society living magazine issue 09 by Bespoke Media

ISSUE 9 FEB 2010

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO LIFE ON THE COAST

SOCIETY Living SAVVY BEAUTY TIPS to LURE YOUR LOVER ELEGANT, EXCLUSIVE and EDGY GIFTS for HIM and HER

valentine’s SMOULDERING LINGERIE LUXURY

special STAYING in SHAPE with ALESHA DIXON

VERITAS RSIII

PREDATORY POWER for PURISTS

LIFESTYLE GLAMOUR PERSONALITIES STYLE LEISURE GASTRONOMY

Also stocking: Darling Ya Ya Seven Carling Holster Vintage Dior Ugg

NEW STOCK ARRIVING DAILY

Opening hours: Monday-Friday 10am -6pm Sat: 11am-3pm

CC La Colonia, S. Pedro de Alcantara (next to Passion Cafe)

Tel: 952 781 493

Located on one of Marbella’s most beautiful beaches, Bono’s Beach offers panoramic views across to Gibraltar. Open all year round, the trendy, chic beach club has a large cosy lounge area with log fires so you can enjoy the beautiful Mediterranean views, even on cold winter days, while sipping a cocktail or two. The atmosphere at Bono’s really is something special, with great attention to detail and friendly, helpful staff – we like you to really feel at home! The cuisine is inventive and all our dishes are cooked with the freshest of ingredients, while prices are gentle on the pocket. We offer a wonderful mix of

classic and fusion foods which tempt the taste buds and ensure you’ll come back again and again. The delicious cuisine and friendly, relaxed ambience make it the perfect venue to unwind after a long day. Join us for one of our many gastro nights with music and performances – our ladies nights, for example, are a huge success! By night the restaurant is transformed into a lively cocktail bar with DJs playing live sets into the early hours. Life at Bono’s is fun and stress-free, ensuring your visit is one you will want to repeat. Open every day from 12 noon to midnight, with Wi-Fi access.

Stunning views, winter fireplace, scrumptious food

12 noon to midnight, every day Urbanizaci贸n Playa del Arenal - El Rosario (Costabella) - tel 952.83.92.36 - info@bonosbeach.com PRIVATE PARKING SERVICE

EDITORIAL LINES

Pampered with passion

fter our bumper combined DecemberJanuary issue, we are back in the festive mood again – this time with a touch of romance. Some of us (at least the men!) might be inclined to feign a bout of forgetfulness in the lead up to 14 February – maybe even plan an “11th hour” long-distance business trip around that date – but we believe that, after checking out our special Valentine’s Day coverage this issue, even the sceptics will be reserving a table at one of the Coast’s finest restaurants and popping into the local lingerie boutique. Our February cover features one of the stunning images shot on exotic location by top Spanish photographer Juan Rodrigo: wild and dramatic styles for strong women which are also highlighted in this month’s main Fashion Flair feature. We then plunge even further over to the wild side with a smouldering collection of cheeky and flirty lingerie – both vintage and high-end. But that is just part of the Valentine’s experience. With an irresistibly delectable outfit chosen for the occasion, it is time to find a place to show it off, and our expanded fine dining coverage this issue offers several exceptional restaurant options for an appropriately sensuous dinner, perhaps also combined with an overnight hotel stay. Beforehand, of course, there will be the equally important matter of choosing a gift and, if you are looking for something other than flowers this

Publisher Andy Clark andy@societylivingmagazine.com

Features Editor Jessica White features@societylivingmagazine.com

Advertising Director Fay Jones advertising@societylivingmagazine.com Tel. 617 651 732

Associate Editor Nicola McGeorge

Advertising Representatives Emma Landberg emma@societylivingmagazine.com Tel. 617 600 167 Shiralee Coleman shiralee@societylivingmagazine.com

year, our Glamour Digest section offers elegant ideas for both him and her. At €348,000, the Veritas RSIII may not be within too many readers’ price range for a Valentine’s gift with real wow factor, but we can always dream, or at least drool over the striking images in this issue’s On the Road feature and marvel at the predatory power of a supercar which truly does provide a 100-proof driving experience. Elsewhere this issue, and expanding on the Valentine’s theme, guest beauty contributor Alexia Inge offers some valuable tips to bait the hook for a lover, or dazzle your partner; and Nicki Waterman talks to Alesha Dixon about how she stays in shape – all extremely useful advice for anyone needing to lose a couple more kilograms to squeeze into her new Valentine’s dress. Whatever your plans for the 14th, we hope you enjoy this glamour-packed February issue – and a memorable evening of pampered passion on that special day for lovers.

Contributing Editor Peter Leonard Contributors Giles Brown, Russell Grant, Alexia Inge, Ian Kuah, Micky Reynolds, Kristina Szekely, Nicki Waterman

Administration info@societylivingmagazine.com Tel. 952 784 207

Photographers Toni Cochrane, Michael Elias Moreno, CJ Hadlow, Conrad Jones, Ruth Jones, Juan Rodrigo, David Toms

Editorial editorial@societylivingmagazine.com

Cover photograph Juan Rodrigo

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Society Living is published monthly by: Bespoke Media S.L. CIF: B92998483 Local No 25-26, C.C. La Colonia San Pedro de Alcántara 29670 Marbella. Tel. 952 784 207 www.societylivingmagazine.com Depósito Legal: MU-1588-2009 Production Opus 1 Design design@societylivingmagazine.com Printer P&R Grafis Tel. 952 667 788 – www.prgrafis.es The views and opinions expressed by contributors to Society Living may not represent the views and opinions of the publishers. Bespoke Media takes no responsibility for claims made in advertisements or advertorials in this magazine. No part of Society Living may be reproduced or copied in any way without the prior written consent of Bespoke Media.

CONTENTS

Cover Bolero: Bibian Blue Corsets: Martha Peters Skirt: Bibian Blue Ring: Uno de 50

No 9 – February 2010

Contents glamour digest 10

Chic style and stunning fashion trends

tech world 12

Cutting edge innovation ... state-of-the-art gadgets

big screen 14

Behind the scenes in the world of movies

music notes 16

Rock snippets from around the globe

society 18

Costa glamour... mixing business with pleasure

kristina szekely’s diary local trends 30 70 on the road ask the surgeon 34 74 fashion flair table talk 44 78 celebrity shape-up fine dining 64 82 restaurant guide latest trends 84 66

Queen of Marbella social scene

Pampered, preened… and personal

Veritas RSII: 100-proof driving experience

Cosmetic treatments: your questions answered

Passionate, romantic and flirty for Valentine’s

Restaurant news and culinary tidbits

Valuable advice from trainer to the stars Nicki Waterman

Tips, trends and new sensations in make-up and skincare

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Winter chill-out by the beach

Highly recommended for gastronomic pleasure

legal matters 88 noticeboard 91

Liability of company directors

Business and other news from around Spain

snapshots 94

Your view ... special moments and occasions

in the stars 97

Astrologist Russell Grant looks into the future

GLAMOUR DIGEST Sexy lingerie for the woman in your life Every woman loves pretty and sexy underwear so why not treat your girlfriend or wife this Valentine’s to some gorgeous lingerie that will tickle their fancy. La Perla is one of the most prestigious luxury lingerie brands and each collection is sexy, beautiful and stunning. The fashion house was established in 1954, with Italian designer Ada Masotti wanting to create pieces for stylish modern women, something the brand has maintained throughout the decades. The exclusive collections are desired by women of all ages and offer different designs depending on the type and style of garment that is required. A La Perla lingerie set is definitely something to purchase during the most romantic month of the year. www.laperla.com El Corte Inglés

CHIC STYLES AND ALLURING IDEAS FROM THE WORLD OF FASHION... PLUS OTHER IN-VOGUE NEWS FOR TREND-SETTERS COMPILED BY JESSICA WHITE

Diamonds and jewels really are a girl’s best friend Jewellery is always a winner when choosing a present and the Silver Thorn Collection from Stephen Webster is edgy, intricate and stunning – the perfect gift for a loved one. Inspired by the Victoriana and gothic revival, the polished and blackened sterling silver pieces are reminiscent of the dark glamour for which the brand is known. Items in the collection include layered pendants, rings, cuffs and earrings featuring the distinctive thorn motif with rose crystals, rose quartz and green amethysts surrounded by diamond set claws, creating brighter splashes of colour; while, for a monochrome look, black and white mother of 10

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pearl add an enchanting touch. This collection from Stephen Webster is elegant and mysterious “with the trademark blend of rock’n’roll glamour” – a must-have gift this Valentine’s. Another fabulous present from Stephen Webster are these cute heart pendants which are 18-carat white gold, while the stones used are rubies, onyx, white diamonds and red garnets – delicate and beautiful, they will look great with every Valentine’s outfit. www.stephenwebster.com Puerto Banús Tel. 952 816 976

GLAMOUR DIGEST Classic elegance We ladies get spoilt rotten at Valentine’s so why not treat the man of your dreams to a classic watch that ensures he is never late for a date with you again. Tag Heuer offer some of the most coveted watches in the industry, many of which are worn by celebrities and stars. Brand ambassador Tiger Woods helped the development of a completely new model – a professional golf watch “designed to meet the unique ergonomic requirements of the game”. Other stars such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Lewis Hamilton and Steve McQueen are all also ambassadors of the brand, which prides itself on the prestige and performance of the watches – so your man will be in good company when wearing his elegant timepiece. www.tagheuer.com

Desirable boots for a new season Ensure you look cool and fashionable this Valentine’s and throughout spring with a pair of must-have Ugg boots – the new collection will once again be coveted by women, including celebrities, all over the world. The classic cardy is a heathered merino wool blend boot with three wooden buttons etched with the signature Ugg logo. Wear it three ways: slouched down, cuff it over or all the way up for a varied style and different look with each outfit. www.uggaustralia.com / Twist in San Pedro Tel. 952 781 493

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TECH WORLD

THE FUTURE OF TV You can now relax at home and have the excitement of the 3D cinema feeling with this new 3D TV by Philips. www.philips.com

EASY TOUCH

CUTTING-EDGE INNOVATION

Google have already conquered the search engine, and now they are trying to dominate the mobile market with this new touch screen. Designed by HTC, Google’s screen includes its own operating system, the Android, to rival the popular iPhone. www.google.com/phone

STATE-OF-THE ART GADGETS, HIGH-TECH UPDATES AND CONSUMER ELECTRONICS NEWS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE CHILLING BY THE POOL So you are relaxing on your lilo with a nice glass of wine. All you need now is some tranquil music, and what better way to play your tunes than with these new wireless and floating speakers by Grace Digital audio. You can wirelessly connect your iPod to play your favourite summer tunes. www.gracedigitalaudio.com

BACKING IT UP... IN STYLE This is a stylish way to back up your computer… with HI-speed 2.0 transfer and 1TB in storage space, it is the perfect portable hard drive. www.lacie.com/uk/products

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TECH WORLD

IT’S ALL ABOUT RETRO This neat clock would look great in any bachelor pad or office. It comes in various finishes, from polished aluminum to crisp glass. www.store.tubeclock.com

STUNNING 3D ERA In a completely new experience with digital cameras, you can now not only take standard images but also shoot in 3D and play them back with the images jumping out at you! www.fujifilm.com

ULTIMATE CLEANING POWER

QUALITY AND CONVENIENCE

Check out this handy vacuum cleaner by Dyson: compact, portable and easy to use. Enough said! www.dyson.co.uk

It has the easy of use of a compact digital camera but the quality of a digital SLR. With its interchangeable lenses and retro styling, this is the must-have camera. www.olympusamerica.com

COMPILED BY DAN OPUS 1 – IF YOU HAVE A NEW GADGET ON THE MARKET AND WOULD LIKE IT CONSIDERED FOR INCLUSION IN THIS SECTION. SEND INFORMATION (MAX. 50 WORDS) AND A HIGH-RESOLUTION IMAGE TO: dan@beautifulhomemagazine.com

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BIG SCREEN

Invictus – inspirational true story about uniting South Africa

SIX OF THE BEST INTERNATIONAL RELEASES FOR FEBRUARY I Invictus – 5 February (already released in Spain) The CLINT EASTWOOD directed inspirational true story of how the newly elected President Nelson Mandela joined forces with the captain of South Africa’s rugby union team, Francois Pienaar, to help unite their country during the 1995 World Cup Finals. MORGAN FREEMAN, MATT DAMON, TONY KGOROGE I The Wolfman – 12 February Inspired by the classic 1941 film that launched a legacy of horror... Upon his return to his ancestral home in England after the disappearance of his brother, an American man is bitten, and subsequently cursed, by a werewolf. BENICIO DEL TORO, ANTHONY HOPKINS, EMILY BLUNT, HUGO WEAVING I Valentine’s Day – 12 February All-star comedy about 10 people in Los Angeles whose lives intersect on the most romantic day of the year. JESSICA ALBA, JESSICA BIEL, BRADLEY COOPER, JENNIFER GARNER, ASHTON KUTCHER, SHIRLEY MACLAINE, JULIA ROBERTS, ANNE HATHAWAY, JAMIE FOXX, PATRICK DEMPSEY I Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief – 12 February (Spain TBA) Veteran filmmaker CHRIS COLUMBUS’ adaptation of the first book in RICK RIORDAN’s best-selling children’s series. A teenager discovers he’s the descendant of a Greek god and travels the Earth to settle an ongoing battle between the gods. LOGAN LERMAN, UMA THURMAN, PIERCE BROSMAN, SEAN BEAN I Shutter Island – 19 February (Spain TBA) For synopsis see Movie of the Month. I Everybody’s Fine – 19 February (already released in Spain) A widower realises his only connection to his family was through his wife so he sets off on an impromptu road trip to reunite with each of his grown children. ROBERT DE NIRO, DREW BARRYMORE, KATE BECKINSALE, SAM ROCKWELL

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Movie lines WHAT’S ON SCREEN THIS MONTH… WHAT’S BEING FILMED AT THE MOMENT… AND WHAT’S IN THE PIPELINE… MICKY REYNOLDS LOOKS INSIDE THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF MOVIES

QUICK CLIPS JAMES CAMERON has announced there will be a sequel to his mega blockbuster Avatar. In the meantime, its star SAM WORTHINGTON (who originally took over from TOM CRUISE) and CHARLIZE THERON have been replaced by JOHNNY DEPP and ANGELINA JOLIE in The Tourist; a female Interpol agent manages to ensnare an American tourist in Paris to help her track down an elusive criminal, who was also her former lover. Filming is due to start soon. The French capital is also the setting for Bel Ami; a man ascends to the top of high society by sleeping with the most elite and powerful women in the city during the 1890s. Twilight Saga star ROBERT PATTINSON, UMA THURMAN (recently replaced NICOLE KIDMAN), KRISTEN SCOTT THOMAS and CHRISTINA RICCI start work this month on a film adaptation of the 19th-century novel by GUY De MAUPASSANT. The 14-month film shoot starts in June for GUILLERMO DEL

TORO’s The Hobbit and ANDY SERKIS (Gollum), IAN McKELLEN (Gandalf), HUGO WEAVING (Elrond) and CATE BLANCHETT (Galadriel) will all reprise their roles from The Lord of the Rings trilogy; but JOHN RYHS-DAVIES says he is not interested in returning as the dwarf Gimli and that role has been offered to BRIAN COX. Both TOBEY MAGUIRE and JAMES McAVOY turned down a chance to play Bilbo Baggins, and the latter also rejected the main role in the biopic about the celebrated JAMES BOND author IAN FLEMING. Saw VI may not have been a big box office success but Twisted Pictures have commissioned a seventh installment of the gore fest franchise. It will be filmed in 3D and has the usual Friday before Halloween release date of 22 October. TOBIN BELL has already signed up to return as Jigsaw. The popular cartoon character Yogi Bear is coming to the big screen in live-action/CG form with DAN ACKROYD supplying the vocals of the main character and JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE voicing

BIG SCREEN

MOVIE OF THE MONTH SHUTTER ISLAND

Valentine’s Day – all-star comedy for romantics

his side-kick Boo Boo. ANNA FARIS (Brokeback Mountain) will play a nature documentarian who tags along on the antics of the bears in Jellystone Park, and ANDY DALY (Semi Pro) is the local mayor who is trying to sell the park. Production has begun in New Zealand. MR T might have turned it down but DWIGHT SCHULTZ, who played Murdock in the original A-Team 1980s TV series, will make a cameo appearance in the revamped movie which stars District 9’s SHARLTO COPELY in the aforementioned role plus LIAM NEESON as Hannibal, BRADLEY COOPER as Faceman and former UFC light heavyweight champion QUINTON “RAMPAGE” JACKSON as Sgt. B.A. Baracus. JESSICA BIEL also stars in the story of four Iraqi war vets wrongly accused of armed robbery who escape military prison to become an elite band of do-good mercenaries. Walt Disney are making a 3D version of THE BEATLES’ 1968 animated movie Yellow Submarine

with ROBERT ZEMECKIS at the helm. The Fab Four will be portrayed by DEAN LENNOX KELLY (from UK TV show Shameless) as JOHN LENNON, cult British comedian PETER SERAFINOWICZ as PAUL McCARTNEY, CARY ELWES (Hot Shots) as GEORGE HARRISON and ADAM CAMPBELL (Epic Movie) as RINGO STARR. The film will include the 16 songs and recordings from the original motion picture. Heroes eye candy ALI LARTER looks set to star in the movie based on the 1970 UK cult TV series UFO in which a secret organisation protects the world against aliens who have been abducting humans for body parts. Also on board with a major role is former Dawson’s Creek teen star JOSHUA JACKSON. Cameras will start rolling this month in Barcelona for STEVEN SODERBERGH’s action-spy thriller Knockout. Mixed martial arts expert GINA CARANO makes her film debut as a black ops spy who is betrayed by her team which includes CHANNING TATUM, MICHAEL FASSBENDER

Director MARTIN SCORSESE and LEONARDO DICAPRIO team up together for a fourth time in this adaptation of the best-selling 2003 fiction novel by DENNIS LEHANE, the writer of several award-winning books including Mystic River, whose CLINT EASTWOOD directed film version won two Oscars in 2004. This much-publicised film was originally set for worldwide release last October but Paramount Pictures pushed it back to this month as the studio did not have “the financing in 2009 to spend the $50 to $60 million necessary to market a big awards pic like this” – plus, due to work commitments, DICAPRIO was unavailable to promote the movie to the global audience. This thriller is set in 1954 and finds an up-andcoming US marshal, Teddy Daniels (DICAPRIO), and his new partner, Chuck Aule (MARK RUFFALO), sent to a remote and barren island off the coast of Boston – home of the Ashecliffe Hospital for the Criminally Insane – to investigate the disappearance of a patient, the multiple murderess Rachel Solando (EMILY MORTIMER). The marshal has, for a long time, been pushing for an assignment on the island for personal reasons – to find the murderer of his wife. As his investigations commence he discovers the hospital doctors are performing radical experiments that range from unethical to illegal to downright sinister. After he finds a promising lead, the hospital authorities refuse to cooperate, denying him access to records he suspects would crack the case wide open. To make matters worse a hurricane cuts off communication with the mainland and, to top it all, more dangerous criminals “escape” in the confusion. As several dark secrets start to unravel he begins to doubt everything – his memory, his partner and even his own sanity. As mentioned earlier, Paramount Pictures held back the release of this so they can now promote it with a bigger budget and they believe that this time next year Shutter Island will be on the 2011 Oscar nomination lists. Also stars BEN KINGSLEY, MICHELLE WILLIAMS, MAX VON SYDOW, PATRICIA CLARKSON, JACKIE EARLE HALEY, RUBY JERINS

(Inglourious Basterds) and possibly ANTONIO BANDERAS. Also stars MICHAEL DOUGLAS, EWAN McGREGOR, and DENNIS QUAID. It’s a case of out with the old and in with the new for the Spider-Man franchise, which is getting a total reboot with a new cast and film-making team. Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios rocked Hollywood announcing they were scrapping the proposed fourth installment and instead moving forward with a film based on a teenage Peter Parker “grappling with both contemporary human problems and amazing super-human crises”. So ace director SAM RAIMI, who has now attached himself to the future blockbuster Warcraft: Rise of the Lich King, is out; TOBEY MAGUIRE will no longer don the red and blue suit; and his chick, KIRSTEN DUNST, has also been dumped. But she starts work this month on Upside Down, a sci-fi fantasy film with Romeo and Juliet elements where a man (JIM STURGESS) searches an alternate universe for a long-lost love from his youth. w w w. s o c i e t y l i v i n g m a g a z i n e . c o m

BACKSTAGE PASS

he future line-up of the PUSSYCAT DOLLS is still up in the air but in the meantime main chick NICOLE SCHERZINGER has put her name forward for the next JAMES BOND flick. The 31-year-old beauty reportedly ended her twoyear relationship with formula one hotshot LEWIS HAMILTON in order to further her acting ambitions and wants to land the leading lady roll. SUSAN BOYLE, who is being hotly tipped to record the theme song for the abovementioned movie, went off on one again recently at London’s Heathrow airport while waiting to board a plane to Chicago. Apparently she grabbed a mop from a cleaner, sung into it, used it to clean fellow passengers’ shoes then ran off shouting, “I’ve escaped, I’ve escaped!” A source said, “It was chaos. Susan was very restless and agitated from the minute she walked in and immediately started making a scene. She was singing and dancing around, shouting obscenities at full volume.” Maybe she should team up with AMY WINEHOUSE, who was recently charged with kicking off at a performance of Cinderella; the two of them would make a really good pair of ugly sisters – or even better... don’t you think they would make an excellent pantomime horse? Good and bad news for RED HOT CHILI PEPPER fans: they

Music notes GIGS, GROUPS, GOSSIP... MICKY REYNOLDS BRINGS US UP TO DATE WITH ROCK SNIPPETS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

were due to play their first gig together since taking a hiatus in 2008 as part of the NEIL YOUNG tribute concert in Los Angeles on 29 January but without guitarist JOHN FRUSCIANTE, who is no longer part of the Chili Pepper set-up. His replacement is the experienced session musician JOSH KLINGHOFFER. The band are currently working on a followup to their 2006 Stadium

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Arcadium album. Another band taking a hiatus are THE KILLERS once they complete their Australian tour this month. The Las Vegas rockers are burnt out after releasing four albums and touring extensively across the globe since hitting the scene in 2004. There have been rumours of in-house problems within the band of late and it’s hoped the break will smooth things over among the

members. Does this mean singer BRANDON FLOWERS will now go ahead with his much talked about solo project? Rapper LIL WAYNE releases his new album Rebirth on February 1; if it gets number one he will have to celebrate behind bars as he is due to start a one-year prison sentence on 9 February for gun charges after police found a firearm on his tour bus in 2007.

BACKSTAGE PASS

KISS ARE COMIN’ Those terrible twins JEDWARD have somehow landed a recording contract and will cover the VANILLA ICE 1990 classic Ice Ice Baby – any chance of putting it on ice? Even better – any chance of putting them on ice? DUFFY is currently working on the follow-up to her successful 2008 debut Rockferry. The ‘60s style album is being recorded in New York with the help of ALBERT HAMMOND, who spent most of his early life in Gibraltar before moving to the US where he wrote several well-known songs including It Never Rains In Southern California and the CREEDANCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL classic Down By The River. He is also the father of THE STROKES guitarist ALBERT HAMMOND JR. Cult Finnish goth rockers HIM are back with a new album, Screamworks: Love In Theory & Practice, on 8 February and lead singer VILLE VALO says it has an ‘80s feel about it. The track Heartkiller will precede the album as a single a week earlier. The last ever recorded studio album by JOHNNY CASH, American VI: Ain’t No Crime, will see the light of day this month. The great man was in the studio up until the day of his death on 12 September 2003 and this offering includes cover versions of SHERYL CROW’s Redemption Day and KRIS KRISTOFFERSON’s For The

Good Times. The recordings are said to be very emotional as he knew the end was nigh. The album will be released on 26 February, the day that – if he were still alive – would have been his 78th birthday. Indie rockers ELBOW took part in a silent protest against music used as torture on humans – then in a shocking U-turn they joined COLDPLAY on their US tour. 1970s legends THE FACES will tour in 2010 but without frontman ROD STEWART as, “He’s busy doing other sh#t.” The band played a one-off gig at London’s Royal Albert Hall last October using guest vocalists. Drummer KENNY JONES, keyboardist IAN McLAGAN and guitarist RONNIE WOOD will be joined by GLEN MATLOCK (SEX PISTOLS) on bass while SIMPLY RED singer MICK HUCKNALL will be on the front line. THE FACES original split in 1975 after WOOD joined the ROLLING STONES – which bring us to this: a little bird has told me JAGGER and co are considering kicking WOOD out of the band. And we will finish with this anagram that was printed in a UK publication last month: The Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood = Thin old artiste’s worn out? Or going senile? (Mickey Reynolds is the manager and DJ at Castaways Rock Bar in Fuengirola – situated behind the taxi rank near Las Palmeras Hotel).

Veteran US glam rockers KISS are bringing their Sonic Boom Over Europe: From The Beginning To The Boom tour to Madrid on Tuesday 22 June for what promises to be one of the live highlights of 2010. This legendary combo are famous for their over-the-top shows that include pyrotechnics aplenty, and last autumn’s sell-out KISS Alive 35 North American tour has been acclaimed as one of their best tours ever. No action on the Coast this month but as per usual Madrid has plenty, with the ARCTIC MONKEYS on the 5th, and on the same night excellent Swedish rockers the BACKYARD BABIES. Both the Scottish indie giants BIFFY CLYRO and JOSS STONE on the 12th; and on the 24th Aussie rockers AIRBOURNE.

The 30th BRIT Awards take place this month in London and LADY GAGA, FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE, LILY ALLEN, JLS and PIXIE LOTT have all been nominated in three different categories. The ceremony will take place on 16 February and at the time of going to press ITV had not announced if they would air the show live, slightly delayed or on another night. RAZORLIGHT are currently in the studio and mainman JOHNNY BORRELL says the band are going back to their debut album for inspiration – good! Their last two offerings, 2006’s Razorlight and 2008’s Slipway Fires, were not a patch on 2004’s Up All Night. As mentioned in our last issue

Next month in Madrid: Finnish goth legends 69 EYES on the 1st and SPANDAU BALLET on the 15th. Tickets are available in all towns and cities along the Coast for all the above – to find your nearest outlet go to www.ticketmaster.es. And tickets for the everpopular FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE in Madrid on 15 March and U2 in Sevilla on 29 September are still available at www.livenation.es. The Bilbao BBK Live Festival takes place from 8 to 10 July and PEARL JAM and RAMMSTEIN were named as the first two main acts; more big names will be added in the next few months. Tickets and info can be found at www.bilbaobbklive.com.

the MICHAEL JACKSON DVD This Is It had been pencilled in for a February release – the European date is the 22nd (26 January was the US). LENNY KRAVITZ has confirmed that the song Another Day, a collaboration with JACKO that has appeared on the internet, is genuine and a full remixed version of the song will be released in the future. He also revealed he turned down a chance to join AEROSMITH as a replacement for frontman STEVEN TYLER, who recently checked into rehab to get treatment for an addiction to painkillers. The future of the singer is unclear as guitarist JOE PERRY has said the band will continue with or without him..

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SCENE & HEARD

Mezzi, Tara, Aurika, Shiralee, Anna, Hayley and Janey

Fashion TV event at popular beach venue Bono’s Beach hosted a special fashion party in collaboration with Fashion TV – with Radio Planeta, Tonino Lamborghini, Exact Vodka and others also supporting the event. Guests enjoyed a red carpet entrance, a special fashion show by Elle Morgan and the Los 100 De Marbella Awards hosted by Oscar Horacio. Photos: Ruth Jones Society compiled by Jessica White: features@societylivingmagazine.com

Oscar and friends

COSTA GLAMOUR ... MIXING BUSINESS AND PLEASURE

Anna, Simira and Alexander

Gary and Rebecca

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Christelle, Ivan, Cj and Elle

Saeko and Gabriel

SCENE & HEARD

Pascal, Olivio, Adriana and Anna

Saeko and friends

Dimas and Shiralee

Tancred, Katrina, Juan and Robert

Duncan and Elina

Guests enjoying the event

Rianna and Lara

Dani, Pascal, Aurika, Hayley and Anna

Kristine and Ralla

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SCENE & HEARD

Guests enjoyed sitting in the car

Louis, Troy, Gregorio, Bernard and Mau

Linda, Marta, Pilar and friends

Stunning supercar presentation in Marbella Mario Guarneri held a special unveiling of the new Veritas at his showroom in San Pedro, where guests enjoyed canapĂŠs, champagne and Grey Goose vodka, also a sponsor of the event. Guests had the opportunity of sitting in the car and marvelling at its state-of-the-art design. Photos: Ruth Jones

The Veritas

COSTA GLAMOUR ... MIXING BUSINESS AND PLEASURE

Luis and Pete

Maria

Guests enjoying the well attended event

Ian, Mario and Michael

Jessica and Amanda

Andrea and Olga

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SCENE & HEARD

Anders and Irena

Helly, Patricia, Shiralee and Manuel

Festive celebrations for top car group Fischer Car Group celebrated the festive period with a special Christmas cocktail party at their San Pedro showroom for staff, friends and clients. Cars in the showroom were decorated in appropriate fashion for the occasion and presented to guests in one of the highlights of the well-attended event. Photos: Ruth Jones

Walter, Matthias and friend

COSTA GLAMOUR ... MIXING BUSINESS AND PLEASURE

Ladies enjoying the event

William and Gloria

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Christian and friend

Cleopatra and Michael

Vera and friend

SCENE & HEARD

The staff at Garum

Timo and Marcel

Anniversary celebrations at top Marbella restaurant Mine host extraordinaire Timo Hamalainen presided over another memorable party at Garum restaurant in Marbella, on this occasion to celebrate the popular establishmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fifth anniversary. Guests enjoyed a sumptuously creative buffet, prepared by head chef Marcel, and fabulous entertainment during a hugely enjoyable evening. Photos: Ruth Jones

Gabriela and Marc

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Linda, Graham, Lexi and Michael

Patric and Maria

Sirrka and Sagalill

Brends, Ruth, Tommy and Nigel

Jesus and Lourdes

Michael, Leif, Leena, Mauri, Ursela and Eileen

Robert and Sabrina

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SCENE & HEARD

Dani and Peet

Manuel and Models

Stylish showcase of new fashion collection Starlet boutique, Ann Summers and jewellery designer Manuel Spinosa hosted a combined fashion show at Suite, with dramatic make-up and styling. Guests enjoyed a superb show featuring models showcasing the new collections and beautiful designs. Photos: Ruth Jones

Tara, John, Louise, Cj and friend

COSTA GLAMOUR ... MIXING BUSINESS AND PLEASURE

Tara and friend Ladies enjoying the event

Liza, Anita and boyfriend

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info@aquapool.es • www.aquapool.es Polígono Industrial de San Pedro • Carril de Picaza, no. 17 • 29670 San Pedro de Alcántara Tel.: +34 952 927 811 • Fax: +34 952 927 812 • Monday-Friday: 10-18 • Closed Saturday

SCENE & HEARD

Guests enjoyed the evening

Ladies dressed in gowns on the night

Traditional Russian festivities in Marbella Westin La Quinta Hotel hosted a party for the Russian Christmas, which falls on 7 January in accordance with the old Julian calendar. Guests enjoyed a fashion show, Brazilian dancers and a Cuban dancer who encouraged guests to take to the floor for some â&#x20AC;&#x153;dancing aerobicsâ&#x20AC;?. Photos: Ruth Jones

Festive fun at Russian Christmas

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Guests enjoyed a sumptuous dinner

Entertainment on the night

Lei and Robert

Masha and friends

Natasha and Paul

Ruslana and friend

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SOCIAL SCENE

Kristina Szekely’s REAL ESTATE IMPRESARIO, INDEFATIGABLE PARTY-GOER, PATRON OF THE ARTS, GENEROUS CHARITY SUPPORTER… KRISTINA SZEKELY IS THE QUEEN OF MARBELLA SOCIETY

his is always a key time of the year for predicting new market trends, with the long festive season behind us and preparations being made for Easter. We had a great Christmas-New Year – in fact, with the weather so good we even opened on New Year’s Day! – and, from past experience, this usually means we are going to have a great Easter. That, in turn, means we can look forward to a positive summer and after that… well, let’s hope the difficult times are finally behind us. It is quite significant, I think, that many of the Coast’s top hotels were closed over the past couple of months, but are now ready to re-open on 1 March in time for Easter. The Easter period is longer in Spain than other countries, starting a week earlier with all the beautiful religious processions in Sevilla, Málaga and other cities. It’s like the beginning of the new season. People come here from other parts of Spain and abroad, the shops gear up for the new season and everything is focused on showing visitors what they have to offer. Another positive sign at the end of last year was that the stock markets went up as much as 30 per cent in 2009, and that will make

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PHOTO TONI COCHRANE

DIARY

property investors feel more at ease. The two usually go hand in hand. When stocks are moving down investors don’t feel so generous about releasing money, but when they go up the mood is more positive. Marbella’s urban town plan is also set to be finalised and released, and that will give a big impetus to the real estate market, and provide legal security to people who will now be able to regain their confidence in investing in new developments. Already we are noticing that people are not just looking, but also buying. As I have noted before, the market is changing. No longer is it so much a case of people buying five apartments and selling them in six months time. Now they tend to buy a property for themselves or to let. It’s more the end user now. It is not only new visitors, however. We have interested people coming to Marbella, people we’ve known for 25 years, who have bought properties before and know what they’re doing, and they think this is the best time to buy: Spanish, Scandinavians, British, Moroccans, Belgians, Dutch…many different nationalities. A lot of good deals are coming up but often people don’t realise how good they are until

they check all the details. Last year, for example, deals were being closed for 30 per cent less than a year or two before, though I should add that in one case we closed a deal with no discount at all, because the price had already been set right. This is the important thing. People cannot just come in and say, “We have to have 30 per cent off because that’s what Kristina says it is.” Some vendors don’t want to make concessions and are happy to let out their property or even keep it and enjoy it for themselves. We have some very interesting projects at the moment. Our company is still considered of foreign origin but we have a lot of respect in the Spanish market. In Madrid, for example, we have been given a building to sell just 200 metres from El Retiro park in the exclusive Barrio Salamanca suburb, a very attractive building, recently renovated. Apartments are available from €300,000, though the general prices range from one to one and half million euros. People from here are buying for weekends away, or for a place for their children to stay when studying at university in Madrid. Back in Marbella, we have commercial premises for sale in the vicinity of El Corte Inglés, with a very good tenant, a 20-year lease and six per cent annual yield. I think it’s a good, safe investment. We also have another building with various solid tenants (blue chip!), for a bigger investor of around 30 million euros, which could provide a yield of up to seven per cent. In Sotogrande we have been given the most exquisite, breathtaking estate, perfect for someone who is capricious and enjoys the country life but who also wants to be close to everything that Sotogrande has to offer: polo, golf, equestrian. It includes its own fruit farm and offers the potential business opportunity of being converted into a boutique hotel, golf course and villas. On a more personal level, we are very service orientated and know that when people come here they don’t want to be bothered with all the details. So, to help make their stay easier, we have created a new after-sales department, a concierge type service, to meet all customers’ needs. These include being picked up by limousine or helicopter, reserving a private jet, renting a boat, airing and cleaning the home once a week, turning on the heating a couple of days before they arrive, putting flowers in a vase,

stocking the fridge with food. In short, making sure it is all homely when they arrive. On a larger scale – and bearing in mind that after so many years in the business we know all the best professionals and we can guarantee they will be competitively priced and do a good job – we can arrange for painting and decorating, landscaping and additional building. The other day someone had a serious problem with Red Palm Weevil and we were able to refer them to the foremost specialist in the area, in order to save the palm trees. Then we can also help with town hall paperwork, translations, even finding schools for customers’ children. In fact, many clients are moving here permanently because of the excellent educational facilities. I know of several families whose children have been educated here and are now in the best universities: Oxford, Cambridge, the London School of Economics, ICADE in Madrid, etc. Finding the right school is always very important, especially now with the lack of jobs. So this new department is a bit like what American Express say about their Centurion “black card”: we can take care of everything! On the social side, I went away for Christmas and enjoyed a very nice time in Toledo with my sister and her sons and grandchildren. I came back for New Year, and was delighted to see all the top places full and heaving with people celebrating in customary style. The Russian Christmas party (in early January) at Westin La Quinta was very well done. There was a fashion show, a Cuban dancer getting everyone up to do dancing aerobics, and Brazilian dancers. It was nice that no one was in a hurry and everything proceeded in a leisurely, relaxed way. Marie Claude invited us to her New Year’s Eve open house; Rotary held a very colourful red and gold gala, following another successful Concordia Christmas gala; there was a fashion show by the Lady Russ boutique in Puerto Banús; and a conference, attended by over 40 business ladies, addressed by Carmen Gurruchaga, a writer who has had first-hand experience of the difficulties in the Basque Country, over a lovely lunch at La Meridiana, which is now run by La Taberna del Alabardero. There is an interesting story behind La Taberna: it was founded by a former priest, Luis de Lezama, who hires staff who have had troubled pasts, to help them become reinserted into society and the workforce. He now has 10 restaurants, even including one in Washington. Finally, a reminder – as the December and January issues were combined – that my traditional calendar is once again available at our office, as usual featuring paintings by my late husband, Antonio Cienfuegos. I believe this is now the 18th year, doing it annually!

VERITAS RSIII

ON THE ROAD

Predatory

100-proof driving experience

THERE ARE SUPERCARS AND THEN THERE ARE SUPERCARS…MOTORING AUTHOR, RACING DRIVER AND PHOTO-JOURNALIST IAN KUAH PUTS THE “PEOPLE’S CHOICE” THROUGH ITS PACES

ike Monaco, Marbella is a place where the rich and famous live and play, so the sight of a Ferrari, Lamborghini or Porsche hardly merits a passing glance with the locals. You have to be driving a Veyron or Zonda to really raise eyebrows here. The car I am driving today, however, turns heads like no other. If I could have collected one euro for every phone camera picture snapped, I would be dining well for a week. Unlike most of today’s generic and therefore semianonymous cars, the Veritas RSIII has a face. And, while some modern cars do have a “face” of sorts, the visage on this limited production German roadster sends a clear message to anyone who crosses its path. This new face makes the front of the RS3 concept car from 2001 look very tame by comparison. That nonworking car had a face too, but it was a gaping maw that looked like a cross between a fish and a Cyberman. Just as the shark mouths painted on the noses of the P-40 Kittyhawk fighters struck fear into the hearts of Axis forces soldiers in World War II, the angry face of the Veritas RSIII says in no uncertain terms that you should get out of the way or something very bad will happen to you. Resistance is futile.

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ON THE ROAD

“The RSIII has morphed into a much more organic design with a significantly greater amount of form and detail” w w w. s o c i e t y l i v i n g m a g a z i n e . c o m

ON THE ROAD

Things have changed radically with the rest of the bodywork too. Where the RS3 concept car had more linear flanks, the RSIII has morphed into a much more organic design with a significantly greater amount of form and detail. The compound curves along its flanks suggest rippling muscles to back up the face at the front, whose slanted and gold backed headlamp clusters and chrome “toothed” grille give it the look of a fantasy machine straight from a DC comic book. Imagine this car as the signature mount of a costume-clad superhero and you will get the picture. While it looks like a predator homing in on its hapless prey, maybe even striking terror into the hearts of comic book villains too as it races along the road, the Veritas RSIII is user friendly to its occupants, even those who don their underwear under their costumes! Those same comic book hero looks obviously captured the imagination of the car loving public. At the 2009 Salon Privé in London, the Veritas RSIII was voted “people’s choice” over spectacular but otherwise predictable new supercars like the Aston Martin One-77 and Mercedes SLR McLaren Stirling Moss Edition. This was a clear message that people are getting bored with the designs from established manufacturers. This perception was further reinforced at Monterey 2009 where Michael Trick and his team encountered a strange phenomenon as they stood watching public reaction to their car. 34

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“The warble of the four-cam V10 makes the driving experience truly intoxicating”

While most of the men were drawn to the Ferraris and other established marques, the Veritas was a huge hit with wives and girlfriends. In fact, the ladies were visibly pulling their partners over for a closer look. It was almost as if the men were afraid to walk up to the Veritas. Go figure. The heart of any car is its engine, and the heart of the Veritas pumps with the strong 10cylinder beat of BMW’s M5 motor. While you can have the 600hp BT Racing tuned 5.5 litre

version of the V10, in a car weighing just 1,080kg, the stock 507hp motor is more than adequate and probably gains a few extra horses from the bespoke titanium exhaust. This all-alloy V10 and its SMG gearbox are mounted as far back in the chassis as it will go, making the RSIII effectively a front-mid-engine car. At 51/49 percent, weight distribution is about as good as it gets. Under its strong and light carbon-fibre body, the Veritas RSIII follows conventional supercar

ON THE ROAD

“It has a purity of response and feedback that is hard to find in modern cars”

methods of construction with a tubular steel frame chassis. Reinforced sections in the sills and central backbone areas further boost structural rigidity. The suspension uses race-style double wishbones at each corner with pushrodoperated, horizontally opposed coil-over units made by Ohlins. A Drexler mechanical limitedslip differential helps deploy the power with a minimum of fuss. As Veritas shares its ownership with Brabham Racing, or BT Racing

as it is now known, the RSIII fills its big wheel arches with a bespoke, in-house wheel design in 10.0J and 12.0J x 20-inch sizes wrapped in 275/30ZR20 and 325/25ZR20 Dunlop Sport Maxx GT rubber. They are also testing 22-inch wheels that will visually fill the arches better, but if these detract from the cars handling they will stay with the 20s. With 380mm vented discs in front and 355mm vented discs at the rear, clamped by huge six and four-pot callipers respectively,

the RSIII is over braked for its weight. But, thanks to good pedal feel and progression, it stops quickly with no drama. Standing there looking at this imagineered super sportscar, you have no idea what it will be like to drive. Intimidating is the first word that comes to mind, but so what. Taking my life in my hands, I boldly reach into the cockpit and pull the lever that opens the front-hinged cover over the drivers’ compartment. w w w. s o c i e t y l i v i n g m a g a z i n e . c o m

ON THE ROAD Climbing in is exactly like a 1950s classic sports car. Place one and then both feet on the seat, and slide down into the footwell. The bare carbon-fibre cabin is absolutely minimalist, and the only concession to luxury is the wellpadded, leather-clad sports seats. The otherwise normal-sized steering wheel is open-topped, like the tiller on a B-17 Flying Fortress. This is surrounded by a huge tacho and fuel, water and oil temperature gauges all wearing the Stack label. The instrument cluster is part of the hinged cockpit cover and swings up with it. “The instrument pack is not final,” explained Veritas CEO Michael Trick. We are working on our own unique design for the production cars.” There is no roof, no stereo, no air-conditioning and only a very short windscreen to deflect bugs from your teeth. Even so, you really need to wear goggles or at least large sunglasses to keep the wind and debris out of your eyes. With its restricted turning circle, manoeuvring out of the small street behind Veritas’ Spanish importers’ impressive new showroom requires a five-point turn where even a Ferrari F430 would do it in three. A city car the Veritas RSIII is not. However, within a few hundred metres and a couple of corners, I realise that the Veritas provides a unique driving experience that has to be judged on its own merits. Its rack and pinion power steering is light to medium weighted and full of feel. It has a purity of response and feedback that is hard to find in modern cars, and lacks the artificial feel that plagues so many modern powerassisted set ups. It could easily pass for a good unassisted system were it not so easy to turn the wheel at low speeds. Many cars with quick racks feel twitchy. Not the Veritas. Its relatively long 2.7 metre wheelbase, broad tracks and low centre of gravity make it stable and predictable in the bends. While firm, the suspension has been set to give a good secondary ride. So, even on the badly maintained Spanish byways, the car never becomes unsettled. In fact, it feels better the faster you go. The only issue here is the plethora of speed bumps of all shapes and sizes that have become a national plague in Spain. Taken slowly and at an angle, these transverse nasties do not impede the Veritas, only momentarily slowing its normal pace down to a crawl every now and again. The seven-speed SMG gearbox has been transported wholesale into the RSIII, and operates in exactly the same way as in the M5. Bespoke alloy paddle shifters behind the tiller give you the familiar manual control but, unless you are used to the way the selection lever works, you have to lift the hand-sewn leather gaiter that covers the aluminium case to peek at the shift diagram. But you have to lift the gaiter anyway if you want to select Power mode or disengage the DSC traction control. While I drove the RSIII one-up, the simple expedient of removing the flush cover on the right-hand side of the car and pulling the passenger seat back upright turns the car into a two-seater. 36

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ON THE ROAD Horsepower and torque must always be linked to vehicle weight if any meaningful performance figures are to be established and, at 1,080kg, the RSIII is the lightest car I have driven powered by the mighty BMW V10. That gives it a power-to-weight ratio of 2.13kg/hp. One of the good things about naturally aspirated motors is their instant throttle response and with a single-throttle-percylinder, and the drive-by-wire throttle dialled up all the way in Sport mode, the stock BMW V10 is as snappy as they come out of the box. Another very good reason to keep the stock motor is the low weight of the RSIII and the fact that peak power and torque are developed quite high up in the rev band. In the big, heavy M5, these power and torque delivery characteristics are a disadvantage. But, at just over half its weight, the Veritas becomes a flying machine without the traction problems that would result from having too much torque arrive at low crankshaft speeds. While you can monster the throttle and get the back end to step out at will, the progressive power delivery on normal throttle application makes the RSIII easy to drive at a more leisurely pace on real world roads. Once you have selected your favourite SMG programme, the paddle shifters make light work of overseeing the ratios and you can play racing hero on a twist road. Accelerating hard through the gears is an exercise in restraint if you are to optimise the stopwatch numbers. If you get it right, a 3.2 sec 0-100km/h time is there for the asking, but you would have to be very brave and windproofed to test the 347km/h top speed. On the one hand, the relentless push in the small of your back, and the now even closer to home warble of the four-cam V10 makes the driving experience truly intoxicating. On the other, the tremendous rush of wind past your head and the sheer closeness to mother nature suggests that you should simply cruise along and enjoy the drive rather than aiming for a record lap time. At any speed, this is a pure 100 proof driving experience rarely approached by any of today’s over-sophisticated sportscars. And that is the crux of the Veritas RSIII. While it is fast and well sorted enough to deliver supercar levels of straight-line speed, handling and grip, that is not its raison d’être in life. What it delivers best is the tactile and aural sensations that many sportscar makers seem to have left behind in the mists of time. Its price tag and exclusivity make the RSIII a big boy’s toy. Thus it also runs the risk of becoming an object d’ art to take its place in your garage beside other steel, aluminium and carbon-fibre clad occasional playmates. However, a unique attraction that no other car can provide is the implied dark side of its nature. In the best tradition of The Twilight Zone or Tales of the Unexpected, you just have to look at its angry face and imagine what might happen inside your garage after you switch off the lights and close the door! w w w. s o c i e t y l i v i n g m a g a z i n e . c o m

ON THE ROAD

“The progressive power delivery on normal throttle application makes the RSIII easy to drive at a more leisurely pace on real world roads”

THE VERITAS LEGEND The original Veritas company was founded in 1946 by BMW engineers Ernst Loof, Lorenz Dietrich and Georg Meier. Their aim was to make a race winning sportscar powered by a BMW engine. Ernst was a member of the original BMW race team and then chief stylist after the war. His most famous design was the BMW 328 Mille Miglia car, so it was no surprise that he based his own car on these proven and familiar mechanicals. One of the performance advantages of the Veritas came about by default as steel was hard to come by in post-war Germany. The team used aluminium instead, and the weight saving gave them a winning edge. Veritas was very successful in motor racing in the hands of some big name drivers. In fact its first outright win was down to Karl Kling, who swept the board at the 1948 Nurburging race with an average speed of 161km/h.

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The Veritas RS also finished well in the 1948 Hockenheim event, and by 1949 Veritas cars dominated the 2.0 litre sports car class in Germany. Kling was only beaten twice that season. Despite many competition successes, Veritas eventually ran out of money and Loof closed the firm in 1953, returning to BMW. It is thought that around 78 cars were built, including single-seaters, rennspyders and coupes. The Veritas name was revived in 2000, when a new company, Vermot AG, was founded to create a 21st century interpretation of the classic Veritas. The original firm had occupied several different factories over the years, ending

up at the Nurburgring. It is thus fitting that the new Veritas headquarters should be located on a new industrial estate close to the ‘Ring. The new car is as radical today as the original was in its time, and continues the ideology of using racing technology in a road legal super sports car. Like its forebearer, the Veritas RSIII uses state-ofthe-art BMW power. The first running prototype was completed in 2008 using a 420hp BMW M3 V8 motor, but the production car will roll out of the factory powered by the V10 engine from the M5. To maintain exclusivity, production will be capped at 50 cars.

ON THE ROAD

TECHNICAL FILE VERITAS RSIII Engine: V10 BMW M5 Maximum power: 507hp (stock) Maximum torque: 520Nm Transmission: seven-speed SMG Top speed: 347km/h 0-100 km/h: 3.2 seconds Price: approx.: â&#x201A;Ź348,000 + tax I More information: www.guarnieri.es

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ON THE ROAD

OPEN ALL YEAR ROUND Cafés

Interiors

Newsagents

Restaurants

Fashion

Gift shops

Supermarket

Dentists

Media studios

Butchers

Opticians

FREE PARKING La Colonia Centro Comercial, San Pedro de Alcántara.

FASHION FLAIR

PASSION and ROMANCE Every woman loves to feel special, extravagant and especially romantic at Valentine’s. This collection, shot by top Spanish photographer Juan Rodrigo, is bright, colourful and dramatic, with flirty ruffles and wild animals mirroring the passion and strength of women wearing these beautiful clothes.

Photographer: Juan Rodrigo (www.juanrodrigo.com) Model: Irene Suárez (www.irenesuarez.com) Stylist: Raquel Marquez (www.raquelmarquez.es) Make-up: Rebeca Lombardo (www.rebecalombardo.com) Hair: X-presion (www.x-presion.eu) Animals: Fauna y Acción (www.faunayaccion.com) 44

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FASHION FLAIR Frilly dress: Heaven collection from Dolores Promesas Square ring and earrings with crystals: Dyrberg-kern Bracelet: stylist Sash: Patricia Avendano

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FASHION FLAIR

Black dress with feather details: Victorio & Lucchino Ball rings: Dyrberg-kern

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FASHION FLAIR

Frilly dress: Heaven collection from Dolores Promesas Square ring and earrings with crystal applications: Dyrberg-kern Bracelet: stylist Sash: Patricia Avendano w w w. s o c i e t y l i v i n g m a g a z i n e . c o m

FASHION FLAIR

Total look: Maya Hansen Shoes: Bordello for Maya Hansen 48

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FASHION FLAIR

Dress: Patricia Avendano Velvet jacket: Ojalรก Bracelet with Swarosvski crystals: Uno de 50

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FASHION FLAIR

Dress: Bibian Blue Boots: Santino

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FASHION FLAIR

Dress: Anita Babus Jacket (with fox collar): Victorio & Lucchino Choker: Anillarte Head-dress: Nila Taranco w w w. s o c i e t y l i v i n g m a g a z i n e . c o m

FASHION FLAIR

Dress – Twist €49 Necklace – Stephen Webster Photography by Cj Hadlow Tel. 952 784 838 / 622 227 006 www.cjhadlow.com Alter Ego Productions Hair and make-up by Liza Mayne Tel. 677 633 987 www.domayne.net Alter Ego Productions Editorial Coordination: Jessica White Model: Karoline Skippervold

Top – Twist was €69 sale €34.50 Jeans – Twist was €220 sale €185 Necklace – Stephen Webster Bracelet – Stephen Webster

Wooing your Valentine with the WOW factor

Dress – Twist was €99 sale €69 Necklace – Stephen Webster 52

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With the most romantic day and night of the year this month, we thought we’d give you two great looks to really wow your man. A trendy party outfit for those special dinners and nights on the town with your loved one; and a more girly outfit for starry-eyed days of love with the man of your dreams.

FASHION FLAIR Dress – Twist was €65 sale €45 Leggings – Twist was €49 sale €24.50

Dress – Nina B €139 Jacket – Nina B €239 Necklace – Stephen Webster Bracelet – Stephen Webster

Dress – Nina B was €130 sale €65 Necklace – Stephen Webster

Dress – Twist was €89 sale €62 Bracelet – Twist €85

Nina B Nueva Andalucía Tel. 952 907 020

Stephen Webster Puerto Banús Tel. 952 816 976 All jewellery – price on application

Twist CC La Colonia, San Pedro Tel. 952 781 493 w w w. s o c i e t y l i v i n g m a g a z i n e . c o m

FASHION FLAIR

Romantic and flirty Become a sex kitten or siren this Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and stun your lover with this flirty and cheeky selection of lingerie. Enjoy a romantic evening with an item from this great variety of both vintage and high-end pieces â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to drive your man wild at the most romantic time of year!

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FASHION FLAIR Lingerie – La Perla Shoes – Giuseppe Zanotti Hat – Leah C. Couture Millinery Stockings – Wolford

Phototgrapher Michael Elias Moreno www.michaeleliasmorenophotography.com Models: Helena Houdova, Laura Petersen and Elena Kuznetsova Styling: Ana Rita Dapiedade Make-up: Ana Rita Dapiedade Hair: LUCAS w w w. s o c i e t y l i v i n g m a g a z i n e . c o m

FASHION FLAIR Lingerie â&#x20AC;&#x201C; NYC Vintage

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FASHION FLAIR

Lingerie – Triumph Stockings – Wolford Shoes – Tootsi Plohound w w w. s o c i e t y l i v i n g m a g a z i n e . c o m

FASHION FLAIR

Top – Gianfranco Ferre Lingerie – Eros Male model – John Connell Jacket – Loro Piana 58

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FASHION FLAIR

Lingerie – Eros Shoes – Guiseppe Zanotti

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FASHION FLAIR Lingerie – Chantelle Stockings – Dim Hat – Leah C Couture Millnery

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JNBY Hangzhou.China

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14th of February – Saint Valentine’s Day We will also be celebrating the Chinese New Year in store and have a special present for you – 60% reduction!* 19th of February – JNBY shop is delighted to present the first art exhibition of talented artist Gala Knor “TURN ON TUNE IN” *promotion only valid on winter 09 stock

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HEALTH & FITNESS

Celebrityshape-upwith

Nicki Waterman TOP TRAINER TO THE STARS OFFERS USEFUL ADVICE FOR A HEALTHIER AND FITTER LIFESTYLE – AND VALUABLE TIPS TO LOSE THOSE EXTRA KILOS ALESHA DIXON’S FITNESS TIPS She’s known for her high-octane dance moves and super-toned body, but how does Alesha Dixon manage to keep herself in shape between projects? Alesha spilled the beans at an event for LA Fitness in London – here are her top tips for getting the body you want! Two’s company: Working out with a friend or trainer will help keep you motivated. You might learn some new moves from each other and, if you have to meet someone for a planned session, you’re more likely to show up.

Take it easy: Some days you may not be up to a vigorous cardio workout, so try a gentler exercise like yoga or Pilates. These classes are great for toning the body and can help to ease stress.

Just do it: Don’t just think about going to the gym – go! Have your bag ready the night before so that you can just grab it and go.

Lunchtime lunges:

Get into the groove: Music can make your workout a lot more fun so make yourself a playlist of your favourite upbeat songs for workouts; these will help you to stay motivated and also help you to enjoy your workout.

It can be tricky to fit exercise into a busy life, but a quick 10minute workout at lunchtime can leave you feeling energised for the rest of the afternoon and means you have your evenings free to have fun.

Get a goal: LA fitness helps you set a personal target whether you want to be Trim, Tone, Fit or Train. So whether it’s getting on the scales, or trying on your skinny jeans, make sure that you regularly check your progress against your ultimate goal. Your success will motivate good actions, and if you added a few pounds you will be extra careful that day. Visit LAFitness.com for more information

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HEALTH & FITNESS SWAP SHOP… 10 DRIED APRICOTS WITH 632 CALORIES AND 2.4 GRAMS OF FAT FOR… 10 FRESH APRICOTS WITH 124 CALORIES AND 0.5 GRAMS OF FAT

CELEBRITY HEALTH MYTHS DE-BUNKED! WHAT’S NEW?

e all know that most celebs are just like us, relying on a military-style team of stylists, make-up artists, nutritionists and personal trainers to keep them in A-List shape. However, sometimes the stars seem to want to portray the contrary – remember when Pamela Anderson attributed her voluptuous figure to “a good bra”, or how a charity called Sense About Science has publicised a list of celebrity fads that have very little truth in them, in a bid to get us all into eating healthily rather than trusting quick fixes. So what are the top three celebrity “secrets” that don’t have all that much truth to them? Read on…

MYTH: Cider vinegar will help you lose weight Stars such as Megan Fox, Cindy Crawford and Fergie all hail it as the secret to their flat stomachs – and, with figures like theirs, you’d be inclined to give cider vinegar a go! Megan went on record saying, “It just cleanses out your system entirely. For women who retain water weight from your menstrual cycle and all that, it gets rid of it really fast.” Cider vinegar is often sold in tablet form as a weight loss aid,

with claims that it reduces hunger, helps the liver to cleanse itself, reduces bloating and improves digestion. However, the charity was quick to de-bunk these health benefits. More importantly, the “benefits” are things that are impossible to measure scientifically, reducing the reliability of the findings further.

MYTH: Fizzy water gives you wrinkles Bollywood A-Lister Shilpa Shetty steers clear of carbonated water, saying that it causes wrinkles on the face. However, there’s no evidence to suggest that this is true – if the water contains the same components, still and sparkling, why would one type give you wrinkles? It’s important to stay hydrated if you want to maintain a healthy weight – keeping your body topped up with fluids can help curb hunger and give you glowing, dewy skin. And wrinkles Stay out of the sun, stay hydrated and eat a diet rich in fruit and vegetables, and you’ll be doing everything you can to ward off the signs of ageing!

MYTH: Meat sits in your digestive system for 40 years Dancing On Ice star Heather Mills preached her vegan lifestyle to the press (remember the rat milk fiasco?), but scientists have de-bunked her latest outbursts about meat. There’s a common belief among vegans that meat, which is not as readily digested in the stomach as vegetables and carbohydrates, sits in the colon as it cannot be digested. Heather went as far to say that meat stayed in the colon for a whopping 40 years – something that any biology textbook will set straight. Anything that the stomach can’t use for nutrients is just eliminated from the body – that’s what your digestive system is for, after all!

The latest dieting craze to hit the UK is using the online social blogging site Twitter to Tweet what you eat. The diet on Twitter is being used by celebrities including Stephen Fry, who has reportedly lost six stone (38 kilograms) in six months, and Little Britain star Matt Lucas, who says he has lost half a stone (three kilograms) in a fortnight. All you need is a Twitter account, then you log on and just start typing what you eat and drink each day. Studies show that keeping a food diary is a very successful way of losing weight, so this could be the new slimming tool for the techno-generation.

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED I’ve been trying to sort out, once and for all, my muffin top – that bit of flab that sits on top of my jeans. Any ideas? Nicki says: Your abdominals benefit from being trained every day. There should be tension in your abs, but don’t panic – you don’t have to do hundreds of sit-ups; it’s all about technique. Master step one and apply it to exercises two and three – 16 reps daily – and you will notice a big difference. 1. For a trimmer waistline, perfect the rib-hip connection. Stand with good posture, placing your hands round your rib-cage, fingertips facing your breastbone. Take a deep breath in and feel your rib-cage expand. This is how most people start their abdominal exercises – but this encourages a bigger waist. Imagine you are wearing a corset that needs to be tightened. Breathe out, and as the ribcage is lowered your internal oblique muscles will engage. This is the position in which to begin all abdominal exercises. 2. For lean, flat abdominals do the lift and lengthen: lie on the floor, face up, knees bent, feet flat. Slowly lift up from the breastbone until your shoulders are three inches (eight centimetres) from the ground. Lengthen through the crown of the head as you lift and lower. Do 16 times. 3. To flatten that lower jelly-belly, lie on your back, knees bent, feet flat on the floor. Engage abs as in exercise one; place a ruler across your lower tummy, balancing it on your bulge. Pull down through your belly to keep the ruler in place as you do a sit-up to about a 40 degrees angle. Repeat 16 times. I’d love to hear from you, so email your questions, tips and diet success stories to me at www.nickiwaterman.com

AND FINALLY… A pine nut extract is causing a stir among weight loss experts. Recent studies show it appears to encourage hormones associated with feeling full – so, when you consume it, you feel fuller faster. Look out for pine nut extract being added to your favourite treats. w w w. s o c i e t y l i v i n g m a g a z i n e . c o m

LATEST TRENDS

health&beauty Valentine’s

COMPILED BY NICOLA McGEORGE

e are very excited to introduce a guest contributor this month: Alexia Inge, from Cult Beauty, an online beauty boutique and news-led blog which Vogue says beauty editors swear by. Our own Nicola McGeorge, who arranged this column, certainly does! As she says, it has become the savviest, most authoritative beauty guide online. Over to you Alexia…

BEAUTY

Love it or hate it St. Valentine’s Day is upon us again. Whether you are loved up and want to surprise him, or a single lady looking to lure in a lover, here are some tips to bait the hook!

MOLECULE 01 Molecule 01 is created solely from the aroma-chemical Iso E Super, which works as more of an effect than a fragrance. The scent has a subtle, velvety, woody note, which will meld with your natural pheromones, making it totally individual and personalised to the wearer. You will rarely smell this on yourself; Molecule 01 is more about the captivating effect it has on others!

BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Make your skin glow like a teenager with this complexion enhancer with ultra-fine, light-diffusing particles of shimmer that create a beautifully, dewy skin lustre. The light-reflecting properties help illuminate darkened patches of the skin and even out skin tone. This soothing, anti-inflammatory luminator protects with a broad spectrum SPF 20+ (UVA & UVB) and contains anti-oxidant vitamins A, B, D, and E to aid in tissue repair and increase collagen renewal.

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MAKE-UP BELLA SIMONSEN PHOTOGRAPHER – RUSS BURTON russburton.com

LATEST TRENDS

TOP NEW RANGES, TREATMENTS AND NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF MAKE-UP SKINCARE AND FRAGRANCE

DUWOP Lash Venom Mascara

FACE ATELIER

Seduce him with beautiful Bardot eyes. This water-resistant mascara contains tiny fibres, which are temporarily bonded to your lashes by the highly pigmented, jet-black formula. Lash Venom adds substance and length to your lashes without making you look like a drag queen. It does not define each individual lash; rather it adds more of a soft focus, airbrushed effect, which defines your whole eye area.

Ultra Foundation The sexiest make-up enhances your features, but stays invisible, without constant touch-ups. Ultra Foundation is an underground, professional favourite that, thanks to a unique blend of silicones, builds a lightweight, breathable second-skin, effectively airbrushing your complexion. Its soft focus properties create an optical blurring that diminishes the appearance of fine lines and creates a flawless skin texture that looks naturally yours. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so durable Madonna used it for her Confessions Tour.

3 CUSTOM COLOR Watercolor for Cheeks A good blusher takes years off any face and adds instant feminine prettiness. Watercolor for Cheeks is an easy-to-apply cream blusher, which gives a sheer flush of natural pink colour to the cheeks and can be used on the lips as a tinted lip balm as well or added to the eyelids for a light dewy wash that will last all evening.

BESAME Enchanting Lipstick These mini lipstick bullets look like they came straight from the set of Casablanca. Besame have created a densely pigmented, semi-matt lipstick, 55 millimetres in length, perfect for carrying with you on the move. With a Beeswax, kaolin, carnauba and candelilla wax base, this rich lippy glides on smoothly for an indelible, feather proof-look, moisturising your lips as you wear it. It comes in 10 different colours but Hot Red works on every skin tone for a sexy, vampish smile.

All products can be found at cultbeauty.co.uk

DAVINES For Wizards No.10 Universal Polishing Coat A womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hair is one of the most alluring areas of her body and this non-greasy paste is designed to make hair super sleek, keeping it that way for the whole night. Universal Polishing Coat finishes any style with light control, definition and incredible shine. Designed for all hair types, the paste contains special silicones for maximum shine and a mixture of oils to nourish, condition and soften hair without weighing it down. w w w. s o c i e t y l i v i n g m a g a z i n e . c o m

CIRUMED CLINIC

MARBELLA

Cirumed Clinic Marbella is the private practice of Dr.Alexander Aslani. Dr.Aslani is the director and chief surgeon of the department of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery of Hospital Quiron in Malaga. At Cirumed Clinic, patients enjoy a wide variance of treatments of aesthetic surgery as well as aesthetic medicine. They do so enjoying the security that these are provided by a surgeon with a substantiative academic appointment as director of a Plastic surgery unit in one of Spain's most prestigious private hospitals.

Director and Chief consultant of plastic surgery at:

Studio b hair and beauty Nueva Andalucia Centro Plaza

Eliviria c.c. Pino Golf

952 810 393

952 835 402

G MEN & WOMEN’S HAIRDRESSING G HAIR EXTENSIONS G BEAUTY AND NAILS G MANY SPECIAL PACKAGES AVAILABLE

b the best LAUNCH OF NEW SALON TUESDAY 9TH FEBRUARY Everyone welcome between 11am - 3pm

G BOTOX, SEMIPERMANENT MAKE UP, HAIR EXTENSIONS G VALENTINE’S GIFT VOUCHERS AVAILABLE

LOCAL TRENDS

health&beauty WORDS JESSICA WHITE PHOTOS RUTH JONES

STUDIO B

Pampered and preened lients have been visiting Studio B in Elviria for years, not just for the great treatments and products but also the friendly staff and relaxing atmosphere. Now clients who live at the other end of the coast will have less distance to travel as they can visit the new salon recently opened in Central Plaza, Nueva Andalucía. The new salon offers all the same treatments and therapists as the Elviria salon as well as new treatments, including hair extensions, botox and fillers recently introduced by owners Denise and Elaine. The new treatments also include semipermanent make-up. Many people probably think this can look odd and like isn’t real makeup. Well, this is not the case with Studio B. One of the staff has recently had semipermanent eyebrows, which I can honestly tell you look more real than mine sometimes do! I’m sure many of you can relate to overplucking – we all did it in our younger years – or not having very big, or long, eyebrows, thus making your face look a little out of synch. Semi-permanent make-up can change all that. The treatment can last up to a year, depending on how well you look after the eyebrows, and it really does look natural. Other treatments available include all hair care services, such as Redken hair glossing and Redken chemistry treatments for when your hair needs care and attention, which mine certainly does. Redken products can help damaged and weakened hair, leaving it refreshed and invigorated and looking glossy and shiny.

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Also available are some great nail treatments including nail art and a full set of gel nails, which are very natural looking – using clear products or permanent French polish. Studio B really can be your one-stop salon for revitalising and renewing the whole body, from facials that leave your skin glowing to full body massages and eye treatments that return the sparkle to your eyes. You can start at the top with your hair and work right the way down to a pedicure for your feet, and know that you will leave the salon a new person – pampered and preened. Pop down for the launch party of the new salon on Tuesday 9 February when guests will be warmly welcomed for a chat or consultation with one of the friendly staff. Take advantage of demonstrations by the well-trained team, free samples and a variety of treatments, and enjoy canapés and champagne offered to clients and guests throughout the day.

ive a free ntine’s and rece le Va r fo n lo sa ery blow dry. Visit the tment with ev ea tr ng ni io it cond

I Studio B Elviria Nueva Andalucía Tel. 952 835 402 Tel. 952 810 393

LOCAL TRENDS

health&beauty WORDSWORDS JESSICAJESSICA WHITE WHITE PHOTOS RUTH JONES PHOTOS RUTH JONES

WOOD SALON A personal and enjoyable experience t has always made me nervous going to a hairdressing salon and changing my hairstyle or colour – will the stylist know what to do, will it look ok, will I look different? It is something I believe many women think about when visiting a salon anywhere in the world. But, at Wood Hairdressing Salon in Le Village commercial centre, they really do know what they are doing – they understand hair and how a client feels when coming to the salon.

They realise that, while women love to be pampered, they don't always have all day to get it done, so they have installed Wi-Fi for clients who want to bring their laptops to work while having their hair coloured and cut. Furthermore, if you want both your hair and a manicure and pedicure you can have it done at

the same time – it makes life a lot easier and leaves you feeling like you have been pampered in half the time. For those with a little more time and nowhere to rush off to, you can enjoy lunch or a glass of wine while having your hair coloured – which the staff are more than happy to get for you. I know I have sat in many salons having my hair coloured and have been given a magazine and left to wait. 72

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Wood Hairdressing makes the experience a little more personal and enjoyable. It is a different concept of salon, creating a place clients feel comfortable coming to, with a friendly atmosphere and welcoming staff. The design is colourful and bright – instantly putting you at ease – and the colours stand out, making you feel happier just entering the salon. What makes owner Zoe (on the left) and her mother Myra different from your usual hairdresser is that they are qualified in colour analysis, which means they understand hair and skin tones and are able to choose the best colours, not only for your hair and make-up but also for your wardrobe. They are able to advise you about what colours make you shine and what make you feel dull and drained. Essentially it is the difference between someone saying to you: “I like your dress” or “You look great”. Mentioning the dress means the person has noticed the dress before you; and saying you look great means you have caught their eye as a whole. With this training and colour analysis behind them they can confidently aid clients who want a change of hair colour into making a decision that will suit them rather than what is the latest fashionable colour. One of the newest treatments is the semipermanent blow dry, which protects and makes the hair stronger. The Global Keratin Hair treatment eliminates the frizz and tames unruly hair, so in the heat of the summer and the damp in the winter hair stays straight and well maintained. The treatment contains no chemicals and is not the same as a chemical straightener. Once you have the treatment in the salon, you leave your hair for three or four days before washing it, then you can wash and blow dry it as normal using their special shampoos and conditioners. Depending on how often you wash your hair, the treatment could last up to four months.

I Wood Hairdressing Le Village, Ctra. Istan Tel. 952 771 791 / 645 089 399 zoewoods0@gmail.com www.woodhairdressing.com

LOCAL TRENDS

Ask the surgeon ... TIGHTENING THE SKIN THIS MONTH, IN OUR SPECIAL HEALTH SECTION FOCUSING ON LATEST TECHNIQUES AND TRENDS IN COSMETIC SURGERY, DR MARIO RUSSO OF MILLS AND MILLS MEDICAL GROUP ANSWERS SOME COMMON QUESTIONS

After having three children I have been left with lots of loose skin on my tummy. I have heard of a mini tummy tuck and a full tummy tuck. What is the difference?

later the same day, especially if a local anaesthetic has been used. Some patients have this procedure in conjunction with a vaginal tightening or reshaping operation. We see many patients attending the clinic for this procedure who have varying degrees of discomfort when having sex, due to protruding labia or, indeed, in their daily lives with discomfort related to underwear.

The surgeon’s decision to undertake either a full tummy tuck or a mini tummy tuck will somewhat depend on the amount of excess skin to be removed and the quality of the abdominal muscles on examination. The incision in a mini tummy tuck is shorter and, generally speaking, the recovery time is faster. In suitable patients, the procedure can be performed as a day case, which means you may not have to stay in hospital overnight. On the other hand a full tummy tuck is required when there is a weakening of the abdominal muscles. The operation takes a little longer and you should expect a stay of one or two nights in hospital after the procedure. In both cases it is recommended to lose weight before the procedure to achieve the optimum result. Patient satisfaction is generally very high with this procedure, restoring confidence once more.

Q I am embarrassed as I have what I think are very unattractive and protruding labia. It is affecting my relationship. I have heard of a procedure called labia reduction. How does this work ?

Mills and Mills Medical Group Marbella High Care Hospital Tel. 952 908 538 / 678 036 607 www.millsmedical.com

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Q How can I get rid of loose skin on my arms? I have tried exercise and it just isn’t working.

There is a procedure both to improve the appearance of the labia and to help relieve or eliminate discomfort during sexual intercourse. The procedure can be performed for congenital reasons or because of a prolapse of the labia due to childbirth. It is an easy procedure for plastic surgeons and is usually performed under local anaesthetic with sedation. Of course, the patient can have a general anaesthetic if she prefers. Normally, the patient is able to go home

With patients who have undergone severe weight loss, or perhaps after a certain age, loose skin and saggy tissue can appear on the upper arms. Many of our patients refer to them as “bat wings”. The procedure to remove this excess skin is known as a brachioplasty. It consists of removing the excess subcutaneous tissue on the upper arms. The operation is performed under a general anaesthetic and the patient will need to remain in hospital for one or two nights. The operation is highly successful, with a very high patient satisfaction rate. The tightness achieved is extremely beneficial, and much more comfortable for the patient.

MEET THE TEAM

LANCE – British hairstylist who speaks English and Spanish and has over 25 years experience, owning a salon for 15 years. He trained in the UK with Wella, L’Oreal and Vidal Sassoon and managed a successful salon in the prestigious 5 star swallow hotel in Birmingham attracting lots of celebrity clients, while participating in numerous shows and seminars. Winner of the midlands L’Oreal hair colour trophy, Lance trained young hairdressers in the academy and specialises in precision cutting and colour.

JULES – British beauty therapist and nail technician trained in the UK with over 15 year’s experience. She speaks English, Spanish and French and has worked in the famous 5star Ragdale Hall Health Spa winning a national award for beauty therapy. Jules specialises in Caci and Guinot micro current facial treatments and Dermalogica facials.

SIAN – Welsh hairstylist who speaks English and Spanish and has over 15 years experience and specialises in colour and cutting. She trained in the UK at a top 5star salon winning awards for her cutting and colour work. She keeps a keen eye on current fashion trends and also worked as an educator within the academy.

Bliss Hair and Beauty Salon, now in its fifth year of trading, has built up a reputation for quality, professionalism and great customer service for hair, beauty and nails. Based midway between Estepona and San Pedro near to Hotel Las Dunas, the salon was the mastermind of Lance and Jules Kearley.

JORGE – Spanish hairstylist who trained in Spain and has worked in New York and London for John Frieda and Nicky Clarke. He has also worked on many photoshoots for adverts, London Fashion Week and the Baftas and specialises in colour, hair extensions, hair up, bridal hair and is a Mac trained make up artist. He speaks Spanish, English and Italian.

JILL – Norwegian beauty therapist and nail technician who was trained in Norway and speaks Scandinavian, English and Spanish. She is Cidesco qualified in all aspects of beauty and has 10 years experience working in luxury spas with outstanding product knowledge and is a Dermalogica skin care specialist. She also specialises in Dermalogica and Guinot face and body treatments and nail care.

JEANNINE – Canadian nail technician who speaks Spanish, English, French and German and is a master nail technician with 20 years experience of all aspects of gel and acrylic nail treatments. She trained in the UK and is also a qualified trainer and assessor. Jeannine specialises in all gel and acrylic nail treatments.

Urb. Guadalmansa, Ctra de Cádiz km 164, Estepona / Hotel Villa Padierno. Ctra. de Cádiz km 166, Marbella Open Monday to Saturday 10am till 7pm Estepona 951 278 137 / Marbella 951 318 956

TABLE TALK

Valentine’s

Fine Dining IN THIS SPECIAL VALENTINE’S FEATURE, JESSICA WHITE BRINGS YOU A SELECTION OF TOP COSTA VENUES OFFERING COUPLES A ROMANTIC ATMOSPHERE AND DELICIOUS CUISINE ON 14 FEBRUARY

WORKING WITH LOVE Da Bruno The Da Bruno Group of restaurants is well known on the Coast for its flavoursome Italian cuisine and great atmosphere, and for Valentine’s Day you couldn’t ask for more. Giuseppina and Bruno Filippone and their staff combine traditional recipes and trendy modern dishes at five of the best restaurants on the Coast. The theme for this year’s Valentine’s is, “When things are done with love, they work”, and this is certainly true for the dishes on the menu – all are created by the talented chefs with care and attention so that everything is a taste sensation. Celebrate this romantic annual event on the 13th and 14th at the Da Bruno restaurants with some mouth-watering food including: heartshaped pasta filled with octopus in large red prawn sauce, followed by either duo of skate wing and salmon with spinach and tartar sauce or filet mignon with Marsala sauce garnished with asparagus and Pont Neuf potatoes. Finish the evening with a delicious strawberry tiramisu, all for just €25 a person. Bookings and more information: Da Bruno Pasta, Tel. 952 860 348; Da Bruno a Casa, Tel. 952 857 521; Da Bruno a Cabopino, Tel. 952 831 918; Da Bruno Sul Mare, Tel. 952 903 318; Da Bruno San Pedro, Tel. 952 786 860; www.dabruno.com 78

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ROMANTICALLY RUSTIC ELEGANCE Hotel Hermitage The recently opened Hotel Hermitage in Casares is offering a romantic retreat for Valentine’s, with couples able to enjoy the magnificent views across the coast and the charms of this three-star establishment. The hotel has been designed to the highest standard with elegant rustic salons and an attractive champagne-hued restaurant, Celima, with panoramic views. This bijou bodega also has 15 rooms with their own private terrace or garden, five of which have a romantic fireplace for guests to cosy up to after a superb meal. The restaurant serves fine seasonal gastronomy which can be enjoyed in the restaurant, or – for those seeking a little more privacy but still great food – in the comfort of your own room. Valentine’s couples can enjoy a special evening on 13 February as the chef has prepared a romantic four-course gourmet dinner including wine and water for just €35; or, for couples wanting to make the most from the weekend, guests can enjoy the delicious meal, a night in one of the comfortable and relaxing rooms, a bottle of cava to share in the room and breakfast for just €160. Bookings and more information: Tel. 952 895 639; www.hotelhermitage.es

TABLE TALK CHIC STYLE AND SWEET SOUL

SENSUOUS CULINARY DELIGHTS

MC Café

Garum

MC Café has been a popular venue for both residents and visitors to the Coast since opening in 2002, with many returning time after time to sample the gastronomic delights, fantastic service and relaxed atmosphere. This year the restaurant will be hosting a weekend of Valentine Delights for chic and stylish couples who enjoy the finer things in life. The weekend starts with a lunch and Valentine’s fashion show on Friday the 12th featuring exquisite jewellery by Manuel Spinosa and fabulous cocktail dresses from Starlet boutique – guests will be able to enjoy a complimentary Kir Royal upon arrival. On the special day itself couples can enjoy a sumptuous four-course meal which includes cream of lobster soup with brandy and toasted sesame seeds; crayfish and spinach risotto with ali-oli peas; rack of lamb spiced with thyme jus; and minted vegetables and crispy potatoes – followed by warm chocolate and vanilla soup duet with coconut ice cream. Guests will then be serenaded by the “sweet soul” sounds of Helena Paul, completing a fabulous meal that will leave couples starry-eyed and full of romance.

It has been known for people to arrive in Marbella and head straight to Garum before checking into their hotel, to once again be welcomed by owner Timo and head chef Marcel, and some sumptuous international cuisine. Valentine’s this year will be no different, with a sensuous atmosphere and a fabulous evening ensured for all guests. The popular Marbella paseo restaurant offers some more culinary delights this year, as it does for all celebrations, including homemade canapés and a glass of Kir Royal on arrival – surely the perfect start to any evening – followed by a sevencourse dinner that will leave you and your partner satisfied and remembering why it is that people flock to this restaurant. The meal continues with serrano ham and orange marmalade sun-dried tomato and basil foie gras and apple glaze; mild and finely sliced smoked Norwegian salmon; fresh water salmon with marinated black pepper and saffron; hot smoked fresh water salmon with a golden finish; and South African mild peanut soup with sweet potato and coconut milk served with grilled prawns. Cherry and crème de cacao granite is followed by crispy panfried duck breast or grilled rosada served with onion potato cake gratinated with parmesan cheese, a variety of finely sliced vegetables stir-fried, and a mild, smooth mustard and orange sauce. While, for the most decadent diners, a double dessert is served in the form of a creamy mousse of fresh lemon curd and smooth white Belgium chocolate and a homemade dark Belgium chocolate bonbon filled with rich, creamy rice pudding.

Bookings and more information: Tel: 952 768 936; www.marbellaclub.com

Bookings and more information: Tel. 952 858 858; www.garummarbella.com (price €38)

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TABLE TALK

Valentine’s HEAVENLY ROMANCE Rincón de Guadalpin

IRRESISTIBLY DELECTABLE Regina’s Sisters Daniela and Paula from Regina’s Restaurant are well known for their exceptional hospitality, delectable Italian cuisine and lively atmosphere, and this Valentine’s will be no different. Located near Hotel Andalucía Plaza, the restaurant is a firm favourite for celebrations, and for Valentine’s Day this year couples can enjoy the trademark service and delightful dishes. The meal, all romantically themed, begins with a choice of starters: Insalata Romantica – fresh rocket salad with pomegranate, tiger prawns and pineapple served with a honeykissed dressing; Mozzarella Kiss Kiss – deep fried mozzarella served with a “feeling hot, hot, hot” spicy sauce; and Zuppa Dellamore – fresh tomato soup served with a hint of Andalucian oranges. The main courses include Tagliatelle Bocca Bella – with oven-backed tomatoes, roasted pine nuts, goat’s cheese and a generous portion of homemade pesto; Salmone Al Cuore – slow-grilled fresh salmon served with a light dill sauce; and Pollo Ti Amo – boneless baby chicken stuffed with wild organic mushrooms and Italian Sardinian cheese. After some mouth-watering savoury dishes, couples will be able to indulge in one of The Irresistibles, a choice of delicious desserts that includes: The Kiss – an After Eight chocolate mousse; The Caress – fresh, finely sliced pineapple with a splash of Maraschino liquor; and The Love Making – pancakes filled with fruits of the forest and whipped cream, and flambéed. Bookings and more information: Tel. 952 814 529; www.ristorantereginamarbella.es

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Rincón de Guadalpin is the perfect venue for a special evening out to enjoy some great cuisine which combines modern Mediterranean dishes with retro classics. The Valentine’s menu is no different – a five-course delight that will certainly get anyone into the romantic spirit this 14 February. Each dish is appropriately named with Valentine’s and romantic themes, and the evening begins with Love Potion for two to share on arrival with an amuse bouche that will tickle your taste buds in preparation for the rest of the exquisite meal. A choice of starters includes Lover’s Decadent Eastern Platter for two to share in which sashimi, sushi, baked mussels, tempura prawns and mini Thai fishcakes are all served with tasty dips; or you could enjoy a Ménage a Trois – homemade ravioli with wild mushrooms and truffles. A Perfect Marriage of lobster soup and cream of cucumber, topped with cappuccino, is served next followed by Beef in a Bed, Nude Chicken or Asiatic baked sea bass with scallops. The choice of desserts, all for two to share, will make you want all three! It includes: Cassata Casanova – a sponge base soaked in Kirsch, filled with fresh fruits and ice cream and topped with fluffy meringue; Cupid’s Arrow – skewed fruits including strawberries, pineapple and mango, with marshmallows and hot chocolate dipping sauce; or Sweet Heavenly Kisses of fresh strawberries and cream. Bookings and more information: Tel. 952 929 001; www.rinconguadalpin.com

TABLE TALK

PAMPERED WITH EXCELLENCE

LAVISH PARTY AMBIENCE

Puente Romano

Suite at the Hotel Puente Romano is renowned for its lavish parties and celebrations as well as delicious cuisine and a fabulous atmosphere. This Valentine’s guests are in for a treat with a free cocktail on arrival aptly named the Agent Provocatini, while the ladies will receive a gift from Agent Provocateur – starting the evening seductively and provocatively. DJ Zoe will be playing throughout dinner, which includes carpaccio of red king prawns with ginger oil; oysters with Iranian Beluga caviar; millefeuille of prawns; tournedos of beef with black truffle; and strawberry with chocolate fondue. This incredible aphrodisiac menu will leave couples feeling sensuous and romantic, and ready to party the night away together in the nightclub until 4am.

The world-renowned luxury resort of Puente Romano is beautiful, tranquil and “a paradise pampered with excellence”, so where better to spend the most romantic weekend of the year. The hotel is offering a special Valentine’s special for 12, 13 and 14 February which will include a Valentine breakfast and dinner at Café Puente on Sunday the 14th (including wine) for €45 per person; or at Suite on Saturday the 13th (not including wine) for €50 per person. Guests can choose from a choice of accommodation including the double room for €190, a junior suite for €250 or a deluxe room for €265 (all +IVA), and spend the weekend reconnecting and falling in love all over again. Bookings and more information: Tel. 952 820 900; www.puenteromano.com

Suite Restaurant and Nightclub

Bookings and more information: Tel. 676 920 474 / 630 962 852; www.suiteclubs.com

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FINE DINING

T THE BEACH HOUSE

Winter Chill WORDS GILES BROWN PHOTOS DAVID TOMS

Beach House Restaurant Tel. 952 839 458 www.thebeachhousemarbella.com 82

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hose of you who have the rare pleasure of having made my acquaintance will know that I’m one of the Coast’s principle proponents of beach culture. Every year around Easter I change into my official summer outfit of brightly patterned shirt and set up my summer office, usually a laptop-sized bar space between the San Miguel fridge and the Hawaiian Tropic Boutique, and don’t move until the end of September. But what do you do on the beach when, as Don Henley famously once sang, “the boys of summer have gone?” When the crowds have evaporated it’s the perfect time to enjoy a little winter sun. The Beach House Restaurant in Elvira has long been a favourite among locals in the know, and I’d been hearing good things about head chef Martin Underwood’s Modern European cuisine The Beach House easily has to have one of the most beautiful settings on the coast, with a beautiful stretch of sand (apparently it is swept daily) and a dazzling view of the Mediterranean that takes in the curve of the coast all the way to Gibraltar and Morocco. The phase “the location enjoys majestic views to Africa” has become somewhat of a cliché among real estate agents but on a crisp winter afternoon, and with the sea flat as millpond, the view really was spectacular. The restaurant’s interior reflects the Modern European look, but the diners, a good cross selection of ladies catching

up on the gossip, a gaggle of golfers enjoying a break, a well-dressed young family and two ultra trendy young single guys, one of whom was wearing a particularly nasty florescent green jacket, were enjoying the sunshine on the restaurant’s beach decking and there is also a covered terrace area. We chose Kir Royals to get in the mood as it had been my birthday two days earlier so I was still celebrating. That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it! For starters we began with beautifully presented and extremely tasty Moroccan-style spiced fishcakes with a cucumber and carrot ribbon salad, rice wine dressing and tomato salsa. We also plumped for the chilli and vanilla marinated salmon gravadlax, with watercress and potato salad and mint bread. The gravadlax had also been marinated with vodka, a touch which made it, my companion commented, a starter with a difference, though as he was driving after lunch that was the last alcohol he touched. The main courses all looked impressive, and dishes that caught my eye included the eighthour braised lamb shank with Hoisin sauce, or the Thai steamed fillet of sea bass, ginger, coriander, lime and lemon grass, fragrant rice and pak choi. Being January, we decided that the winter vegetable pie, which had a creamy filling of broccoli, mushroom, potato, asparagus, parsnips and sweet potato puree, would be a good choice and so it proved, arriving on an impressive

tower of potato! I went for the homemade steak and kidney pie with horseradish, runner beans and béarnaise sauce, served on a bed of mashed potato. I haven’t had a steak and kidney pie for years and this was brilliant, which I washed down with the eminently quaffable house red, an Albert I Noya Can Vendrell (Penedés). I also spotted the Vega Sicilia Unico Gran Reserva 1994 lurking at the bottom of the wine list, which was awarded 98 points by American wine guru Robert Parker. Alas, the price of €450.95 was just a tad over my budget, even if it was my birthday week and the waiter quipped that he might knock the 95 cents off for me. The service, by the way, was excellent, with the young, capable staff stylishly kitted out in stylish black outfits. I’ve been mistaken for a waiter so many times that I never wear black or waistcoats to restaurants. Plus there are few waistcoats that could have fitted me after the pie. For dessert my companion went for the apple and wild berry crumble, which he described as tasting as “homemade from my mum”, but I had to admit surrender, although I did contemplate the impressive looking cheese and biscuits selection, with brie, cheddar, blue cheese, goat’s cheese, and Manchego cheese and, if I had been able to, would have accompanied this with one of the Ramos Pinto Ports by the glass. But instead I settled back in my chair, took another sip of my wine and contemplated how lucky I was to be sitting in the sun, looking out over the Mediterranean, while chill out music played in the background. And there’s nothing better than the guilty pleasure of watching joggers panting along the waterline, working off their Christmas excesses, while you debate whether to order just one more glass! The Beach House also offers a very reasonably priced lunch menu during the week, as well as live music and a traditional roast on Sunday. It easily has to be one of the best places to chill out and enjoy a little winter sun and a lot of excellent food on the Coast and I’ll certainly be back before summer starts.

S OTO G R A N D E I

ESTEPONA I

SAN PEDRO I

s t n a r u a t s Re

Guide to fine dining

P U E R TO B A N U S I

Oriental

SCHILO Location: Ctra. de Casares Tel. 952 937 800 www.fincacortesin.com Gourmet Asian-fusion cuisine created by world-class chef Schilo Van Corvorden at the Finca Cortesin hotel and golf resort. Superb service, elegant setting and excellent wine list. 84

STARZ MARBELLA

NAGA THAI

Location: C.C. Centroplaza Tel: 952 816 313 Location: C.C. Cristamar www.starzmarbella.com Tel. 952 815 319 International food with all-day Wide range of exquisite and exotic dishes enjoyed in stylish breakfast and extensive lunch menu. Open Monday to surroundings. Open daily for Saturday 8.30am–5pm. Free wifi. lunch and dinner. Take away and full catering service also TERRA SANA available. Location: near Andalucía Plaza Tel. 952 906 205 International Renowned for its tasty and healthy dishes. BUDDHA BEACH Location: Urb. Marina Villa EVITA BY BUENOS AIRES (beachside) Location: Avda. del Prado Tel. 952 813 882 Luxurious Balinese setting with Tel. 952 929 620 al fresco restaurant serving an Superb Argentinean cuisine. Golf appetising selection of dishes views on a beautiful terrace. ranging from fresh seafood platters to Thai fusion cuisine, sushi, Italian creative salads and lighter REGINA’S dishes. A “snack and wrap” Location: near Andalucía Plaza menu can be enjoyed from Tel. 952 814 529 Buddha’s beach beds. Elegant surroundings with highquality Italian dishes ranging from BUBBLES traditional to creative. Open for Location: Plaza Antonio dinner, Monday to Saturday. Banderas, TIBV

ALABADERO

MACCHERONI

Location: Crta. de Ronda Km. 167 Tel. 952 812 794 www.alabaderoresort.com Creative inexpensive cuisine, in elegant surroundings including stunning garden setting .

Location: Jardines del Puerto NUEVA ANDALUCÍA Tel. 951 703 175 Fashionable pizzeria serving International authentic Italian specialities. Takeaway available. Open every GIRASOL night from 8pm. Location: Avda. del Prado Tel. 952 813 859 Superb service and excellent food from award-winning chefs Michel and Paul. Attractive surroundings and pleasant patio terrace overlooking golf valley. Open every evening, except Sunday, for dinner.

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MAGNA CAFÉ

Location: Magna Marbella Golf, Tel. 952 929 578 THAI GALLERY www.magnacafe.com Location: Puerta de Banús Exquisite cuisine in stunning Tel. 952 818 392 Creative cuisine with professional surroundings. Bar and large service and lively atmosphere. terrace with breathtaking views. Open daily for dinner.

Tel. 606 070 979 Superb international cuisine and FROM TRADITIONAL MEDITERRANEAN TO A WIDE SELECTION OF INTERNATIONAL CUISINE cocktails in stunning Balinese roof terrace setting (adjoining al SOTOGRANDE WEST OF SAN PEDRO SAN PEDRO fresco lounge bar and stylish nightclub). Menu includes selectInternational Italian International ion of hot and cold starters, creative sushi and sashimi, fresh KE BAR LA PAPPARDELLA PASSION CAFÉ fish and delicious meat dishes. Location: Frontline port Location: Laguna Village Location: C.C. La Colonia Tel. 956 793 333 Tel. 952 807 354 Tel. 952 781 583 HARD ROCK CAFE Chic venue ideal for watching Popular Italian restaurant group www.passioncafe.eu Location: Opp. El Corte Inglés the world pass by with snacks which made its mark in London Fresh and creative food served www.hardrock.com and full meals. and Puerto Banús. Extensive list throughout the day. Fantastic High-quality, classic American of dishes made using finest breakfasts, salads, wok dishes, fare on offer, including such Italian ingredients, and great fajitas, burgers, wraps and FLAHERTY’S house favourites as burgers, service. A fine dining experience sandwiches. Daily specials and southern-style sandwiches and Location: Frontline port in chic, luxurious surroundings. superb evening menu. Eclectic signature smoke house Tel. 956 790 390 décor and pleasant ambience. specialities. World-famous Lively Irish bar and restaurant with well-priced snacks and full BENAHAVIS collection of memorabilia and dishes – fun ambience and live PUERTO BANÚS lively bar, offering wide variety music evenings. International of drinks and cocktails as well Italian as “Alternative Rock” nonCASARES TABERNA DEL alcoholic beverages.

International

N U E VA A N D A L U C I A I

MARBELLA

YANX CAFÉ Location: Centro Plaza Tel. 952 818 861 www.cafeyanx.com A prized location and lively atmosphere make this a great choice all-round.

Oriental THAI BANGKOK Location: Plaza de Las Orquídeas Tel. 952 813 603 Traditional Thai and Asian cuisine made from the freshest ingredients. Open daily for lunch and dinner.

GOLDEN M ILE Oriental SUKHOTHAI Location: Marbella Mar Tel. 952 770 550 Fabulous Thai cuisine, with intimate surroundings and cosmopolitan décor.

TAI PAN Location: Puente Romano Tel. 952 777 893 Enjoy cocktails at Polynesian bar before sampling oriental cuisine in beautiful surroundings.

EAST OF MARBELLA I

International

FUENGIROLA I

BENALMADENA

BAYRES

THE ORANGE TREE

Tel. 952 771 799 Highly popular restaurant set within stylish surroundings, al fresco at its best.

Location: opp. Marbella Club Tel. 952 863 922 Authentic Argentinean cuisine including meat specialities fresh from the grill. Attractive décor, including cocktail bar.

VICTOR’S BEACH

MARBELLA

Location: Orange Square Tel. 952 924 613 / 680 224 457 Creative contemporary cuisine, with innovative new menu every six weeks. Open daily for dinner from 6.30 till late; early evening menu until 8pm.

VILLA TIBERIO

Location: El Ancon Playa International Tel. 639 553 088 A Costa del Sol institution, popular with visiting celebrities ZOZOÏ Location: Plaza Altamirano and residents alike. Tel. 952 858 868 Old converted house provides SUITE Location: Hotel Puente Romano perfect atmosphere for cuisine with a difference. Tel. 952 820 900 Stunning restaurant and lounge SANTIAGO serving superb Moroccan and Location: Paseo Marítimo Mediterranean cuisine in Tel. 952 770 078 luxurious surroundings. www.restaurantesantiago.com Considered the “dean” of Italian Marbella restaurants, specialising in fish and seafood from TERRAZA DUAL throughout Spain. Location: Marbella Mar Tel. 952 925 250 GARUM www.terrazadual.com Location: Paseo Marítimo Great service and attractive Tel. 952 858 858 surroundings. Home-made dishes. Take away also available. www.garummarbella.com Great for drinks, snacks and à la carte dining. Open daily for DA BRUNO breakfast, lunch and dinner Location: (also San Pedro, Open seven days. Marbella and Cabopino) Tel. 952 857 521 Fresh and fabulous Italian food served in lively surroundings. Open daily for lunch and dinner.

BECKITT’S Location: C/ Camilo José Cela Tel. 952 868 898 www.beckittsmarbella.com Creative cuisine and fine wines in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Excellent service. Open daily for dinner from 6.30pm with “early bird menu”; seasonal specials and full à la carte.

TERRA SANA

EAST OF MARBELLA International BONO’S BEACH

Location: Costabella beachside Tel. 952 839 236 www.bonosbeach.com Fine cuisine in a stunning location on one of the most beautiful beaches in Marbella.

THE BEACH HOUSE Location: frontline beach Elviria Tel. 952 839 458 www.thebeachhousemarbella.com Idyllic location by the sea with stunning sunsets over one of the Coast’s best beaches. Open daily for lunch and dinner.

Location: Nueva Andalucía Tel. 952 906 205 Freshly made, lovingly prepared food which uses the best possible ingredients. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

BYBLOS

French

NIKKI BEACH

CASANIS Location: Calle Ancha 8 Tel. 952 900 450 Exquisite bistro serving menu del día as well as à la carte, aperitifs and cocktails. Open Monday to Saturday for dinner.

Italian ZAFFERANO Location: Calle Gloria 12 Tel. 952 863 125 Beautiful renovated old town house with modern Italian cuisine in elegant surroundings.

CASA NOSTRA Location: C/ Camilo José Cela Tel. 952 861 108 Local dining institution since 1988, with extensive selection of superb Italian cuisine.

SOL I LUNA Location: Las Lomas de Marbella Club Tel. 952 866 627 A fusion of fine Italian and Mediterranean cuisine in a tranquil al fresco setting. Special menus, wine tastings and weekend buffets are a highlight.

DA FABIO Location: Marbella & El Rosario Tel: 952 823 376 / 952 833 467 Friendly, authentic Italian restaurant offering traditional cuisine and special dishes prepared by the chef. Delicious homemade pizzas and pastas served in relaxed interior setting or heated terrace of this family-run restaurant. Open daily 11am-midnight, with easy parking.

s t n a r u a Rest

Location: Elviria Tel: 952 836 208 Traditional Lebanese cuisine including a wide variety of vegetarian dishes.. Location: Hotel Don Carlos (beachside) Nikki’s signature “global” cuisine served in luxurious beach club surroundings either on the palmshaded al fresco terrace, or from one of the oversized beach beds.

MIJAS COSTA International MIJAS PLAYA Location: La Cala seafront Tel. 952 493 749 Popular restaurant overlooking the sea, with entertainment and dancing every evening. Superb food in elegant surroundings.

VALPARAISO Location: Ctra de Mijas Tel. 952 485 996 Excellent Italian and international cuisine served in charming and elegant surroundings.

THE TERRACE Location: Golf Hotel Tamisa Tel. 952 585 988 www.hoteltamisagolf.com Stunning views across Mijas Golf. Extensive à la carte and moderately priced menu of the week.

FUENGIROLA International PUEBLO LÓPEZ Location: off C/ Valencia Tel. 952 471 929 Well-established, family-run restaurant in charming Pueblo López cobbled courtyard offering excellent, well-priced international cuisine. w w w. s o c i e t y l i v i n g m a g a z i n e . c o m

S OTO G R A N D E I

ESTEPONA I

SAN PEDRO I

P U E R TO B A N U S I

MIJAS PUEBLO

Oriental

International

MAKATI TEPPANYAKI

Location: Edif. River Playa Tel. 952 580 640 Location: Crta. Mijas, Km. 4.2 www.restaurantemakati.com Superb Japanese cuisine in chic Tel. 952 590 727 Polish and international cuisine – surroundings with excellent service – moderately priced but original creations, well-priced ample dishes. and generous servings – in a relaxed and comfortable setting, with easy parking and live BENALMÁDENA entertainment twice a week.

VILLA VARSOVIA

LOS BOLICHES Vegetarian VEGETALIA

Indian

NIRVANA Location: Altos de Higueron Tel. 952 568 564 Wide selection of excellent, moderately priced Indian cuisine in friendly atmosphere.

Location: C/ Santa Isabel 8 Tel. 952 586 031 www.restaurantevegetalia.com Salad buffet with hot dishes of LA CARIHUELA the day at lunchtime; a la carte selection in the evenings, fresh Spanish juices and homemade desserts. Open Monday-Friday lunch; RÍAS DE GALICIA Friday and Saturday dinner. Location: Paseo Marítimo Tel. 952 385 974 / 629 535 887 www.riasdegalicia.es Oriental Basque and Galician cuisine in frontline beach setting. Extensive THAI LANNA à la carte selection and Location: C/ Francisco Cano moderately priced menu del día . Tel. 952 587 139Exquisite selection of well-presented Thai dishes in attractive BAR PLAYA ambience, with friendly and Location: C/ Bulto attentive service. Tel. 952 386 235 Cosy, family-run establishment specialising in home-style fish International and seafood dishes, and varied tapas… excellent quality and HAPPY DAYS moderately priced. Location: Edif. Sierra Mijas Tel. 952 664 004 Superb, well-priced DanishGIBRALTAR style dishes, including traditional open sandwiches. International

Spanish

14 ON THE QUAY

Location: Queensway Quay Tel. (+350) 200 43731 Location: Avda. Jesús Cautivo Relaxing setting overlooking Tel. 952 477 267 the marina, with flexible The best seafood in town, in opening hours (11am to 11pm) pristine surroundings with and menu, including light professional and friendly service. dishes, exquisite a la carte and weekly specials – at reasonable MESON BRAVO prices. Open seven days a Location: C/ Francisco Cano week; closed Sunday night. Tel. 952 585 417 Wide selection of traditional Spanish and original international cuisine for all tastes.

LA GAMBA DORADA

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N U E VA A N D A L U C I A I

MARBELLA

Da Fabio

RELAXED AUTHENTIC FLEXIBLE FAMILY HOMEMADE ITALIAN!

for r e t a c we ties r a p e g chef ’s specials lar take away

sta a p d n pizza a

Please call to make reservations and avoid disappointment Da Fabio Marbella Paseo Maritimo, Edf. Mediterraneo, Marbella 952 823 376 Da Fabio El Rosario Urbanización El Rosario, Edf. Da Fabio, Marbella. 952 833 467

LEGAL MATTERS

What is my liability as a company director? By Dimas Cuesta

Limited liability companies in Spain

n Spain all stock companies are considered to be limited liability companies, with S.L. and S.A. companies being the most frequent stock companies. This means that, in principle, the company’s potential liability is limited to its own assets and this is irrespective of, and distinct from, its shareholders’ and directors’ assets. This limited liability is the primary reason for a businessman to operate under these kind of companies: to limit the risk of potential failure of the business and protect their personal wealth, dwelling, car and all the assets accumulated with a whole life of hard work, to preserve their life and the life of their loved ones at the end of it. Nevertheless, regarding the liability of the directors’ assets in relation to the company’s debt, there are various exceptions arising from insolvency situations that are frequently overlooked and which could lead not only to the financial ruin of the company but also to the financial and personal ruin of the director and his or her family. This article has the intention to create awareness of this liability system among directors, with the aim of promoting preventive advice which easily avoids situations of personal liability in regards to the company’s debts. This awareness should lead directors to perform all their obligations more carefully than at the present moment and thus avoid

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personal liability of the companies’ debts before it is too late. Liability of the directors The Corporate and Criminal regulations, along with the Insolvency Act 22/2003, regulates the widest and most severe liability system ever for directors in Spanish legal history, and sets forth very serious sanctions. Insolvency situations have increased dramatically in the last year and the number of sanctions and director’s liability is increasing enormously day by day. The situations of personal liability of the directors are more common than they should be, basically because of lack of insolvency practitioners specialised in this matter and the lack of diligence of the directors at the time of getting appropriate advice. Directors need to speak to a corporate lawyer or an insolvency practitioner when the company cannot generate enough revenue on its own to pay all its creditors. The directors or the partners should not have the obligation to pay the company’s debt from their own pockets as long as they fulfil all their legal obligations. Among the different obligations that will generate a personal liability if breached is the obligation to apply for voluntary administration before the Mercantile Courts (concurso voluntario) within two months of

awareness of the insolvency in the company. Failure to do so shall give way to the obligation of the director on a personal basis to pay the balance of unsatisfied debts after the liquidation. There are also other kinds of personal liabilities for directors of companies with debts in a situation of insolvency, such as infra capitalisation (articles 104 LSRL and 260 LSA) and operations of the directors against Spanish law or against the by laws of the company damaging a third party (articles 133 LSA). Along with these personal liabilities there are other common criminal liabilities related to certain situations of company insolvency (article 257 and following of Spanish Penal Code). Directors will not be released from such liability by simply dismissing and appointing a new director, as directors of the last two years may also be liable. Even “shadow directors” or “de facto” directors will be found liable, along with the formal director registered in the Mercantile Registry. In order to avoid these liabilities it is essential to obtain specialised professional advice in order to comply with all directors’ legal obligations and ensure, first, a complete discharge of liabilities of the directors of the business and therefore protect their private wealth from the company’s debts; and, second, also ensure that all the advantages of the Insolvency Law have been effectively used, and as much as possible has been done to facilitate the survival of the business. It is a fact that directors put themselves into the above-described situations very often without being aware of it. If you are the director of a company under an actual or imminent insolvency situation, this article intends to let you know that you urgently need advice on how to best discharge your liabilities with immediate effect. If you are a creditor of a company which may be in an insolvency situation, you have an urgent need to look for professional advice on how to best claim these personal liabilities from the directors and obtain full satisfaction of your credit, interests and damages arising from the breach of the obligation to pay. Dimas Cuesta, a lawyer and partner of Lexland Abogados, has vast experience in commercial law and insolvency proceedings, and advises UK-owned groups of companies in relation to multi-jurisdictional commercial and insolvency issues. He is included on the list of Judicial Insolvency Practitioners of the Spanish Bar and is part of the Creditors’ Rights and Insolvency Proceedings Section of the International Bar Association. Lexland Abogados Ricardo Soriano 34 1º1 Marbella Tel. 952 778 899, Fax 952 766 966 dcuesta@lexland.es www.lexland.es www.foroconcursoacreedores.com

GOLDEN DAYS WHERE?

ANTHONY’S JEWELLERS A name you can trust. Established 1983

OUT WITH THE OLD IN WITH THE CASH TOP LONDON PRICES. IMMEDIATE CASH SETTLEMENT. BANK/HOUSE VISITS BY APPOINTMENT. GET THE REAL DEAL!

Anthony’s Diamonds & Pawnbrokers Avda. Ramon y Cajal 40 – 29640 Fuengirola – Malaga

Tel/Fax: 952 588 795 – Mobile: 609 529 633 email: diamonds@anthonys-diamonds.com

www.anthonys-diamonds.com

La Colonia, San Pedro

NEWS UPDATE

Noticeboard

ROUND-UP OF BUSINESS, CHARITY, CULTURAL AND OTHER GENERAL NEWS FROM THE COSTA DEL SOL AND ELSEWHERE IN SPAIN

BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE “LUNCH AND LEARN” SEMINAR IN MARBELLA

BENTLEY MULSANNE PRESENTATION OF NEW MODEL IN MARBELLA The new Bentley Mulsanne, which replaces the old Arnage and is due to go on sale in mid-2010, was previewed at the C. de Salamanca prestige cars dealership in San

Pedro de Alcántara. José Carlos de Salamanca is pictured with deputy mayor Miguel Troyana. More information: cdesalamanca.com

One of the UK’s top sales and marketing experts, Steve Clarke of eurekasales.co.uk, will be the guest speaker at a “Lunch and Learn” seminar organised by the British Chamber of Commerce in Spain in collaboration with CCG. Author of How To Thrive Not Just Survive, Steve will be speaking about his “simple success formula to boost business sales and accelerate business success even during tough times”. The seminar and lunch will be held on Tuesday 9 February at El Rincón de Guadalpin restaurant. More information from Paul Kane (Andalucía Administrator): Tel: 952 815 365; andalucia@britchamber.com

EUROPEAN JAZZ FESTIVAL TOP INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS FOR MARBELLA EVENT Music production company Events & Concepto is planning to hold the inaugural European Jazz Festival in Marbella from 20 to 26 July at Magna Café, with artists including Diana Navarro, Helene Labarriere, Helma Wisney, Al Benson Band, Elis Eliane, Admal Jamal, Chico & Gypsies, Tribute Blues Brother and F. Sinatra Band. The company also plans to organise other musical and cultural events in Marbella, including a Festival of Jazz and Country Music in August.

SANTA MARIA POLO CLUB SPORTS AWARD FOR SOTOGANDE CLUB The Cádiz Sporting Press Association honoured Santa Maria Polo Club during the association’s annual Provincial Sports Awards, in the category of “sports promotion”. Recognised as one of the top polo clubs in the world, Santa María hosts three events as

part of the World Polo Tour (WPT). Development plans for its Los Pinos complex, which already comprises four polo grounds and a 2,500 square metre pavillion, include a clubhouse, commercial area and luxury hotel. More information: santamariapoloclub.com

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NEWS UPDATE

COSTA PETS Marbella-based photographer Toni Cochrane would like to hear from owners interested in having their pets photographed with a view to being featured in future issues. Contact her on Tel. 952 865 509 or visit tcfotografia.com This month, we feature cute pair Catie and Neil. III Meanwhile, we are pleased to offer space in these pages to Costa associations looking after and trying to find homes for abandoned or mistreated animals. If you would like contact details for your association included in this new section, email: editorial@societylivingmagazine.com I F.A.M.A.: The F.A.M.A dog adoption charity has many dogs looking for a home. If you are looking to adopt a dog visit the adoption tab at www.f-a-m-a.net. They are also always in need of new volunteers to join the small team. I ADANA: Open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 2pm on weekends and public holidays, the Adana kennels always have dogs seeking good homes. Anyone looking for a pet or planning to visit the kennels can contact Marjorie Bedford: Tel. 952 797 405 or 636 934 146; administracion@adana.es; adana.es I MAPS: The Malaga Animal Protection Society is planning a MAPS Charity Golf Circuit this year, comprising four separate events, following the success of the society’s Costa Del Sol Open at the end of 2009 at Añoreta and El Chaparral. Fund raised from the events will go towards building an animal sanctuary in Andalucía More information: mapss.eu I Other associations: TRIPLE A: aaahelps.com SOS: sos-animals.org

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RUTH JONES PHOTOGRAPHY SPECIALISING IN BABY AND CHILD PORTRAITS Ruth Jones is well known to Society Living readers as our main parties and events photographer but her versatility and creativity extend across the photographic spectrum. Ruth does, for example, also specialise in baby and child photography, with a style described as “unique, stylish and simple”. She can capture your child’s special and individual personality in her studio or in

IN BRIEF I MARBELLA, MARBELLA: Spanish haute couture designer Agustín Torralbo will be presenting his “Marbella, Marbella” winter collection (inspired by the music of the Marbella, Marbella composed by Dario Poli to “fight for the honour and reputation of Marbella”) at Hotel Incosol on 6 February. The event will also include food and wine, as well as a performance by popular Marbella-based Cuban singer Yanela Brooks. More information from Morten Røngaard: Tel. 610 373 480 I FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT: Eight top club teams from five countries (Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Russia and Ukraine) will be taking part in the round-robin Copa del Sol football tournament at Marbella Stadium from 3 to 12 February. More information: copadelsol.org I ART EXHIBITION: An exhibition by artist Tori Seyd will remain on show at Terra Sana in central Marbella during February and up to mid-March, following its inauguration on 30 January. More information: terrasana.net

your own home – or any other preferred location. Her professional and refreshing approach to photography allows you and your child to relax and enjoy the shoot… from your baby’s first smile and perfect tiny feet to their first trip to the beach. More information: Tel. 634 803 532; ruthjonesphotography@hotmail.co.uk; ruthjonesphotography.webs.com

SCENE & HEARD

SNAPSHOTS As it is not always possible to cover every party, launch or general celebration we would like to in our Society pages, the Snapshots section features other events along the coast – and further afield. If you would like your special occasion featured in the magazine, send us a selection of high-resolution photos and a brief write-up about the event (maximum 50 words), by 10 February (for the March issue) to: editorial@societylivingmagazine.com

Lions Club solidarity with Haiti earthquake victims Sixty members took part in the first interclub meeting organised by Marbella’s four Lions Clubs (Founder, French-speaking, Cosmopolitan and German-speaking), at the Arrete restaurant, where a cheque for €5,000 was presented for victims of the Haitian earthquake. The money will be taken directly to Haiti by Lions member and former UN security chief Daniel Dans, who has spent several years in the devastated country.

Wish List gifts for Málaga orphanage A group of Marbella based mums organised a Christmas lunch for the second year to raise funds for the Wish List Fund. The ladies enjoyed a meal at the Marbella Golf and Country Club and entertainment by violinist Naiara and singer Helena Paul. The 50 children of the Málaga orphanage Ciudad de los Niños were asked to list their dream presents, and these were bought by the Fund. Funds left over were distributed among other charities: LIVE, AVOI, Cudeca and Marbella Voluntaria. Photo: Jenny Axelson

Singles event raises funds for Cudeca A Strictly Singles event held at Guadalpin Hotel Marbella attracting many guests hoping to meet new friends and partners. Organised by Barbara Fernando, the event included a special raffle with proceeds donated to Cudeca; while the entertainment included a special performance by world ballroom champions Lia and Sean Mullins and music by Ron Terre from The Drifters, classical guitarist Kurt Ketter-Borough and his wife Melanie, and UK and US solo artist Jennifer Philips. Photo: Ruth Jones

Rotary Club donation to San Pedro’s under-privileged Members of San Pedro Rotary Club formally presented their traditional donations to the poor of San Pedro de Alcántara, during the club’s Christmas gala held at Magna Café.

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IN THE STARS

In the stars ... with Russell Grant AQUARIUS January 21st – February 19th

CELEBRITY AQUARIAN Prince Felipe of Asturias Born 30 January 1968, in Madrid The heir to the Spanish throne, Prince Felipe is a law graduate (Spain) with a masters in international relations (Washington), a qualified helicopter pilot and a keen sportsman, having been a member of the Spanish sailing team (Soling class) in the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games. He married TV news presenter Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano in 2004, and they have two daughters.

Trust your instincts about an unexpected job offer on the 6th; this position could yield tremendous fruit. Your dreamy idealism makes you a big hit in the days surrounding the 8th. Starting on the 10th, people will be very receptive to your ideas; this is a great time to promote your pet projects. More money for luxuries becomes available in the days following the 11th. Getting advanced training on or around the 13th will help your career. Changing your look near the 14th will prompt others to treat you in an entirely new way. Let a close friend talk you into furthering your education on the 15th. The 17th is perfect for treating yourself to something insanely luxurious that you’d ordinarily never buy. You’re determined to spend more time on the activities you love around the 18th. Summon every ounce of willpower to increase your earning potential in the days surrounding the 23rd. Be compassionate toward a neighbour or relative on the 27th; unbeknownst to you, they are going through a rough patch. Money goes out as quickly as it comes in around the 28th.

PISCES February 20th – March 20th Your optimistic attitude helps you make powerful friends on or around the 6th. Pay special attention to your dreams in the days surrounding the 8th; they could provide powerful clues to your next creative project. Dealings with a big bureaucracy will be easier than usual in the days following the 10th. Go ahead and splurge on clothes, toiletries and jewellery on or around the 11th. You could get a letter of acceptance from a school or club around the 13th. Spending time on a solo project allows you to exercise your creative side near the 14th. Stepping up your exercise routine on or around the 15th will increase your sex drive. You’ll be the centre of attention on the 17th, so be sure to take extra pains with your appearance. A powerful friend could introduce you to an important executive on or around the 23rd. A neighbour or relative could confide a secret on the 27th; be sure to keep this information under wraps. A close relationship shows signs of strain around the 28th, when a workmate, friend or loved one keeps undermining your enthusiasm.

Horoscopes ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

March 21st – April 20th

April 21st – May 21st

May 22nd – June 21st

Working behind the scenes yields impressive results on the 6th. Spend the 8th collaborating on an art project with a female friend. Taking a short trip to see a neighbour or relative is possible on the 10th. A secret love affair puts a spring in your step around the 11th. You won’t be able to convert a colleague over to your side on the 13th. Taking an art class on the 14th will put you in contact with all sorts of inspiring people. Someone is strongly attracted to your physique around and about the 15th. The 17th makes you the recipient of a female friend’s generosity. Your boss may give you a highly secret mission around the 23rd. You can make a cherished dream come true on the 27th. Don’t fool yourself into thinking you can’t be replaced at work on the 28th.

A religious, cultural or educational organisation could give you money to travel early in February. Be sure to look your best on the 8th, as you’ll be asked to give a public presentation. The 10th is ideal for updating your CV, going on job interviews or buying office equipment. Friends will be especially loving and giving in the days surrounding the 11th. Tempers will flare on the 13th, when a relative complains you spend too much time at work. A creative professional opportunity could arrive near the 14th, enabling you to develop your artistic sensibilities. Working from home will be productive on the 15th; it’s easy to be productive in comfortable surroundings. A female friend could give you a wonderful gift around the 17th. The 18th finds you assuming a higher profile in both your personal and professional lives; pay extra attention to your appearance on this critical day. A mentor will give new shape to your dreams on the 23rd. The 27th is perfect for making long-range career plans. The 28th brings an end to a painful romance or artistic endeavour.

Getting a percentage of the profits will increase your income near the 6th. The 8th is lovely for taking in a concert, play or museum exhibit. Stick to your ideals regarding a legal matter on the 10th. Your job takes a glamorous turn near the 11th. Actions speak louder than words on the 13th. The chance to go on a dream vacation could fall into your lap on or around the 14th. Mastering a new technology helps you go through work like a hot knife through butter on the 15th. A career opportunity related to film, fashion or photography could become available near the 17th. Your star power will be formidable starting on the 18th; there’s never been a better time to go after a high profile position in your industry of choice. A careful use of your boss’s resources will pay off on the 23rd. If you’ve been thinking of going back to school, send out a round of applications around the 27th. The days surrounding the 28th will be stressful at home, thanks to increased career demands.

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IN THE STARS

Horoscopes In the stars ... with Russell Grant CANCER

LEO

VIRGO

June 22nd – July 23rd

July 24th – August 23rd

August 24th – September 23rd

Taking a short trip around the 6th could put you on the path to romance. A sexy flirtation near the 8th gives you renewed confidence in your powers of attraction. The 10th is good for setting up a savings, retirement or college fund. Spending more time on artistic pursuits will give you great pleasure in the days surrounding the 11th. The 13th is ideal for filling out applications for a grant, scholarship or bank loan. A physical relationship makes you feel like you’re walking on air near the 14th. Home improvement projects dramatically improve your domestic life on or around the 15th. The 17th is ideal for planning a long distance trip; you can find some great deals on hotel rates and plane fares. Travelling overseas, getting an advanced degree or publishing a piece of writing is favoured in the days surrounding the 18th. Your expertise piques an executive’s interest on or around the 23rd. Spend the 27th devising ways to finance a creative project. The 28th is not favoured for taking tests or displaying knowledge; vow to listen more than you speak.

The 6th is great for buying a piece of office equipment or time-saving technology. A lover, friend or someone you work alongside thinks you can do no wrong on or around the 8th. Spend the 10th making plans for a short trip with someone who is dear to your heart. The days surrounding the 11th will boost your passion ration; you can get anything from anyone during this golden period. Don’t pressure a loved one into making a decision around the 13th, or you’ll live to regret it. An unusual partnership flowers near the 14th; when an old and trusted pal will help you realise a childhood dream. Your creative work could get favourable attention from a critic or expert on the 15th. The 17th is perfect for spending the day in bed with your amour. Let down your defences with a business or romantic partner near the 18th. Your boss could give you a prize or bonus in the days surrounding the 23rd. The 27th is ideal for signing contracts and forming business alliances. A source of income dries up around the 28th, forcing you to rely more heavily on others.

A sexy encounter on the 6th makes you feel invincible; nothing can stand in your way! Working on behalf of a humanitarian cause lifts your spirits near the 8th. The days surrounding the 10th are ideal for sending out CVs, going on job interviews and checking in with employment agencies. An attentive friend is willing to relieve you of oppressive chores on or around the 11th. A wonderful job offer on or around the 14th gives you a chance to do emotionally fulfilling work. You can turn someone’s head through the sheer pulling power of your sex appeal mid-month; go ahead and make a few flirtatious suggestions to the object of your affection. The days surrounding the 17th are ideal for getting engaged or married; alternately, you could form a very lucrative business partnership during this golden period. The 23rd is good for laying down more permanent roots in your community or neighbourhood. Gentle exercise pays off on or around the 27th. Stand up to a friend, lover or colleague at the end of February who has been taking you for granted.

LIBRA

SCORPIO

November 23rd – December 21st

September 24th – October 23rd

October 24th – November 22nd

Exciting news from a relative or neighbour prompts you to go out and celebrate on the 6th. Pay careful attention to your dreams in the days surrounding the 8th; they could inspire you to launch a stimulating art project. Listening to music, reading books for pleasure and practising your artwork will become an increasing priority in the days following the 10th. Events surrounding the 11th make your work environment more pleasant than it has been in a long time. Be sure to take an expert’s advice on the 13th, especially as it relates to romance. The 14th is perfect for a romantic interlude; launching a creative project is also favoured. Your willpower helps you to overcome an unhealthy habit near the 15th. More time for the activities you love becomes available in the days following the 17th. Some powerful emotional changes on the 23rd will help you change your life for the better. Good news about a youngster’s progress reaches your ears around the 27th; be sure to give your young friend a reward. You could be suffering from serious burnout on or around the 28th.

Taking a class on or around the 6th stimulates your inner artist. A book or movie could inspire you on or around the 8th. Clearing the clutter from your home on the 10th helps you to think more clearly. Abandon yourself to sensual pleasure in the days surrounding the 11th. Be sure to take an older relative’s advice to heart on or around the 13th; take this opportunity to break a destructive habit. A real estate deal near the 14th allows you to live by a beautiful body of water. A magnetic sexual attraction proves irresistible on the 15th. Take a chance on love, money or both in the days surrounding the 17th; this will be a magical period. The 18th finds you making more time for creative pursuits; this is a great time to compose songs, write a blog or make a video for the web. If you’ve been struggling with health concerns, get a medical consultation near the end of April and put your mind at rest. The 27th prompts you to create a place for quiet contemplation in your home. Friends express disapproval over a stormy love affair on the 28th.

SAGITTARIUS A generous relative could give you the down payment for a house near the 6th; alternately, you could be presented with a valuable family heirloom during this period. A flirtatious compliment makes you flush on the 8th; you need to get used to being praised. The 10th begins a busy period filled with errands, phone calls and last-minute work assignments. Home becomes a comforting haven from life’s harsh realities on the 11th. Don’t challenge an expert’s theories on the 13th, or you’ll be seen as disrespectful. Taking a class in mid February gives you a welcome opportunity to flex your creative muscles. Fighting for the underdog near the 15th wins the approval of an important executive. Take a much-needed break on the 17th; this is a great time to spend some quality time with family. Launching a home-based business is a distinct possibility on or around the 23rd. Trust your instincts about a neighbour or loved one on the 27th; they could use a little compassion. A career matter comes to a head on the 28th, allowing you to spend more time at home.

CAPRICORN December 22nd – January 20th Thanks to sheer willpower and determination you can make a dream come true at the start of February. Donating money to your favourite cause gives your spirits a lift on or around the 8th. The 10th is perfect for negotiating a raise or bigger salary. You’ll have more time for pleasurable activities after the 11th, when life won’t be burdened with nearly as many chores. Finding a job that fills your life with purpose is favoured on or around the 13th. A new source of income makes you excited to go into work in the days surrounding the 14th. Your powers of persuasion are at an all time high on the 15th; use them to wangle a favour out of an influential person. Taking a class adds a welcome dash of romance to your life around the 17th. The 23rd is ideal for making important changes to a time-honoured institution. Stand up for the underdog near the 27th. A legal decision could be rendered against you on the 28th; you have to get over your disappointment and move on with your life.

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