inVLC January/February 2011 by inVLC Magazine

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Free! 15 Ja n - 14 Feb

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There's lots in Valencia’s News Valencia's full of Holidays & parties Valencia community - hilltop Montserrat We love La Galeria Bar of the month Free in Valencia has us hitting the fish market Your photos for ‘black & white' Declan just wants to be happy in Green The newcomer John is leaving? Gutted Sport - More football and the main marathon Talking teaching has memory loss I heart Valencia - it's a royal battle The cinema v.o. releases entertain us Eoghan is swinging in Expat life! This is me| writer Jason Webster Live music to dance to Hot new musical releases are back Lia is a bit fishy in Recipe Use your oranges wisely in Orange Cocktails Malou visits Cottolengo in Charity Want to live longer in Health? Iain loves his Books. Also Competition We look at the beautiful Lynx in Animal Events & Classifieds keep you in the know Art to see - what’s on and where by Rebecca

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inVLC on... leaves us for pastures new and we get the low down on Jason Webster's new book. In addition to this, we've got the latest news on Benicassim Festival and Ambivalencia Festival in Live Events and check out our albums of the month, which have kept us rocking through those cold evenings chained to the desk. Let’s hope this year is a good one for everyone out there whether long-term or just passing through. If you spot us out or have ideas for the magazine, why not come and say hello. Rest assured we will be out there, everywhere, trying to bring you something entertaining and interesting every month. Remember to add us on Facebook to find out what’s going on every week. All suggestions are welcome so please keep those emails coming. Enjoy the read, Andy, Kelly & Sean

Intermediate

ienvenido and Happy New Year from everybody here at inVLC! Whilst you’ve all been off partying and seeing in the new year, we’ve been working away to bring you the best read in Valencia! It’s not easy being the new boy here in town, but we’d like to thank everyone who has expressed support and faith in what we are trying to do against all odds. We’ve had some extremely positive emails from some of you and others that have made us laugh out loud. Thank you for making this a great start to the new year. For our first issue of 2011 while we checked out Montserrat, Malou visited Cottolengo to ask how we can support their residents on the Charity page; we’ve got a royal rumble for I heart Valencia; we say goodbye to Newcomer John Blakey who A lo largo de esta revista encontrarás distintos niveles de dificultad indicados en la parte superior de cada página y recuadros con vocabulario debajo del texto. Para la pronunciación hemos incluido la fonética. Además, cada color se refiere a un determinado nivel como se indica a continuación.

Intermediate First certificate

A huge thank you to Javi for proofing the translations!

Advanced

the number of laughs an adult has every day.

inVLC is aimed at all people in the community of Valencia: whether born here, visiting for a day, or living a new life in the sun. We hope to guide you on what’s going on in the community, help those living in it, and support language learning with a bit of added fun. If you have any ideas about how we can make it better, we’d love to hear from you.

Contact information email| invlceditor@gmail.com phone| 639 740 746 - English speakers phone| 628 831 400 - Spanish speakers If you have any thoughts, comments or complaints or want to advertise, please email or phone us.

We use CreatorSilk paper it’s chlorine free & the wood used is from sustainably managed forests. We do this because we’re nice & want to reduce our environmental impact.

15 January 1867. London. A severe frost causes Regents Park lake to freeze over attracting large crowds on to the ice. It isn't strong enough and the resulting crack leads to 40 people drowning.

News

le| The Palau de la MĂşsica will be hosting the 15th Annual Festival of Flamenco with some world renowned names taking part between 30 January and 27 February. More information can be found at www.palaudevalencia.com

room vroom| F1's pre-Championship training session will take place at the Ricardo Torno circuit in Cheste from 1-3 February. This is your chance to see the new 2011 season cars go through their paces before everyone else does. There will also be more going on with the IRTA test of small categories of the World Championship on 10, 11 and 12 February. www.circuitvalencia.com

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eeling arty| The ninth annual International Arts Festival VEO 2011 will be held between 16-27 February at locations all over the city. Combining drama, music and dance performances this promises to be the best yet with lots of new performances from both Spanish and International performers. More information can be found at www.fundacionveo.com

eeling trendy| To find out what all the hip-cats will be wearing over the next 12 months head to the Agora Building in the Arts and Sciences complex between 2-4 February as Valencia Fashion Week is on. www.valenciafashionweek.com/eng

t's our first issue of 2011 and our 5th issue since the renaming of Britchat and we're celebrating as we're thrilled with progress. As Britchat the magazine was: - Distributed in 59 locations in 21 towns in the community. - Distributed in 12 locations in the city. As inVLC the magazine is: - Distributed in 64 locations in 22 towns in the community. - Distributed in 65 locations in the city. We are the most widely distributed English language magazine for readers in the community and the city and we are the only one to print 12 times a year! Contact us to find out where your closest pick-up point is.

f you go to your usual pickup spot for your issue of inVLC and find there aren't any left, contact us to let us know they've run out. We'll try to get a copy to you, plus we can review how many to leave in the future so they don't run out again! Or if you have a location where you think we should be, then get in touch! Here's to the next year!

15 January 1779. London. John Hetherington proudly presents the Top Hat to the world for the first time. Immediately magicians all around the world see the possibility of producing rabbits out of them.

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Holidays & parties part Advanced

t's a month of passion, war, devotion and love. Only in Spain could it feel so exciting. 16-22 Jan| The celebration of (Saint) Anthony 1-5 Feb| Busy in the hilltop town Bocairent. the Great. If you suffer from skin diseases or 1 Feb| Parade for The Night of the Boxes, Nit de a sore throat and want to make a holy appeal, this les Caixes. Locals parade the streets carrying early monk with a penchant for solitary living in their lanterns to the sound of drums in thanks to harsh conditions persecuted by the devil could help. Saint Blai (Sant Blai) healing the locals from the Around the Valencian community celebrations epidemic of 1632. are held in his name with events in his honour, 2 Feb| The Christians will enter by day, and by night the Muslims will parade. featuring fire & demonic 3 Feb| Día del San Blas enjoys characters, blessings of pets and Mass and a procession, amongst agricultural events. ringing bells you'll hear "Vitol al 16-18 Jan| The town of Canals Patró San Blai" - Long live Saint will be celebrating all week, with Blai. a procession at 5pm on 16th, a 4 Feb| The Moors and the procession on 17th at 7.30pm and Christians got to battle to on 18th at 11am animal blessings celebrate the overthrowing of the followed by fireworks at 10pm. Muslims who lived here until the 21-22 Jan| The town of Christians rule in 1609. Enguera will celebrate with 5 Feb| Día del Santo Cristo exciting processions through the is celebrated with a colourful streets, endless sweets and toys. procession leading to the chapel for mass. 22 Jan| The celebration of San Vicente, the Valencian Patron Saint. - Visit his house at C/ Pouet de San Vicent, 1 (now a church) to learn about his life, there will be 11-13 Feb| The Sausage Feast extra activities during the fiesta. in pretty Requena. You can sample - 10.30am Mass. traditional products, the key one - 12am Procession - follow his being the sausages, meats and route of martyrdom and falling black puddings, but there are also wines and bakery products. bay leaves down Plaza de la The town puts on a bit of Reina, C/ San Vicente, C/ Paz and entertainment, usually including C/ Avellanas. - Flowers will be taken en mass to his home from street artists, fireworks, dance shows, competitions and musical performances. 12am and artistically laid out. Requena is on the A3, and there are regular direct - There will be a Mascletá at 1pm in Plaza España. - All over the city mini stages will be set up, as buses and trains, so travel is easy. Check the great meaty photos on www.embutidoderequena.es. children re-enact San Vicente's miracles. Check www.comunitatvalenciana.com for more. 14 Feb| San Valentín. Moments of guilt for those forgetful of loved ones, joy for rose and card vendors as sales shoot up and singles fervently denounce the special day. Saint Valentine as a romantic soul is somewhat disputed as there is little proof to demonstrate any link between Saint Valentine and love, and the feast day was removed from the General Roman Calendar in 1969.

15 January 1912. Libya. First recorded use of propaganda leaflets. The Italian Airforce drop them in the Italo-Turkish War. They offered a gold coin and a sack of barley to any Arab who surrendered.

Spain| The Montserrats First certificate

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he village of Montserrat is smack bang in the middle of La Comunidad Valenciana. With a very intriguing history and now a very large expat community, inVLC took a trip to this village to see what all the fuss was about.

The first settlements in Montserrat date back to the Bronze Age. What with the climate, the mountains in the north and an open water source, it was the perfect place to settle down. It’s continued popularity throughout history as a place to live is evident due to remnants the Romans left behind in the Agroix and Maset del Pou areas. These are well worth a visit for anyone with a particular interest in Roman history. In the eighth century, the arrival of the Moors led to the development of agriculture and farming techniques, which influenced the landscape that can be seen here today. The majority of the economy now depends on dryland farming such as Carob trees, oranges and the production of different wines.

Montserrat is not short of castles and fortresses, which were not only for defensive purposes, but which would have housed important people too. Towers at the top of the mountains were lit to warn local populations of any imminent danger and this ensured that any such threat was heard quickly throughout the heart of the countryside. The ruined castle of Alcalà (built in 11th Century) on La Serra del Castellet is also a testament to this empire’s former glory. It was the most important Moorish fortress for miles around. According to legend, Alfonso X de Castillo (el Cid) captured the mayor of the town, which led to the name of the castle as El Castell dels Alcalans or El Castillo de Alcalá.

Car| From Valencia take the CV-405. Bus| Regular buses to and from Montserrat. Valencia bus station platform 34 or 36. Check at the bus station for times. Train| No direct train. Take a train to Torrente and transfer to a local bus or taxi.

The mountain range where it is situated (La Serra del Castellet) is also a particular source of pride amongst locals. Formed about 180 million years ago when the sea level began to recede, the continuing story of the sea’s recession can be seen by looking at the strata carved into the side of the mountains. After the conquest of King Jaume I in 1238, Christianity became just as prevalent here as anywhere else. For Montserrat in particular it meant new ownership under Lord Ximén de Tovía. Between 1307 and 1763 it belonged to Pérez Zapata de Calatayud and his subsequent heirs. In 1492 the Moors were expelled from Spain and over the following years there was a migration from the peninsula back to their original homes. Those that stayed converted to Christianity and consequently had to change everything from their names to their languages and customs.

In last months Chulilla section we incorrectly printed Nacho's phone number for tours tours. The correct number is 628 892 061.

Spain| The Montserrats

Other places of interest to be seen here include the Cueva Formada where you can take a walk along the banks of the river Magro and La Fuente del Pantano – a recreational area that has been in use since the 16th Century. Montserrat has its own Falla in March, Las Paellas is celebrated on 1 May, Nuestra Señora de la Asunción y San Roque is celebrated on 15 & 16 August with fireworks, processions and concerts, and you can also witness an actual ‘bull run’ in mid-August for the village’s A census in 1786 records the population of Semana Taurina. Montserrat as having 797 inhabitants. A recent census has the population at over 6,000.

First certificate

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And there is another Montserrat in Catalonia! What to do if you go! - Take the Sant Joan Funicular to see the chapels of Sant Joan & Sant Onofre & the view. - Take the cable car or the Cremallera Funicular to Montserrat Monastery. - Take the Santa Cova funicular to see the cave where the image of Mare de Déu de Montserrat was found. - Go to the monastery's church, the basilica, by 1pm, to hear the Escolia (the boy's choir) sing. - Inside the monastery is a statue of the virgin of Montserrat "la Moreneta", the Black Madonna, the patron saint of Catalonia. (Get there early to avoid the tour buses.) - Take one of the walking trails in the national park from the Sant Joan Funicular. Gironi was nice and easy with stunning views.

16 January 1988. Abu Dhabi. 85 year old Khafan Askour marries two teenage girls simultaneously and consummates both marriages the same night. He said he married them so they could keep each other company.

Bar of the month| La Galeria

First certificate

f you find yourself out and about round the Carmen area and lost in those never-ending, winding streets that all look the same, you might stumble across (like we did) La Galeria on C/ Baja. Granted it doesn’t look like much from the outside, but, upon entering, you descend into a long narrow room normally full to the brim with people enjoying a tapa and a caña. Appearances, it seems, can be deceiving. You’ll be greeted by the owner Paco and his team who’ll go out of their way to make sure you’ve got everything you need. The kitchen staff, always busy, will manage a smile and a greeting over the orders that pile in over the counter. If you’re lucky enough to find yourself here on a Wednesday night, there’s live flamenco music. Sometimes a guest musician will pop in to accompany guitarist Kike Naval even though he manages to fill out the sound well enough on his own without them.

© Gavin The menu at La Galeria is both simple and inventive. It’s also nicely varied with everything from bocadillos and ensaladas to quesadillas and pinchos on offer. The idea is to sit and share with friends in an intimate

|8| environment and enjoy a bit of banter accompanied by a nice bit of grub. My favourite dish would have to be the Pompidou: a fantastic potato dish topped with minced meat, cheese and a touch of tobasco sauce – the ultimate patatas bravas experience. Okay, so maybe you’re thinking of something healthier. Don’t worry! There are a range of wonderful salads on offer and over 50 different types of bocadillos. If you’re just popping in for a drink, you’ll get a caña and a tapa for €1.50 or a merlot and tapa for only €2. The tapas vary throughout your stay and we’re fairly certain that the longer you stay, the bigger they get! With Valencia now in full winter mode, this place really is a treat if you fancy some typical Spanish food and a warm, cosy atmosphere. Why not pop down there with a few friends on a Wednesday after work and soak up some of the flamenco sounds? Get in early, however, as you won’t be the only ones with the same idea.

17 January 1966. Spain. A B52 bomber crashes with its refuelling plane. 4 hydrogen bombs are on the B52. One falls to earth intact, one falls in the ocean and 2 land in Palomares releasing plutonium into the surrounding area.

ant to see the Valencian Community on the cheap? Every month we’ll list some great spots where you can enjoy Spanish culture, nature and have some good cheap fun. This month you’ll find us: 1| wallowing in the beautiful town of Moraira for a day trip, or even longer. They have a fish auction Tuesday to Sundays at La Lonja in the port and a Friday market. It has great weather most days, and has direct buses from Valencia, or get a train to nearby Denia and catch a local bus from there. 2| visiting one of Valencias most charming parks. Placed on the corner of Plaza de la Virgen and Calle Bailia, this park is a treat in Spring as the trees fill with oranges and citrus fruits. 3| popping along to the city library (see below). It's an old building in Calle Hospital, in the place of the original hospital. If it's a bit chilly, warm up in the nice cafe across the road. © Kelly D Let us know if you have a favourite free spot!

The city library was the 1st library in Valencia, opened in 1979. The original building was built in 1409, possibly as the 1st mental asylum in Europe, founded by Fray Joan Gilabert Jofré, called Hospital de Folls de Santa María de los Inocentes, Folls. In 1512 hospitals of Valencia were consolidated creating the General Hospital

of Valencia. In 1545 a fire wiped out the building, leaving only an entrance with Virgin Mary inside. It was rebuilt immediately using the same plan and Renaissance style with dramatic columns sweeping through the building and interesting brick-work. The large garden outside is well worth a casual stroll through.

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Intermediate

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-Stress -Tiredness, lack of energy -Pinched nerves -Migraines, headaches -Stiffness in the neck -Whiplash, neck trauma -Vertigos, dizziness -Tension, shoulder pains -Thoracic or lumbar pain -Chest pain, Asthma -Bad posture -Stomach acidity -Sciatica, pain down the leg -Joint pain, knee pain -Pins and needles, numbness arms or hands -Pins and needles or numbness down the leg If you have experienced one or more of these symptoms, chiropractic could be the solution. Call now for a free check, it could be the start of a new life!

18 January 1988. India. A Hindu man makes a pair of sandals out of his own skin and then travels across the country to offer them to his family's god.

Your photos| Black & white

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ach month we’ll give you a topic for the following edition. Email us 1 high-resolution image with a sentence describing the photo by 31st of the month. We’ll choose a few entries to print with your name & photo description.

Frankie Fernandez Back home...

Under a bridge in Singapore

Craig Wason

Jim Hacker

Frankie W

Please send 1 photo per person & only send your own photo for copyright reasons. There are other terms and conditions - email us if you want to know them. Next month’s topic is ‘smiles’. Look forward to seeing your pictures. 19 January 1988. Ireland. The winner of the £20,000 Whitbread Book Award is Chris Nolan. He is completely paralysed and can only write with a 'unicorn' attachment on his forehead.

Green living| Alternative goals

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First certificate

efore the economic crisis Spain, Ireland (my country) and most other European countries had achieved a high level of economic prosperity and all our energies had been concentrated on getting more and more wealth. In fact we had become obsessed with money, houses, cars and possessions in general. citizens to be happy including our children. Our It seems now that many governments, economists present education system is so mind numbingly and ordinary citizens want to return to the 'good old boring for the majority we would start to change it to days' when the money flowed like water. If we were make it more enjoyable, fun and exciting. We would also want everybody to develop so happy in those prosperous years, why was the suicide rate at their own pace and give all our citizens the opportunity to so high (in my country at least)? use their creativity to the full. Why was there so much binge Looking at the environment, drinking? Why was there so if we want our people to be much stress? Because we felt so healthy we would need to good about life? produce healthy food and not Other negative side-effects of the present pumped up mass our 'success' were never-ending produced s**t which we now traffic jams, contamination of produce. Our aim would be food/water/air, work, work, for zero contamination as we work, high level of debts, high would all want to breath clean cost of living, lack of time... With the crisis, the time air, drink clean water and live in has come to reassess where we beautiful natural surroundings. are going and ask what kind of 'Money, money, money' is country/society we want? We need to look again at not a goal, it is a result. Companies never say in our goals, to look again at our constitutions which their list of goals "we want to be filthy rich", they describe the goals of our countries. I believe that our say "we want to provide a good service". People constitutions should contain that 'we aim to be the then buy their product/service and the company happiest, friendliest and healthiest country in the does well. We as countries need to set our goals on world'. Then we would begin to look at all aspects all aspects of life and when we are happy/friendly/ of life (health, education, self defence...) from a healthy people we will produce quality products/ completely different perspective. services and the resulting money/wealth will flow Take education for example. We want all our to us. Declan Lehane Top tip for January: What| Eat a spoonful of (organic) honey daily. Why| Increase your allergies tolerance in the Spring months. Why not| No reason. Benefits| You'll feel healthier, you'll need less chemical solutions to fix you after you suffer, meaning less chemicals in your body and the waterways.

20 January 1988. Russia. Goldminers announce that they found the remains of a prehistoric mammoth so well preserved that the flesh looked edible. Maybe past its consume-by date though.

Learn Better with the British Council

here probably is no real substitute for face to face learning. There is something about the classroom environment, working with other learners and the relationship with your teacher that motivates and encourages you to learn better. However, there really are a lot of resources out there that can supplement the classroom and help you consolidate and extend your learning. In previous issues we featured some British Council web resources at www.learnenglish.britishcouncil.com. This month we’d like to feature www.mansioningles.com, a website created and run by Craig Wealand, a British Council Valencia teacher. It provides a wealth of different learning resources for all levels.

>> www.mansioningles.com 3 full interactive courses with a level test. There’s also a listening section (3 levels), a full grammar reference with explanations in Spanish, a vocabulary section, quizzes, resources and information.

>> blog.mansioningles.net Songs and videos with exercises and transcripts; listening exercises with questions; vocabulary and grammar practice exercises.

>> Monthly newsletter - Cuaderno mensual Free monthly newsletter with exercises at 3 levels, podcast, children's section, business English section, dictation and more... Recibe gratuitamente nuestro cuaderno mensual en tu E-mail: http://www.mansioningles.net/formulario/altacuaderno.asp Previous newsletters can be seen here: http://www.cuadernodeingles.com/

>> Youtube channel with videos to improve your English. http://www.youtube.com/LaMansionDelIngles

>> Podcasts with transcriptions http://mansioningles.libsyn.com Also available for free download on iTunes (search: La Mansión del Inglés)

>> Facebook community with nearly 1,000 members. Why not join?! http://www.facebook.com/mansioningles

>> Follow mansioningles on Twitter twitter.com/mansiontwit

BRITISH COUNCIL — 70 YEARS IN SPAIN www.britishcouncil.es

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The newcomer| P4| Exam terror

was 16 years old. I was taking my first A-level exam. The sports hall was full of silent, scared people looking, for the first time, at the paper in front of them. I heard a laugh from my right. A girl called Mary had her hand up. The invigilator came up to ask what was wrong. Mary laughed again, gave him a self heating toilet seat to know that you are 2% the paper and walked out of the building. I never better than the girl you sit next to ever week, and saw her again. conversely, motivating if that girl who sits next to So, is avoidance the best way to beat exam stress? you gets 2% more than you (just you wait girl who Probably, after all it does completely side step sits next to me, I have been practising the whole nuisance of having to rely on your own my verb endings, so watch out!) sense of self and your memory to come up with an The only real and fair way to extended period of silent time to remember a whole get everyone to sit the test and to term, year or lifetime of learning. No pressure then! stop being big, soppy, blousy, In our Spanish class, all the of the students wussies is to turn the test, exam themselves are teachers, and have sat thousands of or assessment into a game exams, have dished out thousands of exams and have show. Put all the questions talked kids down from the stresses that come with into game show format with being confronted by an exam. buzzers, a host, a co-host, big Our teacher had dumbed down the impending prizes, a cuddly toy, a live audience, test by calling it an ‘individual assignment’, however a live phone in and ridiculously excited this fooled no one and most of the class found a contestants running down from convenient excuse to miss it – all the favourites the audience to do their exam, a were out in force, from broken boilers to ‘being up massive clock that ticks down to my neck in work’. with climactic music, the voice However, it wasn’t the thought of failure or the of the examiner that booms idea of embarrassment, it was the exam stress from at you like God to tell you the years gone by that was rearing its head and making right and wrong answers, and my classmates hide like a shy child behind the leg the arms of the celebrity host of its mother. Adolescent memories of sitting in (O’Leary, Schofield, Edmonds) alphabetic rows with sandwich bags full of pens to console you when you are shown, and pencils, hand cramp that claws your fingers for ‘what you could have won’ when you weeks on end, the graffiti on the desks from exams fail. gone by, dates, bands and footballers scrawled next I am sure the exam boards to telephone numbers and cruel sexuality of the UK and Spain would get questioning of classmates. on board with this It is all such an alien concept that most new examination rational people will avoid it as commonformat and, at sensibly as avoiding Marmite or films the very least, I with Tom Hanks in them (you know would be given the I’m right, he hasn’t done anything option to gamble good since BIG!). my recent 65% It is, however, nothing to for a shot of the star prize of: fear. The sensible teachery Spanish Fluency...and a 48” side of me knows that flat screen TV, obviously. tests are a good way to John Blakey consolidate all you have learned and allow you and John has sadly left us to return to your teacher to see how far the temperate land of Scotland. you have come since the Thank you for all your stories beginning of the course, John and good luck! and it is as comforting as

21 January 1793. France. King Louis XVI is found guilty of treason and is guillotined. His wife Marie-Antoinette suffers the same fate later that same year.

Sport Intermediate

ootball| The big game this month sees Valencia CF take on Schalke 04 on 15 February as the Champions League returns after its winter break. The first leg at the Mestalla will be very important for Valencia and they will be aiming for a good result (including not conceding any goals) to take to the second leg in Germany. At this last-16 stage it appears (on paper anyway) to be a great draw for Valencia with Schalke currently lying mid-table in the Bundesliga.

|14| Buy tickets for Valencia at the kiosks at the Mestalla on Avendia de Suecia, on their web page, on ticketmaster.es, at any of the official Valencia football shops, or even from the La Caixa website. Just ask for una entrada. The seats at Grada de la Mar are cheap and have a good view. For information on Levante check the up-todate information in www.levanteud.com. Please note all game dates and times are subject to alteration so check beforehand.

Valencia fixtures this month| 16/01 Valencia CF v Deportivo La Coruña

Levante fixtures this month|

23/01 Valencia CF v Málaga CF

16/01

Zaragoza v Levante

30/01 Racing Santander v Valencia CF

23/01

Sevilla v Levante

05/02 Valencia CF v Hércules CF

30/01

Levante v Getafe

12/02 Atlético Madrid v Valencia CF

06/02

Villarreal v Levante

15/02 Valencia CF v Schalke 04

13/02

Levante v Almería

n your marks| The 31st annual Valencia Marathon will take place on 20 February this year. Competitors wishing to compete have until 7 February to register their desire to run. Registering now will cost €50 but you could be in to win the top prize of €3000 if you are fast enough. More information (in both Spanish and English) can be found at: www.maratondivinapastoravalencia. com/en/maraton-2011

22 January 1988. Amsterdam. Schipol Airport opens a special departure lounge serving pre-flight food and drink to travelling cattle. Moo-sli and Al-cow-hol presumably.

Talking Teaching with Orange Language Academy

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ight. I’m looking at a girl that I’ve taught since October and I cannot for the life of me remember her name. Is it María? Paloma? Silvia? I’m fairly certain that it ends with an ‘a’. It has, after all, been nearly a month since I last saw the girl. The beginning of the second semester can amidst all of the roscones and X-box games. It be incredibly daunting with the above being might take a couple of weeks for them to warm just one example of what can go wrong upon back up. your return to the classroom. One need only Take this opportunity to refresh their look at the academic calendar to see that this memories with stuff they already know rather semester is certainly the poorest when it comes than bombard them with any new stuff. Perfect to holidays, bridges, aqueducts, etc. There’s opportunity to practice Past Simple and talk basically nothing until fallas. I’ve always felt about winter woolies/ stocking fillers. that the difficulty lies not just in dealing with 4. Exam angst| Most of the students will this, but also that return from such a long have seen this looming on the horizon for some break. weeks now. In my academy, the exam calendar I’ve thought and I’ve thought and I’ve come was put up in October. They were already up with five common problems during those expecting it, but still watched it get nailed to first two difficult weeks back in the classroom: the notice board like 1. Forgetting names| This might just be a ‘WANTED’ poster a me or, then again, it might not. For those of la Clint Eastwood. you teaching for the first year or teaching a 5. Hey, how particular class for the first year: this often was your break?| happens. Why not play on it? Oh, I’m such an Remember that some absent-minded fool! Dig out those name game of these students warmers from the beginning of the year. Don’t only see each other be embarrassed! during your classes 2. Speaking too fast| You’ve been with and will probably your friends for three weeks, haven’t you? Back have a number of in the UK, Ireland, the US, Canada, Australia, things to talk about New Zealand. Let’s face it: you’ve got lazy. Take after not seeing each a deep breath, stop saying ‘dunno’, look at your other for such a long students if you’re not sure whether you’ve been time. understood or not. CCQ them until their ears Ideally, this would bleed. all be in English, but 3. Student panic| Coupled with the above let’s be realistic: they’re still in holiday mode. and the fact that they probably haven’t heard, Why not give them a few minutes to sit and spoken, or even given English a second thought chat in Spanish? This way, they’ll feel a little more relaxed and you can busy yourself with Orange Language Academy has been an American remembering their names using the register. run language school for the city of Valencia and Alternatively, why not put together 10-15 its provinces since 2005 offering questions on the board or on a piece of paper all types of language related to ask each other? If your Spanish is decent services. They also run the enough, write them in Spanish and get them Tues and Weds language nights at the Portland Ale to translate the questions into English in pairs. House. Find out more at This sometimes acts as an important switch www.orangeidiomas.com from Spanish back into English. For those of you who really want to get down to learning the language, we’ll be bringing you an expression each month. This is our job. Your job? Get out there and use it! Then tell us how you got on… estar hecho polvo – to be knackered e.g. ¿Qué haces este fin de semana? Nada. Estoy hecho polvo después de las navidades. What are you doing this weekend? Nothing. I’m knackered after the Christmas break. 23 January 1989. Spain. Salvador Felipe Jacinto Dalí Domènech dies. The famous melting/soft clocks in 'The Persistence of Time' alludes to Einstein's theory that time is relative and not fixed.

I heart Valencia

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First certificate

ach month we’re going to square off something famous from Valencia with something famous from somewhere else. This month it's a royal battle, with Queen Elizabeth II (QE2) pulling her gloves on against Juan Carlos I (JC1). Round 1| Reign - QE2 was crowned in 1953 In addition to this, he is Archduke of Austria, after the death of her father; the ceremony was the Duke of Burgundy, Brabant, Milan and Neopatra, Count of Hapsberg, Flanders, Tyrol, Rousillon, and first of its kind to be televised (58 years). The Spanish throne had been vacant for 22 Barcelona and Lord of Biscay and Molina. Winner – QE2 (Most of JC1’s titles are years when Franco named JC1 as the next ruler merely provinces of his own country). of Spain in 1969. He was sworn in two days after Franco’s death on 22 November 1975. However, Round 3| Family - QE2’s father was King it was a Spanish referendum in 1978 when he was George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George) and named ‘King of Spain’ (33/ 36 years). her mother Elizabeth Angela Marguerite BowesWinner – QE2 Lyon. Both were thrust into the limelight when Edward Round 2| Titles Normally referred to as ‘The VIII abdicated to marry Queen’ or ‘Her Majesty’, American divorcee Wallis QE2’s titles include the Simpson. following: Queen of the QE2 fell in love with United Kingdom, Canada, her husband – Prince Australia, New Zealand, Philip of Greece and Jamaica, Barbados, the Denmark at only 13 years Bahamas, Grenada, Papua old and married in 1947. New Guinea, the Solomon Prince Philip was forced Islands, Tuvalu, Saint to renounce this title Lucia, Saint Vincent and and convert from Greek I rule Spain. The Grenadines, Belize, Orthodoxy to Anglicanism I am King Juan Carlos I! Antigua and Barbuda, and when they got married. Saint Kitts and Nevis. They have four children: Should you be in Charles (b. 1948), Anne conversation with her, ‘Your Majesty’ is standard (b. 1950), Andrew (b.1959), and Edward (b.1963) followed by ‘Ma’am’ for the rest of the conversation and eight grandchildren. Her grandfather was King (that’s Ma’am as in ‘ham’, not Ma’am as in ‘farm’). George V, her great-grandfather was King Edward She is also the Head of Commonwealth and VII, and her great-great-grandmother was none Supreme Governor of the Church of England. other than Queen Victoria herself. JC1’s titles include King of Spain, but (curiously) JC1’s father was Juan de Borbon, Count of also some individual provinces: Castile, León, Barcelona and would have become Juan III had his Aragon, Navarra, Granada, Toledo, Valencia, father - Alfonso XIII – not been forced to flee the Galicia, Majorca, Seville, Sardinia, Córdoba, country upon Franco’s seizure of power in 1939. Murcia, Menorca, Jaen, Algeciras, Gibraltar, and Upon trying to re-enter the country on his father’s the Canary Islands. He is also King of Corsica, orders, Juan de Borbon was arrested and expelled Sardinia, the Two Sicilies (Naples and Sicily), the for trying to participate in the resistance. This East and West Indies, the Islands and Mainland may have led to Franco’s subsequent reluctance of the Ocean Sea and Jerusalem. He was born in to appoint him future head of state. JC1 and his Rome and is successor to the royal family of Naples. father became estranged due to JC1’s designation

25 January 1971. Uganda. Idi Amin deposes Milton Obote and starts on a barbaric crusade which last seven years and sees 300,000 Ugandans slaughtered amid (unsubstantiated) claims of cannibalism.

(by Franco) as heir to the throne. His mother Princess Maria de las Mercedes de Borbon-Dos Sicilias y Orleans – acted as a mediator for them upon JC1’s return to Spain in 1976. One year later, Juan renounced the throne, but was allowed to keep the title ‘Count of Barcelona’ by his son. JC1 married Princess Sofia of Greece and Denmark on 14 May 1962. She was also obliged to convert from Greek Orthodox, but this time to Roman Catholicism to become the Queen of Spain. They have three children: Elena (b. 1963), Cristina (b. 1965) and Felipe (b 1968). They also have eight grandchildren. Winner – JC1 (estrangement, exile, intrigue: what a story!)

I heart Valencia First certificate

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On 23 February 1981, a military coup called 23-F, led by members of the Guardia Civil, seized the Cortes Generales, but were given a good telling off by JC1 in a television broadcast. Communist leader Santiago Carrillo dubbed him ‘Juan Carlos the Brief’ believing that remnants of Franco’s era would wipe out the Spanish monarchy. Once the coup failed, Carrillo was reported to have said, “God save the King… Today we are all monarchists”. In a recent debate, JC1 asked Hugo Chavez ,“¿Por qué no te callas? (Why don’t you shut up?)” after the Venezuelan President had been interrupting Spanish Prime Minister Zapatero. This passed into legend, can be seen on T-shirts all over the country, and can be found on youtube with around five million hits. Winner – JCI

Round 4| Popularity - During WWII, QE2 was appointed Colonel-InChief of the Grenadier Guards, she worked as a driver and a mechanic, is Round 5| Assassination the last surviving royal to attempts - QE2 was riding have served in uniform her horse Burmese before and apparently mingled the wedding of Charles and Diana when six shots anonymously with the rang out. They were celebratory crowds at I rule Great Britain. blanks fired by 17 year-old the end with her sister I am Queen Elizabeth II! Marcus Sarjeant who was Margaret. imprisoned for five years. As a monarch her QE2 apparently didn’t even popularity suffered during the 1980s due to the private lives of her children break a sweat. The year after, a bloke called Michael Fagan being exposed and criticised by the media. She was heavily criticised herself in 1997 after the death of breached security by climbing over a wall and Princess Diana although turned public opinion into QE2’s bedroom. He sat at the end of her around by making a public address 5 days later. bed while she engaged him in conversation until In 2002, the British public flocked to the streets to security arrived. A large, metal fence surrounding mark her golden jubilee. Elizabeth’s reign has been Buckingham Palace was suitably installed. JC1 was approached by ‘royal assassin’ Juan longer than all of her four predecessors combined. Preparations are being made to mark her Diamond Maria Fernandez y Krohn in a ‘threatening manner’ in July 2000. Fernandez y Krohn had Jubilee in 2012. JC1’s first action upon Franco’s death was to name already tried to assassinate Pope John Paul II. Winner – QE2 Adolfo Suarez as Prime Minister of Spain; an action that stirred up something of a s**tstorm amongst So the overall winner is QE2! Well done the Falangists. He legalised the Communist Party Ma'am. And a valiant effort from JCI! and generated left-wing support for the monarchy.

25 January 1989. UK. John Cleese wins a High Court battle against the Daily Mirror which had claimed that he had become like his character Basil Fawlty. He proved he doesn't mention 'The War' in real life.

Cinema Intermediate

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od, hard-hitting reality and el amor. This month is looking like a good time to visit the cinemas with a variety of films on in the original version (V.O.) language English.

Love and Other Drugs| (Edward Zwick) Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway, Oliver Platt. Well, where to start with this one? Probably the trailer if you really want to know whether you’re going to like it or not. The story follows the ‘free-spirited’ Maggie (Hathaway) who refuses to have people tell her what to do with her life and Jamie (Gyllenhall), a ‘charming’ pharmaceutical salesman who uses women for his own purpose and nothing more. If you’ve made it this far down into the review and still have even a modicum of interest, then I applaud you. The result of their relationship catches them both off guard, more so (I would suspect) than the audience itself. L. O. V. E. There you go. I’ve spelt it out for you. Now go & watch it! Interesting Fact| The film is based on a book called ‘Hard Sell: The Evolution of A Viagra Salesman’ written by Jamie Ready (a former Pfizer rep). There is no love interest in the book. Hollywood suits are probably wondering why box office sales are at an all time low. UGC Ciné Cité: 14 January onwards; times tbc

The Hereafter| (Clint Eastwood) Matt Damon, Joy Mohr, Cécile De France. George (Damon) has a connection to the afterlife that has earned him a living before, but has left him unable to cope. Constantly pressured into returning to his former career, he finally gives in and agrees to consult those seeking answers in their lives: a French journalist and victim of a tsunami in Thailand (De France) and a London schoolboy who has lost somebody very close to him are just two of those who look to George for some of those answers. UGC Ciné Cité: 21 January onwards; times tbc

Inside Job| (Charles Ferguson), Matt Damon narrates this upclose and in-depth investigation into what actually caused the financial crisis of 2008 that many are still recovering from. Economists, journalists, politicians and academics are interviewed as the crisis is painted as something that could have been avoided and something that some people knew was going to happen. The filmmakers track the meltdown over the globe interviewing key players & commentators. Expect disgusting bonuses for Wall Street fat cats, political corruption and, more importantly, the effect this has all had on the individual i.e. YOU! Frustrating, unbelievable & mesmerising at the same time. Interesting Fact| The list of interviewees pales in comparison to that of those who refused interviews. Timothy Geithner – current US Secretary of Treasury, Laura Tyson – Economic Advisor to the president, Ben Bernanke – current Chairman of the Federal Reserve and many, many more – www.sonyclassics.com/insidejob UGC Ciné Cité: 11 February onwards; times tbc

The King's Speech| (Hooper) Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush We reviewed this last month, but if you missed it, don't panic! It's still fabulous, and is still in VLC. Babel: 12pm, 2:30pm, 5pm, 7.30pm, 10pm Mao's last dancer| (Beresford) Bruce Greenwood, Kyle Maclachlan We reviewed this last month. It's getting rave reviews and is now on at Babel. Babel: 8pm, 10.15pm UGC Ciné Cité, Avda Tirso de Molina, 16, www.ugc.es, Babel, C/ Vicente Sancho Tello, 10, www.cinesalbatrosbabel.com

30 January. Wartime leaders Adolf Hitler and Winston Churchill are linked by this day in history. Hitler was made Chancellor of Germany in 1933 and Churchill's state funeral took place in 1965.

Expat life| Can you change your swing?

ere we are again; Resolution time! The gyms are chockablock, folks are sweating their way up and down the park and health food shops are doing a roaring trade. Whether New Year’s Resolutions are your thing or not, January tends to be a time for lifestyle change. In 2005, while comfortably the world’s best golfer, Tiger Woods resolved to change his swing. "I felt like I could get better. People thought it was asinine for me to change my swing after I won the Masters by 12 shots... why would you want to change that? Well, I thought I could become better." Where does this urge to change come from? It may be instinctual, emotional or perhaps at this time of the year, it’s just a biological call for help from a body-craving detox after the excesses of the festive season. Sometimes, change really means just minor modification, a basic equation, do less of one thing and more of another. Consume less and exercise more, right? So, are we talking about a tweak to a decent swing or a complete overhaul? Any observations are case dependant but fundamental change requires more than gym membership and a blender. There are varied routes to this expat existence, but a desire for change is at the heart of most stories. It’s a bold step moving to another country

and one that is very different from the need to run off a few pounds post-Christmas. It would be hard to say that people who fall into the expat category are afraid of change, more likely, we may be accused of being afraid to stay the same. Perhaps, more than others we understand the old adage that you can’t expect different results while using the same old methods. But, isn’t it just as easy to fall into the same old habits in a new country as at home? In the words of Pig Killer from Mad Max, "Remember, no matter where you go, there you are." New Years resolutions tend to be temporary and fleeting, so perhaps we should discard the terms modification and resolution in favour of self-development. We can’t fight time; we will get older, fatter, uglier, but equally, time can be a friend if you think along the lines of development and what can be achieved over time. Anthony Keidis (Red Hot Chili Peppers) spoke of this in relation to his job: "Going on tour is weird because you leave your house and you come back a year later and if you don’t go out of your way to continue to grow as a person while you’re away you might accidently come back a year later and you’re the exact same guy as you were when you left..." A golfer’s swing is notoriously difficult to modify in the same way that lifestyles are to change, but if we discard these seasonal delusions in favour of long term development perhaps it will be ultimately more rewarding and Tiger might be right: we can become better. Eoghan Ryan

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31 January 1876. US. All Red Indians had to move into reservations by this date or be deemed hostile. Many could not make it on time and others did not even realise this proclamation had been made.

This is me| Jason Webster

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Tell us about your new book. It’s a crime novel set in Valencia, involving © Mark Pringle the murder of Spain’s top bullfighter. My detective, Chief Inspector Max Cámara of the Spanish National Police, hates bullfighting, so working on this case is a struggle for him - not least because it brings up issues in himself to do with violence and his inability to have children. So in some ways the books deals with sex and violence, aggression and fertility, and how there’s this strange connection between them, encapsulated in the eroticism of the bullfight. What do you hope/think the reaction will be from your current readers? Favourable, I hope. Clearly, as a novel, it’s different on one level from what I’ve done in the past. But really I view myself as a story-teller, and this book, like my others, has a strong story-telling element to it. It’s one of the great things about the crime genre - there’s a problem and it gets solved in some kind of way, so a good narrative and plot are essential. But there are other connections with my previous books. Firstly it’s about Spain, obviously. But also there’s a relationship between a detective and the first-person ‘searcher’ narrator in DUENDE, ANDALUS, GUERRA and SACRED SIERRA. They’re both faced with a question and are trying to work out the answer. So there’s a fair amount of me in the character of Max Cámara, although we’re very different in many ways. It seems to be a change of direction - What was the idea behind this ? I wanted to do something new, but still working within the ‘canvas’ of Spain. It felt like a natural progression. I’ve already completed the second in the Max Cámara series and am starting the third now. Also, I wanted to write about Valencia, and it felt easier doing so in a novel. There are many things you can say, not all of which you may agree with. But you can put comments into the mouths of other characters. That’s quite liberating.

"writes staggeringly well" The Times

"inspiring" Chris Stewart in The Telegraph

or many, Jason Webster needs no introduction. Author of 4 highly acclaimed books based around life in Spain, Jason has taken fame in a modest, easy going way. We asked him about life, guilty pleasures and his new work, 'Or the bull kills you'.

Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say? Yes, I get emails. They’re always very nice. There’s some school teacher who corrects the punctuation mistakes, but it’s done in a tongue-in-cheek way. What would you say is your interesting writing quirk? I use a stripy Moroccan carpet at the start of a book to help me work out the plot. As scenes come into my head I write them down on cards and then place them in vertical lines on the horizontal stripes of the carpet. Once they’re in place I can start shuffling them around and see how certain threads juxtapose with others that are operating in the storyline. It’s a kind of magic carpet, and helps me fly around the idea… 1 February 1965. London. US rock star PJ Proby is banned for obscenity by the BBC after deliberately splitting his trousers on stage. It all went downhill from here and he eventually ended up as a shepherd in Yorkshire.

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Where do you get your information or ideas for your books? From anywhere and everywhere. From conversations with friends, comments overheard in the street, other books, the media, the ether… The curious thing about writing is that when you’re really inside an idea, suddenly everything you come across can be useful to you. It’s as if you’ve stepped into some Wonderland where everything you see or hear is relevant to what you’re writing. What was the most surprising things you learned in creating your books? Getting a book published is just the beginning, not the end. There are many more struggles to face once you’re in print: getting reviewed (at all), getting on the right side of booksellers, maintaining interest in your work. All this is becoming harder and harder, and requires a constant effort, running parallel to the actual writing of books. Which living person do you most admire? The writer and adventurer Robert Twigger. He’s trained on the toughest martial arts course in the world (with the Tokyo riot police), hunted the world’s biggest snake in Borneo, crossed Canada in a birch-bark canoe and walked large sections of the Sahara. And his books are marvellous. In a world obsessed with safety, it’s wonderful that people like him are still around. What is your guiltiest pleasure? I try not to feel guilty about anything - down that road lies madness. That said, my Dry Martinis are like rocket fuel.

"an exceptional writer" The Guardian

"a clever, hugely readable interpreter of Spain" The Independent

What is your work schedule like when you're writing? I’m disciplined. You have to be; you can’t sit around ‘waiting for inspiration’. Writing is a skill, much like anything else. So working at it, hard, over many years, is the key. Eventually you develop a kind of writing ‘muscle’ that you then have to keep in shape. When I’m working on a book I do 2,000 words a day minimum, and I simply don’t get up out of my chair until that’s done. Sometimes it takes all day, sometimes it takes a couple of hours. But the words have to get written. It’s the only way to get the book finished.

What is your most treasured possession? Certain highly sensitive parts of my body. What is your most unappealing habit? Taking the piss. What is the most important lesson life has taught you? Try to live as many lives as possible in the one life you get. Jason's new book 'Or the bull kills you' will be available from Amazon and play.com from 3 February.

6 February 1958. Munich. 23 die including 7 Manchester United footballers when their plane crashes on the runway during take-off. The crash was caused by thick snow.

Live events

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hristmas, New Year and Kings feel like they happened a lifetime ago, and we're itching to get out into the city and the community to hear great live music. Here's what we're looking forward to this month. If you have any music events coming up, let us know! MTV Winter| As at time of going to print no news had Café del Duende| C/ Turia, 62 (VLC) | A great place been made available to the public with regard to the next to catch some decent flamenco from Thursday to Saturday installment of the free yearly concert at from 23:30 onwards. the Arts & Sciences Buildings for MTV www.cafedelduende.com Winter. The Arctic Monkeys concert last February went down a storm despite the freezing temperatures and with Franz Ferdinand and The Cure as the previous two headliners it's sure to be a big name. Benicassim Festival| 14-17/7 Line up announced! Already bursting

Durango Poligono Industrial La Closa (Meliana) | Lots of great bands here with an emphasis on real music. Check their new webpage www.durangoclub.es. Palacio de Congresos| Avda/ Cortes Valencianas, 60 (VLC) | 20-30/01 sees the Abba

with quality it includes Arcade Fire, music based spectacular Mamma Arctic Monkeys, Portishead, The Mia hit the stage. With the real Strokes, Beirut, Elbow, Primal Scream band threatening to get back and Tinie Tempah. More to come. 4-Day ticket €160. together in 2011 this is a great way to re-live their www.fiberfib.com Ambivalencia Festival| 12/03 If your musical tastes are rooted in old skool hip-hop then you are in for a real treat. De La Soul, Afrika Bambaataa, Grandmaster Flash and DJ Lord from Public Enemy are playing the Ambivalencia Festival. Tickets €35.

music before that happens. Tickets from €37.50. www.palcongres-vlc.com Sala Matisse| C/ Campoamor, 60 (VLC) | 22/01 If U2 is your thing then get along to see The Edge Project tribute band. 10pm. €8 or €9 on the door. Afterwards you can dance the night away to remixed U2 songs. Check out

www.ambivalenciafestival.com El Palau de la Música| C/ Alameda, 30 (VLC) | 04/02 Benefit concert for anti-hunger charity Manos Unidos (United Hands). The work of Mahler will be performed. Tickets start at €20. 7.30pm. The Orchestra of Paris are planning to play. Check the website for confirmation. www.palaudevalencia.com Sala Loco| C/ Erudito Orellano, 12 (VLC) | Soft, delicate and beautiful Refree is playing on 23/01 (10€) after touring with Josh Rouse on his European and American tours. On 28/01 Peter Aduana will be performing his new album 'Joy' for the first time. Radio Kaos are on after and they perform their take on

Matisse’s ‘So de sons’ nights on Thursday which showcase Valencian talent and are free (23:00)! You’ll also catch some decent exhibitions and independent theatre there too! www.salamatisse.es & www.wahwahclub.com. Jimmy Glass| C/ Baja, 28 (VLC) | This place often features some great talent from the local and international scene. There are duo piano sessions every other Tuesday at 22:15. 18/01 (12€) Albert Bover and Horacio Fumero are playing their latest 'Caminhos Cruzados' and on 25/01 (12€) Lucho Aguilar Quartet featuring Antonio Serrano. Both shows start at 9.30pm. www.jimmyglassjazz.net Music Box| C/ Pintor Zariñera, 16 (VLC) & Radio City| C/ Santa Teresa 19

predominantly 80's and 90's British Music. Tickets €5 and €8 with a CD. www.lococlub.org Excuse me| 22/01 1am-7am Northern Soul your thing? 4 great DJ's are bringing their boxes of Wigan Pier vibe rarities to the Excuse Me Club (C/ Tomasos 14). Look for

(VLC) | Both are open every day of the week with visiting DJs and are popular with tourists, locals and students alike. On Tuesdays you’ll also find live flamenco music at Radio City (23:00, €7 with free drink). www.radiocityvalencia.com and www.myspace.com/ themusicboxclub.

them on Facebook. 7 February 1886. South Africa. While building a cottage for a fellow prospector in the Transvaal, Englishman George Walker struck gold when he stumbled upon the worlds largest and richest reef of the precious yellow metal.

Music onfucius said "Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without." This month John Blakey has been pleasured by:

Album to nod your head to | Kno – Death is Silent It has been a long time since a Hip-Hop album has impressed me, but Kno’s first solo album as artist rather than producer is right up my street. It is a concept album of sorts, as it takes you through a barrage of death and sex with obscure samples, pianos, strings and synths, but still keeps your head banging and your chest pounding. It remains dark and dirty throughout and will be an underground classic if it is not already. Stand out tracks| The New Day (death has no meaning) and Death Is Silent

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Album to mosh to| Scott Pilgrim Vs The World - Original Soundtrack Produced by Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich, and arranged by filmmaker Edgar Wright the soundtrack to the latter's Scott Pilgrim Vs the World is a great complement to the film, but stands alone as a collection of records that grunge, squeal and romp over the speakers. The album contains original tracks composed by Beck as well as a previously unreleased track from Metric, as well as songs from Broken Social Scene, Beachwood Sparks, The Bluetones, Blood Red Shoes, Black Lips and Frank Black. Classics from Marc Bolan & T. Rex and the Rolling Stones make it an album that you need to hear whether you have come across the film yet or not (equally brilliant!). Great tracks| Anthems For A Seventeen Year Old Girl - Broken Social Scene, Scott Pilgrim - Plumtree Album To chill out to| Single Man – Soundtrack The soundtrack for the film A Single Man (directed by Tom Ford, starring Colin Firth) is a beautiful, pensive piece of art that complements a film about love and loss perfectly. Abel Korzeniowski and Shigeru Umebyashi have put together a soundtrack of heartfelt quality, with verdant strings and vivid piano arrangements that deserves to be appreciated by classical aficionados and laymen alike. Haunting and lamentful at times it draws upon themes of sorrow and solitude and carries itself through the album like a dream of colour & soul. Stand out tracks| Drowning and The Stillness Of Mind. John Blakey Other releases| Daft Punk with the TRON Legacy soundtrack; Sufjan Stevens with EP ‘All Delighted People’; posthumous album ‘Michael’ from Michael Jackson; Duran Duran; Jamie Foxx; Ghostface Killah; Jay-Z. Music news| BEADY EYE lead Lyrics written by a young AMY singer LIAM GALLAGHER has WINEHOUSE have been found Teen popsters MCFLY will be promised ‘Different Gear, Still on a rubbish dump in North visiting the humble village of Speeding’ (out 28 Feb) is as London. They apparently muse Burjassot on 6 May. The concert good as ‘Definitely Maybe’. Free on fame and getting a record will take place at La Casa de download new tracks ‘Bring the deal amidst some A-Level work. Cultura and tickets are available Light’ and ‘Four Letter Word’ to A comeback tour is planned, from www.nvivo.es. check for yourself. with Brazil this month.

7 February 1989. Australia. A shower of sardines rained down on the town of Ipswich near Brisbane. It was thought that a recent violent storm caused updraughts which sucked the fish into the sky.

Recipe|Dorada a la sal, fish baked in a salt crust

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t may sound odd to bake an entire fish in salt, but it is perhaps one of the easiest ways to make perfectly cooked fish. The salt creates a layer of insulation around the fish and basically turns into its own little oven. Contrary to what you might think, the fish does not absorb the salt. In fact, you might have to sprinkle some salt on your fish before you serve it! Dorada a la sal is a popular dish throughout Spain but it is not exclusive to Spain. Fish, and meat and vegetables, baked in salt are common throughout the world. If you are wary of cooking fish because you are afraid it will come out dry, try this recipe. The salt locks in the moisture and makes it difficult to overcook. The best part is removing the salt; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like being a kid in a sandbox! In Spain dorada or lubina (sea bass) are the most commonly used fish in this recipe. Make sure you tell the fishmonger that you are making this recipe and have the fished cleaned accordingly. Here in Spain you can simply buy sal para hornear (salt for baking) at any supermarket. If you are outside of Spain you can use Kosher salt. If you want to get creative you can try mixing the salt with herbs or spices, or even stuff the fish with lemon, onion and garlic. The fish is delicious served alone or with the sauce. Lia Wallon reLIAble eats www.reLIAbleeats.blogspot.com

For the fish| (Serves 4 people) 4 whole doradas (approximately 300g each) 3-4 kg of salt (sal para hornear) For the sauce| 8 large spoonfuls of olive oil 2 garlic gloves, cut into small pieces Handful of parsley leaves Salt 5-6 drops of sherry vinegar

Wow factor| This dish will bring oohs and aaahs! Effort| Easy The fish|

one Heat oven to 240Ë&#x161;C. Rinse fish & pat dry. two Cover the bottom of a large rectangular baking pan with salt (approximately 2 centimetres deep). Lay the fish in the pan next to each other but not touching. Cover completely with salt until no skin shows. three Press salt firmly on top of the fish. Sprinkle salt very lightly with water, using either your fingertips or a spray bottle. four Bake for 45 minutes. Use a sharp knife to break the salt. Remove the chunks carefully, trying not to rip the skin of the fish. Carefully move each fish to a plate. Use a pastry brush or dry towel to remove excess salt. The sauce| one Heat the olive oil in small pot over medium heat. two Add the garlic. three Remove from heat as soon as the garlic starts to brown. four Add parsley, salt to taste, and vinegar.

8 February 1983. Ireland. Shergar the record-breaking 1981 Epsom Derby winner is kidnapped by a masked gunman and never seen again. The IRA, although thought responsible, have never admitted it.

Orange Cocktails

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he oranges are ripening on the trees so this is probably the best month to start squeezing for your cocktail season. And next month this seasons fresh strawberries will come back into shops too so incorporate a few of those into your drinks. It doesn't have to be heavy on the alcohol: virgin drinks are super tasty too - replace the Cava with fizzy apple juice! We put a lot of time into researching this, and the key idea to remember is - bad in, bad out. So don't skimp on your ingredients. Here's some delicious uses of the humble orange to help put a spring in your step. one Agua de Valencia The smoother fruity fizzy. 25cl cold Cava 75cl orange juice 10cl Cointreau 50g sugar two Agua de Valencia The fizzier original alcoholic version. 70 cl cold Cava 20 cl orange juice 5cl Gin 5cl Vodka A pinch of sugar Put all the contents into a pitcher and stir gently. No need to add any ice.

three Mimosa 20's lunchtime tipple

four Cinderella A virgin fruit cocktail

2cl Triple Sec/Grand Marnier 2cl fresh orange juice 10cl chilled Cava Place orange juice in the glass, followed by the Triple Sec and Cava. No ice. Serve with a little curled peel. Serve in a champagne flute or cocktail glass.

3cl lemon juice 3cl orange juice 3cl pineapple juice 6cl ginger ale/club soda A dash of grenadine Pour juices into a shaker with the ice. Shake well. Strain into the glass. Add club soda/ginger ale and then grenadine. Serve in a tall glass with a slice of pineapple.

Tip| 4 oranges make around 50cl of juice.

20 80

percentage of fresh fruit eaten by people in Spain which consists of, wait for it, oranges!

percentage of the EUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s total production of oranges - sourced in Spain and Italy.

Charity| Cottolengo

n my first visit to Cottolengo - a Catholic charity which houses women and children suffering from incurable diseases - I expected to enter into a quiet, dark and rather sombre-looking building. Upon arriving, however, a warm welcome from one of the sisters and a stroll through the brightly lit, spacious corridors quickly knocked my preconceptions on the head. Chatting to Sister Maria, one of the nine nuns helping to run the residence, she tells me that Cottolengo is “a big, happy family” where those with no money for proper medical care can live and be looked after in a happy and friendly environment. Maria went on to say, “...many think that a place like this would be sad and depressing but we live in the happiness that we have little of which to lose”. This certainly seems the case on wandering through the residence where it is plain to see that nuns, patients and even volunteers share a close bond, as I watched them exchange warm greetings, listen to music together and share jokes. Sickness is, of course, a daily part of life here and while a normal routine is seen as vital with children attending classes every day and also taking part, along with the adults, in extra-curricular activities such as theatrical performances and arts and crafts, help from the wider community is in high demand. Malou Herkes

Nativity made by the children

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The charity receives no aid from the government or from any other organisation and, as such, relies heavily on the donations of food, clothes and money from the public. Help in other ways is also needed and there are plenty of ways you can lend a hand too: from assisting during meal times to helping patients writing letters or darning old clothes. Now an international charity with nine centres across Spain, Portugal and Columbia, Cottolengo’s humble beginnings started in Barcelona in 1932 where success led to the creation of the Valencia branch eleven years later. Since then, Cottolengo has welcomed sick people of all ages and religions with the sole criteria that they have no other means of supporting themselves. Now at their maximum capacity of seventy residents, the Valencia Cottolengo still remains a close-knit and happy family but one, nevertheless, in need of your support. If you want to get involved, don’t hesitate to stop in for an informal chat at the residence. Malou Herkes How can you help? Volunteer to help during mealtimes. Help to sort & mend patients’ clothes. Donate your old clothes. Give a donation – however small. Give food. Dr. Vincente Zaragoza, 87 Benimaclet 963 692 096 www.cottolengopalegre.org

9 February 1893. Paris. Excluding Salome's Dance of the Seven Veils, the first official strip-tease takes place in the Moulin Rouge Caberet Club and was preformed by an artist's model named only 'Mona'.

Health| Reduce your risk of cancer

retha Franklin, the queen of soul music, has recently been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer, highlighting and reminding us of the importance of prevention & screening. Some cancers are unavoidable, but only a small amount are hereditary (including breast, renal, prostate and Melanoma cancers). However The International Union Against Cancer (UICC) believe that 40% of cancers can be prevented. 4 February is World Day of Cancer. This is an internationally recognised anniversary used to raise awareness of cancer and to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment, organised by UICC since 2005 with over 350 cancer-fighting organisations. The campaign each year focusses on a key issue. This year will teach children and teenagers to avoid UV exposure by being 'sun smart', perfect for us given our high exposure to the sun every day. The statistics on cancer are scary, with 1 in 3 people falling ill with it. The World Health Organisation believes this will increase due to a decline in our standard of healthy eating, a lack of exercise, smoking, and an aging population. But the statistics on recovery are improving with better screening and care, leading to more than 40% of diagnosed patients alive 10 years' later (BBC). www.uicc.org Provide a smoke-free environment for children Be physically active, eat a balanced, healthy diet, and avoid obesity Learn about vaccines for virus-related liver and cervical cancers Avoid over-exposure to the sun

Make it interesting| Make fruit smoothies at the weekend Take walks on the beach with a friend Offer to put sun screen on your partner Make virgin cocktails with the kids Take a hike in the mountains Drink a cup of green tea (stop smoking!)

In the news| June 2010| eat fish. A study of 400,000 people over 8 years found that those with higher levels of both Vitamin B6 and methionine in their blood appeared to be more highly protected against lung cancer. These magic vitamins occur naturally in fish (see Recipe). December 2010| take 75mg of aspirin a day, preferably nightly with milk. Tests of 25,000 patients over 10 years found the risk of cancer death was reduced by 20% over 20 years. For individual cancers the reduction was about 40% for bowel, 30% for lung, 10% for prostate and 60% for oesophageal cancers. December 2010| Reduce alcohol. Scientists found an increased risk of cancers for drinkers. This included breast cancer for which â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;regular consumption of even 18g of alcohol per day the relative risk is significantly increased. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC; 18g = just under 2 regular glasses of wine/cava = 1.3 pints of beer = nearly 6cl of whiskey. The European Code Against Cancer recommend just one alcoholic drink per day for women, and two for men (see our virgin Cocktails).

9 February 1989. Explorers find what they believe is the world's oldest boomerang. Made from a mammoth's tooth and over 30,000 years old it was found not in Australia but in Poland! That's some throw!

Advanced

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Advanced

Books

Competition

he Long Goodbye – Raymond Chandler Mention ‘Detective Fiction’ to most people and they usually think immediately of Sherlock Holmes or if they are classic cinema fans they may conjure the mental image of Humphrey Bogart as the cynical private eye Philip Marlowe in The Big Sleep. In fact, for many people that image is so ubiquitous these days that it has perhaps become a bit of a stereotype. However, when Raymond Chandler wrote the original novel of The Big Sleep, in the late 1930s, he created something very unique – a crime novel which was also literary. Until then Crime Fiction had a decidedly ‘downmarket’ reputation. This stuff was pulp-fiction, not Literature. Chandler changed that with his novels in the 1940s and 50s. Indeed, the poet WH Auden said of Chandler “His books should be read and judged not as escape literature but as works of art”. The Long Goodbye was Chandler’s last novel, published in 1953 – and it received the Edgar Allen Poe Award for Best Novel in 1955. Featuring Marlowe of course, The Long Goodbye is one of Chandler’s best novels. Marlowe meets and befriends Terry Lennox, ‘...the politest drunk I ever met...’ Over a period of months their friendship develops and then one night Lennox appears at Marlowe’s house with a gun. It seems that Lennox has possibly murdered his wife and is now fleeing to Mexico. Marlowe helps

Lennox by driving him to the Mexican border and is then arrested himself and interrogated by the police. A few days later Marlowe is released after Lennox has been found in a Mexican town – dead. Lennox has apparently committed suicide. Marlowe starts to investigate the murder of Lennox’s wife and Lennox’s own death as he feels that something about the events seem strange and nonsensical. As with all Marlowe novels, the plot turns can seem so unlikely as to be unbelievable and these novels are full of character ‘types’ – the tough but fair policeman (and the tough and corrupt one too), the gangster’s moll, the mafia hoods and of course Marlowe himself as the wisecracking, cynical private detective. So why are these books so good? Well, first the quality of the writing. The Long Goodbye is beautifully put together, full of lyrical language that is a joy to read. The dialogue is arguably even better, Chandler’s ability to capture the natural rhythms of how people actually speak a lesson for any budding writer. Also, Chandler’s books are more than simple detective stories; they offer the reader razor-sharp social commentary and a window onto a lost world – 1940s America – which is as good as anything else written about that period – whether it is Steinbeck or Hemingway. So, arise Raymond Chandler and join the ranks of your literary peers – you deserve it. Iain Armstrong

ompetition results| Last month's winner was Tony who correctly counted the number of kings in the magazine - there were four! Thanks to everyone who entered and well done Tony, prize coming your way! anuary competition| This month's competition is a royal delight. Just tell us how many grandchildren King Juan Carlos I has been blessed with. Answers to invlceditor@gmail.com by 31 January.

Number of years that the remains of Mrs Raymond Chandler (Cissy Chandler) stayed in storage after her death until she was buried in 2010. Chandler was too heart- broken following her death to deal with them.

11 February 1990. South Africa. After 27 years as a political prisoner on Robben Island, Nelson Mandela is freed and goes onto become President and remove the apartheid policies of South Africa forever.

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Animals - the Iberian Lynx

Over-hunting, road-kills, habitat loss and ou would have had to have been on Mars to have failed to notice the well- disease, (not only for the cats themselves but for publicised decline of the world's tiger the rabbits whose numbers are also declining due population over the last 100 years. They have to a loss of territory, mixamitosis and hemorrhagic pneumonia), have meant that been hunted to near extinction this icon of the Iberian peninsula for their skins and their is now in need of protection. perceived medicinal qualities. When successful breeding does This is a decline which has been occur there is also the chance exacerbated by a reduction in that the new siblings will turn on its available hunting territories each other and fight to the death, and from a drop in numbers of perhaps an issue of hierarchy or, actual prey as mankind continues as some believe, as a result of a its relentless destruction of the change in the hormonal balance earth's natural resources. And of the cat around the time it while it is believed that tigers switches from its mothers milk in the wild may die out over the to meat. next 100 years, the wildlife chiefs Charities are aiming to boost believe that it is much closer to rabbit numbers, move cats to home that the first cat species to safer areas and then safeguard become extinct may occur since those areas from development, the sabre-toothed tiger 10,000 ÂŠJosĂŠ MarĂa Alvarez and monitor breeding years ago. For over a million years the golden eyes of the programmes where siblings are separated from Iberian Lynx have stared out over the wide expanses each other at 60 days before any potential problems of the Mediterranean. With the face of a house-cat, occur. Radio collars are also being fitted in a bid albeit with the sort of whiskers that wouldn't be amiss to track their forages which can be over areas of on an old, tattooed, rum-fuelled sailor, and coupled 200 km2. with its body of leopard spot-like camouflage, this This beautiful creature is in need of help, and 25 pound (11kg) feline may also be near to the end while you may never come across one in the wild, of the road. With a near total reliance on rabbits for it would be another black day for the world should food (one a day for an adult and two or three for a an animal as beautiful as this one be allowed to just mother of cubs) Europe's only endemic feline is now disappear without one hell of a cat-fight. believed to be relegated to just three small areas in www.soslynx.org Spain: Jaen; Donana National Park in Huelva; and Estimated number of Castilla - La Mancha where, in 2007, 15 of the cats Iberian Lynx left in the wild were discovered after it was previously thought that (although this varies from 100-400). they had died out.

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Name|Sunny Age| 24 months Size| Large Appearance| Brindle coloured boxer Health| Castrated and Health vaccinated. Personality| Friendly & loves being around people. Lively, likes to play ball and have fun. More info| P.E.P.A on www.pepaspain.com 650 304 746 14 February 1477. England. Margaret Brews sends a letter to John Paston in Norfolk and addressed it 'To my right welbelovyd Voluntyne' in what is thought to be the world's first Valentine's Card.

Events & Classifieds

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f you’ve got an event coming up or you are buying, selling or donating anything, drop us an email and we’ll try to give it a mention in the next issue. Markets| Mon-Montroy, Tues-Monserrat & Turis, Weds-L’Eliana Piccassent & Villamarchante, Thurs-Alaquas & Lliria, Fri -Turis, Torrente & Chiva, Sat-Real de Montroy & Torrente, Sun-Alborache Rastro Montroy| 6 Feb | Calle La Pau, Cindy or Nicolas, 960 80 25 13 or 695 100 540. Olocau Rastro/Table top sale | 30 Jan | Social Club Centre, Urb. La Lloma, Olocau, 10am-2pm. Raising funds for charity, food & refreshments available, Spaces FREE, tables available €1 each. Carolyn 962555819 or 664809608. Masia Rastro| Sun 20 Jan (every 3rd Sun of the month)| Mas Pavia Restaurante, Masia Pavia Urba, nr Monserrat. Pitches are FREE (no more than 2m per stall), just turn up, Stallholders from 9am. Amanda 625819734 or sparklesinsunshine@gmail.com.

IWC| Monthly coffee morning will be 3 February. It's at HIPERCOR - C.Comercial Ademuz, Av. Pio XII, 51 Valencia, on the top floor restaurant. It's a group of ladies who get together for Support, Friendship, Business networking, Fund raising and Activities. See www.iwc-valencia.ning.com for more information. Naturaleza y Animales, the Pedralba animal charity would like to say a very big thank you to Jenny & Roy Travers for organising a coffee morning to raise funds for us. They raised a magnificent sum of €325. Many animals have been helped with this money. If you are able to offer a temporary home to a dog or cat while it is waiting for a preeminent home, or you would like to offer a home to one of our many animals please call Lin on 962707229. WWW. NATURALEZAYANIMALES.COM

New intercambio night: The Bohemian Cafe, Paseo de Facultats, 2, VLC Mondays 8.30pm-10.30pm.

n Sudoku, every row & column of 9 numbers & 3x3 box must include all digits 1-9 in any order.

For the number puzzle, each letter is represented by a number 1-26. Crack the code! 3 letters are already in place to get you started. 15 February 1564. Pisa. Father of modern science Galileo Galilei born. Famously made to revoke his idea that the earth revolved round the sun by the Inquisition who believed the notion heresy. Spent his last years under house arrest.

Art to see

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Also exhibiting is Miguel Rael, who in comparison has a complete opposite view of the world. He portrays an alternative theme, between mental and physical, between fiction and reality using only dark tones he creates a sombre solitude mood. With his art and sculptures, he aims to portray sex, desire, emptiness and death and with an exhibition called “Harder, better, faster, stronger” in my opinion he has certainly succeeded. (From 21 January)

David Zucco

Jason Mena

he art scene in Valencia is surprisingly varied. Lurking behind every gallery door is a surprise waiting to be discovered. Rebecca went in search of independent galleries this month and tells us what she found. The Luis Adelantado Gallery| sets out in guiding talented international artists into promoting their contemporary art that follows the latest trends and current scene. Set over 5 floors, it allows the artists to exhibit an array of different media, cultures and inspirations by focusing each floor on a particular subject. David Zucco has his own clear vision of the world. It’s like he has an insight into another universe: the paranormal. He creates energetic, hypnotic images using a spectrum of bright burning colours, with his artistic flare he creates abstract pieces revealing deep and hidden aspects of the world, invisible to the naked eye.

The Luis Adelantado Gallery , C/ Bonaire 6 Valencia Monday to Saturday, 10am-2pm, 4.30pm-8.30pm| !Free!

Gallerie Nave| I had stepped into a dream, into a bizarre fantasy world. But I had taken the first step and there was no turning back. This quaint space is certainly no normal gallery. The images are unique and completely out there, almost bordering on wild. The prints themselves are an eclectic mix of cartoon images, German soldiers and soft hearts and flowers, all within one piece. Though many of the prints have a cartoon resemblance, they are often broken up with photo like black and white images, which invite layers and depth into the colour whirlwind. Not only do the images keep your mind racing, but each image is surrounded in a thick gold frame. Encased in the frame, are glossy round doll like eyes just to add a touch of hocus pocus. From monopoly sets and tv cartoon characters to the German army and 3D golden eyes, I was in euphoria. (until 21 March) Rebecca French Gallerie Nave, Calle Nave, 10 Valencia Tuesday to Sunday, 11am-2pm, 5pm-9pm, Saturday 12am-2pm, 6pm-9pm| !Free! Finished with your inVLC ? Pass it on to a friend..!

saber inglés te abre puertas student // understand // learning // education // exams development // www.britishcouncil.es // opportunities career // training // research // qualifications // skills Infórmate en el 96 339 29 80, en nuestra web o ven a conocernos en la Avenida de Cataluña 9 - 46020 Valencia

BRITISH COUNCIL — 70 YEARS IN SPAIN