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#RTNNorthEdition850 (EL CAMPELLO - VALENCIA) Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

WATER FIGHT

Sonia and Richard

PENSIONER SONIA Morgan spent a year battling with a water company when a shock 10,000 Euro bill dropped on the doormat. Read the full story on page 7

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

From the Editor’s desk...

Hola!

SPAIN´S UTILITY companies enjoy near monopolies yet many readers have found the words ćustomer service´ remain something of an alien concept to these giants when things go awry. People frequently find them slow to find a solution but quick to wash their hands over problems, which means customers feel the pain – mainly in their wallets as the remedies offered seem to involve unwanted expense. Two weeks ago the experiences of two customers were featured under the banner headline Électric Shocks´. It struck a nerve. The postman has been struggling into RTN Towers ever since; bent double under a sack crammed with letters from disgruntled readers writing about their own grim experiences. This week the paper has moved on to the David and Goliath struggle of another pensioner and the eye-watering cost of a water leak outside her property. Sorry Mr Postman, but you may be busy again. No apology to the companies involved, just an appeal. Please see the light and step forward into the 21st Century. Meanwhile, it is training time again for professional cycle teams on the roads of the region. Last weekend six sportsmen were hospitalised in an accident which could easily have been fatal. Be careful out there.

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Call Jack Troughton, 661 403 016, for Costa Blanca North and South & Ian Askew, 628 580 367 for Costa Calida

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PUBLISHER: Mia Media S.L MANAGING DIRECTOR: Daniel Wilkinson EDITOR: Jack Troughton AGENCIES: Santos T. Morales ACCOUNTS: Sam Holliday PRODUCTION: Daniel S. Thomas Rebecca T. Tyszka Alice Hillier GENERAL MANAGER SOUTH & CALIDA: Peter Clarke SALES: Kath Poole Colin Rich Eduardo Piana Laura Showell Michaela Smith DISTRIBUTION: Damien Forman Ian Tilley iDs Logística REPORTERS: Caroline Tyszka Ian Askew CARTOONIST: Carter McKeague COLUMNISTS: Peter Taylor Sara Bell Chris Ashley Carlos Baos Blacktower F.M Aunty Virus Dick Handscombe Kenny Corris Jane Cronin Tim Saunders

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Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

Top cyclists hurt in crash by JACK TROUGHTON PROFESSIONAL cyclists from the crack Giant-Alpecin team were injured in a collision with a car while on a Costa Blanca training ride. Six sportsmen needed hospital treatment – two were air lifted to Alicante – following the smash on a road outside the village of Benigembla on the CV-720. It is believed the team had ridden inland from Calpe on Saturday as part of the training camp. A 73-year-old British woman was later charged with reckless driving. German sprint specialist John Degenkolb later underwent surgery after suﬀering a deep cut to a leg and a fractured forearm. Also in hospital with him was American teammate Chad Haga. It is alleged the woman’s car – said to be a right hand drive vehicle – was travelling in the opposite direction to the team on the wrong side of the road; striking the group head on. And witnesses said after the incident there were cyclists and bikes scattered across the road. It is thought all the cyclists will recover from injuries suﬀered.

Giant-Alpecin riders in action

One of the riders hurt in the accident, Ramon Sinkeldam later said “the scene looked like a battleﬁeld”; adding “the group panicked, the car came straight at us...there was a lot of shouting.” The cycling team’s physician later said everyone had been left in a state of shock but continued: “We also realise that we have had some luck on our side.” Police refused to name the woman driver but according to reports said she divided her time between Spain and Britain, spending six months of the year in each country.

#NEWS BITES

SPECIAL SCHOOL RAIDED

CRUEL BURGLARS broke into the Denia’s Raquel Paya School for children with special needs to steal 3,000€ of much-needed funds. The bandits caused widespread damage in staﬀ oﬃces and were able to force the safe open to steal the cash. It is understood the front door of the school was forced and the alarm was disabled – it is yet unknown why the security system and its sensors failed to be activated. Police are investigated a series of clues left at the premises; and have tools used to open the safe but left abandoned at the scene during the raid earlier this month.

Shuttle service a step closer

AUTHORITIES IN Alicante are looking in detail at the need for a shuttle service from the AVE station in the city to Benidorm. For two years there has been an ongoing battle to establish a shuttle service between the main train station in Alicante and the resort town of Benidorm, with the request constantly being caught up between rival political ruling parties and the protests of taxi drivers. Now the Alicante Council has asked for a full technical report on the implementation of such a servic, with the government backing the project, provided a workable solution can be found with the current general Alicante to Benidorm concessionaire, who run a service from the airport to the resort, and all other parties. Fernando Marcos, Councillor for Transport in Alicante, conﬁrmed that they had made the report request and were waiting on the ﬁndings. He stressed that “AVE is not owned only by the city but throughout the province.” Benidorm Council are pushing for the service to be operational by Easter, the next busy period for the town.

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

Strikers caused travel chaos French Taxi strikes

by CAROLINE TYSZKA TRAVELLERS IN France and further afield faced severe disruption during the week as striking taxi drivers, air traffic controllers, teachers and farmers united for a day of disruption and protest. Striking taxi drivers blockaded Paris’s airports and its ring road on Tuesday as one in five flights were cancelled because air traffic controllers and taxi drivers went on strike alongside civil servants and teachers. Police in Paris fired tear gas and taxi drivers lit bonfires as hundreds of French taxis, joined by a few from Belgium and Spain, blocked a massive intersection leading into western Paris. Dozens of taxi drivers tried to march onto an eight-lane bypass, but the police pushed them back with the gas. Manuel Valls, Prime Minister, met with the drivers to try to defuse tensions and promised to crack down on any illegal taxi activities, although he also condemned the protestors for their violent actions. Twenty people were detained at protests around the French capital, and two people were injured at Orly Airport when a shuttle bus was forced to push through a taxi blockade. EasyJet said it had cancelled 35 flights, mainly within France, but also to or from Switzerland, Italy and Spain. Air traffic controllers’ unions are protesting at the loss of some 1,000 jobs in less than 10 years and want to be exempted from proposed changes to how salaries are calculated. Taxi drivers, meanwhile, are protesting that competition from the taxi app company Uber, and other non-licensed chauffeuring services, is threatening their jobs. Civil servants are supporting the strike as they protest against labour reforms which have so far meant 150,000 job losses, with teachers wanting higher pay. Farmers are upset over falling prices and their unions are demanding that distributors and major food companies pay equitable prices for their produce and livestock. The budget airline, Ryanair, issued the French Air Traffic Control (ATC) an ultimatum, calling on the European Commission, and European Parliament, to either ban air traffic control (ATC) strikes, or allow other providers to step in and maintain service. Ryanair said this is the 40th French ATC strike since 2009, and added that the action will cancel thousands of flights and disrupt passenger journeys.

#NEWSBITES

DAVOS DRUGS SHOCK SWISS TROOPS guarding the high-proﬁle World Economic Forum in Davos abused recreational drugs, medical tests have revealed.

Local police conducted a check on the 4,500 soldiers on duty. It was alleged 12 had used cannabis, and five of them also took cocaine. Those who used cannabis are to be fined and could be jailed for up to 10 days. Cocaine users will be fired and have to appear in court. The Swiss army uses a militia system. Only 5% of servicemen and women are professional, the rest are conscripts or volunteers aged between 19 and 34.

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Cash for contracts VALENCIA HAS been rocked by 24 arrests in a major political corruption scandal in the corridors of power.

Police swooped on Tuesday afternoon. All those detained have links to the Partido Popular, which, until last year’s elections, governed across the region for 20 years. Operation Taula targeted local government in the provinces of Valencia, Alicante and Castellon – and the Generalitat de Valencia. It is understood those being investigated were part of a corrupt network; pocketing backhanders in return for granting contracts for public works. And as part of the probe, detectives are also considering the possibility that cash handed over was also illegally used to ﬁnance the Valencia branch of the PP. RAID Oﬃcers of the Guardia Civil also raided 33

premises including private homes, company headquarters and a sports club. Allegations that will be considered include embezzlement, bribery of public officials, and money laundering. Spanish media reported one source describing the scale of years of corruption as “humongous”. Officers entered Valencia City Hall on Tuesday to examine papers in the PP group offices. Between 1995 and 2015, the party were in power across the region. The investigation was launched in 2014 when the regional left wing party Esquerra Umnida (United Left) lodged a complaint with the anti-corruption body. It made allegations concerning a web of bribery involving PP leaders and officials. And in secret recordings sent to the offices of the anti-corruption, one politician can be heard counting wads of cash – said to be part of a sweetener.

Wristband controversy for immigrants TENSIONS MOUNTED in the UK last week as a private company providing meals for asylum seekers in Cardiff was accused of breaching the human rights act. Brightly coloured wristbands had been given to asylum seekers staying at Lynx House in Cardiff so that they could claim meals by the company operating the premises, Clearsprings Group. Many of the asylum seekers said over the weekend that it was dehumanising and that they had become targets for abuse as the bands were singling them out. Ms Stevens, Labour MP for Cardiff, contacted the company on Sunday and was given assurances that the practice would stop. On Monday the company announced that they would change their system. The government has come under increasing pressure from human rights campaign groups, as it was revealed that asylum seekers in Middlesbrough were being targeted because their doors had been painted red, which led to vandalism specifically at their properties.

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

Feral cat problems by CAROLINE TYSZKA

RESIDENTS IN Alfaz del Pi met with representatives from the town hall to put into action a plan for dealing with feral cats in the area. A meeting was held in Alfaz del Pi on Tuesday 26th January to discuss the best way forward in controlling the local feral cats. Residents of various nationalities attended the meeting, as the representative of the town hall explained that their intention was to register all feral colonies – at the moment there are 10 colonies in Alfaz and Albir – and to form a group of volunteers who would take responsibility for trapping the cats to take for neutering, feeding them with food that would be provided and keeping a check on their wellbeing. The meeting was conducted by the Councillor for Health, Dolores “Loli” Albero, with a panel of town hall representatives, the President of local animal

charity, APPA, and the local vet, Bení Sánchez, who will be collaborating with the project. Residents asked the panel about the lack of provisions for a dedicated refuge in the community for abandoned cats and dogs, with Councillor Maite García explaining that the issue was being looked at, but this new project was a step in the right direction. William Hutchinson, a vet from Altea, recommended that the control of the colonies should begin with the sterilisation of females and castration and possibly vasectomizing of males. The objective is to reduce the proliferation of cats, neighbourhood conﬂict and, at the same time to improve the quality of life of the felines. The Albir vet working with the town hall is Beni Sánchez Malthieu of VetMovil 622 25 55 41. At the end of the meeting, many attending volunteered to assist the town hall with the planned proposals.

The objective is to reduce the proliferation of cats

#NEWS BITES

SHOPPERS’ NARROW ESCAPE

SHOPPERS walking along one of the main streets in Alfaz del Pi were lucky to escape unharmed as a car suddenly veered out of control. Pedestrians and other car drivers in Calle La Ferrería were shocked on Saturday morning as a vehicle lost control damaging many of the pavement bollards and a street light. As the driver hit the bollards, the car somersaulted across the road with the female driver amazingly emerging from the vehicle with only minor bruises. The accident, which happened just before 10am on Saturday, was attended by the emergency services who quickly removed the car so that traﬃc could continue to ﬂow.

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Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

Water fight PENSIONER SONIA Morgan spent a year battling with a water company when a shock 10,000€ bill dropped on the doormat. She said she spent sleepless nights worrying she would be forced to sell her home in the Costa Blanca sunshine just to meet the utility company debt. Sonia, a retired teacher who lives in Denia, said she felt for everyone battling uncaring ‘giants’ because there was no one to turn to or discuss the problem with. The saga began over a year ago and Sonia backed by Richard Cheeseman, spent 12 months fighting water company Aqualia, finally “having to bite the bullet” and paying a reduced 6,700€ bill to end the matter – although she still felt “mugged”. And Sonia, branding the water company “soulless” told RTN: “I was billed for 10,000€ and threatened by the company because I was not willing to pay.” The problem had been caused by a leaking pipe – but because there is a joint meter box shared with neighbours in the next street, there was no indication of a problem under one of adjoining properties until water began bubbling up two doors away. “We twigged there must be a leak.” Unfortunately, at the time Sonia was back in UK helping her daughter who was being treated for cancer – the battle with the disease was won, but it was a time of immense strain. LEAK She said the leak was under one of her neighbour’s homes yet the water company did nothing to check or maintain the state of its pipes. Normal bills were around 50€ a month. “I said they must think I was running a factory...it was quite a laugh at first. “The water company say ‘you have had this’ and I didn’t doubt the water had gone but I didn’t use it, I was not here.” Sonia said she refused to pay and began to receive “threatening letters” saying “you owe us money and we will turn your water off ”. And she said her insurance company did not “want to know” and so after employing a solicitor she launched her campaign. “Persistence, persistence, and sleepless nights,” she said. “I knew it was unreasonable and I was made quite ill with worry. “But if you stay on the case and put up with a lot of abuse, you can actually get someone to try and resolve it but it is very difficult.” BULLY She added: “I think there’s a moral to this – you cannot bully pensioners - but your name is on the bill and the debt goes with the house. “If you really have not got the money, you would have to sell the house but how do you sell it with the bill hanging over it? I just thought ‘I am not letting these people chase me out, I am happy here’.” She said she was “furious” at being faced with “such a colossal amount” and was determined the water company should write off the debt. Sonia said she began going to the Aqualia offices in Denia and finally was able to confront the manager – who claimed the company was just running a business. “I finally got to meet him after going at 9am in December and banging on the door,” she said. “He said the head office in Madrid would sort it out and they must have allowed a reduced bill. “I don’t know how they get away with it. Surely things should be maintained and inspected – the water company says you have to look after ‘your own’ equipment – we have now actually paid for new pipes – but you cannot see the pipes under a neighbour’s house. “I have been in Spain for 13 years. I am very happy here and I have never been unhappy...except when people cause aggravation.”

Sonia and Richard

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

People power wins ambulance by JACK TROUGHTON STANDING UNITED won a Costa Blanca community a state of the art ambulance for the Red Cross following the success of a 64,000€ appeal. Fund raising campaign ‘Ambulancia para Javea’ took two years to put the vehicle on the road after a series of fund raising events. And the appeal was supported by local businesses and charities the Roundabout Charity Shop, The Original Charity Shop and Library, and the Provincial Grand Lodge of Valencia – as Freemasons backed the campaign euro for euro. The ambulance is specially adapted to take people using wheelchairs to transport the inﬁrm, old and disabled to doctors’ appointments and the hospital – as well as serve as community transport. Last Friday, the ambulance was oﬃcially handed over to the Red Cross at a party thrown by the charity at its headquarters in Javea Old Town. An emotional appeal organiser Sandy Tsalikidis said: “This is people power... it is about the community coming together and helping itself. No matter how big or how small, everyone has contributed.” The Red Cross in Javea also supports the surrounding communities of Gata de Gorgos and Pedregeur – and the new ambulance has already been paraded to show people what they have achieved.

Sandy Tsalikidis and Jose Luis Domenech

PRIDE Sandy added: “This is just a wonderful time and I am so, so, so proud that we managed to achieve the target of 64,000€ to buy this new and specially adapted vehicle to be the work horse of the Red Cross. “It goes out every day until 10pm at night – it picks up food and takes old people to hospital and the doctors. “It is the ﬁrst vehicle in Spain to have so many safety features to it – it is so secure and safe, you could take it into space.” And Red Cross President Jose Luis Domenech said the “beautiful new vehicle” would help improve the charity’s performance in the community, capable of carrying four or ﬁve passengers in wheelchairs.

“We have passed from an old outdated vehicle to the Rolls Royce of the Red Cross,” he added. “We thank everyone who has backed this eﬀort – without your backing and help; we would never have been able to achieve this.” Norman Wheatley, Provincial Grand Master of the Provincial Lodge of Valencia, said it was a proud day and the third ambulance it had helped provide – the Freemasons own appeal had already purchased an ambulance for the Red Cross in Alicante and a welfare vehicle to aid homeless people based in Guardamar. “We raised 154,000€ altogether. We knew Sandy was raising money in Javea and we said we would match whatever the Red Cross raised.”

Fancy dress carnivals CHILDREN AND adults in La Nucia are preparing their costumes for two carnival events in the town next weekend.

The ﬁrst event, which is being held on Friday 5th February, is for children of all ages with the only stipulation that they wear a form of fancy dress. At 5.30pm all the children taking part will parade through the town to the Salón Social El Cirer where they will have a snack, games and prizes awarded for the best costumes. On the following evening, Saturday 6th February at 11pm, there will be a party for the adults at the Hangover bar in Carrer Guadalest, where, again, prizes will be awarded for the best costumes. Whilst the adult event is free, there is a small charge of 5€ for the Friday event. Tickets can be purchased in advance from the Youth Centre, the Lottery shop or Mes que Tapas bar. Alternatively, tickets can be purchased, on the day, from the Salón Social El Cirer.

Improvements to telecommunications VILLAJOYOSA COUNCIL is under pressure from its residents as works to improve the telecommunication infrastructure, which have left many without telephones or internet, are still ongoing.

Avenida Finestrat, Villajoyosa

The Department of Technical Services, together with the Planning Department for the town of Villajoyosa, have been working on installing the necessary pipes to give residents of Avenida Finestrat communication facilities. Work will continue to be carried out through the week, as a council spokesperson said, “In a few weeks, there will be some basic services, such as landline or internet, for the residents of Avenida Finestrat.”

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

Malaga feels earthquake A minute’s silence

TOWN HALL’S across the Costa Blanca came to a halt this week to mark the killing of another victim of domestic violence - a 74-year-old woman killed in Valencia. In Teualda, councillors and civil servants staged a minute’s silence on the town hall steps to remember the victim and denounce the crime.

MALAGA WAS woken early on Monday morning by a 6.1 magnitude earthquake. At 4.22am, when many were sleeping, the strong earthquake struck 39 miles north of the Moroccan city of Al Hoceima, 100 miles south-east of Malaga. Emergency services in the North African Spanish enclave of Melilla immediately responded to the 20 mile deep quake,

as residents ran out onto the streets in just their pyjamas. The main earthquake was followed by six aftershocks, including a 5.3 magnitude tremor, with the possibility of further tremors. In Andalucía, emergency services received over 250 calls from worried residents, as around 200 homes in Melilla suffered structural damage, with schools being closed whilst they were

checked by teams of engineers. Authorities reported that a 12 year old boy in the Morrocan city of Alhucemas died from a heart attack, probably brought on by a panic attack, and that a further 26 people were injured in the Spanish enclave of Melilla as buildings struggled to cope with the tremors. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported that this was the biggest earthquake to hit Malaga for 50 years.

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

Sex game becomes murder DONORS

#NEWSBITES

NEEDED

by CAROLINE TYSZKA

AN ALLEGED sex game turned into murder for one expat on the island of Mallorca last weekend. Warren Lyttle, aged 50, called the emergency services in Costa de la Calma, Mallorca, early on Saturday 23nd January, to tell the operator that he had killed his wife, Lisa Jane, in a sex game that had gone wrong. When the emergency services arrived, they found Lisa, aged 49, lying in a room with ligature marks around her neck caused by a mobile phone cable. Indications were that she had suﬀered a heart attack and, although local police and paramedics tried to resuscitate her, they were unable to save her life. Mr Lyttle, originally from London, was immediately taken into custody and seen by a judge on the Sunday. In his statement, he said that he and his wife had been playing a sex game, which had been suggested by the victim. He went on to explain to the judge that this had resulted in the accidental death of Lisa and at no point had he intended to kill her.

After hearing two hours of evidence the judge, José Castro, announced that Lyttle would be taken to prison without bail. A spokesman for the Guardia Civil told British media that “a British man, who is resident in Mallorca, phoned the emergency services around 3.20am. The victim was strangled with a telephone cord during a row. We believe both had been drinking heavily.” Lisa had only been on the island for a couple of days when the incident occurred, with friends reporting that she commuted between London and Mallorca whilst her husband lived on the island. Mrs Lyttle, who has an 18 year old daughter, was originally from Kilburn in the UK. One family member stated that it was a very conflictive relationship. Warren had been arrested over 40 times in the UK for domestic violence and had served 14 prison terms. A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “Following the death of a British national in Palma de Mallorca, we are in contact with the local authorities and also providing support to the family at this very difficult time.”

THERE WILL be a blood donation session today, Friday 29th January, in Pilar de la Horadada, for anyone wishing to attend.

Lisa Jane

From 5pm until 8.30pm, residents are invited to attend the leisure centre for seniors -Centro de Ocio para Mayores, Parque 30 de Julio, de Calle San Juan – and donate. To be a donor you must be between 18 and 65 years old and weigh over 50 kilos. Donating blood is a quick and simple way of helping to save lives, with hospitals urgently needing more donors.

Bar owner robbed of takings in La Aljorra

LAST SUNDAY night, the owner of a bar in the town of La Alhorra, between Cartagena and Fuente Alamo, left a bag containing his takings, about 1,200€, in his car while he was locking up the establishment. A thief took the opportunity to grab the bag from the vehicle and make off with it. The bar owner called Cartagena’s Policía Local, telling them that the thief had been witnessed making off with his money, and the police, armed with a description of the thief, including the clothing he was wearing, started a search of the area, and carried out an arrest in another local bar. After searching the second bar, officers discovered, hidden in a rubbish bin in the bar’s toilet, a bag containing most of the stolen money.

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

Birth defects cause alarm Internet scam arrests THE ZIKA virus, transmitted by mosquitos, has hit the headlines as more cases are discovered within Europe. A virus that can only be caught by being directly bitten by certain mosquitos is believed to have caused serious birth defects in thousands of babies across South America and, now, cases are being reported within America and Europe. In October 2015, Brazilian health authorities notified the World Health Organization that an alarming number of Brazilian babies had been born with microcephaly, a rare, debilitating birth defect with lifelong consequences, which, following research, was then linked to the Zika virus. So far, two people have tested positive for the virus in Spain, three in the UK and approximately a dozen people in America. The virus has also been linked to a microcephalic baby born in Hawaii. All had recently visited areas already affected by Zika. Health officials are now giving advice to pregnant women saying they should avoid travelling to these areas if possible and that women who want to become pregnant should speak with a health care provider before going. In El Salvador, the government health authority has advised women who are in the areas, or have visited the affected areas, not to become pregnant until 2018. Experts believe that, because of the migratory patterns of the Zika-carrying mosquitos, the virus will continue to spread before dying out, and that eliminating stagnant pools and water and fumigating these areas will help speed up the process.

Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Laura Rodrigues, said that “until we understand the science better, postponing planned pregnancies is a sensible option. This is a very new situation as it’s only a few months since we discovered the link between Zika and microcephaly, and

there are still big gaps in our knowledge.” The virus causes only mild ﬂu-like symptoms in adults and, typically, lasts between four to seven days. With no cure currently available, avoiding bites from the virus host, Aedes Aegypti mosquito, is the only way to prevent infection. Scientist are currently working on a vaccine.

NATIONAL POLICE have arrested three in El Campello who had targeted victims over the internet to buy non-existent products. Police arrested a 52 year old man and his two children aged 29 and 32, following an investigation triggered by complaints from internet customers. The customers had purchased electronic products only to have bricks or other fake items delivered. Internet bargain hunters from around Spain, including Seville, Madrid, León, Toledo, Málaga, Alicante, Palma de Mallorca and Tarragona, had innocently purchased their electronic items online from a company that had a similar name to a well-known and reputable seller of the same products. When their items arrived, the buyers opened their packages to find bricks, bags of salt or sheets of paper, but not the goods that they had paid for. During the investigation, police discovered that over 3,000 people had been defrauded, and were able to prevent a further 36 from suffering the same fate. In a search of two properties linked to the family, officers found 60 packets of salt, which were sent for analysis, and the three were arrested. A police spokesperson explained that the investigation remains open as there may be further victims who have yet to come forward.

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

Town seeks EU funds by CAROLINE TYSZKA CALPE HAS applied for 8.5 million Euros of European Union cash to continue its drive to redevelop as a “sustainable” town with increased opportunities and quality of life for its residents. The five year project involves the EU – through the European Regional Development Fund – financing half of the work. The remainder will be advanced as a loan, repayable over 20 years. The application follows months of consultation with social and cultural groups within Calpe, as well as business leaders – the results reflected in a local action plan drawn up under Agenda 21. Key to the project is the conservation, protection and promotion of Calpe’s natural and cultural heritage. Central to this is the “rehabilitation” of the Old Town and the “enhancement” of tourist facilities – essential to the local economy.

“This is all very exciting if the project is accepted,” admitted Councillor Carole Saunders. “We employed an expert to present the project for the funding, who worked all through December to get it ready. “And she is very optimistic and thinks we will be successful with our bid. Available grants are published in an EU bulletin. It takes some research to ﬁnd what is available because there is so much information being published.” The time allowed for repaying the loan is also important when the town hall budgets for the future. Calpe, like other public authorities, once came a “cropper” once before when borrowing money from Europe. Mrs Saunders said it was hoped to improve transport links – employing electric buses, building the second stage of the network of cycle lanes, and constructing and old town car park.

Calpe port and the iconic Ifach de penon

#NEWSBITES

MABS CANCER SUPPORT GROUP MURCIA MAR MENOR EVENTS LIST

FRIDAY 12TH February: Pamper Party, 3pm to 5pm, in La Zona, Los Alcázares. FREE ENTRY sample lots of hair and beauty products, with products available to order, some items available to purchase on the day, and a great raﬄe. Tue 16th February: Ladies Lunch ex Diamantes, 1.30pm for 2pm, Venue TBA. Check the Facebook page for up to date information. Friday 11th March: Spring Market, 11am to 3pm in La Zona, Los Alcázares, with lots of stalls oﬀering great value fashion, shoes, bags, crafts, cards, home-ware, accessories, skin care and make up, home bakes, plus much more. Also, a hand-picked selection of high quality, previously loved, fashion, shoes and accessories. If you would like a stall please email mabsdonnawalsh@gmail.com. See the Facebook page, www.facebook.com/mabsmurciamarmenor, for news of all fundraising events.

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

New ride for Terra Mítica by CAROLINE TYSZKA

THE TERRA Mítica theme park’s preparation for the new season includes the installation of a new ride for 2016. People travelling along the Terra Mítica road will have seen a new structure going up at the theme park, as a new ride is being installed, ready for testing before the park opens for this year. Although it has not oﬃcially been conﬁrmed by the park, it is believed that the new ride is called The “Tornado” and is in the Rome area. Terra Míitica fans have been blogging for months and speculating about what the new ride would be, with some sneaking the odd photo of the building progress.

The Tornado is made by a company called FunTime and is 80 metres high. The ride has passengers harnessed in and lifted into the sky. As the riders fly through the air in a giant figure of eight, two electric motors spin the riders’ seats on a central axis, to give riders a true bird’s eye view of the ground as it rushes past at speeds up to 70 km/h and heights of 30 metres plus. A spokesperson for FunTime told RTN that “it takes approximately 4 to 5 weeks to install a ride like the Tornado in Terra Mítica.” The park, which is now in its 16th year, constantly strives to find newer thrill-seeking rides to keep the public wanting to return.

NEWS BITES

TWO BY TWO

YOUNGSTERS IN Benitachell had fun reliving the story of Noah and the Ark last weekend at the town’s library. Dressing up to represent some of the animals that entered ‘two by two’, the kids enjoyed a great time in a fantasy world that helps their education

Training young minds

EDUCATION AND training are top of the list for youngsters cared for in EMAUS homes after charity coﬀers received a 5,000€ boost. The money was raised at the Moraira Charity Shop and donated to the Friends of the Children of EMAUS to help its support of children across the region. The shop, which raises between 30,000€ and 40,000€ a year for the Masonic Home of Valencia Association, was delighted to help improve the lot of the children. And Carole Saunders, President of the Friends of the Children of EMAUS, said the charity was delighted to receive the backing. “We are going to be stocking up on school stationery for the children’s education,” she said. “And we also want to start helping the older children prepare for life after EMAUS with practical training projects which will help them get jobs in the outside world.”

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

Eurovision selection struggle by CAROLINE TYSZKA

THE SPANISH selection of their 2016 Eurovision song will see the nation split between national pride and an opportunity to increase their chances of winning the competition. Spain has not won the Eurovision Song Contest for almost fifty years and now faces the dilemma of who to select to have a realistic chance of impressing the other countries. Three of the six finalists perform their entries in English, the International language of pop, causing concern that, without any Spanish language in the lyrics, they would not be properly representing the country. The hosts of the Spanish finals night, RTVE, has asked the finalists to insert at least some Spanish into their songs, but many of the performers have struggled to comply with the request. Female singer Barei said: “I have nothing against our language, but my song is in English. Many may not like it but it is more international than Castilian.” She has managed to change her backing vocals to accommodate a few Spanish lines in her song ‘Say Yay’. Xuso Jones, another of the hopefuls, has spoken out about the difficulty of changing part of his song to Spanish. Xuso said, “English opens a thousand doors. If I hear a song in Croatian I easily forget it. I prefer someone singing in English.” Eurovision history figures show that, with the exception of Serbian singer Marija Serifovic, who won in 2007, all winners have sung in English. The Eurovision Song Contest 2016 will be the 61st edition of the competition. It will take place in the Ericsson Globe in Stockholm, Sweden on May 14th, following Sweden’s victory at the 2015 Contest.

#NEWSBITES

SAN MIGUEL SOCIAL SERVICES CHRISTMAS CAMPAIGN SAYS THANKS ONCE AGAIN San Miguel Social Services thanks everybody who donated food and Christmas cheer to their Christmas Campaign. They were so very grateful for your kind response as this enabled them to help many needy families to have a better festive season.

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

A busy year ahead by CAROLINE TYSZKA BENIDORM HAVE announced that during 2016 they will host more than 35 major events. Ensuring that Benidorm maintains its tourism, cultural and festival reputation. the mayor, Toni Pérez, announced at Fitur (International Tourism Fair), in Madrid, the major events that the town will host during the coming year. Many of the events oﬀer an alternative to the traditional beach tourist, including the Low Cost Festival which, since 2009, has attracted many artists, including The Libertines, Foals, Kaiser Chiefs and Kasabian. This year’s planned event will have more than 80 artists and around 80,000 festival-goers when the weekend of music takes place from 29th to 31st July 2016. Toni Pérez said: “Benidorm keeps it commitment to repeat events because they are important to capture the youth who like to travel.” The coastal town is renowned for other events which it will again host, such as Benidorm Gay

Pride, St Patricks Day and Brits Fancy Dress Day. Throughout the next few weeks, the town hall will be announcing many musical events which will not only happen during the summer months but all year round, and will include concerts where audiences can see national as well as international artists. In addition to the Low Cost Festival is the Iberia Festival being held on 20th August and the Fuzzville, which is due to be held on 9th and 10th September. The town hall and the Visit Benidorm Foundation have also worked hard to ensure the events are varied with the resort having the Gastronomic Benidorm 2016, World Championship of Darts, the World Martial Arts WTKA and at least a dozen athletic events, including hosting the penultimate stage of Vuela a España, which was oﬃcially announced on 9th January and will be the 71st edition of the tour, starting on Saturday 20th August in the province of Ourense and ending on Sunday 11th September in Madrid.

NEWS BITES

MASS DANCE CLASS SUCCESS THE 7TH meeting of dance schools in Albir at the weekend greeted over 400 participants from around the region and further afield. Dance schools from Alfaz del Pi gathered together on Saturday 23rd January at the hotel Kaktus in Albir to participate in a day of dance workshops. The event, which was organised by the Costa Blanca Balla Club, together with the Department of Sports for the town, held several workshops throughout the day including ballroom, Caribbean, salsa, rock, and zumba. The fifteen workshops provided something for everyone. Carolina Marcent, part of the organising team, said “many of the participants came from outside the region for this annual fixed event, which they mark on their calendar each year.” For attendees who had travelled, the event was a chance for them to combine dancing with sightseeing, and make a weekend of their trip; a welcome boost to local tourism.

Moraira/Teulada U3A AGM THE VENUE for this meeting, on Monday 7th March 2016, is Salón G.L., Avenida Mediterráneo, Teulada. The doors do not open until 9.30am in order for the committee to prepare the room. The formal meeting starts at 10:30am. The AGM is when elections will be held for committee posts. The current committee will stand down, but may seek re-election if they wish. This meeting is very important for the smooth running of your U3A, so please attend if you can. As this is the AGM, unfortunately prospective new members who wish to join will have to do so at the last extra date 18th February, from 9.30am to 12noon, at La Senieta in Moraira, or wait until the next Monthly General Meeting, on Monday 4th April 2016. Existing members, however, who have not renewed their membership, will be able to do so from 9:30am until 10:30am. During that time, members will be able to join groups and also ﬁnd out about travel and cultural events. Once the meeting has started at 10:30am these desks will be closed. For further information please go to the website www.u3amoraira-teulada.org

St George’s Day celebrations

THE ST George’s Day celebration organisers have announced that the 2016 Alfaz del Pi event will take place at the Almafra Campsite in the town on Saturday 23rd April. Last year’s event, which was held at the train station bar in the town, raised 4,300€ for the Alfaz del Pi food bank with live entertainment throughout the afternoon, as well as the BBQ doing a roaring trade in burgers and hot dogs. Further details will be released in the coming weeks, including some of the raffle prizes that will be on offer. Luckily, this year’s event falls on a Saturday, which will be good news for those who could not attend last year due to work, and the early announcement means that everyone has plenty of time to work on their red and white outfits.

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

Seatbelts are just wonderful Without seatbelts I would have received serious injuries after experiencing a nasty car accident on Christmas Eve.

Jennifer Cunningham

I was on my way home just before lunch, looking forward to going away for the Christmas break when inexplicably a driver decided to go down a one-way street in the wrong direction, and at the junction chose to neither look nor stop. The first I knew about it was a most enormous crash, my car hit a very high curb, plus a boulder, before coming to a dramatic stop, during which I hit my head twice, once on the drivers’ window, then on the windscreen. The next thing I was aware of was being in an ambulance, on the way to hospital. Not a place I would choose to spend any time in, but especially on Christmas Eve. The hospital staff, including the ambulance driver were magnificent. The only problem, as always, was their lack of understanding of diabetes and my increasing distress as I had not eaten or taken any insulin since breakfast that morning. This factor gave me more stress than the bumps on my head. Eventually I arrived home, 10 hours after the accident, promising to return to the hospital should I feel unwell In any way. As my partner and I were due to be away for Christmas, there was not much in the house to eat, except for my diabetic emergency supplies, which turned out to be a rather unique Christmas Eve meal. For Christmas Day a local restaurant supplied a take away meal, this combined with my Christmas Gift hampers, gave us lots of lovely goodies to enjoy (most of which I was

not allowed to eat). The lack of celebrating a real Christmas did not particularly concern me as I was so grateful not to be seriously injured, just needed to sleep and relax. The grua service was very efficient and after a few days had passed, my partner drove me to the garage where I saw a very sad sight. My lovely car had a seriously damaged front end and the garage told me that the chassis was bent which meant that potentially the car could be a write off. The car had taken the full force of the impact on the drivers’ wing. These situations highlight how well cars are now designed and built and the passenger compartment was completely protected and undamaged. Thank goodness for a seat belt – never go without “Clunk Click”. I consider myself extremely lucky and what have I learnt? Life can change within seconds and when you do have an accident in Spain, the procedures are very simple. The only problem I experienced was the local police station, was a very small office which was infrequently manned and it took me over ten days to complete the necessary paperwork for the police and also for my claim, thank goodness for Sarah, the company’s claims administrator. The one item of paperwork that I did not have with me was receipt of payment – so please make sure that this is always attached to your policy, even though the police had checked and confirmed that my insurance was in place, they still required this document. What a dramatic end to 2015.

During the Christmas period, I had a lot of spare time to think about many, aspects of my life. I have had few moments during my life to do this but I think as you get older, reflecting can sometimes be very painful. Like most of us I have made mistakes, which I have taken full responsibility for and hopefully learnt from them, which I know has helped make me into a better person. I look at the world that we live in and I am glad, in one way that I am in the winter of my life and not the spring. Life has changed so dramatically and extremely fast, mobiles telephones are a good example. Who would have thought that it would be possible to be out for dinner in a restaurant, playing with your phone and not paying attention to those with you? When I observe this happening, I find it very sad as they are affecting social behaviour and if I could dump my mobile phone in the sea I would, but unfortunately for most of us, they have become an essential part of our lives. Then of course, we have the threat of terrorism stalking us every day and when I switch the news on, I wonder what tragedy will have happened today. What have we all done to make these young people so angry with the world. I find it bewildering as everything in life has happened before. No experience is unique and the way some weave a web of disaster around themselves is very strange. I think I will close this article now before I become too deeply immersed in despair. I need to start smiling again, because it is a beautiful day, the sun is out, the sea is blue and I have my life and my health.

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

#NEWS BITES

GREAT GIVEAWAY THE ORIGINAL Charity Shop and Library is celebrating another 12 months of supporting good causes after making donations of nearly 36,000€ in 2015.

(from left) Ann Colclough, Marianne Kelly and David Platt.

The write stuff

The organisations helped by the Javea-based charity included Caritas, The Franciscan Refuge in Gandia, the Raquel Paya School for special needs children in Denia, the Royal British Legion, and Javea Health Centre. And another fund-raising campaign supported by the charity reached its target last week when the Red Cross unveiled its new ambulance following a successful ‘Ambulance Para Javea’ campaign. A spokesman for the charity said: “A huge thank you to all our clients and to our voluntary staﬀ who made all

by JACK TROUGHTON

THREE SCHOOLS and around 350 youngsters took part in this year’s handwriting competition run by Teulada Moraira Lions Club. In tribute to the memory of one of the club’s founder members Claude Kelly, the annual competition has been renamed ‘Concurso Escritura en Memoria de Leon Claude Kelly’. Over the past few years the competition has involved the Cap D’Or Primary School in Moraira, the Santa Maria Magdalena Primary School in Benit-

achell, and since 2014, La Penya Blanca; a small primary school in Benigembla, which has just 18 students. Entries are submitted to the club and judged by Ken Langridge, who has organised the contest for the last four years, his wife Judy – who qualiﬁed for the task by winning a handwriting competition herself – and Ann Colclough, who will take over running the competition from next year. Winners receive a Certiﬁcate of Achievement and for the children of Moraira and Benitachell, a 20€ voucher which can be spent at a specialist stationers.

Because of the distance involved, the Benigembla students receive a prize. Claude’s widow Marianne presented the certiﬁcates and club vice president John Hughes presented the prizes at Benigembla and President David Platt at Moraira and Benitachell. At each school Marianne and the Lions were given a warm welcome by all the pupils who enthusiastically clapped and cheered every winner. Pictured at the Cap D’Or School are the six winners with (from left) Ann Colclough, Marianne Kelly and David Platt.

Charity volunteers with the ambulance

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

News from afar

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

Tax heaven

A HUMBLE building in the Cayman Islands is a highly desirable address – a fivestorey block which is home to nearly 20,000 firms. There are an estimated 100,000 firms registered in the British overseas territory. The tax haven has almost twice as many registered corporate bodies than residents. And a BBC documentary called ‘Britain’s Trillion Pound Island: Inside Cayman” has given an insight into life on the island and its wealthy inhabitants. Businesses do not head for Cayman for its blue skies, glorious beaches and crystal clear waters; they just want to bask in a tax free hideaway. Tax avoidance is legal - tax evasion is criminal – and it is believed to keep some £20 billion from the British public purse. The television crew visited Ugland House, the base of almost 20,000 firms. Peering through windows, it was found rooms contained a lot of desks but no-one sat at them. And while company representatives who agreed to be interviewed outlined a number of advantages for firms being registered in Cayman, they failed to mention tax benefits. It is thought vast fortunes pass through the island’s banks but Caymans’ premier Alden McLaughlin denied it was a tax haven. He called the territory an international finance centre. He also added: “If there are secrets on Cayman, I don’t know anything about them.” However, President Obama once said Ugland House and its 20,000 firms symbolised everything that was wrong with tax havens. “Now, that’s either the biggest building or the biggest tax scam on record.”

Action after ferry chaos THE FRENCH government has promised a security clampdown after the P&O ferry Spirit of Britain was stormed by migrants and activists following a demonstration in Calais. The authorities have pledged to keep law and order at the port – thrown into chaos on Saturday by the incident with services disrupted – to prevent further outbreaks of “anarchy”.

Around 50 migrants managed to board the ship in the incident after a demonstration of about 2,000 people in support of Britain opening its borders. There were 35 arrests; 26 migrants and nine activists. Riot police, gendarmes and border units are to be deployed with the French military on standby. The French government accepts there is a humanitarian problem but it could not condone “this anarchic situation”.

The UK’s Road Haulage Association has called for decisive action. Chief Executive Richard Burnett warned: “It is only a matter of time before our worst fears become a reality and a UK-bound truck driver is killed.” He said: “This shocking breach of security clearly shows that the migrant mayhem in and around Calais is not being tackled.” There are thousands of migrants currently living in camps, known as “The Jungle” on the outskirts of Calais.

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

The walk of life

Chris Ashley

Writer & Broadcaster

Once I was a Walker. No! not a Texas Ranger (that was Chuck Norris’93-’01) - an escort for unattached ladies not looking for a relationship, but need to be seen at social soirées on a chaps arm. Those recently divorced – widowed – with a philandering husband – or maybe of a closeted Sapphic persuasion. For the gig, ideally, you need to be Clooney handsome, which obviously I’m not, and Biggins gay (ditto) although at a certain angle, apparently, I do look a touch lavender. My services were scarcely required, and then only if the Chuckle Brothers or the 118 oddballs were unavailable. My one and only tryst was with Jane Rossington, from the original Crossroads ( Jill Richardson/ Harvey/Chance) and the only cast member to last the 24 years – and boy oh boy did she suffer. Married a bigamist – then a druggie - then an alkie – had a nipper with her stepbrother, and then, got lumbered with me. Look it’s only right to point out the aforementioned reasons why an attractive intelligent woman would need a walker didn’t apply to Jane. We were both involved in

a charity ‘do’ hence it was a covenant of convenience, so neither of us looked like Billy-no-mates. Being a walker is dull (not with Jane)-dull like watching Man U.- but being a minder is sexy - meet the Aussie Terry McCann. I was staying in a scuzzy outback hotel, the sort of place where if you zipped up after using the loo it was considered - OCD. A workmate offered me a spare room ,but didn’t mention it was in a house of ill repute. Now let’s be clear here, I never dallied - I just sat quietly in the louche lobby browsing Bradshaw’s World Railway Guide, sucking on a Werther’s Original, watching Skippy reruns on the telly. We’re going back some 40 years, I was 6’4”and weighed 10 stone – muscles like knotted knitting – wearing John Lennon granny glasses. However, no dramas, because the punters assumed I was the in-house enforcer. After all a short sighted lavender looking puny Pom in an environment prone to testosterone fuelled mayhem – MUST! - be a Stone Cold Killer. Robert De Niro (aka Travis Bickle) - I say “Pah! you lightweight & Yes! I am talkin’ to you - Taxi!”

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Are you going to sell a property in Spain?

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

OCCASIONALLY CLIENTS and readers ask us if it is necessary to hire the services of a lawyer when selling a property in Spain. Our answer is always the same, it is not necessary or compulsory, but it is highly recommended, especially if we consider the legal consequences that bad advice can produce. Sound legal advice can avoid many problems for the seller, including the following: .-Problems with the real estate agent: few sellers or vendors know that in Spain, unless otherwise agreed in a different sense, the real estate agent is entitled to claim for his fees from the moment that the buyer and seller reach an agreement, even if the transaction has not been completed, even if the seller has not received 100% of the sale price, even if the purchase deed has not been signed. Therefore, it is essential to sign an agreement with the real estate agency that protects the interests of the vendors, stating that the agents will only be entitled to collect their fees upon the completion and signing of the purchase deed, when the vendors receive100% of the price. .-Problems with the tax authority: we have seen vendorsincorrectlyadvised that they were not registered as a tax resident in Spain when in fact they were..unfortunately leading to them not benefitting from the tax advantages on the capital gains tax, etc. .-Problems due to ignorance of the object of sale. Sometimes sellers do not really know what they are selling. This happens with they sell a property that does not match up with the Urban Municipal Planning records, or that is against the law, or is affected by an extension of a road, street, etc. Sometimes people sell a property as a “villa or house” when legallythe building has the status of storage. Therefore, it is essential that the sellers know what they are selling, so they do not sell something they do not have, or sign a contract undertaking to hand over a property with some impossible to meet conditions. .-Problems due to lack of documentation or updating the property. Sometimes sellers do not know that their property does not have an occupation license, or the description in the land registry or catastrodoes not correspond to the reality, such as when anew extension for the Barbecue is not declared. Buyers may require the documentation to be updated within a limited time. Therefore, it is advisable that the vendors check with their lawyer the full state of the property, updated documentation, leaving everything ready for when a buyer appears. For all these and many more reasons, we advise sellers to conduct a “due diligence” of their property with their lawyers, and prepare the sale of your property correctly.

If you or someone you know want to sell their property, or simply make sure you have everything in order, contact Us. The information provided in this article is not intended to be legal advice, but merely conveys general information related to legal issues. White & Baos Abogados. Tel:+34 966 426 185. E-mail: info@white-baos.com White & Baos 2014 – All rights reserved. Send your questions to spanishlawyer@roundtownnews.com or info@white-baos.com

LEGAL & FINANCE

Legal advice for selling without problems.

Carlos Baos

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

Private Pension – Options explained

MONEY

MANY PEOPLE have pension pots just sitting not really doing anything. AT EVERY stage in life it is very important that you should keep track of your retirement provision.

Keith Littlewood

International Financial Adviser

If you are in your 30s or 40s look closely to what provision you have and what you might need in the future. State Benefits are not going to kick in for you until you are 67. If you are in your 50s then this is a very critical period. One bad investment year can affect the income you receive for the rest of your life so make sure you are looking at setting your investments up in a balanced way so that no unforeseen disasters can hurt you – this is called Life styling your pension pot In your 60s then it is also critical to look at your pension funds. Are they invested correctly. Are you taking the most tax efficient route in withdrawing? The list is so long at what you should be looking at that I cannot list it in this short article A raft of changes that have taken place recently - In Summary: • Full Access to UK Pension Pots now available from age 55 • Flexible Drawdown now available from most providers (you choose your own income levels) • Company pension schemes can be transferred to take advantage of flexibility (unless they were public funded e.g. Armed Forces, Police) • Not compelled to take annuity • Pension pots can be inherited providing fantastic succession planning opportunities Now, even more importantly than ever before the importance of receiving advice and retirement planning before making a decision of what to do with your pension pot is absolutely critical. Questions to ask yourself are: Where will I live? What lump sum should be taken? What are the tax implications? What about my partner? How much income will I need in 5, 10, 15 or 20 years’ time? What happens if the Pot is empty at age 80 and I am still alive? If you feel like this and/or would just like a helping hand to review what you have, why not contact me and I will sit down and go through your portfolio with you. I have been a fully Qualified Financial Adviser for 28 years and also understand the needs of ex-pats and the rules that apply to ex British living and retiring in Spain so if you need to talk through your own situation then please feel free to call me and we can have a no obligation discussion about the best way forward for your Investments. 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 Conduct 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.

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

#life&leisure

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016



Homes, Garden and Lifestyle Show

GET READY to meet a top trio of talent providing comedy, entertainment, magic, cookery and much, much more! The Homes Gardens & Lifestyle Show, at the Denia Marriott Hotel, Jesús Pobre near Javea, on 11th & 12th March, is going big on variety this spring, so get ready to have some fun and a great day out!

Read more on page 37.

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

life&leisure #gardening



An A to Z about winter cut backs

WITH WINTER cutbacks in full swing here are some thoughts about cutting back an assortment of popular plants as an A to Z checklist. by

‘Bougainvillea after being cut back’

Dick Handscombe Holistic gardener and author

‘Bougainvillea before being cut back’ ACANTHUS – THESE are getting ready to flower so just remove any brown misshaped leaves or excess growth or plants. Bay – Trim to a neat shape and spray with 5 cc propolis in a litre of water against black sooty leaves. Caesalpinia – Trim off dead flower stalks and trim to shape and size appropriate to its planting position, also cut out unsightly crossing branches. Datura – Trim dead flowers and cut back 25% percent to stimulate new flowering growth. Ericas, heathers – Trim plants that have stopped flowering, trim winter flowering varieties when they stop. Ferrocatus – Carefully clean any dead fallen leaves etc from the thorns plus any irregular unpleasing growth. The latter can be used to propagate new plants. Geraniums – Cut out dead deceased and untidy straggly growth. Hydrangeas – Cut out dead growth and trim back other stems to one or two buds. Irises – Clear/cut away and dead leaves and dead stems unfortunately not cut out during the summer. Jasmines – Cut back as necessary to have tidy tight growth, unless you want them to grow into trees.

Kalanchoas – Trim straggly and dead growth after flowering ends. Lagerstromea – Trim out growth that has flowered and shape. Musas, bananas – Cut back dead/dying growth and use the leaves as a valuable high in potassium mulch around the base of the plants. Narcissus –Leave until they have flowered and leaves die back. Polygala – Leave or trim to shape. Querus ilex, holm oak – trim to a pleasing shape with an attractive trunk clear of side growth. Raspberry – Cut out dead stems and trim tips of live stems to new buds. Santolina – These can become woody and straggly after a few years so trim back to stimulate more tidy young growth. Teucrium – Trim as you would a hedge whether single plants or an internal edge. Ulex, gorse – Cut back hard after winter flowering finishes. Remove plants you don’t want. Verbena – Trim back 25 to 75% to have a neat plant that will create new creeping flowering growth

in the spring. Waterlillies – Clear out dead leaves and stems. In small or medium sized ponds remove plants from water every two or three years and cut back plants to the heart or reject the thick old plant and pot up one or more of the new young plants that have formed. Xanthostemon, myrtle – Trim to shape. Yucas – Trim to shape and height. Remove dead flowered stems and leaves from stems if you want to see the trunks. Cut off the dangerous spiky leaf ends on the varieties that have hard tiff versus soft floppy leaves. Zantedeschia, water arum lily – Remove and dead or dying leaves and brown flowered stems. Having cut back plants strim them for the compost heap or bag up for the weekly garden collection or for taking to the nearest Eco park or green bins. Where possible avoid the pollution of a bonfire. Recently much of the coastal plain has been an unsightly and unhealthy continuous cloud from agricultural bonfires. It used to happen in urbanisations! Luckily this is now largely banned or strictly controlled.

Email auntyvirus@roundtownnews.com

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

life&leisure #aunty virus /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Recycle Bin Hi Aunty, I HOPE that you can help me. I´m using Windows 10, and I emptied my Recycle Bin and now realise that there were some photos in there that I need. I have tried to get them back using Nero rescue Agent. But I don´t quite understand the program and I have had no luck. Can you recommend another program or tell me what I´m doing wrong. Keep up the good work, Mike.

Response: Lost files can usually be recovered — if you discover the loss soon enough, but every time you write to the hard drive, you lower the likelihood of a successful recovery. Even a file that’s no longer in the Recycle Bin may still exist. Windows doesn’t overwrite the actual ones and zeros until another file needs the drive space. That’s why I told you to avoid using the PC as much as possible. There are several good file recovery programs available. I recommend Recuva Portable. It’s easy to use and has a very good track record. It’s also free. Another is EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard.

Shortcuts Hello Aunty Virus I USE a few of the shortcuts on my desktop regularly but, since upgrading to Windows 10, I cannot create a shortcut with the correct icon, eg the blue ‘F’ for Facebook. Can you tell me how to create these icons with the “correct” picture. Thank you, Barbara Response To create an icon on your desktop, simply right click on the desktop. Your menu will offer you the option to create a new shortcut. When asked to type the location of the item, type: www.facebook. com then click next. Name the shortcut “Facebook” then finish. As for the icon, go to this website http://www.iconspedia. com/icon/facebook-logo-4350. html and locate your preferred Facebook icon. Move the mouse over the icon, and your options to download/save the icon will appear, so click on the Windows

“Download .ICO” option. It is normally saved in your download folder. To change the icon, right click on the new Facebook shortcut and click on properties. Then click on change icon. Click on browse, and locate the Facebook icon in your download folder. Click on the icon then ‘open’ and ‘OK’ to add it to the list. Then just select the new Facebook icon from the list, ‘OK’ it and apply.

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

Sara Bell life&leis re aask Sara u ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// by

Life Coach

WITH A background in family and matrimonial mediation, Life Coach Sara Bell helps Readers with their daily worries. If you are having difficulties with relationships, family, work or any other aspect of your life, then help is at hand.

Not allowed to see the kids

Can’t stand living with the in-laws

My wife’s parents suggested we move in to their second property, an Apartment in a nearby village, rent free. To begin with this was great, but her Mum and Dad now feel they can call the shots about how we decorate the place etc. I am not sure it will work out. I want us to own our own property one day. A gift of an Apartment rent free certainly sounds like a nice gesture, but I don’t suppose you want this situation to continue forever, otherwise you are going to feel beholden to your wife’s parents. You could bide your time for a couple of years to allow you to save for your own place. In the meantime talk to your in-laws to discuss what they would be open to, decoration-wise. A compromise is better than letting resentment build up, and I suppose it is their place after all. Lastly, have you thought about asking them if they would be open to you buying their Apartment one day?

Since our son’s divorce, we have not been able to see our grandchildren. Our ex-daughter in law is making life as difficult as she can for our son as well. We used to have the children after school, and they would also stay with us sometimes at weekends and school holidays, which was lovely for us - we are all very close, and practically brought them up. We knew our daughter-in-law was likely to prevent us from seeing the children once they separated. What can we do? We’ve written to her, and telephoned to speak to the kids, but she ignores us. Our lives are so empty now. It’s sad but grandparents have few rights when it comes to seeing their grandchildren after a marriage breakdown. If your son is having difficulties with access, he should see a Solicitor. In normal circumstances, a wife cannot prevent the father from seeing the children. Once access has been sorted out, you may have to be content with seeing your grandchildren when your son comes to visit.

Write to Sara in confidence. A pseudonym will be used if you wish. Sara reads all letters and can give a personal reply. Email your question to agonyaunt@roundtownnews.com or Sara is available for private consultations, telephone 650 054 467.

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

life&leisure people

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Homes, Garden & Lifestyle Show Continued from page 33

UK TV’s loveable little comedian Syd Little, from Little and Large fame, will be on top form with comedy and cookery. Syd battled it out on Celebrity Masterchef 2015, so, at the show, Syd will be teamed with local celebrity chef from Masterchef 2014, Danny Bowler, from the Vintage Café in ‘A Battle of the Masterchefs!’ The marvellous Mark Stacey, from UK TV’s Flog it and Bargain Hunt, is back to value antiques, conduct the Antiques Quiz and compère some cooking capers in the popular Costa’s Cook Off! The show sponsors, BLU So Easy will be welcoming everyone with a stylish BLU cava cocktail from the cava fountain in the main lobby, by the Jazz and Blues Bar, where some magic awaits you as the Round Town News sponsors our Magic Experience with Yanni, the Street Magician, who will be performing memorable magic. Not only that, there is also an 8 day Mediterranean Cruise to be won in RTN’s free-to-enter draw, so, as if by magic, you could be setting sail in May 2016! New features this year include the ‘Legal Suite’, your legal questions answered, and also the opportunity to win a ‘Free Will’ besides many other prizes at the show! To take part in the ‘Tapas Trail’ just follow the show route map to find participating stands and receive your free tapa! In addition, for all the animal lovers out there, there is ‘Pet Idol 2016’ the cutest pet photograph competition, and a chance for the stars of your family to shine! Also back is the ‘Art Gallery and Competition’, ‘Crack the Safe and Win the Currency’, and ‘The Costa’s Cook Off’! Again, the seminar rooms will be open and packed with informative content in the talks and demonstrations on Health and Wellness, and Legal and Fiscal matters. All the exhibitors participating in the show will be on hand to give you the information, products and services that you need to keep your homes, gardens & lifestyle in tune with 2016. Put the dates in your diary to go along to see, taste, try and buy at the Costa Blanca’s most popular event, The Homes Gardens & Lifestyle Show. To book your stand contact gina@gmpromotions.es, call 695 399 841 or Facebook Homes Gardens and Lifestyle Show.

Houses built from straw

THE MONTHLY market ‘Mercat de la Terra’ returns to Jalon on Saturday 6th February and will feature demonstrations of bioconstruction – building with bales of straw and ‘adobe’, clay-rich mud. The market is held on the first Saturday of the month in the town’s plaza Mayor between 9am and 2pm, and has a different theme every time. And as usual there will be around 40 stalls selling vegetables, breads, wine, and jams – everything is made or grown locally.

HAH February Chatters meeting THE NEXT Help at Home Chatters meeting will be held on Wednesday 17th February, and the guest speaker will be a local, English speaking, history teacher who will be talking about the past and recent history of Los Alcázares, and, afterwards, answering questions. Starting at 11am, with free refreshments from 10.30am, the meeting, which is open to all, will be held at the Pasty Shack in Río Nalón, near Mercadona Supermarket, in Los Alcázares. Before and after the talk there will be games and quizzes, with modest prizes, as well as the opportunity to meet old and new friends. Chatters is sponsored by Help At Home Mar Menor, a local charity offering free assistance to those who need a little extra temporary help in and around their own homes. HAH relies solely on donations and fundraising. Follow them on facebook, or find out more by visiting www.helpathome.es

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

life&leisure #horoscopes

Kenny Corris kennycorris@hotmail.com 686 361 594

 When an enthusiastic and enterprising Mars encounters a pedantic Pluto the result is bound to bring unnecessary conflict into the current situation. What it does is to force you into thinking twice as to just what it is that you are about to do as it is not too late to change direction, or put your decision in the hands of someone who really cares. Venus takes on Neptune and your innermost spiritual energies are charged and ready to be put to good use. After all it is fear that makes you so indecisive and questioning. This week sees you swimming upstream against the flow, keeping your head above the water, and turning that stubborn streak into more positive and inspiring strategies. You are famous for your ability to communicate, and this week you are guided both by Mercury, Planet of Communication and Uranus which governs technology and re invention. You may feel that you are between a rock and a hard place right now but it may be a good time to evaluate and consolidate before you make any fixed commitments. Once again someone has put your back up and your pincers are poised! Problems stem from your opposing sign of Capricorn which is doing the business in the far side of the Cosmos. Take appropriate action by either walking away with your head held understandably high and turn a blind eye; you may forgive in time, but you may never forget. The loving inner you often casts aspersions but this is your self preservation mechanism in action. You will always want the lion’s share but you really do have to deserve it too! The time has come to plan your next move, and the midweek tryst between your leader, The Sun, and a wily Saturn will certainly give those who doubt you a run for their money! The Venus sextile with Neptune is mirrored in the actions of your opposing sign of Pisces. Whatever you do, do not allow anyone to give you the slip and consolidate that which you have; this is a time to gain profitably and rightly and not to have to lose big time. Be careful what you say, a Mercury conjunction means someone may well take offence. Peace and harmony are your upmost desires and yet all around you conflicts are indicated. Someone appears to be jealous of your success and shows it in many ways. Appearing neither shaken or stirred you are seeking to balance your inner life within, and yet it is quite clear that here there is turmoil. You’ll win, without taking prisoners! Negative attracts, and you have to turn to your opposing sign of Taurus to take on the love you need right now from the Goddess of Love Destiny, Venus directly. Though this may seem drastic, you are known not to do things by halves, however, where love is involved for goodness and everybody’s sake look before you leap! Jupiter is installed in actions with Planet Kora and luck and good fortune may not go far enough for you right now. For certain somebody has thrown a spanner in the works and it is humiliating to have the hand that feeds bitten by someone you have helped along the way. Powerless to do anything but wait, comeuppance is out there on the horizon. Saturn, your trusty and sage planetary leader is illuminated midweek by the Sun. Time to take a dramatic step in the right direction as a door has closed just lately, but a window has opened for you. It is time for change and you should embrace it because the same old, same old is in the past and your energies now should captivate and inspire! As you reap so must you sow, since there is a cycle now that sees you protected and cared for and it is nothing lass than you deserve. If you only follow your destiny right now you would see that you are on the threshold of new enterprise and able to be self sufficient into the bargain. This time around you have done things in your inimitable way Neptune sextiles with Venus, as love comes through to you both loud and clear and in various ways. As somebody apologises you are happy to accept their version of the events, though they do not tell you the absolute truth. Forgiveness may be easier than forgetting but you are moving on now, not running away, with bigger fish to fry!

If It’s Your Birthday This Week

Negative aspects of the Cosmos combine to help you turn things around; and if at ﬁrst you don’t succeed then the key to action this astrological year is to be patient and deserving too!

Drive

I HAVE always loved driving since the very first time I sat in the driving seat of my first car and negotiated Opa Locka Boulevard in North Miami. I was only allowed to park at a strip Mall whilst my co pilot collected her dry cleaning, but it was a start. I took a driving test when I was living in London in my convertible Triumph Herald, and getting that Pass was one of the happiest days of my life. I can remember tearing up the L plates and driving along High Street Kensington with the roof down and the wind blowing across my face. I always have had to have music when I drive and I still do love to combine the drive with a wide range of music from Classic to Rock. Also I am well aware that Spirit protects me whenever I drive...always getting me safely onwards to my destination. One fateful Summer night, way back when, I got a phone call. A dear friend, Ilene, had broken down in Fort Lauderdale and she asked me to drive from North Miami Beach to rescue her. No problem? Well there was a terrifying freeway interchange that meant crossing over five lanes from three lanes to get to the right exit. I set off in my Mustang and the freeway was fluid and cars were speeding along and I was tuned, probably into Donna Summer and Village People at the time. As I approached the intersection the adrenaline started to coarse through my veins, and a familiar voice came over the radio. It was Dusty Springfield singing my very favourite track, and as I sang along with her I made the lane changes...no problem. I was able to rescue Ilene from the dangerous downtown Lauderdale. Why that very poignant track was played at exactly the time I needed it I will never know. I have never heard it played since, it wasn’t a well known hit. Falling asleep on any Motorway isn’t a good thing. I should have stopped when a yawn was followed by rapid closure of my eyes as my body jerked forward. It was a warning that I did not heed and I closed my eyes momentarily there on the A7 close to the Denia turn off doing 140 kilometres an hour. As the tyres hit the rough edging it woke me only seconds away from impacting the barrier of the central reservation. Strangely enough it wasn’t me who carried on driving after that. Whoever it was who got me home that night I am eternally thankful to them. There was a violent change of gears and the car felt heavy, I was driving far too fast but I felt that I was in the hands of a professional driver. This was confirmed the very next day because my car had been reversed into my garage, something I just never did. Back in London a friend rented a holiday cottage for a long weekend. It was a hot Summer and to escape the City for three days was worth the long drive to get there. We were in holiday mood and left in the early hours of the morning. All was going really well when we stopped for a cup of coffee en route, and my friend found that she had lost the address. Since we had the keys I suggested that we carry on, we could call from our destination. I carried on driving asking for the Angels to help us find the way and get us safely to our temporary home. When we arrived into the town I was tired and managed to drive into a cul de sac just off the front line of the beach. To facilitate turning in a narrow street I drove into the nearest open driveway and the headlights illuminated the name of the house. It was the house we were looking for. I had driven over 200 miles straight to the rental cottage. You can put everything down to mere co incidence if you want, but Spiritualists don’t use that word. Everything that happens is organised by the loving care and synchronicity sent in abundance from the Spirit World. I have a silver angel in my car that says, “I promise not to drive faster than my angel can fly!” I will not break that promise, and I am grateful for their loving care, that sees me safe on the road!

Kenny‛s Postbag

Email your letters to me at: kennycorris@roundtownnews.com

KENNY, I have a dream that sees me driving along a narrow roadway up in a mountain. I usually ﬁnd myself driving close to the edge only passing a few cars. Nothing happens to me, but the dream has been with me for several years now. What does it mean? Singh U. Hi Singh......it sounds like something from a Hitchcock movie! Firstly you are high up in your mountain which suggests that you are very able and achieving. The dream shows you safely driving which shows your smooth passage through life, and as there are no fears brought about by collision or the long drop down, it would seem that you are safe. Another scenario and this could be a nightmare! I think that this dream is to ensure you that all is well and your subconscious is comforting and reassuring you by repetition.

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

life&leisure #puzzles /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Sudoku

Quick Crossword

Last weeks crossword answers can be found on page 56.

Across 3. Misfortune (9) 8. Sediment (4) 9. Conduct (9) 10. Eaten away (6) 11. Guide (5) 14. Fall into (5) 15. Curb (4) 16. Moribund (5) 18. Story (4) 20. Wireless (5) 21. Ant (5) 24. Dread (6) 25. Ignore (9) 26. Cosy (4) 27. Cheer (9)

Doodle box

Down 1. Ease (9) 2. Conciliate (9) 4. Action (4) 5. Precise (5) 6. Tremble (6) 7. So (4) 9. Whiskers (5) 11. Speedy (5) 12. Translation (9) 13. Foster (9) 17. Covetousness (5) 19. Appear (6) 22. Keen (5) 23. Portent (4) 24. Genuine (4)

Cryptic Crossword

Across 3. So dieting upsets one’s assimilation of food (9) 8. A double round to celebrate (4) 9. They may be punched by workers (4-5) 10. So rich a blend of voices (6) 11. Change seats and get something worth having (5) 14. Worthy of respect, though not entirely legal (5) 15. Witnessed a Pole cut in pieces! (4) 16. New easel to hire out (5) 18. Something from which danger may arise (4) 20. Tree for the sea-shore we hear (5) 21. Get involved in someone else’s business? (5) 24. How one should march on foot (6) 25. Ninety-ton order, yet one of no account (9) 26. Reel back with some drinks (4) 27. It gives you time to play (9) Down 1. No notes? Call at the station! (3,6) 2. Distorted explanation of why a player was dropped? (3,2,4) 4. I take a bit of a risk for her (4) 5. Odds that aren’t odd! (5) 6. Finds broken crates (6) 7. Inequalities of chance (4) 9. Kind of spirit used in petrol lighters (5) 11. Knowing there’s a fight over a point (5) 12. Make moves to raise one’s standing? (4,5) 13. Almost in debt? Very well could be! (2,3,4) 17. It’s not easily carved by one in a confused state (5) 19. Temporary skylight? (6) 22. Agree to embark (3,2) 23. Learning a new role (4) 24. Make a note of the time (4)

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

life&leis ure #whats on /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Shooting Cupid’s arrows

ROMANCE IS in the air at the Valentine Party Night in aid of Cancer Care Javea on Saturday 13th February. The fun is being hosted by GJs Restaurant in the town’s Arenal and the party starts at 7pm until 11.30pm. Live music is provided by ‘Out of the Blue’ and there will be dancing, a raffle, and party games. Tickets are 15€ and include champagne on arrival and a buffet. They are available by calling 634 335 661 or by email to ianandmaggie@hotmail.com and can be collected from Cancer Care in Javea Part. Alternatively, they can be bought from Joanne at GJs.

Simply topping by Jack Troughton

SINGING GROUP Sound Familiar is back in action next month with a new show ‘Let’s Face the Music’ to turn the clock back to an age of elegance. Evening gowns for the ladies and top hat, white tie and tails for the men, are the order of the day on stage at the Casa de Cultura Calpe on Thursday 25th February and at the Auditori Municipal, Ondara, on Friday 11th March. And rehearsals have been a challenge. The ladies have had to get used to dancing in floor length dresses – they have

swapped the long skirts they have practiced in since last autumn for the gowns they will wear on stage. The men are sporting ‘toppers’ and canes to help recreate the mood of an bygone era – and the show features the popular foot-tapping music by the likes of Cole Porter, the Gershwin Brothers, Jerome Kern, and Irvin Berlin. Both shows start at 8pm, doors are open from 7.30pm. Tickets are 12€ and are available from Margaret & Elena’s Book & Card shop, Galerias Mar Azul, Calle Gabriel Miro, Calpe, and by calling 96 558 1483, or online at www.pphilipashley.com/boxoffice.php

Help International, Benidorm AGM

KINDLY NOTE that Help International, Benidorm’s Annual General Meeting is on Thursday, 4th February 2016, at the José Lorca Llinares Social Centre, Benidorm (the usual meeting place). Please arrive from 10.15am as the meeting will start promptly at 11am. It is important that all members attending must have fully paid up membership and show their membership cards. If a member cannot attend, they should advise their absence by phone (see contacts page on the web site www.help-benidorm.com) and give ‘apologies for absence’ to allow Help to achieve its quorum.

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

life&leis leisure e #advertising feature  

Calling All Artists! THE HOMES Gardens & Lifestyle Show at the Denia Marriott Hotel, Jesus Pobre on 11th & 12th March 2016 most popular feature The Art Competition and ArtGallery is NOW OPEN and we are inviting artists to participate and display paintings. The Show will again be recognising our local artists plus putting Art into Charity!! They art competition entry fee will be donated to the Make A Smile Charity. The competition is open to all levels of artists (as below). Paintings submitted can use all types of painting techniques. Closing date is February 26th. 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 and judged by our panel of professional judges, the winners will be announced at the close of Show by our Show celebrities Mark Stacy and SydLittle, on Saturday 12th March 2016 at 5.00 pm, in the Ballroom at the main demo area and the winning artists announced. So now we need YOUR Paintings! Plus you have the opportunity if you choose to sell your art in the ArtGallery at the Show. If you have a painting talent, then we want to bring the Artist out

in you! We are now inviting local artists to submit their work to be featured in the exclusive HOMESGARDENS& LIFESTYLE ART COMPETITION/GALLERY Venue: The Denia Marriott Hotel, Jesus Pobre (near Javea) Date: Fri 11th & Sat 12th March 2016 Entry fee: €6 euro for each artwork (maximum 3 paintings per artist) BEING DONATED TO THE MAKE A SMILE CHARITY Three entry categories: Beginners (under 3 years’ experience of painting) Intermediate (between 3 and 8 years’ experience of painting, etc. Expert (8 years or more experience) Styles accepted: acrylic, oil, drawing, pastel, water-colour, mixed media All paintings must be displayed with a floor or table easel. Cash prize for first place winners in each category. Closing date is February 26th. Please register your interest now! Email office@gmpromotions.es and we will send you full details. CALLING ALL BUSINESSES TO BOOK YOUR STAND! CONTACT gina@gmpromotions.es THE EXHIBITOR OPEN DAY IS ON WEDNESDAY 27thJANUARY 2016…11.00am – 4.00pm…Come along, see the venue, chose your stand area and network with other exhibitors. RSVP Tel. 695 399 841 www.gmpromotions.es

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

life&leisure #people 

World Cancer Day

White rabbit’s very important date

FOR THE fourth year running, Zenia Boulevard are kindly hosting the event on Thursday 4th February. Many local artists, including Simon Morton, Stevie Spit and Dan Davy from Sunshine FM, are donating their time for free. The artists will be performing between 12 noon and 5pm and there will be two minutes’ silence at 2pm to remember those that have been lost to cancer, or are ﬁghting it. For a contribution to AECC, people will receive a rose.

by CAROLINE TYSZKA

ALICE’S WONDERLAND is the latest Show (Pantomime) from the pairing of Matt King and Rebecca Troch along with their talented team of amateur dancers and thespians. Rehearsals at the weekend for the Broadway gang went extremely well and, now, the enthusiastic performers just need to put the ﬁnal touches on their performances before the curtain goes up next weekend. Matt said: “If you’d have told me 4 years ago I’d have gone back to my roots as a B Ed Hons teacher, doing proper drama lessons, writing, producing and directing shows for a cast of 55 people, I’d have laughed at you. We have a super team and we work them hard but with discipline. Everyone is equal; they all need each other and, thankfully, they all rise to the occasion.” Ticket sales are going extremely well with reserved seating proving very popular and, for the ﬁrst time, audience mem-

bers can pre-order their interval drinks so that they are ready for them during the break. During each performance there will be a raffle with prizes, including a gym membership and spa session, although any further donations for the raffle would be extremely welcome. Matt went on to say: “I am told, by those who have seen the rehearsals and have been in other shows, that this is the best production so far, so we are both very pleased and proud of them all. There are always a few nerves but more this year as we have some new technical effects, but we are keeping those a surprise for now. You’ll have to come and see the show.” RTN are proud to be sponsoring the programme for this show which promises family fun and entertainment for everyone. There are two shows, Friday 5th and Saturday 6th February, at the Casa de Cultura in Alfaz del Pi. For tickets (all seats are bookable), please call (0034) 678 65 71 36 or email the box office at broadwaydance@hotmail.com.

Age Concern bus appeal

Model maker MODEL MAKER Howard Parker is the guest speaker at U3A Vall de Pop’s general meeting on Thursday 4th February. Howard, from Javea, started making plastic kits as a child and progressed to becoming a professional in his forties – including making dynamic duo Wallace and Gromit. He will be sharing some of the secrets of the profession, including his time at Sunseeker Boats in Poole Dorset, and the story promises to be both entertaining and interesting.

DURING THE last few days, Age Concern have received two further donations towards their “Help Us Buy A New Bus” Appeal. 300€ was presented to the Age Concern President, Maureen Payne and Vice President, Pam Horobin, by members of the Stagestruck Theatre Group, and 100€ was presented to the President by a member of the San Luís Bowls Club. Age Concern are extremely grateful for their support and generosity, which is helping their bus to become reality.

Calpe art ehibition extended

THE TREMENDOUS success of Artist Brigitta Künzler’s exhibition of oil paintings of Spain at Librería Europa Bookshop, Calle Oscar Esplá 2, Calpe, has led to the exhibition being extended until April 30th 2016. Admission is Free, Mondays to Fridays 10am to 2pm and 5pm to 8pm, Saturdays 10an to 2pm. For more information, telephone 965 83 58 24.

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

life&leisure #music

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Gatecrash: Party band With almost 30 weddings under their belt in 2015 “Gatecrash” have fast become one of the hottest party band on the Costa Blanca. The band is fronted by Niamh O´Sheehan (vocals) with Matthias Coblenzer (guitar), Torsten (harmonica & vocals) and Jose Luis(bass) and Jose Domingo (drums). Their up tempo and varied repertoire mean they can cover ALL events for ALL ages. the perfect solution for all needs. Niamh, together with Matthias, are “Celtic Knot”, a duo who perform an acoustic guitar set with Niamh focusing on singing traditional Irish ballads and folk music. For more info phone: 676 507 791 or LIKE their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GatecrashPartyBand January Gigs: Friday 29: Blues Bar, (Near Marina), Denia. 11.30 pm. Saturday 30: Bar Nostro, Arenal, Javea 11 pm. February Gigs: Saturday 6: Blues Bar, (Near Marina), Denia. 11.30 pm. Saturday 13: Bar Nostro, Arenal, Javea 11 pm. Sunday 14: La Chica de Ayer, Denia. 5 pm. (Celtic Knot) Friday 26: Dorian Gray Pub, C/La Mar, Denia. 11.30 pm. Sunday 28: Alter Ego Café Bar, Denia. 4 pm

Adam Daniels

Adam Daniels is a solo singer, guitarist and pianist who entertains with live music all over the Costa Blanca.

His act is completely live (no backing tracks) and consists entirely of him either playing guitar or piano and singing, His repertoire includes popular music from just about every genre and includes popular songs dating from the 40’s all the way up to present day chart music. There’s pretty much something for everybody. If I had to describe his act in a few words I would say that it’s all about live, laid back easy listening. Adam can be seen performing every Sunday in Mullin’s Bar, Moraira from 3 pm. On Saturday 30th January, to celebrate Loraine’s !! Birthday, Adam will be performing in Mullin’s Bar from 7.30 pm followed by ET’s Disco at 9.30 pm. For more info on Adam check out his Facebook page (Adam Daniels Music) or phone: 654 234 035.

The Hot Dogs Jazz Band

The Hot Dogs Jazz Band ,the Costa Blanca´s premier Trad Band are performing at Restaurant Jimy, Calle Pintor Sorolla, Calpe, on Saturday 30th January from 8 pm. The Band has been in existence for over 10 years and play a great mix of Dixieland, Swing and Standards. There is a 5 euro admission charge and reservations are essential:phone: 96 587 4120 The Hot Dogs are available for any function eg. hotels, restaurants , concerts & private parties. Contact: Gerry 619 177 752 or Dave 685 321 594.

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

#tv&showbiz goss

by Peter Taylor

 THE PILOT of Cold Feet was produced over 12 days in 1996 on location around Greater Manchester and went out on Granada TV on 30th March 1997. The show ran for 6 series, winning a BAFTA along the way. John Thomson (Pete) said “I’m delighted to be part of the new series of Cold Feet. The demand for its return from the general public has been overwhelming. It’s fantastic to deliver such a brilliant show to an audience who hold it so dear to their hearts,” beautiful words. The eight-part comedy drama series begins ﬁlming in Manchester next month. Alrighty!

THE TRUTH about songs and singers is a something we rarely have access to, so I was well surprised when I saw this story surrounding Coldplay. So many artists continue to share personal contact they had with David Bowie, and when the band members talked about one of their songs I had to share it with you. Coldplay´s Will Champion and Jonny Buckland talked of Bowie’s inﬂuence on their music then Champion said “I think Chris phoned him up, wrote him a letter and said, “Please sing on it,” and he came back and said, ‘It’s not a very good song, is it?´” Top anecdote mate!

This is not the way to break your cherry! ‘Are the cast of Friends getting back together?’ It’s such a pity that question continues to hover around, as the show is still the daddy of them all, at times I found watching it gloriously funny. The latest reunion comment comes from producer and creator Marta Kaufman who said “There will never be a Friends reunion movie … Friends was about the time in our lives when your friends are your family, then when you have a family, there’s no need any more.” That extremely incisive statement tells me categorically, there will never ever be a Friends Reunion.

QUENTIN TARANTINO was born in Knoxville Tennessee in March 1963 and at the age of just 16 lied about his age to get a job as an usher at a porn theatre, and even more surprisingly, had a small part in an episode of The Golden Girls. His career took off when he changed to writing and directing movies, and his latest offering ´The Hateful Eight´ is the back-drop to today’s main story. The two lead actors, Samuel L. Jackson and Kurt Russell, were in Australia promoting the film on radio station Nova 100, and unbeknown to them when they sat down, it was the first time presenters Jonathan Brown and Sam Pang had interviewed anybody live, never mind two main players in the acting business. It all began OK, but things nosedived when the conversation turned to Jackson´s lengthy monologues in the film and was asked “How the hell do you remember all those lines in one go?” to which Samuel quipped “Not that hard…I get paid every Friday; it’s what I’m paid to do.” Tilt! Samuel and Kurt then eased back on extracting the urine and slipped into promo-mode saying “its Quentin’s writing, it makes so much sense … the flow is kind of easy once you start reading it,” yep, that’s the stuff the presenters were wanting to hear in the aftermath of the amateurish ´how do you learn your lines´ question. ’ Presenter Sam Pang later told Sam and Kurt they were their first celebrity interview which got the reply “You´re breaking your cherry with us?’ then Russell said “you should say something special” before letting loose with a bleeped-out expletive!*?/* The final word came from other presenter Jonathan Brown who said “we thought they’d start us off gently with some contestant from MasterChef.” Love it!

IT’S GOOD to be remembered by your family and friends of course, but have you ever harboured the dream of maybe being remembered for something a bit different … a bit quirky! funny! The loss of Motorhead singer Lemmy just after Xmas was a sad time for his many fans, but things have picked up since, with a petition that, at the time of writing had 44,000 signatures, and here´s the reason why. Lemmy´s favourite tipple was Jack Daniels and Coke, and the people who´ve signed the petition want a ´Jack Daniels and Coke´ to be renamed ´The Lemmy! Where do I sign? THE REMARKABLE story of the ´Hatton Garden Heist´ last April is now a screenplay making it possible we´ll find out about the 4 elderly villains who pulled off the largest burglary ever attempted in British history. The 4 men have since pleaded guilty after a 76 year old man and his 50 year old son got caught laundering the goods. Distributers Metrodome said the script is being checked to ensure we don’t include prohibited case details. Suggestions for a title range from ‘Bad Grandpas? to ´The Enfield Expendables!’ Send yours on an old 20 euro note.

STAN LAUREL and Oliver Hardy were both born in the 1800´s making it remarkable that their work is still so watchable, as long are you´re in for a bit of nuttiness that is. When I see their ﬁlms now I amaze at the physical side, it’s like ´clumsy meets graceful.´ The good news is that BBC Films are making a biopic called ´Stan And Ollie,´ and Steve Coogan will play Stan Laurel, and American actor John C. Reilly Oliver Hardy. Scriptwriter Jeff Pope said “When I watch their movies, it´s forever Saturday morning and I am six years old watching the TV utterly spellbound.” With you Jeffy boy!

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

tv listings 29th January - 4th February 2016

Youtube videos of the week



Snoop Dogg is one of the most colourful characters in the world of showbiz and ´Snoop Dogg narrating a nature documentary is the only thing you need to watch´ proves it. Now watch Game of Thrones star ‘Thor’ Björnsson brake the world record for carrying two fridges ´Fastest 20 m carrying two fridges // Guinness World Records Italian Show (Ep1)

BBC1

BBC2

ITV1

07:00 Breakfast 10:15 The Housing Enforcers 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 Wanted Down Under 12:45 Emergency Rescue Down Under 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News at Two 14:30 BBC Regional News and Weather 14:45 Doctors 15:15 Father Brown 16:00 For What It’s Worth 16:45 James Martin: Home Comforts 17:30 Antiques Road Trip 18:15 Pointless 19:00 BBC News at Seven 19:30 BBC Regional News and Weather 20:00 The One Show 20:30 Match of the Day Live: The FA Cup 23:00 BBC News at Eleven 23:35 The Graham Norton Show 24:25 Would I Lie to You? 24:55 The Apprentice USA

07:15 The Housing Enforcers 08:00 Wanted Down Under 08:45 Escape to the Continent 09:15 MasterChef: The Professionals 10:15 Victoria Derbyshire 12:00 BBC News 13:00 Daily Politics 14:00 Island Stories 14:05 The Pallisers 15:00 Tennis: Australian Open 16:00 A Place to Call Home 16:45 David Attenborough’s Natural Curiosities 17:30 Best Bakes Ever 18:15 Flog It! 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Great British Railway Journeys 20:00 Celebrity Antiques Road Trip 21:00 Mastermind 21:30 What to Buy and Why 22:00 Winterwatch 23:00 QI 23:30 Newsnight 24:00 Weather 24:05 The Story of China

07:00 Good Morning Britain 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 ITV Lunchtime News 14:55 ITV News 15:00 Judge Rinder 16:00 Dickinson’s Real Deal 16:59 ITV Central Weather 17:00 Tipping Point 18:00 The Chase 19:00 ITV News 19:30 ITV Evening News 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Coronation Street 21:00 The Martin Lewis Money Show 21:30 Coronation Street 22:00 Mr Selfridge 23:00 ITV News at Eleven 23:30 ITV News 23:40 Birds of a Feather 24:10 On Her Majesty’s Secret Service

SATURDAY 30th January

BBC1

07:00 Breakfast 11:00 Saturday Kitchen Live 12:30 Mary Berry’s Foolproof Cooking 13:00 BBC News and Weather 13:10 Football Focus 14:00 Tennis: Australian Open 15:30 Bargain Hunt 16:15 Escape to the Country 17:00 Final Score 18:10 Now You See It 18:40 BBC News 18:50 BBC Regional News and Weather 19:00 Pointless Celebrities 19:50 The Getaway Car 20:45 The Voice UK 22:10 Casualty 23:00 The National Lottery Live 23:10 BBC News; Weather 23:30 Match of the Day 24:50 Lara Croft, Tomb Raider: the Cradle of Life

BBC2

07:30 NFL Highlights 08:20 Cowboy 09:45 The Quick Gun 11:10 Homes Under the Hammer 12:10 Natural World 13:00 Best Bakes Ever 13:45 Best Bakes Ever 14:30 Fire Down Below 16:25 Funny Lady 18:35 Celebrity Antiques Road Trip 19:35 Flog It! 20:35 King George and Queen Mary: The Royals Who Rescued the Monarchy 21:35 Dad’s Army 22:10 The Real Marigold Hotel 23:10 Live at the Apollo 23:55 Insert Name Here 24:25 Perfume: the Story of a Murderer

ITV1

CHANNEL 4 07:00 Countdown 07:45 The King of Queens 08:10 The King of Queens 08:35 The King of Queens 09:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 10:00 Frasier 11:05 Frasier 11:30 Undercover Boss USA 12:30 Four in a Bed 13:00 Channel 4 News Summary 13:05 Four in a Bed 15:10 Deal or No Deal 16:10 Countdown 17:00 A Place in the Sun: Winter Sun 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 The Last Leg Goes Down Under 24:05 Virtually Famous 24:50 Rude Tube

CHANNEL 4

07:00 Fort Boyard Ultimate 07:15 The King of Queens Challenge 07:40 The King of Queens 07:25 Pat & Stan 08:05 Snowdonia Marathon 07:35 Dino Dan 09:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 08:00 Signed Stories 09:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 08:05 Sooty 08:15 Super 4 10:00 The Morning Line 08:30 Scrambled! 11:00 Frasier 08:35 Mr Bean: The Animated Series 11:30 Frasier 08:50 Horrid Henry 12:00 The Big Bang Theory 09:10 Nerds & Monsters 12:30 The Big Bang Theory 09:30 Jessie 10:05 The Tom & Jerry Show 13:00 The Big Bang Theory 10:25 Murder, She Wrote 13:30 The Simpsons 11:15 The Jeremy Kyle Show 14:00 The Simpsons 13:20 ITV News and Weather 13:25 The Jeremy Kyle Show 14:30 Channel 4 Racing 17:00 Come Dine with Me 14:30 Judge Rinder 15:30 Tipping Point 17:25 Come Dine with Me 16:30 Doc Martin 18:00 Come Dine with Me 17:30 The Martin Lewis Money Show 18:30 Come Dine with Me 18:00 The Chase 19:00 Come Dine with Me 19:00 ITV News 19:30 Channel 4 News 19:30 You’ve Been Framed! 20:00 Ninja Warrior UK 20:00 Great Canal Journeys 21:00 Take Me Out 21:00 George Clarke’s 22:15 The Jonathan Ross Show Amazing Spaces 23:15 ITV News and Weather 22:00 Now You See Me 23:30 The Lost World: 24:15 The Hole Jurassic Park

CHANNEL 5

ITV2

07:00 Childrens TV 09:00 Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:25 Peppa Pig 09:35 Paw Patrol 09:45 Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00 Toot the Tiny Tugboat 10:15 The Wright Stuﬀ 12:10 Cowboy Builders & Bodge Jobs 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Celebrity Big Brother 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 NCIS 16:15 Look Again 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 5 News Tonight 20:00 Pets Who Hate Vets 21:00 Make You Laugh Out Loud 22:00 Celebrity Big Brother 23:00 Lip Sync Battle UK 23:30 Celebrity Big Brother 24:05 Celebrity Big Brother’s Bit on the Side

07:00 Planet’s Funniest Animals 07:20 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 08:05 Dinner Date 09:05 Emmerdale 09:35 Emmerdale 10:05 You’ve Been Framed! 10:35 Catchphrase 11:20 Dinner Date 12:20 Royal Pains 13:10 Emmerdale 13:45 Emmerdale 14:15 You’ve Been Framed! 14:45 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 15:40 The Jeremy Kyle Show 16:45 The Jeremy Kyle Show 17:50 The Jeremy Kyle Show 18:50 Take Me Out 20:00 You’ve Been Framed! 21:00 Two and a Half Men 21:30 Two and a Half Men 22:00 Fast & Furious 24:10 Take Me Out

07:00 07:50 08:35 09:05 10:00 11:00 11:30 12:00 13:00 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 24:00 24:30

CHANNEL 5

07:00 Childrens TV 09:30 Wanda and the Alien 09:45 Toby’s Travelling Circus 09:55 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 10:30 The Saturday Show 12:45 Funniest Fails, Falls & Flops 13:15 Police Interceptors 14:15 Police Interceptors 15:15 Now That’s Funny! 16:15 Puppies Make You Laugh Out Loud 17:15 Make You Laugh Out Loud 18:10 Make You Laugh Out Loud 19:10 Nightmare Tenants, Slum Landlords 20:00 World War II in Colour 20:55 World War II Battleﬁeld Recovery 21:55 5 News Weekend 22:00 Football League Tonight 22:30 Football League Tonight 23:00 Celebrity Big Brother 24:00 Supersized

ITV2

07:00 The Hot Desk 07:10 Emmerdale 09:55 Coronation Street 12:20 Ninja Warrior UK 13:20 Scorpion 14:20 You’ve Been Framed! 14:50 Small Soldiers 17:00 The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas 18:50 Catchphrase 19:50 The Mummy 22:15 Take Me Out - The Gossip 23:15 Little Man

of “ Quote the week

The Mummy 19.50

“

FRIDAY 29th January

ON THE Spice Girls getting back together a representative for Victoria Beckham said “Mrs. David Beckham has been very respectful about the fabulous time they had together in the past; however her focus is now very much on her family and fashion business.” In other words, you’ll see Victoria smile before you see her on stage!

Made in Chelsea Charmed Hollyoaks Rules of Engagement The Goldbergs Melissa & Joey Melissa & Joey Charmed Charmed How I Met Your Mother How I Met Your Mother The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory Melissa & Joey Melissa & Joey How I Met Your Mother How I Met Your Mother The Goldbergs The Goldbergs The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory Hollyoaks 2 Broke Girls The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory This Means War The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory

E4 07:00 Rules of Engagement 07:45 Baby Daddy 08:40 Melissa & Joey 09:35 How I Met Your Mother 10:00 How I Met Your Mother 10:30 The Goldbergs 11:00 The Goldbergs 11:30 The Goldbergs 12:00 The Goldbergs 12:30 The Goldbergs 13:00 The Goldbergs 13:30 The Goldbergs 14:00 Come Dine with Me 15:00 Come Dine with Me 16:00 Brooklyn Nine-Nine 16:30 Brooklyn Nine-Nine 17:00 The Goldbergs 17:30 The Goldbergs 18:00 The Big Bang Theory 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 The Big Bang Theory 21:00 The Big Bang Theory 21:30 The Big Bang Theory 22:00 Safe House 24:15Gogglebox

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

sunday 31st January BBC1

BBC2

ITV1

CHANNEL 4

CHANNEL 5

itv2

07:00 Breakfast 08:40 Match of the Day 10:00 The Andrew Marr Show 11:00 The Big Questions 12:00 Sunday Politics London 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News 14:10 Weather for the Week Ahead 14:15 Songs of Praise 14:50 Escape to the Country 15:35 The Great Sport Relief Bake Off 16:35 Match of the Day Live: The FA Cup 19:30 BBC News 19:50 BBC Regional News and Weather 20:00 Countryfile 21:00 Call the Midwife 22:00 War & Peace 23:00 BBC News 23:20 BBC London News; Weather 23:30 Match of the Day 24:00 Live at the Apollo 24:30 My Brother the Devil

07:15 The A to Z of TV Gardening 08:00 The Secret History of the British Garden 09:00 Countryfile 10:00 Saturday Kitchen Best Bites 11:30 Best Bakes Ever 12:15 Best Bakes Ever 13:00 The Alamo 15:05 Tennis: Australian Open 16:35 Ladies in Lavender 18:15 Ski Sunday 19:00 John Carter 21:00 Dragons’ Den 22:00 James May’s Cars of the People 23:00 True Grit 24:45 Then She Found Me

07:00 Fort Boyard Ultimate Challenge 07:25 Pat & Stan 07:35 Dino Dan 08:00 Signed Stories 08:05 Sooty 08:15 Super 4 08:30 Scrambled! 08:35 Mr Bean: The Animated Series 08:50 Horrid Henry 09:10 Nerds & Monsters 09:30 Bear Grylls Survival School 10:05 The Tom & Jerry Show 10:25 Murder, She Wrote 11:20 The Jeremy Kyle Show 13:25 ITV News and Weather 13:35 The Jeremy Kyle Show 14:35 Judge Rinder 15:40 Ninja Warrior UK 16:40 Diamonds Are Forever 19:00 ITV News Central 19:30 Planet’s Got Talent 20:00 Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands 21:00 Vera 23:00 ITV News and Weather 23:15 Panda Babies 24:15 Premiership Rugby Union

07:15 How I Met Your Mother 07:40 The King of Queens 08:05 The King of Queens 08:35 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:30 Frasier 10:00 Frasier 10:30 Sunday Brunch 13:30 George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces 14:35 Location, Location, Location 15:35 The Simpsons 16:05 The Simpsons 16:30 The Simpsons 17:00 Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD 17:55 Channel 4 News 18:20 The Incredibles 20:30 The Jump 22:00 Deutschland 83 23:00 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown 23:55 Sorority Row

07:00 Childrens TV 09:00 Blaze and the Monster Machines 09:25 Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom 09:45 Wanda and the Alien 10:00 Toby’s Travelling Circus 10:15 Jelly Jamm 10:30LazyTown 10:55 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 11:30 Football League Tonight 12:00 Football League Tonight 12:30 Funniest Fails, Falls & Flops 13:00 Can’t Pay? We’ll Take It Away 14:00 The Deep End of the Ocean 16:15 No Reservations 18:15 Hitch 20:25 The Wedding Date 21:55 5 News Weekend 22:00 Celebrity Big Brother 23:00 Celebrity Botched Up Bodies 24:00 Red Dragon

07:00You’ve Been Framed! 07:25 Emmerdale 10:10 Coronation Street 12:40 Take Me Out 14:00 Take Me Out - The Gossip 15:00 Cats & Dogs: the Revenge of Kitty Galore 16:45 The Mummy Returns 19:15 Mr Bean’s Holiday 21:00 The Hobbit: an Unexpected Journey 24:15 American Pie Presents Band Camp

07:00 Rude(ish) Tube 07:20 Baby Daddy 07:40 Baby Daddy 08:00 Melissa & Joey 08:30 Melissa & Joey 09:00 The Goldbergs 09:30 The Goldbergs 10:00 How I Met Your Mother 10:30 How I Met Your Mother 11:00Hollyoaks 13:30 Couples Come Dine with Me 14:30 Couples Come Dine with Me 15:35 Sister Act 17:35 The Goldbergs 18:00 The Goldbergs 18:35 The Big Bang Theory 19:00 The Big Bang Theory 19:30 The Big Bang Theory 20:00 The Big Bang Theory 20:30 The Big Bang Theory 21:00 The Big Bang Theory 21:30 The Big Bang Theory 22:00 Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD 23:00 Tattoo Fixers 24:00 Rude Tube

Dragons’ Den 21.00

Mr Bean’s Holiday 19.15

Pick of the week Brenda Blethyn returns as DCS Vera Stanhope with sidekick DS Aiden (Kenny Doughty) for the first episode of Series 6.

Sunday 31st January, ITV 1, 9pm monday 1st February BBC1

07:00 Breakfast 10:15 The Housing Enforcers 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 Wanted Down Under 12:45 Emergency Rescue Down Under 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News at Two 14:30 BBC Regional News and Weather 14:45 Doctors 15:15 Father Brown 16:00 For What It’s Worth 16:45 Holiday of My Lifetime with Len Goodman 17:30 Antiques Road Trip 18:15 Pointless 19:00 BBC News at Seven 19:30 BBC Regional News 20:00 The One Show 20:30 Inside Out London 21:00 EastEnders 21:30 Would I Lie to You? 22:00 Silent Witness 23:00 BBC News at Eleven 23:45 Tracey Ullman’s Show 24:15 Football Focus 24:50 The Graham Norton Show

BBC2

07:00 Homes Under the Hammer 08:00 Wanted Down Under 08:45 Flog It! Trade Secrets 09:15 Close Calls: On Camera 09:45 Now You See It 10:15 Victoria Derbyshire 12:00 BBC News 13:00 Daily Politics 14:00 Island Stories 14:05 The Pallisers 15:00 Who Do You Think You Are? 16:00 A Place to Call Home 16:45 Best Bakes Ever 17:30 David Attenborough’s Natural Curiosities 18:15 Flog It! 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Great American Railroad Journeys 20:00 The Great Interior Design Challenge 21:00 University Challenge 21:30 Mary Berry’s Foolproof Cooking 22:00 Bloody Queens: Elizabeth and Mary 23:00 Insert Name Here 23:30 Newsnight 24:10 Weather 24:15 Dragons’ Den

ITV1

07:00 09:30 10:25 11:30 13:30 14:30 14:55 15:00 16:00 16:59 17:00 18:00 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 23:00 23:30 23:45 24:45

Good Morning Britain Lorraine The Jeremy Kyle Show This Morning Loose Women ITV Lunchtime News ITV News Central Judge Rinder Dickinson’s Real Deal ITV Central Weather Tipping Point The Chase ITV News Central ITV Evening News Emmerdale Coronation Street Griff’s Great Britain Coronation Street Benidorm ITV News at Ten ITV News Central The Jonathan Ross Show Saved

CHANNEL 4

07:00 Countdown 07:45 The King of Queens 08:10 The King of Queens 08:35 The King of Queens 09:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:35 Everybody Loves Raymond 10:00 Frasier 10:35 Frasier 11:05 Frasier 11:30 Undercover Boss USA 12:30 Four in a Bed 13:00 Channel 4 News Summary 13:05 Four in a Bed 15:10 Deal or No Deal 16:10 Countdown 17:00 A Place in the Sun: Winter Sun 18:00 Come Dine Champion of Champions 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 21:00 Dispatches 21:30 Supershoppers 22:00 The Undateables 23:00 Crashing 23:35 Tattoo Fixers 24:35 Date My Mum

CHANNEL 5

07:00 Childrens TV 09:00 Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:25 Peppa Pig 09:35 Paw Patrol 09:45 Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00 Toot the Tiny Tugboat 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 Cowboy Builders & Bodge Jobs 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Celebrity Big Brother 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 NCIS 16:15 Hannah’s Law 18:00 5 News at 6 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 5 News Tonight 20:00 Ice Road Truckers 21:00 America’s Hidden Pyramid City: Ancient Mysteries 22:00 Celebrity Big Brother 23:00 Gotham 24:00 Celebrity Big Brother’s Bit on the Side

itv2

07:00 Planet’s Funniest Animals 07:20 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 08:05 Dinner Date 09:05 Emmerdale 09:35 Coronation Street 10:05 Coronation Street 10:35 Catchphrase 11:20 Dinner Date 12:20 Royal Pains 13:10 Emmerdale 13:45 Coronation Street 14:15 Coronation Street 14:45 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 15:40 The Jeremy Kyle Show 16:45 The Jeremy Kyle Show 17:50 The Jeremy Kyle Show 18:50 Take Me Out 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 Fast & Furious 24:10 Plebs 24:40 Plebs

07:00 07:45 08:35 09:05 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 13:00 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 23:00 24:40

Made in Chelsea Charmed Hollyoaks Rules of Engagement The Goldbergs The Goldbergs Melissa & Joey Melissa & Joey Charmed Charmed How I Met Your Mother How I Met Your Mother The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory Melissa & Joey Melissa & Joey How I Met Your Mother How I Met Your Mother The Goldbergs The Goldbergs The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory Hollyoaks 2 Broke Girls The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory Rude Tube Gogglebox The Big Bang Theory

tuesday 2nd February BBC1

07:00 Breakfast 10:15 The Housing Enforcers 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 Wanted Down Under 12:45 Emergency Rescue Down Under 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News at Two and Weather 14:30 BBC Regional News and Weather 14:45 Doctors 15:15 Father Brown 16:00 For What It’s Worth 16:45 Holiday of My Lifetime with Len Goodman 17:30 Antiques Road Trip 18:15 Pointless 19:00 BBC News at Seven and Weather 20:00 The One Show 20:30 EastEnders 21:00 Holby City 22:00 Silent Witness 23:00 BBC News at Eleven 23:30 BBC Regional News and Weather 23:45 Match of the Day

BBC2

07:15 The Housing Enforcers 08:00 Wanted Down Under 08:45 Flog It! Trade Secrets 09:15 Close Calls: On Camera 09:45 Great British Railway Journeys 10:15 Victoria Derbyshire 12:00 BBC News 13:00 Daily Politics 14:00 Coast 14:05 The Pallisers 15:00 Who Do You Think You Are? 16:00 A Place to Call Home 16:45 Best Bakes Ever 17:30 David Attenborough’s Natural Curiosities 18:15 Flog It! 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Great American Railroad Journeys 20:00 The Great Interior Design Challenge 21:00 Back in Time for the Weekend 22:00 The Real Marigold Hotel 23:00 Phone Shop Idol 23:30 Newsnight 24:10 Weather

ITV1

07:00 Good Morning Britain 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 ITV Lunchtime News 14:55 ITV News Central 15:00 Judge Rinder 16:00 Dickinson’s Real Deal 16:59 ITV Central Weather 17:00 Tipping Point 18:00 The Chase 19:00 ITV News Central 19:30 ITV Evening News 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 The Kyle Files 21:00 Sugar Free Farm 22:00 Car Crash Britain: Caught on Camera 23:00 ITV News at Ten 23:30 ITV News Central 23:40 River Monsters 24:40 Double Decker Driving School

CHANNEL 4

07:00 Countdown 07:45 The King of Queens 08:10 The King of Queens 08:35 The King of Queens 09:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 10:00 Frasier 10:30 Frasier 11:00 Frasier 11:30 Undercover Boss USA 12:30 Four in a Bed 13:00 Channel 4 News Summary 13:05 Four in a Bed 13:35 Four in a Bed 14:10 Four in a Bed 14:40 Four in a Bed 15:10 Deal or No Deal 16:10 Countdown 17:00 A Place in the Sun: Winter Sun 18:00 Come Dine Champion of Champions 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 21:00 The Secret Life of the Zoo 22:00 The Supervet 23:00 Obsessed with My Body 24:05 First Dates

CHANNEL 5

07:00 Childrens TV 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:25 Peppa Pig 09:35 Paw Patrol 09:45 Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00 Toot the Tiny Tugboat 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 Cowboy Builders & Bodge Jobs 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Celebrity Big Brother 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 NCIS 16:15 Mystery Woman: Game Time 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 5 News Tonight 20:00 The Dog Rescuers with Alan Davies 21:00 Bargain-Loving Brits in the Sun 22:00 Celebrity Big Brother 23:00 Autopsy: The Last Hours Of 24:00 Celebrity Big Brother’s Bit on the Side

itv2

07:00 Planet’s Funniest Animals 07:20 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 08:05 Dinner Date 09:05 Emmerdale 09:35 Coronation Street 10:05 Coronation Street 10:35 Catchphrase 11:20 Dinner Date 12:20 Royal Pains 13:10Emmerdale 13:45 Coronation Street 14:15 Coronation Street 14:45 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 15:40 The Jeremy Kyle Show 16:45 The Jeremy Kyle Show 17:50 The Jeremy Kyle Show 18:50 Take Me Out 19:50 The Hot Desk 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 Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street 24:20 Mom 24:50 Two and a Half Men

07:00 07:50 08:35 09:05 10:00 11:00 11:30 12:00 13:00 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 23:00 23:50 24:25 24:50

Made in Chelsea Charmed Hollyoaks Rules of Engagement The Goldbergs Melissa & Joey Melissa & Joey Charmed Charmed How I Met Your Mother How I Met Your Mother The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory Melissa & Joey Melissa & Joey How I Met Your Mother How I Met Your Mother The Goldbergs The Goldbergs The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory Hollyoaks 2 Broke Girls The Goldbergs The Goldbergs Tattoo Fixers Virtually Famous The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory Gogglebox

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

wednesday 3rd February BBC1

BBC2

07:00 Breakfast 10:15 The Housing Enforcers 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 Wanted Down Under 12:45 Emergency Rescue Down Under 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News at Two Weather 14:45 Doctors 15:15 Father Brown 16:00 For What It’s Worth 16:45 Holiday of My Lifetime with Len Goodman 17:30 Antiques Road Trip 18:15 Pointless 19:00 BBC News at Seven and Weather 19:55 Party Political Broadcast 20:00 The One Show 21:00 The Great Sport Relief Bake Off 22:00 Camila’s Kids Company: The Inside Story 23:00 BBC News at Eleven 23:45 Murder Games: The Life and Death of BreckBednar 24:45 Film 2016

07:15 The Housing Enforcers 08:00 Wanted Down Under 08:45 Flog It! Trade Secrets 09:15 See Hear 09:45 Close Calls: On Camera 10:15 Victoria Derbyshire 12:00 BBC News 12:30 Daily Politics 14:00 Coast 14:05 The Pallisers 15:00 Who Do You Think You Are? 16:00 A Place to Call Home 16:45 Best Bakes Ever 17:30 David Attenborough’s Natural Curiosities 18:15 Flog It! 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Great American Railroad Journeys 20:00 The Great Interior Design Challenge 21:00 The Â£100K House: Tricks of the Trade 22:00 World War Three: Inside the War Room 23:00 Russell Howard’s Good News 23:30 Newsnight

ITV1 07:00 09:30 10:25 11:30 13:30 14:30 14:55 15:00 16:00 16:59 17:00 18:00 19:00 19:25 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 23:00 23:30 23:40 24:40

Good Morning Britain Lorraine The Jeremy Kyle Show This Morning Loose Women ITV Lunchtime News ITV News Judge Rinder Dickinson’s Real Deal ITV Regional Weather Tipping Point The Chase ITV News Party Political Broadcast ITV Evening News Emmerdale Coronation Street Midsomer Murders ITV News at Eleven ITV News Parking Wars The Kyle Files

CHANNEL 4 07:00 Countdown 07:45 The King of Queens 08:10 The King of Queens 08:35 The King of Queens 09:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 10:00 Frasier 10:30 Frasier 11:00 Frasier 11:30 Undercover Boss USA 12:30 Four in a Bed 13:00 Channel 4 News Summary 13:05 Four in a Bed 13:35 Four in a Bed 14:10 Four in a Bed 14:40 Four in a Bed 15:10 Deal or No Deal 16:10 Countdown 17:00 A Place in the Sun: Winter Sun 18:00 Come Dine Champion of Champions 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 21:00 Posh Pawn 22:00 24 Hours in A&E 23:00 Bodyshockers 24:05 The Undateables

CHANNEL 5

itv2

07:00 Childrens TV 09:00 Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:25 Peppa Pig 09:35 Paw Patrol 09:45 Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00 Toot the Tiny Tugboat 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 Cowboy Builders 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Celebrity Big Brother 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 NCIS 16:15 Truth & Lies 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 5 News Tonight 20:00 The Nightmare Neighbour Next Door 21:00 GPs: Behind Closed Doors 22:00 Celebrity Big Brother 23:00 10,000 BC 24:00 Celebrity Big Brother’s Bit on the Side

07:00 Planet’s Funniest Animals 07:20 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 08:05 Dinner Date 09:05 Emmerdale 09:35 The Cube 10:35 Catchphrase 11:20 Dinner Date 12:20 Royal Pains 13:10 Emmerdale 13:45 You’ve Been Framed! 14:45 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 15:40 The Jeremy Kyle Show 16:45 The Jeremy Kyle Show 17:50 The Jeremy Kyle Show 18:50 Take Me Out 20:00 You’ve Been Framed! 21:00 Grease Live 23:50 American Pie Presents Band Camp

07:00 07:50 08:35 09:05 09:35 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 13:00 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 23:10 24:10 24:40

Made in Chelsea Charmed Hollyoaks Rules of Engagement Rules of Engagement The Goldbergs The Goldbergs Melissa & Joey Melissa & Joey Charmed Charmed How I Met Your Mother How I Met Your Mother The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory Melissa & Joey Melissa & Joey How I Met Your Mother How I Met Your Mother The Goldbergs The Goldbergs The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory Hollyoaks 2 Broke Girls The School of Rock Supernatural The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory

Thursday 4th February BBC1

BBC2

07:00 Breakfast 10:15 The Housing Enforcers 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 Wanted Down Under 12:45 Emergency Rescue Down Under 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News at Two and Weather 14:45 Doctors 15:15 Father Brown 16:00 For What It’s Worth 16:45 Holiday of My Lifetime with Len Goodman 17:30 Antiques Road Trip 18:15 Pointless 19:00 BBC News at Seven and Weather 20:00 The One Show 20:30 EastEnders 21:00 Dickensian 21:30 Room 101 22:00 Death in Paradise 23:00 BBC News at Eleven 23:45 Question Time 24:45 This Week

07:15 The Housing Enforcers 08:00 Wanted Down Under 08:45 Flog It! Trade Secrets 09:15 Great British Menu 09:45 Close Calls: On Camera 10:15 Victoria Derbyshire 12:00 BBC News 13:00 Daily Politics 14:00 Coast 14:05 The Pallisers 15:00 Who Do You Think You Are? 16:00 A Place to Call Home 16:45 Best Bakes Ever 17:30 David Attenborough’s Natural Curiosities 18:15 Flog It! 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Great American Railroad Journeys 20:00 Sea Cities 21:00 Cats v Dogs: Which Is Best? 22:00The Story of China 23:00 The Clare Balding Show 23:30Newsnight 24:10 Weather 24:15 World War Three: Inside the War Room

ITV1 07:00 Good Morning Britain 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 ITV Lunchtime News 14:55 ITV News Central 15:00 Judge Rinder 16:00 Dickinson’s Real Deal 16:59 ITV Regiohnal Weather 17:00 Tipping Point 18:00 The Chase 19:00 ITV News Central 19:30 ITV Evening News 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Tonight 21:00 Emmerdale 21:30 Birds of a Feather 22:00 Jericho 23:00 ITV News at Eleven 23:30 ITV News 23:45 Central Lobby 24:15 Car Crash Britain: Caught on Camera

CHANNEL 4 07:00 Countdown 07:45 The King of Queens 08:10 The King of Queens 08:35 The King of Queens 09:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 10:00 Frasier 10:30 Frasier 11:00 Frasier 11:30 Undercover Boss USA 12:30 Four in a Bed 13:00 Channel 4 News Summary 13:05 Four in a Bed 15:10 Deal or No Deal 16:10 Countdown 17:00 A Place in the Sun: Winter Sun 18:00 Come Dine Champion of Champions 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 21:00 Location, Location, Location 22:00 Keeping Up with the Khans 23:00 First Dates 24:10 24 Hours in A&E

CHANNEL 5

itv2

07:00 Childrens TV 09:00 Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:25 Peppa Pig 09:35 Paw Patrol 09:45 Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00 Toot the Tiny Tugboat 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 Cowboy Builders 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Celebrity Big Brother 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 NCIS 16:15 Garage Sale Mystery 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 5 News Tonight 20:00 Ben Fogle: New Lives in the Wild 21:00 Celebrity Big Brother’s Bit on the Side 22:00 Celebrity Big Brother 23:00 10,000 BC 24:00 Celebrity Big Brother’s Bit on the Side

07:00 Planet’s Funniest Animals 07:20 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 08:05 Dinner Date 09:05 Emmerdale 09:35 Coronation Street 10:05 You’ve Been Framed! 10:35 Catchphrase 11:20 Dinner Date 12:20 Royal Pains 13:10 Emmerdale 13:45 Coronation Street 14:15 You’ve Been Framed! 14:45 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 15:40 The Jeremy Kyle Show 16:45 The Jeremy Kyle Show 17:50 The Jeremy Kyle Show 18:50 Take Me Out 20:00 You’ve Been Framed! 21:00 Two and a Half Men 21:30 Two and a Half Men 22:00 Scorpion 23:00 The Keith Lemon Sketch Show 23:30 Happy Gilmore

07:00 07:50 08:35 09:05 10:00 11:00 12:00 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 22:30 23:00 24:00 24:30

Made in Chelsea Charmed Hollyoaks Rules of Engagement The Goldbergs Melissa & Joey Charmed How I Met Your Mother How I Met Your Mother The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory Melissa & Joey Melissa & Joey How I Met Your Mother How I Met Your Mother The Goldbergs The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory Hollyoaks 2 Broke Girls The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory Brooklyn Nine-Nine Brooklyn Nine-Nine Gogglebox The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

life&leisure #people 

Burns’ Night success by CAROLINE TYSZKA CUSTOMERS NEW and old gathered at Hepburns Bar in Albir to see Drew the Piper welcome in the Haggis on Monday for Burns’ Night. The Haggis, carried by local Sheona, was piped into the bar, and was followed by Sheona giving a beautiful reading of the bard’s poem. As the staﬀ worked tirelessly to serve the thirsty customers, owner Winnie Quantrell was organising the free buﬀet of scotch pies, neeps, tatties and, of course, haggis. Throughout the afternoon cus-

tomers sang along to the likes of Rod Stewart and, as Winnie put it, “every other Scottish tune we could ﬁnd.” One regular, John, who was also celebrating his birthday, was enjoying the party atmosphere, and had a great afternoon which ran on late into the evening. Winnie said: “the turnout was amazing, as were all my staﬀ. We also managed to raise some more money for our children’s charity fund, El Preventorio. We all had a fantastic time and it was lovely to see some new faces as well as all our regulars.”

Elvis tribute in Quesdad

A PACKED audience at The Club, Quesada, rocked, swayed and danced the night away to an Elvis tribute, on behalf of Paul Cunningham Nurses Charity, last Saturday night. Nigel Burchill was singing Elvis songs d with much fun and laughter as well. Paul Cunningham Nurses Charity wants to say thank you to John, Carolyn and Nicky and all their staff for the delicious food and their hard work. Thanks also go to all who attended and helped raise 600€ on the night. Tricia Lee, fundraiser, was also presented with a generous donation of 212.50€ from a wonderful lady, Barbara Sunter, from the Golden Girls in Daya Nueva, who has now returned to live in the UK. The next charity event will be at Casa Ventura. San Luis, on 6th February for a Rod Stewart tribute at 8pm. Tickets are now available for 12€. Please telephone 966 78 92 47, to reserve your seat. Included in the price will be a hot and cold buffet. There will also be a charity raffle.

Kids say ‘thanks’ ELCHE CHILDRENS Care Home has thanked the bighearted team at Casas Espania for the donation of 179€. Sales Director Gareth Whittington launched the fund raising on 18th December and it concluded on 7th January. The company’s oﬃces in La Siesta were decorated in a traditional Christmas theme, including 12,500 lights. Raﬄes were held and people were also asked for donations. Casas Espania has also thanked everyone who supported the fund raising for helping the children.

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

life&leisure #Spanish

Basic Spanish for everyday needs by Jane Cronin

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Past simple tense: Tener

We have now covered many past simple verbs, including the most common irregular ones, namely “dar”, “hacer”,” ir”, “ser”, “decir” and “estar”.

Most of these are verbs with meanings that are fairly easy to grasp in the past tense. Perhaps the most tricky ones are “ser” and “estar”, with the usually confusions about which one is which, but hopefully my explanations have helped to clear this up. With those two verbs in any tense I like to stick to a basic rule of thumb which I find very useful, which is that “estar” is used to express “how and where” and “ser” is used for “who, what and when”. I know this doesn’t fit every single case, but it does go a long way to clearing up the basic difference between the two. There is another difficulty in Spanish for non-native speakers, in addition to the “ser” and “estar” issue. That is the correct use of the “past simple” tense in contrast with the other tense we looked at a while ago, which we called the “past continuous tense”. (Remember? Things like “vivía” - I lived – I used to live). I’m sure I have mentioned before that the main problem here, especially for us native English speakers, is that there are more past tenses in Spanish than in English. This means that there are finer points of difference between these two past tenses which tend to escape us because they do not exist in our language. I’m actually opening up a large can of worms which cannot be dealt with very easily in a weekly article. However, as I am not one to be faint-hearted when it comes to explaining grammar, I will use one particular verb as an example of what I’m talking

about and then leave it at that. The chosen verb is “tener”, which of course means “to have”. First of all here it is in the past simple tense, and it’s quite a nasty little irregular verb, as you can see. tuve tuvimos tuviste tuvisteis tuvo tuvieron This verb is commonly used in the “past continuous” tense, which makes sense as it describes possession: something we do not usually associate with a single or completed event. Possession is a state of being and therefore a description. For example: “cuándo yo tenía 10 años mi familia tenía una casa grande” (when I was 10 my family had a large house). So, when can we use this verb “tener” in the past simple tense, to talk about one-off finished events? Well, here are two examples which should help: Tuve un accidente de tráfico el año pasado. I had a traffic accident last year. “El pintor nació en 1900 y tuvo tres hijos con su primera mujer.” The painter was born in 1900 and had three children with his first wife. In the first sentence we are referring to a completed event rather than a description, and in the second sentence we are focusing on an historical fact, or sequence of biographical details. I think I’ve got about as complicated as I can on this subject, so next week I’ll try and lighten it up a bit. See you then.

Kathleen Vahey memorial charity fun day SUNSHINE FM, together with The Emerald Isle, in Orihuela Costa, hosted a Memorial Charity Fun Day for Kathleen Vahey last Thursday 21st January, from 12 noon to 4pm. Kathleen’s family were in attendance as top acts from around the area turned out to perform in support of the ‘Galway Girl’ who was so charitable to those less fortunate than herself during her wonderful lifetime. The acts included Dan Davy, Stevie Spit, Cindy Fitzpatrick, Simon Morton Beatles tribute, Emily Hulman, Johnny Dillon and Brian Black, and the fun day raised 727€ for Help at Home.

Crossword Solutions for Last Week CRYPTIC SOLUTIONS Across: 4 Asunder; 8 Paltry; 9 Cry-baby; 10 Invest; 11 Polish; 12 Hardship; 18 Endanger; 20 Aboard; 21 Alcove; 22 Buckler; 23 Funnel; 24 Reverse. Down: 1 Upright; 2 Slavery; 3 Crisis; 5 Scrapped; 6 No-ball; 7 Emboss; 13 Heedless; 14 Aground; 15 Briefly; 16 Obtuse; 17 Tackle; 19 All out. QUICK SOLUTIONS Across: 4 Predict; 8 Opened; 9 Asinine; 10 Clever; 11 Obtain; 12 Decision; 18 Overcast; 20 Repeal; 21 Sprint; 22 Quality; 23 Cannot; 24 Degrade. Down: 1 Concede; 2 Defence; 3 Recess; 5 Response; 6 Denote; 7 Candid; 13 Isolated; 14 Valiant; 15 Statute; 16 Reduce; 17 Feeler; 19 Repeat.

Suduko Answer

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

life&leisure #animals

Dogs and owners get training by CAROLINE TYSZKA THE LA Nucia sports centre had visitors of the four legged nature at the weekend as they and their owners received some expert training.

dog training

The Department of Sports for the town of La Nucia, along with the NGO USE 13 Search and Rescue Organisation, held a very successful morning of dog training on Sunday 24th January, with 100 people and 60 dogs participating in the second of such events. The space around the sports centre was ﬁlled with owners learning how to help their dogs with behavioural problems

and to improve their relationships with their pets. Many who attended were taught the skills to enable them to issue commands to their dogs such as sit, stay and wait. The activity morning, which was completely free, was run by Urban Search and Rescue 13, a non-profit volunteer organisation made up of firefighters, police and medical personnel within the Marina Baixa. The volunteers, with their dogs, are trained to search for people, both in the mountains and at natural disasters. Anyone interested in becoming a member of the NGO can get further information from info@usar13.com or www.usar13.com.

Walking for charity

THE SPONSORED walk will help raise funds for local animal rescue and cancer support charities, with dogs and their owners taking a relaxing 5 km stroll along the Terra Mítica road. Gary, from Giving4Giving, said: “This is our ﬁrst fundraising event of 2016. In the four years to date we have been able to raise 40,000€ thanks to our very generous supporters.” The walk, which is being held on Sunday 6th March at 11am, will start from the Repsol Garage on the CV70, opposite the Toyota dealership. This weekend, 29th and 30th January, there is a chance to help add to the Giving4Giving cancer support charity, as their shop on the CV70 to La Nucia holds another one of their very popular 1€ sale events. If you wish to participate in the dog walk, sponsorship forms, along with further information, can be obtained by calling Gary 603 13 76 97 or 965 87 82 84.

Golly

Good Golly AFFECTIONATE CAT ‘Golly’ is looking for a new home after being rescued by animal charity Jalon Valley ARC.

last year’s dog walk

Sherlock:

is Regal in his appearance. Small to medium in size - born 26.12.14. Beautiful colouring. Impressive character a real super star. Loves other dogs Pet passport- castrated 96 587 8284 info@doggieangells.org

Aged between ﬁve and six months, Golly is a long haired grey and black coloured male. He has been neutered, and is aﬀectionate, used to other cats and dogs, and loves attention. ARC also has many other puppies and kittens needing a forever home and people willing to foster animals. Donations of food, cat litter, and money are always welcome, or visit the ARC Charity Shop in Carrer Benissa, Jalon. For more information call Sally on 625 985 689 or Jayne on 649 310 285, or visit the website www.jalonvalleyarc.com or Facebook page.

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

life&leisure #Food  by

Dani Bowler

Owner Vintage Cafe, Albir & MasterChef semi finalist

“Sweet tomato chutney” A RECIPE I use at the Vintage on a daily basses to complement my baked Camembert or even on top of my lamb burger! THIS SPICY delicacy will tingle your taste buds and is a great way to use up them tomatoes you have at the bottom of your fridge! 2kg ripe plum tomatoes, washed 2 cups sugar Juice and peel of 2 large lemons (peel should be cut into strips) 1 to 2 tablespoons good balsamic vinegar 1 teaspoon sea salt 8 whole cloves 2 bay leaves 1 dried chili flake (optional) With a potato peeler, slice the skin off the tomatoes in strips. Cut them in half lengthwise and push out the seeds with your fingers or a spoon. Cut the tomato halves in half again lengthwise, and then cut each quarter into 3 or 4 pieces. Toss the tomato pieces into a saucepan. Measure the remaining ingredients into the pot with the tomatoes. Set the pot over medium heat and bring to a simmer. It important to cook this over a very low heat for about 1hour or until the marmalade is glossy and thick. Be sure to stir often to prevent any burning. Store in Jars for up to a month in the fridge!

Sponsored by Vintage Cafe Albir. For bookings and info call: +34 865 60 93 45 Kitchen open 13h-16h 18,30h-22h Avenida del Albir, 68 (next to Europa Sol) info@danibowler.com

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

life&leisure #advertising feature

The ‘F’ Kitchen at The Crown GARY AND Amanda welcome you to their traditional British-style village pub, with a full size pool table, darts, sky TV showing all major sports events, and a quaint secluded terrace and comfortable furnishings. The ‘F’ Kitchen, at The Crown, which has its grand opening from 7pm on Friday 29th January, is run by Michelin star trained chef Russ Tarpy, with his business partner and commis chef, Colin James. Russ has worked as head chef in renowned establishments across the world, from The Driftwood Beach Bar in Greece to The Conrah Hotel in Wales, including Manchester’s Famous Crowns, where he counted amongst his regular customers Coronation Street stars, and Sarah Harding from girls aloud, and, whilst head chef at Butlins, he satisfied the boys from Diversity with his incredible food. Now, The ‘F’ Kitchen will bring the flavour of a British gastro pub to The Crown in Alfaz, offering an amazing Menu del Día for only 10€, TripAdvisor award-winning Sunday lunches, and an ‘A La Carte’ menu with delights such as sea-bass, Jack Daniel’s ribs, homemade pies and much more. Look out for special theme nights including exotic meat night, with rarities such as ostrich, python, kangaroo and crocodile! With meals served every day, except Tuesdays, The Crown, with The ‘F’ Kitchen, is the place to be in Alfaz del Pi.

The Crown is located in Calle Exercits Espanyols 4, Alfaz del Pi, just oﬀ the roundabout with the big palm tree, and has a large car park at the rear. To book a table call 662 59 62 30 after 11am, or join their Facebook page, ‘The Crown Alfaz del Pi’.

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

life&leisure health

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Why do you get ‘eye floaters’ You may not know their real name, but you will probably have seen eye floaters. The perception of these floating apparitions, sometimes also called vitreous floaters or muscae volitantes (latin for “flying flies”), is known as myodesopsia. They may appear as spots, small threads, filaments, or cobwebs and they’re not just optical illusions. They’re really there, drifting about inside your eyes. To understand where they come from you need to know a little about the anatomy of the eye. At the front of the eye is the cornea, and behind it the pupil (the dark centre of the eye) and the iris (the colourful ring around the pupil). Between the two is a small amount of liquid called aqueous humour. Lining the back of the eye is a layer of light-sensitive cells called the retina. When the neurons that form the retina become excited by light, they send messages through the optic nerve and into the brain, relaying information about what you are seeing. Between the lens and the retina is an ocean of liquid known as vitreous humour, vitreous gel, or just vitreous. The vitreous is a clear, colourless mass of mostly water with a jelly-like consistency. Unlike aqueous humour, the vitreous humour never gets replenished. That means that if some external object gets washed into the vitreous, eg blood or other cells, then they will stay there. When these little bits block light passing through the eye, they cast shadows onto the retina. Those shadows are what we see as eye floaters. As we get older, some of the jelly-like substance collapses and becomes runnier. When this happens, the few solids that are scattered throughout the vitreous can clump together. They, too, can project small shadows onto your retina, which also become seen as floaters. It is a fairly common occurrence but because most people learn to live with the condition or the floaters eventually disappear, most researchers and practitioners consider the condition to be benign. Treatment: For most people management of most vitreous floaters only re-

quires reassurance and education, most people consider them a nuisance rather than as a condition that needs treating. If there are so many floaters than vision becomes impaired there is a procedure that is called a vitrectomy, which in-

volves replacing the vitreous humour with a saline solution. But because vitrectomies carry serious risks such as retinal tears and cataracts, they’re thought of as a last result and only done when floaters seriously disrupt the vision.

Article supplied by Yvonne Evans at the Family Medical Centre, Albir. Please call 96 686 5072 for more information or to make an appointment.

Organ drones A GROUP of four Spanish students decided that there must be an easier way to transport organs between hospitals where traffic can cause lifethreatening delays. Entering a competition to create a life improving design, four female students from the School of Industrial Design- in Ferrol- designed a drone, called Dronlife. Although Dronlife didn’t win the competition, it caught the eye of David Carro Meana, president of a business school in northern Spain, who set about helping them to perfect their technology. The drones are due to be tested in New Delhi, India, later this year, where it is hoped they can be used to save lives in the heavily built up cities.

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

life&leisure health

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Innovative cosmetic teeth whitening from Pearlsmile速 Modern day technologies made the pearl smile an affordable luxury for everyone! Unlike the traditional methods of teeth whitening, the cosmetic teeth whining from PEARLSMILE is based on the use of gel that has a total amount of no more than 0.1% peroxide and is activated by the cold LED light. This combination allows to whiten the teeth delicately, without causing any pain. A cosmetic teeth whitening treatment PEARLSMILE速 has a lot of followers around the world. ABSOLUTELY PAINLESS TREATMENT The PEARLSMILE teeth whitening gel does not damage the teeth enamel, the cold LED light eliminates dehydration of the tooth denta as well as gum damage. This all makes the PEARLSMILE cosmetic teeth whitening treatment not only painless but also a desirable feature for everyone. RESULTS JUST IN 21 MINUTES The PEARLSMILE treatment is just like any other cosmetic treatment. The length of the treatment may vary from 21 to 45 minutes depending on what kind of result you would like to achieve. You can easily achieve a great white smile in less than an hour. Take a seat and lay back in a

remarkably relaxing chair and then enjoy a great smile! TEETH WHITENING UP TO 9 SHADES BRIGHTER! After the first treatment your smile will get up to 9 shades brighter. Results vary from person to person. During the treatment the gel neutralizes coloring pigment in the teeth enamel. You can repeat the treatment as often as you like to maintain your outstanding results. AFFORDABLE PRICE PEARLSMILE速 teeth whitening is 100% cosmetic treatment. It does not require any professional dental equipment nor it requires medically trained specialists. It also does not take much space and time, and does not cause any pain during and after the treatment. Therefore we can offer this treatment at a very affordable price for everyone. Purchasing a subscription for a few treatments in advance will allow the client to save even more money. Anyone can get this treatment at an important life occasion wether it would be a wedding, a date, a job interview, a photoshoot or a party. You are the owner of a bright and confident smile! Find us at Plaza de la Cruz, Number 3, in front of Ale Hop at the end of the walking street in Benidorm Old Town.

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

life&leisure #road test

Tim Saunders Independent unbiased car reviewer

Land Rover Discovery 4 TDV6 HSE INFALLIBILITY IS a dangerous feeling and often results in disappointment, I am told. OFTEN DRIVERS of 4x4s seem to possess this quality in spades, tackling most situations on the road with an unattractive ‘bolshy’ attitude. When behind the wheel of the hugely capable Land Rover Discovery 4 TDV6 HSE you can see why as the commanding driving position, the superb build quality and the luxurious interior give the driver that ‘king of the road’ feeling. Clambering onto the leather-clad driver’s seat it is clear that my surroundings are positively luxurious. A straight grained walnut finish contributes to the elegance of the interior. An array of technology assists: from the seven inch full colour centre console touch-screen for controlling key vehicle functions, to front and rear parking aids and phone integration. At a quick glance I spy all the off-roading controls I might need: a television and even that much sought after DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) radio. During the test it snows heavily, so much so that all major airports cancel flights and it takes all night

for some office workers to travel home. On one occasion there is over six inches of snow covering the whole vehicle and so I clear as much of it off as possible and then get driving. However, a quantity falls off the roof on the windscreen wipers, as I manoeuvre and they handle it as if it were just light rain, brushing it off the screen with ease. It’s minus one degrees and I am cold so it is gratifying to discover the heated steering wheel and heated seats front and rear. Outside the picturesque winter wonderland provides the perfect environment to put the Disco through its paces. For the duration of the test I drive in ‘ice mode’. Only the foolhardy would venture off road in these treacherous conditions but this is a test and Land Rover would not look favourably upon me if their vehicle remained on the tarmac. Selecting the low switch and remaining in ice mode we drive through a thickly-snow-covered and hilly woodland and it handles the snow and the ice under-

neath well, only losing grip a couple of times. It is on exiting that it comes unstuck. I try reversing back the way I came but it doesn’t like this one bit, the wheels spinning as I apply the accelerator as you can see in the video at testdrives.biz. So I drive forward, starting to inwardly panic, not for me but for my wife (who is expecting our second child shortly) and little Harriett, who is happily saying, “Oh dear” in the back. As we point north I move forward and then back kicking the accelerator down and thankfully the Land Rover climbs the hill and gets us back on to the road.

3.0-litre turbo diesel V6 HSE luxury New price: 46,745.49€ - over 69,531.29€ Top speed: 112mph 0-60mph: 8.8secs Economy: 35mpg (extra urban) 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

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

life&leisure #advertising feature

David Dale Removals DAVID DALE Removals was started in 1976 with one small van and a part time helper.

THE BUSINESS grew steadily and in 1978 bought their 1st proper removal truck. In 1981 they did their ﬁrst removal to Spain and it was so successful that others quickly followed. In the 1980’s prospective residents had to go through the customs formalities obtaining Residencias at the Spanish Consulate in either London or Manchester.. Moving to Spain involved paying a bond at the Spanish border based on the value of the goods they brought in to the country. In 1992 the customs formalities were lifted throughout the EU and moving to and from Spain became a much simpler operation. From 1993 David Dale Removals started their weekly UK-Spain-UK service. This takes place 50 weeks of the year, only pausing during Christmas & New year celebrations.. In 1995 warehouse premises were acquired in Fuengirola Malaga Province and in 2000 a container store was opened in Benissa and later in Almoradi.. Today the company operate 10 vehicles of various sizes from small transit vans to the largest

trucks the EU will allow on the roads. 4 staff work from the furniture store in Almoradi and the sales office is based in Benijofar. The company pay a great deal of attention to the quality of service they offer being members of the Office of Fair Trading, British Association of Removers & the Road Haulage Association International Section. Their staff are all trained by the British Association of Removals in handling furniture and delicate objects. The company has recently achieved the much sought after quality standard BSEN 12522. This is only awarded to the very best movers and storers who must adhere to very high standards of service. If you are planning a move get in touch with Mrs Sabina Hodges on 965 328 135 or email sales@daviddale.co.uk Mrs Hodges will visit your home anywhere on the Costa Blanca to discuss your requirements. This is a free no obligation visit with no high pressure sales people. They can offer packing materials delivered in advance of moving day or a full packing service. Clean Safe Container Storage is available in Almoradi, London or York.

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

life&leisure #motoring

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Winter Car Products AS THE temperatures drop during winter life becomes increasingly tough for the motorist.

Just getting into the car can be a problem. On an icy day a friend of mine swears by dipping the key to his old car in boiling water and then inserting it into the lock. But you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need to do that anymore I tell him because Autoglym de-icer can be sprayed anywhere on the car including the locks, without damaging the paintwork. You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t say that about many de-icers. Any ice on the windows can be easily removed by the de-icer and scraper that form part of the Autoglym Winter Collection. The next hurdle is the inside of the windscreen which invariably will be caked in condensation and in older cars even ice. The Autoglym microfibre cloth makes very light work of removing this leaving no smears as you can see in the video at testdrives.biz. The collection also includes All Seasons Quick Clear screenwash. The 500ml container makes up to 8 litres of screenwash. It keeps the windscreen clear all year round and removes dead bugs, too. Watch the video at www.testdrives.biz

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

life&leisure #sports

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Rugby La Vila succeed again LAST SUNDAY, the first team had a convincing win over Barcelona Enginyers, 45-10. The team played much better than the last home game with better line outs. Tries were from Javi Carrión, Matias Jara, Ivan Agudo, Juan Ignácio Perrullero and Rodrigo Lacoste. La Vila remain top of the table with a 7 point advantage over the second team, San Cugat, Barcelona. Nearly 500 spectators watched the game, as attendances improve. The weather was superb and the aftermatch paella and Argentinian barbecue proved very popular. Next Saturday, the first team will travel to Barcelona, to play Santboiana Barcelona, at 5pm at Santboi de Llobregat. The next important home game will be on Sunday 7th February at 12.30pm when . the first and second teams in the league meet, as La Vila plays San Cugat. La Vila needs all your support again, and is organizing a free fried fish taster for everybody, sponsored by the Cofradía de Pescadores (fishermen’s fraternity) from Villajoyosa. The free fish will be served at 11.45am. Last season, this was a big success, and everyone enjoyed the day. Entry will be 5€ for adults, and free for

Benitachell Bowls Club ON THURSDAY 21st January a BBC team travelled to Calpe for the return leg of the annual Friendship Cup, which has been contested between the two clubs since the late 1980’s. Although taking with them a 39 shot advantage, the BBC team knew their opponents would put up a stern fight on their home rink, which proved to be the case. Fortunately the rink skippered by Iris Gardiner lead by 25 – 1 after 13 ends. They lost 11 shots in the closing ends, but still won 26 – 12. The rink skippered by Captain of the Day, Peter Griffiths, clinched the contest, 15 – 13. The overall score, on the day, was 69 – 69 but BBC’s home score of 39 meant the cup was returned to BBC for another year.

under 12s. You can buy tickets at www. instanticket.com, for the same price. As usual, the Argentinian barbecue will be available; a large warm roll for 4 euros. To join in the after-match meal with the players, book your ticket at the bar; paella and a drink for 5 euros. On Saturday 30th January, at 12 noon, the under 16s will play Castellón RC at home. The second team will play away at Alzira, Valencia, on Saturday, at 4pm. The under 12s and under 18s will play away at Valencia, in a regional tournament. The Russian Womens’ National Sevens Team will be training at the club until 14th February, every morning from 9.30am to 11.30am and from 3.30pm to 5.30pm. The next 30th International Benidorm

Sevens competition will be held on the 28th and 29th May 2016, where top teams will be preparing for the next Olympic Sevens qualifiers. La Vila Rugby Club is situated at Carretera El Pantano, Villajoyosa. Just take the motorway AP-7 exit 66 (Villajoyosa). At the first roundabout head for the mountain. It is about 1 km from the Motorway exit 66. Alternatively, take the Villajoyosa by-pass, and take the middle exit, at the first roundabout bear right towards the motorway entrance and at the second roundabout bear left towards the mountain. If you are interested in joining La Vila contact Jason Craig on 659 67 47 68 or Ignacio Davila 608 06 82 08 or email oficina@rugbylavila.net.

Tigers v Calpe The “Tigers” were well beaten on all four rinks, with Calpe taking the full 10 points. No one played badly, but Calpe were on form. BBC Lions v BBC Jaguars After an initial strong start by the Jaguars, the Lions gradually improved, with the result: Lions 77shots 8 points - Jaguars 51 shots and 2 points. Winter League Report The Winter League team were away to Emerald Isle this week, having already beaten Emerald Isle at home in the first game of the season. An impressive away performance by the squad with an overall shot difference of 16 shots (94 – 78) secured 2nd place in the League for BBC. For a full update and further information about forthcoming games and results, please go to www.benitachellbowlsclub.com.

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

life&leisure #sports

CD Montesinos v CD Benijófar MONTE ENTERTAINED near neighbours, Benijófar, hoping for back-to-back wins for the first time this year, after their impressive performance away last week against La Murada.

Both sides were eager to maintain their promotion hopes and, in the early stages, it appeared to be a fiercely contested match. Monte’s ever improving midfielder Pley shot wide, when he should have done better. A succession of Monte corners came to nothing, with Macán being the closest, with a shot over from a distance. Both teams were playing good passing possession football, and the visitors threatened on several occasions, but the Monte rear guard stood firm. Monte’s best chance of the half fell to O’Rourke, who just failed to meet a superb run and cross by Carlos. Benijófar then started to boss possession and López produced what had to be the save of the season, when a mistake by Antonio let in the away number 10, on a 1 on 1 with López, who produced a fantastic double save. His manager, an ex goalkeeper, would have been proud of him, and he got a standing ovation from the crowd for his efforts. After all that, the half-time score stood at 0-0. Roberto made a sub at half-time, bringing on M&A for Pley. Clearly the Monte manager had ‘had words’ in the half-time dressing room, as Monte came out with much more urgency and determination. Carlos and Macán both went close before Antonio prevented a certain Benijófar goal with a class clearance. The game then started to get scrappy with some heavy challenges and off-the-ball incidents, with the referee issuing 6 cautions in 10 minutes. López was again on inspired form, tipping over a looping shot. Paredes replaced Carlos, who claimed to have been punched off the ball. The crowd of 240 then roared with elation when a corner from Macán was flicked on by O’Rourke and was met by the glancing head of defender Manuel, to give Monte the lead after 75 minutes. Not long after that goal, the Benijófar manager´s frustration at the referee saw him red carded from the dug-out by the official. He took exception to this and, apparently, his verbal abuse was so extreme that the referee ordered the Monte President to call the Guardia Civil, as he felt threatened. The match petered out with Benijófar having several chances, but Monte stood firm for a precious win in their search for promotion, much to the delight of Roberto and the Monte faithful. The Guardia Civil did attend, and escorted the referee off the pitch and from the ground, not that the Monte players were bothered, as they showed their delight at ending up winners 1-0. Man of match was awarded to O’Rourke by sponsors Famous 6 Amigos. Monte are at home again to San Fulgencio on Sunday; kick-off at 4.30pm. For more information email thefullmonte2011@hotmail.com, see the website www. cdmontesinos.com, or check out the Facebook page.

Sucina Golf Society

SUCINA GOLF Society’s ﬁrst game of the New Year was a visit to Hacienda Riquelme on Tuesday, 19th January. 34 players played a dusty bin (3-2-1) with the addition of an individual stableford going towards points for player of the year, and also players competing for the annual “ New Year Cup” trophy. Congratulations to Gordon Hutchinson and Aay Massingham, Players of the Year 2015. and to Ron McKinley who, with a score of 38 points, was this years winner of the New Year Cup. The course was in very good condition producing many 3 and 4 putts. This was reﬂected in the scores with not many players achieving 36 points. The results were: group 1 winner, George Rowe with 36 points, group 2 winner, Ron McKinley with 38 points, and group 3 winner, Irene Rowley with 36 points. The team competition winners were John Storey, Wayne Harris, Arthur Rowley and Bill Nagle (82 points), and ‘Nearest the Pin’, hole 5, Graham Field, hole 7, Anne Dyos, hole 15, Phil Watson, and hole 17, Roy Kemp.

Las Salinas winter petanca league

THE LEAGUE has now reached the half way stage of the season, but bad weather has seen a few matches rearranged. Some teams have had to play in raincoats and with umbrellas, as it always seems to rain on Friday mornings. In division 1, Amigos Belgas 1 stay top of the league after a hard fought match at Buccaneers drawing 4-4. Rocajuna stay 2nd with a win over Lakeside Lakers 7-1. Los Bandidos are 3rd with a 6-2 win over Lakeside Hellcats. Dominos Red had to play Dominos Dragons and won 6-2. In division 2, Blagul 1 remain top beating Corsairs 7-1. Lakeside Mosquitos are 2nd after a win against Danish Dynamite 5-3. In Division 3, Pumas stay top with a 7-1 victory over Buddies. El Presidente 1 against Torre Bears 1 and Peacocks Red against Amigos Belgas 3 both ended with 4-4 draws. Division 4’s top 3 all won with Guardamar 1st, Dominos McCoys 2nd and San Miguel Tigers 3rd. Division 5 had good wins for Rocajuna Lions, Blagul 2 and Falcons, who consolidated their positions as 1st 2nd and 3rd. In Division 6, Dominos Phoenix stay at the top even though they had a bye. El Presidente 2 stay 2nd with a good away win over Costa Knights 5-3. Laguna Rosa had a 7.1 victory over Torre del Agua. The knock out cup is being played on Wednesday 27th January, unless it rains again! The league’s thanks go to their sponsors, Casas Manuel, Reditel Orange Mobile, and Dominos Bar.

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

life&leisure #clubs 

Alfaz Fantasy Football League by PATRICIA THOMPSON

THE PREMIER League produced 39 goals,10 clean sheets,31 yellow cards and 1 red one for this week’s fantasy league. The top 4 teams remain as last week. Joe’s Keith Lard F.C. have extended their lead over Paul’s team, Elite Kitchens, Swinton, while Arthur’s Wombles and Dog Dale are just a few points behind. Nick’s team, Jackie’s Blackcats, climbed 4 places to 5th place. At the bottom of the table, Lyn’s Handbrake City are now 93 points behind Alison’s Foxywise. Joanna’s Hup Hannah City returned to the top of the Mark Carter Ladies Section, 7 points ahead of last week’s leaders, Maxine’s Plaistow13hammers. Handbrake City are still at the bottom. Pam’s People have taken the lead in the quest for a 20€ voucher sponsored by QUICKSAVE Supermarket in Albir. In the U.K.T.V. Spain Junior League, Nathan’s TyrannosuarezRex F.C. have increased their lead over Ginger Ninjar who have swapped places with Super Rhys. At the bottom, Bradley’s team, Hero to Zero, are just 25 points behind Sponge Bob. In the Leonard Knowles Construction Golden Boot League,

James’ team, Jukeboxers, have a 16 point lead. Handbrake City are at the bottom of yet another league. The 2 teams going into the draw for a case of cava, sponsored by Premier Imports who provide a ﬁne selection of British Real Ales, are top scorers, Big Tony, with 65 points, and the lowest scorers, Clive’s F.A. Cup Kings, who only scored 1 point. Manager of the Month for January is sponsored by CLAIRE’S NAILS in Albir who will provide this month’s winner with a 20€ euro voucher to be used at their salon in Albir. Darren’s team, The Pheonix Club, have a 20 point lead over Pam’s People. Mike’s team, The Camels, and Liz’s Cookies Crew, are also contenders. James’ team, Balotellitubbies, have won this week’s Breakfast for 2 at Rafters sponsored by Kate after moving up 50 places to No 201. In the RTN F.A. Cup League, after the 3rd round replays, Macca’s Peaky Blinders United have a 2 point lead over Scott’s team, Emm,You,Eﬀ,See. Alex’s team, Pleased to Michu, and Kevin’s Clever Cookie, are in joint 3rd place.

To follow your favourites, go to www.alfazﬄ.com or pop into one of the bars which display the League tables and results; in Albir, The Local & Wyndhams; in Benidorm, Union Jack; in Moraira, Barilloche; and, in Alfaz, Robin’s Nest.

Bowls at Colina Club

A SMALL bowls Club at Calpe’s Colina Club wants to get bigger, and is currently looking for new members. Currently, they do not have a full length pitch, but the 12 members enjoy their game of bowls, especially since, while playing, they can look out at Calpe’s spectacular sea views. They do not play competitions, but enjoy their friendly games and are now on the lookout for like-minded new members who, perhaps, don’t want a serious competition club. They are holding a Valentine’s match on Monday 8th February, and members have to wear their whites with something red. For more information about the bowls club, and how to become a member, telephone Joy on 669 21 35 24.

Classifieds

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

Book your advert now 902 118 999 (ext 2) email: classifieds@roundtownnews.com

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

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

Chris Young transport UK-SPAIN-IRELAND All european destinations

Removals with the personal touch.

Full/part loads. Parcels, flat packs, luggage, door to door service, short/long term storage. Competitive rates, PETS CARRIED WITH CARE.

965 696 750 | 0044 (0) 744 791 8589 chrisyounge73979@aol.com

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

K9, PET ONLY TRANSPORTATION We only use fully fitted out ex police vehicles to transport your pet. DEFRA Registered, Fully legal.Specialist in Animal only Transportation. Owners welcome to travel with there pets k9transportation@hotmail.com UK: (00)442380 668 000 SPAIN: 671 797 151 PET TRAVEL UK Family pet transporters Spain/UK. Travel with your pets for free. All air conditioned vehicles (no vans) www.pettraveluk.co.uk. Removals also arranged in other vehicles. Tel UK 0800 612 4922 or Spain 960 130 537 IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A DOG OR PUPPY please join our Facebook group. We have many dogs, large, small, scruffs and pedigree! Just go to Facebook and search Costa Blanca Dog Homing. Even if you cannot offer a home, rescues are always needing foster homes, and just sharing the dog posts really helps us to help them.

DOG SITTING HOME FROM HOME Secure garden,Costa Blanca North 637 160 545

STRICTLY SOCIAL CLUB Why not come and join us for an afternoon of entertainment, fun, quizzes and games. We also have speakers, and arrange meals out and coach outings. We meet on the top floor at The New Asturias Restaurant, Punta Prima between 2.30 p.m. and 5.00 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each Month. Open to all age-groups. For more info call Margaret on 966 730 569 or Brian on 678 807 159. Looking forward to meeting you.

FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITY Own your own lingerie, clothing and swimwear boutique. Prices from 10,000 Euros including stock and shop fittings. Full help and support given throughout. Established company with over 10 years trading in Spain. Call Peter on 660 170 355 without obligation.

A1 SPECIALIST CLEANING Carpets, Upholstery, 15 years experience 965 058 177 / 697 511 071 marc@barnaclebills. co.uk www.britishbusinesspageinspain.es

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016 -3pm Intermediate Class 3pm - 4pm Intermediate Plus Class 4pm - 5pm Andrea Murphy [0034] 616 478 157 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

MR FIXIT FOR ALL YOUR ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING, GENERAL & Appliance Repairs. No Callout Charge. 698 320 434

NEW YEAR - NEW START! We are looking for an individual who has a genuine interest in helping all nationalities with their lifestyle choices here in Spain. For this role, we require and individual who is fluent in English with other languages being a plus. You would need to be: Enthusiastic, personable, approachable and confident in talking to the general public to promote our range of products. You must also have a car with a full clean driving license. We will provide, full training and support along with organised venues to make this opportunity work for you as well as all marketing materials and uniform along with a basic wage with uncapped commissions. For more information regarding this data capture role please contact ejaneq@gmail.com

LA BAMBAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S Ballroom Modern / Latin / Argentine Tango / 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 [new beginners starting Wednesday 13th January 2016] 2pm

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

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

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POOL LEAK REPAIR SPECIALISTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016 VAN LEAVING UK TO SPAIN 20th February.Space available. 652 079 071 / 00 44 7552985343 or email keithvanman9@gmail.com SPANISH MOVES Small removals and deliveries. Spain/UK Budget prices. Last minute jobs undertaken. www. spanishmoves.net. Pet transport also arranged in our air conditioned pet/people carriers. Telephone UK 0800 612 4922 or Spain 960130537

Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

I BUY RECORDS LP´S SINGLES AND CD´s ANY STYLE, JAZZ, BLUES, POP, PUNK, ROCK, ETC... TOP CASH PAID. 622 750 117 RECORDS AND CDS WANTED Pop,Rock,Jazz,Blues.Top Cash Paid. 630 665 363 TURN YOUR UNWANTED FURNITURE Electrical, Household Goods and Bric-a-brac into Cash. Anything! Anywhere! 965 319 220 /663 012 541

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Friday, January 29 - Thursday, February 4 2016

Rugby La Vila succeed again

Read the full story on page 62.