Richards Hodsons’ letter edition 30.
My main point is that if you travel to warm countries how many people are on business trips, how many are on holidays and how many are moving countries to live elsewhere, can Mr Hodson honestly believe that the second two groups can go with hand baggage or limited weight, particulary big or young families- let’s get real. Remember no pooling of weight within groups and that handbag has to go in your 1 piece of hand baggage and do not dare buy a lot at duty free once you are through check in. Now for the latest invention- Weekend 5/6 September, place Barcelona Airport, lady member of Ryanair walking up and down the queue with her secret weapon, what was it ? A cutout cardboard suitcase with a handle as she proudly walked along the queue and tested the hand baggage by slipping it over everyones’ hand luggage to see if it fitted!!!! No wonder the elderly Spanish lady in the queue and the EEC are asking questions on some of the operations of this company. As someone who uses Ryanair a lot what happened to common sense and customer care? Frequent Traveller As Michael O’Leary keeps telling us, if you don’t want to abide by the rules, then don’t book with my airline. Let’s hope in his next life he comes back as one of the check-in desk personnel! Ed.
Many of you may have read the article in last Sunday’s Mail about the new taxes on ‘bargain’ Spanish properties. For those of you who didn’t a condensed version follows. Bargain-hunters in Spain scooping up discounted property could be in for a nasty surprise as cashstrapped Spanish regional authorities hit them with extra taxes after the deal is done. British buyers have found their purchases revalued upwards by provincial authorities, who are demanding thousands of euros in additional land registration tax. An example was given of a retired couple who bought a villa on the Costa del Sol. The property had been on the market for two years at 475,000€ and in desperation the owner sold it for 400,000€. The retired couple who bought the property duly paid their 30,000€ in land registry fees, but then a few months later the authorities in Malaga declared the villa’s true value to be 465,000€ and demanded a further 4,800€ in tax. The couple have been advised to seek legal representation but of course this will cost them money. More and more people are getting caught out by this so called stealth tax, where, in order to boost their coffers, authorities are revaluing properties at an alarming rate. Most buyers are challenging these valuations, but as I said before, it obviously costs money to do it with reports and lawyers’ fees for a typical apartment costing around 3,000€. The tax demand can be made up to three years after the sale! This of course is a ‘throw back’ to the halcyon days of the Spanish property boom, where builders and owners deliberately under-valued their products to make them more attractive to potential purchasers. You will always pay a percentage of the property valuation price in tax, therefore it was an ‘easy’ way to fool the authorities, who at that time, had coffers overflowing with cash. Not anymore though, and what happens on mainland Spain eventually catches on in the islands. I personally think it’s an absolute disgrace that authorities are able to do this, especially as a large percentage of the people who can afford to take legal action have actually won their case. And so ‘buyer beware’, make sure you have a proper valuation carried out, or better still your estate agent will arrange this for you, but if you are determined to go ahead with your ‘cut-price’ bargain then at least be prepared to either ask for a further reduction from the owner to cover the amount, or have the necessary funds to pay the additional tax. There’s no such thing as a ‘free meal’. Finally, I did watch the Sky News coverage on the Pope’s visit to Britain, and although it received a lot of bad press before the event, once he was actually on the ground, the reception he got from the places he visited far surpassed expectations. He did come across as a gentle and kind man, and for one of his years his agenda was incredible, yet he still found the time to bless children, exchange words with the crowd and apologise more than once for the sexual abuse carried out against minors by members of the Catholic faith. On this subject it would be interesting to compare statistics on child abuse between priests who are allowed to marry and have a family and those who aren’t.
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Finance 9
Issue 31 - Friday 24th September - Thursday 7th October 2010 - The Canary News
Benefits Of Using Moneycorp The main benefits: • highly competitive exchange rates, making your money go further • you won’t have to pay commission and we will absorb any international transfer charges* (most spanish banks charge receiving fees of between 0.3% and 1% of the amount received) • fast, secure transfers – so your currency arrives where you need it, when you need it • ability to fix exchange rates for a set time period, helping protect from adverse currency movements • expert guidance from a dedicated Account Manager, enabling you to make informed decisions about the best time to book transfers • no cost and no obligation in opening an Account So why use Moneycorp instead of your bank? Because making transfers with Moneycorp is faster, more convenient and more cost effective. Whether you’re making regular transfers, or simply need to make a one-off payment, we don’t charge commission. And we also offer free information and guidance on the currency markets, helping you decide on the best time to buy. Sending regular international payments? If so, the Regular Payment Plan (RPP) from Moneycorp is the
service for you. It is specifically tailored for regular overseas payments like mortgage payments and pension transfers. The Moneycorp regular payment plan is fully automated and takes the hassle out of overseas transfers. Your sterling is collected by Direct Debit – and the foreign currency automatically sent abroad. About Moneycorp Moneycorp is a trading name of TTT Moneycorp Limited, which has been dealing in foreign exchange since 1979 and last year traded over £11 billion in currencies. The company has maintained ISO 9000 Quality Assurance certification since 1996 – a unique achievement in the foreign exchange industry – and has offices in the UK, Australia, Spain and the USA. The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) Special Opportunities Fund is a significant shareholder in the Group. Contact details to talk to Moneycorp about making the most of our services call +44 (0)20 7589 3000 Office hours 7:30am – 10:30pm (UK Time) Monday to friday 10am – 4pm (UK Time) Saturday you can also contact the Costa del Sol Office on +34 951 319 700 9am – 6pm (CET) Monday to Friday Moneycorp SLU, Urbanización Las terrazas de Banús calle Jesús puente Local 22-23 A 29660 Puerto Banús Marbella Málaga email costadelsol@moneycorp.com fax +34 951 319 701 When contacting Moneycorp please remember to quote: The Canary News.
When making an international payment, we will ensure that the full amount arrives in your beneficiary account. However, due to the payment services regulations 2009, we cannot guarantee that the bank receiving your funds will not then deduct a fee once the money has been deposited. We suggest that you contact the beneficiary bank for clarification on potential charges. Save money on your international money transfers. Use Moneycorp for all your international money transfers. We’ll make it simple and save you money. Our experts will monitor the currency markets on your behalf – achieving the best possible rates of exchange.
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10 Family Life
The Canary News - Friday 24th September - Thursday 7th October 2010 - Issue 31
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Discipline And Your Child As the saying goes, “Desperate times call for desperate measures.” When your child’s safety is at risk — whether he runs into the street, reaches for an open flame, or is dangerously close to a pool — yelling, screaming, or crying out is a perfectly normal (and necessary!) response. After all, at that moment, you would do anything possible to get your child’s attention and get him out of harm’s way. After an episode like this, it’s natural for children to cry — and for you to want to apologize. But the truth is, your children are usually crying in response to the fear and urgency in your voice, not because you’ve been “too stern.” At times like these, it’s OK to comfort them without apologizing. Give your child a hug and say something like, “I know you’re upset. But what you did was dangerous and I was scared that you were going to get hurt. You must never do that again.” Punishing children after an event like this is usually not necessary, since they’ve probably learned their lesson. On the other hand, there are times when being too stern — like yelling regularly for minor offences — can backfire. Children can become immune to parents’ overblown reactions and fail to take them seriously. If you feel yourself getting into this habit, take a deep breath before responding to your child’s behaviour and ask yourself, “Am I about to overreact?” If so, walk away for a few minutes and come back when you’ve calmed down.
a connection between the behaviour and physical punishment. The message you send when you spank is that it’s OK to hit someone when you’re angry.
Our beloved little ones test our nerves because they’re testing boundaries all around them. Every day, little by little, they’re mastering new abilities and accomplishing new feats, and are anxious and excited to use these skills. Sometimes it’s tough to reel in a toddler, but it can be done. And setting rules and limits now — when your child is learning what behaviours are acceptable — will help prevent bigger problems down the road. Here are some ways to help you keep your youngster on the right track. Be Consistent When it comes to discipline, it’s important to be consistent. Parents who don’t stick to the rules and consequences they set up don’t have children who do either. For example, if you tell your toddler that a timeout is the repercussion for bad behaviour, be sure to enforce it. Only issue warnings for things that you can follow through on. Empty threats undermine your authority. And don’t forget that children learn by watching adults, particularly their parents. So make sure your own behaviour is role-model material. When asking your child to pick up toys, you’ll make a much stronger impression if you’ve put away your own belongings rather than leaving your stuff strewn around the room.
In general, when it comes to disciplining children, it’s best to speak with a low, firm voice and to keep your focus on the behaviour, not the child. It’s also helpful to use natural consequences whenever possible. That means if your child has thrown a toy, ask her to pick it up. If she’s taken something from her sibling, ask her to return it. If she chooses not to comply, an ageappropriate timeout or other consequence should follow, despite tearful pleas. Consistency is the key to effective discipline, and giving in to a child’s tears may inadvertently reinforce negative behaviour. Are there any parents who haven’t felt complete and utter love for their toddler and, at the same time, frustration and anger?
Eliminate Temptation By now, you’ve figured out that your toddler wants to explore and investigate the world. Toddlers are naturally curious, so it’s wise to eliminate temptations whenever possible. That means items like TVs, phones, and video equipment should be kept out of reach, as well as choking hazards like jewellery, buttons, and small items that children can put in their mouths. And always keep cleaning supplies and medications stored safely away where children can’t get to them. Use Distraction If your roving toddler does head toward an unacceptable or dangerous play object, calmly say “No” and either remove your child from the area or distract him or her with another activity. It’s important to not spank, hit, or slap your child. At this age, children are unlikely to be able to make
Practice Timeout If you need to take a harder line with your child, timeouts can be an effective form of discipline. A 2- or 3-year-old who has been hitting, biting, or throwing food, for example, should be told why the behaviour is unacceptable and taken to a designated timeout area — a kitchen chair or bottom stair — for a minute or two to calm down. As a general rule, about 1 minute per year of age is a good guide for timeouts. Shorter timeouts can be effective, but longer ones have no added benefit and can sometimes undermine your efforts if your child gets up (and refuses to return) before you signal that the timeout has ended.
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Feature 11
Issue 31 - Friday 24th September - Thursday 7th October 2010 - The Canary News
Property for sale - Agents Unwelcome headaches? The service pays for itself. The Estate Agency that you entrust the sale of your property to, will advise you honestly regarding all sales possibilities and the right market values; your tax obligations and the best payment methods; keeping you, the Seller upto-date regarding procedures and giving you feedback; drafting the option and other contracts in the respective languages; helping with the necessary official paperwork and certificates; coordinating with banks and the Notary Public and of course, accompanying you to the Notary for the signing of the contracts. And after completion, there are the required registration change procedures to be made for both parties. Sellers are also entitled to comprehensive and satisfactory service at KSR Estate Agency. It has been heard and even seen in classified adverts, that people selling property prefer to find potential buyers themselves and under no circumstances wish to have a professional (and by that I mean a Real Estate Agent with a real office and not just an amateur with a mobile phone) involved in the transaction. Amazing, especially in present times, where noticeably more properties are on the market than Buyers willing to purchase them! Do Estate Agents really have such a bad reputation? Maybe the Sellers merely wish to avoid paying the sales commission (here on the Canaries, these are paid by the Seller) in order to make up for the sinking prices being paid for Real-Estate. Why use an agent, if one had once been a Buyer and vaguely knew the ropes (forgetting that Laws and regulations could have changed in the intervening time)? Could there be something that an experienced Agent might uncover?
In order to deal with all these details for the Seller and to advise you, we need to be given copies of the notarised sales contract of the last transfer of the property (whether purchased, inherited, etc.), to obtain an updated Property Registry certificate. Quite often this point is where the Seller gets surprised by information she/he knew nothing about. Many properties can have these problems set straight if taken care of in time. We will advise you throughout the procedure and help you complete it. A copy of a recent tax receipt is also required to help calculate the amount of the Appreciation Tax (the so-called Plus Valía that the Seller is required by Law to cover). You will surely want to know what to expect.
Dear Sellers, please don’t underestimate Buyers: They want answers to numerous questions and stress-free transactions through-to-completion. Ask a trustworthy Notary Public how many purchases have fallen through at the last moment or were delayed due to unforeseen glitches, because there was no experienced Estate Agent handling the matter. Maybe an important document was missing and the contract on the desk in front of the Notary Public could not be signed, maybe the mortgage was not cancelled properly, payment was not made according to up-to-date regulations, or differences of opinion arose between the parties because at the beginning of negotiations, wrong information was given and Buyers and Sellers of different nationalities had conflicting assumptions.
Besides handling all the administrative details that are part of the estate-agency trade, and which are dealt with differently in each European country, where the activities of an Agent often differ considerably carrying less responsibility, which will make a difference for your property, your Agent should answer the following questions: where and how will my property be marketed? Will curious passers-by be walking through my house or will only pre-informed and honestly interested potential buyers visit it?
As in other professions, there are also the ‘Black Sheep’ in the Estate Agents’ sector, which is why a potential Seller should check his contacts to choose a reliable Estate Agent with a clean reputation. As with buying, selling property is a matter of trust. Why should years of professional experience not be used to your advantage and the sale of your property be handled without
In our local yet international Estate Market, the Agent is required to speak the languages in question. KSR Estate offers a wide selection of channels through which to complete your sale: a multi-languages web-site and presence on several international sites; we cooperate with an extensive range of business partners and a highly professional contact network; we publish our
own brochures and Newsletter, advertise both nationally and internationally and therefore, are the ideal Estate Agents’ platform for your property transaction. In short: combining modern technology, innovative know-how and conventional diligence to bring our operations to successful completion, KSR Estate has been handling property purchases and sales in the Estate/ Property Market on the Canary Islands for over 25 years with reliable and successful results. Our business concept has been tried and tested by both Buyers and Sellers. Karin-Sybille Rosenfeld Founder and General Manager KSR Estate Agent’s
12 Advertising
The Canary News - Friday 24th September - Thursday 7th October 2010 - Issue 31
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Horoscopes 13
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Issue 31 - Friday 24th September - Thursday 7th October 2010 - The Canary News
ARIES Mar 21 - April 20
CANCER June 22 - July 23
LIBRA Sept 24 - Oct 23
CAPRICORN Dec 23 - Jan 20
In one key area of life, it’s important to maintain close co- operation with someone, even if that involves giving more of your time, patience or trust than you feel naturally inspired to relinquish.
The moment you sincerely decide that you want a source of trouble to stop, it will end. Now is the right time for you to take an in-depth, up close and personal look at your life.
You need to understand that the changes you are going through now are extremely good for you, even if you’re not yet experiencing them all as ‘enjoyable’.
Don’t be suspicious. Trust positive gestures where you encounter them and make kind offerings of your own, whenever you can.
TAURUS April 23 - May 21
LEO July 24 - Aug 23
Scorpio Oct 24 - Nov 22
AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19
Be glad of a process that will eventually make everything much better. You haven’t got a ‘problem’. You have an incredible opportunity.
If, today, you can prioritise only your own need to keep things in proportion you will eventually see the right answer to every question. Don’t assume you already know all you need to know!
You have lately been through an intense spate of uncertainty that has provoked much soul-searching and has left you exhausted and somewhat disillusioned.
Jupiter’s conjunction to your ruler effectively now says, ‘First, open your eyes... and then, open your mind to a brighter set of surprisingly viable options.’
GEMINI May 22 - June 21
VIRGO Aug 24 - Sept 23
SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 22
PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20
There are strong reasons now, for you to be generous, optimistic and to assume that even ‘old established patterns’ can change in a positive way if you want them to.
You are now meeting resistance to a plan or proposal that you are keen to pursue. Introduce it gently and seductively if you want success.
Jupiter, as it now shines brightly in the evening sky, urges you to look at what now needs to be said in your life. There’s an important, overdue discussion to be held. Begin a process of dialogue with someone.
If things turn themselves upside-down this week, don’t pretend you understand everything and don’t be too proud to seek help or advice.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY “ Everything that happens is not fixed; it can be changed by a weapon called Will Power.”
14 ‘Twitters from the Atlantic’
The Canary News - Friday 24th September - Thursday 7th October 2010 - Issue 31
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by Barrie Mahoney
Barrie Mahoney was a teacher, head teacher and school inspector in the UK, as well as a reporter in Spain, before moving to the Canary Islands as a newspaper editor. He is still enjoying life in the sun as a writer and author.
Postal Express? I know from my previous work as a reporter that many expats quickly become frustrated by the antics of some of the state monopolies in Spain. Dealings with the Town Halls, water and electricity companies, Correos and Telefonica - to name a few, can become incredibly frustrating experiences and can be the stuff of nightmares. With most of these companies, I still get the feeling that they think that we are here for their benefit and not that the other way around. The situation is very similar to that in the UK 15 to 20 years ago, when the then UK monopolies maintained a similar arrogance towards their customers. My problem began several weeks ago when a Spanish friend in Alicante decided that he would like my old laptop computer. I thought I would give Correos another try, particularly as they offered a two-day Postal Express service to Peninsular Spain. It cost 24 euros - not bad in view of the size and weight of the package, and with a guaranteed two day delivery from Las Palmas to Alicante... Three days later I received an anxious call from my friend. No, the package had not arrived. My friend was particularly concerned because he had just called Correos in Alicante and they had told him that the package was still in Madrid. Several days later, I received another call from my friend. He had just received a letter from the Aduana
(Customs) to say that the package was held by them in Madrid. There was tax to pay and he had to complete a form and return it to them. My friend challenged this assertion, pointing out that the package was being sent from one part of Spain to another, but this logic does not enter the world of the Aduana. The laptop was worth only about 100 euros at best because it was several years old. Apparently, because I had purchased the laptop in the Canary Islands (and had only paid 5% IGIC tax on it when it was new), if it was sent to the Peninsular the taxman would want to claim additional tax because the Canary Islands are seen as being outside the EU and Spain for tax purposes. At this point my friend and I wondered whether it really was worth paying tax on the item. We agreed that when it was delivered, and if the tax was too high, he would reject the package and it would eventually be returned to me. One week later, the Postal Express package had still not arrived. My friend was due to go away on holiday two days later and there would be no one at his home
to receive the package. He complained to Correos in Alicante and they agreed that the package would be dispatched that same day and would arrive the following day. Needless to say, it did not arrive as promised. Two days later, just as my friend was preparing to leave for the airport, the package arrived, together with a demand for 25 euros tax. He paid up and went on holiday. The time that the package had taken to get from the Canary Islands to my friend’s home in Alicante was just over two weeks - not exactly within two days as promoted in the Correos advertising and, indeed, guaranteed in their terms of service. Yet again, I decided to challenge the lumbering dinosaur and filed a claim against them for breaking the terms and conditions of their service contract. Although my Spanish is not good, I followed this up with a letter outlining the problem and sent it to Correos, convinced that I would hear no more. A few days later I received a very apologetic letter from Correos, accepting full liability for the problem, and assuring me that I would receive a full refund of all postal charges. True to their word, the postman called today to give me a cash refund! Victories against these lumbering dinosaurs are few, but when they do come, the taste of victory is sweet! © Barrie Mahoney
If you enjoyed this article, take a look at Barrie’s websites: www.barriemahoney.com and www.thecanaryislander.com or read his latest novel, ‘Journeys and Jigsaws’ (ISBN: 9781843865384). © Barrie Mahoney
Spanish Lesson
With Theresa Coe
It´s important to ‘push down’ when you see an accent – for example if you say visito [bee-SEE-toh], that means ‘I visit’ (in the present tense), while visitó [beesee-TOH] means ‘he/she visited’. Tuve or Estuve?
Lesson 26
Past Times part 3
So far we´ve seen the regular verb endings for short, completed past actions when talking about ourselves as individuals or as a group. This brings us onto the endings for verbs relating to he/she/it or usted (the polite form of ‘you’). As usual, we knock off the last two letters of the original verb (ending in –ar, -er, or – ir) before adding the following letters: AR verbs: just add ‘ó’ e.g. visit/ar (to visit): Ayer, mi novio visitó [bee-seeTOH] a su madre (yesterday, my boyfriend visited his mother). trabaj/ar (to work): ¿Trabajó [trah-bah-HOH] usted anoche? (Did you work last night – lit: worked you last night?) ER/IR verbs: add ‘ió’ e.g. com/er (to eat): Mi hermana comió [koh-meeOH] en mi casa a la una. (My sister ate in my house at 1 o’clock). sufr/ir (to suffer): El jardín sufrió [sooh-free-OH] mucho durante la Calima. (the garden suffered a lot during the Calima).
Mastering verbs in Spanish is a challenge, as some of the most useful ones don´t follow the rules we´ve just outlined. For example, while ‘to have’ is TENER, it has an irregular past simple tense: tuve [TOO-beh], tuviste, tuvo, tuvimos, tuvieron (I had, you had, he/she/it had, we had, they had). However, this is one ‘action word’ that we can use repeatedly so it´s worth learning. The good news is that it´s very similar in the past tense to another key verb, ESTAR (to be), so we can learn the two together: estuve [es-TOO-beh], estuviste, estuvo, estuvimos, estuvieron (I was, you were, he/she/it was, we were, they were).
We´ve already seen that the past simple tense of IR (to go) and SER are the same: fui, fuiste, fue, fuimos, fueron. ¿Fuiste a la fiesta el sábado pasado? (Did you go to the party last Saturday? Lit: You went to the party the Saturday past?) Sí, fui con mi mujer y fue súper divertida. (Yes, I went with my wife and it was really fun). Confused? Cheat! If this week’s lesson has made your head spin, don´t worry. So long as you remember key words which I listed last issue like ayer [a-YEAH – yesterday], people will get your drift even if you use the present tense. Alternatively, learn the five words explained in lesson 24 and see if you can make them work for you to talk about the past. Here they are again: Había [a-BEE-a] – there was/there were OR was there…?/were there…?
E.g. Ayer, TUVE un problema con mi coche (yesterday I had a problem with my car) Anoche ESTUVE en un bar, pero ESTUVE muy cansada (last night I was in a bar, but I was very tired).
Solía (+ original unchanged verb) – I used to, or he/ she/it/usted used to.
Remember that the Spanish use tener a lot, e.g. tengo calor/hambre meaning ‘I´m hot/hungry’ or literally ‘I have heat/hunger’, so we use the same verb in the past: tuve mucho calor anoche – no fue posible dormir (I was very hot last night – it wasn´t possible to sleep).
Fue - he/she/it went OR he/she/it was
And to complícate matters further, remember that there are two ways to say ‘to be’: SER (for permanent things or hard facts) and ESTAR (for location or temporary situations, with both given in our example).
Fui/fuimos – I went/we went
For information about learning Spanish, e-mail theresacoe@gmail.com or tel. 662 045 990. Remember: When using the past simple tense as outlined here, you must always give a date or time for the completed action.
If you have any questions or comments relating to this column or the Spanish language in general: Please email theresacoe@gmail.com
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‘The Canarian Lawyer’ Room with breakfast included I stayed a night in a hotel which had included breakfast buffet in the price of the room. In the morning when I went to have breakfast, 10 minutes before the close of the dining room, there was just some pastries and coffee. I complained and they told me that the other guests had eaten everything. This has also happened in other hotels. For future times, I would like to know, if I can claim something. Yes. If the contracted service included breakfast and you went at the scheduled time, the hotel company is obliged to serve it in its entirety, or if not, refund you for incomplete breakfast proportionate share. Complaints from users of airlines For my work I am traveling a lot by plane and I do not see the airlines to report anything about
Your Questions Answered 15
Issue 31 - Friday 24th September - Thursday 7th October 2010 - The Canary News
what to do when there are delays or cancellations. What should we do? The European regulation obligates airlines to inform passengers of their rights in case of delay, cancellation, “overbooking”, or loss of luggage. However, in practice, this information fails users, who do not know how to act in case of failure to comply by the airline. The Community Regulation states that users who suffer cancellations, “overbooking” or long delays (of three or more hours set up by the judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union) are entitled to compensation of between 125 and 600 Euros, food, drinks and accommodation, if necessary. Before you go to court, make a complaint to the Office of Consumers at the same airport and another complaint to the Civil Aviation. Mortgage cancellation penalty I wanted to know what legal steps I
Now in Mogan every Tuesday and Thursday from 10:30am to 1pm
can take in order not to pay 9,000 € fine (5% of 180,000 €) the Bank want to charge me for taking my mortgage to another bank. There is nothing to do legally because it is the execution of one of the contract clauses. You can only review the clause to see if it has incurred fraudulently, and that it was not included in the binding offer but later appeared in the deed. Before you sign, you should always ask for the binding offer that the Bank makes together with the written project so you can study it personally with calm or with help of a lawyer. Normally nobody does this and just goes to the notary without knowing exactly what they are signing. Before 2007, this penalty already existed for waiver or early repayment of the loan, but not exceeding in 0.5 or 0.25 per cent of the outstanding capital. Now, as of December 2007, the new so-called clause of change of interest rate risk compensation is a penalty between 2.5 and 5% of the outstanding capital. Inhibiting Police radar equipment What is the fine when you have in your car equipment which distorts the police radar?
For driving vehicles which have installed radar inhibitors or any other mechanisms to interfere with the proper functioning of traffic surveillance systems it is a 6,000 Euros fine. Price of an article When I went to pay a blouse they indicated to me that the amount was higher than that put on the label, and that there was an error. What is the price I have to pay? The amount displayed on the label of the garment is right one for the consumer to pay.
Edificio Mercurio, Torre 1, 3.º A 35100 Playa del Inglés GRAN CANARIA -----------------------------------Avda. de Pescadores s/n Playa de Mogán TLF: +34 928 730 161 Mobile: +34 679 762 983 +34 649 874 490 CANARIA GRAN CANARI Fax: +34 928 779 928 info@riveromendoza.com
Web and Computer problems? info@thecanarynews.com All services installed on the computer are displayed here along with their status and start-up types. This will be a very long list.
they can be stopped, paused, disabled and started as needed. Click on Start, then Run then enter msconfig to open the System Configuration Utility. Click the Services tab and this will display.
There is also a description of what each service does. From here, the services startup type can be set, and they can be manually started or stopped. Care should be exercised if the startup type is changed. Other changes will be restored when the computer is rebooted. Here is a partial list Windows Services from Windows 7.
Q. When trying to install a printer I got a message something about a Service not running. What is a Service? A. A Windows service is an executable (a file that has an .exe extension) that performs a specific functions and which is designed not to require user intervention. They are distinguished from regular exe files in that they open before you even get to the login screen, whereas a standard exe cannot open until after you have logged on. Windows services can be configured to start when Windows is started and run in the background as long as Windows is running, or they can be started manually when required. They can also be totally disabled. The Windows Services running at any time can be viewed in the System Configuration utility where there is limited user intervention. They can be viewed and controlled through the Service Control Manager where
This lists all the services that are currently running. Clicking on the “Hide all Microsoft services” box will display only those not part of the operating system. You can choose to allow or prevent any of these from running here, BUT don’t make any changes unless you are sure of what you are doing.
To access the Services Control Manager, right click on My Computer, then select Manage, then double click on Services and Applications, then Services. A dialog like this displays.
16 Feature
The Canary News - Friday 24th September - Thursday 7th October 2010 - Issue 31
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Happy Ganesh C It was with eager anticipation and a great honour that I was invited by my friends, Jeetu and Anita, from Paraiso Jewellers, to take part in one of the many celebrations the Indian community here in Gran Canaria held to celebrate one of their most important Gods’ Ganesh Chaturthi. These celebrations are likened to the Spanish ‘Semana Santa’ – one of the main religious events of the year. To give our readers a little background on this unique ‘fiesta’ here is what I found out: Ganesha was originally a young man which Parvati had moulded from clay to stand guard at her door whilst she was bathing. When Shiva (Parvatis’ husband) came to her door and was refused entry by the boy, the God of Destruction (Shiva) became furious and chopped off his head. This so distressed Parvati that Lord Shiva sent someone to find a replacement, telling them to bring back the head of the first creature they came across, who was lying down and facing north. The first creature Shiva’s envoy came across who was asleep with his head facing northwards was the king of the elephants. So he chopped off the head and carried it back to Shiva who quickly attached the elephants head to the body of the boy and breathed life into it, and so the form of Ganesha is half human and half elephant. Lord Shiva also promised his wife Parvati that from then on Ganesh would be worshipped and prayers recited to him before any important Hindu event such as births, marriages and inaugurations. It is believed that for the fulfilment of one’s desires, his blessing is absolutely necessary. Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated on the birthday of Lord Ganesh (Ganesha), the God of Wisdom and Prosperity on the fourth day of the moons’ bright fortnight, or the period from new moon in the lunar month of Bhadrapada. The celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi continues for five, seven, or eleven days. Some even stretch it to twenty one days, but eleven is the most popular. For the tradition of the right hand path the first day is the most important, and for the left hand path tradition the final day is most important. There is also a story behind the symbolic snake, rat and the singular tusk. During one of his birthdays, His mother, Parvati, cooked for him twenty-one types of delicious food and a lot of sweet porridge. Ganesha ate so much that even his big belly could not contain it. Mounting his little mouse, he embarked on his nightly rounds. His mouse suddenly stumbled when he saw a huge snake. To adjust His belly, Ganesha put the snake on as a belt around his stomach. All of a sudden, he heard laughter emanating from the sky. He looked up and saw the moon mocking him. Ganesha
infuriated, broke off one of his tusks and hurled it at the moon. Parvati, seeing this, immediately cursed the moon that whoever looks at it on Ganesh Chaturthi will be accused of a wrong doing. The symbolism behind the mouse and snake and Ganesha’s big belly and its’ relationship to the moon on his birthday is highly philosophical. The whole cosmos is known to be the belly of Ganesha. Parvati is the primordial energy. The seven realms above, seven realms below and seven oceans, are inside the cosmic belly of Ganesha, held together by the cosmic energy (kundalini ) symbolized as a huge snake which Ganesha ties around himself. The mouse is nothing but our ego. Ganesha, using the mouse as a vehicle, exemplifies the need to control our ego. One who has controlled the ego has Ganesha consciousness or Godconsciousness. Ganesh Chaturthi Celebrations Ganesha statues feature in all homes at this time, and elaborate arrangements are made for lighting, decoration, mirrors and flowers. Poojas (prayer services) are performed daily. The artists who make the idols of Ganesh compete with each other to make bigger and more magnificent and elegant idols. The larger ones are anything from 10 meters to 30 meters in height. These statues are then carried on decorated floats to be immersed in the sea after one, three, five, seven and eleven days. Thousands of processions converge on the beaches to immerse the holy idols in the sea. This procession and immersion is accompanied by drumbeats, devotional songs and dancing. It is still forbidden to look at the moon on that day as the moon had laughed at Ganesha when he fell from his vehicle, the rat. With the immersion of the idol amidst the chanting of “Ganesh Maharaj Ki Jai!” (Hail Lord Ganesh). The festival ends with pleas to Ganesha to return the next year with chants of “Ganpati bappa morya, pudcha varshi laukar ya” (Hail Lord Ganesh, return again soon next year).
And so at 22.15 we arrived at the magnificent home of Nitin and Diva where the ceremony would be held, and as we entered, footwear left at the door, we were shown into the entrance hall where to our left was a truly lovely altar with an image of Ganesh taking pride of place. I quickly took some photographs before
moving into the main room. Nitin was busily putting the finishing touches to yet another altar – this one even grander than the first – and surrounded by flowers, fruit, incense, fairy lights and other religious objects, with of course the main statue of Ganesh sitting proudly in the centre.( I was to learn later that this statue would be taken to Las Palmas on the last day of the celebrations and immersed in the sea, to take away everyone’s troubles and sadness, but to be reborn again next year and welcomed into their homes).
The ceremony started promptly at 22.30 with singing provided via an internet link which was broadcast to the people in the
room, who had come to worship and ask Ganesh for his blessing and anything else they wished for the coming year.
As the ceremony progressed, more people poured into the apartment, each paying homage to the statue, until the time came when everyone in turn approached the altar, taking a brass plate filled with burning candles, which is then rotated in front of the statue of Ganesh. At the same time you would silently ask Ganesh what you wanted his help with, be it health, wealth or a combination of the two. Then the plate would be passed on to the next people in the queue; Nitin kindly included us in this part.
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Feature 17
Issue 31 - Friday 24th September - Thursday 7th October 2010 - The Canary News
Chaturthi 2010 where temples have been built dedicated to Ganesha. Long ago eight different effigies were found, all naturally sculptured by nature and have since been housed in temples built on the original sites. These deities are collectively know as Ashta Vinayak and are truly holy to Hindus. (see photo).
special magic – the one in the south for its’ smaller, more personal intimacy, and the one in the north for the sheer pleasure watching the participation of the young.
My memories of these two days will remain with me for the rest of my life; the warm welcome with which I was received by each and everyone, the community spirit as people came together as one to worship, and the absolute unity of this kind and gentle race. The prayers and offerings were carried out along the same lines as the day before, and once again I was invited to participate in the prayer ceremony to Ganesh. It took quite a bit longer than the previous day as there were many more participants each asking for their own particular wish to be granted. A line was forming for the delicious food which had been prepared by members of the group and we were soon enjoying a selection of totally vegetarian dishes, followed by the very sweet Indian cake.
our leave as the next day I was to attend a similar ceremony in Las Palmas.
It was then time to enjoy the different acts the children put on in front of their proud parents and panel of judges. Vinod Sawnani, President of the Indian Society North, was included as was Suresh;who kindly donated goods from his business, Visocan, to the delight of the children. It was time to go, and so I thanked and said goodbye to the many new people I had met. The two events were quite similar in content, yet each had its’ own
After more prayers, and approximately one hour after it had started the ceremony finished and all guests, family and friends were given the traditional sweets, which had been blessed, together with fruit and other refreshments. It was at this point that some of the people left to continue the celebration in their own homes by sharing a meal. We chatted a while longer with Jeetu and Anita and then took
Suresh, from Visocan in Las Palmas, was the gentleman who invited The Canary News to participate in the following day’s celebrations which started a little earlier, 20.30, but continued longer as part of the evening was to include a variety of acts from the children. It was held in a public events hall which was decorated with the traditional items I mentioned previously, and of course the main altar, which was slightly different. To one side of the beautiful altar was a smaller image surrounded by eight sites
So my special thanks to Jeetu, Anita, Nitin, Diva, Suresh, Vinod and everyone else who made these two days so unforgettable. By Debbie Wenn
18 Restaurant Critic with Simon Spit
The Canary News - Friday 24th September - Thursday 7th October 2010 - Issue 31
Hard Rock Cafe, Playa Del Ingles Spit’s one line thought on Hard Rock Café “Pile Em High Sell Em Cheap” Awarded 1 stars (out of a possible 5) *
Simon´s Guide Greek Taverna ***** (San Agustin) Saffron ***** (Puerto Mogán) Taberna Bulgaria III **** (Yumbo Centre) Restaurante Centrum **** (Yumbo Centre) Grand Italia ** (Meloneras) Ciao Ciao Italian Café * (Playa del Inglés, Anexo II) Hard Rock Cafe * (Paya del Inglés)
Crying, sobbing and sniffling could be heard at the bottom of Spit’s quiet Canarian neighbourhood. It is not unusual for the peaceful sound of silence to be wickedly stolen by Spit’s excited vocals but today was exceptional because something terrible had happened that was to threaten his very livelihood, his mission was put in jeopardy; his mail order boots were too small…
Spit wiped his tears away vigorously as a light bulb miraculously pinged above his head with a stroke of genius! Spit continues….. Hard Rock Café! Yes let’s just throw caution to the wind and sing for supper! That’s where the belly filling madness will happen today! Yay!! Hooray! Nnnyyessss just imagine I shall get a balloon, a flag, a t-shirt and hopefully I might even get fed. I shall slip into something rock starry, a pair of ripped jeans, cowboy boots and a silk flowing blouse with glitter and pearls – oh it is so glamorous, I really do feel like a proper rock star now. I slammed the door closed and excitedly trudged along the pavement, arms swinging with hope and glory, it is wonderful! I do love being me, especially when I’m dressed in glitter and pearls! I leapt for joy at the sight of the big illuminated ‘Hard Rock Guitar’ as I went round the bend, it was so invigorating because I was a rock star in a former life and it brings back all those psychic memories of knickers and bras being thrown at me by fans. I practically sung to the waitress on arrival I was so thrilled, lalalalalalala! but she sort of just gawped at me and her sulky face made my button hole droop! (I wasn’t going to wear one but a rose came off by accident when I was sniffing it en route to the smell of burgers and chips). But the atmosphere was buzzing with potential, nnyesss that number one thing we all expect from a gimmicky burger joint, that sort of feeling of expecting the unexpected but not quite sure what that could be. There were empty seats, wasps and dirty tables (dried tomato ketchup, crumbs and sticky patches of dried up fizzy drink etc etc). There were a couple of bits of rock memorabilia to look at in the window, along with merchandise and dust – it was like an old wine cellar but instead of fine wines they were flogging key rings and rubbery things with bits of stuff stuck on.
Spit cried “My wonderful boots, my gloriously darling wonderful boots, they’re too small for me!!” Mr Spit was clearly very very very upset. He had been waiting weeks for his new boots to arrive after purchasing them off the internet, especially to visit one of Gran Canaria’s finest eateries (with silver service). He was indeed very much looking forward to dining there tonight, but with no new footwear it seems his plans will have to change rapidly…
I lavishly sprayed my lavender scented insect repellent (it was those naughty wasps, wouldn’t leave me alone I say, they kept pricking me) and flapped the insects away! Then just at that very moment my ears pricked up as I could hear loud cries of laughter; crowds of tourists laughing at an old woman totting along in a tight mini skirt, high heels and a WONDER BRA! My goodness that’s my Mavis! And it looks like she’s clutching tightly to her phone bill again. Oh how wonderful…it looks like she decided to accept my invitation for supper after all, time to sing for joy! I’m so happy there is a tear in my left eye, my hanky needs to dab it dry. Mavis slid down the rails as the steps were too risky with heels that high (she slid with one leg over, bum in the air, hair everywhere!). I asked her “Sweetie, I know this is probably your rock chic look but it doesn’t quite work does it?” and she whispered “my husband, he’s thrown away my clothes and replaced them with
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skirts and heels like these. He says its all expensive Italian designer gear but I’m convinced it’s made in China and I’ve got proof right here on this phone bill” her right hand lifted her right bosom and her lips pouted vigorously. The waitress came along with the menus and asked us what we wanted to drink, I ordered a strawberry milkshake and Mavis opted for a glass of (flat) diet coke (Mavis is trying to loose a few pounds so the love handles don’t hang over the waist of her Chinese skirts too much). I’m not one for moaning but my milkshake wasn’t very big, two sips and it was gone! (except the creamy residue remaining around the edge of my lips) not the best thirst quencher in the world. It was a tasty gulp but for around 4 Euros you’d expect more! They should offer free refills!
I reported the quality of food to the manager and she argued with me, huh! Meeeeee! She argued with me? Shocking isn’t it? Anyway I was still soooo hungry because the mains was blaaaarrrrrr so I opted for a chocolate brownie Fudge Glory thing topped with lots of synthetic cream from a can (at around 7 euros this beast of a dessert isn’t cheap). My Mavis spent so long in the loo she didn’t actually get round to ordering a dessert, she says she was feeling blocked and bloated after her mains – I put it down to all the overload of carbs in the food here.
The menu was not especially nutritious, much more of a gimmick than a proper eatery. The star attractions are the burgers, they all come with French fries and a really tiny bit of tomato and lettuce but the best you can expect nutritionally is protein from the beef, but then remember beef is the only meat which can take up to 48 hours to fully digest so it’s gonna be hanging around in your belly for a little while after, yuck! I ordered the most expensive burger on the menu, served in a bun made with beer! (and before you say anything, no it won’t get you drunk). I asked for a house salad to go with it as I do indeed value my nutrition, but instead was served a bowl of lettuce smothered in a ghastly sickening cheese sauce out of a jar and some plastic tasting grated cheese topped with croutons out of a packet, it was totally yuck! At least the burger part was palatable and for around 13 Euros you certainly expect that. My Mavis kept my spirits up by singing along with the music playing in the background - she does a cracking rock chick impression! But she can’t sing as good as me, I don’t think anyone can? Mavis ordered a burger and chips but she left most of hers because she hit a bit of grizzle and she swears it was a bit of cow brain. I tried to explain that burgers are often made with offal that’s why they ‘pile em high and sell em cheap’. They say the burgers served in Hard Rock Café are the best quality but I am yet to be persuaded. You will never believe me when I tell you that this Hard Rock Café isn’t listed on the official Hard Rock Café website! I was shocked when I found out and can only think they’ve been struck off for calling a salad “Lettuce with cheese” or something. I tried emailing the Hard Rock Café head office to find out why and they said they don’t have a branch on Gran Canaria! So that means this Hard Rock Café is a magical one, how exciting!
Anyway my dessert arrived in this enormous glass vase. It was a big one that’s for sure, piled miles high with glossy looking synthetic cream and squeezy chocolate sauce loaded with preservatives, chemical stabilisers, guar gum (I presume) and tons of E numbers. Under all that were 3 scoops of vanilla ice cream and a processed brownie cake at the bottom. I removed the cream as it was separating (maybe the can hadn’t been shaken hard enough) as it didn’t look very good. I actually enjoyed the ice cream, and the warm brownie was a tasty combo but because it wasn’t freshly made it tasted slightly processed which let the whole thing down rather badly I’d say. Some of my very best friends have memorabilia from Hard Rock Cafes around the world and they would not be very impressed with these naughty people. The bill was shockingly big for a “Pile em high sell em cheap” establishment so I felt awfully ripped off but having said that I did get to listen to some marvellous music which Mavis so brilliantly performed along with. Because of the sheer poor food standard I am awarding The Hard Rock Café a generous 1 star and a big fat green spit! Until the next time, bon appétit!
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Cookery 19
Issue 31 - Friday 24th September - Thursday 7th October 2010 - The Canary News
Cordero al Romero Horneado – Roasted Rosemary Lamb
Ingredients:
Method:
4 lamb shoulders, 400gr each 100gr Iberian pork lard 4 fluid ozs olive oil 4 fluid ozs white wine 1 fluid oz lemon juice 2 sprigs rosemary 10gr coarse salt 2 heads garlic
Cut slits in the lamb shoulders. Peel the garlic, segment and then insert into the slits. Rub the lamb shoulders with the pork lard, put them in a clay casserole dish and put into a pre-heated oven at 200 degrees C. After around 5 minutes remove from oven. Wash the sprigs of rosemary and put into a mortar, add the salt and crush with a pestle. Add the olive oil, wine and the lemon juice and pour over the lamb shoulders. Return to oven and cook for approximately 20 minutes. Garnish with golden potatoes and a sprig of rosemary if desired. Serve hot.
Pan Tomaca con Jamon Serrano Iberico – Pan Tomaca with Cured Iberian, Acorn-fed Ham Ingredients:
400g cured Iberian, acorn-fed ham 400g rustic bread loaf 50ml virgin olive oil 200g tomatoes 2 cloves garlic
Method: Carve the ham into paper thin slices. Slice the bread into four thick pieces and toast lightly in a salamander oven. Rub the surface of the toasted bread with garlic then rub and squeeze the tomato on top. Drizzle with olive oil, then finally place sliced ham on the bread. Wonderful for a light snack or breakfast.
Sales Staff wanted to work with The Canary News. We are looking for two further people, one for Las Palmas and one for Playa del Ingles. Must be hard working, professional and dedicated. Full training will be given. We will shortly be looking for reporters and sales staff to work on other islands. So watch this space! Email your c.v. to sales@ thecanarynews. com
20 Fashion
The Canary News - Friday 24th September - Thursday 7th October 2010 - Issue 31
New York Fashion Week dresses of varying lengths with curved lines of yellow, red, and orange. Flowers also bloomed at Donna Karan in muted neutrals, and they peeked through the runways of Tracy Reese and Jenny Packham.
New York Fashion Week kicked off with collections featuring spring-inspired floral prints and bold colours. Carolina Herrera’s spring collection at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week featured garments with strong floral prints and silky layered dresses. Models graced the runway in large-brimmed hats and slick hair pulled back and held in place by handfuls of barrettes. Like Carolina Herrera, feminine prints of butterflies were also seen at the Carlos Miele runway show. Its spring collection highlighted bold colours and bright whites, including mostly form-fitting
The Tracy Reese collection featured vibrant hues of blue and coral in designs that were clean and classic, but had a special summer flair to them. New York Fashion Week has brought its cutting-edge style to New York City since opening its spring collection previews in a new location on the campus of Lincoln Center. An estimated 100,000 buyers, editors, stylists and celebrities will visit the new home of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. White is the new black at NY fashion week. Hilfiger’s collection bore his trademark youthful look, with pleated
mini-skirts, candy-coloured shorts and pipe-lined blazers. Before Hilfiger, Diane von Furstenberg and her new artistic director, Frenchman Yvan Mispelaere, sent DVF’s latest creations down the runway. Mispelaere, coming from Gucci and with experience at Lanvin, Valentino and Louis Feraud, breathed fresh life into the work of von Furstenberg, who is also head of the Council of Fashion Designers of America. At DVF, von Furstenberg’s lines are usually known for prints, but Mispelaere’s inspiration brought a whole new look with puzzle-style patterns and curly arabesques mixing camel, white and black, bronze or jade.
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to a select group of editors, stylists and buyers at a mansion in Manhattan Upper East Side yesterday. Femininity was key as models donned dresses with nipped in high waists and ‘bell’ shaped skirts. VB continued the girl friendly vibe by banishing black and opting for a palette of ultraviolet, mandarin orange, and blush pink. But the less daring need not fear as the new designer also created designs in her iconic creams, nudes and metallic tones. The highlight came from a white sixties-styled prom mini with faint lilac stripes and a ‘bell’ shaped skirt which VB was extremely proud of.
Models stepped out in pant suits of shimmering silk, skirt suits with threequarter-length jackets and short shirtdresses with big shoulder bags in a collection dubbed “Goddess” in reference to Isadora Duncan, the American dancer who died in a car accident in Nice in 1927, strangled by her long silk scarf. Scarves made a big splash at DKNY where designer Donna Karan showed highly refined silk outfits mainly in caramel, Black and white, and big square silks covering the neck or decollete. White and plainness are the big themes on the runways this fashion week, with fashion savants calling on white as the new black as the fall-back colour in any self-respecting wardrobe. Alexander Wang and Thakoon Panichgul were the kings of minimalism with collections playing on femininity and transparence. Victoria Beckham needn’t have looked so worried as she unveiled her new Spring/Summer collection at New York Fashion week. The singer turned WAG turned presenter turned style icon turned fashion designer, showed off an eclectic range of voluptuous short dresses and handkerchief styled minis as well as her staple shift dresses and longer elegant evening gowns. The 24 piece collection which aims to ‘celebrate womanly curves’ was revealed
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Kay Owen would like to thank the readers of The Canary News for the help and support given on behalf of her charity for the children in China (Making A Difference). Your generous donations of books, clothing and bric-a-brac really do make a difference. Kay Owen
But what really got our pulses racing was Vic’s new bag collection- after all Victoria Beckham designing bags just makes sense, it’s like Kelly Brooke endorsing a swimwear range. There was the ‘big black’ travelling bag which Victoria claimed was inspired by ‘David needing a bag big enough to put his football kit in’ And our personal favourite the ‘Victoria’ bag a square two handled tote which comes in fossil, buffalo or waxed crocodile.
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Health and Beauty 21
Issue 31 - Friday 24th September - Thursday 7th October 2010 - The Canary News
Beautiful Eyes – Part 1
to the inner rims; put it above or below the lash line. Flesh coloured eyes shadows, brushed on to your brown bone will open your eyes. When using colours stick to sweeping one shade over the eye rather than several. If you eyes are very round, apply a natural (not black) kohl pencil around the whole eye; if they are very narrow or almondshaped, open with the brown shaped trick and/ or pencil the outer corner.
Eat right to protect your sight. You’ve heard carrots are good for your eyes. But eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, particularly dark leafy greens such as spinach, kale, or collard greens is important for keeping your eyes healthy, too.i Research has also shown there are eye health benefits from eating fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, tuna, and halibut.
or focusing on any one thing, you sometimes forget to blink and your eyes can get fatigued. Try the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look away about 20 feet in front of you for 20 seconds. This can help reduce eyestrain. Your eyes are the most exciting and expressive feature you have, so emphasizing them with make-up is extremely important. Your eye can be divided into three parts, when it comes to makeup: The eyelid The center, or depth area The brow bone One-third from the base of the lashes to the crease line, and two-thirds from the crease line to the eyebrow. You can achieve this proportion with well judged make-up. Choosing the right colours for your eyes is extremely important for outstanding effect. Professional makeup artists follow these basic rules: BLUE EYES - all the metallic(s)- gold, bronze, silver and silver greys, mauve, brown pink and fleshly tones.
Be cool and wear your shades. Sunglasses are a great fashion accessory, but their most important job is to protect your eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. When purchasing sunglasses, look for ones that block out 99 to 100 percent of both UVA and UVB radiation. Give your eyes a rest. If you spend a lot of time at the computer
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One of our estate agent clients had this to say about The Canary News, ‘We just wish our properties would move as fast as your newspapers do from outside our shop. We even found out that other businesses are taking our copies if we are not open when they are left.’ So why should YOU advertise with us, the answer speaks for itself.
BROWN EYES -gold, bronze, khaki pewter, navy blue, mauve pink and fleshy tones. GREEN EYES -gold, bronze ,grey, earthy tones, fleshy tones. Eyes Shape Secrets If you have small eyes never apply liner
Plucking your eyes brows will make the whole eyes area seem larger. Do not go mad as thin eyes brows look awful, but
just clean up the area beneath the arch by plucking out hairs that are not part of the main brow the difference will be startling. Tips for pretty eyes Eye makeup application asks for, practice and patience. Once you have mastered the art, eye makeup will become a matter of minutes and seconds. Eye makeup involves three steps of applying, Mascara Eyeliner/ eye pencil Eye shadow Cont in next edition
22 Health
The Canary News - Friday 24th September - Thursday 7th October 2010 - Issue 31
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Normalise Blood Pressure By Ann Mather, Celebrity Nutrition Advisor , Famouslyfit.com Normalise Blood Without Medication
Pressure
It is incredible to think that up to 1 in 3 adults have high blood pressure and in the west we have more than 90% risk of developing this condition. As a nutritionist, I am always interested in the influence that food and diet has on medical conditions, and in this area there is plenty of research around to confirm that the typical western diet (high grain and low fat) is a key contributor to hypertension.
relation to diet if you also want to control your blood sugar. Here are the important things that you can do in relation to your diet and nutrition and lifestyle that may well prove to be as effective, or possibly more effective, than taking blood pressure medication. And in doing so you are likely to be treating the underlying cause of hypertension rather than taking the easy option of popping a pill!
Research has made a clear link between people who are insulin resistant and people who have high blood pressure. If you have hypertension it is more than likely that you also have poorly controlled blood sugar levels. That being the case, does it not make sense that controlling blood sugars may also help to normalize your blood pressure? Yes, it does. And research confirms that over 85% of those with hypertension can normalize their blood pressure through lifestyle changes, as an alternative to automatically starting to take medication. I am not a doctor, so any decisions about managing your blood pressure should be made under his supervision. If you start to develop hypertension – especially if you are pre-hypertensive - please explore with him/ her alternatives to simply popping pills! Whilst it is the easiest option (for you and for him!) it may not be the best option………. And of course, prevention is always better than cure so if you don’t have high blood pressure, make sure it stays that way by following the advice below. Understanding the Numbers If you have ever had your blood pressure taken, you will know that there are two numbers involved. The upper number is the “systolic” pressure, the lower number the “diastolic” pressure. The systolic pressure occurs when your ventricles contract, the diastolic during the resting phase of your cardiac cycle. Both numbers are important, but if you are over 50 it is the systolic pressure that gives the most accurate diagnosis of high blood pressure. Systolic Diastolic Normal 120 80 Pre-Hypertension 120-139 80-89 Stage 1 Hypertension 140-159 90-99 Stage 2 Hypertension 160 100 There are many things that can affect your blood pressure from morning to evening (including white coat syndrome), so to be accurate you need to check whether your blood pressure remains consistently elevated! The Link to Diet and Nutrition Keeping your blood sugar within a normal range is probably one of the most critical things to achieve in
Manage Stress The link between stress and hypertension, as well as heart disease, is very well researched. This does not mean suppressing negative emotions or ignoring them but learning to deal with them so that you can cope better with normal every day stress. Exercise is a Powerful Drug Regular physical exercise or activity can be a far better drug than many pharmaceutical alternatives and has a direct link to insulin control. Most research indicates that a combination of cardiovascular and weight bearing exercise is the best! Last week Lee Latchford Evans wrote about the benefits of High Intensity Training – undoubtedly one of the best approaches to cardiovascular exercise. Our heart and lungs are there to be used, as are our muscles! Daily Dose of Vitamin D The further you are from the equator, the more likely that you will develop hypertension! And hypertension is more prevalent during winter months than summer months. There is a direct link between Vitamin D and hypertension so make sure you get your daily dose of Vitamin D.
Eliminate Refined Grains and Sugars from Your Diet Eating sugars and refined grains, including bread, pasta, corn, potatoes and rice, will cause your insulin levels to go up! It is not just sweets and chocolates that elevate your blood sugar. If you have ever logged onto www. famouslyfit.com and read my articles over the months, you will have learned about the devastating effect that raised blood sugars and insulin can have on your health. Balance Omega 3 and Omega 6 Both types of fatty acid are essential for our health, but we now tend to get too much Omega 6 in our diet. The best balance is a 2:1 ration (i.e. more Omega 3). Reduce foods that are linked to corn, soya, canola, safflower and sunflower oils. Increase the Omega 3 that you get from oily fish, fish oil supplements or flaxseed. Eliminate Caffeine There is ample evidence that hypertension can be exacerbated by coffee and caffeinated drinks and foods. Caffeine is a DRUG and does have a powerful physiological effect. Get Your Weight Under Control Getting your weight under control is so important, not only to reduce the risk of hypertension, but also to reduce the risk of many other debilitating diseases. Even modest weight loss can reduce your blood pressure in the long term. Start to eat SMART – get the right balance of protein, low glycemic carbohydrates and good dietary fats. Cut out the junk.
Other Minerals There also appears to be a link between Calcium, Magnesium, Vitamins C and E, and lowering blood pressure. So eating more dark green leafy vegetables, broccoli, spinach, peppers, legumes, berries, fish, and nuts will always give you helping hand. If you would like more information you can write to me on at ann.mather@famouslyfit.com This feature has been reviewed and fully endorsed by Dr. J. Lidder, leading Harley Street Physician.
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Issue 31 - Friday 24th September - Thursday 7th October 2010 - The Canary News
23
24 Community
The Canary News - Friday 24th September - Thursday 7th October 2010 - Issue 31
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It Started With A Kiss! Kay Owen, Comfort Corner Some years ago whilst working for a very large company, all employees were sent for routine training to help them cope with change (and resistance to same). We seemed to be in a state of permanent flux re-organisation making much of the work very complex and complicated.
“Reverend, you are never going to believe this,” she began, “but for ages I have been refusing to get a kitten for my daughter even though she has been begging for one. Finally I told her if God gives you a kitten, I’ll let you keep it.” “Preacher, I know you won’t believe this”, she said again “but suddenly right after my child prayed, a kitten came flying out of the clear blue sky with its paws spread-eagled and landed right at her feet.
On the wall in the office I had put up a sign intended to encourage the staff . It just stated the much used (and often misused) business acronym ‘KISS’ --- “KEEP IT SIMPLE SWEETHEART”.
God had sent her a kitten - it dropped straight from heaven – a miracle - I saw it with my own eyes! Her prayer was answered, so of course I kept my promise, as it clearly came from God, I had to let her keep the kitten”.
One of the staff, a popular chap and a known man of faith, (who obviously believed in the power of prayer) had scribbled his own preferred version underneath. It read ‘KISS’ --- “KEEP IT SENT SKY-WARD”! There once was a man of the cloth who came to believe in both interpretations of the KISS principle. It happened like this :-
The preacher studied the tree, concluding that it was not sturdy enough to climb. After searching his mind for a solution, he decided to tie a rope to his car and drive slowly away, causing the tree to bend , thus enabling him to reach up and ‘save’ the animal. He checked the progress of the car frequently and thought that if he went just a little bit further, the tree would bend sufficiently for him to reach the kitten, so he moved forward. Too much. Oh no! The rope snapped. “Boing!” went the branch, and the kitten instantly sailed clean through the air – right out of sight.
One day his little kitten, always adventurous, climbed too high up a tree in the back yard (as they do) - and was afraid to come down. No amount of coaxing, offering warm milk, or loving words of encouragement would make that cat move.
Two simple prayers were answered that day - that of the preacher and that of the little girl, perhaps not in the way either were expecting. God moves in mysterious ways His wonders to perform! (And I have it on good advice that mum has now fallen in love with said kitty -natch!) So friends, be careful what you ask for, aim to be the answer to someone else’s prayer, and watch out for flying kittens! With God all things are possible. And remember – when life gets a little complex – employ the tried and tested principle - KEEP IT SIMPLE SWEETHEART- and KEEP IT SENT SKY-WARD – of course.
The preacher felt terrible. He canvassed the neighbourhood, asking people if they’d seen a little kitten, but nobody had. Saddened, he prayed “Lord, I just commit this kitten to Your keeping.” And went on about his business.
It does seem that the pop group ‘Hot Chocolate’ may have got it right in more ways than one when they recorded the song....
A mother and her daughter were enjoying the warm spring sunshine, relaxing on their lawn when the little girl broached her favourite subject. “Mummy, why can’t I have a kitten?” The young mother loved her daughter, but she knew she could not grant her daughter’s wish. She did not like cats.
Kay Owen September 2010
The very thought of the furry creatures made her shudder. She hugged her daughter and gave her her standard answer, “You know why you can’t have a kitten - we’ve talked about it many times.” The little girl was quiet for a few minutes, then suddenly she burst out, “Mummy, does God answer prayer? “Of course” answered her mother. “ But sometimes He doesn’t give us the answer we want or expect.” “Well, I am going to ask Him for a new kitten anyway” said the little girl. Taken a-back, her mother said, “Well, if God gives you one, I’ll let you keep it.” Her mind went over the list of all her close friends, and she felt pretty safe. No one she knew had a cat /kittens so it was unlikely the little girl’s prayer would be answered ... (no TARA paws ‘n’ claws in that neighbourhood then!) A few days later the preacher ran into the young mother at the supermarket. He happened to glance into her shopping trolley and noticed several tins of cat food. He knew this woman was not a cat lover, so, puzzled, he said, “Why are you buying cat food when you don’t even like cats?”
‘IT STARTED WITH A KISS.’
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Golf 25
Issue 31 - Friday 24th September - Thursday 7th October 2010 - The Canary News
The Ryder Cup Team Mark McGeehan, PGA Golf Professional, Lopesan Meloneras Golf Putting an end to weeks of speculation, U.S. Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin selected Tiger Woods, Stewart Cink, Zach Johnson and Rickie Fowler with his four wildcard picks to round out his 12-man team in Wales. The U.S. is hoping to win on foreign soil for the first time since 1993. Team USA Captain Corey Pavin completed his 12-man Ryder Cup team on Tuesday by selecting Tiger Woods, Stewart Cink, Zach Johnson and Rickie Fowler with his four captain’s picks. “I am very pleased to add these four to Team USA,” Pavin said. “I think our team is very good. I think these four players complement those eight very well. That was the goal of these four players. I’m very proud to have Team USA completely assembled now, and I’m looking forward to the matches in three weeks.” Pavin’s four captain’s picks join the eight automatic qualifiers who were announced following the 92nd PGA Championship last month at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin with reigning Masters champion Phil Mickelson, Hunter Mahan, Bubba Watson, Jim Furyk, Steve Stricker, Dustin Johnson, Jeff Overton and Matt Kuchar. In selecting Woods, Cink and Johnson, Pavin adds proven Ryder Cup experience to his relatively young squad. Woods has competed in five Ryder Cups, Cink four and Johnson one. Fowler, a PGA Tour rookie who has made 16 of 24 cuts, including five top ten finishes, this season, will be making his Ryder Cup debut. He finished 20th in the U.S. Ryder Cup Points Standings. Although there had been some who debated whether Pavin would - or should - pick Woods, the world No. 1 who has not won in a year and who just recently started to show flashes of his former self on the course, Pavin said Tiger’s recent form made his decision much easier. “I asked (Tiger) last night that I would like to have him on the team, and he said absolutely, and said, whatever you would
like me to do, I will do, just tell me what you would like, which is exactly what a captain likes to hear from any player on the team,” Pavin said of his conversation with Woods. “So obviously I was happy that he was very excited about playing, and he wants to be on a winning team, just like the other 12 guys, as well.” Cink’s selection marks the third time he has been a captain’s pick. “I’m starting to probably be close to being a record there,” joked Cink, who owns a 4-7-4 career record in 15 Ryder Cup matches. “I guess all that means is I’m not very good in qualifying in the Top 10, I don’t know. I’ll be excited and pumped up to play and representing the U.S.” Johnson, who qualified for the 2006 team that travelled to the K Club in Ireland, said he was “thrilled and excited to be on the team. Team play, team sports in general, it’s really something that drives me as a competitor and when you incorporate a team element and chemistry into golf, it makes it just that much more special,” said Johnson, who went 1-2-1 in his Ryder Cup debut. “Having your nation’s flag on your sleeve and being led by Captain Pavin and his associates, just, you know, makes it that much more special.” Fowler, known for his trademark orange outfits on the course and long hair, said he is looking forward to the experience and hopes to bring some energy along with him. “I have to thank Corey for giving me the opportunity to go over there,” the 21-year-old Fowler said. “Being a young player, it’s a pretty special opportunity and the last time I played overseas on a team event was for the Walker Cup, so hopefully I can take a little bit of knowledge that I learned there and help the team.” Mickelson will be making his ninth consecutive Ryder Cup appearance, while Furyk makes his seventh consecutive, and Mahan and Stricker their second straight. Watson, who finished second in the 92nd PGA Championship at Whistling Straits in August following a three-hole playoff, Johnson, Kuchar and Overton will be making their debuts in the Ryder Cup.
Team Europe, led by captain Colin Montgomerie, will again be favoured over the Americans when the teams meet in a little more than three weeks. Ryder Cup veterans Lee Westwood, three-time major champion Padraig Harrington, Luke Donald, Ian Poulter and Miguel Angel Jimenez will be joined by reigning PGA Champion Martin Kaymer, reigning U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy, Ross Fisher, Peter Hanson and brothers Francesco Molinari and Edoardo Molinari.
This week Mark and Gavin the Professionals at the Lopesan Golf Academy are running discounted lessons for a two week period only for families who are interested in learning to play golf. It does not matter if you have never played before as a structured programme will be tailored to your needs. If you are interested then please call Meloneras Golf reception on 928145309 to book you lesson.
26 Entertainment
The Canary News - Friday 24th September - Thursday 7th October 2010 - Issue 31
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Gary’s Music Scene If you have not taken time to listen to KISS FM on 102.5 now is the time. KISS plays from ‘new dance to R&B, classics and a touch of soul’.
I loved the Reneda track here, which I remember listening to earlier this year. Missed me then, but hits home right now. Picking the ripest fruit, from a dish that is full of the ripe stuff, is not an easy task, however, Nate White really did make me reach for the volume dial, as did the Kenny Wesley song ‘Serenity’. ‘Dance My Love With You’ by Ebony Evans was another killer song as were Me’Na’s lovely ‘Deja View’ and the Neo-Jazz Project, Mamayo, Papik and, the wonderfully named, Marshall Badger’s lovely ‘He Did It All For You’.
So here we go KISS FM’s first album review and it’s a great storm of an album from Phil Driver. His album is released on the excellent Soul Unsigned record label (KISS runs the ad for this album), which seems to be a label which has found its feet very quickly in the european Soul Market), a label run by Phil Driver, who I have to thank for sending his material this way. The material is of the highest quality, therefore the final tapestry is hugely pleasing. The tracks that really hit the spot here are several numbers such as, ‘Without You’, ‘Spend Your Life’, and, the wonderful, ‘All Over Again’ (a cracker). A fine album, which will please many folk out there. Recommended unreservedly. Phil’s label showcased the third in his series of releases, featuring the best material recorded and released by the next generation of Soul singers. Phil is invaluable to myself, as, the amount of music sent here at KISS studio can at times leave the listener a little ‘beat weary’.
TARA
I can imagine the Jones Girls giving this song the full on Philadelphia International treatment. A very nice set of songs (as always), from a great label, represented by Phil Driver (who is a very nice bloke Soul Songbook Vol. 3.
Phil and his team gave me the nudge I need from time to time, to return to albums which I have skipped over, without paying due attention to.
The TARA Animal Respect Association in Gran Canaria does sterling work for the welfare of animals on the island. Cats and dogs regularly receive medical and welfare care, re-homing and adoption takes place almost daily.
Volunteer work for TARA is great fun and very rewarding. In addition to raising funds for needy animals, we belong to a fraternity of people who enjoy what we do for TARA but also are able to develop a social network of people.
This is vital work especially in a time of economic crisis when people find it difficult to care for themselves, let alone their pets. Financial contributions and the selfless work of volunteers enables this work to continue unabated.
As volunteers we come from a huge variety of nations, speaking many languages and coming from different cultures.
There is no greater joy than to see an abandoned animal being given new hope and the chance of a new and better life. We need new and committed volunteers to work in our two Charity Shops in Arguineguin. The revenue from these two shops is an important source of income for TARA which pays for medical bills and the general welfare of all animals that come to us. Volunteers are essential, and we need more to come forward. We also need people who are prepared to foster dogs and cats until a permanent home can be found for them. Volunteer work in one of our shops, which are open six days a week from 10am until 4pm, need only require a minimum commitment of whatever number of hours one is able to offer. Please come forward.
Working for TARA is a means to make contact with many other and very interesting people, making friends and above all helping animals who cannot help themselves. Please think about this wonderful opportunity of being a part of this charity and reaching out to both animals and people on this beautiful island. Together we can make Gran Canaria a Paradise for animals too. Father Keith Jeffries For further details contact: Tel: 607671617, or email: info@taraanimales.org
On this album there are 16 ‘ear picked’ songs from ‘Soul Unsigned’, which are always of the highest standard; it’s why I regularly listen to releases.
You can also listen to Phil on KISS 102.5 on Mondays at 24.00. so next time we will give you a taste of 4 new tracks that’s coming your way which we think will be top. So till next time KISS, KISS.
Sport 27
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Ricky Hatton ‘Disgusted’ With Himself Over Drug Claims Former world boxing champion Ricky Hatton has spoken of his “disgust” at his binge drinking and drug taking but insists he does not have a problem. The 31-year-old, who will be investigated by police over allegations of cocaine use, was admitted into a rehabilitation clinic on Monday.
Issue 31 - Friday 24th September - Thursday 7th October 2010 - The Canary News
“I’m currently in the Priory dealing with depression due to the fact that I have not been able to cope with my retirement from boxing. “I have been binge drinking heavily and dabbling in other daft and silly things but it is going to be the toughest fight of my life and I’m here to win it.”
Blind Football
In a video clip on the News of the World website Hatton also admits to suffering blackouts, panic attacks and depression following his second-round knockout by Filipino fighter Manny Pacquiao in May 2009, Hatton’s last fight. “I’m Ricky Hatton and I’m here to tell the truth,” he says.
Passes cover a shorter distance and, as England defender Keryn Seal explains during the training session, players try not to let the ball stray more than a few inches from their feet, making nimble footwork and a command of the ball vital.
Mesmeric footwork, accurate passing and the ever-present rattling of the ball gives the game a hypnotic quality that makes it easy to forget that the players can’t see what they’re kicking.
“I’m disgusted at myself. I’ve had a wonderful career and am furious that I have tarnished it.”
“I have dabbled with the drug on a few sparing occasions. The only time I have ever done it is when I have been so depressed or drunk that it’s a case of, ‘Go on then’.”
Unsurprisingly, the style of play is different too.
Communication is very important among the players too,” he says.
“I’m so angry I could knock myself out,” he told the News of the World.
Hatton, however, is adamant that he does not have a problem, and added: “I’m not the slightest bit worried about the cocaine. Problem? What problem?
motion makes a gentle rattling noise that helps players to locate it.
This is an England football team that would never be booed, with silence a necessary part of the game. Watching the national blind team train days before the World Cup kicks off in Hereford, there is a hushed quiet. Whereas mainstream football around the world is played amidst a colourful sonic backdrop - be it chanting, samba bands or a chorus of vuvuzelas - the silence in the blind version of the game is striking. Etiquette dictates that spectators remain quiet unless the ball goes out of play because players need to be able to hear each other and, crucially, the ball. It contains ball bearings which means its
There are occasional reminders - perhaps a misplaced pass allows the ball to roll away, or the action stops - and the spectator’s gaze lifts from the players’ feet to the unfamiliar sight of footballers wearing eye patches A keen footballer before losing his sight, Keryn adapted his playing style for blind football.
Greg Searle Named In Great Britain Squad For Worlds Searle, 38, who won gold at the 1992 Olympics, rejoined the GB squad this season after 10 years of retirement.
Andy Hodge and Peter Reed stay in their pair, despite calls for them to move to the four after a tough season. And Scottish veteran Katherine Grainger, 34, will focus on the double scull with partner Anna Watkins.
Grainger has earned silver in the last three Olympic Games and chose to continue to 2012 in the hope of gold. She and new partner Watkins won World Cup titles in both the double and quadruple sculls this season. But the schedule for the event on Lake Karipiro, near Hamilton, would have seen them have to race a quad final and doubles semi-final within three hours. “It would have been fascinating to try for both events but we want to focus on the double scull in New Zealand to give ourselves the strongest possible chance of success,” said Grainger. Debbie Flood and Frances Houghton - who each took a year off after the disappointment of winning Olympic silver in the quad with Grainger in Beijing - are in serious contention for a return to the boat, although five athletes have been named.
28 Sport
The Canary News - Friday 24th September - Thursday 7th October 2010 - Issue 31
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Surf Instructor, Got What it Takes? By Danny Alcock Do You Have What It Takes To Be A Surf Instructor?
It seems like a glamorous job, right? “Surf Instructor” just sounds exotic and a lot of fun. Having a trainee instructor over from the UK completing her practice hours with us at Surf Canaries Surf School, it gives The Canary News readers an insight into what it takes to become a surf instructor. So in this article, we are focusing on Frankie’s story, what she has had to do to get here and what the BSA require for her to be signed off as a fully fledged British Surfing Association surf coach… Frankie Pioli is 18 years old from near Birmingham (not much surf there, right?! That we can explain later…) and is recently qualified by the BSA in her theoretical “Surf Coach Level I”. What motivates Frankie is surfing. She just loves to surf and the job as surf instructor really appealed to her. On top of that, she is just beginning a gap year between school and University so it is the ideal qualification to pick up if she wants to be in or around the water over the next few months. …So you may pick me up on the point of being a surfer from Birmingham! Living far from the coast is not ideal for a surfer. These surfers have to suffer for their art and drive miles to get a surf, often happy with any old waves that come their way! Frankie is definitely one of the latter and her upbringing far from the sea has made her an extremely passionate surfer and one that is keen to make up for lost time land-bound.
A good surfer with a natural style, Frankie completed her British Surfing Association (BSA) qualification in South Wales and went on to do her British Lifesaving Qualification (a week of gruelling tests in and out of the water to see if the student is physically and
mentally apt to carry out beach rescue in any situation) in Devon. Following these two essential parts of the course, the perspective BSA coaches must carry out their practice time at a registered BSA surf school and it is from
here that we pick up the story at Surf Canaries Surf School on Gran Canaria, where Frankie applied to do her practice. The check list for the hopeful instructor is long and detailed and holds very firm to the notion of safety and teaching technique. The instructor must be assessed on every aspect on giving classes, right from preclass preparations before the students arrive at the school, through to the beach conditions’ assessment and vital safety briefings. What Does a Surf Instructor Need To Be? In shape: There is no way you are getting through the British lifesaver’s course if physically you don’t make the cut in the water. You must be capable of withstanding the physical pace of life as a surf instructor; it is fast and furious as you are in the water all day every day… on moving boards… or on the roof of the van… not to mention surfing before and after work! Reasonable surfing ability: There is a surfing standard assessment to get through the surf coaches course. Safety minded: More than 85% of the course is structured around the safety of the student. Cool head under pressure: In a rescue situation, a lifeguard must be calm and collected to carry out a well prepared rescue. A people’s person: At the end of the day, there is a lot of interaction with the client and it is very important that the instructor is personable and fun! Passionate about surfing: Spending hours in the water pushing people into waves and tirelessly and patiently improving student’s technique, the instructor must be truly passionate about surfing. The passion of the sport is transmitted through the instructor and if that spark is not there, it’s just not going to work. What makes a good instructor? The trick of being an excellent instructor is blending an easy and fun style with a well tried and tested technique for ease of learning. Importantly, the instructor should be at the same time keeping everything “super safe”. An experienced and able instructor can do this without the student even noticing this aspect of the class, leaving them just to enjoy the experience and learn to their maximum capacity having maximum fun, and all in maximum safety. Frankie has been an excellent practice student and a very popular instructor at Surf Canaries Surf School. She has finished her practice hours and is now a fully qualified BSA surf coach, ready to head off surfing around the world as one of these elite surf instructors! By Danny Alcock
www.thecanarynews.com
Issue 31 - Friday 24th September - Thursday 7th October 2010 - The Canary News
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING
29
To place a classified advert, simply fill in the coupon on page 31 and drop off at Property Abroad, Aladdins Cave, Cafe Florin, British Bruno’s Supermarket. See ads for locations. Email: sales@thecanarynews.com or Tel: 928 774 818
PROPERTIES FOR SALE Private
FOR SALE 4 bedroom triplex, corner house, 2 bathrooms with windows, large private roof terrace, large seperate kitchen/diner, all renovated, very central and quiet. Community fees 20€ 199,000€ Tel: 649 708 766
PROPERTIES FOR SALE AGENTS Puerto Rico Center Jamaica Bungalow, 3 bed(s). Well kept complex 158.000 Euros - 20984-LM ***CARDENAS REAL ESTATE, SINCE 1980*** Call now 928 150 650 or visit www.cardenas-grancanaria.com Arguineguín, Altos de Arguineguín
Duplex, 2 bed(s) Enjoy the peace in a warm and very well kept environment 205.000 Euros - 21162-DG ***CARDENAS REAL ESTATE, SINCE 1980*** Call now 928 150 650 or visit www.cardenas-grancanaria.com Puerto Rico Center Luquillo. Apartment, 2 bed(s). Very close to the beach 145.000 Euros - 21184-LM ***CARDENAS REAL ESTATE, SINCE 1980*** Call now 928 150 650 or visit www.cardenas-grancanaria.com Arguineguín, Patalavaca Oriente. Duplex, 2 bed(s). Beautiful view to the harbour. 179.000 Euros - 21225-LM ***CARDENAS REAL ESTATE, SINCE 1980*** Call now 928 150 650 or visit www.cardenas-grancanaria.com Maspalomas, Sonnenland Duplex, 1 bed(s) Completely refurbished 131.000 Euros - 21233-LM ***CARDENAS REAL ESTATE, SINCE 1980*** Call now 928 150 650 or visit www.cardenas-grancanaria.com Arguineguín, Loma Dos Villa, 6 bed(s). Fantastic views from the huge terrace 695.000 Euros - 21445-LL ***CARDENAS REAL ESTATE, SINCE 1980*** Call now 928 150 650 or visit www.cardenas-grancanaria.com Maspalomas, El Tablero Apartment, 2 bed(s). Nice Building. 169.000 Euros - 21556-SW ***CARDENAS REAL ESTATE, SINCE 1980*** Call now 928 150 650 or visit www.cardenas-grancanaria.com Playa del Inglés Apartment, 1 bed(s) 85.000 Euros - 21767-OM ***CARDENAS REAL ESTATE, SINCE 1980*** Call now 928 150 650 or visit www.cardenas-grancanaria.com Puerto Rico, Center Apartment, 1 bed(s) 99.000 Euros - 21795-CG ***CARDENAS REAL ESTATE, SINCE 1980*** Call now 928 150 650 or visit
BRITISH MEDICAL CLINIC Bungalows Martinica 19 , Puerto Rico (0034) 928 56 00 16 DR PAUL BERESFORD-‐JONES Clinic Hours: Mon -‐ Fri 9-‐1.30, Tues and Thurs 4-‐5.30 Phone lines open: Mon -‐ Fri 8.30-‐5.30
The ONLY British Doctor on the Island
www.cardenas-grancanaria.com Puerto Rico, West Hill Apartment, 1 bed(s) 75.000 Euros - 21803-OM ***CARDENAS REAL ESTATE, SINCE 1980*** Call now 928 150 650 or visit www.cardenas-grancanaria.com —-----------------------------------PLAYA DEL INGLÉS, LARGE BUNGALOW WITH PROPER GARAGE. Plot: 250 m². Livingarea: 110 m². Consisting of: living, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, seperate built-in kitchen, study, terraces and garden. Completely furnished and in perfect condition. Price: 450.000 euro. Europa Real Estate 928 765 813 info@europa-immobilien.com PLAYA DEL INGLÉS, 2º BEACHLINE AVENIDA MADRID. Excellent one-bedroom apartment with a large sunny balcony, livingroom and fullfitted american kitchen and bathroom. This apartment is recently completely refurbished, tastfully furnished and equipped with all extras. The very well maintained and beloved complex has a large swimmingpool. PRICE: 139.000.- € Europa Real Estate 928 765 813 info@europa-immobilien.com PUERTO RICO Bungalow with panoramic seaview over the beach and harbor of Puerto Rico. 100 m² Living-area, 3 bedrooms and 2 large sunny terraces. Parking-lot and Pool. Price: 330.000 Euros Europa Real Estate 928 765 813 info@europa-immobilien.com PLAYA DEL CURA, EXCLUSIVE APARTMENT WITH PANORAMIC SEAVIEW This apartment has 72 m² livingarea and a large very private terrace of 36 m² with whole-day-sun. Bedroom and bath are ensuite. Situation and the use of only the most luxurious materials make this real estate to an unique exquisity. Price: 290.000 Euros Europa Real Estate 928 765 813 info@europa-immobilien.com PLAYA DEL INGLÉS, OUTSTANDING BUNGALOW WITH GARAGE AT THE BEACH PROMENADE This unique dreamhouse with aprox. 100 m² living area and large private garden consists
of living-diningroom, kitchen, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, large terrace and solarium with spectacular view to the dunes of Maspalomas ans ocean. The bungalow is equipped with all luxury. Heated cummunity swimmingpool. Price: 588.000,- Euros. Europa Real Estate 928 765 813 info@europa-immobilien.com SAN AGUSTÍN, DREAM BUNGALOW with beautiful view over the ocean. 64 m² Living-area, 2 bedrooms, full-fitted kitchen, bathroom and 32 m²-large sunny terrace. Parking-lot and Pool. Monthly communityfee only: 78,- Euro. PRICE: 290.000,-- € Europa Real Estate: 928 765 813 info@europa-immobilien.com
Properties Abroad Estate Agents
PUERTO RICO INSURANCE, MORTGAGE & FINANCIAL ADVICE Tel: (0034) 928 562 467 Fax: (0034) 928 562 454 Email: info@propertiesgrancanaria.com Web: www.propertiesgrancanaria.com
PLAYA DEL INGLÉS, TOPFLOOR. Bright, furnished two-bedroom apartment with balcony. Central. Quiet. Near Yumbo. Only three minutes walk to the beach. Heated pool ! Price: 114.000,- Euros. Europa Real Estate: 928 765 813 info@europa-immobilien.com SAN FERNANDO, LARGE APARTMENT With three bedrooms and two bathrooms, seperate kitchen and a balcony with seaview. Parkingspace in garage included. Price: 144.000.- Euros. Europa Real Estate: 928 765 813 info@europa-immobilien.com PLAYA DEL INGLÉS, BEAUTIFUL COMPLETELY RENOVATED APARTMENT. It consists of one bedroom, livingroom, full equipped kitchen, bathroom and terrace. Tastfully furnished. Complex with large pools and parkinglots.
Price: 96.000,- Euros. Europa Real Estate: 928 765 813 info@europa-immobilien.com PLAYA DEL INGLÉS, QUIET CORNER-APARTMENT WITH PRIVATE PARKING Very centrical located spacious two-bedroom apartment consisting of: livingroom with amarikan kitchen, bathroom and large balcony.The complex offers 2 large swimmingpools, 2 tennis courts and private parkinglots ! Low community fees. Price: 168.000,- Euros. Europa Real Estate: 928 765 813 info@europa-immobilien.com ------------------------------------Taurito Apartment for sale in Playa de Taurito. The apartment has one bedroom, a kitchenette and a balcony. Located close to the beach and the resort centre, with its shops, bars and restaurants. The complex offers a swimming pool and a sun terrace. Sea views . The apartment has been renovated and includes new mattresses, new sofa, new curtains and a new fridge. Ref. TR537. Price: €69,000. Tel. 928906890. DREAM HOMES www. dreamhomesgrancanaria.com Playa del Inglés Beautifully refurbished one bedroom apartment for sale in Playa del Inglés. The apartment is close to the CC Kasbah and only a few minutes walk from the beach. The complex has a communal swimming pool and Pool bar. Ref: PI657. Price:€80,000. Tel: 928141202. DREAM HOMES www. dreamhomesgrancanaria.com El Tablero Recently built apartment for sale in El Tablero. Seperate kitchen equipped with fridgefreezer, dish-washer, microwave and ceramic hob. There is also a seperate utility room with dryer and washing machine. Fully fitted wardrobes and parking space included. Ref. TB645. Price: €169,000. Tel: 928141202. DREAM HOMES www. dreamhomesgrancanaria.com San Fernando Excellent well-positioned property in the heart of San Fernando. Very near schools and leisure facilities. The three bedroomed house has been completely refurbished and includes jacuzzi and natural granite flooring throughout. Kitchen has an induction hob
and there is air conditioning and heating installed. Ref. SF257. Price: €242,000. Tel. 928141202. DREAM HOMES www. dreamhomesgrancanaria.com Puerto Rico The property boasts 2 excellent sized bedrooms. It has a good sized bathroom with walk in shower of glass blocks. There is a large utility room off the kitchen which has the potential for a third bedroom or study. The complex itself boasts a heated communal pool and beautiful well kept garden areas. Ref. CPR01P. Price: €200,000. Tel. 928906890. DREAM HOMES www. dreamhomesgrancanaria.com --------------------------------------BAHIA FELÍZ Near beach, luxury penthouse
with amazing terrace (view!) and balcony, 122 m2 living space + 73 m2 terrace, 2 bedrooms, 2 bath, high quality equipment, complex with heated pool and priv. parking, 24-hours security service. 354.000 Euro (Ref. 2.505C). INMOBILIARIA KSR, info@ksrgrancanaria.com, Tel. 928 766 684 PLAYA DEL INGLÉS Quiet, residential complex, cosy Maisonette-Bungalow, 95 m2 living space, 3 bed rooms, 2 bath, spacious terrace partly covered, roof terrace, large storage room, fully equipped, off-road parking. 275.000 Euro (Ref. 4.008O). INMOBILIARIA KSR, C/. Escorial, Edif. Danubio, Tel. 928 766 684 SAN AGUSTÍN Front line to the Atlantic: topquality apartment (52 m2) with bright rooms tastefully, modern designed, fully equipped, lot of storage space, complex with heated pool and direct access to the promenade, low maintenance costs. 168.000 Euro (Ref. 1.507D) INMOBILIARIA KSR, info@ksrgrancanaria.com, Tel. 928 766 684 MONTAÑA DE LA DATA Exceptional Villa with lots of possibilities on 1.300 m2 fenced ground, peaceful and quiet place with amazing views towards Maspalomas and the Atlantic, 384 m2 living space
Contact us to share your news and celebrate your anniversaries. See page 31 for more information
30
The Canary News - Friday 24th September - Thursday 7th October 2010 - Issue 31
(plus enormous terraces), include 2 separate apartments, each with 2 bedrooms, wonderful garden, pool, BBQ house, 1.100.000 Euro (Ref. 6.300C). INMOBILIARIA KSR, Tel. 928 766 684, www.ksrgrancanaria.com PLAYA DEL INGLÉS Quiet, high standard detached bungalow on one level, 224 m2 ground, 3 bed rooms, 2 bath, terraces, roof terrace (view!), lot of storage space, comunal pool, off-road parking, TV & air condition in all rooms, 418.000 € (Ref. 5.001). INMOBILIARIA KSR, C/. Escorial, Edif. Danubio, Tel. 928 766 684 MASPALOMAS Near the Golf Course and short distance to the light house, quiet terraced 1 bedroom bungalow in very well kept complex with heated pool and tennis, ample parking space, nicely furnished with all comfort. 135.000 Euro (Ref. 3.509K2). INMOBILIARIA KSR, C/. Escorial, Edif. Danubio, Tel. 928 766 684, info@ksrgrancanaria.com SONNENLAND Charming Duplex-bungalow in private complex with beautiful pool area in tropical gardens, 1 bedroom, 1 bath, separate WC, front and rear terrace, small fenced garden, the property comes fully equipped (washing machine etc.). 125.000 Euro (Ref. 3.810B). INMOBILIARIA KSR, info@ksrgrancanaria.com, Tel. 928 766 684 SAN AGUSTIN Terrace house with wonderful sea view, 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, living and dining room, open kitchen, 70 m2 sunny terrace, completely furnished, carport, INCLUDE in the price a Suzuki Vitara Cabrio. 298.000 Euro (Ref. 4.804P). INMOBILIARIA KSR, C/. Escorial, Edif. Danubio, Tel. 928 766 684 PLAYA DEL INGLÉS Beautiful 1 bedroom Apartment, very private balcony with sea view, luxuriously fitted, quiet location and well-kept complex with pools, private parking, 24hour security etc. 93.600 Euro (Ref. 1.004U). INMOBILIARIA KSR, www.ksrgrancanaria.com, Tel. 928 766 684 PLAYA DEL INGLÉS Unique position over looking dunes and Atlantic, cornerbungalow with 2 bedrooms, (facility for converting in 3), 2 bath, 60 m2 covered terraces, roof terrace, tastefully equipped with an eye for the detail, 645.000 Euro (Ref. 4.028). INMOBILIARIA KSR,
www.ksrgrancanaria.com, Tel. 928 766 684 SONNENLAND Spacious family house, built 2006, aprox. 130 m2 living space + 115 m2 basement and garage with own entrance; terraces, balcony, BBQ, whirlpool; high quality material and newest technology. 594.000 Euro. Method of payment negociable. (Ref. 8.009C). INMOBILIARIA KSR, Tel. 928 766 684, www.ksrgrancanaria.com --------------------------------------ROCA REAL ESTATE 928 561667 www.inmobiliaria-roca.com REFURBISHED STUDIO, PUERTO RICO, central location, complex with large pool, pool bar, restaurant, minimarket, parking, sea views. Ref: 10073A. Sale price 70.000.-€ 1 BEDROOM APARTMENT IN PLAYA DEL CURA, excellent complex, fantastic sea views. Sale price: 96.000.-€ 2 BEDROOM DUPLEX HOUSE NEAR PUERTO RICO BEACH, Two bedroom house a quiet residential complex. Private garden, no comunidad, quiet street two minutes from the beach. Ref: 10014. Sale price 210.000.-€ 2 BEDROOM DUPLEX, PUERTO RICO, VERY CENTRAL RESIDENTIAL COMPLEX. With sea views. Refurbished and beautifully furnished. Ref: 10129. Sale price: 153.000.-€ EMPTY SHOP UNITS / LOCALES, CLOSE TO AMADORES BEACH, for sale, please enquire for prices and location. ROCA REAL ESTATE 928 561667 www.inmobiliaria-roca.com
PROPERTIES FOR RENT Agent
Puerto Rico Cosy apartment in a quiet complex with a very nice atmosphere. Parking outside the door and outstanding sea views. Pool, children’s pool, poolbar and sun terrace. The apartment is fully furnished and ready to
move in! Includes water and electricity! Ref:CPR07R.Price:€480 /month. Tel: 928906890. DREAM HOMES www. dreamhomesgrancanaria.com Las Palmas This apartment is situated in the heart of town, only 100m from the Corte Ingles department stores and also only about 100m from Las Canteras beach. The apartment is available immediately. There are three bedrooms, 2 bathrooms (both with showers) and the kitchen is equipped with a washing machine. Ref:LP714.Price:€650/month. Tel: 928141202. DREAM HOMES www. dreamhomesgrancanaria.com San Fernando Beautiful new house in San Fernando with three bedrooms. Close to all amenities. Nicely and tastefully furnished. Garage for up to two cars. Direct access from the garage to the house. Third floor is now used as an office but can be turned into another bedroom. Ref. SF688. Price: €1.000/month Tel. 928141202. DREAM HOMES www. dreamhomesgrancanaria.com Salobre Golf Beautiful luxury home for longterm rental. Outstanding views over the Salobre Golf course. Two double bedrooms, two bathrooms, private swimming pool and private garden. Private parking also included. Excellent rental opportunity. Ref. : SG710. Price: €1.300/ month Tel. 928141202. DREAM HOMES www. dreamhomesgrancanaria.com Pasito Blanco Very exclusive three bedroom bungalow for rent in the marina area of Pasito Blanco, next to the Meloneras golf course. Totally refurbished. 24 hour gated security and private beach area. Fully furnished and air conditioned. Available only from September till August. Ref. PB154. Price: €1.500/month Tel. 928141202. DREAM HOMES www. dreamhomesgrancanaria.com --------------------------------------ROCA REAL ESTATE 928 561667 www.inmobiliaria-roca.com STUDIOS, ONE & TWO BEDROOMS APARTMENTS AND BUNGALOWS, in Puerto Rico, & Playa del Cura, long term lets. Prices from 440.-€ / month. ONE BEDROOM APARTMENT, LA LAJILLA, ARGUINEGUIN, very central, great sea views, available for
long term rental, 600.-€/month plus bills. ROCA REAL ESTATE 928 561667 www.inmobiliaria-roca.com
Going out
Cafe Florin Calle Alfreces Prov. 29 (opposite Hard Rock cafe)
Complete Coverage Canary Islands and Around the World Inexpensive, Quality Coverage By A World Class Broker That Pays! Call 607 671 617 for Cars, Boats, Businesses, Homes, Health Boat and Yacht Sales/ Service - Marine Surveys International Marketplace. All Logistics Included. We Find Your Dream Boat & Bring It To Where You Want It! Get Twice The Boat For Half The Price Call 607 671 617
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FOR SALE
Charities
jEEP CHRYSLEr 2.5 Rangliar 45,000klm, impecable, GC Reg DVB 4,500€, negociable, ITV 2 years. Davies 39 Canada,Tauro,Anfi Golf SPORTFISHING BUSINESS Gran Canaria. Includes Everything But The Fish Established, Successful, Great Berth Location. A Very Special Offer For Only - 99.000€ Call 607 671 617 OCEAN EXCURSION BUSINESS Gran Canaria Everything Included, Boat, Client Contracts, etc. 10 years of Proven Success, Fully Documented, Put 2-3000€ In Your Pocket Every Month. A Lifetime Opportunity 149.000€ Call 607 671 617 Sportfishing Business Top Boat/Top Equipment In-place Contracts/Website/ Publicity - A Proven Track Record, South Coast of Gran Canaria, No Debt, Just Profits Exceptional Opportunity for Only 159.000€. Call 607 671 617 Liberty Insurance!
Free tandem bike rides for blind people or people with any other physical disability who are unable to ride a bike by themselves. Also free excursions into the mountains in my car for people in wheelchairs together with a companion. Minibus trips can also be arranged at an agreed reasonable cost. For more information call Franz at 699 124 985. WANTED. Second hand books, in good condition, to be sold in support of Registered Childrens’ Charities 1) RUBBISH DUMP CHILDREN in Cambodia 2) ORPHANS/ SCHOOL projects in China. Please drop books off at Original Designs, Ancorra C. Arguineguin. donations gratefully received. Contact kay.r.owen@gmail. com Together we can make a difference Drinking Problem? International, English speaking AA meetings every Friday at the church in the Kasbah (door on the left hand side) Playa del Inglés, 8.30pm. Monday 12pm in San Fernando, behind Market Maspalomas and Tuesday 7pm at the Catholic Church (enter by the
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stairway on the right hind side), Behind the taxi rank next to the police station. Do you believe that you have a problem with alcohol? Perhaps you are looking or some help? Alcohol Anonymous meet in Telde on Mondays and Thursdays from 20.00 until 21.30. Call 928 202 638 TARA Animal Charity Shops Big & Beautiful - In Arquinequin 63 & 67 c/Tanausu across from Pino Seco Park. Monday thru Saturday 10am till at least 4pm All Kinds of Second Hand Items ON OFFER! 607 671 617 or www.taraanimales.org TARA Animal Car Boot Sale Every Saturday 0800 – 1400 Across from TARA Animal Charity Stores. Pino Seco Park, Arguineguin – Great Buys & Ambience. Call - 607 671 617 or www.tara-animales.org TARA Animal Welfare Charity Adopt or Foster Dog/Pups, Cats/ Kittens. Human Companions Needed for Life. Call – 607 617 671 or www.tara-animales.org TARA Animal Welfare Charity Needs Donations To Save Animals. Pick-up Service Available For Big Loads Call – 607 617 671 or www.taraanimales.org Tara Animal Respect Association TARA Telephone: +34 607 671 167. WEBSITE: www.TaraAnimales.org FACEBOOK: Tara Animal Respect TARA BLOG: http://Taraanimales.blogspot.com/ Arguineguin Cultural Society meets every Thursday at Tío Pepe bar from 20.00 at the C.C. Ancora in Arguineguín. As mentioned previously in TCN, the group were looking for a place to build up our string puppet stage and to train people in the making and operating of string puppets. The group has now found a suitable place in Arguineguín and if anyone is interested in joining them please call Peter on 639 229 414 and go to the meetings on Thursdays. Join the library in Maspalomas with your NIE number and passport and picture or residencia. No charge. English books and other European languages too. Also free internet access.!! The library hours are 8.00 am till 2.30 pm and 3.30 pm to 10 pm Monday to Friday. Biblioteca Municipal
www.thecanarynews.com Maspalomas, Casa del Cultura Maspalomas, Avda De Tejeda 72 Phone 928 720 035 Amigos contra el Sida is a charity that provides support for people with HIV and Aids and has information about sexually transmitted diseases Amigos contra el Sida - Friends against Aids Av. Alejandro del Castillo, Mercado Municipal, 2º floor San Fernando Maspalomas Contact: 695578004. Timetable: Tuesday and Thursday - 9:00 to 15:00 hour. Amigos contra el Sida Calle El Escorial nº 7, Vecindario Teléfono: 928 149 570 Timetable: Monday to Friday - 9:00 to 14:00 hour. Website: www.amigoscontraelsida.org Support Maria Templeman’s Dog Rescue.
Issue 31 - Friday 24th September - Thursday 7th October 2010 - The Canary News You can find Maria’s stall in Arguineguin market on Tuesdays and Mogan market on Fridays. You can also find Maria in Maspalomas market next to the big, main flood light on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Money raised from Maria’s stall goes to funding dog rescue in Gran Canaria, including vet and kennel fees and re-homing dogs.
THE CANARIAN PRO BREASTFEEDING runs a Support Group every Wednesday from 6pm until 8pm at the C.C. Botanico, Local 135, San Fernando. Anyone needing help and support concerning breastfeeding can also call 637 564 296 (leave a message if there is no answer with name and telephone number)
31
BUY, DONATE, SWAP BOOK LIBRARY All proceeds go to The Red Cross. Cristina´s Money Exchange, Local 261, Phase 1, CC Puerto Rico MON TO FRI 10am to 8pm SAT 10am to 1.30pm For appointments please tel 928 561 771
BOOKS -BOOKS -BOOKS... ( English, Spanish and German.) Many new titles. Support Children in Need. Find us - The MAD (Making A Difference) Team at Faro 2 Market . First Sunday in every month from September 5th 2010. Book donations please contact:k.r.owen@gmail.com (can collect).
MOTHER AND TODDLER GROUP EVERY WEDNESDAY FROM 4PM ONWARDS Different activities every week in the local Puerto Rico area Meet othermums with children of all ages. Call Jo Pike on 639 153 547 You can even leave a message on their
‘face book’ wall!
Classifieds Special Offer
We Buy and Sell
6 Editions for the price of 4
Second Hand and New. Call Mandy: 637 163 434
(Adverts must run concurrently)
Ancora Centre No. 82 Arguineguin.
Hand into any of our drop off points ADDICTIONS ALCOHOL & DRUGS Let us help you overcome your problem in a painless way. Contact us for a confidential consultation It can make a real difference On your road to recovery Tel: 928 934 097 Mobile: 619 391 040 Email: addictedgc@gmail.com
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Miscellaneous
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The Canary News - Friday 24th September - Thursday 7th October 2010 - Issue 31
Telephone: 928 141 202
,OOKING TO BUY PROPERTY IN 'RAN #ANARIA
Mobile: 676 406 679
Dream Homes , C.C. Yumbo Local 411/10 , 35100 Playa del InglĂŠs and Avda. Tomas Roca Bosch NÂş 28, Puerto Rico G.C. info@dreamhomesgrancanaria.com www.dreamhomesgrancanaria.com
For Rent
Sonnenland
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Price: 450â‚Ź/month Bedrooms: 1 Bathrooms: 1 Excellent apartment with lovely views over Maspalomas, the sand dunes and the sea. Lovely communal pool area with childrens park. The apartment is fully furnished including washing machine and is available for long term rental only.
Price: 850â‚Ź/month Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 1 Brand new fully furnished apartment with sea views. This apartments boasts twin room and an excellent sized main bedroom with triple wardrobe, bathroom with shower, washing machine and fully equipped kitchen. The communal pool is quiet and the complex of only 9 apartments is immaculate. Underground parking included.
Price: 400â‚Ź/month Bedrooms: 1 Bathrooms: 1 Outstanding sea views over Amadores Beach with Tenerife in the distance. Very well kept residential complex. Fully furnished. There is offroad parking available for residents. Lovely swimming pool area and all immaculately kept. Bargain price with water and electricity included.
Maspalomas
San AgustĂn
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"ELLEVUE "EST 0ROPERTY !GENT
#ÉRDENAS 2EAL %STATE IS A FAMILY BUSINESS THAT HAS SPECIALIZED IN PROPERTY IN THE SOUTH OF 'RAN #ANARIA SINCE
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For Sale
Playa del InglĂŠs
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Price: 105,250â‚Ź Bedrooms: 1 Bathrooms: 1
Price: 76,000â‚Ź Bedrooms: 1 Bathrooms: 1
Price: 289,000â‚Ź Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 2
Apartment for sale in Playa delInglĂŠs. Very centrally located right next to the comercial centre Yumbo and only a few minutes from the beach. Closed-in balcony. Apartment is fully furnished and ready to move in to.
Lovely one bedroom duplex in Campo Internacional in Maspalomas with private garden. Close to shopping centres and all sports facilities. Located in a popular complex with comunal swimming pool. Sold fully furnished and ready to move in!
Fabulous roomy triplex with amazing views over San Agustin and the sand-dunes. Three bedrooms, two bathrooms, jacuzzi and sauna - this house has it all. Nice community pool and also barbeque area next to the kitchen. Excellent value for money.
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