Soltimes Mar Menor – Issue 478

23- 29 May 2017

mar menor

EST 2005

Drunk in charge...of a coach!

Guardia Civil officers in Murcia have arrested a coach driver – in charge of 40 passengers – on the A7 motorway, and was later found to be SIX times over the permitted alcohol limit for professional drivers.

The incident took place at 5.30 pm last Wednesday, when the Guardia Civil received a ‘phone call from an employee of a service station in Jumilla who was concerned about the demeanour of the driver while the coach had stopped for a short break. In between alerting the police and being stopped, the drunk driver resumed the journey to Alicante.

The Guardia Civil immediately tracked the coach to KM582 on the A7 and was made to leave the motorway at the La Paz service area in Sangonera la Seca. Once off the road and safe, the driver was subjected to the mandatory alcohol tests where a positive result 1.02 and 0.99 milligrams was recorded. The permitted level of alcohol for professional drivers is 0.15 milligrams.

The driver was arrested at the scene in front of the 40 coach passengers – all Chinese tourists en route from Granada to Valencia – and taken to Murcia where he faced an immediate court judgement.

Police attending the incident kept the passengers informed of the situation, overcoming the language barrier as none of them actually spoke Spanish.

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23-29 May 2017

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y 29th May Tuesday 23rd May to Monda

Edition 478

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Community News Send us your what’s on information & we can keep your community in the loop, send to Production.soltimes@ewnmediagroup.com PASO A PASO No partner, never danced, no problem, no need to book.

Mondays 8.30pm Hotel Lo Monty Community Club, Pilar de la Horadada, N332. 42.5.

----------------Tuesdays 8pm Los Rosales Restaurant, CV895, Lemon Tree Road, Campo de Guardamar -----------------THURSDAY 8pm El Parasio, Urb Jardin del Mar nr Carrefour, Torrevieja ----------------As some of the above days and times may differ during the year please find Paso A Paso on Facebook.

Or call Adam 638 330 342 Maxine 670 711 408 for all updated club information. www.modern-jive-spain.com ----------------------------Paso A Paso Dance Club Summer Dinner and Dance Dates.

All are being held at Los Rosales Restaurant. CV895 Lemon Tree Road, Campo de Guardamar.

Doors open 7.30pm.

Saturday 24th June Gangsters and Molls Saturday 22nd July Annual Summer Shabby n Chic Ball Maxines birthday.

Saturday 26th August Wild West Saturday 16th September James Bond / Gold theme €10.50pp including a two course meal.

Fancy dress is only optional.

Dance club members past and present and their friends always welcome.

Just message Maxine Goodie or email adam@modern-jive-spain.com to reserve your party table stating date and numbers.

COSTA COBRAS RFC Training at San Fulgencio sports ground on Monday and Wednesday

from 20.30-22.00 all ages and nationalities welcome, together with my contact details, Garry 692 767 242 whatsapp.

BADMINT0N AT PILAR DE LA HORADADA Mon, Tues, Wed and Thurs. 10-1pm.

For information ring John McGilvray on 966 786 774 or Mobiles 634 658 506/695 871 707 or email carolejohn_3@hotmail.com Friends after Bereavement.

F.A.B for short We are a mixed group of people who meet on a Saturday afternoon between 2 to 4pm.

The club is run by Joan. We are a very friendly group with a lot of chat but with plenty of time to listen. We try to help bereaved people to take their first steps to new friendships, we understand bereavement as each and every one of us has been bereaved.

For more information please contact Joan on phone number 634 336 103 where she will give you information on any questions you have, and where we hold our meetings. We look forward to seeing new friends and old friends alike.

COFFEE MATES If you would like to have a coffee and a friendly chat, please join us at the La Laguna Hotel, Lo Marabu every Friday morning from 11am ANN - 966 717 390 - 666 747 398 50+ SOLOS IS open to ladies and gentlemen who find themselves on their own but would like to get out and meet people through a difficult time. A get together normally twice a month for a meal. chat and perhaps a quiz at different locations in the Torrevieja area. We have run this little group for some 10 years and more such events are needed, 966 789 063.

SPIRITUALIST CENTRE, BENIJOFAR The Spiritualist Centre, Benijofar meets at Hamilton´s Bake House, 62 Calle Vicente, Blasco Ibañez, Benijofar 03178. We hold a Sunday Service at 11.30 a.m., a Tuesday Evening of Mediumship at 7 p.m. Every Thursday there is an Development/ Awareness Circle where you can develop your skills commencing at 6.30 p.m. Spiritual healing is available every Sunday and Tuesday after the service. The Divine Service with Mediumship on 28th May will be taken by Len Cox. Jillian and Martin will take the Evening of Mediumship on Tuesday, 30th May. The Divine Service with Mediumship, on Sunday, 4th June will be taken by Ray Bailey. Contact Wendy on 965 323 028. www.spiritualistcentre-benijofar.com New email is phoenixchurch23@gmail.com or info@spiritualistcentre-benijofar.com Identificacion Fiscal G54713789.

rock and roll class ‘Strictly Dance’ Rock and Roll for beginners and intermediates every Monday at the Emerald Isle La Florida 7:30-8:30pm. Ballroom and Latin for beginners and intermediates every Tuesday at The Country Club, Quesada 8-10pm and every Thursday at The Madhouse, Pueblo Principe.

New courses every 3 weeks, singles welcome. Come and join our fun group and keep up with the ‘strictly’ gossip. For further info call Lyn on 966188430 or 635584431 or email strictlydancelyn@gmail.com. Also you can follow us on facebook. Look forward to welcoming you to one of our classes soon!

THE ROYAL NAVAL ASSOCIATION Torrevieja Branch, meet at 17.00 on the first Wednesday of each month at the Restaurante El Paraiso, Urb. Jardin del Mar 3, (behind Carrefour), Torrevieja. Contact Paul Edwards, Chairman, 618 644 934 or Margaret Forshaw, Secretary 966 921 996.

A parkinsons Support Group On Tuesdays at 11am At Bobbie Jo’s, Los Montisinos For a chat and a cup of tea For further information contact Wally Williamson on 966 770 871.

Table Tennis Held Tuesdays and Thursdays 13.30 to 17.30 at Casa Ventura.

Equipment and coaching provided if required. Contact Del on 653564831 CHESS club Friendly Chess group looking for more players. FRIDAYS 1.00 PM - REFLECTIONS BAR SAN LUIS (Lakeside) Tele: John 966 786 774 or 634 658 506 (M).

The Royal British Legion Spain District North • The Royal British Legion provides lifelong support for the Armed Forces community – serving men and women, veterans and their families.

• If you feel we can help you, please ring 676 451 780 (9-5 weekdays) or email assistance.rbl.dns@gmail.com • Any general enquiries to 648 860 251(10-4 weekdays)

To the memory of the fallen and the future of the living

23-29 May 2017

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News

UK Polish want Corbyn for P.M. The Polish Left has come out strongly in support of a Labour Government led by Jeremy Corbyn.

All strands of the Left in Poland have supported the statement which calls upon Poles in the UK to support the Labour Party in whatever way possible in the forthcoming UK election.

"Poles clearly understand that a Labour Government would be one that will be strongly supportive of the rights of the Polish Diaspora in the UK and will reinforce the traditional ties that bind together our two countries" commented Tim Clapham, the Polish Coordinator for Labour International in Poland.

The statement was supported not only by the traditional left represented by the SLD (Sojusz Lewicy Demokratycznej) but also by the new Left such as Razem London (Together) and other left-wing parties, campaigning organisations and think tanks in the country.

Dr Gavin Rae, a member of Labour International in Poland, remarked that "Poles have a strong interest in the UK election and preventing the re-election of a Tory government that would press ahead with a hard Brexit."

The recent statement by the Brexit Shadow Minister, Keir Starmer, says that Labour will protect the rights of EU migrants living in the UK and maintain full access to the single market, drawing a clear line between the two main parties in British politics.

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Snap election causes savings loophole June’s snap election forced the British Government to abandon a number of previously announced policies in the Finance Bill that was going through Parliament when Theresa May made the surprise announcement.

One of the policies culled was a cut in the amount people can save into a pension each year, from £10,000 to £4,000, for those who have already used the “pension freedoms” to access their pot. There was no change for people yet to touch their pension, they can continue to save £40,000 a year.

This cut to the “money purchase annual allowance” was meant to apply from April this year, but has not yet been made into law.

As a result, pension experts say a window has opened up that means savers could continue to benefit from the higher £10,000 allowance this year.

Tax rules mean any pension contributions made above the annual or lifetime caps will face a charge in order to reclaim the tax relief that applies to pension contributions.

Jennie Kreser, a partner at Silverman Sherliker, the law firm, said it would be “incredibly crass” of HMRC if it tried to charge savers who make contributions of over £4,000 this year.

She said: “The law is what the law says and at the moment the law says £10,000, so that’s what you can put in. The issue is whether they make the law retrospective. I think if people make contributions in good faith on what they believe the allowance to be and put in £10,000 and then the Government tries to penalise them, there would be quite a fuss.

“I would support a campaign saying backdated legislation in these circumstances was highly undesirable and possibly illegal.”

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23-29 May 2017

‘Famous’ Madrid burglar gunned down According to the National Police, a famous and notorious burglar has been shot dead on a Madrid street in strange circumstances.

Francisco Javier Martín Sáez, 36 – better known as 'Niño Sáez' – has committed over 22 offences and is well-known for 'dropping in' through windows and skylights.

It’s understood he made his way on all-fours through several streets in Madrid's La Latina neighbourhood, severely wounded, before collapsing following a cardiac arrest.

Police and paramedics tried in vain to revive him after he called for help at around 11.30 on Sunday. When the emergency services arrived on the scene they discovered he’d sustained three bullet wounds, one in the neck and two in the left side of his chest, when he was attacked on the C/ Laín Calvo.

The dead man has a long history of breaking into safe deposit boxes in homes and shops, and even stealing top-of-the-range cars, but has generally been released with charges after being arrested.

Although mostly operating in Madrid, 'Niño Sáez' has committed several similar crimes in the provinces of Málaga, Murcia and Zamora.

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News

Alicante Facebook fugitive is dead The man who went on the run and posted photographs of his new high life after fleeing abroad to the Costa Blanca – before being apprehended and ending up back in prison – has died from a drug overdose at the age of 35.

In a story that has only now come into the public domain following a recent inquest into his death in Exeter, Devon, Scott Kelly died five months after being released from prison after stabbing a man. The inquest heard that Kelly was found dead in his room at his home last October. It was a story that made both the British and Spanish press, and was greeted with high-amusement and a sense of justice by all when it was revealed that the escaped prisoner on the run in Spain was captured after posting images of where he was on Facebook. The British police recognised one as being the palm-tree lined area of Alicante and was subsequently captured by Spanish authorities while driving in the area following the issuing of a European arrest warrant.

It was back in October 2013 that the father of one fled his bail hostel shortly after being released from seven years in jail for stabbing Stephen Rank during a row in a bar in March 2005. Kelly was released on licence but did a runner abroad. He ended up on the Costa Blanca in southern Spain and brazenly posted pictures of himself having fun in the sun.

Images on his Facebook page showed him enjoying a beach sunset, skiing and socialising in bars and restaurants. Detective Inspector Paul Fell, who helped detain Kelly, said: “I am sure that Scott Kelly went to Spain and was living the high life thinking he was untouchable. This shows that nobody is untouchable.”

Scott Kelly’s family said he had only been out of jail for around five months before he died last October. An inquest in Exeter, Devon, was told that cocaine and heroin

were found in his body.

His cause of death was ‘acute toxicity poisoning’ and the drug abuse may have enlarged his heart. Detective Sergeant David Lewandowski, of Exeter CID, said drug paraphernalia was found in his room but a known drug addict had been to visit him shortly before he was found. The detective said there was no criminality or third party involvement in Kelly’s death.

The assistant coroner Lydia Brown concluded that his was a ‘drug related death’.

Beach bar row sees some light As the end of May approaches, there are still none of the famous beach bars (or chiringuitos) open for business along the popular coastlines of Cartagena, although hopes have been raised that they might be up and running within a few weeks.

The bars were originally planned to be open for Easter week in the middle of April to take advantage of the influx of people to the area, but there had been a legal objection raised to the process for bidding for the much valued and sought after permissions and until this has been resolved, the stalemate continues.

However, following an official press release from the town hall stating that the licenses will be awarded shortly, those that have tendered are eagerly awaiting their fates as the envelopes containing the sealed bids are about to be opened. Successful applicants can then begin to plan for the summer season ahead and all being well will be supplying the much missed beach services during the early weeks of June.

Cartagena’s councillor responsible for tourism, Obdulia Gime, said she was personally satisfied and relieved that the situation was about to be resolved and continued that if the original appeal hadn’t been lodged, the places would’ve opened for Easter.

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23-29 May 2017

Smoking ban in Spain links to healthier births

Results of a recent study have suggested that one year after a nationwide ban on smoking in public took effect in Spain, women had significantly fewer premature or underweight infants.

Researchers examined data on more than 5 million babies born in Spain from 2000 to 2013. The study included infants born before any restrictions on public tobacco use, after a 2006 ban covering many workplaces with exceptions in the hospitality industry, and after a 2011 law curbing tobacco in nearly all public places.

The rate of babies born small for their gestational age declined after the partial smoking ban took effect in 2006, researchers report in Pediatrics. With the comprehensive ban in 2011, rates of preterm and low-birthweight babies also dropped.

"Second hand smoke exposure during pregnancy is associated with health complications affecting perinatal and neonatal health," said senior study author Dr. Inaki Galan of the Autonomous University of Madrid. "The implementation of two Spanish smoking bans (partial and

comprehensive) was associated with a risk reduction regarding preterm births and low birth weight infants.”

Pregnancy normally lasts about 40 weeks, and babies born after 37 weeks are considered full term. Babies who arrive earlier often have difficulty breathing and digesting food in the weeks immediately after birth. Early arrivals can also encounter longer-term challenges such as impaired vision, hearing and cognitive skills as well as social and behavioural problems.

Overall, the researchers found that during the study period 7.9% of infants were premature, 9.2% were small for their gestational age and 7.8% had low birth weight.

The comprehensive smoking ban was associated with an immediate 4.5% reduction in the preterm birth rate that was sustained a year after the law took effect.

The birth rate of underweight babies fell 2.3% immediately and fell a little more one year after implementation.

With the partial ban, the study found an immediate 4.9% reduction in the birth

rate of babies that were small for their gestational age.

The study wasn't a controlled experiment designed to prove how full or partial smoking bans might directly influence how soon babies arrive or how big they are when they're born.

Other limitations of the study include the lack of data on the mothers' smoking habits or whether they worked outside the home, both of which could influence how much the bans contributed to changes in tobacco exposure for babies during pregnancy.

Still it's possible that the bans work in two ways to help limit developing babies' exposure to tobacco, said Dr. Karen Wilson of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Kravis Children's Hospital in New York.

"Not only do smoking bans reduce the number of places where a mother might be exposed, it creates an incentive for people to quit, so it's more likely that a mom or her partner will quit entirely,” she said.

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A Colorado high school Spanish teacher has been placed on administrative leave after allowing students to celebrate the ‘Cinco de Mayo’ festival by smashing a piñata with President Trump’s face on it, officials said.

Video of the recent event obtained by news company KDVR shows blindfolded students whacking at the piñata tied to a tree with a bat.

The Roosevelt High School teacher, who was not identified, “has been placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation by the school district that will commence on Monday,” according to a social media posting by Weld County RE-5J School District officials.

Superintendent Martin Foster said in a statement, “This was an incredibly disrespectful act that does not reflect the values of Roosevelt High School or the school district.”

Facebook photos posted by an angry parent of a girl at the school show the green, red and blue piñata with a photo of Trump’s smiling face at the centre.

“So, this happened at my daughter’s high school today. The Spanish teacher allowed students to destroy a piñata that had Trump’s face on it,” Lesley Hollywood wrote.

She added that, according to students, the other side of the piñata featured Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto.

“I will definitely be taking this up with the school,” Hollywood wrote.

Trump’s vow to build a wall along the Mexican border has raised tensions with the country.

A piñata, often seen throughout Spain too, is a container often made of papier-mâché, pottery, or cloth; and filled with small toys or sweets, or both, and then broken as part of a ceremony or celebration.

The idea of breaking a container filled with treats came to Europe in the 14th century,

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23-29 May 2017

News

UK asked to investigate Spanish racist attacks Spain has asked authorities in Britain to launch an investigation into the growing number of “racist attacks” carried out against Spanish citizens living in the UK in the months following the EU referendum.

The request follows concerns raised in parliament by political party Podemos about the perceived rise in attacks and verbal abuse experienced

by Spaniards in the UK. Reports suggests that since the Brexit vote almost 12 months ago - when Britain voted to leave the EU – xenophobic attacks on those appearing or assumed to be from abroad, or speaking foreign languages, has increased.

Tomás Gil, a 27-year-old from Valencia has been one of the highest profile examples who was talking to his girlfriend in Spanish after a night out in the British seaside town of Poole when he was attacked by a racist thug.

The couple were standing together on the street in the Dorset town when Daniel Way overheard them speak in their native language, ripped a plank of wood off a building and smashed it into the Spaniard's

face shouting: “F****** Spanish, Speak English”.

The incident was caught on CCTV and was widely reported, making headlines in both the UK and here in Spain and resulted in the prosecution of their attacker.

In view of this and other reported attacks, Podemos tabled a parliamentary question to the government asking for information on the number of xenophobic attacks reported by Spaniards in the UK and “what measures are being taken to protect them”.

Spain's government replied that: “We have sent details of specific cases of which we are aware to the UK’s Foreign Office and Home Office and have requested an investigation”.

Spain’s Embassy in London has placed a statement on its website for those Spaniards who suffer aggressive incidents or attacks.

“The Spanish Embassy in London and its consulates in London and Edinburgh have been aware of various incidents and attacks that have affected Spanish citizens residing or

passing through the United Kingdom," reads the statement. “For this reason, it is advisable to report to the British police and to inform the Embassy and Consulates of any incident

or aggression, so that it is possible to give the necessary attention to the victims and their families and to carry out the appropriate follow-up with the British authorities.”

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23-29 May 2017

News

Cocaine trafficking intercepted Anti-drug forces from several European and American countries intercepted over five tons of cocaine that is being dubbed as one of the largest in history.

Spanish authorities cooperated with Ecuadorean police to intercept a ship off that Latin American country bringing more than 5.5 metric tons of cocaine to Spain. Officials said in a statement that the ship was loaded with Colombian cocaine in the Pacific and planned to travel through the Panama Canal and across the Atlantic to Europe.

The cargo seized off the coast of Ecuador has an estimated value of $250 million.

Ecuadorean agents boarded it when it was almost three nautical miles off Santa Elena province.

Spain’s Interior Minister Juan Ignocio Zoido said that the first operation resulted in the capture of 24 suspected drug traffickers.

"It is one of the largest cocaine seizures in history and it takes apart a large drugtrafficking organization between South America and Spain," he said.

The massive operation began after Spain found out in January that a South American ring with links in Spain was

organizing a large shipment. That information was corroborated by intelligence also gathered by the U.S., Britain and Portugal, the statement said.

Large seizures of cocaine and cannabis

aren't uncommon in the Iberian Peninsula, which is seen as a drug gateway to Europe.

Spanish police captured almost eight metric tons of cocaine from four vessels in 2015 and 2016 and arrested 80 people.

‘Spanish footballer’ was Moroccan migrant National Police in Spain have broken up a human-trafficking racket which dressed up illegal immigrants as footballers to get them across the border into the country without being questioned. Migrants from northern and sub-Saharan Africa wore strips for the third division X club AD Ceuta, based in the Spanish-owned city-province of the same name on the Moroccan coast, which plays alongside teams in Cádiz, Sevilla, Córdoba and Huelva.

Police officers spotted a man wearing the official tracksuit for AD Ceuta on board a ship heading from the city to mainland Spain, but discovered he was not one of the team, or any of its staff, and on later checking his national ID card, they found he was not who he claimed to be; he wasn’t even Spanish.

The man in question claimed a member of the club had sold him the ID card for €1,000.

Police traced the only member of the team who was not wearing the official strip and arrested him along with another woman who was said to be in charge of keeping the illegal migrant under wraps at her

home before he was helped on board the ferry.

A third person who had been accompanying the migrant was also arrested.

The three taken into custody, a woman aged 32 and two men aged 23 and 34, were all born in Ceuta and had Spanish passports, and the immigrant was Moroccan and aged 19.

Ismael M., 23, is a player with AD Ceuta and issued a statement before the press saying he ‘accepted his responsibility’ for the situation and wanted to clear the club’s name.

Revealing he had been suspended from the team, Ismael said his ‘error’ was ‘not telling the club he had a problem’ because he ‘got scared’.

He added that he ‘would die for his team’ and that he ‘thanked’ them for their support.

Chairman of AD Ceuta Luhay Hamido explained that the issue would be resolved in-house and the club would not give any further comment, other than to say Ismael had been ‘suspended, not fired’. It is believed it’s not the first time the daring threesome involved has pulled this stunt.

7

He’s King of the skies The King of the Netherlands has a secret identity: For the past 21 years, King Willem-Alexander has secretly been a commercial airline pilot. Holland’s 50-year old king guest co-pilots two flights a month for KLM, the country’s flag carrier airlines, and throughout all this his passengers didn’t have a clue. He finally confesses to his secret double life to Dutch newspaper Der Telegraaf in an interview published last week.

He said it’s more of a hobby than anything. “You have a plane, passengers and crew and you are responsible for them. You can’t take your problems with you off the ground,” he said. “You can completely switch off for a while and focus on something else,” he said, describing flying an aeroplane in terms most guys his age reserve for a round of golf. While KLM would find it exceptionally difficult to say no to their monarch if he asked to fly, he’s apparently a really good pilot. “For the relatively few flying hours the king makes, he is always very sharp. He knows the procedures well. Very well,” said KLM captain Maarten Putman, who frequently sits in the lefthand seat alongside the king. Willem-Alexander served in the Dutch Air Force and it was no secret he had a pilot’s license, but no one was aware just how often he put the license to use. Even though His Majesty he wants to continue flying now that his secret is out, he has his work cut out for him.

KLM is retiring the narrow-body regional jet he’s used to piloting, the Fokker 70 Cityhopper, for a new fleet of Boeing 737s. Last Tuesday was his last flight in a Cityhopper, which KLM uses for short flights primarily to Germany, the United Kingdom, and Norway. He’ll have to get certified on the 737 to keep flying — KLM doesn’t allow any safety shortcuts, even for royalty. He waxed enthusiastic about retraining for the 737, a bigger plane that can fly longer distances than the Cityhopper. “It also seemed nice to fly to other destinations one day, with more passengers and bigger distances. That was the real motive for training on the 737,” he said. Hardly any of his passengers’ notice who he is when he’s walking through the airport with his pilot’s uniform on.

He also never gives his name when he uses the intercom, so other than an occasional passenger who might just recognise his voice, he can fly completely incognito.

“The advantage is that I can always say I am speaking on behalf of the captain and crew to welcome them on board, so I don’t have to say my name,” he said. “But then, most people don’t listen anyway.”

8

23-29 May 2017

Local News News

Eighty years of linking San Francisco The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate strait, the one-mile-wide (1.6 km), one-pointseven-mile-long (2.7 km) channel between San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. The structure links the American city of San Francisco, California – the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula – to Marin County, carrying both U.S. Route 101 and California State Route 1 across the strait.

The bridge is one of the most internationally recognized symbols of San Francisco, California, and the United States. It has been declared one of the Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers.

The Frommer’s travel guide describes the Golden Gate Bridge as “possibly the most beautiful, certainly the most photographed bridge in the world.” It opened in 1937 and was, until 1964, the longest suspension bridge main span in the world, at 4,200 feet (1,300 m). Before the bridge was built, the only practical short route between San Francisco and what is now Marin County was by boat across a section of San Francisco Bay. A ferry service began as early as 1820, with a regularly scheduled service beginning in the 1840s for the purpose of transporting water to San Francisco. Many wanted to build a bridge to connect San Francisco to Marin County. San Francisco was the largest American city still served primarily by ferry boats. Because it didn’t have a permanent link with communities around the bay, the city’s growth rate was below the national average. Many experts said that a bridge could not be built across the 6,700 ft (2,042 m) strait, which had strong, swirling tides and currents, with water 372 ft (113 m) deep at the centre of the channel, and frequent strong winds and blinding, thick fogs.

Although the idea of a bridge spanning the Golden Gate was not new, the proposal that eventually took hold was made in a 1916 San Francisco Bulletin article by former engineering student James Wilkins. San Francisco’s City Engineer estimated the cost at $100 million, which would have been $2.12 billion in 2009, and impractical for the time. He asked bridge engineers whether it could be built for less.

One who responded, Joseph Strauss, was an ambitious engineer and poet who had, for his graduate thesis, designed a 55-milelong (89 km) railroad bridge across the Bering Strait. At the time, Strauss had completed some 400 drawbridges - most of which were inland - and nothing on the scale of the new project.

Strauss’s initial drawings were for a massive cantilever on each side of the strait, connected by a central suspension segment, which Strauss promised could be built for $17 million.

Strauss spent more than a decade drumming up support in Northern California. The bridge faced opposition, including litigation, from many sources. The Department of War was concerned that the bridge would interfere with ship traffic, and the navy feared that a ship collision or sabotage to the bridge could block the entrance to one of the country’s main harbours. Unions demanded guarantees that local workers would be favoured for construction jobs. Southern Pacific Railroad, one of the most powerful business interests in California, opposed the bridge as competition to its ferry fleet and filed a lawsuit against the project, leading to a mass boycott of the ferry service.

The Golden Gate Bridge and Highway District, authorized by an act of the California Legislature, was eventually incorporated in 1928 as the official entity to design, construct, and finance the Golden Gate Bridge. However, after the Wall Street Crash of 1929, the District was unable to raise the construction funds, so it lobbied for a $30 million bond measure. The bonds were approved in November 1930 by votes in the counties affected by the bridge. The construction budget at the time of approval was $27 million.

However, the District was unable to sell the bonds until 1932, when Amadeo Giannini, the founder of San Francisco–based Bank of America, agreed

on behalf of his bank to buy the entire issue in order to help the local economy. Construction began on January 5, 1933.

The project cost more than $35 million, completing ahead of schedule, $1.3 million under budget and opened on May 27 1937.

Ransomware: Guidance for home users

In the light of the recent cyber attacks across the world that badly affected the day-to-day operational ability of UK National Health Service and some of the major companies here in Spain, official advice has been published to help to avoid business and home users from similar experiences.

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is aware of a ransomware campaign relating to version 2 of the “WannaCry” malware affecting a wide range of organisations globally.

NCSC are working with affected organisations and partners to investigate and coordinate the response in the UK. This guidance will be updated as new information becomes available.

From investigations and analysis performed to date, we know that the malware encrypts files, provides the user with a prompt which includes; a ransom demand, a countdown timer and bitcoin wallet to pay the ransom into.

The malware uses the vulnerability MS17-010 to propagate through a network using the SMBv1 protocol.

This enables the malware to infect additional devices connected to the same network.

Home users and small businesses can take the following steps to protect themselves: 1. Run Windows Update as soon as possible.

2. Make sure your antivirus product is up to date and run a scan – if you don’t have one then install one of the free trial versions from a reputable vendor.

3. If you have not done so before, this is a good time to think about backing important data up – you can’t be held to ransom if you’ve got the data somewhere else. We recommend that you don’t store backups on the same computer, or any other device within your home network. Home users should consider using cloud services to back up their important files. Many service providers (for example, email providers) offer a small amount of cloud storage space for free.

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23-29 May 2017

News

easyJet suffers £218m year-on-year loss easyJet has posted a higher than expected half-year loss but said summer bookings were up and consumers were still keen to splash out on getaways.

Shares fell 7.3% on the very disappointing and unexpected result - which was heavily impacted by the slump in the value of the pound after the Brexit vote.

The £236m loss reported by the low-cost carrier for the six months to the end of March compared with £18m in the same period last year.

But chief executive Carolyn McCall said summer bookings were up and that there was evidence of consumers prioritising spending on flights over other nonessential purchases.

The half-year loss was partly blamed on a currency impact of £82m and a £45m hit from the late timing of Easter.

Revenue climbed 3% to £1.83bn as passenger numbers grew 9% to 33.8 million but revenue per seat was lower.

That was partly thanks to easyJet’s continuing expansion across Europe and disruption due to factors including strikes and severe weather resulting in more than 3,000 flight cancellations.

Chief executive Carolyn McCall said: “easyJet delivered a resilient performance during the winter months. Our bookings for the summer are ahead of last year showing that demand to fly remains strong and reflects growing evidence that consumers are prioritising expenditure on flights and holidays above other nonessential items.”

The half-year loss covers the winter period when many travel operators struggle to make a profit.

It comes a day after Thomson and First Choice owner Tui warned the UK was facing tougher times ahead and reported slowing growth in sales to British holidaymakers.

Merkel confounds ‘refugee’ critics Despite the almost daily media criticism due to her ‘open door’ refugee policy that many saw as sealing her fate at the forthcoming German General Election, Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives defeated the ruling Social Democrats (SPD) in a key state election boosting their hopes of retaining power in September’s national vote.

Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU) saw a surge in support in Germany’s most populous state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), which is home to one in five German voters and has often been an indicator of national electoral trends.

The CDU won 33% of the vote, up from 26.3% in 2012.

The CDU focused its campaign in NRW on

attacking the SPD for failing to tackle local issues like crumbling infrastructure that causes huge traffic jams, rising crime and an underperforming education system.

But the conservatives, who have now defeated the SPD in three state elections since the end of March, are hoping to build on the momentum in the run-up to the federal vote on Sept. 24, where Merkel is seeking an unprecedented fourth term.

Merkel’s image as an experienced politician who can provide strong and stable leadership resonates with many risk-averse Germans.

Western Europe’s longest-serving current leader, Merkel is seen by many in Germany and in the European Union as an experienced negotiator to guide tough

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talks with Britain on its exit from the bloc.

She is also seen as a champion of free trade.

Merkel stood firm in the face of heated criticism at home and abroad for opening Germany’s borders in 2015 to more than one million mainly Muslim asylum seekers, a measure that allegedly hurt her popularity and contributed to the rise of the nationalist party Alternative for Germany (AfD).

Merkel’s credentials have also been enhanced by an economy that has grown every year since 2010, driven by a solid labour market, a booming construction sector, rebounding exports as well as increased state spending and private consumption.

The SPD, which has ruled NRW for most of the past half century, plunged to 31.5% from 39.1%, casting doubts over their national election hopes. The party had surged ahead of the CDU in the polls after it named former European Parliament President Martin Schulz as leader and candidate for chancellor in January. He vowed to roll back labour market reforms that increased the number of people in poorly paid jobs and to broaden social welfare. But his message of “social

equality” has lost much of its initial impact among voters who have been imploring him to spell out more concretely his plans and how much they would cost.

The SPD is 10 percentage points behind the CDU in national polls. The two parties currently rule together nationally in a “grand coalition”.

“Based on today’s results, the main problem for the SPD is clear: SPD voters from the centre and centre-left are seriously considering the CDU as a preferred option,” said Robert Vehrkamp of the Bertelsmann Foundation think-tank.

Merkel managed to revive her fortunes over the last two months with a victory in Saarland on March 26 and an upset defeat of the ruling SPD in Schleswig-Holstein a week ago. Carsten Nickel, an analyst with Teneo Intelligence, said the NRW result was a sign that Merkel was on her way to re-election. “The regional polls have vindicated Merkel’s decision to keep calm in the face of the 2015 migration crisis and the difficult election year 2016,” he said.

“It also confirms our earlier skepticism regarding the immediate effect of the SPD’s surprise nomination of Schulz.

Merkel remains on track for a fourth term in the chancellery.”

23-29 May 2017

News

11

Over 50’s are big fans of contactless payments Almost 12 million over 50s are actively using contactless payments with one in five tapping the plastic up to three times a week according to research by Saga Money.

The survey of almost 10,000 shows that half (50%) of over 50s use their contactless cards when doing the weekly shop, whilst almost a third (29%) like the convenience when grabbing a coffee and one in ten (10%) use contactless when picking up a newspaper.

The over 50s not only like saving time at supermarket checkouts they also like freeing up space in their pockets with a third (32%) saying that they like not having to carry cash around with them. And with the modernday burden of remembering a glut of passwords and PIN numbers a quarter (25%) are happy with one less thing to memorise before heading to the shops.

Contactless payments are also benefiting older people out on their travels as a quarter of them (25%) are using the PIN-free option to get around on the underground, in taxis and when passing through road tolls.

Shopkeepers and businesses in London are seeing the most over 50s tapto-pay with 44% using their contactless card at least one a week followed closely by shoppers in the North East (42%) and East Midlands (40%).

Those in Yorkshire are most likely to use their PIN with just 33% opting to speed things up at the checkout over the course of a week.

However, despite quick payment popularity amongst the over 50s, not everyone is entirely comfortable with the ease at which their funds can be accessed. Seven in ten (70%) admit to worrying about the security of contactless payments and almost half (48%) say they believe the availability of contactless cards will cause an increase in pickpocketing.

While contactless cards may be protected in the same way as normal debit and credit cards, if your card is lost or stolen you should contact the bank as soon as possible so your bank can block it straightaway.

Gloria Barker, head of Credit Cards at Saga Money, commented: “The over 50s clearly value the convenience of contactless cards for making it easy and quick to pay for everything from groceries to tube tickets. And it’s obvious that not having to remember a PIN or carry cash has made contactless payments popular amongst older people.

“This is why we are pleased to announce that our credit card has now gone contactless, enabling our customers to benefit from the technology.”

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23-29 May 2017

Burglary – women suffer the most

• Over half of the women surveyed said they felt unsafe in their home after a break-in • Psychological impact far outweighs the practicalities, with reported consequences including sleep problems, becoming more nervous and anxiety about being home alone • Almost one in ten homeowners bought a dog for protection following a burglary Victims of burglary can be affected for years after the event, with women struggling the most, new research shows today.

More than half (56%) of the women surveyed who had been burgled said they felt unsafe in their home after the break-in, while 45% said it had affected their sleep and more than a third (34%) no longer wanted to be in the house alone. Men, on the other hand, were less distressed overall with two fifths (40%) confessing to feeling unsafe after a burglary, less than a third (32%) experiencing problems sleeping and only 13% feeling ill at ease on their own – almost a third less than women.

One in six women (17%) said they had become more nervous as a result of the burglary, with over a quarter (28%) admitting to becoming more likely to mistrust people they didn’t know.

Digging beneath the figures of the survey, some equally worrying details emerge.

One woman refused to go on holiday for several years after a burglary because she was so anxious about leaving the house unoccupied, while another was left greatly distressed after finding a burglar’s footprint in her baby’s cot.

The findings emerged from a detailed survey conducted by Everest Home Improvements, which also found that being burgled leads many of us to change our habits almost immediately. The vast majority of homeowners (94%) said they had made changes as a result of the burglary, with around a third upgrading the locks on their doors (36%) and windows (28%), while more than half (51%) said they always double-check their windows are locked since the break-in. Almost one in ten homeowners bought a dog for protection following a burglary.

Overall the feelings people were left with following a burglary were considered worse than the practicalities of clearing up or replacing things, or even the fact that they were not able to replace sentimental items. Two thirds of women (67%) said the feeling of someone having been in their home was the worst thing about being burgled, while over half of men (52%) said it was having their privacy violated. Some people said they were so badly affected by the break-in that they had to move home.

TV psychologist Emma Kenny explains

why it is often the psychological effects that have the most impact following a break-in: “The saying ‘home is where the heart is’ reflects the emotional connection that we feel when we think about the safe haven it provides. Having a space that is filled with our possessions and the people we love makes our home a unique and sacred territory, adding to our sense of personal wellbeing.

“Unfortunately, on occasion, this sense of security can be challenged due to things like burglary, with those affected often feeling that it impacts their overall wellbeing, which makes sense as suddenly a place that felt private and safe has been violated.”

Everest’s Marketing Director, Martin Troughton, said: “The survey results showed the real impact of burglary, which can have a long-lasting effect on our sense of security and wellbeing. It also highlighted that most of us could be more vigilant when it comes to home security.

The distress caused by a burglary is not always considered until after a break-in has occurred, yet some simple steps taken earlier could prevent a lot of hassle and heartache later.

News

Ten top tips for beating the burglary blues 1. The first important step is to recognise that nearly everyone experiences a sense of vulnerability after a break-in and to be aware that this feeling will fade over time, so don’t rush into doing anything drastic like moving house.

2. Take back control – focus on the things you can do to make your home more secure. For instance, make sure your window and door locks are up to today’s standards, as there are much stronger options available nowadays and just knowing you’ve upgraded them will help you feel more secure.

3. Of course, fitting strong locks is the first step – but you have to make sure you use them too!

4. Use light sensors and timer lighting to make it look like people are home even when they’re not.

5. Crunchy gravel around the house is noisy when people walk on it so it will alert you if someone is outside and will act as a deterrent for anyone trying to gain access unannounced.

6. Plant spiky plants under windows such as berberis or holly bushes, which make it harder for intruders to gain access.

7. Don’t publicise details of your holidays or prized possessions on social media.

8. Disable the location option on your mobile phone so people can’t see where you are.

9. Dogs are a great deterrent – just having a ‘beware of the dog’ sign is likely to put potential burglars off your property.

10. Finally, remember to focus on the security at the back of your house as much as the front.

News

23-29 May 2017

13

Just popping out for awhile

By Feature writer Sandy Shore

As the anaesthetist poised to carry out the injection my mother smiled: “If you get this wrong I am in trouble.” The medico paused for a moment and replied: “No, if I get this wrong your troubles are over and mine are just beginning.” Perhaps it is the mystery of what awaits us on death that makes some fearful of our earthly end. Even in life we fear the unknown more than the known. How often we hear the expression; “No matter how bad it is I want to know.”

I accept the afterlife. Debating the topic with my sister she replied that the egos of those who believe in reincarnation are so inflated they simply cannot accept an absolute end. My reply was that I prefer finality to being constantly recycled.

For once in her life Eileen was lost for words.

Spartacus remarked, “I am no more afraid of death than I was of being born.” The mutinous slave had a point. Perhaps it is my Celtic blood that leads me to see death as a re-birth. There is general agreement that on shrugging off our mortal coil we enter a tunnel at the end of which is a light-filled vortex.

This inspired the observation; “Maybe this is the light the new-born sees at the end of the birth canal?”

A worldwide survey reveals that 51% believe in reincarnation whilst 23% deny the afterlife: the other 26% are waiting to see what happens.

Where’s the problem? I don’t even have to close my eyes to transport my consciousness to a faraway place and there to spend time with enjoyable companions. If my imagination can do this then why would my soul or spirit have a problem with departing my burnt-out cadaver upon my death?

About twenty years ago I was sitting alone and was deep in thought during the early hours of the morning. Relaxing beneath subdued lighting I was dreamily consumed by Richard Strauss’s tone poem, Death and Transfiguration. As I enjoyed

the music of Europe’s last great classical composer I wondered aloud at what the death experience is actually like.

It was at that moment that I found my consciousness reaching a séance-like state. Then, an unseen presence flowed into my

consciousness; I scribbled the words down on paper.

During this unexpected encounter the answer to my question was revealed. Since that experience I have never once feared death and nor have I questioned the afterlife that waits.

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23-29 May 2017

Feature

News

Moors murderer dead

Ian Brady and girlfriend Myra Hindley tortured their young victims before killing them.

IT’S fair to say there won’t be many tears spilled for the twisted killer following his cremation.

Brady tortured and killed at least five children on the moors above Manchester in the 1960s.

Striking fear into the Manchester community along with his girlfriend Myra Hindley, who died in November 2002 aged 60, the Moors Murders continue to stir up horrific memories and fury in Northwest England, Britain and beyond.

And the depth of feeling that swept the nation at the time remains as strong today.

The outpouring of emotion since Brady died aged 79 of lung cancer at Ashworth high-security prison – where he spent much of his 51 years behind bars after being declared ‘medically psychotic’ – has been overwhelming.

Facebook and Twitter have been awash with commenters wishing England and Wales’ longest-serving prisoner an eternity ‘rotting in hell’.

From his funeral plans, it would appear that Brady himself was even preparing for a lifetime in the Devil’s company.

For much of his time behind bars, the serial killer had been orchestrating a detailed plan for his final send off, requesting music that charts a murderer’s descent into the inferno.

SICK MONSTER: Ian Brady died aged at a high-security hospital aged 79 No one would begrudge him his place beside the Devil.

23-29 May 2017

15

Who were Ian Brady’s victims?

Pauline Reade, 16 The first victim of the couple's killing spree.

Pauline was on her way to a dance when Hindley persuaded her to get in her car. They drove her to Saddleworth Moor where she was raped, beaten and stabbed to death.

John Kilbride, 12 Snatched from Ashton market in November, 1963, he was strangled and buried in a shallow grave.

Keith Bennett, 12 Keith disappeared on the way to his grandmother's house. Hindley had lured him into her car and driven him to the Moors where he was murdered.

Keith’s body has never been found, its location taken to the grave with Brady.

Lesley Ann Downey, 10 She disappeared on Boxing Day after being snatched from a fair and taken back to Hindley's house. Lesley was brutally assaulted with the ordeal captured on tape.

Edward Evans, 17 The couple's final victim. Edward had just been to see Manchester United play when Hindley lured him.

Brady repeatedly bludgeoned Evans with an axe.

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23-29 May 2017

Property with SOLTIMES

Home & Garden Inside Stop those broken chains Finding a buyer is a cause for celebration for most sellers but, as estate agents know, it’s far too early to crack open the champagne. Pushing a sale through to exchange of contracts and completion is the most difficult part of the process.

Three in ten property sales fall through, according to a survey

by Which? It shows that a fifth of buyers withdrew after finding another home to buy, while 15% simply changed their minds and decided they didn’t like the property after all. Four per cent of sales break down after a disagreement between buyer and seller. The longer a deal takes to go through, the more danger there is of it collapsing.

Recognising that speed is vital, Leeds-based prop-tech entrepreneur and data strategist Sohail Rashid has come up with a software package that tracks the conveyancing process and flags up any issues. There is excitement in the industry about View My Chain, which allows estate agents and their clients’ access to conveyancing information in double quick time without the need for laborious phone calls or emails.

It costs each agency branch £235 per month and Property Industry Eye, which tested the system, described it as “one of the best pieces of innovation” it has seen. The software allows an agent to create a “chain” using the address of each property involved. Every milestone, from searches to drafting contracts, is monitored along with expected delivery times. Any delays are flagged up in a “lag alert” allowing the agent and seller to be proactive and chase their buyer/conveyancer.

A third of estate agencies are now said to be using it and report that sales are taking about 15 days less than the average 94 days to complete.

Sohail, a former property lawyer says: “It automatically tracks 60 different data points without the need for the agent, conveyancer or consumer to enter the information manually.

We use publicly available information, including local authority searches and Land Registry data, among other things. So, for instance, if there has been no activity seven days after a price has been agreed, View My Chain will send a lag alert saying ‘no contracts have been issued and this will negatively impact completion’.

“It offers transparency and efficiency. Our tests have already

shown that being informed in this way cuts down on the number of calls, emails and letters between agents, sellers, buyers and conveyancers. It saves agents’ time and money and makes sellers feel more in control. Most importantly, it reduces the time it takes to get a property from sale to completion.” Part of his motivation for inventing View My Chain was the “archaic systems” and lack of tech awareness in some estate agencies.

“About 75 per cent of estate agencies do not have a sales progressor whose job it is to track sales and troubleshoot. Most use archaic systems like spreadsheets. View My Chain is about empowering good estate agents and getting rid of unnecessary administration. For their customers, it’s about allowing them to track their sale in the way that Amazon and Dominos allows shoppers to track a purchase.”

His ambition is to halve the average time from agreeing a sale to completion from 13 weeks to seven. In the meantime, here are some tips on how to avoid chains from David Blake at Which? Mortgage Advisers:

1.

2.

3.

4.

Top Tips

Look for a seller who isn’t in a chain. If you’re buying and can afford to be picky, look for properties where the upward chain is short or, even better, non-existent.

If you’re selling and have multiple offers on the table, choose a buyer who isn’t in a chain themselves, such

as a first-time buyer.

It’s worth considering selling your property and moving into short-term rented accommodation or with family or friends. You’ll then be chain-free.

New-build homes have no upward chains for obvious reasons – and if you’ve got a property to sell, the developer may offer part-exchange.

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17

Property, Home & Garden

Property recovery in Spain shows mixed signs Increasing demand for homes in Spain from domestic and foreign buyers boosted the property market in Spain although prices have fallen slightly.

The activity is regarded as good news for the recovery of the country’s real estate market with sales buoyant.

According to the latest figures from the Notaries Association in Spain, sales increased by 19.5% in March compared with the same month in 2016.

But the new homes market is not doing as well, with the figures showing that sales of new builds were down by 11.5%.

Apartment sales were up by 20.5% and family homes up by 15.6%.

Overall prices fell by 1.3% to €1,277 per square meter, driven by a decline of 6.2% in the price of single family homes of -6.2%, while apartment price remained unchanged. However, when subsidised housing is excluded, the average price of a flat sold in March rose by 0.3%. “‘The notaries’ housing market figures are the most timely we have, and show that the recovery in sales continues unabated, though the average price shows little enthusiasm for getting off

the ground,” said Mark Stucklin of Spanish Property Insight.

“Bear in mind the average price disguises wide regional variations, with prices surging in hot markets like Barcelona and the Balearics, whilst continuing to decline in large parts of the Spanish interior,” he added.

He also pointed out that a recent study by the appraisal company Euroval reveals that prices are now back to where they were in 2004, whilst sales are half what they were that year.

“There is still plenty of room for recovery, which is not to say it will continue,” he said.

Meanwhile, figures from the land registry show that home sales increased 28% year on year in March, a significant rise from the 3% recorded in February. The growth was led by a 31% rise in the Costa Dorada, followed by a rise of 29% in Barcelona. However, sales fell by 4% in Las Palmas in the Canaries.

“It’s important to bear mind that the INE’s figures are based on sales inscribed in the Land Register, not actual sales that took place in the period. As such they lag the market by about two or three months,” Stucklin said.

Young families unable to join housing ladder Home ownership among young families has halved across large chunks of England in the space of a generation, according to analysis by a think-tank.

The Resolution Foundation said its findings counter “the popular perception that the struggle to get on the housing ladder is largely confined to London and the South East”. It looked at how home ownership for young families in the 25 to 34-year-old age group has changed over time - between 1994 and 2016.

In West Yorkshire, for example, 61% in this age group bracket were home owners in 1994, but by 2016 this had fallen to 30% - around half the levels seen in the mid-1990s. And in Greater Manchester, home ownership levels in this age group have fallen from 59% to 29% over the same period, it found.

The South West of England has seen a fall from 62% to 36% over the period, while East Anglia has seen a fall from 61% to 34%, the research found.

In outer London, the fall has been from 55% in 1994 to 20% in 2016, which ana-

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lysed the Labour Force Survey to make the findings. Big falls were also recorded in other areas of the South East including Brighton, Southampton, Reading and Milton Keynes, with home ownership in the younger age group bracket falling from 64% to 34% across this part of the country. The focus of the Resolution Foundation’s work is to improve the living standards of people on low to middle incomes. It argued that such a “seismic shift” in home ownership puts the younger generation in a very different position from that of the older, baby boomer generation, leaving many more young families living in the private rented sector. Lindsay Judge, a senior policy analyst at the Resolution Foundation, said: “London house prices always dominate the headlines, but with all eyes on the capital we’re missing the bigger picture. From Bristol to East Anglia and up to West Yorkshire, large swathes of young families across the country simply cannot afford to buy their own home.

This has implications for their living

standards in the here and now, but also in the future when their children grow up and they approach retirement without this key asset to draw upon in old age.

“The manifestos show clear intent from all the main parties to ensure home ownership is a possibility for more young families. But these pledges need a hefty dose of reality as they depend on vastly increasing the rate at which we are currently building in the UK.”

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23-29 May 2017

Property, Home & Garden

Hips set to hop back into fashion?

The Conservatives have revealed they would try to speed up the home buying process if they win the general election but have distanced themselves from remarks made by Tory candidate Michael Gove about home Information packs (Hips).

Hips were formerly required before a property in England and Wales could be put on the open market for sale with vacant possession, containing documents such as title documents, guarantees and an energy performance certificate.

The packs were aimed at cutting the number of abortive sales and became mandatory for homes with four or more bedrooms on 1 August 2007, and for three-bedroom properties from 10 September 2007.

Hips met with criticism from sections of the property sector, including the Council of Mortgage Lenders and the National Association of Estate Agents, and were scrapped in 2010.

But the packs seemed to be set to make a return after senior Conservative MP Michael Gove told BBC Radio 4 on Friday they “had some validity”.

The cost of the packs, including the cost of the postponed home condition report, was initially estimated to be £600 by the government – although for more complex cases it was likely to be significantly greater.

Mr Gove, who was shadow housing spokesman prior to Hips’ roll-out, acknowledged their implementation had been flawed but suggested the Conservatives could “look again at this process”.

However a Conservative spokesman later distanced the party from Mr Gove’s comments by stating Labour’s home information packs duplicated costs and no-one trusted them.

He said: “The government wants to speed up the home buying and selling process, to cut costs for consumers and make the experience of buying a home more consumer-friendly and less stressful.

This will include encouraging greater competition in the market and more digitisation. Evidence shows that large numbers of transactions are delayed or fall through and the financial, and emotional, costs to consumers when this happens can be high.

“This is not only bad for individual consumers who spend £270 million per year on failed transactions. Millions more are lost to estate agents and conveyancers operating on a ‘no sale, no fee’ basis who incur costs they cannot recoup directly when transactions fall through. These costs are likely to be passed on in the form of higher fees and commissions, meaning many consumers will pay more for these intermediary services than they should. The last Labour government’s attempted reforms were a failure.”

Jeremy Leaf, north London estate agent and a former residential chairman at the Royal Institution

Labour to look at Council Tax replacement

Labour is to examine proposals for a Land Value Tax (LVT) as a possible replacement for council tax and business rates, the party’s manifesto says.

Land value taxes are paid by landowners on the unimproved rental value of their land. They are recommended by many economists – ranging from Adam Smith to the Institute for Fiscal Studies – because they are considered to be economically efficient.

Land ownership is highly concentrated in Britain, with 432 people owning half of all private rural land. One man, the Duke of Westminster, owns 133,199 acres, including 300 acres in central London.

As a result, a move to LVT could see a dramatic shift in property

taxation towards wealthy property barons, with most people getting a cut.

According to a report in The Independent Labour are also interested in LVT as a means of encouraging developers to bring vacant or undeveloped land into use to address Britain’s housing crisis. Taxing land does not discourage any desirable activity – such as work – and increases in its value accrue through not effort of the owner. Land is also in fixed supply, meaning taxing is does not make it more scarce. It is almost impossible to avoid such taxes, which are also thought to be difficult to pass on to tenants. The Labour manifesto says: “We will initiate a review into reforming council tax and business rates and consider new options such as a land value tax, to ensure local government has sustainable funding for the long term.” Dave Wetzel, president of the Labour Land Campaign,

said: “This is an example of Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party not only listening to us but also other economists across the political spectrum such as the Institute of Economic Affairs, The Adam Smith Institute and the Institute for Fiscal Studies that have all advocated Land Value Tax. “If Land Value Tax were to replace business rates all productive businesses would benefit, land speculators keeping homes and premises empty would transfer their wealth to productive investments that create jobs and house builders would release their land banks for building new homes at reasonable prices.”

In 2011 the respected think-tank the Institute for Fiscal Studies backed scrapping business rates and replacing it with a Land Value Tax. “We are proposing to abolish the current system of business rates and replace it with a system of land value taxation, thereby replacing one of the more distortionary taxes in the current system with a neutral and efficient tax,” the institute’s Mirrlees Review said. “Business rates are not a good tax – they discriminate between different sorts of business and disincentivise development of business property.”

In the most recent parliament Green MP Caroline Lucas brought forward a bill calling for a commission to look at replacing local government taxes with LVT.

of Chartered Surveyors, said Hips should not be the main focus for the Conservatives following the election.

He said: “There is nothing wrong with examining the home-buying process from time to time to look at ways of improving it but at a time of severe housing crisis, which has been acknowledged by all the major parties, we should really be concentrating more on improving accessibility and supply, allowing people to get on with their lives.

However, the most contentious part of the Hip was the condition report which the government wrestled with for such a long time without really solving the issues of impartiality, cost, liability, compromising the seller’s intention to market their property and a whole host of other issues.

“If the Conservatives are really serious about improving the home-buying process, there is still much that can be done that wasn’t done and continues to be ignored. Areas to look at include greater transparency, better communication, availability of information, and, particularly with regard to leasehold, control of the availability and cost of management information.

“If these issues were addressed, it would go a long way to improving the experience of buying a home and ensuring that deals which are struck are more likely to be completed quickly.”

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23-29 May 2017

Money

Cash has ‘virtually’ disappeared A new service has been launched to offer a wide range of online payment solutions and ensure clients choose the right merchant services account for them. Gone are the days when cash was the only payment method.

These are the days of virtual money; shoppers want to use a wider variety of payment options such as debit or credit cards, eWallets, digital currency, PayPal and so on.

It is important for businesses to be open to all kinds of payment options. If a customer has a pleasant shopping experience, there is every chance that they’ll surely go back to the store in the future.

AcceptCardPayments.com (ACP) – one of the new companies encouraging a ‘non-cash’ shopping method - says, “In this day and age, every business must make it as easy as possible for people to make payment. Fewer and fewer companies are now cash only sales and people expect that they will be able to pay by card and that the business they are attempting to buy from will accept card payments.”

However, the industry is facing a major challenge when it comes to accepting payment via card. ACP has found that many of the businesses that accept cards are often sold the wrong type of merchant account. Good merchant services include quick, flawless credit card processing and smooth electronic payment transactions.

The services required can differ for different business types; fast food chains, retail stores, online retailers, hotels and shops may all have slightly different needs.

Many businesses are wrongly advised by their merchant services company or they fail to find one that can offer them an appropriate merchant account. ACP offers these businesses free, independent and impartial advice.

An increasing number of businesses are establishing an online and mobile presence so adding cards to exist-

ing payment methods is becoming ever more important, without an online presence and mobile friendly website or app businesses may find they lose revenue.

ACP found that businesses who accept card payments can initially increase sales 20-25%.

The ability to accept card payments can open a business up to new customers and revenue streams such as mail order, telephone and online sales.

From the cheapest card payment machines or card readers to PDQ machines, ACP offers a wide range of online payment solutions such as: Online CNP or Cardholder Not Present wherein the customers can pay for the products or services over the phone. Ecommerce payments can be accepted irrespective of the geographical barriers, time zones or even currency; countertop terminals and portable terminals offer fast and efficient card payment services; Mail & Telephone

Orders or MOTO transactions.

The diverse range of merchant services available will help businesses by not only improving their sales off and online, it will also provide a safe and secure way to do business with an ever-growing customer base.

BBC extends RHS Chelsea Flower Show contract The BBC has announced a new four-year contract and partnership with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) that will see the broadcaster retain its position as the exclusive broadcaster of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

The new deal, which starts in 2018, will see the BBC commit to broadcasting from the event until the end of 2021 with coverage across TV, radio and online. Tony Hall, BBC Director-General, says: “The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is always a major highlight of the spring schedule. I’m delighted that we will be working with the brilliant RHS team for another four years. It's a show that is loved by the public and its natural home is on the BBC. Not only that, the BBC will also expand its coverage to include other RHS events around the country. Across our channels we will be able to bring the magic of these wonderful events to audiences across the country." The deal also includes a commitment to broadcasting exclusively from the RHS Malvern Spring Fes-

tival, RHS Chatsworth Flower Show, RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show and the RHS Flower Show Tatton Park. Plus it will cover the new RHS Garden at Bridgewater and other opportunities to bring RHS content to wider audiences through Gardener’s World.

In addition, there will be a new Daytime series following Britain In Bloom, broadcasting in 2018.

With access to the Royal Horticultural Society’s Britain In Bloom Awards and its judging process, Britain In Bloom for BBC Two will follow this Great British competition which is now over 50 years old. Each episode presenter Chris Bavin will visit a different community around the UK as they prepare for judging.

The series will reveal how Bloom has touched many lives, brought communities together and shaped local pride. From the smallest villages to the biggest cities, this series will reflect the diversity of Bloom categories and the local heroes at the heart of them. The creation of RHS Garden Bridgewater will be one of the largest gardening projects in Europe. The first phase includes the restoration of the 11-acre Walled Kitchen Garden, one of the largest in the UK. Plans also include a new schools’ Learning Centre to grow young people's horticultural knowledge. The BBC will be following the creation of the new garden through all the phases.

Sue Biggs, RHS Director General, said: “We are thrilled to have extended our partnership with the BBC across all its platforms until 2021 and are so excited about the increased opportunities presented by the BBC’s expanded coverage of

our work, which includes a new TV series on our flagship Britain in Bloom campaign. We look forward to working with the very talented teams across the BBC for another four years. The continuation of this fabulous partnership will help showcase our work to an even wider audience, supporting our vision to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.”

Coverage of this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower currently across the BBC fronted by Sophie Raworth, Joe Swift and gardening stalwart Monty Don.

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Money

Bless you for using credit

A growing number of Swedish parishes have started taking donations via mobile apps, with the famous 13th-century cathedral in Uppsala also accepting credit cards.

The churches’ drive to keep up with the times is the latest sign of Sweden’s rapid shift to a world without notes and coins. Most of the country’s bank branches have stopped handling cash; some shops and museums now only accept plastic; and even Stockholm’s homeless have started accepting cards as payment for their magazine. Go to a local market, and the seller is more likely to ask to be paid via Sweden’s popular Swish app than with cash.

“Fifteen years ago I would withdraw my entire salary and put it in my wallet, so I knew how much I had left, but these days I never really carry cash,” said Lasse Svard, the acting vicar at the parish of Jarna-Vardinge, about 50 kilometres south of Stockholm.

Swedes’ aversion to cash is increasingly showing up in money supply data. According to Statistics Sweden, notes and coins in public circulation dropped to an average of 56.8 billion kronor (€6bn) in the first quarter of this year. That was the lowest level since 1990 and more than 40% below its 2007 peak with the pace of the decline accelerating to its fastest ever in 2016.

According to the central bank, which is also studying whether to launch its own digital currency, the main reason for the disappearing act is technical innovation.

Riksbank Deputy Governor Cecilia Skingsley notes that Swedes were early adopters of both personal computers and mobile phones and that the country’s banks were quick to create sectorwide structures such as debit cards, credit cards and Swish, which has 5.5 million users and is owned by the country’s largest banks. Swedes also seem to trust those systems, she said in a recent interview in Stockholm.

“A drive for innovation has been created in Sweden to come up

with cost-effective and user-friendly alternatives to cash,” Skingsley said. Cash is likely to “more or less disappear” as a means of payment in the private sector, she said.

But a cashless society is not without its challenges or critics.

Many pensioners are struggling to make payments in an online world, while privacy campaigners lament the fact that the state is acquiring greater control over what its citizens do. There are also concerns about the vulnerability of a cashless society in the event of an attack or major blackouts.

It seems that for now, the benefits - including lower business costs, more control over tax revenue and greater safety from criminals - outweigh the drawbacks.

In fact, Swedes have become so averse to cash that they’ve even been shunning it during the current regime of negative interest rates.

With very few Swedes now carrying cash, the Jarna-Vardinge and Uppsala parishes are now reaping the benefits of being tech-savvy. Not only do mobile app and card payments lower the risk of money being stolen, it’s also cheaper to rely on Swish since there’s a cost involved in depositing large amounts of cash at the bank. In Jarna-Vardinge, the use of Swish has also led to an increase in the amount of money raised, since many of the congregation’s 7,500 members are no longer limiting themselves to any spare coins found in their pockets.

It has also led churchgoers to engage in some new behaviour.

“One thing that’s quite funny is that when you collect these days, there are some who will raise their mobile phone in the air to show that they are giving,” said Mats Lagergren, a spokesman for the Swedish Church’s Uppsala parish.

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Feature

Law Enforcers of Spain PART TWO – THE GUARDIA CIVIL

The Guardia Civil or the Civil Guard is a military force charged with police duties. Its members are colloquially known as benemérita (reputable man), derived from earlier less formal formations (much as British slang Bobby or Peeler derives from Robert Peel). It has both a regular national role and undertakes specific foreign peace-keeping missions.

As a national police force, the Guardia Civil is comparable today to the French Gendarmerie, the Italian Carabinieri, the Portuguese National Republican Guard and the Dutch Royal Marechaussee, as it is part of the European Gendarmerie. The Guardia Civil uses as its leading emblem the words “El honor es mi divisa” (Honour is my emblem), a motto emphasizing the unit’s esprit de corps.

According to the Spanish institute for social research, the Guardia Civil is the institution in which most Spaniards trust.

Guardia precincts are called casas cuartel (garrison posts), which are both minor residential garrisons and fully equipped Police Stations.

The Guardia Civil was founded as a national police force in 1844 during the reign of Queen Isabel II of Spain, by the Navarrese aristocrat, Francisco Javier Girón y Ezpeleta; 2nd Duque de Ahumada and 5th Marqués de las Amarillas, an 11th generation descendant of Aztec Emperor Moctezuma II. Formerly, law enforcement had been the responsibility of the Holy Hermandad, an organization of municipal leagues. Corruption was pervasive in the Hermandad, where officials were constantly subject to local political influence and the system was largely ineffective outside the major towns and cities. Criminals could often escape justice by simply moving from one district to another.

The first Guardia police academy was established in the town of Valdemoro, south of Madrid, in 1855. Graduates were given the Guardia’s now famous tricorne or Cavaliers hat as part of their duty dress uniform.

The Guardia was initially charged with putting an end to criminal activities on the nation’s highways, particularly in the province of Andalucia, which had become notorious for numerous robberies and holdups of businessmen, peddlers, travellers and even foreign tourists. Banditry in this region was so endemic that the Guardia found it difficult to completely eradicate. As late as 1884, one traveller of the day reported that it still existed in and around the city of Málaga.

The Guardia Civil was also given the political task of restor-

ing and maintaining land ownership and servitude among the peasantry of Spain by the king, who desired to stop the spread of anti-monarchist movements inspired by the French revolution.

The end of the First Carlist War had left the Spanish landscape scarred by the destruction of civil war and the government was forced to take drastic action to suppress spontaneous revolts by a restive peasantry. Based on the model of light infantry used

by Napoleon in his European campaigns, the Guardia Civil was transformed into a paramilitary force of high mobility, that could be deployed irrespective of inhospitable conditions, able to patrol and pacify large areas of the countryside. Its members, called ‘guardias’, maintain to this day a basic patrol unit formed by two agents, usually called a “pareja” (a pair), in which one of the ‘guardias’ will initiate the intervention, while the second ‘guardia’ serves as a backup to the first. Now you know why there’s ALWAYS two on their motorbikes.

the Civil Guard in 2011, for general adoption during 2012. This comprises a green baseball cap, polo shirt and cargo pants.

Throughout the nineteenth century, the Spanish army regularly became involved in politics and the Guardia Civil was no exception. For this reason, the guardias were seen historically as a reactionary force. On 3 January 1874, General Manuel Pavía y Rodríguez de Alburquerque, stormed congress and ended the Spanish First Republic with a company of thirty guardias civiles.

Today the Guardia Civil is a police force subject to the checks and supervision expected in a democratic society. Moreover, their proven effectiveness throughout history, whether in controlling banditry or in addressing the subsequent challenges and tasks given them, meant that additional tasks have been added regularly to their job description.

The Guardia Civil is the largest police force in Spain in terms of area served. Today, they are primarily responsible for policing and/or safety regarding the following (but not limited to) areas and/or safety related issues, law enforcement in all Spanish territory, excluding cities above 20,000 inhabitants, highway patrol, protection of the Royal Family and the King of Spain, military police, counter drugs operations, anti-smuggling operations, customs and ports of entry control, airport security, safety of prisons and safeguarding of prisoners, weapons licenses and arms control, security of border areas, bomb squad and explosives, anti-terrorism and special operations unit, coast guard, police deployments abroad, intelligence and counter-intelligence gathering (SIGC), cyber and internet crime, hunting permits and environmental law enforcement.

Members of the Guardia Civil often live in garrisons (casacuartel) with their families. Since the Guardia Civil must by law accommodate the families of its “guardias”, it was the first police force in Europe that accommodated a same-sex partner in a military installation.

The symbol of the Guardia Civil consists of the Royal Crown of Spain, a sword and a fasces (a bundle of wooded rods). The different units have variations of this symbol.

The traditional headdress of the Guardia is the tricornio hat, originally a tricorne, with its use now saved for parades or ceremonies. For other occasions a cap, a beret or the characteristic “gorra teresiana” is worn. A wide range of clothing is worn according to the nature of the duties being performed. The historic blue, white and red uniform of the Guardia, is now retained only for the Civil Guard Company of the Royal Guard and the gastadores (parade markers) of the Civil Guard Academy.

A modernised new style of working uniform was announced for

The first three decades of the 20th Century in Spain was a time of great political turmoil. During this period, the Guardia Civil served frequently in the restoration of order, remaining mostly loyal to established regimes. Thus, it supported the dictatorship of General Miguel Primo de Rivera (1923–1930), but it also supported the Second Spanish Republic (1931–1939). During the Spanish Civil War, the Guardia Civil forces split almost evenly, between those who remained loyal to the Republic, 53% of the members (which changed their name to Guardia Nacional Republicana - “National Republic Guard”) and the rebel forces.

After the war, under the authoritarian government of General Francisco Franco (1939–1975), the Guardia Civil was reinforced with the members of the Real Cuerpo de Carabineros de Costas y Fronteras - “Royal Corps of Coast and Frontier Carabiniers”.

The involvement of Guardia Civil figures in politics continued well to the end of the twentieth century. On 23 February 1981, Lt. Col. Antonio Tejero Molina, a member of the Guardia Civil, participated with other military forces in the failed 23-F coup d’etat. Along with 200 members of the Guardia Civil, Lt. Col. Tejero briefly took hold of the lower house of the Cortes before the coup collapsed, following a nationally-televised address by King Juan Carlos which denounced the coup.

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23-29 May 2017

Community News Send us your what’s on information & we can keep your community in the loop, send to Production.soltimes@ewnmediagroup.com

Talks & Workshops

MABS Murcia North East - Sew’n’So’s Sewing Group Every Mon Fortuna. Taking place every other Monday at Urb. Las Kalendas from 14:00.

Email: mabsmurciane@gmail.com

Great MABS Murcia Mar Menor auction On Tuesday 23rd May, 2017 MABS Murcia Mar Menor in association with La Zona Bar, Los Alcazares,

Roman Catholic Church Saladillo, Mazarron (close to Camposol) Mass in English every Saturday at 4.30 pm Mass in Latin every Sunday at 4.030pm For further information please contact Father Octavio on 676 219 445 or Father Carlos on 628 824 555.

is holding an Auction. If you have any items you would like to sell this is an ideal opportunity especially if you have just done your spring clear-out. There is no limit to the number of items you can bring along so check the attic and the garage for forgotten treasures you no longer want.

The Details, and times are as follows:

The Royal British Legion Spain District North • The Royal British Legion provides lifelong support for the Armed Forces community – serving men and women, veterans and their families.

• If you feel we can help you, please ring 676 451 780 (9-5 weekdays) or email assistance.rbl.dns@gmail.com.

• Any general enquiries to 648 860 251 (10-4 weekdays) Make a difference to someone’s life..

Let’s make it happen!!

Visit the webpage below to read about Leo’s story www.gofundme.com/leothelion3

welcome

EVENTS

Check your goods in from 11a.m. -1.00p.m.

Viewing from 1.00p.m. - 3.00p.m.

Auction commences at 3.00p.m.

Cost per item is 4 euros.

Cost for 3 items or more is 10 euros.

Items sold over 20 euros there is 20% commission payable.

If you know of neighbours, friends or family who may be interested in any of these events, please pass this information on to them. We are always looking for volunteers and anyone interested should contact mabsmurciapr@hotmail.com, or simply call into either our San Javier shop or our Totana shop.

Cancer does not discriminate and neither does MABS

on the way home for a boat trip. All this and coach travel for €280 p.p.

October 8th Almeria & Mini Hollywood.

Staying 3 nights at the 3* Hotel Nuevo Torreluz on B&B in the centre of Almeria with a day trip out to Mini Hollywood including lunch, there is also a visit to Mojacar. Coach

For your information there will not be a dance during July and August.

Dress up in your best gear and win prizes also a Jive competition with awards for the best.You will be dancing to a superb duo Roadrunner. €8 September 9th. Trip to the ancient Roman town of Tarrragona staying for 4 nights at the 3* Hotel Urbis Centre in the town centre on B&B. Cost includes two excursions, first to visit a Cava producer and second to the Roman amphitheatre and ruins. Stopping

travel included for €165 p.p.

Welcome Christmas Trip to Benidorm – Saturday 23rd December for 4 nights at The Helios Hotel on Full Board with a Special Gala Lunch including wine and water on Christmas Day. Coach travel included. €299 p.p.

For more information or to book your tickets call Steve on 697 960 590.

PASO A PASO

Modern jive class and social dancing time and venues.

MONDAYS 12.30pm Absolute beginners / improvers plus practice time at THE CLUB, 1 Calle El Abedul, QUESADA. 03170 -----------------------------------------TUESDAYS 8pm FROM 31st JANUARY Classes for all levels and social dancing till late.

LOS ROSALES RESTAURANT, CV895 Lemon Tree Road, CAMPO de GUARDAMAR.03140.

Its great news to be back at one of our first venues although a different night -----------------------------------------THURSDAY 8pm Classes for all levels plus social dancing till late.

EL PARASIO, Calle Francisco Diez Matinez, Urb Jardin Del Mar 3, TORREVIEJA 03180..nr Carrefore.

-----------------------------------------Regular advanced workshops, private tuition and our Dance Junction Disco is available for all private functions.

No partner Never Danced No problem....

No need to book, just come along and make lots of new friends Clubs members and friends social events already planned for 2017 22nd July. Maxines Annual Shabby n Chic Ball All the above being held at Los

Rosales Rsstaurant €10.50 including a two course meal and dancing to Dance Junction Disco till late.

To book your party table call or message Maxine 670711408 / Adam 638330342 for more info or follow Paso A Paso on face book. www.modern-jive-spain.com

BADMINT0N AT PILAR DE LA HORADADA Mon, Tues, Wed and Thurs. 10-1pm.

For information ring John McGilvray on 966 786 774 or Mobiles 634 658 506/695 871 707 or email carolejohn_3@hotmail.com

Friends after Bereavement. F.A.B for short We are a mixed group of people who meet on a Saturday afternoon between 2 to 4pm. The club is run by Joan. We are a very friendly group with a lot of chat but with plenty of time to listen. We try to help bereaved people to take their first steps to new friendships, we understand bereavement as each and every one of us has been bereaved.

For more information please contact Joan on phone number 634 336 103 where she will give you information on any questions you have, and where we hold our meetings. We look forward to seeing new friends and old friends alike.

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23-29 May 2017

Leisure

Where you might have believed your thoughts, opinions or input weren’t being taken seriously by certain others, events this week could bring a helpful and timely change to that. Your ability to express ideas in a creative and potentially innovative way is being heightened and this could be precisely what’s needed to take a plan, project or arrangement to a very new level. You have something very worthy of contributing this week so don’t be afraid to speak up.

Developments this week could encourage second thoughts about something you felt certain of not so long ago. Where you might have been looking into a situation previously, it’s by putting yourself in the thick of it that you’re able to see what it really consists of or offers. Whilst you might have reservations about what you’re seeing now, don’t be too quick to decide you don’t like what you see. What you’re experiencing is a turning point, not a setback.

Allow a bit more time for this to become clearer and it will become clearer.

Communication is becoming streamlined and this might be due to you becoming selective about whom you communicate with or convey certain ideas or plans to. It might also be due to you becoming aware of what is and isn’t others’ ‘business’. Instead of releasing ideas and visions to the masses, a strong argument exists for enlightening only those whom you believe can play a part in making them become real. This process will also make clear whom you regard as most trustworthy.

Impressive professional progress is on offer and will likely involve a little help from friends or possibly one in particular. Where you might have been peering over a proverbial diving board into cool, refreshing water and unwilling to ‘take the plunge’ encouragement from at least one person whose opinion you value could be what takes you from a position of uncertainty to one of relief. A career-related dream is being given a chance to become real. All that’s needed is willingness on your part to take that crucial first step.

A need could present itself this week for you to explain – or re-explain – why you’re doing what you’re doing in a particular area and how someone stands to benefit from your efforts. This might have a professional angle to it and if a certain person has made clear their displeasure at how much time, effort and focus you’re giving to a career matter, then this could encourage a necessary response from you. All you’re doing isn’t fuelled by selfishness - that much is clear. It might be time to remind someone of this.

If a certain person isn’t going to spill the beans and tell you what you want to know, then you’re going to have to piece together the proverbial puzzle with limited information available to you. Normally, this is a potentially troublesome exercise. We know what happens when we make assumptions. However, you have superb cosmic support this week to read between the lines regarding what you’re being told - and make some amazingly accurate deductions!

Our ability to stay ‘one step ahead’ of any individual or process tends to be finite or limited. Many a wartime leader understood that any advantage would likely be short-lived and had to make the most of their advantageous position. This week, you appear able to gain control of a certain situation by spotting a way to move from an inferior position to a superior one through information that comes your way. This will enable you to keep one step ahead of whatever you have felt you’ve been constantly trying to keep up with. It will be brief though, so make the most of it!

‘Don’t get too comfortable’. We tend to dislike or resent such words said to us. This is often due to a belief that we were actually comfortable in some way and now have a reason to believe this will be short-lived.

This week, cosmic attention surrounds a change to an established - and possibly comfortable - routine in your world. This is not of your making but that doesn’t mean you won’t be very appreciative of it once you allow resentment surrounding this change to subside!

A routine in your world is about to benefit from an injection of spontaneity. This, however, is likely to be the result of you choosing to rise to a particular challenge that offers change to what’s become tedious and uninspiring. There’s something you need to learn or understand better than you do currently surrounding the concept of how something ‘works.’ An answer will require effort and a bit of detective work on your part but you’ll transform a tiresome or dull situation when you discover it.

Actors have numerous ways in which they learn their lines. Many do so in seclusion because memorizing a script isn’t just about learning words. How those words are delivered is equally as important and the coming week brings a need for you to not only ‘rehearse’ your message but give thought to how imaginatively you can deliver it. Don’t believe an extensive exchange is needed. With right levels of creativity applied, a succinct message can have a fantastic, farreaching impact.

Focus could be on family or domestic matters and as tempted as you might be to reveal a plan, you could find events this week make clear at least one reason why you’d be wise to refrain from making any announcements. Something connected with the foundations of your world needs to progress a bit further before it can become common knowledge. If you focus on the reason to keep a secret for now, then you’ll see the logic behind doing so. You’ll have your chance to blow trumpets soon enough!

This week, allow the law of karma to work a bit of magic on your behalf. This involves giving selflessly in a particular way. Where you might have drawn a line previously under the level of giving or support you’d be prepared to offer, coming events could encourage you to go above the call of duty. It’s by giving in a way you might have felt was asking too much of you that you stand to receive something that will inspire and delight you. That has to be worth doing.

Book Review

Pumpkin Farmer by Michael Hughes

This is presented as a satirical view of American society, two formidable characters, one weak and suicidal, the other, a dangerous man who likes to live on the edge of danger, suffering constant itches or bouts of boredom, high on drugs to get his kicks, with sadistic tendencies. Selfishness pervades the book and there is a superficiality about the attitude of the characters presented. The peripheral characters exude wealth and liberation but in selfish terms, a total disregard for humanity.

It is a dark story and it's difficult to engage with any of them or warm to them. It seems to be a modern trend to introduce characters into a story who are flawed throughout without any redeeming qualities. Take Paula Hawkins, for instance: The Girl on the Train.

"Another victim of reality, of predator and prey, that was how the world worked. It ate its weak, that was the truth."

The story is set in 1979 and we meet John Nix a business manager who works for a firm that appears to be thriving. He picks up a ne'er- do- well heir of a wealthy Canadian family, Horace Fullworth described as a sociopathic drifter who has returned to San Francisco after surviving the Jonestown Massacre. This bit is based on a chilling period of mass-suicides. Jim Jones was best known as the cult leader of the People's Temple who led more than 900 followers in a mass suicide via cyanide-laced punch which was flavoured with purple Kool-Aid. Gunmen killed the visiting U.S. Congressman and four others. Tragically, one third of the victims were children.

Horace is scruffily attired having slummed it in Guyana. His face was sun-scorched and gaunt and his blonde locks were scraggly and flecked with dirt. He has been away for more than a year. His parents died in a car wreck in 1975 but he has a rich uncle who he visits because he wants to sponge off him. He had a privileged upbringing attending the best schools and as an only child he was spoiled. He has been heavily into substances since a schoolchild. He seemed to have donated his funds to the People's Temple and it was his uncle Nelson who bailed him out, enabling Horace to return to his old home which Nelson had inherited.

Nelson had terminal cancer but would not offer his nephew any further financial assistance other than a further 200$. Instead he tells him straight: "You're on your own, get on it." When Horace picked up the dollars he pricked himself on Nelson's syringes and we are told: "it all came rushing back." The massacre. Guyana, the babies, the Kool-Aid needles and he started to shake. "He just wanted it to stop." Bad memories of Jonestown flashed through his mind, the chaos, the shooting, the corpse of Congressman Leo Ryan and a couple of dead cameramen. A lot of people had drunk the cups voluntarily although for some, such as the babies, it had been forced onto them. Horace suffocated his uncle without a thought of doing wrong.

"Horace knew then and there what he was and always had been. To any person within the most broadly construed borders of normalcy, the sight would have been heinous. Horace, though, felt a calm tinged with exhilaration."

One wonders if he is capable of killing his uncle what next? As a contrast, John is more of a workaholic. He had a decent salary and owned a Spitfire. When he called round to visit girlfriend Laura for some afternoon delight, an euphemism of course he was shocked and horrified to find her having passionate sex with a fit hunk of a guy. He felt defeated and deflated and his self-confidence was shattered. For most of the book he pines over her, angry at his own stupidity in thinking that a pretty girl like Laura would care about an average guy like him.

Their paths cross again when Horace decides to buy a ranch with his inheritance and farm pumpkins but there's a little more to it than that of course. This is where Ellie comes into it having first met John in a bar in Le Honda before being whisked off her feet by Horace. It's a boy fancies girl scenario without the happy ending. Perhaps Ellie isn't quite as innocent as she seems either? Murders, abduction and a suicide. How about that? That'll keep you interested.

REVIEW it by Carol Naylor.

Publisher: Black Rose Writing. ISBN: 978-1-944715-08-3.

Leisure

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Their Finest It may have been a bleak period in human history, but the Second World War was a golden age for British cinema, as filmmakers discovered purpose and commitment in stories of resistance, fortitude and togetherness. ‘An Education’ director Lone Scherfig’s witty, sophisticated and unexpectedly sober romcom pays tribute to those artists – writers, actors, directors, producers, even agents – and slips in a spry, timely investigation of women’s roles in cinema for good measure.

Catrin Cole (Gemma Arterton) comes to the attention of the Ministry of Information as a copywriter for newspaper cartoons. They’re looking for someone to script a series of propaganda short films urging the women of Britain to work in factories and grow vegetables, and she’s looking for a way to support her moody artist boyfriend Ellis (Jack Huston).

But it’s not long before Catrin is assisting writer Tom Buckley (Sam Claflin) on an inspirational feature film script inspired by a pair of Southend sisters who stole their

father’s boat and headed to Dunkirk to assist in the evacuation.

The story is largely bunk, the Ministry brass are always lurking and washed-up leading man Ambrose Hilliard (Bill Nighy) is forever sticking his oar in. But Catrin and Buckley get stuck in, transforming this simple fable into a rousing tribute to everyday British pluck.

Like its film-within-a-film, ‘Their Finest’ might so easily have been sentimental hogwash, a jolly, stiff-upper-lipped love story set against the picturesque setting of London in the blitz: ‘War, Actually’. But while she’s thoroughly committed to serving both the rom and the com (the film is genuinely sweet, and at times very funny) Scherfig somehow never falls into any of the obvious traps.

Catrin may be the archetypal spirited-gal-with-gumption, but Buckley is by no means her traditional romantic foil: he’s prickly, chauvinistic and sometimes cruel, while still just about managing to retain our sympathy. Nighy’s subplot starts out as light relief – the faded acting giant who can’t believe he’s no longer a matinee idol – but grows into something genuinely moving. And the war never becomes a backdrop: this London is cold and frightening, with death falling from the sky without warning.

There’s a little too much going on at times, and one awkwardly handled last-act shock throws things off balance.

But the film claws its way back for a quiet but honestly earned finale, a reminder of the power of stories to make life worth living, even in the most brutal circumstances. It’s hardly a new idea, but it bears repeating.

OUR CHOICE

Wall of Silence

Wednesday, May 24th, 2017 on Channel 5 from 3:10pm to 5:00pm Thriller. When a university student goes missing, her cop mother goes in search. But she encounters a wall of academic bureaucracy and cover-ups that point to an abuse of authority stemming all the way to the government.

OUR PICK OF THIS WEEK’S MUST-SEE MOVIES & TV

FILM OF THE WEEK

Footloose(Film,1984) Saturday, May 27th, 2017 on Channel 4 from 12:55am to 2:40am Kevin Bacon, John Lithgow and Lori Singer star in director Herbert Ross’s feel-good musical romance. When teenager Ren McCormack relocates with his divorced mother from Chicago to a small Midwest town, he discovers to his horror that rock music and dancing have been outlawed at the behest of preacher Shaw Moore, who blames ‘the Devil’s music’ for his son’s death. Things get complicated for McCormack when he falls for Moore’s daughter Ariel, who’s not as innocent as her father thinks. But McCormack comes up with an ingenious ruse to persuade Moore and the town councillors that rock music isn’t the root of all evil. Can he persuade his elders to change their minds?

ONE TO WATCH

Mrs. Brown’s Boys

Saturday, May 27th, 2017 on BBC 1 London from 9:15pm to 9:45pm Comedy series about a loudmouthed Irish matriarch and her family. Baby fever hits the Brown household as a pregnant Maria prepares for motherhood, and Agnes is keen to give her new daughter-in-law her unique brand of advice about raising children. Maria is grateful when Agnes offers to look after the robot baby she has brought home from her prenatal class, but it turns out that Mrs Brown’s babysitting techniques are not exactly orthodox. And Maria has some exciting news for the Brown family.

Cast Ireland Baldwin - Victoria Pratt Morgan Taylor Campbell Nicholas Lea - Sachin Sahel George Erschbamer

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23-29 May 2017

ANSWERS NEXT WEEK!

Wordsearch

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Quick

Across

Down

1. Indiscriminate (11)

2. Awaken (5)

9. Dived (7)

3. Nomad (7)

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Puzzles

Find as many 5 or 6 letter words as you can from the grid. You can go in any direction, but use each letter only once. (There are 27 in total!” 2 points for a 5 letter word, 3 points for a 6 letter word. (Maximum of 60 points this game)

Cryptic

Across 1. As lately burnt by students? (8,3) 9. Look at the old boy kick off at tennis! (7) 10. Does it tell one when to keep a look-out? (5) 11. More of a complex tradition (5) 12. It falls at the end of the action (7) 13. She puts an end to progress (6) 15. It’s little Susan making material (6) 18. How policemen operate? (2,5) 20. She features in the declaration (5) 22. Nothing in firm to save (5) 23. The actors played first and made a move on the chess-board (7) 24. Very angrily took food to excess (11)

Down 2. Piece let in dress of with-it group?

(5) 3. Is the foregoing neither lady’s (7) 4. Sound oil from the Mediterranean (6) 5. Wrote about a feature of a church, perhaps (5) 6. Crying raggedly? (2,5) 7. Leave the darkness to be revealed (4,2,5) 8. Come into different ownership and get fresh workers (6,5) 14. Curb the chorus (7) 16. One of the teeth in which a cutting remark might be thrown back? (7) 17. Stormy spot for drinkers? (3-3) 19. See the wrinkle in Bridget’s brow (5) 21. Assign everybody to return (5)

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23-29 May 2017

Puzzles

Picture Quiz

Know your faces?

Number 01

Number 02

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Number 04

Number 05

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Number 10

SODUKU

SOLTIMES History QUIZ

HARD SODUKU

5. Britain joined the EEC on the 1st January in which year?

6. Who was the fourth wife of Henry VIII? 1. Who became King on the abdication of Edward 7. In which country did the Battle of Waterloo take VIII?

place?

2. The anniversary of which battle takes place on 21st October?

8. Washington DC officially became the capital of 3. Which famous British Prime Minister died on the USA in 1800, what was the previous capital?

January 24th 1965?

4. The worst air disaster in history took place in 9. Which Indian leader was assassinated in 1948?

March 1977 with 583 people killed, on which 10. In which Massachusetts Township were the famous witch trials of 1692 and 1693 held? island did this take place?

SQUIGGLE

11. Who was elected President of South Africa in 1994?

12. Elizabeth I ruled for 44 years, in which year did Elizabeth II equal this feat?

13. Which military campaign is commemorated by ANZAC Day? 14. Which future US president was elected Gover nor of California in November 1966?

15. In which English seaside resort was a nudist beach opened in August 1979?

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23-29 May 2017

Food and Drink

Waste of food is Bananas

What a waste! According to recent figures, Britons bin almost 1,500,000 bananas that are perfectly edible EVERY DAY! Over the course of a year, a UK Government study estimates that amounts to over £80m, and many of them are binned simply because of a black mark or slight bruising.

Taking the lead is Sainsbury’s who are trying to encourage customers to use fruit that is past its best in recipes such as banana bread, banoffee pie or muffins.

A third of those questioned (30%) admitted to discarding a banana if it has even a minor bruise or black mark on the skin. More than one in 10 (13%) also throw the fruit away if it shows any green on the skin.

The figures, from the government’s waste advisory body Wrap, were published by major supermarket chain Sainsbury’s to highlight the scale of avoidable food waste generated in the UK. Throughout its £10m five-year Waste Less, Save More national initiative, the supermarket is offering practical tips and ideas to help customers reduce their food waste. Official statistics show that the average UK family throws away

an incredible amount of £700 worth of food each year.

Sainsbury’s is launching hundreds of pop-up “banana rescue” features across its stores to encourage consumers to use fruit that is overripe or past its best. Damaged fruit can also be whizzed up in smoothies, chopped into fruit salads and dried as banana chips. Sainsbury’s is extending an in-store banana bread trial – which sees unsold fruits used by the in-store bakery teams – to 110 stores nationwide after trials in seven stores last year.

“While we’re pleased with the success of the instore trial, we’re determined to help shoppers reduce the number of bananas going to waste at home too,” said Paul Crewe, the supermarket’s head of sustainability and environment.

“Sixty one per cent of Britons admit they never use otherwise discarded bananas in baking, so we want to inspire customers to use their fruit in different ways. There’s no need to bin the bruised ones anymore.”

In recent years, supermarkets have been heavily criticised for not doing more to reduce food waste within their supply chains, and as a result many have signed up to help local food banks.

Fancy a bit of crumpet? Strawberries Recipe makes 20 to 22 crumpets.

INGREDIENTS 1 1/2 cups (455g) milk, regular or low fat, at slightly above room temperature (about 110ºF, 43ºC) 1 teaspoon sugar 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast 2 3/4 cup (390g) all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon kosher salt or sea salt 3/4 cup, plus 1 tablespoon (195ml) tepid water 1/2 teaspoon baking soda METHOD 1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, mix the tepid milk with the sugar and yeast. Let proof for 10 minutes, or until the yeast starts to bubble.

2. Fit the mixer with the paddle attachment and gradually mix in the flour and salt. Turn the mixer to high speed and beat for 3 minutes. (You can also make this by hand in a large bowl, and beat the mixture vigorously.)

3. Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel and let rise in a warm place until the dough has doubled, about 1 hour.

4. Mix the water and baking soda together and beat them into the dough.

5. Heat a wide skillet over medium heat. Pour some neutral-flavoured oil into a small bowl and use a paper towel to wipe the bottom of the pan with oil, and the inside of the crumpet rings or molds. (Best use 4-in/10cm, but you can use another

size.)

6. Place the rings in the pan and fill the molds with batter so they're halfway full. Let the crumpets cook; bubbles will appear on the top while the bottom browns. Cook them long enough so bubbles can form, checking the bottom (and perhaps adjusting the heat) to make sure the undersides of the crumpets aren't getting too dark.

7. When there are bubbles on top and the bottoms are browned, about 4 to 5 minutes, use tongs to remove the rings and flip the crumpets over. (Tip: You can actually remove the rings once the crumpets appear set, so they have a few minutes to cool down before you reuse for the next batch.) Cook the crumpets on the other side until golden brown.

If you're like me, you'll probably toast them so they don't need to be very dark. When done, place the crumpets on a cooling rack.

8. Wipe the inside of the crumpet rings clean of any stuck-on bits, wipe the bottom of the pan with a bit of additional oil, and repeat the process, making more crumpets with the remaining batter.

give health boost

Just eight strawberries, a single serving, delivers on a surprising checklist of benefits for anyone looking to live a healthier lifestyle.

Strawberries are much more than a sweet and delicious treat — they are a versatile fruit that's great for your health. What better time than National Strawberry Month in May to share six health benefits of strawberries that may be new to you. Grab a handful of strawberries and read on because eating right has never tasted so good.

Strawberries help you stay sharp. A recent study in the Annals of Neurology suggests that eating strawberries more than twice a week appears to delay cognitive aging by up to two and a half years.

Loaded with nutrients. Strawberries pack a lot of healthy properties into a small package. Each berry is

23-29 May 2017

29

Food and Drink

Nutritionists advise on a better diet

When you need to fix your car, learn the latest tech or finish a major home improvement, what do you do?

You turn to the experts; those with in-depth knowledge on how to accomplish these tasks in the most efficient and effective way. And when you’re looking to improve your overall health by focusing on improving your diet, it’s also time to turn to the experts. And those experts say...

Get organized. Your environment can work for you or against you. Having an organised refrigerator can be the key to success on the journey to weight loss. Keep produce where it is easily visible and accessible. Storing foods like hard-boiled eggs, chicken breast and roasted vegetables at eye-level can really help to make smarter meal choices. Clear food containers will also help to keep already prepared meals top of mind and lessen food waste which means saving money in the long run.

Practice ‘superfood’ swaps. Don’t cut out your food cravings — embrace them! Eat the flavours that you crave but swap out overly processed stuff for fresh, wholesome ingredients.

Avoid products with chemicals, refined sugars and flours, artificial flavours and preservatives and it will naturally lead to a healthier lifestyle. When you fill the house with healthier foods, you’ll automatically eat smarter when hunger strikes.

Eat your greens. It can be difficult to make the right nutrition choices all the time. So when you are eating more decadent food like fried chicken, Chinese or pizza, put it on a base of leafy greens like spinach, spring mix or kale. That way you will get to eat what you want but you’ll fill up more on your superfood greens and eat less of the high-calorie foods.

Set the table. One of the simplest ways to start naturally eating less and enjoying food more is to eat all meals and snacks at the table. When you put food on a plate, eat at a table and sit in a chair you’ll eat much less than if you were eating while working on the computer, watching TV, standing in the fridge or driving!

Build a better breakfast. A healthy diet starts with a nutritious breakfast. Think whole foods instead of pre-packaged foods high in calories and packed with preservatives. full of beneficial antioxidants and nutrients, including potassium, folate and fibre.

Sweet without the sugar. The sweet taste of strawberries makes them a natural dessert topping and strawberries are also low in calories and sugar — one serving of eight strawberries contains just 45 calories!

A delicious source of vitamin C. When you think vitamin C, think strawberries. One serving of eight strawberries has more vitamin C than an orange, topping out at 140% of the recommended daily value. It’s the perfect power-packed boost that you can add to any meal or cold remedy.

A healthy choice for diabetics. The American Diabetes Association has identified berries, including strawberries, as a perfect component of a diabetes meal plan. This is because strawberries have a low glycemic index and are loaded with vitamins, antioxidants and dietary fibre.

Cholesterol fighter. Lowering your cholesterol is a common goal for many people these days and strawberries can help. In addition to being packed with antioxidants and fibre, strawberries are also rich in phytochemicals which have been shown to reduce overall cholesterol levels. In addition the potassium found in strawberries may help control blood pressure and fight strokes.

It's easy to see why you should eat eight strawberries each day. Grab a handful today — your body and taste buds will be glad you did.

Bubbly by the can In its bid to bring the UK wine industry up to date, sparkling Pinot Grigio in cans is the latest innovation from Off-Piste Wines.

Rachel Archer, who has created Most Wanted among other brands, came up with the concept and former Sainsbury’s winemaker Clem Yates MW blended the juice.

Archer said: “We feel now is the time for more innovation in terms of packaging and serve occasion and we are really excited about it.”

She added: “Some people ask whether consumers will be comfortable buying wine in a can. The same question was asked about screw caps on bottles 15 years ago. Today they are not only accepted but positively welcomed by most drinkers.

“It is very important the wine industry recognises that as consumer lifestyles, openness and interests change so must we. Drinks in cans have been a part of consumers’ lives for decades. For many craft beer producers and consumers, cans are now the format of choice. We are simply moving with the times.”

Archer was at Copestick Murray, where she worked on the I Heart brand, before moving to Off-Piste. “I have always worked for small, dynamic companies and you can forget that a lot of people’s idea of innovation is a million miles away from where we need to be,” she said.

However she has been impressed by the drive and ambition starting to be shown by sections of the wine trade when it comes to modernising the category to keep up with spirits, beer and cider. “It’s great that we are seeing a lot of innovation,” she said. “Who knows what will work and what won’t but it’s a positive thing that people are innovating.”

She believes canned wine “has been really overlooked” and said Off-Piste has had a lot of interest from retailers in Pinot Pinot. “In craft beer cans have become cool again,” said Archer. “It’s a format growing in the US.” Hungary is where most of the wine used is sourced from, but could come from anywhere, as is the case with Most Wanted.

The Pinot Pinot range also includes 75cl bottles of still Pinot Grigio from Hungary and Pinot Noir from South Eastern Australia, both of which launched in 2015 in the convenience sector.

The new 20cl cans will be on sale around £2.50 each.

Archer said: “We are incredibly excited about the potential for the Pinot Pinot sparkling Pinot Grigio cans across the UK market in many sectors of the on- and off-trades. While there are some fruit and spritzer products in cans on the market, this is the first canned wine to launch in the UK. “The consumer market for this product is huge. It meets the needs of millennials looking to buy wine in a less traditional, more accessible way.

Consumers can enjoy wine when, where and how they want to, and the convenience of the can is ideal for a single serve sparkling, for outdoor events and especially festivals which are now a huge part of these consumers’ lives, and for the rapidly growing on-the-go life style.

On top of which Pinot Grigio is the second best-selling white grape variety in the UK off-trade and the top-selling in the on-trade, so its popularity speaks for itself.”

Go www.soltimes.com for all the latest news updates!

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23-29 May 2017

Health and Beauty

Summer’s here – time to get in shape

Getting in shape for summer is more than just feeling good in a swimsuit. It's being healthy so you can participate in all the fun activities that come along with the warmer weather.

From walking to swimming, you don't want to miss out on any of the summer fun. Eating right is a great way to ensure you're healthy and in shape for summer. Use these easy healthy-eating tips to work your way toward healthier living.

1. EAT A HIGH-PROTEIN BREAKFAST A Tel Aviv University study found that adding whey protein to your breakfast can help you slim down. What's more, you'll feel satisfied for longer. Record-setting long distance runner Jordan Hasay eats the same whey-protein-powered breakfast before each of her races. Try out the recipe for yourself:

French vanilla BiPro, cinnamon oatmeal, fresh fruit, peanut butter and flax seed.

2. GIVE YOUR WORKOUT ROUTINE A CAFFEINE JOLT A growing body of research shows that having caffeine before exercise can improve athletic performance, whether you're lifting weights or doing an endurance workout. A study in the journal "Nutrients" found that cyclists who consumed caffeine were able to pedal for an average of 23% longer than other bikers. Another study, from the "European Journal of Sport Science," indicated that pre-workout caffeine can increase muscular force and power. More research from the "American Journal of Physiology" even shows that consuming caffeine before a workout can help accelerate fat loss!

HRT – there are answers...

Do you ever come home from your GP appointment realising you forgot to ask some crucial questions? Or were there some questions you were too embarrassed to ask?

In the Spring 2017 issue of The Menopause Exchange newsletter, pharmacist consultant Dr Nuttan Tanna gives answers to some key questions you may not have asked your GP. How soon will HRT work? Can you get pregnant while using it? Will it make you look younger? And what should you do if you forget a dose?

“Many women write down a list of questions before a medical appointment, but may still not ask all of them, due to a lack of time or embarrassment,” says Norma Goldman, founder and director of The Menopause Exchange. “If you have any questions about your medicines, you can always ask your local pharmacist or get in touch with your GP.” The Menopause Exchange, which was established in 1999, is completely independent and is not sponsored by any companies.

It provides impartial, easily understood information to women and healthcare professionals. The Menopause Exchange quarterly newsletter contains articles written by top medical experts, such as gynaecologists, GPs, consultants, specialist menopause nurses, pharmacists, dieticians, complementary practitioners etc.

Other articles in the Spring 2017 newsletter include cystitis and thrush at the menopause, looking after your oral health and top health and lifestyle tips from The Menopause Exchange members, as well as recent news, book reviews and Ask the Experts Q&As. The Menopause Exchange quarterly newsletter is available via email for free. Sign up on the website, www.menopause-exchange. co.uk. Find them on Facebook and Twitter (@MenopauseExch).

3. JOIN A WORKOUT CHALLENGE There are all kinds of great fitness challenges online which offer nutritional tips and workout advice. One of the great things about a challenge is that it not only helps you learn more about nutrition and the gym, but it can also give you a concrete workout schedule.

4. AVOID LATE NIGHT SNACKING One of the easiest ways to eat healthier is by cutting out unneeded snacks. If you watch TV at night, it's pretty easy to microwave something from the freezer to eat while sitting on the couch or even nip out for a naughty late-night take away. Try to cut out these unnecessary calories. If you eat a protein-packed, healthy dinner then you shouldn't feel the need to snack later.

Fragrance Du Bois reveals expansion plans Using sustainably produced, 100% pure Oud in many of its signature creations, Fragrance Du Bois has not only captured the imagination of the fragrance cognoscenti, but has also attracted a legion of dedicated fans, fascinated by the brand’s compelling back story and its evolution as a socially and environmentally conscious business model.

Fragrance Du Bois is not only ramping up its global expansion plans, but is set to announce another exciting association on its journey towards complete vertical integration.

The young perfume house is also setting benchmarks in modern business practices, sourcing ingredients of known provenance and producing them ethically and with respect for communities and the environment.

With many perfume brands around the world claiming to use real Oud in its expressions, few if any can boast the level of supply chain control that enables Fragrance Du Bois to guarantee exactly where the Oud it uses comes from, how it is produced and its level of quality.

The brand’s ‘Pure Oud, Pure Luxury’ ethos is resonating among fragrance aficionados whose tastes and preferences are now being dictated by the need for a heightened consciousness and awareness in the products that they buy.

Having opened its first concept boutique in Bangkok, Thailand, in 2012, signature stores in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur followed a couple of years later.

The tail end of last year also saw significant expansion, as the brand established its presence in Milan, Doha, Marbella, Los Angeles, and Zurich, to name but a few, building on its success at the House of Jovoy in Paris.

2016 also saw Fragrance Du Bois opening another of its superbly designed and elegantly appointed flagship boutiques in Geneva, Switzerland, along the famous Rue du Rhône - often referred to as a luxury shopper’s paradise.

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23-29 May 2017

Health and Beauty

Nurse!

The screens are causing problems According to new research, British workers spend an average of 182.5 DAYS a year staring at screens.

The shock figures emerged in a report, which investigates the screen habits of adults, considering how long they spend glued to computers, tablets and smart phones.

It shows the average person will pick up their smart phone up to 20 times a day, spend 7-8 hours a day on a computer, two hours watching TV plus another two hours on a tablet which all tots up to around 12 hours of ‘onscreen’ time every day.

Nearly half of the 2000 people surveyed, agreed with a statement that they ‘have days where it feels like I am looking at a screen from the moment I wake up to the moment I sleep,’ and 47% admitted that the first thing they do the minute they wake up is jump on their phone, whilst one fifth said they even look at their phone while eating.

Another recent study from Binghamton University - State University of New York stated that excessive smartphone use leads to problems, and females are especially susceptible to this addiction.

The report clearly indicates that as well as mental health, the impact of screen time is affecting our physical health.

The new UK research, which was com-

missioned by The Eye Doctor, a medical device to treat dry eyes, validated these findings as it verified that people would rather give up guilty pleasures like chocolate, sex, fast food, and alcohol rather than part with their smart phones.

The survey also revealed that people are now shying away from personal contact. Three quarters said they would rather text people than have to pick up the phone and the same goes for calling to invite people out; now it’s all done via quick text messages which means we are engaging by voice or face-to-face much less.

Over 40% of those polled admit to suffering from reoccurring headaches, tired eyes, dry eyes and fatigue as a result of their compulsion to spent time on some sort of screen device. People are aware that all this screen time is impacting on their health with 88% agreeing that they spend far too long looking at screens, with three quarters admitting that because of excessive screen time they are worried about their eye health, and the impact on their eyesight.

Nearly a third admitted that over the last year they’ve had to notch up the font size to read on all their screens, and many have had to seek medical advice due to the headaches, mi-

graines, dry eyes and failing eye sight experienced because of excessive use of screens.

Dr Parsloe said: “The figures are staggering, and speaking specifically in relation to conditions like dry eyes, which nearly a quarter of those surveyed said that they suffer from, people need to consciously think of the impact screen time is having on their eye sight.

Dry eye disease arises when there is a shortage of water being produced, or when the oil layer is of poor quality or

“It’s a relatively simple formula,” said Fragrance Du Bois’ Brand Director, Nicola Parker, in Geneva recently. “We

have a huge advantage in the industry as we can guarantee the source, consistency and quality of our pure, sus-

tainable Oud oil, thanks to our exclusive supply agreement with Asia Plantation Capital. They supported us when we started the business, and have been a constant source, if you excuse the play on words, of inspiration. We

wouldn’t be where we are today without them, but independence was always going to be something we strived for, and something that would enable us to expand as a company.”

Fragrance Du Bois, recognising the almost limitless potential of the magical material that is Oud, cast its eye to

other areas in the luxury goods market, and is set to announce its support and backing for a new skincare and accessories brand, Oud Essentials™. The relationship is set to be another jewel in the crown for the fragrance brand that has such a bright future.

Fragrance Du Bois will be supplying the expertise built up over several years, as well as a strategic investment in Oud Essentials™ - The Real Oud Company - which is set to ‘change the face of skincare’ by including pure,

organic Oud in all of its products. This will be the first time in the world that the substance has been used in the ultra-competitive market, and gives Oud Essentials a cutting-edge advantage in the industry.

quantity. Evaporation results in the remaining tears becoming concentrated, salty and acidic, causing inflammation and damage to the surface of the eye. We normally blink to refresh our tears once every 10 seconds.

When you concentrate, or read from a computer screen, your blink rate reduces and some people may only blink after two minutes! If you're not blinking then the tears will evaporate from the surface of the eye leaving dry spots resulting in inflammation, redness and pain.

We care about you and your community

Contact our business team now on 950 633 217

kim clark

benefits consultancy Do you suffer from mobility problems, breathlessness/pain or falls/stumbles?

Do you need help washing / dressing or supervision?

You could be entitled to extra income by claiming UK sickness / disability benefits while living in Spain

For advice or to book a consultation call 950 169 729 or 663 297 568 or visit www.ukbenefitsinspain.com

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23-29 May 2017

Travel

Donde je das salerni?

According to a new study, the average Briton will jet off on their holiday this year, knowing only EIGHT words of the country’s language.

Researchers took a look into how “au fait” people are with other languages and revealed the majority of us will head off this year on our summer holidays, being able to say a handful of things in the native dialect, including “yes”, “no”, “please may I have a beer” and “I have an upset stomach”.

The survey by Holiday Autos revealed nearly two thirds of Britons claim to be embarrassed that they make such little effort to learn foreign languages.

However a further 27% admit to making no effort to learn a language ahead of their holiday – with the fact ‘everyone speaks English’ emerging as the main excuse.

The study found French to be the language Brits are most familiar with, with the average UK adult being able to rattle off up to 15 words – but despite millions of Brits travelling to Spain this summer, the average holidaymaker knows just eight words in Spanish.

‘Hello’, ‘yes’ and ‘goodbye’ are the most common words Brits known how to say in a foreign language, followed by ‘thanks’, ‘no’ and ‘good morning’ – while three in ten of Brits on holiday know how to ask where the bathroom is and over a third can competently ask for a beer.

Of the 1,500 respondents surveyed, 23% said they holiday in English speaking resorts so there was no need to make an effort and speak the local language.

Yesterday a spokesperson for Holiday Autos, said: “This research highlights that Brits don’t make huge amounts of effort when it comes to learning languages when planning a holiday in country abroad.

“Saying that, if, of those eight words that the average adult knows is ‘please’, ‘thank you’ and ‘good morning’, you can’t go far wrong.”

Being so limited with the local language has landed one in ten adults in hot water - with problems occurring when ordering food and drinks, following directions and settling a bill.

One in ten have lost luggage on holiday and struggled to communicate with the necessary people.

35% of Brits claim to start speaking slower in English when trying to make themselves understood and a quarter opt for gesticulating wildly with their hands.

More than one in twenty has even resorted to drawing pictures and one in ten have to rely on their smartphone to make themselves understood.

Over a quarter of Brits have a funny story to tell about a friend or family member trying to make themselves understood on holiday – with 17% claiming they still laugh about it.

In fact, the average holidaymaker has experienced three ‘lost in translation’ moments when on holiday.

According to the poll…. ● A gentleman got a surprise in France when he asked for jam to go with his croissant and got a condom ● A holidaymaker thought he was asking a waiter where the toilet was, but was actually repeatedly asking where the man’s wife was

• Another asked for egg on his pancake and got a raw egg • One asked for a lemonade and ended up buying a newspaper • Another respondent regularly got the French words for rabbit and bread around the wrong way • And finally, one replied that they ended up with a slap around the face. To this day he doesn’t know what he said!

Of those that completed the poll, 35% would like to know enough words to just get by when they head off on holiday.

The spokesman for Holiday Autos added: “The survey has uncovered some really interesting insights into how Brits seem to have the confidence to communicate while traveling without necessarily learning any of the native language.

“It shows that having confidence leads to happier holidays — something which Holiday Autos believes in wholeheartedly, as we provide book and go car hire and we are committed to find the best car at the best price for everyone’s holidays.”

By the way, the heading of DONDE JE DAS SALERNI?, means WHERE (Spanish) IS (Slovak) THE (German) TOILET (Icelandic)!

TOP 30 FOREIGN WORDS / PHRASES BRITS CAN SAY ON HOLIDAY 17. Left 1. Hello 2. Yes 18. Right 19. Pizza 3. Goodbye 20. Taxi 4. Thanks 5. No 21. Where is the bathroom?

22. Where is the hotel?

6. Good morning 7. Please?

23. Please can I have a glass of wine?

8. My name is 24. Still water 9. Good evening 25. Where is the hospital?

10. Excuse me 26. Straight on 11. Tomorrow 12. The bill please 27. Will you sleep with me?

28. Sparkling water 13. Breakfast 14. Can I have a beer 29. I have an upset stomach 30. Moped 15. Car 16. Dinner

33

23-29 May 2017

Animal Corner

Hop to the rescue Battersea Dogs & Cats Home takes in hundreds of dogs and cats each year, but members of staff were taken aback when an unusually long-eared arrival came through their doors.

The Mini Lop rabbit arrived at Battersea’s London centre after a kind member of the public found her on the roadside not far from the shelter.

Battersea didn’t have a hutch to hand, but luckily member of staff Amy Baird did. Amy, who works as a lost and found assistant at Battersea, offered to give the rabbit a homenaming her Lotus.

Word of the strange arrival quickly spread throughout Battersea. A few days later another member of staff was walking through Battersea Park and spotted a poster, written in child’s handwriting, with the headline ‘have you seen this rabbit?’

It didn’t take long for Battersea to connect the dots, and a phone call and email exchange quickly revealed that the rabbit belonged to 7-year-old Athena Lowes.

Athena’s mum, Tanja Gullestrup-Lowes, said the rabbit- whose real name is Pearl - had managed to find a small hole in the fence and escaped while they were cleaning her hutch.

Tanja said: “When I broke the news to Athena she burst into floods of tears. She thought Pearl would get hit by a car. We searched the whole neighbourhood for Pearl and put up posters hoping someone would find her. She was missing for five days and every day when Athena came back from school, she would ask if anyone had found her. When Battersea called, she was so relieved and happy to hear Pearl was safe!”

Tanja drove down to Battersea’s Brands Hatch centre in Kent, where Amy was working, to pick up the escape-artist bunny. Pearl and Athena have now been happily reunited, and the hole in the fence has been found and firmly sealed.

Battersea’s Amy Baird said: “It was sad to have to give up Pearl, she’s such a lovely rabbit and I’d really fallen for her. But it’s great that she’s been reunited with her family and that it’s made Athena so happy. We see a lot of reunites at Battersea, but they’re all dogs and cats- so this was a bit different!”

Battersea’s Centre Manager Robert Young added: “So far this year, we’ve helped to reunite 461 dogs, 307 cats and one rabbit with their owners. While I don’t think we’ll be changing our name to Battersea Dogs, Cats & Rabbits Home any time soon, it’s lovely that this bunny tale had a happy ending.

“On a more serious note, if people do have animals other than dogs and cats they need to rehome, we’d ask them to take them to a specialist charity or a wildlife centre. Unfortunately, we don’t have the facilities to keep them here at Battersea - and we might not always have a staff member with a spare hutch!”

Monthly Raffle Prize Winners April 2017 Almeria Tenpin Bowling – 2 course Sunday Lunch for 2 or Fish & Chips with Dessert for 2 any day of the week (Closed Mondays) - Les & Doreen Skinner Colin The Card – A 10€ Voucher - Marie Fletcher TCs Bar – A €15 Voucher - Jim Forrest Pricebusters – A €10 Voucher - Brian & Jenny Price Winning tickets drawn by Carol Limberg APSA shop volunteer.

Sellers: APSA Shop 6, Jean & Mac 46, Keith 44. Total Collected € 96 APSA is grateful to the Almeria Ten Pin Bowling, Colin The Card, TCs Bar, and Pricebusters for their monthly prizes and to all who purchase raffle tickets.

The proceeds of which will go towards helping the many animals in the care of APSA. Many Thanks for your continued support.

Keith Roberts

APAH

Born in March 2015, Henry and his brothers and sister were found by the side of a bin when they were just 10 days old.

He is a gentle giant, very calm and lovely with people, but he doesn’t always get along with other male dogs, so would be better in a home on his own.

630 422 563 or 616 210 850

34

23-29 May 2017

Motoring

Volkswagen Golf GTI Performance Volkswagen are still having enormous problems after their emissions problems, and their solution is to concentrate on delivering new electric models to side-step further issues, and deliver more focus on petrol engines and vehicles like this – the new VW Golf GTI Performance.

When VW updated the Golf at the end of last year, the GTI came with the same power as the previous GTI Performance, so clearly there needs to be a new GTI Performance with even more power. So the new GTI Performance arrives with 242bhp and a £29,280 price tag.

That extra iota of power gets the GTI

Performance to 62mph in 6.2 seconds – whether you opt for the manual or DSG gearbox – and also gets bigger brakes with red callipers, electronic diff and 12.3″ Active Info Display.

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The other significant update for the Golf ’s UK range is the arrival of the new petrol 1.5-litre TSI EVO engine, which comes in two engine sizes – 128bhp and 148bhp – both available as a manual or with DSG and with Active Cylinder Management. The 148bhp version of the 1.5 litre EVO is available now, with the lower powered 128bhp version later this year.

The 128bhp version is available on the SE and SE Navigation, and the 148bhp on the Golf GT and R-Line – and GT Estate – with prices from £23,445.

Crisps, Mars Bar, Porsche?

When most people want to buy something from a vending machine, it’s usually a quick snack or drink that takes the coins.

But a top of the range car such as a Rover Mini, a Ferrari or a Porsche 964? Now you can window shop without stepping into a showroom at “the world’s largest car vending machine,” found in the new Autobahn Motors building in Singapore. Members of a certain generation will immediately recognise that it resembles a giant Matchbox toy car set from the street and seems like one of the coolest ways to buy a collectible car.

The building features a multi-story window façade with 15 levels and four columns of luxury cars on display. A high-tech automated system is utilized to manage the inventory that holds 60 vehicles and retrieve them like a giant vending machine. Customers on the ground floor can choose the car they want from a touchscreen and the cars arrive in less than two minutes. Like most big cities, Singapore has a limited amount of real estate available to used car dealerships.

The vending machine format, in addition to looking cool, is the most efficient use of limited space. Volkswagen’s Autostadt in Wolfsburg, Germany, may have been its inspiration along with food automats of the past.

Gary Hong, Autobahn Motors general manager said: “We needed to meet our requirement of storing a lot of cars. At the same time, we wanted to be creative and innovative.”

The building opened in December and smaller versions of car vending machines are found in several U.S. cities with one recently opening in San Antonio, Texas. Carvana’s San Antonio car vending machine holds up to 30 vehicles and is eight stories high. Not quite as impressive as the Autobahn Motors building, but still a unique way to window shop for your next ride.

23-29 May 2017

35

Motoring Section

Toyota promise 2020 Olympic spectacular Toyota has joined the flying car craze by backing a group working on a drone-like vehicle that would soar 10 meters (33 feet) above the ground at speeds up to 100 km/h (62 mph).

The "Skydrive" is being developed by Cartivator, a startup with around 30 young volunteers working with drone expert Masafumi Miwa from Tokushima University. The aim is to get the car flying by next year and have it commercialized in time to light the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games torch.

The 2.9 metre (9.5 foot) long SkyDrive would be the "world's smallest" flying EV, though it's worth noting that as of today, there are exactly no commercial flying cars. Cartivator's model would be able to take off from any public road and be "intuitive" and easy to control, according to its Zenmono crowdfunding page.

Toyota chipped in around 40 million yen (€323,000) and offered the expertise of its mechanical engineers. The group has also received help from

Taizo Sun, the founder of Japanese web game developer GungHoOnline Entertainment, and about 2.5 million yen (€20,000) in crowdfunding pledges.

A wide range of companies, including Uber, Larry Page's Kitty Hawk startup and Chinese firm Ehang are working on flying cars, making them the tech world's fanciful product du jour. However, testing and certifying aircraft in the US requires millions of dollars and the cooperation of federal regulators, so building one isn't as easy as some pundits are making it seem.

The HondaJet, for instance, was certified by the FAA in 2015, 12 years after the original proof-of-concept craft made its first flight.

Over many decades, flying cars have fired the public's imagination for decades, and the technology seems to be finally falling into place to make it happen. However, even if someone did build a cheap, safe and efficient sky car, officials would have to figure out how

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to license them, train pilots and work them into the air traffic control system, among numerous other hurdles.

However, Toyota has become keen on new technology, and announced plans last week to invest around 1.05 trillion

yen (€8.3 billion) on new technology, even if it may seem outlandish now.

Toyota Chairman Takeshi Ichiyamada said: "Things will not progress if you wait and provide money only when the technology is ready."

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23-29 May 2017

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METAL WORK MOBILE Metal Work Any welding or plasma cutting work carried out. For a free quote call 639 487 503 (254661) MOBILITY MOBILITY equipment wanted. Cash paid. Scooters, wheelchairs etc etc Phone Will´s 602 547 878 (254555) MOTORING For Sale Seat Córdoba 1.9tdi (Diesel).

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23-29 May 2017

A former player, Tony is now the world’s most prolific author of football books with 150 published since 1975. He has also been a PE teacher and a policeman, and is now a quizorganiser, fund–raiser, for various charities, and sports correspondent for Spectrum Radio.

Sports shorts SOLTIMES

Sport Sunshine all the way for Línea Directa Nationals

Greenlands Bowls Club was host to the Opening Ceremony of the 23rd National Bowls Championships, sponsored once again by leading insurer Línea Directa.

Taking place in beautiful sunshine representatives of the 20 or more competing clubs were all resplendent in their club colours, as they paraded in front of a healthy and supportive crowd, at a venue decked out with National and Regional flags.

The ceremony was attended by senior representatives of the National Bowls Federation as well as Línea Directa, who had travelled down to the event from Madrid, and a number of other local sponsors.

Following the parade of clubs, umpires and Spanish International players, Spain National Director, Bob Donnelly, welcomed the bowlers and all of the guests and spectators to the championships. He gave particular thanks to the tournament sponsors Línea Directa who were supporting the championships for the second year. He said how delighted he was to have such a major international company endorsing the 2017 tournament and hoped the relationship would continue in future years.

He also thanked the sponsors of the individual disciplines, Greengauge Surfaces, Avalon Funeral Plans, Seagate Wealth Management, CS Bowlswear and Quirónsalud Healthcare as well as the two host clubs, Greenlands and Quesada BC as well as the Leader Newspaper, all of which were making a significant contribution to the success of the tournament.

Patricia responded on behalf of Línea Directa by wishing all of the competitor’s success in their efforts, as everybody looked ahead to yet another successful tournament.

Following the National Anthem John Muldoon, now the proprietor of Quesada Bowls Club and himself a former National Director, then handed over the bowling green to the tournament committee after which a number of the sponsors delivered the opening bowls.

Players, spectators and sponsors then retired for refreshments following which the first competitive action of the tournament got underway with the mixed triples event.

Now, at least for the successful competitors there follows an arduous two weeks of bowling, while for those not so lucky there is always the opportunity to renew old acquaintanceships and to make new friends.

The tournament runs until 21st May at Greenlands Bowls Club.

Entry is absolutely free with matches starting at 10am. It then switches to Quesada Bowls Club on the 22nd May where it remains through to the finals, presentations and the closing ceremony in 2 weeks’ time on 27th May. The two Blue Ribbon events, the Gents and the Ladies Singles, get underway on Thursday with Martin Foulcer and Anne Eagle both hoping to retain their National titles.

• Tomorrow night Ajax take on Manchester United in the Europa League final in Stockholm.

• On Thursday, it’s Dundee United v Hamilton in the SPL play-off final.

• Saturday sees Arsenal-Chelsea and Aberdeen-Celtic compete in the FA and Scottish Cup finals and on Sunday, we have the FL1 play-off final between Blackpool and Exeter, followed 24 hours later by the HuddersfieldReading Championship play-off final.

• The first England-South Africa ODI cricket match takes place at Leeds tomorrow; the second is at Southampton on Saturday; the third at Lords next Monday.

• The French Grand Slam tennis tournament is now underway at Roland Garros and Novak Djokovic – beaten in Italy’s singles final last Sunday - has a new coach in Andre Agassi.

• Around 37,000 fans will attend Sunday’s Monaco F1 Grand Prix.

• The two-day IAAF Diamond Athletics League meeting takes place in Oregon, USA this Friday and Saturday.

• Exeter face Wasps in Rugby’s Union Premiership final at Twickenham, also on Saturday.

• And the World Table Tennis championships begin in Germany on Monday.

• It was Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal in that order at the top of the Premiership, meaning that Arsenal failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in 20 years. Chelsea earned £38m while relegated Sunderland collected £1.9m.

• SPL champions Celtic remained unbeaten in all 38 matches.

• Millwall beat Bradford City 1-0 in last Saturday’s FL1 Play-off final while York edged Macclesfield 3-2 in the FA Trophy final.

• England’s teenagers were knocked out of the European

By Tony Mathews

U17 Championship on penalties by Spain.

• Besiktas (Turkey), FC Copenhagen (Denmark), Cork City (Republic of Ireland), Monaco (France), Real Madrid (Spain) and Spartak Moscow (Russia) are the latest clubs to win their domestic League titles.

• Harry Kane has won the 2017 Golden Boot award with 29 goals including a four-timer and a hat-trick in his last two games for Spurs who won 6-1 and 7-1 at Leicester and Hull respectively.

• Watford are set to sack manager Walter Mazzarri.

• Uzbek-born Russian business magnate Alisher Usmanov who owns 30% of shares at The Emirates, wants to buy Arsenal outright for £1 billion.

• Last Sunday’s 1-2-3 at the French MotoGP at Le Mans were Maverick Vinales (Spain), Johann Zarco (France) and Dani Pedrosa (Spain).

• Ex-World MotorGP champion Nicky Hayden is seriously ill in hospital after being hit by a car while cycling in Italy.

• American tennis player Nikita Kyrvonos has been banned for ten years and fined €18,000 after being found guilty (with others) of attempting to fix certain matches.

• Paris and Los Angeles are the likely venues for the 2024 and 2018 Olympic Games respectively.

• New Zealander Adam Milne has been recognised as the fastest bowler in world cricket – sending down deliveries of 94.8 mph.

FOOTY FACT With 368 to his name, Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo has now scored more goals than any other player in European League competitions - two more than Jimmy Greaves whose record of 366 had stood since 1971.

This week in sporting history… * 1878 The shortest cricket match ever saw Australia (41 and 12-1) beat the MCC (33 and 19) by nine wickets inside four hours, * 1883 Baseball game took lace in the USA featuring one-armed and one-legged players * 1912 Australian cricketer Jackie Matthews took two hat-tricks in one day v. South Africa * 1922 Boxer Gene Tunney made his ring debut * 1935 American track and field athlete Jesse Owens broke or equalled four world records in the space of 45 minutes in Michigan. * 1938 Aussie batsman Don Bradman scored his 1,000th run of the season on the 22nd day. * 1943 Aussie tennis star John New-

combe was born * 1956 Real Madrid won the firstever European Cup final, beating Reims 4-3 * 1963 Roy Emerson (men) and Lesley Turner (women) won the singles titles at the French Open * 1965 Muhammad Ali beat Sonny Liston in their re-match fight * 1966 French footballer Eric Catona was born * 1967 Celtic became first British team to win European Cup, defeating Inter Milan 2-1 in Lisbon * 1968 Manchester United won the European Cup, beating Benfica 4-1 at Wembley * 1970 Cricketer Graeme Hick born in Zimbabwe * 1972 Rangers beat Moscow

Dynamo 3-2 to lift the European Cup-winner’s Cup. * 1976 Muhammad Ali knocked out GB’s Richard Dunn in a world heavyweight title fight * 1978 Al Unser won his third Indianapolis 500 (he won again in 1994) * 1985 Juventus beat Liverpool 1-0 in European Cup final after riots at the Heysel Stadium * 1999 Manchester United, with two late goals, beat Bayern Munich 2-1 in the Champions League Cup final in Barcelona * 2011 Barcelona won the Champions League with a 3-1 victory over Manchester United. * 2014 Real Madrid beat Atletico Madrid 4-1 in the Champions League final in Lisbon

Cup Final Previews On Saturday there are two major Cup finals – one north and one south of the border.

Twelve-time winners Arsenal play London rivals Chelsea (victors on seven occasions) in front of 90,000 fans at Wembley in the FA Cup showdown, while at Hampden Park Glasgow, Aberdeen, also seven-time

winners, face treble-chasing Celtic, who have a record 36 final wins to their credit.

The Arsenal-Chelsea encounter is a repeat of the 2002 final which the Gunners won 2-0, whereas the last Dons-Bhoys battle in Scotland’s final was back in 1990 when the former won 9-8 on penalties after a 0-0

draw. Indeed, this was the last time the Dons won the trophy while Celtic’s last victory came in 2013.

Arsenal last tasted FA Cup glory in 2015, Chelsea in 2012, and between them the Gunners and the Blues have appeared 30 FA Cup finals, Aberdeen and Celtic in 69.

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•Opel Astra 1.6 16v, 2012, 51,000km.........................................................€11,950 •RENAULT SCENIC 1.5 DCI, 2010, AUTO, 130,000KM................................€10,950 •NISSAN QASHQAI 2.0 AUTO, 2009, 147,000KM, .......................................... €9,950 •kia sportage 2.0crdi, Auto, 2007 136,000km.....................................€9,950 •SEAT IBIZA1.6TDI,2013,27,000kms ................................................................€9,950 •FIAT Panda 1.2 Lounge, 2016, 28,000KM..................................................€9,950

Hyundai Tuscan 1.7 CRDi, 2016, New €23,950

•FORD C-MAX 1.6 TDCI, 2010, 90,000KM........................................................€8,950 •ford c-max, 1.6 tdci, auto, 2007, 87,000km..........................................€8,950 •Mercedes E280 2006 CDi, Auto, Estate, 234,000km..........................€7,950 •FIAT PUNTO 1.3 DIESEL, 2013, 84,000KM, .................................................... €7,450 •FIAT DUCATO HDI 2006, DIESEL, 9 SEATER MINIBUS............................€6,950

Opel Astra 1.6 16v, 2012 51,000km €11,950 opel corsa 1.3cdti, 2012, 130,000km €7,950 renault scenic 1.9dci Diesel, 2009, 135,000km Was €7,950 Now €6,950 peugeot 308 sw, 1.6hdi, 2009, 189,000km €6,950

•Kia Rio 1.5crdi , diesel, 2006, 99,000KM..................Was €5,450 Now €4,950

BMW 116 MSport 2014, Diesel, Auto €21,950

•renault Megane 1.6, 2007, Petrol, 113,000km......................................€4,950 •Peugeot 206CC 2.0 Cabrio, 2002, 74,000km..............................................€4,950 •SEAT IBIZA 1.4 PETROL, 2005, 74,000KM, .................................................. €3,950 •OPEL CORSA 1.3CDTI, 2005, 165,000KM, ......................................................... €3,950 •Yamaha YZF R125, 2008, 21,000km..................................................................€1,950 •SEAT IBIZA 1.4, 1998, 67,000KM...........................................................................€1,650

Opel Zafira 2.0 Diesel, 2012, 161,000km €11,950 OPEL ASTRA ESTATE ST 1.7CDTi, 2013, 113,000km €11,950

•trailer.......................................................................................................................€795

Right hand drive vehicles •bmw 220, 2015, diesel, m-sport, cabriolet, 110,000 miles............€26,950 •rolls royce silver spirit, rhd, 51,000 miles..................................€13,950 •NISSANQASHQAI1.6NTEC,2012,26,000MILES,............................................€11,950 •HYUNDAIIX201.6ACTIVPETROL,2014,40,000MILES,......................................€8,950 •PEUGEOT 3008 1.6 HDI, 2011, AUTO, 56,000KM..............................................€8,450 •LEXUS RX400 HYBRID, 2006, 126,000 MILES,............................................ €7,950 •VAUXHALL CORSA 1.2 AUTO, 2011, 18,000 MILES, ......................................€6,950 •Ford mondeo 2.0i petrol, 2008, 61,000 miles........................................€6,950 •PEUGEOT 207 1.4HDI, 2011, 28,000 MILES, ......................................................... €5,950 •Vauxhall vivaro 1.9d, 4 seats, 2004, 148,000 miles............................€3,950 •bmw 320 td compact, 2002, 128,000 miles................................................€3,950 •renault laguna 2.0i, extreme, 2006 ,83,000 miles.............................€2,450 •vauxhall vectra 1.8 petrol, 2001, 125,000 miles..............................€1,000

Seat Altea 1.9TDi, Diesel, 2005, 164,000km €6,450 Kia Rio 1.5CRDi, 2006, 99,000km Was €5,450 NOW 4,950 SKODA FABIA 1.6 AUTO, 2007, 62,000KM €7,950

Renault Kia Right hand drive spanish reg MeganE Sportage •Lexus 400 Hybrid 3.3, 2005, Petrol, Auto, 70,000 miles....................€7,950 2.0 CRDi, 1.6, 2007, 2010, Diesel, •citroen c4 grand picasso 1.6hdi 2008, 85,000 miles.......................€6,950 116,000KM •ford focus 1.4 petrol, 2003, 130,000 miles...........................................€1,950 163,000km, •Peugeot 206 1.4, 2001, Petrol, 3-door, 95,000 miles..........................€1,950 €4,950 €11,950 Visit our website ~ RHD / LHD Taken in Part Exchange / purchased for cash Over 40 cars in group stock ~ Full procurement service

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