inVLC February 2013

in

VLC

#30

Make the most of the Valencian Community

February 2013

Love is in the air

Independent reviews Language learning Be my Valentine Food & Drink Dutch Corner My Town

Free!

The very best in Valencia & the Community

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Subastador en maquinaria industrial y equipo de construcción

VALENCIA

España Pol Ind El Oliveral, Calle Q, 46190, Riba-roja

Miércoles 27 de Febrero 2013

2008 CAT 324DL

2007 CAT 323D

2004 JCB JS200LC

2006 Komatsu PW200-7 Selección

2007 Komatsu PW180-7

2007 Takeuchi TB1140 - Selección

2008 Bobcat X442D

Komatsu WA250-1

2002 New Holland LB115-4PS

CAT D6D

2001 JCB 532-120 - Selección

2007 Dynapac CA602D - Selección

2000 CAT CB534-C

Ford 7600 Selección

2000 Haulotte H12SDX Selección

2006 SDMO 650KVA

¿Tiene equipo para vender?

Porqué no nos llama hoy y le hacemos una valoración gratuíta?

PAOLO ALECCI - 618 28 48 08 palecci@euroauctions.com

Manuel Moreno - 670 05 10 70 mmoreno@euroauctions.com

Para ver un listado completo de nuestros equipos e información de próximas subastas favor visite

www.euroauctions.com

VLC

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in

#30

Regulars 4 Before we start 5 Did you know...

6 News in brief & Dutch Corner 16 City Maps 30 Photo competition 31 Classifieds, Weekly markets & Rastros

inVLC Talks 7 Monthly essentials 8 Independent review 10 Random reviews

Language learning 26 Learn English with the British Council 27 Finding Our Way & Language Exchanges

inVLC Contact information invlceditor@gmail.com 622055534 Scan this code to be taken to previous issues of inVLC

in this issue

Food & Drink 14 Health 15 Recipes & Cocktails

Features 11 Gung hay fat choy 12 Music 18 Getaways 19 Inland Spain 20 My town 22 It's good to be oop norf 24 Arrels de la Terra 25 Life on the markets 28 Be my Valentine

inVLC is for 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. facebook inVLC If you are looking for more up to date information or have any thoughts or comments please 'like' us on Facebook and join in the fun.

Important numbers & Embassies / Consulates Fire | 080 Local police | 092 French | 96 351 0359 Dutch | 96 341 4633 Medical | 061 General | 112 USA | 96 351 6973 German | 96 310 62 53 British | 96 521 60 22 Depósito legal V-816-2006 inVLC We do our very best to strive for accuracy but we do not accept responsibility for unintentional errors or omissions, accuracy of advertisements or contributors’ opinions.

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I’ve been looking for a girl like you – not you – but a girl like you. :: Groucho Marx

Before we start

The calm before the storm

Welcome to the February edition of inVLC. Now the dust has settled for most of us after the New Year holidays, with resolutions kept and some broken already, it’s back to normality here in Valencia.

or shop that has popped up in the city. It’s nice to see people with a bit of ingenuity and foresight in times of economic woe and we will be doing our best to visit some of these places in the upcoming months.

The weather sure has been a bonus recently as apart from a few colder days and a bit of wind; we have been blessed with reasonable temperatures and many clear, sunny days. Spring is almost coming into view and as we head towards March and the controlled mayhem that becomes the Fallas; February really is the calm before the storm.

In this issue we will be exploring Torrent with our new monthly column titled ‘My Town’, checking out what will be 2013’s hottest music festivals and keeping healthy with our recipes and fat facts. This month we’ll also be taking a look at The Devils Caves in Alcala del Jucar, introducing our Dutch Corner to welcome our Dutch readers and tourists and also presenting a new language-learning page from the British Council. As always, our regular independent reviews, feature articles and information feature the best that Valencia and the Community has to offer.

There seems to be a proliferation of new places opening up all over the city. Having spent only a week in the UK over the New Year, since coming back it seems like we have spotted many a new interesting bar

Any comments, questions, article ideas or information you wish to send to inVLC are welcomed and can be sent to invlceditor@gmail.com February also sees Lisa turning 30; something she is very scared of. So if you see someone running down the street crying and searching for her lost youth, that will probably be her. Please feel free to offer your words of support via our Facebook page.

See you again in March; a liitle older and a little wiser.

Lisa & Paul

Overheard in the inVLC office: “Recipies, recipes; no-one will notice”

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A woman drove me to drink and I never even had the courtesy to thank her. :: W C Fields

Did you know 2003 The space shuttle Columbia disintegrated over Texas during its re-entry into the earth’s atmosphere. All seven crew members lost their lives. The loss was a result of damage sustained during its launch when a piece of foam insulation the size of a small case broke off. There was nothing the crew could have done to fix it and the shuttle was doomed as soon as it took off.

1971 Decimalisation in the UK was launched; the familiar pounds, shillings and pence would be phased out over the following 18 months. Shops were accused of using the changeover to put up prices but inflation was quite high at the time so no doubt prices would have risen anyway.

The banks were closed for four days in preparation for the changeover. The sixpence, or tanner as it was known, was the last coin to be withdrawn.

that in February...

1968 Lisa Marie Presley was born in Memphis, the only child and daughter of Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley. She was briefly married to Michael Jackson before divorcing and according to a UK newspaper, she has moved to England with her family and is starting a new life in an 8 million pound stately home having fallen out with Los Angeles and the USA. She has twin daughters with her current husband, Michael Lockwood. Her career path has included modelling, writing and is currently following in her father's footsteps and singing.

1964 The Beatles arrive on their first trip to the USA, arriving at John F Kennedy airport. They did television appearances before the concert at Washington Coliseum which had 8 thousand fans in attendance.

They also played at Carnegie Hall and went

on to Miami Beach for more TV appearances including the Ed Sullivan Show which was seen by a record breaking 73 million people.

They returned to the UK on February 22nd where an estimated 10 thousand fans were waiting to welcome them home.

1958 The Munich air disaster happened killing 21 passengers and crew including seven Manchester United footballers.

Known as the Busby Babes, the average age of the players was just 24 and the manager Matt Busby was seriously hurt along with Duncan Edwards who died in hospital 15 days later. An investigation into the disaster found that a build up of ice and slush on the runway had prevented the plane taking off.

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News in brief AVE have announced that they will be lowering prices on their high speed train from Valencia to Madrid. With recent reports showing that the service is currently used primarily by people on business trips and many trains running with few passengers, it is hoped that dropping prices will encourage more people to use the service.

El Corte Ingles announced that they will now be open every Sunday and festival day during 2013, which then prompted Carrefour to announce the same. Sunday opening is a contentious subject here in Spain which has seen many people divided on the idea. A discussion on our Facebook page during January showed that this is still the case and we will have to wait and see if other companies follow suit and whether Sunday opening will be successful.

Here in Valencia, the Oceanografic are celebrating their 10th anniversary by dropping their entrance prices on every Sunday throughout February. Prices are 10€ for an adult and free entrance for children up to 10 years old.

Drivers who use the CV-35 in Valencia (one of the busiest roads in the province) will no doubt have noticed that the street lamps have been switched off since the energy-saving measure was introduced in August last year.

Now, the 'no-street-lighting-austeritymeasure' has extended to all the major thoroughfares in the province, including

major roads like the Autovía de La Plana in Castellón and the Sax-Castalla road in Alicante. The Autovía del Turia is now in darkness along its entire route from 1am to 5am every day. During the remaining nighttime hours, only the sections from the Palacio de Congresos to Canal Nou and the link to the bypass are lit. Authorities maintain it is an "energy-saving exercise" backed up by a reliable road safety study.

The Interior Minister, Jorge Fernández Díaz, has announced "imminent" changes to the national traffic regulations that would almost certainly see the speed limit on secondary roads being reduced from 100kmph to 90kmph. Furthermore, on stretches of roads that are 6.5 metres wide or less, the speed limit will be reduced to 60kmph.

Spain's National Statistics Institute recently reported that around 200,000 people lost their jobs between October and December 2012 taking the number of unemployed people in Spain to a record high of over six million. Unemployment in the 16 to 24 age group has now hit 55 percent and overall unemployment numbers in November 2012 hit 26 percent.

These latest figures show that Spain is now making up a third of the unemployment in the Euro zone.

Electricity prices have gone up by three per cent at the start of 2013, but it has been reported that users will actually be paying between six and 10 percent more on their bills. From now on, clients who contract low tension power of between 3 and 10 KW will have their electricity provided at an average, pre-agreed price. Bills will be based on the consumer’s actual use of electricity and if they use more than the average, they will need to pay 10 per cent extra.

Dutch corner

Louise van den Berg

Aan alle nederlandse bezoekers in Valencia: welkom!!

Valencia is een prachtige stad met vele mogelijkheden. Het drooggelegde rivierbed, nu een enorm park dwars door de stad met vele verschillende aspecten, van het Bioparc aan het ene uiteinde tot de futuristisch ogende Ciudad des Artes y Ciencias aan het andere uiteinde. Daar tussenin van alles en nog wat, speeltuinen, sportvelden, fonteinen en gezellige tentjes voor een versnapering!

In het centrum is de centrale markt zeker de moeite van een bezoek waard, niet alleen voor het uitgebreide assortiment vers voedsel met de bijbehorende geuren en kleuren maar ook voor het gebouw zelf!

De er tegenoverliggende La Lonja en de gebouwen van het station en het postkantoor zijn een "must see", evenals de katedraal met de bekende Micalet toren. Behalve de "barrio El Carmen" is, even

buiten het centrum de Barrio Rusaffa een internationaal, alternatief buurtje met vele winkeltjes en cafeetjes. Als je lekker wilt eten, even buiten het centrum, zoek dan in de zona Canovas naar de straat Conde d'Altea, met een uitgebreide keuze aan restuarantjes. En dan is er altijd het brede strand, met de metro binnen 10 minuten bereikbaar! inVLC is een internationaal blad en bijdragen uit nederlandse kringen met informatie en/of vragen zijn welkom.

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inVLC talks

Monthly essentials

* Take a trip to the Oceanografic the largest aquarium in Europe one Sunday in February when the entrance fee is only €10 or free for children under 10. The Oceanografic has a surface area of 110,000 m2 and a volume of 42 million litres of water. It also boasts one of the worlds largest dolphinariums. The Oceanografic houses animals such as sharks, penguins, sea lions and walruses as well as many other different species of mammals, fish, birds and reptiles. In our opinion the Oceanografic is well worth a visit, especially at this price

best listed. If you're new to the area it's a great way to make new friends and pick up some of the local lingo. * Tuesday 12th February is Pancake Day this year, so get yourself to one of the cities American supermarkets to buy some maple syrup (the best being from Canada) and start making some of these tasty treats. Pancake Day or Shrove Tuesday is the day before Lent and pancakes are traditionally made to use up rich foods such as eggs, milk and sugar before the fasting season of 40 days of Lent.

* Be romantic and book a table for 2 at your favourite restaurant and treat the one you love to a fabulous meal this Valentines day.

If money is an issue then why not be romantic at home and set the table with candles, flowers and a nice bottle of bubbly then cook a dinner full of aphrodisiacs like a pasta dish including fresh basil, chilli, garlic and oysters or salmon. For dessert strawberries and of course, something chocolatey.

* Carnaval de Vinaròs is a ten day carnival of music, dance and costumes from February 1st until February 11th. Celebrated for over one hundred years, this event brings together people from all over the world looking for a great time! Between the two parades and ceremonial events (including the selection of the best drag queen's), there is more than enough going on to entertain everyone in the family! Vinaros is about an hour and a half drive from Valencia so * If you're like us and always saying you are going to eat healthier, why not think about making the most of it and spending a night there. then have a read at our health and recipe pages for tips and get down to the market for all those lovely fresh fruit and vegetables and cook a healthy meal to impress your friends and family.

What's on guide

* What better time than now for a clear out of unwanted clothes CDs, DVDs, Electrical goods or anything else you no longer have need for. Why not try to turn those unwanted goods into money via our classifieds. Get your friends to have a clear out too and buy in some wine and snacks and hold a swap party, your trash could be someone else's treasure and vice-versa. * Bored of the city? Then why not head down to the beach. It may be cold this time of year but it's practically deserted so you can have some real 'me time'. Be sure to wrap up warm and take a walk along the shore listening to the crashing waves and seeing if you can find anything interesting that may have washed to shore from the sea. * Feeling inspired? Why not try your hand at writing a My Town article for use in inVLC. You can write about your town, area of the city or somewhere you know well. The best ones we receive will be published. Or, if writing isn't your thing, then take the camera out and take some pictures for our monthly photo competition. * Feeling the pull to get away this Fallas? Check out where you can fly to direct from Valencia on our 'Places to go' page and start looking forward to your escape. If you're looking to get away but would prefer to stay in Spain, then check online for cheap hotels and discover another Spanish city over the long weekend. Two of our personal favourites are San Sebastian and Pamplona. * Want to meet new people and improve your language skills while having a few drinks? Then why not head out to one of the many intercambios going on in and around the city, we have some of the

February 1st – 16th Valencia Dark Week A series of events looking at the darker side of life with film screenings, live concerts, conferences and fashion shows taking place at various venues around the city. www.valenciadarkweek.com for more information.

February 3rd Runaway La Liga leaders Barcelona come to the Mestalla to play Valencia CF February 6- 9th XIV Valencia Fashion Week From the 6th to the 9th of February Valencia fashion week bursts onto the city streets with a programme of creative and carefully staged fashion shows.

Main venue: Palacio de la Exposicion www.valenciafashionweek.com February 24th Guitar Festival BCN For all you guitar lovers the 24th Guitar Festival in Barcelona has a series of concerts including Ron Sexsmith on February 23rd and acclaimed maestro Johnny Winter on the 24th of April. There are a host of other artists also playing, so check the internet for more information.

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Contraceptives should be used on every conceivable occasion. :: Spike Milligan

inVLC talks

Independent review

Searching on the Internet for Napalm Death tickets I happened upon a site for Valencia Dark Week, which is how I found out that Hadas Pin Up exists. Having been looking for a shop like this in Valencia, I was quite surprised I hadn’t found it before now, however it is located outside what we would class as the city centre and took us to an area that was new to us.

Upon entering the shop we were greeted by the friendly shop owner Merxe, who opened the shop with her business partner Miurel in December. The shop itself was bright with contemporary décor in a girly pink with newspaper designs printed on walls and curtains in the changing area. Merxe offered us information on the stock she had in and what she was getting in the following week. She showed us pictures of people modelling the clothes and took my email address so she could send information on new arrivals they get in and any offers they might have on.

Hadas Pin Up is a fashion store which stocks clothes and accessories that have been inspired by the 50’s with a touch of Rockabilly vintage.

They stock their own designs as well as popular brands such as Hell Bunny and Spin Doctors, and also emerging designers in accessories Gothic Dark Moon. The store is aimed primarily at women although you may be able to pick up a little something for the men.

Hadas is yet another example of the 50’s style Americana that seems to be so popular at the moment, in keeping with this theme the shop offers a range of swing style dresses and petticoats to give your skirt some extra volume, as well as a large selection of corsets including under and over bust styles in a variety of colours and materials. For the more every day look the store has a choice of floaty girly skirts, which can be worn with tights in the winter or on their own for a perfect summer skirt. Other garments available in store are the 50’s style wiggle skirts which are perfect for a night out or for work, cute 50’s style cardigans that work great over a top on a cool summers evening, or on their own as a light spring sweater. Wide selections of tops are available including long and short sleeves, vests, self-coloured and with prints. The accessories on offer include high heeled and flat shoes, handmade jewellery, large handbags, hair decorations, tights, stockings and a selection of make-up items.

In the store I tried on 3 different skirts and 2 different corsets and in the end I went for one of the skirts which was a pencil cut 50s style and one of the corsets which was a black and white polka dot halter neck number, with a splash of girly pink. I was surprised how good both items looked on and even more surprised with the reasonable prices. I also purchased a cute and girly cupcake oven mitt and some black cracked nail varnish.

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For me, finding this shop was like coming across a hidden treasure chest as I had been looking for a 50’s style swing dress for a long time. I love the Rockabilly style because it’s pretty, girly yet sexy and a little bit different without being slutty. Until now I had to content myself with ordering online without being able to try the item first but now I have a new favourite shop stocking all the items I need to feed my addiction.

By the time you read this there will have been a delivery of new stock, so if you fancy something a little different for a party or just want to stand out from the crowd, head down to Hadas Pin Up. Address Calle Quart, 128. Valencia www.facebook.com/hadas.pinup

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inVLC talks

Random reviews

Spaghetti & Blues

A. Vintage Jazze

Spaghetti & Blues is a restaurant and pizzeria that is the sister company to local artisan beer brewers Birra & Blues. The restaurant first opened it's doors in 1988 and in 1999 moved to it's current location on Patacona Beach, mixing Italian cuisine with music and of course, their home-brewed beers.

Another random find in the Carmen (as a suggestion, please publicise your businesses and put the name & opening times on the security shutters) A. Vintage Jazze is one of the many 'vintage' style shops that seem to be popping up all over the city at the moment. There is a definite movement around town for Americana and 50's retro style and A. Vintage Jazze mixes this nicely with a good selection of vinyl records for the Jazz lovers out there. At least one of the owners speaks excellent English and is very friendly and helpful, even giving us a small discount on our purchases. The shop has a selection of memorabilia, decorative items, pictures, photographs and vintage clothes including premium designer labels and depending on what you are looking for, prices vary greatly from a couple of euros into the hundreds.

The menu presents a good selection of salads, starters, pizzas, pastas, grills and desserts.

Menus are available in both Spanish and English with prices for a starter beginning at 6,00€ but most are around 10.00€ and salads are also around 10.00€. Whilst we were there we opted for two pasta dishes. The first was a seafood pasta with tomato cream, garlic and prawns and very nice it was too. The second was Orechiette Rucola, a mix of cherry tomatoes, rocket and parmesan cheese.

Our purchases for the day were a selection of retro style black and The food was washed down with a bottle of their own rubia, or blonde white photographs depicting various New York scenes and a print of a series of 50's Vargas style pin-up girls which we will be framing and beer and although a little pricey, it was excellent. hanging on the wall shortly.

Indoor or outdoor dining is possible in a nice covered courtyard which would be an ideal setting to while away those long hot summer Well worth a visit for a taste of retro-chic. evenings, sipping some excellent beer and listening to some great music.

Also, with a discreet homage to blues legend John Lee Hooker, Beer Opening hours & Blues have just presented a new beer. John Lee Blues with a Monday - Friday 18:00 - 21:00 complete set of blonde, double malt, toasted and black varieties. An Saturday - 12:00 - 14:00 & 18:00 - 21:00 excellent idea. www.avintagejazze.com Address C/ Partida de Vera, 109 (Paseo Marítimo de La Patacona), 46120 Alboraya Opening hours Mon: 13:00 - 17:15, 21:00 - 00:15 Tue - Thu: 13:00 - 17:00, 21:00 - 00:15 Fri - Sun: 13:00 - 17:00, 21:00 - 00:00

Restaurante Sesame We stumbled across Sesame whilst walking down Calle en Bou in the Carmen and as we were hungry, we decided to stop in for some lunch. Described as a French restaurant, Sesame also offers a good selection of other Mediterranean dishes, vegetarian options and wines.

The waitress who served us was very friendly and enthusiastic taking an immediate liking to our dog who was out for a walk with us.

We ordered a light-ish lunch of Hummus, Falafel and a Goats Cheese Salad which was all good, especially the salad which was excellent and a very welcome change from some of the poor excuses made for salads served in many establishments.

Prices were also reasonable and we will certainly be returning again in the future.

Opening hours Tue - Fri: 20:00 - 00:00 Sat - Sun: 14:00 - 16:00, 20:00 - 00:00

We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid. :: Benjamin Franklin

Gung hay fat choy Although the celebrations for New Year are well and truly over for most of us, this isn’t quite the case for everyone as on February 10th arrives the Chinese New Year.

According to the Chinese calendar in 2013, February 9th is New Years Eve, marking the final day of the Year of the Dragon, while the 10th ushers in the Year of the Water Snake. The dates for the Chinese New Year change every year thanks to the specifics of the calendar which is based on solar/lunar activity and although most Chinese people will use the Gregorian, or western calendar for daily life, the traditional calendar is still used to mark the major holidays like the Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year.

Celebrated by over a billion and a half people around the world, the Year of the Water Snake marks the halfway point through the 12 Chinese astrological signs. This symbolic animal is believed to impart certain characteristics on those born during that year and people born during the previous snake years, (1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989 and 2001) can expect good fortune in 2013.

The specific attributes of ‘snakes’ in Chinese culture are not all that different from how they are seen in western culture.

Snakes are seen as careful and stealthy, planning out details before they make their move and preferring to work alone. And of course, they are charismatic, easily seducing others to do their will.

As for celebrations, well, hope to see traditional dragon dancing, the lighting of fireworks and snake motifs in the Chinese communities in the city. And don’t forget to wish our Chinese neighbours “Gung hay fat choy” or “Sun leen fai lok”, two Cantonese phrases wishing for prosperity in the New Year.

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Everything is funny as long as it is happening to somebody else. :: Will Rodgers

Music

There is so much doom and gloom spoken these days about the death of music sales that it's hard to remember that there are still a host of excellent bands out there creating some great music and 2012 was no different. Highlights here at inVLC included Manchester's own Elbow with their album "Dead in the boot", a long awaited collection of rarities and b-sides, that although not their best release to date, still has some exceptional moments and is never less than excellent. Another highlight was the new album from Soundgarden titled "King animal" that after a ten year silence, shows the band are not resting on past glories by producing an excellent rock album that can stand proudly alongside the very best of their 90's output.

So you fancy some new music in 2013?

Well longtime inVLC contributor Stuart Atkinson is our guide to some of the festivals taking place this year in Spain, leading us through a best of 2012 list and highlighting what to look out for in 2013.

Also if you fancy some live music this month you can check out what is happening in Sala Wah Wah or why not try Rock City on February 8th when they play host to the one and only, Napalm Death.

Albums of 2012 Scouring through the endless lists of end of year top 50’s has led to the compilation of some of the most noted and most listened to albums.

• Kendrick Lamar - good kid, m.A.A.d city

• Alt-J - An Awesome Wave

Alongside Frank Ocean, a huge hitter in R n' B last year.

Huge indie favourite in the UK, championed by BBC radio all year.

• Frank Ocean - Channel Orange

• Fiona Apple - The Idler Wheel is Wiser than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords will Serve you More than Ropes will ever do

For many, the album of the year, R n' B coming back in force.

• Tame Impala - Lonerism

Back after ten years doing her very best, and giving us possibly the longest album title of the century.

Psych rock which entranced many a listener.

• Purity Ring - Shrines

• Grimes - Visions

Debut album from Canadian duo is electro at its best.

Electro-pixie Grimes astonished us all with this gem.

• Jack White - Blunderbuss

• Beach House - Bloom Dream pop golden nugget from the Baltimore duo.

Spectacular solo album from one of the most talented musicians of our era.

• Chromatics - Kill For Love

• Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music

First album for 5 years for this accomplished synth rock act gives you The most solid rap album released in 2012, lyrically solid, minus the nonsense which usually comes along with modern rap. plenty to listen to.

• Japandroids - Celebration Rock • Death Grips - The Money Store Perhaps one of the most controversial bands of the year, with one of Again, this album hit the number one spot for many, just brilliant energetic rock. the hardest but most rewarding listens.

• Swans - The Seer • Grizzly Bear - Shields Critically acclaimed indie rock band doing what they do best.

New Music for the New Year This year has started with the news of the triumphant return of David Bowie with his first album in 10 years “The Next Day”, also there are vague whisperings of a new Daft Punk album.

In the coming months new albums from: Scottish rockers Biffy Clyro – “Opposites” The enigmatic Eels – “Wonderful, Glorious” The long awaited and often delayed album from Azelia Banks – “Broke with Expensive Taste” Swedish weirdos The Knife – “Shaking the Habitual” Yank alt-rock outfit Paramore – “Paramore” Mancunian upstarts Everything Everything – “Arc” Indie staples The Courtneers – “ANNA” Dance rock outfit Foals – “Holy Fire” Soon to be hitting Valencia, Low – “The Invisible Way”

12th studio album by the Swans was devoured by their many fans.

13 Festivals Dates for 2013 in Spain Dates and acts for some of the best festivals • Monegros hitting our shores in the coming year!

(Fraga, Huesca) 20 July • Estrella de Levante SOS 48 Festival (Murcia) 3-4 May Artists confirmed Justice, The XX, M83 Tickets: 43€ • Primavera Sound Festival (Barcelona) May 22-26 Optimus Primavera Sound 2013 (Porto) May 30 – Jun 1 Artists confirmed Blur, Tame Impala, Jesus and Mary Chain, Dinosaur Junior, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, My Bloody Valentine Tickets: 160€ or 235€ for both Barcelona and Porto • Sonar Festival (Barcelona) June 13-15 Artists confirmed Kraftwerk, Pet Shop Boys & Lindstrom Tickets: 175€ • Dcode Festival (Madrid, Spain) 28-29 June 2013 TBC Eels, Kasabian, My Chemical Romance, Sum 41, The Hives, The Ting Tings, Band of Horses, Crystal Castles • El Azkena Rock Festival (Vitoria Gasteiz, Pais Vasco) June 28 &29 Artists confirmed Line up to come but there are big rumours of Kiss playing Tickets:54€ at the moment • Bilbao BBK Live (Bilbao) July 11-13 Artists confirmed Green Day, Depeche Mode, Kings Of Leon, Fatboy Slim, Editors, Biffy Clyro, Alt-J, Delorean.

Tickets: 95€ • Benicassim Festival (Costa Azahar) July 18-21 Artists confirmed Arctic Monkeys, Killers, Queens of the Stone Age, Jake Bugg, Azelia Banks Tickets: Weekend and camping £145

Artists confirmed Huge Dance festival which has recently brought 2manydj’s and the Prodigy to Spain in the past • Low Cost Festival (Benidorm) July 26, 27 and 28 Artists confirmed Two Door Cinema Club, Los Enemigos, Love of Lesbian Tickets: 42€ • Arenal Sound Festival (Burriana, Castellón) August 1-4 Artists confirmed Editors, White Lies, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaur, The Zombie Kids Tickets: Various tickets but max price of 75€ • Creamfields Andalucia (Jerez de la Frontera) 10-11 August 2013 TBC The Prodigy, Simian Mobile Disco, Paul van Dyk, Armin van Buuren, Eric Prydz, Tiga, Felix da Housecat, The Bloody Beetroots • Rototom Reggae Sunsplash Festival (Benicassim) August 17-24 20th Anniversary

Live music this month at Sala Wah Wah + Friday 1: FINAL CONCURSO MAQUETAS VINILO VALENCIA 4.0 Nanga Parbat JOHNNY B. ZERO DREAMY EYES Single-entry box office: 3 euros Open: 22:00 (Indie-pop-rock) + Saturday 2: PASTORA Advance tickets for 12 euros at www.atrapalo.com Box office: 15 euros Open: 22:30 (Pop) +Thursday 7: ALEX FERREIRA + La Hora del Té free entry Open : 22:00 (Pop)

+ Friday 8: FIESTA WATER TAPES ELLOS + Carolina Otero Advance tickets at 8 euros from www.ticketea.com Box office: 10 euros (Indie-Pop) + Sábado 9: WACHINA FESTIVAL DOWLINER SECT + THE URGES Advance tickets at 20 euros from Discos Monterey, Discos Harmony, www.movingtickets.com Box office: 24 euros Open : 22:00 (Garage- R & Blues) + Viernes 15: JERO ROMERO Entrance 10 euros Pre-book at www.ticketea.com open: 22:30 (Indie-Pop) + Sábado 16: A-PHONICS + Ukelele Zombies Box office: 10 euros Free CD of A-Phonics for the 1st 150 Open : 22:30 (Surf-Garage-Rock) + Jueves 21: 7º Anniversary Vinilo Valencia MCENROE + TORTEL Advance tickets for 10 euros at www.movingtickets.com www.notikumi.com Box office: 15 euros Open : 22:00 (Pop-Folk) + Viernes 22: 7º Anniversary Vinilo Valencia MARONDA + EL HIJO Advance tickets for 10 euros at www.movingtickets.com www.notikumi.com Box office: 10 euros Open: 22:30 (Indie-Pop) + Sábado 23: 7º Anniversary Vinilo Valencia LAGARTIJA NICK + DOCTOR DIVAGO Advance tickets for 12 euros at www.movingtickets.com www.notikumi.com, Tienda Tipo, Discos Amsterdam Box office: 15 euros Open : 22:00 (Indie-Rock) + Domingo 24: THE GODFATHERS Advance tickets 18 euros at Tienda Tipo, Discos Amsterdam, Discos Harmony & Discos Bar Monterey Box office . 22 euros Open: 20:00 (Rock) + Lunes 25: DOGS D'AMOUR + Stop Stop Advance tickets at 18 euros from www.ticketmaster.es, Discos Amsterdam, FNAC, Tienda Tipo, Discos Harmony, Discos Bar Monterey Box office: 22 Euros Open: 20:30 (Rock-Glam)

14

Health

Everybody needs fat in their diet so our bodies function properly, but some fats are better for you than others. Here's our guide to fats to help with New Year's diet and knowing the good from the not so good.

The good fats:

The bad fats:

UNSATURATED FATS help reduce the cholesterol-producing effects of saturated fats. Adults should eat 70g of fat per day only 20g of this should be saturated fats.

There are two types of unsaturated fat polyunsaturated and monounsaturated.

SATURATED FATS are found in animal products such as meat, high-fat dairy items and eggs - so make sure your intake of butter, cheese, cakes and biscuits is kept to a minimum (easier said than done I know).

Saturated fats are also found in some vegetable fats such as palm and coconut oil.

POLYUNSATURATED FATS can be found in sunflower and rapeseed oil, nuts, seeds and spreads. Omega 3 is also a source of polyunsaturated fat which can be found in salmon and fresh tuna. Omega 3 oils are also present in walnuts. Polyunsaturated fats have been proven to lower cholesterol.

TRANS FATS fall into two categories: the natural type which can be found in small amounts in dairy products and meat; and the kind we create when liquid oils are left to harden into partially hydrogenated fats.

It is the artificial type that is a cause for concern in your diet.

MONOUNSATURATED FATS also help lower cholesterol levels. A popular form of a monounsaturated fat is olive oil which is widely available in Spain and is staple in a Mediterranean diet. These fats are also present in olives, avocados and some varieties of nuts and seeds. Monounsaturated fats have been shown to lower the risk of heart disease. Both polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats are good for your heart and circulation.

Top 5 good fat foods

1 2 3 4 5

Mackerel

It's recommended to have at least one portion of oily fish per week; why not try it grilled or in a salad

Plant oils

Instead of using animal fats and butter use olive, sunflower or rapeseed oil sparingly in its place.

Nuts

Craving a biscuit or crisps; why not have a handful or cashews or almonds instead.

Avocado

Try adding to a salad, using as a spread or making a tasty guacamole dip (a personal favourite).

Pumpkin seeds

Why not try sprinkling them onto your cereal, yoghurt or using them to crunch up a salad.

HOW TO CUT DOWN ON SATURATED FAT Try these simple changes to your diet: •

Choose a leaner cut of meat and trim off any excess fat. Remove all skin from your poultry.

•

Grilling, poaching, baking or steaming is healthier than frying or roasting and tastes just as good.

•

Go for the skimmed, semi-skimmed or low fat dairy products as opposed to their full fat counterparts.

•

•

Why not try olive and sunflower oils and spreads instead of butter, ghee and lard.

Instead of salad dressings why not try olive oil, vinegar, mustard and lemon juice, or if you really want to liven up your salad why not just go for the low fat version of your favourite dressing.

15

Recipes & Cocktails

Some easy aphrodisiac fuelled foods for Valentines Day. We believe that these recipes are so easy, that even if cooking isn't your forte, you should be able to impress and have that special someone coming back for more.

Aphrodisiac fuelled honey, lemon and mustard salmon

Chocolate covered strawberries

2 salmon fillets

450g chocolate chips (milk or dark whatever you prefer)

Juice of half a lemon

2 tbsp butter

1 tbsp clear honey

100g white chocolate chips (for decoration)

2 tsp coarse-grain mustard

500g washed strawberries

200g cherry tomatoes on the vine 400g new potatoes

1. In a double boiler melt the 450g of chocolate chips and butter, stirring occasionally until smooth.

Handful of fresh green beans

2. Insert toothpicks into the tops of the strawberries.

15g butter

3. Using toothpicks, dip the strawberries into the chocolate mixture.

2 tbsp flaked almonds

4. Turn the strawberry upside down and insert the toothpick into Styrofoam and leave the chocolate to cool.

1 lemon cut into wedges to serve 1. Preheat oven to 190 degrees and put water on to boil for the potatoes and green beans. Line a baking tray with foil. Place the salmon on the foil, skin side down.

2. Mix the lemon juice, honey and mustard, then drizzle over the salmon. Set aside for 5 minutes, then bake in the oven for 15 minutes.

5. When the chocolate has cooled, lay strawberries onto a piece of foil.

6. In a double boiler melt the 100g of the white chocolate chips and a little butter, stirring occasionally until smooth.

7. Drizzle the white chocolate over the strawberries to decorate.

3. Meanwhile put the potatoes and green beans in to boil. When they are ready melt the butter in a small frying pan, add the almonds and cook for a minute or 2 until golden - watch them carefully as they burn easily. Add them to the beans and toss.

4. Put the cherry tomatoes on another baking tray and bake for the last 5 minutes or until the skin bursts.

5. Serve the salmon with the tomatoes, potatoes, green beans and a lemon wedge and enjoy.

Gin & Tonic - A taste of the East Gin & Tonic seems to be the 'cool' drink at the moment in many bars throughout the city and this has seen the introduction of several 'Gin clubs'. However, with prices at around 12â‚Ź for a single drink, it's easy to make a good G & T at home.

Recently Bombay Sapphire introduced a new Gin to their line-up called Bombay Sapphire East and to be honest, it was a surprise to find the gin available in a bodega in the Carmen, for the very healthy price of 25â‚Ź a litre.

It is suggested that you mix Bombay Sapphire East with Fever Tree tonic, so dutifully, a bottle of Fever Tree was also purchased and to be honest, the resulting cocktail was a little disappointing. However, with the right mix and the right tonic, Bombay Sapphire East really comes alive. So here is our recipe:

Find a large glass and drop in three big chunks of ice. Cut one wedge of fresh lime and one wedge of fresh lemon and drop these into the glass, giving them a little squeeze as you do to get the juices running. Then pour 60ml of Bombay Sapphire East into the glass followed by a 200ml bottle of ME tonic (available in specialist stores in the city for around 1.30â‚Ź). As a flamboyant twist, add a few dried juniper berries (we're not sure these add any extra taste but they certainly look the part).

Then, sit back, relax with your favourite piece of music or a good book and take a sip of a perfect Gin and Tonic cocktail.

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18

Getaways

Although Valencia airport doesn’t service the UK very well at the moment, there are plenty of direct flights to many other European destinations. So, if you fancy a break: Where can you go?

Berlin Pretty much a must see city on any travellers list, Berlin has a great combination of glamour and grime, mixing many top museums and galleries with cool bohemian bars, great restaurants, a world class arts and music scene and of course, history.

When it comes to fashion, art, design and a wonderful music heritage, Berlin is absolutely a city to look out for. Helped by relatively cheap rents, creative people from all over the world have come to Berlin turning it into a buzzing melting pot. Open, tolerant, experimental and edgy, Berlin has it all when it comes to cultural cool.

So, what else does the city have to offer?

Well, plenty.

History buffs have famous landmarks such as the Reichstag, the Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie (admittedly rather tacky these days) and the remnants of the Berlin Wall providing a living history lesson that stares you in the face every time you turn a corner.

Recent complaints by some about the “gentrification� of Berlin cannot hide a truly inspirational and exciting city that is perfect for a short break.

Currently, direct flights depart several times a week from Valencia to Berlin Tegel airport via Lufthansa.

Zurich As a travel destination Zurich offers a unique mix of discovery, pleasure, nature and culture having much to offer with over 50 museums and more than 100 galleries. There is an excellent choice of restaurants, shopping facilities and a vibrant nightlife alongside views of the Alps.

Zurich is located in the heart of Europe and the centre of Switzerland and as a city on the water, there are several quays along the Limmat and Sihl Rivers and the shores of Lake Zurich. Also the Uetliberg, Zurich's local mountain, is ideal for hiking. For those of you not quite cut out for hiking you can stroll along the popular shopping boulevard, Bahnhofstrasse, through the multicultural Niederdorf and along the artisan streets of Schipfe.

Swiss Airlines currently fly direct from Valencia to Zurich with only a 10 minute transfer from Zurich International Airport to the city centre by train.

A banker is a fellow who lends you his umbrella when the sun shines and wants it back the minute it begins to rain. :: Mark Twain

Inland Spain Alcala del Jucar

19

Louise van den Berg

full of surprises

Away from the costas, inland Spain offers a host of spectacular surprises, one of which is the town of Alcala del Jucar, a good hour's drive from Valencia (Take the A3 and then the N322 at Requena, direction Casas Ibanez). After a rather monotonous drive on the plain of Spain there is a sudden drop down into the surprisingly vast canyon leading towards the village of Alcala del Jucar. As the rock is very porous a lot of the houses are built into the walls of the cliffs with just the front of the houses apparent. From the rim of the canyon one can appreciate the position of the castle, perched on a rock above the village. There is a nice restaurant on the rim, aptly named El Mirador, where a stew of wild boar or venison, amongst other dishes, can be enjoyed. There are also a few hotels and restaurants in the village itself which offer a range of refreshments and Spanish dishes.

The river Jucar loops round the village and in the summer the locals enjoy swimming in the river, there is even a small artificial beach! For keen walkers there is a good path along the river where you can discover the ancient, now deserted, cave dwellings. In the village, don't forget to visit the "las Cuevas del Diablo", containing a treasure of antique implements artifacts and photographs (some of the Diablo himself!). The entry ticket of 3 euros includes a beverage of choice at the bar inside the cave and there is even a dancefloor! A second cave well worth a visit is the Cuevas de Masago, also in the village, where you can enjoy a meal in the restaurant, have a look in the small museum and above all enjoy the views. The castle is also well worth a visit, towering over the village and don't forget to look for the bullring which is notable for its unusual shape.

Well worth a visit if you are looking for something completely different.

20

Start every day off with a smile and get it over with. :: W C Fields

My town

Torrent

This is the first in what we plan to be a new series of articles titled ‘My town’, where inVLC presents information about different towns in the community. We are hoping that you, the reader, will contribute information about the town in which you live for inclusion in future articles. So, if you feel more people should now about your town, it’s history, places to eat, things to see and do etc, then send your articles into invlceditor@gmail.com for consideration.

Alongside the old, Torrent has expanded recently into the newly built Parc Central area, which along with new housing, has a large recreational park in the centre and a large Sports Centre, that in addition to a gym and running track etc, hosts live music concerts in the summer. Not far from the Sports Centre is the newly opened Botanical Gardens. Nowhere near as big as the Botanical Garden in the city, it still however offers a nice relaxing space to take a short walk or spend a sunny afternoon relaxing.

First up this month, we present our town, Torrent.

Torrent is also home to the Auditori Torrent which is a concert venue Torrent is a small city located in the metropolitan area of Valencia offering a series of mostly Classical music. and the largest municipality of Horta Oest. It sits approximately 7km from Valencia city to which it is connected by a regular metro service, As for fiestas, Torrent obviously celebrates Fallas during March with taking you about 20 minutes to get into the centre. it’s own Mascletas and huge Falla outside the Town Hall alongside many local, smaller Fallas. Also celebrated every year with a fair, is Officially founded in 1248 after the Reconquista, Torrent also boasts the local holiday of San Blas. We were informed that San Blas was in a tower that was built several centuries before. The Medieval Tower fact the patron saint of throats. was built by the Moors and was originally part of an ancient castle.

The tower still remains in Plaza Major standing 30 meters high and now houses two exhibition spaces.

21 As for eating and drinking, Torrent offers a range of places that are a little bit different from the normal. A personal favourite and probably most famous is Rio Mundo. A cerveceria and restaurant that has been around for many a year and boasts hundreds of different types of beer. Ever popular and open for only a few hours in the evening, booking a table is highly recommended as you can find queues stretching down the street.

Other interesting places include Bier Garten, a German bar next to the main Torrent Avenida Metro Station and Farigola I Menta, a surprisingly well-priced restaurant offering excellent salads and sandwiches, and finally, La Plaza, a more upmarket and expensive restaurant that serves some great tasting steaks.

Torrent isn’t the most exciting town you’ll ever visit but, it does offer a few places to go and places to have a drink and some dinner if you fancy an afternoon out or when you can’t quiet bring yourself to make the journey into the city.

Directory Cerveceria Rio Mundo Calle Juez Querol, 2

Bier Garten Calle La Plana, 1

La Plaza Plaza de la Libertad, 16.

Farigola I Menta Calle Padre Mendez, 34

Dog of the month P.E.P.A

Name: Leah Age: 8 weeks Size: will be large Breed: GSD X (Mum is purebred) Health: puppy vaccinated Personality: Affectionate, playful. Has had lots of human contact.

More info: P.E.P.A. on 650 304 746. www.pepaspain.com

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It's good to be oop Norf Christmas and New Year are always popular times for people to travel back to their own home countries, to see family and friends and to connect back to where we come from. For me that means going back to the north of England and I did so over New Year. Work and the high price of flights meant I spent Christmas in Spain and on the 27th headed off for a weeks trip back to the UK.

It's only a Northern Town For better or worse, my hometown is Preston, Lancashire and it's always interesting to go back after a period of time to see what has happened. In many ways, it really does feel like coming home, as the buildings and streets are still so familiar, they have become part of me even though I now live (and have done for nearly 4 years) in Valencia.

While Preston is my hometown, it was a first time visit for Lisa, so we decided to do some sight seeing and first travelled to Blackpool, which does hold some particularly nostalgic memories of childhood holidays for Lisa.

The Benidorm of the North The first thing that struck me about Blackpool is that it has undergone some recent investment and the sea-front is not at all like it used to be. A new wide promenade with interesting sculptures and pavement decoration helps add a great deal of appeal but it can't hide the fact that behind the prom, Blackpool still has a lot of problems. We spent some time happily playing the slot and penny machines in the Coral arcade and delighted in purchasing a stick of proper Blackpool Rock and reliving a lost childhood.

In 2002, Preston became England's 50th city in the 50th year of Queen Elizabeth II's reign, but it is still very much a town. In fact "Prestune" is a town that goes all the way back to the Domesday Book in 1086 but more recently in 2012 celebrated the Preston Guild, an event that only happens once every 20 years. So, what had changed since I had last been in Preston? I'm afraid to say that what I noticed most was the continued closure and lack of investment that has seen a once 'Proud Preston' looking a little humbled. Don't get me wrong, there are still many places that stand out in Preston, the flag market in the centre for example, has always been rather picturesque and is still an example of the historical buildings of Preston. Seeing the old row of red phone boxes, that is a rare sight in the UK today, brought a particular tinge of nostalgia whilst walking around the centre.

I did also particularly enjoy a proper pint of bitter in a proper pub and It was often said as a joke when I was growing up, but one thing all those miss-spent hours sat in the pub came flooding back. that is great about Preston is that it is so easy to get out of. It has I can't stand the rain great transport links and is within an hour or so of places like Leeds, One thing that did permeate through the week long trip was the Liverpool, The Lake District and of course, Manchester. constant rain. It Barely stopped, and that particular shade of grey that hangs over northern England like a blanket, reminded me of why So the next stop on our travels was the city of Manchester for a quick I like the sunny, clear blue skies of Valencia so much. shopping spree.

Manchester Calling It has been a long time since I had been to Manchester and again, a virgin experience for Lisa, so we set off into the "big city". I went a good few times in my teens but on returning decided I hadn't been nearly enough. It is true what they say about people in Manchester being more open and friendly than people in certain other English cities and this was a joy to witness. One thing that really struck us was the level of customer service in shops etc, it really was great and highlighted that sometimes, here in Valencia, people have a lot to learn about customer service. So, off we went to root around record stores, clothes shops, to have a pub lunch and dodge the pouring rain.

One new discovery was Afflecks Palace in the Northern District, a huge warehouse with, I can't remember how many floors of interesting, quirky shops selling everything you could desire. We were happily lost in there for hours!

All you need in life is ignorance and confidence and then success is sure. :: Mark Twain

One final thing that struck us in Manchester, was how the people were dressed. In my opinion Spain can sometimes be a little closed minded to people who choose to dress differently or present themselves in an alternative way, maybe this isn't true in Madrid or Barcelona, but here in Valencia people can still be a little conservative. It was a joy to see the mix of styles and people all together, enjoying a good day in the city.

Wherever you go, there you are Going back to connect with my hometown and my family reminded me of the things I miss, but it also reminded me about why I came to settle in Valencia. A home is where you choose to make it and for every negative point, there is something positive to say about most places. It was great to go back and I look forward to visiting again in 2013 but now, I am more than happy to say that Valencia is my home.

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He may look like an idiot and talk like an idiot, but don’t let that fool you, he really is an idiot. :: Groucho Marx

Arrels de la Terra

Declan Lehane

An association of organic consumers

Hello to everyone again. It's good to be back. I hope that these articles are of use to you and if you have any questions or comments you can send them to the editor of the magazine.

This month I would like to talk about an association of consumers of organic products. It is called "Arrels de la Terra" and it has it's shop on C/ Horno de la Hospital NÂş5, 46001 Valencia. Arrels is a Valencian word which means "roots". It's only open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from 10:00 to 14:00 in the morning and from 17:00 to 20:30 in the evenings.

It's a small, friendly place and Ester is always there to make you feel welcome. To become a member all you have to do is go and fill out the form there and then she'll give you your membership card. A monetary contribution to the association is completely voluntary and from that moment you can start buying anything you want there. It sells all types of organic products at a reasonable price many of them "a granel" which means that you bring your own bags or containers and Ester will fill them up.

The philosophy of the association is the following: 1) To respect the natural cycles of nature, help maintain our ecosystem and in favour of biodiversity and ecological balance.

2) To promote the fertility of the soil and the production capacity of the agricultural system. To recycle the nutrients, reintroducing them into the soil as natural compost.

3) To optimise the use of our natural resources which will guarantee the production of food in quality and quantity.

4) To reward financially the agricultural workers in an adequate way which promotes and revitalises rural life.

5) To sell at a reasonable price, organic food to our members which will provide all the minerals, vitamins and vitality needed to lead a healthy life.

I heard a very interesting story from an Icelandic man called Ingibergur who I met in St. Patricks the other day. I'm taking what he said at face value and I have no reason to think that he wasn't telling the truth. He is the owner of a medical parts company in Iceland and he was here in Valencia for a conference. I don't know the name of the company but he was telling me that when the economic crisis hit Iceland most companies started reducing the wages of their workers. His company increased his workers wages by 50% so the workers could cope better with the crisis. His workers now get twice the wages of a similarly skilled worker in the Icelandic public health system. He told me that the company is doing extremely well based on the positive attitude and work of his workers. He said that this method of management has always been successful for him.

He also told me that there were a few of his workers interested in gardening so he set up a small garden within the company and there they grow all types of fruit and vegetables. These supply fresh fruit and veg for the company restaurant and the workers take the rest home. He says that it is very good for company moral for the workers to do other things together. I'm sure that a lot of companies could learn a thing or two from his philosophy!!

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Life on the markets I´m sure there are other people interested in starting in the Spanish market trade and with the weather being so much different to England, it´s pretty much “Open All Hours”, 7 days a week and it´s very rare to be "rained off" as it were! If readers are serious about market trading then I can put them in touch with the appropriate bodies to start this new career; it´s not as complicated as I thought it would be.

My passion for soaps originally came from Grandma Alma. As far back as I can remember every restaurant, cafe or bar we ever went to as children, locally, in the city or on holiday, my Grandma wouldn´t give a comment to the wonderful meal, scrummy brunch or afternoon tea until after the meal, when she had popped to the ‘Ladies’ and tried the soap! If the establishment had "beautiful soap" we would go back there again, if the soap was bad (even if the meal was exceptional!) she´d say "won´t come here again, nasty soap!” So from an early age I´ve always been aware that SOAP really matters!

I LOVE IT! I love everything about soap making;

Vanessa Lewis

I love to see new faces and it´s a wonderful life, the markets; you meet people from all over the world!

You can find me: Friday - Turis Saturday - Cheste Sunday - Alborache If you're interested in starting your own market stall get in touch and we'll pass your details over to Vanessa who has kindly offered to help anyone who wants to start their life on the stalls.

For a larger list of Markets & Rastros in Valencia and the surrounding towns, turn to page 31

1) Researching natural healing ingredients 2) Designing the recipe 3) Making the soap, now in 5 kilo trays 4) The curing process 5) Machining (done exceptionally by Carl) 6) TESTING THE NEW SOAP! 7) Publicity & marketing 8) Selling 9) CUSTOMERS HAPPY RESPONSE when they return to the stall and say they´ve seen results within a week!

It has certainly been a surprising time! For the first 6 months I was experimenting with exotic oils from Malaysia, Egypt, Madagascar, India and so on, and do you know what my best sellers were and continue to be? The natural soaps! Not an exotic oil in sight! My 3 best sellers are: 1) "ADIOS" a soap to say goodbye to eczema, dermatitis and psoriasis 2) "OLIVA y OLIVAS NEGRAS" very simply just fresh Valencian olive oil with crushed black olives for an exfoliant - our second best seller for eczema, dermatitis and psoriasis 3) "ARBOL TE" tea tree soap for acne, greasy skin, athletes foot and infections We have over 20 different varieties of soaps and this year I´m aiming towards having 40, thereby giving the customer more of a choice. We continue to experiment with exotic fragrances because they are so undoubtedly "tried and tested"; when they´ve been going strong for 4,000 years, who can argue the benefits?

We´ve been working the Valencian markets for over a year now. The people that work the markets are in a class of their own! I salute them! What wonderful, happy people! I´ve learnt so much, this has been a truly special experience and I´m so looking forward to 2013.

I spent 15 years as a Secretary P.A to a Timber Director and he taught me a lot and I was so very fortunate to have had a teacher such as him, but I always had a nagging voice in me "there has to be more to life than this . . . I want to be my own boss" and now, at last, I AM! I LOVE IT! I must not forget the year I spent at a very famous cosmetic company, who taught me the importance of FAIR TRADE, NATURAL PRODUCTS, sourcing the correct companies to purchase from insuring they meet YOUR requirements, NO animal testing, FAIR TREATMENT of staff (which, let’s face it, in times of crisis is more crucial than the chase of the Euro, Pound or Dollar). During my time there I was awarded a day with the founder of the company; one of the most magical days of my life. If I had one wish, it would be for her to see me today selling my own soaps in the Valencian markets. I´d love to know what she would think and whether I´d get that special wink of hers, telling me "Alright. Well Done Ness!".

Also, if you are a reader and have a story you want to share then please send in your stories to invceditor@gmail.com. We can't promise to print them all but we will include the best and most relevant submissions on the pages of inVLC.

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Activity 1 Before you read, match the words from the text to their definitions.

1. admirer

a. a particular event or time that something happens

2. anniversary

b. make an offer of marriage

3. anonymous

c. by someone whose name is unknown or not revealed

4. occasion

d. dealing with love

5. propose

e. someone who is attracted to you

6. romantic

f. the day something important occurred in some previous year

Valentine’s Day

By Sally Trowbridge

Do you celebrate Valentine’s Day in your country? In the UK, 14 February is the most romantic day of the year! So how do people mark the occasion?

Sending a Valentine’s card to a loved one is a custom that started more than a century ago. Couples give cards to each other, but it is also traditional to send an anonymous card to someone you love.

This is particularly common in schools and can be a source of great amusement and embarrassment as everyone tries to work out who has a secret admirer!

Millions of people now send digital messages such as e-cards or printable greeting cards. Texting your Valentine message is another option. Here are some common messages: WUBMV = will you be my Valentine xoxoxoxoxo = hugs and kisses LUWAM<3 = love you with all my heart

© iStockphoto

‘I got a card last year – but I still don’t know who sent it.

I haven’t got a girlfriend.’

‘My boyfriend sent me a text message last year on Valentine’s Day. I suppose that’s kind of romantic but I’d rather have a present or even a real card.’

‘Chocolates, roses, cards, presents. Bring it on! I love Valentine’s Day!’

Activity 2 Choose the correct form of the word given to complete the sentence.

1. Men…………………….give women presents on 14 February.

a. tradition b. traditionally c. traditional

:’-) = I’m so happy, I’m crying

Valentine’s Day is also a popular day to either propose or get married – you’d never forget your wedding anniversary!

We asked a few Brits about their views on Valentine’s Day and here’s what they said:

2. If someone…………………admires you, maybe you will get a card on Valentine’s Day.

a. secret b. secretive c. secretly a. anonymously

3. Don’t write your name on the card if you want it to be………………….

b. anonymity

4. Do you think the British are a………………….nation?

a. romantic

c. anonymous

b. romance c. romantically 5. If anyone finds out that you sent him that card it could be…………….

‘I sent an anonymous Valentine’s card to a boy in my class when I was younger. Then my brother told him it was from me. I was so embarrassed!’

a. embarrassed b. embarrassment c. embarrassing

Activity 1 1. e; 2. f; 3. c; 4. a; 5. b; 6. d

As well as cards, 14 February is also a day for giving presents.

Traditionally, men buy chocolates or flowers for their wives or girlfriends. Other popular choices last year included: an mp3 player, a CD of romantic songs, a phone, jewellery, a photo frame or perfume.

For romantics with plenty of cash there are more unusual gifts such as: a helicopter flight, a balloon ride, the chance to test-drive a Ferrari or an all-day session at a health club.

Activity 2 1. b; 2. c; 3. c; 4. a; 5. c

Answers

For more fun activities to help you learn English visit http://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org

© British Council 2012 / C300

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All I ask is the chance to prove that money can’t make me happy. :: Spike Milligan

Finding Our Way

Eoghan Ryan

A former boss of mine in the private education field described the We are using themes with cross discipline benefits. We use elements of history, geography, maths, science, art and music to crisis as a boom time for language academies. He wasn’t wrong. give contextual relevance to the language and we hope that as well Spanish education being rated the worst in Europe by the EU a couple as showing the students that English has real-world relevance we are of years ago has probably helped our business. The crisis has created also supporting their general education. a tangible sense of urgency and anxiety among parents for their kid’s We accept that worksheet learning is not successful for the majority futures and English is now seen as essential. of students and so we have to engage them in more dynamic ways.

The government’s demands for B1 and B2 English levels for all public These kids are natives of the information age; the internet, computer school teachers is a token gesture, driven more by the electoral cycle games and smart-phones have been ubiquitous in their lifetime. Is it than real reform. any wonder a teacher with a grammar worksheet bores them?

As the kids come to us after school, we are in the interesting position Many children are conditioned to passive methods of education, to of seeing what is not working in public education first hand and have hiding in large classes and getting by doing the minimum. the freedom to go another way.

As is the case with all substantive change, the danger is that if it Knowing what not to do may be a good place to start, but at Alfa doesn’t seem to be working immediately, we slip back into old Language Centre we’d like to do a bit more than that. habits, old ways of doing things which feel more comfortable. When Educational systems which seem to be achieving positive results kids, or indeed teachers haven’t seen something work in practice, it include, project based learning in some of the U.S. charter schools, is difficult to convince them that it can. This comfort zone is exactly the new creative curriculum in the UK and of course the shining light that, comfortable, but nothing is achieved there. of collaborative education in Finland.

There are three basic steps to learning anything; discovery, For us to mimic these systems is problematic. For one, they have the understanding and use. For generations teachers have dictated all three or at least the first two. But, the more successful models kids full-time. We usually have them for two or three hours a week. suggest that it is the students who should be driving this process with the teacher more a facilitator. We don’t need students to study more, we need them to think more.

The kids are organised by age, not level or aptitude. They come from schools, which do not encourage creativity or self-reliance. They We are conscious of the pressures faced by kids, especially older ones at school and while we want to be ambitious we need to weigh have little experience of problem solving or independent thinking. our ideals against the pragmatic needs of the kids. It’s about finding Teachers in the innovative environments mentioned are highly the right balance. trained and have extensive support structures. In ESL, teachers usually have minimal training and have never experienced these Not being afraid to try is fundamental to learning and so we encourage our students and teachers to make mistakes as part of the process. types of learning environments.

Despite these obstacles, at Alfa we are trying to draw on the best We are making our own mistakes along the way but it feels like we are learning something and going in the right direction. practices of other systems and apply them to our situation.

Intercambios Portland Ale House - Calle Salamanca, 10 - Tuesday & Wednesday 8:30pm English Night & Thursday 8:30pm German Night Anfora - Avenida de Francia, 65 - Thursday 8pm Bar 7 - Plaza Honduras, 34 - Thursday 8:30pm St Patricks - Gran Vía Marqués del Turia, 69 - Thursday 8pm English, Spanish & German Cafe de las Horas - Calle del Conde de Almodovar - Monday 8pm Thomas & Johnsons - Calle Chile 9 - Thursday & Sunday 8:30pm The Lounge - Calle de la Estameneria Vieja - Monday 9pm Big Ben - Plaza Honduras, 36 - Monday 8pm El Labratorio - Plaza Cors de la Mare de Deu, 3 - Tuesday 7pm The Black Sheep - Plaza de la Porta de la Mar, 6 - Tuesday 7pm Sofa Club - Avenida Tirso de Molina, 15 - Tuesday 7pm Ubik Cafe - Calle Literato Azorin, 13 - Tuesday 8:45pm Sally O'Brien - Avenida de Aragon, 8 - Thursday 8:30pm Route 66 - Avenida Regne de Valencia, 59 - Thursday 8:30pm

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Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there. :: Will Rodgers

Be my valentine Saint Valentine’s Day, commonly known as Valentines Day, is celebrated on February 14th each year in many countries around the world as a day of love and romance, although it is still a working day for most.

Although no-one knows for certain what exactly happened, one thing that all the stories have in common is that St. Valentine was seen as a sympathetic, heroic and most importantly, romantic figure.

But where does St Valentine’s Day come from?

While some believe that Valentines Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate Valentine’s death or burial – others think it’s more to do with the Christian church trying to “Christianise” the pagan festival of Lupercalia. Lupercalia was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus who was the Roman god of agriculture.

Nobody knows for certain but there were at least 3 different saints with the name of Valentine or Valentinus, all of who were martyred.

One possibility is a priest who served during the 3rd century in Rome named Valentine. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than married men with families, he outlawed marriage for young couples. Valentine realised how unfair this was and performed marriage ceremonies for young lovers and soldiers in private.

When Claudius found out what Valentine was doing, he put him to death.

Other legends tell us that St. Valentine was possibly killed for attempting to help Christians escape from Roman prisons, where they were often beaten and tortured. Another story suggests that it was actually an imprisoned Valentine himself who sent the first ever “Valentine” message to a young girl he had fallen in love with, it was said that the message was signed from your Valentine, an expression that is still used today in many cards.

To start the festival, members of the Luprci and an order of Roman priests would gather at a sacred cave. Legend is that the cave was where Romulus and Remus the founders of Rome, were cared for by a she-wolf or lupi. It is said that the priests would sacrifice a goat for fertility and a dog for purification. They would then cut the goat into strips and dripping in blood, they would go and lightly slap the women and crop fields. Roman women welcomed this ritual as it was said if you were slapped with the goat hide, you would be more fertile in the coming year. According to legend later the same day, all the single ladies would put their names into an urn and the city’s bachelors would then take it in turn to pick a name from the urn; they would then be paired with the chosen woman for the following year. This ritual would often end in marriage.

29

Even though Lupercalia survived the initial rise of Christianity, it was later outlawed as it was deemed un-Christian by the end of the 5th century when Pope Gelasius said that February 14th would from then on, be known as St. Valentine’s Day. During the Middle Ages it was believed that St. Valentine’s Day would be the start of the birds mating season in England and France. It wasn’t until much later that the day became associated with love and romance.

Although written Valentine’s greetings started appearing in the 1400’s, it seems that Valentine’s greetings were popular as far back as the middle ages. The earliest known Valentine, which is still in existence today, is a poem which was written by Charles the Duke of Orleans to his wife who was imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1415. The poem is part of a manuscript collection, which is held in The British Library in London.

Today, Valentine’s Day is celebrated in USA, Mexico, Canada, UK, France, Australia and many other countries around the world. It is tradition that on this day we celebrate by giving a token gift to the one we love. Popular gifts include ready printed cards, which are always widely available leading up to Valentine’s Day and offer a huge choice whether you are looking for something funny, soppy or just to say thanks for always being there. Chocolates, perfume, flowers and soft toys are also ever popular gift choices these days.

Leading up to Valentine’s Day will also see a rise in jewellery sales with Valentine’s Day being one of the most popular days to pop that special question. It’s also increasingly popular to celebrate the day with a special meal, whether it is prepared with love and care at home, or in a romantic restaurant (many of which now offer special Valentine’s Day menus at affordable prices). And of course, if money is no issue, a weekend break away in a fancy hotel will never go wrong in the eyes of your loved one. Some of the most romantic destinations in Europe include Paris, Prague, San Sebastian, Tuscany, Vienna, Rome, Venice and Barcelona. If you can’t afford the time or price of travelling outside your area, why not book a romantic weekend for 2 in a local spa hotel and just spend the weekend relaxing and reconnecting with your other half.

Whatever you plan to do this Valentine’s Day, make it one to remember.

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Photo competition

James Arendell

Lovers lock

Love is...

Georgina Pickard

Alone with my favourite things And our winner is...

Georgina Pickard

Thanks to everyone who contributed photographs.

Next month's photo competition theme is Cathy Irvine

'nostalgia'

March photo competition terms & conditions: E-mail us one high-resolution image (min 300dpi) to invlceditor@gmail.com along with a sentence or phrase describing the photo by the 21st of February. We'll choose some entries to print and our favourite wins a prize.

Please only one photo per person and only send your own original photos for copyright reasons.

Next month's topic is 'nostalgia'. We look forward to seeing your pictures.

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Classifieds For Sale

Wanted:

Glass top dining table set: Used but in great condition. The table is glass with metal in pewter style table and 4 matching chairs with faint cream pattern. Glass section is made from strengthened safety glass that sits on small transparent suckers on metal frame.

Dimension 1m squared. Price 25 Euros.

Contact 633 762 391 or norgstar@hotmail. com for more information or photos.

Job lot 15 piece baby and toddler items: Includes wooden cot with new mattress, folding travel cot, 2 high chairs (1 converts into small table and chair set), baby monitors, baby sheets and blankets (10 piece set), paddling pool with fun balls, mega block Lego set, folding push chair, changing matt, potty, swimming arm bands, child’s car booster seat, box of various toys including English books, rattles, soft toys, games and puzzle sets and little princess play castle by “little people”.

Must be sold as job lot as the space is needed, ideal for rental villa, grandparents home, or second home, also ideal for baby rental companies. Price 50 Euros. Contact 633 762 391 or norgstar@hotmail.com for more information or photos.

Motorbike blue Kawasaki ER 5, 2006 model, 32000km, excellent condition, serviced, new rear tyre, bikini fairing included. Price 1800 Euros ONO. Contact 669 786 970.

Trac phone: Trac phone, track phone, rural track unit, satellite phone.

Telefonica Trackphone package – for homes without a landline in rural areas, caravans, flats, villas etc. The trac phone works like a landline but with the use of a “trac” mobile sim card. You can use it anywhere in Spain and it’s cheaper to make and receive calls than a mobile. You will need to contact telefonica to set up a contract; they will then post you a new sim. The trac is in good working order and comes with a white booster aerial for areas with low/bad mast range – it has surface scratches but works fine. Please note: this pack does not include a telephone or sim. Set includes: Ericsson trac digital unit, transformer and plug power pack (European). Price 60 Euros. Contact 633 762 391 or norgstar@hotmail.com for more information or photos.

Garden furniture stone table and chairs, benches and terrace furniture, microcar, petrol hedge cutters, quads, lathe and milling machine, building materials blocks, slab, tiles, mechanics and engineers tools, and roll cab and box. Contact 693 496 283.

Mazda MX5 on Spanish plates. Contact 663 676 360.

Bunk beds. Contact 681 087 979.

Black Saab convertible on British plates, 1998, petrol car. Price 1000 Euros. Contact 663 676 360.

Dainese leather bike suit unisex size 48 and Carboot lot incl. books, DVDs, clothes etc. Offers welcome.

Contact invlceditor@gmail.com.

Weekly Markets and Rastros Markets Monday

Montroy, Manises and Valencia (Ruzafa)

Tuesday

Monserrat, Alfafar, Paterna, Turis and Valencia (Jerusalem, Nazaret and San Pedro Nolasco)

Wednesday L’Eliana, Piccassent, Alzira, Villamarchante and Valencia (Avd del Cid, Mossen Sorell and Grao) Thursday Alaquas, Gandia , Lliria and Valencia (Torrefiel) Friday

Moraira, Turis, Torrente, Chiva and Valencia (Benimaclet, Malvarrosa and Cabanyal)

Saturday

Real de Montroy, Gandia , Torrente and Valencia (Jesus Patraix, Pinedo)

Sunday

Alborache, Montserrat and Valencia (Plaza Redonda)

Rastros Every 2nd Sunday of the month at Bar Sardi in Pedralba. Table money donated to Animales y Naturaleza. To book tables phone Lin 680790059.

Every Sunday next to Mestilla football ground.

1st Sunday of the month, Montroy c/La Pau, 625 674 906 Sagrario

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3ER TRIMESTRE 9 DE ABRIL AL 19 DE JUNIO

MATRÍCULA A PARTIR DEL 21 DE MARZO Pide cita para la prueba de nivel a partir del 4 de marzo

http://www.britishcouncil.org/spain/valencia

EXÁMENES DE LA UNIVERSIDAD DE CAMBRIDGE IELTS - EXÁMENES DE NIVEL DE INGLÉS Matricúlate a traves de nuestra página web: http://www.britishcouncil.org/es/spain-exams-valencia.htm

T 96 339 29 80, Avd Cataluña 9 46020 Valencia

www.britishcouncil.es