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04 - 10 February 2011

Pollen power

Step out on a Blossom Walk with Jalon and Orba Lions Club and enjoy seeing the Val de Pop in glorious bloom. p20

What would you do if you suddenly had 30 cats?

Not got your Vista card yet?

Vista Benidorm are the fastest growing and leading internet site offering up to date information on restaurants, bars, entertainment and hotels. p49

Regain control of your financial situation with Inca Negociadora. p27

Why sell when you can rent?

Guest writer Michael Rushe continues his fascinating column with advice on how to prepare your property for holiday lettings. p37

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See page 17

Fair trade for charity

by Jack Troughton

This is precisely what happened to Tina Tait after the sudden death of John Bernard, founder of the RAD Animal Home. p23

Money Matters

Issue 590

Get that loving feeling GUARANTEE YOURSELF a smooch this February 14th by surprising a loved one with some great gifts included in this week’s Valentine’s Day special pullout in the centre pages.

With a little help from Cupid, RTN goes all romantic with four pages packed with ideas and offers certain to tempt your heart’s desire and get on the path of true love.

So why not try something out of the ordinary this year and get away for an exclusive hotel stay or book a romantic dinner, enjoying a special Valentine’s Day menu?

And there are many other ways to hit the target such as gifts of lingerie or beauty and nail treatments – or just treat yourself to a little pampering before firing off a few love arrows. And for the more traditional gifts, according to both St Valentine and your favourite English newspaper, chocolates and flowers continue to win hearts and minds.

GLOBAL BUTTERFLY Katie Joy flitted into the Costa Blanca this week in the latest round of an international bartering game that crosses the world aiming to raise a million for charity.

Using the power of the Internet and marketing skills, together with rules as simple as Saturday Morning Swap Shop, the energetic Australian adventurer has already turned a humble packet of biscuits into a £12,000 lifestyle package.

Each round involves trading up to something bigger and better than her existing item – and her moves around the planet in The Global Trading Game are governed by each new offer as Katie flies to meet participants to make the exchange – therefore the traders are throwing the virtual dice.

And her philosophy is simple. Everyone playing the game is a winner: “I win, you

win, and the greater community wins.”

RTN managed to catch up with Katie as she made her latest trade – the fifth in the series – at The Obsidian Retreat just outside Benissa and became the first newspaper to interview her to win a coveted place in her website diary.

She explained she has set a personal goal strapping herself into a seat on Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactica for an out of space experience and raise a minimum of $1 million for the tycoon’s charitable foundation Virgin Choice.

BRANSON And to illustrate how positive thinking can achieve things, Katie said she was fulfilling an ambition in two week’s time when she flies to Necker Island to meet Branson himself on his private retreat and at his personal invitation.

Continued on page 3

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Round Town Travel 1, Avenida Dr Severo Ochoa, 1, Urb. El Admiral, Local 1 Lisa 966 811 123 Round Town Travel 2, Calle Gerona, 39 (Next to Hotel Ambassador) Kerry/Gemma 966 813 261 Round Town Trips, Calle Narcisco Yepes, 4, Local 8, Albir, 03581, Alicante.Lee/Jackie 966 867 294 ProminenT, Teulada Industrial Est. Calle Llanterner, 2 alto, 03725, Teulada, Alicante. Marja 965 793 229 Quicksave, Partida Murtar 2/2, Pedreguer, Alicante. Andrew Thomas 966 456 157 Millie Munro Insurance, Avenida Lepanto, 6. Millie 966 493 082 • millie@milliemunro.com EasyBuy, Avenida del Portet 24, Moraira. 03724 Alicante 965 745 969 ICUK Foods sl, C/Gulliem de Casto, 8 Bajo, Oliva 46780 962 839 830 • icukfoodssl@hotmail.com

AGENTS SOUTH

Bargain Books, Plaza Juan Carlos 1, Nº 2, San Miguel de Salinas, 03193, Alicante. (Opp. Tourist Info)

Gaynor/Lee 688 667 389 leeshaw.evans@gmail.com Johnsons El Limonar, JCP Commercial Center, Local 31, Los Altos Del Limonar, Torrevieja, 966 785 600 Johnsons Quesada, Ava. Las Naciononies 1a -17, Quesada, 966 717 848 Johnsons Algorfa, Local 30, Commercial Center La Finca Golf, Algorfa, 966 729 647 The Post Room, Centro Comercial 5, Via Park III, Calle Panticosa Nº 2, Los Altos, Orihuela Costa, Alicante.

Aoife/Chris 965 319 665 aoifesweeney@hotmail.com Pennys Supermarket, Flamenca Beach Comercial Centre, Unit 123, Playa Flamenca, 03189,

Peter/Sarah 966 733 257 • bulldogstores@live.com Print Solutions, Avenida Londres 136, La Marina Urb, San Fulgencio, 03177, Alicante.

Jim/Trish 966 790 520 • jim@printsolutionsspain.com Interpost, Avenida de la Alegria Nº 32, Malika/Malcolm 965 419 673 • Inter-post100@live.com Villamartin Satellite Centre, Avenida Las Brisas 33, Alicante. (Near Supervalu, Los Dolses)

Sarah/Heather 966 764 878 • villamartinsatellitecentre@yahoo.co.uk Best Wishes, Local 30, Comercial Centre Hispania, Avda de la Union 72, San Javier, 30730, Murcia.

Kathy 968 192 235 kaffywalker@hotmail.com Ononix Mar SL, Calle Mayor 30, bajo derecha, Guardamar, 03140, Alicante. Ron/Alicia 965 728 178

aliciamuddle@ononix.com

BENIDORM BENIDORM ALBIR TEULADA pedreguer BENITACHELL MORAIRA OLIVA

SAN MIGUEL TORREVIEJA QUESADA ALGORFA ORIHUELA ORIHUELA SAN FULGENCIO LA MARINA VILLAMARTIN MURCIA GUARDAMAR

See feature on Page 30

04 - 10 February 2011

Continued from front page Katie explained her inspiration was the story of Canadian Kyle McDonald who in 2005 started with one red paperclip advertised on his blog and in 14 deals secured a home.

The former paramedic from Perth told RTN on New Years Eve she sat down and decided to make a major contribution to the world but was not sure how until fate took a hand.

Days later she was at Brisbane Airport about to fly off for an international Internet marketing conference. “About 40 minutes before boarding I found a magazine and flicked through to this article about one red paper clip and the guy who started a trading game and 12 months later got his dream house.

“That totally resonated with me and I thought I could do it on a global scale.”

And so she bought a packet of Tim Tams – an Australian chocolate biscuit similar to Penguins. At the conference they were traded for a book, swapped for a So Cool Membership, an Internet marketing tool, and later exchanged at Heathrow Airport for a photography and video package worth £2,500.

In turn that was swapped for a platinum internet marketing package of-

Fair trade (left to right) Richard, Katie, Carol and Andy

fered by expert Simon Coulson – the value estimated at £5,000 – and the next offer brought her to Benissa to trade.

There she met with Andy and Carol West – who run The Retreat and The Kamala Centre – and Richard Waterman, a neuro linguistics programmer, who traded a £12,000 week’s lifestyle course for the marketing package.

TRAVEL Katie, who has spent three years travelling, said: “I feel this is my calling. I was guided to that article in the magazine and that has guided me here.

“I am a global butterfly who has flitted about but now I am getting people out of their cocoons to spread their wings and fly. It is a game ad all about the art of ‘allowing’, things to be and

Smoky solutions RTN readers come up with their own solutions to the smoking ban. This bar in Torrevieja invites customers to ‘go up in smoke’ inside their own personal ‘extractors!’ What next? Fireproof tents on the roof? Send your photos and suggestions to rtnmail@roundtownnews.com

Showroom opening times; Monday- Friday 10am-1pm

Personal smoke zones

take their course,” she added.

“My personal world has expanded so fast over three years. Since I opened the door wide I can see what is happening and what is possible to achieve – you just have to say ‘yes’, it’s another important principle of the game.”

She said The Global Trading Game was “all about people winning, everyone getting value out of the world. Not only is it ‘win win’ in trades, but a tremendous win for global marketing.”

And her new Spanish friends have no doubts Katie would achieve her goal.

Andy said: Not only because of all her connections but also energy, drive and enthusiasm.”

Katie plans to write a book about her adventures but readers can keep up to date with her travels at www.theglobalbutterfly.com

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04-10 FEBRUARY 2011

Spain’s stolen children demand to be heard

by Patricia Thompson CHILDREN ‘STOLEN’ from their rightful parents during the Franco regime are demanding to be heard, staging a peaceful demonstration outside the Attorney General’s office in Madrid and continue to petition for justice for 261 individual cases.

Spain’s ‘stolen children’, numbering an estimated 30,000, were removed from their mothers during the Spanish Civil War of 1936 – 1939 and in the period of reconstruction headed by Franco following the end of the conflict. In the aftermath of the war children were rehabilitated far from their homes with couples that paid for children they raised as their own.

In recent years the truth has surfaced for many of these children who now call for help to trace their biological parents. In Madrid, 38-year-old Antonio Barroso received a phone call informing him that he had been ‘purchased’ as a baby. He acquired a cotton swab from his mother without her knowledge or consent and had a DNA test carried out that confirmed the couple that had raised him were not his parents. “I don’t

Members of Anadir

know who I am,” he said, “…everything I have been told about my birth was an invention.” Barroso, who was ‘bought’ by his parents for 200,000 pesetas, is now head of the National Association of People Affected by Irregular Adoptions (Anadir).

Enrique Vila, a lawyer representing Anadir, also seeking his parents, is researching more than 400 cases of children stolen from their families, sometimes under brutal circumstances. In a tight network involving clergymen, socially influential women seeking children for adoption, doctors and military officials, the ‘baby trade’ eventually produced a nation with a large section

of society without biological ascendency, leading to medical problems; legal issues; complications of inheritance…

Sociologist Francisco González de Tena sees up to three new cases per day and predicts the problem will never be fully resolved.

It is thought that many of the couples who ‘purchased’ children now being interviewed genuinely believed they were ‘donating’ cash for mothers who voluntarily gave up their children and are now astonished to learn they committed a crime.

Attorney General Candido CondePumpido is expected to advise the matter be ‘dealt with in the regional courts’.

Picking a pocket or two

MADRID IS being tipped yet again as a pickpocketing hunting ground and tourists are warned to take extra precautions when shopping in the capital.

Blatant muggings have escalated in the city; in January Spurs Manager Harry Redknapp was accosted by a gang of muggers outside Athletico Madrid’s Vicente Calderon stadium and relieved of all his cash and credit cards, leaving him without even taxi fare back to his hotel.

A Japanese lady (name withheld) was also mugged during the last week in January, losing the entire contents of

Average temperatures for January yet the driest January in years

By Julie Day WITH TEMPERATURES regularly falling below 10ºC during the last fortnight of January 2011 and heaters at home set at full blast, it is hard to believe that the average temperature for last month was in line with the average temperatures recorded in January for the past ten years.

Records show that the mean temperature for last month was 11.7ºC. However, there is a massive contrast between

her purse and reluctantly reported the incident to the police.

As pick pocketing is now so rife in Madrid, making a police report is a lengthy experience that takes hours so fewer victims are bothering with the trip to the police station (including, as it happens, Harry Redknapp…!)

Visitors to the city are warned to be vigilant. Advice on how to take sensible precautions against being pick-pocketed may be found on the website of Vecinos Cooperando at www.nhwinspain.com temperatures recorded during the first two weeks of January and the temperatures of the last two weeks.

During the first fortnight of the month, the presence of an anticyclone pushed temperatures into the 20ºC’s, way above the average, yet low pressure in the second half of the month drove temperatures down to an average of 10ºC with a minimum of 2.4ºC. Despite enduring a spell of particularly cold weather, at least the month of January remained fairly dry. In fact, records show that only 8,5 litres/m2 of rain fell last month, most of which fell on one day – 27th January.

During the last ten years, an average of 33 litres per m2 fell during the month of January and this shows that last month was way below the average. Compare this with 2010 where a total of 60 litres fell or 2009, which recorded an amount of 30 litres.

Town’s new deal

by Jack Troughton

VOTERS IN a Marina Alta town were promised realistic change to benefit the whole community as an independent party introduced its new General Secretary.

CIBE, the Citizens of Benissa, held a press conference this week in its new offices in the heart of the town and declared it was already completing its manifesto for the May local elections.

Party president Councillor Izidor Molla i Carrio and Councillor Lisa CIBE Svoboda introduced their new colleague, 30-year-old lawyer Alvaro talks Mendoza Sanchez. Benissa born, Mr Mendoza said he was proud to be to the an active member of a truly independent and multicultural party that press justified and necessary but not rewarding post-election alliance that was autonomous and not linked to national politics.

“We are a party formed by the people of Benissa and we represent a were used to keep the government in power. real option for change.”

BOOST NETWORK And he was supported by Councillor Svoboda, who represents many And Councillor Molla said CIBE would look to create “realistic and necessary” changes without the current old boy network and “cronyism”.

He attacked the salaries being paid to town hall politicians, saying while Spanish Premier Jose Luis Rodriquez Zapatero was paid €78,185 gross and Valencia’s President Francisco Camps earned €67,615 annually, the Mayor of Benissa Juan Bautista Rosello took home a €98,000 yearly paypacket.

He added that other paid positions in the council “most totally unnecessary” cost nearly €600,000 a year. Meanwhile, the councillor said there were around 1,000 people out of work in Benissa while the self employed and small businesses were struggling.

He added that CIBE was in favour of paying for services that were

expats, in calling for investment in Benissa’s industrial estate to create jobs and in the coastal district to boost tourism.

She said in recent years residents living in the coastal district had suffered a series of tax hikes yet investment by the town hall was ten times lower than their contribution.

This created deficiencies in things like street lighting and rubbish collection facilities and in services like health and a police presence for security.

She said CIBE would look to have a new health centre on the coast, a local police station and a local authority administration building. “We must be more competitive with Moraira and Calpe to boost tourism where the spending between the coastal and urban areas is much fairer,” said Councillor Svodoba.

04 - 10 February 2011

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Coming down the mountain PLUCKY PENSIONER Jacqui Bevan will step into space this month and abseil down a Costa Blanca cliff to help raise money for a children’s cancer charity.

Jacqui joins Laude Lady Elizabeth School’s headmaster Richard Wijeratne, 20 students from the school’s Leos Club and sixth form, and 14 other adults in the sponsored challenge.

The abseil has been organised by the Leos – the junior section of the International Lions Club – and aims to raise as much money as possible for the children’s cancer charity Aspanion.

It is hoped to help send youngsters suffering from cancer to summer camps – giving them something to look forward to this year. Jacqui, President of the Jalon Ladies Lunch Club, is looking forward to the abseil on Saturday, 12th February in Lliber.

ADVENTURE “There is a first time for everything and you have to have a sense of adventure,” she told RTN. “I’m told the old ones are going first.

Anyone wishing to sponsor Jacqui can call her on 669 987 976 to make a pledge.

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04-10 FEBRUARY 2011

Duchess visits The Queen

by Jan Gamm

THERE’S NOTHING like a little eccentricity on a grand scale to spice up a royal occasion and they don’t come much grander – or more eccentric – than the Spanish Duchess of Alba.

RTN would need to add pages to list the Duchess’ complete list of titles as they number at least 47 and include the highest honour, ‘Grandee of Spain’. Maria del Rosario Cayetana Fitz-James Smart Silvia y Falco is the 18th Duchess of Alba and also High Constable of Navarre (granted to her ancestors in 1424), Marchioness of Moya and Countess of Modica. The Duchess in her day has been at the centre of countless royal scandals and has been romantically linked with a long list of sexy matadors and male flamenco danc-

ers. Her second marriage was to a Catholic priest and she now has expressed a wish to marry a man 24 years her junior but has so far received opposition to the match – from her children. The most senior member of a family reputed to be the richest in Spain, the 83-year-old Duchess was the guest of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth this week, pictured here at a Gala Dinner on Tuesday 1st February, in aid of the Prince’s Foundation for Children and the Arts. Six times a duchess, 10 times a countess, 24 times a marquise, and the ‘Grandest of Grandees’, the Duchess is entitled to sit, and wear her hat, in the presence of the Spanish king and is related to Winston Churchill, Christopher Columbus and Mary Queen of Scots. Oh - she is also entitled to ride a horse into Seville Cathedral should she feel the urge…

Her Grace The Duchess of Alba with HRH The Prince of Wales

Motorcycle sales prompt closure for Yamaha

Yamaha motorcycle

By Jan Gamm THE JAPANESE motorcycle giant Yamaha is to close its Barcelona plant following a fall in global sales over the past few years and a drop in European sales of around 20%.

The closure will mean job losses exceeding 400 at the Palau-Solita i Plegamans factory near Barcelona. Production is to be moved to Yamaha in Saint-Quentin, Northern France.

Despite production moving to France, the company has indicated it will retain its commercial headquarters in Barcelona.

Yamaha closed its plant in Italy in 2009, consolidating its manufacturing process in Spain and France. The Spanish factory made motorcycles with 50-660cc engines, for the European market. Despite its 130,000 unit capability the factory produced only 70,000 machines last year.

Talks with labour unions are already in progress.

Injured climber rescued from Puig Campana FIREMEN RESCUED an injured climber from the Puig Campana mountain near Finestrat last Sunday. The man was in the Diedros Mágicos area of the mountain when he fell and severely cut his left cheek.

A helicopter was immediately scrambled and both firemen and medics flew to the area.

Firemen got the climber on board the helicopter where the medical team were able to treat him before taking him to hospital.

04 - 10 February 2011

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04 - 10 February 2011

Fernando Torres is the most expensive Spanish football player

Spanish tourism trade hoping to scoop Egyptian market

by Jan Gamm SPAIN IS hoping to pick up the tourist trade destined for Egypt this summer. Holiday makers that opted for Nile cruises, Sharm el-Sheikh diving and tours of the Pyramids are now expected to change their plans in favour of a safer holiday haven. Protests all over Egypt as President Mubarek refused the democratic vote resulted in riots and episodes of widespread violence predicted to compromise the Egyptian spring and summer tourist trade. Despite Mubarek’s assurances that he will not run for election in September 2011, further unrest is expected at least throughout the early part of the year.

Egypt’s Sharm el Sheikh resort ranked among the top ten summer destination choices for British holiday makers.

LIVERPOOL PLAYER Fernando Torres has been bought by Chelsea for £50 million, the highest amount ever paid for a Spanish player. Torres will earn £170,000 per week, making the Spanish striker one of the highest paid players in the world. Torres is now signed to Chelsea until 2016 after reportedly having asked to be sold last week. Liverpool fans burned his number nine shirt outside their stadium upon hearing the news.

Riots in Egypt

Sharm el Sheikh

Santander boss going down for fraud

CEO OF Banco Santander, Alfredo Saenz, is expected to step down as his eight month prison sentence for fraud is made official this month.

Saenz’ difficulties began in 1994 when he was Chief Executive of Banesto, appointed by the Bank of Spain in 1993 to pursue debts aggressively. He and two other Banesto executives were fined €9,000 each and sentenced to six months imprisonment as a result of coercing clients to pay

debts in excess of €3.4 million.

The Supreme Court appeal rejection will result in Saenz losing his position but the twist in the tale is that there are predictions that Santander will also lose its €25 billion float for its UK arm of the bank if Saenz leaves his post.

Saenz will not be expected to serve a term in prison as the sentence is for a term of less than two years and will therefore be suspended.

Saenz

Fernando Torres valued at £50 million

Call 902 118 999 or email: classifieds@roundtownnews.com

04 - 10 February 2011

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04 - 10 February 2011

Learn to relax using Fast Track Hypnosis by

Alan Gilchrist The Costa Blanca’s Top Hypnotherapist

IT IS commonly accepted that some people can cope with the stresses of modern day life more readily than others.

Some people seem to fall completely apart at the slightest pressure, while others seem to be untouched by stress.

If a person is presented with enough stress such as bereavement, difficulties in personal life, financial problems, loss of employment or other outside pressures, they will become stressed and anxious. This may also occur due to PMS, anger, or being in constant pain.

While certain types of stress can be very beneficial for you (a romantic encounter-or the anticipation of an event or celebration) what is not acceptable is the stress that can debilitate the body and mind.

Millions of people use hypnosis to take control of and enjoy their life every day. The more relaxed you are, the more you have to gain in every area of your life. Business people, sportsmen and women, politicians, students regularly use hypnosis, in fact people from every walk of life.

Relaxation in itself will not solve any particular problem that you may have or expect to happen, However, with the use of Fast Track Hypnosis (plus the techniques that I will show you) and the ability to relax, it will allow you to see your problems more clearly. You can transform the negatives into positives, providing direction in your life, taking charge once again. It will help give you more confidence, a better memory,

more energy, more motivation. Consequently, you will then be calm enough to deal with problems more efficiently and effectively.

The old expression “calm down and you will see things in a different light” is very true using Fast Track Hypnosis Mental relaxation This can bring the increased sense of serenity, not as irritable, or losing your temper as often, getting things done, sleeping more deeply and waking more refreshed, etc. Indeed clients would often contact me because they are falling asleep when listening to their CDs, but now they are sleeping far better than ever before, which is perfectly normal.

Physical relaxation Stressful lifestyles involving long hours of work etc., can lead to physical conditions such as high blood pressure, stomach and duodenal ulcers, migraine, bruxism (teeth grinding), shoulders tensed, tension throughout the body, tension headaches, etc. The body is telling you to ease off the pressure or suffer the consequences! Fast Track Hypnosis can help with many stress related disorders by helping to reduce stress levels effectively and very quickly as opposed to some conventional therapies which can take much longer to achieve. However before commencing treatment it is always advisable that you contact your GP to ensure that the problem is NOT genuinely physical, as hypnosis may

then be unable to help.

With the use of my Fast Track method it is possible to develop not only a mental attitude towards your well being but also a physical one as well. The whole process only takes up to 4 sessions depending on the severity of the problem, and the response and commitment from you because. Fast Track Hypnosis ramatically speeds up the whole process unlike conventional Hypnotherapy which may take many more sessions ( up to 15 + ). CDs are also supplied to reinforce the sessions and finally you are taught Autohypnosis so that you can achieve this wonderful state of relaxation yourself.

“Alan succeeded where all doctors and psychologists failed. I had waited 5 years to have a baby, not my choice, but my husband decided we couldn’t afford one straight away, so after a holiday in Corfu, I came home with a positive result - nine months later a beautiful baby daughter ( now 23 and at university), but 3 months after my daughter was born, I wasn’t able to sleep. I had had a caesarean birth so had to take it easy, which meant sitting around doing nothing , but the mental torture set in. Every minute of every day was the same, I didn’t know what was wrong, then I read a baby book and I found the answer - P N D ( post natal depression) .

After months of running to my GP in desperation my husband called Alan after seeing an advert . Well that was the turning point in my life , I listened to

his tapes , yes in those days it was tapes, and the relief was almost instantaneous. I listened to my tapes on a regular basis , and still do to this day when stressed. The sound of Alan’s voice still has a calming , soothing effect. I went on to have another child , fortunately this time I had no P N D and was able to enjoy my second child. Please don’t suffer , don’t hesitate, get relief, peace of mind and start to enjoy life, believe me you can never look back but only positivity can come from your visit to Alan.

From a broken young woman, who could hardly get out of bed without crying or breaking down, I now run my own business. I never thought 23 years ago I would be writing this cause all I could think was negative thoughts.

Now I have one grandchild which I really enjoy, I never thought I would see the day. I feel I owe you my life , as you had succeeded where others failed. I can’t thank you enough. Thank you for giving me the chance to love life so much......Eleanor..........”

Alan holds his Fast Track Hypnosis sessions in Cabo Roig, Guardarmar, and Benidorm. Alan is also the Creator of the Stop Smoking in under 30 minutes Fast Track System. For an appointment, Brochure, or free of charge initial consultation, contact Alan Gilchrist on 659 229 408.

Visit his web sites www.alangilchrist.com www.hypnosiscostablanca.com www.thegastroband.com

04 - 10 February 2011

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04 - 10 February 2011

The Punjabi’s – New Indian restaurant now open in Pueblo Bravo!

By Clare Lawrence

RTN WAS at the launch party night on the 2nd of February to celebrate the opening of The Punjabi’s Indian restaurant in Pueblo Bravo. It is situated in a great location, just off of the Lemon Tree Road, with lots of passing trade and in very close proximity to the very well-known Hungarian restaurant, The Budapest.

The owners Kuldeep Singh and Ruble are extremely proud to be opening their restaurant to the public. They have decorated the restaurant with fine taste; there is a beautiful chandelier, bought in Murcia, which hangs down from the high ceiling and beautiful curtains at the window, sourced from India. The restaurant is very spacious, with two floors and lovely lighting.

The atmosphere is relaxed and the staff are friendly and welcoming. The food is delicious, very fresh and tasty! RTN bumped into a few familiar faces and everyone was enjoying themselves immensely. The staff are very accommodating and knowledgeable on the food being served. Everything was cleared away as soon as it was finished with. The food was all taken from other recipes not included on the menu, so that people could try really different dishes. The dips were fresh; including mango chutney, raita and onion relish; the starters were gorgeous tapas style pieces to try, small onion bhajis, vegetable sheikh kebab, Tandoori chicken and chicken lollipop, and the main course, which was chicken Desi style, served with special rice with cheese and a naan was really enjoyable.

The Punjabi’s is definitely worth a visit!

Bookings now being taken for Valentines Day

04 - 10 February 2011

Nike comes out to play

by Jack Troughton GOLFERS HAVE an exclusive chance to test drive Nike’s new range of equipment during this year’s RTN Golf Championship.

The 2011 range will be on display at the El Plantio course on Monday 14th March – the first opportunity to have a really close inspection of the equipment across Europe.

This year’s Elche tournament is open to everyone with a handicap recognised by a golf society or other acknowledged authority – golf professional Noel Eastwell can even help golfers be assessed – in RTN’s ‘the more the merrier’ philosophy.

The competition, sponsored by foreign exchange specialist Moneycorp, is again a Pairs Better Ball Stapleford and will be played under Spain’s RFEG rules.

The first pairs will start at 09.00 and others follow at eight minute intervals from a two tee start.

SECURE Noel, who is all things golf for RTN and one of the world’s top 100 coaches, said: “Securing the Nike demonstration of its new 2011 range is a real feather in the cap for the championship.

“I can’t wait to try it out so golfers will find me on the driving range where they can give it a go – and I’ll hand a few tips – effectively it’s the opportunity for a free lesson!”

The championship course at El Plantio provides an enjoyable test for sportsmen and women of all abilities – the variety of long and short holes combine with fast greens and fairways to keep golfers guessing.

And to make the competition even more challenging there will be some changes in place before the tournament. Noel said there would be two new bunkers on Hole 9, a new bunker on Hole 14, and

the existing sand traps on Hole 18 would be extended.

EXCITE “Most people entering the RTN championship will not have played El Plantio with the new features and it will make it even more exciting,” he said.

“And it is showing how the club is always seeking to improve the course and make it an enjoyable place to play golf – which is some of the best on the Costa Blanca.”

The winners will receive a new set of irons each and there are prizes for the leading five pairs, as well as individual ‘nearest pin’ and driving competitions. To enter or find out more information, simply email names and handicaps to golf@roundtownnews.com.The entry fee is €50 including a buggy,a beer and tapas at the end of play.

Nike’s new range will be on display

Where is everybody?

‘Menu del dia’ to suit all pockets

By Clare Lawrence THINGS SEEM somewhat quieter on the tourism front this year on the Costa Blanca South, compared to last – however, it is promising to see new building work taking place; both commercial units and private properties. Supermarkets are popping up in various towns, and many businesses are ticking over rather nicely.

Although it may appear that there are less people about than the winter season last year, this does not necessarily have any bearing upon how tourism will flow into this area in the forthcoming spring, summer and autumn months.

Everyone is looking for a bargain at the moment and businesses are picking up on this and acting

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accordingly. The sales are on, with up to 70 % off in some stores, such as hypermarket giant Carrefour, well-known sports shop Sprinter and the fabulous furniture store PROCOMOBEL (not cheap, but at 30% of the original price this makes it very affordable).

Restaurants are offering special menu deals (such as buy one get one free on certain dishes) on top of their Menu del Dias and the supermarkets all have lowered their prices to encourage shoppers to spend.

First time buyers are able to obtain property at 100% mortgage rates, which is the positive side to people having had to give up their property at the beginning of the recession. As they say: ‘Every cloud has a silver lining’.

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04 - 10 February 2011

MABS springs into action

by Jack Troughton VOLUNTEERS WORKING for the MABS Cancer Support Group Mazarronhope to help out everyone starting a little spring cleaning. As people begin the traditional sorting through their belongings and sifting out unwanted bits and pieces, the charity workers will be delighted to give them a new home.

MABS Mazarron’s successful shop opened its doors 10 months ago in the middle of Totana, in Plaza de la Constitucion, between the coffee shop and the Pensionista Centro.

And its been doing a roaring trade – so urgently needs donations of new stock to sell and help raise funds to support cancer patients and their families of all nationalities

living in the local area. articularly welcome are clothing and shoes for adults and children, accessories - such as hats, bags, belts, and jewellery – bedding, curtains, glassware, pots and crockery, bric-a-brac, books and games. There are drop off point locally where donations can be left for the Totana shop: Glitzy Bitz, Sector A Camposol; Alley Palais, Sector B Camposol; Jane’s Salon, Bolnuevo; Costa Calida Radio and The Bistro, Puerto De Mazarron.

OPEN The shop itself, in the Square, Totana, is open from 10.00 until 14.00, Monday to Friday. Manageress Ann Vinal runs it with the help of 30 volunteers – a quarter living in Totana itself – and is always happy to

show visitors around and accept donations at the premises. “Our clients are a mixture of North Africans, lots of expats and an increasing number of local Spanish.”

The Totana businesses have welcomed the local charity shop as it brings visitors into the square and augments the café and bar takings. Any items not sold at the end of a session are passed on to a Totana church.

A MABS spokesman said: “It is that time of year when cupboards get opened and the under-build unlocked.

It is time to clear out all your unwanted bits and pieces. “Instead of going to the ‘basura’ rubbish bins, please think of MABS Mazarron” For more information about MABS Mazarron (Reg. Charity Number 7261), call 620 422 410.

The charity shop

Play away It’s playtime!

NEW CLUB Jalon Valley Mums and Tots has found a new home while building work is carried out at Jalon Town Hall.

Over the next two months, the group will meet at the town library and pensionistas building – next to the sports hall on the road between the Mas y Mas and Lliber roundabouts.

The club meets every Monday morning between 10.30 and 11.45 and costs just a euro per mum each week. Adults get to enjoy a cuppa and a chat while the youngsters play and everyone comes together for singing games at the end of the session.

All mums and children are welcome. For more information call Fran on 639 326 135.

THE SPANISH meteorological office was accurate in its forecast of snow in the Valencia Region last weekend.

The coldest month in the region is January with an average minimum of 7 ºC and a maximum of 16 ºC. The meteorological office had placed the Comunidad Valenciana onto yellow alert for snow, and following a night of extremely strong coastal winds this is what the residents of Sanet y Negrals in the Orba valley woke up to on Monday morning. Thanks to John Reeves of Labels ‘N Tables for these photos.

04 - 10 February 2011

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04 - 10 February 2011

Under threat

I READ with interest your article last week on the help that is to be given to expats who have bought homes that have been found to be illegal in coastal hotspots and this must be a major relief to those people who are living under threat of having their homes demolished.

I would like to highlight another problem to the people who are trying to sell their homes in the Murcia and Orihuela regions to non EU citizens. We sold our home last October to people who live outside the EU and were informed that due to the area being a military zone, they would have to be security cleared by Madrid and this would take up to 90 days. We received a deposit from the buyers of our home on the coast and purchased another house inland and gave the deposit along with additional cash sum required by the seller in order to retain our new property.

The sale of our home was delayed by a further 28 days as all the paperwork is now handled by the Barcelona authorities. To date we have still not received the correct security clearance for our buyers. Consequently our buyer, due to the long delay, has pulled out of the sale, purchasing a house in Torrevieja.

We have been informed that if non EU citizens (America, Australia, Norway, Russia…) purchase property outside the zone they can later buy a house inside our area without any security checks being made which if true seems crazy to say the least.

I recently read that 50% of buyers in the Costa Blanca area are Russian and if Spain wants to re-start its economy by selling more property, which in turn would kick-start the building industry, the authorities need to sort their act out.

BF (A very disillusioned member of the EU)

mail

talk tous

Email letters to rtnmail@roundtownnews.com with your full name and address

Email: rtnmail@roundtownnews.com

letter of the week

The cat that got the cream WALK DOWN a UK High Street on a Saturday, Sunday or Monday morning, (not quite so bad during the week) and you will need to carefully avoid pools of vomit and urine; half eaten food; dog faeces… (Would you let your child crap on the pavement? No! then why let your pet animal?) All (apart from dog mess) the result of excessive alcohol abuse.

The penalty for discarding a ciggy butt on the pavement is £100. A ciggy butt measures about one inch by a quarter inch, doesn’t carry numerous diseases, doesn’t look a total mess and is easily swept up: Local Councillors have their priorities back to front, as usual… In Spain, smug dimwit Brit non-smokers look like ‘the cat that got the cream’ due to the introduction of the anti-smoking laws, but what exactly have

they achieved? The closure of bars and restaurants that provided a living for many people…two more bars and a restaurant near my home closed just last week.

Why didn’t non-smokers patronise a nonsmoking establishment? They had plenty of room - they wouldn’t have had to book!

I can’t see the ban being effective for very long in Spain’s cafe society.

Jennifer Cunningham’s column was refreshing, particularly the first four paragraphs. I agree that many British immigrants left the UK to escape the intrusive ‘Nanny State’.

What’s next? Probably alcohol… sneaking out of restaurants with our ‘vino tinto’ wrapped in a plain brown paper bag…it’s coming...!

OJ West

How about some joined up thinking?

‘DISGRUNTLED READER’presumably he/she signed a contract with the Estate Agent and, if he/she did not understand it, took legal advice before signing - probably not, though. The amount of commission is fixed at the outset, so should not come as a surprise. Very unfair to be so vague and generalistic in such a letter and the credibility is worsened by being anonymous. I am not an EA, by the way.

Rita - you may not have noticed it but there is a serious economic crisis prevailing in Spain - maybe

this is why the bars and restaurants are empty.

Brian Calder - if it is sunny and warm outside, is it so unusual for people wanting to be outside rather than inside?

KH - there has to be a line drawn somewhere, surely or nothing would ever happen.

Whether it is 1 day, 11 days, 21 days, 31 days etc. is irrelevant.

Presumably you checked this before moving to Spain.

The other 4 were very appropriate as advisory pieces.

The English language papers here, free or paid for, contain far too many people moaning

about their ‘rights’ (did they do their homework before moving here?) So very few about responsibilities and obligations while being a guest in this country e.g. learning the language, paying home, vehicle and personal taxes as appropriate, signing on to the Padron, voting, integrating into the local way of life and culture (and I don´t mean via all the ‘Brits away from home’ societies).

Please let´s have some joined up thinking on the Letters pages and thanks to those who do manage to achieve this.

John Price

Post surgery problems?

APPROXIMATELY 18 months ago I had surgery on my hip. Instead of replacing the hip joint and socket I underwent a procedure whereby they disconnected the joint, machined the socket and inserted a metal cover. The procedure was carried out at Torreveija Hospital: the surgeon and all the staff were really great. Everything went well and the only downside is that I get a small amount of discomfort and sometimes restricted mobility. Last week I received a

letter from the hospital and an appointment to see a specialist. From what I can gather, it would appear that there had been problems with the above ‘metal cover’ and that it has been discovered that in some cases there has been evidence of ‘chrome’ and ‘colbalt’ in the blood stream.

I would be pleased to hear from anyone who underwent the above procedure and received a similar letter. Thank you. Regards, T Cranmer

Honest and fair Got a story?

902 118 999

rtnmail@roundtownnews.com

I FULLY agree with the disgruntled reader in the letters last week.

Would any readers who know of honest and fair estate agents please forward details of where they may be contacted.

Likewise would all honest and fair estate agents place adverts in your paper, so people wishing to sell or buy could contact them and put these greedy vultures out of business, making it a fair deal for everyone.

Hopeful of Spain.

Easy solution available

ANYBODY WALKING the streets immediately adjacent to Playa Bahia in Puerto de Mazarron could hardly fail to notice that they are frequently standing in ankle-deep sand. This sand, which is blown down the short pedestrian alleyways that connect the beach to the streets, is normally allowed to accumulate until such time as it is spotted by a council official or someone complains.

Needless to say the eventual clearance is labour-intensive and expensive and it happens every year.

How shortsighted, then, to persist with such a policy when an easy solution is available. You simply need to build two x one metre-high parallel walls across the walkways where they meet the sand. The walls would have openings at opposite ends and would have sufficient distance between them to allow easy wheelchair passage. People would simply have to negotiate a simple ‘chicane’ to be on the beach. Sand, whipped up by the wind, would be trapped by the walls and would represent a simple clearance job for one man with a shovel.

The cost of erecting the walls could be recouped within one or two years by the labour saved alone.

Perhaps I should drop this letter into the Suggestions Box at Mazarron Town Hall. Have they got one?

Ken Bethell, Puerto de Mazarron

04 - 10 February 2011

Just mad about saffron…

by Jan Gamm A SCANDAL is threatening the heart of the saffron growing region, La Mancha.

Traditionally the finest saffron grown in the World, La Mancha producers turn in an incredible quarter of a million crocuses to manufacture just one ounce of the treasured golden spice that seasons the authentic Spanish national dish – paella.

Many of the area’s leading saffron farmers deserted the saffron crop in the eighties and nineties to seek alternative employment in the construction industry, creating a massive shortage of saffron and sending the price per kilo rocketing. By 2009, most had returned to their fields and expanded production in pursuit of a whopping €3,000 per kilo wholesale: a tiny 10 gram gift pack is sold at €103 in El Corte Inglés!

The farmers’ union, ASAJA, claims that 90% of the saffron export crop is fraudulent and that most of the saffron exported from Spain is actually from other saffron-producing countries such as Iran and Morocco. Iranian saffron is being marketed from Spain at a premium, taking advantage of lax labelling laws within the European Union. The product bears no resemblance to the ‘real McCoy’ and even carries an unpleasant odour – not quite so ‘mellow yellow’ as it first appears…

The Spanish crop is widely accepted to be top of the price range due to its antiquated production methods. Only three saffron stigmas (the female part of the plant) per flower are useable and each thread must be extracted by hand. The labour-intensive and back-breaking harvesting process is part of the reason why the spice is so costly, the industry netting €47

Spanish crop top of the price range

million last year.

Despite certain controls being introduced, an alarming percentage of ‘false’ saffron is still leaving the country and to protect the industry, the farmers’ union is now proposing new regulations that would require growers to declare the ‘country of origin’ of saffron shipments, complying with IOS (International Organisation of Standardization) guidelines.

www.monarch.co.uk

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04 - 10 February 2011

High-speed rail link Alicante to Madrid by 2012 THE AVE high-speed railway line between Alicante and Madrid will be completed by the summer of 2012.

The tender for the project has been awarded to ADIF, the state-owned railway infrastruc-

ture body, for â‚Ź55 million.

The project must be completed within 13 months. The Ministry of Transport also awarded the project for the installations along the track to another organisation for â‚Ź446 million.

Numbers on dole increases in Valencian Community THE VALENCIAN Community has shown the second-highest increase in people claiming the dole in January 2011, compared to 2010. The hardest hit area is Andalusia. A total of 20,233 of the 182,510 unemployed in the Valencian region registered in the last 12 months.In Spain overall, unemployment rose 3.9 percent in January, compared to December 2010, equalling a total of 4,231,003 jobless claiming dole across the country.

The Renfe Rocket

Prison for air-traffic controller A MILITARY air-traffic controller had to spend six months behind bars after defying an order to work overtime. The man had worked 10 days in a row whilst covering for a colleague who was on holiday. On 6 August, 2007, the man finished his shift at 4.20pm as scheduled, but his superior order him to stay until a delayed helicopter was safely landed. The man refused and left his post, subsequently ignoring phone calls from his boss who tried to order him back to work. The Supreme Court ruled that the man should have obeyed the orders and then lodged a complaint rather than choosing to leave his post of his own will.

Vaccine for AIDS being tested in Spain AN AIDS vaccine has been developed that appears to significantly reduce the viral load in most patients tested. Researchers in Barcelona made the announcement last week. A 24-week trial with HIV patients took place in the Clinic Hospital in the city.

HIV patients were injected with a vaccine

made personally for them from their own dendritic cells (which regulate the immune system). Doctors say that although the vaccinations had an effect, the HIV virus was not completely destroyed. A new trial is now underway combining the vaccine with anti-viral drugs.

04 - 10 February 2011

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What do I need to look for in a pre-paid funeral plan provider in Spain?

IT IS SAFE to say that the Funeral plan is a ‘must have’ product if you live in Spain and are not Spanish. We are so accustomed in the UK to the funeral process, its speed and structure - that it comes as a serious shock to the system when one is confronted with the realities of what happens abroad.

Few actually realise that finance must be in place within 24 hours and the whole process, from death to the finished service, is normally completed within 72 hours. Tot eh expatriate, the process is unimaginably swift while trying to deal with the loss of a loved one and most people are in no fit state of mind to deal with the additional pressure.

SO HOW DOES A FUNERAL PLAN HELP? A Funeral Plan provides comfort in the knowledge that everything is already in place, the arrangements and the finance, to remove this burden from the shoulders of those left behind. It also provides an emergency 24-hour free phone number, manned by bi lingual English nationals who are there to help bereaved individuals whose loved ones have passed away, often in the middle of the night or the early hours of the morning.

Once called, the organisation activates and immediately makes all the necessary calls and arrangements so you don’t have to be concerned with any of them. It removes all of the miscommunication worries, as all the operatives speak fluent Spanish. It also guarantees that your money is completely safe and secure in an independently run Trust fund, managed by an independent board of Trustees and invested by independent fund managers.

OR AT LEAST IT SHOULD If it is a Golden Leaves Funeral Plan: it does...

Golden Leaves 24-hour emergency number actually goes through to a fluent bi-lingual Golden Leaves Operative and not a local Spanish Funeral Director, as some other providers do.

Golden Leaves has a reputation throughout Europe found-

ed upon honesty, trust and an impeccable quality of service.

Golden Leaves was established by parent company Rowland Brothers, with more than 130 years service in the funeral industry providing care and support to the communities it serves.

Golden Leaves is the only Pre Paid Funeral Plan provider on the Spanish mainland to voluntarily apply the same strict regulatory restrictions and criteria that its UK business operations conform to (both financial and operationally), to all of its International business operations.

It is the only plan provider to voluntarily apply these stringent regulations and checks and balances to its Trust Fund activity. The Trust withstands extensive actuarial reporting annually and rigorous regulatory checks to ensure investment and management pass stringent regulation criteria.

The Trust is managed by an independent board of Trustees with a strong history in consumer protection providing complete security for our plan holders. Amongst our trustees are a retired Vice President of the Trading Standards Institute in the UK, formally the assistant Director of the Office of Fair Trading and a member of the Development committee of the National Consumers Federation.

No other plan provider on the Spanish mainland provides this level of service or consumer security; not one! So when you invest your money in Golden Leaves, you know it will be there when it is required.

SAFE AND SECURE If you’re going to invest in a funeral plan, ensure the provider has the reputation of providing a quality service, lives up to it and knows its responsibilities. Ensure it has a tradition and history based on care and ensure it will look after you wherever, whenever, acts immediately and ensures that your investment is rock solid, guaranteed to be there when required.

Make sure the company is transparent and that it voluntarily submits it operations both financial and otherwise to

Peace of mind for you and your family

the most stringent regulatory checks possible. Ensure that your investment is placed securely in a Trust Fund that is independently managed and invested by individuals who are passionate about consumer protection. If you want real peace of mind – the only choice is Golden Leaves.

For further information On Golden Leaves Funeral Plans, call Millie Munro on 966 493 082. Mobile – 660 049 460 E-mail: millie@milliemunro.com or visit www.goldenleaves.com

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04 - 10 February 2011

That’s the spirit!

Pollen power

Almond blossom

STEP OUT on a Blossom Walk with Jalon and Orba Lions Club and enjoy seeing the Val de Pop in glorious bloom.

The club has organised the 8km walk for Sunday 13th February, leaving the Tourist Office in Jalon at 11.00 and taking a two and a half hour stroll around good ‘campo’ lanes.

The event is suitable for everyone of average fitness and if people want to One Spirit

by Jack Troughton TALENTED DUO One Spirit provided the entertainment and an appreciative sell out audience handed over the cash – a winning combination raising €1,425 for charity.

‘Irish’ Des McGillycuddy and Kirsty Orr put together a heady blend of traditional Irish,

Scottish music mixed with some contemporary classics for the Teulada Moraira Lions Club concert last Friday night. Tickets sales for the show at Moraira’s Espai Le Senieta Theatre raised €1,354 and an exit collection a further €71. And the cash will be used by the Lions to support deprived families in the area through charity Caritas and social services.

bring dogs, the pets should be kept on a lead. The walk is free but the Lions would welcome voluntary donations to help support projects in the local community. For more information call Andrea Aitchison on 966 236987 or 658 060 254. The club itself meets once a month alternating between Jalon and Orba and for further details call Anna on 616 130 816.

Green light for IKEA Furniture giant IKEA has got the go ahead for its controversial Alicante store despite fears it will hit local business.

The city council has given permission for the development of a ‘macrocentre’ in the Rabassa area of Alicante claiming it will be a “magnet” for the whole province, including a home for the Swedish multinational.

However, opponents warn there could be a “serious impact” on existing traders by increased competition brought by opening another large commercial centre.

See my baby jive

by Jack Troughton ENTHUSIASTIC DANCERS can learn new skills by learning Modern Jive – a stylish and fun mix of salsa and rock ‘n’ roll. Classes are held every Thursday evening at 20.00 in the Venus Hotel, Albir, under the expert tuition of teachers Martin and Carol and cost €5 per person.

There is no need to bring a partner – although couples are welcome – as everyone dances together with the more experienced helping people get the hang of the moves.

Modern Jive is also a way

of making new friends and keeping fit and makes an excellent reason to get on the floor at dinner dances and parties and move to the music from every decade from the fifties through to the 21st Century.

STEPS Classes start with beginners moves, go through intermediate steps and end with some freestyle.

To get to the Venus Hotel from the north, take the Altea exit from the AP7 motorway, drive along the N332 through Altea and at McDonalds turn left into Albir. At the first

roundabout turn right and follow the road for about 40 metres and turn right where the hotel is signposted.

From the south, leave the AP7 at Benidorm Levante and continue north on the N332.

At McDonalds turn right for Albir and turn right at the first roundabout, follow the road for 40 metres and turn right where the Venus Hotel is signposted.

For more information, call Martin and Carol on 965 882 119 or email carolanntustin@gmail.com, or call Jan on 965 889711 or email jantheartist1@yahoo.co.uk

04 - 10 February 2011

Bars exempt from paying for terraces during winter A NEW law in Teulada means that bars and restaurants with terraces will be exempt for paying rent for the street space taken by the terrace from November to February. The ruling was made to try and help bars recuperate revenue lost due to the smoking ban. Although these are not the busiest months for terrace bars, No the mayor has said that there is rent for bars normally good weather and so with keeping the terraces in operation terraces should generate some economic in activity. winter

Good neighbours

INTERNATIONAL NEIGHBOURHOOD association Vecinos de Benissa represents the interests of residents with all levels of the authorities.

The group maintains a link between citizens and the town hall and seeks increased transparency between the people of Benissa and organisations and authorities at local, regional and national levels. Everyone is welcome to attend the meetings – the next is on the 17th

Martin and Carol

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February – where discussions are conducted in Spanish, English and German, and plans for the municipality and other on-going topics are examined. The association also holds a number of hands-on practical events, such as the first aid course staged earlierthis week. For more information contact John Recourt on 965 013 378 or 644 116 317, email vecinosbenissa@gmail.com, or visit www.vecinos-benissa.com.

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04 - 10 February 2011

RIP John Barry…

Watts In Britain By

Paul Watts

IT WAS with great sadness that I heard of the passing of musician John Barry last Sunday. His music left its mark on almost everyone and when you hear a piece of it you are transported back across the years.

Zip back to 1967: it was the socalled ‘Summer of Love’. Sgt Pepper was fresh off the pressings and everywhere joss sticks were burning. One lazy afternoon in the long school holidays my chum Peter Pearce and I were planning just how we could get into the Curzon cinema in Brighton’s Western Road to watch the latest Bond film. We had a problem you see – ‘You Only Live Twice’ was rated as an ‘A’ movie and unless you were 16 years of age you had to be accompanied by an adult. We clearly thought at 13 that we wouldn’t pass as 16 year olds.

Help was on hand when a man walked up the steps clearly intending to see the film. “Please mister,” we chorused, “can we get in with you?” We handed him our money and he purchased three tickets.

Can you imagine that nowadays?

There’d be all kinds of fuss. Mind you, a seven-year old could easily get into a Bond film now.

We sat down and from the offset the film was a roller-coaster! But underpinning all the excitement was John Barry’s majestic film score with just the right balance of drama and romance. I was hooked.

John Barry has played a part in the soundtrack of a great many of our lives.

Back in the early 60s we would gather by a TV set most Saturday nights to wait for David ‘hellothere’ Jacobs to present the latest hit parade “hits or misses” on Juke Box Jury. The catchy title music was written by John Barry. And in the 70s John Barry brought us the instantly recognisable theme for The Persuaders.

Midnight Cowboy, Out of Africa, Dancing with Wolves, Zulu, Born Free… the list goes on and on but it is probably with Bond that he is most closely identified.

In an interview for The Observer, back in 2007, Barry gave the following account: “I was called up and told they were making the Bond movies. I hadn’t read the books.

All I knew was the Daily Mail’s James Bond cartoon strip. I did Dr No without ever seeing the movie.

I was a big be-bop fan and wrote a bit for the film and it all came together. It was a huge hit and that was the start of it.”

On the first two Bond films Barry shared the musical credits. “We did Dr No, then From Russia with Love,” he said, “but it was only with Goldfinger that I got to do the whole thing; I wrote the song for Shirley Bassey and the whole score.” However, not everyone was pleased. He revealed, “I was called to the offices afterwards and Harry Saltzman [co-producer of Bond] said: ‘that’s the worst f*****g song I’ve ever heard. We open in three weeks and if I had time I’d throw it

on the crap heap.’” That song went on to be one of Barry’s biggest selling records. John Barry said, “The song runs throughout the whole movie. It’s what I do; use the theme in variations as a hook. It gives the audience a lead from one scene to the next.”

On Her Majesty’s Secret Service “…George Lazenby was so bad I felt I had to make up for it with the music. I think I was fortunate enough to be at the beginning of Bond with the classic style. I did about 11 of them and then checked out. I wanted to move on and do something else.”

John Barry’s last film score was for Enigma, the 2001 film about the Second World War code-breakers. Don Black worked as lyricist with John Barry on many projects including, Born Free, Thunderball and Diamonds Are Forever. He said Barry remained unaffected by his international success: “The thing about John that I will always remember was he never changed, He was very much the Yorkshireman, whether he was in Beverly Hills or Manhattan.”

John Barry won five Oscars and in 1999 received an OBE, honoured with a Bafta fellowship in 2005.

The best accolade is by his close friend Michael Crawford who said, “John has written some of the most John memorable and beautiful film Barry scores we could ever wish to hear.” with one Amen to that. of his five Watts in Britain: RIP John Barry… oscars

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What would you do if you Patiently waiting suddenly had 30 cats?

by Tina Tait When the founder of the RAD (RingADings) Animal Home, John Bernard Jackson (otherwise known as ‘The Cat Man of La Ribera?) suddenly died on 15th January, his distraught wife moved back to the UK, less than one week after his death, without making provision for thirty plus cats and dogs, announcing that she would leave the dogs shut in the house and throw the cats into the street.

We discovered after having to dissolve their entire abandoned household, that the wife was a hoarder; her closet was teeming with new clothes and shoes of all different sizes with the price tags still on them. It was good news for the animals as the items could be sold to fund their care.

Our mission with the animal home has always been to try to save and re-

home abandoned and abused animals.

How could I let them end up thrown away after the thousands of euros spent on veterinary care, and the hundreds of hours of volunteer time it took to rehabilitate them? I had to do something.

Thanks to the efforts and generosity of the community, we managed to save most of these animals, for now anyway.

So many people kindly contributed to this effort, for which John would be eternally grateful. The Molinas family donated a school house on their farm land in La Union. My mother and I converted it into a cat house. Its perrrrfect!

It is a large classroom totally enclosed so the cats can’t go outside. It has lots of windows and light. It was a Godsend to these cats; their last hope in the world. They are all very social critters and I know they would make good pets.

I have a total of 15 cats now residing in the school house.

Tina in school house

Many of the animals have already been adopted: 11 cats have found new homes and are doing well. The home had 10 dogs; 3 little dogs are left. The owner of a posh and pampered vacation home for your dog or cat in El Mirador donated to the 3 remaining dogs a temporary kennel until the end of the month. As of February, they will be fostered by another family.

We can continue to run the animal home until each animal is adopted, before the RAD animal home closes its doors. 100 percent of any proceeds raised go to the animals’ needs. If you want to donate to the animals, all donations are tax deductible. The animals need loving homes: we cannot keep the school house for too long.

SO PLEASE, ADOPT A CAT OR DOG! All the animals available to adoption are sociable and would make wonderful pets. Each and every animal has a profile with pictures and details on a website (both in Spanish and English): www.woofywalkers.com.

Also, the local vets in the area have leaflets with printed pictures. Phone me if you can help or for a viewing of the animals. Thank you for doing a good deed!

Tina Tait: Tel: 655 027 676 RAD Animal Home Tel: 965 355 273 “The Ringadings Animal Home” abbreviated to RAD is registered, Inscrita en el Registro Nacional de Asociacones: Grupo 1 / Sección: 1 / Número Nacional: 596253

Blanco

By Jack Troughton WELL BEHAVED and friendly dog Blanco is hoping to find a loving family after being rescued by the Local Animal Protection Society.

He is about six and a half years old and stands 55cm tall at the shoulder and is currently being cared for by the Pego-based

animal charity.

Chrissie Edwards, of LAPS, said: “He is a placid obedient boy who gets on well with other dogs and loves to go walking.”

Blanco has a microchip and all his vaccinations are up to date. Anyone able to offer him a home can call Chrissie on 661 199 270.

24

04 - 10 February 2011

New ‘This is Spain Exhibitions’ now on the Costa Blanca North

Albir playa hotel

‘THIS IS Spain Exhibitions’ is spreading its wings and venturing north. Following years of successful events on the Costa Blanca South, organiser Christine Roche has been asked to take her trade fairs to the north of the Costa, giving businesses an opportunity to expand their customer base.

The next event will be held at the Albir Playa Hotel, just 10km north of Benidorm, along the N332, just by McDonalds. The hotel is situated a few minutes from the beach and the exhibition will take place on 19th and 20th March, between the hours of 10.00 and 18.00.

Albir is in the heart of a large British, German, Dutch and Scandinavian ex-pat dominated area of mainly permanent residents.

The hotel has ample parking and easy access. Take a look at the website on www.albirplayahotel.com for further information.

The main sponsors of the event will be Female Focus, Costa Blanca News, The Post, AngloINFO, Costa Blanca Free Ads and RTN. It will also be well publicised within the Dutch, German and Scandinavian communities as well as in 40,000 leaflets that will be distributed within the surrounding area.

If you would like to promote your business within the leaflets it will be necessary to provide copy by Wednesday 2nd February for inclusion in the initial run of 10,000. The deadline for the remainder is Wednesday 16th

February and these will be distributed nearer to the time of the exhibition. Should you not wish to take a stand it is still possible to take advantage of this opportunity.

It will also be possible to promote your business with your own leaflets at the exhibition. We are able to offer a distribution service for 1000 leaflets, to be placed in carrier bags and given to the public at the reception area at €20 if you are an exhibitor or €40 should you not be taking a stand.

As well as all the stands that you would expect to find at one of our exhibitions, there will be charities such as Utopia Cats.

Clodagh and Richard Handscombe will be in attendance, answering gardening questions and selling copies of their latest publications.

Jane Cronin will be giving talks on Spanish culture and other companies can make presentations. These will take place in a second room, accessed through the area shown as stand 17 on the plan but this will be kept free for access. Refreshments and entertainment will also be provided from this room.

Included in the €1 entry fee will be a free ticket for the Grand Raffle, always a popular feature at the This Is Spain Exhibitions events.

Bookings are now being taken, with businesses such as financial services; satellite television; heating systems; double glazing; health and beauty; home and garden; schools; pools and much more already showing interest.

For more information, and to book your stand, call Christine Roche on 699 549 261 or

965 632 835 or email her at info@exhibitions-spain.com Also, see the website at www.exhibitions-spain.com for regular updates.

If you do not wish to receive information from This Is Spain Exhibitions, please let us know: your details will not be passed to any other party.

RTN’s very own Jane Cronin at last years event

04 -1510- 21 February 2011 october 2010

Hayes to walk from Spain to Hungary

23 25

by Jan Gamm 55-YEAR-OLD British hiker John Hayes intends to walk the ‘E4 Long Distance Walk’ from Tarifa in Southern Spain to Budapest in Hungary in March 2011.

Following the spring northward, the walk will take John through Andalucia’s national parks, through the 300km length of Murcia and along the 550km stretch of the Pais Valencia, paralleling the coast, through Catalonia and then on to La Seu D’Urgell in the Pyranees.

John’s incredible walk is to raise funds for Britain Nepal Medical Trust and his target is £20,000. He sees the seven month challenge as, “…an adventure…” and “…something completely different.”

Ex PP councillor found dead THE BODY of Abraham Martí Vidal, a former PP councillor in Ibi, Alicante was found last Saturday under a bridge in Alcoy. Police report that all signs point to suicide, but they have opened a full investigation. Mr Martí’s family reported him missing on the Friday after he failed to turn up for an appointment at an industrial estate. He worked as a councillor for four years and leaves behind a wife and daughter.

John pictured with his wife Christine

John’s wife Christine is to join him whenever she can on his walk, along with other family members and friends.

To follow John’s preparation for his mammoth walk or to donate, visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ e4longdistancewalk

Forward Press poetic injustice…

A UK-BASED publishing company specialising in poetry that was shut down in Spain after hundreds of children lost money after paying out to see their work in print is now trading in France.

Forward Press, ‘The People’s Publisher’, hyped on the internet as ‘the World’s largest published of new poetry’, trading as Jovenes Escritores (young writers ) is now ‘Jeune Secrivains’, promoting itself as a friendly young writers’ forum, despite its Spanish operation being under investigation by the Spanish police for fraudulently taking money from Spanish children.

Kids and their parents in Malaga and La Cala entered into a ‘vanity press’ publishing arrangement with Jovenes Escritores in good faith, paying out cash for work to be published and also placing deposits on books that never materialised. The company’s debts come to more than €250,000 in Spain.

Forward Press is headed by poet Ian Walton, who expressed his mild regrets when it emerged that the children who paid the company money in Spain would not see their work in print and also would not receive a refund.

Walton also made headlines last year when he assaulted catering staff at a Peterborough Hotel, hurling a pot plant at them for refusing to serve him a sandwich!

Forward Press declined to comment to RTN on its Spanish track record and also on its ambitions to entice French children to hand out more cash via its French website.

“We are mo

re t h an j u

st a v oice on the phone”

26 22

04 - 10 February 2011

Revision of recent past tense Spanish lessons by

Jane Cronin

A weekly ‘cut out and keep’ feature helping you to learn basic Spanish

Lesson 143

For the last few weeks we have been going back over previous articles to do some revision, which I am tackling roughly based on ten articles at a time.

We’re now in the region of articles 31 to 40, which were mostly about the tense which some people call the “recent past tense” others the “present perfect tense” and others the “perfecto”. It’s the one that connects the past with the present, and also refers to the “undefined” time in the past.

This tense is made up by putting the main verb in the past participle form and conjugating that strange grammatical verb “haber” in the present tense. The past participle of “trabajar” is “trabajado”, and of “tener” is “tenido”, so here is our first revision exercise. What are the past participles of these other regular verbs?

Cocinar. Bailar. Aprender. Comer. Firmar.

Visitar. Comprar. Conducir. Ir. Cambiar.

(1 point each = 10 points) Just so we know we’re roughly on the right track, here are some simple sentences to translate into English, using more regular verbs.

1. He arreglado todos mis papeles esta mañana.

(This never happens, by the way).

2. Qué tal habéis dormido?

3. ¿Cuántas páginas has leído de tu libro?

4. El señor no te ha oído.

5. Lo hemos buscado por todos lados.

6. Los niños no han comido suficiente.

(2 points each = 12 points) These sentences all contain forms of the verb “haber”, which we translate here as “have” or “has”, even though it has nothing to do with the usual idea of “have” as possession. Here are the six forms again – put them in the usual order in which verbs are conjugated, alongside the English equivalents.

Han. Ha. Has. Hemos. He. Habéis.

I have _____ We have _____ You have _____ (4 points)

You have (plural) _____ He / she has _____ They have _____

Now to see if you remember some irregular past participles: Abrir (to open) Escribir (to write) Decir (to say/to tell) Hacer (to make/to do) Morir (to die) Ver (to see/to watch) Volver (to return) (1 point each = 6 points)

abierto (opened) ______ (written) ______ (said/told) ______ (made/done) ______ (died) ______ (seen/watched) ______ (returned)

Continuing the same theme, and building on what has gone before, now see if you can translate the following sentences into Spanish. They all consist of the same basic sentence structure.

1. I have spoken to my neighbour 2. You have written a letter 3. He has slept well.

4. We have seen the film.

5. You have come back from holiday.

6. They have drunk a lot of beer.

(3 points each = 18 points) And finally, here are a series of possible answers to a question. What is the question?

Sí, he estado allí muchas veces.

No, pero he visto el estadio Santiago Bernabeu en la tele.

Lo he pasado en la autovía pero no he entrado en la ciudad.

He estado en Barajas pero no conozco la ciudad.

No, me gustaría conocerlo en la primavera cuando hace buen tiempo. (…and a generous 10 points for the right answer!!)

money

04 -1510- 21 February 2011 october 2010

23 27

Inca Negociadora: an alternative NOBODY CAN deny the difficult economic situation we are experiencing. The feeling of wellbeing has given way to confusion and doubts.

The normal relationship between existing clients and their banks has been shattered and in many cases has given way to a ‘no credit’ policy which prevents projects from being developed and also prevents solutions being found for the financial difficulties of a large number of clients.

Thus, it is increasingly common to come across clients with a consolidated and healthy equity which, upon being faced with financial difficulties or simply needing refinancing, are provided no solutions by their banks for their loyal customers of many years.

INCA NEGOCIADORA is here to alleviate this situation. This trading company, with offices throughout the Valencia and Alicante regions, has brought together experts in the fields of finance, business and law to provide tailor-made solutions for individual problems. Our offices are

attended by Spanish and British personnel and our clients are provided with a consultancy service which is free of charge and includes an analysis of the situation and the economic and legal consequences it may incur. We propose a strategy based on multiple aspects, such as the renegotiation with the client’s private and public creditors, a search for alternative banking solutions and an analysis of the legal possibilities for using private funds belonging to our company in order to resolve the most pressing problems.

With this strategy we aim for the client to regain control of their financial situation or, alternatively, gain time to dispose of their assets without suffering a significant loss with regard to the sale value. Remember we will always listen to you, as we only benefit if we can solve your problems.

INCA NEGOCIADORA contact Andrew Sawyer Tel: 635 436 566 euro-finance@hotmail.com Analysis of your financial position may help resolve issues

business

28

04 - 10 February 2011

by

John Edwards

The Business Doctors, emergency sevice for business in Spain

THE ACRONYM ‘WSIWYG’ - what you see is what you get - was hatched some years back in the world of computing, but quickly encompassed many other areas of enterprise.

Take, for example, a restaurant or bar; if, at first glance, it looks jaded or unkempt, chances are that standards will be low and service bad. Of course, this may not always be the case. First impressions can be misleading, and the establishments concerned may actually be very good indeed.

But, asks The Business Doctors, a company established in Spain to provide valuable know-how to companies operating in Spain. Why risk losing trade by projecting an off-putting or uninspiring image?

What goes for a restaurant or bar applies equally to ALL enterprises - from ‘one-man bands’ through to large PLCS. Yes, image is vitally important, but on its own will count for very little if you cannot follow through by delivering top-notch levels of goods and services.

To do so, insists The Business Doctors, it is imperative for enterprises to grasp the importance of a number of basic principles. These include: • The development of a communications plan involving not only customers but also staff.

• Keep clients, and potential customers fully informed about the goods or

services you are offering, or changes you are planning.

• The start of the year is the perfect time to tap your customer database and get in touch with your existing clients.

Contact your customers to wish them ‘Happy New Year’ and remind them that your business is ready to serve them throughout the next 12 months.

• Constantly look for ways to encourage repeat business. Although marketing and advertising are important to get more customers, quality, service and customer satisfaction are what keep a business successful in the long run.

Keep colleagues fully informed about all aspects of your business and make absolutely sure that you are all singing from the same hymn sheet when interfacing with clients. When one hand does not know what the other is doing, or if mixed messages are getting out to customers, problems can and will arise.

Staff training - especially when it comes to selling - is of paramount importance.

But remember that a person going out into the field representing your company needs more than good selling skills; he or she needs to reflect the image of your enterprise by being impeccably groomed and supremely confident.

Meticulous attention to the first impressions customers have of your

company is vital too. Almost invariably, a client's first contact with a company is by phone or email and if phones are not answered promptly or emails are responded to late or in a sloppy manner, the person making contact will end up exasperated, frustrated and angry.

The basic principles outlined above, plus issues such as effective budgeting can be easily accomplished, but often businesses don't have the time or

resources to deal with them effectively.

This is where The Business Doctors can help. Give them a call to set up a no-obligation, informal chat, and they will be happy to help you identify areas that need improvement.

Remember, you will be dealing with a company comprising a team of entrepreneurs whom over 40 years have assisted businesses to become more effective and more profitable: they can do the same for you.

Keep customers and colleagues informed

The Business Doctors are a registered Business Development Consultancy with over 40 years experience. Email: info@thebusinessdoctors.es Web: www.thebusinessdoctors.es Tel: 965 889 125

€600 million in guarantees for new businesses THE GOVERNMENT has made €600 million in guarantees available to entrepreneurs and SMEs. The Secretary-General for Industry, Teresa Santero, presided over the official signing of the refinancing contracts last week. The agreement is between CERSA, a company operated under the Ministry of Industry,

Tourism and Trade through the DirectorateGeneral of Policy for Small- and MediumSized Enterprises, and 23 Mutual Guarantee Companies (MGCs) operating in Spain for 2011. The MGCs offer financial guarantees to feasible projects, improve the financing conditions offered by financial entities and play an important financial advisory role.

Aznar criticises autonomous regions in Spain FORMER PRIME Minister, José María Aznar, has blamed autonomous communities for holding back Spain’s economic development. He was speaking at a presentation for FAES, the organisation of which he is president. Aznar said that Spain cannot compete in Europe or the world while the country’s own autonomous communities are aspiring to become mini-states. He went on to say that Spain should not present itself to the international community when it appears fragmented, insecure and unpredictable.

legal

04 - 10 February 2011

29

Sale time in the sun

FROM THE beginning of January to the start of Spring it’s sale time in Spain and this year many by shoppers with the money to spend are hoping to take advantage of cash strapped retailers and grab a bargain.

It can be confusing to distinguish between ‘Rebajas’Solicitor, Link Point Legal Sales, ‘Promociones’- special promotions, and ‘saldos’ and Business Services – stock clearances. The distinctions are legally defined

by Law 7 of 1996 which regulates retail trade.

‘Rebajas’ must be genuine reductions of current first grade stock and can only be offered during specific periods fixed by law. The original higher price must have been charged for at least one month during the six months before the Sale by the retailer in the shop where the reduction is offered. Goods which are specially bought in by the retailer for the Sale cannot be offered as ‘Rebajas’. If price labels are written by hand, always check to see if the labels have been altered to show a false higher price which the retailer claims has been charged previously.

‘Promociones’ are special offers of goods which can take place at any time of the year and may be subject to particular conditions, or limited to particular models of goods.

‘Saldos’ are clearances of goods which might not be of first grade quality, known in the UK as ‘seconds’, or they may be ‘ends of ranges’. If clearance goods are ‘seconds’ it must be made clear in what way the goods are defective. If the goods offered are simply the end of a range, they must be of first grade quality.

Retailers are allowed to alter the conditions on which

Michael Olmer

they sell goods during a sale. For example, they are free to insist on payment in cash only for Sale goods and not accept credit cards. Or they may change their policy on accepting returns so that they will only take back defective goods rather than allow customers to return goods which they take a dislike to once they get them home. However, a reputable retailer should maintain the same policy on returned goods during Sale time as they do during the rest of the year. If in doubt, always ask before parting with your money, especially if you are about to buy a considered purchase such as furniture or large electrical appliances.

If you do return goods and the retailer agrees to accept them back, the retailer is obliged to refund the price actually paid. So if you bought an item before the sales and the same item is offered at a reduced price during the sales you are entitled to a refund of the price you actually paid and not the reduced price at which the item is offered during the sales. Conversely, if you buy an item during the sales and you return it after the sales when the same item is offered at a higher price, you are not entitled to claim reimbursement of the higher price.

The guarantees imposed by law must be the same for sale goods as for goods sold outside sale time. New items must be guaranteed for two years and must be fit for purpose under normal conditions of use. The guarantee must cover parts and labour. While you are waiting for a repair or a replacement, the guarantee period is suspended, and restarts when your item is

replaced or returned to you.

You must report any fault to the retailer within two months of the fault occurring.

If the fault occurs within six months after purchase, the law presumes that a new item was defective when it was sold and the retailer cannot refuse to replace or repair the product. If the fault occurs after six months it is your responsibility to show that the item was defective.

If you do need to take an item back to a retailer either because it is defective or you the retailer has a wider policy on returns and the retailer is unwilling to consider your complaint, you have the right to ask for an official complaint form or ‘Hoja de Reclamacion’ which all shops are obliged to have available. Often the mere request for an official complaint form will lead to a satisfactory solution of your complaint.

Whether you are a retailer or an avid shopper, we at Link Point wish you a prosperous sale time and happy bargain hunting.

Calle Andromeda 24, 03581 Albir - Alfaz del Pí, Alicante. Email: client@linkpointlegal.com Web: www.linkpointlegal.com Tel: 96 626 0500 Fax: 96 686 52 77

30

money

04 - 10 February 2011

QROPS - CLARIFYING THE LUMP SUM RULES by

Stephen Ward & Robert Burns Once again a correspondent in another publication has chosen to set out the lump sum rules applicable from a QROPS incorrectly. It really is not that hard to get it right!

If a QROPS is in a jurisdiction which has an entity which authorises and regulates pension schemes and if there is a double taxation treaty between the UK and that jurisdiction then once the member who has transferred in his UK pension fund has been outside the UK for more than five complete UK tax years, local rules apply.

New Zealand is the jurisdiction which has the greatest degree of benefit flexibility.

Pension schemes are regulated (by the Government actuary) and there is a double taxation treaty with the UK. So from a New Zealand QROPS up to 100% of the

transferred pension fund may be taken as a lump sum.

In jurisdictions where these conditions are not satisfied then at least 70% of the transferred fund must be used to provide an income for life. This most notably captures QROPS in Guernsey. But note the use of the term “transferred fund” – the “70%” rule does not apply on the investment growth on the fund following a transfer.

Consider these examples: 1. Anne is 57 years old and has a UK pension fund worth £80,000. She has a portfolio of property providing a decent level of rental income. Spanish property prices are depressed. As she left the UK in 2004 she transfers her fund to a New Zealand QROPS and takes the entire fund (after costs) as a lump sum. She uses the fund (free of tax) towards her next property acquisition.

2. James is 45. He left the UK in 2001 and has no intention of returning. He has a UK pension fund worth £120,000. James transfers the fund to a QROPS in the Isle of Man set up under their new Section

Would a lump sum cash payout help your current situation?

50C rules. Ten years later his fund is worth £200,000. Under Isle of Man law he is allowed to receive a lump sum of up to 30% of the amount he originally transferred (£36,000) plus all of the investment growth (£80,000). So James if he wishes can take up to £116,000 from his Isle of Man fund as a lump sum.

What happens if I return to the UK? This is a question we are frequently asked. Let’s consider this with regard to Annie and James.

What if Anne returns to the UK to live less than a year after taking her 100% lump sum from the New Zealand QROPS? There are no tax implications whatsoever in the UK or in Spain.

James returns to live in the UK when he is 52 and takes benefit from his QROPS when he is 55. He may take up to 25% of the fund he transferred as a lump sum (£30,000) and all of the investment growth (£80,000). So even as a UK resident James is able to receive a lump sum of up to £110,000 which under current UK law is free from tax.

THIS ARTICLE IS WRITTEN BY STEPHEN WARD AND ROBERT BURNS, PREMIER PENSION SOLUTIONS S.L., January 2011. Please see our advert on Page 2. At the forefront of the industry with over forty years combined experience with pensions, regulated and authorised, liaising directly with providers and HMRC, Stephen and Robert are two of the leading authorities on QROPS. E: review@qrops.es T: 965 790 918 www.qrops.es www.prempensions.com or www.qropsnz.com

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History of Nemo´s

Valentine’s Day

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- Light Supper With cabaret “Old School Duo”

€5 Sunday 13th February

- Join us for our Valentines Sunday Lunch - Free glass of Cava for the Ladies 4 courses with wine

€8.95 Monday 14th February Valentines Day - Valentines Soup Terrine - Avocado Prawns - Pork Ribs ´n Dips - Asparagus Bacon Wraps - Champagne Sorbet - Fruity Chicken Breast in a White wine sauce - Rib- Eye Surf n Turf - Salmon Pastry Bags drizzled in Parsley Sauce - All served with Honey Glazed Dutch fried potatoes and fresh vegetables - Valentines Dessert - Half bottle of Rioja wine incl. p/person

€1950 For bookings telephone

Romantic Valentines Evening

Monday February 14th Live music with Matt Mason.

4 Course dinner including Cava on arrival & a bottle of wine per couple only 21.95€ NEXT QUIZ NIGHT THURSDAY 17TH FEB Please call for reservations.

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THERE ARE so many greeting cards exchanged in the name of love on Valentine’s Day, you can almost hear local forests groan. So why is it we celebrate Valentine’s Day? The history is a bit of a mystery but a few facts and myths have been handed down over the years. The Catholic Church currently recognises at least two different saints named Valentine, one actually buried ON February 14th.

A Roman priest Valentine was executed on 14th February about 270 AD, for performing secret marriage ceremonies during civil unrest. Claudius II (AKA Claudius the Cruel) felt that married men were less effective soldiers so issued an edict that forbade soldiers marrying, enlisting single men in his army.

Others say St. Valentine was responsible for sending the first ‘valentine’ himself when he sent a note to a girl he had fallen in love and signed it “from your Valentine”.

Some believe Valentine’s Day displaced the ‘Feast of Lupercalia’, honouring the Goddess Juno - Goddess of women and marriage. Women would write billets (love letters) for men to draw – lottery style - these women would then be their partner for the festival. Pope Gelasius reversed the lottery so saint names were drawn; one of those saints was St. Valentine. Men continued to write billets and St. Valentine’s name was included in those notes.

February 14th has become a day for celebrating your love for friends and family, fertility and love; and RTN cannot find anything wrong with that!

Emma´s Hair & Beauty Indulge Yourself or Someone Special this Valentines Day with a Heavenly Sent Experience

From the 14th to 18th February The “LOVE ME” Package: €45 - Indulgent Rich Dark Chocolate Facial, with subtle, illuminating gold souffle - Tantalising Chocolate Hair Mask & Head Massage - Divine Hair Styling - Fancy File & Polish - Rose Cava & Strawberries

Gift ideas for Her ATTENTION AND TIME Okay, finding gift ideas for her can seem impossible but we are here to help. Perhaps you have tried some of these items in the past or hopefully we can inspire some of you to branch out and try something new.

Valentine Tip: Remember, the most important gifts you can give your valentine are your attention and time. Turn off the TV and tune in to her instead!

Start with the basics: flowers, candy, and balloons. Go with one or splurge and do all three - you can’t go wrong with the classics! Want to make a real impression? Go big! Instead of a dozen get two dozen flowers. Forget the tiny box and go for a full pound box of handmade gourmet chocolates. Forget the boring round balloons and get one in the shape of a character or buy enough to launch a small child!

COOK DINNER Give your Valentine the night off! Cook dinner or serve breakfast in bed. (Even you can cook toast!) Or barbecue something expensive - not next door’s cat (only kidding).

NAME A STAR These days you CAN actually ‘name a star’ – for a fee – search online for a list.

TEDDIES & LINGERIE The plush kind or the lingerie kind will work just note that if you do go with lingerie you might get the “…who exactly is this gift for” remark.

DAY SPA MASSAGE Send your Valentine off to a day at the spa for a massage or turn off the television and try one yourself. If you do a home massage on the cheap, enhance the gift with a bunch of candles, some scented massage oil and a few bags of rose petals to dump all over the bed.

BASKETS Buy fancy gifts baskets online or stuff one yourself, with hand selected items.

ROMANTIC GETAWAYS If you really want to score points, try the surprise getaway evening, weekend or romantic dinner cruise.

The “LOVE ME LOTS” Package: €90 - Smouldering Velvety Dark Chocolate Facial - Glistening Rose & Gold Body Massage - Chocolate & Gold Thread Hi/Lo Lights - Rose Hair Mask & Invigorating Head Massage - Sensational Hair Styling - Magnificent Manicure with Chocolate, Gold or Rose Rose Cava & Strawberries

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Valentine

Gift ideas for Him THE WAY TO A MAN’S HEART If the budget is tight, remember that the way to

Cologne

a man’s heart is via his stomach. Bake favourite treats, place in a tin and jazz it all up with a big bow.

Everybody knows that guys stink – choose something to camouflage the worst of it – you can’t go wrong…

CLOTHES

Music

Let’s face it ladies - men just don’t get it; that’s why they have you. Give your Valentine a new sense of style with some new clothes.

WALLETS Time to grow up and throw away the ‘Velcro’ wallet!

Upgrade to a quality leather wallet.

PHOTO GIFTS Photo gifts are always gratefully received – frame a glossy eight by ten for his desk or slip a sexy walletsized snap into his wallet.

WATCHES Replace the Burger King-souvenir-giveaway with something stylish. It doesn’t need to be Rolex to look good.

iTunes gift cards are always welcome. Nostalgic items are always popular too.

Book now to get the sweetest deal!

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Try handing him a certificate guaranteeing freedom from chores for a week or so (no more taking out the basura; no more baby-sitting; you get the picture…)

Barcelona Hostal Nuevo Colon “The location is very good. My room was very clean and comfortable. And the bathroom was good too. I would recommend this hostal to anyone on a budget - or even if you’re not on a budget, it’s a great place to stay.”

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Barcelona

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Aparthotel Bertrán Just minutes from Park Güell and Tibidabo, and 10 minutes by metro to central Barcelona, Aparthotel Bertrán offers spacious accommodation. It has a swimming pool and fitness centre. The area has good bus and train connections to the centre of Barcelona. There is also secure parking in the same building.

JANICE

from

€65

rome

Hotel Moscatello “Friendly staff + your own key to come and leave when you wish too. Free minibar drinks” ANNMARIE

from

Valentine

€52

RTN prides itself on advising readers on all aspects of being ‘In Lerv’, including how to avoid being pushed off your 25th storey apartment balcony as a direct result of your choice of Valentine’s gift.

Market Place

TEN WORST PICKS 1

A subscription to a DIET Magazine of any description. Do not go there. Not if you ever want to eat again.

2

Underwear that is too small / too large / too revealing / too concealing… (…’does my bum look big in this’ issues…) And do not ask advice in any lingerie shop – they sell lingerie on commission, dummy.

3

Bald Wipes. Spot the problem – other than ‘no hair’.

4

Botox. Are you saying I NEED Botox? Did I say I wanted Botox?

Do I LOOK as if I need Botox? (Need we elaborate?)

5

Pickle Flavoured Lipbalm.

Yes, it exists. No, it is not nice. NEXT!

6

Household appliances. This includes vacuum cleaners, toasters, microwave ovens, anything that belongs in a tool kit and anything that belongs in a kitchen. This does not include hairdryers, electric curling tongs, straighteners or vibrators (unless they are for crimping pastry).

7

Cougar Soap.

Oh great. Not only am I over the hill I also stink.

8

A pot-holing lamp (yes, my daughter received this – no, they are no longer together).

9

ONE ticket for anything.

10

1 mod CASA NICOLAS

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Los Altos del Limonar. Torrevieja. 03184.

0034 966 789 368 - Now fully air conditioned

La Casa de la Xocolata

- Traditional English Sweets - Spanish Delicacies - Luxury Belgian Chocolates - Italian Nougat - Artisanal French Sweets & Marzipan ...and much more!!!

Calle Iglesia, 5. Moraira Tel.: 634348648 - www.lacasadelaxocolata.com wightmansp@aol.com

55x55 20€

Teddy Bear bearing a placard saying ‘I Love Poopsie’. Grow up. Buy perfume.

Win a Valentine’s dinner LOVE IS in the air this Valentine’s Day so join in the fun and enter RTN’s free competition for the chance of winning a romantic meal for two.

Two lucky readers will whisk a loved one away to enjoy some fine food and the opportunity to whisper sweet nothings across the table. The competition could not be easier. Simply answer this question: Which Patron Saint is Valentines named after?

A:Saint Nick B:Saint Valentine C:Saint Aphrodite Send your answer to rtnmail@roundtownnews.com by Wednesday along with your full name, address and telephone number.

Winners will either be eating at Benidorm’s most recommended restaurant, Michael’s in the heart of the Old Town, or spicing up their lives at the new Punjabi Indian Restaurant, Quesdada.

Valentine

Valentines Special At Bombay Palace 30€ per person Any Starter, Any main course served with rice or nan Includes all drinks.

Call today to reserve your table.

Urb. Los Altos del Limonar Ctra. de Crevillente. TORREVIEJA Tel.: 966 785 098 Mov.: 637 121 401

04 - 10 February 2011

35

36

legal

Dacion en pago: handing back the keys and the property to the bank in settlement of the mortgage loan by

Marc White & Carlos Baos English & Spanish Solicitors

WE ARE a British couple and we purchased a property in Oliva five years ago.

The exchange rate, together with the economic crisis that affects both the UK and Spain, means that we can no longer afford the mortgage. The Spanish bank is not prepared to accept the house or its keys back in settlement of the loan. We have spent all our savings and cannot find anyone who is willing to buy the property for the balance outstanding. We have been unsuccessful in trying to let the property.

What can we do and what are our rights?

Thank you for your inquiry. Unfortunately this is a very common type of consultation that we regularly receive. Giving the keys of the property back to the bank and/or trying to pay the loan off with the property mortgaged is known in the Spanish system as ‘dacion en

pago’. At the beginning of the crisis some Spanish banks were willing to accept it; now it is very difficult to find banks prepared to agree with it, even when the real value of the property is far higher from the amount due to the bank.

It could be argued from the legal point of view that it should be possible to force a bank to accept a property back in payment of the mortgage loan debt, since on the mortgage loan deed the valuation or survey of the property carried out by the bank fixes and accepts the real value of the property.

However, the reality has been that some judges and courts have stated that the bank cannot be forced to accept the transfer of the property as payment of the mortgage loan, which meant that many people lost their houses at public auction, and if the funds obtained did not cover the loan debt, the bank claimed for the difference. Thus, the borrowers end up with no property and still keep part of the debt.

Please note, however, that there recently appeared on the Spanish press a court decision from the Provincial Court- Audiencia of Navarra (Second Section) ratifying another issued by the court of first instance and instruction No. 2 from Estella / Lizarra, which may mean a change in the treatment of a ‘dacion en pago’ and the

mortgages executions.

Summing up the Court Order, the background was more or less as follows: the property owners took out a loan of €70,000 and the bank appraised the property’s value at approximately €76,000 but they were not able to pay the loan back. The bank began the mortgage execution where finally at the public auction the bank was awarded the property for the value of €43,000, asking the court to continue the execution against the debtors for the rest of the bank credit, i.e: €27,000, (€70,000 funds owed - €43,000 value of the property at the auction). The court and audience mentioned come to say that regardless of the final value of the property set at the auction (€43.000) it should be taken into account that when the bank granted the loan, the property was valued by them at €76,000; more than what was owed as principal, and it has not been proved that the current value is less, therefore, as the bank was awarded with the property in the auction, bearing in mind the valuation done, it should be understood the bank has been repaid for the principal of the claim- debt (not including interests and legal and court costs), understanding the court that the bank has been paid in full having

no right to claim for the €27,000 difference.

In addition, the Provincial Court-Audiencia made a moral reflection noting that if, as many analysts said, the global crisis is partly the responsibility of the financial system that make the property market and prices collapse, with practices such as sub-prime mortgages, etc. the banks’ behavior could be morally criticized.

For all these reasons, we understand that this is a really important precedent, and although it seems this has been appealed and we need to see the final resolution, it may mean a solution to problems like yours. For those who are interested, you can see a copy of the order of the Audiencia Provincial of Navarra, within the contents of the Spanish newspaper El Mundo, on the following link: http://estaticos.elmundo.es/ especiales/2011/01/suvivienda/ autoapnavarra.pdf If you are in this or a similar situation and if you need our legal assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.

The information provided on this article is not intended to be legal advice, but merely conveys general information related to legal issues. *This article is available in English and Spanish at our Web site: www.white-baos.com

Marc White LL.B. & Carlos Baos (English & Spanish Solicitors) © White & Baos Abogados 2010 - All rights reserved. C/Diana 19, 2º-D, 03700 Dénia (located close to the Glorieta Square at the end of Marques de Campo). Tel: 966 426 185. Send your questions to spanishlawyer@roundtownnews.com or info@white-baos.com

Property

Brought to you by

www.spanishhomefinder.com

A photograph is worth a thousand words

By Guest Writer Michael Rushe of House Proud Property management & Letting

Nowadays the internet is by far the most effective medium when it comes to selling or letting your property in Spain.

It has many advantages over the more traditional methods of property advertising such as newspapers, magazines and the shop window. One of these advantages is the ease with which the internet allows you to promote your property to thousands of people throughout the world. However, if it is easy and straightforward for you to advertise your property ion the internet then it stands to reason that it must be as easy for everyone else.

Digital photography forms the basis for selling or letting property on the internet.

Your photographs of the property are what the holiday maker sees first and if they do not stop to look you are not going to make a sale or take a let. If you do not take care your photographs could bury your property rather

than make it shine. A common problem is that when it is very sunny outside the room can come out dark and dingy in your photograph. Professionals avoid this by introducing light into the room.

Try putting on all the lights on in the room to balance the light and introduce more light by using a couple of standard lamps but remember to keep the lamps out of shot.

Where possible take the photo from the outside through a window or a door perhaps.

It is advisable to take the photograph in the morning or late afternoon when the light is softest. Finally take lots of shots so you can choose the best to upload onto the internet.

What is in the photograph is as important as the quality of the shot. Always remember that you are selling a holiday or a dream home and not your property in the sun. The best way to make a perspective client stop and look at your property is to have a photograph that stands out from the rest. There are hundreds of photographs of houses on holiday letting

A view across the pool can be very seductive

web pages, most looking the same, so make yours stand out by having a photograph of something else that sells your property, something that sells the dream.

A view across the pool can be very seductive especially if it shows sun lounges, a table and some cool drinks. People can

relate to that more rather than just bricks and mortar. A view of a terrace dressed for a meal can also be seductive. The idea is to make the perspective client stop and look at your property as they flick through the properties on the web page. When taking photographs be bold and imaginative.

House Proud Property Management & Lettings Tel 96 578 1731 or 680 274 831 | info@houseproudindenia.com | www.houseproudindenia.com

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04 - 10 February 2011

Espaneura SL – Storage and Removals you can trust ESPANEURA SL has been tr ading f rom its warehouses in Catr al f or eight years.

The company off ers a r ange of prof essional solutions f or home and business owners on the mo ve. W ith years of exper ience in the rem o vals field, both in S pain and the UK, their glowing reputation f or proficienc y and reliabilit y has gained them affiliation with some of the most exc lusive unions in the industr y, inc luding inter national membership of the Br itish Association of Remo vers’ (BAR). The company also pro vides st or age of customer ’s belongings in a saf e, secure environment.

S T O R AG E The warehouses are fully insured and protected with alarm and CCTV systems and will accommodate virtually anything from televisions to specialist cars, for as long as required. Espaneura offers a flexible range of storage options at very competitive rates, with discounts offered for large consignments and long term contracts.

Free storage is also available on any of the removals jobs that are undertaken by Espaneura SL. All goods are issued with a unique barcode on arrival, a record of which is maintained in an inventory on the computer system and also produced for the client, ensuring the safe transfer of goods.

R EM OVA L S Espaneura offers a comprehensive service to reduce the stress of relocating, starting with a content survey, followed by a realistic quotation. Director Tina Parkinson stated “We are also offering a personal touch with our valued Estimator, Tony Humphreys, who visits to assess and discuss the individual needs of each customer… we find it is best to look at each potential job and gauge the volume and packing needs and vehicle requirements for ourselves.”

An export wrapping service is extended, ensuring that all items reach their destination safely, and Espaneura also provide boxes and packaging materials for those who wish to take care of things for themselves. The consignment is then allocated to one of its specialised vehicles.

FAC I LI T I E S Espaneura has devised a scheme designed to help struggling businesses by inviting use of an agreed area of warehouse space, thus slashing the costly overheads incurred by securing private tenure on a unit.

Espaneura also offers use of its facility to drivers employed by other companies, who might wish to park their vehicle in a secure unit overnight or throughout the weekend during a long haul trip. Furthermore, its team of trained porters and drivers are willing to

Spotlight: Property

The warehouses are fully insured and protected with alarm and CCTV systems

extend their services, by assisting with the loading and unloading of consignments, while a fork lift truck is available to unload pallets. There has never been a safer, swifter way to shift or store your effects, so whatever your next move might be, make it with Espaneura. The warehouse is open daily from 10:00

to 17:00 and at weekends by prior arrangement.

It is easily found by taking exit 730 off the AP7 motorway, and turning right into Poligono Industrial Poninete, Catral. For further information, please telephone 966 788 023 or 639 008 117. Alternatively, email enquiries to info@espaneura.com

04 - 10 February 2011

Properties of the week brought to you by spanishhomefinder.com Search- view -enquire

Cosy wooden cabin on friendly campsite in sunny Murcia

The cabin has an open plan sitting, dining & kitchen area, two separate bedrooms and a full bathroom.

At the front of the building there is a covered terrace and an open terrace area. Communal swimming pool and Jacuzzi. 18,750 euros

Beautiful, Modern Townhouse with stunning views in Finestrat

The property has been lovingly restored and modernised to a high standard.

Ground Floor - open plan dining area, lounge and top quality fitted kitchen. First floor - large bedroom with stunning views and large bathroom that has been finished to the highest standard possible. Second Floor - master bedroom suite which includes a large bedroom and ensuite with a large bath. From the second floor bedroom there are panoramic views over Finestrat and beyond via the 2 sets of double doors and balconies.

195,000 euros

Powered by

Brought to you by spanishhomefinder.com

39

40

health

04 - 10 February 15-21 JANUARY 2011 2010

A New Year, a New You NEW YEAR is all about new beginnings – so it is only natural to think about changing yourself at this time of year.

That change could be as simple as a new haircut or colour, or it may be that you are after a much bigger change, and are considering one of the many cosmetic treatments or surgical procedures now on offer.

Cosmetic procedures have advanced greatly over the past few years and are more affordable, effective and popular than ever. Every day many people achieve fantastic results, look better and feel more confident thanks to cosmetic procedures.

However, others are left disappointed, don’t get the look they are after – or, in a small number of cases, suffer negative effects. Often the treatments that go wrong are performed by unqualified or inexperienced practitioners.

To make sure your cosmetic procedure is a success, there are three simple rules that you should always follow – get good advice before treatment, only trust a qualified and skilled practitioner, and make sure you get the correct aftercare.

British medical practice Medcare makes following these rules easy. Medcare offers a range of cosmetic treatments and surgeries, and all are carried out by their own GP or with close cooperation between their GP and cosmetic surgeon.

The first step to any cosmetic treatment with Medcare is a free consultation.

Medcare’s GP will give advice on all

available treatments so that you can choose the one that is right for the results you want. The GP can also check you are fit enough to undergo treatment and entering into the procedure with a full knowledge of all the facts and for the right reasons.

If you opt for a cosmetic treatment rather than surgery, Medcare’s GP will personally perform the procedure in one of Medcare’s clinics – who better than a fully qualified doctor to carry out your cosmetic treatment.

If you choose surgery, Medcare’s GP will refer you to an experienced surgeon.

Once surgery is over, Medcare will be there to give you all the aftercare you need. Aftercare is a critical, though often neglected, part of the process. Good aftercare ensures the best possible healing and minimises complications, so that you get the results you want safely and with minimum discomfort.

Medcare offers a wide range of cosmetic procedures and treatments, including facial fillers, facelifts, rhinoplasty, tummy tucks, breast surgery and liposuction.

Whatever you have in mind, Medcare can give you the best advice and help you through every step of the process.

So, what are you waiting for – book your free consultation with Medcare today and say out with the old and in with the new, more attractive and confident you this New Year.

For more information on cosmetic procedures with Medcare call 966 860 258, email doctors@medcarespain.com or visit www.medcarespain.com More details of all Medcare’s services – including GP, dental, cosmetic treatments, osteopathy and more – can be found at www.medcarespain.com

TOP CAT & CO. Unisex Hairdressers-Moraira / Tabaira We have changed with the Times. To all our loyal customers + new

We are about to make this a Happy New Year for all Gents Wet Cuts will remain only 5€ Ladies Wash & Cut only 10€ Ladies cut & blow dry only 20€ Perm cut & Blow Dry only 48€/Schwarzkopf All over colour only 15-20€/cut & blow supplement Highlights with many colours only 15-30€/cut & blow dry supplement All products & Refreshments incl Blow dry only 12€ - 15€

Appointments a must. Opening times: to appointments.

Tuesday to Saturday. Closed Sunday & Monday

Tel 96 649 1737

Got a story?

902 118 999

rtnmail@roundtownnews.com

04 - 10 FebRUARY 2011

41

Acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine for high cholesterol by

Robert Vandevelede

Ex-president Australian Acupuncture & Chinese medicine Association

WHAT IS HIGH CHOLESTEROL? Cholesterol is produced by the human body and is essential for normal function. There are two forms of cholesterol, high density cholesterol (HDL), also known as ‘good’ cholesterol, and low density cholesterol (LDL) or ‘bad’ cholesterol. The level of cholesterol differs for a number of reasons, such as: • Heredity: a person’s genetic composition has an influence on the amount of HDL and LDL our bodies produce.

• Physical activity: in general, the more active one is the lower the cholesterol in our bodies.

• Weight: research suggests that being overweight or obese has an effect on the level of cholesterol in our bloodstream.

• Age: Cholesterol levels tend to rise with age.

• Gender: Before menopause, women in general have lower cholesterol than man; after menopause their cholesterol levels have a tendency to be higher than in man.

An extensive amount of research indicates that high levels of cholesterol, especially LDL, are associated with high risk for coronary heart disease (CHD), the leading cause of death in most western countries. Chinese medicine practitioners, like allopathic practitioners, recommend changes in diet and increased physical activity as the first step to try and lower cholesterol in our bodies. The most effective western medications to treat high cholesterol are compounds that belong to the chemical family known as ‘Statins’. This treatment has been in the news lately because of its limited effect and side effects and people are advised to think twice before taking this drug especially if they are at low risk for heart disease. One statin, Cerivastatin, was removed

from the market worldwide because of an unacceptably high rate of rhabdomyolosis, a rapid disintegration of muscle fibre which can lead to kidney failure, coma and death.

TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE (TCM) FOR HIGH CHOLESTEROL: High cholesterol is a medical condition in which the amount of cholesterol in one’s bloodstream exceeds the normal or recommended level. Cholesterol is a complex organic compound that occurs naturally in the body and is used to produce bile acids, vitamin D, and a number of hormones needed by the body to function normally.

When there is too much cholesterol in our body, it usually deposits on the inside lining of the arteries, leading to different coronary heart disorders. TCM offers a safe alternative to western medication.

Every person is assessed according to Chinese medicine principles and at the end of the diagnoses is assigned a (what we call…) ‘pattern of disharmony’.

These patterns of disharmony have names that sound unfamiliar to the general public and therefore are seldom used in explaining the condition to the patient.

In general we talk about ‘accumulation of phlegm’ in the body or ‘deficiency of the spleen and stomach’, or ‘blood stasis’. Acupuncture and Chinese medicine treatment will be based upon the correction of these patterns with special points and herbs added to lower tour cholesterol.

Chinese herbs usually come in a formula containing different herbal substances.

Some of the herbs that bring down cholesterol are, Shang Zha or Hawthorn berry, Jiaogulan or gynostemma pentaphyllum and red yeast rice. If you are not sure if your condition can be helped by Chinese medicine, please drop me a line or make an appointment.

Written by Robert Vandevelde Former President Australian Acupuncture and Chinese medicine Association, Contact him on 660 032 862 Write to me at robertvdvelde@telefonica.net

42

04 - 10 February 2011

Computing with aunty virus Removing partition on hard drive Steve via email asks: HI AUNTY, I want to remove the partition on my hard drive. The “C” drive is 90% full and the “D” drive is only 10% full. “C” has nothing I can see left to transfer onto “D”. Can I safely remove the partition so the hard drive becomes all “C”? I Googled the question and got a “yes BUT” - the “but” being a risk element. Apart from the problem this lack of free space causes when trying to defrag the “C” drive, I

suspect that the lack of “C” drive free space is why BBC iPlayer is frustratingly slow with frequent stop-starts. My ADSL is 4 Mb/s so I suspect data transfer speed is not an issue. (I’m on windows XP)

Aunty Says: Be very, very careful here Steve as resizing or deleting a hard disk partition is a serious operation and can have catastrophic results.

I don’t think iPlayer will suffer unless you have less than a couple of gigabytes free disk space, so maybe concentrate on the download speed. You may have a 4Mb ADSL connection but that doesn’t usually mean that is the actual speed you will get between you and the UK based BBC servers. If you’re in Spain then you are most likely going via some kind of proxy server (or IP hiding service) which will almost certainly cause this kind of lag. Have you tried using Ccleaner to clear out any old temporary files?

Using Gmail as email

Susan via email asks: I USE Gmail as my email address but I can’t go into my Pictures and send photos direct from there as they are sent by Outlook (excuse my lack of technical words!) I’ve tried going into Outlook Express ‘tools’ ‘programs’ but Gmail isn’t listed there, only Outlook, Outlook express and Windows live hotmail. Is there anyway I can send them direct from my Pictures? At the moment, I’m going into Gmail, and attaching them.

Copying from one computer to another Mr. Martin via email asks: HELLO AUNTY, I wonder if you could tell me how to copy from one computer to another. I will be having a second hand PC soon and want to keep all of my stuff from this one to the other, could you explain to me how I would go about this.

Aunty Says: There is a Transfer Wizard you can find under ‘accessories’ ‘system tools’ in XP which will do it all automatically and also let you select certain settings and files that you

Aunty Says: The only way I know of doing this Susan is to use Google’s Picassa photo program.

That’s all for this week, email me on auntyvirus@roundtownnews.com and I will do my best to sort you out

WordPad files John via email asks: HI AUNTY, can you help me? I have a new computer and I am trying to save WordPad files from my old computer to disc so I can transfer them to the new computer. I have tried to save them via the disc symbol but all I got was a blank disc. The new computer only has a CD/ DVD drive.

Aunty Says: Hi John. You can ‘burn’ files to CD or DVD discs by using the right mouse button and choosing ‘send to’ and then your CD or DVD drive in the popup list. This will create temporary folder which you can continue adding to until you have selected all the files you want. When you are ready to write the CD/DVD you can start the ‘CD Writing Wizard’ by either clicking on the small icon in the bottom right corner of your screen or by double clicking on the CD drive in ‘My Computer’

want to transfer.

Probably the simplest way is buy a 10€ USB memory stick and either use the Transfer Wizard or simply copy your personal stuff onto it using the right mouse button in ‘my computer’ and paste them onto your new one.

04 - 10 February 2011

43

gadget inspector The case of:

The Amazon Kindle eBook Reader

FOLLOWING AN in-depth investigation, the following facts were revealed about this amazing little gadget.

An eBook reader is a device that allows you to read books that have been converted into computer files, rather than the more traditional format of printed hardback/paperback. The immediate advantages are that it is light and portable, measuring just 190mm by 123mm by 8.5mm, weighing a miserly 245 grams and fitting comfortably into a large pocket or handbag.

Having a whole library at your fingertips is no problem – up to 3,500 books can be stored at any one time.

Battery life, a traditional bug-bear of portable devices, is not an issue with the Kindle – typically lasting up to a month on one charge (by plugging it into any device with a USB port, or using the mains adapter).

So how do you get your mitts on the books? It´s as easy as browsing onto Amazon´s Online Kindle Store (there are a large number of free titles available so you can enjoy a substantial collection of books from day one), to select and purchase your books that can be delivered wirelessly via the internet or mobile phone network, directly to your Kindle. Depending on which model you have, books can arrive in seconds, ready

to read. You can even subscribe to your favourite UK daily newspaper or magazine and have this delivered just as easily. If you are a bit more enterprising you can connect your Kindle to your PC and browse and download from the many free sites with Kindle format books.

The Kindle sports a large 15.25cm screen with the very useful ability to change the size of the text according to readers’ preference. So, having your pages in tiny text or letters big enough to be seen from space is just a few clicks away. Reading in direct sunlight is fine – the contrast on the new display is well up to the job.

It is worth bearing in mind that the Kindle does not have a built-in light for reading in the dark, but accessories (including a cover with built-in light powered from the device) are available to overcome this. It can even read your book to you but do make sure if you are English that you buy the UK version as the American accent can be tiresome on the US version.

The verdict: the Kindle costs from £111 and is available from www.amazon.co.uk (although currently they will only ship the US version to Spain: get it sent to your UK address or ask a friend).

The Kindle sports a large 15.25cm screen with the very useful ability to change the size of the text according to readers’ preference

44

04 - 10JANUARY February 2010 2011 8-14

Plant plantlets for productivity by

Clodagh & Dick Handscombe Practical gardeners and authors

FEBRUARY IS the start for growing vegetables for Spring and Summer harvesting. Seeds can be planted up in greenhouses and some over-wintered or purchased plantlets may already be planted out on the coastal plain although this could be four to eight weeks later in frosty inland valleys, as would be the

Picking leaves

sowing of seeds. For this reason many expatriates and Spaniards buy plantlets for some of their crops.

The advantages are: One does not have the bother of raising plants from seeds in a greenhouse or the open air.

Plantlets grown in commercial green houses can be bought and planted at the same time that one would be sowing seeds after the frosts.

A reasonable selection of seasonal plantlets can be purchased economically in many local markets; garden centres; commercial greenhouses; agricultural cooperatives and animal feed warehouses like the Pienso store on the N332 just north of the roads to La Xara and Pedreguer. If you have yet to find a source ask a neighbouring Spaniard who grows vegetables where the best local source is.

Sometimes the plantlets have been grown according to organic principles.

If you only have small growing areas such as a raised bed or containers on apartment terraces you can keep the growing area fully planted at all times. As soon as you have eaten five lettuces one can fill in the gaps with small plantlets purchased as plugs.

For productivity of space utilisation

Get the children to help

those that need little space can be planted in blocks rather than rows, to use the available area most productively.

The day you plant you can start picking off the odd leaf from vegetables like lettuces spinach, Swiss chard and parsley for tasty salads.

It is the easiest way to start off children’s interest in growing edible plants.

THE DISADVANTAGES OF PLANTLETS The main disadvantages of buying rather than raising your own plantlets or sowing directly in the ground are: The range of vegetables and the number of varieties of each will be limited You may need to get to the local market

etc. early to have first choice of the plants.

In some cases you will be able to place an order in advance.

If you purchase plantlets from a hot house or from a coastal source, when you live inland you may need to first plant them in pots/trays to harden off before planting out on a wind blown vegetable plot.

Sometimes they have not been raised organically.

The best selling book ‘Growing healthy vegetables in Spain’ expands on these issues in chapter 4.10, 4.11 and 4.12.

The book can be obtained from book shops, Carrefour and internet bookshops such as Santana Books, Amazon and The Royal Horticultural Society in the UK.

Clodagh and Dick’s practical gardening books will be found to be useful for both experienced and new gardeners coming to Spain. The useful quartet of books can be obtained from bookshops or by email from the websites of Amazon, Santana Books, Bookworld and The Royal Horticultural Society. © Clodagh and Dick Handscombe www.gardeninginspain.com January 2011.

Hot

Blackcurrant

Toddy

1 Apple 200g of Blackcurrants 100ml of boiling water 1 teaspoon of Honey (preferably Manuka Honey) (makes 2 glasses) A GREAT juice for a cold winter day: this is a great natural way to fight a sore throat, cold of flu. Blackcurrants have four times the vitamin C of oranges. Juice the apple with the blackcurrants. Add the honey to the boiling water and stir to dissolve, and then stir in the juice. Pour into a glass and serve immediately.

APPLES contain Vitamins A, B and C, potassium, pectin, boron, ellagic acid, and carotenes. They are great system cleansers full of dietary fibre, a laxative and lowers These recipes are supplied by The Kamala Centre. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us at The Kamala Centre on office@thekamalacentre.com or call us on 965 985 869. If you would like a copy of any of these recipes you can download them at our website www.thekamalacentre.com

cholesterol BLACKCURRANTS contains Vitamin C, potassium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorous. They are anti-inflammatory, and contain cancer fighting photochemical.

They are also anti-bacterial, an immune enhancer, promotes healing and antidiarrhoea MANUKA HONEY is rich in vitamins and has powerful anti-bacterial properties

04 - 10 February 2011

45

Discover the Costa Blanca

Derek Workman continues his series of excursions from his book ‘Inland Trips From the Costa Blanca’ which features 22 detailed trips that lead you to spots you’d never find by yourself.

Port Saplaya

I was sitting on Valencia’s Malvarossa beach a couple of days ago, enjoying the winter sun. At sea, three large yachts were sweeping across the skyline, with sails billowing. Nearer the shore, brightly coloured para-gliders skimmed the tops of the white horses, and a few hardy souls splashed about in the water – although a closer look revealed that they were mostly under twelve. Hardy chaps, some kids!

Off in the distance Port Saplaya was shimmering like an oasis so, not being tough enough to be tempted by the sea and never having been a sun-worshiper, I set off along the beach to have a closer look. Not a particularly wise move because, as with most oases, it was a lot further away than it looked!

Port Saplaya is actually a recently built marina and, to be perfectly honest, drive past it on your way into Valencia from the north, and you could be forgiven for thinking that the architect was in a bit of a Disney frame of mind when he put pen to paper. Step inside

Port Saplaya

the wall, though, and it’s a whole new world of tinkling sheets against metal masts and gently lapping water.

The broken skyline of two and threestorey buildings inside the outer higher-rise apartments are painted in pastel shades and vaguely reminiscent of Portmeirion – although there’s no Patrik McGooan trying to escape as in the cult TV programme, The Prisoner.

There are lots of well-tended gardens, both private and public, with balconies overflowing with a riot of floribunda. On the sea-facing side two tall, castellated towers keep watch like the entrance to a great castle, although there’s to gate or portcullis between them, and boats enter via a small canal directly into the basin.

If you decide to have a saunter around and admire the boats and buildings, don’t be deceived into thinking it’s a 15-minute stroll. Every time you turn a corner another extension to the basin appears, but eventually you will work your way around – only to find you can’t cross the entrance canal and have to either walk all the way back or swim.

Small streets run at angles off the small quayside, with private terraces where families can relax in the sun, having driven no further than fifteen minutes from the bustling city centre. They all have views of the marina – although you may have to twist your neck to an unusual angle to see it.

If you care to take a break in your meanderings, there are a few places to eat, but they are mostly on the periphery

and subject to noise from the motorway (although not much) on the crowds on the beach side, although you do have the view of the Med and the splashing of the waves.

There are a couple inside the basin which share a small plaza as a terrace. It’s a pity there isn’t anywhere for that special candlelit evening, which is always enhanced by the sound of water and gentle movement of boats at their berths – at least it is for me.

Port Saplays isn’t for those seeking history (it was begun in the 80’s), culture (there isn’t any), or even fine dining (sadly) but, as it’s slap bang on the beach and right beside a large commercial centre, it’s a very pleasant place for a peaceful stroll after you’ve done the weekly shop and don’t want to stretch out on the sand.

Port Saplaya basin

To discover more about Spain, visit www.derekworkman-journalist.com and http://derekworkman.wordpress.com. http://valpaparazzi.wordpress.com are random notes about life in Spain. Derek Workman’s books, Inland Trips from the Costa Blanca and Small Hotels and Inns of Eastern Spain are available from most good books shops or direct from the publisher, Santana Books, www.santanabooks.com or Tel. 952 485 838.

46

04 - 10JANUARY February 2010 2011 8-14

Two Bottles There were two wine bottles on the table.

Their labels were faded and browned at the edges, proudly proclaiming the contents of the red wine within. Both these bottles had been stored in a wine cellar with strict instructions as to how and when they should be drunk. They were selected and placed on a wine rack on the very first day of the Spanish Civil War in July 1936, and were to be drunk in the event of the death of their owner, Antonio.

Despite all the military action, fear, devastation and famine that this three year war brought to Spain; Antonio survived and lived to be 96 years old. His two bottles remained on the original rack they were placed on, but they were only opened the day after he was cremated, and I was invited to the ceremony.

Anyone who knows me knows that I am no wine buff, and that I do not drink alcohol, but I was fascinated to taste a wine that was almost 100 years old. The corks were removed from each bottle, and the inky red wine poured into glasses to taste. The first bottle revealed a very heady bloom, just a taste and it was smooth and clinging to my throat, warming and robust. I wondered what Jilly Goolden would have made of it, but after a tasting I attended in Alicante, when she said that a local Valencian wine was a delicate balance of blackberries and petrol pumps, maybe her comments would have been superfluous anyway.

The second bottle was allowed to breathe, then it too was poured into our glasses. It was vinegar! Whatever had happened to it wasn’t good, and it was duly spat out by all. Two identical bottles from the same vineyard one matured and rich and heady, and the other not fit for dressing a salad! There is a definite moral tale here. Nothing has be what it seems, disappointment is only a step away, and the law of sod, which allows for the fact

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

Kenny I have waited for my husband to come through to me, but although I think of him he seems to not be wanting to make any contact with me. He died suddenly in October 2010 and we always said that we would make contact whichever of us departed this Earth first. Why are things not working?

Louise K. Give him time Louise. Your spiritual pact to make contact is like a contract as such, but it does take time for many departed souls to find their way, find their place and to put communication into action.

It doesn’t mean that he doesn’t love you, but that he is not ready to start communicating just yet. Often six months passes before contact is made. However keep sending your message and your love, he will respond whenever he can, I am sure of it!

that bread and jam, when it falls, hits the floor jam side down.

We can plan our every tomorrows and everything can go wrong, and we can leave everything to chance and it all goes so well. Nothing is certain. Nothing really is sure, so why do we make dreams? Antonio established something he wanted to fulfil. He told me that he didn’t think that he would survive the Civil War because he was so outspoken and refused to comply and conform. He was, however, the village grocer at a time when there was nothing much to sell, and sold black bread and caught the odd rat for supper too. He did his best under the circumstances, and survived the war by some seventy years.

Faith motivates and directs us. It is so hard to eliminate fear of the known, let alone the unknown, and we suffer with the pressure of that which we dread, but if we manage it we can enjoy the positive energies of the life we build for ourselves and survive to thrive. Maybe our love and life and our spiritual beliefs will be our sole inheritance to those that we leave behind, and the memories we weave and leave will echo back the years that we spent in conflict, or just waiting for things to happen. Like Antonio’s wine, half of it was undrinkable and bitter, it didn’t improve with age and in the end it was poured ceremoniously down the sink. The other half is still a memory for me, and one I can savour and treasure; having done its job of maturing, it was consumed and enjoyed, all over so quickly!

Memories come and go. Some linger on and mature like the finest bottle of wine and some go right down the drain where they really belong, it’s just not our call, we just have to get on with it. That’s the Spirit!

Love & Light... Kenny Corris

Kenny’s diary Readings at Bistro Maya: Albir on Monday February 7th and Wednesday 9th February, from 16.30 to 19.00. Call Els or her team at: 966 868 213 for information or to make a booking. Free parking nearby.

Workshops and Courses begin in the Spring: Please call or email me to be included in the current mailing list for 2011.

Thursday February 10th: Demonstration of Clairvoyance and Spiritual Service at the Forum Mare Nostrum in Alfaz, for the Alfaz Spiritual Foundation, at 18.30. A warm welcome to everyone!

THIS REPLACES DATE PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED

contact kenny Appointments: 96 587 8424 Mobile: 686 361 594 Web: www.kennycorris.net Forum: www.kennycorris.net/forum Email: kennycorris@hotmail.com Please contact me for inclusion in my healing list!

horoscopes by Kenny Corris With warring Mars en route for an action with Saturn there is something more than meets the eye in a situation which is starting to veer out of control. You are implicated, and so have to follow things through, but there is a feeling that you are unaware of developments and apportioning blame where it is due. You have to cruel to be kind and so don’t be surprised that this may mean just throwing in the towel.

A passionate and romantic Venus brings sharp moves into head to head action with Jupiter, planet of good fortune and lucky chances. This brings you mixed emotions this week and won’t help you to make the decision that you soon have to make. Let love enter and show you the way, and follow your own basic instincts when dealing with the love and emotion you are carrying deep inside.

Your planetary leader, Mercury appears to be making sure that you are kept in touch with all that is going on right now. Thus your intuition and your gut feelings are telling you to go against your plans and to ring the changes that this will make. Take this opportunity to work with your fate to make a difference, and for sure you won’t be able to look back and wonder just where you went wrong.

A time to pause and wait for your next move to be made more obvious to you. Things have been cut and dried just lately, and you need to cut a bit of slack and just wait and see, however problematic things are, they have to get worse before they get better. Take some time to have a good hard look at just what’s on offer, and then, when you are sure the time is right, just go for it!

Whilst the sun shines in Aquarian energies know that you are more powerful and determined than ever, but you are allowing stubborn pride to rule your currently closed heart. There is nothing that you could have done to lessen the pain you have recently endured, but this is not a time to hide away and sulk, since action and resolve beckons to make things right every which way.

Take a long hard look at finances since a corner is developing with Saturn calling the shots on investigations and resources. Something just doesn’t add up, and there are some strict economies to be made all along the line before crisis hits. It is clear that someone isn’t paying their way, and that some tightening of the belt will help you through, and you will emerge leaner and keener for your actions.

Saturn is bringing out the very best in you, and establishing this without changing your influences or jeopardising your precious and vital equilibrium. You are well advised to listen to the words of wisdom that this week brings, since it is a careful manipulation of the rules that allows you a loophole and helps you see a new chink in the armour that you could turn to your obvious advantage.

Save the sting. When simple explanation doesn’t bring a solution you will need all the defensive that you can muster. It seems as if you are climbing a slippery slope, but you know your footholds and you know what you signed up for and won’t be sold short. Let others do what they feel is the right thing because good timing will allow you to deliver that final blow right on cue!

With a wayward Jupiter not at your side and courting with Aries there could be some changes to schedule and scuppering of plans. This is all under the control of an inspiring Chiron, trying to show you current possibilities and the added attraction of a determined Piscean twist to the whole shebang. Do what you always do, take all this in your stride and do your own thing.

Venus brings love into your heart this week as a relationship turns a corner and you feel the energy of desire and passion in whatever that you do. Spread a little of this love around, whilst the going gets hot, and put some of your energy into making those around you happy; since they have been your loyal support just lately, and you haven’t been exactly very easy to please, as of late.

Enjoy these Aquarian days and take a long nostalgic look back this week as someone from the past arrives back and makes the right connections.

You have gone too far together to have cross words and to play dumb, so just be yourself and follow your heart and your soul. Time spent with a friend shows you where you came from, shows you what you have achieved and illuminates the light at the end of the tunnel.

You are not alone with your thoughts, hopes, and desires for better times. This year has started off with mixed blessings, but it is to be a year in which you achieve that which you know that you must. Your own survival instinct is showing you the way forward, and there a need to work together with partnership issues and renewed energies to secure the results you aspire to and need to work with.

If it’s your birthday this week...

A slow start to the Year, but take time to ascertain why others are behaving the way they are, and can you really get involved at this stage? What’s in it for you?

04 - 10 February 2011 8-14 JANUARY 2010

47

Word Ladders The key rule is that you must only change one letter at a time as you move from one rung to another, and the word you make must be a proper word! Therefore you may move from BATH --> BATS but not from BATH --> CASH because that changes two letters in one go which is not allowed.

Cryptic Crossword

Sudoku ACROSS

DOWN

6. Following a night of

1. Harmful side in a Christian

bereavement apparently (7)

Fellowship without aspiration

7. Grit needs fortune at the pithead (5) 9. Externally dispose of half

(5) 2. One dingo mongrel is almost blue (6) 3. How many on a point? (3)

the girl. That’s stiff (5)

4. Silently came into view,

10. Sleeping man stepped

apparently with feathers (6)

back outside (7)

5. Put houses up having tin

12. Depressed about own odd trend (11) 14. A number fit in presently

with metre (7) 8. Company right and right again. Also no love for enclosures (7)

with a loud start - must be a

11. Eskimo? (7)

city bloke (4-7)

13. Idle Pat is upset and

18. Fleece the chap at the

becomes braided (7)

dairy (7) 19. Open up and confess (5) 21. Intends assets (5)

15. It’s captivating. Thanks to the monarch (6) 16. Last aim on the river (6)

Wordwheel

17. Joints disrupted. Beastly

22. Running payment for the

pride (5)

dog house? (7)

20. Smuggling includes pot (3)

ACROSS

DOWN

6. Exceedingly (7)

1. Characteristic (5)

Quick Crossword 2. Rope for holding animal (6)

7. Begin (5)

3. Beer (3)

9. Devoutness (5)

4. Severe (6)

10. Advent (7)

5. Maker (7)

12. Incitement (11)

8. Dribble (7)

14. Disbelief (11)

11. Greed (7)

18. Clearness (7) 19. Amusing (5)

13. Contain (7) 15. Seldom (6) 16. Three times (6)

21. Grown-up (5)

17. Mock (5)

22. Aid (7)

20. Colour (3)

You can play these wordwheels by whatever rules you like.

But there is at least one nine letter word hidden in each wordwheel (and thus using every letter in the wordwheel).

For many players the fun element and biggest challenge of the wordwheel is to find a nine letter word. Other than that, the rules are up to you - but generally you should restrict yourself to only finding words that contain the central letter, as otherwise you will find huge numbers of words in many puzzles!

Win a meal for 2!

Inn Plaice in Torrevieja (Mon-Thu) Nemos (Next to RTN offices in La Nucia)

by answering the Cryptic Crossword correctly.

Answers by email to: office@roundtownnews.com

Euromillions Draw Friday 28th january

Answers & Winner

13 23 24 41 42

Last week’s Crossword and Suduko answers found on page 51/54. Crossword winner for issue 589: Alan Want, La Nucia

1

5

No ticket won the 15,000,000 Euros (£12,940,500) Jackpot prize

music scene

48

BUDDY HOLLY TRIBUTE

LE CABARET, CUMBRE DE SOL

Compiled by

Eric Taylor

O

n February 3, 1959, a small-plane crash near Clear Lake Iowa killed three American Rock & Roll legends: Buddy Holly, Riichie Valens & JP (The Big Bopper) Richardson. The day was later called ‘The Day the Music Died’ by Don McLean in his song “American Pie”.

To commemorate the day of Buddy’s death, and pay tribute to his music, Danny Ray will be performing a tribute show in Le Cabaret, Cumbre del Sol, Benitachell on Saturday 5th, February. Danny evokes the spirit of Buddy by playing all the hits such as: “That’ll Be The Day”, “Peggy Sue”, True Love Ways”, “Rave On” & “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore”, etc. The enormous joy that his music still brings is an inspiration for why it is said that Buddy Holly lives whenever rock ‘n roll is played. Entry 5 euros – meal available.

For bookings and details of future events in Le Cabaret phone: 663 733 811 or check out their web site: www.lecabaretspain.com.

Le Cabaret is located in the Lirios Centre, on Cumbre del Sol, Benitachell.

SHARNI – VOCAL ENTERTAINER Sharni has over twenty years experience in the entertainment business with residencies in five star hotels in the Middle East and major holiday/leisure resorts in the UK. She has worked with many stars over the years as a warm up act and since arriving in Spain, Sharni has been in great demand at many venues in the area. She is ideal for cabaret, dancing or easy listening – singing hits from the 60’s to the present day. For bookings and more info check out her new web site: www.thesharnishow.com

Gigs for February: •Friday 4: Bar Quo Vadis, Javea •Saturday 5: Kathmandu Restaurant, Moraira •Sunday 6: Kathmandu Restaurant, Moraira •Monday 7: Tower Lounge Bar, Benidorm (Every Monday) •Saturday 12: Javea Golf Club (Private Party) •Sunday 13: So What Bar, Calpe Port, Calpe. 17.00 •Saturday 26: Bar Quo Vadis, Javea

ET’s Golden Oldies Disco Tel: 965 748 199 or 659 921 875 or email: etinspain@hotmail.com If there are any music venues or acts that wish to be featured in this column,please contact Eric directly.

“HEAT GOLD” RADIO STATION – 94.1 FM

Broadcasting live from today, Friday 4th February, is “Heat Gold on 94.1 FM. This is a radio station that appeals to the local community, playing all your favourite golden oldies. Your presenters are: Mike Lee – Ray Peters – Barry Moon and Eric Taylor (ET). Come and join the team at the Launch Party (Ticket Only) being held in Le Cabaret, Lirios Centre, Cumbre del Sol, Benitachell on Thursday 17th February – phone Le Cabaret for tickets - 663 733 811. “Heat Gold” is the sister station of “Heat FM” - Playing Todays Hits & Yesterdays Classics. For more information phone 96 574 4363 or check out their website: www.heatfmspain.com.

THE NOMAD

LIVE MUSIC SHOW Bruce is the incredibly lively singer, blues harmonica and saxophone player with the trademark long black coat, top hat, and stuffed white rat on his shoulder. Previously Bruce specialised in rock and blues music, but now The Nomad - Live Music Show contains a much bigger and wider, range of songs. Bruce can be contacted on: 629 809 638, or via his website: www.nomadshow.piczo.com Bookings for February: •Thursday 3rd - Tuesday 8th (Unavailable) Saturday 12: Bar Delphin (formally Bar Wifi), Camping Los Llanos, El Vergel •Sunday 13: Coll De Rates Restaurant (CV715), Parcent. 13.30 •Monday 14: Magnum’s Bar, Oliva •Monday 21st – Monday 28th (Unavailable) Bookings for March: •Thursday 3: Magic’s Bar (formally The Lees Bar), Orba

ROMANTIC VALENTINES EVENING

MONDAY FEB 14TH LIVE MUSIC WITH MATT MASON. 4 COURSE DINNER INCLUDING CAVA ON ARRIVAL & A BOTTLE OF WINE PER COUPLE ONLY 21.95€ NEXT QUIZ NIGHT THURSDAY 17TH FEB Please call for reservations.

Visit our new web-site; www.lapistajalon.com BOOK NOW TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT!

Tel 966 480 125

Parcent

Valentines Night Monday 14th February Romantic Candlelit Dinner live music from guitarist John Antony Tel 96 640 5398 For reservations

04 - 10 February 2011

So what is the Vista Card?

49

Vista Benidorm are the fastest growing and leading internet site offering up to date information on restaurants, bars, entertainment and hotels.

The Vista card is a discount card that will save you money and cost you nothing! Accepted at hundreds of outlets and resorts, you can benefit from all kinds of money saving deals from free wine with your meal, to ‘kids eat free’ deals or a straight money-off discount.

What’s the catch?

There’s no catch!

Free information and a free discount card - it is all part of a bigger picture, the Vista Benidorm website – an online guide to all things fun in The Costa Blanca resort.

Visit www.vistabenidorm.com to check out the area’s bars, restaurants and club scene for inspiration of where to go. Read reviews, search by the cuisine you fancy or the area you’re in.

It may be that you are looking to host your perfect party! So get online and click away to find the perfect venue and don’t forget to check out the Vista card offers to use your card time and again.

Where can I get one?

The Vista card comes free with the Roundtown Look Local handy pocket magazine this month – you can also pick one up at the municipal tourist offices and the Roundtown Travel shops in Benidorm.

Where can I use it?

You can use the card anywhere you see the Vista sign displayed, or go to www. vistabenidorm for a complete list of offers and some inspiration! Typically, Vista card holders can enjoy 10% off the bill in popular restaurant Michael’s in the Old Town or a 2 for 1 meal deal at India Gate Restaurant. Kids eat free at the Al Terrazzo Italian restaurant and diners can enjoy free wine at Thai Fusion in Albir.

There are many great offers and discounts at bars and entertainment venues. Benidorm Palace offer a reduction on tickets purchased with the Vista Card; Guinness Bar - KU Lounge & Daytona also offer a massive 20%

off all drinks and have great live music too!

The list goes on and is growing; new bars and restaurants join in the action every day so keep looking at the Latest Offers page www.vistabenidorm.com/vista-card-latest-offers As we said – it costs you nothing! So pick up your FREE Vista discount card on the front of this month’s Roundtown Look Local magazine or pop into the Roundtown travel shops in Benidorm because as Tesco keeps telling us …

Every Little Helps!

Do you own a bar, restaurant or entertainment venue?

Enjoy the benefits of being part of the Vista Benidorm & Vista Card product and promote your business in front of hundreds of new visitors each day. www.vistabenidorm.com is at the top of the search engines so when people are planning their holidays or simply deciding on where to go out, Vista Benidorm are usually number 1.

Call Marco on 966 800 551 or visit Contact Us page on the website www.vistabendorm.com The web site is also available in Spanish at www.vistabenidorm.es

Use your Vista card wherever you see the sign!

50 61

04 February 2011 14- 10 - 20 may 2010

Time for bed?

The TV Round Up by

Alex Trelinski

Broadcaster and freelance journalist

BRITAIN’S MAIN commercial TV network, ITV1, seems to have got it into their mindset that everyone goes to bed on weeknights once the final notes of the News at Ten theme have been struck! All that’s missing is Zebedee from the Magic Roundabout to shout out “Time for bed!” as Mark Austin reaches for his final gulp of water! It’s as if ITV want you to call it a night with their soporific dross that makes some of the badly-funded Spanish local

Zebedee

channels look quite acceptable.

Take this week’s schedule of shame.

On Monday, there was a repeat of a fire-fighters documentary. Tuesday had a duff film with Ashton Kutcher’s elderly wife, Demi Moore. Wednesday brought a Trevor McDonald Caribbean doc re-run, with last night having a repeat of the mediocre summer panel show,

Odd One In. And then tonight has the continuation of the autumn series 30 Years of an Audience with…

Contrast this with BBC1’s fresh offerings of A Question of Sport, Film 2011, Match of the Day, Question Time, and Graham Norton. The stupid thing is that, as ITV have shown on their digital channels like ITV 3 and ITV 4, there are plenty of series from their archives that could be screened. Perhaps they think there is no money to be made for the shareholders at that time of night? Yet no other main UK channel is pulling up the programming drawbridge so early in the evening. It’s all rather baffling.

At least they are getting their act together over their 9pm dramas. One ‘Downton Abbey swallow’ doesn’t make a summer, but I was impressed by Trevor Eve’s recent hostage series, and now that Thursday slot has been filled by an entertaining supernatural drama called Marchlands. It was also goodbye and hello on Wednesday night. John Nettles had his last case as Barnaby in Midsomer Murders on ITV1. At the same time on BBC 1, it was the return of Waterloo Road. It’s a decent enough show, but I’m still suffering problems with aching sides, having laughed myself into hysterics as how it managed to beat Sherlock and Dr.Who for the best drama series in the recent National Television Awards? Viewer voting, i.e democracy, can make bad mistakes!

By the way, the other nominee in that category was Channel 4’s Shameless which I used to love. It was so fresh

on its debut, due to Paul Abbott’s script. His creation of the Gallagher clan was memorable, but once he left a few years ago, it went downhill, and I eventually stopped watching. Abbott is now directly involved in an American version, starring William H Macy, and as it uses the original scripts, I look forward to remembering what a great bit of hilarious TV it was. It comes to More 4 soon.

It’s good news that the David Walliams/Matt Lucas show, Come Fly with Me, is going to have a second series on BBC1. I’ve enjoyed watching their first outing, and though not all the sketches work, you’re still guaranteed to get some good laughs along the way.

And after the ‘no laughing matter’ UK disgrace in last year’s Eurovision Song Contest, the BBC has finally broken its silence over what’s happening later this spring.

In a statement akin to a North Korean proclamation, the Beeb have said that Blue will sing their new single at this May’s contest in Germany. That’s the first time that viewers are not being allowed a say over the entry, but with

Graham Norton

the exception of the Lloyd Webber song two years ago, their heads need to hang in shame over the rubbish they have been picking. No National Television Award style democracy allowed here!

And at least Blue are proven singers and performers, rather than some of the karaoke merchants we’ve had to endure. A maximum twelve points to the dictatorial BBC from this jury!

Waterloo Road

Starting Over Book Review by

Danny Collins

copy@dannyjpcollins.com

MEDICAL SCIENCE has done some wonderful things and transplants must be up there high on the list. Personally, I don’t carry a donor card because at my age my bits are a tad too knackered for recycling - given that most male transplant patients would be satisfied hooked up to a lusty teenaged lad with a set of jump leads, who’d want my well-worn accessories anyway? Besides, I can’t stand the thought of those howls of patronising laughter at my post mortem.

But Tony Parson’s hero George Bailey is on the receiving end and has to take pot luck. Fortunately he gets the heart of a nineteen year old youth and his whole life changes. No more the stern and crappy old pop denying his own kids what he used to get up to in his youth - instead the youth in him brings about a desire to change the world – when he’s shaken off the drug and alcohol induced fog so beloved of those who shall inherit the world when we, thankfully, have gone. But, hey we know don’t we, that a forgetful morning spent pottering about the garden until it’s time for our afternoon nap takes a lot of beating in our social calendar and George soon realises he wants more than anything in the universe to have his old life back. I know the feeling.

As we old men get even older we find our former interest in the height of a mini skirt is now tempered with the worry whether she’ll fall victim to cystitis. Besides - our eyesight lets us

down and we’re only grinning from memory. Tony Parson knows all this and more and he touches on an issue that follows us all into old age. Would we really put the clock back and take a chance on missing out on all the fun we’ve genuinely had? I thoroughly enjoyed coming to my own decision and would recommend this book as prescribed reading for all.

Author: Tony Parsons Publisher: Harper (paperback) Price: €10.40 ISBN: 978 0 00 722651 1

tv Friday 07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Wanted Down Under Revisited 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 Save My Holiday 12:45 Cash in the Attic 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News 14:30 Regional News 14:45 Doctors 15:15 Escape to the Country 16:00 BBC News; Regional News 16:05 Deadly 60 16:35 Scoop 17:00 Dani’s House 17:30 Tracy Beaker Returns 18:00 Newsround 18:15 Weakest Link 19:00 BBC News 19:30 Regional News 20:00 The One Show 20:30 Live Six Nations Rugby Union 23:00 BBC News 23:25 Regional News 23:35 Graham Norton Show 24:20 National Lottery Friday Night Draws 24:30 Perfect Creature

07:00 Childrens TV 11:25 64 Zoo Lane 11:45 Waybuloo 12:05 In the Night Garden 12:35 Ready Steady Cook 13:00 Daily Politics 13:30 GMT with George Alagiah 14:00 Due South 14:45 Climbing Great Buildings 15:15 Instant Restaurant 16:00 Cash in the Celebrity Attic 16:45 Flog It! 17:30 Perfection 18:15 Antiques Road Trip 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Great British Railway Journeys 20:00 Julia Bradbury’s German Wanderlust 20:30 An Island Parish 21:00 Mastermind 21:30 Life in a Cottage Garden with Carol Klein 22:00 Can’t Take It with You 23:00 Fast and Loose 23:30 Newsnight 24:00 The Review Show 24:50 They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?

51

04 - 10 February 2011

07:20 07:20Sali The MaliHoobs 07:25 08:10The Freshly Treacle Squeezed People 07:35 08:35The Everybody Hoobs Loves Raymond 08:00 09:00Freshly Frasier Squeezed 08:30 09:30Everybody According Lovesto Raymond Jim 08:55 10:00Frasier Secret Millionaire USA 09:25 11:00According Desperate to Housewives Jim 09:55 11:55Wife Gok’s SwapClothes USA 10:55 Roadshow Desperate Housewives 11:55 13:00Gok’s Channel Clothes4Roadshow News 13:00 13:05Channel River Cottage 4 News Bites 13:05 13:15Three River in aCottage Bed Bites 13:35 13:25River TheCottage House Bites on 13:50 92ndThe Street Man Who Shot Liberty 15:05Valance Cookery School 16:10 16:10Countdown Countdown 16:55 16:55Deal Deal or No or Deal No Deal 18:00 18:00Come Come DineDine withwith Me Me 18:30 18:30Jamie’s Jamie’s 30 Minute 30 Minute Meals 19:00 MealsThe Simpsons 19:30 19:00Hollyoaks The Simpsons 20:00 19:30Channel Hollyoaks 4 News 20:25 20:004thought.tv Channel 4 News 20:30 20:25Head 4thought.tv Over Heels in Rats 21:00 20:30Relocation: WelcomePhil to Romford Down Under 21:00 Relocation: Phil 22:00 DownEmbarrassing Under Bodies 23:00 22:00The Embarrassing Million PoundBodies Drop 23:00 LiveMillion Pound 24:20 Drop 10 Live O’Clock Live 24:20 10 O’Clock Live

06:30 ITV Morning News 07:00 Daybreak 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 ITV News 14:55 Granada News 15:00 May the Best House Win 16:00 Dickinson’s Real Deal 16:59 Granada Weather 17:00 Midsomer Murders 18:00 The Chase 19:00 Granada Reports 19:30 ITV News 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Coronation Street 21:00 Children’s Hospital 21:30 Coronation Street 22:00 Comedy Rocks with Jason Manford 23:00 ITV News at Ten 23:30 Granada News 23:35 30 Years of An Audience With 24:35 Take Me Out

07:00 Childrens TV 09:00 Fifi and the Flowertots 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:30 Roary the Racing Car 09:40 Hana’s Helpline 09:50 The WotWots 10:00 Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:00 The Vanessa Show 12:45 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 13:40 Five News 13:45 Build a New Life in the Country 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 Home and Away 15:50 Family Recipe 15:55 Animal Rescue Squad 16:10 Class 18:00 Five News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:25 Live from Studio Five 20:00 Five News at 7 20:30 Vets in Action 21:00 Ice Road Truckers 22:00 The Mentalist 23:00 Law & Order 23:55 NCIS 24:55 Cops in Crisis

07:00 Brainiac: Science Abuse 08:00 X-Weighted: Families 09:00 Oops TV 10:00 UK Border Force 11:00 Lie to Me 12:00 Medical Emergency 13:00 Project Runway 14:00 UK Border Force 15:00 Stargate SG-1 17:00 Lie to Me 18:00 The Simpsons 18:30 Futurama 19:00 Emergency Animal Rescue 19:30 The Simpsons 21:00 Futurama 22:00 The Simpsons 23:00 Louie Spence’s Showbusiness 24:00 Got to Dance

08:35 Luge 09:30 WATTS 10:00 Live Alpine Skiing 11:00 Live CrossCountry Skiing 11:30 Ski Jumping 12:15 Live CrossCountry Skiing 13:15 Live Alpine Skiing 14:00 Cross-Country Skiing 14:30 Ski Jumping 15:15 Wintersports: Breaking the Ice 15:30 Live Biathlon 17:00 Live Ski Jumping 18:00 Live Biathlon 19:30 Snooker 20:00 Live Snooker 23:00 Biathlon

07:00 Nothing to Declare 08:00 Jerry Springer Show 09:00 Maury 09:50 Celebs 24/7 10:00 America’s Next Top Model 11:00 Four Weddings 12:00 Maury 12:55 Celebs 24/7 13:00 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 16:00 Criminal Minds 17:00 Charmed 19:00 America’s Next Top Model 20:00 Ghost Whisperer 21:00 Bones 22:00 Criminal Minds 23:00 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

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tv Saturday

52 40

04 - 10 Feb 26February - March 4 2011 2010

07:00 Brainiac: History Abuse 08:00 Vet Adventures 09:00 Guinness World Records Smashed!

10:00 WWE Superstars 11:00 Soccer AM 13:00 My Pet Shame 14:00 UK Border Force 15:00 Dawn French’s Little Cracker 15:15 George and the Dragon 17:00 Futurama 18:00 Futurama 19:00 The Middle 19:30 The Middle 20:00 The Simpsons 21:00 Futurama 21:30 The Simpsons 22:00 UK Border Force 23:00 Wall Street

07:00 Breakfast 11:00 Saturday Kitchen Live 12:30 Baking Made Easy 13:00 BBC News; Regional News 13:15 Football Focus 14:00 Inside Sport 14:30 A Question of Sport 15:00 Live Six Nations Rugby Union 17:25 BBC News; Regional News 17:35 Live Six Nations Rugby Union 20:00 All New Total Wipeout 21:00 The National Lottery: In It to Win It 21:50 Casualty 22:40 Come Fly with Me 23:10 BBC News 23:30 Match of the Day 24:50 The Football League Show

07:00 Childrens TV 08:30 Arthur 09:00 Richard Hammond’s Blast Lab 09:30 Project Parent 10:00 Dick & Dom’s Funny Business 11:00 Trapped Ever After 11:25 OOglies 11:45 The Slammer 12:15 My Life 12:45 MOTD Kickabout 13:00 The Sky at Night 13:20 Fire Down Below 15:15 Seven Men from Now 16:30 Escape to the Country 17:30 Final Score 18:15 Flog It! 19:00 Bob Monkhouse: A Bafta Tribute 20:00 Dad’s Army 20:30 The Secret Life of Bob Monkhouse 22:00 Faulks on Fiction 23:00 The Tudors 23:50 Nurse Jackie 24:15 Fast and Loose 24:50 Emerald Forest

06:30 ITV Morning News 07:00 Mini CITV 08:25 CITV 10:25 Coronation Street 12:45 This Morning: Saturday 13:45 Monk 14:45 ITV News 14:50 You’ve Been Framed!

15:20 Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride 16:50 Star Wars Episode IV: a New Hope 19:05 Granada News 19:15 ITV News 19:30 New You’ve Been Framed!

20:00 Harry Hill’s TV Burp 20:30 Primeval 21:30 Take Me Out 22:45 Benidorm 23:40 ITV News 23:55 Hot Fuzz

07:00 Treacle People 07:10 The Hoobs 07:35 The Hoobs 08:00 GT Academy 08:55 The Morning Line 09:50 Friends 10:20 The Album Chart Show: Usher Special 11:10 Glee 12:10 Friends 12:45 Shooting Skins 13:45 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships 14:50 Channel 4 Racing 16:50 The Secret Supper Club 17:25 Come Dine with Me 17:55 Come Dine with Me 18:25 Come Dine with Me 18:55 Come Dine with Me 19:25 The Political Slot 19:30 Channel 4 News 19:55 4thought.tv 20:00 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer 21:50 The Million Pound Drop Live 23:10 Kiss the Girls

07:00 Childrens TV 09:00 Little Princess 09:10 The Adventures of Bottle Top Bill and His Best Friend Corky 09:25 Play!

09:40 Rupert Bear 09:55 Olivia 10:15 The Mr Men Show 10:30 The Milkshake! Show 11:00 K-9 11:35 Your Sport 11:40 Emergency Bikers 12:40 Ice Road Truckers 13:40 Agatha 15:30 Only You 17:40 Five News 17:45 You’ve Got Mail 20:00 NCIS 20:45 NCIS 21:40 CSI: Miami 22:40 CSI: NY 23:40 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 24:40 Forensic Files

07:00 Breakfast 08:35 Match of the Day 10:00 Andrew Marr Show 11:00 The Big Questions 12:00 Country Tracks 13:00 The Politics Show 14:00 Match of the Day Live 16:25 My Family 16:55 Escape to the Country 17:55 Songs of Praise 18:30 BBC News; Regional News 19:00 Antiques Roadshow 20:00 Countryfile 21:00 Lark Rise to Candleford 22:00 Wallander 23:30 BBC News; Regional News 23:55 Live Super Bowl XLV

07:00 Harry and Toto 07:10 Everything’s Rosie 07:20 Dirtgirlworld 07:35 Jakers!

08:00 Basil and Barney’s Game Show 08:30 Arthur 09:00 Richard Hammond’s Blast Lab 09:30 Gimme a Break 10:00 Dick & Dom Go Wild 10:30 Roar 11:00 Something for the Weekend 12:30 Film 2011 with Claudia Winkleman 13:00 The High and the Mighty 15:20 EastEnders 17:15 Flog It! 18:15 Ski Sunday 19:00 Ray Mears’ Northern Wilderness 20:00 Funny Side of Chat 21:00 Top Gear 22:00 Arctic with Bruce Parry 23:00 Match of the Day 2 24:00 Kill Bill Vol 1

06:30 ITV Morning News 07:00 Mini CITV 08:25 CITV 10:25 May the Best House Win 11:25 The Biggest Loser 12:30 This Morning: Sunday 13:30 Dinner Date 14:25 ITV News 14:30 Columbo: a Friend in Deed 16:30 Midsomer Murders 18:35 Granada News 18:50 ITV News 19:05 New You’ve Been Framed!

19:35 Dancing on Ice 21:30 Wild at Heart 22:30 Dancing on Ice: The Skate Off 23:00 That Sunday Night Show 23:30 ITV News 23:45 Freddie Flintoff Versus the World 24:45 Comedy Rocks with Jason Manford

07:10 The Hoobs 08:00 FIS World Snowboarding Championships 08:30 That Paralympic Show 08:55 Battlefront 09:05 Friends 09:35 Friends 10:00 Hollyoaks 12:35 Glee 13:40 The Simpsons 14:15 The Simpsons 14:50 Jamie’s 30 Minute Meals 15:20 Jamie’s 30 Minute Meals 15:50 Jamie’s 30 Minute Meals 16:20 Jamie’s 30 Minute Meals 16:55 Jamie’s 30 Minute Meals 17:25 Deal or No Deal 18:25 Time Team 19:30 Channel 4 News 19:55 4thought.tv 20:00 Come Dine with Me 21:00 People’s Supermarket 22:00 The Promise 23:45 Alan Carr: Chatty Man 24:50 The Client

07:00 Childrens TV 08:10 Chiro 08:15 Harry and his Bucket Full of Dinosaurs 08:25 Sailor Sid 08:30 Make Way for Noddy 08:45 Igam Ogam 08:55 Bert and Ernie’s Great Adventures 09:00 Little Princess 09:20 The Adventures of Bottle Top Bill and His Best Friend Corky 09:30 Family!

09:45 Rupert Bear 10:00 Olivia 10:15 The Mr Men Show 10:30 The Milkshake! Show 11:00 K-9 11:35 How Do They Do It? 12:05 Cowboy Builders 13:05 Muppets from Space 14:50 DARYL 16:40 Five News 16:50 Mulan 18:35 Space Cowboys 21:00 Gladiators: Rome Unwrapped 22:00 Rush Hour 24:05 Stripes

07:00 Hour of Power 08:00 Vet Adventures 09:00 It’s Me Or The Dog 10:00 Football’s Next Star 11:00 WWE Superstars 12:00 WWE: Experience 13:00 The Real A&E 14:00 Emergency Animal Rescue 14:30 Emergency Animal Rescue 15:00 Emergency Animal Rescue 15:30 Emergency Animal Rescue 16:00 The Middle 16:30 The Middle 17:00 The Simpsons 17:30 The Simpsons 18:00 The Simpsons 18:30 The Simpsons 19:00 Got to Dance 20:30 The Simpsons 21:00 The Simpsons 21:30 The Simpsons 22:00 Hawaii Five-O 23:00 Hawaii Five-O 24:00 UK Border Force

07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Wanted Down Under 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 Save My Holiday 12:45 Cash in the Attic 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News 14:30 Regional News 14:45 Doctors 15:15 Escape to the Country 16:00 BBC News; Regional News 16:05 Deadly 60 16:35 Scoop 17:00 Big Performance 17:30 Blue Peter 17:55 Shaun the Sheep 18:00 Newsround 18:15 Weakest Link 19:00 BBC News 19:30 Regional News 20:00 The One Show 20:30 Inside Out 21:00 EastEnders 21:30 WikiLeaks: The Secret Story: Panorama 22:00 Outcasts 23:00 BBC News 23:25 Regional News 23:35 A Question of Sport

07:00 Childrens TV 111:25 64 Zoo Lane 11:45 Waybuloo 12:05 In the Night Garden 12:35 Ready Steady Cook 13:00 Daily Politics 13:30 GMT with George Alagiah 14:00 Due South 14:45 To Buy or Not to Buy 15:30 Climbing Great Buildings 16:00 Cash in the Celebrity Attic 16:45 Flog It! 17:30 Perfection 18:15 Antiques Road Trip 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 One Man and His Campervan 20:00 Top Gear 21:00 University Challenge 21:30 Baking Made Easy 22:00 Horizon: How to Survive a Car Crash 23:00 Episodes 23:30 Newsnight 24:20 Mad Men

06:30 ITV Morning News 07:00 Daybreak 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 ITV News 14:55 Granada News 15:00 May the Best House Win 16:00 Dickinson’s Real Deal 16:59 Granada Weather 17:00 Midsomer Murders 18:00 The Chase 19:00 Granada Reports 19:30 ITV News 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Coronation Street 21:00 The Lakes 21:30 Coronation Street 22:00 The Biggest Loser 23:00 ITV News at Ten 23:30 Granada News 23:35 Total Emergency 24:35 That Sunday Night Show

07:05 Sali Mali 07:10 Treacle People 07:20 The Hoobs 08:10 Freshly Squeezed 08:40 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:05 Frasier 09:35 According to Jim 10:00 The Secret Millionaire USA 11:00 Desperate Housewives 11:55 Relocation: Phil Down Under 13:00 Channel 4 News 13:05 The TV Book Club 13:30 Sailor of the King 15:05 Cookery School 16:10 Countdown 16:55 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Come Dine with Me 18:30 Jamie’s 30 Minute Meals 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 4thought.tv 21:00 Dispatches: Tabloids’ Dirty Secrets 22:00 One Born Every Minute 23:00 Alan Carr: Chatty Man 24:05 Joy of Teen Sex

07:00 Childrens TV 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:30 Roary the Racing Car 09:40 Hana’s Helpline 09:50 The WotWots 10:00 Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:00 The Vanessa Show 12:45 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 13:40 Five News 13:45 Build a New Life in the Country 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 Home and Away 15:50 Family Recipe 15:55 Animal Rescue Squad 16:10 Lone Rider 18:00 Five News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 Zoo Days 20:00 Five News at 7 20:30 How Do They Do It? 21:00 Emergency Bikers 22:00 Royal Navy Caribbean Patrol 23:00 Starship Troopers 3: Marauder

07:00 Brainiac: Science Abuse 08:00 X-Weighted: Families 09:00 Best of Oops TV 10:00 UK Border Force 11:00 Lie to Me 12:00 Medical Emergency 12:30 Medical Emergency 13:00 Project Runway 14:00 UK Border Force 15:00 Stargate SG-1 16:00 Stargate SG-1 17:00 Lie to Me 18:00 The Simpsons 18:30 Futurama 19:00 Emergency Animal Rescue 19:30 The Simpsons 20:00 The Simpsons 20:30 The Simpsons 21:00 Dream Lives for Sale 22:00 Road Wars 23:00 Mental 24:00 Inside: Alaska’s Toughest Prison

tv Sunday

tv Monday

08:30 Ski Jumping 09:00 Wintersports: Breaking the Ice 09:15 Biathlon 10:00 Live Alpine Skiing 11:00 Live Alpine Skiing 12:15 Live CrossCountry Skiing 13:00 Live Alpine Skiing 13:45 Live Snooker 16:00 Live Ski Jumping 17:45 Cross-Country Skiing 18:15 Live Snooker 20:30 Live Biathlon 21:45 Live Snooker 22:30 Snooker 23:30 Fight Club

07:00 Nothing to Declare 08:00 Jerry Springer Show 09:00 Maury 09:50 Celebs 24/7 10:00 Four Weddings 11:00 Four Weddings 12:00 America’s Next Top Model 13:00 Biggest Loser US 14:50 Celebs 24/7 15:00 Nothing to Declare 15:30 Nothing to Declare 16:00 Nothing to Declare 16:30 Nothing to Declare 17:00 The Birdcage 19:00 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 20:00 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 21:00 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 22:00 Criminal Minds 23:00 Criminal Minds 24:00 Criminal Minds

Benidorm ITV 1, 22.45

08:30 Ski Jumping 09:15 Biathlon 10:00 Live Alpine Skiing 10:45 Live CrossCountry Skiing 12:30 Ski Jumping 13:00 Live Alpine Skiing 13:45 Live Ski Jumping 15:30 Live CrossCountry Skiing 16:00 Live Biathlon 16:45 Snooker 18:00 Live Biathlon 18:40 Wintersports Weekend 18:45 Ski Jumping 20:00 Live Snooker 23:00 Ski Jumping 24:00 Biathlon 24:30 Biathlon

Rush Hour Channel 5 22.00

08:30 Alpine Skiing 09:30 Cross-Country Skiing 10:30 Cross-Country Skiing 11:00 Biathlon 11:30 Biathlon 12:00 Ski Jumping 13:00 Alpine Skiing 14:00 Snooker 16:00 Biathlon 16:30 Biathlon 17:00 Ski Jumping 18:15 Eurogoals 18:30 International Football 19:30 Strongest Man 20:30 Eurogoals 20:45 Snooker 22:30 Eurogoals 22:45 International Football 23:45 Sport Traveller 24:00 Snooker

Watch New Season TV for Free with the RTN Network 966 463 170

07:00 Nothing to Declare 08:00 Jerry Springer Show 09:00 Maury 09:50 Celebs 24/7 10:00 Nothing to Declare 10:30 Nothing to Declare 11:00 Passport Patrol 11:30 Passport Patrol 12:00 RSPCA Animal Rescue 12:30 RSPCA Animal Rescue 13:00 The Birdcage 15:00 Four Weddings 17:00 Four Weddings 18:00 America’s Next Top Model 19:00 Fat Families 20:00 Four Weddings US 21:00 Criminal Minds 22:00 World’s Youngest Daredevils 23:00 Four Weddings 24:00 Criminal Minds

07:00 Nothing to Declare 08:00 Jerry Springer Show 09:00 Maury 09:50 Celebs 24/7 10:00 America’s Next Top Model 11:00 Four Weddings 12:00 Maury 12:55 Celebs 24/7 13:00 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 15:00 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 16:00 Criminal Minds 17:00 Charmed 18:00 Charmed 19:00 America’s Next Top Model 20:00 Ghost Whisperer 21:00 Nikita 22:00 America’s Next Top Model 23:00 Bedlam 24:00 Criminal Minds

tv Tuesday

04 - 26 10 -February 2011 Feb March 4 2010

07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Wanted Down Under 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 Save My Holiday 12:45 Cash in the Attic 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News 14:30 Regional News 14:45 Doctors 15:15 Escape to the Country 16:00 BBC News; Regional News 16:05 Deadly 60 16:35 Scoop 17:00 Dead Gorgeous 17:30 Blue Peter 17:55 Caught in the Web: A Newsround Special 18:15 Weakest Link 19:00 BBC News 19:30 Regional News 20:00 The One Show 20:30 EastEnders 21:00 Holby City 22:00 Outcasts 23:00 BBC News 23:25 Regional News 23:35 Come Fly on the Wall 24:35 Road Trip

07:00 Childrens TV 11:05 Postman Pat 11:20 Pingu 11:25 64 Zoo Lane 11:45 Waybuloo 12:05 In the Night Garden 12:35 Ready Steady Cook 13:00 Daily Politics 13:30 GMT with George Alagiah 14:00 Due South 14:45 To Buy or Not to Buy 15:30 Climbing Great Buildings 16:00 Cash in the Celebrity Attic 16:45 Flog It! 17:30 Perfection 18:15 Antiques Road Trip 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 One Man and His Campervan 20:00 Natural World 21:00 A Farmer’s Life for Me 22:00 The Chinese Are Coming 23:00 How TV Ruined Your Life 23:30 Newsnight 24:20 Mad Men

06:30 ITV Morning News 07:00 Daybreak 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 ITV News 14:55 Granada News 15:00 May the Best House Win 16:00 Dickinson’s Real Deal 16:59 Granada Weather 17:00 Midsomer Murders 18:00 The Chase 19:00 Granada Reports 19:30 ITV News 20:00 Emmerdale 21:00 Lion Country 22:00 Taggart 23:00 ITV News at Ten 23:30 Granada News 23:35 The Secret Caribbean with Trevor McDonald 24:35 Cops with Cameras

07:05 Sali Mali 07:10 The Hoobs 07:35 The Hoobs 08:00 Freshly Squeezed 08:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 08:55 Frasier 09:25 According to Jim 09:55 Secret Millionaire USA 10:55 Desperate Housewives 11:55 A Place in the Sun: Home or Away 13:00 Channel 4 News 13:05 Rooster Cogburn 15:05 Cookery School 16:10 Countdown 16:55 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Come Dine with Me 18:30 Jamie’s 30 Minute Meals 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 4thought.tv 21:00 Gok’s Clothes Roadshow 22:00 Big Fat Gypsy Weddings 23:00 Shameless 24:05 The Big C 24:45 Big Bang Theory

07:10 Childrens TV 09:40 Hana’s Helpline 09:50 The WotWots 10:00 Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:00 The Vanessa Show 12:45 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 13:40 Five News 13:45 Build a New Life in the Country 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 Home and Away 15:45 Family Recipe 15:50 Animal Rescue Squad 16:05 For One Night 18:00 Five News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 Zoo Days 20:00 Five News at 7 20:30 Extraordinary Dogs 21:00 Stansted: The Inside Story 22:00 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 23:00 CSI: Miami 23:55 CSI: NY 24:55 Law & Order

07:00 Brainiac: Science Abuse 08:00 X-Weighted: Families 09:00 Best of Oops TV 10:00 UK Border Force 11:00 Lie to Me 12:00 Medical Emergency 12:30 Real Filth Fighters 13:00 Project Runway 14:00 UK Border Force 15:00 Stargate SG-1 16:00 Stargate SG-1 17:00 Lie to Me 18:00 The Simpsons 18:30 Futurama 19:00 Emergency Animal Rescue 19:30 The Simpsons 20:00 The Simpsons 20:30 The Simpsons 21:00 Hawaii Five-O 22:00 Hawaii Five-O 23:00 Got to Dance 24:30 A League of Their Own

07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Wanted Down Under 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 Save My Holiday 12:45 Cash in the Attic 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News 14:30 Regional News 14:45 Doctors 15:15 Escape to the Country 16:00 BBC News; Regional News 16:05 Deadly 60 16:35 Bear Behaving Badly 17:00 Copycats 17:30 M.I. High 18:00 Newsround 18:15 Weakest Link 19:00 BBC News 19:30 Regional News 20:00 The One Show 20:30 Rip Off Britain 21:00 Waterloo Road 22:00 Forgotten Heroes: Panorama 23:00 BBC News 23:25 Regional News 23:35 National Lottery Wednesday Night Draws 23:45 Film 2011

07:00 Childrens TV 11:05 Postman Pat 11:20 Pingu 11:25 64 Zoo Lane 11:35 Waybuloo 12:00 In the Night Garden 12:30 Daily Politics 14:00 See Hear 14:30 The Hairy Bakers 14:45 To Buy or Not to Buy 15:30 Climbing Great Buildings 16:00 Cash in the Celebrity Attic 16:45 Flog It! 17:30 Perfection 18:15 Antiques Road Trip 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 One Man and His Campervan 20:00 Escape to the Country 21:00 Madagascar 22:00 A History of Ancient Britain 23:00 Have I Got Old News for You 23:30 Newsnight 24:20 Mad Men

06:30 ITV Morning News 07:00 Daybreak 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 ITV News 14:55 Granada News 15:00 May the Best House Win 16:00 Dickinson’s Real Deal 16:59 Granada Weather 17:00 Midsomer Murders 18:00 The Chase 19:00 Granada Reports 19:30 ITV News 20:00 Live International Football 22:30 Harry Hill’s TV Burp 23:00 ITV News at Ten 23:30 Granada News 23:35 I Was There When the Beatles Played the Cavern 24:35 International Football

07:00 Treacle People 07:10 The Hoobs 07:35 The Hoobs 08:00 Freshly Squeezed 08:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 08:55 Frasier 09:25 According to Jim 09:55 Secret Millionaire USA 10:55 Desperate Housewives 11:55 Country House Rescue 13:00 Channel 4 News 13:05 River Cottage Bites 13:20 Day of the Outlaw 15:05 Cookery School 16:10 Countdown 16:55 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Come Dine with Me 18:30 Jamie’s 30 Minute Meals 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 4thought.tv 21:00 Beauty and the Beast: Ugly Face of Prejudice 22:00 Mary Portas: Secret Shopper 23:00 Joy of Teen Sex 24:05 Shameless

07:00 Childrens TV 09:40 Hana’s Helpline 09:50 The WotWots 10:00 Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:00 The Vanessa Show 12:45 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 13:40 Five News 13:45 Build a New Life in the Country 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 Home and Away 15:50 Animal Rescue Squad 16:05 Pretend You Don’t See Her 18:00 Five News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 Zoo Days 20:00 Five News at 7 20:30 Monkey Life 21:00 Cowboy Builders 22:00 NCIS 23:00 Law & Order: Criminal Intent 23:55 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit 24:55 Poker

07:00 Brainiac: Science Abuse 08:00 X-Weighted: Families 09:00 Best of Oops TV 10:00 UK Border Force 11:00 Lie to Me 12:00 Real Filth Fighters 13:00 Project Runway 14:00 UK Border Force 15:00 Stargate SG-1 17:00 Lie to Me 18:00 The Simpsons 18:30 Futurama 19:00 Emergency Animal Rescue 19:30 The Simpsons 21:00 Dream Lives for Sale 22:00 Louie Spence’s Showbusiness 23:00 A League of Their Own: Best of 24:00 Football’s Greatest 24:30 Football’s Greatest

07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Wanted Down Under 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 Save My Holiday 12:45 Cash in the Attic 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News 14:30 Regional News 14:45 Doctors 15:15 Escape to the Country 16:00 BBC News; Regional News 16:05 Deadly 60 16:35 Bear Behaving Badly 17:00 Copycats 17:30 Serious Explorers: Livingstone 18:00 Newsround 18:15 Weakest Link 19:00 BBC News 19:30 Regional News 20:00 The One Show 20:30 EastEnders 21:00 Human Planet 22:00 Outnumbered 22:30 Not Going Out 23:00 BBC News 23:25 Regional News r 23:35 Question Time 24:35 This Week

07:00 Childrens TV 11:25 64 Zoo Lane 11:45 Waybuloo 12:05 In the Night Garden 12:35 Ready Steady Cook 13:00 Daily Politics 13:30 GMT with George Alagiah 14:00 Due South 14:45 To Buy or Not to Buy 15:30 Climbing Great Buildings 16:00 Cash in the Celebrity Attic 16:45 Flog It! 17:30 Perfection 18:15 Antiques Road Trip 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 One Man and His Campervan 20:00 The Culture Show 21:00 The Hairy Bikers: Mums Know Best 22:00 George VI: The Reluctant King 23:00 Victorian Pharmacy 23:30 Newsnight 24:20 Mad Men

06:30 ITV Morning News 07:00 Daybreak 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 ITV News 14:55 Granada News 15:00 May the Best House Win 16:00 Dickinson’s Real Deal 16:59 Granada Weather 17:00 Midsomer Murders 18:00 The Chase 19:00 Granada Reports 19:30 ITV News 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Too Old for TV?: Tonight 21:00 Emmerdale 21:30 Coronation Street 22:00 Marchlands 23:00 ITV News at Ten 23:30 Granada News 23:35 Odd One In 24:20 Party People 24:50 Grimefighters

07:05 Sali Mali 07:10 The Hoobs 08:00 Freshly Squeezed 08:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 08:55 Frasier 09:25 According to Jim 09:55 Secret Millionaire USA 10:55 Desperate Housewives 11:55 Help! My House Is Falling Down 13:00 Channel 4 News 13:05 River Cottage Bites 13:20 Broken Arrow 15:05 Cookery School 16:10 Countdown 16:55 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Come Dine with Me 18:30 Jamie’s 30 Minute Meals 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 4thought.tv 21:00 Relocation, Relocation 22:00 Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day 23:00 10 O’Clock Live 24:05 Big Fat Gypsy Weddings

07:00 Childrens TV 09:40 Hana’s Helpline 09:50 The WotWots 10:00 Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:00 The Vanessa Show 12:45 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 13:40 Five News 13:45 Build a New Life in the Country 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 Home and Away 15:50 Family Recipe 15:55 Animal Rescue Squad 16:10 Mystery Woman: Oh Baby 18:00 Five News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 Zoo Days 20:00 Five News at 7 20:30 Top Trumps: Earthmovers 21:00 Julius Caesar: Rome Unwrapped 22:00 Justin Lee Collins: Turning Japanese 23:00 Just Cause

tv Wednesday

tv Thursday

08:30 Sport Traveller 08:45 Eurogoals 09:15 Biathlon 09:45 Biathlon 10:30 Live Alpine Skiing 12:30 Cross-Country Skiing 13:00 Biathlon 13:30 Biathlon 14:00 Live WTA Tennis 19:45 Alpine Skiing 20:00 Ski Jumping 20:30 Eurogoals: One to One 20:45 Boxing 22:45 Extreme Sports: Freeride Spirit 23:15 Alpine Skiing 24:15 Eurogoals 24:30 International Football

53 53

07:00 Nothing to Declare 08:00 Jerry Springer Show 09:00 Maury 09:50 Celebs 24/7 10:00 America’s Next Top Model 11:00 Four Weddings 12:00 Maury 12:55 Celebs 24/7 13:00 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 15:00 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 16:00 Criminal Minds 17:00 Charmed 18:00 Charmed 19:00 America’s Next Top Model 20:00 Ghost Whisperer 21:00 Cougar Town 21:30 Cougar Town 22:00 Fat Families 23:00 Bridalplasty 24:00 Criminal Minds

Big Fat Gypsy Weddings Channel 4 22.00

08:30 Extreme Sports: Freeride Spirit 09:00 Euro 2012: All Access 10:00 Alpine Skiing 10:45 Live Alpine Skiing 12:30 WTA Tennis 14:00 Live WTA Tennis 17:45 Eurogoals Flash 17:55 Live WTA Tennis 19:45 Alpine Skiing 20:00 Wednesday Selection 20:10 Show Jumping 21:10 Riders Club 21:15 PGA Tour Golf 22:15 European Tour Golf 22:45 Golf Club 22:50 Yacht Club 23:00 International Football 24:00 WTA Tennis

07:00 Nothing to Declare 08:00 Jerry Springer Show 09:00 Maury 09:50 Celebs 24/7 10:00 America’s Next Top Model 11:00 Four Weddings 12:00 Maury 12:55 Celebs 24/7 13:00 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 15:00 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 16:00 Criminal Minds 17:00 Charmed 18:00 Charmed 19:00 America’s Next Top Model 20:00 Ghost Whisperer 21:00 Four Weddings US 22:00 Bones 23:00 Grey’s Anatomy 24:00 Criminal Minds

08:30 International

07:00 Nothing to Declare 08:00 Jerry Springer Show 09:00 Maury 09:50 Celebs 24/7 10:00 America’s Next Top Model 11:00 Four Weddings 12:00 Maury 12:55 Celebs 24/7 13:00 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 14:00 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 15:00 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 16:00 Criminal Minds 17:00 Charmed 18:00 Charmed 19:00 America’s Next Top Model 20:00 Ghost Whisperer 21:00 Criminal Minds 22:00 Notting Hill 24:20 Bedlam

Waterloo Road BBC1 21.00

07:00 Brainiac: Science Abuse 08:00 Inside Britain’s Fattest Man 09:00 Best of Oops TV 10:00 UK Border Force 11:00 Lie to Me 12:00 Real Filth Fighters 12:30 Real Filth Fighters 13:00 Project Runway 14:00 UK Border Force 15:00 Stargate SG-1 16:00 Stargate SG-1 17:00 Lie to Me 18:00 The Simpsons 18:30 Futurama 19:00 Emergency Animal Rescue 19:30 The Simpsons 20:30 The Simpsons 21:00 Futurama 21:30 The Simpsons 22:00 Mad Dogs 23:00 House 24:00 Inside: Alaska’s Toughest Prison

Football 09:30 Alpine Skiing 10:30 WTA Tennis 12:00 Euro 2012: All Access 13:00 WTA Tennis 14:00 Live WTA Tennis 17:30 Live Biathlon 18:45 Alpine Skiing 19:00 Eurogoals Flash 19:10 Live WTA Tennis 21:45 Fight Club 23:15 Biathlon 24:15 Euro 2012: All Access

Watch New Season TV for Free with the RTN Network 966 463 170

54 44

04 - 10 Feb 26February - March 4 2011 2010

News from Age Concern

by Patricia Thompson SUNNY JIM’S Bar at Playa Flamenca Beach (behind the Post Office) is now run by Lorna and Jim, originally from Perth, Scotland. The bar offers homemade snacks and a friendly chat. Being an avid reader, Lorna decided to start a small library selling on books and soon had regular customers.

One of her customers, Cathy, who is a volunteer in the Age Concern Charity Shop, mentioned that the charity needed funds. Lorna had already decided she would like to help a charity and to date has raised an amazing €458; mainly from the sale of books and raffles in the bar.

Age Concern would like to thank Lorna and Jim for all their generosity. On 20th January 2011, the No Smoking Club, which meets at the Los Arcos restaurant in Torrevieja, presented Age Concern with €300. This was received by Maureen Payne, President of Age Concern, who thanked the club for their generous donation.

Tickets are now on sale for the Mediterranean Cruise raffle, which is being sponsored by David’s Coachtrips SL at the end of September 2011. The winner will receive a cruise for two people. The tickets are priced at just €1 and can be obtained from the Age Concern walk-in centre at La Siesta

Age Concern back on the coast THANKS TO the hard of work of President, Maureen Payne, Age Concern is now back giving a service for residents of the Orihuela Coast from Playa Flamenca Town Hall. A temporary space has been provided for their volunteers on the first floor of the building in the ‘Salon de Actos’. They are handing out all sorts of information, including advice on SIP health cards and dealing with government agencies.

The lifeline team which gives assistance to older people who find themselves in difficult circumstances, is also offering home visits and liaison with social services. They are open for business from 10.00 - 13.30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The team had been told to vacate their council office following a complaint from an opposition party spokesman, who incorrectly stated that the charity “was only for the residents of Torrevieja” and should therefore not have a space in a public building in Orihuela. However, Mrs Payne explained how she hoped they would soon be able to take up their permanent Orihuela Coast base in the nearby Civic Centre.

Orihuela Councillor for the Coast, Jose Antonio Aniorte, said last week that he was in discussion with social services over the move and it is hoped that the charity will have a permanent office in the very near future.

Maureen Payne collects the cheque from Lorna and Jim at Sunny Jim’s

Torrevieja U3A awards certificates A FULL attendance of the membership was present to hear re-elected Chairman Bob Hill address the Annual General Meeting of Torrevieja U3A last week.

In his report, the Chairman reminded members of the original concept of the U3A movement that of providing lifelong learning and friendship for those no longer in full time employment, through educational, recreational and leisure activities.

The Founder and First Chair of Torrevieja

U3A, Lynda Kiss, was present at the meeting to receive her Certificate of Honorary Membership from the Chairman (see picture). In her reply of thanks Lynda commented on the support she had received when launching one of the first U3A’s on the Costa Blanca, and how she was delighted to witness the continued growth of the Club as it enters its fifth year.

A Certificate of Honorary Membership was also presented to David Evans who had been U3A Chairman from 2008 to 2010.

U3A Chairman presents Lynda Kiss with Certificate

HELP on the move

By Jack Troughton JALON VALLEY HELP has changed the venue for its important AGM after the start of building work at Jalon Town Hall.

The meeting is now scheduled for 11.30 on Thursday 10th February and will take place at the Library and Pensionistas building, next to the municipal sports hall, between the Mas y Mas and Lliber roundabouts.

The charity apologises for any inconvenience but hopes as many people as possible will attend to hear of its achievements over 2010.

Pictured is the Jalon Valley HELP stall at the popular annual May Fair, an important source of funds for the charity.

UA3 Calpe Got a story?

902 118 999

rtnmail@roundtownnews.com

THE NEXT meeting will be held on Thursday, 10th February, 2011 at The Casa de Cultura Calpe at 10:00 for a 10:30 start. The guest speaker will be Keith Wildman from AFPO.

HAH events

Saturday 6th February: Time Out San Javier: Our very popular PIG RACING the Crackling Stakes from 20.00: To book your Porky Platter telephone Time Out on 968 192 418.

If you are struggling to cope and need help, please call HAH on 633 673 034.

To join our volunteers please call Lesley on 968 134 978 or email helpathomespain@gmail.com or visit www.helpathome.es

Suduko Answer

motoring

04 - 10 February 2011

The human condition Part 2: conclusion by

Brian Deller

Author of Motoring in Spain

I HAVE had many emails and also phone calls from people thanking me for taking the trouble to publish my book. But on the other side of the coin, a few are antagonistic towards me as I am, I guess, regarded as the messenger bringing bad news to the king; you know the old saying where the king orders the messenger to be executed for bringing the bad news...

I expected this, for you do not reach the age of 73 without learning a lot about human nature. So why is this? Because those who are angry with me know they are not complying with the laws and blame me for reminding them. But now it would appear there are some people living in our area that believe I have been reporting them to the police. This is absolutely NOT true.

It is a fact that some legal expats as far away as Almeria and Murcia have been advising me of neighbours that are openly illegal and not paying motoring taxes in Spain or the UK and they asked me to start a campaign (a year ago) as they are upset with these peoples’ tax dodging as well as the insurance aspect.

In our urbanisation, the illegal cars used daily by resident expats are left standing in the public roads where they can be

easily seen by the police, who regularly cruise around.

They do not have UK tax disc receipts or they are way out of date; a sure sign that they are illegal. Soon, Trafico will have access to the UK DVLA and the VOSA records so they can check illegal vehicles even with the new camera number plate recognition systems.

I write this without gloating: it is free advice so you can do what you want or need. But I do consider it my ‘duty’ as an acknowledged expert, with more knowledge than even some large insurance companies, to advise and warn those expats who believe the expat bar-room lawyers who tell all that it is not necessary to reregister the family car or the UK-registered van, etc. onto Spanish plates.

At no time have I supplied a list to the authorities of those openly defying the law while the rest of us are paying our taxes that allow their vehicles to use the roads. I repeat - the local police just about everywhere have already compiled the lists from their own travels around.

So I have a sincere request to all that blame the messenger for their errors - be thankful for the free advice that enables you to rectify the problem, so you can

keep your vehicle (most illegal vehicles are impounded until the re-registration is finished). There are new proposed laws that they may be crushed as in the UK, especially since so many are here on DVLA SORNs. Where we live (Manilva, Malaga), I am in a small way voluntarily working with the local ayuntamiento as part of their plans to improve integration of expats with the Spanish, so I can also get inside information on what is happening with other local news.

One question that is raised is why there has not been a big ‘blitz’ on such illegal vehicles… The police/Guardia Civil know where they are, but the problem is that currently there is no compound to keep the seized vehicles in, but the proposed crushing or enforced scrapping will solve that problem, I am told. Four Guardia Civil officers have recently been given those specific duties.

Remembering that there was a major problem in Marbella a year or so ago where impounded cars were used for spare parts, do you want your vehicle to spend time in a compound at a €50 per day charge? I think not.

So please, do not blame the messenger who is only trying to save you time, stress and money.

There is much more detailed information on all motoring subjects in my book. Brian Juan (John) Deller, Malaga, author, ‘Motoring in Spain’ www.spainvia.com. Tel: 666 888 870 Brian Deller, author, book Motoring in Spain, ISBN No 978 84 611 9278 6. Shops’ addresses in my web site at: www.spainvia.com/bookshopslist.htm

55

Classified Ads 56

04 - 10 February 2011

Book your advert now 902 118 999 (ext 2) Round Town News

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

EMAIL: classifieds@roundtownnews.com | WEBSITE: www.roundtownnews.co.uk | Fax: 96 585 60 54 | Or see our list of classified agents in this section

UK-SPAIN-IRELAND All European Destinations

Removals with the personal touch. Full/part loads.

Parcels, flat packs, luggage, door to door service, Storage available, pets transported

Phone 965 696 750 • 0044 (0) 1460 74191 email: chrisyounge73979@aol.com

PRISTINE POOLS

• Professional pool maintenance & cleaning • Replacement pumps, filters, salt systems Ph regulators and accessories supplied and installed • Pipe leaks pressure tested, detected and repaired • Structural leaks investigated and repaired • Refurbishments & upgrades undertaken British Trained with over 15 years experience.

Extensive references. All work guaranteed Tel: 96 677 4199 or 678 080 500 www.pristineswimmingpools.com Torrevieja and surrounding areas plus Costa Calida

04 - 10 February 2011 restaurant for sale at a very realistic price.The restaurant has been trading for 8-years and is well established. tele:687-913-775 FOR TRESPASO. BARRESTAURANT. Center of Torrevieja. Same owners for 23 years. Reason for sale, retirement.telephone:966-707-580 LARGE QUANTITY OF FLAT PACKED Pine Furniture from Denmark. Beds, Robes, Bedside Chests, Bookcases etc.Tlf:-628-499-448 10 COLD DRINK/SNACK VENDING MACHINES with sites,€39,900.excellent cash income, no overhead, work from home, work only one day per week, €31,000 nett yearly.

25 pringle vending machines with sites €14,900.€250 per week guaranteed.

965-326-442/659-696-455 SOLAR ENERGY BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Long established company, own product range. First class training & support. Telephone 606586587

FORMER WORLD KICKBOXING CHAMPION lessons in kickboxing/martial arts. one on one, get fit, blackbelt programs.

659-696-455

SERVICE AIR David Higton: (Tel) 966-865-883 (Mob) 629-308-505 (Email) cool@serviceair.biz

SAILING BOAT ARAEZ 22FT moored MarMenor. Good condition. Marina 8 engine.

Spinnaker, Depth Finder etc.

Offers. Tel 618-489-904/ 968-582-358 MOBILE/PARK HOMES FROM 15,000€ Fully furnished ready to move into, A/c, tel, eng tv, on permanent site, bar/res, pool,tennis,gym, shop. Walking distance to San Javier. 5mins to beach, Airport, hospital by car. Also bungalows for rent. Carol:-968-192-425.

Mob:-626-055-622 www. mobilehomesmarmenorspain. com CAMPING LOS GALLARDOS Come to Mojacar! Large campsite + mobile home park open all year, great expat community site, all welcome. 950-528-324. www.

CampingLosGallardos.com

PETZBACK HOME Professional pet transportation.

UK/Spain/UK www. petzbackhome.co.uk Ring 0044-1209-319204 PAWS PET TRANSPORT Spain-UK-Spain every month.

We look after your pets as if they belong to us. Call Joe for a chat on 966-074-189 or 650-341-087. email:pawspettransport@hotmail. com SMALL FRIENDLY BRITISH KENNELS individual runs, large excercise area. 25 mins Alicante airport. www. parkbark.co.uk 628-244-712

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Home based internet business secure your future minimal monthly outlay, free health band, and much more www. referlife.com or tel:663-559-806 RESTAURANT LEASE FOR SALE Fully fitted and licensed

COMPUTER SOLUTIONS All your computer needs carried out in our workshop, or at your home or office. Sales, repairs, upgrades, etc. Alicante to Torrevieja plus inland. Call Jim on 966-790-520 or 616-211-023 BYTEBACK MICROS computer repairs/upgrades in your home.

Qualified technician. Systems custom built. Whatever your problem call: 965-312-006 or 606-127-424

57

QUALIFIED BUILDER All Building Work Undertaken.

Kitchens, Bathrooms, Extentions, Plumbing, Tiling etc. Alfaz del Pi and surrounding areas. George:966-860-008/637-181-116. No Job Too Small

FULLY QUALIFIED UK ELECTRICIAN with 10 years experience on the CostaBlanca. All jobs undertaken-extra sockets, rewires, fault finding. Tlf:Hugh-690-275-223

DUE TO EXPANSION, MILLIE MUNRO SERVICES requires experienced S/E Sales Consultants. You will be promoting Golden Leaves Funeral Plans, Private Health Insurance and our other services targeting the expat regions of Spain. This is also a great opportunity to expand your existing business. You can expect to earn excellent commissions and full product training will be provided.

Interested...? Then forward your CV to simon@milliemunro.com or call 966-493-082 AVON NEED AGENTS AND LEADERS work hours to suit you. For info Phone Rosh 966-785-520 LOOKING FOR FANTASTIC EARNINGS with no outlay? We are looking for Experienced S/E Sales Consultants for the Costa Blanca/Murcia regions Selling Golden Leaves Funeral plans to the ex pat market. Fantastic commissions paid! Phone SOS now for further details!Tel:966-787-123/665-096-710 CARERS WANTED TO WORK IN THE UK 3 weeks on, 3 weeks off. Must be good cook, happy nature.

Training given.If you think you are the right person for this job email CV to 24hourhomecareservices@ googlemail.com FEMALES AND COUPLES 18 to 65 required for adult internet photo and video modeling.

Excellent rates. 697-697-842.

WORK WANTED. JAVEA AREA Semi-Retired Male.

Anything Considered. General Maintenance, Working from Home, Word and Data Processing etc.Tlf:680-501-404

58

04 - 10 February 2011 we deal directly with the manufacturers! Famous brands like United Colors of Benetton, etc www.michaelsjavea.com AT MICHAEL’S Chest freezer with large drawer at bottom.

Top loading washing machine, etc 2-door fridge/freezer, as new. Large Phillips solarium.

Over 600 photos: www.michaels-javea.com AT MICHAEL’S Natural Bamboo 3-piece suites.

Beautiful 3-piece suite in beige wicker/cane. Several large carpets,very high quality. See over 600 photos: www.michaels-javea.com AT MICHAEL’S you can get part exchange on certain beds when you buy a New bed from our New Bed shop in the Arenal. See photos (updates every 5-6 days): www.michaels-javea.com MICHAEL’S 28 YEARS IN JAVEA ENSURES YOUR SATISFACTION! We sell high quality pre owned furniture, many from show apartments etc. Look at: www.michaelsjavea.com Tel 96-579-1328 2 X MATCHING SOFA TABLES Circular, Diameter 60cm, Height 55cm, 3 legged pedestal base, Light oak finish. VCG. Altea area, Buyer collects. 50€ the pair.

691-202-307 CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEM COMPLETE Large 28k Valiant boiler with instruction,11 large gas bottles,gas distribution board,10 radiators,dismantled, private sale,Javea, 1400euros.

Tlf:-965-770-594 WHEELCHAIR Light, Foldable, Hardly used, like new, 150€. Mobility Scooter 40km range 499€ Tlf:627-019-403

SOLO SINGER/GUITARIST can travel Country/Blues/ Rock´nRoll. available for pubs/ clubs/private parties, musician not karoke Charlie 691-622-804

PALM AND TREE TRIMMING/ REMOVAL All Garden Maintenance Call 619-336-762

S.O.S. INSURANCE CarHome-Health-Comercial.

Funeral Plans and Insurance.

Tlf:-966-787-123/622-275-561

TEETH WHITENING. Professional and pain free.

Cosmetic One Hour Treatment, from 99€. Javea, Denia, Calpe, areas. Tel:-680-501-404 or email: info@nulookteeth.com WEIGHT LOSS

MATCHING TWO SEATER and Three Seater Bed Setee.

Beige/Brown. 180€ ONO. Buyer Collects. 667-361-805 BUILDERS JOB LOT 3 lifts of scaffold, 2 walk boards, cement mixer, aluminum ladder, 4 across 265euros, Quad suit 12 or over 150 automatic only for off road use 225euros, blue sky fridge 145cm tall internal small freezer 55euros. tel:676-722-463 TUBE HEATERS tubular heaters. suitable for wardrobes, bathrooms, garages etc. low running costs. new with guarantee. all areas covered.From 30 euros.

628809829 tubularheaters@gmail.com PRORUN TX500 RS heavy duty treadmill as seen in health clubs. As new, with speed, timer and distance indicators.150€ 966-262-762

WANTED INSTANT CASH PAID Antique and modern jewellery, vintage watches bought sold part exchanged, insurance valuations. Jewellery & watch repairs. Alexanders, Javea Port seafron near Bar Esquina. Established since 2003. Tel:965-792-595

GUARANTEED/GET FIT world class personal trainer €50 per hour.659-696-455.

PRESTIGE NURSING offers Legal, Registered and Professional Home Care on the Costa Blanca. All your home nursing care service needs can be undertaken by our highly trained nursing/ domiciliary team. Call Prestige Nursing on 687-015-517

AT MICHAEL’S you also get NEW high quality Spanish beds. All sizes available as

BALLROOM/LATIN/ SEQUENCE DANCING with LA BAMBA’s. Los Arcos Restaurant, Avenida Baleares, Torrevieja, New Beginners class Monday 10.30am12.30pm. SOCIAL DANCE Saturday 7.30pm-10pm.

Tuesday Improvers Lesson 7.30pm-8.30pm plus SOCIAL

DANCE 8.30pm-10.30pm.

New Venue: The Wok Royal, Benijofer (966-714820) New Beginners Class: Monday, 7.30pm-8.30pm plus SOCIAL DANCE: 8.30pm10.30pm. Bienvenido Chinese restaurant, at La Zenia roundabout.New Beginners Class: Wednesday 7.30pm9.30pm. Tel: Andrea and Brian 616-478-157 WEIGHT WATCHERS Call our Free English call centre now to find your nearest meeting.

900-818-794 DATEMED.ES Great new online dating site for English speaking people on the Costa Blanca. Free membershipsJoin Now! www.datemed.es

CATERING EQUIPMENT Combi oven 600euro, meat slicer 150euro, digital scales 125euro, 3mtr canopy incl motor 1200euro, chicken machine (20 chickens),1300euro, heated display case 200euro, 2 door bottle fridge 200euro, 75cm gas plancha 250euro, glass washer 500euro, tele:966-180-126 QROPS FEES! Have you looked at transferring or cashing in your UK pension only to be dissappointed by expensive fees? If so call me. Lowest QROPS Fees Guaranteed! Paul 965-058-488 or 691-219-354 PINE SHOP SALE Bedside Chest. 20€.Tel:-628-499-448.

PINE SHOP SALE Double Bed. 270€ Tlf:-628-499-448 PINE SHOP SALE Hall Mirror 85€ Tlf:-628-499-448 PINE SHOP SALE Gate Leg Table 85€ Tlf:-628-499-448 PINE SHOP SALE Sideboard 155€. Tel:-628-499-448.

PINE SHOP SALE Large Bookcase 135€ . Tel:628-499-448.

PINE SHOP SALE Treble Robe 150€ . Tel:-628-499-448.

PINE SHOP SALE Double Robe 180€.Tel:-628-499-448.

PINE SHOP SALE 5+2 Chest.

135€. Tel:-628-499-448.

PINE SHOP SALE Bookcase 57€.Tel:-628-499-448.

PINE SHOP SALE King size bed. 285€.Tel:-628-499-448.

KARAOKE MEDIA PLAYER “Brand New” 500GB. 70,000songs, software, songbooks, bar/home use.

275euros Tlf:-657-766-341 POOL, SNOOKER TABLES Also Table Tennis and Darts.

Will beat any price!. Tlf:-666933-726. www.spainpool.com

WANTED, MERCEDES CLK CLK Elegance Wanted.

Excellent condition, leather, 2004 or later, will pay up to 12,000€. 618-133-799 FORD FOCUS ESTATE 2004 1.6 AUTO, 75,000kms, Full service history - Petrol, Metallic silver, PAS, ABS, Front fog lights, E. windows/ mirrors, R. luggage cover, A/C, Remote locking, Cd player, Multi airbags, Rear head restraints. 5750€ Stunning condition! Call Frank 600.726.221/965.687.976 or simply view our website www.fwreurocars.com JEEP WRANGLER - 4X4, RIGHT HAND DRIVE, English Reg. July ‘01 - 4.0 Sahara, 29,000kms, Full service history - Petrol, Dark metallic green, Chrome bumpers bullbar, side bars, Front spot lights, A/C, Central locking, Alloys, Driver’s airbag, ABS, PAS, Cd player, Tow pack, Anti roll bar, Original handbook and service books. Stunning Condition! 4950€. Call Frank 600.726.221/965.687.976 or simply view our website www. fwreurocars.com GOOD SELECTION OF RHD AND LHD VEHICLES for sale or exchange from 1200€. Call Frank 600-726-221/965-687976 or simply view our website www.fwreurocars.com FORD KA - 3 DOOR HATCH, 1.3 COLLECTION, Full service history - 1 owner, 46,000 kms, Petrol, choice of two, blue or silver, PAS, ABS, Rear head restraints, A/C, Central locking, Cd player, Multi airbags.

4750€. Call Frank 600-726221/965-687-976 or simply view our website www.fwreurocars.com MERCEDES C180 ELEGANCE 1999 Facelift Model. Silver, LHD, Low Milage, Service History, Excellent Condition inside and out. Very Econimical. €4000 ONO Tlf:-696-981-082 TV HYUNDAI SANTA FE V6 AUTO 2003 Spanish lhd 104,000km 8,500euro tel: 660-375-093 FUEL SET FUEL TREATMENT Are you worried about your car failing the ITV because of emissions? Check out www. liquidengineeringspain.com for details of Fuel Set, which could solve your fuel emission problems.

BARGAIN FORD FIESTA 1.4 TDCI Turbo Diesel.

Sep/2003,LHD 5door, only 69,000klm, approx 43,000 mls, F/S/history, air/con e/ windows, remote c/locking, remote CDplayer, possible px, lady owner. Very economical.

4395euros ONO, 656-676-541 VW BEETLE. LHD. 2000 English Registered 1600€.

Call:-627-463-523 BUMPERS, WINGS AND MIRRORS All body panels for all cars supplied. Tel:966-875-497 or 618-592-396 HEADLIGHTS4U.COM Left hand drive headlights supplied and fitted. All makes. Also air conditioning rechargeTel:-966875-497 or 618-592-396 MITSUBISHI PAJERO RHD English Plates. 7 seater, 2.8L diesel, 2500€ ONO. Call for more information. Tlf:664-535-755 WANTED Scrap cars, vans, lorries, plant and caravans.

Turn your scrap into cash.

Free collection. Tel.689929395

WE BUY any car,van,motorhome,boat, jet ski. Instant decision at good prices. Tel 680 -665-583 WANTED I buy any car, van,Caravan,4x4 Etc.British, Spanish. Immediate cash 600-781-873 ibuyanycar@hotmail.com

ACE AUTOS British & Spanish used car sales

01 RENAULT KANGOO VAN 1.9 DIESEL P/S 97 SEAT CORDOBA A/C P/S E/W LOW KMS 00 NISSAN ALMERA DIESEL 5 DOOR A/C 96 SEAT CORDOBA 1.9 DIESEL 4 DOOR A/C P/S 01 DAEWOO LANOS 5 DOOR A/C P/S CLEAN 97 B.M.W. 318 T.D.S. 4 DOOR A/C ALLOYS C.D. 98 FORD MONDEO GHIA 4 DOOR A/C P/S E/W 98 FORD MONDEO DIESEL A/C E/W ALLOYS 97 DAEWOO LANOS 3 DOOR HATCH A/C P/S 01 HYUNDAI GALLOPER 7 SEATS A/C ALLOYS U.K. CARS 03 HONDA ACCORD 5 DOOR ALLOYS A/C C.D. 01 B.M.W.325i AUTOMATIC 4 DOOR A/C ALLOYS 04 FORD FOCUS 5 DOOR T.D.I. ALLOYS A/C T/T 96 ROVER 416 ESTATE TIDY CAR U.K. RHD RHD (SPANISH) 99 SEAT AROSA 1.1 E/W P/S V/CLEAN

1,950€ 1,650€ 2,450€ 1,950€ 1950€ 2,950€ 1,950€ 2,450€ 1,500€ 3,750€ 4,250€ 3,750€ 4,950€ 950€ 950€

MANY MORE CARS IN STOCK ALL WITH NEW ITV/MOT´S P/X ON MOST CARS. FIND US NEAR NEW MERCADONNA PUEBLE PRINCIPLE,VILLA MARTIN CARS WANTED FOR CASH LHD/RHD

Tel: 620 738 023 10am to 5pm

FIND US NEAR NEW MERCADONA. PUEBLO PRINCIPE, VILLA MARTIN

Cars wanted for cash LHD/RHD

04 - 10 February 2011

IM PAINTING interior and exterior painting to the highest standard. smooth or textured finish. up to 10 year guarantee. references available. call ian on 696-708-567 VILLAPAINTING.ES Spray application specialists.Interior and Exterior, wood-doors and metalwork Telephone 678-179-346 info@villapainting.es

Experienced mechanic required for busy workshop in San Miguel De Salinas.

The position is Full time with immediate start, undertaking all types of mechanical work in our state of the art workshop.

You will be working alongside our existing mechanics to deliver a high standard of work and customer care.

Please forward your CV and covering letter to aftersales@autosdirect.es

GENERIC VIAGRA SAFE AND EFFECTIVE 100mg blue pills 24 for 50€ or fast acting oral jellies. Call Ron TTMarketing Tlf:-966-499-204 SPANISH LADY PLAYA FLAMENCA near new Carrefour before La Florida.

35 years, attractive, classy lady, private house, parking.

Offers all erotic services, massage, sexy lingerie, economical prices from 40€.

Full discretion. Call Ana 680-735-412 DAVID TORREVIEJA 24 years old, gym body, Very sexy and hot, come see it for yourself for men and couples.call me 678-179-616.

TORREVIEJA TRANS CORAL stunning blonde,Huge breasts, sculptural body.

Speciality erotic masage.Very feminine and sexy. Call me 671 42 44 56 GENERIC VIAGRA 100MG 12 tablets for 30€ or 24 for 50€ also fast acting jellies and weekenders. Free discreet delivery. Quesada & surrounding area. Derek 685-207-378 ELEGANT, SLIM, SEXY LADY ESCORT My Place, Home or Hotel visits. Torrevieja-La Manga-Mazarron Areas. Tlf:693-357-526 DANI 24, SWEET GERMAN GIRL Offers erotic service.

House and Hotel visits or in my apartment. 650-104-534 Torrevieja TANYA is back and needs help to burn off all those Xmas calories.Tel:-626-324-088

PORNO DVD´S! The Best You´ve Ever Seen! Gay, Bestial, She-Male, BDSM 10€ each. Tlf:-636-929-511 SEXY FUN AND GAMES 63 year old. Sub/Dom Switch. Your place or mine.

Available for females, males and couples. Specialising in more mature females and cross dressers. Torrevieja to Benidorm. Low Fees. Tlf:655-058-554 CASA ANGELA TORREVIEJA Luxury Private Chalet, parking. Drinks invitation.

Feeling alone? Just want some company? Exotic girls from South America. Call us, come and enjoy! Also Escort Service. Full discretion. Street: Avenida Asociacion Vistimas del Terrorismo. 609-573-468 or 639-832-118 NEW PLACE! TORREVIEJA Sexy girls from South America.

Come and enjoy, economical prices from 40?. NEW ADDRESS Zone Los Locos beach. 639-622-285

POOL LEAK REPAIR SPECIALIST’S Pipe leaks pressure tested, detected and repaired. Structural leaks investigated and repaired. 100’s of private and communal pools successfully repaired on the Costa Blanca. 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 15 years experience. Torrevieja and surrounding areas including Costa Calida. Tel Pristine Pools on 966-774-199 or 678-080-500 Email info@ pristineswimmingpools.com www.pristineswimmingpools. com SWIMMING POOL MAINTENANCE AND CLEANING SERVICE BY POOLTECHSPAIN. We are a fully legal, qualified and registered business who have been operating on the Costa Blanca for 6 years. We offer a professional, reliable, safe and efficient pool service, inc. re-grouting, pressure testing and leak repairs. Private and community swimming pools undertaken. Call now for more information on 965-725-565 or mobile 676-945-360/

620-743-048 www.pooltechspain.com

626-822-014 ATTRACTIVE APARTMENT TO LET Apartment in Oliva, comprising lounge, kitchenette, double bedroom, bathhroom, nicely furnished and heated. €250 pcm including bills. tlf:962-855-900 APARTMENT FOR RENT 3 bedroom, clean spacious apartment in Pedreguer town, close to all amenities. 2 bathrooms, lounge, kitchen, aircon and lift. Available now €450 per month bills included.

Call 638-207-343

LONG TERM RENTAL, JAVEA Small Villa preferred, or ground floor apartment.

Retired male, with dog.

Needing secure garden, TV, Internet. Tel.:-680-501-404.

CLASSIC SPANISH OLD TOWN HOUSE CALLOSA. 3 double bedrooms (one en-suite) new kitchen, large living room/diner. Bbq terrace and LOTS more. Recently reformed/fully furnished.

135,000€ Tel:609-177-032.

MOBILE/PARK HOMES On Camping Pueblo in San Javier from 15,000€. Alucasa park home with 34mtr l/shape conservatory 3 sheds 2 a/c eng tv. Tel. Completly furnished. Must sell 25,000 euros ono. Carol:-968-192425. Mob:-626-055-622 www. mobilehomesmarmenorspain. com LOOKING TO RELOCATE We have new and pre-owned luxury park homes for sale throughout the UK 12 month occupancy part exchange considered on your Spanish or UK home for more information call 0044-151633-2321 or email : alan.aitken@hotmail.co.uk

SPANISH LINKS LTD Removals & Deliveries. Spain/ Uk/Spain www.spanishlinks. co.uk Ring 0044-1209-843971 VAN LEAVING FOR THE U/K every two weeks space both ways. Great rates contact Joe on 966-074-189 or 650-341087 or email civic1235@msn.com MAN & LWB SPRINTER VAN going to UK- Spain twice a month. Tel: 610-846-260 or 0044-7519-186-355 email:van.man@hotmail.co.uk MICK WITH HIS VAN Removals Collections Deliveries. For a reliable effective service. Hourly rate or quote. Call Mick anytime 600-247-535 LARGE EMPTY VAN with experienced owner, driver returning to UK regularly.

Dave: 965-329-610/ 686-767-839

SPECIAL OFFER Los Altos, Detached Villa, 220 square metre plot, only 113,000€ 669-283-973

VILLAMARTIN AREA Middle Town House, 2/3 Bedrooms, Bathroom, Seperate Toilet, Garage, F/F, Fitted Kitchen, 89.000€. Tlf:-669-283-973

TORREVIEJA 2 Bed 1 Bath, 1st floor apartment, for long let. with lift, separate good sized kitchen with serving hatch to lounge/Diner. Galleria, and large balcony.TV, A/C. 1 min from sea front.609-550-734 1 BED BUNGALOWS on Camping Pueblo in San Javier with lots of ameneties.Carol 968-192-425 mob 626-055-622 www,mobilehome smarmenorspain.com VILLAMARTIN HOUSE FOR RENT PRIVATE POOL Lovely 2-3 bed house for long term rent in quite area, Air conditioning, Furnished and an 8m x 4m Private swimming pool and Garden, english owned. 475euro PCM Tlf:-

QUALIFIED TRANSLATOR Bi-Lingual Spanish-English, High Level French and German. Confidential and Reliable Service. Competative Rates. Torrevieja Area. Call Virginia on 629-201-192.

TRANSLATOR Spanish and English speaking. Available for medical visits etc.

Benidorm and surrounding areas. Tel Dawn: 626-337-258.

59

COMPUTER TUTOR Software training, ebusiness education, website publishing, photography, videography and more DIY tips and tricks for all of your business and personal needs. Karla Darocas - certified instructor since 1990. Tel: 96 597 3234 info@KarlaDarocas. com Referrences - www.

KarlaDarocas.com BRITISH GRADUATE TEACHER Offers secondary/primary tuition.

English/Mathematics. Tel:Margaret Johnson B.Ed. 965-350-516/616-660-687

ALL SATELLITE SYSTEMS Installed, Maintained and Repaired.

10 years experience with Satellites in Spain. All areas covered. Tlf:-Hugh690-275-223 SMALLDISHTV@ HOTMAIL.CO.UK UK TV no subscriptions fitted from 299.00 Euros Games consoles repaired. 605547-662 SKYSUPPLIES Sky+/ Humax HD/SD Digibox`s, White cards, LNB`s. Faults/ realignments. Advice. 966194-013/ 600-899-096.

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60

04 - 10 February 2011

Classifieds Agents

benidorm theme park TICKETS FOR SALE 2 FOR JUST 10€ CALL 620 340 548

Now it’s even easier to place a classified advert with the RTN by using our official agents listed below! Cars, Houses, Boats, Computers find them all in the classifieds section. Or maybe you have unwanted items to sell or something to offer? Our classified agents will be happy to help you whatever your needs.

AGENTS NORTH

Round Town Travel 1, Avenida Dr Severo Ochoa, 1, Urb. El Admiral, Local 1, Rincon Benidorm, 03503, Alicante. Lisa 966 811 123 Benidorm Round Town Travel 2, Calle Gerona, 39, Benidorm, 03503, Alicante. (Next to Hotel Ambassador) Kerry/Gemma 966 813 261 Benidorm Round Town Trips, Calle Narcisco Yepes, 4, Local 8, Albir, 03581, Alicante. (Opp. Golf Course, next to Kwik Save) Lee/Jackie 966 867 294 • lee@roundtowntrips.com albir ProminenT, Teulada Industrial Est. Calle Llanterner, 2 alto, 03725, Teulada, Alicante.

Marja 965 793 229 • espana@prominent.nu Millie Munro Insurance, Avenida Lepanto, 6, 03726, Benitachell, Alicante.

Millie 966 493 082 • millie@milliemunro.com EasyBuy, Avenida del Portet 24, Moraira. 03724 Alicante 965 745 969 Quicksave, Partida Murtar 2/2, Pedreguer, Alicante. Andrew Thomas 966 456 157 • beverleyethomas@yahoo.co.uk ICUK Foods sl, C/Gulliem de Casto, 8 Bajo, Oliva 46780, Valencia 962 839 830 • icukfoodssl@hotmail.com

teulada benitachell moraira pedreguer oliva

AGENTS SOUTH

Bargain Books, Plaza Juan Carlos 1, Nº 2, San Miguel de Salinas, 03193, Alicante. (Opp. Tourist Info) Gaynor/Lee 688 667 389 • leeshaw.evans@gmail.com san miguel Johnsons El Limonar,JCP Commercial Center, Local 31, Los Altos Del Limonar, Torrevieja, 966 785 600 Torrevieja Johnsons Quesada, Ava. Las Naciononies 1a -17, Quesada, 966 717 848 Quesada Johnsons Algorfa, Local 30, Commercial Center La Finca Golf, Algorfa, 966 729 647

Algorfa The Post Room, Centro Comercial 5, Via Park III, Calle Panticosa Nº 2, Los Altos, 03189, Orihuela Costa, Alicante. Aoife/Chris 965 319 665 • aoifesweeney@hotmail.com orihuela Pennys Supermarket, Flamenca Beach Comercial Centre, Unit 123, Playa Flamenca, 03189, Orihuela Costa, Alicante. Peter/Sarah 966 733 257 • bulldogstores@live.com orihuela Print Solutions, Avenida Londres 136, La Marina Urb, San Fulgencio, 03177, Alicante.

Jim/Trish 966 790 520 • jim@printsolutionsspain.com SAN FULGENCIO Interpost, Avenida de la Alegria Nº 32, La Marina, 03194, Alicante.

Malika/Malcolm 965 419 673 • Inter-post100@live.com

la marina

Villamartin Satellite Centre, Avenida Las Brisas 33, Villamartin, 03189, Alicante. (Near Supervalu, Los Dolses) . Sarah/Heather 966 764 878 • villamartinsatellitecentre@yahoo.co.uk villamartin Best Wishes, Local 30, Comercial Centre Hispania, Avda de la Union 72, San Javier, 30730, Murcia.

Kathy 968 192 235 • kaffywalker@hotmail.com murcia Ononix Mar SL, Calle Mayor 30, bajo derecha, Guardamar, 03140, Alicante. Ron/Alicia 965 728 178 aliciamuddle@ononix.com GUARDAMAR

FOR SALE Two 25 litre single standing fryers. 6 months old. Hardly used. 2250€ new.

Selling for 1000€ each or 1750€ for both.

Call Paul on

636 889 232

04 - 10 February 2011

61

Book an advert on this page and get a FREE premium listing worth 100€ on thebizspain.com. Contact your local representative or call 902 118 999 T’s & C’s apply Airport Parking

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62

04 - 10 February 2011

The final whistle With Andy Kay

Pricey Carroll

f l o G N T R e t a d p u Club Dennis Jordan

Mike Probert

Region

Region

SOUTH

NORTH

WELL, WHAT a weekend with the weather! It has pulled a few golfers off the courses here in the north, especially with the lightning on Sunday, but all in all we have had a relatively good winter so far.

In general the courses seem to be quiet, so hopefully now we are at the start of February it will be back to business as usual.

Anyone that would like to play golf here but do not have any golf clubs, we hire them out and they include balls and tees; just request them when you book your tee times and enquire if they are available.

Please see the table for prices and for special offers that the courses send me.

Fernando Torres

Two weeks ago, I promised that I’d write a full explanation as to why Darren Bent, who was transferred from Sunderland to Aston Villa, is not worth 24 million quid. As it happens, I no longer have to. Why? Because apparently, Andy Carroll is worth £35 million! Well, that’s how much he was valued at by Liverpool who of course, had a bit a cash to flash after the departure of Fernando Torres.

Torres went to Chelsea for £50 million and while he hasn’t been at his best since before the last World Cup, at least Chelsea might cover themselves with that well worn phrase that ‘form is temporary but class is permanent.’

Can the same be said of Carroll? I’m not so sure. First off he’s injured. Will he make a full recovery? Liverpool will be hoping so. Secondly, while he did make his Premier League debut almost 4 years ago, Carroll was then loaned out to Preston North End and after returning to the Toon, spent most of his time playing in the Championship. In fact, over half the goals he scored for Newcastle in his time there were outside of the EPL. In other words, it looks as if Liverpool have based their assessment on Carroll’s half a season in the top flight. That’s a £35 million gamble in any language.

Bye-bye Gary I have to admit that I’m not a Gary Neville fan. I don’t much like him as a bloke, I don’t like his politics and I certainly don’t like his seeming hatred for anything that moves on Merseyside. But it’s only fair to remember that Neville’s function in life was as a footballer...and that he did very well.

A 19 year long career at Old Trafford, eight Premier League titles, three FA Cups and a Champions League winners’ medal plus 85 caps for his country. That’s not a bad record to take in to retirement. United have lost a belligerent and fiery character and the club, if not the first team, will the poorer for it.

Rugby Lottery This season’s 6 Nations Championship looks wide open, which is absolutely fantastic. Looking back on recent form, England were good against Australia but were undone by the power of South Africa. Wales will be desperate to end a disappointing winless streak, France were awful in the Autumn but will be as unpredictable as ever, Scotland are improving but can’t seem to score tries while Ireland will be buoyed by the performances of both Leinster and Ulster in the Heineken Cup. They also start off against underdogs Italy and will have home advantage over both France and England later in the tournament. It’s too close to call but I think Ireland might be slight favourites for the Championship though a Grand Slam might be one step too far.

Jooinur

club!

THE LATEST news from the south of the region is that Altorreal has been sold to a consortium of members and for the time being, prices and deals are unchanged BUT I would take advantage of these while they are still available.

Unfortunately with the end of January comes the end of many of the winter deals BUT there are still some good deals available for a short time to come so plan your golf carefully over the next month because from 1st March the high season deals will be well and truly with us with very little cheap golf until early June.

The courses are holding up well to the recent drop in temperatures although they all now have that yellow/brown look that comes with the use of Bermuda grasses.

So dust off the club’s, put on some warm clothing and get out there on some of these excellent courses with prices as detailed in the price table beside.

NORTH Region Golf Course

RTN Price

Comments

Alenda

€45

Single Green fee

Alicante Golf

€46

Single Green fee + Buggy

Bonalba

€42

Single Green fee

Don Cayo

€43

Single Green fee

El Plantio

€45

Single Green fee

Font del Llop

€68

Two Green fees

Villaitana Par 62

€30

Single Green fee + Buggy

Villaitana Par 72

€40

Single Green fee

For more information email Dennis at dennis@roundtownnews.com or direct to www.benidormgolf.com on 630 714 373.

SOUTH Region Golf Course

RTN Price

Altorreal Las Colinas

Comments

€55

2 Players and 1 Buggy (Fridays)

€200

4 Players and 2 Buggies

€76

2 Players and 1 Buggy

(8am-9am and 12pm-1pm)

La Finca

€42

Single Green Fee

Las Ramblas

€36

Single Green Fee

La Serena

€76

2 Players and 1 Buggy

Villamartin

€38

Single Green Fee

Roda

€80

2 Players and 1 Buggy

VistaBella

€72

2 Players and 1 Buggies (Weekend) 2 Players and 1 Buggy (From 2.00pm)

€45

There many more winter deals available and to obtain more information contact Mike at mike@roundtownnews.com or direct at Costa Blanca Green Fee Services on 966 704 752 or 661 345 931

PLAYING GOLF for RTN Golf Club members could not be better as everyone scores a hole in one to enjoy a complete discount package at the best prices possible.

Players can get out on 30 Costa Blanca courses and pay the most competitive green fees available.

This ‘superb’ deal means a RTN Golf Club member and up to seven guests can all be enjoying spectacular discounts at clubs along the coast. To book a round, all members have to do is to

send their requirements to the two agents, who will deal with requests quickly and efficiently.

For the south email: mike@ roundtownnews.com and for the north email: dennis@roundtownnews.com To apply for your membership card go to: www.roundtownews.co.uk and click on the Golf club logo on the homepage.

Allow 21 days for delivery

No need to panic - yet! FC Cartagena:1 - Xerez CD:2 LOSING AGAINST 2nd, 3rd and then 4th in the league isn’t exactly a disaster, but sudden lack of ideas, chronic shortage of strikers and a failure to bring in fresh blood is.

This defeat saw Cartagena slip out of the play-off zone for the first time since early season, and with tough away matches at Elche and Barcelona ‘B’ to come, the ship needs steadying - pretty damn quick!.

Basic errors now seem to be occurring on a regular basis, not only in defence, but bread and butter supplies to the front men are far too easily being gobbled up. Manager JIM experimented with 3 changes for this important div 2a match; the strangest seemed to be that of central defender Cala being relegated to the bench.

The game was only 2 minutes old before a terrible back pass let in Xerez striker Josemari, whose shot flew wide with only Casilla to beat. A rare start for Goiria seemed to inspire confidence, his shot from the edge of the box sailing over the bar on 9 minutes, as Cartagena got into their stride.

Chances for both sides were coming thick and fast, as long range shots were the order of the day. First Cordero, then Lomban shot wide of Casilla’s near post, before Moral struck back for the home side - his well struck free kick being saved by keeper Chema. ‘Twas ‘Mr Reliable’, Victor, who put

Cartagena ahead on 22 minutes, slotting home Goiria’s pin point cross at the far post.

Four minutes later, Goiria should have added another, but from a corner. Whilst standing under the cross bar, he somehow managed to blast his shot sky high - his last contribution, before hobbling off with a hamstring pull. No one was marking the dangerous Josemari on 30 minutes, as he gratefully put away a low cross at the near post, giving Xerez a deserved equaliser.

Just before the break, Pablo almost put the visitors ahead, but his free kick just missed the target.

Xerez almost took the lead on 51 minutes, but Cordero’s long range shot smacked against the cross bar. From the next attack, Victor saw his diving header well saved, then from the clearance, a superb individual effort by Oscar almost produced a goal but his final effort was just off target.

In an off the ball incident, Victor appeared to be flattened inside the penalty area, but ref Torres was unimpressed. On 65 minutes, Moral’s fierce shot was well saved, but worse was to follow. The loose ball eventually found Josemari, who coolly rounded the on-rushing Casilla (his rush of blood to the head is rapidly becoming a trademark, bringing back memories of ‘Ca-

lamity James’ unfortunate bloomers!) before slotting the ball into an empty net.

Botelho found himself in a good position to level the scores, but he shot into the side netting as keeper Chema narrowed the angle. When Lomban picked up a 2nd yellow card for handball on 76 minutes, numerical advantage should have galvanised Cartagena into action, but apart from Moral’s shot being well saved on 88 minutes, Xerez were let off lightly, and it was they who deservedly finished the day in 4th position.

Attendance: 7,000 FC CARTAGENA LINE-UP Casilla, Cygan, Clavero (Dani), Mariano Herrero, Botelho, Muñoz (Longas), Moral, Goiria (Lafuente), Victor, Exposito FUTURE FIXURE With Real Murcia no longer in div 2a, the nearest league match for Cartagena is Elche.

On Saturday, 5th February, KO 18.00, Cartagena will visit Elche, full of revenge for the less than deserved defeat inflicted on them by the divisions ‘bad boys’. Many hundreds of Los Albinegros faithful will be making the short journey up the AP7, for what should be a tasty encounter - to say the least (not one for the faint hearted, so beware!)

Regular updates on FC Cartagena can be found by visiting www.nosoloefese.es or www.futbolclubcartagena.com.

ANYONE FOR FOOTBALL? Aged between 20 to 40 ? Torrevieja area Call Doug on 628 789 335

63

04 - 10 February 2011

The time is right to get out and play Fishing Maggots End Noel’s world of golf

By Noel Eastwell Teaching Professional Campo de Golf El Plantio 639 730 891

I HAVE had the pleasure of working with RTN now for a few years and practically since I started with the paper we have campaigned for affordable golf.

Thanks in some small way to our campaigning and the economic climate we are at last seeing affordable golf being offered to people living in Spain.

There has never been a better time for those who had given up golf to return to it and for those who thought they would enjoy playing the sport to give it a go. Practically every golf course manager in Spain has now developed a more relaxed view in regard to pricing.

This change in attitude has been forced upon golf courses because of the reduced number of people playing the game and presents golfers with a golden opportunity to enjoy the greatest game on the planet. For those who don’t know yet what it is like to play one of our beautiful courses, or have forgotten, just imagine what it would be like spend 4 to 5 hours out in the fresh air, at one with nature, enjoying the company of the people you are playing with and the scenery around you. Is there really a better way to enjoy our wonderful weather?

The cost of equipment has now reduced substantially with loads of second hand golf clubs and bags available at affordable prices. Golf balls are now so cheap that you wonder how those selling them ever make a profit. There are one or two people on the sidelines of nearly every golf club selling balls that have been lost and found at prices as low as €5 for a dozen balls so you don’t have to shell out €12 for a dozen if you don’t want to.

New equipment can be purchased from a wealth of internet retailers at prices far cheaper than can be purchased from many shops here in Spain so

don’t be put off by the prices you see in the local pro shops. Take advice from your coach as to the correct clubs for you; he may even be able to source them cheaper than you if you are lucky.

The time is right: the excuses are getting less and less for not playing golf. Come and join us on the fairways of Spain - you will be amazed at how much enjoyment can be found there.

WIN A ROUND OF GOLF FOR 2 INCLUDING BUGGY AT THE BEAUTIFUL EL PLANTIO RESORT IN ALICANTE To enter this competition, simply answer the question below correctly. Every correct answer will be entered into a draw at the end of the month and the winner of this fantastic prize worth over €180 will be picked at random at the end of each month. Send your entries by email to golf@ roundtownnews.com. The decision of the editor of RTN will be final in making the winning selection.

QUESTION FOR 4TH FEBRUARY 2011 Who is the current WGC Accenture Matchplay Champion?

A. Geoff Ogilvy B. Paul Casey C. Ian Poulter All answers must be received no later than 17.00 on 28th February 2011 to be entered into February’s draw, to be made on 28th February 2011. The winner will be announced in RTN on 4th March 2011.

NOEL EASTWELL GOLF ACADEMY AT EL PLANTIO For the very best in golf tuition, contact Noel on 639 730 891.

Any questions you have for Noel should be sent to golf@roundtownnews.com

Rugby: Spanish Premierchip - Liga Renfe RUGBY LA Vila beat Sevilla Cajasol, 18-12 last Sunday at Villajoyosa and stays first in the Competition, the teams started very well and in 20 minutes scored twice: 15-0.

Everybody thought it was going to be an easy game, but it was not. The Sevilla boys started to defend and attack superbly. La Vila Players tried very hard to score two more tries to obtain the bonus point but it was impossible.

Just before the end of the game, two more tries for Sevilla Cajasol: Final score 18-12.

Next weekend there will be no premiership rugby, due to Spain’s National Team playing against Russia for the VI nations B at Madrid, Saturday, 5th February at 16.00.

We have three players there: Martin Aceña, Matt Cook and Marcos Poggi.

David Hoare

968 199 279 For further details ring Alan Roscoe 968 570 876 or email: anglerstogether@gonuts4free.com THIS WEEK saw the start of the Coastrider Challenge cup. It is a series of three matches with the best overall team weight to win. The two teams are Rods and Reels and Abbey Anglers.

All members of both clubs are eligible to fish with the top eight weights from each team to be added up for the overall weight. These are then added together from each match to give the winning team.

The match was again fished on the 8 foot Drain as the Eden canal was having a haircut with the bamboo being cut down. It was rightly deemed that fishing there could be dangerous for some anglers, as the machinery used took no prisoners. At least this week the water only went up some 9 inches so it was easier to deal with, as opposed to last week’s one metre rise.

TOP ANGLERS ON THE DAY 1st John (AKA Johnny M) Marsh, fishing the pole using maggot, with 7.600 kg 2nd Mick (The Arsenal) Hill, fishing the pole using maggot, with 6.240 kg 3rd Jim (The Medic) Hovey, fishing the pole using maggot, with 5.624 kg OVERALL WEIGHT ON THE DAY Rods and Reels 27.460 kg Abbey Anglers 23.720 kg PLEASE NOTE There are two vacancies within the club if anyone is interested in joining. Please contact Sue Swann on 966 729 293

San Fulgencio CF:1 - CD Montesinos:6

Bad day at the office for San Fulgencio CF After two wins on the trot it all went pear shaped against a much improved Montesinos team.

Montesinos opened scoring in the sixteenth minute with number ten shooting from a tight angle. Four minutes later, player/coach Gary Williams took a penalty but shot wide of the post. Just before half time Montesinos were awarded a free kick outside the box, the ball was floated in for a forward to head on into the goal mouth but the Saints defence cleared the threat: half time 0-1.

Saints’ keeper Matt Dexter saved a Montesinos free kick on the edge of the penalty area. At the other end, a cross from Marco Lemos was headed over the bar by Keith Stobbart.

Montesinos doubled their score when slack defending allowed their forward to slot the ball past Matt Dexter.

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In the 65th minute, Montesinos went 3-0 up when a cross to the far post was headed in.

With fifteen minutes to go, Montesinos took a free kick outside the penalty area. Keeper Matt Dexter jumped with a Montesinos forward and looked to be fouled as he punched the ball into the roof of the net. The referee allowed the goal to stand, 0-4.

The Saints pulled one back when Marco Lemos was fouled inside the penalty box: 1-4. Montesinos’ sub, number sixteen, buried the ball in the net: 1-5. In the dying seconds a long through ball allowed a Montesinos forward to score their sixth.

Player/coach Gary Williams will be working hard this week to make improvements for the visit of CD Thader ‘B’ next Sunday: kick-off 12:00. For more details: www.sanfulgenciocf.com

ABBEY ANGLING RESULTS supplied by Terry Screen This week saw the start of the matches for the Abbey Angling Cup. The venue was transferred from Nancy’s to the 8ft Drain because the water was low and clear. They have now started running water off the drain in the early morning which means there is fresh water running for when the match starts. The water was down to 9º and is still fishing patchy.

1st Bill (The Master) Reade with 5.506kg 2nd Ian (The dark side) Houghton with 3.270kg 3rd Terry (Swing Em) Screen with 2.260kg All fishing the pole and maggot The banks on the river Segura local stretches have now all been cleared of reeds, making access to all the waters easier.

All details are available from the Match Secretary Terry Screen on 965 328 368.

HONDON TROUT FISHERY Fly Competition January 19th 2011 Five fly fishermen did not

compete, however the remainder had to work hard for fish this afternoon. The result was unpredictable till the last minute. Winner of this competition is Kieran from Jijona with 33 trout, mainly caught with an olive fly. This time the total amount of 115 trout were landed. As usual the winner received a voucher for one mornings fishing, a bottle of cava and a present.

The next fly competition will be held on Saturday 5th February, as usual from 14.00 – 17.30 hours. For participation, call Jan on 636 314 033.

TROUT FISH COMPETITION ‘The Rusty Nail’, Pinar de Campoverde. On Sunday afternoon 23rd January, 20 clients of The Rusty Nail competed in the first part of their winter games (fishing, golf, pool and darts). Pub owner and coach Jim was fly fishing while the rest were spinning with rods and bait from Hondon Trucha. It was very cold and windy but the proposal to fish till 17.00 hours instead of 17.30 hours was rejected by the majority.

Winner of the afternoon is Marc, with a catch of 17 trout and he also received a voucher for one morning free fishing from Jan. Paul was the winner of ‘the first caught’ bonus and Dean managed to land the biggest trout.

ANGLERS TOGETHER Anglers Together was formed to introduce and encourage anglers of all abilities to meet up and get together to fish, either sea or freshwater. Firm friendships have been formed during the time the group has been active and information on fishing venues and licenses required are available at the meetings or by regular emailed newsletters.

Meetings are held in two locations on the second Friday and Saturday of each month.

Anyone with an interest in fishing (sea or freshwater) is welcome to come along to a meeting.

The next meeting at Mary’s Bar, Campoverde (near Pilar de la Horadada) will be held on Friday 11th February at 12.00.

There is a new venue for the Puerto de Mazarron meeting starting in January 2011. On Saturday 12th February at 12.00 the meeting will be held at The New Royal Bar and Restaurant at El Alamillo, opposite the sea-front between Isla Plana and the Port.

Refreshments and lunch are available at each location.

Come along to a meeting nearest to you.