inVLC December/January

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WITH | Santa takes on the Kings | Charming Chulilla | Where the fun's at | ÂĄAprende inglĂŠs con nosotros! | and much more...

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What's going on in Valencia’s News It's a Holidays & parties frenzy y - stunning g Chulilla Valencia community La Ola Fresca sca is our Cafe of th the he mo mont month nth nt h Enjoy life cheaply heaply with Free in in Valencia Vale Va lenc le ncia nc ia Your photoss for ‘light' Declan goess where no man has ass gone gon onee before beffo befo be ore r The newcomer mer John is on his trasero tras tr aser as e o er Sport - All your football and marathon mara ma rath ra thon th on n info iinf nfo nf Talking teaching aching is counting the the days da ays I heart Valencia encia - the festivee days da ays are aree on on The cinema a is bursting with with new new v.o. vv.o .o.. releases .o rele re leas le ases ases Expat life wonders about abou ut sport! sp porrt!

Live music to jump to Hot new musical usical releases es are are back bac ack k Lia goes local cal in Recipe Katie is raising sing money for HCPT HCP PT in in Charity C ar Ch arit ity it y We stop smoking moking in Health Iain loves his Books. Also Competition Co omp mpet ettittio etit on The ugliest Animal Events & Classifi lassifieds keep you you u in in the th he know know kn o Floral beauty ty in Art by Herminia Herrmiini nia Art to see - what’s on and where wh her ere by b Rebecca Rebec eb becc eccca

A big hand to Bradford from Orange Language Academy for his invaluable help!

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ne of the aspects of Valencia which we love is how international it all is. On the surface it's not so obvious, but dig deeper, and there it is. In recent weeks we have celebrated Thanksgiving, St. Andrew's Day and Hanukkah and we've still got Christmas, New Year and El Día de los Reyes to come. The benefits of living in this amazing city are numerous with people coming together and sharing their best cultural activities and fun with each other. You can join other nationalities mixing and sharing at the language intercambios, which vary from organised group discussion exercises to free-forall chinwags and excursions out and about. Check where you can join in the fun on page 31.

We've enjoyed receiving your feedback this month - thank you to everyone who took the time to give such positive encouragement.

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inVLC now on...

We hope that this month continues to entertain, educate and inform as we search out new spots to visit. Malou hit new cafe La Ola Fresca in Benimaclet for a great cup of tea and Nacho introduced us to the stunning views which await us in the Community town of Chulilla. I Heart Valencia this month gives us the lowdown on two huge festive days, Christmas & El Día de los Reyes.

All of our contributors have come up trumps this month with great articles including language, sport, cycling and...errr...bottoms! Thank you to all our contributors who make the magazine what it is!

We've now got our 'inVLC' facebook page running where we'll put all the latest news to ensure that you stay on top of the fun in Valencia and the Community. Add us to your friends & stay in touch!

Happy reading, Andy, Kelly & Sean

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.

First certificate Advanced Intermediate

A huge thank you to Clara & Javi for proofing the translations!

500,000,000 the number of active users of facebook.

Important numbers Fire| 080 Local police | 092 Emergencies Medical| 061 General| 112 Embassies/consulates French| 96 351 0359 USA| 96 351 6973 British| 96 521 60 22 Dutch| 96 341 4633 German| 96 310 62 53 Legal chat| We do our very best to strive for accuracy in this magazine but does not accept responsibility for unintentional errors or omissions, accuracy of advertisements or contributors’ opinions.

We aim at all times not to offend.

Deposito legal| V-816-2006

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.

When you are finished with your inVLC , pass it on to a friend..!

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onely Planet| Every year the traveller's bible that is Lonely Planet chooses its 10 top cities which it encourages its readers to visit in the forthcoming year. This year along with some surprise entries such as Newcastle in Australia and Delhi in India, the city of Valencia has been included on the list at Number 5. Rating the 10 best anything usually causes much debate and of course it is very much a perspective thing but inVLC has to agree with Valencia's inclusion this year.

Valencia seems to be the city that hides itself well from the outside world but with so much going on here such as the America's Cups, F1, Tennis, the Arts and Sciences Buildings, the Mediterranean setting and even the Holy Grail, it was only a matter of time before word got out. With inclusion on lists like this the city is about to be discovered by a whole new appreciative audience.

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o smoke without cigarettes| January 2 2011 might see a landmark change in public policy if Spain implements the long awaited/feared smoking ban.

The new rules are in line with the policies of Western Europe's most anti-smoking countries and will therefore be extensive. No smoking signs will appear in bars, restaurants, clubs and many other places including children’s play-parks (which I'm sure even smokers would deem to be a good thing). Spain has for a long time been a bastion for Europe's smokers with cheap cigarettes and smokers allowed to light up pretty much anywhere so how the ban will affect the bar, restaurant and club businesses remains to be seen. Clearly for non-smokers the ban will make for more pleasant wining and dining experiences across the country. In better news for smokers*, free membership 'Smoking Clubs' will be forming in bar and restaurant doorways starting on the same date. *perhaps not health wise.

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he Fat One| Every December in Spain the biggest lottery in the world takes place. Named El Gordo with a total prize fund last year of €2.25 billion (70% of total sales) it has been estimated that 98% of all Spanish adults participate.

The Spanish Lottery in its present form has been running since 1812 but Spain has had a lottery since 1763, when it was used to raise funds for the Spanish side in the Napoleonic War. Should you wish to participate, tickets aren't cheap. A billete is €200 & is split into 10 decimos.

They can then be bought for €20. It may seem a lot, but the chances in winning some money are reckoned to be 1:3.

It is not a simple lottery to understand so before investing we suggest you read up on how it all works. www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Spanish_Christmas_Lottery This year's El Gordo takes place on 22 December.

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he dark side of Santa| Famous all over the world for his jovial demeanour, big white beard, red overalls and little helpers it may come as a surprise to some of our younger readers that here in Spain, Santa Claus (Papa Noel), is very different to the Santa they might be used to back home. Being a good boy or girl all year in other countries means that Mr. Claus will normally visit some time during the night and leave some presents to open on Christmas morning. Here in Spain, however, things are very different. Not content with leaving no presents at all on Christmas Eve for all the good little boys and girls he actually comes and takes away the children who have been bad. He even leaves the delivery of the presents to Los Tres Reyes Magos (the three kings) to deliver on 6 January.

Bad Santa!

16 December 1773. US. Led by Samuel Adams, 150 'Sons of Liberty' disguised as Mohawk Indians sent 342 chests full of tea worth £18,000 into Boston Harbour igniting the American War of Independence.

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Holidays & parties Intermediate

his is the king of all months, quite literally here in Spain. First we'll get the excitement of the lottery phenomenon El Gordo on 22nd (see News), Christmas (see I heart Valencia) on 24th and 25th and the fun of New Year on the 31st and the 1st, followed by El Día de los Reyes, The Day of the Kings on 6th. Even by Spanish standards, this month is huge.

Christmas in Spain is not the commercial event doll representing the baby it is in other countries, partially because children Jesus or a king. For some usually celebrate El Día de los Reyes as the day families, finding the when they get their presents. The traditions include king means you will be visiting church, going to the many markets around crowned King for the the city, which continue up to 6 January (see Free day and finding the bean in Valencia) and eating great food with families and means you have to pay for friends (see Recipe). the cake.

New Year can be a big event, but it depends On Tuesday 5 January, you where you go. There will be fireworks in the Jardín can enjoy the procession of the del Turia, starting around 11.30pm. The Plaza del Three Kings in Valencia. They Ayuntamiento usually fills with people eating grapes arrive by boat at the Port at 5pm, and enjoying watching the clocks move us into the and the parade will start at next year. It won’t all be like Time Square though. 6pm in Alameda, near It’s private parties, bars and clubs that will be filled the Puente de Calatrava. to the brim with party-goers escaping the bitter cold It moves along Calle Del Justice General and happily partying the night away.

El Día de los Reyes on 6 January is known as Palanca, General Tovar, Epiphany and is the Christian day celebrating the Calle La Paz, Plaza de la revelation of God the Son as a human being in Jesus Reina, Calle San Vicente and Plaza del Ayuntamiento. Kids Christ. This is the day everyone waits for in Spain.

The traditional food is called Roscón. This is a can also head for the Plaza del round bread or pastry topped with candied fruit Ayuntamiento afterwards to see and filled with cream. Inside is a bean and a small the Kings. Have fun!

16 December 1914. Scarborough, UK. The German Navy launches a major offensive against the British seaside town believing it to be a major port. It wasn't.

Valencia community| Chulilla

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here are many villages vying for the title of the prettiest village in Valencia Community and Chulilla has a great chance of being up amongst the winners. Sitting 400 metres above sea-level and 60kms to the northwest of Valencia, this village of just 700 residents has a wonderful mixture of great views, interesting history and lots of things for tourists to do.

When viewing the town of Chulilla for the first Three baroque-style hermitages are also in the time it's easy to get carried away with superlatives.

The village seems to have grown out of the mountain village or sited very near and these date back to and comes resplendent with hanging houses a la the 14th Century and the Church, Our Lady of the Cuenca in la Pañeta area. Behind the village, the Angels - Nuestra Señora de los Angeles - dates back old, mighty castle with its thick, stone walls looks to the 15th Century.

The surrounding countryside is also exceptional down on village life giving the town a real sense of historical importance. with the River Turia winding its way slowly through It is believed that the site of the current village the canyon next to the village. This aeons-old has supported life since at least 1000BC with movement of water has lead to the formation of Iberians, Romans and Muslims all living here 100m high vertical cliffs which attract some of the between then and 1238AD when Chulilla became worlds best climbers to the area to pit their skills against the steep, stone walls. part of the Christian world.

It's clear that nature lovers will love this place, The castle, although now becoming derelict, is still a very impressive feat of engineering and has but for those of you who like to take it a bit easier been used for many different purposes over the and to relax, Chulilla also boasts a famous spa ages: as a home for nobility; a prison for clergymen; called 'Balneario de Fuecaliente' whose waters it and a stronghold for locals for defence purposes is claimed are helpful to those with skin ailments, during the Carlistas Wars of the 19th Century. liver problems and for those suffering from stress.

Car| From Valencia take the CV-35 via Lliria.

Takes 1hr-1hr 1/2.

Bus| 2hrs 20 from Valencia €5.60 with José the bus driver. Leaves bus station at 6.30pm daily and 12.15pm on Tuesdays & Fridays. Returns at 6.35am Mon-Fri & 10.05am on Saturdays. For more information www.hispanochelvana.com on the 'Valencia to Sot De Chera' timetable.

© Nacho Aparicio Fabuel

16 December 1987. Himalayan herdsmen offer a reward of £44 for help in catching thieves who cut off yaks' tails for use as dusters or decorations.

Valencia community| Chulilla First certificate

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© Nacho Aparicio Fabuel Chulilla's traditional dishes are Olla de Berzas (v) and Olla Serrana (which can be called Olla de Carne) and is made with pork. And if you fancy a dessert, there is a delicious cake called Reguiño which shouldn't be missed.

The town's main fiestas are in May, August and September. The May festival is called La Enrama where the town youngsters make offerings and sing small poems in honour of Spring. August sees

a week long celebration of Santa Barbara, (the patron saint of the village) and September sees a weekend party of cross making from all sorts of different objects and materials.

If you want to visit Chulilla, guided tours of the area are available. Call Nacho on 665 574 658.

Nacho Aparicio Fabuel Do you want to write about your Community town? Please contact us at invlceditor@gmail.com.

© Nacho Aparicio Fabuel

17 December 1830. Liberator of South American countries Simon Bolivar dies after freeing Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Panama and (the country that was named after him) Bolivia from Spanish rule.

Cafe of the month| La Ola Fresca

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hether a sleepy Sunday afternoon or a snatched lunch hour during the week, La Ola Fresca offers the perfect setting to grab a tasty meal or to relax with a coffee and homemade brownie.

Tucked away in a sleepy corner of Benimaclet, what struck me most about this newly opened, small and friendly cafe was that it seemed to offer a unique variation on your average Spanish cafe. From the fresh feel of the decor and the large, colourful teapots to the variety of scattered cookbooks and the little personal touches, La Ola Fresca definitely has a certain charm about it but perhaps what makes this little cafe so distinctive is its deli.

Helen Westwater set up this homely cafe-cumdeli (delicafe) as a way of both cooking and selling the products on her shelves of which there are an appetizing array of healthy ingredients and special dietary items from gluten-free pasta to olive oils and jams. While most of these products are sourced locally, there’s also an international element thrown into the mix, including Marmite (for you non-haters), mango chutney, Dijon mustard and fair-trade chocolate and tea.

Acting as a kind of larder, La Ola Fresca serves both to inspire cooking and, most importantly, to enjoy its outcome! Hardly difficult after a quick glance at the day’s menu which could be anything from soup and unusual salads to spaghetti bolognese or a humus wrap. As a regular there now, I can’t help but finish off the lot with a good cup of British tea (served in a pot!) and a serving of freshly baked brownie.

Throughout the week, there’s plenty to get

© Malou Herkes involved in with language intercambios on Wednesdays from 8.30pm with an international dish for €6.50, a creative hour on Sunday afternoons as well as culturally-themed food and music days.

In the lead up to Christmas, festive menus and mince-pie competitions are flavour of the month but whether it’s a seasonal lunch you’re after, a cosy cuppa or that special ingredient, you’ll be sure to find it in a small, snug and very welcoming Ola Fresca package.

Malou Herkes

Address| C/ Músico Magenti 11, Benimaclet Bottled beer| From €2 Tea| €1.50 Coffee| From €1 Menú del día| €8.50 Opening hours|9am-3.30pm & 4.30pm-9pm (except Tuesdays) Facebook| La Ola Fresca Email| helen@laolafresca.com © Malou Herkes 18 December 1912. UK. One of the most famous hoaxes ever is perpetrated with the discovery of Piltdown Man in Sussex. 41 years later experts realised the skull was in fact from an orangutan.

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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. You’ll find us: 1| pulling on our winter woolies and bracing it out into the cold to enjoy the nativity and Christmas scenes which will be around the city. Our favourites last year were in El Mercado de Colón and at the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, so we'll be heading there first.

2| visiting the markets which crop up over the city to buy some last minute gifts for our friends and family. There are three main ones in the city and a little craft market too (see below), but don't forget that the outlying towns will have great rastros (see events page) with Christmas themes too.

3| enjoying the orange trees all lit up with fairy lights before finding a great spot for a hot chocolate and some turrón near a window, and warming ourselves up watching the winter mayhem pass us by!

If you have a favourite free spot, email us at invlceditor@gmail.com and we will share it.

Av del Oeste 1/12 - 6/01

Av del Cid Sundays 13, 20,

Valencia Knits 19/12

ExpoJove 2010 26/12-4/01 11-8pm

Av del Barón de Cárcer and Central Market.

27/12 & 3/01

(handmade crafts) La Alegre Conchita C/Sant Esperit, Benimaclet

Entrance €1-€5 Avda. de las Ferias

CALL NOW! 96 131 0522 WE SPEAK ENGLISH! COMPUTERISED SPINAL CHECK IN THE CENTRO QUIROPRÁCTICO DE ROCAFORT

FREE spinal check Plaza San Sebastian, 8 Bajo 46111 ROCAFORT available

Intermediate

Free/cheap in Valencia

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Cabanyal 2/01

Have you ever experienced?

-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 December 1972. UK (Scotland). Scottish couple give birth to their first son: a fluffy haired pale boy with a tendency to grump but with a cheeky smile. Happy birthday McDoodles. 40 is it?

Your photos| Light

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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.

Monica Ferreira

Kelly D

A little bit of a Christmas theme.

Ricardo Garcia

Light and water: simple.

Mike O'Brien

The Sunset from the rear of my house in Real de Montroi one evening in late Summer.

The largest sandstone sculpture/shrine in the world was taken in Northern New Mexico USA called 'Windows in the Earth' sculpted by artist Ra Paulette.

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 ‘black and white’.

Look forward to seeing your pictures.

21 December 1988. Scotland. A bomb hidden in a transistor radio blows up in a plane flying over the tranquil town of Lockerbie. Two Libyans are convicted amid claims of their governments involvement.

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eparately both train and the bicycle are enjoyable and fun, each in their own different ways, but when you put them together, wooh! They are like fire and petrol. They open up new vistas, landscapes and experiences and you can go where some others have gone before you, but not many. You can see parts of the Community of Valencia and the provinces nearby which you might never otherwise see.

You can take the bike for free on the cercanias (regional trains) and prices for passengers are very reasonable. For example, to go to Requena, which is about 1.5 hours, costs about â‚Ź4. There is no need to book ahead on any of the lines with the exception of the Caudiel line at weekends as it's very popular and the train fills up with bikes and cyclists. Cyclists normally go up to Caudiel and then cycle down on the Via Verde Ojos Negros.

One trip you can do is catch the train from Valencia to Agres at 7am on a Saturday morning.

Get off at the Agres station and it's nearly all downhill to Alcoy through the beautiful valley 'La Valleta' passing the villages of Muro, Cocentaina before arriving in Alcoy.

Have breakfast in Alcoy and then cycle the 20km directly to Banyeres or if you feel up to it you can make a small tour through some other villages such as Ibi and Onil then on to Banyeres. There is a hostel called Ull de Canals (96 55 66 531/619

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Green living| 1+1=loads of fun

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856 179) about a kilometre from Banyeres which is in the national park La Mariola. Full board costs about â‚Ź30, the food is excellent and the beds are comfortable. There is a room with a big open fire where you can read or relax staring into the fire.

The next morning, after a good night's sleep and a great breakfast, you can walk in the park or cycle to Bocairent and look around this beautiful village.

Then on to Ontinyent (from Banyeres to Ontinyent it is mainly flat or downhill) where you can have lunch before you catch the train back to Valencia. If you go for a walk you can then cycle back to Alcoy, lunch & catch the train back. When it's sunny (which is most of the time) the landscapes are lovely and the cycling is easy.

On the long weekends you can stay an extra day and really discover the towns, villages and countryside in this part of the interior of Alicante.

A warning, the trip up to Font Roja National Park is not for the unfit, but the view from the top is spectacular.

I have travelled throughout the Community of Valencia by bike and train, from the North of Castellon to the South of Alicante and into Teruel and Castilla la Mancha. If anybody is interested in doing a trip like this then contact me through the magazine, as it's a lot of fun doing it in a group.

Declan Lehane

Top tip for December: What| Buy your presents in your barrio from your local shops.

Why| Keep your local businesses alive and your barrio interesting. Plus you don't have to spend time or money travelling!

Why not| The independent shops don't have purchase power, so their prices aren't as low as the big businesses.

Benefits| Your barrio is a lively fun place to live, and you can get some great unique gifts which you can't find on the high street.

22 December 1987. China. Thieves in Xianyang cause chaos when they steal 2,249 manhole covers which they planned to sell back to the Government.

Learn Better with the British Council

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here are many famous references to the merits of making mistakes, from Oscar Wilde’s "Experience is the name every one gives to their mistakes" and Albert Einstein’s "Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new."

It is, however, Batman’s ever loyal butler Alfred for some fruit for desert and using the word Pennyworth’s wise words "Why do we fall, sir? So ‘desnudos’ which they thought was the word that we might learn to pick ourselves up." That ‘duraznos’ which means peaches, the waiter always sticks in my mind when thinking about looked very surprised as they had students who are afraid or embarrassed about the ordered some ‘naked men’ for their postre! I myself, whilst in Mallorca, mistakes they make.

Whether you are a literary wit, a Nobel Prize asked a kind old lady for directions winning scientist or a superhero's butler you will to the street Jamie III, I should always make mistakes and mistakes are not only have asked for ‘Jamie tercero’, important in the sphere of learning and progression however I asked her if I could but they are necessary, and, more importantly than get up ‘Jamie trasero’, and she seemed very startled and ran either of these things, they are bloody hilarious.

My first ten minutes in Spain nearly resulted in the away. I later found out from taxi driver who took us from the airport practically a Spanish student of mine crashing the car into the departure lounge as she that I had asked if I could was laughing so much after I accidently said that my get up Jamie’s bottom. I husband was just coming, instead of my wife. She am thankful she ran away didn’t even charge us the full fare as I had made her and didn’t point me in the laugh so much. I am constantly getting the Spanish right direction. words ‘jueves’, ‘huevos’ (eggs/balls/testicles) and So if like me you ‘llaves’ mixed up, and Spanish people love it when I are trying to master try to get a set of Thursdays cut, when I want keys on the Spanish language my salad, and when I say "I’ll see you next eggday". and are falling at many It is true I often smile when my English students hurdles, do not worry. fall into ubiquitous language traps. My Russian If you are mistaking students often ignore prepositions and will say your ‘ojos’ for your ‘ojas’ sentences like "I go cinema, watch film, it was Tom or your ‘pollo’ for your Cruise, very bad." Brilliant! Spanish students will ‘polla’, shrug it off because often pronounce the letter ‘I’ with an elongated you will be making a ‘eeee’ sound, chips is ‘cheeeps’ and Mister is Spaniard laugh and ‘meeester’. So when I am handing out worksheets principally it is the and a student tells me they really want a sheeeet, I only real way to learn.

Ultimately always do a double take.

But this is the point: mistakes are part of f a l l i n g your learning, as they are a part of life, and ironically the on mistakes that people make between languages really ‘trasero’ is help to lower the language barrier and help people the only way communicate through the international language to get back up again. of laughter.

I have heard of British people asking in Spanish John Blakey

"C ou

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The newcomer| P3| The Mis-stakes are high!

23 December 1888. Arles, France. Suffering severe depression over his relationship with fellow artist Paul Gauguin and assisted by the green fairy 'Absinthe', Vincent Van Gogh cuts off his ear.

Sport

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Football| The big match this month is unquestionably the Valencia city derby on 9 January. This will be the first time the teams have met since 12 May 2008 when Valencia triumphed 5-1 at the Levante stadium at the end of a poor season for Levante which saw them subsequently drop down to League 2.

Tickets will be scarce but well worth the trouble of finding to see which team's supporters will obtain the subsequent bragging rights in the city.

Valencia fixtures this month| 19/12

Real Sociedad v Valencia CF

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Valencia CF v Espanyol

05/01

Villareal v Valencia CF

09/01

Levante v Valencia CF

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Valencia CF v Deportivo La CoruĂąa

Leva Le vante fixtures va xtu Levante this month| 19/12

Levan Levante v Athletic Bilbao

02//01 02/01

Barce Barcelona v Levante

09/01

Levante v Valencia CF

16/01

Real Zaragoza v Levante

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-to-date information in www.levanteud.com.

Please note dates are subject to alteration at TV executives whims and you should check closer to the time the exact date and kick off time of each game.

Running out the old| Plaza Ayuntamiento at 8pm on 30 December 2010 sees the 27th running of the San Silvestre Popular de Valencia.

The 4,800 metre course will be attempted by around 15,000 competitors who will need to complete it in between 12 and a 1/2 minutes and 14 minutes if they are to be in with a chance of winning.

As always there is more to a run like this than just winning it. Just taking part is a major personal achievement for many and others take the chance to dress up and run for a charity or to get healthy before the inevitable New Year's Eve excesses.

The race revolves round C/ La Paz area of town before returning to Plaza Ayuntamiento.

If you wish to compete then entry forms are available from all branches of Bank La Caixa and Deportes Miguel, Avenido Blasco Ibanez, 100.

Valencia from 13-28 December.

Entry is free.

23 December 1987. UK. The first 'Scrooge Awards' are made by the Low Pay Unit. Winners included a stable owner paying a groom ÂŁ28 a week and a doctor who employed a telephonist at 30p per hour.

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Talking Teaching with Orange Language Academy

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hristmas is nearly here and I’m finding myself getting more excited than the students. Not because Santa’s on his way, but because I won’t have to see them for a good three weeks. Who says that a teacher’s life is one of constant struggle and disappointment?

During my first Christmas living here in Admittedly, there are thousands upon Spain, I was made to feel like an idiot by a young thousands of things to do at Christmas, but I’ve girl who assured me that Santa Claus originally always felt wary of teaching lexical items like wore green until Coca Cola hijacked the whole stocking, snowman, sleigh, reindeers, etc. and thing. The class was duly abandoned and I was then doing lots and lots of colouring in. Don’t affectionately consoled by a group of 11 year-olds they just forget it all until the following year? for the last half hour. I later found this out to Imagine my smug self-satisfaction when I be false as the original creator of Santa Claus – found out that one of Spain’s Christmas traditions Thomas Nast – changed the colour over 30 years involved lots of people getting blacked up! If my before having started drawing him in 1862 for class of kids hadn’t looked after me so well that Harper’s Weekly. In a moment of inspiration year I would have been tempted to throw that artist Haddon Sundblom simply seized an one in their faces. Again, for the outsider these opportunity to repackage Santa in the 1930s in kinds of traditions seem odd (and in some cases order to boost winter sales for the company. Not completely taboo). How about comparing the an easy concept to get over to a group of children. traditions? Most course books already come with This was one of my first Christmas activities something for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, April in class: a short text which I had written with a Fool’s Day (which, coincidentally, is celebrated group of comprehension questions at the end. on 28 December here in Spain and This can be followed up with some vocabulary is called El Día de Los Santos activities using the same text. Funnily enough Inocentes), etc.

It shouldn’t be too hard to the same children were fascinated by the story.

Ha! Take that 11 year-olds! It was easy to read, put things like this together short and informative. I was soon able to find what with the Internet other stories. Not just for the younger students, at your disposal and the but for adults too. A list of facts with two false like. Keep the texts short ones is always fun. In Germany they throw for the kids and make sure sausages at each other on Christmas Day. Yes, you have something visual you laugh, but compare it to this: In the UK we to do. There are some great are supposed to kiss anyone that happens to be photos on the Internet of people underneath a poisonous plant which we hang on doing a Santa marathon in Kyoto, Japan, Santas the ceiling called mistletoe. For the outsiders it’s in Brighton jumping into the sea, Bavarian quite difficult to distinguish which is real and chaps dressed in lederhosen firing guns into the air*. You can break things up with those which is made up. vocabulary games that everyone opts for if you Orange Language Academy has been an American like, but remember to give them something run language school for the city of Valencia and its with substance, something that will stay with provinces since 2005 offering all them for a while rather than something they’ll types of language related have to regurgitate a year later. Be creative this services. They also run the Christmas. You’ve got almost a month off for Tues and Weds language nights at the Portland Ale God’s sake.

House. Find out more at *You’ll find all of these here: www.time.com/ www.orangeidiomas.com time/photogallery 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… de parranda - out on the town e.g. What happened to Lia last night? ¿Qué pasó con Lia anoche?

She was out on the town. Estaba de parranda.

24 December 1943. General Dwight D. Eisenhower is appointed as overall Commander-in-Chief of the invasion of Europe. Previously the desk bound general had never fought a single campaign.

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. We’ve let countries off with fighting during the festive season and this month have pitched Christmas Day against El Día de los Reyes Magos. Let's go!

Round 1| Background. Well, Christmas is and the day itself is called the Epiphany, which is celebrated throughout the Western world on the day that Jesus Christ was revealed as The Son 25 December as the birthdate of Jesus Christ. of God. The Gospel of Matthew is the only one to Celebrated on 6 January, Los Reyes Magos mention the ‘Magi’ who came from the East to celebrates the arrival of the three kings to pay worship Jesus the King of the Jews. Because three homage to (and acknowledge) Jesus Christ as The gifts were spoken of it was assumed that there were Son of God with gold, frankincense & myrrh. three Magi too. The word Magi has origins in the Persian and Avestan languages and refers to the Winner – Christmas Day religious castle into which Zoroaster was born.

Zoroastrianism was an Round 2| History important religion and Christmas is celebrated philosophy around the by both non-Christians time of Jesus Christ and, and Christians.

It's as part of this religion, thought that the date is its priests paid close simply nine months after his conception rather attention to the stars, than his actual birthday. which was regarded as a Sir. Isaac Newton argued science at the time.

Winner – Los Reyes that the day was marked Magos to correspond with the winter solstice on the ancient Roman calendar.

Round 3| Tradition German Protestant Paul Nowadays over-elaborate I followed the star.

Ernst Jablonski argued in decorations are put I am a wise man.

1743 that it corresponded up inside and outside with the Roman holiday houses with electricity Dies Natalis Solis Invicti usage shooting up.

- thus making it a day of pagan celebration.

Originally, the Christmas Tree was put up on However, many Christian religions recognize the 23 or 24 December but commercialisation has day as that when their God first came into the world led to an earlier erection and it's taken down on in the form of man to save them from their sins.

6 January. Santa Claus gets into his sleigh the night Nowadays, the day tends to mark the beginning before (Christmas Eve) and does a big worldwide of a twelve-day season - Christmastide, involving trip around the globe delivering presents to the plenty of shopping (boosting the economy), which good children and coal to the bad ones. Some businesses have exploited for many years. The biscuits and a glass of milk are left out for Santa and word ‘Christmas’ itself can be translated simply as a carrot for the reindeers. Mum and Dad normally the phrase ‘Christ’s mass’, first recorded in 1038. do rock, paper & scissors for the mince pies.

Los Reyes Magos is traditionally celebrated in The arrival of the kings is in the form of a Spanish speaking countries although there are procession as they slowly make their way into the also celebrations in France, Belgium, Portugal and centre of the city. This is called the Cabalgata and New Orleans. Los Reyes Magos are known as ‘The really is a sight to behold. Along with the wonderful Three Kings’ or ‘The Three Wise Men’ in English Christmas lights, nativity sets (belenes), goodies

25 December 1914. The famous Christmas truce between British and German troops. Guns were put down while the soldiers fraternized and exchanged presents. Shooting restarted at midnight.

are thrown from floats and children ask the kings for their presents. The night before, it’s early to bed and childrens shoes are normally left somewhere for the kings filled with sweets for the kings and hay to feed their camels. When they awake, the sweets are nibbled and the hay has disappeared.

Winner – Los Reyes Magos

I heart Valencia First certificate

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by various pages who help the kings. The pages follow the parade with ladders and are greeted by families as they enter with the presents and are often rewarded with gifts of money, food or drink. Seeing one of these parades is worth the effort. In Valencia the kings arrive at the Port at 5pm and the cabalgata begins at 6pm at the Puente de Calatrava. It starts on Calle Del Justicia and goes along General Palanca, General Tovar, Calle La Paz, Plaza de la Reina finishing at Plaza del Ayuntamiento. On arrival, the kings receive the children in the Ayuntamiento and presents are distributed.

Winner – Draw

Round 4| Celebrations - Christmas Day is very family-oriented. Families travel to give each other presents, which are swiftly opened accompanied by mixed reactions. Turkey is not uncommon along with lots of boiled and roast vegetables followed by a Christmas Pudding covered in brandy. The Round 5| Present said turkey is then eaten Bearers Father in various forms over Christmas (Papa Noel) is the next few days before the world famous, speedy it goes off: my favourite present deliverer from of which is turkey Lapland. He’s normally curry. Fantastic! In the a big, jolly old man UK, the Queen gives dressed in red (although a speech on TV, there not originally – see are loads of films on for Talking Teaching). And the family’s enjoyment following this month’s I crawl down chimneys. and it’s celebrated in News, I’m not sure he’s I am Santa! the warm comfort of trustworthy either. home, which is further Melchor, Gaspar and enhanced because of the Balthasar are the three extremely cold weather outside. The day for going kings who brought the presents to Jesus. They out with friends is 26 December (Boxing Day or are thought to be from Persia, India and Arabia St. Stephen’s Day) when there is lots of sports on respectively although Chinese Christians believe television and everybody heads for a yuletide drink. that one of them came from China... In Spain they are Other celebrations include nativity plays performed believed to come from the Lejano Oriente so there by schoolchildren and carols sung by people who go might be some truth to this. The translation of Magi as ‘three wise men’ curiously can be interpreted as door to door.

Los Reyes Magos is believed to be the oldest ‘sorcerers’ too. celebration in Spain dating back as far as 1885.

Winner – Christmas There is normally roscón – a circular cake shaped Celebrated by billions worldwide. like a doughnut with a sugary topping – its circular form is said to be an edible representation of Jesus’ So overall - its a DRAW! Both events are fantastic! crown. There is normally a full parade accompanied Enjoy yourselves this festive season! by trucks in smaller villages and the presents are delivered directly through the windows of the house

26 December 1906. Australia. The world's first feature film 'The Story of the Kelly Gang' is screened in Melbourne.

Originally 60 minutes long, only 11 minutes of footage remain today.

Cinema

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Intermediate

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hat do Indiana Jones, Helen of Troy, Doctor Zhivago, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly and Lawrence of Arabia all have in common? Answer: They were all shot (or partially shot) right here in Spain.

Until very recently, no-one had thought about documenting all the English language films that had been made here on Spanish soil, to act not only as a directory for film aficionados, but also as a way of encouraging tourist activities in film location areas.

Bob Yareham explains "The idea came about when I was looking for a follow up to a series of articles about battlefield tourism. I knew that cinema tourism was popular in the US and I knew some films had been made in Almeria, but when I started investigating I found the number was far greater than I had imagined (over 500 English language films).

It seemed that somebody should be documenting this, but all the initiatives were local ones so, with Juan Jose Cermeño, we started www.silver-screen-spain.com to centralise all this accrued information."

Bob went on to say of cinema tourism, "One of the most rewarding days for me was when my wife and I happened across an elderly couple in Valsaín, Segovia. We had a pleasant chat as they indicated where the German tanks had advanced across the meadow in The Battle of the Bulge and then the hill that Cary Grant and Frank Sinatra had scrambled up with their cannon in The Pride and the Passion."

The website has a section for schools and they have also just launched a project to ask students to speak to their parents and grandparents to find out what they remember about these films, which often revolutionised the places where they were made, places such as Agost, Alicante (The Return of the Seven) or Peñiscola (El Cid). Can you help? www.silver-screen-spain.com

It's cold. For only a few Euros you can escape into the warmth of the cinemas to enjoy...

Mao's Last Dancer| (Bruce Beresford) Bruce The King's Speech| (Tom Hooper) Colin Firth, Greenwood, Kyle Maclachlan, Joan Chen Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter Some of you may remember the book: an This extremely well received film is powerful, funny autobiography by Li Cunxin who was taken from and at times very moving. It is about King George his home by Mao’s delegates when he was 11 years VI's ascension to the throne at a time of critical old. The reason: to study ballet. The story’s main historical importance in Europe. At the time of great motivational orators such as Hitler and Mussolini focus is on the relationship between Li (Cao) and the reluctant new King suffers from a debilitating Elizabeth (Schull), an American woman who he stutter.

This fell in love with leads to his during a cultural exchange in reluctance to be 1979. When Li centre-stage and leads the British vows to stay in people to think the US, he is told negatively about he must defect their new King. or go back to The climax of this film has lead to impromptu China where he knows his family will be punished. applause and cheering in cinema audiences. Will UGC Ciné Cité: 17 Dec onwards; times tbc In the Electric Mist| see last months inVLC you feel the same?

UGC Ciné Cité: 17 Dec onwards; times tbc UGC Ciné Cité: 24 Dec onwards; times tbc UGC Ciné Cité, Avda Tirso de Molina, 16, www.ugc.es, Babel, C/ Vicente Sancho Tello, 10, www.cinesalbatrosbabel.com

29 December 1972. Uruguay. After a plane crashed in the Andes en route to Montevideo on 13 October, 16 survivors are rescued. Their survival had been achieved by eating the flesh of their dead team-mates.

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Expat life| A Question of Distraction Advanced

arx described Religion as the opium of the people. I wonder, if the Godfather of Communism were writing his manifesto today, he would consider substituting Sport for Religion.

Does the public demand for sports coverage drive Is Sport the great distraction of the masses?

Perhaps you prefer reality TV or talent shows? media saturation or are we increasingly obsessed Either way, is this a good thing, a bad thing or because the media is bombarding us with this stuff all the time? somehow both?

With the newspapers making increasingly Let’s face it, things are pretty bad at the moment, more precarious than we probably realise or depressing reading, many of us are clicking on or turning to the sports pages as quickly as possible. politicians are willing to admit.

With Ireland following Greece into the poor It’s human nature. We don’t want to be listening to house of generational debt, Spain and Portugal how bad things are all the time.

I’m reminded of what Timothy Leary famously edge to the top of the bailout queue. Unemployment preached in the sixties, officially stands at 20%.

‘Turn on, tune in and Spanish banks prop drop out.’ I don’t think up a bogus property we are dropping out in market by holding prices artificially the sense that people high, while those who did in the sixties, but, have had their homes are we not opting repossessed are laden out to a great extent, absorbing distracting with tens of thousands media? of Euros in debt.

On the other hand, That said, how bad perhaps we are just can things really be, opting to focus on when a newspaper something a little less like Levante can opt depressing. to wrap its Monday Spain may be falling apart financially, but we edition with a sports supplement? With more than a dozen pages of sport to get through before the have the football World and European Champions, news headlines, the news itself has become the the world’s best tennis player, the winner of the Tour De France, and the Moto GP World Champion. supplement.

The TV channel Cuatro devotes half of its evening Those are just the highlights of a hugely impressive news to Sports coverage, predominantly football portfolio of the world’s sporting elite.

A friend recently captained Munster (my opium and predominantly Madrid and Barca. Does it make sense to anyone that Marcello making fun of of choice) to victory over Australia at rugby and Cristiano Ronaldo at training warrants continued within minutes of the final whistle I received airtime? There are more important things worthy messages from people asking me to thank him and the team for giving us something to cheer about in of our attention, surely.

The politicians and bankers seem more than the midst of the doom and gloom. happy for the distraction. Perhaps, that is why Opium may be bad, its certainly addictive and Real Madrid have no trouble in increasing their distracting in the long term, but in the short term exorbitant lines of credit while small businesses doesn’t it just feel good to be distracted from the struggle with cashflow problems. problems of the real world?

Eoghan Ryan

30 December 1916. Russia. After surviving eating poisoned cakes, being shot and then battered by conspirators, Mad Monk Rasputin is finally drowned when he is thrown into the icy Neva river.

Live events

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f you’re stuck for what to do this month, check out our view of the best live venues in the city and the surrounding areas. Valencia has something on for everyone’s tastes and at prices, which even with the crisis, you won’t be concerned about.

El Palau de la Música| C/ Alameda, 30 (VLC) | 09/01 Palacio de Congresos| Avda/ Cortes Valencianas, 60 The Strauss Festival Orchestra and Ballet Ensemble are (VLC) | 19/12 The Rostov Russian State Ballet returns set to perform Johan Strauss' Blue to Valencia with Tchaikovsky's Danube to welcome the New Year masterpiece - The Nutcracker - El in with a one-day only performance.

Tickets from €24. 14/01 and 15/01 sees the Orchestra of Valencia celebrate Gustav Mahler's work on the 100th anniversary of his death.

Tickets from €10. For further info www.palaudevalencia.com Sala Matisse| C/ Campoamor, 60 (VLC) | This place normally opens from Thursday to Saturday and tickets

Cascanueces. Tickets from Doors open at 6.30pm. www.palcongres-vlc.com

€50.

El Palau de Terrateig, Vall d' Albaida | 18/12 A marathon of 14 hours of music, theatre, arts, painting and much, much more.

Entry is €4 and more info can be found on facebook 'Bienal de artistas anonimos'.

range from free to €14 depending on the night/ act. Check out Matisse’s ‘So de sons’ nights LA3| C/ Padre Porta, 2 (VLC) | Lots of great electronic on Thursday which showcase Valencian talent and are and indie acts will be getting ready for Christmas and New completely free (23:00). You’ll also catch some decent Year dancefloor madness. New Years Eve Party is €25 exhibitions and independent theatre there too! www. (€21 if you buy early). www.la3club.com salamatisse.es & www.wahwahclub.com.

Botanical Gardens| VLC 18/12 For live jazz in tranquil Music Box| C/ Pintor Zariñera, 16 (VLC) & Radio City| surroundings why not head along to see Sedajazz Swing C/ Santa Teresa 19 (VLC) | Both are open every day of Band. Tickets are €3 www.jardibotanic.org. From 7.30pm. the week with visiting DJs and are popular with tourists, locals and students alike. On Tuesdays you’ll also find live La Nau| Sagunto | If ska is your thing then head along flamenco music at Radio City (23:00, €7 with free drink). to see Ska P. Tickets are €25 (€21 if bought beforehand). www.radiocityvalencia.com and www.myspace.com/ Doors open 8pm. themusicboxclub.

Jimmy Glass| C/ Baja, 28 (VLC) | This place has been Sala Loco| C/ Erudito Orellano, 12 (VLC) | Always a popular jazz bar since 1991 and often features some lots going on here and this month is no exception. Our great talent from the local and international scene. There highlight bands are New York Ska Jazz Ensemble on are duo piano sessions every other Tuesday at 22:15.

04/01 and Supersubmarina on 14/01. Tickets about €10. Xavier Casselas Group presents Unguarded Smiles on www.lococlub.org 21/12 (€12) and Perico Sambeat Quartet who will Durango Poligono have a Christmas Special Industrial La Closa on 28/12. Both shows start (Meliana) | Lots of great at 9.30pm. bands here with an emphasis on real music.

They're having a special rock'n'roll night on 31/12.

Find out more on their facebook page 'Durango Rock n Roll Club'.

www.jimmyglassjazz.net

Café del Duende| C/ Turia, 62 (VLC) | A great place to catch some decent flamenco from Thursday to Saturday from 23:30 onwards. www.cafedelduende.com 31 December 1695. UK. The window tax is introduced which inevitably led to many of them being bricked up. Evidence of this can still be seen today in houses of that age.

Music

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e missed our music pages last month because we were so excited about hanging out with Josh Rouse. But here are some of the releases that have had us tapping our feet this month.

Album Everyone’s Been Waiting For| Kings of Leon - Come Around Sundown Another outing from these Southern rockers is not much of a departure from their last offering to be honest. Expect the tender lyrics and vocals of Caleb coupled with the soaring choruses that has seen the group move from the cult circuit to stadium fillers over the last 8 years or so. Interesting Fact| All of the Kings’ albums are five syllables long. Standout Tracks: Radioactive, Birthday

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Album From A Local Group| El Gatomidi - Facing Destiny inVLC has discovered a new local group on the scene with a brand new album release. When not too busy trying to get a gig here, there and everywhere, El Gatomidi can be found travelling around the UK where most of their musical influences seem to lie. Notably Manchester, which is where any listener will be reminded of when hearing some of their tracks. Keep an eye out for up-and-coming gigs in the local area.

Standout Tracks: You Have No Choice, Alone, Run Away Album To Relax To| Ray Lamontagne - God Willin’ & The Creek Don’t Rise With a fair bit of groove to it, accompanied by Ray’s wonderful voice, which sounds as though he’s smoked about 1,000 cigarettes and washed them down with a pint of gravel, this is his fourth outing, but his first accompanied by the Pariah Dogs. Ray’s decision to match up with this group has a mixture of different results: part country, part blues but always unequivocally Ray. Interesting fact| Ray was working 65-hour weeks at a shoe factory when he heard Stephen Stills’ Treetop Flyer. He subsequently quit his job, bought a guitar, started writing tunes and realised he had a voice like honey. Not that we’re jealous though! Standout Tracks: Repo Man, Beg Steal or Borrow Post-Electro Album| Errors - Come down with me The second album from Glasgow’s electro post rockers is as tight and exciting an offering as their debut ‘It’s Not Something But It Is Like Whatever’. It has a noisy funk-filled feel to it that pounces and elates with melodies and riffs that shudder and vacillate with complexity and style.

The album has a humour to it that also delivers a cheeky effervescence and a plucky synth technique that melts well into their post rock melting pot. It is not a million miles away from their first album, but it does have depth to its production that suggests a maturity and progression.

Definitely worth a listen, and definitely worth a look at the video that accompanies the single ‘A Rumour in Africa’ which showcases their particular brand of cheeky fizzy noisy dancey music.

Thanks for your review John Blakey!

Standout Tracks: A rumour in Africa, Antipode If you have heard any new music to recommend, get in touch at invlceditor@gmail.com!

1 January 1583. Germany and Switzerland. The Gregorian calender is introduced and while it is now used all over the world it was only adopted in Britain in 1752, Russia in 1918 and Greece in 1923.

Recipe|Cocido

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ocido is difficult to translate. It’s not with the spices varying from nutmeg to what I swear really stew but it’s not plain old soup either. must have been caraway in the pelota I tried.

The ingredients for cocido vary from region to It is a hearty meal made by simmering rich cuts of meat & vegetables for several hours and region, depending on what crops are abundant in an then serving the various components separately. area, and also vary from family to family. However, Cocido is often associated with Madrid, you may the part that defines cocido is the broth or caldo.

The process for making have heard of cocido cocido is relatively simple madrileño, however it's but a decent amount of served throughout Spain time is required. You boil and in Valencia it is often meat, then add vegetables called puchero. (Puchero and garbanzo beans, refers to the large pot and simmer for several that it is cooked in.) hours, and you are left One thing that is with an incredibly rich typical in the Valencian Wow factor| the broth will be the most delicious and flavorful caldo. You Community is puchero you've ever tasted! separate the caldo and con pelota which is Effort| time consuming, but not difficult. serve it first. You can usually served only during the Christmas season. The pelota (literally serve it as a consommé, with small noodles (such ‘ball’) is a meatball that simmers along with the as fideos) or with rice. The second plate is the meat, pieces of meat and vegetables, adding its own special garbanzos and vegetables.

Since you strain the broth, and remove the meat flavors and soaking up the delicious flavors of its neighbors. The pelota is usually made from pork, and vegetables, cocido is often used to create several chicken livers, pine nuts, eggs and bread crumbs different dishes throughout the week. You can make

1 January 1959. Cuba. After sailing across from Miami and then fighting his way across the country, Fidel Castro overthrows the US backed Sandinista Government and seizes power. He remains there for almost 50 years.

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Recipe| Cocido

arroz al horno (oven-baked rice), croquettes, ropa vieja, or a variety of simple soups.

I was lucky enough to be invited to the Muñoz family’s Sunday meal on a chilly day in November to try cocido. I really wanted to try a pelota since so many people had swooned when telling me how delicious they were. I thought pelotas were only served on Christmas day so I was pleasantly surprised to find that some had been simmering in the pot since 9am when Tere Muñoz, the family matriarch, had begun preparing the day’s main meal. Everyone in the family had a different way of eating their cocido. Even though it is typical to serve the caldo first, and then eat the meat and vegetables, some people mixed the meat, garbanzos, and vegetables all together with the rice and caldo.

Cocido takes time to make so it’s not usually made Cocido (for 6) 300g garbanzos (chick peas), soaked overnight in water with a pinch of salt Beef brisket Hen Pork belly/streaky bacon 2 pelotas (meatballs) Lamb & ham bones, with some meat attached 4 Potatoes, peeled & cut in half 4 Carrots, peeled & cut in half 1 Stalk of celery, cut in half Green beans, cut in half (judias verdes) Salt and pepper Lemon wedges Optional: celery, turnips, parsnips, cabbage, yams, leeks, Arborio rice or noodles

in small amounts. The best way to buy the meat and bones is to tell the butcher you want to make cocido and specify the number of people you are cooking for. You will be given you the proper cuts in the correct amounts. You can buy the pelotas pre-made and ready to cook.

Fill a large stockpot with 3 litres of water and a pinch of salt and bring to a boil. Clean the meat. Add the meat and garbanzos to the pot and return to a boil. Foam will begin to form on the surface of the water. Remove the foam with a spoon. Continue this process until the foam is white. Cover and cook for approximately 2½ hours. Then add the potatoes, carrots, green beans and any other vegetables. Cook for 30 minutes. Test vegetables to make sure they are cooked through.

Remove meat from the pot, be careful not to break the pelotas, and arrange on a serving plate.

Remove vegetables and garbanzos and arrange on a separate serving dish. Strain soup through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth. Add salt and pepper to taste. Prepare rice or noodles, if desired, using the caldo in place of water. Serve the caldo first, with lemon wedges on the side, followed by the meat and vegetables. Now, take a nap!

Lia Wallon reLIAble eats www.reLIAbleeats.blogspot.com

A special thanks to Tere for providing her recipe for cocido and for opening up her home.

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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.

1 January 1962. Decca Records sign Brian Poole and the Tremeloes after rejecting fellow unknowns at the time - The Beatles. Talent scouts at Decca do not receive a Christmas bonus that year.

Charity| HCPT - The Pilgrimage Trust

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y name is Katie Houghton and I have lived in Valencia for over 4 years teaching at Cambridge House Community College in Rocafort.

For the past 14 years I have been travelling to Lourdes at Easter time with HCPT. This is an organisation that was set up in 1956 by Doctor Michael Strode. He took four children with disabilities to Lourdes and instead of putting them into a hospital he insisted they stay in a hotel and be treated like everybody else.

Now the organisation takes over 2,000 children each year who are disadvantaged, disabled or terminally ill! The children come from all walks of life and may belong to any religious background, or none at all. The children and helpers travel in small family groups from all over the UK and Ireland as well as from Croatia, Romania, Slovakia, USA and the West Indies.

Katie Houghton

This year I have put together a youth group from my school who will travel to Lourdes and help the family groups to look after and care for these special children.

We are currently fundraising to help pay for the trip. So far we have had a Halloween sleepover at school with the year 5 children, we have baked and sold cookies after school and we are currently selling raffle tickets for our Christmas raffle. Parents from our school have donated the prizes including a roll of Valencian Fallera material, a signed Valencia football, a Swarovski necklace, beauty treatments and much more!

If you want to help with our fundraising or buy some raffle tickets (the draw will be made on Monday 20th December and costs 2 Euros for 5 numbers) feel free to get in contact with me through Katie Houghton the Editor!

For more information about HCPT visit their The holiday features visits to the Lourdes Grotto, outings to local aquariums, cafĂŠs and villages high website www.hcpt.org.uk Katie Houghton up in the French Pyrenees. There are also day trips out to the beach at St. Jean De Luz. The aim of the week is to give the children a safe, exciting and enjoyable holiday infused with the warmth and affection of caring friends.

Katie Houghton

Katie Houghton

www.hcpt.org.uk

2 January 1988. New York. An accountant who waited 45 days before claiming a $3million state lottery jackpot tells amazed officials that by waiting until the New Year he saved $15,000 in taxes.

Health| More milk, less smoking

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ust as we thought we knew where we were, a new motion to delay and change the January smoking ban 2011 has been put into place. Spain has been slow in following the smoking ban, experiencing large resistance and incomplete enforcement of the original 2006 antiAnd living in smoking law, so many businesses do not meet current Valencia can help you! regulations. The new planned law prevented smoking This season's produce in indoor public places, incl. bars, clubs & restaurants. includes oranges, kiwi, The first country to impose the work place ban was broccoli, cauliflower, the Republic of Ireland in 2004 followed by Norway. brussel sprouts (all 95 countries have some degree of smoking ban, some Avoid or reduce: high in vitamin C) and restricted to restaurants and bars, others extended to Alcohol like beer. beans. All will help you all work places.

Meats. when you want to stop.

If you see this trend in bans as an opportunity to Coffee.

So pour yourself a reduce smoking then you could look at what you eat. glass of milk, Scientists have found that certain food and drinks Increase: get along to increase the appeal of having a smoke, and others Milk & water. one of the decrease it. Hardly a surprise to those who love a Dairy like cheese, yogurt. shops which cigarette with a beer in the other hand. But what Oranges & other high gets their you consume could actually put you off smoking - by vitamin C content foods.

Celery, Carrot, products reducing your enjoyment of smoking.

Courgette, Red Peppers straight from In an experiment, 45% of smokers told scientists Aubergine, Beans, the local fields that certain fruits, vegetables and beverages could Cucumbers. actually make their cigarettes taste bad. These findings and get munching (But don't eat too many show certain foods can affect the taste of cigarettes for a healthier 2012. sweet vegetables and make you quit faster. And as nicotine affects your Good luck! in one go!) ability to deal with vitamin C, consuming high levels of this helps you deal with the addiction.

The University of California states the immediate effects of stopping smoking include: + 20 minutes, blood pressure decreases, pulse returns to its normal level + 8 hours, carbon monoxide levels in the blood return to normal, oxygen level increases + 24 hours, chance of heart attack starts to decrease; breath, hair & body stop smelling of smoke + 48 hours, damaged nerve endings begin to recover; sense of taste and smell improve + 72 hours, the body is virtually free of nicotine; bronchial tubes relax, breathing becomes easier + 2–12 weeks, lungs can hold more air, exercise becomes easier and circulation improves + 1 year, the risk of coronary heart disease is cut in half + 5 years, the risk of stroke falls to the same as a non-smoker + 10 years, the risk of lung cancer is cut in half and the risk of other cancers decreases significantly + 15 years, the risk of coronary heart disease drops, usually to the level of a non-smoker.

4 January 1988. Rajasthan. Karni Bheel, a 7ft 10 inch tip to tip moustache growing champion is found decapitated.

The city has a (fiercely competitive) annual competition to grow the most luxuriant moustache.

Advanced

Books

Competition & Golf

he Meaning of Night – Michael Cox “After killing the red-haired man, I took myself off to Quinn’s for an oyster supper”. With its first sentence Michael Cox’s The Meaning of Night draws the reader into an engrossing depiction of 1850s England – the dark underworld of petty criminals and prostitutes, the fog-enshrouded city of London with it’s myriad boats ferrying people up and down the Thames, the opulence of it’s aristocracy who nevertheless remain diseased with corruption. This novel transports us into the 19th Century as it was, rather than the ‘Christmas Card’ version some imagine.

The Meaning of Night tells the story of Edward Gliver, who at the beginning of the novel murders – at random – a man in a dark London street.

This arbitrary killing is a practice-run for the planned murder that Gliver has in mind for his sworn enemy – a famous poet called Phoebus Daunt. The story of their enmity is told partly in flashback and partly through Gliver’s investigation into his mysterious childhood and the possibility that he may be the illegitimate heir to an aristocratic estate. The plot unfolds as a suspenseful mystery, an unrequited love-story and a psychological thriller.

Key to the success of this novel is it’s achievement

in subtly undermining the readers trust in Gliver as a truthful narrator. Is what he tells us about his childhood and the betrayals that have doomed him to poverty and anonymity true? Or is he as unhinged as the first line suggests? Is Gliver the victim in this complex tale or is he the perpetrator – a psychopath stalking his victim and destroying other innocents along the way?

It is this sense of unease and doubt that we have in Gliver’s version of events that lifts what at times can seem a rather convoluted book into the modern great I think it is.

Additionally, Cox has an unerring skill for imitating the style of Victorian literature. The Meaning of Night – published in 2006 – reads like an authentic Victorian mystery from the 1850s but with a modern touch too.

Regarding the author himself, prior to writing this 600-page epic, Cox was diagnosed with a rare form of Cancer that was making him blind.

A side-effect of the medication he was on resulted in a temporary burst of mental and physical energy – the result of which was his Herculean effort to finally write The Meaning of Night, a novel he had planned for several years but never written. Cox died of Cancer three years after the publication of this novel – which in its scope and beauty remains as a testimony and a tribute to a fine writer.

Iain Armstrong

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ompetition results| Last month's winner was Chris B. who correctly said we were looking forward to seeing the movie of Shantaram, reviewed by Iain in the book page. Prize coming your way Chris! ecember's competition| This month's festive competition is easy.

Just tell us how many images of kings are in this months festive issue. Answers to invlceditor@gmail.com by 31 January.

4

Percentage from the 1851 England & Wales census of people over 65.

In 2009 this was 16%.

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8 January 1982. Gibraltar. Spain ends its siege and the frontier is re-opened. In return for the end of the siege the UK agrees to talks on the colony's future and ends its opposition to Spain joining the EEC.

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A little help

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ou can’t always do everything yourself. So if you’re making changes this summer, from small jobs in the home to something more dramatic, here are some companies for you to consider.

Looking for customers for your business in the Valencian Community? Contact us on invlceditor@gmail.com ¿Estás buscando clientes para tu empresa en la comunidad valenciana? Ponte en contacto con nosotros invlceditor@gmail.com

If you want your business to be seen by members of the Valencian Community, please contact us to discuss how we can help - invlceditor@gmail.com

Animals - the blob fish

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owards the end of any given year, people all over the world start compiling those top ten lists which fill festive TV time-slots.

Finally one has been created of interest: Mother Nature Network has compiled the list of the 13 ugliest animals on the planet.

Apart from being incredibly ugly, some of these animals have stories which are as sad as their pale, lifeless faces.

Take for example the 12 inch Blob Fish (Psychrolutes marcidus). Its limp pink face on the gelatinous mass which makes its body causes me to recall the post-Ghostbusters cartons of slime, which children so happily threw, squeezed and destroyed fabrics with. But this is a real fish, desperately clinging to stay extant (as in alive), despite the fishing techniques in the waters of its home next to Australia and Tasmania.

It is known, amusingly, as a bottom dweller, and it passes its days and nights floating aimlessly around at 9,000 feet below the surface of the ocean.

There's a lot of pressure down there, 80 times higher then normal sea level, where we would simply explode, but its body is perfectly designed for this environment. As one of the most easy-going fish known to man, it just hovers around, hoovering up whatever happens to pass it.

The technique of trawler fishing means that this beast is pulled up to the surface. Trawler fishing drags huge, heavy nets along the sea floor. Any fish

|28| in the way are caught and, once back on the boats, the fish are sorted, and the unwanted discarded.

Technological advances have allowed this technique to grow, aided by subsidiaries, greedy commercial fleets, dubious regulations, pirate fishers and the bycatch of juvenile fish (Source: WWF).

Given that it's not the tastiest fish, in fact it is believed to be inedible so not only does it not make its way onto our plates, it's just thrown back in the ocean: dead.

If you want to help our ugly friend here, and the thousands of other fish and animal species at risk, but still want to eat fish you can ask at your fresh fish shop what the sustainable source fishing practices of their suppliers are.

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has an internationally recognized set of environmental principles to assess whether a fishery is well managed and sustainable. There are over 5000 MSC products available and you can find a full list in Spain on www.msc.org.

80 15.8

Pounds per year in 2008 of Spanish per capita consumption of seafood.

Pounds per year in 2009 of American per capita consumption of seafood.

Name|Bob Age| 15 months Size| Large Appearance| Mastin X Health| Castrated and Health vaccinated.

Personality| Affectionate with people and kids.

Dominant with male dogs.

More info| P.E.P.A on 650 304 746 www.pepaspain.com 9 January 1989. Tiberias, Israel. A Rabbi revokes the kosher food licence of a hotel after it allowed a couple to have sex in a helicopter above the swimming pool during a party.

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Events & Classifieds

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f you’ve got an event coming up, 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| 2 Jan| Calle La Pau, Cindy or Nicolas, 960 80 25 13 or 695 100 540.

Olocau Rastro/Table top sale & choir singing seasonal songs| 19 Dec| 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.

Next Date 30 January.

Masia Rastro| Sun 19 Dec (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.

Teatro Olimpia| Oliva | 19/12 A free Christmas Concert. 7.30pm.

IWC| Monthly coffee morning will be 2nd Thursday of January. See www.iwc-valencia.ning.com for more information.

Carol Concert| Friday 17/12, 9pm| The multi-national choir will return to Iglesia de la Purísima Concepción, Pedralba, Valencia followed by Mulled Wine and Mince Pies in the Casa de la Cultura all welcome. Collection for Cáritas, Pedralba.

Christmas Fayre| Hogar de Jubilados Pedralba | 19/12 10-2pm The monthly bike meeting of VLC will take place as usual on the first Friday of the month. This aims to promote bikes and bike safety in VLC. Place| Plaza de la Virgin, VLC 7.30pm

A

re you buying, selling or donating? You can put a free advert in here for a month. Just email us and we’ll try to get it into the next issue - invlceditor@gmail.com.

Smart Italian Jacket for men (large). Unused – Brown suede look with leather collar, and zip up front. Great Christmas present. €35 collect from Torrent. Call 651 378 241.

Water Sediment Filter with metal thread. Filters to 20 micras, not the usual 50. Includes cartridge. €40 new. Collect from Torrent. Call 651 378 241.

Do you want to tell people about your business?

Genuine staffordshire pottery. Small collection for sale. Prices from €30. A nice gift for Christmas. Call 961589627.

Advertise with us!

For Sale: Renault Megane 1.6L. 1996, 194K, ITV Aug 11. LHD. Spanish plates, Not so pretty on the outside, But mechanically sound. Regularly serviced and main car parts replaced. Reliable CD player, AC 500 ONO Amanda 625 819 734 Monserrat area

Email invlceditor @gmail.com

14 January 1988. LA. The frozen head of Dora Kent caused legal problems when a coroner wanted to ensure she was actually dead before it was chopped off and put in storage for later re-animation.

Art in the community

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e want to support new and up-and-coming artistic talent in the Valencian Community.

Each month we’ll choose one artist at random and devote a page to that artist.

Name| Herminia Esparza Location| Valencia What’s available| Collages, drawings, bookmarks, reminders of communion, birthday cards and Christmas greeting cards.

Technique| Herminia uses natural materials like dried flowers and leaves to make collages to add a touch of sweetness.

All products are carefully handmade using smooth and neutral colours, to inspire feelings of tenderness.

Prices| From €15 to €85

Inspired by| the world of children.

Currently showing| Work is being shown in La Casita de Penélope, My Little Republic and Miralindo in Valencia, and from 16 to 22 December will be in El Mercado de Colón, Valencia.

Website| www.miraquecosasmaslindas.blogspot.com Facebook - 'De Flor en Flor'.

If you or anyone you know would like to feature in our art pages, contact us at invlceditor@gmail.com.

Art to see

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W

Intermediate

hile we normally focus on independent galleries, this month we were drawn to the amazing exhibitions at IVAM Institut Valencià d'Art Modern (The Modern Art Museum). It is a huge gallery spread out over 3 floors with a variety of incredible works and decorative sculptures housing temporary art collections as well as permanent compilations throughout the year.

Compass in hand| The Judith Rothschild Julio González| Julio González is viewed as the Foundation Contemporary Drawings Collection. father of iron sculpture.

The Judith Rothschild As a devoted sculptor, Collection consists he explored and of over 2500 'works experimented with on paper' from 600 different expressions artists. The collection of the form. He was represents a broad inspired by Picasso’s overview of different cubism period within medias, methods and the twenties and then their stages throughout composition. The ambition found his love for the is to combine a range of styles to create a set of female figure at which point he began his three diverse eclectic pieces within one space.

Later additions to the collection have been new dimensional work. approaches in the art world using paper as material. Julio’s personal style and determination allowed Creating abstract and distinctive works, the him to create a new era and a new path for craftsmen.

With his intricate dimensions and creative artwork combines original trusted techniques with flare in this collection of drawings, paintings and innovative and fresh ideas.

Overall, the collection has a varied style, although all jewellery he changed the future of sculptors and radiating intense passion and excitement from the became an evolutionary figure. (Perm) Rebecca French splashes of colour within the works. (Until 16/01) Guillem de Castro, 118, 46003 Valencia Tuesday to Sunday, 10am-8pm| Closed Mondays €2 entry but Sundays are free!

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o you want to meet people from other countries and learn new phrases on the way?

All over Valencia and the community there are intercambio/tandem nights, which are a fun way to learn a little. The organisation of each one varies, some are more relaxed affairs, others more structured, some cost & others offer treats, so it's worth thinking about what you want and trying a few out.

Monday

Cafe de las Horas

Sp/Eng

8pm

Tuesday

Portland Ale House Laboratorio

English night Sp/Eng + Sp/Jap

8.30pm 8pm

Wednesday

Portland Ale House L'Ermità Café Infinito Bar La Red Rose, Torrent La Ola Fresca

Sp/Eng Sp/Eng Sp/Eng Sp/Eng Sp/Eng

8.30pm 7pm 7pm 8pm 8.30pm

Thursday

The Guinness House Finnigans (every 2 weeks)

Sp/Eng Sp/Eng

9.45pm 9.30pm, restarts 13th January

Sunday

Thomas & Johnson Sinpy Jo's

Sp/Eng Sp/Eng

Times TBC Times TBC

Various

Active English (excursions eg cinema, walking, meals)

Sp/Eng

www.groups.google.com - Active-English

If you know of others that you would like readers to know about, tell us and we'll print them in the future.

Finished with your inVLC ? Pass it on to a friend..!