Your Guide to Luxury Living in Spain & Beyond Page 4 Hot Properties: A look at one the best, value for money, property investments in Spain. Page 8 The Mansions of Acqualina offer an average unit size of 4,000 square feet and 8,000 square foot penthouses. This promises to be one of the most talked about and desirable residences in Florida Page 12 James Bond is back. 007 will return in SPECTRE, coming to a screen near you in November 2015 Page 16 European Diving Instruments (“EDI”) – purveyor of unique, mechanical watches, has launched the EDI Golden Age Page 18 James May, from BBC2's Top Gear, brings you his thoughts on future Classics Page 22 A look at 15 stunning cars to possibly add to your collection in 2015 Page 24 Gizmos, Gadgets and new ideas for the New Year. Midas Touch Magazine gives you a sneak peek at what to expect in 2015 and beyond Page 26 Robert Landau gives his take on the power of the mind and how to best prepare your New Year Resolutions: After all: we all made them! Page 28 A brief look at what to expect to find at this year's London Boat Show Page 32 Investing in Art is all the rage these days and we tell you what to look out for and also how to own your very own Picasso Page 36 Elvis would have turned 80 this month. By chance, or not, his two Jets, part of the exhibition at Graceland, are up for auction. You can own a bit of history if your bid on Hound Dog II or the Lisa Marie is a winner. "Thank you very much"
Page 44 Luxury Pen, watch and accessory maker Montblanc, brings you their latest timepiece plus the fabulous eStrap Page 46 Dieting Madness is new book, that might just help you shed a few pounds of kilos during the New Year 2015 Page 48 Spain is still a fabulous place to find investment opportunity. Our team of partners and associates can help you find everything from Hotels to yachts, businesses, luxury villas, bespoke houses, exotic and classic cars and a whole lot more. Page 58 The LOCAL Touch A little knowledge can be both a dangerous thing or a huge advantage to living and geting things done in Spain. We introduce you to some of our professional and quality partners that can add the local touch. Page 60 Coys Rent A Car have been established for 20 years on the Southern Costa Blanca. We introduce you to Mike and Heidi Page 61 The one stop website for everything to do with living in or moving to Spain is www.ThisIsSpain.info. Page 60 Coys Rent A Car have been established for 20 years on the Southern Costa Blanca. We introduce you to Mike and Heidi Page 64 The Midas Touch Selection. Our guide to a few choice properties and investment opportunities from around Spain. For more information on any of the properties featured in Midas Touch Magazine, please contact Steve: email: luxury@MidasTouchMagazine.com Front Cover CC Harriett (International Model)
Midas Touch Magazine January 2015
Welcome Welcome to the very first issue of the Midas Touch Magazine, your link to Luxury Lifestyle in Spain and beyond. Launched, by pure chance, to coincide with the 80th Anniversary of the Birth of The King: Elvis Presley, on January 8th, 1935, we hope you'll enjoy finding out more about just some of the ideas, services, supliers and advice that we give, to help you enjoy Spain even more. Midas Touch Magazine is a monthly eZine for Spain, with a British Isles edition published every season, starting with April, Spring 2015. Welcome to the Midas Touch Club in Spain... Enjoy...
Hot Properties Unique Properties Spain has approximately 1,5 million empty properties and in total over 20 million properties in habitable condition and the one thing that never ceases to amaze me is the uniqueness of these buildings. Obviously, there are thousands, nay, hundreds of thousands of apartments in tower blocks and other faceless construction projects BUT there are equally hundreds of thousands of unique properties. Here I spotlight five such unique properties which are scattered across Spain. The one thing they have in common is that they are currently available for sale at hugely attractive prices. If you have the money, there are bargains to be had with discounts in some cases above 500,000 euros!
The Best Investment Property in Spain We have had the pleasure of viewing Casa Kernow in Lanzarote and it is in our opinion the absolute best investment property in Spain. It was originally marketed for 1,4 million euros but sadly a bereavement means an immediate sale is required. To ensure a fast completion, the price has been dropped to just 850,000â‚Ź. If you have access to this figure, you could snap up a real bargain. Casa Kernow was built in 1981. It was purchased by the present owners in 2003 and was completely refurbished to include new kitchens, bathrooms, doors and windows on the lower level. This is a unique opportunity on the island and is offered as an investment opportunity whether bought as a family home or small business. The accommodation is at present arranged as a large house on the upper level with 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. There are 4 apartments on the lower level with a total of 6 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. The apartments are large, individual, furnished and equipped to a high standard, with new kitchens and bathrooms. San BartolomĂŠ Ayuntamiento has been approached about the granting of a commercial licence for the following suggestions and in principle there are no problems.
Investment Opportunities Investment Opportunity Now reduced to 850,000 euros for quick sale: Original asking price 1.4 million LARGE LUXURIOUS PROPERTY offered for immediate sale due to recent bereavement. This is a unique opportunity on the island and is offered as an investment opportunity whether bought as a family home or small business.
COMPRISING: 5 KITCHENS 6 BATHROOMS 10 BEDROOMS (could be 12/14 using reception rooms) 8 RECEPTION ROOMS VIEWING GALLERY TO LOWER TERRACE OFFICE UTILITY ROOM LAUNDRY ROOM 2 UPPER TERRACES LARGE LOWER TERRACE with illuminated, balustraded garden area. LARGE MATURE EASILY MAINTAINED GARDENS, with mangoes, oranges, lemons, coconuts, datepalms, vines, guavas, pomegranates, and tangerines. There are 驶green始 water taps all around the garden for watering. SWIMMING POOL 11 X 5 METRES and SURROUNDING SUN TERRACES, with sunken low noise machine filter room, efficient solar heating and outside shower. The pool is lit at night via underwater lighting. GARAGE & WORKSHOP OUTBUILDINGS 3 KENNELS
LARGE ALJIBE (underground fresh water storage) BALUSTRADED BARBEQUE AREA 2 ENTRANCES & LARGE PARKING AREAS, for at least 12 cars. The bedrooms have high quality fitted wardrobes and there are numerous fitted cupboards throughout the property. Marble and wood used are of the highest standard. Telephone, ADSL Broadband, Sat TV and WIFI. Intercom entry system installed. Whole property is illuminated at night by over 30 outside lights. The accommodation is at present arranged as a large house on the upper level with 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, and 4 apartments on the lower level with a total of 6 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. The apartments are large, individual, furnished and equipped to a high standard, with new kitchens and bathrooms.
2538 SQ. METRE PLOT & 540 SQ. METRES OF BUILT AREA. The location is central for all island amenities, and 10 mins drive from the 2 golf courses, schools nearby and also large shops and supermarkets. Beaches, sporting venues and top attractions are all easily accessible from Casa Kernow. SELLING PRICE – 850,000€ to include furniture, fixtures and fittings. The owner will only remove personal objects. House: Casa Kernow was built in 1981. It was purchased by the present owners in 2003 and was completely refurbished to include new kitchens, bathrooms, doors and windows on the lower level. Three phase electricity and new PVC water pipes were installed in 2007. Upper windows have tinted glass and all upper bedroom windows have shutters. Solar heating has been installed for pool heating and the whole property is in pristine condition. Vacant possession can be in accordance with the needs of any prospective purchaser. ALL bedrooms will take double beds, in fact many will take 2 doubles or 4 singles. The bathrooms on the upper levels are sunken and the apartments have showers. There are bidets in all bathrooms. Further bedrooms can be added by change of use of other rooms. Apartments: All the apartments face south benefiting from day long sunshine. Nos 1 and 4 have single beds and sofa beds. Nos 2 and 3 have single beds, a double and sofa beds. There are numerous extra beds, a cot and other items that will be included in the sale including all the linen, towels, crockery etc. All apartments have sufficient equipment for a luxurious self catering holiday. Guests have access to a laundry room equipped with washing machine and all apartments have irons and ironing boards. Apartments have ceramic hobs, microwave ovens, extractor fans, toasters and fridge freezers, all of which will remain. Hairdryers, fans, bathroom and kitchen fittings will also be left by the owners. Sun-loungers around the pool, a Spanish BBQ and a permanent one will remain, a large pool sunshade and all tables and chairs around the property. In short, nothing will be removed from the ʻbusinessʼ areas of the house.
THE WHOLE HOUSE IS PRESENTED IN AN UP TO DATE AND LEGAL ESCRITURA. SUGGESTIONS FOR COMMERCIAL PROPERTY USE There are several commercial enterprises already established in the area, and San Bartolom茅 Ayuntamiento have been approached about the granting of a commercial licence for the following suggestions and in principle there are not any problems. Businesses this property would suit include; Company headquarters. Dental practices. Day care centre for the elderly. Guarder铆a. Insurance agency. Law offices. Veterinary practices. Dive Academy. Architect offices. Doctor始s surgeries. Language school. Health and Beauty centre.
Physiotherapy, Massage and personal training centre. Cookery school. Corporate team building venue. Recording studios. Many types of clinic. Cycle sports centre. Triathlete centre. Old people始s home. Boutique Hotel. Cosmetic and beauty centre Wedding and special events. For more information about this very special investment opportunity, please contact Steve at: luxury@MidasTouchMagazine.com
Acqualina Mansions Super Luxury on the Ocean The Mansions of Acqualina offer an average unit size of 4,000 square feet and 8,000 square foot penthouses The spectacular new residence with perfect unspoilt vistas of the Atlantic ocean will be the residence of choice for many. A skywalk to integrate the existing Acqualina tower with the new building is also being designed. Mansions at Acqualina is ONE of FIVE new, ultra-luxury projects set to grace the Sunny Isles Beach Skyline, in Miami, Florida. Contact us for more information about this and the fine options for your consideration via: luxury@MidasTouchMagazine.com “Villa de Acqua”, a 4,600-square-foot model residence, will act as the preview and show house of the 79 impressive residences. Those interested also have the opportunity to live large at the “Palazzo di Oro” penthouse, a 16,000 square feet residence that rings in at $40 million, making it the first of that caliber in Florida. The Mansions at Acqualina is now open for previews. "The Mansions at Acqualina will be the Finest Tower ever to be built." It's a very private and exclusive boutique building with only 79 mansions available. Not only will residents have full use of the existing 5 Diamond Acqualina Hotel & Resort amenities - but will have over 16,000 sq ft of their own amenities. This will include Security, a Rolls Royce car and driver, two swimming pools, a private beach club, a fitness center with juice bar, It also houses a a yoga studio, a unisex steam room, wine lounge with private storage, a cigar room with humidor, a golf simulator, an on site cafe and a movie theatre. 8
The Mansions at Acqualina will rise 47 stories. The ceiling heights range 10.6 feet to 30 feet. The building consists of only 2 mansions per floor (both corners) The Tower Suites and Penthouses (Full Floor), range from 4557 to 16,000 square feet. All will have sunset verandas with customized spas, massaging waterfalls and summer kitchens complete with barbecues. The Penthouses will have indoor swimming pools. The Mansions at Acqualina will be one of the most exclusive addresses in the world, luxury and service place It in a class of its own unlimited and unreal. The exceptional collaboration between the vleading Architect, Designers, Artists and Creators insures that Acqualina Mansions will deliver ultimate perfection and unique experiences on every level! Location of Acqualina Mansions offers ultimate peace, style and sophistication of Sunny Isles Beach in South Florida, Mansions are connected with Acqualina Resort & Spa with a graceful bridge exclusively accustomed for Residents of Acqualina Mansions convenience. It built very much in the style of the greatest luxury world brands such as One Hyde Park Central in London. Full of vitality and style Mansions at Acqualina - is a ones in a life time investment opportunity in residential extravagance development as well as being an exceptional home for your family! The Inspired Interior by Casa Fendi Designs & Collections and Idea of legendary CFE Architects for Acqualina Mansions have combined indulgence, luxury and advanced practicality for future Residents. Mansions at Acqualina will be delivered completely equipped and finished with luminous marble flooring, leather finished Brazilian wardrobes and walking closets, wide floor to ceiling glass terraces flying over the 45 floors of height, an illusion of rising to 64 floors to the sky! The Mansions at Acqualina are strictly Residences with two units per a floor with private elevators and smart system in the building. Elegant Bridge connecting Acqualina Resort & Spa with Mansions will deliver a great opportunity for Owners of Mansions to enjoy all amenities of the Five Diamond Awarded Acqualina Hotel. Information and data are subject to change and/or modification.
In December at Pinewood Studios, Director Sam Mendes and Daniel Craig announced that the 24th 007 film would be called SPECTRE. At a special live webstream event, Mendes introduced returning cast members Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris and Rory Kinnear and that the crew would include Writers John Logan, Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, Production Designer Dennis Gassner, Composer Thomas Newman, 2nd Unit Director Alexander Witt, SFX Supervisor Chris Corbould, VFX Supervisor Steve Begg, Costume Designer Jany Temime and Stunt Coordinator Gary Powell. Joining the cast will be Christoph Waltz, LĂŠa Seydoux, Monica Bellucci, David Bautista, Andrew Scott and new crew members Director of Photography Hoyte Van Hoytema and Editor Lee Smith.
A cryptic message from Bond始s past sends him on a trail to uncover a sinister organisation. While M battles political forces to keep the secret service alive, Bond peels back the layers of deceit to reveal the terrible truth behind SPECTRE. The locations for SPECTRE include Pinewood London, Mexico City, Rome, Tangier and Erfoud, Morocco.
Bond is also back in the snow, this time in Sรถlden, Austria as well as Obertilliach and Lake Altaussee. The 24th Bond outing will also see a brand new Aston Martin designed specially for this film called the DB10.
SPECTRE will be released on 6th November 2015.
EDI launches Golden Age watch European Diving Instruments (“EDI”) – purveyor of unique, mechanical watches, has launched the EDI Golden Age. It includes phenomenal specifications unheard of at the 500 dollar price point, including a double barrel movement with a 3-day power reserve, and 904L steel casing – all put together with classic aesthetics. Vintage is back in wristwatch fashion, with major brands introducing reissues and homages of models from the 1950s and 60s. The success of the Tudor Black Bay, Jaeger-LeCoultreʼs Polaris ʻ68, and Omegaʼs Speedmaster and SM300 re-release all reflect a return to more elegant, refined style. Gaudy, oversized watches are being shed for old classics. However, the demand for modern technologies and materials in these watches is ever more present. The Golden Age from European Diving Instruments embodies these two elements in one sophisticated timepiece. Heavily influenced by the dive watches of the 1950s and 60s, the Golden Age shares even the most intricate details with these vintage classics, while maintaining its own very distinct appearance. At the same time, the watch houses unique technical innovations unseen in any other watch at its price point, including an exceptionally long power reserve. “The goal was to provide the market with features you would only find in a luxury watch, but at an affordable price… we want to revolutionize the watch market” said EDI CEO, Philip Allan. Its 904L (as opposed to the typical 316L) steel case and bracelet serve not only to provide impressive corrosion resistance, but also can be polished to a level that other steels cannot. In addition to the bracelet, the watch includes an oceancapable nato strap, as well as an exclusive denim strap made on shuttle looms; on trend with other selvage denimwear. The understated colours, for which the Golden Age is available, are inspired by the beautiful patina of vintage dive watches. The attention to detail on the
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Golden Age is so meticulous, that EDI will go as far as to match the gaskets and Orings to each watch colour. At around $500 US the watch is an incredible bargain. The number of features in the Golden Age goes above and beyond what any other competitor is offering. The watch can be purchased through Kickstarter at the following link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/544218876/the-golden-age-dive-watch-a-new-era-foraffordable
Get ready for a Classic Argument James May has chosen the 13 most significant cars of all time for The London Classic Car Show… but is he right? Itʼs bold, controversial and bound to cause arguments… and thatʼs just the way BBC Top Gearʼs James May wants it. May has stuck his neck on the line and has chosen what he regards are the 13 most influential cars of all time. The result is The Cars That Changed The World and itʼs one of the star exhibits at the London Classic Car Show taking place at ExCeL in Londonʼs Docklands from 8-11 January 2015. May is convinced heʼs got them right… but hopes that others will disagree and that his choice will cause arguments in every pub in the land. He has split the Bakerʼs Dozen into two groups of six, the first half dozen being displayed in what May calls ʻThe Halls of Obviousnessʼ with the second half dozen found in ʻThe Chambers of Bloodymindednessʼ. The 13th –the most significant car ever made – has its own special display area. “You could probably guess the identity of the six in the Hall of Obviousness without reading another word,” said May, “but the other six are less well known. I believe they are just as significant historically but theyʼve simply been forgotten or misunderstood. “But the 13th is certainly the car that looms largest in my motoring life – the biggest inspiration.” And May will open the exhibit personally on the showʼs opening evening, Thursday 8 January, as well as attempting to get #the13thcar trending on Twitter. Tickets to see May reveal his 13th car as well as Adrian Newey being interviewed about his own special selection of significant race and road machines are still available, too.
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The six ʻobviousʼ cars (plus Jamesʼ comments) are: 1886 Benz Motorwagen. “People will argue about this, but the Benz Motorwagen was the first true car as we would understand it.” 1908 Ford Model T. “The brilliance of the Model T is the way that it was made, rather than the car itself.” 1938 Volkswagen Beetle. “It became the worldʼs best selling single-platform car, even though the early models were pretty horrendous to drive.” 1959 Austin Mini. “An original Mini is incredibly uncomfortable and a bit hairy if you crash it, but also fantastic to drive.” 1964 Ford Mustang. “In the first six months of its life it was the fastest selling car in history. Itʼs the car that democratised style and performance.” 1997 Toyota Prius. “It was the first mainstream car of my lifetime that caused people to rethink the basics of how a car should work.”
And the six Bloody-minded choices are: 1901 Waverley Electric. “At the beginning of the 20th century, electric car outsold petrolpowered cars in parts of America. They were clean, quiet and didnʼt make ladiesʼ skirts grubby.” 1906 Cadillac Model K. “The real hero of the mass-produced car story isnʼt Fordʼs Model T but the Cadillac Model K.” 1933 Standard Superior. “It is widely accepted that Josef Ganz, a respected Jewish engineer, came up with the basic layout and philosophy of the Beetle.” 1972 Honda Civic. “The original Civic was a compact, lively and fuel efficient car that was well made and almost faultlessly reliable.” 1980 Lada Riva. “The Russian-built, Fiat 124derived, Riva did more than any other to put communism on wheels.” 2009 Bruno ExoMars Rover. “Autonomous, self-sustaining and suitable for use on other planets, it is surely the worldʼs most advanced all-terrain vehicle.” And the 13th? “Iʼm not going to give that away,” said May. “You simply have to visit the show and indulge me through my halls and chambers to get to it.”
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The London Classic Car Show is the latest creation from Brand Events, the company behind all-action car shows like Top Gear Live, and is full of innovative features. It promises to be unlike any classic car event yet staged. May will be joined by two other show curators who have both created their own special displays with cars that mean the most to them. Legendary Formula 1 designer Adrian Newey charts his motoring career not just with some of his winning F1 cars, but also with cars and bikes that hold a special place in his heart. These include his own Ford GT40, his Ducati 900SS and the scale model Grand Prix cars he built from kits as a schoolboy. TV chef James Martin, meanwhile, will not only be displaying his private collection of classic Ferraris and Mini-Coopers but will also be running the James Martin Classic Café offering up ʻgood, simple, grubʼ to visitors. The centrepiece of the show, however, is The Grand Avenue in association with Motoriety, a moving motoring runway , the like of which has never been seen at an indoor show before. It will give visitors to the show the chance to see and hear rare motoring icons in action… everything from a 1920s Bugatti Type 35B to a 1990s Bugatti EB110, and from a 1930s Jaguar SS1 to an ultra rare Jaguar XJ220 supercar. There will be cars from the dawn of motoring – like a 1902 Curved Dash Oldsmobile – to competition cars like a Gp 4 Lancia Stratos from the 1970s. Great marques include Aston Martin, Ferrari, Porsche, Maserati, Rolls-Royce and Bentley and iconic model names include Miura, Etype, 288 GTO, 959 and Ghost. Thereʼs even a quartet of genuine Formula 1 cars from the 1950s to the 1980s, all of which will be started and driven along The Grand Avenue in a spectacular display of sound and fury. The 60th anniversary of the dramatic Citroën DS will be celebrated with many examples of ʻThe Goddessʼ – as well as a first look at the new DS brand – on show, and there will also be displays from leading classic dealers and specialists. Tickets are now available from the show website – www.thelondonclassiccarshow.co.uk – where early bird discounts reduce the on-the-door standard entry price from £25 to just £22.
15 Stunners to fire up 2015 Breaking up the cold spell of winter and the long F1 and BTCC off-seasons, enthusiasts can start 2015 in style at the Performance Car Show at Birmingham始s NEC, where a host of the latest road-going supercars, classic icons and World Championship winners will be displayed on 8-11* January.
Attended by 82,000 people in 2014, the Performance Car Show presented by Landsail Tyres in association with Autocar and PistonHeads is held alongside Europe始s largest dedicated motorsport show, Autosport International. With a host of special collections spanning the best of four-wheeled performance, fans will see amazing machinery at every turn. Some, though, simply can始t be missed. LaFerrari: With only 499 in production, the LaFerrari is a statement of intent from the legendary Italian manufacturer. Packed with F1-derived technology, the 950bhp hypercar combines a V12 engine with a Kinetic Energy Recovery System. Mercedes F1: Driven by Lewis Hamilton to win the FIA Formula 1 World Championship, the dominant Silver Arrows won 16 of the 19 races in 2014 and will lead a showcase displaying the pinnacle of motorsport on the F1 Racing Grid.
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Ferrari 458 Speciale: Named by motoring bible Autocar as Britainʼs Best Driverʼs Car of 2014, the 458 Speciale features Ferrariʼs most-powerful, naturally-aspirated V8 engine and active aerodynamics. McLaren 650S: Another sensational supercar as McLaren puts its Formula 1 expertise on the road, the 650S covers 0-60mph in under three seconds and hits a top speed of 207mph. Lamborghini Huracán: The 602bhp Huracán accelerates from 0-62mph in 3.2 seconds, befitting of Lamborghiniʼs description as the new benchmark for luxury super sports cars. Ferrari F40: One of the greatest supercars ever created and the first production car to break the 200mph barrier, the legendary F40 was built to celebrate Ferrariʼs 40th anniversary. Mercedes C11: One of the best from the Group C era of the 80s and early 90s, the 950bhp C11 was driven by the likes of Michael Schumacher and won eight of its nine races in the 1990 World Sportscar Championship. Ariel Atom 3.5R: Top of the locals in Britainʼs Best Driverʼs Cars, finishing second to the 458 Speciale, the latest instalment from Ariel is a 350bhp, 550kg rocket. Radical SR8 RSX: Another homegrown success story, Radical is unveiling its mostpowerful and advanced racer yet, the 440bhp SR8 RSX. Subaru Impreza: Colin McRae created motorsport history in the era-defining Subaru, becoming Britainʼs first World Rally Champion in 1995. Jaguar XJR15: Launched at the very first Autosport International in 1991 and with only 50 ever produced, the V12-powered XJR15 was the first fully carbon-fibre road-car. Citroën DS3 World RX Supercar: Not your average Citroën, this is the flame-spitting, 600bhp monster Petter Solberg drove to win the 2014 FIA World Rallycross Championship. Zenos E10 S: The very first sportscar from Zenos Cars, the lightweight E10 was launched at the 2014 show and Zenos is back this January with the new, 250bhp E10 S. BMW i8: Representing the future of motoring, as a revolutionary yet accessible hybrsupercar, a three-cylinder turbo engine combines with an electric motor to produce 357bhp. Vauxhall VXR8 GTS: Displayed in the UK for the first time at the show in 2014, this ʻthunder from down underʼ packs a 576bhp V8. Exclusive Performance Car Show features include the Autocar Supercar Display, Pie and Piston Pub by PistonHeads.com and the opportunity to see a selection of winners from the prestigious What Car? Awards 2015, just hours after the winners are named. A group of category victors will be on display and appear in the Live Action Arena, the UKʼs largest indoor racetrack, along with finalists from Autocarʼs Britainʼs Best Driverʼs Cars. Every level of motorsport will be in the spotlight within Autosport International, led by the F1 Racing Grid, Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship showcase and a new Track Icons and Wild Road Cars feature in association with Classic & Sports Car Magazine and Silverstone Classic. For tickets, visit www.performancecarshow.com.
Gizmos & Gadgets Parrot's Zik 2.0 Bluetooth, noise cancelling headphones offer something for both the fanatical audiophile and the casual listener, especially for frequent travellers. At US$400 they are not cheap but the sound quality is excellent.
With all the rules and regulations regarding flying and needing a qualification to launch your drone, along comes the Action Cam Skyshot Helikite, a mini blimp which could be the answer that Real Estate photographers have been waiting for. It comes in three sizes – 1, 1.6 and 2 cubic meters.
For fifty bucks you may never have to worry about your mobile, smartphone or tablet running out of power again, while you are away from a power source. The ZeroLemon is the size of a smartphone, has dual USB ports, has a solar panel, perfect for those of us who live in the sunshine and the ability for for simultaneous charging.
Sitting in Pole position, the Lotus F1 Team is first off the line when it comes to showing off their new car for the 2015 Grand Prix World Championship.This is the car, the E23 Hybrid, that the team from Enstone are pinning their hopes on for a much better season in 2015/16 f Fancy a spot of Sand Surfing, then the all new KHW sand toboggan is for you. Germany's KHW, who described themselves as the world leader in plastic toboggans, have developed a special sled purpose-built for the sand.The sand toboggan debuted at Nuremberg's toy show and is a prototype but expected to be launched in the middle of the year. 24
Gizmos & Gadgets Bluewire is a Bluetooth 4.0 headset designed to let the user record up to 1,000 hours worth of call, will record both sides of a userʼs conversation, has wireless charging, a built in flashlight and “find my phone” feature
PRYNT, a new prototype instant camera case promises to let you print photographs directly from your smartphone in just 30 seconds. Simply slide your phone into the special casing and your Android or Apple iPhone will be able to print out photos, similar to Polaroid instant cameras, from many moons ago.
Looking a little like a modern day, 1930's style Chris Craft, the all-new, and all electric NOX SV promises speeds up to 75 mph (120 km/h) from a highly capable 225-hp (168-kW) electric motor. The plan is to sell just five examples worldwide at a base price just over €273,000 (US$311,000). A Corvette petrol engined version is also offered. Nand Logic's Smart Helmet features cameras, turn signals, collision alertsintegrated accelerometer, gyroscope, ambient light sensor, Bluetooth module and GPS module, plus temperature and humidity sensors and more. Still in development, the company hopes to offer it for under $500.
Need to do the video conference thing while you are on the move, then Logitech ConferenceCam Connect could be for you. The 1080p teleconferencing camera is designed to work with Mac OS X 10.7 and higher, and Windows 7 or 8.1. I. Priced at US $499.99 it's firmly aimed at business professionals on the move and is available now.
Why New Year's Resolutions don't work Robert Landau Did you make any New Year's resolutions this year? Statistics show that most of us won't because the resolutions we've made in the past, never came true. Did you know that people who make New Year's resolutions are 10 times more likely to attain their goals than people who don始t? If you don't relish the thought of making New Year's resolutions bear in mind that you've been making them all throughout the year and you might not have even known it. Here's an example; Jonathan has achieved a certain amount of success in his life thus far. He's set his sights on where he wants to be, feels what it's like to be there and then surrenders just a bit to find that he arrives at his goal even before he thought he would. You've done this to, even to the extent of how you got to be reading this right here, right now. How so? You had some sort of a vision before you got out of bed this morning and planned your next steps even before you physically took them. The rest of your day, week, month and year follows suit. This is the same mind type of exercise one uses to make New Year's resolutions. Why don't many resolutions come true? Science in now proving what many other modalities have been advising all along; Thoughts, powered by feelings and emotion, become things. What you believe actually happens. Resolutions don't come true if they are merely stated word-wise but lack the belief to give them the push they need to become real. So what is the best way to make a New Year's resolution so that it actually comes to pass? It's still not too late so here are four important steps to keep in mind; 1 - State your desire Be very clear but not totally specific about what it is that you want. Don't assign a day, date and time when this will come to pass, just make the general request. 2 - Believe it's yours Make sure your core beliefs support your request. If you secretly believe your wish is a pipe dream, you won't realize it in your world. 3 - As you ask for it, know that it ALREADY EXISTS This is where many stumble and fall. Seeing and more importantly, feeling the end result before you even take the next step to get there is the very thing that makes your wish so much easier to be fulfilled.
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4 - Expect it - Be thankful Once you've made your request and you can see and feel what it feels like to have your wish fulfilled right here and now, let it go and it will be brought to you in its own and perfect timing. Be thankful and feel how excited you'll be to receive what it is that you've asked for. Asking and ultimately receiving in this way steers you away from the possibility of failure and puts you on the fast track to success for New Year's and beyond. Robert Landau Bio Motivational Speaker Robert Landau has delivered over 2,700 presentations and workshops in over 20 countries in his 15 year speaking career. Robert is also a Certified Life Coach that works with individuals and businesses via Skype to help facilitate positive and productive results. An accomplished Actor in New York City, then a celebrated international Cruise Director for 10 years with 300 ports of call on 400 cruises with major cruise lines, Robert also makes many appearances on radio and television broadcasts. One of his most recent appearances was on the world-wide HLN/CNN Cable News Networks. Landau is also the published author of six books. His website is http://www.robertlandaumotivation.com Robert's popular Daily Robertisms program consists of 365 personally created motivational quotes that are sent free of charge to your email address for a year. To sign up please visit: www.dailyrobertisms.com Robert Landau International Motivational Speaker, Consultant and Published Author www.RobertLandauMotivation.com www.DailyRobertisms.com www.FUNSeniorActivities.com -Please "Like" me on Facebook www.facebook.com/ RobertLandauSpeaker -Follow me on Twitter - @LandauChat -Connect with me on LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/pub/robertlandau/29/9a/a26
CWM FX London Boat Show to 2015
The Show will host world firsts from across the marine industry. The Ribeye PRIME, Bavaria Sport 400, Williams Sportjet 520 and Haines 360 will dazzle power enthusiasts whilst the sailing industry will witness the launch of the Dauntless Oyster 500. For those looking for the latest in luxury yachts there will be the world launch of the Sunseeker Predator 57 and Fairlineʼs unveiling of the Shadow S, the first of its eight new models to be launched over the next three years. Technology and equipment launches From safety to navigation the CWM FX London Boat Show will display the latest innovations. The Parasailor, ISPʼs 170 Newton lifejacket and Andres Industries iPad cases will showcase revolutionary design whilst leading technology will shine at the launches of Digital Yachtʼs AquaWear WLN20 wireless gateway, Webastoʼs Air Top Evo 40 heater and Torqeedoʼs Deep Blue Hybrid propulsion system. For further information on Show launches and debuts please contact Annabel Wildey atawildey@britishmarine.co.uk or call 01784 223811. The 2015 CWM FX London Boat Show will take place from 9 - 18 January at ExCeL London www.londonboatshow.com
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Investing in Picasso Many people believe that owning “an original Picasso” is going to be expensive beyond their wildest dreams but, in fact, this is not the case. You can buy hand signed Picasso Original prints for less then most people think they will cost. The fact was that Picasso was a “workaholic” and he was an extremely prolific artist. In his lifetime he made more then 2,000 different Original prints. He was a supreme experimentalist and used many different techniques. Once mastering a specific technique he would often push it to the bounds of what others said could not be done.
Title: Femme couchee et homme a la guitar Medium: Original Linocut, in colours, 1959, signed by the artist in pencil Reference:George Bloch “Catalogue de lʼoeuvre grave et lithographie” Vol 1 - Number 916 Long term an investment in Picasso Original prints is likely to be a very good one. The two artists who annually fight for primacy in the art market are Warhol and Picasso. More then 4 decades after the death of the artist there is no diminishing in the appetite for his work - and this is likely to continue. When asked I always say you should buy what you like and the best
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you can afford. These Mantraʼs are likely to be good for your wealth - and your appreciation of a nascent collection. Authenticity is always a problem and my advice to collectors is to find a good respectable dealer who can advise you of what is available and who will give a guarantee that the piece is good. You can always, of course, buy from auction but this source is not always what it is cracked out to be: auctions take a huge “bite” out of the price paid with sellers and buyers commissions. Often 35/40% of the price achieved is gobbled up by the auction house! Most of what we buy comes, in fact, from other Art Dealers. Picassoʼs graphic art spanned 7 decades and varies enormously in style and subject matter. His signature too varies hugely over the passage of time and it is important to study the different signatures of different periods to be sure of authenticity. Towards the end of his life the signature became pretty much standard and invariable. He signed with a very firm hand and most fluently. The study of the signature is an important part of collecting this series. Often Picassoʼs graphic works were arranged in “suites” and groupings which makes them easier to collect. The first “suiteʼ was made during the “Blue Period” and is named after the Acrobats he so much admired from the circus “Les Saltimbanques”. Perhaps the most famous suite is that published by the infamous dealer, Ambroise Vollard, in the 1930ʼs. The Vollard Suite consisted of 100 different etchings, all made on special Montval paper, some of which were signed at time of publication and many of which were signed years or decades later. The so called “347 Series” consisted (surprise, surprise) of a group of 347 etchings made in a 9 month period. Like a lot of works by Picasso it has various plates of an erotic or pornographic nature - certainly not for the faint hearted. One slight problem with Picasso prints is that the artist was enthusiastic about working in black and white whereas today most people want some colour. If you do want his coloured prints, however, they do tend to be expensive: most sought after are the Linocuts often made in several colours some of which are very lovely examples of his works and can command prices of many thousands. There is a big market for so called “after Picasso” prints.
These were often made by others “after” original paintings and many are signed by the artist. Care must be taken in buying these because there are many fakes and the benefit of a catalogue raisonee is not to be had. There has been a lot written about Picasso prints both in the lifetime of the artist and also after his death. Pretty much all his Original prints are to be found in the three volumes written by George Bloch and you should be sure to ask for a “Bloch number” when buying a piece. Other works describe the same pieces as Bloch but in greater detail and the decerning collector needs to invest in the literature to have a proper understanding of the series. There are numerous examples of “unsigned” or “plate signed” works by Picasso. Often these are cut out of books and are perfectly genuine despite not having the benefit of a pencil signature. Many are of dubious or completely false origin (Take a look on Ebay and you will find shedloads of these). The attraction, of course, for the novice collector is to own an original print at an affordable price. The downside is that many of these are just plain fakes. Most unsigned works can be classified as ʻdecorative” rather then investment pieces. Generally we have a stock of 20 or 30 signed Picasso prints covering most periods of his Title: Sculpteur songeant, Modele aux chevaux noirs oeuvre from 1905 to the 1970ʼs. et bol avec trois Anemones (s.8211) Personally I find the whole series Medium: Original Etching, in black & white, signed fascinating - and there is always by the artist in pencil something new to learn about Reference: Georges Bloch: “Catalogue de lʼoeuvre them! grave et lithographie, Vol 1 : Number 177 Niall Fairhead Fairhead Fine Art Limited ta ImagesFairhead Fine Art Limited t/a Images 19 Helenslea Avenue, Golders Green London NW11 8NE UK Tel: +44 (0)208 455 2700 Mobile: + 44 (0)7976 967216 nfairhead@images-art.co.uk www.images-art.co.uk 34
The King of Rock'n'Roll: Elvis Presley's Jet-setting Lifestyle up for bidding in Exclusiive Sealed Bid Auction Julienʼs Auctions, the auction house to the stars, has announced the rare opportunity to own Elvis Presleyʼs private planes, the “Lisa Marie” and "Hound Dog II." For the very first time, collectors, aviation enthusiasts and entrepreneurs who wish to independently continue to show the two planes that have been on display at Graceland for the past thirty years can bid through an exclusive sealed bid auction for the epitome of Graceland elegance and jetsetting rock star luxury Owned and designed by the King of Rock nʼ Roll himself. Elvis purchased the Convair 880 Jet from Delta Airlines on April 17, 1975 for the then very substantial amount of $250,000.
After refurbishing it, the total exceeded $600,000, and he then immediately rechristened it the “LisaMarie” in honor of his only daughter. The redesigned jet became an airworthy mix of modern function and amazing style fit for such a king. It was customized to include plush sleeping quarters, a penthouse bedroom with a custom-made queen size bed, an executive bathroom with gold faucets and gold washbasin, a videotape system linked to four televisions and a stereo system with fifty speakers
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and a conference room. The tail section of the plane featured Presleyʼs trademark — “TCB” — for “Taking Care of Business.” The colour scheme was personally chosen by Elvis himself. While Elvisʼs jet-setting lifestyle is apparent throughout the “Lisa Marie” jet which he used for his exclusive transportation and private air travel, the last flight the plane took was when it transported Priscilla Presley and Elvisʼs good friend George Hamilton from California to his funeral. In 1984 the “Lisa Marie” made a ceremonious entrance to Graceland where it became part of the popular attraction. Millions of fans and tourists have toured both of the aircraft over the past thirty years. Elvisʼ father, Vernon, sold the plane in 1978 and it changed hands twice but was purchased by present owners who formed a joint venture with Gracelandʼs owners to return it back home to Graceland.
The plane was prepared for the land journey from the Airport to Graceland by removing the outer wing sections and vertical stabilizer and was welcomed by the Mayor of Memphis and marching bands in a parade from the airport to Graceland that was featured on the TODAY SHOW. Current operators of Graceland gave notice that they are not renewing the Joint Venture Agreement and asked the owners to remove the planes from Graceland at the end of April, 2015. In the past, millions of fans visiting Graceland have had the
HOUND DOG II
SPECIFICATIONS FOR HOUND DOG II Crew: two pilots and typically one flight attendant Capacity: 8-10 passengers Powerplant: 4 × Garrett TFE731-3 turbofan, 3,700 Lbs (16.5 kN) each Cruise speed: 504 mph (438 knots, 811 km/h) Range: 2,995 mi (2,604 nmi, 4,820 km) chance to tour the planes and experience them like the King of Rock nʼ Roll would have. The interior of the 'Lisa Marie' aircraft is the original interior Elvis had installed. The Hound Dog II is a Lockheed JetStar. Elvis purchased it in 1975 while waiting for 'Lisa Marie' to finish her refurbishment for a price of almost $900,000. Hound Dog II was bought by OKC Partnership and transported to Graceland in 1984 after the “Lisa Marie” arrived. PLANES ARE FOR DISPLAY ONLY AND CANNOT BE FLOWN. 38
LISA MARIE
SPECIFICATIONS FOR LISA MARIE Crew: 3 Seating capacity: 28 Executive Interior Range: 3,000 miles Horsepower: 44,800 lbs. thrust Engines: Four General Electric CJ-805-3 Pod Mount Jets Length: 129' 4" Wingspan: 120' Tail height from ground: 36' 4" Weight: 87,000 lbs. Maximum weight: 184,000 lbs. Cruising speed: 615 M.P.H. Service Ceiling: 41,000 feet Fuel capacity: 10,770 gallons Fuel consumption: 1,700 gallons per hour; - Take off: 2,200 gallons Operating cost for 1976: $404,000 Manufacturer: Convair Produced: 1959-1962 65 of aircrafts built Aircraft cabin is divided into four sections: Forward main lounge with divans and club seating area, Conference/Dining Table with large refreshment center, Private club room with berthable divan and Private Master Suite with full sized bed and private Master bath.
The planes which remain two of the most important pieces of Elvis Presley history and are presently displayed at Graceland will be offered exclusively by Julien始s Auctions through a sealed bid auction beginning on Friday, January 2, 2015 through Monday, February 2, 2015. The sealed bid auction gives bidders simultaneous opportunities to submit sealed bids to the auction house. No bidder will know how much the other auction participants have bid and the successful bidder will be declared through the sealed bidding process on or before thirty days after the close of bidding. (Where the King of Rock n始 Roll once slept) Sealed bids can only be accepted by written proxy and mailed to Julien始s Auctions. For an official sealed bid form with instructions, email info@juliensauctions.com or call 310-836-1818. All sealed bids must be received by February 2, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. PST. 40
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The Montblanc TimeWalker Urban Speed e-Strap
Montblanc introduces wearable technology to fine watchmaking Smart wearable technology is one of the most talked about topics in the watch world in the past months.In January 2015, Montblanc is the first luxury brand to combine wearable technology with fine watchmaking in the centuries old Swiss horological tradition. The Maison introduces the TimeWalker Urban Speed e-Strap, marrying a highly functional e-Strap with contemporary TimeWalker timepieces. The e-Strap is an interchangeable strap, with an integrated technology device that offers an activity tracker, smart notifications, remote controls and Find-Me functions. It connects, via Bluetooth Low Energy, to selected Android and iOS smartphones. For the first time, an owner will be able to wear a mechanical timepiece with highly useful digital functionalities. Montblanc continues to underline the technicity, performance and avantgarde appeal of this watch line, its dynamic appeal is further highlighted by the use of contemporary material mixes featuring red design elements on a pure black background. This collection extension contains three new models including a chronograph and a UTC.
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The e-Strap device offers a variety of functionality. Smart notifications, signaled by vibrations provide an alert of incoming communication without the need to look at the smartphone. It enables the preview of e-mails by topic and sender, read text messages, see incoming calls and status updates of social media feeds or reminders of important upcoming meetings, all on the wrist. The activity tracker is a simple tool to monitor the wearer´s physical activity over time and keep track of his personal daily goals. To do so, it measures the number of steps taken per day, calories burnt and the distance travelled. The accompanying smartphone application enables the user to view the progress per week and month. The e-Strap will remind the wearer to stay active through unobtrusive vibration alerts and show at a glance the daily progress. The remote controls are useful for controlling the smartphone with the e-Strap. The camera remote enables the taking of pictures with the smartphone by triggering the shutter with a tap on the e-Strap thus allowing better and easier selfies or group shots. Playing, pausing, and skipping music on the smartphone can be also remotely steered with the music control function of the e-Strap. Additionally, the Find-Me function allows searching for the watch or phone within a range of up to 30 meters, either by tapping on the eStrap to find the smartphone or by using the smartphone application to find the watch. The e-Strap device has an inbuilt touch screen display, readable in daylight, to display the information and navigate through the functionalities. The technical device is encapsulated in a stainless steel case with rubber protection and can be easily fixed and adjusted with the pass-through strap. Depending on usage, the device needs to be recharged every 5 days using a standard micro-USB cable. The e-Strap is compatible with Samsung Galaxy S4, S5, Note 3, Note 4, selected Android Devices running Android 4.3 and upwards as well as Apple iPhone 4S, 5, 5C, 5S, 6 and 6 plus. TimeWalker Urban Speed e-Strap (all prices German RSP incl. 19% VAT) Montblanc Timewalker Urban Speed Date e-Strap, 42mm – 2.990€ Montblanc Timewalker Urban Speed UTC e-Strap, 42mm– 3.990€ Montblanc Timewalker Urban Speed chronograph e-Strap, 43mm – 4.690€ E-Strap, compatible with iPhone 4S, Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy S4 and upwards – 350€
Dieting Madness Rene Schellekens is a Dutch pilot based in the UK, having moved over at the age of 19. He is the author of the new diet book ʻDieting Madness: Facts and Fiction About Diet and Nutritionʼ. Rene Schellekens is a Dutch pilot based in the UK, having moved over at the age of 19. He is the author of the new diet book ʻDieting Madness: Facts and Fiction About Diet and Nutritionʼ. Rene explains why he wrote this book: “I gained a lot of weight especially going from being an active young student to a professional making his money from sitting in a cockpit pressing buttons. Since then I gained and lost weight several times and tried all kind of diets.” Rene continues, “…all these diets work, but not for long. They are almost impossible to stick to and not very honest or clear on why they actually help you to achieve weight-loss.” Rene continues, “I became more and more interested in diets and started to put things regarding nutrition and dieting onto paper just to make it all clear to myself. Even though I donʼt have a degree in Nutrition in the end it became my own book. I would say it is not a diet book but just a book that tells you how to lose weight. Even though this might seem the thing to many people, to me they are 2 complete different things.” After Rene published ʻDieting Madnessʼ his cabin crew became interested and many of them started to read the book, all losing weight. Julie says “I lost about one stone after reading and following Reneʼs book, itʼs fantastic!” Another cabin crew member, Adriana was enthralled: “I have given lots of diets a go in the past but after taking the advice from Reneʼs book Iʼve shed over two stone.” If you want to lose weight fast, safely and in an effective and sustainable way then this is the book for you. Unlike many MAD diets that set you on the road to dieting disaster Dieting Madness relies on proven methods to help you shed the pounds and most importantly, to keep them off, for good. “Finally a diet book that is based on facts and not the fantasy of the writer… A really, really, great read!” Claire Ward (Dietician, BSc Hons Nutritional Therapy) “Just what I needed-wonderfully inspiring and an excellent motivator” Ricardo Penaguiao (Dieter) “Over the years Iʼve read plenty of diet and nutrition books but none have drawn me in as quickly as this. Dieting Madness is bold and Rene is not afraid to tell you exactly how it is. This is a must read for everyone – not just the fitness enthusiast.” Blake Newbold (Personal trainer) ʻDieting Madness: Facts and Fiction About Weight Loss and Nutrition is available now from all major online bookstores, including Amazon and onKindle.
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Hard Rock expands in Spain Followings its successful European debut with Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza earlier this year,Hard Rock International – owner of one of the world's most iconic and recognized brands – announces plans for the beachfront Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife, set to open in mid-2016.
The upcoming property is Hard Rock's second project in collaboration with leading operators, Palladium Hotel Group, who recently opened the Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza, the brand's first European hotel. Situated on Tenerife's sunny southern coast near Adeje, the resort will feature 637 rooms, including 236 suites, spread across two towers – offering both a family-friendly and adultsonly experience. Catering to the distinctive needs of the leisure traveler, the property will boast a variety of amenities, including three pools and access to a natural saltwater lagoon and recreation area located just steps from the property. Additionally, it will feature four dining establishments, multiple outdoor terraces and entertainment venues. "Tenerife's superb climate, wide variety of cultural activities and strong accessibility for international travelers, makes it an ideal choice for the hotel brand's global fan base," said Josh Littman, vice president of EMEA development – Hotels & Casinos at Hard Rock International. "As we continue to strengthen our relationship with Palladium Hotel Group, we look forward to introducing the Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife to the Canary Islands." "We're thrilled to introduce the Hard Rock brand to Tenerife and bring a unique experience fusing luxury accommodations and lavish amenities with electrifying entertainment," says Abel Matutes Prats, chief executive officer at Palladium Hotel Group. "We're certain the distinct beauty and dynamic appeal of the area will exceed expectations and continue to intrigue fans and travelers worldwide." Internationally recognized as a world-class entertainment and lifestyle brand, Hard Rock Hotels offer stylish and contemporary design, unparalleled service and the thread that unites them all – music. Hard Rock's current Hotel portfolio is located in the world's most desirable resort destinations, as well as urban gateway cities. The dynamic properties cater to the evolving and distinctive needs of today's cosmopolitan, modern travelers, who seek a reprieve from traditional, predictable accommodations, whether for business or leisure travel, and who connect with the authentic and powerful Hard Rock vibe. For more information or to book a stay at any of the Hard Rock Hotels, please visit www.hardrockhotels.com.
Investing in Spain There are many new investment opportunities to be explored in Spain. From seed investor to institutional investments, 2015 could be the best time to revaluate business opportunities in Spain. After many years of recession; confidence is returning as small investors to large corporations are now seeking out opportunities where others dare not in the past.
A group of experienced international business people are seeking new investors to invest in Spain. On offer are a number of exciting projects from new builds and land purchases through quality hotel developments to existing hotels takeovers. There are exciting plans for cruise ship hotels, marina expansion and upgrades, retirement communities, golf courses, theme parks, leisure interests and sports centres. SEED INVESTMENT between 50,000 euro – 250,000 euro Seed money can be used to pay for preliminary operations such as market research and product development. Investors can be the founders themselves, using savings and loans. They can be family members and friends of the founders. Investors can also be outside angel investors, venture capitalists, accredited investors or government programmes. Seed capital can be distinguished from 48
venture capital in that venture capital investments tend to come from institutional investors and have a tendency to involve significantly more money. They are usually an; 驶arm's length始 transaction and much greater complexity in the contracts and corporate structure that accompany the investment. Seed funding involves a higher risk than normal venture capital funding since the investor does not have an existing project to evaluate for funding. Hence, the investments made are usually lower (in the tens of thousands to the hundreds of thousands of euro range) as against normal venture capital investment (in the hundreds of thousands to the millions of euro range), for similar levels of stake in the company. This type of investment may be of more interest to someone who will invest in a worthwhile project connected to a leisure or sporting business project that could spring a business opportunity into action.
INVESTORS PROGRAM between 250,000 euro – 1,000,000 euro An individual investor or ʻpeople collectiveʼ, who allocate capital with the expectation of a financial return. These types of investments include equity, debt securities and real estate. This definition makes no distinction between those in the primary and secondary markets. That is, someone who provides a business with capital and someone who buys a ʻstockʼ are both investors. An investor who owns a stock is known as a shareholder, with high growth potential in the leisure sector, with local municipalities offering land or reduced rental terms for cash investors, typically fall into this sector.
INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS between 5m euro – 200m euro We also seek organisations that pool together large sums of money and invest those sums in securities, real estate property and other investment assets. They can also include operating companies, which decide to invest their profits, to some degree, in these types of assets. Typical investors include banks, insurance companies, retirement or pension funds, hedge funds, investment advisors and mutual funds. Their role in the economy is to act as highly specialized investors on behalf of others. An institutional investor can have some influence in the management of corporations because they will be entitled to exercise the voting rights within a company. Thus, they can actively engage in corporate governance. Furthermore, because institutional investors have the freedom to buy and sell shares, they can play a large part in deciding which companies stay solvent and which go under. Influencing the conduct of listed companies and providing them with capital are all part of the job of investment management.
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Many investment opportunities are available for Hotels and Marinas plus luxury, high-rise residential resorts. These include developments with plots and planning permission that are ideal for retirement communities, plus ready built, but unopened, retirement village resorts are also available.
We have many other investment opportunities around Spain and internationally of the Bahamas and the Caribbean. We also have contacts with professionals who can source everything from luxury yachts to cruise ships, exotic and classic cars, diamonds, precious stones and custom jewellery to rare and limited edition art and collectables. Investor enquires: Peter Fenton Email: investment@MidasTouchMagazine.com
Midas Touch Communications Reaching a Global Marketplace At Midas Touch, one of our specialities is Communication. We have always been at the forefront of Telecom and Technology and we bring this with us to Midas Touch Magazine... Our emails are eye catching and contain the latest in technology: the Video Newsletter... allowing us to highlight our partners offers If you need a professional video through the printed page; video and produced, don't worry as we have music. contacts in the film, music and video business who can provide everything you need to your requirements.
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We can offer any number of communication solutions including: Mobile Phones UK & Scandinavian Television Video Email & Conferencing...
Midas Touch Magazine is designed to reach anyone who has: a Computer, a Mac, an Android, iPad, iPhone, Smartphone, Tablet and more. Join us at Midas Touch Magazine and reach out to a global marketplace of affluent individuals and business professionals. For more information: advertising@MidasTouchMagazine.com
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Midas Touch Magazine Quality Brands
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Midas Touch Magazine That Local Touch Local Knowledge is a wonderful thing While a multi-national might offer nationwide coverage, in truth, they too probably sub-contract services to meet their needs. Midas Touch Magazine will also contain special sections concentrating on quality services at popular locations that often can offer a more personalised & better service than multi-national corrporations. These services can be anything from Boutique Hotels, Limousines, Car Hire, Wedding Planners, Entertainment, Night Clubs, Printers to Massage, Restaurants, Automobile Sales, Garages, Travel Agents, Nanny Services to Translators or even Food Delivery Services. It's good to know that wherever one travels in Spain, professionals are at hand to take care of all the little things as well as any major projects. Madrid Barcelona Valencia Costa Blanca North Costa Blanca South Granada Marbella Costa del Sol UK Regions Florida with more to come
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Midas Touch Global Reaching a Global Marketplace While Spain is our main focus, Midas Touch Magazine has Global Partners who wish to reach into the Spanish marketplace and to those with a Global vision. Spain has very close ties with the USA, especially Florida, so we too have partners based primarily on the East Coast. From fabulous Waterfront Properties valued up to $50 million, to Exotic Cars and the most fabulous selection of Boats and Yachts from Fort Lauderdale, to Investment Art and Collectibles or Designer Goods.... they all recognise the importance of the Spanish marketplace... thus we are delighted to bring our readers even more than just Spain... but still with a Spanish connection...
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What's Your Pleasure? Our partners at Midas Touch offer a vast array of products and services. We can source luxury properties, exotic and classic automobiles, yachts and cruise ships, aeroplanes, microlights, wedding destinations, fashion, jewellery, antiques, furnishings and everything inbetween from mobile phones to electric bikes. Let us know your pleasure... luxury@MidasTouchMagazine.com
LOCAL TOUCH A little local knowledge can go a long way, no matter where you are. It's even more important in Spain, especially if you don't speak Spanish. Midas Touch Magazine also has local partners and associates who offer that personal touch, no matter what you need. If you can offer a special service to our readers, please contact us at: sales@MidasTouchMagazine.com.
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LOCAL TOUCH: TKO 91.9fm Radio
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FM
TKO brings you a great line-up of professional, experienced and local presenters. Our style and genre of music has often be described as being "Modern Radio 2", playing non-stop classic hits and the very best from the UK Top 40. After 10 years they are still doing it, and doing it right...
Schedule Monday to Friday: 07:00 - Peter Hurst 09:00 - Chris Ashley 11:00 - Dennis Christian 13:00 - Alex Trelinski 16:00 - Neil Couzens
Follow Keith on: www.facebook.com/radiokeith Saturday:
Join Keith Nicol every weekend for the Saturday Session: 3.00pm until 6.00pm Spanish time. The best music from today and yesteryear, sports updates, chat, requests and dedications plus a little nonsense picked up from the World Wide Web. Keith is just one of TKO's team of expereinced presenters bringing the best in radio entertainment for the English Community on the Southern Costa Blanca and beyond. Tune in, around the corner or around the world on www.tko.fm / listen locally on 91.9fm or 90.8fm and don't forget to send them your requests, dedications, quiz answers via email: studio@tko.fm, Facebook at: TKO Spain or www.TKO.fm
09:00 - Trev Massey 12:00 - Peter Hurst 15:00 - Keith Nicol Sunday 09:00 - Trev Massey 12:00 - Tony De Love 15:00 - Gordon Lack
Coys Rent-A-Car Mike and Heidi, the owners of Coys Rent a Car are not only celebrating being together for 25 years next year but also the running of their successful car hire business, Coys Rent a Car, for the past 20 years, since 1995. Heidi said `working together for this long is sometimes testing but we must make a great team as it has worked really well for us." The couple, originally from the Midlands, add that they always finish the day with a smile and forget about work when arriving at home. Mike and Heidi decided to leave their jobs in the UK back in 1995 and seek pastures new in one of the healthiest places in the world where they could eventually raise a family. Back home Mike was a Sales Executive for Peugeot and Heidi was a travel agent so life changed more than just a little when they arrived in Spain although Mike’s history and knowledge of the car industry has always complimented their car rental business. Coys Rent a Car is an independent car hire company serving the Costa Blanca and including Alicante-Elche and Murcia (San Javier) airports. Based in Torrevieja, Coys Rent a Car do not claim to be the cheapest when you compare prices on the internet, however you can be sure that the price you get quoted will be the price you pay on arrival with no hidden surprises. The company has a very clear pricing structure, so as not to confuse the customer, as they understand from experience that a happy customer means that their business will continue to prosper even further. Mike said "we appreciate that hiring a car can sometimes be a confusing experience. We try hard to make car hire as simple and as transparent as possible. We are not just offering competitive prices with no hidden charges but we offer the highest of customer service, easy booking procedure, fast replies and most of all; quality cars." They have an excellent easy to use website www.coysrent-a-car.com Or if you prefer, you can also email them on info@coysrent-a-car.com Or telephone them on (0034) 966 702 816 or (0034) 629 362 764 You can also Like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter. 60
This Is Spain Welcome to This Is Spain The intention of ThisIsSpain.info is to give information to those considering moving to Spain or those already here; particularly those still finding their way around. Our specialist area of knowledge is the Costa Del Sol (in particular the Marbella/Fuengirola/Mรกlaga area), the Costa Blanca (in particular the Torrevieja/Orihuela Costa area) and the Canaries (Lanzarote). However, much of the information will be applicable to all of Spain. We also run ThisIsFuengirola.info and ThisIsBenidorm.info. To help those looking to purchase a property, we have partners all over Spain ready to offer you bespoke services: to help you find that perfect property. For more information please contact us through: luxury@MidasTouchMagazine.com. The driving force behind ThisIsSpain is my desire to give accurate and upto-date information about expat life. With a country that is changing as fast as Spain, this is not always easy and hence I always value updates and new information. Please do not hesitate to advise me, through the contact pages, of any additions or errata. Muchas gracias.
ThisIsSpain.info owner: Steve Hall
We have contacts in every sector of Spanish Life and can put you in touch with lawyers, builders, financal advisors, web designers, translators, film makers, photographers, entertainers, clubs, groups, associations, town hall officials, departments of tourism and all other areas, to make your stay, or life in Spain, as perfect as possible.
www.ThisIsSpain.info
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MIDAS TOUCH SELECTION Valencia: Your place in the City 700,000â‚Ź This is just an amazing bargain to buy in the historical centre of Valencia near to the Torres Serranos. It is right in the heart of the Carmen but on a pedestrianised square. The whole building is for sale with over 800m2 available in four floors. There is even an extra part that is partially finished to the rear which offers a brilliant opportunity to have amazing glassed in terraces with views of the old Arabic wall that used to surround Valencia. The entrance leads us to an open plan lobby with potential to be a great common area for a hotel as there is a hotel quality kitchen on the first floor. Each floor is totally open plan with around 200m2 per floor and there whole building has been fully modernised recently. To the rear the extra unfinished part of the building stands ready to make this property extremely special. The building has plenty of possibilities and also boasts a large roof terrace and even an observatory. The potential for development is huge and the potential for eventual capital gain must also be considered if developed in the right way. This will be a brilliant hotel or it could also suit a group of friends wanting to have a flat each as each floor has a door leading from the stairwell and they are independent. There is also space to put in a lift if required. The best value building currently for sale in central Valencia in our opinion. For more information, please contact Steve at: luxury@MidasTouchMagazine.com
MIDAS TOUCH SELECTION Asturias: Stylish Country House Hotel
Beautifully renovated, with a stylish eye for detail, this fully operational country house hotel has a total of 8 en-suite bedrooms spread over 3 floors and a build size of 500m2. Nestled in grounds of 3,800m2 the property has stunning views to the Picos de Europa mountains. This Indiano-style mansion was renovated in 2006 by a Madrileña fleeing the stresses of big city life. It was her dream project and she poured her heart and soul (as well as her excellent taste and considerable sums of money) into the renovations and established an idyllic country retreat. But sometimes life has other plans for us. When her mother fell ill she was required to scale back the business and instead devote herself to being a carer. At the same time, the economic crisis struck – bad news for anyone with a million euro property to sell. She hung on, juggling the business and family commitments, closing for months at a time and rejecting the handful of offers that came in. Now the day has come when she wonʼt wait any longer. Sheʼs just slashed more than 50% off the initial asking price, putting this dream property within easy reach of the latest generation of big city escapees. A one million euro property marketed for urgent sale at just 450,000 euros More details direct from Steve: luxury@MidasTouchMagazine.com
MIDAS TOUCH SELECTION Malaga: Exclusive Villa POA
Villa for sale in El Madroñal, Benahavis, Málaga Stunning south-facing mansion on an extensive plot and surrounded by nature. Situated in the mountains above San Pedro, within a gated community with 24 hour security. A beautiful driveway leads to a magnificent courtyard with fountain, with the main house on the right and to the left a guest house with its own entrance gate. Distributed over 2 levels, accommodation comprises: on ground floor: entrance hall with guest toilet; living/dining room with fireplace; lounge with fireplace; kitchen; laundry room; amazing spa area with indoor heated pool, Turkish bath, sauna, massage room and gym. Most of the rooms have access to the beautiful garden with sea views. Upstairs: study with fireplace and access to enormous terrace; en-suite master bedroom with terrace with sea views and ensuite guest bedroom. There is also an independent apartment comprising: living/dining room with fireplace; kitchen; 3 bedrooms, 2 en-suite and the other with shower pre-installation and a guest toilet. Enormous terrace with spectacular views to the coast. Lower level: games room; wine cellar; storage area and machinery room. Garage for 3 cars. Guest house: living/dining room with fireplace; 3 en-suite bedrooms; nice terrace; guest toilet and garage for 2 cars. Lovely landscaped garden with plenty of space for outdoor entertaining. Other features include: under-floor heating except lower level, perimetral alarm system and lift. A delightful family home, close to golf courses and within a 7 minute drive to Puerto Banús. Contact Steve: luxury@MidasTouchMagazine.com
MIDAS TOUCH SELECTION Marbella: Six Bed Villa 5,400,000₏ A property with an absolute WOW factor! This is NOT a property for everybody but it is most definitely a home for SOMEBODY! This is a brand new villa with a WOW factor! Breathtaking panoramic sea and mountain views, one of the best you can find in Marbella! This high-tech, contemporary villa is located in the most prestigious area of The Golden Mile. It is built to the absolute highest standard, using the best materials and most luxurious modern technology. From the grand entrance to the huge living room, you have amazing views to the terrace and the sea. On the ground floor it consists of 4 large bedrooms all with en suite bathrooms. Double living area with fireplace, dining room, Bulthaup kitchen and a separate entrance. There is another bedroom en suite with salon and kitchenette for guests or au pair. On the first floor a spacious master bedroom with bathroom en suite, big walk-in wardrobes, bathroom with jacuzzi and large terrace offering stunning sea and mountain views! There is 305m² of basement with a cinema, a billiard room and a cellar which has a large window overlooking the outdoor pool. Under the terrace by the pool there is the spa with its sauna, pool and dip-fitness area and a window view into the swimming-pool, giving natural light to the room. All areas of the villa are accessible by stairs or elevator. This modern villa has a full home automation system, burglar and fire protection, cooling, heating and audio and video equipment in all common rooms, bedrooms and terraces, all running through panels or I-pads. The garden is big and flat with a 15m x 7m pool. At the end of the terrace there is a covered pergola with outdoor kitchen. BBQ and bar area with magnificent views! Air conditioning, underfloor heating, sliding glass doors into the walls and all electric blinds. For more information, please contact Steve: luxury@MidasTouchMagazine.com
Mallorcan Idyll If you have never visited Mallorca, do not miss out on this wonderful island and take a drive to the northwest coast where the Tramuntana area will surely surprise. Declared a Unesco heritage site it is a natural treasure ready to discover.
Driving up from Palma towards the mountains you pass through the historical village of Valldemossa with its ancient Cistercian monastery and quaint stone-paved streets. The road continues towards Deià and the winding route reveals glimpses of the Mediterranean glistening below, its appearance silky smooth and tantalising. I resist the temptation to stop on the narrow road until arriving at the Son Marroig viewpoint. The vista is stunningly beautiful. If you have time, visit the house and gardens of the Archduke Luis Salvador who himself fell in love with Mallorca and dedicated much time to not only creating paths through the mountains –which are still in use today- but also writing in depth and with great knowledge about the local flora and fauna. His work is still used as a point of reference today.
The road continues alongside a rocky, olive-strewn landscape until you reach the tiny village of Deià, popular with artists of all genres. Here stands the luxury hotel, Belmond La Residencia, of which so much has been written. From the moment I enter the driveway it feels as though I am entering a private country estate. There is no hint of it being a ʻgrande dameʼ with the usual fanfare that greets arrivals at exclusive properties. Here is a warm, friendly welcome with an offer to settle in a seat, take in the dramatic view, relax from the journey and enjoy a glass of cava. The luggage, the car, the passport were taken care of while I was unwinding. A great start! The remainder of my stay did not disappoint. The hotel fits snugly into the village and seems to exist in total harmony with the locals. Walls are hung with paintings by an array of local artists, the hotel gallery had a temporary exhibition by another local artist, and guests are encouraged to hone their creative talents by booking a painting class or a creative workshop with the sculptor who also offers classes in the art of silver clay, and lino cutting. Alternatively, a local potter is also on hand for those interested in hand-made pottery. Her plates adorn the tables of El Olivo, the gastronomic restaurant within the property. Or you can take a stroll through the grounds with the sculptor in residence who also curates the Sculpture Garden. He is a mine of information about the sculptors whose works scatter the terrain, mingling in among the lemon, orange, fig and pomegranate trees. My stay coincided with the weekly guided tour of the village with an opportunity to meet artists in their studios giving an insight into local lore and what people find so special about Deià. There is a diversity of personalities and styles –but all agree that the special light and Mediterranean atmosphere of this tiny village were a source of inspiration for them. Belmond La Residencia has all the facilities you expect of a 5 star hotel, but what makes it special is the discretion, the understated luxury and the additional extras: a complimentary boat trip to see the northwest coastline of the island from the sea; a cooking class with the Chef, a master class with an artist, a hillside trek through the olive groves to see where the olives grow that produce their own extra virgin olive oil and, at the top, led along by the hotelʼs donkeys, a beautiful picnic where I sampled an array of local products and learned how the Mallorcans prepare their ʻpa amb oliʼ. I learnt about the salt from the east of Mallorca and sampled some that had been flavoured by the hotel
chef; had an olive oil tasting and learnt about the different local olive varieties, and saw the ramallet tomato that is grown here and kept hanging from one year to the next so that there is always a tomato available to rub on that country bread!!! All was washed down with local wine and after the meats, cheeses, pies and tarts, not forgetting the sweet ensaimada –the return trip downhill seemed to pass in the blink of an eye. What a discovery for me! I was hooked on the island, hooked on the sea and the mountains, and hooked on this beautiful hotel gem that provides comfort, excellent service, top quality facilities and cuisine but in a simple, informal way that appealed to my free spirit and made me feel as though I was part of a family.
This is a property whose celebrity visitors fills pages, yet it is not what one expects of a celebrity hideaway as there is absolutely nothing glitzy about it. But after meeting the staff, experiencing the wonderful warm welcome, excellent service
and sublime cuisine, I began to understand why this appeals to a certain kind of celebrity. Here they pass by unnoticed. They will be treated the same as every other guest and left alone. On a trip into the village, and a few wines later, I was chatting to some residents and all of them agreed that the hotel formed part of village life and yes, now and then, you would spot a famous face wandering about the village, but no-one bats an eyelid. They are welcomed as any other person and left to enjoy village life.
This is a unique hotel property and I am sure much work goes on behind the scenes to guarantee it all works so splendidly well. The staff is wonderful and a major factor in its success and then the location is unbeatable so it ticked all the boxes for me and was a true revelation. I felt as though I was in the Mediterranean as I had imagined it when reading books about this part of the world –the landscape, the light, the vegetation and the local people. A far cry from what some picture as a tourist destination. Here the slow pace of life and the tranquility I breathed induced enormous peace and relaxation. www.belmond.com/laresidencia Tel: +34 971 639 011
The future of email is already here: Vmail@MidasTouchMagazine.com
The future of email is already here: Vmail@MidasTouchMagazine.com
THE LAST WORD Costa Blanca: Bespoke Villas 990,000â‚Ź
CONTEMPORARY VILLA 4 BEDROOMS – 4 BATHROOMS With a plot of 725m2 and living space of 247m2, these beautiful contemporary villas offer beautiful Golf and Country views in one of the most desirable areas of the Southern Costa Blanca. DESIGN & BUILD The custom designed villas are only a short walk from the famous La Glea beach in Campoamor, where you will find several popular restaurants including exclusive sushi restaurants. To the other side you will find a supermarket just a few hundred meters away, which is also the starting point for the famous Cabo Roig Strip with restaurants, bars, cafes, shops, plenty of night life and much more. This proposed villa will be build to the client's satisfaction by a long standing developer who offers bespoke specification. You can also have exclusive furnishings, artwork and any manner of special touches to make this your dream home in Spain. For more information and to view the showhouse, please contact Steve: luxury@MidasTouchMagazine.com
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