RTN North Edition 634

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North EDITION

07 - 15 DEC 2011

Protest grows over cruelty claims

Call to arms

INFLUENTIAL MEP Diana Wallis has called for European Union action over the ongoing and well-publicised property abuses people are suffering in Spain p5

Electric shock

by Jack Troughton

COSTA BLANCA householder Arnold Kitching has warned of the frustrations, time and cost of getting electricity turned back on after an unpaid bill meant Iberdrola pulled the plug p10

Valuing a “Usufruct” or lifetime interest Find out more on p29

Apartment terraces and balconies: December tasks Clodagh and Dick tell you what you need to do for December p43

Woeful Wednesday See what Andy Kay has to say about the Premier League after both Manchester clubs were knocked out of the Champions League, and then entered into the Europa League p63

Issue 634

Barry Morrow has now been arrested by Merseyside Police

Murder suspect arrested RTN WAS asked this week to appeal for the whereabouts of a man who Merseyside Police believe has vital information relating to the murders of a mother and daughter in Southport. Merseyside Police Press Office contacted RTN to ask us to help in the appeal for Barry Morrow, who they believed was heading to the Costa Blanca. Read the full story on page 4...

ANGRY EXPATS have joined hundreds of outraged animal lovers calling for an urgent criminal investigation of “horrific” conditions at a Costa Blanca animal refuge. A string of allegations of cruelty at the Benidorm Sociedad Protectora de Animales y Platas (SPAP) have been lodged with the courts and pressure is growing for a prosecution of those responsible. And a campaign launched by volunteer workers at the sanctuary past and present is beginning to bear fruit – a petition demanding action has already gathered more than 1,000 signatures, many of them British, Dutch and German as well as Spanish. Some 30 official complaints have been lodged with SEPRONA, the part of the Guardia Civil responsible for animal welfare and the environment, and the ‘denuncias’ are waiting to be heard in court. Meanwhile, campaigners are continue to gather evidence from people who have adopted animals – including accusations that a banned drug was used to put animals to sleep, the muscle relaxant leaving them dying in agony.

TROUBLE SPAP denies all the allegations made against the shelter, which has been operating for 40 years, and in a press release said that a SEPRONA inspection found no evidence of cruelty. The charity’s directors blame the attack on the shelter on “troublemakers” But animal lovers say the accusations of cruelty can only be decided by the courts and underlined a series of deficiencies at the shelter reported by the police. They included animals were fed left-over food from the restaurants, kept at 33 degrees in the summer, and animals were kept in crowded and dirty conditions. It is also understood inspectors found the bodies of dead animals were inadequately stored before incineration, and there was an open trench full of excrement and old food at the rear of the facility emitting “putrefying smells”. RTN was told: “None of this is something an animal shelter should feel proud of. In our opinion, it is an indication that SPAP Benidorm is not suited to running a humane and efficient animal shelter. Continued on page 3


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09 - 15 Dec 2011

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07- 15 DEC 2011 regarding the care of animals and it should also be investigated whether there is a violation of environmental law.” The organisers of the campaign - who have been threatened with legal action by SPAP – underlined that the conditions discovered by SEPRONA were part of their complaints. And they showed RTN a letter from one person adopting two pedigree dogs from the shelter. He said one animal was “emaciated and covered in external parasites” while the second was bruised around the genital area. He added: “I cannot prove it was kicked but the evidence makes me convinced it was.” The campaigners are also calling for financial accounts from SPAP to be made public – arguing the shelter was supported with tax payers’ money from Benidorm and Villayojosa town halls. “Accounts should be made available because they are receiving public money: the town halls pay for everything, so why are the dogs fed on scraps?” asked one protester.

Continued from front page

ABUSE

Dogs at the shelter

LAW “All these deficiencies constitute a violation of Spanish law

“If you looked after children like this they would be taken away from you. If this is not abuse of these animals, something is very wrong. It is shameful.” However, the protest organisers saluted the animal lovers who were signing the petition and joining the move to bring change. “We are so happy we are getting all this support, we are getting people, people who care about animals, who want to bring about change at the shelter,” RTN was told. “SPAP is just hoping we will just give up, but we will not although it could be a long battle and if we win it will set a precedent for all the protectoras across Spain and how animals are looked after – and that’s a good thing.” The protesters will continue to lobby Benidorm Town Hall and step up a publicity campaign to bring more pressure for intervention at the shelter. Their Facebook site can be found at www.facebook.com/protectorasdignas

Fatal road accident

MEDICS WERE unable to save the life of a 41-year-old man after a motorbike accident on the CV-70 dual carriageway at La Nucia early on Tuesday morning. It is believed the man lost control of the machine and went off the road at around 3am and suffered fatal injuries in the crash.

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- 242011 NOV 2011 09 - 1518 Dec

Bounty on smugglers’ heads by Jack Troughton CASH REWARDS are on offer for information helping to snare pirates smuggling cigarettes and alcohol in a new clampdown. Expats resident in Spain are asked to join the fight against tobacco smugglers and tax dodgers – contraband travelling through the country is often destined for the UK market. Spain attracts gangs because of the large numbers of British residents and because it’s geographical position makes it an ideal staging post for illegal goods en route Britain. And British Revenue and Excise officers are also keen to hear about gangs running drugs, firearms, pornography and endangered animals across borders. HM Revenue and Customs also hopes for information on tax frauds – including betting and gaming, money laundering and ‘carousel’ VAT scams being run through Europe. PROFIT Smugglers can make huge profits by evading duty as cigarettes and tobacco are brought through Spain destined for Britain or by trading in lowquality counterfeit cigarettes and other goods. And Revenue men continue to catch up with pirates who try to evade justice and seek refuge in Spain. Last month Malcolm McGowan was arrested in Valencia and will start a four year jail sentence after being convicted in 2001 of smuggling 56 million cigarettes, worth more than £8 million. A HM Revenue and Customs spokesman said: “We hope the public will help us come down hard on the smugglers and fraudsters who cheat the rest of us by not making their full contribution to public services. These people are criminals who we want to catch.” The freephone Spanish number is 900 988 922. Callers need not give personal details and may get a cash reward for a useful tip-off. Cards asking people to ‘phone the Customs’ hotline are now included with all passport renewals and visa applications. And people with information can also email customs.hotline@hmrc.gob.uk, or if in UK, can also call 0800 595 000.

Alice Huyton with her husband

Continued from front page Merseyside Police Press Office contacted RTN to ask us to help in the appeal for Barry Morrow, who is believed to be heading to the Costa Blanca. Alice Huyton, aged 75, and her daughter Angela Holgate, aged 54, were found dead at Angela’s home on Fairhaven Road in Southport on Saturday, 3rd December. Following post mortem examinations on Monday Merseyside Police confirmed that both victims died from asphyxiation and they confirmed that the investigation is now a murder inquiry. Detectives remain keen to trace the whereabouts of 51-year-old Barry Morrow, who had been a lodger at Angela’s home for almost a year as they believe he has vital information for the investigation. MISSING CAR Officers were called to the property at around 5.45pm on Saturday, 3rd December after receiving a report that two women had died there. Police are appealing to Barry Morrow to contact them. He is described as white, 5ft 7in tall, of medium to stocky build with

straight, short brown hair that is receding and blue eyes. Police are keen to reiterate that officers are looking to trace Barry Morrow as a key witness and there have been no arrests or charges in relation to this case so far. Merseyside Police are also trying to trace a white Citroen C1 belonging to Ms Holgate that is missing from her drive; its registration number is PN11 RWK. APPEAL Chief Superintendent Nikki Holland, Area Commander for Sefton, told RTN: “We are investigating the tragic deaths of these two women and our sympathy goes to their families. Detectives are investigating the circumstances around these deaths and trying to piece together the women’s last movements. “We are appealing to anyone with any information that may help us with this investigation to come forward as soon as possible. In particular we are keen to trace Mr Morrow, who lived at the house for a period of time and who we believe may have vital information for this investigation.” Forensic experts have spent the week exam-


Call to arms by Jack Troughton INFLUENTIAL MEP Diana Wallis has called for European Union action over the ongoing and well-publicised property abuses people are suffering in Spain. The Vice-President of the European Parliament and MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber this week presented a 70 page study of the problem “European Property Rights and Wrongs”. The Liberal Democrat politician said after a seminar earlier this year she was aware there were people battling away who might think the EU institutions were not giving their plight “sufficient input or notice” - and hoped the report would help raise the profile of the problem. She said people had taken the advantage of Europe’s open borders to study, work or retire in another country but many had found themselves “entangled in impossible legal nightmares.” Victims had lost deposits, suffered under ‘land grab’ legislation, found buildings were not constructed, or were built in breach of planning legislation. “Each one represents the life of an individual or a life of a family ruined.” INITIATIVE And the MEP acknowledged the “admira-

Diane Wallis MEP

ble initiatives” taken by people but admitted what was lacking was “clear and systematic” from the European legislature. She said it would be argued that intervention was currently a political impossibility. “But if highlighting the pitfalls around crossborder property purchases shows that we are currently letting out citizens down – what better motivation (and indeed justification) could exist for more attention on the subject? “The right to property, a citizen’s right to their home, is fundamental and is as much a European value as the many other so-called European values which we champion daily. “At a time of economic uncertainly, that right needs underpinning more than ever, and should find its place in the program for the proposed ‘European Year of Citizens’ in 2013.”

Two arrested for kidnapping aid workers in Tindouf TWO SAHRAWIS thought to be linked to the kidnapping of two Spanish citizens and one Italian from refugee camps in Tindouf (southern Algeria) on 23rd October have been arrested in Mauritania. Police sources told Efe that a Mauritanian counterterrorism group have questioned two young people from Western Sahara, a 32-year-old and a 29-year-old, both sharing the same surname (Ahmed Baba), without it being clear if the two are related. The two men entered Mauritanian territory two weeks ago and settled in an apartment in Nouadhibou on the country’s northern border. Surveillance was launched on the request of local authorities. Both men are suspected of involvement in the kidnapping of the aid workers, of whom there has been no news since last October. So far, no group has publicly claimed responsibility. However, similar acts have been perpetrated by Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), which usually ransoms hostages.

Gifts galore

By Jack Troughton YOUNGSTERS CARED for in EMAUS homes can look forward to some Christmas Day cheer thanks to the success of a festive fair. More than 2,500 people visited the Denia Marriott Hotel on Sunday – each paying 1€ at the door, the money going to the charity Friends of the Children of EMAUS to buy presents for the children. The charity aims to provide the youngsters aged from babies to 18-year-olds with as normal a life as possible, and 2,500€ together with 750€ raised at an ‘Early Christmas Fair’ in November will be well used. Pictured in the grounds of the Marriott are charity President Carole Saunders (centre) with helpers Megan Wilmot and Katie Gibbins, students at the Laude Lady Elizabeth School.

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Organised gang of thieves Two years in jail busted in Vega Baja area for property scam

THE ALICANTE court sentenced crooked builders Peter and Benjamin Schmidt to two years imprisonment last Thursday and ordered them to repay 66,100€ they took in illegal deposits from Keith and Marilyn Brown. The repayment is to include interest. Representing the company Construcciones Monte Puchol SL (CMP), the Schmidt’s extracted deposits that started at 66,000€ plus in Lliber, Benidoleig and Sagra, from unsuspecting homeowners who were led to believe building licenses were in place, on properties totalling more than €4 million. On inspection investors discovered - too late – that licences had not been granted. The case is expected to be a useful legal precedent for other victims alleged to have paid illegal deposits. The Schmidts’ defence is thought to be planning an appeal.

Victims identify the haul

by Jan Gamm MORE THAN 20 victims of organised house break-ins identified their belongings this week from a haul recovered from a warehouse in Callosa de Segura on Friday – the proceeds of no less than 81 robberies in La Murada, La Matanza, Virgen del Camino and Benferri. An organised gang of seven people of Moroccan origin, apprehended as a result of investigations by National Police and the Guardia Civil in Orihuela, are accused of targeting empty holiday homes, taking items suitable for sale in local markets; through the black market; or being shipped back to Morocco. The ring leader has already served a sen-

tence for robbery in a Spanish prison.

searches and seven arrests.

PELLET GUNS

THE HAUL

The robberies are thought to have been carried out over the past four months. Although the thieves were non-violent they carried pellet guns with which to intimidate anyone found inside one of the targeted homes. Police linked the robberies as a result of the gang using the same method each time to gain access – by cutting fences and forcing doors and windows. Eventually police attention was drawn to a house in Callosa where a number of people were seen loading and unloading a large number of boxes of goods, leading to three house

Among the stolen items was a microscope; more than 20 watches; sunglasses; coins; mobile telephones; computer equipment; lamps; several guitars; clothes and even two Whirlpool showers. Through the victims’ large scale identification of stolen goods, case investigations on 28 of the robberies have been closed in two days, hopefully bringing an end to an alarming wave of robberies in the area. 50 of the thefts took place within the Guardia Civil’s jurisdiction and the other 31 in areas served by the National Police.

Keith and Marilyn Brown

Bomb hoax in Galicia

THE PROVINCIAL Commissioner in Galicia received a telephone tip off on Tuesday where the caller warned that an explosive device that would detonate in two hours had been placed in the bus station in Lugo. The station was evacuated as a precaution at around 9:30am with passengers instructed to leave the premises. Police made a thorough search of the area which was cleared as ‘safe for traffic’ some hours later. In Galicia last week security forces arrested six people, four now in prison, on charges that linked them to research and possession of explosives and an involvement with the Galician Resistance Group.


Watch out, the Tax Man’s about!

THE SPANISH IVA Tax is an ‘indirect tax’, similar to VAT in the UK, financed by the final consumer. by Louise Clarke Earlier this year, the Hacienda (tax office) announced a crackdown on companies and businesses charging or paying for products ‘on the black’, i.e. without paying the required 18% IVA. This tax is not collected by the state directly but charged by the seller at the time of any commercial transaction; i.e., the transfer of goods or services. End users are required to pay the tax without reimbursement, controlled by the Hacienda, forcing the company to provide ‘proof of sale’ to final consumers, for re-integration into the company accounts. And the advantage of IVA is that, as in the UK, businesses can claim it back from the government as part of their yearly tax return. So why are more and more businesses trading ‘on the black’, risking severe fines and embargos? PRIORITY The Spanish Government’s ‘Plan against Fiscal Fraud’ in 2005, like most things in Spain, took some time to get off the ground. Previously, there weren’t the resources to fully put the plan into place and they didn’t think that they really

needed the extra money it would generate. Now they do - and the new government is planning austerity measures that will affect us all, and making the payment of IVA its priority. In crisis-hit Spain the ‘black money’ industry, prominent since the days of Franco, is destined to become a thing of the past, with hefty fines to be promptly implemented against transgressors. The number of Hacienda inspectors has been increased and a spokesman has said this week that during 2012/2013 inspections on companies and businesses will be increased tenfold - British companies included. HEFTY FINES And not only will the Hacienda be targeting businesses, they will also come down heavily on customers and clients of those businesses with painful fines. So, it is in your interest to ensure that you pay IVA to avoid incurring a heavy fine. The country needs to get back on its feet somehow and the government is hoping that by ensuring the elimination of the ‘black money’ market the Bank of Spain will benefit by tens of millions of euros. So, be warned - pay the IVA!

Navajo Indian Silver Jewellery STAR TEAM classic Motos in El Vergel (opposite Bricorama) have launched a range of Original native Indian-Navajo jewellery (perfect for bikers and non-bikers) in sterling silver. All are invited to come and view the original and beautiful collection, and to see their extensive range of classic motorbikes at the garage and showroom in El Vergel. For more information, call Wolfgang on 96 575 0552.

Calendar marks mountain’s anniversary

THE DRAMATIC and ever changing face of a famous Costa Blanca landmark has been captured on camera as part of a celebration to mark the quarter of a century since its designation as a natural park. The Montgo Mountain divides the towns of Denia and Javea and 25 years ago it became a protected habitat - locally known as The Elephant because of its resemblance to the huge mammal when viewed along its southern face. Local photographers Jake Abbot and Jean Fleche have produced a 2012 calendar dedicated to the Montgo and their dramatic work can currently be viewed at

a Denia exhibition. All 13 of the calendar’s photographs are on display – it includes the cover shot - at the pair’s studio Pelutpelat at Carrer Major 11, Denia, parallel to Calle Loreto, and just off the Glorieta at the end of the Marques de Campo. And on display until March, the work also includes tranquil ‘slow motion’ video shots of the Montgo taken as Jake and Jean worked to capture the changing faces of the landscape during the different months of the year. Home to a variety of animals and rare fauna, the project has been supportedby the Parc Natural del Montgo association and a number of businesses. English-born Jake, who lives in Jesus Pobre, told RTN the exhibition would remain in at the Denia studio until March when it transfers to Ibiza for two weeks. He said it was planned to then put the photographs “on tour” – staging shows in villages around the mountain. “The whole project took around a year,” Jake explained. “We did a calendar for 2011 but decided to do another one for the 25th anniversary of the natural park. “To choose the 12 photographs and the cover picture we must have gone through a selection of more than 300 shots.”

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Pioneers get a voice by Jack Troughton YOUNGSTERS ELECTED by their school classmates have been sworn in as members of a pioneering ‘Children’s Council’ on the Costa Blanca. The 22-strong body represents all the primary and secondary schools in Javea and the council is charged with channelling children’s demands, ideas and criticism through to the town hall. And the Marina Alta resort is the first town in Alicante to give children a voice in the future of their community. During a ceremony at Javea town Hall, Mayor Jose Chulvi welcomed the members of the advisory council and their parents. He said they now “have a voice and a vote and would bring a different perspective to municipal life”. HAPPY The mayor added: “We need you to help us and advise us on how to create a more comfortable, happier

Youngsters on the town hall steps

and peaceful town that adapts to the people that live here.” Councillor for Citizen Participation, Cese Camprubi, said children were not only the citizens of the future, “they are also citizens of today.” And he said the children would be able to “dream up the town they want to dream and put some of their ideas into practice.”

He said the Children’s Council would be “treated as equals” and would bring “new thinking” to Javea and make the town a better place for everyone. And the councillor welcomed the creative minds of youngsters and quoted Einstein by saying: “We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.”

Cover story by Jack Troughton BOOKWORMS CAN find a good read, snap up a bargain, and help a community charity by visiting a friendly Jalon bar and helping a fund-raiser hit the target. Debbie and Steve of Bar Olè in Jalon have been raising money for Jalon Valley HELP by selling paperback books for the last six months – all at 50 cents each. They have already raised an amazing 660€ but aim to reach a round 1,000€ so anyone in the town is being encouraged to pop in and buy one.

HELP’s President Rhonda Ryan (left) and Debbie earlier in the year

Bonus holiday trade for Benidorm THIS WEEK’S ‘Puente’ has brought even more good fortune to a spectacular year for hotel occupancy, particularly for Benidorm, with a 90% occupancy reported over the Constitution Day holiday period. Madrid’s school holiday last Friday sent thousands of tourists streaming into the city in temperature highs of 22º to celebrate a fun family weekend in the Costa Blanca’s most popular resort, with beaches, bars and restaurants filled to bursting point.


Ryanair’s saucy calendar raises eyebrows

CEO Michael O’Leary posing with saucily-clad female Ryanair cabin crew

by Jan Gamm RYANAIR IS in the headlines again, this time criticised for releasing saucy pictures of female cabin crew in its 2012 calendar featuring busty lingerie-clad ladies. A big hit with serving personnel in the armed forces, the calendar sold 7,000 copies in a month after its release and has already coined an impressive 100,000€ with only 3,000 copies left to sell. The money is to go to DebRA, the charity that helps sufferers of the genetic skin blistering condition Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB). EXPLOITATION A complaint has been lodged with the Non-Sexist Advertising Observatory by housewives’ association Tyrius, a Valencia-based watchdog group guarding the interests of social morality in the region. The group claims that the calendar exploits women in general and Ryanair’s cabin crew in particular.

DENIED A spokesperson for Ryanair has strongly denied that the girls featured in the calendar are in any way exploited or disrespected and pointed out that participation in the photo shoot was voluntary, also remarking: “What happens when firemen, rugby players or footballers pose semi-naked for charity calendars - does Tyrius complain then?” The spokesman added that Tyrius should be supporting the calendar and its significant contribution to DebRA and said that Tyrius itself was demonstrating a sexist attitude by implying the cabin crew should not be allowed to take part in such promotions simply because they were women. Tyrius insists that advertising for the calendar be removed on the grounds that the images are prurient and exploit women. For more information on Tyrius visit www.tyrius.org For information on the charity DebRA, including how to donate, visit www.debra.org.uk/

Inadequate equipment leads to fire fighter being injured Equipment inadequate for extreme temperatures

A FIRE in Santa Pola on Sunday led to a victim sustaining serious second and third degree burns to 50% of his body. A fire fighter was treated after suffering first and second degree burns to his hands and knees trying to extinguish the fire while wearing an out-dated suit inadequate to withstand the temperature in the building. It emerged that insufficient suits are available for such incidents and ‘retired and obsolete’ equipment is being ‘saved’ to be issued to newcomers in the service! Other fire fighters attending the incident survived unharmed due to wearing modern suits. The Power Board of the Provincial Fire Consortium has found that fire fighters who joined the Consortium since March have been issued with equipment inadequate for safety in extreme temperatures. Moreover, the unions claim that new harnesses have not been distributed as the course necessary to teach fire fighters how to use them is not available and it is hoped in the meantime that serious call outs do not occur.

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Electric shock by Jack Troughton

COSTA BLANCA householder Arnold Kitching has warned of the frustrations, time and cost of getting electricity turned back on after an unpaid bill meant Iberdrola pulled the plug. Speaking at his holiday home outside Alfaz del Pi, he warned expats and non-resident Brits to make sure they left enough cash in Spanish bank accounts to cover bills. Arnold told RTN there had not been enough moneyin the bank to pay a demand for 31€ and it took a month and 1,234€ to get the supply restored. He said he had driven from his home in Penshaw, Sunderland, to Alfaz at the end of October planning to make some modernisations to the house he had just inherited from his mother. However, he was shocked to find on his arrival there was no power – and discovered

there was no money in the account to pay utility bills. “The last bill was paid back in August – apparently after a month if there are no payments they take the fuse out and after three months they remove the meter,” he explained. HOLIDAY Arnold’s parents Mark and Lena had lived in the house for more than 20 years. After his father died in 2000, his mother returned to the UK and the home was only used for holidays. “Unfortunately, mum died on 31st December aged 96 and the next bill did not get paid.” He said when he arrived the utilities were still in his father’s name and Iberdrola wanted a certificate of habitation, and architect’s report and the house rewired before restoring the supply. “The house has been put in my name in 2004

Arnold outside his Alfaz home

but there was a lot of running around to get this all done, the paperwork in Spain is terrible,” he said. “I wondered how long it was all going to take because I had to get back to England.” “It was all extremely frustrating – everyone says the Spanish are keen on paperwork and there is certainly a lot to it!”

He said he hoped the story would remind people to plan ahead. “People must keep money in the bank to keep essential services paid up.” But the experience has not put Arnold off living in the sunshine – he said he would like to spend more time on the coast.

Help stamp out hunger this Christmas MILLIE MUNRO Services in co-operation with the Benitachell Town Hall Social Services Department are asking you to give generously this holiday season to the Benitachell Food Drive, a proactive campaign aimed at helping families in Benitachell in need of food. The goal is to fill boxes with non-perishable food donations, to be distributed by Social Services to families who are on their roster. The ‘Feed the Hungry’ Food Box will be placed outside Millie Munro Services’ office in Benitachell - an easy location for dropping off food items on the Avenida Lepanto 6 near the banks and traffic lights.

enough to eat.

WHAT ARE NON-PERISHABLE DONATIONS? Non-perishable foods are ‘shelf-stable’ items that do not spoil or decay. Please donate from the suggested nonperishable suggestions below to help us provide a wellbalanced, nutritious set of foods to those who do not have

GRAIN GROUP Whole grains provide maximum nutrition value and long-lasting energy. • Low sugar/high fiber cereals • Cereal bars

FRUITS AND VEGETABLES GROUP Canned or dried fruit and vegetables will help ensure consumption of vital vitamins and minerals. • Canned vegetables • Vegetable juice • Canned tomatoes (juice and sauce) • Canned fruit and fruit cups (in own juice) • Fruit juice • Dried fruit

• All pasta types • Rice PROTEIN GROUP Lean meats and canned or dry beans provide the necessary fuel for muscles. • Canned tuna, salmon or chicken • Glass jars of beans and peas • Baked beans • Dried and canned beans and peas. For more information contact Millie Munro Services Benitachell Office: (+34) 96 649 3082 Mobile: (+34) 660 049 460 MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM ALL OF US Millie Munro Services would like to wish all of our clients and their families a very merry Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year.


Social Centre roof collapses Roof collapses

by Jan Gamm THE ROOF of the Social Centre in Alcoleja collapsed on Saturday night, fortunately without causing personal injury. Works to the roof were carried out at the behest of the Council in 2006. However, the causes of the collapse are as yet unknown. Mayor Francisco Fenollar said it was a “miracle” that nobody was inside the premises when the roof caved in, since it is used for band re-

hearsals and all kinds of cultural activities and festivals. Thankful that a tragedy was avoided, the Council has claimed responsibility for what happened and has begun looking into having the roof repaired safely. According to the information provided by Fenollar, the 2006 work on the roof was carried out with aid funds under the direction of the then president of the provincial institution, José Joaquin Ripoll, who presided over the inauguration.

46 immigrant swimmers apprehended in Ceuta THE CIVIL Guard was alerted by border agents Tarajal on Wednesday at about 7.30am that sub-Saharan immigrants were attempting to swim their way to Spain - they were apprehended at a beach near the border of Ceuta, an autonomous Spanish city on the North African coast surrounded by Morocco and separated from the Iberian Peninsula by the Strait of Gibraltar. The immigrants were trying to reach the bay north of the city, equipped with floats and tyres. Four of the exhausted swimmers were treated by the Red Cross for minor injuries and hypothermia.

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If you fail to plan - then you plan to fail THE ABOVE is a well known saying and it is very true.

by

Alan Gilchrist The Costa Blanca’s Top Hypnotherapist

Do you find yourself thinking mainly about all the bad things that have happened in your life? Do you look at the future and assume that things are always going to turn out badly for you? Have you ever decided on a New Year resolution and tried to set a goal but failed to stick to it? Successful people are usually the ones who have set goals for themselves and stuck to them and particularly in the new year. What stops most people from achieving goals or new year resolutions in life is because they never get around to taking the first step at all! Millions of people have goals they are initially excited about only to find a few days into the new year they have lost all their motivation to continue. How many times in life have we heard or said, “I wish I had done that or kept going” or “why didn’t I take that opportunity”. There are millions of people who are reluctant to set goals, and have many reasons why they will not. They think it makes no sense in setting goals because they have failed in the past and don’t want to experience the feeling of failure again. When they didn’t succeed, their self-esteem plummeted and just gave up, or tried again without taking into account why it didn’t work the first time, or they had made the goals or new year resolutions for themselves unrealistic or unattainable. The main point here is, setting and reaching goals should be empowering, it should make people feel good about themselves. Using my unique Fast Track Hypnosis greatly helps by motivating the client to keep on track to achieve their goals or new year resolutions in life. These can come in many different forms, ranging from common ones, such as stopping smoking , losing weight, to motivation for a career change, being better at sports, moving house, marriage/relationship problems and much more. Having developed this Fast Track system 25 years ago, over the years I have helped over 55,000 people to do just that - succeed -and have proved it on various TV programmes - from the person wanting to get over the fear of flying, the child with panic attacks who jumped out of a car at 30 mph, to the psychologist who wanted to overcome her agorophobia and many, many more. The psychologist (after the programme) was so impressed with my Fast Track methods that I had to teach her my system

and she came away from her own training knowing that there are faster ways to get a person “up and running” than the conventional methods.. Fast Track Hypnosis helps the client to choose where they want to go and do in life, by knowing precisely what they want to achieve, then concentrating their efforts to do precisely that. This system has been so successful that as well as the 7 clinics I have in the in the UK and the 3 on the Costa Blanca ( plus doing clinics in Holland and with another planned for Malta in the new year) there will be new Fast Track Hypnosis Clinics opening throughout Spain in 2012 . Watch this space for more details on the new locations. The process normally takes 4 sessions depending on the response and commitment from the client as opposed to the “1000 hour analysis “ methods used by psychologists where it can take between 10-15 sessions of regression therapy and which can give rise to the false memory syndrone . CDs are also provided to reinforce the ongoing results and to dramatically speed up the process, and as they progress clients are taught self hypnosis to give positive suggestions to themselves without the use of CD’s. “Hi my name is Jacqui, I have been divorced now for almost 10 years. It was an extremely acrimonious divorce. I have one child. Even though it was me who left the marriage, I have found over the last number of years I have not been able to let go of all the hatred and bitterness relating to the divorce. I am with my new partner and have been for 4 years, he is just wonderful, but our relationship suffered dreadfully almost to the stage of splitting up because my partner could not cope with the fact that after such a long period of time I had not moved on one inch from the marriage breakup! I went to Alan Gilchrist about 7 years ago to help me stop smoking and from the day I left the consultation I have never smoked a cigarette since. I went back to see Alan to see if he could help once again to move on and begin living my life again. After just 3 consultations I am a new person and have completely let go of the past. I am positive, can see a future and realise now how much time I have wasted living in the past and can see a very bright future ahead of me. His treatment was wonderful! I am only annoyed that I did not seek his help many years ago. I really do feel great now and would say to anyone who feels the way I did, do not wait another day,

go and seek help, I am only sorry that I waited so long and wasted so many years. Thanks to Alan Gilchrist I am now living each day to the full. So many, many thanks Alan!....... Jacqui “ “Dear Alan, Both Brian and myself would like to take this opportunity of thanking you for all the help you have given us over the past few weeks. When we came to see you at the start, as you know, it seemed to me that my whole world was falling apart in front of my eyes and there was little I could do to ease the situation. I had a lot of personal and family problems, which had brought me to almost breaking point. It was at that stage my GP suggested that I come to see you. At first I couldn’t see any improvement. However other people around me saw changes and very gradually, even without realising, I began to do things, which previously I wouldn’t have attempted or just couldn’t because I was so frightened. My whole life seemed to take on a new dimension. Suddenly I could feel confident enough to take promotion at work, I went out more, I met more people and made new friends. I took up new hobbies, I would stay by myself in the house if my husband wanted to go out. I could go on and on as the amount of things I can now do is unending. If anyone reading this is feeling at a low ebb and are just about to walk through the door to see Alan, remember at all times - there is hope at the other side. Once again alan - many thanks. We owe you a lot. All the best Karen H.” Are you feeling stress coming up Christmas - the you really need to chill out. My web site alangilchrist.com and is one of the most extensive web sites about hypnosis on the internet boasting up to 4000 hits per day! In fact you can go onto my website and listen to a complete relaxation session FREE of charge! Just type into google “alan gilchrist relaxation”. it will come up number ONE out of 147000 results. Thats Fast Track Hypnosis! Alan holds his Fast Track Hypnosis sessions in Cabo Roig, Guardarmar, and Benidorm. For an appointment, Brochure, or free of charge initial consultation, contact Alan Gilchrist on 659 229 408. Visit his web site alangilchrist.com or thegastroband.com

For an appointment, brochure or a free of charge initial consultation on your particular problem, contact Alan Gilchrist on 659 229 408 or visit his websites www.alangilchrist.com www.thegastroband.com or www.fitnosys.com


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Thankyou for support Dear Mr Troughton, Just a short note to thank you once again for including an article in Round Town News for our charity. As you know all too well, publicity is an important part of the work undertaken by charity organisations. We were very pleased that the Mayor of Javea, Jose Chulvi, kept his pre-election promise to acknowledge the monies raised and donated to various worthy causes. The plaque given to us is now displayed in our Charity Shop in Javea Park. We are particularly grateful about the article on the ‘White Knight’ machine shortly to be installed at Denia Hospital (La Xara). Its abilities to help those with cancer treatment and the research thereafter, is an exciting prospect. Once again, our sincere thanks for your continued support. Yours Sincerely Irene Ellis

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

Email: rtnmail@roundtownnews.com

letter of the week

Would you mind not being selfish WHILE OUT walking on various occasions I have noticed people sitting in outdoor restaurants with their dogs. On two occasions in different outdoor restaurants the waitresses were petting the owners’ dogs - then I watched as they went to bring out food for other customers! In both situations the waitresses didn’t bother to wash their hands. On another occasion I saw a couple trying to enjoy their meal when a woman with her large dog came and sat right beside them even though there were many empty tables further from the couple. She let her dog sit right beside the table where the couple were trying to eat. They tried to not pay attention to the dog, but they looked very uncomfortable. The dog owner was completely oblivious to the feelings of other people. Again at another restaurant a large dog was laying under the table as the people were eating. This even happened at a MacDonald’s! A man brought his large dog into the restaurant and was in the queue to order. The woman in front of him turned and was about to pet the dog when it bit her hand and she nearly broke into tears. I wonder why restaurant owners don’t say anything to selfish dog owners perhaps they are afraid of having a big argument on their hands. So if any dog owners are reading this would you mind not being selfish and consider that other people do not want your dog bothering them when they are trying to enjoy a nice meal out. Lucy

People need to be more aware MY HUSBAND arrived at Alicante El Altet 4th November at 9pm, picked up our car from Plane Parking and drove to Punta Marina. We parked in Punta Marina Commercial car park at 10.30pm and locked the car with our hand luggage hidden away in the boot out of sight before going upstairs to the Wok Buffet for something to eat. On our return at 11.15pm the back passenger window of the car had been broken, the rear seat pulled forward and our hand luggage stolen. My husband has a heart condition they took all his medication along with

some other items i.e. a Blackberry and my Kindle e-book along with all our clothes. We have a home in Spain and some of our house documents were also in the bags: our passports were also taken, forcing us to go to Alicante to get emergency documents to travel back to the UK on 11th November. We have parked in that car park many times before with no problems. We called the police and made a statement to the Guardia Civil. They gave us a crime number but to date we have heard nothing. There were CCTV cameras in the car park but whether they looked at them we do not know.

I am sending this to you so that maybe people are more aware of what can happen in Spain with not a lot of help available. The car was insured as fully comprehensive but stated they would only cover the repairs to the window and we cannot claim for ‘petty theft’. The term ‘petty theft’ might be a word they use but to us it was far more – life-saving drugs were taken along with personal items and gifts. The cost and inconvenience was immense, as well as 2 pensioners having to deal with this alone. Mary Dean

Never again

RE: THE article by Jan Gamm about Calderon Cargo Handling, I had a similar experience to Joe Edge. My flight from Manchester to Alicante on 5th September resulted in my terrier being in his cage for 8hrs 20mins. I made my complaints to TFA since I paid my money to them. I have been doing this for the last three years and the Calderon Office has never been a welcoming place but I never experienced anything like this. NEVER AGAIN. I have retained all emails in connection with this complaint. Eileen Young

Who can blame them THE DISGRACE, Mr Lupin (´What a Disgrace’ - Issue 633), is the taxation agreement with China that is detrimental to Spanish businesses. As for as religious persecution is concerned had you been to China you would know that religious groups flourish throughout the country be they Christian or of Oriental origin. They are however encouraged to keep their activities low

profile. What the authorities do not tolerate is Evangelism. The Chinese consider attempts at religious conversion of their people, particularly the young, as subversive activity. After a history of suffering at the hands of foreigners the Chinese are understandably xenophobic and who can blame them. Regards Ken Bethell


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The Clock is Ticking THERE ARE just days left before the price of electricity takes yet another leap upwards. Not welcomed news – but expected. Of all the annual price increases, January is always the LARGEST, the last one was an incredible 9.9% and the only way to protect yourself is to fix your rate. By using the Iberswitch system, and if you act quickly, you may be able to fix the 2011 kilowatt rate until 2013. By doing this you will avoid the annual increases which are anticipated to be at least 20% per year. Unfortunately, if you wait until the New Year, you will have to fix the rate at the new prices which will be published on 1st January and are expected to be a complete contrast to the current and already high rate we see on our monthly bill. A 6% increase was scheduled for October which was halted for the benefit of the elections. It appears there may be a u-turn on this decision which would add to the impact of the first increase of the year. In other words, hold onto your hats. Of course, if you have already called Iberswitch and protected yourself, now is a good time to tell your friends, neighbours and colleagues to do the same. Do it now before it is too late. Don’t pay more than you need to – call Iberswitch today, let them help you to take control of your electricity bill…. Say NO! to price increases Call: 960 45 11 80

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State budget to be restricted to ‘successors only’ within the Spanish monarchy THE SPANISH monarchy is to come under scrutiny with regard to how many of the family members of King Juan Carlos should be eligible for an income from the state budget – the equivalent of the UK’s Civil List. Europa Press reports that royals attending official functions on behalf of the state include the Infanta Elena and the Dukes of Palma, the King’s youngest daughter Cristina and her husband Iñaki Urdangrin,

all of whom received a state allowance in 2011, part of the King’s €8.4 million allocation already reduced by 5.2% since 2010. Part of this money is for ‘operating expenses’ and some for ‘family support’. However, it would seem that the Zarzuela Palace budget will be re-addressed, with a view to allocation being restricted to core family members, i.e. the direct heirs to the crown.


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Age Concern success

Torrevieja celebrates 25th anniversary of its hymn

By Louise Clarke AFTER THE official act of the Constitution Day, which took place in the Salon de Actos in the Town Hall on Tuesday, the Mayor of Torrevieja, Eduardo Dolon, presided before hundreds of gathered people in the Constitution Square, opposite the main church, to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of Torrevieja’s Hymn, written by Ricardo Lafuente Aguado. The Hymn was played during the event by the bands from the Torrevieja Musical Union (UMT) and the City of Torrevieja Musical Society, otherwise known as the ‘salt shakers’. Six members of the city’s coral society sang the anthem, led by General Francisco Grau Vegara, who was repeating the same act that took place by Jack Troughton 25 years ago in the same SEASONAL GENEROSITY has seen thousands of Euros flow into Age Concern’s bank account place. After the playing the in recent days. Torrevieja Hymn, the bands AGE concern CBS accepted a cheque for 1,775€ from Coachtrips SL, the money raised in a Christmas Raffle run by the company, better known as David’s Coaches, with a three day stay then played the Valencia Hymn and ended with the in a four star Benidorm hotel the star prize. The charity was also “extremely grateful” to receive 1,000€ from the charity 4 Charities Spanish national anthem. After the event the Mayor committee at a presentation at the Bull Flanagan Bar, Rojales. And Age Concern’s own Christmas Fayre last Saturday was again a popular success despite then raised the Spanish flag in the square alongside the the bad weather, the event raising more than 3,000€. Pictured is David Leslie of Coachtrips presenting a cheque to Maureen Payne and Pam newly crowned Salt Queen of Torrevieja. Horobin, President and Vice-president of Age Concern.

The Mayor raises the Spanish flag during the event


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Sand dune protection

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THE DEPARTMENTS of Environment and the Coast have announced a joint initiative this week designed at protecting the sand dunes of Playa de la Glea and Cala Bosque. by Louise Clarke The Councillor for the Environment, Manuel Culiáñez, explained that the council has been working since last September to obtain authorisation to allow the fencing of all the dunes. He told RTN: “For now we will start fencing off part of Playa de la Glea in order to protect the dunes there.” The Councillor added that the dunes of the beaches at Campoamor have deteriorated significantly since 2003 due to several reasons. He said: “The increase in beach traffic as well as the construction of houses and apartment blocks along the coastline has played a significant part in the destruction of the dunes

and we must try to put a stop to this deterioration immediately.” SYMBOLICALLY IMPORTANT As a result of this deterioration the surface of the dune at Playa de la Glea has reduced from 3,000 to about 1,900 square metres. The Councillor for the Coast, Bob Houliston, commented: “With the intervention of this new initiative the Town Hall will protect the dunes, so they will no longer shrink and in turn, protect their flora.” Although the Provincial Coastal Service has not yet authorised the fencing of all the dunes, Culiáñez states that he plans to start the project immediately as the Town Hall already has obtained the first permit for

Festival of lights WEDNESDAY 28TH December sees the traditional Festival of Lights take place at the Playa Flamenca Amphitheatre opposite the Lobster Restaurant at Playa Flamenca Beach. The traditional Jewish celebration started in 165BC whilst Jerusalem was being ruled by a Syrian king called Antiochus. He looted and damaged the Temple in Jerusalem and stopped the Jews from practising their laws and religion. This upset the Jews so much that they rebelled. The rebellion was successful and the Temple was restored to its former state. A new alter was consecrated but there was only enough oil for the altar lamp for one day. The lamp burnt for eight days and a miracle was declared by the Jewish leaders. To celebrate this miracle, an eight day observance is created ever year by lighting one candle each day in a Menorah (a special candelabra) until all eight candles are burning. The Menorah is placed in public places to remind people of the miracle. This year the Menorah will be lit on the steps of the amphitheatre at 7.30pm on Wednesday 28th December. Please join in with this traditional celebration because everybody is welcome, Jews, Christians, people of every religion and those of none. Shalom.

Playa de la Glea. The Councillor stated that the Town Hall is already in the process of hiring workmen to complete the necessary tasks, which include installing the wooden fencing around the dunes and the restoration of the area. Information panels will also be installed at a total cost of 7,400€. Bob concluded: “This project is symbolically important.” He added: “We have begun to evaluate certain environmental elements of the coast and it is important that tourists and residents know what is left of our natural ecosystems. And as a result they will also realise the importance that the Town Hall is placing on protecting the coastal environment.”

Manuel Culiáñez and Bob Houliston

F1 comes to Torrevieja!

The F1 driver arrives in style aboard a luxury yacht

by Louise Clarke MORE THAN 20,000 people descended on the stunning Marina Salinas in Torrevieja yesterday (Thursday) to witness a historic event; the day that Formula 1 came to Torrevieja. OK, so it wasn’t exactly the Grand Prix, but it was close enough as the Sahara Force India F1 team complete with one of its star drivers, Adrian Sutil, spent the day in the city. Members of the Torrevieja Town Hall government team were on hand to welcome the driver as he made his grand entrance on the top deck of a luxury yacht and once he had spoken to the delegates, Adrian then made his way to the special F1 simulator, where, not surprisingly, he set the fastest time of day. The driver then took some time out to sign autographs before going on to speak to members of the press at a special press conference. He also signed a Sahara Force India Team baseball cap for the Mayor, Eduardo Dolon, who was unable to attend and met three young go-kart enthusiasts from Orihuela Costa Go-Karts before enjoying a cool Kingfisher Beer, which was sponsoring the event.


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Jet set Zumba be starting in ‘real’ Spain next year.”

by Jack Troughton

FITNESS CRAZE Zumba has catapulted instructor Kimberley Harrison into the fast lane as she travels Europe to hold master classes in the hi-energy dance inspired routines. Kimberley, from Javea, has qualified as a ‘Zumba Jammer’ – one of 180 around the world – and taking lessons with existing instructors. “At the moment I travel to the UK, France and Italy to give classes to instructors at weekends – and next year I will be going across Europe to hold these sessions,” she said, admitting it was a punishing schedule. “I had to go through a five month selection process to become a Zumba Jammer. There were 9,000 applicants and 54 of us got through – to date I am the only one in Spain.” Kimberley said Zumba was very popular in the Costa Blanca but it remained very localised. “It has really taken off in the UK and the creator of Zumba did the first television appearances here a couple of months ago and it will

Ski season gets off to a flying start

THE WINTER season has been launched during this week’s `Puente’ with attractive deals and offers on accommodation and passes, with great reductions on room prices in Spain’s ski resorts. Prices on ‘passes are available at around 80€ 90€ per person for a weekend. Andorra remains the favoured destination. The crisis has taken its toll on the slopes with all skiers demanding value for money but the average length of stay remains at four to five days costing around 120€ - 130€ for a package. Snowy forecasts for the rest of the year are positive, with almost €25 million invested in improving lifts and expanding trails and ski areas to improve quality and safety.

CHANCE A fitness instructor for 20 years, she came across Zumba almost by chance being invited to join in some lessons to “check it out”. Kimberley added: “I walked away and knew this was it! I got onto the Internet and looked into it and by the next morning had paid for the first course.” And despite her commitments as a Zumba Jammer, she still finds time to hold classes in Javea and Moraira. “They are still really busy, which is great.” Kimberley, who organises charity ‘Zumbathons’, the first in March 2010, to raise cash for good causes, added: “It has moved on for me by teaching teachers, it is good to be able to do that in Zumba which is really getting a high profile.” To find out more visit www.zumbacostablanca.com or email info@zumbacostablanca.com, alternatively, call Kim- Kimberley at Spain’s first berley on 696 746 091. Zumbathon

Fabulous Footwork!

by Louise Clarke THE DANCERS from the Footwork Dance Studio delighted a packed audience with their annual show at the Casa de Cultura and Musica in Los Montesinos. Last Sunday evening’s event was in aid of the Los Montesinos Junior Band and what a night it was! The dancers, ranging in age from three to 75, performed an array of routines from tap, ballet and jazz to acrobatics. This year they were also joined by the fabulous young singer Grace Dina who, at only 15 years old, completely wowed the audience.

Lorna and Leah were part of the Footwork Dance Studio’s fabulous show

STANDING OVATION From the opening to the finale, the audience was treated to some amazing performances and the highlight of the show had to be the finale with the whole cast performing ‘Lord of the Dance’ which was delivered with perfection and resulted in a standing ovation. Congratulations must go to all the students and their parents for all their time and effort as well as for Carole, who designed all the costumes and ensured that the all looked their best as they went on stage; John and Alex who did the sound and lighting and the School Principal, Erica, who choreographed and taught all the routines. If you missed this show but don’t want to miss the next one, make sure you are at La Rustika (formally Los Arcos) this Sunday, 11th December, for their Christmas show: tickets are only 3.50€ and children under 12 go free. The show starts at 7.30pm, so make sure that you get there early to get a seat.


Dutchman wins European Tour Qualifier by Louise Clarke DUTCHMAN TIM Sluiter secured victory earlier this week and was amongst 21 other young golfers to qualify for the next stage of the European Tour Qualifying School. The tournament took place last weekend at the stunning Las Colinas Golf & Country Club in Orihuela Costa, recently named one of Europe’s top 100 courses. Proceedings drew to a close on Monday evening with Tim Sluiter claiming an impressive victory, Sluiter carrying a two shot lead into the final day after a stunning 66 on day three; having carded four impressive sub-seventy rounds the Dutchman finished at 16 under par. This left him 2 shots ahead of Denmark’s Morten Orum Madsen who put up a tough fight, but just fell short. IMPRESSIVE Throughout the tournament the lead changed hands many times but a group of players were in with a sniff all week, most notably Englishman Benn Barham who

continued his remarkable rehabilitation from kidney cancer with another consistent display on the final day and has thrived on the excellent course conditions in the Spanish sun. Englishman Matt Dearden was also incredibly impressed and commented, “It is a great venue, with very friendly staff, with a great golf course and facilities. Certainly one of the best golf courses I have played in Spain and it will surely only get better as it matures into a top championship golf course.”

Tim Sluiter tees off to victory

Weekend party ends in jail A BRAWL that broke out during a private party held in an apartment in the Tombola area of Alicante in Saturday ended with five arrests and two people being admitted to the Hospital General de Alicante, including one of those arrested. The incident occurred during the early hours of Saturday morning when a group discussion led to aggression between a lady guest and her former partner, allegedly already violating an exclusion order by attending the party. Both suffered serious injuries including bruising, symptoms of suffocation through strangulation, and fractured vertebrae.

Coastal Christmas programme announced By Louise Clarke THE COASTAL Christmas programme of events and festivities was announced this week by the Councillor for Fiestas, Carolina Gracia and the Councillor for the Coast, Bob Houliston. For the first time the coastal programme has been integrated into the same programme as the city and the villages after being deprived of its own list of events for many years. The traditional Christmas festivities and celebrations include a Christmas tree lighting ceremony; concerts; a children’s fun village for the school holidays; a free coach trip to Orihuela city to see their famous Belen or nativity display and a

New Year’s Eve party complete with a large screen to see the celebrations at the Puerta del Sol in Madrid with cava, grapes and live music. Bob told RTN: “I would like to thank Carolina and her team for their hard work and dedication to ensure that the coast gets as a good a programme of activities as possible over Christmas, New Year and the Three Kings celebrations.” The full programme of events will be included in next week’s RTN but in the meantime, next Monday, 12th December at 8pm, the Christmas tree at the La Zenia church, off the N332, will be lit during a special ceremony. Everyone is invited to go along and enjoy the event.

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From Russia with love by Jack Troughton THE NAME’S Guliyev, Alexei Guliyev. Meet the hero of a new fast-paced novel ‘Nemesis in Spain’, a genuine page turner and licensed to thrill. Alexei is a special forces veteran with a taste for the good life and the ladies - and is also a ruthless killer when working for a select band of Russians, including the secret service. A man with a mission, and unlike a genteel 007, nothing stands in Alexei’s way, so the body count of the bad guys and unfortunate good guys rises as the adventure unfolds. He is also the creation of Javea-based author George Thomas and assigned to run riot through Spain and Andorra as the avenging angel of both shady St Petersburg businessmen and the government. George’s debut novel was inspired by the highprofile burst of the Spanish property bubble and takes readers right to the underbelly of the murky market where corruption and backhanders are notoriously rife. MAFIA Mafia paymasters hire Alexei to recover 9 million euros advanced to a property developer who has cut and run with the cash. He has also to recover the million euro bribe shared between a crooked mayor and the councillor for urban development. This is fiction with a familiar feel.

And the enforcer also has to shoehorn in the assassination of a Mallorca-based crime boss for the FSB, Russia’s Federal Security Service. All in a day’s work for Alexei, although working for the government is nowhere near as profitable as working for the private sector. Alexei has seen his best friend lose his life in a similar gun for hire role and is considering retirement to the sun – especially after being wounded on a raid. He is getting close to his friend’s widow - does family life beckon? He is also close to Hayzu, the Basque beauty and ETA soldier. She becomes a loyal working partner and another love interest. Being paid top dollar also allows Alexei the possibility to stay in top hotels and eat at the best restaurants – he drinks good wines, cava, beer, Cuban rum and is human enough to get hangovers.

Fiesta Crafts

THE HOME of craft and party in Javea offers outstanding products at value prices, with the newest and latest crafting trends from the industries’ best-known brands such as Do Crafts, Ranger, Crafter’s Companion, Dufex, Pinflair and Kanban. The ‘Christmas Shop’ has now arrived at Fiesta Crafts with everything you could possibly need for Christmas all under one George roof, all at low prices. Tinsel; Thomas decorations; cards; crackers; ited many of them,” he explained. “I think it helps gift wrap; tags, bags and WRITE bring the story alive. bows - plus much more! For “I also used the Internet to research the various those who make their own George spent two years writing Nemesis in Spain. “It wasn’t because I had writer’s block or weapons that are used – I don’t know what the Christmas cakes we have anything but I paint as well and went through a Guardia Civil would think if they saw my searches!” cake decorations, frills and Clearly Alexei will have to continue as George’s boards. period where I was doing a lot of painting and also key figure for some time, he is already 20,000 went on holiday.” With the price of Originally from Glasgow, before retiring to words into the sequel ‘Nemesis in Asia’. Christmas rocketing each To find out more visit Spain, George had a business career that meant year, why not get crafty and he travelled the world, especially through Europe, www.nemesisnovels.com and Nemesis In Spain make your own cards, gifts is available from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and and decorations? At Fiesta Russia and the Middle East. “The places in the book are real and I have vis- on Kindle. Crafts you will find all your Christmas craft essentials for a value price: blank cards and envelopes start at only 10 cents and Christmas peel-off stickers from only 60 cents. Our children’s craft kits make ideal inexpensive gifts for filling the children’s stockings. When Christmas JOIN THE Calpe Christian Fellowship to sing carols old and new at the Metro Café, Perlamar is over, start the New Year Centre, opposite the Solymar Hotel, Calpe on Friday 16th December, at 7pm. with our 2012 calendars and All are welcome. diaries, from 75 cents. For more details please visit www.calpechristianfellowship.org

Calpe Christian Fellowship Carol Singing


Legion salutes Poppy Appeal

Stepping out to start the 2011 appeal

by Louise Clarke GENEROUS DONATIONS helped the Javea Branch of the Royal British Legion collect a “magnificent amount” during the 2011 Poppy Appeal. The total of 11,044.37€ was collected during the annual appeal and beat the total collected 12 months earlier by 945.88€. The branch covers Javea, Benitachell, parts of Moraira and Denia and collection boxes were placed in bars, shops, restaurants and businesses. Branch chairman Roger Dawes thanked everyone who had given money which remains in Spain and is used to boost the

welfare fund to assist former servicemen and women and their dependents needing advice, financial help, and support. Traditionally the branch’s appeal starts with a sponsored walk round the Arenal Beach. This year the 15th October event raised 2,176€, while a Fun Day at Digby’s Bar added another 800€. “All this could not have been achieved without everyone’s support,” said Roger. “A big thanks to all of our branch members who have worked tirelessly throughout the year in preparation for the Appeal, distributing 120 collection boxes and getting them back in record time for them to be counted and the money banked to meet our deadline. “It was a really magnificent achievement. Thank you all.”

Cumberland Bar Christmas Songs Festival THE CUMBERLAND Bar in Benidorm will be holding a Festival of Christmas Songs and Carols on Friday 23rd& Saturday 24th December 2011 at 6pm. Tickets, which are limited, cost 2.50€ and go on sale from Thursday 15th December from the Cumberland Bar. All proceeds to go to Help for Heroes. For further information call Nigel or Yvonne on 685 550 106 or visit the website at www.CumberlandBarBenidorm.com

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Carols for Christmas

The English Choir

by Jack Troughton THE POPULAR English Choir’s annual Christmas concert is being staged in Moraira on Thursday 15th December with a varied programme of carols old and new. The audience will be provided with song sheets for the evening and to sing along with some of best-loved and traditional carols. The English Choir will be directed by Joanna Baldwin and accompanied by Heather Butcher as they sing some beautiful arrangements, including Rutter’s Candlelight Carol, the traditional French March of the Kings, a modern Bethlehem taken from the West end musical Martin Guerre, and the Valencian lullaby ‘A-la-Nanita’. The choir also hopes to delight and amuse its guests with its ‘alternative’ version of the Twelve Days of Christmas. The concert begins at 7.30pm in La Senieta theatre. Tickets are 5€ and available from Peter Brown on 96 574 5091 or choir members.

Roll up for Pepa’s Christmas Party!

PEPA, THE ‘helping hands’ charity homing dogs in Spain is to hold its annual Christmas Party on Saturday 17th December from 7.30pm until late at the popular Restaurante Viva España in Oliva, with delicious food and spectacular entertainment including an opportunity to see the Viva España Flamenco Ballet live! Also appearing is Freddie Kool as

part of Viva España’s legendary floor show. And guests are encouraged to get up onto the floor to dance the night away! Specially discounted tickets at 25€ include a three-course meal and a ½ bottle of wine and may be reserved by calling Jaine on 647 368 322 or by visiting www.pepaspain.com

Santa Claus came to town by Jack Troughton FATHER CRISTMAS was a popular guest of honour at the Jalon Valley HELP fair and attracted a string of excited youngsters making sure he knew exactly what to deliver. The man in red opened the festive event at the Library and Pensionistas building in Jalon – and despite last Saturday’s rain, the hall was soon packed. Entertainment was provided by the Laude Lady Elizabeth School Choir and the Big Fish Rock Choir and children were particularly well provided for with face painting, ‘pick a lolly’, and Chinese tattoos. There were also a host of busy stalls selling cakes, homemade produce, Christmas cards, clothes, and tombola and a raffle. And those in need of sustenance could enjoy a cup of tea or coffee – or a glass of

HELP President Rhonda Ryan with Santa AKA husband Peter

mulled wine or cava with a mince pie. HELP’s Frances Barrett said the charity found the hall was an ideal place for the event after using it in October for a coffee morning. “It is a very convenient location with plenty of parking. “This is a very important fund raising event for HELP and once again it has been a great success.” The Christmas Bazaar has raised 3,400€.


09 - 15 Dec 2011

23

Venture into Ventura Watts In Britain By

Paul Watts

WELL, IT’S started. No sooner had we finished saying, “Pinch, punch first o’ the month etc...” the mad rush to the shops began. I can tell you that by half-ten of the morn on the first Saturday of December Sutton Coldfield was gridlocked. Just like the summer rioters before them, the Christmas shoppers were reclaiming the streets. It wasn’t a pretty sight and we can expect a month’s worth of this madness. There I was in Aldi waiting to pay for me bag of four baking potatoes, thinking, “This won’t take long...” Wrong. I queued for twenty minutes; the shop was rammed! It’ll teach me for being a skinflint and wanting to pay just 49p for four spuds, rather than parting with a quid at my local (and not packed to the gunnels) Spar. As I stood there surrounded by old dears with their quad-wheeled-shopping-trolleys I could feel myself going into a dizzying spin. Every shop in the precinct was the same; from Waitrose to M&S, through Argos to House of Frazer and Boots they were all doing the queuing-conga. Hmmm, perhaps Black Lace could make up a new song… Anyways, I’ve decided that I’m doing my shopping in the evening and staying well clear of the mean stores during the day. Mind you, it’s not just the shops; oh no the fun starts before you even get to them. I heard on Radio 4 that a recent study has revealed that the single most cause of tension and stress associated with Christmas shopping is the queue for the car park. Autoquake. com quizzed over 3,000 people in a survey of seasonal parking-related woes. The survey found that motorists are most worried about getting a penalty

parking ticket followed by the strange phenomenon an irrational irritation with other driver’s parking abilities. Autoquake.com’s CEO Dermot Halpin said: “Christmas shopping can be a test of patience. From heavy traffic, to full car parks, to the worry of picking up a penalty ticket if you’re a few minutes late getting back to the car, it’s a festive headache many of us could do without.” You’re not wrong there Dermot old son, tempers broil (and even possibly boil) as motorists move at a snail’s pace to find that hallowed empty space. And it’s not just the city centres that get full, even at out of town retail-shopping-paradises the car parks fill up quicker than Richard Branson buying a cheap tax-payer funded bank. At Tamworth we have an almost-outof-town retail area called Ventura Park – let me tell you it was designed by an utter burke. Picture the scene: a huge retail park is laid out side by side with generous car parking arraignments. The only trouble is the feeder-roads in and out of the place are entirely inadequate. It must have been designed by some committee with a nasty roundabout fetish or a bunch of youth-opportunity sponsored geeks on an Amstrad computer. A lunatic monkey with Lego could have done better. If you want to remain sane of a Saturday, avoid Ventura Park! At Christmas it should carry a health warning.

Ventura Park; the place not to be

If more than thirty cars enter the approach roads the whole site and surrounding area gridlocks. Cars move slower than grains of sand in an hourglass. The designers of Ventura Park, in what appears a sadistic vendetta against the motorist, decreed that buses should load from the pavement (no lay-bys) adding to the general misery. You can easily become stuck behind a bus (with no chance of passing it because of the endless stream of vehicles coming against you) for your entire life. And that’s no exaggeration. Getting from Marks along to Asda (a distance of five hundred yards) can often take over fifteen minutes; which, let me tell you, seems like your entire life. So friends, enter Ventura Park and your will to live

will evaporate. I think the Autoquake team of the above mentioned study must surely have ventured into Ventura at some point. All this said it now appears that I should not be affected by venturing into Ventura. Well, not according to the Automobile Association’s Edmund King. He said: “Fortunately, Christmas parking stress diminishes as drivers get older and wiser, with 22% of 18-24 year olds very stressed compared to 12% of drivers aged over 55”. Hmmph, I don’t know about that Ed, I get very stressy: I guess I must be one of those 12% of over 55s in a complete tizzy over it. Still, I know what to do – avoid Christmas shopping until the New Year. Watts in Ventura Park – “beam me up Scotty for crying out loud!”


24

09 - 15 Dec 2011

Well done Adam!

by Louise Clarke

Sign up TfOorDyAouYr

cwhainncthe is to ruise C

ADAM STEWART, competing in the 1st European Swimming Championships for Downs Syndrome in Coimbra Portugal from 15th to 21st November, won gold for 800 meters Freestyle. He is the European and European Masters Champion, lifted silver for 400 meters Freestyle and bronze for 200 meters Butterfly. Adam was one of eight athletes swimming for Team Espaùa, collecting 18 medals between them, making them 3rd in the medals table out of 184 swimmers from 13 different countries taking part from as far away as Canada and Brazil. Adam’s sister Lucy, who was celebrating

her birthday and who also has Downs Syndrome, danced the Flamenco at the opening ceremony: her mentor is Raquel Pena. Adam and his family would like to thank coach John Dyer for all his hard work in preparing Adam for the competition; Junior Strikers; Jukebox Legends; CDM Orihuela Costa; Pablos; Kameeleon and all the businesses and ex-pats that supported Adam over the past years, not forgetting the newspapers, radio and TV stations. Preparations are now in hand to compete in the DSSF Championships in Southampton, IPC Denmark, and The DSISO World Championships in Italy November 2012. Adam now swims with Club Natacion Torrevieja.

Costa Blanca walks

SATURDAY 10TH DECEMBER El Cao: A moderately strenuous walk over some rough terrain but with spectacular views of Jalon Valley and the coast: 14kms of 5 hours duration with a 650m ascent: No dogs: For further details Tel Peter 669 873 159. Montgo Cross: A strenuous walk over some rough terrain, with some scrambling: 14kms of 5 hours duration with a 600m ascent: No dogs: For further details Tel Geoff 696 032 882. WEDNESDAY 14TH DECEMBER Gallinera Castle: A moderately strenuous walk over some rough terrain: Prolonged ascent to the castle and beyond: 12kms of 5 hours duration with a 550m ascent: No dogs: For further details Tel Jay 626 604 610. Cathedral Walk: A strenuous walk over some rough terrain and some loose scree, with some scrambling but worth the effort: 14kms of 6 hours duration with a 450m ascent: No dogs: For further details Tel Angie 646 930 990 or Ann 646 716 303. Walks depart promptly at 10am unless otherwise noted. Boots and adequate drinking water are required. First aid kit is recommended, as well as protection against sun and wind. Walkers participate at their own risk. Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy, the time stated for each walk will always depend on the fitness and ability of the walkers and also the weather and passage conditions on the day of the walk. The rules and guidelines for walking are given on the CBMW website http://www.cbmwalkers.org.


money

Move over Civil, let’s introduce Fiscal Residency by AM I a resident in Spain? We’re often asked

Suzanne O’Connell

this question and our advisers can often be heard giving the answer. If you live in Spain Customer Care for more than 183 days (and they need not be at Ábaco consecutive) in any one year then yes, you are. That bit’s simple. But how do you prove it? Most people would probably answer ‘by applying for the green residencia’. That is the A4 green piece of paper that you obtain, eventually, from your local police station. It used to be a card with a photo and most people wish it still was. So, you’ve got your residencia. That’s proof enough isn’t it? Not really. What you have there is in fact civil residency but as people move backwards and forwards across countries ‘forgetting’ to cancel these, the Spanish government does not rely on the green paper alone. If you really want to prove you are a resident in Spain it’s fiscal residency that you need. Let me introduce you to: The Certificate of Fiscal Residency Colour: white (it’s just a printed-off certificate) Available from: The Tax Office – Agencia Tributaria Needed for: proving residency when you sell your home – avoids you having 3% of the sale price retained and also proving residency where there is an inheritance claim - can make a big difference to the amount of inheritance tax payable. So, it’s a handy piece of paper when you need it

but how do you get one? Not surprisingly you need a long list of documents that includes a copy of your last Spanish Tax Return - Modelo 100. It is for this reason that we recommend all residents make a tax return, even if they fall below the threshold requiring them to pay any tax. Just to complicate matters further you might also find yourself in need of the Certificate of Fiscal Residency with Double Taxation Treaty. This is the certificate required to prove you are paying your tax in Spain rather than in the UK. It is issued in Spanish and English and has to be requested for the Country it has to be presented to. So, just when you thought you had mastered the art of documentation collection and had braved every funcionario to obtain your NIE, residencia, padron and SIP we’ve added yet another official form to the list. Sorry. The good news is that you don’t have to rush out and get one straight away. It’s not something else you need stored in the glove compartment or at the bottom of your handbag. Just make sure you apply in good time if you are anticipating a sale, and that you are up-to-date with your annual tax declarations. With these in place you should have no problem proving that you are a paid-up, document-savvy resident of Spain. If you need a certificate of fiscal residency we can help you. Please contact us for free advice by calling our helpline 966703748 www.abacoconnect.com

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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26 40

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money

09 - 15 Dec 2011

27

QROPS - Stop press major changes on their way! by

Stephen Ward & Robert Burns HMRC HAVE alongside the draft clauses for the 2012 Finance Bill published a draft statutory instrument with the rather innocuous title of The Overseas Pension Schemes (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2012. The intention is “to make the QROPS regime operate in line with the policy intention” - which is that “ an individual who leaves the UK and transfers their pension savings should be in broadly the same position as someone who remains in the UK with their pension savings” The draft regulations introduce new conditions that a scheme must satisfy to be and to remain as a QROPS. The new conditions have the effect of : 1. Ending with effect from 6 April 2012 the ability of long

term non UK residents to transfer their pension funds to New Zealand and receive a lump sum of 100% of the fund. This change introduces certainty of timing, as this was in effect already the subject of legislation passing through the New Zealand Parliament. The message therefore is that if you left the UK more than five years ago and wish to access your pension fund as an immediate lump sum there is no time to lose. 2. Introducing a new and unexpected provision that requires uniformity of tax treatment of benefits for local and non local residents of the QROPS jurisdiction. Ironically New Zealand pension schemes satisfy this new condition as there is no tax relief on pension contributions made by local residents, and there is no tax on benefits when they are paid out. No tax applies on benefits made to non residents of New Zealand either so “there is [an] exemption from tax for non resident members and it also applies to resident members” – which meets HMRC requirements as now drafted. This however would seem not to be the case with regard to Guernsey and Isle of Man QROPS where pension schemes differentiate the of tax treatment of benefits between local residents and non residents. So as local residents are taxed

on income benefits and non local residents are not taxed on such benefits the new condition under the draft regulations are not satisfied. No doubt there will be some serious lobbying to take place over the next few weeks to have this changed but we are where we are. Other proposals in the draft regulations are concerned with, (but only in relation to transfers to QROPS made after 5 April 2012), putting in place a new and much shorter reporting period for the UK scheme making the transfer to adhere to. The five complete tax year rule as it relates to payments to QROPS members and their taxation remains unchanged, but all the same schemes will be required to report payments made for a full ten years after the transfer takes place. No doubt this extended reporting provision is to ensure that all schemes which are registered as QROPS satisfy the new conditions and do not seek to abuse the rules. For further information about QROPS, Pension Planning and long term investment opportunities please email info@prempensions.com or see http://www.prempensions.com and http://www.qrops.es quoting reference RTN1211.

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


money

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09 - 15 Dec 2011

The Spanish Tax Advantage part 2 by

Christina Brady

Regional Manager of Blacktower Costa Blanca

Efficient pensions

MANY INDIVIDUALS find pensions confusing and the global recession and so called “Eurozone Crisis” have created a great deal of concern over pension invested funds. This is only compounded when you move overseas as you may also be affected by exchange rate fluctuations. Well the overseas part shouldn’t worry you, in fact as a result of living overseas there are significant advantages open to you with regard to your UK pension arrangements. In April 2006 and 2011, UK pension legislation changed allowing persons living outside the UK to transfer their pension assets to an alternate overseas pension scheme. These have been formally named Qualified Recognized Overseas Pension Schemes or QROPS for short. Although not for everyone, these schemes offer significant flexibility and tax advantages over that as offered by UK sited schemes. By transferring your existing pension assets to a QROPS you could save up to 55% in tax charges on 1st death succession and

further 55% on 2nd death succession. In short this means that your heirs will truly benefit from your life time’s work rather than your adopted child the UK chancellor. In the majority of cases a transfer to an overseas scheme proves to be in the policy holder’s best interest as advantages of transferring to a QROPS include: • No need to make life long decision now that are locked in • No requirements to purchase an annuity • No requirements to pay UK tax charge upon death • Tax efficiency on Income Drawdown • Currency hedging (as you could receive your income in the currency of your resident country) • Better inheritance provisions • Far greater freedom of investment choices However, it’s not for everyone and in certain circumstances a transfer could prove to be a

disadvantage, such as certain defined benefit schemes. Also be aware that some companies and individuals claim that you can 100% commute your pension by transferring to such jurisdictions as New Zealand. Whilst this is possible you need to be aware of the possible implications of such transfers. For example some claim that this can be done “tax free”. If by “tax free” they mean there are no taxes to pay in New Zealand, then they are correct. However the tax position in either the UK or Spain may differ considerably. In short before embarking on such a route ensure that you are talking to a trusted and regulated company and that you are made “fully” aware of the implications should you return to the UK and as such your tax liabilities. To find out more please contact me on 0034 965 065 265 or 0034 658 892 330 or simply email me at Christina.brady@blacktowerfm.com

To find out more about efficient pensions or for any financial advice, please contact Christina on 0034 658 892 330 or 965 065 265 or simply email her at christina.brady@blacktowerfm.com The information contained in this article does not constitute financial advice and you should seek advice from a professional tax adviser before embarking on any financial planning activity


legal

by

Michael Olmer

14 - 15 20 OCT 09 Dec 2011 07 13 OCT 2011

29 23 25

Valuing a “Usufruct” or lifetime interest I HAVE written before about the useful Spanish

Solicitor, Link Point Legal device of the “Usufruct” which is the right of a and Business Services

person to have the benefit of the use of property, such as the right to live in the family home, without actually becoming the owner. A usufruct can either be granted for a lifetime or for a fixed period. Fundamentally, the beneficiary of a Usufruct has the right to their personal use and enjoyment of the property but not to sell it, rent it out, damage it, or diminish its value in any way other than through fair wear and tear. There are special rules where the property includes agricultural land, or where the Usufruct is for the exploitation of property which becomes depleted over time, such as mines or mineral rights. A question is often asked about how one values a Usufruct, especially when assessing the tax due on the occasion of an inheritance or lifetime gift. The formula for valuing a usufruct is set out in Royal Decree 1 of 1993 and fundamentally it is a proportion of total value of the asset over which the usufruct has been granted. The calculation is a consequence of inheritance tax in Spain being a tax on the individual beneficiary rather than on the estate of the deceased or donor of a gift. The starting point is that the value of a usufruct can

never be more than 70% of the total value of the asset. For a lifetime usufruct you must deduct 1% of the value for each year that the owner of the usufruct is over the age of 19, until if the owner of the usufruct is 79 years old or more, the usufruct reaches a minimum value of 10% of the total value of the asset. If the usufruct is granted for a set number of years, again the maximum value is 70% of the total value of the asset, but it then reduces 2% per year. For example, John dies leaving the usufruct on his house to his wife Janet who is aged 60, for the rest of her life, and then after, Janet dies the property is to pass to their children Richard and Jane, who will own what is described as the “nuda propiedad”, or bare property. Janet’s usufruct is valued at the figure of 89 (79 plus the minimum of 10%) less Janet’s age of 60, which means that it is considered to be worth 29% of the total value of the house. The “bare property” in the house inherited by Richard and Jane is valued at 61% of the total value of the house. As you can see, the younger the person who inherits or receives a gift of a “usufruct”, the greater its value and the more tax they will pay. When Janet dies her usufruct will come to an end

and Richard and Jane will become entitled to the house absolutely. Richard and Jane will then pay tax on the value remaining of the usufruct at the date of Janet’s death. Spanish Inheritance tax is charged at different rates in bands according to the value of the inheritance. The rate of tax which Richard and Jane have to pay when they become the absolute owners of the house will be the average of the rate that applied when they first inherited the “bare property”. If a Usufruct is granted to more than one person, such as a son and daughter-in-law , it will only expire when the last beneficiary dies, and the value of the usufruct will be calculated by reference to the youngest of the owners. Granting a Usufruct in your Will can be a useful way of apportioning the value of property between the generations, and the taxes to be paid, but it is important to bear in mind that the rights are personal to the beneficiaries of the Usufruct and that it must correctly documented. If you feel that this device may be suitable for you and your family, please give us a call at Linkpoint where we will be happy to help you.

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

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free

uk tv

120mins european landline calls

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legal

09 - 15 Dec 2011

by

Carlos Baos

of White & Baos Abogados English & Spanish Solicitors

SOMETIMES IN trials relating to traffic accidents, it is important to determine and prove the real causes for the accident, be it the driver’s carelessness, or the negligence of a pedestrian, or whatever. Proving what actually occurred is crucial at the time of deciding the liability and setting the compensation, and therefore all the items of evidence are essential in this type of proceedings. In general we can say that all types of evidence relevant to the process and admissible by Law can be used. The following are particularly important: Police Report The police statement (atestado) is the police report filed by the competent authority. In Spain it is normally done by the Civil Traffic Guard (Guardia Civil de trafico) This is normally the most important proof and the judges tend to give it great importance and relevance, treating it with particular value as evidence, and it is in the majority of cases the starting point for most Court Orders. The value of these (atestado) statements is indisputable because it will typically contain many photographs, data, evidence etc, and it is done by an impartial authority which has expertise in the matter, and usually immediately after the accident occurs.

Principal evidence in road traffic accidents (Rta) The police attestation must have some minimal amounts of content and requirements to be valid in terms of objective facts concerning the accident and the person(s) involved, and include a description of the facts, and statements from the parties, etc. While it is true to say that the document itself has intrinsic value because it contains a series of proofs and objective data collected by the impartial authorities, and whilst it also has the presumption of being a truthful account; in fact, it must be reiterated and confirmed in the trial itself by the officers who completed it and took part in its construction. This is done in order to explore all the facts and to obtain all the necessary evidence as required by the Law, in order for the parties to obtain all the relevant clarifications and confirmations they may require. Thus as we have previously stated, normally the police attestation will be decisive in those cases where this type of statement has been completed. However, in those cases where there is no attestation done by the relevant authorities, then another kind of proof becomes really important, such as: Friendly Accident Declaration This Friendly Accident Declaration (or European Accident Declaration) is very important as it is normally done immediately at the time and place of the accident, and completed spontaneously by the parties involved, without

receiving any advice from the experts in this field. The importance and appreciation of these statements by the Judge is based on the fact that really this Declaration can be considered as a kind of ‘confession’; an acknowledgement of facts made by the parties involved, and thus it has important value. In addition to the above evidence, there are numerous other kinds of tests and means by which the Judge can be provided with an accurate picture of what really happened, including witnesses statements about the accident, photographs taken after the accident by witnesses or the parties involved, expert reports, and so on. In conclusion, it is very important that if you suffer a traffic accident you should make sure to collect all the necessary proof and evidence to be able to show the Judge exactly what happened, and to help him to determine responsibilities. Should any reader find himself or herself in this situation or similar please do not hesitate to contact us and the appropriate advice will be provided. The information provided in this article is not intended to be legal advice, but merely conveys general information related to legal issues. We kindly invite you to visit and comment about this article in our blog at http://www.white-baos.com/blog/ and facebook (White-Baos-Abogados-Solicitors) your comments in this respect will be greatly appreciated.

Carlos Baos (Lawyer) © 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. This article is available in English and Spanish at www.white-baos.com


money

Sarkozy and Merkel meet during a crucial week for Europe FRENCH PRESIDENT Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, dubbed by the press as ‘Merkozy’, met this week to coordinate their strategy for the European Council next Thursday and Friday in Brussels as the Euro continues to elude all attempts to find a solution for a safe future. Sarkozy has said that “Europe is not a choice but a necessity,” calling for a “re-founding” of the EU. Merkel, addressing the Bundestag, stressed the value of amending European treaties to take the Eurozone beyond the debt crisis, rejecting the Eurobond issue or the European Central Bank (ECB) acquiring the debt of developing countries’ difficulties. “There is no magic solution: it is a process that will take years,” she predicted, advocating that the treaties enter more rigid rules and automatic sanctions for those failing to meet the goals of greater fiscal discipline. Newly elected Mariano Rajoy will also present Spain’s position on the economic situation.

09 - 15 Dec 2011

31

300,000€ cash windfall on a lost Gordo ticket

A COURT in Madrid has ruled that Antonio CM of Almazan (Soria), a man who bought a winning Gordo lottery ticket for the Christmas Draw in 2006 and then lost it, is to be allowed to claim his prize of 300,000€. The court found that he has proved beyond doubt that he is the rightful holder of the lost ticket. The Court recalled that, according to the jurisprudence of the Supreme Court, a lottery prize can be collected even without the ‘physical presentation’ of the ticket if the recipient can prove their ‘acquisition’ and subsequent ‘loss’, provided “…that no one else has claimed and received the prize within the time allowed.”

The crisis widens the gap between rich and poor SINCE THE economic crisis gripped Spain back in 2008 the gap between the rich and poor has widened, leaving the poorest of its citizens 11 times worse off than those on higher incomes. According to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) this gap has widened to its broadest level in 30 years, as reflected in a report that shows Spain is slightly above the OECD average. Recent national data also shows that equal opportunities have declined in Spain in the last two years.


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09 - 15 Dec 2011

Spanish lessons by

Jane Cronin

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

The Letter

‘M’

THE GOOD news this week about the pronunciation of the letter M, is that it is exactly the same as in English and I should now say that there isn’t anything else to say about it, but if you read my articles regularly you will know that cannot possibly be true! An interesting fact is that Spanish words never end in the letter M, and I have noticed that the Spanish have great difficulty closing their mouths on a consonant at the ends of words. The common consonant ends in Spanish are N, S, R, L, Z, D none of which require the closing of lips. This affects the way Spanish people pronounce English, which has a lot of lip-closing at the ends of words, with basic phrases like “I’m from ...” causing some difficulty. With that said, let’s get straight on with our usual abundance of similar words in Spanish and English beginning with the letter M. Our first one is maduro (mature). This word also means “ripe” as in fruit, so is a useful one to use at the market. Mágico (magic). Notice that the emphasis on the word falls on the first syllable or beat, as indicated by the accent. Malicia (malice). This also rhymes with the name Alicia (Alice) but I really don’t think there’s any connection! Mecánico (mechanic). This is the chap you need to mend your car, although the word also means “mechanical” and the place we call the “garage” is the taller mecánico, literally the “mechanical workshop”. Medicina (medicine), and we also often hear the word medicamento for medication. Memoria (memory). There is a controversial new law just passed in Spain called La ley de Memoria Histórica which is intended to honour of those who suffered in the Civil War on the losing side. There are plenty more similar words like these, for example: micrófono (microphone), mineral (mineral), moderno (modern), moderar (moderate), mental (mental) monumento (monument), and here are three composite words starting with “multi” meaning “many” - multinacional, (multinational) multicultural (multicultural), multimedia (multimedia). An “estranged cousin” beginning with the letter M

is the Spanish word miserable which means wretched or mean and does not mean “miserable” in the English sense of unhappy. Unhappy in Spanish is triste or infeliz. Another false friend is the Spanish word motorista which means motorbike rider and not car motorist which is conductor. Also there is the word mascota which means “pet” in the sense of a domestic animal. The other way of saying mascota is simply animal doméstico. This means that if a Spanish person makes the mistake of asking you “Have you got any mascots?” he or she does not think you look like a member of the boy scouts or that you walk round with a goat on a chain. An everyday word in Spanish beginning the M is “mano”, and this leads me to a favourite subject of mine which is the making up of word families. Mano means “hand” and we will hear it in a multitude (another similar word – multitud!) of familiar contexts, for example a parent saying to a child before crossing the road “Dame la mano” “Give me your hand”. However, that base word mano is used to build up many other related words. We have manual meaning “manual” as in manual labour – work done with the hands. Then there is maniobra meaning manoeuvre, again referring to manual dexterity and not primarily car manoeuvres! Similarly the verb manipular translates literally as “manipulate”, but whereas in English we tend to use this in a more psychological context, in Spanish is primarily refers to working with the hands. Another verb manejar means “to handle” but is related to our English word “manage” which generally is not a manual process! In fact it is an interest question in itself to ask why so many root words about hands have taken on so many non-manual meanings in English! And finally to our saying containing an M word. Here is it: “Al que madruga, Dios le ayuda” which literally means “God helps him who gets up early”, or as we would say: “The early bird catches the worm.” I say this to my teenage children on a regular basis but it has no effect whatsoever!


health

09 - 15 Dec 2011

33

Prestige Nursing & Social Care Services and the Family Medical Centre by

Claire Cerro Atyeo, RGN

Prestige Nursing and Social Care Services

Co-operation: what does it mean? A better, more effective and comprehensive care service for all THE IDEA of the co-operation is the ability to offer a complete holistic service which not only addresses medical and nursing issues using conventional medicine, but also offers an advanced modern approach to health and well-being through the use of alternative therapy treatments and practises. The ethos of prevention rather than cure and the safe-guarding that all practitioners are fully qualified and registered to practice their chosen field will ensure the very highest standards of care. With the co-operation between Prestige Nursing and the Family Medical Centre, Albir, all Prestige clients are assured that not only will they receive the highest quality home nursing care available, but also that we as a company now have the back up of an ‘on call’ medical team. Working so closely together and having the same goals for providing the best, most comprehensive health service at an affordable price, has facilitated the two companies to develop and grow, so that greater care and health provision services are being provided. Between the two companies we can now offer health service provision from preparation for conception to dignified, effective palliative care. Basically we are now in a position to provide treatment, care and health education for every stage of life.

With a team consisting of: GP Midwife Practice nurse District nurses Mental health nurses Palliative care nurses Social worker Health visitor Podiatrist Hypnotherapist Psychotherapist Audiologist Reflexologist Acupuncturist Counsellor Nutritionists Aesthetic-technicians

with combined specialist experience in: Cardiology Urology Community Health Endocrinology Elderly Mental Health Geriatrics Diabetes Eating Disorders Haematology Sexual Health & Family Planning Gastroenterology Child Development Pre and Post Natal Obstetrics and Gynaecology Immunology Substance Abuse and Alcoholism Rehabilitation Medicine Neurology Pain management Pulmonary Medicine Non-traditional Medicine

All under one roof, you no longer need to worry or be concerned that your health requirements throughout your entire life cannot be met whilst living in Spain. Prestige Nursing and Social Care Services is available throughout the Benidorm, Alfas, La Nucia, Polop, Calpe, Moraira,Benissa, Javea & Jalon areas. Visit www.prestigenursing.com for more information or call 687 015 517. The Family Medical Centre is located at Avenida de L’Albir No 66, opposite the Bazar Asia and next to the Norwegian Bok Café, Albir. Email: info@albirfamilymedicalcentre.com 96 686 5072. A warm welcome awaits you.


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At Anneke one great idea branches into nine IN JANUARY of this year RTN brought you news of artist Catharina van Raad-Rennings who was displaying some of her enchanting artwork at the small Care Home called Anneke Residence in Alfaz del Pi. The home has 48 rooms for single use and outside the

rooms there are intimate spots amongst different corners in which to sit on patios, terraces and in the gardens. RTN has often spoken about how, when the time comes, this would be our Care Home of Choice! Cuisine and the restaurant play an important role at Anneke; the meals are varied, tasty, presented beautifully and accompanied by a glass of good wine if you want one. Regularly changing the artwork hanging on the walls of the Care Home is a part of Anneke Residence’s aim of creating

an interesting and constantly evolving place to live. Catharina has now returned to Anneke, this time not to display her own artwork but that of her art pupils. ”It is a very proud day for me” she says, “I have thirteen pupils who come to my art classes in Altea and 4 pupils whom I teach privately at home, and all of them have produced some splendid pieces of art. “One of the things I love about art is the imagination that can spring out and surprise, and this is one of the ideas that we have explored. I brought three small leafy branches into class one day and asked the pupils to use them as subjects, turning

them into people. And here you can see how their wonderfully their imagination has taken off.” As well as the nine leafy branch paintings, other pupils of Catharina’s are displaying other paintings of many different types. Because the idea of varying the art on display is to invigorate and interest the residents of Anneke; since keeping the mind active and attentive is so important for the elderly. RTN readers are invited to view this beautiful exhibition in Anneke Residence free of charge each day from 10am to 6pm. If you are thinking of entering a Care

Home, or have a relative or friend needing to do so, the Anneke Residence is highly recommended for its care, surroundings and ambience. It offers a warm and friendly atmosphere and the care centres entirely upon the wellbeing of the elderly. For more information please call Anneke’s Reception on 966 814 034 or visit www.anneke.es


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Acupuncture during pregnancy and labour by

Robert Vandevelede

Ex-president Australian Acupuncture & Chinese medicine Association

YOU MAY be thinking of falling pregnant, are pregnant, or know someone special who is pregnant. This is an extremely exciting period during which the body undergoes major changes, nurtures a precious life and prepares for a healthy delivery of a baby. Research has shown that Acupuncture can be very beneficial during pregnancy and labour. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) Acupuncture has been found useful for nausea, vomiting and significantly reduces the duration of labourand labour pains. There is also strong evidence that Acupuncture can help with a breached birth. The most common complaints pregnant women present to our clinic are: u Morning sickness u Recurrent miscarriage u Heartburn u Threatened miscarriage u Haemorrhoids u Oedema (fluid retention) u Sinus and mucosal congestion u Hypertension u Anxiety, depression u Insomnia u Musculoskeletal conditions u Constipation u Low back pain, sciatica, pubic symphysis pain ACUPUNCTURE DURING PREGNANCY During the first trimester, the focus of the treatment is to reduce the likelihood of miscarriage and address any early pregnancy symptoms such as nausea, morning sickness and fatigue. Acupuncture during the second semester aims to maintain the balance and address many of the common complaints of pregnancy mentioned above. Acupuncture during the third trimester prepares

the body for labour and delivery by relaxing and softening ligaments, aiding cervical dilation, nourishing the body’s ‘’Qi’’ and blood, as well as relieving any muscular pain or discomfort. This is also the time where Acupuncture is used to turn breach babies. It is recommended to start this treatment as soon as you learn that the baby is in breach position (around 33-36 weeks) During the whole pregnancy, special attention will be given at diet and lifestyle. ACUPUNCTURE FOR LABOUR INDUCTION Treatment for labour induction can be given any time after 39 weeks if there are no complications with the pregnancy. Acupuncture for delayed labour has been used in China for at least 2,300 years, but Acupuncture for labour pain was rarely used because, according to Chinese culture and oriental tradition, women were expected to experience the pain of childbirth! The first occurrence in Chinese medical literature was in 1970 in ‘A barefoot doctor’s manual’ (my first book on Acupuncture), The manual drew on the practical expertise of local health workers, often self-taught, who went from house to house to administer medical attention in the form of Acupuncture and herbal medicine. It was around the same time the interest in Acupuncture Analgesia became the focus of much research in Europe and the western world in general. In 1972 Christian Ehrstroem performed the first Acupuncture delivery in the west in Stockholm. In 1974 Darras in France reported 20 electroacupuncture deliveries by primiparea and multiparea. Since then, Acupuncture has rapidly become more popular for women in childbirth, mainly because it is a natural pain-reliever with no harmful side effects for mother or baby. Moreover, women like to feel in control during their labour and delivery, a feeling of

which they may be deprived by some of the more potent conventional analgesic techniques used in today’s maternity units. ACUPUNCTURE FOR DIFFICULT LABOUR Acupuncture is also used in ‘difficult’ labour. Difficult labour can result from abnormality of the uterine contractions, cephalo-pelvic disproportion (that is imbalance between the size of the maternal pelvis and the baby’s head), or malposition andmalpresentation of the baby. Acupuncture can be of help in the first of these, but not the others. It is important to note that ‘malposition’ of the baby should not be confused with ‘malpresentation’: the latter occurs when the baby’s bottom (breach); shoulder; face or brows present first as opposed to the head - as in normal cephalic presentation. ‘Malposition’ means incorrect positioning of the head, which includes occipito-posterior position and deflection of the head. Acupuncture can help in ‘malpresentation’, but not ‘malposition!’ If you like more information on this subject or Acupuncture in general please email me at: robertvdvelde@telefonica.net For appointments call 660 032 862 Robert Vandevelde: Former president of Australian Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine association (AACMA)

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

Chronic respiratory patients most affected by climate change

ACCORDING TO experts at the Spanish Society of Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery, air pollution and global warming will affect chronic respiratory patients more than anyone else, as the temperature increases and the concentration of ozone and particulate matter in the atmosphere lead to increased morbidity and mortality. The World Summit on Climate Change, held this week in Durban (South Africa), paid particular attention to the relationship between health and the environment, especially how it affects respiratory health. The Spanish Society of Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery’s global study revealed that by 2030, approximately half a million deaths could have occurred prematurely due to the impacts of emissions and ozone concentrations.

Spain sets new transplant record: 94 in 72 hours SPANISH SURGEONS have set a new World Record by completing 94 transplants in just 72 hours: 53 have been kidneys; 23 liver; 8 lung; 6 heart, a pancreas and 3 bowel transplants. The National Transplant Organisation (ONT) recorded 94 transplants from 39 donors, involving 42 hospitals over a 72-hour period. Two of those receiving transplants were patients rated ‘urgent zero’, meaning they could have died within 24-48 hours without intervention. Of the 39 donors, two were foreigners. Spain is a World leader in the field of transplant surgery.


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09 - 15 Dec 2011

Specsavers Opticas Benidorm opening event

Christmas spirit by Jack Troughton THE CANCER Care Boutique is the place to be on Saturday 17th December when the charity hopes to get everyone in the Christmas spirit by offering shoppers a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie. Between 10.30am and 2pm the shop will be open to help people find something special to wear over the festive period – and a wonderful range of designer clothes, accessories and gifts can be purchased. “We want to help everyone get in the mood for Christmas,” said a Cancer Care volunteer. “And every purchase made at the boutique helps us raise funds.”

Calpe U3A Christmas Concert Presidents from charity ‘Friends of the Children’ of EMAÚS celebrate collaboration with Specsavers Opticas Benidorm at the official store opening event held on 1st December 2011. Specsavers want to help raise as much as possible for the charity in the next 12 months for children over Christmas and the following months.

THE CALPE U3A Choir Christmas Concert is on 16th December at the Casa de Cultura, Calpe, Salo Blau at 7.30pm. There are a few tickets remaining so early booking is essential. The beneficiary of this Concert is the Marina Alta School for physically and mentally handicapped children, the Gargasindi School, Calpe. The Concert includes solos, a cello performance, and audience participation and should be fun. On 7th December, the Choir has been invited to give a Christmas Carol Concert for the Teulada/Moraira Lions at the Concert Hall La Senieta, Moraira, from 7.30pm.


Santa visits Angels by Jack Troughton CHILDREN ENJOYING the Guardian Angels’ Christmas party received a surprise visit and early gifts from Santa Claus last Saturday. The party was held at the Christian Centre, Javea, and there was an afternoon packed with traditional fun and games – as well as party food and a special Christmas cake, in the shape of a festive tree, donated by Ann Martin of My Little Cake Shop in Benitachell. Trisha Barr and Tamsin German of Guardian Angels hosted the party and insured everyone enjoyed themselves – making sure mums and dads had a glass of mulled wine and also received a present. The charity supports single parents throughout the Costa Blanca and more information about the group and its work can be found at www.guardian-angels.es

Carols at Christmas

A TRADITIONAL Carol Service is being held at the picturesque Ermita Del Popul in Javea on Monday 19th December at 4pm. The Church of England in Spain service will consist of nine lessons and carols and all are welcome to attend the tiny church on the Jesus Pobre Road. The Anglican fellowship is also staging Midnight Mass at the Ermita at 11.30pm on Saturday 24th December and a Christmas Morning Eucharist at 9.45am. For more information about the Anglican Chaplaincy, part of the Diocese of Europe, visit http://costablanca-anglicanchaplaincy.org/

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Credit Crunch Panto supports Emaus! PANTO CHARACTERS are seeking work in Benidorm! Will they get to go to the Pantomime Christmas Ball? Or will Scrooge and Ignor steal the takings? DramaAdultz have teamed up with DramaKidz in a magical Christmas partnership written by Nichola Whittaker for director and actress Joanne Lazarus, to produce a delightful panto treat for young and old at La Nucia’s new theatre venue, Teatro del Sol. EMAUS Bring along all your unwanted clothing for children for ages 0 – 18 years as the panto is in aid of Emaus, with raffle donations also going to the charity. Stars include the legendary DJ Matt King from BIG FM; fabulous entertainer and musician Pablo Bloom; STEPS TRIBUTE and Dramakidz producer, Joanne Hollingworth as Aladdin and of course the fabulous adultz and children of DramaKidz playing Cinderella, Genie, Ignot, Abu and the Orphans... Shows are on Thursday 15th and

Haweli Indian Restaurant offers RTN readers a spicy Xmas and New Year! WANT A change from the same old turkey? Haweli restaurant in Denia is offering RTN readers a welcoming and cosy Xmas Eve and Xmas Day dining experience, with an outstanding traditional Indian cuisine buffet. Swap your dry turkey for succulent lamb, tender chicken, and mouth-watering beef dishes accompanied by beautiful soft Pilau rice and freshly baked Naans. The buffet is an exceptional offer - just 15.90€ for a broad range of delicacies including nine main courses. Owner Nikku has over 25 years’ experience offering the highest quality Indian food in his restaurants, with 10 years here in Spain. The house specialities include a spectacular Mango Chicken, as well as Jalfrezi and Byriani dishes. New Year’s Eve’s buffet (price 35€ pp) will be celebrated with a free bar open till midnight. Booking is highly recommended and Xmas parties always welcome. The restaurant is situated at km 2, Las Marinas. Opening hours are 12.30pm - 4.30pm, and 6.30pm till late. Call 96 578 3637 or 677 004 651: See advert on this page.

Friday 16th December at 7.30pm and Sunday 18th at 3pm. Tickets for adults 8€ and kids 5€ with family tickets (children under 14) 20€ are available via the Box Office on 679 646 145 or from the Teatro Del Sol, Urb Bello Horiconte, La Nucia, off the CV760 leading from Rotonda 7 on the road towards Altea from La Nucia; Bar Marquez in Alfas del Pi (Next to the Dong Jing Chinese restaurant) and Nou Espai Social Centre on Saturday mornings.


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09 - 15 Dec 2011

All is not well!

Computing with aunty virus

Cleaning my laptop out Jack via email asks: HELLO AUNTY, I intend selling my Dell laptop which no longer gets used, how best to clean it, before it departs my company? Great to read your column every week. Aunty Says: Probably the best way is to run the built in Dell factory recovery process, however not all laptops have this function

Bob from Calpe asks: MY PROBLEM is that every time I turn my computer on, after all the usual startup screens and the page saying ‘Please wait for ID Scan’, the next page then says: “CPU fan error Press F1 to resume”. I do this and all is well but should this really happen every time? Aunty Says: No this shouldn’t happen Bob, and it could indicate a faulty cooling fan or clogged up heatsink. If you are feeling brave you could pop the side of your computer off (usually the left) and have a nose at the fan and the heatsink that the fan is screwed to and see if it is clean and that it spins okay. Other than that it’s a trip to your local repair shop for a check-up.

so try it and see if it works. Dell normally use the Ctrl + the F11 key just as you switch the computer on which should give you a fairly self explanatory menu to follow. If you have Vista or Win7, and you are lucky enough to have a DVD, then you can normally run a factory restore if you boot to the DVD and choose the ‘repair’ option. If you let me know the exact model and version of Windows I can be a bit more specific.

Choice of Browser Tony via email asks: HI AUNTY. I took your advice about changing to another browser to see if my problem disappeared so I installed Firefox and lo and behold I can now write comment on Facebook without missing letters! I then went back to using Internet Explorer to see if the problem with Facebook still existed and sure enough it was still there. Can you explain why I can write comments on Facebook via Firefox but not when using Internet Explorer? It is only Facebook that gives me the problem because I can type messages or comments on Yahoo, Hotmail and Gmail. Aunty Says: I wish I could explain Tony but these kind of problems can have many different and quite complicated causes. Websites have become more and more complex (especially interactive ones like FB) and they tend to need a number of different third party add-ons, such as Java, Flash Player and ActiveX, that can cause all kinds of strange problems. I suspect your problem is something to do with one of these programs not interacting properly with IE.

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

Organising your memory! Meri from Torrevieja asks: HI AUNTY. Can you help me please? Is there any way in which I can organize my memory stick into alphabetical order. Aunty Says: Hello Meri. Normally what I do to sort how my folders or files are displayed is to click on any of the column heading where you see ‘name’ ‘file size’ and ‘type’ etc. If you don’t see these columns then you need change the view option in Windows Explorer. Double click on ‘My Computer’ (or just ‘Computer’ in Vista and Win7) and double click on your memory stick icon. The window that pops up is called Windows Explorer (not to be confused with Internet Explorer) and is the default file management program that comes with Windows. In the top right corner you will find a small icon and drop down list that will allow you to change how you view your files and folders. Set this to ‘details’ and you should see the column headings.


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GADGET INSPECTOR

Gadget Inspector investigates the case of:

Fast Photos THIS WEEK the Inspector looks at a couple of gadgets to help satisfy the modern need for instant gratification - well as far as taking photographs goes… Some of us will remember the first Polaroid instant cameras – the wonder of black and white photos on demand, and the joy when the first colour models appeared. Never mind the cost, the mess and the way they faded quicker than the memory of the event. But forget all that, welcome the brand new 250€ Polaroid Z340 – instant photography for the 21st Century. This amazing gadget merges digital photography with the convenience of instant printing of quality 3 inch x 4 inch prints. With its reassuringly retro styling comes plenty of up-to-date tech. There´s a pop-up 3.7 inch LCD screen to review, crop and edit snaps before printing. Prints can also be stored via a built-in SD card slot for later transfer to other devices, or connected directly via USB. No more sticky and chemical-ridden photo paper either - this Polaroid uses ingenious heatactivated zink paper: smudge-proof, water-resistant, fade-resistant and tear-proof. And to complete the picture there’s a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, so no need for chunky batteries. So as Polaroid’s advertising slogan used to pronounce, ‘Snap it, see it’ – but be careful

where you leave the evidence. Not as portable, but just as handy when you get home or to the office, is the 130€ Photo Cube Smartphone Printer. Just connect your iPad, iPhone or Android device and print high quality photos to rival commercial quality prints. At just 17.5cm x 15cm it’s significantly more compact than your average home printer, so can be tucked away when not in use. When you want a print plug your iPhone or iPod in the top, or connect an iPad or Android device via USB. It’ll even charge them whilst printing! Follow the step-by-step instructions and in less than a minute you’ll have a glossy 6 inch x 4 inch standard size photo. You can print single images, passport size or even fit several images on the same print. The printer uses a compact cartridge loaded with both photo paper and ink good for 36 prints. When it´s empty just un-clip and replace – what could be easier? The Inspector’s Verdict: I don´t see the problem with nipping down to Boots with a roll of 36, or posting them off to SuperSnaps and getting back someone else’s pictures of their pets/children or worse. Still, there’s progress for you – now where’s that envelope to post my latest snaps off to my Farcebook account…


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09 - 15 Dec 2011

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.

Sudoku

Cryptic Crossword ACROSS 6. Sack and what may be put in it (7) 7. Strange evils and disguises (5) 9. A person who discredits an old woman (3) 10. Tendered - with or without its head (9) 12. It’s not a rigid rule (4,7) 15. A tailor may make his mark with it (6,5) 17. His speech is never straightforward (9) 19. Happy to be back from Italy again (3) 21. Long time coming to the point (5) 22. He has to wait for his money (7)

DOWN 1. Not keen to be outspoken (5) 2. Finish within ten days (3) 3. A noble look (4) 4. Crossword addicts should be used to such setbacks (9) 5. It means musicians are not to loiter in the bar (7) 8. A new combination again (6) 11. Tell people you’ve had enough, then keep quiet (3,2,4) 13. Gave encores, naturally! (6) 14. Squander food? (7) 16. Compulsory premarital reading-matter (5) 18. They sound agreeable organs (4) 20. Might she grow on you? (3)

Wordwheel

Quick Crossword ACROSS

DOWN 1. Silence (5) 6. Melodious (7) 2. Intention (3) 7. Trivial (5) 3. File (4) 9. Spray (3) 4. Portray (9) 10. Estimation (9) 5. Odd (7) 12. Own (11) 8. Mason’s tool (6) 11. Strewn (9) 15. Meditate (11) 13. Figure (6) 17. Compliance (9) 14. Alien (7) 19. Skill (3) 16. Solemn (5) 21. Concur (5) 18. Jargon (4) 22. Etch (7) 20. Epoch (3)

Answers & Winners Last week’s Crossword and Suduko answers found on page 51/53. Winner for 633 - John McCatney - Ondarra

Euromillions Draw Friday 2nd December

7 27 30 40 43

8

9

One french ticket won 27,094,319 Euros

Tuesday 6th December

19 20 21 34 38

No ticket won the 15,000,000 Euros

3

9


Twist again? SOMETIMES I look back at my life and wonder what could have been, should have been or might have been. Then I realise that nothing has happened without reason, and it has often taken many years down the line to see why? and how? We may all shudder as we look back, mostly because we can see now in hindsight that it wasn’t the very best that we could have done, but it was, nevertheless, what we did at the time, and we may have got it wrong somehow. Looking back can be very destructive considering that Spiritualists move onwards through life in the knowledge and faith that our life at this time and on Earth is a cycle that we repeat by entering into the Spirit World when our time here on the Planet is up. Life here on Earth is the hardest of all, and if we can live in harmony here, thrive and survive; then the next stage will see us ready to take our place, or decide to move on to occupy ourselves with another life. One day that choice will come to us, and meanwhile we have a life on Earth to complete to the very best of our abilities. Regrets should always be eliminated since they get us absolutely nowhere fast. There is always a sound reason why we took one particular direction, but even if the grass did look greener on the other side of the tracks, we, nevertheless chose to walk through the open door that Spirit ushered us through. We like all others has choices, but they were geared to support us and to make as happy, just as we recoiled and then rethought whenever a door was slammed in our face. At the time it seemed a tragedy, but fate and faith go hand in hand, and some things were never ever meant to be for us, whilst for others they were essential and right. We do all live highly personal lives. Some of us achieve, and others are open to fate and destiny as we travel on through our life. There were times that I just wasn’t ready to move on and other times when I sincerely thought that I was ready, but it just wasn’t meant to be right, and so it never happened. The people that we meet along the way are often sent to us at just the right times. We maybe have to help them the way we can, and they find a way of thanking us, as we

Kenny’s diary Monday 12th and Wednesday 14th Dec: Readings at the Bistro Maya, Albir from 17.00 onwards. Bookings and further details from Els and her team on: 966 868 213. Saturday Dec 17th: Christmas Fair at The Bistro Maya in Albir, from 12.00 to 18.00. Readings available. Wide selection of Gifts and last minute Christmas presents. The Bistro Maya is next to the BBVA bank and across from the Post Office in Albir. Free parking is 200 metres away. For all information please contact Els and her team on: 966 868 213. Readings in your area: Please make contact if you want to organise readings in your locality, or organise a psychic event for your favourite charity. Some dates available for December.

learn from them in return. This symbiosis of life means that we are attracted to the very people who may need our help, whilst often someone can come into our life and make things so special. Love is an all important energy and a very important dimension in which to embrace and show to others what makes us special. Here is a sheer magnetism in a friendship, and as we care and share and enter heart and soul space then we know that we have something to give and that our friends will want to share what they have with us. Soul connections are forever and we know those who are soul mates because they can almost become a part of us, somehow becoming that part because of their own strength and guidance which they subsequently manifest to us. Forget any regrets. Stop cringing at the way you acted in the past. It doesn’t really matter, and your actions provoked others to take alternatives, which they too needed to do. Fate weaves a spell all through our life, sometimes testing us to the limit, and sometimes making things seem so natural and so easy. We are where we are, but it is the result of a journey of twists and turns and many say that they would like to go back and see the alternatives, thinking that they could better see the writing that appeared on their walls the second time around, and maybe shift fate or cancel lost promises, or make alternatives. However if it was outside our spiritual pathway it wouldn’t make any difference to our lives whatsoever, except to bring nagging doubt and compromise into play, and they should never have to be used to influence the natural process of our life. Whatever has brought you to read this today is a set of circumstances. Some times we wanted so much better, found destiny cruel, but what we have right here and now is very special. A unique blueprint that we followed, and it has brought us safely here to today to carry on how we must, to fulfil the needs and desires that our heart has invested on our behalf; to see us each closer onwards to our destiny destination, wherever that will be!

Love & Light... Kenny Corris

postbag Email your letters to me at: kennycorris@roundtownnews.com ANOTHER CHRISTMAS is around the corner. This year will be a difficult one, and I haven’t sent cards yet, I really can’t be bothered and the children will have to understand that we are tightening our belts, which isn’t easy. So many of our friends have returned to the UK too. Why do Spirit want us to suffer this way, I thought they took care of us? Shelley.K Hi Shelley. I know that we are all tightening our belts. Many have said they want no presents this year, and I have put a 50EUR limit on all gifts with others. You would be amazed what you can buy. Make some jam or chutney or some Christmas sweets. These sort of gifts come with a gift of your time, and time is love. I make a stocking every year for someone, and fill it with little things, things I can afford that I buy throughout the year. A good Christmas is to be together, to share a meal and just be there with those you love. Money doesn’t bring everything. Any cash going and the kids could shop in the sales, they will be very good next January! We have all said goodbye to friends, Christmas is a time to give them a quick ring to say hallo! Friends if they are real friends always carry on from where you left off. Spirit will always do their best for us, personally health and happiness are better than wealth and luxury any day, for me. Make it a Christmas to remember, one that money just can’t buy!

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!

09 -- 26 15 may Dec 2011 20

horoscopes by Kenny Corris

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Mighty Uranus ends retrograde in the safety of your fourth house of mystery and imagination and Directs just before the weekend. So much water has passed on and under your bridge just lately that finding some depths of peace and solitude in your life would be the perfect way to bring you back to being yourself once more. There is much coming to prepare for, as the mighty Planets reveal! With Venus in Capricorn this week you are about to fearlessly tackle something that others would happily have you sweep well and truly under the carpet! Your method is not madness, it’s reality, and it will serve to clear a way forward where others fear to tread and show you just how far you have come. Cards on the table time, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain playing this way. The Total Lunar Eclipse on Saturday brings subtle shifts in dealing with those who would oppose you. Shielding and protecting you this very beautiful eclipse is the beginning of the new, whilst the old is something to walk away from and forget. Strong powers make you forge plans and twist a decision into working its way for you in the stakes of love, life and happiness long overdue for you. The Full Moon is your favourite companion. Allowing you the benefit of the doubt and siding with you as usual, there comes a wonderful week in which you can do no wrong, so long as you continue to believe in yourself, and the mighty power of the Moon, your planetary leader is not occluded. You will feel the shift and be part of the resolve as you spread good luck and fortune with those you love. Be unafraid to just be yourself. Others know that you are the life and soul of the party, but it is the sensitive and loving souls that have your own interests at heart and who will be able to see through to the wonderful person within. Time for recompense and rekindling of ideas and concepts; and to look forward to the success of a project which beckons you, and which you can’t, and shouldn’t say no to. Your sensitivity brings much of the current cosmic action into play and it works very well for you at a time when you are literally at sixes and sevens. Take control once and for all, because you can justify all that you do, and now is a time for action rather than words. Notice the changes afoot and the subtle energies that surround you and allow you to put your very best foot forward this week. Saturn is on the way to link with you, but meanwhile there is a challenge of your beliefs and you may have to work hard to keep together all that you hold dear. Taking the defensive isn’t your usual way of doing business, but you do have to rise to the occasion if you are going to enforce things to get the very best result. Use tactics and remember that nothing ventured right now, is nothing gained. Keep your temper although all those currently around you seem to be well and truly losing theirs. You do not like yourself when you have be defensive, but then someone is trying to wind you up this week, and snapping isn’t an alternative right now. Look at things the way they are and make sure that you take any advice with a pinch of salt, you know the best of ways, so put the best foot forward! Mercury Directs in the safety of your planet’s current open arms. Something asked for is now within your reach, but it is up to you to make the final moves to ensure that what you want is what you get. There is someone working against you, and for no apparent reason. You make what you do look so easy because you do it so well, and that means problems for those who think that all will just come to their door. Venus remains a romantic resident, directing your social life and getting through to that loving heart and soul within. You are fearless, ready and non judgmental, but something somewhere has to go if balance is to be maintained, and the true depth of your affections is to be better known. Seize the moment, have things your way, but do not allow anything second best to be a suitable option. You will be asked to take sides, but that’s not the real reason for having to choose, what is really going on right now has to stop, and your disapproval will allow it to fade. Give someone an inch and they will try to take a mile this week, so be warned. Quite honestly you have more than enough on your plate at the moment, and would prefer a quiet life, however strike while the iron is hot! Feeling sensitively the energies of this week of much cosmic activity and change you are able to use the power source to make differences where necessary, and ring the changes. Not all are blessed with your psychic powers, but following your own gut instincts to get to the heart of the matter and you will do what you so enjoy in making a difference for others for the very best of reasons.

If it’s your birthday this week... Start your next moves with a bang that will herald what’s ahead this astrological year. Finding yourself is the number one priority right now, so show what your expertise can do, and how it can and does influence others on the way!


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09 - 15 Dec 2011

Home Garden

Brought to you by

www.spanishhomefinder.com

Vimaluz… Lighting at prices direct from the factory! WHEN CONSIDERING the lighting options in your home, it is important to choose a company with wide choice, great pricing and vast experience. Vimaluz Lighting, in Denia, have been producing lamps and accessories for more than 40 years, and have great prestige throughout Spain and Europe. Four years ago they decided to open their doors to sell directly to the public. Merche, from Vimaluz, explained ‘Our many years experience in manufacturing lamps, and our huge variety of stock, and accessories, together with vastly experienced staff make us unique in lighting products and accessories, and our service is second to none. We have very many English clients, and they keep returning. From the first moment Vimaluz opened its doors we have lead the market, giving customers a loyalty card awarding further offers and discounts. We stock all types of lighting, even the very hard to find English fittings. As well as our own manufactured lighting stock, we do sell further brands and have an instore catalogue to source almost any product.´ ‘I have had English clients bring photos and plans of their homes, and we are able to help them find the ideal solution, be it LED, Halogen, Incandescent or lowest energy. We have even spoke with the electrician on our clients behalf, looking for best solutions on switch locations and electrical points.’ explained

Merche With two floors of exposition, they save some of the biggest discounts on their second floor, they even have offers at below manufacture price. At customers request, they now also stock pictures and mirrors, also at special prices and offers for buying a pair.

Santas bag of Discounts for every customer! Currently they have a unique seasonal discount for each customer from Santa´s sack! (discounts non-accumable with other offers and discounts available on customer loyalty cards) The choice available in the shop is very extensive, perfect for that original gift idea. Vimaluz also stock other manufacturers products, and further silver accessories. They can be easily found in the industrial polygon in Denia. Coming from Ondara A7, upon entering Denia, simply turn right at the Chevrolet Garage, then the first left, take the next main right and they are one the left hand corner at the bottom (Madrigueres Sud 60b, Denia, telephone 966432921, email info@iluminacionydecoracion.com) See their advert on this page. They are open until 8pm 6 days a week, closed midday. They look forward to giving RTN readers a bright welcome.

Mini Christmas Fayre with Lotus Homestyling and Flatpaxabia LOTUS HOMESTYLING and Flatpaxabia would like to invite you to their Mini Christmas Fayre on Friday 9th December. Come and see the new showroom displays, purchase gifts and enjoy a pre-Christmas tipple. You’ll be welcome from 10.30am until 2pm for coffee and Christmas cupcakes or from 6pm in the evening for a glass of mulled wine and nibbles. Also available will be Glamrox Jewellery; Solojabones Gift Soaps; Flowers for You; My Little Cake Shop and Cositas para la Cocina - in Benitachell on the Carretera de Moraira (the second parade of shops on the right as you turn form Benitachell to Moraira). Call 646 322 346 for more information.

Home & Garden


09 - 15 Dec 2011

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Apartment terraces and balconies: December tasks

and if the residents association encouraged such actions the attractiveness and value of the entire block improves the environment of the area, reducing the carbon footprint of the block with the right plantings and trees reducing pollution from traffic and microwaves. It is not too late for you to brighten up your own terraces and balconies or do so for an aging friend as a Christmas present! If you need inspiration and are in London over Christmas visit the Spanish Garden on top of the Virgin Building in Kensington. How come an Englishman constructed a 5,000 square metre Spanish garden on a roof top with a metre and more of top soil in the 1930’s! While we worry

by

Clodagh & Dick Handscombe Practical gardeners and authors

SINCE THE publication of ‘Apartment Gardening Mediterranean Style’ two years ago, it has been encouraging to see more and more apartment dwellers make their terraces and balconies greener, more colourful and perfumed, and more productive by setting up useful herb and vegetable gardens in containers.

The wide range of styles, sizes and colours of containers, and the offer of better compost ranges by many garden centres simplified this - especially where

awnings and blinds are installed to protect plants from the hottest summer and low winter suns. What is possible is illustrated by the four photographs. Could such ideas be 2012 New Year Resolutions? It is such a pity that so many apartment blocks look cold and unattractive to residents, passers buy and potential buyers. Although still few and far between it is gratifying to see that some architects are now building green apartment blocks so that every owner has prebuilt planters and in some cases all planted before buyers move in. Even Valencia has two projects along these lines. Your own efforts could be an enthralling and interesting hobby, add value to your apartment

about carrying up a few pots, a bag of compost and a few plants! Even window boxes on railings planted with Poinsettias, heathers, pansies, cyclamens, azaleas, cotons or kalenchoas during the next week would add Christmas cheer. Happy Christmas plantings… BOOK OF THE WEEK has to be ‘Apartment Gardening Mediterranean Style’. It can be found in high street and internet bookshops and on www.gardeninginspain.com which offers a free copy of ‘Living Well from Our Mediterranean Garden’ with an autographed copy of the book for yourself or friend.

Clodagh and Dick’s instructive books are available to help you achieve a great garden from scratch or improve an existing garden. You will find them in bookshops including Bookworld, Carrefor and Humpty Dumpty. For convenience many internet bookshops stock them including Santana Books, Amazon UK, Bookworld and The Royal Horticultural Society. © Clodagh and Dick Handscombe www.gardeninginspain.com

Brought to you by spanishhomefinder.com


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09 - 15 Dec 2011

Happy Bunnies use Neater Heaters TONY AND Richard from Neater Heater are constantly being asked if BEHA heaters are any good? As Tony says “You would expect us to say that they are, so I thought it would be better if I quoted some customer endorsements that have been posted on our web site”. “Love the Heaters, had the whole of last winter using them and the house was lovely and cozy, not too expensive to run either”. Gary M - Blue Lagoon. “My husband and I are made up with the 5 Neater Heaters we have had fitted today, Colin was perfection – I did not even have to clean up after. I would recommend Neater Heaters because they are more than neat, they are perfection.” Sue & Ralph B. - Ciudad Quesada. “We needed more heating in addition to our gas fire as we wanted to use the Villa all year round. We chose Neater Heaters because they are an attractive unit, easily and quickly installed....we have (them) in every room.......and readily recommend them”.

Carol & Michael J. - Moraira “.....After having the heaters for a month or so, I must say that (they) are very good – no more steamy shower rooms! We would highly recommend Neater Heaters to anyone..” Colin T. - Ciudad Quesada. “I have had a home in Spain for 6 years now and tried all sorts of .heating units, none of those that I tried were efficient enough. Now, thanks to Neater Heater, the house is lovely and warm and the cost of running them is lower than the ones I had been using previously”. Leigh H. - Moraira. “I am really pleased with the heaters. Adjusting my bills for Iberdrola’s estimates, the first two, a P10 and P20 saved me 50€ electricity in the first month compared to a good quality oil filled radiator I was using. Thanks again”. Mick S. Busot “I’ve had 2 Neater Heaters for over a year now and I can honestly say that although Carlsberg don’t make heaters, if they did they would probably want them

to be Neater Heaters.” Roddy Cunningham, RTN. Come and see us at the Teulada Moraira Trade Fair this weekend, in the Big Tent in the main car park in Moraira. NEATER HEATER DISTRUBUTORS: COSTA BLANCA NORTH Pego/Oliva/Denia: Calicomfort, Tel. 687 694 038 Pedreguer: Suzy´s Pre-owned furniture, Tel. 678 049 050 Gata de Gorgos: Iron Art Factory Outlet, Tel. 680 491 740 Moraira: The Tool Bar, Tel. 965 745 805 Calpe: Imprint, Avda Gabriel Miró, Tel. 965 874 451 Altea: Leos Superstore, N332, Tel. 965844848

COSTA BLANCA SOUTH / COSTA CALIDA Benijofar: Vincent Real Estate, (Hazel), Tel. 966 712 440

Neater Heater´s new outlet in Altea – Leos Superstore. For outlets near you, please see the article

Quesada: (Not December) For home inspections call Colin Tel: 636 537 338 Torrevieja: S J & A. Digital, Tel. 966 319 253 Playa Flamenca: Buster´s Bar, Tel. 965 325 120 Blue Lagoon: The Electrical Shop

The Ultimate Christmas Gift

(euronics) Tel: 966188169 Los Alcazares: For home inspections call Edmund Tel. 966 765 552 San Javier: Sierra Golf, Balsicas Tel. 968 018 257 Mazarron: Camposol B, La Red Solutions (Mapfre), Tel. 968 199 025

POWER TUNE Spain is offering for the first time to the public its powerful electricity saving device, saving you money. Give your loved ones a Gift this year that will save up to 25% on their electricity bills and savings for many years to come benefitting from lower bills especially with the extra burden of heating and Christmas lights and air conditioning in summer. Feel safe in the knowledge that you are purchasing from an established Global company recognised worldwide in over 18 different countries and now in Spain. Guaranteed tried and tested product that meets all safety standards ,CE and RoHS certification with 12 months warranty , advice and personal service Power Tune Spain offers a Free ‘No obligation’ demonstration in your home, office, bar or business advising on easy installation where home owners simply plug in and start saving instantly. The product has a powerful built in lightning surge protector and recently proved itself effective in preventing damage to a customer’s house during a strike as well as saving 20% on his bills. Client testimonials and bills available. Please be aware for your own safety of cheaper imitations. We are the ONLY licensed Distributors in Spain. Full product information www.powertunespain.com powertunespain@gmail.com Tel: 625 457 555

Home & Garden

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- 15 Dec 2011 Feb 2609 - March 4 2010

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Do you need a little Christmas?

Can we help launch a new car

…er…of course we can JUST BECAUSE you are good at something doesn’t mean to say that you like doing it. Take weddings, for instance - you already know I’m not a fan albeit mine (again) or even somebody else’s wedding, whether I’m a guest or have to cater for it. That being said we have done ‘specials’ where someone known to us, as well as us known to them, wants something a bit special, or a bit unusual, produced by someone who loves a challenge and doesn’t panic. So, when we were asked if we did ‘new car launches’ we said…er…of course we do. Turned out to be a brand new Jaguar we were launching and guests were flying in from all over the World for the first test drive in the country. Then, of course, came the problems… First came the details of what they had done before, then the problems of making some kind of first class and quality fresh food available, all day long and in perfect condition no matter what time the guests turned up, suitable for foreign visitors who may then be whisked away for their turn at the wheel just as you serve up their choice of menu meal and by the way there’s no

kitchen. They didn’t really want sandwiches and as they only had two or three cars on trial it needed to be something that was “How can we put this” a “bit entertaining”, all day long as well. My stunned facial expression was somehow mistaken for a confident smirk and I found myself not only saying “Not a problem” but on the one condition that we acted alone to come up with the solution without any involvement from the garage. What was I thinking? What was I saying? So, fast forward to a very early day of the launch, when I reversed a second-hand burger van into the showroom loaded with plastic plates and paper cups and branded paper napkins. Now whose face was a picture? “You don’t understand!” came the screams, “This is Jaguar, we don’t do paper plates, plastic cups or paper napkins” After offers of hiring proper china were dismissed with the soothing words of “Everything’s under control” from me, we began to set up. First the biscuits which were their only insistence “To go with the coffee” Followed by an Oyster bar (one of our specialities). Having just returned

from Malaysia we prepared a fresh and authentic Asam Laksa (served in paper cups), fresh shrimp & sweet corn fritters with Kunyit chutney, homemade and cooked to order, chicken & beef satays with peanut and sweet Chilli sauce, vegetarian spiced potatoes with fresh pineapple, traditional but complex Beef Rendang, Malaysian Lamb Curry with coriander & cashew nuts served with lemon & coconut rice and all served on paper plates (but lined authentically with banana leaves). For dessert fresh fruits including mango, papaya, fig, coconut and small bananas all prepped for eating and soaked in spicy but sweet syrup, Milk pudding and Tapioca Cake. Because the plates were disposable everyone could try a little bit of everything, ultra fresh, before, as well as after their test drive. In fact so popular was the food on offer that despite the crowds waiting for their test drive the words “I’ll be there in just a minute” were heard more than once when a test car became available.

Edwin Cheeseman is a practical food consultant. If you have a question about food email cheeseman@roundtownnews.com

MAKE YOUR way to La Lonja, Calle Aragon, Orihuela on December 17th at 8pm. Nick Moore and the Networks Theatre team have created STAR! a Christmas concert! Performed by a cast of over 20 it’s a concert with a difference! Alongside some traditional Spanish songs there are lots of Christmas songs in English, both pop and carols, and even a couple of songs in Greek and French for a truly international flavour! Tickets are 4 Euros each and can be reserved by sending a message in Facebook (search Networks Theatre) or calling 966 342128 and leaving a message. All proceeds are to be given to Vega Baja Acoge, a charity that helps immigrants integrate into life in Orihuela and S.A.T.S. animal rescue charity in Dolores. Tickets can also be reserved by visiting www.ticketmaster.es and searching the event. The concert auditorium is situated on Calle Aragon, (between Lidl and the Glorieta) 03300, Orihuela, Alicante.


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09 - 15 Dec 2011

music scene

Colin Gold

– Billy Fury tribute show Compiled by

I

N 1996 Colin Gold appeared on TV’s “Stars In Their Eyes” as Billy Fury. Two weeks after the show, he was asked if he would like to help keep the music and the Presenter Heat memory of Billy Fury alive by performing with Fury’s Tornados. Since then Colin Gold 94.1FM has been touring the country, carrying on keeping the memory and the music of the great man himself alive.” Colin Gold will be starring in Cabaret at the “Heat Gold 94.1 FM, Radio Station” Christmas Party on Saturday 17th December at the El Andaluz Restaurant, Moraira. The Party starts at 7.30pm with a Cava/Buck’s Fizz Reception followed by a Buffet Dinner. Full entertainment for the evening will include Mike Lee (vocalist) and Barry Moon (comedian). Tickets are 25 euros and can be ordered by phoning 616 746 995 or emailing: heatgoldsales@hotmail.co.uk or the studio: studio@heatgold.fm

Eric Taylor

Javea Rock Academy – Christmas concert THE JAVEA Rock Academy’s Christmas Concert will be held in Penelope Javea on Saturday December 17 at 7 pm. The Javea Rock Academy provides workshops for live performance, confidence, stage awareness, sound recording, etc and has some very experienced tutors and musicians that work with the students, enhancing and improving their musical talents. This year’s raffle proceeds are going to ASPANION, (Asociacion de padres de niños con Cancer) a Spanish registered charity that helps the families of children with cancer. This very worthy charity provides

respite and support for families whilst the children are undergoing treatment and recovery. For more info: www.aspanion.es. Tickets are 10 euros (adults) and 5 euros (children) available from the English Bakers, Javea Park or on the door. There are raffle prizes from: Disco Achill, Dinner for two at Carnival, Breakfast for two at OI OI Saveloy, a new sandwich bar on Javea Arenal and there are many other prizes. For any more information about the Javea Rock Academy phone: 654 718 393 or check out their web site: www.javearockacademy.com.

Rio

- Live at the Aleluya Bar, Jalon

RIO CONSISTS of four of the most highly respected international musicians presently working in and around the Costa Blanca. Pam (vocals), John Pearson (guitar), Jack Hazebroek (drums) and Tommy Duffy (bass), they are “Rio”. The band play a mix of classic rock by artists like U2, Pretenders, Tears for Fears, Yes, The Cult, Chaka Khan etc. Rio will be playing in the Aleluya Bar in Jalon on Sunday the 11th of December at 7 pm. “T-Rio” (John, Pam and Jack) will be playing in the Aleluya Bar in Jalon on Sunday the 18th of December at 7 pm. For more information call 696 731 290.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Sunday 11th Dec, 17.00 Mystique, Avenida de Madrid, Moraira FOR SUCH a new band The Good, The Bad and The Ugly have worked hard to fill a date sheet to bursting point playing regularly in Javea and Denia. This trio provides a new slant on top tunes from the British and American rock and pop song books. After her time with the Splashes, singer and guitarist Ros Woodham took time to put this trio together with drummer Alvaro and bassist Antuan. These three have come up with a different blend that is part acoustic and part electric, so that what you are presented with is a soft but forceful blend of music that rocks easily on the ear. This is another rare chance to see the band in Moraira. Please check out their website for more details: www.myspace.com/the-GBU

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.


09 - 15 Dec 2011

5 course fine dining including ½ bottle wine pp bread, ali-oli and dips-

12.95€ Now taking bookings for BOXING DAY WITH STRIKLAND & FOR NEW YEAR

early reservations are advisedOPEN FOR SUNDAY LUNCH. CLOSED SUNDAY NIGHT & MONDAY, OPEN AGAIN FOR TUESDAY LUNCH

PABLO- SATURDAY 10TH DEC CHRISTMAS CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT- FRIDAY 23RD DEC

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tv Friday 409- 10 NOV 2011 - 15 Dec 2011

07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Rip Off Britain 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 Noise Squad 12:45 Cash in the Attic 13:13 BBC News 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News 14:30 Regional News 14:40 Doctors 15:10 Only Fools and Horses 16:05 Barney’s Latin America 16:35 Splatalot 17:00 Alesha’s Street Dance Stars 17:30 Horrible Histories 18:00 Newsround 18:15 Pointless 19:00 BBC News 19:30 Regional News 20:00 The One Show 21:00 EastEnders 21:30 The Two Ronnies Sketchbook 22:00 Have I Got News for You 22:30 Live at the Apollo 23:00 BBC News 23:35 Graham Norton Show 24:20 National Lottery Friday Night Draws 24:30 The Lake House

07:00 Childrens TV 10:05 Tinga Tinga Tales 10:20 Something Special: Out and About 10:40 Charlie and Lola 10:55 Zingzillas 11:15 Big Barn Farm 11:25 Louie 11:35 Octonauts 11:45 Waybuloo 12:05 In the Night Garden 12:35 Pink Panther Show 13:00 Daily Politics 13:30 Live Snooker 17:30 Flog It! 18:15 Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two 20:00 Live Snooker 21:00 Mastermind 21:30 MasterChef the Professionals: Michel’s Classics 22:00 Gardeners’ World 23:00 QI 23:30 Newsnight 24:00 The Review Show 24:45 Weather 24:50 Snooker

07:00 Daybreak 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 ITV News 14:55 Granada News 15:00 May the Best House Win 16:00 Dickinson’s Real Deal 16:59 Granada Weather 17:00 Murder, She Wrote 18:00 Best Dish: The Chefs 19:00 Granada Reports 19:30 ITV News 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Coronation Street 21:00 Wild Britain with Ray Mears 21:30 Coronation Street 22:00 The Nation’s Favourite Bee Gees Song 23:30 ITV News 24:00 Granada News 24:05 The Outlaw Josey Wales

07:05 Sali Mali 07:10 The Hoobs 07:35 The Hoobs 08:00 Freshly Squeezed 08:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 08:55 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:25 Frasier 09:55 Undercover Boss Australia 10:55 Beeny’s Restoration Nightmare 11:55 Sealed Bid 13:00 Drop Down Menu 14:00 Channel 4 Racing 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Come Date with Me 18:30 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:30 Unreported World 20:55 4thought.tv 21:00 Come Dine with Me 22:00 The Million Pound Drop Live 23:30 8 Out of 10 Cats 24:05 Pete Versus Life 24:40 Stand Up for the Week

07:00 Childrens TV 09:00 Fifi and the Flowertots 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:25 Peppa Pig 09:30 Milkshake! Monkey 09:35 Roary the Racing Car 09:45 Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00 Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 LIVE with Gabby 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Law & Order 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 CSI: Miami 16:15 The National Tree 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: Deadliest Roads 22:00 Windtalkers 24:45 Pawn Stars

06:00 BBC News 07:00 Breakfast 11:00 Saturday Kitchen Live 12:30 Home Cooking Made Easy 13:00 BBC News; Regional News 13:15 Football Focus 14:00 Live Snooker 17:30 Final Score 18:15 BBC News; Regional News 18:35 My Family 19:30 Strictly Come Dancing 21:15 Merlin 22:00 Casualty 22:50 National Lottery Saturday Night Draws 23:00 BBC News 23:20 Match of the Day 24:45 The Football League Show

07:00 Childrens TV 09:05 Pixelface 09:35 Splatalot 10:00 Deadly 60 10:30 Horrible Histories 11:00 Who Let the Dogs Out? 11:30 I Want My Own Room 12:00 Deadly Art 12:15 Sorry, I’ve Got No Head 12:40 MOTD Kickabout 13:00 The Sky at Night 13:20 Coast 13:25 Astaire and Rogers Sing George and Ira Gershwin 13:35 A Damsel in Distress 15:15 Stage Door 16:45 Hairy Bikers’ Best of British 17:30 Live Snooker 18:30 One Man and His Dog 19:30 Flog It! 20:00 Live Snooker 23:00 QI XL 23:45 In the Valley of Elah

07:00 Mini CITV 08:25 CITV 10:25 Coronation Street 12:45 This Morning: Saturday 13:45 ITV News 13:55 Thunderbirds 15:35 The Mummy Returns 18:00 Granada News 18:15 ITV News 18:30 You’ve Been Framed! 19:00 The Chase 20:00 This Is Justin Bieber 21:00 The X Factor 23:00 Piers Morgan’s Life Stories 24:00 ITV News 24:15 Nutty Professor 2: the Klumps

07:10 The Hoobs 07:35 Offshore Academy 08:00 Great Ethiopian Run 08:55 The Morning Line 09:50 Smallville 10:55 The Crush 11:25 Example: Backstage 12:00 Real Stories: Eminem 13:00 Big Bang Theory 13:35 Big Bang Theory 14:05 The Simpsons 14:40 Channel 4 Racing 16:55 Come Dine with Me 17:25 Come Dine with Me 17:55 Come Dine with Me 18:25 Come Dine with Me 18:55 Come Dine with Me 19:25 Channel 4 News 19:55 4thought.tv 20:00 Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas 21:00 Tony Robinson’s Gods and Monsters 22:00 Vicky Cristina Barcelona 24:00 Double Jeopardy

07:00 Childrens TV 10:00 Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom 10:15 Mr Men Show 10:25 Roary the Racing Car 10:45 Mist: Sheepdog Tales 11:00 Animal Rescue Squad 11:20 The Gadget Show 12:20 Highland Emergency 12:50 A Boyfriend for Christmas 14:40 All I Want for Christmas 16:25 The Christmas Gift 18:10 Single Santa Seeks Mrs Claus 19:55 5 News Weekend 20:00 NCIS 21:00 NCIS 22:00 Tommy Cooper’s Christmas 23:05 Morecambe and Wise Christmas Show 24:10 Sex, Drugs and Rock ‘n’ Roll: The 60s Revealed

06:00 BBC News 06:30 Record Europe 07:00 Breakfast 08:30 Match of the Day 10:00 Andrew Marr Show 11:00 Fern Britton Meets Russell Watson 12:00 Country Tracks 13:00 The Politics Show 14:00 EastEnders 15:55 The Impressions Show with Culshaw and Stephenson 16:25 A Question of Sport 16:55 Frozen Planet 17:55 Songs of Praise 18:30 BBC News; Regional News 18:55 Countryfile 19:55 Strictly Come Dancing 20:30 Antiques Roadshow 21:30 Inspector George Gently 23:00 BBC News 23:30 Match of the Day 2 24:30 Have I Got a Bit More News for You

07:00 Childrens Tv 08:00 Roar 08:30 Arthur 08:50 Dennis & Gnasher 09:05 League of Super Evil 09:15 Jinx 09:35 Wingin’ It 10:00 Sam & Mark’s Big Friday Wind Up 11:00 Something for the Weekend 12:30 Hairy Bikers’ Best of British 13:15 Coast 13:30 Live Athletics 15:15 Live Snooker 19:00 Flog It! 20:00 The Party’s Over: How the West Went Bust 21:00 Live Snooker 24:00 Rev 24:30 Never Mind the Buzzcocks

07:00 Mini CITV 08:25 CITV 10:25 Monk 10:30 Horrid Henry 10:40 Clifford’s Really Big Movie 12:00 Black Beauty 13:35 ITV News 13:40 You’ve Been Framed! 14:10 You’ve Been Framed! 14:40 The X Factor 16:40 Midsomer Murders 18:40 The Unforgettable Larry Grayson 19:05 Granada News 19:15 ITV News 19:30 The Cube 20:30 The X Factor 22:30 Text Santa: The Launch 23:30 ITV News 23:45 GoldenEye

07:10 Sali Mali 07:15 The Hoobs 07:40 Triathlon 08:30 Adidas Terrex Coast to Coast 09:00 One Tree Hill 09:55 Hollyoaks 12:25 Big Bang Theory 12:55 Big Bang Theory 13:30 Shipwrecked: The Island 14:30 The Simpsons 15:00 T4 Stars of 2011 17:20 The Simpsons 17:50 Deal or No Deal 18:45 Elf 20:35 Channel 4 News 21:05 The Political Slot 21:10 4thought.tv 21:15 Japan’s Tsunami: Caught on Camera 22:30 Black Mirror 23:50 British Comedy Awards

07:00 Childrens TV 09:30 Angelina Ballerina 09:50 Rupert Bear 10:00 Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom 10:10 Funky Valley 10:15 Mr Men Show 10:30 Roary the Racing Car 10:40 Mist: Sheepdog Tales 11:00 Inside Hollywood 11:15 Andre Rieu Live in Dublin 12:15 Ultimate Emergency Bikers 13:15 Ice Road Truckers: Deadliest Roads 14:15 Charley Boorman’s Extreme Frontiers 15:15 A Christmas Visitor 17:00 Christmas with the Kranks 18:50 5 News Weekend 18:55 Wyatt Earp 22:30 Superbad 24:50 South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut

tv Saturday

tv Sunday

07:00 Coronation Street 07:25 Emmerdale 07:50 Emmerdale 08:20 Gossip Girl 09:05 Judge Judy 09:30 Beauty and the Geek 11:30 Judge Judy 13:00 Coronation Street 13:30 Emmerdale 14:00 Emmerdale 14:30 Jeremy Kyle Show 15:35 Jeremy Kyle Show 16:40 Beauty and the Geek 17:40 Loose Women 18:40 Judge Judy 19:45 The Cube 20:45 A Night with Beyoncé 22:00 The X Factor USA 23:00 Perez Hilton Superfan 24:00 Penn & Teller: Fool Us

07:00 One Tree Hill 07:45 Ugly Betty 08:35 Wildfire 09:25 One Tree Hill 10:20 Gilmore Girls 11:15 Ugly Betty 12:10 Desperate Housewives 13:10 Greek 14:05 Scrubs 15:05 Hollyoaks 15:40 Gilmore Girls 16:35 Desperate Housewives 17:35 Rules of Engagement 18:00 Scrubs 19:00 Big Bang Theory 19:30 Big Bang Theory 20:00 Hollyoaks 20:30 How I Met Your Mother 21:00 Desperate Scousewives 22:00 Gok’s Clothes Roadshow: Get the Look for Less 23:00 28 Weeks Later

10:00 Deal or No Deal 11:00 How Clean Is Your House? 11:30 How Clean Is Your House? 12:00 Comanche Station 13:30 Deal or No Deal 14:35 The Good Wife 15:35 Come Dine with Me 16:05 Coach Trip 16:35 Location, Location, Location 17:10 Location, Location, Location 17:40 A Place in the Sun 18:15 A Place in the Sun 18:45 Relocation, Relocation 19:50 Come Dine with Me 20:55 River Cottage Heroes 22:00 Sunshine 24:05 Heroes of Comedy

Desperate Scousewives E4, 21.00

07:00 Emmerdale 09:35 Bean 11:25 The X Factor USA 12:50 The X Factor USA 13:50 Harry Hill’s TV Burp 14:20 Life’s Funniest Moments 14:50 The Hot Desk 15:00 The Xtra Factor 16:00 The Xtra Factor 17:00 The Xtra Factor 18:00 The Xtra Factor 19:00 The Xtra Factor 20:00 The Planet’s Funniest Animals 20:30 Grimefighters 21:00 World’s Best Diet 22:00 Grimefighters 22:30 Grimefighters 23:00 The Xtra Factor 24:20 Hot Fuzz

07:00 Switched 07:25 Supernanny USA 08:10 How to Look Good Naked 09:10 How to Look Good Naked 10:10 Wife Swap USA 11:10 Great British Hairdresser 12:10 Supernanny USA 13:10 Wife Swap USA 14:10 Hollyoaks 16:45 Deck the Halls 18:35 Desperate Scousewives 19:35 Perfect Couples 20:05 Big Bang Theory 20:35 Big Bang Theory 21:05 Happy Endings 21:30 How I Met Your Mother 22:00 Big Bang Theory 22:30 Big Bang Theory 23:00 Shooter

10:00 A Place in the Sun 10:35 Time Team 11:35 Time Team 12:40 Time Team 13:40 100 Greatest Toys with Jonathan Ross 16:50 Grand Designs 17:50 Grand Designs 18:55 Grand Designs 20:00 Grand Designs 21:00 Grand Designs 22:00 The Story of Film: An Odyssey 23:25 Sunshine

Tommy Cooper’s Christmas Channel 5, 22.00

07:00 Coronation Street 09:05 Emmerdale 12:00 Coronation Street 14:35 Wild Wild West 16:40 The Xtra Factor 18:00 Peter Andre: My Life 19:00 Holiday Showdown 20:00 Four of a Kind 21:00 World’s Best Diet 22:00 Grimefighters 22:30 The Xtra Factor 23:45 Amy Winehouse: Her Life and Legacy 24:45 Perez Hilton Superfan

07:00 Switched 07:25 Supernanny USA 08:10 Supernanny USA 09:00 How to Look Good Naked 10:00 How to Look Good Naked 11:00 Gok’s Clothes Roadshow 12:05 How to Look Good Naked 13:10 How to Look Good Naked 14:10 Supernanny USA 15:05 Supernanny USA 16:00 Make It or Break It 17:00 Make It or Break It 17:55 Sorority Girls 19:00 Scrubs 19:30 Scrubs 20:00 Scrooged 22:00 Rude Tube 23:00 Misfits 24:05 Tool Academy

Inspector George Gently BBC1, 21.30

10:00 A Place in the Sun 10:35 Scrapheap Challenge 11:40 Scrapheap Challenge 12:45 Scrapheap Challenge 13:45 Scrapheap Challenge 14:50 3 Minute Wonder 14:55 Jamie’s Family Christmas 17:35 Stars of the National Book Awards 18:05 Come Dine with Me 18:40 Come Dine with Me 19:15 Come Dine with Me 19:50 Come Dine with Me 20:25 Come Dine with Me 20:55 Christmas at River Cottage 22:00 Jamie Cooks Christmas 23:00 Christmas with Gordon 24:05 Father Ted


28 09 OCT - 3Dec NOV 2011 2011 - 15

49 49

Viva TV Schedule Friday 9th December – Thursday 15th December Friday 9th December 14.00 Non Stop Music 16.00 Shopping and Info 18.00 FAQ Private Health Care and Funeral Plans 18.30 Let’s Talk with Simon Baldock Wine and Cheese, the perfect combination 19.00 An Evening With Sixties popstar Dave Berry 20.00 – 22.00 Local Information and Non Stop Music Saturday 10th December 14.00 Non Stop Music 16.00 Shopping and Info 18.00 FAQ Private Health Care and Funeral Plans 18.30 Let’s Talk with Simon Baldock Wine and Cheese, the perfect combination 19.00 An Evening With Sixties popstar Dave Berry 20.00 – 22.00 Local Information and Non Stop Music Sunday 11th December 14.00 Non Stop Music 16.00 Shopping and Info 18.00 Dave and Andy’s Excellent Adventures – Racing Cars and Water Skiing 18.30 Spanish Dive Adventures 19.00 Let’s Talk with Simon Baldock International Model Ema Busson 19.30 The Wedding Show 19.45 Hand Made This week Going Ballistic! 20.00 – 22.00 Local Information and Non Stop Music Monday 12th December 14.00 Non Stop Music 16.00 Shopping and Info 18.00 Dave and Andy’s Excellent Adventures – Sea Fishing 18.30 Spanish Dive Adventures

19.00 Let’s Talk with Simon Baldock Easy Horse Care volunteer Katrina 19.45 Spanish Eye – The rescue of 41 Beagles from a lab 19.30 The Wedding Show 19.45 Hand Made – Short films made by you 20.00 – 22.00 Local Information and Non Stop Music Tuesday 13th December 14.00 Non Stop Music 16.00 Shopping and Info 18.00 FAQ – More Frequently Asked Questions with Ann Brown 18.30 Handmade – I Wanna Be A Producer – The making of an am-dram production 19.00 Real England – The Real Cornwall 20.00 – 22.00 Local Information and Non Stop Music Wednesday 14th December 14.00 Non Stop Music 16.00 Shopping and Info 18.00 Costa Blanca Life – Different aspects of living on the Costa Blanca 19.00 Learn The Lingo – Spanish Lessons 19.15 Spanish Eye – The beautiful Fonts d’Algar 19.30 Viva Vino 20.00 – 22.00 Local Information and Non Stop Music Thursday 15th December 14.00 Non Stop Music 16.00 Shopping and Info 18.00 The Boat Show – How to choose the right boat to buy 19.00 Let’s Talk Special – The loveable Cockney Chas Hodges from Chas & Dave 20.00 – 22.00 Local Information and Non Stop Music


tv Monday

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14- -15 20Dec may 2010 09 2011

07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Rip Off Britain 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 Noise Squad 12:45 Cash in the Attic 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News 14:30 Regional News 14:40 Doctors 15:10 Only Fools and Horses 16:05 Barney’s Latin America 16:35 Splatalot 17:00 Alesha’s Street Dance Stars 17:30 Blue Peter 18:00 Newsround 18:15 Pointless 19:00 BBC News 19:30 Regional News 20:00 The One Show 20:30 Inside Out 21:00 EastEnders 21:30 Panorama 22:00 Young Apprentice 23:00 BBC News 23:35 A Question of Sport 24:05 Outnumbered 24:45 Graham Norton Show

07:00 Childrens TV 12:05 In the Night Garden 12:35 Pink Panther Show 13:00 Daily Politics 13:30 GMT with George Alagiah 14:00 Coast 14:15 Trash to Cash 15:15 The Weakest Link 16:00 Escape to the Country 16:45 Hairy Bikers’ Best of British 17:30 Flog It! 18:15 Coast 19:00 Celebrity Eggheads 19:30 Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two 20:00 This World 21:00 University Challenge 21:30 MasterChef: The Professionals 22:00 I Had the X Factor...25 Years Ago: A Wonderland Special 23:00 Never Mind the Buzzcocks 23:30 Newsnight 24:20 Mark Zuckerberg: Inside Facebook

07:00 Daybreak 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 ITV News 14:55 Granada News 15:00 May the Best House Win 16:00 Dickinson’s Real Deal 16:59 Granada Weather 17:00 Murder, She Wrote 18:00 Best Dish: The Chefs 19:00 Granada Reports 19:30 ITV News 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Coronation Street 21:00 Countrywise Kitchen: Stocking the Winter Larder 21:30 Coronation Street 22:00 The Real Thumbelina 23:00 ITV News at Ten 23:30 Granada News 23:35 We Own the Night

07:10 The Hoobs 08:00 Freshly Squeezed 08:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:25 Frasier 09:55 Undercover Boss Australia 10:55 Beeny’s Restoration Nightmare 11:55 Heston’s Christmas Feast 13:00 Drop Down Menu 14:00 Cocoon: The Return 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Christmas Coach Trip 18:30 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 4thought.tv 21:00 River Cottage Christmas 22:00 Jimmy’s Grow Your Own Christmas Dinner 23:00 Chris Moyles’ Quiz Night 23:50 8 Out of 10 Cats 24:40 Random Acts

07:00 Childrens TV 09:40 Milkshake! Christmas Songs 09:45 Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00 Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 LIVE with Gabby 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Law & Order 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 CSI: NY 16:10 Snowman’s Pass 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 Charley Boorman’s Extreme Frontiers 23:00 Hard Luck 24:55 The World of Stupid Criminals

07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Rip Off Britain 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 Noise Squad 12:45 Cash in the Attic 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News 14:30 Regional News 14:45 Doctors 15:15 Only Fools and Horses 15:45 Nigel Slater’s Simple Suppers 16:05 Barney’s Latin America 16:35 Splatalot 17:00 Alesha’s Street Dance Stars 17:30 Blue Peter Special 18:00 Newsround 18:15 Pointless 19:00 BBC News 19:30 Regional News 20:00 The One Show 20:30 EastEnders 21:00 Holby City 22:00 Death in Paradise 23:00 BBC News 23:35 Imagine... 24:40 Heavenly Creatures

07:00 Childrens TV 10:55 Zingzillas 11:15 Wibbly Pig 11:25 Louie 11:35 Octonauts 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 Coast 14:15 Trash to Cash 15:15 The Weakest Link 16:00 Escape to the Country 16:45 Hairy Bikers’ Best of British 17:30 Flog It! 18:15 Coast 19:00 Celebrity Eggheads 19:30 Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two 20:00 Victorian Farm Christmas 21:00 MasterChef: The Professionals 22:00 Money 23:00 Life’s Too Short 23:30 Newsnight 24:20 Leonardo

07:00 Daybreak 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 ITV News 14:55 Granada News 15:00 May the Best House Win 16:00 Dickinson’s Real Deal 16:59 Granada Weather 17:00 Murder, She Wrote 18:00 Best Dish: The Chefs 19:00 Granada Reports 19:30 ITV News 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 The Adventurer’s Guide to Britain 21:00 High Stakes 22:00 My Child’s Not Perfect 23:00 ITV News at Ten 23:30 Granada News 23:35 Rumor Has It..

07:10 The Hoobs 07:35 The Hoobs 08:00 Freshly Squeezed 08:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 08:55 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:25 Frasier 09:55 Undercover Boss Australia 10:55 Kirstie and Phil’s Perfect Christmas 11:55 Christmas at River Cottage 13:00 Drop Down Menu 14:00 Local Hero 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Christmas Coach Trip 18:30 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 4thought.tv 21:00 Food Hospital 22:00 My Big Fat Gypsy Christmas 23:00 This Is England ‘88 24:10 Random Acts 24:15 Joy of Teen Sex

07:00 Childrens TV 09:40 Milkshake! Christmas Songs 09:45 Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00 Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 LIVE with Gabby 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Law & Order 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 CSI: Miami 16:10 Noel 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 to Take Stunning Pictures 21:00 London: The Inside Story 22:00 CSI: Miami 23:00 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 24:00 CSI: Miami 24:55 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Rip Off Britain 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 Noise Squad 12:45 Cash in the Attic 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News 14:30 Regional News 14:45 Doctors 15:15 Only Fools and Horses 16:05 Barney’s Latin America 16:35 Splatalot 17:00 Alesha’s Street Dance Stars 17:30 Postcode 18:00 Newsround 18:15 Pointless 19:00 BBC News 19:30 Regional News 20:00 The One Show 20:30 That’s Britain! 21:30 The Impressions Show with Culshaw and Stephenson 22:00 Motorway Cops 23:00 BBC News 23:35 National Lottery Wednesday Night Draws 23:45 Would I Lie to You? 24:15 Film 2011 with Claudia Winkleman 24:55 Westworld

07:00 Childrens TV 10:05 Tinga Tinga Tales 10:20 Something Special: Out and About 10:40 Charlie and Lola 10:55 Zingzillas 11:15 Everything’s Rosie 11:25 Octonauts 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 The Weakest Link 16:00 Escape to the Country 16:45 Hairy Bikers’ Best of British 17:30 Flog It! 18:15 Coast 19:00 Celebrity Eggheads 19:30 Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two 20:00 Victorian Farm Christmas 21:00 MasterChef: The Professionals 22:00 Steve Jobs: Billion Dollar Hippy 23:00 Class Dismissed 23:30 Newsnight 24:20 Leonardo

07:00 Daybreak

07:10 The Hoobs 07:35 The Hoobs 08:00 Freshly Squeezed 08:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 08:55 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:25 Frasier 09:55 Undercover Boss Australia 10:55 Kirstie and Phil’s Perfect Christmas 11:55 River Cottage Christmas Fayre 13:00 Drop Down Menu 13:50 Great Expectations 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Christmas Coach Trip 18:30 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 4thought.tv 21:00 A SuperScrimpers Christmas 22:00 Jamie’s Christmas with Bells On 23:00 This Is England ‘88 24:10 Joy of Teen Sex

07:00 Childrens TV 09:40 Milkshake! Christmas Songs 09:45 Bananas in Pyjamas 09:55 Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom 10:10 Mickey Mouse: Have a Laugh 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 LIVE with Gabby 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Law & Order 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 CSI: NY 16:15 Farewell Mr Kringle 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:25 OK! TV 19:55 Cars Toons 20:00 5 News at 7 20:30 Live UEFA Europa League Football 23:15 Blood and Bone

tv Tuesday

tv Wednesday 09:30 Lorraine

10:25 Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 ITV News 14:55 Granada News 15:00 May the Best House Win 16:00 Dickinson’s Real Deal 16:59 Granada Weather 17:00 Murder, She Wrote 18:00 Best Dish: The Chefs 19:00 Granada Reports 19:30 ITV News 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 The Royal Variety Performance 2011 23:00 ITV News at Ten 23:30 Granada News 23:35 American Dreamz

07:00 Coronation Street 07:25 Coronation Street 07:50 Emmerdale 08:20 Gossip Girl 09:05 Judge Judy 10:25 Beauty and the Geek 11:30 Judge Judy 13:00 Coronation Street 13:30 Coronation Street 14:00 Emmerdale 14:30 Jeremy Kyle Show 15:35 Jeremy Kyle Show 16:40 Beauty and the Geek 17:35 Loose Women 18:35 Judge Judy 19:00 The X Factor 21:00 The Xtra Factor 22:00 Hot Fuzz 24:25 Disclosure

07:00 One Tree Hill 07:45 Ugly Betty 08:35 Wildfire 09:25 One Tree Hill 10:20 Gilmore Girls 11:15 Ugly Betty 12:10 Desperate Housewives 13:10 Greek 14:05 Scrubs 15:05 Hollyoaks 15:40 Gilmore Girls 16:35 Desperate Housewives 17:35 Rules of Engagement 18:00 Scrubs 19:00 Big Bang Theory 20:00 Hollyoaks 20:35 How I Met Your Mother 21:00 My Name Is Earl 22:00 Rude Tube 23:00 Desperate Scousewives 24:05 Sorority Girls

10:00 Deal or No Deal 11:00 North by Northwest 13:35 Deal or No Deal 14:35 The Good Wife 15:35 Come Dine with Me 16:05 Coach Trip 16:35 Location, Location, Location 17:40 A Place in the Sun 18:15 A Place in the Sun 18:45 Relocation, Relocation 19:50 Come Dine with Me Extra Portions 20:55 Come Dine with Me Extra Portions 22:00 Secret Millionaire 23:00 Undercover Boss USA 24:00 The Daily Show Global Edition 24:30 Unreported World

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

07:00 Coronation Street 07:25 Coronation Street 07:50 Emmerdale 08:20 Gossip Girl 09:05 Judge Judy 10:25 Beauty and the Geek 11:30 Judge Judy 13:00 Coronation Street 13:30 Coronation Street 14:00 Emmerdale 14:30 Jeremy Kyle Show 15:35 Jeremy Kyle Show 16:40 Beauty and the Geek 17:35 Loose Women 18:35 Judge Judy 19:00 The X Factor 21:00 The Xtra Factor 22:00 Deep Blue Sea 24:10 Peter Andre: My Life

07:00 One Tree Hill 07:50 Ugly Betty 08:35 Wildfire 09:35 One Tree Hill 10:25 Gilmore Girls 11:20 Ugly Betty 12:15 Desperate Housewives 13:10 Greek 14:10 Scrubs 15:05 Hollyoaks 15:40 Gilmore Girls 16:35 Desperate Housewives 17:35 Rules of Engagement 18:00 Scrubs 19:00 Big Bang Theory 19:25 Big Bang Theory 20:00 Hollyoaks 20:30 How I Met Your Mother 21:00 Shipwrecked: The Island 22:00 Rude Tube 23:00 Tool Academy 24:05 PhoneShop 24:40 The IT Crowd

10:00 Deal or No Deal 11:00 How Clean Is Your House? 11:30 Law and Jake Wade 13:15 3 Minute Wonder 13:35 Deal or No Deal 14:35 The Good Wife 15:35 Come Dine with Me 16:05 Coach Trip 16:35 Location, Location, Location 17:40 A Place in the Sun 18:15 A Place in the Sun 18:45 Relocation, Relocation 19:55 Come Dine with Me Extra Portions 20:55 Come Dine with Me Extra Portions 22:00 Come Dine with Me 23:00 True Stories 24:15 Calvet: A Tale of Gangsters, Drugs, Family - And Paint

Emergency My Big Fatwith Gypsy Angela Griffin Christmas Sky1 21.00 Channel 4, 22.00

07:00 Emmerdale 07:25 Nanny 911 08:20 Gossip Girl 09:05 Judge Judy 10:25 Beauty and the Geek 11:30 Judge Judy 13:00 Emmerdale 13:30 Nanny 911 14:30 Jeremy Kyle Show 15:35 Jeremy Kyle Show 16:40 Beauty and the Geek 17:40 Loose Women 18:40 Judge Judy 20:00 This Is Justin Bieber 21:00 The Xtra Factor 22:00 Peter Andre: My Life 23:00 Perez Hilton Superfan 24:00 Practical Magic

07:00 One Tree Hill 07:50 Ugly Betty 08:35 Wildfire 09:30 One Tree Hill 10:25 Gilmore Girls 11:20 Ugly Betty 12:20 Desperate Housewives 13:15 Greek 14:10 Scrubs 14:40 Scrubs 15:05 Hollyoaks 15:40 Gilmore Girls 16:35 Desperate Housewives 17:35 Rules of Engagement 18:00 Scrubs 18:30 Scrubs 19:00 Big Bang Theory 19:30 Big Bang Theory 20:00 Hollyoaks 20:30 How I Met Your Mother 21:00 Charlie’s Angels 22:00 Die Hard 4.0 24:30 Misfits

The Royal Variety Emergency with Angela Griffin Performance 2011 Sky1 ITV1,21.00 20.30

10:00 Deal or No Deal 11:00 How Clean Is Your House? 11:35 Murder Most Foul 13:20 3 Minute Wonder 13:35 Deal or No Deal 14:35 The Good Wife 15:35 Come Dine with Me 16:05 Coach Trip 16:35 Location, Location, Location 17:10 Location, Location, Location 17:40 A Place in the Sun 18:15 A Place in the Sun 18:45 Relocation, Relocation 19:50 Come Dine with Me Extra Portions 20:55 Come Dine with Me Extra Portions 22:00 Time Team 23:00 Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day 24:05 WWII: Air War


tv Thursday 07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Rip Off Britain 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 11:58 BBC News 12:00 Noise Squad 12:45 Cash in the Attic 13:13 BBC News 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News 14:30 Regional News 14:45 Doctors 15:15 Only Fools and Horses 16:05 Barney’s Latin America 16:35 Splatalot 17:00 Alesha’s Street Dance Stars 17:30 Postcode 18:00 Newsround 18:15 Pointless 19:00 BBC News 19:30 Regional News 20:00 The One Show 20:30 EastEnders 21:00 Manor Reborn 22:00 Crimewatch 23:00 BBC News 23:25 Regional News 23:35 Crimewatch Update 23:45 Up In Flames: Mr Reeves and the Riots 24:30 This Week

07:00 Childrens TV 10:40 Charlie and Lola 10:55 Zingzillas 11:15 Timmy Time 11:25 Louie 11:35 Octonauts 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 Coast 14:15 Trash to Cash 15:15 The Weakest Link 16:00 Escape to the Country 16:45 Hairy Bikers’ Best of British 17:30 Flog It! 18:15 Coast 19:00 Celebrity Eggheads 19:30 Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two 20:00 Victorian Farm Christmas 21:00 MasterChef: The Professionals 22:00 Rev 22:30 Life’s Too Short 23:00 Frank Skinner’s Opinionated 23:30 Newsnight 24:20 Leonardo

8 - 14 JulY 2011 09 - 15 Dec 2011

07:00 Daybreak 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 ITV News 14:55 Granada News 15:00 May the Best House Win 16:00 Dickinson’s Real Deal 16:59 Granada Weather 17:00 Murder, She Wrote 18:00 Best Dish: The Chefs 19:00 Granada Reports 19:30 ITV News 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Tonight 21:00 Emmerdale 21:30 Coronation Street 22:00 Without You 23:00 ITV News at Ten 23:30 Granada News 23:35 Piers Morgan’s Life Stories 24:35 A Night with Will Young

Crossword Solutions 633 CRYPTIC SOLUTIONS Across: 7 By word of mouth; 8 Shipmate; 9 Tugs; 10 Swedes; 12 Ideals; 14 Typist; 16 Garish; 18 Bolt; 20 Light ale; 22 Criminal class. Down: 1 By the way; 2 Torpid; 3 Idea; 4 Offering; 5 Sortie; 6 Stag; 11 Settling; 13 Listless; 15 In time; 17 Rattle; 19 Ours; 21 Gold.

07:10 The Hoobs 07:35 The Hoobs 08:00 Freshly Squeezed 08:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 08:55 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:25 Frasier 09:55 Undercover Boss Australia 10:55 Kirstie and Phil’s Perfect Christmas 11:55 River Cottage Christmas 13:00 Drop Down Menu 13:55 Oliver Twist 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Christmas Coach Trip 18:30 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 4thought.tv 21:00 Kevin’s Grand Design 22:00 Living with the Amish 23:00 This Is England ‘88 24:05 Random Acts 24:10 Black Mirror

07:00 Childrens TV 09:40 Milkshake! Christmas Songs 09:45 Bananas in Pyjamas 09:55 Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom 10:10 Mickey Mouse: Have a Laugh 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 LIVE with Gabby 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Law & Order 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 CSI: NY 16:10 The Christmas List 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:25 OK! TV 19:55 Cars Toons 20:00 5 News at 7 20:30 Highland Emergency 21:00 Fairground Attractions 22:00 The Mentalist 23:00 It’s All About Amy 24:00 Police Interceptors

QUICK SOLUTIONS Across: 7 Comprehension; 8 Adhesive; 9 Earn; 10 Lights; 12 Ordeal; 14 Edison; 16 Yearly; 18 Bear; 20 Treasury; 22 Advertisement. Down: 1 Woodwind; 2 Speech; 3 Peri; 4 Ceremony; 5 Ascend; 6 Poor; 11 Sanctity; 13 Alluring; 15 Survey; 17 Assume; 19 Eddy; 21 Ease. Wordwheel: DECORATED

07:00 Emmerdale 07:25 Nanny 911 08:20 Gossip Girl 09:05 Judge Judy 10:25 Beauty and the Geek 11:30 Judge Judy 13:00 Emmerdale 13:30 Nanny 911 14:30 Jeremy Kyle Show 15:35 Jeremy Kyle Show 16:40 Beauty and the Geek 17:40 Loose Women 18:40 Judge Judy 19:30 All Star Family Fortunes 20:30 The Xtra Factor 21:30 The X Factor USA 23:00 Gremlins

07:00 One Tree Hill 07:45 Ugly Betty 08:35 Wildfire 09:25 One Tree Hill 10:20 Gilmore Girls 11:15 Ugly Betty 12:10 Desperate Housewives 13:10 Greek 14:10 Scrubs 15:05 Hollyoaks 15:40 Gilmore Girls 16:35 Desperate Housewives 17:35 Rules of Engagement 18:00 Scrubs 19:00 Big Bang Theory 20:00 Hollyoaks 20:30 How I Met Your Mother 21:00 Big Bang Theory 21:30 Big Bang Theory 22:00 How I Met Your Mother 22:30 Happy Endings 23:00 PhoneShop 23:35 Rude Tube 24:05 Chris Moyles’ Quiz Night 24:55 Big Bang Theory

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

51 51

10:00 Deal or No Deal 11:00 How Clean Is Your House? 11:35 Please Sir! 13:35 Deal or No Deal 14:35 The Good Wife 15:35 Come Dine with Me 16:05 Coach Trip 16:35 Location, Location, Location 17:10 Location, Location, Location 17:40 A Place in the Sun 18:15 A Place in the Sun 18:50 Relocation, Relocation 19:55 Come Dine with Me Extra Portions 20:25 Come Dine with Me Extra Portions 21:00 Come Dine with Me Extra Portions 21:30 Come Dine with Me Extra Portions 22:00 Southland 23:00 The Closer 24:00 The Killing


52 44 48

28 - 33NOV 2011 09 - OCT15 Dec 2011 28OCT NOV 2011 28

What a Bunch of Wieners! Warts ´n All –

Showbiz Goss by

Peter Taylor

Writer and Broadcaster

Least I Hope So

JUST IN case you are still sitting on the shelf regarding how pathetic these Reality Shows truly are, I have news for you today you´ll find hard to ignore. Let me firstly bring you up to speed. There are currently 2 of these awful programmes running on mainstream TV, The Only Way is Essex and Made in Chelsea. Last week the producers of TOWIE told their cast they were not allowed to go into London´s West End on a night out, and the reason for this is that they don’t want their people to meet the cast of Made in Chelsea. Pretty pathetic eh? … but there´s more, an awful lot more. When I picked up this story, members of both shows made comments but none of them put their name to who said what, but the gist of it is that they all get on really well and enjoy a jolly up together. So why has this ban been put in place then? … Now we come to the truly pathetic part. One of these unnamed cast members kept on talking and eventually tumbled out “I think it might be something to do with the fact that one of the production team of TOWIE moved over to Made in Chelsea and they don’t like it”… this is one of those comments that gets said out the side of your mouth if you know what I mean, but what a gem! … It’s a bit like ´I´m not playing with you now ´cause you’re not my friend anymore´ … is it any wonder these … programmes … are such garbage when the people at the top are so pathetic.

A wee short one here for you but none the less powerful in its content. There was a private showing last week of Meryl Streep´s latest movie and yet again the talk is of her performance being worthy of an Oscar. The film is called ´The Iron Lady´ and I personally can’t wait to see the way she takes on the role. To be as good as she is in her work Meryl Streep obviously pays an awful lot of attention to detail, and just as much attention to the business of accuracy, to facts, and with this scenario likely to be the same I personally can’t wait to see Margaret Thatcher fainally being shown up for the shameful way she took on the process of government. A bit political is this item, but that was unavoidable due to the content of the movie. One thing´s for sure however, and that is it will be well worth the bus fare to go and see Meryl Streep as ´The Iron Lady´.

Proper Telly STEVIE WONDER was born Steveland Jutland in Michigan on 13th May 1950, and at the age of just 13 years old became the youngest artist to top the US charts. As I am sure you are aware Stevie was born blind and we can only be amazed at, with such a handicap, how much he has achieved in his life to date. I say to date because Stevie is about to take on what I believe is the greatest

test of his resolve … ever. The US equivalent of ´Strictly Come Dancing´is called ´Dancing with the Stars´ and … yes I am sure you are way ahead of me, Stevie Wonder said live on top US chat show ´Ellen DeGeneres´ … “I´m getting into shape to appear on ´Dancing with the Stars … and as soon as I feel good enough for what I want to do … I´ll do that!” … I believe we have just been given a close in view of the way Stevie Wonder has managed to achieve all the incredible things he has in his life, and now for him to decide to step out onto centre stage with a dance partner makes me think that mibbe I shouldn´t complain when the garage doors won’t open. Now that’s what I call proper tellly … not the garage doors … the dancing.

We Were Soldiers Crystal Clear Satellite and Internet TV Once … And Young Book Review by

Danny Collins

copy@dannyjpcollins.com

IN NOVEMBER 1965, 450 men of the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, under the command of Lt Col Hal Moore, were dropped by helicopter into a small clearing in the La Drang Valley of Vietnam and immediately surrounded by 2,000 North Vietnamese soldiers. Three days later, only two and a half miles away, a sister battalion is chopped to pieces. Together, these actions at the landing zones X-Ray and Albany constitute one of the most savage and significant battles of the Vietnam War and set the tone of the conflict to come. The above sets the scene for a bloody and true account of what it was like to go to war as a young American and find yourself caught in ferocious and remorseless combat with an enemy as courageous and idealistic as you were. Hal Moore was as great a leader as any combat soldier could wish for and war correspondent and photographer Joe Galloway proved his worth by hitching a ride on the first bullet scarred helicopter making a return run into the battle zone. Together they have produced one of the finest war stories ever to come out of US conflict. The book has been made into a film starring Mel Gibson as the valiant Hal Moore at landing zone X-Ray who is always the first man in and the last man out

CRYSTAL CLEAR Satellite and Internet TV is a professional, family run company with many years’ experience in the satellite industry in Spain and the UK. They have the right skills to fully assess and find the right solution for your requirements in Spain Crystal Clear offers a one off payment with no monthly subscription for all your British terrestrial channels (Freesat), and official Sky subscription cards (with no annual maintenance fees) for sports, movies and favourite channels. An alternative to Sky +HD/SkyHD receivers, the new Iberosat HD digibox will read all the packages on your existing Sky subscription card including sports and movies. Internet TV is also available for all your

favourite UK TV programmes, including the new Black Box which will receive the full Sky package including Movies, Sports, ESPN and Setanta Ireland and HD. Crystal Clear can install Spanish digital terrestrial with dual audio to change the language or upgrade your existing Spanish system to receive the new digital broadcasts: there are as many as 34 channels available. Some of these channels are in English or have the facility to change the audio setting back to English if the programme/film was originally made in America/UK. CRYSTAL CLEAR SATELLITE AND INTERNET TV 96 558 4097 660 186 505 www.ccsattv.com info@ccsattv.com

Suduko Answer and he leaves no one behind, living or dead. Barry Pepper plays Galloway and fans of Sam Elliot will be delighted by his portrayal of grizzled old timer Sergeant Major Basil L Plumley. I’ve read the book and seen the film and, as ever, the screen version isn’t quite as accurate to events but, hey, that’s Hollywood. Get the book first – it’s an absorbing read and would make some military buff a great Christmas present. Authors: Lt Gen Harold G Moore (Rtd) and Joseph L Galloway Publisher: Corgi (paperback) Price: 13.00€ ISBN: 978 0 552 15026 2


motoring

by

Brian Deller

Author of Motoring in Spain

- 15 Dec 28 OCT-09 3 NOV 2011 2011

The importance of knowing the rules I HAD a sad telephone call from a reader very recently. The man wanted to know the rules about learner drivers in Spain as he had recently arrived and was out with his son driving with a UK Provisional Driving Licence when he was stopped by the police. I did not ask if he had an “L” plate on the car but that would have really given it away. I have not noted his name here for obvious reasons as it left me feeling sad as well. None of us can afford the stiff fines that are being handed out in these crisis times and the authorities are desperate for cash as well. So it pays to know and obey the rules. The result of the police stop was that he was fined €1,500 for allowing the vehicle (his) to be driven with an unlicensed driver which meant also that no insurance was applicable. The reader then asked me where he could buy a copy of my book, Motoring in Spain, and I had to advise him that it is temporarily out of print as the fourth Edition has not yet gone to the printers. After being stopped and given

the denuncia, the reader had rushed off as advised by friends and paid the 50% of the fine, €750, as this discount applies if fines are paid within 20 working days. The Spanish Government has been discussing allowing learners to learn with a qualified driver for a few months now with no decision yet, but in Spain, there is only one way to obtain a driving licence as a learner and that is through a driving school. It is now expensive averaging several hundred Euros, with the theory being passed first and then the practical in especially adapted vehicles (dual foot controls) and when the school is happy that the learner is ready, they organise the testing. On motorcycles, crash helmets with ear phones are used so an instructor can teach as they ride around. I have delayed printing the next edition of my book as I have to spend well over €5, 000 to have enough printed to make the selling price reasonable. My wife is urging me on, though. Many driving schools are short of pupils at this moment and in the

areas where it is justified some teach in English, and are willing to haggle over the cost. Remember that a Spanish licence is applicable throughout the EU, and can be changed if you return to the UK, but you normally must be tax-resident in the country of issue. That is why as I reported some months ago, the web-site offering EU driving licences for those who “have been unfairly banned” or want an HGV licence without taking the test must be viewed with much scepticism. My research seemed to indicate they are supplied from an Eastern European EU country. As ever, my motto in such matters is “Trust Nobody”. Rainy days are here again. Make sure your tyres are in good condition with at least 3 mm of tread all over. The legal limit is 1,6 mm but testing shows this is not enough for braking safely in an emergency. Have a safe and prosperous 2012 as we all wait to see what new “austerity laws” are to be promulgated by the Spanish Government to beat the now ever present crisis.

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

53 53

Route 66 Bikers ROUTE 66 BIKERS are a group meeting every Wednesday evening at Monty’s Bar in Urb Montebello near Zocco Market. They ride out after meeting at the Bar Tamberlache opposite BadBoyz in Los Montesinos at 10am every Tuesday through the winter months, with all types of bikes including Cruisers, Sports, Touring and Harleys. Their new website address is http://www.wix.com/ davelathamspain/route66-bikers#! with contact details and ride out information.


54

09 - 15 Dec 2011


- 15 Dec 28 OCT-09 3 NOV 20112011

VENUS

Torremendo

Tel.: 965 368 274

ESTABLISHED IN SPAIN FOR 10 YEARS FULLY LEGAL S.L COMPANY

Cars S.L. www.venuscars.com

We Buy, Sell & Part Exchange Quality British & Spanish Cars Transfer Documents Completed Competitive Insurance Quotes. All cars Fully serviced and valeted

WE ACCEPT ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS

€5,995

€7,995

ONE OWNER

BMW 320 I SE 2001 4 DOOR

€3,995

€4,995

OPEL ASTRA ESTATE 1999 1.7 Ltr Diesel

FORD FOCUS ESTATE 2003 1.6 LTR PETROL

€36,995

€25,995

€8,495

HYMER 650CL, A CLASS - 1986 6 BERTH

LAIKA A CLASS ECOVIP H710, 2004 TOP OF THE RANGE

JOINT J148 2006 3 BERTH, ONE OWNER - 45000 KLM

ELNAGH 620 SL CLIPPER 1989 5 BERTH

automatic

€9,995

UK RIGHT HAND DRIVE CARS

€1,495

spanish plates

7 seater OPEL ZAFIRA 2001 - 7 SEATER automatic

€11,995 21000 Klm

52000 KLM

MITSUBISHI MONTERO IO 2002 4X4

€6,495

€5,995

rhd VAUXHALL ASTRA 2001 1.6 LTR PETROL - ONE OWNER

Ford Fiesta 2005 1.4 Ltr Diesel

€14,995

FORD FOCUS CMAX 2010 1.6 TDCI DIESEL ONE OWNER

55 55

Kia Sportage Nov 2007

€6,495

€1,495

6 seater

Kia Carens 2004 2 Ltr Diesel Low Klm FSH

€2,250

€6,995

SUZUKI BALENO 1997 1.6 LTR PETROL

FORD FOCUS CMAX 2005 1.6 LTR PETROL

Aprilia SR50 2006 50 c.c

wanted

UK AND SPANISH REGISTERED CARS - CASH PAID MOTORHOMES AND CLASSICS - ALSO WANTED - RING TODAY!! ALL LEGAL PAPERWORK COMPLETED

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 56

09 - 15 Dec 2011

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

UK-SPAIN-IRELAND All European Destinations

Removals with the personal touch. Full/part loads. Parcels, flat packs, luggage, door to door service, Storage available, pets transported

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

14 - 20 OCT 2011

Book your advert now 902 118 999 (ext 2)

PRISTINE POOLS

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


09 - 15 Dec 2011 plots short term or permanent stays) Tlf Carol 968-192-425 mob 626-055-622 www.mobilehomesmarmenorspain.com

EXCEL AIR CONDITIONING. See main ad on page 11.Tel/Fax (Head Office) 966-897772. Mobiles:-680-154-432/676-265-675. Email excelairconditioning@hotmail.com. All credit/debit cards accepted. SERVICE AIR David Higton: (Tel) 966865-883 (Mob) 629-308-505 (Email) cool@ serviceair.biz

MERCURIO CONSTRUCTION . ALL YOUR BUILDING NEEDS FROM SMALL REPAIRS TO NEW HOUSES. COVERING ALL COASTAL AREAS OF THE COSTA BLANCA. www.conpro.com.es TEL: 669.669.339

PET TAXI transporting your pet door to door in our air conditioned vehicles, stopping in pet friendly hotels travelling twice monthly. Accompanied travel also available. Tel: 952 541 147 HOUSE AND PET SITTING Call Margaret experienced multi lingual telephone 968 186 781 Mobile 659 824 156 PET TRANSPORT we treat your pet as if they belong to us and that is our promise. van fully air conditioned we believe we have the best rates so give joe a call on 966074576 or 650341087 for a chat or e mail pawspettransport@hotmail.com SMALL DOGS CARED FOR IN OUR OWN HOME So if you need to go away on holiday but don’t want your dog to go into kennels then we will look after them. References available. Tel: 965843781 Mob: 622514980 TRANS-PET We do regular, door-to-door journeys between the Costa Blanca and the UK.Our aim is to provide a professional, caring service for your pets.Boarding facilities for Cats and Dogs. This may be for an overnight stay or of longer durations. Tel:600-552-030/965-960-658 www.trans-pet.co.uk

ON 6,300 SQ MTRS IN SAN LUIS, TORREVIEJA Large complex comprising of 2 indoor bars, one outside bar, bowling green, large swimming pool, big function room with bar, stage, lighting & sound, restaurant 80 covers, crazy golf another mirrored letting room with toilets, english tv / sports screen / 9 toilets all together & 2 shower rooms, large complete kitchen, music licence, store room, lease hold €175,000 Tel: 627371731. AMBITIOUS? Life changing opportunity with a money back guarantee. For details telephone 965 322 863 A 6 FIGURE INCOME is eminently achievable with us – and there’s a money back guarantee. Telephone 965 322 863 COLD DRINK / SNACK VENDING MACHINES EXCELLENT RECESSION PROOF BUSINESS WITH NO OVERHEADS AND ALL CASH. 5 COLDDRINK VENDING MACHINES €24,900. 25 PRINGLE MACHINES €14,900, ALL WITH GUARANTEED SITES. 619307318. 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.965-326-442/659-696-455 SOLAR ENERGY BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Long established company, own product range. First class training & support. Telephone 606586587

Cleaning PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL CLEANING SERVICE for your home or business at a fair price. References available. (Altea area) Tel: 965843781 or 622514980

PC SOLUTIONS 4U For all your PC needs. Reliable & friendly service. Call Fred 634638664

FUNKY FREESTYLE DANCE with Louise, every Saturday morning at Villamar Campsite in Albir/Benidorm, come and learn all the moves and routines to your pop idols! Call Louise on 655-781-068 for more information!

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS - COSTA BLANCA Confidential Helpline, South 625 912 078, North 648 169 045. www.aacostablanca.org. DO YOU SUFFER THROUGH ANOTHER PERSON DRINKING? Don’t suffer alone. We meet in Benidorm every Thursday at 5.00pm. Al-Anon Established Worldwide for 60 years. Ring 634758539 for details. GATA CHARITY SHOP Description: House Clearances, furniture, bric a brac, beds, etc. High prices paid for quality items. We buy, Sell and Exchange just about anything at the GATA CHARITY SHOP in aid of SPAIN, the Society for the Protection of Animals in Need. Collection and Delivery service available. Tel 665653998 or 965756215.

Energy Saving

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, 5 mins to beach, Airport, Hospital by car. (also bungalows for rent and caravan

SPARE TIME, WANT EXTRA CASH? Start earning immediately by becoming an AVON representative. Info: ring Rosh 966785520 CARERS WANTED To work in England 3 weeks on 3 weeks off email CV to 24hourhomecareservices@googlemail.com 24 HOUR HOMECARE SERVICES LTD Wanted companions, carers to work in

England as live-in carers. 3 weeks on, 3 weeks off. If you are caring, a good listener and cook contact Karen Jones on (0044) 01929 472 810 or mobile (0044) 07500 836688 email: 24hourhomecareservices@ googlemail.com or download application form from www.24hourhomecareservices.com TELESALES OFFICE IN ALBIR OPENING A NIGHT SHIFT 25 to 30 hrs per week, Basic, commission, contract and training offered. We are looking for reliable staff, willing to work hard in exchange for great commissions.We need..... * A sales manager * 2 Closers * 15 telesales staff * 2 Administration staff. This is a great opportunity to get in while the company is young, with offices throughout Spain, Tenerife, Malaga and Barcelona the world is at your fingertips! Call Kris now on 697551459 WORKING HOLIDAYS FOR EXPATS Join our team of self-employed live-in carers in the U.K. We require live-in carers to provide housekeeping and personal care for our elderly clients in their own homes particularly during the autumn and winter months. Flexible bookings of 2-4 weeks to suit your personal situation. Experienced nurses or carers welcome, also those with no previous experience, our in-house training is available. British/EU passport/ references/drivers/good spoken English

57

essential. This progressive friendly company was established in 1962 and is a market leader in U.K. live-in care for the elderly, CONSULTUS CARE AND NURSING LTD. Call our local consultant Sandra Field on 658 965 204 or email s.field@consultuscare. com or visit our website www.consultuscare.com. ADULT INTERNET PHOTO AND VIDEO Females and couples, 18-65, required as models. Excellent rates. Tlf:-697-697-842

GARDEN MAINTENANCE Do you need help maintaining your garden? we can supply a full service at competitive prices. Call today for a free quotation 689075125


58

09 - 15 Dec 2011

Cars

wanted Good condition LHD Spanish Cars Wanted for cash 95 – 02 Transfers completed Tlf: 693 859 942 or 650 740 265

ALEXANDERS PAY TOP LONDON PRICES Javea Port seafront – Monday to Saturday - 10am till 3pm. Established since 2003 Tel: 965792595 or 667270969

GOLD WANTED English Jeweller wishes to buy broken or unwanted Gold jewellery & coins for cash. Call for an appointment. Peter (7 days) 664 890 990.

PET INSURANCE Protectapet: Looking for Pet Insurance? Spains Leading Pet Insurance Provider. www.protectapet.eu 965 756 724 S.O.S. INSURANCE Car-Home-HealthComercial. Funeral Plans and Insurance. Tlf:-966-787-123/622-275-561/686-116-297

WHEELCHAIR Light, Foldable,150€. Electric Mobility Scooter, SUNRISE MEDICAL 40km range 499€. Both like new! Tlf:-627-019-403 AUTOMATIC GATE SYSTEMS €449!! AUTOMATIC GARAGE DOOR MOTORS €249!! FULLY INSTALLED/GUARANTEED!! All brands repaired 627-191639/www. elektro-nex.com AT MICHAEL’S you can get part exchange on certain beds when you buy a New bed from our New Bed shop in the Arenal. See photos (updates every 5-6 days): www. michaels-javea.com AT MICHAEL’S Beautiful hand carved Spanish antique furniture all in high quality walnut - side board + dining set with leather chairs. See: www.michaels-javea.com AT MICHAEL’S Two large Buddha statues in stone! Several large wardrobes and many small patio sets in stock, + lots more. See more than 600 photos: www.michaels-javea. com AT MICHAEL’S Two beautiful very high quality Chesterfield sofas in brown, 3-seater + 2-seater. Several carpets in different sizes. Free deliveries. www.michaels-javea.com MICHAEL’S 28 YEARS IN JAVEA ENSURES YOUR SATISFACTION! We sell high quality pre owned furniture, many from show apartments etc. Look at: www. michaels-javea.com Tlf:965-791-328.

MASSAGE Relaxing enjoyable and very stimulating. Withheld numbers and texts not answered. Tel: 660 409 206

BALLROOM/LATIN/SEQUENCE DANCING WITH LA BAMBA’S. At La Rustika [Los Arcos] Restaurant, Avenida Balaeres 34, Torrevieja. Saturday - Social Dance 7.30pm - 10pm Starting 5th September - Monday - New Beginners Class - 10am - 11.30am Monday - Intermediate Class - 11.30am - 1pm Tuesday - Popular Sequence class 7.30pm - 8.30pm followed by Social Dance 8.30pm - 10.30pm [not 2nd Tuesday of month]. At Casa Ventura, San Luis, Torrevieja Starting 8th September - Thursday - Beginners class 7.30pm - 9.30pm. Got more information contact Andrea 616 478 157.

FORD FOCUS ESTATE , 2003, 1.6 Ltr petrol ,silver.Spanish LHD. CD player, air conditioning and electric windows. 4995€ www.venuscars.com 965 368 274 APRILIA SR50, 2006, 50cc Scooter, Red, one owner, pristine condition, totally original, 1495€ www.venuscars.com 965 368 274 FORD FIESTA, 2005 1.4 Ltr TDCi Diesel Spanish LHD, Mid Blue Metallic. 5 door hatchback, air conditioning, CD player and electric windows in excellent condition throughout. 5995€ www.venuscars.com 965 368 274 FIAT BRAVA,1996 1.4 Ltr SX 5 door,champagne. Spanish LHD, Electric windows, stereo. 1495€ www.venuscars. com 965 368 274 MITSUBISHI MONTERO IO, 4x4, 2002, Spanish LHD, Silver, 3 door hatch, one owner from new, only 52000 km, elec windows, cent locking, air con, cd player 5995€ www.venuscars.com 965 368 274 KIA CARENS, 2004, 2 LTR CRDI Diesel, silver, Spanish LHD, 6 seater, Full main dealer history, climate control, elec windows, roof bars, alloys, one owner. 6495€ www.venuscars.com 965 368 274

NISSAN QASHQAI 4 X 4, 2.0 CDI May 2009, Black, priced to sell. Stunning vehicle. Tel Frank 600726221/965687976 www. fwreurocars.com NISSAN QASHQAI 4 X 4 2.0 CDI, May 2009, Black, priced to sell. Stunning vehicle. Tel Frank 600726221/965687976 www. fwreurocars.com NISSAN PRIMERA 1.8, 5 DOOR 2000. Only 76,000kms, FSH, White, digital A/C, CD, Fully Equipped. Only 3,250€. Nissan Almera 2.2 diesel 4 door, 2000. 137,000kms, FSH. Alloys A/C, CD, Fully Equipped, 4 new tyres and ITV. Only 2,950€. Tel Frank 600726221/965687976 www.fwreurocars.com LOOKING FOR A CAR? we have over 70 LHD and RHD vehicles in stock for sale or exchange. Ranging from cheap runarounds from only 1,500€ uo to 30,000€. Selection of cabrios 4 x 4’s, estates, saloons, MPV’s, automatics. Just call Frank 600 726 221/965 687 976 or check out our easy to use website www.fwreurocars.com RENAULT SCENIC 1.4I 16v, RXE year 200. A/C, ABS, 6cd changer. full rxe spec. €2500 Tlf 671 063 686

WE CAN IMPORT all of your KIT CARS and also RHD Vans and Trucks. Call Marcelo; 609-600-993 WANTED Scrap cars, vans, lorries, plant and caravans. Turn your scrap into cash. From Valencia to Alicante. Free collection. Tel: 689-929-395 WANTED I buy any car, van,Caravan,4x4 Etc.British, Spanish. Immediate cash 600781-873 ibuyanycar@hotmail.com

BASS GUITARIST AVAILABLE with vocals, will travel: 691-622-804

PLEASURE HOUSE TORREVIEJA Sexy girls from South America. Come and enjoy, low rates from 40€. Address: Calle Finlandia. 682-776-068 CASA ANGELA TORREVIEJA Luxury private chalet, parking. Drinks invitation. Feeling alone? Just want some company? Exotic girls from South America. Call us, Also Escort Service. Full discretion. Come and enjoy at: Avenida Asociacion Victimas del Terrorismo. 609-573-468 or 639-832-118 BI/GAY MASSEUR OFFERS FREE

GAY, BI OR CURIOUS. H20 SAUNA.COM Safe, Discreet, Clean, Benidorm Old Town. 966 805 091. GENERIC VIAGRA safe and effective blue pill. Guaranteed happy ending. Call Ron, TT Marketing, 966499204 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 693-478-573 ELEGANT SEXY SLIM Lady escort available. Home, Hotel, Villa. Region Calpe to Torrevieja. La Manga. Mazzaron. Tel 693 357 526 GORGEOUS ENGLISH BLOND 45 years, Massage, 1 hour or over night, 15 mins Alicante airport.Tel:-Karen 662-049-021 TORREVIEJA CHINESE SUPER SEXY Young and beautiful. Calle Orihuela Nº60, 2º1 VIAGRA GENERIC weekenders and jellies. Quesada and surrounding area. Derek 685207378

POOL LEAK REPAIR SPECIALIST’S Pipe leaks pressure tested, detected and repaired. Structural leaks investigated and repaired. Professional, consciencious service to the highest standards. Refurbishments and upgrades undertaken. Replacement pumps, filters, salt systems, ph regulators and accessories supplied and installed. All work guaranteed. British trained in the UK pool industry with over 15 years experience. 8 years served on the Costa Blanca. Torrevieja and surrounding areas including Costa Calida. Tlf:- Pristine Pools on 966-774-199 or 678-080-500 www. pristineswimmingpools.com SWIMMING POOL MAINTENANCE AND CLEANING SERVICE BY POOLTECHSPAIN. We are a fully legal, qualified and registered business who have been operating on the Costa Blanca for 6 years. We offer a professional, reliable, safe and efficient pool service, inc. regrouting, pressure testing and leak repairs. Private and community swimming pools undertaken. Call now for more information on 965-725-565 or mobile 676-945-360/ 620-743-048 www.pooltechspain.com

SPAIN. LOVELY 2008 40 X 22 PARK HOME BUNGALOW STYLE. On New Residential Park. Extra large patio,gazebo ,shed. Fantastic views of village, 2 beds with ensuit .Full bathroom. Large kitchen/ dishwasher.. Furnished. Large lounge. Dining. Heating and aircon. Trains and buses village 6-8 mins walk. Beaches 12-15 mins by car or bus. More details e-mail. rincondelviento@yahoo.co.uk Sale price would be £88.000 ovno BUNGALOW IN LA SIESTA 2 beds / 2 baths, american style kitchen, lounge, english tv, fully furnished, air con / heater, solarium, close to all amenities. €57,000. Tel: 627371731 LARGE FINCA, CAMPO OF ALBATERA Ideal for kennels, cattery or horses. Main house, 4 beds, 2 bathrooms, large lounge, open fireplace, aircon, heater, english tv in all rooms & free uk phone calls. Seperate - 1 bedroom granny flat. TV, Aircon, heating (ideal for letting). large pool, shower & pool bar. Enclosed terrace. Stables for 3 horses or kennels for 8 - 10 dogs, large carport 3 cars, caravan etc, mature garden, solarium, 6,000 sq meters of execrsing land. Everyhting completely fenced. Fantastic 360 Views mountains and sea. All legal €249,900. Tel 627371731 LARGE COUNTRY HOUSE, IDEAL FOR BUSINESS Bowling green, tennis, B&B, mortgage available. Outskirts San Isidro. Main house 4 beds, 2 bathrooms, 2 lounges, country kitchen, beamed ceilings, open fire (wood burner) tv / internet, phone in all rooms, (free sat tv & free uk phone calls) office and pantry & seperate two onsuite bedrooms leading onto pretty courtyard (ideal for letting). Second seperate house large litchen and bathroom plus large main room, currently used as dance / fitness /gym beauty could easily be three bedrooms (ideal for family, 2 families or rental) enclosed mature garden, shed, 24,000 square meters all fenced. Ideal for horses, dogs, camping, wooden houses or bowling green. Very large salt water pool with shower, a decked terrace of over 80 sq meters, hot tub (hardly used) organic vegetable patch, fenced car park for twenty cars, everything totally legal. All of the above only €299,000 627371731. MOBILE/PARK HOMES on Camping Pueblo in San Javier from 15.000€ Tlf Carol 968-192-425 mob 626-055-622 www. mobilehomesmarmenorspain.com

GREAT VALUE IN JACARILLA large 3 bedroom apartment, fantastic views, 20 minutes from the beach and golf courses in the lovely Spanish village of Jacarrila. Price €325.00 per month. Please call Michael UK 00447831123631


09 - 15 Dec 2011 WINTER LET. Available until May 2012. 1 BED PART FURNISHED bungalows on Camping Pueblo in San Javier with lots of ameneties Tlf Carol 968-192-425 mobile 626-055-622 www. mobilehomesmarmenorspain.com ALTEA/ALTEA LA VELLA COUNTRY HOUSE Refurbished Apartment, First Floor. 2 bedrooms, bathroom, lounge, kitchen, diner, 40m2 terrace, private pool, parking and gardens. Sea and mountain views. F/F, Air Con/CH.475€ pcm plus Water, gas and Electric. Available 01.10.11. Tlf:966-881-048 or 691-202-307

JUST HIRE IT ONE WAY ! Van Hire To UK, Spain and France, different van and car sizes available tel: 952 541 147 / 667 235 205 MICK WITH HIS VAN Removals Collections Deliveries. For a reliable effective service. Hourly rate or quote. Call Mick anytime 600-247-535 VAN LEAVING FOR THE UK/SPAIN EVERY 2 WEEKS great rates please contact joe on 966074576 or 650341087 or civic1235@msn.com MAN & LWB SPRINTER VAN going to UK- Spain twice a month. Tel: 610-846260 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. Call Grant or Jan Office 0034-965300-959 Mobile 0034-648-102-529 UK Mob 0044-7803-893-719. Email info@ euromove4u.eu

59

to hospitals/schools/tax offices/police stations etc. Friendly and reliable, available in Benidorm and surrounding areas. Call 600 809 698

BRITISH GRADUATE TEACHER offers Primary/Secondary English Mathmatics. Telephone Margaret Johnson B.Ed. 965350-516 Mob: 616-660-687 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

SKY HD SATELLITE receiver with sports package cards, 240 euros plus monthly subs. Can deliver Tel Jeremy 667 235 205 SKYSUPPLIES New Sky HD and Humax receivers from 145€. Full package White cards, LNB`s, remotes, harddrives. Realignments, advice and backup. 966194013/600899096. SKY SUPPLIES New sky hd and humax digiboxes from 145€. White cards, LNBs, spare remotes, hard drive upgrades. Advice and backup. Tel: 966 194 013/600 899 096 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 QUALIFIED TRANSLATOR Bi-lingual Spanish-English and high level French and German. Confidential and reliable accompaniment service. Competitive rates. Torrevieja and surroundings. Virginia 629201192. INTERPRETER English interpreter provides aid and assistance for visits

CASH PAID for old vintage designer clothes and accessories. Tel: 667 270 969 TURN YOUR UNWANTED FURNITURE Electrical, Household Goods and Brica-brac into Cash. Anything! Anywhere! 965-319-220/618-165-877

Classified Services All Major Credit Cards Accepted - Prices start from 10€ a week.

Airport Parking

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09 - 15 Dec 2011

400,000 Good Reasons Noel’s world of golf By Noel Eastwell Teaching Professional Campo de Golf El Plantio 639 730 891

LAST MONTH in the United Kingdom a golfer was awarded compensation of £400,000 by a court after he lost the sight of one eye. The award was made against a fellow golfer and a golf club. The golfer had to pay £300,000 and the golf club £100,000. Luckily for both parties they had good insurance cover in place to cover such eventualities. Many golfers here in Spain take a chance when it comes to this type of thing thinking it will never happen to them. Well believe me it can. I know of a very similar case that happened here in Spain and have spoken to both golfers involved in the incident in the last few days. The total cost of the medical treatment and legal fees alone at the moment comes to just under €150,000 and the case has not yet been settled. The hospitals concerned are fighting desperately to save the sight of the eye and cure the never ending headaches of the injured golfer. Luckily the golfer who struck the golf ball was a member of Real Federacion Española de Golf and their insurers are dealing with the incident. This is just one very good reason for joining RFEG. There are many others but imagine the problem if the golfer who hit the ball was not a Federacion member. What on earth would he do? In the past golfers were able to purchase insurance cover for their visit to a golf course that would cover them for that day alone at a cost of €1.5 per day per golfer. In the price sensitive times we are living in now this is rarely charged and therefore if it came to the crunch the golfer would be left high and dry. The majority of our golf courses are surrounded by dwellings of various types and many have roads running very close by, some carrying a high density of traffic. It is not just injury that could cause you to be forced into parting with your hard earned money. What if you broke a window or hit a car? You can bet your bottom dollar that the claim against you would be blown out of all proportion, particularly if the claim came from someone who was clever at using the Spanish system. Do not take it for granted that you will be covered for any eventuality by the golf clubs insurance or indeed your own home insurance if you cause injury or damage on a golf course. Check it out; it is well worth the annual fee charged by RFEG to make sure you get the protection you need. Win a round of golf for 2 including buggy at the beautiful El Plantio Resort in Alicante Answer the question below correctly to have a chance to win. The winner of this fantastic prize 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 Round Town News will be final in making the winning selection. Question for 9th December 2011: Which Scottish golfer has won the Order of Merit most times? A. Sandy Lyle B. Colin Montgomerie C. Bernard Gallacher All answers must be received no later than 5pm on 31st December 2011 to be entered into December’s draw, which will be made on December 31st. The winner will be announced in RTN on 7th January 2012.

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

For the best deals on the Costa Blanca and Murcia call the RTN Golf Club booking hotline 96 817 5716 or email rtngolf@roundtownnews.com

The Professional Scene Qualifying School THE SECOND stage of European Tour Qualifying last week saw some very talented up and coming golfers compete at Las Colinas, El Valle and La Manga. Over 300 golfers competed for the chance to move on to Final Stage Qualifying at PGA Cataluña next week with 20 places from each venue available at Final Stage Qualifying and the chance to compete with the big names of European golf. Only the very best will accompany some experienced golfers try to gain full Tour Membership in Girona over six rounds in what many will see as the hardest days of their lives. The exciting thing about all this is the sheer depth of talent that is now to be seen even in the players who failed to make it to PGA Cataluña, there is no doubt that the future of European Tour golf is in good hands. RTN attended the qualifying events last weekend which started in England and France with over one thousand entries competing for the thirty places on offer. There are indeed some very talented young golfers competing even on the less well known tours and that was very evident. The fields at all venues showed t h e true international flavour of The European Tour with golfers coming from all over the World. Experience certainly played a big part when things got tough. On the driving ranges before the events began the difference in the quality of the shots was minimal, under pressure some of the swings were less fluent. The golfers lucky enough to win places in Girona will compete against former Ryder Cup players Oliver Wilson and Niclas Fasth and triple European Tour winner Nick Dougherty, all three lost their playing privileges last weekend when they missed the cut in Hong Kong. Unbelievably for a player touted as a star of the future Dougherty has made only one cut all season. These are just a few of the big names and former Tour winners who will undergo the grueling six round tournament where the cut comes after 4 rounds.

GOLF Tips

The Race to Dubai The top 60 players from The European Tour will compete for the biggest prize in golf this weekend when we will see the second staging of The Dubai World Championship. No doubt Luke Donald will start as favourite but with such a quality field nothing can be taken for granted. The only certainty is that Luke will become the first player ever to win the orders of merit on both sides of The Atlantic. An honour that he fully deserves for the consistent play he has shown all year.

A good rhythm is better than loads of power. Remember, it’s a golf swing not a golf hit.

Luke Donald


Sailing Association Andy Kay With Andy Kay The Final Whistle

Woeful Wednesday

I’ve often said that many people confuse entertainment for strength when it comes to the English Premier League. Yes, weekend’s in the UK are required viewing but just because the EPL has lots of great players and high energy, end to end matches, it doesn’t mean that it’s on a par with other leagues in Europe. Wednesday’s results in the Champions League would tend to back up that theory. When Manchester United were drawn against Benfica, Basel and Otelul Galati some pundits went so far as to suggest that they had virtually been given a bye in to the knockout stages. However a 2-1 defeat to the Swiss side has consigned them to the wilderness of the Europa League. There, they will be joined by neighbours City who are sweeping all before them domestically but were pipped for second spot in their group by Napoli. It’s only the third time in 17 years that United have failed to reach the last sixteen while City must have set a new record for the most expensively assembled team ever to bomb out at the group stage. Strongest league in the world – I don’t think so. Sky’s the limit for Croft BBC Sport has its fair share of critics but Sky Sports know a good thing when they see it. Sky’s new Formula One supremo Martin Turner has raided the corporation to snare five of its leading talents for the 2012 season when the satellite broadcaster will take over the majority of the live rights. Names such as Martin Brundle and Ted Kravitz are perhaps the best known but Turner’s smartest move may be the signing of David Croft. Croft has been providing listeners of 5 Live with commentary for the past six seasons and has a smattering of TV experience from his work covering the F1 practise sessions on the Red Button. His appointment as lead commentator means that Brundle will go back to his best position of pundit (I’m not sure it worked last season with him being the main chair) and their partnership is already being billed as a ‘dream team’. That remains to be seen but it’s a sensible move by Sky and while it will doubtless hit the BBC hard, it does at least lend a huge amount of credibility to their talent development skills. Selling Jelly For astonishing ingenuity, you have to take your hat off to athlete James Ellington. A 100m and 200m sprinter, injury played havoc with his career and saw him slip down the rankings and lose his sponsors. Now fit again, but without any commercial income, Ellington came up with the brilliant idea of turning to eBay to raise much needed funds. Offering himself as the item, Ellington committed to wearing a sponsor’s branded kit at every opportunity, including at training and at press events, until after the London 2012 Games, provided they paid upwards of his reserve price of £30,000. Astonishingly, earlier this week, he reached his goal in a little over 7 hours. Now that’s quick, even for a sprinter!

Mar Menor Annual Christmas Dinner Dance and Prize Presentation

09 - 15 Dec 2011

Fishing

Maggots End by

FC Torrevieja news

TORRY RETURNED to winning ways last Saturday with an heroic 1- 0 away win against league leaders Catarroja thanks to a Petu headed goal. They ended the game again with only 9 men after Corella and substitute Victor were sent for an early bath. No game at the weekend but one on Wednesday evening against strugglers Ribarroja. 8.00 pm kick-off. Be there.

David Hoare 968 199 279

For further details ring Alan Roscoe 968 570 876 or email: anglerstogether@hotmail.co.uk WELL WHAT a difference a week makes, last week sitting with stair rods coming down all through the match, and this week, virtually sunbathing by the river. The match was held on the Eden canal stretch of the Rio Segura, and it was the 7th of the Winter Championship. The river was fineing down but at the start of the match the gates were opened for a while making fishing in some areas very difficult. Even without that, the river never fished that well with only one angler breaking double figures. Top anglers on the day 1st Lenny ( Ex Cultural Attachee ) fishing the pole using pellet and maggot with 10.48 kg. 2nd Bill ( The Master ) Reade fishing the pole using bread and maggot with 4.34 kg. 3rd Dave ( The Sweetie Man ) fishing the pole using maggot with 4.06 kg. PLEASE NOTE The club at present does have some vacancies and if you are interested in joining please contact Derek Swann on 966729293 or 667407026.

THIS YEAR the Christmas Dinner Dance of SAMM was held at the Restaurante Camping Lo Monti in San Pedro. This was the opportunity for the Race Organisers of the SAMM Autumn Race Series to present three cups donate by Bankia to the winning crews. In spite of the unfortunately illness which kept John Clarke and Doreen Squires land-bound for the final race day they had a sufficient number of point to win the 1st Price Cup. The crew of the Hamoor Catamaran represented by Derek English and Mike Harding won the 2nd Prize Cup. Coming in very closely third was the Shoestring Tres boat, the Laser 2000 - their cup was collected by two of the members of Shoestring who had competed most frequently in the laser 2000, Vernon O’Byrne and John Down. During the rest of the evening 60 members and friends of SAMM enjoyed a lovely meal. They were entertained by Curtis Senors on his electronic guitar and rounded off the evening with an exciting raffle draw. The next meeting of SAMM will be in Las Claras, Calle Irene, Los Narejos, at 11am on Wednesday 14th December: you are all welcome to come and meet us. All SAMM members wish RTN readers a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. They are looking forward to another successful Race Series starting in April. If anyone would like more information about SAMM or the racing programme go to www.sailingmarmenor.com or sammracing@sailingmarmenor.com.

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ABBEY ANGLING RESULTS supplied by TERRY SCREEN The final match of the Winter League was fished on the 29th November again on the river Segura at the Eden Stretch. The water has now receded although it is still carrying a lot of colour, the high water left a lot of sediment behind in the pegs making it very muddy under foot. Fishing was hard on the day with the best weights coming from the slack water pegs behind the cottages. 1st Harold (H) Clarke with 8.560kg fishing pole and paste 2nd Bill (The Master) Reade with 8.000kg fishing pole and soft pellet 3rd Alan (The Chairman) Reid with 5.440kg pole and pellet. The winners of the Winter League best 8 from 11

match’s fished 1st S Roberts with 76.5 points 2nd T Screen with 64.5 points 3rd D Hoare with 62 points All details are available from our web site www. abbeyangling .com or from the match secretary Terry Screen on 965 328 368 ANGLERS TOGETHER We have been having a lot of enquiries about licenses from anglers who are passing the ‘magic age of 65’ and therefore pensioners! Licenses are still required and are free providing you have a Spanish Pensionista card, otherwise you will have to pay the normal fees. Licenses are available from either Town Halls, or the Caja Rural Bank if in Valencia region. In Murcia you will also require insurance. Make sure you take photocopies of all relevant documents to obtain your license. ie passport photo-page, NIE and insurance. Member’s Xmas Competition – 28 November The annual friendly Christmas match was held at Argos due to flooding at Murcia. We fished on the sunny side of the point and although there was not much sun, conditions were good with a light wind and no rain. The top weights were; David Hoare with 14.56Kilos: Alan Roscoe with 11.67K Trevor Day with 8.27K. The bags consisted of mainly Carp but a few Barbel were also caught. We all enjoyed the day especially the start with the mince pies, and everyone went home with something to celebrate their efforts. The next meetings are: Friday 9th December at 12 o’clock at Mary’s Bar, Campoverde (near Pilar de la Horadada). Saturday 10th December at 12 o’clock at The New Royal Bar and Restaurant at El Alamillo, opposite the seafront between Isla Plana and Puerto de Mazarron.



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