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03-09 february 2012

Ryanair faces D-day

Legionnaires’ deaths Two pensioners lost their lives on Tuesday and Wednesday after an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease struck the resort of Calpe. p7

Need new windows or doors?

by louise clarke

RYANAIR’S CASE against AENA Alicante’s forced use of air bridges goes to the Alicante Court of Appeal next Tuesday.

Due to the impending hearing, RTN was invited to attend a press conference with Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary to get his take on the situation which, if the court rules against the company, will see the withdrawal of 300 flights and the loss of 1.5 million passengers and 1,500 jobs.

The airline chief told RTN: “If the court backs our appeal, we will reverse the decision immediately and by the end of February all those flights will be back on sale on the website for the summer months.”

He added: “We don’t spend money on expensive PR and marketing as we like to keep our costs low and our flights cheap, but when we need to make a noise, we will do and that is what we are doing here today.”

Lu x - a l a re o f f e r i n g F REE fi t t i n g f o r t h e fi r s t 2 5 c u s t om e r s ! S e e t h e i r ad ve r t on p43

Make this Valentine’s Day a Smartphone Day With a little heart and help from technology, individuals can use their smartphones to easily plan for this romantic time. p44

Aunty Virus

More of your technical questions and problems are answered in this weekly feature. p58

Michael O’Leary

BLACKMAIL Currently Ryanair has eleven

bases in Spain and fly to 22 airports with more than 500 routes carrying 34 million passengers. They are expecting delivery of eleven new planes direct from Boeing later this year and O’Leary stated that he plans to capitalise on the recent bankruptcy of Spanair by using some of those new aircraft on the lucrative Barcelona – Alicante route. But only if the air bridge decision is overturned.

When RTN asked what he thought to the allegations that he was ‘blackmailing’ the airport company into submission by his claims he said: “How can you blackmail a state run organisation like AENA? These are not heavy handed tactics because you just cannot do that to AENA. The truth of the matter is they don’t give a s**t about this. All they care about is getting the money back on that great big cathedral of an airport terminal that was built to please some politician.”

Continued on page 3

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03 - 09 feb 2012

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Jet2.com to stick with San Javier by louise clarke

JET2.COM has announced that although it is backing the new Murcia airport in Corvera, it will continue to use San Javier for the summer season and will only start using the new facility in November 2012.

Jet2.com urged the regional Government and the new airport team to ensure minimum passenger disruption by delaying the airport switchover until after the summer season, in November, thus enabling customers to make their travel plans for this coming year.

In addition the company has also developed its Jet2holidays offering to the region, which is leading the way in offering inclusive holiday packages to the Costa Calida.

The regional government has promised to provide the best possible facilities so passengers can still enjoy a very fast transit through the new airport, so they can fully maximise their time in the sunshine. During the visit Jet2.com was also shown the new car hire facilities and brand new road links to the A30 motorway network, providing a swift transfer to the key holiday resorts in the region.

Auto sales started the year with a decline CAR SALES, always a good indication of economic health, fell by a disappointing 16.7% in the province of Alicante in January.

However, at national level there was a slight increase of 1.98% this year in contrast to the same period in

2011. The Federation of Associations of Dealers (Faconauto) has taken the figures to mean that the sector has ‘bottomed out’ and will enable regrowth. Faconauto notes that sales in smaller vehicles are beginning to yield positive rates.

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Dancing moves on the platform

by Jan Gamm

THE ADIF railway station platform in Alicante resembled a scene from Strictly Come Dancing from 11.30am on Sunday as hundreds of people gathered to enjoy an exhibition of ballroom classics performed by the Alternative Cultural Association of Ballroom Dancing. The exhibition was staged to promote the World Day for Peace and Non Violence and students from various groups laid down their moves and encouraged bystanders to join in. Event coordinator Montse Uriarte said “The morning was perfect attended by many people and we were able to demonstrate different types of ballroom dancing.”

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03 - 09 feb 2012

Carnival in Santiago de la Ribera is revving up

Great weekly day trips The Mayor of San Javier and some of the Carnival committee

by Louise clarke THE MAYOR of San Javier, Juan Martínez Pastor, has announced that the Carnival in Santiago de la Ribera will be held from 18th to 26th February.

The Mayor, accompanied by the Councillor for Fiestas, Gloria Cuenca, and the Councillor for Tourism, Antonio Martínez, along with the Chairman of the Carnival committee, José Carrió, announced the carnival calendar which starts with the election of the Infant Queen on February 18th at the carnival Marquee on the Barnuevo esplanade. On February 19th, the Junior Queen will be chosen from at least eight candidates in a contest that is growing in popularity year on year.

The carnival programme also includes a masked ball for older residents to be held on February 21st and the main event, the Carnival itself, will take place on Saturday 25th February.

The carnival will make its way from Santiago de la Ribera right into the heart of San Javier and there will be prizes for best costumes.

The Mayor told RTN: “I would like to praise all the work being done by the groups involved in the carnival, because they are what make the party.” He added: “The 2012 Carnival programme will certainly maintain the high level of celebration that continues to grow each year, despite the cuts that will affect other local fiestas and events.”

Neighbours Association Informative meeting THE NEIGHBOURS Association of San Miguel would like to invite friends and neighbours to an informative meeting on Wednesday 8th February at their new office in San Miguel, next to the Post Room. The meeting starts at 12pm and will give information and advice to international residents. For more information please contact the President of the Neighbours Association, Maria Jose Costa Medrano, on 661 315 427.

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continued from front page

Whatever the arguments are, one thing is certain and that is unless the decision is reversed on Tuesday, these cuts to routes, passengers and jobs will happen. O’Leary explained: “If we have to use the air bridges, passengers can only leave from the front of the plane and therefore our 25 minute turnaround cannot happen. And as we have to adhere to strict air traffic slots, even a five minute delay could mean a delay of up to an hour which will throw our whole operation into chaos.”

The airport company has offered to allow Ryanair to disembark by foot during the winter but not during the busier summer due to health and safety. Mr O’Leary commented: “How can it be okay to do that in the winter but not in the summer? It makes no sense.” AENA then offered them buses, which would cost more than they are charging for air bridges.

The airline boss said: “That proposal took us about two seconds to analyse and say no to. It was a stupid proposal in a long line of stupid proposals.” He concluded: “We don’t need any more daft suggestions by AENA, we just need the right solution.”

And so does the Costa Blanca.

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03 - 09 feb 2012

Spanair folds leaving thousands stranded by jan gamm

BARCELONA-BASED Spanish airline Spanair, Spain’s fourth largest airline, filed for bankruptcy on Monday. In financial difficulties for the last several years, the airline suspended operations last weekend amid debts that have spiralled to €300 million.

Spanair’s chief creditor is Swedish SAS, the Spanish airline’s majority owner until 2009, retaining a 10% stake in the carrier. More than 20,000 passengers were stranded by Spanair’s decision to cease flight operations early Saturday at just a few hours’ notice.

that the EU withholds additional public funding for the bankruptcy and reorganisation of the stricken airline that was propped up to the tune of €150 million by the Catalonian government since 2009. Late on Friday Qatar Airlines declined to invest in Spanair resulting in the decision to cease operations.

At El Altet, 44 Spanair employees have been left in the lurch, driven to stage a week of demonstrations at the terminal and pleading for a fair financial settlement.

FUNDING

Francisco Javier Moreno served 18 years with Spanair, starting work at Barajas in 1994. Yesterday he broke down in tears after receiving the news of the airline’s demise.

His colleagues Vicente and Cristina, both Spanair employees, are left with no income

Spanair employs around 4,000 people, half working directly for the airline and the rest for contractors providing ground facilities such as cleaning and maintenance.

Ryanair has already formally requested

Measles

THERE ARE also 31 new cases of Measles diagnosed in Alicante this week bringing the total number of infections since last January. Health officials have not yet declared an epidemic as cases so far appear to be confined to an area within the northern part of the city of Alicante. The Department of Health has advised bringing forward the first dose of MMR vaccine from age 15 months to 12 months. Vaccine is also recommended to adults between 20 and 45 years who are not vaccinated and have not had the disease. The incubation period for Measles is 15 days.

TEARS

Passengers are stranded

with three children to support and a mortgage: “Overnight we were given notice that we were to be out on the street.” And despite being assured 1,000€ was available for them on the payroll, it has not appeared.

Spanair’s workforce included 2,075 workers in Spain with a further 2,000 employed by han-

dlers Newco affected by the company’s closure.

Despite their distress, four of Spanair’s staff manned the Spanair office at El Altet on Saturday to assist nearly 400 stranded passengers.

Individuals may process fare refunds via the Spanair website at www.spanair.com

Odyssey loses its treasure

THE UNITED States judiciary has ordered the Odyssey Marine Exploration Company to return the ‘Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes’ treasure to Spain. The haul consists of 14 tons of silver and gold, to be returned to Spain within ten days, rejecting an appeal against an earlier ruling. The US Supreme Court found that the Spanish frigate was a naval vessel on active military service and as such was a “ship of the state” and not a merchant vessel. Spanish Culture Minister José Ignacio Wert was “satisfied” on receiving the news. Odyssey, in possession of the treasure since May The 2007, now has no further opportunity for appeal. The Odyssey ‘Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes’ under the command of vessel nicknamed Rear Admiral José Bustamente was sunk by the British off The Black the coast of the Algarve in 1804. She was carrying bullion Swan from the Caribbean back to Spain.

www.roundtownnews.co.uk

New licence brigade revealed

by Louise Clarke THE ORIHUELA Town Hall has announced that it has set up a brigade or team of inspectors to inspect business licences throughout the municipality.

The Town Hall has admitted that it does not have any idea how many businesses the municipality has and what services they provide and to whom and so this brigade will not only check licences but will also conduct a census of activities as well as supervising the issuing of licences and payment of fees.

Two Town Planning Officers have been recruited to the brigade and will start to visit all establishments within Orihuela next week to determine business holder details and confirm that their licences are appropriate for the activities or services that they provide.

PROTOCOL It is estimated that there are 800 businesses operating in the Orihuela Costa area alone and so the team is primarily focusing its inspections on the coast.

The officials visiting the businesses will carry identification and will never ask for payment of any amount.

The protocol will be as follows: the officers will visit the business premises and ask for the required licence and ask that it be displayed within the premises.

If the application is incorrect or needs updating, the licence application will be taken and the business owner will be

Bob Houliston and the Cllr for Activities, Antonio Zapata

told how to make the payment of fees.

The collated data will then go onto a provisional census which will also specify the activity of the business and confirm that they are licensed and have paid any necessary fees. If everything is correct and above board, the establishment will go onto the final census.

SAFETY If a business only has the application for a licence, owners will be required to go to the Department of Activities at the Orihuela Town Hall in order to complete the application, correct any deficiencies and pay the fees. They will then obtain the correct licence. If not licensed, disciplinary proceedings will be opened and business owners will be penalised.

Councillor for Urbanism and Activities, Antonio Zaplata (PSOE), told RTN: “Penalties can range from suspension of activity and subsequent fines to complete closure of the establishment.” He added: “The purpose of this brigade is to enforce the law as the Town Hall must monitor all the activities that are carried out in the municipality in accordance with the rules of safety.” He concluded: “Licensed premises will then be required to show a poster within the premises to prove that they are fully licensed and where breaches occur and the brigade locate an establishment without a licence, a poster will be placed on the premises to show that a violation has occurred.”

You have been warned!

03 - 09 feb 2012

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Zorro comes forward RTN READERS may recall that on our letters page a couple of weeks ago, we printed a ‘thank you’ letter from a couple who would have been robbed at a cash point machine had it not been for the heroics of a man who we dubbed ‘Zorro’. Well, last week RTN heard from ‘Zorro’ and keen to get both parties together, we now need to hear from that couple who were saved from having a terrible Christmas thanks to our man’s efforts. Unfortunately, we did not get a contact telephone number or address from this couple and so we need them to get back in touch with us. If this was you, or you know this couple, please call Louise, our Southern reporter on 609 417 385 or email her at louise@roundtownnews.com.

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03 - 09 feb 2012

The largest traffic black spot in the Marina Alta

College of Alicante cuts legal aid services THE COLLEGE of Alicante has brought in additional paperwork necessary when claiming legal aid, certain to cause delays in securing legal representation. The Law Society of Alicante responded to cuts within the Department of Justice by restructuring the system -which means more bureaucracy to further slow a process that already moves at a snail’s pace. Most controversial is the effect on support services for abuse victims. Should the victim wish to apply for private prosecution counsel, the court must fax a request to the College. Police stations, barracks and courts can no longer call on lawyers to attend or assist. From now on, all must notify the College, which will be responsible for allocating a lawyer to cover the service. The president of the Association of Women Lawyers, Maria Garcia Olcina, said on Wednesday: “A victim cannot wait for five hours in a hallway to get a lawyer - what is needed is immediate assistance.” Another important measure is the time in which Legal Aid may be applied for, now restricted to Thursdays only from 9am until 1.30pm.

New abortion law 2500 homes and not a single stop sign

by JAn gamm THE CUMBRE del Sol, one of the largest urbanisations in the Marina Alta with a staggering 2516 homes and no less than 100 miles of streets, has no traffic safety signs. Not a stop sign in sight!

The area is a maze of criss-crossed roads and although street names and directional information signs are very much in evidence there are no traf-

fic signs at the many intersections on the urbanisation. Residents have waited four years since proposals for adequate road signage were submitted to the council, estimated to cost around 66,000€. An alternative less ambitious proposal costing 38,000€ was submitted but both projects are in mothballs as the council no longer

has the cash to spare. “We have these projects and the willingness to carry them out, but we hit a financial hurdle,” confessed Benitachell’s mayor, Josep Femenia. It is now proposed that at the very least ‘stop’ signs and ‘give way’ signs should be painted onto the roads with priority given to dangerous intersections.

JUSTICE MINISTER Alberto Ruiz Gallardon announced changes to the abortion laws in Spain on Wednesday but gave no specific details of other potential changes to the legislation or when the reform would be presented.

It is anticipated that parental permission will be required for girls aged 17 and under when seeking a termination. Under the Socialist government the law was updated in 2010 to allow abortion without restriction within the first 14 weeks of pregnancy and this included 16 and 17 year olds. The Justice Minister claims that

the new abortion laws will be a “breakthrough” and denied that the law sought

by Mariano Rajoy’s Government would incorporate the possibility of imprisonment for women who violated the new abortion law.

Legionnaires’ deaths

www.roundtownnews.co.uk

by JAck troughton

TWO BRITISH tourists died in a Costa Blanca hospital this week after an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease struck the resort of Calpe. A total of six guests, including one Spanish national, all aged in their seventies and eighties were taken to the Benidorm Clinic last month after falling ill at a hotel in the town. The two pensioners lost their lives on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The five British tourists were holidaying with Saga. It is understood another five customers have developed the disease after returning home to the UK following breaks in Spain.

Legionnaires’ disease is contracted by inhaling tiny infected droplets of water in the air. The incubation period is 10 to 12 days and health chiefs warn further cases could occur.

But the source of the outbreak remains a mystery. Scientists from the Spanish Health Authority and an expert from Saga have inspected the hotel but were unable to find traces of the bacteria.

native accommodation and the company also sent out additional staff to help care for guests in the crisis.

“It is vital for us at Saga that we do the right thing as quickly as possible and we quickly provided support for customers and the families of those taken ill.”

Mr Green said Saga’s own expert recommended changes to some of the hotel’s plumbing – while the Spanish authorities have cleaned the whole water system.

“Even though the hotel has been given a clean bill of health, we will not use it for our customers until the work is completed and it has been tested again for the bacteria.”

News of the outbreak only became public this week after a Department of Health warning – part of a well-oiled Europe wide protocol for notifying an outbreak of Legionnaires’ – was sent by a UK doctor to a friend who runs a local website.

DEATHS

TRUST

A spokesman for the British Consulate in Alicante confirmed the two deaths of two British nationals and said consular assistance was being given to those affected and their families.

Paul Green, a spokesman for Saga Holidays, said the company was informed on January 14th a guest at a hotel in Calpe had fallen ill with a form of pneumonia.

“Five of our clients were taken to hospital for treatment although one was discharged after being successfully treated with antibiotics,” he said.

“When you contract Legionnaires’ you first develop a ‘flutype illness and all our customers in the hotel were asked whether they had such symptoms and that process revealed the five who needed treatment.

“We also contacted customers who have returned to the UK over the previous weeks and that revealed another five.”

Saga holidaymakers at the hotel were transferred to alter-

The letter, dated 19th January, was circulated to GPs, emergency departments, consultants in communicable diseases, and the medical directors of NHS trusts. Written by Helen ShirleyQuirk, the interim director of health protection, it said “This alert is to advise you of a possible outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease associated with a hotel in Calpe, Costa Blanca, Spain.

“The HPA has received notifications of four confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease and a probable fifth case associated with a hotel in this area.”

She also said: “Clinicians are asked to consider Legionnaires disease as a possible diagnosis in patients who may present with flu-like symptoms and/or lower respiratory tract symptoms and who have returned from Calpe in the last two weeks.”

RTN has taken an editorial decision not to name the hotel involved at this stage.

Let’s get married at the Notary...

The idea from the new Minister for Justice, Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón, that Spaniards can marry and divorce in front of the notary, is proving controversial. Comments range from a ‘good idea’ to ‘a blunder’. The professionals and notaries talk of ‘qualification and speed’, while some citizens’ collectives have said ‘A wedding is more than a contract’. One of the most controversial parts of the idea is the payment of a tax for the process, and for divorce both sides have to be in agreement. The Justice Minister considers that it will ease the overwork in the courts, and bring more work to the notaries who have seen less demand for their services since the real estate bubble burst.

03 - 09 feb 2012

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03 - 09 feb 2012

Worrying news for parents DOZENS OF Vega Baja schools are protesting against the severe cuts being imposed upon them through the Valencia government’s austerity measures.

The matching green t-shirts emblazoned with ‘Education for All’

by LOUISE CLARKE The Gloria Fuertes Primary School in San Miguel de Salinas is one of hundreds of educational facilities affected. At a meeting this week, the true extent of just how it is being affected was spelt out to parents. The school will be worse off by more than 60,000€ per year, putting the lunchtime ‘comedor’ service under threat as the majority of that loss is allocated to the employment of lunchtime monitors. Funding for two learning support teachers has also been axed meaning that those children needing extra help will no longer receive any additional support.

Moreover, as the Valencia government has not paid the school what it is owed for the last trimester of 2011, more than 10,000€, monthly bills have been paid from the surplus in its bank account and there is now nothing left. The Director told RTN: “The account is officially cleaned out.”

CONSEQUENCES The cuts have outreaching consequences for the village. The local pizzeria supplies all the food for the school and sources ingredients from local businesses. The local bookshops that supply the children with their school books and accept the Valencia Government’s book vouchers to pay for them have also not been paid and are struggling to cope financially.

Brrrr it’s cold

SUPPORT On Monday, parents, teachers and children descended on the church square in an official protest. Some teachers, in matching green t-shirts emblazoned with ‘Education for All’, spoke at the event to vent their frustration at the cuts. Meanwhile, the San Miguel Councillor for Education, Inma Hernandez attended to show her support. “I think that it is very important to be here to support the teachers.” She told RTN: “The Town Hall understands the impossible situation that the school is in and it is fully supportive of the Education Platform that has been formed by the teachers and parents of both education centres in San Miguel.”

NO FUTURE Julie Bartlett has children in both schools.

“I feel that this situation has come on very suddenly without warning,” she told RTN, “and while I appreciate that the government needs to make cuts, if they don’t invest in children’s education, they will have no future and neither will the country.”

Many parents shared Julie’s viewpoint.

Andy Fox also has children in both schools.

He commented: “In Rajoy’s first speech to parliament, he said that it was a disgrace that there were no Spanish Universities in the Top 100 and that he would make education a priority… priority my a**e!”

Temperatures sank below zero along the coast yesterday: inland and mountainous regions are tipped to drop to a shivering 7º below zero according to the Laboratory of Climatology at the University of Alicante and the Meteorological Agency. The fall in temperatures is attributed to a polar air stream from Eastern Europe. The worst of the cold will be experienced on Thursday and Friday, warming up slightly over the weekend. Icy temperatures have been felt across most of Europe with more than 40 homeless people dying in extreme temperatures below 28º in the Ukraine, Serbia, Poland and Bulgaria.

Town hall plans for house legalisation

by Louise Clarke IT HAS been announced that the Orihuela Town Hall is planning to try to legalise more than 200 urbanisations; many of which are on the coast. Between 1997 and 2010 more than 38,000 new homes were built in over 200 urbanisations in Orihuela; many of them are still unfinished.

Councillor for Urbanism, Antonio Zapata, has alleged that due to the previous administration issuing completed

habitation certificates without verifying that works had been executed one hundred percent, some houses could have certificates that shouldn’t and some don’t have certificates when they should.

As a result, the Town Hall is preparing a report of all new developments and if there are any shortcomings, the developer will be ordered to return to correct the deficiencies (if they are still in business that is!)

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03 - 09 feb 2012

Parking permits to be re-evaluated by louise clarke

THE ORIHUELA Councillor for Town Planning, Antonio Zapata, has announced details this week of changing to the application process of parking ‘vados’ after they were unanimously approved by the government team at last week’s monthly ‘pleno’ meeting.

Councillor Antonio Zapata Zapata told reporters at a press conference at the Town Hall that of the 103,000 homes that exist in Orihuela, only 1,300 have been registered to have ‘vados’ or no parking permits. The Councillor added that there are many fake plaques or unauthorised use of plaques which are placed outside homes and garages to prevent people parking in front of them. The moves to reassess the register aim to rectify what Zapata calls: “the inequalities between law-abiding citizens and those who are not.”

MODIFICATIONS The Councillor also indicated that entry and exit of vehicles into properties cause damage to the pavement which then needs to be repaired using money from Orihuela taxpayers. Therefore, he has announced that all building owners will have to seek permission for entry and exit modifications for vehicles into their properties regardless of whether or not they want to reserve space in front of them. He told RTN: “If they go over the pavement to get into their property, they need a ‘vado’.”

So the new ordinance consists of two types

of resolutions: A planning resolution which authorises the entry and exit of vehicles and a no parking resolution, which includes the ‘vado’ or no parking plate that identifies the owner of the property.

OBLIGATIONS Zapata added: “To have one, the other one is needed and the ‘vado’ then becomes a public document in itself. So, any person who forges a plaque can be arrested and charged as a criminal for forgery of public documents.”

The new boards include a sticker with a bar code that identifies the owner and the length of time for which authorisation is valid.

Zapata also said that any person who uses a garage should request permission for their vehicle to enter and exit and he has stated that the ‘vado’ survey will include looking into cases of revocation of the permit, such as death of the permit holder, the non-payment of fees, the misuse of the ‘vado’ and changes to purpose or building activity. In addition, holders of the permits also have a number of obligations; including cleaning them and ensuring that they are visible from the pavement.

Federico Trillo appointed ambassador to the US PP DEPUTY Frederico Trillo is to be appointed as Spanish Ambassador to the United States, replacing the Socialist’s representative since 2008, Jorge Dezcallar. Married with five children, Federico Trillo-Figueroa Martínez-Conde has been president of the Congress of Deputies, Parliamentary Deputy and also Minister of Defence. His father was a politician attached to the Franco administration.

Trillo spent a few days in London in January brushing up on his English prior Frederico to taking office in Washington.

Trillo

www.roundtownnews.co.uk

Benidorm wants Vegas rules for smokers

by JAn gamm

Benidorm could adopt the same smoking policy as Las Vegas EMPLOYERS IN the hospitality industry in Benidorm are ‘cautiously supporting’ a proposal for an amendment to the smoking laws to allow designated areas for smokers, along similar lines to the guidelines adopted in Las Vegas. Although it is still illegal to smoke in public areas in Las Vegas such as schools, restaurants offices, hospitals, shops etc, from 2007 the law was adapted so that casinos could allow their customers to smoke in the jackpot machine halls as well as in bars

and nightclubs. The change in the law allowed proprietors the decision to designate areas within their premises as ‘smoking zones’. On Tuesday in Benidorm a spokesman for hotel employers (Hosbec), bars and restaurants (Abreca) and nightlife (Ociobal) outlined the decline in turnover that the smoking restriction prompted, saying, “Benidorm needs to make it easier for tourists in times of crisis. This is not to disturb the non-smoker, but smokers should also have a designated space.”

The Consell pays pharmacies half of the cash expected THE VALENCIAN Government has issued an order to pay pharmacies in the province €60 million with a promise to settle the balance owed amounting to a further €60 million within ‘three or four days’ The cash is part payment of arrears stretching back to last September.

However, many of the pharmacists are sceptical that the balance will be paid and anxiously await payment so that they can settle unpaid debts incurred as a result of not being reimbursed by the government for patients’ prescriptions.

One business owner said: “I have mortgaged my house, exhausted my savings and urgently needed the money. We are sinking into utter ruin.”

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mail

03 - 09 feb 2012

letter of the week

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

talk tous

No need to have ‘designer’ drugs MOST OF you already know that pharmacies in the Valencian Community (and probably the rest of Spain) are struggling to keep stocks of drugs , because the Valencian Community cannot afford to pay them for the medication they purchase on our behalf.

Here is an easy way to help. Next time you are renewing your prescriptions, ask your doctor for a ‘generic’ alternative (in Spanish, ‘genérico’, pronounced Hen-Eric-o).

These are the same ingredients, but without the ‘designer’ names given by the drug companies, which allow them to raise their prices.

As an example, my wife and I are both on long-term medication, she for epilepsy and myself to control blood pressure. My ‘designer’ drug had three components, which my pharmacist told me were easily

available individually. I now have the very slight inconvenience of taking three tablets per day, but on my ‘green’ prescriptions this has reduced my personal monthly cost from over 17€ to under 2€! Also, buying these three ingredients instead of the ‘designer’ drug, saves the pharmacist over 28€ per month.

In my wife’s case we have made no personal saving but the pharmacist has saved nearly 130€ per month! Even if you have ‘red’ prescriptions, where you pay nothing, the saving to the pharmacist and Valencia still applies.

Think about this. Between us, my wife and I have made both a personal saving of 15€ per month, plus a whopping 158€ per month for the pharmacy and government. We are just one family.

Multiply that by ALL the individuals or families who have ANY prescribed medication (and it does not have to

Sick of all the moaning I AM constantly sick of hearing all the moaning that gets printed in the papers. We would prefer information and stories worth printing to constant whinging about everything and anything.

Firstly, we changed to Iberswitch over a year ago. Yes, there were a few problems but that was Iberdrola not wishing to lose customers - Iberswitch came through in the end.

Secondly! These people than constantly moan about the Spanish way of life: if you don’t like it go

back, were not stopping you… but there again, you will constantly be whinging about the UK as well…!

Have you ever thought what miserable SAD people you are: is anywhere good enough for you? People think ‘We’ll go live in Spain and then we’ll change it to ‘Little Britain’. No thanks - we came to live here to get away from all that crap, so please if you don’t like it here go back or somewhere else and give us some peace.

Mrs Carol Taylor

be just long-term illnesses- even a course of antibiotics might have a generic alternative) and you can see the potential saving for your pharmacist, for the Valencian Community and ultimately, for the government!

Who is the only loser? Well of course it is the Multi-national drugs companies: the Pfisers; Hoechsts and Smithcline-Beechams of this world - do not feel sorry for them.

Think of the effect if this principle were accepted practice throughout Spain! We are talking hundreds, thousands of millions of euros, to be used in better ways. (Pay the pharmacists? Pay doctors and nurses? Who knows) John Fletcher, Javea RTN always recommends you contact your doctor before changing your medication.

Here to help you

AS COUNCILLOR for Foreign Residents, Public Participation and Coordinator of Urbanisations for Rojales, I would like to reply to ‘concerned Quesada Resident’ and any other persons experiencing difficulties on a day to day basis. Please call in to see me personally at the Municipal Centre in Quesada where I am based, to inform me where, in this case, the problem is which has evidently existed for some time.

We are at the service of all residents and are here to try to resolve whatever problems exist. Whenever a lighting problem has arisen, they are normally attended to very quickly as we are conscious of the security and well-being of all. Sometimes the problem may take some time to resolve, e.g. copper cabling stolen or perhaps the area has not still been handed over to the Town Hall by the builder, in which case the builder is still responsible for lightning, and we can apply pressure. I can also be contacted on 96 572 56 79.

Derek Monks

They still come back REF THE letter about motor homes in last week’s RTN, I live in the residential area of El Pinet, La Marina, by the lovely beaches, and we residents are fed up with the scrounging motor homes that park at the beach and the car park in front of El Pinet. They pay nothing toward our rates; they take water from our village taps; they also dump their sewage on the land and the beautiful walkways that we have (I have photographs to prove it). They use our bins to dump their rubbish although there is a beautiful camp site not far away, and also two other nice camp sites near Iceland, but they are too tight to use them. We have been in touch with the town hall, but they are basically not interested: we have had one denuncia taken out against them but they still come back.

Mr D. Brown, El Pinet, La Marina

Lacking sense ‘I LOVE my dog but I am killing it’. These words relate to those dog owners you see walking around with very obese dogs: dogs struggling to breathe to make the next step forward or being just dragged along; dogs that are mostly confined to a very small garden and are hardly ever taken for a walk but only for a drive in a car to the nearby shopping areas; dogs whose lives are shortened because their owners are either too lazy to take them for regulars walks or lack common sense. Try having a chat with one of these dog owners, and this is what they would say to you: “I love my dog to bits; I can’t help giving him titbits.” What you never hear is: “I love my dog but I am killing it,” because they don’t realise what they are doing. Poor thing (I mean the dog).

Name withheld

www.roundtownnews.co.uk

Desperate dad turns to Twitter

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by Louise Clarke

AMY FITZPATRICK went missing on New Year’s Day, 1st January 2008 at approximately 10pm after she left her friend’s house in the tourist resort of Riviera Del Sol on the Costa del Sol to take the ten minute walk to her house. Four years later, she is still missing and this week, her father Christopher has taken to the social networking site Twitter to appeal for information.

RTN was the recipient of one of Christopher’s ‘tweets’ and so we said that we would be happy to publicise his appeal through the pages of RTN. SUFFERED Amy was only 15 at the time of her disappearance. She has black hair, is 1.65m tall, and was wearing brown crushed velvet tracksuit bottoms and a black t-shirt with the word ‘Diesel’ in various different colours when she was last seen. Amy is originally from Clarehall in Dublin and moved to the Costa del Sol four years ago.

Christopher Fitzpatrick told RTN: “It has been four years since Amy disappeared and not a day has gone by that her family and friends have not suffered to know where she is.

I know, from the many letters of support and calls I have re-

ceived, that the pain of her disappearance is shared by many and I thank them all for their support to date but this is an appeal for more.”

SHARE Christopher continued: “We know that there are people who have information which would help bring Amy back.

This is a special appeal to those who, for whatever reason, have chosen to remain silent or who have not been able to share information up to now. Please, please do the right thing and share what you know.”

The family has retained the service of a private investigator, Liam Brady, to assist in reviewing the details of the case.

In Ireland, information can also be given to the Gardaí and in Spain the Guardia Civil can be contacted on 636 079 619.

If you cannot contact the relevant authorities or the family then perhaps you can contact Liam at liam@liamabrady.ie.

INFORMATION “Whether you have direct knowledge of what happened or are simply a friend who might have heard or seen something

around that time which may be relevant, please take the time to send details no matter how insignificant they may appear.”

The desperate Dad is also appealing to third parties who may have come in contact with information or people connected with the case. He added: “Perhaps you know specific details or have seen information (whether confirmed or otherwise) which may give a new direction to the search. However you have come by information which may be relevant, you can be assured of my appreciation and blessing for any details which you can share which can help bring Amy back.”

If you are on Twitter you can follow Louise Clarke @RTN Louise.

Prince Felipe spends his birthday on El Hierro The water off La Restinga bubbling with floating lava

THE PRINCE of Asturias visited the small island of El Hierro on Monday, accompanied by his wife Doña Letizia. The royal couple spent time with the residents of the local community of La Restinga who have been evacuated twice as a result of seismic activity. As the visit coincided with the occasion of the Prince’s 44th birthday, the local children treated him to an enthusiastic rendition of ‘Cumpleaños Feliz’ and presented him with the gift of a storybook containing the children’s accounts of how they have been affected by recent events.

Speaking to the residents the Prince said “We know that nature can present us with enormous challenges that put mankind’s ability to overcome adversity to the test. We also know that you have the will and the ability to overcome this setback: you are not alone.” The couple then sailed out to Punta de Arenas Blancas, where it is possible to observe the bubbling water on the surface of the sea, caused by underwater volcanic activity.

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Fast Track Hypnosis Diaries

PEOPLE OFTEN assume (incorrectly) that all my time is spent helping people to stop smoking or to lose weight. At this time of the year that is probably true with the New Year by Alan Gilchrist resolutions, however it is only part of what my Fast Track Hypnosis is used for by my clients.

The Costa Blanca’s Top Hypnotherapist

So over the next series of write ups I will be telling you about the other part of my work that may surprise you.

Here are a couple of letters I received last week about the Fast Track Stop Smoking Session: “It’s almost a year now since I was put under Hypnosis in order to stop smoking. After 30 minutes with Alan Gilchrist along with the CD that I played before sleeping I am very pleased to say I am a success story as the thought of cigarettes wouldn’t cross my mind. It is now Monday 16th January and I’m back, hoping for the same effect with my eating habits, along with a friend that I recommended.

Many Thanks, Lisa...”

“Hi Alan, I’m just writing a short note to let you know how I’m doing after my hypnosis session with you four months ago. In that four month period, not only have I not had a cigarette, but I can honestly say that I have not even had the remotest desire for a cigarette. As you know, I was getting through three and a half packets a day before I saw you and now, well, I am saving over 13€ per day - every day!! Thank you so much for your help!

Alan...Benidorm.”

I have just arrived back in Spain from my clinics in Northern Ireland and last week I had to help with various interesting problems. I saw three police cadets for what is called the ‘Push Pull’ fitness test. They must pass this test otherwise they will not be able to complete their training and will be out of a job. Each one of them has been able to complete this in their training sessions but when it came to the real test they simply couldn’t do it. They only get three chances to do this and each one of them has already failed it twice. I have done this

for hundreds of cadets over the years, as well as the fire arms tests and another that entails running between two points. All they really need is the self-belief and confidence that they can perform well on the day and that is exactly what the fast track session is designed to do. It’s designed to instil motivation and confidence in them to succeed and they will do it.

The heaviest person I had in last week was a 29 stone man for weight loss. There was more to this one as it transpired that in 2001 he was a healthy weight for his height until he was shot twice by a drug dealer! Another weight loss was a girl who had been involved in a car crash with a drunk driver and had lost both her legs as a result. Both of them had resorted to comfort eating and this had to be dealt with in addition to their weight control.

It’s now coming into the Show Jumping season in Northern Ireland and quite a lot of the horse riders use Fast Track hypnosis to help them with their confidence to qualify for the major competitions held throughout Ireland such as the Dublin Horse Show and Balmoral.

Having been into Show ponies with my three children before moving over to Spain for 18 years this is quite an

easy one for me to help with as I have a good knowledge of what they require. (In fact all my children were champion show pony riders of the year and this was all done through Hypnosis).

One of the riders had her horse fall on top of her destroying all her confidence while another had a very serious fall at a jump when their horse stopped dead and they went over the top of it! When they both got back into the saddle after their mishaps their horse could actually feel the tension they were producing through the reins and this unnerved the horse as well, and vice versa. Again it will only take about 4 fast Track sessions to sort this out.

Finally another one that happens every year is the world championship Irish dancing competitions where I get a steady stream of parents bringing their children along for confidence to do their competition and last week I had quite a few in for that.!

More next time… See you then with some more interesting cases.Alan holds his Fast Track Hypnosis sessions in Cabo Roig, Guardarmar, Benidorm and Los Alcazares.

Alan is also the Creator of the Stop Smoking in under 30 minutes Fast Track System.

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

www.roundtownnews.co.uk

03 - 09 feb 2012

New MABS centre in Albir

Mayor gets his hands dirty

by Louise Clarke TUESDAY SAW the Mayor of Torrevieja getting his hands well and truly dirty as he commemorated the Day of the Tree by planting some saplings in the Lo Albentosa Recreational Area. World Tree Day has been devised to raise awareness and to educate the general public on the need to preserve the environment and our ecosystems. With the help of 30 students from IES Mare Nostrum No. 3 and IES Libertas No. 1 as well as members belonging to the PCPI Gardening and Employment Workshop VI, more than 300 sapling pine trees were planted during the event. Lo Albentosa is a lovely recreational area, located in the heart of La Mata Natural Park and although there was a chill in the air, the sun was shining; making it perfect tree planting weather. Alongside the Mayor, the Councillor for Parks and Gardens, Carmen Gomez, the Councillor for the Environment, Francisco Moreno, the Councillor for Youth, Rosario Martinez, the Councillor for Health, Carmen Mateo and the Councillor for the Old Age, Inmaculada Montesinos, were also on hand to do some tree planting.

by jack troughton

THE EVER expanding MABS Cancer Support Group has unveiled its newest base and home to the Albir and Benidorm branch of the charity.

The room at the Social Centre Albir has been available for the charity ‘team’ and also serves as an advice centre for people suffering from cancer and the relatives.

The advice centre, situated behind the Mercadona supermarket in Albir, is open from 11am every Wednesday.

Team leader Sue Reula said the new branch of MABs was desperately needed and had already recruited 30 volunteers including supporters, drivers, admin people, and fund raisers.

“We intend to have a meeting every Wednesday morning for people who have got cancer or people who are prepared to help as charity volunteers or supporters,” she told RTN. “On the last Wednesday of the month we have more of Sue Reula a ‘get together’ when we will have guest speakers and a (left) with MABS coffee morning, much more of a social event when people President can enjoy a cuppa and a chat.”

Jacqui However, she stressed: It is an advice centre, for anyone Phillips who needs advice and support.”

MBE

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The Mayor gets digging

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03 - 09 feb 2012

British legion celebrates Burns night

Torrevieja and Guardamar work together to fight fire

by Louise Clarke THE TOWN Halls of Torrevieja and Guardamar del Segura have formed a special committee for monitoring and combating forest fires.

The committee has been created to monitor the natural parks with a view to eradicating forest fires, which are in the majority unintended, like the recent ones that have taken place in the Natural Parks of La Mata and Torrevieja and in the neighbouring pine forests of Guardamar. The aim of the committee is to coordinate efforts between the two municipalities and leverage all existing resources in order to eradicate these incidents which have been occurring too often and seriously damaging the forest environment, which is a true haven of natural biodiversity.

As well as the usual 112 number, an email address has been created solely for this purpose at stopincendiosgt@gmail.com. You can also call the Local Police of Torrevieja on 96 571 0154 or the Local Police in Guardamar del Segura on 96 572 9600.

The next meeting, which will be held in Guardamar, will also be attended by the Mayor of Rojales, Antonio Perez Garcia, as that municipality has also suffered from forest fires during the last year.

Some of the members came appropriately dressed to celebrate Burns night

ON WEDNESDAY 25th January, the Torrevieja Branch of the Royal British Legion celebrated Burns Night at La Naciones in Quesada. The evening commemorated the life of the bard Robert Burns, born on 25th January 1759. The Haggis was piped in by Alan McLean and after the traditional ‘Address to the Haggis’, a delicious meal of Tatties, Neeps and Haggis was enjoyed by all thanks to Steve, host and owner of La Naciones.

This is the first of many activities for the British Legion’s Torrevieja branch during 2012, so why not go along and join them? Other activities for the year include the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations and several excursions to various parts of Spain. The newly formed RBL Legionnaires Bowls Club is also welcoming new members. Membership is open to exmilitary and non-military; all are welcome and they hold meetings on the second Friday of every month at the Casa Ventura in La Siesta. For more information, please contact Pauline on 96 670 4146.

Development of earthquake plan in Torrevieja A WORKING group has been formed in Torrevieja to develop a municipal earthquake action plan. The group was formed last week in compliance with the already established Valencia Special Plan against Earthquake Risk.

The development of the plan requires the cooperation of policy makers and technicians from various councils and local government areas. Also, at different stages of development of the Municipal Action Plan against seismic risk will require the participation of representatives of companies, institutions and agencies outside the Town Hall: Forces of State Security, Agamas, Iberdrola, mobile phone carriers, the 22 Health Area of Torrevieja, etc.

Town Hall departments such as Police and Public Safety, Planning, Environment and Housing, Health, Works and Services,

Street Lighting and Water Cycle will also be involved in the plan as well as the Department of Innovation, through the Centre for Innovation and Information Technology and Communication (CITIC) The group will start work with immediate effect in order to be able to present results in the shortest time possible. Following the devastating earthquake in nearby Lorca, the Valencia Government ordered every municipality to approve a Special Plan against Seismic Risk in order to provide an ‘effective and coordinated’ response in the event of such an emergency.

Torrevieja suffered a huge earthquake in March 1829, which measured 6.6 on the Richter scale. The earthquake destroyed Torrevieja and many villages of the Vega Baja and so it is important that the city has a plan in place to ensure that should the worse

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The demise of SpanAir

03 - 09 feb 2012

By

Chris Marshall Expat blogger www.almerimarlife.com

ONE CAN only hope that the Iberia pilots have watched the overnight demise of Spanair with a sense of shame at their recent strike actions. Spanair is the 15th Spanish airline to close down since 2000, and 2,000 jobs are likely to be lost along with an additional 2,000 at the ground maintenance company Newco.

Of interest to sad people like me is that the final notification of closure was released on social networking site Twitter: “Nos despedimos no sin antes ofrecer nuestras más sinceras disculpas a los afectados y agradecer la confianza depositada. A todos, gracias.” In brief: “Thank you and goodbye!”

Sticking with airline and airport for a while: remember the strikes last year regarding the proposed sale of a number of Spanish airports? The ones that resulted in the National Guard taking control and drastic and severe penalties promised against the air traffic controllers? Well to date I can recall only a couple of minor fines being made, and the Transport Minister Ana Pastor announced last week that Spain will ditch a plan to privatise airports and come up with a new management model.

Given gloomy economic conditions, especially in Europe, there was little chance of attracting a large number of bids for the airports, the transport minister acknowledged.

No details on the new ‘plan’ other than that it will allow for future inclusion of private investors; which seems a bit pointless to me! If the market conditions meant you couldn’t sell, why think that you can attract investment, unless of course you are giving

huge equity percentages away for stupid prices!

AENA has been busy this week as in addition to the above they have announced that our local airport, Almería, is part of a large viability study by the government looking at loss-making airports.

With debts of 110€ million, and drop of 35% in passenger traffic since 2008, Almería was on the list to be part privatised, but is now at risk of being closed as the government has confirmed that it will consider closing unnecessary or underperforming airports.

Back on terra firma the National Statistics Institute says Spain’s unemployment figures have surpassed the 5 million mark, with the jobless rate shooting up from 21.5% to 22.8% in the fourth quarter. With the highest level of unemployment out of the 17 Eurozone countries the Popular Party are going to have to have to look at labour reforms urgently.

If that wasn’t going to be tough enough Fitch have downgraded Spain’s credit rating to A, despite better performances of late on the bond market, influenced no doubt by the fact that the IMF has predicted two more years of recession, saying that Spain’s GDP will shrink by 1.7 per cent this year

with a budget deficit of 6.8 per cent.

About the only positive news regards the economy was that the IMF has praised the substantial spending cuts and tax cuts adopted to date by the PP, but as we have seen above that more, much more, is required.

All of which brings me to the new online utility that I read about on the Lloyds TSB International Web site which allows expats to compare living expenses in various cities across the world. Although it only looked at 50 major cities it was interesting to note that Spain’s two entries were, not surprisingly, Madrid and Barcelona. What was surprising though was that they were ranked 35 and 46 respectively, putting to bed the myth that Spain is a cheap country to live in.

Next week I promise I will try and find some good news to comment on!

Enjoy your week and keep smiling ….

Chris runs the expat blog about life in Spain (www.almerimarlife.com) and is a regular contributor to a number of publications and radio stations in Spain, as well as writing a monthly column for the Telegraph Expat site and is a Telegraph Expat guest blogger.

He lives in Almerimar with his five cats, two Harleys and wife Sands, and together they are heavily involved in the re-homing and transport of rescued and abandoned animals to Germany and the UK through their project www.alstrays.com. His column in the RTN is sponsored by www.blitzcleaning.es boat cleaning and valeting experts across the Costas of Spain. Email: chris@almerimarlife.com http://almerimarlife.com http://chrismarshall.ws’ http://expatlifespain.com http://alstrays.com

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Planting a future www.roundtownnews.co.uk

by jack troughton

MEMBERS OF Teulada Moraira Lions Club took part in a project to help the environment by planting 240 saplings last Sunday – part of the international ‘Day of the Tree’ celebration.

The club joined Mayor Antonio Bertomeu, together with pupils, parents and teachers from the Sant Vincente Ferrer School on a sunny but cold morning to carry out the work.

In all around 140 people were involved in planting trees at the weekend, helping mark the official day of the Tree on Tuesday.

The Lions are also currently involved in making up ‘welcome packs’ for the domestic violence unit in Teulada – frequently families arrive with nothing and the packs contain essentials such as underwear, toiletries, school equipment to help the women and children get on with their lives. Donations can be made by calling 96 574 1358.

For more information about the club call 96 597 4941 or visit the website www.teuladamorairalions.org.

Tree The group is also on Facebook as Teulada Moraira Lions Club. planters

Bookworms wanted!

KEEN READERS can look forward to snapping up a bargain and help out good causes by visiting the Original Charity Library in Javea next week.

From Monday 6th February until Saturday 11th February bookworms can select any four paperbacks from a large collection for just 1€ and also on offer at the library in Javea Park are greetings cards for every occasion at highly competitive prices.

It is also possible to become a member of the Library, joining on either an annual for four monthly basis, ask the volunteer staff for details.

The library’s normal opening hours are Monday to Saturday from 10am until 1pm, and as a one-off on Saturday 11th February until 3pm.

Agatha Ruiz de la Prada brings a splash of colour to winter

MADRID FASHION Week was treated to a colourful splurge of knitted sweaters and coats from the collection of Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, one of Spain’s favourite designers.

The obvious theme was that colour can warm up the chilly season with sizzling pinks and quirky leggings and socks. Signature pink hearts ran through the collection and accessories included twotone shoes and transparent PVC bags, while cold-defying short skirts and dresses made an appearance in fluorescent yellow and orange.

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03 - 09 feb 2012

Meet the Mayor

by Louise Clarke

UP AND down the coast, there are hundreds of Mayors that run our towns.

These men and women are responsible for many important decisions regarding how we live from day to day and regardless of what political party they represent, RTN has decided that we need to get to know them better. In the first of a new series of interviews where RTN is going to be meeting municipal Mayors, we have an exclusive interview with the Mayor of San Fulgencio.

Carlos Ramirez Sansaro is responsible for running San Fulgencio which includes the sprawling urbanisation of La Marina that is home to more than 8,000 permanent residents, many of whom are British expats and during the summer months, that population figure can exceed to more than 20,000.

Carlos is a young Mayor, “of a new generation” he tells RTN. He is also by his own admission, “very hands on” and even gives his own personal mobile phone number out to residents in case they need to get hold of him urgently.

Following his election in May last year, the PP Mayor formed a coalition with PIPN leader, Jeff Wiszniewski, and between them they formed a government team of nine councillors.

INTERNATIONAL LIBRARY Since then, they have worked well together for the residents of the municipality and are already fulfilling election manifesto promises such as a social service office in the urbanisations and a bus stop on the N332 to enable residents to travel north to Alicante and south to Cartagena. The Mayor told RTN: “The

Age Concern open a consultative service

by Louise Clarke LAST YEAR, Jeff Wiszniewski, Councillor for the Urbanisations in La Marina, met with several representatives from the charity Age Concern Costa Blanca Sur. On discovering the wonderful service they provided, he gave them a promise to assist them in bringing their services to San Fulgencio. And true to his word, this week it was announced that Age Concern has been granted use of the offices of the Concejalía de Urbanizaciones at 5 Calle Madrid, every other Friday from 10th February. Their hours will be 10am until 1pm.

Age Concern encourages people from other countries to integrate with the Spanish people and seeks to establish relationships with Spanish Associations that work for the benefit of older people.

For further information and appointments, please contact the Offices of the Concejalía de Urbanizaciones on 966 443 002.

The Mayor If you wish to become a volunteer or ‘Friend of Age of San Fulgencio, Concern’, application forms can be found in the Age Carlos Concern leaflets that are held in the office.

Ramirez Sansaro

doctors’ surgery will also be extended later this year, we hope to have a 24 hour pharmacy in La Marina and we are introducing an international library into the social centre; all of which are important additions to the community.”

jority of which are foreign. He said: “A priority for me is to make sure that La Marina residents feel included and integrated and that is why we have two councillors based there now.”

PASSIONATE

The Mayor spends every Tuesday and Thursday in the Town Hall office in La Marina because he says that “…good communication is fundamental to our success.” And he has told RTN that he has an open door policy. So, if you’d like to call in for a chat, feel free. But do take a translator with you because he is still learning English! He concluded: “All the team are enthusiastic and eager to serve the community. Any problems will be addressed and if we can help we will.

Where there is a will there is a way.”

But it has not all been plain sailing for the 40 year old leader after discovering that the previous administration had accumulated debts of nearly €9 million.

He said: “We have inherited many problems but we are not going to allow that to define us. We will not make excuses and will just get on with running this municipality how it should be run for the benefit of its residents.” He is especially passionate about the residents of the La Marina urbanisation, the ma-

ENTHUSIASTIC

Come and plant a tree!

TOMORROW, SATURDAY 4th February, at 11am the Town Hall of Torrevieja has organised a tree planting initiative to which everyone is welcome. Come along, plant a tree and enjoy some good company. This community event will take place in the Parque Molina de Agua, which is the protected park/dunes area between Torrevieja and La Mata, near to the Mississippi River Boat Restaurant (just look out for the crowds). The Mayor of Torrevieja, Eduardo Dolon, will also be on hand to plant a tree or two and there will be Town Hall personnel on hand to assist with digging holes etc, although, of course, you could also take your own shovel if you have one.

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27 jan - 02 feb 2012

Duvet dangling

Watts In Britain By

Paul Watts

LAST SUNDAY we sat through five nail-biting sets willing Rafael Nadal to win the Australian Tennis Open.

The trouble was, the match turned into a six-hour marathon and kept me from my tasks of the day.

There was the dog to walk, the car to clean, the garden to clear up and, of course, my bête noir… “What’s that Watts?” I hear you ask.

Well, there is one task that is strangely always bestowed on me and that’s the ‘ritual’ of changing the duvet covers. In a household of three (four if you count the dog) that contains just one male (even the dog is a bitch), why, oh why do I get chosen to ‘do the duvets’?

“Because you’re so good at it Watts,” I am told. It is a frustrating and frankly thankless task which often takes me as long to complete as it did for Rafa to lose the Aussie Open. The damned quilts just refuse to be placed inside the covers without a full scale fight. More often than not I end up with a mass of quilt in the centre of the cover, whilst the outside edges are limp and bereft of any quilt; looking a complete mess.

Of course, as you may well point out, the plus side that duvets have over the complexity of the old fashioned ‘making a bed’ is it’s a single covering instead of the combination of: bed sheets, blankets, eiderdowns and other bed covers (was it called a candlewick bedspread?) I used to hate as a kid being told to ‘make your bed’ and the arrival of the duvet or continental quilt (as it was exotically called back in the days when a bottle of Black Tower was the leading edge of sophistication) made the task so much easier. Just fluff it up a bit and ‘hey presto’. The duvet itself fitted into a specially made cover which, of course, your mum would always sort out for you. So all of that straightening the sheets, folding back the blankets and smoothing over the eiderdown that we previously slaved over disappeared

in a flash - leaving more time to, erm, watch telly or play outside annoying the neighbours - brilliant!

Rebecca Abrams writes for Weekend’s, Homing Instinct column. She told me that one of her readers who, as a child, lived in Norway gave her the following tips on making a duvet bed: “We were taught to pull the duvet back every morning to air it and then, when making the bed, to pull up the bottom end of the duvet to the top, thus helping to redistribute the filling. We have done this ever since. Of course, with British duvet covers, that means you end up with a mouthful of buttons every other night.” This is all very interesting but it doesn’t help with my continuing ‘changing the covers nightmare’.

Rebecca’s reader added, “Why can’t British manufacturers put the fastenings at the side of duvet covers like their European counterparts?” Aha... why indeed?

Things would be so much easier for a cack-handed chap if we had European side fastenings. Come on Brussels’ bureaucrats earn ya money, do something worthwhile at last - make side fastenings on duvets a Euro directive. Outlaw the British end fastenings. And while we’re on the subject of British end fastenings why do they insist on stitching up two inches both sides making it even more difficult to fit the bloody quilt into?

All of which gets me back to where I came in: struggling with the covers. Through time I have devised a special method whereby I dangle dangerously over the staircase (see exclusive RTN photo) and shake the ****ing quilts into their covers. I then leave them

draped over the top for their respective owners to inspect and further shake away any lumps that I might have left in.

Stop press: I’m happy to report that help is on hand for hapless hacks. Rebecca tells me that American writer Arianne Cohen has developed an ‘easy’ ten second method for putting on a duvet cover. Ten seconds?

Hmmmm, you reckon? I personally cannot believe this. To see her demonstrate this trick I’ve been told to visit: http://www.womansday.com/Articles/Topic/ time-saving_tips.html Why not have a look folks and let me know what you think? Can it really be done in ten seconds? Watts in the Midlands, duvet dangling over the staircase…

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03 - 09 feb 2012

legal

The Constitutional Court has lifted the interim suspension on the shared Custody Law of the Valencian Community by

Carlos Baos

of White & Baos Abogados English & Spanish Solicitors

Some time ago we informed our readers about the Law issued by the Valencian Generalitat Number 5/11 of April 1st which related to “Family Relations for children whose parents live apart” - also known as the VALENCIAN LAW FOR SHARED CUSTODY (LEY VALENCIA DE CUSTODIA COMPARTIDA).

Shortly thereafter we informed our readers that on 2607-2011 the Official State Bulletin (BOE) reported that an appeal by the Spanish Prime Minister on the grounds of the ‘unconstitutionality’ of this Law had led to the interim suspension of the Law. But now, the Constitutional Court has recently lifted the interim suspension, and so for the time being the Valencian Law for Shared Custody can now once again be applied.

The Constitutional Court lifted the interim suspension because it has taken the view that the Law will not cause irreversible damage to a child’s situation, since it will be the Judge who, at end of the day, will make the appropriate decision to protect the interests of the child, whilst taking into consideration this Law and all the other pertinent regulations.

This law applies to children under parental custody of parents with “civil neighborhood” within the Valencian Community. The definition of “civil neighborhood” is defined under the Spanish Civil Code and should not to be mistaken with “administrative neighborhood” or “place of residence”. The general rule is that the “civil neighborhood” of an under aged child will be the same as their parents, as long as the parents live in the same Community e.g. both live within the Valencian Community.

Children of foreign parents, who acquire Spanish nationality can opt for “civil neighborhood” in the Valencian Community if they live or were born here.

We discussed the main changes of this Law some time ago, but due to its importance we, once again, highlight some of them below: • Article 5.2 of this Law establishes that the general rule will be ‘a shared living regime’ between both parents and the child (i.e. equivalent to JOINT CUSTODY in a broader sense).

This custody or living regime can only be granted solely to one of the parents when it is necessary to guarantee the wellbeing of the minor and is supported by the necessary backups and reports from doctors, social workers etc. In these cases a system for family relations must be set to guarantee the relationship of the minor with both parents (i.e. contact, visits, and holidays). The judge can also monitor periodically the family situation.

• In regards to the use of the properties and household goods, this Law also states within article 6, that in a case where the family home is allocated to one of the parents, if the other parent is the sole or part owner of that home, then compensation should be paid to the parent who loses

the use of the property. The compensation amount will be determined taking into account the general renting fees in the area where the property is located. In addition the Law states that the allocation of the house will be on a temporary basis, setting a maximum period of use which can be modified by a Court decision.

• One of the most notable aspects of this Law is that it allows the revision of any previously granted definite separation, divorce or annulment Decrees or court order.

Therefore, this Law represents a very important change that should result in the alteration of the trend of Court rulings made until today in relation to these matters. The starting point for those cases where this is applicable will be the shared custody of the minors and also compensation for one of the parents when he or she is deprived of the use of their house.

Hence all those divorced or separated persons, to whom this Law was and is applicable, but they did not receive shared custody or receive compensation for losing the use of the family home, now have a new opportunity to request the revision of the approved measures according to the new rule, which is now back in force.

Should any reader be 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

+ uk tv

+ 120mins

european landline calls

line rental

money

by

Suzanne O’Connell Customer Care at Ábaco

03 - 09 feb 2012

25

A wave of complimentary tax hits purchasers

DO YOU have a chip on your shoulder? Are you one of those people who assumes that every car horn or flashing headlight is aimed at you. You cannot see a police car without waiting to be stopped or open a letter that isn’t a bill or demand? Some people do, genuinely seem to have the odds stacked against them and others just think they have.

It’s not just individuals that can feel persecuted and ‘targeted’, nationalities can too. We read the letters in the papers that complain about unfair laws, taxes and officials. Often the implication is that nationality is at least partly to blame. Perhaps sometimes it is, we all carry preconceptions about different races and cultures. However, in the majority of cases laws and taxes do not discriminate. For example, complimentary tax. Don’t be misled by its name. Complimentary tax is most definitely one tax you do not want to be receiving.

You need to know its history to understand why it exists.

What is complimentary tax?

During the property boom in Spain sometimes purchasers and sellers came to an agreement to pay some of the actual purchase price ‘unofficially’. This meant that the amount declared was below what had actually been paid. The idea was that by doing this purchaser and seller could avoid higher capital gains tax and Spanish transfer tax payments.

The Tax Authority wised up to this and as a result began to check the amount the property had been sold at against their own valuation. Complimentary tax represents the difference between what tax they considered should have been paid and what actually was. Unfortunately the drop in the market value of most property sold today has meant that many people are, genuinely, selling their property below what it might be valued at. The result? We’re seeing an increased number of purchasers with what they thought was a bargain receiving tax demands from what seems like nowhere.

It does apply to all Complimentary tax has no interest in nationality. As an example we are going to use a Spanish family who have recently come to us to help them appeal against their complimentary tax. They live in Bilbao but have had an apartment in Torrevieja for a while.

With two disabled children they were finding that the apartment was no longer meeting their needs and with houses so cheap came by a ground floor property that was priced, very reasonably at 54,000€.

They purchased this property in 2010 and remained unaware of what was likely to hit them in 2011.

It turned out that the house they had bought for 54,000€ was judged to be worth 126,167€ and as a consequence they were presented with a complimentary tax bill of

5,051€ (7%). A hefty additional cost given the very modest price of the property.

Our advice So, what could they have done to avoid this? Nothing really. Anyone buying a property at a discount is highly likely to be taxed and might receive it up to five years after they purchased. Due to the current economic crisis the Tax Authority are releasing an even greater wave of tax demands than normal. If you do buy a discount property be aware that a complimentary tax bill will follow and set some money aside just in case.

We also advise that you make sure that if you are a non-resident that someone picks up your post in Spain. We find that there are two periods during the year when demands for this tax are usually sent out.

A large batch has just been issued. Make sure you are able to receive your letter as you can appeal.

We have had a very high percentage of successful appeals in complimentary tax cases but you only have a 30 day window in which to do so. If the letter is languishing in the letterbox for a few months you’re not going to have the option. And don’t delay. The Tax Authority can embargo your property almost immediately for this kind of tax if you don’t settle up. This tax does not discriminate, it targets anyone who bought a bargain.

If you think you might have received a letter or be likely to receive one, our legal department can help you.

money

03 - 09 feb 2012

27

Spanish taxes on the increase by

Mark Roach

Company Director and Spanish Tax Consultant

WINCHAM HAS received almost 1,500 enquires in the past 12 months from owners of Spanish property who are concerned about Spanish Inheritance and Taxes in Spain.

Over 95% of these owners have spoken with one of our Spanish Tax Consultants and have received our free illustration and proposal demonstrating the potential Spanish Inheritance Taxes they or their Beneficiaries will face upon death. Our proposal provides details of the process of moving a property in Spain into a UK Limited Company structure and the onward management which helps avoid Taxes in Spain.

Many of our clients tell us that they have been advised by other professionals that Spanish taxation is likely to decrease in coming years and that Inheritance Tax should not be an issue. However, this may not be the case, as the new Spanish Government is trying to bring financial stability to the Country.

CAPITAL GAINS TAX (CGT) increased From January the 1st 2012 CGT for non-resident property owners in Spain

will stand at 21% across the board. This follows a previous rise in 2010 from 18% to 19%. In 2007 the European Union put pressure on Spain to lower the CGT rate of 35% for non- residents (15% for residents) to 18% deeming it to be an unfair penalty on non-residents. A subsequent rise of 1% in 2010 passed relatively unnoticed but it is now followed by a further 2% increase.

Spanish Residents will also feel the sting with CGT figures rising to 21% up to 6,000€, 25% between 6,001€ and 24,000€ and 27% on higher figures.

It is very important not to confuse CGT with Inheritance Tax. CGT is payable on profit made from the sale of assets. Inheritance Tax in Spain is paid by the Beneficiaries of a property on death of an owner.

It should be further noted that UK Residents are obliged to submit a tax return in respect of CGT to HMRC on the disposal of a Spanish property.

The current CGT rate in the UK is 28%.

Relief against this tax can be claimed in respect of taxes paid in Spain as long as a suitable certificate from the Hacienda (Spanish Tax Office) has been received. The 3% retention retained by

the buyer on sale cannot be claimed as relief from UK CGT. A further potential liability to a UK resident is the capital gain incurred in respect of the exchange rate gain made by the seller. This is calculated based on the exchange rate when the property was purchased against when the property was sold. This can create a CGT liability in the UK even if the property was sold in Spain without a profit.

WEALTH TAX REINTRODUCED Wealth Tax is usually charged as part of the annual tax declaration which is submitted by all residents and non-residents of Spain. This is based on the value of your assets held in Spain. Although it had been reduced to zero for a number of years it was reintroduced in late 2011 and will begin to affect those with assets in excess of €700,000.

NON RESIDENT INCOME TAX INCREASED From January 2012 Income Tax charged to Non-Resident property owners on the rent they collect in Spain has been increased from 24% to 24.75%.

Wincham Consultants Limited, Wincham House, Greenfield Farm Trading Estate, Congleton, Cheshire, CW12 4TR, England.

(Wincham Consultants also have offices located on the Costa Blanca) UK Tel: +44 (0)1260 299 700 | Spain Tel: +34 965 830 991 | Email: iht.info@wincham.com | Web: www.winchamiht.com

SPANISH RESIDENT INCOME TAX INCREASED Spanish Resident Income Tax has been increased in 2012 for Higher Rate Tax payers from 45% to 52%.

Should you need help and advice on any of the above please contact Wincham If you would like to understand your Tax implications in Spain and receive our free Spanish Inheritance Tax illustration please contact one of our experienced and trained Consultants using the details below or visit our website www.winchamiht.com . Our Consultants can also explain some of the other benefits of moving your property into a UK Company. With Spanish taxation on the increase there are many benefits to restructuring your assets today, saving you and your Beneficiaries money in the future.

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03 - 09 feb 2012

money

It’s not all doom and gloom in 2012: a recession busting service – and a huge business opportunity

MANY RESIDENTS on the Costa Blanca are already profiting from Sporting Arbitrage, a trading facility that consistently provides clients a monthly return of 2.75% tax free.

It’s a facility that until relatively recently had only been utilised by the banking industry and/or the mega wealthy.

Milton Express, the Seychelles-based originators of the scheme, actually market a sports advisory service that pays significantly higher returns – but with a degree of volatility.

Steve Kelly

Steve Kelly, founder and director of Milton Express, has no doubts that people who try the full range of services will soon reap the rewards. Such is his confidence in the quality of the services that the company are offering a three month cut price trial with a money back guarantee should the service fail to make a profit.

But that’s not all! The company has introduced a stunning concept named ‘Winning Express’ – where members will not only benefit from the services themselves but can promote them to others via a free replicate website.

Steve explains: “We know there will be a demand for these services. For years I have catered for a small exclusive band of clients who have genuinely prospered significantly.

My colleagues and I sat down with our marketing people and devised a way to bring all these advantages to the masses.”

What Steve and his team considered was a series of indisputable facts. “We knew,” continued Steve, “that the majority of people

no longer had faith in the banks, the pension companies, the stock market and certainly not politicians! We felt we could find a way to not only enhance the lifestyle of those with spare capital but we could at the same time transform the lives of those who’ve suffered because of the UK and European recession by giving them an opportunity to make money for themselves.”

And substantial incomes are genuinely available: ‘Winning Express’ not only provides free marketing tools to promote the services but offers a staggering eight levels of commission that can genuinely reward members with a six figure annual income.

One long-standing client of Milton Express is the former top flight footballer and now respected BBC pundit Steve Claridge who has no reservations in recommending the services – and the opportunity on offer.

“I think it’s brilliant that the expertise that’s been available to just a well-informed chosen few is now going to be available to so many,” said Steve, “…and I’m excited to be involved in the launch of Winning Express, as this is

Steve Claridge

a concept that can change peoples’ lives for the better.”

So, whether it’s a bigger return on your capital you’re seeking or simply a chance to earn a huge income, Winning Express sounds like the vehicle for you. To speak to someone about it ring the La Regia office on 96 532 2863.

business

by

Philip Rayner

AJB Consultants

03 - 09 feb 2012

29

Happy Birthday AJB Consultants – 25 years old!

AJB CONSULTANTS have been established since 1987 offering a complete range of insurance products for the expat community.

They only work with the largest international companies to ensure that their clients receive the best cover at the best prices.

Through their years of experience they have provided thousands of customers with a quick, efficient and competitive service, ensuring that their clients receive honest and professional advice on all their insurance needs. Here are a few customer testimonials: “I have been a client of AJB insurance for more than 15 years and cannot recommend them enough. The

staff are always friendly and willing to help.”

Mrs Voilet: Javea “With one telephone call to AJB insurance I saved over 120€ on my house insurance and more than 50€ on my car insurance. All my policies were in English and everything was explained to me in full.

Even my medical insurance policy was in English.”

Mr & Mrs Jones: Almeria “Unfortunately my house was broken into on Christmas night. I telephoned AJB and spoke to Philip and he arranged everything. The same night they sent somebody to repair the broken door. Yes, it was Christmas Day – that is what I call service.”

Mrs Wood: Murcia “When I had an accident in my car – the first in

EU Summit: More solutions for recession

PRIME MINISTER Mariano Rajoy has attended an EU Summit targeted at seeking more effective solutions to the economic recession and including discussions on how to promote employment for young people. Talks that began at 2pm were preceded by a separate discussion between French President Nicolas Sarkozy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti. The redistribution of 82,000 million Euros of EU funds is earmarked to stimulate job creation with emphasis on young job seekers. There is also the possibility of a proposal to relax the deficit target for countries like Spain. As to the Greek crisis, Merkel has proposed that Athens cede control of its budget to a Eurogroup commissioner with powers to veto government decisions and monitor implementation although the European Commission confirmed that Greece would retain full responsibility for the implementation of austerity measures and control the national budget. The summit coincided with a general protest strike in Brussels, making it necessary for heads of government to arrive at the summit via helicopter.

30 years – I did not know what to do. AJB was so helpful. They talked me through everything and even arranged for a replacement car while mine was in the garage being repaired. The ladies in the office were a delight to deal with.”

Herr Haas: Calpe Call now for your free no obligation quote Tel 96 579 6357 or 96 579 4417 Email info@ajbinsurance.com www.ajbinsurance.com TO CELEBRATE THEIR 25 YEARS IN BUSINESS THEY ARE OFFERING 25 % DISCOUNT ON ALL NEW ProPERTY INSURANCES CONTRACTED IN 2012.

www.roundtownnews.co.uk

Are you selling, or have you sold

03 - 09 feb 2012

your property in Spain?

31

www.roundtownnews.co.uk

03 - 09 feb 2012

Are you sending the

PROCEEDS BACK TO THE UK?

33

www.roundtownnews.co.uk

03 - 09 feb 2012

Do you want to end up

with more sterling?

35

www.roundtownnews.co.uk

03 - 09 feb 2012

Do you want to eliminate or significantly

REDUCE THE spanish bank fees?

37

Laurel & Hardy’s Bar & Restaurant

Grand Opening

Saturday 4th February LAUREL & HARDY’S Bar & Restaurant on calle Los Arcos in Quesada will be opening its doors to the public on Saturday 4th February. The former Lime Bar has undertaken a full refurbishment and has been turned into a stylish, contemporary bar and restaurant. There is a comfortable and welcoming feel combined with an extensive menu that reflects the same quality and value that made Stan & Ollie’s one of the area’s top restaurants.

Anyone who has ever dined at Stan and Ollie’s will know that the ambience in the restaurant is relaxed and sophisticated dining nicely coupled with a feeling of a family run business. Diners are made to feel comfortable and relaxed in the surroundings and no request is too much trouble.

Proprietors Paul and David have had many years’ experience in the Costa Blanca restaurant industry, using this gained knowledge to develop both Stan and Ollie’s and now Laurel & Hardy’s into two of the local area’s best restaurants, so you will be in safe hands.

The boys endeavour to make sure that at Laurel & Hardy’s only the freshest, locally sourced ingredients are used coupled with their experienced chefs’ abilities to create a delicious menu.

The restaurant’s opening hours are Monday to Saturday from 6pm offering a full A La Carte Menu: alternatively select from the famous 3 course menu for only 15€.

The finest, traditional 3 course Sunday Lunch is offered from 1pm at just 13.50€ including wine.

There is also an extensive choice of beers and wines in the new lounge bar open Monday to Friday from 4pm until 12am, Saturday 12pm until late and Sunday 12pm until 7pm. The large lounge terrace has spectacular views with sun shaded areas; the perfect setting to relax and watch the sun set.

To avoid disappointment please reserve your table by calling 96 507 7444 or 637 583 372.

www.roundtownnews.co.uk

03 - 09 feb 2012

If you have answered “yes” to all four questions, then RTN recommends you use Moneycorp.

If you are sending your property sale proceeds back to the UK, the Moneycorp repatriation service can help you substantially reduce, or even eliminate Spanish bank charges.

Add to this saving the competitive rates of exchange that Moneycorp can give you, and you will end up with extra pounds to deposit back into your UK account.

On a typical sale of €150,000 this could be an extra £4,500.

Moneycorp have been trading in foreign exchange for over 32 years, are FSA authorised & regulated.

This is why RTN recommends Moneycorp to its readers.

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03 - 09 feb 2012

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03 - 09 feb 2012

Home Garden

Brought to you by

www.spanishhomefinder.com

Useful winter gardening information by

Clodagh & Dick Handscombe Practical gardeners and authors

WEEK BY week we answer a good number of questions emailed to our website www.gardeninginspain.com or even asked of us by persons who recognise us wandering around the Costa Blanca.

Since some of the questions are of generic interest we repeat a number with practical answers in this week’s column.

Is there a seed catalogue that includes a good selection of herbs?

Both the general and special vegetable seed cartaloque of Chiltern Seeds have a good number. For instance the 2012 veggie catalogue includes seeds for 23 varieties of basil.

Are there nurseries that specialise in native plants?

Try Cultidelta which is based near Delta Ebro in the south of Cataluña and Proyecto Forestal Iberico which is based in Villamalea in the north west of Albacete province. There is also Phillipes Nursery in the south of France: each has useful websites.

Do olive trees need special care?

We have just posted a long article on our website www.gardeninginspain.com which should cover what you need.

Also look up what we say in ‘Growing Healthy Fruit in Spain’ which also includes guidelines for preparing olives to eat.

What can be used to get rid of a recently cut down acacia tree that was starting to crack a garden wall? We can’t get a digger in to do this.

Drill holes in the cut top and pour in acid or weed killer.

We have no worms in the garden: what can we do?

Start a compost heap and follow the instructions about layering and dampening the layers in the long chapters in ‘Your Garden in Spain’, ’Growing Healthy Vegetables in Spain’ and ‘Growing Healthy Fruit in Spain’.

Our mandarins are almost orange coloured but are still very sour but those of our neighbour are delicious. Also they get lemons all the year round while we just get one crop a year. What have done wrong? All trees are in full sun.

Your neighbour probably planted an earlier fruiting/ripening variety of mandarins. Lists of early mid season and late fruiting varieties are given in ‘Growing Healthy Fruit in Spain’ With regard to the lemon trees there are perpetual flowering and fruiting varieties available.

We always suggest that anyone intending to plant a lemon tree plants a lunar, cuatro saisones or ureka variety. They are not expensive, indeed no more than a single cropping variety. 7€ to 10€ is a normal price in Spanish nurseries.

ARE WE GIVING A TALK IN THE TORREVIEJA AREA THIS YEAR? By chance Dick has just agreed to give two talks at the ‘This is Spain Exhibition’ on Saturday 25th February 2012 at the Hotel La Zenia, Zenia Playa, Alicante at 11am and 3.30pm.

The title of these specially arranged sessions will be ‘Living well and inexpensively from your garden and apartment terraces’. Both these issues are vital to continuing to enjoy living in Spain. Autographed books with a number of special offers will be available after the talks.

Between these talks Dick will be available to give personal advice

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

and solve pressing gardening problems.

OBTAINING COPIES OF ‘LIVING WELL FROM OUR MEDITERRANEAN GARDEN’ This is now stocked by Bookworld and is easily obtained via www.gardeninginspain.com as a purchase or free with the purchase of another book.

www.roundtownnews.co.uk

03 - 09 feb 2012

41

Crimes against property by

Michael Olmer

Solicitor, Link Point Legal and Business Services

THE CONTINUING economic crisis has led to an increase in crimes against property. Sooner or later most of us will suffer a burglary or theft of some kind, or misappropriation of property in some other way.

The Spanish Penal Code of 1995 distinguishes between the crimes of ‘Robo’ (Robbery) and simple ‘Hurto’ (Theft).

Article 237 of the Penal Code defines ‘Robo’ as the appropriation of the property of another person using force, violence, or intimidation to gain entry to the place where the property is to be found. Articles 238 and 239 indicate the factors which characterise ‘Robo’. These are: • Climbing over walls or other barriers • Breaking walls, ceilings, floors, doors or windows to gain entry • Forcing open cupboards, chests, or the locks of other secured objects with a view to stealing the contents • Using counterfeit keys, including picks, fake magnetic cards or electronic keys, or genuine keys which have been lost or stolen • Disabling alarm or security systems Your caravan or motor-home, trailer, or even a tent, which is for your private use even temporarily, say while on holiday, is considered to be a private space which can be broken into.

We have also encountered clients who have been the victims of the crime of ‘usurpación’ which is defined by Article 245 as unlawfully occupying empty property, such as holiday homes, which do not belong to them without the permission of the owner, or ‘squatting’. Sometimes

the squatter uses the property as their own home; in other cases a crook will pose as the owner and rent the property out to unsuspecting tenants.

‘Usurpación’ is punishable by a penalty of 3 to 6 months imprisonment. Please remember that it is a criminal offence to evict squatters without a Court Order.

‘Robo’ is punishable by a prison sentence of between 1 and 3 years, and if aggravated by the use of violence or intimidation by a sentence of 2 to 5 years.

‘Hurto’ as distinct from ‘Robo’ is the simple theft of property belonging to another person without any of the factors I have listed that constitute ‘Robo’ (Articles 234 – 236 of the Penal Code). If the value of the property stolen is greater than 400€ the penalty for the crime of ‘Hurto’ is between 6 and 18 months. If the value of the property is less than 400€ the offence is classed as a ‘misdemeanour’ rather than a ‘crime’ and the penalty is much lower.

In a nutshell, if a burglar steals your property by forcing a door or climbing over your garden wall it is ‘Robo’; if the miscreant walks into your house through a door you have left open by mistake it is ‘Hurto’.

If you are the victim of ‘Robo’, ‘Hurto’, or ‘Usurpación’, you should always report it by making a ‘Denuncia’ in the appropriate office of the Local Police, National Police, or Guardia Civil depending on where you live. You will be given a stamped copy of the report. In the immediate aftermath of a robbery it can be difficult to recall or even discover all the items that have been taken but you do have the right to make a supplementary “Denuncia” at a later date.

Do not forget to contact your bank and credit card company immediately to stop any cards or cheque books that have been stolen, and to inform your consulate or embassy if your passport or other identity documents have been stolen. If pass-cards to your place of work have been taken you must also inform your employer immediately.

If identity documents have been stolen your ‘Denuncia’ should specifically mention these items and you will have to provide a crime reference number and possibly also an official copy of the Denuncia to obtain replacements.

If you have suffered a robbery the Police or Guardia Civil will visit you very soon after and take photographs of the point of entry and any damage done, and possibly fingerprints and other evidence. In the event that they catch the perpetrators you may be required to go to Court to give evidence against them.

Insurance policies usually distinguish between cover for ‘Robo’ and ‘Hurto’. They often provide much lower cover, or possibly none at all, for ‘Hurto’. If you intend making a claim on your insurance your ‘Denuncia’ must list all the items that have been stolen in as much detail as possible, down to makes, models, the value, and if possible serial numbers. Keep photographs of antiques, paintings, or items of especially high value. Be ready to produce receipts for the original purchase of valuable items.

If you need help to make a Denuncia, if you have been the victim of a crime, or to take action to recover possession of property that has been occupied by squatters please contact us at Link Point where we will be ready to help.

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

Why rain gutters are important for your property DID YOU know that guttering in Spanish is Canalones?

Leaky, broken, or poorly installed gutters are a hazard to your property. They can cause water to pool on your roof which can cause significant damage to roofing material and facia. Lack of or improperly maintained gutters can also let rain water mark your walls and paint, and collect around the base of your residence, resulting in foundation or landscape damage, rot, and flooded basements.

Your property is valuable, and you want it to remain structurally sound and looking great for many years to come. Don’t neglect the importance of having a quality guttering system that is installed by a professional, reliable guttering company.

With many colouring and styling options available, including seamless aluminium/natural copper gutter systems, call us now to receive a free quote. And for RTN readers mention this article and you will receive 30% discount on orders before 29th February! We have finance options available from as little as 30€ a month.

Canalones Valencia also offer guttering servicing contracts, and they install rain water collection systems, so you can save money on your water bills and keep your garden irrigated. Call Salvador today (he speaks English) for more information on 961 272 977, or email salvador@canalvalencia.es and don’t forget to mention the offer with RTN! See their advert on the opposite page.

Provided by Salvador Salgado from Canalones Valencia call 961 272 977 , or email salvador@canalvalencia.es

Making a positive move

Les with one of the vans from the new division

ESPANEURA SL is a British owned long established removal company registered to trade legally in Spain. To mark 10 years of success and to give a clearer understanding of the company’s focus they are setting up a division to be know as Removal Solutions.

Operating from Catral for the past 10 years Les and Tina Parkinson have built up a highly reputable business moving people all over the globe. Having been in transport for most of his life Les saw an opening to be based in Spain working with and for British and Irish customers.

“Things have changed a lot since we have been here,” said Les, “A lot of families we moved here 6 or 7 years ago are now moving back to UK or other destinations. It is good to know that they were so happy with our services they used us again. We are also moving people around Spain and working with Spanish.”

Over the last 10 years Espaneura has had some memorable moves including being

featured on television on ITV’s Moving Day. Les explaining to a naïve presenter with the aid of a large map, that a truck takes more than a day to travel from the UK to Spain, was an unforgettable moment: some suggested that Les should have his own show.

Other high profile jobs have included shipping in the Porsche Carrera of the of Arsenal goalkeeper from Albacete to London, delivering props from Valencia to The Royal Opera House in Covent Garden and taking garden furniture from Italy to the neighbours of the Beckham’s holiday home in the Algarve.

But you don’t need to be a celebrity to be a customer of Espaneura. “All our clients are important to us and give aim to give everyone the high level of service that they deserve,” said Tina. “We have set up Removals Solutions to enable us to offer a complete relocation service at the best price. We have moved to more secure

warehouses with better facilities and offices. We can offer a more personal service as well a range of options because we have access to vehicles and container services worldwide. Being members of the British Association of Removers also assures our customer of best professional standards.

We have only Spanish registered vans and comply with Spanish regulations to give full legality to any work done. Our warehouse is fully alarmed and insured and help is always available. We aim to send our Estimator to see every customer or job so we can offer the best deal and highest level of service. Storage facilities are offered as part of any deal and packing materials and fully trained packing staff on hand if necessary. And a sense of humour comes as standard” To talk to Tina or Les or ask for a free estimate please call 96 678 8023 or 639 008 117 or email tina@espanerura.com or quotes@removalsolutions.es

Brought to you by spanishhomefinder.com

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03 -09 feb 2012

When does your builder’s ‘Decenal’ guarantee expire?

By Mark Paddon, Building Surveyor SINCE MAY 2000 all ‘new build’ properties require a ‘builder’s guarantee’ which is insured via a ‘Decenal’ insurance policy.

Time flies and it is important to note that the first guarantees are now expiring.

The decenal guarantee covers structural instability issues, so if you have any cracking in your property, it is important that this is assessed and if appropriate, reported to the decenal insurers and architect prior to the expiry date.

It is important is to seek a professional opinion as to your property’s condition if you have any concerns. What may appear to be minor cracks might be initial signs of a progressive more serious problem e.g. of subsidence. If you do not report this to the decenal insurers prior to the guarantee expiry, you will have no claim against them later.

An initial surveyor’s pre decenal expiry inspection starts at €195+IVA (additional travel costs may apply. Expert witness reporting is available for an additional fee).

Both existing owners and home buyers should note that the decenal insurers are notoriously difficult to claim against and court action is often required to get results. Contrary to some estate agent and developer claims, it is hence still very important to have a buyer’s structural survey even when the property is under guarantee.

Mark Paddon is a British Building Surveyor and Spanish registered Technical Architect based in Spain for 9 years. Mark has contributed to a number of Spanish property books and consulted for Channel 4’s ‘Selling houses abroad’ and ITV’s ‘Homes from hell’.

Mark Paddon BSc Hons Building Surveying. MCIOB. CAAT. Tel 962 807 247 M: 653 733 066 (Initial phone advice is free).

Free 15 page property buyer’s guide and advice available via email request to mrmpaddon@hotmail.com Website: www.surveysspain.com

Home & Garden

Home & Garden

Brought to you by spanishhomefinder.com

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03 - 09 feb 2012

Life

www.roundtownnews.co.uk

Life spanish The Letter

‘S’

THERE’S GOOD news about the letter S. It’s pronounced the same as in English! The only thing that needs pointing out about it is that the sound is the same as the English unvoiced “S”, that is, the sound we might make when imitating a snake, and not the English voiced “S” which is the same as a “Z” sound. In English we use both, with no very obvious spelling rule to tell us which is correct. For example “Saturday” is said with an unvoiced “S”, whereas “museum” is pronounced with the voiced “S”. If you want to test out whether you are using your voice or not, place your fingers lightly on your throat and say “Saturday” “museum”, notice that you can feel the vibration on the second “S” but not on the first. Now say the Spanish word for “museum” which is “museo” with a light unvoiced “S”. It should sound quite different from the English word. The only other thing I feel obliged to tell you about the “s” sound is that it is one that gets missed out at times depending on the speaker’s accent. This is particularly true in Murcia where they say things like “ma o meno” for “más o menos”.

There are plenty of S words that mean the same or very similar things in both languages. Here is a random sample: “Sal” (salt), from which we get the word “salado” meaning salty or savoury. “Salado” can also refer to a person as being “witty” or “charming”, as though their personality was “seasoned”. Next comes “saliva” (saliva), “salmón” (salmon), “sardina” (sardine), and “saludo” (salute, greeting). “Saludo” comes from the word “salud” meaning “health”, giving us the idea that we wish people good health when we greet them. “Salud” is also what we say when we tip unhealthy amounts of alcohol down our throats.

More words are: “satisfacción” (satisfaction), “secretario” or “secretaria” (secretary), “seducción” (seduction), “segregación” (segregation), “sensación” (sensation), “separar” (separate), “separado” (separated), “sermón” (sermon), “siamés” (Siamese) “silueta” (silhouette).

03 - 09 feb 2012

Basic Spanish for everyday needs

by Jane Cronin

There is also a fair range of words which count as “estranged cousins”, that is which appear to mean the same in both languages but don’t. The Spanish word “sensible” looks for all the world as though it means “sensible” as in “level-headed”, but it doesn’t, it means “sensitive”, which is a quite different thing altogether. Imagine thinking you were being told that someone was “sensible” when the person meant they were “sensitive”. It could create some confusion.

The Spanish translation for the English word “sensible” is “sensato”.

Another interesting combination is the Spanish word “sano” which does not mean “sane” in English, it means healthy, that is healthy in body rather than in mind. The Spanish word for mentally “sane” is “cuerdo”. Again, serious misunderstandings could occur!

Changing the subject completely, here is a comparison of two more S words, which have the same translation in English. These are “salvaje” and “silvestre”. Both of these words translate as “wild” but with a specific difference. “Salvaje” means a wild animal, and can also refer to wild or savage behaviour in human beings. “Silvestre” on the other hand refers to wild plants, including trees and flowers which grow of their own accord as it were, and I must say I do find it an attractive, lyrical sort of word.

Well, rather like the news, I seem to have developed the habit of adding a silly item at the end, and this week it is “sabañon” which means, believe it or not “chilblain”. Don’t you think it’s just one of the best things about living in Spain? Chilblains are so much a thing of the past that I can’t even remember the last time I suffered from them!

As ever we will finish with a saying that contains an S word, and this time the word is “solo” which means “alone”. The saying is: “Más vale solo que mal acompañado” “Better alone than in bad company” which is the sort of thing one says to one’s children, whilst of course they take no notice at all.

The twits of the week Richard Madeley @richardm56: Unbelievable.

People who’ve gone to see silent film The Artist are asking for their money back ‘cos there’s no sound’. Where do you start?

The odd tweet KhloéKardashianOdom @KhloeKardashian: I’m so weird... I can never fall asleep if I have socks on... Anyone else? LOL don’t leave me hanging The funny tweets Russell Kane @russell_kane: Have been sucked into the murky void of family tree research.

Day two in pants trying to figure out who my grandmother really was.

Gary Neville @GNev2: How can Ch 5 get Melinda Messenger presenting cowboy builders! Be like me presenting Miss World!

David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd @BumbleCricket: That’s me done. As young persons would say ....laters...and then do something quite strange with your fingers Rizzle Kicks @RizzleKicks: There are a lot of people in this world who need a ‘handle with care’ sticker on their forehead.

The awkward moment jody morris @morriskid: You know when you stop at traffic lights singing ya heart out with facials and you look left at a packed car looking at you..# yeah that

Life books

Danny Collins - copy@dannyjpcollins.com

The Return VICTORIA HISLOP’S first book, The Island, took the number one spot in The Sunday Times paperback chart for eight consecutive weeks and sold one million copies worldwide. Since it’s inconceivable that her husband, Ian (‘if that’s justice I’m a banana’) Hislop could have bought every copy we must assume that Victoria Hislop

knows how to write a blockbuster.

Her second novel, The Return, is of a young English woman’s insight into the Spanish Civil War 70 years in the past and its ravaging effects on an erstwhile normal Spanish family from Granada. Divided by politics and differing loyalties, the Ramírez family suffers horrendous personal tragedies as Nationalist and Republican forces meet in savage warfare in the conflict that saw the death of my hero Federico García Lorca in Andalucia and registered that countryside’s dramatic toll of death.

Victoria Hislop has obviously delved deeply in her research of Spain’s bloody past and she certainly captures the atmosphere of famine, fear, and brutal trench warfare overlaid with the tears of a savaged generation. Very reminiscent of CJ Sansom’s Winter in Madrid in prose and style of narrative, Hislop’s story differs in that it is told against a pulsing flamenco beat of rumba and soleares that radiates throughout the story.

It’s a brilliant book and well worth reading for those interested in their host country’s savage and misunderstood past. Mrs Hislop is destined to cast an even bigger shadow on the British literary scene.

Author: Victoria Hislop Publisher: Headline Review (paperback) Price: 15.60€ ISBN: 978 0 7553 3294 6

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Suduko Answer

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03 - 09 feb 2012

Life going out

Orihuela medieval market takes place this weekend

By Louise Clarke ON MONDAY, the Mayor of Orihuela, Monserrate Guillén and Councillor for Fiestas, Carolina Gracia, presented the full programme of events at this weekend’s Medieval Market.

In its thirteenth year, the market gets bigger and better every year and it is a ‘must’ visit if you have never been. The Mayor told reporters at the press conference that this year the market will be even better than in previous years and also, more importantly, will generate much needed revenue for the city (because the coast is unlikely to get any of it!)

The Councillor said that the market will be approximately two miles in length and will cover the whole area of the Plaza de Santiago del Colegio de Santo Domingo and fill its adjacent streets.

JOUSTING TOURNAMENTS There will be more than 350 stalls offering artisan products as well as refreshments. There will be 20 craft workshops and more than 30 musical, theatre and circus performances at various points in the market throughout the three day event and there will also be nightly concerts and theatrical performances. The market includes jousting tournaments and falconry displays and it promises to be fun for all the family.

A new feature for this year will be a traditional Arab souk complete with decoration and events of typical African culture.

Orihuela The Mayor told RTN: “Not only do we have one of the Medieval largest medieval markets in Spain, it is also one of the best Market and we would like to invite everyone to come and see what is one Orihuela has to offer.” The Councillor added: “We hope that of the biggest the market will also serve to publicise the city and its rich in Spain heritage and culture.”

Come and join the Pantomime Group THE PANTOMIME group meets and rehearses every Wednesday and Friday at Quesada Casa del Cultura from 2pm until 5pm, enjoying plenty of fun as well as raising money for good causes. If you would like to join us,whether treading the boards or helping backstage, come along to a rehearsal. Or for further information email bazbov@yahoo.co.uk

The walk is on!

THE ANNUAL charity Challenge Walk at Casa La Pedrera in Torremendo near San Miguel is on Sunday 26th February, which is just three weeks away. Once the ‘lovey dovey’ Valentine’s Day is past, it’s time to get training and take up the challenge and get fit with Paul Cunningham Nurses. All exercise is good for you and you have the choice of 10km and 15km walks and 10km and 20km cycles; all starting mid morning.

And for those couch potatoes there is a gentler 5km stroll starting at 2pm. The moment you cross the finishing line, there will be lots of fun, food and drink waiting for you! Full details are available at www.paulcunninghamnurses.com and you can email sueinthesun@hotmail.co.uk for a sponsorship form. Why not get together a team with your local bar or club and take up the challenge?! The following already have: The Pint Depot, Spud Murphys, RTN Newspaper North & South, Alex Bistro and the list is growing daily!

www.roundtownnews.co.uk

03 - 09 feb 2012

47

Life health

The Benijofar Chiropractic Clinic:

Innovative treatment methods - fast pain relief DR. HANS Christian Madsen, D.C., offers an innovative treatment method with laser and shockwave therapy that is especially well suited for patients with arthritic and disc related problems such as sciatica, low back pain, knee problems, shoulder problems etc.

Dr. Madsen earned his degree at the Palmer College of Chiropractic, Davenport, Iowa (USA) - the fountainhead of chiropractic in the world.

Dr Madsen has 30 years experience as a chiropractor. He also has over 20 years experience working with lasers. He was the first person in Denmark to pioneer laser treatment and has developed his own prototype lasers which treat a specific area as opposed to the whole area, ensuring maximum effect.

He is therefore able to combine his chiropractic skills with the laser and shockwave therapy treatment.

The shockwave therapy is a concentrated sound wave which renders fast pain relief as it attacks the arthritic changes which debilitate the nerves from functioning normally in an arthritic joint capsule such as hip, shoulder, knee, wrist etc.

This leads to a number of beneficial effects such as: Reversal of chronic inflammation Dissolution of calcium build up Helping to regenerate new blood vessels Can avoid in some cases the need for surgery in arthritic conditions if discovered early enough.

As the injured area is returned to normal, functionality is restored and pain is relieved.

Laser treatment has been particularly beneficial in the treatment of stubborn, persistent and ‘difficult to treat’ conditions including chronic back pain, neck pain, and other joint and muscle pains.

Dr Madsen has helped numerous patients with spinal injuries and degenerative disc related problems and has restored them to a lifestyle they used to enjoy prior to the problems occurring.

If you have back pain, it is better to seek help early rather than leave it until you are unable to move or walk as it then takes longer to remedy.

There are numerous benefits to laser treatment: It can strengthen and heal damaged cells and reduce inflammation It increases the range of movement which in turn brings vital nutrients and fluids to cartilage and discs.

Laser light increases blood flow to the injured area, promoting healing.

Leads to more complete healing with less chance of

weakness and re-injury later.

Laser therapy is safe, non invasive, non toxic, easily applied and highly effective.

Due to the success of the business, the clinic is expanding the number of treatment rooms to incorporate more lasers and a further shockwave facility. The clinic has also applied for permission to install an X-Ray facility.

Its aim in 2012 is to increase its target market within the sporting world by approaching golf, tennis and football clubs etc. For people involved in sport, it is essential that where injuries occur, the recovery period is fast and effective and laser treatment will ensure this.

Laser treatment can also benefit sufferers with Tinnitus, Asthma and Bronchitis.

The Benijofar Chiropractic Clinic website is currently being updated so watch this space!

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03 - 09 feb 2012

Life health

Get on yer bike

By Gary and Lynn of Cyclogical LEAVE QUESADA by the Arches go round the large roundabout and come off at the cycle track which runs along the side of the dual carriageway towards Torrevieja but instead of going on the cycle track take the tarred road that runs parallel to the right of it along past Alonso’s garage.

Stay on this Camino / Canal road ( the canal is to your left under the concrete slabs ) and pass over a hump back bridge just before you enter Urbanisation La Herrada. Carry straight on through La Herrada going straight on at the roundabouts until you come to signs saying Camino / Canal road no entry carry straight on until you come to a main road junction ( which is the main road to Zoco Market ) go straight across this road and again follow the Camino road to the next junction . This time turn right ( this is the main road to Algorfa and La Finca ) and

Monthly cycling tips, advice and routes

cycle for 1.2kms uphill past a large sign saying Contra Vega , pass over the AP7 and then about 200metres on your left you will see the start of the canal road .

You will see count down markers on the side of the canal starting at 5.1km and they are at 100 metre intervals all the way past Entre Naranjos to a pumping station . At this pumping station turn left and just follow the canal all the way up and into San Miguel . Half way through San Miguel you will come to a cross roads ( still on the canal track ) and on your left you will see O’Neills Irish pub which is a great place to stop by the way. Turn right here over the canal and immediate left up the hill to the main road where you turn right and head for the castle which you cannot fail to see.

At the castle you can get a Tinto de Verano , cold beer , coffee and a great selection of Tapas .Once watered and fed just about turn and head back following the same

route in reverse or continue on up to Rebate . ( Route in a few weeks time ) The canal route is absolutely stunning most months of the year and goes all the way to Cartagena and beyond with breath taking scenery and views. We have cycled most of it and hope to go all the way to Cartagena in the summer.

TotalCycling time : 3 Hours.

Total Distance : 42 Kms. Summary : Fantastic easy flat route with only the occasional vehicle, breathtaking views.

All routes are now available from our website: www.cyclogicalcostablanca.com Gary and Lynn are available at Cyclogical in Quesada Monday to Friday from 9.30am till 5.30pm and from 10am till 2pm on

Town Hall members join residents in learning to spot glaucoma TORREVIEJA TOWN Hall members joined a crowd of over 50 people on 27th January in seminars on how to spot the signs of glaucoma and cataracts. The seminars were given by professional opticians from Specsavers Opticas in Torrevieja to mark Glaucoma Awareness Month.

Rosario Martínez from the Department for Foreigners, Agustina Esteve from the Department of Commerce and Graham Knight Director of the International Residents Office at the Torrevieja Town Hall attended the event to show their support for this important cause. As part of the event they all had their eyes tested and Graham Knight received a pair of glasses to thank them for their participation.

Specsavers Opticas has been collecting second hand glasses to be sent to people in the Third World through charity The Lions Club. This week they collected 1,000 pairs of glasses which were presented to Iain Bennett, President of Torrevieja Costa Lions Club as part of their Glaucoma Awareness event. Specsavers Torrevieja will be a drop off point for donations of unwanted glasses throughout the year.

ABOUT GLAUCOMA Glaucoma is the leading cause of preventable blindness around the world. Awareness of this condition is crucial, as experts estimate that of the 60 million people who have glaucoma, half of them don’t know they have it and could suffer from permanent vision loss as a result.

The best way to ensure that glaucoma is identified early is to have a regular comprehensive eye test which examines both the pressure of the eye and the nerve at the back of the eye. However if you notice loss of peripheral vision, blurred vision or haloes around lights you should go and get an eye test as soon as possible. The highest risk groups are the over 40s and those with glaucoma in the family, so these groups should have annual eye tests to ensure glaucoma is caught early.

To book an eye test to check for signs of glaucoma call 96 692 7249 or visit Specsavers Opticas Torrevieja, Avenida Rosa Mazon Valero (Opposite Habaneras Shopping Centre).

Love is in the air at Fit 4 All FIT 4 ALL in Punta Prima will be holding a week long celebration of Valentine’s Day from 13th February until 19th February. Included in the special week long event is a three course dinner on the day itself and lots of special offers for the gym, the spa and the hairdressers and beauticians, which are located in the gym complex, just off the N332. Full details will be in next week’s RTN but you can book a table at the Valentine’s dinner by calling 966 798 848 or emailing info@fit4all-torrevieja.com

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03 - 09 feb 2012

Life showbiz goss

by

Peter Taylor

Writer and Broadcaster

You can’t win them all…

IT’S MORE or less all good for Britney Spears with news of her and her new boyfriend and former manager Jason Trawick planning a dream wedding on Valentine’s Day in Hawaii.

And it’s going to be a private affair as well. Britney told the US newspaper National Enquirer.“Maybe we´ll have a large reception later, but the wedding is going to be just for me and Jason” … Aah bless...

Then it gets better for Britney when her father Jamie announced he´ll be handing back control of her money to his daughter saying,“I believe it’s time for her to take back that responsibility” … Aah … double bless. Just to bring you up to speed, the courts decided a couple of years ago that Ms Spears was not responsible enough to be in control of her dosh. Then sadly a dark cloud appears on the horizon as right at the bottom of the story a statement read that Britney still has the threat of a tell all book being published about the ´Hit me Baby One more Time´ singers alleged sordid sex affair with a former bodyguard … aah … not so bless. Poor old Britney … still two out of three ain’t bad I suppose...

Big Charlie, Little Charlie Four years ago when Jodie marsh was 29 she decided to enlarge her boobettes saying at the time “ I´d lie on my back and they´d disappear…” too much information in truth, but now at 33 years old she back in the news on the same subject matter.She tells us that due to the poor quality of work performed by the plastic surgeon what a nightmare the last couple of years have been as bit by bither life has virtually gone to nothing in terms of relationships saying “ I was too embarrassed to take my top off” again, too much information babe.

I need to say at this point that do women really believe that men go wow when a pair of plastic balloons pop out from under the old charlie hammock … unless there´s a medical reason run with what you get is what I say. Jodie went on to say she was happier with her God given 32D jobsand would love to have them back before adding “people should realise that every boob job has the potential to become a horror story.” It certainly seems to have been quite a mare for you my lovely, and on behalf of all my readers I would like to wish you ‘all the very breast’.

All that meat & no potatoes!

One of my favourite actors is Irishman Liam Neeson, a man who´s attention to detail makes him difficult to work with, but the end result of this passion keeps him right up there with the best on the world of cinema. And this scenario played out in his latest movie The Grey which tells the story of a group of men who get lost in the vast wilderness of Alaska. The attention to detail this is about relates to a scene when the men manage to trap and kill a wolf and then of course go about the business of eating it. Director of the film Jim Carnaham gave in to Liam Neeson´s desire for authenticity to actually eat wolf meat by placing an ad in the local papers and getting lucky when a guy called tosay he had one in his freezer that met its waterloo due to it attacking the man´s cattle.

The punch line to the story is the cast then all sat down to a full scale meal of wolf meat after which MrNeeson said “it tasted dreadful, but maybe we just had a bad wolf!” … there´s a joke in there somewhere…

www.roundtownnews.co.uk

03 - 09 feb 2012

Life TV

51

3rd February - 9th February

Friday 3rd February BBC1

BBC2

ITV1

CHANNEL 4

CHANNEL 5

itv2

E4

VIVA TV

07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Wanted Down Under 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 11:58 BBC News 12:00 Britain’s Empty Homes 12:30 Cash in the Attic 13:13 BBC News 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News 14:30 Regional News 14:45 Doctors 15:15 Escape to the Country 16:00 BBC News 16:05 The Big Performance 16:35 Wingin’ It 16:55 Deadly Art 17:15 OOglies 17:30 Blue Peter 18:00 Newsround 18:15 Pointless 19:00 BBC News 19:30 Regional News 20:00 The One Show 21:00 EastEnders 21:30 Room 101 22:00 Hustle 23:00 BBC News 23:25 Regional News 23:35 Graham Norton Show 24:20 The National Lottery Friday Night Draws 24:30 Road Trip

07:00 Childrens TV 10:50 Louie 10:55 Same Smile 11:10 Chuggington: Badge Quest 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 14:00 One Man and His Campervan 14:30 Animal 24:7 15:15 The Weakest Link 16:00 Helicopter Heroes 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 Goes to Ireland 20:00 This World 21:00 Mastermind 21:30 Mastermind 22:00 Cutty Sark: National Treasure 23:00 QI 23:30 Newsnight 24:00 The Review Show 24:45 Weather 24:50 Youth without Youth

07:00 Daybreak 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 ITV News and Weather 14:55 Granada News and Weather 15:00 Dickinson’s Real Deal 16:00 The Alan Titchmarsh Show 16:59 Granada Weather 17:00 The Hungry Sailors 18:00 The Chase 19:00 Granada Reports 19:30 ITV News and Weather 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 and Weather 23:30 Granada News and Weather 23:35 Jaws III

07:10 The Hoobs 07:35 The Hoobs 08:00 Freshly Squeezed 08:30 According to Jim 08:55 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:25 Frasier 09:55 Undercover Boss 10:55 Phil Spencer: Secret Agent 12:00 Secret Location 13:00 Channel 4 News 13:05 Country House Rescue 14:05 Baking Mad with Eric Lanlard 14:35 Carry On Sergeant 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Come Dine with Me 18:30 Coach Trip 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 19:55 4thought.tv 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:30 Channel 4 Presents 20:35 Come Dine with Me 21:30 New Girl 22:00 The Million Pound Drop Live 23:30 Chris Moyles’ Quiz Night 24:20 Rude Tube

07:00 Childrens TV 08:20 The Mr Men Show 08:35 Thomas & Friends 08:45 Noddy in Toyland 08:55 Bert and Ernie’s Great Adventures 09:00 Fifi and the Flowertots 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:20 Peppa Pig 09:30 Roary the Racing Car 09:40 Milkshake! Monkey 09:45 Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00 Hana’s Helpline 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 LIVE with Gabby 13:05 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Superior Interiors with Kelly Hoppen 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 CSI: NY 16:15 Unstable 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 5 News at 6.30 20:00 Royal Navy Caribbean Patrol 21:00 World’s Toughest Trucker 22:00 The Last of the Mohicans 24:15 World’s

07:00 Coronation Street 07:25 Emmerdale 07:50 Emmerdale 08:15 Loose Women 09:10 Judge Judy 09:35 Judge Judy 10:00 Judge Judy 10:25 Real Housewives of Orange County 11:30 Judge Judy 12:00 Judge Judy 12:30 Judge Judy 13:00 Coronation Street 13:30 Emmerdale 14:00 Emmerdale 14:30 The Jeremy Kyle Show 15:35 The Jeremy Kyle Show 16:40 Real Housewives of Orange County 17:40 Loose Women 18:40 Judge Judy 19:05 Judge Judy 19:30 Judge Judy 20:00 Love in the Wild 21:00 You’ve Been Framed!

21:30 Harry Hill’s TV Burp 22:00 American Idol 23:00 The Only Way Is Essex 23:45 The Only Way Is Essex 24:30 The Jonathan Ross Show

07:00 Switched 07:20 Life Unexpected 08:05 Smallville 08:45 Wildfire 09:40 Life Unexpected 10:35 90210 11:30 Smallville 12:20 Desperate Housewives 13:20 Greek 14:15 Scrubs 14:40 Scrubs 15:10 Hollyoaks 15:45 90210 16:40 Desperate Housewives 17:35 Rules of Engagement 18:00 Scrubs 18:30 Scrubs 19:00 The Big Bang Theory 19:30 The Big Bang Theory 20:00 Hollyoaks 20:30 How I Met Your Mother 21:00 Supernanny US 22:00 Beverly Hills Cop II 24:05 Playing It Straight

14:00 Non Stop Music 16:00 Shopping and Info 18:00 The Gift 18:05 FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions with Ann Brown - Reflexology 18:30 Let’s Talk with Simon Baldock – Pastor Roy Davies 19:00 An Evening With...

Truro Cathedral Choir 20:00 – 22:00 Local Information and Non Stop Music

FAQ with Ann Brown - Reflexology 18:05

SATURDAY 4th February BBC1

BBC2

ITV1

CHANNEL 4

CHANNEL 5

itv2

E4

VIVA TV

07:00 Breakfast 11:00 Saturday Kitchen Live 12:35 Rachel Allen: Home Cooking 13:00 BBC News; Regional News and Weather 13:15 Football Focus 14:00 World Olympic Dreams 14:30 Live Six Nations Rugby Union 17:30 Live Six Nations Rugby Union 19:55 BBC News; Regional News and Weather 20:15 The Magicians 21:30 The National Lottery Saturday Night Draws 21:40 Casualty 22:30 Mrs Brown’s Boys 23:00 BBC News and Weather 23:20 Match of the Day 24:40 The Football League Show

07:00 Childrens TV 08:00 Richard Hammond’s Blast Lab 08:30 Dennis & Gnasher 08:40 Scooby-Doo Show 09:05 Pixelface 09:35 Prank Patrol Down Under 10:00 Ultimate Sports Day 10:30 Blue Peter 11:00 Animals at Work 11:30 Trapped Ever After 12:00 Hacker Time 12:25 OOglies 12:40 MOTD Kickabout 13:00 Coast 13:15 Miracle 15:20 Flower Drum Song 17:30 Final Score 18:30 Escape to the Country 19:30 Flog It! 20:30 Dad’s Army 21:00 Versailles: The Dream of a King 22:00 Brighton Rock 23:45 Pan Am 24:25 TOTP2 24:55 The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada

07:00 Mini CITV 08:25 CITV 10:25 ITV News 10:30 The Jeremy Kyle Show USA 11:25 May the Best House Win 12:25 This Morning: Saturday 13:30 Murder, She Wrote 14:30 ITV News and Weather 14:40 Evil under the Sun 16:55 Wild Wild West 18:45 Granada News and Weather 19:00 ITV News and Weather 19:15 You’ve Been Framed!

20:15 Harry Hill’s TV Burp 20:45 Take Me Out 22:00 The Jonathan Ross Show 23:00 The Talent Show Story 24:00 ITV News and Weather 24:15 Music and Lyrics

07:00 The Treacle People 07:10 The Hoobs 07:35 The Hoobs 08:00 Volleyball 08:55 The Morning Line 09:55 Everybody’s Talking About 10:20 T4 Movie Special 10:55 New Girl 11:25 New Girl 11:55 Playing It Straight 12:55 The Simpsons 13:25 New Girl 13:55 The Big Bang Theory 14:25 The Big Bang Theory 14:55 Channel 4 Racing 16:55 Come Dine with Me 17:25 Come Dine with Me 18:00 Come Dine with Me 18:35 Come Dine with Me 19:05 Come Dine with Me 19:35 Channel 4 News 20:05 4thought.tv 20:10 My Super Ex-Girlfriend 22:00 The Million Pound Drop Live 23:30 The Full Monty

07:00 Childrens TV 08:45 Bert and Ernie’s Great Adventures 08:55 Little Princess 09:15 The Adventures of Bottle Top Bill and His Best Friend Corky 09:30 Angelina Ballerina 09:45 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 Benidorm ER 12:30 Royal Navy Caribbean Patrol 13:25 Riding Shotgun 15:00 Apache Drums 16:30 Death of a Gunfighter 18:25 Private Benjamin 20:25 5 News Weekend 20:35 NCIS 21:30 NCIS 22:30 CSI: NY 23:30 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit 24:30 Forensic Files

07:00 The Planet’s Funniest Animals 07:20 Coronation Street 09:30 Emmerdale 12:25 Take Me Out 13:40 Take Me Out: The Gossip 14:25 Love in the Wild 15:25 Harry Hill’s TV Burp 15:55 American Idol 16:55 American Idol 17:50 Free Willy 20:10 Kangaroo Jack 22:00 Take Me Out: The Gossip 22:45 Knocked Up

07:00 Switched 07:25 Switched 07:55 Switched Up! 08:50 Dirty Sexy Things 09:50 Supernanny US 10:50 Supernanny US 11:40 Gok’s Fashion Fix 12:45 Supernanny US 13:40 Supernanny US 14:35 Hollyoaks 17:10 Perfect Couples 17:40 Perfect Couples 18:05 Scrubs 18:35 Scrubs 19:05 The Big Bang Theory 19:35 The Big Bang Theory 20:00 Happy Endings 20:35 How I Met Your Mother 21:00 Rules of Engagement 21:30 The Big Bang Theory 22:00 Trading Places 24:20 The Big Bang Theory 24:50 The Big Bang Theory

14:00 Non Stop Music 16:00 Shopping and Info 18:00 The Gift 18:05 FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions with Ann Brown - Reflexology 18:30 Let’s Talk with Simon Baldock – Pastor Roy Davies 19:00 An Evening With...

Truro Cathedral Choir 20:00 – 22:00 Local Information and Non Stop Music

American Idol 15:55

An Evening with.....

Truro Cathedral Choir 19:00

Sunday 5th February BBC1

BBC2

ITV1

CHANNEL 4

CHANNEL 5

itv2

E4

VIVA TV

07:00 Breakfast

07:00 Little Robots 07:10 Zigby 07:25 Finley the Fire Engine 07:35 Octonauts 07:45 Everything’s Rosie 08:00 Richard Hammond’s Blast Lab 08:30 Dennis & Gnasher 08:40 Scooby-Doo Show 09:05 Paradise Cafe 09:30 Wingin’ It 10:00 Friday Download 11:00 Something for the Weekend 12:30 I Know Where I’m Going!

14:00 EastEnders 15:55 The Shooting Party 17:30 Escape to the Country 18:15 Ski Sunday 19:00 The Last Explorers 20:00 Queens of British Pop 21:00 Top Gear 22:00 Toughest Place to Be 23:00 Match of the Day 2 23:55 Frank Skinner’s Opinionated 24:25 Rugby Union

07:00 Mini CITV 08:25 CITV 10:25 ITV News 10:30 Ade in Britain 11:30 Dinner Date 12:30 Dickinson’s Real Deal 13:30 ITV News and Weather 13:40 Murder, She Wrote 14:40 Columbo 16:35 Vera 18:35 Granada News and Weather 18:45 ITV News and Weather 19:00 Harry Hill’s TV Burp 19:25 Dancing on Ice 21:30 Wild at Heart 22:30 Dancing on Ice: The Skate Off 23:05 That Sunday Night Show 23:35 ITV News and Weather 23:50 Whitechapel 24:50 Anglo-Welsh Cup Rugby Union

07:00 The Treacle People 07:10 The Hoobs 07:35 The Hoobs 08:00 That Paralympic Show 08:25 Sailing 08:55 The Album Chart Show Introduces 09:05 One Tree Hill 09:55 Countdown to the NME Awards 2012 10:10 Hollyoaks 12:45 The Big Bang Theory 13:20 Shipwrecked 14:20 The Simpsons 14:55 The Simpsons 15:30 New in Town 17:20 Time Team 18:25 Deal or No Deal 19:25 Channel 4 News 19:55 4thought.tv 20:00 Hugh’s Three Hungry Boys 21:00 The Hotel 22:00 The Time Traveler’s Wife 24:10 Alien: Resurrection

07:00 Childrens TV 08:05 Roobarb and Custard Too 08:15 Bananas in Pyjamas 08:25 Family!

08:35 Make Way for Noddy 08:50 Bert and Ernie’s Great Adventures 08:57 Milkshake! Monkey 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 10:25 Roary the Racing Car 10:40 Mist: Sheepdog Tales 11:00 Grey’s Anatomy 12:00 Cowboy Builders 13:00 Police Interceptors 14:05 Shanghai Noon 16:10 Pete’s Dragon 18:20 The Mask of Zorro 21:00 World’s 21:55 5 News Weekend 22:00 300 24:20 Road House 2

07:00 The Hot Desk 07:10 Emmerdale 09:50 Coronation Street 12:15 Winners & Losers 13:10 Winners & Losers 14:05 Winners & Losers 15:00 Winners & Losers 15:55 The Only Way Is Essex 16:40 The Only Way Is Essex 17:25 Free Willy 2: the Adventure Home 19:25 King Kong 23:00 The Only Way Is Essex 23:45 Funny People

07:00 Switched 07:20 Switched Up! 08:05 Supernanny US 08:55 Supernanny US 09:50 Gok’s Clothes Roadshow: Get the Look for Less 10:55 How to Look Good Naked 11:55 How to Look Good Naked 12:55 Supernanny US 13:50 Supernanny US 14:45 Privileged 15:35 Make It or Break It 16:30 Make It or Break It 17:30 Samantha Who? 17:55 Being Erica 18:55 90210 19:50 Romancing the Stone 22:00 Desperate Housewives 23:00 Desperate Housewives 24:00 Skins

14:00 Non Stop Music 16:00 Shopping and Info 18:00 The Gift 18:05 Inland Spain - Jumilla 18:30 Youth Tube 18:45 Handmade – Anti-Hero 19:00 Let’s Talk with Simon Baldock – Tribute to Robbie France 19:30 The Wedding Show - Rings 19:45 Spanish Eye – A Tour round Alcoy 20:00 – 22:00 Local Information and Non Stop Music

08:35 Match of the Day 10:00 Andrew Marr Show 11:00 The Big Questions 12:00 Sunday Politics 13:05 Match of the Day Live 15:30 Live Six Nations Rugby Union 18:00 Songs of Praise 18:35 Antiques Roadshow 19:35 BBC News; Regional News and Weather 20:00 Countryfile 21:00 Call the Midwife 22:00 Bomber Boys 23:30 BBC News; Regional News and Weather 23:55 Live Super Bowl XLVI

King Kong 19:25

The Wedding Show - Rings 18:30

52

03 - 09 feb 2012

Life TV

3rd February- 9th February

monday 6th February BBC1

BBC2

ITV1

CHANNEL 4

CHANNEL 5

itv2

E4

VIVA TV

07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Wanted Down Under 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 11:58 BBC News 12:00 Britain’s Empty Homes 12:30 Cash in the Attic 13:13 BBC News 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News 14:30 Regional News 14:45 Doctors 15:15 Escape to the Country 16:00 BBC News 16:05 The Big Performance 16:35 Wingin’ It 16:55 Deadly Art 17:15 OOglies 17:30 Blue Peter 18:00 Newsround 18:15 Pointless 19:00 BBC News 19:30 Regional News 20:00 The One Show 20:30 Inside Out 21:00 EastEnders 21:30 Panorama 22:00 The Diamond Queen 23:00 BBC News 23:25 Regional News 23:35 A Question of Sport 24:05 Late Kick Off 24:35 Graham Norton Show

07:00 Childrens TV 10:45 Harry and Toto’s World of Opposites 10:50 Louie 10:55 Same Smile 11:10 Chuggington: Badge Quest 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 14:00 One Man and His Campervan 14:30 To Buy or Not to Buy 15:15 The Weakest Link 16:00 Helicopter Heroes 16:45 Flog It! 17:30 Perfection 18:15 Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Britain’s Heritage Heroes 20:00 Home Cooking Made Easy 20:30 A Question of Taste 21:00 University Challenge 21:30 An Island Parish 22:00 Protecting Our Children 23:00 Mock the Week 23:30 Newsnight 24:20 Pan Am

07:00 Daybreak 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 ITV News and Weather 14:55 Granada News and Weather 15:00 Dickinson’s Real Deal 16:00 The Alan Titchmarsh Show 16:59 Granada Weather 17:00 The Hungry Sailors 18:00 The Chase 19:00 Granada Reports 19:30 ITV News and Weather 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Coronation Street 21:00 Cornwall with Caroline Quentin 21:30 Coronation Street 22:00 Whitechapel 23:00 ITV News at Ten and Weather 23:30 Granada News and Weather 23:35 That Sunday Night Show 24:05 Law & Order: UK

07:10 The Hoobs 07:35 The Hoobs 08:00 Freshly Squeezed 08:30 According to Jim 08:55 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:25 Frasier 10:00 Undercover Boss USA 10:55 Relocation: Phil Down Under 12:00 A Place in the Sun 13:00 Channel 4 News 13:05 Country House Rescue 14:05 Quick Bakes with Eric Lanlard 14:25 Lassie Come Home 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Come Dine with Me 18:30 Coach Trip 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 19:55 4thought.tv 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 Channel 4 Presents 21:00 SuperScrimpers 22:00 Coppers 23:00 Party Paramedics 24:05 Random Acts 24:10 Shameless

07:00 Childrens TV 08:20 The Mr Men Show 08:35 Thomas & Friends 08:50 Noddy in Toyland 09:00 Fifi and the Flowertots 09:10 Peppa Pig 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:25 Peppa Pig 09:30 Roary the Racing Car 09:40 Bert and Ernie’s Great Adventures 09:45 Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00 Hana’s Helpline 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 LIVE with Gabby 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Build a New Life in the Country 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 CSI: NY 16:15 Safe Harbor 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 5 News at 6.30 20:00 World’s Toughest Trucker 21:00 Police Interceptors 22:00 Royal Marines: Mission Afghanistan 23:00 The Detonator 24:55 Soho Blues

07:00 Coronation Street 07:25 Coronation Street 07:50 Emmerdale 08:15 Loose Women 09:10 Judge Judy 09:35 Judge Judy 10:00 Judge Judy 10:25 Real Housewives of Orange County 11:30 Judge Judy 12:00 Judge Judy 12:30 Judge Judy 13:00 Coronation Street 13:30 Coronation Street 14:00 Emmerdale 14:30 The Jeremy Kyle Show 15:35 The Jeremy Kyle Show 16:40 Real Housewives of Orange County 17:40 Loose Women 18:40 Judge Judy 19:05 Judge Judy 19:30 Judge Judy 20:00 The Biggest Loser 21:00 Gossip Girl 22:00 Gladiator

07:00 Switched 07:25 Life Unexpected 08:05 Smallville 08:50 Wildfire 09:45 Life Unexpected 10:40 Scrubs 11:10 Scrubs 11:35 90210 12:30 Desperate Housewives 13:25 Greek 14:20 Scrubs 14:50 Scrubs 15:20 Hollyoaks 15:50 90210 16:40 Smallville 17:30 Rules of Engagement 18:00 Desperate Housewives 19:00 The Big Bang Theory 19:30 The Big Bang Theory 20:00 Hollyoaks 20:30 How I Met Your Mother 21:00 My Name Is Earl 21:30 My Name Is Earl 22:00 Playing It Straight 23:00 Skins 24:05 Secrets of the Shoplifters

14:00 Non Stop Music 16:00 Shopping and Info 18:00 The Gift 18:05 Handmade - I Wanna Be A Producer 18:30 Out & About in Torrevieja - The Casino 18:45 The TKO Funday 19:00 Let’s Talk with Simon Baldock 19:30 The Wedding Show 19:45 Spanish Eye – International Darts in Benidorm 20:00 – 22:00 Local Information and Non Stop Music Spanish Eye International Darts in Benidorm 19:45

tuesday 7th February BBC1

BBC2

ITV1

CHANNEL 4

CHANNEL 5

itv2

E4

VIVA TV

07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Wanted Down Under 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 11:58 BBC News 12:00 Britain’s Empty Homes 12:30 Cash in the Attic 13:13 BBC News 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News 14:30 Regional News 14:45 Doctors 15:15 Escape to the Country 16:00 BBC News 16:05 The Big Performance 16:35 Wingin’ It 16:55 Deadly Art 17:15 OOglies 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 Prisoners’ Wives 23:00 BBC News 23:25 Regional News 23:35 Death Unexplained 24:20 Neighbourhood Watched

07:00 Childrens TV 10:20 The Large Family 10:35 Guess with Jess 10:45 Harry and Toto’s World of Opposites 10:50 Louie 10:55 Same Smile 11:10 Chuggington: Badge Quest 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 14:00 One Man and His Campervan 14:30 To Buy or Not to Buy 15:15 The Weakest Link 16:00 Helicopter Heroes 16:45 Flog It! 17:30 Perfection 18:15 Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Britain’s Heritage Heroes 20:00 Raymond Blanc: The Very Hungry Frenchman 21:00 Alex Polizzi: The Fixer 22:00 How to Grow a Planet 23:00 Have I Got News for You 23:30 Newsnight 24:20 Rubicon

07:00 Daybreak 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 ITV News and Weather 14:55 Granada News and Weather 15:00 Dickinson’s Real Deal 16:00 The Alan Titchmarsh Show 16:59 Granada Weather 17:00 The Hungry Sailors 18:00 The Chase 19:00 Granada Reports 19:30 ITV News and Weather 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 River Monsters 21:00 The Exit List 22:00 The Biggest Loser 23:00 ITV News at Ten and Weather 23:30 Granada News and Weather 23:35 Benidorm 24:35 The Cube

07:00 The Treacle People 07:10 The Hoobs 07:35 The Hoobs 08:00 Freshly Squeezed 08:30 According to Jim 08:55 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:30 Frasier 10:00 Undercover Boss USA 10:55 Relocation: Phil Down Under 12:00 A Place in the Sun 13:00 Channel 4 News 13:05 Country House Rescue 14:05 Quick Bakes with Eric Lanlard 14:35 Across the Wide Missouri 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Come Dine with Me 18:30 Coach Trip 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 19:55 4thought.tv 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 Channel 4 Presents 21:00 Gok’s Teens: The Naked Truth 22:00 Katie: The Science of Seeing Again 23:00 Shameless 24:05 Desperate Housewives

07:00 Childrens TV 08:20 The Mr Men Show 08:35 Thomas & Friends 08:50 Noddy in Toyland 09:00 Fifi and the Flowertots 09:10 Peppa Pig 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:25 Peppa Pig 09:30 Roary the Racing Car 09:40 Bert and Ernie’s Great Adventures 09:45 Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00 Hana’s Helpline 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 LIVE with Gabby 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Build a New Life in the Country 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 CSI: NY 16:15 Fairfield Road 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 5 News at 6.30 20:00 Police Interceptors 21:00 Cowboy Builders 22:00 Body of Proof 23:00 CSI: Miami 23:55 CSI: NY 24:50 CSI: NY

07:00 Coronation Street 07:25 Coronation Street 07:50 Emmerdale 08:15 Loose Women 09:10 Judge Judy 09:35 Judge Judy 10:00 Judge Judy 10:25 Real Housewives of Orange County 11:30 Judge Judy 12:00 Judge Judy 12:30 Judge Judy 13:00 Coronation Street 13:30 Coronation Street 14:00 Emmerdale 14:30 The Jeremy Kyle Show 15:35 The Jeremy Kyle Show 16:40 Real Housewives of Orange County 17:40 Loose Women 18:40 Judge Judy 19:05 Judge Judy 19:30 Judge Judy 20:00 Harry Hill’s TV Burp 20:30 You’ve Been Framed!

21:00 About a Boy 23:00 Winners & Losers 24:00 Alexander

07:00 Switched 07:25 Life Unexpected 08:05 Smallville 08:50 Wildfire 09:45 Life Unexpected 10:40 Scrubs 11:10 Scrubs 11:35 90210 12:30 Desperate Housewives 13:25 Greek 14:20 Scrubs 14:50 Scrubs 15:20 Hollyoaks 15:50 90210 16:40 Smallville 17:30 Rules of Engagement 18:00 Desperate Housewives 19:00 The Big Bang Theory 19:30 The Big Bang Theory 20:00 Hollyoaks 20:30 How I Met Your Mother 21:00 David Blaine’s Street Magic 22:00 90210 23:00 The Cleveland Show 23:30 Bob’s Burgers 24:00 Sirens

14:00 Non Stop Music 16:00 Shopping and Info 18:00 The Gift 18:05 FAQ Frequently Asked Questions with Ann Brown 18:30 Spanish Dive Adventures 19:00 Real England 20:00 – 22:00 Local Information and Non Stop Music

Real England 19:00

wednesday 8th February BBC1

BBC2

ITV1

CHANNEL 4

CHANNEL 5

itv2

E4

07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Wanted Down Under 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 Britain’s Empty Homes 12:30 Cash in the Attic 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News 14:30 Regional News 14:45 Doctors 15:15 Escape to the Country 16:00 BBC News 16:05 School for Stars 16:35 Wingin’ It 16:55 Deadly Art 17:15 OOglies 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 Rip Off Britain 21:00 Super Smart Animals 22:00 MasterChef 23:00 BBC News 23:25 Regional News 23:35 The National Lottery Wednesday Night Draws 23:45 Kevin Bridges What’s the Story?

24:15 Film 2012 with Claudia Winkleman 24:55 The Dark

07:00 Childrens TV 10:35 Guess with Jess 10:45 Harry and Toto’s World of Opposites 10:50 Louie 10:55 Same Smile 11:10 Chuggington: Badge Quest 11:15 64 Zoo Lane 11:30 Mama Mirabelle’s Home Movies 11:40 Waybuloo 12:00 In the Night Garden 12:30 Daily Politics 14:00 See Hear 14:30 To Buy or Not to Buy 15:15 The Weakest Link 16:00 Helicopter Heroes 16:45 Flog It! 17:30 Perfection 18:15 Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Britain’s Heritage Heroes 20:00 Escape to the Country 21:00 Bees, Butterflies and Blooms 22:00 Versailles 23:00 Roger & Val Have Just Got In 23:30 Newsnight 24:20 Guerrilla: the Taking of Patty Hearst

07:00 Daybreak 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 ITV News and Weather 14:55 Granada News and Weather 15:00 Dickinson’s Real Deal 16:00 The Alan Titchmarsh Show 16:59 Granada Weather 17:00 The Hungry Sailors 18:00 The Chase 19:00 Granada Reports 19:30 ITV News and Weather 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Live FA Cup Football 23:00 ITV News at Ten and Weather 23:30 Granada News and Weather 23:35 FA Cup Football Highlights 24:35 Kidnap and Ransom

07:05 Sali Mali 07:10 The Hoobs 07:35 The Hoobs 08:00 Freshly Squeezed 08:30 According to Jim 08:55 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:30 Frasier 10:00 Undercover Boss USA 10:55 Relocation: Phil Down Under 12:00 A Place in the Sun 13:00 Channel 4 News 13:05 Country House Rescue 14:05 Quick Bakes with Eric Lanlard 14:35 Rope 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Come Dine with Me 18:30 Coach Trip 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 19:55 4thought.tv 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 Channel 4 Presents 21:00 How to Cook Like Heston 21:30 The Fabulous Baker Brothers 22:00 One Born Every Minute 23:00 10 O’Clock Live 23:55 Random Acts 24:00 The Inbetweeners

07:00 Childrens TV 08:20 The Mr Men Show 08:35 Thomas & Friends 08:50 Noddy in Toyland 09:00 Fifi and the Flowertots 09:10 Peppa Pig 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:25 Peppa Pig 09:30 Roary the Racing Car 09:40 Bert and Ernie’s Great Adventures 09:45 Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00 Hana’s Helpline 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 LIVE with Gabby 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Build a New Life in the Country 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 CSI: NY 16:15 Crimes of Passion 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 5 News at 6.30 20:00 Cowboy Builders 21:00 Benidorm ER 22:00 NCIS 23:00 Law & Order: Criminal Intent 24:00 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

07:00 Emmerdale 07:25 Nanny 911 08:15 Loose Women 09:10 Judge Judy 09:35 Judge Judy 10:00 Judge Judy 10:25 Real Housewives of Orange County 11:30 Judge Judy 12:00 Judge Judy 12:30 Judge Judy 13:00 Emmerdale 13:30 Nanny 911 14:30 The Jeremy Kyle Show 15:35 The Jeremy Kyle Show 16:40 Real Housewives of Orange County 17:40 Loose Women 18:40 Judge Judy 19:05 Judge Judy 19:30 Judge Judy 20:00 Take Me Out 21:15 Take Me Out: The Gossip 22:00 Love in the Wild 23:00 The Only Way Is Essex 23:45 Passenger 57

07:00 Switched 07:25 Life Unexpected 08:05 Smallville 08:50 Ugly Betty 09:45 Life Unexpected 10:40 Scrubs 11:10 Scrubs 11:35 90210 12:30 Desperate Housewives 13:25 Greek 14:20 Scrubs 14:50 Scrubs 15:20 Hollyoaks 15:50 90210 16:40 Smallville 17:30 Rules of Engagement 18:00 Desperate Housewives 19:00 The Big Bang Theory 19:30 The Big Bang Theory 20:00 Hollyoaks 20:30 How I Met Your Mother 21:00 Monster-in-Law 23:00 Porky’s

VIVA TV

14:00 Non Stop Music 16:00 Shopping and Info 18:00 The Gift 18:05 Costa Blanca Life – Los Montesinos Fiestas 18:30 Spanish Eye – Battle Re-enactment of Arnham in Murcia 19:00 Learn The Lingo – Spanish Lessons 19:15 How To...ITV 19:30 Let’s Talk Special – Frank Worthington 20:00 – 22:00 Local Information and Non Stop Music

Costa Blance Life - Los Montesinos Fiestas 18:05

www.roundtownnews.co.uk

03 - 09 feb 2012

thursday 9 February

53

th

BBC1

BBC2

ITV1

CHANNEL 4

CHANNEL 5

itv2

E4

VIVA TV

07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Wanted Down Under 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 11:58 BBC News 12:00 Britain’s Empty Homes 12:30 Cash in the Attic 13:13 BBC News 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News 14:30 Regional News 14:45 Doctors 15:15 Escape to the Country 16:00 BBC News 16:05 School for Stars 16:35 Wingin’ It 16:55 Deadly Art 17:15 OOglies 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 Super Smart Animals 22:00 Inside Men 23:00 BBC News 23:25 Regional News 23:35 Question Time 24:35 This Week

07:00 Childrens TV 10:45 Harry and Toto’s World of Opposites 10:50 Louie 10:55 Same Smile 11:10 Chuggington: Badge Quest 11:15 64 Zoo Lane 11:30 Mama Mirabelle’s Home Movies 11:40 Waybuloo 12:00 In the Night Garden 12:30 BBC World News 13:00 Daily Politics 14:00 Animal Park 14:30 To Buy or Not to Buy 15:15 The Weakest Link 16:00 Helicopter Heroes 16:45 Flog It! 17:30 Perfection 18:15 Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Britain’s Heritage Heroes 20:00 Top Gear 21:00 Raymond Blanc: The Very Hungry Frenchman 22:00 Putin, Russia & the West 23:00 James May’s Things You Need to Know 23:30 Newsnight 24:20 Toughest Place to Be

07:00 Daybreak 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 ITV News and Weather 14:55 Granada News and Weather 15:00 Dickinson’s Real Deal 16:00 The Alan Titchmarsh Show 16:59 Granada Weather 17:00 The Hungry Sailors 18:00 The Chase 19:00 Granada Reports 19:30 ITV News and Weather 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Tonight 21:00 Emmerdale 21:30 Coronation Street 22:00 Eternal Law 23:00 ITV News at Ten and Weather 23:30 Granada News and Weather 23:35 The Jonathan Ross Show 24:35 Take Me Out

07:10 The Hoobs 07:35 The Hoobs 08:00 Freshly Squeezed 08:30 According to Jim 08:55 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:25 Frasier 09:55 Undercover Boss USA 10:55 Relocation: Phil Down Under 12:00 A Place in the Sun 13:00 Channel 4 News 13:05 Country House Rescue 14:05 River Cottage Bites 14:15 The Fighting Kentuckian 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Come Dine with Me 18:30 Coach Trip 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 19:55 4thought.tv 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 Channel 4 Presents 21:00 Location, Location, Location 22:00 The Restoration Man 23:00 Mothertruckers 24:05 Coppers

07:00 Childrens TV 08:10 Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom 08:20 The Mr Men Show 08:35 Thomas & Friends 08:45 Noddy in Toyland 09:00 Fifi and the Flowertots 09:10 Peppa Pig 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:30 Roary the Racing Car 09:45 Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00 Hana’s Helpline 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 LIVE with Gabby 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Build a New Life in the Country 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 CSI: NY 16:15 Murder among Friends 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 5 News at 6.30 20:00 Holiday Heaven on Earth 20:30 How Do They Do It? 21:00 Bermuda Triangle: The Mystery Revealed 22:00 Winter Road Rescue 23:00 Sudden Impact

07:00 Emmerdale 07:25 Nanny 911 08:15 Loose Women 09:10 Judge Judy 09:35 Judge Judy 10:00 Judge Judy 10:25 Real Housewives of Orange County 11:30 Judge Judy 12:00 Judge Judy 12:30 Judge Judy 13:00 Emmerdale 13:30 Nanny 911 14:30 The Jeremy Kyle Show 15:35 The Jeremy Kyle Show 16:40 Real Housewives of Orange County 17:40 Loose Women 18:40 Judge Judy 19:05 Judge Judy 19:30 The Woman in Black Premiere Special 20:00 The Exit List 21:00 The Cube 22:00 American Idol 23:00 Celebrity Juice 23:45 Happy Gilmore

07:00 Switched 07:25 Life Unexpected 08:05 Smallville 08:50 Ugly Betty 09:45 Life Unexpected 10:40 Scrubs 11:10 Scrubs 11:35 90210 12:30 Desperate Housewives 13:25 Greek 14:20 Scrubs 14:50 Scrubs 15:20 Hollyoaks 15:50 90210 16:40 Smallville 17:30 Rules of Engagement 18:00 Desperate Housewives 19:00 The Big Bang Theory 19:30 The Big Bang Theory 20:00 Hollyoaks 20:30 How I Met Your Mother 21:00 The Big Bang Theory 21:30 Rules of Engagement 22:00 How I Met Your Mother 22:30 Happy Endings 23:00 Noel Fielding’s Luxury Comedy 23:30 Chris Moyles’ Quiz Night 24:25 The Big Bang Theory 24:50 The Big Bang Theory

14:00 Non Stop Music 16:00 Shopping and Info 18:00 The Gift 18:05 Viva Vitality - shaping up for the New Year 18:30 Buying A Car In Spain 19:00 Vibefest – San Fulgencio Fiestas 19:30 Hayes Guide Murcia City 20.00 – 22.00 Local Information and Non Stop Music

Crossword Solutions 641 CRYPTIC SOLUTIONS Across: 1 Plain clothes; 7 Bantu; 8 Nadir; 9 Leo; 10 Decameron; 11 Enmity; 12 Itself; 15 Boy Scouts; 17 Air; 18 Radii; 19 Fibre; 21 Alternatives.

Down: 1 Parallel bars; 2 Nun; 3 Launch; 4 Tinsmiths; 5 Eider; 6 Transformers; 7 Broom; 10 Detective; 13 Erase; 14 Puffin; 16 Yodel; 20 Bit.

QUICK SOLUTIONS Across: 1 Plain clothes; 7 Aspic; 8 Enrol; 9 Opt; 10 Antipathy; 11 War-cry; 12 Parson; 15 Religious; 17 Oaf; 18 Eaten; 19 Watch; 21 Reverberated.

Down: 1 Prison warder; 2 Nip; 3 Locate; 4 Thespians; 5 Egret; 6 Playing field; 7 Alter; 10 Arrogance; 13 Sloth; 14 Cobweb; 16 Lithe; 20 Tor. Wordwheel: INNOCUOUS

Hayes Guide - Murcia City 19:30

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03 - 09 feb 2012

Life music

CostaVibes Tony Poole

Federico Lechner’s ‘Tango & Jazz’ Trio play Alicante ARGENTINE PIANIST Federico Lechner brings his Tango & Jazz Trio to Las Cigarreras - La Caja Negra (The Cigar Jazz & Blues Club) in Alicante on Thursday 16th February. He will present his latest recordings ‘Estele’ (Bost Espacio Creativo, 2006) and ‘Beboponga’ (18 Chulos, 2009) along with Toño Miguel on double bass and Michael Oliveira on drums.

Federico describes the project as “a laboratory mix of jazz and tango, through classics of both styles, as well as original compositions, always keeping the aesthetics of the jazz trio par excellence, but with a tango flavour.”

The trio’s first album ‘Estele’ was the culmination of a year and a half of live trio work at both festivals and in clubs.

‘Beboponga’, the second album, features a larger ensemble of musicians which include the renowned Spanish harmonica player, and long-time collaborator, Antonio Serrano. The album features recordings by Antonio Carlos Jobim, Charles Mingus and Chopin, as well as original compositions.

Born in Buenos Aires in 1974 into a family of musicians, Federico began playing the piano at the age of three with the help of his mother. During his childhood he often played piano recitals and worked as a singer in TV ads. In 1984 he moved to Spain, after which he began to study jazz and work professionally as a pianist and keyboardist.

He has collaborated with a wide range of artists from the commercial music scene in Spain and recorded five albums as a leader, plus his name can be found credited on several soundtracks to Spanish films. He has also composed original music for several short films and commercials, and has toured Spain twice as a live pianist improvising to silent

movies. He has taught improvisation workshops at a variety of high schools and colleges across Europe and the USA. Despite his youth, he is well established on the Spanish jazz circuit having played with musicians such as Jorge Pardo, Antonio Serrano, Perico Sambeat, Pedro Ruy Blas, Bob Sands, Ximo Tebar, Concha Buika, Israel Sandoval, Paloma Berganza, Carlos Carli, and many others, and frequently collaborates and tours overseas with international artists such as Jerry Gonzalez, Christian Howes, Sonny Fortune, Ugonna Okewo and Rez Abbasi.

In 2001 he won 4th prize in the composition for jazz ‘Tete

Montoliu’, convened by the SGAE. In 2002, his duo album with Jerry Gonzalez, ‘A Primera Vista’, was a finalist for Best Jazz Album in the Spanish Music Awards. In 2005 his song ‘Iboga’ was awarded 1st Prize for jazz composition ‘Tete Montoliu’.

This all adds up to what promises to be an evening of attractive fusion where “jazz meets tango” that should delight all lovers of good music.

The concert at Las Cigarreras starts at 8.30pm: tickets are 10€ in advance, available from FNAC Boulevard, or 12€ on the night from 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!

www.roundtownnews.co.uk

03 - 09 feb 2012

Life food

55

Food Consultant Edwin Cheeseman

Valentines…A recipe for disaster Roses are red and violets are blue, so goes the age old rhyme, I was going to cook you dinner my sweet, but I don’t have the skills or the Thyme…

I ought to start with an apology for mentioning the V word even before you think the time is right, but believe me I think that you will end up by thanking me. We shouldn’t really blame the shops for stocking Valentines cards, stuffed bears, chocolates and other goods so soon after Christmas as once they have removed all the Christmas stock what else are you supposed to fill the empty space with?

Trouble is, most of us blokes have a mental blockage when it comes to cards and gifts and its all you ladies who are to blame. “Shall I send a card to Aunty Doris this year?” and “What do you think we ought to get Cousin Damien for his birthday?” You know damn well we’re not listening. The sensible option is to just leave you to it, even though you still complain, it really is for the best.

Now as a confirmed Christmas Eve shopper I do enjoy the last minute rush to buy and bag some bargains and to be honest, although it’s sometimes a little fraught, it’s also a little exciting. However, ‘last minute’, ‘bargain’ or ‘later’ are words that should never be associated with Valentines, unless it’s just for the card.

Arranging a romantic meal for two, a box of chocolates or a bunch of flowers at any time of the year will cover a multitude of sins on just about any night, but on Valentines, it is a chance to earn some real Brownie points for showing that you really care. Trouble comes when you leave it too late and try to book a romantic table for two at the last minute.

It’s doomed to failure. Next time you go into a restaurant just count the tables for two 1…2…3 not many are there? So unless you are going as a party of 4 or more, the chances of getting a table for two are already slim, but this night, Valentines night, slimmer still.

What do you actually want for you and your Valentine? A quiet table for two, overlooking the bay with a chilled bottle of Cava waiting for you on arrival before sitting down to a

luxurious, freshly cooked meal of your choosing served by the boss himself giving a touch of personal service usually reserved only for Royalty... Difficult enough on a normal night but realistically not everyone can book the best table, someone is going to end up being disappointed and seated next to the loos.

Every restaurant I’m sure will do their best but it is the most difficult night to manage. Asking any restaurant to please every romantic couple at the same time with the best table, best food and best attention is unrealistic but more so when you expect it all to be available at the last minute just because you forgot. Trust me it will not be alright on the night. Just getting through on the telephone will have you pulling your hair out, I know - I’ve been on both ends of the telephone on Valentines Day. So, take my advice, take advantage of my experience, forget the present and card, for now at least, and take the time to book a table for two on Valentines night NOW - this minute. If you still refuse to heed my advice and end up having to cook at home then try our: Valentines Emergency Dinner Poach a boneless breast of chicken in some stock (a stock cube will do) with a pinch of thyme until cooked (20mins approx) add quick cook noodles to the stock for a soup starter. Then heat up a tin of Lobster Bisque (buy tinned Lobster Bisque) pour over the chicken and serve with plain boiled rice (microwaveable packet) and drizzle (I love that word) with a little cream (Nata). Conveniently the real name of this dish and I’ve printed it to prove it, is Poached Chicken Romeo and Juliet…perfect! If you need the help of a dessert drain a tin of pineapple rings (although fresh is better) rub with cumin & honey and fry in a pan until golden, drizzle over the remaining cream and serve.

If you have a question about food email cheeseman@roundtownnews.com

Brian ‘U2’ Cavanagh BRIAN WILL entertain you with not just a fantastic tribute to U2 but also his performance, both visually and sound. Excellent backing tracks and sound system add to the overall show. A show that offers lighting effects; a large projection show and overall entertainment and intrigue, this likeable act has one intention and that is to entertain the audience and if they have a favourite U2 request I’m sure Brian will accommodate. But that’s not all: he also performs material from the 60s to modern day, adding another dimension to his show.

He is a very professional act both on and off the stage and is being re-booked time and again.

For further details call Phoenix Promotions on 677 222 352.

Out

and

About

4TH FEBRUARY Enigma Karaoke, ODuills, Gran Alicante Connor, Meroil, Catral Samantha Curtis, PJ’s,The Rendezvous, Torrevieja Shirelle, Shandon Bells, Villamartin Plaza Pat Martin, Bar Imanyo, Daya Nueva

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03 - 09 feb 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. Cut the corner? (6) 4. As drunk as a herring!

(6) 9. Could they be hardfought sewing contests?

(6-7) 10. Organise a place for firing practice, we hear (7) 11. One has a nose for this (5) 12. Light meal container required about the end of the afternoon (5) 14. Transport by sea is a matter of skill (5) 18. This peg is fixed in the window elsewhere (5) 19. Where Arthur arrived with many more (7) 21. This provides solidity for one on the way to the bank (8-5) 22. Famous seaman shows a hold one can’t escape from (6) 23. Twists and relaxes, we hear (6)

DOWN 1. The sort of weight for cock-fighting? (6) 2. It’s enough to drive you round the bend! (8-5) 3. Stop and pass on (5) 5. Exit in the open air (7) 6. They help to fill up a form at the same time (6-7) 7. Make an unauthorised departure in a private capacity! (6) 8. Brown figure without a head (5) 13. Extempore song and a variety of plays taken in by the company (7) 15. Describing the strong favourite “Rum Boy” (4,2) 16. Street contains one bin - hardly enough (5) 17. Aquatic creatures made to rest (6) 20. A man of endless wretchedness (5)

Wordwheel

Quick Crossword

Answers & Winners

ACROSS 1. Founding (6) 4. Fit (6) 9. Discomfiture (13) 10. Right (7) 11. Banish (5) 12. Impediment (5) 14. Blemish (5) 18. Intelligence (5) 19. Take out (7) 21. Prosaic (13) 22. Give (6) 23. Made smooth (6)

DOWN 1. Rupture (6) 2. Inferiority (13) 3. Cherish (5) 5. Esteem (7) 6. Rainfall (13) 7. Decaying (6) 8. Offensive (5) 13. Touch (7) 15. Ridiculous (6) 16. Send (5) 17. Be present (6) 20. Track (5)

Last week’s Crossword and Suduko answers found on page 51/53. Winner for 641: James Mackie, Torrevieja

Euromillions Draw Friday 27th January 2012

10 13 19 39 44

No ticket won

Tuesday 31st January 2012

9 34 38 43 45

No ticket won

2

6

2

4

www.roundtownnews.co.uk

03 - 09 feb 2012

Life horoscopes Venus enters briefly towards the end of the week bringing you a real chance to connect with love energies with a view to balancing and augmenting your strengths and passions. Bringing both the wisdom of Saturn and the freedom of Libra into play there is more to a current relationship than meets the eye, make it easy on yourself.

Venus, your Planetary Leader, touches base with Saturn, bringing light on a current darkness and a solution to your most immediate problems.

Subsequent actions with Aries confirm that you are now in pole position and are ready to take control when the time comes. Be yourself and take a good look at your motives and your viable options.

Mercury dallies with a conjunction with Mars with ongoing support of a dreamy Aquarius and a consoling Virgo. You can stay and lick your wounds and feel very sorry for yourself, or you can see the way ahead more clearly, and examine the loophole, which could very well be your way out, and a pathway to freedom and resolve.

Start nothing right now if you can’t see the way to finishing it. There are so many loose ends to be tied up, and priorities should beckon you on this week towards closure and transparency. Everything happens for a reason so look twice at something recently shelved and re think for the future just how relevant it could be, if under your control.

Determined and highly productive it is essential that you are heard and appreciated right now when it matters before time moves the goal posts.

There is a positive glow about success and you thrive on it; so that the many changes and new directions in your grasp are not mere fantasies, but the start of a new and challenging dimension.

Mars brings hard and fast rules into play at a time when you need some tender love and care to see you through. Power at your elbow is not to be wasted, but it is quite obvious that this could be put to good use if you were to play your cards right. You never know what you can do until you try, and it is plain to see that have the upper hand.

Hosting as you do this week the Saturnian Retrograde there comes a shedding of responsibilities, rebalancing and a need to avoid the very rules and structure that have prevented you from moving on. Enjoy the release and the freedom for what it is worth, and because, you can, plan a way of ensuring that your wishes and desires are known.

Nervous energy sees you having to put all your eggs in the same basket, albeit for good reason and with a view to strengthening your control in a situation that has spun severely out of control. It is not a time to take sides but it is the right moment to acknowledge your own power and control and to show others what you are really made of.

With Jupiter in Taurus and your opposing sign Gemini in conjunction with Mars there comes a time of conflict in which you are going to have to dig in your heels to get the maximum attention you desire. Things have to get a little worse before they get a lot better. It is a case of one foot forward and two back, but hang on in there a while!

Neptune shoots from the hip and at least you will hear the truth rather than a garbled version of it. You have had your suspicions of late and they were founded in your psychic senses and strong beliefs. Nothing will now be achieved overnight, but with a brief that ensures that this truth be known, you have the benefit of the doubt at last.

Mercury’s midweek entry brings you support and acts as a messenger bringing you the message you have long awaited. Things cannot continue as they are, and when your faith and dedication is challenged, it is time to say goodbye, and to look for pastures new. You will always thrive and prosper, but you flog currently a dead horse.

Planetary actions bring a Cosmic depth to your current plans, beckoning you on to be motivated by your own skills and talents. You have the best opportunity right now to see this through to the bitter end because at long last there is nothing to stop you, and your natural talents will and can see you safely through into new and exciting territories.

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Kenny corris www.kennycorris.net

Magic moments MAGIC IS an all embracing word, meaning different things to everyone who cares to interpret.

It has is basis in that which just happens without our having to use conventional means or ways.

It brought us “Oofle Dust” which inspired Sooty, fabricated Camelot for King Arthur, and saw us all wide eyed and intrigued in every stage show in which a woman was sawn in half. Now that there are programmes that show us how some of those famous tricks are done I still find the thrill comes better with the illusion that is not knowing.

A dear friend of mine, Adam is a member of the Magic Circle, and as such will never divulge the secrets of his magic trickery; though I have experienced it close up, and have actually been a part of it on many occasions. Adam’s favourite magic apparatus was a guillotine designed to cut off a finger. In a sober state and with ring finger quivering that blade fell, and yet I of course felt nothing, except I managed a grimace when the apparatus opened to show my severed finger. It was all done so fast, so skilfully and so well that I never did find out how it worked, even though I was a great part of it. Adam, true to his profession will never ever tell me, and I remain baffled, and always will be.

Magic is enacted every single day when things happen in such a special way we are unsure how they happened. Usually we hang on to the magic that brings sudden good luck or that which resolves conflicts or brings us a message that goes straight to our hearts and has good effect.

No wand is required, no spell or incantation needs to be chanted, and yet magic can and does happen every day we live.

In the tragic Spanair disaster in Madrid a few years back one small teenage boy survived the crash because he was ejected into a river, the remaining crew and passengers all died. Magic saved that boy that he will know life and live to experience that his life was preserved for yet unknown reasons. So too has magic played a part in faith and fortune for many years, directing, steering and connecting, though not always when needed or anticipated.

Spirit has brought a wonderful magic into my life that has left many to comment that I am lucky. I have to say that something always does turn up for me and that it may very well be that I have placed my faith in the Spirit World that

Kenny’s diary Mon 6th and Wed 8th Feb: 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 Golden Age: Into the Fifth Dimension: Saturday March 3rd at The Forum Mare Nostrum in Alfaz 10,00 to 5.00.

Show with Kenny Corris and Torben Thoger, Mette and Laerke Lund. Advanced Booking at: www.kennycorris.net or 686 361 594. Tickets 25EUR Bookable Lunch 10EUR. Demonstration of Clairvoyance: The Alfaz Spiritual Foundation invite you a Spiritual service on Thursday 16th February at 18.30. The Forum Mare Nostrum, Alfaz. All welcome.

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 Feb/ Mar.

I connect with and work with daily. I strongly feel that my faith is tested very often, and that through my own beliefs I am able to go out and make magic myself. I love to make things happen for other people, because I can, and I am delighted when things go so well and doors open showing many the magic pathway of their lives and alternatives to their current disconnections, misgivings and negativities. So many people are so close to the magic of life but do not perceive a way ahead to view it, or they feel that magic may very well work for others, but that it won’t happen or work for them. Curiously it probably won’t because they have added sufficient negativity to change the action that might just have brought them exactly what they are looking for.

Magic is spontaneous and the more it blends with surprise the more impact it has on our varied lives. It can stop us in our tracks, change our concepts and re program our very existence. There is an element of wonder that creates the illusion of magic within ourselves, and acts as a keynote to the change and adaptations we really wish to make. Nothing can succeed more than success, and there can be nothing so thrilling as to achieve, as we merit that magic and just know that it will fuel us for life each and every step of the way.

Magic is the desire felt on love at first sight, the recovery of a loved one when the very worst was forecasted, and the realisation of our most prized dreams when they seem so very impossible.

Spirit brings us such love and devotion even if we do not choose to believe in them. Part of the magic I feel is in my soul showing me the way forward, protecting me and keeping me safe.

I may not know the winning numbers for the Euromillions, be unable to play any card game of chance and I may be richer in every aspect other than finances; but magic brought me into this World, saved my life on so many occasions and watches over me.

Sometimes we do not know the magic that dwells within us, or appreciate all that we have when we prefer to focus on that which we have not. Life is everything, and the balance of Nature and the good love of Spirit are part of the truth we feel within, living, as we are daily, the magic of our lives.

Love & Light... Kenny Corris

Postbag Email your letters to me at: kennycorris@roundtownnews.com KENNY I am always trying to see my Spiritual side, but I am blocked because of things I did during the past which I regret now. I know that in a way that I am judging myself, but I can’t let go of the past.

Amy P. Closing a door on the past isn’t easy by any means, but it isn’t impossible. Our memories help us to return back to times in our lives when we were happy too, and we cannot be blamed for things that we did in the past just because we now know better here in the present. We have all made mistakes, and the fact that you judge yourself so harshly shows that you are deeply sorry for something, better now forgotten. We live here in the present with a view of the future and a memory of the past, and none of us are perfect! Let go and forge new positive memories; eventually you can, and will look back to in the future, and smile on!

If it’s your birthday this week Be your own inspiration since a period of new energies brings about a focus on your many positive and inspiring skills.

Eliminate fear and believe in your powers, then set out to do what you know that you can, come what may. Time is on your side.

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

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03 - 09 feb 2012

Life tech

with Aunty Virus

Email auntyvirus@roundtownnews.com

Deleted from computer Ken via email asks: HI AUNTY, I accidentally deleted Creative Media Source from my computer so I went to Google search and clicked the first link www.drivers.softpedia.com. However, Avira antivirus immediately came up on the screen saying “MALWARE and scanned it so I deleted it.

How can I safely put back this free program?

Aunty Says: If I remember correctly Creative Media Source was/is a program that came bundled with most Soundblaster sound cards so you’re probably best getting the latest version from the www.creative.com website. If it wasn’t too long ago you could try the system restore function of Windows that will take your PC back in time.

Problems accessing a website

Marie via email asks: HI AUNTY. I have Windows 7 64bit version and have for the last couple of months had a problem accessing the Ryanair website. I have no problems with any other websites but cannot get Ryanair! All I get coming up is IE (Internet Explorer) cannot access this website. Can you help me figure this out?

Aunty Says: This could be a few different things Marie so maybe try these and see how you get on. Install and run Ccleaner from www.download.com and let it clear out any unwanted files that may be causing problems. Check you are typing the name in correctly and that the bookmark/favourite isn’t and old invalid one (you can vie/change/ delete bookmarks and favourites with a right click of the mouse. Try switching over to Firefox or Chrome as you browser (both better than IE) and see if that works, if you really want to stick with IE then you may need to use the 32bit version as there are still problems with some websites running with the 64bit version. You can check which version you are running from the ‘help’ ‘about’ menu option.

Receiving emails that haven’t been sent

Susan via email asks: GOOD MORNING Aunty, some advice needed please. Just this past week I’ve received 3 emails from different people whose addresses I have, but who never send me jokes. I have contacted them all before opening the messages and none of them sent them. What has happened? I run Superantispyware and Malawarebytes and Antivirus once a week so can you explain? I also seem to be getting a lot of spam recently too, not too much of a problem because I use Gmail but still annoying!

Aunty Says: This could be a few different things Susan and unfortunately very difficult to trace the source. Your email address will almost certainly be in all of your friends’ address books, and it only takes one of them to pick up a bit of malware and your address will be on the receiving end of junk emails. Likewise it is very common (and worryingly easy) for these spammers to hide or cloak their unsolicited rubbish behind genuine email addresses so they appear to come from people in your address book or even yourself.

The only sure way to stop this is to setup a new Gmail email address and hope this one doesn’t get spammed.

Error page coming up Dave via email asks: HI AUNTY. I am getting a page coming up in Firefox ‘whoops error 404’. How can I stop this?

Thanks in anticipation.

Aunty Says: The 404 error is normally your browser (Firefox in your case) telling you that it cannot find the URL of the webpage you are asking for. You can get this if you are typing in the wrong URL (the www.blahblah.com bit) or if the site URL has changed since you added it to your favourites/ bookmarks. A more serious problem is when you receive the 404 error message regardless of which website you are trying to access as this indicates you have a general internet/ADSL connection problem.

Reinstalled Firefox Mari via email asks: HELLO AUNTY. I contacted you just before Christmas about a Firefox problem I had.

I followed your advice and uninstalled and then reinstalled Firefox from just about every known source yet I still get the message “Firefox is configured to use a proxy server that is refusing connections.

Check the proxy settings to make sure that they are correct.

Contact your network administrator to make

sure the proxy server is working” Aunty Says: Hello Mari. This is most commonly caused after you have set yourself up with one of the many ‘watch expat TV abroad’ type services or iPlayer etc. There is a setting in Firefox under ‘tools’ ‘options’ ‘advanced’ and the ‘network’ tab where the settings button will give you the option for ‘no proxy’. Give it a go and let me know how you get on.

Dropbox DROPBOX LETS you bring all your photos, docs, and videos anywhere. And it is FREE! After you install Dropbox on your computer, any file you save to your Dropbox will automatically save to all your computers, your Android device, and even the Dropbox website! With the Dropbox app, you can take everything that matters to you on the go.

Read your docs or flip through your albums when you’re out and about. Save photos or videos to your Dropbox and share them with friends in just a couple taps. Even if you accidentally leave your Android in a taxi, your stuff is always safe on Dropbox.

FEATURES: • Always have your stuff with you, no matter where you are.

• Save photos and videos to your Dropbox.

• Share your photos and docs with family and friends.

• Save email attachments straight to your Dropbox.

• Easily edit docs in your Dropbox.

“A fantastic application for accessing all your computer files/ photos and music straight from your smartphone device without the need to save all those files directly on your mobile and using lots of space (which ultimately may slow down your mobile).

For more information or to order your unbeatable android mobile phone package call 2020tel on 966 260 777

www.roundtownnews.co.uk

Gadget Inspector Investigates:

Bonker Gadgets

THIS WEEK the Inspector takes a look at a few of the more unusual gadgets available.

Firstly we have the 8€ Grippy Pad. We all remember the days of the dodgy car accessory clinging perilously to the dash board by the last remnant of its sticky pad, ultimately to end up doomed to perish in the footwell at the next sharp bend. Well fear not, now there is the Grippy Pad made from an advanced silicone material.

Just slap it onto the dashboard and the Grippy Pad will be ready to grip anything from your iPad to SatNavs.

Available in grey, black, clear and red there is sure to be a colour to match your car interior. The Grippy Pad is also resistant to water, high temperatures and sunlight too.

When the stickiness begins to wear off just remove and wipe with a damp cloth and it’ll be all stickytastic again.

Not sure if an emergency stop would result in another occupant of the car getting the attached device as a new piece of headgear though.

Next is the 70€ Voodoo Knife Block.

Designed by Raffaele Iannello, the Voodoo Knife Block is definitely one of the most bizarre kitchen accessories available.

Available in chrome, black, red, aubergine and olive, the Voodoo Knife Block has five slots with knives included.

So give your old block the chop and get

03 - 09 feb 2012

yourself a Voodoo Knife Block!

Thirdly is the 70€ Screaming Flying Monkey. Normally toy monkeys are cute and cuddly creatures, but not the Screaming Flying Monkey. Simply put two fingers in the pockets in his paws, pull back on the super elasticated bungee arms and let fly!

Twenty five feet of flight should be

IF YOU do not already know, Europa Network is supplying Wireless internet and phone lines without the need for Movistar landlines.

As long as you can see one of our masts from the roof of your house or apartment block then you can have the service.

We are the only wireless company in the area to offer you up to 6mb of broadband speed with no download limits what so ever.

Here are some questions that were asked by customers before joining us:

My provider can only give me 1mb why can you offer 6mb?

Our system is not a standard “public” wireless service but a true “licensed” WiMax service that allows a more robust and stable connection giving up to 6mb of internet speed via a small antenna on your roof, we are therefore the ONLY company in this area that gives you maximum coverage with the highest speeds guaranteed.

I am not able to use certain sites with my current provider and have download limits.

What are the rules with your system?

Because of the licensed service as explained above there are No download limits or caps, no blocks on P2P networking and no pre-payments.

I am in a contract with my current will I have to wait until this ends before I am able to join you?

As long as you are paying the standard rates advertised by your current supplier regardless of what their contract shows, there is no legal obligation of agreed permanency.

How much is the installation?

The installation is absolutely FREE OF CHARGE and includes equipment, router and engineer time.

There are no pre-payments and therefore no deposits.

Can I have Internet only?

You can choose from having internet only or we can also supply you with a 965 number and UK number, meaning not only can you benefit from fantastic rates all over the world with no connection charges and no prefix’s; your friends and family can call you for the cost of a local UK call.

If you are interested in finding out more about our products please visit our website: www.europa-network.com or call 965 796 736 for more information.

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achievable, accompanied by bloodcurdling screeches from an in-built speaker. An absolute must for that boring staff meeting or for taking to a therapy group for the timid and nervous.

Lastly, is the 20€ Zippo Hand Warmer.

With Spanish winters becoming chillier each year, the Zippo Hand Warmer could be a welcome companion.

Looking just like a traditional Zippo lighter the Hand Warmer uses lighter fuel and a platinum catalysed glass fibre burner to produce up to ten times more heat than other hand warmers and lasts up to 12 hours with a single 12ml filling of lighter fuel. Make sure you don´t get this mixed up with your regular lighter, or things could get very interesting.

The Inspectors Verdict: Who said gadgets had to be sensible? Now where´s that Screaming Flying Monkey got to…

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03 - 09 feb 2012

Life people

Not beyond repair THIS WEEK RTN had the pleasure of meeting celebrity entertainer turned author Jeri Lane while he is on what can only be described as a whistle stop tour between Britain, Spain and New York.

Jeri has been a very busy boy during the last few months and has not only written his first book ‘Beyond Repair: the Shocking Truth’, which is a childhood autobiography but a second book colourfully entitled ‘Benidorm Bullshit, Backstabbing and Bitches’ and a third book and stage play are in the planning.

Jeri was extremely frank; honest and open as we discussed the past eighteen months of his very troubled life.

The new book

A WEALTH of Costa Blanca talent is lined up to play at a benefit concert in memory of musician Paul Barrett who died in December aged 57.

Noggy Sheila’s Bar in Albir hosts the event on Saturday 11th February and entrance is 2€ for a night of great entertainment from 6pm and a grand raffle. Confirmed acts appearing on the night

at the bar in the terrace near the Second Chance second hand shop are: Sister Act, Joanna James with a live band, Jenny Renn, and Juke Box Jive with Sue and Hal (from the Maxx).

Paul died on December 16th aged 57. He came from the Birmingham area and had worked in the UK and Spain as a session player.

Until recently, he was also part owner of an IT shop in Albir until recent times.

Organisers told RTN Paul leaves an elderly father in UK and “his friends here are rallying round to raise the funds for Paul’s cremation.”

Jazz concert THIS SATURDAY, 4th February, at Casa Ventura in San Luis, Torrevieja, Swingtet’s Big Band Dance Night will be taking place from 9pm to 11.30pm.

The Jazz concert provided music from some of the best sounds from Benny Golson, Miles Davis and some of the lesser know Jazz composers. All played for you

by Gil Monk’s Swingtet -Plus Big Band, which was formed and is led by Gil on alto sax and features the best available musicians in the areas.

This is the very experienced band of nine musicians with a very Big Band Sound. The band brings a new sound to this type of music which you will enjoy. So please go along and enjoy an evening of good music.

Admission is by ticket only on the door and are priced at just 5€ per person.

Telephone Bar Manager, Kevin on 96 678 9247 to reserve your ticket and the band looks forward to seeing you there: for all other details call 96 843 2630.

COUNSELLING Jeri told RTN: “Writing is something I have always used to express my feelings, I suppose as a sort of emotional release. So after a particularly dark time when I found myself alone after a brutal break up, penniless, homeless, jobless and also bullied by people I considered close friends and in a desperate state of depression, I tried to take my own life.”

He described in an eloquent way his huge feelings of abandonment which stemmed from his sexually abused childhood which began at the tender age of six, by a close friend of his parents and as only Jeri could, he described how he became a “…very special little boy.” The hospital doctors suggested that he seek counselling, a road Jeri was not keen to walk on.

But eventually a wonderful female therapist agreed to see him and so began the long, sad, disturbing,

fascinating and sometimes incredibly amusing journey that led to Jeri writing all of his memories and feeling down as part of the recovery.

VICTIM Soon the diaries were three hundred pages long and almost a finished book: the synopsis was sent to a well known American publisher and the results will be available to buy from stores and online in April.

The one thing Jeri was very adamant to point out was that he has never seen himself as a victim.

He said: “Many people tell you because you have suffered sexual abuse as a child you must be a victim, where as I refuse to be a victim and chose to tell a story - my story.”

Jeri’s second book, ‘Benidorm Bullshit, Backstabbing and Bitches’ is something completely different and when RTN asked what it was all about, Jeri roared with laughter. He said: “After living here for more than a decade, working in show business having very successful stage productions with some very well known people and a highly regarded radio chat show, I have seen and heard things nasty, vile, funny and totally unbelievable which you could not make up. So I thought why not write it as it really is here? The title was easy, although for legal reasons all of the names and some of the locations have been changed, to protect the not so innocent!”

Full day Show about a Wonderful Global Shift

Kenny Corris, Torben Thoger, Mette Lund and Laerke Lund

THE GOLDEN Age is a blueprint for the future, anchored in this current year of change that the World is waiting for. Now that the gloom and doom have finally been removed we can explore better the great Shift, a wonderful happening and a re-creation of Global proportion that will echo around the World. Through the media of music and song and informative narrative speech, Kenny Corris and Torben Thoger, together with Mette and Laerke Lund bring you a new and challenging production: THE GOLDEN AGE A 2012 SHOW “INTO THE 5th DIMENSION” The team invite you to join them on a journey of discovery through to a new dimension of Light Energy, enabling you too to Ascend to the highest level of your Conscience.

With new video presentations, new songs, the latest news and forecasts, a positive agenda will bring you the

enlightenment you seek, the abolition of fear and a full in depth exploration of this opportunity to face 2012 and all it will bring us.

Most readers know Kenny Corris.

He is a renowned Psychic Medium, Astrologer, Healer, Teacher, Therapist and Life Coach who has worked with Spirit for some 50 years. Kenny says: “We are all Spirit living in an Earthly body, and we have all chosen to be here right now in unique and changing, challenging times!” People need to think outside the box, as this, he feels, will greatly help many to adapt and grow spiritually all the way to Ascension.

Composer and Filmmaker Torben Thoger enjoys international success with his beautiful and powerful music and his film productions. For many years Torben has had a great interest in personal development and spirituality, though he does not connect to any particular Society or Religion. He says, “We are all

one. Everything is changing rapidly and I am looking forward to be living in a much better World!”

Mette Lund is a Reconnective Healer, a Life Coach, a Teacher and an Abstract Painter. “Light, easiness and laughter have always been parameters I have shaped my course for”, Mette says.

She loves finding new ways and have wide experience and educations in personal development, spirituality, drama, pedagogy and art.

Laerke Lund is a talented singer.

Like her parents - Torben Thoger and Mette Lund - she is very creative and writes her own songs. She is a co-writer on one of the songs presented in the “Golden Age 2012 Show”; a song she sings the lead in.

Tickets 25 Euros: Tel: 686 361 594, www.kennycorris.net. Also ticket sale at Bistro Maya and Clínica PACA - both in Albir. Find “Goldenage2012show” on facebook.

www.roundtownnews.co.uk

03 - 09 feb 2012

Life cars

61

Brian Deller Author of Motoring in Spain

The complexities of modern motoring WE DID it. We took delivery of the new Ford Focus just before Christmas and we are enjoying getting out and about in it. But modern cars are so full of electronics now. Many of the devices are very good and some that seem to be intended for non-drivers. It has taken me about two hours plus reading the operator manual to see how everything works.

Car manufacturers now are very crafty in that if you want a particular device such as seats with lumbar support, the option is included in what they call a ‘Pack’ where other options have to be taken as well as a group of extras at one price. Here are what we have accepted in the new car and what is good and what is really unnecessary for us.

Anti-lock brakes (ABS): each wheel has valves so that under heavy braking, the individual wheel will not lock up causing a skid. Thought by many to give a shorter braking distance, the real reason for them is so the car can still be steered away from an obstacle under emergency braking, or if braking with one side of the car on a slippery surface and the other on dry tarmac. The older braking system under this condition would cause the vehicle to spin out of control.

ESP: This where if the car goes out of control in a corner or while turning sharply to avoid an obstruction, where the nonESP vehicle would skid and possibly spin, by automatically braking individual wheels to bring the vehicle back under the driver’s control again.

Both these aids are a benefit and in fact are now mandatory on new all vehicles.

Automatic windscreen washer: A sensor on the windscreen senses (rain) water on the windscreen screen and automatically operates the wipers. Not needed for most drivers.

Electrically operated seats with heated cushions: Again not needed for us but part of the pack where we, my wife that is, wanted full leather-covered sports seats with good support all round.

Automatic transmission: Many of us think that manual is okay and sporting but I must admit after 1,000km the new type of auto-transmission, called a DSG, is very good with no loss of power as with the older torque converter types of auto-transmissions that really needed a big engine to keep the vehicle satisfying to drive.

Great things can be achieved with a modern diesel engine with direct fuel injection where the spray of fuel is into the combustion chamber directly unlike early designs where it was into the intake for each cylinder, with electronic control and a turbo charger. The fuel consumption, if driven at the same speeds as a smaller-engine similar design, can be the same, so we are expecting the 50-60mpg we found our 2008 Focus achieved when cruising. But put your food down and the Focus with its excellent handling becomes a sports-car with five seats.

I know that we are all going to be forced to buy electric cars in a few years’ time with the lies about them being less polluting. They only are in cities as the power stations run on gas and coal are still spouting out pollutants, and power losses between the power stations and homes also cause a loss of efficiency, but you cannot argue with politicians only vote them out. Sadly most people seem to believe blindly what they are told without considering all the arguments such as man-made CO2 whereas history shows that the biggest problem is the periodical natural solar heating problems. This is being disproved now as man-made and scientists are agreeing that the real cause is the Sun. Automatic headlight dipping: I do not drive at night as much as I used to but this device mounted in the windscreen

senses when a bright light is ahead and automatically dips the headlights if they are not already dipped manually by the driver. As there is a minimum of 20-seconds (it is adjustable) before it switches, by then the other driver is blinded anyway.

There are other devices, some good, some to me unnecessary, such as a warning when the vehicle is wandering over the lane markings on an autovia or even the lines in the middle of the road. This usually occurs when the driver is very tired and should stop for a rest anyway, but if it stops such people from killing themselves and others it has to be judged a good idea.

Nissan electric car prototype

There is much more detailed information on all motoring subjects in my book. Brian Juan (John) Deller, Malaga, author, ‘Motoring in Spain’ www.spainvia.com.

Tel: 666 888 870 Brian Deller, author, book Motoring in Spain, ISBN No 978 84 611 9278 6. Shops’ addresses in my web site at: www.spainvia.com/bookshopslist.htm

E L A S N IO S S E C E R T E Y T S E G IG OUR B LE LOOK HARD NOW NEVER YES IT’S OUR 24TH BIG SA EAPER! WILL YOU SEE SPANISH CARS CH

09 MERCEDES S63AMG DESIGNO IN MET BLACK with cashmere beige hide, every possible extra, cost new 196,000€, the Mercedes flagship. To say this is stunning is an understatement, very special, just 3yrs and offered @......................................99,999€ 07 MERCEDES CLK 320CDI AVANTGARDE COUPE in metallic ice blue, half hide, CD, 18”alloys, Xenons, E/seats, climate, full history, lowkm, as new .............................. 24,999€ NOV 07 KIA SORRENTO CRDI DIESEL AUTOMATIC EXECUTIVE, met black, pale grey hide, GPS NAV, E/S/roof, alloys etc, FSH, as new ................................................................19,999€ 03/07 plates MERCEDES CLK 320 AVANTEGARDE COUPE AUTOMATIC in silver, full black hide, climate, alloys, CD, Xenons, E/seats, FSH, stunning car @ ...........................16,999€ 05 JAGUAR S TYPE 2.5 V6 AUTOMATIC in racing green, full cream hide, 68000km, FSH, climate, gps nav, electric sun roof, tel, CD, 8x a/bags, alloys, parktronic, as new, first to see will buy this gentleman’s carriage @ only.................................................................16,999€ 2006 CHRYSLER GRAND VOYAGER 2.8 CRD AUTOMATIC, stow and go model, in met nimbus grey, alloys, climate, CD, parktronic, gps nav, bluetooth, privacy glass to rear, on 2010 plates great grandad bus ...................................................................16,999€ 06/08 Plates CHRYSLER SEBRING 2.7 AUTOMATIC CABRIO in unmarked silver, low km, FSH, latest face lift model, stunning example ................................................12,999€ 06 MERCEDES A180 CDI AUTO met. Black, full cream velour top trim, alloys, CD, multifunction steering wheel, one owner, as new with FULL HISTORY ........................12,999€ NOV 06 VW PASSAT 2.0 FSI SPORTLINE met ice silver blue, climate, 10xA/B, CDx6, alarm, cruise, alloys, bi-xenons, bluetooth, tel, nav, DVD, multif. Steering wheel, FSH87,000km=54,375miles, as new fab car, fab value, executive motoring for only ....11,999€ DEC 07 TATA GRAND SAFARI LWB 3.0 DIESEL met claret red, alloys, side-steps, CD, PAS, climate, one private owner, 30,000km, FSH, as new, great value, only.....................11,999€ 07/11 RENAULT SCENIC 1.9 DCI AUTOMATIC ADVANTAGE in silver, climate, CD, alloys, diesel auto, rare car, immaculate throughout ................................................10,999€ 2010 BENTLEY GTC CABRIO MULLINER only 2,000km, silver lake blue, linen hide.

Spanish list price 241,000€, on offer at 165,200€ UK plate or 185,800€ Spanish plate, save 50,000€ on new latest spec!

NOV 03/05 PLATES BENTLEY ARNAGE T sapphire blue, Tangier hide, FSH, 29,000km, our MD car, as new, cost 330,000€, by appointment only 89,999€ 09 MERCEDES SL 350 LATEST SPEC every Merc extra, in met black, only 13,000km. cost 130,000€ fantastic value.

SAVE 50K 79,000€ 08 MERCEDES CLS 320 CDI in Tutila red met with cream hide, total extras, one owner, 16,000km, FSH, car cost 100,000€ NOW IN! 44,999€ 95 FERRARI F355 silver, red hide, 55,000km, best looking Ferrari ever made! 39,999€ 06 JAGUAR XJ8 EXECUTIVE met navy, cream hide, auto, climate, elec/m/seats, alloys, CD, elec sunroof, cost 96,000€ stunning, looks & drives as new!

24,999€ 07 MOD ON LATEST PLATES JAGUAR 2.7 TWIN TURBO DIESEL EXECUTIVE In racing green with cream hide & piping, auto, climate, GPS nav, elec sunroof, alloys, CD, elec/m/seats, xenons, this colour has been a real favourite since 1965.

24,999€ 07 MERCEDES CLK 320 CDI DIESEL AUTO COUPE met silver, half hide trim, climate, CD, FSH by Merc Madrid 80,000km=50,000miles, plus 8 airbags, as new 24,999€ 07 MOD VW PHAETON 3.0 TDI AUTO, met black, cream hide, 5 seater, alloys, bi-xenons, GPS nav, parktronic, elec. memory seats, hot seats, 4 zone climate, rear climate, no better luxury! FSH, cost 80,000€+ a gift at 24,999€ 08/2011 plates NEW MODEL DODGE GRAND VOYAGER 3.3LX stow n go, auto, elec blue met, climate, CD, MP3, petrol, stunning latest model & plates 24,999€ 08/2011 PLATES MERCEDES C200 CDI 6 speed manual in silver, climate, alloys, elegance pack, nav, tel, CD, FSH, latest model, 49mpg, good value at 24,999€

02 OPEL CORSA SMALL AUTO

Unmarked met. Silver, A/C & PAS. Sold by Global when 6 m old. Totally immaculate, 12 months guarantee.

First to see will buy @ 3,999€

09 FORD FOCUS AUTOMATIC TREND in metallic vision blue, climate, CD, FSH, alloys, one owner, try find another, gift @ ...................................................................11,999€ 07/2011 plates RENAULT SCENIC 1.9 DCI AUTO, glacier blue, climate, CD ..........10,999€ NOV 08 FORD FOCUS 2.0 TDCI 136BHP SPORT BREAK + TREND PACKS ESTATE in diamond white with tel, CD, A/C, PAS, FSH, few 2 litres around, great car, great offer @ only 10,999€ LATE 06 TATA SAFARI LWB DIESEL MANUAL GRAND MODEL black, great spec, forget the jokes these are mainly Ford (all colour coded) totally as new! ..............................9,999€ 08 CITROËN BERLINGO 1.6 HDI SX plus all colour coded in silver, A/C, CD, etc great family bus, cost over 20,000€................................................................................8,999€ 08 SEAT TOLEDO 2.0 TDI S in rich met ocean blue, climate, alloys, CD, 8 x airbags, bluetooth tel, xenons, rain & light auto sensors................................................8,999€ 06 VOLVO V70 2.4 KINETIC EST manual, met silver, half hide in grey, climate, alloys etc. most sought after family favourite, immaculate, gift @......................................8,999€ 08 FORD FOCUS 1.6 TDCi SPORTBREAK EST in ocean blue met.........................8,999€ 05 FORD FUSION 1.6 16V AUTOMATIC, full service history, met silver, alloys, CD, one owner, 40,000km, gift @ ............................................................................6,999€

HARLEY DAVIDSON LOOK-ALIKE 1997 YAMAHA XV1100cc TOURING BIKE TWIN SEATER, SCREEN, PANNA SADDLE BAGS. YELLOW & BLACK, MIRRORS, SPOTS, REAR RACK, BIG CHUNKY BIKE, LOTS OF CHROME, THE JAPANESE ANSWER TO A HARLEY, GREAT LOOKER, RETRIEVE YOUR LONG LOST YOUTH 3,999€

04 RENAULT MEGANE 1.9 DCI CABRIO in met cava, top spec, FSH, inc. hide and panoramic roof, STUNNING CAR 9,999€ 08 FORD FOCUS 1.8 TDCI 115BHP TREND 4/door with boot, latest model in met vision blue, climate, CD, alloys, stunning colour, as new

8,999€ 08 FORD FOCUS TDCI EST TREND in ocean blue, climate, as new 8,999€ 08 MOD SEAT IBIZA 1.4 AUTOMATIC Sport Rider with alloys, climate, CD etc. in unmarked met silver, low km, FSH, immaculate, Hurry @ 7,999€ 08 FORD FIESTA 1.4 TDCI in met fern green, climate, CD, etc. Hurry @ 7,999€ 07 mod on 2011 PLATES FORD FIESTA 1.4 AUTOMATIC Titanium pack, met. Grey, hosts of extras, inc. A/C, alloys & CD, as new 6,999€ 08 RENAULT MEGANE DCI EST in met cava, climate, CD, etc, outstanding value, try to fine another @ this crazy price!

6,999€ 07 FORD FIESTA NEWPORT TDCI, met blue, bluetooth, CD, ipod, climate 5,999€ TOP SPEC DIESEL CABRIO - 04 RENAULT MEGANE CABRIO 1.9 DCI PRIVILEGE Met cava, cream hide, panoramic glass roof, elec sunroof, xenons, plus alloys, CD, FSH, 106,000km=65,000miles.

Great car, great spec, great colour, great value @ 9,999€ 07 FORD FIESTA TDCI NEWPORTS 5 doors, climate, bluetooth phone, CD, in met. Grey, blue or silver. Give away crazy price of 5,999€ - Ring the police if you see cheaper!

As for sure they will be stolen – hurry now!

07 MOD MERCEDES CLK 200 ELEGANCE AUTO COUPE ice blue met, blue/grey hide, xenons, parktronic, CD, ipod, climate, alloys, 39,000km, FSH, stunning 22,999€ 94 ROLLS ROYCE SILVER SPIRIT MK 111, met light forest green, immaculate throughout, LHD, latest plates, rare opportunity 19,999€ 07 VOLKSWAGEN EOS 2.0 FSI CABRIO in glacier light metallic blue, cream interior, climate, alloys, CD, 52,000km, FSH as new 17,999€

03 CITROËN JUMPY 8 SEATER PEOPLE CARRIER TURBO DIESEL With aircon, PAS, in met. Silver with full history, a great grandad bus or family holiday bus @ 6,999€. First to see will buy!

2009/on 2011 plates JAGUAR X TYPE 2.2 DIESEL EXECUTIVE (special order) met blue, full 2-tone leather in blue/cream – has to be seen! See web. Climate, GPS nav, alloys, cruise, e/heated/seats, F+R parktronic, particulate filter, wooden steering wheel, CD, the nicest out of the factory for sure 17,999€ 06 mod/2011 plates MERCEDES A200 CDI AUTO SPECIAL EDITION in ice gold, half hide, full sun roof, alloys, FSH, as new, CD, parktronic 15,999€ 05/09 PLATES MERCEDES E220 CDI AUTOMATIC ESTATE in met teal blue, half hide, alloys, 6xCD, xenons, climate, nav, tel, avantguard pack, as new 14,999€ 09 FORD FOCUS AUTOMATIC kinetic, silver, climate, alloys, CD 11,999€

08 FORD KA 1.3 COLLECTION met zinc gret, A/C, PAS, CD, all colour coded ...........6,999€ LATE 06 FORD FIESTA 1.4 TDCI 5 door, met ice blue, Newport model, climate, PAS, CD, etc, gift @ .....................................................................................................5,999€ 07 FORD FIESTA NEWPORT 1.4 TDCI, climate, cruise, CD, met great, low km, one owner, totally as new, compare price.......................................................................5,999€ 01 ROVER 75 1.8 CLUB SE in racing green metallic with special two-tone interior black and cream top velour, this is an ex-Rover show car with fitted TV, SAT NAV, alloys, cruise, fog lamps, 50,000km WITH FULL HISTORY only .....................................................5,999€ 01/10 plates MAZDA 323, 5 door, in met blue, (focus size) A/C, PAS, gift @............3,999€ 04 SUZUKI R WAGON in red, low km, A/C, PAS, as new ............................................3,999€ 05 DAEWOO MATIZ 5 door, A/C, silver, fab mpg, as new gift @ ...........................3,999€ 02 PEUGEOT 206 HDI XR 5 door, in white, fab MPG, fab car! ....................................3,999€ 07 FIAT PANDA 1.3 DIESEL, 5 DOOR VAN, A/C, PAS, in white, gift @ .....................3,999€ 02 VW PASSAT 2.0 HIGHLINE in met dark emerald green, climate, CD, alloys, 4 new tyres, new 2 yr ITV test, luxury for .........................................................................2,999€ 02 FORD KA 1.3 A/C, PAS, in met silver, clean, as new, P/X gift @ ........................2,999€

03 HYUNDAI TRADJET CDI, Diesel 7 seater, in metallic silver blue, alloys, CD, great holiday car, grandads family bus

5,999€ 05 FORD FOCUS GHIA TDCI 4-door with boot, great size boot, climate, CD, alloys, in diamond white, a diamond of a car 5,999€ 06/07 model, FORD FOCUS TDCI TREND ESTATE in diamond white, climate, CD, FSH 5,999€ 06 DAEWOO TACUMA 20 16V in silver, climate, 64,000km, FSH, as new 5,999€ 06 DACIA LOGAN 1.5 DCI in silver, low kms, A/C, PAS, one owner,only 5,999€ 01 CITRÖEN PICASSO 2.0 HDI in met ice blue, climate, pas immaculate throughout gift at 4,999€ 03 PEUGEOT 206 1.4 HDI A/C, PAS, met crystal green, low km 4,499€ 00 VAUXHALL ASTRA ESTATE RHD Spanish 05 plates, automatic, A/C, immaculate, PAS, met. Blue, great value at 2,499€ 00 RENAULT CLIO 1.2 ALIZE in met claret, PAS, one private owner 1,999€

01 CITROËN PICASSO 2.0 HDI In met ice blue, climate, PAS, immaculate throughout,

4,999€

07 MOD FORD FOCUS 1.6 TDCI EST

Diamond white, unmarked black trim, climate, PAS, CD, FSH, CRAZY GIFT – can you believe your eyes, hurry now 5,999€ 08 NISSAN PRIMASTAR 2.0 Cdi COMBI white, 6 seater, we can get another row to make 9 seater @ cost if required 9,999€ 08 PEUGEOT PARTNER 1.6 HDI TOTEM COMBI white with special totem trim, CD 8,999€ 08 FORD FOCUS TDCI 1.8 EST in rich royal blue met, FSH as new 8,999€ 08 FORD FIESTA TDCI 5 door, fern green, stunning colour, fab value at 7,999€ 07 FORD FOCUS EST 1.6 TDCI TREND, climate, CD, FSH, met aquamarine 7,999€ 07 mod PEUGEOT 307 Hdi climate, CD, glacier white, face lift, gift at 6,999€ 07 DACIA LOGAN 1.5DCI EST 4 side-doors and clubman twin rear doors, met claret, A/C, PAS, low km, great school run car @ less than half the price of new 6,999€ 08 FORD KA 1.3 COLLECTION A/C, CD, met zinc gey, as new 6,999€ 03 CITROËN JUMPY TURBO DIESEL 8 SEATER in met silver, FSH, A/C, PAS, as new, try and find another 8 seater @ 6,999€ 02 OPEL CORSA AUTOMATIC in met silver, A/C, PAS, small auto at only 3,999€ 02 FIAT SEICENTO fuel-miser, A/C, PAS, one owner, 32,000km,FSH,in white blue trim 2,999€ 96 PEUGEOT 306 AUTOMATIC, A/C, PAS, met cobalt blue 2,499€ 98/2001 plates PEUGEOT 306 1.6 CABRIO met blue, A/C. Gift @ 2,499€ 01 CITROËN XANTIA 1.8 16V with A/C, clean example, met silver 1,999€ PIAGGIO PORTER MINI PICK-UP in pale blue, a three wheel pick-up, a great promotions car, (Italian papers @ 1,999€) 1,799€

04 VAUXHALL ZAFIRA 2.0 TDI ELEGANCE 7 seater or fold for good space, UK tax and MOT till August 2012, FSH, exceptional top MPG 4,999€ - 2005 KIA MAGENTIS 2.0 LE AUTOMATIC SPORTS H-MATIC, one owner, 43,000miles, FSH, taxed and MOT until August 2012, cost 14,500pounds new, great ride home tremendous value for money @ only 4,999€ - 2000 ROVER 825 AUTOMATIC FAST BACK in met blue, one owner, 71,000miles, full UK MOT, luxury @ 2,999€ - 00 VAUXHALL ASTRA EST AUTOMATIC in met blue 2,499€ - 99 BMW 523i SE AUTO, blue, grey hide, alloys, v.clean,UK MOT to Oct’12 1,999€ - 02 CITROËN BERLINGO 1.9 DIESEL VAN, immaculate, alloys 1,999€

NOV 2008 FORD FOCUS EST 2.0 - TDCI 136BHP In diamond white, CD, A/C, PAS, FSH, direct from Ford Motor Co, with Sportbreak pack + Trend pack, drives like a train, looks a million dollars, great deal @10,999€ or 9,150 pounds.

First to see will get their cheque book or credit card out, call now or ring Alan Finnie our general mgr

02 RENAULT KANGO 1.9 DIESEL VAN with side loading door + 2 rear doors + rear roof lifts up for ladders etc, very clean, few around, as new! .............................................2,999€ 04 RENAULT KANGOO 1.9 DIESEL COMBI, A/C, PAS, white, 2000, very clean ........2,999€ 02 HYUNDAI ACCENT 1.3 LS in red, A/C, PAS, immaculate throughout ...................2,999€ 00/04 ROVER 825 AUTO FAST BACK, met blue, luxury for only ...........................2,999€ 96 BMW 520 in met black, 2008 plates, A/C, PASm FSH, cracking car, gift @ .........2,499€ 97 NISSAN ALMERA, A/C, PAS, emerald green, gift @ .......................................1,999€

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03 - 09 feb 2012

63

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64

03 - 09 feb 2012

EXCEL AIR CONDITIONING. See main ad on page 11.Tel/Fax (Head Office) 966-897-772. Mobiles:-680154-432/676-265-675. Email excelairconditioning@hotmail. com. All credit/debit cards accepted.

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

FRONTLINE spot on for flea and tick treatment contact stigmichael on 962 132 691or email mickheigh@gmail.com also scaliboir collers for large dogs 63cm PROTECTAPET Spains leading pet insurance provider. www. protectapet.eu tel: 965 756 371 PET TAXI transporting your pet door to door in our air conditioned vehicles, stopping in pet friendly hotels travelling twice monthly. Accompanied travel also available. Tel: 952 541 147 PET TRANSPORT we treat your pet as if they belong to us and that is our promise. van fully air conditioned we believe we have the best rates so give joe a call on 966074576 or 650341087 for a chat or e mail pawspettransport@hotmail.com SMALL DOGS CARED FOR IN OUR OWN HOME So if you need to go away on holiday but don’t want your dog to go into kennels then we will look after them. References available. Tel: 965843781 Mob: 622514980 TRANS-PET We do regular, door-to-door journeys between the Costa Blanca and the UK.Our aim is to provide a professional, caring service for your pets.Boarding facilities for Cats and Dogs. This may be for an overnight stay or of longer durations.Tel:600-552-030/965960-658 www.trans-pet.co.uk

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GARAGE SALE Sunday February 19th.La finca golf, Algorfa. House clearance, everything must go.For details: ptr_cook@yahoo.com ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS - COSTA BLANCA Confidential Helpline, South 625 912 078, North 648 169 045. www.aacostablanca.org.

DO YOU SUFFER THROUGH ANOTHER PERSON DRINKING? Don’t suffer alone.

We meet in Benidorm every Thursday at 5.00pm. Al-Anon Established Worldwide for 60 years.

Ring 634758539 for details.

NEED HELP AT HOME? Cleaning, shopping & outings etc.Sympathetic service.call Sandra on 651482106 PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL CLEANING SERVICE for your home or business at a fair price.

References available. (Altea area) Tel: 965843781 or 622514980

BYTEBACK MICROS computer repairs/upgrades in your home.

Qualified technician. Systems custom built. Whatever your problem call: 965-312-006 or 606-127-424 PC SOLUTIONS 4U For all your PC needs. Reliable & friendly service. Call Fred 634638664

BOATING LICENSE NOW, A LEGAL REQUIREMENT In Spain. Serenity Sailing RYA Training Centre, Competent Crew to Yachtmaster, VHF & ICC. Own-boat on sail and power. If you have a yacht or powerboat get qaulified and certified. Contact Richard 0034 633 056 224. enquiries@ serenitysailing.com . www.serenitysailin.com

HGV DRIVERS/ CONSTRUCTION WORKERS WANTED KML ARE CURRENTLY RECRUITING FOR: HGV DRIVERS (C+E) AND CONSTRUCTION WORKERS (ALL TRADES) FOR CONTRACTS IN THE UK AND EUROPE FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 01480 469372 OR EMAIL info@kmlservices.com www. kmlservices.com LOOKING FOR HOUSE KEEPER! for general housekeeping and child minding.

Applicant can live in or live out, must have basic english. Orcheta and sourrounding areas call: 966 855 312 or 648 097 752.

SPARE TIME, WANT EXTRA CASH? Start earning immediately by becoming an AVON representative. Info: ring Rosh 966785520 CARERS WANTED To work in England 3 weeks on 3 weeks off email CV to 24hourhomecareservices@ googlemail.com 24 HOUR HOMECARE SERVICES LTD Wanted companions, carers to work in England as live-in carers. 3 weeks on, 3 weeks off. If you are caring, a good listener and cook contact Karen Jones on (0044) 01929 472 810 or mobile (0044) 07500 836688 email: 24hourhomecareservices@ googlemail.com

Are you the best cold-calling closer in the Costa Blanca?

Fed up with working for somebody else and think you could do better running your own business? If this is you then call me now to find out how this could be the best business opportunity you will ever have!

634305415

MOBILE/PARK HOMES FROM 17,000€ FULLY FURNISHED READY TO MOVE INTO, A/C, TEL, ENG TV, ON PERMANENT SITE, BAR/ RES, POOL,TENNIS,GYM, SHOP WALKING DISTANCE TO SAN JAVIER. 5MINS TO BEACH, AIRPORT, HOSPITAL, GOLF COURSES. BY CAR. ALSO BUNGALOWS , HOMES & PLOTS FOR RENT. CAROL 96 819 24 25 MOB. 626 055 622 www. mobilehomesmarmenorspain. com

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

LOOKING FOR WORK? Work is ready for anyone that needs a job from anywhere in Spain. please email christo77073@ yahoo.com for more information.

03 - 09 feb 2012

EXPERIENCED MANAGERIAL LEVEL STYLIST Required for Immediate Start.

Preferably Spanish speaking Join an enthusiastic and extremely busy team at VÜ in Javea Must be at managerial level to help with the running of the Salon

MR FIXIT: for all your electrical, plumbing, general & appliance repairs. No callout. 698 320 434

CLAIRE´S Hair and Beauty Tel: 633147881

michaels-javea.com AT MICHAEL’S 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 In February you can get several high quality pieces of furniture for an extra 20% reduction on the already low price! See: www.michaelsjavea.com AT MICHAEL’S Free deliveries, usually the same day! Look at: www.michaels-javea.com to see more than 600 photos of quality pre owned furniture and new beds!

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.

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

Telephone: Karen on 96 579 6988

ABC AUTOMATION LOOKING FOR WORK Full or Part-time work , can work at home, Quickbook user preferred. Please contact me as soon as possible.

For More Details Email : charles. damier@gmail.com

ANTI-SLIP PRODUCT Free-Sol has an anti slip treatment that reduces the risk of slips and falls on many diffrent types of floor surfaces, which become dangerous to walk on when wet or damp. The application of this anti slip product is quick and easy - there are even DIY kits available if you´d ike to carry out the application yourself.

To find out more please phone Martin Freeman on 659 232 507 or send an e-mail to martin. freeman@free-sol.com

TREE SPECIALIST Cut and removal of palm / pine trees.

Size not a problem. Also dangerous & difficult work.

Garden cleaning and gravelling.

Free estimates. please call adrian on 627 103 412 or www. costablancagardening.com OASIS GARDEN pool maintenance. Calpe to Javea.

Telephone Martin 669 261 868 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

BEAUTY SALON EQUIPMENT FOR SALE Guinot Hydradermie Lift machine and unopened trade products. The lot €500. Uniprobe Autoblend Electrlysis machine plus extras and trolley €200. Call : 678 923 693.

GENERATOR 5KVA Electric start, gas/petrol 275euros.

Contact 675878601 or 965078483 SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF ANIMALS We buy, sell and exchange just about anything at Spain’s BIGGEST CHARITY WAREHOUSE in Gata de Gorgos in aid of S.P.A.I.N. (Society for the Protection of Animals in Need). HOUSE CLEARANCES, furniture, beds, Rastro, Antiques & collectables, bankrupt stock etc. Collection & delivery service available. Tel 96 575 6215 or 665 653 998 for details.

THOSE LITTLE GET YOU UP BLUE PILLS are now available from Tony on 638 352 129.

2 COCKATIELS 2 CANARIES 2 large cages and all accessories. first sensible offer secures. call 672 532 534.

WHEELCHAIR Light, Foldable,150€. Electric Mobility Scooter, SUNRISE MEDICAL 40km range 499€. Both like new!

Tlf:-627-019-403 AT MICHAEL’S Several dining sets to choose from in different styles, classic, modern, bamboo, pine, glass etc. Many with matching sideboards: www.

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 12th January 2012 Thursday - New Beginners class 7.30pm - 8.30pm. Intermediate class 8.30pm - 10.00pm. For more information contact Andrea 616 478 157.

good engine, gearbox, tyres, interior etc. 950€ complete - may consider breaking. Telephone Francesca 672 127 228 A GOOD SELECTION OF RHD FOR SALE OR EXCHANGE Tel Frank 600726221/965687976 www.fwreurocars.com FORD KA 1.3 COLLECTION November 2006, only 53,000kms, FSH, aircon, CD etc.

Stunning but only 4,250€. Seat Ibiza Cupra 1.9 TDI, November 07, 37,000kms, FSH, aircon, CD etc. Must be seen, priced to sell 7,950€. Peugeot 206 SW Estate, 2 litre HDI XS, November 2002, 104,000kms, FSH, Alloys, CD, Aircon and much more. Metallic burgandy. 5,450€. Ford Fusion 1.6+, November 2005, 2 owners, FSH, 39,000kms. Aircon, CD, parking sensors etc, stunning condition, silver. 6,450€. Kia

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.

CLASSIC KITCHENS 20 years on the Costa Blanca. Free quote and 3D design call Adrian on: 966865684 / 676699700.

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 9th January 2012 - Monday - Beginners

Carens 2 litre CRDI, 7 seater, July 2007, 2 owners, 57,000kms, FSH, High spec, alloys, CD, PEUGEOT KISBEE SCOOTER FOR SALE July 2011model 50cc - 1400km. €900 Telephone : 966 719 491.

climate, parking sensors, stunning vehicle, metallic champagne. 11,950€. Tel Frank 600726221/965687976 www. fwreurocars.com JAGUAR S TYPE 2011 Right

CHEAP TYRES & DISCOUNT BRAKES In Teulada, La Nucia and Alicante offer Quality New Tyres & Brakes at HUGELY DISCOUNTED PRICES! See our main ad on Pg 3 of RTN North edition for the address details of our 3 outlets. Or call 966 487 061 or email info@cheaptyres.es for details.

SUZUKI SWIFT 1.3, 2006 ,only 26,000kms, full service history with book, hard body damage,

hand drive, Spanish plate full ITV suma paid. Grey mettalic beige leather interior.Full service history. drives perfect. exellent condition any inspection or trial. may take smaller in part exchange. 628499448 MAZDA 3 2006 €5990.00.

1.6l saloon sports model FSH. LHD.80000km. ITV till 2014 call :667566998

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WANTED Scrap cars, vans, lorries, plant and caravans. Turn your scrap into cash. From Valencia to Alicante.

Free collection. Tel: 689-929-395 WANTED I buy any car, van,Caravan,4x4 Etc.British, Spanish. Immediate cash 600-781873 ibuyanycar@hotmail.com

SPANISH LADY PLAYA FLAMENCA near new Carrefour before La Florida. 35 years, attractive, classy lady, private house, parking. Offers all erotic services, massage, sexy lingerie, economical prices from 40€. Full discretion. Call Ana 680-735-412 ARE YOU MALE, FEMALE OR A COUPLE? Need some Sexy FUN? Contact me soonest. 63 year old Dom/Sub switch. Available for fun with Males, Dom and Sub and Cross Dressers, Females Dominatrix and Submissive.

Couples including Same Sex Couples. “Anything Goes” Can sometimes accomodate. Home Visits no extra Charge/Low Fees.

Call me now on 693-478-573 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

ENGLISH LADY 42 Provides various services.For mature gentlemen. Torrevieja.

681-362-442 DAVID TORREVIEJA 24 years old, gym body, very sexy and hard, for full massage for men and couples. Mon-Fri 9am-8pm, call me 678179616 LADIES: enjoy a Friendly and Erotic Spanking in your own home, NO FEES, Torrevieja & surroundings headmaster@live.co.uk 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

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

CAMPING PUEBLO . WITH LOTS OF AMENETIES. GOLF COURSES, BEACH, AIRPORT,HOSPITAL,5 MINS BY CAR. WALKING DISTANCE TO SAN JAVIER CAROL TEL 96 819 24 25 MOB. 626 055 6622 EMAIL. haydn47@hotmail.com www. mobilehomesmarmenorspain.com 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:966-881-048 or email foundation@rtnnewsgroup.com for more information and photographs POOL LEAK REPAIR SPECIALIST’S Pipe leaks pressure tested, detected and repaired.

Structural leaks investigated and repaired. Professional, consciencious service to the highest standards. Refurbishments and upgrades undertaken. Replacement pumps, filters, salt systems, ph regulators and accessories supplied and installed. All work guaranteed. British trained in the UK pool industry with over 15 years experience. 8 years served on the Costa Blanca. Torrevieja and surrounding areas including Costa Calida. Tlf:- Pristine Pools on 966-774-199 or 678-080-500 www. pristineswimmingpools.com SWIMMING POOL MAINTENANCE AND CLEANING SERVICE BY POOLTECHSPAIN. We are a fully legal, qualified and registered business who have been operating on the Costa Blanca for 6 years.

We offer a professional, reliable, safe and efficient pool service, inc. re-grouting, pressure testing and leak repairs. Private and community swimming pools undertaken. Call now for more information on 965725-565 or mobile 676-945-360/ 620-743-048 www.pooltechspain.com

FEBUARY PRICE CUTS 2Bed Apart Villamartin 45 200€ - 2Bed Apart Playa Flamenca 47 600€ - 2Bed Apart Villamartin 48 000€ - 2Bed Bungalow Torrevieja 52 800€ - 2Bed Apart Los Altos 52 900€ - 2Bed Apart Cabo Roig 59 800€ - 2Bed House Villamartin 60 200€ - 2Bed House La Zenia 65 700€ - 3Bed Qaud Torrevieja 75 700€ - 3Bed House Quesada 79 600€. Tel: 965329347 or www. cmrgroupsl.com MOBILE/PARK HOMES ON CAMPING PUEBLO IN SAN JAVIER FROM 17,000E CAROL 96 819 24 25 MOB 626 055 622 www. mobilehomesmarmenorspain.com PROPERTY FOR SALE mobile home sited at la-pedrera bigastro 2bed 2bath a/c tv internet shed with w/machine fenced plot rent paid till march 2013 €15,000 tel-630888570 MOBILE HOME SITED AT LAPEDRERA BIGASTRO 2bed 2bath a/c tv internet shed with w/machine fenced plot rent paid till march 2013 €15,000 tel-630888570 EASILY MAINTAINED, DETACHED F/F,2 BED VILLA in l´Alberca, Polopde-la-Marina. 249m2 flat plot. Lots of extras. Solarium with 360º views of sea and mountains. Community pool and Gardens, easy and low maintenance.

145,000€ Tlf Lynn: 966-881-048/691202-307 or email foundation@ rtnnewsgroup.com for photographs and more information

TEULADA – LONG TERM LET 3 Bed 2 Bath Apartment Central Heating 154 M2 €450 p/m + bills Tel: 615 813 076 1 BED APT FOR RENT BENIDORM Can sleep upto 4 people. 100 mtrs from beach, private parking, swimming pool, fully furnished all electric 450pm winter time. Negotiable summertime call :639 792 849 PARK HOMES 2 BEDROOMS BOTH EN SUITE FULLY FITTED ON CAMPING PUEBLO . WITH LOTS OF AMENETIES. FULLY FITTED. ON

Email info@euromove4u.eu 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 SPAIN2UK2SPAIN MAN AND VAN departing Costa Blanca twice a month.

Full loads/part loads. Excellent rates Tel Christine 965 571 837/638 261 341 www.spain2uk2spain.com VAN LEAVING FOR THE UK/SPAIN EVERY 2 WEEKS great rates please contact joe on 966074576 or 650341087 or civic1235@msn.com MAN & LWB SPRINTER VAN going to UK- Spain twice a month. Tel: 610-846260 or 0044-7519-186-355 email:-van. man@hotmail.co.uk

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

EUROMOVE4U Full & Part Loads.

Spain to UK/UK to Spain on a regular monthly basis. Cars & Motorcycles transported. Call Grant or Jan Office 0034-965-300-959 Mobile 0034-648102-529 UK Mob 0044-7803-893-719.

NAIL COURSES now available in Albir, call Claire 633147881 LEARN SPANISH ON THE INTERNET with effective one to one lessons. Try them once and see how well they work. Call Martin on 600 400 668 INTENSIVE SPANISH WEEK COURSES FOR BEGINNERS 27thfeb - 5th march and 7-14th of April 2012 .Unique formula in an equally unique environment .For More information http://tinyurl.com/CoursesInSpain or 637063003 LEARN SPANISH NOW! PRIVATE LESSSONS Interactive tailor made courses, especially for people with difficulties in learning languages, more information 699256281 or jjmateo72@hotmail.com

Benidorm and surrounding areas.

TEACHER OF SPANISH / ENGLISH Spanish / English taught ..All Ages/ All levels experienced qualified teacher. tel: 605719992 BRITISH GRADUATE TEACHER offers Primary/Secondary English Mathmatics.

Telephone Margaret Johnson B.Ed. 965-350516 Mob: 616-660-687

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

TABLE WANTED Round polished wood table. 1Mtr diameter. x 0.75 high. call 966 873 385 BRIC - A - BRAC WANTED for dogs home, charity stall on Don Quijote Rastro. tel: John 626 918 833 or Lynn 691 202 307 TURN YOUR UNWANTED FURNITURE Electrical, Household Goods and Bric-a-brac into Cash. Anything! Anywhere! 965-319220/618-165-877 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! 965-319220/618-165-877

www.roundtownnews.co.uk

03 - 09 feb 2012

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Classified Services All Major Credit Cards Accepted - Prices start from 10â‚Ź a week.

Air Conditioning

Book your advert now! 902 118 999 (ext 2)

Builders

Airport Parking Building Surveying

Buying a home

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03 - 09 feb 2012

Gardening

CarConditioning Hire Air

Business Consultants

Business & House Auctions

Design

Hire

Ikea Trips

Cars wanted

Locksmith

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

Double Glazing Maintenance

Electrical

Leaks

Limousines

www.roundtownnews.co.uk

03 - 09 feb 2012

Property to let

Solar Energy

2 bedroom house to rent Based in Alberca (La Nucia area)

Front Garden with private parking, FULL SKY SET UP, just card needed, very large roof terrace, 2 bedrooms (1 double 1 twin) Fully furnished, communal pool, Air conditioned, Well maintained (recently decorated) AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY, Mountain views.

looking for 600â‚Ź p/m Includes water & electricity, only gas bottles to pay for!

NO FINDERS FEES, JUST 1 MONTH DEPOSIT!!

CALL JASON ON 650 298 980 Repairs/Sewing

Properties Wanted & Maintenance

Secure Storage

Removals

TV & Satellite

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03 - 09 feb 2012

Buggies: do they harm the course?

Noel’s world of golf

By Noel Eastwell Teaching Professional Campo de Golf El Plantio 639 730 891

IN THE last few weeks we have received a number of emails concerning the use of buggies. It seems that many of our local golf courses have decided that buggies damage our fairways. This I believe to be total nonsense. It is a way for the golf course managers to avoid a little extra work so that they and some of their staff can have an easier life.

In normal conditions when we have relatively dry fairways I find it hard to believe that buggies do any more damage to our golf courses than golfers who fail to replace divots, repair pitch marks or rake bunkers. We all know that some of our golf courses are a little too generous when it comes to spraying water over the golf course and this can lead to some area of golf courses being too wet. Sadly some so called golfers think it is okay to drive straight through these areas without a thought for the consequences.

This means that some golfers that cannot play golf without the assistance of a buggy arrive at our golf courses to find that buggies are not allowed on fairways, or in some cases that they are not allowed off the buggy paths. The result is that some golfers have to go home without playing because of the thoughtless behavior of a very small minority.

With a little care and a little more thought for others there is no reason why any golf club should ban buggies from fairways. The crux of the matter is that if we avoid damaging the golf courses we play we avoid giving the course managers the excuse to ban buggies from the fairways. At times it is difficult to avoid wet areas but with a little more care we can do so.

Some feel the use of buggies gives players an unfair advantage but many people living in our area are older and therefore cannot play golf without a buggy. These golfers are just as entitled to play our sport as fully fit and able golfers. They receive little or no advantage from using a buggy; it just means they get the chance to play our sport. Is there any reason why they should be denied this pleasure?

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 3RD FEBRUARY 2012 How many major championships has Padraig Harrington won?

A. 2 B. 3 C. 5 All answers must be received no later than 5pm on 28th February 2012 to be entered into February’s draw, to be made on 28th February. The winner will be announced in RTN on 3rd March 2012.

January’s winner: Peter Cowd

Any questions you have for Noel should be sent to golf@roundtownnews.com The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship last weekend saw the strongest field ever assembled for a European Tour event outside of a major championship or WGC event. Four of the World’s top players arrived for the first big event of the season with high hopes of an early season victory.

Amongst the many rumours about the amount of money a certain former World Number One was paid to turn up was a string of Europe’s top golfers. Appearance money on Tour is something that is will continue until rules are changed. The armchair golfers who want to watch the best golfers around probably don’t care too much about this as long as they get the entertainment value they are looking for.

For many of Europe’s finest this was their first venture onto the Tour this season and for some the rust was all too evident. For others this was their third event and they were already sharp and ready to win.

Tiger Woods dominated the headlines in the lead up to the event and proved; albeit that he finished third; that the new swing mechanics have an awful long way to go before he will win again against a top quality field.

England’s finest in the shape of Donald and Westwood disappointed; Westwood no doubt in part thanks to an early injury. Northern Ire-

land have had a few years that are hard to believe and in Clarke, McIllroy and McDowell have players who can win anywhere at any time.

Entering the final round any one of about twelve players could have taken the top prize. Woods & McIllroy were no doubt the most likely winners. Enter Robert Rock. Rock won in Italy last season and was an unlikely winner before this event started let alone when paired with Tiger Woods in the last group of a big championship. With both players trading birdies during the early stages it was obvious that Rock was one of the many up and coming players of quality that are emerging on The European Tour. Throughout the final round Rock’s performance was professional and a determination to win saw him secure the biggest win of his career so far.

The first really big event of the 2012 European Tour season confirmed what many golfers wished for this year: European golf is on a high and any one of the top one hundred players on The Race to Dubai list is capable of winning against any quality field the compete against.

Keep watching; attend a Tour event if you get the chance. Great golf witnessed first-hand is something to behold and often inspires handicap golfers to greater things.

Golf Club booking hot-line For the best deals on the Costa Blanca and Murcia call 685 538 562 or email rtngolf@roundtownnews.com

GOLF Tips

Never play any shot until you are fully committed to it.

www.roundtownnews.co.uk

Andy Kay The Final Whistle

03 - 09 feb 2012

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Net payment for Djokovic

I’M ALL for sexual equality in sport but for crying out loud, how easy do female tennis players have it? Take Viktoria Azarenka for instance. She recently won the singles title at the Australian Open and, as a result, pocketed prize money of $2.3 million Aussie dollars, that’s about €1.86 million.

To win the tournament she played 7 matches and a total of 128 games. Meanwhile, the men’s champion, Novak Djokovic also played 7 matches before lifting the trophy, but unlike Azarenka, he was on court for 234 games. In fact, his quarter-final, semi-final and final lasted longer than Azarenka’s entire Melbourne campaign. And let’s be honest here, all three of those matches were far more entertaining than pretty much anything we saw in the women’s draw.

Put another way, Azarenka earned 14,062€ for every game she played while poor old Djokovic had to make do with 7,692€. Of course, men’s matches are the best of 5 sets while women’s are the best of 3, but even if Djokovic had won every match to love, he’d still have played 126 games to Azarenka’s 128. Don’t get me wrong, he’s been handsomely rewarded for his two weeks work but on a performance related pay basis, I’d suggest that Djokovic has been hard done by.

JOHN TERRY With a court case hanging over him, a lot of people are

asking if John Terry should go to the European Championships this summer as the England captain. Terry has been charged with a racially aggravated public order offence after allegedly abusing the QPR player Anton Ferdinand. Certainly, as far as the Twitterati is concerned, it’s a given. Terry should stand down now. But sadly for them, and for everyone else who currently celebrates the ‘I saw this on Facebook so it must be true’ life that we seem to be forced to lead right now, Terry has a trial coming up and by the law of the land, is innocent until proven guilty.

I’m no great Terry fan and he’s certainly blotted his copybook quite a few times down the years but punishing a man for a crime that is yet to be substantiated just isn’t right.

ONE MORE FOR THE GIPPER At first sight, there doesn’t seem to be much of a connection between sport and the continuing Republican Party Presidential nomination battle.

But of course, let’s not forget that Mitt Romney was obviously named after a piece of baseball equipment. Mind you, that’s better than ‘the other lad’ as Emlyn Hughes would have described him, who’s Christian name of Newt is that of a small amphibian.

Should either of them win the nomination and become President I can’t see them striking fear in the heart of some tin-pot dictator should they happen to phone his office. Picture the scene: “Excuse me Colonel sir” says an aide “I’ve got the leader of the free world on the hot line”. “Oh yeah” replies the self-appointed despot “Which one, the hand warmer or the tadpole?”

ITV Orihuela RFC at the double this weekend AT THE weekend ITV Orihuela RFC went away to play Novelda in Elche on Saturday wanting a double over their closest rivals and the two wins on the bounce which so far this season has eluded them. In a tight, hard fought game both defences battled for their lives.

In the first half Orihuela had the edge on the scrums and Novelda proved to be a very tough nut to crack especially with both lineouts not working.

After some very resilient defence by Novelda, Orihuela RFC eventually managed to break through with Jorge driving over for his first senior try for the club. With Orihuela been forced into making early changes and Edu getting a yellow card the defence stood firm and could not be broken and that is how the first half ended: 5-0 to ITV Orihuela RFC. The second half started much the same: the Novelda scrum held their own with all the changes and it became a little bit more of an open game with both teams making excellent breaks, at the same time both defences putting in great tackles to keep the score 5-0.

Orihuela RFC changed the lineout options and this worked with some excellent handling by the backs after the hard work by the forwards for Alvaro going in under the posts

Orihuela RFC: a double over Novelda with two wins on the trot. Hopefully both teams will make a speedy recovery from seemingly bad injuries.

after working his way down the line, with Danny getting the conversion.

Not to be outdone Novelda were determined to hit back early, but the Orihuela defence stood firm but after a number of phases they managed to get over the line under a load of bodies, which the ref gave, but could not see if it had been grounded or not with the number of bodies there, but it was no-more than Novelda deserved.

It was Edu again who had the last say in the game going over for his 4th try in 2 games making the final score 17-5 to ITV

Fishing Maggots End by

David Hoare 968 199 279

THIS WEEK’S match was the 5th and final round in the RTN Challenge Cup series.

The venue again this week was the Rio Segura Murcia. The bank was still a quagmire and the fishing was not much better. There were 5 dry nets and the weights were not good. I couldn´t make this match as I had an appointment with a surgeon: I´m not sure who had the worst day!

Workmen are still busy on the far bank putting the large pipe under the path. One can only assume that this may be used again in the future.

TOP RODS ON THE DAY 1st Richard (The Lionheart) King fishing the feeder using bread with 11.320 kg 2nd Terry (Swing ‘Em) Screen fishing the pole using bread punch with 5.00 kg 3rd Dave (The Sweetie Man) Hutchinson

La

fishing the pole using bread punch with 3.02 kg RTN CUP ACCUMULATIVE POINTS Abbey Anglers with 48 points Rods and Reels with 34 points Well done to Abbey Anglers PLEASE NOTE The club does have some vacancies at present: 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 This week’s 4th round of the Abbey Angling Cup was fished at Nancy’s on the 24th January. There was hardly any water in the river with most people having only 18 inches to fish, with the exception of the

Fishing

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

NEXT Against Lorca at home on 11th February for the seniors.

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 The Butterfly Children on stand number 7.

The new rugby union supporters’ bar and club, the Steak House in Rojales, shows all televised rugby games on Sky Sports and free to view channels. This weekend is the 6 Nations both Saturday and Sunday, and LV Cup matches on Friday. Support this rugby bar, as there is nowhere else to watch rugby live around this area.

The club trains Tuesday and Thursday at the Miguel Hernandez University for the juveniles and seniors starting at 8.30pm - juniors are 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)

For further details ring Alan Roscoe 968 570 876 or email: anglerstogether@hotmail.co.uk two outlets where the water runs in. The fishing was very poor with a lot of blanks.

1st Mark (The Quiet Man) Harrington with 8.920kg pegged on the top outlet and an excellent weight on the day fishing pole and maggot 2nd Alan (The Chairman) Reid with 5.520kg pegged on the bottom outlet fishing feeder and maggot 3rd Richard (The Lion Heart) King with 4.820kg fishing pole and sweet corn All details are available at www.abbeyangling.com or from Match Secretary Terry Screen on 96 532 8368.

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.

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.

FC Torrevieja news

THE INFLUENCIAL Prior and the midfield maestro Carrasco left Torry last week for promotion chasing Murcian Tercera side La Hoya Lorca CF . Fringe players Matias and Manu came in to replace them last Sunday against strugglers Eldense and did a good job. Torry won 3-1 with goals from Juande, Manu and Corella. Manu’s goal could be described as sensational or a fluke. He hit it from the half-way line and their keeper did a “David De Gea” and palmed the dropping ball into the top corner of the net. Torry are away on Sunday to a club in major turmoil, Alicante CF .