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south EDITION
06-12 January 2012
Hospital waiting list increases by 126%
Town hall negotiates new water rates It has been announced this week that following negotiations with water company Aguagest, significant savings will be made in the Town Hall’s budget p7
by Louise Clarke
Making travel a pleasure
THE WAITING list for surgery at the Hospital of Torrevieja has increased by 126% compared to a year ago, according to a report issued this week. The report states that the number of patients who are waiting to be operated on stands at 1,450, which is a ‘considerable increase’ on the number reported in January 2011. This situation has in turn brought delays of up to 60 days for surgery, which is well beyond the recommended maximum of 30 days that is required by the Valencian Ministry of Health.
Do you remember the days when going abroad was a pleasure? Well they can be again with Brittany Ferries. p30
Tax allowances to modernise your home in 2012 Find out more information on p27
Costa Blanca Writers Bookcase
SAVE MONEY
The three kings What is the correct bring gifts
The Three Kings
this month we find out about Jill Lanchbery and what she has written p36
pace?
Why do many of us want to complain about the time it takes to play a round of golf? p62
THE TRADITIONAL Three Kings parades, or Cabalgata de Reyes, takes place all over Spain Thursday night (5th January) as it prepares to celebrate the Epiphany on Friday (6th January), which is one of the most religious and well respected holidays in the Spanish calendar. Children all over the Spanish speaking world traditionally meet the three kings, Gaspar, Melchior and Balthazar.
The reason for these delays, according to the report, is purely economic. In October, it was announced that at least five theatres in the hospital would close during the afternoons. At the time the Torrevieja Health UTE, Ribera Health, which runs the hospital, cited economic reasons for the closures and stated that the nurses which were assigned to the surgical block during the afternoons were redeployed in other areas of the hospital, especially to the emergency room, in order to save money on temporary staff. The hospital,
which has around 250 beds, serves more than 180,000 residents from areas that include Torrevieja, Orihuela Costa, Los Montesinos, San Miguel de Salinas, San Fulgencio, Rojales, Pilar de la Horadada, Guardamar and Rojales. CULMINATION A hospital spokesman responded by saying that although there has been an increase in the waiting list at Torrevieja Hospital it is only down to a change in reporting procedures. He said that the increase of patients requiring an anaesthesiologist is the culmination of two lists which were previously unique and as a result, with the addition of both data, there are 479 more patients currently on the waiting list than previously counted and 650 patients are currently waiting for pre-operative appointments; making an annual increase of 126%. FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES It was also reported in the Spanish press this week that the majority shareholder of Ribera Health, which runs the hospital, is experiencing financial difficulties. Continued on page 3
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06 - 12 JAN 2012
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Hero’s welcome for tennis star CROWDS TURNED out to honour tennis star and Davis Cup winner David Ferrer on his return to his home town of Javea.
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Waving goodbye over the Davis Cup
by Jack Troughton More than a thousand people packed into the square outside the town hall to cheer the 29-year-old ranked at number five in the world who helped Spain beat Argentina to win the coveted trophy for the fifth time. The sportsman wielded the racket he used to beat an epic Davis Cup match against Juan Martin Del Potro to hit signed tennis balls into the crowd – before presenting it to the town where he was born. He also said he was proud of his roots in the Costa Blanca resort and thanked the people of Javea for their continued support.
TRIUMPH Announcing the racket would remain in Javea, he said: “Each and every one of my triumphs belongs to Javea – if anyone deserves to keep this racket, it is you”. The player’s replica of the Davis Cup was also put on display within the town hall as a tribute to the elite international who has become the town’s most celebrated sporting son. Earlier Mayor Joseph Chulvi and members of the town council and other dignitaries welcomed the Davis Cup champion to the town hall, where he signed the council’s book of honour. He then emerged onto a specially constructed stage to greet his fans and sign autographs.
Price rises FREE CALENDARS are a thing of the past in a Marina Alta town struggling to pay off debts – instead a modest 1€ charge will be imposed. Calpe Town Hall printed 4,000 tourist calendars but for the first time aims to claw back some of the 7,000€ cost through the “symbolic” cover price. However, the local authority believes visitors to the resort will still snap up a souvenir of the town containing popular landscape views of the area. Edita : Round Town News Group SL Servicios De Impresion S.A.Vall de Biar 14, 03530 La Nucia, Alicante. Distribution: iDs Logística. info@idss.es, Alcoycourrier.SL.
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21 06---27 12OCT JAN2011 2012 18 24 NOV 2011 Continued from front page
Great Weekly Day Trips during January 2012 Benidorm 3 day bargain
Torrevieja Hospital
Group Health Bank (which is made up of Bankia-formally Bancaja, Caja Madrid and the now defunct CAM) is in the process of selling its shares in the Torrevieja Hospital UTE. The Ribera Health group is responsible for 25 hospitals, clinics and care homes across Spain and employs more than 6,000 employees.
Orihuela’s ‘Son’ announced ORIHUELA’S MAYOR from 1970 to 1979, Pedro Cartagena Bueno, has been named as Orihuela’s ‘Hijo Predilecto’ for 2012. The prestigious honour was bestowed upon the former politician after the city’s full government team unanimously agreed to his nomination at last week’s ordinary ‘pleno’ meeting. Pedro Mancebo, Councillor for Communication, made the decision public earlier this week and said that many Orihuela residents and representatives of associations had called for this title to be given to the former Mayor. Mancebo said that the decision was justified and well deserved because Pedro Cartagena “…had been a good Mayor for Orihuela, who cared about everyone and who had a great vision for the future of the municipality.” Pedro Cartagena was a councillor for three years before becoming Mayor in 1970 after the first ever municipal elections to be held in Spain. He will be officially inaugurated as a ‘Son of Orihuela’ at a formal ceremony later this month.
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06 - 1218JAN - 242012 NOV 2011
Pet Passport news by Jan Gamm FROM THIS month new and welcome regulations apply to Pet Passports, eliminating the need to wait six months for a Rabies blood test certificate before pets can enter the UK without quarantine. The new compliance uses the EU combination vaccine and provides a collar tag that indicates your pet has been vaccinated. The animal is micro-chipped before being vaccinated against Rabies in accordance with the vaccine manufacturers’ data. (Prior to travel, check that the microchip is still working). Your pet is eligible to travel from 21 days of vaccination. The requirement for tapeworm treatment is still under discussion with the European Commission and yet to be confirmed. However, the expected requirement is that dogs (only) must be treated against tapeworms (Echinococcus multilocularis) no less than 24hrs and no more than 120hrs before expected arrival in UK, the details of which must be recorded in Section VII of the 3rd country certificate.
For further information on how to prepare your pet for export to the UK under the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS), including listed countries, documentary requirements and approved routes and carriers, please visit http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/travel/pets/ pet-owners/ Pet owners are advised to check all proposed travel arrangements with their carrier before booking, as they may have their own additional conditions of travel that could include a health declaration for your pet. Pets travelling to the UK by air will travel as ‘manifest cargo’, unless they are a registered assistance dog entering with an approved airline, on a route that permits them to travel in the cabin. Certain carriers such as Eurostar are only approved to carry guide/hearing dogs only. Full details can be found on the below link - http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/ travel/pets/assistance-dogs/ These new changes come into effect on 1st January 2012; therefore be aware that it may take some time for carriers and travel companies to update their information.
Judge fined and cautioned
A JUDGE in Murcia has been fined 3,000€ for bullying his staff and using offensive language when speaking of members of the public. Antonio Martín Ferradal of the Civil Registry in Murcia has been disciplined by the General Council for Judicial Power for a serious abuse of authority and mistreatment of civil servants. He is reported to have referred to single mothers as ‘whores’, gay men applying for same sex marriage as ‘maricones’ and foreigners applying for Spanish nationality as ‘riff raff’. Disciplinary action was taken in response to complaints lodged against the judge by civil servants working at the Registry. There have also been past instances when the judge refused to register new born children with names he did not consider ‘appropriate’.
Fine weather for the Kings THE METEOROLOGICAL Agency (AEMET) has predicted a dry spell with little cloud and no rain for the Kings celebrations this week, except in the North where slight rainfall is expected. The snow in the Pyrenees will be between 1,400 meters and 1,700 in case the Kings fancy a spot of skiing. Night temperatures will be ‘moderate’ and winds will range from weak to moderate north or northwest in the coastal peninsular, the Balearic Islands and eastern Canary Islands.
Christmas on the beach The Just Brass band entertained the crowds
by Louise Clarke LA ZENIA beach in Orihuela Costa was packed to the brim on Christmas Day for what has become an annual ritual for British expats spending the festive season here in Spain. The event, which started spontaneously with just a dozen or so residents over a decade ago, has gathered momentum over the years and this
Christmas more than a thousand Orihuela Costa residents of all nationalities spent Christmas morning on the beach with family and friends and a bottle of cava or two! By 10am, the beach was full of people with Santa hats on and barbeques were being lit in preparation for the turkey to be cooked. The event culminated at midday with a bi-lingual carol service, accompanied by the
brass band, Just Brass, which has been involved with this Christmas ritual for several years and for the first time this year, the Almeda del Mar Choir. The event was fully supported by the Orihuela Town Hall, in particular the Councillor for the Coast, Bob Houliston, who was in attendance alongside his coastal Town Hall colleagues, Denise Wesserling and Antonio Cerdan.
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The Russians are coming Manuel Ferry Sanchez and Victor Motchalov after the signing of the agreement
by Louise Clarke EL PLANTIO Golf Club has been chosen to host the winter training of the Russian Golf Association. The cream of Russian golf will arrive in Alicante on 8th January and stay for between three and six months. RTN was given this exclusive story after the President of the Russian Olympic Committee in Moscow, Victor Motchalov and the President of El Plantio Golf Club, Manuel Ferry Sanchez, signed a document in Moscow on 19th December, which further expands the agreement signed between the two organisations in 2011. PROUD The Russian Golf Association recognised the excellent quality of the school facilities and the course itself at El Plantio and selected it after saying that in their opinion, the club is amongst the best available for their official winter headquarters.
RTN Golf Guru and professional golf coach, Noel Eastwell, will be involved in the training of all the attending golfers and is excited at the prospect of working with the top golfers that Russia has to offer. Noel told RTN: “This agreement shows the tremendous foresight of Manual Ferry Sanchez in recognising an emerging market for the Costa Blanca and the fantastic training facilities that we have at El Plantio. I am very proud to be a part of this exciting development.” ANNUAL TOURNAMENT The agreement between El Plantio and the Russian Golf Federation will include: preferred partnership relations between the two parties; institutional cooperation in the training of golf and golf teachers; cooperation in other sports; technical cooperation to advance sports of all types; advice related to campaigns to popularise the sport of golf in Russia and the cooperation and implementation of ‘Pay &
Play’ golf facilities in both countries. The agreement also lays the groundwork for El Plantio to receive groups of amateur junior golfers from the High Performance Golf School of Russia who will receive training from some of the best golf teachers in Spain. The first groups will start their training immediately after their arrival and with the ambition of all at El Plantio to provide them with the best chance of making a career in golf, they will become exceptional golfers. The document will also mean extra cooperation and development of golf in Russia and better tourism relationships with the Costa Blanca. Future plans include an annual tournament which will be played on a golf course in Moscow and at El Plantio and will see the best of the young golfers from El Plantio compete against their counterparts from Russia; something that should be a tremendous experience for young golfers from our area and help their development considerably.
A smokeless year A YEAR has passed since the introduction of Spain’s ‘no smoking’ laws in January 2011 and the results of the new regime, according to the Spanish Health Ministry, are favourable, with 600,000 fewer smokers and a significant decrease in hospital admissions for ischemic heart disease and heart attack and a 90% reduction of nicotine contamination that has the potential to cause disease. It is estimated that Spain could have between 5,400 and 7,000 fewer hospital admissions for heart disease as a direct result of the smoking ban. The cliques of smokers in the doors of bars and restaurants and workplaces have become commonplace. However, the proliferation of little tables on covered terraces or on the pavements has created a new source of noise in cities, with the annoyance considerably worse in the summer months.
Fewer smokers and a healthier Spain
Pitbulls killed in Alcoy ALCOY LOCAL Police shot and killed two Pitbulls after they attacked and killed another dog on 31st January in Penáguila, near Alcoy. Further investigations are in hand to ascertain the origin and ownership of the animals that could not be captured due to their aggressive and violent behaviour. Members of an Animal Protection society and also a veterinarian tried to restrain the dogs without success before the police were called in to shoot them.
Town hall negotiates new water rates by Louise Clarke
ORIHUELA COUNCILLOR, Pedro Mancebo, has announced this week that following negotiations with the four party government team and water company Aguagest, significant savings will be made in the Town Hall’s budget. As well as the approval of invoices from the previous administration, Mancebo has announced the approval of an update to water supply and sewerage rates with Aguagest. He told members of the press that the update is intended to create a new concept which will be the renovation, maintenance and replacement of sewerage infrastructure; all of which will be funded by a grant scheme established by the firm itself. Mancebo said that as a result of these negotiations, such projects will no longer be charged to the municipal budget. BONUSES Furthermore, the Town Hall and Aguagest
have agreed the creation of three new water rates; a flat rate for retirees and long-term unemployed, a general rate and one for larger families. Mancebo told RTN: “The bonuses as a result of these new rates will reach 50% of municipal residents and at most, will only mean an increase of two euros per household on average, although this amount will vary depending on the type of bill.” As a result of these new rates, a fund for replacement, renovation and maintenance of sanitation facilities will be created for the municipality and therefore the funding for such will no longer be borne by the City Council. It is expected that this fund, which will provide €1 million over the next year; the majority of which will be allocated to sanitation facilities in Orihuela Costa, will also mean that the IVA on future bills will be exempt; resulting in an immediate 50,000€ saving for the Town Hall.
STOP PRESS FOLLOWING THE unprecedented demand for tickets for the David Bisbal concert, it was announced on Wednesday that another concert date will be put on. The date has been confirmed as the 24th February and will take place at the new International Music Auditorium in Torrevieja. Tickets for the concert, which starts at 10.30pm, will cost either €30 or €40 depending on where you are seated. Tickets are available from selected outlets.
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Councillor for Finance, Juan Ignacio Lopez Bas Valero and Councillor for Communication and Tourism, Pedro Mancebo
Calling all retirees THE TORREVIEJA Retired Activities Club (TRAC) is holding its January meeting at the International Marina Club bar in Torrevieja on 18th January at 11.00am. The club meets on the 3rd Wednesday of every month and is an ideal way of meeting new friends. They have speakers at their meetings, have social activities [walks, petanca, ten pin bowling, charity visits, etc] and they also have a lunch out which is always good value and choose a variety of restaurants to suit all. We invite everyone along to any of our meetings. This month Graham Knight has been invited to give a talk on the Salt Museum in Torrevieja and afterwards the club members will go to the museum to see all the exhibits and be given a guided tour. For more information on the club, please call Neil on 965 008 087.
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Airport bus service cut back by Louise Clarke THE NEW Year has brought bus timetable changes for the service between Torrevieja and Alicante airport. Since its launch in May last year, the service has been hourly back and forth, but as a result of the low season and the lack of people using the service, it has been decided that from this week, the service to and from the airport will now be bi-hourly. The service will leave the Bus Station in Torrevieja on the hours of 9, 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19, while from the airport to Torrevieja the service will depart at 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20. The first and last hour services have been removed completely. A spokesman for the bus company told RTN: “Despite the call for this service, it is being under-utilised. Sometimes buses with a capacity for 50 passengers will not even carry five passengers and therefore it isn’t cost effective for us. What is ironic is that the price for the service is a fraction of what a taxi would cost from
Torrevieja to the airport, so we cannot understand why people are not using it.” DEMAND One of the main obstacles for the service, the annual cost of which is 600,000€, is that although this is a direct link to the airport, it doesn’t go along the faster AP7 and instead goes along the N332. Also, despite calls for stops in Orihuela Costa, Quesada and Pilar de la Horadada, where there is demand for this service all year round, the bus company seems reluctant to ask for permission to increase the service inland and along the coast. As a result, tourists and residents are forced to rely on friends and family or use taxis at a cost of up to €50 each way to get to and from the airport instead of paying the €6.79 bus fare for the same journey. The service is currently up for tender so it remains to be seen whether or not it will continue. The message certainly seems to be that if you want it, use it!
Baby drowns in bath
A GIRL of nine months drowned in the bath of her home in Totana on Monday evening. The Emergency Services were called at 9.40pm by the child’s panic stricken mother who told them that her daughter was drowning. A SAMU ambulance was despatched immediately and within four minutes arrived at the child’s home located in the Town Square. After a desperate battle to resuscitate the little girl, she was transferred from Totana to Lorca by ambulance. Sadly on arrival at the hospital, the doctors could do nothing to save the child and she died. On hearing the news of her daughter’s death, the mother, an Ecuadorian national, suffered an anxiety attack and was treated by hospital staff for shock. Although early indications suggest that the girl died from drowning, her body was taken to the Institute of Legal Medicine in Murcia, where an autopsy was performed to determine the exact cause of death. The girl’s family are now being supported by friends and neighbours.
El Perpetu Socorro (EPS) celebrates its 60th year
You can save up to 30%
by Patricia Thompson TO COMMEMORATE this proud family business and its enduring commitment to servicing the public in the Alicante Province with high quality medical care, EPS has launched a series of changes. A new Sales and Commercial Director, Pedro Alvado, brings new energy to the company and is committed to moving it forward into the new era. There is a new look and feel to the company’s logo. The new branding is more stylish, modern and eye catching. The vibrant colour scheme now includes a pleasant plum, tangerine and white design. Along with the changes comes an attractive discount of up to 30% in savings, depending on age and family size, until the end of January 2012. What has not changed is their 24 hour hel-
pline in English so that you can feel secure to phone day or night with your emergencies and questions. EPS continues to bring you preventative medical check such as mammograms, bone density scans and ECGs and pre-prostate checks for the men. As you know, the Social Security system in Spain is under extreme financial pressure and the hospitals are under the crunch. There has been a cut in the number of consultants and doctors, which means longer waiting times for appointments, scans, tests, surgery and beds. It is becoming ever so clear that a secure solution to your medical requirements needs to be covered by a high quality private medical company. Your health is too important to submit to this crisis. “Rest assured that when you need assistance, you can count on us.�
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Spain a jungle of cannabis
Spain now a cannabis jungle
by Jan Gamm SPAIN IS no longer just the main gateway to Europe for Moroccan hashish. In the past two years it has become a major marijuana-growing area of the EU with plantations flourishing in Andalusia, Murcia, Catalonia, Aragon and especially in Valencia which the Guardia Civil describes as ‘a jungle of cannabis’. “There are plantations in almost all municipalities in Alicante and many in Valencia due to the topography and climate,” said a spokesman. Small amateur greenhouses in apartments and on the terraces of townhouses pale into significance compared with more sophisticated industrial operations hidden from prying eyes. And marketing is made easy by mafias largely controlled from Holland. Recent operations uncovered 47 plants in Alcoy; 330 in a flat in Alicante; 600 in a villa in Elche; 104 in Torrent; 172 in Granja de Rocamora; 676 in Valencia, with small plantations in Montserrat; Montroi; Corbera; Alfafar ... At one location there were 21 trays each containing 19 kilos filled with buds, grown on common ground in a development of Castellón.
AK-47 SEED The seed most widely used is Ak-47, costing around 800€ per half dozen - easy to grow, with good results in few weeks, an intense smell and a rate of THC (the main psychoactive substance) of up to 15%. A plant can yield half a kilo - and a kilo can generate a profit of 1,200€! The average crop takes three to four months to produce. Some hydroponic operations are technical works of art, with the seeds planted in sand bases constantly irrigated on a drip water system. Other features include oxygen saturation; nutrients cultured by ozone pumps; moisture controlled in drying areas; insulating walls and halogen lights operating 24/7. And in San Vicente de Raspeig, one owner of a crop of 1,800 plants paid 9,000€ per month for lighting for 86 bulbs at full capacity! “Shops that sell marijuana seeds lie and tell their customers to have two plants for personal use and that nothing will happen,” explained an agent of the Civil Guard. “But cultivation is a crime against public health, whether it is one plant or 500. One couple is about to go to trial for cultivating four plants.”
Green light for IKEA
SCANDINAVIAN FURNISHING giant IKEA has won the go ahead to build a new outlet and shopping mall on land at Alicante’s Rebasa. After almost a year of heated debate – including a string of vetoes and objections – the international company has been given approval for its redrawn plans by the Ministry of the Environment, through the water authority CHJ. The CHJ has decided there is an available water to sustain the development – without affecting much needed supplies to the Marina Baja and planned ‘social housing’.
Job creation on the coast Winner announ!c!ed next week!!
By Louise Clarke LA ZENIA Boulevard, the new commercial centre in Orihuela Costa, will open later this year and in December, a Marketing Director was appointed to promote the new centre which will house, amongst others, Europe’s biggest Primark, Leroy Merlin and Decathlon. It is hoped that the centre will officially open before the summer, possibly in June, however it has actually been scheduled to open in September. A recruitment drive will take place shortly for bilingual staff at the centre and more than 2000 jobs will be created as a result of this new centre. Spanish lessons are available for free at many Town Halls in the area, so if you would like to be considered for one of these jobs, get your name down on a Spanish language course. If you are lucky enough to be bilingual already, the Town Hall in Playa Flamenca is collating CVs for the centre’s Directors, so if you would like to be considered for a position during the recruitment drive, please hand yours in at the International Residents Office.
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Alan Gilchrist The Costa Blanca’s Top Hypnotherapist
New Year New You! New Clinic in Los Alcazares! The Fast Track Hypnosis way! At the start of each New Year millions of people take the opportunity to try for a better lifestyle and one of the most popular ways is by making New Year’s Resolutions, with the main two resolutions being either ‘stopping smoking’ or ‘losing weight’ or both! Millions of people start off with the best of intentions wanting to change something in their life, but usually they fail miserably after a few weeks with the expression “I just didn’t have the willpower to do it and keep going.” This is where Fast Track Hypnosis and Laser Therapy can really make a difference by helping a person stick to their resolution. This is done by reinforcing their own will and determination to stop smoking or lose weight, and by maximizing the potentials of the mind to work for them to reach their personal goal. Fast Track Hypnosis and Laser Therapy offers two highly effective tried and tested methods when used on their own, each with their own very high success rate. However, by using the unique combination of Fast Track Hypnosis and Laser Therapy in a totally unique combination of the two together, then the already high success rate is improved even more!
and over the years I have helped many thousands of people to do so. However, by using this unique method of Fast Track Hypnosis & Laser Therapy the success rate of quitting smoking is increased even more! The FastTrack stop smoking was successfully put to the test on 2 consumer programmes and on one was put up against two other methods to quit smoking with the result that my Fast Track Hypnosis system was the only one to be successful.
STOPPING SMOKING
PEOPLE WHO OVEREAT BECAUSE OF EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS
Most people know that if they stop smoking they will save thousands of pounds or euros over their lifetime as well as adding years to their life. So, why do people continue to smoke even after all the warnings from their doctors and advertising campaigns? Cigarette smoking is a habit and there may be specific occasions with which people associate smoking. Some wake up in the morning and the first thing they do is reach for a cigarette. The truth is cigarettes are a false friend that can eventually kill them!ç Millions of people throughout the world have successfully stopped smoking using standard Hypnosis,
WEIGHT CONTROL There are various reasons why a person can be overweight. Some people overeat because of early programming by parents. How many times were you told: “…eat it all up and you will grow up to be a big, healthy adult,” or: “Think of all the starving children in the world and you are leaving that on your plate…” PEOPLE WHO ARE OVERWEIGHT THROUGH COMFORT EATING This is again by programming from early years: “Don’t cry - here is a piece of chocolate - when you eat it you will feel better.”
In the case of these people their overeating habits go deeper than the previous ones. Therefore the actual problem would have to be addressed and corrected. “Hi Alan, I am pleased to inform you that, although I didn’t believe in it at first, I lost 2 stone (12.7 kilos) within the first two months following your hypnotic session in Albir on weight loss. THE GASTRO BAND WEIGHT CONTROL Over the 25 years I have been in practice I have seen various trends in hypnosis whenever a new idea has
come into the public eye. The latest one now is the Gastric Band using Hypnosis. Basically the person is placed under Hypnosis and a visualisation technique is used to “convince” the subconscious mind that the person has had a gastric band operation. The theory behind it is that it ‘tricks’ the mind into believing the body doesn’t need as much food to feel full up - consequently they would lose weight by changing their eating patterns. Because of the recent media hype about the Gastric band I was inundated with people pleading with me to make available a Fast Track version of this as well, as they felt that they would like to try it, but without the huge expense that could go with the multiple sessions and that’s exactly what I had done in early 2010. So instead of going for a series of the Fast Track Hypnosis Gastroband is completed on one session. Although it is one session it comes with all the extras put into the session as well i.e. Fast Track Hypnosis + Laser Therapy + gastric band visualisation + professionally produced support CD + plus Guarantee. This is an alternative to the hugely successful Fast track Hypnosis and Laser Therapy weight control session. So the Client can choose whichever one they would like to do. NEW CLINIC - LOS ALCAZARES! It is with great pleasure that I announce that due to public demand I am opening a further Fast Track Hypnosis Clinic in Los Alcazares. It is held at the Ascension Beauty and Holistic Therapy Centre. During 2012 there will be further clinics opening throughout the Costa Blanca, Costa Calida and in other parts of Spain as well. Happy New Year!
Alan holds his Fast Track Hypnosis sessions in Cabo Roig, Guardarmar, and Benidorm and NEW in Los Alcazares. Alan is also the creator of the ‘Stop Smoking in under 30 minutes Fast Track System’. 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.hypnosiscostablanca.com
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Watch out REGARDING PICKPOCKETS, please remind your readers to keep a weather eye out – don’t carry a lot of money, always carry your handbag over your shoulder and in front of you (men to carry their wallets inside their coats - even better if they have a shirt pocket, never in back pockets). Our party of 7 has been on holiday to Benidorm four times in the last 14 months and each time one of our party has been ‘dipped’. We are considering only going once in 2012 and only for one week. These people can and do ruin holidays and are giving Benidorm a bad reputation. Please spare some space in your paper to warn people as I know it is read by a wide range of people for news and updates. We love Benidorm and have been coming there for over 25 years: such a shame that this is happening and spoiling Benidorm’s great reputation as a place to go to for a fantastic Holiday. Regards, Stuart Longson
talk tous
Email letters to rtnmail@roundtownnews.com with your full name and address
Email: rtnmail@roundtownnews.com
letter of the week
Being more positive IT’S THE New Year and my new year’s resolution is to be more positive instead of complaining. Let me think, what is there to be positive about? Let’s see, the weather is fabulous and RTN has some very good articles in it like Jane Cronin’s Spanish lesson, and the letters page cartoon is really amazing. See, I am being positive… Now what else is there to be positive about? Oh yes, the Spanish socialist government got the boot in 2011 so that is positive. Too bad the loony lefties left Spain in such a negative way. It must be hard for PM Mariano Rajoy to be positive. I bet he was suffering from a severe headache January 1st and it wasn’t because of New Year’s Eve, but rather he must have a massive headache trying to figure out how to fix Spain! I am sure he will need plenty of headache pills this New Year… Likely he will need twelve months’ supply from the Chemist to keep him going through all of 2012…! Anyway, enough of all this positive talk, it is making me feel depressed... Happy New Year everyone! Clarence Tracey
The service cannot be bettered REGARDING ALICANTE Airport Assistance, I have needed to use this service twice this year and cannot praise Alicante airport highly enough. Their service cannot be bettered - all the assistants are so friendly and helpful and really make the experience a pleasure. Airports in the UK could certainly take a lesson from here. Thank you and congratulations. Barabara Harris, Orihuela Costa
Out of Touch What waffle and excuses I WOKE this morning to hear of the New Years’ Honest List. David Cameron clearly is doing his best to rename it ‘New Years’ Dishonest List’. Tory donors and chancers benefit from their crimes (Ronson) and the morally corrupt (Ruddock) all hailed by the Conservative Party machine shows what little regard they have for ordinary hard working people in the UK. How does this fit in with Cameron’s vision of the ‘Big Society’ and ‘working for the ordinary man and restoring family values?’ More claptrap from an already discredited PM! Karl Ruitner-Owen, Rojales, Alicante
I, LIKE many others no doubt, read in disbelief the letter in your issue 636, ‘What a Relief’ from Mr Turner. What arrogance from someone I suspect has benefited from the NHS and other services and benefits won for all by successive Labour Governments - or does his high-brow approach and pompous opinion not allow him to take advantage of such ‘socialist’ achievements? As for Margaret Thatcher and her policies of creating
‘super rich elitism’ - it only served to lay the ground work for the current economic plight we find ourselves in and her legacy by virtue of the Camer/Clegg ‘marriage’ will only serve to stifle and frustrate the next two generations - I hope Mr Turner has made provision for any children or grandchildren he may have. Little wonder he withheld his address. Henry ‘Harry’ Callaghan, Quesada
That’s China for you! I HAVE no wish to submit weekly to RTN but…!!!! Mr K Bethell should take note that a guy died in police custody for protesting over families being forced from their homes to make way for get-rich construction firms. That’s China for you. Brutality is rife for anyone who fails to agree with government. I for one would not dare carry a Bible in China, I am not that daft. Christianity is as welcome in China as a MONK from Tibet. The horror stories still flood out of China and Tibet. And please do not take your dog there, they may eat it. Lloyd Lupin
06 - 12 JAN 2012
Duke of Palma indicted by Jan Gamm
THE KING’S son-in-law, the Duke of Palma, Inaki Urdangarin, along with the Duke’s associate at the Noos Institute, Diego Torres, are accused of pocketing a total of €5.6 million of public money according to a report brought before the court by the anti-corruption prosecutor investigating charges of misappropriation of funds. There is also an allegation that the Duke and his wife the Infanta Cristina bought a €1.5 million home partly funded by misappropriated cash. The report claims that between 2004 and 2007 the Duke and Torres claimed €2,794,440, filtered through the companies Virtual Strategies, Shiriaimasu and Intuit Strategy Innova. The Duke is due to testify on 6th February. Mario Pascual Vives, Urdangarin’s attorney, told reporters last Thursday that his client is “…absolutely innocent.” The court’s announcement came a day after Spain’s royal family publicly revealed its finances for the first time in an effort to boost public confidence and transparency. The Duke
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Ryanair disappointed in court THE ALICANTE Provincial Court last week dismissed Ryanair’s appeal to continue boarding passengers from the ground at Alicante El Altet without using covered air bridges. Ryanair claimed that the compulsory use of the walkways infringed its right to free enterprise and compromised its business model of ‘no frills air travel’ as a low cost carrier. The court found that Ryanair’s claims were “devoid of sufficient merit” and pointed out that the airline uses air bridges in other airport locations.
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Arson attack ruins Christmas by Louise Clarke AN ORIHUELA Costa man’s Christmas started in the worst possible way after his beloved car was torched in what appears to be a random arson attack. James Willis’ car was outside his home on 23rd December when it was firebombed. James is now calling for witnesses to the incident to come forward in the hope that the culprits will be apprehended. He told RTN: “It was around 10.30pm on the 23rd and I was at home. I heard a loud bang, looked out of my window and there was my car completely on fire.” SIMILAR ATTACKS The convertible Alfa Romeo Spider was engulfed in flames and there was nothing that 47year-old James could do to save it. He added: “Two people, a man and a woman, were seen running away shortly before the fire: police have their description and they are currently looking for them.” He concluded: “Apparently two other cars in the area have also been targeted and burnt out in similar circumstances.” If you have any information and can help James in any way, please contact him on 661 938 806 or contact the Orihuela Costa Local Police.
The car after the arson attack
Thanks for a great Christmas by Louise Clarke SAN FULGENCIO Councillor, Jeff Wiszniewski, has contacted RTN this week in order to express his gratitude to La Marina residents for making Christmas on the urbanisation so memorable. He told RTN: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those wonderful people who helped make this a memorable Christmas for so many.” He explained that the Town Hall’s idea was to bring to the residents of La Marina a traditional and a Spanish style Christmas and New Year and Jeff believes that, thanks to the cooperation of its residents, it succeeded. From large Christmas tree ‘memorial’ baubles, which were sold in aid of the Debra and Emaus charities, to the donations of food for those families in the municipality who desperately needed it, as well as enjoying a great festive season, everyone on the urbanisation was very generous. More than 400 baubles sold for €1 each, meaning that the charities benefited by more than €200 and by Christmas Eve there was sufficient donated food to make up substantial food packages for more than 30 families, covering more than 90 people in total. SUCCESS With the help of the San Fulgencio Town Hall, a fabulous festive pro-
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Citizen advice centre By Louise Clarke THE SAN Miguel de Salinas Town Hall will be opening a Citizen Advice Centre on Wednesday 25th January for foreign residents of the municipality, visitors and holiday makers. The centre will be open between 10am and 1pm every Wednesday and will be located on the first floor of the Town Hall. The centre will be manned by members of the San Miguel de Salinas Presidents Liaison Group and although initially it will be manned by English speaking members of the community, it is hoped that a German speaker will also be available if necessary. POSITIVE STEP This new initiative comes as a result of a closer and more positive working relationship between the San Miguel government team and the President Liaison Group, which represents many of the urbanisations within the municipality. The centre will provide advice on all aspects of living in the community of San Miguel, including registering on the all important ‘padron’, registering to vote, residencias, accessing healthcare and using council services. It will also be the place to go to report damage and ask for repairs within urbanisations of the municipality as well as accessing community help, making complaints and getting help in issuing denuncias.
Jeff and his wife Jean enjoying the party
gramme of events was implemented which included a carol concert, Father Christmas and a New Year’s Eve party that was enjoyed by more than 300 people. Jeff told RTN: “It was such a warm and friendly atmosphere and it made the whole effort of putting these events together so worthwhile.” He continued: “As our first Christmas on the Council, we considered it to be a success but please be assured that we promise that next year we will try to make it even
better. I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the work of all employed by the Concejalia de Urbanizaciones, the people who donated gifts of food, the people who bought the baubles and all that helped to promote these festive events.” He concluded: “I would also like to wish everyone a happy and prosperous New Year from the offices of the Concejalia de Urbanizaciones and the Ayuntamiento of San Fulgencio.”
Water supply works begin in earnest
AS SAN Miguel de Salinas residents were enjoying the Christmas and New Year holidays, as promised, work started on the potable water connection transfer in the municipality. The contract to install pipe work to provide potable water to Las Filipinas has been awarded to Alpi Constructions SA, will cost 364,719€ to complete and will last about five months. These works will coincide with the works that will begin later this month to renew the entire network of water supply to the affected urbanisations and communities in Las Filipinas.
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Get fit 4 all of 2012! by Louise Clarke YOU CAN’T fail to notice that I am rather curvaceous (and that is an understatement!) I am ashamed to say that during my five years of living in Spain, I have put a considerable amount of weight on (thanks to the wine, bread and garlic lard, or alioli!) and like many; my New Year’s resolution is to lose some, if not all, of that weight that I have put on. Last week, I visited Fit 4 All in Punta Prima, near Torrevieja and I hope to join their gym next week. The reason I am leaving it until next Friday is because it is their birthday and they will be having some fantastic offers for new joiners. The first offer, and the one which I will definitely be signing up for, is a fantastic eight week detox and exercise programme, which starts on Monday 16th January. For eight weeks and for just €100, you will have your own qualified personal trainer to guide you around their extensive gym every time you go, you can join in with any of the classes that they have on a daily basis and get full nutritional help and advice from a qualified dietician.
On Friday 13th January, and for that day only, Fit 4 All will also be offering all new joiners double the time that they pay for. So if, for example, you sign up for six months, they will give you the next six months for free and if you sign up for a year, you will actually get two years at the gym. Now, who can argue with that? Fit 4 All is much more than a gym though, it has a full extensive range of classes, including Zumba, which I intend trying because everyone says that it is a great way to lose inches and improve weight loss. There is also a beautiful spa area, hairdressers and beauticians as well as a fabulous café bar which serves delicious healthy snacks and meals. So, if you want to take advantage of these brilliant offers and sign up with me for the eight week ‘Get Fit’ course, call into Fit 4 All next Friday, 13th January. For more information call 966 44 81 70 or email: info@fit4all-torrevieja.com. I will keep you posted on my progress during the next eight weeks and watch out La Zenia beach because this summer, I will be in bikini! (although I doubt I will get a bum like that!)
Card sharps TWELTH NIGHT and the traditional time to take down Christmas decorations fast approaches so a charity is appealing for people to play their cards right! Jalon Valley HELP is pleased to accept ‘used’ and unwanted Christmas cards for recycling and will put them to good use – creating new cards to sell in the Jalon and Alcalali charity shops for 1€. Cards can be dropped off at ei-
ther shop during opening hours – 10am until 1pm Monday to Friday in Jalon, and 10am until 1pm Monday to Saturday in Alcalali.
Socialists condemned after Facebook row By Louise Clarke THE PARTIDO Popular spokesperson for Torrevieja, Joaquín Albaladejo, has condemned the opposition PSOE party after comments were posted on their Facebook page saying that the PP “…was full of s***!” and “…that includes the Town Hall in Torrevieja.” A video entitled title ‘A la mierda’ was also posted. The PP Spokesman called for the immediate resignation of PSOE’s leader in
Torrevieja, Ángel Sáez Martínez, and suggested that the provincial, regional and national PSOE party take “…appropriate, corrective measures to rectify this serious offence, which has been dealt upon a Torrevieja municipal institution.” The PP Spokesman described the act of allowing a video that insults a public institution which has been democratically elected by the Torrevieja people on a public forum such as Facebook as “outrageous”. He also said that the situation was
made even worse by the fact that one of PSOE’s councillors in the Town Hall, Javier Manzanares, had ‘liked’ the comment and video. Albaladejo concluded that the PSOE leader is fuelled by resentment and that this situation has shown the ignorance that he has towards the people of Torrevieja. He concluded: “This kind of excessive and disproportionate comment demonstrates the debacle that is the PSOE party of Torrevieja.”
Spanish lessons by
Jane Cronin
A weekly ‘cut out and keep’ feature helping you to learn basic Spanish for everyday needs
The Letter AS WE continue our journey through the Spanish alphabet we are now arriving at our fourth vowel - the letter O. The O sound is made with the lips nicely rounded and protruding and the mouth as open and hollow as possible. This is quite distinct from the English O many of us say. Actually we have two ways of dealing with O in English. For example, if you have a standard or southern English accent, listen to yourself saying the English O sound slowly and clearly, for example in the word “judo”. The more you slow it down, the more you will hear your voice moving through a range of sounds to make up the one O. The activity is accompanied by a changing of the shape of the mouth as we move through the sound. This is a very English way of dealing with vowel sounds and one of the reasons why our pronunciation is so difficult for other nationalities to imitate exactly. This English O is described by linguists as a “diphthong” which means a double sound. In contrast the Spanish vowels only consist of a single sound. Diphthongs also exist in Spanish but have to be written with two letters. Our other O is uttered at the back of the throat and is short and clipped, as in “hot”. The Spanish O is not exactly like this either. It is in fact closer to the way we say “au” in the word “automatic”, than to our usual O sound. Also, if you have a Scottish, Welsh or northern English accent your O is much closer to the Spanish O. I am generalizing somewhat about accents here but hopefully you get the point. Now here are some of our words of common ancestry beginning with the letter O which have managed to retain the same meanings in both English and Spanish. Oasis (oasis) notice how very different this word sounds with the Spanish vowels, obediente (obedient), obeso (obese), obligación (obligation), obsceno (obscene), observar (observe), ofender (offend), oficial (official), ópera (opera), opción (option), opinion (opinión), origen (origin),
‘O’
orquesta (orchestra). One word that is commonly used and definitely has a different meaning in both languages is ocasión and likewise therefore ocasional. The noun ocasión has a greater sense of “chance” or “opportunity” than the English word. Therefore ocasional means “by chance” or “accidental” and not “occasional” in the strictly English sense. We can express the English idea of “occasional” or “occasionally” with “de vez en cuando” (from time to time). In English we might say “I have the occasional cigarette” the Spanish would probably express this with “Fumo de vez en cuando”. (Literally: I smoke from time to time). If you come across something that is described as “de ocasión” this means second hand, as in the sign “coches de ocasión” that you sometimes see advertised at the side of roads. Another “false friend”, or as I prefer to say “estranged cousin” is the word “ordinario” which has more of a sense of “common” and “vulgar” than the everyday English meaning. A word that is a little unexpected in meaning is “oficio” which means job or profession, and has nothing to do with offices. So if we ask “¿Cuál es su oficio?” we mean “What is your job?” One final word beginning with O which happens to be one of my favourites is “ojalá”. This is a word of Arabic origin, like many words in Spanish, and it means “if only”. It makes a great one-word response to statements like “Aren’t you the person who lives in that huge mansion over there?” or “Didn’t you say your husband was a rock star?” And so to our sayings containing “O” words, and I have two for you this week which contain words already mentioned. Here’s the first: “La ocasión hace al ladrón” “Opportunity makes the thief” - a saying which expresses a rather pessimistic view of human nature. A slightly more optimistic saying is :“No hay oficio malo” “There’s no bad job”, which means that all jobs are worthy of respect, even the apparently fatuous activity of writing articles about letters of the alphabet.
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Cultural programme announced by Louise Clarke THE TORREVIEJA Councillor for Culture, Luis Maria Pizana, has announced the municipality’s Winter Cultural Programme this week. A budget of 87,400€ has been allocated for the programme, which includes an already sold out concert by popular Spanish singer David Bisbal. The Grammy award winning singer rose to fame in an X Factor style Spanish TV programme called Operacion Triunfo and has since sold millions of records worldwide. Tickets for his concert, which will take place at the new International Music Auditorium, close to San Jaime Hospital, on 25th February, sold out in just 70 minutes when they went on sale on Tuesday; which is unprecedented for a Torrevieja Municipal event. GENERATE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY Luis Maria Pizana congratulated all the employees of the Torrevieja Department
of Culture for bringing such great cultural events to the city, especially during a time of economic uncertainty. He told RTN: “The team has showed a great ability to adapt to the new economic reality in which we find ourselves and everyone must be congratulated for ensuring Torrevieja’s cultural fabric.” He also said that there has been a great effort made to continue to generate economic activity in the city of Torrevieja in the first quarter of 2012 and that as a result, the government team is aware of the need to develop initiatives in order to revitalise and encourage people to leave their homes and come to Torrevieja to enjoy an attractive cultural and leisure agenda, which is also affordable in these difficult times. ENJOY TORRVIEJA Finally, the Councillor indicated that the 2012 Winter Programme, which has more than 120 activities, is very diverse. He add-
New police dog unit in Rojales
THE LOCAL Police in Rojales are poised to become the first in the Vega Baja district and one of only a few in the whole Valencian Region to have a canine unit to support the work of their officers. The announcement was made during a display of tactical canine intervention in the Murcian town of Aguilas by dog units which currently operate regularly in venues such as the Santiago Bernabeu stadium or at Renfe railway stations.
The Councillor for Culture, Luis Maria Pizana
ed: “The events span all genres and offer something for all audiences. It has been designed with a fundamental purpose ad that
is to generate activity each week to encourage people from all over the Costa Blanca to get out and enjoy Torrevieja.”
The International Ladies Club of Monte Pego goes to town!
Photographer: Aad van den Bogerd from Holland
FORTY LESS fortunate Pegolino children were treated in a grand way when Mrs Noel and her helpers came to Pego town. The children recieved Christmas goodies, sandwiches and Christmas presents - and also a brand new refrigerator and a TV! And all to make the children feel ‘at home, away from home’. An ‘after school room’ has become a reality for these kids who otherwise would be found in the street since they have nowhere else to go. The Int’l Ladies of Monte Pego meet every second Thursday of the month, arranging many different activities throughout the year, collecting money for the less fortunate children in Pego. Members come from all corners of the world and make a colourful and fun crowd.
Mad dogs’ New Year dip and dive
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Extinguished Firefighters deliver festive cheer THREE OF the Extinguished Firefighters delivered some much needed food and gifts to the Ayuntamientos of Rojales and Benijofar for onward distribution to those most in need on the 2nd of January 2012. The retired firefighters from all parts of the United Kingdom raised funds at there Christmas Night out in December and decided to donate food and gifts locally. In addition there was a very welcome donation of five dozen Cornish Pasties from the Cornish Pride Shop in Los Dolses, owners Shane and Steve himself a former retained firefighter from Barnstable were delighted to donate the pasties to such a worthwhile cause. The photographs show the goods being handed to the Mayor in Benijofar by ex firefighter Dave Graham, and the three ex firefighters Iain,Dave and Andy in the council chambers in Rojales. The Extinguished Firefighters meet on the first Thursday of every month at 1500hrs in Lo Marabu wine bar and Restaurant , Dona Pepa, Quesada. All retired fire service personnel are welcome to attend. For more information contact Iain on 966 731 495.
13 brave souls lined up ready to go in!
by Louise Clarke WHILST THE majority of us were nursing that New Year’s Eve hangover, 13 brave souls were getting ready for a dip in the sea in aid of Paul Cunningham Nurses. The team of twelve men and one woman, dubbed the ‘Mad Dogs’, were part of the second organised ‘Dip and Dive’ at La Zenia beach. Organised by David O’Brian, who runs the Pint Depot in El Galan, the event called for this hardy bunch to run into the Mediterranean for a New Year’s Day swim, in exchange for sponsorship; the money from which goes to PCN. After their dip, all the participants were
treated to a glass of cava on the beach before returning to the Pint Depot for a delicious bowl of warm, tasty Irish stew, expertly made by Dave’s partner Lynn, who was also the only lady brave enough to take part. CHARITY CHALLENGE WALK The Pint Depot will continue to support Paul Cunningham Nurses throughout 2012 with various fundraising campaigns including the recycling of mobile phones in any condition (just drop your old mobiles into The Pint Depot). The next big event for PCN is the Charity Challenge Walk on Sunday 26th February, which will again take place at
the Casa La Pedrera in Torremendo, near San Miguel. You can choose to walk, run or cycle around the Pedrera Lake and raise money for this worthwhile cause. The Pint Depot will also be entering a ‘Green Team’ so why not sign up for the challenge? You can walk or run 5km or more and the cycle challenges are 10km and 20km. For more information on PCN visit www.paulcunninghamnurses.com. Thanks to David Isaacs from Dona Pepa for these great photos (RTN was a bit rough that morning!). Dave’s personal sponsorship is already at €175, so well done to him!
San Miguel Three Kings THE SAN Miguel de Salinas Three Kings Parade will take place this evening (5th January). Starting at 6pm from the Town Hall, the parade will go past the church and finish in the Casa de Cultura. If you want the kings to give your relative or friend a gift, you have to take it to the Casa de Cultura before 1:30pm today and leave the gift there with the recipient’s name on in capital letters.
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Happy New Year, M’lady...
Watts In Britain By
Paul Watts
HERE WE go again folks, all aboard for another trip around our sun. I hope you had a good New Year’s Eve, I must admit it was rather boozy here and bedtime almost coincided with the dawn (I’m far too old for this sort of behaviour).With some gusto I attacked my last ever packet of fags with a firm New Year’s resolve that, after the stroke of twelve, I’d never indulge again. But as Jools Holland’s last notes faded away, I wondered if I hadn’t been a tad too hasty in throwing the last of the pack into the bin. Too late – before I could begin rooting around in said bin, someone scooped a saucepan’s worth of curry remnants all over them. Wa, wa, wah... So then, dear reader it’s 2012; the year of the London Olympics. I remember reporting in RTN, back in 2005, that Britain was to host the 2012 games. Gosh, where have those seven years gone? We hadn’t even heard of credit-crunch back then and everywhere in Spain it was build, build, build! More and more Brits were bound for the Costa Blanca and the future looked bright. Where did it all go wrong? The gloomists on Radio 4 today were saying it’ll be another five years before things start to get remotely better; before we return to even pre-2005 prosperity. It’s a good job then we’ve got the Olympics to look forward too, eh? Mind you, I’ve been watching the review programmes of 2011 and there are still enough zany characters around to cheer us up. As one old dear said at the time of the riots, “It’s not like the war; we’ve got bread and bananas and plenty to watch on the telly!” I think my favourite character of recent times is the old chap who drives around Worcestershire dressed as Parker from Thunderbirds. Senior citizen Brian Vann, down the road in nearby Evesham, spent three months converting his 10mph mobility scooter to look like just Lady Penelope’s pink car FAB 1, from the hit 1960s puppet show Thunderbirds. He now drives to Tesco as faithful chauffeur Parker with a model of Lady Penelope in the back seat. Brilliant, there’s hope for us all… Brian began the project after his wife Mary died in
ome M’lady
September so that he could take part in a cancer charity run. Brian, who can only walk a few yards, said: “I always loved the Thunderbirds show when it was on the telly and have harboured an ambition to drive around Lady Penelope.” Me too, Brian. He set about building the Rolls Royce out of bits of old wood lying around. He smiled, “People are very supportive when they see me driving around town and I’ve even been stopped to sign autographs.” He added, “I love being able to raise a smile for people.” But Brian not only raises smiles, he also raises hard cash for charity. In June he converted his 4ft-high vehicle into the Batmobile and raised hundreds of pounds for Cancer Research UK. Brian’s own FAB 1 Rolls Royce was built out of plywood
donated from a local timber yard. The front grill he clad in tin foil and ‘borrowed’ his granddaughter’s Barbie doll for the famous ‘Flying Lady’ mascot. He said: “I used whatever I could lay my hands on. I got a picture of the Rolls Royce and worked from that to make it as authentic as possible.” The original model was designed by the late Derek Meddings, who designed many of the Thunderbird craft before moving on to James Bond as special effects guru. But what about Lady P herself, Brain? He told me: “Two of my friends made Lady Penelope which I was grateful for.” I guess with a top speed of ten miles an hour it’s not so much ‘Thunderbirds are go’, for Brian, as much as ‘Thunderbirds are slow!” Watts in Britain, so you don’t have to be
The first babies of 2012
THE FIRST child born in Spain in 2012, at exactly midnight on Sunday at the Hospital of Mollet del Vallès (Barcelona) weighed 3.2 kilos. by Jan Gamm Diana was born to an Ecuadorian family. In Alicante province Yeray, a little boy weighing 3.420kg, made his appearance in Denia Hospital at 6.01am. In Valencia, Antonio arrived at the Hospital de la Fe just two minutes after midnight. In the Marina Baixa Hernán weighed in at 2.500kg and in Alicante city little Gabriel at 3.45kg is Mikaela’s third son. In Sant Joan d’Alacant Jonathan Moreno entered the world at 6.13pm. Bermejo Ródenas Angel arrived at 1.50am in Vinalopo and in Elche’s General Hospital Avila Saez Star weighed 3kg. In the Vega Baja, William, welcomed by English parents, starred as Torrevieja Hospital’s first birth, weighing 2.350kg. Despite the absence of a financial incentive this year, all the new parents of 2012’s first arrivals are delighted and proud.
Best sellers in 2011 IN 2011 the Renault Megane was the most popular model in Spain, with a volume of 35,597 units, representing a decrease of 21.2%, while second place went to the Seat Ibiza, with 31,106 units. The Citroën C4, with 28,825 units, the Nissan Qashqai with 24,374 units and the Volkswagen Golf, with 22,488 units completed the top five. In December, the Mégane was also the most popular car in the domestic market, with a volume of 3,288 units, subsequently placed the Seat Ibiza, with 2,590 units.
New laws for domestic workers FROM 1ST JANUARY all ‘domestic’ workers such as housemaids will have to pay into Social Security from the first hour of work, compared to the previous model where it was mandatory from 20 hours per week. Furthermore, their salaries must match the minimum wage of 641.41€ per month. From 1st January families with a maid will have to pay the social costs (22% of salary per month of the contribution base) with no exceptions. Documentation may be requested from the Social Security Treasury (or can be downloaded from the website: www.mtin.es).
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legal
06-12 Jan 2012
Succession law in Spain - The Executor (Albacea) under Spanish Law by
Carlos Baos
of White & Baos Abogados English & Spanish Solicitors
MY NAME is S.Y. (full name withheld for the purposes of this article) and I would like to have a Spanish Will drafted. I have been told about the possibility of appointing the Spanish equivalent of an Executor and I would like to know the implications of this, and also if I should appoint one or not. Dear reader, Thank you for your Consultation. It is exactly at a time like this i.e. at the beginning of the new year when it is an excellent time to review one’s circumstances, and resolve to make sure that one’s affairs are properly up-to-date. We can define the Spanish executor (the ALBACEA) as the person in charge of DEFENDING (i.e. standing up for) the last wishes and the estate of the testator. The position of ALBACEA is regulated by the Spanish Civil Code under articles number 892 and the following. And according to these articles we can say: The testator can appoint one or more executor, (or not appoint any) with the necessary legal faculties and capacity, and therefore a minor or an incapable person cannot be appointed as executor. When appointing several executors; it can be done severally (which means that each executor can act with independence
of the others) or jointly (in which case each one must reach an agreement with the others about every decision to be able to act. In absence of agreement the majority will prevail). The Spanish Albacea (executor) will have as many obligations and powers as may be laid down by the testator. Should the testator not specify any obligations then, the Spanish Albacea will automatically assume the obligations listed in the article 902 of the Spanish Civil Code which are: To pay for the funeral and other expenses in accordance with the provisions of the Will or when no provisions are set in the Will, in accordance to the normal practice. To meet cash bequests and legacies in agreement and with consent from the heirs. To safeguard the execution of the Will and to oversee its validity with fairness in a Court or any other place, when necessary. To take the necessary precautions to preserve and keep safe the estate, involving the heirs. The Spanish Albacea (executor) must also inform and update the heirs about all the actions taken by him. If we compare the obligations of the Spanish executors (ALBACEAS) to their equivalent in English law, the EXECUTOR, we must conclude as shown by the following, that the Spanish ALBACEAS have many fewer obligations and powers: The English Executor can manage the estate received from the deceased as his own; he must pay the pertinent taxes, funeral expenses, etc. The executor has power to sell, administer and divide the assets among the heir(s) at discretion, while being accountable, in front of the beneficiaries, of fulfilling his obligations. In addition every English Will must appoint an executor to administer the assets. The heirs will not always be able to inherit directly, but through the executor.
On the contrary the Spanish executor (Albacea), does not have the power to sell or distribute the assets amongst the heir(s), it is not mandatory to appoint one in a Spanish Will and the heir(s) will always be able to inherit even without the intervention of the Albacea. Thus, in principle, we can say that naming an Albacea in a Spanish Will does not cause any harm to the heirs or legatees, in fact it will ease implementations of the necessary procedures to enable the heirs to accept the inheritance. This includes preserving and safekeeping the assets, obtaining the necessary certifications, meeting bequests, drafting inventory of the estate and so on. Therefore in those cases where the heirs do not know the applicable Law, and are not able to handle the inheritance in person because they live outside Spain or encounter difficulties in the administration of the estate etc, appointing as Albacea someone you trust, and when possible, expert or knowledgeable in this area of Law, can be very advisable. Besides which, you can minimise the obligations given to ensure an easier administration of the inheritance for the heirs and in addition the heirs can deal directly with the inheritance, without contacting the Albacea, should they choose to do so . 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 2012 - 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
Jan2011 2012 1406-12 20 OCT 07 - 13 OCT 2011
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The Money Merry-Go-Round Stops THE SPANISH financial year runs from 1st January to 31st December each year, so now is the time when business owners and their accountants start to prepare their accounts and tax returns for the year 2011 which has just come to an end.
A recent decision of the Spanish Supreme Court could have serious repercussion on the way you prepare your accounts. On 15th November 2011 the Court held that business expenses which were not genuinely payable could not be deducted from earnings. The mere existence of an invoice for a business expense unless there is a genuine obligation to pay means that the invoice cannot be deducted from earnings. The goods or services referred to in the invoice must be have been genuinely provided by the seller to the buyer, and not simply referred to on paper. In the words of the judgment of the Court, the documentation proving that an expense was genuinely incurred and properly deductible in its own right “must be exhaustive and detailed and must be traceable to the goods or services to which it relates”. The tax authorities are entitled to ask for detailed and definitive proof of delivery of the goods or delivery of the services for which the invoice was issued. This would include delivery notes for goods, or evidence
that services had actually been provided, such as written reports, formal demands for payment of the amounts invoiced, and that steps had been taken to enforce payment of the invoices. In particular the provider of the goods or the services is expected to take steps, including issuing legal proceedings, to actually recover the amount claimed in the invoice. This is especially relevant if you are the owner of more than one business, or are involved in a group of companies which provide goods or services to each other. One of the devices to reduce taxable earnings in groups of companies or between businesses in common ownership is that known as “Transfer Pricing”. The legitimate reason for transfer pricing is to make sure that each business is responsible for the expenses properly incurred in its operation so that its performance can be correctly evaluated. This device is also used to reduce the tax paid by creating invoices for expenses, especially when one member of a group of companies, or part of a business, may be very profitable and liable to a large amount of tax while another part is not so profitable or even making a loss. Tax authorities usually frown upon transfer pricing aimed at tax avoidance and insist that every business, or each internal part of a group
Now is the time to prepare your tax returns for 2011
of companies or business, deals with the other on ‘arm’s length’ (market price) basis. If the tax authorities carry out an audit or inspection of a business and determine that expenses are not properly deductible, not only will this result in a bill for increased tax, but also interest and penalties. This can also lead to criminal prosecution of those individuals responsible. In the current economic climate all governments and their tax collectors are under pressure to collect every cent or penny possible and it is more important than ever to
get your tax affairs in order. Rather resorting to crude devices to evade tax which is illegal, and which will probably not be effective in the end, take proper professional advice. You may well be able to take advantage of legitimate ways to save tax, as well as being able to sleep properly at night. If you need professional tax advice whether for your business or personal affairs we at Linkpoint are able to provide qualified Spanish and English advisers to help you make the most of your money in these difficult times.
This article was supplied by Michael Olmer of Link Point Legal and Business Services 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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06-12 2012 4 2010 Feb 26Jan - March
legal
by
Michael Olmer
Solicitor, Link Point Legal and Business Services
06-12 Jan 2012
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Tax allowances to modernise your home in 2012 IN 2010 the Spanish government introduced a temporary deduction from Spanish income tax for the cost of modernising your main home to stimulate trade in the building industry, and improve the quality of the Spanish housing stock. The scheme was extended by Royal Decree 5/2011 but will expire on 31st December 2012. If you are thinking of improving the energy efficiency of your main residence, rewiring, carrying out structural repairs or damp-proofing, installing or improving access if you are disabled, or even installing landlines or satellite internet access, and you pay income tax in Spain, then 2012 may be the year to have this work done. The work must be structural or to the fixed installations in your home and not simply decorative; if you are merely replacing portable appliances the deduction will not apply, although there may be other regional schemes for replacing old inefficient appliances that you can take advantage of. The first category of work that is deductible is work to improve energy efficiency and recycling. This can include the installation of solar panels for water heating or generating electricity, heat recovery systems, more efficient air conditioning, new insulation, double glazing, and the reuse of waste
water for household purposes. Secondly, if you need to carry out structural repairs, including damp-proofing, these may also be tax deductible. Thirdly, if you or a member of your family suffers from an officially recognised disability then the installation of ramps, lifts, or other devices to make life easier and more comfortable may benefit from the tax allowances. However, if you are merely replacing old kitchen units or updating a bathroom without making any special adaptations to deal with a disability then the work will not be tax deductible. Finally, work such as cabling to allow you access the internet or digital television is covered, but not the purchase of TV sets, computers, or subscriptions to satellite TV or internet services. You can benefit from the scheme whether your home is an individual house or you live in an apartment. If the works are to be done to the common parts or main structure in an apartment block, then it will be your share of the cost calculated in accordance with the proportion of your contributions to your “comunidad” that can be deducted from your taxable income. However works to common gardens, swimming pools, or garages are outside the scope of the scheme. The maximum amount of the deduction from you
Spanish income tax is 20% of the cost of the work up to a maximum of €6,750.00 per year for the next three years provided that your income is not more than €53,007.20 per year. Above that level the amount of the deduction reduces on a sliding scale until at an income of more than €71,007.20 there is no deduction allowed at all. As an example if the cost of the work was €20,000.00, then the maximum deduction would be €4,000.00 spread over the next three years. Obviously, everyone has different financial circumstances and you should get a tailor-made quotation before committing yourself to any work, both as to its cost, and the tax benefits for you. The works must be carried out by properly qualified contractors, with all necessary permission, and properly invoiced. To clamp down on the “black economy” payment cannot be made in cash but must be to the bank account of the contractor by cheque, debit or credit card, or bank transfer. Apart from the practical advantages of this scheme, this is another illustration of the benefits of having your tax affairs in order and up to date. At Link Point we have bilingual Spanish and UK qualified accountants ready to help you make the most out of your money in these trying times.
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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06-12 Jan 2012
Rubalcaba criticizes the government’s adjustment plan PSOE SPOKESMAN and former government vice president Perez Rubalcaba has slammed the government’s ‘adjustment plan’, claiming it is a “path to economic destruction” and will sharpen the depression rather than reduce its effects. Rubalcaba told the press in a news conference this week that the adjustment plan released by the new PP government led by newly elected Mariano Rajoy does not provide incentives for growth and tax increases will further depress consumption and production. Rubalcaba also accuses the PP of using the deficit in all public administrations to raise taxes, when during his election campaign he denied that he was going to do so. Rubalcaba demands that Rajoy responds to questions in parliament on the subject of his new tax settings.
Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba
The pricey game of buying toys THE DIFFERENCE in the cost of a toy in Alicante can vary greatly depending on where you buy. RTN recently reported on a survey that found a difference of 20€ on toys from different retailers in the run up to the Kings, but in Alicante the price can vary by as much as 40€. A test was carried out recently on the top six most popular toys, with the cheapest total bill 359€ and the most expensive retailers charging a total of 447€ for the same six items; a difference of 88€. The toys were: A PS3 video game; a Gormiti; a Lego Star Wars set; Playmobil one; a Zapf baby doll and Nenuco’s ‘Sleep with Me’. In extreme cases the price can differ by as much as 60€. So readers - shop around!
What costs what in 2012 THE YEAR for Spain begins with the Ministry for Energy raising gas prices by about 0.5% resulting in an increase in consumers’ quarterly bill of approximately 0.57€. Postal rates for a standard letter are to increase by 2.86% although the cost of butane at 15.09€ is frozen along with the salaries of government officials. Motorway tolls are to rise on an average of around 3.2%, depending on the region, with public transport fare hikes still under debate. Energy prices, including electricity, will be reviewed in March. From 1st January an ‘Emancipation Basic Income’ of 210€ per month may be applied for by those aged between 22 and 30, to continue for those already receiving the benefit.
by
Suzanne O’Connell Customer Care at Ábaco
The Valor Catastral – rating your property THERE IS something particularly satisfying about eating outside in the sun on Christmas day. Be it a barbecue on your patio or a party on the beach, there’s a joyous sense of ‘we wouldn’t be doing this in the UK would we?’ One of the things we love most about Spain is the fact that all year round you can eke out some sun and eat al fresco be it for breakfast at mid-day or your late evening meal. And you couldn’t beat this New Years Day for providing just that opportunity. When buying your property you’re not always aware of the significant differences to your pattern of living its aspect might make. For example our neighbours opposite can breakfast outside in the winter whilst our patio is still chilly and in the shade. Come the afternoon and the sun lingers round us for a few hours longer. But it’s not just day-to-day routines that can be transformed by your outlook: it’s your council tax too. I’ve seen queries raised a few times on forums about why two houses, apparently identical, might be charged different amounts for IBI (Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles). The reason is that your valor catastral (Rateable Value) not only takes account of the size of your property but its exact location and accessibility to amenities too. It is one of two factors that can make a difference as to how much council tax you must pay: 1. Your valor catastral 2. The tax rate charged by the town hall VALOR CATASTRAL This is the value assigned to your property for tax purposes. It is a very important figure that is
used to calculate your council tax or IBI (Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles) and non-resident imputed income tax. You will find yours on your IBI bill or your receipt if you operate online banking. The value is registered at the Cadastral registry when the property is built. This is a different registry to the Land registry and is usually located either at your town hall or SUMA for those living in the Alicante region. The valor catastral increases annually in line with inflation. Lots of factors can make a difference to your val. cat. For example, you might have a higher value than your neighbour if your property is closer to the road or your apartment is more convenient for the main entrance. The original valuation will have been made according to information provided by the builder. The valor catastral is occasionally reviewed. This is done on an area-wide basis and is not a very regular occurrence (approximately every 10 years). When it does happen you can find it takes a leap – and usually in an upwards direction. However, the good news for calculating other taxes such as non-resident income tax, is that the valor catastral is usually much lower than the real market value. THE TAX RATE Whatever your valor catastral the actual amount paid is dependent upon the % rate of IBI levied by your local town hall. This tax rate can range from 0.4% to 1.17% and is generally linked to the number of inhabitants in that particular town. The latest information is that the government’s austerity measures will include an increase in IBI. Whatever the financial pinches and priorities we might find ourselves faced with this year, the sun still comes free - let’s make the most of it in 2012.
Municipalities in Alicante province to increase IBI ALICANTE, ELCHE, Alcoy, Elda, Benidorm, Orihuela and San Vicente are to increase property tax by10%, with Torrevieja, El Campello and Mutxamel raising the tax by 4%. Only 13 municipalities will be spared the increase approved at the last Council of Ministers. But not all homeowners will pay the same - the amount the tax is increased will depend on the age of the cadastral revision. Thus, the maximum increase will be experienced by residents of municipalities in which real estate has been assessed prior to 2002. Despite this, some municipalities, such as Alicante, pledged not to increase the tax burden on citizens to avoid further stress during the crisis. However, many will be forced to do so to a greater or lesser extent as the government’s decision will take precedence over local ordinances.
The FTSE falls 1.7% after Fitch warning to banks SANTANDER WAS left at 4.67% at midday on Wednesday after the threat of a downgrade of the agency. The Ibex 35 was down 1.7% in early afternoon trading, losing 8600 points hampered by widespread declines in Spanish banking after the new threats of the rating agency Fitch to downgrade credit ratings with bleak forecasts for the Spanish economy.
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Making travel a Do you remember the days when going abroad was a pleasure? When you didn’t have to worry about the weight or size of your suitcase and the liquids you were taking, not to mention the final sprint race just to secure a seat. by The RTN Editor Those days still exist, as I recently discovered, when I boarded Brittany Ferries’ Cap Finistère from Santander to Portsmouth to visit family in the UK and do some essential Christmas shopping. With a ten month old baby, travelling is akin to a military
One of the many areas where you can sit back and relax
exercise, so we made the nine hour journey from the Costa Blanca the day before. This also meant that we could do some sightseeing in Santander, which is a beautiful city and definitely worth a second visit. The next day, after having taken advantage of the free parking at the port, we spent some more time touring and then later boarded the boat, which was a very straight forward process. Within a short space of time, we had unpacked and were on the top deck waving goodbye to Spain. Getting a good meal onboard is not a problem, with a large a la carte restaurant and smaller refreshment outlets offering a wide range of freshly prepared salads, sandwiches and snacks; there is something to suit every budget. The ferry also has two bars; ideal for unwinding. And with UK TV, as long as there’s no objection from other passengers, the bartenders are only to happy to change channels so you can watch what you want! There are also a number of shops and boutiques onboard as well as a variety of passenger activities to keep everyone entertained. One of the boutiques was offering free wine and tapas tasting hosted by Delfine, who had a wealth of information about the products being offered. Having been with the company for over 10 years she likened working there like a big family and the ferry has a community feel with everyone, passengers and staff, getting along. I also managed to get an appointment for a free manicure for the following day; after all it would be rude not to…! The time passed very smoothly onboard as there is always something to do, whether it be a trip to the cinema or watching the live entertainment at one of the bars. It is also nice to just relax and read a book whilst watching waves as you sail. In no time at all, we were having dinner in the
Gwen treated me to a free manicure
Restaurant du Port, which was wonderful. With prompt and attentive waiters and delicious food, we felt like we were dining in a fine restaurant and it certainly lived up to its excellent reputation. But I recommend you book as soon as you are onboard to ensure you get the table and time you want.
pleasure After a wonderful night’s sleep, we woke feeling refreshed and relaxed and I still had my manicure to look forward to! An hour later, with my nails expertly manicured by Gwen, who again has been with Brittany Ferries for over 10 years, it was soon time to disembark as the ferry made its way into Portsmouth harbour. My experience with Brittany Ferries was everything I hoped it would be and much more. From the courteous staff and ferry facilities to the
entertainment and food, everything was outstanding. The best bit was that we got to enjoy it all again when we returned home to Spain and just like it used to be, our holiday started the moment we left our home, filled with excitement and no concerns about the journey. Brittany Ferries offer up to five sailings a week from Santander and Bilbao to Portsmouth and Plymouth. To book call +44 (0) 871 244 0175 or visit www.brittanyferries.com.
06-12 Jan 2012
Mountain walks
SATURDAY 7TH JANUARY - El Pantanet: A moderately strenuous walk off the beaten track, with views to Aitana, Puig Campana and the sea: 14kms, 5.5 hours’ duration, 400m ascent: Dogs on leads at rear: For further details Tel: John 620 865 267. - Segaria 3 summits: A very strenuous walk over mostly rough terrain: 15kms, 5 hours’ duration, 600m ascent: Dogs on leads at rear: For further details Tel: Jon 686 148 704.
WEDNESDAY 11TH JANUARY - NEW ROUTE - Gata trails and riverbeds: An interesting moderate walk over river bed boulders, needing a few hand holds: Lunch after, if reserved: 9kms, 3.5 hours’ duration, 260m ascent: Dogs on leads at rear but not at lunch: For further details Tel: John 686 148 704.
- Font & Castell d’Aixa: A strenuous walk over mostly rough terrain, with a sharp 500m climb and long descent: 14kms, 6 hours duration, 550m ascent: No dogs: For further details Tel: Jay 626 604 610.
Walks depart promptly at 10am unless otherwise noted. Boots and adequate drinking water required. First aid kit 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 our website, see http://www.cbmwalkers.org.
Pilar swimmer breaks Spanish record
Delfine (ctr) with some regular passengers enjoying the free wine and tapas tasting
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A THIRTEEN year old boy from Pilar de la Horadada has just made his town very proud after breaking the Spanish record for the 100 metros backstroke. Enrique Carrasco Rivera, who is a member of the Murcia Regional Swimming Team, broke the record in his category at the Spanish National Swimming Championships last week in Madrid. Enrique’s trainer, Sergiy Bondarenko, who coaches him daily at the Pilar de la Horadada Municipal Pool, told RTN that he was delighted with the young man’s achievement and praised his work ethic in the pool. Meanwhile, a Spokesman for Pilar de la Horadada Town Hall said that the whole municipality was exceptionally proud of this young Pilar resident and tipped him for bigger and better things within the swimming world in the future.
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Home Garden
Brought to you by
www.spanishhomefinder.com
New Year objectives by
Clodagh & Dick Handscombe Practical gardeners and authors
JANUARY IS the time for New Year gardening resolutions. We suggest the following as possibilities, especially with yet another tough economic year ahead which might finish with our buying
Cutting back
plants in pesetas again instead of Euros. Grow more of your own food, and do so ecologically. Even a couple of square metres can be very productive! Start to involve children and grandchildren in growing ecological vegetables in plastic boxes or raised beds. Start a compost heap by shredding as much of the prunings and weeds from the winter cutback starting next week. It will cut the cost of enriching your soil and preparing composts for seeds and cuttings. Use as many prunings of succulents, perennials and shrubs as cuttings from which to propagate inexpensive new plants. This can be done even if you only have a few containers of plants on an apartment balcony or terrace. If you have never done this before section 4.9 of the book Apartment Gardening Mediterranean Style explains with illustrations how to start off root, stem, side shoot, leaf and aerial cuttings. If you grow too many new plants for your own use they can make good gifts for friends or a gardening club or charity bring and buy sale. Our autumn/ early winter flowering pineapple and velvet sage plants started off that way. We now produce a hundred or so plants each year for others. Turn a bare patch into a yearly display of wild flowers. Contact www.semiilassilvestres.com for suitable woodland and open sites. Install additional seats around the garden in situations that are great for enjoying winter sun and escaping from the hottest summer suns. Buy good quality tools to reduce the chance of sprains and strains. We now use Fiskars ecological pruners. They are especially appreciated during the long days of the winter cutback. Decide to use only ecological products in the garden or on apartment terraces and balconies this year. These days there is no excuse not to as many brands are available nationally. Be sensible in your choice of plants, paying special attention to their frost and drought resistances. These are clearly indicated in the extensive plant lists and descriptions in Your Garden in Spain and Apartment Gardening Mediterranean Style. Buy a dryer to be able to dry gluts of many fruits and vegetables. Out of season they are great for preparing soups and as snacks when working in the garden or walking the local countryside.
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
Home & Garden
Shredding
CLODAGH AND DICK’S USEFUL GARDENING BOOKS If you do not yet have good gardening books to help you design, plant up and maintain great gardens in Spain look out for Clodagh and Dick’s books in high street bookshops or look them up on internet bookshops plus www.gardeninginspain.com
06-12 Jan 2012
Come to
Outlet Mattresses
COME ALONG to Outlet Mattresses on the N 332 Altea, Just 50 metres from the Repsol garage, where Angela or Herman will be there to offer you not only the warmest welcome but also the most amazing selection of beds and mattresses that you have ever seen. Look a little bit closer and you will see lots of well-known and famous brands. Just browse around at your leisure and see for yourself the fabulous bargains on offer. Angela speaks at least 5 languages so communication won’t be a problem. If you are replacing your bed or mattress you must come to Outlet Mattresses - why pay inflated retail costs when you can get top quality products at vastly reduced prices! We don’t ask for your old mattress in part exchange and pretend it’s actually worth something - all we do is offer you the lowest possible price for the finest quality products, e.g. we will give you 50€ discount off any double mattress which is already priced low. We are currently in our 6th year in business and already looking forward to next year. Herman is usually out and about sourcing new bulk purchases from factories throughout Spain, maintaining our level of commitment to you, the customer, for top quality products. Single, double and all sizes of beds, mattresses, storage and bunk beds - and while stocks last electric adjustable beds - at giveaway prices and all made in Spain. So come along and see for yourself. OUTLET MATTRESSES is at El Planet, N332, 50 metres from The Repsol Garage and going into Altea.
Brought to you by spanishhomefinder.com
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Home & Garden
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06-12 Jan 2012 Feb 26 - March 4 2010
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La Bohéme opens at Teulada Moraira Auditorium
Trust Me I’m a Doctor! IF YOU watch any of the TV programmes such as ‘Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares’ or ‘The Hotel Inspector’ you will be aware that most of the people featured (as well as the presenters for that matter) appear to be a bit bonkers and were quite possibly chosen for just that reason. I mean why would anyone in real financial trouble argue with a seasoned professional whose only aim is to rescue the current situation, then endeavour to make the business successful? Would you argue with your Doctor? If he said take these tablets three times a day and your life will improve dramatically you would be a brave person to argue. After hopefully years of intensive training he of all people should have some idea of what the problem is. It may be a worrying new problem for you but having seen the same symptoms more than once in the past and fixed it readily with the same pills he’s recommending you take, who are you, the patient to argue? So why did I find myself arguing when my car went in for a service recently? After all, these people too are seasoned professionals and should know what they are doing “Your tyres are a little worn, Sir, would you like us to change them for you?” In most situations you would be expected to take the professional’s advice and have them changed, but wait a minute aren’t tyres and brake pads supposed
to be a bit worn? As the legal limit is 1.6 ml across the tyre why would I want to change them at 4ml? It’s all about trust and it started when someone at the garage tried to convince me (unsuccessfully as it turns out) that having done 30,000 miles my car was due a 60,000 mile service as it was now down to timing not miles anymore. Now this may well be true and it may now be necessary but I’m still not convinced. My mate down the Pub said they are all in it just for the money and none of them are to be trusted, he even knows a bloke who could do all the repairs at half the price and they’d be better too! Sound familiar? Believe me, even in the hotel and restaurant business some owners are more interested in their mates’ suggestions and recommendations then any ideas from a professional. Even when we first started we were advised on a daily basis by various customers “You know what you ought to do in here, don’t you?” One persistent customer kept asking why we didn’t do chips; he was firmly told it was for the same reason that McDonalds didn’t do mashed potatoes. Two recent examples for us were of a good local restaurant where, although the food was receiving good reviews despite the service being a little slow, the atmosphere was reported to be “just not right for some reason.” Turns out
that a designer was more interested in looks than function with the hardwood flooring and consequently the wooden chairs made a scraping noise echoing like a village hall when moved both in and out from the table. Adding a carpet would change the look of the place as well as being an expensive fix so we easily fixed it with some felt pads stuck to the chair legs…sorted. Another fix was where an Italian chef was being asked to do traditional Sunday lunches which were awful - traditional to whom exactly? So instead of teaching him to cook a roast we changed the menu to pastas and pizzas: now even the customers are happy coming to eat what he does best, not what they thought sounded best. Just because something is expensive does not guarantee that it’s any good and neither does cheap automatically mean bad. Remember that bad advice is always free and good advice can be expensive and problematic as well as hard to find especially if you argue with the professionals. So did I have the new tyres fitted as well as the brakes fixed? Well yes I did but not from the original garage. Like my attention to detail in my business, I did a bit more homework and finally found a real professional as dedicated to his job as I am who did the work very well and by the way cheaper too.
Edwin Cheeseman is a practical food consultant. If you have a question about food email cheeseman@roundtownnews.com
CULTURE VULTURES will be delighted to know that the Teulada-Moraira Auditorium has announced the premiere of a new production of Giacomo Puccini’s La Bohéme starring renowned choir soprano Tsvetana Bandalovsky. The popular opera set in Paris is directed by Martin Mazik with stage direction by Roberta Mattelli and will perform 11th and 12th February with tickets priced at 35€. For more information visit www.en.teulada-moraira.es/apartados/agenda/1258
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Costa Blanca Tartan Army Writers Bookcase Jill Lanchbery supports Emaus children WITH NUMEROUS articles and short stories published, and placed in several short story competitions (the most notable of which was second place in the Good Housekeeping Short Story competition), Jill Lanchbery (aka Jill Morrison) was the quintessential scribbling child, from an early age fascinated by words.
Born in Essex, she grew up in South Africa and Zambia and has since lived in Nigeria, Indonesia, Northern Ireland and in different counties in England, finally settling in Spain nearly 10 years ago. It wasn’t until she came to live in
Jill Launchbery
Colin Hall
Spain that the first of her novels found a publisher. She has since completed two novels (both available in paperback and ebook format) and a full length biography of her uncle, ballet conductor John Lanchbery. She is currently working on her third novel while at the same time writing poetry. Jill’s peripatetic lifestyle is the inspiration for her novels, reflected in ‘Griefs and Fears’, set partly in Cape Town and partly in Kent – two places that she knows well. Griefs and Fears is a novel about journeys – actual and emotional. 27year-old South African Melissa knows nothing of her father’s English family and when she embarks on an exchange teaching post to his hometown in Kent, she discovers more than she had bargained for. She unearths skeletons that make her question her own identity, lead her into a life-threatening situation and ultimately change her life forever. Anxious to put distance between herself and James, her childhood friend,
Dick Handscombe
Agnes Hall
Melissa exchanges her teaching post and home with Elaine. Once in Kent she meets teaching colleague Nick, who is initially openly hostile and Dan the reporter on the local rag, to whom she is immediately attracted. But all is not as it seems! Mainly set in England, parts are set in Cape Town where Guy, Melissa’s father had gone to live after abandoning his first family for her mother, the beautiful and selfish South African ballet dancer, Annemarie. Griefs and Fears is a contemporary novel that deals with the issues that affect ‘blended’ families - where secrets and half-truths are carried from one generation to the next, leaving a trail of bitterness and destruction in their wake. Available locally from: Heidi Francis Designs, Avda. Juan Carlos, Jalon (opposite Rastro), or from Amazon and Amazon Kindle. www.jill-lanchbery.co.uk www.costablancawriters.com Next months contribution to the Costa Blanca Writers Bookcase will be by Colin Hall.
Keith Geddes
Michael Hillier
THE TARTAN Army Children’s Charity has once again come to the aid of the Emaus children by collaborating with this year’s ‘Bags For Christmas’ appeal. A donation of £500 was sent over from Scotland after a fundraising party held by the TACC last week. The money has paid for a small mountain of babies’ milk, nappies and other essentials for the Emaus baby unit which looks after 14 children under 3 years old. “This amazing and wonderful gift gives us such peace of mind and will last us a whole month,” said one of the Emaus carers. Earlier in the year the Scotland fans donated £15,000 towards an all-purpose sports field for Emaus. If you would like to donate any of the items pictured to help continue with this wonderful legacy please email info@thebedcentre.com or call 96 583 6814.
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06-12JANUARY Jan 2012 2010 8-14
How ears hear
by
Michael Burke
OUR EARS are wonderfully sophisticated organs that convert sound waves into electrical signals our brain can understand.
Ears catch sound waves, change them into nerve impulses, and then send them to the brain for RHAD MSHAA of interpretation. Three parts of the ear work together Digital Hearing to help us hear: the outer ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear. But that’s not all! Our ears keep us upright – they are our main organs of balance. Sound first goes into the outer ear (what we traditionally think of as our ear - it’s the part of the ear we can see) and is sent down the ear canal, which makes some sounds stronger. The sound then hits the eardrum causing it to vibrate and transmit the vibration into the middle ear. Once the vibrations get to the middle ear, three tiny bones – the hammer, the anvil and the stirrup, start working to amplify them. These bones are collectively known as the ‘ossicles’, the smallest bones in our bodies:
they sit like a tiny bridge between the eardrum and the inner ear. The entire structure is not much more than 1cm across. The middle ear allows vibrations to flow into the inner ear. The inner ear is shaped in a spiral similar to a snail shell; it is called the cochlea and contains mechanisms for hearing and balance. The balance part consists of 3 fluid-filled loops which act like a gyroscope and tell us which way is up and how we are moving. The hearing part of the cochlea is lined with around 30,000 tiny hairs and filled with fluid. The entire cochlea is about the size of a pea. The sounds enter the cochlea and pass as pressure waves through the fluid, stimulating the hairs and generating electrical impulses which are sent along the auditory nerve to the brain.
The brain changes these impulses into the sounds and noises we hear and links them to the language and speech centres. Our ears are such a small part of our body but so amazingly complex. We often don’t appreciate them fully until they begin to fail. Next time the Hearing Column will look at the causes of hearing loss.
If you have any question’s about this week’s topic, you can email digitalhearing@hotmail.co.uk or contact Michael Burke at Digital Hearing, Quesada Business Centre, Calle Los Arcos 7, Quesada – Tel 698 418 642.
The cold is sickening!
THE SPANISH Society of Internal Medicine (SEMI) advises that the cold winter air can be the cause of a number of unpleasant diseases such as those related to the respiratory tract, cardiovascular complaints and also rheumatism. Dr Pilar Roman recommends covering the nose and mouth when out in the cold this winter and suggests that the cold causes spasms in the coronary arteries. She also says that the hairs of the nose become paralyzed by the cold and stop acting as a barrier against viruses and bacteria that result in flu, colds, pneumonia, bronchitis and pharyngitis. Other drawbacks of the cold include the loss of sunshine that provides a valuable source of Vitamin D and the effects of over-warm and badly ventilated rooms that encourage the growth of microorganisms and harmful bacteria.
Cover the nose and mouth in the cold
An Invitation from Alcoholics Anonymous ARE YOU concerned about your own level of drinking? Does your personal or professional life bring you into contact with a problem drinker? Members of Alcoholics Anonymous invite you to attend, without obligation, an ‘Open Meeting’ on Friday 13th January, 2012, at Calle San Miguel de Salinas 2, (Corner of Calle Santomera), Torrevieja at 1pm. Helpline: 625 912 078: www.aa-costablanca.org.
Get on yer bike
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Monthly cycling tips, advice and routes
Burning off the festive over indulgence By Gary and Lynn of Cyclogical in Quesada WE HOPE you all had a great Christmas and wish you all a Happy New Year. Most of us will have eaten and drank too much over the last two weeks putting on a couple of pounds or inches here and there. Well that’s okay as it was the festive period after all, now there is no better time to make a New Year’s Resolution and ‘Get On Your Bike’ to start to burn off those extra pounds. The weather is great during the day and the sun is still warm so make sure you still take plenty of water with you where ever you go. WHY RIDE? Longer life; improved health; more energy; lower costs and extra fun! Try to pick a relatively flat route that you know and like, for example along the river Segura either to Guardamar or in the other direction to Almoradi as they are both nice and flat. Cycle this route for at least 30 minutes five times per week making sure that you are cycling at a mild to moderate pace leaving you slightly out of breath. This should burn off the equivalent of 22 pounds of fat in a year and cycling for an hour will burn off the energy supplied by a chocolate bar or a couple of alcoholic drinks.
Remember that there are no age barriers to cycling and people of most fitness levels, of all body shapes can cycle, slowly and gently if necessary. In a few weeks you should see and feel a difference especially in your aerobic fitness levels and you should feel like going further and further. The more active an individual is, the healthier they are. You are never too old to start cycling. We have various groups that we take out for weekly trips so if you fancy making new friends, getting some exercise, getting fitter, learning new routes and having fun then give either Gary or Lynn a call on 637 487 377 or pop into the shop for some advice and a chat. Gents Cycling Group: meets every Wednesday at 10am till 2pm and covers approximately 40kms with Rob: (Mountain bikes/Hybrids). Ladies Beginners Cycling Group: meets every Wednesday at 12noon till 2pm and covers approximately 20kms with Tracy and Viv: (Mountain bikes/Hybrids). Ladies Cycling Group: meets every Wednesday 2pm till 4pm and covers approximately 40kms with Lynn (Mountain bikes/Hybrids).
Road Bike Group: meets every Sunday 9am till 12 noon and Thursdays at 5.30pm and covers approximately 90kms at a moderate to fast pace with Gary (Road bikes). All of our groups have a maximum of 12 persons and are free and open to everyone. We try and cycle mostly on canal roads, tracks and camino roads as far as possible. So
make it your New Year’s resolution and give it a go. Remember - Gary and Lynn are available at Cyclogical in Quesada, Monday to Friday from 9.30am till 5.30pm and from 10am till 2pm on a Saturday to assist and advise you on all cycling requirements including route maps. Next Month. Cycling to La Murada
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06-12 Jan 2012
Bumper poppy appeal for Orihuela Costa
RBL Orihuela Costa Poppy Appeal
by Louise Clarke THE ORIHUELA Costa and District Branch of the Royal British Legion held their Christmas Branch meeting at the Olympia Restaurant in Mil Palmeras recently and announced that the total amount that the branch has raised from this year’s Poppy Appeal is an amazing €26,420.90! Branch Chairman Keith Carter said that this was a fantastic achievement. Keith told RTN: “This is an increase of just under €6,000 on last year. We are delighted, especially in these hard economic times.” Keith added that this amount raised was down to the very kind donations made by everyone within the Orihuela Costa area. He said: “It
is important to especially note the hard work by golf societies, the collections at the two local airports, Iceland in San Javier, the many bars, restaurants, clubs, markets and businesses that held fund raising activities throughout the year as well as those who took in poppies and boxes during the period of the actual appeal. Thank you all.” DEDICATION Donations will go a long way towards helping dependants of the many service personnel who have been killed in all conflicts. Funds will also be used to support those who have been injured or who have fallen on hard times as well as those who have succumbed to sickness and now require help from the RBL
Hamper Donation
THE NEEDY families of Algorfa benefited from a jam packed hamper this New Year courtesy of The Diners Club of Quesada who donated a selection of food hampers to the Department of Social Services at Algorfa Town Hall. The Mayor of Algorfa, Antonio Lorenzo Paredes and the Councillor for European Residents, Samantha Biddles, would like to thank all the members of the Club for their hard work and collaboration throughout the year. Samantha told RTN: “These food hampers have been distributed to families in need in Algorfa and they are also extremely grateful for this generous gesture.” For more information on The Diners Club of Quesada, please call the President of the club on 96 572 5828.
welfare departments. Keith also said that without the hard work and dedication of his team of officers and the members of the Orihuela Costa and District Branch, this achievement would not have been possible. Following the announcement and the monthly meeting, Cathy Carson and TAABS entertained the bumper crowd with carols and songs to celebrate the festive season. Anyone wishing to join the branch would be most welcome to do so. Meetings take place at the Olympia Restaurant in Mil Palmeras every 3rd Thursday of the month 7pm for 7.30pm. You do not have to be ex-service to become a member. For more information please visit their website www.orihuelacostarbl.com/branch
Supporting HELP MMM THE CAR booters got in the festive spirit at the Autocine (LOOP) on Sunday before Christmas. Their tireless efforts mean that in the region of €300 is raised each week from donated clothes and bric-a-brac to support HELP Murcia Mar Menor’s work in assisting countless people throughout the year with mobility equipment, hospital visiting, donations to good causes and generally providing help and information to people throughout the district of Murcia. 2012 is our Tenth Anniversary and there will be many events to reflect this. We will be starting the New Year off on 21st January with an “OOMPAH” party, at the Don Lorenzo, a German restaurant in Los Urrutias which starts at 1.30 p.m. There will be German food, OOMPAH music and the singing of rousing songs. Tickets are €12. On 24th February there is a dinner/dance at the Roblemar restaurant, Los Alcazares. There will be a grand draw for a remote control reclining chair worth €950 and other prizes to be won, many worth more than €50 each. Don’t delay, tell your friends and family, dig out your dancing shoes and join in the fun! Keep an eye out for the many other events that will be taking place to celebrate HELP Murcia Mar Menor’s Ten Years as a Charity helping people in your region of Murcia. Tickets for events are available from Joan Mitchell on 868 185 685 or 678 135 457, or Janice Clarke on 968 134 355.
Christian Humanitarian Aid Charity in the Mazarron & Surrounding area
AFTER TWO years of GOmaD being in existence, people still ask: “Who / What is Making A Difference?” A Charity that: Wants to Make A Difference to Lives, by sharing the Love of Christ Cares for mankind regardless of race or creed Cares for the poor and less fortunate Cares for those that society has cast aside Reaches out regardless of circumstances Lifts the heads of those down cast Values life regardless of its Social standing
Mops up tears and calms fears Knows a GOD who loves them Speaks for the voiceless Feeds the Hungry Clothes the unclothed Provides home comforts (furniture/ blankets) Will one day House the homeless Knows the Father’s heartbeat for HIS People Will not judge individual circumstances Hugs no matter what appearance or abode Wants all to know unconditional LOVE
A little help for Lorca
by Louise Clarke JOHN AND Carol from the Inn on the Green in Entre Naranjos, along with clients and residents of Entre Naranjos and Laguna Green, decided to try and raise some much needed funds for the Lorca Earthquake victims. As Robert a result more than 900€ along with clothing, bedding, food and children’s pre-wrapped Christmas presents Mitchell was handed over to Mr Robert Mitchell, the Provincial Secretary of the Freemasons of Murcia. from the The handover took place last Monday at the Inn on the Green and RTN was there to witness Robert Freemasons present a certificate to the staff and regulars for their magnificent work on behalf of the victims of the of Murcia Lorca earthquake. presents a certificate Robert told RTN: “The Freemasons of Murcia would like to thank Carol, John and their helpers for all the fanto John and tastic items that they have collected and donated as well as the cash which will be used to buy regular supplies Carol from of dried food for the families in need. The appeal for Christmas presents will bring much deserved happiness Inn on the to the affected children and the collection of tinned food will be distributed to the needy. Green
Wants to spread the knowledge that no one is alone A Charity that Cares enough to Make A Difference – Do YOU?? If the answer is YES then come and help us fill in the gap. Together we can share that love – so don’t delay call today on 634 357 137 and see how you can be Making A Difference. John 15 v 13: “No greater love than this, that He lay down His life for his friend...” Many of us at GO maD have experienced that unconditional LOVE and because of that we are; A Charity that will continue to share His LOVE with others ‘Regardless!’
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tv Friday 406 - 10 NOV 2011 - 12 JAN 2012
07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Wanted Down Under 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 Saints and Scroungers 12:45 Britain’s Empty Homes 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News 14:30 Regional News 14:45 Doctors 15:15 Escape to the Country 16:00 BBC News 16:05 Deadly 360 16:35 Splatalot 17:00 Roy 17:30 Horrible Histories 18:00 Newsround 18:15 Pointless 19:00 BBC News 19:30 Regional News 20:00 Celebrity Mastermind 20:30 A Question of Sport 21:00 EastEnders 21:30 The One Lenny Henry 22:00 Hustle 23:00 BBC News 23:25 Regional News 23:35 Graham Norton Show 24:20 National Lottery Friday Night Draws 24:30 The Infidel
07:00 Childrens TV 10:20 The Large Family 10:35 Guess with Jess 10:45 Charlie and Lola 11:00 Hoof and Safety with Nuzzle & Scratch 11:20 64 Zoo Lane 11:30 Wibbly Pig 11:40 Waybuloo 12:00 In the Night Garden 12:30 Stolen Summer 14:00 One Man and His Campervan 14:30 To Buy or Not to Buy 15:15 The Weakest Link 16:00 Real Rescues 16:45 Flog It! 17:30 Perfection 18:15 Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Great British Railway Journeys 20:00 Great Barrier Reef 21:00 Mastermind 21:30 Mastermind 22:00 Sicily Unpacked 23:00 QI 23:30 Newsnight 24:00 Weather 24:05 Fifty Dead Men Walking
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 Dickinson’s Real Deal 15:59 Granada Weather 16:00 Lewis 18:00 The Chase 19:00 Granada Reports 19:30 ITV News 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Coronation Street 21:00 Safari Vet School 21:30 Coronation Street 22:00 Law & Order: UK 23:00 ITV News at Ten 23:30 Granada News 23:35 It’ll Be Alright on the Night 2 24:35 Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
07:00 Treacle People 07:10 The Hoobs 07:35 The Hoobs 08:00 Freshly Squeezed 08:30 Perfect Couples 08:55 According to Jim 09:20 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:50 Everybody Loves Raymond 10:20 Frasier 10:55 Big Bang Theory 11:25 Hello, Dolly! 14:10 Tora! Tora! Tora! 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Celebrity Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:25 4thought.tv 20:30 Come Dine with Me 21:30 New Girl 22:00 The Bank Job 23:00 Rude Tube
07:00 Childrens TV 09:55 Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom 10:05 Bert and Ernie’s Great Adventures 10:10 The Mr Men Show 10:25 Hana’s Helpline 10:40 Mist: Sheepdog Tales 11:00 Animal Rescue Squad 11:15 Meerkat Manor 11:45 Monkey Life 12:15 5 News Lunchtime 12:25 Celebrity Big Brother 14:25 Magic Beyond Words: The JK Rowling Story 16:15 Relative Stranger 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Chinese Food in Minutes 19:00 Eddie Stobart: Trucks and Trailers 19:55 5 News 20:00 Charley Boorman’s Extreme Frontiers 21:00 World’s Toughest Trucker 22:00 Celebrity Big Brother 23:00 Celebrity Wedding Planner 24:00 Celebrity Big Brother’s Bit on the Side
06:00 BBC News 06:30 Our World 07:00 Breakfast 11:00 Saturday Kitchen Live 12:30 Nigel Slater’s Simple Suppers 13:00 BBC News; Regional News 13:15 Football Focus 14:00 Live Great Edinburgh Cross Country 2012 15:30 Live Darts 17:30 Final Score 18:15 BBC News; Regional News 18:35 Winter Wipeout 19:35 The Magicians 20:50 The National Lottery: Who Dares Wins 21:40 Casualty 23:00 BBC News 23:20 Die Hard with a Vengeance
07:00 Childrens TV 09:35 Prank Patrol Down Under 10:00 Deadly 60 10:30 Serious Explorers 11:00 Animals at Work 11:30 Trapped Ever After 11:55 Hacker Time 12:25 OOglies 12:40 MOTD Kickabout 13:00 Nobody Runs Forever 14:40 Duel in the Sun 16:45 Escape to the Country 17:30 Live Darts 18:35 Jason and the Argonauts 20:15 Flog It! 20:45 John Howard Davies: A Life in Comedy 21:00 The Good Life 21:30 Steptoe and Son 22:00 Fawlty Towers 22:30 Comedy Connections 23:00 Big Hits: TOTP 1964 to 1975 24:30 Darts
07:00 Mini CITV 08:25 CITV 10:25 ITV News 10:30 The Perfect Man 12:25 This Morning: Saturday 13:25 Murder, She Wrote 14:25 ITV News 14:45 Catwoman 16:40 Jurassic Park 19:00 Granada News 19:15 ITV News 19:30 You’ve Been Framed! 20:00 Harry Hill’s TV Burp 20:30 Take Me Out 21:30 The Talent Show Story 22:30 The Jonathan Ross Show 23:30 ITV News 23:45 Celebrity Juice 24:30 FA Cup Football Highlights
07:00 Treacle People 07:10 The Hoobs 08:00 The Grid 08:25 GT Academy 08:55 The Morning Line 09:55 Hollyoaks 11:00 Big Bang Theory 11:55 The Simpsons 12:30 New Girl 13:10 California Man 14:55 Channel 4 Racing 17:00 Come Dine with Me Extra Portions 17:30 Come Dine with Me Extra Portions 18:00 Come Dine with Me Extra Portions 18:35 Come Dine with Me Extra Portions 19:05 Channel 4 News 19:35 4thought.tv 19:40 Big Momma’s House 2 21:30 The Bank Job 23:00 Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story 24:50 LA Confidential
07:00 Childrens TV 09:00 Little Princess 09:15 The Adventures of Bottle Top Bill and His Best Friend Corky 09:30 Angelina Ballerina 09:50 Rupert Bear 10:00 Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom 10:15 The Mr Men Show 10:30 Roary the Racing Car 10:40 Mist: Sheepdog Tales 11:00 Meerkat Manor 11:30 Hotel Inspector 12:30 Celebrity Big Brother 13:30 The Slipper and the Rose 16:10 From Here to Eternity 18:30 While You Were Sleeping 20:30 5 News Weekend 20:35 NCIS 21:30 Celebrity Big Brother 22:45 Philadelphia
06:00 BBC News 06:30 The Record Europe 07:00 Breakfast 10:00 Andrew Marr Show 11:00 The Big Questions 12:00 Country Tracks 13:00 BBC News 13:05 EastEnders 15:00 Bargain Hunt 16:00 Escape to the Country 17:00 The Royal Bodyguard 17:30 The Royal Bodyguard 18:00 Songs of Praise 18:35 Celebrity Mastermind 19:05 BBC News; Regional News 19:30 Countryfile 20:30 Antiques Roadshow 21:30 Sherlock 23:00 BBC News; Regional News 23:25 The One Lenny Henry 24:05 Grumpy Old Men
07:00 Childrens TV
07:00 Mini CITV 08:25 CITV 10:25 ITV News 10:30 FA Cup Football Highlights 12:00 Dancing on Ice Live Tour 2011 13:00 ITV News 13:05 You’ve Been Framed! 13:30 Live FA Cup Football 19:00 Granada News 19:15 ITV News 19:30 Dancing on Ice 21:30 Wild at Heart 22:30 Dancing on Ice: The Skate Off 23:00 That Sunday Night Show 23:30 ITV News 23:45 FA Cup Football Highlights 24:45 Premiership Rugby Union
07:05 The Hoobs
07:00 Childrens TV 09:00 Little Princess 09:20 The Adventures of Bottle Top Bill and His Best Friend Corky 09:35 Angelina Ballerina 09:50 Rupert Bear 10:00 Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom 10:15 The Mr Men Show 10:25 Milkshake! Monkey 10:30 Roary the Racing Car 10:40 Mist: Sheepdog Tales 11:00 Animal Rescue Squad 11:15 Meerkat Manor 11:45 Grey’s Anatomy 12:45 Celebrity Big Brother 13:55 Return to Oz 16:00 Candleshoe 18:00 5 News Weekend 18:05 Greystoke: the Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes 20:40 SWAT 23:00 Celebrity Big Brother 24:00 Reservoir Dogs
tv Saturday
tv Sunday 08:00 Richard Hammond’s Blast Lab 08:30 Dennis & Gnasher 08:40 The Scooby-Doo Show 09:05 Paradise Cafe 09:30 Wingin’ It 10:00 Friday Download 11:00 Something for the Weekend 12:30 One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing 14:00 Live Darts 17:45 Ski Sunday 18:30 Flog It! 19:00 How to Build... 20:00 Top Gear 21:00 Great Barrier Reef 22:00 To Boldly Go 23:00 Adventureland 24:40 Darts
07:30 The Hoobs 07:55 Freesports on 4 08:20 That Paralympic Show 08:45 One Tree Hill 09:40 Hollyoaks 12:10 Big Bang Theory 12:45 Shipwrecked 13:50 Ever After: a Cinderella Story 16:10 The Simpsons 16:40 The Simpsons 17:15 Deal or No Deal 18:15 Channel 4 News 18:45 4thought.tv 18:50 The Devil Wears Prada 21:00 The Hotel 22:00 (500) Days of Summer 23:50 Employee of the Month
07:00 Coronation Street 07:25 Emmerdale 07:50 Emmerdale 08:15 Loose Women 09:05 Judge Judy 10:25 Beauty and the Geek 11:25 The Planet’s Funniest Animals 11:50 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 20:00 All Star Family Fortunes 21:00 You’ve Been Framed! 22:00 Benidorm 22:30 Benidorm 23:00 The Bodyguard
07:00 One Tree Hill 07:45 Smallville 08:35 Wildfire 09:30 One Tree Hill 10:25 Gilmore Girls 11:20 Smallville 12:15 Desperate Housewives 13:10 Greek 14:05 Scrubs 15:05 Hollyoaks 15:40 Gilmore Girls 16:35 Desperate Housewives 17:30 Rules of Engagement 18:00 Scrubs 19:00 Big Bang Theory 20:00 Hollyoaks 20:30 How I Met Your Mother 21:00 Desperate Scousewives 22:00 Derren Brown: Something Wicked This Way Comes 23:40 World’s Greatest Body Shockers 24:45 Big Bang Theory
10:00 Deal or No Deal 11:00 Location, Location, Location 12:05 Rear Window 14:15 River Cottage Bites 14:30 Deal or No Deal 15:30 Celebrity Come Dine with Me 16:05 Coach Trip 16:35 Jamie at Home 17:10 Jamie’s 30 Minute Meals 17:40 Three in a Bed 18:40 Three in a Bed 19:45 A Place in the Sun: Home or Away 20:50 Relocation, Relocation 22:00 The Manchurian Candidate 24:25 Making the Iron Lady
The One Lenny Henry BBC1, 21.30
07:00 The Hot Desk 07:10 Coronation Street 09:20 Emmerdale 12:15 Dennis 14:00 Holiday Airport 15:00 Holiday Showdown 16:00 Westlife: For the Last Time 17:00 Harry Hill’s TV Burp 17:30 The Cube 18:30 All Star Family Fortunes 19:30 About a Boy 21:30 Take Me Out: The Gossip 22:15 Bridget Jones’s Diary 24:20 Ocean’s Twelve
07:00 Switched 07:25 Switched 07:45 Switched Up! 08:40 Dirty Sexy Things 09:40 Supernanny USA 10:35 Supernanny USA 11:30 Gok’s Fashion Fix 12:35 Supernanny USA 13:30 Supernanny USA 14:25 Hollyoaks 17:00 Desperate Scousewives 18:00 Scrubs 19:00 Big Bang Theory 19:30 Big Bang Theory 20:00 Happy Endings 20:30 How I Met Your Mother 21:00 Rules of Engagement 21:30 Big Bang Theory 22:00 Cruel Intentions 24:00 Big Bang Theory 24:25 Big Bang Theory
10:00 Time Team 11:00 Time Team 12:05 Time Team 13:10 Time Team 14:15 Carry On Behind 16:00 Location, Location, Location 16:35 Grand Designs 17:40 Grand Designs 18:45 Grand Designs 19:50 Grand Designs 20:55 Grand Designs 22:00 What Makes a Masterpiece? 23:00 The Mayan Apocalypse 2012 24:05 The Manchurian Candidate
From Here to Eternity Channel 5, 16.10
07:00 The Big Quiz 07:55 Emmerdale 10:40 Coronation Street 13:00 The Biggest Loser 14:00 Harry Hill’s TV Burp 14:30 Garfield: A Tale of Two Kitties 16:00 I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! 17:00 I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! 18:00 You’ve Been Framed! 19:00 Casper 21:00 Evan Almighty 23:00 The Bodyguard
07:00 Switched Up! 07:45 Switched 08:10 Supernanny USA 09:00 Supernanny USA 09:55 Wife Swap USA 10:55 Gok’s Fashion Fix 12:00 Supernanny USA 13:00 Supernanny USA 13:55 Gok’s Fashion Fix 14:55 Privileged 15:45 Make It or Break It 16:40 Being Erica 17:35 Samantha Who? 18:05 Alaska 20:10 90210 21:05 Mean Girls 23:00 Desperate Housewives 24:00 Rhod Gilbert & the Cat That Looked Like Nicholas Lyndhurst
Wild at Heart ITV1, 21.30
10:00 A Place in the Sun: Home or Away 11:00 Scrapheap Challenge 15:15 River Cottage Bites 15:25 Four in a Bed 18:00 Celebrity Come Dine with Me 18:35 Celebrity Come Dine with Me 19:10 Celebrity Come Dine with Me 19:45 Celebrity Come Dine with Me 20:20 Celebrity Come Dine with Me 20:55 River Cottage Every Day 22:00 Relocation, Relocation: It’s Never Too Late 23:05 Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA
06 - 12 28 OCT - 3 JAN NOV 2011 2011
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tv Monday
44 61
06 2012 14 --12 20JAN may 2010
07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Wanted Down Under 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 Saints and Scroungers 12:45 Britain’s Empty Homes 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News 14:45 Doctors 15:15 Escape to the Country 16:00 BBC News 16:05 Deadly 360 16:35 Splatalot 17:00 Roy 17:30 Dani’s House 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 The One Jasper Carrott 22:00 The Royal Bodyguard 22:30 Mrs Brown’s Boys 23:00 BBC News 23:35 Have I Got a Bit More News for You 24:20 Would I Lie to You?
07:00 Childrens TV 10:50 Louie 10:55 Hoof and Safety with Nuzzle & Scratch 11:15 64 Zoo Lane 11:30 Wibbly Pig 11:40 Waybuloo 12:00 In the Night Garden 12:30 BBC World News 13:00 Daily Politics 13:30 Darts 16:00 Real Rescues 16:45 Flog It! 17:30 Perfection 18:15 Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Great British Railway Journeys 20:00 Baking Made Easy 20:30 A Question of Taste 21:00 University Challenge 21:30 An Island Parish 22:00 Horizon 23:00 Rhod Gilbert’s Work Experience 23:30 Newsnight 24:20 Darts
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 Dickinson’s Real Deal 15:59 Granada Weather 16:00 Lewis 18:00 The Chase 19:00 Granada Reports 19:30 ITV News 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Coronation Street 21:00 Cornwall with Caroline Quentin 21:30 Coronation Street 22:00 Above Suspicion 23:00 ITV News at Ten 23:30 Granada News 23:35 FA Cup Football Highlights 24:05 That Sunday Night Show 24:35 Law & Order: UK
08:00 Freshly Squeezed 08:30 According to Jim 09:25 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:55 Frasier 10:25 Undercover Boss Australia 11:25 Vacation, Vacation, Vacation 12:00 A Place in the Sun: Home or Away 13:00 Channel 4 News 13:05 Celebrity Five Go To 14:05 SuperScrimpers: Waste Not Want Not 14:30 The Man behind the Gun 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Celebrity Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 4thought.tv 21:00 The Great Train Robbery’s Missing Mastermind? 22:00 Coppers 23:00 Shameless 24:25 Random Acts
07:00 Childrens TV 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:20 Peppa Pig 09:25 Roary the Racing Car 09:35 Milkshake! Monkey 09:40 Bananas in Pyjamas 09:55 Funky Valley 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 Celebrity Big Brother 14:15 Hotel Inspector 15:15 Law & Order 16:15 The Hollywood Mom’s Mystery 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 19:30 5 News 20:00 World’s Toughest Trucker 21:00 The Gadget Show 22:00 Celebrity Big Brother 23:00 When Paddy Met Sally 24:00 Celebrity Big Brother’s Bit on the Side
07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Wanted Down Under 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 11:58 BBC News 12:00 Saints and Scroungers 12:45 Britain’s Empty Homes 13:13 BBC News 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News 14:30 Regional News 14:45 Doctors 15:15 Escape to the Country 16:00 BBC News 16:05 Deadly 360 16:35 Splatalot 17:00 Roy 17:30 Pixelface 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 DIY SOS 23:00 BBC News 23:35 Burglar in the House 24:25 The League Cup Show 24:55 Human Traffic
07:00 Childrens TV 10:45 Bob’s Mini Projects 10:50 Louie 10:55 Hoof and Safety with Nuzzle & Scratch 11:15 64 Zoo Lane 11:30 Wibbly Pig 11:40 Waybuloo 12:00 In the Night Garden 12:30 BBC World News 13:00 Daily Politics 13:30 Darts 16:00 Real Rescues 16:45 Flog It! 17:30 Perfection 18:15 Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Great British Railway Journeys 20:00 Hairy Bikers’ Best of British 21:00 The Great Sport Relief Bake Off 22:00 The Mystery of Edwin Drood 23:00 Have I Got News for You 23:30 Newsnight 24:20 Darts
07:00 Daybreak
07:15 The Hoobs 08:00 Freshly Squeezed 08:30 According to Jim 09:25 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:55 Frasier 10:25 Undercover Boss Australia 11:25 Vacation, Vacation, Vacation 12:00 A Place in the Sun: Home or Away 13:00 Channel 4 News 13:05 Celebrity Five Go To 14:05 Channel 4 Presents 14:10 River Cottage Bites 14:30 The Badlanders 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Celebrity Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 4thought.tv 21:00 The Fat Fighters 22:00 Inside Nature’s Giants 23:00 Shameless 24:15 Desperate Housewives
07:00 Childrens TV 09:00 Fifi and the Flowertots 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:20 Peppa Pig 09:25 Roary the Racing Car 09:35 Milkshake! Monkey 09:40 Bananas in Pyjamas 09:55 Funky Valley 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 Celebrity Big Brother 14:15 Hotel Inspector 15:15 Law & Order 16:15 Meals in Moments 16:25 Claire 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 19:30 5 News 20:00 Celebrity Wedding Planner 21:00 Cowboy Builders 22:00 Body of Proof 23:00 Celebrity Big Brother 24:00 Celebrity Big Brother’s Bit on the Side
07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Wanted Down Under 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 11:58 BBC News 12:00 Saints and Scroungers 12:45 Britain’s Empty Homes 13:13 BBC News 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News 14:30 Regional News 14:45 Doctors 15:15 Escape to the Country 16:00 BBC News 16:05 Deadly 360 16:35 Wingin’ It 17:00 Roy 17:30 My Life 18:00 Newsround 18:15 Pointless 19:00 BBC News 19:30 Regional News 20:00 The One Show 20:30 Live League Cup Football 23:00 BBC News 23:35 National Lottery Wednesday Night Draws 23:45 Freddie Flintoff: Hidden Side of Sport 24:35 Film 2012 with Claudia Winkleman
07:00 Childrens TV 10:20 The Large Family 10:35 Guess with Jess 10:45 Bob’s Mini Projects 10:50 Louie 10:55 Hoof and Safety with Nuzzle & Scratch 11:15 64 Zoo Lane 11:30 Wibbly Pig 11:40 Waybuloo 12:00 In the Night Garden 12:30 Daily Politics 14:00 See Hear 14:30 Darts 16:00 Real Rescues 16:45 Flog It! 17:30 Perfection 18:15 Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Great British Railway Journeys 20:00 Hairy Bikers’ Best of British 21:00 The Great Sport Relief Bake Off 22:00 The Mystery of Edwin Drood 23:00 Mock the Week 23:30 Newsnight 24:20 Darts
07:00 Daybreak
07:05 Sali Mali 07:10 The Hoobs 08:00 Freshly Squeezed 08:30 According to Jim 09:25 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:55 Frasier 10:25 Undercover Boss Australia 11:25 Vacation, Vacation, Vacation 12:00 A Place in the Sun: Home or Away 13:00 Channel 4 News 13:05 Celebrity Five Go To 14:05 River Cottage Bites 14:10 Merrill’s Marauders 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Celebrity Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 4thought.tv 21:00 How to Cook Like Heston 21:30 The Fabulous Baker Brothers 22:00 One Born Every Minute 23:00 How to Be a Good Mother with Sharon Horgan 24:05 Random Acts 24:10 London’s Burning
07:00 Childrens TV 09:00 Fifi and the Flowertots 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:20 Peppa Pig 09:25 Roary the Racing Car 09:35 Milkshake! Monkey 09:40 Bananas in Pyjamas 09:55 Funky Valley 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 Celebrity Big Brother 14:15 Hotel Inspector 15:15 Law & Order 16:15 McBride 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 19:30 5 News 20:00 Cowboy Builders 21:00 Benidorm ER 22:00 Celebrity Big Brother 23:00 Kym Marsh: Teen Mums and Me 24:00 Celebrity Big Brother’s Bit on the Side
tv Tuesday
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 Dickinson’s Real Deal 15:59 Granada Weather 16:00 Lewis 18:00 The Chase 19:00 Granada Reports 19:30 ITV News 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 River Monsters 21:00 The Exit List 22:00 The Biggest Loser 23:00 ITV News at Ten 23:30 Granada News
tv Wednesday 23:35 The Grudge
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 Dickinson’s Real Deal 15:59 Granada Weather 16:00 Lewis 18:00 The Chase 19:00 Granada Reports 19:30 ITV News 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 The Unforgettable... 21:00 Midsomer Murders 23:00 ITV News at Ten 23:30 Granada News 23:35 Payback
07:00 Coronation Street 07:25 Coronation Street 07:50 Emmerdale 08:15 Loose Women 09:05 Judge Judy 10:25 Beauty and the Geek 11:25 The Planet’s Funniest Animals 11:50 Judge Judy 13:00 Coronation Street 13:30 Coronation Street 14:00 Emmerdale 14:30 Jeremy Kyle Show 16:45 Beauty and the Geek 17:40 Loose Women 18:40 Judge Judy 20:00 The Biggest Loser 21:00 The World’s Best Diet 22:00 Benidorm 22:30 Benidorm 23:00 I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry
07:00 One Tree Hill 07:50 Smallville 08:35 Wildfire 09:30 One Tree Hill 10:25 Gilmore Girls 11:20 Smallville 12:10 Desperate Housewives 13:10 Greek 14:05 Scrubs 15:05 Hollyoaks 15:40 Gilmore Girls 16:35 Desperate Housewives 17:30 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 My Name Is Earl 22:00 Playing It Straight 23:00 Desperate Scousewives 24:05 Rude Tube
10:00 Deal or No Deal 11:00 Location, Location, Location 12:10 McLintock! 14:35 Deal or No Deal 15:35 Celebrity Come Dine with Me 16:05 Coach Trip 16:40 Jamie at Home 17:10 Jamie’s 30 Minute Meals 17:40 A Place in the Sun: Home or Away 18:45 Relocation, Relocation 19:50 Come Dine with Me Extra Portions 22:00 Secret Millionaire 23:00 Undercover Boss USA 24:00 Daily Show Global Edition 24:35 Heroes of Comedy
Watch New Season TV for Free with the RTN Network 966 463 170
07:00 Coronation Street 07:25 Coronation Street 07:50 Emmerdale 08:15 Loose Women 09:05 Judge Judy 10:25 Beauty and the Geek 11:20 The Planet’s Funniest Animals 11:45 Judge Judy 13:00 Coronation Street 13:30 Coronation Street 14:00 Emmerdale 14:30 Jeremy Kyle Show 15:35 Jeremy Kyle Show 16:45 Beauty and the Geek 17:40 Loose Women 18:40 Judge Judy 20:00 Harry Hill’s TV Burp 20:30 You’ve Been Framed! 21:00 Homes from Hell 22:00 Benidorm 22:30 Benidorm 23:00 Daylight
07:00 One Tree Hill 07:45 Smallville 08:35 Wildfire 09:30 One Tree Hill 10:30 Gilmore Girls 11:20 Smallville 12:15 Desperate Housewives 13:10 Greek 14:05 Scrubs 14:35 Scrubs 15:05 Hollyoaks 15:40 Gilmore Girls 16:30 Desperate Housewives 17:30 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 Shipwrecked 22:00 90210 23:00 Cleveland Show 23:30 Allen Gregory 24:00 Rude Tube
10:00 Deal or No Deal 11:00 How Clean Is Your House? 11:35 Location, Location, Location 12:40 Mysterious Island 14:35 Deal or No Deal 15:35 Celebrity Come Dine with Me 16:05 Coach Trip 16:35 Jamie at Home 17:10 Jamie’s 30 Minute Meals 17:40 A Place in the Sun: Home or Away 18:45 Relocation, Relocation 19:50 Come Dine with Me Extra Portions 22:00 Come Dine with Me 23:00 True Stories 24:55 The Lost Kennedy Home Movies
Emergency with The Mystery of Angela Griffin Edwin Drood Sky1 21.00 BBC2, 22.00
07:00 Emmerdale 07:25 Nanny 911 08:15 Loose Women 09:05 Judge Judy 10:25 Beauty and the Geek 11:25 The Planet’s Funniest Animals 11:50 Judge Judy 13:00 Emmerdale 13:30 Nanny 911 14:30 Jeremy Kyle Show 15:35 Jeremy Kyle Show 16:45 Beauty and the Geek 17:40 Loose Women 18:40 Judge Judy 19:30 All Star Family Fortunes 20:15 Take Me Out 21:15 Take Me Out: The Gossip 22:00 Bridget Jones’s Diary 24:05 The Whole Ten Yards
07:00 One Tree Hill 07:45 Smallville 08:35 Wildfire 09:30 One Tree Hill 10:25 Gilmore Girls 11:20 Smallville 12:15 Desperate Housewives 13:10 Greek 14:05 Scrubs 14:35 Scrubs 15:05 Hollyoaks 15:40 Gilmore Girls 16:35 Desperate Housewives 17:30 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 The Wedding Planner 24:05 Hollyoaks
Emergency with The Fabulous Angela Griffin Baker Brothers Sky1 21.00 Channel 4, 21.30
10:00 Deal or No Deal 11:00 How Clean Is Your House? 11:35 Location, Location, Location 12:35 The Nutty Professor 14:40 Deal or No Deal 15:40 Celebrity Come Dine with Me 16:15 Coach Trip 16:45 Jamie at Home 17:15 Jamie’s 30 Minute Meals 17:45 A Place in the Sun: Home or Away 18:50 Relocation, Relocation 19:55 Come Dine with Me Extra Portions 22:00 Time Team 23:05 Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day 24:05 The Hitler Family
tv Thursday 07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Wanted Down Under 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 11:58 BBC News 12:00 Saints and Scroungers 12:45 Britain’s Empty Homes 13:13 BBC News 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News 14:30 Regional News 14:45 Doctors 15:15 Escape to the Country 16:00 BBC News 16:05 Deadly 360 16:35 Wingin’ It 17:00 Roy 17:30 Leonardo 18:00 Newsround 18:15 Pointless 19:00 BBC News 19:30 Regional News 20:00 The One Show 20:30 EastEnders 21:00 Earthflight 22:00 New Tricks 23:00 BBC News 23:25 Regional News 23:35 Question Time 24:35 This Week
07:00 Childrens TV 10:05 Tinga Tinga Tales 10:20 The Large Family 10:35 Guess with Jess 10:45 Bob’s Mini Projects 10:50 Louie 10:55 Hoof and Safety with Nuzzle & Scratch 11:15 64 Zoo Lane 11:30 Wibbly Pig 11:40 Waybuloo 12:00 In the Night Garden 12:30 BBC World News 13:00 Daily Politics 13:30 Darts 16:00 Real Rescues 16:45 Flog It! 17:30 Perfection 18:15 Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Great British Railway Journeys 20:00 Hairy Bikers’ Best of British 21:00 The Great Sport Relief Bake Off 22:00 Unfinished 23:00 Never Mind the Buzzcocks 23:30 Newsnight 24:20 Darts
8 - 14 JulY 06 - 2011 12 JAN 2012
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 Dickinson’s Real Deal 15:59 Granada Weather 16:00 Lewis 18:00 The Chase 19:00 Granada Reports 19:30 ITV News 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Tonight 21:00 Emmerdale 21:30 Coronation Street 22:00 Eternal Law 23:00 ITV News at Ten 23:30 Granada News 23:35 The Jonathan Ross Show 24:35 Take Me Out
Crossword Solutions 636 CRYPTIC SOLUTIONS Across: 6 Morning; 7 Pluck; 9 Rigid; 10 Dormant; 12 Downtrodden; 14 Flat-dweller; 18 Milkman; 19 Admit; 21 Means; 22 Current. Down: 1 Toxic; 2 Indigo; 3 One; 4 Plumed; 5 Scanned; 8 Corrals; 11 Snowman; 13 Plaited; 15 Taking; 16 Endure; 17 Lions; 20 Mug.
07:10 The Hoobs 08:00 Freshly Squeezed 08:30 According to Jim 09:25 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:55 Frasier 10:25 Undercover Boss Australia 11:25 Vacation, Vacation, Vacation 12:00 A Place in the Sun: Home or Away 13:00 Channel 4 News 13:05 Celebrity Five Go To 14:05 Channel 4 Presents 14:10 River Cottage Bites 14:20 Went the Day Well? 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Celebrity Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 4thought.tv 21:00 Location, Location, Location 22:00 Restoration Man 23:00 My Daughter the Teenage Nudist 24:05 Random Acts 24:10 Coppers
07:00 Childrens TV 09:00 Fifi and the Flowertots 09:10 Peppa Pig 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:25 Roary the Racing Car 09:40 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 Celebrity Big Brother 14:15 Hotel Inspector 15:15 Law & Order 16:15 Surrender Dorothy 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 19:30 5 News 20:00 Police Interceptors 21:00 World’s Scariest Plane Landings 22:00 Celebrity Big Brother 23:00 Celebrity Big Brother’s Bit on the Side 24:00 It’s All About Amy
QUICK SOLUTIONS Across: 6 Greatly; 7 Start; 9 Piety; 10 Arrival; 12 Provocation; 14 Incredulity; 18 Clarity; 19 Droll; 21 Adult; 22 Succour. Down: 1 Trait; 2 Halter; 3 Ale; 4 Strict; 5 Creator; 8 Trickle; 11 Avidity; 13 Include; 15 Rarely; 16 Thrice; 17 Flout; 20 Hue.
Wordwheel: LUXURIATE
07:00 Emmerdale 07:25 Nanny 911 08:15 Loose Women 09:05 Judge Judy 10:25 Beauty and the Geek 11:25 The Planet’s Funniest Animals 11:50 Judge Judy 13:00 Emmerdale 13:30 Nanny 911 14:30 Jeremy Kyle Show 15:35 Jeremy Kyle Show 16:45 Beauty and the Geek 17:40 Loose Women 18:40 Judge Judy 20:00 The Exit List 21:00 Animals Do the Funniest Things 22:00 Evan Almighty 24:00 The Bucket List
07:00 One Tree Hill 07:45 Smallville 08:35 Wildfire 09:35 One Tree Hill 10:25 Gilmore Girls 11:20 Smallville 12:15 Desperate Housewives 13:10 Greek 14:05 Scrubs 15:05 Hollyoaks 15:35 Gilmore Girls 16:30 Desperate Housewives 17:25 Rules of Engagement 17:55 Scrubs 19:00 Big Bang Theory 19:30 Big Bang Theory 20:00 Hollyoaks 20:30 How I Met Your Mother 21:00 Big Bang Theory 21:30 Rules of Engagement 22:00 How I Met Your Mother 22:30 Happy Endings 23:00 The Inbetweeners 23:35 The Inbetweeners 24:10 Chris Moyles’ Quiz Night
Watch New Season TV for Free with the RTN Network 966 463 170
51 45
10:00 Deal or No Deal 11:00 How Clean Is Your House? 11:35 Location, Location, Location 12:10 Location, Location, Location 12:40 Carry On Behind 14:25 Deal or No Deal 15:25 Celebrity Come Dine with Me 16:00 Coach Trip 16:35 Jamie at Home 17:05 Jamie’s 30 Minute Meals 17:35 A Place in the Sun: Home or Away 18:40 Relocation, Relocation 19:50 Come Dine with Me Extra Portions 22:00 The Good Wife 23:00 The Accused
46
06-12 January 2012
CostaVibes
Tony Poole
from www.vibesfromthecostas. blogspot.com
music scene
Anna Luna Quartet at The Cigar L
AS CIGARRERAS (The Cigar) is Alicante´s Jazz & Blues Club based just north of the city centre. Its home is in multi-cultural centre Cultura Comtemporanea for contemporary arts, a complex that provides facilities for production and teaching in the performing and visual arts. To start the New Year they are presenting the Anna Luna Quartet on 19th January as the final concert of their latest programme that included the Eliptic Project, the Pau Viguer Trio and the Óscar Peñas Quartet featuring the American jazz trumpeter Jason Palmer. I was invited by Alex Garcia of JazzTK to see the Eliptic Project in December. The concerts are staged in an intimate theatre within the Cultura Comtemporanea where the venue provides excellent seating and viewing. The venue is a far cry from some of the smoky jazz clubs I’ve been to in my time. Alex told me how few jazz clubs there are in the region, unlike festivals, and that you have to search the major cities to find them. Another programme of jazz at Las Cigarreras is to be announced soon after the finale of the January concert with the Anna Luna Quartet.
Anna Luna (also known as Anna Luna Lucas) is a jazz and Bossa Nova singer from Barcelona. In 2011 she released her sixth album titled ‘Femenina’ (Quadrant Records). She sings originals and jazz classics adapting the lyrics herself into Castilian. She studied vocal techniques, harmony, piano, and uses the guitar as a second instrument. With a career spanning over twenty years, Anna is one of the most prominent singers on the Spanish jazz scene. Her previous album, ‘Sketches’, was nominated for best jazz record by The National Spanish Awards in 2008. ‘Femenina’ is a tribute to womanhood through music using songs dedicated to women or written by women, all sung in a swing, Bossa, Latin jazz style. For her latest project Anna selected ten jazz standards (most of them never sung before) from jazz and Latin music icons. She created lyrics for Miles Davis ‘Blue In Green’ and ‘Nardis’, Dizzy Gillespie’s ´Con Alma’ and beautifully adapted Joe Henderson’s ‘Black Narcissus’ to ‘Ángel Negro’, plus she recorded re-works of Hispanic composers Mara Grever and J. Manuel Serrat, and Brazilian singer-songwriters Djavan, Jobim, and Joyce. The cover version of the title track,
written by the latter, is quite simply superb. Anna has a beautiful voice that balances emotion and tension with a warm Samba feel. The Anna Luna Quartet features JaumeVilaseca on piano, Curro Gálvez on double bass, and Roberto Faenzi on drums and percussion. They will be presenting ‘Femenina’ at Las Cigarreras – La Caja Negra, San Carlos, 78, 03013 Alicante on Thursday 19th January. The performance starts at 8.30pm. Tickets are 10€, available in advance from FNAC Bulevar, or 12€ one hour before the concert at the box office. For more information visit www.lascigarreras.com
Jazz festivals, gigs and new releases at www.vibesfromthecostas.blogspot.com Email news and views to vibes@roundtownnews.com Keep the ViBES ALiVE!
Tony Kelly TONY COMMENCED his cabaret career entertaining in Britain’s most well-known Holiday Camps in the early seventies appearing quite regularly with top class stars such as Joe Longthorne, Russ Abbott, The Searchers and Herman’s Hermits to name but a few. The successful progression of the Cabaret Clubs in the North West of England gave Tony the opportunity to appear on the same bill as Tommy Cooper, Dave Allen, Dusty Springfield and Freddie Starr in such great venues as Batley Variety Club, The Golden Garter, Lakeside, Poco-a-Poco and many more. A spell on the Princess cruise liners led to international work and experience. Tony is quite at home performing his own unique performances involving the audience at every opportunity and his vast repertoire of Rat Pack songs and standards along with recent hits make his show relaxing and entertaining. Vast experience in being the compere for any show also gives him scope to perform. For further information please call Pat Martin at Phoenix Promotions 677 222 352.
Ray of Light THIS IS an evening dedicated to clairvoyant readings. This can be at a venue in front of an audience or in deed as a one on one situation... Do you want to know what 2012 could entail? I’m sure there are sceptics amongst you out there, and that’s quite understandable. Until a very personal experience that to this day I can’t explain, I was a sceptic…not anymore ... This can be an experience of enlightenment and hope is also an experience of the unkown.Come along with an open mind. For further information please call Pat Martin at Phoenix Promotions 677 222 352.
7TH JANUARY Pat Martin, PJS at The Rendezvous Shirelle, Shandon Bells Ricky Patton, Bar Imanyo, Day Nueva
The Actors Studio’s production of
‘Cinder-Hella’
AFTER MONTHS of rehearsals and setbacks due to ill health, which all culminated in the show being postponed, The Actors Studio is now set to perform the comedy play ‘Cinder-Hella’ at La Rustika (aka Los Arcos) on Thursday and Friday 26th and 27th January at 7.30pm.
T
ickets at only 6€ each can be bought at the AFA Alzheimers Charity Shop in Torrevieja (just off the church square), purchased on the door on either night or reserved via telephone with Edna on Tel 634 334 319. Writer and director of the group David Whitney would like people to be aware that this is not ‘Cinderella’ the pantomime. As the name suggests the comedy does have a panto theme but is not really suitable for children. David thinks the show has really lived up to its name as even now e of the cast members is suffering from a broken foot and may have to act wearing a plaster cast! People still holding tickets from the postponed shows can still use them for either night at La Rustika but please note the new time of 7.30pm! The evening promises to be full of laughter - those of you who have seen The Actors Studio before will know that it will be an evening not to be missed, full of double entendre and even a little music and dance. By supporting The Actors Studio you also support our sole charity The AFA Alzheimers Association Torrevieja.
Viva TV Schedule
Friday 6th Jan – Thurs 12th Jan FRIDAY 6TH JANUARY 14.00 Non Stop Music 16.00 Shopping and Info 18.00 FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions with Ann Brown 18.30 Let’s Talk with Simon Baldock – Young Downs Syndrome swimmer Adam Stuart 19.00 An Evening With... top Take That Tributes at Benidorm Palace 20.00 – 22.00 Local Information and Non Stop Music SATURDAY 7TH JANUARY 14.00 Non Stop Music 16.00 Shopping and Info 18.00 FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions with Ann Brown. 18.30 Let’s Talk with Simon Baldock – Young Downs Syndrome swimmer Adam Stuart 19.00 An Evening With... top Take That Tributes at Benidorm Palace 20.00 – 22.00 Local Information and Non Stop Music SUNDAY 8TH JANUARY 14.00 Non Stop Music 16.00 Shopping and Info 18.00 Dave and Andy’s Excellent Adventures 18.30 La Marina Youth Club – A Xmas Carol 19.30 The Wedding Show 19.45 Spanish Eye – The Benijofar Xmas Fayre 20.00 – 22.00 Local Information and Non Stop Music MONDAY 9TH JANUARY 14.00 Non Stop Music 16.00 Shopping and Info 18.00 Dave and Andy’s Excellent Adventures 18.30 Buying A Car in Spain 19.00 Let’s Talk with Simon
Baldock – Ex ELO guitarist Davis Scott Morgan 19.30 The Wedding Show 19.45 The British Consulate – We interview with British Ambassador, Giles Paxman 20.00 – 22.00 Local Information and Non Stop Music TUESDAY 10TH JANUARY 14.00 Non Stop Music 16.00 Shopping and Info 18.00 FAQ – More Frequently Asked Questions with Ann Brown 18.30 How to…… Put your car through an ITV 18.45 Out & About in Torrevieja 19.00 Real England – The Real Gloucestershire 20.00 – 22.00 Local Information and Non Stop Music WEDNESDAY 11TH JANUARY 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 19.15 Spanish Eye – Flying with the eagles in Gran Alicant 19.30 Viva Vino 20.00 – 22.00 Local Information and Non Stop Music THURSDAY 12TH JANUARY 14.00 Non Stop Music 16.00 Shopping and Info 18.00 Viva Vitality - shaping up for the New Year 18.30 Guardamar Discovered 19.00 Orihuela Scooter Club 19.30 Hayes Guide The Orihuela Coastal Walk 20.00 – 22.00 Local Information and Non Stop Music
January 2012 Feb06-12 26 - March 4 2010
47 47
New Year concert in Torrevieja TOMORROW, FRIDAY 6th January, sees a special New Year concert take place at Torrevieja’s Municipal Theatre. There will be two performances by the Torrevieja Symphony Orchestra, one at 12pm and again at 7pm. Tickets for this special concert cost either 10€ or 15€, depending on the seat row and will feature ‘seasonal’ music including Strauss waltzes and pieces from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite and Swan Lake.
Choral Concert by the Torrevejense Choir
THIS SUNDAY 8th January at 12pm, again in the Municipal Theatre, there will be a Choral Concert by the Torrevejense Choir ‘Coral Maestro Casnovas’ to celebrate their 25th anniversary. Tickets will be available at the door priced at only 3€, which will be donated in its entirety to Alimentos Solidarios, the Torrevieja Food Bank. The choir was formed back in 1986 as a children’s choir and has since become one of the city’s most prestigious choral groups. Whilst many of the original members still remain, several have gone on to study music at a high level and many are now professional musicians. The repertoire will include a representation of the songs which they have sung since their formation and it is anticipated that many ‘ex-members’ of the choir, now professional musicians, will return to Torrevieja to participate in this special event. The concert promises to be a fabulous display of the best of Torrevieja’s vocal talent.
The Velvetones complete a successful year THE VELVETONES finished off the year by entertaining shoppers at Iceland Supermarket in La Marina on Saturday, 17th December, at the invitation of the Torrevieja Costa Lions who were holding a fund raising raffle. The ladies’ chorus sang Christmas carols and songs while the customers loaded up their shopping trolleys. During the year the Velvetones performed in and around Torrevieja from La Marina to Pilar de Horadada, including appearing at the Palacio de Musica in their own concert, helping to raise funds for various charities. Looking for a new hobby for 2012? Pop into El Paraiso Restaurante in Torrevieja any Wednesday morning between 10am and 1pm, starting 4th January. Rehearsal will be in full swing, both musically and socially.
Singing in a chorus is fun, leaning new songs is fun and meeting new people is fun - three good reasons for contacting Jan Ryder, musical director, on 96 678 5313 or June Brady, chairperson, 96 678 5313.
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06-12 Jan 2012
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 1. I went to the match instead of mother. Was it scratched? (4) 3. Be a crooked vendor. Could you stoop to it? (4-4) 9. Bound to crush a missing head (7) 10. Piece of peel (5) 11. Mourn headless nations audibly (12) 13. Mainly level side (6) 15. Bending factory. I’m in it (6) 17. Five hundred and one point east and eat mixture to confuse (12) 20. Heir to head of throne shows ownership (5) 21. Ran up to row south and ended in straits (7) 22. Paste tin in order to become sufferers (8) 23. Breeder kicks the dust (4)
DOWN 1. In chief, an omission the editor abused (8) 2. Magic champion. Pick up your gun (5) 4. Apparently where to find the winning post and lay on charm (6) 5. Cyril’s paid in strict order (12) 6. Eve being topless ran an advertisement up for the gallery (7) 7. The epitaph on grave’s end is mellow (4) 8. Switch cash on the field (6,6) 12. Tangled dress set is emphasised (8) 14. Urgent way out inside knowledge (7) 16. Bird has permit - about travellers’ rest (6) 18. Endless bitter fruit. A short distance on high (5) 19. Vessels upturned. The sign of arrest (4)
Wordwheel
Quick Crossword ACROSS 1. Ornamental belt (4) 3. Depose (8) 9. Feat (7) 10. Topic (5) 11. Gamble (4,3,5) 13. Pottery fragments (6) 15. Indifference (6) 17. Gratitude (12) 20. Boredom (5) 21. Voter (7) 22. Bar (8) 23. Overtake (4)
DOWN 1. Bashful (8) 2. Dark brown (5) 4. Exact (6) 5. Revivalist preacher (3-9) 6. Gluttonise (7) 7. Always (4) 8. Private (12) 12. Ugly sights (8) 14. Heighten (7) 16. Vex (6) 18. Additional (5) 19. Profound (4)
Answers & Winners Last week’s Crossword and Suduko answers found on page 51/53. Winner for 636: Margaret Johnson, Benijofar
Euromillions Draw Friday 30th December
16 36 43 44 50
7
8
No ticket won the 51,792,388 Euros jackpot prize
Tuesday 3rd January 2012
3 30 42 45 49
5
10
No ticket won the 59,857,417 Euros jackpot prize
Ready IT HAS to be yet another New Year. If you weren’t stung by the biggest credit card bill of the year, you are about to be! So too, adverts of groaning tables of half price foods, sofas you don’t have to pay anything for ever, and endless perfumes and colognes have given way to booking holidays, stopping smoking and losing the weight that endless consumption of post Christmas Quality Street has forced upon you. Resolve and resolution come very high up the list in priorities for suitable marketing as 2012 charts on our calendars thus preparing us for the start of another year of our lives. This year was predicted to be a great time of change, and for sure we are coasting into it with economic uncertainty, instability in the Middle East and promises of further unemployment in an already deflated job market. It may be hard to see a positive ray of light amid the gloom of the insecure and the sheer despair that this can bring; but we have to be able to see even a glimmer, and to follow it to wherever it has to take us. Much is promised for 2012, it is true. Somehow fear has been transmitted to many as there is talk of disaster, floods, awesome predictions by Nostradamus and the ending of the Mayan calendar. For some there is no escape from the sheer drama that is to be bestowed upon us; but there is always the dawning of another day and we are fatally a part of that future energy, and all that it brings. Yes there will be changes, but for those of us who have embraced Spirit there will be a genuine time for reflection, a brief to enlighten our processes and a right to share in whatever is to come our way. We have always seen the positive side, and when changes rock and roll into our lives we know that we have to go with the flow; picking ourselves up and carrying on, because we can, whether we want to or not. Spirit has a wonderful way of supporting us, though we are often tested every which way. Some people greatly fear the actions of
Kenny’s diary Monday 9th and Wednesday 11th January: Readings at the Bistro Maya, Albir from 17.00 onwards. Bookings and further details from Els and her team on: 966 868 213. 2012: The Show with Torben Thoger: Coming soon. 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 Jan/Feb.
Jan2011 2012 2006-12 - 26 may
horoscopes by Kenny Corris Spirit, and what it may bring. Add to this the fact that the Spirit World demands a belief in the unseen, a feeling for the unknown and the absolute acceptance of a gauntlet of faith in a future in which we will be shown the absolute truth. It is hard for some to reason that the actions of the Spirit World are the result of people like us taking their places in the afterlife, having completed at least one life on this planet called Earth, though they have absolutely and utterly made their transition. The caring love of those who have passed over are the fuel that ignites the flame of devotion that is the maxim of Spiritualism as we know it. This New Year will bring us much, as each and every New Year has for all of our lives. We have changed so much in the events of the past year, and we have witnessed the Earth’s unnatural causes of floods, mudslides, famine, earthquake and destruction. The weather changed. Riots came to even quiet English suburban streets and the rebellions of the Arab World saw a public fight to the rights of democracy. Whatever it takes to kick off 2012 let’s do it. Let’s feel the change as we approach the Fifth Dimension, and let us be unafraid to work with ourselves to bring about changes where they are needed. As long as we do not lose ourselves then we will have everything. Eliminate fear, make action, and this will bring result when and where it is needed. As we embrace the changes we will learn more about ourselves, strive to be who we really are, and find the time too to help others to see what we are able to help them to see. Many of you will take on the role of Lightworkers who will have accepted the gift of Ascension already with a view to assist when and where they are needed. You may have to wait to be called, but always be ready, we have to get it right when and if the time comes!
Love & Light... Kenny Corris
postbag Email your letters to me at: kennycorris@roundtownnews.com KENNY, I have to say that I do not hold out on 2012 being any better then 2011, in fact it may be worse! I always feel a bit anxious when the New Year comes wondering what it will bring me, and if I am warned of what to expect then it must make things easier, surely? Katie F. Katie, many people think that I know everything that is going to happen to me. I can’t think of anything worse, and some days I wouldn’t bother to get out of bed. How often do we love a surprise? How often do we plan and it all goes pear shaped? We are born into this World not knowing even how long we have in it, and we have to make the most of it, of what we have. Do you really want to know everything? I think not, and it very well may not make anything easier at all. Subscribe to Spirit, then you may well find that you are making changes to affect a better future for yourself. That’s positive, and inspiring since we can be so scared of both the known and the unknown if we so chose to be!
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!
23 49
Mercury takes a commanding position to ensure that the year begins with all levels of communication ready and awaiting your further instructions. With Mars currently in Virgo this brings the opportunity to start as you mean to continue and brings balance to your current situation in more ways than you can imagine. Venus enters into Aquarius at the end of the week bringing love around you on all different levels. Honest and truth seeking Aquarius demands answers to the questions you dare not even ask yourself . The Goddess of Love herself helps you to open your eyes, see what you are missing, and to, above all, give her blessing. Where there has been conflict see peace and resolve as the actions of Uranus bring you the ability to see things in a new light. Much that has happened has served to test you but this has taken you beyond the realm of forgiveness, and as such assisted in closing your eyes on something you will now take on board. Be methodical in your approach, and just let sleeping dogs lie for a while as you make decisions based on your own instincts and not the gossip spread by others. Some say that you have made your bed and now you have to lie on it, but this is the chance you have been waiting for, don’t lose any part of it. Actions of Mars see you seeing the light, and putting two and two together. The past weeks have brought about a lot of soul searching, but you must know that your integrity is balanced with your ego, and that now things can really get off the ground. Expect a busy year, be true to yourself and all whom you really love. Mars is backing you, and whilst the conflict now is within you, in this your most indecisive phase, good can come from even your most negative thoughts. Empowered and willing use this inner energy to make a start on just what it is that turns you on right now. You are reluctant to commit, but the timing is spot on. Saturn is en route to bring sage wisdom to you before you give up on something. There is a need to make amends, and to see the challenge that is developing. Nobody is saying what you are about to do is easy, but you have to rely on your gut instincts and sheer determination if all is to work with you the way it could. Mars balances nicely with Virgo, just at a time when you are feeling it is time for a change. Beware of a simple request which sees you taking on more than you can handle at the moment, and know that you are protected by your faith and devotions at this time. Go the extra mile because a sign from you is what’s needed. Mercury knows that you have written a message in your heart, and encourages you to pass this on to those who really do need to hear it. There has been a catalogue of excuses and delays, but facing facts is what you are all about, and what needs to happen right now. Things won’t be as bad as you think. You are about to be rewarded for a job done well. It took courage and foresight to be able to do what you did, and though you expected no thanks there are so many people who have been touched by your need for transparency and resolve. Only one thing remains, and that’s to walk away with your head held high. Venus forms a strong bond as you balance Virgo and Mars for the conjunction this week. With love in your heart, and a strong intention to let bygones be bygones and to move on, you now have the right recipe for the future. Not all will take what you have on offer, but you can’t please them, and must think of yourself. You attract so many people to your side with your mystical energies and your superior spiritual strength. This year is all about change, and though there is nothing you would want to change for yourself, use your abilities to attract those around you who will help you in your journey and they will show you your destiny; as it is calling.
If it’s your birthday this week Inspiring energies are working with an open and free Cosmos in this start to the calendar Year. Keep your eyes open because you are about to be shown the way forward, and how to use your powers!
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06-12 January 2012
Computing with aunty virus
Using Ubuntu Mike via email says: A VERY interesting feature this week as always, it’s one of the first things I turn to when I open the RTN. I just thought to drop you a line and share my experience as I have an Acer Aspire 5610Z, about 4 or 5 years old now, that was running Vista Home Premium. I had begun to experience blue screen crashes of late so on a recent visit to the UK I bought a new laptop with Windows 7. I was however loathed to give up on the old laptop (as I’d not long bought a new battery for it) so I’ve installed Ubuntu 11.10. This works perfectly and is so user friendly. I was already
using OpenOffice so LibreOffice was no challenge, and I just plugged in my external drive and copied back all my documents, music and video files from a backup, and they all run just as well as they did in Vista, in some cases with less hassle. The other thing I’d like to say is that today I also received the dodgy email referred to in your Windows Firewall item, and fortunately as I don’t use Live Mail I was not even tempted to enter a password and merely deleted the emails and sent a warning to the supposed sender that he had a problem. Being able to refer to your article was very helpful, keep
up the good work. Aunty Says: Hi Mike. I haven’t used the latest Ubuntu but I have had some experience with version 10 and I was very taken by it. It has become a credible alternative to Windows and of course it is free. You were very wise to delete that rouge Windows Live password stealing email as even just having it sitting in your inbox could still cause problems.
transferring Youtube clips
Ian via email asks: DEAR AUNTY, I am on Windows XP, using Google Chrome. When I download a video clip from Youtube it goes into Real Player and I therefore cannot burn these tracks on to a DVD unless I upgrade to Real Player Plus for £26. Is there another method of transferring Youtube clips to my hard drive to enable me to copy on to a DVD? Aunty Says: Hello Ian. Once you have downloaded the video clip from Youtube you should be able to burn it to a disc (like you would photos or documents) simply by right clicking on the downloaded file and chose ‘send to’ ‘DVD drive’. This will simply put a copy of the downloaded file(s) onto a disc, however it won’t convert it to the old standard DVD format so it may not play on some older DVD machines, test it and let me know.
Do I have a hidden virus? George via email asks: EVERY SUNDAY I update my antivirus and spyware software and run them without fail. The other day I opened an email from a trusted friend with a GIF image attached. I got sent into Internet Explorer which I never use but the file would not open so I deleted the complete message. Windows then informed me my antivirus was switched off or out of date, which I knew to be incorrect. Something had slipped past Microsoft Security Essentials and McAfee. I tried to update MS Essentials but no joy. I then tried to download it again but was told to delete the existing program and try again. I could not delete the file as there was an error on it. I downloaded AVG and it ran but the next day it would not run and again I could not delete it either. Superantispyware found six Trojan agents and deleted them, but the laptop is not running properly and I cannot open it in safe mode. My limited knowledge tells me I have a hidden virus, I tried to copy my photos on to other media but that’s not working either. Any suggestions other than a lump hammer? Aunty Says: Hi George. It does sound very much like you have a stubborn virus, and probably what is known as a ‘rootkit virus’. Unfortunately as you are not able to start in safe mode you are rather limited regarding using your installed antivirus programs. There are some antivirus programs that you can download and burn onto a CD which can bypass the whole Windows system, but the whole process can be fairly long winded and sometimes risky. You may be better off taking your computer (if you haven’t already fixed it with a lump hammer) to a PC technician so email me with your location and I may be able to recommend somewhere.
That’s all for this week, email me on auntyvirus@roundtownnews.com and I will do my best to sort you out
06-12 January 2012
51
GADGET INSPECTOR
Gadget Inspector´s
Technology Review of 2011 THIS WEEK the Inspector takes a look back at the effects of technology on events and people during 2011. SOCIAL NETWORKS 2011 was the year social NETWORKING proved it was more than mere trivia. The good uses were Facebook, Twitter and Blackberry helping to organise big social events, and the not so good in being a part of antisocial behaviour such as the London Riots. But the social networks do now play a vital role in distributing important information too, not just that Auntie Sally´s just clipped her toenails. PLAYSTATION GAMING NETWORK HACKED 2011 again highlighted the risks people take in storing their personal details online. After a hacking attack Sony was forced to take it´s PlayStation Network offline, affecting 75 million users. This raised many questions over the safety of personal information, and particularly with the increasing trend for storing more and more personal information online. Be careful out there.
SPOTIFY SUCCESS CONTINUES With notable failures in its wake (Napster), the European music streaming service Spotify continued expansion into the USA. Gaining a huge boost of 2.5 million paying customers from its alliance with Facebook, Spotify continues to prove the critics wrong. However with artists unhappy with their fees, and music labels causing continuing issues with licensing the future is still far from certain.
technology in 2011 was the death of Steve Jobs. A massive influence on the way we use information and communication technology, the effects of his loss have yet to be felt. How Apple will adapt in 2012 with successor Tim Cook at the helm will be studied intently.
GOOGLE ENTERS SOCIAL ARENA With Google continuing its dominance of new technology and generating huge profits from its search engine based advertising streams, it was only a matter of time before it entered the social networking arena. 2011 saw the launch of Google+ in direct competition with Facebook. Offering new features it is going to be interesting to see if it attracts as many users as Google are hoping for in 2012.
BLACKBERRY’S MESSAGES GO MISSING And finally, the award for most embarrassing technological failure of 2011 goes to Research In Motion, the company behind Blackberry. For 36 hours, in Europe initially, and then the rest of the world, Blackberry users found their emails slowed or just ground to a halt. Caused by a core failure of the messaging system, what was really highlighted was how large companies continue to fail to communicate problems when they happen: it was a further 36 hours before any sort of explanation was offered to its users. A strategy employed by Apple in the past, it normally only succeeds in alienating customers.
STEVE JOBS 1955-2011 Undeniably the biggest (and saddest) event in
A Very Happy New Year, and let’s hope 2012 brings a gaggle of gorgeous gadgets!
52 44 48
06-12 Jan 20122011 28 - 33NOV 28OCT OCTNOV 2011 28
When a child is born… Not branded IT MAY well be that when you are reading this the baby of Beyonce and Jay-Z has already been born, but at the time of writing, the story I wanted to relate to you is not about the joyous occasion but about the buildup to the event as it really does beggar belief … it seems that St Luke´s Roosevelt Hospital in New York set aside half of the available space of the Labour Area for the event, even although the normal amount was all that was needed … This suggests to me that quite a number of other mums-to-be could well have been inconvenienced by such a decision, but I guess the world media, family and friends, and copious amounts of hangers on wanting to say they were there when The Child Was Born are more important … Beyonce comes across as an extremely fine young woman which makes it all the more bizarre that she should run with such a scenario. The question must surely now be asked … Was the baby conceived by the usual means or was it an Immaculate Conception?
Showbiz Goss by
Peter Taylor
Writer and Broadcaster
When the lights go down TO COMPLETE a very American theme this week’s offering I have the story of actor Alec Baldwin’s decision to not run for the post of New York Mayor in 2013, having spoken out many times in the past about how keen he was to get the job. “I lost my appetite for the role,” Alec said on his weekly WNYC radio podcast - then it got a lot more interesting when he added: “…the other candidates are too eager to land the position and that has put me off!” Then it got extraordinarily more interesting when he then said: “they’re like a guy on a date who can’t wait to get his hand in your blouse before even the lights go out! … They´re all just so horny for it!!” … Alright! Don’t quite get the reference to rifling in the blouse mind you … does this mean Alec has a frilly item or two in the cupboard at home. The rest of what he said was a bit political banging on about change and is it really possible, but no bother Alec, the hand down the blouse has won you my vote good buddy.
anymore
I HATE to say I told you so! … But I told you so! … I have brought the disaster of a human being that is Russell Brand to this page on four separate occasions over the last half a dozen months and in each case I referred to the need for Katy Perry to get rid of the idiot and so we arrive at … I told you so … the break up took 14 months to happen, but happen it has … for me Brand will always be the person who abused an elderly man on UK National Radio, with a great deal of assistance from Jonathon Ross as you well know, and sadly that notoriety created a whole new window of opportunity for these two saddos, and an obviously vulnerable Katy Perry saw the Brand ugliness as something she wanted to be part of … the story has been bubbling under for a wee while now but now it is done, and I am now looking forward to the Brand name being omitted from the tabloids and to Katy Perry showing us just how talented she really is.
101 Spanish Verbs The Art of Conjugation Book Review by
Danny Collins
copy@dannyjpcollins.com
THE NEW Year is a time for resolutions and top of the list should be to learn how to speak to the natives, so this week we’re ignoring the world of adventure and derring-do and getting back to the nitty-gritty of learning our hosts’ language. Enough of shouting ‘carrots!’ at the man in the grocery store, or ordering the manager flambé with a sprinkling of garlic in the restaurant - this time we’re going to learn those tenses, even if it does make us, well...tense. Each year we see a plethora of books aimed at new ways to make us remember verbs and how to conjugate them. True enough Spanish verbs are difficult for the native English speaker because we’ve grown up learning three words for each. I eat, he eats, yesterday we ate... Not only do the Spanish insist on multiplying that amount, they also throw in a host of irregulars and insist you make funny noises while saying them, gethit? This handy McGraw book has hit on colour-coding the tenses so, for example, blue is the conditional throughout the text. That sounds a bit ‘duh’ but I found it easy to follow. Yeah, well ‘duh’ again. Nonetheless, it’s a handy book to have
Suduko Answer around and browse occasionally. Remember that, just like giving up smoking, you’ll never learn a language unless you want to. So here’s your chance. What’s more you can log onto the books companion website www.learnverbs.com and amuse yourself – and the cat – by imitating the pronunciation. Good luck. More next week. Author: Rory Ryder Publisher: McGraw Hill Price: 8.40€ ISBN: 978 0 07 149903 3
motoring
06-12 Jan 2012
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Volvo hybrid to debut in 2013
THE VOLVO Car Corporation is about to introduce the Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid - a rechargeable diesel model and the company’s most technically advanced, with immediate interest indicating a quick sell out. November 2012 will see a limited production of 1,000 cars with ‘Pure Limited’ specifications, including the highest trim level Summum. The price is tipped to start at around 57,000€. “We are convinced that the first thousand cars will be sold even before production gets under way next autumn,” said Stefan Jacoby, President and CEO of Volvo Car Corporation. The Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid is the synthesis of the Volvo Car Corporation and Swedish electricity supplier Vattenfall, with the development financed jointly. Production will increase to 4,000 - 6,000 cars for the year 2014. About 30 % of total volume will go to Sweden and the Nordic countries. Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, France, the
1,000 cars will be produced in 2012
Netherlands and Britain will have a share of between 5% and 15% each. Surveys show that the main target group for the V60 Plug-in Hybrid includes drivers eager to adopt unique new technology. The Volvo Car Corporation expects that 80% of sales will be for company cars. STARTER PACK Vattenfall offers new owners a starter pack including 100% renewable electricity generated by Vattenfall´s own production facilities and a wall-mounted charging station. The starter pack will be provided in Vattenfall’s core markets: Sweden, Germany and Netherlands.
The interior
SUPERIOR TECHNOLOGY From the environmental viewpoint the plug-in hybrid is totally superior to the first generation of hybrid cars, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 15%. The large rechargeable battery pack in the V60 Plug-in
Hybrid gives 65% lower carbon dioxide emissions than a conventional V60 with the same diesel engine: 49 g/km. This corresponds to fuel consumption of just 1.9 litres/100 km. The driver can choose to cover up to 50km on pure electric power - or utilise the combined capacity of the diesel engine and electric motor. This is a brand new concept and one long overdue in the industry – the luxury of being able to choose a driving experience at the touch of a button - Pure, Hybrid or Power. The design responds to the concept that in order to get true car enthusiasts to ‘think green’, you must offer them the opportunity to drive with low carbon dioxide emissions without taking away the adrenaline rush that promotes genuine driving pleasure. A study of daily driving shows that most European drivers cover less than 50kms per day, for instance to and from work or school. On longer trips, the diesel engine gives the car the same range as a conventional hybrid - but with far lower carbon dioxide emissions.
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06-12 Jan 2012
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06-12 Jan 2012
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06-12 Jan 2012 application form from www.2 4hourhomecareservices.com 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 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
S.O.S. INSURANCE CarHome-Health-Comercial. Funeral Plans and Insurance. Tlf:-966-787123/622-275-561 686-116-297
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.
WHEELCHAIR Light, Foldable,150€. Electric Mobility Scooter, SUNRISE MEDICAL 40km range 499€. Both like new! Tlf:-627-019-403 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
MR FIXIT: for all your electrical, plumbing, general & appliance repairs. No callout. 698 320 434
ALEXANDERS PAY TOP LONDON PRICES Javea Port seafront – Monday to Saturday - 10am till 3pm. Established since 2003 Tel: 965792595 or 667270969
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.
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 Several dining sets to choose from in different styles, classic, modern, bamboo, pine, glass etc. Many with matching sideboards: www.michaelsjavea.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 A high quality Antique Roll-top desk from the famous American E.Feige Desk Company. Very big with lots of small drawers. See: www.
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.
ARE YOU A GREAT SINGER? want to join a rock & roll band? are you out going? a team player? if you can answer yes to these questions. there is an opportunity for you now! call : 6610350963
Cars wanted
Good condition LHD Spanish Cars Wanted for cash 95 – 02 Transfers completed Tlf: 693 859 942 or 650 740 265
MY LITTLE ONE AND I MUST PART Ford Puma silver 3 door 1.6 1997 90,000kms, ITV till march 2012, full service history cd, radio and aircon. 1700€ tel christine on : 966712164 / 678157838 GOING HOME? Good selection of right hand drive vehicles for sale or exchange. Tel Frank 600726221/965687976 www. fwreurocars.com FORD FUSION 1.4, 2008 Automatic duroshift, 1 owner, 66,000kms, FSH. High spec model, stunning condition. Light metallic blue. 8,450€. Tel Frank 600726221/965687976 www. fwreurocars.com PEUGEOT 307CC CABRIO AUTOMATIC TIPTRONIC 2008, 1 owner, 48,000kms. FSH. Alloys, climate, cruise control, parking sensors, front fogs, high spec model, finished in a beautiful metallic blue, stunning condition. 14,250€. Tel Frank 600726221/965687976 www. fwreurocars.com LOOKING FOR A CAR? We have a good selection of LHD and RHD vehicles including automatics for sale or exchange. Simply view our easy to use website www.fwreurocars.com or call 965 687 976/600 726 221
WANTED Scrap cars, vans, lorries, plant and caravans. Turn your scrap into cash. From Valencia to Alicante. Free collection. Tel: 689-929395 WANTED I buy any car, van,Caravan,4x4 Etc.British, Spanish. Immediate cash 600-781-873 ibuyanycar@ hotmail.com
GUITAR VOCALIST SEEKS WORK mixture, will travel: Charlie; 691-622-804
VERY SEXY ATTRACTIVE STRICT LADY offering proffessional service for discerning gentleman. call athena on : 679287257 LOOKING FOR COMPANY? Do you want to explore your sexual fantasies with beautiful Brazilian and Oriental ladies? 24 hours, hotel or home visit Telephone 689526354 THOSE FAMOUS LITTLE BLUE PILLS will be available all over christmas. special christmas offer. buy 10 packs of 4 and get 1 pack of 4 free!!! call Tony now on :638352129. PLEASURE HOUSE TORREVIEJA Sexy girls from South America. Come and enjoy, low rates from 40€. Address: Calle Finlandia. 682776-068 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
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GAY, BI OR CURIOUS. H20 SAUNA.COM Safe, Discreet, Clean, Benidorm Old Town. 966 805 091. 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 680735-412 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 ENGLISH LADY 42 Provides various services.For mature gentlemen. Torrevieja. 681362-442 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
PLUMBING & HEATING BATHROOM REFORMS - TILING - WATER HEATERS - GENERAL PLUMBING. Tel: 630 049 773. email: stevehayward39@yahoo.com www.stevehayward-plumber.eu NORTH COSTA BLANCA SINCE 1996 FOR ALL SHAPES AND SIZES OF SHOWER and bath screens call Don the Showerman on 96 579 2285 or 639 292 081. Immediate delivery on all products from our stock. See our advert on Page 5 North for a map to our showroom
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on the Costa Blanca for 6 years. We offer a professional, reliable, safe and efficient pool service, inc. re-grouting, pressure testing and leak repairs. Private and community swimming pools undertaken. Call now for more information on 965-725-565 or mobile 676-945-360/ 620-743048 www.pooltechspain.com
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
2 BED END OF TERRACE in La Nucia on edge of town. Close to all amenities with communal pool and parking €450 p/m + bills. Available long term if desired. Tel: 608 218 629. ALTEA LA VELLA, COSTA BLANCA Holiday let for 4 people in a 2 bedroomed, first floor, fully furnished apartment. A/C + C/H plus much, much more. Tlf:966-881048 or email foundation@ rtnnewsgroup.com for more information and photographs FOR RENT/SALE 450€PCM 120.000€ Classic Spanish Old Town House, 3 double bedrooms (1 with ensuite bathroom) master bathroom, modern kitchen, downstairs toilet, sun terrace with view of mountains, BBQ terrace with summer kitchen, recentley refurbished and fully furnished. Callosa de en Seria near La Nucia. Tel: 609 177 032 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 691202-307
ARE YOU HAVING TROUBLE SELLING your home? Why not visit www.partexchange-spain. com or text Px to: 650 132 078 ALBIR 2 BED to rent, couple with a baby and looking for a stable long term rent. Max price 525€ plus bills, Call Danny on: 646 619 466 Register your property for FREE at www.rapidpropertysales. com and when we sell your property we will charge you absolutely nothing! The average time it takes us to sell a property is 8 weeks. Register now at www. rapidpropertysales.com – you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
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: 610846-260 or 0044-7519186-355 email:van.man@hotmail.co.uk
INTERPRETER English interpreter provides aid and assistance for visits 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. 965-350-516 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
SOLAR PANEL 24 vault/150 watt, also Generator 5kba gas/ petrol for sale. 675-878-601
This one module box will cost you 10.00€
(+ IVA)
L N B SATELLITES We are a satellite company on the Costa Blanca, we are looking to tidy Spain up. From the lots of television aerials and satellite dishes on the roofs of your houses. If you can’t get rid of or even moved. for just Euro 15.00 I will do this for you. We also do satellite
per week.....
WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? RTN Classifieds: 902 118 999
and aerial installations 1.9.and.2.4m portugese dishes.Phone 626755156. lnbsat@msn.com UKTELEVISION. TV watch British TV channels from anywhere. Easy Setup, Secure Connection. Only €5 per month. Go to www. uktelevision.tv for FREE TRIAL 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
I BUY RECORDS LP’S, SINGLES and cd’s any style, jazz, blues, pop, rock, etc... Top cash paid. 622 750 117 TURN YOUR UNWANTED FURNITURE Electrical, Household Goods and Bric-a-brac into Cash. Anything! Anywhere! 965319-220/ 618-165-877
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Classified Services All Major Credit Cards Accepted - Prices start from 10â‚Ź a week.
Airport Parking
Builders
Book your advert now! 902 118 999 (ext 2)
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06-12 Jan 2012
Business Consultants
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06-12 Jan 2012 Plumbing & Heating
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Noel’s world of golf By Noel Eastwell Teaching Professional Campo de Golf El Plantio 639 730 891
What is the correct pace? WE ARE very lucky to live in our part of the World. We have a fantastic climate and scenery on our golf course that is the envy of the World yet too many of us want to complain about the time it takes to play a round of golf. I am worse than many - I have on numerous occasions complained about the five or five and a half hour rounds of golf we have all no doubt endured at times. Indeed a few weeks ago in a competition I witnessed first-hand a round that took six and a quarter hours to complete. We all know that a round of golf here in Spain takes longer than it always used to in the United Kingdom and many of us have become used to this. The problem is finding the correct pace of play to suit the majority of golfers. A typical four ball on our golf courses should take no longer than four and a half hours for eighteen holes in my opinion. This allows roughly twelve minutes for a par 4, fifteen minutes for a par 5, and ten minutes for a par 3. On an average golf course this should see all players complete eighteen holes comfortable inside four hours allowing for some delays looking for lost golf balls etc. Surely this is reasonable for all of us? Maybe these timings are unreasonable but as a guideline they are not far off being reasonable at worst. Our course marshalls could perhaps be issued with these guidelines to ensure we can all enjoy a round of golf that does not mean waiting around between every shot for so long we forget which end of the club to hold. 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 RTN will be final in making the winning selection. QUESTION FOR 7TH JANUARY 2012: Which country currently has the top 2 ranked players in The World? A. America B. England C. Northern Ireland All answers must be received no later than 5pm on 31st January 2012 to be entered into December’s draw, which will be made on 5th January. The winner will be announced in RTN on 3rd February 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
In 2012 we are likely to see some of the most competitive golf many of us have ever witnessed. Europe dominates the golfing world at the moment and the Americans don’t like that; it is something they will have to get used to with the quality of golfers now plying their trade in Europe. They will be keen to get back to the top of the pile and have some real talent of their own that will compete on tour this year. Tiger Woods is back, but will never again be the force that he was; Phil Mickelson surely cannot have as bad a year as 2011? Rickie Fowler will be a strong contender if his record is anything to go by. Other new boys to look out for are Matt Kuchar and Gary Woodland to name just two. In Europe we see a European Tour so rich in talent that watching any Tour event in 2012 will be a real treat. Some regular faces will be missing but one of the big plusses will be seeing Paul Casey play more in Europe. Sam Hutsby, Steven O’Hara and David Dixon will add quality after their successes at Tour School. The new Tour Schedule started last Thursday in South Africa. Once again this year we see a full schedule of events all across the World as we see The Ryder Cup as the highlight of what is sure to be a momentous year for European golfers. In Spain we only have to wait until March for The Tour to make the first of its many visits to Spain in 2011 with The Open de Andalucía. April sees the first of major championship of the season with The Master. Europe dominated this event for many years and this year it is time for a European win. June sees The US Open come along at The Olympic Club in San Francisco, a venue sure to test the golfers who qualify. This is a venue that should produce a home winner
GOLF Tips
for the Americans. The real major championship comes along in July with the 141st staging of The Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St Anne’s; a golf course that will suit a low hitter who is also a good putter. If the wind blows here it’s going to be a really low score that wins. Look no further than the Europeans for our winner. Then comes the weakest of the majors; The US PGA Championship in August. 28th September will be the date many have penciled in their diaries as Europe look to retain a Ryder Cup won in so much excitement at Celtic Manor in 2010. No doubt the matches will be tight again but Europe must start as favourites bearing in mind the depth of talent and the current World Rankings. We are in for a great golfing year, probably the most exciting ever in Europe. Go along and support The European Tour if you can. To see the top players perform up close is so a real education for anyone interested in golf.
Always try to hit the inside quadrant of the ball to ensure a straighter ball flight.
ITV Orihuela RFC training weekend
06-12 Jan 2012
Fishing Fishing
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Maggots End by
David Hoare 968 199 279
For further details ring Alan Roscoe 968 570 876 or email: anglerstogether@hotmail.co.uk
ITV ORIHUELA RFC will be training this week, but not at the rugby ground, so contact Garry on 692 767 242 if you want to come along, starting at 6pm for this week only, for the seniors and older juniors. Next week is back to normal after the festive period. Also at the weekend there is a training match for the seniors against the juveniles in preparation for the crunch match on 15th January at home against UCAM Murcia. Then on 24th – 26th February, ITV Orihuela RFC will have their usual stand again at the ‘This is Spain Exhibition’ at La Zenia Hotel, supporting as always The Butterfly Children on stand number 7. Tickets for the last home game in the Amlin Cup game for La Vila v Sale Sharks on 14th January are available from Garry – get yours before they all go due to the popular demand for this game.
There is now a new rugby union supporters’ bar in Rojales for the New Year. The rugby bar is at the Steak House in Rojales and will be showing all televised rugby games on Sky Sports and free-to-view channels. This weekend on Saturday will be the games of Worcester v Gloucester and Tigers v Wasps. So come along and see for yourself and bring all your rugby friends along. The club trains on Tuesday and Thursday at the Miguel Hernandez University for the juveniles: seniors starting at 8pm with the juniors on Tuesday and Thursday at 6.15pm. New players are always welcome no matter what age or skill level. For more information contact the club by phoning Garry on 692 767 242: for the juniors contact Oscar on 600 871 606 (Spanish) A Happy New Year to everyone!
Fishing
La Marina
Fishing Rods, Reels, Floats Line, Hooks, Nets, etc + Many accessories. Fishing Tackle. Maggots available.
SHOP OPEN
15% DISCOUNT ON ALL PURCHASES OVER 50€ Avd. Europa, LA MARINA La Marina Market Thurs Montcayo Tuesday & Saturday Lemon Tree Sunday Market Tel Ken: 648 134 465 New Shop: 966 189 969
FC Torrevieja news
WITH HALF the season gone Torry lie in 5th place, one point off a play-off place.They return to action tomorrow, after the festive break, with an away game against Acero who are level on points with Torry and like Torry are chasing a play-off place. Torry should be at full strength and lets hope they are victorious and bring all 3 points back to Torrevieja.
THIS WEEK after the Christmas festivities we were at the Rio Segura, at Murcia. The match was the 3rd in the Presidents cup competition, a series of 4 matches with all to count. The day was quite warm if you were in the sun, however at Murcia you have a day of being in the shade and cold! There had been some rain and the bank again was like a quagmire. The fishing was hard with the exception of one angler as shown by the results. The Murcia Angling Federation said in the last week that the work on dredging the river will take circa a year! This week when we were there, no work was going on, so when the actual dredging starts is anybody’s guess. TOP RODS ON THE DAY 1st Dave (The Sweetie Man) Hutchinson, fishing the pole using bread with 24.94 kg 2nd Bill (The Master) Reade, fishing the feeder using maggot with 8.34 kg 3rd Dave (Yours Truly) Hoare, fishing the pole using bread with 7.60 kg PLEASE NOTE The club at present does have some vacancies and if you are interested in joining please contact Derek Swann on 96 672 9293 or 667 407 026. ABBEY ANGLING RESULTS supplied by Terry Screen As the Club Matches have now finished until the New Year, this week we held an open match at Murcia on the River Segura but we fished below the weir. The water is deep and narrow average depth about seven feet, but with the cold weather taking its toll the weights were poor. 1st Alan (The Emperor) Roscoe with 4.200kg 2nd Dave (The Sweetie Man) Hutchinson with 2.620kg 3rd Marlene (The Sweetie Lady) Hutchinson with 2.360kg All fishing the pole and maggot Abbey Angling Club held their Christmas Dinner and Presentation at the Abbey Tavern La Florida on Saturday 17th December, and a very good time was had by all. The Trophies were presented to: Abbey Angling Cup: Winner Bill Reade Second Stan Roberts Third Terry Screen Spring Series: Winner Stan Roberts Second Lennie Bolton Third Terry Screen Summer Series: Winner Ian Dalzell Second Bill Reade
Third Terry Screen Winter Series: Winner Stan Roberts Second Terry Screen Third Dave Hoare The photograph shows Derek Swann our guest from Rod and Reels presenting trophies to our Chairman Alan Reid and Dave Hutchinson on behalf of Stan Roberts who is in the UK at present. Last Tuesday evening our Committee met with the President of the Murcian Federation at his office, to clarify the situation regarding the need to join both the Murcian and Valencian Federation as there has been conflicting reports. The President confirmed that you only need to be a member of one Federation to be affiliated to the Spanish National Federation of Anglers which enables you to fish matches anywhere in Spain. He also informed us that if we wish to fish matches in the Valencian region ie: Beniarres Embalsa, if we advise him of the dates he will book them for us through the Murcian Federation, and with regard to the Federation Insurance it covers you for fishing anywhere in Spain. I would also like to take this opportunity to wish all fishermen and families a very Merry Xmas and a Happy Healthy and Prosperous New Year 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, i.e. passport photo-page, NIE and insurance. THERE WILL BE NO MEETING S IN JANUARY The next meetings are: Friday 10th February at 12pm at Mary’s Bar, Campoverde (near Pilar de la Horadada); Saturday 11th February at 12pm at The New Royal Bar and Restaurant at El Alamillo, opposite the sea-front between Isla Plana and Puerto de Mazarron.