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Issue 611
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1 - 7 JulY 2011
Empty promises
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Hugh on the wall
Boots Boots Boots... and blisters Hugh Nortan has trekked Hadrian’s Wall to raise more than £3,000 for Help for Heroes. Hugh suffered blisters and completed part of his journey in trainers until some new boots arrived from Afghanistan. Read the full story on page 6
ANGRY EXPATS are attacking Spain’s attempts to kick-start its housing market by attracting overseas investment with the promise it is a safe place to invest. They maintain Madrid is in denial over the number of innocent victims affected by problems in the property sector and are directly challenging figures quoted by Spanish Ministers. And a petition is being raised calling for King Juan Carlos I, the Governor of the Bank of Spain, and Premiers Zapatero of Spain and Cameron of Great Britain, amongst others, to intervene and fast track complaints through the courts. It is organised on behalf of thousands of people who began to purchase off plan homes and saw homes in the sun half-finished or never started as builders went bust in the recession. Some were never given the legally required bank guarantees or those issued with the certificates found banks refused to honour them. The first stage of the Spanish government’s promotion ended earlier this month after a presentation across Northern Europe to the institutional market – the road show will return to pitch to the commercial sector, although dates have yet to be set. Ministers Jose Blanco and Beatriz Corredor attempted to highlight the strengths of the economy and pro-
mote the country for its “transparency and legal security of buying a property in Spain.” MESSAGE In short the message was that now was the perfect time to snap up a bargain with prices at a record low after the boom years of construction. And in response to protests from victims, Ms Corredor said there were around 850,000 Brits living in Spain and problems applied to less than 1% of them. Keith Rule is the organiser of the ‘Bank Guarantees In Spain Petition’ and takes exception to the figures – he claims according to the Minister there were less than 8,500 Britons affected by the notorious problems of Land Grab; the Law of the Coasts; illegal properties; demolition orders and the abuse of bank guarantees. “The many thousands, including myself, who paid their off-plan deposits in good faith and are now experiencing bank guarantee problems, are totally unaccounted for and not included in any property register,” he said. “Therefore they cannot possibly be among Sra. Corredor’s figure of 850,000 Britons ‘living in Spain’ as they were denied that opportunity due to the fact their properties were either not completed or in many cases not even started.” Continued on page 3
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1 - 7 JulY 2011
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SAN MIGUEL TORREVIEJA QUESADA ALGORFA ORIHUELA ORIHUELA SAN FULGENCIO MURCIA GUARDAMAR
1 - 7 JulY 2011
Storm of comment over neglected urbanisation Torreta III by Cliff Roberts THANK YOU to all the concerned readers and residents that wrote in regarding the disgraceful condition of Torreta III in Torrevieja. There follows just a few of comments received by RTN this week: “It’s about time the council wrote some of the debts off that are on the swimming pool and hut along the strip. Two of my friends wanted to buy it three years ago but not with the debt… We were told 18 months ago that work would recommence on the spa – what happened?” writes Molly Russell of Torreta III. “Graham Knight told us that millions would be spent on this area but nothing has been done,” says Violet of Torreta Florida. “We have lived in Torreta 11 for 18 years and find the area is going downhill fast…” says
Tessa and Arthur Leadbeater. Resident Colin: “The derelict pool in question has long been a bane to the local residents and traders alike, not only as an eyesore but also a health hazard, with accumulated rain water producing clouds of vicious mozzies.” Urbanisation President Mike Butler says, “…we have been advised that the Ayuntamiento will in future take over the maintenance of Phases 2,3,4 and 5 plus Punta Vibora and Las Patricias. We look forward to dialogue with the councillors concerned. The bigger we are the better the results so please everyone, come along to the Oasis Bar at 6pm on 1st July.” As most of the locals know, I have a very busy schedule but will endeavour to call at the Oasis on Friday to touch base: numbers could make a difference…
Star bullfighter nearly three times over the limit
RETIRED BULLFIGHTING star José Ortega Cano has been tested at almost triple the allowed level of blood/alcohol at the time of his recent car accident in May in Seville in which the other driver, identified as 45-year-old Carlos Parra, died of his injuries. The judge presiding over the case is also in possession of evidence of three 112 calls that allege Ortega Cano was speeding and driving recklessly at the time of the accident. Despite the circumstances, legal representatives of the deceased’s family have sent ‘get well’ wishes to the Hospital Virgen Macarena de Seville, where Ortega Cano remains in the Intensive Care Unit. On recovery he could face up to four years imprisonment on charges of dangerous driving and reckless homicide.
Continued from front page And he added: “There are hundreds of half-finished or abandoned developments all over Spain on which purchasers are at serious risk of losing their off-plan deposits dues to developers and banks failing to issue or honour the legally required guarantees.” Keith heads the La Figuerinas Finca Parcs Action Group in Agramon near Hellin, where only 36 of a projected 617 homes were built. He said there were 100 purchasers there with bank guarantee issues. ABANDON He said in abandoned Murcia projects by one developer alone there were some 2,000 people who had paid deposits and had guarantee issues, and last week Keith was assessing the situation in Orihuela. He alleges much of the money advanced by people seeking a home in the sun had vanished into “a black hole” as banks had allowed developers to withdraw funds and put the money to use other than the construction of the properties. And Keith said it was totally unacceptable for the Spanish government
to force victims into expensive legal action. He said the Bank of Spain supervised the banking sector and had done nothing despite finding some banks “had not acted with due diligence.” He said Mr Zapatero told the European Parliament in July last year that Spain insured laws were upheld and respected, the politician adding the courts were responsible to apply the law and: “ We stand shoulder to shoulder with those people, who perhaps have had the wool pulled over their eyes in the Spanish Property market.” But Keith said Mr Zapatero had failed to address the issues – while the petition would gather detailed evidence “relating to corrupt developers and negligent estate agents, banks and lawyers” and be presented to the authorities in Spain and the UK later this year. The petition and more information can be found at www.bankguaranteesinspain. comand a petition calling for UK Minister for Europe David Lidington to halt the Spanish road show is at www.gopetition. com/petitions/stop-the-spanish-propertyroadshow-open-letter-to-davl.html
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Fiesta & Markets
Great Weekly Day Trips
MON Guadalest & Algar inc lunch/wine 24€
7,8,9 July - La Nucia Medieval Market 15€ also includes Algar(7th), Guadalest(8th), Benidorm(9th) 27 July - Villajoyosa Moors & Christians 12€ A breathtaking and dramatic battle out at sea! 23 Sept - Cartagena Romans & Carthaginians 12€ Dazzling parades & battles against the old city walls.
TUE Terra Mitica Theme Park. Travel/entry. From 28€
THEME PARK SUMMER-TIME SPECIALS!
Sun Benidorm
11€
SUN Alcala del Jucar cave village inc lunch 27€ MON Alicante city
11€
TUE MundoMar (SeaWorld) travel/entry.
22€
TUE Aqualandia water-park entry & travel & entry from 25€ Wed Benidorm
11€
WED Caravaca & Calasparra inc lunch/wine 24€
TUESDAYS - BENIDORM TERRA MITICA Big ride & small ride fun suitable for all ages! Under 10´s & Pensioners: 28€ Adults 34€
Thur Cartagena & train to Mar Menor
14€ TUESDAYS - BENIDORM AQUALANDIA
Thur Murcia shopping malls
11€
thur Murcia city & market
11€
THUR Murcia Terra Natura & water-park
from 22€
FRI Benidorm Palace NEW show/meal
47€
fri Benidorm at night
12€
FRI Guadalest evening & Altea art market 15€ sat Altea Sea side Town
11€
sat Calpe market & Altea incl. lunch/wine
22€
Splish splash fun, waterslides & rapids! Under 10´s & Pensioners: 25€ Adults 28€
TUESDAYS - BENIDORM Mundomar Benidorm’s spectacular SeaWorld complex! Under 10´s , Pensioners & Adults 22€ THURSDAYS - MURCIA TERRA NATURA & WATER-PARK Animals, mammals, birds & water slide fun! Under 10´s & Pensioners 22€ Adults 26€
OVERNIGHT EXCURSIONS WITH COACHTRIPS S.L GRANADA 4 DAY
BARCELONA BY TRAIN
120€
278€
4* CITY BB. 7-9 July
4* city BB 4 day. 12-15 July
GALICIA 8 DAY
VALENCIA 2 DAY SUMMER BREAKS
399€
75€
4*BB + daily tours. 17-24 July
3* CITY BB. 5-6 or 19-20 July
CUENCA 3 DAY
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139€
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country BB + city trips. 13 - 15 sept
VALENCIA 3 DAY
TOLEDO + TRIPS 4 DAY
125€
199€
3* CITY BB. 20-22 SEPTEMBER
3* BB city + trips. 5 - 8 OCTOBER
ALMUÑECAR 7 DAY
MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE 8 DAY from
295€
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499€
4* FULL BOARD / WINE / WATER 16-22 OCT
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MADRID 4 DAY
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+ Pastrana & Guadalajara
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199€
More dates available! Call or click for more!
1 - 7 JulY 2011
Making it clear: road safety in Spain by Jan Gamm THE LAW in Spain that prohibits carrying shopping bags loose on the rear seats of vehicles is also applicable on roads in the UK under the Highway Code section that deals with vehicle loads (CUR100). However, many police authorities exercise discretion when it comes to shopping bags - in Spain the police appear to be taking a sterner approach, fining drivers 130€ for carrying bags on the rear seat, so it is advisable to carry shopping bags in the boot. When driving to Spain from the UK or other European destinations, drivers carrying a large amount of baggage sometimes place suitcases and other bags on the rear seats of vehicles but it should be noted that those drivers carrying unsecured luggage take the risk of being stopped and fined at the roadside. It is worth mentioning that in Spain it is necessary for drivers requiring prescribed spectacles to carry a spare pair of glasses in the vehicle and within reach, not tucked away in the boot. The spare glasses must be ‘useable’, i.e. NOT prescription sunglasses (which would not be suitable for night driving). High visibility vests are also compulsory equipment when driving in Spain and not just for the driver. It is the law that drivers must ensure a high visibility vest is carried for each person travelling in the vehicle: 6 passengers = 6 vests. Vests are on sale in most garages. PETS It is illegal to transport pets loose in vehicles. Police require pets to be either in a cage safely secured so that it cannot injure
passengers in the event of an accident, or restrained using a seatbelt via their collar or harness. An appropriate identification document for pets out in public is also required in Spain: a veterinary registration card or ‘pet passport’ is considered acceptable. This should be carried even when walking a pet. The Guardia Civil has launched a summer safety campaign (the ‘Plan Contigo’) that encompasses all aspects of safety and officers are being actively encouraged to spot-fine on safety infractions. The incentive covers a broad range of safety issues: water safety, safe navigation, camp fires, pick-pocket awareness, safe travel, with details found at www.guardiacivil.org It is also possible to ask advice via www.tuenti.com - a networking site set up by the Guardia.
Fresco fantasy at the Grand Café FASCINATED ONLOOKERS abandoned the attractions of the swimming pool at the Grand Café, Toscamar, Javea this week, to admire the work of fresco artist 23-year-old Suzie Gamm, as she created a fantasy mermaid in mixed media on the textured back wall of the poolside ‘chiringuito’. Over several days the double-scale image appeared as if by magic to the delight of the owner, known to locals as ‘Chippy’, who commissioned the artist on instructions to “…create something wonderful,” but otherwise gave her a free hand. The mermaid is a work in progress with the theme to continue along the perimeter wall of the pool complex. Suzie is a well-known artist in the Marina Alta, with a particular flair for fantasy art.
More than 1,000 choir members to participate in 57th edition of the Habaneras Certamen
1 - 7 JulY 2011
Central Market adapts to encourage business TORREVIEJA’S CENTRAL Market has put into place a number of new facilities in order to attract customers and create more business. As more and more people prefer to drive or take a taxi to larger supermarkets, where carrying out a daily or weekly shop can be done with relative ease and comfort, the central market, once a focal point of the town’s centre, has seen a strong decline in its customers over the years. Local To try and boost business, win choral soloists their customers back and attract new will ones, the market that specialises in perform fresh produce such as meat, fish and at the fruit and vegetables has introduced Music Palace this evening
by Julie Day ONE OF Torrevieja’s most important and prestigious cultural events, the Certamen of Habaneras and Polyphony, is set to take place at the end of the month, from 23rd to 30th July at the Eras de la Sal open-air theatre. In this 57th edition a total of 18 choirs from four continents and 13 different countries will perform, with the aim of winning the coveted ‘Juan Aparicio’ first prize and the 12,000€ that goes with it. This is the first year that a choir from Indonesia will participate, and they will take to the stage with choral groups from other
countries such as Lithuania, Cuba, the Philippines and various parts of Spain. The recently added category for the International Soloists Prize will also take place for the second year running with eight solo singers vying for first position. The trophies and cash prizes will be awarded on the penultimate evening, Friday 29th July, when a total of 70,500€ will be handed out. Local choirs from Torrevieja will feature in the opening and closing ceremonies and Televisión Española will film the event, to be aired nationally. As a prelude to this internation-
ally recognised competition, two concerts are scheduled for this weekend, the first tonight, Friday 1st July at 9.30pm at the Music Palace; a Torrevieja Soloists Gala where nine local soloists will perform a number of classical Habaneras plus other music from Cuba. The second concert will take place at 12.30pm on Sunday 3rd July, also at the Music Palace, where approximately 100 students from the Municipal Choral School of Torrevieja will give their end-of-year concert. Both concerts are free with an invitation, which can be obtained from an hour before each concert, from the venue.
a number of new features to make shopping easier. Lockers are now available so that customers can deposit their belongings and shopping and peruse the market in comfort. A one-euro coin opens the locker to reveal a key, which upon reinsertion will return the coin. Recycling bins for paper, glass and organic material are now in position at each entrance to the market and customers can now also make use of small shopping trolleys, making walking around the market with purchases a lot easier. Finally, a parking bay for bicycles has been created outside.
Feature in Torrevieja’s guide of bars and restaurants offering discounts this summer
THE TOWN hall of Torrevieja, in association with APYMECO, is to bring out a new guide detailing the municipality’s bars and restaurants offering discounts to customers this summer. Approximately 60,000 guides will be published and deposited in areas of high public attendance including Aquópolis, local markets and events organised by the Department of Fiestas and Culture. Any business in the hosteller sector may feature in the guide free of charge, provided they are offering some kind of discount outside of the season’s usual sales to their customers. Due to the urgency of collecting, collating and printing this information, anyone wishing to feature in the guide must either email the department of Commerce at comercio@torrevieja.eu or APYMECO at apymeco@salitel.com before 2pm this Sunday, 3rd July with the following information: - Name of business - Address - Offer / discount to be carried out this summer season - Business logo - Period during which the discount is available
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1 - 7 JulY 2011
Boots Boots Boots….and blisters by Jack Troughton SALVATION WHILE trekking Hadrian’s Wall for former Coldstream Guardsman Hugh Norton came with the comfort of modern Army desert boots – and raising more than £3,000 for Help for Heroes. Blisters forced the retired soldier to abandon his first choice of footwear on the historic Roman fortification and struggle on with trainers until long-promised state of the art kit arrived from Afghanistan, courtesy of his nephew who has just returned from a tour of duty in the warzone. Hugh, from Teulada, was walking 135km coast to coast with his brother said he was grateful James’ son returned with not only comfortable new boots but also paramedic training to treat the injuries on the ball of his foot. And at their six days journey’s end, Wall’s End, the party were joined by members of the Regiment both in desert combats and the traditional scarlet and bearskins of ‘tunic order’. Hugh told RTN both he and his brother were former Forces
men, keen walkers, and the opportunity to raise some money was too good to miss – especially as his nephew and son-inlaw, a chopper pilot in the RAF, continued to serve in the Afghan conflict. SUPPORT
tastic” – as was the scenery and wildlife they spotted along the way. However, because of the tight schedule there was not time to explore Hadrian’s Wall, a World Heritage Site, and museums more closely. BREEZE
“I am lucky enough to be a member of various groups including RAFA and Javea Players - all were very supportive,” said Hugh. “I set myself a modest target of £1,000 and I was fortunate enough to get sufficient publicity to generate interest to raise three times that, with money still coming in. “At the end, the only day of bad weather, we were joined at Heddon by former colleagues from the Coldstream Guards who came up from York to walk the last day.” He said other Guardsmen were at the end where there was a presentation for branches of the regiment associations. “This little man shuffled to the front and said he represented the Marlborough Club in Newcastle and said they nominated a charity each year and having heard about our walk, decided we should be it and handed me a cheque for £800,” said Hugh. He said the Roman remains and fortifications were “fan-
“Unfortunately we had to breeze past on the promise to ourselves we would return one day soon and give it the time it deserves,” said Hugh. He said he had bought a pair of walking boots for the adventure and wore them in on outings with the Costa Blanca Mountain Walkers and Costa Blanca Ramblers. “But we were walking daily double the distance and there was no time for hotspots on my feet to cool down – very quickly after Day Two they had become blisters and quite serious blisters,” he said. Hugh said he “slung” his original boots and had battled on wearing trainers, both men still carrying their kit. “And fortunately my nephew brought the desert boots. At the end of Day Four I got these wonderful desert boots which fitted like slippers – and his treatment of the blisters meant we finished the rest of the walk with ease and confidence.”
Hugh (centre rear) with Coldstream Guardsmen
Heat driving residents of Spain into the shade…
THE SUMMER heat wave being experienced across many provinces in Spain this week is set to continue. Local health authorities advise residents and tourists to observe sensible precautions and to drink plenty of liquids; wear a hat; use protective and effective sunscreen with a high SP factor to guard against harmful UV rays. Special care is recommended for young children and babies and also the elderly. Many provinces were put on orange alert at the beginning of the week with some agricultural areas experiencing drought conditions.
Broadband in Spain charged at one of the highest rates globally RECENT ANALYSIS has shown that Spain offers the highest price for broadband of all the OECD countries (the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) with Estonia, Turkey and Slovenia providing the most economical broadband services. Specifically, the cheapest (entry price) broadband in Spain amounts to 19.91€ without the fee line and 31.30€ with the line included. Spain heads the costliest broadband suppliers in the World in company with Chile, Korea and New Zealand. The study also noted that countries that offer higher speeds also tend to have the lowest price for a megabit per second (mbps). In September 2010 Spain charged 1.16€ behind only Mexico, Chile, Israel, USA and New Zealand.
1 - 7 JulY 2011
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Orihuela to have AVE high Environmental Programme launched speed train in two years
AVE for Orihuela
by Patricia Thompson ANTONIA MORENO, the new Councillor for Urbanism in Orihuela, has announced this week that work on the high speed rail link (AVE) into Orihuela city will begin in August. The leader of the PSOE party in Orihuela also said that the work will take 20 months to complete, anouncing that the road extension project to convert the Avenida Marques de Molins from two lanes to four lanes will also take place, as well as the planned new roundabout in La Aparecida, which residents have wanted for more than a decade. Ms Moreno also said that there will be a new town hall built in the city on a 6,000 square metre piece of land close to the Ociopía Commercial Centre, saving the municipality
€700,000 a year in renting the existing Town Hall. In a press conference held earlier this week, the councillor gave special prominence to the AVE link because Orihuela residents will suffer significant disruption from the works, especially as some of it will be underground. She said: “The AVE high speed rail link is the most important infrastructure in Orihuela for the next hundred years.” CONFRONTATIONS Meanwhile, as RTN went to press, the chaos within the Orihuela Town Hall continued. On Wednesday, the first ‘pleno’ meeting took place and after several noisy confrontations between the CLR party leader, Pedro Mancebo and the Socialist leader Antonia Moreno in the days leading up to
the meeting, it was reported that CLR would not accept the salary structure proposed by the new Mayor, Monserrate Guillén, which sees him earn a whopping €52,000 per year salary. Pedro Mancebo has said that when Orihuela residents are earning on average only €16,000 a year, it would be an insult to them for the Town Hall councillors to agree that the Mayor is paid more than treble that amount. He proposed a 30% reduction on the wage bill but this was opposed by Los Verdes and PSOE. So, with CLR and the other opposition party, PP, opposing the salary motion with a majority vote, it is expected that all the councillors and the Mayor will have to work for free until the matter is resolved at a future ‘pleno’ meeting.
By Patricia Thomson PREVENTING FOREST fires and making visitors aware of the fire risk in the province’s natural areas are the main objectives of a volunteer programme launched this week by the Diputación de Alicante. The project starts today, July 1st and continues until 11th September, supported and funded by the CAM bank. Volunteers from all over Alicante will be involved in the summer environmental programme, based in Xorret de Cati and Biar in the north of the province. There will be seven placements of ten days available and the teams of environmental volunteers will also work during the weekends in the autumn. More than 200 volunteers took part last year with similar numbers hoped for this summer.
The project, which has a budget of more than €100,000, also aims to promote appropriate behaviour in the natural environment, including risk prevention measures and the promotion of forest care and respect for nature. Surveillance will be made from fixed positions in the area and volunteers will also be required to clean and rehabilitate degraded areas of natural forest. In return for being a volunteer, you will be provided with communication devices, appropriate clothing, and access to 4 x 4 vehicles as well as full board and lodging. Volunteers must be aged 18 years or over and have a good knowledge of Spanish. For more information please call 96 510 74 00 or 96 511 71 17. Also visit www. medioambiente.ladipu.com.
Man dies after leaping fires at San Juan Festival A YOUNG man aged 22 died of burns in the early hours of last Friday after falling into a fire he had lit with friends in Labañou, A Coruña, to celebrate the festival of San Juan. The man had been jumping over small fires but when he attempted to leap over a fire exceeding three metres in height he became trapped in the flames. The man was of Brazilian origin but had lived in A Coruña for some time. Several patrols of the National and Local Police attended the scene and extinguished the rest of the fires in the area.
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1 - 7 JulY 2011
Dizzy heights in Benidorm by Jan Gamm AROUND 140 construction workers contracted to build the impressive Intempo skyscraper in Benidorm are now working at a dizzying 200 metres accessed via ladders and ramps. The Labour Inspectorate closed the lift facility
following an accident in one of the elevators last week that resulted in 13 workers being injured when it crashed into one of the towers. For those working on the topmost levels of the building a daily commute now involves climbing more than 1,000 ladders rungs! Not a good time to forget your sandwiches!
Agricultural irrigation to be removed in Alicante: jobs at risk
THE GOVERNING Board of the Confederation Júcar is in the process this week of approving the removal of irrigation for an area comprising 18,000 hectares in the districts of Vinalopó and L’Alacantí; part of a review of the river basin management plan. The affected area will lose 36% of its irrigation, putting the The grape jobs of approximately crop 35,000 workers in depends the food industry in on Alicante at stake. irrigation
Workers at the top
Benissa Guardia Officer decorated for saving a child’s life AN OFFICER in the Guardia Civil based in Benissa has been decorated this week with the Guardia Civil Silver Cross for saving the life of a 2-year-old child suffering respiratory arrest while choking, in an incident in April 2010 when officers on patrol were summoned to the home of a resident. Officer Raul Vergillos acted swiftly, applying a series of emergency First Aid procedures to dislodge an object caught in the little girl’s throat. The Silver Cross is awarded for valour.
Eighth exhibition of Volkswagon vans THE 8TH ANNUAL Exhibition of Volkswagen vans took place in the coastal town of San Pere Pescador Girona this week, attracting 540 vehicles and 2,800 interested onlookers. The exhibition coincided with the Wind Surfing Championships; the World’s 84 best competitors (64 men and 20 women) competing in the slalom event that has become one of the most important on the wind surfing calendar. A competition for the best-decorated van attracted special interest, many themes running true to the traditional style of the 50s and 60s ‘Surfie Wagon’.
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Compensation Culture
THIS IS an excellent benefit offered by Liberty Seguros to their clients. More economical car policies are on offer but be aware that they have far less cover and this could cost you more money in the long term. With a recession, and the pound still not as good as it used to be, I realise premium prices are important. However, I’m always advising that by you read your policy conditions. For instance, why bother to take out house insurance, when on some policies there is very little you can claim for? Therefore, ask the right questions and, if in doubt, we are here to advise you by checking your policy. On many occasions we find that there are instances where people are over insured on buildings and very under insured on contents. During the last few days the press in the UK have suddenly realised that the compensation culture is being abused via car insurance claims. Everyone seems to be taking a slice of the action, starting with the insurance companies themselves. They along with many people from all walks of life pass on to the compensation lawyers the names of clients claiming for a car accident. Suddenly a huge claim hits the insurance desk sometime later and a payout is made. What total madness this is, because premiums need to be increased, and then other poor suffering motorists have to handle a big increase because of fraud! How can this be correct? On discussing this with a colleague, who works in the business in the UK, he was amazed to hear that Spain does not suffer this type of fraudulent claiming. Can you imagine filling in a fraudulent denunciation whilst sitting opposite a Guardia
Jennifer Cunningham
policeman? Jolly good luck to you if you have the courage. Having said that, courage would be wasted here, as Spain has no real system to claim for compensation - thank goodness. For example, whiplash can be claimed through insurance, but the amount payable is very limited. Long may it continue - there’s no way I should like ever to see insurance premiums at the same levels as in the UK. The service that my company offers via Liberty Seguros is both honest and realistic. I can see no point at all in discounting to the bare minimum and not being able to sustain the cover. In comparison with the UK, the premiums are fantastic, not forgetting that Grua and European cover are included with our policies. Part of the excellent car policy is a very valuable protected no claims bonus: car insurance is taken out obviously to protect you if any damage is caused to your vehicle or passengers. Having an accident is bad enough, but then to discover that the premium has gone up quite considerably the following year, because you have lost most if not all your no claims bonus, can be quite a nasty shock. I appreciate this type of bonus is for use in the event of an accident, but in the long term it could benefit you considerably. Think about it when insuring or renewing, and request a non-obligation quotation from us, which will include a one protected no claims bonus per year. There are many other ways of saving Euros apart from lowering the quality of service on your house or car insurance, but if you really do want to save money and you have a life insurance or mortgage protection scheme for example with the bank, we have an extremely competitive alternative which could save you up to 50% off your premium
Jennifer Cunningham Insurances S.L The Costas leading insurance consultant. If you have a question please email her at: jennifer@jennifercunningham.net Regulated and
Warm welcome for Consulate team by Jack Troughton MAYOR OF Javea Jose Chulvi welcomed the popular British Consulate road show to the Marina Alta town on Wednesday as more than 100 expats packed the presentation. Vice Consul Lloyd Millen and Laura Leeman of the pensions, benefits and healthcare team were at the Casa de Cultura for the Open Day. Lloyd explained the functions of the British consulate in Alicante and the services it can provide, while Laura’s task was to explain the benefits available to British citizens living in Spain and how to access public healthcare. And both were able to answer questions from an attentive audience and meet interested expats on a one-to-one basis.
Mr Chulvi, who attended with Oscar Anton, the councillor in charge of relations with foreign residents, and Doris Courcelles, councillor for the environment, opened proceedings. He said British expats were an important part of Javea’s international community and highlighted the resort’s growth in recent years. “It is people like you who one day chose to come and live here that has helped make this town great,” he said. The mayor said residents from more than 90 countries around the World gave the town “a great opportunity to learn about and share the richness of other cultures.” Pictured are (left to right) Doris Courcelles, Oscar Anton, Mayor Jose chulvi and Vice Consul Lloyd Millen
Don’t eat the tuna HIGH LEVELS of Mercury in certain foods have prompted the Spanish Agency for Food and Nutritional Safety (AESAN) to issue a recommendation for pregnant women and children to avoid eating tuna. Speaking to El Pais on Thursday, Professor Joan Llobart of Barcelona University commented that the recommendations were “reasonable” but cautioned that consumer panic could be “economically dangerous.” Among other recommendations is a ban on chard and spinach for babies and a limit of 100grams of swordfish or dogfish for children under three years of age. For more information see www.aesan.msc.es/
1 - 7 JulY 2011 without cutting any benefits at all. Now, that is really saving money. We also work very closely with a currency exchange company and I know for a fact that their exchange rates are very competitive especially if you are using either your bank or a credit card. Why not truly save yourselves some money and request a quote from us, together with Health Insurance, due to the recession Asssa have extended their special offers of a lifetime discount, including free fractional payments. This is a genuine offer, and for example if you are 55 taking a standard policy it would cost you only 54.66€ per month: you just have to think what would happen if you had an accident, needed tests or required an operation. The Spanish Social Security system will not be there for you unless you have a SIP card or an EHIC (for treatment only during your temporary stay abroad) and even if you have the applicable card the waiting lists for treatment can be horrendous. This discount from Asssa is for life, so if you are thinking about health insurance, now is the time to do it with us. Lastly, and this is somewhat
of a delicate subject for many, Funeral Insurance, please remember that all the arrangements have to be made when the inevitable happens and a lump sum of approximately 4,000€ will need to be found instantly. Wouldn’t it be simpler to put all the arrangements in place now and pay a small annual amount? And, if you are already or about to become a client of Asssa funeral insurance, you become eligible to take their special Accident policy, which in case of a car accident gives you the option to be transferred from a public hospital to a private hospital, with all the added benefits, and for only 36€ per year. If, however, you wish to cover for any type of accident, not just car accidents, this will cost just 62€ per year. Think of how comfortable you would be, being able to speak your own language instead of struggling with Spanish medical terms, together with an individual room with a bed for the accompanying partner, and your own television - it’s certainly well worth considering. For further information on any of the above, please contact one of my offices as per the advert below, or visit www.jennifercunningham.net
Authorised by the DGSFP in Spain.
Golden Jubilee for Music Conservatory in Alcoy THE SCHOOL of Fine Arts in Alcoy celebrated its Golden Jubilee half century on Thursday. The school became a music Conservatory in 1996 and specialises in instruction in string, piano, guitar and wind instruments under its current director, José Miguel del Valle. Around 100 students range in age from 8 to 18 years at Primary and Intermediate levels taught by a staff of 13 teachers. A concert of classical music at 8pm at the Conservatory marked the occasion.
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Found
My friend bought a pair of male cargo trousers with zips in a charity shop in La Marina, San Fulgencio. In the pocket he found a wedding ring - I think it is a female’s ring as it is fairly small and fits my middle finger. It has the inscription on the inside with the name of ‘RUTH’ and also a date that I won’t reveal as yet. It is also quite an unusual ring. Perhaps the person whose ring it was passed away and the man was keeping it in his pocket for comfort, and has since had a clear out and thrown it away by mistake? The charity shop concerned has asked me to give the ring back to them and they will keep it for safe keeping, but they don’t advertise in the window the fact that they have it. Obviously if after a few weeks I don’t get any replies I will give it back to the Charity Shop, but I have also put it on two forums in the area and will do my very best to try and find the owner, before returning it to the Charity Shop. Hope you agree with my decision. Name withheld
talk tous
Email letters to rtnmail@roundtownnews.com with your full name and address
Email: rtnmail@roundtownnews.com
Don’t they deserve better than this? SOME PET shops in Spain display puppies and dogs in a way which most people would find abhorrent. Puppies are kept in cages devoid of the normal contact and exercise which they need to thrive and grow. If these puppies remain unsold, as they grow they are still kept in cages until they are deemed unsellable and then are sent to be destroyed. I know that Spain has not got a good reputation in its care and protection of animals. But in a country which loves to issue licences for even minor activities, surely there must be a way to ensure that pet shops are not allowed to keep dogs in such a terrible way. In the general scheme of things, it is not going to be a top priority but unlike failing economies and rising unemployment, it should be an easy thing to rectify. If you are considering giving a dog a home, why not go to one of the many excellent shelters and pounds where they have some beautiful dogs and puppies looking for a second chance. If the pet shops cannot find customers for their
animals, they will have no reason to continue with this horrible treatment. There is no point in admiring puppies inside a glass window, even if they are in a ‘Pet Corner’ or ‘Happy Zoo’ part of a pet shop. Indeed it is not a happy place for them in any way. What happens when they are no longer cute little puppies and unlikely ever to be sold? We have adopted a Golden Retriever who was brought to a refuge by a vet who was asked to put him down at 18 months old because he outgrew his cage, and so have seen at first hand the results of such a cruel practice. It was a pitiful thing to see how this beautiful dog was totally traumatised and petrified of any human contact. When one considers the huge contribution dogs make to our lives, from guide dogs for the blind, search and rescue, sniffer dogs, and always loyal companions, don’t they deserve better than this? Linda McGillycuddy, Javea.
looking for a dance school HI, I am a bar owner in Benidorm with an eight-year-old daughter who would love to take up dance classes, namely Latin American and / or modern dance. All we can find are schools teaching Ballet and Flamenco. Bearing in mind that I have no car, it needs to be within walking distance of Benidorm centre. Perhaps one of your readers knows of such a school? But please bear in mind I am a poor small bar owner! Many thanks, Paul at The Keyhole Bar , Old Town - Benidorm
warning to the public HELP MURCIA Mar Menor wishes to warn the public to be wary of distraction thieves in Los Alcazares. On Thursday, 22nd June, Joan Mitchell had her handbag stolen from her car by a simple scam. A man pulled his car up directly behind her parked car in front of the Deutche Bank so she could not back out. He was waving a map at her. She went to his car, leaving her car unlocked. He said he wanted to go to the airport. While she was speaking to him, another man stole her handbag from inside her car. Friday 23rd June, a similar thing happened to me: a man in a car pulled up so I could not back out but my car was locked with me outside. Again, the man asked for directions to the airport so I said he needed to go back to the main road. As I spoke to him, another man approached and asked what the first man wanted (still keeping my car locked). When I told him he just said, “Oh…” and walked away. Meanwhile I noted the car registration number, 4485 HDJ which has been passed to the police. Both these incidents happened in Los Alcazares but it could have been anywhere… Elaine Dale, president of HELP Murcia Mar Menor
I’D LIKE to thank Showgroup Torrevieja for their production of ‘Ancient Grease’. My husband and I were not sure what to expect but we really enjoyed the evening and thought the script was funny. What made it particularly good was that it reflected so many aspects of life for us here on the Costa Blanca. In the end, there may be big differences between I RECENTLY received my latest bill from the people who choose to settle out Aquagest and decided to look at previous bills. here but there are also real similarities. You can imagine my surprise when I found that Perhaps we should spend a bit there had been two unit price increases in the more time reflecting on these rather past 3 months! They may only be a few cents but than focusing on the grievances… I the least that I expected was to be informed of look forward now to the Christmas the new prices. Has anyone else noticed this and production - but not too soon. I want is this legal (this is Spain after all where anything to enjoy the summer first! seems to go). V Newman Suzanne O’Connell
Imagine my surprise!
Unfounded and misleading statement I AM writing in response to a letter in RTN 24th - 30th June where J M Moor makes reference to a Chinese lorry being stopped at the border containing dogs. I wonder where this information came from because I cannot find any reports about it. There is a report about a lorry, carrying dogs for slaughter, being stopped by protestors just outside Bejing in April.
I think that his statement is unfounded and very misleading for people who enjoy a Chinese meal here in Spain. Let him show proof before he ruins the livelihood of decent people. PS my favourite Chinese restaurant buys meat locally - I’ve seen it with my own eyes. F Worrall
Don’t hold your breath RE: ROAD works in Torrevieja: In April 2010, I attended a meeting addressed by Graham Knight and Eduardo Gil. Many matters were raised by irate residents of La Siesta and neighbouring areas. We were promised, inter alia, road repairs; weed clearance and a football pitch for the local (Spanish) boys, all by 16th May. What have we got more than twelve months later? Nada. (To be fair they didn’t say which May...) As far as road works are concern my advice is: don’t hold your breath. Allen Everington
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Aquópolis, APYMECO and the department of Commerce collaborate to promote business by julie Day TORREVIEJA’S DEPARTMENT of Commerce, APYMECO (Association of medium and small businesses) and Aquópolis are collaborating in a summer campaign that aims to attract customers to smaller businesses by means of offering discounts in Torrevieja’s popular water park. Approximately 240 establishments in Torrevieja, all of whom are members of APYMECO, have been equipped with a total of 200 promotional tickets, which they will be able to offer to their customers. These establishments will display an informational poster in their window so that customers will know which shops are promoting the campaign. Discount tickets, valid for the 2011 season only, include free entrance for children, discounts of The summer 2€ for adults and discounts on food purchases. discount For further information on Torrevieja’s water campaign is park Aquópolis, please visit presented to www.torrevieja.aquopolis.es the press
Dance of the Nations festival
Come dine with me... In the pool?
THE MAX Scuba Diving Centre on the Mar Azul Urbanisation in Torrevieja has always been known for its professionalism and support for local charities. Previous events include scuba diving trials for Paul Cunningham Nurses and it currently sponsors local celebrity Georgie May’s, 2012 charity calendar which the model and actress is producing with the aim of raising money for PCN and the Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre. Recently, the Max Scuba Diving Centre invited the model for lunch, although it was far from what she expected, as can be seen from the photographs. For further details on the diving centre, please visit their website at www.maxscubadiving.com
Bulgarian dancers from last year’s event
Eating under water proves somewhat impossible
By Julie Day SATURDAY 9TH JULY sees the return of the annual ‘Baile de las Naciones’ (Nations Dance) festival, which as usual is being held in Torrevieja’s Park of Nations. The event, which kicks off at 6pm, is organized by ASILA, the association for the integration of immigrants predominantly from Latin America. Throughout the evening there will be a number of demonstrations of dance from various parts of the World that will take place on the main stage in the park. This year expect belly dancing; traditional Balkan dance; South American moves and a special appearance from the Belles & Beaux Morris Dance Team plus much more.
Food stalls will be open all evening, offering a range of dishes from across the globe including Mexican and Argentinean cuisine. Each year, during the opening ceremony, an award is given to the group or association that has worked the hardest towards the integration of the various nationalities in Torrevieja, and this year the award is being given to the international Costaleros of the ‘Huerto de los Olivos’ cofradia, who at present has members from the UK, Ireland, France, Scandinavia, Ecuador, Argentina, Ukraine, Russia and Armenia, amongst others. It is hoped that a strong British and Irish presence in this year’s festival will attract a large attendance.
Book Prize winner announced THE CAMINO del Cid Prize for Travel Literature was announced this week by the Diputacion de Alicante. Miguel Gutierrez Garitano, who wrote the winning title ‘The Adventure of Muni’ wins a prize of €13,000 and will be presented with the award at a lavish ceremony in Alicante in September. The prize was awarded by the Camino del Cid Consortium, which this year presides in the Province of Alicante and the book details the author’s trip to Equatorial Guinea as he follows in the footsteps of 19th Century explorer, Iradier Manuel. A university graduate with a degree in history and journalism, Miguel Gutierrez Garitano has worked for newspapers including El Correo and ABC and has been the editor of the news and a television reporter for Canal Euskadi.
CLASSIC The award is the most important of its kind in Europe and the prize fund will be divided between the 34-yearold author and his publisher with Snr Gutierrez Garitano netting €10,000 and the remainder going to the publishing company. The Alicante Diputada for Culture, Pedro Romero, told members of the press at a conference earlier this week that, “The book is a tribute to the classic readings and is an entertaining explorers’ guide and a very accurate story of the former Spanish colony.” The Consortium said that the book “…provides a valid voice in Equatorial Guinea and allows the reader to embark on a little known moment in our history, nineteenth century colonialism. It also reflects how the journey is a transforming experience.”
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Spanish lessons by
Jane Cronin
A weekly ‘cut out and keep’ feature helping you to learn basic Spanish for everyday needs
part 4
Las Aventuras de Sid en España OUR TEXT is slightly shorter this week, so below I have written some questions which I will answer next week. Sorry if it feels too much like school – just remember, it doesn’t matter if you get anything wrong! Finally the taxi drew near to another large area of houses. This time they were all brilliant white and set out in long rows lined with palm trees and interspersed with larger buildings. Night time was starting to fall and lights appeared here and there across the urban landscape. Sid looked into the distance and noticed for the first time a dramatic sunset light up the evening sky. The whole firmament had become a glorious mixture of reds, violets, oranges and pinks. Sid had rarely witnessed such a magnificent sight and tried hard to explain this to the taxi driver. Finalmente el taxi se acercó a otra enorme zona de casas. Esta vez eran todas de un blanco brillante, dispuestas en filas largas con palmeras, e intercaladas con edificios más grandes. Caía la noche y luces aparecieron por aquí y por allí atravesando el paisaje urbano. Sid miró hacía la lejanía y vio por primera vez una impresionante puesta de sol que iluminaba el cielo. Todo el firmamento se convirtió en una gloriosa mezcla de rojos, violetas, naranjas y rosas. Sid raramente había visto
un paisaje tan magnífico e intentó explicárselo al conductor del taxi. The taxi turned off and started to head towards the coast. As the road swept around to run alongside the sea, Sid gasped in wonder. Across a magnificent bay the moon was rising in a cloudless sky and shedding its borrowed light across the waters. “How lucky I am!” thought Sid with a deep sigh of satisfaction. He couldn’t really remember what had brought him here in the first place, but he felt sure at that moment he was in the place he wanted to be. El taxi giró y empezó a dirigirse hacia la costa. Mientras la carretera se alineaba con el mar, Sid suspiró asombrado. A lo largo de una bahía magnífica la luna se elevaba en un cielo sin nubes y repartiendo su luz reflejada en el agua. “¡Qué suerte tengo!” pensó Sid con un suspiro de satisfacción. No podía recordar qué fue lo que le trajo aquí en primer lugar, pero en ese momento se sintió seguro de que estaba en el lugar en el que quería estar. 1. ¿Cómo era la puesta de sol que vio Sid? 2. ¿Por qué no pudo Sid explicarse al taxista? 3. ¿Qué sensaciones tenía Sid al ver la vista al mar? 4. ¿Dónde quería estar Sid?
Dying in squalor
Back on the throttle HUMBLE PIE time then as the Government looks set to prove me totally wrong and reinstate the 120km/h speeding limit on the basis that the measure ‘no longer made any sense’. That statement of course begs the obvious question: did it ever make sense? I have to say that having become used to the new rate, and remember for most it wasn’t a drop from 120 to 100 but from 135 to 110, I have found it pretty relaxing, and that far more people than I imagined have stuck to it. Am glad to see it back at 120km/h though… It is also good to see that the Brits are returning to Spain for their holidays, with an 11% increase being reported for this year so far. Spain welcomed 19 million tourists in the year to May, 7% up on 2010 for the same time. As usual the British were the largest group up 11% over the first five months of the year compared to last. The most popular destinations over the first five months were the Canaries, Baleares and Andalucía. And on the subject of travel, the Generalitat of Cataluña has given into the demands made by Ryanair for the airline’s Girona base and has increased the previous offer which was made to the airline by their predecessors in the regional government, which the current Generalitat refused to sign when they came into power. The offer now on the table includes the original subsidy of €7.5 million for two million passengers, which will be paid every year between 2012 and 2016, but adds an additional amount for
every passenger above that number to be flown by Ryanair through Girona. It would be remiss of me to not comment that it is reassuring that Finance Minister Elena Salgado continues to insist that Spain won’t need a bailout even as a surge in borrowing costs “worries” her, with the yield on the country’s benchmark 10- year bond at its highest level since 2000. Couple of ‘old chestnuts’ to end with this week: Domestic violence is once again suspected in the death of an 8year-old in Mallorca after ambulance staff called out to the mother’s home had alerted police that the child’s injuries did not coincide with the mother’s explanation that her daughter had hurt herself after falling from the sofa. Did you see that a hospital in Madrid recently became the first in Spain to perform a stomach reduction operation on a child? An 18st 12lb 15-year-old girl had the gastrectomy via tube, and a laproscopy so the poor little thing won’t have any scars! She also doesn’t have three-quarters of her stomach anymore, which I suspect she can add to the list of other things she doesn’t have...like willpower! This leads nicely into the recent story that Valencia invented Coca-Cola. I kid you not - local people in Aielo de Malferit in Valencia maintain that they invented the most popular drink on the planet. One of them, Juan Mica, claims that it was an uncle of his who invented the formula in 1884, and that he then sold the patent
to the United States. Well if Mojacar here on the Costa Almería can continue to kid itself that Walt Disney was born there, despite no evidence to support that view, and go as far as to commission a statue in his honour, then why not Coco-Cola in Valencia. I heard a whisper the other day that UEFA are claiming that they invented democratic voting... Sorry, that isn’t true - I was ‘extracting the Michael’ as they say which is pretty much what they had to do in the US recently when the head of the Portland Water Bureau took the decision to drain 7.8 million gallons of drinking water from an Oregon reservoir after a man urinated in it. Joshua Seater of Molalla was spotted urinating into the Mount Tabor reservoir, which supplies drinking water to much of Portland. While public health experts in the US said the urine in the reservoir was so diluted that it posed little health risk, the Oregon water chiefs did not want to take any chances. In addition, the cameras at the reservoir also apparently showed something, as yet unidentified, being thrown into the water. Chris runs an expat blog about life in Spain (www.almerimarlife.com) and is a regular contributor to a number of publications and radio stations in Spain, as well as writing a monthly column for the Telegraph Expat site and is a Telegraph Expat guest blogger. He lives in Almerimar with his wife Sands, four cats, two Harleys and more often than not a glass of red.
Views from a balcony is sponsored by Central Contracts (www.centralcontracts.com) a leading car leasing company supplying cars and vans to business users and private individuals. See also www.almerimarlife.com/expat-technology-blog Email: chris@almermarlife.com Social Networks: Twitter - Facebook - Facebook Group
By Jan Gamm A MAN suffering from the disorder ‘Diogenes Syndrome’ died last Thursday at his home in San Pedro, where he lived with his wife and two children. The 60-year-old died of starvation at around 2.30am, surrounded by trash, urine, faeces and other debris throughout the house. A medical report described the symptoms of Diogenes Syndrome, a disease with characteristic symptoms being the accumulation of vast amounts of garbage and unhealthy eating. The illness is named after Diogenes, an ancient Greek philosopher and recluse who insisted on living in a disused wine barrel. Also known as ‘Senile Squalor Syndrome’, victims suffer from social withdrawal, apathy and a compulsive hoarding of garbage or sometimes animals such as cats, rabbits or dogs. The Social Welfare Department was aware of the case and the man had been visited by the authorities in response to complaints from neighbours about the odours emanating from the deceased’s house, made worse in warm weather. An application had been made to the prosecutor for a legal intervention but the man died before action could be taken. Municipal sources said that this was not the first family in the area to suffer with problems caused by this distressing disease.
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LEBARA IS AVAILABLE AT The Phone Shop: Cabo Roig - 688 228 888
THE POST BOX
Dona Pepa, Quesada - 966 731 928 www.thepostboxquesada.com
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Discover
Benijofar/Benimar is a bustling community which offers a wide variety of shops and bars with plenty parking and easy access to the motorway. Tuesday in Benijofar offers a busy street market with a variety of stalls. Within a short walk is a delightful shop, Finishing Touches, which has many unusual gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, etc‌ so well worth a visit. To improve your Spanish, Benijofar has a dedicated education centre, ha BLA r which offers one to one tuition or in a small group. This is situated on the main road through Benijofar. A great supermarket, Safeway, is situated towards the traffic lights which stocks great value food products, cleaning products and pet products plus lots more. A five minute walk will take you to Benimar Ur-
banisation and you can stopp off for a meal at Bar
Studz which has a delightful menu del dia, or if you fancy a drink call into the lively So Bar with its
friendly staff and electric atmosphere. If you prefer
to eat at home visit Quicksave which is your local English supermarket which has a wide range of constantly changing special offers.
The Card Place which stocks great gifts and also
offers a postal service to the UK. Benijofar and Beni-
mar is definitely a place to visit for shopping, lunch, evening meals or a leisurely drink.
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Granada in the summer THE CITY of Granada was the last stronghold in Spain of the Muslim Moorish race, in control of the Iberian Peninsula for all of 8oo years. During their time in Spain they made the city of Cordoba the largest and, with a population of one million people, the most populated city in the known world. They were an educated people who built some of the World’s earliest universities. Medical research in particular blossomed under the Moors. Then disaster… the city of Cordoba fell to the reconquering Christians. This event forced the Moors to move their seat of power to Granada. Determined to maintain the high standards by which they lived, they chose a site on a red-coloured hillside to build what was to become one of the most famous Muslim built collection of Palaces in the western world: The Alhambra Palaces. The word ‘Alhambra’ means ‘the red hill’. More beautiful and ornate palaces are hard to imagine. They were surrounded by beautiful gardens and many fountains. Members of the Nasrid dynasty were the masters of all they surveyed during the time they lived in Granada. Even today the city enjoys the feel of its powerful Moorish past. The market area in the centre of the city has the Moorish horse shoe-shaped doors; the narrow cobbled streets that you would associate with the Kasbah lead into bright, leafy squares with tinkling fountains. The people here are oliveskinned with big, soft, brown eyes. They sing throaty melancholy songs which tell the story of their exotic past. In the
caves fiery dancers in flamenco dresses stomp arrogantly, throwing their hands in the air, pained looks on their faces as they stamp, pout and pose to the sounds of Spanish guitars. In the day time there is always the guitar player sitting in the Spanish sunshine lovingly picking out a tune from his much used instrument. Viewing points in the heights of the Albaicin, where the old Moorish and Jewish districts merged, overlook the Alhambra palaces. Below this point you can see the powerful outline of the mighty cathedral placed there by the Catholic monarchs Isabel and Ferdinand when their troops finally ended Moorish control in Spain with the capture of Granada in the year 1492. They took the city from the Moors, but they couldn’t take the Moors from the city. The spirit of these exotic, exciting people still lingers in the streets, palaces, squares and caves of this magnificent city: a summer visit finds the city at its most vibrant. David’s Coachtrips SL offer a great deal using a four star city hotel (bed and breakfast) which is close to everywhere you would want to see in Granada. The fabulous price of only 120€ for this 3 day break is particularly good value. SUMMER DATES 7th - 9th July and 16th - 18th August: booking couldn’t be easier - simply call (0034) 96 678 5910 and speak to one of Coachtrips’ English speaking operators. Go on - it’s too good to miss.
Plain sailing TWO LUCKY people can look forward to a little luxurious cruise control if the right number comes out of the hat in a raffle organised by David’s Coachtrips SL. Passengers on excursions run by Coachtrips are being offered the chance to enter the competition with all proceeds going to charity Age Concern CBS. And the prize is a Mediterranean Cruise for two – all inclusive – from 26th September to 2nd October this year. Age Concern’s President Maureen Payne and Vice-President Pam Horabin have already been handed a cheque for 2,290€ by David and office manageress Shawna from ticket sales. Tickets cost 1€ each and are available on Coachtrips excursions, from Age Concern volunteers and the walk-in Centre at La Siesta. They will remain on sale until 1st August when the draw will be made – allowing the winners time to organise their trip.
Pilar Tapas Trail starts today By Julie Day IT SEEMS that the success of the Tapas Trail of Torrevieja has caught on and extended over the Vega Baja area with Pilar de la Horadada set to host the third edition of its very own Ruta de la Tapa y del Cóctel from Friday 1st July until Sunday 10th July. A total of 34 establishments will participate in this popular event, offering 46 varied tapas between them. For 2€ only, the customer is able to purchase one drink and one tapa, ranging from the very traditional and classic to
the extremely innovative and original. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails will be available for the same price in 11 of the establishments. Participating bars and restaurants and customers will have the chance to win a number of prizes including restaurant meals, weekend breaks and sports tickets. Events such as the Tapas Trail are essential in helping to boost the hosteller trade and battle against the economic crisis, as well as promoting local gastronomy to residents and tourists alike.
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Volvo Ocean Race tour bus arrives in Torrevieja
Inside the promotional tour bus
by Julie Day A TOUR bus promoting the city of Alicante as a tourist point of interest during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011 / 2012 has arrived in Torrevieja and will stay there until Sunday 3rd July. Visitors to the bus, parked alongside the daily street market on the Paseo de la Libertad, can find out all about this year’s race that starts form Alicante 5th November. The bus is open 11am – 2.30pm and 5pm – 9pm. Inside the bus there are several computers that are linked to sites offering information in English and Spanish about this year’s teams, route, schedule, plus other interesting information. Additionally, there is a video on last year’s nine month event, which concluded in St. Pe-
tersburg in Russia, plus an interactive map of the Alicante Race Village, a professional simulator game of the race, and promotional videos of Alicante city and surrounding areas. The idea of the tour bus and the road show is to attract in excess of 1 million visitors to the Race Village, to be set up in the port area three weeks preceding the race, from 14th October – 5th November, where it will be possible to meet the teams, see the boats close up, as well as take in the atmosphere and enjoy the attractions of the Village. This year, participants in the Volvo Ocean Race will set off from Alicante, pass by Cape Town, Abu Dhabi, Auckland, Miami and Lisbon, finally finishing in Galway in Ireland in July 2012.
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Road works to cause chaos in summer season
traffic restricted to single lane
TOURISTS ARRIVING at the coast in the Vega Baja area this year will again be greeted with chaos on the N-332 due to incomplete road works. The widening of the road has not been completed in time for the summer trade and nearly nine miles of the N-332 are still littered with disused machinery and cordoned to single lane traffic, with restricted speed limits certain to cause congestion at the height of the season: the work began in November 2007.
Romeo and Juliet alive and well and living in Elda A PAIR of anonymous lovers have exchanged love notes for the past month, pasting their messages and love letters on the wall at the back of the Teatro Castelar de Elda - such sentiments as: “If every time I think of you a star goes out, soon there will be none in heaven…” sometimes accompanied by drawings of hearts and flowers on paper torn from a notebook or schoolbook. The couple’s identity is a mystery and no matter how locals try to catch them out, they are never spotted. The letters are now attracting public interest with shoppers taking the time to pass by to read the daily romantic sentiments.
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I’ll have an E please
Watts In Britain By
Paul Watts
WELL, ONE or two of the eagle-eyed RTN readers spotted my glaring typo last week and to them I say a big thank you. To reiterate I wrote, “It’s all a big ploy to relive you of money”. Arghhh, relive; should’ve been relieve - wadda mistaka to maka? What a difference a little ‘e’ can make, eh? (I’ll have an E please Bob). The trouble is folks, spell-checkers are great if you’re not an idiot. The wrong word used but spelt correctly will not be flagged up. I know, I know, it’s no excuse for my sloppy proof-reading but it proves how much we rely on the technology. It’s enough to have the Brigadier from Javea on my case – haven’t heard from him for ages… Talking of spell-check, a recent study into mobile texting by a team led by Prof Cochrane has revealed that since the advent of ‘predictive text’ the nation’s
spelling has actually improved. I know some people cannot get on with ‘predictive text’ but it is a quicker method and the Prof’s study found that it has cut out the text shorthand that had started to develop. You know the kind of thing, ‘M8’ for ‘mate’ (I’m not sure if that’s a good example as both methods take the same amount of key strokes). So, that’s all to the good then. And like the spell-checker another piece of technology that we lean heavily on more and more is the dreaded (or not) sat-nav. Recently, a mate of mine asked me to accompany him to Nottingham. He drove from Leicester to Sutton Coldfield to pick me up and off we set. Now I know that by cutting diagonally through Tamworth the journey would be 42 miles; a fifty minute journey? I said, “Do you want to
get the Atlas from my car?” Paul (yeah another one) gave me smirk: “You are a poor old fashioned soul.” He has the latest all singing, all dancing sat nav. “It does everything,” he beamed, “I think it can even reserve a table at a restaurant!” Oh, goodoh… So, how come it had us heading south onto the M6? How come our journey was a huge circular one that took an hour and a half? I coughed: “I’m sure we could’ve cut through Tamworth, Paul…” A hand goes up, “No matter, this has calculated the easiest route, based on all available up-to-the-minute information.” Total reliance, see… Mind you, I would have happily used a sat-nav last Sunday when I arrived at Alicante airport. My goodness, how it’s changed! I used to know every square inch of the place but on Sunday as me and the man-
Alicante Festiv
by Jan Gamm THE FESTIVAL of San Juan drew to a spectacular conclusion in towns all over the Costa Blanca this week, the celebrations in Alicante graced by 500 beautiful ladies escorted by dozens of colourful floats depicting exotic animals such as elephants and snakes; giant chess pieces; prancing horses and a bombardment of two tons of confetti that formed a multi-coloured carpet along the parade route. Onlookers scraped up the confetti from the roads for an action replay to keep the party going! Despite cuts in the budget the parade was as spectacular as ever to the delight of the 12,000 party goers that turned out to celebrate and
Man dies in Alcoy rav A MAN died late on Saturday when his car crashed through a barrier in Alcoy and plunged into a ravine. A pedestrian in the Tossals i Molins area reported to police that part of the barrier rail was missing which prompted an investigation. On dis-
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Younger and younger agement padded around the new huge expanse I could not get a single bearing. It is just so vast now, isn’t it? It really is a great piece of work; and only slightly let down by the lack of signs showing how to get out. Perhaps the planners are like Paul and think everyone should be using sat-navs! As we burst from Alicante airport out into the glorious sunshine I used a homing instinct, rather than sat-nav, to head rapidly ‘home’ to La Nucia. Yup, as the sun turns up the heat in England we’ve escaped for a week in the sun here. See you on the beach in Albir maybe… Watts in Benidorm not Birmingham; as the song goes “for a week or two…”
al of San Juan
Some of the people in costume at the Festival
admire the gorgeous costumes on display in the most popular fiesta of the year. DRESSES The dresses worn by the queens of the procession are a treasured part of the celebrations with even modest gowns costing in the region of 1,500€ and more elaborate outfits bespoke at around 4,000€: Spanish families save for years to finance a daughter’s debut at San Juan. Flowers frame every doorway along the processional route with folk music and traditional brass bands playing a major part in the procession that lasted for just over an hour. The closing hours of the festival were punctuated as usual with an impressive display of fireworks that continued sporadically until dawn.
ine tragedy covering the car, police and members of the fire service rescued the 43year-old driver but medical services at the scene that included a physician could do nothing to save his life. The car was crane-lifted from the scene of the accident.
By Jan Gamm IN SPAIN, children under 14 years-of-age are considered to be free of criminal responsibility. Judges cannot pass sentence on more than half of complaints that come to the Juvenile Prosecutor in the Alicante province, according to data presented by the Ombudsman this week in its latest report pertaining to juvenile crime. Figures also revealed that Alicante has more juvenile crime than other communities, with 6,000 cases not prosecuted due to the perpetrators of crimes such as burglary, armed robbery and assault using a variety of weapons such as knives and other ‘small arms’ being under 14. And not only are these children beyond the reach of the arm of the law, they are getting younger and younger, with kids as young as seven and eight involved in serious crime.
In Valencia, out of 11,080 cases heard 4,561 were thrown out of court due to the age of the defendants. Cases involving children under the age of 14 are referred to the Department of Social Services, usually prompting investigation into the child’s family background and social environment. Often such investigations reveal incidents of child abuse and also financial hardship within the family that lead the child to mischief, truancy and petty crime. Crime amongst young offenders under the age of 14 in Spain is accelerating at an alarming rate, with a growing apathy within security forces reluctant to pursue costly investigations that involve minors, thus avoiding piles of paperwork and wasted manpower utilised in incidents that have no chance of leading to conviction or punishment of under-age criminals.
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Death of Colombo THE ACTOR Peter Falk, famous for his role as scruffy detective Colombo in the television series of the same name, died in the early hours of Saturday morning in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, aged 83. Falk won four ‘Emmys’ for his portrayal of Colombo. The actor had been suffering with advanced dementia for many years.
Poker-faced student millionaire
Spanish cham out by Italian
23-year-old Raul with the book that earned him a fortune
RAUL MESTRE, a 23-year-old chemistry student at Valencia University, picked up a book on poker strategy one day and became a professional internet poker player within two weeks. Six years and 4 million games later, Raul is a millionaire with his own company, a poker school with 80,000 users employing 50 staff. Raul’s transition to being a professional player involved an 80€ stake and 12 hours at his computer screen daily with a further two hours studying strategy, approaching the project with controlled discipline. Texas Holdem has now provided him with enough cash to be able to retire before the age of 30.
by Jan Gamm MARCO SIMONCELLI, the Italian ‘crash-magnet’ with a nightmare record of track incidents added to his tally at the Dutch Moto GP at Assen on Saturday, when he crashed after only a few laps, taking with him the World Champion, Spanish rider Jorge Lorenzo. Simoncelli had been overtaken by team-mate Ben Spies and also by Lorenzo through the first few turns and was attempting to re-pass Lor-
Emerald from Spanish By Jan Gamm AN INTRICATELY engraved gold ring estimated to be worth around US$500,000 set with a rare 10 carat emerald thought to have been mined in the Muzo area of Colombia was discovered by a delighted team of divers last Thursday; part of the treasure found in the sunken Spanish galleon ‘Nuestra Señora de Atocha’ that perished in a hurricane in the waters of the Florida Keys, 35 miles of Key West in 1622. The ring was found buried in the ocean floor by underwater exploration company ‘Mel Fishers Treasures’ of Key West. Sharon Wiley, spokesperson for Mel Fishers Treasures, said the ring is shortly to be valued by an independent expert, taking into consideration not only its size and weight but also its importance in terms of antiquity and provenance. Vice president of Mel Fishers Treasures Sean Fisher, grandson of the founder,
the late Mel Fisher, was on board the salvage vessel JB Magruder when the ring was found: “This is the most significant artefact I have seen them bring out of the water,” he said. The treasure trove of the Nuestra Senora de Atocha was catalogued in July 1985, consisting of more than 40 tons of silver Spanish bullion in coins valued at US$450 million. Mel Fisher died aged 76 in 1988 but his heirs, still owning the legal rights to the treasure, continue to explore the ocean floor in search of stray artefacts. It is estimated that a further 100,000 silver coins stamped by the King of Spain could still lay undiscovered near the wreck beneath the sea bed, strewn over a ten mile site. Enquiries to purchase items from the treasure haul of the Nuestra Señora de Atocha may be made through the company’s website: www.melfisher.com
pion wiped crash-magnet lorenzo and Simoncelli at Assen
enzo for second position through the hairpin but repeating his disastrous performance at Estoril, his cold rear tyre high-sided as power was applied and he wiped out Lorenzo in the resulting slide. A furious Lorenzo re-joined the race and eventually finished sixth with Simoncelli ninth. “I thought he had learned from past mistakes but clearly he hasn’t,” said livid Lorenzo. Simoncelli, as yet without a Moto GP podium place, held his hands up over the incident.
wreck found in Florida
Stunning 10ct 2.7cm x 2.5cm emerald
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Out with the Royal, in with the new… IN SAN SEBASTIAN last Friday a portrait of King Juan Carlos was removed from its place on the wall behind the mayoral seat in the town hall, replaced with a picture selected from a collection at San Telmo Museum considered by the council to be “more representative of local interest.” The removal of the picture has prompted criticism and accusations that the new council is not ‘in touch’ with the wishes of local residents. The portrait of the King was removed on the instructions of the incoming mayor, Juan Karlos Izagirre of the Bildu party, to coincide with his first official reception, to be attended by local dignitaries and representatives.
The Mayor at his inauguration
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business
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How sticky is your website? by
Karla Darocas
Information Technology & Communications
WHEN I work with my communications students to teach them about the development of their website, I try to make them understand that being in control 24/7 of all aspects of their website is very important. Why? Because websites are very powerful marketing tools that costs very little to create but can reach a large volume of people. Can you imagine running an estate or rental agency without a website? I try to encourage my students to “think outside the box” and get down to creating websites that are functional but that are also ‘sticky’. While other website builders are pushing their clients to jump through optimization hoops and bending their backs to find workable keywords and harassing other people to build links associates, I teach my students to build sustainable websites that stick in people’s minds and hearts. ‘Stickiness’ is one of the most overlooked aspects of site promotion. Does your site stick to your visitors? Do you make a good impression? Will they remember your site and tell other people? And most of all, will they come back? Most statistics programmes like Google Analytics have a component whereby you can track how long a visitor is staying on your website. If clients are just hitting your website and then surfing away, then you are missing key elements in your website design and sales. How to get ‘sticky’ with your website… some tips! CONTENT IS KING – and always will be. The content of your website will determine everything about your enterprising efforts, because if your website is not entertaining, educational, fun, and friendly nor offers value – it will not be ‘sticky’. Without great content, your website is useless. Content is the reason
people visit a website, stay on a website and come back to a website. Three years ago, I wanted to clear out my garage but I did not have a van to take my items to either a rastro or an eco-park, so I built a website to help myself get rid of my unwanted items. That website not only helped me to clear my garage, but to this day it continues to help people recycle their unused items. The reason people return daily to this website, www.CBbuy-sell.com – is because it is like a giant rastro online, where visitors can shop for bargains 24/7. The content is always changing as members load up their personal items to the site. COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS Another way to build ‘stickiness’ into your website is to have a way for your visitors to get involved. You need to offer them a reason to come back by making them feel part of a community. Often people, who use the Internet a lot, are stuck at home or in an office (like me). When people find a website that lets them post queries and get answers, or lets them share ideas or make personal or business connection, you will get them coming back. Facebook is the ultimate example of a website that hooks in visitors by engaging them in a community relationship with old and new friends as well as family. It is a ‘one-stop-shop’ for interactivity! FRIENDLY FACE Websites that are not ‘personalised’ do not assimilate well with visitors. Unless a visitor sees a friendly smile and the whites of your eyes, they will not ‘trust’ you and they will leave. Think about going into a shop and the clerk is hiding behind a magazine and doesn’t look up to acknowledge your existence. Are you going to
Karla Darocas * Business Communications Software Training & Computer Repairs *Helping You to Help Yourself 965 973 234
feel engaged by this experience to buy something? Not likely. Time and time again, a photo with a winning smile will make your cyber viewers feel connected and excited to do business with you and your website. TASTY TREATS In the real world, you might get people stuck on your shop by offering coffee and cakes, but in cyberspace you need other forms of treats to keep them coming back. Free items that you can give away on your website are always popular. You can try giving away free photos, poems, quotes or ebooks. Of course, if you have products that you can give away, try running a contest. Or another idea is to give people a bonus point system for answering an opinion poll. These are just some ideas, but again ‘think outside the box’ and come up with unique or unusual ‘treats’ to keep your clients ‘stuck on you’.
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Community of owners: Best way to claim against debtors by
Carlos Baos
of White & Baos Abogados English & Spanish Solicitors
DEAR SIRS, We are a small community of owners in the Costa Blanca. Some residents systematically refuse to pay their Community fees and due to this problem there is never enough money to do any changes / works in the community or to pay the gardener, administrator etc and as a result their bills are always pending payment. The administrator has told us that the community could directly claim for this payment by a proceeding called Proceso Monitorio without the need for a lawyer or any other legal representative. Can you please advise? Dear reader, Thank you for your query. The community can indeed claim directly to the debtors/owners without the need for a lawyer, by means of a MONITORIO court process as long as the debt does not exceed the amount of 250,000€, which is most unlikely when dealing with a Community debtor/ owner. This is a good option as the Community can make
a direct claim. However, we believe that hiring the services of a solicitor would in some cases be very advisable for the following reasons: 1. Legal formalities and know-how of Court procedures: The use of a lawyer will ensure that the claim is correctly drafted and submitted, according to the necessary legal requirements and the lawyer will also advise you about the administration of judicial procedures, the steps to be followed, and other options available, etc. 2. Claiming for the correct amount: Using a lawyer will ensure that the Community claims for all the amounts legally enforceable against the debtor, such as unpaid community fees, legal costs, costs of previous registered letters, etc. 3. Provision of funds and legal fees: Many law firms (including our office) when dealing with claims from a Community of owners will work with a minimal provision of funds, i.e. enough to send the debtor a registered letter before filing the lawsuit; so there is almost no need for the Community to put money up-front. Also, in most cases, the lawyer and procurator (barrister) will reach agreement with the Community to receive payment after the debtor has paid. 4. Payment of the lawyer by the debtor (for the Court/legal costs). Law 49/1960 of Horizontal Property Act states that if the debtor pays, acknowledges the debt or opposes the debt
he will have to pay the bill of costs for the solicitor and the procurator (barrister) acting for the Community as long as the Court rules that the Community was right and even when it is not right, when mandatory for them to act. This is very important, as the particular debtor and all other Community members, will come to learn at that time that if the Community’s fees/charges are not paid on time the Community could claim at Court for the unpaid fees and the debtor will not only have to pay for the owed fees but also for the solicitor/abogado and barrister/procurator’s fees. This can turn out to be very expensive and surely will make every owner think twice before not fulfilling their obligations with the Community in the future. So, to summarise, as previously stated both options are correct and open to the Community; it is up to each Community to choose the route they will use. The information provided on 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/ your comments in this respect will be greatly appreciated. This article is available in English and Spanish at our Web site: www.white-baos.com
Marc White LL.B. & Carlos Baos (English & Spanish Solicitors) © White & Baos Abogados 2011 - All rights reserved. C/Diana 19, 2º-D, 03700 Dénia (located 1 minute away from the La Via underground car park). Tel: 966 426 185. Send your questions to spanishlawyer@roundtownnews.com or info@white-baos.com
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Learn the Language!
by
Suzanne O’Connell Customer Care at Ábaco
WHEN IT comes to language learning which category do you come into? • Can’t speak the language and no intention of learning the language • Can’t speak the language but I’m going to start trying • I am trying but its sooooo difficult… • I did try but it was too hard for me and I gave up • I just haven’t found the right course for me yet… • I like learning languages - I just don’t seem to be able to find the time
Of course, there are those who can speak fluent Spanish. However, most people in the British community are somewhere on the continuum from saying ‘hola’ and ‘buenas dias’ to just breaking out of the present tense. Learning a language is hard and the difficulty most of us have increases with age. My five-year-old son is fluent in Spanish. It’s been a natural learning process
for him and we listen proudly and enviously to his fluency and pronunciation. Does that mean I should give up? It’s tempting. Before long he will be able to translate for me and in most cases the people I work and live with are much better at speaking English than I am at speaking Spanish. But what will happen when he’s a teenager talking to his friends? There is something particularly disturbing about not having access to what your own child is saying. As a person who likes to be independent and above all who likes to communicate it’s frustrating when everything you say is limited to the banal and the basic. So, I must persevere. It seems that most of Ábaco’s clients agree. We did a survey on our newsletter recently with interesting results. We asked whether our clients thought that learning Spanish should be compulsory or not. Two thirds of those responding (67%) said ‘yes’ it should be compulsory and a third (33%) said ‘no’ it should not; a point of view that
doesn’t always seem to be backed up by practice. You don’t always need to know much to make a difference. Just a few words can help the taxi drop you off at the right place and secure the table you want to sit at. However, there are some tasks that do require more than a Berlitz grasp of the language: dealing with the Spanish tax man is an example. Even those who are fluent in Spanish and tax matters can find dealing with the authorities something of a challenge. And yet it is very important to understand what you should and shouldn’t be paying and be sure that the forms you submit reflect your true circumstances. For this reason Ábaco are offering to help explain your resident tax return for free. (see advert on page 28.) Having someone to help you with your tax doesn’t mean you should give up on your efforts to learn Spanish. According to our survey, the British community know they should learn it - perhaps it’s time we put our vocabulary lists where our mouths are.
If you would like a FREE, no obligation tax consultation and help with completing your annual tax declaration contact one of Ábaco’s friendly team on ÁbacoConnect Help-line 966 703 748 | www.abacoconnect.com
Tel: 96 558 7633 M obile 61820473 1
•QROPS Pension Transfers •Inheritance Tax Planning •Retirement Planning •Life Assurance
•Mortgages •Currency Exchange •Funeral Plans
Baskerville Advisers S.L. CIF B-63/137.020; Correduria de Seguros; No. de registro RDGS J2306; Seguro responsabilidad civil AIG Europe No. 0131900503.1330; Registro Mercantil de Barcelona, Tomo 35489, Folio 170, Seccion 8, Hoja B-269534
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The Experts came to the Expats I HAVE lived in Spain almost seven years. It was a choice that I, and eventually my wife and I, made after careful consideration. We were not sold the idea at an exhibition, where a sharp-suited guy might have shown us a couple of nice pictures but actually maybe he knew as much about Spain as I know about knitting. We did our own research learning truths and myths. Wherever possible we have taken advice from those we see as qualified enough to give it. However, this has not meant that we have avoided all the traps that befall so many of us. That is, where one is provided with information which is often inaccurate. If you go to your bank in Spain, do they explain all the charges they will make through the year and what is the
most tax efficient way of handling your money here? Schemes are sometimes set up to avoid a tax liability which is not actually there. Who can you trust to give you clear and independent advice? We at The Spectrum IFA Group believe that we supply ourselves with as much local knowledge as we can to provide, with help and advice. Those of us working in Spain, live in Spain. We are licensed locally to operate in Spain which also entitles us to the UK FSA registration. What that also means is that you can be seen almost whenever you want to be and not have to call a number in another country. We also believe that we should listen to those who know more than we do. That is why we were privileged to have a number of experts who,
last week, presented at seminars in the Costa Blanca as well as the Costa Brava and Menorca. They were from The Prudential, JPMorgan, Irish Life International and Close Academy. These guys know their stuff and we were pleased that so many people felt that they had been educated and not merely lectured to. They covered subjects such as investments and the taxation of these in Spain; the safety of insurance companies compared to banks; overseas pension transfers (QROPS); where you are domiciled and investment ideas moving forward. If you would like to receive information on what was presented and how we can help you access the Experts, call John Hayward on 96 558 7633 or send an email to John john.hayward@spectrum-ifa.com Hayward
Cobblers to the crisis A MODEST 16th Century profession surviving the economic crisis all over Spain is that of shoe repairing. With the arrival of large Chinese stores offering low-priced shoes, it became evident to resourceful cobblers that many people would rather buy a new pair than repair old shoes for a few Euros. So they adapted their skills and expanded their businesses by repairing items such as handbags, luggage, boating upholstery; some offering a key-cutting service as a side-line: it is one of the few crafts that continue to thrive in the crisis.
Pension ‘post code lottery’ ACCORDING TO figures released on Tuesday by the Ministry of Labour and Immigration, the average pension in the Valencian region is 828.14€, up 3.5% from June 2010. Alicante’s take-home pension is 788.69€. The average pension system includes a number of contributory elements such as widow’s allowance, permanent disability pension and retirement pension. The highest average pension is enjoyed by the Basque region at 995.40€ with the lowest in Galicia at 752.78€.
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Could your UK pension fund be your financial lifeline? IF YOU are a British expat living on the Spanish Costas who is getting nervous about your personal cash reserves stretching far enough to support yourself and your family in what could well be difficult times ahead, then - sadly - you are not alone. Dreams of there being only good days ahead when you retired and came out to Spain to live in one of the resort towns along the Mediterranean coast are maybe not as sunny as they were. The cost of everything is going up. Maybe you’ve already been cutting back on the relaxed meals you’d hoped to enjoy in little restaurants ‘up in the campo’. More worryingly for many people with their own property, the Spanish local authorities are increasing residential service charges and taxes … and introducing new ones … a trend that is likely to continue in the times ahead. The picture is not necessarily all doom-and-gloom. You may be able to get worthwhile help by going down a route that, up to now, you may have been a bit suspicious about. It isn’t the easiest thing in the world to understand because so many different spins have been put on the story in the Press, as well as by the many financial advisors out in the market-place competing for clients. LET’S BRING QROPS ON STAGE: ‘QROPS’ have now had so many mentions in advertisements and articles that the name may have become almost invisible: it has appeared so often that the brain nowadays hardly pauses as the eye passes over it.
COULD YOUR UK PENSION FUND BE YOUR FINANCIAL LIFELINE? ‘QROPS’ is an awkward name. It is pronounced ‘queuerops’ and stands for Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Schemes. They were made available by the Treasury in only 2006. HM Revenue and Customs play a large part in overseeing them. Very basically, (1) if you have money in a pension fund in the UK; and (2) If you are living abroad permanently, or plan to do so - you don’t have to leave your pension in the UK where it might be at risk from new economic measures or company failures. QROPS can give you the lifeline of bringing your money out of Britain, and banking or investing some or all of it overseas to your very real advantage, to protect you maybe from heavy UK tax liabilities, pension fund collapses…or even the predatory business of a contested divorce! It has to depend entirely on your personal circumstances and the advantages you’d like to wish for. Frankly, you’ll find no general-purpose answer in any newspaper article, or by filling-out an on-line computer form. It needs at least an initial one-to-one session with an experienced QROPS specialist to understand you and what you’re hoping for. We can then work out the QROPS path that would help you best … and organise the administrative follow-through with you. This is what we think AMASS (Asset Management Advisory Services Spain) does better than most. Call us on 952 492 159 to set up a no-commitment meeting or send an email to jerry.firth@amass-spain.com
FOR SALE house in Alicante, fantastic views, 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 50 metres from beach. 130.000€. Call Susan on 654-658-985
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FOR SALE Alicante house , fantastic views, 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 50 metres from beach.
130.000€
Call Susan on 654-658-985
Jobs in the bag for vineyard workers
EXCELLENT WEATHER conditions have contributed to a fine grape harvest this year and farmers are providing a welcome 4,000 jobs for a labour force to complete the process of ‘bagging’, where 200 million paper bags are carefully placed over the bunches of grapes ‘on the vine’ over 2,000 acres, to protect them until harvest time in September. Bagging is being carried out in the vineyards of Monforte del Cid, Aspe, Novelda, La Romana, Agost, Hondon de las Nieves and Hondon de los Frailes, the seven municipalities that comprise the ‘Valley of the Grapes’. Bagging promotes a better quality crop by improving flavour and producing a thinnerskinned grape.
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Home Garden
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Brought to you by
www.spanishhomefinder.com
Half term report by
Chris Marshall
www.almerimarlife.com
HALF WAY through the year seems as good a time as any for a mid-term report on the property market in Spain, with the overriding impression still one of confusion it seems. It is hard to deny that a lot of effort has gone into trying to ‘talk up’ the market throughout the year with headlines like this one back on March: ‘Relocation To Spain Becoming More & More Popular’, claiming that young professionals with families and retirees were planning to move over to Spain. They must still be planning is all I can say, or they have given the Costa Almería a miss totally! In April we were told that, ‘Foreign buyers throw a lifeline to the Costa del Sol’s real estate market’ and that while it will take a long time for the real estate market in southern Spain to recover from the bursting of the bubble, the good news is that there is light at the end of the tunnel. This was based very much on the property sales report for the last three months of 2010 which reported that some 6,457 transactions were made in the province of Malaga, and of those 905 (14%) involved buyers from outside Spain. Fast forward a bit and earlier this month we were told: ‘Spanish property set to be popular this summer’, as confidence in European property markets continue on the
road to recovery, a growing number of investors are expected to increase their exposure to the market. The Balearics’ property market remains strong, with a 145% increase in property sales in 2010 compared to 2009 recorded by the Public Works Ministry. Further evidence of a recovery accompanied the headline ‘Expats expand horizons in the quest to live the dream’, as The Centre for Future Studies confirmed one in eight Britons over the age of 55 still intends to settle abroad by 2012. On a slightly negative note, the potential demand was fueled by the chance that Spain, Greece and Portugal could crash out of the single currency and revert to their original currencies which would result in mass devaluation, and a surge in demand for below-market-value properties. More evidence that the Vultures continue to circle under the headline, ‘Britons eye up property bargains in recession-hit Europe’ as eight out of 10 Britons looking to buy a holiday home abroad are interested in those European countries which have been hit worst by the recession, with 82% of Brits interested in buying abroad in the next 12 months looking to these countries in the hope that prices have hit rock bottom and they can pick up a bargain. The message is pretty clear: buying a property in Spain is being touted very much as a long term investment as evi-
denced when the Spanish government went to London to present Spain as an attractive destination for property investment, although one has to question the wisdom of appointing the same PR agency that Facebook used to spread anti-Google stories in the US press! Personally I am far from convinced. I was brought up on the old adage that you can’t go wrong with bricks and mortar, and I still believe in that: but it related then, as now, to buying a property and holding onto it for a long time! I have few concerns that our own property in Spain that we bought over ten years ago and intent to live in for many years to come will serve us well, as will those that friends have bought for their future retirement and their families use long after they are pushing up the daises. For those looking to sell up and move over to Spain though it is hard not to be convinced by the argument that renting is best, certainly until prices fall even further, and you are sure that living in Spain is right for you. So as we enter the second half of the year I can’t fault the effort of the market to drum up enthusiasm, and we have seen some signs of building starting again down our way, but the fact remains that the sale of houses fell by 30.4% in the first quarter of 2011 when compared to the same period in 2010. (www.almerimarlife.com)
Property Matters by Chris Marshall is sponsored by www.piagi.com The Currency Specialists, offering the best foreign exchange rates and currency prices. You can hear Chris each month on the weekly Property Matters show on Bay Radio Costa Almeria 91.5FM and 95.5FM ( www.bayradio.fm) with Bob James, Mondays at 4pm.
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by
Clodagh & Dick Handscombe Practical gardeners and authors
What is ‘Mediterranean?’ WHAT SURPRISES people when they first visit or move to Spain are the very varied local climates along the Mediterranean coastal plain and in the local mountain valleys, and how near the coast winter frosts can occur even in the Javea area. The Oxford English dictionary defines a ‘Mediterranean Climate’ as one with warm, wet winters with prevailing westerly winds and calm, hot, dry summers. That might apply to some sheltered locations but most of us experience rain from the east, very hot southerly winds and dirty rain caused by subtropical anticyclones in the summer and cold northerly winds from the polar jet stream in the winter that can cause frosts and snow - even on the beaches at times. The warmer areas in summer verge on being subtropical and the colder areas temperate in winter. For those who have purchased houses on north-facing slopes, winters can be extremely chilly and damp. Those who have lived on the Costa Blanca for twenty five years will have experienced some dramatic changes and extremes in weather and most importantly for gardeners the reduction in the number of summer storms caused by the urbanization of the coastal strip. WHAT TYPES OF PLANTS ARE BEST PLANTED? Firstly, deep-rooted plants that can withstand long
Thoughts about Mediterranean gardens in Spain dry periods once their tap roots are established. Secondly, plants that are reasonably frost-resistant; and if burned by frost those with root systems that will re-sprout in the spring. We travelled several thousand kilometres during hot summer months and after the severe 2004 and 2005 frosts to determine the drought and frost resistances included in plant descriptions in our books. You may be interested in the following list of plants compiled by Clodagh when working with a friend to clean up and rediscover a garden high up on the pine-clad south-facing slope of the Mongo Mountain in Javea, which had been neglected and un-watered for about ten years. Acacias, agaves, aloes, aloe versa, aeoniums, bignonias bulbs, bougainvillea, carobs, cipres, azanias, euroips, ferns, heathers, hibiscus, honeysuckle, jacarandas, koelreuterias, lantanas, mandarins , morning glory, oleanders, pines, pittosporum, plumbago, russelia, rosemary, thyme, yuccas This morning we walked the local mountains and at one stage we could see twelve ranges of mountains which each had valleys between, from Gandia to Benidorm, before the arid desert zone of Alicante. On most of the slopes the ground is tightly covered with plants that shade the ground during the summer and drop leaves that rot to enrich the soil century by century. Why not aim to achieve this Mediterranean
style planting in your gardens? It would reduce the need to weed and water bills! Clodagh and Dick’s quartet of books written for Santana Books and their earlier Costa Blanca News publication Practical Gardening on the Costa were all written as practical summaries of their accumulated experience, now 50 years, and creative ideas gained in developing their own gardens and those of others living on the coastal
plain, in inland valleys on top of hill sides… There is something for all, for properties that are small, large, new or historic. They can be purchased be purchased from bookshops such as Bookworld, Carrefour and Humpty Dumpty and internet bookshops such as Santana Book, Amazon UK, Angloinfo Spain and The Royal Horticultural Society Bookshop.
Clodagh and Dick’s practical gardening books will be found to be useful for both experienced and new gardeners coming to Spain. The useful quartet of books can be obtained from bookshops or by email from the websites of Amazon, Santana Books, Bookworld and The Royal Horticultural Society. © Clodagh and Dick Handscombe www.gardeninginspain.com
FOR SALE house in Alicante, fantastic views, 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 50 metres from beach. 130.000€. Call Susan on 654-658-985
+
FOR SALE Alicante house , fantastic views, 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 50 metres from beach.
130.000€
Home & Garden
1 - 7 JulY 2011
Newbury Electrocution ON 12TH FEBRUARY two race horses died of electrocution. I will try and explain the question that arises from this and why it was possible for people to walk around in the same area unaffected when there was sufficient electricity to cause the horses to lose their lives. The problem appears to have been an underground electric cable with faulty or damaged insulation. The effect of this would have been to raise the voltage of the ground around the fault. It is because people stand with their feet close together, the voltage difference between the feet of someone standing close to the fault would have been quite small and only a small current would have flowed through their body. They would probably have felt a mild electric shock (tingle), but would have experienced no harmful after effects. The situation for horses is very different, as there is a considerable distance between their front and rear feet. This means that for a horse standing in the area of the fault there would have been a big voltage difference between its front and rear feet, allowing a larger current to flow. Other contributing factors are: The horses have metal shoes that make good electrical contact with the ground, making it easy for current to flow, whereas people normally wear shoes or boots with soles that are made from rubber that provide a good electrical insulator. In addition, sudden collapse from electric shock is typically the result of heart failure
It is important to test your RCD devices
caused by current passing through or near the heart muscle. An electric current flowing from leg to leg in a person, however, doesn’t go anywhere near the heart, whereas a current flowing from the front to the rear legs of a horse most certainly does This explanation doesn’t make the events at Newbury any less tragic, but it does offer a solution to the apparent mystery of why the horses were affected when people in the same area were not. It also highlights the importance of regularly testing the protective devices (RCD). These systems are designed to automatically disconnect the electricity supply to a faulty cable, before the fault is able to cause injury or death. To say, “it always worked fine before” is NO excuse: electrical systems need regular testing and inspection. Electricity is an essential part of modern day life and ensuring it is installed safely, is part of my job.
By Daniel Smith, Adept Electrical SL, see his advert in the classified section
Brought to you by spanishhomefinder.com
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Solar Energy: Installing a Solar Energy Hot Water System and government grants ONE OF the most popular applications for solar energy is the heating of water for domestic use. Here, Fidelma Matthews from Solar in Spain answers the main questions that people tend to ask about solar hot water: HOW DOES A SOLAR HOT WATER SYSTEM WORK? It’s really very simple. In a compact system, where the tank and the panel are one unit, the tank must be placed higher than the collector. The water circulates naturally between the tank and the solar collector because of differences in water temperature. The system has a closed circuit filled with water and an anti-corrosive/anti-freeze solution. WOULD A SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM REPLACE MY EXISTING HOT WATER SYSTEM? Yes it can. As the solar hot water storage tank comes fitted with an electric immersion heater for periods of poor weather, your existing water heater can be removed. If you have a boiler that provides heating as well as hot water, solar energy can be incorporated to work with the boiler. WHAT IS THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF A SOLAR HOT WATER SYSTEM? A well designed solar hot water system will last for 25-30 years. DOES SOLAR ENERGY ONLY WORK ON SUNNY DAYS? No. Diffused radiation means that a solar collector will still generate a lot of energy on cloudy days. Vacuum tube collectors are particularly efficient in these conditions. At least 85% of your household´s annual hot water will be heated by solar energy. ARE SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS EXPENSIVE? Systems vary in design and size but to give you an idea; a system can be fully installed for less than €59 per month. In addition, you will benefit from a generous government grant from the Valencia Energy Board of up to 45%. WHAT IS THE FINANCIAL PAYBACK ON A SYSTEM? Normally a system will pay for itself within 3-5 years. ARE GOVERNMENT GRANTS AVAILABLE? There are grants available for solar energy hot water and electricity systems that are certificated
Home & Garden
by the Spanish Government and installed by accredited installers. Solar in Spain is one of the few accredited companies that have been working for many years with the government’s energy department to obtain generous grants for their clients. Solar in Spain will take care of all the grant paperwork on behalf of their clients. The closing date for 2011 applications is 15th July. WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION? Solar in Spain are based in Pedreguer in the same industrial estate as the Sunday market and customers can call in personally to the showroom. Alternatively, the website has lots of technical information and the telephone number to call is 902 636 570. Don’t forget if you are thinking of installing a solar hot water system this year your completed application form needs to reach Valencia by 11th July.
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Carpet Heaven summer rug sale GARY & KATE at Carpet Heaven must be amongst the very few who look forward to the chilly winter months here on the Costa Blanca. Having had a very busy and successful winter and spring period they are now preparing for the next rug and carpet season. Carpet Heaven have achieved their goal of getting the best suppliers from around Europe on board and continue to work to extend the choices and ranges available to their customers. Despite the constant rises in costs and materials over the last 12 months or so, Carpet Heaven were determined not to pass these increases onto their clients, with rugs, carpets and blinds held at 2010 prices. With the factories summer breaks coming up in August, Carpet Heaven has decided to offer even more savings. In an effort to make room for the new products and colours available in the Autumn they will be having a ‘Summer Rug Sale’ to beat the inevitable rises later in the year. The sale will be held throughout July and will offer 20% off all rugs in stock. The Best selling Oasis range is going from strength to strength, with the introduction of several new vibrant colours and designs. Oasis comes in 10 plain colours, including mulberry, aubergine, lilac and lime green, available in standard sizes as well as made to measure, including circles and squares. Oasis is also available in many modern designs and a wide range of sizes, recently introduced is the new ‘Supra range’, a deep pile, high density luxury shaggy available in five colours including jet black and silver. Carpet Heaven also stocks many popular traditional style rugs, as well as fashionable long pile shaggy rugs and more. For more information, please visit the website www.carpetheaven.es or call Gary & Kate on 96 672 0782. Carpet Heaven is now operating summer hours: Monday to Saturday 10am – 2pm: if you can’t make it during these hours, they will be pleased to make an appointment to suit you.
Carpet Heaven Summer Rug Sale – 1st to 31st July: 20% off all rugs in stock: once it’s gone – it’s gone! Vinyl tiles
Burmatex carpet tiles
Brought to you by spanishhomefinder.com
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Small icon appears on screen
Computing with aunty virus
.MOV files not recognised
Gaining access to iTunes Norman from Pego asks: I HOPE that you can help me. Up to about 2 weeks ago I could access my iTunes library but since then, whenever I try to gain access I get a small screen similar to that of a CD player with play, fast forward, fast back arrows etc. I’ve tried downloading iTunes from scratch and also dragging the iTunes
John from Quesada asks: I AM running windows XP and recently received some .MOV files of my Granddaughter’s Birthday party. However when I click on them to run them I get a message saying ‘.MOV not recognised by Windows Media Player’. I have clicked on the YES in the message box but only get sound and no movie pictures. I have checked my settings via ‘Folder Options’ and then ‘Files Types’ and .MOV is listed. Aunty Says: Hi John. Files with a .mov extension are designed to be watched using Apple’s Quicktime program. There are a couple of things you can do to resolve this: Download Quicktime from www.apple.com and use it as your default player, it’s just as good, if not better than Microsoft’s Media Player. Download a conversion program such as ‘Any Video Converter’ from www.download.com and convert the videos files to .mpg files.
Laurie via email asks: HI AUNTY, I hope you can help me with this problem. On the bottom left side of my screen there is a small icon which says ‘Done but with error on page’. I am currently using Windows XP. Thanks for any info you can give me on this one. Aunty Says: This is normally a Java problem Laurie so download and install the latest version from www.sun.com Also running a cleanup with Ccleaner from www.download.com may sort the problem out.
Changing to cable
Jack via enetcomputers.net asks: I HAVE wireless broadband - how can I change it to cable? Thanks for any help you can give. Aunty Says: Hi Jack. If you are referring to the cable between your machine and your router then you can normally simply plug in an Ethernet cable and disable the wireless (or wifi) function on your computer. If you mean the wireless/cable connection outside, i.e. the one between you and your provider, then you first need to get a normal landline installed from Telefonica/ Movistar. Once installed and working you can switch over to an ADSL service provider that uses a fixed telephone line such as Europa or Telefonica/Movistar. Let me know exactly what you want to do and I can elaborate.
icon to the recycle bin recreating the desktop shortcut but all to no avail. Aunty Says: It’s possible that another program has set itself up as your music player Norman. If you right click on one of your songs and choose ‘open with’ and browse down to iTunes and see if that works. Let me know how you get on.
Unwanted e-mails Tony via email asks: LAST YEAR I purchased a wireless printer but I had trouble installing it so I contacted RTN who provide me with ADSL. A very helpful guy said that my router would have to be reconfigured and he did this for me by remote from wherever he was. Everything is working fine except for one problem that is driving me crazy: ever since the reconfiguration of my router I am receiving hundreds of unwanted emails - I´ve tried ‘blocking sender’ on most of them but they keep coming in under different addresses. I spend long periods away from this computer and use my Yahoo account when I am on the road, so you can imagine what’s waiting for me when I get back. My wife is afraid to delete all as she doesn’t know if there are genuine emails amongst them. Please advise. Aunty Says: I think the timing of this is purely coincidental Tony as there is nothing the RTN engineer would (or could) have done to your router that would increase your spam email quota. I see you are using a private email address so maybe contact your website people and ask them to setup or increase spam filtering at the server end before it gets sent to you.
how do I get rid of it? Tom from Calpe asks: DEAR AUNTY, every time I go online I get a popup which says ‘AVG AntiVirus Free Edition 2011 Reboot’ telling me to ‘restart my computer in 5 or 60 minutes, as AVG cannot update important services while the system is using them’. Could you please tell me how to get rid of it?
Aunty Says: I think there was a bug with the earlier versions of AVG free 2011 that caused this kind of problem Tom. Download the latest version from www.download.com and choose the ‘repair’ option and that should fix it.
That’s all for this week, email me on auntyvirus@roundtownnews.com and I will do my best to sort you out
1 - 7 JulY 2011
GADGET INSPECTOR
Gadget Inspector investigates the case of: A trio of barbecues THIS WEEK the Inspector burns the sausages with a set of grills to thrill – or in other words three barbecues. Summer is here, and naturally a man’s thoughts turn to that popular outside activity of cremating all sorts of perfectly good food instead of cooking it properly in the kitchen. If you don’t have a Spanish style brick-built food crematorium in your garden, then perhaps one of the barbecues below will fit the bill. Bottom row, but by no means on the bottom rung, is the gas fired Napoleon LE3. With an impressive price tag of around €900 it needs to have the performance to match. Built in Canada, Napoleon has been building barbecues for 30 years – so it´s no flash in the pan. The barbecue sports a 670 square inch, 3 burner cooking surface with enough room for 28 burgers – enough for the hungriest family. It also has an infrared ´sizzle zone´ side burner to add that extra dimension to your food. Complete with LED back-lit controls, lights under the hood and even a compartment to keep the beers cool, this barbie certainly delivers. Next up, top left, is the charcoal-fired Weber OneTouch at a much more reasonable €165. Styled to look like a shipping buoy (?), Weber has produced these barbecues for over 60 years, so again pedigree shows.
With the top shielding the contents from the wind, not only does this stop the ash flying everywhere but allows perfect control of the temperature (monitored with the handy thermometer on the lid), and thus attaining that perfect flame-grilled finish. Completing the picture there is the handy ´One-Touch´ easy cleaning system: one push of a button and the ash is deposited into a container below. And last, but not least, top right, is the gas-fired portable Outdoorchef City Gas Barbecue costing around €175. Billed as the World’s smallest gas kettle barbecue, the City Gas breaks down into a super handy carry case, although obviously the need to carry around a separate gas bottle reduces the overall portability somewhat. The cooker boasts an ingenious internal funnel design to prevent flare-ups that cause those embarrassing singed sausage moments. The funnel can be reversed to form a stand for pots and pans making this barbecue perfect for camping, parks or balconies. The Inspector´s Verdict: Whether you´re a NewAge gas barbecuer or a more traditional charcoal type, one of these barbecues will suit you – and hopefully reduce the burnt food offerings sacrificed to the God of Barbecues.
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health
1 - 7 JulY 2011 8-14 JANUARY 2010
Get on yer bike Monthly cycling tips, advice and routes By Gary and Lynn: ‘Cyclogical’ Quesada Regular care and maintenance of your cycle ONCE YOU have chosen the right bike you must ensure that you look after it. Your bike should be regularly serviced at least once per year, twice if used regularly over a lot of miles. During a service the brakes and gears are all checked and adjusted. Also the bottom bracket and headset is checked, tightened and greased, tires checked and inflated, all nuts and bolts checked and tightened and all moving parts lubricated. Cyclogical also makes recommendations re: bald tires, damaged cables, poor gears etc. You should also wash your bike periodically to remove dirt, grime and believe it or not sweat as sweat can instigate rust on your bike. Once it has dried naturally, spray all over with a good lubricant (Like GT85 or TF2 both have PTFE or Teflon protection) to help to prolong the life of your bike. If you are going away and leaving your bike here for any length of time you should if possible hang it up or turn it upside down to stop any
dead spots (lumps/bumps) forming on your tires and also let out half of the pressure, remembering to inflate them on your return. So no excuses: Get On Your Bike and enjoy your life. ROUTE 5 Quesada to Algorfa and back via La Finca: Distance 20kms: Time - 3 hours. Leave Quesada and follow the road to Benijofar, turn right at the traffic lights and head for Rojales on your left hand side you will see a BP Petrol station. Turn up the road at the side of the garage and follow that road to the river (approximately 200 meters). Once you see the river turn left and follow it past some beautiful scenery including a working water wheel, small dam and many picnic / walk areas - all places you would never see in a car. Pass under the AP7 and keep going till you come to a tarred road and a signpost saying ‘Algorfa’. Turn left here and follow the road to the traffic lights. Turn right at the lights then cycle for about 200 meters before turning left to take you to the beautiful town
square where you are spoiled for choice where to eat and drink. Once rested, go straight across the square and cycle uphill till you come to the Towns Municipal Swimming Pool. Turn right past the pool and once at the bottom of the road turn left, where you will see a newly-made cycle path in red at the right hand side of the road. Follow this path right up and into La Finca, where once again you can stop for a well-deserved drink at one of the many restaurants before a long downhill cycle to Montebello, past a castle-looking house in the middle of orange groves (rumoured to be Mick Hucknell’s of ‘Simply Red’). Turn right at the roundabout at the bottom of the hill and cycle to the next roundabout, the one at Soco Market. Turn left here and
onto the big roundabout coming off at the turn off for Lo Crispin, approximately 50 meters on your left is a cycle track. Follow it all the way back to the main roundabout outside Quesada , cross the roundabout and then hit the second roundabout to arrive back at the Arches and the main street - where once again you can choose from a great selection of places to stop for a last drink before heading home. Well done. Remember Gary and Lynn are available at Cyclogical in Quesada, Monday to Friday from 9.30am till 5.30pm and from 10.00am till 2.00pm on a Saturday to assist and advise on all cycling requirements including route maps… Next Month: What you should carry with you at all times and how to fix a puncture.
1 - 7 JulY 2011
Why live-in carers are needed… MANY OF us have had conversations around the topic of what to do in the event our health fails us and we need additional support in our later years or in times of illness. Ideally, we would all prefer to remain in our own homes in familiar surroundings rather than be uprooted to a care home and having to get used to a new way of life. Consultus Care & Nursing Ltd, established since 1962, offers the solution. The UK’s leading provider of private live-in carers, the company provides carers to look after elderly clients so that they can remain in their own homes. A range of services is offered, from shortterm to long-term as well as
respite or convalescent care and Dementia/ Alzheimer’s support. The type of care undertaken is varied – some need a little help over a short period; others need round-theclock care. Interestingly, many of Consultus’ carers are expats living here in Spain who return to the UK periodically on short term assignments of usually between 2 – 4 weeks at a time. Some carers will already be experienced, but for those without previous experience, life skills already achieved are a tremendous benefit. We offer all our carers professional, friendly support and guidance. Our thorough interview procedures, together with Induction and Training Schemes offered are of great benefit to carers enabling them to deliver the help and re-assurance our clients appreciate. Each of our carers has compassion, integrity and the ability to operate in a professional and confidential manner, respecting the homes of clients. Despite the recession and because of our reputation there is still considerable demand for quality live-in carers. If you care, if you think that you have got what it takes and would like to join our professional team of carers, call our local Recruitment Consultant, Sandra Field on 658 965 204, email s.field@consultuscare. com or visit www.consultuscare.com Also see our advert below for further information.
Lifeguards speak out in Alicante LIFEGUARDS IN the Alicante area are complaining that they are working excessive hours not included in their contracts and also that they are expected to treat injuries and save lives using inadequate medical supplies. They report that there are insufficient personnel to cover all checkpoints on the beaches and although jet skis have now been supplied, lifeguards are complaining that the craft are not equipped with vital medical equipment to treat distressed or injured swimmers. The City Council rejects the criticism in the media, protesting that no ‘official’ complaints have been lodged.
Sandra and client Ernie
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Face lift
horoscopes by Kenny Corris
RECENTLY A client watched his father die over several days. Both father and son knew what was the inevitable, and so patiently both parties waited to play their part when the time eventually came. Come it did at the dead of night, but Son noticed that just prior to the last breaths his father seemed to relax his facial muscles and go back in time, revealing himself as a young man once more, and hardly older than his witnessing Son. This sounds very unusual, but it actually isn’t at all. At the point of death just before the transition of the soul we can go back to a time of Earthly life when we were happiest. In this case a dying father manifested back to being a young man once more. The lines of stress and the wrinkles of age disappear very often, performing a miracle ‘face lift’, and greatly surprising the loved ones gathered around, who witness the transformation often in wonderment tinged with shock! Whilst the physical appearance changes so does the energy of the soul as it is released from its etheric core, and the guardian angel who watched over the birth of this individual prepares to take their hand once more, this time to see them safely over to the Spirit World, without let or hindrance. Simultaneously the mind begins to focus on all the loving energies we have experienced during our Earthly life. We are shown those who truly loved us, and are boosted by their energy and their lifelong care for us as they fuel our beautiful journey into the realms of the Spirit World. Care and concern and all pain is well and truly left behind, our souls admit us through to just where we should be, and we can take our place. I make it a rule to ban any death bed scenes from my sittings. They are of course the very last memory of Earthly life that those who pass over can recall. However, exposing my clients to the grief of the deathbed is very unattractive and unnecessary in the scope of things, and can lead to trauma. It is infinitely better to be able to remember the life of the departed one than to be involved in final breaths, awaiting eye fixation and discoloration of the lips. When my Mother died I was ten minutes
postbag Email your letters to me at: kennycorris@roundtownnews.com KENNY, MY little boy was unconscious after a traffic accident and went into a coma for three days. When he woke up he said that he was taken care of by ‘the rainbow people’. He has described his stay in such detail that I cannot help but to believe that he really was taken care of by someone prior to his recovery. What do you think? Linda R. Sounds like he was well taken care of! I hope that you will encourage your little boy to tell more, maybe also to draw the people who cared for him. It is obvious that he was returned back to consciousness and now all is well. As for ‘who are the rainbow people’, they have been mentioned many times before and they seem to work with children, preparing them for a safe and rapid return back to this World and the loved ones that await them. I am so very glad to hear that these people, whoever they may be, have such a wonderful mission and bring such a joy of survival just when the chips are well and truly down.
away from her. By the time I got to the hospital she was propped up, and a distant vision of grey. I made the decision at the time to just walk away and to remember her only as the loving living soul that she had been; despite the indiscreet counselling of a fierce ward sister at the time. I had been spared the death scene, and so could only treasure the lifelong memories of times spent with the woman who loved me so very much. Many clients break down at the thought of not being with loved ones to watch them die. They cringe at the thought of someone close to them dying alone, but then this never ever happens. The Guardian Angel assigned to us at birth makes a promise to take us to the Spirit World when we die, and so a hand guides each and everyone of us, facilitating an effective cross over to the Spiritual realms. Spirit too organises many excuses so that we are spared the final deathbed scene. Cars have broken down; watches and clocks have stopped, heralding the exact time of death oh so very often... Delays in journeys are calculated to spare this glimpse of the end of life, which has no real virtue whatsoever. A client who was on the way to Yorkshire to be with his Dad at the end broke down in a service station on the M1. He received a text that confirmed the actual time of his breakdown call, which was - yes you’ve guessed it - the exact time of death recorded for his dear old Dad. He was so distressed about this initially, but came round to my way of thinking when I told him what he had been spared. His father had died knowing that he was loved by his son and that in the spiritual scheme of things it was utterly meant to be; and was beautifully executed by Spirit who know very well the dying game, and how best to play it! Every living thing must die, and we all will take our turn to leave this World when the right time comes. A long standing joke with a good friend of mine is to say, “Not dead yet!” every morning when you wake up - well after all, thankfully it’s true!
Love & Light... Kenny Corris
Kenny’s diary READINGS AT Bistro Maya: Monday 4th July and Wednesday 6th July from 4.30pm onwards. For information and advanced bookings for mini readings please contact Els and her team on: 96 686 8213. August dates to be announced shortly: Readings at La Fustera, between Calpe and Benissa from 10am. Call Penny Smith on: 96 574 9182 or 687 926 021 for information and advanced booking. READINGS IN YOUR AREA Please make contact if you want to organise readings in your locality, or organise a psychic summer event for your favourite charity. Some dates available July/August. Autumn Workshops: Listing shortly.
contact kenny Appointments: 96 587 8424 Mobile: 686 361 594 Web: www.kennycorris.net Forum: www.kennycorris.net/forum Email: kennycorris@hotmail.com Please contact me for inclusion in my healing list!
THIS is to be one of those weeks, so be prepared for last minute changes and a re shuffling of schedules, knowing that everything will be done for a reason. With mighty Uranus calling the shots this week anything is possible, and with the action focussing on a mid week conjunction with Mercury; there is something that needs to be got out in the open before tongues start wagging. Lucky Planet Jupiter aligns with Taurus this weekend bringing some extraordinary chances, and allowing you to spin the wheel of fortune any which way. Such a connection works well on financial matters and brings riches and abundance all along the way. Good luck will attend you throughout what will be a very busy week as you ring the changes for a welcome change. Warring Mars enters into Gemini space this week like a bolt from the blue. This places power well and truly into your hands though there are some who need convincing that you have the temerity to use it. When all is said and done you have weighed up the pros and the cons and will not enter lightly into something, especially since your integrity depends on it, and your faith demands it. With both a Partial Solar Eclipse and a New Moon early this week it is certainly time to leave the confines of your shell especially as Venus, Goddess of Love, makes an appearance midweek: looks as if you can have your cake and eat it too. Use this time to ask for just exactly what you need, and do not be surprised if getting it brings you a wonderful and welcoming surprise. Mercury enters this weekend and so can begin a start of the many changes that are on the cards for you. If you play those cards right then there will be some significant changes ahead and you can see yourself in a new light for a change. Stubborn energies and pride have done you a great disservice, but here comes a chance to put yourself back in the spotlight once more, where you belong! The power of your inspiring planetary leader, Mercury, ensures that something is out in the open and re enforces that you were not to blame for current events. As someone who can and will steer the ship when necessary you have established that you are capable of so much more, and now comes a time to be freely able to show just what you can do and to set a precedent others will not be able to follow. With Saturn on line with you from the end of the week there is a method in your madness that others may not fully understand. You know what you are doing, and all who have criticised you recently may have to eat their words. Looking at things another way, things are improving in your sister Planet of Taurus where negative energies work with you from the inside and are bringing you something, somehow. A financial warning is needed to keep you in line with current spending and necessary economy. It seems as if you are swayed very easily, and defend yourself because you are working very hard at present. The powerful energies of Uranus in Aries and Saturn in Libra require you to end splurges and focus on the financially retentive skills you now need to manipulate in your favour. Jupiter is locked in embraces with a resolute and passionate Taurus, bringing stubborn elements into play, and opening your significant heart and soul centres. Use your keen judgment to bringing a touch of magic into a situation that would greatly benefit from your tender love and care. With something to get your teeth into and a sense of pride you will open new doors and surprise even yourself! Pluto allows you to examine current strategies from the base upwards. The actions of the Lord of the Underworld can bring negativity but it is the reverse that you will encounter this week as you begin to finally reason that things are really not as bad as they seem. Each cloud has a silver lining, when you are charged with positive power and believe in what you deserve for yourself. Uranus is in cahoots with Aries so it is only normal to find that the cat is out amongst the pigeons once more. As you tread carefully around things just now, you must realise that things do not have to be this way, and that you have an option to keep your head down and cease involvement. As the truth seeker of the horoscope you will not approve that your silence be interrupted with trifles. Chiron brings a hefty dose of creativity that will light up a new venture, plan or project; so long as you take over conscious control. With new horizons beckoning, and the surety that you will eventually get some of the support that you will need along the way; don’t start something that you yourself cannot handle. Whilst waiting for assistance, you will learn that for once you do not really need it at all.
If it’s your birthday this week... Make hay while the sun shines since this is to be a highly productive phase in an astrological year that is going to be progressively challenging, but inspirational and reassuring all around.
8-14 JANUARY 1 - 7 JulY2010 2011
45
Word Ladders The key rule is that you must only change one letter at a time as you move from one rung to another, and the word you make must be a proper word! Therefore you may move from BATH --> BATS but not from BATH --> CASH because that changes two letters in one go which is not allowed.
Cryptic Crossword
Sudoku ACROSS 1. Reporters seem to want things urgently (5) 4. Support in reverse? (7) 8. No artificial note (7) 9. Mother wants boy to become stone worker (5) 10. What a well lubricated man becomes? (4) 11. Pretend to be ill to make mother stay (8) 13. Furniture not quite up to this point (4) 14. Resigned from the socialist side (4) 16. This critic is clearly one who has a second look (8) 17. Facts given in the end at an enquiry (4) 20. Closely follow graduate in doctrine (5) 21. A reason for being stranded? (7) 22. Nose and lip are used to form a Greek letter (7) 23. What the raw golfer aims for? (5)
DOWN
ACROSS
DOWN
1. Previous to (5)
1. Upright (13)
1. Card games suitable for river crossing? (7,6) 2. Praise some of the opposite sex, to lessen nagging (5) 3. Rues being certain (4) 4. This song is wicked contains everything! (6) 5. Does he make up heaps of clues? (8) 6. Thorough knowledge is within one’s vision (7) 7. Amnesty from army commander apparently (7,6) 12. The very last, in spite of everything (5,3) 13. Like returning to five eras of uncivilised people (7) 15. Get back for example in the wet (6) 18. In the morning employ to
Wordwheel
entertain (5) 19. Boast that clothes have gone up (4)
Quick Crossword 4. Trip (7)
2. Become liable to (5)
8. Win back (7)
3. Bellow (4)
9. Sluggish (5)
4. Apex (6)
10. Merit (4) 11. Ominous (8)
5. Used (8)
13. Destiny (4)
6. Respire (7)
14. Yield (4)
7. Amusement (13)
16. Pottery (8)
12. Start (8)
17. Eager (4) 20. Get to know (5) 21. Exalt (7)
13. Sleeping (7) 15. Emphasise (6)
22. Go back (7)
18. Escape (5)
23. Dulcet (5)
19. Information (4)
You can play these wordwheels by whatever rules you like. But there is at least one nine letter word hidden in each wordwheel (and thus using every letter in the wordwheel). For many players the fun element and biggest challenge of the wordwheel is to find a nine letter word. Other than that, the rules are up to you - but generally you should restrict yourself to only finding words that contain the central letter, as otherwise you will find huge numbers of words in many puzzles!
Win a meal for 2!
Inn Plaice in Torrevieja (Mon-Thu) by answering the Cryptic Crossword correctly. Answers by email to: production@roundtownnews.com *This must be used no later than 3 weeks of notification
Euromillions Draw Friday 24th june
5 16 20 30 41
6
11
No ticket won the 120,909,819 Euros (£107,428,374) jackpot prize
Answers & Winners Last week’s Crossword and Suduko answers found on page 53/54. Winner for 610: Stella Leban, San Luis
46
1 - 7 JulY 2011
music scene
Rene Marie - Renaissance Lady of Jazz Vibes From The Costas by
Tony Poole
from www.vibesfromthecostas. blogspot.com
T
HE XIV edition of the San Javier International Jazz Festival kicked off last weekend. Over the coming week there are three excellent nights of European and American jazz flavors to look forward to; Lee Ritenour & Sergio Monroy (Friday 1st), Monty Alexander & Raynald Colom (Saturday 2nd), Ramsey Lewis & Ludovic Beier (Wednesday 6th). Looking forward to mid-July, I urge you not to miss the opportunity to witness an artist who in her time may be heralded along with legendary names like Nina Simone and Sarah Vaughan. René Marie is a singer/ songwriter who instantly became a top favourite of mine when I saw her perform at Musicas del Alma in 2009. Marie began her professional music career late in life at age 42. She has released six albums, the second of which, ‘Vertigo’, was awarded a coronet ranking by the ‘Penguin Guide To Jazz’, a distinction given to less than 85 other recordings in jazz history. The singer often combines contrasting songs like ‘Dixie’ with the antilynching ‘Strange Fruit’, or combines other works like Ravel’s Boléro with Leonard Cohen’s ‘Suzanne’. Marie attracted controversy in 2008 when she was invited to sing ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ at a civic event in Denver, and substituted the song’s lyrics with those from ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’, a song often referred to as the black national anthem. Even
the President was lured into the controversy. The arrangement forms part of the titular suite on Marie’s latest CD, ‘The Voice of my Beautiful Country’. René Marie performs on Friday 15th July: tickets are €12. Also performing is blues guitarist Joe Louis Walker. Tomorrow night (Saturday 1st) Raynald Colom, one of the top jazz trumpeters in Spain, joins the program for 2011 edition. In a last minute substitution, the Raynald Colom Sexteto steps in for Leny Andrade. Ms. Andrade was forced cancel her appearance at the Musicas del Almas festival last year when an Icelandic volcano eruption caused havoc to air traffic control. Colom was actually born in Vincennes (France) in 1978 where he started learning music when he was four years old. He studied violin until age eight, when his parents gave him a trumpet. The family moved to Barcelona ten years later, where he continued his musical studies and got some private tuition from Wynton Marsalis, Roy Hargrove and Kenny Barron. In 1999 he obtained a scholarship for the Berklee Music College. Colom performed at Musicas del Alma in 2006 with ‘Luis Salinas and Friends’ which was released on DVD. Today, he is considered a Spanish jazz star, and the concert promises to be one of the best performances of the XIV edition.
For reservations contact the San Javier Festival Office: 96 819 1588 or 96 819 1568 or email festivales@sanjavier.es Full programme information at www.jazz.sanjavier.es Facebook users visit XIV ed. San Javier International Jazz Festival 2011 (Spain).
More festival and concert information at www.vibesfromthecostas.blogspot.com Email news and views to vibes@roundtownnews.com Keep the ViBES ALiVE!
Jazz
competition
Win tickets for René Marie & Joe Louis Walker RTN IS proud to be the official English newspaper for the San Javier International Jazz Festival. In collaboration we are giving away loads of free tickets to see some amazing concerts throughout July. This week we have a two pairs of tickets to see Rene Marie & Joe Louis Walker on Friday 15th July at the Almansa Park Auditorium.
QUESTION
Rene Marie incorporates anti-racism songs like ‘Strange Fruit’ in her live shows. Who most famously performed ‘Strange Fruit?’ A Lena Horne B Sarah Vaughan C Billie Holiday
Country music Nostalgia tour in aid of HAH
50 years of ‘Country at the Top’ and a lot of fun! Peter Day of Jukebox Promotions says: “Our Country events are always popular. Whenever we have Red Strokes with us, it’s a great night and tickets sell very fast. We know that the audience will just love these shows so advise early booking.”
Email your answer together with your name and telephone number. Entry by email only to vibes@roundtownnews.com
‘Slap ‘n’ Tickle
THE EAGERLY awaited venue for the postponed show ‘Slap ‘n’ Tickle’is now confirmed. The show is finally to go ahead at Los Arcos restaurant (now named La Rustika) in Torrevieja on Wednesday 13th and Friday 15th July at 7.30pm with tickets at 6€ on sale shortly for advance bookings and also at the door on both evenings subject to availability. Part of the ticket price will go to support the AFA Alzheimers Association charity in Torrevieja. For further ticket info please ring 634 334 319 or visit the Alzheimers Charity Shop Torrevieja, or The Card Place Torreta 2, Bargain Books in San Miguel.
COUNTRY MUSIC fans are in for a treat in July as Jukebox Promotions launch their fund raising tour for HAH (Help at Home) Costa Blanca at six venues featuring two great Country music acts. Stetsons & petticoats are fabulous: two performers with a wealth of experience in Country music. Christine King is widely recognised as one of the best female Country vocalists and Red Strokes has had standing ovations at all of the King & Country shows he has appeared in locally. Together, they will portray the music of Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Shania Twain, Dwight Yokham (with costumes) and others, supported by the fantastic Jukebox Legends Country, one of the most popular acts in Spain. Fiona McLean (of Jukebox Legends) is a fantastic vocalist portraying the music of Tammy Wynette, Patsy Cline and others whilst Peter will perform Jim Reeves, Johnny Cash, Don Gibson; the whole show takes you through
TOUR DATES IN JULY Wednesday 13th, Asturias, N332, Punta Prima Thursday 14th, Los Arcos (la Rustika), Avd Beleares, Torrevieja Tuesday 19th, The Lounge Bar, Torrevieja Thursday 21st, Rocajuna, Punta Prima Wednesday 27th, The Club, Quesada Sunday 31st, The Rendezvous, Campoamor (near the Mercadona) Show tickets are just 7.50€ and there is a special offer to anyone arranging a block booking of 10 tickets or more with 2 extra FREE. (10€ for The Rendezvous but includes a FREE buffet). Shows start at 8.30pm and end at 11.30pm with all venues offering an optional pre-show meal deal. Tickets are available now at all listed venues - Ticket helpline 695 135 134 or visit www.jukeboxpromotions.co.uk Jukebox Promotions are Patrons of HAH (Help at Home) Costa Blanca and as with all of their tours, this one will be fund raising for this fantastic charity. Once again, the very popular ‘Will the Key Turn’ competition offers the audience the opportunity to win 50€ at each show.
1 - 7 JulY 2011 Feb 26 - March 4 2010
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Jaipur alace
48
1 - 7 JulY 2011
UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT A few changes have been made already including Sunday Lunch which will be served buffet style, you will also be able to order from the A la Carte menu. A special lunch menu will also be available Tuesday –Saturday as well as an early bird special available daily from 6 – 7.30pm The Sheriff and his family were at Jaipur Palace on Sunday to sample the food available from the buffet, the sheriff had Vegetable Manchoorian (and a few more) as one of the many dishes on offer which can only be described as part Indian, part Chinese dish the taste was amazing and he would recommend you sample this dish, for his sweet he had mango cream with Gulab Jomun the mango cream a perfect dish to cleanse the palate after such a tasty curry, so yes folks I have found another Indian Restaurant that I can
recommend you try, the dishes available from the buffet are clearly named but if you want to know about the dish please ask the friendly waiters, I did. Please note the Sunday Buffet is now available from 1pm until closing time, lunch is 7.95€ and Evening Buffet 9.95€ And please note the early bird menu is now available from 6pm until 7:30pm. The Jaipur Palace in Urb La Herrada is easy to find as you enter Los Montesinos from Torrevieja/Quesada turn right at the roundabout and carry on up the hill until you reach the commercial centre, the restaurant is located behind the supermarket. To Contact them Telephone 966 720 519 or 633 189 736 e-mail jaipurpalacedos@yahoo.es.
Every Sunday Special Buffet 1pm – Until Close Lunch 7.95€ p/p Dinner 9.95€ p/p Everyday Early Bird Special From 6pm until 7:30pm Entertainment Every Saturday Night! Tuesday – Saturday Special Lunchtime Menu Includes Drink & Coffee Special Evening Menu also available includes Drink & Coffee
Urb. La Herrada, en esquina. C/Romero, no117-F Local 6 - 03187 LOS MONTESINOS, ALICANTE E-mail: jaipurpalacedos@yahoo.es
1 - 7 JulY 2011
49
Showtime at Catorce Benijofar! AT CATORCE, Benijofar on Friday 15th July the wonderful Variety Show Group and The Marina Tappers will join together for a foot-tapping, sing-along show with a 2 course meal included in the ticket price of €10. The Variety Show Group support many charities and this year their travelling show with the Marina Tappers are supporting Paul Cunningham Nurses. The Marina Tappers formed in 1993 by Chris Jarvis make routines seem effortless and their spectacular costumes make a colourful show. They rehearse every Friday in La Marina: enquiries 96 679 6820 / 676 215 134. Catorce, an award winning restaurant celebrating six months in their new location in Benijofar, kindly arranged a special price menu and show price for this night of just €10! Catorce is just off the main street in Benijofar - if you turn where the fireworks shop is and look to your left, Catorce is set in a tree-shaded area. Tickets are also available from the PCN Charity Shop in Quesada and from Restaurant Catorce 639 235 606 or call, text or email sueinthesun@hotmail.co.uk 639 318 526.
I’m in the market for something My background is, basically, born the son of a market trader, in a market, lived in a market, worked in a market, travelled all over the world visiting markets then opened restaurants in the UK which only bought from markets. From the age of five I accompanied my dad to Covent Garden in many early hour trips to deliver our own produce which included tomatoes, lettuces, peaches, figs and cucumbers. Having dropped off our cargo on one side of the market you were supposed to drive around the other side to pick up the same amount of empty boxes you had delivered full. Whilst my dad drove the lorry I chose to walk there through the middle of the market. At five years old I got the title of ‘The Guvnor’ as in ‘fags out - here comes the...’ Going to the market for the first time can be both daunting as well as an exciting experience whether you are on a business trip or just on holiday. The place is full of opportunists, and rumour has it, pickpockets too. My first visit as a restaurant buyer despite my previous visits was no less eventful. At Billingsgate fish market I asked one stallholder for the price of some whole salmon on display and I was told £1.00 per lb. I moved to the next vendor and asked the same question to be told £1.25 lb, so feeling smug and satisfied I went back to the first and ordered a couple of whole fish to be told
the price had now risen to £1.50 “but I thought you said the price was £1.00 per lb!” “It was.” He said. “But that was before you asked the bloke on the next stall.” Sellers learn to recognize real serious buyers so if you’re ‘just looking’ expect to be ignored, as I found out. Despite my naivety, I was prepared to buy something, if only I could get his attention. I waited patiently despite being ignored. New visitors to the busy stand were constantly being served ahead of me. Having stood there for so long customers who came back to buy more must have thought I worked there so I tried not to disappoint. I started to answer any questions relating to the prices of the fish, making them up as I went along. Amidst the growing confusion someone shouted out and when all was quiet he turned to me through the crowd and said “Can I help you?” As my confidence grew so did our customer base and our restaurants. I became the hunter not the hunted as one unfamiliar stallholder found out. One morning I began buying without asking for any of the prices, as my order grew I saw that he was changing the prices of what I had previously ordered; when I passed the £1,000 mark I could see that the prices now were quite keen. When I returned the following week he shook my hand
and cried “Thank gawd for that, I didn’t know if you were a “one off” where I could make a quick profit, or a serious potentially long term buyer, but I took a punt and I’m relieved to see you back.” A FEW TIPS: 1. Buyers, not pickpockets, should always wear the same clothes, you’ll get recognised easier. 2. Recognize a bargain, don’t get ripped off, have some idea of the prices of what you are going to buy before you go. 3. Be careful as everything looks smaller in the market, know where you are going to put it all when you get it home and make sure its clean before you go.
Edwin Cheeseman is a practical food consultant. If you have a question about food email cheeseman@roundtownnews.com
tv Friday
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1 - 7- 20 JulY 20112010 14 may
07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Crimewatch Roadshow 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 Real Rescues 12:45 Cash in the Attic 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News 14:30 Regional News 14:45 Wimbledon 2011 19:00 BBC News 19:30 Regional News 20:00 The One Show 21:00 EastEnders 21:30 A Question of Sport 22:00 My Family 22:30 Miranda 23:00 BBC News 23:25 Regional News 23:35 Graham Norton Show 24:20 National Lottery Friday Night Draws 24:30 Arlington Road
07:00 Childrens TV 10:00 Koala Brothers 10:10 Guess with Jess 10:25 Nina and the Neurons: In the Lab 10:40 Big Cook Little Cook 11:00 Spirit of Wimbledon 11:30 Yesterday at Wimbledon 12:30 Daily Politics 13:00 Animal Park 13:30 Wimbledon 2011 16:25 Scoop 16:50 Deadly Art 17:05 Escape from Scorpion Island 17:30 Fee Fi Fo Yum 18:00 Newsround 18:20 Copycats 18:50 Wimbledon 2011 21:00 Today at Wimbledon 22:00 The Kennedys 22:45 The Kennedys 23:30 Newsnight 24:00 Book Review Show 24:55 Women’s World Cup Highlights
07:00 Daybreak 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 ITV News 14:55 Granada News 15:00 60 Minute Makeover 16:00 Secret Dealers 16:59 Granada Weather 17:00 Midsomer Murders 18:00 Dinner Date 19:00 Granada Reports 19:30 ITV News 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Coronation Street 21:00 Love Your Garden 21:30 Coronation Street 22:00 Paul O’Grady Live 23:00 ITV News at Ten 23:30 Granada News 23:35 Miami Vice
08:00 Freshly Squeezed 08:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 08:55 Frasier 10:00 Friends 10:30 Back to You 10:55 Relocation, Relocation 11:55 A Place in the Sun: Home or Away 13:00 Channel 4 News 13:05 Mary Portas: Secret Shopper 14:00 Superscrimpers: Waste Not Want Not 14:30 Paths of Glory 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Four in a Bed 18:30 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:25 4thought.tv 20:30 Jamie’s 30 Minute Meals 21:00 Come Dine with Me 22:00 8 Out of 10 Cats 22:30 King Of 23:00 Alan Carr: Chatty Man
07:00 Childrens TV 09:40 Hana’s Helpline 09:50 The WotWots 10:00 Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 The Wright Stuff Extra with Gabby Logan 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Ice Road Truckers 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 16:15 Vickery’s Wild Ride 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:25 OK! TV 19:55 5 News at 7 20:00 Cricket 21:00 Eddie Stobart: Trucks and Trailers 22:00 Castle 23:00 Law & Order 23:55 CSI: Miami 24:55 Inside Hollywood
07:00 Yesterday at Wimbledon 08:00 Breakfast 11:00 Saturday Kitchen Live 12:35 Rachel Allen: Home Cooking 13:00 BBC News; Regional News 13:15 Cash in the Attic 14:00 Wimbledon 2011 19:15 BBC News; Regional News 19:40 Walk on the Wild Side 20:10 Total Wipeout 21:10 National Lottery: In It to Win It 22:00 Casualty 22:50 Lee Mack’s All Star Cast 23:30 BBC News 23:50 Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow 24:35 Good Will Hunting
07:00 Childrens TV 09:25 Prank Patrol Down Under 09:50 Dennis & Gnasher 10:00 Itch of the Golden Nit 10:30 Blue Peter Special 11:00 Relic: Guardians of the Museum 11:30 League of Super Evil 11:40 Wolverine and the X-Men 12:00 Mortified 12:25 OOglies 12:40 MOTD Kickabout 13:00 Animal Park 13:30 The Swarm 16:00 Eagle Has Landed 18:10 Flog It! 19:10 Wimbledon 2011 21:00 Today at Wimbledon 22:00 Have I Got a Bit More News for You 22:45 Secrets of the Pop Song 23:45 The Kennedys 24:25 The Kennedys
07:00 Mini CITV 08:25 CITV 09:25 House Gift 10:25 Coronation Street 12:45 This Morning: Saturday 13:50 The Planet’s Funniest Animals 14:20 The Planet’s Funniest Animals 14:45 ITV News 15:00 Mutiny on the Buses 16:45 The Living Daylights 19:15 Granada News 19:30 ITV News 19:45 You’ve Been Framed! 20:15 Odd One In 21:00 Penn & Teller: Fool Us 22:00 The Marriage Ref 23:00 ITV News 23:15 Bridget Jones: the Edge of Reason
07:10 The Hoobs 07:35 The Film Show 08:00 British GT Championship 2011 08:25 The Grid 08:55 The Morning Line 09:55 Friends 10:25 Hollyoaks Music Show 11:00 The Countdown 11:50 Friends 12:20 Style the Nation 13:20 Big Bang Theory 13:50 Big Bang Theory 14:20 The TV Book Club 14:50 Channel 4 Racing 16:50 Come Dine with Me 17:20 Come Dine with Me 17:55 Come Dine with Me 18:25 Come Dine with Me 18:55 Come Dine with Me 19:25 Channel 4 News 19:55 4thought.tv 20:00 Sister Act 22:00 Camelot 23:00 The 51st State 24:50 Coming to America
07:00 Childrens Tv 09:45 Rupert Bear 10:00 Olivia 10:15 Mr Men Show 10:30 Milkshake! Show 11:00 Inside Hollywood 11:15 Police Interceptors 12:15 Eddie Stobart: Trucks and Trailers 13:15 Eddie Stobart: Trucks and Trailers 14:20 Aftershock: Earthquake in New York 17:10 Free Willy 2: the Adventure Home 19:05 5 News Weekend 19:10 NCIS 20:00 Law & Order 20:55 CSI: NY 21:50 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 22:50 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit 23:45 CSI: Miami 24:40 Forensic Files
07:00 Yesterday at Wimbledon 08:00 Breakfast 10:00 Andrew Marr Show 11:00 Sunday Morning Live 12:00 Country Tracks 13:00 BBC News 13:05 Cash in the Attic 13:35 Bargain Hunt Famous Finds 14:05 Wimbledon 2011 18:30 My Family 19:00 Horrible Histories with Stephen Fry 19:30 BBC News; Regional News 20:00 Fake or Fortune? 21:00 Countryfile 22:00 Stolen 23:30 BBC News; Regional News 23:55 Moving On 24:40 The Sky at Night
07:00 Wibbly Pig 07:10 Dip Dap 07:15 Pinky Dinky Doo 07:30 Tinga Tinga Tales 07:45 Octonauts 08:00 Ed and Oucho’s Excellent Inventions 08:30 Arthur 08:55 Shaun the Sheep 09:00 Gimme a Break 09:30 Me and My Monsters 10:00 Friday Download 11:00 Something for the Weekend 12:30 Escape to the Country 13:30 Live MotoGP 15:00 EastEnders 16:55 Flog It! 17:55 Songs of Praise 18:30 Wimbledon 2011 21:00 Top Gear 22:00 Coast 23:00 Mock the Week 23:30 Today at Wimbledon 24:30 Unrelated
07:00 Mini CITV 08:25 CITV 09:25 May the Best House Win 10:25 Dickinson’s Real Deal 11:25 60 Minute Makeover 12:30 This Morning: Sunday 13:30 Dinner Date 14:25 ITV News 14:30 Survival: Tales from the Wild 15:30 Inspector Morse 17:30 Midsomer Murders 19:30 Granada News 19:45 ITV News 20:00 The Royal 21:00 Popstar to Operastar 22:00 Scott & Bailey 23:00 Popstar to Operastar 23:30 ITV News 23:45 A Clockwork Orange
07:20 Sali Mali 07:25 Treacle People 07:35 That Paralympic Show 08:00 Windsor Triathlon 08:55 Scouting for Girls’ RockCorps: You Decide 09:10 Friends 09:35 Style the Nation 10:05 Hollyoaks 12:35 Friends 13:10 Hard-Fi’s RockCorps: You Decide 13:30 Inside SBTV: From Bedroom to Boardroom 14:05 The Simpsons 14:40 The Simpsons 15:10 Four in a Bed 16:10 Four in a Bed 17:10 Four in a Bed 17:40 Help! My House Is Falling Down 18:40 Deal or No Deal 19:40 Channel 4 News 20:10 The Political Slot 20:15 4thought.tv 20:20 Transformers 23:00 Sunshine
07:00 Childrens TV 09:05 Little Princess 09:15 The Adventures of Bottle Top Bill and His Best Friend Corky 09:30 Mist: Sheepdog Tales 09:45 Rupert Bear 10:00 Olivia 10:15 Mr Men Show 10:30 Milkshake! Show 11:00 Inside Hollywood 11:15 Andre Rieu in New York 12:15 The Restaurant Inspector 13:15 Pawn Stars 13:45 Gunfight in Abilene 15:30 The Odessa File 18:00 Young Guns II - Blaze of Glory 19:55 5 News Weekend 20:00 Cricket 20:55 Maid in Manhattan 23:00 Anger Management
tv Saturday
tv Sunday
07:00 Coronation Street 07:25 Emmerdale 07:50 Emmerdale 08:20 Loose Women 09:10 Judge Judy 10:25 The Real Housewives of Orange County 11:30 Judge Judy 13:00 Coronation Street 13:30 Emmerdale 14:00 Emmerdale 14:30 Jeremy Kyle Show 15:35 Jeremy Kyle Show 16:40 The Real Housewives of Orange County 17:40 Loose Women 18:40 Judge Judy 20:00 All Star Mr & Mrs 21:00 Penn & Teller: Fool Us 22:00 America’s Got Talent 23:00 Forgetting Sarah Marshall
07:00 One Tree Hill 07:45 Desperate Housewives 08:35 Being Erica 09:30 One Tree Hill 10:25 Gilmore Girls 11:15 Desperate Housewives 12:10 Being Erica 13:10 Young, Sexy and Spoiled 14:05 Smallville 15:00 Hollyoaks 15:35 Gilmore Girls 16:30 Glee 17:30 Friends 18:35 Friends 19:00 My Name Is Earl 20:00 Hollyoaks 20:30 Friends 21:30 Friends 22:00 Gok’s Clothes Roadshow 23:00 Wife Swap USA 24:00 Made in Chelsea
10:00 Deal or No Deal 11:00 Gunfight at the OK Corral 13:20 3 Minute Wonder 13:25 3 Minute Wonder 13:30 3 Minute Wonder 13:35 Deal or No Deal 14:35 The Good Wife 15:35 Celebrity Come Dine with Me 16:05 Coach Trip 16:40 Location, Location, Location 17:40 A Place in the Sun: Home or Away 18:45 Relocation, Relocation 19:50 Come Dine with Me 20:55 Grand Designs 22:00 Four Rooms 23:00 The Godfather Part III
07:00 Switched 07:30 Supernanny USA 08:15 Supernanny USA 09:10 How to Look Good Naked 10:15 How to Look Good Naked 11:20 Supernanny USA 12:15 Supernanny USA 13:10 Great British Hairdresser 14:15 Hollyoaks 16:55 Made in Chelsea 18:00 Friends 18:30 Friends 19:00 One Tree Hill 20:00 Big Bang Theory 20:55 How I Met Your Mother 22:00 Friends 23:00 Rude Tube 2011
10:00 Time Team
My Family BBC1, 22.00
07:00 Emmerdale 09:35 The Biggest Loser 10:35 T World’s Best Diet 11:35 Holiday Showdown 12:35 The Only Way Is Essex 13:20 The Only Way Is Essex 14:05 America’s Got Talent 15:55 America’s Got Talent 16:50 America’s Got Talent 18:40 America’s Got Talent 19:40 Jurassic Park 22:00 American Pie 24:00 Wedding Daze
11:00 Time Team 12:00 Time Team 13:00 Time Team 14:00 The Green Berets 16:40 Grand Designs 17:45 Grand Designs 18:50 Grand Designs 19:55 Grand Designs 21:00 Grand Designs 22:00 7/7: The Angels of Edgware Road 23:05 7/7: The Miracle of Carriage 346 24:10 The Godfather Part III
Free Willy 2: the Adventure home Channel 5, 17.10
07:00 Coronation Street 09:15 Emmerdale 12:10 Coronation Street 14:40 America’s Got Talent 15:35 America’s Got Talent 17:30 America’s Got Talent 18:30 Garfield: A Tale of Two Kitties 20:15 Jurassic Park III 22:00 The Holiday 24:45 Ghosthunting with the Saturdays
07:00 Style Her Famous 07:25 Supernanny USA 08:10 Supernanny USA 09:00 How to Look Good Naked 10:05 How to Look Good Naked 11:05 Supersize vs Superskinny 12:05 Gok’s Fashion Fix 13:10 Great British Hairdresser 14:10 Supernanny USA 15:05 Supernanny USA 16:00 Supersize vs Superskinny 17:00 Ferris Bueller’s Day Off 19:00 Friends 20:00 Smallville 21:00 Friends 22:00 Desperate Housewives 23:00 Desperate Housewives 24:00 Being Erica
Pirates of the Jurassic Caribbean: Park III Dead Man’s ITV 2, Chest BBC1 22.00 20.15
10:00 Scrapheap Challenge 11:00 Scrapheap Challenge 12:05 Scrapheap Challenge 13:10 Scrapheap Challenge 14:15 Coach Trip 14:50 Coach Trip 15:25 Coach Trip 16:00 Coach Trip 16:35 Coach Trip 17:05 Baking Mad with Eric Lanlard 17:35 Come Dine with Me 18:45 Come Dine with Me 19:55 Come Dine with Me 20:30 The TV Book Club 21:00 River Cottage Every Day 22:00 One Born Every Minute 23:00 Bums, Boobs and Botox 24:05 Spaced
1 - 7 JulY 2011
51
tv Monday
52 40
1 - 7 26 JulY 2011 4 2010 Feb - March
07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Britain’s Bravest Cops 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 Food Fighters 12:45 Cash in the Attic 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News 14:40 Doctors 15:10 Only Fools and Horses 16:05 Copycats 16:35 Scoop 17:00 Escape from Scorpion Island 17:25 Stuck on Sheep Mountain 17:55 Shaun the Sheep 18:00 Newsround 18:15 Pointless Celebrities 19:00 BBC News 20:00 The One Show 20:30 Fake Britain 21:00 EastEnders 21:30 Panorama 22:00 New Tricks 23:00 BBC News 23:35 A Question of Sport
07:00 Childrens TV 12:00 Yesterday at Wimbledon 13:00 Daily Politics 13:30 GMT with George Alagiah 14:00 Diagnosis Murder 14:45 To Buy or Not to Buy 15:15 Animal 24:7 16:00 Flog It! 16:45 Antiques Road Trip 17:30 The Weakest Link 18:15 Escape to the Country 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Great British Railway Journeys 20:00 Truth About Wildlife 20:30 Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2011 21:00 University Challenge 21:30 Antiques Master 22:00 Made In Britain 23:00 James May’s Things You Need to Know 23:30 Newsnight 24:35 The Many Faces of...
07:00 Daybreak 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 ITV News 14:55 Granada News 15:00 Ten Mile Menu 16:00 Secret Dealers 16:59 Granada Weather 17:00 Midsomer Murders 18:00 Dinner Date 19:00 Granada Reports 19:30 ITV News 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Coronation Street 21:00 The Unforgettable Frankie Howerd 21:30 Coronation Street 22:00 Babies Behind Bars 23:00 ITV News at Ten 23:30 Granada News 23:35 Rambo: First Blood, Part II
08:00 Freshly Squeezed 08:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 08:55 Frasier 09:25 According to Jim 09:55 Friends 10:25 Back to You 10:55 Relocation, Relocation 12:00 A Place in the Sun: Home or Away 13:00 Channel 4 News 13:05 Relocation: Phil Down Under 14:00 Operation Pacific 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Four in a Bed 18:30 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 Channel 4 Presents 21:00 Dispatches 22:00 Embarrassing Bodies 23:00 Sirens
07:00 Childrens TV 09:50 The WotWots 10:00 Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 The Wright Stuff Extra with Gabby Logan 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Ice Road Truckers 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 16:15 A Decent Proposal 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:25 OK! TV 20:00 5 News at 7 20:30 How Do They Do It? 21:00 Police Interceptors 22:00 The Restaurant Inspector 23:00 Conspiracy Theory
07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Britain’s Bravest Cops 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 Food Fighters 12:45 Cash in the Attic 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News 14:30 Regional News 14:40 Doctors 15:10 Only Fools and Horses 16:05 Copycats 16:35 Scoop 17:00 Escape from Scorpion Island 17:25 Stuck on Sheep Mountain 17:55 Shaun the Sheep 18:00 Newsround 18:15 Pointless Celebrities 19:00 BBC News 19:30 Regional News 20:00 The One Show 20:30 EastEnders 21:00 Holby City 22:00 Luther 23:00 BBC News 23:35 Imagine 24:25 The Scheme
07:00 Childrens TV 10:50 Big Cook Little Cook 11:10 Little Charley Bear 11:20 Zingzillas 11:45 Waybuloo 12:05 In the Night Garden 12:35 Pink Panther Show 13:00 Daily Politics 13:30 GMT with George Alagiah 14:00 Diagnosis Murder 14:45 To Buy or Not to Buy 15:15 Animal 24:7 16:00 Flog It! 16:45 Antiques Road Trip 17:30 The Weakest Link 18:15 Escape to the Country 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Great British Railway Journeys 20:00 Coast 21:00 Restoration Home 22:00 Should I Test My Genes? The Price of Life 23:00 Lead Balloon 23:30 Newsnight 24:20 Women’s World Cup Highlights
07:00 Daybreak
08:00 Freshly Squeezed 08:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 08:55 Frasier 09:25 According to Jim 09:55 Friends 10:25 Back to You 10:50 Relocation, Relocation 11:55 A Place in the Sun: Home or Away 13:00 Channel 4 News 13:05 Superscrimpers: Waste Not Want Not 13:35 River Cottage Bites 13:55 The Sea Chase 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Four in a Bed 18:30 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 Channel 4 Presents 21:00 Four Rooms 22:00 Undercover Boss 23:00 Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA 24:05 Alan Carr: Chatty Man
07:00 Childrens TV 10:00 Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 The Wright Stuff Extra with Gabby Logan 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Ice Road Truckers 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 16:15 Vernie 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:25 OK! TV 20:00 5 News at 7 20:30 Mexican Food Made Simple 21:00 Monster Moves 22:00 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 23:00 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 24:00 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
07:00 Coronation Street 07:25 Coronation Street 07:50 Emmerdale 08:20 Loose Women 09:10 Judge Judy 10:25 The Real Housewives of Orange County 11:30 Judge Judy 13:00 Coronation Street 13:30 Coronation Street 14:00 Emmerdale 14:30 Jeremy Kyle Show 15:35 Jeremy Kyle Show 16:40 The Real Housewives of Orange County 17:40 Loose Women 18:40 Judge Judy 19:45 Take Me Out 21:00 Animals Do the Funniest Things 22:00 America’s Got Talent 24:00 The Holiday
07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Britain’s Bravest Cops 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 Food Fighters 12:45 Cash in the Attic 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News 14:30 Regional News 14:40 Doctors 15:10 Only Fools and Horses 16:05 Copycats 16:35 Scoop 17:00 Escape from Scorpion Island 17:25 Stuck on Sheep Mountain 17:55 Shaun the Sheep 18:00 Newsround 18:15 Pointless Celebrities 19:00 BBC News 19:30 Regional News 20:00 The One Show 20:30 Waterloo Road 21:30 In with the Flynns 22:00 The Apprentice 23:00 BBC News 23:35 National Lottery Wednesday Night Draws 23:45 Not Going Out 24:15 Him & Her
07:00 Childrens TV 10:50 Big Cook Little Cook 11:10 Little Charley Bear 11:15 Zingzillas 11:40 Waybuloo 12:00 In the Night Garden 12:30 Daily Politics 14:00 Diagnosis Murder 14:45 To Buy or Not to Buy 15:15 Animal 24:7 16:00 Flog It! 16:45 Antiques Road Trip 17:30 The Weakest Link 18:15 Escape to the Country 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Great British Railway Journeys 20:00 Attenborough’s Journey 21:00 Top Gear 22:00 Afghanistan: The Unknown Country 23:00 The Apprentice: You’re Fired! 23:30 Newsnight 24:20 James May’s Things You Need to Know 24:50 James May’s Things You Need to Know
07:00 Daybreak
07:10 The Hoobs 08:00 Freshly Squeezed 08:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 08:55 Frasier 09:25 According to Jim 09:55 Friends 10:25 Back to You 10:50 Relocation, Relocation 11:55 A Place in the Sun: Home or Away 13:00 Channel 4 News 13:05 Relocation: Phil Down Under 14:05 River Cottage Bites 14:10 Malta Story 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Four in a Bed 18:30 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 Channel 4 Presents 21:00 Jo Frost: Extreme Parental Guidance 22:00 24 Hours in A&E 23:00 Desperate Housewives 24:05 8 Out of 10 Cats Uncut
07:00 Childrens TV 09:30 Roary the Racing Car 09:40 Hana’s Helpline 09:50 The WotWots 10:00 Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 The Wright Stuff Extra with Gabby Logan 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Ice Road Truckers 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 16:15 Double Wedding 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:25 OK! TV 20:00 5 News at 7 20:30 Zoo Days 21:00 The Removal Men: Pickfords 22:00 NCIS 23:00 CSI: Miami 24:00 Law & Order: Criminal Intent 24:55 Cricket
07:00 Emmerdale 07:25 Nanny 911 08:20 Loose Women 09:10 Judge Judy 10:25 The Real Housewives of Orange County 11:30 Judge Judy 13:00 Emmerdale 13:30 Nanny 911 14:30 Jeremy Kyle Show 15:35 Jeremy Kyle Show 16:40 The Real Housewives of Orange County 17:40 Loose Women 18:40 Judge Judy 20:00 The Marriage Ref 21:00 America’s Got Talent 22:00 Benidorm 23:00 American Pie 24:55 The Pelican Brief
tv Tuesday
09:30 Lorraine 10:25 Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 ITV News 14:55 Granada News 15:00 Ten Mile Menu 16:00 Secret Dealers 16:59 Granada Weather 17:00 Midsomer Murders 18:00 Dinner Date 19:00 Granada Reports 19:30 ITV News 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Animal Kingdom 21:00 Countrywise 22:00 Sextuplets: The Little Lambs 23:00 ITV News at Ten 23:30 Granada News
tv Wednesday 23:35 Pitch Black
09:30 Lorraine 10:25 Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 ITV News 14:55 Granada News 15:00 Ten Mile Menu 16:00 Secret Dealers 16:59 Granada Weather 17:00 Midsomer Murders 18:00 Dinner Date 19:00 Granada Reports 19:30 ITV News 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Poms in Paradise 21:00 Lewis 23:00 ITV News at Ten 23:30 Granada News 23:35 Car Crime UK 24:35 Sextuplets: The Little Lambs
07:00 Coronation Street 07:50 Emmerdale 08:20 Loose Women 09:10 Judge Judy 10:25 The Real Housewives of Orange County 11:30 Judge Judy 13:00 Coronation Street 14:00 Emmerdale 14:30 Jeremy Kyle Show 16:40 The Real Housewives of Orange County 17:40 Loose Women 18:40 Judge Judy 20:00 Odd One In 20:45 The Hot Desk 21:00 Celebrity Grimefighters 22:00 Knocked Up
07:00 One Tree Hill 07:45 Desperate Housewives 08:35 Being Erica 09:25 One Tree Hill 10:20 Gilmore Girls 11:15 Desperate Housewives 12:15 Being Erica 13:05 Heartland 14:05 Smallville 14:55 Hollyoaks 15:25 Gilmore Girls 16:25 Glee 17:20 Friends 18:55 My Name Is Earl 20:00 Hollyoaks 20:30 Friends 22:00 One Tree Hill 23:00 Dirty, Sexy Things
10:00 How Clean Is Your House? 10:30 The Inn of the Sixth Happiness 13:30 Deal or No Deal 14:35 The Good Wife 15:35 Come Dine with Me 16:05 Coach Trip 16:35 Location, Location, Location 17:40 A Place in the Sun: Home or Away 18:45 Relocation, Relocation 19:50 Celebrity Come Dine with Me 20:55 Grand Designs 22:00 The Hotel 23:00 Country House Rescue
Watch New Season TV for Free with the RTN Network 966 463 170
07:00 One Tree Hill 07:45 Desperate Housewives 08:35 Being Erica 09:30 One Tree Hill 10:25 Gilmore Girls 11:15 Desperate Housewives 12:10 Being Erica 13:05 Heartland 14:05 Smallville 15:00 Hollyoaks 15:30 Gilmore Girls 16:25 Glee 17:25 Friends 19:00 My Name Is Earl 20:00 Hollyoaks 20:30 Friends 22:00 Smallville 23:00 Cleveland Show 23:30 Cleveland Show 24:00 Ricky Gervais Show 24:35 Ricky Gervais Show
Supersize Boss Undercover Grime
Channel 4, 21.00 Channel 5 22.00
07:00 One Tree Hill 07:45 Desperate Housewives 08:35 Being Erica 09:30 One Tree Hill 10:25 Gilmore Girls 11:20 Desperate Housewives 12:15 Being Erica 13:10 Heartland 14:10 Smallville 15:00 Hollyoaks 15:35 Gilmore Girls 16:30 Glee 17:25 Friends 18:00 Friends 18:30 Friends 19:00 My Name Is Earl 19:30 My Name Is Earl 20:00 Hollyoaks 20:30 Friends 21:00 Friends 21:30 Friends 22:00 Epic Movie 23:50 Alan Carr: Chatty Man 24:50 My Name Is Earl
Emergency with Poms in Paradise Angela Griffin ITV1, Sky1 20.30 21.00
10:00 Deal or No Deal 11:00 How Clean Is Your House? 11:30 Above Us the Waves 13:30 Deal or No Deal 14:30 The Good Wife 15:30 Come Dine with Me 16:05 Coach Trip 16:35 Location, Location, Location 17:10 Location, Location, Location 17:40 A Place in the Sun: Home or Away 18:45 Relocation, Relocation 19:50 Come Dine with Me 20:55 Grand Designs 22:00 Come Dine with Me 23:00 True Stories
10:00 Deal or No Deal 11:00 How Clean Is Your House? 11:30 Crash Dive 13:30 Deal or No Deal 14:30 The Good Wife 15:30 Come Dine with Me 16:05 Coach Trip 16:35 Location, Location, Location 17:10 Location, Location, Location 17:40 A Place in the Sun: Home or Away 18:45 Relocation, Relocation 19:50 Come Dine with Me 20:55 Grand Designs 22:00 Time Team 23:00 My Mother Diana 24:05 Di’s Guys
1 - 7 JulY 2011 Feb 26 - March 4 2010
53 53
tv Thursday 07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Britain’s Bravest Cops 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 Food Fighters 12:45 Cash in the Attic 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News 14:30 Regional News 14:40 Doctors 15:10 Only Fools and Horses 16:05 Copycats 16:35 Scoop 17:00 Escape from Scorpion Island 17:25 Stuck on Sheep Mountain 17:55 Shaun the Sheep 18:00 Newsround 18:15 Pointless Celebrities 19:00 BBC News 19:30 Regional News 20:00 The One Show 20:30 EastEnders 21:30 Traffic Cops 22:00 The Apprentice 23:00 BBC News 23:25 Regional News 23:35 Question Time 24:35 This Week
07:00 Childrens TV 10:15 Guess with Jess 10:30 Nina and the Neurons: In the Lab 10:45 Chuggington: Badge Quest 10:50 Big Cook Little Cook 11:10 Little Charley Bear 11:20 Zingzillas 11:45 Waybuloo 12:05 In the Night Garden 12:35 Pink Panther Show 13:00 Daily Politics 13:30 GMT with George Alagiah 14:00 Diagnosis Murder 14:45 To Buy or Not to Buy 15:15 Animal 24:7 16:00 Flog It! 16:45 Antiques Road Trip 17:30 The Weakest Link 18:15 Escape to the Country 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Great British Railway Journeys 20:00 A Culture Show Special 21:00 Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2011 22:00 History Cold Case 23:00 Mock the Week 23:30 Newsnight 24:20 Golf
07:00 Daybreak 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 ITV News 14:55 Granada News 15:00 Ten Mile Menu 16:00 Secret Dealers 16:59 Granada Weather 17:00 Midsomer Murders 18:00 Dinner Date 19:00 Granada Reports 19:30 ITV News 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Tonight 21:00 Emmerdale 21:30 Coronation Street 22:00 Kate in Canada 23:00 ITV News at Ten 23:30 Granada News 23:35 Piers Morgan’s Life Stories 24:35 Odd One In
Cryptic Solutions for 610 Across: 7 Hearts; 8 Laxity 10 Regally; 11 Latin; 12 Till; 13 Beard; 17 Glare; 18 Fair; 22 Aside; 23 Express; 24 Resign; 25 Grouse. Down: 1 Charity; 2 Largely; 3 Still; 4 Gallery; 5 Lists; 6 Hyena; 9 By degrees; 14 Allergy; 15 Careful; 16 Dresser; 19 Harry; 20 First; 21 Sport. Quick Solutions Across: 7 Option; 8 Docile; 10 Perplex; 11 Peace; 12 Roll; 13 Sever;
07:00 Treacle People 07:10 The Hoobs 07:35 The Hoobs 08:00 Freshly Squeezed 08:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 08:55 Frasier 09:25 According to Jim 09:55 Friends 10:25 Back to You 10:50 Country House Rescue 11:55 A Place in the Sun: Home or Away 12:55 Channel 4 Presents 13:00 Channel 4 News 13:05 Relocation: Phil Down Under 14:00 Channel 4 Racing 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Four in a Bed 18:30 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 Channel 4 Presents 21:00 Help! My House Is Falling Down 22:00 The Killing 23:55 King Of Uncut 24:45 4thought.tv 24:50 The Film Show
07:00 Childrens TV 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:20 Peppa Pig 09:30 Roary the Racing Car 09:40 Hana’s Helpline 09:50 The WotWots 10:00 Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 The Wright Stuff Extra with Gabby Logan 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Ice Road Truckers 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 16:15 Bonneville 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:25 OK! TV 20:00 5 News at 7 20:30 How Do They Do It? 21:00 Eddie Stobart: Trucks and Trailers 22:00 New Cowboy Builders 23:00 Candy Bar Girls 24:00 Police Interceptors
17 House; 18 Lone; 22 Craft; 23 Vagrant; 24 Urgent; 25 Victor. Down: 1 Compare; 2 Startle; 3 Jolly; 4 Complex; 5 Final; 6 Never; 9 Expensive; 14 Content; 15 Loyalty; 16 Venture; 19 Scrub; 20 Range; 21 Again. WORDWHEEL 611: TIGHTENED
07:00 Emmerdale 07:25 Nanny 911 08:20 Loose Women 09:10 Judge Judy 10:25 The Real Housewives of Orange County 11:30 Judge Judy 13:00 Emmerdale 13:30 Nanny 911 14:30 Jeremy Kyle Show 15:35 Jeremy Kyle Show 16:40 The Real Housewives of Orange County 17:40 Loose Women 18:40 Judge Judy 20:00 All Star Mr & Mrs 21:00 America’s Got Talent 23:00 iTunes Festival 2011 24:00 The Only Way Is Essex 24:45 The Only Way Is Essex
07:00 One Tree Hill 07:45 Desperate Housewives 08:35 Being Erica 09:30 One Tree Hill 10:25 Gilmore Girls 11:20 Desperate Housewives 12:15 Being Erica 13:10 Heartland 14:05 Smallville 15:00 Hollyoaks 15:30 Gilmore Girls 16:30 Glee 17:30 Friends 18:35 Friends 19:00 My Name Is Earl 19:30 My Name Is Earl 20:00 Hollyoaks 20:30 Friends 21:30 Friends 22:00 Big Bang Theory 22:30 How I Met Your Mother 23:00 The Inbetweeners 23:30 The Inbetweeners 24:05 My Name Is Earl 24:35 My Name Is Earl
Watch New Season TV for Free with the RTN Network 966 463 170
10:00 Deal or No Deal 11:00 How Clean Is Your House? 11:30 Two Thousand Women 13:30 Deal or No Deal 14:30 The Good Wife 15:30 Come Dine with Me 16:05 Coach Trip 16:35 Location, Location, Location 17:10 Location, Location, Location 17:40 A Place in the Sun: Home or Away 18:45 Relocation, Relocation 19:50 Come Dine with Me 20:55 Grand Designs 22:00 One Born Every Minute USA 23:00 Shameless US 24:10 The Closer
54 44
1 - 7 26 JulY 2011 4 2010 Feb - March
Embarrassed to defend British TV
The TV Round Up by
Alex Trelinski
Broadcaster and freelance journalist
ITV1 has concocted an especially obnoxious triumvirate of trash to smear its new Saturday night schedule with, whilst most intelligent folk are happily out enjoying the weather. I doubt very much whether the total budget of ‘Odd One In’, ‘Penn & Teller:-Fool Us’, and ’The Marriage Ref’ would amount to the cost of an Amy Winehouse bar-tab, but I’m embarrassed to defend British TV when presented with nearly three hours of such banal fare. It was bad enough when we had to endure a series of ‘Odd One In’ last year, which had such a guttural stench of mediocrity about it that I had to receive urgent medical attention on
A few awkward moments
Odd One In hosts
hearing of its second series renewal. Meanwhile, BBC 1 is also plumbing the depths of Saturday despair with the talented Lee Mack completed wasted on some garbage that has the format and focus of a cross-eyed wombat. At least this has now forced me to look at some of the so-called entertainment shows on Spanish commercial TV in a completely different light...
A diamond in Collinson’s Collins gamble the rough American critics have been raving about Kate Winslet’s performance in the HBO mini-series ‘Mildred Pierce’:- based on the 1941 novel which led to the great film starring Joan Crawford. And having watched the first episode on Sky Atlantic, the plaudits are richly deserved. It’s like a ‘diamond in the rough’ of the summer TV schedules, and Winslet had better start work right now on writing her ‘Best Actress Award’ acceptance speech for this autumn’s Emmy awards.
Soldier Five Book Review by
Danny Collins
copy@dannyjpcollins.com
MIKE COBURN is the nom de plume of one of the eight soldiers deployed to Northern Iraq in 1991 as SAS team Bravo Two Zero. Of that team, three died, one escaped to Syria, and four were captured, Mike Coburn among them. He was believed to have been killed in action and didn’t see his companions until his release at the end of hostilities. Two books have previously been written of the team’s experiences by ex team members: the heavily aliased Andy McNab and team medic Chris Ryan, who made his escape to Syria. According to Coburn, neither is correct in details and tends to be self-serving. In particular, the author singles out the unfair and undignified treatment of second-incommand Sergeant Vince Phillips, whom both previous books vilify as a major cause of the team being compromised and the erratic escape and evasion that caused the team to become split and led to Phillip’s own death from hypothermia in the worst winter seen in Iraq for 30 years. Such are the revelations of the book about a mission that has been lionised in SAS folklore but was in fact a confusion of lost communications, poor intelligence, and even worse navigation by the Chinook pilot charged with getting the team to its dropping off point, that the author and his legal team faced a four and a half year court battle with the MoD to get the work published. One cannot speak for the dead, but the unpublished surviving team members have admitted to anger and resentment that McNab in particular lays the blame for the team’s split squarely upon Phillips in his book ‘Bravo Two Zero’. Chris Ryan, in his own
version of events entitled ‘The One That Got Away’, shifts the blame for his own failure as point to keep the team together squarely onto Phillips for ‘failing to pass on’ McNab’s command to stop in the confusion prompted by the SAS HQ signals unit to issue the patrol with the correct radio frequencies. Heroes, it seems, especially the selfproclaimed, have their feet of clay and Mike Coburn does a fair and honest job of cracking the plinths below both McNab and team medic Ryan, who, one is moved to comment, should have noted Vince Phillip’s descent into the muddy minded state of hypothermia. This is a book that should be read. It serves to retell the story of a failed mission behind enemy lines by eight elite Special Forces operatives but one senses Coburn tells it as it happened. At no point does he point the finger but leaves the reader to compare the tellings. Throughout, his respect for each of his comrades-in-arms stands paramount, as does his sense of loss for those who died. But the essence of Coburn’s tale is seen in that following the publication of Bravo Two Zero and The One That Got Away, the three members of the team, Coburn, Mal, and Dinger, who did not agree with McNab’s and Ryan’s versions of the events wrote letters of support to the family of the vilified Vince Phillips, who along with Steve ‘Legs’ Lane and Bob Consiglio – the other team members who died –formed no less a part of the mission’s true heroes.
Author: Mike Coburn Publisher: Mainstream (hardback) Price: 30.60€ ISBN: 1 84018 866 9
IS IT just me, but I don’t think Michelle Collins and her new clan at the Rovers Return are doing the business on ‘Coronation Street’. Her alleged ‘northern’ accent as Stella is more awkward than bumping into Louis Walsh in a toilet and suddenly introducing three new characters in a key setting just hasn’t worked out. Producer Phil Collinson has done a great job in the year or so that he’s called the shots, like the hiring of Stephanie Cole as the ‘mother from hell’ for poor old Roy. But gambling on an old soap star from the past doesn’t guarantee immediate success. In fact, I wished that a recent rumour had come true where Rula Lenska’s character of Claudia was going to take over the Rovers. That would have been wonderful in the old heritage of Annie Walker, as opposed to the flat humourless beer that is being served right now.
There are too few moments on television when we get something unpredictable, verging on the awkward. But we got a cracker during the BBC’s Wimbledon coverage. The host Sue Barker kicked off a transmission by chatting with John McEnroe who promptly turned everything on its head by asking her questions about a newspaper article suggesting that she was not going to be presenting it next year. McEnroe didn’t let it go, and Barker handled it well, but I’d have loved to have been in the Director’s Gallery hearing what was going on. Assuming of course that the whole thing wasn’t rigged in the first place for Barker to have her say on the matter! Let’s hope that Barker stays, if only to prevent some fresh-faced cretin taking over with no knowledge of tennis, but who ticks some boxes in an obscure BBC focus group.
Got a story? 902 118 999
rtnmail@roundtownnews.com
Suduko Answer
motoring
1 - 7 JulY 2011
55
Changes to mandatory medical checks for drivers by
Brian Deller
Author of Motoring in Spain
THIS INFORMATION was first published in March 2010 but enquiries from readers indicate that many are still unsure of the information. Also ask your insurance broker what the correct new medical check periods are now - many do not know yet it is their job to know. March 2010: Notification published by Trafico about changes to the periods for medical checks that drivers in Spain must have. They affect, of course, all those expats resident here using a foreign EU driving licence, as is allowed by law, both Spanish and the EU Directive on the matter. These new periods are effective from 9th December 2009. Issued as a ‘Press Note’ by Trafico, the advice on the changes is as follows: Date Driving Test passed; old periods; new periods; licence classifications affected. TURISMOS (NORMAL CARS) AND MOTOS (MOTOR CYCLES) To age 45 - every 10 years; from Age 45 - every 5 years; up to age 70 To age 65 - every 10 years; from age 65 - every 5 years.
LCC; LCM; LVA; A1; A; B; B+E. COMMERCIAL LICENCES, (HGVS) To age 45 - every 5 years; to age 65 - every 5 years; from age 65 - every 3 years. BTP; C1; C! + E; C; C + E; D1; D1 + E;D; D +E. Now as I have written on many occasions there is a legal need for those expats who live here (183 plus days a year and tax resident here) to take the medicals as do the Spanish drivers. Do not listen to those who do not believe this and if your insurance company in Spain insists that you do not have to take the medicals, ask for a letter-headed confirmation of this just in case you have an accident and the Court decides correctly that your licence has expired due to no medical having be taken here. The choice is yours. The medical certificate may say valid for 3 months only but that is for the Spanish issued licences as the photo is used for the new card issued. For those with foreign EU licences, it is proof that you have taken the
medical: carry a copy with you. If the reconcimiento (clinic) tells you that you, as an extranjero, do not have to take the medical, print out a copy of the letter on my website and show them and then watch the surprise on their faces. It is at: www.spainvia.com/ drivelicenceletteradsl.htm Need to know where the nearest medical clinic is? Check at the following Trafico website page (sorry it is very long, not my fault. Make sure you enter the address correctly): http://www.dgt.es/portal/es/oficina_ virtual/dir_telefonos/centros_rec_conductores/ ?tit=%BFD%F3nde%20se%20puede%20solicitar. HOWEVER, please note that if you have a ‘minor problem’ the medical ‘inspector’ can reduce the periods accordingly. Also, you do not need to take a photo now as the application is completed at the clinic online and your photo taken with a webcam and directly inserted into the application, which is completed by the doctor/ clerk etc. I have just taken my medical at age 73. As I had a stroke two years ago I have to take another in three instead of five years, which is fair enough.
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
Landrover Rangerover (2002) 3.0 Diesel - Hyundai Tucson 2.0i 4x4 Black (2007) 2.4 Petrol Fiat Punto Grande (2008) 1.4 Active Petrol - Landrover Freelander TD4 Sport (2005) - Hyundai i10 (2008) 1.1 Petrol - Renault Kangoo (2007) 1.5 DCi Diesel - Suzuki Ignis (2006) 1.3 DDIS Diesel - Ford Focus Estate Automatic(2000) Opel Corsa (2006) 1.2 Twinport Petrol - Peugeot 206CC (2004) 1.6 Petrol - Kia Rio (2005) 1.3 SOHC Petrol - Skoda Roomster Family 1.4tdi (2007) Citroen C2 (2005) 1.1 i Furio Petrol - Renault Scenic (2003) 1.9 DCi Diesel - Ford Cmax 1.8Tdci Full Spec (2008) Ford Focus (RHD) (2003) 1.6 Zetec Petrol - MGZR 1.4 105CV Anthracite met(2006) Opel Corsa (2003) 1.0 Petrol - Citroen Xsara (1999) 2.0 Image HDi Diesel -
€21,995 €11,995 €8,495 €11,995 €7,995 €7,995 €6,995 €3,995 €6,995 €6,995 €5,995 €9,995 €5,995 €5,995 €11,695 €4,995 €6,495 €3,995 €3,695
60 Cars Available across 2 Sales Sites
Landrover Rangerover Auto (2002) 3.0 200.000 Diesel - €21,995
Seat Leon (2007) 1.9 DTi Diesel 35.000km - €10,995
Ford Focus (2008) 1.6 TDCi Diesel 79.937km - €9,995
BMW 320D Auto (2002) 2.0 Diesel 115.000km - €9,995
Renault Scenic (2005) 1.9 DCi Privilege Diesel - €8,995
Renault Clio (2007) 1.2 16v Petrol 50.100km- €7,995
Hyundai Tucson (2007) 2.0 Petrol 44.000km - €11,995
Ford Focus CMax (2007) 1.6 TDCi 68.599km Diesel - €10,495
Seat Leon (2007) 1.6 Petrol 42.667km - €9,995
Ford Focus (2007) 1.6 Trend Petrol 39.000km - €8,995
Seat Ibiza (2007) 1.4 TDi Reference 70 Diesel - €8,495
Suzuki Ignis (2006) 1.3 DDIS Diesel 52.000km - €6,995
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1 - 7 JulY 2011
VENUS Cars S.L.
Torremendo Tel.: 965 368 274 ESTABLISHED IN SPAIN FOR 10 YEARS FULLY LEGAL S.L COMPANY
www.venuscars.com
We Buy, Sell & Part Exchange Quality British & Spanish Cars Transfer Documents Completed Competitive Insurance Quotes. All cars Fully serviced and valeted
WE ACCEPT ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS
car of the
week
€18,995
one owner
€3,495
€7,995
€5,495
SEAT CORDOBA 2000 1.9 LTR DIESEL
BMW 320 I SE 2001 4 DOOR
FORD FOCUS ESTATE 2004 1.6 LTR PETROL - fsh
€2,995
Piaggio 2003 500cc Scooter
automatics
automatic
€9,495
JAGUAR X TYPE 2003 2 LTR V6 EXECUTIVE FULLY EQUIPPED, FSH automatic, triptonic
wanted
€6,995
2001 model
€3,495
OPEL VECTRA 2000, 2LTR SPORT
€5,995
€6,495
OPEL MERIVA 2005 1.7 CDTI DIESEL - fsh
CITROEN C4 PICASSO 2010 DIESEL/AUTO TIPTRONIC FULLY EQUIPPED
FORD FOCUS 2004 1.8 TDCI, DIESEL
€14,995
€5,495
Ford Focus Trend 2003 1.8 Ltr TDCi Diesel
€2,000
one owner
€2,495
one owner MERCEDES-BENZ CLK 200 2000, KOMPRESSOR
HYUNDAI SANTA FE 2006 4X4
MERCEDES BENZ 280 SL 1995 AUTOMATIC
CITROEN C3 SX PLUS 2004 1.4 LTR PETROL
€4,495
Derbi GPR 2005 125cc
€9,995
€5,495
SEAT TOLEDO 1998 petrol automatic
Ford Transit Connect T200 2005 1.8 TDCi Diesel
€5,495
one owner
SEAT IBIZA 2004 1.4 LTR PETROL
UK AND SPANISH CARS CASH PAID MOTORHOMES & CLASSICS ALSO WANTED RING TODAY!! ALL LEGAL PAPERWORK COMPLETED
Opening hours Mon - Fri 9-6pm (No siesta) Sat 10-1pm. Find us next to Petrol Station TORREMENDO 10 Minutes inland from San Miguel, Los Montesinos & Junction 751 on the AP7 towards Orihuela. Torremendo turning on CV95 towards San Miguel
Classified Ads 1 - 7 JulY 2011
All Major Credit Cards Accepted - 0.31e per word + IVA
57
Book your advert now 902 118 999 (ext 1)
EMAIL: classifieds@roundtownnews.com | WEBSITE: www.roundtownnews.co.uk | Fax: 96 585 60 54 | Or see our list of classified agents in this section
UK-SPAIN-IRELAND All European Destinations
Removals with the personal touch. Full/part loads. Parcels, flat packs, luggage, door to door service, Storage available, pets transported
Phone 965 696 750 • 0044 (0) 1460 74191 email: chrisyounge73979@aol.com
PRISTINE POOLS
• Professional pool maintenance & cleaning • Replacement pumps, filters, salt systems Ph regulators and accessories supplied and installed • Pipe leaks pressure tested, detected and repaired • Structural leaks investigated and repaired • Refurbishments & upgrades undertaken British Trained with over 15 years experience. Extensive references. All work guaranteed Tel: 96 677 4199 or 678 080 500 www.pristineswimmingpools.com Torrevieja and surrounding areas plus Costa Calida
58
1 - 7 JulY 2011 BURSTNER VENTANA 480 TL Description: Sleeps 4,2 single & 1 large double bed. Fridge, kitchen, toilet, cottage foretent,etc. Spanish plates €6500.00 ono. Denia Tel.965747395
EXCEL AIR CONDITIONING. See main ad on page 13.Tel/Fax (Head Office) 966-897-772. Mobiles:-680154-432/676-265-675. Email excelairconditioning@hotmail. com. All credit/debit cards accepted. SERVICE AIR David Higton: (Tel) 966-865-883 (Mob) 629308-505 (Email) cool@serviceair.biz
TRANS-PET We do regular, door-to-door journeys between the Costa Blanca and the UK.Our aim is to provide a professional, caring service for your pets.Boarding facilities for Cats and Dogs. This may be for an overnight stay or of longer durations.Tel:600-552-030/ 965-960-658 www.trans-pet.co.uk
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS - COSTA BLANCA Confidential Helplines South - 625-912-078 North - 648-169-045 www.aacostablanca.org ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS - COSTA BLANCA Confidential Helplines South - 625-912-078 North - 648-169-045 www.aa-costablanca.org
DRIVING TO THE UK? English guest house in France, close to Spanish border. Peaceful location, secure parking. www.millefleursbb.co.uk
SSR SPEED BOAT 4.5Mtr + New Trailer. Yamaha 28hp, E/S. possibility auxiliary engine. Brand New upholstery + extras. 2500€. Tlf:- 665-068-649
BUILDER Leemabuilders Ltd. All groundworks and building works undertaken Domestic and Commercial No job too small Contact Lee:-634-349-039 www.leemabuildersltd.com
LNB SATTELITES FOR SALE Established for 7 years, kangoo van and trailer included, tools, sattelite meters, smart meters. 966712604 or mobile 626755156. 12.000€ ono. LARGE QUANTITY OF FLAT PACKED Pine Furniture from Denmark. Beds, Robes, Bedside Chests, Bookcases etc. Tlf:-628-499-448 10 COLD DRINK/SNACK VENDING MACHINES with sites,€44,900.excellent cash income, no overhead, work from home, work only one day per week, €31,000 nett yearly. 25 pringle vending machines with sites €14,900.€250 per week guaranteed.965-326-442/ 659-696-455 SOLAR ENERGY BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Long established company, own product range. First class training & support. Telephone 606586587
PC SOLUTIONS 4U Description: For all your PC needs. Reliable,friendly service. Call Fred_634638664. Visits 20mile radius Benidorm. We buy PC\’s & laptops BYTEBACK MICROS computer repairs/upgrades in your home. Qualified technician. Systems custom built. Whatever your problem call: 965-312-006 or 606-127-424
MBE BUILDING Quality and Reliability. Painting & General Maintenance , Extensions & Alterations, Bathrooms & Kitchens, Electrical & Plumbing, Property Management. All works undertaken & references available. CALL Dave NOW for free estimate or advice 634328679 CONSTRUCTION All types of building work.Tiling BBQ´s.Have your own bar built.Painting and Maintenance service.call Paul for free estimate and advice. Moraira and surrounding areas. 660-290-412/966-197-354
MOBILE/PARK HOMES from 17.000€, Fully furnished ready to move into, A/C, Tel, Eng TV, on permanent site, Bar/Res, Pool, Tennis, Gym, Shop, walking distance to San Javier, 5 mins to beach, Airport, Hospital by car. (also bungalows for rent and caravan plots short term or permanent stays) Tlf Carol 968-192-425 mob 626-055-622 www.mobilehomesmarmenorspain.com
CAR SALES SITE TO RENT
HOLDS 30 CARS, FULLY LICENSED LOW RENT TEL: 620 738 023
CARERS WANTED To work in England 3 weeks on 3 weeks off email CV to 24hourhomecareservices@ googlemail.com WORKING HOLIDAYS FOR EXPATS Join our team of self-employed live-in cares in the U.K. We require live-in cares to provide housekeeping and personal care for our elderly clients in their own homes particularly during the autumn and winter months. Flexible bookings of 2-4 weeks to suit your personal situation. Experienced nurses or carers welcome, also those with no previous experience, our in-house training is available. British/EU passport/ references/drivers/good spoken English essential. This progressive friendly company was established in 1962 and is a market leader in U.K. live-in care for the elderly, CONSULTUS CARE AND NURSING LTD. Call our local consultant Sandra Field on 658 965 204 or email s.field@ consultuscare.com or visit our website www.consultuscare.com. 24 HOUR HOMECARE SERVICES LTD Wanted companions, carers to work in England as live-in carers. 3 weeks on, 3 weeks off. If you are caring, a good listener and cook contact Karen Jones on (0044) 01929 472 810 or mobile (0044) 07500 836688 email: 24hourhomecareservices@ googlemail.com or download application form from www.24ho urhomecareservices.com ADULT INTERNET PHOTO AND VIDEO Females and couples, 18-65, required as models. Excellent rates. Tlf:-697-697-842
Restaurant and pub in Benitachell (between Moraira and Javea)
require Experienced headwaiter or restaurant manager an understanding of English, plus other required. You will also be honest, have a young, ambitious and energetic attitude. Also required experienced assistant chef spoken English necessary. Experienced Bar staff required Please send up to date CV to
info@bullandbearspain.com | Tel 688 883 004
1 - 7 JulY 2011
Sales Executive Needed…
and Insurance. Tlf:-966-787123/622-275-561/686-116-297
AT MICHAEL’S you can get part exchange on certain beds when you buy a New bed from our New Bed shop in the Arenal. See photos (updates every 5-6 days): www.michaels-javea.com AT MICHAEL’S Beautiful very high quality sleigh bed. Iron double bed. Dining table sets in various styles, Castilian, modern, classic, wicker, pine, designer. www.michaels-javea.com AT MICHAEL’S Child´s bedroom set in pink/red with wardrobes,chest of drawers etc. Colourful metal bunk bed, the lower one on wheels. See photos: www.michaels-javea.com AT MICHAEL’S Castilian rustic furniture. Light coloured Rustic Indian cabinet. White/red bedroom furniture with guest bed and more. See photos: www. michaels-javea.com Tel 96-579 1328 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.
For a leading awning company in Alicante, with over 30 years experience, to cover the Calpe area. Conditions Immediate contract and social security.Salary, commissions and incentives over 23,000€ gross/year. WANTED INSTANT CASH PAID Antique and modern jewellery, vintage watches bought sold part exchanged, insurance valuations. Jewellery & watch repairs. Alexanders, Javea Port seafron near Bar Esquina. Established since 2003. Tel:965-792-595
English or German and Spanish required. Must have own transportation. Target Accomplish sales goals. Are you the right person for the job? If so please send your CV and photo to rhumanoscta@gmail.com
TEETH WHITENING. Safe Professional Cosmetic Treatments and DIY Kits from 29€. Javea, Denia, Calpe, Benidorm areas. Tel:- 966-473-166 or 680-501-404. See www.nulookteeth.com
S.O.S. INSURANCE Car-HomeHealth-Comercial. Funeral Plans
2 X MATCHING SOFA TABLES Circular, Diameter 60cm, Height 55cm, 3 legged pedestal base, Light oak finish. VCG. Altea area, Buyer collects. 50€ the pair. 691-202-307 PINE SHOP SALE Double Robe 180€ Tlf:-628-499-448 PINE SHOP SALE CD stand 75€ 628 499 448 PINE SHOP SALE single Bed 135€ 628 499 448 PINE SHOP SALE 5+2 Chest 135€ Tlf:-628-499-448 PINE SHOP SALE Double Robe 180€ Tlf:-628-499-448 PINE SHOP SALE King size bed. 285€.Tel:-628-499-448. PINE SHOP SALE Double Bed. 270€ Tlf:-628-499-448 WHEELCHAIR Light, Foldable, hardly used! 150€. Electric Mobility Scooter, SUNRISE MEDICAL 40km range 499€. Both like new! Tlf:-627-019-403 PERGOLA 5MX3M Never erected. High quality solid timber, Treated. Ideal for Garden or Carport. €385 Will Delivery Free. 622791-907 or si.whitworth@gmail.com AUTOMATIC GATE SYSTEMS €399!! Automatic Garage Doors €249!! Fully Installed/Guaranteed! All brands repaired 627-191-639/ www.elektro-nex.com
CRAZY FIT MASSAGE VIBRATING machine, 150€ tel 966717877 STAGELINE PRO DJ StagelineProDJ Mobile twin decks, Amp, complete with four speakers, 1000Euros ono details 966717877 G.S PARTY HIRE Planning a party. Do you need tables,chairs,c rockery,glasses. Outside catering and bar for all occasions. Then contact me for more information on.635-109-375/693-371654/966-194-984 WEIGHT WATCHERS Call our Free English call centre now to find your nearest meeting. 900-818-794
BALLROOM/LATIN/SEQUENCE DANCING La Rustika (Los Arcos) Restaurant, Avenida Baleares,Torrevieja, Saturday Social dance 7.30pm - 10pm, Tuesday IMPROVERS LESSON 7.30pm - 8.30pm plus SOCIAL DANCE 8.30pm - 10.30pm (not second Tuesday of the month) Monday NEW BEGGINERS CLASS 10.30am - 12.30pm. Casa Ventura, San Luis, Torrevieja. Thursday NEW BEGGINERS CLASS 7.30pm - 9.30pm. Tlf Andrea and Brian 616-478-157
PINE SHOP SALE computer desk 50€ 628 499 448 PINE SHOP SALE Bookcase 57€. Tel: 628-499-448. PINE SHOP SALE 2 door - 2 drawer sideboard 155€ 628499488 PINE SHOP SALE Bedside Chest. 20€.Tel:-628-499-448. POOL, SNOOKER TABLES Also Table Tennis and Darts. Will beat any price!. Tlf:-666-933726. www.spainpool.com KARAOKE MEDIA PLAYER Special Offer 500GB. 80,000songs, software, songbooks, bar/home use. 195euros Tlf:-657-766-341 SINGERS, DJ\’S, KJ\’S 1TB media drive inc:-110k up to date karaoke tracks, 1k + M/F/duet backing tracks, 500+music videos. 400+ music albums. Karaoke & DJ software etc etc. 225euros. CC accepted via paypal. call Paul . 659-511-951
NEW LIFAN 125cc motorbike 700€ 667393716 SUZUKI GZ 250 MARAUDER Metallic blue with lots of chrome. 2005 as new. Spanish plates, 2700kms only. New ITV. 1550€ tlf Brian 656-372-816
MERCEDES C240 ESTATE elegance, auto RHD, English Reg. Petrol, excellent condition full house. 4000€ or would PX LHD Spanish car. Tel 605369921. FIAT DUCATO 1996, 2.5 diesel, RHD, English Reg. Motor home conversion, 2 berth, fully equiped, 6.000€ or would PX Spanish LHD car. Tel 605369921 FORD TRANSIT CONNECT T200, 2005, 1.8 TDCI diesel, white, Spanish LHD, only one owner/driver, very well maintained 4495€ www. venuscars.com 965 368 274 SEAT TOLEDO, 1998, Petrol Automatic, white, Spanish LHD,air con, all round elec windows, good condition 2495€ www.venuscars.com 965 368 274 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK 200 KOMPRESSOR, 2000, Spanish LHD, 2 Ltr petrol auto, lac silver,parking sensors,climate control,cd player, alloy wheels, excellent condition throughout, 6995€ www.venuscars.com 965 368 274 SEAT CORDOBA, 2000, 1.9 LTR Diesel, Spanish LHD, Metallic blue, 4 door saloon, electric windows, climate control, good reliable budget car. 3495€ www.venuscars.com 965 368 274 FORD FOCUS ESTATE,2004 Ambiente, 1.6
59
ACE AUTOS
British & Spanish used car sales VILLA MARTIN TORREVEIJA 03 SUZUKI WAGON R 5 DOOR A/C P/S E/W CLEAN 00 CITROEN SAXO 1.4 AUTO, A/C E/W P/S LOW KMS 01 FORD FOCUS DIESEL A/C VERY CLEAN LOW KMS 99 HYUNDAI ACCENT 1.3 LOW KMS A/C V/CLEAN 00 HYUNDAI ATOS RED 5 DOOR A/C E/W P/S 99 OPEL TIGRA A/C NEW PAINT ALLOYS LOW KMS 98 SUZUKI VITARA AUTOMATIC SOFT/TOP 97 AUDI A4 A/C E/W P/S ALLOYS MET B.R.G. 01 SEAT IBIZA DIESEL 3 DOOR LOW KMS A/C 03 DEAWOO MATIZ 5 DOOR A/C P/S E/W V/CLEAN 00 OPEL CORSA DIESEL 5 DOOR V.LOW KMS 96 SEAT CORDOBA 1.9 DIESEL 4 DOOR A/C P/S 98 FORD MONDEO 1,8 GHIA A/C P/S E/W V/CLEAN 01 HYUNDAI ACCENT 1,3 5 DOOR P/S CLEAN CAR
3,500€ 1,950€ 3,450€ 1,750€ 2,450€ 2,750€ 2,750€ 1,750€ 2,750€ 3,500€ 2,950€ 1,950€ 1,950€ 1,950€
MANY MORE CARS IN STOCK ALL WITH NEW ITV/MOT´S P/X ON MOST CARS. Tel: 620 738 023 10am to 5pm FIND US NEAR NEW MERCADONA. PUEBLO PRINCIPE, VILLA MARTIN
Cars wanted for cash LHD/RHD Ltr petrol, Silver, Spanish LHD, FSH, CD Player, Elec Windows, Air Con, Roof Bars, Excellent condition throughout. 5495€ www.venuscars.com 965 368 274 OPEL VECTRA SPORT, 2000, 2Ltr Petrol, Silver, Spanish LHD, saloon, air con, elec Windows, alloys 3495€ www.venuscars. com 965 368 274 PEUGEOT 309GR 1.4 petrol, 1991, taxed, ITV FEB 2012, 900€ including transferencia. Tel 636113072 FIAT BARCHETTA 1.9 injection, grey, petrol, perfect condition, covertablr, 1996, ITV, 3.990€ Tel 686620382 KIA CARNIVAL perfect condition, grey, seven seats, 2005, ITV 2013, diesel, 7.900€ Tel 686620382, 83,000km WANTED Scrap cars, vans, lorries, plant and caravans. Turn your scrap into cash. From Valencia to Alicante. Free collection. Tel: 689-929-395
LOOKING FOR A CAR?
We have a nice selection of LHD and RHD Vehicles for sale or exchange from only 1500€, Automatics, Saloons, MPV´s, 4x4´s, Sports, Cariolets, and Commercials. New and used Vehicles Sourced. We also have have a nice selection of over 15 Cabriollets in stock. Tel Frank your friendly English car sales on the Costa Blanca. Tel 600-726-221/965-687-976 or simply view our easy to use website www.fwreurocars.com
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1 - 7 JulY 2011
BMW X5 3.0 diesel automatic, RHD, top of the range plus full leather, PERFECT CONDITION, 7,000€ ono. Tlf: 965-750-979, 09.00 - 17.00 hours. FORD FIESTA A.4 TDCI, 2005 75,000km. Four door, white, reliable, economical and nippy. Excellent condition and two year ITV, 4,450€. Phone 661-403-016. ANY GOOD CONDITION cars wanted for cash. From year 2000, must have Air Con. Tlf:605-369-921. 9am - 9pm WANTED I buy any car, van,Caravan,4x4 Etc.British, Spanish. Immediate cash 600-781-873 ibuyanycar@hotmail.com BUMPERS, WINGS AND MIRRORS All body panels for all cars supplied. Tel:-966-877-145 or 618-592-396 HEADLIGHTS4U.COM Left hand drive headlights supplied and fitted. All makes. Also air conditioning rechargeTel:-966877-145 or 618-592-396
ENGLISH BLONDE 34, size 14, offers service in discreet villa San Miguel area, call Mel 633806664 BENIDORM SPANISH LADY Lidia, 26, complete Services, elegant, discrete, attractive 620 645 948 BENIDORM MARIPOSASEXY Spanish and Brazilian ladies, attractive brunets, massages, drinks and private parties 620 103 796 BENIDORM BRAZILIAN Lady Fernanda, 25, slim, curvy bottom, massages 620 463 661 MAY-EROTIC FROM INDONESIA 38 petite attractive full service, will spoil you with a sensual relaxing massage. No withheld numbers. Call:-698-896-034. TRANSESTITE TORREVIEJA Dark Skin, Big Breasts and Big Surprise. Tlf: 610-934-279 DAVID TORREVIEJA 24 years old, gym body, very sexy and hot, come see for yourself! for men and couples, call me 678179616
NAKED HANDYMAN Description: have your odd jobs carried out with a difference,hourly rate or daily rate tlf: 634327301 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 TORREVIEJA TRANS CLAUDIA stunning blonde, huge breasts, sculptural body, specialty erotic massage, very femanine and sexy call me 671424456. ARE YOU MALE, FEMALE OR A COUPLE? Need some Sexy FUN? Contact me soonest. 63 year old Dom/Sub switch. Available for fun with Males, Dom and Sub and Cross Dressers, Females Dominatrix and Submissive. Couples including Same Sex Couples. “Anything Goes” Can sometimes accomodate. Home Visits no extra Charge/Low Fees. Call me now on 655-058-554 NEW PLACE! TORREVIEJA Sexy girls from South America. Come and enjoy, economical prices from 40?. NEW ADDRESS Zone Los Locos beach. 682-776-068 CASA ANGELA TORREVIEJA Luxury Private Chalet, parking. Drinks invitation. Feeling alone? Just want some company? Exotic girls from South America. Call us, come and enjoy! Also Escort Service. Full discretion. Street: Avenida Asociacion Vistimas del Terrorismo. 609-573-468 or 639-832-118 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 SAFE AND EFFECTIVE BLUE PILLS for an enhanced love life. Call Ron, TT Marketing. 966-499-204 FELLAS! Do you have a problem getting up in the morning, or at any other time? If so you need bluies. phone Derek 685-207-378
WOODWORM, BORING BEETLE or Termite problems? Call Woodtech now on 675-107-252. COCKROACHES, RATS, MICE, WASPS or Hornet problems? Call Pestkill now on 625-160-325
golf course and the coast Only €129,995 Contact Jamie 647 451 946
PROFESSIONAL, AFFORDABLE POOL CLEANING from €49pm (8’x4’). Moraira, Javea and surrounding areas. Tel. Steve 634369186 Email CoolPoolsSpain@ gmail.com SWIMMING POOL MAINTENANCE AND CLEANING SERVICE BY POOLTECHSPAIN. We are a fully legal, qualified and registered business who have been operating on the Costa Blanca for 6 years. We offer a professional, reliable, safe and efficient pool service, inc. re-grouting, pressure testing and leak repairs. Private and community swimming pools undertaken. Call now for more information on 965-725-565 or mobile 676-945-360/ 620-743048 www.pooltechspain.com
FOR SALE 2 BEDROOM, 2 Bathroom Detached Villa with private pool, mountain views and is close to amenities.€239,000 Tel 965 743 186 FOR SALE 6 Bedroom, 2 Bathroom Detached villa arranged as two separate accommodations, pool, flat plot. €299,000 Tel 965 743 186 FOR SALE 2 Bedroom, 1 Bathroom Detached Villa with private pool and great potential. €260,000 Tel 965 743 186 FOR SALE 2 Bedroom, 1 Bathroom Detached villa on a corner plot, close to amenities. €199,500 Tel 965 743 186 For Sale NEW TO MARKET – A 6 bedroom 6 bathroom Country Property beautifully restored in Jalon with fantastic country views only, €500,000 Call now Tel 965 743 186 For Sale NEW TO MARKET –A 2 bedroom 1 bathroom apartment in Toscamar, easy reach of the Arenal in Javea only, €155,000 Call now Tel 965 743 186 For
MOBILE/PARK HOMES on Camping Pueblo in San Javier from 15.000€ Tlf Carol 968-192425 mob 626-055-622 www. mobilehomesmarmenorspain. com SPANISH FARMHOUSE for sale in Alicante region. Photographs and description on http:// countrycornerspain.blogspot.com LOOKING TO RELOCATE We have new and pre-owned luxury park homes for sale throughout the UK 12 month occupancy part exchange considered on your Spanish or UK home for more information call 0044-1516332321 or email :alan.aitken@ hotmail.co.uk
EUROMOVE4U Full & Part Loads. Spain to UK/UK to Spain on a regular monthly basis. Cars & Motorcycles transported Next run to UK-End of June Returning Early July. Space Available. Call Grant or Jan Office 0034-965-300-959 Mobile 0034-648-102-529 UK Mob 0044-7803-893-719. Email info@ euromove4u.eu MAN & LWB SPRINTER VAN going to UK- Spain twice a month. Tel: 610-846-260 or 0044-7519-186355 email:van.man@hotmail.co.uk
NEAR HONDON 5000m2 small house garage no electricity 37.000€ 667393716
Sale NEW TO MARKET – A 2 bedroom 1 bathroom apartment in Cumbre Del Sol, overlooking the communal pool only, €130,000 Call now Tel 965 743 186 For Sale NEW TO MARKET – A 3 bedroom 3 bathroom Villa with fantastic sea and mountain views over Orba, €645,000 Call now Tel 965 743 186 LA NUCIA, 2 BED terr. Bungalow, sea views, a/c, furnished, garage, spec. offer 90000E need to return to England. Tel: 600368160 CALPE LARGE VILLA 9 bedrooms 4 bathrooms. pool garage close to beach price negotiable 628 499 448
1 BEDROOM, 1 BATHROOM GROUND FLOOR apartment, overlooking the pool and gardens on the sought after Res. Miraflores in Playa Flamenca. Sold fully furnished. Only 97,500 EUR. Call Jamie on 647451946. 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom ground floor apartment in the centre of La Zenia and within a few minutes to shops, restaurants, bars and beach. Only 99,950 EUR. Call Jamie on 647451946. Large quality built 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom first floor corner apartment over looking the pool in Villamartin. Sold fully furnished for only 105,000 EUR. Call Jamie on 647451946. 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom corner townhouse only a couple of minutes walk to Cala Capitan beach in Cabo Roig. Sold fully furnished and only 139,000 EUR. Call Jamie on 647451946. Fantastic 1 bedroom 1st floor apartment in Villamartin, overlooking beautiful Communal pool & grounds, Only €54,995 Contact Jamie 647 451 946 Immaculate 2 bedroom top floor apartment with solarium in Los Altos, fantastic views of sea, Only €79,995 Contact Jamie 647 451 946 Stunning 2 bedroom top floor apartment with solarium and rear garden in Villamartin, excellent condition Only €94,995 Contact Jamie 647 451 946 Fantastic large 3 bedroom apartment with stunning views of
TO RENT LARGE UNIT IN LA ZENIA Rent or For sale. Up to 216m2, 1 or 2 units. First line in La Zenia to N332, close to beach. 657964702 TO RENT AUGUA Marina Campamol bugalow three bedrooms two bathrooms long short term two minutes from beach tel 686620382 1 BED PART FURNISHED bungalows on Camping Pueblo in San Javier with lots of ameneties Tlf Carol 968-192-425 mobile 626-055-622 LONG TERM APARTMENT FOR RENT in Canals, fully furnished, 2 large bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, use of swimming pool, car parking and Sky TV, 500€ per month plus 1 months deposit. TLF: 962 242 422 FORMENTERA 2 BEDROOM 2 bathroom apartment to let, fully furnished, 250€ per month plus bills for more information call 652-021-980 1 BEDROOM APARTMENT El Chaparral urbanisation, Torrevieja, Ground level, fully furnished, 250Euro per month plus bills. Phone:-0044- 1675470-668/697-325-047 BRAND NEW TWO BED FLAT In Algorfa, partly furnished, town centre, communal pool.350euro inclusive . No bills to pay. Ring:0044-7949-589-539
MICK WITH HIS VAN Removals Collections Deliveries. For a reliable effective service. Hourly rate or quote. Call Mick anytime 600-247-535
TRANSLATOR/INTERPRATOR Benidorm bi-lingual Spanish/ English Translation decuments, letters, visits-medical, townhall, tax, MOT. Economical rates. petergeorge123@gmail.com Tlf:698-278-589 TRANSLATOR Spanish and English speaking. Available for medical visits etc. Benidorm and surrounding areas. Tel Dawn: 626337-258.
LEARN SPANISH ONLINE Learn through the Internet, with a qualified tutor. Suitable for all ages and levels, with focus on practicality. First lesson free. For information, email: online.spanish@hotmail.com COMPUTER TUTOR Software training, ebusiness education, website publishing, photography, videography and more DIY tips and tricks for all of your business and personal needs. Karla Darocas - certified instructor since 1990. Tel: 96 597 3234 info@KarlaDarocas. com Referrences - www. KarlaDarocas.com
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TURN YOUR UNWANTED FURNITURE Electrical, Household Goods and Brica-brac into Cash. Anything! Anywhere! 965-319-220/618165-877 WANTED 3M X 3M (or bigger!) Metal Market Stall Frame. Altea (North Benidorm) Tlf:-691-202-307 GOLD WANTED!! English Jeweller, will buy for cash, broken or unwanted gold jewellery and coins. Tlf:Peter664-890-990 RECORDS AND CD´S WANTED Top cash paid. Pop, Rock, Blues.Tlf:-630-665-363
1 - 7 JulY 2011
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1 - 7 JulY 2011
The final whistle With Andy Kay
RTN Golf Club update
www.andykayevents.com
Rankings don’t add up I’M SURE there’s a very nice man or woman who works hard crunching the numbers to come up with the FIFA rankings. However, I suspect that whoever this person is, that they don’t know much about the game. The rankings, we are told, are calculated by results, the importance of the matches played and the quality of the opposition. So I’m sure that you, like me, will be staggered to hear that England is the 4th best team in the world. Better than Brazil, better than Argentina and better than Italy, Portugal and Croatia. I watched England’s last game, the desperately disappointing 2 – 2 draw at home to Switzerland and based on that performance, I’m not sure that England is the fourth best team in the UK, let alone the world. PUT UP OR SHUT UP It’s sad to say that David Haye has continued his juvenile and discourteous behaviour in the run up to Saturday’s World heavyweight unification title match against Wladimir Klitschko. Of course, his pre-fight tactics are designed to get his opponent all hot and bothered and therefore, out of his jab, jab, hold, hold comfort zone. I’m not sure it’s going to work. Klitschko might not be very exciting but he’s intelligent and surely won’t fall for the bait. I can only hope that when it comes to fight time that Haye proves what a very decent boxer he is and that we should appreciate him for that, as opposed to his cheap and tacky build up show. SENSATIONAL SEB Sebastian Vettel made a very rare mistake during the Canadian Grand Prix. On the final lap, he went wide and saw Jenson Button zip through and snatch victory in what was, without doubt, the finest race of the season. So, did Vettel let that error pray on his mind at the next race, the European GP in Valencia? Not a bit of it. He took pole position, set the fastest lap of the race and won. Of course, it helps having a very quick car and it’ll be interesting to see how the German performs should he qualify down in fifth or sixth. But as it stands, Vettel is well on his way to being talked about as being one of the best of all time.
Dennis Jordan NORTH REGION
IT’S GOING to be a hot summer this year on the Costa Blanca the weather forecasts say, so if you want a round of golf the most sensible and comfortable time to play is early morning. However, these tee times do get booked up so try to book ahead. The British Open is in Sandwich, Kent, in July and I have been lucky enough to get tickets for the last day. I am hoping that it will be an exciting game and a thrilling final day with excellent players. I am sure it will be…
Golf Course
RTN Price
Comments
Alenda
€45
Single Green fee
Alicante Golf
€76
Midday til 16.00: 2x1 offer inc Buggy
Bonalba
€66
All Day: 2x1 offer inc Buggy
Don Cayo
€43
Single Green fee
El Plantio
from €30
Single Green fee
Font del Llop
€86
All Day: 2x1 offer inc Buggy
Villaitana Par 62
€35
Single Green fee
Villa Aitana Par 72
€40
Single Green fee
For more information email Dennis at dennis@roundtownnews.com or direct to www.benidormgolf.com on 630 714 373.
Mike Probert SOUTH REGION
Murcia Golf Hound Murcia Region
THE CONTINUED good weather is encouraging growth on the local courses and we are beginning to see them at their best as the recover from the hollow tining last month. This week I played at Roda which as usual was in excellent condition and worth a visit if you are on holiday here for a few days. The summer deals are still coming thick and fast and the latest is from Hacienda Del Alamo where for the month of July you can have a round for three players and pull trolleys for only €105. The deal of the week is at La Serena where through the RTN golf Club you can have two players and buggy for only €75. As reported last week Altorreal have now extended their superb price of only €55 for 2 players and buggy until 15th September 2011 and it represents the cheapest golf in the region; an opportunity not to be missed if you want value for money.
GROOMING IS important to me, especially in this summer heat. On my journeys through the great selection of courses in the area, appearance and dress code seem to be declining. Even on the courses at the once prestigious La Manga Club, you will see patch pockets on shorts, un-tucked shirts and trainers on view on a daily basis. Obviously fashion evolves and changes, even in golf – Ian Poulter, Ricky Fowler and Ryan Moore exemplify that – but surely what many people are seeing and commenting on in our areas is below the standard that golf sets itself. Certainly if I attempted to turn up at many of the monuments of golf in the UK or Ireland dressed poorly I wouldn’t stand a chance of playing, so why is it acceptable in Spain? Let’s hope the clubs and marshals start to implement the standards that golf has worked long and hard to maintain. Look good and play well!
Golf Course
RTN Price
Comments
Vistabella
€56
2 PL and 1 Buggy (weekend pm)
Hacienda del Alamo
€86
2 PL and 1 Buggy
La Finca
€164
4 PL and 2 Buggy
Polaris World Courses
€92
2 PL and 1 Buggy
Roda
€78
2 PL and 1 Buggy
Las Colinas
€82
2 PL and Buggy (from3pm)
La Peraleja
€76
2 PL and 1 Buggy
La Tercia
€65
2 PL and 1 Buggy
For more information contact Mike at mike@roundtownnews.com or direct at Costa Blanca Green Fee Services on 966 704 752 or 661 345 931.
Golf Course
RTN Price
Comments
La Envia
€32
Single Green fee
Alborán
€35
Single Green fee
Cortijo Grande
€29
Single Green fee
Almerimar
€42
Single Green fee
Aguilon
€40
Single Green fee
Desert Springs
€60
Single Green fee
Valle del Este
€90
2 Single Green fee + buggy
For more information contact the Hound on Facebook, twitter: murciagolf@roundtownnews.com or 651 045 700.
Sebastian Vettel
RFU The Rugby Football Union is about to start its search for a new CEO, possibly an interim appointment, after the sacking of John Steele. I’m thinking of applying. I mean, how much worse can I be? Steele, like him or loathe him, came in, got rid of a lot of staff he didn’t fancy the look of and brought in new blood that supported the Steele model. And now, a few months later he’s gone. What an absolute shambles. You wouldn’t be too impressed if your local fiesta committee was run like this, let alone one of the most powerful sporting bodies in the UK. The players may have been professional for a long time now but the English administrators are still a
ANYONE FOR FOOTBALL? Aged between 20 to 40 ? Torrevieja area Call Doug on 628 789 335
Fancy a beer? Noel’s world of golf By Noel Eastwell Teaching Professional Campo de Golf El Plantio 639 730 891
ONE OF the real pleasures of our sport, particularly if the round has not been of your best, is the drink in the clubhouse afterwards. For many this is a vital part of golf and for many possibly more enjoyable than the golf itself. The laughter and banter in clubhouses up and down the land is the social side of golf that many of us do not want to see change. I don’t know if it is my imagination or I am just getting tight but recently I think the price of our favourite tipple is increasing at an alarming rate. Is this the way that golf clubs are getting the profit that they feel they are losing on green fees? The trouble is that many golf clubhouses are in beautiful surroundings and we all want to enjoy the scenery that many offer while we hark back to our good or bad fortune on the golf course. Nowadays, though, I hear that more and more golfers are finding alternative watering holes after a round of golf because of the scandalous prices being charged for a small beer or coffee or similar in the clubhouse. I don’t blame them. To be asked to pay 2€ or more for a small glass of beer or a tiny amount of coffee is daylight robbery and it’s high time we made a stand against this blatant ripping-off of golfers. This week I visited a club that had a restaurant on site that was a separate business to the golf club. They charged less for their drinks than the golf club and understandably were much busier than the bar at the golf club. The restaurant management is Dutch and spoke perfect English and I had a really interesting conversation with him regarding his pricing structure. They were more than happy with the profits they made on the sale of refreshments and had no intention at all of increasing prices in the foreseeable future. What happened next astonished me. On Thursday I received a phone call telling me that the owners of the restaurant, the adjoining golf club, had informed them they must increase their prices to match those of the golf club or their lease would
1 - 7 JulY 2011
not be renewed. What a disgraceful state of affairs! I would love to name and shame but have been sworn to secrecy. The only way around this situation is to inform the golf clubs that we will not be using the clubhouse until their prices have been reduced to normal levels. In this situation we will be relying heavily on golf societies as they are the ones with the large numbers of customers that are arriving at around the same time and the loss of their trade in the bars will surely be noticed much faster. Its time to pull together again to get realistic prices back in the bars so that we can enjoy the company of those we have played with where we should be enjoying their company, the golf club. WIN A ROUND OF GOLF FOR 2 INCLUDING BUGGY AT THE BEAUTIFUL EL PLANTIO RESORT IN ALICANTE To enter this competition, simply answer the question below correctly. Every correct answer will be entered into a draw at the end of the month and the winner of this fantastic prize worth over 180€ will be picked at random at the end of each month. Send your entries by email to golf@roundtownnews.com. The decision of the editor of RTN will be final in making the winning selection. QUESTION FOR 1ST JULY 2011 Which British golf was the last to hold both The Open Championship and The US Open titles at the same time? A. Tony Jacklin B. Nick Faldo C. Padraig Harrington All answers must be received no later than 5pm on 30th July 2011 to be entered into July’s draw, to be made on 31st July. The winner will be announced in RTN on 5th August 2011.
Any questions you have for Noel should be sent to golf@roundtownnews.com
RTN Golf School Start & Go Course Duration of the course will be 8 hours over 2, 3 or 4 days according to the students requirements. We may be able to take the course over a period of 2 or 3 weeks. Aimed at beginners and those who want to come back to golf this course is aimed at getting people to fully understand the basics required to play golf on a full size golf course. Minimum number of participants: 3 Maximum number of peopl: 8 Cost 225€ per person Advanced Course Duration of the course will be over 3 or 4 days according to the students requirements. Aimed at those who have some experience of golf and want to improve. The participants will have a handicap. All aspects of the game will be covered including a playing lesson over 9 holes.
Minimum number of participants: 3 Maximum number of people: 6 Cost 280 Euros per person Licence Course Duration of the course will be 5 hours over 2 days Aimed at people who do not have an official handicap or Real Federacion Espaniola de Golf licence. The course will cover the basic technical aspects of the game and etiquette. Includes 9 holes of golf on the championship course at El Plantio under The Rules of Golf. Minimum number of people: 2 Maximum number of people: 4 Cost 200€ per person All courses include unlimited range balls for the duration of the course. Call 639 730 891 or email golf@roundtownnews.com
Free introductory Rugby Classes in Denia DENIA RUGBY club is offering free summer initiation classes for kids aged 8 to 18 years on Denia beach, just in front of Hotel Oasis (1km Las Marinas). The introductory classes are free during summer, held from 6.30pm on Saturdays. For more information, look at their website www. deniarugbyclub.com or call Les on 638 408 107. Adults are still training Tuesday and Thursday afternoons in front of the Oasis Hotel.
63
Fishing Maggots End by
David Hoare
968 199 279
For further details ring Alan Roscoe 968 570 876 or email: anglerstogether@gonuts4free.com THIS WEEK’S competition was the 7th in the Summer Championship series. This series is 9 matches with the best 6 results to count. The venue was the Rio Segura at Murcia. The river is still high with a lot of water under the bridge, although you can still walk through it. The river is still pushing through, as it has been for the last 4-5 months: where all the water is coming from is anybody’s guess. We have another match here in several weeks and it would be nice if the river returned to its normal flow. In saying that, the fishing wasn’t that bad, as the results will show. Weather on the day was red hot - how some of the anglers fished without a ‘brolly’ is beyond me…! TOP RODS ON THE DAY 1st Lenny (Ex Cultural Attache) Bolton, fishing the pole using paste with 27.36 kg 2nd Dave (Yours Truly) Hoare, the pole using bread and corn with 20.98 kg 3rd Terry (Swing ‘Em) Screen, fishing the pole using paste with 16.54 kg ABBEY ANGLING RESULTS supplied by Terry Screen THE FINAL match of the Spring Series was held at Argos on 21st June: the water is now receding and has dropped about a foot. There are no small fry in the margins except for shoals of two-inch Bass, which seems to indicate that the fish are late spawning due to the long winter and the water being cold. The lake now seems to hold a large head of Barbel and they are supposed to be bottom feeders but are now feeding up in the water on hemp and pellet. 1st Ian (The Irish Wizard)
Dalzell with 29.080kg fishing up in the water on hemp and pellet 2nd Lenny (Ex Cultural Attache) Bolton with 26.660kg on pole and paste 3rd Stan (The Man) Roberts with 20.860kg on feeder and paste. The winners of the Spring League Trophy for 2011: 1st S Roberts with 84pts 2nd L Bolton with 81pts 3rd T Screen with 67pts Details are available from The Match Secretary Terry Screen on 96 532 8368 Anglers Together ANGLERS TOGETHER was formed to introduce and encourage anglers of all abilities to meet up and get together to fish, either sea or freshwater. Firm friendships have been formed during the time the group has been active and information on fishing venues and licenses required are available at the meetings or by regular emailed newsletters. Meetings are held in two locations on the second Friday and Saturday of each month. Anyone with an interest in fishing (sea or freshwater) is welcome to come along. The next meeting at Mary’s Bar, Campoverde (near Pilar de la Horadada) will be held on Friday 8th July at 12pm. On Saturday 9th July at 12pm the meeting will be held at The New Royal Bar and Restaurant at El Alamillo, opposite the sea-front between Isla Plana and the Port. NOTE The subs are now due at these meetings: €5 for renewal and €10 for new members. Refreshments and lunch are available at each location. Come along to a meeting nearest to you.