RTN North Edition 603 by Round Town News

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Issue 603

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6 - 12 May 2011

Home fires burning by Jack Troughton

Hugh out training

Heroes on the border MARCHING THE length of historic Hadrian’s Wall in aid of Help for Heroes this summer is a former Coldstream Guardsman already aiming to outstrip his 1,000€ target. Hugh Norton plans to complete the 135km trek with his brother – another former soldier – raising much-needed funds for the charity and its efforts to help British servicemen and women badly injured in the service of their country. And Help for Heroes has a particular significance for Hugh because he has a nephew and a son-in-law currently serving in Afghanistan. Read the full story on page3.

SPANISH GOVERNMENT Minister Jose Blanco ignited an explosion of protest by touting the country’s property market as a safe investment during a London Road Show. Tens of thousands of victims of property abuses during the boom years – many of them British expats - were “appalled” to hear Spain heralded as a safe bet for property buyers. Mr Blanco, minister of public work, transport and housing, was at the start of a European tour and an initiative to attract new money into the Spanish dream. Clutching a government printed ‘bible’, a ministry information guide to ‘Safely Purchasing a House in Spain’, the politician claimed the road show would “highlight the strengths of our economy, transparency and legal certainty of our planning legislation.” The minister said it was an “ideal time” to invest and reduce housing stock standing empty with a significant drop in prices but with all the competitive advantages of the country still in evidence. CORRUPT However, the sales pitch made no mention of the problems of illegal homes

innocently purchased from corrupt and greedy developers, the retrospective use of the Law of the Coasts to outlaw existing buildings, or the controversial planning legislation like Valencia’s notorious ‘land grab’ laws. More than 30% of people investing in Spanish property are British – many have had no problems – but thousands are fighting for justice and for Madrid to take action over the estimated 1 million illicit homes throughout the country and mainly in hotspots like Valencia. Individual victims are backed by protest groups, MPs and MEPs of all political colours, and the European Parliament – the last report calling for EU funding to be frozen until Spain took action to address the scandal. In an open letter to Mr Blanco, MEP Michael Cashman asked if the minister intended to address the problems of property owners who “after having legitimately acquired homes with proper legal advice and green lights from officials, mayors, lawyers and developers, have been evicted and their houses and life savings demolished with absolutely no compensation. Continued on page 3

6 - 12 may 2011

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6 - 12 May 2011

Giving something back

Continued from front page “In the case of the LRAU, some have received bills of up to 70,000€ or even 300,000€ to fund new urban developments, consequently setting them up for financial ruin.” CONCERN Mr Cashman said he was eager to learn of the promised measures to safeguard foreign investors’ legal concerns. “What about those who have already invested and who, faced with the uncompensated loss of their property, have found absolutely no results through the Spanish legal system?” He concluded that he trusted the overall outcome of the road show would be to “bring a light of hope to all these victims.” And MEP Maria Andreasen, of UKIP, commented: “It’s inconceivable that anyone would want to invest in property in a country that has shown itself to be lawless when it comes to property rights.” An online petition to British Minister for Europe David Lidington is also gathering pace as victims call for the Spanish property investment road show to be halted until Madrid can show it has put its house in order. The petition calls for the MP and the government to confront Spain to end years of abuse. It ends: “Mr Blanco, representing his government, should not be encouraged in this country until he can show a clean pair of hands.” COMFORT Charles Svoboda, a veteran campaigner with the Benissabased campaign group AUN, said the Spanish government guide “will not bring comfort to those already in the money

trap that is Spanish real estate.” He said it was the same basic advice followed by people who purchased property over the last 10 years. “Where has it got them? Ask the folks in Catral or Lliber. Those in Alicante or those on the Costa del Sol, or those affected by the Ley de Costas who are in a similar pickle.” He said the guide failed to deal with the problems caused by land grab situations which were made under regional government rather than Madrid. “Points about insurance cover and enforcing liability on builders seem hollow in the light of recent history regarding for example bank guarantees that have turned out to be worthless or false front developers who go bust or vanish when problems appear.” Charles said the road show slogan ‘Look, think, invest, the Spanish real estate market is in your hands’ should be rewritten: “Look often and elsewhere. Think twice and invest Hugh someplace where you can be sure it is wise to do so.” Continued from front page Hugh, who lives in Teulada, celebrates his 65th birthday later this year believes his present level of fitness is due to his time in the army. “Without any doubt, my military service gave me the self discipline and high level of fitness which I still enjoy,” he said. “I think it is about time that I took the time and made the effort to give something back. “Soldiers of today, although far better equipped than we ever were, face dangers the like of which we were never called upon to face. Spanish Public Works Minister José Blanco

Old Italian sea mine recovered off Alicante A naval exercise taking place off the coast of Alicante has recovered an old sea mine in waters off the Isla de Tabarca. The explosive device was identified as Italian and was confirmed to be inert. It was found by the French minesweeper, the Orion, on April 29, which has been taking part in the ‘Spanish Minex-11’ manoeuvres, which is a multinational exercise for training in mine warfare which takes place annually.

Luis

SUCCESS “If by being successful in this small endeavour I can raise the profile of Help for Heroes then my efforts will not have been in vain.” The two brothers hope to complete the walk between 6th and 11th June and both have been reading up on Hadrian’s Wall and the Borders. “It’s a fascinating and hugely significant part of our history and I am thrilled at the prospect of spending some time on the wall. However, the timetable is tight and our itinerary will preclude us from too much exploration but we will be planning our lunch stops at places like Housesteads, Vindolanda and Birdoswald.” Hugh told RTN: “We are excited, really excited – and we have our fingers crossed there will be some decent weather too!” He has already started fundraising and anyone wanting more information or wishing to donate can log onto Hugh’s website www.bmycharity.com/hughnortonhadrianswall

6 - 12 may 2011

Toasting the newlyweds by Jack Troughton BRITISH AMBASSADOR Giles Paxman and 250 guests at his official Madrid residence raised glasses to wish HRH Prince William and Catherine Middleton well as they started life as man and wife. The party joined millions around world watching historic proceedings at Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace last Friday morning. And at the end of the ceremony in London, Mr Paxman and his wife Segolene cut a specially-made wedding cake decorated in the red, white, and blue of the Union Flag and joined guests in making a toast to the Royal Couple. The wedding was the start of an exciting run of events in the United Kingdom when the eyes of the world will turn to Britain 2012 is the Diamond Jubilee Year – the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the throne, and in July next year London hosts the Olympic and Paralympic

Games. During this time Britain will show why it is such an open, connected, dynamic and creative country, successfully blending history and tradition with modern life and innovation. CELEBRATE The ambassador said: “British people all over the world are enjoying today’s celebrations, and that is equally true of hundreds of thousands of Britons living in Spain. “This is an occasion to celebrate our strong institutions and traditions, and to look forward to the future in confidence.” He added: “Today’s wedding will be followed in over 130 countries around the world, a fitting reminder of Britain’s international history and global links. “Our country today is one of the most open and cosmopolitan in the world: home to 270 nationalities, speaking 300 languages. We Ambassador have the world’s sixth largest economy and Giles and the world’s leading financial centre.” Mrs Paxman cut the cake

No human being should be left buried in a ditch

The Spanish Justice Ministry has published a map of all the Spanish Civil War mass graves. The map can be found on their webpage www.mapadefosas.mjusticia.es and includes two search engines, one for graves and another for victims’ names. News of its launch was given by the Deputy Prime Minister, Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba, who said the map brings together all the information supplied by each of the autonomous communities and the associations in the defence of the historical memory to date. ‘No human being should remain buried in a ditch’, he said, ‘and nobody deserves that in addition to the horror of their death, they have the added indignity of their resting place. ‘All citizens should have the right to bury their dead’, he said.

Car slides off bridge TWO YOUNG men aged 20 and 23 were seriously injured at 11.22pm Monday night when their car slid off the motorway overpass during rainy weather on the 19km turn of the M-506 in the Fuenlabrada area of Madrid, falling five metres onto the road below. The victims had to be cut from their Mini by the fire service and transferred to hospital with critical injuries.

6 - 12 May 2011

It’s a gas: Alicante-Altea pipeline completed by Jan Gamm

The Oldfield touch by Jack Troughton RETIRED ROYAL Navy sailor Mike Oldfield successfully bid 1,000€ to buy a signed Manchester United shirt – and promptly gave it back to make one lucky child very happy. The No 14 shirt, signed by Mexican striker ‘Little Pea’ Javier Hernandez, was auctioned by Bay Radio on Good Friday on behalf of charity Race for Life Javea to raise funds for the children cancer charities ASPANION and AECC Infantil. Mike, who lives in Javea supports Manchester United and “mainly” Portsmouth, played down his generosity. “I just heard all about these kids with cancer and that was it. I actually loathe children personally – but when you get kids with cancer, that is terrible and I just want to give them a lift.” Mike, who comes from Huddersfield and served in the Navy for 25 years, said he was returning the shirt to the charity so it could be presented to a boy or girl in Manchester, Mexico or Spain. “The shirt itself will be worth a fortune - he really does his stuff on the pitch,” he added. Race for Life Javea plans to liaise with Hernandez and Old Trafford to find a child ill with cancer to become the new owner of the

Visitors at the inauguration in Finestrat yesterday

shirt and its certificate of authenticity. The actual auction was run on air by Bay presenters Bob and Noelle and bidding had stalled at 320€ when ‘Mike’ came on the line. “He asked what the bidding had reached and when I said it was 320€ he said that was not enough and he wanted to triple it,” said Noelle. “It was so out of the blue I started crying because I was so shocked. “Mike asked if I was still there – and left his number and we announced bidding would close after the next song. “Bob played Moonlight Shadow by Mike Oldfield – and as the music finished Mike rang back to say ‘you will not believe this but my name is Mike Oldfield!’ How spooky is that? “The whole thing was completely unbelievable and we finished the auction on such a high and with a decent amount of money to be shared between the charities.” Race for Life Javea’s annual fun run will now take place on 25th September. For more information about the charity email carreraporlavidaxabia@gmail.com Donations can be made in the charity’s bank account Carrera por la vida, Javea, 2090 0260 34 0200567045 at Cam Bank, Avenida del Pla, Arenal, Javea.

CEGAS HAS completed construction on the Alicante-Altea pipeline to supply natural gas to around 300,000 inhabitants. The 65.1 kilometre pipeline represents an investment of 17.3 million euros. Cegas director Robert House was at the inauguration yesterday in Finestrat but the Minister for Infrastructure, Mario Flores, was unable to attend as planned.

(from left) Bob, Noelle, Race for Life Javea’s Magpie Latham and Mike Oldfield

The big question surrounding the longawaited completion of the pipeline is how long various communities will have to wait before achieving connection. Villayjoyosa and El Campello are expected to receive supplies imminently but Benidorm is still pending; an annoyance commented upon by the president of Hosbec, Antonio Mayor, who warns that the pipeline will be useless unless it is properly utilised to modernise the city’s present gas facilities.

6 - 12 May 2011

Lucky winners of the 600th edition competition by Jack Troughton DELIGHTED PRIZE winners Sandra and Mike Fletcher are on the Marrakesh express after scooping top prize in RTN’s 600th issue celebration. Enjoying the sun in the couple’s Javea home, Sandra decided to write a poem including all the things she admired about the Costa’s favourite English newspaper. Back at RTN headquarters, her verses struck a chord with the judges and won the North Africa break – neither has been to the city before and both the Fletchers looking forward to a “fantastic time.” “I wrote the poem trying to use as many words as possible that rhymed with ‘news’,” said Sandra. “I was trying to highlight that there were so many things in RTN to read about and the poem just came to me very quickly.” The couple lives in Hereford but come to Javea – they bought a house there eight years ago and previously had an apartment near Gandia – three or four times a year and stay five or six weeks at a time. “Our children and grandchildren are in England so we get the best of both worlds,” said Sandra. She said they both liked to play golf and swim, while she enjoyed cooking, painting and gardening in the sun. Sandra’s poem is printed below: Why do we love Round Town News? It´s full of Goodies to amuse Shops to go for clothes and shoes Restaurants serving food and booze

Adverts for cars and servicing crews Good health tips to pick up clues How to treat a cut or bruise Places to go, avoiding queues Amusement Parks and Clubs and Zoos Help about Pets, you find or lose Aids to help you sleep and snooze Recipes for cooking cakes and stews Holidays by coach or cruise Postbag letters to blow your fuse Horoscopes for your future´s clues TV and Entertainment News Money Matters to help you chose Hours of reading to peruse Guaranteed to beat the Blues All of this, and more to amuse In one single issue of Round Town News

Mary and John Middleton look forward to their trip to Madrid

Sandra Fletcher

By Julie Day MARY MIDDLETON from Guardamar was delighted when she was told by RTN that she had won a trip for two to Madrid after her entry describing why she loves to read the RTN was picked as the winner. “This is excellent and I’m really excited. I’ve been to Madrid before but my husband hasn’t, so it’ll be really great to visit together. We’ve already planned a hundred different things to do whilst we are there and we’re both really looking forward to a nice break together,” gushed Mary. The couple are in the process of buying a house in a little Murcian village, which together with other things is making their lives slightly chaotic and stressful. A welcome break will calm things down and they can finally slow down and relax. “Whilst we are in Madrid, the first thing on our list of things to do is to visit the El Prado museum, then we have to sample the tapas and we’d also like to visit the famous Rastro market,” added John, Mary’s husband. Well, all at RTN hope that you enjoy your stay in Madrid and have a fantastic time.

6 - 12 may 2011

Bag tax at Mercadona

Brit gets on the podium at Orihuela Ladies Only Race CRECIA WILDING from Los Dolses in Orihuela Costa finished last Sunday´s first ever Orihuela Ladies Only Race with a podium spot. The keen runner, who runs as part of the Running Wild Running Club,s based in Orihuela Costa, was delighted to achieve second place in the Veteran´s class. Nearly 30 ladies from Orihuela Costa

Some bags are subject to tax, others are not

by Jan Gamm FROM 9th MAY supermarket chain Mercadona across the Costa Blanca will make a charge for single-use plastic carrier bags. Andalucia began charging tax on single-use plastic bags from 3th April. The tax is being charged at the rate of 10 cents on each bag. The tax is part of a government economic and environmental incentive to reduce the use of plastic carrier bags in an effort to lessen pollution and reduce nonbiodegradable waste. The amount of ‘bag tax’ charged will also be recorded on store receipts along with the number of bags purchased.

Some types of plastic bags will be exempt for tax, such as protective wrapping for fresh foods such as cooked and uncooked meat, fish, poultry and vegetables, biodegradable bags and those designed for recyclable use. Shops will be expected to clear the tax they have collected every quarter, making the corresponding tax declaration and payment in the first 20 days of April, July, October and January. How things change! In August 2008, RTN’s own Watts in Britain asked: “Can you imagine Costa Blanca supermarkets charging a bag tax? Nah, I can’t…. Watts in Tesco, stuffing goods into me free carrier bag (and reusing it)…”

Crecia Wilding

descended onto Orihuela City for the race, headed by Maria Wilson, who is battling cancer and is currently fundraising for the AECC with her ´Pink Ladies´. The 3.5km route through the streets of the City saw more than 800 women of all ages taking part and the whole event, organised by the Oriol Athletic Club in association with the Orihuela Town Hall, was deemed a huge success. Orihuela Mayor and PP Mayoral Candidate Mónica Lorente also took part, alongside Councillor for Culture Pepa Ferrando and the Councillor for Security and Policing, Mayte Valero. This walk was great training for the Pink Ladies’ own 5km run/walk, to take place in Playa Flamenca in Orihuela Costa on Sunday 5th June. The walk is being organised by Maria Wilson and the Pink Ladies in association with the AECC, the Oriol Athletic Club and Orihuela Town Hall and all the proceeds from the €5 subscription and sponsorship as well as the money donated from the market stall holders who will be part of the accompanying Fun Day, will be donated to the AECC, the Spanish cancer charity. Money raised will go towards breast and prostate screening. For more information on the Running Wild Running Club, which meets every Sunday, please call Crecia on 96 676 5463. For more information on the forthcoming AECC Cancer run/walk in Playa Flamenca on Sunday 5th June, please contact lclarke@ orihuela.es or spanishpinkladies@hotmail. co.uk. You can also call 672 875 251, 660 233 972 or 634 198 351.

6 - 12 may 2011

The tragic consequences of Spain’s economic crisis by Jan Gamm

Benidorm challenges its image in UK

BRITISH PEOPLE do not hold the correct perception of Benidorm, according to HOSBEC, the local hotelier’s association. A poll revealed that most Brits don’t see the resort as a family oriented place, so HOSBEC have decided to work on rebranding the town. Promotion in the coming months will focus on the theme parks and hope to encourage more families.

PP proposes new health centre A NEW health centre could be on the cards for Altea if the PP’s plans go ahead. Jesús Ballester from the PP is reported as saying that the aim is to “continue improving the qual-

ity of healthcare”. He went on to say that a new centre would compliment the existing facilities and also provide parking, public transport and SAMU ambulance service.

AN EMERGING community of ‘garbage pickers’ are raiding supermarket food waste bins late at night in cities across Spain as a result of financial hardship. Labelled the ‘new poor’, they wait patiently for the streets to clear before painstakingly separating edible salvage from rotting waste. The foragers are not professional beggars. They are not illegal immigrants or street indigents living rough out of choice; they are normal families The ‘foragers’ and the retired and elderly members of city comraid bins munities that are no longer able to afford to eat late at since the economic crisis hit Spain. They are our night

neighbours in city apartment blocks and urbanisations. Many of the ‘garbage pickers’ are employed, or living on benefits. However they are on such low incomes they are unable to survive. Too proud to attend charity soup kitchens, they prefer to forage anonymously for food items past saleability, discarded each night by supermarket chains. A supermarket manager interviewed on the streets who wishes to remain anonymous said: “They are touchingly organised and never fight over the food – they share it out calmly and with dignity. This is the legacy of the economic situation in Spain – the genteel poor…”

Ilusión-Arte introduces Anja and Yaron Traub in Calpe

ANJA AND Yaron Traub are to perform a piano and violin recital in Calpe, interpreting the sonatas of Mozart and Beethoven. The recital will take place on Saturday, 14th May at 9pm in the church Virgen de las Nieves, Calpe (old centre). FREE ADMISSION As the concert takes place in a church, there will be no entrance fee, but Ilusión-Arte requests donations to assist with the artistic and practical costs of this event.

6 - 12 may 2011

The deafening effects of the smoking ban by Jan Gamm CITY RESIDENTS in Spain are complaining of the deafening noise coming from the ‘smoking terraces’ that have become increasingly popular since the smoking ban was introduced in January. Neighbourhood groups are taking petitions to a number of city councils to control the racket from bars and restaurants, expected to worsen throughout the summer tourist season. Street entertainment has always been a tradition in Spain

at night but the noise levels produced since the smoking ban are described as “intolerable,” exacerbated by the smokers’ desire to join in the fun by leaving bar doors open to better hear the music. A total of 150,000 complaints have been submitted along with demands for improved noise control. “In addition, the legislation is not clear as to who should be punished,” said Jorge Osset, a lawyer specialising in noise pollution, “as the institution responsible for the discomfort also authorised the business licences: the customers cannot be held accountable for the noise.”

Carla Bruni expecting twins French Premier Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni, expecting in the autumn

By Jan Gamm FRENCH FIRST lady, 43-year-old Carla Bruni, wife of 56-yearold French President Nicolas Sarkozy, is rumoured to be expecting twins in the autumn. The former supermodel was pressured to confirm her pregnancy last weekend. Ms Bruni spoke for the first time about her alleged pregnancy but intimated that she preferred not to talk about her private life that might draw attention from her husband’s interests and matters of national importance but also not denying the rumours of her condition. Ms Bruni already has a nine-year-old son, Aurelian.

Calves, not bulls, for bullring

A popular terrace in Madrid

A BAN on bullfights in the bullring in Benidorm has led to an alternative solution: calves will be the objects of entertainment this summer. The company Arte y Emoción is organising various shows involving the animals, although the shows won’t be in the same form as bullfights. Bullfighters have stopped all fights due to outstanding debts still owed to them for more than four summers.

6 - 12 may 2011

6 - 12 MAY 2011

Spain’ nuclear Break the language barrier! power under Coming soon in book and double CD format! scrutiny THE EL PRINCIPE Centre method of helping Expats to ‘Break the Language Barrier’ and by Patricia Thompson learn Spanish in a (relatively!) painless manner devised by Vicki Riley over 12 years NUCLEAR PLANTS in Spain will undergo strict safety tests later this year. Following the earthof teaching Spanish succesfully to English quake and tsunami in Japan, which damaged nuclear reactors, a debate has been going on in speakers will soon be released in a book Europe regarding the safety of nuclear power stations. The director general of Spain’s energy and CD form. policy, Antonio Hernández García, has asked the EU to come up with stringent nuclear safety Level 1 is currently in production and will tests that assess the consequences of earthquakes, flooding and other scenarios. The nuclear be launched at the ‘This Is Spain Exhibition’ plant at Cofrentes, near Valencia, has been under scrutiny of late as activists have called for it at the La Zenia Hotel on 27th May. The to be closed due to an alleged lack of safety measures. complete price for the book and double CD will be 25€ but Vicki is offering a special pre-launch price of only 20€ for orders taken and paid for before the launch date. Your copy can be collected at the Exhibition that weekend, the following week at the Centre in San Miguel de Salinas, or even delivered at an extra charge of 3€ for deliveries in Spain. Level 1 will take you through the basics of learning Spanish from the alphabet Nuclear plants and numbers, through to construction in Spain to of sentences, questions and vocabularyundergo building in the Present Tense. Easy to safety tests follow, all explanations are in English and the answers are supplied so you can check your work. It is accompanied by a double CD to Opening night for ART EXHIBITION DIVERSIDAD is this coming Saturday 7th May at the help with pronunciation and listening, Centro Cultural, Plaza 9 d’octubre in Beniarbeig (next to the Police Station). Local Artists Eileen and is full of tips and ideas to help with Palmer & Pedro Mateo are exhibiting their collections, which include pieces of Fresco Art, effective communication. It has been Painted Glass & Tiles, Watercolours, Oils, Pen &Ink, and Limited Edition Prints. The Opening designed as a ‘learn at home course’ to night is free for all to attend, and is between 8 and 10pm, with refreshments being served. either complement classes, refresh current

Art exhibition Diversidad

Vicki Riley

knowledge, or to help those too busy to attend classes or who feel uncomfortable in a classroom environment. For further details and to take advantage of this special offer, please visit: www.elprincipecentre.com email: info@elprincipecentre.com or ring: 96 599 9047. El Principe Centre also runs semiintensive courses in Spanish Levels 1, 2 and 3 for only 5€ per hour: the classes are held in San Miguel de Salinas, in small groups and all explanations are in English.

6 - 12 may 2011

Register your support and sign our petition WE HAVE created a Petition on the Gopetition web site so that if you wish you can register your support for part of the campaign to put pressure on the Spanish government to remove the Land Grab law from the statute book. This is a good time to do so because at last the government is taking action to encourage foreign buyers to the housing market. Unfortunately, however, they are not looking at eliminating the problems which are putting off buyers at the moment. Sr. José Blanco the Spanish Development Minister (El Ministro de Fomento) has announced that the Spanish Government Official Property ‘Road Show’ will commence in London on 4th May 2011. Let’s hope he gets feedback which will convince him to address existing home owners’ problems first. http://www.gopetition. com/petitions/stop-landgrab.html

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Crawl back under wherever

I MUST say I was disgusted to see that Maurice Boland had returned to work following his disgraceful behaviour last year when he seduced a schoolgirl barely into her teens. What is the matter with these ageing, insecure, snowy-haired ego-addicts? Can’t they attract confident, intelligent, mature women? Do they have to prey on giggling school children to get their kicks? Why do we constantly make allowances for these garish, worn out, Gary Glitteresque, emotional weirdos? Your article in last week’s issue was couched in strong language and fair enough - but RTN’s headline ‘Heartless FM’ was a mere nod to the sick practice of child seduction that seems now to be accepted

provided the girl (or boy) is out of primary school. A girl of fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, even eighteen is nothing like mature enough to know what she is doing by accepting the advances of a sickening and twisted twerp like Maurice Boland. There are some things a man might do that he should be forgiven and everyone should have a second chance - except when it comes to damaging children, both psychologically, emotionally and physically. The girl and her family were hounded out of Spain apparently - when is Boland going to do the decent thing and crawl back under wherever? Furious! John Tinsley

talk tous

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

Thanks from AECC MAY I please send the sincere thanks of the Torrevieja and the Vega Baja branches of Associación Española Contra el Cancer (AECC) to all our supporters, fundraisers and volunteers for their hard work over the past few months… Particular thanks go to Helen and Margaret; Sue Gillett and all at Eurogolf; Morgan’s Bar, Eagles Nest; Ted Grace, San Miguel; Lesley’s Quiz, La Romera; Chris Jarvis, Bill Singleton and The La Marina Tappers; all the people who took part in the Santa Fun Run and The New Year’s Day Swim; The New Odd Couple and OK Gym for all their help with these events; Ann Neves at Almeria; Maria and The Pink Ladies; Jeanette at Butterflies; Olympia Restaurant; Terry and Les, Bingo Club; Debbie Weedon for Casa Blanca Ladies; ‘Jack’s Bar’ and Baldricks Golf Society, La Marina; Irish Rover, Torrevieja; Pam, Howard and their volunteers at Campo Verde; Carol and Ron for the auctions they run and all the many hospital and office volunteers; Bea from La Marina, plus our ‘hucha’ collectors. Finally to all the Bars & Clubs who have AECC collecting-boxes - thank you all. Thank you also for the donations in memory of Jane Lewis, San Luis: Paul Smith through Red Sea Cafe, La Zenia: Patricia James, Monte Bello and Melvyn. If I have omitted to thank anyone, please accept my apologies. AECC thanks all of its volunteers, everyone involved in fundraising and all other contributors. Mike Bissett, (AECC Torrevieja Press Liaison Officer)

How do you treat the staff? I WRITE in response to the letter from Brian Green: ‘Treated like second hand citizens’at La Marquesa golf club. I have to ask: how does he treat the staff at the golf club? Are he and his regular players slow i.e. taking more than five hours to get around the course and do they keep up with the players in front of them? Or are they known for holding up general play on the course? What handicaps are they? He goes on to say that ALL courses seem to treat them as an inconvenience: I must ask again why, as I have played and booked most of the golf courses in the area for myself and with people coming over on holiday and I have no complaints - in fact we seem to be getting better treatment than ever. He goes on to say that he pays extortionate fees then follows on by calling fee-playing golfers “mugs!” How long has this

bad treatment been going on? Has it taken 11 years or have they always had this treatment? He needs to realise that if this bad treatment applies to all of ‘Eurogolf G S’ why don’t they go elsewhere because if they are paying 250,000€ per year there must be an awful lot of courses on the Costa Blanca that would bend over backwards to get that sort of membership. He goes on to say that the Director of Golf doesn’t acknowledge them. Maybe it’s because he doesn’t know them or maybe doesn’t want to know them! My neighbours also play at La Marquesa with the Scandinavian golf society - they tell me that they do not know who the ‘Director of Golf’ is, and why should they? They follow on to say that they have been members at La Marquesa for around 11 years also, but they have always been

treated well by all of the staff there. I myself have played La Marquesa several times but as I am one of the ‘fee playing golfing mugs’ I always look around for one of the deals that are available so I won’t be as big a mug (check out RTN’s golfing section for deals). Finally, I will finish by saying that I have also played in some of the countries he mentions and I have to say that in the 5 of these countries I have played in their prices make Spain seem very cheap. So Brian - if you ain’t happy, go elsewhere: lots of courses in the UK that were never open to membership have now opened their doors so give it a try (don’t complain when the courses are closed due to bad weather). Check out with the organiser of your society and look for the result you’re after. John Thompson

Please take on board these comments I AM writing in the hope that anyone living in the Cabo Roig area will read this letter and take on board my comments. My wife, Sally, and I run our own property management business which is legal with all our taxes and social security paid up to date. We are also part of a large group that has been providing these services since 2003. I am not mentioning our name as I do not want this to be taken as a cheap way to advertise our business. Towards the end of last year my wife was physically assaulted by a man who lives near a property managed by us. At the time we had long term tenants in the property and he objected to their presence. He even involved the police at one stage who found that there was no foundation to his allegations about their behaviour. This finally led to him assaulting my wife; together with his own wife getting involved, brandishing a gun and threatening to kill Sally. Needless to say we contacted the police, where he was denounced and the matter is on-going within the courts. Since then, this man has tried to damage our reputation and as a member

of the urbanisation committee has used his influence to actively impact on the services we are offering our clients. He has also approached our owners in the hope of offering his own services. And yes, you did read correctly, this man who attacks women is part of an urbanisation committee! A cynical person may well come to the conclusion that his actions towards us are motivated by his own desire to earn an income, without the responsibilities that come with running a legally registered business. I would urge all property owners to check the terms of their insurance cover as some policies may be deemed invalid if keys are left in the possession of a key holder who is operating illegally. I am sure that this matter will run on for some time and we would just like to say to anyone who knows us, please contact us if you have heard any malicious stories about us, as we would like the opportunity to put our side to you. It would also be of use to know of anything said about us, which could be considered slanderous and used as evidence should we decide to make this a legal matter. Graham and Sally Leadley

Absolutely stupid but.... INTERESTING TO read Harry Southgate’s letter (RTN 29th April – 5th May) entitled ‘Yet another scam’ in which the writer recounts a telephone call from a women purporting to be from Telefonica and asking for confirmation of bank details. Imagine for a moment what information such a person could possibly seek to elicit. If we discount the idea that anyone would be so foolish as to reveal their on-line security password(s) etc, instead let us speculate that they could ask for perhaps an account holder’s name; the identity of that person’s bank; the branch, sort code and account number. Wouldn’t someone be absolutely stupid to reveal these details? But isn’t that exactly what we have all done numerous times when handing over a bank cheque? Just a thought... Stephen Hunt

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6 - 12 may 2011

Faith is coming home after Drug chopper receiving her artificial limb seized by police by Patricia Thompson AFTER A heartbreaking few weeks and the sad loss of Charity the donkey the Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre received these inspirational pictures from renowned Specialist Horse Vet Gaspar Castelijns. Faith travelled to Barcelona for pioneering surgery to amputate her lower leg and fit her with an artificial limb. The stump healed really well after the surgery and Gaspar and his team tracked down a company that makes human prosthetic limbs to see if they would make one for Faith. They were delighted to help this brave little horse, the first in Spain to receive a prosthetic limb, and travelled to Barcelona the very next day to measure her and then commence making the cast. Faith was fitted with a preliminary adjustable walking cast and these amazing pictures show her taking her first small steps. Faith is bending her left front knee which indicates that she is bearing her weight on her right front limb and prosthesis: each prosthetic limb costs in the region of 1,000€. A further artificial limb will now be made for Faith containing a double zipper, one on either side to enable easier handling. The

ground support will be made of soft rubber to absorb impact and avoid problems with pressure points that could turn to ulcers. Rod, Sue and all the volunteers are now counting the days to Faith’s homecoming, scheduled to be as early as 9th or 10th May where she will be welcomed home with open arms and horsey hooves!

Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre receives no official funding whatsoever, and relies entirely on donations. You can sponsor Faith or make a donation on our website at www.easyhorsecare.net or alternatively please telephone Sue at the Centre on 652 021 980.

THE GUARDIA Civil has intercepted a helicopter loaded with 700 kilos of hashish considered to be of exceptionally high purity, in the region of La Janda, Cadiz, late last Thursday evening. Officers attached to the SIVE section of the Guardia Civil, spotting a helicopter flying without lights, alerted ground patrols and the helicopter along with its contents was seized on landing. Two other vehicles were waiting to offload the cargo along with other materials to be used for concealment of the helicopter.

Thieves attempt to run over police officer in Getxo

Faith bearing weight on her cast

www.monarch.co.uk

IN THE coastal town of Getxo in the Basque province of Bisca, police fired into the wheels of the getaway car of escaping robbers when they resisted arrest after being caught stealing from a commercial establishment on Sunday 1st May at 1.54pm. The robbers’ car collided head-on with the police car and when one of the police officers got out of the vehicle the thieves tried to run him over in their Citroen C4. One arrest was made and the other three assailants escaped.

6 - 12 may 2011

Franco’s summer palace is now open to visitors by Jan Gamm THE IMPRESSIVE summer retreat of the late Spanish dictator General Francisco Franco, ‘gifted’ to him by the nation in 1939, is now open to the public following a court decision last week that over-ruled the wishes of the dictator’s family to leave the palace undisturbed. The mansion was inherited by members of the family after Franco’s death in 1975 and the Spanish government applied to open the residence to the public in 2008; a move opposed through the courts by the present owners. The stunning 19th Century Pazo de Meiras in Sada, Galicia, is still used by the wealthy descendants of Franco. The local town hall, with the assistance of the Association for the Recovery of Historical Memory, has worked tirelessly to recover the building and have it ‘listed’ as public property, deeming that it would be unfair to have to pay for property purportedly stolen in the first place: “I accept this gift with pleasure exclusively because it is a donation from my beloved countrymen,” said Franco, on taking possession of his new home… Arranged tours on four days of each month will omit the largest of the three towers of the palace that suffered a fire in 1978. The tour route will include the Pazo’s chapel and Franco’s library, his office on the first floor and the surrounding gardens.

Franco’s open house

Shocking statistics reveal child abuse rife in Spain

A NEW report has shown that one in five children in Spain have been sexually abused by adults. The ASPASI association fights against child abuse and their new revelation says that 80 percent of cases take place within the family. ASPASI suspects that the figures may be higher still, as many victims remain in denial.

Star footballer charged with reckless homicide By Jan Gamm FOOTBALLING STAR Marcos Alonso, on loan from Real Madrid to Bolton Wanderers, has been charged with reckless homicide by a Madrid court following a drunk-driving accident in Madrid on Monday in which a young woman was killed and three other passengers injured. 20-year-old Alonso’s driving licence has been removed for the duration of the investigation into the accident and he was also charged with road safety violations, driving while under the influence of

The scene of the accident

alcohol and reckless driving. He lost control of the vehicle he was driving at 7.30am on Monday and drove at high speed into a wall in Ribadavia Sinesio Delgado, central Madrid. One of the girls riding in the car suffered severe head trauma and died in La Paz Hospital within half an hour of admission. Two other passengers in the car were seriously injured and one escaped with minor cuts and bruises. Alonso has played for Bolton since July 2010 on a three year contract.

6 - 12 may 2011

Spanish government steps up security by Jan Gamm AS EXPECTED, the Spanish government is to conduct a stringent review of its security measures at home and abroad following the capture and subsequent death of the World’s ‘most wanted’ Al Qaeda terrorist Osama Bin Laden on 2nd May. Prime Minister José Luis Zapatero met with Vice President and Interior Minister Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba La Moncloa on Tuesday, along with the foreign affairs and defence ministers, Carme Chacón and Trinidad Jiménez, to discuss the possible repercussions of the removal of the leader of Al Qaeda and to consider ‘additional prevention measures’ to improve national safety. Rubalcaba has intimated that Spain is “… clearly at risk” of becoming a target for retalia-

Cardinal Gasco to be buried in the Cathedral in Valencia IT HAS been announced by the Archbishop of Valencia that Cardinal Agustín García Gasco is to be buried in the chapel of San José de la Catedral de Valencia, according to wishes recorded in his will. The funeral will take place Wednesday 11th May. The 80-year-old Cardinal died of a heart attack on Sunday 1st May in Rome while preparing for the beatification ceremony of Pope John Paul 11 in St Peter’s Square.

Protesters demand worker’s rights MASSES OF people turned out to march for worker’s rights in Valencia on 1st May. This is the first time that Valencia has been the centre of May Day protests. The CCOO and UGT unions led the marches. The UGT union leader, Cándido Méndez said that the government’s labour reform has failed, as there are still almost five million people out of work. Organisers claimed that 20,000 people joined the demonstration, but police say there were 3,000.

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tory jihadist terrorism and confirmed that police are on an alert level of two out of a maximum of four: level three is issued on a threat that is ‘highly probable’ while four corresponds to an ‘imminent attack’. Troops are deployed against a level three alert; a measure the government does not see as necessary for the time being. Chief of Staff for Defence General Julio Rodriguez has despatched orders to commanding officers at home and abroad and to embassy security details to reinforce measures against terrorist activity but as yet no missions have been suspended or cancelled. CNI Secret Service Chief Felix Sanz has been in talks with Defence Minister Carme Chacón to evaluate the response of the Muslim community within Spain to the killing of Bin Laden by US military forces in Abbottabad on Monday.

Zapatero meets ministers to discuss the possible repercussions of the removal of the leader of Al Qaeda

6-12 May 2011

An interview with a Scot from Edinburgh Jim Shearer, of Restaurante Al Fresco, Finestrat JIM IS on the list of the BLOC party for the forthcoming May 22nd elections. He wants to ensure that expatriates have a voice on the council. If elected, Jim would become councilor for Tourism in both Finestrat Pueblo and La Cala de Finestrat.

Why did you enter into the political arena? I would like to see an honest, coherent government in the town to meet the needs of the local citizens. I was honored to be approached by the BLOC party to assist with their campaign. They are not talking politics but common sense and we need some of that at the moment. What are your and your party’s main priorities? As tourism councilor I would cultivate Tourism and improve public transport services to and from Finestrat and also create a better access to the Commercial Centre. We want to create infrastructures for the future: a new medical centre with additional opening hours and the correct quota of doctors; a day centre for the elderly in order to improve their quality of life; and we want to see an increase in social benefits, giving help to those who need it most: all sensible policies of Miguel Climent, the mayor candidate for the BLOC. What is the problem with the current government? The situation is deplorable - they have left Finestrat with serious debts and they owe the rubbish collections company €3.5 million. There is a high level of unemployment in our town so we need to adopt specific measures to create new jobs for Finestrat residents. Anything else? Yes – lots - but at this point suffice to say that on a personal level I am counting on the foreign community and utilizing the incredible talents and knowledge of expats from all nationalities to create an ‘Association of Foreign Residents’ to help organise events and participate more fully with the Town Hall. This is a party political editorial on behalf of the BLOC party, Finestrat.

Calpe’s brighter future

Karen Pearce

KAREN PEARCE is standing as a Partido Popular candidate in Calpe with the slogan ‘A Brighter Future’ and believes the party can help the town and its international community thrive. She said one of the biggest issues before the 22nd May local election was mobilising British residents to cast a vote and make a difference. The 50-year-old Business Studies Graduate said it was the only chance residents had to directly have a say in the running of the town and her task was to lend encouragement to those who said “I don’t vote” or “I cannot be bothered.” Karen – at number five on the list - told RTN the PP’s candidate for Mayor was Cesar Sanchez, a new face in the party who had taken a unique step in totally renewing the list

of candidates and excluding an old guard despite pressure from some local party members. She said: “His first promise was to totally renew the list of candidates for councillors in Calpe, and in spite of pressure from many of the old PP, he has kept his promise 100%. “His vision is to have a town council which better reflects the population of Calpe – and so he has an Englishwoman at number 5 on the list, a German lady at number 8, and Belgians at 9 and 12.” Karen and her husband first bought a holiday home in Calpe in 2004 and became expats three and a half years ago. They sought a change of lifestyle after Karen had worked in marketing, communications and customer service for a

6-12 May 2011

large number of UK companies such as Unilever, Aviva, Abbey National and First Choice Holidays. She said Calpe need stable majority government and Cesar Sanchez had access to investment from both Valencia and Madrid. “The PP is already in power in Valencia and is likely to form the next national government as well – smaller parties in the town can only offer a coalition government, which can mean people vote for one party and see a completely different one in power.” And she underlined that the PP had severed all ties with former party member and Mayor Javier Morato, and would not make a pact with him. Karen said she believed one of the most important parts of the PP manifesto was its commitment to boosting the town as a holiday resort. “Calpe cannot exist without tourism. Tourism is the lifeblood of Calpe,” she said. “It is what creates jobs, wealth and investment in the town. We will deliver tourism 365 days of the year, making the most of the natural environment we have – the Salinas, the Penon, and the Olta. These natural gems are what makes Calpe different and we need to promote Calpe internationally.” And she added job creation would also involve developing the existing industrial estate to attract light industry, creating a centre for entrepreneurs, and providing training and support for the unemployed. Karen pledged the party would also look to reduce town hall spending by 20% by making the local authority more efficient and using fewer consultants and advisors. “We need better management and people with a business background in the town hall.” She said English speaking residents would be better served with a new international health centre at Levante Beach and a citizen’s advice office run by a multi-lingual team. “And the urbanisations have been neglected in recent years and we need to set that right,” she said. Karen said she was determined to make a difference. “People who know me will know that when I commit to doing something it happens!” This is a party political editorial on behalf of the PP party, Calpe

6 - 12 May 2011

Eight steps to heaven... or hell Watts In Britain By

Paul Watts

I THINK there should be an insurance policy specially tailored for protection against being a complete pillock. It should be readily available from Churchill and Go Compare for folk like me who seem to have a propensity towards haplessness - towards being a pillock. You see, I suffer from a sort of Frank Spencer syndrome that occasionally (occasionally?) sees me doing hapless things. Often this hapless curse rears its ugly head in the DIY theatre of operations; I’m not so much a DIY Dave, as a Destroy It Dave! Every time I undertake a ‘simple’ Ikea flat-pack construction you can guarantee it’ll need re-constructing at least three times. I once put up a bathroom cabinet - and when you looked in to the mirror all you saw was your eye brows and forehead. However, this syndrome isn’t limited to DIY. For example, I have been known while in this oft-occurring Frank Spencer Mode (FSM) to demolish parking bollards in Tesco car parks; buy a German version of a travel guide from an adjacent rack full of English editions and even open my wallet to a French, nay Parisian, taxi driver and say, “Help yourself to what you need, old son.” Aaargh! Come on Go Compare; come on Churchill help me out, please. Cue nodding dog: “Oh Yus Watts!” So you’ll help me out? “Oh, yus.” You’ll insure me against my Frank Spencer tendencies? “Oh, yus.” For all the things I break and dismay I cause? “Oh, yus.” And will this policy be dear? The dog nods vigorously, “Oh YUS!” But did you know though, that it’s likely we’re all prone to haplessness of varying degrees at certain times? Oh yus. I remember an evening in The Brewer’s Arms when Squaddie Pete explained to me in his inimitable way, his theories on hapless behaviour and their root cause: bio-rhythms. “Oh, yeah Wattsie, you’re not necessarily a pillock,” he kindly offered, “It may be that you’ve no understanding of yer bio-rhythms.”

Squaddie Pete had studied the principles of biorhythms during his time in the British Army. He went on about oscillating sine waves within a three cycle phase and a zero line crossing them that causes ‘critical days’. “The Yanks and Japs use it all the time,” he enthused. Apparently, these critical days are loaded with greater risk and uncertainty. “Hmmm, Pete…” I ventured, “…that could describe most of my days.” He gave me a sideways glance and grinned, “Yer, in your case it ought’a be called, critical daze. Gettit?” Yus Pete very funny, I get it. But not even Squaddie Pete’s biorhythms would explain my latest FSM episode. It’s last week in La Nucia and me and the missus have just purchased a new parasol and base from Bricoman. The base is the heavy-filled-with-concrete thing that keeps your parasol from flying away. Okay, so far all’s fine; we’ve got the bloody thing back safely. “I’ll make a salad,” says her-indoors, “you try out the new shade.” Little do I know that I’ve suddenly just clicked into FSM. So, I get the thing unpacked and ready to put up; but first I have to remove the old well-worn parasol and base. This is when my troubles began. The old base is grubby and leaking water and not wanting to get my clean shorts dirty I reason that the ideal thing to do is place it in the cardboard packaging of my new base. But, of course, I’ve unsnapped the cable ties around the cardboard, thereby rendering it less secure. So, there I am at the top of a flight of 14 steps trying to manoeuvre this heavy old base into a flimsy cardboard box. The inevitable happens... my grip on the base slips; the base crashes through the cardboard onto the top step (missing my big toe by a hair’s breadth) and begins a slow motion descent in ultra loud surround-sound down the steps. The noise is unbelievable; dogs around the urbanisation bark in terror; neighbours pour out of their homes like startled termites and for an eternity the base smashes its way

Oh yus Watts

down the steps before crashing loudly into the garden wall. In the ensuing destruction eight steps have been badly damaged. I skulk off up to the hills in deep opprobrium. That evening a freshly composed her-indoors comically re-tells my adventures to our neighbours Sheenagh and Dave. Dave, with tears pouring down his face, is close to having a seizure. Through the tears he says, “It’s not three but eight steps to heaven...” And glancing across to my nearest and dearest adds, “...or hell!” Good job I was heading back to Britain the next day. Moral of the tale folks, keep a close eye on ya bio-rhythms or call a tradesman. Watts back in Britain, checking me bio-rhythms for critical daze...

6 - 12 May 2011

Big birthday bash

A close shave

by Jack Troughton HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the Original Charity Shop and Library as it marks a successful 40 years and celebrates with a fashion show and dinner dance tomorrow (7th May). Simply The Best is a summer fashion show featuring designer wear and previously owned items followed by a dinner dance at the Grand Café Toscamar, Javea. And the candle on the cake for the anniversary is the irrepressible talent of popular musician and entertainer Irish Des. Tickets for the fashion show, which starts at 6pm, are 3€ and include a glass of wine or coffee. The dinner dance is 15€ per head. They are available from the shop at Avenida de la Fontana 14, Javea, call 96 646 0803, or the library in Javea Park, call Irish 653 630 413. Alternatively, email Des info@charityshoplibrary.com on stage between 10am and 1pm.

Harley Mick with his beloved goatee

by Jack Troughton BIG-HEARTED Harley Mick decided to rid himself of facial hair for the summer and raise cash to help the youngsters of Denia’s Raquel Paya School. An appointment with Tina the Barber in Javea Park whipped off Mick’s goatee and people donated more than 170€ - the money will help provide much needed equipment for the special needs children. And despite having no regrets, he said he would start growing a beard again in time for winter.

Classic motorbikes go on show

THE XIX Classic Racing Revival will see classic motorbikes gather in Dénia on 7th and 8th May. Proud owners will be gathering in Marques de Campo Street to show off their collector’s items. This year celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Gilera brand, and guest of honour, Paolo Campanelli, champion competitive motorcyclist has been invited to attend.

Jennifer Cunningham

15 - 216 october 2010 - 12 may 2011

So you think the banks are your friends? YEARS AGO, bank managers in the UK were always well respected by most of us, and if you needed advice, an overdraft, business loan or a mortgage you made an appointment and then very nervously were ushered into the heart of the bank, into his/her private office. How simple things were then. Now it’s all code words, data protection and internet banking. I, along with many, hate it, whilst others knowing no different just get on with it and I am sure enjoy it. Therefore, when arriving in Spain to find there are real people to talk to in the banks, we fondly compare the situation to the old times in the UK. However, it’s not quite the same. This is Spain where everything is very different. In the past, mortgages were just given away, houses and flats purchased with promises of a guaranteed monthly rent income, especially if the property was a spec. This situation often started off well, but was not sustainable. Then of course there were those unfortunate people who lost thousands on purchasing a property that for a variety of reasons was discovered to be illegal. With a mortgage, obviously Life insurance or Mortgage Protection would have been necessary, and this is another area where you could find yourself experiencing problems in the future. When my company offers a quotation on a Life policy, along with a detailed questionnaire, a Doctors report or a medical checkup is very often requested by the insurer. Almost always we find clients who have not been asked a single question and no health checks have been requested by the bank. What does this mean? Depending on what cause of death appears on a death certificate, the insurer could refuse to pay out stating that it was a pre-existing condition, with no health questionnaire filled in; a difficult time for the estate to fight a possible refusal. So, no questions asked, but you will probably find in the small print that “…you have declared all existing medical issues…” and signed the document. The sad end of the story is that you have paid a compulsory premium to cover your mortgage which in the end

is not paid off, leaving the debt to your family. When clients have requested to cancel a Life insurance policy with the bank, they are often told they cannot do so, and if they do, their mortgage will be cancelled or the interest rate paid increased. This is not at all legal; as long as you give two months notice you are entitled to change provider, and EU law will protect you. Unfortunately, there are sadly those who find out the insurance has been added to the amount borrowed and written into the Escritura. What a heavy financial burden that turns out to be. Trouble is we are so naïve when we arrive in Spain and as we often do not speak the language we tend to trust far too easily and get swept along with all the excitement. May I suggest you check your policy and if in doubt ring Eirik in the Javea office, our life insurance specialist. This call could save you an interesting amount of money on your yearly premium as banks are often up to 50% dearer. At the same time as applying for a mortgage, the bank will advise you that you need to take out house insurance via them, as this will be sold to you as part of the overall package. Should you find a better coverage and wish to cancel, you could be advised that if you have no house insurance via them, then they would have to reconsider the mortgage. This again is not correct advice, and you are not obliged to use the bank just because you have a mortgage. I hear from clients that many feel quite intimidated that the threats will be carried out, and stay put, just in case. The problem here is that the policy is nearly always in Spanish, so many will not know what the cover is, and I can assure that neither the service nor the cover will be the same as when the service is purchased from an Insurance Company. Banks are banks and insurance companies are not banks! Be extremely careful when trusting your money and your family’s future -, this is not the UK: everything is very different. PS We can now offer Mortgage Protection Insurance with maximum age for new policies 69 years.

Jennifer Cunningham Insurances S.L The Costas leading insurance consultant. If you have a question please email her at: jennifer@jennifercunningham.net Regulated and Authorised by the DGSFP in Spain.

“We are mo

re t h an j u

23 25

st a v oice on the phone”

6 - 12 May 2011

Celebrating Spain’s music genius by Jack Troughton THE CHAMBER choir Chorale are paying special tribute to Spain’s most famous composer Tomas Luis de Victoria with two concerts on Sunday 8th May and Thursday 12th May. Both concerts are in the Pilar de la Horadada region and mark the 400th anniversary of the death of the composer – who wrote ‘Ave Maria’, known as the Spanish Palestrina. In a programme of sacred music, the choir will also sing works by Byrd, Farrant, Tallis, Bruckner, Rachmaninov, and modern music such as John Tavener’s ‘Song for Athene, performed in Westminster Abbey for the funeral of Princess Diana in 1997; Lloyd Webber’s

‘Pie Jesu’ and John Rutter’s ‘The Lord Bless You and Keep You’. Musical director Christine Eames said: “The members of this 14 piece mixed choir have had to work hard to master some of these difficult pieces. “They are not often performed here in Spain, but they represent some of the best known works of 16th Century composers.” She said the Chorale was looking forward to enjoying the “wonderful acoustics” of the Iglesia in Pilar de la Horadada on 8th May and in the smaller venue of Campoverde Church on 12th May. Both concerts begin at 8pm and are free, with a retiring collection to support the work of the church. For more information, call 96 676 2308. The Chorale

Lions on parade

Angry homeowners fight Iberdrola for electricity

by Jack Troughton LIONS CLUB members were proud to take part in the annual flower parade in honour of Teulada’s patron saint Sant Vincente Ferrer last Saturday. It was the third time the Teulada Moraira Lions Club had taken part in the celebration and the club was particularly pleased to be invited to take second place in the parade. And the town’s Mayor Antoni Joan Bertomeu thanked club president Robert Young for joining the festivities and for all the work the Lions did on behalf of the local community. Robert said the club was proud to be invited to take part in such events “and show the Lions’ presence to the local community we strive to help in our many charitable activities.” For more information about Teulada-Moraira Lions visit www.teuladamorairalions.org or call Robert on 96 550 2018.

FURIOUS RESIDENTS in the Costa-Calpe building in Saladar have complained to the Calpe town hall and the consumer rights association OMIC as they are still waiting for regular electricity to their homes. The building has all the necessary occupancy permissions, yet the residents have been living for a year with only auxiliary power from electricity company Iberdrola – for which they have to pay or risk being cut off completely. Despite numerous calls and mail to Iberdrola, the residents are no closer to receiving sufficient electricity. The reason given is because Iberdrola hasn’t finished constructing its network in the Saladar area.

Club members ready to march

U3A Moraira-Teulada: General Meeting Monday, 6th June, 2011

THE VENUE for this meeting is Salon de Banquettes, Avenida Mediterraneo, Teulada. The doors will open to Members at 9.45am and the meeting will start at 10.30am. Members will be able to join Groups and find out about both Travel and Cultural events. Our Speaker for this meeting will be Harry Duffin, an award-winning British screenwriter who has written for such programs as Eastenders, Coronation Street and Howard’s Way. For further information please contact the U3A President, Ann Colclough on 96 574 7343 of visit www.u3amoraira-teulada.org

15 - 216 october 2010 - 12 may 2011

23 27

Terrorism in Spain IMPOSSIBLE REALLY not to comment on the death of Osama bin Laden this week. As I write this column I am fortunate to be sitting outside on our balcony, the sun shining down through a perfectly clear sky, and I can hear the golfers on the golf course, see the yachts tacking across the calm, blue sea, and I can even hear sounds of construction taking place: a most welcome sound after months of inactivity. I know I am not alone. I suspect that many of you reading this column are in a similar position: somewhere along the coast, enjoying a glass or two, watching the world go by, hardly a care in the world ... exactly what you came to live in Spain for and a million miles away from the threat or thoughts of terrorism. But we shouldn’t forget that Spain is more than the Costas and in the cities like Madrid and Barcelona they have lived with the very real threat of terrorism for years, and tragically at times with the effects, none more so than the Madrid Train Bombings, which have been in the news again this week following the death of bin Laden, with many experts pointing out that bin Laden never actually denied being involved. So for these cities and many others around the World I suspect the news will have been met with mixed feelings: joy that in the long term it will prove to be a step in the right

direction, but in the short term ... what is the saying? “Let sleeping dogs lie…” Already the Spanish Prime Minister is to study increasing security measures in Spain, to face possible reprisals after the death of Osama bin Laden and has boosted the security of its embassies in North Africa, the Sahel region, Afghanistan and Pakistan. NATO has vowed to carry on with its mission, and spare a thought for the French hostages captured by Al-Qaeda in Maghreb in September; the obvious target for an immediate reprisal strike. Of course all the positioning has now started. Zapatero has admitted that, as a democrat, he would have preferred to see Osama Bin Laden in court facing charges like any other terrorist, but acknowledged that he too would probably have sought his death after committing such atrocities. Osama bin Laden’s daughter has claimed her father was captured alive before being shot dead by US special forces, and as he was also unarmed people are asking why he wasn’t captured and brought to court: well to the best of my knowledge the victims on 9/11 were alive and unarmed before he struck so I suspect that argument won’t find much sympathy! Unfortunately Spain is more than used to the effects of terrorism, having lived with the effects of ETA for many years.

This week ETA has been in the news again, as the Basque Nationalist Party PNV has announced the suspension of its support for the minority Zapatero administration in response to the decision of the Supreme Court to annul all the candidate lists from the Bildu coalition for the local elections in the Basque Country on 22nd May. The PSC, the Catalan Socialist party, will ask the Constitutional Court to allow the Bildu coalition to field candidates in the Basque local elections and the PSOE are betting on a ‘yes’ to Bildu being allowed to field candidates in the decision due from the Constitutional Court. After talking to Zapatero and Rubalcaba, the PNV is giving ‘a margin of trust’ to ‘recover agreements’ after the decision of the Constitutional Court. Why do people never learn? Given the events in Pakistan this week, surely the best thing to do is to ensure that all parties are talking and engaged in the democratic process: it may not be perfect, and no doubt some will disagree, but it must be better than yet more violence and bloodshed? 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 Telegraph Expat site and is a Telegraph Expat guest blogger.

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 chris@almermarlife.com Social Networks: Twitter - Facebook - Facebook Group

6 - 12 May 2011

Verbs like “gustar” answers

Spanish I don’t know about you, but I enjoyed last week’s lessons by article. It contained so many every day, useful

Jane Cronin

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

Lesson 156

phrases, many of which are impossible to translate literally, that it was an excellent exercise in understanding that different languages just have different ways of saying things. Here we go with the answers. Translate into Spanish 1. My arm hurts Me duele el brazo. 2. It’s not going to hurt you No te (le) va a doler. 3. Your music is disturbing us Tu (su) música nos está molestando. 4. His comment bothered me. Su comentario me molestó. 5. It seems strange to me. Me extraña. 6. It seemed strange to me. Me extrañó. 7. His attitude worries us. Su actitud nos preocupa. 8. I have a piece of paper missing Me falta un papel. 9. It seems fine to me Me parece bien. 10. What do you think? ¿Qué te parece? 11. It doesn’t matter to me at all No me importa nada. 12. We’ve got a lot of food left over Nos sobra mucha comida. 13. I like him a lot. Me cae muy bien. 14. I loved it Me encantó. 15. They are very surprised Les sorprende mucho. (3 points for each one – 45 total) I know that wasn’t easy, and there are some al-

ternative translations too, in most cases. Now here are some more sentences that go from Spanish to English – you may well have your own alternatives to these colourful expressions. 1. Me da vergüenza It embarrasses me/ it’s embarrassing. 2. Me da pena It makes me feel sorry/sad. 3. Me da asco It’s disgusting. 4. Me da confianza It (he/she) inspires me with confidence. 5. Me da grima It sets my teeth on edge. 6. “Me da cosa” It gives me “heebie jeebies” (could also be he or she!) (2 points each to understand what they mean and an extra one if you get anywhere near a good English translation! – 18 in total) And finally, a few more of exactly the same thing – all of which are things you may hear on a daily basis. 1. Me fastidia mucho esta situación. This situation really annoys me. 2. Nos ha fastidiado el cambio de horario. The change of time has upset us. 3. Me resulta difícil de entender It’s hard for me to understand. 4. Le resultó imposible de solucionar. It turned out impossible for him/her to solve. 5. Me fascina tu sonrisa. Your smile fascinates me. 6. ¿Te interesa este ejercicio? Does this exercise interest you? (2 points each- 12 in total) In the event of you getting all of these perfectly right – you will have earned 75 points. In any case, divide your result by three and multiply by four to get your percentage. Apart from that, take my translations with a pinch of salt – who knows, yours might be better!

money

6 - 12 May 2011

Football transfers....and own goals by

Fiona Hulme

Agencia de Cobros Directos

THIS ARTICLE may sound as if it should be found in the Sports pages, but it is actually the story about a current debt collection case that we are handling. We were approached by a UK-based sports agent who had negotiated the transfer of a football player from an English club to a Spanish club. The player´s transfer went smoothly, but the closing stages went wrong and we were asked to act for the agent. It started off simply: the Spanish club signed a contract with the agent agreeing his commission on the deal. The transfer was signed, and so the agent sent his invoice to the club, and the club posted the commission cheque to the agent’s address in the UK. Here’s where it unravels...the agent then posted the cheque to his UK bank, but the cheque never arrived at his bank, so obviously he has not yet been credited with the money. The easy solution is of course to ask the Spanish club

for a replacement cheque. 1st problem: during this time, the club has gone into administration (bankruptcy)! So the club’s General Manager no longer has authority to write cheques and has to get all payments cleared by the Administrator. 2nd problem: the club’s bank accounts are frozen, awaiting the creditors’ meeting, so even if we could persuade someone to write a replacement cheque it would not be paid. 3rd problem: the amount of the commission cheque already shows as ‘paid’ in the formal accounts of the company, but trying to explain that the money has not actually come out of their bank account yet has proved a difficult concept. 4th problem: the club’s lawyers raised the issue of risk, i.e. if the club paid the agent now, and then the first cheque came to light, the danger is that the agent could be paid twice. So they were unwilling to allow a replacement payment until the first cheque was out of

date (six months after the date it was signed). 5th problem: if you are the General Manager of a football club which has just gone bust, would your priority be a lost cheque? Obviously not… Our client had no knowledge of all these issues; he had merely faced a brick wall when trying to get the replacement payment himself. Using our knowledge of Banking, Accounting, Risk and Bankruptcy, together with a healthy dose of persistence, we have been able to move forward on this case. We have agreed a ‘risk waiver’ should the first cheque reappear. We have built relationships with the club management and the Administrator and given ideas on how to resolve this problem. All in all this was not a bad debt; just a confusing and complex situation. Quite often we find that we are arbitrators and conciliators, rather than just debt collectors. It makes life interesting and satisfying to resolve such issues. A ‘win win’ situation!

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.

Aggressive marketing spells Gaultier now Catalan coffee war Coffee brand, Marcilla, part of the Sara Lee group, has launched a challenge to Nespresso, by selling capsules which are compatible with their coffee makers. The Marcilla brand will be cheaper than the official capsules and will be sold in supermarkets. It is possible that Nestlé will launch a legal challenge for patent infringement.

Catalan company Puig, which already owns brands such as Carolina Herrera and Paco Rabanne, has purchased 55% and thus has taken control of Jean-Paul Gaultier. They picked up 45% from Hermès for 30 million, and say they will be spending 100 million on the French fashion firm.

6 - 12 may 2011

money

Look on the dull side by

Suzanne O’Connell Customer Care at Ábaco

NOT EVERYONE enjoyed the Royal Wedding. There will always be plenty of dissenters, pessimists, miserable so-and-sos, whatever the occasion. Some people enjoy being down-in-the-mouth and make it their vocation. For them there is no fun when the glass is half-full, much better to be halfempty instead.

They were there grumbling in the background on Friday 29th, they’re here complaining about the weather (although to be fair it has been pretty bad). Every tremor is evidence of climate change and every passer by a bag-snatcher. It can be really dispiriting if you have an ‘it’s all down hill from here’ voice in your household. But perhaps the alternative isn’t so great either. The ‘have a nice day’ brigade can be equally irritating. I comfort myself with this thought in the face of the shrugs and disinterest of front line national utilities. After all, who wants to speak to some smarmy young pup that promises the world and then doesn’t deliver? The insincerity of an ever-

smiling customer service; the promise of 363 days of sunshine; or the sales pitch of an estate agent promising an upturn in sales and an end to the recession all leave me cold. For example, I was rather surprised to find an estate agent promoting property according to its proximity to the yet-to-be-built paramount theme park. Don’t get me wrong, I am also excited at the prospect and hopeful that we could see rejuvenation in the local area. But perhaps some caution is needed. It’s not built yet, and all around us we have evidence of greedy overoptimism, in the skeletal remains of buildings half completed and abandoned. What we really need in the property market is a pound of realism, a spoonful of optimism and a kilo of caution. The prospect of a theme park to rival Disney is wonderful; a cause for celebration – maybe. Reason to throw caution to the wind: definitely not. In time we will emerge from the doldrums but let’s not pop open the cava too soon.

“If you would like a FREE, no obligation tax consultation and help with completing your annual tax declaration contact one of Ábaco’s friendly team on ÁbacoConnect Help-line 966 703 748 | www.abacoconnect.com”

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6 - 12 may 2011

Losses announced by budget airline

Vueling, the budget airline, has announced losses of 23 million € for the first quarter, blaming the increased price of aviation fuel for the downturn. Fuel prices rose 41% in a quarter in which it is normal for the airline business to return a loss.

Profits down in first quarter Banco Popular has announced a 9% fall in profits for the first quarter, after putting aside 836 million for provisions. Profits for the first quarter came in at 185 million € and the bad debt level was 5.44%, below the average in the sector.

business

6 - 12 may 2011

Get the best from your digital camera TODAY, DIGITAL cameras are so sophisticated that with just a click of the button you can get really by nice photos. That is, of course, if you have an eye for taking great photos. It is true that today’s digital cameras, when set on automatic do most of Information Technology & the hard work for us, however; they do not choose Communications the subject matter, nor the position of the camera – you do. So – if you do not understand some basic photography skills – you will not get the full gratification out of your camera. I have been a photo journalist since 1980 – ouch, a long time! In my long career in newspapers and then the Internet I have been shoved in front of raging protestors, been spotted lying flat on my back to get photos of police cars at accidents, and had tons of fun meeting rock, jazz and blues musicians and snapping them in action at big concerts from the press pit. The most important thing that I had to learn was to be able to take a good quality photo ‘on-the-fly’. However, for most people, private and professional types, taking a photo of something standing still - like a villa, a garden flower, a seascape is a lot easier, but it still demands a good eye for balance and composition and of course lighting. So you are thinking – what are some of Karla’s tricks of the trade? My first rule is always – keep your back to the sun. This way you know that the subject is getting the direct sunlight and your camera’s light meter will have no problems reading the content of the light and create the right exposure for you. My second rule is to put the subject of your photo in the middle of your frame. If it is a person, flower, house, furniture, solid object that need attention - this is always a good rule. My third basic rule is to try and step back from the camera and view the monitor screen from a distance. Ask yourself if the form in the screen looks balanced. Is there just as much mass or empty space on each side

Karla Darocas

or top and bottom? If not – then move your camera around until the image in the frame looks balanced and then snap. Of course, if you want to go creative with your photos, you will want to know more about composition and balance, contrast and form, light and shade and many other artistic components that give your photographs meaning within their own context. You will also want to take your camera off the automatic setting and learn to adjust the exposure and other manual components in

order to take more artistic photos. However, most of us just want to take a good photo each and every time in order to please ourselves, family and friends. If you would like to learn how to get more out of your camera and enjoy a photographic hobby to the fullest, I have started to give workshops on Saturday’s at my studio in beautiful Cumbre del Sol. Until next time – remember, learning to DIY is both practical, cost saving and fun!

Karla Darocas * Business Communications Software Training & Computer Repairs *Helping You to Help Yourself 965 973 234

Agriculture a dying tradition Roadworks stunt trade ONLY ONE fifth of agricultural land in the Marina Alta is profitable for owners, says the Valencian Association of Agriculture (AVA). AVA cite changing climate, with colder winters, a lack of funding for the sector and a

younger generation who prefer to work in the service sector as some of the reasons for the decline in farming in the region. According to AVA the average age of farmers in the area is 60.

SHOP OWNERS in Calpe have denounced the roadworks that are being carried out outside their stores on calle Niña. They say that the project to construct the Boulevard de Americas (costing €1.9 million) should have been completed in two phases, but instead, the entire street has been ripped up at once. Consequently, shoppers cannot easily enter the stores and trade is being adversely affected.

money

6 - 12 may 2011

QROPS...What’s all the fuss about? by

Paul Clarke

AES International

I THOUGHT I would write this month in an attempt to clarify what all this QROPS fuss is about. I will keep this brief and in plain English as so many writers are very technical which can deter some from seeking more information and advice.

QROPS means ‘Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme’. On 6th April 2006 the UK government launched QROPS as a means to simplify pensions. If you have lived abroad for more than five complete tax years a QROPS may be a better option for you. People are generally confused regarding the ‘5 year rule’. Basically, you have to be Non-UK resident for five consecutive UK tax years to effect and/or benefit from a QROPS. Most types of UK pensions can be QROPS’d but the UK state pension cannot: this is a question I am asked many times. Many believe that you have to have a large pension fund (£100,000+) to effect a QROPS. This is not the case. I have moved many funds for clients below

this amount. Next, is the question: “What is the best jurisdiction and who provides the best QROPS?” This cannot be answered here as this is complex and ‘one size does not fit all’. The importance at this point should be put on ensuring you take advice from qualified, regulated and licensed independent Financial Advisers. There are many ‘agents’ all over Spain and Europe cold-calling and purporting to be QROPS specialists without any formal qualifications or experience. These ‘agents’ also charge disproportionately high fees. Ask them to prove they are regulated in Spain and registered with the Spanish Regulators the CNMV and the DGS (more on this on my website). Clients usually transfer UK pensions into QROPS to benefit from far greater flexibility regarding Investment and taxation options. Others transfer to release some or all of their pension/s to assist them with their current lifestyle needs. The process is straightforward in most

QROPS pension transfer

cases and involves an initial meeting to look at the possibility of transferring to a QROPS. If this proceeds further, a simple letter of authority is completed by the client to enquire as to the pension/s transfer value, current and projected benefits. Next (usually several weeks later) is a further meeting to

present a bespoke client report showing all the ‘upsides and downsides’ of transferring to a QROPS including disclosure of all costs in a transparent manner. Only at this point will the client have all the facts in front of them to enable them to make an informed choice.

More information can be found at www.aesinternational.com/paulclarke or call Paul on 965 058 488 (office) or 691 219 354 (mobile) or email Paul at paul.clarke@aesfinance.com AES International is a trading style of AES Financial Services Ltd which is registered with the Spanish Comisión Nacional del Mercado del Valores (CNMV) and the Spanish Dirección General de Seguros y Fondos de Pensiones (DGS) and is authorised to give investment advice under the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFiD) in all EU Countries.

legal

6 - 12 may 2011

Carlos Baos

of White & Baos Abogados English & Spanish Solicitors

I AM an Irish citizen and I rent out my house in Spain on a regular basis, but this time I am having problems with my tenant as he stopped paying the rent four months ago and since that time he has given me all kinds of excuses. He keeps telling me that he will leave the house in a few days and that he will pay me very soon etc. He has threatened that if I take him to Court it will take me ‘forever’ to get him out of my property as, according to him, I will first have to wait for the Judge to issue an order asking him to pay and to leave but since he will not do so voluntarily I will need to seek enforcement of the Order and then ask for an eviction, and he says this will certainly take a very long time. Is this true? What can I do please? Dear reader, thank you for your email. We have previously referred to this matter in our articles-queries and we have stressed the importance of taking preventive measures to avoid a default or breach of a letting contract; such as requesting a bank

guarantee, or requiring the signature of a guarantor to insure contract compliance, etc. It seems that the problem of tenants not paying rent, or paying rent late, has been sharply increased by the economic crisis because we are receiving more and more enquiries of this type. We can say from our experiences that as soon as your tenant fails to pay or refuses to leave the property you should immediately seek legal advice. This should be done as soon as possible in order to start a Court proceeding asking for the money owed, and if necessary to ask the Court to have the tenant evicted from the property so that you can take possession again. If such a Court proceeding is necessary the sooner you start the sooner it will be over, and furthermore it is our view that no threats or blackmail are tolerable from a tenant. The chances of having a favourable ruling from the Court are quite high since the Civil Procedure Law (Ley de Enjuiciamiento civil - LEC) states in its article number 444 that in these cases the defendant’s only argument can be that he has paid the money owed, so if he has not paid, the defendant will have very little chance of getting a ruling in his favour. Turning to the length of time that a proceeding and the enforcement of the sentence to be able to have your property back can take, what your tenant has told you is not at all accurate. With the new changes

If your tenant fails to pay or refuses to leave the property you should immediately seek advice

to the LEC, the Hearing, the Court Order (the sentence and the enforcement of the sentence) and the Eviction can go practically together if requested, without the need of a new claim to ask for the eviction. It can also be requested that the Court set at the time of approving the claim, a date and time for the eviction (should the defendant not leave the property voluntarily) within one month from date of the Court Hearing.

Therefore it is our opinion that your possibilities of success are quite high, and that the time from the start of a proceeding to the eviction has been considerably shortened by the recent legal reforms. Our recommendation is therefore that if your tenant refuses to pay the outstanding rent and leave in a friendly way, then you should seek immediate legal advice to start a proceeding as soon as possible.

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

01 -607 april - 12 may 2011

Home Garden

Brought to you by

www.spanishhomefinder.com

Selling your property? I don’t think so By Guest Writer Michael Rushe of Javea Estates ONCE UPON a time selling property in Spain was easy. It seemed the only problem you had was how to manage the crowds of people eager to buy whatever it was you were selling. Off road or off plan, on the mountain or on the beach, with or without planning permission; it didn’t matter where or what, it sold. And the price was always going up. In the good times mortgages grew on trees and profits rolled in on every wave that caressed the beautiful coastline. It was a time of plenty and we gorged ourselves. However, those days are gone and we are left with a serious case of indigestion. There is great woe and gnashing of teeth because confidence is low and prices are falling. But wait, the sun still shines, this is still one of the best places on earth to live and property is still selling. Why? The cynics would have us believe that it is just about price. In today’s market price is a major factor but it is not the only one. No matter how big or small, no matter where it is, your property must be competitively priced against similar properties. The recession is not the only mechanism making this happen. The glut of properties on the market means supply is out-stripping demand and buyers can pick and choose. Banks are trying to off-load reprocessed properties by depressing prices and offering exclusive mortgages at better terms. For some people the dream has turned sour and they are selling up for whatever they can get. But it is not all doom and gloom. A client recently sold his house for the asking price because he realised that his house was an asset not to him but to the perspective buyer. He knew that he was not selling his house but someone else’s dream. He ensured the house was in top condition. He kept it clean and uncluttered. He engaged an agent who cared enough to take quality photos and video and advertise the house to the widest possible market. The sale did not happen overnight but it did happen and at the price he wanted.

Home & Garden

Every property sale is different and the factors that influence it can vary in quantity and complexity reflecting the needs and expectations of the buyer and the seller. Of course the price must be right but people buy with the heart as well as the head. Selling your property? I don’t think so because I think you are selling someone’s dream and that thought could be worth a hell of a lot more to you in the long run.

Lawn Repair by Greengrass PLANNING If your lawn is made up from a mix of different types of grass then the decision to improve and repair the lawn will depend on which grass type in your lawn you wish to encourage. In general, the more vigorous and drought resistant (warm season) grasses will be the survivors in your lawn here in Spain. Over-seeding or plugging with more aggressive warm season grasses can repair a lawn and the new grass will soon become the dominant species in your repaired lawn. If you are not happy with this approach, then a total renovation should be undertaken to eradicate the unwanted grasses. TYPES OF LAWN REPAIR There are different types of lawn repair or renovation that you can use to help with your new lawn but before attempting a lawn repair, a soil test is advisable. It may uncover a more underlying reason for your failed lawn. Aerating De-thatching Weeding Feeding Dead-Spot or brown patch replacement Leveling bumps and depressions Grass replacement Total renovation The amount of lawn repair or renovation you require will depend on your needs. Below is a description of each, and what you need to do to make your lawn repair or renovation successful. LAWN REPAIR - SOIL TESTING Knowing whether your soil is alkaline or acidic is important, because certain types of grass grow better in slightly acidic soils and certain types grow better in alkaline soils. Knowing what type of soil you have will not only help in choosing the right type of grass, but also help in deciding what type of soil remedial work is necessary. LAWN REPAIR - AERATING This will probably be necessary if you have clay soil and it has become compacted by heavy traffic. Aeration is an excellent first stage lawn repair. There are many tools for performing lawn aeration, but a garden fork dug into the soil to about 6 inches will do well. LAWN REPAIR - DE-THATCHING Thatch is a layer of old grass, roots, clippings, and debris that settle on the ground over time. Removing thatch and dead organic matter from the surface of your lawn is also a good first step in lawn repair. Thatch buildup

6 - 12 may 2011

is commonly found in old lawns where grass has grown tall, mulch is frequently left, and lawns that have never been aerated. If your lawn seems unusually slow in responding to watering, fertilizing, and reseeding, then de-thatching may be needed. There are special de-thatching tools that you can buy, but a garden rake or wire rake will do the job. Rake the ground aggressively down to soil level. Clear the rubbish from the rake and burn or compost. LAWN REPAIR - WEEDING Use a selective (broad leaf ) weed killer. There are different types of weed killer for different types of weed and different types of grasses. We have recommended weed killers that have been tested for use on our grass types. LAWN REPAIR - FEEDING The choice of lawn fertilizer will depend on the time of year and the type of lawn grass you have. e.g low Nitrogen for spring, high Nitrogen for summer. LAWN REPAIR - DEAD-SPOT OR BROWN PATCH REPLACEMENT Dig up and remove the bad spot. Prepare the soil. Re-plant with another piece of turf or grass plugs. Tip/ An area of grass that is grown specifically for replacement turf is a good strategy for lawn repair. LAWN REPAIR - LEVELING BUMPS AND DEPRESSIONS Leveling Bumps: For large areas (over 1M2) use a 1” plugging tool and remove soil plugs. Start from the center and work outwards taking more plugs from the center and less from the outside. Over a few months, after mowing and rolling, the bump will disappear into the plug holes. For smaller bumps (less than 1M2) take a shovel and dig around three sides of the bump about 3-5 inches deep. Roll back the turf, and remove any excess soil below the top-soil. Once enough soil has been removed to level the area with the lawn, simply roll-back the turf and fill-in any seams with excess soil and/or potting soil. Roll or tap the soil with the back of a spade. Water the area thoroughly. Continue the watering until the area has fullyrecovered from the work. Leveling Depressions: Take a shovel and dig around three sides of the depression about 3-5 inches deep. Roll back the turf, and add a mixture of soil, humus, and fertilizer necessary to raise the level of the depression. Once enough soil has been added to level the area with the lawn, simply roll-back the turf and fill-in any seams with excess soil and/or potting soil. Roll or tap the soil with the back of a spade. Water the area thoroughly. Continue watering until the area has fully-recovered from the work. LAWN REPAIR - GRASS REPLACEMENT This type of lawn repair involves removing the unwanted types of grass that are present in your lawn and replacing with another type of grass.

Brought to you by spanishhomefinder.com

Use a rake to remove debris from your lawn LAWN REPAIR - TOTAL RENOVATION Before embarking on total renovation, it should be your prime consideration to find out why the old lawn did not succeed. Failure to do this not only affects your chances of success in the new lawn, but also affects any remedial work you might have to do on the old lawn. Factors such as the wrong type of grass, soil acidity/alkalinity, drainage etc will affect the lawn repair/remedial work you need to do before sowing seed or planting grass plugs. If you already have an old lawn that is patchy or poor quality, the chances are that the ground is already level. This is one big benefit. If it is not, fill in the dips with a good quality topsoil or compost to achieve a level surface. Then, depending on whether you have planted the wrong grass, or need soil improvement, you need to decide whether to either eradicate everything or just to plant with new plugs, and let the plugs take over the lawn. If you decide to remove all traces of vegetation, then a 4% mix of a herbicide like ‘Roundup’ or ‘Touchdown’ will sort this out (concentrations down to 1.5% will also be effective, but you may need to re-apply). Allow 10 - 14 days and you will see the results. Any weeds or grasses that were green will now be brown and dead to the roots. Lightly rake the soil to remove any large items like stones, and use your topsoil to even out any pits or dips. If you decide to continue with the lawn repair/reparation, then a course of aeration, top dressing with sand or compost and/or soil chemistry correction may be advised. Once these corrective actions have been taken, the seed can be sown or the grass plugs can be planted. For more information about grass plugs or if you have any questions about your lawn, we would be pleased to answer any questions – see us on Google “Lawns in Spain” or http://www.lawnsinspain.com Contact: lawnsinspain@yahoo.com or phone 676 863 778.

6 - 12 may 2011

Annuals: annuals are annual by

Clodagh & Dick Handscombe Practical gardeners and authors

GARDEN CENTRES are now filling up with what are termed ‘annuals’ because they are ‘one season’ plants that grow from seed, flower and die within a few months – less if not looked after. They therefore require replacing each year by sowing seeds or buying new plants. Luckily in the Mediterranean Climate many annuals ‘selfseed’. OUR TEN FAVOURITE ANNUALS Although not enthusiastic about formal UK-style beds of annuals in hot, dry Spanish gardens, we do grow some annuals on our vegetable plot for cutting for the house and for attracting beneficial insects, and also in pots/containers for specific dull corners of the garden. Especially to brighten up semishaded corners under trees, a north facing porch and the inner shade of a south-facing naya. We list below our ten favourites and give some essential growing tips based on our experience of long hot summers and occasional winter frosts:

ZINNIAS: we grow them in our vegetable plot as the soil is richer than in our flower garden and we flood the plot every 6 to 10 days from April to September, depending on whether it has rained. We either sow in RTN newspaper tubes in the greenhouse or directly into the plot in April/early May. We grow both small and large flowered multicoloured varieties for cutting. Normally they will flower from June to the end of September, even through into October. SWEET PEAS are also grown for cutting and again mostly on the vegetable plot sowing directly into the ground in November/ December as a 15 metre row. We collect and re-sow seeds each year. Sometimes we sow a few seeds in pots in the greenhouse for planting out in the flower garden in early March. SUNFLOWERS are sown in odd corners in the flower garden some years but every year we sow a long row on the vegetable plot as a windbreak. Seeds are saved from one year to another and used as a supplementary chicken feed and tapas for ourselves. TRAILING PETUNIAS we grow in large pots and window boxes in full sun and in a couple of hanging baskets in semi shady places. PORTULACAS fill seasonally empty pots on a sunny terrace. We do know of gardens where they are planted as floral lawns in shady eastfacing situations... BUSY LIZZIES in pots brighten up semi-

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

Home & Garden

shaded situations. VINCAS are used in the same way as Busy Lizzies. PANSIES/VIOLAS are winter favourites for various containers and winter boxes both in full sun and partial shade. MARIGOLDS colour corners of the vegetable plot and new vegetable raised beds to attract black flies from vegetables, to brighten up the vegetable plot and as a medicinal herb. NASTURTIUMS we grow both on the vegetable plot for adding to salads and in the flower garden in semi-shaded pots and in the semi-shade under a hedge. They give good colour in the spring and summer. Leaves, flowers and seed pods add taste and bite to salads and the plants attract black fly off other plants. The above selection gives us some continuity of colour throughout the year are not often susceptible to diseases, and are reasonably drought resistant if we do forget to water for a day or two, or the water supply is cut unexpectedly. BEWARE THERE ARE POTENTIAL PROBLEMS Annuals are not without problems in Spanish gardens and on apartment terraces. They do need more watering than most biennial and perennial plants, regular deadheading, and a dose of nitrogen/high potassium feed every two weeks to maximise

both the number and continuity of flowering. But if you feed annuals with too much nitrogen you will stimulate an unnatural amount of greenery and larger plants but at the same time the greenery may grow out of proportion to the size of the root ball causing plants to dry out quicker, and soft fleshy growth is vulnerable to pests such as green fly and black fly. Clodagh and Dick’s books practical gardening books are found to be of tremendous help to both new and experienced gardeners living and coming to Spain. They are found in bookshops such as Bookworld, Humpty Dumpty and Carrefour, plus the internet bookshops such as Amazon, Santana Books, Angloinfo Spain and The Royal Horticultural Society.

Ollie Doodles New Patchworking Classes

By Gillian Roberts Many of you avid crafters out there will already know of the world of delights to be found in Ollie Doodles craft shop in Los Altos. Olive first opened Ollie Doodles in July of 2007. Since then Ollie hasn’t stopped in creating an Aladdin’s cave for craft enthusiasts. The shop has a light and airy atmosphere for ladies to browse the wide selection of peel offs, decoupage, scrapbooking papers, card making utensils, knitting equipment and of course wool. Ollie has endeavoured to introduce new lines in addition to her traditional crafting materials. The latest is the introduction of a large selection of materials, wadding, batting and threads for patchwork & quilting which has become a popular past time on the Costa Blanca. Ollie is continuing to run craft classes too. She has a bright, separate room for classes to run on various topics. The Patchworking/Quilting class runs every Wednesday, and of course the original scrapbooking, cardmaking and art classes are still popular favourites. Also on Monday 16th May, there will be a one stroke painting demonstration held in store at Ollie Doodles from 2pm to 4pm. Pop along and visit Ollie Doodles, with the largest range of craft materials on the Costa Blanca, you won’t be disappointed. For class reservations, directions to the shop or any general enquires please call Ollie on 96 670 7223 or visit www.olliedoodles.com

Brought to you by spanishhomefinder.com

6 - 12 may 2011

Computing with aunty virus Problems using online banking Julie via email asks: I HAVE a problem getting onto my online banking with Lloyds International. Every time I try to login it tells me that I have either put in the wrong user name or password. I have tried umpteen times so this cannot be the case. When I have queried it with the bank, they are able to get onto my account immediately and they suggest that it must be my computer. I also had this problem trying to log on to

another site recently and they insisted that I had put in the wrong email address, but someone else did it for me on their computer using my information and they were successful. Aunty Says: I have seen this problem once where the keyboard wasn’t setup for the correct language, and what was typed wasn’t what appears in the login/password boxes. Try typing into Word or Notepad to test this. It is

also possible you may have the remnants of some older usernames and passwords stored on your computer and probably the easiest thing to clear this is Ccleaner (from www.download.com) It has an option to clear out ‘Autocomplete Form History’ for IE and ‘Saved Form Information’ for Firefox and Chrome which may do the trick. You can also clear saved usernames and passwords from within IE, Firefox etc. from the ‘tools’ ‘options’ ‘security’ menu.

Does using Google Chrome increase spam mail? Barrie via email asks: GOOD DAY Aunty. Since using Google Chrome instead of Mozilla Firefox, my spam has increased considerably, as has the amount of spyware detected by SAS on a daily basis. Whilst Chrome appears faster than Firefox, it is not without its problems including the odd crash. Aunty Says: Hi Barrie. I’m not sure how changing from Firefox to Chrome can affect the amount of spam emails you are receiving, unless maybe with Chrome you have some extra ‘toolbars’ ‘add-ons’ or ‘extensions’ installed that have forwarded your details to some marketing companies. Google are constantly developing Chrome so maybe check the Google Chrome website for any new fixes and updates. You can delete or disable add-

At a loss Verno via email asks: I AM at a loss to explain why this has happened but maybe you can shed some light on it for me: I have been copying pictures into a desktop folder from 2 digital cameras over a period of 2 weeks, and up to yesterday I was able to open them up and view them all. Today, I copied the last 5 into this folder, but when I opened it to view them only the last 5 were visible. The others have vanished. I tried searching through Widows Vista but none of the camera codes from the original pictures can be found. Are they floating about in the ether, or have all the digits got mixed up and lost somewhere? I have scanned using AVG and looked at defragging but these are all okay. I do hope you can help me find them as I cannot replace them. Aunty Says: The only thing I can think of Verno is that you have somehow inadvertently overwritten the first lot of photos/folders with the latter batch that you transferred. Most digital cameras have folders named DCIM as their main or ‘root’ folder and if you have copied photos from two different cameras then maybe they had the same named folders or photos.

ons and extensions from the ‘tools’ menu option (sometimes shown as a spanner icon in the top right corner) which may stop the crashing problem.

Joker on contact list Del via email asks: I HAVE a laptop with XP, AVG2011 and Malwarebytes and I have recently found an added contact on my hotmail account. At the end of my contact list is a contact name ‘Joker’ in highlights but it doesn’t have an email address. It doesn’t appear when I go into my contact list for edit purposes and I have carried out a virus check with the above security programmes. How do I get rid of this bug? Aunty Says: Sounds a bit suspect Del. Can you maybe right click on it and see if a delete option is available? If the contact isn’t actually in your contact list then maybe it is in the chat list and can be removed (or blocked) via the Messenger menu option.

Playing games

Brian via email asks: I HAVE three games all on DVDs, which loaded and played on my previous computer with Windows XP Pro. Since changing to a laptop with Vista Home Premium none of the games can be played. I receive the message “Please insert the correct DVD select OK and restart application” but as all the games are on one DVD there are no other DVDs to insert. Aunty Says: Hi Brian. This is most likely the games not being 100% compatible with Vista. You can sometimes get around this by right clicking on the ‘setup’ or ‘autorun’ program (you’ll find this by browsing the DVD) and choosing ‘compatibility mode’.

Running Microsoft Security Essentials Colin via email asks: DEAR AUNTY, Is it okay to run Microsoft Security Essentials as well as SuperAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes, or should I remove these two items? Aunty Says: Hi Colin. You can be over cautious and have too many security programs running that can slow your computer down to a crawl, but Malwarebytes and SuperAntiSpyware are fairly unobtrusive and will sit quite happily alongside MS Security Essentials.

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

6 - 12 may 2011

GADGET INSPECTOR

the case of the Philips AirFryer THIS WEEK the Inspector is chipping in with The Philips AirFryer. Frying tonight! The Philips AirFryer is a revolutionary kitchen appliance that uses superheated air to fry food giving that fatty taste – but without the oil (mostly, more on that later…) The Airfryer uses Rapid Air Technology to cook the kind of meals that traditionally would have been done with a deep fat fryer. The machine uses a grill and a fan to blast very hot air around food at high speeds. The air reaches temperatures up to 200ºC around the food inside – browning with up to 80% less fat. This browning and crisping process where the food is fried, roasted, toasted or baked is known scientifically as ‘the Maillard effect’. The food is placed in a large (700g capacity) slide out tray - this can be a mixture of different types, chicken and chips for example. The tray is slid back into the AirFryer and 12 minutes later the meal is ready. The Airfryer can be used for meats and fish and even has the ability to bake cakes. And in case you are concerned about cooking different types of food together there is a Food Separator accessory to stop

your chicken nuggets and fish ending up as a Fillet-O-Nugget. The problems with the safety of traditional deep fat frying are also largely removed by the Airfryer. The days of the huge vat of oil reaching Chernobyl-like temperatures ready to ignite your house or burn little children or pets are long gone – the Airfryer is selfcontained and has very little oil. However, it is acknowledged that you will need to add a little oil to certain types of food to get that freshly fried taste – so for chips you will need to add half a tablespoon of oil; not really a significant amount compared with traditional frying, and a large reduction in the fat content of the finished article. The Inspector´s Verdict: The Philips AirFryer is most definitely a large step in the right direction for the health and safety conscious amongst us. But do not forget you are still going to need a little oil to satisfy the desire for that fried food taste – particularly with chips. The Philips AirFryer costs from €130 to €210 depending on the model. So chips are the new celery: a little less weight-watchers a bit more double portions!

health

6 15-21 - 12 May 2011 JANUARY 2010

Dr Lawrence King

The Costa Blanca Chiropractic Centre

Frozen shoulder A ‘FROZEN shoulder’ which is known medically as ‘adhesive capsulitis’ is a term used to describe the painful restricted motion of the main shoulder joint. A frozen shoulder may occur suddenly where a large of motion is quickly lost with intense pain, or it can present itself gradually where the loss of motion and pain increases with time. The classic presentation of a frozen shoulder will include the loss of expansive motion in the shoulder (those which lift the shoulder away from the body) with pain in the region of the anterior shoulder. Pain in the shoulder can often become worse during the night. The condition is far more common in those over 40 years old and

twice as common in women than men. The cause of a frozen shoulder can often be located to a small space in the shoulder joint where a number of important nerves, blood vessels and muscle tendons are located. If an accident or repetitive movements cause the space and structures to be compromised the end result is often a frozen shoulder. Very often the condition is often complicated by a new or existing neck complaint. Without correct treatment the condition can usually last between 5 months and 2 years. For help with a frozen shoulder or any other spinal related complaint please contact chiropractor Lawrence King.

For an appointment with Dr. Lawrence, please contact The Costa Blanca Chiropractic Centre on 966 865 432 or call Dr Lawrence direct on 656 589 740.

MABS would like to announce.... This Sunday May 8th at the RASTRO at Pedreguer Market, the Costa Blanca Business Association (CBBA) will be having a stall selling all sorts of wares in memory of our good friend Frances

Sawyer who passed away on 26-12-2011 (Frances was a former president of MABS). The stall will be located at Street C Pitch no 30, and will be selling all sorts of items such as ‘guitar hero’,

toys, lamps, childrens’ items, glassware, dishes, books, CDs and all the money raised will be donated to MABS. We do look forward to seeing you to support this important charity.

health

6 - 12 May 2011

Taking the first step to better hearing by

Trevor Smith RHAD FSHAA of Premier Hearing Services

FOR SOME reason, unlike eye tests which are readily accepted, many people put off having their hearing assessed professionally. Delaying a test until your hearing has deteriorated further could reduce the possibilities of improvement. Many suffer unnecessarily with their hearing ability. They may have difficulty facing the fact that they have some hearing loss and they are not sure what steps to take to deal with the problem. If you think that your hearing may have deteriorated, or if you believe a family member is suffering from undiagnosed hearing loss, encourage them to contact their GP or a professional Hearing Aid audiologist. In Spain the hospital service will carry out a free hearing test, but there is no free hearing aid available, and they will simply refer you to an independent hearing aid company. If you are going direct to a Hearing Aid Audiologist make sure that their qualifications are valid and up to date. Ideally they should come under the membership of The Health Professional Council which controls the activities of hearing aid audiologists in the UK. (A membership card is issued yearly and unless the name of the audiologist is on their membership list, it is illegal to dispense hearing aids). In this way you have some recourse if there are any problems that cannot be solved between you and the company you are dealing with. It is important to have the hearing checked professionally as soon as possible. Delaying until your hearing has deteriorated further could result in the possibilities of improvement being noticeably reduced - the more your hearing ability declines the more you will be asking a hearing aid system to do to compensate. The hearing assessment produces a detailed analysis of the precise state of your hearing, just as a sight test does for your eyes. In most cases a hearing test will detect a hearing loss if one is present, as well as determine the type of hearing loss. With these results the professional hearing aid audiologist will be able to recommend the most appropriate solution to get you back on the road to better hearing.

YOUR HEARING EVALUATION A hearing assessment is painless and straight forward. Allow an hour so that your individual needs can be discussed, perhaps have a friend or partner along too. First your hearing aid audiologist will talk to you about your background - medical history, job, hobbies etc., and any changes you may have noticed in your hearing levels. They will then give your ears a thorough physical examination using an ‘otoscope’ to look inside. Next, you will be asked to listen to a series of sounds played at various pitches and volumes through headphones. This is called a ‘Pure-Tone audiology test’. The results are entered onto an audiogram which is a chart that illustrates any hearing loss you may have. The audiogram is a graphic representation of how we hear. It provides information on the degree and type of hearing loss and is first used to determine any areas where improved hearing can be improved; or whether you will be a candidate for hearing aids or have a hearing loss that could be medically or surgically attended to.

LEARNING HOW WE HEAR AGAIN During the progression of hearing loss the brain loses its ability to identify sounds that are no longer being received. The high frequency sounds are usually lost first, which is why people with a hearing loss often have difficulty hearing high pitched voices of women and children. Certain words that sound alike are also difficult to detect, especially words that contain S,SH,CH,H or soft C sounds. When the reception is improved by using hearing instruments the brain has to learn how to interpret the restored sounds like the high frequency sound of birdsong or the subtle sounds like rustling leaves, which may have been forgotten and need to be relearned. As the brain’s rediscovery and relearning improves you may need to have your instruments gradually adjusted by your professional hearing aid audiologist. Putting off wearing hearing instruments for too long may extend the period of readjustment that the brain has to make.

If you have a concern about your hearing then call Trevor Smith, RHAD FSHAA of Premier Hearing Services on 659 644 106 for professional and personal advice. Trevor covers all of the Costa Blanca area, and offers a FREE Hearing Test. The latest digital hearing aids are available and Trevor is able to offer 50% off UK prices. Call now – you have nothing to lose and your hearing to gain!

68-14 - 12 May 2011 2010 JANUARY

horoscopes by Kenny Corris

Nesting

In February this year I was lucky to be able to work in Bergen in Norway. This beautiful city is known for its rain, and it has been said that Bergen was God’s chosen beautiful city, so he asked that it be washed every day to keep it that way. True to form it was raining when I arrived, but that rain turned to sleet, and then the snow came. Heavy snow. I was staying close to the University quarter and my bedroom window overlooked the Natural Science department of the University close by. The two very tall bare trees that stretched almost to my window became overnight a snow covered wonderland, just like a Hallmark Christmas Card. The temperature dropped and when the sun came out the following morning after a night of blizzards it shone over the icy frosted streets and revealed to me a much changed city view. I was very conscious of the actions of two magpies that had made a very large nest in the one of the two tall trees, now blanketed with snow. As I watched I saw the amazing lengths that this loving couple went to, to clear the nest. I thought it was too early for eggs and nesting, but this noble pair of very striking birds enacted emergency actions to clear away the heavy snow from the delicate engineering of the nest. I have never really watched birds, but I was fascinated by the sheer determination of these two, and their struggle to live once more in a frost free environment. The largest of the two magpies I took to be a responsible male. He opened his tail feathers into a fan like formation and walked backwards along frosted limbs to the nest, using his might to dislodge the quantity of snow that threatened the comfort of his nest. Several attempts were made, and a good quantity of snow fell with each rear guard action. The smaller female bird watched and then she joined in this action, ruffling her outspread wings and walking backwards to skim off as much snow as she could. Seeing her motivation the male bird went in search of sticks, and returned with a large one in his beak. A new action was performed as the stick was used vigorously to poke large quantities of snow. At this stage I had to go to work, but when I returned at lunch time there was a clear nest, and the two birds were sitting on it side by side. They had

postbag Email your letters to me at: kennycorris@roundtownnews.com Kenny, my husband died last October, but sometimes in bed I feel he is at my side. I know this must sound crazy, but I even feel I hear his snores and they wake me too! Cheryl.K. Hi Cheryl. You aren’t crazy, but you are experiencing contact with your deceased husband when he appears to be at your side. Many people report loved ones sitting on the bed, or even touching them in bed as they sleep. When we are unconscious or subconscious we are more able to accept the contact of a loved one from the Spirit World. So those in Spirit learn to be communicative with those they loved and left behind, and thus they appear in our dreams, circle us when we sleep, and those with a high level of contactability, like you, can actually feel them. These actions are brought about by love and a need for him to see that you are well. Next time it happens do not be silent, talk to your husband; he loves you so much he feels the need to return to you!

succeeded and had returned to their habitat having established what was required, a nice warm sanctuary of snow free domestic bliss, albeit somewhat temporary. When the snow falls in the winter of our lives it brings us to having to face up with emergency actions to keep us stable and safe. We use our common sense, and use our ingenuity to resolve that which we can. Then if there are practical things to be done we can prioritise without fear of failure, until we finally get what it is we want. Once contentment is restored to life then there is success and a hopeful continuity that leads us on. We are born to survive, and we always do what we think is the best thing at the time, taking into careful consideration all those who are involved. As we strive to make things right, work hard to make things meet we are doing what we can, and protecting the interests of our friends and family around us as we do so. This is the Spiritual way. All those who inhabit the Spirit World have known the hardship that we encounter on Earth. As things do seem to become much harder, and we can tighten our belts no more, to be told that we are all in the same boat may be a comfort, but it’s a cold comfort. It doesn’t help you at the Supermarket, or fill a tank of petrol. The only energy that can help you is faith, and it is hard to keep to sometimes. Those two cold birds woke to find their entire World had been turned around, and they worked tirelessly until there was a suitable change in the circumstances. They had a faith that they would be able to change what had been enforced upon them and they did it to the extent that they solved the problem they faced. Recently I was told that there are no problems, only solutions. What a wonderful way of looking at things, if you can. If you can solve your problems before they become a worry then all well and good. We are, most of us, a lot more than we think we are and should be able to take this onboard. With Spirit there comes the knowledge that all will be well, and here I am only the messenger boy, when the question asked next will be,“When?”

Love & Light... Kenny Corris

Kenny’s diary Saturday May 7th Readings at La Fustera: Calpe/ Moraira. Contact Penny Smith on 687 926 021 or 96 574 9182. Some appointments available! Monday May 9th and Wednesday May 11th: Readings at Bistro Maya, Albir from 16.30. Call: 966 868 213 for bookings and further info. Sunday May 22nd: How to Ascend in 2012. Day workshop to examine World events, and how to use spiritual energy to face the great and wonderful changes we are expecting! Held in Finestrat from 10.30 to 17.30. Thursday June 2nd: Service for the ASF at The Forum Alfaz del Pi at 18.30. All welcome to a demonstration of clairvoyance.

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!

With Venus resident there comes a time for consolidation and a bit more give and take than you are used to. Anything that makes life easy right now will be the right thing to do, but things will still revolve around your instinctive and powerful control. This is a time for completion of projects and a wonderful opportunity to set the scene for further ones now within your grasp. Unexpected actions of others work well for you this week, as you are about to take on something very new and very special. You’ll get all the help and assistance that you need this time around and must set your sights on just what this all means in terms of your future needs and desires. It is true that you are being tested in so many ways, but you work well under great direction and this you certainly have. Now that Mercury is direct there is a need to get your message out both loud and clear. You have stalled recently, and that was the right thing to do, since timing is very important, and now vital. Be open and be quite clear with your intentions, there is no hidden agenda, and you have to convince those that still think you are messing around, the truth, and why you did what you did! Anger has reached a plateau and you are so close to telling someone where to go! Since this is solely because you know the truth behind so many recent lies, tell it like it is, because the need is that you are taken into consideration in the scheme of things. Not much passes you by, but if ever there was a time for cards on the table it is both here and now. Be calm and firm and have your say. You will enjoy being centre stage this week, but have you bitten off more than you can chew? Some spiteful things have been already said in the heat of the moment, and you must give somebody the time to make amends before you go for the jugular. There is no doubt that you will triumph over the situation, but this kind of publicity does you no favours whatsoever and should be avoided. Ever faithful you are being a real friend this week, and are probably enjoying every minute of it. As plans have to be adapted mid week you must know that there are many ways to skin a rabbit and adapt accordingly to give your much needed expertise just where it is needed. There are some things unsaid at the moment and it is time to tell the truth from where you currently stand. Portents are advising some financial moves and planning. You have always been shrewd and well balanced in all matters involving money. Deep issues are raised and stirred by Saturn this week who pleads for your common sense to make the adjustments that have to be made. You know what has to go, so be realistic and waste no more time in pretence which only gears you so far anyway. Actions with Jupiter and Saturn bring you balance in a situation which now veers dangerously out of control. Warlike Mars takes a back seat and hands much over to Venus, who knows very well that you do not love yourself right now, and that things have to start to change and go your way. Take steps to eliminate the past and put your best foot very far forward to succeed every way you must. Wily and cunning Jupiter sets the scene and colludes with Aries to bring some attention to the severity of something not signed sealed and delivered as it should be. With a Direct from Mercury it is simply a matter of time before a version of the real truth starts to circulate, and you will then be too late to have your say. Have your cake, but know you cannot eat it yet. Pluto is close by and the influence of this examining Planet is sublime. The unknown and unseen can be brought to reality by rooting around and doing some heavy digging. It may not be what you have in mind, and you must accept all consequences, but it may help you sleep better, since so much is on your mind right now, and there is no clear way ahead with current obstacles. Love energy comes. Steered by some convoluted actions of Venus in her new position with Aries simply means that there is a new and more harmonious future ahead for you with someone that you love. This is not re inventing, but more of a mutual understanding that brings you closer together and ends anymore unnecessary conflict. Respect and reward brings you closer than ever. A week of dedicating yourself to new ventures and the opening for new possibilities as you are beckoned on by Spirit. Your extreme energies cope so well with the everyday, but don’t waste time now that something challenging is about to drop into your lap, go for what it is you really want and don’t give up. Your psychic centres are open and waiting to help you on the way.

If it’s your birthday this week... Choose the tried and tested ways that you know before you think of following something that will simply please others. Those around you need to see what you are capable of, and this astrological year may reward them, by showing you in a new light; and certainly sees you making a name for yourself.

6 - 12 May2010 2011 8-14 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 6. Getting up a revolt? (7) 7. It just goes to show how time passes! (5) 9. Our first cardinal (3) 10. River rose, perhaps, to fill it? (9) 12. An order which doesn’t require attention (5,2,4) 15. Father, in making wagers, is very careful (11) 17. They may struggle to break locks (9) 19. Consumed stirred tea (3) 21. Complete set of notes (5) 22. Make believe (7)

Down 1. Odd person to alter the motion? (5) 2. One who could be taken for a ride (3) 3. Low joint keen to be reformed (4) 4. Madly in love and such a romantic place (3,6) 5. Put in the shade, naturally (7) 8. Comment about foreign (6) 11. Doesn’t sit inside and is conspicuous (6,3) 13. Sting to anger (6) 14. Good route for a long-distance driver (7) 16. Baby bird? (5) 18. Bird you can play with (4) 20. The first mate (3)

Across

Down

6. Liken (7)

1. Fret (5)

Wordwheel

Quick Crossword 2. Secret agent (3)

7. Serpent (5)

3. Region (4)

9. Attempt (3)

4. Not resolved (9)

10. Shows (9)

5. Not detailed (7)

12. Prophetic vision (6,5)

8. Concealed (6) 11. Harm (9)

15. Understaffed (5-6)

13. In one’s possession

17. Society (9)

(2,4) 14. During (7)

19. Wicked (3)

16. Bisect (5)

21. Pangs (5)

18. Rip (4)

22. Immense (7)

20. Enquire (3) You can play these wordwheels by whatever rules you like. But there is at least one nine letter word hidden in each wordwheel (and thus using every letter in the wordwheel). For many players the fun element and biggest challenge of the wordwheel is to find a nine letter word. Other than that, the rules are up to you - but generally you should restrict yourself to only finding words that contain the central letter, as otherwise you will find huge numbers of words in many puzzles!

Win a meal for 2!

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

by answering the Cryptic Crossword correctly. Answers by email to: office@roundtownnews.com | or Fax: 96 585 60 54

Euromillions Draw Friday 29th april

15 25 38 40 41

No ticket won the 15,000,000 Euros (£13,335,000) jackpot prize

Answers & Winners Last week’s Crossword and Suduko answers found on page 51/54. Winner for 602 Arthur Wilkinson, Altea La Vella

6 - 12 may 2011

music scene Back To Back - Vocal Duo

Compiled by

Eric Taylor

ack to Back is a new vocal duo comprising of two of the most popular vocalists on the Costa Blanca - Terry Rowley and Wayne Horne. Terry and Wayne entertain with a repertoire of classic hits from the 60s to today, featuring ballads to rock n roll to ‘on your feet’ dance music - a feel good show. For bookings and more info phone: 634 333 110. MAY GIGS Sunday 8th, Lancora Bar, Javea Park, Javea 4pm Sunday 15th, Lancora Bar, Javea Park, Javea 4pm Saturday 21st, Private Party JUNE GIGS Friday 3rd, Platino’s Lounge Bar, Arenal, Javea

Saturday 4th, Le Cabaret, Cumbre del Sol, Benitachell Saturday 11th, Private Party Saturday 18th, Platino’s Lounge Bar, Arenal, Javea

Rio - Classic Rock Band RIO CONSISTS of four of the most highly respected international musicians presently working in and around the Costa Blanca. Pam (vocals) and John Pearson (guitar) are currently working as the popular duo ‘Chill Factor’ -together with Drummer Jack Hazebroek and Tommy Duffy on bass they are ‘Rio’. Featuring Pam’s warm soulful voice, John’s impressive guitar skills and supported by the tight rhythm section of Jack and Tommy, ‘Rio’ plays a mix of melodic rock: U2, Pretenders, Tears for Fears, Chaka Khan… The band can be seen live at the An Shebeen Irish Bar in Javea on Friday 13th May. Show starts at 9.30pm and entrance is free. For details and bookings please phone 696 731 290 or 626 379 810.

Barry Moon – Comedian BARRY MOON started his career in the 70s fronting comedy bands, before going solo in 1984. He has entertained the troops in the Falklands, Northern Ireland and Kuwait. Barry has also worked the clubs and night clubs in UK such as Baileys, Watford - Blazers, Windsor and the Lakeside Country Club. Since arriving in Spain, Barry

has been in great demand and is next performing in the Don Quijote Bar, Paichi Centre, Moraira on Wednesday 11th May – Come along and join in the fun. For more info ring: 606 721 288. The entrance to the Paichi Centre is opposite the Paichi Garden Centre on the Teulada / Moraira road before you get to Moraira.

Jazz Lounge - Puerto Blanco,Calpe GOOD NEWS for all jazz lovers – The Puerto Blanco in Calpe has opened its new Seafront Jazz Lounge and every Thursday, its resident duo will be playing from 10pm: the finest jazz with resident duo George Watts (saxophone) and John Anthony (guitar) playing Latin to Swing. For more info and bookings phone: 96 583 0977. 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 ***TONIGHT***

Friday May 6th The Nomad Please book early

Friday May 13th Zodiac

Friday June 3rd

John the Fiddler Sat. June 18th Fathers Day Bash With Rob Sweeney

Tel 96 640 5398 For reservations

6 - 12 may 2011

The Canterbury trail by Jack Troughton ACTORS OF Yabooh Theatre are preparing to take an audience back in time to Medieval England with an open air performance of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. The production – packed with colour and comedy – has been adapted from the original by Lyndsay Price and directed by Terry Dean, it is being staged at the amphitheatre near the Piscina Bar, Rafol de Almunia from 2nd June until 4th June. The cast are busy rehearsing three times a week and learning lines that bring to life the similarities between 14th Century England and modern Europe. Chaucer is credited with writing more than 20 tales of the bawdy adventures of a group of pilgrims on the road to the Shrine of St Thomas Becket – and the result is a light-hearted and fun approach to life. Yabooh are presenting just seven of the most entertaining tales, including the story of the Pardoner, a corrupt member of the church who aims to get rich selling ‘forgiveness’, the romp that is the Miller’s Tale, and the Wife of Bath, which examines the conflict between men and women for dominance within marriage. However, each tale is full of humour that has survived the centuries and illustrates the breadth of the writer’s work while the production insures the audience will enjoy a wonderful evening’s entertainment. Tickets cost 11€, which includes a drink and a contribution to charity, and can be obtained from the Box Office by calling 674 401 517 or by email from yaboohtheatre@gmail.com

Italian Clarinet Quartet to play in Alfas del Pi THE ALFAS del Pi Music Society is proud to present the prestigious Italian Clarinet Quartet in two concerts. ‘From the Old to the New World’ will be hosted by Fundacion Frax, Playa de Albir, at 7:30pm on Friday 20th May: tickets are 10€ or 5€ for members. For the official Music Society concert in the Casa de Cultura, Alfas del Pi, the Italian Clarinet Quartet will present ‘Rags, Swings and Songs’ on Saturday 21st May at 8pm, when tickets will be 10€ on the door. The Italian Clarinet Quartet has played internationally for more than 20 years, featuring in festivals, television broadcasts and recordings; one of the best known clarinet quartets in the World. They have developed a repertoire that ranges from classical to contemporary works. They have also given an exclusive concert for Pope John Paul II at the Vatican.

Time travelling Yabooh actors

The programmes for both performances include works perfectly suited to their instruments and include works by Scott Joplin, Duke Ellington, Irving Berlin, George Gershwin and Kurt Weill. Further details at www.alfasmusica.com

6 - 12 may 2011

Young musician from Ondara to join the European Union Youth Orchestra by Jan Gamm TALENTED YOUNG oboist Gavila Ana Lourdes, 24, has been selected to join the Youth Orchestra of the EU (European Union Youth Orchestra (EUYO). Ondara-born Gavila Lourdes will join the orchestra sometime during 2011-2012. She studied at the Ondara School of Music before securing a place at the Cortis Tenor Conservatory in Denia and later the Conservatoire de Castellón, finishing her classical training in Malmo, Sweden. Gavila Lourdes has toured Spain with several orchestras and is also a member of the Federal Banda de la Comunitat Valenciana. The European Union Youth Orchestra is one of the world’s most prestigious orchestras, founded in 1976 and comprising 140 musicians from 27 countries of the European Union. Every member of the orchestra is considered the finest in Europe and selected as a result of thousands of auditions.

Hot wheels (from left) Karen, Heidi and Isabel

by Jack Troughton YOUNGSTERS LIVING in the EMAUS home in Altea can enjoy life in the fast lane after receiving 13 pairs of skates and body protectors to share as an Easter surprise. Hard working staff and generous customers at Monroes Restaurant Pedregeur raised 600€ for the children’s home and the gift of the sports equipment was eagerly anticipated by 28 youngsters. And last week the skates and protective equipment was presented to the house manager Isabel by Monroes’ manager Heidi and staff member Karen.

Gavila Ana Lourdes with her oboe

Material girls raise cash for EMAUS AMAL AL QASEM generously welcomed guests to a Textiles and Handicrafts Fair in the grounds of her delightful villa in the hills above Benissa on Sunday, 1st May. Dozens of talented stitchers gathered to display and sell beautifully crafted items. Framed free embroidery pictures in vibrant silks and knitted cushion covers were propped against a backdrop of multi-coloured and painstakingly quilted silk or cotton bedcovers, wall

hangings and patchwork pillows. Mercedes Gaspar, expert silk printer at ‘El Mundo de la Seda’ (the World of Silk) exhibited silken lengths in exclusive florals and brightly blocked colours. Mercedes offers classes on how to produce printed silk items at her studio in Denia: ring 687 540 786 for details. The ‘tie lady’, Sue Edwards, crafts all those gentlemen’s discarded ties so infrequently worn on the warm Costas, into fabulous quilts and

Amal al Qasem with sewing companions Liz Yardley, Erica Mathieson, Brigitte Cover and Christiane Jaquet

throws – in silk and polyester mixes, making plaited, framed wall art. Sue buys her raw materials from charity shops and generously donates profits after costs back to the shops from whence the ties came. So, gentlemen, cast off your ties with a clear conscience (especially the silk ones!) Hand-loomed fabric was on display with enthusiastic young weaver Katy King, describing her techniques in detail to fascinated customers. Katy provides fabric lengths and bespoke garments such as scarves, snoods and wraps in finest cashmere, alpaca and silk with a free design consultation: visit www.dragonflytextiles. com or ring 682 447 651 for more information. The ladies raised a much appreciated 230€ for the Friends of the Children of EMAUS. For more information on EMAUS visit www.fcemaus.es or call 639 637 520.

6 - 12 may 2011

The winners of the Art Competition

1st

in association with

Entries in oil, pencil, pastels, acrylics and even embroidery have been received into the RTN Art Competition in association with Anneke, and the winners have been chosen. At a Prize Giving ceremony at Anneke Care Home in Alfaz del Pi, the eleven artists with pieces in the final Top 20 assembled to learn who were the competition winners. All the Top 20 finalist pieces had been selected by a panel of residents from the Care Home, and one of the

residents, Sofia, along with Lisette de Leeuw (Managing Director of Anneke) and RTN’s Roddy Cunningham presented the Awards to the successful artists. Two special Awards for youngest and eldest artists to have pieces in the final 20 were made to Ivan Cunnell (aged 70) for his two successful paintings, and to Danielle Feesey (aged 16) who is a student at The Lady Elizabeth School near Javea. 3rd Prize in the Competition was won by Janet Munt for her portrait ‘4 men of Rhonda”. The panel of

First Prize winner Carol Stacey with Lisette de Leeuw, MD of Anneke and RTN’s Roddy Cunningham

residents from Anneke had commented on its typical Spanish feel, of a small group of Spanish gentlemen friends resting in a classic town square setting and mulling over the issues of the day. Tony Creasey of Orba took 2nd Prize with his piece of a “Nude” in the style of Pascal Choveby. Tony only began painting again a year ago after an eight year gap, but in this last year he has produced 17 paintings all of which are his interpretations of paintings by other artists. 1st Prize and overall Competition Winner was then proudly announced by Sofia from the panel from Anneke, with the award going to Carol Stacey for her piece “Fox”. Although certainly not the largest piece in the Competition, the panel of residents from Anneke have fallen for the remarkable warmth and beauty of the piece. The fox nurtures a kind and willing expression, which they said gives the fox a ‘dog-like quality’ as if the fox could well be man’s best friend. Physical stimulus plays an important part of the life at Anneke for all of its residents, and mental inspiration too. All 20 pieces now adorn the walls of Anneke where for the next 3 months they will stimulate and help to create an interesting and invigorating place for the residents to live. RTN’s thanks and Congratulations go to all of our readers who have entered the Competition and to Anneke for helping make this Competition possible.

2nd Carol Stacey

3rd

Tony Creasey

Janet Munt Youngest Finalist

Eldest Finalist Danielle Feesey

Carol receives her Award from Anneke resident Sofia

Ivan Cunnell

tv Friday

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614 - 12 May 20112010 - 20 may

07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Animal 24:7 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 Don’t Get Done, Get Dom 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 16:05 Gastronuts 16:35 Prank Patrol Down Under 17:00 Remote Control Star 17:30 All Over the Place 18:00 Newsround 18:15 The Weakest Link 19:00 BBC News 19:30 Regional News 20:00 The One Show 21:00 EastEnders 21:30 A Question of Sport 22:00 Have I Got News for You 22:30 Outnumbered 23:00 BBC News 23:25 Regional News 23:40 Graham Norton Show 24:25 National Lottery Friday Night Draws 24:35 The One Show

07:00 Childrens TV 10:45 Chuggington: Badge Quest 10:50 Grandpa in My Pocket 11:05 Mightymites 11:20 Nuzzle and Scratch: Frock and Roll 11:45 Waybuloo 12:05 In the Night Garden 12:35 Pink Panther Show 13:00 Vote 2011 14:00 Animal Park 15:00 Vote 2011 16:00 Flog It! 16:45 Helicopter Heroes 17:15 Pointless 18:00 Vote 2011 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Great British Menu 20:00 Railway Walks 20:30 A Newsnight Special 21:00 Petworth House: The Big Spring Clean 21:30 Gardeners’ World 22:00 Monty Don’s Italian Gardens 23:00 Frank Skinner’s Opinionated 23:30 Newsnight 24:35 Later... with Jools Holland

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 Paul O’Grady Live 23:00 ITV News at Ten 23:30 Granada News 23:35 The Cube 24:35 Take Me Out

07:10 The Hoobs 07:35 The Hoobs 08:00 Freshly Squeezed 08:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:00 Frasier 09:30 Friends 10:00 Wife Swap USA 10:55 Relocation, Relocation 11:55 A Place by the Sea 13:00 Channel 4 News 13:05 Make Do & Mend 13:35 The TV Book Club 14:05 Jamie at Home 14:35 Channel 4 Racing 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 4thought.tv 21:00 A Place in the Sun: Home or Away 22:00 The Million Pound Drop Live 23:25 Jimmy Carr: Telling Jokes 24:25 Ricky Gervais Show

07:00 Childrens TV 09:40 Olivia 09:50 The WotWots 10:00 Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:05 Extreme Fishing with Robson Green 13:05 Meals in Moments 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:20 Law & Order 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 Vanessa Show 16:05 Chinese Food in Minutes 16:10 Flood: a River’s Rampage 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 The Walking Dead 24:55 Cops in Crisis

08:00 Wild Vets 09:00 Oops TV 10:00 The Real A & E 10:30 The Real A & E 11:00 Law & Order 12:00 UK Border Force 13:00 UK Border Force 14:00 Stargate SG-1 15:00 Stargate SG-1 16:00 My Pet Shame 17:00 Oops TV 17:30 Futurama 18:00 Oops TV 18:30 Futurama 19:00 A League of Their Own 19:30 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: Blood and Sand 24:45 Ross Kemp Middle East

09:00 Under-17s European Championship Football 10:00 Under-17s European Championship Football 11:00 WTA Tennis 12:00 Live WTA Tennis 13:45 Under-17s European Championship Football 15:00 Live Under-17s European Championship Football 16:45 WATTS 17:00 Live Under-17s European Championship Football 19:00 WTA Tennis 20:30 Strongest Man 21:30 Under-17s European Championship Football 22:15 Under-17s European Championship Football 23:30 Extreme Sports: Freeride Spirit 24:00 WATTS 24:30 WTA Tennis

A League of Their Own SKY1 22.30

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 Criminal Minds

tv Saturday 07:00 Breakfast 11:00 Saturday Kitchen Live 12:30 Football Focus 13:10 BBC News; Regional News 13:30 Match of the Day Live 16:00 Live Challenge Cup Rugby League 17:00 Final Score 18:10 BBC News; Regional News 18:35 Don’t Scare the Hare 19:15 Doctor Who 20:00 So You Think You Can Dance Live 21:05 The National Lottery: Who Dares Wins 21:55 So You Think You Can Dance 22:25 Casualty 23:15 BBC News 23:35 Match of the Day 24:55 The Football League Show

07:00 Childrens TV 09:00 Fee Fi Fo Yum 09:30 Prank Patrol Down Under 10:00 Dick & Dom Go Wild 10:30 Serious Explorers 11:00 Relic: Guardians of the Museum 11:25 League of Super Evil 11:35 Wolverine and the X-Men 12:00 Formula 1 14:30 The Sky at Night 14:50 Diagnosis Murder 15:35 Legend 17:00 Live Challenge Cup Rugby League 18:30 Flog It! 19:00 Carry On at Your Convenience 20:30 Dad’s Army 21:00 Versailles: The Dream of a King 22:00 Have I Got a Bit More News for You 22:45 Hattie 24:10 This Is Your Life 24:40 Later... with Jools Holland

07:00 Mini CITV 08:25 CITV 09:25 House Gift 10:25 Coronation Street 13:10 This Morning: Saturday 14:10 ITV News 14:15 Monk 15:10 Totally You’ve Been Framed! 16:10 The Man with the Golden Gun 18:30 Granada News 18:45 ITV News 19:00 People Do the Funniest Things 20:00 Sing if You Can 21:00 Britain’s Got Talent 22:00 Piers Morgan’s Life Stories 23:00 ITV News 23:15 Magnum Force

CRYPTIC SOLUTIONS for 602 Across: 7 Railway ticket; 8 Pressman; 9 Oils; 10 Candid; 12 Inland; 14 Vessel; 16 Glance; 18 Spur; 20 Venetian; 22 Prefer a charge. Down: 1 Marriage; 2 Closed; 3 Farm; 4 Stunning; 5 School; 6 Well; 11 Delivery; 13 No change; 15 Strife; 17 Astray; 19 Part; 21 Nice. Quick solutions Across: 7 Make nothing of; 8 Converse; 9 Rare; 10 Ransom; 12 Employ; 14 Barren; 16 Yelled; 18 Deaf; 20 Unstable; 22 Consolidation. Down: 1 Panorama; 2 Serves; 3 Poor; 4 Thievery; 5 Unwrap; 6 Sour; 11 Manfully; 13 Overlook; 15 Refuse; 17 Lean-to; 19 Eros; 21 Side. WORDWHEEL 603: AFFECTION

6 - 12 May 2011

07:10 The Hoobs 08:00 British GT Championship 08:25 The Grid 08:55 The Morning Line 09:50 Friends 10:20 Koko Pop 10:50 Friends 11:25 Glee 12:20 Great British Hairdresser 13:25 Big Bang Theory 13:55 Big Bang Theory 14:20 That Paralympic Show 14:55 Channel 4 Racing 16:55 Come Dine with Me Down Under 17:55 Come Dine with Me Down Under 19:00 Come Dine with Me Down Under 19:30 Channel 4 News 19:55 4thought.tv 20:00 River Cottage Autumn Collection 21:00 The Untold Battle of Trafalgar 22:00 Million Pound Drop Live 23:20 Stand Up for the Week 24:10 What Lies Beneath

07:00 Childrens TV 08:00 Mio Mao 08:10 Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs 08:20 Funky Valley 08:25 Noddy in Toyland 08:40 Hana’s Helpline 09:00 Little Princess 09:10 The Adventures of Bottle Top Bill and His Best Friend Corky 09:30 Mist: Sheepdog Tales 09:45 Rupert Bear 10:00 Olivia 10:15 Mr Men Show 10:30 Gerald McBoing Boing 11:00 Meals in Moments 11:10 How Do They Do It? 11:40 The Gadget Show 12:40 Ben-Hur 16:50 The Train Robbers 18:35 The Green Berets 21:15 5 News Weekend 21:20 NCIS 22:15 CSI: Miami 23:15 CSI: NY 24:15 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

09:00 Gladiators 10:00 WWE: Superstars 11:00 Soccer AM 13:00 A Different Breed 14:00 A Town Called Eureka 15:00 UK Border Force 17:00 Oops TV 18:00 Emergency Animal Rescue 19:00 Emergency with Angela Griffin 20:00 The Simpsons 20:30 The Simpsons 21:00 Road Wars 22:00 Naked Gun 331/3: the Final Insult 23:50 Brit Cops: Frontline Crime UK

08:30 Extreme Sports: Freeride Spirit 09:00 Under-17s European Championship Football 10:30 Live Canoeing 12:00 Live WTA Tennis 13:45 Under-17s European Championship Football 14:30 Live Cycling 17:30 WTA Tennis 18:30 Live Intercontinental Le Mans Cup 20:00 Show Jumping 21:15 Fight Club 23:45 Cycling

07:00 Nothing to Declare 08:00 Jerry Springer Show 09:00 Maury 10:00 Sun, Sea and A&E 11:00 America’s Next Top Model 13:00 Biggest Loser 15:00 Four Weddings 17:00 Drop Dead Diva 18:00 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

6Feb - 1226 may 2011 4 2010 - March

24:15 Surgery School

07:00 Treacle People 07:10 The Hoobs 07:35 The Hoobs 08:00 That Paralympic Show 08:30 Freesports on 4 08:55 The Crush 09:20 Friends 09:50 Hollyoaks 12:20 Being N-Dubz in America and Beyond 12:55 Glee 13:50 The Simpsons 14:25 The Simpsons 14:55 Celebrity Coach Trip 15:25 Celebrity Coach Trip 15:55 Celebrity Coach Trip 16:30 Celebrity Coach Trip 17:00 Celebrity Coach Trip 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 The Hotel 22:00 How to Lose Friends & Alienate People 24:10 Big Momma’s House

07:00 Childrens TV 09:00 Little Princess 09:15 Funky Valley 09:20 The Adventures of Bottle Top Bill and His Best Friend Corky 09:30 Mist: Sheepdog Tales 09:45 Rupert Bear 10:00 Olivia 10:15 Mr Men Show 10:30 Gerald McBoing Boing 11:00 OK! TV Sunday 12:00 Extreme Fishing with Robson Green 13:00 Ice Road Truckers 14:00 The Hotel Inspector 15:00 Revealed 16:00 Short Circuit 2 18:05 5 News Weekend 18:10 Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger 20:25 X2 23:00 The Walking Dead 24:05 The Dentist

07:00 Hour of Power 08:00 Wild Vets 08:30 Wild Vets 09:00 A Different Breed 10:00 Oops TV 11:00 WWE: Superstars 12:00 WWE: Experience 13:00 Stargate Universe 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 A League of Their Own 19:30 A League of Their Own 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 11:45 Waybuloo 12:05 In the Night Garden 12:35 Pink Panther Show 13:00 Daily Politics 13:30 GMT with George Alagiah 14:00 Diagnosis Murder 14:45 To Buy or Not to Buy 15:15 Real Rescues 16:00 Flog It! 16:30 Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 17:30 Pointless 18:15 Show Me the Monet 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Great British Menu 20:00 Timewatch 21:00 Business Nightmares with Evan Davis 22:00 Children’s Craniofacial Surgery 23:00 Never Mind the Buzzcocks 23:30 Newsnight 24:20 Richard Hammond’s Engineering Connections

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 The Dales 21:30 Coronation Street 22:00 Strangeways 23:00 ITV News at Ten 23:30 Granada News 23:35 The Shawshank Redemption

07:05 The Hoobs 07:30 The Hoobs 08:00 Freshly Squeezed 08:25 Everybody Loves Raymond 08:55 Frasier 09:25 Friends 10:00 Wife Swap USA 10:55 Relocation, Relocation 11:55 A Place by the Sea 13:00 Channel 4 News 13:05 Make Do & Mend 13:35 First Men in the Moon 15:35 Baking Mad with Eric Lanlard 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 4thought.tv 21:00 A Year Inside Number 10 22:00 Gordon’s Great Escape 23:00 28 Weeks Later

07:00 Childrens TV 09:40 Olivia 09:50 The WotWots 10:00 Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:05 Extreme Fishing with Robson Green 13:05 Meals in Moments 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:20 Law & Order 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 Vanessa Show 16:05 Rough Guide to... 16:20 A Stranger’s Heart 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 How Do They Do It? 21:00 The Gadget Show 22:00 Hotel Inspector 23:00 There’s Something About Josie 24:00 Heartbreakers

08:00 Wild Vets 09:00 Oops TV 10:00 The Real A & E 11:00 Law & Order 12:00 Dream Lives for Sale 13:00 Dog Squad 14:00 Stargate SG-1 15:00 Stargate SG-1 16:00 My Pet Shame 17:00 Oops TV 17:30 Futurama 18:00 The Simpsons 18:30 Futurama 19:00 A League of Their Own 19:30 The Simpsons 20:30 The Simpsons 21:00 Stargate Universe 22:00 A League of Their Own 23:00 Spartacus: Blood and Sand 24:15 School of Hard Knocks

07:00 Childrens TV 11:20 Nuzzle and Scratch: Frock and Roll 11:45 Waybuloo 12:05 In the Night Garden 12:35 Pink Panther Show 13:00 Daily Politics 13:30 GMT with George Alagiah 14:00 Diagnosis Murder 14:45 To Buy or Not to Buy 15:15 Real Rescues 16:00 Flog It! 16:30 Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 17:30 Pointless 18:15 Show Me the Monet 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Great British Menu 20:00 Britain’s Secret Seas 21:00 Britain’s Next Big Thing 22:00 The Country House Revealed 23:00 The Apprentice: You’re Fired! 23:30 Newsnight 24:20 Lord Sugar Tackles Football

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 Military Driving School 21:00 Countrywise 22:00 Home Is Where the Heart Is 23:00 ITV News at Ten 23:30 Granada News 23:35 Mars Attacks!

07:20 The Hoobs 07:45 The Hoobs 08:10 Freshly Squeezed 08:35 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:00 Frasier 09:35 Friends 10:05 Wife Swap USA 11:00 Relocation, Relocation 12:00 A Place by the Sea 13:00 Channel 4 News 13:05 Make Do & Mend 13:35 River Cottage Bites 13:40 Journey to the Center of the Earth 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 4thought.tv 21:00 Supersize vs Superskinny 22:00 Secret Millionaire 23:00 Campus 24:05 Misfits

07:00 Childrens TV 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:05 Extreme Fishing with Robson Green 13:05 Family Recipe 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:20 Law & Order 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 Vanessa Show 16:05 Chinese Food in Minutes 16:10 Stranger with My Face 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 Highland Emergency 21:00 Supersize Grime 22:00 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 23:00 CSI: Miami 23:55 CSI: NY 24:55 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

07:00 Breakfast 08:35 Match of the Day 10:00 Andrew Marr Show 11:00 Big Questions 12:00 The Politics Show 13:10 Formula 1 16:25 Escape to the Country 17:25 Life of Riley 17:55 Points of View 18:10 Songs of Praise 18:45 BBC News; Regional News 19:10 Land Girls 20:00 Countryfile 21:00 Antiques Roadshow 22:00 Atlantis 23:00 BBC News; Regional News 23:25 The Gatwick Baby: Abandoned at Birth 24:25 Irresistible

07:00 Childrens TV 09:00 Fee Fi Fo Yum 09:30 Gimme a Break 10:00 Dennis & Gnasher 10:10 Bear Behaving Badly 10:35 Me and My Monsters 11:00 Something for the Weekend 12:30 Great British Menu 13:00 Priceless Antiques Roadshow 13:30 Britain’s Empty Homes 14:00 EastEnders 15:55 Live Challenge Cup Rugby League 18:30 The Red Baron 20:10 Richard Hammond’s Engineering Connections 21:00 Britain’s Secret Seas 22:00 Lord Sugar Tackles Football 23:00 Match of the Day 2 24:10 The Shadow Line

07:00 Mini CITV

07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Missing 2011 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 Don’t Get Done, Get Dom 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 16:05 Gastronuts 16:40 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 19:30 Regional News 20:00 The One Show 20:30 Saints and Scroungers 21:00 EastEnders 21:30 Panorama 22:00 Wootton Bassett: The Town That Remembers 23:00 BBC News 23:35 A Question of Sport

07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Missing 2011 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 Don’t Get Done, Get Dom 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 16:05 Gastronuts 16:40 Wingin’ It 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 20:00 The One Show 20:30 EastEnders 21:00 Holby City 22:00 The Apprentice 23:00 BBC News 23:35 See You in Court 24:25 The Lock Up

08:25 CITV 09:25 May the Best House Win 10:25 Dickinson’s Real Deal 11:25 Sing if You Can 12:30 This Morning: Sunday 13:30 Dinner Date 14:30 ITV News 14:40 Columbo 16:40 Britain’s Got Talent 17:40 About a Boy 19:30 Granada News 19:45 ITV News 20:00 The Cube 21:00 Vera 23:00 ITV News at Ten 23:15 Perspectives

tv Monday

tv Tuesday

08:30 Inside WTCC 09:00 GP3 Series 09:30 Live GP3 Series 10:00 Live Canoeing 11:00 WTA Tennis 11:45 World Superbikes 12:00 Live World Superbikes 13:00 Live World Supersport Championship 14:15 Live Cycling 17:30 World Superbikes 18:15 Motorsports Weekend 18:30 WTA Tennis 20:00 Boxing 22:00 Cycling 23:00 WTA Tennis 24:15 World Superbikes

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 Four Weddings US 14:00 Four Weddings US 15:00 Four Weddings US 16:00 Passport Patrol 17:00 Nothing to Declare 18:00 Nothing to Declare 18:30 Nothing to Declare 19:00 Four Weddings 20:00 How to Hold onto a Prince 21:00 Cougar Town 21:30 Hot in Cleveland 22:00 Katie 23:00 The Hunks 24:00 Grey’s Anatomy

Short Circuit 2 Channel 5 16.00

08:30 Prague Marathon 09:30 World Superbikes 10:00 WTA Tennis 11:00 Cycling 12:00 Under-17s European Championship Football 13:00 Live Under-17s European Championship Football 14:45 Live Cycling 17:30 Live Under-17s European Championship Football 19:00 Eurogoals 19:30 Champions Club 20:15 WATTS 20:55 Under-17s European Championship Football 22:30 Under-17s European Championship Football 23:45 Eurogoals

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 Katie 22:00 Four Weddings Revisited 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 Wild Vets 08:30 Wild Vets 09:00 Oops TV 10:00 The Real A & E 10:30 The Real A & E 11:00 Law & Order 12:00 Dream Lives for Sale 13:00 Dog Squad 14:00 Stargate SG-1 15:00 Stargate SG-1 16:00 Vet Adventures 17:00 Oops TV 17:30 Futurama 18:00 The Simpsons 18:30 Futurama 19:00 A League of Their Own 19:30 The Simpsons 20:00 The Simpsons 20:30 The Simpsons 21:00 A Different Breed 22:00 Naked Gun 331/3: the Final Insult 23:50 Brit Cops: Frontline Crime UK 24:50 Fringe

08:35 Champions Club 09:15 WATTS 09:30 Tennis 10:00 WTA Tennis 11:00 Live WTA Tennis 14:45 Live Cycling 17:30 WTA Tennis 19:30 Live WTA Tennis 21:15 Boxing 23:00 World Superbikes 24:00 Porsche Super Cup 24:30 Motorsports Weekend 24:45 Eurogoals

The Apprentice BBC1 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 The Hunks 24:00 Criminal Minds

tv Wednesday 07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Missing 2011 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 Don’t Get Done, Get Dom 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 16:05 Copycats 16:40 Winging It 17:00 Trade Your Way to the USA 17:30 Little Howard’s Big Question 18:00 Newsround 18:15 The Weakest Link 19:00 BBC News 19:30 Regional News 20:00 The One Show 20:30 Waterloo Road 21:30 Life of Riley 22:00 The Apprentice 23:00 BBC News 23:25 Regional News 23:35 National Lottery Wednesday Night Draws 23:45 Would I Lie to You? 24:15 Bad Company

07:00 Childrens TV 10:05 Koala Brothers 10:15 Guess with Jess 10:30 Big & Small 10:40 Buzz and Tell 10:45 Big Cook Little Cook 11:05 Mightymites 11:20 Nuzzle and Scratch: Frock and Roll 11:40 Waybuloo 12:00 In the Night Garden 12:30 Daily Politics 14:00 See Hear 14:30 To Buy or Not to Buy 15:15 Real Rescues 16:00 Flog It! 16:30 Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 17:30 Pointless 18:15 Show Me the Monet 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Great British Menu 20:00 Escape to the Country 21:00 Two Greedy Italians 22:00 Wonderland 22:50 Coast 23:00 The Apprentice: You’re Fired! 23:30 Newsnight 24:20 Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle 24:50 French Film

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 Poms in Paradise 21:00 The National Movie Awards 23:00 ITV News at Ten 23:30 Granada News 23:35 Cops with Cameras 24:35 Long Lost Family

- 12 may 2011 Feb 26 - 6March 4 2010

07:10 The Hoobs 07:35 The Hoobs 08:00 Freshly Squeezed 08:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 08:55 Frasier 09:25 Friends 09:55 Wife Swap USA 10:50 Relocation, Relocation 11:55 A Place by the Sea 13:00 Channel 4 News 13:05 Make Do & Mend 13:35 The TV Book Club 14:05 Channel 4 Racing 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 4thought.tv 21:00 Vacation, Vacation, Vacation 21:30 Superscrimpers: Waste Not Want Not 22:00 24 Hours in A&E 23:00 Desperate Housewives 24:05 Big Bang Theory 24:30 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 Extreme Fishing with Robson Green 13:05 Meals in Moments 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:20 Law & Order 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 Vanessa Show 16:05 Meals in Moments 16:15 Victor: the Victor Davis Story 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 Zoo Days 21:00 Essex Jungle 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 Relocation, Relocation 11:55 A Place by the Sea 13:00 Channel 4 News 13:05 Make Do & Mend 13:35 The TV Book Club 14:05 Channel 4 Racing 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 4thought.tv 21:00 Three in a Bed 22:00 A Very Dangerous Doctor 23:40 The Secret Millionaire 24:45 Big Bang Theory

07:00 Childrens Tv 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 Extreme Fishing with Robson Green 13:05 Meals in Moments 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:20 Law & Order 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 Vanessa Show 16:05 Meals in Moments 16:15 The Reading Room 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 Rough Guide to... 21:00 Emergency Bikers 22:00 Extreme Fishing: Ends of the Earth 23:00 Impossible 24:05 Banged Up Abroad

08:00 Wild Vets 08:30 Wild Vets 09:00 Oops TV 10:00 The Real A & E 10:30 The Real A & E 11:00 Law & Order 12:00 Dream Lives for Sale 13:00 Dog Squad 14:00 Stargate SG-1 15:00 Stargate SG-1 16:00 Vet Adventures 17:00 Oops TV 17:30 Futurama 18:00 The Simpsons 18:30 Futurama 19:00 A League of Their Own 19:30 The Simpsons 20:00 The Simpsons 20:30 The Simpsons 21:00 Emergency with Angela Griffin 22:00 Brit Cops: Zero Tolerance 23:00 Fringe 24:00 Martina Cole’s The Runaway

08:30 Olympic Magazine 09:00 Cycling 10:00 WTA Tennis 11:00 Live WTA Tennis 14:45 Live Cycling 17:30 WTA Tennis 19:30 Live WTA Tennis 21:15 Wednesday Selection 21:20 Badminton Horse Trials 22:20 Riders Club 22:25 PGA Tour Golf 23:25 European Tour Golf 23:55 Golf Club 24:00 Yacht Club 24:15 Table Tennis

53 53

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 Revisited 22:00 Bones 23:00 Grey’s Anatomy 24:00 Criminal Minds

The National Movie Awards ITV1 21.00

tv Thursday 07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Missing 2011 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 Don’t Get Done, Get Dom 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 Copycats 16:40 Wingin’ It 17:00 Project Parent 17:30 My Life 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 Inside the Human Body 23:00 BBC News 23:25 Regional News 23:35 Question Time 24:35 This Week

07:00 Childrens TV 10:15 Guess with Jess 10:30 Big & Small 10:40 Buzz and Tell 10:45 Big Cook Little Cook 11:05 Timmy Time 11:20 Nuzzle and Scratch: Frock and Roll 11:45 Waybuloo 12:05 In the Night Garden 12:35 Pink Panther Show 13:00 Daily Politics 13:30 GMT with George Alagiah 14:00 Diagnosis Murder 14:45 To Buy or Not to Buy 15:15 Real Rescues 16:00 Flog It! 16:30 Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 17:30 Pointless 18:15 Show Me the Monet 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Great British Menu 20:00 Coast 21:00 The Animal’s Guide to Britain 22:00 The Shadow Line 23:00 Psychoville 23:30 Newsnight 24:20 Business Nightmares with Evan Davis

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 Long Lost Family 23:00 ITV News at Ten 23:30 Granada News 23:35 Piers Morgan’s Life Stories 24:35 Party People

08:00 Wild Vets 08:30 Wild Vets 09:00 Oops TV 10:00 The Real A & E 10:30 The Real A & E 11:00 Law & Order 12:00 Dream Lives for Sale 13:00 Dog Squad 13:30 Dog Squad 14:00 Stargate SG-1 15:00 Stargate SG-1 16:00 Vet Adventures 17:00 Oops TV 17:30 Futurama 18:00 The Simpsons 18:30 Futurama 19:00 A League of Their Own 19:30 The Simpsons 20:00 The Simpsons 20:30 The Simpsons 21:00 Hawaii Five-0 22:00 The Chicago Code 23:00 House 24:00 NCIS: Los Angeles

08:35 WATTS 08:45 WTA Tennis 10:00 Cycling 11:30 Live Under-17s European Championship Football 13:15 Live WTA Tennis 14:45 Live Cycling 17:30 Under-17s European Championship Football 19:00 Tennis 19:30 Live WTA Tennis 23:00 Under-17s European Championship Football 24:30 Intercontinental Rally Challenge

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

07:00 Nothing to Declare 08:00 Jerry Springer Show 09:00 Maury 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

6 - 1226 may 2011 4 2010 Feb - March

54 44

Here come the double-deckers!

The TV Round Up by

Alex Trelinski

Broadcaster and freelance journalist

’M CERTAIN that TV schedulers suffer from ‘doubledecker bus syndrome’ and we had a big case of that this week. Not one but FOUR new thrillers to salivate over, starting with a three-part cracker on BBC1 called ‘Exile’ created by Paul Abbott, and starring John Simm and Jim Broadbent. The names just indicate the quality of this beautifully executed thriller with a human touch. ITV1 brought us new TV female detectives with the wonderful Brenda Blethyn as DCI Vera Stanhope, and then Olivia Williams excellent as a sergeant in the two parter ’Case Sensitive’. Add last night’s welcome return to the small screen for Christopher Eccleston in a new conspiracy thriller on BBC2, ‘The Shadow Line’, and you can see what British TV is capable of, when it tries to pop its head out of the regular nauseating cesspool of soaps and cheap reality/documentary shows.

Who’s the greatest ever British TV sports broadcaster? My answer without hesitation would be David Coleman, and a long overdue tribute documentary to celebrate his 85th birthday was must-view stuff on BBC 2 last Tuesday. Coleman exuded authority on camera as a presenter, and behind the microphone as a commentator on athletics and football. A few of my friends that crossed his path told me that he was not the easiest to work with, and fools were quickly dispensed with, thus not making him an automatic entry on some Christmas card lists. But for me, he was BBC TV Sport, and his attention to detail was never better then when hosting Grandstand and that time at 4.40 on a Saturday afternoon, when his painstaking research gushed out as the footie results came in on the teleprinter. It was a generation or two before computers and the current king of Saturday football coverage, Jeff Stelling on Sky Sports. All a shame, then, that after the 2000 Sydney Olympics Coleman was quietly dumped by the BBC despite getting a special honour that year from the International Olympic Committee. He deserved a better send-off eleven years ago, and it was good to see a wrong being righted this week.

I was a fan of Larry Hagman years before he put on a stetson and turned dirty as JR Ewing in ‘Dallas’. His stock in trade was very much comedy, and he made his name as the astronaut Tony in the mid-sixties sitcom, ‘I Dream of Jeannie’, which I loved watching as a kid; perhaps just for the catchy theme tune! So it’s been nice to see Hagman pop again playing it for laughs in

‘Desperate Housewives’ on Channel 4 as the ageing grumpy racist, Frank, who last week married Lynette’s mum, Stella. His timing is brilliant along with his poker-faced expressions, and with so many serious storylines on the show at the moment, its great having Hagman take the comedy centre-stage of a programme that after seven years still has a lot of juice left in the tank.

La Verdad De La Mentira DETECTIVE CHIEF Inspector Gonçalo Amaral is the policeman who led the search for Madeleine McCann, if in fact the poor mite was ever really Book searched for on that night of 3rd Review by May 2007. Despite the child being left in an unlocked apartment with her two younger siblings, out of copy@dannyjpcollins.com view of her parents who were dining more than a hundred metres away, her parents insisted she had been abducted. In my own book, Vanished – The Truth About the Disappearance of Madeleine McCann (John Blake 2008), I voice my suspicions that the McCann’s put forward the abduction theory because they feared a police prosecution for the abandonment of a minor. DCI Amaral agrees but far from believing my conclusions that Madeleine wandered out of the unlocked apartment of her own volition and was carried off by Romanian gipsies to be sold for begging, Amaral believes she died an accidental death in the apartment and her death was covered up by her parents. I find that hard to believe and Amaral’s attempts to convince us of his conclusions strike me as a cynical assumption based on an immense dislike for the McCanns and for the misguided attempts by them and members of their holiday group to mislead the investigation regarding how the group’s children were left and checked on. However, one can’t deny the police inspector and his team unearthed some startling facts, including that about a member of

Danny Collins

the group that could be contrived as playing a sinister part in Madeleine’s disappearance. Clearly DCI Amaral, who retired in order to write the book, has a policeman’s nose that twitches at every scent, even putting forward the ludicrous assertion that the McCann’s used a hire car, rented 23 days after Madeleine’s disappearance, to remove her body to a place of clandestine burial. However, other than a few similarly bizarre assertions that seem to deliberately overlook established fact – for example, Amaral insists that cadaver dogs have been successful in 200 cases without mentioning that given the scientifically declared success rate is between 66 and 69%, it must mean they have proved unsuccessful in a further 100. This is, of course, a policeman’s logic and not mine but his conviction is unshakeable that Madeleine died in apartment 5A on 3rd May 2007. For myself I believe that every fact must be considered before a conclusion is reached and for that reason I recommend it to RTN readers who can handle Spanish. The book was banned from sale by the Portuguese Court following a plea by the McCann’s lawyers in September 2009 but was lifted following a successful appeal by Amaral on 19th October 2010. Author: Gonçalo Amaral Publisher: Esquilo (Spanish language paperback) Price: 13.50€ ISBN: 978 989 8092 40 3

Suduko Answer

No great surprise that the BBC wiped the ratings floor against everybody else with last Friday’s Royal Wedding coverage. I liked the laid-back style of Huw Edwards as he anchored proceedings effortlessly, and the transmission struck a nice balance of seriousness and informality. But I did feel sorry for the BBC’s Formula One presenter, Jake Humphrey, whose 20 seconds of glory in a RAF plane for the balcony fly-past was a complete technical disaster, with lots of preparation down the proverbial river. Never mind Jake, I’m sure Prince Harry will walk down the aisle in the next couple of years!

motoring

Brian Deller

Author of Motoring in Spain

COULD YOU answer a question for us if possible? We purchased a new Ford Focus from the garage in 2007 leaving a deposit in February and when we came to live in Spain we went with the garage vendor, to the Denia offices, to get all the paperwork ready to (as we thought) put it on the road paying the Vehicle Tax. That was 14th June 2007. Brian, when would we need an ITV on the car? Someone has told us that it is when it leaves the factory which is stamped on the paperwork: we have 20.12.2006. It was a brand new car and the number plates had to be ordered before we took delivery - that was a week later, around 21.6.2007. Therefore we would like to think it would need its first ITV in June this year. Also we would like to order your book. Jill and Don Flint First of all, you made a good choice with the Focus. We bought a new one in 2001, the diesel, and sold it after 150,000km (about 93,000 miles) and the new owner has now done well over 200,000km and it is still going very well. It was serviced mostly by myself and I use full synthetic oil (sintetico) which is the best quality. I use SAE 5W-50. We had no mechanical problems at all and in fact are soon to buy another new one, the 2-litre automatic diesel. I will therefore have an exceptional 2008 1,8 Focus diesel to sell very soon. The current one, bought new in late 2008, is going very well. I would not change back to petrol now unless it has a V8 or a V10

6 - 12 may 2011

engine. The diesel is very economic, especially with all the hills and mountains we have here on the Costa del Sol. The first Focus the TDDI, averaged 47 mpg over the 150,000kms. The ITV is in my book, page 98 (Third Edition). Private vehicles (non-commercials) are free of the ITV (MOT) for the first 4 years. The Technical Card (Tarjeta de Inspeccion Tecnica de Vehiculos) that comes with the car has on the reverse the places for the ITV station to stamp the card after each ITV is passed. Therefore your first will be due in June 2011. On my web-site there is a page listing all the bookshops but the Denia one closed down in March 2008, so unless there is a new one I do not know about... If there is I would appreciate the name, address and telephone number please. It may be quicker to order direct from me by post. The method is explained in the web-site at (click): www.spainvia.com/postalmethod.htm. As soon as you have paid the cash over (23€ is okay), email me the codigo (serial number) for the receipt and I will go to our local Correos and post the book in a padded envelope. Please do not use the address in the website as I have moved and coupled with changing my PC I have to redo the web-site with different new software and it is not quite finished yet. After 2-3 years of driving the Focus, I wished I had had it when I was young (I am 73 now) as it goes like a sports car and it has a back seat. Work that one out for yourselves.

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

Car sales down

General car sales have fallen again, for the tenth consecutive month. The monthly fall for April was 23.3% compared to last year at 71,808 registrations. It means the market is Spain has fallen back to where it was 18 years ago. For the first four months of the year, the fall in registrations has been 26.3% compared to last year, at 279,960.

Car sales down again

6 - 12 may 2011

WAS €28.000 2011 CITROEN C4 Grand Picasso 1.6 Hdi Millenium

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7 seats only 11kms with sat nav Slate grey was €26.500 2011 CITROEN C4 Picasso 1.6Hdi Millenium NOW €22,500 5 seats Sat Nav only 8kms in Silver 2011 CITROEN NEW C4 1.6Hdi Seduction was €20.800 NOW €18,300 Brilliant white paint climate full options 2011 CITROEN NEW C3 1.4Hdi Selection NOW€15,018 was €17.818 Slate grey Pack Zenith full options parking sensores 2009 CITROEN C4 1.6Hdi CMP Collection AUTO €12,500 49,000kms with air con Alloys cruise control 2007 CITROEN C2 1.4i “CODE” Special edition €7,500 with Tan Leather interior, Black metallic, only 34,000kms 2005 CITROEN XSARA PICASSO 1.6 Hdi 110Hp Exclusive €6,800 130,000kms Full service history 2004 CITROEN Xsara Picasso 2.0Hdi Exclusive €6,800 with Glass roof, leather interior, and only 78,000kms 2003 CITROEN C3 1.4i SX Air conditioning €5,000 CD radio Good condition with 135,000kms in Blue 2006 CITROEN XSARA PICASSO 1.6Hdi €8,500 110 Exclusive 49,000kms full history in Metallic red One owner

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2002 CITROEN C3 1.4 Hdi Sx 130,000kms in blue with Aircon CD radio alloys 2001 CITROEN SAXO 1.4i sx with air conditioning silver metallic good runabout 1996 CITROEN XANTIA 1.8i 16v Sxi 130,000kms with aircon and electric windows, service history 2004 RENAULT MEGANE SCENIC 1.9Dci Privledge full option pack with 108,000kms and Service history 2006 SEAT ALTEA 140Tdi REFERENCE in Blue metallic with 70,000kms with 6 speed gearbox 2006 AUDI A8 4.2 Tdi All of the extras from Audi and with only 27,000kms, Super Luxury (P) 2006 FORD KA 1.3i collection 70 Silver metallic with 57,000kms Perfect for a holiday home car 1998 JEEP CHEROKEE 2.5 Turbodiesel Leather interior tow bar , full equipment, 120,000kms 1996 MERCEDES Clase C 220 Cdi Silver metallic with full option pack 158,000kms Very well looked after(P) 1999 VW GOLF GTi 1.8 TURBO Silver metallic RHD on Spanish plates nice condition 129,000Miles 2007 VOLKSWAGEN EOS 3.2 V6 Auto Beautiful Red leather interior Silver only 27,000kms (P) 2006 Citroen Berlingo HDI SX Plus 76,000 kms, new tyres,

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HYUNDAI ACCENT 2001 1.3 LTR PETROL

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SEAT IBIZA 2006 1.4 LTR PETROL AUTOMATIC

RENAULT CLIO 2000 1.2 LTR PETROL

SUZUKI VITARA CITROEN C3 70 SX Ford Focus Estate, Trend Plus 2005 1.4 HDI 2005 1.6 TDCI Diesel 2002 4X4 1.9 LTR DIESEL DIESEL, ONE OWNER

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Opening hours Mon - Fri 9-6pm (No siesta) Sat 10-1pm. Find us next to Petrol Station TORREMENDO 10 Minutes inland from San Miguel, Los Montesinos & Junction 751 on the AP7 towards Orihuela. Torremendo turning on CV95 towards San Miguel

Classified Ads 6 - 12 may 2011

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

UK-SPAIN-IRELAND All European Destinations

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• Professional pool maintenance & cleaning • Replacement pumps, filters, salt systems Ph regulators and accessories supplied and installed • Pipe leaks pressure tested, detected and repaired • Structural leaks investigated and repaired • Refurbishments & upgrades undertaken British Trained with over 15 years experience. Extensive references. All work guaranteed Tel: 96 677 4199 or 678 080 500 www.pristineswimmingpools.com Torrevieja and surrounding areas plus Costa Calida

6 - 12 may 2011

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

EXCEL AIR CONDITIONING. See main ad on page 13.Tel/Fax (Head Office) 966-897-772. Mobiles:-680154-432/676-265-675. Email excelairconditioning@hotmail. com. All credit/debit cards accepted. SERVICE AIR David Higton: (Tel) 966-865-883 (Mob) 629-308-505 (Email) cool@ serviceair.biz

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 968-192-425 mob. 626-055-622 www. mobilehomesmarmenorspain. com CAMPING LOS GALLARDOS Come to Mojacar! Large campsite + mobile home park open all year, great expat community site, all welcome. 950-528-324. www. CampingLosGallardos.com

PAWS PET TRANSPORT Spain-UK-Spain every month. We look after your pets as if they belong to us. Call Joe for a chat on 966-074-576 or 650-341-087. email:pawspettransport@hotmail. com

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MOORING SPACE AVAILABLE to rent in Javea Fontana Marina. Telephone:606-936-012 or email:karensg8@gmail.com SSR SPEED BOAT 4.5Mtr + New Trailer. Yamaha 28hp, E/S. possibility auxiliary

PC SOLUTIONS 4U For all your PC needs. Reliable & friendly service. Call Fred 634-638-664/visits 20 mile radius,Benidorm. We also buy PCs/computers BYTEBACK MICROS computer repairs/upgrades in your home. Qualified technician. Systems custom built. Whatever your problem call: 965-312-006 or 606-127-424

CARERS WANTED To work in England 3 weeks on 3 weeks off email CV to 24hourhomecareservices@ googlemail.com EXPERIENCED CARERS To Work In North Wales 2weeks On 2weeks Off Accommodation And Car Provided Strictly For Working Purposes Driving Licence And English Speaking Essential. Airfare Not Included. For Further Information Contact 628-769-892 Bernadette@ zinctek.com FULL TIME PROFESSIONAL HEADWAITER or restaurant manager with a proven record of experience and an understanding of English, Spanish and German. You will also be honest, hard working and have a young, ambitious and energetic attitude. Also required experienced assistant chefs with proven work history, spoken English necessary. Experienced hard working Bar staff with proven work history, spoken English and some knowledge of cocktails required. Please send up to date CV to ponchosmoraira@ yahoo.com tel 688-883-004 AVON NEED AGENTS AND LEADERS work hours to suit you. For info Phone Rosh 966785-520 ADULT INTERNET PHOTO AND VIDEO Females and couples, 18-65, required as models. Excellent rates. Tlf:697-697-842 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

WILL THE EURO WEAKEN, FURTHER? Safeguard your savings, change to GBP. Legal, safe & private. Profitable, paid 8-10% interest, last decade. Requires offers 50K, plus. Details:petersharp4u@gmail.com

engine. Brand New upholstery + extras. 3000€. Tlf:665-068-649

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS - COSTA BLANCA Confidential Helplines South 625-912-078 North - 648-169045 www.aa-costablanca.org GRIP-PP HOGROAST Friday May 20th, 2011, 12.303.00pm at Plaza Blanca, Quesada. Meal and Drink by ticket only from the GRIP office at Calle Adelfas 9 from Monday 9th May

10 COLD DRINK/SNACK VENDING MACHINES with sites,€44,900.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.965-326442/659-696-455 SOLAR ENERGY BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Long established company, own product range. First class training & support. Telephone 606586587

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

ANXIOUS-DEPRESSED? Find the cause and eliminate it permanently using Psychotherapy. Call San Luis Clinic 965-405-631/ 669-649-002 BECOME FREE OF ALCOHOL At The Sanctuary. Residential or day clinic, Crevillente. Call 965-405631/669-649-002 TEETH WHITENING. Professional Pain Free Cosmetic Treatment, from 99€. Javea, Denia, Calpe, Benidorm areas. Tel:-966-473166 or 680-501-404. See www. nulookteeth.com

S.O.S. INSURANCE CarHome-Health-Comercial. Funeral Plans and Insurance. Tlf:-966-787-123/ 622-275-561/686-116-297

STERLING ELITE MOBILITY SCOOTER with reverse facility, indicators, lights, horn and charger. 950€ + household goods.Tel:-610-322-653-Denia HAIRDRESSING EQUIPMENT 1 backwash unit, Hood Dryer on Stand, Climazon Dryer Nearly New 1000€. Genuine Interest Only Tlf:-620-408-678 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 TRADITIONAL STYLE CASSETTE WOOD BURNER Fan assisted. Width 87cm. Height 61cm. Cost 1200€. Accept 300€. Photo available, buyer collects. 965-570-187 or 645-099-662. 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

AT MICHAEL’S White Lshaped leather sofa. Two yellow leather sofas 3-seater + 2-seater. Large Chesterfield 4piece high quality leather suite. www.michaels-javea.com AT MICHAEL’S beautifully carved hand made Moroccan cabinet. Big Moroccan carved blanket chest. Big Moroccan cabinet See photos: www. michaels-javea.com Tel 96-579 1328

6 - 12 may 2011 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 See our website, more than 30 different dining sets in various styles, Castilian, wicker, modern, pine, designer etc. 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.michaelsjavea.com Tlf:965-791-328.

BMW June 1997 1.9 Roadster 49,000 kms, 3 owners Fully serviced. All extras. Dark met green Showroom condition

€7,750

600-726-221/695-687-976

www.fwreurocars.com

music albums. Karaoke & DJ software etc etc. 225euros. CC accepted via paypal. call Paul . 659-511-951 BEV´S CAKES For all occasions, made to your specification. Alfaz/Benidorm areas. Call for more info 670-533-488 POOL, SNOOKER TABLES Also Table Tennis and Darts. Will beat any price!. Tlf:-666933-726. www.spainpool.com

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

Mercedes CLK230 Cabriolet Auto/Tip Top Line Choice of four Full service history

Showroom condition

from €8,950

600-726-221/695-687-976

G.S PARTY HIRE Planning a party. Do you need table s,chairs,crockery,glasses. Outside catering and bar for all occasions. Then contact me for more information on.635109-375/693-371-654/ 966-194-984 BALLROOM/LATIN/ SEQUENCE DANCING La Rustika [Los Arcos] Restaurant, Avenida Baleares, Torrevieja.Monday, NEW BEGINNERS CLASS 10.30am 12.30pm: Tuesday: IMPROVERS LESSON 7.30m 8.30pm plus SOCIAL DANCE 8.30pm 10.30pm: Saturday SOCIAL DANCE 7.30pm 10pm.Casa Ventura, San Luis, Torrevieja. Thursday NEW BEGINNERS CLASS 7.30pm 9.30pm.Tel: Andrea & Brian:616-478-157 WEIGHT WATCHERS Call our Free English call centre now to find your nearest meeting. 900-818-794

MOORING SPACE AVAILABLE to rent in Javea Fontana Marina. Telephone:606-936-012 or email:karensg8@gmail.com TRAILOR TWIN WHEELED 2.600 x 1.400 for a English car 550euros. Scaffold English Aliminum clips and boards covers 32mt x 2 lifts 550euros. Tel No:-965-730-774 QROPS FEES! Have you looked at transferring or cashing in your UK pension only to be dissappointed by expensive fees? If so call me. Lowest QROPS Fees Guaranteed! Paul 965-058-488 or 691-219-354 KARAOKE MEDIA PLAYER Special Offer 500GB. 80,000songs, software, songbooks, bar/home use. 195euros Tlf:-657-766-341 SUNSHADE CANVERSE, TEAK POLE 8FT SPREAD Excellent condition, base included. 35€. Tlf:965-874-323. 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+

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. hgmservices@yahoo.com HYUNDAI ACCENT, 2001, 1.3LTR Petrol, 5 door, metallic blue, Spanish LHD, air con, power steering, reliable 2495€ www.venuscars.com 965 368 274 PEUGEOT PARTNER COMBI 2000 1.9 Ltr diesel, white, Spanish LHD, good maintenance record, reliable, good condition 2995€ www. venuscars.com 965 368 274 RENAULT CLIO, ALIZE, 2000 1.2 LTR Petrol, 5 door hatch, Spanish LHD, Burgundy red metallic, 75000km, air con. 2495€ 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 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 WANTED Scrap cars, vans, lorries, plant and caravans. Turn your scrap into cash. Free collection. Tel.689-929395 BUMPERS, WINGS AND MIRRORS All body panels for all cars supplied. Tel:-966-877145 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 I buy any car,

www.fwreurocars.com

FORD Focus II 1.6 TDCi 110cv Trend 2008 Station Wagon Alloys, Climate Control, Low Cost 12 Months Warranty (Parts & Labour) Price: 11.999€ + Transf AUTOELITE Industrial Estate TEULADA Tel: 902 222 095 stefanie@autoelite.es

FORD Fiesta Coupé Sport 1.6 TDCi 90cv 2008 34.200kms Alloys, Metallic Paint 12 Months Warranty (Parts & Labour) Price: 9.499€ + Transf AUTOELITE Industrial Estate TEULADA Tel: 902 222 095 stefanie@autoelite.es

VOLKSWAGEN Eos 2.0TDI DPF 140cv Cabriolet. 2009 39.300kms Parking Sensor, Hard top 12 Months Warranty (Parts & Labour) Price: 20.999€ + Transf AUTOELITE Industrial Estate TEULADA Tel: 902 222 095 stefanie@autoelite.es

TOYOTA AVENSIS 2.0 D4-D Sol 126CV 2007 62.600kms Climate Control, Alloys 12 Months Warranty (Parts & Labour) Price: 11.999€ + Transf AUTOELITE Industrial Estate TEULADA Tel: 902 222 095 stefanie@autoelite.es

van,Caravan,4x4 Etc.British, Spanish. Immediate cash 600-781-873 ibuyanycar@hotmail.com

MAZDA 6 2.0 CRTD 143 Active

Special RTN News Offer:

10.999€ Transfer Included! (Normal price: 11.999€+Trans)

FINE FINISH DECORATORS All apsects undertaken, guaranteed work, free quotes and advice. cheap rates, Villajoyosa to Calpe. 617-619-710 PAINTOR AND DECORATOR Exterior/interior Spray Painting Specialist. Woodwork, iron work, all aspects. For a free friendly, no obligation quote call Kevin Guilfoyle. 965-831209/636-653-516 or Guifoyle. kev66@gmail.com

AUTOELITE Industrial Estate TEULADA Tel: 902 222 095 stefanie@autoelite.es

ACE AUTOS British & Spanish used car sales

03 SUZUKI WAGON R 5 DOOR A/C P/S E/W CLEAN 99 HYUNDAI ACCENT 1.3 LOW KMS A/C V/CLEAN 00 HYUNDAI ATOS RED 5 DOOR A/C E/W P/S 99 OPEL TIGRA A/C NEW PAINT ALLOYS LOW KMS 98 SUZUKI VITARA AUTOMATIC SOFT/TOP 05 M.G. ZR 3 DOOR SPORT, ALLOYS A/C P/S C.D. 97 AUDI A4 A/C E/W P/S ALLOYS MET B.R.G. 01 SEAT IBIZA DIESEL 3 DOOR LOW KMS A/C 03 DEAWOO MATIZ 5 DOOR A/C P/S E/W V/CLEAN 00 OPEL CORSA DIESEL 5 DOOR V.LOW KMS 96 SEAT CORDOBA 1.9 DIESEL 4 DOOR A/C P/S 97 DAEWOO LANOS 3 DOOR HATCH A/C P/S 96 OPEL VECTRA ESTATE ALLOYS A/C CLEAN 92 OPEL FRONTERA 4X4 SPORT,ALLOYS, A/C P/S U.K. CARS 01 RENAULT LAGUNA ONLY 55,OOO MILES M.O.T.

3,500€ 1,750€ 2,450€ 2,750€ 2,750€ 2,950€ 1,750€ 2,750€ 3,500€ 2,950€ 1,950€ 1,450€ 1,950€ 1,950€ 950€

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

6 - 12 may 2011

DANI 24, SWEET GERMAN GIRL Offers erotic service. House and Hotel visits or in my apartment. 650-104-534 Torrevieja MAY-EROTIC FROM INDONESIA 38 petite attractive full service, will spoil you with a sensual relaxing massage. No withheld numbers. Call:-698-896-034. Mon-Fri FELLAS! Do you have a problem getting up in the morning, or at any other time? If so phone Derek 685-207378 BI-GAY PLUMBER Available to massage your ball cock and semen requirements. A warm welcome! Tlf:-660-409-206 TORREVIEJA TRANS AMANDA Stunning Blonde. Huge breasts, sculptural body. Speciality erotic masage.Very feminine and sexy. Call me 671-424-456 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 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 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 AGENCY CAMPANILLA Pretty and pleasant girls only for hotel and home service. 24hr. Discreet. Seriousness. Alicante and Murcia areas. Call us 626-750-746. CASA ANGELA TORREVIEJA Luxury Private Chalet, parking. Drinks invitation. Feeling alone? Just want some company? Exotic girls from South America. Call us, come and enjoy! Also Escort Service. Full discretion. Street: Avenida Asociacion Vistimas del Terrorismo. 609-573-468 or 639-832-118 NEW PLACE! TORREVIEJA Sexy girls from South America. Come and enjoy, economical prices from 40?. NEW ADDRESS Zone Los Locos beach. 682-776-068 TORREVIEJA CHINESE SUPER SEXY Young and beautiful. Calle Orihuela Nº60, 2º1 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 Manga-Mazarron Areas. Tlf:-693-357-526

BRAND NEW TWO BED FLAT In Algorfa, partly furnished, town centre, communal pool.350euro inclusive . No bills to pay. Ring:-0044-7949-589-539

WOODWORM, BORING BEETLE or Termite problems? Call Woodtech now on 675107-252. COCKROACHES, RATS, MICE, WASPS or Hornet problems? Call Pestkill now on 625-160-325

WANTED TECHNICS 1200 OR 1210 TURNTABLE in good condition. Tel:-617-893036 or email kath_poole@ hotmail.com TURN YOUR UNWANTED FURNITURE Electrical, Household Goods and Brica-brac into Cash. Anything! Anywhere! 965-319-220/ QUALIFIED TRANSLATOR Bi-Lingual Spanish-English, High Level French and German. Confidential and Reliable Service. Competative Rates. Torrevieja Area. Call Virginia on 629-201-192. TRANSLATOR Spanish and English speaking. Available for medical visits etc. Benidorm and surrounding areas. Tel Dawn: 626-337-258.

MOBILE/PARK HOMES On Camping Pueblo in San Javier from 15,000e Carol 968-192425 mob 626-055-622 Www, mobilehomesmarmenorspain. com LOOKING TO RELOCATE We have new and pre-owned luxury park homes for sale throughout the UK 12 month occupancy part exchange considered on your Spanish or UK home for more information call 0044-151633-2321 or email : alan.aitken@hotmail.co.uk 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 966774-199 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/ 620-743048 www.pooltechspain.com

TO LET 2 Bedroom House Els Poblets Weekly/Monthly Lets available. Tlf:-655-912-044 JALON VALLEY Quality apartments and Villas to let long term. All facilities. Call Rod 605-231-331 BENITACHELL/MORIARA Spacious 2bed apt for long let fully furnished to a high standard, 5mins from Moriara beach, very close to Supermarkets. 450E plus bills. No Pets.Tlf:-646-700-236. 1 BED PART FURNISHED BUNGALOWS on Camping Pueblo in San Javier. With lots of ameneties Carol tel 968-192-425 mob. 626-055-662 Www. mobilehomesmarmenorspain.com RENT LONG/SHORT TERM Rio Mar 3 bed villa by sea. San Luis 3 bed terraced villa. Crevillente 2 bed bungalow. Call 965-405-631/629-963-279 JAVEA Fly in & inspect from your helicopter secluded villa. 3/dB + e/s, 9x5m lounge, naya, K/dinette, utility: Semi-det. S/c flat dB, bath, Kit, lounge - for Granny or letting, 3000m2 orchard, pool & BBQ. Offers: Petersharp4u@gmail.com 1 BED GROUND FLOOR FLAT Mar Azul/Eliseos playa area 2nd line to beach. Midway between Torrevieja Centre & Punta Prima. 275€ pcm + bills. Available from MAY onwards. tel:-686-188-929

MAN & LWB SPRINTER VAN going to UK- Spain twice a month. Tel: 610-846-260 or 0044-7519-186-355 email:van.man@hotmail.co.uk EUROMOVE4U Full & Part Loads. Spain to UK/UK to Spain on a regular monthly basis. Cars & Motorcycles transported Next run to UKEnd of May Returning Early June. Sep Space Available Call Grant or Jan Office 0034965-300-959 Mobile 0034-648102-529 UK Mob 0044-7803-893-719. SIMPLY REMOVALS SpainUK-Spain. Local/Storage. Experienced in Transport. Mel Landon (Torrevieja). Tlf:-603192-957. email:melvyynleo@yahoo.com VAN LEAVING FOR THE U/K every two weeks space both ways. Great rates contact Joe on 966-074-576 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: 965-329-610/ 686-767-839

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 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. 965-350516/616-660-687

ALL SATELLITE SYSTEMS Installed, Maintained and Repaired. 10 years experience with Satellites in Spain. All areas covered. Tlf:-Hugh690-275-223 SKYSUPPLIES Humax and Sky+ HD. Sales, Repairs, Hard Drive Upgrades. White Cards, LNBs, Remotes, Realignments. 1.9m Dish Wanted. 966-194-013/600899-096 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

618-165-877 GOLD WANTED!! English Jeweller, will buy for cash, broken or unwanted gold jewellery and coins. Tlf:Peter664-890-990

6 - 12 may 2011

Book an advert on this page and get a FREE premium listing worth 100€ on thebizspain.com. Contact your local representative or call 902 118 999 T’s & C’s apply Airport Parking

Buyers Surveys

Construction

Pools

Property maintenance

Curtains

Plumbing

Removals & Storage

moraira multi-services.com

Total property management & maintenance

Pool Cleaning,Garden clearance and maintenance, Villa management, villa cleaning, change overs, meet and greet etc Established family business working on the Costa Blanca for 12 years

696 056 851

info@morairamultiservices.com

Energy (Solar)

Security

General builders

Instant Protection and Affordable Security for 140€

· Powerful 220watt FLOODLIGHT with hidden VIDEO & PHOTO CCTV camera · Installed at any suitable light point and with optional audio warning. RECORDS up to 750 secs of video or 60000 photos. Starts to RECORD as soon as MOVEMENT is detected. INTRUDERS will have been photographed the moment they approach your premises

Available ONLY from VIGILANT 999 Tel.: 616 031 986 Email to :-vigilant999@terra.es

Vehicle Maintenance

Gardening

6 - 12 May 2011

The final whistle With Andy Kay

RTN Golf Club update

www.andykayevents.com

Champions League Semi Final review Dennis Jordan NORTH REGION

THANKS TO the success of golfers such as Annika Sorenstam and teenage sensation Michelle Wie, the ladies’ game has become increasingly prominent in recent years. As the ladies’ game continues to grow in popularity, we have had a noticeable number of groups of lady golfers booking with us here on the Costa Blanca, which is great for the game of golf. Even St Andrews is breaking its 150yr old record by allowing ladies to now join the prestigious club! Hope you all have a good week of golfing and remember to keep checking the RTN weekly newspaper for an update on discounted green fees.

Golf Course

RTN Price

Comments

Alenda

€45

Single Green fee

Alicante Golf

€53

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

Villa Aitana 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.

Mike Probert SOUTH REGION

AS EXPECTED, this season’s Champions League final will be between Manchester United and Barcelona, a repeat of the 2009 final which the Catalans won 2 – 0. The Spanish side will doubtless go in to the game as favourites (that’s with the bookies as well as Uefa and whichever officials they appoint) but United shouldn’t be scared of playing them. I would rate United as a better outfit than Real Madrid, certainly in European football terms, and Madrid could have easily beaten Barca if a few key decisions had gone their way. Don’t forget that when it was ‘11 v 11’ at the Bernabeu, the game was goal-less and in the return leg Madrid had a perfectly good goal wrongly wiped out. Without a doubt, United should concentrate on causing Barça problems rather than worrying about what the opposition will do to them. United have no suspensions to hamper them (as with Scholes and Keane back in 1999) and a few key players such as Darren Fletcher are coming back to full fitness so Sir Alex Ferguson will have a full squad from which to choose. Over two legs, you’d probably fancy Barcelona, but in a one-off game, United will definitely have a chance. Provided they don’t repeat the mistakes of Madrid, who were far too defensively minded in the semi final first leg, United could well emulate the Wembley glory boys of ’68. CARL WHO? Carl Froch is one of Britain’s world boxing champions but the likelihood is, if he walked past you in the street, you wouldn’t recognise him. But that could soon be about to change for the WBC super-middleweight champ who has signed for the Matchroom stable which is run by Barry and Eddie Hearn. With their strong links to Sky Sports, it’s possible the Froch’s next encounter, against Glen Johnson in early June, will be broadcast by the satellite channel. If so, it’ll be just reward for Froch who is one of the UK’s most talented performers. Those who don’t know much about him might like to look up his fight against Jermain Taylor on You Tube. Knocked down early on and trailing on the judges’ scorecards, Froch blasted back to win by knockout with 14 seconds of the fight remaining. Believe me, he’s the real deal. GET A GRIP DANNY Danny Cipriani says he wants to play for England at this year’s rugby world cup. On the pitch, he’s doing okay with the Melbourne Rebels though he has been blowing a bit hot and cold. But off the pitch, Cipriani is letting himself down. Having been fined earlier this season for helping himself to a bottle of vodka at a nightclub, Cipriani has this week been stood down by his own team mates after ignoring a directive and going out on the town after the Rebels defeat to the NSW Waratahs. Whoever advises the 23-year-old needs to sit him down and tell to stop behaving like a git. He’s not impressing his team mates or the Rebels management and you can bet he’s not impressing Martin Johnson!

Murcia Golf Hound Murcia Region

THE POOR April weather returned last weekend but this didn’t prevent me from playing La Finca which was in good condition and returning back to previous high standards, including some new buggies and is well worth a game at only €42 for a twilight game from 3pm. DEALS OF THE WEEK are at Las Ramblas where the price has been reduced to only €210 for 4 players and 2 buggies and at Vistabella where the price is only €78 for 2 players and buggy (Monday-Friday).

Golf Course

RTN Price

Comments

Altorreal

€55

2 PL and 1 Buggy (Mon-Fri)

Hacienda del Alamo

€96

2 PL and 1 Buggy

La Serena

€90

2 PL and 1 Buggy

Polaris World Courses

€92

2 PL and 1 Buggy

Roda

€98

2 PL and 1 Buggy (from 2pm)

Las Colinas

€94

2 PL and Buggy (3pm)

La Peraleja

€76

2 PL and 1 Buggy

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.

AFTER A couple of weeks on the road, I decided to stay a little closer to home this week. Having not visited Hacienda del Alamo and after hearing Miguel Angel Jimenez´s comments that the course is, “…the new number one course in Spain,” I decided to trot off and see what all the fuss was about. Had the fact that Jimenez had just shot a course record 67 affect his decision or would his statement ring true and receive The Hound´s seal of approval?With my new friend Neel at the wheel we set off. After a quick practice at the spacious driving range and excellent short game area we nipped onto the par 3 academy course for a taste of things to come. This little course was a pleasure to play and perfect for all those beginners out there looking for somewhere to hone their skills before attacking a full course. After this little delight, Neel and I hit the full course and I must admit, true to word, it was delightful; a relatively long course that also demands accuracy made for an enjoyable round of golf which was topped at the end by a nice drink in the grand clubhouse overlooking the plains of Murcia! In the eyes of the hound a real winner and a must play!

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

Two night stay

€189

2 night, 1/2board, 3 Green fees

2N, 1/2board,3Green Fees

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

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

Why do we feel like this? Noel’s world of golf By Noel Eastwell Teaching Professional Campo de Golf El Plantio 639 730 891

LAST WEEK in RTN Mail we published a letter from a reader who complained about how he and his wife along with many others in a certain golf club were treated. To say that I was disappointed would be a huge understatement. Just how can anyone in business make people feel the way the people referred to in the aforementioned letter feel in this day and age is beyond my comprehension? For any manager in any job to make a valued customer feel unwanted and uncomfortable is something that would suggest poor management skills at the very least. I do not know the manager of the clubs concerned personally so I cannot comment on the type of person they are and do not want to make any allegations. The sad thing is though that the way golfers feel they are treated in some golf clubs does make them feel they are being taken advantage of. They are certainly flavour of the month when they come in to pay their annual subscriptions but then nobody wants to see or hear from them until the next time money is required. Well that is really not the way things work, or at least it shouldn’t be. The feeling that annual members are treated as second class citizens and being taken advantage of is prominent in a surprising number of clubs up and down the coast. We have touched on the level of customer service enjoyed in this part of Spain many times and it is still way short of what is required. The only way we are going to change this is by continually reminding the decision makers at our clubs that we are the ones with the power. We are all free to take our business where we feel we will be treated with the respect we deserve. Many more of us should do this - there are deals to be done at practically every club in our area

nowadays and eventually the ones offering bad service and little or no respect will either change the way they work or fall by the wayside. Bad management is the first step towards bankruptcy and no golf club owner wants this to happen. No golfer really wants this to happen either no matter what club is concerned; it’s the last thing we need right now in our area. The only way forward is to force managers to acknowledge customer service is vital by continual dialogue and encouragement. Let’s all agree to do our bit - we’ll all benefit in the long run. 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 6TH MAY 2011 How many English golfers have been official World Number 1? A. 2 B. 3 C. 1 All answers must be received no later than 5pm on 31st May 2011 to be entered into May’s draw, which will be made on May 31st. The winner will be announced in RTN on June 3rd 2011. APRILS WINNER: Nigel Chadderton

Any questions you have for Noel should be sent to golf@roundtownnews.com

Cast Off with

Robbie France

“A sailor is an artist whose medium is the wind”. Webb Chiles

I KNOW when we started this column I said sailing wasn’t just for godzillionaires and the like…that it was a sport for all…the Med is our ‘backyard’ etc. However, I’m going to have to backtrack a little from that statement, for a moment anyway. And there’s a very good reason. With the publishing of the Audi MedCup circuit for 2011, comes very good news for our area. Cartagena has been selected again! A prospect so blindingly wicked I can hardly contain myself. It means another fantastic opportunity to see the crème de la crème of the sailing fraternity battling waves, winds – sometimes the lack thereof – and each other in a series of events which challenge human endeavour to the max. If the ‘round the worlders’ are the marathon men and women the ‘Audi MedCuppers’ are the Usain Bolts! These are some of the finest crews on the planet battling it out over a series of five races held throughout the Med starting in Cascais, near Lisbon, Portugal on May 16th; Marseilles in June; Sardinia in July…then here to Cartagena (23rd to the 28th of August), before rounding it all up in Barcelona in September. So, I hear you ask…’why is he prattling on about an event that’s a full three and a bit months away?’ Simple - ya

gotta go! Don’t even think about it. Just do it. Imagine a tented village just full of wonderful distractions: giant viewing screens; great entertainment every night of the week; standing shoulder to shoulder with the greats… that’s the Audi MedCup. It’s like an F1 grand Prix without the earplugs. The fastest, most technologically advanced race boats around, helmed by the best, crewed by the best and guided by the best to get the last inch of canvas straining to give an extra kilometre an hour. Check this out: I was there last year walking along the side of the hospitality tent. Sat on the concrete steps? Paul Cayard, the first American sailor to win the old Whitbread Round The World Race discussing tactics with his lieutenants. Right there in front of me! Akin to Sebastian Vettel preparing for a race with Christian Horner, I suppose. Look - don’t just make a note in your diary - rip the pages out except the 23rd to the 28th of August. Pop down to Cartagena with the family…and enjoy! I’ll be bringing you all the news over the forthcoming months, don’t worry. Thanks for your steady stream of emails, too. I love hearing from you and if I can help? All the better!

6 - 12 May 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 had to be cancelled from the Rio Segura Murcia to the Eden canal stretch as it was very difficult to get under the bridge at Murcia with the river still in flood. The Eden canal was higher than normal and pushing through, but not as bad as Murcia. All anglers caught fish, albeit some only had the odd one. TOP RODS ON THE DAY 1st Stan (The Man) Roberts, fishing the pole using maggot with 12.24 kg. 2nd Lenny (Ex Cultural Attache) Bolton, fishing the pole and feeder using maggot with 7.24 kg. 3rd Jim (The Chairman) Rouse, fishing the pole using maggot with 5.64 kg. This included a mullet of 3.14 kg: nice size for the Barbie. This is a personal note on etiquette when fishing. As stated above, the river was in flood and is only some 17- 18 meters wide. Fish on a day like this are at a premium. However, bearing all this in mind an angler (and British) decided to fish directly opposite me. Now, I know we cannot book venues as in the UK but common sense says this won’t be too good for both anglers fishing the same peg. With all the remaining river to choose from he still sat opposite an angler: this is not good etiquette. Anyway he never caught a fish and I managed four kilos; maybe that tells you something. ABBEY ANGLING RESULTS supplied by Terry Screen It was our first visit of the year to Argos Lake for the 3rd round of the Spring Series on the 26th April 2011. It is surprising the difference in temperature when you travel up in to higher ground; it had dropped from 16º down to 8º on our arrival at the lake. There had been heavy thunderstorms and rain over the weekend, and this had made the water levels much higher and the water a lot

cooler than normal for the time of the year resulting in low weights, in previous years at the end of April weights averaging around 30 to 40 kilos were being caught. 1st Stan (the Man) Roberts with 16.400kg on the feeder and corn. 2nd Bill (The Master) Reade with 13.240kg on Pole and paste. 3rd Ian (The Irish Wizard) Dalzell with 12.260kg on pole feeder and pellet. 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 13th of May at 12 noon. There is a new venue for the Puerto de Mazarron meeting starting in January 2011. On Saturday 14th of May at 12 noon, the meeting will be held at The New Royal Bar and Restaurant at El Alamillo, opposite the sea-front between Isla Plana and the Port. NOTE The subs are now due at these meetings €5 for renewal and €10 for new members. Refreshments and lunch are available at each location: come along to a meeting nearest to you.