EXPAT Lifestyle MAGAZINE
February 2022
Issue 3
Happy February! TALKING WINE with Moira Carmenate
FOOD & DRINK with Rik Ellerby and Michael & Faith Lindemann
MOIRA’S KITCHEN with Moira Carmenate
TALKING HEALTH
3 4-6 8-9 10
with Apple Hearing & Healthcare
& WELLBEING with The Elite Wellness Group
HOME & GARDEN with elipacrafts
TALKING LEGAL with Costasea Legal Services
PLANNING AHEAD with Funeral Plans Europe
TALKING SHOPPING TALKING FINANCE
11 12 14 15 16 - 17
with Stuart Markham & John Clark
CLASSIC FILM REVIEW
This month, you would never guess, has a Valentine’s theme and a big thank you to our lovely advertisers for their romantic twist to their contributions. The fabulous team at Varrk have given us a lovely pork tenderloin recipe and a great strawberry daiquiri. In Moira’s Kitchen I have added a luscious chocolate cake recipe which is so easy to make, you have to try it – sorry no apologies for the calories. It was great to have questions from last month’s Moira’s Kitchen which thrilled me no end as readers were interested in the recipes. Thank you. If you have favourite recipes of your own, maybe one of grannie’s specials, or interesting ideas you would like to submit, we will be more than happy to consider them and include in future editions. Reader contributions are already flying in, with thanks this month to Neil The Golf Doctor. for his tips on golf etiquette.
20 - 21
Have a lovely Valentine’s Day whether you are on your own or with a partner.
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Remember love yourself first because when you make that important choice you will improve the quality of your life.
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Love from Moira
with Simon Wade
ENTERTAINMENT
Firstly, a big thank you to everyone for your support with our magazine. The feedback has been phenomenal and already in our third edition we have added more pages.
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with Yvonne Haughton
TALKING PROPERTY
Letter from the Editor – Moira Carmenate
with Richie Sparks
WHAT’S ON GUIDE READER’S CONTRIBUTION
24 - 25 27
with The Golf Doctor
MOTORING with Venture Car Fleet
Contact Us The Expat Centre, Calle de Villena 12 Dona Pepa, Ciudad Quesada, 03170 ALICANTE Tel. +34 865 668 596 Editor Moira@expatlifestyle.es Advertising Simon@expatlifestyle.es Design Simon@expatlifestyle.es Admin Tracy@expatlifestyle.es
30 Our Experts Food & Drink - Varkk Bar & Kitchen and Triple Brew Legal - Costasea Legal Advisors Home & Garden - elipacrafts Property - Sapphire Properties & OP Group Spain Health - Apple Hearing & Healthcare Wellbeing – The Elite Wellness Group Finance - Yvonne Haughton Financial adviser Motors - Venture Fleet
Expat Lifestyle Magazine is published by The Expat Centre. Whilst the publisher has taken all reasonable precautions and effort to ensure the accuracy of material contained in this magazine at the time of publishing, no responsibility or liability for any loss or damage will be assumed by The Expat Centre or its employees. All conditions, rates, specifications and policies are subject to change without notice. Expressed or implied authors’ and advertisers’ opinions are not necessarily those of the editor and/or publisher. All material produced and/or published by Expat Lifestyle Magazine in electronic, printed or other format is subject to copyright and may not be reproduced in whole or part without the express written permission of the publisher. The advertiser assumes all responsibility for attaining copyright permission for any material not produced by Expat Lifestyle Magazine.
TALKING WINE with Moira Carmenate
SPARKLING WINE - CAVA
By 1888, the Raventós family had refined their production using only grape varieties native to the Spanish region of Penedés in Catalonia.
Sparkling wine is the general term for what we refer to as “bubbly” or “fizz”. Be careful with Champagne however, as only sparkling wine produced in the French region of Champagne can carry this name.
This winery, today called Raventós y Blanc, and is still owned and operated by the Raventós family and continues to produce quality cava wines with geographical distinction.
As you raise a glass to toast a birthday, or to your Valentine this month, take a moment to appreciate the history and culture in your glass.
95% of all cava is produced in the Penedès region in Catalonia. The Cava production process is different from traditional still wine due to a second fermentation process in the bottle.
The history of sparkling wine goes back to the 15th century when the Benedictine monks of Saint-Hilaire in the Languedoc region of France created the first effervescent wine.
After primary fermentation in the tanks, the wine is bottled along with a small quantity of yeast and sugar.
In the 17th century, legend has it that a monk called Dom Pierre Perignon discovered the process of sparkling wines when he travelled to Saint-Hilaire Abbey whilst on his way to a pilgrimage at Santiago de Compostela in northern Spain.
It is then sealed and taken to the cellar (caves were used in early days, hence Cava meaning cave in Catalan) where the waiting process begins (a minimum of 9 months in the bottle).
He returned to Champagne and became responsible for the cellars in his abbey. His ongoing research was crucial to the perfection of the méthode champenoise process still used today.
Cava may be white or rosé. The Macabeo, Parellada and Xarel·lo are the most popular and traditional grape varieties for producing cava.
It’s ironic that this humble man has a namesake bottle – Dom Perignon “prestige cuvée” of Moet & Chandon, which is considered the ultimate in luxury when it comes to champagne.
Cava may also contain Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Subirat grapes.
The winery where it’s made is the former monastery where Dom Perignon spent most of his life researching and improving cellaring methods.
Like any other quality sparkling wine, cava is produced in varying levels of sweetness, ranging from the driest, brut nature, through brut, brut reserve, seco, semiseco, to dulce, the sweetest.
In 1872 Spanish winemaker Josep Raventós Fatjó traveled to France to learn their winemaking processes and returned to employ the same “Methode Traditionnelle” at the family winery to produce the first-ever Spanish sparkling wine.
The village of Sant Sadurní d’Anoia in Penedès is worth a visit to explore the Cava production houses. Freixenet and Codorníu are the main producers of Cava blanc or rosat, with the town of Aranda de Duero housing the sole Castilian producer.
Vineyards in France and Europe had been devastated by the phylloxera plague, a bug that attacked and wiped out the vines.
Local law dictates that Cava may only be produced in the eight wine regions that include Catalunya.
By the time this pestilent bug reached Spain they had more knowledge on how to deal with it.
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FOOD & DRINK with Rik Ellerby of Varkk Bar & Kitchen Welcome back to the Valentine's edition of the Expat Lifestyle Magazine. In this edition, we bring to you some Varkk News, a Valentine's dinner recipe and of course a cocktail recipe, simple and delicious to accompany your meal.
The Team at Varkk Bar & Kitchen have been working hard to produce delicious "one off" menus and unique offerings, both events have been received well by the local expat community and are almost completely booked out.
Love is in the air, hit the kitchen and the spirits cupboard and show your love in style!
This is fantastic in the current climate at this time of year and we thank everyone who has been so supportive to Varkk on our Journey so far.
You may wonder where did Valentine's Day originate? The first Valentine's Day was in the year 496! Having a particular Valentine's Day is a very old tradition, thought to have originated from a Roman festival. The Romans had a festival called Lupercalia in the middle of February - officially the start of their springtime.
On Valentine's Day Varkk will appear on Channel 4 on the new series of " a new life in the sun" for the first time. We are holding a premier screening at Varkk Bar & Kitchen on this day 14th February at 5pm in our bar and encourage people to come and watch this with us. We are both excited and nervous to see how we were filmed for the show, I personally hope they filmed me from good angles!
This time of year is always difficult for hospitality businesses, colder weather, lack of holiday makers and rain equates to low footfall, resulting in many businesses closing completely for several months.
We would love to see you at Varkk Bar & Kitchen, book a table for Brunch or Dinner on 965 32 11 99 or message us via. our Facebook page @ Varkk Bar & Kitchen - La Fuente - Villamartin.
At Varkk we decided to stay open throughout and show the love to our regular and new customers alike.
This week our Chef Jesús has prepared a recipe of Pork tenderloin, chestnut and shallots accompanied by a trio of sweet, spicy and salty mashes. Our mixologist has prepared a fruity strawberry daiquiri to pair with the meal.
We have two upcoming events, Chinese Lunar New Years Eve 5 course dinner on the 31st January and on the 14th February a 5 Course Valentine's dinner.
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Pork tenderloin, chestnut & shallots with a trio of mashes Created by Jesús Mellizo Hervás, Brunch Chef at Varkk Ingredients (for 2 people): 1 Pork tenderloin 8 Shallots Garlic (1 clove) 10 Chestnuts Black beer (330 ml) Worcester sauce (1 tbsp) Honey (1 tbsp) Brown sugar (15g) Nutmeg (1 pinch) Thyme (a pinch) Salt & black pepper Olive oil Methodology For the three types of purée, 2 potatoes, 1 sweet potato, tomato, butter, nutmeg, cinnamon, milk, white pepper, salt, Valentina sauce. We start by taking the tenderloin out of the fridge half an hour before cooking it so that it warms up a bit. Cut into medallions 1-1.5 cm thick, and remove any excess fat. Season with salt and pepper and cook over high heat on a griddle or non-stick frying pan, marking well on both sides, using a little oil. Remove and set aside. In the same pan, brown the onions, letting them crisp very slightly on the outside, without burning them. Add the peeled chestnuts and sauté for a couple of minutes.
Strawberry Daiquiri
Drizzle with beer, scraping bottom of pan to collect juices. When it starts to boil, lower the heat and add the honey, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce and a pinch of nutmeg.
Ingredients: 4 strawberries and 1 for garnish 60 ml white rum 15 ml simple syrup 15 ml lime juice ( about half a lime)
Cook for a few minutes, letting the sauce reduce and thicken a bit. Reincorporate the meat, mixing well with the sauce, cover and cook the whole for a few more minutes, until they are at their point to taste, about 8-10 minutes.
Methodology 1. Slice 4 fresh strawberries. Crush them in a cocktail shaker until the juice is realised. 2. Add the rum, the syrup and the freshly squeezed lime juice 3. Fill the shaker with ice and shake well 4. Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with a slice of strawberry
Serve with a little fresh thyme and an extra hit of pepper. For the mash we will make 3 different types, one salty, one sweet and one spicy. For the salty put the potato already cooked and crushed with salt, white pepper, nutmeg, butter and milk. for the sweet one, mash the sweet potato with cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, butter and milk and for the spicy one add tomato sauce and Valentina sauce to the mashed salted potato.
Serve and enjoy!
Serve and enjoy!
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FOOD & DRINK
with Triple Brew in Rojales Calle San Antonio, next to Sabadell Bank
WITH Dry January now over, Triple Brew are pleased to announce our regular Wine Workshops with David Fanailou are back in full swing for 2022. Every third Tuesday of the month, we match up FIVE different wines to delicious Tapas. Our workshop is both informative and fun, we take a casual approach to enjoying amazing wine and food. As well as being lovers of great wine, Tripe Brew also feature an onsite nano-brewery and have over 100 different beers available – which is a lot, so to help we are also holding educational Beer workshops where you can learn about the different styles that are available, and the proper way of tasting these. If you are interested in any of our Wine or Beer workshops, keep an eye on our Facebook page fur all the dates and to make a reservation. February of course brings us Valentine’s Day, and we are celebrating with a special SIX course menu, with optional wine pairing available for each of the courses. We are usually closed on Mondays however for such a special day we are opening for reservations only. We are also pleased to announce our new Retail Deli opening up – its located just 850m from our Bar in Rojales. You’ll find all of our wines and beers (100+) available for sale at special prices, along with the most amazing cheese that you won’t find in supermarkets! You’ll find Triple Brew Deli at C. Héroes de África, 3, Rojales. (Right by the Water Wheel!) Call now to reserve your table at Triple Brew+34 645 331857
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MOIRA’S KITCHEN with Moira Carmenate, Expat Lifestyle editor
SASSY SUPPERS FOR VALENTINE’S Welcome to Moira’s Kitchen. There is no doubt about it, I am in my “happy place” when I am pottering about in my kitchen. I realise, that not everyone feels the same and this month I have put a couple of my favourite quick dishes together that can be prepped in 10 minutes or less. Hope you enjoy and maybe find the kitchen becomes your “happy place” too.
Pork Cordon Bleu I’ve been making this dish for over 40 years and it’s still a favourite! INGREDIENTS 4 pork escalopes (you can use chicken fillets if you don’t eat pork) 2 slices Gouda or Emmental cheese 4 slices ham plain flour for coating breadcrumbs for coating 1 beaten egg oil & butter for frying piece of butter and juice of a lemon chopped parsley
Sticky Spicy Salmon
INSTRUCTIONS Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Bash the escalopes with rolling pin to flatten them even more Put the flour, egg and breadcrumbs in three separate bowls. Sandwich together the pork escalope, slice of ham, slice of cheese, slice of ham and then pork and try to keep them evenly sized. Coat each in the flour, then egg and finally breadcrumbs. Heat a little oil and butter in frying pan and lightly fry on each side until golden brown. Transfer to oven and cook for about 10 minutes until cooked through. Melt remaining piece of butter until foaming and squeeze in the juice of a lemon. Remove pork from oven, put on serving plate, top with chopped parsley and pour over the glistening, foaming lemon butter. Serve with your favourite veg.
Pork Cordon Bleu
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Sticky Spicy Salmon INGREDIENTS 1 teaspoon grated garlic 1/2 teaspoon dried or grated ginger 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 tablespoon soy sauce 2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce 1 teaspoon chili flakes Salmon fillets Salt and pepper to season 1/2 teaspoon paprika 1/4 cup chives chopped INSTRUCTIONS Make marinade by combining the garlic, ginger, olive oil, soy sauce, sweet chili sauce & red chili flakes. Season salmon with salt, pepper and paprika. Add salmon fillets to the marinade and evenly coat in the sauce. Cover with plastic wrap and let marinate in the refrigerator for 2 hours or overnight or for as much time as you have. (You can make double quantity of marinade and use it another day – maybe for chicken or cod) Preheat oven to 370°F (190°C). Heat an oven proof skillet over medium heat with a small drizzle of oil and sear salmon for 2-3 minutes on both sides. Transfer to baking dish & bake for 10-20 minutes, or until cooked to your liking.
Rich chocolate & caramel fudge cake INGREDIENTS 175g self-raising flour 2 tbsp good cocoa 1 tsp bicarb of soda 150g castor sugar (I used golden but white is ok too) 2 large eggs 150ml sunflower oil (don’t use olive oil as its too heavy) 150ml milk (full fat or semi skimmed) FOR THE CHOCOLATE ICING/GLAZE: 250g chocolate 100g butter
Add chopped chives and enjoy.
FOR THE FILLING: One tin of Dulce de leche INSTRUCTIONS Heat oven to 180C/160 fan/gas 4 Grease two 18cm sandwich tins (don’t use loose bottom or batter will escape) & line bottom of tins with baking paper. In a large bowl, sieve flour, cocoa, bicarb and then add castor sugar. Add beaten eggs, oil and milk and beat with whisk until you have smooth batter. Pour into your prepared tins and bake for25/30 mins depending on your oven (you will see its ready as it firms up if in doubt use a skewer to check centre is not still wet). Allow cakes to cool in tins before removing to a cooling rack. When cool – make the glaze by breaking chocolate and butter into a bowl and placing on a pan of simmering water – be careful not to let the bowl touch the water. Gently stir the melted chocolate and butter together, remove from heat and leave for a minute. Spread the dulce de leche on the cooled cake. Pour over the melted chocolate. I topped with crushed up chocolate flake.
Chocolate & Caramel Fudge Cake
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TALKING HEALTH with Apple Hearing & Healthcare
ENJOY HEARING AGAIN! MYTH: I can hear ok, it’s other people that mumble. FACT: Often it’s the start and the end of the words that you miss with a mild hearing impairment. This leads to a lack of clarity in speech.
Most people are burdened with misconceptions about their hearing and about what Hearing Aids can do to help. Myth or Fact? is our practical guide to help you separate the myths from the facts.
MYTH: Hearing Aids amplify all sounds, including background noise. FACT: With the advent of digital technology Hearing Aids can narrow the sound reception area, reducing interfering background noise and conversations from the sides and rear.
MYTH : Only a few people are truly hearing impaired and chances are, neither I, nor those close to me are affected. FACT: The odds are that you or someone close to you has some degree of hearing impairment. In fact, some 10 million people in the UK are estimated to suffer from some form of hearing impairment.
MYTH: Hearing Aids are large and unsightly. FACT: Most people aren’t aware of the latest technological advances that have been made to Hearing Aids. Many Hearing Aids are amazingly tiny and discreet. They’re so technologically advanced that they’ve made most oldfashioned Hearing Aids obsolete.
MYTH: If I had a hearing impairment, I would certainly know about it. FACT: Not necessarily. Often an impairment develops slowly and subtly. Our own built-in defences may make it difficult for us to determine whether we do or don’t. A simple hearing test would determine if an impairment exists.
Hopefully our myths and facts have given you a little better understanding of hearing and hearing aids.
MYTH: Hearing Aids will restore my hearing to normal. FACT: Hearing Aids are designed to aid a person’s hearing. Hearing Aids cannot restore human hearing nor can they alter the progression of nerve deafness. They are only part of hearing rehabilitation and may need to be supplemented by auditory training.
So, if you now feel you may need some help with your hearing or would like to chat about the latest hearing technology, contact us today on 965 020 813 to book your FREE, NO OBLIGATION hearing test, we're sure we can help you to enjoy your hearing again.
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&
WELLBEING By Moira Carmenate
Is Valentine’s Day too much pressure?
Love it or loathe it…you can’t get away from it. For couples, there is a pressure to be super- romantic on Valentine’s Day and for singles, there can be a pressure to hide under a blanket because you feel sorry for yourself as you are on your own. My husband is Cuban and for me Cuba has the right idea. February 14th in Cuba is the “día de los enamorados” or also the “día de la amistad”, so it's the day for loved ones and also the day of friendship. In other words, it’s for everyone you care for. If 14th February means you think about love in general, then surely that’s not a bad thing. So instead of following the commercialism surrounding this day, or worrying that you are on your own, why not embrace the feelings of love. Where could you direct those feelings of love? How about starting with yourself? Shift your focus to you, aiming to be happy with what you already have and investing some time in you. If you need to relax then take some time out to relax. That might mean watching TV in your pyjamas, pottering around the house and doing nothing. As long as this isn't an everyday thing, that's fine. Maybe you could take yourself off to the local spa and get a massage or just take yourself on a long walk along the beach or into the countryside. The key is to spend time doing an activity that you find relaxing, or just spending some time immersed in a good book.
Take the opportunity to reach out to someone you haven't spoken to in a while. Maybe a family member, a friend, or even a potential romantic interest. You never know who might also be feeling lonely on Valentine's Day. They may welcome the chance to catch up and connect. Do you know someone who has recently lost someone close to them? A small gift on Valentine's Day would mean a lot and would make you feel good as well. Even a small gift of homemade cookies or a little bunch of flowers or just taking the time to be with them can make all the difference in the world. When you positively direct your attention to others, you will feel better about you too. You will have renewed confidence, bravery and strength to move forward. You will then realise that when you stop depending on someone else to give you all the emotional benefits that come with love, you will create real change. As soon as you make that happen, you will truly love yourself. Visit our website www.theelitewellnessgroup.com for life-changing retreats in 2022
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HOME & GARDEN with Paul & Liz from elipacrafts St. Valentines Day is almost upon us a, but did you know that this celebration first started in Rome? The Feast of Saint Valentine was established by Pope Gelasius I in AD 496 to be celebrated in honour of Saint Valentine of Rome, who died on February 14, AD 269. The earliest surviving record of a Valentine’s Day card is known to be written by Charles the Duke of Orleans, to his wife. It was penned while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London, after being captured at the Battle of Agincourt, and contained a medieval French poem titled, “Farewell To Love”. By the 16th century, cards had become so common on Valentine’s Day that several religious leaders even preached against them.
So why not step back in history and make your valentines a hand made card this February. It’s not just your significant other who should get a special Valentine’s Day note on February 14. Valentine’s Day is for celebrating love of all kinds, and if you’re looking to share thoughtful messages with all your friends and family this year, then the best way to do so is with DIY Valentine’s Day cards. Homemade cards are sure to warm your recipient’s heart and bring a smile to their face. All you need is a card and envelope, a romantic picture, and a verse, If your card is for a secret crush then make sure you don’t sign your name if its your partner make a reference for a special day or time that is special to you both. Whilst pre bought cards are available in many outlets, elipacrafts is the largest supplier of card making supplies in the area will have eve.
Did you know - Marrying six women throughout his lifetime, there’s no denying Henry VIII was a BIG fan of women and probably a rather big romantic – but he is also responsible for when we celebrate the day. He declared by Royal Charter in 1537 that Valentine’s Day would be a public holiday and chose 14 February as the official day of celebration. In the 18th century, lovers would decorate paper with romantic symbols including flowers and love knots, often including puzzles and lines of poetry. Decorate your card with ribbon, ribbon is also a tradition of valentine’s day first starting in the medieval ages where damsels would give their champions a ribbon as pre-made cards were not yet available Initially these were handmade efforts.
Did You Know - Receive a Valentine today and it’s a sign that someone has a secret crush on you. Go back to the Middle Ages though and the situation is a little different. Back then, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who would be their valentine. The single women’s names would be added to an urn and single men of the town would take a name out and pin it to their sleeves for one whole week. This would allow everyone in the town to see who their valentine was and could be where the term “wearing your heart on your sleeve” originates. Everything you need to make those special one of a kind cards can be bought at elipacrafts. Along with handmade cards making your valentine’s day so special, you can also make a special valentines gift. Valentine's Day is the one day of the year where everyone — boyfriends, girlfriends, husbands, wives, parents, best friends, you name it — wants to express their love with grand gestures True love is priceless — and Valentine’s Day gifts are anything but, so heres a couple of ideas from Elipacrafts. A Painting If you’re an artist, give your greatest muse a creation just for them elipacrafts don’t just have canvas but a range of wood and other materials to paint on with our acrylic paints’ A Paper gift Make a paper box using 12x12 papers from elipacrafts and then make paper hearts and on each heart write the reason you love them, pop the hearts into the box and decorate with ribbon Keepsake Mache Box Fill a box with meaningful treasures to your relationship together. It could include photos, tickets, dried flowers, jewellery, and more. Did You Know - while Valentine’s Day is most commonly associated with lovers and couples, that doesn’t mean singletons can’t celebrate the occasion too! In fact, one country has gone as far as to transform the occasion into “Friend’s Day” instead! On February 14, Finland celebrates Ystavanpaiva which is translated as ‘Friends Day’. Forget the romantic undertones – gifts and cards are given and received but by friends rather than lovers. elipacrafts think it’s a great way to involve everyone. We have the Spanish explorers to thank for bringing chocolate back from the New World in the 17th century, chocolate, which was popularly known for its aphrodisiac effects, quickly became Europe’s choice Valentine’s Day candy. So elipacrafts wish a happy valentines day to couples friends and families with this message… “Love loves to love love” - James Joyce
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TALKING LEGAL
with Costasea Legal Advisers CONVEYANCING
• The new home is delivered late or with defects. During the 2005-2007 boom, many if not most developers were selling houses before they were built.
Are you interested in buying or selling your house in Spain and want to be calm throughout the legal process? With high demand for property, combined with property prices on the increase in Costa Blanca, it’s even more important you chose the correct lawyers to look after your interests when buying your dream home.
After the closing, it was all too common that the property was completed long after the agreedupon time period.
DO NOT LEAVE THE PURCHASE OF YOUR HOME IN THE HANDS OF INEXPERIENCED ADVISORS
Some of the pitfalls include: • The property is not registered, most likely because it was illegally built. Many unregistered properties are being sold to foreigners. If you find a bargain, chances are it’s not registered.
Costasea Legal Advisers offer you the best team of English-speaking specialists who can legally deal with all the procedures relating to the purchase or sale of your home in Spain.
• The property was sold to more than one buyer. Yes, this happens. Either the buyer has intention to defraud, or they received a better offer they felt unable to refuse.
Contact us now.
Your trusted legal service Costasea Legal Advisers is an English-speaking law firm with extensive experience in various fields of law, with professionals with more than 17 years of experience. We are specialized in defending the interests of foreign citizens residing in Spain, as well as those who simply have a property in Spain and spend different seasons in our country.
C/ La Purisma, 22 03158 Catral +34 966 843 946 info@costasea.com www.costasea.com
The Expat Centre - Calle de Villena 12 03170 Ciudad Quesada +34 865 668 596 info@theexpatcentre.com Pork Cordon Bleu www.theexpatcentre.com Pork Cordon Bleu
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TALKING FINANCE We all lead busy lives, and sometimes it is hard to choose the most suitable offer for you with everything that's out there. You compare different brands, features, prices, recommendations, and reviews when buying a new TV. You look for personalised care, empathy, and professionalism when choosing a doctor. The same goes for so many different aspects of life.
with Yvonne Haughton
Choosing the right bank for YOU
And when it comes to your bank account and banking services, you may compare prices, services offered, and their locations. Our finances are the most crucial part of our lives after our health. For this reason, it is essential to select the right partner to be on your side, who will ensure that you are planning correctly through all of your lifecycle stages. You could compare banks' commissions on specific accounts. You could compare the interest rate on mortgages to get the best deal. But at the end of the day, the most essential factor is exemplary service. Speaking with your bank advisor without delay, not having to queue forever, or dealing with changing branches are all important factors to consider. One way of ensuring your bank advisor is qualified to give you impartial financial advice is to ask for their diploma as a European Financial Advisor. What is a European Financial Advisor? Before 2018, banks could use financial advisors, internal and external, without specific qualifications. After the MIFID II came into force, financial advisors had to undergo a certification process to ensure impartial and qualified advisory. A further change was that investment fund companies could not offer higher commissions to banks for providing their product. This guideline ensures that a recommendation is based on honest financial analyses. Which bank has the most financial advisors? The website FundsPeople gives an insight into how many financial advisors Spanish banks have. The ranking shows: 1. Banco Mediolanum: continues to hold first place in the ranking as the only bank whose commercial channel is exclusively agency banking, with 1,521 agents. Mediolanum is, together with certain insurance companies, the bank that is making the best use of the closure of more than 2,000 branches in 2021 and the EREs, as its remuneration model and universal banking profile suits them better, compared to other agency models more oriented towards private banking, according to Intelect Search. At present, their volume exceeds 8,500 million euros, which means an average of 5.6 million per agent, they add. 2. Banco Santander: is in second place in the ranking, growing by 20% compared to the previous year, following a significant commitment to the agency model and creating a national structure. 3. BBVA: remains in third place but has reduced its agency network by 200% in the last year. Don't spend your valuable time comparing an endless list of banks. Choose a bank that will provide you with all the services you need right now through a financial expert that is fully qualified to give you the best and, above all, impartial financial advice that you need. Make an appointment today to receive the personalised care and attention you deserve. Your friendly Family Banker is ready and eager to start an exciting journey through your financial lifecycle stages with you.
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Resident & non-resident taxes in Spain Savings, investments & pension advice Spanish wills & probate Inheritance Tax Legal advice Professional boardroom setting Home-made snacks & refreshments
Call +34 865 668 596 or email Tracy@TheExpatCentre.com to reserve your place (booking essential) www.theexpatcentre.com 19
TALKING PROPERTY with Stuart Markham – OP Group How to make money from Spanish property. Investing in Spanish property and building up a property portfolio is far different than in the UK. Back home, we would choose an either an easy-to-manage local area or a city such as London that is always in demand, with increasing rents, good rental yields and growth potential. In Spain you can also invest in the high demand cities such as Madrid or Barcelona where prices are high and demand for rental is strong from families needing a place to live. However, times are changing quickly due to the pandemic as many workers don’t need to commute to work each day now, they can work from home which could be far away, possibly nearer the sea and beaches of the Costa Blanca? Over the last year demand from the British for property in this area has stayed steady but increased from most Western European countries. In addition, Spaniards from Madrid and Alicante city have been looking to work from home but wish to live in a nicer environment. If you are looking to invest, now is the time to take advantage of the market conditions. In fact, now is the best time we have seen
Ref: OPLF021
DETACHED VILLA 3 BED 2 BATH
Property prices are still 40% down on average of their 2007 peak and demand is high for both purchasing and renting. Buying a property is like any other investment, its all about timing. How to choose the right property. Always look at an easy exit strategy to liquidize your asset in unforeseen circumstances, so choose an area that is in demand (cities, near to the beach or on a golf course) and meets the most common search criteria (good outside space). If you are looking for a single buy2let or wanting to start or build up your existing property portfolio, contact me on stuart.markham@opgroupspain.com to discuss how we can help.
Ref: LF32LT
LA FINCA GOLF MODERN VILLA €269,950 3 BED 2 BATH Ref: OPGA049
LARGE APARTMENT 3 BED 2 BATH
in years as interest rates are so low for mortgages: you can borrow at a 2% rate and achieve 5% on the rental yield.
LA FINCA GOLF €325,000
Ref: OPGA048
GUARDAMAR 1ST FLOOR APT €116,000 3 BED 1 BATH
GRAN ALACANT €109,500
SAPPHIRE PROPERTIES Tel. 965 725 478 | Mob. 600 362 843 E. info@sapphireproperties.co.uk www.sapphireproperties.co.uk
TORREVIEJA
€90,000
CIUDAD QUESADA
SR1167 SAPP1809
SR1236 Two bedroom,one bathroom apartment overlooking communal pool
DAYA VIEJA
Stunning brand new villas with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and private pool with sea views
€84,999
CIUDAD QUESADA
€84,999
SR1167 SR1238
SR1189 Beautiful South facing 2 bed apartment with countryside views and communal pool
CIUDAD QUESADA
€309,000
Two bedroom, one bathroom apartment with nice views and lovely communal pool
€215,000
ROJALES
€230,000
SR1239
5083V Detached villa with two bedrooms, two bathrooms and private pool
Three bedroom detached bungalow with double garage and communal pool
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CLASSIC FILM REVIEW with Simon Wade
Did YOU buy YOUR Porsche yet? Lost In Translation (Sofia Coppola, 2003) A definite “sleeper”, this one. First reaction regarding this one-of-a-kind gem was largely negative, referring to minimalist pace and dialogue. Nineteen years ago, I might have agreed. Now, as a middle-aged man, my opinion is quite the opposite. Written and directed by a fiercely-independent Sofia Coppola (who ignored her father’s advice to use video and not film, thankfully), this is a beautifully-shot yarn about two lost souls (Bob and Charlotte) that find themselves lost in Tokyo. They meet, they sing, there’s a forbidden love, there’s betrayal (in many ways), there’s humour, pathos, and a great soundtrack. But poignantly, there’s no sex. The only physical contact is a tap on the toe and the climactic embrace. For this is the truest case of “less is more”. Bob's part was written specifically for Bill Murray who returned the compliment with a superb ‘minimalist’ performance, full of perfectly-timed oral and physical execution. A wise Scarlett Johansson brings a maturity to her character that belied her youth. She was only 18 at the time of filming, playing a twenty-something graduate with too much time on her hands, thanks to a vain workobsessed husband (Giovanni Ribisi). Many exterior shots were filmed hand-held and Guerilla-style, meaning an absence of extras and no permission from the authorities to film on Tokyo streets and subways. This was done to save time and money, but also offered a wonderfully realistic snap-shot of a colourful crazy city. Coppola was also very adept at mise-en-scene, setting the scene. Juxtaposition and edits are inspired, and just look at the alignment of Bob and Charlotte at the top of this page, with the distant red lights forming a subtle connection between them. Long-lasting thoughts about Bob & Charlotte? There are plenty. "What could've been?" is one, "Lost opportunities" is another. What about, "Be careful what you wish for"?
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ENTERTAINMENT Richie Sparks, Manager at BIG Radio Spain
My Top Ten Ballads 1.
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Christina Perri – A Thousand Years Written for The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1, and released in 2011. This tops my list and is dedicated to my beautiful wife Rachael. It was our first song at our wedding on St. Valentine’s Day 2019. Saving All My Love For You – Whitney Houston A UK number one smash in 1985, the song had been around in various carnations for some seven years. This song paved the way for dozens more hits until her tragic passing in 2012. Perfect – Ed Sheeran Written about his wife-to be Cherry Seaborn, whom he’d met in New York after going to school together years previously. When this came out in 2017, Sheeran enjoyed the distinction of having NINE UK Top 10 singles in the same week. Let’s Stay Together – Al Green Covered by many others, Green’s original articulates the solemn vows of marriage: “Whether times are good or bad, happy or sad.” Love it! God Only Knows – The Beach Boys Phil Spector inspired Brian Wilson to write and produce perfect pop during the sixties. With Pet Sounds and this classic ballad from it, he got pretty close!
6.
Every Breath You Take – The Police Two Grammy’s and a 1983 Ivor Novello for Sting, he wrote this as his marriage to Trudie Styler was collapsing. Written at Ian Fleming’s ‘Goldeneye’ estate in Jamaica, an elder Gordon Sumner later admitted in an interview that he, “Didn't realise at the time how sinister it is 7. Easy On Me – Adele Less of a ballad, more a love song to her son. Written by way of an apology and asking for forgiveness after involving him in her divorce and other aspects of celebrity life. First single from “30” and instant smash. 8. Sand In My Shoes – Dido Written entirely on a plane whilst she rushing back to the UK after a holiday romance in 2003, Dido actually sat in her seat with the sand from the beach in her shoes. 9. Can You Feel The Love Tonight – Elton John From Disney’s Lion Kind in 1994 and co-written by Tim Rice, this earned Elton a Grammy for best Male Pop Vocal Performance. 10. Home – Michael Buble Another travelling song, focused on the Canadian singer’s desire to be with his lover. Angst and desperation were written into the tune, a regular in his shows since 2005.
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WHAT’S ON GUIDE FEBRUARY Thursday 3 CAMPOAMAR, The Stray Sod, 10pm – Alex Tipping
Thursday 10 EL CHAPARRAL, Washington Square - BELLA LUNA
Friday 4 ALHAMA DE MURCIA, The Clover, 8.30pm – The Project Duo VILLAMARTIN, Chemies Lounge, 8.30pm – Chloe Jones & Alex Tipping TORREVIEJA, La Zupperia de Johnny, 7pm – Dinner, Dessert & Drag Show
Friday 11 CABO ROIG, Smiðjan – SkyBar, 7.30pm – Back To The 80s re-opening party. Prizes for best costume. BENIJOFAR, La Cosecha, 7pm – Debbie H, vocalist ALHAMA DE MURCIA, The Clover, 8.30pm – Bee Rumble Sunday 13 LA FLORIDA, The Emerald Isle, 1.30pm – Alex Tipping CAMPOAMAR, Champagne Bar, 5pm – Bee Rumble
Saturday 5 LA FINCA GOLF, Corner Flag, 8.30pm – Bee Rumble, singer LOS ALCAZARES, La Zona, 1pm – Debbie H, vocalist
Monday 14 FORMENTERA, The Tipsy Tortoise, 7pm – Alternative Valentine’s Night of Fun & Games QUESADA, Chiefs On Broadway, 6pm – Rob Roberts Cabaret with Special Valentine Menu. Contact venue direct. PILAR DE LA HORADADA, Portobello Bar, 8.30pm – Bee Rumble, singer BENIJOFAR, La Cosecha, 7pm – Debbie H, vocalist LA FINCA, The Bistro, 7pm – Melissa Jade, The Queen of Sass ROJALES, Casa Conteta, Dinner & Dance extravaganza
Sunday 6 GRAN ALACANT, The Pub, 6pm – The Project Duo Monday 7 BENIJOFAR, La Cosecha, 7pm – Debbie H, vocalist Tuesday 8 LA FLORIDA, Emerald Isle, 1.30pm – The Project Duo Wednesday 9 BENIJOFAR, La Cosecha, 7pm – Debbie H, vocalist FORMENTERA, The Tipsy Tortoise, 8pm – Charity Fun Quiz
Tuesday 15 LA FLORIDA, Emerald Isle, 1.30pm – The Project Duo
Delvis Ramos y su Chocolate Son Traditional Cuban, Latin, Caribbean & Salsa Music
+34 699 016 984 delvisdenis@gmail.com or search Facebook for Delvis Ramos 24
Wednesday 16 BENIJOFAR, La Cosecha, 7pm – Debbie H, vocalist FORMENTERA, The Tipsy Tortoise, 8pm – Charity Fun Quiz Friday 18 TORREVIEJA, Harry’s Lounge, 7pm – Country Music, Conchita Saturday 19 TORREVIEJA, Mi Sol Bar, 9pm – Nikki Nock entertains Sunday 20 FORMENTERA, Rumours, 7pm – Karaoke with Nikki Nock
ROB ROBERTS CABARET
Monday 21 BENIJOFAR, La Cosecha, 7pm – Debbie H, vocalist TORREVIEJA, St James Gate, 3pm – Nikki Nock entertains
RAIN O’CONNOR (No Fences)
Tuesday 22 LA FLORIDA, Emerald Isle, 1.30pm – The Project Duo Wednesday 23 BENIJOFAR, La Cosecha, 7pm – Debbie H, vocalist FORMENTERA, The Tipsy Tortoise, 8pm – Charity Fun Quiz Saturday 26 QUESADA, Chiefs on Broadway – No Fences (Celtic & Country Duo) Sunday 27 LO CRISPIN, La Hacienda, 5pm – Debbie H, vocalist.
NIKKI NOCK
PROJECT DUO: Jude and Debbie Hutchinson
ALEX TIPPING
BEE RUMBLE
MELISSA JADE
Please contact The Expat Centre if you have an event to publicise in March Special rates for businesses that want to advertise in this section
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Do you enjoy a traditional quiz? Every week pictures, trivia, words and music. No gimmicks. No bingo. Just a fun quiz that tests your grey cells. Mondays - The Pines, Benijofar. Starts 3.30pm Tuesdays - Chiefs on Broadway, Quesada. Starts 7pm Wednesdays - Bar Alma in Dona Pepa, Quesada. Starts 2pm Thursdays – Micky’s Inn, Vista Bella Golf, Entre Naranjos. Starts 8pm
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Mondays, Tuesday and Wednesdays there is a full menu available also. Please contact the venue direct to book a table or if you have any query please contact Quizmaster Mike foreverinmusic@aol.com
READER’S CONTRIBUTION NEW RULES When I started playing golf, many years ago, we would complete 18 holes in just over 3 hours. I played recently and our game took over 5 hours. In a rule change at the beginning of 2019, the Royal & Ancient introduced ‘Ready Golf’ which means simply, if you are ready to play … you play! Now you don’t need to wait for the players who is furthest from the hole. Slow play is the scourge of the modern game, so let’s try and do our little bit in this beautiful part of the world to encourage faster play. Let’s play Ready Golf. Another main talking point at the 19th is the interpretation of the most basic rules of golf. Some of the other changes to rules in 2019 also related to speeding up the game for everyone. Balls Lost or Out Of Bounds Players are now allowed to drop a ball in the vicinity of where it was lost or Out of Bounds under a penalty of two shots. Or you can, of course, play your next shot from the same location as your errant shot. Another area that causes golfers a lot of confusion is having a ball end up in the drink. If the stakes are yellow, this is known as a Water Hazard and you have two options. You can go back to the spot where you played your original shot and drop one from there. Or, you can drop a ball behind the water hazard keeping the point of entry between where you drop, and the pin. If stakes are red, this is known as a Lateral Hazard. You have the same choices as before, plus an additional option to drop a ball within two club lengths of where the original ball entered the water, but no closer to the hole. One shot must be added to your score. In either situation, should you locate your ball – you have the choice of playing the ball as it lies … but don’t forget your swimsuit and snorkel! Joking aside, we MUST try and speed up our game for the enjoyment of everyone. In the March issue of Expat Lifestyle, I’ll to help you sink more putts.
The Golf Doctor
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Calle San Jaime 5, 03178 Benijófar
Tel. 966 712 382 Mon-Fri 8.30am – 2pm | Sat 10am – 1pm If you've just moved to Spain, or have been here a while, you'll soon come to know the inefficiencies of the national postal system. Here at The Post Room in Benijofar, everything is sent through Royal Mail without any involvement with the Spanish postal system in any way.
We also offer a choice of hassle-free private mailbox services. You can pay a one-off annual fee or for 6 months to receive letters and parcels without extra charge. Or, pay a lower fee for our virtual Mailbox service where you then simply pay a handling fee per item received. Phone us on 966 712 382 or call in to arrange your mailbox today. We have flight booking packages that include booking the actual flight, booking a Day 2 test if flying to the UK, and also completing & printing your Passenger Location Form. When returning, we can also do your return to Spain Passenger Locator Form.
A separate service is available to print off your proof-of-vaccine certificate from the government website and convert it to laminated credit card size. This can also include photo ID. We are agents for DHL and carry out British Passport renewals as well as first and lost applications. Irish Passport renewals can also be done. Pop in for our Photograph Printing service for NIE, TIE,DNI, Spanish ID See you soon, Bonnie Burford Owner – The Post Room, Benijofar
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The POST ROOM Benijofar
MOTORING with Venture Fleet
Mileage predicament of buying secondhand cars Buying your next new-to-you car can be exciting and something to look forward to. You are comparing prices, test-driving, falling in love with simply the right set of wheels for you!
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Check out the foot-pedal rubbers. Do they look excessively worn?
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Does the driver's seatbelt look discoloured, frayed and worn? Do they retract correctly?
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How does the gear knob look? Is it scratched, lost its colour, looks overly used?
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Are all four tyres on the car matching? If the pair on the front is different from the pair at the back, it is a sign that the tyres have already had a good old run and needed changing. Does this match the mileage?
5.
Are the indicator bulbs still firm in colour? After a time, the bulbs start cracking, and the indicators flash more white than yellow.
If any doubt lingers, ask to see the last or last two ITV (MOT) certificates. The technicians at the station always track them. At Venture Fleet or other car repair garages, the auto-technician can also enter the internal system with the diagnostic machine and verify the mileage.
But have you ever wondered if the mileage you see on the dashboard reflects its overall usage?
You can look out for some simple signs that will give you a clue whether your new beloved item in your garage is telling the truth.
Now, after checking the TLC given to your next love in the garage, it is time to think about a present for your carloving significant other.
Five things to look out for on your new second-hand car
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Your one stop shop for trusted advice The Expat Centre helps Expats, whether they are currently in Spain or thinking of moving to Spain. Our services include absolutely everything you need, in one location, such as help with residency, NIE’s, health insurance and health care, padrons, motoring, insurances, financial planning, funeral planning, tax, wills, currency exchange, car hire, property finding, property management and so much more. We regularly host free informative talks in our conference room at The Expat Centre. These talks give you an opportunity to ask our resident experts questions regarding taxes, wills and probate, financial planning and getting the best return on your investments. Our clients have found the talks very helpful especially as it has enabled them to freely ask questions and get answers to the many questions they have relating to their new life in Spain.
Call with any enquiries or register for our talks by calling +34 865 668 596 or emailing info@theexpatcentre.com www.theexpatcentre.com
motor insurance | car transfers driving licence advice | car leasing
The Expat Centre, Calle Villena 12, Dona Pepa, Ciudad Quesada, 03170 ALICANTE Tel. +34 865 668 596 | email. info@TheExpatCentre.com | www.TheExpatCentre.com 31