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Issue 599

08 - 14 april 2011

Helping hand for Japan

Expats wanting a voice in the crucial British referendum on voting reform face a 14th April deadline to insure they get a vote. It is estimated some 2.5 million British citizens worldwide who are entitled to cast a ballot, the majority resident in Spain – but they must be registered by the cut off date p7

by Jack Troughton

St George and the animals

Cabaret group Cameo Entertainers are performing its hot new show Rollercoaster of Love at a special St George’s Day celebration to raise money for two animal charities p26

Leaving out the logical You’d think that down-toearth practical arrangements like paying tax would entail a certain amount of logic wouldn’t you? p30

Bitter candy

Find out what Alex has been watching on p54

The final whistle

THhe International Cricket Council has become the latest governing body to show that they are completely out of touch with their own sport p62

Standard bearers

Legion marks 90 years of service A MOVING Festival of Remembrance in Alicante marked the 90th anniversary of the Royal British Legion as once again poppies were worn with pride. The audience at Saturday night’s packed Auditorio de la Diputacion de Alicante clapped, cheered, and greeted guests with standing ovations in a hugely enjoyable and at times emotional benefit concert. Read the full story on page 3

GENEROUS EXPATS wanting to extend the hand of international friendship and help Japan recover from the devastation of last month’s earthquake and Tsunami can donate to a special appeal fund. Costa Blanca businesswoman Jennifer Cunningham has organised a bank account in the name of the Japan Earthquake Appeal (see page 10) to collect donations and arranged to transfer them through Currencies Direct to the Japanese Red Cross. Jennifer, who owns Jennifer Cunningham Insurances SL, has family in Tokyo where her son Mark runs a chain of bars called the Hobgoblin Pubs. The death toll from the March 11 disaster is expected to top 25,000 people and has left the country facing its worst crisis since the Second World War. The ‘quake measured 8.9 on the Richter Scale – Japan’s worst since records began and the fifth largest seismic shock recorded anywhere in the world – and struck off the coast of the country, north of Tokyo with Miyagi and Sendai closest to the epicentre. DESTROY The resulting wall of water rushed in land at speeds of up to 800 kilometres per hour – as

fast as a modern jet – destroying everything in its path and sweeping away homes, shops, cars, even ships. The disaster also triggered a nuclear alert and an evacuation around Fukushima as water-cooled power plants threatened to meltdown and the international community, including Spain, has monitored a resulting increase in background nuclear levels, although below those considered a danger to health. The Japanese take pride in their dignity and honour and Jennifer told RTN they always took full responsibility for their actions and were “extremely stoical.” She added: “What will happen is they will rebuild and rebuild as fast as they possibly can but it is a vast area that has been affected.” Jennifer said her son had arrived in London just as disaster struck in the Pacific and had been “distraught” until he knew his wife and children were safe – Mark has since returned to Tokyo and said life was slowly getting back to normal. DISASTER And she said unlike natural disasters in more isolated and poorer parts of the world there was no need of food, water and blankets.

4 Continued on page 10

See page 17

08 - 14 april 2011

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Robbie’s ‘Top of the Pops’ by Patricia Thompson REAL RADIO Presenter and RTN’s sailing correspondent Robbie France has other talents you may not be aware of: the new movie recently released ‘Sucker Punch’ (search for it on YouTube) has our very own Robbie playing drums on the sound track by Bjork and Skunk Anansie. The track is at number 3 today in the USA album charts on iTunes...number 4 on Amazon.com album charts and is Robbie’s first top 5 USA Album since 1996. Congratulations to Robbie from all at RTN and Real Radio 95.6FM. Tune in to Robbie weekdays from 12 noon until 3pm for ‘The French Connection’, then on Saturdays from 1pm until 4pm for ‘The French Collection’, and on Sundays from noon with ‘The French Roast’. RTN and Real Radio are delighted to have such a professional as part of our team.

Let’s support Robbie and get this track to Number One!

RTN’s Robbie France

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AGENTS NORTH 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

BENIDORM BENIDORM ALBIR TEULADA pedreguer BENITACHELL MORAIRA 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 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 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

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

See our feature on P34

08 - 14 april 2011

Continued from front page Founded in 1921 to support servicemen returning from the Great War, the Legion continues to aid former servicemen and women and their dependents – with money raised in Spain spent on the welfare of those living here. And from the moment presenters Barry Britten and Gloria Navarro announced the entry of the Union Jack, the Spanish flag, and the standards of the Royal British Legion in Spain, District North, and four Chelsea Pensioners the crowd responded with applause. DUTY The noise swelled to greet Afghanistan veterans Capt Frank Calderwell and Sgt Leona Johns – recently returned from duty - and was almost deafening for the entrance of Lewis Elliott, who lost a leg in the conflict, and is battling his way back to health. As a gala, the show was a great success both for its matinee and evening performances – the massed choirs were joined on stage by Just Brass and the Torrevieja Pipes and Drums. Classic quartet All Angels – who have performed for the Legion at the Royal Albert Hall – and the X-Factor finalist Ruth Lorenzo, and the Costa Blanca’s own Vera Lynn, Cathy Carson, added a sprinkle of star quality to the concert. The Bishop of Europe David Hamid led prayers in a ‘Drumhead Service’, a recreation of the multi-faith services held on the eve of battle, drums covered with regimental flags and colours to serve as an altar. POPPY Prior to a two minute silence – marked by the sounding of

Youngsters lay poppy petals

the Last Post and Reveille – four children scattered poppies on the drums as tokens to represent those who died in service of their country – later returning with flowers as a symbolic thanks for the sacrifice of those who gave their lives for freedom. And during the traditional silence poppies fell onto the heads of those standing in the hushed auditorium.

The Legion’s District Chairman Christopher Wyatt thanked Youngsters lay poppy petals the Deputacion de Alicante and British Consul Paul Rodwell – recently made honorary President of the district – for helping make the event a reality. He also paid tribute to RBL organiser Wendy Dengate for her dedication in having the dream of a “spectacular show” to mark the 90th anniversary and making it a reality.

U3A Calpe monthly meeting THE U3A monthly meeting will be held 14th April at the Casa de Cultura in Calpe at 10am for a 10.30am start. An Easter celebration is on the cards, with Easter Bonnets and refreshments, plus a raffle. The guest speaker this month is a local chiropractor. Last month the U3A President showed the group some very interesting slides of Thailand.

Navigator of the Seas 14 Nights Egypt; Malta; Sicily; Turkey; No Flights or Transfers Included

24/12/2011

Costa Concordia 7 Nights No Flights or Transfers Included

Barcelona, Valletta, Palermo, Naples, Rome, La Spezia, Ajaccio, Villafranche, Barcelona

24/05/2011

28/05/2011

Italy; Sicily; Spain; Tunisia

£2271 £1180 £989 £594

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

Disney Magic 11 Nights

No Flights Or Transfers Included

£2056 £1108

08 - 14 april 2011

Advice note for British residents in Spain

The golden touch by Jack Troughton SPANIARDS CELEBRATED World Cup glory again this week as the golden FIFA trophy went on tour on the Costa Blanca. Thousands queued to have their photographs taken with and lay hands on the cup – won in South Africa last summer when Spain beat Netherlands 10 in an extra time thriller. The players returned as heroes with a royal reception, an open bus tour of Madrid and the victory was celebrated across the country. This week, football’s ultimate prize – officially the FIFA World Cup Trophy – was on tour and with its escort on public view in Benidorm, La Nucia, and Villajoyosa, courtesy of the Valencia Football Federation. The rules were simple: visitors could touch the base or the top of the trophy but not lift the cup. People from every walk of life excited schoolchildren, pensioners, politicians, businessmen, police officers, and even the odd expat - all patiently waited in line to get close to the trophy and have a snap taken, many official parties opting for a ‘team’ shot.

Everyone registered on the padrón as a resident in Spain, including British nationals, has until and including Monday 11th April to check with their town hall whether they are on the list of registered voters, ahead of the local and regional elections across Spain on 22 May. If not on the list, residents can request to be added (although in a few cases, it is possible that town halls may lack the necessary IT systems to enable checks). The elections are your opportunity to have your say in who makes the decisions about public services in your area, and an opportunity for British residents to take part in Spain’s democratic system and further integrate into Spanish life. Registering on the padrón is an important part of living in Spain, and checking that you are on the list of registered voters will ensure that on 22 May you have the right to cast your vote.

Student from Calpe achieves Guinness World Record Jack touches Gold

THE LONGEST radio show ever produced was completed last week by a group of students in Madrid’s Complutense University. The 60-hour show broke previous records. Paula González Heidemeyer, a student from Calpe, took part in the show.

Normal Price Homeclean Price 3 Piece Suite from €120 from €60 2 Piece Suite from €100 from €50 Leather Suite Price on application Carpets Price on application Price on application Oriental Rugs Curtains in Situ €45 Curtains Full Length from €90 Curtains Half Length from €80 €40 Mattresses cleaned Single €20 and Double €30 Marble Floors Cleaned and Polished

Crisis talks by Jack Troughton PSOE’S CANDIDATE to be the next President of the Generalitat Valenciana met with Marina Alta businessmen this week to discuss plans to solve the economic crisis. Jorge Alarte visited Javea and chatted with local PSOE leader Jose Chulvi and representatives of the community to analyse a concrete exit strategy from the recession hitting both the resort and the region. During relaxed talks at the Los Remos Restaurant, he listed the concerns of businessmen – including the

need to create better communication infrastructures, such as improving access to Javea and a train connection, and the need for a Strategic Plan. Mr Alarte also outlined his own ideas to lead Valencia out of the crisis, stressing the importance of the partnership between society, business, and government. And he made a commitment to improve healthcare, social welfare and education, as well as analysing the viability of many public enterprises in Valencia.

Charity races home

By Jack Troughton SERIOUS RUNNERS and gentle fun walkers combined to make the second MABS Race for Life in Moraira a sunshine success. In a carnival atmosphere on Sunday morning, 345 people set off to complete the 5km course from Sol Park – local radio station Heat FM broadcasting live from the event. And this week MABS Cancer Support Group said it had already collected and banked 6,000€ with sponsorship money still being handed in. MABS President Jacqui Phillips MBE said the total raised was “fantastic” and would help the charity’s work supporting those affected by cancer and their families and friends. “I think people really enjoyed themselves, and the money they have helped raised for MABs is wonderful,” she said. It is now a Race for Life tradition that people taking part in the event remember a loved one or friend affected by cancer – writing a name on their race number. This year many chose to pay tribute to Frances Sawyer, the former MABS vice-President and one of the charity’s founders who lost her battle with the disease in December.

Alarte and Chulvi talk with business owners

Girls of Motive8 Gym lead the warm up

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08 - 14 april 2011

08 - 14 apRil 2011

Zapatero steps Campillo is Number One aside by Jan Gamm

SPAIN’S SOCIALIST Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, has announced he will not be his party’s candidate for next year’s general election. Spanish Socialists will elect a new leader after next month’s local and regional elections. The favourites are tipped as Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba, the present interior minister and Carme Chacón, the defence minister. Zapatero, prime minister since 2004, will stay in office until the 2012 general election. “When I was elected prime minister in 2004 I thought that two terms was the reasonable period for me to aspire to be in charge of the country’s destiny,” Mr Zapa-

Zapatero

FRANCISCO MAROTO, mayor of Campillo de Ranas, is top of the list when it comes to same sex weddings. This small village with a population of about 200 people has had more than 400 gay and lesbian weddings. Andrés Rubio is the director of a documentary produced in 2008 called ‘Campillo Si, Quiero’ (Campillo, Yes I Do). The documentary is a 51 minute film that shows the important job Francisco Moroto has done in his town hall in this tiny municipality of Guadalajara.

tero said, “… I will not be the candidate at the next general election.” Unpopular with the Spanish right due to his social policies and consistently ‘overoptimistic’ decisions throughout the economic crisis, Zapatero’s austerity measures are seen to present a challenge for his successor, especially as he has lost the support of trade unions during a series of pay cuts, with unemployment reaching unprecedented levels. Surveys have shown that the PP would win a landslide victory in an election held now. However, as Mariano Rajoy is seen to be quite as unpopular as Zapatero, socialists are hoping for a change in direction amongst potential voters.

Campillo de Ranas top of the list for gay weddings

Referendum deadline

Margaret and Gerald Hales, chairman and secretary of Conservatives Abroad.

by Jack Troughton EXPATS WANTING a voice in the crucial British referendum on voting reform face a 14th April deadline to insure they get a vote. It is estimated some 2.5 million British citizens worldwide who are entitled to cast a ballot, the majority resident in Spain – but they must be registered by the cut off date. People who emigrated before 1996 no longer have a right to vote – and are effectively disenfranchised as they have no say in Spanish general elections. The 5th May referendum will decide whether the Alternative Vote (AV) should be adopted in the UK following Liberal Democrat moves towards proportional representation. However, even Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg admits AV was a “miserable little compromise” – and after its second rejection in 1931, Winston Churchill was passionately against its use, saying: “AV would mean that elections would be de-

termined by the most worthless votes given for the most worthless candidates.” DANGER This week Conservatives Abroad staged a public meeting in Javea to explain why AV was so heavily discredited and the dangers of replacing the current ‘first past the post’ system with a poll that introduced “disturbingly unpredictable” results. Its use of a transferable list of preferences can actually lead to an outsider winning, while a candidate with the most ‘first choice’ votes could lose, it was said. Conservatives Abroad says a cross-party campaign against the adoption of AV was available at www.no2av. org. The party continues to campaign for all expats to have a right to vote. However, those wishing to register in time for the referendum should go to www.aboutmyvote.co.uk or www.dontleaveyourvoteathome.com

Forest fire scorches Gallinera Valley

A FOREST fire broke out last week in the Vall de Gallinera, burning pine trees and scrubland. The cause of the blaze is not known. The fire started at 8.11pm on Tuesday 5 April, and firemen had it under control by 9.15pm. there was little wind so the fire advanced slowly and only a small area was burnt.

Teenager feared drowned off coast of Cullera

A 19-YEAR-OLD man is thought to have drowned while swimming off Sant Antoni beach in Cullera last week. The man (with initials M.P.E.) from Salamanca, entered the sea at 7pm one evening with two friends. They were aiming to swim to the Penyata del Moro, a point 1.5km off the coast, but only two of them made it back to the beach. The sea, though cold, was calm. The three friends were visiting the town to sign a work contract for seasonal jobs in an ice-cream parlour. Since the alarm was raised, police boats and helicopters have been searching the area daily, but as of yet the man’s body has not been recovered.

08 - 14 april 2011

08 - 14 apRil 2011

Vote for your top golf course and win a 500€prize by Jack Troughton RTN GOLF CLUB members are invited to cast a vote for South East Spain’s best course – and help improve the sport for everyone. With more than 1,700 sportsmen and women already members of the exclusive club, they make up a powerful lobby for golf along the Mediterranean coast. This historic survey will use ‘player power’ to allow the Costa’s favourite English newspaper to draw up a league table and award a plaque to the best course - sparking some friendly rivalry in an annual contest to become the RTN Golf Club’s favourite. The aim is to offer up some constructive criticism and raise standards and facilities across the region. And because RTN values the opinion of our golf club members – we will also award a prize of 500€ worth of exclusive Levante & Lebeche golf clothing for the best comment or suggestion.

PRESS

PLAYER

RTN’s golf expert and columnist Noel Eastwell said the idea might seem controversial but was already common place amongst the golfing press in the UK. “There is a lot of pride and credence in being voted the best golf course in the area by our readers,” he said. “We have more than 1,700 members of the club and we must have more than 300 people playing every day in March and April. “There are a lot of people out there playing golf who will have opinions and they will all want good service and good quality golf courses and other things such as a friendly welcome in the bars, cafes and restaurants in the club houses.” Noel said RTN golfers were the experts on South East Spain’s courses and it was important they should air opinions for the benefit of all. “This is all about improving courses and getting the best for everyone – both the clubs and the golfers themselves. This is for the good of the sport,” he added. “And for the winning club each year, it will be something very special.”

And Noel said such a survey had never been conducted before in Spain but was an opportunity for players to assess courses and clubs to take a look at themselves. He said: “Once again RTN is leading the field by investing in what golfers want. We are doing this for the right reasons, to improve golf for everyone in this very special part of Spain and we hope to get everyone talking about golf and their favourite course. “We are doing our bit to improve golf and golf tourism in our part of the world – this is not setting out to knock clubs but a constructive way of improving the sport.” Every entrant in the survey should include their name and handicap (which will remain confidential). Golfers can enter the survey as many times as they want but only once for each particular course. Noel explained: “It means a society golfer playing six times a month is welcome to mark six courses but only once for any individual course.” To complete the survey, please go to the RTN website homepage www.roundtownnews.co.uk and click on the RTN Golf Survey link. Closing date 9th May 2011, the winner will be announced on the 13th May 2011.

08 - 14 apRil 2011

Spain triumphant in water polo match against Macedonia by Julie Day WITH SPAIN leading after less than 30 seconds, the men’s World League water polo match against Macedonia got off to a flying start and basically continued in the same vain all the way through. By the end of the first quarter, Spain was leading by five goals to one and had practically won the match before it had even started. The second quarter contained two exclusions on the Spanish side, yet the Spanish team increased their lead to 8 – 1.

Continued from front page Jennifer, who is also President of Paul Cunningham Nurses, a charity founded in memory of her other son Paul who lost his life to cancer, added: “It is actually very difficult to think how we can best help and what we can do and the best idea seemed to be to donate money the Japanese Red Cross.” From the outset, the Red Cross in Japan has had 230 response teams working in the field – more than 1,200 staff including doctors and nurses. Jennifer said she and business colleagues had emailed clients asking if they wished to make a donation to the appeal and had arranged for charity collection tins to be distributed – labels for the tins can be downloaded from the Paul Cunningham Nurses website. “Our heart goes out to Japan at this time,” she said. “They are a very proud nation and we must do the best we can to help – every little bit helps to rebuild after such a terrible tragedy.”

The third quarter saw the Macedonians fight back and bring their goal total up to five, but in the end they were no match for the Spanish; last year’s runners up to Serbia. The game ended on a winning score of 12 – 6. With only one more match to play in the preliminary round, it’s all nail-biting stuff as Spain is tying with Germany for second place after winning three of their five matches, whilst Serbia is in the lead with a total of four games won. Entrance to the public was free but with only 300 seats in the stands, invitations had run out in under an hour of being available for collection.

DONATIONS BY BANK TRANSFER AND CHEQUE: Account Name: Currencies Direct Ltd (Financial Intermediaries General Client Account Non-resident) Bank Name: BANKINTER, 87 Avenida De Las Habanera,Torrevieja 03182, Alicante. Swift Code:BKBK ES MM IBAN:ES47 012 8063 3990 1600 08327 Bank Code: 0128 0633 99 Account Number: 0160008327 Quote: JAPAN EARTHQUAKE APPEAL

Youth rescued after 18 hours trapped in a crevice The winning team after the last whistle

A YOUNG man became trapped upside-down for 18 hours in a rock crevice north of Valencia in the Sierra Calderona last week. His friends tried from 2.30pm until 10pm to free him, but then realised they had to call for help. It took three firefighting teams to free the youth, who emerged uninjured, but exhausted.

Doing time on a sewing machine by Jan Gamm A PROGRAMME that is pioneering successful reintegration for women prisoners is putting them to work sewing fashion handbags. The multi million euro Zara brand has commissioned 1,500 bags to be produced within 10 days and the prisoners with their limited facilities are frantically stitching to meet the deadline. The bags will be sold in Australia and the USA.

The project is headed by Alicante designer Marta Vázquez, who teaches sewing crafts to the inmates. She explained that the women prisoners in the workshop are focused and “…ready to conquer the world when they leave prison.” She explained that the work encourages confidence and inspires the women to produce a higher standard with each assignment taken on. Doing The women already produce lingerie as part time on of their social rehabilitation programme and a sewing say the work helps to ‘pass the time’. machine

Rascals’ Rags to Riches RASCALS NEW show Rags to Riches is a variety of song, dance and comedy. The first half concentrates on the poorer side of life whilst the second half shows a more affluent society. Come and enjoy an entertaining evening out. PERFORMANCES SCHEDULE Saturday 28th May, 7pm at the School of Music & Culture, Los Montesinos: all tickets sales to be donated to ADISMON. Wednesday 29th June, 7pm at the Guardamar Casa del Cultura: all ticket sales to be donated to the Alzheimer’s Association. To reserve tickets priced at only 6€ ring Sue on 96 678 4874. In September Rascals will be rehearsing another Variety show to be performed in the latter part of the year. For further information look on www.therascals.info or ring Jill on 96 672 7282.

08 - 14 apRil 2011

Ryanair threatens to reduce service in Alicante By Jan Gamm RYANAIR ANNOUNCED on Tuesday that it will cut its Alicante services by up to 80% from October this year unless AENA Alicante reverses its decision to force the airline to use airbridges at the new El Altet terminal, at a cost of €2 milllion per year. The airline contends that it has operated without airbridges for five years at Alicante Airport and AENA’s decision amounts to an “abuse of its monopoly.” And to reinforce its point, Ryanair has made a formal complaint to the Spanish government and also to the European Commission.

The cutbacks proposed would reduce traffic of 4 million passengers to less than 1.5 million per year with the potential to put 2,500 jobs at Alicante at risk. The company pointed out that an agreement in place with AENA since 2007 allowed Ryanair passengers to walk on and off their aircraft at El Altet. Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary said, “We assured Spain’s Transport Ministry that if AENA Alicante reverses this foolish decision to force Ryanair to pay €2m p.a. for airbridges (which aren’t necessary), then these deep cuts in routes, traffic and jobs can be reversed.”

08 - 14 april 2011

Fighting the “scourge” of domestic violence LEADING MEMBERS of Nueva Javea this week underlined the party’s ongoing commitment to fighting the “scourge” of domestic violence. They attended a charity fashion show organised by businesswoman Arline Francis to raise funds to support victims living in the Marina Alta resort. More than 100 people watched the fashion parade in the gardens of the Rodat Hotel and watched children, teenagers and women model clothes and accessories around the pool. Arline, who organised the event through Mediterranean Events, is also a member of Nueva Javea and was congratulated by party president and Councillor Ana Vasbinder for publicising such an important issue. EXAMPLE “The way our colleague has raised this issue should be an example for all the citizens and residents of Javea,” she said. She said the party supported charitable ventures and congratulated the event organiser for raising the profile of the issue and helping make “this type of violence visible” – and also directly helping victims by raising funds. Ana described domestic violence as a “social scourge” and welcomed a representative from the Department of Equality – which advises the local authority on action to combat the problem And she said Javea needed responsible government that relied less on politics and more on high quality management and administration. As a truly international political party, Ana said Nueva Javea was founded by a group of dedicated citizens and professionals intent on improving the town through responsible planning and governance of municipal resources. INTERACT Surrounded by members of the Nueva Javea executive, she

Ana Vasbinder (right ) with models at the fashion show

said it also promoted a continual interaction between the team, its members, supporters, as well as direct contact with individual citizens and organisations. As an independent party, the aim was to be a party representing all citizens, irrespective of their circumstances or nationality while respecting individual expectation and needs. The ultimate aim of Nueva Javea was to restore the fortunes of the town and once again let the resort be known as “the pearl of the Costa Blanca”.

And members of the Nueva Javea executive team have also been meeting businessmen, traders and entrepreneurs, saying one goal was restoring prosperity through a return to full employment. Julio Sela said the party was prepared to “listen, support, and positively help resolve conflict” as it presses for a better future for the town. He said: “The door of Nueva Javea is open to all who want to parcitpitate in this goal.”

08 - 14 april 2011

Writers seek bookworms by Jack Troughton

DETERMINED AUTHORS have bound together as the Costa Blanca Writers in a bid to get greater recognition of their work and boost sales. They believe mainstream publishers only wish to print and market books by or about famous people while unknown authors have little chance of having their work seen – particularly as expats. And now the Costa Blanca Writers are hoping to recruit the support of English readers living across the region and are publically launching the group with a reception at the La Seu University building in Benissa at 6pm on 14th-

April. Seven founder members will be giving brief talks about what inspires them to write, the sort of work they produce and future plans. Entry is free and refreshments will be served. One author, Mike Hillier, explained: “We feel we are isolated from our main markets in the UK and North America. We can’t do the usual things that writers in Britain can do – like arranging book signings in local bookshops, giving readings of our books to clubs or utilise the advantages of being a ‘local author’. SUPPORT “Nevertheless, we appreciate that there is a significant

number of English readers in this area and we hope we can gain their support in the first instance. If that is successful we hope it will lead to greater things.” And Agnes Hall, another of the founders of the group, added: “We wish to point out that we have not set ourselves up to help people write or to get published. We only co-operate in trying to market our books.” Membership of the Costa Blanca Writers is open to any writers working in the English language who have published or self-published a complete work which is available to sell to the public. For more information about the group or to contact the collective, visit www.costablancawriters.com

The original Costa Blanca Writers from left to right:Jill Lanchbery, Colin Hall, Avner Kornblum, Agnes Hall, Keith Geddes, Mike Hillier, Colin Hall

Stable condition

New homes found for horses

By Jack Troughton NEW HOMES have been found for two horses discovered imprisoned in a ruined building near Teulada without food and water. The pair had become victims of the economic downturn with the owner claiming he could no longer afford to feed them and had no other premises to keep them after grazing land that offered a temporary reprieve was sold. However, after RTN featured the story last week negotiations have successfully taken place and the equine prisoners

have been freed. The man, who lives in Teulada, has now been persuaded to sell one of the pair and the other is being cared for in stables before being rehomed at a country property owned by his family. A spokesman for Teulada Moraira Town Hall said the local authority intervened after learning of the plight of the horses. “The owner’s family has agreed to help care for the remaining horse and the town hall and local police will continue to monitor the situation,” he said. “We hope this is a happy ending for both horses.”

08 - 14 april 2011

Outlawing the in-laws William and by Jan Gamm IN A country where the extended family is seen as a social advantage, more than half of the population admits to experiencing problems with their in-laws. Seville is the most affected part of the country, followed by Madrid and Barcelona. Spain’s largest cities seem to attract the most in-law-related difficulties. Six out of ten Spaniards struggle with antagonistic in-laws according to a recent survey commissioned by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. It is thought that in the case of Madrid the fact that there is a high incidence of single parent families could account for the conflict of opinions amongst in-laws. Despite the general assumption that Spain’s extended family structure is dominant, more than half of the households surveyed comprised only three or four family members and only 8% were families with more than eight people.

dents of Barcelona are more likely to tolerate same sex relationships.

Kate on a plate

by Jan Gamm THE MAYOR of Benidorm, Augustín Navarro, is determined to establish a link between the town and the forthcoming wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. Last week he extended an invitation to the royal couple to spend their honeymoon in Benidorm which so far has not drawn a favourable reply. This week, a ‘Royal Recipe’ has been commissioned from Javier del Castillo, the chef at La Cava Aragonesa, a restaurant in the old town of Benidorm. The new culinary invention, labelled ‘William and Kate’, was presented at an informal gathering of the press on Wednesday at the restaurant and will remain on the menu for a full year at an economic 2.20€. The dish is presented on a skewer and features bread stuffed with bacon, accompanied by tempura vegetables, asparagus and mashed potatoes, finished with a sweet and sour sauce: “Bittersweet – like the English,” said Manuel Cabezuelas, Councillor for Tourism.

CONFLICT The main source of conflict is seen to be over the parenting and supervision of younger children, with further disagreements arising over money and property. On the bright side, Spain produces the ‘least destructive’ inlaws in that most people view them as a necessary evil, preferring to tolerate them rather than allow a division of family to take place. Interestingly, the survey revealed that the people of Valen cia are seen to place work above family values, while resi-

Squabbling in-laws

Residents worry houses at threat from approaching sea HOUSES ON the seafront in Dénia are at risk from the approaching sea, according to residents in l’Almadrava. Home owners have approached Dénia’s mayor, Ana Kringe, complaining that only 20 percent of the town’s coastal regeneration programme has been completed. Without this work, the coastline recedes, putting properties at risk from waves. The mayor has agreed to hold a meeting to discuss the issue.

William and Kate on a plate

08 - 14 apRil 2011

Huge debt of gratitude I WOULD like to express the huge debt of gratitude owed to all those who took part in the wonderful 90th Anniversary concert on behalf of The Royal British Legion in Spain last Saturday. Most important, of course, our thanks to the Diputatión de Alicante for giving us the use of the new Auditorio and taking on all the costs involved with printing of programmes, tickets etc: a triumph of collaboration. The sheer volume of thanks we received both at the time and in follow-up emails confirms all the hard work and preparation undertaken by so many willing volunteers was thoroughly worthwhile. So many were involved both on and off stage, it would be impossible to name them all. However, some that should come to the fore: Chas Smith, Musical Director of The Massed Choirs and Gordon Higginbottom, Musical Director of Just Brass, Brass Band. From the batons of these two highly respected and talented men came a performance that would have been a credit to The Royal Albert Hall. The music that was sung and played that day by the massed voices and solo artistes, Just Brass and The Torrevieja Pipes and Drums was both stunning and moving, particularly as none of the choirs had sung together until the actual day of the performance. I must also mention the euphonium soloist Ian Vine, his rendition of ‘Bring him Home’, brought tears to many eyes. Also Russell Gray, the trumpet soloist who gave us the Last Post and Reveille: two pieces that reminded us of the true meaning of Remembrance. Of those who worked behind the scenes, my thanks go to the volunteers manning various stands in the entrance hall of the Auditorio. So many people freely contributed so much to make the day a success and my sincere admiration, appreciation and thanks go to you all. Christopher Wyatt Chairman The Royal British Legion in Spain – District North

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letter of the week

Being held to ransom

HOW MANY foreign owners of Spanish properties are being held to ransom by Iberdrola with their impossible conditions for installing a plug to electric boxes in their homes? I came out to my small apartment in Cabo Roig for just 2 weeks in March and found Iberdrola’s letter instructing me to have this item fitted to my board. I went to their office at Pilar and registered my order for this part but they could not give me any time or date for fitting and as I was only there for 2 weeks, no work was done. Having contacted them by expensive phone line in Spain just before coming home, I was again told they use contractors who set their own schedules and Iberdrola have no control over them so I had to return home with nothing done. As Iberdrola will automatically take more money out of my bank account by direct debits to cover the work not being done, what on earth can anyone do about it? Possibly the electricity will be cut off as well! How can the one and only electricity company demand that work is carried out but then refuse to do that work within the time frame of holiday occupation? This surely must be illegal. It is almost laughable that Iberdrola do not have electricians working under their control. Presumably with the thousands of holiday property owners who may not even know about these new instructions, many thousands of euros will be taken out of hapless owners’ bank accounts quite illegally as an automatic and unwanted ‘upgrade’ to a higher consumption level. I totally despair of such ‘Spanish behaviour’ by a large company such as Iberdrola and think Spain really wants to lose foreign owners; this one is seriously considering looking elsewhere for better value and more sensible laws. Beryl Hatton

Happy shopper I WOULD like to tell you of a most enjoyable shopping experience and something I would like to share. A Russian guest needed to buy some summer clothes, tops and things, but my husband had to come along (like most men, he is the chauffer…) After he had finished his quick look at the men’s bits and pieces, he soon become restless as all men do. This did not go unnoticed by the staff and he was asked if he would like a cup of coffee to which he replied, “Yes please.” He was given a freshly made cup of coffee with biscuits along with a magazine to read. Well can I tell you that made our shopping experience far more relaxing! After a few days my friend asked if we could return to the shop again to do a bit more shopping and my husband was asked to take us again. Sure enough he was offered coffee again: he was relaxed and so were we - what a lovely experience. Thanks to the staff at Moda La Finca in Algorfa. Zella Rogers, Entre Naranjos

Outraged

It just isn’t fair

I wonder if any of your readers are aware of the following statistics. The British Government provides financial assistance structured as follows: British Old Age Pensioner Basic Weekly Allowance £106 Illegal Immigrant Living in Britain Allowance £250 British Old Aged Pensioner Weekly Spouse allowance £ 25 Illegal Immigrants / Refugees Weekly Spouse allowance £225 British Old Aged Pensioner Additional weekly hardship allowance £0.00 Illegal Immigrants or Refugees Additional weekly hardship allowance £100 British Old Aged Pensioner Total Yearly Benefit £6,000 Illegal Immigrants / Refugees Living In Britain Total Yearly benefit £29,900 The average pensioner pays taxes and contributions to the growth of the UK for 40 – 50 years. Name and address supplied

Non existent service

THIS MIGHT be of interest to Mr Carder in his struggle against Telefonica: In May 2005 I temporarily moved away from Costa Blanca to a finca in Extremadura, so wanted to cancel the Telefonica service: a landline was no longer necessary. When I contacted Telefonica they said that I had to cancel the contract on the phone instead of signing a document in a shop. All Telefonica shops are only SELLING new Telefonica (movistar) contracts: they are not able to handle cancelations. How smart! So, I cancelled the service early May and gave the Telefonica telephone (rented) to my neighbour to bring it to the Telefonica shop in Benidorm as advised. I could not bring it to the shop myself as I was out of the country. When my friend visited the shop in Benidorm, they found it no longer existed! A phone enquiry revealed the phone could be brought to Alicante, which was done a few weeks later and a receipt was received. In October, I was surprised to find Telefonica had continued billing me for a non-existent service! They said that they had not cut the service as I could still have been using it! Only after presenting them the receipt (by fax) of the Alicante Telefonica shop did they finally pay back the money they robbed from me. But only from the date of the receipt; not from the beginning of May when the cancellation was made by phone at their request! They therefore earned six weeks revenue for no service! Now I always cancel the Bank domiciliación FIRST after a cancelation of service. If later on someone wants money he can write me a letter! Which I may receive ... or not! Kind regards, Peter Spahn

I WAS incensed to read such an attack in the letters last week, about the Orihuela Costa Neighborhood Watch and the volunteer leader Chris Poole. I have been actively involved for more than the past eight years with many organisations in Torrevieja and OC and although less active now I can assure the concerned person that there are no political leanings by the OCNW or the leader. Any registered NGO in Spain wishing to achieve their objectives need to co-operate alongside the Ayuntamiento and ruling party: it’s a two way partnership, especially as they control the purse strings and policies. If invited any leader would be proud to re-present his organisation as a way of communicating requirements and shortcomings. Opposition parties and their supporters need to stir it up, but the NGOs avoid confrontation preferring a more subtle approach to achieve objectives. John Kadwell, Los Balcones

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Very generous ON BEHALF of Age Concern I would like to thank Cathy Carson for the generous donation of 310€ following her birthday celebration at the Asturias Restaurant. A wonderful and entertaining evening was enjoyed by all. Many Happy Returns Cathy and thank you for all you do for Age Concern. Maureen Payne, President

08 - 14 april 2011

Costa Blanca boom over Easter by Jan

Gamm

COSTA BLANCA hotels are pleased to report a 70% reserved occupancy over the four day Easter holiday period, with some establishments delighted to confirm a figure reaching 90% with an average full board rate of 40€ per person per day. Benidorm has retained its popularity with tourists looking for an economy all inclusive holiday and the best value for money in terms of quality of all round accommodation, food and entertainment and also enjoys the highest level of tourists returning for a second visit. Some of the region’s popularity over Easter has been attributed to unrest in the Middle East. Despite the Egyptian Tourist Board appealing for a return of business, family holiday makers are still booking safe and familiar shores for the time being. However, it seems most are simply confident that on the Costa Blanca they will receive more for their Euro. This welcome injection of business in the hospitality sector represents its biggest increase since the start of the credit crunch.

Benidorm beach

The NOSMO-KING CLUB NOSMO-KING club celebrates the Tenth anniversary of its formation this year by holding a Murder and Mystery evening with a three course meal at Restaurant La Rustika.

Former members are invited to come and join us in the celebration and new and non-members are always welcomed. The non-profit making club meets at La Rustika every Thursday mornings: doors open at

9.30am and the meeting commences at 11am. Except for the last Thursday of the month, on these Thursdays a coach trip is organised: membership is only 20€ per year. A quiz is organised once a month. Guest speakers talk on taxes, pensions, wills and general financial advice, with many of the

members talking about their working lives. The NOSMO-KING club has a large membership of all ages: come along and speak to the committee members and the club members. Contact Carol & Freddie: 637 211 528 & 661 126 359 for more information about the club, other celebrations and coach trips.

08 - 14 april 2011

“The wheel and only the wheel” by Jan Gamm IN A campaign launched in Spain this week the Director General of Traffic has called for drivers to concentrate on the wheel and beware of distractions in an effort to reduce the number of accidents caused by in-vehicle activities that draw the driver’s attention away from the road ahead. The message being broadcast is: “The Wheel and Only The Wheel,” following an alarming 1,458 accidents caused last year (four per day) by driver distraction, mostly vehicles going off the road or colliding with the vehicle in front as a result of talking on a mobile; eating; drinking; lighting cigarettes; applying make-up or combing hair or trying to communicate with rear seat passengers such as unruly children while driving. More worrying is that driver distraction is attrib-

Warning to the public from HELP

uted to the deaths of 266 road accident victims in 2010. MOBILES

The most common distraction is the mobile phone and the police often find drivers of sophisticated sports cars equipped with the latest handsfree technology still prefer to ‘chat and drive’ while holding the phone: one hand on the wheel and a cursory eye on the road. And many drivers are prone to neglecting the road ahead due to fiddling with a music system, trying to change CDs or unravelling the cord for a headset or earplugs. Whatever the distraction, civil guard patrols and police have been instructed to be particularly vigilant and on the look-out, with heavy fines for offenders. Distraction

HELP has received a letter from one of its members saying visitors had called claiming to be HELP representatives and asking to be let in to talk to the person. HELP would like to confirm that HELP representatives do not make house calls unless a specific request and arrangement has been made. A HELP welfare officer carries out home visits to assess requirements and offer advice and information; this officer and all other HELP volunteers carry identity badges and you should ask to see this before letting anyone into your home. For further information please contact the office: Tel 966 723 733. R Garland Secretary Association: HELP Vega Baja.

Kids tour new Sports Centre

CHILDREN FROM the local Playas de Orihuela primary school recently toured the new Municipal Sports Centre (CDM). The head of the Physical Education Department at the school contacted the centre’s director, Antonio Garcia Molino Canovas, in February to request a visit for the children from the school. More than 200 pupils from the first to the sixth year of the primary school, visited the sports facility and received a tour of the centre Children that included its football pitch; outside three padel courts; two tennis Municipal courts; two multisports courts and Sports an indoor heated swimming pool. Centre

08 - 14 april 2011

The Marina Alta ‘Mini’ Olympics in Denia by Patricia Thompson

Medal’s podium

Police plan for schools to educate about road safety SCHOOLS WILL use theatre as a way of teaching children about road safety. The local police in Dénia have come up with a plan for infant and secondary school children to learn about the importance of road signs and road safety through plays. The aim will be to transmit the message about how traffic accidents can affect families and to show how drivers put themselves at risk.

Driver causes fatal accident in kamikaze stunt

A HEAD-ON collision on the A-31 motorway near Alicante resulted in one driver dying at the scene last week. The accident was caused by a 51-year-old French man who was driving the wrong way up the carriageway. The French man survived and was taken away by police. The driver of the other car, a 63-year-old Spanish man, died. Police have not yet revealed if the French man had been drinking.

THE MINI Olympics attracted huge crowds to the Calle La Via sports ground in Denia this week, as 1,300 children born between 1997 and 2000 took part in a competitive programme of athletics and other sports over a three day event. The Mini Olympics programme began in the last week of March as the children ran with their Olympic torch through the streets to light the Olympic flame at the sports ground, followed by a brief reception where copious amounts of chocolate were served. The events included swimming, gymnastics, athletics, ping pong and football. Organisers commented on the excellent motivation and standard of conduct of the children throughout, remarking that they behaved in every way as “…professional athletes.”

The torch is run through the streets of Denia

08 - 14 april 2011

Saints and Royal Weddings

Tots back home by Jack Troughton THE POPULAR weekly gathering of the Jalon Valley Mums and Tots Club is back at its permanent home after the completion of building work. The club meets every Monday morning between 10.15am and noon in Jalon Town Hall where adults enjoy a chat and a cuppa

by Jack Troughton

THE ROYAL Society of St George has extended an open invitation to enjoy a banquet to celebrate both England’s patron saint and the Royal Wedding. The society has already invited major expat groups and clubs – such as the U3As, The Royal British Legion, RAFA, and the Air Crew Association – and hopes as many expats living on the Costa Blanca as possible will join them. The annual banquet is being staged at the Carrasco Restaurant, Javea, on Friday 29th April, and this year it is intended to celebrate the marriage of Britain’s future king and queen. The evening will consist of a cava reception, a five-course meal – incorporating a traditional ‘baron of beef’ – and including wine, coffee and liqueurs (with vegetarian alternatives). Dress is black tie or lounge suit for men and formal for ladies. The reception is at 7pm and the meal at 7.30pm, followed by dancing until midnight. Tickets are 45€ per head and the restaurant offers ample parking. For more information visit the website: www.stgeorgecostablanca.com or call Bob on 678 826 318, or Jean on 616 012 719.

Enjoying the fun

while the children play. There are lots of new toys and every week ends with a singing and games session with instruments available for everyone to join in the fun. The cost is 1€ per week to cover refreshments and everyone is welcome. For more information call 639 326 135.

Go to the animal ball by Jack Troughton ANIMAL CHARITY APASA is once again staging its successful annual ball with tickets on sale for the 7th May extravaganza. Entertainment at the Salon de Canor Teulada is supplied by the popular duo Zodiac and the cabaret by the fabulous singer Rob Sweeney. Guests will gather for drinks in the beauti-

ful gardens before enjoying dinner and the show. Dress code is smart casual or black tie. The evening starts at 7.45pm and tickets at 35€ include a three course meal with wine, water and coffee. Reservations are essential and to insure a place call Maggie on 965 744 449 or Mandy on 639 603 880. For more information about APASA and important diary dates, visit www.apasa.eu

Police plan for schools to educate about road safety

SCHOOLS WILL use theatre as a way of teaching children about road safety. The local police in Dénia have come up with a plan for infant and secondary school children to learn about the importance of road signs and road safety through plays. The aim will be to transmit the message about how traffic accidents can affect families and to show how drivers put themselves at risk.

Samaritans launch drop-in café by Jack Troughton PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL support will be available face to face when the Costa Blanca Samaritans opens its ‘drop-in’ café next month. Every Monday morning, people can talk things through over a coffee with a trained volunteer ready to listen to problems at Laura’s Café in Calpe. It is an extension of the Samaritans’ successful telephone service and if it is successful a similar scheme of dropping in for a coffee and a chat will be opened in the south of the region. Whatever people are going through, the Samaritans offer a completely free emotional support service for English speakers of any

age or nationality – whether it be financial worries, relationship problems, family issues, feelings of distress and despair, or suicidal thoughts. Volunteers are available to lend an ear whatever the issue, large or small, and offer support as people explore their thoughts and feelings about their troubles. The Samaritans do not make a judgement but listen and help people decide how to move forward. The Telephone Helpline is available every night between 8pm and midnight on 902 883 535 and calls are charged at the national rate. The drop-in café is open every Monday morning between 10am and noon at Laura’s at Westbeach, Calpe, 35 Avenida Gabriel Miro (at the bottom of the street near the fountain).

08 - 14 april 2011

COSTA BLANCA

SAMARITANS 902 88 35 35

Things getting you down? Want to talk things over? Then join us for a coffee and a chat at our DROP-IN CAFÉ, LAURA’S AT WESTBEACH, CALPE 35 Avenida Gabriel Miro (at the bottom just near the fountain) Every Monday during the Summer Starting 2nd May 2011, 10 am to 12 noon Costa Blanca Samaritans are extending their listening service. Alongside the telephone service already offered between 8pm and midnight every night, we will be available Monday mornings 10am-12 noon where you can come along and chat with one of our trained Listening Volunteers, over a cup of coffee. INTERESTED? Feel free to drop in and have a coffee with us. Whatever you are going through, we offer a completely confidential, free, emotional support service for English speakers of any age or nationality, who may be troubled by anything from financial worries, relationship problems, family issues, to feelings of distress or despair, and suicidal thoughts. Our trained volunteers are ready to listen, whatever your issue, whether large or small, and support you as you explore your thoughts and feelings about what troubles you. We do not judge, or tell you what to do, but instead listen, to allow you to decide how you might go forward. The Telephone Helpline will remain available on 902 88 35 35 every evening from 8.00pm until midnight. Calls are charged at National Rate. Costa Blanca Samaritans is registered with the Generalitat Valenciana as a 100% not-for-profit organisation with the number: CV-01-042952-A and is staffed entirely by Volunteers.

www.costablancasamaritans.com

08 - 14 april 2011

Daffs and old dears DAFFS...

Watts In Britain By

Paul Watts

This week a long forgotten smell has returned here in Blighty: freshly cut grass. It’s a smell that’s sublime and one that zaps you right back to childhood. Yep, the local council parks and gardens boys have been out and about, busy with their tractors, strimmers and hover-mowers giving the lawns of the land their first cut of the year (it even inspired me to get my old Qualcast out for a bit of a spin). And I’m pleased to report that they’ve taken great care to cut around and not wipe out this year’s bumper daffodil crop. I don’t know about you but I think daffodils are possibly the best flowers, they mark the end of winter and the promise of summer to come: they cast a calm yellow sunshine glow across the land. As old Billy Wordsworth said way back in 1805: I WANDER’D lonely as a cloud That floats on high o’er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze. This year they’re more like an invading army than a crowd; there are thousands of them and they’re literally everywhere. Serried ranks adorn the roadside and roundabouts, while mercenary groups of undisciplined daffodils have taken up positions in dappled glades and on grassy mounds. Even in the most isolated places you can spy single daffs or little random groupings. Ubiquitous would be a reasonable description of this year’s daffs. I cannot remember a time when there have been quite so many. It is truly glorious. And they seemed to have greater longevity than usual; many have been out for a month and still seem to be in fine fettle with no appearance of decay at all. If I could’ve had daffodils back in Albir, I do think life would have been complete.

Did you know that the name Daffodil is derived from the earlier Affodell? No, me neither but as my editor mate Martyn tells me it’s apparently a variant of Asphodel. The introduction of the ‘d’ remains unknown although; it is thought that a probable source is “an etymological merging from the Dutch article de, as in ‘de affodil’.” Phew, I’m glad we’ve got that sorted out. Anyway, they are a pleasure to behold. ...AND OLD DEARS Another invasion taking place here in the Midlands but unlike the daffs, it’s not quite as nice. The invasion occurs on the early morning buses. For some deranged reason Warwickshire and Staffordshire County Councils have extended their free travel concession. Last week, free travel for the seniors started after nine thirty and, quite obviously, after the early morning rush of workers, students and school children. This week as I tried to board my bus into Tamworth I ran into an army of grannies. There was nowhere to move due to the endless array of two-wheeled and quad-wheel shopping trolleys that filled all available space and my fellow workers spent an unhappy twenty minutes crammed into the bus on our way to work. Mum’s with prams were left red faced and behind as the fullup bus roared by. It was Friday 1st April and I asked the driver what was going on. Driver Ted (that really was his name) said, “It’s Staffordshire bloody council’s idea of an April fool’s joke.” He told me that before 1st April all the seniors boarded after the nine thirty watershed and “it all worked fine, but now look…” He said it was a free for all. One of the grannies remarked that normally she has to pay £7 to arrive on this particular bus but now that money saved would be spent on eating out. “I’m gonna have brekkie…” she laughed with glee. Driver Ted grimaced, “It’s us council tax payers and the bus company that’ll be buying that brekkie.” She just eyed him coldly. Now look, okay fair enough the ENTCS (English

national travel concession scheme) is not a bad idea, in fact I’m hoping to join it in the not-too-distant future but surely it’s not too much to ask that councils make the concession after us poor wage-slaves have got to work, is it? As Driver Ted said: “What are the odds that this scheme will be cancelled when it gets to my turn to join?” Hmmm, I’ll let you know in about four years Ted. Meanwhile, I need to be off for a relaxing stroll amongst the daffodils. Toodle pip, folks. Watts in Warwickshire, dodging the shopping trolleys…

08 - 14 april 2011

100% thank you! Oliver comes to La Nucia

THREE GENERATIONS in the enthusiastic drama group The Companions (a collaboration between Incognito Street and Drama Kidz) have been working tirelessly in a small room at Albir Gardens to bring a challenging production of Oliver Twist, written for the stage by Cynthia Hilton, to the El Sindicat Theatre in La Nucia on Thursday 14th and Friday 15th April, in support of EMAUS. Doors open at 6.30pm for a 7pm curtain and tickets at 8€ (family pass available for 20€) may be obtained from the box office by ringing 646 354 857. During the last week in April the production will be staged again in Finestrat for the children of EMAUS and local school children.

Building works damaging public trees

by Patricia Thompson MICHAEL AND Tracy Smeed of 100% Plumbing completed the 5km MABS Race for Life on Sunday 3rd April with Tracy achieving a magnificent 3rd place for the Ladies and Michael completing the course without any obvious injuries!

Tracy says: “We would very much like to thank all our clients for their kind support and the Lions of Benissa who also gave generously. The total raised by 100% Plumbing amounted to a whopping 807€! Thank you to everyone who sponsored us.”

DAMAGE IS being caused to orange trees along the avenida Gabriel Miró in Calpe due to machinery working overhead, according to the Calpe Independent-Green party. The group has complained about the bad organisation from the town hall, and taken photographs of several trees with broken branches. Calpe’s mayor, Joaquim Tur of the Bloc party has responded that the town hall considered replacing the trees with banana plants, but has decided to save the traditional orange trees.

1508 - 21- 14 october 2010 april 2011

One extreme to the other

23 25

Neira

by Jan Gamm THE SPANISH Supreme Court is this week considering the release of Miguel Montes Francisco Neira, the ‘oldest common prisoner’ in Spain, behind bars since 1976 despite not having committed any violent crime. His sentence has been accumulated over time for a series of offences linked to his attempts to escape custody; the last occasion in 2009 when he was attending his mother’s funeral in his native Granada. Neira is now 60-years-old and his lawyer is pressing for his release due to his age and the fact that he is not violent, therefore representing no risk to society ‘on the outside’. The court is hesitating, however, fearing that Neira’s release would represent ‘a precedent’, presumably for other prisoners in

jail for 35 years for a non-violent crime. SERIAL OFFENDER On the other hand, a man considered by National Police to be a ‘serial offender’, a drug addict residing in Elda, has been arrested on 16 occasions in the last three months for 24 burglaries and thefts yet to date has not received a custodial sentence as his crimes are considered ‘not to be of a violent nature’, despite recently robbing a petrol station in El Guirney at gunpoint. The 40-year-old addict commits robbery to support his heroin daily dose. Although he has been held in police custody on a number of occasions the courts have so far deemed to allow him his freedom to continue perpetrating burglary and theft.

Paraglider rescued after four hours hanging from sheer rock face EMERGENCY SERVICES rescued a 30-year-old Spanish woman who crashed into a rock face on the Peñon de Ifach in Calpe last weekend. A gust of wind sent the woman off course and she ended up hanging from the rock, 200 metres above ground, unable to move up or down. Her husband attempted to climb down the cliff to save her, but also became stuck and needed rescuing. Neither of the pair was injured.

Madrid murderer sends picture via webcam

By Jan Gamm ON MONDAY police in Madrid arrested a man alleged to have murdered his wife by strangling her. The man then sent photographs of his wife’s body to her parents in Romania, via webcam. After receiving the pictures, the victim’s distraught father contacted the Romanian police, resulting in the Spanish police attending the scene and making an arrest later that day.

Spanish police remove the body

“We are mo

re t h an j u

st a v oice on the phone”

08 - 14 april 2011

Double celebration

St George and the animals

by Jack Troughton RED AND white bunting will be much in evidence as the Jalon and Orba Lions Club hosts a celebration of St George’s Day and the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. New show group Amadeus is providing the entertainment for the party, an evening of music called Merrie England: A Sideways Glance At All Things English. Seven performers are featured in the production that features everything from traditional English songs to Andrew Lloyd Webber. Merrie England promise sing-a-long numbers, rousing patriotic songs and the pop memories of the likes of the Beatles and Cliff Rich-

ard. And while Amadeus is making its debut at Orba Theatre – below the town hall, the entrance is at the rear just follow the bunting – there are more productions in the pipeline. The venue does not normally have a bar but the Lions have arranged for La Plaza to provide a facility in the foyer. Amadeus is donating 25% of all ticket sales to the Lions Club. Tickets are 12€ each and available from Occasions in both Jalon and Orba, or by calling 96 558 1483. They are also available online at www.philipashley.com. Doors open at 7.30pm and the show begins at 8pm.

by Jack Troughton CABARET GROUP Cameo Entertainers are performing its hot new show Rollercoaster of Love at a special St George’s Day celebration to raise money for two animal charities. The event is being staged at Restaurante El Andaluz on 23rd April and the show includes favourite numbers such as Steamy windows, Uptown Girl, Call Me Irresponsible, and Can’t Get You Out of My Head. Tickets are 18€ each including a three course menu and wine, and 3€ from every one sold will be shared between the newly launched charity AKIRI and APAC, a charity helping horses. Doors open at 7pm, the meal is served at 7.30pm and Cameo takes to the stage at 9pm. To book tickets call the Cameo Box Office on 656 483 645 between 10am and 2pm Monday to Friday.

Second tractor accident in two days leaves man injured IT’S DANGEROUS driving a tractor; a second tractor accident in as many days left a 35-year-old man injured last week. The tractor overturned in the Vall de Gallinera region at around 5pm last Tuesday, and the driver phoned the emergency services from inside the vehicle. He was rescued and taken to Dénia hospital with minor injuries and a fractured hand.

Tune in with The Harmonisers

NEW TALENT is needed to sing with the all male chorus The Torrevieja Barbershop Harmonisers. The group sing in English but there are several nationalities in the group and the chorus has singers aged in their 50s through to their 70s. And high on the chorus’ wish list are men who can sing tenor – although beginners are welcome. Singers do not have to read music, only the ability to sing in pitch and hold a tune. President Tony Wagstaff told RTN: “If people live or plan to live on the Costa Blanca within travelling distance of Torrevieja, they can come along to one of our rehearsals and find out what harmony singing is all about. “If they are moving to Spain from another country what better way to start a new life than to come and join a great club like ours – we will make them and their partners very welcome and while we have many opportunities for singing, there is also a friendly social side to the club, which we regard as very important.” The Harmonisers rehearse every Tuesday morning at Hotel Caba Cervera, La Mata Torrevieja, from 10am, and people are invited to come along and listen. For more information call Tony on 96 671 3342.

Ladies in red

1508 - 21- 14 october 2010 april 2011

23 27

A little bit of honour THE BIG news across Spain this week has to be the announcement from Prime Minister Zapatero that he will not be standing for re-election in 2012. Having come to power in April 2004, following the tragic Madrid Train bombings in April 2004, he apparently always said (albeit to himself it seems) that two terms would be enough. It is hard to believe him, primarily because of the symmetry of his time in power: elected because of events outside of his control, not just the actual bombings but the subsequent claims by the PP that they had evidence implicating ETA, and of course the ‘crisis’ and ongoing economic meltdown that has effected Spain more than most in Europe. At the same time I find it hard not to have a little sympathy for him, and it has to be said a little respect. Neither of the events that would effectively frame his leadership was of his doing or within his control, and although with hindsight Spain could have been better prepared for the recession and its effects, that is a criticism that the whole country has to put its hands up to. It must have been particularly hard for a Socialist leader to take the decisions on reforms and austerity cuts, and while it is probably true that the phrase “too little and too late” can be applied, again the inherent greed that defines Spain’s last decade pre the crisis can’t be laid at one man’s door. Comparing Zapatero to the disaster of Gordon Brown’s last weeks and months in power (think back to the televised

debates amongst the leaders if you have a strong enough stomach) I have to say that Zapatero has done the honourable thing, and should be applauded for it, especially in a country with so much corruption and dishonour amongst its politicians. The other two stories that caught the eye this week involved numbers, specifically the increase in levels of unemployment in Spain, and the increase in people living in Spain, which surely isn’t a coincidence! Unemployment in Spain increased by 34,406 during March: this took the total number of people out of work to 4,333,669. It was reported by the Ministry for Employment that nearly a third of the newly unemployed are looking for their first job, which does not bode well for the medium term recovery of Spain as I suspect that the sooner businesses in Spain inject new blood into their workforce the better. No surprises that although there were increases in the numbers of both men and women out of work, once again it was the services sector which led to loss in jobs, followed by agriculture, industry and construction. The new census for Spain shows that the number of residents listed on the Padron at their local town hall has reached 47,150,819; an overall increase of 130,000 over the year. What was interesting was that the number of Spanish residents increased by 146,855 while the number of non-EU foreign residents was down 59,386 to 3.3 million, with the Moroccans,

Zapatero not standing for re-election next year

Ecuadorians and the Colombians the most numerous nonEU residents. Further evidence of one of the key problems restricting Spain’s recovery from the crisis: expats with cash returning to the UK while the ‘illegal’ work force that Spain so shamelessly exploited throughout the boom days are stuck here with no work, and no means of returning home. Chris runs an expat blog about life in Spain (www.almerimarlife.com) and is a regular contributor to a number of publications and radio stations in Spain, as well as writing a monthly column for the Daily Telegraph Expat site and is a Daily Telegraph guest blogger. He lives in Almerimar with his wife Sands, four cats, two Harleys and more often than not a glass of red.

His column in the RTN is sponsored by Central Contracts (www.centralcontracts.com) a leading car leasing company supplying cars and vans to business users and private individuals. See also http://almerimarlife.com/expat-technology-blog

08 - 14 april 2011

Last’s week’s questions Last week covered a wide and interesting range of words and ideas, without a single mention of verb tenses or the differences between “ser” and “estar”. They are all based on articles 70 to 79 as found on my website. Here are the answers:

Spanish Prepositions lessons by 1. It’s near the door. Está cerca de la puerta.

Jane Cronin

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

Lesson 152

2. The cat is under the table. El gato está debajo de la mesa. 3. I live next door to the chemist. Vivo al lado de la farmacia. 4. The museum is opposite the town hall. El museo está enfrente del ayuntamiento. 5. I’ll call you before the appointment. Te llamaré (te llamo) antes de la cita. 6. He has a cup of coffee after running. Toma un café después de correr. 7. The shop opens at about nine o´clock. La tienda abre sobre las nueve. 8. We live between Torrevieja and San Miguel. Vivimos entre Torrevieja y San Miguel. (2 points per sentence – maximum 16 points)

Possessive adjectives and pronouns

1. My book, my books, my chair, my chairs. Mi libro, mis libros, mi silla, mis sillas. 2. Your son, your children, your house, your houses. Tu hijo, tus hijos, tu casa tus casas. 3. His girlfriend, her cars, her boyfriend, his shirts. Su novia, sus coches, su novio, sus camisas. 4. Our family, our dog, our holidays, our granddaughters. Nuestra familia, nuestro perro, nuestras vacaciones, nuestras nietas. 5. Your (plural) newspaper, your window, your pencils, your magazines. Vuestro periodico, vuestra ventana, vuestros lápices, vuestras revistas. 6. Their garden, their bed, their balconies, their pets. Su jardín, su cama, sus balcones, sus mascotas. 7. The computer is ours, the papers are mine. El ordenador es nuestro, los papeles son míos. 8. Whose are these? Whose is that? ¿De quién son estos? ¿De quién es eso? (2 points per question – maximum 16 points) 1. “¿Para qué estás haciendo eso?” What are you doing that for? 2. “¿Adónde vas de vacaciones?” Where are you going on holiday? 3. “¿En qué trabajas?” What’s your job? (In what do you work?) 4. ¿En qué aula estamos hoy? What classroom are we in today?

5. ¿De dónde eres?” Where are you from? 6. “¿Durante cuánto tiempo hay que cocinarlo? How long do you have to cook it for? (2 points per sentence – máximum 12 points)

Now for some fun vocabulary:

1. If “gustar” means “to please”, what does “desgustar” mean? To displease, to upset 2. If “obedecer” means “to obey, how do we say “disobey”? desobedecer 3. If “desaparecer” means to “disappear” how do we say “to appear”? aparecer 4. If “enfadado” is “angry”, what kind of person is “desenfadado”? “easy-going” “cool” 5. If “desesperar” means to “despair”, what can “esperar” mean? To hope 6. If “vivir” is “to live”, what is “convivir”? “to live with” “to live together” 7. If “decir” is to say, what is “contradecir”? to contradict 8. How do you think we might say “to predict”? predecir (1 point each – total 8 points)

What do you think the following words mean, without looking them up? 1. Boquiabierto - open-mouthed 2. Nomeolvides – forget-me-not 3. Agridulce – bitter-sweet 4. Aguardiente – fire-water (1 point each – total 4 points)

Superlatives – saying things are “very, very …”

Supply the missing word, following the example. e.g. Fácil (easy) facilísimo (extremely easy, cinch) 1. Guapa (pretty) guapísima (stunning) 2. Gordo (fat) gordísimo (gross) 3. Delgada (thin) delgadísima (practically anorexic) 4. Muchas gracias (many thanks) muchísimas gracias (thank you ever so much) (1 point each – total 4 points)

And finally, where to these people come from?

1. El londinense - London 2. El cartagenero - Cartagena 3. El madrileño - Madrid 4. El ilicitano - Elche 5. El pinatarense – San Pedro del Pinatar 6. El cordobés - Córdoba (1 point each – total 6 points) Divide your score by two, multiply by three and add one point - the result will be your mark out of 100!

08 - 14 april 2011

money

08 - 14 april 2011

Leaving out the logical by

Suzanne O’Connell Customer Care at Ábaco

YOU’D THINK that down-to-earth practical arrangements like paying tax would entail a certain amount of logic wouldn’t you? For example, it seems logical that the country that you live in for most of the year should be the country where you pay your tax. But don’t be fooled, it doesn’t always follow.

Now, for question number 1 you should have answered Spain. If you put the UK then you didn’t read our article last week! Only some civil service pensions are deducted at source in the UK. After all, you live in Spain and the services you use are in Spain, so Spain it is.

Try this little quiz and you’ll see what I mean:

For question number 2 you should have ticked the UK. Again, it’s logical. You live in the UK you use their services and any income you have is taxed there too. Now for the trick question: if you ticked the UK for question number 3 then you have chosen the logical, but the wrong answer. The answer should be, Spain. You might have to declare your rental income to the UK tax man, but you actually pay the tax on it in Spain every three months.

Where do you pay your tax?

Spain

1. On your UK state pension if you live in Spain 2. On interest earned from your saving accounts if you live in the UK 3. On rental income on a house in Spain if you live in the UK

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Ah well, two out of three isn’t bad, unless you rent out property in Spain that is! Just goes to show when it comes to tax it’s your wits you need, not your logic. If you would like a FREE, no obligation tax consultation with one of Ábaco’s friendly team of advisers call the ÁbacoConnect Help-line 966 703 748 www.abacoconnect.com

money

08 - 14 april 2011

Portugal on the cusp of a bail out - does it matter? by

Stephen Ward & Robert Burns THE PRESSURE on Portugal to seek a financial bailout from the EU has been building for months. Despite the continuing protestations a bailout is now imminent. This is clear from the yield that can be achieved by purchasing government debt issued by Portugal. The way it works is that as the yield rises then the capital value of the debt falls. The naive investor could conclude that a rising yield as set out in the chart below is really good news whereas the precise opposite is the case. Imagine you bought £100 worth of this financial instrument in May 2010. Your income yield would be 4% - therefore £4 p.a. This you continue to enjoy. But were you to sell this instrument today you would receive only £47.50. The yield for a new investor committing £100 has more than doubled, but for the hapless individual who invested just under a year ago their capital investment has more than halved. The market is saying that Portuguese debt is worth a yield of over 8.5% because there is a pretty good chance that Portugal will default on its obligations and that the value of the instrument may as a consequence fall to zero How does this affect me you may well say?

Well what about every time you see an advertisement in this and other newspapers suggesting that you can make an investment with a whopping yield. What you are not told is that the rate of interest or yield that you are being offered on an investment is indicative of the risk that it presents. The higher the yield then in general terms the higher is the risk to your capital. Some investments that promise a high yield do so not necessarily because they are risky per se, but because they are relatively illiquid. So long as investors generally do not seek to get their capital back then no problem will arise. Attractive yields of the type referred are for example offered in funds that invest in assets like student accommodation, or (astonishingly) teak forests. And very well they might do - until that is some economic event occurs or a scare story

is published that causes what might be a relatively small number of investors to run for the exits. Then the fund manager faced with the possibility of having to sell an illiquid asset has to defend the fund by reducing the price or even suspending it. So everybody suffers. If you fancy buying government-backed Portuguese debt and learning 8.5% per annum, then good luck to you. On the other hand in relation to this and products offering a similar return, be prepared for the possibility of losing your shirt. Please contact us for information on how we can help you with your existing investments or to review and structure your funds to help meet your longer term retirement goals. E-mail info@prempensions.com or see http://www.prempensions.com and http://www.qrops.es

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legal

08 - 14 april 2011

Carlos Baos

of White & Baos Abogados English & Spanish Solicitors

WE ARE selling our property in Valencia for a very low price and we have been advised that we may have problems with the tax man who might consider that we are selling it for more money but not declaring it on the Deed, or that the real market value is higher. Is this correct? Dear reader: it is perfectly legal for the buyer and seller to agree on the selling price provided it is a legal transaction and not an attempt to avoid creditors or taxes. However the tax man in Spain takes a different view and this issue is of very real

importance in a falling property market. It needs to be remembered that the transfer tax 7% must be paid according with the highest value of these three: Cadastral value, Market value or price agreed by vendor and purchaser. The purchaser is more likely to be caught out than the seller, however, and unsurprisingly the tax man will always go for the purchaser as they will be the owner of an asset, i.e. the newly purchased house, against which they can place a charge if necessary; and mainly because the purchaser is the person liable for the Transfer Tax in Spain. Almost every property will have a cadastral value (valor catastral) which is similar to the rateable value in the UK. Typically the property’s cadastral value will be very far out of date unless it has been recently reassessed. The figure can often be found on the most recent IBI receipt. When purchasing a property (also

when inheriting, or in a dissolution of joint ownership etc) it is very important to check that the declared price, i.e. the figure inserted into the Deed (escritura), is acceptable to the tax authorities by reference to the cadastral value. A scale of multipliers exists which enables a purchaser to determine the minimum value that the tax authorities will accept. A simple example of how this might work in practice is as follows: the buyer agrees to purchase a property for €150k. The deed is signed before the Notary and the seller receives payment in full. Six weeks following the sale, a notification is received by the purchaser demanding that additional transfer tax is paid due to the fact that the cadastral value, when multiplied by the relevant coefficient, produces an acceptable figure of €215k. The tax on the additional €65k must be paid by the purchaser, an unexpected 7% tax, plus interests, etc, that the purchaser

had not budgeted for. Although this decision from tax authorities could be appealed, normally with good chances of success, it will always be better to avoid this situation when possible. Where the price of a property has fallen faster than the evaluation made by the authorities it makes good sense to obtain a professional valuation prior to purchase as this may assist in seeking to persuade the tax man that their figures are out of date. It may be the case that a property is in a state of disrepair which explains the low purchase price. In this case it may well pay to take photographs which can be used to justify the price paid. If this is your case of the case of someone you know 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.

Marc White LL.B. & Carlos Baos (English & Spanish Solicitors) © White & Baos Abogados 2011 - All rights reserved. C/Diana 19, 2º-D, 03700 Dénia (located 1 minute away from the La Via underground car park). Tel: 966 426 185. Send your questions to spanishlawyer@roundtownnews.com or info@white-baos.com

Villa owner creates illegal concrete path on protected land POLICE VISITED a coastal property last week to inform the owner that the concrete path being carved from the property to the coast was illegal. However, most of the work had already been completed. The path scars the protected landscape in Gra-

nadella park in Jávea by giving access from the villa to the coast. The authorities also say that the land through which the path travels is public land and it is also therefore illegal to usurp that area. The authorities are studying the case.

Alicante’s PP leader in hot water over rubbish collection deal THE PP provincial leader in Alicante, José Joaquín Ripoll, is accused of bribery, influence peddling, revealing secrets, fraud and carrying on business prohibited to civil servants. Investigations show that Ripoll received €1.3 million around the time he agreed that a local businessman, Enrique Ortiz, should win the tender for rubbish collection in the Vega Baja area. Reports say that there is no legitimate evidence to justify where the money came from.

business

08 - 14 april 2011

Difficulties when partnerships go wrong I HAVE been in contact with several people lately who have set up business partnerships in Spain with by their best friend, spouse or long term colleague. At first, the business goes swimmingly Agencia de Cobros well, both business partners are happy Directos with the results, and they are confident that they are working towards the same goal. However, it can all go horribly wrong when one partner decides they want to move on. This can happen for various reasons: perhaps one partner wants to expand the business, but the other is content to coast along, or some personal friction starts to cause animosity and a bad working atmosphere.

Fiona Hulme

WHATEVER THE REASON, WHAT CAN BE DONE? There are two possibilities: • The partner wishing to leave signs his 50% over to the remaining partner and walks away with nothing, leaving behind him all the benefits and value that he created in the business. • Or the business is professionally valued: partner ‘A’ buys out partner ‘B’ for 50% of the agreed value. This agreed valuation can cause its own problems ....while both partners may have been living off some ‘black money’ and only

putting through the books sufficient to cover costs, a valuation will only consider the ‘white’ declared turnover, and therefore the company could be valued at substantially less than its true value. Arguing about the true value will likely destroy any remaining relationship that exists. In the worst case, a married couple jointly running a business are initially advised to put all their assets in the company name. Then the marriage breaks down and the unravelling of assets starts....who should live in the marital home, if it is owned by the business? What about their cars? A married person could find not just their personal relationship ending, but also their income and home disappearing. So how do you avoid such situations? The easy answer is never do business with a partner: always own 100% of your business yourself. But that is not always practical, people need money to start up a business and it always seems like a good idea to join finances and enthusiasm. If you decide to start a joint partnership, get the ground rules ironed out from day one. It is easy to agree how to start, but also consider how you would close down the business, or sell your share. If you put all your car costs, home

Things can go horribly wrong when one partner decides they want to move on

insurance and other expenses through the business, how will this impact the value? Can black money be considered in the business valuation? Black money is, of course, illegal, so get used to the fact that you cannot benefit illegally on the one hand, but want it to be legally recognised in a valuation at some future date. It is best (for obvious reasons) to declare all income from day one, and keep

personal and business expenditure strictly separate. And finally...whether you are working in a partnership or just for yourself, keep good financial records. Do not be tempted to dip into the till without noting what you have paid out, and what for. That is the road to ruin, and I have seen several viable companies fail due to lack of attention to basic bookkeeping and profit/loss analysis.

Contact us on 966 888 987, or email us at info@cobrosdirectos.com and we will be pleased to discuss any aspect of our service. See our website www.cobrosdirectos.com for further information on our services.

legal

08 - 14 april 2011

All change - new rules for divorce in England by

Michael Olmer Solicitor, Link Point Legal and Business Services

ON 6TH APRIL a new unified code of rules comes into force that will affect all types of matrimonial proceedings in England and Wales, and will cover the issue of Divorce Proceedings, all financial aspects of a divorce, residence and maintenance of children, and adoption proceedings. A major change is that the new rules now impose a requirement for parties beginning divorce proceedings to use, or at least attempt to use, mediation to try and reach an amicable settlement, before resorting to formal proceedings in Court. Although the new rules run to more than 300 pages, so far as possible they have been written using plain language. For the layman the most obvious change will be in the phrases which you are used to hearing or using. For example, • ‘Decrees of divorce’ or ‘dissolution orders’ (civil partnership) become ‘matrimonial orders’ or ‘civil partnership orders’. • ‘Ancillary relief’ becomes an application for a ‘financial order’. • You will make an ‘application’ for divorce rather than file a ‘petition’. If you are already involved in Divorce Proceedings in England and Wales you do not have to start all over again when the new rules come into force. The new rules relate to the procedure and not the basic law of divorce, which still provide that a British divorce must be based on the irretrievable breakdown of marriage evidenced by one or more of the following five facts:

• Adultery • Unreasonable behavior • Desertion • That you have been separated for at least 2 years and have agreed to divorce • That you have been separated for at least 5 years in which case you do not need the agreement of your spouse. (Unlike a Spanish divorce which does not have to be based on conduct or fault of any kind). The introduction of these new, simplified rules may make it more attractive than ever for expats to use the English Courts if they are in the unfortunate position of deciding that the time has come to end their marriage. You may be able to apply for a Divorce in England and Wales even if you have lived in Spain for many years but there are some technical factors which you must consider. The crucial factor is where you are ‘domiciled’. Domicile is a separate concept from Residence or Nationality, and in essence it is the place with which you have the deepest roots and ‘legal connection’. In law everyone has a domicile, but only one at any given time. Everyone has a ‘Domicile of Origin’ which is normally the country of their birth. This may change if you change your domicile. The usual ways of changing to a ‘Domicile of Choice’ are: • Taking out foreign citizenship or naturalisation, or • Marriage to a foreigner and cutting all links to your family in your country of birth, or • Fleeing from your home country and becoming a refugee, or

• Severing all connections with your home country and having the intention to remain in your new chosen country for the rest of your days, or • At the end of your days, intending to be buried in your new chosen country To be able to use the English Courts for your divorce you may have to show that you are still domiciled in England and Wales. This does not necessarily mean that you need to have an address in England or Wales. If you have family or other connections with England and Wales, including bank accounts, property, or even membership of clubs, societies, or a church or synagogue, or intend to return there at some distant time in the future then in most circumstances anyone originally from England or Wales can use the courts there, on the basis that they are ‘domiciled’ in England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have different legal systems and if you intend to divorce in either of those places then you need to take advice from lawyers qualified there. Even though your divorce proceedings are conducted in England and Wales under the Brussels Convention of 1998 on Jurisdiction and the Recognition and Enforcement of Judgements in Matrimonial Matters, (known as ‘Brussels II’) the English court can make orders to deal with your property and other issues arising out of the divorce which will be recognised and enforceable in Spain. Divorce is always complex and can be traumatic. At Linkpoint our qualified English and Spanish Lawyers are available to advise you on the best options for you and your family.

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

01 08 - 07 14 april 2011

Home Garden

Brought to you by

www.spanishhomefinder.com

Are estate agents really worth it?

By Guest Writer Michael Rushe of Javea Estates, estate agents The question which forms the title of this article is what is grammatically called a closed question. It can only be answered yes or no. But when it comes to estate agents the answer can be yes and no. In the book ‘Hitch-hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’ estate agents along with marketing executives and phone sanitizers were ‘first against the wall when the revolution came’. In many popular surveys and polls the estate agent is invariably found languishing at the bottom of the list. In many people’s eyes leeches are more attractive. With such a bad press and an even worse reputation why is it that so many of these ‘pariahs’ are still around? The simple answer is how else would you sell your property? So, are estate agents a necessary evil? It is true that the practices and attitudes of some agents in the past have not done the profession here any favours. It seemed that all they did was to take the highest possible commissions for simply being in the right place and the right time, inflating prices and creaming off the profits on the hopes and dreams of thousands. Today it is different. With a depressed market, falling prices and choppy financial waters ahead, property sellers and buyers alike are in need of professional advice and support to achieve their goals and a good estate agent can provide both.

The paradox of the estate agent is that they don’t actually sell your property. A good estate agent realises that your property will sell when someone, who the agent has introduced, sees that you are not selling your home but their dream. A good estate agent has the knowledge and expertise to be able to advise the seller on price and how to present their property in the best possible light. A good estate agent has the skill to advertise your property effectively not only locally but to the widest global market. A good estate agent proactively seeks out buyers and gets the viewings because no one buys a property unless they’ve seen it first. A good estate agent is an expert in presenting your property, highlighting its features and benefits to the potential buyer. A good estate agent will hold your hand through a process that can be fraught with financial and emotional anxiety. A good estate agent advertises your property for sale better than anyone else can. A good estate agent is someone you can trust. In today’s highly competitive property market a good estate agent can be well worth it. All you have to do is to find one and that is a lot easier than you might think.

Property sellers and buyers alike are in need of professional advice and support to achieve their goals and a good estate agent can provide both

08 - 14 april 2011

The lawn story so far... YOU CAN grow a real green grass lawn in Spain if you choose the right type of grass! Most peoples’ experiences with real lawns in their garden in Spain start with the expense of purchasing turf or seed. After the initial euphoria, the drudge of watering becomes too much effort and (generally to the detriment of the lawn) the watering is reduced to a minimum. This inevitably means that the finer greener grasses die and the coarser grasses survive until the next watering. If you have chosen to lay turf, more than likely it is because you wanted an instant solution for a green lawn. Turf is not easily found here in Spain because its maintenance prior to sale is so high. Nobody wants to buy yellow or dead looking turf, so the grower has to constantly maintain its look with water and fertilizer until it is sold. When you lay your newly purchased turf lawn, this instant solution looks great but now immediately requires copious amounts of water EVERY DAY

to maintain its lush green look. After the initial period, the watering (whether an irrigation system is installed or not) is skimped on or reduced, and the lawn suffers. Basically things go from great to not so great and eventually a very patchy substandard lawn is the result. Because of the expense of water here in Spain, most people at this point either give up and put gravel down, or concrete the area. If you chose seed, then after daily attempts to keep the seed from drying out, the result (after the birds and the ants) is a disappointing, patchy solution that has resulted in disappointment. Then re-seeding to fill in the gaps is necessary. Our grass plugs are a great solution for a beautiful garden lawn in Spain. They are not cuttings but completely rooted pieces of lawn. The lawn begins modestly and cheaply with no failures: it’s NOT an instant solution; it’s like a good wine and gets better with time. The investment in your lawn can start from as little as 4€ per M2. After watering the

The result

Planting grass plugs

Home & Garden

grass plugs for the first three weeks after planting, you do not need to water again (extreme weather conditions permitting), thus eliminating the need for expensive irrigation systems. However, after the 3 - 4 week point you may want to continue watering until the grass plugs join up into an established lawn. This greatly speeds up the timescale and the results from your investment. Because of the deep roots, our grasses are drought resistant and thrive in hot, dry conditions. The lawn actually gets better with time. Once established, our grasses grow slowly and need less cutting. They

do not propagate easily from seed and therefore we propagate the grass for you, and once its established we then transplant into your lawn. You don’t need any more than this for a wonderful green lawn in less than one season, and it can be much less. For more information about grass plugs or if you have any questions about your lawn, we would be pleased to answer any questions free – see us on Google: ‘Lawns in Spain’ or http://www.lawnsinspain. com Contact:lawnsinspain@yahoo.com or phone 676 863 778.

08 - 14 april 2011

Brought to you by spanishhomefinder.com

08 - 14 april 2011

Starting to garden in Spain by

Clodagh & Dick Handscombe Practical gardeners and authors

CONGRATULATIONS ON purchasing a property in Spain with a garden, or more probably these days a patch of Spanish soil waiting to become a garden. In this article we highlight some of the most important first things to be done with an entirely new garden. EVALUATE THE QUALITY OF YOUR SOIL Most plants grow best in a fairly rich well draining soil and not in the unimproved heavy red clay soils full of rocks, very sandy soils full of stones or

Grow your own vegetables

solid rock with a little top soil on top. Clay and sandy soils will need to be improved by adding copious amounts of composts and well rotted manures.

ONLY IMPROVE SOILS WHERE YOU NEED TO Improving poor soils is a time consuming, back breaking and expensive task if you don’t have a source of inexpensive compost nearby. So only improve soils where you will be planting things, whether individual trees, shrub beds or a vegetable plot. If you have inherited very shallow soil over bedrock it is wise to plant everything in raised beds or large containers. REDUCE THE RISK PROFILE OF THE GARDEN SITE Firstly, although most days in Spain are pleasantly warm and sunny we do get days or weeks of cold or scorching winds not liked by many plants. So start out by planting hedging shrubs and trees or building walls to be clad in climbing plants as wind breaks. Secondly, only plant low risk plants appropriate to your local climate until you have established a sheltered microclimate in the garden. Then you can plant the more vulnerable subtropical and tropical plants in the warmest and most sheltered corners. Our book Your Garden in Spain – From planning to planting and maintenance includes descriptions and photographs of some 400 of the most suitable plants for Spanish gardens.

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

GROW FRUIT AND VEGETABLES FROM DAY ONE Spain is a wonderful country in which to grow fruit and vegetables. So plant a few fruit trees and bushes and start a vegetable plot as early as possible. Your garden may take years to complete so ensure that you have healthy organically grown home produce to eat while you are progressing the rest of the garden. As explained in our books Growing Healthy Fruit in Spain and Growing Healthy Vegetables in Spain, much can be grown in just one or two square metres. One thing you will be surprised by when you first arrive in Spain is that in many areas it is difficult to buy organic vegetables as most are exported to the UK and other northern European countries. RECOGNISE THAT WATER IS A VALUABLE RESOURCE We recommend that you plant up the less thirsty plants listed in our book. Naturally all new plants will need watering until they are established but they will put down important deep tap roots quicker if you water deep once or twice a week rather than shallowly twice a day. USE ERGONOMIC TOOLS You will soon find that a collection of Spanish short and long handled mattocks are less muscle straining than a full sized fork or spade and hand trowels and forks in Spanish soils. DON’T WORK IN THE MIDDAY SUN! Straw hats and siestas are essential to happy and

use walls for climbing plants

healthy gardening in Spain. We hope that the above thoughts help you make a productive start with the development of an enviable Garden of Eden in Spain. Clodagh and dick’s books These very practical and useful books will be found in good bookshops and newsagents such as Bookworld, Carrefour and Humpty Dumpty. If not near one of these buy by mail order via the websites of Amazon, Angloinfo Spain and Santana Books, the publishers.

08 - 14 april 2011

Your UK TV questions answered WELCOME BACK to RTN’s regular features about the world of British TV here on the Costa Blanca. If YOU have a question about British TV you’d like answered, please feel free to contact us! Thanks for all your emails and calls; we’re glad to be able to help!

Bill Pole

ConeXionS TV Solutions, professional sales, service, support & advice

Firstly, a correction and apology: Thanks to Henry, who noted that a few months ago I listed Sky News HD as a free HD channel from Sky. This is incorrect – Sky News HD is only available as part of a paid HD package. Thanks for the heads-up, Henry! My neighbour has a small new HD satellite receiver which he bought locally, so that he could bring his card with him from the UK and get his full Sky package here in Spain – I thought Sky said that this is not possible? Sky viewing cards are electronically paired with a particular digibox at the time of activation by Sky. This ‘marries’ the card to a particular Sky box, meaning that the ‘premium’ channels (Sky Sports, Movies, and Special Subscriptions) are locked to the box they were paired to. However, cards for free-to-view channels such as Five, Fiver etc and paid family packs (Sky One, Living, Gold, etc) WILL transfer between boxes without problems, and without the need to call Sky. If YOU have a Sky subscription running in the UK, simply bring your card with you and insert it into your box here to receive all the family pack channels, subject to your dish size. You will still need a 1.9 – 2.4m dish for BBC and other ‘big dish’ channels including much of the Sky Movies package, depending on your location on the Costa Blanca. Sports and Movie channels will give a ‘This is the wrong card for this set-top box’ message when inserted into a box other than that to which the viewing card was originally paired. There is, however, a small selection of receivers which WILL take a Sky card, and WILL allow ALL paid channels (including Sports, Movies and HD) to be viewed, even though the box is not officially associated with the card in any way. A few years ago there was the Darkbox and the Manhattan. Now the Ferguson Ariva box takes their place. This is a non-Sky product, and therefore has no

support from Sky (what in Spain DOES?). Cheaper to buy and much smaller than a typical Sky HD box (think Nintendo Wii size), the Ferguson will accept a multitude of viewing cards, including all current Sky cards. The box software automatically updates its own software via the satellite, and allows viewing of your complete Sky package in a second location, e.g. Spain, without the need for a second Sky card or paid subscription. You simply insert your existing subscription card, and all your channels appear (subject to dish size). The box has HDMI and component outputs, as well as optical and scart (for non-HD TV owners). It even has a USB slot to which you can add a flash drive of your choice (USB memory stick), which will allow for direct recording and playback. The downside? Because it’s a generic box, with an open design allowing for a variety of setups and uses, it is not as easy to setup as a genuine Sky box. With Sky, all the channel numbers are loaded automatically when in use. Sky News, for example, is on 501 on ALL Sky boxes. Not so with the Ferguson, or other non-Sky receivers! You can set whatever channels to whatever slots that you choose, meaning that no two setups are the same. In addition, when Sky decide to add new channels, fiddle around with frequencies, etc the Ferguson box needs to be updated manually, whereas Sky boxes will update themselves with new channels automatically, as they become available on the EPG (electronic programme guide). As a second box in Spain to allow viewing from a single UK-based card, it’s a great, cheap and modern solution. However, as a main box, I’d still recommend a genuine Sky HD box for its ease of use, despite costing substantially more. Call

us for the latest info and prices. Ferguson Ariva 100e HD satellite receiver will accept Sky premium package cards.

Panasonic TU-DSB30 seems to be suffering from ‘remote lock-out syndrome’ again. Recently I’ve noticed that I’ve been called out to a series of jobs involving old Panasonic digiboxes – in particular their TU-DSB30 model. This is a box that was extremely popular around ten years ago, as it had by FAR the best tuner of its time, as well as a faster processor than many of its competitors. It was THE box to have in Spain back then... However, an inherent problem meant that after some time, this model tended to suffer from what I dub ‘remote lock-out syndrome’. This is when the box refuses to acknowledge any commands from the remote control or front panel, and the ‘Remote Command’ indicator light on the box (which normally flashes briefly to acknowledge a command from the remote control) is permanently on red. The only way to regain control of the box is to disconnect it from the power supply, and reboot it manually. This happened a LOT around 2005, and many boxes were replaced with the new box of the time, the off-white Pace 2600, shortly followed by the Pace DS430N which looked identical. It seems that the Panasonic boxes that survived the spate of problems in 2005 might be starting to have repeat issues. Please let me know if this is happening to YOU, so that I can try to discover how widespread the problem is. By spreading the news, we all help to help each other... Until next time!

Bill Pole owns and runs the successful business, ‘ConeXionS Digital Satellite Solutions’ (based in Javea). Originally established in 1988, it is one of the longest-running and best known satellite TV names on the northern Costa Blanca, surviving through success, customer loyalty and recommendation. Find out why clients rate them #1 for installation, service, after-sales and pricing! Phone (+34) 660 638 975 or visit www.conexions-javea.com for the latest news, info and special offers: legal & licensed, and the best value for MILES around!

08 - 14 april 2011

Computing with aunty virus

upgrading to Windows 7 Is this a serious problem? Roger via enetcomputers.net SHOULD I upgrade to Windows7? I have an HP dv6910 laptop and I am fed up with all the problems Vista is causing. I have heard so many different opinions and I really need some advice. Aunty says: Yes you should Roger, but the first thing you need to do is find out whether your laptop can cope with Win7. There are a number of prerequisites and some are easily fixable and some are not. I did a quick check with your HP laptop and unfortunately HP has decided not to release the necessary software for your computer. I will try and explain some of this without too much technical jargon: Windows 7 needs a certain amount of memory (RAM), hard disk space and processor speed (CPU) to install and run properly, but it also requires that all the other components inside your computer (such as video and sound card) have what are known as ‘drivers’ that work with Win7. Most of the time memory, CPU and hard disk can be fairly easily upgraded, but if the software drivers have not been released by HP (or Microsoft) then you will run into severe problems.

There is a Windows 7 Compatibility program on the front page of www.enetcomputers. net that will give you a brief summary of what will or will not work, and if any of you are not sure what to do next then you are welcome to save and email me the results and I will have a look. As far as upgrading goes, I would strongly recommend a complete fresh install of Win7 which will mean backing up all your personal documents and pictures to a USB stick or external drive and installing Windows 7 on to a freshly formatted C: drive. You will need to then reinstall all programs/ applications making sure you get the Win7 versions.

Are they compatible?

Ray via email asks: HELLO AUNTY, I am running Microsoft Security Essentials and Avast free version. Are they compatible in your opinion? So far I have not had any obvious problems. Aunty Says: They are both good Ray but you mustn’t have two antivirus programs. Also you should really install at least one antispyware program to work along side your antivirus program, and either SuperAntiSpyware or Malwarebytes (or both) will do the job nicely.

Colin via email asks: I HAVE Windows 7 and a Windows Live photo icon has appeared in my Pictures folder. When I click on this it, it displays “error code 0x8000000a” and doesn’t open. If I try to delete it I get the message that the picture is no longer in the folder and asks me to detect its location. I have run Ccleaner and Norton antivirus as well as SuperAntiSpyware. I simply can’t get rid of the icon. Could this be a serious problem? Aunty Says: I don’t think this is too serious Colin, and you may find starting Widows in ‘safe mode’ will let you delete the icon. Tap the F8 key before Windows starts and choose the ‘safe mode’ option. Click the ‘yes’ button and try and delete the offending icon.

Installing software William via email asks: I HAVE a problem with my laptop running Windows 7. When I try to install any software or to uninstall any program already installed, I get a message come up saying “Another installation is already in progress: complete that installation before proceeding with this install.” In fact I have no installation in progress. I have been trying for a week now to find answers in help programs etc. without success. I am an 81-yearold silver surfer and not very technically-minded. Can you please help? Aunty Says: Hello William. This unfortunately could be a number of things with a varying degree of severity. The first and easiest thing to check is that all of your antivirus and antispyware programs are up to date and that a full scan has been

done. Also run Ccleaner to clear out and unwanted rubbish. If this doesn’t resolve the problem then you may need to manually stop the Windows Installer program. You can do this by clicking on the start button (big blue Windows logo in the bottom left corner) and type services. msc. This will bring up a window and a list of all the services currently running on your computer. If you scroll down the list until you see the ‘Windows Installer’ entry and double click it. You should now see a ‘stop’ button which will manually stop the installer. Let me know how you get on.

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

08 - 14 april 2011

GADGET INSPECTOR

the case of The Omron M10-IT Blood Pressure Monitor THIS WEEK the Inspector is under pressure with the Omron M10-IT Blood Pressure Monitor. “So it is just for taking blood pressure… why bother?” I hear you say. Well, this particular little marvel is as vital as your daily dose of ‘Shredded Wotsits’ for monitoring the performance of your most vital of organs – particularly with the 21st Century obsession with anything health related. The Omron M10-IT Intellisense Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor (to give it the Full Monty), is a fully automatic blood pressure and pulse rate monitor. The device uses Omron’s patented ‘IntelliSense’ technology to ensure accurate and clinically proven readings. The Omron M10-IT also features the innovative ‘Comfit Cuff’, which is a preformed dual sized comfort cuff (22-42cm) for medium to large arms. An absolute doddle to put on: within seconds you will be ready to take a reading. Not only will the device take your blood pressure reading but also your pulse rate, and can monitor for an irregular heartbeat – that is a heartbeat rhythm that varies by more than 25% from the average measurement while the unit is taking the

pressure reading. If this occurs the unit informs you. Within seconds your blood pressure and pulse rate will be displayed on the large LCD display panel. The unit can take and store up to 84 time-stamped readings for two individual users – averaging the results for morning and evening. There is also an Auto mode where the unit can take 3 consecutive measurements at a specified interval in one sitting. The Omron M10-IT also comes with PC connectivity via the supplied USB cable and Health Management Software. This allows full monitoring over time via the handy display graphs and availability of averaging functions. There is also the facility to printout or create results files that can be given to your doctor. Power is supplied by four AA batteries (good for approximately 1400 readings), or the optional AC adaptor. The Inspector´s Verdict: The Omron M10-IT Blood Pressure Monitor is a ‘must-have’ for the health conscious amongst us – whether for those of more tender years monitoring fitness, or of a more senior disposition for keeping an eye on their vitals. There is the added bonus of the device being clinically validated by the International

Protocol British Hypertension Society and recommended by the Food and Drug Administration in the USA for the detection of morning hypertension - the biggest risk factor for stroke and heart attacks – peace of mind indeed! But do remember, this device is not

supposed to replace the advice of a medical professional – only to provide home monitoring – if in doubt speak to your doctor. The Omron M10-IT Blood Pressure Monitor costs around €38, with a one year manufacturer’s warranty.

health

08 - 14 april 2011 2010 15-21 JANUARY

Retirement and the organising of your health care provision: Part 5

THE FIRST article was intended to provoke thought to instigate honestly about your current situation, your health and care needs and that of the future. The Prestige Nursing and second article looked at the differing care facilities and Social Care Services services available and in the third at the different types of Nursing/Care homes and semi-dependent living facilities. Part four gave you an idea of the questions you should ask and things you should be looking for when visiting and choosing one of these facilities. In Part Five and Six, we are going to look at home nursing and home care and the differences between the two, how to choose between the two and the problems experienced here in Spain.

Claire Cerro Atyeo, RGN

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE? “The term ‘home care’ is used to distinguish ‘nonmedical care’ or ‘custodial care’, which is care that is provided by persons who are not nurses, doctors, or other licensed medical personnel.”(Wikipedia). These companies are registered and licenced to provide domiciliary care, ideal for assistance with house work, laundry and companionship. Home nursing provide personal care (help with washing, dressing and giving medication), and will also have a qualified nurse on duty twenty-four hours a day

to carry out nursing tasks. These companies are for people who are physically or mentally frail or people who need regular attention from a nurse. All seems pretty clear so far! Well you would think so but America in their wisdom have called Home Nursing “Home health care”…… and like all things American, the terminology has worked its way through to Europe, so the defining lines have now become intermixed, causing mayhem and confusion and to exacerbate things further, Spain at present do not have a quality care commission to investigate and regulate private companies offering these types of care. The legislation exists but there is no investigative team to ensure that the services these companies offer are actually within their scope of practice or within the companies’ licences. Because of this lack of regulation there are many companies and individuals effectively ‘bending the truth’ in their promotional campaigns, for example have you seen an advert saying NHS Qualified nurses? Now think about it…. In England for many years now you have a system of qualification whereby once Nursing Auxiliaries are able to undertake NVQ (national vocational qualifications) in health and social care. This is a fantastic system

For more information Telephone Prestige Nursing and Social care Services on 687 015 517 or email info@prestigenursingcostablanca.com

because it provides knowledge into why things are done, it provides the once Nursing Auxiliary with the ability to think for themselves with a degree of medical knowledge, the mix of practical skill and knowledge being an absolute godsend to nurses (registered nurses). But if a mistake were to be made, the responsibility ultimately lays with the registered nurse, for one very good reason: they are the ones with full knowledge, they have the registration (the licence as it were) to practice nursing. Now see the problem? NHS QUALIFIED NURSE AVAILABLE FOR HOME NURSING! So where does that leave you? Well firstly don’t be alarmed, the good news is most of these companies, be it a care company or nursing or individual, are providing a service to the community and although profit driven, they do usually, actually care. What is important to establish is what type of service you want/ need, and how to tell what type of care you’re buying in and from whom. HOW DO I DO THAT? That is something we will be discussing in part six of this series.

Robert Vandevelede

Ex-president Australian Acupuncture & Chinese medicine Association

Psoriasis: a case history A 59 YEAR old woman with psoriasis came to see me in November last year. She had psoriasis for a number of years mainly on her head but spreading over the rest of her body since beginning of last year. She claimed to have had a stressful life the last couple of years and been to different doctors and therapists. She said she felt emotionally and mentally out of balance, suffered severe mood swings and felt fearful most of the time. She talked very fast and agitated; she obviously was very stressed and worried about her condition. She was on no medication and had a bout of high cholesterol under control, probably through diet. She had no major medical history and told me the only thing she noticed lately was some irritation in her eyes. The psoriasis moved from one area to another, but always present on her head, neck (R) and shoulder anterior mainly (R). Both legs were also affected, mainly lateral and posterior. At times the psoriasis was itchy and she tended to scratch the affected areas. Most of the lesions were red, swollen and flushed and the scales were easily shed when scratched. She told me that exposure to the sun tended to aggravate the condition. From a Chinese medicine point of view, I diagnosed her to have wind and blood heat and started treating her accordingly with Acupuncture and Chinese herbs. Following are some pictures taken throughout the treatment. The first ones are from when she was already being treated for at least 5 weeks, around16/12/10 and the last ones at 22/03/11 Robert Vandevelde (former President Australian Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Association).

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 javea-acupuncture.blogspot.com

08 - 14 april 2011

Hot

tropical

Half inch of Ginger 1 inch slice of Pineapple Half a Mango (stone removed) Juice all the ingredients Rich in: Essential oils; natural enzymes; Vitamin A and Betacarotene. Good for anyone who needs energy and good for the recovery of bruising. The pineapple helps to keep the digestive system working The tanginess of the ginger blends with the sweetness of the pineapple and mango. This actually makes more juice but as you can see it was a favourite with our taste testers! 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

08 - 14JANUARY april 2011 2010 8-14

tried and tested I had no reason to doubt the words that I was hearing. But the man talking to me was not telling me the truth, rather a version of the events which happened, and he was holding back. My intuition told me what to believe and what not to believe in what I was hearing, and though it was, undoubtedly a good story, it was being told in a very curious way. Why would anybody want to lie to tell their own story? What was it that he had done that demanded this cover up? The answer was that he was testing me, waiting to see if I could piece together the true story, because he knew that that would impress him. I told him the truth, that I do not do shows during my one to one readings. On this particular occasion time was wasted that could well have been taken up with further contact, more revelations, more aspirations for the changes that he had to make, but he greatly preferred testing my abilities, trying to see if I could see through the lies, which of course I did. I know that there are a lot of false people out there claiming to be working with Spirit, and I know that a testing situation also can put some people at their ease, so I go for it! However after almost fifty years of working with Spirit I cannot help but to wonder what they think that I have been doing all this time. Talking to myself? However the testing still goes on. Women hide their wedding rings and some clients give false names, and I guess that these are ways of getting a sure reading. Actually they amuse me since they are designed to throw me off course, and this doesn’t usually happen in my appointments. With a live audience I am there to pass specific messages to specific people in public. Many when they first hear the message cannot relate the information they are given, sometimes I have to wait some time for the explanation, which can be hours, days, months or sometimes years! What’s needed on stage is a quick reply to show others what you are saying is right, but many are unable to grasp the connection immediately, whilst

postbag Email your letters to me at: kennycorris@roundtownnews.com I would love to attend a séance with you, but I have no experience. Do you think I could contact my brother? He was a Spiritualist and promised to contact me and he hasn’t. Susan L. Hello Susan. Anyone is welcome to attend any of my Séances. You do not need to have any experience whatsoever, just an open mind, and some spiritual belief helps, of course. You don’t mention when your brother passed over, and after six months, or so, he should be responsive to your call with me. There are some pointers that will help you to use your own energies in the Séance, and a few pointers pre sitting to take on board. I look forward to working with you and proving survival through Physical contact in Séance.

for others, they need the time to think about just who exactly is calling. The work of the Medium is to prove the survival of those who have departed by the passing of messages and transmitting through frequency the living vibrations of those who have made the journey safely and securely to the other side. A Physical medium such as myself will be able to bring living Spirit in to the picture. This can be achieved by overshadowing, in which the departed appears to take over my facial features and may take on other specific physical actions. By the production of the voice of the departed in passing an audible message direct from the Spirit World. Also it is possible that the departed manifest as Spirit in person, as phenomena. If any of these scare you then believe you me, any fear leaves when you realise it is a loved one who is coming through, just for you. Spirit do not play tricks usually. That’s why when complicated procedures are in motion the very last thing that’s needed is to have to correct any trickery on the behest of the client. A truly good result comes by working with the client, and if they insist on a testing of the Medium much can be lost, and I personally do not like having to accept second best when I am working in such a prescribed way for the good of my client. One client wanted to make contact with Charlie one day. After opening doors and channelling energy to facilitate this I was initially upset that clear communication was not getting the audible response that was called for. I suddenly realised that Charlie was a dog. A Tibetan Terrier to be precise, and my client knew that there was actual contact with her departed pet when I recognised the breed! Then a little bell could be heard. Charlie had a bell on his collar to warn away the squirrels that he loved to chase in the garden. Sound and picture, loud and clear from the Spirit Realms! One very happy lady left my office that day.

Love & Light... Kenny Corris

Kenny’s diary Monday April 11th and Wednesday April 13th Readings at Bistro Maya, Albir from 17.00. Call: 966 868 213 for bookings and further info. Saturday April 16th Spring Psychic Fair at Bistro Maya in Albir. Readings. Tarot. Angel Readings. Crystals. Spiritual Gifts. Some appointments left for readings with me. Call Els on 966 868 213 for further details. Sunday April 17th Higher Realms Workshop in Finestrat: from 10.30 to 17.30. Learn to work with, and to make changes with, Higher Guides to maximise your Spiritual Journey. Call for information or check: www.kennycorris.net Thursday April 21st Spiritual Service and Demonstration of Clairvoyance for the A.S.F. at the Forum Mare Nostrum in Alfaz at 18.30. All Very Welcome! Saturday May 7th Readings at La Fustera: Calpe/ Moraira. Contact Penny Smith on 687 926 021 or 96 574 9182.

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 Mars still resides and this week faces an interaction with dark and mysterious Pluto in retrograde, and a hesitant Capricorn. This brings new complications and reactions from those who have supported you all along the way through thick and thin. Thought there is no presubscribed solution, there are those who do not know to what lengths you have had to go just to keep your head above water and to survive. With both Mercury and Pluto in retrograde you are finding that you are blocked securely in your options to escape. Knowing that you have put in everything and that you stand to get nothing very much in return just yet may take the edge off your plans to move on. Be patient and look at the source of this delay which will go a long way to explain why things have to be the way that they are. The power of positive thinking sets you in the right direction right now. This surely is a testing time and you know that you have to be sure before you take things further afield. The attitude of those who really have your interests at heart will be something rather wonderful, and you can begin to dump negative energies you have developed for the sake of both, vital and adequate protection. Just rise above conflict and protect yourself, all around. Nobody who really loves you would ever want to see you this way, but then someone around you is obsessed with their own power and needs taking down a peg or two! If you think that you would be the best person to do this, think again, and don’t let on that you are put out in any way, quite frankly you don’t have to give a damn! Taking a chance is what it’s all about this week. You have found the loophole and you have to work things your way to get the result that you want. Lucky Jupiter and the retrograde energies of a revealing Mercury will go all the way to help you along, so just believe in yourself and fight fire with fire, you have a plan, and that’s brought you to being in the right place at the right time. With your Planetary leader in reverse and with a brief to move what needs to be moved onwards, take this time to ensure what you really want. Truly you are being tested, but under the circumstances is what you really wish for exactly what you want, or is it a compromise? Don’t accept second best, when the challenge brings you the opportunity to take the control you deserve. The Full Moon approaches and will greatly change this negative and destructive energy currently around you. No wonder you have lost the fight a little. Throw any caution to the wind and take a decision that now appears somewhat clearer and more defined. However put off this week what would be best done after the next weekend when you will get the very best of results and the sun is shining on you. The conjunction of Mercury and Jupiter brings about new beginnings and a sharing of ideals and values with those that you love. You need the inspiration and the freedom to make your choices, and for this reason you are playing your cards close to your chest every which way. Determination and sheer gut feelings are the motive to make tracks. You will not know what you can really do until you try! Mercury’s actions with your nemesis, Jupiter are currently under the deep control of an ever watchful Pluto and Capricorn. If this seems very black and white to you, it is. The negative and positive are in balance and this has the effect of keeping you well and truly where you are, which is not necessarily just where you want to be right now, but you are safe to take a good look around and make plans for a better future ahead. Pluto retrograded in Capricorn and comes back on track mid September. During this time Pluto’s influence is always to monitor the cause and not the effect, and is very often responsible for the twists and turns and helps keep the balance by weighting the Earth connection with our independent lives. Though you may be getting your way right now, it is vital your feet connect and ground with what is to come along. Time to test out if someone coming close is for real. As the truth seeker of the horoscope, you like stability and to know just where you stand and to be honest, but things recently just don’t add up. Use your highly psychic powers of observation to sort out what you have to, with a clear conscience. When all is said and done you really shouldn’t have to do this, and what message does that send you? Neptune enters into Pisces bringing a new stability and subtle changes that now need to be made. With all the will in the World you will not change the stubborn energy of someone who doesn’t believe in your inner abilities; and as a result misses knowing the real you and what you are really about. Shame, but you are working on higher levels and mustn’t let conjecture of others hold you back.

If it’s your birthday this week... Though the defensive side may be showing itself ask yourself what made this necessary? Plans now are designed to take care of number one, and if you think that’s selfish it isn’t, it’s self preserving. Go for it!

- 14 april2010 2011 8-14 08 JANUARY

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 7. It breaks up these endless taxes (6) 8. I’m more confused by this biographical sketch (6) 10. Stop the Spanish officer (7) 11. See 9 Down 12. We turn and hesitate but became a pitcher (4) 13. A practice that attracts a considerable amount of interest (5) 17 & 4 Down. Inexperienced zoo attendants become groundsmen! (5-7) 18 & 1 Down. William, a persevering type, is in the advertising business (4-7) 22. An inclination after tea to go for a walk (5) 23. Come home after everybody else, but live longer (7) 24. A number of notes we hear producing harmony (6) 25. Physical strength for which there could be a thousand different clues (6)

Down 1. See 18 Across 2. Describing any flower deliberately sought after (7) 3. A deceptive movement is not easily distinguished, one hears (5) 4. See 17 Across 5 & 6 Down. What tennisplayers wear when invited to the Palace! (5-5) 6. See 5 Down 9 & 11 Across. What French capitalists use when facing the wall? (7,2,5) 14. Material per yard as arranged (7) 15. Monetary affairs can get mixed up in legal penalty (7) 16. To be sycophantic is not so sharp! (7) 19. Illegally acquire southern bird (5) 20. Be inclined to favour a caprice (5) 21. Overweight porter (5)

Across

Down

7. Shares (6)

1. Largest bird (7)

8. Visitor (6)

2. Pardon (7)

10. Uniform (7)

3. Aptitude (5)

11. Concise (5)

4. Warlike (7)

12. Small bay (4)

5. Vigilant (5)

13. Tell-tale (5)

6. Command (5)

17. Memento (5)

9. Head (9)

18. Daybreak (4)

14. Effective (7)

22. Perfect (5)

15. Main city (7)

23. Eager desire for wealth

16. Vehement (7)

(7)

19. Essential (5)

24. Stress (6)

20. Educate (5)

25. Bog (6)

21. Truck (5)

Wordwheel

Quick Crossword

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 | or Fax: 96 585 60 54

Euromillions Draw Friday 1st april

4 17 21 22 33

One Austrian ticket won the 15,000,000 Euros (£13,269,000) jackpot prize

Answers & Winners Last week’s Crossword and Suduko answers found on page 51/54. Winner for 598 Jazz Waspe

08 - 14 april 2011

music scene Rob Sweeney - Singer/Entertainer

R Compiled by

Eric Taylor

OB IS a seasoned performer with a rich and powerful voice which he puts to excellent use, whether singing pop and soul classics or songs from the shows - some of which he’s starred in having studied and performed in musical theatre over the previous few years. As a cabaret artist he’s toured extensively throughout UK before moving to Spain. Rob is a class act with

a versatile repertoire to suit all audiences. For more info phone: 609 320 924: website: http:// robsweeney-singer.tumblr.com GIGS IN APRIL Friday 8th, Platino’s Lounge Bar, Arenal, Javea Saturday 16th, Don Quijote Bar/ Rte, Paichi Centre, Moraira Saturday 23rd, MAPA Club, Benitachell

Johnny & The Cougars – Rock ‘n’ Roll Band

JOHNNY & The Cougars are a four piece 50s & 60s Rock ‘n’ Roll Band playing covers of Elvis, Buddy Holly, Bo Didley, Cliff Richard & The Shadows, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles and many more 50s & 60s greats! They have established themselves with a reputation for providing good entertainment and bringing back some nostalgia. They will be performing at Magic’s Bar (formally The Lees Bar), Orba, on Thursday 14th April. For more information phone: 96 558 1405 or check out their website: www.johnnyandthecougars.com

Black Glitter – Rock/Soul Band GEOFF BRITTON has recently returned from playing in UK and is now part of a new and exciting band called ‘Black Glitter’. The line-up is Geoff Britton (drums), Kelly (vocals), Carlos (guitar) and Chema (bass). The band’s repertoire includes the great lady vocalists of rock and soul, Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Patti LaBelle etc. There is plenty to enjoy, quality musi-

Sunday 24th, Arthurs Bar, Els Poblets Saturday 30th, Platino’s Lounge Bar, Arenal, Javea

Elton John Tribute Show

RICKY PRICE has been performing his Elton John Tribute Show in Benidorm for many years. On Saturday April 23rd he is bringing his Elton John Tribute Show to the Le Cabaret, Cumbre del Sol, Benitachell. The show is dedicated to the different styles of Elton throughout the years and Ricky says he enjoys the costume changes and putting on the big star glasses and hats. While he is performing he projects a video of Elton onto the back wall behind the stage which enhances the show. Check out his website: www.eltonjohntributeshow.com. Entry is 9.50€ (Menu 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.

cians, classic songs and some great dance music. Come along to the Don Quijote Bar, Paichi Centre, Moraira on Sunday 10th April - support live music and see a new and exciting band. For more info on the band phone Geoff on: 647 946 306. GIGS FOR APRIL: Saturday 9th, Steinways Jazz & Blues Bar, Denia Sunday 10th, Don Quijote Bar, Paichi Centre, Moraira Saturday 23rd, Steinways Jazz & Blues Bar, Denia

Sunday 24th, An Sheeben Irish Pub, Javea Friday 29th, Blues Bar, (near Marina), Denia Saturday 30th, Steinways Jazz & Blues Bar, Denia

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.

Parcent

Thursday April 21st St Georges Day – James Hurst & The Good Old Music Hall Show Good Friday 22nd April Zodiac – (Book Early) Easter Sunday 24th April Lunch Wed May 4th Next Charity quiz in aid of Eamus 10€ Friday May 6th The Nomad Please book early Tel 96 640 5398 For reservations

08 - 14 april 2011

Yes, you can get kangaroo! FOLLOWING A very stylish reformation, the Aussies Bar & The Noggy Sheila is proving to be a popular laid-back watering hole for the many different nationalities who visit Albir. Tony, a native Australian, has now joined forces with Norwegian born Ranweig (who in true antipodean fashion has since been renamed ‘Noggy Sheila’, and together they have developed a chilled café bar, where you can while away the hours with an ice cold brew in your hand (Fosters, Magners and Alhambra on tap) and plenty of good grub to tuck into if hunger strikes. HOME-COOKED FOOD They pride themselves on great home-cooked fresh food with dishes popular in Australia, Norway and with an English chef, many dishes familiar to British expats. As any self-respecting Aussie will tell you, great steaks, spare ribs and burgers are a must, and this bar does all excellently. The burgers are home-made and delicious, and if you enjoy a challenge you can choose up to

Tony, Ranweig and Wyn welcome you to their bar

three levels. And, of course, you can get Kangaroo steaks too! They also have a low-carb menu, a comprehensive breakfast menu including vegetarian options, salads and a selection of delicious Norwegian dishes. DAILY 3€ DISH English Chef Wyndham Neish has ten years’ experience cooking in hotels and restaurants in the UK and Spain and takes great pride in his work. He is imaginative and resourceful, providing restaurant class food at sensible bar

Inside Aussies

prices - available as take-away too. Wyndham told RTN, “Every week-day between 1pm and 4pm we have a dish of the day for 3€. Yes, that is right, only 3€! On my way to work, I decide what that day’s dish will be. When we had the bad weather I made more substantial warming food, and as the temperatures increase I have made lighter dishes including slices of mustard-coated home-cooked ham with a delicious salad and creamy chicken dishes.” Three euros and no washing up - now that is ‘fair dinkum’! WIFI AND SKY Open from 10am until late, Aussies Bar & The Noggy Sheila also has a pool table and two pool teams, and all Sky sports channels are available. Wifi access including the use of sockets to plug your laptop in is also an added advantage. If you are in the area why not pop in and check out the menu while enjoying a cold drink in a friendly atmosphere. Tony and Ranweig welcome you to Avenida Oscar Espla 16, Playa Albir. Telephone: 688 802 306.

08 - 14 april 2011

Help for Tsunami victims by Jack Troughton A MUSIC night at Restaurant El Paraiso in Parcent raised 1,038€ to help the victims of Japan’s earthquake and Tsunami. Proprietors Victoria and David Reeley, staff, and musicians The Nomad, DJ Darrell, and Matt Curtis all collaborated to make the evening a success. The restaurant provided a free buffet and over 80 people donated 10€ each while the entertainers gave up a free evening to help – the final total boosted by the proceeds of a raffle. Victoria told RTN: “We are so pleased we had so much support The Nomad and we are glad that we were able to (right) with contribute to the relief fund in some David and small way.”. Victoria

Strings fill Quartet By Jack Troughton A STRING of spooky coincidences bind actress Jeanne Southworth to her key role in Javea Player’s new production Quartet by Sir Ronald Harwood. The comedy is a story of four retired opera singers living in a home for retired artistes and Jeanne plays Jean Horton, a retired diva. And during rehearsals Jeanne let slip before retiring and moving to Spain she had dined with the late great Luciano Pavarotti. At the time Jeanne was export sales manager for a Lancashire textile company and travelled the world during a busy career – even being presented with the Queen’s Award for Industry aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia. TENOR Another important engagement took Jeanne to her dinner with the Italian tenor – Pavarotti actually singing the quartet from Rigoletto – which inspired Sir Ronald to pen his play Quartet. Jeanne moved to the Costa Blanca with husband Reg – and Reg is the name of the ex-husband of the opera singer she plays in the production. Quartet, directed by Sybil Kent, is being staged at The Player’s newly refurbished studio theatre in Javea – which now has new seating, a modern bar and lounge area, new toilets and disabled access. The play runs between 9th and 14th May and tickets are 6€. To book call 96 579 4937.

Ilusión Arte to present Trio Parnassus in Calpe THE CULTURAL organisation Ilusión Arte is pleased to present yet another World class ensemble, this time in collaboration with Goethe Institut Barcelona. The Trio Parnassus from Stuttgart is to perform in Calpe at the conclusion of its Spanish tour of Madrid, Bilbao and Santander. The trio comprises Yamei Yu, violin; Michael Gross, violoncello and Chia Chou, piano. See www.trioparnassus.com for more details. The concert is to open at the Salon Blau de la Casa de Cultura de Calpe, Avenida Masnou on Friday, 15th April at 9pm, with tickets at 7€ for members and 15€ for non-members available from 7pm at the entrance. For reservations and other information, call 656 714 787 or email ilusionartecalpe@gmail.com Early reservation is recommended.

The Trio Parnassus

U3A MorairaTeulada General Meeting ON MONDAY, 2nd May the venue for U3A’s general meeting is Salon de Banquettes, Avenida Mediterraneo, Teulada, with doors open to members at 9.45am: the meeting will start at 10.30am. Members will be able to join groups and find out about both travel and cultural events. The guest speaker for this meeting will be Eric Olverson talking about the work of the Thamsanqua Orphanage in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. For further information please contact the U3A President, Ann Colclough on 96 574 7343 or visit www.u3amoraira-teulada.org.

Got a story? 902 118 999

rtnmail@roundtownnews.com

Jeanne Southworth

08 - 14 april 2011

tv Friday

50 61

08 14- -1420april may2011 2010

07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Neighbourhood Blues 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 Britain’s Empty Homes 12:30 Cash in the Attic 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News 14:30 Regional News 14:45 Doctors 15:15 Justice 16:00 BBC News; Regional News 16:05 Gastronuts 16:35 Prank Patrol Down Under 17:00 Dani’s House 17:30 Tracy Beaker Returns 18:00 Newsround 18:15 The Weakest Link 19:00 BBC News 19:30 Regional News 20:00 The One Show 20:30 Rip Off Britain 21:00 EastEnders 21:30 A Question of Sport 22:00 Have I Got News for You 22:30 QI 23:00 BBC News 23:25 Regional News 23:35 John Bishop Live: Elvis Has Left the Building 24:45 National Lottery Friday Night Draws

07:00 Childrens TV 10:05 Koala Brothers 10:15 Guess with Jess 10:30 Big & Small 10:50 Grandpa in My Pocket 11:00 Mightymites 11:15 Postman Pat 11:35 64 Zoo Lane 11:45 Waybuloo 12:05 In the Night Garden 12:35 Meerkat Manor 13:00 Daily Politics 13:30 GMT with George Alagiah 14:00 Diagnosis Murder 14:45 Racing from Aintree 17:30 Pointless 18:15 Escape to the Country 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Great British Menu 20:00 Golf 21:00 Mastermind 21:30 Gardeners’ World 22:00 Lambing Live 23:00 Frank Skinner’s Opinionated 23:30 Newsnight 24:00 The Review Show 24:50 Later... with Jools Holland

Got a story? 902 118 999

rtnmail@roundtownnews.com

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 60 Minute Makeover 16:00 The Alan Titchmarsh Show 16:59 Granada Weather 17:00 Midsomer Murders 18:00 Britain’s Best Dish 19:00 Granada Reports 19:30 ITV News 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Coronation Street 21:00 Baboons with Bill Bailey 21:30 Coronation Street 22:00 Benidorm 23:00 ITV News at Ten 23:30 Granada News 23:35 Take Me Out 24:35 The Cube

07:10 Max Bear 07:25 The Hoobs 07:50 The Hoobs 08:15 Freshly Squeezed 08:40 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:05 Frasier 09:35 Friends 10:05 Wife Swap USA 11:00 Brothers & Sisters 11:55 Gok’s Fashion Fix 13:00 Channel 4 News 13:05 Crash Dive 15:05 Cookery School 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Fern 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:25 4thought.tv 20:30 Unreported World 21:00 A Place in the Sun: Home or Away 22:00 Embarrassing Bodies 23:00 Friday Night Dinner 23:35 Rude Tube 24:40 10 O’Clock Live

07:00 Childrens TV 09:00 Fifi and the Flowertots 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:20 Peppa Pig 09:30 Roary the Racing Car 09:40 Olivia 09:50 The WotWots 10:00 Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:05 Police Interceptors 13:05 Family Recipe 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:20 House 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 The Vanessa Show 16:05 Chinese Food in Minutes 16:15 Devil Winds 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:25 OK! TV 20:00 5 News at 7 20:30 Fifth Gear 21:00 Ice Road Truckers 22:00 The Mentalist 23:00 Law & Order 23:55 CSI: Miami 24:55 Cops in Crisis

07:00 Brainiac: Science Abuse 08:00 Zoo Vet at Large 08:30 Zoo Vet at Large 09:00 Oops TV 10:00 Wedding SOS 11:00 Mental 12:00 UK Border Force 13:00 Oops TV 14:00 Hello Goodbye 15:00 Stargate SG-1 16:00 Stargate SG-1 17:00 Oops TV 18:00 Futurama 18:30 Futurama 19:00 Glenn Martin, DDS 19:30 The Simpsons 20:00 The Simpsons 20:30 The Middle 21:00 The Simpsons 21:30 Modern Family 22:00 Raising Hope 22:30 A League of Their Own 23:30 Spartacus: Gods of the Arena 24:45 Live to Dance

08:30 Rallying 08:45 UEFA Women’s Champions League 10:00 WATTS 11:00 WTA Tennis 12:30 UEFA Women’s Champions League 14:00 Live Artistic Gymnastics 17:00 Curling 18:45 Eurogoals Flash 18:55 Live WTA Tennis 22:45 Strongest Man 23:45 Video Gaming 24:15 Extreme Sports: Freeride Spirit 24:45 Artistic Gymnastics

A Question of Sport BBC1 21.30

07:00 Nothing to Declare 08:00 Jerry Springer Show 09:00 Maury 10:00 America’s Next Top Model 11:00 Nothing to Declare 11:30 Nothing to Declare 12:00 Maury 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 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 21:00 Bones 22:00 Criminal Minds 23:00 CSI: Miami 24:00 Bones

tv Saturday 07:00 Breakfast 09:00 Formula 1 11:15 Saturday Kitchen Live 12:30 Great British Menu 13:00 BBC News; Regional News 13:15 Football Focus 14:00 The Grand National 18:10 BBC News; Regional News 18:30 All New Total Wipeout: Celebrity Special 19:30 So You Think You Can Dance 20:30 The National Lottery: Secret Fortune 21:20 Casualty 22:10 Live at the Apollo 22:55 BBC News 23:15 Match of the Day 24:35 The Football League Show

07:00 Childrens TV 10:00 Dick & Dom Go Wild 10:30 Cop School 11:00 Relic: Guardians of the Museum 11:30 League of Super Evil 11:40 Wolverine and the X-Men 12:05 Mortified 12:30 Golf 13:30 The Sky at Night 13:50 SpaceCamp 15:30 Flog It! 16:30 Escape to the Country 17:30 Final Score 18:15 The Big Flutter: Grand National on Film 18:45 Coast 19:00 Dad’s Army 19:30 Highlights from the Lambing Shed 20:30 Goldie’s Band: By Royal Appointment 21:30 - Close Live Golf

CRYPTIC SOLUTIONS for 598

07:00 Mini CITV 08:25 CITV 10:25 Coronation Street 12:45 This Morning: Saturday 13:50 Monk 14:50 ITV News 15:05 You’ve Been Framed! 15:35 Catwoman 17:30 The Nation’s Favourite Abba Song 19:00 Granada News 19:15 ITV News 19:30 You’ve Been Framed! 20:00 Mamma Mia! 22:10 When Piers Met Andrew Lloyd Webber 23:10 ITV News 23:25 Knocked Up

Across: 1 Cower; 4 Learned; 8 Upright; 9 Noted; 10 Test; 11 Bearably; 13 Cord; 14 Race; 16 Assisted; 17 Brag; 20 Talon; 21 Silence; 22 Redhead; 23 Press. Down: 1 Court disaster; 2 Words; 3 Rage; 4 Letter; 5 Abnormal; 6 Notable; 7 Daddy-long-legs; 12 Presence; 13 Castled; 15 Ceased; 18 Range; 19 Clap. Quick solutions Across: 1 Tread; 4 Crammed; 8 Breathe; 9 Jests; 10 Eats; 11 Delusion; 13 Bare; 14 Knee; 16 Normally; 17 Late; 20 Adieu; 21 Matelot; 22 Nursery; 23 Bated. Down: 1 Table Mountain; 2 Erect; 3 Duty; 4 Clever; 5 Adjourns; 6 Massive; 7 Disinterested; 12 Creature; 13 Barrier; 15 Clumsy; 18 Allot; 19 Stub.

WORDWHEEL 599: ENJOYABLE

08 - 14 april 2011

07:10 The Hoobs 07:35 The Hoobs 08:00 The Track and Field Show 08:25 The Grid 08:55 The Morning Line 09:50 Friends 10:20 T4 Movie Special 10:50 Friends 11:20 Glee 12:20 Great British Hairdresser 13:25 Big Bang Theory 13:50 Big Bang Theory 14:20 That Paralympic Show 14:55 Channel 4 Racing 16:25 Secret Supper Club 17:00 Come Dine with Me 17:30 Come Dine with Me 18:00 Come Dine with Me 18:35 Come Dine with Me 19:05 Come Dine with Me 19:35 Channel 4 News 20:05 4thought.tv 20:10 River Cottage Every Day 21:10 Seven Ages of Britain 22:10 Transporter 3 24:10 Stand Up for the Week

07:00 Childrens TV 09:10 Hana’s Helpline 09:20 The Adventures of Bottle Top Bill and His Best Friend Corky 09:30 Play! 09:45 Rupert Bear 10:00 Olivia 10:15 Mr Men Show 10:30 Gerald McBoing Boing 11:00 Family Recipe 11:05 The Gadget Show 12:05 Emergency Bikers 13:05 Megastructures: 747 Demolition 14:10 The Battle at Apache Pass 15:50 Vegas Vacation 17:35 5 News Weekend 17:45 The Cowboys 20:15 NCIS 21:10 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 22:10 CSI: NY 23:10 CSI: Miami 24:10 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

08:00 Zoo Vet at Large 09:00 Gladiators 10:00 WWE: Superstars 11:00 Soccer AM 13:00 A Different Breed 14:00 Emergency Animal Rescue 15:00 A Town Called Eureka 16:00 Oops TV 17:00 Rooftop Rainforest 18:00 Rooftop Rainforest 19:00 Rio Special 19:30 The Simpsons 20:30 The Simpsons 21:00 Brit Cops: Frontline Crime UK 22:00 Beverly Hills Cop II 24:00 Road Wars

08:30 Extreme Sports: Freeride Spirit 09:00 Tennis 09:30 WTA Tennis 10:30 Artistic Gymnastics 11:30 Artistic Gymnastics 14:00 Live Artistic Gymnastics 16:30 WATTS 17:30 WTA Tennis 19:00 Live WTA Tennis 22:45 Curling 24:45 Fight Club

07:00 Nothing to Declare 08:00 Jerry Springer Show 09:00 Maury 10:00 Four Weddings 11:00 America’s Next Top Model 13:00 Biggest Loser 15:00 Four Weddings 16:00 Nothing to Declare 17:00 Drop Dead Diva 19:00 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 20:00 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 21:00 Chuck 22:00 Criminal Minds 23:00 Criminal Minds 24:00 Criminal Minds

tv Sunday

52 40

08 - 14 20114 2010 Feb 26april - March

23:15 Atonement

07:05 Sali Mali 07:10 The Hoobs 07:35 The Hoobs 08:00 Freesports on 4 08:25 Crunchtime 08:50 Friends 09:20 Friends 09:45 Hollyoaks 12:20 Friends 12:55 Glee 13:50 The Simpsons 14:25 The Simpsons 14:55 Jamie’s 30 Minute Meals 15:25 Jamie’s 30 Minute Meals 15:55 Jamie’s 30 Minute Meals 16:30 Jamie’s 30 Minute Meals 17:00 Jamie’s 30 Minute Meals 17:30 Deal or No Deal 18:30 Time Team 19:30 Channel 4 News 19:55 4thought.tv 20:00 Come Dine with Me 21:00 Civilization: Is the West History? 22:00 Country House Rescue 23:00 Wedding Crashers

07:00 Childrens TV 09:00 Little Princess 09:10 Hana’s Helpline 09:20 The Adventures of Bottle Top Bill and His Best Friend Corky 09:35 Family! 09:45 Rupert Bear 10:00 Olivia 10:15 Mr Men Show 10:30 Gerald McBoing Boing 11:00 Chinese Food in Minutes 11:15 OK! TV Sunday 12:15 Family Food Fight 12:45 Ice Road Truckers 13:45 Tsunami: British Search & Rescue 14:50 You Got Served 16:40 High School Musical 3: Senior Year 18:50 5 News Weekend 19:00 Mr Deeds 20:40 Hellboy 23:00 The Walking Dead 24:30 Thir13en Ghosts

07:00 Hour of Power 08:00 Zoo Vet at Large 09:00 Oops TV 10:00 Wayne Rooney’s Street Striker 11:00 WWE: Superstars 12:00 WWE: Experience 13:00 Road Wars 14:00 A Town Called Eureka 15:00 Real Filth Fighters 15:30 Real Filth Fighters 16:00 Emergency Animal Rescue 16:30 Emergency Animal Rescue 17:00 UK Border Force 18:00 The Simpsons 18:30 The Simpsons 19:00 Live to Dance 20:00 The Middle 20:30 Modern Family 21:00 Raising Hope 21:30 The Simpsons 22:00 Hawaii Five-0 23:00 NCIS: Los Angeles 24:00 House

07:00 Childrens TV 12:00 In the Night Garden 12:30 Dip Dap 12:35 Meerkat Manor 13:00 Meerkat Manor 13:25 Animal Park 13:55 Diagnosis Murder 14:40 To Buy or Not to Buy 15:25 Restoration Roadshow 15:55 Flog It! 16:40 Helicopter Heroes 17:25 Pointless 18:10 Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 18:55 Referendum Broadcast on Behalf of the No Campaign 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Great British Menu 20:00 This Is Britain 21:00 Railway Walks 21:30 Raymond Blanc’s Kitchen Secrets 22:00 A Home for Maisie 23:00 Never Mind the Buzzcocks 23:30 Newsnight 24:20 Wonders of the Solar System

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 60 Minute Makeover 16:00 The Alan Titchmarsh Show 16:59 Granada Weather 17:00 Midsomer Murders 18:00 Britain’s Best Dish 19:00 Granada Reports 19:30 ITV News 19:50 Referendum Broadcast on Behalf of the No Campaign 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Coronation Street 21:00 The Dales 21:30 Coronation Street 22:00 Law & Order: UK 23:00 ITV News at Ten 23:30 Granada News 23:35 Real Crime with Mark Austin 24:35 River Monsters

07:10 Max Bear 07:20 The Hoobs 08:10 Freshly Squeezed 08:40 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:05 Frasier 09:35 Friends 10:05 Wife Swap USA 11:00 Brothers & Sisters 11:55 Relocation, Relocation 13:00 Channel 4 News 13:05 River Cottage Bites 13:20 The Day the Earth Stood Still 15:05 Cookery School 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Fern 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 Referendum Broadcast on Behalf of the No Campaign 21:00 Dispatches 22:00 One Born Every Minute 23:00 A Bodyshock Special 24:05 The Event

07:00 Childrens TV 10:00 Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:05 Bridezillas 13:05 Family Recipe 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:20 House 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 The Vanessa Show 16:05 Chinese Food in Minutes 16:15 Family Sins 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:25 OK! TV 20:00 5 News at 7 20:25 Referendum Broadcast on Behalf of the No Campaign 20:30 How Do They Do It? 21:00 The Gadget Show 22:00 Resident Evil: Extinction 23:55 Derailed

08:30 The Zoo UK 09:00 Lion Man 10:00 Futurama 11:00 The Middle 11:30 Modern Family 12:00 The Middle 12:30 Modern Family 13:00 Raising Hope 13:30 Glenn Martin, DDS 14:00 Stargate SG-1 16:00 Lion Man 17:00 Oops TV 17:30 Futurama 18:00 The Simpsons 18:30 Futurama 19:00 Glenn Martin, DDS 19:30 The Simpsons 21:00 Stargate Universe 22:00 Ross Kemp in Search of Pirates 23:00 Spartacus: Gods of the Arena

07:00 Childrens TV 11:15 Green Balloon Goes on Holiday 11:40 Waybuloo 12:00 In the Night Garden 12:30 Dip Dap 12:35 Oh, Mr Porter! 13:55 Diagnosis Murder 14:40 To Buy or Not to Buy 15:25 Restoration Roadshow 15:55 Flog It! 16:40 Helicopter Heroes 17:25 Pointless 18:10 Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 18:55 Referendum Broadcast on Behalf of the Yes Campaign 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Great British Menu 20:00 Coast 21:00 Britain’s Next Big Thing 22:00 Filthy Cities 23:00 Later Live... with Jools Holland 23:30 Newsnight 24:20 Wonders of the Solar System

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 60 Minute Makeover 16:00 The Alan Titchmarsh Show 16:59 Granada Weather 17:00 Midsomer Murders 18:00 Britain’s Best Dish 19:00 Granada Reports 19:30 ITV News 19:50 Referendum Broadcast on Behalf of the Yes Campaign 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Grimefighters 21:00 Countrywise 22:00 Smugglers 23:00 ITV News at Ten 23:30 Granada News 23:35 Walking Tall

07:10 Max Bear 07:20 The Hoobs 08:15 Freshly Squeezed 08:40 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:05 Frasier 09:35 Friends 10:05 Wife Swap USA 11:00 Brothers & Sisters 12:00 A Place by the Sea 13:00 Channel 4 News 13:05 Great British Brands 13:20 River Cottage Bites 13:25 War of the Worlds 15:05 Cookery School 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Fern 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 Referendum Broadcast on Behalf of the Yes Campaign 21:00 Supersize vs Superskinny 22:00 Katie: My Beautiful Friends 23:00 Campus 24:05 Pete Versus Life

07:00 Childrens TV 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:05 Bridezillas 13:05 Family Recipe 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:20 House 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 The Vanessa Show 16:05 Chinese Food in Minutes 16:10 Mercy Mission: the Rescue of Flight 771 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:25 OK! TV 20:00 5 News at 7 20:25 Referendum Broadcast on Behalf of the Yes Campaign 20:30 Extraordinary Dogs 21:00 Tutankhamun: The Mystery Revealed 22:00 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 23:00 CSI: Miami 23:55 CSI: NY

07:00 Breakfast 09:00 Formula 1 12:15 Country Tracks 13:15 The Politics Show 14:15 The Story of Vaisakhi 14:45 Formula 1 16:45 Escape to the Country 17:30 Points of View 17:45 Songs of Praise 18:30 BBC News; Regional News 19:00 Nigel Slater’s Simple Suppers 19:30 The Boat That Guy Built 20:00 Countryfile 21:00 Antiques Roadshow 22:00 Waking the Dead 23:00 BBC News; Regional News 23:25 Match of the Day 2 24:25 The Hunted

07:00 Finley the Fire Engine 07:10 Zigby 07:25 The Large Family 07:35 Little Robots 07:45 Charlie and Lola 08:00 One Minute Wonders 08:35 Match of the Day 10:00 The Andrew Marr Show 11:00 Something for the Weekend 12:30 MasterChef 13:30 Priceless Antiques Roadshow 14:00 EastEnders 15:55 Artistic Gymnastics 18:30 Flog It! 19:00 The Truth About Lions 20:00 - Close Live Golf

07:00 Mini CITV

07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Animal 24:7 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 Filthy Rotten Scoundrels 12:45 Cash in the Attic 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News 14:45 Doctors 15:15 Escape to the Country 16:00 BBC News; Regional News 16:05 Gastronuts 16:35 Prank Patrol Down Under 17:00 Sadie J 17:30 Blue Peter 17:55 Shaun the Sheep 18:00 Newsround 18:15 The Weakest Link 19:00 BBC News 19:55 Referendum Broadcast on Behalf of the No Campaign 20:00 The One Show 20:30 Bang Goes the Theory 21:00 EastEnders 21:30 Panorama 22:00 Waking the Dead 23:00 BBC News 23:35 A Question of Sport

07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Animal 24:7 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 Filthy Rotten Scoundrels 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 Gastronuts 16:35 Prank Patrol Down Under 17:00 Dead Gorgeous 17:30 Blue Peter 17:55 Shaun the Sheep 18:00 Newsround 18:15 The Weakest Link 19:00 BBC News 19:30 Regional News 19:55 Referendum Broadcast on Behalf of the Yes Campaign 20:00 The One Show 20:30 EastEnders 21:00 Holby City 22:00 Candy Cabs 23:00 BBC News

08:25 CITV 10:25 May the Best House Win 11:25 House Gift 12:30 This Morning: Sunday 13:30 Dinner Date 14:30 ITV News 14:35 Columbo 16:35 Abba: The Mamma Mia! Story 17:35 Midsomer Murders 19:35 Granada News 19:45 ITV News 20:00 The Cube 21:00 Lewis 23:00 ITV News at Ten

tv Monday

tv Tuesday

08:30 WATTS 08:45 Live Paris Marathon 11:15 WTA Tennis 12:30 Live Cycling 17:00 Artistic Gymnastics 19:00 Live WTA Tennis 20:45 Boxing 22:00 Cycling 23:00 Artistic Gymnastics 24:30 WTA Tennis

07:00 Nothing to Declare 08:00 Jerry Springer Show 09:00 Maury 10:00 Four Weddings 11:00 Drop Dead Diva 12:00 Drop Dead Diva 13:00 Dating in the Dark 14:00 Dating in the Dark 15:00 Nothing to Declare 16:00 Passport Patrol 17:00 Nothing to Declare 18:00 Dog Patrol 18:30 Dog Patrol 19:00 Four Weddings 20:00 Stepkids: Don’t Ruin My Big Day 21:00 Cougar Town 21:30 Hot in Cleveland 22:00 Katie 23:00 Four Weddings 24:00 Grey’s Anatomy

The Cube ITV 1 20.00

08:30 Milan Marathon 09:00 Paris Marathon 09:45 WTA Tennis 10:30 Cycling 11:45 Artistic Gymnastics 13:00 Curling 15:00 Live Weightlifting 16:30 Cycling 17:15 Artistic Gymnastics 18:00 Weightlifting 19:45 Eurosport Confidential 20:15 WATTS 20:45 Curling 22:45 Eurogoals 23:15 Champions Club 24:30 Weightlifting

07:00 Nothing to Declare 08:00 Jerry Springer Show 09:00 Maury 10:00 America’s Next Top Model 11:00 Nothing to Declare 12:00 Maury 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 19:00 America’s Next Top Model 20:00 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 21:00 Katie 22:00 Four Weddings 23:00 16 & Pregnant 24:00 Criminal Minds

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

07:00 Brainiac: Science Abuse 08:00 The Zoo UK 09:00 Lion Man 10:00 Futurama 10:30 Futurama 11:00 The Middle 11:30 Modern Family 12:00 The Middle 12:30 Modern Family 13:00 Raising Hope 13:30 Glenn Martin, DDS 14:00 Stargate SG-1 15:00 Stargate SG-1 16:00 Lion Man 16:30 Lion Man 17:00 Oops TV 17:30 Futurama 18:00 The Simpsons 18:30 Futurama 19:00 Glenn Martin, DDS 19:30 The Simpsons 20:00 The Simpsons 20:30 The Simpsons 21:00 Live to Dance 22:00 Beverly Hills Cop II 24:00 Fringe

08:30 Eurogoals 09:00 Champions Club 10:15 Weightlifting 11:00 Weightlifting 12:00 Cycling 13:00 Artistic Gymnastics 14:00 Weightlifting 15:00 Live Weightlifting 16:30 Weightlifting 17:30 Eurosport Confidential 18:00 Live Weightlifting 20:00 Boxing 21:00 Boxing 23:00 Extreme Sports: Freeride Spirit 23:30 World Series by Renault 24:00 Eurosport Confidential 24:30 Weightlifting

Beverly Hills Cop II Sky 1 22.00

07:00 Nothing to Declare 08:00 Jerry Springer Show 09:00 Maury 10:00 America’s Next Top Model 11:00 Nothing to Declare 12:00 Maury 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 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 21:00 Cougar Town 21:30 Hot in Cleveland 22:00 Katie 23:00 Bridalplasty 24:00 Criminal Minds

tv Wednesday 07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Animal 24:7 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 Filthy Rotten Scoundrels 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 Gastronuts 16:35 Prank Patrol Down Under 17:00 Trade Your Way to the USA 17:30 MI High 18:00 Newsround 18:15 The Weakest Link 19:00 BBC News 19:30 Regional News 20:00 The One Show 20:30 DIY SOS 21:30 Life of Riley 22:00 MasterChef 23:00 BBC News 23:25 Regional News 23:35 National Lottery Wednesday Night Draws 23:45 Would I Lie to You? 24:15 Scream

07:00 Childrens TV 11:00 Mightymites 11:15 Green Balloon Goes on Holiday 11:40 Waybuloo 12:00 In the Night Garden 12:30 Dip Dap 12:35 Too Many Crooks 14:00 See Hear 14:30 Coast 14:45 To Buy or Not to Buy 15:30 Restoration Roadshow 16:00 Flog It! 16:45 Helicopter Heroes 17:30 Pointless 18:15 Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Great British Menu 20:00 Escape to the Country 21:00 Springwatch High Seas with Gordon Buchanan 22:00 The Crimson Petal and the White 23:00 The Victorians 23:30 Newsnight 24:20 Wonders of the Solar System

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 60 Minute Makeover 16:00 The Alan Titchmarsh Show 16:59 Granada Weather 17:00 Midsomer Murders 18:00 Britain’s Best Dish 19:00 Granada Reports 19:30 ITV News 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 UEFA Champions League Live 23:00 ITV News at Ten 23:30 Granada News 23:35 UEFA Champions League 24:35 Smugglers

08- -March 14 april 2011 Feb 26 4 2010

07:10 Max Bear 07:20 The Hoobs 07:45 The Hoobs 08:15 Freshly Squeezed 08:40 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:05 Frasier 09:35 Friends 10:05 Wife Swap USA 11:00 Brothers & Sisters 11:55 Country House Rescue 13:00 Channel 4 News 13:05 Jamie at Home 13:35 Invasion of the Body Snatchers 15:10 Cookery School 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Fern 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 4thought.tv 21:00 Vacation, Vacation, Vacation 21:30 Superscrimpers: Waste Not Want Not 22:00 Jamie’s Dream School 23:00 Desperate Housewives 24:05 The Big C 24:40 Being N-Dubz in America and Beyond

07:00 Childrens TV 10:00 Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:05 Bridezillas 13:05 Family Recipe 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:20 House 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 The Vanessa Show 16:00 Charms for the Easy Life 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:25 OK! TV 20:00 5 News at 7 20:30 Starlight: For the Children 21:00 Emergency Bikers 22:00 NCIS 23:00 Law & Order: Criminal Intent 23:55 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit 24:55 Poker: Aussie Millions

07:10 Treacle People 07:20 The Hoobs 07:45 The Hoobs 08:10 Freshly Squeezed 08:40 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:05 Frasier 09:35 Friends 10:05 Wife Swap USA 11:00 Brothers & Sisters 11:55 Restoration Man 13:00 Channel 4 News 13:05 Great British Brands 13:15 River Cottage Bites 13:20 Destination Moon 15:10 Cookery School 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Fern 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 4thought.tv 21:00 Three in a Bed 22:00 A Time Team Special 23:00 10 O’Clock Live 24:05 Friday Night Dinner 24:35 Ricky Gervais Show

07:00 Childrens TV

07:00 Brainiac: Science Abuse 08:00 The Zoo UK 09:00 Lion Man 10:00 Futurama 11:00 The Middle 11:30 Modern Family 12:00 The Middle 12:30 Modern Family 13:00 Raising Hope 13:30 Glenn Martin, DDS 14:00 Stargate SG-1 15:00 Stargate SG-1 16:00 Lion Man 16:30 Lion Man 17:00 Oops TV 17:30 Futurama 18:00 The Simpsons 18:30 Futurama 19:00 Glenn Martin, DDS 19:30 The Simpsons 20:30 The Simpsons 21:00 A Different Breed 22:00 An Idiot Abroad 23:00 Fringe 24:00 Martina Cole’s The Runaway

53 53

08:30 Extreme Sports: Freeride Spirit 09:00 World Series by Renault 09:30 Artistic Gymnastics 10:15 Weightlifting 11:00 Weightlifting 12:00 Snooker 14:00 Weightlifting 15:00 Live Weightlifting 16:30 Artistic Gymnastics 17:15 Weightlifting 18:00 Live Weightlifting 20:05 Eurogoals Flash 20:15 Wednesday Selection 20:25 Polo 21:25 Riders Club 21:30 Golf 22:30 Golf Club 22:35 Sailing 23:05 Yacht Club 23:15 Sport Destination 23:30 Salsa Dancing

07:00 Nothing to Declare 08:00 Jerry Springer Show 09:00 Maury 10:00 America’s Next Top Model 11:00 Nothing to Declare 11:30 Nothing to Declare 12:00 Maury 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 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 21:00 Four Weddings 22:00 Bones 23:00 Grey’s Anatomy 24:00 Criminal Minds

08:35 Snooker

07:00 Nothing to Declare 08:00 Jerry Springer Show 09:00 Maury 10:00 America’s Next Top Model 11:00 Nothing to Declare 11:30 Nothing to Declare 12:00 Maury 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 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 21:00 Chuck 22:00 16 & Pregnant 23:00 Katie 24:00 Criminal Minds

DIY SOS BBC1 20.30

tv Thursday 07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Animal 24:7 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 Filthy Rotten Scoundrels 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 Gastronuts 16:35 Prank Patrol Down Under 17:00 Project Parent 17:30 My Life 17:55 Richard Hammond’s Blast Lab: The Experiments 18:00 Newsround 18:15 The Weakest Link 19:00 BBC News 19:30 Regional News 20:00 The One Show 20:30 EastEnders 21:00 Watchdog 22:00 New Tricks 23:00 BBC News 23:25 Regional News 23:35 Question Time 24:35 Women, Weddings, War and Me

07:00 Childrens TV 11:00 Mightymites 11:15 Green Balloon Goes on Holiday 11:40 Waybuloo 12:00 In the Night Garden 12:30 Dip Dap 12:35 Just My Luck 14:00 Diagnosis Murder 14:45 To Buy or Not to Buy 15:30 Restoration Roadshow 16:00 Flog It! 16:45 Helicopter Heroes 17:30 Pointless 18:15 Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Great British Menu 20:00 Shanties and Sea Songs with Gareth Malone 21:00 The Animal’s Guide to Britain 22:00 A History of Celtic Britain 23:00 Rhod Gilbert’s Work Experience 23:30 Newsnight 24:20 Filthy Cities

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 60 Minute Makeover 16:00 The Alan Titchmarsh Show 16:59 Granada Weather 17:00 Midsomer Murders 18:00 Britain’s Best Dish 19:00 Granada Reports 19:30 ITV News 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Tonight 21:00 Emmerdale 21:30 Coronation Street 22:00 Monroe 23:00 ITV News at Ten 23:30 Granada News 23:35 Benidorm 24:35 Caroline Quentin: A Passage Through India

10:00 Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:05 Bridezillas 13:05 Family Recipe 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:20 House 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 The Vanessa Show 16:05 Family Recipe 16:15 Prayers for Bobby 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:25 OK! TV 20:00 5 News at 7 20:25 How Do They Do It? 20:55 Live UEFA Europa League Football 23:00 Striking Distance

08:00 The Zoo UK 09:00 Lion Man 10:00 Futurama 11:00 The Middle 11:30 Modern Family 12:00 The Middle 12:30 Modern Family 13:00 Raising Hope 13:30 Glenn Martin, DDS 14:00 Stargate SG-1 15:00 Stargate SG-1 16:00 Lion Man 17:00 Oops TV 17:30 Futurama 18:00 The Simpsons 18:30 Futurama 19:00 Glenn Martin, DDS 19:30 The Simpsons 20:30 The Simpsons 21:00 Hawaii Five-0 22:00 Martina Cole’s The Runaway 23:00 Game of Thrones Preview 23:15 House 24:15 NCIS: Los Angeles

10:00 Weightlifting 11:00 Weightlifting 12:00 Snooker 14:00 Weightlifting 15:00 Live Weightlifting 16:30 Champions Club 17:00 Weightlifting 18:00 Live Weightlifting 20:00 Eurogoals Flash 20:10 Fight Club 23:00 Snooker 24:30 Weightlifting

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

08 - 14 2011 Feb 26april - March 4 2010

54 44

Bitter candy

The TV Round Up by

Alex Trelinski

Broadcaster and freelance journalist

HAT A good seven days it’s been for drama. On Sunday night there was the return of ‘Lewis’ on ITV1, and then later in the week we had the new sexy Victorian drama series, ‘The Crimson Petal and the White’ on BBC2, and a cracking opener last night of a two part adaptation of John Braine’s ‘Room at the Top’ on BBC4, with Maxine Peake as one of the stars.

By the way, the presses started rolling last week at the RTN when the news came through that Peake’s hit legal series ‘Silk’ will be back for a deserved new run next year. All the above mentioned programmes ooze in quality, but cost money. If the BBC are seriously

All the money in the world though cannot rescue an awful and mercifully short three-part series about a female cabby company, ‘Candy Cabs’, which slithered nastily onto BBC1 on Tuesday night like a diarrhoea-ridden snail. Allegedly this was meant to be a comedy, but it ended up as an hour of tedious trash, full of cardboard cut-out characters. This was all done a million times better and funnier nearly fifty years ago on the big screen as Hattie Jacques set up a ladies taxi company in ‘Carry on Cabby’ in competition to Sid James. Even ITV on a bad day would have turned up their nose at commissioning such garbage. And to think this has filled the slot vacated by ‘Silk’!

I’m a big fan of the BBC 1 consumer show, ‘Watchdog’ and it was great to see it back last night. It pulls no punches, and has got back some of its old bite, when Anne Robinson returned to present it over a year ago, as opposed to the oily Nicky Campbell who always seems to have a high opinion of himself. Robinson and her fellow presenters Chris Hollins and Matt Allwright clearly gel well as a

team, as they put together an informative and entertaining hour of live TV. It’s always fun as well to hear the lame excuses put together by the overpaid PR departments of the companies that are under the spotlight. The word ‘sorry’ does not seem to exist in many of their dictionaries!

The penny has dropped somewhere at the BBC that the satirical show ‘Have I Got News For You’ should be shown on a Friday night and not on a Thursday! It’s back for its 41st series tonight, and though it has the younger upstart ‘Mock The Week’ biting at its tail, it’s normally a good way to formally see in the weekend with a glass of wine in hand. The opener is also in safe hands tonight, with Jack Dee hosting.

looking at cutting back daytime and overnight TV to keep their peak time shows up to a high standard, then I’m all for it. Clearly ITV, as I wrote a few weeks ago, seem to have taken that view themselves, by putting out cheap repeats after ‘News at Ten’.

Historians may have torn it to shreds, but it was a sad farewell to ‘The Tudors’ on BBC 2 last weekend. If you’re yet to watch it, I’m sorry, but King Henry does die in the end. And while he was having his portrait painted, we got him whizzing through his life and some of his dead wives. So what if it was all a load of historical tosh, and quite hilarious at times, but I’ve loved it since episode one some four years ago. I’ve also noticed how some of the characters aged greatly, whilst others have looked barely different from their first appearance! Jonathan Rhys Meyers has played the lead role with great gusto, but that Irish accent has got stronger as the monarch got

older, and I was disappointed not to hear him sing ‘Danny Boy’ before he eventually went away to meet his maker.

The Last Fighting Tommy Book Review by

Danny Collins

copy@dannyjpcollins.com

THE NAME Harry Patch should be familiar to all by now. The man was born in 1898 and died in 2009 – 92 years after he was head down in the trenches of Passchendaele assuming he was about to breath his last. Harry Patch outlived his compatriots and his enemies, loving the former and forgiving the latter until he died at the age of 111. Two years before his death he collaborated with writer Richard Van Emden to tell three generations on of the horrors of The Great War: of gas and artillery, drowning mud and of the stench of death. It was a warfare that would never be experienced again but thanks to the never-dulled memory of Private Harry Patch of the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry its sights and sounds will always be with us as history through the eyes of one who was there. It is a book that spans more than a century of social change through the eyes of a man who lived through it all. The Last Fighting Tommy should also be proscribed reading

Suduko Answer for those today who lightly cry havoc and send men to war. They should have had a word with Harry Patch – he’d have given them his tuppence. Author: Harry Patch with Richard Van Emden Publisher: Bloomsbury (paperback) Price: €10.80 ISBN: 978 0 7475 9336 2

Got a story? 902 118 999

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motoring

08 - 14 april 2011

How desperate can we get? by

Brian Deller

Author of Motoring in Spain

WE ARE, as we all know, in a financial crisis that is said to be the worst since the 1929 Stock Market Crash and, as then, it has spread throughout much of the World causing much hardship and also a rise in fraudulent crimes as people try all ways to make an income to either live, or to be rich without a lifetime of hard work. As a result, some people take short cuts that seem inexpensive at the time, to get out of the legal messes they find themselves in by not learning the laws and sticking to them. We read earlier this year of the couple living in a caravan in Essex who over four years operated a fraud selling fake MOT certificates to expats for vehicles on the Continent especially in Spain. They were caught and the report estimates that they took a million pounds in those four years, now owning a luxury villa in Portugal (which will probably be confiscated if they are found guilty in the forthcoming Court-case). Most of us know that there are many hundreds of resident expats who have not bothered to re-register their vehicles onto Spanish plates but who have not paid the relevant UK taxes either. Many have sworn out a SORN (sworn off road notification) to the DVLA, thinking that it only applies in the UK and they can still use their vehicles

here without breaking that law. As I have advised before, sorry folks, any vehicles used within the EU must be legal in all aspects in the country of registration as well; they can be impounded if not. Now the driving licence scam once again raises its ugly head, the one where the perpetrators offer a driving licence of choice to anyone, even if they have been legally banned or not passed any driving test for the classifications. One such website openly states that “due to a glitch in the EU regulations” anyone who is resident in an EU country may use a driving licence from another EU country, (even if they have not visited that country and are not resident in it?) The information does not say which country is supplying the genuine driving licences but my research the last time seemed to indicate Hungary was the one. So it would seem that the government department concerned in Hungary has employees selling stolen, genuine but fraudulent licences, and they are not cheap. Also we see adverts in the English language Press here offering UK vehicle tax discs as well as current MOT certificates by return post. It is not for me to criticise those whose moral standards allow them to cheat and

pay the crooks that make these offers, but imagine the scene where after a serious road accident, the expat is asked by the Court to present his Eastern European driving licence as well as proof of his tax residency there for at least 183 days a year. The Court would find that not only would the person NOT have a genuine driving licence, but also would have been driving without insurance. Legally set up drivers are paying in our insurance premiums an amount to cover those who drive uninsured. If we suffer a lot of this fraud we end up paying more to cover the costs; it is like a ‘stealth tax’. As an example, take a look at: http://www.123drivinglicence.com/ The web-site offer openly advises that you can buy a driving licence even if you have not passed the test or have been banned. What to do about it? There are still those of us who have a duty to reports such criminal activities. But sadly far too many also who will take advantage of such offers. Do you want to be on the same roads as big truck driver who has never taken a driving test? It is no good complaining when you are dead. Let us be safe out there.

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

08 - 14 april 2011

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08 - 14 april 2011 PC SOLUTIONS 4U For all your computer needs. Reliable & Friendly service. Alicante North area.Call Fred:-634-638-664

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PAWS PET TRANSPORT SpainUK-Spain every month. We look after your pets as if they belong to us. Call Joe for a chat on 966074-576 or 650-341-087. email:pawspettransport@hotmail.com 2 YORKIE TERRIERS Male and Female, KC Registered needs rehoming to a good pet caring family, for free contact: richbenson1@live.com for more information

SAILING BOAT ARAEZ 22FT moored MarMenor. Good condition. Marina 8 engine. Spinnaker, Depth Finder etc. Offers around 6500€. Tel 968-582-358/618-489-904/ UK+44-7895-055-198

MOBILE/PARK HOMES FROM 17,000€ 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 & caravans plots short term or permanent stays.) Carol 968192-425 mob. 626-055-622 www. mobilehomesmarmenorspain.com AVONDALE LEDA (UK) twin axle, Approx. 22 feet.5 Berth caravan. Good condition many extras including 5m awning. 4250Euro 966-491-354 Moraira MOBILE HOME 2 bed Aitana Mobile Home 5yrs, unfurn. sited but can be moved 6500€ ono. Tlf-660-061-684 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

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS - COSTA BLANCA Confidential Helplines South 625-912-078 North 648-169-045 www.aa-costablanca.org PARTY CELEBRATION BUSINESS Stock includes Fancy-dress, Balloons, cards, decorations, display, everything you need. Value 35.000€ sell for 12.000€ ONO. Tlf 619-366-196 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.965-326-442/659696-455 SOLAR ENERGY BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Long established company, own product range. First class training & support. Telephone 606586587

BYTEBACK MICROS computer repairs/upgrades in your home. Qualified technician. Systems custom built. Whatever your problem call: 965-312-006 or 606127-424

FULLY QUALIFIED UK ELECTRICIAN with 10 years experience on the CostaBlanca. All jobs undertaken-extra sockets, rewires, fault finding. Tlf:-Hugh690-275-223

USTED NECESITA UN BUEN TRABAJO por ti mismo. por favor, escríbeme para más información jac77072@yahoo.com CARERS WANTED To work in England 3 weeks on 3 weeks off email CV to 24hourhomecareservices@ googlemail.com A LA CARTE CHEF REQUIRED Aussies Bar, Playa Albir. Tlf:688-802-306 for details AVON NEED AGENTS AND LEADERS work hours to suit you. For info Phone Rosh 966-785-520 ADULT INTERNET PHOTO AND VIDEO Females and couples, 1865, required as models. Excellent rates. Tlf:-697-697-842

08 - 14 april 2011 PENSION TRACKERS Looking for rewarding enjoyable work, then join our fast growing lively telemarketing booking team. If you are hardworking, enthusiastic and well organised then this is for you. Experience preferred but not essential as full training is given. Contract available after completion of training and trial period. Call:966-864-598 HYGIENIST IS REQUIRED for a dental practice in Benidorm. The person must speak Spanish and English. Please send curriculum in Spanish to flor@id-mediterraneo.com

WANTED Experienced kitchen Designer - Salesperson required for busy showroom in Pedregeur. CAD experience preferred but applicants otherwise qualified will be considered. Full time position with basic salary and commission and contract after trial period

Tel: 96 645 6269 or 686 237 874

GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY For a good Cook and Average Handyman. Small apartment in La Manga, in a chalet situated in the front line of Mar Menor, to let in exchange for light services. For full details Tlf Ernesto:-968-564-022

GARDENING GENERAL Garden Irrigation Systems. Supply and Install from 500 euros, 12 month guarantee. A cost effective way of watering the garden. Tel:965-583-574 GENERAL GARDENING Palm Trees/Pine Trees, Tree specialist. Size not a problem. Quick with quality service. Plastic and gravel work. Economical prices. Free quote. Call:-634-625-792 Daniel TORREVIEJA GARDENING Palm trees, treat, clean, cut. Tel:633-300-651 ALTEA-MORAIRA GARDENING Garden Rubbish removed from 40euros. All gardening and painting 8.75 per hour OR priced work. Altea - Moraira Tel:-692-998-243 TEULADA/MORAIRA GARDENING Jon Cooper Garden Services.Clearance to regular maintenance. Hedging, graveling, etc. all aspects of garden maintenance. Most areas North Costa Blanca. email:- joncooper@ hotmail.co.uk 680-337-656 PEDREGUER GARDENING Garden design, maintenance and landscaping covering the areas of Pedreguer, Pego, Jalon, Els Poblets, Javea, Orba and Denia. 637-298-799 JAVEA GARDENING Perfect gardens Javea. Garden design. Tidy up. Hedges, Palms, Lawns, Irrigation, Gravel, Pools. Professional service call: John on 606-711-587 GUADAMAR DEL SEGURA GARDENING El Raso Garden Services: Community, residential or holiday home garden maintenance with monthly plans, one off visits or specialized individual jobs covering all aspects of garden maintenance. Located at Manuel Ferrandez el Raso, 03170 Guardamar del Segura.Tel:-620-585-783 CALPE GARDENING All gardening work undertaken from small general tidy up, to full landscaping services. Covering the areas of Calpe, Moraira, Javea and the surrounds. Tlf:-659-369-348

TEETH WHITENING. Professional Pain Free Cosmetic Treatment, from 99€. Javea, Denia, Calpe, areas. Tel:-680-501-404 www. nulookteeth.com WEIGHT LOSS 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

S.O.S. INSURANCE Car-HomeHealth-Comercial. Funeral Plans and Insurance. Tlf:-966-787123/622-275-561/686-116-297

DRUMMOND 3.1/2 CENTRE LATHE 3.1/2HP motor, 3 chucks. Faceplate. 200€ ONO. Tlf:-965747-116 HAIRDRESSING EQUIPMENT 1 backwash unit, Hood Dryer on Stand, Climazon Dryer Nearly New 1000€. Genuine Interest Only Tlf:620-408-678 AUTOMATIC GATE SYSTEMS €399!! Automatic Garage Doors €249!! Fully Installed/Guaranteed! All brands repaired 627-191-639/ www.elektro-nex.com WHEELCHAIR Light, Foldable, Hardly used. 150€. Mobility Scooter 40km range 499€. Both like new! Tlf:-627-019-403 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. 691202-307

AT MICHAEL’S Lovely 3-piece suite in beige leather. Two dark blue leather sofas. Comfortable blue leather recliner. See more than 600 photos on: www.michaelsjavea.com AT MICHAEL’S Exercise equipment like professional stepper etc. Large Phillips professional solarium. Visit our Port shop or see photos: www.michaels-javea.com Tel 96-579 1328 AT MICHAEL’S you also get NEW high quality Spanish beds. All sizes available as we deal directly with the manufacturers! Famous brands like United Colors of Benetton, etc www.michaels-javea.com AT MICHAEL’S brown wicker bedroom furniture, chest of drawers, bedsides, headboards etc See more than 600 photos on: www.michaels-javea.com (updates every 5-6 days) MICHAEL’S 28 YEARS IN JAVEA ENSURES YOUR SATISFACTION! We sell high quality pre owned furniture, many from show apartments etc. Look at: www.michaels-javea.com Tel 96-579-1328

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

G.S PARTY HIRE Planning a party. Do you need tables,chairs,crockery ,glasses. Outside catering and bar for all occasions. Then contact me for more information on.635-109375/693-371-654/966-194-984 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 8.30pm10.30pm. New Venue: The Wok Royal, Benijofer (966-714-820) New Beginners Class: Monday, 7.30pm-8.30pm, Argentine Tango Class 8.30pm-9pm plus SOCIAL DANCE: 8.30pm-10.30pm Tel: Andrea and Brian 616-478-157 WEIGHT WATCHERS Call our Free English call centre now to find your nearest meeting. 900-818-794

INDUSTRIAL CATERING EQUIPMENT chicken machine with stand 1200euro, meat slicer 200euro, 2mtr canopy with motor 1550euro, bottle fridge 250euro,double frier 10x10,375euro,dish washer 800euro,double glass fronted fridge 800euro,bain marie 3 pot 270euro, 120cm gas plancha 750euro, tele 693-004-845. SINGERS, DJ\’S, KJ\’S 1TB media drive inc:-110k up to date karaoke tracks, 1k + M/F/duet backing tracks, 500+music videos. 400+ music albums. Karaoke & DJ software etc etc. 225euros. CC accepted via paypal. call Paul . 659-511-951 FANTASTIC WORK HORSE JOHN DEERE tractor 515. Old but in full working condition with brand new battery, including cultivator and bucket. Three arm hydraulics. Operates on red diesel. Selling due to house move. Good buy at 3,000euros.Brand new cast iron log burner. Never been used. Self cleaning glass fronted doors. Including flue. 300euros. Wrought iron double bed with mattress (50 euros) and three single beds with mattress 30euros each. All immaculate condition. Aspe near Elche area.Telephone 645-746-502 BEV´S CAKES For all occasions, made to your specification. Alfaz/ Benidorm areas. Call for more info 670-533-488 KARAOKE MEDIA PLAYER Special Offer 500GB. 80,000songs, software, songbooks, bar/home use. 195euros Tlf:-657-766-341 POOL, SNOOKER TABLES Also Table Tennis and Darts. Will beat any price!. Tlf:-666-933-726. www.spainpool.com

HONDA BROSS 650CC LIGHTWEIGHT Water cooled vtwin (75mpg) superb condition ITV & TAX 32K just serviced including new battery & plugs, Spanish reg 1000euros ovno 651-186-765

Ford Ka 2008 - 3 door hatch 1.3. 22,000 kms, 1 owner. Full service history. A/C, PAS, ABS €5,750

600-726-622 | 96555-687-976

www.fwreurocars.com

Mercedes CLK230

Cabriolet Auto/Tip 1999 (2000 model) 2.3 Auto Kompressor 170,000 kms, 3 owners Full service history

€8,450

600-726-622 | 96555-687-976

www.fwreurocars.com

ACE AUTOS British & Spanish used car sales

00 RENAULT KANGOO VAN 1.9 DIESEL P/S 1,950€ 03 SUZUKI WAGON R 5 DOOR A/C P/S E/W CLEAN 3,750€ 01 HYUNDAI ATOS RED 5 DOOR A/C E/W P/S 2,750€ 97 AUDI A4 A/C E/W P/S ALLOYS MET B.R.G. 1,750€ 01 SEAT IBIZA DIESEL 3 DOORLOW KMS A/C 2,750€ 03 HONDA CIVIC 5 DOOR A/C ALLOYS C.D. 3,750€ 03 DEAWOO MATIZ 5 DOOR A/C P/S E/W V/CLEAN 3,750€ 94 OPEL ASTRA AUTO MATIC 1 OWNER V.G.C. 1,950€ 96 SEAT CORDOBA 1.9 DIESEL 4 DOOR A/C P/S 1,950€ 98 FORD MONDEO GHIA 4 DOOR A/C P/S E/W 1,950 97 DAEWOO LANOS 3 DOOR HATCH A/C P/S 1,450€ 96 OPEL VECTRA ESTATE ALLOYS A/C CLEAN 1,950€ 97 FIAT PUNTO CABRIOLET ALLOYS, C.D. P/S 1,950€ U.K. CARS 93 MERCEDES 300E DIESEL L.H.D. V/CLEAN ALLOYS 1,250€ 04 FORD FOCUS 5 DOOR T.D.I. ALLOYS A/C M.O.T. 3,950€ 01 RENAULT LAGUNA ONLY 55,OOO MILES M.O.T. 1,250€ MANY MORE CARS IN STOCK ALL WITH NEW ITV/MOT´S P/X ON MOST CARS.

Tel: 620 738 023 10am to 5pm FIND US NEAR NEW MERCADONA. PUEBLO PRINCIPE, VILLA MARTIN

Cars wanted for cash LHD/RHD

08 - 14 april 2011

CITROEN PICASSO XSARA. 1.6 SX. Sept 2003. 2 Owners, FSH, Alloys, Aircon, CD, Front Fogs, Pic-Nic Tables, Rear privacy Glass, Lovely Condition. Metallic Burgundy only 5750€ Includes 1 year warranty and transfer. . Tel 600-726-622/965-687-976 or simply view our easy to use website www.fwreurocars.com LOOKING FOR A CAR? We have a nice selection of LHD and RHD Vehicles for sale or exchange from only 1500€, Automatics, Saloons, MPV´s, 4x4´s, Sports, Cariolets, and Commercials. New and used Vehicles Sourced. Tel Frank your friendly English car sales on the Costa Blanca. Tel 600-726622/965-687-976 or simply view our easy to use website www.fwreurocars.com BLUE OPEL CORSA 2004, 1.3 TD, 5 DR, 57K genuine kms. 1 owner from new. Full electrics, cd player, power steering. ITV 2012, SUMA paid. 2995€ Call:627-463-523 BREAKERS YARD HGV, Vans, 4x4, Cars, Bikes. Most vehicle parts in stock. Delivery service for engines, etc. Vehicle sales and scrappage service. Free pick-up and transfer. Call 692-790-377. Email: hgmservices@yahoo.com PEUGEOT PARTNER COMBI 2009 1.9 Ltr diesel, white, Spanish LHD, good maintenance record, reliable, good condition 2995€ www.venuscars.com 965 368 274 FORD KA, 1997, 1.3 LTR Petrol, Spanish LHD, blue, electric windows,central locking, air conditioning, only 80510 klm. 2495€ www.venuscars.com 965-368-274 FORD TRANSIT CONNECT T200, 2005 1.8 TDCI, diesel, Spanish LHD, only one owner/driver. Very well maintained.4995€ www. venuscars.com 965-368-274 SUZUKI VITARA, 2002 4X4, Spanish LHD, Burgundy/Silver, 1.9 Ltr diesel, manual, only 43000 KLM 5995€ www.venuscars.com 965 368 274 SEAT TOLEDO, 1998 Petrol Automatic, white, Spanish LHD,air con, all round elc windows, good condition 2495€ www.venuscars. com 965 368 274 BUMPERS, WINGS AND MIRRORS All body panels for all cars supplied. Tel:-966-877-145 or 618-592-396 HEADLIGHTS4U.COM Left hand drive headlights supplied and fitted. All makes. Also air conditioning rechargeTel:-966-877-145 or 618-592-396 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 600781-873 ibuyanycar@hotmail.com

WARNING!!! Are you exterior painting? Before you paint, get this FREE essential report. Tlf:-966114-546 or download at www.paintmyvilla.com PAINTOR AND DECORATOR Exterior/interior Spray Painting Specialist. Woodwork, iron work, all aspects. For a free friendly, no obligation quote call Kevin Guilfoyle. 965-831-209/636-653516 or Guifoyle.kev66@gmail.com

Dominatrix and Submissive. Couples including Same Sex Couples. “Anything Goes” Can sometimes accomodate. Home Visits no extra Charge/Low Fees. Call me now on 655-058-554 GORGEOUS ENGLISH BLOND 45 years, Massage, 1 hour or over night, 15 mins Alicante airport.Tel:Karen 662-049-021 ELEGANT, SLIM, SEXY LADY ESCORT My Place, Home or Hotel visits. Torrevieja-La MangaMazarron Areas. Tlf:-693-357-526

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 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.

CAMPELLO 2 bedroom/2 bathroom apartment with magnificent sea views. 199.000€. See our blog for details at www. apartment-for-sale-campello-spain. com and/or 670-661-605

NEW IN LA ZENIA Argentinian horny woman, enjoys giving you pleasure and also special attention to couples, fetish, role change, voyeurism. 629-437-893 WONDERFUL MASSAGE 4 HANDS Stimulating erotic points, Oriental techniques to retard erection ejaculation....La Zenia 10 minutes, Torrevieja, Los Montesinos 600784-461 MAY-EROTIC FROM INDONESIA 38 petite attractive will spoil you with a sensual relaxing massage. Visit out only. No withheld numbers. Call:-698-896-034. Mon-Fri ASHLEY- ENGLISH MIXED RACE South American, very sexy 29, tall, slim with long legs, excellent rates, near Hospital-de-Torrevieja. Call me direct:-634-336-712 BEAT THE CREDIT CRUNCH! Blonde, English, Aged 44. 40€ all inclusive. Tlf:-626-324-088 I AM NO SPRING CHICKEN! But I would welcome a sincere lady for companionship and friendship in the Torrevieja Area. Tlf:-966784-665 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 BI-GAY PLUMBER W/E Spanner. Specialist in Ballcock, Overflow Services Ladies, Gents, Couples. Tlf:-660-409-206. TORREVIEJA TRANS PERLA Stunning Blonde.Huge breasts, sculptural body.Speciality erotic masage.Very feminine and sexy. Call me 671-424-456 TORREVIEJA BRAZILIAN Lovely Lady. Stress! Have Silken Hands Massage, Relax, Pleasure, Discretion. Escort Service. 664664-390 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 639832-118 NEW PLACE! TORREVIEJA Sexy girls from South America. Come and enjoy, economical prices from 40?. NEW ADDRESS Zone Los Locos beach. 639-622-285 TORREVIEJA CHINESE SUPER SEXY Young and beautiful. Calle Orihuela Nº60, 2º1 DANI 24, SWEET GERMAN GIRL Offers erotic service. House and Hotel visits or in my apartment. 650-104-534 Torrevieja PORNO DVD´S! The Best You´ve Ever Seen! Gay, Bestial, She-Male, BDSM 10€ each. Rebecca:-Tlf:636-929-511 ARE YOU MALE, FEMALE OR A COUPLE? Need some Sexy FUN? Contact me soonest. 63 year old Dom/Sub switch. Available for fun with Males, Dom and Sub and Cross Dressers, Females

VAN LEAVING FOR THE U/K every two weeks space both ways. Great rates contact Joe on 966074-576 or 650-341-087 or email civic1235@msn.com 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: 965-329610/ 686-767-839 MAN & LWB SPRINTER VAN going to UK- Spain twice a month. Tel: 610-846-260 or 0044-7519186-355 email:-van. man@hotmail.co.uk

ALL SATELLITE SYSTEMS Installed, Maintained and Repaired. 10 years experience with Satellites in Spain. All areas covered. Tlf:Hugh-690-275-223 CRYSTAL CLEAR SATELLITE AND INTERNET TV for all your digital and TV requirements. No Annual Fees on Sky Cards. Steve:660-186-505/Ros:-965-584-097. www.ccsattv.com info@ccsattv.com

TURN YOUR UNWANTED FURNITURE Electrical, Household Goods and Bric-a-brac into Cash. Anything! Anywhere! 965-319220/618-165-877 WANTED - GYM EQUIPMENT ladies/mens mountain bike Javea Tel 606-936-012 karensg8@gmail. com WANTED TECHNICS 1200 OR 1210 TURNTABLE in good condition. Tel:-617-893-036 or email kath_poole@hotmail.com GOLD WANTED!! English Jeweller, will buy for cash, broken or unwanted gold jewellery and coins. Tlf:Peter-664-890-990 RECORDS AND CD´S WANTED Top cash paid. Pop, Rock, Blues. Tlf:-630-665-363

POOL LEAK REPAIR SPECIALIST’S Pipe leaks pressure tested, detected and repaired. Structural leaks investigated and repaired. Professional, consciencious service to the highest standards. Refurbishments and upgrades undertaken. Replacement pumps, filters, salt systems, ph regulators and accessories supplied and installed. All work guaranteed. British trained in the UK pool industry with over 15 years experience. 8 years served on the Costa Blanca. Torrevieja and surrounding areas including Costa Calida. Tlf:- Pristine Pools on 966-774-199 or 678-080-500 www.pristineswimmingpools.com 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

MOBILE/PARK HOMES On Camping Pueblo in San Javier from 15,000e Carol 968-192-425 mob 626-055-622 Www,mobilehomesm armenorspain.com SPECIAL OFFER Los Altos, Detached Villa, 220 square metre plot, only 104,000€ 669-283-973 VILLAMARTIN AREA Middle Town House, 2/3 Bedrooms, Bathroom, Seperate Toilet, Garage, F/F, Fitted Kitchen, 84.000€. Tlf:-669-283-973 LOOKING TO RELOCATE We have new and pre-owned luxury

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

1 BED PART FURNISHED BUNGALOWS on Camping Pueblo in San Javier. With lots of ameneties Carol tel 968-192425 mob. 626-055-662 Www. mobilehomesmarmenorspain.com LA SIESTA 2 bedr 1 bath Villa. Secluded Pool €500 P/M Long Term + Bills. 628-478-313 JALON VALLEY Quality apartments and Villas to let long term. All facilities. Call Rod 605-231-331 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 EL PINET F/F 2 BED FLAT Sea View, 10 mins to Beach, Overlooking Pool. Call:-649-411634 www.carefreproperties.co.uk CLOSE TO THE VILLAGE OF ALTEA LA VELLA Refurbished Apartment. Fully Furnished. A/C and C/H, 2 bedrooms, bathroom, large lounge, Kitchen/Diner. 40M2 Sun Terrace with Bar-b-que. Very large Garden, Private Pool. Transport essential. No Pets or Small Children. 495€ per month plus bills. Available Now. Tlf:966-881-048/691-202-307

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. ASSISTANCE AT THE DOCTORS Hospital, Police, etc., Help to interpret mail and documents. 30 years experience in Benidorm and local towns.667-323-289 TRANSLATOR Spanish and English speaking. Available for medical visits etc. Benidorm and surrounding areas. Tel Dawn: 626-337-258.

SPANISH LESSONS ONLINE I can teach you the easiest way to speak Spanish.Tlf:-600-400-668. www.howtospeakspanish.es COMPUTER TUTOR Software training, ebusiness education, website publishing, photography, videography and more DIY tips and

08 - 14 april 2011

Book an advert on this page and get a FREE premium listing worth 100â&#x201A;Ź on thebizspain.com. Contact your local representative or call 902 118 999 Tâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s & Câ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s apply Airport Parking

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08 - 14 april 2011

The final whistle With Andy Kay

RTN Golf Club update

www.andykayevents.com

ICC don’t see Dennis Jordan NORTH REGION

Mike Probert SOUTH REGION

Shalke 04 player Raúl González

THE INTERNATIONAL Cricket Council has become the latest governing body to show that they are completely out of touch with their own sport, not to mention expert opinion, by announcing that the next Cricket World Cup will only feature the top ten Test playing nations. This means the likes of the Netherlands and Ireland will be frozen out of cricket’s showpiece one-day event for at least eight years, and this despite the fact that Ireland, for instance, have a better one-day ranking than Zimbabwe who will get to play in Australia and New Zealand in four years’ time. It’s a desperately poor decision and one that the ICC has tried to justify by saying that it wants a shorter tournament. However, it’s been reported that unlike in India last month when there were sometimes two or three games a day, in 2019 there will only be one match per day to fit in with TV, so the event will go on for just as long anyway. It would have been far better to invite the ‘big eight’: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, England, West Indies, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand with a play-off between Ireland, Netherlands, Kenya and Zimbabwe for the remaining two places. But that would have been quite sensible, and as we all know, governing bodies don’t do sensible! SCHALKE 04 HIT 5 While most of this week’s Champions League headlines have been about Barca, Real Madrid and Manchester United, the stand-out result from the quarter-finals was Schalke’s 5 – 2 away win at holders Inter Milan. The German side are only sitting in mid table in the Budesliga but in Europe they’ve been a revelation, topping their group and overcoming a strong looking Valencia side to reach the last eight. With a semi-final against either Manchester United or Chelsea in the offing who knows, we could be looking at a Spain v Germany final?

Murcia Golf Hound Murcia Region

GOLF IN the North of the Costa Blanca is busy and I am pleased to say that the courses are in great condition. Bonalba was buzzing last week which is good to see after a slow start to the season. Font Del Llop is getting busier for sure, but when the weather is bad or has rained through the night then players are restricted as buggies cannot be used at all. This is because there isn’t a path all the way round the course so buggies at some stage have to go on the fairways. Obviously this is the best option for the course but not for the golfer as Font Del llop is a long round and to have to walk for some is not an option. It has been said that the paths will be sorted soon, which will attract even more players, especially those of us that like a challenged round of our favourite sport!

WELL THE weather has improved for us this last week with higher temperatures and sunny days. In an attempt to ‘lure’ some of you back onto the golf course we have a special offer exclusive to RTN Golf Club members and readers. At the beautiful Vistabella course located close to the town of Los Montesinos, we have a limited number of ‘2 player and 1 buggy’ deals available for only €82 which is a full €10 lower than the already discounted spring public price and represents unbeatable value. There are still more spring deals than normal available on a number of local courses and in particular the deal at La Peraleja has proved popular, as have the deals at Altorreal, Las Colinas and La Serena. Remember that we are fast approaching the main greens hollow tining season when putting surfaces will not be at their best so get in a round at a good price before this happens. AFTER ALL my talk about food and drink last week I felt I should get back on the wagon (in both senses of the word) and head down South for a look at the condition of the courses in our neighbouring province of Almeria. My first stop was Aguilon golf and after I´d wound my way round the mountains and had some fantastic views of the sun-kissed Med I found a golf course in great condition. I was informed that after some troubles with the greens they had restored them to their former glory and they weren´t wrong. The views, golf course and general tranquillity made for the perfect golfing setting. Next stop was Valle del Este! The practice facilities, clubhouse, staff and golf course made for a great experience. Sitting on the terrace with my caña (oops) with views of the golf course and pool, the general ambience was very pleasant.Finally I trotted off to Desert Springs and found an oasis in the midst of the desert landscape. Again, the practice facilities, clubhouse, service and golf course were immaculate. Check out Murcia Golf´s price for a two night stay to play these 3 courses. Price includes 2 nights, half board, spa access and 3 green fees as well as a great experience and a fantastic weekend away!

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

€40

Single Green Fee

Villaitana Par 62

€39

Single Green fee + Buggy

Villaitana Par 72

€45

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

€55

Comments

€65

2 Players and 1 Buggy (Mon-Fri) 2 Players and 1 Buggy (Tue,Wed,Thurs)

Hacienda del Alamo

€30

Single Green Fee (3pm)

La Serena

€90

Single Green Fee (3pm)

Polaris World Courses

€92

2 Players and 1 Buggy

Roda

€100

2 Players and 2 Buggy (limit)

Las Ramblas

€33

Single Green Fee (3pm)

VistaBella

€82

Single Green Fee (S.Deal)

La Finca

€42

Single Green Fee (2.30pm)

Las Colinas

€260

4 Players and 1 Buggy (3pm)

€76

2 Players and 1 Buggies

€140

4 Players and 2 Buggy

La Peraleja

For more information contact Mike at mike@roundtownnews.com or direct at Costa Blanca Green Fee Services on 966 704 752 or 661 345 931.

MURCIA Region Golf Course

RTN Price

Comments

La Envia

€41

Single Green fee

Valle del Este

€70

2 Green fees

Aguilón

€40

Single Green fee

Alborán

€48

Single Green fee

Two night stay

€189

Almerimar

€60

Single Green Fee

Desert Springs

€65

Single Green fee

2N, 1/2board,3Green Fees

For more information contact the Hound on Facebook, twitter: murciagolf@roundtownnews.com or 671 748 625.

SPOT THE SPOT KICK Another big game and another big decision missed by the officials, all 87 of them, or however many UEFA now insist look after European matches. I cannot see the point of the extra officials if they are going to fail to spot a clear cut penalty like the one Chelsea should have had against Manchester United when Evra brought down Ramires. It was the latest in a long list of 18 yard box cock-ups and UEFA President Michel Platini needs to admit that his experiment just doesn’t work and step up the search for technology as soon as he can muster up the courage to say he was wrong in the first place. MASTERS MISERY? Has Luke Donald made a major gaffe by winning the par 3 competition ahead of the Masters this weekend? Remember, no man has ever won the light hearted preevent competition and gone on to wear the Green jacket in the same year. But, there’s a real European ‘feel’ to Augusta this year and perhaps Donald, the WGC World Match Play champion, could be the man to break the hex?

ANYONE FOR FOOTBALL? Aged between 20 to 40 ? Torrevieja area Call Doug on 628 789 335

Why do I need a coach? Noel’s world of golf By Noel Eastwell Teaching Professional Campo de Golf El Plantio 639 730 891

IN THE last two weeks I have spent a lot of time with other coaches from South East Spain doing some promotional work for our sport that will hopefully attract golfers from abroad to our shores. These coaches were not just British but came from all over Europe and are plying their trade here in Spain and have a number of years experience between them working with all nationalities. During the many conversations that went on during breaks in filming an alarming statistic emerged: British golfers seem the most reluctant to have lessons to improve their games. The consensus seemed to suggest that this was because of the way golf lessons are given by some teaching professionals in the United Kingdom who stubbornly refuse to change the way they work and enter the twenty first century. The way golf coaching has changed in the last five years has been hard to believe unless you have been involved with the sport at the sharp end. Nowadays golf coaches are just that; coaches first and foremost and not teachers. The difference is dramatic to say the least. Teacher usually issue ‘to do’ instructions whereas a good coach will ensure that during a coaching session the desired improvement is learned by the student and fully understood. In my experience that has not always been the case in the past with the instructor who spends most of the time he is supposed to be improving your golf leaning on a golf club looking like he’d much rather be somewhere else. Virtually all coaches now acknowledge that the next big improvements in golf are going to come about with better mental training. Mention that to the vast majority of British golfers and once again the consensus of opinion suggested that they’ll think you are some sort of fruit and nut case. On all the major tours in The World all the leading players and coaches have the same opinion that this is the way forward. I know that some people reading this article will think I am having a go at the British golfers in Spain. I

am certainly not. What I am trying to do is show the way forward. Most other Northern European nations are only too happy to have coaching in all aspects of golf to improve and that is why I think they will soon pass us in the race to become the countries with the lowest average handicaps in Europe. For the younger generation that wants to progress to play golf at a relatively high level consider what I am saying, for those who want to improve please consider what I am saying. For those who want to stagnate, just think I am some sort of idiot desperate for business. 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 8TH APRIL 2011 Where is The 2011 US Open due to be played? A. Congressional CC B. Bethpage Black C. Hazeltine All answers must be received no later than 5pm on 1st May 2011 to be entered into April’s draw, to be made on May 1st. The winner will be announced in RTN on May 6th 2011. NOEL EASTWELL GOLF ACADEMY AT EL PLANTIO Get the most out of your game: 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

Cast Off with

Robbie France

SO, AS we mentioned last week, it’s time to head back from your destination. We are assuming you will be going ‘downwind’, (with the wind at your back). To put this in very basic nautical terms…we are preparing to jibe. There are commands which you will learn as you move forward with experience, but I’m here to explain, in as brief a manner as possible, what this entails and what the pitfalls are. With the leeward run, you must be aware at all times of the possibilities of the boom sometimes sweeping across the boat in a rapid (and therefore potentially dangerous!) and unpredictable manner. The accidental jibe is a phrase you will become more and more familiar with as we go on this seafaring journey together. However, before reaching for the incontinence pads, there are many hints on how to avoid problems… starting with the cardinal rule of sailing: be vigilant! As most of us sail with others, it is vital one of us concentrates solely on the wheel or tiller, giving instructions to our crew explaining what we are trying to achieve. ‘Ready to jibe’, the mainsail is brought in by the crew towards the centre of the boat. As the helmsman steers the boat through the wind… get ready! The sails will

fill with wind rapidly; (hopefully…that’s what we’re out there for!); the boom will want to swing across the boat, taking out all and sundry… if they’re not careful. The boom swings over the boat, the crew will allow the mainsail to move into position before winching it back into a place allowing the wind to fill the jib; again the crew will trim the jib accordingly In my own personal mishaps, I’ve only landed on my backside a couple of times when the wind has behaved unpredictably…which is going to happen… but nothing serious occurred because we were aware of each other’s job and each other’s position on the boat. The problems with jibing occur when the crew take their eye off the prize. A smooth transit: nothing more…nothing less. There are thousands of articles on this topic, but remember…watch each other’s backs, sometimes literally, and you’ll be fine. I took a complete novice out the other afternoon and the wind was being its usual unpredictable self. Just watch out for the crew. Feel the wind. Keep calm. You’ll be right as rain. Next week? I’ll be talking through the emails, questions and comments regarding ‘Cast Off’. Should be fun! Full sails and smooth sailing!

“I start from the premise that no object created by man is as satisfying to his body and soul as a proper sailing yacht.”. Arthur Beiser (The Proper Yacht)

08 - 14 april 2011

Fishing Maggots End by

David Hoare

968 199 279

For further details ring Alan Roscoe 968 570 876 or email: anglerstogether@gonuts4free.com THIS WEEK´S match was the 2nd round of the Summer Championship, the venue having to be changed from Olivarejos due to access problems, to the river Segura in Murcia. The river was still in full flow and around a foot+ higher than normal. At least this week there was no rain; only sunshine. The fish were still feeding in the flow, but also for those with reeds within pole distance, they managed to catch steadily through the day and this proved to be the winning method. TOP RODS ON THE DAY 1st Ian (Irish Wizard) Dalzell, fishing the pole using corn with 19.88 kilos 2nd Stuart (I´m married again) Taylor, fishing the feeder using maggot with 16.40 kilos 3rd Bill (The Master) Reade, fishing the feeder using bread and worms with 12.56 kilos ABBEY ANGLING RESULTS supplied by Terry Screen The 10th and penultimate round of the Abbey Angling Cup was fished at the River Segura on the 29th March 2010. The bamboos are now growing at a fast rate and will be back to normal in no time at all; also the river was flowing fast with a lot of dead bamboo canes in the water both sides, with this causing tackle and fish to get snagged. Almost all the anglers were losing fish on the day and most opted to fish the feeder. 1st Stan (The Man) Roberts with 10.820kg

2nd Bill (The Master) Reade with 10.490kg 3rd Lennie (Ex Cultural Attache) Bolton with 6.580kg Fishing the feeder with corn or maggot All details are available from the Match Secretary Terry Screen on 96 532 8368. 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 to see what we’re about. The next meeting at Mary’s Bar, Campoverde (near Pilar de la Horadada) will be held on Friday 8th April at 12 noon. There is a new venue for the Puerto de Mazarron meeting starting in January 2011. On Saturday 9th April at 12 noon the meeting will be held at The New Royal Bar and Restaurant at El Alamillo, opposite the seafront between Isla Plana and the Port. Refreshments and lunch are available at each location. Come along to a meeting nearest to you.

Sailing Association Mar Menor

SAMM SPRING Racing Series starts on Sunday 10th April. The series will run fortnightly from April to June from the CAR jetty in Los Narejos. It is handicap racing and you will need to let us know at least 7 days in advance of your intention to race. Non-members are welcome to come and join us for the day: you will be able to join SAMM for the day with the possibility of becoming a full member at a later date. Also arrangements can be made to use the slip to launch your boat. We will be racing dingies, multihulls and cruisers. This is an ‘all day’ event with two races: one in the morning starting at 11.30am and the second at 2pm in the afternoon, with a break for lunch. Registration starts at 10.30am. If you are interested in joining us please contact John at john.down@sailingmarmenor.com