The Olive Press Catalunya magazine June 2012 issue 49

June 2012 issue 49

CATALUNYA

2 email: info@the-olive-press.com Tel: 977 457 201

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Antiques Secondhand furniture Curiosities Trading Centre Calle L Mina 13, El Perelló more info contact 681 005 363 Opening hours Wed/Thurs/Fri/Saturday 10.00am till 1.00pm. Will be extended as we get busier. 3

Welcome to the June edition of “The Olive Press ” Now each month for 4 years without a miss.

Please note our New Web Site www.the-olive-press.com E-mail info@the-olive-press.com

We are now a truly Catalan magazine with distribution from Vinaros in the south To Roses In the north.

IF YOU WANT TO REACH EXPATS IN CATALUNYA…NO BETTER WAY. Perfect Advertising for Solar power Suppliers, independent Financial Advisors, Vets, Securit y, Architects S u r v e yor s , T r a n s l ator s , I n s u r a n c e A g e n t s , R e m o va l s , T r av e l a g e n t s , S t o r a g e , L aw y e r s , B u i l d e r s , D . I . Y, Plumbers, Car Repairs, Tax Advisors, Air Con, Heating, Computer, Printing, Broadband, Satellite TV, Mortgages and Loans, Estate Agents, Pool Supplies, Dentists, Doctors…etc…etc.

Please visit : www.the-olive-press.com 977 457 201 / 663 921 172 For More Info Adver tising prices 1/8 Page....45€ 1/6 Page....55€ 1/4 Page....80€ 1/3 Page....100€ 1/2 Page....145€ Full Page....250€ Deposito Legal:MA 1565-2008

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looking for a business then visit our business directory online. see our web site for daily updates of classifieds and extra useful information.

Disclaimer: No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means without prior permission in writing from the publisher. The Olive Press does not accept responsibility for the contents of the articles supplied by contributors nor for the claims made by advertisers

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Deadlines: Adverts 15th Articles: 12th of the month.

No adverts or artwork in the Olive Press Catalunya magazine or web site may be reproduced or used for print, media or web in part or in their entirety without the express permission of the Olive Press Catalunya. Adverts. and logos remain the property of the magazine.

To use any artwork please contact us.

Contributors: Clodagh & Dick Handscombe David PiqueJeff Greensmith Stuffed Olive Designs COVER PICTURE: midsummer faeries (Jane The Olive Press) What is Midsummer?

One of the most magical times of year is Midsummer, also known as the Summer Solstice. It is the longest day of the year alongside the shortest night and is distinguished as the first day of summer.

The actual date of the longest day occurs each year either on or within a few days either side of 21st June, but Midsummer is generally celebrated on the eve of the 21st. Some get up before the dawn of the longest day to watch the sun rise and take advantage of the long sunlight hours to party and dance well into the evening.

Midsummer has long been celebrated as the time of greatest light and abundance in nature. Fairies know that there are many more weeks of warmth, light, flowers, fruits and grains to come before the year turns to winter and the greater darkness of Midwinter. It is a time of plenty and bountiful feasts are enjoyed everywhere in Fairyland. Their favourite pastime is dancing and having parties and balls, which they do often, but their particular favourite time of year is midsummer and therefore their most wonderful balls are held on the Midsummer's Eve.

4 email: info@the-olive-press.com Tel: 977 457 201

LIVEContents PRESS What’s News-In Spain

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PC Tips

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Your Horoscope Can it be True?

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Health 14 The Lighter Side Catalunyan Fiestas

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Property Update Black and Blues

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Gourmet Treat your taste buds

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Law

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Home & Garden

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Eco and you

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Crossword Classifieds Business Card Directory

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The Queens Diamond Jubilee As at 1 January 2012: 1. The Queen is the second longest serving monarch. Only five other kings and queens in British history have reigned for 50 years or more. They are: • Victoria (63 years) • George III (59 years) • Henry III (56 years) • Edward III (50 years) • James VI of Scotland (James I of England) (58 years) 2. The Queen is the fortieth monarch since William the Conqueror obtained the crown of England.

3. Since 1952 The Queen has given Royal Assent to more than 3,500 Acts of Parliament.

4. Over the reign, Her Majesty has given regular audiences to 12 Prime Ministers.

They are: • Winston Churchill 1951-55 • Sir Anthony Eden 1955-57 • Harold Macmillan 1957-63 • Sir Alec Douglas-Home 1963-64 • Harold Wilson 1964-70 and 1974-76 • Edward Heath 1970-74 • James Callaghan 1976-79 • Margaret Thatcher 1979-90 • John Major 1990-97 • Tony Blair 1997-2007

Looking For A Mortgage In Spain?

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tel: 667 917 458 • Gordon Brown 2007-2010 • David Cameron 2010 - present 5. Tony Blair was the first Prime Minister to have been born during The Queen's reign. He was born in early May, 1953 - a month before the Coronation.

6. The Queen has attended every opening of Parliament except those in 1959 and 1963, when she was expecting Prince Andrew and Prince Edward respectively.

7. There have been six Archbishops of Canterbury during The Queen's reign (Archbishops Geoffrey Fisher, Michael Ramsey, Donald Coggan, Robert Runcie, George Carey and Rowan Williams).

8. There have been six Roman Catholic Popes during The Queen’s reign (Pius XII, John XXIII, Paul VI, John Paul I, John Paul II, Benedict XVI).

9. The Queen has received two Popes on visits to the UK (Pope John Paul II in 1982 and Pope Benedict XVI in 2010).

Pope John Paul II’s visit in 1982 was the first Papal visit to the United Kingdom for over 450 years. Her Majesty has officially visited the Vatican three times in her reign – in 1961 visiting Pope John XXIII and in 1980 and 2000 visiting Pope John Paul II. 10. The Queen is currently patron of over 600 charities and organisations, over 400 of which she has held since 1952

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with a gang and using the technique known in Spain as ‘el butron’ by which they break into the jewellers shop from the premises next door.

In addition to the shop the man purchased a luxury design loft in Madrid in his mother’s name and used it for his larger deals.

Police say the gang’s earnings were enormous and that they enjoyed a lifestyle which was far from common with lunches in the best restaurants and super luxury cars, as well as making frequent visits to casinos.

All the members of the gang including two women, one of them the mother, have all be indicted on charges of money laundering.

news in spain Spanish property prices fall 11.5% he average price of home in Spain fell by 11.5% in March compared to the same month last year, according to Spain’s most widely-watched annualised House Price Index compiled by Tinsa, a leading property valuation firm. he annualised decline in Spanish property is the highest since the housing crash got underway over four years ago.

Spanish property prices have, on average, now dropped by 28.6% since the crisis started in December 2007 and by 35% along the coast, where the greatest glut of homes are located. he well documented Spanish proper ty crash shows no sign of abating as the country’s economy continues to look increasingly fragile, while national and international demand for properties remains historically low. dvisor y firm R.R. de Acuna & Asociados recently projected that the average price of a home in Spain will fall by 12%-14% this year the most since the National Statistics Institute started tracking values in 2007.

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Jewellery thief buys shop where his mother sold his booty The man was part of a large gang who carried large scale operations across Spain A jewellery thief who established a shop where his mother could sell the items to the public has been arrested.

Much of the jewellery was taken by the man

Junta de Andalucía removes custody from couple because of 'pre-natal ill treatment'

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he couple's lawyer has said the Junta should have asked if anyone else in the family could take over the care of the child.

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he Junta de Andalucía has removed custody from the parents of a baby boy who was born last January 25 in Granada, declaring him to be abandoned, and in the belief that the child suffered ‘pre-natal ill treatment’ for a ‘lack of control during the pregnancy’.

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he mother is 70% disabled and the father also is mentally handicapped, although this has not been officially diagnosed. The parents have not had time to register the child in the Civil Registry, and their lawyer, Martin García, has complained that the Junta has not made contact with the parents’ family.

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In the first place, the Junta should have asked if any in their family could take charge of the child, and not just handed it over to an unknown family’, said the lawyer.

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he Junta de Andalucía has justified their decision on the incapacity of the parents. he couple had a baby girl five years ago, who was also declared as being abandoned.

6 email: info@the-olive-press.com Tel: 977 457 201

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can it be true n a g ro u n d breaking new travel p l a n Rya n a i r passengers will have to fly in their own hand luggage. s p o ke s m a n t o l d t h e olive press “ we will be able to slash costs!, we won’t need seats, or toilets or cabin crew… I know you are thinking .. Once you’ve climbed in, you’re unable to ca r r y yo u rs e l f to t h e aircraft, or throw yourself in the hold, this is not a problem as we have created a surcharge for this” egular traveller Roger Rickets commented “it will ruin the whole experience we will no longer be able to stand in a queue (started by people who think there are not enough seats) for 2 hours before the flight, r have to s u b j e c t our luggage to appliance breaking pressure in the metal cage ( not a problem at Spanish airports ..they can’t be bothered) and then joy of joys after queuing for 2 hours making sure no one jumps in, you are put in a holding lobby (where the swarthy man with the strange moustache who turned up last) is now next to the exit door. he race across the tarmac in a panic looking to see which steps are entering quicker is great fun, and the staff welcome, well what can I say ! e will not have the opportunity to purchase e l e c t ro n i c c i ga rette s o r l o tte r y t i c ket s o r triangulated whatevers. nd maybe they will be stopping the tannoy announcement that they have arrived 20 minutes early ( by overestimating the flight by 30 minutes) It just will not be the same”And what about random security checks will they now say “Did you pack yourself, yourself ”

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gains in future quarters, although some of this may be offset by squinting.

Help will also come in the form of a new really big 20€ note which experts predict could be up to 8% larger than the previous one.

The outlawing of downward or horizontal arrows is also expected to boost confidence and reduce the possibility of a double-dip recession; a term which, in itself, is to be gradually be phased out in favour of the new term ‘super happy fun time’.

New Health & Safety rules introduced to regulate the work of Vampires

Vampi res have reacted in dismay to a new raft of measures being forced upon them by the Health & Safety Executive. A spokesman for the HSE said, "For too long, the activities of vampires have carried on without any regulation or thought for public safety. It's time for that to change.

We don't want to stop them killing, we just want to make sure they do it with one eye on people’s welfare."

Amongst the new rules is the need for vampires to complete a detailed risk assessment before leaving their coffin. They must also wear a high visibility jacket during the hours of darkness. This was due to a recent compensation claim put in by Mrs Janet Thomas of Shrewsbury. She tripped over a vampire feeding on a teenager in a dark alley, badly spraining her ankle and successfully sued him for several thousand pounds.

Jacob Evans, a former blacksmith, but now a vampire for over 250 years, said, "It's crazy. We've survived quite happily for all this time feasting on the blood of defenceless victims without these petty rules. I've murdered thousands of people up 'til now and I've never had a single piece of negative feedback. It feels like we are under attack from all sides. We used to have one of the best occupational pension schemes available as it could sit and mature for several centuries. Now, even that is a stakeholder."

"If this carries on I may have to chose an alternative career path. With my current skill set of stalking the weak and striking without mercy when least expected, I could easily become a traffic warden. But come on, even I have standards!"

The IMF has forecast an increase in global economic growth by ‘about this much’ over the coming year; a measure that will equate to about a “cm or so” on most standard PowerPoint presentations.

Governments have also agreed that by implementing a 640 x 480 resolution and changing the scale used on both sides of the graph, the global economy can look forward to increased

8 email: info@the-olive-press.com Tel: 977 457 201

A.R.C.A. NEWS.

To help save the economy, the Government will announce next month that the Immigration Department will start deporting seniors (instead of illegal immigrants) in order to reduce NHS, state pension, bus pass and care home costs.

LIFES A BEACH FOR BONNIE. Bonnie was found up in the mountains almost at deaths door, very thin and had recently had pups, which were not found with her, we adopted her from A.R.C.A. 6 years ago, she is such a loving, gentle dog & so happy to be loved & in a safe home. A.R.C.A. have many loving dogs like Bonnie, wanting a second chance, sadly they have a short life and for many a very sad one, if you can change a life of just one dog the reward is amazing, you have a true friend & companion which is unbeatable.

You can text or call me on 678 975 816.

Many thanks once again, Mave.

Older people are easier to catch, make less fuss and will not remember how to get back home. I started to get upset when I thought of you.

Then it dawned on me ... oh, sod it .....

I'll see you on the bus

PC TIPS 1. Learn how to shutdown your computer correctly.

Its important and is often taken for granted, shutting down incorrectly can cause endless amounts of problems. When a computer is shut down suddenly, and without warning, the computer is usually in the middle of an operation. The main problem is that if an operation is interrupted it usually remains unfinished and leaves stray or corrupt files lingering on your computer.

2. Know where to store your files the files that you create. You should not save files just anywhere on your computer. Everything you save or create should go into your documents folder in Windows XP. The documents also has other folders in it such as my pictures and my music. On Windows Vista you need to save your files in your username section. You should not save files in C: drive or even in C:Program Files.

3. Install programs to the correct location on C: drive.

This is an easy task, as all program , by default, get installed in C:Program Files. Unfortunately sometimes people presume they need to choose where to install a program and change the default destination.

4. Do not change default settings. “If it is not broke, don’t fix it.” People touch things they are not supposed to and cause problems. Most of the time if you just use your computer, and not fiddle with its settings, then your computer will run smoothly and without problems.

5. U n i n s t a l l n a g g i n g t r i a l p r o g r a m s a n d u n u s e d programs in the correct way.. It is important to know how to do certain tasks correctly, and removing programs is one of them. Too many people think that if they remove the desktop icon, then the program has been deleted also. This is not true. Each program has files scattered in different locations on you computer hard drive. These need to be removed by correctly and thoroughly.

6. Complete a computer basics course. It will save you money on repairs in the end. People can easily

rip you off when repairing computers.

7. Learn how to perform computer maintenance and stick to a schedule. Buy an Antivirus program if you plan to be on the internet. Don’t skimp on this one.

Getting a virus can crash your entire computer and even damage hardware components. It is not worth risking your computers health by skimping on a an Antivirus program. Free Antivirus programs are OK in some circumstances, however they cannot protect you when you get hit by a serious virus. Perform regular updates. This is a great basic computer tip that is often overlooked. This includes downloading and installing Windows updates and Antivirus definition updates.

They are both as important as each other. Firstly Windows updates usually contain necessary patches and updates that keep your computer up to date and ready for almost anything. Without these updates, your computer could be vulnerable to attacks and also prone to problems with programs. The updates are there to keep your computer up with the times, not to spy on you, as some people might think. Also updating your virus definitions is a vital process and needs to be performed to keep your computer safe.

If you do not update your virus definitions, your virus checker will only be looking for outdated viruses, not the newly developed ones.

8. Backup your files. The best thing to do with your files is to store them on a separate partition or hard drive to the operating system. For example if you had C: drive and D: drive you should have Windows installed on C: drive and your saved files D: drive.

This way if your computer crashes then the files will still be safe…But this does not mean you do not have to backup important files. You should have two copies of any important files and they should be stored in different locations.maybe on a disc for example.

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This 150 year old farmhouse with a build size of 400m2 beautifully placed within a plot of 10,000m2 was creatively restored in the last ten years by its current owners who’s attention to detail and use of natural materials and textures are without equal.

The house has six bedrooms, three shower rooms and one bathroom.

It is situated near the village of El Perello in Southern Tarragona with an

asking price of 684.000â‚Ź

To see the full spectacle of this property please visit our website www.la-cala-realty.com and take a virtual tour.

la cala realty Tel 977493540

10 email: info@the-olive-press.com Tel: 977 457 201

Cancer (June 21-July 20) No matter what your daily life is like, all you may think of is being rather adventurous, taking trips to places foreign and exotic, trekking to a wild piece of land and nesting there and doing it all without informing anyone of your plans. This may sound exciting but you'll plop down somewhere and not know where you are. Look at travel brochures instead.

Leo (July 21-Aug. 22) Money and some of its vicissitudes may leap at you like a raging tiger.

Hold steady in the face of other people's ideas, sense of power, and sad tales of love lost. You may consider the lost loves you've had in the past and realize they served you in ways that led to spiritual insights.

Things ease up and you'll be back in your regular sun-filled power seat soon. Then what will you do?

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) It would be good to shift away from the self and focus on partnerships or your intimate other(s) and achieve more cooperation. This helps fulfill your life purpose, actually. And fills in any voids you may feel about your life and yourself. All tensions will have the purpose of lessons to be learned. Beware of any deception or idealization occurring. Maintain truth.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct.22) Your home is here and there for a time. You seek better arrangements for more comfort. Tranquility is most important as is order and organization. As you change you must inform others of your needs and wants. This allows for harmony and cooperation, two qualities that support the core of your work and relationships. Show a little more kindness if you can. The results exceed your expectations.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov.21) You see objects of beauty, artwork, things you can invest in and your desire becomes great. Careful.

Only use money that remains after daily needs are met. You seek pleasure, more than usual, so you can talk more, ask more questions, be sociable. You find love in your environment, more than you realized. Tell others you love them.

This is not imaginary.

Sagittarius(Nov. 22-Dec. 20) Are you being called from home? To come home? Are you feeling like home is a place that you both want solitude in but also a place you want to flee from? Is the past upwelling and do you feel somewhat out of control?

Is the money situation so difficult you want to bury your head in the warm sand and never emerge again?

This will continue and you have the vision and manifesting abilities to gradually make things right again.

Accept this.

Capricorn(Dec. 21-Jan. 20) You will assist others this month. You will feel compassion and it will flow from your lips. You will communicate with concern and care and will help those who need you with grace, tenderness, kindness and mercy.

You will consider things religious.

You will make decisions based on benevolence and forgiveness. All Soul qualities.

Aquarius(Jan. 21-Feb.18) Where did the money go? And where will more of it come from? Instead of asking these questions, go on a tithing spree. What's that? Giving to those in need. Giving to everyone around you. Finding ways to give that no one knows about. Know that to those who give, more is given, so you can give some more. A treatise of prosperity.

Pisces (Feb. 18-March 20) YYou may not have clear thinking this month, or next. Instead, your inner self has taken itself to a monastery, to places behind the scenes for refreshment. Inspirations come in the form of ideas on how to save the world. Hold off on them for awhile. Nothing's realistic at this time. Only idealistic. Keep your feet warm, write poetry, and replace the mystical with the occult.

Aries (March 21-April 20) You've become so Piscean that no one understands you. This won't last but beware of feet hurting, stumbling over everything and everyone, and feeling the pressure of being lost and abandoned for a couple of months.

You're not lost or abandoned but things on an inner level pressure you into solitude. It's a saving grace for things to come.

Taurus (April 21-May 21) Nothing but the group matters and so you will forge ahead with group plans, group dreams and goals and make sure discussion occur concern all future endeavors. Know that the goals pursued are not yet able to be manifested but don't allow that to burden you in any way or stop you in your aspirational tracks. The seeding of the seekers has begun.

Gemini(May 23-June20) Amusement may not be available.

At least not the type you seek. Your needs may need to be subordinated to another's needs. Actually you can do this if discussion is allowed with openness and truthfulness.

Careful with sweets and foods you overindulge in. It's a sensitive health time for your digestion and pancreas.

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"I tried hard to answer my phone whilst working, constantly be logged onto Skype and signed into Facebook, but it wasn't enough. can it be true Several well-known Premiership She actually wanted me to initiate footballers are to undergo gender text conversations at least twice a tests after the sport's governing body, week. I mean, come on!"

F I FA b e c a m e s u s p i c i o u s o f t h e i r Gary remembers how 15 years performances. The players, whose ago, with the internet in its relative identities have not yet been released, infancy, he could go on business are thought to belong to some of trips to areas with poor signal and have a Europe’s biggest clubs, including well earned break without so much of a 'I've Chelsea , Barcelona and Roma. told about that several times now, Gary.'

Speaking exclusively to the olive "Today, women want access 24 hr a day, press and on the condition of anonymity, a source FIFA told ev e n i f i t i s o f t e n j u s t t o c r i t i c i s e o u r our reporter: "We first started to housework efforts or lack thereof." suspect their masculinity when we ortunately for men like Gary, other noticed they were wearing silly men like Gary work in technology and clothes and earrings and spending have hit on a compromise. A new app, a long time doing their hair. Several of them have missed their team entitled "That's what she said..." gives guys coaches because they took too chance to recover. The app can be trained long to get dressed." to recognise your partner ’s voice, and "Now the new season has automatically records any conversations so started we're seeing them you can get on with watching the F1. Although behaving like big girl's blouses on the pitch, falling over clutching their faces if another player so much battery life is a concern, the app can manage as brushes past them," the source continued. an astonishing 4 hours of recording without "This isn't the sort of behaviour we would expect committing mobile suicide and cutting its wires. from professional male footballers."

But why would you want to listen back to what "Worse still, every month or so they start behaving you largely ignored the first time round? Well irrationally, shouting at people for no reason and then going off in a strop," the source added. "I you don't have too. The app summarises the don't know if that's related or not." key points; often 5 minutes of recording can be The footballers will undergo a rigorous gender condensed to one screen of text. examination at a FIFA facility next week, when they will be tested against a number of criteria including eople all their ability to burp, leave the toilet seat up and refuse over Europe to ask for directions when they are lost. celebrated last month in memory of popular reptile murderer Saint George, a man lauded for the Men worldwide are feeling the strain of homicide of increasing relationship communication the world's last demands as remaining dragon technology in an act George makes them himself described "available to as "a right bloody nag, literally hoot." anywhere." he murder of Widespread reptiles was internet and for many years considered a noble and worthy phone access act, Saint Patrick having famously made his mean a man is name through the brutal splatting of all the no longer safe from a check-up from his Missus, snakes in Ireland. Countless lesser saints were whether he be in his secret den or abroad, beatified for similar acts including Saint Gerald pretending to be on a business trip. Gary’s of Huddersfield who was famed for throwing a (49) marriage failed after 24 years following a turtle into a wall really hard from two feet away. communication break down.

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"What's a guy supposed to do?", reflects Gary.

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lthough one of Geralds contemparies, Nigel of Toledo, said that the turtle was in fact a meat and potato pie, but we think he is just being mischievous because he himself was overlooked for beatification, despite paying the going rate of four virgins, 1,000 silver ducats and a goat called Pedro who could whistle. t wasn't until 1965 that the Vatican removed the slaughter of defenceless reptilians as a prerequisite of beatification. ambridge expert Professor Threelegs commented “It is only recently that society has deemed that killing sentient beings for no reason is a bad thing. I'm still undecided on the issue."

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A Croydon man who admitted he's not going anywhere nice for his holidays and that he hadn't got any plans for Xmas has been banned from every branch of Hair Associates in the country.

A judge imposed the restraining order after Kevin O'Sullivan repeatedly refused to accept offers of small talk and was found guilty of anti social behaviour. "In the Facebook age, a hairdresser has every right to expect your personal life to be in the public domain, and Mr O'Sullivan has shown almost criminal contempt for the court of public opinion."

Lawyers for Mr O'Sullivan tried to argue that he wasn't planning on going anywhere this summer as he faces an uncertain future at work. However, the judge dismissed this defence, pointing out that his hairdresser should hear about this

potential human drama. Counsel for the defence accepted that there could be no excuse for not having any plans for Xmas, and apologised to the court on his behalf. A plea, that he was scared that politically correct mandarins had made him afraid to discuss Xmas, was accepted.

Since O'Sullivan had apologised and co-operated with the court, a more serious charge of trying to ban Xmas was dropped. If convicted, he could have been sentenced to death by crucifixion, which would have run concurrently with his restraining order.

After a verdict had been reached, it then emerged that O'Sullivan had a long record of anti social behaviour, including an incident where he didn't join a Mexican wave, a refusal to sponsor a man who was going on a cycling holiday for charity and not signing a leaving card for a colleague at work who he didn't really know.

After the sentence was passed, Mr O'Sullivan then ran a gauntlet of angry hairdressers, charity huggers, zany charity fun run clowns and leaving do organisers, who banged their fists on the departing prison van and chased it down the street.

"He's a marked man," said one hairdresser, "he won't be getting a cut and blow dry any time soon."

MySpanishome We are looking for properties in any AREA. So if you have a property to sell please contact: 977 446 655 +34 639 041 277 mobile Stephanie +34 679 499 316 mobile Steve Av. Generalitat 70, 43500, Tortosa, Tarragona, email: info@myspanishome.com www.myspanishome.com

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The secret to getting good sleep every night G ood sleep strategies are essential to deep, restorative sleep you can count on, night after night. By learning to avoid common enemies of sleep and trying out a variety of healthy sleeppromoting techniques, you can discover your personal prescription to a good night’s rest.

The key is to experiment. What works for some might not work as well for others. It’s important to find the sleep strategies that work best for you.

The first step to improving the quality of your rest is finding out how much sleep you need. How much sleep is enough? While sleep requirements vary slightly from person to person, most healthy adults need at least 8 hours of sleep each night to function at their best.

How to sleep better tip 1: Keep a regular sleep schedule Getting back in sync with your b o d y ’s n a t u r a l s l e e p – w a k e cycle—your circadian rhythm— is one of the most impor tant strategies for achieving good s l e e p. I f y o u k e e p a r e g u l a r sleep schedule, going to bed and getting up at the same time each day, you will feel much more refreshed and energized than if you sleep the same number of hours at different times. This holds true even if you alter your sleep schedule by only an hour or two. Consistency is important.

Set a regular bedtime. Go to bed at the same time every night. Choose a time when you normally feel tired, so that you don’t toss and turn. Try not to break this routine on weekends when it may be tempting to stay up late. If you want to change your bedtime, help your body adjust by making the change in small daily increments, such as 15 minutes earlier or later each day.

Wake up at the same time every day. If you’re getting enough sleep, you should wake up naturally without an alarm. If you need an alarm clock to wake up on time, you may need to set an earlier bedtime. As with your bedtime, try to maintain your regular wake–time even on weekends.

Nap to make up for lost sleep. If you need to make up for a few lost hours, opt for a daytime nap rather than sleeping late. This strategy allows you to pay off your sleep debt without disturbing your natural sleep–wake rhythm, which often backfires in insomnia and throws you off for days. Be smart about napping. While taking a nap can be a great way to recharge, especially for older adults, it can make insomnia worse. If insomnia is a problem for you, consider eliminating napping. If you must nap, do it in the early afternoon, and limit it to thirty minutes.

Fight after–dinner drowsiness. If you find yourself

ALL BUILDING WORKS ALL OF CATALUNYA FREE QUOTATIONS ENGLISH AND SPANISH SPOKEN PLEASE CALL 653 847 593 getting sleepy way before your bedtime, get off the couch and do something mildly stimulating to avoid falling asleep, such as washing the dishes, calling a friend, or getting clothes ready for the next day. If you give in to the drowsiness, you may wake up later in the night and have trouble getting back to sleep.

Discovering your optimal sleep schedule Find a period of time (a week or two should do) when you are free to experiment with different sleep and wake times. Go to bed at the same time every night and allow yourself to sleep until you wake up naturally. No alarm clocks! If you’re sleep deprived, it may take a few weeks to fully recover.

But as you go to bed and get up at the same time, you’ll eventually land on the natural sleep schedule that works best for you. night night sleep tight..........

A menstrual cycle has 3 wheels T/F Ashphalt describes rectal problems T/F A G-string is part of a fiddle T/F Semen is a term for sailors T/F Testicles are found on an octopus T/F A pubic hair is a wild rabbit T/F Masturbate is used to catch large fish T/F Foetus is a character on Gunsmoke T/F An umbilical cord is part of a parachute T/F Condom is a large apartment complex T/F An orgasm is a person who accompanies a church choir T/F A diaphragm is a drawing in geometry T/F An erection is when Japanese people vote T/F

14 email: info@the-olive-press.com Tel: 977 457 201

news in spain Top Chef Ferran Adrià accused of cheating his partner

T h e c a s e comes to cour t in October but an out of court settlement may be reached before then One of Spain’s most famous chefs, Ferran Adrià, is to appear in cour t over allegations from his par tner who claims that he was cheated out of fair share in the El Bulli restaurant.

Adrià closed El Bulli last July after a 17 year run, saying he wanted to establish a foundation.

The heirs of Miguel Horta, a former financial backer and shareholder in El Bulli, claim that Ferran Adrià took advantage of their father’s poor health to trick him into selling his share below market price. Horta’s children say their father’s financing of a new bigger kitchen at the restaurant was key to their later success. He got 20% for putting the funds to expand the kitchens in the 1990’s.

Hor ta has since died, and in 2005 was paid 1 million € for the 20% share from Adrià and his business partner Juli Soler who had bought out Hor ta.

The children say that Adrià and Horta deliberately reduced the value of the restaurant nine fold.

The trial date has been set for the end of October in Barcelona although some experts think an out of court settlement will be reached before then.

The Adrià family have since opened tapas bars in Barcelona, and has attracted Telefónica to sponsor the foundation.

British youngster arrested in Mijas for attempting to rob a kiosk

He and a German boy are the suspects in the case.

Tw o y o u n g s t e r s , a German, S.T. born in 1998 and a Briton, B. T. W. bo r n i n 1 9 9 7 , are before the prosecutor after trying to break the lock on a sweet kiosk in the Doña Ermita park in Mijas.

Both the minors are residents of Mijas and were spotted at 9,30pm last Sunday when local police received the call saying that a group of five youngsters, some  carrying skateboards, were trying to get into the kiosk.

A police patrol went to the    scene and found the group,  but none of them was carrying identification. The police  confirmed the padlock had been attacked, but it still  remained intact.  The police considered that  the three Spaniards out of the  five had nothing to do with the attempt to rob the kiosk. The  German and Briton were taken  to the police station and their parents contacted, and they  now are before the Children’s  Prosecutor of the Guardia Civil.





A. M. P. A. R. E. The society for the protection of animals Ebro region. Based in Mora La Nova. We desperately need to re-home dogs to make room for more!

We have over 200 dogs for adoption.

Wendy 637 981158 English Isabel 977 404720 Spanish/ Catalan Donations always appreciated.

www.the-olive-press.com

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Apparently a true one!

Outside England 's Bristol Zoo there is a parking lot for 150 cars and 8 buses. For 25 years, it's parking fees were managed by a very pleasant attendant.

The fees were for cars (£1.40),for buses (about £7).

Then, one day, after 25 solid years of never missing a day of work, he just didn't show up; so the Zoo Management called the City Council and asked it to send them another parking agent.

The Council did some research and replied that the parking lot was the Zoo's own responsibility.

The Zoo advised the Council that the attendant was a City employee.

The City Council responded that the lot attendant had never been on the City payroll.

Meanwhile, sitting in his villa somewhere on the coast of Spain or France or Italy ... is a man who'd apparently had a ticket machine installed completely on his own and then had simply begun to show up every day, commencing to collect and keep the parking fees, estimated at about £560 per day -- for 25 years.

Assuming 7 days a week, this amounts to just over 7 million pounds .... and no one even knows his name.

16

A man walked into O’Higgins bar in San Antoni de Calonge and ordered a pint of the dark liquid.

'Excuse me,' said the only other drinker. 'Is that an Irish accent I detect?'

'It is, sir. Dublin to be exact.'

'Bless my soul,' said the first. 'I'm a Dublin man meself. Ballymun to be precise.'

'Bedad, aren't I from Ballymun meself - Carberry Street in actual fact,' remarked the second.

'Carberry Street is where I was born and raised meself, and St Joseph's was me parish church, Father Dunne the parish priest.'

'Didn't I go to nine o'clock mass every Sunday at St Joseph's. What an amazingly small world.

Did you go to St Joseph's School?'

'I did. I was in Miss Slattery's class.'

'God in heaven. So was I.' Just then the phone rang and the barman said, 'Not too busy at the moment. In fact there's just the Murphy twins here.

Sorry Mr Higgins Couldn’t Resist it….Just one more… ' How is it that we know Christ was Irish?

Well, he was 33, still lived at home with his Mother, whom he thought was still a virgin and she thought he was the son of God. Maybe just one more…

Two Irishmen saw the sign 'Tree fellers wanted'. The first Irishman said 'If Pat had been with us we'd have got that job'.

17

MAJOR CATALUNYAN FIESTAS a sh i ve ha ou w u is y o a y h t If iest n ase l f ace o Y ple a c lo o pl r JuL ct vet fo ta e-oli ge con h t pa @

nfo com ail ipress. m E

PRIDE PARADE PLACA UNIVERSITA SUNDAY 1ST JULY PRE PARADE PARTY 4pm PARADE START 6pm

THE VILLAGE For the fourth year running, Barcelona will host the largest Pride Festival in the Mediterranean – filling the downtown city streets with people, floats and performers.

The parade begins its journey at 6pm on Sunday 1st July, but you are invited to come around 4pm to enjoy the ambience of heated anticipation, and boundless eye candy. The parade route travels direct via Carrer Sepulveda to Plaza Espanya – promising many kilometres of outrageous fun! On arrival at Avenida Maria Cristina (the street below the Magic Fountain), the Village will already be in full swing, and will transform into the main party, which will continue until 2am. The Village and The Avenue are open all day on both Saturday and Sunday.

that are dedicated t o o u r community, and are proud to be part of Pride – and some even with gifts and special offers!

So here is where Pride Barcelona will welcome you, the gateway to many more great experiences!

AVENUE SATURDAY 30 JUNE – SUNDAY 1 JULY. 10am – 02am The main meeting point and the entrance to the Avenue – The Village consists of tents that represent local associations and business partners – as well as a bit of shopping, bars, and a restaurant area.The main feature of the Village is to showcase the non-charitable organisations.

These people work year round to assist and develop our community, as well as playing a large part in organising Pride. This is their chance to show you what they do! Visit them and show your appreciation – and you may even learn something new! Key business partners will also be present, these are companies

18 email: info@the-olive-press.com Tel: 977 457 201

The Gay Pride Parade in Madrid

or the gay community, the Pride Parade F is one of their most important events. It celebrates the LGTB (Lesbian, Gay, Transgender

and Bisexual) culture and demands legal rights such as same-sex marriages. he parade is an annual event that takes place in June in tribute to the Stonewall riots. A little bit of history tinged with social persecution will be touched upon to explain this. These riots took place in 1969, when policemen attacked the Stonewall Inn in New York and arrested all occupants. This triggered the LGTB community to strongly oppose and fight against the persecution of sexual minorities by the government as well as the society. uring the Pride Festival, Chueca becomes a vibrant and multicolored platform for concerts and shows that appreciate the gay community. There are colorful floats, amplified music, flashy dancers and drag queens in the parade. Besides the Chueca, the Pelayo Street and the Vazquez de Mella Plazas emerge as the ultimate hubs for lively activities. umerous gay-friendly hotels and apartments are available in Madrid, especially in Chueca.

They are also open to accommodating the general population so as to bring together a social platform that facilitates easy interaction between the minority and the maj parade held June 27 - July 3rd

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Reforms New Build All trades catered for Plumbing, electrical and tiling Free quotations without obligation Fluent in English and Spanish. www.the-olive-press.com

19

news in spain Madrid junk man accused of taking 3,000 supermarket trolleys Antonio appears in court today J uan facing six months in prison o r t y F y e a r old Juan

Antonio is a humble junkman who lives in Vallecas in Madrid, a n d to day he appears in court charged w i t h stealing 3,000 supermarket trolleys.

found guilty Ia 6ftomonth day h e w i l l g e t sentence.

He’s going to court without a lawyer.

he arrest came T after the police surprised him with

one of the trolleys to which they had installed a GPS system to find the alleged thief. in a container where I often ‘taItgokwas for scrap’, he said. ‘ The people e them do their shopping and then they abandon them anywhere, it ’s normal’, he explained.

uperstore representatives have told S the police that Juan Antonio could have obtained a profit of 290,000 € for the sale of the trolleys.

‘

I’ ve stole nothing, I found t wo trolleys in the street ’, he said to 20 minutos.es. Some weeks ago he argued with his duty lawyer because he refuses to plead guilty and go to prison.

20 email: info@the-olive-press.com Tel: 977 457 201

u think ‘mDi foonI yo h a d t h at e y, I ’ d b e

living with my m o t h e r ? ’ , wa s Juan Antonio’s response.

Registro de la Propiedad Salutacions! Another month is here, with yet more unsettling news for Spain and the European economy... Still, life goes on and surprisingly perhaps, so do property sales.

If you are selling or buying a property in Catalonia, you’ll know that regulations and bureaucracy can be daunting, especially where rural properties are concerned.

Even if you understand the language the terminology can be confusing. So here’s part II of my mini-guide to the more common Spanish property terms.

Notario/a

Notary, Notary Public. State-appointed legal officials that draft and witness many types of contracts in Spain, like the sale of a property, an inheritance or setting up a company.

T h ey e n s u re t h e p a r t i e s u n d e rsta n d t h e contract, that the terms comply with the law, and that any taxes are paid.

The Spanish Land Registry, a public organization that records the ownership of properties along with mortgages, charges and rights-of-way, etc. The information registered at the Registro de la Propiedad is what appears on a property ’s escritura — the title deed.

Seguro, Poliza Insurance, policy.

Señal, Paga y señal, Arras

Deposit paid when the sale of a property is agreed, which then becomes part of the purchase price. The most common type is the Arras Penitenciales deposit: if the buyer pulls out he or she loses the deposit paid. If the seller pulls out, he or she returns double the deposit.

Subrogación

Subrogación —subrogation— of a mortgage is when a buyer takes over the seller’s mortgage.

The advantage for the buyer is that you are taking over a loan that already exists, and so Nota simple doesn’t need to be re-approved — a big plus Spanish Land Registry information note stating in the case of rural fincas, as many banks no the legal situation of a property, basically a longer finance this type of property. brief description plus details of ownership For the seller, the advantage of subrogation and charges. is that you don’t have to pay a mortgage cancellation fee (typically 1% of the balance Obra nueva, Declaración de Obra 2 5 m i n b e a c h e s , s u p e r owed).

Nueva

3-bed house, 4 hectare,

Obra nueva: new-build properties in general. water, bargain price!

Superficie construida The Declaración de Obra Nueva is a notary The total area of a building, including interior procedure for registering an existing building and exterior walls and other ‘non-usable’ areas. at the Land Registry, regardless of whether it really is new or has been there for many years. Requires a certificate from Superficie útil an aparejador (technical architect/surveyor) or architect.

The total ‘usable’ area of a dwelling but not including walls, built-in wardrobes, etc. May include covered balconies and Opción de compra, Alquiler con opción a compra terraces and 50% of non-covered ones.

Purchase option agreement where a buyer acquires the right to buy a property within a set period of time, subject to agreed Tasación conditions. The buyer pays a sum of money, which he or she Valuation or appraisal carried out by a specialist company. loses if the sale-purchase does not go ahead.

Used to calculate a property’s ‘real’ (as opposed to market) The alquiler con opción a compra is a rental agreement that value and to raise a mortgage. gives a tenant the right to buy the property, again, within a time period and subject to defined conditions. The tenant Valor catastral may pay a sum of money, deducted from the final sale price Value assigned by the Catastro, used to calculate municipal if the sale goes ahead. Monthly rental payments are often property taxes (IBI). Usually lower than a property’s appraised deducted too. or market value, especially in the case of rural fincas.

Plusvalía

Vivienda

Préstamo, Préstamo hipotecario

As always, I love to hear your comments and feedback — do feel free to contact me if I can help you in any way.

Jeff Greensmith runs www.fincasdirect.com and is a registered estate agent and experienced Spanish/Catalan translator and interpreter. He has lived in Catalonia since 1986.

Municipal tax on residential properties, based on the increase in the value of the land on which a house is built.

Most councils in this area don’t apply it to in rural dwellings.

The local council can calculate the approximate cost for you.

This tax is paid after the sale, by the seller.

Loan, mortgage loan.

Propietario/a

The owner of an asset or property.

Dwelling

The points contained in this article do not constitute legal advice on the part of Fincas Direct or The Olive Press. Please seek independent advice if in any doubt.

www.the-olive-press.com

21

news in spain

Rodrigo Rato announces his resignation as Chairman of Bankia as the Government says it will intervene in the bank.

The European Commission has said that it will take the economic situation in Spain into account when it decides whether to give Mariano Rajoy more time to reduce the deficit to 3% GDP. ‘Spain has given her European partners an undertaking of a series of objectives in consolidating the budget.

These are the parameters that Spain must respect’ said EC spokesman for Economic Affairs, Amadeu Altafaj.

Despite new criticism from the victor in the French Presidential Election, Francois Hollande, about ending the austerity and his comments that he will not sign the Stability Pact, the EU Commission has said the pact ‘is not stupid’.

Angela Merkel has today also warned that ‘it is impossible to renegotiate the European fiscal pact’.

Bankia has seen its shares drop dramatically after it was revealed that the Government was planning a n i n t e r v e n t i o n . T h e q ua n t i t y o f public money it could receive has been put between 7 and 10 billion € in convertible bonds. The Government and the Bank of Spain are preparing a restructuring plan with changes in top level management. It thought the plan could be approved at Friday’s cabinet meeting.

It ’s thought that Bankia has credit linked to real estate to the value of 37.5 billion €.

O n t h e n e w s t h at a n i n t e r v e n t io n is coming the Chairman of Bankia, Rodrigo R ato , a n n o u n c e d h i s resignation on Monday afternoon, and has proposed that José Ignacio Goirigolzarri to take over the post. He left his job of COE at the BBVA in 2009, w i t h a pe n s io n of m or e than 50 million €.

Ex PP Minister Rato left the post of head of the IMF ‘for personal

reasons’ in 2007 after t h r e e years in the job.

Repsol has s t a r t e d a l e g a l offensive against Argentina after the expropriation of their subsidiary Y P F. T h e y a r e p r e s e n t i n g a

complaint before the ‘Corte de Arreglo de Diferencias Relativas a Inversiones’ in demand of a bilateral agreement.

Meanwhile since Repsol’s departure from Argentina the country is having to pay 31% more its gas. The country has reached deals with Eni, British Petroleum and Petrobras, to cover the shortfall after Repsol cancelled the supply.

Following a lightening visit to the proposed site in Alcorcón, Madrid by the investors in a possible Eurovegas project over the weekend, the PP regional president, Esperanza Aguirre, has promised to accelerate ‘to the maximum’ the town planning permissions for Eurovegas. The Councillor for the Economy said that the Madrid regional government is prepared to immediately resolve the bureaucratic and town planning licences.

The project is backed 79 year old Las Vegas magnate, Sheldon Adelson, wants to start the investment as soon as possible, although he had ruled out that would be in 2013.

The regional government hopes he will confirm his decision before the end of this month.

Foreign buyers are back in Spain buying p r o p e r t y w i t h B a n k o f S pa i n data showing that extranjeros invested 4 . 7 4 8 b i l l io n € i n th e p u r c h a s e of real estate in Spain in 2011. It ’s 27% higher than the number in 2010, and is the largest amount since 2008.

Michelin has announced a temporary ERE redundancy notices for 4,863 employees in Spain. The workers will not be required between M a y a n d S e p t e m b e r, a n d i t describes the measure which affects its four Spanish factories as ‘prudent and responsible’.

Michelin España exports three quarters of their production and says that there has been erratic demand externally.

22 email: info@the-olive-press.com Tel: 977 457 201

You may recognise Lee from Carnicas Fillat and Shelly from the Vines Restaurant They are now running the

Rugby Tavern Vilafortuny, Cambrils.

667 494 950 9am while late

Draught Bitter Guinness Speciality Steaks Freshly Battered Fish, Chips and Peas Just Like Home!

www.the-olive-press.com

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www.catalan-connect.com info@catalan-connect.com Tel: 667 917 458

"New built villa with great views close to Reus Castellmoster" Ref. 14101 villa with pool and ready to move in with 450 sqm living area (total area: 900 sqm) located in Reus (Tarragona) offered for: 590,000 € "House with pool and sea view in Sant Cebria near Sant Pol de Mar" R e f . 1 4 8 8 6 ready to move in with 80 sqm living area (total area: 800 sqm) located in Sant Cebrià de Vallalta (Barcelona) offered for: 269,000 €

"Nice sea view villa in Segur de Dalt close Barcelona" Ref. 13780 house with pool and ready to move in with 175 sqm living area (total area: 870 sqm) located in Calafell (Tarragona) offered for:450,000 €

" To w n h o u s e i n Sitges, Quint Mar" Ref. 14784 house with pool and ready to move in with 205 sqm living area located in Sitges (Barcelona) offered for: 375,000 €

"Villa with Pool in Olivella near Sitges" Ref. 14783 villa with pool and ready to move in with 260 sqm living area (total area: 809 sqm) located in Olivella (Barcelona) offered for: 362,390 €

" To w n h o u s e in Sant Pere de Ribes near Sitges and Barcelona" Ref. 14746 house ready to move in with 122 sqm living area located in Sant Pere de Ribes (Barcelona) offered for: 360,000 €

"Sunny designer h o u s e w i t h great sea views – Palafolls – Costa Brava" Ref. 14734 house ready to move in with 170 sqm living area (total area: 1,800 sqm) located in Sant Genis de Palafolls (Barcelona) offered for: 620,000 €

24 email: info@the-olive-press.com Tel: 977 457 201

"Peaceful country house close to the sea, Sitges and Barcelona" Ref. 14841 rural property ready to move in with 260 sqm living area (total area: 5,000 sqm) located in Vilanova i la Geltrú (Barcelona) offered for: 550,000 €

"Ideal commuters - family home c l o s e t o Barcelona" Ref. 14407 house with pool and ready to move in 250 sqm living area (total area: 1,000 sqm) located in Sant Pere de Vilamajor (Barcelona) offered for: 325,000 € "Large Masia Restaurant with hostel close to Moia" Ref. 13768 hotel / c om m er c ial r eady to move in with 2400 sqm living area (total area: 8,039 sqm) located in Moia (Barcelona) offered for: 750,000 €

"Calm family home with beautiful garden close to Barcelona" Ref. 13816 house with pool and ready to move in with 380 sqm living area (total area: 1,530 sqm) located in Santa Maria de Palautordera (Barcelona) offered for: 300,000 € "Refurbished 3 bedroomed house with 6.25m mooring -Empuriabrava" Ref. 14848 house ready to move in with 100 sqm living area (total area: 284 sqm) located in Empuriabrava (Girona) offered for:395,000 €

"SALE PRICE half of a partly modernised original masiaEspolla" Ref. 14803 rural property partly to renovate located in Espolla (Girona) offered for:550,000€

"Attractive modern villa with pool, walking distance of centre-Palau" Ref. 14800 villa with pool and ready to move in with 180 sqm living area (total area: 806 sqm) located in Palau (Girona) offered for: 425,000 €

"Apartment in Tossa de Mar centre next to the beach" Ref. 14790 apartment ready to move in with 56 sqm living area located in Tossa de Mar (Girona) offered for: 160,000 €

"Great opportunity to purchase a large village house requiring complete refurbishment Garriguella" Ref. 14721 house for restoration with 240 sqm living area (total area: 360 sqm) located in Garriguella (Girona) offered for: 190,000 € "SALE PRICEbeautiful, totally refurbished house, 50m from the beachLlança" Ref. 14636 house ready to move in with 250 sqm living area located in Llançà (Girona) offered for: 370,650 €

"Beautiful modern duplex penthouse with enormous terrace (120sqm) & panoramic views of sea/mountain Roses" Ref. 14671 apartment ready to move in with 100 sqm living area (total area: 220 sqm) located in Roses (Girona) offered for:285,000 € "Penthouse with pool and sea view in Mont-roig del Camp" R e f . 1 4 8 0 5 apartment with pool and ready to move in with 55 sqm living area located in MontRoig del Camp (Tarragona) offered for: 125,000 €

"House with sea view in El Vendrell, 40 minutes from Barcelona" Ref. 14686 house ready to move in with 160 sqm living area (total area: 436 sqm) located in El Vendrell (Tarragona) offered for: 250,000 €

www.the-olive-press.com

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O

ne hundred years ago, a boy-child was born in Mississippi – a dirt-poor, AfricanAmerican who would grow up, learn to sing and play the blues, and eventually achieve worldwide renown. In the decades after his death, he has become known as the King of the Delta Blues Singers, his music expanding in influence to the point that rock stars of the greatest magnitude – the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, the Allman Brothers – all sing his praise and have recorded his songs. hat boy-child was Robert Johnson, an itinerant blues singer and guitarist who lived from 1911 to 1938. He recorded 29 songs between 1936 and ‘37 for the American Record Corporation, which released eleven 78rpm records on their Vocalion label during Johnson¹s lifetime, and one after his death. ost of these tunes have attained canonical status, and are now considered enduring anthems of the genre: “Cross Road Blues,” “Love In Vain,” “Hellhound On My Trail,” “I Believe I¹ll Dust My Broom,” “Walking Blues,” “Sweet Home Chicago.” ike many bluesmen of his day, Johnson plied his craft on street corners and in jook joints, ever rambling and ever lonely – and writing songs that romanticized that existence. But Johnson accomplished this with such an unprecedented intensity, marrying his starkly expressive vocals with a guitar mastery, that his music has endured long after the heyday of country blues and his own short life. ever had the hardships of the world been transformed into such a poetic height; never had the blues plumbed such an

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emotional depth. Johnson took the intense loneliness, terrors and tortuous lifestyle that came with being an African-American in the South during the Great Depression, and transformed that specific and very personal experience into music of universal relevance and global reach. “You want to know how good the blues can get?” Keith Richards once asked, answering his own question: “Well, this is it.” Eric Clapton put it more plainly: “I have never found anything more deeply soulful than Robert Johnson.” he power of Johnson’s music has been amplified over the years by the fact that so little about him is known and what little biographical information we now have only revealed itself at an almost glacial pace.

Myths surrounding his life took over: that he was a country boy turned ladies’ man; that he only achieved his uncanny musical mastery after selling his soul to the devil. Even the tragedy of his death seemed to grow to mythic proportion: being poisoned by a jealous boyfriend then taking three days to expire, even as the legendary talent scout John Hammond was searching him out to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City. n 1990, Sony Legacy produced and released the 2-CD box set Robert Johnson: The Complete Recordings to widespread critical acclaim and, for a country blues reissue, unprecedented sales. The Complete Recordings proved the existence of a potential market for music from the deepest reaches of Sony¹s catalog, especially if buoyed by a strong story with mainstream appeal.

Johnson¹s legend continues to attract an ever-widening audience, with no sign of abating. If, in today¹s world of hip-hop and heavy metal, a person knows of only one country blues artist, odds are it is Robert Johnson.

T

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27

A couple walked into a tourist shop in Jamaica. The Jamaican said to them, I have some special sandals I think you would be interested in. “Dey makes you wild at sex.”

Well, the w i f e wa s r e a l l y interested in buying t h e sandals a f t e r w h at t h e man claimed, but her husband felt he really didn’ t need them, being the sex God he was.

The husband asked the man, “How could sandals make you into a sex freak?” The Jamaican replied, “Just try dem on, Mon.” So, the husband, after some badgering from his wife, finally gave in, and tried them on.

As soon as he slipped them onto his feet, he got this wild look in his eyes, something his wife hadn’ t seen in many years! In the blink of an eye, the husband grabbed the Jamaican, bent him over a table, yanked down h i s pa n t s , r i p p e d d o w n h i s o w n pants, and grabbed a firm hold of the Jamaican’s hips.

The Jamaican then began screaming, “You got dem on the de wrong feet man! You got dem on de wrong feet!”

As we get older we sometimes begin to doubt our ability to "make a difference" in the world.

It is at these times that our hopes are boosted by the remarkable achievements of "seniors" who have found the courage to take on challenges that would make many of us wither.

Harold Schlumberg is such a person: THIS IS QUOTED FROM HAROLD: "I've often been asked, 'What do you do now that you're retired?'

Well...I'm fortunate to have a chemical engineering background and one of the things I enjoy most is converting beer, wine and whisky into urine.

It's rewarding, uplifting, satisfying and fulfilling. I do it every day and I really enjoy it."

28 email: info@the-olive-press.com Tel: 977 457 201

Highly individual inspired designs from Nepal & India.

Hand made high quality items including bags, jewellery, hats, textiles, clothing, incense and much, much more...

10% Discount Coupon

at Inspired Earth

New stock arriving all the time so please pop in to see the new items

Only 1 Coupon per Person per Purchase Valid until 30th June 2012

Go to Our Web Site www.inspired-earth.com

29-31 Carrer Rossell, L’Ametlla de Mar, Tarragona. Tel: 681 042 391 email: inspiredearthcat@gmail.com Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 10.00 to www.the-olive-press.com 13.00 & 17.00 to 20.00

29 29

1 teaspoon shallot minced 1 teaspoon minced garlic Salt 2 ounces red wine vinegar 1 tablespoon honey 4 ounces plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon toasted sliced almonds 1 tablespoon chopped mint 4 (1-ounce) slices watermelon 4 (1-ounce) slices haloumi

TREAT YOUR TASTE BUDS

Place shallots and garlic in mixing bowl and add a pinch of salt. Add vinegar and honey and whisk. Slowly whisk in 4 ounces oil. Fold in the almonds and mint. Pour over melon and let marinate for 1 hour. Heat a medium skillet over a medium heat and add 1 tablespoon of oil. Sear haloumi for 1 minute per side. Remove from pan, top with marinated watermelon and serve. (haloumi: A firm, slightly springy white cheese from Cyprus) Prep Time: 15 min Inactive Prep Time: 1 hr 0 min Cook Time: 2 min Serves: 4 servings

The Jubilee Sov'reign On Jubilee Day the Ramsbottoms Invited relations to tea, Including young Albert's grandmotherAn awkward old . . party, was she.

She'd seen Queen Victoria's accession And `er wedding to Albert (the Good) But she got quite upset when young Albert Asked `er `ow she'd got on in the Flood.

She cast quite a damper on't party, But she warmed up a bit after tea, And gave Albert a real golden sovereign She'd been saving since last Jubilee.

It `ad picture of Queen on't one side And a dragon fight on the reverse, And it smelled of camphor and cobwebs Through being so long in `er purse.

Albert `andled the coin, and `e kissed it And `e felt the rough edge with `is tongue; For `e knew by the look of `is father That it wouldn't be `is very long.

"I`ll show you a trick wi' that sovereign," Said Pa, `oo were `overin' nearAnd `e took and pretended to eat it, Then brought it back out of `is ear.

This magic filled Albert with wonder, And before you could say "Uncle Dick", `E'd got the coin back from `is father And performed the first part of the trick.

When they all saw where the money `ad gone With excitement the relatives burned; And each one suggested some process For getting the money returned.

Some were for fishing with tweezers, While some were for shaking it out; "If we only got back a few shillings," They said "`twould be better than nowt."

They tried `olding Albert `ead downward And giving `is shoulders a clump`Till his uncle, `oo worked for a chemist Said "There's nowt for it but stomach pump."

Taste versus Snobbery

The word refinement has always been associated with the upper class.

Having good taste is an element of good breeding, good manners, and good society.

But true good taste is frequently and mistakenly misplaced and becomes snobbery.

Snobbery actually means low class: the word is a shortening of the Latin sine nobilitate meaning without nobility.

The difference quite simply is that appreciating what is good shows taste. To please with ones company, to offer those who come in contact with you [be they friends or strangers] a level of quality in everything you do is good taste.

However one of the key elements of class is that when someone presents you with something of poor quality, be it conversation, culture, or food or drink: to refuse it because it is "below your standards" shows no class at all.

Part of what makes someone refined is the ability to lead by example, but not so refined they cannot tolerate those less so.

Frequently those who are refined will inspire those less refined, but it takes the refined man or woman showing the example.

Well, they `adn't a stomach pump `andy, But Pa did the best that `e could With a bicycle pump that they borrowed But that weren't nearly so good.

So off they went to the doctor `Oo looked down `is throat with a glass; `E said "This'll mean operationI fear that `e'll `ave to `ave gas." "`Ow much is this `ere goin' to cost me?"

Said Father, beginning to squirm.

"I'm afraid that it comes out expensiveThe best gas is eight pence a therm.

There's my time, six shillings an hour; You can't do these things in two ticksBy rights I should charge you a guinea, But I'll do it for eighteen and six."

"Wot, eighteen and six to get sovereign?"

Said Father, "That doesn't sound sense I'll tell you, you'd best keep young Albert And give us the odd eighteen pence!"

The doctor concurred this arrangement, But to this day he stands in some doubt As to whether he's in eighteen shillings Or whether he's eighteen pence out.

Marriott Edgar

30 email: info@the-olive-press.com Tel: 977 457 201

STATUTE OF LIMITATION RE DEBTORS AND CREDITORS It is not a secret that in these times of Great Recession facing both individuals, businesses and Governments both local and National, that they are chasing their debtors with more vigour.

The first thing for these debts is to make sure they have not fallen outside of the “Statute Of Limitations� in simple terms the debt as become too old to chase and has passed its legal deadline.

The limitation periods are different in Catalonia than in Spain, Personal debts have a limitation period of ten years in Catalonia and fifteen years in the rest of Spain.

The claim for periodic payments for example a lease in default has a limitation period of three years in Catalonia and five years in Spain.

The claim for operational performance compensation and execution of work expire after three years, both in Catalonia and the rest of Spain. Examples of this would be services provided by lawyers, doctors, architects, Builders etc..

Oxymorons 1. Is it good if a vacuum really sucks?

2. Why is the third hand on the watch called the second hand?

3. If a word is misspelled in the dictionary, how would we ever know?

4. If Webster wrote the first dictionary, where did he find the words?

5. Why do we say something is out of whack? What is a whack?

6. Why does "slow down" and "slow up" mean the same thing?

7. Why does "fat chance" and "slim chance" mean the same thing?

8. Why do "tug" boats push their barges?

9. Why do we sing "Take me out to the ball game" when we are already there?

10. Why are they called "stands" when they are made for sitting?

11. Why is it called "after dark" when it really is "after light"?

12. Doesn't "expecting the unexpected" make the unexpected expected?

13. Why are a "wise man" and a "wise guy" opposites?

14. Why do "overlook" and "oversee" mean opposite things?

15. Why is "phonics" not spelled the way it sounds?

16. If work is so terrific, why do they have to pay you to do it?

17. If all the world is a stage, where is the audience sitting?

18. If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?

19. If you are cross-eyed and have dyslexia, can you read all right?

20. Why is bra singular and panties plural?

21. Why do you press harder on the buttons of a remote control when you know the batteries are dead?

The debts arising from a tort such as negligence are one year in Spain and three years in Catalonia.

The tax debts are four years both in Catalonia and in Spain.

This is a double edged sword, if there is a Debtor then obviously there has to be a creditor. It is obviously beneficial for debtors for the time to pass, but as a creditor it is crucial that a claim is made on time.

It is critical that the date on which debt is incurred (And Provable) to know whether or not there is a legal mechanism to attempt to satisfy the debt.

32 email: info@the-olive-press.com Tel: 977 457 201

Words Of Wisdom A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn’t.

A man marries a woman expecting that she won’t change, and she does. ___________________ A woman has the last word in any argument.

Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument A man will pay $20 for a $10 item he needs.

A woman will pay $10 for a $20 item that she doesn’t need.

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33

Lantanas are for many the roses of the Costa

• Now an enormous number of Lantana Camera flower colours are possible. Search ‘Lantana Breeders’ on the internet and open up a few catalogues. You will be amazed. Unfortunately with the crisis not all are stocked in Spain. Also standard bushes are now frequently stocked.

By Clodagh and Dick Handscombe, Practical holistic gardeners living in Spain for 25 years

F

or many Lantanas are the roses of the Costas as they give colour for most of the year, come or can be trained in similar formats and can be used in the garden in similar ways. The main differences being that Lantanas give a subtropical feel to a garden while roses give the temperate feel of the cooler climates of England, Norway, Holland etc and the gardens of Granada and Madrid.

The main success factors for Lantanas and roses are that you buy them with as good a root ball as possible, that you enrich the ground with good compost and rotted manure before you plant, that you water deep to encourage deep tap roots to grow. Once the tap roots are established both lantanas and roses will need little watering and when you do it should be deep, say once a week, and not shallowly on a daily drip system.

Luckily lantanas then need less care as they will not need the annual winter mulching with horse manure, one or two feeds during the summer and autumn and regular dead heading as flowers die to stimulate second and third flowerings. Lantanas just keep flowering and will just need the occasional trimming to shape.

As for annual cutbacks both plants should be pruned hard in January, bush formats down to two buds per branch.

Although roses come in a multitude of colours and forms of flowers lantanas come in less.

When we came to Spain twenty five years ago there were two types that could be found.

Firstly the bush format of Lantana Camara which came three forms. The strong growing orange red flowered ones ( commonly called Spanish flag or Bandera), a less compact and more wild pink flowered variety and a more squat yellow flowered variety. Just occasionally one would find white flowered ones.

Secondly the useful ground cover Lantana Montevidensis which was mostly with mauve flowers but occasionally one would find white flowering ones.

Since then plant breeders in France, Germany and the USA have widened the choice although you may need to visited several garden centres before you find the new offers.

• A y e l l o w f l o w e r e d L a n t a n a Montevidensis is now widely available.

•A dwarf form of Lantana Camera is now available in a variety of colours. This grows lower and wider than the original bush plants.

•Also most plants are now sterile to prevent them from self seeding. Although lantanas cause few problems in Spain they were introduced into English colonies and are a major pest In Ceylon, parts of Australia and the southern states of the USA. To g e t h e r w i t h h i b i s c u s , b i g n o n i a s a n d bougainvilleas lantana can soon produce an enviable subtropical garden effect.

For other plants Part Four of our book ‘Your Garden in Spain –From planning to planting and maintenance’ describes and illustrates some 400 useful plants together with their Botanical, Spanish and English names.

Clodagh and Dicks popular books are available from high street and internet bookshops plus their website www.gardeningin spain.com where autographed copoies are available together with a free copy of Dick’s latest book ‘ Living well from our Mediterranean garden’. (c) Clodagh and Dick Handscombe May 2012.

34 email: info@the-olive-press.com Tel: 977 457 201

Want to feel happier living in Spain?

Take independent financial planning advice from the experts. We analyse your situation, give you insight into how to organise your affairs, give you answers and advice.

To start with a no obligation discussion, email barry.davys@spectrum-ifa.com or telephone 645 257 525 www.expatfinancialadvicespain.com The Spectrum IFA Group is a registered trademark, exclusive rights to use in Spain granted to Baskerville Advisers S.L. CIF B-63/137.020 CorredurĂ­a de Seguros; No de registro RDGS J2306; Paseo de Gracia 63, principal, 2a,08008, Barcelona.

Seguro responsabilidad civil Chartis Europe No 0131900503.1330 Registro Mercantil de Barcelona, Tomo 35489, Folio 170, Seccion 8, Hoja B-269534

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35

Catalunya´s “protected” seagrass meadows threatened by unregulated pleasure-boat anchoring Catalunya provides scuba divers with fascinating underwater landscapes: sheer walls covered in colourful hard and soft corals, sponges, and algae, home to a great diversity of creatures that feed on them, and exciting cave systems with their own distinctive ecosystems and huge air chambers full of stalagmites. However, without the presence of Posidonia oceanica seagrass we would not have the clear waters and the marine biodiversity that attracts hundreds of swimmers, divers and snorkelers each year.

E arth's oldest known living organism

A team led by Carlos Duarte of the University of Western Australia in Perth sequenced the DNA of Posidonia oceanica at 40 sites spanning 3500 kilometers of seafloor, from Cyprus to Spain. An area of the seagrass off the island of Formentera in the Balearics was found to be identical over 15 kilometers. Posidonia reproduces by cloning, so meadows spanning many kilometers are genetically identical and considered to be one giant organism. Given the plant's annual growth rate Duarte’s team calculated that the Formentera meadow must be between 80,000 and 200,000 years old, making it the oldest living organism on Earth.

Despite its longevity, Posidonia oceanica is in decline by around 5 per cent per annum due to the effects of climate change, as the Mediterranean Sea is warming three times faster than the world average.

e lungs of the T hMediterranean Sea

Posidonia oceanica, a species of seagrass u n i q u e t o t h e Mediterranean Sea, is often referred to as the “lungs of the Mediterranean” because the seagrass meadows are an extremely effective carbon sink (plants that absorb carbon dioxide and output oxygen at a very high rate). In fact Posidonia produces twice as much oxygen per day as tropical forests.

The seagrass meadows play a key role in the health of that Mediterranean Sea, providing a vital habitat for hundreds of different species of fish and marine invertebrates, including some fish species of commercial value that breed in the Posidonia beds. The meadows act as nurseries for juvenile fish and Posidonia oceanica is referred to as a “key species” because the whole marine ecosystem balance relies on this species.

Posidonia oceanica faces many threats to its sur vival due to the growing pressures placed upon Mediterranean coastal ecosystems from coastal development and tourism, in addition to climate change.

Posidonia oceanica is a “protected” species and Posidonia beds are identified as a priority habitat for conservation under the European Union’s Habitats Directive (Dir 92/43/CEE). Catalunya banned ottertrawling over Posidonia beds many years ago.

Yet its destruction continues at an alarming rate.

Since Posidonia oceanica is unique to the Mediterranean and a key species we must step up our efforts to preserve it and protect it from the many threats to its survival. In one bay on the Costa Brava, where we have been diving and carrying out research for the past 12 years, we have witnessed

a loss of an estimated 25% of the Posidonia beds, due to unregulated pleasure boat anchoring, with an accompanying loss of biodiversity. Where there were once lush meadows of Posidonia teaming with marine life, we now see barren sediment, often littered with trash from tourist boats.

Posidonia oceanica conservation management has mainly focused on protection from physical damage through the prevention of otter-trawling over seagrass beds. In some areas seagrass-friendly moorings for boats are installed during the peak summer months, but there is no incentive for boaters to pay to use them when they are not p e n a l i s e d fo r s i m p l y d ro p p i n g a n c h o r i n t h e Posidonia beds, destroying hundreds of years of growth in minutes. It is left to us divers, who witness the damage being caused first hand, to try to reason with boaters and explain that Posidonia oceanica is an important “protected” species.

As the Posidonia oceanica meadows are being destroyed the Posidonia pipefish, a relative of the seahorse perfectly adapted to the seagrass habitat, is becoming much harder to find.

The Posidonia pipefish, Syngnathus typhle, has evolved to perfectly resemble a blade of Po s i d o n i a o c e a n i c a seagrass. It is so well camouflaged that it is virtually impossible to see unless it happens to swim above or outside the seagrass beds, which is a rare occurrence. It is a poor swimmer and rarely ventures out of the safety of the Posidonia meadows, spending it’s time head down within the Posidonia shoots searching for tiny shrimps to eat. It is totally dependent on the Posidonia oceanica habitat for daily food and shelter, and as a seasonal breeding ground and nursery. osidonia oceanica is one of the key species being studied by Kenna Eco Diving Volunteer divers assisting with the SILMAR Project. Our aims are • To quantifying the current level of Posidonia oceanica destruction through regular observation and measurement • To raise awareness of this situation via a poster and leaflet campaign aimed at pleasure boaters, marinas and yacht clubs As a non-profit, research oriented organisation already working with marine scientists and volunteer divers, Kenna Eco Diving became a voluntar y coordinator for the SILMAR Project during its Girona pilot phase in early 2009. We are responsible for two Research Stations near L’Escala, Girona, Spain.

Kenna Eco Diving coordinates conservation research in the Posidonia oceanica ecosystem with the SILMAR Project, collating data with the help of volunteer divers who come from all over the world to spend a few weeks or months assisting with the project. We are the only voluntary coordinators for the Spanish SILMAR Project working through the English language, opening this opportunity to international scuba divers.

The SILMAR Project, which began in 2009, is a long term project developed by the Spanish NGO FundacioMar. The aim of the SILMAR Project is to map and monitor the coastal ecosystems of the whole Iberian Peninsula at 80 research stations through the participation of volunteer divers.

For more information and to sign our petition asking for anchoring to be regulated in Posidonia meadows visit http://marinebiology.kennaecodiving.net , www.kennaecodiving.net , www.marine-life-costa-brava.org,

P

36 email: info@the-olive-press.com Tel: 977 457 201

PRESS OLIVE 66X92-trazado.indd 1

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18/04/12 1

37

Spain-UK-Spain Fortnightly Service

Single Item to Full House move Do your online UK Shopping (Tesco,Asda,Argos etc.) delivered to our UK address and then to your door in Spain Motorbike Movements with Full Bike Insurance email jasonpettman71@hotmail.com Tel 0044 7930243407

38 email: info@the-olive-press.com Tel: 977 457 201

www.la-cala-realty.com info@la-cala-realty.com 977 493 540

La Cala Realty Promoting Proper ty in L'Ametlla De Mar and Sur rounds In Collabor ation W ith Ref:R55 Villa with annexes and pool, located in Las Tres Calas, a residential area in L’Ametlla de Mar. Villa: Ground floor: 2 double bedrooms with built in wardrobes, 1 bathroom, open plan kitchen, sitting room / dining room, fire place, enclosed porch. Upstairs: 1 double bedroom with en-suite bathroom and terrace with views to the sea and mountains.

Swimming pool 10 X 5, barbecue, store room for the pool equipment, 34m 2 garage and car porch next to it Annex: Ground floor: 31m 2 studio with open plan kitchen, sitting room / dining room, 1 double bedroom with built in wardrobe, 1 bathroom and porch. Upstairs: 65m2 apartment with two double bedrooms with built in wardrobes, 1 bathroom, open plan kitchen, sitting room / dining room, terrace with sea and mountain views. The income for summer rentals is around 20,000 €. Total built 284m 2 450.000,00 €

Ref. R7 Tres Cales Beds. 4 Baths. 4 Services. A/C, Central Heating Situation. Ready to move in Price. 561,350€ Impressive property with Sea views only 250m from the sea.

This Property has to be viewed to see the extent of the facilities, Dining room with views to the garden, Store room, Gym, Pool Outside shower room, diesel central heating, air conditioning, 5 car garage, possible to convert gym into two en-suite double rooms.

Separate Studio with Bedroom, bathroom, sitting room and terrace.

Ref:R03 BEAUTIFUL VILLA IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA NEAR THE SEA. SEA VIEWS Beautiful 140 m 2 villa located in Tres Calas, a residential area in L’ A m e t l l a d e M a r.

From its elevated porch you can see the sea. Three double bedrooms (1 en-suite), dining kitchen, workshop store, spacious lounge / dining room. Pool 10 X 4.5 m 2 . A/C/ heating units in the lounge and the hall.

Large barbecue in the back garden. Easily maintained garden. 330.000,00 €

Ref. R58 Tres Cales Build Size. 153 M 2 Plot Size.

Beds. 4 Baths. 2 Situation. Ready to move in Price. 395,000€ Villa Turtle Four bedroom villa overlooking the sea, just 100 metres from the beach 2 bathrooms with showers, open plan kitchen, sitting room / dining room with fire place, store room, garage 23.89 m 2 , balcony and terrace upstairs.

Porch 20.36 m 2 , pool 39 m 2 , 50 m 2 cellar, barbecue.Villa surface: downstairs 115 m 2 and upstairs 38 m 2 .

From the pool area, porch and upstairs you have clear views of the sea.

Google coordinates: 40'' 54'01 .18'' N , 00''49'18.50'' E

Quality "priced to sell" properties wanted in L'Ametlla de mar and surrounding areas

www.the-olive-press.com

39

spanglish?-answers next month 1.

2.

3.

7.

4.

5.

6.

16.

17.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

14.

13.

15.

18.

19.

20.

21.

23.

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spanglish?-MAY- answers

How to Solve Sudoku Puzzles Sudoku doesn't require any special math skills or calculations. It is a simple and fun game of logic -- all that's needed is brains and concentration.

1. Fill the grid so that the numbers 1 through 9 appear in each row.

2. Fill the grid so that the numbers 1 through 9 appear in each column.

3. Fill the grid so that the numbers 1 through 9 appear in each 3x3 box.

4. A complete Sudoku puzzle contains the numbers 1 through 9 in every row, column, and 3x3 box.

This month, one thats medium. good luck

40 email: info@the-olive-press.com Tel: 977 457 201

Mamas Bible

COPPER WIRE After having dug to a depth of 10 feet last year, French scientists found traces of copper wire dating back 200 years and came to the conclusion that their ancestors already had a telephone network more than 150 years ago.

Not to be outdone by the French: in the weeks that followed, American archaeologists dug to a depth of 20 feet before finding traces of copper wire. Shortly afterwards, they published a n a r t i c l e i n t h e N e w Yo r k Ti m e s s a y i n g : "American archaeologists, having found traces of 250-year-old copper wire, have concluded that their ancestors already had an advanced high-tech communications network 50 years earlier than the French."

Society of Northern England’ reported the following: "After digging down to a depth of 33 feet in the Skipton area of North Yo r k s h i r e i n 2 0 11 , Charlie Hardcastle, a self-taught amateur archaeologist, reported that he had found absolutely f*** all.

Charlie has therefore concluded that 250 years ago, Britain had already gone wireless."

Makes you proud to be British.

Four brothers left home for college and they became successful doctors and lawyers One evening, they chatted after having dinner together. They discussed the 95th birthday gifts they were able to give their elderly mother who moved to Florida The first said “You know I had a big house built for Mama”.

The second said “And I had a large theatre built in the house”.

The third said “And I had my Mercedes dealer deliver an SL600 to her”.

The fourth said “You know how Mama loved reading the Bible and you know she cant read anymore because she cant see very well. I met this preacher who told me about a parrot who could recite the entire Bible. It took ten preachers almost 8 years to teach him. I had to pledge to contribute 50.000€ a year for five years to the church, but it was worth it Mama only has to name the chapter and verse, and the parrot will recite it.”.

The other brothers were impressed. After the celebration Mama sent out her Thank you notes.

She wrote Milton, the house you built is so huge that I live in only one room, but I have to clean the whole house. Thanks anyway.

Marvin, I am too old to travel, I stay home I have my groceries delivered so I never use the Mercedes. The thought was good. Thanks Michael you gave me an expensive theatre with Dolby sound and it can hold 50 people, but all of my friends are dead, I've lost my hearing and I'm nearly blind. Ill never use it. Thanks for the gesture just the same.

Dearest Melvin, you were the only son to have the good sense to give a little thought to your gift.

The chicken was delicious. Thank you so much.

Love Mama

CAR BOOT SALES / MERCADILLO Sunday/Domingo, JUNE 3rd & 17th 10am till 6pm Antiques-Moble's-Furniture - fridges - cookers - pictures - pots, pans & old tin cans - you name it and we will get it.

Car Park Free, to Look Free and Stalls 5 EUROS! no food or drinks without permission

At Mora Caravans C12, km 61 Mora La Nova to Ginestar road Call Ken or Bev on 977 400 375 or 659 418 317 or 660 584 222

NOTE to Buyers & Sellers We at Mora Caravans have the right to refuse entry.

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41

personal classifieds GENERAL GARAGE CLEARANCE in the Girona area.

Scrap metal collected.

tel: 676 654 148 Gaddy Pine set 4 x chairs and table VGC 99€. Settee with matching 4 x chairs and round table 99€. electric double oven with fan oven VGC 99€ Tel 672 978 968.

Wood burning stove, round 30€, mobile air conditioning unit 60€ vgc, white gas hob vgc 40€, 2 double beds plus mattresses 50€ each vgc tel: 634 495 572 Bidet 25€, Water Ski’s 95€, Water pump 75€ and dog guard 20€, B & D Hedge trimmer in working order. 20€ Tel: 618 199 417 WIND TURBINE: Air X, 24v, 400W, built-in charge controller, vgc, with user manual, cable and mountings. 125 euros. Stephen 636 682 993 STUDER COMPACT 4024 Charge Inverter Full working order 1200€ PRAMAC P11000 DIESEL GENERATOR 12Kva Single Phase 115/230v 3 Cylinder, Water Cooled, no oil leaks, immaculate, 3000€ 11 HOPPECKE BATTERIES 900 amp hour 2v, very good condition, cost 300€, 100€ each.

Sorry broke the 12th one.

4 KYOCERA PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLAR PANELS 130 watt. cost 800€ each, for sale 250€ each. charge controller free with all 4 panels.

Call 649082686 Free standing a/c unit 70€, Single bed frame (metal/wood slats) unused 25€ Parafin heater with 4 pack of oil 45€ tel 638 263 011 Electric cooker, top oven/grill, fan oven 100€, 86 sq m floor tiles, light brown with blue corner detail 5€/sq m 634 405 572 Pine Table and 4 chairs 100€ vgc Pine double bed with mattress and headboard 65€Integrated Fridge /freezer 90€ tel: 634 495 572

Mobile home everything included ! 5000 euros, No Offers, For detailed info please telephone 977 409 325

WANTED Small Electric Treadmill 699 756 150 WANTED: washing machine,no electronic control panel, must work with generator OFFERING: 2 year old washing machine, BEKO 5kg, energy saving, (because not possible to run with generator)Karina, 644390277 engl./Spanish/ deutsch

ANIMALS A.R.C.A. are trying a BOOT SALE at the dogs h o m e i n T O R T O S A . S U N D AY 1 0 t h J U N E .

SELLERS 10.00AM BUYERS 10.30AM. stalls charged at 5 Euros , Please come along & support us. Call Mave 678975816 for more details.

WANTED VOLUNTEERS help needed to look after the abandon dogs at ARCA near Tortosa.

Please call Mave 678 975 816 if you can offer any assistance. Plus anyone interested in organising some fund raising for the dogs would be must appreciated. PLEASE HELP Horse Wanted. Must be quiet and novice ride min 15hh bay or darker. Loving home awaits.

Tel 647 136 336 WANTED YOUR UNWANTED BIRDS budgies parrots etc will be given a good home tel 686299730 Free Rodent Catchers, 5 beautiful kittens, 2 ginger, one grey one black and one black/ brown, available mid June, Tel 638845837 or tuckermandi@yahoo.co.uk for photos

VEHICLES FOR SALE BMW K1200GT 2006 , a l l e x t r a s ( c o m p u t e r, ABS, ESA, heated grips and seats, electric windshield, xenon headlights. Luggage Panniers top box e tc .

Impeccable. Only 13,000 km. Pearl white.

Spanish registered.

French repro mahogany extendable dining table and 6 chairs (2 carvers) can seat 10 people 450 euros, also limed-oak cabinet, glass-shelved top, very attractive 150 euros tel: 977486447.

42 email: info@the-olive-press.com Tel: 977 457 201

Offers 9500€ Call 977 059 364

UK REGISTERED, RIGHT HAND DRIVE, MITSUBISHI PAJERO 1994, 2.8 diesel, tow bar with twin electrics. 7 seater with climate control and electric windows all round, all good tyres, very reliable and comfortable to drive and ride in. Massive pulling power (I've towed a caravan weighing 1.5 tonnes over 1400 miles). Very economical with fuel even when towing, a real solid monster and good to run for years to come.

Price 3000.00 Euros or very near offer, contact number 66 45 97 133.

IVECO DAILY 3.5 TON WHITE PANEL VAN. New ITV, taxed, good engine and gearbox (only 90k miles from new) year 2003 right hand drive but on spanish plates.There is a whine from the diff but otherwise all good.

2.3 turbo diesel. 3500 euros - Tel 677829335

PUBLIC INFORMATION Phoenix group set up to offer friendship, support and practical help. Meetings every second Tuesday of each month @ Bar Calxic (opposite Cinema Victoria, el Perello @ 11.00 a.m. All welcome. Phone Marge 977 267 779 or email phoenixhelpinghands@hotmail.com to find out more.

St Christopher's Church, L'Ampolla have services every first & third Sunday of the month in the Catholic church at 12:30.

Jubilee Party on Sunday 3rd June at Camping St Jordi after the church service, +/- 14:00 all very welcome, buffet lunch and wine with Splash providing some light entertainment. Tickets 8 euros available at Bona Fe in Perello or from Christine - tel 669 990479

SERVICES VAN SPAIN-UK-SPAIN Van going to UK 1st & last week in June. All shopping done at very competitive rates Asda, Tesco, Screw Fix, what ever you want I can shop for you and deliver back to Spain.

Contact Les on 629 010 529 or lesvalblf@gmail.com

C O N C R E T E PAV I N G S L A B S F O R S A L E | different designs, sizes and colours. Please ring for a competitive quote. Delivery service available. Also slab laying on request. Tel. 692 751 488 or 692 759 276.

ENGLISH MECHANIC

Basic servicing, maintenance and repairs of vehicles and generators.

Tel. 977407990. mob. 699396053.

CAR BODY REPAIRS AND REPAINTING | all aspects of vehicle preparation and spraying.

20 years experience, references available.

Competitive prices. Tel. 692 751 488 or 692 759 276.

GENERAL BUILDER Over 25 years experience.

Registered legal builder in Catalunya over 5 years. Bricklaying, plastering, tiling, plumbing, electrics, roofing etc. Tel. Jonathan 699 396 053 House sitter available August/September. Mora and surrounding area excellent references town or country, animals and gardens Tel 638845837

CAR BOOT SALE 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month.

Situated Hipaca Escornalbou, Vilanova D'Escornalbou Arrive 9am starts 10am Bar and Restaurant no fresh produce allowed Contacts Cosme 620 215 772 or Sylvia 665 159 781

L a r g e Va n S e r v i c e U K - S p a i n , C o m p u t e r problems rectified, VHS and photo negatives t o d i g i t a l , A g e n t s f o r A L E R T PA L A l a r m Cameras, Translations Catalan, Spanish and English. 977477367 www.alexanderpearson.tk

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THE

MOBILE HOMES FROM 800 EUROS.

FOR SALE, 2 plots of land l'Ametlla de Mar excellent situation and access just off the N340 going into the village of L'Ametlla.

Clean flat land with olive trees and carobs.

Adjacent properties have mains electric and mains water. Sea and mountain views Totally fenced in, just 2km from L'Ametlla de Mar. Plot 1 approx 6600 m2 only 39,500 euros Plot 2 approx 4500 m2 only 34,500 euros.

Call to view or more details: 977 059 420 or 660 823 423

44 email: info@the-olive-press.com Tel: 977 457 201

LIVE PRESS

Instructor

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Olivia Snaith

zumba.com

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L'Ampolla Church Hall Monday 6:30pm Thursday 11am tel: 642 913 047 olivia_j_snaith@live.co.uk

7/27/10 12:17 PM

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MySpanishome Your English Estate Agents In Tortosa Fully Registered

www.myspanishome.com M1227 – Jesus/Tortosa Country Chalet with Mountain Views! with Cedula D’Habitabilitat Chalet of 91m² with 2 double bed & 2 bathrooms 17400m² plot with Gated Entrance Electricity & Community Water Furnished Price: 149.000€

M1241 - L’Ampolla 157m² Villa With Cedula D’Habitabilitat Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 1 Lounge, terrace with SEA VIEWS! New fitted kitchen Plot of aprox 1388m2 Price: 225.000€

M1256 – Camarles - 15 mins to beach! Country House with Sea Views.

Unique Country House with Cedula D’Habitabilitat! House over two floors and connected to water & electricity. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, terraces with sea views, store room.

29000m² fenced plot.

NOW Price of 149.950€

M1096 – Parellades/ Roquetes Lovely Country House of 156 m.² Bedrooms 2, Bathroom, Dble Garage, Pool, Elec & Water Courtyard & Workshops.

2000m2 fenced garden Price: 225.000€

M1276 – Xerta Village house with 3 beds 1 bath Lovely reformed riverside village house over 3 floors with roof terrace overlooking village & Church.

Price: 80.000€

M1229 – Bitem Pretty Country House of 100m2 2 double bedrooms – large modern shower room with twin basins Fully fitted kitchen/ lounge with wood burner – dining room Outbuilding 10.172m2 plot – fenced & gated.

Price 129.950€

M1294 – Roquetes Casa de Camp – 5 mins from town!

15000m2 Olive farm.

Casa of 90m² for finishing. Electricity Electric gates Stunning view of Mont Caro & surrounding countryside.

Price: 55.000€

M1118 – El Perello Magnificent Masia!

10 mins drive to village and only 20mins to beach! 2 Beds 2 Baths 95 m2 built 17.000 m2 plot size immaculate condition, newly renovated, many special features,rustic style Price: 170.000€

M1285 – Mas de Barberans WITH CEDULA D'HABITABILITAT Country House of 162m² for complete refurb. Flat land partially fenced just 2km from village.

6554m² plot Price: 59.000€

Av. Generalitat 70, 43500, Tortosa, Tarragona, Spain email: info@myspanishome.com

M1305 – El Perello Stunning views of Sea & Delta 160m2 Country House on two floors set in fenced and gated land of 10.734m2.

3 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms Furnished Fenced & Gated Price: 135.000€

+34 977 446 655 +34 639 041 277 +34 679 499 316

48 email: info@the-olive-press.com Tel: 977 457 201

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