EXPAT Lifestyle MAGAZINE
March 2022
Issue 4
Spring forward! TALKING WINE
3
with Moira Carmenate
FOOD & DRINK
4
with Rik Ellerby
Letter from the Editor – Moira Carmenate Hi Everyone, Welcome to our March edition.
MOIRA’S KITCHEN
6-7
with Moira Carmenate
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TALKING HEALTH
We are so excited about how well the magazine is being received and it is flying off the shelves. Thank you for your support.
& WELLBEING
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with The Elite Wellness Group
TALKING LEGAL
12
with Costasea Legal Services
PLANNING AHEAD
13
with Funeral Plans Europe
GUARDAMAR FEATURE
16 - 17
TALKING FINANCE
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with Yvonne Haughton
TALKING PROPERTY With John Clark
20 - 21 22
CLASSIC FILM REVIEW with Simon Wade
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ENTERTAINMENT with Caz Miller of BIG FM
WHAT’S ON GUIDE
24 - 25
READER’S CONTRIBUTION
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March is the first month of spring and nights will start getting lighter as the season progresses and that makes most of us feel better. Spring also signifies rejuvenation and regrowth so grab it with both hands and make the most of everything that life has to offer. Party time lies ahead for our Irish amigos as 17th March is St Patrick’s Day. It seems fitting that Moira’s Kitchen should feature Irish recipes this month, something close to my heart, as my grandmother was Irish and I grew up with hearty Irish dishes. Mind you there wasn’t a lot of money around when I was little, so potatoes were a key part of every meal. Believe it or not I still love them, especially Irish champ which had to be included. We have our first reader recipe contribution; a traditional Irish soda bread, so give it a try. We welcome recipe contributions so feel free to submit yours and become part of Moira’s Kitchen Community. This month, it’s also Mother’s Day for UK Mums as well as International Women’s Day. So, ladies, my wellbeing section is for you. Too often we ladies put ourselves down and are overly selfcritical to a point for some of self-sabotage which can in turn make us ill. Remember Spring is about regrowth so let’s put the past behind us and make a pact to positively live for the moment. Just because there’s two significant days for the ladies this month, we are not forgetting you guys. Living for today is for everyone. As the Irish blessing says:
May you live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live.
with The Golf Doctor
MOTORING with Venture Car Fleet
Our Experts Food & Drink - Varkk Bar & Kitchen Legal - Costasea Legal Advisors Property - Sapphire Properties & OP Group Spain Health - Apple Hearing & Healthcare Wellbeing – The Elite Wellness Group Finance - Yvonne Haughton Financial adviser Motors - Venture Fleet
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Love
Moira 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 Zac@expatlifestyle.es Design Simon@expatlifestyle.es Admin Tracy@expatlifestyle.es
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
SHERRY – the versatile wine with a big personality Do you remember the days when a glass of Harvey’s Bristol Cream was granny’s Christmas tipple…followed by the family’s words” oh no, granny’s been on the sherry”!
Grown elsewhere, the Palomino is an undistinguished grape and is prone to oxidation (darkening and spoiling), but due to the magic combination of soil and the prevailing humidity, which allows the growth of the protective flor yeast, Sherry acquires its exceptional dryness and earthy aroma.
How things have changed. Granny is probably sipping a mojito or a cosmopolitan and sherry has become a trendy drink.
Jerez is the centre of the province's sherry dynasties, such as Domecq and Gonzalez Byass. It is a legacy that dates back some 250 years to when Scottish and Irish entrepreneurs, decided to set themselves up in the wine trade. Soon after, several French families established wine businesses in the area.
The production and evolution of the product we know today as Sherry goes back thousands of years. Different civilizations over the years each contributed their own touches to the production methods which have evolved over the centuries into this incredibly versatile wine. The city of Jerez de la Frontera, Jerez in short, (in English Jerez = Sherry) is in the region of Andalucía and lies about nine miles inland from the sea between Cadiz and Sevilla. Jerez is the principal of three sherry towns.
Although no-one can contest the foreign origins of most sherry families, over the years they have developed into a truly Spanish (though Anglophile) aristocracy. Today large multinational companies also exercise some control over the leading Jerez bodegas.
The others on the coast are San Lucar de Barrameda at the mouth of the ríver Guadalquivir and Puerto de Santa Maria. Between them they produce virtually all the genuine sherry that is shipped to the rest of the world.
It is well worth taking a visit to one of Jerez's many sherry 'bodegas'. By far the most popular sherry here in Spain is the dry, pale straw-coloured fino, which is drunk chilled, and diluted with lemonade to make 'rebujito' at ferias.
There is not much difference between the wines of Jerez and Puerto de Santa Maria, except that the latter are noted for their fino and amontillado types of sherry. Sanlucar, however, produces quite different wines - all the manzanilla is made there wíth its distinctive fresh flavour that cannot be reproduced anywhere else.
Foreign tastes tend more towards the cream, such as Harvey's Bristol Cream, which is a blend of oloroso and dried Ximenez grapes Like Port, Sherry is a "fortified" wine, meaning that extra alcohol is added to bring its alcohol content up to around 16 percent volume. So beware, now you know why Granny was singing in the kitchen at Christmas.
There are more than 10,000 hectares (25,000 acres) of vineyards in the Jerez region, where the predominant grape is the Palomino.
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FOOD & DRINK with Rik Ellerby of Varkk Bar & Kitchen With 1000 years of experience in gin distillation, Spain is the perfect place to offer sustainable, locally-sourced premium quality gins. In the 711AD, the Moors invaded Spain from north Africa. With them they brought wondrous new technologies, one of which was the copper still which was called the ‘alambique’. The Moors only used their stills for creating medicines and perfumes, as their religious beliefs forbade them from drinking alcohol. However, with the passing of time, people realised that stronger alcohols could be created via the distillation process.
The copper alambique Ingredients such as sugarcane made it to the Iberian peninsular which helped in the development or more complex flavours.
With an abundance of fruits, nuts, berries and other botanicals available naturally the people started to create new flavours and tastes.
Recipes were often passed down through families over the generations and it was not uncommon to find a small still in the home. It wasn’t until 1794 that the first commercial gin distillery opened in Spain.
As time went by, new crops and ingredients began to make their appearance in Spain, particularly after the discovery of the Americas by Columbus.
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MOIRA’S KITCHEN with Moira Carmenate, Expat Lifestyle editor As you know, St Patrick’s Day is a key date for many people this month and I felt it would be a good idea to focus on some gorgeous, simple and heartwarming Irish dishes. Irish recipes have a special place in my heart as my grandmother was born in Ireland and Irish Champ was a staple in our house.
COLCANNON SOUP This simple soup is easy to make. There aren’t any overpowering ingredients that cover up the simple beauty of potatoes, onions, cabbage, leeks and butter. Ingredients • ¼ block of salted butter • 1 large onion, peeled & diced • 1/2 chopped cabbage • 2 leeks chopped • 4 medium potatoes peeled & chopped • 1 pint vegetable stock • 1 1/2 cups whole milk • salt & pepper to taste • Chopped grilled bacon to garnish (optional) Method • Add butter, leeks and onions to your pan. Cook over medium heat until soft. • Add in the cabbage and cook until wilted. • Add potatoes, stock and black pepper. Simmer for 20 minutes. • Add milk & blend with hand blender. You can add in a dash of cream if you fancy. • Simmer for 5 minutes and add to your serving bowl and garnish with bacon and cracked black pepper.
This month we are delighted to have one of our lovely readers submit her recipe for Irish Soda Bread. We are so grateful to Pam Twissell-Cross MBE, District Community Support Coordinator at the Royal British Legion.
SODA BREAD Ingredients • • • • •
340 grams of strong white flour 1 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda ¾ of a teaspoon of salt or to taste 43 grams of soft butter 333 ml of butter milk (normal milk with a squeeze of lemon is fine) Pre-heat oven to gas mark 6-7 (about 200 ‘C electric)
Method •
Put the salt in first and then add the flour. You can get strong white flour from English or Spanish supermarkets The add the butter which is warm (not runny to the flour) Add the butter milk or milk and lemon to the ingredients Knead by hand until the dough is smooth and is and hangs together or use a kitchen maid or other brand with a dough hook and process until the dough is smooth a hanging off the dough hook Put onto a greased or lined baking tray large enough for a round domed amount of dough Flour the top and score line across and top to bottom of the loaf Put in the oven for 30 to 40 minutes The loaf will rise and spread and should be lightly coloured. If you tap the bottom and it sounds hollow it is done (If it looks done but the bottom does not sound hollow put the loaf upside down for 5 minutes and tap again.) Put on to a rack to cool down and serve with a sweet or savoury topping.
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MOIRA’S KITCHEN – COMMUNITY SHARING – where you can become part of Moira’s Kitchen Community….submit your recipes to moira@expatlifestyle.es
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BEEF & GUINNESS PIE Ingredients • • • • • • • • •
2 lb of diced beef 3 tbs flour 1 red onion, peeled and diced 3 tbs salted butter 2 cups of diced carrots 1 tsp light brown sugar 1 bottle of Guinness or stout 1 egg, beaten 1 Pack of puff pastry
Method • • • • • • • •
Lightly spray your cooking pan with oil and brown the diced beef and sprinkle with flour. Cook beef until browned on all sides. Set beef aside. In same pan add the butter & onions. Cook until soft for about 5 minutes. Add beef back into the pan with the onions, carrots, brown sugar, and Guinness Stout. Simmer on low-medium, covered for two hours. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Roll the puff pastry on a lightly floured surface. Spoon your cooked and cooled beef into your pie dish. Place pastry on top of filling and crimp the edges with a fork to seal. Brush beaten egg on top and make a hole in middle to let steam out. Bake at 200 degrees for 25-35 minutes until the pastry is puffed and golden brown and serve with Irish Champ
IRISH CHAMP Similar to colcannon. Basically, both are mashed potatoes and whilst colcannon has cabbage, champ has spring onions. Make your mash. Chop your spring onions. Melt ¼ block of butter in a small pan. Add spring onions and soften for a couple of minutes. Add the buttery spring onions into your mash and enjoy.
BAILEYS OREO CHEESECAKE Ingredients • • • • • •
250 g Oreo biscuits crushed 100 g salted butter melted 600 g cream cheese 40 ml Baileys Irish Cream 100 g icing sugar 300 ml double cream
Method • •
•
• •
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Grease and base line 8” spring or loose bottom cake tin Melt the butter in a pan and add the crushed biscuits. Mix well until they’ve absorbed all the butter. Remove from the heat and press into the bottom of the cake tin. Place in the fridge for 1 hour. Lightly whip the cream and set aside. Beat the cream cheese and add in the Baileys and icing sugar. Fold in the whipped cream Spoon onto the biscuit base. Put in the fridge for another couple of hours although better overnight. Once set, decorate with grated chocolate
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How To Make Flowers Last Longer By Yaraslava Garmashevska Flowers are a common gift for any of life’s special occasions and even the moments in between. A bouquet of bright blooms can bring cheer to any space and leave a lasting impression, even after they’re gone. For that reason alone, you’ll want to enjoy them for as long as possible. The sad truth is that flower bouquets don’t last forever. On the bright side, there are guidelines and little known tips you can use to ensure the longevity of your flowers. Buy from a professional florist. Malva Flowers proceed from the most famous plantations of Ecuador, Kenya, Colombia, Holland, Italy and Spain. They are of the best quality and conserved in specialized fridges. Cutting the Stems Use a sharp knife to trim one to two inches off and cut them at an angle. This allows for better water intake since they aren’t sitting flat on the bottom of the vase. Be sure to re-trim your bouquet once every few days when you change the water. Prune Remove any leaves below the water line. It will not only make your bouquet look better, but also prevent bacterial growth. Malva Flowers are already pruned and professionally prepared. Check your flowers daily for dead or loose leaves and petals.
Water Wisely Your flowers won’t last long without water, especially once their stems have been cut. Fill your clean vase with room temperature water and add in the packet of flower food, which we provide. Clean your vase and change the water and flower food whenever you see that the water isn't crystal clear anymore. Avoid Direct Sunlight, Heat, Drafts and Fruit Your flowers will last longer in a room with cool temperatures. Avoid displaying them in direct sunlight or near appliances that generate heat. Avoid areas like open windows, heating or cooling vents and ceiling fans as they can cause the flowers to quickly dehydrate. Also, don’t display your bouquet near fruit. Ripening fruits release tiny amounts of ethylene gas which can reduce the longevity of your flowers. There are a lot of popular household remedies like aspirin, bleach, coins, soda and even vodka to keep your flowers fresh longer. What does the professional florist choose? The answer is; a professional flower nourishment, also called "magic powder". Malva Flowers will always offer you the best choice of flowers and potting plants. Mention Expat Lifestyle for a 10% discount. See you soon!
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TALKING HEALTH SALT IS A KILLER While people do need some sodium – less than 500 milligrams a day – to maintain the body's functions, most people consume far too much of it.
But why do I have high blood pressure when I don’t add salt to my food? Most salt you consume doesn’t come from your saltshaker. Surprisingly, salt is hidden in many things that don’t even taste salty.
So where is this salt killer hiding? A 1/2-cup (127-gram) serving of baked beans in sauce contains 524mg of sodium, over a third of the daily recommended intake.
American Heart Association News stated that reducing sodium intake by any amount can lower blood pressure over the long term – and may benefit everyone, including people with normal blood pressure, new research shows.
Also: • Cold meats and chorizo • Pickles and Sauces • Hot dogs • Tomato sauce • Bagels and other breads • Canned meats, poultry and seafood • Frozen meals • Sausages
Too much sodium in your system promotes water retention in the bloodstream. Over time, the extra volume of sodium can stress and stiffen blood vessels, making the heart work harder to maintain blood flow. The whole process can lead to an increased risk of heart attack or stroke. The ideal daily sodium limit to maintain healthy blood pressure and thus lower the risk for cardiovascular diseases, has been debated for years.
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Canned Soups Ham Instant puddings Cottage cheese Vegetable juice Salad dressings Sandwiches Canned vegetables Processed cheese Bacon Tortillas
Looks like a healthy lunch, but is it a killer? THE BOTTOM LINE
Tips For Reducing Blood Pressure
To cut back on sodium, it’s best to minimize processed, packaged, and restaurant foods, as they sneak in a lot of sodium you may not suspect.
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Processed meats and convenience foods (such as ham, cold meats, hot dogs and sausage( are especially high in sodium. Even plain, frozen shrimp are often treated with sodium-rich additives.
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•
• • •
Some manufacturers are gradually reducing the sodium in certain packaged foods, but change is happening slowly.
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Eat at least 5 servings of vegetables and 4 servings of fruits daily. Cut back on calorie-dense foods loaded with fat, sugar, and/or refined grains.. Limit consumption of sodium to a healthy level – less than 1500 mg per day Limit alcohol drinking. Exercise daily. Get adequate intake of calcium, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin D Quit smoking, or don’t start.
You are what you eat. Be mindful. Check the labels.
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& WELLBEING By Moira Carmenate
How you think, determines how you feel March is the month we celebrate Mother’s Day for UK Mums and it’s also International Woman’s Day. So, this month the Wellbeing theme is geared towards women and in particular women’s mental health, although in reality guys, it probably rings some bells for you too, so read on. As American singer songwriter Naomi Judd wrote “Your body hears everything your mind says”. This is true for all of us on this planet, male or female. As a clinical hypnotherapist and psychotherapist, I work with people to reach the deepest part of their subconscious minds, to enable them to overcome mental, often very deep rooted, blocks that affect their whole being.
This then activates psychological or mental stress which in turn becomes detrimental not only to your mental state but your physical state too. Most recently and for many still ongoing, has been the panic caused by the Covid pandemic, making many people fearful of going out, touching things, mixing with people and the fear of their own death. The fight or flight response to dangerous situations does have a purpose but not when it is activated daily and especially not to everyday stresses like the kids messing up their room, the person in the car in front of you driving too slowly or a pile of emails or bills that must be dealt with.
So what has your mind been saying about you lately? Are you in a cycle of self-criticism, self-judgement and often without realizing, self-sabotage? How many of you look in the mirror and judge yourself? How many of you think I am too fat; I don’t look good or just generally think I am not good enough? How many times do you think to yourself, “I can’t do that”; “I shouldn’t do that”; what would someone think? All these negative thoughts create anxiety. Is your mind creating your symptoms? Anxiety not only affects your mind it also affects your body creating not only short-term illness, it can create long term debilitating illnesses too. When the stresses of life become too much, your body will react and stress locks itself into your physicality and those tensions can cause headache, posture problems that lead to back pain, dizziness, weakness, digestive problems and general feelings of fatigue. These symptoms of built-up anxiety are very real, not merely figments of your imagination. Our bodies and minds are geared to deal with “fight or flight”, our body’s auto response to danger. It’s part of our bult in survival system where we “fight” or “flee” from dangerous situations. If you imagine being out for a run and a vicious dog jumps out in front of you and starts growling and barking at you, what will happen? Your blood pressure will increase and heart rate too. Without you even realising, your pupils will dilate – it’s the body’s natural system to let in more light so you can see more clearly. Your senses will be heightened as your body tries to prioritize and maintain the higher-level responses geared to keep you safe. However, on the contrary, as part of that prioritization, the body is halting anything it doesn’t feel is necessary for your survival at that time including, but not limited to, your digestive, tissue repair and reproductive hormones. Your stress response can quickly calm down and return to a normal state in around half an hour although this various for each person. However, for some people they have faced many stressful situations and remain in fight or flight mode even when it isn’t necessary.
It’s important to stress that just because your illness and pain is caused by anxiety, that doesn’t make it any less valid. Our mind and body are one and the same, and the distress is very real and can easily become self-perpetuating. The more we worry, the worse the physical symptoms get. We become so convinced that we are sick, that we end up seeking out the wrong kind of help. And so the cycle continues. 5 steps to help your mental health
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Disconnect from social media and take a break from watching, reading, or listening to negative news stories Take care of yourself. Eat healthy, exercise, get plenty of sleep and give yourself a break if you feel stressed out. Talk to someone you trust and share your problems about how you are feeling. Avoid drugs and alcohol. These may seem to help, but they can create additional problems and increase the stress you are already feeling. Recognize when you need more help and seek out a qualified therapist, counsellor or contact your doctor.
DIFFICULT ROADS LEAD TO BEAUTIFUL DESTINATIONS
Be vigilant, keep an eye on your emotions and be grateful for everything that is good in your life. Think positive. Think happy. Moira
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www.theelitewellnessgroup.com
TALKING LEGAL
with Costasea Legal Advisers
IF YOU DIE WITHOUT A WILL IN SPAIN, THE SPANISH LAWS OF SUCCESSION WILL DETERMINE WHO INHERITS DID YOU KNOW YOUR SPOUSE OR PARTNER MAY NOT GET THE HOUSE OR ASSETS? The Spanish laws of succession set out the following hierarchy of inheritors in case of intestacy (dying without a will) •
• •
• Collateral relatives: If the decedent had neither Children: The decedent’s children and their descendants, nor ascendants, nor spouse, his descendants will inherit in the first place. Either brothers and/or sisters will inherit equal parts of legitimate, illegitimate child or individuals the estate. Then on to nephews and nieces. adopted have the same succession rights. • Cousins will inherit in case there are none of the Parents or grandparents: They will inherit when persons mentioned above. the decedent dies without leaving children. They • The Spanish Government will inherit when will inherit in equal parts. there exist none of the individuals mentioned The spouse will inherit if the decedent has neither above. children nor ascendants. TAKE CONTROL – MAKE YOUR WILL TODAY! COST – 150 EUROS INCLUDING NOTARY FEES – NO HIDDEN EXTRAS
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TALKING FINANCE with Yvonne Haughton
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket Just the other day, I heard someone say, "I don't want to have all my money in one bank, not all eggs in one basket."
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Diversification by titles, meaning instead of buying shares in one company that could disappear tomorrow, invest in many companies through an investment fund, where the fluctuation of a few businesses disappearing will not affect you.
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Diversification by demographics, meaning the world is a prominent place, and limiting yourself to invest only in one country, can be very risky. Diversifying across the globe will provide a stable mean. Diversification by growth potential means ensuring that the industries or countries you invest in have room to grow and don't stagnate or reduce. Diversification by product type means not risking everything in highly volatile products but averaging them out with a basket containing fixed-rate and variable rate titles.
So I want to address the "basket" question. It does not necessarily stand for the same financial institution but rather for the diversification of funds. An intelligent investment diversification looks at the following factors: •
• • •
•
Diversification by time: when you plan your finances, you should divide them into your timely goals. Those are daily liquid funds, like your current account that attends your utility bills, Short term is a fund for the unforeseen, like an extensive repair on your house, broken washing machine, etc. Middle term, for that next big holiday trip, the upcoming cruise, the paying off a car loan, etc. Long-term, like providing for the university expenses for your child, paying off your mortgage early, a house, a nice car, etc. Pension is another necessity, such as the current account, because it will happen, no matter what, at some point. The idea here is to maintain your lifestyle when you exit the work life.
•
•
Professional financial planning of your savings will ensure knowing your goals and aims in life, what you wish to save up at specific time scales, and plan in an intelligent way to achieve those goals for you. So, you see, all eggs in one basket do not mean it is risky to have it all in one bank, but it is dangerous to have it all in one product or one type of product. Be clever, be diverse!
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TALKING PROPERTY SAPPHIRE PROPERTIES
With John Clark – Sapphire Properties
Tel. 965 725 478 | Mob. 600 362 843 E. info@sapphireproperties.co.uk
www.sapphireproperties.co.uk
Can you REALLY sell for less than €1000? Are 0% or low-commission sales agents the best option when selling your property?
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Estate agents’ commission includes the cost of visiting the property personally, taking photographs and giving help and advice if requested about how to best to present and market the property. They will also accompany the prospective buyers to the property and will be fully conversant with its best features and location in order to best promote it. No charges will be payable by the prospective buyers when viewing via a traditional agent. Vendors should ensure that this is the case with no/low commission agents.
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These days most enquiries originate via the internet. Wellknown portals such as Think Spain, Kyero and the like, are used by both types of agents. However, traditional agents will also collaborate with a wide network of other local agents, at no additional cost to the vendor, to maximise the search for the right buyer.
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Once a buyer is found, one final thing to check is that there is transparency regarding the buyers/sellers’ contract to ensure there is no misunderstanding regarding the agreed sales price, etc.
They appear to be a great option but be mindful to ensure that you are getting the best value for money. Here are a few things to consider when making your choice. •
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Vendors should ensure that no additional or unexpected costs will be added later under a different heading. With traditional estate agents, all these additional fees are included in the 'commission. A typical advertising slogan for these low cost sites is that “5-6% or even 8% can be charged by typical estate agent's for commission”, when most agents in this area charge 3% + IVA.
Most traditional estate agents work on a ‘no-sale no-fee’ basis and will never ask for any upfront payment. After all, what is the incentive to market and sell your property if the agent has already been paid? Vendors should check that any upfront fees are a one-off charge and there is no expiry date and/or a repeat fee becoming payable. Also, what happens if you change your mind and want to withdraw the property from the market? Traditional agents only receive their commission from the vendor upon completion.
Choose your agent with care. John Clark – Sapphire Properties
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CLASSIC FILM REVIEW A masterpiece of modern-day film-making
with Simon Wade
Jaws (Steven Spielberg, 1975) Put simply, this film changed the very nature of cinema-going. Worldwide. Forever.
With such a fractured conception and convoluted production, Jaws as a movie shouldn’t really exist. As a book, the Peter Benchley tale of secret affairs and deep-sea fishing, was an instant success. Universal Studios bought the rights in 1974, and then the real story begins. Considered a throwaway B-movie to start with, fledgling director Steven Spielberg was hired – fresh from making various TV movies and The Sugarland Express. The production struggled with casting, re-writes, location problems, the changing weather, the model sharks and a looming Hollywood strike. However, Spielberg was blessed with a fantastic plot, genius special effects people, great central characters and a surprisingly good supporting cast hired from the local Martha’s Vineyard community. But still, the end result far outweighed the sum of its parts – and Jaws is a bona fide classic. There are numerous scenes that show various elements of genius. From Spielberg’s mise-en-scène in the Brody house, Verna Field’s wonderful editing in the beach sequences, and – of course – the John Williams score. But for me, Robert Shaw’s character, Quint, is the perpetual high point of the film. It’s a virtuoso performance of menace, humour and sheer brilliance – mostly done while completely drunk! His ranting on The Orca is so threatening and so tangible, so believable. The dialogue-driven “Indianapolis scene” tops the lot, for me. Re-written and (for want of a better expression) distilled by Shaw himself, it acts as a brief respite from the action but also explains the phenomena that is Quint. The horror of the story, the passion in the delivery, the bleak realisation in the climax – it’s a masterpiece of cinema. I enjoy Jaws every time I watch it. The humour in the script, the tension that builds, the expert direction, the perfect soundtrack and the warmth of the characters. Watch Robert Shaw closely, though. If you’re not touched by the power & passion of his performance – you’re gonna need a bigger heart.
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MARCH MADNESS Talking of Madness they have got to be one of my favourite bands of all time. Lost count how many of their gigs I have been to. The very first one being at the Manchester Apollo and Dexys Midnight Runners were supporting them. You can catch me springing into March every weekday mornings from 7am with The School Run on BIG Radio Spain. The Early Breakfast Show is on right through until 10am alongside the main man of BIG himself Richie Sparks. Catch it on 89.9 and 91.1FM, via our website www.bigradiospain.com or download our new App BIG RADIO SPAIN. Richie has put up with me for 17 months now and I must admit its been an amazing time working at BIG FM we have an amazing team.
ENTERTAINMENT Caz Matthews, Presenter at BIG Radio Spain We’ve got some great events looming during the year, so make sure you check out our website’s WhatsOn page and you don’t miss out. My other line of work is welovespain.live - f you can call it work! I just babble on just like I do on radio. And then there is the DJing after dark or during a Sunday afternoon out in the sunshine.
Specialising in the 80’s the best music era of course but I will spin other tunes, whatever the customer wants the customer gets. Do listen in to our Early Breakfast Show, it’s March Madness EVERY month! Get in touch with me at BIG FM on +34 965 997 222 or on Facebook, just search for ‘CazMatthewsDJ’
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WHAT’S ON GUIDE MARCH 2022 Thursday 3 FORMENTERA DEL SEGURA, Sunleys, Live Jam Session – 6pm
Friday 11 EL RASO, GUARDAMAR, Legends Bar, Rain O’Connor – 8pm TORREVIEJA, The Ship Inn, Nikki Nock Karaoke – 8pm
Saturday 5 CABO ROIG, Horrigan’s Irish Bar, Rain O’Connor – 4pm BENIJOFAR, La Cosecha, Debbie H singer – 7pm ROJALES, Teatro Capitol, De Polis (Police cover band) – 8pm LO CRISPIN, ALGORA, Lo Crispin Tavern, Melissa Jade, 9pm ENTRE NARANJOS, Flannigan’s Irish Bar, No Fences - 9pm
Saturday 12 CABO ROIG, Horrigan’s Irish Bar, Rain O’Connor – 4pm ORIHUELA COSTA, Bar Amsterdam, Levante’s House & Tech House – 6pm ENTRE NARANJOS, Flannigan’s Irish Bar, No Fences - 9pm
Sunday 6 ROJALES, Rojales Caves, Festival Benefico (Indian music) – 10.30am QUESADA, Vista Lounge, Project Duo – 3pm CABO ROIG, Shrumba, Josh Watts – 3pm CAMPOAMAR, Royal Oak, Rain O’Connor - 4pm
Sunday 13 CAMPOVERDE, The Tipsy Cow, Rain O’Connor – 4pm ROJALES, El Vazo’s Lounge Bar & Bistro, Rob Roberts International Singer – 4pm GRAN ALACANT, Dunbars, Debbie H – 6pm FORMENTERA DEL SEGURA, Rumours, Nikki Nock – 7pm
Monday 7 TORREVIEJA, St James Gate, Nikki Nock Karaoke – 4pm BENIJOFAR, La Cosecha, Debbie H singer – 7pm Tuesday 8 LA FLORIDA, The Emerald Isle, Project Duo – 1.30pm CIUDAD QUESADA, Chiefs On Broadway, Fun Quiz with Michael – 7pm TORREVIEJA, O’Connors By The Sea, Nikki Nock Karaoke – 8pm
Wednesday 9 FORMENTERA, The Tipsy Tortoise, 8pm – Charity Fun Quiz CAMPOAMAR, The Stray Sod Irish Bar, TwoBacks (drum & guitar duo) – 9.30pm
PROJECT DUO: Jude and Debbie Hutchinson
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
Monday 14 BENIJOFAR, The Pines, Fun Quiz with Michael – 3.30pm BENIJOFAR, La Cosecha, Debbie H singer – 7pm
Thursday 24 FORMENTERA DEL SEGURA, Sunleys, Live Jam Session – 6pm
Wednesday 16 PILAR DE LA HORADADA, Savannah, Cheltenham Ladies Afternoon Tea – 1pm FORMENTERA DEL SEGURA, The Tipsy Tortoise, 8pm – Charity Fun Quiz
Friday 25 BENIJOFAR, La Cosecha, Debbie H singer – 7pm CIUDAD QUESADA, La Vida Sunset Bar, Rob Roberts International Singer – 7.30pm CIUDAD QUESADA, Marquee Bar, No Fences – 9pm ALBACETE, Palacio de Congresos de Albacete, Texas – 9pm
Thursday 17 CABO ROIG, Milo’s Bar, Rain O’Connor – 12 noon CAMPOAMAR, Royal Oak, Rain O’Connor - 4pm CAMPOVERDE, The Tipsy Cow, Rain O’Connor – 8pm
Saturday 26 SAN LUIS CC, Reflections Bar & Restaurant, Live Jam Session – 2.30pm TORREVIEJA, International Auditorium, Gran Gala Lyrica (Opera) – 8pm LAS FILIPINAA, Pitch & Pint, Project Duo – 8.30pm
Saturday 19 CIUDAD QUESADA, Melli’s Bar, Melissa Jade – 7pm LA ZENIA, CC’s Bar, Costa Blues Brothers – 7pm LOS ALTOS, Bar 6, St Patrick’s Day Party – 7pm ENTRE NARANJOS, Flannigan’s Irish Bar, No Fences - 9pm
Sunday 27 CABO ROIG, Shrumba, Josh Watts – 3pm
Sunday 20 LA MARQUESA GOLF, El Vazos, Melissa Jade – 7pm
Wednesday 30 FORMENTERA DEL SEGURA, The Tipsy Tortoise, 8pm – Charity Fun Quiz
Wednesday 23 CAMPOAMAR, The Stray Sod Irish Bar, TwoBacks (drum & guitar duo) – 9.30pm FORMENTERA, The Tipsy Tortoise, 8pm – Charity Fun Quiz
Thursday 31 ENTRE NARANJOS, Micky’s Inn - Vistabella Golf, Fun Quiz with Michael – 8pm
NIKKI NOCK
MELISSA JADE
ROB ROBERTS
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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RAIN O’CONNOR
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JOIN THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION & SUPPORT EACH OTHER The Royal British Legion (District North Spain) has 14 Branches across Spain District North.
You DO NOT need an Armed Forces background to become a member, all nationalities are welcome.
The primary aim of the Royal British Legion is to support serving members of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, British Army, Royal Air Force, Reservists, Veterans and their families.
We would love more Caseworkers across District North Spain. Training will be provided if you can assist with any of the voluntary positions Registered Charity No. 219279 Spanish NIF N8261536 For more information please contact: Jack Kemp: +34 711 012 668 Paul Kane: +34 711 006 647 Spainnorth.Chairman@rbl.community Spainnorth.CRO@rbl.community
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READER’S CONTRIBUTION Hi Again Guys n Gals. Hope you are all back out on the golf course now that the restrictions have been relaxed, still please remember that this virus is still around and take all necessary precautions to avoid catching or spreading it. Let’s chat about improving your swing. To be truthful there are NO complexities in the golf swing, it is purely us golfers make it more complex than it need be. In simple terms, swing the club with consistent rhythm, timing and tempo - and you will be a long way down the road to onsistency. A quick tip that can help you achieve more rotation and less lateral body movement. This is a very simple drill, let’s call it the ‘Shadow Drill’. The shadow drill gives you a visual on how much your body moves in the golf swing. In all great golf swings, there will always be a little lateral movement but TOO much lateral movement will affect your balance and your ability to return the club head to square at impact. To use this drill, the sun needs to be shining to cast a shadow on the ground. Turn your back to the sun so that your shadow is cast directly in front of you. This allows you to watch your swing while still looking towards the ground. This is a much better drill than looking straight ahead into a mirror as this drill keeps your swing in a natural state. You will also need a couple of tees to mark the outside of your head in the shadow.
Place your tees 25 to 50 mm( or 1 to 2 inches for us oldies) on either side of your head of your shadow. This will give you limits to keep your head between while performing this drill. To execute this drill, practice making a backswing and downswing, stopping at impact while keeping your head between the tees. This will encourage rotation from the hips and minimise lateral movement. I am happy for you to have some lateral movement left and right in this drill as you want to ensure that you load into your back foot enabling you to ‘DRIVE’ onto your front foot. So while you make your backswing it is fine to have your head move to the back tee and then seating your downswing to the impact zone it should move towards the front tee. It is important that you stop the downswing at impact and do NOT have a full follow through with this drill. Rehearse this drill a few times between practice shots on the range and see how it will help encourage rotation and reduce your lateral movements. It is also a good exercise to warm up and reinforce your swing movement before play. I hear a lot of people talk about muscle memory, Muscles don’t have memories, but you DO train you brain.
Till the next time, stay safe in these strange times. The Golf Doctor
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MOTORING with Venture Fleet
Round and round the roundabout We often hear that the roundabout system in Spain is so different from other countries and, in fact, confusing. We want to show you that this article is straightforward. A roundabout is still a road, just not one that goes straight but curved to the left continuously. In Spain, our main driving lane is always the right lane. With clear traffic, we must always drive on the right lane of any road, and, as mentioned before, a roundabout is a regular road. When on a straight road you wish to exit at a junction to your right, you indicate, go to the right lane and exit. In the roundabout, it is the same: it must always be exited from the right lane! Therefore, when it is said that the car in the outside lane has a preference, it simply means that this car has the preference to exit the roundabout as you would not cut across him, just as you wouldn't on a straight road.
are going straight and not turning off, but it is now considered a "courtesy indication" and quite helpful for other road users. The image above shows you which lane approach is recommended by the DGT (traffic authority) regarding the exit you wish to take.
So, we drive on the right, exit from the right lane, and always indicate. However, you do not have to indicate to the left if you
We hope this was insightful and helpful, and we hope you all stay safe on the road and with a cool head in a roundabout!
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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
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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
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