RTN Costa Calida Edition 65

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Issue 65

24-30 3-9 JAN Jan 2014

Police add GPS to increase protection levels

Cash in at the Currency Clinic People are invited to make an appointment at the Currency Clinic to discuss all aspects of foreign exchange with Moneycorp p15

Visit Murcia for just 39 Euros Murcia City who are presenting a special package deal of a night’s Hotel stay, plus a discount Tourist and Sightseeing Card for 39.00€ p20

The event of the year is here for 2014!

The Homes Gardens & Lifestyle Show is open for business p25

New in vehicle GPS systems help locate remote properties

by Keith Nicol

It’s time for the 720 again The 720 is a form on which foreigners must record assets of a specified value held in other countries p29

A TOUCH of technology is being added to patrol vehicles of the Policía Local de Murcia. This year they are launching a new intervention program, which aims to be completed before summer. Patrol vehicles will be fitted with additional GPS electronic tablets, to assist agents in finding their way to isolated properties in the countryside. The Council aims to improve protecting

these scattered dwellings located around the municipality that are often targeted by thieves because the properties are in remote locations.

This was announced at a press conference this week by Mayor Miguel Angel Cámara and the Councillor for Security and Human Resources, Nuria Fuentes who stressed that the goal of adding the new technology is “to help facilitate access by the police in emergencies, who have to travel to these places.”

Homeowners who wish to participate in this plan must “localize” their homes and register on a Police database that is specifically designed for this program.

Should an alarm be raised, it will communicate a phone number that will be linked to the property allowing Police to communicate with the house owners and to locate the dwelling using satellite technology.

Continued on page 8

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24-30 JAN 2014

NEWS & VIEWS

from the North & South Costa Blanca and Costa Calida.

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24-30 JAN 2014

Baby killed in Hospital de Torrevieja

Katharina KatiStäheli and baby Dylan

by Keith Nicol A SWISS woman is under protected custody in Torrevieja Hospital after allegedly murdering her 10-month old baby. After murdering the baby she then attempted suicide by cutting her own throat with a knife.

The 40 year old woman, Katharina KatiStäheli, left her home in Switzerland on Christmas Eve, 2013 and headed for Torrevieja. Katharina was wanted by police in Switzerland for illegally taking the child out of the country and she was spotted and detained in Torrevieja’s Carrefour shopping mall, according to sources close to the case.

On Tuesday the National Police released photos of Katharina and her son Dylan and requested the cooperation of citizens in order to locate them, as the child was known to be sick. Dylan, who had hydrocephalus, was under medical supervision in the canton of Zurich. The mother had taken custody of the child because medical care was needed by the infant. The Zurich Cantonal Police had of-

fered a reward of 2,500 euros to anyone who could provide information to locate Katharina and Dylan.

On Wednesday afternoon Torrevieja’s Guardia Civil entered Carrefour after being alerted to the presence of the wanted woman with child. She did not resist arrest and was taken to Torrevieja’s Hospital because the baby required urgent attention.

While being allowed to bathe the baby, she is alleged to have cut the bady’s throat with a knife she had concealed in a bag followed by trying to take her own life in the same fashion. The woman then underwent surgery to save her own life in the same hospital.

The court of Instruction No. 5 of Torrevieja, has opened proceedings on the death of the baby. The judge heading the judicial commission, proceeded to remove the body around 2.00am and has decreed the secrecy of the proceedings. The baby’s mother remains hospitalized in police custody in execution of international extradition warrant and is under armed guard.

Photo screening at the Palace

TONIGHT, FRIDAY January 24th, there is a free screening of a new selection of photographs taken by local photographer Pedro Melgar Grimao. The screening is organised by the La Agrupación Fotográfica de Torrevieja, the Photographic Association of Torrevieja and is called ‘La pesca artesanal en Torrevieja: Local fishing in Torrevieja’.

The screening takes place at 8:30 pm at the Palacio de la Música, with free admission. Photographer Pedro is a contributor and co-founder of the popular Spanish Language website: ‘Objetivo Torrevieja’ and features a collection of recent photographs that explore the roots of the port and dock, their boats and reflect the types of fishing craft left in the city plus Torrevieja’s fishermen.

24-30 JAN 2014

Consumer Agency served Hospitals’ thousands of healthy activities 2,736 people last year

by Keith Nicol DURING 2013, a total of 1,803 people sought information and advice from the OMIC centre while 933 issued some type of claim or complaint. Torrevieja’s Councillor for Consumer Affairs, Agustina Esteve, reported that over the past year, the Municipal Office of Consumer Information (OMIC), served a total of 2,736 people, at their new office, located within the Town Hall of La Mata.

Agustina Esteve noted that of the 933 complaints, the sector coming in at the undisputed number one spot was once again: Telecommunications, with a total of 505 claims. This was followed by Banks and Savings with 153 claims and, thirdly, Commercial Sales. Other sectors receiving major complaints were Electricity Supply and Repair plus Home Maintenance.

Regarding requests for information made in 2013, the sector that came out number one was also Telecommunications, in particular on issues such as invoices, contracts, mobile phones, penalties and premium services.

Agustina Esteve said that last year there was a higher demand for more specific legal advice, especially dealing with banking issues. In this particular instance, the OMIC has tried to provide advice on the various procedures that need to be followed in the case of toxic

Last year there was a higher demand for more specific legal advice

products and advice on issues regarding foreclosures, repossessions, social rents, etc.. In this sense, and following the approval of the LDL 27/2012, of 15th November, 2013, the office has stepped in to help on urgent measures to strengthen the protection of those facing eviction over non payment of mortgages. Esteve added “we are proceeding on carrying out an information campaign about the possibility of stopping an eviction, by publishing a booklet with the most interesting and important points of the law, which can accommodate groups, economic limits, at which point you can apply for help.”

The OMIC office also carried out their own inspections of items for sale with-

out correct EU certification, and noted that in such campaigns these products are searched in the shops in the town and, if found, the merchant is requested to remove the items for sale from the market, since they can cause any danger to consumers.

The Municipal Office of Consumer Information also worked closely with the Youth Council of the City of Torrevieja, holding workshops for young people.

Agustina Esteve also added they have conducted various Information campaigns, such as: Law of Court Fees, How to claim money back from financial services, counterfeiting plus Christmas shopping and tips on purchasing toys.

By Keith Nicol OVER THE past year, health professionals from Vinalopó and Torrevieja Hospitals have performed health checks and passed on advice and information at schools, health centres, town squares, beaches and cultural centres. Their focus developed oriented to the promotion of healthy lifestyles and prevention actions against different ailments.

During 2013 the Departments of Health organised more than a thousand healthy activities in various towns where they developed workshops and health seminars.

It is estimated that over 20,000 people have benefited from this set of activities aimed at improving the health of local citizens. Specifically, over the past year, health professionals from both departments toured different municipalities, offering activities for school children, adults, pregnant women and seniors. Other activities included healthy eating workshops, lectures cardiovascular risk prevention, smoking cessation, sexual health, osteoporosis, treatment of patients with oral anticoagulants, oral and paediatric ophthalmologic examinations, prevention tips and targeted training including role of the primary caregiver responsible for sick people.

The departments plan to continue working with local municipalities offering similar health initiatives. Thus, during the year 2014, Torrevieja and Vinalopó Health Departments will follow a schedule of actions in order to cover one hundred percent of the coverage area, including the most populated urban centres.

The actions of the Plan for the Promotion of Health of both departments can be tracked and are accessible to all users via the web: www.torrevieja-salud.com and www.vinaloposalud.com, by clicking on the Agenda section.

new display kitchens now on show

24-30 JAN 2014

Common sense keeps roundabout open

by Keith Nicol IN A victory for common sense, plans to close two slip roads leading off the La Zenia roundabout on the N332 have been set aside for the moment. Thanks to residents and business getting together to complain about the proposal coupled by a strong appeal through the media, the Ministry of Transport are reviewing the situation and asking for input from concerned residents and businesses as what the best way forward is to relieve traffic congestion coupled with the accident rate in the area.

As reported in last week’s RTN, a second meeting was called at Paddy’s Point on Friday evening along with meetings being held by the Councillor for the Coast, Martina Scheu-

rer and her team with the Ministry of Transport, to highlight the shortcomings, dangers and economic impact such a scheme would have resulted in.

Many local politicians, including Scheurer, Pedro Mancebo and Bob Houliston, who have recently rarely seen eye to eye, all voiced their support to wait for further consultation with the local community, political leader, emergency and security services and the Ministry.

A Facebook group, ‘NO Cierre Calles Orihuela Costa’ was created to highlight the issue and is being updated regularly. Martina Scheurer invited everyone to a meeting this afternoon: “We will have an informational meeting in the hall of the City of Flamenco beach this week on Friday at 1.30pm” in ref-

Members of the ‘Movimiento ciudadano de afectados la Zenia-Orihuela Costa’

erence to the La Zenia roundabout issue.

Local focus on the problem has been brought to the fore by owner of Paddy’s Point Hazel O’Connor who has been coordinating activities and helping Spanish and International residents and businesses join forces to fight the proposals. She hoped that the community will turn out on force on Friday to show their objection to the project and to

All parties support ‘Ciudad de Oviedo’ School IT’S UNUSUAL for different political parties to all support the same matter on an agenda, but when it comes to education, all of Torrevieja’s politicians have indeed done that. Faced with possible closure and students being allocated to new schools in the city, prior to Thursday’s protest walk from the school to the City Hall

by Teachers, Parents, Students and supporters, the Municipality has already intervened and said they will do whatever is possible to keep the school open. This week, mayor of Torrevieja, Eduardo Dolon, called a special and urgent meeting with other party spokespeople at which it was unanimously agreed by all political parties represented in the City Council, to support the allegations against possible closure, submitted by the School Board of the

‘Ciudad de Oviedo’ School. On 18th December, 2013 and as part of the proposed ‘School Agreement’ 2014-15 courses of the Generalitat Valenciana, the school was notified of a plan of action to close operations at the school, resulting in a loss of up to 30 jobs, in order to integrate students at CEIP Acequión. The centre was set up in 2007 with Port-a-Cabins, with the conviction that this would be a temporary measure since land had been allocated for the construction of the school. The current school year occupies a total of 14 units and, if closed, students will be divided into nine classrooms that the Ministry of Education plans to open in the CEIP Acequión.

However the school say of Acequión: “they will run out of space and students will have to be divided among other schools in Torrevieja.”

add their own say in possible ways forward.

On Tuesday the motion received an added boost with the backing of the group ‘Movimiento ciudadano de afectados la ZeniaOrihuela Costa’, a Neighbourhood Association who are intent on fighting for the interests of the area, saying: “our association of residents will fight for the interests of all in this area.”

The exodus of the Vega Baja

OF THE 27 municipalities that make up the Vega Baja, 14 show a clear decrease in its population in 2013, according to latest official figures from the National Statistics Institute. Half of the 27 municipalities of the Vega Baja lost residents in 2013. Rojales has seen their census diminish by 16.5% in just one year, with the departure of 693 residents. Only the population increase of Orihuela Costa and Torrevieja retrieves the positive balance of statistics in the region.

JAN,

Consulates win Facebook friends

by Jack Troughton EXPATS ARE increasingly turning to Facebook and the ‘Brits living in Spain’ page to find out factual information and share experiences.

Nearly 3,250 people have ‘liked’ the page run by the British Consulate network since its launch in November and numbers continue to grow.

Facebook is being used to answer many questions raised by the British community – such as how to report a crime; healthcare rights; how to renew a passport, or obtain an emergency travel document.

And the consular team believe the secret of the success of ‘Brits living in Spain’ is offering both factual and reliable information and a lively forum for sharing experiences.

Facebook followers and contributors have left their own endorsements such as: “Brilliant...keep up the good work”; ‘Great page... excellent idea and comments for expats here in Spain”; and “It’s an interesting way to get in touch with other Brits in Spain – and the

Insurance scam catches dozens of victims THE NATIONAL Police have arrested a 47-year-old man alleged to have sold false insurance policies on homes and vehicles. The swindle came to light when vehicles were subjected to routine checks at police checkpoints where owners discovered they had no insurance cover. It also emerged that when some of the owners had made checks and noted their insurance was not valid, they were informed the error was due to “a computer glitch” and given replacement policies which were also fraudulent! At least 39 vehicle insurance scams have come to light. An investigation is being carried out by the Judicial Police in Elche over fraudulent insurances brokered in the city.

Costa Blanca promoted strongly at Fitur

By Keith Nicol This weekend, the Costa Blanca Tourism Board is promoting the region at Spain’s largest and most important Travel and Tourism Fair, Fitur, in Madrid. The International Tourism Fair features nearly 9,000 exhibiting companies, 167 participating countries, more than 116,000 professional participants and 91,000 non-professional workers. The Costa Blanca Tourism Board’s main focus this year is to spread word of the value and resources of the province with new brochures containing information about Alicante’s towns, the development of new technological applications and the creation of a new website. Of major importance is the new website for the region that will be launched in March, that provides integration with social networks like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, providing information on tourism routes, incorporating access to professional services and the possibility of tablet/smartphone travel, among other innovations.

Another proposal presented this week was the continuation of the project ‘Tu Plan Costa Blanca’, a travel planning tool that provides information on more than 400 cultural tours, sports, dining and entertainment activities and facilities, among others, throughout the province.

passport and legal information is good.”

The social media site works in tandem with the British embassy’s UKinSpain Facebook page, which focuses on institutional and political information. Will Middleton, Consular Director for Spain, said: “We are really pleased with the response so far and with how British residents are sharing the information they find useful with others.

“If you are not yet following us and want to benefit from independent advice and others’ experiences, then please do search for ‘Brits living in Spain’ on Facebook and ‘like’ our page.”

Residents who are twitter fans can also keep up with the latest news from the British Consulates across Spain on @BritsliveSpain – and they can also read news and comments from the Ambassador on @SimonManleyFCO. To follow ‘Brits living in Spain’; go to www.facebook.com/BritslivinginSpain and ‘like’ the page. People who do not already have a Facebook account will be prompted to create one.

24-30OCT JAN2013 2014 11-17

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Ambassador Simon Manley

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24-30 JAN 2014

Election deadline approaches EXPATS WISHING to cast a vote in May’s key elections for the European Parliament have until 30th January deadline to register their intention to join the ballot.

by Jack Troughton According to Spanish government figures there are more than 2.1 million EU citizens who are entitled to vote in Spain – yet by the end of last November just 322,000 – 15% of the total – were on the electoral roll.

And to vote it is necessary to first register on the town hall census – the ‘Padron Municipal’ – and fill in the paperwork regarding an intention to vote.

Expats who were registered to vote in the UK within the last 15 years can choose to cast their vote in Britain as long as they are on the electoral register – a form is available from www. aboutmyvote.co.uk and must be returned before 7th May. Jacqui Cotterill, Deputy Mayor and Councillor for Finance in Parcent, is urging people to take up their democratic right and vote in the elections – she also underlined the importance of registering on the Padron.

“The Padron is not a tax register – people are always anxious about that and it is important to point that out,” she said. “And apart from being a legal requirement to register and get a NIE number, it gives benefits.

ACCESS “It gives access to health care, social services, and education. Any bureaucratic action and administrative procedure will ask for a Padron certificate.”

She said resident numbers were important for town halls because they received a financial contribution from central government based on the head count.

“Registration also counts towards the numbers going to central government for regional government funding for

things like health centres and schools.”

Jacqui said anyone registered to vote in the last election in 2009 should already be on the electoral register. “Anyone who has arrived since then or has never voted before should ask to sign the intention to vote form at the town hall.”

She said there was an opportunity in April to check the electoral roll. “If you have signed the intention to vote but are not there for some reason you can make sure you are on the list at that point – however, the instructions are anyone who has already voted should still be on the electoral roll.”

And Jacqui stressed as expats living in Europe “it is in our interests to have representation in the European Parliament” as MEPS took an interest in citizens and provided support when needed.

FIGHT As an example, she said when Parcent was threatened with massive development both Spanish and British MEPs

supported the people of the village in their successful fight in halting the unwanted move.

Parcent petitioned Europe and MEPs visited the village on a fact finding mission. “The petitions process was important in the final decision of the regional government in not allowing the building plans,” said Jacqui. “It is an example of how MEPs do work on the behalf of citizens.”

She added: “At the moment EU citizens are actually questioning the importance of the EU as an institution, largely because of the financial crisis. “As British citizens living in Spain we have taken advantage of the freedom of movement and are enjoying the benefits of belonging to the EU. “I think everyone agrees it is time there was reform of the actual institution. By using our vote we are part of the process of choosing MEPs who can best bring about that reform.”

The Diputacion de Alicante has information in English on voting in the European Elections at www.ciudadanosextranjeros.es/admin/publicaciones/elecparlamento_en.pdf

Continued from front page The system can also provide other references that could help facilitate the location of the house, such as mailing address, name, address or telephone number of a neighbour and other functions. One should keep in mind that most of the 887.7 km2 of the municipality of Murcia, a huge 875.8 km2 is outside the urban area of the city and accounts for 54 districts in which reside around 60 percent of the regions 441,000 inhabitants.

Therefore, the new program is designed with a dual purpose. On the one hand, to reduce the difficulties that arise when trying to answer a police emergency situation and the response time; which should be the minimum time possible. According to the Policía Local, outside of Murcia City, there are 2,036 neighbourhood communities, who last year issued a total of 126 complaints, the most (31) for noise nuisance through bars and entertainment followed by improper parking (20), alcohol and drugs consumption (17); nuisance animals (14), deficiencies in public roads and signage (8) public safety (6) vandalism (5) and other issues related to ordinances and street cleaning, through land and homes have been abandoned.

Expat voting back in Parliament

Sir Roger Gale

by Jack Troughton THE ISSUE of expats voting in British general elections has again been raised in Westminster by a supporter of the campaign to give a voice to everyone.

Sir Roger Gale, the Conservative MP for North Thanet, was on his feet in the House of Commons to ask a question regarding the Electoral Commission – and reminded colleagues of the “hundreds of thousands” of British citizens who were disenfranchised because of the 15 year rule on voting.

Currently people emigrating from the UK are able to vote in elections in the constituency they were last registered on the electoral roll for 15 years after leaving Britain.

Sir Roger said: “In addition to the hundreds of thousands of expatriate United Kingdom citizens who – like Harry Shindler, 93, who received an MBE in the New Year’s Honours List – are disenfranchised because of the 15-year rule, there are also tens of thousands of expat citizens who could vote but who are not registered. What is the commission doing to insure they can be registered to vote?”

Tory colleague Gary Streeter, a member of the electoral commission committee, said it was “an important issue” and added: “This is a matter of concern across the House.”

However, Mr Streeter failed to address the problem of disenfranchisement because of the current 15-year rule – instead he assured Sir Roger the commission, representatives of political parties and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office had met to discuss ways of getting those eligible to vote to take the opportunity.

ENCOURAGE “There will be a public awareness campaign in overseas literature and online to try to encourage more voter registration,” he said.

Meanwhile Harry Shindler’s legal team went to Brussels on his behalf – he was unable to attend in person - and the European Parliament’s petitions committee is to keep his case calling for expats to have the universal right to vote open.

It is expected the committee will investigate the situation and invite the 93-year-old, a member of the campaign group Votes for Expat Brits, to another meeting.

Campaigners believe the European Commission is soon going to publish its own findings on the voting issue - having already said restricting voting in a home country was punishing people for taking up their right of freedom of movement within the EU. And campaigner Graham Richards told RTN: “The understanding is that the strongest form that this could take would be a ‘recommendation’ which would not be legally binding but would be directed at the six states where expat votes are restricted, and would carry considerable weight, proposing legislative change on the voting system.

“This is the closest we may get to the Commission admonishing the UK for ‘punishing citizens who exercise their treaty rights’. It is understood this is the route EC Vice President Viviane Reding wants to take and let us all hope she wins and issues a recommendation. We would then have to wait for the UK to make a formal response.”

Find out more about the campaign at www.votes-for-expat-brits.com

Clooney arrives in Valencia GEORGE CLOONEY arrived in Valencia on a flight from Zurich on Sunday to begin filming final scenes for Brad Bird’s Disney sci-fi mystery blockbuster ‘Tomorrowland’ at the City of Arts & Sciences. Clooney arrived in a limousine with blacked-out windows and chose not to greet fans waiting at the door of his hotel. Instead the coffee shop was closed to customers so he could make his way directly to his 800€-per-night room. Hugh Laurie, star of top medical series ‘House’, cast as the villain in Tomorrowland, arrived half an hour before Clooney and also headed straight to his room - a double disappointment for fans!

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24-30 JAN 2014

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letter of the week

Facebook is getting in my face FOR THE past few months I have avoided looking at Facebook. Initially Facebook was a novelty, for reconnecting with people from the past and that sort of thing.

WE WOULD talk about the good old days, whatever that means. We would chat on Facebook, but soon found we had little in common and talking was especially awkward unless we were sufficiently lubricated with the nerve -numbing local ale. We would reminisce about what we did, but that becomes boring. I recall chatting on Facebook a few times with ‘friends’ and the conversation ending with: “Let’s keep in touch,” knowing full well that neither they nor I had any intention of keeping in touch.

Accumulating more and more ‘friends’ was sort of interesting, and gave a shallow sense of security thinking I had a lot of friends. I would entertain thoughts like: ‘look how many friends I have, I must be very popular’.

But lately I have found Facebook has become a source of irritation. Facebook has been getting in my face!

I look at photos posted by ‘friends’ of people and I have no idea who they are. They post photos of the children who are now grown-ups and the last time I saw them they were in nappies.

So the novelty of looking at photos of total strangers wears off after a while. Now I am getting notices in my email to inform me about someone wanting to be a ‘friend’ on Facebook. I do not know these people and have no interest in knowing them. It seems like a ruse to get me to open Facebook. I am not interested in posting photos or information about myself. Narcissistic - no thanks!

Gary Smith, Villajoyosa

BOW-OOOOW! Whinging ex-pats RE YOUR superb ‘Letter of the Week’ in RTN 10th-16th January, I own a villa in Calpe and enjoy about five months a year out there. I also play jazz trumpet and composed ‘The Howlin’ Dog Blues’ especially for the ‘Hot Dogs’ (how appropriate) at the ‘Bolero’ on La Fossa Beach as a ‘tribute’ to uncaring dogowning morons. These idiots desert their pooches most evenings on La Valesa and the beasts ‘bow-ooow’ while they are away. I can supply lyrics and a backing track for anyone who wishes to take their hi-fi boom boxes to play after the dog owners return home and attempt to get to sleep! Retribution! BOW-OOOOW! Ian Royle, Manchester

I READ these whinging letters from ex pats and shake my head. You made the choice to move to a better way of life.

I have a house in Spain and one in Scotland - I know which is warmer at the moment. I have just checked the temperature in the Spanish one – 25º without ANY heating. I am sitting in Scotland at 22º with the heating full on!

I have spent many a winter in Spain and only needed two small butane bottles weekly for about 6/7 weeks: here I need 3 deliveries of gas at £680 each. The rates for my Spanish house are 150€: in Scotland £2,480.

In Spain I can still go out to eat a three course meal and wine for 9€: here the equivalent is £24. The cost of living here is still a bit higher than Spain, - but you can still go out in the daytime and enjoy the sun – it’s free. So please - no more whinging rubbish, you made your choice - live with it!

Jim Wilson

A tragedy has to happen before anything can be done I LIVE on an urbanisation on the Balcon de Finestrat. Last month I lost three cats poisoned by Strychnine left in cat food foils on the public pathway to the swimming pool and gardens. These foils were not hidden and could have been picked up by children. I made a denuncia to the police and reported the incidents to the urbanisation administration but nothing really happened.

Today my fourth cat was poisoned - again by the same method and again foils were left on the public path (I have photos). The police say they cannot do anything as it is a private estate and they can only act if a child is affected!

I cannot believe that a tragedy has to happen before anything can be done.

The community administration has today taken more notice: they are talking of installing CCTV. I would be interested if your readers have an opinion on this…

Kathryn Chamberlain

24-30 JAN 2014

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Rav’s Back On The Road Again...

Watts In Britain By

Paul Watts

FOR A trainee depressive in frost-torn January Britain I managed to achieve a state of near nirvana yesterday.

After months of peddling everywhere (braving wind, rain and ice) on my trusty Raleigh I finally got my old Toyota Rav back on the road. It has stood idle since October.

Having had several friendly mechanics from work pour over the Rav’s problems the cure, apparently, could only be realised if I dipped deep into my pockets and secured the services of a highly trained auto ‘spark’. And so, it came to pass that young Dom from Tamworth Auto Electrics Ltd trolled up in his high-tech van to try and coax Rav back into life. The problem, as I may possibly have mentioned in the past, was the activation of the on-board immobiliser system which had rendered Rav as good as dead.

As I offered Dom a mug of tea he showed me his job sheet. It read, rather un-encouragingly: “To remove immobiliser if poss.” If ‘poss’, whoa Dom, if ‘poss’?

“Yeah,” said the Dom-ster, “if the unit was fitted post factory we should be okay. However, factory fitted units cannot be de-activated...” As this example of Rav was near-vintage he reckoned it’d be fine (i.e. post fac-

tory-fitted) and a mere formality to rip out the several hundred miles of cabling that was strangling the car’s desire to fire up. I quipped, “Oh well, another one for the scrap heap...” He winked, “Na, we’ll be fine.” I padded off in the direction of the kettle.

Dom’s arms blurred, as he turned into a human threshing machine cutting and yanking out redundant cable. Finally, he pronounced that we were ready to “give it a go”. Beside him lay two black boxes and enough cable to delight any totter of the Steptoe era. “That’s your alarm,” Dom explained pointing at one of the boxes, “and that one’s the bugger that’s given you all the trouble.” Hmmm, it looked innocuous enough. The engine compartment looked surprisingly bare now. I took the key and turned the ignition. Nothing, nada, bugger all...

Dom looked perplexed and started to tap the starter motor with his hammer, “maybe this has seized.” I tried the key as directed by Dom, his head deep in the bonnet. Nothing. He went to his van and produced a Bond-like gadget with a Dr Who sonic screwdriver at one end. He started testing circuits and pulling fuses

and tut-tutted alarmingly. Oh well maybe it’s for the scrap heap after all...

“I just don’t understand this...” said Dom his voice trailing off, “...hmm, unless.” Out came the laptop.

His sonic screwdriver was moved rapidly across the circuits. “Well, flippin’ ’eck,” he chuckled, “there’s a third level of protection here.” More wires were pulled out. Would there be any left, I pondered. “Go on,” he smiled, “try her now.” Instantly, the age old Toyota engine burst into life. I would’ve yelped, were I an American. And were I more demonstrative I would have hugged Dom. During the post-op fag Dom told me that it would be impossible to do what he’d just done to a modern car. “They’ve got em locked down so tight,” he said, “once they’re disabled that’s it.” Well then, I thought, I’m glad I don’t go in for modern cars.

So all’s well in Watts-world once again. Mind you, my problem now is - no bike use, weight back on.

Although, I suppose I could bundle the bike into the back of the Rav. Watts in Britain, so you don’t have to be

Cash in at the Currency Clinic EXPERT CURRENCY guidance is available again with the return of the popular Currency Clinic, helping people keep more of their cash when moving money around the world.

by Jack Troughton Foreign exchange specialist Moneycorp – which has more than three decades of experience – offers a free overhaul of RTN readers’ current arrangements and aims to show them both sides of the coin in the sometimes volatile currency market.

And people are invited to make an appointment at the Currency Clinic to discuss all aspects of foreign exchange with the experts, helping insure they are getting the best deal possible.

The clinic, which over the next three months is visiting La Nucia, Javea and Quesada, is of vital importance to anyone selling property in Spain and repatriating the proceeds to the UK. Moneycorp, RTN’s recommended foreign exchange dealer for nearly five years, has saved people thousands of Euros in charges and fees over the past 5 years.

Friendly face to face meetings involve sitting down with an expert and chat about all the options in foreign exchange and moving money across borders given the “uncertainties” of currency markets.

Moneycorp’s Kevin Wright says the Currency Clinic was principally aimed at people not already using a specialist foreign exchange company and there was no pressure to sign up.

BOOK “We are giving expats the opportunity to book an appointment and come in with any queries they have about what they are currently doing with their money,” he explained.

“If they are currently using a bank or another method of exchange, they can come in and discuss their options, what is happening and what is likely to happen to exchange rates.”

Kevin added: “People using a bank or any other method of exchange can come in double check they are getting the best deal and value for their money possible.

“There’s no pressure. They don’t have to sign up with Moneycorp – although the option will be there if they want to – and they will be safe in the knowledge that they are dealing with a company that has 34 years of experience and is fully regulated.”

Moneycorp offers a foreign exchange service for one-off

payments and expats frequently benefit from a specialist regular payment plan when bringing Euro into Spain from Sterling. The company also has ‘Moneycorp On Line’ – providing an opportunity for clients to move money at times that suit them without the need to talk with a dealer.

PROPERTY Kevin said: “We are particularly hoping to meet people who are putting their houses or property up for sale – whether they are waiting to do so or even nearing completion – because we can discuss our repatriation service which can save them thousands, not just on the exchange rate but also in bank fees.

“They can come in for a chat and get all the information before deciding what to do.

Hopefully they will be in a better position afterwards.”

He said the Currency Clinic was an initiative that had already been welcomed by RTN readers and had a successful track record.

“People can make sure they are doing the best they can – if they have thought about using Moneycorp but are a little wary, it is a chance to talk privately on neutral ground and not be under any pressure.”

The clinic is being run at the offices of Europa Network, Javea, on 4th February, 4th March and 8th April. It is based at RTN’s offices in La Nucia on 11th February, 11th March and 15th April and at Moneycorps Costa Blanca Office, Quesdada on 18th February, 18th March and 22nd April.

The experts will be available from 10am to 1pm and booking an appointment is essential. Please ring 902 118 999 between 10am and 6pm.

Kevin Wright

24-30 JAN 2014

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Over 2,000 people greet Vicente del Bosque

by Keith Nicol MORE THAN 2,000 people, mostly students from different municipal sports schools in Torrevieja, turned out to welcome Spain’s National Football coach Vicente del Bosque, on Tuesday. Del Bosque, who in the past has attended football camps at the Sports City, was in town to offer his own special tribute to his friend, former footballer and Real Madrid scout, Joaquín García: ‘Nito’.

Accompanied by the Mayor of Torrevieja, Eduardo Dolon, the event began with the unveiling of a plaque commemorating the Spanish National Soccer Coach’s visit, noting that del Bosque won both the World Cup in 2010 and European Cup in 2012, a unique achievement for a Spanish coach. A plaque was presented to him by Joaquín García Paredes ‘ Nito “and the mayor gifted Vicente del Bosque with a typical salt boat as a souvenir of his visit to Torrevieja.

Vicente del Bosque expressed his gratitude to the people of Torrevieja and thanked everyone for helping him share in this tribute to his great friend Nito, highlighting his great selfless and altruistic work for over 40 years as a scout and collaborator of Real Madrid CF. Del Bosque said, “Nito has been important as a scout for Spanish football in general and for Real Madrid in particular, and we must remember he was

one of the first people in Spain to help develop this activity.” formed a team of young local players who played football at Eduardo Dolon thanked Joaquín García and congratulated a time when materials were scarce. Nito was also the driving him for all of his work and noted that the day was, “a well-de- force of the Municipal Grassroots served tribute by the city of Torrevieja, to someone who has Schools of Torrevieja. set an example for future generations through his hard work and professionalism, who throughout his career has been an active supporter of a club as important as Real Madrid.”

Torrevejense Joaquín García Paredes, better known as ‘Nito’ played for many local clubs including Elche, Murcia, Torrevieja and Crevillente among others, and for several decades was closely tied to the legendary Real Madrid president Santiago Bernabéu. It was as a scout for Real Madrid that he discovered and promoted such talent as Chendo, Macanás, Juanfran, Soldado, Raúl Bravo, Javi García, Camacho, Casimiro Torres and others.

For several years he was president of the Joaquín García “Nito” and his wife, with Torrevieja Major Eduardo Dolon and Peña Madridista Torcoach of the Spanish National team, Vicente del Bosque revieja, under which he

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2013 a record year for tourism in Spain SPANISH PRIME Minister Mariano Rajoy was delighted to announce this week that 2013 has been a record year for the Spanish tourist sector.

by Jan Gamm Rajoy was addressing the inauguration of the 7th Exceltur Forum in Madrid. According to figures released by Frontur, Spain broke the 60 million international tourist arrivals barrier with an incredible 60.5 million arrivals during the year - 5.6% higher than in 2012.

The increase has placed Spain as third most popular tourist destination in the world, overtaking China and sitting behind France and the United States.

“This data is the best in the history of Spain,” said a beaming Rajoy, “… and the numbers speak for themselves.”

FLOCKING TO SPAIN Spain has enjoyed an increased number of visitors from virtually everywhere with the exception of Italy, which has been suffering the effects of an on-going economic crisis.

Britons, Scandinavians and French tourists all flocked to Spain’s sunny shores during 2013, with the Chinese and Russian markets showed the strongest growth. 35% more Chinese came to Spain in 2013 than in 2012 and 31.6% more Russians, both rapidly expanding tourist markets with ‘hot-pockets’ (tourists that spend considerably more than visitors from elsewhere).

Foreign visitors are re-discovering Spain as a top destination for sunshine holidays and also for other niche tourism markets such as health, sport, historical tours and gastronomy.

World Tourism Organisation Secretary General Taleb Rifai

A record year for tourists

said recently: “This is proof of how intelligent, innovative, flexible and adjustable the private sector is in Spain.”

The regions that performed best were the Canaries and the Balaeric Islands and of course Benidorm retains its position as the country’s favourite sunshine destination with records continually broken for hotel occupancy throughout 2013.

Statistics agency Frontur confirmed that 34 million for-

eigners arrived in Spain in the January-July period, an increase of 3.9% on last year. Russians represented the biggest increase, with 838, 876 arrivals in the period, up 31% on the year. Catalonia welcomed 15.6 million foreign tourists in 2013.

For a country in recession for more than four years, the performance figures are remarkable.

Calling the community!

DO YOU have a hobby or skills you could utilise to make items such as toys, cards, clothes or calendars that could be given at Christmas to those in need? At Christmas local town halls ask for donations of toys and suitable items to give those in need but many of those things are good quality used goods. The 3N group (Needles and Nails and Natter!) will make or renovate things to be stored in readiness for Christmas 2014. The intention is to hold an inaugural meeting with like-minded people to move this forward. The first meeting will be in the Sunrise Restaurant at Almeda del Mar, just off the N332 near Burger King and above SuperCor, on Thursday 6th February at 11am. If you are interested please give Wendy a call on 678 059 759 or email wendybeth018@hotmail.com Come along and bring a friend!

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24-30 JAN 2014

Visit Murcia for just 39 Euros

by Keith Nicol SPAIN’S LARGEST and most important Travel and Tourism show, Fitur, is taking place in Madrid this weekend. Apart from promoting the Paramount Theme Park, one of the major promotions is for Murcia City who are presenting a special package deal of a night’s Hotel stay, plus a discount Tourist and Sightseeing Card for 39.00€.

The announcement was made yesterday by Murcia’s Mayor Miguel Ángel Cámara, in a ceremony with hotel managers and representatives of the municipality. The new promotional package includes accommodation and breakfast for two people, guided tour and Murcia Tourist Card from just 39€ per night.

In addition, the Department of Tourism, headed by

Miguel Cascales is attending work groups with national and international tour operators, both traditional and online, hotel chains and transport companies. This year, the hostesses on the stand are wearing new uniforms, designed by Titis Clothing Murcia, and designed around Murcia colours of red, blue and beige. The aim of Murcia at Fitur is to enhance the tourist image of the city by emphasizing the good weather, gastronomic diversity and natural heritage.

The International Tourism Fair features nearly 9,000 exhibiting companies, 167 participating countries, more than 116,000 professional participants and 91,000 non-professional workers. Attending trade shows is part of the plan of boosting tourism through ‘Murcia 365’, to enhance tourism in the city and attract visitors all year round.

Chickenpox vaccine shortage nationwide PAEDIATRICIANS ARE warning of a nationwide shortage of Varivax, the vaccine against Chickenpox. Doctors are blaming the health ministry for the problem and warn that short supplies of the drug could have serious consequences. The shortage affects the whole of the country with the exception of Madrid and Navarra, where children aged 12 – 15 months are vaccinated as a routine. The Alicante Association of Paediatrics has reported that the lack of vaccine began after the summer.

As yet the Ministry of Health and the Spanish Medicines Agency (Aemps) have not offered an explanation for the shortage.

Murcia 365 is the theme at Fitur 2014

Coca Cola to shut down four bottling plants IBERIAN PARTNERS, bottlers of Coca-Cola in Spain, have finalised restructuring plans resulting in the imminent closure of four of its plants, affecting Alicante, Colloto (Asturias), Palma de Mallorca and Fuenlabrada (Madrid). It is intended to relocate nearly 500 workers which will see the dismissal of 750. The company says it will make every effort to ensure that voluntary retirement packages are offered wherever possible.

Golden Rascal receives a surprise OVER THE past 20 years, Rascals have probably become the foremost variety showgroup on the Costa Blanca: producing two shows a year, one for Christmas, the other in the Summer.

by Keith Nicol Last week Golden Rascal Vincent Mansi was delighted when his son Andrew arrived from the UK at Sacko´s to surprise Vince on his 80th Birthday. A great time was had by all. During his working life, Vince had been a professional entertainer he was one of the Black & White Minstrels and appeared in London Musicals including Fiddler on the Roof with Topol.

Vincent said: “In my 10 years with Rascals, I have been given the opportunity of singing lots of solos including Old Man River, Besame Mucho and If I was a Rich Man.” He has brought to the Rascals not only a fine voice but great stage presence and is always popular with the audiences. The Rascals are a friendly group of like minded people, who enjoy raising money for well deserved local charities and also organize social evenings such as quiz nights and beetle drives Their performances are usually in local theatres such as Los Montesinos and Torrevieja. Every cent from ticket sales is donated to charity and to date they have raised almost 130,000 Euros. If you would like to join them, either to take part in our shows or to help back stage with set design or wardrobe, you would be most welcome.

Vince is back on the boards again in ‘The Best Of Times Is Now’. If you want to chat to any member of the committee, please go to the contact page where a full list of contact details are available. During rehearsal time September to December they will be at Sacko’s bar in El Limonar every Monday and Thursday morning from about 11am.

For more details please contact their chairman Errol Potter: Errolpotter@AOL.com For further information on Rascals look on www.therascals.org or call Errol on 96 531 9834.

Movember with Paul Cunningham Nurses PETER AND Scott from Cheers Bar in Eagles Nest raised 190€ for Paul Cunningham Nurses charity in November for ‘Movember!’

Sunshine FM’s Ricky Neil also participated and is pictured here sporting his new moustache! Ricky is now fundraising for PCN charity so if you would like to hold an event, please contact him on 633 809 860 or email pcn.ricky@gmail.com

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Home & Garden

Brought to you by spanishhomefinder.com

HOME

GARDEN

24-30 JAN 2014

23

Brought to you by

www.spanishhomefinder.com

The winter cut back

by

Dick Handscombe Holistic gardener and author

JANUARY WILL be a busy month for diligent gardeners - the month of cutting back and pruning most plants and trees in the garden to ensure they perform well in the spring and summer. And the cleaning up of the soil to minimise fungal spores and over-wintering insects into the next growing season.

Those living inland may well have had a few nights of frost that have burned the leaves and final flowers on lantanas while on the coast they might still be blooming.

But in both cases they need cutting back hard to stimulate new close growth in the spring rather than expanding leggy plants. Other plants will be dormant and sap is unlikely to be lost at this time of year.

Just one word of warning: if you do live inland and expect heavy frosts leave the cutting back of tender plants until after the frosts as newly-cut growth is vulnerable to frost damage.

You will find guidelines for cutting back of a wide range of shrubs in section 6.9 of Your Garden in Spain’ and the pruning of fruit trees is described in ‘Growing Healthy Fruit in Spain’. There is not enough space to refer to all in this column but the following will indicate the sort of

things that need to be done: Bougainvillea: Trim hard to shape - this may be as a climber or a squat bush. Cut back side shoots along each branch and cut out all non-flowering suckers – normally easily recognised as paler green straight stems.

Hibiscus: Shorten branches by 20 to 50 cm to stimulate flowering shoots and keep plant to appropriate dimensions.

Oleanders: Trim young plants to keep them tidy. When they have grown to your intended height cut them back hard every two or three years to control their height and stimulate new shoots and branches and a thicker bush.

By the way oleanders can be trained into very attractive standards and even large trees.

Succulents: Remove dead flowers and trim to control size of plants. Pot up or immediately plant prunings to produce new plants.

Galan de Noche: Cut back hard to keep plant under control and stimulate flower covered growth for the following summer.

Evergreen trees and hedges: Trim to shape and control size. Many can be pruned/trained into interesting topiary

shapes – see section 3.12 of ‘Your Garden in Spain’.

What you cut back can be best shredded (with the exception of diseased material) and put on a compost heap to rot down to produce good compost for use the following autumn when preparing the vegetable plot, preparing new raised beds and level flower/shrub beds and planting trees.

Each of the books gives concise guidelines for the successful making of compost in Spain as many newcomers fins it is not as easy as it was in the UK or Ireland.

Alternatively you can do one of the following: Obtain a licence for a bonfire and use the wood ash on the garden – it’s especially useful sprinkled around growing onions and garlic.

Take the garden rubbish to a local Ecopark where they have a composting producing plant such as those near Benissa and Pedreguer/La Xara.

Put the garden rubbish in the ‘green’ bins provided by the local council.

With such important work ahead we can only hope that we have a sunny month so that the New Year exercise can be enjoyed and a few alfresco breakfasts cooked on an early morning bonfire.

The Handscombe’s books can be most conveniently purchased from Amazon Books, Santana Books website or 95 248 5838, The Book Depository or The Royal Horticultural Society Bookshop. ©Dick Handscombe www.gardenspain.com

Home & Garden

Brought to you by spanishhomefinder.com

24-30 JAN 2014

The event of the year is here for 2014!

The Homes Gardens & Lifestyle Show is open for business!

THE COUNTDOWN is on as the successful Homes Gardens & Lifestyle Show heads to Calpe..... If you want to put your business on the map or improve it and get ahead in business in 2014 – Get your stands at the most successful events being staged on the Costas - The celebrity status Homes Gardens & Lifestyle Shows.

Build success into your 2014 by joining us and participating in the Show in Calpe at The Diamante Beach Hotel on 3rd & 4th April and/or at The La Finca Golf & Spa Hotel, Algorfa near Torrevieja on October 15th & 16th 2014. With our proven track record of thousands of visitors at each event, this is the perfect platform to showcase your business, products and services to increase your brand awareness and future business. Come along to the Exhibitor Show Open Day at the hotel on Wednesday 5th February from 11.00 am – 3.00pm to discuss your

participation and options.

This consistent concept is growing Show by Show, with more feature concepts than ever before to ensure the visitors have a great show experience- Join our two UK TV celebrities, gardening guru Charlie Dimmock (Ground Force) and expert antiques valuer Mark Stacey (Flog it! Bargain Hunt, Antiques Road Trip) Plus our Main Sponsors HiFX and this year we are introducing the all new Costas Cook Off! Sponsored by Cambridge 800 (our version of Ready Steady Cook) Plus much much more!

To book your stand at a show contact GM Promotions on FB: Homes Gardens & Lifestyle Show, email: gina@solproductions.tv or call 634 300 125 to be part of the Event of the Year. See www.gmpromotions.es for more info.

Avalon are calling all Artists!

Are you a budding new artist or even a seasoned talent? Then don’t miss this chance to shine!

We invite you to submit your work to be featured in the exclusive Homes Gardens & Lifestyle - Art Competition & Gallery which will be showcasing local Artists work during the 2014 Homes, Gardens & Lifestyle Show organized by GM Promotions.

It’s an exciting opportunity for your art to be viewed by thousands of art lovers – and this year’s event promises to be bigger and better than ever before.

All new, emerging or experienced artists are welcome to enter for the chance to display and even

sell their artworks at the show. All works will also be entered into the competition, judged by a panel of experts and the winning artists will be announced as the show’s “ARTIST” competition winners, a coveted title that will be covered by the local press.

Venue: The Diamante Beach Hotel, Calpe, Costa Blanca. Date: 3rd & 4th April 2014 Entry fee: €5 euro for each artwork to go to M.A.B.S Three entry categories: • Beginners (less than 3 years’ experience)

• Intermediate (3-8 years’ experience) • Expert (8 years or more experience) Styles accepted: acrylic, oil, drawing, pastel, water-colour, mixed media.

Hurry! Register your interest now!

Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to exhibit your work and enter this exclusive competition. Please email marketingmanager@avalonsl.es and we will send you full details.

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money

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24-30 JAN 2014

Best income for ex-pats by

Keith Littlewood International Financial Adviser

HERE IS a brief resume of exactly what is available in the Market Place for investors and the rates you can expect to receive.

GETTING THE best income possible from your investments is crucial in the current economic climate.

UK DEPOSIT ACCOUNTS Nationwide and the AA both offer web-based instant access offering 1.5%. This is only for the first year as 1% is in the form of a bonus at yearend so then reverts to 0.5%. Please note the Nationwide account is an ISA so you shouldn’t be allowed this if you are a Spanish Fiscal resident.

If you have over £50,000 to invest The Bank of London and the Middle East is offering 2.8% fixed for 2 years and 3% fixed for 3 years. These are Bonds and NO withdrawals are allowed during the term but the investment does carry full Financial Compensation Scheme Protection.

SPANISH DEPOSIT ACCOUNTS La Caixa is offering its customers 1.5% in the first year for a 2 year deposit which then reverts to

Euribor(currently 0.558%) + 0.75% giving 1.308% in the second year.

ANNUITIES Rates are around 3% at the moment- the older you are the better rate you get. This does lock you in for life and you give up the capital: not the best time to purchase in my opinion as rates are low but as a Spanish fiscal resident these have fantastic tax benefits so you should not overlook them entirely.

SPANISH COMPLIANT BONDS Rates vary and depend on the size of investment.

Prudential offers a Cautious Fund that is paying around 4.5% after charges.

This type of investment is great for people wanting medium to long term income or growth. 5% of capital is allowed to be withdrawn each year penalty free. These offer very good tax benefits but are only available if you are a Spanish Fiscal resident.

STRUCTURED NOTES These are sophisticated investments but can offer income rates of between 6% and 12%. There are normally two areas of risk with these: counterparty and the conditional risk. There are lots of issuers of these notes and it is best to discuss with a Financial Adviser before entering to ensure all the conditions are fully understood.

There are other investment vehicles such as share portfolios, unit-linked or unit trust funds but then we are going up the risk ladder and usually a Financial Adviser will be involved. Remember everything is okay in moderation and putting all your eggs in one basket can lead to trouble.

In today’s financial climate it is essential you do everything you can to make sure your money is safe and secure and what you want to transpire in the future has the best chance of happening.

If you need advice or if have any questions regarding the above you can contact me on 657 684 094 or email keith.littlewood@blacktowerfm.com

The above information was correct at the time of preparation and does not constitute investment advice and you should seek advice from a professional adviser before embarking on any financial planning activity.

Blacktower Financial Management Ltd is licenced by the UK by the Financial Services Authority and is registered with both the DGS and CNMV. Blacktower Financial Management (Int) Ltd is licenced in Gibraltar by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) Licence No: 00805B and registered with the DGS in Spain.

legal

by

Carlos Baos

of White & Baos Abogados

English & Spanish Solicitors

24-30 JAN 2014

27

The rich Tax obligations in Spain: get richer…

The non residents income tax AS WE do every year, we wish to remind readers who are Non Tax Residents in Spain, that they are still obliged to pay Income Tax in Spain for Non Tax Residents, even if they do not have any income in Spain, just for the fact of owning a property here.

If you live in Spain and but are not registered with the taxman as a tax resident or you do not submit taxes as tax residents, you could be legally considered as Non Tax Resident, as no notice has been given to the Tax Authority. Non Tax Residents could be liable to pay Wealth Tax, but only if the value of their assets in Spain (after deducting debts, i.e: pending capital of the mortgage, etc.) is above 700.000€.

If you are Non Tax Resident in Spain ( or

you are not legally tax resident in Spain), you will need to pay tax for income in Spain (Income Tax for Non Residents, IRNR): i.e.: rents from a letting, interest on bank accounts, etc., If you do not have any income but you own a property or a share on a property, your tax bill will be based on a calculation as per the Cadastral Value (value that appears on your Spanish Local Rates receipt from the Town Hall, the SUMA office or the equivalent).

Even now it is quite common for people who are Non Fiscal Residents in Spain ( or not legally Tax Resident in Spain) to simply not pay this tax; usually due to ignorance or neglect and especially when they have no income in Spain and only own a house.

Caution is needed as the Spanish Tax Office, equivalent to the Spanish

Inland Revenue (Agencia Tributaria), is investigating property owners in Spain who do not pay taxes as either tax residents or non tax residents, urging them to update their status and pay the applicable tax.

If you are not sure if you are “legally or officially” tax resident or non tax resident, if you want to know what is the most convenient for you, we can assist you, studying your personal situation.

If you are non tax resident, do not forget to meet your tax obligation if you want to avoid a possible tax inspection, penalties, etc. We could deal with your tax affairs as non tax residents in Spain.

You can follow the Spanish Legal Issues that affect you and consult us by following us on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ WhiteBaosAbogadosLawyers

Carlos Baos (Lawyer) © White & Baos Abogados 2012 - All rights reserved. C/Diana 19, 2º-D, 03700 Dénia (located 1 minute away from the La Via underground car park).

Tel: 966 426 185. Send your questions to spanishlawyer@roundtownnews.com or info@white-baos.com. This article is available in English and Spanish at www.white-baos.com. The information provided in this article is not intended to be legal advice, but merely conveys general information related to legal issues.

Visit our blog at http://www.white-baos.com/blog/ and Facebook (White-Baos-Abogados-Solicitors)

A RECENT report from Oxfam reveals that the wealth of the 85 richest people in the world equals that of half the planet’s population. And in Spain the fortunes of the top 20 richest individuals equal 20% of the poorest population. Oxfam’s report claims that the world’s wealthiest “hijack political power to manipulate the economic game,” adding: “the case of Spain is of particular concern due to the effect of the financial crisis and the policies that have been adopted that punish the middle class and the disadvantaged. Those responsible for the financial meltdown are treated with impunity and there is a clear lack of forceful action against corruption.” Amongst a set of recommendations being sent to next Wednesday’s World Economic Forum are proposals for countries to increase restrictions on the use of tax havens.

money

28

24-30 JAN 2014

by

Mark Roach

Company Director and Spanish Tax Consultant

How to protect your cash in a Spanish bank on death!

I READ a previous article about a gentleman who was concerned that when his wife passes away that their bank in Spain will freeze the account and he will not have access to the funds.

Unfortunately this is very common across Spain and it means that the surviving spouse may not use the funds in the account to pay Spanish Probate or Inheritance Taxes (IHT) that will be due on their cash and property that they may own in Spain. Not only is this a very distressing situation but the beneficiary only has 6 months to probate in Spain otherwise fines and interest may be charged.

Our suggestion: to avoid this happening, if you own a property in Spain, is to instruct Wincham to invest your property into a UK Limited Company (Wincham Can provide). We can facilitate the process from start to finish for you in about 4/6 weeks if required.

Once the property is owned by the client’s UK

Company the owners receive shares in exchange for their investment. These shares are then the assets, owned by them and it is those shares which are subject to Taxation outside of Spain. One demonstration of the advantage here is that if the owners are British and also married and leaves their half to each other then they will inherit under UK Law, where Inheritance Tax is exempt between spouses, unlike Spain, where a spouse only receives an allowance of €15,957 if they are non Resident of Spain when inheriting.

After registering the property to the UK Company the Wincham Spanish Head office located in Calpe, Alicante, will help the clients Company open a bank account in Spain, and then move all the utility and other bills into the Company name and bank account. After this is completed the property owners do not require a personal bank account in Spain and all their funds can be held in their own

Wincham Consultants Limited, Wincham House, Greenfield Farm Trading Estate, Congleton, Cheshire, CW12 4TR, England.

(Wincham Consultants also have offices located on the Costa Blanca and the Costa del Sol) UK Tel: +44 (0)1260 299 700 | Spain Tel: +34 965 830 991 | Email: iht.info@wincham.com | Web: www.winchamiht.com

Company bank account which does not become frozen on death unlike a personal account.

Wincham has been established since 1994 and we believe that we are the market leader in helping clients own property in Spain via a UK Limited Company structure. Our trained Consultants will also supply a free of charge Spanish Inheritance (IHT) illustration demonstrating the Tax liabilities that the beneficiaries of the property may have when the property passes between individual people’s names.

To find out more about the implications of Spanish IHT, what the liabilities of your beneficiaries are likely to be and the legal steps you can take to avoid it, or for details of future events in your area please call Wincham Consultants on Spain-0034 965 830 991 / UK-0044 (0)1260 299 700. Alternatively visit www.winchamiht.com to make your appointment or apply for your FREE Spanish Inheritance Tax illustration.

money

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It’s time for the 720 again LAST YEAR around this time there was great consternation amongst many foreigners living in Spain: the requirement to complete the 720 asset declaration form really shook the community.

Suzanne by

O’Connell Customer Care at Ábaco

IN CASE you are blissfully unaware, the 720 is a form on which foreigners living in Spain must record assets of a specified value and type held in other countries. There was confusion and a great deal of suspicion about what declaring this information might lead to.

Now, a year later, the second round of 720 is proving to be not quite so controversial. Whereas last year the free newspapers and forums were flooded with questions, concerns and criticism, this year there is more of a mood of quiet acceptance.

People might not be happy with this additional administrative burden, but for most it’s done and dusted.

However, for some, the 720 will need a spring clean.

Residents in Spain who have completed a form previously will need to reconsider at this time every year whether their circumstances have changed and warrant a new form being registered.

REASONS FOR COMPLETING A 720 IN 2014 Even if you feel pretty sure that you do not have to resubmit your form this year, do check against the list below. Keeping your 720 up-to-date is as important as submitting it in the first place. Take time to reflect: does any of this apply to you? * There has been an alteration in your circumstances such as: You have purchased or sold property abroad Investments have matured You have changed account numbers You have cancelled previously declared assets Your assets have altered by 20,000€ If it does, then you should contact your fiscal representative and renew your form as soon as possible.

It’s not just where circumstances have changed that a 720 might need completing in 2014. There are still people out there who did not declare last year and perhaps on hindsight would like to ensure that they

are complying with the requirement. After all, those who did have lived to tell the tale and the fine for late declaration is much less than if you’re ‘found out’.

Another group who will need to register their assets in 2014 are those who moved to Spain during 2012. You will need to complete the 720 if: You have accounts held abroad where the total balance of all the accounts exceeds 50,000€ Other assets and pensions held abroad exceed 50,000€ in value You have a property or business premises abroad If you’ve realised that this applies to you, don’t panic.

There is still time to complete a new form as the window runs from 1st January to 31st March. By next year, who knows, we might be taking the 720 in our stride and wondering what all the fuss was about.

If you would like assistance with your 720 or would like more information about it, please call: 96 670 3748.

Ábaco provide fiscal representation to non-resident and resident Spanish property owners. You can contact us for free advice and information by calling our helpline 96 670 3748 or visiting our website www.abacoadvisers.com

Life

Moonshiners Classic and Custom Cars

From Classic cars to hotrods at Sunday’s event

By Keith Nicol THE SUNDAY, January 25th, the Moonshiners Car Club Costa Blanca, is offering yet another great attraction for classic and specialist car aficionados on the southern Costa Blanca.

The gathering is an opportunity for speciality car owners and visitors to further enjoy motoring on the Costa Blanca.

The event takes place on the last Sunday of each month at

Reflections Bar, c/Aviles, on San Luis, lakeside in Torrevieja.

Dave from the Moonshiners Car Club Costa Blanca said; “We are a fun and free to join car club; a mix of the wildest and wackiest, coolest cars and bikes in the region. We are a fun and banter filled bunch that welcome members of all nationalities.”

The next meeting starts at 11.00am until around 1.00pm, with the bar open for lunch for those that would like to

extend their stay. Everything about the event, apart from food and drink is absolutely free so if you are a car nut or petrol head, make sure you make your way there for a relaxing morning with fellow enthusiasts. This month will have American Muscle cars, British classics and a group from the Easyriders Motor Cycle club, at the very least, so for more information please call Dave on 603 142 786 or check them out on Facebook.

24-30 JAN 2014

33

Quality start to Jazz Festival

By Keith Nicol THE INTIMATE Music Palace was packed with an appreciative audience on Sunday who witnessed one of the most accomplished guitarists ever to perform on their stage. Torrevieja’s first International Jazz Cycle was kicked off by the ‘Gustav Lundgren Trio’ playing in an up tempo Gipsy Jazz style that had toes tapping and fingers snapping. From Stockholm (Sweden) guitarist Gustav Lundgren was accompanied on bass by Miguel Angel Navarrete and guitar by Jorge Guzman, and the combined sound made everyone understand why Gustav is one of the leading guitarists of his generation.

Gustav Lundren introduced each song in Spanish,

English and Swedish, much appreciated by a mostly International audience. Gustav has an extensive discography and fabulous technique allowing this extremely versatile jazz musician to switch between different jazz styles although on this occasion his focus was on providing a homage to Django” Reinhardt, the Belgian-born French guitarist who is often regarded as one of the greatest guitar players of all time.

The second of three days of the International Festival will take place at the same place, same time of 7.30pm, on Sunday February 9th and feature the Celia Mur Quintet, who will present “Swings Hot and Cool”. Celia will present a night of early jazz and swing, with her focus being the music of Ella Fitzgerald and other greats of the era.

Gustav Lundgren amazed a packed audience

Life Showbiz Goss

Who was it that told Adam he was funny?

IT’S ALWAYS amazed me that Adam Sandler has been spoken about in the same breath as Steve Martin, the late John Candy and Richard Prior when it comes to the business of film comedy, as for the life of me I have never found the guy either funny or anywhere near being a good actor ... but first let me explain to you about something called ´The Razzies!

Every year as the Oscars come around there is also a ceremony called ´The Razzies´ (´The Golden Raspberries Awards´) which celebrates and awards a spray painted trophy to the worst film, actor, worst supporting actor etc., and not only did Adam Sandler win the worst actor award last year, but he is the front runner to win the same award this year for the movie ´GrownUps 2´which has been rather neatly re-named ´Groan-Ups 2.

Making people laugh in a cinema at a joke that was shot several months, if not years before, takes an enormous amount of raw talent and Señor Sandler has, in my estimation, absolutely no conception of the skill that’s required to go about rattling our chuckle muscles.

What’s even more frightening is that the movie did very well at the box office which suggests they will go about the business making a third one … HELP! … but with movie itself also being in line for a big old raspberry, pray to god ´Groan-Ups 3´ never sees the light of day.

The gongs will be handed out in a nonstar studded ceremony on March 1, the day before the Oscars, an event at which only a few of the recipients have ever turned up to, one being comedian Tom Green who in 2001 amusingly brought his own red carpet to the ceremony to walk down.

Footnote: Adam Sandler won ´The Razzie´ last year for his role in Jack And Jill, in which he played male/female identical twins … and he also took the prize for worst actress!!

35

24-30 JAN 2014

by

Peter Taylor

Writer and Broadcaster

Celebrity Clips

THE AWFUL ITV show Splash! should now be re-named ´Ploop! as it´s impact is more like the sound of a small pebble dropping into a lake. To make matters worse, the ladies are having to wear one piece bathing suits as last year there were, ´quite a few bosoms and bottoms on show, because diving in a twopiece is not a good plan!´… So that’s more viewers lost then.

Four lads have been in Australia for the last few months making the follow up to their hugely successful first movie ´The Inbetweeners.´ Jay, Simon, Will and Neil posed against a backdrop of the Sydney Opera House, with heading ‘G’bye Australia, you’ve been great and you’re genuinely a credit to our much maligned convict relocation policy!’ The Inbetweeners Movie 2 is due for release this August.

In 1978 Robert Redford bought a huge chunk of land outside Salt Lake City, Utah and founded ´The Sundance Film Festival´ with the purpose of providing an opportunity for independent filmmakers to showcase their work on a global scale. He has now stated that he is to relinquish his association with the project as the corporates have tampered with the dynamic of his plan … Greed once again destroying art.

I´ve intentionally steered clear of all the nonsense written about Batman v Superman, but I just couldn´t resist the story about Gal Gadot´s Wonder Woman costume. ´Latino Review´ wrote ‘Gal Gadot’s WONDER WOMAN outfit will consist of ARMOUR, not the Lynda Carter itty bitty outfit ... I hear it looks dope’ … made of Armour it can only look …´dope!´

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24-30 JAN 2014

Life TV

24th January - 30th January

FRIDAY 24th January BBC1

BBC2

ITV1

CHANNEL 4

CHANNEL 5

ITV2

E4

07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Wanted Down Under 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 The Sheriffs Are Coming 12:45 Helicopter Heroes Down Under 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News; Weather 14:30 Regional News and Weather 14:40 Doctors 15:10 Father Brown 16:00 Perfection 16:45 Escape to the Country 17:30 Antiques Road Trip 18:15 Pointless 19:00 BBC News 19:30 BBC London News 20:00 The One Show 20:30 A Question of Sport 21:00 EastEnders 21:30 Room 101 22:00 Silent Witness 23:00 BBC News 23:25 Regional News and Weather 23:35 The Graham Norton Show 24:25 EastEnders

07:00 Homes Under the Hammer 08:00 Sheriffs Are Coming 08:45 Helicopter Heroes Down Under 09:15 Paul Hollywood’s Pies & Puds 10:00 Sacred Wonders of Britain 11:00 Question Time 12:00 BBC News 12:30 BBC World News 13:00 Daily Politics 14:00 Live International Bowls 18:15 Flog It! 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Great British Railway Journeys 20:00 The Great Interior Design Challenge 21:00 Mastermind 21:30 An Island Parish 22:00 Italy Unpacked 23:00 QI 23:30 Newsnight 24:00 Weather 24:05 The Culture Show

07:00 Daybreak 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 ITV News 14:55 ITV News Central 15:00 Dickinson’s Real Deal 16:00 Alan Titchmarsh Show 16:59 ITV Central Weather 17:00 Britain’s Best Bakery 18:00 The Chase 19:00 ITV News Central 19:30 ITV News 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Coronation Street 21:00 The Martin Lewis Money Show 21:30 Coronation Street 22:00 Piers Morgan’s Life Stories 23:00 ITV News at Ten 23:30 ITV News Central 23:40 The Americans 24:30 Benidorm

07:25 Countdown 08:10 Will & Grace 09:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 10:00 Frasier 10:30 Frasier 11:00 Secret Millionaire Australia 12:00 Sarah Beeny’s Selling Houses 13:00 Channel 4 News 13:05 Come Dine with Me 13:40 Come Dine with Me 14:10 Come Dine with Me 14:40 Come Dine with Me 15:10 A Place in the Sun: Winter Sun 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 21:00 Jamie and Jimmy’s Friday Night Feast 22:00 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown 23:00 Big Fat Gypsy Weddings 24:05 Brooklyn Nine-Nine 24:35 Saw III

07:00 Childrens TV 09:00 Fifi and the Flowertots 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:25 Peppa Pig 09:35 Toby’s Travelling Circus 09:50 Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00 Tickety Toc 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 Winter Road Rescue 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Celebrity Big Brother 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:20 The Mentalist 16:15 Murder 101: College Can Be Murder 18:00 5 News 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 NewsTalk Live 20:00 Ultimate Police Interceptors 21:00 World’s 22:00 Celebrity Big Brother 23:30 Celebrity Big Brother’s Bit on the Side 24:30 Celebrity Big Brother

07:00 Emmerdale 07:25 Emmerdale 07:55 You’ve Been Framed!

08:25 You’ve Been Framed!

08:45 Jeremy Kyle Show USA 09:30 Dinner Date 10:30 The Real Housewives of Atlanta 11:30 The Real Housewives of Orange County 12:30 Millionaire Matchmaker 13:30 Emmerdale 14:00 Emmerdale 14:30 You’ve Been Framed!

15:00 The Jeremy Kyle Show 16:05 The Jeremy Kyle Show 17:10 The Real Housewives of Orange County 18:05 Millionaire Matchmaker 19:00 Dinner Date 20:00 You’ve Been Framed!

20:30 You’ve Been Framed!

21:00 Two and a Half Men 21:30 Two and a Half Men 22:00 The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift 24:10 Take Me Out

07:00 Switched 07:25 90210 08:10 Ugly Betty 09:00 Charmed 10:00 Glee 11:00 Made in Chelsea 12:00 Charmed 13:00 Rules of Engagement 13:30 Hollyoaks 14:00 How I Met Your Mother 14:30 How I Met Your Mother 15:00 The Big Bang Theory 15:30 The Big Bang Theory 16:00 Made in Chelsea 17:00 Rules of Engagement 17:30 Rules of Engagement 18:00 How I Met Your Mother 18:30 How I Met Your Mother 19:00 The Big Bang Theory 19:30 The Big Bang Theory 20:00 Hollyoaks 20:30 How I Met Your Mother 21:00 The Big Bang Theory 21:30 2 Broke Girls 22:00 Top Gun 24:10 The Big Bang Theory 24:40 The Big Bang Theory

SATURDAY 25th January BBC1

BBC2

ITV1

CHANNEL 4

CHANNEL 5

ITV2

E4

07:00 Breakfast 11:00 Saturday Kitchen Live 12:30 The Good Cook 13:00 Football Focus 13:45 Sportsday 14:00 BBC News; Regional News and Weather 14:15 Inspire: The Olympic Journey 14:45 Live Athletics 17:30 Final Score 18:20 Dynamo: Magician Impossible 19:00 Reflex 19:45 BBC News; Regional News and Weather 20:00 The Voice UK 21:15 The National Lottery: Who Dares Wins 22:10 Casualty 23:00 Mrs Brown’s Boys 23:30 BBC News; Weather 23:50 Air Force One

07:00 This Is BBC Two 07:45 The Spanish Main 09:25 Live Tennis 12:30 Great British Railway Journeys 13:00 The A to Z of TV Cooking 13:45 The Big Bread Experiment 14:45 Escape to the Country 15:30 Live International Bowls 17:30 Coast 18:00 Wild Arabia 19:00 Wild Arabia 20:00 Flog It! 21:00 Dad’s Army 21:30 Morecambe & Wise in Pieces 22:30 QI XL 23:15 West Is West 24:55 International Bowls

07:00 Pat & Stan 07:25 Dino Dan 07:40 Dino Dan 07:50 Canimals 08:00 Canimals 08:05 Canimals 08:10 Om Nom Stories 08:15 Sooty 08:30 Scrambled!

10:25 ITV News 10:30 Dinner Date 11:25 Murder, She Wrote 12:25 ITV News and Weather 12:29 ITV Central Weather 12:30 Catchphrase 13:15 Live FA Cup Football 16:00 All Star Family Fortunes 16:40 You’ve Been Framed!

17:10 Nanny McPhee & the Big Bang 19:20 ITV News Central 19:30 ITV News and Weather 19:45 Splash!

21:15 Take Me Out 22:30 Jonathan Ross Show 23:30 ITV News and Weather 23:44 ITV Central Weather 23:45 FA Cup Football Highlights

07:10 American Football Show 08:05 Trans World Sport 09:00 The Morning Line 10:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 10:30 Frasier 11:00 The Big Bang Theory 11:30 The Big Bang Theory 12:00 How I Met Your Mother 12:30 How I Met Your Mother 12:55 The Simpsons 13:25 The Taste 14:30 Channel 4 Racing 17:00 Come Dine with Me 17:25 Come Dine with Me 18:00 Come Dine with Me 18:30 Come Dine with Me 19:00 Come Dine with Me 19:30 Channel 4 News 20:00 Speed with Guy Martin 21:00 Bigfoot Files 22:00 Hostages 23:00 Underworld: Rise of the Lycans 24:45 30 Days of Night

07:00 Childrens TV 09:20 Angelina Ballerina 09:40 Rupert Bear 09:55 Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom 10:15 Jelly Jamm 10:30 LazyTown 11:00 Power Rangers: Megaforce 11:35 Access 11:50 World’s Worst Holiday Horrors 12:50 Celebrity Big Brother 14:15 Legally Blonde 16:00 Diagnosis Murder 17:00 Columbo: a Deadly State of Mind 18:35 Columbo: A Matter of Honor 19:50 NCIS 20:40 NCIS 21:30 NCIS 22:20 5 News Weekend 22:30 Celebrity Big Brother 23:30 Celebrity Big Brother’s Bit on the Psych 24:45 Ultimate Police Interceptors

07:00 Beauty and the Geek 07:45 The Hot Desk 07:55 Coronation Street 10:15 Emmerdale 12:45 You’ve Been Framed!

13:15 Free Willy 15:30 Honey 17:25 You’ve Been Framed!

17:55 You’ve Been Framed!

18:25 You’ve Been Framed!

19:30 The Perfect Storm 22:00 Die Another Day 24:45 The Magaluf Weekender

07:00 Switched 07:25 Make It or Break It 08:10 Ugly Betty 09:00 Charmed 10:00 Glee 11:00 Rules of Engagement 11:30 Rules of Engagement 12:00 Rules of Engagement 12:30 Rules of Engagement 13:00 Rules of Engagement 13:30 The Mindy Project 14:00 How I Met Your Mother 14:30 How I Met Your Mother 15:00 The Big Bang Theory 15:30 The Big Bang Theory 16:00 Rules of Engagement 16:30 Rules of Engagement 17:00 How I Met Your Mother 17:30 How I Met Your Mother 18:00 How I Met Your Mother 18:30 The Big Bang Theory 19:00 The Big Bang Theory 19:30 The Big Bang Theory 20:00 The Big Bang Theory 20:30 How I Met Your Mother 21:00 The Tomorrow People 22:00 Terminator: Salvation 24:15 The Big Bang Theory 24:45 Rude Tube

SUNDAY 26th January

You’ve Been Framed!

BBC1

BBC2

ITV1

CHANNEL 4

CHANNEL 5

ITV2

E4

07:00 Breakfast 10:00 The Andrew Marr Show 11:00 The Big Questions 12:00 Sunday Politics 13:15 Wanted Down Under 14:00 BBC News 14:10 Weather for the Week Ahead 14:15 Moving On 15:00 Bargain Hunt 15:45 Helicopter Heroes 16:15 Escape to the Country 17:00 Songs of Praise 17:35 Hidden Kingdoms 18:35 BBC News; Regional News and Weather 19:00 Fake or Fortune?

20:00 Countryfile 21:00 Call the Midwife 22:00 The Musketeers 23:00 BBC News; Regional News and Weather 23:25 Meet the Fockers

07:00 Hue and Cry

07:00 Childrens TV 08:05 Canimals 08:10 Om Nom Stories 08:15 Sooty 08:30 Scrambled!

10:25 ITV News 10:30 Crocodile Hunter Diaries 11:00 Inside the National Trust 12:00 ITV News and Weather 12:14 ITV Central Weather 12:15 Splash!

13:45 From Russia with Love 16:00 Live FA Cup Football 18:50 ITV News Central 19:00 ITV News and Weather 19:15 Dancing on Ice 20:45 All Star Family Fortunes 21:30 Dancing on Ice: The Skate Off 22:00 Mr Selfridge 23:00 ITV News at Ten 23:14 ITV Central Weather 23:15 Birds of a Feather 23:45 FA Cup Football Highlights 24:45 Anglo-Welsh Cup Rugby Union

07:10 The Hoobs 07:35 The Hoobs 08:00 Snowdonia Marathon 09:00 Will & Grace 09:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 10:00 Frasier 10:30 Sunday Brunch 13:30 The Big Bang Theory 14:00 The Big Bang Theory 14:25 How I Met Your Mother 14:55 How I Met Your Mother 15:20 The Simpsons 15:50 The Simpsons 16:20 Deal or No Deal 17:25 Channel 4 News 17:55 Jamie and Jimmy’s Friday Night Feast 19:00 Mirror Mirror 21:00 The Jump 22:00 Unstoppable 23:50 GI Joe: the Rise of Cobra

07:00 Childrens TV 09:25 Angelina Ballerina 09:40 Rupert Bear 09:55 Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom 10:10 Milkshake!

Show Songs 10:15 Jelly Jamm 10:30 LazyTown 11:00 Power Rangers: Super Samurai 11:35 Access 11:45 The Town the Travellers Took Over 12:40 Celebrity Big Brother 13:40 World’s 14:40 World’s 15:40 Bewitched 17:40 Fairy Tale: a True Story 19:35 Outbreak 21:50 5 News Weekend 22:00 Celebrity Big Brother 23:00 Harry Brown 24:55 Autopsy: The Last Hours Of

07:00 Beauty and the Geek 07:45 The Hot Desk 07:55 Emmerdale 10:15 Coronation Street 12:45 Dinner Date: Australia 13:45 Take Me Out 14:55 You’ve Been Framed!

15:40 Miss Congeniality 17:50 Peter Pan 20:00 Despicable Me 22:00 The Magaluf Weekender 23:00 The Bourne Supremacy

07:00 Switched 07:20 Make It or Break It 08:05 Ugly Betty 09:00 Charmed 10:00 How I Met Your Mother 10:30 How I Met Your Mother 11:00 Hollyoaks 13:30 Revenge 14:30 Rules of Engagement 15:00 Rules of Engagement 15:30 How I Met Your Mother 16:00 The Big Bang Theory 16:30 The Big Bang Theory 17:00 Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD 18:00 The Tomorrow People 19:00 Brooklyn Nine-Nine 19:30 The Big Bang Theory 20:00 The Big Bang Theory 20:30 The Big Bang Theory 21:00 Furry Vengeance 22:50 Rude Tube 23:50 8 Out of 10 Cats Uncut 24:40 The Big Bang Theory

08:20 Countryfile 09:15 Live Tennis 13:00 Saturday Kitchen Best Bites 14:30 The Big Bread Experiment 15:30 Live International Bowls 18:15 Ski Sunday 19:00 Wild Arabia 20:00 Flog It! 21:00 This World 22:00 Dragons’ Den 23:00 Blood Diamond

Miss Congeniality

MONDAY 27th January BBC1

BBC2

ITV1

CHANNEL 4

CHANNEL 5

ITV2

E4

07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Wanted Down Under 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 The Sheriffs Are Coming 12:45 Helicopter Heroes Down Under 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News; Weather 14:30 Regional News and Weather 14:45 Doctors 15:10 Father Brown 16:00 Perfection 16:45 Escape to the Country 17:30 Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 18:15 Pointless 19:00 BBC News 19:30 BBC London News 20:00 The One Show 20:30 Inside Out 21:00 EastEnders 21:30 Panorama 22:00 Britain’s Great War 23:00 BBC News 23:25 Regional News and Weather 23:35 Have I Got Old News for You 24:20 BBC News: The Editors 24:50 The Graham Norton Show

08:05 Sheriffs Are Coming 08:50 Helicopter Heroes Down Under 09:20 Paul Hollywood’s Pies & Puds 10:05 Britain and the Sea 11:05 Britain’s Empty Homes 11:35 Click 12:00 BBC News 12:30 BBC World News 13:00 Daily Politics 14:00 Britain’s First Photo Album 14:30 Cash in the Attic 15:15 Great British Bake Off 16:15 Coast 17:15 Secret Life of Elephants 18:15 Flog It! 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Great British Railway Journeys 20:00 The Great Interior Design Challenge 21:00 University Challenge 21:30 Food & Drink 22:00 The Many Faces of 23:00 The Sarah Millican Television Programme 23:30 Newsnight

07:00 Daybreak 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 ITV News and Weather 14:55 ITV News Central 15:00 Dickinson’s Real Deal 16:00 Alan Titchmarsh Show 16:59 ITV Central Weather 17:00 Britain’s Best Bakery 18:00 The Chase 19:00 ITV News Central 19:30 ITV News and Weather 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Coronation Street 21:00 A Great Welsh Adventure with Griff Rhys Jones 21:30 Coronation Street 22:00 The Bletchley Circle 23:00 ITV News at Ten 23:30 ITV News Central 23:35 Piers Morgan’s Life Stories 24:35 The Unforgettable

07:25 Countdown 08:10 Will & Grace 09:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 10:00 Frasier 10:30 Frasier 11:00 Secret Millionaire Australia 12:00 Sarah Beeny’s Selling Houses 13:00 Channel 4 News 13:05 Come Dine with Me 13:35 Come Dine with Me 14:10 Come Dine with Me 14:40 Come Dine with Me 15:10 A Place in the Sun: Winter Sun 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Come Dine with Me 18:30 Coach Trip 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 21:00 The Jump 22:00 Benefits Street 23:00 Three Wives, One Husband - Married to the Mormons 23:55 My Daughter the Teenage Nudist

07:00 Childrens TV 09:10 Peppa Pig 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:25 Peppa Pig 09:30 Bert and Ernie’s Great Adventures 09:35 Toby’s Travelling Circus 09:45 Milkshake! Show Songs 09:50 Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00 Tickety Toc 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:15 The Hotel Inspector 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Celebrity Big Brother 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 NCIS 16:15 Carolina Moon 18:00 5 News 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 NewsTalk Live 20:00 Go Hard or Go Home 21:00 Police Interceptors 22:00 Celebrity Big Brother 23:00 Helix 24:00 Celebrity Big Brother’s Bit on the Side

07:00 Emmerdale 07:25 Coronation Street 07:55 Coronation Street 08:25 You’ve Been Framed!

08:45 Jeremy Kyle Show USA 09:30 Dinner Date 10:30 The Real Housewives of Atlanta 11:30 The Real Housewives of Orange County 12:30 Millionaire Matchmaker 13:30 Emmerdale 14:00 Coronation Street 14:30 Coronation Street 15:00 The Jeremy Kyle Show 17:10 The Real Housewives of Orange County 18:05 Millionaire Matchmaker 19:00 Dinner Date 20:00 You’ve Been Framed!

20:30 You’ve Been Framed!

21:00 Two and a Half Men 21:30 Two and a Half Men 22:00 Mom 22:30 Dads 23:00 The Job Lot 23:30 Plebs 24:00 Fake Reaction

07:00 Switched 07:25 Ugly Betty 08:10 Charmed 09:00 Glee 10:00 Rules of Engagement 10:30 Rules of Engagement 11:00 Made in Chelsea 12:00 Charmed 13:30 Hollyoaks 14:00 How I Met Your Mother 14:30 How I Met Your Mother 15:00 The Big Bang Theory 15:30 The Big Bang Theory 16:00 Made in Chelsea 17:00 The Jump 17:30 Rules of Engagement 18:00 How I Met Your Mother 18:30 How I Met Your Mother 19:00 The Big Bang Theory 19:30 The Big Bang Theory 20:00 Hollyoaks 20:30 How I Met Your Mother 21:00 Brooklyn Nine-Nine 21:30 2 Broke Girls 22:00 Revenge 23:00 What Happens in Kavos 24:00 The Big Bang Theory 24:30 The Big Bang Theory

24-30 JAN 2014

37

Tuesday 28th January BBC1

BBC2

ITV1

CHANNEL 4

CHANNEL 5

itv2

E4

07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Wanted Down Under 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 The Sheriffs Are Coming 12:45 Helicopter Heroes Down Under 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News; Weather 14:30 Regional News and Weather 14:45 Doctors 15:10 Father Brown 16:00 Perfection 16:45 Escape to the Country 17:30 Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 18:15 Pointless 19:00 BBC News 19:30 BBC London News 20:00 The One Show 20:30 EastEnders 21:00 Holby City 22:00 Death in Paradise 23:00 BBC News 23:25 Regional News and Weather 23:35 The Zoo Next Door 24:35 Little Voice

07:05 Homes Under the Hammer 08:05 Sheriffs Are Coming 08:50 Helicopter Heroes Down Under 09:20 Paul Hollywood’s Pies & Puds 10:05 Great Continental Railway Journeys 11:05 Britain’s Empty Homes 11:35 HARDtalk 12:00 BBC News 12:30 BBC World News 13:00 Daily Politics 14:00 Britain’s First Photo Album 14:30 Cash in the Attic 15:15 Great British Bake Off 16:15 Coast 17:15 Secret Life of Elephants 18:15 Flog It! 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Great British Railway Journeys 20:00 The Great Interior Design Challenge 21:00 Children’s Emergency Rescue 22:00 Inside the Animal Mind 23:00 House of Fools 23:30 Newsnight

07:00 Daybreak 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 ITV News 14:55 ITV News Central 15:00 Dickinson’s Real Deal 16:00 Alan Titchmarsh Show 16:59 ITV Central Weather 17:00 Britain’s Best Bakery 18:00 The Chase 19:00 ITV News Central 19:30 ITV News 20:00 Emmerdale 21:00 Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

22:00 Paul O’Grady’s Animal Orphans 23:00 ITV News at Ten 23:30 ITV News Central 23:35 Sports Life Stories 24:35 The Crocodile Hunter Diaries

07:25 Countdown 08:10 Will & Grace 08:35 Will & Grace 09:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 10:00 Frasier 10:30 Frasier 11:00 Secret Millionaire USA 12:00 Sarah Beeny’s Selling Houses 13:00 Channel 4 News 13:05 Come Dine with Me 13:35 Come Dine with Me 14:05 Come Dine with Me 14:35 Come Dine with Me 15:10 A Place in the Sun: Winter Sun 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Come Dine with Me 18:30 Coach Trip 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 21:00 The Jump 22:00 The Taste 23:00 Benefits Street 24:00 The Undateables

07:00 Childrens TV 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:25 Peppa Pig 09:30 Bert and Ernie’s Great Adventures 09:35 Toby’s Travelling Circus 09:45 Milkshake! Show Songs 09:50 Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00 Tickety Toc 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:15 The Hotel Inspector 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Celebrity Big Brother 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 NCIS 16:15 Deadly Honeymoon 18:00 5 News 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 NewsTalk Live 20:00 The Dog Rescuers 20:30 Highland Emergency 21:00 Gibraltar: Britain in the Sun 22:00 Celebrity Big Brother 23:00 Botched Up Bodies 24:00 Celebrity Big Brother’s Bit on the Side

07:00 Emmerdale 07:25 Coronation Street 07:55 Coronation Street 08:25 You’ve Been Framed!

08:45 Jeremy Kyle Show USA 09:30 Dinner Date 10:30 The Real Housewives of Atlanta 11:30 The Real Housewives of Orange County 12:30 Millionaire Matchmaker 13:30 Emmerdale 14:00 Coronation Street 14:30 Coronation Street 15:00 The Jeremy Kyle Show 16:05 The Jeremy Kyle Show 17:10 The Real Housewives of Orange County 18:05 Millionaire Matchmaker 19:00 Dinner Date 20:00 You’ve Been Framed!

20:30 You’ve Been Framed!

21:00 Two and a Half Men 21:30 Two and a Half Men 22:00 Die Another Day 24:45 Two and a Half Men

07:00 Switched 07:25 Ugly Betty 08:10 Charmed 09:00 Glee 10:00 Rules of Engagement 10:30 Rules of Engagement 11:00 Made in Chelsea 12:00 Charmed 13:00 Rules of Engagement 13:30 Hollyoaks 14:00 How I Met Your Mother 14:30 How I Met Your Mother 15:00 The Big Bang Theory 15:30 The Big Bang Theory 16:00 Made in Chelsea 17:00 The Jump 18:00 How I Met Your Mother 18:30 How I Met Your Mother 19:00 The Big Bang Theory 19:30 The Big Bang Theory 20:00 Hollyoaks 20:30 How I Met Your Mother 21:00 The Addams Family 23:00 Rude Tube 24:00 8 Out of 10 Cats Uncut 24:50 The Big Bang Theory

wednesday 29th January BBC1

BBC2

ITV1

CHANNEL 4

CHANNEL 5

itv2

E4

07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Wanted Down Under 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 The Sheriffs Are Coming 12:45 Helicopter Heroes Down Under 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News; Weather 14:30 Regional News and Weather 14:45 Doctors 15:10 Father Brown 16:00 Perfection 16:45 Escape to the Country 17:30 Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 18:15 Pointless 19:00 BBC News 19:30 BBC London News 19:55 Party Political Broadcast 20:00 The One Show 21:00 Waterloo Road 22:00 Outnumbered 22:30 Mrs Brown’s Boys 23:00 BBC News 23:25 Regional News and Weather 23:35 Match of the Day

07:00 Homes Under the Hammer 08:00 Sheriffs Are Coming 08:45 Helicopter Heroes Down Under 09:15 Paul Hollywood’s Pies & Puds 10:00 Antiques Roadshow 11:00 Rip Off Food 11:30 See Hear 12:00 BBC News 12:30 Daily Politics 14:00 Britain’s First Photo Album 14:30 Cash in the Attic 15:15 Great British Bake Off 16:15 Coast 17:10 Secret Life of Elephants 18:10 Flog It! 18:55 Party Political Broadcast 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Great British Railway Journeys 20:00 The Great Interior Design Challenge 21:00 The Restaurant Man 22:00 Horizon 23:00 Mock the Week - Again 23:30 Newsnight 24:20 Inside the Animal Mind

07:00 Daybreak 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 ITV News 14:55 ITV News Central 15:00 Dickinson’s Real Deal 16:00 Alan Titchmarsh Show 16:59 ITV Central Weather 17:00 Britain’s Best Bakery 18:00 The Chase 19:00 ITV News Central 19:25 Party Political Broadcast 19:30 ITV News 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Coronation Street 21:00 Midsomer Murders 23:00 ITV News at Ten 23:30 ITV News Central 23:35 Jonathan Ross Show 24:40 Corfu: A Tale of Two Islands

07:25 Countdown 08:10 Will & Grace 08:35 Will & Grace 09:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 10:00 Frasier 10:30 Frasier 11:00 Secret Millionaire USA 12:00 Sarah Beeny’s Selling Houses 13:00 Channel 4 News 13:35 Come Dine with Me 14:05 Come Dine with Me 14:40 Come Dine with Me 15:10 A Place in the Sun: Winter Sun 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Come Dine with Me 18:30 Coach Trip 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 21:00 The Jump 22:00 24 Hours in A&E 23:00 BodyShock 24:00 Strictly Baby Disco

07:10 Childrens TV 09:00 Fifi and the Flowertots 09:10 Peppa Pig 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:25 Peppa Pig 09:30 Bert and Ernie’s Great Adventures 09:35 Toby’s Travelling Circus 09:45 Milkshake! Show Songs 09:50 Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00 Tickety Toc 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:15 The Hotel Inspector 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Celebrity Big Brother 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 NCIS 16:15 Fatal Trust 18:00 5 News 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 NewsTalk Live 20:00 Extraordinary People 21:00 Ultimate Emergency Bikers 22:00 Celebrity Big Brother 23:30 Celebrity Big Brother’s Bit on the Side

07:00 Emmerdale 07:55 You’ve Been Framed!

08:25 You’ve Been Framed!

08:45 Jeremy Kyle Show USA 09:30 Dinner Date 10:30 The Real Housewives of Atlanta 11:30 The Real Housewives of Orange County 12:30 Millionaire Matchmaker 13:30 Emmerdale 14:30 You’ve Been Framed!

15:00 The Jeremy Kyle Show 16:05 The Jeremy Kyle Show 17:10 The Real Housewives of Orange County 18:05 Millionaire Matchmaker 19:00 Dinner Date 20:00 You’ve Been Framed!

20:30 You’ve Been Framed!

21:00 Two and a Half Men 21:30 Two and a Half Men 22:00 Benidorm 23:00 The Magaluf Weekender 24:00 Fake Reaction 24:50 Two and a Half Men

07:00 Switched 07:25 Ugly Betty 08:10 Charmed 09:00 Glee 10:00 Rules of Engagement 10:30 Rules of Engagement 11:00 Made in Chelsea 12:00 Charmed 13:00 Rules of Engagement 13:30 Hollyoaks 14:00 How I Met Your Mother 14:30 How I Met Your Mother 15:00 The Big Bang Theory 15:30 The Big Bang Theory 16:00 Made in Chelsea 17:00 The Jump 18:00 How I Met Your Mother 18:30 How I Met Your Mother 19:00 The Big Bang Theory 19:30 The Big Bang Theory 20:00 Hollyoaks 20:30 How I Met Your Mother 21:00 The Big Bang Theory 21:30 The Big Bang Theory 22:00 The Tomorrow People 23:00 Rude Tube 24:00 The Inbetweeners 24:35 The Midnight Beast

thursday 30th January BBC1

BBC2

ITV1

CHANNEL 4

CHANNEL 5

itv2

E4

07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Wanted Down Under 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 The Sheriffs Are Coming 12:45 Helicopter Heroes Down Under 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News; Weather 14:30 Regional News and Weather 14:45 Doctors 15:10 Father Brown 16:00 Perfection 16:45 Escape to the Country 17:30 Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 18:15 Pointless 19:00 BBC News 19:30 BBC London News 20:00 The One Show 20:30 EastEnders 21:00 Hidden Kingdoms 22:00 Silent Witness 23:00 BBC News 23:25 Regional News and Weather 23:35 Question Time 24:35 This Week

07:05 Homes Under the Hammer 08:05 Sheriffs Are Coming 08:50 Helicopter Heroes Down Under 09:20 Paul Hollywood’s Pies & Puds 10:05 Tudor Monastery Farm 11:05 Rip Off Food 11:35 HARDtalk 12:00 BBC News 12:30 BBC World News 13:00 Daily Politics 14:00 Britain’s First Photo Album 14:30 Cash in the Attic 15:15 Great British Bake Off 16:15 Coast 17:15 Lost Land of the Tiger 18:15 Flog It! 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Great British Railway Journeys 20:00 The Great Interior Design Challenge 21:00 Restoration Home One Year On 22:00 Dan Snow’s History of the Winter Olympics 23:00 Charlie Brooker’s Weekly Wipe

07:00 Daybreak 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 ITV News 14:55 ITV News Central 15:00 Dickinson’s Real Deal 16:00 Alan Titchmarsh Show 16:59 ITV Central Weather 17:00 Britain’s Best Bakery 18:00 The Chase 19:00 ITV News Central 19:30 ITV News 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Tonight 21:00 Emmerdale 21:30 Birds of a Feather 22:00 Benidorm 23:00 ITV News at Ten 23:30 ITV News Central 23:35 The Lying Game: Crimes That Fooled Britain 24:35 Strictly Kosher

07:25 Countdown 08:10 Will & Grace 08:35 Will & Grace 08:55 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:25 Everybody Loves Raymond 10:00 Frasier 10:30 Frasier 11:00 Secret Millionaire USA 12:00 Sarah Beeny’s Selling Houses 13:00 Channel 4 News 13:05 Come Dine with Me 13:35 Come Dine with Me 14:05 Come Dine with Me 14:35 Come Dine with Me 15:10 A Place in the Sun: Winter Sun 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Come Dine with Me 18:30 Coach Trip 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 21:00 The Jump 22:00 The Undateables 23:00 Bodyshockers: My Tattoo Hell 24:00 24 Hours in A&E

07:00 Childrens TV 09:00 Fifi and the Flowertots 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:25 Peppa Pig 09:35 Toby’s Travelling Circus 09:50 Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00 Tickety Toc 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:15 Highland Emergency 12:45 Celebrity Big Brother 14:10 5 News Lunchtime 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 NCIS 16:10 A Trick of the Mind 18:00 5 News 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 NewsTalk Live 20:00 Winter Road Rescue 21:00 World’s 22:00 The Truth About Your Dog’s Food 23:00 Kids Who Kill 24:00 CSI: NY

07:00 Emmerdale 07:25 Coronation Street 07:55 You’ve Been Framed!

08:25 You’ve Been Framed!

09:15 Jeremy Kyle Show USA 10:00 Dinner Date 11:00 The Real Housewives of Atlanta 11:30 The Real Housewives of Orange County 12:30 Millionaire Matchmaker 13:30 Emmerdale 14:00 Coronation Street 14:30 You’ve Been Framed!

15:00 The Jeremy Kyle Show 16:05 The Jeremy Kyle Show 17:10 The Real Housewives of Orange County 18:05 Millionaire Matchmaker 19:00 Dinner Date 20:00 You’ve Been Framed!

20:30 You’ve Been Framed!

21:00 Two and a Half Men 21:30 Two and a Half Men 22:00 Tricked 23:00 Fake Reaction 23:50 Mom 24:20 Dads 24:50 Two and a Half Men

07:00 Switched 07:25 Ugly Betty 08:10 Charmed 09:00 Glee 10:00 Rules of Engagement 10:30 Rules of Engagement 11:00 Made in Chelsea 12:00 Charmed 13:00 Rules of Engagement 13:30 Hollyoaks 14:00 How I Met Your Mother 14:30 How I Met Your Mother 15:00 The Big Bang Theory 15:30 The Big Bang Theory 16:00 Made in Chelsea 17:00 The Jump 18:00 How I Met Your Mother 18:30 How I Met Your Mother 19:00 The Big Bang Theory 19:30 The Big Bang Theory 20:00 Hollyoaks 20:35 How I Met Your Mother 21:00 The Big Bang Theory 21:30 The Big Bang Theory 22:00 Brooklyn Nine-Nine 22:30 2 Broke Girls 23:00 The Midnight Beast 23:30 The Inbetweeners 24:05 The IT Crowd 24:40 The IT Crowd

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24-30 JAN 2014

Life travel

The Romance of Iced Toes IF ANY village in Castellón deserves the title of Romantic Spain, Aín really hits the button, with its white painted houses, rare en mas outside Andalucia, cobbled narrow streets filled with floribunda, and icy water flowing from the village font. It was a complete surprise to find it, and I almost drove past without a second glance.

Everywhere is spotless; here’s a tiny village whose inhabitants are proud of where they live. Not a scrap of paper fluttered about in the breeze, not a dog turd lay in wait for the unwary, or an empty coke can floated in the fountain. Every street was lined with plant pots bursting with greenery and vivid colour, and a bright purple spread of bougainvillea framed the arched doorway of the petit village church, the Iglesia San Ambroso.

It was delightful wandering through the alternating shade and sun of the narrow streets.

It was one of those lethargic summer afternoons, where the heat of the past few days had faded and the sky was a hazy washed-out blue. A light breeze kept its cool, and even in the shade the temperature was warm enough to raise a light sweat if you walked too quickly – so I didn’t. All I wanted to do was lie on a warm rock and dangle my feet in the water, so I made my way down the ziggurat streets to the river running in the fold of the ravine over which half the village hangs.

I dropped down through the near vertical streets but when I reached the river I found there were no rocks big enough for lounging on, so I ended up stretched out on a short cement path, occasionally hauling myself upright to plunge my feet into the bubbling flow. As they slowly turned to ice in the gin clear water, I watched tiny sticklebacks weaving around my toes, as water dragons skittered across the surface. The clarity of the water made it clear that my toenails needed clipping. Concrete slab or no, rarely has my bed been so luscious for a siesta, as I drifted off to the rippling and splashing of the miniature waterfall a metre from my head.

Having dozed and reflected that had I brought my paella, a bag of rice and a rabbit or two, I could have made lunch at the paelleros at my side, but as I hadn’t I climbed the narrow track up the other side of the shallow ravine.

I heard the hectic gurgling of water as it whooshed through the acequias, the network of irrigation channels, many of which in these mountains have been in use since the Moors established the first terraced agricultural system over a thousand years ago. In fact, Aín is Arabic for water, and given the amount of water flowing from the font, through the acequias and in the river, it was aptly named.

As I topped the short rise and started along a rough track, with the village spread along the hillside opposite, I saw the hermita and the calvario, (the stations of the cross), with its row of cypress trees, that instant identifier in Spain of either an hermita or a cementario.

As far as I can remember, this is the only

calvario I’ve come across that is on the flat and not scaling a steep hillside. For that reason alone I decided to have a look at it when I passed by later on.

I followed the curving path back down the hill, and passed the sparkling water of the village swimming pool, with jumping and splashing kids and adults picnicking or dozing in the shade. I added another ‘must carry in the car’ item to my list, alongside my walking boots – always take swimming trunks and a towel, because I would have loved to have thrown myself into the shimmering pool – but at least my feet were still smiling from the paddle earlier.

When I arrived at the calvario, not only did I find that it was flat, but that it was also in a straight line, another first, and it was one of the most delightful I’ve ever seen. Between each of the tall cypress stood tinajas, the large ‘Ali Baba’ pots once used for storing oil and wine, plant pots and small troughs full of plants that had obviously been the centre of someone’s loving care and attention. Too often plants in public places are just thrown in the ground and left to fend for themselves, but here the gardener cared, and the care showed in the abundant greenery. From two large cracked and much cement-repaired tinajas grew two ivy plants, whose years had led them to finally meeting and forming a frame for the central of the three arches to the portico at the entrance to the hermita.

In the shade of the portico stood alone and battered old bentwood chair, its woven cane seat long ago replaced by some rough wooden slats. I sat for a while looking out over the garden and the village, just listening to the breeze flutter through the cypress. It was sublime, and as much a temple as the consecrated hermita behind me.

Having visited literally hundreds of villages and towns in the Valencian Community over the last few years, I can safely say that Aín is one of the most delightful. It has no museum, no art gallery and no fancy must-eat-at restaurants, but it is the peak of romantic Spain during the summer; a place to walk, make a paella with the family beside the river, splash in the open-air swimming pool or simply lie down beside it and drift in and out of a siesta.

To discover more about Spain, visit www.derekworkman-journalist.com and http://derekworkman.wordpress.com. http://valpaparazzi.wordpress.com: random notes about life in Spain.

Derek Workman’s books, Inland Trips from the Costa Blanca and Small Hotels and Inns of Eastern Spain are available from most good books shops or direct from the publisher, Santana Books, www.santanabooks.com or Tel. 952 485 838.

Life events

Romeo loves Juliet MODERN LOVERS Tony and Maria are the troubled lovers in West Side Story, the updated musical based on Shakespeare’s classic tragedy Romeo and Juliet.

THE BARD described the two principal characters in his classic as a “pair of star crossed lovers” and it holds true for the musical that is set on the mean streets of New York. Footlights Youth Theatre is bringing West Side Story to the Costa Blanca stage and Joe Altamira and Abigail Tucker play Tony and Maria – heading a 25-strong cast.

West Side Story runs at the Casa de Cultura in Calpe from Thursday 13th February to Saturday 15th February. The show moves to the Teatro Municipal Torrevieja for Saturday 22nd February and finally to the Auditori in Teulada on Friday 7th March.

Ticket prices are 12€, with a reduction for children under 14 of 8€ for the Calpe shows only, and the performance on Saturday 15th February is at the earlier time of 6pm – on all other nights West Side Story begins at 8pm.

Calpe tickets are available by calling 652 404 798 or by email to footlights. boxoffice@gmail.com. The Torrevieja Box Office is open Tuesday to Friday between 6pm and 8pm, and the Teulada Box Office is open between Wednesday to Saturday between 11am and 1pm and 6pm to 8pm.

In addition, tickets for both Torrevieja and Teulada can be obtained online via www.instanticket.es Tony (Joe Altamira) and Maria (Abigail Tucker)

24-30 JAN 2014

39

Keep on smiling!

THE FOLK at the Smile Charity Group keep on clocking up success after success, and have every reason to keep smiling, and to bring smiles to so many less fortunate people.

Following the success of their Pantomime ‘tour’, which raised almost 2,000€ for local charities, namely Elche Children’s Home, Benijofar Crisis Appeal, and Altea Children’s Home, they have had another sell out night on 22nd January, when Woody & The Peckers once again delivered their superb Rock ‘n’ Roll night.

Look out for their next offering, on 13th February, when the phenomenal Maria O’Hara, will be bringing her talents to ‘Restaurante El Alto La Dolores’. Maria has performed around the world and we are very lucky to have her on the Costa Blanca. She will be supported by some talented guest artistes. The event will be in aid of the DEBRA Butterfly Children Appeal.

Tickets are available from the Restaurant itself, as well as The Post Room Benijófar, and the Card Place in Benimar, priced at just 10€ for a meal and show.

40

24-30 JAN 2014

Life spanish

Basic Spanish for everyday needs

by Jane Cronin

Negatives, questions and “you” forms FIRST OF all we need to check last week’s homework. Here are the sentences I asked you to translate, with the right answers.

I don’t want to speak English.

I’m not going to open the door.

I can’t cook very well.

I need to work a little.

“No quiero hablar inglés” “No voy a abrir la puerta” “No puedo cocinar muy bien” “Necesito trabajar un poco”.

The first three sentences are negative and therefore start with “No” despite the fact that in each of the English sentences the negatives are formed in three different ways. Obviously in these articles we can’t hear the spoken sentences, but one thing to point out here is that when one word ends in a vowel sound and the next word begins with a vowel sound, they run together when spoken. So “quiero hablar”, would sound like “quieroablar” (as the letter H is silent) and “voy a abrir” would become “voyabrir” with the two “a” sounds merging together. It’s important to get practice at tuning in to spoken Spanish so that you can start recognizing these features of the language.

Now let’s see what else we can do with the words we have covered so far. We have learnt that “I words” (QUIERO, PUEDO, NECESITO, VOY A) can go in front of infinitive verbs to form really useful sentences about what we want, need, can or are going to do. We have also seen that by placing the word “no” in front, we can make these sentences negative.

Now we are going to see how these same basic forms can be turned into questions. This is incredibly easy; in fact it’s so easy people are inclined not to believe it and try to complicate things. To make these sentences into questions, all you have to do is give your voice a questioning intonation.

When writing we place a question mark at the end and an upside down question mark at the beginning of the sentence, to indicate the same thing.

For example: PUEDO ABRIR LA PUERTA means “I can open the door”. If I say exactly the same sentence making my voice sound questioning, I’ve changed it to “Can I open to the door?” which is written in Spanish ¿PUEDO ABRIR LA PUERTA? Yes, it really is that simple! Let’s see what else we can do.

“PUEDO VOLVER MAÑANA” “I can return tomorrow.” “¿PUEDO VOLVER MAÑANA?” “Can I return tomorrow?”

“PUEDO CAMBIAR MI DINERO” “I can change my money” “¿PUEDO CAMBIAR MI DINERO?” “Can I change my money?

“NECESITO TRABAJAR HOY” “I need to work today” “¿NECESITO TRABAJAR HOY? “Do I need to work today?”

“NECESITO BEBER MUCHA AGUA” “I need to drink a lot of water” “¿NECESITO BEBER MUCHA AGUA?” “Do I need to drink a lot of water?

Obviously in the case of ¿Quiero? (Do I want?) and ¿Voy a? (am I going to?) it is more difficult to find sentences that make sense, so as a special little bonus today we will learn the words for “You want” and “You are going to” – which can instantly be used to mean “Do you want?” and

“Are you going to?”

“You want” is “QUIERES” and “you are going to” is “VAS A” so therefore: “Do you want to cook?” is “¿QUIERES COCINAR?” “Are you going to sleep?” is “¿VAS A DORMIR?” Just to recap what we have just done – QUIERO means “I want”, and by changing the final letter we can turn it into QUIERES meaning “you want”. Something similar happens with VOY A “I’m going to”, we can turn it into “VAS A” to mean “you are going to”. I think I should mention as well, that these refer to an informal “you”, as in Spanish we can be formal and informal in the way we address people. However nowadays in Spain these distinctions are not so important so we’ll talk in more detail about that later.

This all might sound rather simple, but you may not have yet realized just what potential we have opened up already, just by learning these small changes. It is not necessary to learn all the whys and wherefores of how verbs change in order to start forming all kinds of sentences! So far we have only used six verbs and six “I” or “you” expressions so I think next week we’ll need some more verbs and other simple words to spread the net even wider. In the meantime though – here’s your homework: What do these mean in English? No quiero volver a casa hoy. ¿Quieres bailar conmigo? Voy a hablar con mi amigo. ¿Vas a beber vino? No necesito comer ahora. ¿Puedo aprender más?

Happy translating and see you next week!

Life books

Danny Collins - copydjp@gmail.com

The Hunger Games – Catching Fire THIS IS a science fiction novel, part of a trilogy by American writer Suzanne Collins, written in the voice of the 16-year-old heroine Katniss Everdeen, who lives in the post- apocalyptic nation of Panem, where the states of North America once existed.

The Capitol, a highly advanced metropolis, exercises political control over the rest of the nation. The Hunger Games are an annual event in which one 12 – 18 year old boy and one girl from each of the twelve Districts surrounding the Capitol are selected by lottery to compete in a televised battle to the death. Katniss voluntarily takes her younger sister’s place in the Hunger Games, but is faced with a huge dilemma. Her defiance of the regime has earned her the enmity of President Snow, putting her family and friends at risk. This develops against a background of revolt as the Districts prepare to rise up against the hunger and tyranny with Katniss forced once again into the arena as their involuntary figurehead. You’ll bite your nails to the elbow waiting for book Author: Suzanne Collins Publisher: Scholastic Price: 11.20€ ISBN: 978 1 407109 36 7 Stars 1-10: 8 for its fantasy mode

three. But here’s the good news. The entire trilogy is in print and Book 1 has already been shot as a feature film.

Suduko Answer

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24-30 JAN 2014

Life people

The Costa Blanca’s Top Hypnotherapist Jonathan Gilchrist

Winging your way to the perfect swing with Fast Track Hypnosis ON THE Costa Blanca golf is almost a national sport. Beloved by many, by all ages and both sexes, golf is a welcome addition to any lifestyle.

The mind enjoys a challenge, the body loves keeping in shape and when mind and body are at one a person is never happier!

Challenges are good for the soul, against a tiny golf ball or a golfing buddy! And there’s nothing better than gaining bragging rights, or holding a golf trophy high overhead after a superb day on the course! However, not all of us can win because we simply don’t allow ourselves to do so.

Self-limiting beliefs can and do hamper our ability and affect the way you play, stopping you from attaining your goals.

Sports motivation is relatively new, in use for the last two or three decades. In the 90s it hit the newspapers after Steve Collins beat Chris Eubanks to become the World Boxing Organisation’s Super Middleweight Champion. Collins’ sports psychologist had trained him to deliver two to every one of Eubank’s punches: the papers reported that Collins’ total of six hundred hits completely swamped Eubanks’ 300.

At the 2012 Olympics many competitors left

the changing and preparation areas wearing headphones. I’d bet that a high majority of them were listening to specifically produced motivational recordings.

Of course, not everyone can win. But every competitor can do their very best, because once this happens it forces everyone to up their game.

Many golfers suffer with crises of confidence.

There’s no one else to blame for failure but you and that can be a bitter pill to swallow. Being the centre of attention is a necessary evil but it can add pressure to a situation.

Sports motivation boosts confidence, removes the fear of competition and dismantles the fear of losing.

Sports Motivation combined with hypnosis creates one of the most powerful motivational tools around. Sports psychologists use hypnosis as a part of their therapy because of its efficacious effect. Hypnosis is trauma-free, a state of relaxation where the active mind rests, allowing the subconscious to come to the foreground and make itself available for therapy while we seek the answers as to why, as soon as the green simmers with peace and waits for

your put, your swing immediately crumbles.

We work on your ingrained capabilities, your visualisation skills and improve your competitive skills, boosting your focus and confidence with positive suggestions, as well as providing you with the capability to calm yourself in stressful situations.

If you want to win, you have to think like a winner and if at this moment in time, your game is languishing, your swing is poor, your footwork is sloppy... then Fast Track Hypnosis Sports Motivation Clinic will help you think like a champion.

You’re a winner! A champion! And Fast Track Hypnosis will take you right to the very top!

For more information about any of the above, please contact me by email: jonathangilchristbh@gmail.com or phone: 691 784 954.

Jonathan holds his Fast Track Hypnosis sessions in Cabo Roig, Quesada and Benidorm. For an appointment, brochure or free-of-charge initial consultation contact Jonathan Gilchrist on 691 784 954: Email: jonathangilchristbh@gmail.com www.jonathangilchristinspain.com www.hypnosiscostablanca.com www.thegastroband.com

Autumn Winter Sale now on!

Life horoscopes

Don’t judge a book by its cover. There is no tried and tested way to achieve what it is you are looking for. Changes lie ahead and you are more than prepared to make sacrifices if you need to, when the time comes. The grass seems to be greener on the other side, but do prioritise, and first cut your losses; not your nose to spite your face!

The Cosmos serves you up a distinct double whammy brought about by actions with Saturn and Mercury in cahoots. This serves to highlight something you have thought of, but cautiously avoided, and the midweek actions of Uranus bring it right back to your front door, where you will deal with it your way and not look back.

Mercury squares up to Saturn midweek and this highly sensitive sharing of obligations creates a better framework for you to work with. Cards on the table there is hope and fulfilment where there used to be nagging doubt and remorse. The clock cannot be turned back, but in the current way of working there is only one way to proceed.

One thing is sure, and that is that the entire Cosmos has much need to reward you for your recent rapid response and subsequent taking control when you were required to.

Your positive energies are fuelled by the nostalgic energy of Saturn, reminding you how thing were, and the elemental inspiration of both the Sun and Uranus.

Take care of a minor detail before it is blown out of all proportion; though this does not mean taking the rap for something you didn’t want to get involved with in the first place. The onus could just be turned around on you, and it is time to quietly and astutely put your mark on a suitable solution, without having to take a backward step.

Slow and steady is the right way forward right now, especially as others who didn’t take your advice have come a cropper. You never do anything by halves, but actions here speak louder than words and you have been silent for too long. Nobody who really respects you would wish that you were involved unnecessarily in time wasting.

Mercury gains significant stature as it stands up to the warring elements of Mars this week. Here is the solution to your immediate needs, as you are finding daily alternatives to back your most valid claim. Time will bring down the curtain, but right now you are being shown the very best of alternatives and a loophole in the situation too.

Wily Saturn presides over Mercury as the famed Planet of Communication prepares to pass your true feelings on to those who need to hear it. You have developed greatly both your inner strength and your need to resolve in your showing of your true colours. Helping all concerned to restructure and rethink their objectives is all you need now.

Kenny Corris www.kennycorris.net Mobile: 686 361 594 Tel: 965 878 424

Venus is preparing to Direct, and this week you have experienced the loving energy of someone very special. You are hesitant and bewildered, but whilst you are waiting to find confirmation you are missing out on the spontaneity of a new and viable connection. Throw caution to the wind and just follow your heart on this one, you can’t go wrong!

Mercury’s take on with Mars may seem to be a chance to communicate those things you really do need to pass on to others right now. However, this is a time when silence can speak louder than words; and there is a good chance that it will put things back in order and serve to turn things around quite nicely whilst you get the credit!

The Cosmos is giving you the green light for something that you have started but are yet to finish. Now is the time to get things done and get your house in order once and for all. Energies brought about by an inventive, scheming Uranus and a wily and determined Saturn help to put things back into context once and for all…..at last!

24-30 JAN 2014

An even keel at last, but avoid somebody whose bark is worse then their bite and focus on your own need to move on and achieve that which you must. Finances have to be thrashed out, but here the Cosmos brings solution as a plan becomes reality and a significant success to boot. All achievement is based on your inspiration and hard work!

Kenny’s article and postbag is now being printed monthly

If it’s your birthday this week

Cause and effect have allowed you to take control and to pull things together. It currently seems as if it is one step forward and two steps back, so maintain your stance and aim high, as you consolidate all you know to be true, and work with determination and focused inspiration all around you.

Last weeks crossword answers can be found on page 51.

Quick or Cryptic Crossword

Across 7. Shares (6) 8. Visitor (6) 10. Uniform (7) 11. Concise (5) 12. Small bay (4) 13. Tell-tale (5) 17. Memento (5) 18. Daybreak (4) 22. Perfect (5) 23. Eager desire for wealth (7) 24. Stress (6) 25. Bog (6) Down 1. Largest bird (7) 2. Pardon (7) 3. Aptitude (5) 4. Warlike (7) 5. Vigilant (5) 6. Command (5) 9. Head (9) 14. Effective (7) 15. Main city (7) 16. Vehement (7) 19. Essential (5) 20. Educate (5) 21. Truck (5)

Across 7. It breaks up these endless taxes (6) 8. I’m more confused by this biographical sketch (6) 10. Stop the Spanish officer (7) 11. See 9 Down 12. We turn and hesitate but became a pitcher (4) 13. A practice that attracts a considerable amount of interest (5) 17 & 4 Down. Inexperienced zoo attendants become groundsmen! (5-7) 18 & 1 Down. William, a persevering type, is in the advertising business (4-7) 22. An inclination after tea to go for a walk (5) 23. Come home after everybody else, but live longer (7) 24. A number of notes we hear producing harmony (6) 25. Physical strength for which there could be a thousand different clues (6) Down 1. See 18 Across 2. Describing any flower deliberately sought after (7) 3. A deceptive movement is not easily distinguished, one hears (5) 4. See 17 Across 5 & 6 Down. What tennis-players wear when invited to the Palace! (5-5) 6. See 5 Down 9 & 11 Across. What French capitalists use when facing the wall? (7,2,5) 14. Material per yard as arranged (7) 15. Monetary affairs can get mixed up in legal penalty (7) 16. To be sycophantic is not so sharp! (7) 19. Illegally acquire southern bird (5) 20. Be inclined to favour a caprice (5) 21. Overweight porter (5)

Sudoku

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24-30 JAN 2014

Life health

Alcoholism: some basic truths

ARE YOU finding it increasingly difficult to control your drinking?

Does your drinking usually end in a cocktail of remorse, shame, apologies and promises? Have you left your selfrespect at the bottom of an empty bottle or glass?

DO YOU have black outs (periods in your life

which you cannot remember); suffer from frequent hangovers; nausea; vomiting or shaking and blame one or more of these on something other than the alcohol you have consumed? If so, you are probably in self-denial of the real problem.

Regular drinking to excess can

lead to violence, homelessness, divorce, unemployment, imprisonment, hospitalisation, insanity and premature death. Some or all of these await the alcoholic who does not accept that they have a problem and seek help.

Even if you do not drink every day but your binges are becoming more frequent or more extreme, you may be alcoholic.

But help is available, even if you doubt you need it or that it will work for you. And it doesn’t involve you being confined to an expensive clinic.

At Alcoholics Anonymous there is an army of experts waiting to provide you with the support you need to find a sober and rewarding life. Why are we experts? Because each and every one of the two and a half million worldwide members has been where you find yourself today and has given themselves a new chance in life.

Pick up the phone and call one of the helpline numbers given below.

You will be talking to someone who understands and will freely discuss how they overcame their obsession for alcohol.

If you wish to understand a little about Alcoholics Anonymous, come along, without obligation, to our Open Meeting on Friday 31st January at Calle San Miguel de Salinas (corner of Calle Santomera), Torrevieja: 1pm – 2.15pm.

Even if you do not, yourself, have a drinking problem but your personal or professional life brings you into contact with someone who does, you are more than welcome to attend - it may help you to bring help to them.

Helpline Numbers: Costa Blanca South - 625 912 078 Costa Blanca North - 648 169 045 Los Alcazares - 679 385 105 www.aa-costablanca.org

WHO or Dr Hans Christian Madsen D.C , a chiropract for 32 years.

Member of (Over 22 years experience with lasers) A practic Chiro pean Euro and ish Span sh, the Dani Association.

WHAT ul or stiff Treatments for those who suffer from painf RIES, INJU AL SPIN , RITIS joints, ARTH damaged (Sciatica, disc -related) SPORTS INJURIES, itions, cond ul painf r othe tendons, muscles and -related back and ITUS TINN ed -relat neck including PAINFUL FEET. WHERE Calle Federico Garcia Lorca, No. 90 L8 ge) 03178, Benijofar (opposite the Citroen Gara WHEN Mon - Thurs: 10.00 - 13.30 & 15.00 - 18.00 Friday: 10.00 - 13.30 TEL: 966 185 242 693 371 616/617 info@chiropractor-benijofar.es

Price List

1 Star Aids *

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Channels

Suitability

Domestic Situations One-One Conversation TV

Shopping Public Places

Groups

Family Gatherings Cafes

Small

Groups

Social

Restaurants Parties Social Gatherings Noisy Places

Active Social Large Groups Business Meetings Outdoor Sports Music

Demanding Situations Public Meetings Concerts Theatre Orchestra

Price Euros

550€ Single Aid 995€ Pair

675€ Single Aid 1250€ Pair

775€ Single Aid 1450€ Pair

895€ Single Aid 1690€ Pair

995€ Single Aid 1890€ Pair

4

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24-30 JAN 2014

Beef San Miguel I USED to make a casserole like this on cold winter nights in England when the wind howled through the trees and it seemed like it would never stop raining.

The original recipe was made with brown ale, but I only had a can of San Miguel in the fridge so I used that instead – hence the name. By all means use brown ale if you can find it, but this version was just as good, though a little paler in colour.

• 750g stewing steak cut into bite-sized chunks • 1 large onion, roughly sliced • 2 fat cloves of garlic, peeled and chopped • 3 tbls plain flour mixed with a little salt and pepper • 6 medium carrots, peeled and thickly sliced • 300ml San Miguel cerveza • 300ml beef stock • 2 tbls tomato pureé • 200g mushrooms, quartered • 2 tsps vinegar • 2 tbls French mustard • 1 tbls brown sugar • 1 baguette (or similar loaf) sliced into

rounds • 1 tbls chopped parsley • Olive oil for frying 1. Pre-heat the oven to 160°C. 2. Toss the meat in the seasoned flour to coat evenly then fry in hot oil until browned. Place in an ovenproof casserole and set aside.

3. Fry the onion and garlic until soft then stir in the remainder of the seasoned flour. Gradually stir in the San Miguel and beef stock then add the tomato pureé, sugar, vinegar and 1tbls of the mustard. Heat until boiling then add to the casserole with the carrots and stir well.

Cover the casserole and place in the oven for 1½ hours.

4. Meanwhile spread the remaining mustard on both sides of the sliced bread.

Remove the casserole from the oven and stir in the mushrooms. Place the bread slices on top and press them gently into the cooking juices then return the casserole, uncovered, to the oven for a further ½ hour. Serve immediately, garnished with the chopped parsley.

Serves 4, Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 2 hours.

If you have a recipe you would like to share email your recipe and if possible a photo to rtnmail@roundtownnews.com

Torrevieja’s First International Stew Competition THAT MOST humble but filling of winter food comforts, the Stew, is celebrated for the first time in Torrevieja, with the first International competition, open to one and all. The main objective is to publicise the many uses for traditional Ham, and especially Stew with Meat Balls, a typical dish from the City of Salt.

But in a cosmopolitan city like Torrevieja, this initiative was bound to be open up other discussions, such as the world famous ‘Madrid Stew’ or ‘baked Mountaineer’, ‘cooked Lebaniego’, traditional ‘Cantabria’ or even an Irish Stew. The Competition will be held on February 1st, starting at 10.00am, at the premises of the Municipal Leisure Centre, the OCIO, and all amateur, cooking enthusiasts can participate; regardless of age, profession or nationality. Participation may be either individual or representing an association, group of friends, etc.. As this is an amateur contest, participation is not permitted by professional chefs.

Interested participants must register with the Department of 3rd Age in Torrevieja, located on Calle Maldonado, 5; or e-mail at: granmaestre@cofradiadelcocido.es. To inscribe, just enter your name, surname, telephone and address of the participant or the representative of the group and your Stew recipe’s name.

Each participant can be assisted by two people.

Entries can be made until January 28th, 2014 at 2.00pm. More details available from the organisers regarding the different categories and the rules and regulations.

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24-30 JAN 2014

Life events

Lo Pagan to be a Centre for Nautical Activities LO PAGAN has been chosen by the Council of San Pedro del Pinatar to be a benchmark centre for nautical activities in the region.

by Keith Nicol THIS WEEK the council approved a new contract for the management of the Marine Activities Centre, located in Lo Pagan. Under this new contract, which has a term of 10 years, the contractor will invest 37,400€ for the provision of boats, furniture and equipment.

Recruitment Councillor Angela Gaona, explained that this contract puts the onus of commitment on the concessionaire to collaborate with and sign agreements with associations and sports clubs in the area, such as the local canoeing club, Asociación Deportiva Pinatarense, who train at these facilities every season with 60 canoeists along with hosting sailing schools, canoeing, tournaments and competitions.

The Nautical Activities Centre aims to become a benchmark for training and practice of water sports on the Mar Menor, with its prime location and facilities located on the beach in La Puntica, one of the busiest tourist areas and trading zones in the region.

In this sense, the Councillor for Tourism, Antonio García, said that this measure is part of the promotion of sports and nautical tourism as a catalyst for the local economy.

Paint a tambourine!

THE MURCIA City Museum is launching a workshop on the art of painting and decorating tambourines. Classes will take place in the museum every Saturday in February from 11am to 1pm, beginning 1st February. The workshop is aimed at children aged between five and ten and teaches the history of the craft as well as providing a hands-on tutorial. Children may register via museo.ciudad@ ayto-murcia.es or by calling 96 827 4390 or by visiting the museum.

Life food & drink Arrocería El Sarmiento, Orihuela Costa Typical Spanish Food

THIS UNIQUE Typical Spanish Arrocería, located in a very privileged place along the N322.You can enjoy see view from the bar terrace and there is also a peaceful garden where you can see the elaboration of paellas and grilled meats in its large barbecue area. We are specialist in Rice cooked on The Wood of The Wine.Giving a very special taste in our different types of paella served directly in the pan with a thin layer of thickness. All that in a modern decorated place where we cater for groups and all types of celebrations. In this beautiful surroundings we have every Thursday Flamenco show at 8pm;Friday and Saturday Live music where you can dance or just listen to music. A unique place to spend a emorable experience of Spanish Life.

Book now on 617 263 922 Or visit our web-page: www.arroceriaelsarmiento.com Ctra.N-322 Torrevieja- Cartagena km.5,7 03189 Orihuela CostaAlicante Tel 617 263 922

Pizza y Tarta, Almoradi & Formentera Del Segura Pizza & Cakes

LOCATED BETWEEN 2 supermarkets DIA and Masymas (ex Intermarché) just off round about Formentera Del Segura direction Los Palacios.

This excellent take-away owned by a French Chef since 2003 combined the taste of French and Italian cuisine.You can find delicious homemade cakes,fine pastry Italian pizza to suite all taste, salads and lasagne.

All served in a warm and friendly atmosphere.

We cater for groups and special occasions too like birthday parties!

We open Monday to Thursday 6pm to 11pm,then Friday to Saturday 10Am-3pm and 6pm-11pm.

Try this place you will not be disappointed or call us to make an order. We have 2 places.

966 712 426 Formentera Del Segura 966 783 751 Almoradi (opposite to Mercadona)

24-30 JAN 2014

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24-30 JAN 2014

Life tech

with Aunty Virus

Email auntyvirus@roundtownnews.com

Blue screen of death HI AUNTY: I have a laptop running Windows XP professional.

When I switch on I get as far as Windows XP then a blue screen flashes (too quick to read) and PC goes back to start. I have tried F8 plus others but still the same. Has windows crashed? Any ideas please? Thanks, John – Albir.

Aunty says: Sounds like you have the infamous ‘Blue Screen of Death / BSOD’. This usually occurs when there is a hardware fault on your PC (memory problems, or hard drive problems) or even with software and driver problems. Codes on the BSOD can help in identifying what the problem is. Most Windows PCs are configured to reboot immediately after receiving a serious error like a BSOD, not allowing you to see what the error code is. On most systems you can prevent this reboot by disabling the automatic restart on system failure option - usually via the BIOS options which you can enter by pressing the relevant key when the PC starts booting up (it varies from PC to PC but usually the DEL or/and ‘F’ button does this.

Magnet links HELLO AUNTY: I keep seeing magnets needed to download items. Could you please explain what these do and how I can safely install magnets. Thank you -RM Hughes Aunty says: MAGNET links are used by peer to peer (P2P) / file- sharing / torrent sites.

Click on the magnet link and your download will start in your P2P software. With magnet links, you no longer need to download a ‘.torrent’ file to download a torrent. Magnet links have the same functionality as a ‘.torrent’ file. So you will need to install some P2P software, such as utorrent or VUZE to use MAGNET links.

Normal use

DEAR AUNTY: I recently allowed a friend to access her email account from my computer. All was fine for a few days but as of today she is getting a history of my computer browsing. I am not aware of using my computer in any way different to how I always have although I seem to have recently acquired a programme of Ask and Bing which were not there before. Can you please advise on how I can get back to normal use and also delete these extras?

Aunty says: If she is using the same internet browser as you (Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox), then yes your internet browsing history will be available for her, or anyone else, to see.

However, this will not be the case if they are using a completely different Windows user account, where browser history will only be available to that particular Windows user account. You can, using the options in the browser, clear history on closing the browser, and in some browsers, you can set options not to record browsing history. If Ask and Bing are programs, then go to add / remove programs in the control panel and remove / uninstall them from the list.

Response: Thanks for your assistance. Problem now seems to be resolved.

Gadget Inspector Investigates:

Belkin Laptop Rest THIS WEEK the Inspector takes a look at the Belkin V2 Laptop Cooling Lounge.

Laptops are one of the greatest inventions of the 20th Century. They are still the epitome of portable computing and access to the internet (yes I know tablets are popular too – but some people want a big screen and proper keyboard). However, laptops have one big drawback – heat.

Because the little marvels work so hard to do all the wonderful computerising we take for granted they generate a lot of heat – there’s a lot of power concentrated into that little case.

And this heat has to go somewhere.

Okay the built in fan gets rid of a lot – but the bottom of the laptop also gets pretty hot too. And if you have it on your lap it does a pretty good job of being a wickedly efficient leg warmer.

So after a while we stop, find a table or worst of all rest it on the duvet – very effective at insulating the laptop and stopping it from cooling down. But this needn’t be the case. There is an answer to using your laptop in comfort – the Belkin V2 Laptop Cooling Lounge.

This eccentric name really describes a

padded rest that sits on your lap and has a builtin cooling fan.

The Belkin can accommodate laptops with screens up to 17 inches, and features non slip sections and a curved top to stop the laptop slipping off. The laptop isn’t strapped or clipped on in any way so don’t try any aerobatics with it otherwise it will fall off – but it is perfectly secure for normal use.

The Belkin is not bulky at 39.8 x 32.2 x 5.6 cm and a not uncomfortable 980g and the padding does an excellent job of cushioning even the heaviest laptops. But the real work is done by the built-in fan. Positioned in the centre of the rest the fan is designed with a unique airflow that pulls cool air in smoothly through the ventilation grill then pushes the hot air away from you and your laptop.

Power for the fan is provided by a USB connector that you plug into a spare port on the laptop. The lead is

24-30 JAN 2014

51

Crossword Solutions for 744 Cryptic solutions Across: 1 Cower; 4 Learned; 8 Upright; 9 Noted; 10 Test; 11 Bearably; 13 Cord; 14 Race; 16 Assisted; 17 Brag; 20 Talon; 21 Silence; 22 Redhead; 23 Press.

Down: 1 Court disaster; 2 Words; 3 Rage; 4 Letter; 5 Abnormal; 6 Notable; 7 Daddy-long-legs; 12 Presence; 13 Castled; 15 Ceased; 18 Range; 19 Clap.

Quick solutions Across: 1 Tread; 4 Crammed; 8 Breathe; 9 Jests; 10 Eats; 11 Delusion; 13 Bare; 14 Knee; 16 Normally; 17 Late; 20 Adieu; 21 Matelot; 22 Nursery; 23 Bated.

Down: 1 Table Mountain; 2 Erect; 3 Duty; 4 Clever; 5 Adjourns; 6 Massive; 7 Disinterested; 12 Creature; 13 Barrier; 15 Clumsy; 18 Allot; 19 Stub.

just long enough to reach the front of the attached laptop should it need to go that far.

The Inspectors Verdict: The Belkin V2 Laptop Cooling Lounge is a comfortable and convenient solution to a problem all laptop users face from time to time.

And it’s compact enough to be carried around in a larger laptop bag too!

Please note the following is for information and is not intended as an advertisement - visit www. gadget-hound.co.uk/belkin-cooler/ to purchase the Belkin V2 Laptop Cooling Lounge for 36€. Price quoted includes delivery to Spain and is subject to availability (Euro cost subject to exchange rate at time of purchase).

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24-30 JAN 2014

Focus on Golf Powered by Campbell Lamont Golf, partnered by BayRadio

Lesson One - Take a deep breath and shout FORE! Help! I need somebody...

THERE ARE times in everyone’s life when you feel the need of some support and in golf, as in most areas, it is often best to seek that support as early as possible.

Head 2 Head Tony M – Golf can be very frustrating.

Campbell – At all levels. Just look at Rory and his chequered career.

Tony M – And of course your particular favourite, Tiger.

They have both been through difficult patches.

Campbell – There can’t be many golfers who haven’t experienced those highs and lows. However if you accept that the lows are due to something amiss with your game, then it is always possible to climb back up and enjoy the game even more. Help is always on hand.

Tony M – I know what you mean, I went through a bad patch last week.

Campbell – Don’t tell me you lost your ball again!

Tony M – Oh that is so hilarious. How do you think them up?

Campbell – It just comes naturally . .

Tony M - You know I will get my own back.

Campbell - Yeh right - bring it on!

AND YET it is a fact that when an opponent appears on the first tee and announces that he has had a lesson you feel that the game is already won. You have mentally started to spend the winnings.

Why is that? Surely after benefitting from professional tuition the player is better placed to master the game.

However the truth is frequently summarised in this well know statement Well known factette - The inevitable result of any golf lesson is the instant elimination of the one critical unconscious adjustment that allowed you to compensate for all of your other errors.

So the evidence would appear to demonstrate that lessons merely add to the frustration of the game as the golfer, fresh from the practice ground, will often slice, hook and generally slash his way round the course as if he had just found the clubs in the car park.

TURN BACK THE CLOCK We come back to the contention that help is often so much more beneficial when taken sooner rather than later.

The game isn’t complicated and indeed compared to many other sports it is simple. The ball isn’t going to move, unlike a tennis match where it could be approaching you at 100 mph. You don’t have to make contact with any part of your anatomy so it is not going to slip though your fingers. So how hard can it be? The truth is that every golfer makes it more difficult as you strive for perfection. Watch a youngster, new to golf, and observe how he or she will approach the game. With no inhibitions they will merely place the ball on the tee and with little fuss will take the club back and hit it.

THE SOLUTION!!

So what is the solution? As a seasoned golfer with a head full of compensating faults are we destined to forever carry these around with us and hope that we can combine them efficiently or should we seek to eliminate them, and in so doing forfeit any chance we ever had of winning the occasional rollup?

Well known factette - Never try to keep more than 300 separate thoughts in your mind during your swing.

Surely the solution is to accept the fact that the more entrenched the faults the more patience is required from us in order to regain the simplicity that we once had.

And indeed that is where the evidence would once again support the theory that one lesson is merely the start of that process and whilst there may be scoffing on the first tee following the initial lesson, this will eventually turn to fear as swings are honed, chips are precise and putts are

sunk with deadly precision.

TWO OPTIONS It would appear that the task of improving your golf game is not merely a short sharp shock but much more likely to be a series of regular improvements each one building on what has gone before. Or you could invent a time machine and then go back and start playing at an earlier date.

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24-30 JAN 2014

Life road test

Tim Saunders Independent unbiased car reviewer

Toyota Auris Tourer Hybrid HYBRIDS ARE all very well but they’re generally smaller than traditional cars and therefore less user-friendly.

Well, at least that used to be the case with the likes of the Honda CR-Z. The largest was a hatchback, either a Toyota Prius or the more luxurious Lexus CT200h. No estates. Well, not until Toyota launched the new Auris Hybrid Tourer, which provides the environmentally conscious with a well sized, capable vehicle and also performance.

Things have really moved on since I drove a hybrid a year ago. My first

acquaintance with the striking island blue estate is at night.

It’s always more of a challenge to drive a car you’re unfamiliar with when it’s dark, for obvious reasons. A click of the keyfob and I’m inside. The delivery driver was fairly short by all accounts as my knees are around my neck as I sit in the driver’s seat. It’s easy to adjust. In common with other hybrids I am instantly struck by a feeling of fear as I rummage around for the ignition and even though I push the button start on the right of the steering wheel, there is an unnerving silence.

The automatic box does not look very substantial but on engaging the reverse function it quietly moves backwards.

There is an electric parking brake and a traditional one; the first car I have come across with two. The dashboard looks a bit boxy especially where the sat nav is located; it looks like an afterthought. Over time the driver does become more used to it, though.

It’s a large car, not dissimilar to the Ford Focus estate in terms of styling.

Head on, it’s attractive and the front looks striking and well designed.

The large

panoramic glass roof that stretches from the front to the back of the vehicle has an electric cover and this, in common with those found in Peugeots, is a winning formula. It makes the cabin much lighter when the sun does decide to show its face.

With my growing family we’re having to make use of every bit of space our Victorian terrace house has to offer and so I have cleared the loft to make way for a more imaginative use of this space; office come bedroom. Needless to say I have a great deal of rubbish to take to the tip including old bits of wood and plasterboard and a vacuum cleaner. The cavernous boot swallows it all with ease and a roof box from roofcarriers.co.uk is also a great help. Although I have to push down two of the rear seats to make way for this large load, it is so easy to do; you simply pull a lever on the right of the boot. Removing the security cover in the boot does prove a little more awkward.

FACTS AT A GLANCE: Toyota Auris Touring Sports Excel Hybrid 1.8 CVT T&G New price: 29,520€ Top speed: 112mph 0-60mph: 10.9secs Economy: 49mpg CO2 emissions: 92 g/km For more information about roof boxes visit: www.roofcarriers.co.uk Watch the video at www.testdrives.biz

Advanced motorist Tim Saunders is the former Business and Motoring Editor of the Bournemouth Daily Echo. His regular test reports appear in numerous newspapers, magazines and websites throughout the UK, Ireland and Gibraltar. For more independent unbiased car reviews and videos visit www.testdrives.biz

24-30 JAN 2014

Life cars

Brian Deller Author of Motoring in Spain

Diesel particulate filter to be tested on ITV THOSE OF us with UK registered vehicles will be now able to pay the VED tax only on line. Please read the VOSA web-site by Googling ‘DVLA UK VED payments’ for more information.

The Diesel Particulate Filter which is fitted to cars with EU-5 plus systems but has been used for some time on heavy vehicles, is to be tested as part of the ITV, or as it is called in the UK, the MOT. It appears that some owners have suffered blockage of the DPF due to not ensuring that the automatic cleaning is working and activated properly. Instead of then carrying out the expensive workshop procedure to clear it when it is blocked, they have drilled the ceramic block in the filter thus rendering it ineffective.

It is really a simple task to keep the DPF clean.

We have one on our 2011 Focus and when on a suitable road I regularly give the engine a blast through the (automatic) gears so the hot gasses are blown through the fine filter slots. The car has now done nearly 40,000km with no problems.

Driving slowly on short journeys can exacerbate this problem.

The vehicle should automatically clean the DPF if operated correctly and if you are not sure, ask your agency service advisor for your make of car. If you bought it new, it should have been explained at the time of delivery.

Take precautions against theft of your vehicle’s catalytic converter. Reports are being received where thieves are stealing the catalytic converters in modern petrol-engined vehicle exhaust systems. As they are an essential part of keeping exhaust pollution down and you will know when it has been stolen by the noisy exhaust as the thieves use a hacksaw to cut the box out of the exhaust system, and of course

the vehicle will then fail the pollution tests, noise and pollution, during the ITV or MOT. They are very expensive to replace, up to 1,000€, and as for the petrol types, they have a structure inside which is coated with platinum, an element which costs much more than gold. I suggest that if you park your car in a public place especially overnight, you get an expert to install a steel guard so it cannot be easily accessed or an effective burglar alarm.

There is much more detailed information on all motoring subjects in my book. Brian Juan (John) Deller, Malaga, author, ‘Motoring in Spain’ www.spainvia.com.

Tel: 666 888 870 Brian Deller, author, book Motoring in Spain, ISBN No 978 84 611 9278 6. Shops’ addresses in my web site at: www.spainvia.com/bookshopslist.htm

NEW CARS available to view in our showroom in CALPE 2009 MODEL,RENAULT CLIO 1.2 EMOTION Eco 2, (50mpg) 5 dr, aqua blue met, with grey trim, a/c, c/d, cruise, high spec, low kms

2012 RENAULT TWIZY AUTO, 2 seater fully electric car, pearl white met, gull wing doors 5995€ 2004 OPEL ZAFIRA 2.0DTI DIESEL 7 seater gunmetal metallic with grey trim, alloys, a/c, c/d 5,995€ Reduced now 4,995€

2002 TOYOTA CELICA 1.8 VVTI COUPE

6995€

2011 BMW 320D AUTO X-DRIVE-4x4 LTD EDITION Smoke silver met with cream Dakota leather, nav, clima, PDF. full spec, too much to list. (Cost new 48,000€) 24,950€ Reduced now 23,950€ 2008 HONDA CRV 2.2 I CTDI DIESEL platinum grey metallic climate , alloys, 1 owner, only 80k, 11,995€ 2009 FIAT 500 1.2 LOUNGE,SPECIAL pearl white metallic with contrasting trim, alloys, panoramic glass roof, a/c c/d, ONLY 5k, as new REDUCED >>>>>>>> 8,995€

2004 OPEL ZAFIRA 2.0DTI DIESEL

7 seater, gunmetal metallic with grey trim, alloys, a/c, c/d REDUCED >>>>>>

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2005 VW GOLF GTI DSG AUTO tornado red with black leather,climate, alloys, huge spec, 8,995€ Reduced now 7,995€ 2006 VW GOLF 1.9TDI DIESEL, 5 DR dark blue met, with charcoal trim, climate & navigation 6995€ 2009 MODEL, RENAULT CLIO 1.2 EMOTION Eco 2, (50mpg) 5 dr, aqua blue met, with grey trim, a/c, c/d, cruise, high spec, low kms 6995€ 2006 MODEL, FORD FOCUS 1.6 AUTOMATIC. 4 dr silver with grey trim, climate/ Ac, c/d, electric windows, remote locking, 5995€

2005 CHEVROLET LACETTI 1.4 SE 5dr.silver with grey velour trim,a/c c/d,low km,s.

3995€

silver with grey sports trim,a/c, c/ d, alloys,very low km,s, as new

REDUCED >>>

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2002 TOYOTA CELICA 1.8 VVTI COUPE,silver with grey sports trim,a/c, c/ d, alloys,very low km,s, as new, 5,995€ Reduced now 4,995€ 2005 NISSAN ALMERA 1.8 5 DR HATCHBACK. Silver with charcoal trim, climate , alloys, c/d, low kms 4,995€ Reduced now 3,995€ 2004 RENAULT LAGUNA 2.0 AUTOMATIC priviledge. white with grey half leather trim, alloys, xenons, c/d, 1 owner REDUCED >>>>>>>> 4995€ 2003 SEAT IBIZA1.4 AUTOMATIC 5 DR white with grey trim, a/c. c/d, remote locking, low kms 4995€

2003 SMART FOR-TWO PURE, SEMI AUTO- TIPTRONIC Black with grey trim, c/d a/c,p/ex to clear REDUCED >>>>>>

2995€

2005 CHEVROLET LACETTI 1.4 SE 5dr.silver with grey velour trim,a/c c/d,low km,s.

3995€ 2005 MAZDA 6 TS2 2.0, 5 door hatch, blue met, with black trim, climate, alloys, cruise, BOSE hi-fi 5,995€ Reduced now 3,995€ 2003 SMART FOR-TWO PURE, SEMI AUTO- TIPTRONIC, Black with grey trim, c/d a/c,p/ex to clear 2995€

MOTORCYCLES

2007 PIAGGIO MP3 3 WHEEL SCOOTER

CASH FOR YOUR CAR

2495€

Tel: 965 876 030

Mob: 699 034 138

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2011 CITROEN NC3 1.4 Hdi 1.4 70 sx in silver metallic 30,500kms like new AC Cdradio New model c3 HKR 10,500 € 2011 CITROEN NC3 1.4i Tonic in arctic white 25,000kms AC CD Radio this car is like new HJX 10,000 € 2010 CITROEN BERLINGO III XTR+ 1.6Hdi 115 in Arctic white with climate, cruise, alloys, Modutop Moon roof GYF 13,500 € 2010 CITROEN XSARA PICASSO 1.6 hdi sx+ 92 hp with 60,000kms one owner full history climate control etc GYV 9,300 € 2010 CITROEN C1 Audace 1.0i AUTOMATIC CMP 5 door A/A CD Radio Silver metallic paintwork very economical GZB 7,500 € 2006 CITROEN C4 1.6 Hdi collecion in silver blue 130,000kms very economical motor car drives well DVZ 5,300 € 2005 CITROEN C4 2.0 Hdi EXCLUSIVE in blue metallic Climate control cd radio park sensors 132,000kms DGM 4,900 € 2005 CITROEN C4 COUPE 1.6Hdi In Gold Metallic paintwork Cd radio Climate control with 120,000Kms (P) DJL 6,000 € 2005 CITROEN XSARA PICASSO 2.0Hdi Sx+ in silver paint Climate control alloys Very clean car CD player DSR 5,900 € 2005 CITROEN XSARA PICASSO 2.0Hdi exclusive with 78,000kms excellent condition CD radio Climate DNR 6,300 € 2005 CITROEN C3 1.4i desire in red metallic paint 93,000kms A/C cd radio Right hand drive on Spanish plates GNJ 3,000 € 2003 CITROEN XSARA PICASSO 1.6i sx in lovely silver paint with Climate control alloys cd radio 96,000kms CJG 4,000 € 2010 FORD C-MAX 1.6TDCI TITANIUM with panoramic roof climate control cruise control ONLY 12,800kms GYC 12,500 € 2007 FORD MONDEO 2.0Tdci TITANIUM in panther black metallic beautiful condition with 80,000kms 1 owner FWM 7,500 € 2000 FORD KA 1.3i Collection with only 64,000kms in new condition with new Tyres and ITV Holiday home car A-EH 2,400 €

Classified Ads 24-30 JAN 2014

All Major Credit Cards Accepted - 0.31€ per word + IVA

Book your advert now 902 118 999 (ext 2)

email: classifieds@roundtownnews.com

PRISTINE POOLS PROFESSIONAL, CONSCIENTIOUS POOL REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE SERVICE TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS

• Pipe leaks pressure tested, detected and repaired with a proven guaranteed success rate • Structural leaks investigated and repaired • Replacement pumps, filters, salt systems, Ph regulators and accessories supplied and installed • Refurbishments & upgrades undertaken • Weekly maintenance contracts

British Trained & Qualified in the UK Pool Industry with over 18 years experience.

Legal & established for over 10 years in Spain.

Extensive references. All work guaranteed.

TEL: 966 774 199 / 678 080 500 www.pristineswimmingpools.com NO CALLOUT CHARGE WITHIN THE LOCAL AREA

Torrevieja and surrounding areas plus Costa Calida

UK-SPAINIRELAND All European Destinations Removals with the personal touch.

Full/part loads. Parcels, flat packs, luggage, door to door service, Storage available, pets transported

Phone 965 696 750 • 0044 (0) 744 791 8589 email: chrisyounge73979@aol.com

Free storage toon all removals the UK ons nditi *subject to co

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24-30 JAN 2014

YOUR BLINDS IN SPAIN Family run business supplying the best quality products at rock bottom prices. Rose Fabrics, Railux designer Roller blinds, Awnings & Canopies, Venetian Blinds, Pleated Blinds, PVC Blackout fabrics, Rainforest Fabrics, Mosquito Screens. Contact us now for a free no obligation quotation or visit us at Zoco Market every Sunday. Tel: 965 701 984 / 658 338 123. Website: www.yourblindsinspain.com info@yourblindsinspain.com

COSTA BLANCA PET TRANSPORT TO UK DEFRA registered. Excellent rates. www.costablancadoghoming.com or call 965 698 052 APAD (ANIMAL) CHARITY SHOP Calle San Antonio 1, Jalon. Open 9.30/1.00 Mon- Sat. Stock needed - clothes, toys, misc. For more info. Tel: Jane 680717118 ALSTRAYS TRANSPORT SERVICES Monthly cat and dog transports between Spain, France, Germany, Holland, Belgium and the UK. DEFA certificate and license. www.alstrays.com.

Tel: 676 653 681

PROTECTAPET Spains leading pet insurance provider. www. protectapet.eu tel: 965 756 371 SMALL DOGS CARED FOR IN OUR OWN HOME So if you need to go away on holiday but don’t want your dog to go into kennels then we will look after them. References available. Tel: 965843781 Mob: 622514980 (Altea area - Costa Blanca North) TRANS-PET We do regular, door-to-door journeys between the Costa Blanca and the UK.Our aim is to provide a professional, caring service for your pets.Boarding facilities for Cats and Dogs. This may be for an overnight stay or of longer durations.Tel:600-552-030/ 965-960-658 www.trans-pet.co.uk

PET TRANSPORT we treat your pet as if they belong to us and that is our promise. Van fully air conditioned we believe we have the best rates so give Joe a call on 966 074 576 or 650 341 087 for a chat or e mail pawspetttransport@gmail.com

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS - COSTA BLANCA Confidential Helpline, South 625 912 078, North 648 169 045. www.aa-costablanca.org

GOLD WANTED English Jeweller wishes to buy broken or unwanted Gold and Silver jewellery & coins for cash. Call for an appointment. Peter (7 days) 664 890 990. Member of the Nat. ASSN of Goldsmiths

MR FIXIT (No Call Out Charge) 698 320 434

STRUCTURAL SURVEYS Mark Paddon BSc Hons. MCIOB. CAAT. Property buyer’s surveys and expert defects diagnosis.

962807247 - 653733066 www.surveyorscostablanca.com

PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL CLEANING SERVICE for your home or business at a fair price. References available.

(Altea area) Tel: 965843781 or 622514980

BYTEBACK MICROS computer repairs/upgrades in your home. Qualified technician. Systems custom built.

Whatever your problem call: 965-312-006 or 606-127-424

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24-30 JAN 2014

TAPPY TOES DANCE CLASS FOR BABIES from 18 months, at 4kwatro in Albir, 11am, call Louise on 655 781 068 for more information.

LADIES DANCEFIT WITH L.A DANCE at 4kwatro in Albir, Mondays at 7.30pm, call Louise on 655 781 068 for more information LA BAMBA’S - BALLROOM / LATIN / SEQUENCE DANCING Los Rosales Restaurant, Guardamar CV895 [near Lemon Tree Sunday Market] Monday - SOCIAL DANCE 8.30pm 10.30pm [SEQUENCE CLASS 7.30pm - 8.30pm] Friday - SOCIAL DANCE 7.30pm - 10.30pm Wednesday - New Beginners Class [Starting 8th January 2014] 2pm -3pm Intermediate Class 3pm - 4pm Intermediate Plus Class 4pm - 5pm For more information contact Andrea and Brian 616 478 157 FUNKY FREESTYLE DANCE with Louise, every Saturday morning at Villamar Campsite in Albir/Benidorm, come and learn all the moves and routines to your pop idols! Call Louise on 655-781-068 for more information!

available. No experience necessary as full training provided.

The business offers “tax free” returns to members which has averaged 5-10% a month since launch in 2011. Also, earn generous commissions in our referral program. OTE £50,000 pa.

Contact Colin Harris today on 00 44 7971 511934 or colin@artemisfunding.com GENUINELY AMBITIOUS? BUILD AN UNLIMITED INCOME FOR JUST £99 WITH A MONEY BACK GUARANTEE, PHONE SUZANNE ON..... 627371731 ARE YOU AN EXPERIENCED CARER? ? Join our team of carers who work in the UK. Earn from £868 - £1330 for 2 weeks.

Good written/spoken English, British or EU Passport required.

Contact Sandra on 658 965 204 or email s.field@consultuscare.com.

SALES STAFF REQUIRED for fabulous glossy magazine and radio sales combined. Must have experience in sales and have own vehicle. Spanish speaking an advantage. Good commissions and telephone provided. Contact 965 997 222 for interview.

REPAIRS Washing machines, Dishwashers & Dryers. Also Boilers and any electrical problems. 24hours. Cheap prices Tel 626 805 709 MR FIXIT FOR ALL YOUR ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING, GENERAL & Appliance Repairs.

No Callout Charge. 698 320 434

MAKE MONEY With the Stem Cell Anti-Aging Company www. lookyoungersecrets.com Tel: 676 520 599 CARE4YOU IN SPAIN is the leading Health Care provider in Costa Blanca and Costa Calida area. We are looking for fully qualified SRN and SEN nurses to work in Torrevieja and surrounding areas. Contact care4you 96 819 8590 office@ care4youinspain.com NEED MORE MONEY?... Start 2014 by being part of an international sports trading club which has been running successfully here in Spain for over 3 years.

Full and part-time opportunities

DO YOU NEED EXTRA HELP AT HOME? I can help you at home with light duties, cleaning, cooking, housework, shopping etc as a carer. References available. Altea, Benidorm, Alfaz del Pi area. Call Trisha for more information on 622 514 980 or 965 843 781

SOS INSURANCE www.sosinsuranceinspain.com Best prices available. CALL US FIRST for all your insurance needs, including best deals on Funeral plans. Buildings and contents cover from just 98 euros per year. Tel 966787123 / 686116297

24-30 JAN 2014

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AT MICHAEL’S part exchange on certain beds when you buy a New bed from our New Bed shop in the Arenal. Photos: www.michaels-javea.com AT MICHAEL’S on our website you choose from over 95 different paintings, 64 different mirrors, 23 carpets, etc: www.michaels-javea.com AT MICHAEL’S Two high quality black leather sofas with recliner seats. Large corner sofa - 4-seater in black leather. See: www.michaels-javea.com AT MICHAEL’S Hostess trollies, large 2-door fridge, upright tumble drier. Beer pump from a Pub, Golf clubs & lots more: www.michaels-javea.com

WANT TO DRIVE your LHD car to the UK and sell it when you get there? Call 658 670 777

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

SWIMMING POOL MAINTENANCE from Oliva Nova to Gandia and inland. Call Paul 678 308 107

GOLD WANTED English Jeweller wishes to buy broken or unwanted Gold and Silver jewellery & coins for cash. Call for an appointment. Peter (7 days) 664 890 990. Member of the Nat. ASSN of Goldsmiths

ADVICE WITH THE SPANISH SYSTEM Whatever you need to integrate into the spanish system, we can help you. NIE, residencia, empadronamiento, car import transfer, driving license transfer, schools, doctors, social security.(Benidorm and surrounding areas) Tel: 619 269 408 email: pammcmurchie@hotmail.com ADVISORY SERVICE Need advice on making a will, buying or selling property, tax, resident or non resident, starting a business in spain, we can talk you through and give you the best advice and help you settle in spain. (Benidorm and surrounding areas) Tel: 610 634 506

WANTED I BUY ANY CAR van,Caravan,4x4 Etc.British, Spanish. Immediate cash 600-781-873 ibuyanycar@hotmail.com

MJB MOBILE WELDERS Gates, grills, hinges etc., repaired or new. No job too small.

Fast service. Low prices. Free Quotes. Call Terry: 966 845 414 / 625 995 470 PROBLEMS WITH INSECTS? Cockroaches, rats & mice. Call 626 828 974 All insects

POOL LEAK REPAIR SPECIALIST’S Pipe leaks pressure tested, detected and repaired.

Structural leaks investigated and repaired. Professional, conscientious service to the highest standards. Refurbishments and upgrades undertaken. Replacement pumps, filters, salt systems, ph regulators and accessories supplied and installed. All work guaranteed. British trained in the UK pool industry with over 18 years experience. 10 years served on the Costa Blanca.

Torrevieja and surrounding areas including Costa Calida. Tlf:Pristine Pools on 966-774-199 or 678-080-500 www.pristineswimmingpools.com NO CALLOUT CHARGE. SEE MAIN ADVERT ON FRONT PAGE OF CLASSIFIEDS Why go to the shop? When we come to you saving you time and money!

SWIMMING POOL MAINTENANCE AND CLEANING SERVICE BY POOLTECHSPAIN. We are a fully legal, qualified and registered business who have been operating on the Costa Blanca for 6 years.

We offer a professional, reliable, safe and efficient pool service, inc. re-grouting, pressure testing and leak repairs. Private and community swimming pools undertaken. Call now for more information on 965-725-565 or mobile 676-945-360/ 620-743048 www.pooltechspain.com

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24-30 JAN 2014 VAN LEAVING FOR THE UK/

back to the UK. Call Moneycorp +34 902 887 243 and quote RTN to get more out of your money.

SPAIN EVERY 2 WEEKS great rates please contact Joe on 966

www.moneycorp.com/roundtownnews

074 576 or 650 341 087 or civic1235@msn.com

FLAT SHARE OLD TOWN BENIDORM Mature lady has 2 bedroom flat to share in Old Town Benidorm. Double room, shared lounge, shared kitchen. Internet and all bills included. 275€ per month. Suit mature person, male or female. Call 619 236 428 for more information 2 OR 3 BED / 2 BATH APARTMENTS in San Miguel. Lift, communal rooftop pool & solarium, video entry system.

Available for short or long term rent from 300pcm. 96 672 3437 or 616493487

URBANISATION PANORAMA La Nucia. 2 Bedroom (1 en suite), 1 shower room, large kitchen and hall, large underbuild, 1000m plot, garage/parkiing for 5/6 cars.

130.000€ fully furnished. Call 96 687 3547 or 626 926 540

SELLING YOUR HOUSE? Sold your house? Moving funds back to the UK? Don’t let your Spanish Bank take up to 1% of your sale price, Talk to MoneyCorp now about how to save up to 4,500€* Moneycorp’s repatriation service can help you drastically reduce or even eliminate Spanish bank fees when sending your property sale proceeds

ROADRUNNER TRANSPORTS & REMOVALS SPAIN-UKSPAIN (Monthly Trips) Van leaving Spain end January and leaving UK early February. Door to door service. Fully Insured.

Tel. 633 933 391 email: spainukremovals1@gmail.com www.roadrunnertransports.com VAN LEAVING SPAIN TO UK 28th January. Space available 0034 679042805 / 0044 [0] 7552985343 keithmarion9@yahoo.co.uk

THE BLUE PILL NOW EVEN BETTER also Kamagra and weekenders. Call Derek 685 207 378 FEMALES AND COUPLES REQUIRED aged 30-70 for adult modelling. No single males.

Good rates. 966 182 714 SOPHIE ESCORT Slim elegant naughty lady. Hotel/home visit available. Tel:693 357 526

ASHLEY- 29 ENGLISH/MIXED RACE- Absolutley stunnning, near Torrevieja Hospital, 665 883 576 GENERIC VIAGRA EXCLUSIVE First time in Spain 120mgs. Also Kamagra 100mgs, Generic Cialis 20mgs, and jellies. Local and Nationwide service. Pay on Delivery. www.costablues.com or phone Colin 680 878 735 SPANISH LADY PLAYA FLAMENCA near new Carrefour

before La Florida. 35 years, attractive, classy lady, private house, parking. Offers all erotic services, massage, sexy lingerie, economical prices from 40€. Full discretion. Call Ana 680-735-412 CASA ANGELA TORREVIEJA Luxury Private Chalet, parking.

Drinks invitation. Feeling alone?

Just want some company? Exotic girls from South America. Call us, come and enjoy! Also Escort Service. Full discretion. Street:

Avenida Asociacion Vistimas del Terrorismo. 609-573-468 or 639-832-118

ANÚNCIATE TLF:

628 191 897 eduardo@roundtownnews.com

24-30 JAN 2014

JAVEA SKIP HIRE 626 670 038 Moraira, Benissa, Calpe, Denia from S&W TOOL HIRE & FERRETERIA MORAIRA

HOT TUBS, SPAS, JACUZZIS Quality spas at factory Prices.

Also spares, filters and Repairs.

Used and ex-display spas available. We part ex and buy spas, best prices in Spain. Established 12 years Eurospas 650 722 905

I BUY RECORDS LP’S SINGLES AND CD’s ANY STYLE, DON’T WORRY ABOUT LOSING YOUR TV CHANNELS

JAZZ, BLUES, POP, PUNK, ROCK, ETC... TOP CASH PAID.

Free UK TV, Free Movies, Free

622 750 117

Sports, Free Catch-up, Free

TURN YOUR UNWANTED

Adult NO MONTHLY SUB-

FURNITURE Electrical, House-

SCRIPTION! For more informa-

hold Goods and Bric-a-brac

tion visit: www.costasmarttv.

into Cash. Anything! Anywhere!

com or call Tel: 657 766 341

965-319-220/663-012-541

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