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El Palmar: More than just rice WITH | Catherine battles with Anne | parties & holidays | the best of Valencia & the Community | independent reviews | ÂĄaprende inglĂŠs con nosotros!

C/ Serrano Morales, 3

FRIDAY NIGHTS - Chippy night. 7pm-10pm All your favourites!

Fish & chips, curry sauce, mushy peas.

SATURDAY 21 JANUARY - Curry night. 7pm-10pm SUNDAYS - Delicious roasts. 2.30pm (one sitting only) Coffees - Cappuccinos English Breakfasts (now even bigger)

All our products are made with free range eggs and meats.

Winter hours: Mon-Thurs 8am-6pm Fri 8am-5pm, 7pm-11pm Sat 11am-5pm, 7pm-10pm Sun 11am-5pm

963 348 132 madhatters@hotmail.es Madhatters Valencia Madhatters VLC

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¡feliz año nuevo!

A brand new year here in Valencia and what better way is the magazine for you if you’re stuck for something to do to celebrate than sit down with a decent magazine that can over the next few weeks. be read from cover to cover. Great stuff! Sit back, relax, and let us do the hard work so you know exactly where to be and A great big thank you to everyone who made 2011 such a when to be there. great success and here’s to an even more successful 2012.

It’s been a great experience and every message of support This month we pay a visit to the wonderful pueblo of and appreciation has made it all the more worthwhile.

El Palmar on page 10, as usual you’ll be able to find a wonderful recipe on page 25 if you fancy a quiet night in As always remember to like us on Facebook or follow us with a few friends. We cover live music on page 19 and on Twitter to keep up-to-date with all of those things that the rest of the usual music & book reviews, sport, cinema don’t make the deadline when going to print. We’re almost listings, fiestas, expat life in Spain, things to get involved nearing 500 likes, which is a difficult milestone to achieve in and much, much more. Be sure to check out our usual for many publications. You know what to do! independent reviews from a number of new collaborators We wish you a very prosperous New Year and an Andy, Kelly & Sean who have joined the team since we started out. inVLC truly enjoyable read.

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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.

about us 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.

Sales Vincenzo Translations Javier Contact information email invlceditor@gmail.com phone 633 822 614 - English speakers phone 628 831 400 - Spanish speakers facebook inVLC If you have any thoughts, comments or complaints or want to advertise, please email or phone us.

Important numbers & Embassies / Consulates Fire | 080 Local police | 092 Medical | 061 General | 112 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 we cannot accept responsibility for unintentional errors or omissions, accuracy of advertisements or contributors’ opinions. We aim at all times not to offend. depósito legal V-816-2006 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.

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The latest News keeping you up to date Hotspots Free in Valencia goes hiking I heart Valencia the queens face each other Holidays and fiestas are busy Valencia Community we visit El Palmar Independent restaurant review Madhatters Independent shop review Taste of America Let's talk Expat life! Eoghan meets Kanyima Twehamye Your photos of 'age' Map Talking teaching is cheating Art & culture Music hot new musical releases Live events only the best make it to the list Sport hot news The cinema V.O releases in Valencia Read me Sean loves his books Lifestyle Charity Eoghan is thankful Green Declan is trying to be positive Recipe it's tortilla de patatas Artist Juan Cánovas Art to see knows art A day in the life KC and Svenja show us their day Cocktails for after dinner Animal David Attenborough is legendary Events & Classifieds keeps you in the know

15/01/1967 Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs play the 1st Superbowl. Created to pacify the rivalry between the established NFL and the new AFL leagues the NFL's Packers won 35-10 in the Los Angeles Coliseum.

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lat pack| After years of procrastination the council has finally given planning permission for Swedish flat pack specialists IKEA to set up shop in la Comunidad Valenciana.

The proposed store will be in Alfafar after it was given the nod over Paterna and like most IKEA's will be large enough to get lost in for the best part of a day if you don't watch what you are doing. Lovers of the store be warned though that despite the deal IKEA has stated that there are still several loose ends to tie up before work will start.

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ightening the belts| Alberto Fabra, the President of la Comunidad Valenciana, outlined in his New Years speech that they will be looking to cut €1bn from its budget this year in austerity measures. Here's a summary: Health - There will be hospital closures and current services will be centralised.

- Hospital shifts will increase from 8 - 12 hours, but no one will lose their job.

-Medicare will be paid for by foreigners without a medical card/ number or if they have private medical insurance.

- No choice of meals in hospitals.

Transport ve prices in the sky| One year on - Petrol tax increase except for from the opening of the high speed agricultural & transportation vehicles.

AVE route from Valencia to Madrid the Employment main hostelry federation has stated that - Staff cut backs at la Hacienda and other public institutions. it's good for business but not great for - Checks will be put in place to prevent tourism. It said that something should absenteeism at work. be done about the prices to encourage - Government subsidies will be more non-business movement. cut for businesses that don't The current cost of a seat one-way create employment. from Valencia-Madrid is €79.

Housing Another problem that would appear - Stamp duty to increase. easier to solve is the fact that the Entertainment Joaquin Sorolla RENFE station and - Big sporting event contracts are to be Joaquin Sorolla Metro station are renegotiated and may disappear on that 15 mins walk apart yet there is no information about this in either station basis e.g. F1.

More information www.goo.gl/4N01V or on the respective websites.

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16/01/1997 Comedian Bill Cosby's son Ennis is murdered after an attempted robbery while fixing a flat tyre on his car on Interstate 405 in California. This road previously found infamy when OJ Simpson's police chase took place there.

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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, low-cost fun. This month we'll be:

1| going to the live basketball games. They are super kid friendly and tickets range from €10 upwards for the men’s games and only €3 for the ladies. See below. www.valenciabasket.com, www.roscasaresbasket.com 2| taking one of the walks in Xàtiva. Whilst the sun isn't cooking, it's very pleasant for a days hiking, but you still need to remember your essentials - lots of water and snacks. We like the look of the 4-hour hike (PR-V78), which crosses the river Abaida, the national park and the castle. www.goo.gl/V71ab or ask at the Tourist Information.

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3| eating. Well it is winter after all. So into the markets we go to try something new. This month we're trying Pastel de boniato. They look like small pasties, with a sweet almost nutty, potato paste inside. 70c for a small one.

The game was originally invented in 1891 by Dr. James Naismith, a sports instructor trying to control his pupils on a rainy day.

The aim of the game is to 'shoot a The year in which the men's team, basket', by putting the ball through Valencia Basket Club, S.A.D. changed the hoop. Although it is now an its name from Pamesa. The team integral part of the game, there didn't started in 1986, and already has many used to be much 'dribbling', until the trophies under its belt, including the light, round, dribble friendly ball was highly acclaimed EUROCUP of 2003 brought in, in the 1950s. and 2010. The home strip is mainly There are strict rules, but part of orange, whilst they daringly sport the game is the strategy of using the purple and orange in away games. rules to the team’s advantage - so The ladies team is Ros Casares fouls are frequent and often planned.

Valencia, and was founded in 1996.

There are variations, such They wear blue and orange. After a bad as Slamball which is played on 2011 season, they are looking to pull trampolines or the unusual back in 2012 to a good position.

Unicycle Basketball.

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17/01/1966 Hydrogen bomb goes missing after 2 planes collide near Palomares, Spain. It sparked a massive search by both US Military and the Spanish Guardia Civil which ended when it was found on April 7. Luckily still intact.

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very month we take something from Spain and put it up against something from somewhere else. This month we’ve got two of swan-eating, serial philanderer Henry VIII’s wives cat fighting it out: Catherine of Aragon vs. Anne Boleyn.

Round 1| Background & Family Anne was the daughter of Lady Elizabeth Howard – daughter of the Duke of Norfolk and Thomas Boleyn – the Earl of Wiltshire and the Earl of Ormond. She had an elder sister called Mary, who is also believed to have given birth to two of Henry VIII’s illegitimate sons.

Anne’s younger brother George was convicted of incest, which led to both his and her execution. Other ancestors included a Lord Mayor of London, a duke, an earl, a knight and Edward I. Catherine of Aragon was the youngest surviving child of Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castille.

She had descendents in the English royal house from her grandmother Catherine of Lancaster (after whom she was named) and was also related to John of Gaunt and Edward III. She was the third cousin of her father-inlaw Henry VII and the fourth cousin of his wife Elizabeth of York.

WINNER – Catherine (Anne & her brother? Eeeeew)

On Anne: "I have never had better opinions of a woman than I had of her" Thomas Cramner, Archbishop of Canterbury

Round 2| Relationship with Henry VIII Despite having already had an affair with her sister Mary, Anne having been betrothed to Henry Percy, and numerous failed attempts to seduce her, Henry VIII proposed marriage. It is claimed that their relationship was not sexual until they were married, but Anne was pregnant by the time of their marriage nonetheless.

Anne was a very popular courtier; intelligent, quickwitted and a dab hand with a number of instruments, it was only a matter of time before Henry noticed her.

Their relationship eventually soured when Anne gave birth to a daughter and not a son as was expected and predicted by physicians and astronomers. They enjoyed a reasonably affectionate relationship although this was often strained by Anne’s outspoken political views and forward manners, which were unacceptable in a wife. The continual failure for her to produce an heir led Henry VIII to declare that he had been seduced through witchcraft and deception. She was accused of having an affair with a musician called Mark Smearton, a courtier called Sir Henry Norris, Sir Francis Weston, Sir William Brereton, Sir Richard Page and her brother George. She was arrested and taken to the Tower of London on 2 May 1536.

Catherine was originally married to Henry VIII’s brother Arthur, who died at the premature age of 15. She married Henry seven years after Arthur’s death just after he had acceded to the throne.

Catherine was unable to bear any more children by the time Henry VIII’s eye began to wander.

Henry cited passages from the Bible and blamed his marriage to his brother’s widow as the reason why she had been unable to conceive a son. Catherine insisted that she had been a virgin until she lay with Henry VIII. His quest for an annulment soon became an obsession even after his requests from the Pope at the time were turned down. Catherine was eventually banished from court anyway and all of her rooms were given to Anne.

Until the end of her life Catherine would refer to herself as the only and true Queen of England.

WINNER – Catherine (steadfast and Henry VIII’s first wife) Round 3| Children Anne’s first daughter Elizabeth I was born on 7 September 1533, which was a bit of a disappointment for Henry VIII. Elizabeth I was the fifth and final monarch of the Tudor dynasty and became known as The Virgin Queen because she never married. Anne is believed to have had two stillborn pregnancies in 1533 & 1534 before another miscarried male child in summer 1536. It was after this that Anne’s successor – a courtier called Jane Seymour – was moved into Henry VIII’s quarters.

18/01/1882 Winnie the Pooh creator AA Milne born. He started writing his bear based stories after his only son, Christopher Robin, received a toy bear on his first birthday and soon after had collated a selection of similar toys.

Catherine gave birth to a stillborn daughter on 31 January 1510. She then had a son – Henry, Duke of Cornwall – born on New Year’s Day 1511, who lived for only 52 days.

With Louis XII amongst the many godparents of the child, the short-lived Henry was a great source of pride for Henry VIII, who waged an unsuccessful war against what would have been Henry’s godfather. It is thought that a further Henry, Duke of Cornwall was born in 1514, but died within a month. She then gave birth to a stillborn son in October 1513, and finally gave birth to Mary I on 18 February 1516.

She became known as 'Bloody Mary' because of the genocide that she was responsible for resulting in the deaths of a large number of Protestants.

WINNER – Catherine (not a living male heir between them, but Catherine did bear more children!)

Round 4| Death Anne was blindfolded, had her headdress and jewellery removed and she knelt, which was common at French executions. Her executioner - a Frenchman called Jean Rombaud - allegedly had to distract her by shouting “Where’s my sword?” in order for her to move her head into the right position. Upon her death she was absolved of any blame at the behest of Thomas Cranmer, who reportedly wept after her execution. She died on 19 May, 1536.

Catherine died at Kimbolton Castle on 7 January 1536, news of which reached Henry VIII the following day. Anne and Henry dressed in yellow although there is a lot of debate as to whether this was in celebration or was simply vulgar (yellow was a colour of mourning in Spain). Catherine was thought to have been poisoned by Anne, Henry or both due to a black growth on her heart, but is thought to have been due to cancer, which was not understood at the time.

WINNER – Anne (ouch!)

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Round 5| Memory & Legend Anne’s character was completely contradictory: pious yet aggressive, calculating yet sensitive, the gentle touch of a courtier combined with a keen sense of politics. She was seen as a martyr of the English Reformation and has been called “the most influential and important consort England has ever had.” She has been played by actresses such as Joyce Redman, Helena Bonham Carter and, more recently, Natalie Portman to name but a few. A portrait of her hangs in a staircase at Hogwarts and she has been the main character in too many books to mention here. She has also been the subject of several songs by artists such as Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam) and McFly.

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Catherine’s tomb is in Peterborough Cathedral and bears the title 'Catherine Queen of England'. Numerous books have been written with Catherine as a central character and as a peripheral character alike. Equally she has a number of works dedicated to her including 'The Education of Christian Women' by Juan Luis Vives and the song 'Grene Growth the Holy' which was written by Henry VIII himself.

Even Shakespeare is thought to have accurately described her court statement about the legitimacy of her marriage in the play Henry VIII. Actresses including Rosalie Crutchley, Violet Vanbrugh and more recently Maria Doyle Kennedy in The Tudors have portrayed her. In The Simpsons episode ‘Magical History Tour’ Marge plays Margerine of Aragon.

WINNER – Anne (probably the more controversial of the two)

On Catherine: "Nature wronged her in not making her a man. But for her sex, she would have surpassed all the heroes of history."

Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex

OVERALL WINNER 3 – 2 to Catherine of Aragon Nicely done Catherine. Nicely done indeed!

19/01/1809 Edgar Allen Poe is born. He married his 13 year old cousin then aged 40 he died in Baltimore. Cause of death has been variously attributed to alcohol, cholera, drugs, heart disease, rabies, suicide and tuberculosis.

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Holidays and parties

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hristmas might be over, but the fun never stops.

There will be fiestas all over the Valencian Community with their own special twists!

17 January| San Antonio Abad - Enguera This pretty little town goes wild with processions through its streets to celebrate San Antonio the Great. It's especially child friendly, with toys and sweets in abundance.

16-18 January| San Antonio Abad - Canals This is a top place to enjoy the fun of the fiesta, with processions all week, great local food, and an enormous bonfire. It's an historically important town too, so take the time to wander the streets. Our top tip is their cooked rice delicious! See inVLC Dec-Jan for the Canals article.

22 January| San Vicente Mártir - Valencia This saint was probably not a big fan of Valencia after he was imprisoned for his faith and tortured on a gridiron.

The judge wasn't impressed with his forthright manner of speaking, San Vicente being fearless, and treated him more harshly than his fellow accused. He was buried in Valencia, but later removed and taken away and now lies in Lisbon.

He is the patron saint for winemakers and vinegar makers, so have a glass of wine on Calle San Vicente Mártir in Valencia to remember his defiance and strength!

- Visit his house at C/ Pouet de San Vicent, 1 (now a church) to learn about him and enjoy the extra activities.

- 10.30am Mass.

- Midday Procession - follow his route of martyrdom and falling bay leaves down Plaza de la Reina, C/ San Vicente, C/ Paz and C/ Avellanas.

- Flowers will be taken en masse to his home from midday and artistically laid out.

- There will be a Mascletá at 1pm in Plaza de España.

- All over the city mini stages will be set up, as children re-enact San Vicente's miracles. www.comunitatvalenciana.com

All information correct at time of print. Check with the local tourist information when making plans.

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1-5 Feb| Bocairent 1 Feb| Parade for The Remember Night of the Boxes (Nit de les that national Caixes). Locals parade the holidays mean fewer streets carrying their lanterns buses, and most to the sound of drums giving shops, banks and thanks to Saint Blai (Sant supermarkets Blai) healing the locals from close. the epidemic of 1632.

2 Feb| The Christians enter with passion by day, and by night the Muslims parade solemnly.

3 Feb| Día del Sant Blai has mass and a lively procession, amongst ringing bells you'll hear "Vitol al Patró San Blai" Long live Saint Blai.

4 Feb| The Moors and the Christians go to battle to celebrate the overthrowing of the Muslims who lived here until Christian rule in 1609. It's a gunpowder frenzy.

5 Feb| Día del Santo Cristo is celebrated with a colourful procession leading to the chapel for mass.

10-12 Feb| Requena - The Sausage Feast (XIX Muestra de Embutido Artesano y de Calidad de Requena).

Last year the dates changed, so check before leaving!

Sample traditional products such as sausages, meats and black puddings and there are also wines and bakery products. There will be entertainment, including street artists, fireworks, dance shows, competitions and musical performances. It is easily accessible by bus, train and car! www.embutidoderequena.es.

In the community & neighbouring towns Alicante (A), Castellon (C) 15-31 January 17| Forcall (C), Betxí (C), Borriol (C), Benirredrá (V), San Antonio 6-18| Canals, San Antonio 23| Benicàssim, El Dia De Las Paellas

1- 16 February 3| Borriana (C), Fiesta De La Font Del Ví, Bocairent (V) 1-10| Potríes (V), El Porrat De Sant Blai 5-15| Vinaròs (C), Carnaval 10| Requena (V) Courtesy of www.comunitatvalenciana.com

20/01/1980 220 people die while watching a bull fight in Sincelejo, Colombia. Despite stringent regulations being put in place afterwards this did not stop a further 100 people dying at a bull fight in Doima, Colombia in October 2006.

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Valencia Community | El Palmar

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l Palmar exists for, and because of, rice – the growing, cooking and eating of it. Well it would, sat as it is at the southern tip of the Albufera, Valencia’s freshwater lake and one of Spain's biggest producers of the paella’s main ingredients.

Virtually every second building is a café or restaurant, and it's a pleasing place to wander around, especially if you are building up an appetite. But be warned, if you want to eat there get there early, because it’s so popular there’s even a coach park.

Secondary businesses in El Palmar are the boat trips out into the lagoon. It’s worth taking one for the few euros’ worth of tranquillity, and don’t fret about your sea legs; fall out almost anywhere on the water and you’ll only end up knee-deep, that’s why the boats have flat bottoms.

El Palmar fact file Population | 775 (2009) Km to Valencia | 12km Points of interest | The lakes, the birds, Iglesia parroquial del Niño Jesús del Huerto.

Fiestas | 4 August, Fiestas del Cristo de la Salud, 16 August, San Roque Useful info | www.turisvalencia.es www.albuferadevalencia.com

One of the main quays sits alongside the tall octagonal tower of an old rice drying factory; stand at the centre of the bridge that crosses the canal beside it and nothing disturbs the tranquillity apart from a gentle breeze rippling the surface of the dark green water and your hair. Well, it doesn’t ripple mine, because it’s little more than stubble, but I can imagine it being pleasant nonetheless – which shows how good a memory I have!

At the end of the quay is what looks like an old village washhouse but it’s where the boats are run down a ramp into the water. There are usually a couple there under repair so you can get an idea of the structure and see why they manoeuvre so well in the shallow water. It’s also the place where old chaps sit in the shade swapping fishing stories. (It’s probably a bit boring swapping rice stories.

Can you imagine it, “By gum, I missed a good stalk the other day. Half a pan-full if it was a gram. Would have made a great photo to hang on the wall.”)

Wander into the main square and you’ll find the pretty little Iglesia el Niño Jesús del Huerto. This is a dolls housesized place, gilded and marbled and worth joining the ladies and the priest at mass (not another man entered while I was there, obviously more happily employed swapping yarns of fish and rice at the boatshed or in one of the dozens of cafés in the square).

The narrow street that runs parallel with the main square, Carrer Jesuset de Huerto (‘Jesus’ and ‘Huerto’ seem to be much liked in El Palmar) is accompanied for much of its length by another canal, with shadowy trees overhanging it and views across the rice fields. Vivid green in June as the plants break free of the sodden earth, by August the crop is highlighted by golden touches, almost ready for it to be harvested in September.

21/01/1924 First leader of the Soviet Union, Vladimir Lenin dies of a brain hemorrhage age 54. Upon his death Petrograd was renamed Leningrad in his honour (now St Petersburg) and Joseph Stalin became the leader of the new state.

Car | CV500. Takes 15 mins.

Bus | Av. Germanías 34 (corner C/ Sueca), Plaza de Cánovas (Marqués del Turia) or Oceanogràfic. Takes 25 mins. www.autocaresherca.com

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It’s a pleasing walk along the Carrer and I always think it’s a great shame that some of the cafes don’t stick a few chairs outside their back door for those quiet souls who care for nothing more than a sit in the sun, cool drink in hand, watching the world and the water go by.

Just up the street, at number 56, there often sits an elderly chap at a small workbench at the door of his garage, where he quietly makes models of barracas, the steep-pitched houses peculiar to the area, carefully weaving fine strands of rice stalk to make the thatched roof. Alongside, he has a display of his other objets d'art; boats, agricultural instruments and fishing nets, an historical world in miniature and a far better pastime than fretwork or burning house names onto bits of wood with a poker. If you’d like to see a full-size barraca there’s one on Calle Vicente Baldon, which looks amazingly out of place surrounded by the modern buildings.

Derek Workman To discover more about Spain, visit www.derekworkman-journalist.com & www.derekworkman.wordpress.com

22/01/2008 After coming to fame in a role as a gay cowboy, turning his hand to being a young Bob Dylan and giving a truly amazing performance as The Joker, Australian actor Heath Ledger is found dead from an accidental overdose.

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Independent Review | Madhatters

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ne of the attributes that I value most in a restaurant apart from good food is good service. I'm not always we love it bothered about the decor or the perceived coolness as long as my food comes with a smile and some personality. This probably stems from my many years in the food service industry, gently pushing sweaty, temperamental chefs to cook faster, whilst smiling sweetly, making chitchat and generally playing nice with the paying clientele. They were after all the ones that were going to make my measly wage into something reasonable with (hopefully) generous tips.

And so I was pleased to visit the newly opened Madhatters Coffee Lounge in Cánovas. The welcome was refreshingly warm. Owners Karon and David, together with Martin and Reyes have mastered personal service with smiles, gentle banter, and a feeling of home. This isn't a feeling of the UK home, although the picture of London on the wall does infer a certain Britishness, there is a feeling of being amongst people who care about their customers and their food. They are people who want you to have a great meal, a friendly chat, and a good time.

Outside there is seating, and being away from a main road means there is less interference from traffic. Inside it's fresh, clean and open: roomy but without feeling wildly oversized. The exposed brickwork on the walls contrasts starkly with the white walls, the simple lines and the impressive bar.

On top of the bar is a taster of the delights on offer.

They're homemade and change regularly, but generally include some kind of sponge cake, pie and cookies. If you are looking for a coffee and a snack, these are ideal for filling a hole. There are also paninis and sandwiches on offer if you are looking for something savoury.

Coffee €1 Glass of wine €2.20 Caña €1 (during Jan & Feb) Brownies €3.50 Plate of the day €6 Fish & chips €7 Roast dinner €12

The best meal for me so far has to be my order of the roast lamb which cost €12 and came with a drink. The roast potatoes were cooked in goose fat to give them that crispy crunch on the outside, yet fluffy within. The lamb melted in the mouth, aided by the homemade gravy. The rest of the plate was decorated with a mix of colours, with carrots allumette style nestling next to the tender sprouts and a wee sausage wrapped in bacon. Delicious! And while the other members of the table tucked into mince pies and cakes, my taste buds were treated to the lightest of lightest chocolate mousse, fresh out of the kitchen doors.

Karon told me about their ethos - to provide good simple homemade food. They have spent time sourcing chicken, meat for the burgers and eggs, which are free range, and as the taste suggests, it's well worth the effort.

The cooked menu is small but perfectly formed with breakfasts, homemade burgers, beer battered fish and hand cut chips (beautifully accompanied by the homemade tartare sauce) and roasts. They will be launching their curry nights and chippy nights from January, which sound fantastic. And finally there are daily specials which cost just €6 and come with bread and a drink. They've recently introduced a children's menu too.

Calle Serrano Morales 3, Valencia, Cánovas Mon-Thu 8am-6pm Fri 8am-5pm 7pm-11pm Sat 11am-5pm 7pm-10pm Sun 11am-5pm 963 348 132 On Facebook madhatters@hotmail.es 23/01/1983 If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire... The A-Team airs on NBC for the 1st time. In 2003 - voted the oldie show that viewers would most like to see revived. I pity those fools.

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en s I walked along Avenida Reino end t r de Valencia, I overheard two local girls talking about an American in V L C supermarket. The first girl claimed that it was for all the Americans living in the city, whilst her friend contradicted her saying it was for the Spanish who wanted to try something American.

I smiled, knowing that I was close to my destination.

Taste of America is an American supermarket, opened in December by Ana. There had been whispers of them opening for a while, so it was with great excitement that I ventured to Rusaffa.

The shop exterior is bright and cheerful – with an enormous window showing you both the display items, and the shelves of delights behind them. Inside, I met Andrea, who was as friendly and welcoming as I would expect someone who works in an American supermarket to be.

The supermarket is clean and open, with muted orange tiles and white ceilings drawing your eyes to the more interesting objects in the room. The walls were lined with shelving, and covered in a multitude of American goodies, which some would call essentials, in addition to non food sections.

One displayed cooking accessories, such as waffle makers (€28.85), donut pans (€17.95) and pancake makers. On the other side was a further cooking section of every tool imaginable for American cooking including an ice shaver (€14.95) plus the hard to find ingredients for your own home baking.

Onto the food. After several years of disappointment my search is finally over. Sunday breakfasts will be revolutionised. Heart Of America sell bagels (€2.50+ for 4), which will complement my bacon, egg and cream cheese perfectly and Sunday mornings will improve significantly.

A search on the internet found bloggers talking similarly about their find of Cherry Coke (90c), and I spotted that they also stock Dr Pepper (€1) and Vanilla Coke (€1.20), which should inspire a retro drinks revolution!

Avenida Reino de Valencia, 6, Valencia, Mon-Sat 10am-9pm 96 206 64 65 reinovalencia@tasteofamerica.es www.tasteofamerica.es

But what else do they sell? Actually it would be quicker to say what they don't. But I won't. In the freezer with the bagels are also English Muffins (€3.50 for 6). Over to the tinned area it pleased me to find tinned pumpkin for my new found love of pumpkin pie (€2.85), nestled between some delicious sounding jams and a variety of sauces: Newman's Own, Cardini's, Heinz, French's and Jack Daniels.

Facing the sauces are Tyrells handcooked English crisps in a selection of flavours and sizes (95c+), which we took the time to try, test, and thoroughly approve. Further along are heaps of sweets, the most famous being the bags of Hershey Kisses (€4.30) and Reese's. For those looking for 'authentic' crunchy or creamy peanut butter (we heard that no other type can match true American peanut butter), there will be squeals of delight at the Mississippi Bells, JIF and Skippy brands (€4.30+).

But what to do with your peanut butter, jams and those lazy Sunday afternoons? Taste of America provides many solutions. With pancake mixes (€4.95), doughnut mixes (€9.50), waffle mixes (€9.25) and cookie mixes (including a dark chocolate pecan which looks immense) (€3.25), you can wow your friends with your home baking! To complement the food and add a hint of patriotism to the moment, there is a selection of American flag party napkins, paper plates, and cups too (€2.95+). For those who want a change of breakfast, there are a selection of cereals and teas (Duchy Originals, Celestial Seasonings, Dr Stuart's), so if you close your eyes, you can be whisked away Stateside for a moment or two...

But what has stayed in my mind after leaving, is the essential item for all households from April onwards. The ice crusher. I see my American future, and it has ice in it.

24/01/1972 Japanese soldier Shoichi Yokoi is found hiding out on the island of Guam awaiting orders from his superiors and blissfully unaware of the events that had prompted the end of WWII some 26 years earlier.

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Expat life | Making an Impact

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anyima Twehamye from South Western Uganda comes to Valencia via London and the Isle of Skye. He is the owner of Impact Idiomas in Almassera.

At nineteen, 'Kany' moved to Scotland and laughs as he talks about innocently ‘looking forward’ to experiencing the cold weather he had heard so much about. Exiting the warm airport in Glasgow into -5 degree Scottish winter was more jarring than expected, ‘I had never experienced anything like it’. Through family and friends he found himself on the Isle of Skye, which he speaks of with great affection, ‘the people were great, always inviting me for a cup of tea, I didn’t feel homesick at all.’

From the Isle of Skye, Kany moved to London to study business at the University of Westminster. He had to study at night, while working a payroll job during the day. It was during this time that he met his Spanish wife, Maria. ‘I wanted to do something to do with my degree but I became interested in education, too. Maria had spent ten years in London and wanted to move back here.’

At this stage their son Ntare (Lion) had been born and daughter, Mirembe (Peace) was on the way. ‘In Ugandan culture it’s important to give a boy a strong name, but I think we balanced it out with Mirembe.’

‘I did my CELTA and then worked for about two years in different places building up some experience.’ Some opportunities came up around town and Kany built up a strong base in the community and found himself being pushed towards opening his own place. He smiles when talking about running into the kids he teaches and their parents around the town. ‘It’s great, they call me, Mr. Kany and I always talk to them in English, you can see how proud the parents are when they see them speaking English.’

Having finally overcome the bureaucratic hurdles, which caused massive delays, frustration and expense; Kany is now focused on making a real impact in the area. ‘That’s why we called it Impact Idiomas; I really want English to be part of the language of this town. It’s a small place and so I think it is achievable.’

Kany tries to get back to Uganda when possible but it’s been three years since the last trip. ‘My mum is coming to visit over the festive period. It’s an exciting trip for them, if a bit daunting. Especially when they see the problems we have here, like 20% unemployment, they don’t think of Europe like that.’

As a Ugandan living in Valencia, Kany likes to stay abreast of events all over Africa as he feels like he represents more than just his own country but Africa in general. ‘My experiences in Africa are limited to Uganda and Rwanda, but I try to share the diversity of Africa with people here. When my wife and in-laws visited Uganda in 2006, it was very different from what they expected. The images on the news are generally negative so I think it’s very important to tell the diverse stories of Africa.’

Kany, a positive guy by nature, initially says that he has had no problems with prejudice here but there has been at least one serious incident and he says he notices a difference in the way some people in the service industry treat him when he is alone compared to when he is with his wife. ‘The best way to deal with it, is to ignore it, to try to be civil, to be intelligent, not to be ignorant too.’

Kany says his goal is to make a positive impact on his community, one suspects he already has.

Eoghan Ryan

25/01/1759 'Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face, great chieftain o' the puddin-race!' or 'Fair is your honest, happy face, great chieftain of the pudding race!' Robert Burn's Night. Just add haggis and whisky to enjoy.

Your photos | Age

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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 and the editor's favourite wins a prize. This month's favourite is by Pablo!

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Steve Sandells | When the candles don't fit on the cake

Chiara Medici | Aged woman holding her aged purse

Amanda Bell | Jaime the old cat

Pablo | Timescapes from our hands

Guy Alexander Bell | Through the ages

Please send 1 photo per person & only send your own photo for copyright reasons. There are other terms and conditions - email us for them. Next month’s topic is 'fruity’. Look forward to seeing your pictures. invlceditor@gmail.com 26/01/1945 Soviet troops enter Auschwitz II at Birkenau in Poland and the world finally becomes aware of the levels and depths of the horrors that have occurred there. It is believed 1.1 million people (90% Jews) met their deaths there.

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1 La Galeria, C/ Baja, 38 2 KandABooks, C/ Tapineria, 18 3 Plou i fa sol, Pl. del Músico López Chavarri, 7b 4 Hatha Yoga Studio, C/ Na Jordana 18 5 Lenguas Vivas, C/ Palleter, 43 6 Il Genovino, Campoamor, 50 7 La Gnocca de la Tia, C/ Verger, 1 8 Portland Ale House, C/ Salamanca, 10 9 Blue Moon, C/ Ercilla, 1 10 British Foods.es, Central Market 11 Gusto Nuovo, Av/ Reino de Valencia, 9 12 Orange Language Academy, C/ Santo Domingo Savio, 68 13 Kiss My Feet, C/ San Valero, 1 14 Mad Hatter's Coffee Lounge, C/ Serrano Morales, 3 15 Anita Giro, Pintor Domingo, 7 (c) OpenStreetMap contributors, CC-BY-SA www.openstreetmap.org/

Talking Teaching with Orange Language Academy

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icture the scene. I’ve just taught a fairly hardcore lesson on phrasal verbs to an adult class, got them to match the phrasal verbs with their meanings and they have just completed a ten-question quiz with the said phrasal verbs in the correct gaps… Fully conjugated I might add. Now they’re in small groups and must try to answer the questions when my game suddenly comes to an abrupt end.

“The Scarlet Pimpernel?” a 19-year-old student from Madrid tells me with a bright smile on her face. She has managed to answer the question “Which elusive hero during the French Revolution turned out to be an English nobleman?” Her expression is quizzical and I am absolutely dumfounded as to how she’s got the answer until I look down at my sheet and find the answers to the questions in all their glory, upside down on the bottom of the photocopied sheet. Foolishly I forgot to cut them off on the photocopier.

Word spreads like wildfire around the classroom as my students pick up their belongings and put on their coats to leave the classroom. When I express my sincere disappointment with the madrileña, she is neither sheepish not repentant, but proud of her discovery and suitably congratulated by her peers. Thankfully it was Christmas and a classroom task rather than an actual exam that meant something. But it got me thinking…

Let’s go back to my first year of teaching. I remember a talented musician called Bruno, who despite all of his efforts to get into the conservatorio to play trumpet professionally, for some draconian reason was required to reach a B2 level of English. To be frank Bruno was hopeless and could not even manage to say, “It’s not possible” (opting instead for the much easier “Not is possible”). I eventually gave up explaining things and he was gradually circulated out of my jurisdiction into the classroom of another teacher.

Amazingly he passed the exam. Not only did he pass the exam, he regaled us with how he had used a compass to scratch the answers into a series of innocent Tippex bottles, which he had managed to sneak into the exam.

My amazement was not with the resourcefulness, but with the sheer effort that this mammoth task must have required rather than just learning what he needed to know.

The infamous chuleta (crib sheet) is something we have to be constantly aware of when examining students. I’ve heard stories of girls hiding them up their skirts, students writing answers on their inner thighs and there has even been rumour of electronic devices in students’ ears with

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...

Cada fulano, mengano y zutano - Every Tom, Dick & Harry e.g. Cada fulano, mengano y zutano estuvo en la fiesta anoche.

Every Tom, Dick & Harry was at that party last night.

people phoning in the answers. In a recent article by Dr. Glenn Fulcher in the Guardian*, he talks about cheating on IELTS exams in Australia, teachers altering results in Atlanta and Chinese students using ghostwriters in Hong Kong. He argues that certain pressures on students to attain qualifications for work, study and travel also exist for some teachers who are required to achieve certain levels of performance. The phenomenon exists everywhere and does not look set to decline as long as industries and educational establishments become more and more demanding.

So what can be done in the classroom to encourage students to learn what they need to and not resort to MacGyver-esque techniques? Well, I have found that getting to the core of the student's language needs and being as frank as possible with them are the keys to success. Next time you give class, try and concentrate on why they are there, why they need the level being asked of them, and then show them how acquiring that level will help them achieve whatever it is they are ultimately aiming for. I have often told students that they CAN cheat. No skin off my nose. However, I then promptly explain the consequences. The biggest one being that when it comes to exam day and the money is on the table (whether their own or Mum & Dad’s) knowledge is the only thing that’s going to save them. This conversation can be done in L1 if need be.... it gets down to the roots and shows the students that you take their education seriously and you’re not there to simply regurgitate grammar and vocabulary. Over the years these students have become my favourites to have in class. I think back to Bruno and I take it as a personal challenge.

Although we teachers must bear in mind that we may have many students that are in class simply as a means to a greater end we cannot give up on them. In the end I have found that many of these students who start skeptically, end up seeing that English is an extremely useful tool in any sector when given just the right nudge. *Full article available here: www.guardian.co.uk/ education/2011/oct/11/why-more-language-test-cheating Orange Language Academy has been an American run language school for the city of Valencia and its provinces since 2005 offering all types of language related services. They run the Mon language exchange at The Bohemian Café & the Tues and Weds nights at the Portland Ale House. www.orangeidiomas.com

27/01 Links John Lennon who pens the classic Instant Karma on this day in 1970 and in 2010 when Catcher in the Rye author JD Salinger dies. Lennon's killer Mark Chapman was holding the book when he shot the former Beatle.

Music

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very month we review the best new music out there and try to keep you up-to-date with those important goings on in the music world. Sean Arnett and Chris Kellet provide us with their album reviews.

Album You May Have Missed Last Year | D - White Denim It’s that time again in which almost every publication compiles a list of the best albums of the year. ‘D’ by White Denim came to my attention because it rates highly on almost all of them. Expect rhythmically complex guitar based rock with tempo shifts aplenty, mixed with more than a few nods to '70s prog rock and a lot of homage moments (check out the band’s take on country in keys or the jazz flutes on ‘River to Consider’). The band’s real cutting edge comes from the vocals though, which are at times eerily redolent of Jeff Buckley on Grace. Excellent stuff and yet another addition to this year’s Primavera must-sees.

Standout Tracks| Anvil Everything, Is and Is and Is Album Most Likely To Be Mad | We Bought A Zoo – Jónsi Best known for being the vocalist of legendary Icelandic group Sigur Rós, this is Jónsi’s third solo studio album. What’s incredible is his ability to recapture those energetic tunes from his Sigur Rós back catalogue yet tweak the sound a little by approaching the work differently. Riceboy Sleeps (2009) saw a mellow, acoustic venture, whilst Go! (2010) took the sound further with the incorporation of big strings and a touch of the electronic. He continues from here and he’s taken on the job of scoring the new Cameron Crowe film of the same title. There’s a tune by Sigur Rós, but the majority is Jónsi’s unmistakable moments of quiet with those soaring, epic choruses that have become a signature of his work.

Standout Tracks| Evin Endar, Gathering Stories Album That Takes You Back | Undun – The Roots This is the thirteenth album release from this hip-hop act that was formed back in 1987.

Undun tells the story of fictional character Redford Stephens struggling to grow up in an urban neighbourhood. An ambitious project that sees them mix the mellow beats that we have grown used to and the occasional jazz interludes and wonderfully arranged string sections in between. It has been seen by many as a return to their original work and includes a number of collaborators including Sufjan Stevens, Dice Raw and Phonte. This Brings The Roots back to the forefront after a stint as Joss Stone’s backing band on her first album.

Standout Tracks | One Time, Kool On, I Remember Other releases | Ringo Starr, Leonard Cohen, The Lemonheads, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Amy Winehouse, Lady Gaga, Korn, Motley Crue, The Maccabees, The Fray, Rammstein and many, many more.

Music news| Festival organisers at FIB Benicassim are asking the public to tell them who they want to see next year.

Whilst they won’t make any promises, they’ve stated that “the more noise you make, the more likely the festival organisers are to sit up and take notice.” www.benicassim.org.uk

Beastie Boys’ video ‘Fight For Your Right’ has made 1st place in the Top 30 music videos by Spanish music magazine mondo sonoro.

‘Money and Run’ by UNKLE (2nd), ‘The Shrine/ An Argument' by Fleet Foxes (3rd), ‘Ode to Janice Melt’

by Army Navy (4th) and ‘Civilization’ by Justice also made the list. For a full list visit www.goo.gl/N4jeZ

Paul McCartney’s new album due for release on 6 February is due to be called 'Kisses On the Bottom'.

Elton John has claimed that he would like Justin Timberlake to play him in a biopic.

Rhianna wants to do a duet with Chris Martin.

Lewis Hamilton is due to release an R&B album this year with collaboration coming from Robbie Williams & Kylie Minogue.

Add the token appearance from ‘the missus’ Nicole Sherzinger (Pussycat Dolls) and you’ve pretty much got probably the least anticipated album of the year so far. And yes - that’s including Paul McCartney’s.

28/01/1986 73 seconds after take off and with a competition winning high school teacher on board, the world watches in horror and disbelief as the space shuttle Challenger explodes live on national TV. All 7 crew are killed.

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Live events

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very month we pick out the best live music in and around the Valencia Community for those of you who want to get out and enjoy music as it should be heard. If we hear of anything else coming up, we'll Facebook it.

Durango| C/ Llanterners 35, Poligono La Closa (Meliana) 21/01 Tribute bands to Motley Crue & Bon Jovi with Dr Crue and Bounce €9 11pm 10/02 Wayne the Train Hancock €15/18 www.durangoclub.es

Lenny Kravitz is going to come our way. Velódromo Luis Puig on 29 May. €45-145. Time TBC. www.goo.gl/mssZb

Sala El Loco| C/ Erudito Orellana, 12 (VLC) 19/01 Letz Zep (Tribute to Led Zeppelin) €20/25 9.30pm 20/01 Danny & The Champions of the World 10pm 21/01 Al Supersonic & The Teenagers €10/13 10.30pm 26/01 Nasty Boogie, Lemon & Bop Street Club €5 10pm 03/02 Suzy y Los Quattro €10 10pm www.lococlub.org

La Caverna| C/ Cuenca, 70 (VLC) A very cosy venue with mad gigs!

Café del Duende| C/ Turia, 62 (VLC) Great flamenco every Thu, Fri, Sat & Sun www.cafedelduende.com Music Box| C/ Pintor Zariñera, 16 (VLC) & Radio City| C/ Santa Teresa 19

Sala Wah Wah| C/ Campoamor, 58 (VLC) Great venue with a lot of local and international acts visiting.

20/01 Pink Hot Chili Peppers €7 Free drink if you dress as a rock or pop star.* 21/01 Elena & Mentiras a Wendy €10/12* 27/01 Smile & La Hora del Té €8/10* (* starts at 10.30pm) 28/01 Pendletons, Polonio, Gatomidi and Los Atomos DJs €3 9.30pm. www.wahwahclub.com

Sala Mirror| San Vicente Martir, 200 (VLC) A popular place for dance music lovers with a wide variety of DJs. 20/01 Sidonie** 27/01 Los Suaves** 04/02 Nach** (** starts at 9.30pm) www.discomirror.es

Excuse me| C/Tomasos 14 (VLC) (VLC) Open daily with visiting DJs and Two floors with the usual eclectic mix to keep the dancefloors moving.

Sala Matisse| C/ Campoamor, 60 (VLC) 21 & 27/01 Interesting double of concerts that focus on non-lyrical music within many sub-genres of rock music to show how music can be a journey. Especially good for those with limited language skills!

20/01 Burrito Panza €8 10pm 28/01 Moonflower & Superseco €5/8 10.30pm www.salamatisse.es Pop Club Deluxe| C/ Poeta Mas y Ros, 42 (VLC) Pop Club Deluxe Intimate setting for live music.

Café Mercedes| C/ Sueca, 27 (VLC)

Rock City| This new venue in Tavernes Blancas has bands playing every Thu, Fri and Sat night including: 20/01 No Fun At All + Atlas Losing Grip ** 04/02 El Respetable (playing Valencian band's music from the 80s and 90s) ** 11/02 Rodillazo and Stereozone** (** starts at 9.30pm) www.valenciarockcity.com

LA3| C/ del Padre Porta, 4 (VLC) Superstar DJ Feliz Da Housecat from Chicago is coming to play on 27/01.

Expect it to be rocking. www.la3club.com

Jimmy Glass| C/ Baja, 28 (VLC) 17/01 Vicente Espi Quartet €12** 25/01 Jesse Davis Quartet €16** 31/01 Noah Preminger Trio €12** (** starts at 9.30pm) www.jimmyglassjazz.net

A nice, cheap jazz venue in the heart of Ruzafa with free jam sessions on Sundays from 8:30pm.

19/01 Big Hollers €8 10.30pm 20/01 Nacho Mañó y Gisela Renes €10 11pm 21 & 22/01 The Vorolord & The Fungasol Band €8 11pm 27 & 28/01 Guachiguara €8 11pm www.cafemercedes.es

El Palau de la Musica| (VLC) 19/01 Sedajazz Cycle 2012 €12 8pm, 21&22/01 Learn More Bernstein €3/6 29/01 London Symphony Orchestra €30 7.30pm 11/02 Juan Valederrama at the XVI Festival Flamenco de Valencia 2012 €19/25 9pm www.palaudevalencia.com

Mya| 20/01 Starsky & Hutch themed night. Free copa if you dress 80s style.

Tuesdays offer live flamenco music at Radio City 11pm €7 w. free drink. www.myspace.com/themusicboxclub & www.radiocityvalencia.com

Black Note Valencia| Calle Polo y Peyrolon, 15 This club near the Mestalla has a great music policy covering jazz, blues, r&b, soul, funk, acid jazz, swing and latino sounds.

21/01 The Grandfathers (60s/70s rock) €0 11.30pm 27/01 Ultima Experiancia (Hendrix, Free, Cream et al) €0 11.30pm 28/01 Mark Tortorici (US R&B) 11.30pm www.blacknoteclub.com Dub Club| Calle Jesus 91, (VLC) Dub Club's motto is 'to play music and not noise'. And if you like reggae and ska then you will agree. www.myspace.com/dubclubvalencia Festival information| Low Cost Festival| Alicante 2729 July. €39.99, VIP €125 www.lowcostfestival.es Benicassim| 12-15 July Stone Roses, Florence & The Machine and The Vaccines are all confirmed. Expect lots more. €155 www.fiberfib.com Sonar| Barcelona 14-16 June Tickets 2 days/nights €100, 3 days €130 www.sonar.es Primavera Sound| Barcelona 30 May-3 June Bjork headlining €175 www.primaverasound.com Arenal sound| Burriana 2-5 August with Kaiser Chiefs. €30

29/01/1964 Stanley Kubrick's Dr Strangelove premieres. The anti-nuclear film was only agreed to be financed by Columbia if Peter Sellers was given 4 different roles in the film. In the end he played 3 after an accident on set.

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Sport

© Valencia Basket

Intermediate

© Lazaro de la Peña/VCF

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alencia Basketball Club| VBC start their European campaign this month in the Euro Cup which is the second tier cup competition (much like the UEFA League in football). Tickets are cheap and can be bought online at www.valenciabasket.com

Valencia Basketball Club fixtures| 17/01 BCM Gravelines v Valencia Basket - EuroCup Last 16 22/01 (12:30) FiatC Mutua Joventut - Valencia Basket 24/01 Valencia Basket v VEF RIga - EuroCup Last 16 28/01 (19:30) Valencia Basket v Asefa Estudiantes 31/01 CEZ Nymbuk v Valencia Basket - EuroCup Last 16 04-05 /02 CAI Zaragoza - Valencia Basket* 07/02 Valencia Basket v CEZ Nymbuk - EuroCup Last 16 11-12/02 Valencia Basket v Lagun Aro Gbc* *Dates to be confirmed www.valenciabasket.com

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icardo Tormo | The Valencia racing circuit in Cheste has confirmed that it will stage 10 large weekend race meets this year, maintaining last year's races and also adding a few new ones.

If you are a fan of fast bikes or fast cars then check out the website. www.circuitvalencia.com

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ootball| With no cup games this month the two Valencia teams will be concentrating on the league.

Both teams are riding high in the league so consolidation of position will be the key goal this month as both are vying for the coveted Champions League places next year. A top four finish will ensure that both Valencia teams are playing against Europe's elite and bringing much needed money to both clubs next season. Get along and support them if you can.

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ootball tickets| 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.

Get your tickets for the Levante games at the football stadium on the day. www.valenciacf.com www.levanteud.com

Valencia fixtures| All games - La Liga ** 14/01 Valencia CF v Real Sociedad 21/01 Osasuna v Valencia CF 28/01 Racing Santander v Valencia CF 04/02 Atletico de Madrid v Valencia CF 11/02 Valencia CF v Sporting de Gijón Levante fixtures| All games - La Liga ** 15/01 Athletic Bilbao v Levante 22/01 Levante v Real Zaragoza 29/01 Levante v Getafe 05/02 Levante v Racing Santander 12/02 Real Madrid v Levante ** Fixture dates are not cast in stone - check local papers/ internet for more information nearer the time.

30/01/1948 Nathuram Godse, a Hindu extremist who objected to Gandhi's tolerance for the Muslims, shoots the political and spiritual leader of the Indian independence movement. His first name Mahatma means 'the great soul'.

Cinema

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very month inVLC brings you the best that cinema has to offer in and around the Valencian Community.

This month we’ve got a variety of Versión Original films for you to enjoy.

The Iron Lady | (Phyllida Lloyd) Meryl Streep, Jim Broadbent, Susana Brown Hard to imagine what Meryl Streep’s reasons are for taking on the mammoth task of Margaret Thatcher just in time for Oscar nomination.

The film tracks the career of a grocer’s daughter from Grantham who makes it to the dizzying heights as Prime Minister of Great Britain.

The film deals with the sacrifices that Thatcher made during her quest to be Britain’s Number 1 in a maledominated political system.

With tax cuts, batons smashing down on the British working-class’s faces, a war in the Falklands and the effective crippling of the trade union set up, it’s hard to see where the appeal of this film lies, but it has already won awards and continues to please the critics. Whilst the lady may not have been for turning, it may just be a great turn for Meryl Streep.

Babel: visit website for times www.cinesalbatrosbabel.com

Drive | (Nicolas Winding Refn) Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston, Oscar Isaac Driver (Gosling) works as a stuntman, but makes a bit of money on the side as a getaway driver.

All seems to be going well when he meets his neighbour Irene (Mulligan) and her young son. That’s until her boyfriend Standard (Isaac) gets out of prison and finds himself under pressure from the mob.

Driver agrees to do the heist in order to keep him out of trouble, but it goes terribly wrong.

A violent yet thrilling film with some great performances and an ace soundtrack.

Yelmo: 18:10, 20:20, 22:30, 00:40

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Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (Thomas Alfredson) Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, John Hurt An all star British cast takes part in the recreation of John le Carré's 1974 novel.

There is a mole working for the British secret service and it can only be one of four senior figures within the service.

The legendary George Smiley (Oldman) is called out of retirement to investigate an operation that went wrong and forced out both himself and the head of British Intelligence Control (Hurt).

A must see for those le Carré fans out there and the perfect antidote to the over-theaction-packed top spy films that we have grown accustomed to over the years.

Success at the box office could see Smiley resurrected for a few more cinema outings based on the author’s other works.

Yelmo: 20:00

The Artist | (Michel Hazanavicius) Jean Dujardin, Bérénice Bejo, John Goodman It's Hollywood. 1927. George Valentin (Dujardin) sees the arrival of the talking picture as the death of his career as a silent movie star.

Cue the arrival of Peppy Miller (Bejo) looking for her first big break.

The film has already won a flurry of fans at film festivals in Toronto and Cannes and looks set to sweep the board at many others.

A fantastic visual experience with some incredible performances and a great feel good film.

Yelmo: 17:50, 19:50, 22:05, 00:15

Babel, C/ Vicente Sancho Tello, 10, www.cinesalbatrosbabel.com Yelmo Cines, Avda Tirso de Molina, 16, www.yelmocines.es Filmoteca, Plaza del Ayuntamiento, 17 www.filmoteca.es

31/01/2007 A TV poll of most memorable cars had KITT from Knight Rider at #1 and was followed by The General Lee, The Mystery Machine, Magnum's Ferrari and Batman's 1955 Lincoln. What? No Bergerac or the one from The Prisoner?

First certificate

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Read me | Jeffrey Eugenides

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he Marriage Plot - The publication of The Virgin Suicides in 1993 saw Jeffrey Eugenides propelled to international fame and was followed by a film adaptation by Sofia Coppola in 1999. The book was an incredible feat of storytelling and prose that has left an impression on me ever since. After that came Middlesex in 2002 and Eugenides won the prestigious Pulitzer Prize – a tour de force family saga, which is considered to be amongst the greatest American novels. Now, after another nine years, Eugenides is back on the interview circuit, promoting his new novel The Marriage Plot - a book that has been eagerly awaited by many of his fans.

The Marriage Plot centres around three characters graduating from Brown University in 1982: Madeleine, Leonard and Mitchell, all of whom we get to know during their graduation and follow through their first year as post graduates. Madeleine is in a relationship with Leonard, Mitchell is in love with Madeleine and Leonard is a manic-depressive. This particular love triangle forms the crux of the novel and exists in the back of our minds throughout the book. Madeleine and Leonard plan to live together once university is over whilst the theologian Mitchell embarks upon a soul-searching journey across Europe and Asia with the constant memories of Madeleine in the back of his mind.

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Eugenides has called his prose his most ‘experimental’ when dealing with particular scenes detailing some of Leonard’s ‘highs’ and eventual devastating ‘lows.’ Admittedly it is in these scenes where the author shines and some of his descriptions, some of them external events, which reflect Leonard’s inner turmoil, are incredible. There are very few authors in possession of the lyricism that he has and, if he decided to write a novel every nine years with prose of this quality, we could still consider ourselves very lucky. His eye is painfully acute when it comes to those finer details that flesh out a novel.

Equally well-painted are his scenes throughout Europe and Asia as we follow Mitchell on his own journey suffering the trials and tribulations that you would be forgiven for thinking happened to a younger Eugenides himself.

Eugenides’ obsession with youth or corruption and loss thereof, seems fertile ground that he manages to rework each time by pushing it in a different direction. For many readers, after his first two highly successful novels, The Marriage Plot might not stand up as well as his other works, but you have to admire his courage: suicide, gender identity and manic depression.

‘What next?’ you’re left wondering.

The Marriage Plot is the thesis that Madeleine wrote for her final dissertation at university and is a critique of the decline of the Fortunately, you won’t have to wonder institution of marriage throughout literature for long as Eugenides has already over the last century or so. With these ideas This book is so announced his next project – a book fresh in her mind, Madeleine seems to have much about how of short stories. What’s left now is to developed a keen intuition for the reasons reading affects your behind marriage throughout the literature wonder not ‘what,’ but ‘when’ and I sit that she has read, but is soon faced with the here not even able to imagine the agony actual life... dilemma of her own future and matrimony – of having to wait another nine years.

Jeffrey Eugenides one which her brain wants to make sense of, Whatever it is and wherever he goes with but her heart won’t let go. Madeleine then it, he can count me on board. is our protagonist, one who the bulk of the narrative seems to revolve around and she is forced to endure Leonard’s frequent bouts of depression that her parents have warned her against yet she tries to deal with despite her better judgement.

Bikes| 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 Time| 7.30pm 01/02/2003 Another bad moment for space travel when Challenger breaks up on re-entry to the earth's atmosphere after a relatively small take-off issue causes heat resistant tiles to break off a wing. Over Texas another 7 astronauts die.

Charity | El Preventorio Infantíl de Nuestro Señora del Amparo

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ack in November we ran an article about El Preventorio Infantíl de Nuestro Señora del Amparo, in Real de Gandia. A residential home for children, El Preventorio was in immediate need of support. We made an initial cash donation to purchase a trolley they needed to keep the kids clothes in order, bought some everyday necessities and ran an appeal for support around Valencia.

We were very pleased with the generous response that we got from throughout the community. From small donations of clothes to bigger contributions made by schools and academies, all in all, the appeal was a great success. Using the roughest of measuring tools, we have so far delivered twelve carloads of much-needed clothes, shoes, sports equipment and of course most importantly given the time of year, toys, lots and lots of toys.

Thanks to a fund-raiser held by Lenguas Vivas language academy we were also in a position to donate in excess of €500 just before Christmas. Hermana Amelia and the team were delighted and very grateful for everyone’s help, however upon making the cash donation we discovered that they had just been hit with a bill for more than a thousand Euros for bed clothes which they were not in a position to pay for completely. Thankfully, we were in a position to tap up some generous sources and add to the donation to make up the full amount. In total we have given them almost two thousand Euros over the last four months, which has gone to fund practical necessities.

This incident highlighted the fact that this one appeal, while important in the short term, is not going to make a substantial impact in the larger scheme of things unless we back it up.

We have made a very positive first step towards improving the standard of living for these kids but there is a long way to go. Through our association we are planning to set up a network of volunteers in the Gandia area to help in the evenings. With only three nuns and the occasional volunteer looking after fifty-six children, the need is acute. The kids need adult company and help with their homework and the sisters need help getting them showered and cleaned up before bed.

We are also looking at long-term projects, which will utilise the fantastic facilities that they have available at the centre in order to generate some regular income.

If we can get these two additional steps in motion then

we will go some way to not only giving these kids a better standard of living but also a better shot at a good life.

We feel like we have generated some momentum but we realise that we are dealing with something that has no finishing line. The festive season of giving may have passed for another year but these kids still need and deserve more support.

We would like to thank everyone who contributed with their time and donations and encourage others to get involved. We are awaiting official registration as an independent association. This will allow us to continue to support El Preventorio in an official capacity and provide a vehicle for the continued generosity of everyone in the community.

Should you wish to help you can contact us at ryan.eoghan@gmail.com Eoghan Ryan

Rumour has it his own bandmates used to turn off his amplifier during gigs. I'm not sure how punk doing that is though.

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Green living | Positively green

First certificate

I

'm back in Ireland for the holidays and needless to say my reputation for a being a 'greeny' is well known amongst my family and I take a certain amount of stick for it.

My brother was asking me the other day, "Why should I care for the environment when nobody else gives a damn?" The principle thing that I took issue with in that statement was "that nobody gives a damn" about the environment.

Low and behold the very same day we were watching TV and there was a documentary about one of the poorest countries in Africa. It was about a particular part of this country where the local population lived beside a lake and there was an animal called the lemur, which lived in the reeds around the lake. The animal had been hunted into almost extinction by the native population but now hardly anybody hunted it because as one of the locals explained that it was in their own self interest to protect the lemur and the lake. We are talking about one of the poorest countries in the world and they could see the real benefits of protecting their natural environment. This is a clear example of people who care about nature and the more you look the more you will find.

Many wise people have said that the more you concentrate on something the more it expands in your life. Maybe it's because I'm a 'greeny' that I see the many individuals, groups and organizations deeply committed to the protection of the environment. But there are also many ecologists who concentrate on the all the negative things going on such as the destruction of the forests, contamination, nuclear power, etc. I have done this in the past and the more destruction I looked for, the more I found! This only made me feel depressed, disheartened and hopeless about the whole situation of the planet. The problems seemed to be enormous and overwhelming.

A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.

Lao Tzu

A little goes a long way What| Make a draught snake to warm your home.

Why| It's nice to be snug with low heating costs.

Why not| It takes a little time (but not a lot).

Benefits| Cool, funky designs keep you warm and uses less energy.

Instructions at www.thedailygreen.com

So, now I choose to look for all the positive things that are happening regarding the environment. I choose to concentrate on what I want rather then what I don't want.

What I want is a beautiful, healthy and natural planet. I want clean, fresh air. I want healthy tasty food. I want us to solve our disagreements peacefully and I could go on and on...

Oscar Wilde said in one of his poems, "We’re all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars."

What I think he means by this is that we can all choose to see the same thing in different ways.

We need to feel good and energized to live a green lifestyle and it's difficult to do that when we are feeling depressed about all the ecological disasters in the world.

So let's look for all the positive things that are happening around us, thus raising our energy levels and allowing us to concentrate on what we want to do and what we can do, because in the end we definitely can't change others, we can really only change ourselves.

Tip: When you feel yourself starting to think or talk about negative things, stop yourself and change the direction of your thoughts, start to think and talk of all the people who are doing many positive things and even the positive things you are doing yourself.

Declan Lehane

03/02/1959 The last words between Buddy Holly and Waylon Jennings (who swapped seats on the ill fated flight) were Holly: "I hope your old bus freezes over." Jennings' response? "Well, I hope your plane crashes."

H

ow many of us when we first come to Spain and order food forget that a tortilla in Spain is not a tortilla in the English-speaking world? We may expect a Mexican style wrap full of chicken, beef or vegetables but are instead faced with an omelette or a potato pie. Certainly that was the case for me but upon trying the Spanish version I was to become hooked forever.

Quality varies enormously but there's no doubt a good tortilla can be delicious. And once you have mastered the basics, there is no going back - there are many recipes to try, flavouring the basic tortilla with a whole host of local meats and vegetables.

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What to buy| (Serves 4) 120ml & 30ml olive oil 900g baking potatoes, - peel & cut into 1/2cm slices salt and pepper to taste 2 onions, sliced into rings 6 eggs 1 roasted red pepper, - drain and cut into strips 85g Spanish serrano ham, - chopped 8g chopped fresh parsley

In Spain, a tortilla is almost always accompanied by bread, pickles, olives and gherkins and quite often in bars and canteens, it is served inside bread in a bocadillo.

Here's a great starter recipe for those of you who want to impress some guests or even just want to have tasty traditional Spanish food.

1817

the date that tortillas are first recorded (in a transcript to the Court of Navarro).

Easy to make in advance for parties and leave on the side.

Gives you more time to enjoy with your friends.

Wow Factor| Impress even the locals.

Effort| Medium - the trickiest bit is getting it out.

How to make it| one Fry potato slices in 120ml oil In a medium sized skillet/ frying pan until just tender then remove from heat. two At the same time fry the onions in olive oil until golden. three Remove potatoes and place in bowl adding salt & pepper. four Remove onions and allow to cool. five Whisk eggs until smooth, then stir in (the now cool) onions, peppers and ham. six Gently fold in potatoes to mixture. seven Pour the mixture into oil used to cook potatoes and cook on low/medium heat until sides start to set and bottom of mixture is golden brown (8-10 mins). eight Loosen with a spatula and slide onto plate. nine Turn frying pan upside down, place on uncooked side. ten While holding plate, turn frying pan the right way up and remove plate. eleven Cook for another 4-5 mins on low heat until middle of tortilla has set. twelve Remove from heat, slide tortilla onto plate then allow to cool to room temperature. thirteen Cut into wedges and sprinkle with parsley to serve.

04/02/1983 One of the great voices of the 1970s Karen Carpenter dies from a heart attack after a long and hidden battle against a new and unknown disease called anorexia nervosa which is brought to people's attention for the first time.

Intermediate

Recipe | Tortilla de Patatas

Artist of the month| Juan Cánovas

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W

e want to support new and up-and-coming artistic talent in the Valencian Community. Each month we choose one artist at random and devote a page to that artist.

name| Juan Cánovas location| Valencia

what's available| Pencil and fine ink sketches of the streets and buildings of Valencia. It is possible to buy either the original piece or a scanned reproduction.

Commissions available on request.

history| Bored as a result of lack of work, Juan felt inspired by the buildings around him and started to sketch. He trained in a local art school, and has spent the last 10 years looking at Valencia, and opening our eyes to what we see.

prices| €10-€120 where to find him| Juan sells his work on the steps of La Lonja most mornings from 10am-2pm.

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

Like 'inVLC' on Facebook for more art to see

"

Art to see

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A

rt is a step from what is obvious and well-known toward what is arcane and concealed." (Khalil Gibran)

If a croissant is travelling south at 80k/h… (Until 5 Feb) At school, I was outstandingly rubbish at Maths - save Geometry. In hindsight, this may have been because I could see what Maths looked like, as it were, and how it could manifest itself as far more than just numbers and symbols. So what, might you think, do Art and Maths have in common? Where do they hang out? What do they do together? Well, my trip to Imaginary, the bizarrely intriguing visual representations of algebraic Geometry soon answered these questions and left me feeling inspired and amused.

The exhibition itself is one of the most colourful and pleasing I’ve ever seen. Colourful because it can be, as geometricians can apply as much artistic licence as they desire, and pleasing because, well, it’s geometry and it makes perfect sense to the brain. Kinematics, curves and symmetry are just so visually gratifying. Seen every day in Nature, Architecture and elsewhere, they’re like dependable old friends that we probably take for granted, but love nonetheless. Although all aspects of this Maths-idiot-or-Maths-genius-friendly exhibition were wonderful, I was particularly interested to see what constitutes a croissant in mathematical terms. Indeed, it was just as I suspected: (x2 + y2 + z2 1√+ 5/2 – 11/2)2 – ((1 + √ 5) x – 7 + 3 √ 5) 2 – (1 + √ 5)2 y2 = 0. I doubt I’ll ever have a croissant again (whether sweet and sticky Spanish or all butter French) without savouring that most quintessential of ingredients: the square root.

La Nau, Centre Cultural de la Universitat de Valencia, C/ Universitat, 2| 963 98 34 69| Tues-Sat: 10am-2pm, 4pm-8pm, Sundays/holidays 10am-2pm| www.uv.es| Free!

From desert to forest (until 1 April) | I’ve just returned from the backside of a cultural desert, where the only respite from mountains of food and rivers of vodka was a brief visit to the town’s local museum and less than an hour in a community arts centre. In times of cultural crisis, (e.g., when flint axe heads - in the absence of anything else - begin to take on enormous appeal) my fall back is usually a bit of nature. And so, I duly headed to the local forest. Aaah…, trees. A living gallery; no need for narrative; no closing time; no ‘please do not touch’, and my sanity was saved. When I got back to our great city, I ran blindly and unashamedly back into the arms of MUVIM, promising my undying devotion to anything it chose to throw in my path, and was greeted, somehow knowingly, with an exhibition dedicated to my recent saviours - trees.

Throughout the exhibition, majestic oaks, poplars, junipers and ancient olive trees, each one as photogenic as the next, stand proudly for all to see. Indeed, not only does this impressive series of large-scale photographic images beautifully demonstrate Valencia’s rich arboreal heritage, but also served to mark 2011 as the International Year of the Forest.

EN-ARBORAR is an extremely beautiful and contemplative exhibition, juxtaposing the indomitable existence of one of nature’s greatest creations with a salutary reminder of the possibility of its demise.

ML MUVIM | C/ Quevedo, 10, Valencia | 963 88 37 30 | Tues-Sat 10am-2pm, 4pm-8pm, Sunday/holidays 10am-2pm, Closed Monday | www.muvim.es| Free!

"

L

ook deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better." (Albert Einstein)

06/02/1952 King George VI dies and daughter Elizabeth learns of the fact that she is now Queen while in Kenya. inVLC tip: it may be worth a few Euros to bet on Colin Firth winning another Oscar for King's Speech 2 in about 15 years from now.

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Coffee cocktails

B

rrrr. It's the end of a delicious meal and you are heading for the finishing round of coffees. Why not spruce them up and give everyone an extra warming glow with some of these delicious coffee cocktails instead?

Deeee-lish!

one The Classic Irish - Possibly the world's most popular alcohol laced coffee. Although if you don't have Irish Whiskey, Scotch is just as good and even bourbon can be used at a push.

*Tip| Nata liquida para Montar - whipped cream in Spanish.

100ml strong, hot coffee 35ml Irish whiskey 1 tsp brown sugar Whipping cream/nata to top Pour the coffee, Irish whiskey and brown sugar into a liqueur coffee glass or mug.

Stir well.

Float the cream on top.

Get it down you!

Serves 1 Serve in a liqueur coffee glass.

two Cafe Amore - Warm, nutty and delicious - and perhaps more socially acceptable than a squirrel kebab!

30ml Cognac 30ml amaretto black coffee whipped cream/nata shaved almonds for garnish (optional) Pour the Cognac and amaretto into a liqueur coffee glass.

Fill with hot coffee.

Top with whipped cream/nata Garnish with shaved almonds.

Savour and enjoyslices of lime.

Serves 1 Serve in a liqueur coffee glass.

three Carajillo - there may be many variations on the Spanish pick-me-up but here's a simple one almost everyone can make.

Yes we know about lime zest, added coffee beans and burning the alcohol off but that's for the professionals!

1 small cup of black coffee (preferably dark skinned seeds) 1 teaspoon of cold brandy 1 teaspoon of sugar (preferably brown sugar) A touch of cream/nata (preferably lightweight) Make the coffee.

Put the sugar and cream/nata in the microwave & heat until mixed.

Mix sugar, cream and coffee.

Add the brandy.

Serves 1 Serve in a liqueur coffee glass.

A day in the life in VLC| KC and Svenja

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iving in Valencia and the Community is surprising, varied and exciting and everyone sees something dierent. We thought it would be fun to see what other people see. For one day, a reader will take a photo of what they can see on the hour, every hour for 9 hours. This month, KC and Svenja show us their Sunday.

Contact us if you want to have a go. We're looking for non-city residents especially. invlceditor@gmail.com

10h

11h

12h

13h

14h

15h

16h

17h

18h

07/02/1979 After evading capture all his life, the Angel of Death at Auschwitz, Dr. Josef Mengele, has a stroke and dies while swimming in Brazil. One can only hope that Hell does indeed exist for people like him.

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Animals| Our planet

T

his Christmas I bought my parents a Blu-Ray player. A Blu-Ray player is a swanky name for the technology, which is expected one day to supersede DVDs and provide high definition visual and audio playback from discs. Once bought I realised I'd need to buy a blu-ray disc or two as buying the machine only would be a bit like buying a new razor without any blades. As I browsed all the possibilities I quickly realised that one option stood head and shoulders above the rest and it wasn't Eastenders in hi-def! With an almost embarrassing selection of riches that most observers would agree was probably worth the price of the BBC's yearly licence fee alone, the output of the BBC's Natural History Unit has been some of the most incredible footage ever captured on film of animal and plant life on our planet.

These programmes are also remarkable in that they can be enjoyed by anyone from age 8-88 and was one of the few times that we would sit together as a family in absolute silence as the UK's foremost (and arguably best) narrator and presenter Sir David Attenborough made his way across the planet to provide us with images from some of the world's most inaccessible and inhospitable areas. Anyone who has seen the remarkable footage of him sharing eye contact with a Silverback gorilla group in Rwanda or sitting on a beach on Christmas Island as literally millions of red crabs made their way across will never forget it.

He has been making these programmes for over 50 years and for many years focused on the 'show it as it is and don't get involved' style of filmmaking. Recently, however, as he nears what we must assume to be retirement (he is 85 years old) there has been an element of politics, which have crept into the series. Indeed the ultimate episode of the last series about life at the polar caps called Frozen Planet was focused firmly on the problems associated with the melting of these caps and what will happen should this process of climate change continue as it is.

If you use expat shield or have access to the BBC in another way then enter this link to see Sir David Attenborough's best moments. Well worth watching. http://goo.gl/nne5Z

Foster/ permanent homes URGENTLY required Name| Ada Age| 10 months Personality| loving, playful and obedient

Appearance| German Shepherd Health| Fully vaccinated and micro-chipped.

Info| P.E.P.A - 650 304 746

www.pepaspain.com

It then appeared that this show was too much to take for TV stations in the country with arguably the largest carbon emissions in the world. Ten networks that would have run the episode opted out, citing fear of controversy and "the reaction it might draw from America's climate change skeptics", including the fact that "the timing of a one-sided global warming programme could be particularly sensitive in the U.S., where climate change is an issue in the presidential race."

A public outcry, however, meant that in December 2011 The Discovery Channel changed its position and agreed to show it.

The degree to which human involvement is responsible for this change is a matter of debate for scientists, however, the fact the polar caps are currently melting is not open to debate. With this will come changes to all animal life on the planet whether we like it or not. And perhaps saddest of all it will be programmes like this that may be the only way for future generations to see just how wonderful some life on this planet was.

Some of the best bits| • • • •

The thieving penguin http://goo.gl/PM2NP The gorillas http://goo.gl/ORgv4 The red crabs http://goo.gl/idNUQ The amazing lyre bird www.goo.gl/vSrUD

08/02/1983 Champion Irish racehorse Shergar is kidnapped. The horse isn't seen again. The kidnappers aren't paid and insurers refuse to pay out saying the horse may still be alive when the policy ends!

Events & Classifieds

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IMarkets

f you’ve got an event coming up or you are buying, selling or donating anything, drop us an email and we’ll try to give it a mention. | Mon-Montroy, Tues-Monserrat & Turis, Weds-L’Eliana Piccassent & Villamarchante, Thurs-Alaquas & Lliria, Fri-Moraira, Turis, Torrente & Chiva, SatReal de Montroy & Torrente, Sun-Alborache Rastros | Montroy | Sun 5 Feb, 4 Mar (1st Sun monthly)| Calle La Pau, 625 674 906 Sagrario Olocau | The rastro has been cancelled.

Masia | 15 Jan, 19 Feb (3rd Sun monthly) | Mas Pavia Restaurante, Masia Pavia Urba, nr Monserrat. Eng 625819734/ Spa 616399372, sparklesinsunshine@ gmail.com.

Lliria | 11 Feb (2nd Sat monthly) | Bellamy's Bar, 18 Avenida Polideportivo, Domeño, Tables free. 962728708, Lyn 625217777 magpiesbar@yahoo.com

IWC| Monthly coffee mornings. An independent organisation offering: Support, Friendship, networking... 2 February, 1 March. HIPERCOR - C.Comercial Ademuz, Av. Pio XII, 51 Valencia, top floor restaurant. www.iwc-valencia.ning.com 2nd Friday lunch| 10 February A get together group for lunch and chat. 2pm.

The venue changes regularly. Contact mm@centralpoint.es for more info.

Internations events| A monthly meet up of international people. Sign up or simply check the website for more information at www.internations.org Valencia Loves You| VLY is a group created for the international ladies of Valencia looking to expand their social and professional network. For more information and monthly events join 'Valencia Loves You' on Facebook.

For sale| Makita Combination Hammer / Martillo combinado Makita HR5000K. Fuerte y robusto martillo combinado, hasta brocas de 50 mm de diámetro y con carcasa en aluminio. Ideal para reformas. 2 posiciones del selector: percusión, rotación percusión. Escobillas nuevas y dos más nuevas marca Makita original.

Con 8 brocas y punteros de varias medidas. €400. 655761584 For sale| For sale: Panasonic 32” (80cm)TV – not flat screen – 85€, Acer flat screen monitor (x2) 17” (42cm) - 30€, Childs “buggy” – 3 wheel type - 25€, Air Con unit – portable with window fittings (as new) - 30€, Solar inverter 600w (12v) - 45€, Gas bottles - empty (standard size) 22€ each - Sandra 961105196 (Lliria) For sale| IPAD2 64G, 3G. 5 months old. Perfect cond. Black, + protective cover + carry bag. Bought for €845. Will sell for €550 ono. Bradford@orangeidiomas.com Learn Spanish| Want to learn Spanish? Bilingual native teacher available €10/ hr, references avail. Nacho 628 892 061.

In the number puzzle, each letter is represented by a number 1-26. Crack the code! 3 letters are already in place.

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

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

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